Aliens Predator:

                     Deadly Consequences



          Based upon the graphic novel by Dark Horse

                Screenplay by Andrew Searls



PART FOUR OF FOUR



[COMMUNICATIONS TOWER - JUST BELOW TOP PLATFORM]



Broken Tusk reaches the bottom of the top platform.  He slows as he reaches this point, and several Aliens immediately begin to catch up with him.  He begins to battle with the Aliens, using one arm and both legs.  The weight of several creatures and the swinging of battle is causing stress to the ladder.  The metal begins to creak.  An Alien jumps up a length of tower beside Broken Tusk.  It lands at the bottom of the platform, hanging upside down.  The upside-down Alien slashes at Broken Tusk with its tail.  The Predator dodges, swinging away.  The Alien tail connects with the ladder, lodging in one of the uprights.  Broken Tusk sees the cut upright.  The Alien tugs at its tail, attempting to free it from the pipe.  Broken Tusk attempts to climb to the tower structure to get off the ladder, but it is still fighting the Aliens beneath it.  The top of the ladder gives away.  Broken Tusk grabs a rung with both hands.  The ladder bends outwards, away from the tower.  Broken Tusk hangs on, still fending the Aliens off.  The bending section of the ladder lurches as a lower section of it pulls against the frame of the tower, but holds.  The jerking dislodges an Alien, which falls.  Broken Tusk succeeds in knocking nearly all of the Aliens off, one by one.  He begins to look around for a way off the ladder.  He decides he must climb down off the broken section of ladder.



	Noguchi (offscreen, from Coptor-1 loudspeaker) "Grab on!  We'll lift you to safety!"



Broken Tusk looks behind him to see Coptor 1 approaching.



[COPTOR 1 - VIEW OF TOWER APPROACHING]



Broken Tusk climbs to the top of the ladder.  The ladder section bounces dangerously.



	Noguchi "Shit!  An _experienced_ pilot wouldn't pull this stunt."



[COMMUNICATIONS TOWER - TOP OF LADDER]



Coptor 1 comes very close, and almost knocks Broken Tusk off.  It pulls away, and approaches again, still unsteady.



[COPTOR 1 - NOGUCHI]



Noguchi flinches as she botches another attempt.



	Noguchi "This is ridiculous, Miriam!"



Noguchi hits a switch on the instrument panel.



[COMMUNICATIONS TOWER - TOP OF LADDER]



Coptor 1 rises above the ladder as the landing gear extend.  The vehicle pivots and drops, so that the cockpit is pointed directly at the top of the ladder.  Broken Tusk reaches for the nose of Coptor 1, but there is nothing to grab.  He sees the nose gear, and grabs on to it.



[COPTOR 1 - VIEW OF TOWER]



Coptor 1 is too high to see the ladder for a moment.  The nose lurches a little, and Noguchi corrects.  Coptor-1 drops downward, and the empty ladder comes into view.



	Miriam "He's got the nose gear!"



[COMMUNICATIONS TOWER - TOP OF LADDER]



Coptor 1 slowly pulls away from the tower and pivots to face the east.  The trucks and hover bikes have already put some distance behind them.  The upside-down Alien, still under the platform, leaps out to the top of the ladder.



[COPTOR 1 - VIEW OF TOWER]



Noguchi notices the movement, and looks over in time to see the Alien land on the ladder.



	Noguchi "Oh, shit!"



The Alien leaps off the ladder and disappears off the top of the cockpit view.



[COMMUNICATIONS TOWER - TOP OF LADDER]



The Alien grabs the rim of the lift fan on the near side, landing against the side panel with it's feet.  The landing rocks Coptor 1 dangerously.  The tilted coptor begins to accelerate towards the tower, knocking up against the ladder.  The Alien is pushed off the side of the lift fan before the fan smashes into the tower frame.  The antenna at the top of the tower tilts as the tower frame begins to buckle.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING EXTERIOR - SOUTHWEST QUADRANT]



The dust hasn't settled, but the rhynth are gone.  Scott and Tom sheepishly step out to investigate the sounds coming from the communications tower.  The metallic crunch of the coptor hitting the tower frame makes them jump.  The damaged engine of Coptor 1 catches on fire.  Coptor 1 pulls away from the tower before the antenna falls over.  The damaged engine blows fire, smoke, and pieces of metal to the street beneath.  Coptor 1 begins an erratic descent down the street.  Broken Tusk swings by the nose gear.



