Billie only wanted what all children want—the warmth and security of family,

the human connectedness that comes from belonging. What she got was a
nightmare without end. Wilks was a space marine with a near-fatal flaw: he had
a heart. Thrown together in the last hellish night of an Alien invasion of a far-
flung colony outpost, Billie and Wilks fought together to survive. Thirteen years
later, Wilks is in prison and Billie lives in a mental institution, the nightmare
memories of the massacre at Rim seared into her mind. Now the pair get a
chance to be reunited, to return to that outpost where it all happened, to finally
end the business between themselves... and the Alien monsters that altered
their destinies and destroyed their dreams.

Dark Horse Comics took the industry by storm with its release ofAliens, a comics
series that for the first time captured the power of film source material and
expanded its universe in a way that fans applauded worldwide. Now, the core
Dark Horse Aliens series—Outbreak, Nightmare Asylum, and Female War—are
collected in a value-priced, quality-format omnibus, featuring nearly 400 story
pages in full color. Written by screen and television scribe Mark Verheiden and
illustrated with consummate skill by Mark A. Nelson, Den Beauvais, and Sam
Kieth, Aliens Omnibus Volume 1 is an essential piece of the Aliens mythos and
a great entry point into the storied Dark Horse Aliens library.

ISBN 978-1-59307-727-3
52495>

9"78159 7273. {\\\| |

CONTENTS
OUTBREAK..

FEMALE WAR.

ens
THEORY OF ALIEN PROPAGATION...........ssssssssssssssesssesessesescsesseesseseseeeeteeseatsceneesDOT

THE ALIEN.........cssccssessrssesssesscceseres 367

cover illustration JOHN BOLTON

publisher MIKE RICHARDSON

series editors RANDY STRADLEY and DIANA SCHUTZ
collection editor CHRIS WARNER
designer JOSHUA ELLIOTT
art director LIA RIBACCHI

Special thanks to DEBBIE OLSHAN at Twentieth Century Fox Licensing.

ALIENS™ OMNIBUS Volume 1

Aliens™ & © 1986, 2007 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Illustrations and text © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992,
1996, 2007 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. TM indicates a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox
Film Corporation. Dark Horse Books® and the Dark Horse Logo are registered trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. All rights
reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the express
written permission of the copyright holders. Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication are either
the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events,
institutions, or locales, without satiric intent, is coincidental.

This volume collects material previously published as the Dark Horse graphic novels Aliens: Outbreak, Aliens: Nightmare
Asylum; and Aliens: Female War; and stories from the Dark Horse comic book Dark Horse Presents: Aliens Platinum Edition.

Dark Horse Books

A division of Dark Horse Comics, Inc.
10956 SE Main Street
Milwaukie OR 97222

darkhorse.com | foxmovies.com

To find a comics shop in your area, call the Comic Shop Locator Service toll-free at 1-888-266-4226

First edition: July 2007

ISBN 978-1-59307-727-3

109876543
Printed in China
 Cers
~ {ii o
=
a
script
MARK VERHEIDEN

art
MARK A. NELSON

colors
DARK HORSE DIGITAL

lettering
WILLIE SCHUBERT

title illustration
MARK A. NELSON
 ; WHY? I(T
WON'T MAKE ANY
DIFFERENCE.

IT STARTEP WHEN MY FRIEND COeee, FOUN? AN OL?

DI6C ABOLT LAMPING-- YOU KNOW,THE MEAL ST ven
ABOLT THE REAL LANE THE ViIbC TALKED ABOUT
THE CAMPING FIRE AND SING-AROUNY SONGS,

‘M FREEZING! WHOS Me
WE COULDN'T LIGHT A i i ; fed
een AAS THES
——-
FIRE, BUT WE PLUGGED A [ia Se j
CRAWLER HEATER INTO
ONE OF THE BATTERY
OVTLETS AN? GOT CLOSE
TO KEEP WARM.
G <

wana
PRAIN/

WHAT ELSE THEY BURNED RATIONS

t REMEMBER vip THEY DO lS ea & OVER A FIRE, WHICH SEEMED
THINKING HOW KINDA DLUMB. ANP
SOMETIMES THEN.
SOMETIMES
Y TOL? STORIES.
SCARY STORIES.

Jv
ny FRIEND
 CARLY WENT FIRST. IT WAS
SOMETHING ABOLT VAMPIRES Gor! 1 HATE
AN? WITCHES AND MONSTERS. VAMPIRES:
T ANEW IT WAS STRAIGHT
OVT OF THE DI6C LIBRARY,
BUT IT CIPN'T MATTER, WIT!
THE WIN? ANZ ae RAIN
AN? THE HUM OF THE
HEATER, IT WAS AS SCARY
AS ANY VIDEO.

THEN. feCRANK.
ALLOF HER...
B02Cur

aoe slaw a2 ; , YOUR TURN, BILLIE.

nea aa ie : WHATS THE SCARIEST THING
IT WAS SHORT.
A HORT. AL _ YOU BVER SAN7
EVERYTHING TURNE?
COL? ANP BLUE
ANV I STARTEDTO
SHIVER.
IT WAS Lbgest
IEA, BILLIE. DON'T CHICKEN
OUT NOw--/

BoM ek
i \
THEY 'D NEVER
L y,
r Bp an Pees "a
GO; ERLE: ; SCARIER THAN
THAT! TELL

. STORY ABOUT
A REAL SCARY {\ NS
WITCH

PL--PLEASE-
CAN'T WE GO
BACK--

sd
by Al ah TO GET
PleKiNe ON ME
LIKE THAT, ALL 1
WANTE?210 Bo
WAS GO HOME.
t petioes TO
TELL IF
beanie>r STORY

TO FEEP--
AN? TO
HATE.
 THEY HAVE ALIP FOR BLOO? AN?
SKIN AS HARD AS HULL STEEL. YOU

ORE THE TEETH, GLITTERING LIKE

: SPA — AS THEY SNAP-- af
MAYBE THEY'RE :
FROM ANOTHER WORLD, OR

FEEDING ON ANYTHING
THEY FIND. IT POESN'T
fia}ATTER.
NOTHING
MATTERS BUT
ri THOSE TEETH,
SNAPPING SHUT ON
BONE AND BRAIN WH LE NTIL
TEARING, CUTTING, E HATE CAN BUILD AGAIN
CRUSHING-- AN? AGAIN ANP--

METHING-ITE
WAAAGE 8,

1 GUESS THATS WHEN reeuNei BETTER b

YOU FOUND ME IN THE BATHE:
HALL, SCREAMING.
 pee NOTHCAN ING 4ToP _
” THE DREAMS. oni o

THEY'RE THEY'VE GOT PRAKE

ALL AROUND AN? VASQUEZ PINNE? IN THE
US, MANS GENERATOR STATION, WILKS!

Pe ANP FROSTLL TAKE THE FRO!

LAY DOWN SOME KICK- AOS C
OF YOU BASE AROUNP BACK. Were
GONNA OLTFLANK THESE
MOTHERS.

HONEY, IM
eee TO HAVE

E GET OvT .\ : AY-- ON

OF THIS, WILKS, ANZ \s ("mu COUNT ONE
ONE
I'M BUYING YOU A
DRINK. WE GET Out
OF THIS YOU'RE
gti aa
Me
ei NERY.
 FROST--! VASQUEZ...
PRAKE! THEY'RE BOTH
DEAD! SOMETHING--
INSIDE THEM--

ELLIo/
QUINN! GIVE
ME A FIX ON YOUR
POSITION’ THERES

wikee
ILKe-- con't
4EAVE
 = GIVE IT A REST,
PERKINS. l'VE STILL GOT
24 HOURS 1O SERVE
ON THE DED
ARGES,

YOU WYBH, PAL. MUCH

Ae 1'0 LIKE To SLAM You
BALK FOR ANOTHER CHCLE,
HIGH- RANKING

ITS ABOUT TIME!

IM NOT SAFE IN HERE
WITH HIM!

f He's WATCH THE DISt

DON'T HAVE 6/4, MAN-- AN? ee neTO COLONEL
ANY HIGH- You PONT KNOW STEPHENS AT OB00. HELL,
RANKING IAT WES GOT MAYBE YOU COVLO EVEN
TRY AND LOOK LIKE
SOLDIER

ON A LIMB UNLESS THEY

WANT SOMETHING. SOMEBODY
MUST HAVE WANTED ME BAZ.
 THEY STILL CALL THEM THE COAST GUARD EVEN THOUGH THE COAST THEY'RE
GUARDING |S THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED MILES OUT IN

IT WAS A LOT CHEAPER TO ABANDON A SHIP

THAN RETRO-FIT AND REFVLEL, ESPECIALLY THE
OLO-STYLE NUCLEAR JOBS. A LOT OF THE
INPUSTRIALS JUST DUMPED THEM IN PECAYING
ORBIT, WAITING FOR GRAVITY AN? ATMOS-
PHERIC BURN-UP TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM at

ISLAN? OF HAWAII. THE RADIATION

KILLED THE INVIGENOUS POPULATION
AN? MAVE IT DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE
TO FINP A GOOD CUP OF "KONA".

G - f / S

Hote n
40 NOW THE COAST GUARD TAGS THE FLOATERS AND
BLASTS THEM BEFORE THEY CAN DECAY INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE. KEEPS THE NORL? SAFE AND GIVES
THE GUAR? BOYS SOMETHING TO PO BETWEEN
POKER GAMES.

PROBE AWAY.
ie. “Ll-—.
 SEE THAT, LYLET THE
Het
ie : ~ THATS CRAZY.
yy sonesore was
Tine [fF
, WZ er
THATS A
aeoo
TRYING TO BLOW IT Space ANE I'S
FROM THE /NSIZE, AW.
YE-
BYE-BYE
ATMOSPHERE,

YEAH, AND
E FILOTS POP
i> GONE, TOO.

WOSKET *
EVEN WEARING
A PRESLURE SUIT LIKE eA My vary it ue
te (ras NS Heat ur

ve SEEN THIS BEFORE--ITS LIKE MEGA- 4,

CLAVSTROPHOBIA OR SOMETHING--ONE GUY
NAPS AN? TAKES THE REST WITH HIM. 15:35:20

FINALLY GOT A READ ON THE YE oe geaenne

TYPE FIVE, NUKE gh eget OL? ST'
TRANSMITTER--VIP A LOT OF DEEP opALE TIME.
TOTAL BUCKET. NO WONDER THEY DITCHEV IT--

WAIT A MINUTE. L'M GETT

SOMETHING ON THE MOTION DETECTOR. $5:34:99
 LOOK AT THOSE
HOLES. WHAT THE
HELL LOES

ze A HAVE TIME FOR MYSTERIES. HLL

PERATURES DP ANOTHER 50 CEGRESS,
GONNA START FLARING ANY SELOND.

--BACK OFF/
BACK OFF!

WE MUST HAVE JOLTED

IT WHEN WE BURNEV?
THE AIRLOCK.

LOOK, THE MANUAL SAYS

CHECK FORK SALVAGE. I DON'T
SEE ANY SALVAGE. OKAY. 50
PLANT THE DAMN Be vheeoe AN?
LUaT THE CAMN THING.

WAIT A MINUTE-- I'M PICKING

UP SOMETHING ELSE-- RIGHT ON THE WHOLE SHIP'S
TOP OF THE PROGE. Sy PROBABLY CAAWLING
—d Se : WITH ALDTOMATES.
~ C'MON, MOVE IT!

DIP WE GET A COMPLETE HISTORY

FROM me One asIta COMMANDS
GOING TO WANT 426 SOME HARP
cory ON i Fr TUB.

Ll PULLED EVERYTHING IN
THE QUEUE, THAT BETTER VO
It, ‘CAUSE AS THEY SAY
DOWN SOVTH--
 HABTA LA
VIETA/

mM :
CLOS-- 100 FAST! Y , TRYING ~
PROBEMETERS BLOW DOWN,
FOR ITCHRISTE
| SOMETHING'S
INHIBITING
TWENTY THE LE
AN? CLOSING.
y DAMN, THESE YEAH7
CONTROLS ARE THATS WHY WE
SLUOGIGH. STILL HAVE JOBS,
. COMPENSATE, BOY!
COMPENSATES

i LM KICKING SOME
TELH ASS IF THEY MESSED
ia WHAT IN
THE HELL--7

Ww
 Fa :

bo ae, SL BPEL ; tn
a ee A Re ey. ;

B--WE'VE POLL
SOMETHING IN
FROM--
 AY
THAT
& & a fh =
z9
tb
 I KNEW IT WAS ONLY A MATTER Ons‘ule
BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THAT'S WHY TI
MARINES NEVER KICKED me OUT OF Fue
CORPS. THEY KNEW IT, TOO.

RA

Wy CABS MULZ A MENS LAD GSS

I SAW A GUY TEAR HIG SurT ONCE. HE Ff, ALL THINGS CONSIPERED, THOSE BO
HA? TIME FOR ONE SCREAM--THEN HIS ON Hse eo ovar? SuIP WERE LUCKY.
BLOOP BEGAN TO BO/L-- 7 ;

PROBE SHIPS WEREN'T VESIGNED TO TY THE SHIP EXPLOVED, TAKING THE

WITHSTANP A HULL BREACH. THE ALIEN SON OF A BITCH WITH IT. BUT
ALIEN WAS CLEVER, BUT NOT THAT IY. PROOF OF THE ONE MEANT THERE
CLEVER. WERE MORE.

Grip TERMINATED.
nO SUAVIVORS.

eon B, '
YAH THE FIRES OF
HELL.
 GET OFF
MY BACK, 4aLVAJE. ¥
YOU'RE LUCKY I'M
HERE AT ALL. «

BETWEEN THIS SHIT

AN? MH DAY JOB, IT'S LUCKY
t FIN? TIME TO SLEEP.
THE CAUSE |b
FAR MORE IMPORTANT
THAN YOUR SLEEP

YEAH--
THAT'S WHAT THEY
ALL SOY.

JEEZ-- [tt SET it

THING’ SHOT,
anVANTIGE. IT ON A MEPIUM
MST WEIGH TWO YOU AN? THE BACKVROP MY MESSAGE
OR THREE PRETTY DULL STUFF COMPARE? WILL
A BE SHINENL LIKE
HE
POUN?S/ TO THE SOUND MASSAGE ANZabe? ee pel
Siddeiae Cor ald
 ITS YOUR MONEY.
GET REAVY--1 SHOLULV HAVE
YOU ON IN A COUPLE
OF MINUTES.

so manyproganstochoose from, viewer perceptions changed. Much as the fast-cut

issues tinGOs erscuttin
by6taea2ea the yl ofmideentary
programming was changed with the introduction of the retinal
I KNOW THERE
ARE OTHERS WITH THE
VISION, OTHERS WHO HAVE
HEARD THE CALL THESE
PAST FEW MONTHS.

-=THE TALE
MESS IAM--/ designed to detect minute changes in the capillaries ofthe retina,
random channel changes based on involuntary blood pressure fluctuations. To
forced to devise new styles of programming that would

ITS OKAY,
VOC. 1 HOOKED
uP A OY LAST

RELIGION.
 Hi, BILLIE--
CHECK OLT DIDI--
SHES AVERAGING GREAT.
50 SWITCHES CAN'T EVEN
A-- AEV WALK
STRAIGHT.

DOCTOR YO HAVE TO BE
HILL'S GOT THATS THE STRONG, BILLIE. IN A COVPLE OF
TREATMENT MONTHS YOU'LL GET YOUR
ISN'T iT7 HEARING AND--

TEL
NEVER MAKE
IT. BVERYTHINGS

BAP DREAMST
SEDATIVES. CAN'T BEATZ
SEDATIVES. TALK OVT OF
~ TURN? SEVPATIVES,

--GET YOUR FOR THE

ATTENTION-- é New WORL?
 THE POCTORS
CAN'T FIGURE ME OT.
L PION'T £0 ANUYTHING--
1 JUST DON'T "GET
ALONG." 1S THAT
CRAZY7

I VION'T 46H
TO BE BORN OUT THERE!
NOBODY WARNED ME
ABOVT THE K/SK4S/

»~
\
f BIL Lie! XA)
LE?

IMMACLLATE
INCLBATION--

~-GEB KS
THE LLTIMATE
COMMUNION
WITH THE
TRUE- 27
Te
firs
 RE A
Gaia t“Came

t pilasbe BEEN
awa BASE (N eh dil
DION'T TAKE LONG TO REMEMBER W
LANCE CORPORAL
WILKS a oe | BUT
~ PH FANCIED HIMSELF A Za WwaARRIOR.
BALY TO vO IN
| PEACETIME. |
_ Sa
CORPORAL iti
sli WILKS? I--L'M GLAp NL
m OU COULD MAKE

ily ate
mn EZ
ais
Se
HE KEPT HIS HANDS BEHING HIS
BACK. AFRAIP TO TOUCH MB.

I TAKE it
aaa Pep THE
rae THE

THAT.

L UNPERSTANP %
Have OME PICERIENCE-
THESE MATTERS.
 L WAS PART OF A DETATCHMENT SENT TO INVESTIGATE LOSS
OF CONTACT WITH A TERRAFORMER COLONY ON THE
PLANET AIM. COMMAND SUSPECTEZ AN ALIEN PRESENCE WAS
INVOLVE?

THE COLONY HAD BEEN RANSACKER WE FOUNDA Nt

cept Weert YOUNG GIRL NAMED BILLIE. THE BEST
2 COLONIATS WERE DEAD.

eats THE SQUAV_COLLV EFFECT DUST- OFF. We Wee FORCE?

O ENGAGE THE ALIEN ENEMY IN CLOSE QUARTERS.

A
TERM,
eve
CORPORAL WILKS.
;
: YOU
ERIN
HAD
ag
A
lg PRIOR
t've Been REAVING /£
YOUR FILE. ’ : Te ION:

| &, fm \ = = PF 4INCE —\
ae your RELeAse ‘A
FROM MEPICAL
THIS ee
 S512, 1 WASN'T COLONEL,
AWARE THAT My PLEASE, MAY
RELORD WAS THE I HAVE A FEW
SUBJECT OF THIS MOMENTS WITH THE
DISCUSSION, CORPORAL--
ALONE?
<i

MUCH BETTER.
I FEEL STIFLED BY
MILITARY IGNORANCE,
PON'T YOU? d THOSE ALIEN BASTARDS,
Mig i}

MY NAME
15 ORONA--ANP IT'S
ENTIRELY PERTINENT.
PERHAPS A REVIEW "IN THE COURSE OF YOUR
15 IN ORVER. MISSION TO RIM
SUFFERE? SEVERE ALIV
BURNY--VEEP AN? QuITE
DISFIGLBING.

==
~=
== "ONCE BACK ON EARTH, YOU SPENT "ACCORDING TO HOSPITAL
a SEVERAL M IONTHS IN QUARANTINE REPORTS, YOU DIDN'T
a& WAITING TO BE CLEAR INTO. THE HAVE A SINGLE visiToR
J 4 GENERA! iL POPU
PULACE. THERE WA:
CON 51IVERABL! eB CONCERN OVER THE--
DURING THi ENTIRE
oy (No LTIOUS NATURE OF THE
WEL
ALIEN SPORE.

)gg
wf
 SORTS SEA
Wee FINALLY

REAP SIUSTING-- TO
MILITARY LIFE. FORMER
COMRADES, FEARFLL YOU
MIGHT SOMEHOW BE
'INFECTIOUS' FROM THE
ALIEN BLOOZ, AVOIDED
CONTACT.

"YOUR LATER RECORD IS PAINFULLY

REPETITIVE--DRUNK AND DIGORVERLY,
BRAWLING, PUBLIC INTOXICATION.
REALLY QUITE DISAPPOINTING!

TOLLH ME!

; IM A GENETICIST, :
CORPORAL, BLT IT DOESN'T
REQUIRE A PSYCHOLOGIST TO
SEE A PATTERN IN THIS
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIOR.
ALL OF
IT STEMMING
FROM THE
BIM
MISSION.

BEFORE THOSE Const

GUAR? FOOLS DESTROYED THEMSELVES,
pe oor OD M THEY MANAGED TO TRANSMIT THE DATA
none oon BANKS FROM THE VERELICT TO OUR
ME? GROUND STATION.
WE HAVE THE ENTIRE
INBOAR? HISTORY, INCLUDING
COVRSE TRAIECTORIES.

YOU SEBK
REVEMPTION.
I SEEK--
 SHES
DREAMING
AGAIN. WHAT
DIb
D eYO
ONE u
IT
g DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE.
THE DREAMS
ARE GETTING
WORSE.

STANTARD
THERAPY--
BO MGS OF
TRINOMINE.

15 THAT
WI5E7 MUCH
HIGHER ANP YOU
RUN THE RISK
OF PERMANENT
BRAIN
DAMAGE.

beam
9?
GR:
y
a4 $
+
] 2Ray
7

(t=
 ROOM Hu.
LOOK, BILLIE,
VO YOU WANT TEN MINUTES, YOU
Me TO COME ARE BEING
IN| WITH-- MONITORED.

ANY DISCUSSION
OF HOSPITAL THERAPY OR
TREATMENTS WILL RESULT IN
TERMINATION OF VISITATION
AN? SUSPENSION OF
PRIVILEGES. 15 THIS
UNDERSTOOD7
Wa

THERE ISN'T THEY FOUND

MUCH TIME, AND . THE HOMEWORLD.
YOU'RE THE ONLY \ I'M GOING OV,
ONE WHO REALLY BILLIE. I'M GOING
UNDERSTANDS-- I'VE BACK.
BEEN THINKING--
DREAMING--
 YOU VON'T CAN'T YOU SEE7 WHAT 7O
MEAN THAT. THEY'RE AVLLING ME. YOU MEANT WHAT
Lt SHOULON'T THE PRUGS AND THE ARE THEY SLO/NG
HAVE COME OREAMS-- THEY'RE TO YOUT
HERE-- TAKING MY
MINE --

WANT TO
DIE HERE!
HELP Me,
WILKAS--
PLEASE!

\
YOU SAVED ME
ONCE! PLEASE-- LOWT
SEAVE ME--!

VISITATION PERIOP
| |S OVER, PLEASE
4 EXIT THROVOH THE
j REAR DOOR.
 ITS 50 WARM, TIM
ING

YOU SPEN? YOUR LIFE TRYING TO FORGET THE WARMTH OF

THE WOMB. BUT THE WORLD'S 40 EMPTY, S50 COLD--

I S86 IT 50 CLEARLY NOW. fT WAS HUNGERING

FOR THE WARMTH AGAIN, FOR THAT ALMOST
PRETERNATURAL TOGETHERNESS,

REALITY I THE VAST LONELINESS OF Bieeee : " M0 eUIND=:

OUR SOLITARY, COLD EXISTENCE. a sire t
ie XN. & FINALLY
\ L.
J
I'M STARING AT THE
CEILING. TRANKED
AGAIN-- THORADPIN. f
THINK, THE ONE
THAT MAKES YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
SUFFOCATING.

L RELIVE THE PAST AGAIN AN? AGAIN. I WAS

BORN ON A TERRAFORMER TRANSPORT IN VEEP
SPALE. M4 PARENTS NAMEV ME BILLIE.

RY
ey
%

bi
OUR NEW HOME WAS A VESOLATE ROCK CHRISTENEV
RIM. MY PARENTS HAG VOLUNTEEREV FOR THE MIZGION
IN THE ROMANTIC SPIRIT OF THE OLD EARTH PIONEERS,
BUT THERE WAS LITTLE ROMANCE ON THAT
CAVEL WORLO.

THE WIND ANDO THE COLD MEANT NOTHING TO THE ALIENS. THEY
‘ WAITED, PORMANT, UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT. I WAS THE
ee BA ONLY SURVIVOR.
 T WAS FOUND BY A
MARINE RESCveE
TEAM AND
RETURNZ? TO EARTH.

RESPONP TO THEIR
TREATMENTS,

ms :
aii SSR)
TM STARING AT THE CEILING. | XY RACKS SPREAD ACROSS THE PLASTER, LIKE
THERES A CIRCLLAR LIGHT | ) WRINKLES ON AN OLP MAN'S FACE-- NO. LIKE
vitlsig CENTER, HUMMING \\\\ E WRINKLES ON #71Y FACE.
Le. L

3 ©
P L0ME SEE SPACE AG A PANALEA--
UNTOL? RICHES. THEY LOOK TO
THE HEAVENS ANG SEE THE JOY \ ~
OF OPPORTUNITY, \ SANG:

1 LT ine vein WEA S ee

T LOOK INTO SPACE AND SEE THE COLO
VOIP OF HELL. MY ONLY BSCarE. vais
ae TM
NOT LEAVING,
DARLIN. I've
LEFT

WHAT THE HELL WAS

— WITH ME?

1 KEEP REMEMBERING BIM.

JBAKE, VASQUEZ--EVEN THAT
eecibe diag THEY WERE
 t
UNPERSTAND
YOU THINK WILKS : MAY BET
MAY BE A HELL, THE MAN'S
PROBLEM.

YOU'VE GOT A . YEAH-- THEY THINK

PROBLEM, STEPHENS. HE'S THE BIG TOVGH
COMMAN?S SOL? \ MONSTER KILLER. CREW
ON THE N KILLER |S
ou. MORE. LIKE
F IT.

ITS NOT LIKE THE BIM s mR Seen —

(MS5ION WAS A SLLCESS. HELL, Ny 7
THE ONLY SURVIVORS WERE A AAn nO 1 DONT WEED
6IZ A CIVILIAN WOMAN, ANZ fe HIS KIND OF EXPERIENCE.
WILKS. apes Song Q CMON, BILL, YOV'VE
. STILL GOT SOME PLLL
THE KI0'S f ct! SuEN OVER AT--
A @AAIN CA6E \ \
ANZ THE WOMAN--
WELL, HOD KNOW WHICH
wHaT Became MEANS WILKS
OF HER. \ THE ONLY
EXPERIENCED
HAND?
AVAILABLE.

COMMAND'S
MOVE? HIM IN WITH
THE GRUNTS, AND HE'S
SUPERVISING LOADING
OPERATIONS.
 SOLDIER!
WHAT ARE THOSE
CRATEST

PLASMA
HAVE
CORPORAL
THOVSAND PACKS, PER WILKS MEET ME
CORPORAL WILKS’ IN THE SKY
REQUEST--

MUST WHO IN
THE HELL AUTHORIZEP
PLASMA WEAPONS,
CORPORAL?

WAS TOLD.
TO PREPARE
THE SHIP--
S/R.

BLASTERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY

UNSTABLE AND GROSSLY DESTRUCTIVE.
WE'RE COLLECTING SFECIMENS,
NOT PIECES.
PERHAPS YOUR MmaYee COMMANDS
PREVIOVS --EXFERIENCE-- IMPRESSED WITH OD,
HAS VISTORTED YOUR BLT I'M NOT. [ WON'T
JUOCEMENT. JEOPARDIZE THE MISSION
OR THE SHIP WITH
THOSE BLASTERS.
 ANY OTHER YéAH. LOWER
NEWS ON WENT PRICE PER SHARE,
THAT MERGER For 117 Hf 100. 1 GUESS MASSEY
PROPOSAL WE CONVINCE? THEM OUR
OFFER WAS GOOD
BUSINESS.

4éAH. 1
ALMOST WORKED LISTEN, TEG T
vP A Sweat. WANTED TO TALK TO 4YO ANY
ABOLT THE BIOWARFARE MOVEMENT
PROJECT.

HOU KNOW
THOSE GOVERNMENT ALIEN LIFEFORMS
GUYS, HUSH-HUSH, ARE THE NEXT STEP IN
Blo SECRET. COMPETITIVE oe
WEAPONR
THEY WANT TO GRAB
THE LIFEFORM PATENT > WE'VE ALREADY GOT
FOR THEMSELVES. INTEREST FROM CANADA, JAPAN,
IRELAND--AN? THE THIRD
WORLDS GOING AFE.
 Lt WANT
SOMEONE SPECIAL
TO LOOK AFTER OUR
INTERESTS. MASSEY VIP
A 6000 JOB ON THE

MBA FROM
HARVARY DOCTORATE
IN LAW FROM CORNELL--
HE COVLD HAVE HAD HIG
PICK OF THE BIG
TWO COMPANIES.

INSTEAD HE
ENLISTED IN THE
MARINES, FOR
CHRISTS SAKE.

SILVER 47am
FOR BRAVERY PURING
THE Ol WAR, COUPLE
HUNDRE? CONFIRMED
KILES--
HE DION'T
ie
PATRIOTIOM. HE
SIKEP IT.

ie Oe
MORE VECORATIONS
THAN A CHRISTMAS
TREE, THEN SUDPENLY,
HE WAS COURT
MARTIALER

WE PAID
OFF THI
MILITARY TRIBUNAL
ANC HIRED HIM
IMMEDIATELY. ITS RARE
WHEN YOU FIND A
MAN WHO LOVES
HIS WORK.
THEN 1 WAS TORN FROM
4OV, FORCED INTO THis
NAKED EXISTENCE, 50
ALONE ANG COLO I
NEVER THOVGHT I'D
FEEL THAT LOVE AGAIN.

MY 7RVE MOTHER I6
FART OF ME. I CAN
FEEL HER, SLIPING
WET IN MY THROAT,
FILLING MY LUNGS
ANG MY STOMACH,
WRAPPING HER
FINGERS INSIDE SO
WARM, 40 WARM--
 7° EASLEY! TRAY
4 TO CIRCLE BEHINO “ROGER
THE BUNKER ANP FIND Du ar. cover }
A SERVICE PORT! WE me? y
MIGHT BE ABLE TO
BLAST THROUGH
IT ee

r I've ZEROED
THE AFT PLATE. IM

% YEAH! [EAD .
ON, BUORY! WE MUST
HAVE CYT THE
* MAIN LINE’
>... onl
 CET YOVR
ASS OVT OF
THE MUP BEFORE
YO SHORT
THE WHOLE

S22) WS yy ) BVELLER ANZ

as oD AY GA WIZZ EASLEd WERE STLPIC,
UOv. VON'T ASSUME

YEAH, THEY
TOOK OVT THE REMOTES
AN? THE TARGETING
BA SYSTEM, AND THEY'RE
Po 47 FEAL

a . Paap,
Wlriggsy,
REAL LEARNING
EXPERIENCE,

I CAN SEE YOU'RE

MOVER. IN HONOR OF BUELLERS
DEATH, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND
THE REST OF THE DAY ON THE
COURSE. MAYGE SOME OF
THIS WILL SINK IN.
 T WAS IMPRESSED. EVERYONE ON THE SQUAD WAS TOP
RATEC IN ORVINANCE--BLINDERS, PROJECTORS, LOW-
LEVEL NEVTRON STUFF, AND ALL THE CONVENTIONAL4.
GOL CORONA HAD PUT SOME THOVOHT INTO THIS.

FUNNY HOW
MLCH THEY
REMINCED ME
OF THE
RIM TEAM.

TEAM
FRIENVS WHO WOULD DIE FOR
YOU, FRIENDS WHO--

Ml
NO! FORGET BIM. M4 FRIENVS
ARE PEAR REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED AFTER-- THE PAIN, THE
LONELINESS. THIS WASN'T ABOUT
PUTY, HONOR, LOYALTY-- THIS WAS
FOR ME ANDO NO ONE ELSE.
 THANK YOU, WE'VE BEEN
OFFICER. PLEASE Have VISCLS5ING YOUR PROBLEM,
A SEAT, WILHEMINA. BILLIE. POCTOR HANNAH FEELS
SURGERY 15 REALLY OLS
ONLY ALTERNATIVE.
My
SINCE YOU'RE
BILLIE. A MINOR WITH NO NEXT
OF KIN, WE REALLY DON'T
NEED ANYONE'S FERM/SS/0N
TO GO AHEAG BUT 1 THINK
ITS IMPORTANT YOU
UNPERSTAND HhYy--

TLL
TRY HARDER
AND--

We' VE
BEEN THROUGH
THIS BEFORE, IT'S
GILLIE, TAYING REALLY A MINOR
1SN'T GOOP OPERATION.
ENOUGH
WE TARGET
THE SPECIFIC AREAS
IN THE BRAIN
RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR--
TAKE DRASTIC PROBLEMS, AND LSE A
MBASVRES. LASER SCALPEL TO
SEVER THE--
 LESS THAN TWELVE
HOURS TO LIPT OFF.
IT TOLD STEPHENS I
HAP SOME LOST
MINUTE BUSINESS
OFF BASE.

