Robin
Posts: 1431 Joined: Sep. 2009
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Quote (Schroedinger's Dog @ Nov. 09 2011,03:32) | Robin: I think the exit path may be a way to ensure the host dies. Many theories have been brought forth that the Xenomorphs are biological weapons. They don't kill to feed (apparently, they feed on metal, which provides material for their shells and acid blood). In this regard, it makes sense that they are "programmed" to cause maximum damage at every stage of their life cycle, which is as such (from memory of my Aliens RPG years):
Acheronis Larva: Face-Hugger Acheronis Nympha: Chest-Burster Acheronis Pungent: Soldier Alien Acheronis Regina: Queen Alien.
Of note, Acheronis Pungent can also lay eggs if no Regina is around, as demonstrated in a cut scene of the first movie where Ripley comes upon an infected Dallas.
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Yep, quite so. This is going to be revealed in Ridley Scott's new movie Prometheus coming out next year. Basically the rumors (and assumptions from the first movie) are that one of the Space Jockey races (the Space Jockey was the fossil Kane, Lambert, and Dallas found in the derelict ship in the first movie) designed and created the Acherons as weapons for a war with another race of Space Jockeys. Well, during transport of some of the weapons, several of the Acherons got out and impregnated the pilot of the transport. In order to avoid infecting his own race, he set his ship on a course out of his own solar system and it ultimately crashed on LV-426.
As an aside on the lifecycle bit, O'bannon originally envisioned a a single organism lifecycle. By that he meant that eggs held larva that could infect a host (must have a mass of at least a large dog), that would then give birth to an embryo (chestburster), that would rapidly grow into an adult that would focus on collecting "larder" organisms to create more eggs. Adults are "programmed" to destroy all potential competitors/predators in the immediate area (including in many cases other acherons) and secure a nursery for eggs. Adults do not eat or sleep; they gain energy from ambient electro-magnetic radiation which they convert to chemo-electricity. All in all, a very self-sufficient organism.
Personally I find THAT concept a heck of lot more terrifying than an alien ant colony.
-------------- we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed. Bilbo
The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis
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