	Tom "It's coming this way!"



	Scott "I think they see us, Tom."



[SOUTHWEST QUADRANT - CLOSEUP ON TOM AND SCOTT]



The approaching fire begins to add to the light on their faces.  Their expressions change as they realize Coptor 1 is headed directly for them.  They run to one side of the street.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING EXTERIOR - SOUTHWEST QUADRANT]



Tom and Scott are pelted with shrapnel as Coptor 1 impacts with the ground where they were standing.  Coptor 1 slides down the street.  The fire in the damaged engine begins to trail behind as fuel and oil spill out.  Coptor 1 turns to the damaged engine as it slides and begins to roll towards the undamaged engine.  The undamaged engine blows dust and small rocks ahead of Coptor 1 before it hits the ground and begins to fly apart.  Coptor 1 continues to roll, throwing dust, and spilling fuel.  The cockpit glass shatters as Coptor 1 is upside-down.  Scott and Tom begin chasing after Coptor 1 as it comes to rest on its side.



[SOUTHWEST 	QUADRANT - COPTOR 1 - VIEW THROUGH BROKEN WINDSHIELD OF NOGUCHI]



Scott's hands reach in and unbuckle Noguchi, who is unconscious.



[SOUTHWEST QUADRANT - ABOVE COPTOR 1]



Scott is standing on the pilot's door, reaching through the side window frame to lift Noguchi out.  Noguchi begins to wake.



	Scott "Jesus.  Who the hell taught you to fly?"



	Noguchi (weakly) "No one.... where's Miriam?"



Scott hands Noguchi to Tom, who helps her down.  Scott looks back into the cockpit, and then looks back to Noguchi.



	Scott "Who?"



The three begin making their way down off of the wreckage.  Noguchi's head begins to clear.



	Noguchi (stronger) "Where's Miriam?"



	Scott "I didn't see anyone else."



	Tom "Come on!  Let's get out of here!"



The three reach the ground.  Noguchi pushes Tom away.



	Noguchi "I'm not leaving without Dr. Revna!"



The three stop short and look offscreen.



	Scott "Oh, Jesus."



[SOUTHWEST QUADRANT - GROUND LEVEL - BESIDE COPTOR 1]



Broken Tusk steps around the wreckage from the trail of twisted metal and flames.  He is carrying Miriam's body.  Noguchi slowly walks up to the Predator.



[SOUTHWEST QUADRANT - CLOSEUP OF MIRIAM]



Blood is in her hair and trailing out of her mouth.  Noguchi's hand caresses her cheek.



	Noguchi (nearly out of control) "Oh, Miriam.....I'm so sorry...."



Broken Tusk calmly regards Noguchi.



	Broken Tusk (Noguchi's voice) "Grab on.  We'll lift you to safety."



Noguchi blinks through the tears in her eyes at Broken Tusk.



[NORTHERN END OF PROSPERITY WELLS - TOP OF BARRICADE]



The holding pens are completely empty.  There is a rumbling noise, but only faintly.  The windmill turns lazily in the wind.  The communications tower, sans antenna, can be seen.  Smoke is still rising near the base of the tower.  The headquarters building and the Lector are on the far side, still lit by a few remaining lights.  An Alien lands on the edge of the barricade, silhouetted by the lights.  The sky begins to change tint as dawn approaches.  Four figures are barely discernible, walking along the north side of the headquarters building.  The Alien's head turns, evidently detecting the group.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING EXTERIOR - NORTH SIDE]



Noguchi leads the group, sidearm drawn.  Scott and Tom trail closely behind.  Broken Tusk brings up the rear at a respectful distance.



	Tom (angry) "Are you saying _they_ let those bugs loose on a populated planet so that they could _hunt_ them?"



