Alien

'It's a good thing Dallas didn't cut too deeply with that knife or I think it would have sprayed the entire infirmary.'

Ripley looked properly impressed.

'The silicate layer demonstrates a unique, very dense molecular structure under the scope. It might even be capable of resisting the laser. I know, I know,' he said in response to her look of disbelief, 'that sounds crazy. But this is the toughest chunk of organic material I've ever seen. The combination of the way those cells are aligned with what they're composed of adds up to something that defies all the rules of standard biology.

'Those silicated cells, for example. They're metal-bonded. The result is what gives the creature such resistance to adverse environmental conditions.'

'Anything new besides the silicates and the double dermis?'

'Well, I still have no idea what it breathes, or even if it breathes the way we think of standard respiration. It does seem to be altering the atmosphere around it, perhaps absorbing whatever gases it requires through numerous surface pores. There's certainly nothing resembling a nostril. As a living chemical factory it surpasses in efficiency anything I've ever heard of. Some of its internal organs don't seem to function at all, while others are doing things I can't begin to guess at.

'It's possible the visually quiescent organs have defensive functions. We'll find out if we ever have to provoke it further.' He cocked an expectant eye at her. 'That enough for you?'

'Plenty.' Kane shouldn't have been brought back on board, she mused. They should have left him and the creature outside. Ash was the one responsible for them being here.

She studied the science officer unobtrusively, watching him work his instruments, store pleasing results, and discard those he had no use for. Ash was the last member of the crew she'd have suspected of being capable of a dramatic gesture, yet he was the one who'd made the sudden decision to let the explorers back aboard, going against all accepted procedure.

She had to correct herself. In addition to Ash, Dallas and Lambert had also gone against procedure in demanding admittance. And Kane's life had been at stake. Suppose Ash had obeyed her directive and left the three outside? Would Kane still be alive? Or would he now be just a statistic in the log? That would have simplified one thing, though: She wouldn't have to face Kane when he recovered and have to explain why she'd tried to refuse him and the others admittance.

Ash noticed her expression, looked concerned. 'Something the matter?'

'No.' She sat up straighter. 'Sum it all up for me. Pretend I'm as dumb as I sometimes feel. What's it all mean? Where do we stand with it?'

'Interesting combination of elements and structure make it practically invulnerable given our present situation and resources.'

She nodded. 'That's exactly how I read it, if your results are accurate.' He looked pained. 'Sorry. Okay, so it's invulnerable.' She was watching him closely. 'Is that why you went ahead and let it in?'

As always, the science officer refused to be baited. He showed nothing in the way of resentment when he replied. 'I was following a direct order from the captain. Remember?'

She forced herself to keep from raising her voice, knowing that Ash respected only reason. 'When Dallas and Kane are off the ship, I'm senior officer. I'm acting commander until one or the other actually sets foot back inside.'

'Yes, of course. I forgot, that's all. The emotions of the moment.'

'Like hell.' His attention remained fixed to various readouts. 'Emotions never made you forget anything.'

That made him turn to her. 'You think you know all about me. All of you. You're so sure you know exactly what kind of person I am. Let me tell you something, Ripley. When I opened the inner hatch I was aware of what I was doing, yes. But that business about who is in charge when, well, I'm capable of forgetfulness just like anyone else. My memory's very good, but it's subject to failure like anyone's. Even a mechanical memory like Mother's can lose track of information.'

Failure, sure, she thought. Selective failure. Still, the science officer could be telling the truth. She'd better watch out how many of her shipmates she insulted. Parker and Brett already felt something less than love for her, and now she was on the verge of making an enemy of Ash.

But she couldn't still the suspicions. She almost wished Ash would get mad at her.

'You also managed to forget the science division's own basic quarantine law, something that's drilled into every ship's officer early in flight school.'

'No.' At last, she thought. A statement she could believe. 'That I didn't forget.'

'I see. You didn't forget.' She paused for emphasis. 'You just went ahead and broke it.'

'You think I did it lightly. That I didn't consider the possible consequences of my action.'

'No, Ash. I'd never think that.' Again, he didn't react to provocation.

'I didn't like having to do it, but I saw myself as having no choice,' he explained softly. 'What would you have done with Kane? His only chance to stay alive seemed to rest with getting him into the infirmary, where the autodoc could work on him as soon as possible. His condition has been stabilized. I'm inclined to give credit for that to the machine and its rapid treatment, the early application of antisepsis and intravenous feeding.'

'You're contradicting yourself, Ash. A minute ago you said it was the creature who was keeping him alive, not the autodoc.'

'The creature does seem to be making a contribution, but it's doing so in Kane's atmosphere and environment. We've no way of knowing what it might have done if left alone with him outside. Here we can keep a close watch on his system and be ready to compensate if the creature shows signs of acting inimically toward him. We couldn't do that if he were still outside.' He paused long enough to throw a switch, check a reading. 'Besides, it was a direct order.'

'Meaning you'll listen to Dallas over me no matter what the situation?'

'Meaning the captain's the captain, and the fact that he was one metre outside the corridor instead of inside isn't reason enough for me to start ignoring his decisions.'

She looked away, furious with him and with herself. 'By breaking quarantine procedure you risk everybody's life, not just Kane's.'

Ash moved smoothly to punch out a request on the computer board, stared solemnly at the information provided. He spoke without facing the insistent Ripley.

'You think it was an easy decision for me to make? I'm aware of the rules regarding quarantine and alien life forms, probably more so than you. I had to balance them against a man's life.

'Maybe I should have let him die out there. Maybe I have jeopardized the rest of us. But I know one thing: Rule makers always draw up their precious rules and regulations in safety and comfort, not out in the field, where those same absolutes are supposed to be applied. At those times we have to rely on our own minds and feelings. That's what I did.

'So far the creature hasn't made a threatening gesture toward any of the rest of us. It may do so later on, in which case it will be facing an alarmed and ready group of six instead of an unprepared single man stumbling through the dark hold of an unfamiliar vessel. I'll balance that risk against Kane's life.' His fingers danced over the console.

'I don't dispute your personal feelings.' Ripley shifted her weight to her left, rose. 'I'm simply saying you have no right or authority to impose them on the rest of us. Maybe we don't feel like taking the same risk.'

'It doesn't matter now. Kane's aboard. . and alive. Events will proceed from that reality, not from past alternatives. It's a waste of time discussing them.'

'This is your official position, then, as a science officer? Not exactly right out of the manual.'

'You are being repetitive, Ripley. Why? To provoke me? I have already voluntarily entered my actions in the official log, and will subject myself to whatever decision the Company may make in the matter. Yes, it's my official position. Remember that the prime consideration of science is the protection and betterment of human life. I would never contravene that'

'No, but your idea of what betters human life might differ from someone else's.'

For some reason that caused him to turn and stare sharply at her, when her other, more direct probes had produced no response. 'I take my responsibility as science officer as seriously as you do that of warrant officer. That should be sufficient for you. I'm tired of this. If you have a specific accusation to make, lodge it with Dallas. If not,?and he turned back to his precious instrumentation, 'you do your job and I'll do mine.'