TWELVE MORE HOURS ANP I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN

SPACE. I NEVER SHOULD HAVE SIGNED INTO THE
SECURITY MAINFRAME, ACCESSING THE
INSTITUTIONS PATIENT FILES WAS A PIECE OF
CAKE. L GUESS I WAS CURIOUS,
: <I

WHEN IT WAS OVER-- CHRIST,

I DON'T KNOW--

; HEY, YOU HAVE

TO PASS THE RETINAL AND
VW/t SLAN BEFORE--

SeeA, SORRY.
Screcuie
TIGHT

q
i
 THERE WAS A TIME WHEN LIVING AND
DYING MEANT SOMETHING TO ME. .

SEE NY FACET : = :
SCARY, ISN'T IT? WHERE'S ‘
BILLIE tue A
SCARED LITTLE
GIAL.

OH, ANP YOU

CAN FORGET ABOUT
OUTSIDE SECURITY. I
DISCONNECTED THE
DOWNLINK ABOUT AN
HOUR AGO.

NOW THEY WANTED TO DESTROY HER. JESUS,

MY FRIENDS LIED TO SAVE HER,

PROP
YOUR SOLKS,
KID. WE'RE
 BILLIES ROOM WAS ON THE
FORTIETH FLOOR OF THE MEDICAL
HIGHRIGE. EVEN WITH THE ALTO-
MATIC SECURITY SYETEM BLINKED,
THEY'? HAVE THE GROUND EXITS
COvVERE? BY NOW.

"A LITTLE
REMODELING, MARINE
STULE <

LOOK...
WHO'S TALKING...
aCU Pe ACUE®4,
 a
~~
THE WALL BLEW OUT
FROM THE FORCE OF VV
Meghendeniariad THE JET RESCVE TECHNOLOGY HA? BEEN DEVELOPE?
riStenite- tat N aPTER THE WORLD TRAVE CENTER SMOKET IN ‘24. 17
: . ‘BORROWED! THE SHIP AND THE HAND-HEL?
| CONTROLLER FROM CIVILIAN OPERATIONS.

THE SHIP HAP BEEN DESIGNE? FOR

HIGH-RISE FIRE RESCUE, BUT Tt
REMEMBER WHAT SERGEANT APONE
USE? TO SAY: "MARINES PONT QUIT.
THEY ACAPT."

ONE OF THE JOS

y OF TAKING A
SVICIPE MISSION, 1
4SUPPOSE--REPRI-
MANPS AN? COURT-
MARTIALS LOSE
THEIR STING.

I FLIPPED OFF
THE REMOTE
AN? WE WERE
MACH Z
BEFORE THE
LAST PIECE
OF PLASTER
Hit GROUN?
LEVEL.
 FOR YEARS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAD BEEN FEV THIS
IMAGE OF MARINES AS “INTELLECTVAL WARRIORS’ COLLEGE
DIPLOMA IN ONE HANG M-90 RAPID FIRE IN THE OTHER.

Il GUESS IT'% MORE

COMFORTING TO
IMAGINE THE NATIONAL
DEFENSE SYSTEM IN
THE HANUS OF A
STIFF-BYED, EMOTION-
L254 MARTINET
THAN SOME SCARED
TEENAGER WITH A
SKIN PROBLEM.

EAH,
Ske DODGERS CGA
ABE STILL IN
LOS ANGELES.
AT EA4E,
Zs
tj 60N.

AFTER A WHILE, THE FOR INSTANCE, NOBOOY EXPECTS A MARINE COR-

MORINES THEMSELVES PORAL TO SMUGGLE AN UNAUTHORIZED PASSENGER
BOVOHT THE MYTH. ABOARV A TOP-SECVRITY MILITARY FLIGHT.
BiG MISTAKE. S0L-
VIERS HAVE THE SAME

Wwe'RE
GOING BACK,
AREN'T WET
WERE REALLY
COINE

49
 I ii:

i BE TROUBLE.
STEPHENS WAS d GOING TO \ a : :
\ y/by SLY PULLING THOSE
\ Fy &= ‘ | PLASMA WEAPONS TO
: i hr TEACH ME A LESSON
IN MILITARY PROTOCOL
WAS STUPID.

WAIT UNTIL HE Ff
FIN?S BILLIE
TUCKED AWAH
IN THE AFT
B COMPARTMENT.

STILL, ft SORRY FOR HIM,

AVST LIKE 1 FELT SORRY f
FOR THE GRUNTS.

T WAS TAKING
THEM INTO

THE FORCE OF THE

LIFT-OFF CAUSHE?
ANY LAST DOVBTS. T
WAS BACK IN SPACE.
AN? NOTHING WAS
GOING TO STOP MB.
 ‘ GREAT SHOW!
Ll HAVEN'T HEAR?
INDUSTRIAL NOISE LIKE WE DESERVE
A LITTLE REC TIME.
ITS BEEN HELL AND A HALF }
SINCE WE STARTED PLAN-
NING THE INTERCEPT
MISSION.

MINUTE BUSINESS
WITH MASSEY.

IT WAS A
DAMNED STUPIO
MISTAKE.

APPARENTLY ONE
OF THE COMMUNICATIONS
PEOPLE SENT MASSEY SOME Ua
CLASSIFIED MAIL THROUGH UNFORVNATELY,
AN UNCLASSIFIED
CHANNEL.
 gz INFORMATIONS
SKETCHY AT THIS POINT,
BUT MASSE4'S WIFE APPEARS
TO HAVE CONFRONTEZV
HIM ABOLT THE
Ps poevmenr.

PAT-- WE
IVET SOW THIS
HORRIBLE-- THING--
ON THE REAP

TAKE
IT BAGH,
MISTER MASSEY,
= WELL Ak

REGULATIONS ARE ~N 400N.

QUITE CLEAR ON PROCEDURE
IN CASES LIKE THiS, BUT 4OU MUST
APMIT IT WAS AN LNUSLAL Sit
VATION. HE'? BEEN MARRIE?
INN Cr0sé 10 Six yenRs,

HE TOOK
PAINS TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY
GONE BAR THE POLICE
VION'T SvSPECT A

} CIRCUMSTANCES, MASSEY
PERFORME? AUMIRABLY. I
HAV THE PSYCH BOYS DOA TS
WORK-LP ON HIM RIGHT BEFORE
LIFTOFF ANP HE REGISTERED
L WITHIN TOLERABLE |

SOtiOoraTH, I
. MEAN.

I WOULD?
IMAGINE ITS QUITE
nN LIBERATING. _A
 EYES ONLY
DATA LOCK

BIONATIONAL
INTERNAL
MEMORANDUM
OPERATION:
OUTREACH

@ The government is seeking to retrieve

“i specimens of an alien _lifeform for its
Weapons Development Program. If they
are successful, this could seriously impact
Our chase ship K-014 launched in pursuit Bionational's claim of sole patent right on
immediately thereafter, captained by the new lifeform technology.
Bionational Executive Assistant Patrick Massey.

The K-014's mission is twofold. First, to Second, to inhibit the Benedict's crew
follow the Benedict to the alien from retrieving a viable test subject.
homeworld and gather biological data Captain Massey has been given carte
on the lifeform. blanche toward this end.

53
 CARGO EXPRESS
In the interim, our Bionational IDENTIFICATION
research team continues its §
examination of the human
specimen salvaged from the
ejected pilot's pod of the
cargo vessel Junket.

ZOZ
me-woramnyZ>

JAMES LIKOWSK!:-SECTION 10-B611 OUND

=QOO2s
PILOT::-CLASSIFICATION 2-S

Human specimen's pod had

been damaged, causing loss of
atmosphere, but vital signs were
somehow preserved by the
infusion of the alien lifeform.
i #

After retrieval, both specimens

were brought to Bionational's
Houston labs for analysis.

SOMETHING TOUCHES
ME, MOTHER. I CAN
FEEL IT IN MY ARM,
M4 CHEST--

Preliminary reports from our weapons f

specialists are encouraging. Full-scale }
testing should commence within the
next 48 hours. We shall provide daily
updates for all members of the |
Bionational board.
 Dr. Rantler: Start wherever you'd like.
Patient Gonzales: Okay. Okay.
ne sy with my motherWe’re
in _

Dr. Ranier: Your mother died several

years ago?
Patient Gonzales: Cancer. (pause)
We're taking the Wilshire tube Into
downtown L.A. Right then | knew |
was dreaming...I've never seen an
empty tube.

sudden, we hear this loud—

scraping sound—
Dr. Ranler: Scraping? How
do you mean?

Patient Gonzales: Then these— things

Relient Gonities: Something ios started to—claw Into the car. ! ran to
trying to...getin.| pounded
on the my mother and she made this sick, Patient Gonzales: It was Just a
Got hoping someone would hear bubbling sound, deep in her chest— stupid nightmare, right? Right?
Dr. Morgan: What
happened after the
television came on?
Patient Culp: First, there
was only distortion—but

a
then something started
é
IN

t Za

~ Y,
Patient come at
Wy Me, from inside the
screen P

Patient Duncan: ! must have

dosed off. The next thing |
knew, the stewardess was
standing next to me. |
remember thinking that she
reminded me of someone...
Dr. Frankel: Who?
Patient Duncan: (pause) It's Patient Duncan: All at
going to sound funny, but—my once, these teeth—
mother. they...it ripped right
through her chest—like it
had been inside her the
whole time —

Patient Lockwood: | kept

screaming for my Mommy,
but she wasn't there. Just the
monster—coming closer and
closer —
 ~ FASCINATING
ALL THESE REPORTS
Patient Lockwood: It ARE FROM WITHIN A
was shiny and wet FIFTY-MILE
and |think it wanted RAILS.
to kill me —

End transcript. Copy

2.3a2, Dr. Waidslaw
Orona, Civilian Advisor,

iY 44, VOLTOR ORONA. ANZ 40)

{'vE GOT A VOZEN MORE JUST THE THE TECHNICIANS ©
SAME. EVERY PATIENT RATES ON THE PS4CH SIE THE MOST
“GENSITIVE’ ON THE CRYER SCALE vi? A WORKVE PLAUSIBLE WAS
AN? QOUBLE FIGURES ON POSTULATING TELEPATHY--OR AT
THE EMERSON-- VIFFERENT MOVES LEAST SOME FORM
OF COMMUNICATION OF TELEPATHY.
FOR THE ALIEN
THE CREATURES.
DESCRIPTIONS
OF THE CREATURES--
THEY'RE
CONSISTENT7

WWENTICAL.

YOU THINK
THEY'RE TRYING
TO COMMUNICATE
WITH VS7

DNUKELY. THE
THE DATA WE've
COLLELTED DOESN'T
SVOCEST HIGHER
INTELLIGENCE.

THE
"SIGHTINGS"
ARE RANZOM
AN? CONFINE?
TO A SPECIFIC
GEOGRAPHIC
AREA-- VERY

WE'VE KEPT
THE EXISTENCE OF
THE ALIEN CREATURES
COMPLETELY SELRET.
ALL OF A SVUVEN WE
ARE EXPERIENCING A
WAVE OF SPONTANEOUS
TELEPATHIC
EVENTS.

THE
QUESTION
\S, WHY NOW?
ANZ WHY
BARTHT
 MOTHER! OH, JESUS. IT
WHERE HURTS ALL OVER.
ARE YOU7 TM SCARED

er 6
SLIGHTLY
ELEVATE, HEART R
RATE ANZ RESPIRATION VEN
NORMAL. | SHOW NO FW
MOVEMENT FROM
THE PARASITE.
IT APPEARS
PORMANT.

4YOVR NAME
16 JAMES LIKOWSHI,
YOU WERE CAPTAIN OF
THE SPACE FREIGHTER
JUNKET. YO ARE ON
EARTH IN A QUAR-
ANTINE? MBVICAL
FACILITY.

IF YOU'RE
FEELING VP TO
IT, WE'LL RELEASE
4OV FROM THE
STRAPS.
 HE LOOKS NORMAL
ENOUGH.

TELL ME WHAT HELL,

HAPPENE?7 £ WANT HE'S WORTH
TO SEE MY WIFE-- BILLIONS.
1 Wi5H
EVERYONE
WERE THAT
“NORMAL.

THE CREATURE
HAS LOAGEP ITSELF
IN THE SUBJECTS
PIGESTIVE SUSTEM,
DRAWING RELATIVELY
INSIGNIFICANT AMODNTS
OF BLOO? ANZ
FLUIPS
NEVERTHELBS4,
IT 15 GROWING AT ¥
AN INCREVIBLE .~7m™
RATE. Yy

WHAT ABOvT
THE PILOT? PORES
HE KNOW7

THERES BEEN
2OME -- P/BLLESION-- ON
THAT POINT.
ETHICAL
QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN
RAISE REGARV ING THE
PROPRIETY OF INFORMING
THE SVBIECT, CONSIVERING
THE ULTIMATE--
PROGNOSIS.

We HAVE A
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
TO STUY THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN
VITERALY NEW ALIEN
LIFEFORM. REACTIONS
OF THE HOST
cOUL? BE
IMPORTANT.

OF COURSE,
IN THAT CASE, ¥
HE WOVL? HAVE J
TO KNOW.
 =
1 HA? LEVITZ [ROP >” QUAN
CHU LIN
SOME HINTS AT THE SAN DIEGO \ / CAN Kibe MY AS>.
ARMS FAIR AND EVERIONES WERE SETTING
EXCITE” MAJOR LIN'S CONPITIONS, NOT @
BEGGING FOR A 6O0-VAY THE CHINESE. : 1]

EXCLUSIVE. ts - |

"IESUb, YOU'VE BEEN STARING , oa

AT ME FOR HOVERS. IS THAT ALL IM 40RRY. 2)
“ 4YOV WANT TO VO7 DOES IT BOTHER

WOMEN ARE C'MON, BABE, YOV'RE

BLESSER THEY KNOW HOW MAKING ME FEEL WEIRZ ARE
IT FEELS TO BE JOINEZ WONPERFLL. mY 4OV SURE 4OV DON'T WANT
WITH ANOTHER --TO BALK'S KILLING SOMETHING?
LIFE-- suare © Me.
TE THEMSELVES
SELFLESSLY,
IT MYST BE
WONPER-
FUL.
 SALVAJE!
WHERE THE
HELL ae 4Ov
A COUPLE
OF GOVERNMENT
SUITS PROPPE? BY
THE SHOP TOMA. IT
SEEMS THEY'RE REAL
INTERESTE? IN
CHANNEL 2243.

I PION'T TELL THEM

SHIT, \F THEY KNEW T WAS
HOOKING UP ILLEGALS THEY'?
PULL MY LICENSE AND 17
LOSE AZZ MY MILITARY
CONTRACTS.

TVE NEVER HAV

EVERYTHING PROBLEMS WITH
\> FINE. 4 THE FCL, COPS,
OR ANYBOVTY
ELeE--
y NO,
EVERYTHING
14 NOT
FINE.
7 LOOK, lve
BEEN HOOKING
VP YO RELIGIOUS
PSYLH JOBS FOR
THREE YEARS
NOW...

VAMN
IT, SAWAAE--
WHAT THE HELL
(@ THAT
THING?
 THE YOU'RE OT OF
MESSIAU. [ 4OBR MINZ! LM THROUGH,
THE IMMACULATE GALVANE/ TM NOT
INCUBATION. ( . , AISHING--
OO. Pe RGK7
4 YOU TALK
, 10 ME OF
RIEKT

APRAIZ OF HIM.
SFELIEVE \N HIM. WE
WiLL LONTINUE THE
MESSOGS ANZ
$ FIN? THE OTHERS
4OU'RE . WHO'VE SBEN
NOTHING, IM THE VISION.
NOTHING! ONLY
VESSELS, HERE

CHOSEN FOR THE

VLTIMATE /
COMMUNION. /~ THE
: BROAVLAATS
WiLL CONTINVE.
OON'T BE AFRAIZ
OF THE GOVERNMENT,
BE AFRAIZ OF
ME.
 HOW LONG
UNTIL THE NEXT
COMMUNICATION
FROM THE

ANOTHER HOUR.
WERE ZEROEV ON
THEIR LOCAL ANTENNA. WE
SHOULP BE ABLE TO
OT A CLEAR
TRANSMISSION.

6002, ,
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
THEY'RE LOAVEV WITH
24. SENSORS--
DON'T WANT
THEM TO SPOT US DNTIL
AFTER WE 60 THROV6H
GRAVITY BVAN.

YOU'LL ALL HAVE

LOW-LEVEL BLASTERS. MILITARY
BE CAREFUL. SHIPS ARE
ARMOREL BLT AN
THE DNLULKY SHOT
GOVERNMENT COLL? STILL
SHIP HAS FIVE RUPTURE THE
BASIC ALLESS PORTS. HULL.
TWO FORE, TWO AFT,
ANZ THE
LOATING
BAY.
WELL
BE GOING IN
THROVGH THE
#( APT

oIVE THE
GUNS FOR SOFT
N{ TARGETS- INTERNAL
\ SYSTEMS, ELECTRONICS,
aN
IN CREW. ;=
WELL HOLD THE
CREW PRISONER UNTIL
WE REALH THE ALIEN
HOMEWORLT
ONCE
WERE THROUGH,
WE WILL PURGE
THE MILITARY
COMPUTERS ANP
DESTROY THE
SHIF

NO
SURVIVORS, OF
COURSE.
I PULLEV BILLIE OUT
OF THE SPARE CARGO
LOCK IZ HOURS AFTER L FELT SORRY Fam
FOR HER.

IT LOOKEP LIKE ' debe

B| STEPHENS TOOK IT
HARB? TO TBLL. Pd ABOLT AS WELL
AS EXPECTED

WHAT
THE HELL
WERE YO
THINKING?

EXPLAIN
WHY YO BROVOHT
EXLVSes/ EXTRA WEIGHT ONTO A
OH, THATS VERY CAREFULLY BALANCE?
MANLY, MAYBE YOU OCRLWITY PAWE
COUL? TRY AN SHIP--
FEXPLANATION--\F
NOT FOR
 ITS NOT
HIS FAVLT--HE
AIP IT FOR
ME--
ITS NOT
MIB FAULT! HOU WOR
FORCEP HIM TO
4TOw 4Ov
aBoarv!
FORCE? WIM
TO JEOPARDIZE
THE MISSION!

MY RESPONSIBILITY. V Se S
AN? THE GRAVITY SS 1 DUMPED?
BALANCE 15 3 10H POUN?S OF THAT
NOMINAL. . 5 < "| RASPBERRY-FLAVOREV
. al. . SUIT FROM THE SHIP'S
STORES JUST BEFORE
WB TOOK OFF.

I
LIKEC THAT
RASPBERRY-
FLAVORE?Z

1 SHOLL? BVT THB MISSION

LOCK HOUR ASS IM S5¥RE THE COMES AHEAV OF MH
ve AN? KEBP 4OV MILITARY COURT WOLL? BE PERSONAL DBSIRES.
THERE UNTIL THE INTERESTEP IN HEARING HOW OrwAY--
COVRT MARTIAL. A TOP-SECRET, MILITARY ,
VESSEL LEFT BASE... THE GIAL /S Uy;
i : : YOUR BESPONGSIBILITY, WILKS
ae WE'LL SETTLE THE REST
-- WITHOUT : WHEN WE BETURN
A THOROVGH TO EARTH.
INSPECTION
BY 4 THE
LOMMANVING
OFFICER.
SIR.
 I THINA THERES
SOMETHING SERIQUELY
STEPHENS 40 WRONG WITH OUR
PIbGER CORPORAL WILKS. BUT
WHAT THE HELL-- THE
GIAL'S cute.

THY IS EASLEY. CENEDL 2

TM IN SECTION A
FOR APPLE 5. NO -O1M,
F FOR TRANSMISSION
VISIBLE HULL STRESS.
PROLEEVING INTO A
FOR APPLE b. fs

LL LS a FLL1j44 fF
aaa

ee SVR%VBAVVY~
WATADA
x :
QAR

THE OTHERS
KNOW--
INTERNAL
 SOmMEsORYSs “\
OPENING THE #4
AIRLOCK--!/

Villanesteenntiids
LLL

WHO THE \
HELL'S DOWN
THERE?

THE AREA SHOULZ

BE CLEAR. CHRIST, WE'RE A
COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY FROM
GRAVITY BURN.

ae
WF MW
GS
/ IE-6V4. oer
SO0MEBOYS STEPHENS
AN? WILKS
GET ME sat
A PICTURE,
CAMMITS

WHATS THE x
PROB--WHO THE HELL e
4 THAT? :
THE PAIN--LIKE A FOR CHRISTS SAKE, *
SCREAM INSIPE ME-- HOLY HIM VOWN/ F
OH, GOP--
 THE GUARDS ARE
VEAZ 1 WANT TO

yz )

M$ HOT OVTSIVE.
WET
BP with HUMIzIY,
a wv wits
LG se
—_—Zz

LEATHER SEATS--4MOOTH, SOFT ATH (5 ALL

I SMELL HOT OZONE AS I OVNI! i? Me.
ALLELERATE.
 rr S
THE EXPRESSWAY CUTS DIRECTLY
DB THROVOH THE CITY. 1 AM THINKING
OF MH WIFE, ae et
¥ x

THEY JON'T UNIER

THio \& MY TIME. T
CANNOT BE DENIEZ

* 2 Lo
THE BUILDING IS AN OLD
FRIEN?. REAL FLOWERS lg
OVT FRONT. THEY SMELL Lf 1 ENTER THE ELEVATOR.
UKE EXPENSIVE PERFUME. | THE BUTTONS ARE
“ - SMOOTH, COOL PLASTIC.
“ j THE BURNISHE? METAL
PLATE GLOWS IN THE
JIM GREEN LIGHT.

WE TOUCH. FOR THE

40 LLOSE. FIAST TIME IN MY
I ACHE FOR vIFE, t UNDERSTAND
PERFECTION.

73
 WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
I AIM FOR THE SUN. THE
HEAT 14 A BLANKET. fT
FORLE THE SHIP TO FLY
HIGHER.

= | : 5? L TURN TOWARDS MY WIFE.

: i ~ SHE 6 BEALTIFUL.
THE CONTROL ;
PANEL GLOWS :
A HUND RE?
COLORS.

M4 G07, THE SUN--

IT'% 50 BRIGHT.
74
 IM TRYING! WE
NEE? SOME TRANKS IN
HERE, NOW! ;

WATCH IT!
HES REACHING
1 YOUR,
GUN!

GO!
HIS VITAL SIGNS
ARE GOING OFF
he
ae
THE SCALE!

TM GOING
IN--$ WANT TO
N SEE THE BIRTH

75
 t? NG
FEEL .
BETTER IF
4OU WAITeV” Ff
WITH A

THERES
NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOLT. f IUeT WANT
STUPIZ SON OF
A BITLH-- YOU'RE
EXPOSING
HA? TO SAVE IT--TOO
IMPORTANT--
 YOUR NAME I>
PINJAA. UNDER THE HOV HAVE WO
PROVISIONS OF THE FV RIGHTS UNGER AMERICAN
BAINES AMENGMENT, BY LAW. ANY MZANS MAY BE
YOv'vE OGEN ess vSe7 TO BLICIT
vetLareg A INFORMATION, Lb? TO AN?
TEARORIST. INCLUOING FA YS/CAL
Pe t \ TORTURE.

l--1
CAN'T FEEL
ANYTHING.

LETS MAKE IT <<

SPINAL SIMPLE. TELL VS ABOLT
BLOL KS. WE'VE THE CHURCH. TELL VS
PEAPENED THEIR PLANS FoR THE
EVERYTHING \ CREATURES, _
FROM THE NECK came
DOWN. IF THEY
FIN? OvT Ive f
TOV? 4Ov--

WORRY. IT'S NOT

PERMANENT.
YET

THEY'LL
MAKE ME ONE

IM TOL? YOU'RE
A VIPEO TECHNICIAN--
GOO? WITH YOUR HANDS.
THATS WHY I'M GOING VSE? TO 0O
TO START WITH THIS WITHOUT
4YOVR LES ANESTHESIA...

THERE WERE
TERRIBLE
COMPLICATIONS
FROM THE
SHOCK.

79
 J THE LEFTioT
PAPERS ALLUSE UG PERSONALLH,
OF USING KIRKLAND I PON'T CARE
PROBES TO ACTUALLY FOR PROBES OR
"REAP MINS." 1 WISH PSYLHOACLTIVES.
(IT WERE THAT TOO MUCH
oY, PISTORTION.

(TS WHAT
YOURE COING. TELL
US WHAT YOU SAW--WHO
WAS INVOLVE?--

4OV WON'T ACTUALY

LOOK IN FEEL ANYTHING UNTIL WE
THE MIRROR. STOP THE SPINAL-- AND THAT,
THEN YOV'LL WARM UP WW as 4OU'RE STILL
SLOWLY-- y NOT COOPERATIVE,
, : WELL FIN? S0ME-
THING EL6E
TO PLAY
WITH,

WHAT ARE
YOU POING TO
ME?! _LAR
80
 1 VION'T . HOW
BOTHER WITH LONG BEFORE
EVITING, POLTOR Vs HE TALKEDZ
ORONA. I THOVOHT fe

CLEARANCE
REQUIRED

NAAK KA So= I'vé S6BN

CONFESS To AlL My THE INCUBATION.
LAM Gullity ve SEEN SaLvAJES
‘ OOP YoU CAN'T BEGIN
To UNpERSTANP
tS PowgR.

> CORPORATE
SCALE? TLL MAKE
TIME.

THe REAL WoRL7sS

en dneg.
LiKE THAT.

RESLLAR
TELW'S OVT SICK--

WHEN
YOU'RE FREELANCE,
ITS ALMOST ALL
VIPBOLINKS YZ PRIVATE OR
HERE. SHOULD I MILITARY,
SEN? HIM >
GOWN?
 OTHERWISE,
TLL CHECK BACK
IN A HALE HOR
OA” 50--

LINE. ABOuT AS SOPHISTI-

B) 4 ELSE
coup Ab AN OL? STYLE

— | ah }

i oa - fe Security aieey Like THEM

H : SSE RPM! Setaues THey'ae PHYeICAL
aoe 5 | AN? TEMPORARY. OF COURSE, a
= L THAT MAKES THEM Baby To MRSS
A + WAS--GoOP WITH My HANDS, C/RLUMVENT. ef

2
AY(al
Y/Pre
H
 HELLO AGAIN.
ITS OSTROW. WET
CHECKING IN,
THE OTHERS
HAVE FORGOTTEN
4YOVR SACRIFILE,
BUT 1 REMEMBER.
Thy ALWAYS
REMEMBER.

“=f SBEMEP TO MEEP THAT

PRIMITIVE ANIMAL KINSHIP,
WHILE IT ACCLIMATED TO THE
ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT, YOD
WERE ITS HOME.

4 “4OU Gave it 4OvR BODY }

WOVR LIFE--”

"YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN

THRILLE? WITH OLR PROGRESS.
ORIGINALLY, OF COURSE, WE'D
MERELY PLANNE? TO STUY
THE SPECIMEN WHILE
AWAITING THE RETVAN OF

"FOR ONCE, we HAD |. %

A BIT OF LUtK.
a
"HOU SEB THE
CREATURE We
CAPTURE? WAS
A QUEEN--

a
‘ Aes Wi
* vworwre’
‘ : ~~
y yee eee ee arn

ae’
 (TS BIRTHING PROCESS NG
1S UTTERLY PARTHENOGENIC,
WITH NONE OF THE PRIMITIVE
RITUAL ALZOCIATEP WITH
GEXUAL REPRODUCTION. hn tae 3 VF
"\T SEEMS TO LIVE
FOR ONLY ONE
PURPOSE-- TO

THE ALETERITY
OF IT ALL IS Quite
BREATHTAKING.

"WHATS A
QUEEN
WITHOL-T HER
SUBIECTE?

"THE MARKETING PBOPLE WANT LS

TO HOLD OFF ON FURTHER
TESTING UNTIL THEY CAN PLT
TOLETHER A PROMOTIONAL
CAMPAIGN FOR THE NOVEMBER
WEA-TECH CONFERENCE.

“2VEN WITH THE SECRECY,

BICNATIONAL'S INVESTMENT
RATING HAS DOLELEC ON
THE INTERNATIONAL BOARZS.

“OUR ORGANIC
WEAPONS
PROGRAM IS
GOING TO
REVOLUTIONIZE
THE INZVETRY,
I WAS STANDING AT ONE
OF THE VIEWPORTS,
STARING INTO SPACE. THE
LIGHT FROM THE STARS
STRETCHE? AROUND THE
SUIP LIKE GLOWING WHITE
NEON,

1 WAS TRHING TO
REMEMBER MY PARENTS,
ALL 1 LOVLD REMEMBER
WAS THE BLOOR

(tito
AN OPTICAL
ILL VION.

GRAVITY DRIVES
50 POWERFUL WERE
BENING THE LIGHT.
4OV ET V4E7 TO IT.
BEATS THE HELL OUT
OF HIBERNATION.

THE MARINES WERE

WARY OF CAPTAIN
IN

COULON'T
TLL BET HOV HE FIN? SOMB-
UNPERSTANO ONE HI6 OUW
BACH OTHER

coRPomaAL
WILKS MUST THINK
A LOT OF 4OU 10
STOW YOU ON
Boaae,
NO ONE HA? BvVER SHOWN
INTEREST IN ME BEFORE.
AT FIBST IT DION'T MAKE
ANY SENSE.

=
THib ib ‘
WHERE WE STOW
THE BLASTERS AND
THE REST OF THE
PORTABLE LEAR.
HERE, LET
Me--

MEERA
THEN 1 REALIZB7--HE WAS
LiKe MB. HE KNEW HOW IT
. PELT TO BB ALONE.
BEEN AROUNG " =
THESE THINGS : wHaT MAZE \
: YOU JOIN THE MARINEST
Bh QON'T YOU MI6S YOUR
: FAMILY

RAMIREZ'S GOT
A BIG MOUTH. HE HAZ
NO RIGHT TO SAY
WHAT HE O17.
WR
AFRAIZ IT
MIGHT BB
TRUE.

iF THERE TELL
\5 SOMETHING ME WHY HOU HIT
BETWEEN-- RAMIBEZ BACK IN THE
COMMISS5ARY.

87
 WILKS GAVE ME A SCHETULE > ~
OF TOWEN ACMINISTRATIVE —

HATRE? OF THE ALIENS

BURNE? INSIVE HIM
LIKE AN OPEN FLAMB.
IT WAS ALL THAT
SUSTAINE? HIM.

90 “OvD Have BUSINESS

AT THIS STATIONT

'7 LObT ALL 4BNSB OF COm-

PRESSION. HE SARVOLET OFF
BASLEY'S DEATH AS IF IT WERE . !
TRIVIAL~AN ANNOYANCE. . ! TO $7OF EVEN IF I
NOW. HAVE TO LONFINE
- ~ o BOTH OF YOU
tTSHARE? His HATREO OF THE ie TO HOUR
ALIENS, BUT SU77ENLH OLR QUARTERS.
: BITTER QUEST SBEME7
EMPTY-- ALMOST LLY.

ee
MY ONLY FRIENZ
L WON'T Let YOU
RUN THOT,
 WE FOUN? AN UNUSED STORAGE
UNIT BEHIN? THE ENGINE
COMPARTMENT AND MET AS OFTEN
b% WE COLL IT WAS ALL 40
NEW TO ME.
Sy

=-bOMETIMES NS
tree to Ne
FPRIGHTENED-- \
LIKE LM STILL
BIGHT YEARS
Ov?--

FRIGHTENED
OF THE WAY I
FéeL ABOVT
YOU.
HE? FORGOTTEN WHAT IT WAS LIKE
. LTO CARE ABOUT SOMEONE.
HOW THAT WILL
CHANGE WHEN We
REACH THE
HOMEWORLP.