	Noguchi "I don't think his kind knew there were humans on Ryushi.  We haven't been here long.  I doubt that we were here the last time they dropped in.  In fact, our presence probably screwed up their plans."



	Tom "Oh, great!  I feel so much better knowing that this whole mess was an accident!"



	Noguchi "Hey, at least he's on _our_ side."



	Scott "Yeah?  Probably only until he gets hungry..."



The group reaches the corner of the north side heads for the east lock.  The ground is much smoother.  There are much fewer bodies lying around.  Not much of the stampede went this direction.



	Noguchi "I just hope that the stampede got most of those bugs."



Tom looks back and notices that Broken Tusk has stopped a short distance behind them.



	Tom "You haven't scratched the surface!  _RUN_!"



As Scott and Noguchi turn to look at Broken Tusk, three Aliens leap off an overhead walkway, landing very close to where Broken Tusk is standing.  Broken Tusk has already pulled his double-ended spear out from the sling on his back.  Two more Aliens land as Broken Tusk cuts two of the first three down in a single, fluid stroke.  His forearm blades cut the throat of an Alien as another leaps at him.  He smoothly steps out of the way of the shower of acid blood, poking another Alien up through the head with his spear.  It almost appears as if he is moving in slow motion, and yet the Aliens are being dispatched very quickly.  Just not quickly enough.  He cuts down two more Aliens and turns to face the last just in time to see it get hit with a series of bullets.  He turns to Noguchi, who is changing clips on her sidearm.



	Noguchi "Sorry, but we've got to go."



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - INTERIOR - EAST LOCK]



Scott impatiently waits by the controls for the outer doors as Broken Tusk and Noguchi run inside.  Broken Tusk stops long enough to make sure the door closes completely.  Everybody quickly heads through the inner doors.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OPERATIONS ROOM]



The group enters the operations room slowly, making sure that it is really empty.  Noguchi begins to scan the consoles for information.  Tom begins to do the same.  Broken Tusk watches from the doorway, keeping an eye out for trouble.  Scott merely keeps a respectful distance from the Predator.



	Tom "So, what's the plan?"



Tom stops and picks up a piece of paper from the printer at the communications console.



	Noguchi "Well, the colonists made it out safely - that's the main thing.  Here, we've got power, water, and food.  I guess we'll just seal ourselves in and wait for the marines."



	Tom "Wrong.  The marines aren't coming.  Seems your boss wants the bugs _alive_."



Noguchi storms over to the communications console and takes the paper out of Tom's hands.



	Noguchi (very angry) "Let me see that!"



[OPERATIONS ROOM - CLOSEUP ON COMMUNIQUE]



	FROM: TAKASHI CHIGUSA, NEW OSAKA

	TO:   MACHIKI NOGUCHI, PROSPERITY WELLS



	MOST IMMEDIATE REQUEST FOR MARINE INTERVENTION DENIED.

	TAKE ALL STEPS TO PRESERVE ALL SPECIMENS OF SPECIES

	DESCRIBED IN DR. REVNA'S REPORT.  PROCEED WITH MEASURES

	TO INSURE SAFETY OF ALL PERSONNEL, BUT TALK NO ACTION

	AGAINST LIVING XT SPECIMENS.  AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS FROM

	SHIGERU CHIGUSA, ARRIVING ON MASUKO MARU.



[OPERATIONS ROOM]



Scott is reading over Noguchi's shoulder.



	Scott "Screw that shit!  I say we scram out of here a join the colonists!"



Noguchi crumples the paper and throws it across the room.



	Noguchi "Yeah?  And how long before the bugs spread into the desert?  Look, I don't know about you two, but I'm tired of being pushed around.  I want to start pushing back."



	Scott "Sure, but what are you gonna do?  Burn down the whole complex?"



Tom begins to feel uncomfortable.



	Tom "I don't think that'd work, Scott.  Too many of them would get away.  It's got to be (coff) something fast."



	Scott "Maybe our friend here has some ideas.  A death ray or something."



Tom holds his stomach.



