Чужой
I
OneportionoftheNostromo’sbrainwasparticularlyadeptatdistillingsenseoutofanomalies.Ithadthoroughlychewedthisoneup,foundtheflavorpuzzling,examinedtheresultsofanalysis,andreachedadecision.Slumberinginstrumentalitieswereactivated,dormantcircuitsagainregulatedtheflowofelectrons.Incelebrationofthisdecision,banksofbrilliantlightswinkedon,lifesignsofstirringmechanicalbreath.
Adistinctivebeepingsounded,thoughasyettherewereonlyartificialtympanumspresenttohearandacknowledge.ItwasasoundnotheardontheNostromoforsometime,anditsignifiedaninfrequenthappening.
Withinthisawakeningbottleofclicksandflashes,ofdevicesconversingwitheachother,layaspecialroom.Withinthisroomofwhitemetallaysevencocoonsofsnow-colouredmetalandplastic.
Anewnoisefilledthischamber,anexplosiveexhalationthatfilleditwithfreshlyscrubbed,breathableatmosphere.Mankindhadwillinglyplacedhimselfinthisposition,trustinginlittletingodsliketheNostromotoprovidehimwiththebreathoflifewhenhecouldnotdosoforhimself.
Extensionsofthathalf-sentientelectronicbeingnowtestedthenewlyexudedairandpronounceditsatisfactoryforsustaininglifeinpunyorganicssuchasmen.Additionallightsflared,morelinkagesclosed.Withoutfanfare,thelidsonthesevenchrysalisesopened,andthecaterpillarshapeswithinbegantoemergeoncemoreintothelight.
