This is Alien

[wreckyeah]

Things were usually quiet out here in the middle of nowhere, and that was how Ralph liked it. The Marines had built a base on a little forest planet that was home to no sentient life, but plenty of critters.

After the disaster of a mission he had recently been on, he was glad to have a chance for a more relaxing mission. Most of the other surviving Marines from that mission had been stationed here as well. This place was good for young Marines just starting out, and older ones who needed some calm in between.

There were plenty of other staff stationed here, in case of accidents and emergencies. There was a full medical staff and multiple robotics experts for androids and cyborgs.

However, there had been a small bump of excitement lately, a ship carrying 4 traumatized passengers had entered the sector and the Marines had intercepted it.

A fellow Marine was one of the passengers on the ship, and with information from him and the rest of the passengers, it painted a gruesome tale.

Ralph didn't know much about all of that, just what he had heard from the others. His specialties weren't needed, so he hadn't been on scene.

But, once the group had gotten settled and all the excitement of newcomers was over, everything had settled right back down into routine once more.

Ralph's routine involved a morning jog through the forest, and that's where he's at now. He had grown up on a heavily-forested planet, so he felt like the trees gave him a little taste of home.

As he jogs through the forest, he hears something rustling nearby and he pauses, looking around to see if he could spot it. Maybe it was a bird or a fox or something.

Comments

[sleepallthewayhome]

"I'm the best! But everyone always said I cheated. Just because I was smaller then them."

She's jumped down to the ground at this point....she wasn't very high up anyway. And folds her arms.

"They're just jeal..." She falls silent for a moment and her face grows paler, her voice quieter as she looks away. "....it doesn't matter now anyway. But I didn't cheat."

[wreckyeah]

At first, Ralph was amused by Newt's confidence, then her demeanor changed. He wasn't sure what exactly had happened to her, but it had sounded like it wasn't good.

"Everybody's got their own stuff they're good at. Yer good at hidin', I'm good at bein' strong." He's agreeing with her that she didn't cheat in his own way, but also offering a chance at a change of topic, in case she wants that.

[sleepallthewayhome]

[She nods.]

I'm the best at hiding.

[And she's had time to process things so it isn't as ...fresh as it was in the past. It's just said with a matter-of-factness. That's slightly stiff, as though there's still some raw pain behind it.]

You're good at being strong? ....can you lift really heavy things?

[wreckyeah]

Ralph grins and gives her a nod, "Yep! I can lift a lotta things! Not everything, though, tried to lift a spaceship once and it didn't even budge." He figured that he should throw a little humor in there and see how she responds.

[sleepallthewayhome]

The humour is great, she laughs.

"You can't lift a spaceship, you need machines for that."

[wreckyeah]

Good, Ralph's glad that he was able to lighten things up a little.

"Right! We've got a bunch of 'em here, that way all the mechanics an' stuff can get under 'em to fix 'em up."

[sleepallthewayhome]

She nods.

"So what do you do here?"

[wreckyeah]

Ralph shrugs, "Most days, not much. We're stationed here to keep an eye on things way out here. It's usually pretty quiet, but sometimes ships come in or people on another planet need us to come an' help."

[sleepallthewayhome]

"It's good if you don't have to go places. We had marines on ours trying to help....but all of them died except for Hicks and he got really hurt. Then it was just Ripley and me and Bishop....and Bishop got hurt really bad too."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph's face falls as he hears this, so many lives, so many Marines lost. He's been on a few nasty missions, but nothing with that low of a survival rate. Even the Cy-Bugs hadn't claimed that many Marines.

He's torn on how to respond, he doesn't want to upset Newt any more.

Finally, after a moment, he manages a smile and says, "Sounds like you were pretty brave back there, huh?"

[sleepallthewayhome]

Newt shrugs slightly.

"Ripley keeps saying that...but I just hid. After they killed everyone on the colony and before the marines showed up. I was alone ....I was scared but I had to survive and sneak out and get food. ...Ripley said that's what being brave means. Even if I was really scared."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph goes silent again as Newt talks more about her situation. A whole colony wiped out by something? Something bad enough to take out most of a group of Marines as well?