	Tom "I'm serious.  I think Machiko (coff) had the right idea with the stampede.  They're bugs, why not crush them?  Her foot was just (coff) too small."



	Noguchi (thoughtful) "We need something big enough to take out the whole complex, and the Lector, at once."



Tom rubs his chest and tries to suppress more coughs.



	Scott "You talking about what I think you are?  Forget it!"



	Noguchi "Do you have any better ideas?"



Tom kneels down and begins grabbing at his chest.



	Scott "You know how many shares I have riding on.... Tom? Wha?"



Tom flips onto his back, convulsing.  His yellow shirt turns red with a sickening crunch.  Blood starts pouring out of his nose and mouth.  Broken Tusk leaps across the room.  Noguchi and Scott look on in horror as a chestburster shoves up through Tom's shirt.  Tom stops convulsing, but his hands continue to shake.  The chestburster barely has time to give an initial cry before being cut in two by Broken Tusk's double-ended spear.  Scott collapses into the nearest console chair.



	Scott (weakly) "Oh, god....Tom....Jesus..."



Noguchi puts a hand on Scott's shoulder.



	Noguchi "Look....uh...I know Strandberg was your friend.  I've lost some friends today, too.  But, I can't let you go to pieces yet.  I need you functioning.  I can't do this alone."



	Scott (sobs) "You don't get it, do you?  What happened to Tom....that thing that was inside him..."



Scott turns to face Noguchi, tears streaming from his eyes.



	Scott "We were together on the Lector.  That means I've got one inside me, too.  My life's over.  Leave me alone."



	Noguchi "You're not dead yet, Conover, and I still need your help.  We're all in this together."



	Scott "And if I don't help you?  Think you can threaten me now?"



	Noguchi "No, but maybe I can help you."



	Scott "Help me?  How?  You a doctor?  You gonna perform surgery and make me all better?"



	Noguchi "No....I can't do that.  But you can have a shot at revenge."



Noguchi takes her sidearm out of its holster and holds it in front of Scott.



	Noguchi "And when the time comes, I can make it quicker, easier, for you."



Scott looks at the gun with resignation.  He reaches into his pocket.



	Scott "Ok, everything you'll need is on this disk."



Noguchi takes the disk, and then frowns.



	Noguchi "The communications tower is trashed.  How can I get an off-planet transmission?"



	Scott "There's an uplink in the Lector.  Good luck getting to the cockpit, though."



A distant thumping sound is heard from the direction of the east lock.



	Noguchi "Don't worry, we'll find a way."



	Scott "You know, if this works, the company's gonna be pissed."



	Noguchi "Screw the company.  They can bill me."



	Scott "I was (coff) hoping you'd say that."



The thumping sound continues.  Broken Tusk begins to grow restless.  Scott starts rubbing his chest.  He takes a piece of paper out of the same pocket he had the disk in.



	Scott "Here's a (coff) a going away present, a map of the Lector.  Used this stuff (ahem) to get spec'd on the ship.  (coff)  Wondered why I kept it."



Scott is visibly beginning to feel pain in his chest.  Noguchi backs away.



	Scott "(coff) I guess (coff) it's time to keep your half of the bargain..."



Broken Tusk steps up beside Noguchi.



	Broken Tusk (Noguchi's voice) "I can make it quicker, easier, for you."



Noguchi puts a hand in front of Broken Tusk.



	Noguchi "No.  I made the promise, I'll do it."



	Scott "Shit. (coff)  Just (unh) do it!"



Scott clenches his fists and closes his eyes.  Noguchi lifts her sidearm up and takes aim.



	Noguchi "Conover, I'll remember you."



[LARGE CANYON EAST OF PROSPERITY WELLS]



The trucks and hover bikes have all stopped.  People are beginning to build make-shift shelters as the suns rise over the horizon, and the temperature begins to climb.  A group are discussing their plans.



	Weaver "If Machiko were coming, she'd be here by now."



	Downey "Maybe someone should go back, and..."



	Ackland "_Forget_ it.  There's nothing we can do until the marines show up."



