Alien

'Keep working,' he told his companion.

'Right.'

'What's that?' she said. 'I didn't catch that.'

He moved away from the module. A stab activated the 'com amp. 'You want to know what's happening? A lot of hard work is what's happening. Real work. You ought to come back here and give it a try sometime.'

Her reply was instant, composed. 'I've got the toughest job on this ship.' Parker laughed derisively. 'I have to listen to your bullshit.'

'Get off my back.'

'I'll get off your back when module twelve is fixed, not before. You can count on that.' There was a click at the other end before Parker could offer his ready comment.

'What's up?' Brett leaned out of the module. 'You two fighting again?'

'Naw. Smart-mouth broad, that's all.'

Brett hesitated, paused to examine the currently opened cell. 'Right. Let's try it again.'

Parker pushed the buttons, examined the monitor, thought of putting his fist through it while imagining it to be a certain warrant officer's face. He wouldn't do anything nearly so melodramatic, of course. Though short-tempered, he was sensible enough to realize how badly he needed the monitor.

And Ripley.

Ash was running a new battery of tests on Kane's comatose form. They provided additional information about his condition. None of it was particularly useful, but the science officer found it all fascinating.

Kane's insides were immediately visible to anyone who cared to enter the infirmary and have a look at the main medical viewscreen. Kane himself was in no position to object to this particularly intimate invasion of privacy.

Ripley walked in, took note of the readouts. His condition hadn't changed since she'd last seen him. She hadn't expected it to. The alien remained affixed to his face.

She studied the smaller readouts, then took the empty seat next to Ash. He acknowledged her arrival with a slight smile and did not turn from his console.

'Making some different tests on him,' he informed her. 'Just in case anything happens.'

'Like what?'

'I haven't the vaguest idea. But if anything does, I'll want to know about it as soon as it starts.'

'Anything new?'

'With Kane?' Ash considered, marshaling his thoughts. 'Still the same. He's holding steady. No, better than that. He's holding strong. No changes for the worse.'

'What about the creature? We know now it can leak acid and heal itself fast. Anything else we know?'

Ash sounded pleased with himself when he replied. 'Like I told you, I've been running tests. Since we can't do anything for Kane, I thought it sensible to try to learn as much as we can about the creature. You never know what seemingly insignificant discovery might lead to its eventual removal.'

'I know that.' She shifted impatiently in her chair. 'What have you found out?'

'It's got an outer layer of what appears to be protein polysaccharides. At least, that's my best guess. Hard to tell without a piece for detailed analysis, and attempting to remove even a sample might cause it to drain fluid again. We can't risk it dissolving part of the autodoc.'

'Not hardly,' she said dryly. 'Right now that machine's the only chance Kane's got.'

'Exactly. What's more interesting than that is that it's constantly sloughing off cells within a secondary, internal dermis and replacing them with polarized organic silicates. It appears to have a double skin, with that acid flowing between the two layers. Also, the acid seems to be flowing under high pressure.

'It's a good thing Dallas didn't cut too deeply with that knife or I think it would have sprayed the entire infirmary.'

Ripley looked properly impressed.

'The silicate layer demonstrates a unique, very dense molecular structure under the scope. It might even be capable of resisting the laser. I know, I know,' he said in response to her look of disbelief, 'that sounds crazy. But this is the toughest chunk of organic material I've ever seen. The combination of the way those cells are aligned with what they're composed of adds up to something that defies all the rules of standard biology.

'Those silicated cells, for example. They're metal-bonded. The result is what gives the creature such resistance to adverse environmental conditions.'

'Anything new besides the silicates and the double dermis?'

'Well, I still have no idea what it breathes, or even if it breathes the way we think of standard respiration. It does seem to be altering the atmosphere around it, perhaps absorbing whatever gases it requires through numerous surface pores. There's certainly nothing resembling a nostril. As a living chemical factory it surpasses in efficiency anything I've ever heard of. Some of its internal organs don't seem to function at all, while others are doing things I can't begin to guess at.

'It's possible the visually quiescent organs have defensive functions. We'll find out if we ever have to provoke it further.' He cocked an expectant eye at her. 'That enough for you?'

'Plenty.' Kane shouldn't have been brought back on board, she mused. They should have left him and the creature outside. Ash was the one responsible for them being here.

She studied the science officer unobtrusively, watching him work his instruments, store pleasing results, and discard those he had no use for. Ash was the last member of the crew she'd have suspected of being capable of a dramatic gesture, yet he was the one who'd made the sudden decision to let the explorers back aboard, going against all accepted procedure.

She had to correct herself. In addition to Ash, Dallas and Lambert had also gone against procedure in demanding admittance. And Kane's life had been at stake. Suppose Ash had obeyed her directive and left the three outside? Would Kane still be alive? Or would he now be just a statistic in the log? That would have simplified one thing, though: She wouldn't have to face Kane when he recovered and have to explain why she'd tried to refuse him and the others admittance.

Ash noticed her expression, looked concerned. 'Something the matter?'

'No.' She sat up straighter. 'Sum it all up for me. Pretend I'm as dumb as I sometimes feel. What's it all mean? Where do we stand with it?'

'Interesting combination of elements and structure make it practically invulnerable given our present situation and resources.'

She nodded. 'That's exactly how I read it, if your results are accurate.' He looked pained. 'Sorry. Okay, so it's invulnerable.' She was watching him closely. 'Is that why you went ahead and let it in?'

As always, the science officer refused to be baited. He showed nothing in the way of resentment when he replied. 'I was following a direct order from the captain. Remember?'

She forced herself to keep from raising her voice, knowing that Ash respected only reason. 'When Dallas and Kane are off the ship, I'm senior officer. I'm acting commander until one or the other actually sets foot back inside.'

'Yes, of course. I forgot, that's all. The emotions of the moment.'

'Like hell.' His attention remained fixed to various readouts. 'Emotions never made you forget anything.'

That made him turn to her. 'You think you know all about me. All of you. You're so sure you know exactly what kind of person I am. Let me tell you something, Ripley. When I opened the inner hatch I was aware of what I was doing, yes. But that business about who is in charge when, well, I'm capable of forgetfulness just like anyone else. My memory's very good, but it's subject to failure like anyone's. Even a mechanical memory like Mother's can lose track of information.'

Failure, sure, she thought. Selective failure. Still, the science officer could be telling the truth. She'd better watch out how many of her shipmates she insulted. Parker and Brett already felt something less than love for her, and now she was on the verge of making an enemy of Ash.

But she couldn't still the suspicions. She almost wished Ash would get mad at her.