MAYBE 1 HAD BZEN LOCKE? AWAY 50 5

LONG NEVER HAD THE CHANCE

THE ALIENS DESTROYED MY LIFE ONCE,

Tt COVLON'T STOP THEM THEN-- BVT I
COVLO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING
AGAIN.

THE LIGHT FROM THE

STARS STRETCHEP
AROUNP THE SHIP
LIKE BANS OF
GLOWING WHITE NEON.
 Ceara
4KAK KAK* --THE

Suspécter. I Fpe reels

REePlAceD THE T Hp? To FIND
SUUNTS-- SALVAYE.
PRETENPEDP
prlalied HAP
HAPPENED--

ANOTHER CALL FOR ; Ze OPENesLP

Wspg
YOU. MAIN FEEDS BASTARD!
GONE GOWN LET ME
(--!

SALVANB--
DAMN YOU, I've
SEEN \T--\T'S
FEAL!

SPLVAIE'S VISION HAD TAPPEP INTO SOMETHING PRIMAL,

UNCONTROLLABLE. Bo vioMESehok SPREAD, THE
CNS? Sovert WM Out--SeOVIpED FOR iM
\
~ WELCOME
BROTHER. PLEA
NOIN Us IN
 Salvases LONGRECATION baTueRE?.
CLOSER, WATEHING IN UTTER SILENCE.
1 TOLP THEM WHAT t Hae 526N.

A SueP Ride. IT WA ne e
eeu
Ms WER EXPECTING me ie ed it Took Mé A MOMENT oO TRULY UNTER STAND.
v3

Na
— ViFION HAP CM Runener Tee
S Pi
wveas£ Wi SEEN MONSTERS
‘ty
 6
GLITCH IN ONE
OF THE INFRA-REV%,
BUT MAINTENANCE
QL SAI? THEY '7--

MavBe
Y ONE OF THE
Bxécvtives
PILKE? HER VA
SUOLL? I s
LONG RANGE
RETINAL AN?
A PHOTO 1.7.
SEARCH.
hs

Tm OH,
NOT GETTING P Ebb. TM
ANYTHING. ~ brine

TURN ON
ALL THE HOT
GUNS ANP THE
ALTOMATILS--
BVBN LP
EVERYTHING

Ly
YW,
bp Yy
 SpLVANE'S CONGREGATION F
PovRer INTO THE
PY BioNATIONAL COMPLEX.
3 WAS STUNNE? BY
THEIR POWER.

1 WANT
EvERYBOOY
ON HAR? FIRE
STANZBY, LOLKE? [FF
AND LOAEBD.
NOBOPY
GETS IN.

bLNS DIPN'T ERIGHTEN THEM. DEATH F

AION'T FRIGHTEN THEM. NOTHING
MATTERED BLT THE CASE.

Ss
: SS =
IT WAPN'T THAT THEY WEREN'T FEELING
“— THE PAIN, THEY Iu4T AIEW/'T CARE.
ae add -
h SE weer

~ 3

h SALVAJE WANTEP Me TO 56 EVERYTHING. BVEN

BIN THE M\CST OF THE BLOOD ANY PEATH, He
FELT IT IMPORTANT THAT t Believe.
 LL —_ SOO
THe CagAruRge WATtHe? WE HAVE
PASS\VELY, HOVERING LOMe TO CONSLINMATE
PROTELTIVELY OVER OUR LOVE--TO FLRGE
\t6 BROow THE VISION FROM

\~
OVA MINZS--

(IT BURET OUT IN A GLISTENING IL COULD 462 Hib Molt

BLUR, VibcOusS TENPRILS OF *] TWISTING IN PAIN AS THE
J FLUI? ELUTTERING SéHIND 4 CREATURE ATACWEP
IT LIKE SOME OBSCENE “| irSele--
AF TERBIATH.

NS.‘al
 THEY'RE
TRYING TO
EF:

SIR-- WE'RE VNOER SAN

bOMEe SORT OF ATTACH! Ive &
LOST CONTACT WITH GROUND S No
OF
FLOOR setun \T4-= 4 eS: Sy ovrsivers/
. sen 3 : aH \\< ~~ , WwW we HANCLE

seteneaes mrauteTAKE1sTHE Spore.

Hl N
OTHERS. T SAW POZENS
U7. ery ING ie
 t HeARP bLNE IRE
obTei7e WE CuAMBER. Fam
SuP7ENLY, THE ALiEN
SLAEAMEC.

Gs
3 THE LIFe-
A BROKE AWhy FORM PATENTS
FROM SALVAJED B( BELONG HERE WE
N ANP PEVELOPED IT.

THERES
700 MANY OF
THEM--WE CAN'T
POSSIBLY-«

96
 4OU--4OU
DON'T UNVERSTAND--
Lt? NEVER WWAeT
YOu--

BEINE’S ~
pEear--you're \
ALL 1 Have

Pez =

SEEPS
UNPERETAND -</-
ay
 * KOPF KoFe*--1 DON'T ‘ Ou MY bom IT MAKES Fe 4 KKAK KAKK--MPYBE IT Gob
ZeMeMaée Mply Artem THAT. : SENSE Now. SHE “a B BALK EVEN WRr/ER-- BIRTH-
Setupity POLICE QuARANTINE? | AOA \t--THAT G/ING-- Fa Wel Stool. AYERY DECISION oF
THE BUILZING--THEY MLSr Have 7. : : Og My LiFe-- MAYBE SHE
FouNg Me INSIPE-- . SE Bl CONTROLLE? IT Abe--
7 t
1VE BEEN Aik oF | tll” gta amas S
t dpet CoN} Mh ALL .
Or te aaceHOCKING
He Up fe ‘
od Ir WaguT Sacvaves;
VNPERSTANZ fo SetuRitd STOpe-- CONSPIRACY--(T WAS
Way-- NAY ae een - HERS. I WAS vor
WE --7 : : eee & OY ANOTHER SOLp/ER--
ANOTHER Sacgie/¢,
NONE W

s aa eng
a _« NK'S TAKING
om Saker or e y WHAT THEY CAN
PyYING. T WANT To [eee 4 USE-- BYES, SKIN,
LIVE. t WANT Bees | WHATS LEFT OF
. HI5 STOMALH.
: THEY'LL BURN
THE REST.

WERE WASTING ALCORVING To

TIME. WE STILL GON'T BIONATIONAL JOLUMENTATION,
KNOW WHERE THE ALIEN GESTATION TAKES ANYWHERE
PANATILS ARE FROM 7Z HOVRS TO A WEEK
HIPING. OR MORE.

OF THE NEWBORN
ESCAPE--IF ANY
OF THEM ARE
QUEENS--
Ab THE SHIP APPROACHED THE
ALIENS HOMEWORLY, 1 WAS
OVERWHELMET BY A HIVZOLS
PREMONITION OF LEATH.

THERE WAS AN AIR

OF FESPERATION TO
OUR ENCOUNTERS,AS
\F We ZION'T PARE
WASTE AN INSTANT.

we MAVE Love
THAT FINAL AY,
SURROUNDED
BY THE BLEAK
GRAY METAL
OF THE SHIP'S
HULL.

AN? FOR THE FIRST TIME

SINCE RIM, 1 CRIED epee
fo
peteenen

M 1 ReMeMseR THINKING HOW

FRAIL WE WERE NEXT TO
OVR MACHINES.

99
 PeRvars ~ NO WAY, SIR.
IT'b-- PEBRIS IT'S CHANGING
OF 40Mé LOURSE--
AIND7 FOLLOWING {|
ve Fibs:

CAPTAIN
STEPHENS-- THERES
SOMETHING OVT

S THIS
\b STEPHENS.
EVERYTHING IS
\ SET. PREPARE.
<A FOR
 “BE
SEBING 4OU
SHORTLY.

IMPOSSIBLE--/
IT MUST BE
50ME KINO OF
PRILL--! AN
b ALC/PENT--

-~Ramee
:
is

1 LOVE
4OV-- AND TLL
Be BAC, at NE
 ANYBOOY .
KNOW WHAT'S

» 4)Ne)
. HAPPENING
y
Ba

Sue _——~
COMMUNICATIONS
OvTY, 1 HAVEN'T
SEEN re SINCE

"y
HE-

SHIT! SOMEONES
PULLED THE LOACPER
MECHANIOM! THIS THINGS
VEELESS!

HEY'VE
ALL BEEN ZEROB?. =
THib I> SOME KIN? JM VY. THe
OF SETUP. if . 1S CAPTAIN IT WANT ALL
CREW TO REPORT TO
THE LOAPING BAY--
UNMECIATELY-
Sa "
 SUPPOSE YOU'RE
GOING TO KILL THE AEST
OF THEM-- LIKE “OU

HAPPENE?--
HE LATEH YOU
TRANSMITTING
A 10 THESE
BOSTARIST

4OU
DON'T CARE ABOVT
THE GAMN “MARINES”
ANY MORE THAN J 70.
ALL YOU CARE ABOUT |
ARE YOUR PRECIOUS
ALIENS.
JOUELE CHECK THE SHIP'S
COMPLEMENT. MAKE SURE
EVERYONE.

ALIMANS?7 40 <
THINK YOU LAN Loe x --BUT ft
THE MARINES FOR BAIT? ‘ CAN'T COUNTENANCE
CHRIST, PIPN'T TRAITOR6--EVEN WHEN
THEY-- THEY'RE ON MY SIZE.
: Z NBVER KNOW WHEN
THEY MIGHT

WAIT- x
MASSEY--4OU DON'T VR
YNCERETANP--
YOu sgl
M -

t
DON'T LIKE
4OU, STEPHENS.
1 DON'T MING
OCREECY

A PROP SHIP
2OR
VANZING,
 Il COULD FEEL THE THAT'S WHAT THE ENEMY
PANIC RISING IN MY PEPENPS ON. HUMAN--
CHEST. CHOKING. ALIEN-- THEY RELY ON
CLAVSTROPHOBIC. THAT FEAR TO ENCURE.

M4 FIRST INSTINCT WAS TOF

WHAT IS IT ABOVLT LIFE MIDE VST ViWhe
THAT AS SOON AS YOU IV5T LIKE EARTH.
FIN? SOMETHING GOOP--
IT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM
4OVT

QON'T UNDERSTAND FEAR. Ff

DONT VNOBRSTANZ

IT BXPLAINE? THE
RESILIENCE OF I KNEW f WOULU HAVE TO
CREATURES LIKE BECOME LIKE THEM TO
SURVIVE.
IT HAP BEEN FOUR HOURS :
SINCE WE'? BEEN SOARED. TEFEN
WHO THE HELL WERE THEHT THIS WAS Ace? EASLEY
ZOLVIERS7 MERCENARIES? ZASIER THAN “SY aN? JONES ANZ
tv wore vi? Ov ‘WA oumees THe BOvIES
DOUBLE-CHECK BEFORE WE THE
THE INBOARD A POCKET: REST OF THE

COMPLEMENT |S
ACCOUNTED
FOR.

NO WONDER
STEPHENS CHEWEO MY ASS
OVER PACKING PLASMA RIFLES.
HE WAS AFRAID WE'D VoE
THEM AGAINST YOU.

IT STILL CAN'T
FIGURE WHERE THE
CORPORATION FOUN? THE
BALLS TO INTERCEPT A
GOVERNMENT SHIP ON
A CLASSIFIED
MISSION--

I THINK 4Ov'LL
FIN? THE CORPORATION
CAPABLE OF ALMOST
\ ANYTHING.

Wé STILL BELieve
IN FREE BNTEPRISE--
CAPITALI6/0. AND I'M AFRAIZ
4OVR GOVERNMENT WANTSTO
KEEP THE ALIEN LIFBFORM
FOR /T6ELF.

my
GOVERNMENT? YOU
MAKE IT SOUNV LIKE
THE CORPORATION |S
AN INPEPENCENT
 YHOU'LL STAY
WITH ME ABOARV THE
BENEVICT. HOVR MEN
SEEM TO RESPECT 4OL--
1 MIGHT BE ABLE
10 LEE THAT-
YOU'VE ALREAPY
GOT THOSE THINGS ON
BARTH--WHY NOT JUST
Ail VS ANP BE
GONE WITH IT7

YOU'RE
1O Dig--GOING
BEST " NEVER KNOW WHAT 4OU MIGHT FINZ IF THEIR HOMEWORLZ
FOLLOWS TRADITIONAL PATTERNS, THERE'S PROBABLY
era SOME SORT OF ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.
BLT Im SRE
YOU UNPERSTAND
THE CALL OF
SCIENCE.
We'Re
CHARGED WITH
INVESTIGATING
THA HOMEWORLO
BEFORE RETURNING
TO EARTH.

~ LIKE BARTH--LIKE
med OL AND ME.

“THE ALIEN 14 A REMARKABLE LIFEFORM, BUT IT MAY NOT

m 22 THE COMINANT SPECIES ON ITS HOMEWORLE,

“A CORPORATION LIKE
BIONATIONAL SUCLEEPS BY
STAYING ONE STEP IN FRONT
OF THE COMPETITION. IN
FIVE YEARS THE ALIEN WILL
BE OBS0LETE-- HASSE.
Wé'LL NEED TO FINV NEWER,
SUPERIOR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS.

BRE FIGHING. YOUR

MARINES ARE BA/7."
foros
 WE'RE PICKING YEAH. PLT
UP S50ME BURN ON DOWN NEAR THE
THE OVTER HULL-- FORMATION AN?
GROUND SCANNERS DISPATCH THE
ARB STARTING TO FLOATERS.

MAKE SURE ALL THE VATA

RECORVERS ARE UP-- THEY'RE
GOING TO WANT THIS ON ISC.

MARGINAL, BUT THERE ARE

ONLY BNOVGH MASKS FOR VS
COOP GUYS. HELL, THOUGH,
YOU'RE ROUGH, TOUGH
MARINES.

1 STILL
PON'T LIKE COME ON--4OU =
THI. REAP THE DOCUMENTATION.
THE ADULTS ARE A BITCH,
BUT THEY'RE CAROL
BASEr
ONCE THE
CRABLIKE THINGS
ATTACH TO AHOST, THEY
©O DORMANT. WE PICK
THEM VP, WE GO HOME.
NO PROBLEM.
THE CLCTS WORMEP
THROUGH THE SHI
SEPARATES BH AN
INTRICATE NETWORK
OF AVTOMATIC
INTERIOR POORS.

THE ALIENS V6EZ

SIMILAR TUNNELS
TO ATTACK US ON
BIM,

SOMEBOVY PLLLED THE

LOAVERS FROM THE THE INTAUOERS WERE
CALM, CONFIVENT THAT
MARINES' BLASTERS, THEY WERE IN COMPLETE
PROBABLY THAT PIECE
OF SHIT, STEPHENS. CONTROL. DESPITE %O
MANY WARNINGS, WILKS
AN? Hid MARINES Mave
3bAuletee METAKE ON
iM.

IT WAS A MATTER OF
PERCEPTION. THE ALIENS
WOUL? HAVE UNZERSTOOP.

THE BENEDICT DIPN'T Ff

BELONG TO THOSE
BASTARDS IN THE
I SAW WHAT WAS LEFT LOADING BAY. IT
OF HIM SPATTERED BELONGED TO MB.
DOWN IN THE LOAPING
BAY. SAVED ME THE
TROVBLE.

T COVLPN'T IMAGINE
STEPHENS ACTVALLY
JETTISONING THE
LOAVERS--HE WAS TOO
PRUCENT FOR THAT.
 NR N
JOES THIe
MAKE ANY SENSE
"{ TO 4OU7 BIONATIONAL-- Y
| THE GOVERNMENT--WERE |
ALL SUPPOSE TO BZ
ON THE SAME
THERE'RE
NO 5IPES ANYMORE-
NUST MONEY

CHAIST--TM GETTING
BARE NOMINALS ON
ATMOSPHERE, ANP THE
ORUNTS ARE HARVLY |’
AFFECTEP-- |
—THEY'RE
4 . 3 Be é
ITS ANOTHER | =n : THEY BELIEVE ALL
B00r | THAT "WERE THE BEST"
RECRUITING

=}
ie — — gn
7. ~-BUT THEY
/ PON'T LOOK 50 NI

FF --0n7 HELL,
+ WE'VE GOT THE Wy
A\ BEST SeaTe IN
THE HOUSE. +

109
7 M4 Gop--Ir'b--iTsNS
FLSEP OVT OF BONE, (fe FOR CHRISTS
PETRIFIED TIbSUE-- Ye
ANYTHING LEFT AFTER
: THE ALIENS-- F—-THINK ABOUT
WY
s\\

ANNU
N

y SURVIVALT SOY WHERE THE HELL

THATS FLANY, ARE THEYT WHY DONT

SOMETHING (NS/ZE--
SOMETHING (MOVING--
BUT IT'S NOT
ATTACKING...

SOMETHINGS
WEONE.
SOMETHINGS ~
WRONG WITH THIS
ENTIRE
M1E410N--
 MASSEY--
WE'RE UNPER

LUCAIN AN?
HAINES ARE BOTH
PEAP- THOSE
THINGS ARE-
 THIS IS ’
WHERE THEY F

Le
Se

POH JESUS-- THEY'RE I THINK .

EVERVWHERE-- 1 522 AN OPENING--
WE MIGHT--

GAMN--
WHATS THAT
NOIBET
 SOUNPS LIKE
GUNFIRE --

4
LETS GET THE
FROM

1 FELT THE SHIP LUACH WHEN THE LANGER THE ALIENS DION'T AZEP LOVE.
SEPARATED. BUELLER HAV LEFT WITH THEM, LONELINESS--FEAR--THE CONCEPTS
1 COULO FREL IT--THE SAME WAY 1 COUL? WERE MZANINGLESS.
STILL FEEL HI SKIN, 60 GENTLE, 50 WABM-~- a5

: THEY ONLY KNEW PBZATH.

| IT KEPT THINGS SIMPLE.
 THEY'RE
ALL AROUN? VS
} JESUS CHRIST, WE'RE
SURROUNPEP-~

¢AN BARELY
BREATHE MASbEH--
4OV BASTARP--PO
SOMETHING-- _«
S —Zz

THE SLIENTISTS
WILL RAISE A FUSS
OVER THE DESTRUCTION
CUE WARNE: : OF THE INBOAR?
ARE GOOF GETTING AWAY POSE MENIEMION:
FROM THE HIVE, OVERPOWERING
MY PEOPLE--L MAY HAVE
~ YNCERESTIMATE? 4OV--

" WHAT A
ABOLT “OUR
\

MULL

cca
WE
ccc

PRINCIPAL
OBJECTIVE WAS
TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT FROM
SECURING AN
ALIEN SPECIMEN.
MISSION
ACLOM--
 WELL. WE
SEEM TO HAVE
MUSSED ONE.

WHAT
ARE 4OU7 SHIPS
MASCOT?

YOU'RE VERY
THE ALIEN WOULP HAVE PRETTY. YOU CAN'T BE
ATTACHE WHAT WAS ONE OF THESE HARP-
WRONG WITH ME7 WHY ASS MARINES.
COULON'T 1 FIREZ
[LL BET
YOU'VE NEVER
EVEN FIFEC
ONE OF THOSE

SHOOT HM,
BILLIE!

HOW
COUL? YOU LIVE
WITH YOURSELF--
MURPERING
ANOTHER HUMAN
BEING--7

GOP HELP ME. 1

WAS ONLY HUMAN.
" HOU'RE
NOTHING -- A
ISTRALTION--
RUNNING. 4 .

Vi

1 WAS WRONG. 1 WASN'T LIKE THE ALIEN--NOTHING

TRULY HUMAN COULD STAND SUCH EMPTINESS.

DON'T EVEN HAVE

THE STRENGTH

4
‘

1 THOUGHT OF BUELLER.
1 THOUGHT OF OV LOVE, 4
 THERES
NO TUE,
VAMN IT

THIS 16 BILLIE-- \
4OU HAVE 10
GET AWAY FROM
THE LANVER--
NOW!

ALTO ALL THE

CONTROLS. EVERYTHING. \
WE'LL HAVE TO TRANSFER
THE BENEZICTS NUKES
TO THEIR LANVER
AN? SET THEM
OVRSELVES,
I GON'T
CARE WHAT IT
TAKES. I'M GOING
TO FIN/SH

BVELLER--LISTEN
10 ME. WE'RE GOING
TO USE THE INTALER'S
LANVER Bs RECOVER
(OU.

FIN?
SOMEWHERE
SAFE TO WAIT
FOR-- 4

WE MANAGEP TO
SALVAGE THE BLASTERS
AN? AMMUNITION FROM THE
LANPER. WE'RE GOING BACK
TO THE HIVE.
 THOSE MEN IN THE LANVER. WE
CAN'T LET ANYONE
ELSE CIE.

hii

STEPHENS WAG A ™N
TRAITOR! THOSE MEN
WERE GOING TO KILL

YOU'RE . ‘ or
WASTING TIME. PN THEY WERE
FORGET , LEAP BEFORE
THEM. - 9 THE MISSION
 Th ‘Misia: IPE
BET WE LAUNCHED MASSEY'S aA Hid FACE WAS Ri
LANGER AN? BEGAN THE |
@) SLOW DESCENT TO THE
N ALIENS HOMEWORLZ,

f WILHS IONOZES THE SCREENS,

LOST IN Hild CREAMS OF
VENGEANCE. AT LEAST HE
d STILL HAY THAT,

T HAV '
NOTHING. F

SHORT
BURSTS, DAMN IT!
CONSERVE YOUR

EZ [ -- JUST THE STARK

REALITY OF THE
ALIEN--
 eT
> tM REAVING ===
lS
PLUS-200 ROUNDS, \ =
CUELLER-~We'ne
}-4/ UNNING OUT OF
TIME!

THE B --MAYBE ONE

ARE LEAL BURN OF TWO OF VS WILL ¥
THESE ALIEN BASTARDS ACTUALLY MAKE IT
AN? THEN BACK > IN ONE PIECE--
Ow7-- >
 Z 7 oN Fe,
LANJER JUeT I Be --LIKE PHOSPHORESCENT SWIRLS OF Peceemeee Gi
OLTSIVE THE ALIEN HIVE, SANZ ANZ COLOR FLICKERING ACROSS THE -
QUST CANLEC AROUNG THE SHIP Lime | \ LANPER'S FORWARP MON/TOR. EN
SOME MOCKING, ETHEREAL GMOKE-- ) = TE
TT ’ - Cann iT i |
i GUELLER, GoN'T
iy FALL BACK!
3

= x sue Z Z / S

m fia i THINK IT ANEW. I THINK IT WANTED TO

an TEACH MEA LESSON ABOLT THE FUTILITY
| OF LOVE--THE HORROR OF 7HL/ST--
|
>
%

as
EB

met

I
WAM
 oe
Mn
SS

Y *cawn 17,8ILLie--1 trier> LW

Mca KEEP 4OU AWAY FROM HIM--
FAOM ALL OF THEM--

"WHY DO YOU THINK THEY WENT BACK FOR THOSE

BASTARVS IN THE HIVE? THEIR PRINCIPAL
FUNCTION 1S TO PRESERVE LIFE. ALUMAN LIFE.

THIS MISSION. SPENT

LOCKE? INSIVE THAT MARINE COMPOLNG
WAITING FOR 74/6 MOMENT.

"JAMNEV PROGRAMMERS WERE ALMOST 700 CLEVER.

y¢> : yy / Y THE ANPROIPS VEVELOPED SENSITIVITIES. THERE
WERE QUESTIONS ABOLT THEIR EMOTIONAL
“THERE WERE INTERACTION PROBLEMS WITH EARLIER STAB/LIT4--HOW THEY'? REACT TO THE TAUTH--
MOVELS--HUMANS JUST PION'T L/KE THEM,60
THESE PROTOTYPES WERE DESIGNEV TO SOCIALIZE
THEY EAT LIKE V5, TALAK LIKE VS-- PLAYB? ALONG WITH THE DECEPTION--
 STEPHENS WAS TRYING
TO TELL THOSE BASTARDS JUST
BEFORE THEY ALE HIM-- THE
ALIENS NEED LIVING TISSVE TO
INCUBATE-- "BAIT." THATS
A LAUGH.

WHY--
PION'T 4“OU--
TELL MEZ
CHBIST, BILLIE,
4OV WEREN'T SUPPOSEO TO
FALL IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THEM-"
LTCOLLON'T JEOPAAVIZE THE
MISSION‘ere FOR

YOU'RE WORSE THAN ANY

OF THEM. YOU'RE DEAP INSIVE--
JUST LIKE THE ALIENS--LIKE
THAT SON OFA BITCH
BHOT--
TO THINK 1
WANTE? TO BE
CHE 4OU--

WILKS --THE HATCH

1S SEALEV-- EVERHONES
AasoaRr7-- 4 THE ALIENS--
a WE HAVE TO
LAUNCH!

125
 608 THEY'RE
QWTSIPE-- CRAWLING

SHIT! THEY'VE fg EXTERNALS LOOKS LIKE Wee

CUT THE EXTERNAL WAY CONTROL tHe teLemerry YRS NOBOPY'S GONG )
FEeD-- NHSfos AN? LAUNCH ANYWHERE.
FUNCTIONS-- ‘

—/
\N
 Jokes iT
MATTER? Goes
ANYTHING MpTTER
ANYM ORE7 =

4ou :
sr Have > ~
INOWN. HOW JUST Don't--
COULD 4OU-- } LEAVE_Me-- Ler
YZ Me ARETENP
A FEw Moe
SECONTS--

(Z
COME TO FAFA,
YOU SON OF A
BITcH--
 WHAT. SHH-- —§- Nn 3
MN ( LISTEN. THEY'VE p %,
STOPPED. | %
os

y LY»
’ J Wr
A yy

pC 5 o’
amy?

A. Y 2 / } x
a
 Sy)
IT HAV DeSTROYE?
THE ALIENS, BUT NOT
| FOR US. MEVER FOR V4.
IT

THE IMAGES BOILE? UP

FROM SOME ZEEFER PLACE,

129
M4 NAME I> BILLIE. THERE ARE 154 OF US ON THE
I'M SIX YEARS OL?. PLANET. THE CORPORATION
1 LIVE ON A CALLS US TERRAFORMERS. M7
WORL? CALLEZ FATHER CALLS VS PIONEERS.
AIM.
THE CORPORATION HAV SENT VS OVT
TO INVESTIGATE SOME SORT OF
MAGNETIC SLGE. I CAN STILL
REMEMBER MY FATHERS SMILE-- THE
SCENT OF MY MOTHERS PERFUME--

2 THE READINGS ;
ARE GOING OFF SCALE--
WE MUST HAVE FOUND THE

THE RULES-
WE FIN IT,
WE AZEP
IT.

HARV TO BELIEVE TS PARTLY

SOMETHING THIS B/G-- WITH SHELTERED BY NATURAL
THIS KIND OF RESONANCE-- FOLK FORMATIONS--ANZ
WENT WITHOVT BEING THE VAMNEV EC-SATS
NEVER WORKEV UF
 WNPS REALLY ~G “M1 GO, Bob
-=IT
KICKING LP--WELL MAKE % ENORMOLS --
A OMEK LOOP 10 6ELURE \
THE CLAIM, THEN HEAP
BALK:

1 CAN'T STAN TO SBE

IT HAPPEN AGAIN.

y WA \
fT WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD THE ' WE HAZ BATTLE? TIME, SALE, THE ELEMENTS--
DISCOVERY OF THE PERBLICT VION'T AN? WON. WE WEREN'T AFRAIZ
REALLY MEAN ANYTHING TO Me. 4
Mi.ME
Po --THib Ib MA re :
INCREVIBLE-- < d / SARAH
EVERYTHING'S : y ) --IN HEBE--!
SMOOTH, ALMOST | $ io
\ ORGANIE--

<a
Za 7
A
‘ WE HAP TERRAFORME? A BARREN ROLK
=r
A VIABLE, LIFE-SUSTAINING PLANET. °
* Pts

MAYBE THAT THING

IN THE PERELICT
SHARE? OVE BLIN?
ARROGANCE--
IT SOMEHOW AWEW THAT I HA Ee
SEEN THE WRECKAGE. WE SHARE?
A GROTESQUE FORM OF EMFATHY-- ” UK Ke =~
— : : heWeNre Me To
Z =
= Wow:

I COUL? ONLY PICK OUT BITS AND

PIECES --LIKAE SOMEONE BLINKING
CHANNELS ON A VIPEO.

r
THE E665--OH GOP-- & 3‘
ObS 3

COULD SEE HIM OVER THE TRACTORS MONIT

I COVLV SEE THE EXC/TEMENT IN Hib EXES-

JESV5, SABAH, I
SEE SOMETHING MOVING--
1 THING THEY'RE
STILL AL/--
 THE PILOT ABOARV
THE CARGO VESSEL
LOST CONTROL OF
ITS SuHIP--

IT SHOULY HAVE DRIFTE?

HAVE CARRIET THE ALIEN THINGS INTO THE
21 HELL OF VEEP SPACE.
a -

INSTEAZ IT CAABHEC INTO THE

WORL? THAT MAN WOLLZ
CHAISTEN AlM-- ANZ THE
SPORE SURVIVE

THEY WAITED PATIENTLY FOR NEW BLOOM THEY F =

FOUN \T IN THE COLONISTS--MY FHRENTS-- Z
 Ais A Z - THIS ANTENNAS
HEAR A Z SHOT. WELL HAVE TO
I COLL
HIGH PITCHE? WHINE : my : BYPASS IT ANZ BUN THE
IN M4 BARS, LIKE / ) DIRELTIONALS THROLGH
SOME VISTANT, j - Z THE AFT SYSTHEM.
HORRIBLE SCAEAM. _ :

WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, I WANTE? TO BELIEVE THERE WAS

HOU CAN'T =? SOMETHING BETTER--THAT THERE
UNPERSTANP BVIL. ITS eo WAS SOME KIN? OF AOFE.
N AN INTANGIBLE a
THING--LIKE THE AIR
OR THE SKH--
5s

I WATCHEP VS WITH IT'S CEAD

BYES ANG 1 FELT A CHULL. IT
Hav COME TO THE ALIEN HOME-
WORL? OT OF HATE. IT HAD
RESLVEP VS IN THE NAME OF
BEVENGE.
 BYES ONLY
DOVBLE A-ALPHA
LOG ON, ORONA.

L-I'VE LOsT
TRACK OF TIME SINCE
THE BIONATIONAL ATTACK
I'VE BARRALAVEV MYSELF
IN MH OFFICE TO GIVE ME
TIME TO PREPARE THI4
FINAL REPORT.

BVIVENTLY THE ALIEN

QUEEN |% ABLE TO
; COMMUNICATE IN SOME §
SUBCONSLIOVS
FASHION. WITH OTHER
SPECIES, IN HUMAN

MANIFEST THEMSELVES
IN THE FORM OF
PATTERN M/GHTMABES.
[
5A
cacanswene|
tueLUBE.

AT FIRST WE THOUGHT
| WE 66 ABLE TO
CONTAIN THE SPORE.
INFEZTATION SEEMEZ
LIMITE? TOA H
1 NARROW GEOGRAPHIC
| RANGE.

| anc wer rom every cLustes

Le we FOUND THERE WERE TEN
s MORE JUST LIKE IT.