	Weaver "It could take weeks for an assault party to arrive, Ackland."



	Ikeda "In the meantime, Machiko could be hurt, or in need of help."



	Ackland "Those are the chances she took when she accepted the job.  Chigusa corp. is responsible for the safety of the colonists, not the other way around."



	Roth "You _bastard_!  You can't shove this all off on the company.  You had me lie to Doc Revna about where we found those creatures!  It was your idea to sneak those sick rhynth past quarantine!"



	Ackland "Uh, look.  You know what a hard-ass Noguchi is.  I was just trying to protect my inv...... uh _our_ investments."



	Angry rancher 1 "Screw our investments.  I've got a family."



	Angry rancher 2 "Same here."



	Angry rancher 3 "You can say what you want about Noguchi, Ackland, but when it came down to it, she risked her life to save all of us, including you!"



	Roth "You'd better pray she's still alive when this is all over."



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - ROOFTOP]



The rooftop is a small platform at the top of the conical tent.  Noguchi and Broken Tusk take a moment to look at the deserted Prosperity Wells as the suns rise.  The Lector is not far away.  The thumping noise heard in operations can be heard up here.  The thumping gives way to metallic groans.  Noguchi looks to the eastern side of the building in time to see a large number of Aliens disappear into the east lock.  Noguchi tucks the map and disk into her vest and looks over at Broken Tusk.  He nods back.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - SOUTH LOCK]



A pair of Aliens, evidently sentries of some sort, lurk in the shrinking shadows.  An approaching sound alerts them, and they step out to investigate.  One of them looks up.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OVER SOUTH LOCK]



Broken Tusk is sliding down the tent material, Noguchi is sliding down a safe distance behind him.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - NOGUCHI'S POV]



Broken Tusk prepares for landing as he approaches the bottom of the tent.  The two Aliens are visible near the bottom support frame.  Broken Tusk skewers one of the Aliens as he lands.  The second he slashes with his forearm blades in a swift, fluid stroke.



[HEADQUARTERS BUILDING - OVER SOUTH LOCK]



Noguchi rotates to avoid landing on top of Broken Tusk and the two Alien bodies.  She lands running.



	Noguchi "Never mind them, get to the Lector!"



Noguchi leaps up to the door of a nearby tractor.



[LECTOR - CARGO BAY 2]



The nest is complete.  The Queen sits quietly as a few sentries look over her egg-producing sac.  The end of the sac has just deposited another egg, and shifts to prepare to lay the next.  The hive is disturbingly serene, as if victory has already been declared.  With no warning, a truck breaks through the door, throwing shards of resin and crushing a sentry.  The truck bounces to a stop only after pounding through the egg-producing sac.  The Queen is stunned, but the sentries spring towards the truck.



[CARGO BAY 2 - SIDE OF TRUCK]



A sentry lands close to the truck and hisses.  A moment later, the side of the truck lights up with an energy blast, taking the door and the sentry off-screen.  Broken Tusk steps out, smoke hissing from his shoulder-gun.  Noguchi steps out, and immediately fires several rounds to a target out of view.  An Alien scream can be heard off-screen.  She pulls out the map and attempts to gain her bearings.  The map obviously doesn't have any information on the hive, and the original walls of the cargo bay have long been covered with resin.  Using the hole they punched in the wall with the truck as a reference, she steps down and faces the front of the truck.  She stops and gasps as she sees the stunned, pinned Queen.  Broken Tusk dispatches an approaching sentry, the noise bringing Noguchi back.



	Noguchi "Er.... let's go this way."



Noguchi leads Broken Tusk around the back of the truck.



[LECTOR - PASSAGEWAY LEADING FROM CARGO BAY 2]



As the two head down the passageway, the resin walls of the hive thin.  The Lector walls are much easier to see.  Broken Tusk keeps an eye behind them as Noguchi follows the map and leads them around a corner.



[LECTOR - END OF HALLWAY]



The hallway ends in a set of doors.  Yellow and black stripes line the doorway.  A sign above reads "EMERGENCY ESCAPE POD:  STAY CLEAR OF CLOSING DOORS".



