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eard hissing and an angry roar。 Rolling onto his side； Sebastian watched two demons out of hell squaring off for a duel。
CHAPTER 24
In the Labyrinth
The tittering obscenity and the reptilian humanoid slammed together with a shuddering impact that sent both creatures reeling。 Howls and thrashes acpanied their charge。
The Predator lashed out； striking a backhanded blow against the Alien's gnashing jaw。 The Alien staggered。 Then； in a scorpionlike motion； the black monster attacked with a flash of its spiked tail。 Springing back； the Predator used its wrist blades to counter the strike…and in a quick twist； it severed the Alien's tail。
Yowling； the Alien whirled； spraying deadly venom from its bloody stump。 Whatever the steaming droplets touched burned； sizzled and pitted。
The Predator pulled back its arm to thrust again but discovered that its wrist blades had been reduced to smoldering； molten stubs by the Alien's acidic blood。 Snarling； the Predator leaped at the Alien and brought it down。
As they grappled； sparks…struck from solid stone or from the Predator's shredded armor…created distorted shadows that writhed on the walls； floor and ceiling。
〃We have to move！〃 Lex cried； tugging Sebastian's coat。
He nodded and stumbled to his knees； grabbing a flashlight that had rolled to his side。 Sebastian looked up to see Lex haul Weyland to his feet。 The man sobbed and held his useless hands palms up； their fingers encased in congealing black blood。
Sebastian grabbed Weyland's arm； and together they carried him toward the far end of the corridor； into the darkness。 Behind them； the two unearthly creatures grappled on the stained flagstones as the savage battle raged on。
Bodies intertwined as one； the thrashing creatures rolled end over end； kicking and clawing； their wails of rage and pain echoing throughout the tunnel。 Gaining the upper hand； the Alien hovered over the humanoid； and its black maw opened。 A second set of jaws burst forth from the first…stopping mere inches from the Predator's battle…damaged face mask。
With an echoing roar； the Predator heaved the black； yammering creature aside and sprang to its feet。 Whirling to face the Alien； the warrior raised his wrist and aimed the net gun…
The Alien； its gangly black arms flung wide； launched itself into the air in a powerful bounding leap…
And the Predator fired…
A metal net enveloped the creature in midleap； forcing the kicking； mewing Alien to the floor。 The Alien's exoskeleton clattered on the flagstones as the net pulled tight； crushing it。
The Predator； unsteady and bleeding from its wounds； grunted with satisfaction as the mesh closed on its enemy； piercing through the Alien's chitinous hide。
Blood and gore spurt from a hundred places； spraying the flagstones and the walls and burning holes wherever it splashed。 Unfortunately for the Predator； the acid also burned the net； and in a few brief seconds the mesh melted enough for the Alien to break free。
Spitting angrily； the Alien clambered to its feet and faced the battered Predator。 Its black； misshapen body smoked and sizzled where the razor net had cut it。 The Alien was determined not to be dominated。 Its segmented tail…stump flailed from side to side； beating the stone walls。
The humanoid was clearly overmatched； for the Alien was far more powerful and formidable than the Predator had thought possible。 Now there was little to do but face death with honor…and die fighting。
The Predator threw back its arms； extended its chest； and roared in the face of doom。
With a final spitting hiss； the Alien was on him； driving the humanoid to the ground and crushing him under its weight。 The Predator struggled against the onslaught； but there was no defense。 Clawed hands grasped the Predator's dreadlocks； holding its head fast。
Then the Alien's inner mouth punched through the broken faceplate to smash the Predator's flesh and bony skull beneath。 A fountain of gore erupted from the shattered head； spraying the walls and flagstones with clotting brain matter and a steaming green fluid that glowed with a sickly radiance。
On the Staircase
Abruptly； Lex and Sebastian…with Weyland draped limply between them…staggered out of the labyrinth and into a vast chamber lined with stout； rough…hewn stone pillars。 The room was a maze of pitch…black shadows； but a dim illumination radiated from an unseen source； though it was still difficult to penetrate the darkness for more than a few yards。
Lex was starting to think like the survivors she'd lived amongst…the Sherpas of the Himalayas and the subsistence hunters of Alaska。 She knew that anything could be hiding in this forest of carved stone cenotaphs。 For the first time in her life； she wished she had a weapon。
They found a wide stone staircase lined with ornate square pillars。 After climbing several steps； Lex and Sebastian slowed and released Weyland。 He leaned against the wall； avoiding their eyes。
〃What was that thing？〃 Sebastian croaked； rubbing his bruised throat。
〃I don't know； and I don't want to know。〃
Lex drew a pass from her utility belt and； with the sleeve of her coat； wiped the Day…Glo green blood from her face。 She read the pass； then glanced around the column…lined stairway。
〃What now？〃 Sebastian asked。
〃We keep moving and stay on this heading。〃
Weyland clutched his chest and moaned。 A cough wracked his frail body。 He dropped to his knees and began to hyperventilate。 Lex hurried to the man's side。
〃Take it easy；〃 she said； grabbing his shoulder。
Weyland's face began to turn blue。 His mouth gaped like a suffocating fish。
Without breaking eye contact； Lex took Weyland's head in her hands and held it。 It was clear that he had taken too much air into his lungs and that they were beginning to freeze。
〃You have to control your breathing；〃 she coaxed。 〃Take slow； steady breaths 。。。〃
She took shallow breaths herself； to teach Weyland by example； and soon his own breath became less forced； less labored。
〃Slow； steady 。。。 that's it；〃 Lex said as the tension drained from Weyland's face and he visibly relaxed。 Finally； Lex led Weyland to a step and sat him down。
〃I'm okay 。。。 I'm okay；〃 Weyland croaked； trying to wave her away and rise again。
Suddenly a looming shadow appeared at the bottom of the stairs。
〃e on； we have to get out of here；〃 Lex cried； hauling Weyland to his feet。 Hobbled； the billionaire tried to use an ice axe as a cane； but his arms were as tired as his legs…too exhausted to support him now。 Slowly； Weyland slumped against the wall； teetering on unsteady limbs。
〃No；〃 he gasped。 〃I can't。。。 it's hard enough to stand 。。。〃
Every word Weyland spoke seemed to sap more of his waning strength。 Lex could see that the strain of the chase and the constant exposure to the frigid air had ravaged what little remained of the man's disease…ridden lungs。
〃Weyland…〃
But the man cut her off。
〃Save it；〃 he said with some of his old authority。 〃This is all my fault。〃
His intentions were clear。 Weyland was going to sacrifice himself in order to give her and Sebastian more of a head start。
〃I'm not letting you die down here；〃 said Lex。
Weyland grin