NAMES OSTROW.
LOOKS LIKE HE WAS
SOME SORT OF BIG SHOT
WITH BIONATIONAL.
 THE ALIENS SUBLONSCIOVS BA/T WITH BACH NEW
TRANSCENPEP CLASS ANT POLITICAL
BOVNVARIES. WE FOUN HIVES
EVERYWHERE.
ES wy

HOWEVER WE STILL CONSIPERED CONTAINMENT AN

OPTION. IN STUDYING THE BIONATIONAL FILES WE
LEARNED THEIR QUBEN HAV GESTATE? A NUMBER
OF WEEKS PRIOR TO MATURATION.

USING THEIR EXPERIMENT

AS A BASELINE, 1 AS4UMEZ
Wé STILL HAP TIME BEFORE
ANY NEW QUEENS WOLL?
BELOME VIABLE.
PERHAPS OUR WORST MISTAKE WAS UNDERESTIMATING THE SHEER INSTINCTUAL CLNM/NG OF THE
CREATURES. WE CION'T SEE THE VNUERLYING FH77ERN BEHING THEIR EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS--THE
WOH BVERY FACET OF THEIR EXISTENCE WAS GEAREV TOWAR? PROPAGATION. THE QUEENS MATUREZ
AT WHATEVER SPEEV THEIR SLRVIVAL DICTATED

SS
WE HAT ASSUME? THE GESTATION PERIOV WAS TINE FOR THE ALIEN EMBRYO TO FEBZ ANP GROW, BUT
IT WAS Pats THAN THAT. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNKNOWING 4067 TO SPREAU ITS SPORE
TO OTH SITES.

137
 THERE
WAS A GEOMETAIC
PERFECTION TO THE
INFESTATIONS.
BACH QUEEN
WOVL? LAY STILL
MOBE QUEENS, AN? WITH
EVERY GENERATION
THE SPORE BELAME
MORE PIIRENGHEY

| AbHi--4OV CAN'T 90 THIS-- ¥ ¥

THE CIVILIAN AUTHORITY WAS WEAK IN THE —— ITS AGAINST THE--
FACE OF THE PEVASTATION. WHEN THE :
GENERALS FINALLY STAGE? THEIR Cour Hf iy pe:
If SEEMEC ALMOST --WELCOME.

THE MILITARY LAEATEP TESTING

CENTERS WHERE PHYSICIANS
CHECKEP CIVILIANS FOR SIONS
OF THE ALIEN INFECTION. AT
FIRST THE TESTS WERE VOLUNTARY.

4 N
RRS

WITHIN PAYS THAT CHANGER

Dl = a -. St

THERE WERE RUMORS THE MILITARY

WAS USING THE PRETEXT OF ALIEN
INFECTION TO EL/MINATE POLITICAL
VISGIDENTS-- THE POOR, THE
VIGAFFELTE? --
‘f} VITAL SERvICEes-- ,
GH WATER, ELECTRICITY--
4] BEGAN TO FAL.

ae)
nme

Meee
AVETRALIA. THE SEE7
14 GROWING WITH
REMARKABLE SPEEV

OS
a fv come 10 | F = RQummaareresseseny
IP SOMETHING A if | MON 6 AN ANIMAL, --THE ALIENS. fh)
BEET EATS a |} OBIVEN BY ANIMAL BIONATIONAL. &
‘ ; 7 PASSIONS. “CIVILIZATION” AW ATE j
|i) i a PaTHEeTic CHARAvE aie : ;
= OF MANNERS, PREDI- WA
CATE? ON A TI6SUE-
THIN VEIL OF LES. |
:
MY DESTROY Le. ¢
a

IN THE FUTURE- IF
THERE /& A FYTURE--
 | THE MILITARY HAS ORGANIZED OFF- §
“Y WORLP SHIPS TO EVACUATE “VITAL
PERSONNEL” TO THE OVTER
| COLONIES-- MAINLY THEIR OWN
PRECIOVS HIVES.

WE MAPE THE MISTAKE OF PERCEIVING

THE ALIENS AS SENTIENT WARRIORS.
I FINALLY REALIZE? THE TRUTH. SURGERY, VOLTORS ’
| Here DIBEASE. A CANCER. WOUL? APPLY RACPIATION
TO THE AFFELTEV AREA
IN HOPE OF DESTROYING
s ALL TRACES OF THE
|SCOVAGEB.
TITLE BE UST
A MOMENT, COLONEL.
THE SEALS HAVE TO BE
BURNEV BEFORE THE
OVTER VOOR--

I'M SHOWING GREEN ON

40% OF THE WARHEAMS. THE BUROT
SHOULPY VAPORIZE THE MOUNTAIN--
shidiasindae 9" WILL 7O

|M4--M MOTHER CIE? OF eee

| CANCER. OV? HOW t've § IT SOUNDS 60 PRIMITIVE,
| BEEN THINKING OF HER |
| cre |
BVT THERE ARE TIMES d
WHEN THE OLY WAYS ot
Aaée Most errective. jie
 THEY THINK
Ive Time? THEY LAN PESTROY
THE PETONATION THE CAEATURES THEY
TO COINCIDE WITH -
THINK SOMBVAY THEY'LL 3
THE MILITARY , BE ABLE TO
'BSCare'! BACH TO THEIR 4 THERES
WORLE SOMETHING FHTHET/C
gy ABOVT THE STRVOOLE.
M4 ONLY REGRET IS THAT
Tt WON'T SURVIVE TO 566
THEM PROVEN

I TAKE PRIVE IN MY
PRAGMATION--1 REALIZE THIS
TRANSMISSION IS POINTLESS, 1
VOUBT IF THE LONG RANGE
RELAY STATIONS ARE EVEN
OPERATIONAL--
STILL,
IF ANYONE I&
ACTVALLY SEFING
cr

--FOOL/EH.
 DAMN THEM--
DAMN THEM ALL
TO HELL.
THEY THOVLGHT
THEY COULV BREEP
THE MONSTERS.
CHRIST--

TO THOSE
THINGS7 TO
SPIT ANP POLISH
BASTARPS7T I'M
NOT SURE WHICH
\6 WORBE--

Re
RIGHT. WERE
HELPLESS.
 DESTROYING THE ALIENS HAV BEEN
AN ALL CONSUMING PASSION, YET
THERE WAS LITTLE SENSE OF
ACHIEVEMENT AS WE LEFT TO
RENVEZVOLS WITH THE BENEDICT.

ye
THE "OTHER" WATCHED AND APPROVET ag
ANG IN THE ENG REVENGZ WAS JUST |e
ANOTHER CHEMICAL KEACTION--LIKE 2
ALL THINGS IN LIFE-- p

| NA WY IN

/ a

a \
(Sf tHe Next INSTANT,
sal iT Was Gone. ||

ay

FINALLY, WILKS KNEW HE HAZ TO

ME GO BACK. THERE SIMPLY WASN'T
Mm ANYTHING ELSE. 5

143
WE WERE NOTHING WHEN WE
LEFT GARTH. WE'V GEEN ea

WERE RETURNING
WITH SALVATION.

I NEEV To
KNOW IF--IF WHAT
ALBIGHT7 Wé HAP WAS

WHEN THAT--7HING WILKS SAI7 a WAS JUET

TORE INTO ME-- 1 REMEMBER PROGRAMM OF SOME
THINKING HOW MUCH IL see iho PROCESS- -4OU BELIEVEV
LOVEP 4OU-- UU WERE HUMAN SECALSE IT
WAS EASIER--
BUT THAT DOESN'T
{ exrvaus sal HAPPENED? BETWEEN
io. \T CAN'T,
 Tto-L TOUCHE? HIM. ] Hie
y SKIN WAS WARM --S0FT.

“~~
|

MAYBE ALL LIFE

Io LIKE WILKS’
REVENGE--

--HATE-- PEATH--LOVE=-
ALL MEANINGLESS
OVTSIPE SOME LARGER
CONTE:

IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO OUR ARROGANCE.

HE SLIENTISTS WANT TO DRAW A LINE ee ‘
TWEEN MAN ANP HIS WiINZS :
Fw ray

: PA f ; MO LIVE THAN THEIR

. cA INS LOVE?

~BUT WHAT CIT ITMATIERT BUELLER ZAREP FOR

ME. NOT LIKE WILK--NOT LiKe EARTH'S COCTORS--
 TIME PASSET QUICKLY.
H FOR THE FIRST TIME
RS SINCE IM, 1 FELT A
Ba SENSE OF calm.

b BARTH DRIFTEP BELOW Le ae

Meee LIKE SOME BRIGHT TOY, sapuite
AN? AT LONG LAST WE
were HOME. : ti

& 4 x

|\

Nh y

WY 518-- WERE PICKING LP

Sa:
CTEPHENE SHIP--
BROS” GRANT PERMISSION FOR
( LANZING. I'LL MEET THEM AT
. THE PAP PERSONALLY

COMPUTERS, BUT
I MANAGE? TO PLLL A
PRELIMINARY 1.7--
 WIN? AND RAIN BATTERE? THE SHIP AS WE
SETTLEV ON THE LANVING PLATFORM. IT WAS }
ALMOST AS IF NATURE ITSELF WERE REBEL
LING AGAINST THE MILITARYS PLAN. Ze.

\.

/ \ THE RAIN REMINZED ME

A RIM--REMINVE ME OF
INNOCENCE--

BIONATIONAL BXELUTIVES
TOLD VS ABOVT STEPHENS LISTEN 70 ME--
AFTER ALL THE S4/7 O®FONA TRANSMITTED
CAME POWN-- A MESSAGE ABOVT THE
GETONATION JVST
BEFORE HE VIER 4OU
BM '--THERE may Be Ss
er 2,
ANOTHER Weu--" &

--WE'VE SV67ECTEV
iE EXIETENLE OF OTHER
SENTIENT BEINGS SINCE THE
NOSTROMO WN&SION. IT VOBSN'T
CHANGE THINGS.

THE ALIENS HAVE

WON, CORPORAL. BASIC
MILITARY TACTICS--WHEN YOU'RE
OVTOUNNEG, 4OU RETREAT--ANO
LEAVE NOTHING FOR
4OVR ENEMY.

4OU HEAR? ANYTHING PON'T WANT TO

I'VE 64/77 THERE'S STOP IT.
STILL A CHANCE IF
YOU'LL CEAL
WITH THE--

ITS ONLY A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE NX
THE ALIENS OVERRUN U4--
WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH
THE REALITY OF THE
SITVATION--

UNVBRSTOOP.
THE ALIEN ATTACK
ION'T BVIL. ITS
OPPORTUNITY-=
 --ZARTH'S BEEN ON THE ITS A CHANCE 10 CLEAN THE SLATE--
BRINK OF DESTRUCTION A CHANCE TO START AGAIN--
FOR DELAVES, THERES
NO PIBCIPLINE-- NO
ORCPER. “AFTER A FEW YEARS--WHEN IT'S OVER--
THE SURVIVORS CAN RETURN AN?
TERRAFORM ZARTH INTO SOMETHING
4 "THE ALIENS ONLY BEAUTIFUL AGAIN--
EXACERBATE? THE
SITUATION. IT WOLLZ
HAVE COME TO THIS
SOONER OF LATER.

Gh

a "ORONA UNVERSTOOU--
THE ALIENS HAVE
GIVEN US A CHANCE
10 RECISLOVER
OVRSELVES--

SIB-- THERES BEEN A BREACH OF LOCK POWN

THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER. OUR SPOTTERS THE SHIPS ANZ
HAVE SBEN HLUNFREPS OF THE-- PREPARE FOR
LAUNCH. ITS

WHAT ABOVT 4OU PIP WHAT

Ve--7 YOU THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.
THE TIME FOR MILITARY
PROTOLOL ANT POLITE
WNQLIBIES ABE
LONG PAST--
-- YOU'RE
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
STILL ON EARTH.
UNNECESSARY,
 --BACK AWAY--
REPORT TO THE PAZ
FOR LAUNCH--/

GIVING THOSE
ALIEN SHITS THE
PLEASLBE, ANP

Wg
alls 5 ARE

1 SMUGGLEP 4Ov "

ABOARP THE BENEPICT--
AN? IF I'VE LEARNEP ONE
THING ABOUT THE MILITARY
ITS TH/S--

HAVE 7/ME FOR

THIS, BILLIE--
THEY
THIS (b> et DESTROYED
{ WHERE THEY TOOK Y THE OTHERS--TOOK
~ BVELLER--1- WHAT THEY COLL?
m SALVAGE--

ff
DIPN'T THINK
4Ov'? COME
BACK.

bz, |
aml TBS
 --HALF THESE
SUIPS ARE AUTOMATE?

KEEP FIRING!
KEEP FIRING! WE
CAN'T LET THEM
GET TO THE
PAD--

TM STILL NOT SURE WHAT WILKS WAS

opie? AS WE CLIMBE? ABOARZ
CARGO SHIP. PERHAPS HE
WASN'T THINKING AT ALL-- JUST
BEACTING AS THE
SOLCIER IN HIM

AVA
at

WAS
FaK\
mT
TIAL
Le
aSTM

--WE GOT LLC Y.MOST OF THESE

--OF% MAYBE AFTER CARGO JOBS HAVE BEEN RETROFITTED
ALL THE VEATH ANZ FOR TOTAL AVTO OPERATION. THIS ONE
PAIN, SOMETHING STILL HAS SOME MANLAL
FINALLY 6F4BHEP , a
INSIVE HIM N\A --FULLY
SOMETHING PRESSURIZED,
ATMOSPHERE'S
NOMINAL-- MAKES
SENSE

--GHIP'S REGISTER
SPECIFIES ORGANIC CARGO.
HELL --IT' NOAH% HAPPY ras)
LITTLE ARK. Ress
 <S y
“THE ALIENS HAVE NO ¥ -I'M PROVO
ENTEREV THE FACIL/TY-- VX 8 \ OF EVERY ONE OF
PREPARE THE SHIPS FOR “SS THEM. NOW PREPARE
LAUNCH ON MY WAN i FOR LAUNCH OF
COMMAND -- \ RE * § I'LL HAVE YOU

--biR-
50ME OF
THE MEN
ABE STILL

FINAL--

T COVLV HEAR GUNFIRE

AND SCREAMS Ab THE
ALIENS APVANLEV ON
OUR SHIA THE SOUN7S
OF A PLANET DYING.

THE AUTOMATIC LAUNCH SEQUENCERS

LOCKE? ANY THE WHINE OF THE
SHIP'S ENGINES VROWNEV OVT THE
HORROR BELOW.

Wé WERE LEAVING ZARTH

1 SUPPOSE 1 SHOVLV HAVE CBIEV--

FELT SOMETHING FOR THOSE WE
LEFT BEHING--BUT I'7 RUN OVT
OF TEARS LONG AGO--
 ~-SOMETHING EXFLOPEL
LIKE A MILLION S24
\ Wy y BILLiE--
WHAT'S WRONG--T

Beg
It UNPERETOOP ABOVT OBON
IT ANEW HIS TWISTED PLAN--
WE THOUGHT i SHARED OUR THIRST io ee OS gee of
B
FOR VENGEANCE. WE LED IT To EARTH
IN THE MISTAKEN BELIEF IT MIGHT
WANT TO "HELP" D4,

HOW COVLV WE HAVE BEEN 40

BLINP? \T SHARE? 560 MANY
OF OVR MERCURIAL HUMAN
EMOTIONS. HATE. ANGER.

THE VESIRE i
10 CONQUER,

(T NO LONGER CAREP
ABOVT THE ALIENS.
INTEREST HAT SHIFTER
THE SOLVIERS
AS4UMET THEY WOLLO
RETURN ONE VAY ANZ
TERRAFORM BARTH
FOR THEMSELVES--

Bt ( IT WOLLT WATEH. IT WOULO )

Hol BE WA/TING FoR THEM. a
 THE CARGO VESSEL'S
NAVIGATIONAL COMPUTERS
WERE LOCKE ONTO A
DEEP SPALE TRAJECTORY.
THE GRAVITY PRIVE
PULSE? LIKE A LIVING
THING, PROPELLING VS
ACROSS BILLIONS OF
MILES OF SPACE.

WILKS FINALLY HAZ HIS

REVENGE, BUT HE FOUNZ
NO SAT/SFACTION IN IT.

WHEN IT BEGAN, HE BLAMEZ

Hie MIGERY ON THE ALIENS.
WAS MAMMSEELF.

1 WAS STANVING AT ONE OF THE VIEWPORT, I WASN'T ALONE ANYMORE--

STARING INTO SPACE. THE LIGHT FROM THE AN? MAYBE, FINALLY, THAT
STARS STRETCHED AROVUNP THE SHIP LIKE WAS ALL THAT MATTERER
GLOWING WHITE NZON--
\ Ae A ae \ Aa a We: \\

“onrane novi
script
MARK VERHEIDEN

art
DEN BEAUVAIS

lettering
WILLIE SCHUBERT

title illustration
DEN BEAUVAIS
 a :
; 5
. —=— >
a ’ IN SPACE, YOU BEGIN TO
mae . ny UNDERSTAND THE TRUE
NATURE OF /MMORTAL/TK

OVT HERE, SPATIAL ANZ =

TEMPORAL CONCERNS SEEM
TRIVIAL--\NSIGNIFICANT.

WE'RE FOURTEEN--NO, F/FTEENV

DAYS OUT FROM EARTH. IT
MIGHT AS WELL BE YEARS, . *

THE MAIN ANTENNA WAS STILL PICKING

UP FRAGMENTS OF EARTH ORBIT
SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS, TOOK
DAYS FOR THE SIGNALS TO REACH
US--IT WAS LIKE WATCHING SAHALZOWS.

PRERECORUS--VIGITAL CHIPS, MAG

UT OCCASIONALLY WE'D GET ie
SOMETHING L/VE OFF THE BOUNCE.
 THE IMAGES BURN LIKE
FIRE--BUT THEY'RE ALL
I'VE GOT LEFT.

Fe) 1" Wyn hie ty

ae
roty
eA Pe |
Wiis ’
'.

HAVE WE GOT
THE LINK? HAVE
WE GOT--YEAH,
YEAH, VO IT!

THERE WAS NO REASON

OR PATTERN TO THE
TRANSMISSIONS, WHAT-
EVER WE PICKED UP
CAME IN THROUGH
SHEER CHANCE.

THESE LAST, DESPERATE

SIGNALS WOULD TRAVEL
FOREVER, \NTO THE FAR
REACHES OF SPACE--
RANVOM, ELECTRONIC
BITS OF HUMAN REALITY,
H PRESERVED FOR ETERNITY.

PLEASE--IF YOU'RE
PICKING THIS LP--
—W- BESBEKKKN— CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN
THANK YOU, LOKP-- COMPLETELY OVERRUN.
THANK YOU, LORD -- WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON
THANK YOU, LOKD-- FOOV AN? DRINKING
THANK YOU, LOKD-- WATER, THE--BOL/ES--
THANK YOU-- HAVE BEEN LEFT TO
ROT--IBEABE \o--
THERE WAS A STRANGE, ALMOST ~ bs
SHIRITUAL \RONY TO IT ALL,

THROUGH OLR MACHINES,

EVEN MANKINUS
DEBTRUCTION WOULO
ENVURE IN A PERVERSE
SORT OF
MUMORTALIT Kh
AS TIME PASSED, LIVE
TRANSMISSIONS WERE
LESS FREQUENT. WHAT
REMAINED WERE S7AT/IC
IMAGES GENEKATEV FROM
AUTOMATIC SOURCES,

--LOR?, THANK
YOU, LOR?, THANK
YYYAAAGGM --/
MY GOD--WE WERE A SPECIES
IN LOVE WITH OUR PECEITS.
CLANDESTINE MONITORING
DEVICES WHIRREV ON WITHOUT
FUNCTION, BLANOLY RECORVING

+
--NOTHING STOPS
THEM--WE'VE KILLEV
HUNDREDS ANZ IT
DOESN'T SEEM TO--
MW BSEEZZZZKKKN-
ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY, ANZ
FOR WHAT POSSIBLE REASON? 5
WHO WAS WATCHING? n .

EXPLANATIONS WERE LOST

IN THE DEVASTATION.

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SIGNALS

STOPPED, 1 KNEW IT WAS OVER.

VEEUE CHRIST,
WHAT HAVE WE
PONEF
 1 SHOULV HAVE GUESSED THE
FIRST TIME 1 WAS WITH HIM,
EVERYTHING WAS S0--PERFECT.

WE'VE COME
OUT OF GRAVITY
DRIVE, BUT I HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS.
THERES WO WAY INTO THE WHAT THE
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM HELL KINV OF
WITHOUT THE ACCESS SHIP /6 THIS?
Cove,

SKIN--HAIR--MUSCLLATURE-- 1 CAN INITIATE SHORT TEST

ALL OF IT METICULOUELY BURNS IN THE THRUSTERS, BUT
DESIGNED AND SYNTHESIZED THE COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY
COMPENSATES FOR
COURSE AND TRAJECTORY.
WE'RE JUST ALONG FOR
THE RIDE.

NO--ITS WOT
ALL RIGHT. WE ZON'T
KNOW WHERE WE'RE
GOING--HOW LONG
ITS GOING TO
TAKE-- 4
To Lf
ENE a, 1 COULD IMAGINE HIS DESIGNER
# RELAXING BEHIND A GENETIC
SCHEMATIC, ADDING AND SUB-
TRACTING FEATURES WITH THE
ARBITRARY TWIST OF A DIAL.
GOP, I
LOVE YOU $0
Mv--

LON'T--
PLEASE, BILLIE--
DON'T...

1--I'M GOING
TO TRY AND GET
SOME REST--

HE WAS AN ANDROID
CONSTRUCT--A
REPLICA, { THINK HE
WAS AS SLEPRISED
AS ANYONE WAS TO
LEARN THE 7eUuTH,

BILLIE--
BILLIE, I'M
SORRY!
1 STILL ON'T-- Poe it was ALMOST FUNNY.
UNPERETAND--ENERYTHING | BUELLER WAS THE FIRST
THATS HAPPENEO MAN WAO EVER LOVED
0 ME... ME--AN? HE WASN'T A
MAN AT ALL.
 A868 bss]
abel LT Pte
1 HA? TO KEEP MY MINZ / sar
ON OUR SITUATION.
EVERYTHING ABOVT THIS
SHIP WAS WRONG.

qe
A: Ps
take

PREPROGRAMMED NAVIGATION--
NO WEAPONS--CAPABLE OF
RECEIVING COMMUNICATIONS BUT
NOT TRANSMITTING--WHAT THE
HELL WERE THEY 20/NG7

THE ROOM STARTED TO GET

HOT. 1 COULD FEEL THE
SWEAT SLIDING POWN MY
BACK, MOIST ANZ STICKY.

WHEN YOU WERE

WILKS--JESUS, LITTLE, YOU WERE
YOU FRIGHTENE? AFRAID OF DEATH.
ME-- LATER, YOU
WERE AFRAIV
OF L/V/NG.

EVERYTHING LT
FRIGHTENS & — is
YOU,
BILLIE, “og WZ

= WHATS WRONG
WITH YOU? WHAT
ARE YOV TALKING
ABOLT?

YOU'VE ALWAYS
BEEN AFRAID OF
ME.
 PERHAPS YOU
PREFER THAT--7H/NG--
ON THE FLIGHT DECK WHY ARE
TO SOMEONE--7RULY YOU LONG ~~

'y /
: | [a a

UNGG6G--BECAUSE
I'M EVERVTH/NG YOU
WHY /4 THAT, FEAR--PASSION--
BILLIE? EXPLAIN LOVE--
IT TO ME,

--HUMANITYE

MY GOD,
THE CREAMS
AGAIN...
 r 4, i a
SPUVeRQevsrecvercecrele,

MELLGLLLU QUCaKee ttt IgE

ZZALI NOS
WILKS--THE s" iY, MAYBE YOU'RE
ALIENS--THEY'KE BURNED OUT. MAYBE
_ON BOARLL YOU WANT TO

CHRIST, BULIE
THEY'RE CEA --WOT MES
LIKE EARTH, NOT BY ONE
LIKE we, OF THOSE
THINGS!

THEY'RE
\UST BAP CREAME,
BILLIE--wWE'VE BEEN
IN SPACE FOR WEEKS,
WHY WOULD THEY
WAIT UNTIL

KNOW. NOTH/NG
al4 ABOUT THIS SHIP MAKES
ANY SENSE--BUT ITS
MORE THAN JUST
PREAME,

I--1 CAN
FEEL THEM, THEY'RE
WAITING.

YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO LET IT
GO, ARE YOU?

ALL
RIGHT. YOU WANT
TO PLAY SOLVIER,
ULL PLAY
SOLPIER.

WE'VE ONLY GOT

FIVE SHOTS LEFT. IF
THEY ARE ON BOARI,
IT'LL BE OVER SOON
ENOUGH.
THEY MUST WE'VE
BE HERE. BEEN THROUGH THIS,
BILLIE, THE CARGO FITS
ARE CODE BLOCKEP LIKE
THE REST OF THE DAMN SHIP, 1 THINK YOU
WE COLLON'T GET IN WANT TO FINZ THEM--
IF we Cee: LIKE THAT MIGHT MEAV
SOMETHING. (30 q

COMMUNICATIONS
BUNDLE, SOMETHINGS
TORN IT APART.

ITS
IN THE CARGO
HOLL!
SOMETHING--
BURNING,

ITS BEEN
BURNE? WITH

SMOKE
TRIGGERED
THE FIRE
SYSTEM,
 THE
OTHERS MUST HAVE
CANM/BALIZED \T FOR
THE BLO00/

HIBERNATION
CHAMBERS!

1 THOUGHT
GRAVITY DRIVE
MAVE HYPERSLEEP
QOBSOLETE--

70S
MUST HAVE
CRACKED ON TAKE-
OFF--PAMN THINGS HAVE
BEEN ABOARD SINCE
THE STARTS
THEY'VE
BEEN WA/T/NG--
FEEC/NG--UNTIL
THEY MATURED. UNTIL 1 COUNT FOUR
THEY WERE BROKEN POS. ONES
_ REAP ree ee MEANS
EE--
 COME
ON--WE HAVE TO GET
UP TO THE [PUIGHT
DECK!

WE OUGHT TO
BE ABLE TO SEAL
OFF THE CARGO
AREA FROM THE MAIN
BOARD--THAT MIGHT
GIVE US TIME TO--

MAYBE
WE BROUGHT IT ON
QURSELVES--MAYBE
THINGS LIKE YOU
REALLY ARE THE
NEXT EVOLUTIONARY

--1 JUST
DON'T GIVE A SHIT
ANYMORE!
 WILKS! ITS
BURNING THROUGH
THE HULL!

DON'T LET
It TOUCH
YOu--!

WILKS--
HURRY! WE HAVE
TO CLEAR THE
CARGO.
 GET OVTSIDE--
PRESSURE HATCHES SEAL
AUTOMATICALLY!

— eee (th 7

NO0000%
— —— — = ¥
 y --come
ON, COME ON,

Si
jo a =

_ PAMMIT--

aS Fx YOU kLLE7
Se vi if IT--IT'S OVER,
a Ld
 \)
—
* 4
WHAT Ny \\ be
HAPPENEV TO

ON | EAH) fl
WILKS?
fom
ij
Ds Pio.) y f |

a ¥ s

1G \ HE
¥ faa =) Za
NO
HE MOTION SENSORS
GOT CAUGHT IN FF! OR INFRARED S--WE'LL
VACLUM! INBOARP? VIPEO SYSTEM HAVE TO FIND THEM
i 1S PRIMITIVE, BUT IT'S VISUALLY
ee ALL WE'VE GOT.

THEY COULZ
BE ANYWHERE--7HAK HAKi-~ --ANZ EVEN
THE DAMAGE CONTROL CAMERAS
Ake IF WE F/NZ THEM--
LIMITE? TO THE MAIN CREW ANZ WHAT ARE WE GOING
ENGINEERING AREBAS-- TO DO WITH--
 WHAT
1S IT? WHATS
9--70 We HAPPENING?
HAVE ACCESS TO

THE INNER
POORS ARE SEALED,
BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT
FOR THE PRESSURE
TO EEE

WE'VE GOT
ALL THE DISCRE-
TIONARY SYSTEMS. I oe

ie OPENn~iG......STAND CLE
BUT THE--

ay *
#
 Z \Vees Er
ay Sa fHak:-- Se
: THIS ISN'T :
WERE EXPOSE? TO
OPEN SPACE--YOU'RE
me A W/L/THRY
ahi
OFER- ca
SUFFERING FROM THE AO a cae
BENLE-- ii DELIVERY--
=-IT SHOULD “4
PASS WITH TIME, Jam
BUT-- tr evg

INVOLVE THOSE
THINGS?
 DAMN 17, BILL IE--
YOU CAN'T GO OUT
THERE ALONE--
THEY'RE
STILL ALIVE. t
DON'T HAVE ANY
CHOICE.

WE'LL BE BLIN?
IN HERE--THERE AREN'T
INY EXTERNAL MONITORS.
YOU'LL HAVE RATIO
COMMUNICATION ANZ
THATS ALL--

1 COULD HEAR THE AIK HISSING

OUT OF THE CHAMBER. THE
FABRIC OF MY SUIT RIPPLED
AS THE PRESSURE PKOPPED.

THE SILENCE WAS LOUD,

LIKE A SCREAM. 1 COULD
FEEL THEM OUTSIDE,

THEIR PATIENCE WAS THEIR

STRENGTH, HUMANS MEASURE TIME IN
MINUTES, SECONDS, MICROZECONLS.

TIME NEVER MATTEKEV TO &

THE ALIEN. ONLY SURVIVAL, -

ZZ GOP HELP ME. I WAS BEGINNING

wee TO UNPERSTANO THEM.
 I'M CROSSING
OVER TOWARD THE
MAIN ANTENNA.

=NGHHHZ--
I'M ALL RIGHT,
I'M ALL RIGHT,
CAMMIT.

NOTHING
UNUSVAL YET--
ITS HARP TO
SEE IN THE--

«THEY WANT
IN.

I'm GOING
TO DOUBLE BACK &
AN? CHECK THE
REAR OF THE

--IT MIGHT HAVE

TRIED TO GET IN
THROUGH ONE
OF THE--
NOODOOOOOOOOOOY "
~

YP
a cosf
ws
ws
an

Ce
=
 WILKS--We CAN
ACCES THE THRUSTERS
IF WE--

WILKS!

THE ALIEN 6
TO HESIT,
SENSED

OF THE
ENGINES!

THE ALIEN ENJOYE? AN ETHICAL

PURITY THAT 77 CEI v4
MORALITY. IT 7
ITSELF WITH HU
OF GOOD ANI EVIL
HAVE TO.

so
_ eee
Md lll <a \ ya’
- a \ ti)

IT BORE NO MALICE WHEN

IT KILLE?, AND THAT WAS
WHERE WE WERE S/FFERENT.

\ 4

>
Vy << SS Adchehal qaieneeens

ESSARY I) ge * ye
Ey
HY? my Wee
~
/sa A
er wee 2
ye
i Le R 4
gt’ Mid ot “ig

IN THE BLACK VACLUM

OF SPACE, DEATH WAS
THE ONLY ABSOLUTE--

--BURVIVAL THE ONLY

IMPER ATIVE--

--AN? 1 TOOK ALEASURE

IN WATCHING IT BUEN.
 I'7 ALWAYS TAKEN COMFORT IN
WILKS' STRENGTH, IT WAS A
SHOCK TO SEE HIM LIKE THIS,
50 FRAIL--ALMOST ZEL/CATE.

a
ee

f THIS TIME HE'T RECOVER, Sipps : ‘ : ao

HE HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN Ree ins . gaa ° Z SO) ;3
SO LUCKY. _ a a Pads.