He slowly nods, "Ripley was right, that's what bein' brave is all about. You were smart, too, to be able to hide all that time."

[sleepallthewayhome]

"I knew all the places on the colony, and I was small so they couldn't get me. Even if they chased me in the big vents. I could hide away in the smaller ones."

Says this all blandly.

"I think they ignored me sometimes because they had everyone else and I hid."

[wreckyeah]

She doesn't seem to have much of an emotional response to what had happened. Was that the result of her trauma? Or was it just how she handled things?

Ralph tilts his head, "Could be. You mighta been too tricky for 'em and they had plenty else to deal with..." So, there was some kind of invasion, something had gotten in and wiped everybody but this one girl out.

"I'm glad you were able to survive."

[sleepallthewayhome]

If Ripley were here, she'd be very worried at the tone. But Ralph doesn't know that.

"Yeah.....they did."

And there's a ....pain behind that last bit that slips out, because what they were "dealing with" was using her friends, family and everyone who hadn't just died as ....things for their babies to grow in.

"Ripley saved me, then Bishop did. At the end."

Her tone is growing more and more....just, possibly going to bolt soon, if that's even a tone.

[wreckyeah]

Ralph might've not been completely aware of Newt's pain at first, but the more they talk, the more he realizes that she's not okay.

He has no ideas of the sheer scope of the horrors she's witnessed, but clearly something very terrible happened at her colony.

Ralph's not sure what to do, he's not very good at this sort of thing, despite his best efforts.

"Sounds like you've got some good friends there."

He then sits down, figuring that maybe his size might be intimidating her. However, it's probably not a great deal of help, as he's likely still towering over Newt, even with sitting on the ground.

[sleepallthewayhome]

I do....

[And that was the best thing to say because yes, make her focus on the still alive people. Her voice grows less numb.]

Hicks is still hurt but they fixed Bishop pretty quick since he's an android. ....And Ripley said she'd adopt me if I want.

I said yes. So now the four of us are a family.

[She knows Ripley still has some issues with Bishop she doesn't really get but Bishop is important and she loves him like she loves Hicks and Ripley....though neither of the other two will compare for her love for Ripley but that's okay because they understand. She knows this without even being aware it's a thought.]

[wreckyeah]

There's a definite change in the mood, Ralph's not sure what he exactly did to cause it, but he's going to try and keep Newt in a better place mentally.

He gives her a warm smile, "Sounds like you've got a pretty good family. Don' worry 'bout Hicks, we've got some good medics, they'll patch him up better than new."

Ralph thinks for a moment, "Hey, maybe you could make 'im a get well card or somethin' while he's healin'?"

Arts and crafts might be a good diversion from her darker thoughts, it was worth a shot, anyway.

[sleepallthewayhome]

Newt looks thoughtful.

"Do you think I could?"

[wreckyeah]

Things are looking better and better, he's really glad for that.

Ralph grins, "Yeah! We don't have a whole lotta different supplies, but we've got enough for ya to make something fun with."

They didn't have a lot of different kinds of paper or things to write with, but they had pens and regular paper. A lot of their systems are digital, but it was always nice to have a backup for when power or electronics failed.

[sleepallthewayhome]

She thinks it over and then looks over at him.

"Do you know where I could find some?"

[wreckyeah]

Ralph nods with a smile, "We've got a supply room that should have plenty of what ya need. I can show you where it's at."

[sleepallthewayhome]

"Okay." She'll walkover to where he is.

"Maybe if there's enough paper I can make a thank you card for Bishop and Ripley too."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph lumbers back up to his feet, giving Newt a grin.

"Don't worry, we've got enough paper for all th' cards you wanna make."

They didn't use paper all that often, and he figured that it was for a good cause. If she used a lot of it, they could just order more at the next supply run.

"I think the quickest way back is this way."

Ralph tilts his head in the correct direction, then starts slowly walking, making sure that Newt is coming along with him.

[sleepallthewayhome]

She makes up her mind and starts to follow him.

"Have you made cards before?"