	Noguchi "Here's Conover's going-away present.  I hope we get a chance to use it."



Noguchi takes a moment to refer to the map.  She looks to her side and sees a ladder.  She looks back at the map before getting Broken Tusk's attention and holding her hand up in front of him.



	Noguchi "Hold the fort, I'll be back."



Noguchi begins to head for the ladder.  Broken Tusk follows.  Noguchi stops and holds her hand in front of him again.



	Noguchi "Stay."



The Predator looks at her hand a moment, then steps over to guard the hallway corner.  Noguchi starts to climb the ladder.



	Noguchi "I'll be back when I'm done."



[LECTOR - ACCESS TUBE]



Noguchi stops climbing at an opening beside the ladder.  She takes the map out of her mouth and reads it.  She puts the map back in her mouth, grabs her sidearm, and continues up the ladder.



	Noguchi "Big ship."



[LECTOR - FLIGHT ENGINEERING - BEHIND COCKPIT]



Noguchi climbs up the ladder at the back of the room an stops to a hissing sound.  A couple of footsteps are heard in the darkness.  She holds her gun ready, trying to pick out a target.  An Alien silhouette appears in the doorway of the cockpit.  The Alien is walking directly towards Noguchi, but the mid-morning light coming through the windshield betrays its position.  Noguchi quickly lets several rounds go, and the Alien falls.



[LECTOR - COCKPIT]



Noguchi carefully steps over the hissing mass, avoiding the holes she sees develop in the floor from the acid blood.  She sits down in the co-pilots seat and takes the disc out of a pocket in her vest.  She looks at the mass of buttons and readouts on the instrument panel and hesitates.



	Noguchi "Shit, too bad the map doesn't cover this."



She spies a suspect slot and tries the disk.  The instrument panel immediately comes to life.  Displays show different kinds of information regarding both the Lector tug and the remaining cargo barge still in orbit.



	Noguchi "Ok, so far so good."



Concentrating on the displays that show the barge in orbit, she begins to make out the labels on the nearby panels.  Finding one that looks close enough, she holds her finger over it.



	Noguchi "Oh, please."



The pushes the button, and the display changes.  Noguchi releases a sigh of relief.



	Noguchi "Close enough."



She continues to work on the panel, starting to understand the layout of the buttons and display.



[LARGE CANYON EAST OF PROSPERITY WELLS - SIDE OF EQUIPMENT TRUCK]



Ikeda is manning a console inside.  Weaver is standing beside her.  Ackland is standing quietly outside the truck, arms folded.  Ackland has a new black eye in addition to the bruise caused by Noguchi's kick.



	Ikeda "Weaver, look at this!  I'm picking up a signal originating from Prosperity Wells!"



	Weaver (hopeful) "A distress signal?"



[SPACE - ORBIT ABOVE RYUSHI - CARGO BARGE]



	Ikeda (offscreen) "No, it's directed at the Lector's orbital barge.....navigational instructions!"



A moment later, maneuvering engines on the barge fire, and the barge begins to rotate.  Other engines fire to stop the rotation once the barge is facing the other direction.  A pair of larger engines begin to fire.



[LECTOR - COCKPIT]



Noguchi frowns at the display.

	

	Noguchi "What?  It hit the window already?!"



The display continues to change and Noguchi begins to get excited.



	Noguchi "Damn, I don't have much time!"



Noguchi jumps over the Alien body and runs to the ladder.



[LECTOR - CARGO BAY 2]



The Queen begins to stir.  It hisses loudly and begins to tug away from the pinned egg-producing sac.  The Queen begins to gain strength, and lifts the truck over.