WE BEGAN TO PICK UP CODED SIG-

1 TRIE? TO REMEM- NALS OVER THE RESTRICTED MILITARY
BER HOW HE LOOKE? CHANNELS ANU REALIZED WE WERE
BEFORE, BUT IT HAD NEARING OUR FINAL VESTINATION.
BEEN 50 406, WE'D
BOTH LOST 50
MUCH TO THE ALIEN,

1 WANTE? THE
NIGHTMARE TO
BE OVER.

MAYBE THAT WAS MY M/STHKE

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT
STARTED, 1'0 LET MYSELF AOFE
 U
BASTARLS.
IF YOU'VE DAMAGED
MY SPECIMENS,
I'LL SEE YOU

=
i -,

ny we;
WHAT THE--
 ume THE INBOARD NAVIGATIONAL
het i Bin BASE SYSTEM--1
LO6 ON,
IME-COVE? HARV EYES ONLY,
cory"oF THe FLIGHT LOG IN (OVERRIDE CLEARANCE
FIFTEEN MINUTES,
AIA REQUIRED)
MAJOR EUGENE POWELL,
U.S.C.M.C.

WE WERE
LUCKY 10
SURVIVE--_ J»
iN LIGHT OF RECENT
EVENTS, | HAVE OPENED
A ORILY LOG TO
SUMMARIZE MY
ASSESSMENT OF BASE
COMMANDER SPEAR’S
FITNESS FOR OUTY.
WAS A CHANCE TO STUDY
POSSIBLE MeraTIO
BROUGHT ON BY THE
THEY'RE
WALEED,
FULL- PRIN We MAY SALVAGE
SPECTOGRAPHY-- SOMETHING FROM
. THIS MISSION
YET.

NESU5--JON'T YOU
YNPERSTANO?
EARTHS GOWE--

YOU
YOU CAN Coyreos
THEM? THAT'S WHAT
THE OTH: (ERB
BELIEVED--
 ae
AT O900 HOURS | RELIEVES LT. BRINBRIGGE ANG
TOOK OVER A OUTY OFFICER If THE MAIN HABITAT.
OBSERVED GENERAL SPEARS ALONE, NEAR ONE
OF THE COATRINMENT VESSELS,

HE SEEMED TO BE WATCHING THEM. RT 1023 HOURS, | OVERHEARD THE GENERAL

MUTTER SOMETHING UNGER HIS BREATH, HE
WAS SMILING AS HE SAIO IT, REPEATING
HIMSELF SEVERAL TIMES.

343201 es be =|)

\ bos?

> PERFECTION-- Z ae
Se a

<=-@ ae. \S

ss
PERFECTION--
PERFECT
THE GENERAL'S BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN ERRATIC
FOR MONTHS, BUT | NOTICED R MARKED
CHANGE FOR THE WORSE WITH THE ARRIVAL
OM EARTH.

TWO HUMANS AND A CAMAGED SYNTHETIC HAD

COMMANDEERED THE SHIP AT LAUNCH. OURING
THE VOYAGE THEY SOMEHOW DESTROYED A
CLUSTER OF SPEARS’ INCUBATING SPECIMENS.

7} HAO NEVER SEEN THE GENERAL SO RAGRY--

THE STOWAWAYS LOST COMMUNICATIONS

SOON AFTER LAUNCH AND HAG COME T LIEV
EARTH'S ALIEN PLAGUES HAD BEEN DESTROYED
BY AN ALL-OUT NUCLEAR ATTACK.
10 L/STEN
TO ME--

MIGHT TRY
10 HURT US,
LIKE THEY HURT
RICKY AND--

THATS
IMPOSSIBLE--!
WE LOST
BEEN MONITORING CONTACT
WITH EARTH
THE CIVILIAN PURING--
SATELLITES SINCE
WE ESTABLISHE?
THE BASE--

WHAT
THE HELL
KEEPS THEM
OFF HAR?
SS QUT

WHAT THE HELL--

HARKER, GRAB THE
CUR

PLEASE!
 WHY ARE THEY
GOING THIS?
THEY VIPN'T EVEN
TALK TO US--
FIN? OUT WHAT
HAPPENED--

THEY'RE
PRETENVING ALL
THEIR MILITARY
BULLSHIT STILL
MATTERS.

KAK KAK=z
I'VE KNOWN DOZENS
OF OFFICERS LIKE
SPEARS-—-THEY FIGURE
THEIR RANK IS
PROOF OF SOME
LIVINE
PURPOSE.

HIS MEN--
THE TRUTH--
NONE OF THAT
COUNTS FOR SHIT.
MUST POWER,
‘COMMAND’ ~~

HE HAS
THAT LOCK IN
HIS BYES--LIKE
HES INVULNERABLE,
“UMORTAL, LIFE,
DEATH--ITS ALL
MEANINGLESS,

ITS THE
SAME FEELING
1 GET WHEN I SEE
ONE OF THOSE
THINGS.

THE GENERAL'S OBSESSION WITH THE ALIEN

HAS CLOUDED HIS REASON, HE ANSWERS TO
NO AUTHORITY BUT HIS OWN,

THE PRISONERS COULD HAVE PROVICED

IMPORTANT INFORMATICN ABOUT EARTH
--ABOUT OUR FUTURE. INSTEAD, SPEARS
HAS QUARANTINED THEM FOR USE AS
ALIEN BREEDING STOCK.

VVE SEEM ENOUGH KILLING

--1T HAS TO STOP.
THE GENERAL HAS HiS
LOYALISTS, BUT IT’S OALY A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE
THERE 'S OPEN REBELLION.

AND GOO HELP US

WHEN {T STARTS...
LOG OFF.
 4 THREE DAYS"
WORTH. SPEARS HAS
BINPING TALLIES ON
PERISHABLES BUT I

I'LL
VO WHATEVER
IT FAKES TO
GET OFF THIS
ROCK--

——
BAY

1 FIGURE - aa eed eee 7

o veepee e erear oS
WE'VE GOT A Few , WiLL FING
\ ’e
HOURS' GRACE WHILE
SPEARS ANZ POWELL
PLAY MAP DOCTOR WITH
THE NEW ARRIVALS. IF WE
CAN CLEAR THE SCOPES,
We MAY BE ABLE TO
CONTACT THE CIVILIAN
TERRAFORMING
COLONY.
AN? WHAT
IF THE CIVILIANS
DON'T FEEL LIKE
TALKING?

FIGURES
THEY? LET IT
GO REV BEFORE
BRINGING ME DP.
GIVE ME A
SECOND TO PUNCH
UP THE WATCH
COMMANDER
AND --

BETTER--
I'M RELIEVING
YOU: SERGEANT
DECKER WANTS YOU
TO CHECK
THE CIRCULATION
PUMPS ON 0 LEVEL--
WE'RE SHOWING
REO ON THREE
CHAMBERS,

PETERSON,
GET THE
VOOR.
 CAN'T
BREAK IT.
SECURITY
SEALS ALL
AROUND.

ALL RIGHT.
COESN'T
MAT TER--WERE
COMMITTED,
SECURITY SWEEPS
+ ER

1 GON'T
CARE IF WE
HAVE FOU

FACING THOSE
THINGS,

SON,
FORGET THE y
TRACTOR--GO FOR
ONE OF THE
SPEECERS-- IVE BEEN
THINKING, MAN ‘
EVEN IF We MAKE Ve
IT 10 THE a
TERRAFORMING
COLONY, WHAT IF
SPEARS--

OWE ME
A MINUTE TO
TRASH THE
INBOAR?
ALARMS.
 THE
GIRLS STILL
MAJOR A MYSTERY, BUT
POWELL--? THE MALE |6
LONG-TIME
MILITARY. 1 FOUN?
A PARTIAL FILE
ON ONE OF THE
ater? PRINT

VES5U5--
HAS SPEARS
PULLEG AN I7 ON SEEN
EITHER OF THE
NEW ARRIVALS.

THERE WAS NO SENSE OF 1 SAW IT_IN THEIR

TIME \NSIVE OUR CELL. COMMANDING OFFICER'S
THE ONLY SOUND WAS EYES. HE WANTED
THE HISS OF PROCESSED SOMETHING.
AIR, LIKE BREATH
WHISTLING THROUGH
CLENCHED TEETH.

a
WHY WERE WE
STILL ALWE?

OUR CAPTIVITY HAZ NOTHING

TO 9O WITH PUNISHMENT,
IT WAS MORE THAN THAT.

--ABOUT
TIME, NOU
BASTARUS~-

COULD HEAR A
ErRANGE ROARING,
DISTANT AN?
ETHEREAL.

SOMETHING WET
WAS PRESSING
AGAINST MY LEGS.

1 TRIED TO LIFT MY HEAD,

BUT SHARP STRAPS WERE AND THE! N I
CUTTING INTO MY THROAT-- HEAR? MYSELF
SCREAU,
 BILLIE--
BILLIE--ITS
ALL RIGHT. I'm
HERE,

1 HOPE
YOU LIKE
YOUR MEAT
RARE.
ITS
NOT REAL
BEEF, OF COURSE--
THE MESS SERGEANT
PUT IT TOGETHER
OUT OF PROTEIN PACKS
AN? THAT DAMNED

al
SOY CONCENTRATE--
BUT 1 THINK
THE FLAVOR WILL
SURPRISE YOU.

THE SERGEANT TELLS

ME YOUR FRIENTS
CALL YOU BILLIE. 1
HOPE WE CAN BE
FRIENDS.

7 WHEN MAJOR
APOLOGIZE FOR POWELL BROVGHT
ALL THATS HAPPENED. YOUR SPECIAL
WE'VE ALL BEEN SUFFERING ABILITIES TO MY we--we
UNDER GREAT S7RESS-- ATTENTION, 1 NEVER INTENDED WHAT
ITS BASY TO FORGET THE REALIZE? 3 HAP TO IMPEVE YOUR EXACTLY /6
AMEN TIES. MAVE A SERIOUS SCIENTIFIC MISSION, YOUR OBJECTIVE,
MIS TAKE, GENERAL-- GENERAL?

WHEN
ORONAS PEOPLE
BROUGHT US ONE OF
THE NASCENT
QUEENS, WE WERE
EY GOWER. THEN It
SEEMEP TO
SPEAK TO ME--
AN? AT ONCE I
KNEW ITS TRUE
BEAUT hk
 FOOLS ON
EARTH WANTE?
TO ANM/MILATE
THEM. NUCLEAR
DEVAS TATION--MY
GOP, 3 COULDN'T
PERMIT\T.

SERGEANT
WILKS--
YOU FACED
THE ALIEN
ON ITS OWN
60IL AN?
SURVWER

WERE
50 FRAIL,
50 WEAK
COMPARED
TO THEM.
THEY HAVE THE
STRENGTH AND POWER
OF TRUE SOLDIERS.
THEY DEMONSTRATE AN
UNQUESTIONING, UNSWERVING
LOYALTY TO THEIR

ALL THEY
LACK IS PROPER
DIRECTION--
LEAPERBHIEZ I CAN
PROVICE THAT. 1
CAN MAKE THEM INTO
AN ARMY 1 CAN USE
THEM TO RECLAIM
EARTH FROM THEIR
SRETHREN.
 SHIP WAS LADEN WITH
SAMPLES OF THE EARTH-
BRE ALIEN, BUT YOU'VE
BLESSED US WITH
SOMETHING FAR MORE
VALUABLE.

YOUR
PXPREIENCE.
EXPERTISE,

GENERAL--
THE SENTRY ON
THE NORTHERN
ACCESS TIER HAS va
BEEN MURCEREL-- OR. POWELL
ONE OF THE LANZ SUSPECTS AN
TRACTORS IS AWOL CONTINGENT
MISSING. 1S HEADING
FOR THE CIVILIAN
TERRAFORMING

WANT A
FULLY ARME?
ASSAULT TEAM
ON THE SPEEVER
DECK IN FYE
MINUTES,

oP
UNDERSTAND
WoWe THEFLESH Ie
WHAT “AFRAID
IT DOBSN'TOF 4% we can 90
UNPERSTANA BETTER.
 1 FELT A TERRIBLE REALIZATION
WASH OVER ME, STINGING ANZ
BITTER. 1 WANTED TO BLAME
THE AL/EWS FOR THE
DEVASTATION ON EARTH--BUT
THE TRUTH WAS FAR WORSE.

BILLIE, LISTEN
TO ME. WE'RE ONLY
ALIVE 60 LONG AS
SPEARS NEEDS

SPEARS HAD SET US FREE, BUT

IT WAS A HOLLOW GESTURE--
THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.

1 THOUGHT OF BUELLER, LOST PE

IN THE LABYRINTH OF THE
COLONY. 1 WANTED THE
REASSURANCE OF HIS FACE, 1 FOUN
HIS HAN?S, HIS BYES-- INSTEAD
SOMEONE ELSE--
SOMEONE I'7 NEVER MET, BUT
SOMEHOW INSTINCTIVELY KWEW--

HAVE A SEAT,
WATCH THE SHOW,
NUMBER 19, ONE
OF OUR S7EAPY
‘CUSTOMERS.’

THEY
STILL BEAM
SIGNALS
24 HOURS A
PAY.
1 STARED AT THE
SCREEN. 1 SAW A
LITTLE GIRL, HER
FACE SMUDGE? 4 WE'VE BEEN CLOCKING I __— a

::
ANZ y THESE C/ARV TRANSMISSIONS = hs |
WITH PLUST
SMOKE. SINCE THE MAINSTREAM STATIONS | TS
WENT GOWN, LOOKS LIKE ES
SOME VIPEO TECHS GOT HOLO ee
OF THE GROUND RELAY CODES ra
ANO TAPPED INTO THE - a —
MAIN TRANSMITTER. ee
eee |a
Se
a Ts
Eins: _
= Sa BL 7
Ll EE

Mn
| :
aed
a, EE
as
Bs
ee)
ls sawa
LITTLE GIRL...1
SAW MYSELF.

ITS--ITS

THEM--YOU
CAN ONLY
HEAR THE
SCREAMS--

MILITARY
BASTARDS--
 WE--WE
USUALLY AVOID THE
BUILPINGS--TOO MANY
PLACES FOR THOSE
THINGS TO A/PE--
‘COURSE
NOTHING'S
REALLY SAFE
ANYMORE-~

3 QON'T i 3 KNOW
WANT TO RUN ‘ \ YOU 90, HONEY--
ANYMORE--1_ WANT THATS ALL ANY
10 GO HOME. if mal OF US WANTS.

LAMNS
WE'VE GOT TO
FIND BETTER
COVER--
SHIT! IT'S
OKAY, AMY--
WE'RE ALL
RIGHT--

we'LL
B LOSE THE UPLINK
bSE7 TO THINK INSIDE, BUT WE CAN'T
THEY WERE FLYING RISK THE STREET WITH
RECONNAISSANCE THESE GODDAMN ASSAULT
MISSIONS--NOW I SHIPS ON THE KAMPAGE--
THINK THEY'RE ‘
WUST_HAVING
FUN,

FIGURE WHY THEY'RE

STILL KEEPING UF
THE RUSE--YOU KNOW,
PRETENDING SOMEONES
WATCHING--PRETENDING
SOMEONE EVEN
CARES--

ITS ALL
THEY HAVE
tEFT--
 THERE
IT 16--THE MAIN
COMMUNICATIONS
BUNPLE.

THE ALIEN MUST

HAVE CUT IT WHEN IT
FBCAPED--

--THEN
SPEARS WAS

THE GENERAL
16 ALWAYS RIGHT.
YOU'? BEST GROW
ACCUSTOMED?
TO IT.

MY NAMES
VESUSS I POWELL, 1
DION'T REALIZE 1 SUPPOSE YOU
WAS GOING TO BE CONSIDER ME THE
FOLLOWEL. GENERALS SECON?
IN COMMAN?--IF
SUCH A THING
REALLY
EXISTS.

HES
INSANE,
YOU KNOW,
 i
FIGURET
SPEARS WOULD
HAVE BEEN ALL
OVER VS BY
NOW.

ITS THE
TERRAFORMERS
THAT WORRY ME, WE'RE
MILITARK THEY MAY
SOMETHING'S NOT BE VERY HAPPY
WRONG, I'M 10 SEE Us,
NOT GETTING
ANY SIGNALS--
NOT EVEN THE
STANDARD
BEACON--

THEY
ZEROE? THEIR
BEACON WEEKS
AGO. SPEARS COULD
HAVE USED IT TO
HOME IN ANZ FLASH
THEI COLONY
WITHOUT BREAKING MAYBE WE COULD
A SWEAT. GET SOME SORT
OF ASYLUM?
YOU KNOW, LIKE
POLITICAL
PRISONERS?

YEAH, ANZ
AFTER THAT WE
CAN RUN FOR
PREBIDENT.

CHRIST,
PETERSON--
WERE AWOL, WE
PON'T NEED ASYLUM,
WE NEE? A SAH/P-
AN? I'LL GO WHAT-
EVER IT TAKES
TO GET ONE.
1
PON'T LIKE
THIS, MAN, WE owe ITA
SHOULD HAVE REST, MAGRUDER.
SEEN HALF THE STATION
SOMEONE BY 1S AVTOMATED--IN
Now. THIS WEATHER I'7
BE SURPRISED TO
SEE GOPPAMNE?
ANYONE
OUTSIE.
 We hf

WAIT
MINUTE--

IT-ITS
LIKE THE REST.
IT'S ALMOST
ORGAN/E-- |,

(
yea!

MUST GET THE

HELL OVT OF
HERE--
by
 IT$--
IT AECES
OF THOSE
ALIEN 7H/NGS--
DISSOLVE?
TOGETHER
INTO A SOLID Aa
. MASS——

LOAN3
f
AAAAAHHHHALE,
*
MAGRUDER--
GET READY
WITH A
GRENADE!
 YOU FILTHY
TRAITOR, WE
WERE WORKING
TOWARD SOMETHING
BETTER--SOMETHING
STRONGER.

we NEEVE TO
SIMULATE AUMAN BREEDING
CONDITIONS TO GET VIABLE THE
TEST RESULTS, TERRAFORMERS
--AN? ALL FOUGHT VS AT
YOU COUL? 9O FIRST, BUT
WAS TRY ANZ EVENTUALLY THEY
GEBTROF \T. GAVE THEIR LIVES
; ‘ FOR THE GREATER
\ \ GOO?.

LOOK
AT YOU. 50
PATHETIC.

AA a

€ “ '
a , |, }
\ y/
‘ | os \ Jd
) y
{ y
[ y yy y
ae { /
Be:
#e ;
NO--
GON'T PUT ME
BACK IN THERE
WITH THEM--
WHEN I JOINED THE MARINES, I
WAS PROUD TO SERVE MY
COUNTRY. THEY WANT THAT--THEY
WANT YOU TO THINK YOU'RE DOING
SOMETHING K/GHT ANC NOBLE.

SOMETIMES YOU
BELIEVE \T.
SOMETIMES IT'S
EVEN TRUE.

POWELL WAS SECONZ IN COMMAN?,

REPORTING DIRECTLY TO GENERAL
ALIEN AGAINST ITS SPEARS. HE HAY FOLLOWEV ME INTO
OWN KINZ. THE LOWER DECKS OF MY STRANDED
CARGO 5! HIP BECAUSE HE WEECEL ME.

=
HES TAKEN THE
CIVILIAN TERRAFORMING
BASE ANU TURNEV IT INTO
A BREELING STATION. ALL
THE COLONISTS ARE LEAL.
ONLY A FEW OF US KNOW
SPEARS BELIEVED, THE TRUTH, aa
AN? THE AYR/TY OF
HIS BELIEF WAS
TERRIFYING.
Wo >
IS SAFE, SPEARS 1
HAS WIRED THE F —
ENTIRE COMPOUND--
HIS STAFF
MONITORS THE
SENIOR OFFICERS

PAYS, SOMEONE
GIEPLEASES
HIM. THEY JUST--
DIB APPEAR--

1 UNPERSTOOD COMPLETELY.
IN MANY WAYS 1 SHAKES
THE INTENSITY OF THE
GENERALS VISION.
WE HAVE
TO FIN? A WAY
TO S707 HIM--
BEFORE THE
MAPNESS GOES
TOO FAR.
MEDICAL TYPES LOOK AT INSANITY LIKE
SOME SORT OF DISEASE, BUT 1 THI
ITS MORE MECHANICAL THAN THAT. L
A BROKEN CONNECTION, OF A
MALFUNCTIONING COMPUTER CA/Z

A
C0

WHEN SOMETHING MECHANICAL

FAILS, YOU DON'T WASTE TIME
WITH AB ICHOLOGK YOU
EITHER REFA/R \T--OR YOU
REPLACE NT.

GENERAL,
WE'V!

NII
IN A PROBE TO
MEASURE THE Size
OF THE--

A122 HIM,
 SIR--
GET AWAY
FROM THE
£668!
THEY'RE
PANGEKOUS--

WHAT ARE
WE WAITING FOR?
THOSE THINGS--
GON'T BE
AFRAIZ, SON--
THEY PON'T WANT
TO HURT US,

SHUT UP,
FOR CHRISTS SAKE--
HE MIGHT AEAR
YOU--

I ki
WHAT ITS LIKE TO
BE BORN a Pe
PAIN, 1 WAS ON’ ,
THE FIRST PROCUCTES | a
OF THE MILITARYS Se.
BIRTHING
PROGRAM.

$-S|R--WE
SHOLLD START
BACK TO THE MAIN GESTATED
FACILITY. ROBINSON'S OUTSIDE THE WOMB,
PREDICTING A FORCE NURSED INSIDE A
10 STORM WITHIN STERILE BREEVER, THE
THE HOUR. GENETICISTS DION'T
~-THEY TOOK AWAY THINK IT WOUL?
THE ONLY THING THAT MATTER--
MAKES US REAL--
SOMETHING THE ALIEN
£ CREATURES SHARE ABOVE
4 ee ALL £LSE--

~-THE BOND
OF FL FS y4--
 THERES
SOMETHING YOU
J DON'T SHOULD SEE,
SEE HOW SPEARS
PLANS TO USE THE
CREATURES--YOU CAN'T
TRAIN THESE THINGS THE GENERAL
ANYMORE THAN YOU COMMANVPEERED THE
CAN ily A RABIP TERRAFORMING COLONY
TO USE AS A TEST SITE.
HE WANTE? TO
ACCLIMATE THE
ALIEN TO HUMAN
AUTHORITY.

TECHNICIANS KEPT
CAREFUL VIDEO
LOGS OF THE
EXPERIMENTS.

Tih dvteacroei Ob
THE COLONISTS WERE TOL?
VIRDLEN
BEEN FOUND, A er aesend
ocsieEXCUSE os THE RUSE AS AN
SPEARS USED
TO SEAL THE COLONISTS INTO
TERRAFORMING PROCESS. SEPARATE QUARANTINED CELLS,

ai sth

WE KNEW FROM THE EARTH TRANSMISSIONS

THAT THE QUEEN COMMUNICATE? WITH ITS
eONES THROUGH AN EMPATHIC MENTAL

= et ae :
Wire. SPEARS WAS GOING fame
Ret TO WYSE THAT. a
>.
THE LESSONS
BEGAN ALMOST
IMMEVIATELY.

oo NEVER
pat sal THE
$C
HE FORCED THE QUEEN TO
WATCH AS HE BURNED
ITS CHILPREN.
 --OKR THE FACT
THAT THE ALIEN
QUEEN SEEME? TO
UNPERSTANZ,
r

UNNEEES
vere
ERE

VERY
GOOR

AYS TO
PROVOKE MORE
ZOPHIBTICATED
HE WANTE? TO MAKE THE
THINGS INTO SOLDIERS--
HE WANTED THEM TO
FOLLOW ORVERS LIKE
ANY OTHER GRUNT.

THERE WERE M/SSTEPS ALONG THE

WAY, BUT SPEARS DEALT WITH THEM
AS HE DEALT WITH ANY EXTRANEOUS DON'T PLAY
INTERFERENCE. GAMES
- ; WITH ME,
ZAMN IT--!
I'LL BURN
EVERY OWE
OF YOUR
PRECIOUS
CHILDREN
UNTIL
YOU LEARN
RESBPECT--!
AS THE SESSIONS CONTINUED,
SPEARS KEMOVED SELECTED
PRONES FROM THEIR
PHYSICAL PROXIMITY TO
THE QUEEN AND BROUGHT
THEM BACK TO THE MAIN

HE WANTE? TO BE WEAR
THEM--HELP AREFARE
THEM FOR THEIR JOURNEY
TO EARTH.
THIS ISN'T
YOUR PEOPLE ABOUT EARTH. \TS
HAVE BEEN MONITORING MORE THAN THAT--
EARTH TRANSMISSIONS SOMETHING TO VO WITH
FOR WEEKS, EARTHS SPEARS AND THE
GONE--OVERRUN BY CREATURES--
THOSE CAMNEV
THINGS,
SPEARS
MUST KWOW
THAT.

THE
GENERALS PARTY
16 GOING TO BE
DELAYED BY A STORM
OUTSIDE THE TERKA-
FORMING COLONY.
FIVE HOURS--MAYBE
SIX.

fe)
UNPERSTANO FIVE HOURS,
WHAT YOU'RE NOT MUCH
SAVING? TIME.

ONLY CHANCE, CAMMIT!

SPEARS |S ALREADY
LOAVING THOSE THINGS
INTO THE 7KANSPORT
VESSELS,
 1 WOKE ZARLY, WATCHING
SLEEP. FOR A MOMENT I IMA
HE WAS PREAM/NG--

BUT BUELLER WAS AN ANI

SLEEP’ HAV BEE!
HIS HUMAN FUNCTIONS
TO CAMOUFLAGE HIS TRUE
WHAT WAS I WATCHING, REALLY:
MANY HOURS OF STUY HAD GO
INTO THE SOFT PURR OF BREATH,
OW RISE OF NONEXISTENT

FOR A TIME, IT TOUCH Z

1 THOLGHT 7 LET IT.
1 LOVE?

my
GOP, WHATS
HAPPENING
TO ME?
SOMETHING KEPT BRINGING
ME BACK TO THE LITTLE
GIRL. MAYBE IT WAS
KNOWING SHE WAS REAL--
THAT I COULD
UYNCERSTAND--

1 PON'T KNOW WHAT

YOU SEE IN THOSE SAY, WHEN YOU'RE
TRANSMISSIONS--WE THROUGH, WHY DON'T WE
HAVE BETTER STUFF GET TOGETHER IN THE REC
ON ISK. AREA--PLAY LET'S PRETEND
WITH SOME OF THAT BONUS
MONEY SPEARS HAS WAITING
FOR US ON EARTH.

YEAH, SURE.
WHATEVER.

HER FEAR. HER FA/M. 1

WOUL? HAVE SAIV
ANYTHING TO GET THE
SIGNAL BACK. AMY WAS MY
ONLY LINK TO WHAT I WAS
BEFORE--

--GETTING MORE
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN
THE UPLINK, ONCE THE
CREATURES DESTROY THE
RELAY STATION WE'LL
BE CUT OFF--

~-WE'LL KEEP?
TRANSMITTING--
UNTIL--
 \ \Ni.
WAS SS BASS aL
WHA
A
| “Wy i
PR
Me 4b ) \WA
|

AFRAI? OF
DON'T BE
& >
& 4x RS
= = w ive& xh . z d a x = z Ss ‘Ny

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g28iz sehEre :
wu
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m
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rie
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= «
SCSU") “ae
ey 3
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Ss SeaEne
NUT AUNRRS
ot Ni
 cA
OV SEE? SHE
LOVES YOU--
SHE LOVES ALL
OF Us--
Nae ee,
KOON at! YOU'RE ONLY MAKING IT AARZER--
BSNAY, a ONCE SHE VO/WS WITH YOU, THERES
NO MORE FA//V--

DON'T BE AFRAID--
SHE ONLY WANTS TO
TOUCH NOU.
~-ONLY THE PEACE
THAT COMES FROM
BEING WITH GO2--

VEBUB--
THEY'VE CROPPED
GOWN eee
U6--

HEM TAKE HER!

—e

--PLEASE--
PLZZ ZW

0 eS SALT

f
NOBOLY
MOVES!
BILLIE--
GET OVER
HERE.

GENERAL SPEARS
|S ON HIS WAY BACK FKOM
THE TERRAFORMING COLONY,
ONCE HE ARRIVES, MAJOR
POWELL AND I WILL REL/EVE
HIM OF HIS COMMANZ.
POWELL
WILL BE HANOLING
COMMUNICATIONS
FROM THE OBSER-
VATION DECK--

AM I MAKING
MYSELF
CLEAR?
 POWELL HAS
HIS MEN INSIDE
LOAVING BAY, WAITING
THE GENERALS TK
We HAVE THE EL
SURPRISE, B

~-BUT SPEARS
WILL C/E BEFORE
HE GIVES UF HIS
COMMAND.

THIS IS
BULLSHIT. THE GENERAL
WAS GOING 10 TAKE CARE
OF US WHEN THIS Was
ALL OVER--

Screw YOU
ANZ NOUR
GIRLFRIEND.
 —
EVERYBODY
OvT!

WANT OUT,
 SIRES” ARATE,

Reece
—
|f>
AS
\\
\\
GN- a

\)

Pe.

KISS 7TAH/S,
YOU UGLY
BALTARD--/
 SOMETHINGS
STRANGE
HERE,
GENERAL.

7
MAJOR y NESUS, SIR--
POWELL B HANOLING I'M GETTING AN
THE APPROACH INSTEAD “
AUTOMATIC
OF SERGEANT KELLNER, THERE--
ey race Beestir
ALAR ON THE
AN? Z THE STANVARZ4 CENTRAL HOLDING THERES BEEN A

BREAK OFF OUR

APPROACH AN? WAIT FOR .
MY INSTRUCTIONS. _ZION'T
FIGURE IT
WOLL? BE
FPOWELL--BUT
WHAT THE HE!
WHEN THE CAT:
AWAY--

ZAMN-- N
HES VEERING
OFF--
 we HAVE
10 GET TO THE
DOCKING BAY, POWELLS
ALREAPY. IN POSITION, MY GOP,
AN? THE-- . WILKS--WHAT
ABOUT THE
OTHERS?

THEY
WOUL? HAVE
KILLE? US FOR A
FEW CREL/TS--
THE GENERALS
PROMISES OF
GLORF--

SHIT,
THEY'ee

eae
BASE--! A bs UST RE
BELO LIKE

a
EARTH-- an i) You
NEVER 4707
 j
a
6
7

——et
rere
ee
7 ——— a
“ : YY

FORGET
SPEARS.

HOSE
THINGE S A ARE a
INGIZE THe Base. ) Ww Ee
TO PROGRAM
HAVE
ONE
WE--
OF THE GRAVITY
TRANSPORTS
DRIVE
FOR LAUNCH--WE'VE
10 LEAVE,
GOT NOW--

KNOWS--iS GROUND
CHRIST--
AP-.
DI6EEN IT TAKES
PEA ANSPOR
TRKED OFFTBE SCR
VAM- HOURS TO
HE MUS T PROGRAM A
WING THE SIGNAL LAUNCH!
50 HE CAN--
1 WANTED TO BE SHORT BURSTS--
SRAVE--1 CONSERVE YOUR
WANTED? TO PRETEND AMMUNITION-~
THAT MY DEATH
WOULD MEAN
SOMETHING.

--SAVE
THE LAST
ROUNPS FOR
YOURSELF.

I TRIED TO REMEMBER MY
MOTHER AND FATHER. I COME
TRIEO TO REMEMBER THEIR ON, GAMN IT--
LOVE--BUT COULDN'T. IT
WAS ALL 50 LONG AGO, LETS F/M/ZH
$0 CISTANT-- --+HEN 1 THOUGHT
OF BUELLER, AND
1 BEGAN TO CRY--
 CEASE
FIRE--OR I'LL FRY
YOU WHERE YOU
STAND!

THEY
UNDERSTAND
THI
FLAME.

IM
THEIR NEW
MASTER.

PREPARE
THE TRAITORS
FOR EXECUTION.
THEN READY THE
TRANSPORTS
FOR OURBACK
JOURNEY
TO EARTH--
THEY GAVE US NAMES,
FACES, EMOTIONS--

THEY SHOULD HAVE

TOL vs,

MY CONSCIOUS MEMORY IS LIKE

A STORY WITH NO BEGINNING.
ri ONE MOMENT THERE IS NOTHING.

