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]

"Okay."

She goes back to drawing. This time drawing a man with bandages on him, holding hands with a woman with frizzy hair. They're not the greatest drawings, definitely kid like.. The woman with frizzy hair is holding the hand of a girl who is clearly Newt, who is holding the hand of another man, thinner and more angel-y then the first one.

[wreckyeah]

Ralph quietly watches as she draws, Newt had talked about her family, so he was able to pick out who was who once the drawing had gotten far enough along.

He grins, "Lookin' great so far!"

[sleepallthewayhome]

She's also writing the names underneath, just in case Hicks can't tell.

Glancing over.

"Do you think so? Timmy said I wasn't good at drawing stuff."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph nods, "Yeah, I do. I dunno 'bout that, I'm not too good at drawin', myself. But, I figured out who everybody was, so you've got that goin' for ya."

[sleepallthewayhome]

That gets a small smile.

"Good."

She finishes labeling them and looks over it. Then writes at the bottom.

'Thank you for not dying. I would miss you - Love Newt.'

[wreckyeah]

The final words are a little morbid, but they're true and kind.

Ralph smiles as well, "That's one card down. Whose are you gonna work on next?"

[sleepallthewayhome]

"Um....Bishop."

She'll take another piece of paper and think for a minute before writing at the top.

'To the best Artificial Person'

She looks over at Ralph. "He says he likes being called that, instead of android or synthetic."

She's not sure why but he's important and even if Ripley still is weird around him, Newt will go with what he wants to be called.

[wreckyeah]

At this bit of information, Ralph nods thoughtfully with a small smile, "It's nice of ya to be so considerate, I'm sure he appreciates it." It was a small, but kind gesture, and it sounded like it meant a lot to Bishop.

He's not too familiar with robots or androids, he's worked with a few, but not too many. And, under the armor, everybody looks the same, it didn't matter if you were built, born, or hatched, they were all Marines, and that's what counted.

[sleepallthewayhome]

She shrugs.

"It makes sense. He's just as real as anyone else. It would be mean to call him something he doesn't like."

She draws a picture of Bishop holding her hand, before continuing to write.

'I'm glad you're fixed now. Thank you for saving my life and keeping me company here. I like spending time with you. Love, your friend Newt.'

[wreckyeah]

"Right!" Ralph agreed. Human, alien, robot, or anything else, that was a basic kindness that should be extended to everybody.

The message Newt writes in the card is very sweet. He smiles, "That's a good one, I'm sure he'll love it."

[sleepallthewayhome]

"I hope so."

She finishes the card and then pulls another piece of paper. This one will be harder.

She looks at the paper for a while.

[wreckyeah]

Ralph waits quietly while Newt thinks things over. He doesn't want to interrupt her train of thought, but after a little while, he notices that there hadn't been any changes at all.

"Er, uh, need some help puttin' somethin' down?"

[sleepallthewayhome]

"I don't know....Ripley's the most important person to me ever.....she made a promise and she came back and saved me...even when she could have left and saved herself and the other two. ....but she promised to never leave me. She fought the queen monster just to save me.

I don't know how to write that and not sound silly.

And sometimes I call her mommy and she doesn't seem to mind but what if she's just letting me to be nice...."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph frowns softly as Newt gives him more details of what had happened. He's starting to put the pieces together a little better now, and the picture is pretty grim.

He sighs softly, there's so many heavy topics to tackle. He figures to start with the most important one first.

Ralph reaches a hand over to try and put it gently on Newt's shoulder, "I don't think she minds, it sounds like the two of you have been through a lot together. But, if it'd make you feel better, maybe you should ask?"

[sleepallthewayhome]

"Yeah....I probably should ask first."

Little slump.

"I can still make her a card though..."

[wreckyeah]

Ralph nods, "Right! You can write down all those things you told me. I'm sure it'd mean a lot to her."

[sleepallthewayhome]

She looks over at him.

"Do you think so?"

[wreckyeah]

Ralph gives her another nod, this one a little more serious, "I do. Everything you said seemed to be somethin' you really meant. Sometimes sayin' stuff like that can go a long way for the other person. Everybody likes to be complimented an' wanted."

[sleepallthewayhome]

She thinks it over and nods.

"Okay."

She'll start working on the card.

[wreckyeah]

Ralph smiles and settles in to watch quietly. He's curious which direction Newt will take this card in.

[sleepallthewayhome]

She starts to write on the top.

'Dear Ripley. Thank you for saving me. I thought I was going to die and you came back to save me even though you didn't have to.'

She thinks some more. And then draws Ripley hugging her.

'You are the best and I hope we get to stay together. Thank you for keeping your promises to me and not leaving. You are my hero.

Love, Newt'

Newt looks at the card then over at Ralph.

"Does that seem okay?"

[wreckyeah]

Ralph gives the card a careful look over, even though he had read it as Newt wrote, he wanted to read it all flowing together.

When he's done, he gives her a warm smile, "I think it's perfect." It was sweet, sincere, and heartfelt, it didn't need anything else at all.

[sleepallthewayhome]

Newt looks it over before looking over at him, a little nervous.

"Do you think so?"

[wreckyeah]

Ralph grins.

"I know so. I'd love a card like that, an' I'm bettin' Ripley will, too."

[sleepallthewayhome]

She thinks for a moment and then takes another piece of paper out.

"I want to try another one.....but you can't look until I'm done, okay?"