Alex stumbles blindly through the darkened corridors. Every drop of condensation falling to the floor, or draft whistling around a corner, is cause to turn and glance over a shoulder. She pauses at a large juncture, deciding on which way to go. Not giving her mind a chance to play tricks, Lex chooses to go left. Bad choice. She finds herself at a dead end. Glancing down at her watch, which also serves as a compass, Lex releases a wary sigh.


    “I guess…I go back,” she mentally chides herself.


    At that moment, a strange sensation travels the entire course of her spine. She is not alone. A soft metallic clink, very similar to one she has heard off and on for several minutes, sounds in the large open space. Pursing her lips, and steeling herself, Lex prepares to turn and face her enemy. One of those black demons? Maybe even the same one that carried Sebastian away.


    Shivering uncontrollably, Lex turns completely around. No, not one of the black demons. It is the creature from the staircase. The creature which ended poor Weyland’s life at the edge of a blade. Tears spring to Alex’s eyes and her body trembles more violently. It can’t end like this. Oh god. It can’t end like this.


    The creature extends a long metal weapon, resembling a retractable spear, to its full length. Fear completely takes hold of Lex and she trembles even more violently. Growling menacingly, the alien creature takes on a fighting stance, its beaded braids whipping violently. Lex extends both hands forward and utters a plea of surrender.


    “Wait…Please. Please, wait,” Lex cries.


    The creature seems to understand her intent. It halts its movement and listens intently as Lex attempts to communicate. Unsure if her point is truly getting across, Lex kneels on the ground and reaches behind her. Removing her bag, she slides it—and the ancient weapon—towards the creature. The creature stares at her with what can only be disbelief.


    A loud gasp escapes Lex’s lips as an enormous barbed tail erupts from the center of the creature’s chest. Stumbling forward, Lex utters a single word: “No!”


    -


    -


    Bolting upright in bed, Lex places a hand across the left side of her chest. She glances over at the clock on her nightstand. 1:21 am. Damn. Only thirty minutes since she laid her head down to sleep. It had all seemed so real. She had really believed she was back there. In Antarctica. Inside the pyramid.


    Climbing out of bed, Lex uses both feet to search for her bunny slippers. Sliding her slender feet into them, Lex makes her way to the bedroom door. Was any of it real? The alien in her kitchen—claiming to be the twin of the yautja she knew as Scar. The hooded man in black? Lex peers at her hands in the darkness. The splinter which embedded itself in the center of her hand—while digging a six-foot hole for the miscreant assassin’s body—is still there. This is no dream.


    Cautiously opening the door, Lex makes her way down the staircase, eyes searching every shadow for hidden figures. At the bottom of the steps, she glances behind her, and runs right into a cloaked Scorvo. The hunter casually drops his shield and tilts his head to one side.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    “I couldn’t sleep,” Lex says.


    “I know,” Scorvo responds matter-of-factly. “I heard you cry out.”


    “Did I? Uh. Yeah. I had a nightmare. Nearly getting killed…Again…Will do that to a person.”


    Lex absently rubs at the splinter which has made its home in her palm. Scorvo observes the movement and reaches down to take Lex’s hand in his larger one.


    “Does it still bother you? The injury to your hand?”


    “No. Not really. It’s only a splinter. It’ll work its way out eventually. They always do.”


    Lex tries to pry her hand from Scorvo’s but the yautja warrior is having none of it.


    “I can remove it for you. There will be no pain.”


    Lex stops moving and locks eyes with Scorvo.


    “Okay. Sure. And while you do that…You can tell me exactly how we’re going to get into a maximum security facility. Got a magic wand I don’t know about?”


    “I have something better,” Scorvo says, a grin exploding onto his face. “I have you.”


    “Me?” Lex crows in disbelief.


    Scorvo continues to smile.


    -


    -


    Lex is seated at the table, hand outstretched. Scorvo finishes cleaning her palm and gazes up into her face with half-lidded eyes.


    “I’m waiting,” Lex demands impatiently.


    “When we enter the ooman science facility…You will no longer be Alexa Woods. Or even Laura Mattley. You will be Solora Brighton.”


    Lex wrenches her hand free and wags a finger at Scorvo. Already, she is doubting the effectiveness of Scorvo’s plan.


    “Who the hell is Solora Brighton?”


    “Solora Brighton is an ooman biologist stationed at the facility where my kind believe Scar is being imprisoned. I have read through her files. She is a perfect match. You could impersonate her quite easily. You are both the same height, approximately the same weight, you have a more than similar facial structure, your hair is the same length, and your skin is the same shade. We were quite lucky in this regard. However, I will admit…Your chest mounds are negligibly smaller. But I don’t think any male of your species would notice the difference.”


    “Excuse me?” Lex says, more than a little offended. “Hello! Rude much!”


    A small chuckle escapes from between Scorvo’s teeth and he draws his mandibles shut.


    “I apologize. I was warned…During our lessons as childlings…That ooman females are quite sensitive about their physical appearance. I did not mean to offend.”


    “None taken,” Lex lies. “You did say…Negligibly…After all.”


    The smile plastered to Scorvo’s mouth does not fade as he continues to outline their plan. Lex listens closely and intently.


    “It will be easier to reach the science facility by ship. My vessel is hidden in a stony place several kilometers from the edge of your nearest ooman town.”


    “Graystone National Park? You stashed your ship…In a national park? Do you know how many people go through there every day? Someone might find it? We need to go now!”


    Scorvo is taken aback by Lex’s sudden need for urgency. Only hours ago, she’d shown not even a hint of desire to accompany him. He follows Lex’s lead, as she climbs hurriedly to her feet. He strides toward the departing woman and gently grips her by the right elbow.


    “I do not understand,” Scorvo says. “My ship is cloaked. Even if someone should happen upon it, they would not know it for what it is. Not in the dark.”


    “No. You don’t understand,” Lex says. This time, it is her turn to laugh.


    “I have a chance to ride in a bona fide alien ship. I’ve been waiting to do that for over eleven years. Since your buddies left me stranded on the ice in Antarctica. I’ll be damned, if I’m going to miss this opportunity. Give me a few minutes to get ready…And I’ll grab my keys.”


    Lex pats the side of Scorvo’s face and strolls from the kitchen. Scorvo looks after her in bewilderment. If he’d known that was all it would take to win the ooman female’s trust, he would have mentioned the ship earlier.