1 HA? NO REASON TO QUESTION

T= IE OF US DIP.

COME ON,
BUELLER,
MOVE IT--!

\ MY SQUAT WAS SIWTHES/ZED FOR THE

~ ALIEN MISSION. WE WERE SOCIALIZED
AN? DOMESTICATED TO IMPROVE
COMPATIBILITY
SHIPMATES,
WTA OUR HUMAN

j cen $ , , WHAT WAS THE GEWES/S

Ba, . OF MY LOVE? WAS IT THE
a) “4 % LAST VESTIGE OF SOME
1, OK iy LS PROGRAMMERS SICK,
Lh, 3 cena - COMIC-EROTIC VOKE?
by A |p ey 4 ‘ a ; BILLIE DION'T KNOW
j He 4 ———~/ NEITHER OF US KNEW.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY EXPLAIN MY A4/V

WHEN BILLIE FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THE
HORROR OF OUR LIFE?
 baw
oe
“4 .
i .

é s a

BILLIE SESS | --AN? THEY WERE GOING TO

ta <E HER FROM ME AS WELL,
ane
a :

CHILCREN
UNDERSTAND THE
FLAME.

NEERTAIN--
OUT ITS
MOTIVES

YOU'RE
COMPLETELY
MAC, YOUR MEN
SHOULT H.
YOU MONTHS
AGO

MY MEN
BELIEVE IN
ME--THEY
TRUAT ME,
SPICER,
TAKE THE
FLAMER,

vig YOU
REALLY
THINK YOUR
PATHETIC
TREASON
WOULD
SUCCEED?
 LOAD THE REST
OF THE CREATURES INTO
THE SHIPS HOLY AN?
PREPARE FOR LAUNCH
ITS TIME.
1 CAN
FEEL THE ALIENS’
UWA TIENCE, THEY'RE
EAGER TO PROVE THEIR
LOYALTY IN
COMBAT.

THEY HAVE MY TROOPS

CONSUMED MAN'S WILL RECLAII EARTH
IMPERFECTION, LEAVING FROM THEIR BRETHREN
THE EARTH CLEANSEL-- TOGETHER WE WILL
READY FOR A WEW CREATE A WEW
MASTER, WORLE.

1 GET
IT. YOURE

Bagetee
WHOS LEFT FRIENGS
? WHATS CHRIST,
LEFT TO. 1 EXPECTED YOU ARE
BETTER FROM YOU, INSANE.
WILKS-=! I'M FIGHTING
FOR MANKINGS
FUTURE- THESE
CREATURES ARE OUR
SALVATION--/

TAKE THE
THREE OF THEM
TO THE BREEDING
CENTER--LEAVE
THEM TO THE
CREATURES STILL
IN THE BASE.

N
LEAST WE CAN
VO FOR OUR NEW
ALLIES.

Im
COMING BACK
FOR YOU,
SPEARS--
 ee 5*

i ae ere
WILKS DISABLED THE
COMMUNICATIONS ZOOMMAINDURING
GONE, WITHOUT YSTEMS
HELPLESS.
WERE
THEM 1 Was TOLLIARY
AUXIL E \NWNNSTON AL RN
THE SOUTHE
:
QUACRANT OF THE BASE, BUT
THERE WAS A PROBLEM,

-71_ HAP _TO

GET TO It.

1 FOUND THE ALIENS PROGRESSION

PERVERSELY FASCINATING, MAN USES
His MACHINES TO TERRAFORM
HOSTILE WORLUS, TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT AMENABLE TO HUMAN
LIFE,
THE ALIEN NEEDS
NO MACHINES,

THE CREATURES /GNORED SPEMEE!

ed G= ©
ME, PERHAPS I WASN'T MISERABLE
VIEWED AS A THREAT. OF BAZTARC ;
MAYBE I DION'T SHARE THE LEFT US TO
ORGANIC SCEWT OF DGIE--f
SPEARS' MEN--

--OR THEIR TERRIBLE,

UNYIELVING FEAR.
AS I NEARED THE SECONDARY
CONTROL ROOM, THE SOUNDS
OF STRUGGLE FADED--
REPLACED BY THE LIQUIC
A/S OF ALIEN LIFE, iO yh

aT

BODIES WERE EVERYWHERE,

STARK REMNANTS OF THE
ALIENS' REPRODUCTIVE FURY.
FREED FROM THE CONFINES
OF THE GENERALS BREEDING F
CHAMBER, THE PARASITES “4. 5a et So
MULTIPLIEP? WITH 6 (rece Oana 1/7 pos
REMARKABLE SPEED, F a

THIS WORLD
BELONGED
TO THEM.

SPEARS THOUGHT HE
HAP TAUGHT THE ALIENS
THE MEANING OF FEAR.

THEY HAV MERELY DISCOVERED

THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE.

SHE ALLOWED ME INTO HER NEST. A

COURTES , PERHAPS, OR MAYBE
WUST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
HE POWER. 1 WAS NO THREAT TO
HER, THERE WERE NO THREATS
: LEFT ON THIS BARREN WORLD.
 SHIT, MAN--YOU
CAN STILL HEAR THE
\ SCREAM/NG--

TH-THIS IS
FAR ENOUGH--
MUST LEAVE
'EM-=

You
HEARD SPEAKS--
HE WANTS THEM
XN We (Ze. iF
Wi

SCREW
SPEARS--I'M NOT
GOING FACE TO FACE
WITH THOSE THINGS
TO ACCOMMOVATE
HIS SENSE OF--

I)
CAMALLLLLLLLI
<"

TO HELL WITH
ORVERS--SPEARS' MONSTERS
WILL HAVE TO GO WITHOUT
THEIR SU/P--
= ma or j= = iL
STAND CLEAR
 \
\

--THATS ONE
OF THE EMERGENCY
PRESSURE SEALS--
INSURANCE AGAINST A
HULL BREACH BEFORE
THEY TERRAFORMED AN
ATMOSPHERE ONTO
THIS ROCK-- . \

SEALS
JUST DON'T DROR
SOME ONE MUST HAVE
TRIGGERED

HES A GOD-
DAMN ANLRO/L--A
MACHINE--FORGET
HiM--THE CARGO
SHIP 1S OUR ONLY
CHANCE.

Say, Bee |
Bao SUELLER. i> St
 GOT IT--
LAUNCH SEQUENCE
LOCKE? AND READY.
SWitcH
OVER TO COCKPIT
CONTROL AN? LETS
Get THE HELL OvT

UNDER ATT--
AAAGHHL

BLOW THE
LOCK AS SOON IF SPEARS Has
AS THE HATCH I> SWITCHED PRIMARY
SECURED, THEN MEET CONTKOL 10 THE WHAT IN
ME AT THE SHIPS INTERNALS, HELL--? THOSE
COCKPIT. WE JUST MIGHT BE ARE THE
ABLE TO-- ENGINES--
 HES
LEAVING Ls

“/ STAND
: \ Ave iE: --

A CREW WOUL?
ONLY
COMPLICATE
MATTERS.

Tees

THERE ARE TIMES

WHEN A LEADER |S
FORCED TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS--
DECISIONS FOR THE
SAKE OF THE
M12210N--
 SPEARS MUST
HAVE BEEN PLAN-
NING THIS ALL
ALONG--

--HE NEVER
INTENDED TO TAKE
ANY OF HIS
SOLDIERS BACK.

-- UST
HIS PRECIOUS
THINGS--

20 AM
1, BILLIE, 40
am 1...
WILKS, I'M
SCARED!
 SOMEONES
ABOARD, W/TH Vs
MORE TRAITORS.
MORE SFYTES.
TRYING TO
INTERFERE WITH
OUR MISSION--

NAVIGATIONAL
COMPUTERS ARE
CENTRALIZE? IN THE
COCKPIT=-I'LL DEAL
WITH SPEARS,
WHATS HE
LOING--7

eeCee ree

MEN OF
LIMITE? VISION
SOMETIMES HAVE
DIFFICULTY SEEING
THE TRUTH--

--1 DON'T
HAVE THE TIME
OR PATIENCE
10 EQUCATE
THEM.
 TIME PASSED
SLOWLY\N THE
DARKNES:

WILKS SPENT THE FIRST DAYS SEARCHING

FOR A WAY TO SEIZE CONTROL OF THE
SHIP--BUT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY VION'T EXTEND TO COUNTER-
MANVING A NAVIGATIONAL MAINFRAME.

FOR A TIME WE WORKIED THAT

SPEARS WOULD FIND A WAY TO
BYPASS THE SHIP'S ENVIGONMENTAL
CONTROL--

--BUT, SEQUESTERED IN HIS

ALLOY COLCOON, SPEARS
(GNORE? US, LOST IN HIS
VISIONS OF WAR ANZ
GLORY. THE STIMULANTS
HE RELIED ON FEV HIS
PARANOIA,

LOGIC EXHAUSTE:
WILKS REVERTEP TO RAW,
FRUSTRATED INSTING

THAT THE COCKPIT WAS

CESIGNED TO WITHSTAND
EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION
MEANT NOTHING TO HIM.
es

KS' FURY NO
LONGER HAD ANY-
THING TO 9O WITH
MUTING \T WAS
ABOUT HATRED--
VENGEANCE,
 THE MAIN COMMUNICATIONS DECK THE LAST
WAS OURS, SOMETHING CREW ME OF THE MEN
THERE--SOMETHING INCOMPLETE, ARE EITHER DEAD
UNSETTLED-- OR--SLEEPING,
IT'S BECOME QUITE
PEACEFUL, I'M
SURROUNDED BY
NEW LIFE

1 STARED AT HIS FACE, HI>

EYES--50 CAREFULLY
DESIGNED TO CREATE THE
ILLUSION OF HUMANITY-
--AND THEN I REALIZED--
THE SCIENTISTS HAP
FAILEZ, BUELLER WAS NO
MORE AUMAN THAN THOSE
ALIEN 7AH/NGS.

I-I'VE
BEEN TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAPPENED BETWEEN
US--TRYING TO MAKE
SENSE OF OUR
4ASS/0ON--

--BUT THERE
IS NO SENSE
10 IT IT WoT
HAPPENE?--
RANGOM,
UNPREDICTABLE--
UKE L/-E

THERE IS
ONLY ONE PERFECT
TRUTH, BILLIE--1 1 HOPE
LOVE YOU. 1 WILL YOU WILL ONE
ALWAYS LOVE DAY —-ZZZZ0-
--FORGWE
ME--
 HE PROTECTED ME, HELD ME,
LOVE ME, AND I LEFT HIM = A
TO THE AL/EN--HE WOULD =i | A hes
BE ALONE, FOREVER. + — RIT

THAT WAS MY |
PERFECT TRUTH.” |
=H

MW ZZZZZN-THIS
16 GATEWAY ZARTH
STATION--IDENTIFY
YOURSELF AND STATE
YOUR DESTINATION.

SHOW
HOW YOUYOU TARGETED . THIS IS
FOR EARTH LANCING-- = SERGEANT WILKS
9O WOT ATTEMPT THIS. ABOARD THE CARGO
REPEAT, VO NOT-- VESSEL McARTHUR--
2 REQUEST STATUS ON
PROJECTED LANDING
COORPINATES

THERE ARE
NO LANVING
COORDINATES,
ee 2 , EARTHS GONE--
Ld ; pareeeeenennn:: LOST TO THOSE
seen 60000) == THINGS.

= =
= = LT)
=

4 =

i———J 1 ul] a

tree _ :
— Ss) re
=
sung

= — =
== i =
— — aw i

mo] 1
Sr =]

fy —_

te °
= ees 65
os —-s :
yd s-
Pons

= -
 1 Decle Si Acbe
I'M 7/REL OF PLAYING

i U / THE POU'S DESIGNED FOR SHORT

COME
ITLL BE ON MY SCHEDULE--
NOT A/Z,
RANGE EMERGENCIES. MANEUVER-
: ; ABILITY 16 THE SA/7S --
ON, WE'RE
LEAVING.

OUGHT TO BE
ENOUGH TO
GET US TO THE
STATI;

ARE
YOU SURE THE Pops
PUNETIONAL? THE
PENIS ALR CHANCES
ARE SPEARS
SABOTAGE?
IT ALONG WITH
EVERYTHING
ELSE--

=-FUNNY THING
Is, 1 JUST DON'T GIVE A
QAMN ANYMORE.

1 WATCHED THEM DISAPPEAR IN THE

DARKNESS. 1 LET THEM GO--I
WANTEL THEM TO GO.
 TOGETHER, WE WILL FORM A
NEW WORLD, I WILL LEAZ MAN
ANZ ALIEN ALIKE TOWAR? A
NEW GLORY, A NEW
8£6/NNING--
japanese

raves

THE AL/ENW \S THE ONLY

ONE 1 CAN 7RUS7. THEIR
LOYALTY 7KAWSCENDCS
HUMAN TREACHERY,

SOME, OF COURSE,
WILL AER/SA IN

cena
THE TERRIBLE

RESPECT Nt. ad , Ser re’ MR

ACUIRATION--
THEIR FEAR.
1 CAN HEAR THE ADULATION
OF THE MASSES AS I
RESCUE THEM FROM THEIR
MISERY, 1 CAN HEAR THEIC
CRIES OF VOY AS I INSPIRE
THEM TO REBL/LZ OUR
--BUT IN THE WORLD,
ENP, WE WILL
PREVAIL.

WE WERE ON THE CUSP MY BOYS WOULZ

OF A TRULY A/ETORIC MAKE US PROUD
MOMENT--WHEN THE AGAIN.
TIVE WOULD 7URV
AGAINST THE HUMAN
LIZORGANIZATION OF
THE PAST--
 SQUAD--
COME TO THE TIME
ORDER! HAS COME TO PROVE
YOURSELVES--TO SHOW
YOUR COMMANOING OFFICER
ALL YOU HAVE LEARNED.

WE MUST
GIVE NO QUARTER.
THE OTHERS ARE
YOUR ENEMIES.
THEY MUST BE
DPEBTROVEL!L

I
GAVE YOU
A DIRECT
ORCERS
 HE
OL? GUARD MUST
BE WERTHROWN--
THEY MUST BE
PEF EATED--f

1
SEE NOW--
SHE'S TRYING
TO TURN YOU
AeAMeT

YOU
WANTE? YOUR
PRECIOUS CHILOREN
BACK AND 1--1
BROUGHT THEM
TO YOU--
 \
(PEP BEFORE IT HAP A
CHANCE 10 BEG/N.

THE ALIEN WOULDN'T ALLOW IT.

\; \ is
ai | Ls

Me GATEWAY STATION WAS ALL

HUMANITY HAZ LEFT. CIVILIAN
TECHNICIANS MONITORE? [= mea
THE LAST, , 51 SPORADIC SIGNALS ee
FROM EARTH IN A TERRIBLE
SORT OF DEATHWATCH.

—
ue
V a.
aes seat A A Al ; Z
_—— me |

aes rf
 THE ALIEN HAP REDUCED US TO
VOVYEURS, CATALOGING EARTHS
FINAL HOURS FROM THE SAFETY ANU THEN 1 SAW HER
OF SPACE. SHE WAS ST! ALIVE.

=— serene
ae eo ade
LLL LS LB ETS
I
eS PT

WATCHING US,
UNCLE BURT?
1S SOMEONE
GOING TO HELP
yeRU TS
=— :
—
>

RAYS GONE.
MAKING A THE CITYS GONE.
REPORT. MOST OF THOSE Lert
ALIVE HAV: N .
SUBIUGATE? TO THE 4 pene tea
BENE Ce» SORT OF SUBLIMINAL
MUPULSE THAT DRAWS
YOU TO THEM--A
FEELING OF WARMTH,
BFLONGING--

THE CREATURES
ARE BUILDING SOME
KIN? OF WES7--SPREAVING
ACROSS THE CITY, INTO
THE STREETS ANZ THE
UNDER GROUNO--
a ~
REPOSITORY
FOR THEIR YOU!
OR SOMETHING
MOR:

tees
brs
a
 IT
REMINVS ME
OF ANOTHER
TIME, YEARS ANOTHER
or LITTLE GIRL
2027 ON A
WORLD?
SWARMING
WITH THE
ALIEN
SABTARLS.

™ TRE?
WATCHING.
script
MARK VERHEIDEN

art
SAM KIETH

colors
DARK HORSE DIGITAL

lettering
PAT BROSSEAU

title illustration
JOHN BOLTON
 WL ANET L.v-426--
ACHERON TERRA-
ath FORMING COLOWY.

Nit

‘THE ADULT COLONISTS FOUND THEIR

NEW ENVIRONMENT CRUEL AND UN-
RELENTING, BUT THE LITTLE GIRL
Hee Te PLANET
= sansa
 WHRT SHE GOT
WRS ANIGHTMARE
WITH OUT ENP,
 AS THE DEMONS
RAGED, REbeccR
SOUGHT SHELTER
IN THE COLD
STEEL MAZE
BENEATH THE
PLANET'S SURFACE,

SHE LIGTENEP
FOR ‘THE SCREAMS,
AND WHENSida

SHE WASN'T MATURE ENOUGH TO

UNDERSTAND THE TRUE WOMCOR OF
HER SITURTION, PERHAPS THAT WAS
ALL THRT SAVED HER.

EN ONE DRY, THERE

WAS RF NEW SOUND, y . .
EBCLE. i. ‘TO "THE CHILO'S BYE, THE SOLDIERS WN --WITH THE EXCEP-
WERE RS APASA/TENIMS RS TION OF A CORPORAL
THE MONSTER NAMED Avcaa FND A
CIVILIAN OBSERVER
ey)Ni WV A Hey creo enccer.
Bey HONey--iTS
oO

~~, SHE Medes syuplsl

UKE le,
THE eat
Api sct
[
=oF THEMARINES, NE Zz
N ONLY HICKS SURVIVED ‘
==1F YOU COULD CALL
WHAT HRPPENBD TO
HIM SYAV/NF92.

THE ALIEN BLOOD

COULD BURN THROUGH
STEEL. \MAGINE WHAT fi
ITCOULD PO
FACE.

IS cs
RIPLEY WAS 7*ERE
FOR THE LITTLEGIRL.
“THREE ORYS"?
VEL TIME TO BI
1S WEEKS--
 ... THE GOVERNMENT
DECIDED ONE SHIP JUST
. WASN'T ENOUGH--

WHY THE HELL

FARE YOU HERE,

wi) ‘

MATTERS. THE TERRA-

FORMING REACTOR WENT
CRITICAL AND QUSTEP
PLACE JUST RFTER--

Y HARDLY. THE
FACILITVS

WE'RE INTERESTED 1
SOMETHING eise.
 THE CREWOF My —_
FIRST SHIP --THE eas

WE-We'? Perey UP WHAT WE

THOUGHT WRS A LYS 7THESS SIGNAL
FROM LV-426. AFTER LANPING, DALLAS
KANE, AND LAMBERT WENT OUT To
INVESTIGATE. AND IT S7HIAPTEL..

PER THE
CORPORATION, ALL
PID OUR PRELIMINARY | corDORATE Byze-
RECON OF THE SHIT ABOUT NO PROO;:
TAPES WERE O57 OERELIET SHIP... =" CHRIST-- ERRTH'S
RAFTER You SELF-
DESTRUCTED THE KNOWN THE TRUTH
 RDERMSO e”
RD, STHUIETRNEoCsOiRGA TOeTHE
AMG
épleeIvNPBeOn
ANCRO OUMP E D TH E D A T IN
E
CASL
PEAG GE
PO D
D' S HI
CO UTDER BLLOEWNG THBEFORE
MMPAN
ES SHIP,
MARIN

A AT
RES
isl:
CE
INCUBATING THE ALIEN
SPORE WHEN IT DIED.

BUT IT’S
-
DEAC- ON’S ST
ILL
Just S
LIKE DAL
LAS, WAKE IF RC-HER
H E p i e s, VIPUP YOFUORMY INTACT- IF AARVEY ST
OFILLTHOSE
AND T ME
OF THEM. THINGS
ALIVE...

E
o- THEY ALL OV
 THE MONSTERS -- I MANAGED? TO PULL A I'M GOING TO \]
THEY'RE JUST AVMIALS, PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF MAKE IT EASY
BUT THiS CREATURE THAT ALIGN SIGNAL BEFORE FOR You. THIS
REPRESENTS SEV T/ENT EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL, \S RR SCVENTI-
L/FE, CAPRBLE OF NAVI- IT WRS NO DISTRESS SIGNAL. FIC EXPEDITION
GATION, CONSTRUCTION-- IT WARS AR AOPRVING. --THAT'S Ade.
AND I NBEO A

ANIMALS PUT YOUR

“SENTIBNT LIFE” OUT
OF BUSINESS, CAPTAIN
--THE SAMB WAY THEY
DESTROYED THE
NOSTROMO, YOUR MARINES,
AND THE COLOMISTS
ON RCHERON/

SURE. AND
WHAT'S THE BRIBE
TAIS TIME, CAPTAIN?
REINSTATEMENT?
BACK PRY?

I'M NEVER
—A\ GOING BACK--
--DISCUSSION
OVER.

YOU'RE ities -- YOu

ACTING 1 CAN REATE,
TAH
LIKE you ME? AFTER EVERYTHING 44
BEEN THROUGH--?

BUT I’M
GO/NG TO HAVE
RELIABLE, FIRST-
PERSON INFORMR-
TION ON THIS
MISSION,
 I SPENT THOSE
T’D SEEN HANKERSON'S LAST MINUTES
WITH YOu,

PLAY RLONG WITH

HRNKERSON'S EXPEDITION’
=-RETURN TO FRCE
THOSE THYIVGS--

265
 HANKERSONS MARINES

Ye =7 REGULATION DUCHAMP
Sly GLASTER--500 ROUND
MAG WITH TWO IN-
BOARD CLIPS, MEDIUM
RECOIL, PISS POOR AT
RA DISTANCE BUT A C
REAL MOTHER
UP CLOSE.

Z KNEW WHRT THEY WERE THINK-

S| Dice ee
ING: THE MARINES ON THE SULACO
BECAUScr us
ney
E THEY e UP--
menseD
MESSED u SSid SR
me THAN THAT--7OLAGHER, MEAVER.
SS (Was 39/9) —shitl eae
ua :

EVERYONE DOWN
AND BUCKLED--
SEPARATION IN
TWO MINUTES.
OUR ALMIGHTY TECHNOLOGY
LULLED US INTO BELIEVING
WE WERE SOMEHOW
THE FIRST SQUAD SUPERIOR TO THE ALIEN... LIKE GUNS ARNO
FELT THE SAME WAY MACHINES MEAN A
ABOUT THE CREW OF PAMN TO THE
THE MOS7TROMO, MONSTERS. LIKE
ANYTHING DOES,
 GERR DOWN,
LET'S DO 'T.
YOU DON'T
THINK MUCH OF CHRIST=- IT'S
us, DO YOU, ® SIMPLE IN-RAND-
RIPLEY? OUT-- A SCIENCE
PROBE. ENT BREECH
ME, RIPLEY.
Tt DION’T
VOLUNTEER
WE'LL RUN A THINGS BACK TO FOR THIS MISSION,
DOESN'T PRELIMINARY RE-
EARTH iS TUST BND I'M MOT ONE
MATTER WHAT CON, POP OFF SOME
ANOTHER 1708. OR YOUR FACE-
T THINK, 1F IT HIGH-DEF LASER AN? WHEN IT’S LESS, STUPID
vir... IMAGES, THEN TROT OVER--WHEN GRUNTS--
BACK TO THE RPC,
BEFORE YOUR CREATURES THEY'VE
KNOW WHRT-- won--

GET
SERIOUS,
TULLY,

WITH THE LANDER

WHILE I ROVE WITH that a
WHEN TO ie . WHEN
THE MARINES
ne IN THE \T CAME TO FACING THE
> ALIEN, HANKERSON WARS FA
VERY BRIGHT BOY.
THE MARINES WERS STILL
DEALING WITH THE MISSION
ON 7HE/R. TERMS--EQUATING
IT TO THEIR LOCK AND LORD
PRILE BACK ON EARTH.
THE SHOCK
WAVE FROM RIPLEY'S
BARBECUE KICKED THE
SHIT OUT OF THIS
THING,

(TS PLAYING
HELL WITH COMMUNICATIONS
~- WE'RE LOSING CONTACT bei .
WITH THE LANCERS MAIN t : ¥ O
RELAY BOARD -- :

HRANKBRSON WANTEZ
Bec. WHILE THe GRUNTS
hen i}
acet Bowe EVIDENT-
yy eee EXPENOCRBLE

7 BELIEVES THERE MARY

BE TRANSFERABLE
NAVIGATIONAL DATA
ABOARD THE ALIEN
CRAFT.

THINGS--
WAITING. |
oaene ie ey 1S EVEN
EASIER. THEY WANT A
é \ 2/V/NG SPECIMEN OF THE
" ALIEN BROUGHT BACK
Salt FOR S7¢t/PY.

MORE TZ HEAR,
THE LESS I-~
OH TESuS,

MOVEMENT,
FIFTY YARDS.
SOME OF THEM
MUST HAVE SURVIVED
THE ELPOSION AND
RETURNED TO THE
DBRELICT--

THIS 1G _HANKERSON.
YOU WILL MOT EVACUATE
UNTIL ZT GIVE--2 e%ezzze

DON'T PUSH IT, RIPLEY IS TR etree

SERGERNT-- YOU'RE SAFER -- TACTICAL ADVICE --Z
OUTSIDE, ON OPEN AM IN COMMANP OF THIS-~
GROUND =~
 DAMN IT, SERGERNT,
WE'RE LOSING THE THEY AWOW YOU'RE
LANDERS SIGNAL, BUTT
THINK YOU GET THE
VET.
LET’S MAKE THIS
QUICK AND
POUINLEGS.
 \T WRS MORE
THE MARINE MUST THAN SIMPLE
HAVE TRIGGERED
SOME SORT OF
POWER (RCE
INSIPE THE ALIEN

u
STAND RA WEW
LANGUAGE.

HIS LIFE-
SuPl
SIGNAL LIKE
RN BLECTRONIC
ENTERING
THE R.PC.'S
COMMLUNICA-

THE RERD-OUTS
FLICKERED WITH RA
L‘7TANY OF
INVECIPHERABLE
INFORMATION --~
ALL THAT WAS

OUR MACHINES USE SCREENS

AND VISUAL REAL -O/7S TO
DELIVER DATA. THE DERBLICT'S
COMPUTERS WENT STRAIGHT
TO THE SOURCE.
 WHAT THE
HELL'S GOING OV
DOWN THERE?

IT WAS THE 4 i } , eet WE ASSUME? THE

= AS FLIEN INFESTATIONS
WERE SPORADIC, f
Sheet!OTMEY BRED
HEREVER
GONVENIENT, Lice

--T FELT HER

STE
HER UTTER *
SUPREMACY.
;
i
s<
| 2
eM

THE PILOT OF THE

DERELICT SHIPA ia
DISCOVEREDT
ate pe melee
THEIR POWER.

SHE CALLING Ht
HER ¥
Be
TEN YARDS...

DAMN IT,
SERGERNT, THEY'RE
ALMOST ON TOP
OF us--/
 CONCENTRATE
YOUR FIRE, ORMN
ITL THE HULL'S
ALREAPY-

STOPPE! O.T FELT

THE ALIEN IMAGES
PRIETING FWY,
LEAVING ONLY A
PIERCING, HOLLOW
ROAR.

RESIDURL AM
THE DER? ONE'S
WARNING.
 RIPLEY--
TZ CAN’T BRING
UP THE SQUAD--
THE SIGNAL’S
BEEN JAMMED

IT--IT WASN'T
INTENPEP
FOR uS--

COURSE
TRATECTORIES,
STAR FIELDS--
THE ALIENS’
GENESIS:

--WE INTERCEPTED
THE MESSRGE--IT WAS AN
ACCICENT--\T WAS--

‘TER THAN
VO YOU HAVE
; ANY IDER WHAT YOUR
slits INFORMRTTION 1S
WORTH?
 ONCE WE GET BACK
TO THE HARRISON, WE'LL
TRANSMIT THE COORDINATES
BRCK TO ERRTH, THEY’LL
HAVE A SHIP ARMED
AND READY WITHIN
HOURS--

WRIT--
WHAT ABOUT
THE
SQUAD --F

THEY WERE
PEAP BEFORE
WE ‘TOUCHED
GROUND,

THE CORPORATION'S
GENETICS TERM THOUGHT
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE
THEM TO BREED SPECIMENS
-- BUT THAT DOESN'T
MATTER ANY--

MATTERS
TO ME, YOU LITTLE
SHIT. \F THEY FOUND A WAY TO CONTROL
THE OTHERS THE ALIEN, IT WAS ONLY A
RARE ZEAL. JOIN MATTER OF 7/ME BEFORE THEY
THE CLUB. UNLEASHED THE THINGS ON
EARTH,

HARRISON'S
COORDINATES --
THEN LOCK ON-
TO THE A.P.C.'S

THE HELL 7
OF HERE
 I HAV SEEN WHAT THE
CORPORATION WOULD Po
RETRIEVE OVE OF
 EVERYTHING WRS SO | Y ‘THE THREE OF US DISAPPERRED,
COMPLICATE?. T. KEPT --OR THE _{ LOSING OURSELVES IN ONE OF THE
THINKING OF YOu, NEWT-- IVER OF THOSE ;
BUT I COULDN'T FORGET ALIEN TYNES
HENKERSON'S MISGION=- Ze ON BARTH. Ra FIND THEIR Precious

--BUT OF 50 MUCH FOR

COURSE THEY PRAYERS.
ou.

AND HOW THE

HELL ARE YOU
GOING TO 9O
THAT E

BY GOING TO
RIPLEY'S GENESIS
WORLD RND &46/Mg
THE ALIEN THE
WRY IT’S BEEN
USING 4--

_ <a
THE UGLY BASTARDS
STRAIGHT TO AVEZZ.
AT NIGHT, I JUST WANT
TO SLEEP,TO FORGET--
 IT’S ALWAYS
THE SAME.
THE ALIEN
ME WITH ITS
SEED --

--AND SUDDENLY, I AM
PART OF SOMETHING
 \ NO )
Avvo

SHE TAKES ROOT WHERE

IT SERVES HER , SPREADING
HER PROGENY LIKE SOME
MALIGNANT O/SEASE.

7
BY NIGHT. SHE IS_ [9
THE MONSTER THAT [720%
CONSUMES ME. friiid)
 7
DADDY = ARE WE

“WE--WE ALL DIE SOME-

DAY, HONEY. IT’S THE WAY
OF THINGS.”
VeuT iTS
IFFERENT || “IT’S ALL DIFFERENT,
NOW, ISN'T ITZ @ amy. I WISH YOU COULD
“I STILL SEE MOMMY WHEN
I SLEEP. SHE TELLS ME TO
BE A GOOD GIRL. SHE TELLS
ME SHE LOVES ME.”

DON’T KNOW
WHY WE
SOTHER.

“ Relat ae
NOBODY LEFT.
BELIEVE THIS-- 4 .
MIDSUMMER Noe TC
AND IT’S 30
DEGREES...

-.. WHAT
THE HELL’S
GOING

MATTER OF
i 7/ME BEFORE
A THOSE THINGS
¥. KILL US...

-- OR BREEO
US, LIKE THOSE
OTHER POOR
BASTARDS.

I'L BREED
MY GODDAMN
BRAINS \NTOAR
WALL BEFORE I
LET THEM TOUCH

SOMETIMES LT
THINK I'VE BEEN --THATS
BAD, AND THAT'S WHY THEY
WHY THE MONSTERS, TOOK MOMMY
FROM US.

Cl dled, jj) my
 GREAT WORLD, ISNT
ITZ THE RUTOMATICS WILL --TOO BAD
PROBABLY HUM RIGHT INTO NONE OF US
THE NEXT CENTURY-- WILL BE AROUND
P TO BNTOY IT.