[LECTOR - CORNER OF HALLWAY]



Broken Tusk notices the sound, and looks to determine the direction of the source.  A hissing sound echoes around the hallway.  The sound of large feet pounding on the floor approaches.  Out of the darkness of the main hallway comes the image of the Queen.  She fills the hallway as she charges towards him.  His shoulders heave as he prepares against the charge.  The Predator tries to give no warning to his swing of the double-ended spear, but he is forced to duck the jaws of the Queen as she reaches the corner.  The spear nicks her neck, and is knocked out of his hands by one of her huge arms.  Broken Tusk swings his arm back, bearing his forearm blades.  The Queen's tail whips around before he can strike.  He rolls into the wall, face mask falling off.  His chest begins to ooze with glowing green blood.  He looks up to see the head of the Queen turn to face him.  The head, complete with crown, is bigger than his entire body.  The Queen hisses at him.  He answers with a roar of his own.  The Queen steps closer to him.  Her jaw opens to clear her second jaw, which also opens in preparation to strike at the Predator.



	Noguchi (offscreen) "Hey, mama!"



The Queen stops and steps back.  Noguchi, still on the ladder, empties her clip on the body of the Queen.  The Queen lets out an inhuman scream.  Noguchi jumps down to grab Broken Tusk.



	Noguchi "Give it a rest."



Noguchi grabs the Predator and helps him get up.  The green blood is flowing from his chest.



	Noguchi "Can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?"



The two get up and head through the door into the escape pod.  The Queen's head, shaking, lifts up off the floor into view.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - SEATS]



Noguchi helps Broken Tusk into one of the seats.



	Noguchi "Take it easy.  Five seconds and we're gone."



As she lets him down into the seat, a huge black hand grabs his shoulder.  The hand pulls him back into the seat, pounding his head on the headrest.  Noguchi looks to the doorway, off-screen.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - VIEW OF DOOR]



It is difficult to see how the Queen got her head through the door, as it fills space behind the seats.  Her grip on Broken Tusk tightens, and glowing green blood begins to flow from his shoulder.  She begins to pull him over the seat.  He howls in pain.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - PILOT CONSOLE]



A large red button, clearly labeled "EMERGENCY LAUNCH" is prominent on the panel.  Noguchi's fist slams down on the button.  Her fist lifts back up, revealing that she's cracked the protective cover over the button.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - VIEW OF DOOR]



Broken Tusk is nearly standing in the chair.  He reaches over with his free arm, and slashes at the Queen's arm with his forearm blades.  The Queen pulls back a stump and wails in pain.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - PILOT CONSOLE]



Noguchi's hand quickly lifts the protective cover off the button and slams her fist down again on the exposed button.



[LECTOR - ESCAPE POD - VIEW OF DOOR]



Broken Tusk slumps back down into the seat.  The pod doors slam shut, crushing the Queens neck and arm completely with a loud, metallic bang.



[ABOVE PROSPERITY WELLS]



A light can be seen in the sky, despite the brightness of the morning.  The light twinkles like a star, and begins to grow.  Soon, it is clearly a large fireball that is heading directly towards the Lector.  It is the cargo barge.  One of the containers breaks free and begins to tumble.  The barge is falling apart from the stress of entering the atmosphere, but there is still a huge amount of mass falling and tumbling.  A small escape pod punches up into the sky as the falling mass begins to fill the view.  The escape pod continues to rocket away from Prosperity Wells.



[VIEW FAR ABOVE PROSPERITY WELLS]



The escape pod leaves the top of the view as the mass of the barge slams into Prosperity Wells at supersonic speeds.  The direct blast levels most of the buildings instantly.  The shock wave immediately sweeps the far empty holding pens, literally blowing the structures away from the blast site.



[OPEN PLAINS EAST OF PROSPERITY WELLS - GROUND LEVEL]



The crater that was once Prosperity Wells burns in the distance.  A shadow forms on the ground.  The escape pod, under parachute, lands in the sand.  The dust cloud the landing kicks up begins to settle.



[OPEN PLAINS - BESIDE ESCAPE POD]



Noguchi lets Broken Tusk down to sit against the escape pod as gently as she can.  The Predator's front is covered with green blood.  He heaves and coughs up more blood.



	Noguchi "Oh God.... not you, too."



Broken Tusk begins to shake a little.  Noguchi grabs a large, stained hand.



	Noguchi "Look, I think you can understand me.  You've got to hang on.  The colonists are sure to come to see what's happened."



