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When both arms were free； the Queen used her claws to shred the semi…molten machine that had enslaved her for so long。 Freeing her gangly legs； she still struggled against the great clamp that imprisoned her tail and reproductive organs。
Tension rippled her massive form； jaws locked and teeth clenched as the Queen ripped her trembling tail free。 Then； with a snap of cartilage and a flood of bubbling； caustic slime； the Hive Queen tore her own birth canal from her body。
Free at last； the Queen leaped from the shattered platform。 Chains dangled from her limbs； clattering as she moved。
Quivering with both rage and triumph； she threw up her ravaged arms and let loose a shriek that vowed vengeance and retaliatory pain。 。。。
In the Sacrificial Chamber
The Alien Queen's bloodcurdling scream echoed through the pyramid。
〃What was that？〃 Lex cried。
She turned to Scar and witnessed a first…a frightened Predator。
〃It's that bad？〃
Scar touched her arm； echoing her recorded words once more like a mantra。 〃Keep it together。 。。。 Make it to the surface。〃
But Lex shook her head。 〃We can't let these things get out of here。〃
Acting as if he understood her words； Scar removed a plicated and bulky device from his wrist。 On its crystalline face； Alien characters glowed。 Scar tapped several keys； and a cluster of symbols appeared。 He thrust the device under Lex's nose and tilted his head…his 〃Get it？〃 pose。
〃I don't understand。〃
The Predator pointed to the wrist puter。 Then he held out a tight fist and turned it upside down。 Watching Lex； the Predator slowly unfurled his fist。
〃An explosion。 That thing is a bomb？〃
Then she recalled the mural in the hieroglyphics chamber； which depicted a Predator with its arms raised； then a mushroom cloud。
〃It is a bomb！〃 Lex cried。 Like the one that went off on this island in 1979。
Lex took the device from Scar's hand。 It was heavy； and she could feel it vibrate as mechanisms turned within。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I hope it kills every fucking one of them。〃
Lex tossed the bomb through the stone grate； where it plunged deeper into the heart of the pyramid。
〃Keep it together。 Make it to the surface；〃 Scar's puter…generated voice repeated。
They started to run。
The path to the entrance appeared to be clear； and Lex could see a dull glow in the distance…halogen lights still burning in the grotto outside the pyramid。 But as they reached a wide staircase lined with square columns； another Predator stumbled out of the darkness and lunged at Lex。
Recoiling； she beat the creature with her fist； then kicked out with her booted foot。
Amazingly； the Predator staggered backwards under her weak assault。 Lex noticed that the creature seemed injured…its face mask was gone； and its mandibles writhed convulsively。 The fanged mouth was flecked with green foam。
Reeling； the stricken Predator stumbled back。 Then its knees gave out and it folded to the floor。 Head thrown back and twisting from side to side； slime spraying on the statues； walls； and flagstone floor； the Predator howled…and Lex saw its chest cavity begin to bulge。
The helpless creature gagged as the skin stretched around its heart； then blossomed into a phosphorescent burst of green； gushing gore。 Lex stumbled into a column and fell to the ground； watching in horrified fascination as the head of a newborn Alien poked out swathed in pus and ooze； its jaws snapping air； desperate to be free of the Predator's dying flesh。
Only then did Scar step forward and activate the plasma gun on his shoulder。 For a split second Lex saw three scarlet dots illuminate the chattering jaws of the nascent obscenity； then Scar fired。
The searing plasma struck the fallen Predator； incinerating its carcass； along with the squirming horror that twitched inside of its gaping chest。 Red fire and black smoke filled the chamber； and the awful； permeating stench of burned flesh choked Lex。 Turning her back to the conflagration； she watched the flickering shadows play on the walls as both Aliens were pletely consumed。
CHAPTER 29
In the labyrinth； hundreds of Aliens raced through the darkness； flowing over walls and rippling along the ground； hissing and tittering； aware that their prey was close…close enough to hear； to smell； and soon to taste。
Behind the ocean of black； blood…mad monsters loomed a massive shape that dwarfed the others… something huge and monstrous and very； very angry。 The Alien Queen。
Standing over the smoldering corpse of his fellow Predator； Scar heard the Alien swarm。 He paused in midstride to listen； head cocked in an almost human gesture。
After a moment； Lex heard them too。 Though she could not see her pursuers； it was obvious that the monsters were gaining on them。
Scar took off； heading for the exit。 Lex was on his heels。 They emerged from the pyramid in a dead run and took the stairs two at a time。 Through a red mist of exhaustion； Lex spied the bright white lights of the underground camp in the distance。 It seemed to be deserted。
Sucking in frigid air； she risked a glance over her shoulder； there was still no sign of the horde that had been chasing them。
In the Ice Grotto
When they finally reached the grotto； they found the expedition's equipment broken and scattered； as if by mad vandals。
It was then that Lex discovered the frozen corpse of the roughneck Quinn at the foot of the ice tunnel。 By the look of him； he'd fought hard for his life。 While Scar stood guard； Lex quickly searched the camp for others； but everyone was either gone or dead。
At the mouth of the shaft that led to the surface； the roughnecks had set up a winch…and…pulley system to lower supplies underground and haul samples back up。 For Lex and the Predator； the device was the only way out of this hell。 Looking around； Lex spied a large wooden packing crate。 She tore the lid off。 Except for a loaded piton gun； there was nothing inside。 Lex threw the lid aside and hooked the crate to the pulley cable。
Next she checked the control panel for the winch and discovered that the machine was calibrated with a counterweight of four tons…meaning that a sled with four tons of weight would be hauled up the tunnel at five miles per hour when the switch was thrown。 Lex doubted that she and Scar together weighed even half a ton； so with that amount of counterweight their trip to the surface would be quick。
She got Scar's attention and pointed to the sled。
〃Get in！〃
But as Scar turned to climb aboard； the alpha…Alien lunged at him from the shadows。 The severed stump of its tail lashed out and slashed Scar's shoulder。 The wound exploded in a shower of glowing green gore。
Lex grabbed the piton gun and turned…just as a second； smaller Alien loomed over her。 Startled； she fell backwards； into the empty crate。 As the Alien reached for her； Lex rolled over on her back and thrust the muzzle of the piton gun between the creature's snapping jaws。
〃Consider yourself exterminated；〃 she cried as she pulled the trigger。
The back of the Alien's head blew away and the creature fell limply to the ice。 A few drops of Alien blood sizzled and burned the walls of the wooden crate。
Lex peek