WHAT DO YOU
MEAN,“ NOT NOW”?
YOU THINK IF WE
IGNORE Tri

THAT'S =
ENOUGH /
I_KNOW WHAT WE'RE
UP AGAINST. I KNOW
OUR CHANCES.

w HY DON'T YOU
USE \TF IF THERE'S
HELL , IT CAN’T BE
THAN
 ...DON'’T ASK ME HOW,
BUT WE'RE PICKING UP
EXCUSE SOME SORT OF PRE-RE-
5 CORP FROM AN EARTH-
SIDE SWITCHING STATION.

YOU ASKED
TO BE NOTIFIED
IF WE STARTED
RECEIVING OVER
EARTH-SAT 19...

scSOMEBORY
WN THERE
SOMEHOW I REALLY WANTS
KNEW SHE WAS
STILL ALIVE. aie

AUTOSCANNER
PICKED IT UP. I QUIT
TRACKING THEM DAYS
AGO.THEY MUST HAVE
FOUND A WAY TO TAP
INTO THE GROUND
RELAYS--

WE'D NEVER MET, BUT

I KNEW HER, KNEW
WHAT SHE WAS THINKING,
WHAT SHE WAS FEELING--

IEW THE SHRILL SOUND ff WE TRIED STAYING ABOVE

HER SCREAMS GROUND, BUT SO MANY HAVE BEEN
TAKEN BY THE ALIEN.THEY--THEY
Ges IDENTIFY W\TH THE CREATURES...
vy)

-- HUNTING
US TO APPEASE
... THEY'RE USING THEIR NEW
THE UNDERGROUND TO MASTER.
MOVE FREELY BENEATH
Dy THE CITY.THE TUNNELS AND
1) GRIDS ARE STILL HERE,BUT
CHANGED--TRANSFORMED.
 BLU
TIME’S SOFTENED
THE MEMORY
INTO A SWIRL

IT--1T‘S DIFFICUL
TO BE SURE, BUT THE Y
TUNNELS APPEAR TO CON-
VERGE INTO A CENTRAL
LOCUS-- LIKE SPOKES
ON A WHEEL.

THERE IS TIME TO
HEAL-- BUT YOU HAVE
THE SAME LONG YEARS
TO REMEMBER. TO
OREAI
WE’RE COMING CLOSER
TO THE HUB. THERE ARE
MORE BODIES NOW, FUSED
INTO THE WALLS LIKE MAD
SCULPTURE .

I USED TO WONDER
WHY THEY RECLAIME?
THEMSELVES-- FILLEV
THEIR WORLD WITH THE
DECAY OF DEATH. THEN
I REALIZED --

- -THEY'RE /MMERSED
IN DEATH. THEY SURROUND
THEMSELVES WITH IT.
PERHAPS THAT TERRIBLE,
SHEER FINALITY \S_ THE
ONLY THING THEY TRULY
UNDERSTAND.
 “ WE--WE HEARD
STORIES FROM OTHER
CITIES ABOUT THE
ALIEN BREEDERS.
'S WERE FOUND
AND DESTROYED, 7
BACK WHEN WE STILL
HOPE.

i
“ BUT THEY SAID ray --AS IF SHE'S BB
THE CREATURES ‘ WAITING FOR
BREC IN ISOLATION, SOMETHING.” &
TO PROTECT THE
NASCENT EGGS. YY

yj
 83
OFLET’S pr FB
MOVE
OH
wz
J x w F=w H 1

5
=)
 I WANTED TO STEAL
A SHIP, A TRANSPORT,
ANYTHING .

BUT I KNEW THE CHILD'S

ONLY HOPE WAS RIPLEY'S
WAY -- IT WAS THE ONLY
HOPE FOR ANY OF US.

EVERYONE
VE Evi
LOVED _HAS
BEEN TAKEN
BY THE ALIEN.
 JESUS,
RIPLEY, LT
CAN’T BELIEVE
YOU'RE
SERIOUS--

--YOU WANT
TO PUT BACK
INTO SPACE BECAUSE
OF SOME DAMNED

Ss MORE
‘HAN A CREAM,
WILKS. SHE'S
REAL

I'M TALKING ABOUT

I’vVE HAD THOSE THINGS! WE'VE
ENOUGH OF BEEN LUCKY SO FAR,
SUICIDE BUT THAT'S BOUND TO
MISSIONS! RUN OUT...

AND WE'LL ALL

END UP DEAD.OR
WORSE.

WHAT’S
THAT
SUPPOSED YOU'RE
TO MEAN? SCARED.
 YOu KNOW NOT AS MUCH AS
WE'RE WHAT THE ALIEN KNOWING THEY'RE STILL
ALL SCARED, BM CAN DO. THAT . A OUT THERE--AND THERE'S
RIPLEY. x DOESN’T SCARE Ji 4 SOMETHING WE CAN 9O
‘ you = ; 2 TO STOP THEM.
ro
CA

NONE OF
US WILL KNOW
ANY PEACE UNTIL
IT’S OVER--

WHAT RBOUT
YOU, BILLIE?
ARE You BUYING
AMY INTO RIPLEY'S
NIGHTMARE--?
I DON'T
HAVE ANY
CHOICE.
THIS ISN'T -
ABOUT ME
ANYMORE.

OVERRUN BY THOSE
DAMNED? THINGS. WHAT'S
CHANGED =

I'VE SPENT
THE LAST
FIFTEEN YEARS
SEEING HER--
FEELING HER--

-- HOPING
THE VISIONS
WOULD
STOP,
 WE SHOULD
BE FINISHED BY
TONIGHT, BUT--

DON’T GET ME
WE -- WRONG --!T'S ALL BEEN
GET !T. WHAT'S WE'RE NOT SEAT- OF - THE- PANTS
YOUR “RIPLEY ” EXACTLY SINCE THOSE THINGS CUT
PLANNING TO SURE. OUR EARTHSIDE SUPPLY
TRANSPORT \N
THIS THING =

-- BUT NO REAL
SPECS, NO DIMENSIONS.
NO WEIGHT PROJECTIONS?
THAT'S PUSHING IT.

YOU KNOW
AS MUCH AS ARE YOU A
RELIGIOUS
MAN , MCFEES

THEN NOBODY
KNOWS SHIT, I'M LEARNING
9O THEY? IT’S IMPORTANT
C'MON, GUYS-- TO BELIEVE IN -- EVEN
GIVE ME A BREAK .YOU'RE SOMETHING -- DREAMS.
SETTING SOMETHING UP ANY THING ~~
OFF-WORLG, RIGHT? NEW
COLONY, SPACE STATION,
WHAT =
 WE'RE AS
CRAZY AS RIPLEY:
FLYING HALFWAY TO
HELL, AND FOR
ae WHAT =

HERE--
RIPLEY CONVINCED STOREROOM'S
EVEN IF THE BASE COMMANDER BEEN UNDER
THIS THING TO HOLO THEM LOCK AND KEY
EXISTS, WHO SAYS WHILE SHE ARRANGED EVER SINCE. SEEMS
WE'LL BE ABLE FOR A SHIP. EVEN THE /VEA
TO CATCH OF HAVING THEM
IT? ABOARD GIVES THE
RANK AND FILE
THE JITTERS.

THEY'RE
DE:
DOESNT THE
CREW UNDER -
STAND THATS

SuRE ,I
GUESS--CHRIST,
I DON'T
KNOW --
 WE BENO THE BILLIE--
TRUTH TO ACCOM- HERE.
MODATE OUR Se
HUMAN WEAKNESS, | Sc.
WHEREAS THE ‘
ALIEN MERELY...
PAPTS

RIPLEY HAD -
HOW--
.] MEET HER IN HOW MAN’
DID YOu--=

RATIONS FOR
LAUNCH.

FUNNY. WE
CLING TO OUR
PRIMITIVE
CYCLE OF
DAY AND NIGHT,
THE RITUAL OF
THE SUN--BUT
IT’S ALWAYS
DARK IN SPACE.

THEY y u
BROUGHT
uP A COUPLE BIOLOGICAL ~- BEFORE
DOZEN SPECI- i /% AND WEAPONS EVERY THING
\ Py) WENT TO
HELL.
 SULACO.
STUPIP? GODDAMN
NAME FOR A F
SHIP.

TRSPER ~- QUINN--
SMITH, IN THE
Wort THEY
WERE NOTHING-~

--SHOULD
HAVE DIED
FOR THE! M.

YOU HAY TO
PUSH IT-- MARK
ME--SEE HOW FAR
 COME WITH I’M NOT GOING
ME A MINUTE, TO ALLOW LAUNCH
RIPLEY.WE'’VE GOT UNTIL YOU FIND A
TO TALK. - COMMAND-RATED

WILKS CHRANGEZ
HIS MIND, DON’T QUOTE
ME REGULATIONS, CAP-
‘TRIN -- IT'S ALITTLE
LATE FOR THAT.

THIS ISN'T
SOME TECHNICAL
WIBBLE I PULLED
UT OF THE RECRLIT-
ING MANUAL-- I'M
TALKING COMMON
SENSE .

YOUR SHIP’S BEEN

RECONFIGURED FOR
GRAVITY DRIVE --YOU
JUST DON’T POP BEHIND
THE STEERING WHEEL
AND TAKE HER OUT FOR
A SPIN--

CARE = RIPLEY «AND IM

NEEVS A PILOT-- ALL YOU'VE
I'M VOLUNTEER- GOT.
 LITTLE GIRL T’
NEVER MET.

-- BUT AS WE PREPARED FOR

LIFTOFF, I MADE A PROMISE TO
MYSELF --
RIPLEY HAD PUT TOGETHER
A CREW FROM THE SPACE
STATION'S STRANOED MILITARY
CONTINGENT -- INTRIGUING THEM
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO

DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS . ~ YOU MAY

MISSION’S ALL ABOUT, BUT \ HAVE TO./
I'D DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
TO GET OFF THIS PLATFORM. /\

--BUT THERE GRAVITY DRIVE’S

WERE STILL NOMINAL , FUEL’S
QUESTIONS. GOOD, AND I’M BETTER
ALWAYS SHOWING GREEN PUT THE
QUESTIONS. ACROSS THE CAT OUT,
BOARD... RIPLEY .WE’RE
OUT OF

WHAT DO YOU WANT

TO HEAR? THAT YOU
WERE RIGHT = THAT
THERE'S MORE TO THIS
THAN THOSE DAMNED
THINGS =
1S THAT
THE
REASON?

I DON’T KNOW.
MAYBE IT’S ALL
I'VE GOT--
 WE'VE BEEN IN SPACE
THREE DAYS NOW. YOU'VE HAP x
A CHANCE TO MEET ONE ANOTHER APPRECIATE
ANT SPECULATE ON THE NATURE YOUR
OF OUR MISSION. FAITH --
 -S\NCE THATS
ALL WE’VE REALLY

TEN YEARS AGO ,I MADE

CONTACT WITH AN EXTRATER-
RESTRIAL \NTELLIGENCE. IT--!T
SPOKE TO ME--TOLD ME OF THE WORLD
THAT FIRST SPAWNED THE ALIEN.

THE DRONES ARE

ONLY VASSALS, GUIDE?
BY A SUPERIOR, EXTERNAL
INTELLIGENCE , f

a MANY OF US
HAVE FELT THIS
ALIEN PRESENCE--
THE TORTURED,
EMPATHETIC BOND IT
SHARES WITH ITS
CHILDREN--

--ITS HUNGER
TO BE WHOLE
AGAIN.

THE CREATURES WERE Nf BUT THEY WERE

NEVERMEANT TO BE APART. A z SEPARATED, SPREADING
TOGETHER,THEY CREATE THE BETWEEN WORLDS LIKE
NEXUS OF ALIEN LIFE. ONE SEECS IN THE WIN? --
CANNOT ENDURE WITHOUT
THE OTHER

MISSES HER
KI?S--TOUGH ]}

= Slay 3
--AND THROUGH E> WHAT THE
IT ALL SHE'S BEEN \'¥ Bi? HELL ARE WE
CALLING TO THEM... GOING TO BO
CALLING THEM

299
 THE BITCH
WANTS HER BABIES.
WE CAN’T BRING
THEM 7O HER--

--SO WE'LL
BRING HER
TO EARTH--

THE SHELLS ARE

IMPERVIOUS TO THE
ALIEN’S AC/D-- BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THEY'LL
SUGGEST HOME--
FAMILY--

THAT’S WHY YOU

DRAGGEP US OUT HERES
TO PLAY CHAUFFEUR--
TO BRING MORE OF
THOSE THINGS TO EARTH
FOR A FAMILY DAMN
REUNION --# NOU MUST
BE OUT OF YOUR--
 BEFORE EARTH WAS LOST,
A GOVERNMENT SCIENTIST ORONA DIED
NAMED ORONA CONCEIVED A PLAN ” BEFORE THE BOMBS
TO DETONATE MULTIPLE NUCLEAR COULD BE TRIG-
WARHEADS \N THE INFESTED
AREAS.

THIS THING--
THIS “ MOTHER
QUEEN“- WILL PRAW
HER CHILDREN TO
HER.

SHE'LL TRY
TO REPLICATE
THE WORLV THEY
LEFT BEHIND--

-- AND_WHEN
THEY’VE JOINE?
IN THEIR GRAN?
UNION --

DESTROY THEM.
WE'LL DESTROY
THEM 42.
 UHH ,CAPTAIN
MCQUADE, THIS IS
DONNELL , DECK
THREE. YOU'D BETTER
HAVE A LOOK AT
THIS.

I--
I’m NOT
SURE,
CAPTAIN .

AT FIRST I
BLAMED THE READINGS
ON FAULTY MONITORING
EQUIPMENT--

-- BUT LOOK AT
THIS. WE’‘RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT SOME
\ISOLATED EVENT--
IT'S GLOBAL.

THIS IS CRAZY--
THESE SURFACE TEM- \
THAT'S PERATURES ARE FAR BE- #
NOT ALL. LOW CLIMATIC NORMS.
ATMOSPHERIC p
COMPOSITION,
MOISTURE
PATTERNS, CRAZY THING
WIND FLUCTU- /, IS, I'VE LOCALIZED
ATIONS -- THE ENERGY
--SIR,ITS
PLASMA-BASED--
AND IT’S COMING
FROM SPACES

--THEY’RE MIMICKING
THE SORTS OF REAVINGS
YOU'D SEE IN THE EMBRYONIC
STAGES OF A TERRA-
FORMING PROJECT.
 WITH THE SHIP’S GRAVITY
DRIVE PROPELLING US AT
HUNPREVS OF TIMES THE
SPEEP OF LIGHT, WE WERE
ORBITING RIPLEY’S “DREAM”
WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS.

THE CLOSER WE
CAME, THE MORE I
FELT THE ALIEN’S
PRESENCE

--THE MORE see

I KNEW IT : :
FELT MINE. ;
BILUE--
f of os : Aan I NEVER REALLY
CONSIDERED IT MY
Wee BEMOeT: : -( HOME. I FEEL I've
: ~\ SEEN ADRIFT ALL THESE
YEARS, SEARCHING.

IT’S FUNNY.
WE SEE THEM
AS INTRUDERS
ON EARTH, TAKING
SOMETHING PRE-
ciOUS AWAY

IT’S THE
SAME FOR ALL
OF US: ME,RIPLEY,
witks-~

BEEN THINKING
ABOUT EARTH,
INTRUDERS, #
TULLY.
MAYBE THEIR
SEARCH 1S OVER--
AN? EARTH WAS
MEANT TO BE THEIRS
ALL ALONG.
 FUEL NOMINAL,
ELECTRICALS UP--
MAKE SURE WE HAVE
RIPLEY'S. SHE HARD COPY OFF THE
CONVINCED CAPTAIN DROP SHIP’S NAVIGA-
TIONAL , JUST IN
MCQUADE TO CANNIBAL- CASE.
\ZE THE PLATFORMS
POWER LOADERS AND
MOPIFY THEM FOR
MILITARY DUTY.

CHRIST, BREW,
HAVE YOU CHECKED?
OUT THE MATRIX
ON THE DROP
SITE?

I'M PICKING
UP ROCK FORMA-
TIONS THAT MAKE
MT. EVEREST LOOK
LIKE A_BAD

sAYS
SHE’S HAD
EXPERIENCE

BESIDES,
TOPOGRAPHY’S
THE A.P.C.’'S PROB-
LEM. ALL WE
HAVE TO DO IS
DROP THEM.

I Guess
SHE LIKES
HAVING AN

AND PICK
YUP WHATEVER
THE HELL THEY
FINE COWN
THERE.
 I,uh, HOPE THEY
RIPLEY-- SECTORED THE A.PC.'S
COM-LINK.THOSE LOW-
FREQUENCY JOBS TEND
TO SCATTER AT
THE FIRST SIGN OF --

BE THERE IN
A MINUTE.

MY DAUGHTER. I SPENT HER WHOLE

IT WAS TAKEN A . LIFE DRIFTING THROUGH THEN I
COUPLE OF WEEKS PMSA EMPTY SPACE --LOST IN LOOK AT
BEFORE I REPORTED YEARS OF PERFECT HIBER- MY LITTLE
ABOARD THE NATION ,WHILE SHE GREW GIRL.
NOSTROMO. } OLD AND DP/EC.

SHE --
SHE WAS
BEAUTIFUL.

THE ALIEN
STOLE
THE TIME WE
SHOULD HAVE
HAD TOGETHER.

SOMETIMES I THINK
THOSE THINGS HAVE AS
YEAH. THE PSYCHS WERE MUCH RIGHT TO SURVIVE
CONCERNED WHEN TI DIDN'T AS ANY OF US. SOME-
SHOW AN “OVERT EMOTIONAL TIMES I WONDER WHAT
RESPONSE” TO HER DEATH-- eves Ue THe. ARRO -_
BUT WHY SHOULD I= THE OLD
WOMAN IN THEIR FILES WAS THEIR EXISTENCE.
A STRANGER TO ME.

305
 GLAV You
COUL? STOP
BY, RIPLEY--
ESPECIALLY
SINCE THIS 1S
YOUR PARTY.

BREWSTER’S
PICKED UP A CLUSTER
OF MOVEMENT IN THE
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE .
VERY ERRATIC -- MIGHT
EVEN BE SEISMIC.

PROPER PROCEDURE
WOULP BE TO PROP A
ROBOT PROGE--BUT IT
DON’T SEE ANY POINT
BOTHERING WITH COUNT-
DOWNS AND TRIPLE-
REQGUNCANT
CROSS- CHECKS.

“LET'S NOT
KEEP THEM
WAITING, “
 MY ENTIRE LIFE HAD
BEEN IN PREPARATION
FOR THIS MOMENT, AND
YET I WAS SUDDENLY
FILLED WITH AN AWFUL
SENSE OF DREARP.

IT WAS
WRONG.
IT WAS ALL

RIPLEY'S DREAMS,
MY NIGHTMARES--
IT WASN'T THE WERE THEY REALLY
THOUGHT OF DEATH THE REASONS THAT
THAT FRIGHTENED? DUTY. HONOR .A LITTLE HAD BROUGHT US
GIRL NAME AMY. WE
WANTED TO BELIEVE IN
OUR GALLANT JUSTIF/-
CATIONS , BUT THE TRUTH
1S NEVER SO SIMPLE.

I'VE SCOPEP
BETTER A RELATIVELY LEVEL
BUTTON HORIZONTAL , ABOUT
YP, BOYS. THREE HUNDRED ME-
TERS FROM THE MAIN
CLUSTER.

TAKE ITOR
LEAVE IT, WiLKS--
I CAN’T MANEUVER
FOR LONG IN THIS 2%
DAMNED WIND. ~ a

I'M GOING
BACK WITH THE
GRUNTS. SHE'S
ALL YOURS.

OR WERE THEY
HER LUPES--F
 X ine WE... WE LOST I-- I’M NOT SURE.
W DROP SHIP'S V Hf ONE OF THE AFT SOME KING OF MO/s-
I'D LIKE mYTOASS!
LEVEL, SEE_\ AWAY, RIPLEY-- | ‘i STRUTS, BUT OTHER- TURE TREADS LIFTED
BREWSTER’S IDEA }MOTION SEN- | S Ye Mf "YY WISE DAMAGE SEEMS ANDTRACTION.
WE LOST
OF ROUGH SORS PUT THE P ! NN LZ MINIMAL -- a
TERRAIN. CLUSTER AT | Se
= 100 METERS ‘ ; i ~-WHAT THE
AND CLOSING. , Se HELL DID WE

MAYBE WE HADN'T
COME TO THE ALIEN’S
WORLD OF OUR OWN
ACCORD...
 I DON’T REMEMBER WE'VE
VOLUNTEERING FOR COME TOO
THIS DETAIL. 90 YOU 5 FAR TO
REMEMBER ME VOLUN- zi LOSE IT
TEERING FOR THIS | : ALL NOW.
DETAIL =

HELL, TULLY,
THOSE THINGS
AREN'T INTERESTED
IN AN UGLY OLD
BASTARD LIKE ME--
“JUST BE
CAREFUL
OUT THERE.”
=- THEY
LIKE “em

ATMOSPHERE’S WE DON’T WANT

LOW ON OXYGEN AND ANY DEAU HEROES.
HIGH ON CONTAMINATES-- NEWT’S MONITORING
BREATHABLE, BUT JUST 4 THE CLUSTER RELA-
BARELY. USE THE ONBOARD J, TIVE TO YOUR POSI-
MASKS WHEN YOU CAN. 4 TION, SO LISTEN UP-

HEART RATE AND BLOOV

PRESSURE REAVINGS LOOK
LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A
HYPERTENSIVE'S HOW-TO
tee MANUAL...
THEY MAY DO ALOT
THINGS, BUT SLEEPING
WON T BE ONE OF THEM.
 THIS....TELLY...
ISN’T RELATED TO ANY
SURFACE ANOMALY. IT
SEEMS TO BE EMANATING
FROM THE FORMATION'S
COR!

WHATEVER THE
HELL , IT’S DEFINITELY
THESE THINGS? ORGANIC-- AND IT’S
THEY'RE TOO OOZING THAT TRANS-
LARGE TO BE
ALIEN EGG
sAcs.

I CAN
ALMOST SEE
INSIDE...

OH GOD--
I'M PICKING
UP MOVEMENT
FROM THE FIVE
EXTERNAL FALK!
CLUSTERS, * GET OUT
a OF THERE--
wows
WILKS -- -
IT’S COMING
FROM THOSE

-.. THERE'S
SOMETHING
INSIDE --
 THOSE POWER
OADE! --THE
QUESTION
1S, HOW
MUCH 2
LIKE 7/SSVE PAPER!
 I'M GETTING
MOTION SENSOR READ-
INGS FROM ALL THE
EXTERNAL PODS --MuUST
BE MORE OF THE TH/NGS
THAT ATTACKED CARVEY, a x 2 OU HEARD
wots “WERE
GOING TO GRAB

We HH VE
FALK AND BURN
RIPLEY--
— WHAT ARE
YOU POING™S,
HELL-- MAYBE
WE SHOLULDO
HAVE SENT IN
THAT PROBE.
—, i>
RAISE BREWSTER CAFS
IN THE DROP SHIP--
TELL HIM WE’RE LOOK- bp
ING AT AN EMERGENCY
\. PUST-OFF,LIKE WOW.

AT YOUR CUR-
RENT POSITION.

uP _GENTLE AS
A KITTEN
re

I DION’T
COME THIS FAR
TUST TO LET HER
SLIP AWAY.

KOS
 ALL RIGHT,
ALL RIGHT.
I'M HERE--

--DON’T MAKE )
ME AWVOCK, FOR
CHRIST'S SAKE !
a

/ -- ANG? I THOUGHT
H THEY WERE PRETTY
. ROUGH .

THEY'R'
HER CHOSEN
FEw--
 YEAH,
ANU MANUAL
CONTROL’S FOR
SHIT--
SOMETHING'S
OPENED OUR
REACTOR’S INTER-
NAL COOLING

Rieleg ey Te 3
SYSTEM--CORE }
THE . .
SECOND! ' --LOOKS
LiKE Weve
r \ GOT WSITORS
ON THE HULL.

RIPLEY -- WE'RE you--

NEVER GOING TO --ANO WE'LL YOU KNOW
MAKE IT TO THE FINISH \T, ONE HOW T FEEL
DROP SITE. WAY OR ANOTHER, --HOW MUCH

RIGHT. JUST
PULL OVER AND
“ DROP YOU OFF.”
THOSE BASTARDS
WILL BE ALL OVER
US IN A SECOND--/

YEAH. GIVE ME FIVE

MINUTES OF COVER
TO GET INTO THE
THING'S NEST-- 4

SO WHO SAID
ANYTHING ABOUT
STOPPING F AS
SOON AS I'M OUT,
SEAL THE HATCH.
 iS MOVING AT-
HIGH SPEED
TOWAR? THE A.RC--"

GOPPAMN THINGS...

..1F HER PLAN WAS

WORKING ANY BETTER,
WE COUL? BLOW OUR
BRAINS OUT WOW AND?
Save TOSS BASTARVS

Sg

a rod
Ly
Ss% ey jt
PY, Megs\"4

a 4
ABO,
J
I WOND ER
HOW LONG
THWAEYIT'VINE G.BE EN
.. NG :
...HOW LO HED
THEY'VE AC
FOR RELEASE...

CAN FEEL YOU

ALL AMERO...UND

EXPLAIN YOUR
WORTHLESS
--
EXISTENUCEDID TO
WHAT. YO
E CREW OF THE
SHOW YO UR- fAA 0 TH
=
SELF-- Be OM FR...
ERLASCO
SoTHiEpISU
TRS
SS SJ
4
..- EXPLAIN
MY
DAUGHTER!
 DROP
SHIP, THIS e
1S RIPLEY._, POSITION AND
PREPARE TO

I TOLD
WILKS AND
TLL TELL
YOU--THERE'S
NO PLACE TO
LAND --£

DON'T
PUT DOWN--SBUT
GET THAT SHIP
OVER MY COORDI-
NATES, NOW!
 CORE TEMPERATURE’S
GOING CRAZY-- WE'RE
GOING TO TOTAL MELT-
DOWN \N A MATTER OF
MINUTES!

WE'RE TALKING
MORE THAN MELT-
DOWN. WHEN THAT OH, GOD--I--
CORE HITS THE LIQ- I'M PICKING UP
UID FUEL CHAMBER, NEW MOTION
WE’RE LOOKING AT READINGS FROM
AN EXPLOSION. THE OUTER
: : : PERIMETER ...
= — ~
Me P «SHE ==
SHE'S CALLING HER
CHILDREN...

MUST BE
THOUSANDS
OF THEM!

I SHOW SEVEN
MINUTES UNTIL MELT-
DOWN .STEERING'S LOCKED,
WHICH MEANS THIS THING
WILL KEEP ROLLING UNTIL
SOMETHING BLOWS,

TAKE ALL THE SHOULD HAVE

AMMUNITION YOU CAN PUT ON THAT
CARRY-- WE'LL HAVE TO SECOND PAIR
MAKE THE DROP SITE

htt
Tit

321
 OVER,
IT'S - YOU
WILKS- THAT
KNOW NEVER
RO

. WAINLDL
TMHIE NUATOPENCSATE.
DET -GUESS
THEN-
.
WHAT..
eee \ ~ EHUNK:
%S, \
JeEsuUS--
WHAT IN
HELL IS

OPEN THE LITTLE LOWER...

CONTAINMENT COME ON, COME
A ONS

YERH,
THAT’S RIGHT,
BITCH--

=-WE'RE
GOING FOR
A LITTLE
RIDE.

323
 HURRY UP--
BREWSTER WANTS
US ON THE BRIDGE.

WE'RE GETTING THE CRITICAL =~cORE.

HELL OL/7 OF HERE. re DETONATION IN LESS
i f¥i R THAN TWO MINUTES,

WHAT ARE YOU

TALKING ABOUTS
WHAT ABOUT BILLIE
AND THE OTHERS--
=z

THE SQUAD’S
PINNED DOWN IN ONE
OF THE NARROW
VALLEYS-- BREWSTER
SAYS IT’S TOO TIGHT
FOR A PICKLP.

RIPLEY...

LOOK, THERE’S
JUST NO WAY WE
CAN PUT DOWN.THERE’S
NO GODDAMN ROOM--
AND THERE'S NO
 . I DON’T THINK
NOT LOOKING ee ANY OF US ARE.
FORWARD TO __ \*- 4 MAYBE IT’S TIME
A TOE-TO-TOE }: A TO CONSIDER
WITH THESE OUR ONLY...
THINGS.

© an THE
HELL ARE
NOU WAITING JES
FORZ r C eS

(5; =—T

I THOUGHT
THAT BASTARD
COULON’T LANG
HERE--!
CONVINCED
HIM TO RE-

i fh F ie) 2 ig F 9 z
IN FIVE SEC-
ONDS. BRACE
NOURSELVES.

SAY
GOOD-BYE
TO YOUR OLD &
WORLD...

327
 --THE EARTH
WE KNEW IS GONE.
THE ALIENS HAVE
TAKEN IT AS THEIR
Own.

POWER TO THE SATELLITE

UPLINKS WENT OUT WHEN THE
CREATURES FINALLY SEVERED
THE MAIN UNCDERGROUNDS.
THERE WOULD BE NO MORE
TRANSMISSIONS.”

I--I USED
TO COME HERE
WHEN I WAS THERE WERE MORE
A KID. %
SOPHISTICATED ATTRAC-
TIONS DOWN BY _THE SHORE--
THREE -DIMENSIONAL STLFF,
INFRA-LIGHT,GRAVITY CHAM-
BERS--BUT I WAS PREOCCU-
PIE? WITH THE MACHINES.

FOR SOME REASON

WE DON’T FEEL THE
CREATURES LIKE THE
OTHERS.WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO RES/ST
HER MENTAL LYE...

I DIDN'T KNOW WAY BACK

THEN, BUT NOW T THINK T
UNDERSTAND. THEY NEVER
KNEW PAIN, THE FEAR OF
DEATH--

--AND IF YOU NEVER

LIVE , YOU CAN NEVER OVE.
THERE'S A KIN? OF
IMMORTALITY \N THAT.

THAT'S
ENOUGH,
PAUL.

SHOULD BE
YOuU-- . EASY.
NOU USED
TO FLAY WE'VE BEEN
I WANT HER PRETENDING FOR
E TO KNOW SOME- MONTHS-- PRE-
.. WHILE SHE USES THE THING GOOP, TENDING THERES
OTHERS TO BREED HER SOMETHING DECENT, A CHANCE, PRE-
CHILDREN. BEFORE SHE DIES. TENDING THERE'S
REASON TO--
 =

256
bus
kQo
yae
hs
Zui
 WE ‘VE
2
8°

BEEN LOOKING
uphi)

X¥
ze

FOR YOU.
SARK
 ae
OUR JOURNEY
TO EARTH HAGAN
BACK
EERIE S7T/LLNESS TO
\T. HOW DID OLD-TIME
SAILORS
CALM
PUT IT--= "THE
BEFORE THE STORM.”
“SS ar

GATEWAY STATION
WAS LIKE A JEWEL
SUSPENDED OVER THE WE HAVUSTOLEV
BLUE CURVE OF EARTH. THE ALIENS
STRIPPED OF CON- IEEN MIOTHER --
TEXT, \T GLITTERED ae WE WOULD
WITH RARE BEAUTY. USE HER TO GATHER,
THEN DESTROY, HER I'VE BEEN
CHILDREN ON EARTH. STUDYING
\T.THE WAY
IT MOVES.
THE WAY IT
RIPLEY, THINKS.
WE'RE
ALMOST SET
TO DOCK.