Broken Tusk opens his eyes and regards Noguchi.  A strange sound drops from the sky.  Noguchi scans the sky.  At first, she sees nothing but a small shimmering area.  Is the distortion comes closer, the outline of another Predator ship can be seen.  The distortion drops and lands near the escape pod.  She is frightened, not knowing what the new group will do.  She looks back to Broken Tusk, and decides to stay.  They listen to the engines shut down.  A hole in the distortion opens up, and a non-cloaked loading ramp drops.  



[OPEN PLAINS - PREDATOR SHIP]



A lone Predator steps down and looks out at the pair beside the escape pod.  Upon seeing the escape pod, Noguchi, and Broken Tusk, the lone Predator growls something inside, and is backed by a group of Predators as he walks calmly over.  



[OPEN PLAINS - BESIDE ESCAPE POD]



The group of Predators stop a short distance from Noguchi and Broken Tusk.



	Broken Tusk (Noguchi's voice) "Hold the fort.  I'll be back..."



Broken Tusk coughs and reaches for the Alien Queen's hand, still embedded in his shoulder.



	Broken Tusk (Noguchi's voice) "...when I'm done."



Broken Tusk snaps a finger off.  Acid blood begins to ooze from the digit.



	Broken Tusk (Conover's voice, faltering) "A going away present..."



[BESIDE ESCAPE POD - CLOSEUP ON NOGUCHI'S FACE]



Broken Tusk burns a jagged line onto Noguchi's forehead with the oozing Alien digit.  Noguchi's eyes wince, but she doesn't move.  The hand slowly drops away.



	Broken Tusk (offscreen, Noguchi's voice, faintly) "(huh)...remember you..."



Noguchi's eyes open.  Tears begin to form.  A small trickle of blood drops down the bridge of her nose.  She closes her eyes again and suppresses a whimper.  She opens her eyes again at the sound of the intake of a breath behind her.



[BESIDE ESCAPE POD - VIEW OF NOGUCHI AND PREDATOR GROUP]



Noguchi slowly stands up, and then carefully turns to face the group.



[BESIDE ESCAPE POD - POV OF LEAD PREDATOR]



Noguchi turns, the mid-morning suns clearly showing the newly burned mark on her forehead.  It resembles a wide, jagged line, like a thick lightning bolt.  A couple of hisses are heard off-screen.



[BESIDE ESCAPE POD - VIEW OF NOGUCHI AND PREDATOR GROUP]



The group is unsure what to do about this new development, and look to the leader for guidance.  To the leader, the choice is clear, the warrior code leaves no alternative.  He struts directly up to Noguchi, and takes his single-ended spear from its sling on his back.  He holds it up over his head.  Noguchi is too frightened and exhausted to move.  She closes her eyes.  The leader strikes the spear into the ground directly in front of Noguchi.  She jumps a little, and opens her eyes to see what she, and he, missed.  She watches in surprise as the lead Predator takes a step away from her.  The group of Predators, including the leader, look at Noguchi expectantly.  She realizes that it's her turn to make a decision.  She looks at the ornate carvings on the handle of the spear for a moment.  She looks back at the group, silently awaiting her next move.  She looks out over the plains, in the general direction she thinks the settlers have taken.



	Noguchi (to herself) "They're safe now."



She looks back at the spear, nearly decided.



	Noguchi (to herself) "I'm done here."



She grabs the spear with both hands and gives a good yank to free the spear from the sand.  The spear comes free on the second yank, and she holds it high above her head.  The entire Predator group roars in response, and begin to head back to the ship.  The leader stops to make sure Noguchi is following.  She walks up to him and offers the spear back.  The leader looks down on the spear.



	Leader Predator (a low, rumbling voice) "Keeeep iiitt..."



Noguchi looks down at the spear again.  The leader steps onto the loading ramp.  Noguchi nods her head.



	Noguchi "A welcoming present."



Noguchi follows the leader onto the Predator ship.  The loading ramp closes, disappearing into the outline of the cloaking effect.  The engines whine to life, and the ship lifts off Ryushi.



END OF STORY.