XIII

           ’Arobot..agoddamnrobot!’Parkermuttered.Thetrackerhunglimpandunbloodiedinonehand.

           Apparentlytherewereaudiosensorslocatedinthetorsoaswellastheskull,becausethepowerfulformturnedimmediatelyatthesoundofParker’svoiceandbegantoadvanceonhim.Raisingthetracker,theengineerbangeditdownonAsh’sshoulder,thenagain,andagain..tonoeffect.Gropingarmsswungclose,embracedParkerinahugthatwasanythingbutaffectionate.Thehandsclimbedupward,lockedaroundhisneck,andcontractedwithinhumanstrength.

           Ripleyhadrecovered,nowsearchedfranticallyuntilshespottedoneoftheoldshocktubesthey’dfirstplannedtodrivethealienwith.Shesnatcheditup,notingthatitstillcarriedafullcharge.

           LambertwaspullingatAsh’slegs,tryingtoupendtherampagingmachine.Nakedwiringandcontactsshowedfromtheopenneck.Ripleydugatthem.Parker’seyeswereglazingover,andfaintwheezingsoundswerecomingfromhisconstrictedthroat.

           Findingaknotthickwithcircuitry,Ripleyjabbedtheprodinwardanddepressedthetrigger.Ash’sgripontheengineerappearedtoweakenslightly.Shewithdrewtheprod,aligneditdifferently,andstabbeddownwardasecondtime.

           Bluesparksflewfromthestump.Shejabbedagain,cryinginside,holdingthetriggerdown.Therewasabrightflashandthesmellofburntinsulation.

           Ashcollapsed.Chestrisingandfallingashestruggledtoregainhiswind,Parkerrolledover,coughedacoupleoftimes,spatphlegmontothedeck.