I THOUGHT
THAT BY
SURROUNOING
HER WITH THE
1B e HIDES OF HER
DEAD, SHE
I KNOW, WOULD WITAH-
BILLIE. DRAW \NTO
\ COME IN. 4 THE SANCTITY

ie

IPEACE
FOUNDIN MY
THE
SOULL Ess
EMPTIN ESS OF
sPA cE. CHRIST,
BILLIE--
SHE
WATCHING HER.
JUST... WATCH -
ING
 GATEWAY STATION.

.--WE’VE LOST ALL

COMMUNICATION WITH
EARTH SINCE YOU LEFT.
ATMOSPHERIC S7TAT7T/C
MAKES TRANSMISSION AND
RECEPTION ALMOST
IMMPOSS/IEBLE.
WHAT ABOUT
THE SATELLITE
UPLINKS= THE
LITTLE G/RL--F

ANYONE LEFT ON FOR HER SAKE, \_~

EARTH BELONGS TO Ll PRAY SHE'S THERE’S SOME -
THE ALIEN. THAT LITTLE nine THING ELSE--
GIRL’S DEAD. g WE PICKED IT UP
~ NOT LONG AFTER
YOu LEFT...
WE'VE BEEN GETTING
BIZARRE TEMPERATURE
READINGS FROM THE
SURVIVING HIGH ALTI-
TUDE WEATHER MARKERS.
THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE
OF FIFTEEN TO TWENTY
PEGREES.

WHAT THE
HELL ARE
YOU_TALKING

IT’S NOTHING
TERRAIN --WE
CHECKED.

IT’S THE OTHER--

THE ONE THAT
SPOS. TO ME ON

-. WE
BROUGHT
IT HERE.

NEAR AS WE
CAN TELL , THE
METHOPOLOGY MIMICS
(o) OWN JER
aig leeNt -
WE TRACKED THE ENERGY SOURCE
IMS TECHNOLOGY, INTO SPACE AND MANAGED TO PULL
. A LONG-RANGE CHROMA OFF ONE OF
THE SURVIVING SPY SATELLITES.

333
 WERE WASTING TIME,
DAMMIT-- IT DOESN'T
MATTER. NOTHING
MATTERS EXCEPT
THOSE THINGS.
ITS COMPANION DIED
ON_ACHERON , LONG BEFORE
THE NOSTROMO--LONG BE- DIDN'T YOu
FORE ANY OF IT. IT FOLLOWED HEAR ME ,RIPLEY=
Us AS WE SEARCHED FOR THE THAT CREATURE --
ALIENS HOME, THEN IT RE- WHATEVER THE HELL
TURNED WITH US TO EARTH. IT IS-- IS EMPLOYING
NOLOGY.THERE WON'T
BE ANY EARTH LEFT
IF WE DPON’T--
YOU DON’T
GE7 IT,

THIS IS
FOR ME.
ONCE THOSE
CREATURES
ARE DEAD--
WE_ THOUGHT I'M THROUGH
IT SHARES OUR WITH IT.
HATRED OF THE
ALIEN--
Z SEE--{T'S.
EASIER WHEN YOU
-- BUT IT JUST DON'T G/VE
WANTED A SHIT.
EARTH, NOT THE MILITARY, THE
REVENGE.
CORPORATION--THEY
BROUGHT THE ALIEN
TO EARTH FOR A
REASON .THEY TRIED
TO BUY ME THE
SAME WAY.

I OWE THE ALIEN SOME

PAYBACK, BUT I DON'T OWE
YOUR EARTH A GODDAMN
THING .WE'RE GOING TO
FINISH THIS --WVOW.
GREAT-- FIRST WE GRAWTY-
DRIVE ACROSS THE GALAXY TO
PLAY TAXICAB WITH SOME ALIEN
THING, AND NOW WE'RE ORDERED /
BACK TO EARTH.

I'LL GO ALONG FOR THE

RIDE, BUT I’M TELLING
YOU--IF RIPLEY TRIES TO
PULL ANOTHER GLV ON
ME, THERE’S GOING TO
BE TROUBLE.

YEAH--THIS
TIME SHE MIGHT
ACTUALLY SHOOT.
 RIPLEY AND WILKS LED
THE OTHER: Ee

COME, BILLIE.
YOU'LL BE
SAFE HERE.

ID SEEN NY
; TIMES BEFORE. IN WILKS. IN 7 ,
4 GENERAL SPEARS.IN MYSELF Pe ' =~
— fs :

I WATCHED THEM DISAPPEAR

BEHIND THE COLD STEEL OF
THE AIRLOCK-- DISAPPEAR
INTO RIPLEY'S OBSESS/ON--

--ALL THE TIME

KNOWING WHAT I
WOULD HAVE TO Do.

ORONA’S BOM
| WERE PART OF
AN OLD-STYLE

BUNKER. THAT
WAS RIPLEYS
TARGET.

335
 -- AND YET, IN A REAL
WAY, SHE WAS THE ONLY LOOKS LIKE THE
ONE WHO WOULD? TRULY MILITARY BOMB
UNCERSTANP WHAT I SPECIALISTS WERE
WAS ABOUT TO DO. IN QUITE A HURRY
TO GET IN.

YOUR DR.ORONA
HAD THEM WIRE THE
NUKES INTO A
SEQUENTIAL DETONA-
TION PATTERN JUST
PRIOR TO EVACUATION ,

MAYBE THE
wooemaweel SEQUENCE WAS
INTERRUPTED BY SOME
NATURAL PHENOMENON.
THESE WEAPONS WERE
NEVER MEANT TO WITH-
STAND EXPOSURE TO
THE ELEMENTS--
--THERE’S ENOUGH
GOD ONLY FIREPOWER HERE TO
KNOWS WHY LEVEL THE CON 7/VEN7,
THEY DIDN‘T BUT THE BOMBS
BLOW THE THEMSELVES ARE FRAG- fm
FIRST TIME. ILE AS DUST. M

RIPLEY-- I THINK I
WILKS / FIGURED OUT
WHY THE BOMBS
NEVER
DETONATE --
 YOU DON’T
HAVE TO LIKE
IT, TULLY--
JUST FI

~-AND_ IT’S MORE LIKE THis--

THAN CORROSION. I DON’T
SOMEBOPY DECIDED HELL OVP THISE LIKE {(T
TO PUT A STOP TO DOESN’T LOOK ONE 8/T.
THIS COUNTDOWN LIKE ANY KIND OF
PERMANENTLY. CON EN ONE

--ZZzzzz-- THEY'VE
LOCALIZED THE
PROBLEM AND --zzzz--
SECOND
DETONATO. NO SIGN
OF INFESTATION, BUT--
Zzzzzz-- STAND BY
JUST IN CASE--

BREAKING UF. BREWSTER YOU AUTHORIZE

--ENERGY FIELDS PLAY- Coney
ING HELL WITH BEGUGKCES
COMMUNICATIONS-~ EQ! =
--CONTINUE WITH TEN-
MINUTE UPDATES AND CON-
TINUOUS MOTION SWEEPS.
YOu PICK UP MOVEMENT, GET
THE HELL O“/7 OF THERE.

SOMEONE'S
BROKEN INTO ONE THIS IS CAPTAIN
OF THE LOADER BAYS. Qu
MCQUADE ./DENTIFY
JESUS--THEY’RE LAUNCHING YOURSELF !
ONE OF THE CARGO SHIPS!
 I--I'M : ;
SORRY, BUT THIS
CAPTAIN. 1S THE
ae ONLY WAVY.

I'O_ LEARNED A WANES

LOT WATCHING “Gata
= THE CARGO SHIPS
WILKS.T TRIANGLU- WERE DESIGNED
LATED A COURSE ' € TO BE PILOTED BY
USING THE COORDINATES ) \ MAINLINE F/ELSO
FROM AMY'S LAST WOEO , A SOLDIERS.MOST OF
TRANSMISSION ; ANP 4), THE ON- BOARD
“BORROWED” THE SHIPS MG) SYSTEMS WERE
GO CODES FROM THE ~ STRICTLY UZ ANE:
GATEWRY SECURITY J z| fc. —
COMPUTER.

SHE WAS JUST

ONE LITTLE GIRL,
LOST IN THE RUIN
OF MAN'S GREED
AND MACNESS .

WE'D NEVER
EVEN MET-~
BUT I KNEW
HER.

WE WOULD
SURVIVE THIS
TO. HEF --
was NAME OR NOT AT
ALL.
 THE SOUND WAS
CLOSE, REVERBER-
ATING BENEATH THE
BROKEN STREETS.
EACH TIME I ESCAPED
THE ALIEN, (T SEEMED TO
BRING ME BACK.L BEGAN
TO REALIZE THIS WAS
RE THAN CAPRICIOUS
FATE OR CHANCE-- THE TERRIBLE
SCREAMS GREW --ADD MY VOICE
LOUDER, AND I TO THE RISING
WANTED TO HOWL OF PAIN
JOIN THEM-- AND HORROR.
--ALL ABTUNCTS OF THEIR
QUEEN --DESPERATE TO PRO-
TECT HER,PROTECT HER LIN-
BORN CHILOREN.

AS LONG AS I WAS ALIVE,

S A THREAT TO THEIR
iL. SOMEHOW, INTLII-
TIVELY THE ALIEN INTELLI-
GENCE AWVEW THAT.
 IT’S You--
YOUR TRANS-
MISS/O. eae

MY GOD.
YOU WERE
WATCHING.
You SAW--~
FOLLOW ME--
WE MAY STILL
MAKE IT OUT OF
HERE ALIVE.

THEY HAVE AMY WITH

THE OTHERS-- PART
OF THEIR BRE EDI
STOCK.I'VE BEEN NG
HERE
_ f
FOR DAYS, TRYING TO 4
FIND A WAY IN.
y SOMETHINGS
VO YOU HAVE ANY HAPPENING--
IVER WHAT THAT’S BEEN
LIKE F HEARING HER I CAN SENSE
CRY IT. THE CREA-
OUT, KNOWING THERE WAS TURES ARE
NOTHING I COULD DOF MOVING WITH
A NEW SENSE

THEY'VE LEFT
THE UNDERGROUND,
IT’S WHY THE CITY--THOSE FEW
I'M HERE. YOU KILLED WERE
ALMOST ALL THAT
WERE LEFT.

THEY-- THEY'VE TAKEN

AMY WITH THEM--TAKEN
HER TO A WEW PLACE.
 CAN WE PLEASE
LEAVE F THIS
PLACE GIVES ME
THE CREEPS.

REALLY
LI THINK IT’S
THAT'S PERFECT.
THREE
OURS AND
COUNTING.

“THE ALIEN KNOWS DEATH

BETTER THAN AWY OF LS.
THIS PLACE |S F“LLEO
WITH IT. MAYBE THAT
FRIGHTENS “OU--

BUT IT WELCOMES BREWSTER--L'M

THE ALIEN &/7CH LIKE PICKING UP ANOTHER
AN OL? FRIENC. ” SH/P ON THE INBOARD
RAPAR. AUTOMATIC SCAN
SAYS IT'S CARGO
CLASS--

--REGISTERED
TO GATEWAY!

THATS
MWMIPOSSIELE.
DOUBLE CHECK
THE SYSTEM--
 GETTING CLOSE.
GOD, THOSE THINGS
ARE EVERY-

as
IT’S ONE THING
TO PRE-SET COORDI-
NATES, BUT I'VE NEVER
FLOWN ONE OF THESE
AT CLOSE RANGE.
WE'RE LOSING
POWER! TI DON'T ,
KNOW HOW TO
STOP ITS
... WHAT DO YOU
MEAN , ANOTHER
SHIP = GATEWAY HASN‘T
CLOCKED ANY GROUND-
BASED EARTH TRAFFIC
 " CHRIST--
I’M SORRY--
I'M SO

WHAT THE HELL PID YOU

THINK YOU WERE DOING BY
COMING HERE? YOU KNOW WHAT PASSENGERS
WE'RE RISKING JUST BY LAND- UNCONSCIOUS,
ING? THE MOUNTAIN'S AL/VE BUT HELL
WITH THOSE ALIEN THINGS--AND SURVIVE.
THE BOMBS HAVE BEEN ARMED,

\S THAT
WHAT THIS WAS
ABOUT? PAMMIT,
BILLIE--THE LITTLE
GIRLS DEAD.

NO--
THEY'VE
TAKEN HER W/TH -- MAYBE
THEM -- YOU CAN LEAVE
WITHOUT HER, BUT

SHE HAD RISKED EVERY-

THING TO PULL ME FROM
THE WRECKAGE OF THE
CARGO SHIP,
ANP COLNTING,
SURROUNDED BY THESE
GODDAMN TAH/NGS--

--I THINK
SOMEONE'S
TRYING TO TELL
US SOMETHING!

344
 CHITCHAT
LATER. RIGHT

ARE YOU OUT

OF YOUR MIND=
THE MOUNTAIN'S
ay an E CRAWLING WITH
TELL = ; THOSE THINGS.
27,
Were ue Y WE‘VE GOT LESS
THE A.PC. BILLIE : THAN AN HOUR
AND I ARE GOING UNTIL DETONATION!
BACK IN. q

I'M NOT LEAVING

HER, WILKS... NOT
THIS TIME-- AND
NEVER AGAIN.

DAMMIT,
STAY WITH THE RIPLEY--THIS
DROP SHIP. GIVE US AS IS SUICIDE. ARE
MUCH TIME AS YOU CAN. YOU DOING THIS 29
FOR THAT LITTLE YOURSELF,
BUT WHEN THE SHIT COMES WILKS--
DOWN,I WANT YOU TOLEAVE- GIRLZOR FOR
AND LET IT GO. YOURSELF F

345
 RIPLEY HAD SPENT
YEARS TRYING TO
FORGET ALL SHE HAD
LEFT BEHIND. MORE
THAN FAMILY AND
CAREE

--SHE’D LOST
HER SELF-RESPECT.
HER OD/IGMW/TY.

T
WILKS WAS THINKING,
BUT HE WAS WRONG.
THIS WASN'T SU!-
CIDE. RIPLEY AND
I DION’T WANT
To &

--WE WERE TRYING

To
Live. MAYBE THE
LITTLE GIRL COULD
SHOW Ss.

HOLD
ON,
BILLIE--

346
 EY BLEW THE
PLOSIVE BOLTS ON
B THE SIDE HATCH AND
CLIMBED OUT TO FACE
HER VEMONS.

I FOLLOWED CLOSE
BEHIND, READY TO
FACE MY OW.
 SE 7
LET THEM TAKE
ME AGAIN...
 BILLIE--
MOVE OVER
HERE WITH
ME.

THATS WHY
NOU HAV YOUR
BABIES KEEP THE
LITTLE GIRL ALIVE--
YOU AVEW WE'D
COME FOR HER.

GET HER
BACK TO THE
A.RC. AND WAIT

SOMETHING
TO FINISH.

TO AR

FIFTEEN MINUTE THOUGHT IT'D

THIS WHOLE MOUNTAIN'S LET THE BOMBS
GOING TO BE SO MUCH FINISH YOU, BUT
OUST-- BUT THAT'S NOT IT'S BETTER
THE POINT, IS ITF TaV7S THIS WAY.
IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT--
 ..(TS THE
LAST THING
YOU'LL EVER
=

DAMN IT,
RIPLEY, WHERE
THE HELL LAST TIME TI
ARE NOUF TRIED TO PLAY IT
SAFE,I ENDED UP
WITH A PISTOL
AGAINST MY HEAD--

TWELVE MINUTES
AN? COUNTING.
WE'RE EATING ~ Dreyer NOT OUT OF HERE IN
uP OUR SAFETY \ . FIVE MINUTES, KISS
NOUR ASS GOOD-BYE.
 CHRIST,
RIPLEY,

--I DON’T
TWELVE THINK THEYRE
MINUTES TO GOING TO LET
DETONATION-- US WALK
WE'VE GOT TO OuT.

WHO SAID \T WILL TAKE

ANYTHING THOSE THINGS
ABOUT A COUPLE OF
WALKING iS MINUTES TO
Z/ SQUEEZE \NSIDE.

lig
THAT SHOULD BE
y ENOUGH 7MME.

6 INSIDE
THE A.Pc.--
NOW.

THEY DESIGNED
THIS ESCAPE POV
FOR QUICK EXITS IN
CASE OF INTERNAL
CORE PAMAGE --

--1T'S
SUPPOSED TO
BLOW UP AN?
ourT--

--BUT WE'RE GOING

TO CHANGE THE
SPECIFICATIONS /

352
 MY GOD -- IT LOOKS
LIKE SOME SORT OF
RIGHT, (r. PROJECTILE-- OR
TWeT’s ESCAPE PODS oe FARE
WE'RE OUT CN Owe
OF HERE.I'M
r SORRY, MAN,

as

LI REMEMBER THE REST

OF IT IN ISOLATED
FRAGMENTS. NI\LKS SRID
THE POD’S INTERNAL
CHUTE SLOWED US DOWN,
SOFTENING OUR IMPACT.

ALL IT KNEW--ALL
I CAREC -- WAS
THAT AMY WAS
SAFE.

353
 THE NEXT THING IT WAS WHILE
I REMEMBER Is RECOVERING
LYING IN THE DROP ON GATEWRY
SHIP’S SICKBAY-- THAT I DECIDED
AND RIPLEY TO WRITE THIS
STANDING OVER ME. DIARY-- MY
RECORD OF
SHE WANTED TO WHAT HAD HAP-
HOLP ME, TELL ME PENED. I HOPE
EVERYTHING WOULD TWILL SERVE
BE ALL RIGHT --BUT BOTH AS A
SHE WAS AFRAIC. REMEMERANCE--

ONW HALF-
CONSCIOUS , I WAS
A LITTLE GIRL
AGAIN -- AND LT
TRUSTED HER.

ARE--ARE
WE GOING
TO SLEEP
ALL THE WAY
RIPLEY, WILKS, TULLY,
FALK-- THEY WERE
ALIVE.THEY HAD FACED
THE ALIEN AND SUR-
VIVED. NO, IT WAS MORE
THAN THAT-- THEY HAD
CONQUERED.

I DRIFTED
TO SLEEP
IN RIPLEYS I WOULD NEVER TELL
ARMS, THEM THE 7RL/74/=
q KNOWING WHAT /7 TOLD_ ME
SHE'D STILL WSCERALLY AS WE
BE THERE LANDED ON THE ALIEN
WHEN I QUEEN'S WORLD -
AWOKE--

-- WHAT, IN SOME
STRANGE WAY, I
MUST HAVE KNOWN
AILL ALONG:

m7

17 DESTROYED THE DETONATOR

CONNECTING ORONA’S BOMBS.
/7 HAD CALLED RIPLEY BACK TO
EARTH. /7 HAD SENT US IN
SEARCH OF THE QUEEN MOTHER.
-- KNOWING
IT WAS FINALLY
OVER.

IT USED US TO
ERADICATE THE ALIEN
SCOURGE SO IT COULD
TERRAFORM, THEN TAKE
EARTH FOR ITSELF.
FOR AN INSTANT,I FELT
A WAVE OF ANGER.
EVERYTHING WE'D BEEN
THROUGH-- WAS IT ALL
A SHAME A DANCE FOR THEN I REMEMBERED
“THE OTHER'S” PLEASURE? SOMETHING RIPLEY
HAD SAID: THIS WASN'T
ABOUT EARTH ANY-
MORE.

WE'D COME TO TERMS

WITH OUR FEAR AND
OUR PAIN. THERE WOULD
BE OTHER WORLDS FOR
US, NEW LIVES FREE
OF THE ALIEN.

HUMAN GREEP AND

RAGE HAD BROUGHT
THE ALIEN TO EARTH.
WE HAD FAILED --

i!
-- \1T WAS TIME
TO MOVE ON.

PERHAPS EARTH'S
NEW INHABITANTS
WOULD LEARN
FROM OUR MISTAKES.

_*
SN
 ; THEORY OF
ALIEN PROPAGATION
“-

F: esAa
h, af
AG: Dig
od Fen.ta, wer » tf gi

If
* + » a

oe »
ayaa RRA HE Ol. vag of
+ - « % ay ite Ay
oa y Ney: pera ,
1a, a, s
f

1h Ae
i oye

Nae VB
+
i
¢

a
x

ee
:

is
a, = a ’
ve! cae
%,6-
* ad
Ene rs wea < Bana oe i \ ' e-? As gee
of oy fe : S a Bante *) \“ Dip *
*

‘eh MIE os. v0 ie A

:i ee hs YS ay
Niki, % %
pa oad 4 Se ey

¥
script
MARK VERHEIDEN

art
MARK A. NELSON

colors
CHRIS CHALENOR

title illustration
JOHN BOLTON
 Excerpts from the confidential script
"Theory of Alien Propagation" by Dr.
Waidslaw Orona, civilian advisor to
the Colonial Marine Corps:

Humans suffer from peculiarly

self-centered notions as to the nature of
life. We assume out of hand that other
lifeforms must somehow conform to our
comfortable standards of logic and
morality. This, of course, is absurd.

Kw.
Ens
Our human "morality" is a
thin fewue of ee
principle, easily ignore
when expedient. Why
should we expect more : \ ‘ As a matter of practical fact, much
from alien lifeforms than x i «= of what we presume to know about
we expect from ourselves? . ’ the alien lifeform is conjecture.
=i. However, amidst the theory, there
are two absolute, unequivocal facts:

Oy
Judging from the alien's dense exoskeleton and
remarkable adaptability, we must assume their
homeworld to be a harsh, desolate environment.

know from the encounter on

Rim that the aliens have a
Queen-based hierarchy. We also
know they form hives to protect
their young.

At some point, perhaps

cyclical, the hive's queen must
sense the instinctive need to
ropagate new colonies, and
ays eggs that will later hatch
as queen-larvae.

aad
|

-j At the proper time, the

-} drones provide host bodies
L} for the fledgling queens.

a
For many in the research community, this
= parasitical Breccune process is the single most
~ = disturbing aspect of the entire alien phenomenon.
= nt

Given the aliens’ legendary

"temperament, it's likely
that these special breeding
eggs are quickly removed
from the queen's chamber - : :
and sheltered elsewhere. Of course, for the aliens, it is completely
natural—their equivalent of giving a
bottle to a baby.
 a
The actual incubation period i
relatively short, a matter of days §
or even hours.

As the fledgling queens emerge,

Birth is an ordeal of & there may well be a battle for
pain and violence. dominance. Imagine a species
where the first conscious act of
o yg lifeiskilling.

Even so, I hesitate to imply any

sort of "Darwinian" connotation
to these struggles.

Killing may merely be a way

, for the newborn queen to
ri | yJ define its own reality.
C/
 Soon, the new queen would
lead a contingent of drones
away from the old hive.

The drones are the queen's slaves,

and there would be nothing more
important than the construction
of the new hive.

If natural building material were

unavailable, perhaps other—
elements—would be substituted.

One would not descri

cannibalism so much as a
remarkably ruthless practicality.

The nesting instinct is a powerful

one. Early on, all effort would be
concentrated on completing the hive.

The aliens would not think in terms of

sacrifice. The hive is all. To assume
death has meaning to these creatures
is to deny their greatest power.
 Fer EN

All ecosystems exist in a delicate

state of balance. This would be as
true of the alien homeworld as f
|
our own.

Some would live, some

would die, and the alien
herd would be kept in
check.

"] The bodies of the dead would be

used to reinforce the walls of the
hive. The cycle would continue.
The ecosystem would survive.
 The violent, uncontrollable alien
infestations occurred when the
creatures were removed from
their natural habitat.

We can only guess how this

might have happened. Perhaps
it was millions of years ago.
Perhaps only decades.

The end result is all

that matters.
Somehow the aliens
were transplanted
to other worlds.

ay)

The creatures would not be concerned with the

particulars of their environment. They would
concern themselves only with circumstances.
 We humans believe our technology
has made us invincible—that we've
4 evolved beyond the simple notion of
predator and prey.

NeseWie
\ beZ
=
A

Certainly there was no reason

for the settlers on Rim to
believe otherwise.

Man has never been comfortable mmen: mple

in space. Even with our ships and quarry—the aliens must have felt
atmosphere suits and weapons, utterly at home.
we are intruders.
Humans have confused comfort
with survival. For us, mere f
existence isn't enough. We demand }
the accoutrements of life as well

The aliens make no

=A) such demands. :
They live in a very
simple world.

They live to breed.

script
JOHN ARCUDI

pencils
TONY AKINS

layouts and inks

PAUL GUINAN

colors
RACHELLE MENASHE

lettering
WILLIE SCHUBERT

title illustration
DEN BEAUVAIS
 ANYTHING WE KNOW.
WE STILL FINV IT REMARKABLE \}—
THAT THE TERRA-FORMING IS
CONTROLLED FROM A
SINGLE VESSEL,

eZ}
>> Lo lm

=
NOW THAT 9 pl
AS ¥\
\<
\
-
OVE SATELLI
ELLITE
VPLINKS ARE FUNCTIONAL
+ Oe «4
eee
\ ED
Cor ==
Q | ' AGAIN, WE'VE ACKED LP ie \ =
ws J LRT AG; \s ~

a
ee a [ EE

yr

Ae” ' . ALL IN ALL,

AS OF THIS f Mn =] S18, I THINK 4OU
TRANSMISSION, TEMPERATE . > a J f| CAN UNDERSTAND WHY
ZONES HAVE COOLED? AN AVERASE p = WE'VE CONSIPERED SUCH
S L 3 AN EXTREME
OPTION.

PRESIDENT?
WE'RE ABOUT
Vp TO FOLK,
3 o\f.
 WELL, WE'VE
TARTED TO RE-ESTABLISH
INTELLIGENCE MEMO, Aa psp ple4 ON THE & "4 |ON,

Sere ¢ [
MBS
IS STILL VE WAS GOING TO LEAVE A
TOUGH. EARTH UNINHABITABLE

Oe a “Y)

uf : We
 ITN MINES,
CAPTAIN MCQUA --INZEED, HAZ THEY \ / FORTUNATE
1S DOING JUST EXPLOVED, THE RESULTANT POLTOR ORONA
FALLOUT FROM 7OCTOR ORONAS ‘MAZE NO SECRET OF
BOMBS WODL? HAVE WIPED AL HIS INTENTIONS,
LIFE FROM THE FACE BROACLASTING His
OF THE EARTH, MESSAGE EVEN
INTO VEEP
SPACE,

A & SS!
"WE BELIEVE THAT THE
‘PILOT’ OF THE TERRA-
FORMING Vere saw

"APPARENTLY, IT CIRCUMVENTED
ORONAS VETONATOR, AND, AS WE
LEARNED LATER, REMOVED ALL
THE WARHEADS OF THE FUSION
BOMBS IN THE STOCKPILE.”
oe

OR JUST INSURING THAT

ANOTHER LUNATIC WOULDN'T
THREATEN HIS NEW HOME,
WE DON'T KNOW.

SKEPTICISM, BUT
THE SEVERITY OF THE
SITUATION LEADS
ME TO ASK--

SUST WHERE
THE HELL ABE HOU VY
GETTING THIS
ps
INFORMATION?

40 THAT’
WHY IT'S CHANGING OUR
PLANET? TO’ MAKE ITSELF
ANEW HOME?
 =
‘

> IF THA ~ . MILLIONS OF THE

WERE 50, IT COULZ == INVIRECTLY, “\ ALIEN CREATURES
SH HAVE EASILY 2IR, HOU SEE, TO ORONA'S
“ALTHOUGH success —\ EXTERMINATE? oe 7/ IT DION'T KNOW = MOUNTAIN OF
THE GIRL ASCRIBES itt ae Arid THE ALIENS BOMBS.
phe ell a= a DESTROYING ITS
PBSURO S A NEW "HOME"
‘IN A MENTAL
QL INSTITUTION.

ee
sl< 2,

A "ONLY A FEW--THE “THE FALLOVT WAS

OLVER FISSION BOMBS MINIMAL, BUT THE
THAT THE ILOT' LEFT BLAST PIP KILL
Ja] UNTOUCHED, THE ALIENS.”

LY7 Ah U

372
 WE'VE
DETERMINE? HATES
UAT THE "PILOT"
ALIEN
AN? FEARS ASTHEMUCH AS
CREATURES
WE 0. PERHAPS
MORE 50,

dee
* _4% a ‘
p.
\agitne
=
O,
--BUFFAL

THRIBTYSITESES.VEN
) S175

Mm —
ANZOTHE
= > CURRENT 2 Pipl <
} ACTIVE HIVES IN ZS

Seer
owe S
- el <
fi
2FK5)
 THEN
THERE REALLY IS
ANT THIS NO OTHER WAY, IS
APPARENTLY, THERE?
"PILOT," HE'S BEEN 1%. HE CONTACTED
MONITORING THESE US WITH THE MESSAGE
BROADLASTS? WE RELAYEV TO
4OU. HIS
INSTRUCTIONS
WERE QUITE
CLEAA,

40 4OU WON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
a COMRROM|FING==
 1
“WHETHER SCATTEREZ
THROUGHOUT THE VOI7
OF SPACE, OF FIGHTING
FOR 4OUR HOMES ON
EARTH, WE ARE ALL
STILL AMERICANS,

-
MY FELLOW \

aS, 1A ga fl

= th

gee ie “5, an

Be] -rigstey, 1 want 4ou [ye os

ALL TO KNOW THAT I Body
UNDERSTAND THE if /
[a oneat sacririces nA y
Be] “00 Have ENDURED. | G Y

ieee 2 | “UT FOR ALL THE

4 vesraia AND DEFEAT
ie ] RAINE? LPON LS, We
4 Have ACHIEVED THE
Y\ GREATEST TRIUMPH.
Sa “AFTER MANY HOURS OF DEBATE, “THESE ARE NOT STEPS
ANZ LONG SESSIONS WITH MY TOWARDS WAG, BUT
3 ADVISORS, I HAVE DECIDED TO TOWARDS PEACE.”
TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS
TOWARDS REALIZING THE FRUITS
SOF THAT TRIUMPH.”

|
\ \\ }

"IN LESS THAN ONE F

HOLA, I WILL ENTER
INTO FACE-TO-FACE
NEGOTIATIONS FOR
THE BE-POPULATION
4 OF THE EARTH,"
 URELY, THIS IS A
BRILLIANT CREATURE,

THE CLIMATES OF THE

ENTIRE EARTH

Hh.

PRESIDENTS A ay Shhee
“¢ >
THOUGHTS, WET Z|
eee. VW ae g Salive: pus
aN ‘esis
1A
 \\A

4 LAYER OF SKIN HAS BEEN

QUICK-BURNED TO KILL ALL RESIDUAL
BACTERIA ON OUR BOVIES WHICH
MIGHT BE HARMFUL TO--HIM.

I KNOW HES
ONLY RELAYING THE
BEING’S THOUGHTS, BUT
HE ener ee IN

7 PERHAPS WE
WERE WRONG. MAYBE
THIS "PILOT" CAV

2 NOT A CHANCE.
IF THAT THING COLL
( REA MINDS, IT WOUL?
~_ALL BY NOW,
 4 WELL, HE
CERTAINLY IS
OBSESSED WITH
THE ALIEN CREATURES,
AN? 40 FAR, HE

CONSIPERING g
THE OBVIOIVS INTENSITY OF
TRANSMISS!

Li
ANT HIS SHIP,
é ZS | cae
ZS ——
(i275

a =
—_

+o =
LJ
= == —_—_—_
/

aN.

&
WR
\N =
3
SS pe eerhay) dq
‘ oe et
. + 4
NS A q
AW AY
Y _—
SN \)
<a,

<a i

a we
a Wo
To Ss WS
 Le
GRAM OF LIQUIP,

= SHNTHETIC TOOTH DOES

aN NOT AFFORD A VERY LARGE
‘ CHAMBER FOR CONCEALMENT.
 \ ———e
BAer *
ARP LO \

WW peer

HAV!
INTERRUPTED.

—<— = — Bee scceirice. Bom

BZ < /
BEE. Garay
= rem a es)
lll ||| \ ama At A VERE I
EER
Mt ei
exe era

Aye, fae
< we: © ad
AT
ae SO
~
fo Soom
"END OF TRANSMISSION,”
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