Alien- How the Turn Tables

  Hoop fired a burst of hydrofluoric acid directly at the head.

  Smoke, steam, sizzling, hissing, screeching. Everything was obscured by clouds of vapor, but Ripley had the definite impression of frantic, thrashing movement.

  “Back,” she said. “Hoop, get back!” They all retreated across the gallery, and Ripley felt the waist-high barrier against her back. She edged along it toward the far end. The others were going in the same direction, and Hoop turned and ran toward her.

  Behind him, something exploded.

  He’ll be splashed with it, the acid, and I’ll have to watch him die, Ripley thought. But though Hoop winced and ducked down as he ran, the spattering remains of the alien’s head splayed across the gallery in the other direction. Part of it bounced across the floor, leaving sizzling patches behind, and dropped down into the pit. What struck the surface floated there for a moment, then sank with a final angry hiss.

  Hoop reached them, grinning.

  “Well, at least we know they don’t like this acid,” he said.

Out of the Shadows, Chapter 13