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ravaged hide。
Taking its cue from the alpha…Alien； the smaller creature facing Lex also charged； jaws snapping； teeth gnashing。 The monster leaped in a high arc； intending to e down with its full weight on the frail human。
But that maneuver proved to be the Alien's undoing。 With calculated calm； Lex stepped back and propped the Predator spear against the hard stone floor。 When the Alien pleted its jump； it landed on the tip of the sharp spear； impaling itself。
With a dying shriek that shook dust off the walls； the Alien thrashed and bucked on the end of the shaft。 Lex struggled to hold the spear steady； keeping the monster twisting on it at bay。 Acid blood splashed the walls and coursed down the shaft； melting the metal。 Still the screaming horror dangling on her spear refused to die。 Risking chemical burns that would easily dissolve the flesh of her hands to the bone； Lex tilted the spear upward so that the Alien's own struggles； its own weight would drive the spear deeper into its black body。
Meanwhile； Scar and the alpha…Alien were still locked in deadly bat。 The Predator had rolled out from under its foe and had recovered its disk。 Again and again； the Predator drove the long； gleaming blades into the monster's thick hide。 The Alien yowled and raked the Predator； even as great rivulets of burning acid flowed from multiple wounds； pitting Scar's shattered armor and scorching his pale gray flesh。
Lex risked a quick glance at the Predator before Alien jaws snapped at her face。 The monstrosity she'd impaled refused to die； and as it slid lower on the shaft； it tried to bite her。 Lex shook the spear； spraying sizzling drops of acid all over the walls and floor。 The Alien screamed again； and so did Lex as the first drop of acid touched the end of her glove。
Recoiling； Lex released the spear and the Alien with it。 Both struck the wall； where the monster twitched once； then stilled。 Lex gave the Alien a swift kick to the head； then a second…and for good measure a third； just to make sure it was dead。 The Alien's jaws gaped open； flecked with foam。 Its internal mouth hung limply in its skull。 Blood no longer flowed from its wounds。
〃The bastard's dead。〃
Now Lex knew that these things were mortal。 She had actually killed one…and it felt good。
Suddenly； the floor trembled under her boots as the pyramid shifted again。 For a moment； nothing else happened。 Then the 〃dead end〃 wall rumbled as it slid up to the ceiling； to reveal another chamber beyond。
Lex saw movement and threw herself against the wall。 Still grappling； Scar and the Alien rolled past her。
Pinning the Alien to the ground； Scar raised the disk for a decapitating blow。 But before the blades reached its throat； the monster slithered out of Scar's grasp； and the blades splintered on the stone floor。 Grabbing one of the long； cylindrical horns that projected out of the Alien's spine； the Predator climbed onto its back and slashed at its gleaming skull with the broken knives。
The Alien tried to dislodge him； and both tumbled end over end； through the door into the new chamber。
Lex could see that there was more light in the next room； but she hesitated。 If she went the other way； she could slip away from the Predator and maybe get out of there alive。
Then Lex laughed。
Fat chance of that。 If Scar didn't get her； the Aliens would。
But there was more reason to stay。 Perhaps it was her curiosity； or perhaps it was something more primal…a kind of base admiration…but Lex had just watched the most dedicated hunter in the universe take on nature's most perfect killing machine。
A part of her simply wanted to see who won。
Limping； she approached the door。 All along the floor there were patches of sickly green blood and smoldering holes in the stone where the Alien had shed what passed for blood。 Lex followed the grisly trail to the doorway。
In the dim light； she saw a long corridor lined with columns。 The walls and pillars were elaborately etched with plex hieroglyphics。 The battle still raged； with the batants wrestling in the center of the passageway。 It appeared as if the Predator was weakening…and this time Lex sensed it was not a feint。 Though he still wielded the shattered throwing disk； his blows were less powerful； and none were mortal。 It was only a matter of time before Scar would be dead and Lex would be alone with the thing that had killed him。
But Lex was in for a surprise。
With a howl of defiance； the Predator hurled the Alien aside in a final show of strength。 The Alien slammed against a set of pillars and dislodged several huge stones from the ceiling。 They came down in a cloud of dust and debris。
Scar staggered back to avoid being crushed…and blundered into Lex。
They shared a startled look； and before Scar raised the disk in his hand； they heard the angry hiss。
Together they turned to see more Aliens…four of them…scrabbling across the floor and along the ceiling。 One； who was tossing masonry stones aside； lowered its head and seethed at them。 Lex realized the purpose of the troops were to free the alpha…Alien； who had bee trapped by the avalanche of debris。
Meanwhile the Predator attached the plasma gun Lex had brought him to its shoulder mount。 With a flurry of energy that blinded Lex； Scar drove the Aliens back with blast after blast from that powerful weapon。
When they were fully out of sight； the Predator lowered the smoking disk and dropped it onto the floor。 Then he deactivated the weapon on his shoulder and looked at Lex； who stood hypnotized by the sight of the retreating Aliens flowing over rock and along the walls and ceiling。
Without a sound； the Predator turned its back on Lex and stalked away。
〃Hey！ Hey！〃 Lex yelled。 〃I'm ing with you。〃
She ran up to the creature and grabbed his arm。 The Predator turned sharply； nearly knocking her off her feet。
〃You hear me； you ugly son of a bitch；〃 Lex cried。 〃I'm ing with you。〃
The Predator stared at Lex。
For a long moment； nothing happened。 Then Lex simply opened her hands。 The Predator stared at the human； arms outstretched。 Then； with a grunt； Scar reached into its armor； drew out a knife and placed it into her hand。
CHAPTER 27
In the Labyrinth
No sooner had Scar handed Lex the weapon than the Alien horde swarmed out of the dark in a second attack。 Hissing angrily； scrabbling over broken masonry； and running along the walls and ceiling like giant insects； they advanced on Lex and Scar。
Lex backed out of the chamber； into the passageway where she'd killed her first Alien。 Its carcass was still there； the melted spear sticking out of its guts。
Lex looked up at the Predator。 〃A short partnership； but a sweet one。〃
If Scar heard her； he did not respond。 Instead the Predator's long…fingered hands traced the elaborate hieroglyphs running along the side of the doorway。
Lex watched as he tapped several symbols in quick succession； obviously entering a sophisticated code。 Each character Scar touched began to glow with an inner light； just like the buttons on an elevator or the features on the star map in the sarcophagus chamber。
Lex glanced up from the ancient keypad to see the Aliens hurling toward them