must have damaged the landing controls on the EEV because you smacked into the bay pretty hard. We hauled it back here. I haven’t been inside myself, but if the exterior’s any indication of the kind of internal damage she suffered, you’re damn lucky to be alive, much less more or less in one piece.?

She swallowed. ?What about the others??

?Yeah, I was kind of wondering about that myself. Where’s the rest of the crew? did they get off on other EEVs??

?There is no ‘rest of the crew,’ ?she informed him tersely. ?It’s a long story, one I don’t feel much like telling right now. I mean what about those who were in the EEV with me? How many were there??

?Two. Three if you count the android.?He paused. ?I’m afraid they didn’t make it.?

?What??It wasn’t sinking in.

?They didn’t survive.?

She considered for a long moment, then shook her head brusquely. ?I want to go to the ship. I have to see for myself.?She started to sit up and he put a restraining hand on her shoulder.

?Hey, hang on. As your doctor, I have to tell you that you’re in no condition for that.?

?You’re not a doctor, remember??She slipped out of the other side of the bed and stood waiting expectantly, quite naked. ?You want to get me some clothes, or should I go like this?

Clemens took his time deciding, not entirely displeased by the opportunity to view her vertically. ?Given the nature of our indigenous population, I would strongly suggest clothes.? Rising, he opened a locker on the far side of the infirmary and began sorting through the contents. 33

33

?Keep in mind as you gambol through our little wonderland that the prison population here is strictly male and none of them have seen a woman in years. Neither have I, for that matter.?

She waited, hand on hip, giving him the calculating eye. ?Yeah, but I don’t have to worry about you, because you’re a not-doctor, remember??

He grinned in spite of himself. 34

Clemens noted how her eyes darted to and fro as he led her through the corridors and along the walkways. Like those of a nervous child… or sophisticated predator. She missed nothing. The slightest sound drew her instant attention. Their feet made little noise on the worn metal. The garb he’d scavenged for her was a little small, but she didn’t seem to mind.

?I’ve no idea how long you were in deep sleep, but coming out of it the way you did can be a helluva jolt to the system. Just so you don’t panic if I look at you crossways, you should know that I’m still monitoring you for possible delayed side effects. So let’s steady on as we go, Ripley.?

She looked at him sharply. ?How do you know my name??