Alien - Invasion by Tim Lebbon

Author:Tim Lebbon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC (Publisher Services)

11

LILIYA

Space Station Hell

November 2692 AD

“I think maybe you need to hide,” Liliya said. The Yautja language still felt strange in her mouth, and she wondered how quickly she could adapt again to the standard tongue. Hashori had never shown any eagerness to learn or speak anything other than Yautja.

“Yautja don’t hide,” Hashori said. “Weaklings hide. Criminals and cowards hide. I am a warrior, and I—”

“Just for a while!” Liliya shouted. “Seriously, do you want to march out there and start killing again?”

“I hadn’t intended that,” Hashori said.

“Well, that’s what will happen. Look. They’re already here.” She nodded at the viewing screen that had emerged from the control panel, and contained within was a 360-degree view of their surroundings. They had docked at one of the space station’s more remote docking bays, and already there were soldiers swarming around the hangar, drifting across the wide space and bringing a range of weaponry to bear on the Yautja craft. There were many hand weapons, but also a few heavier-looking laser cannons magnetically affixed to floor, walls, and ceilings.

“If they open fire my ship will—”

“Please, Hashori. Try to think about this not as another battle, but as a potential place of peace.”

“They appear eager to start a fight,” the Yautja said.

“No, no. They’re being cautious. They probably recognize the ship as Yautja—and what does that tell you?”

“That they respect our warrior prowess.”

Liliya sighed and closed her eyes. I can’t have come this far to be blown to pieces here and now.

“Please, let me go out first,” she said.

“I will not hide,” Hashori said, and Liliya tried to understand the situation from her point of view. The Yautja was a proud beast, still troubled at fleeing from the Zeere Za even though the ship’s fate had been sealed. They had run from Alexander and his army instead of remaining behind to fight, and that must have burned, too.

The Yautja did not flee a fight, and Hashori was right—they certainly did not hide.

“I understand,” Liliya said. “Really, I do, but if you step out there before me, they won’t ask questions first. Right now, I’m the best chance anyone has of turning this war around.”

Hashori considered for a while, and Liliya could almost feel her internal conflict. Her people had been decimated, losing ships, habitats, and even a couple of planets to the Rage. All she wanted to do was to fight, but sometimes a good fight needed a long preparation.

“You can leave the ship first,” Hashori said finally.

“Thank you.” Liliya felt exhausted, but also a tingle of excitement at exiting this confined space she had shared with Hashori for so long. She had fled the Rage, been taken by the Yautja, and then run from them again, this time with Hashori. They already had a history together, but so long spent so close together had left Liliya’s nerves frayed.

Sometimes, she had to remind herself that she was an android, and that helped, but she was also very, very old, and in many ways she considered herself more human than many of the Rage.

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