3.1
The Embryo in the Chest Cavity
>> Click on any image in the following essay to open supplemental material. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... The Embryo in the Chest Cavity
There are no outwardly apparent symptoms or indications of infection on the part of the host organism, aside from an increased regenerative rate and bolstered immune system. However these indications are easily overlooked and not usually attributed to I. raptus implantation. The growth and development occur as part of the body, but without any apparent detriment or perceivable significance. Initially it was believed that following the attack of a Facehugger hosts with a lower body mass may feel varying degrees of hunger after regaining consciousness. This was thought to be directly correlated to the embryo and its leeching nutrients from the host for its own development - very much like a tapeworm. However, given the current understanding regarding modifications to a host organism's DNA this is seen as highly unlikely. It has since been suggested that the increased appetite experienced by Executive Office Kane, of the USCSS Nostromo, was due to his prolonged time of exposure to the Xenomorph, and the lack of ingested food during that time. Such behavior has not been recorded in any infected individuals during other incidents of Alien activity since the Nostromo incident. Following the incident on Fiorina 161 it was believed that the embryo may have used its host's digestive system as a means of "marking" the host so that adult members of I. raptus may identify it. It was speculated that the embryo would introduce a pheromone into the host's digestive system, where it would then be metabolized and excreted through sweat, urine, and presumably even feces. However, after the research regarding the Alien's use of the DNA Reflex, initiated by Colonel Jason C. Abbot, it has been realized that a much more likely means of "marking" the impregnated host would be done as a direct result of the host's modified DNA. Thus, instead of the Alien embryo being responsible for introducing the pheromone into the host organism's system, the host itself is responsible for the creation and excretion of the identifying "mark." Such a means of marking an impregnated host would aid in the identification of hosts cocooned in a hive (even if only to act as a deterrent so as to avoid having a host becoming a food source for adult members of the brood), and ensures the life of a mobile host against attack by adult members - such as the behavior displayed by the adult Xenomorph towards Lieutenant Ripley on Fiorina 161. (see Identification/Recognition in the Communication essay for further details). >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Life Span in the Chest Cavity
The Queen embryo, however, appears to consistently follow a stable timeline of 24 hours from the time the Facehugger has "fallen" to the time the embryo emerges from the host (approximately 28 to 30 hours following initial contact with a Facehugger). It is widely accepted that the reason for this is that the Queen has a more complex biological structure than the average adult. As a result the developmental timeline is considerably longer. It has not been proven that killing a host will terminate the life of the embryo inside - a leading point in this argument is the fact that the Alien found on Fiorina 161 was reportedly born of an ox that had died only a few hours earlier. It is generally accepted that due to the embryo's integration into the host's anatomical structure that death would follow shortly after the host's vital functions had ceased. However, it is also believed that depending on the stage in which the I. raptus embryo is in at the time of its host's death it may still be able to hatch by a means similar to a forced labor. Sensing the termination of the host's vital systems the embryo may - either through self-initiation, or as a reflexive action - exit the host body shortly after the host is clinically dead. This forced labor may be a result of a biochemically triggered increase in the Alien's pulmonary system, which in turn causes the embryo to enter a state of pre-birth agitation - thus forcing the Alien to initiate birth. The cessation of the host's vital systems may initiate a massive reflexive dump of adrenaline into the embryo's system - from its own adrenal glands - effectively shocking the Alien into hatching. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Hatching
The newly hatched Alien generally acts aggressively towards the presence of any individual(s) that may be within sensory range by snarling, squealing, biting, and trashing in a threatening manner. This reaction is believed to be - in part - a result of the high levels of adrenaline that are still in the hatchling's system. An increase of adrenaline in notoriously aggressive creatures will always result in a dangerously heightened level of aggressiveness. Given the extremely aggressive nature of I. raptus it is not outside the realm of possibility that a newly hatched Alien embryo may attempt to attack any individual(s) that it feels are threatening due to proximity during this state. Even if there is a large disparity of size between the hatchling and the individual(s) present. The hatchling more closely resembles the embryo than it does the adult stage. It is long, slender (rather serpentine in appearance), with grossly disproportionate limbs, and an under-developed cranium. This stage's means of locomotion differs from the adult as well - it pushes itself, in a rather serpentine fashion, with its tail (which, at this stage of its life, is longer than the rest of the body). The limbs, though distinct, are too short for practical use. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Size in Relation to Host
For some time it was presumed that the Alien that was born from the petrified alien pilot (also referred to as "the Jockey") - as found aboard the Derelict Ship on LV-426 - was larger than the adult aliens encountered elsewhere. One theory even points to the coupling of I. raptus and the Jockey as a means of creating the Alien Queen, and as such reviews the Queen as being an aberrant element among the species. The primary reason for these beliefs was due to the fact that the exit wound caused by the hatching Alien was considerably larger on the Jockey than that of Executive Office Kane. Captain Dallas reported being able to insert his hand into the wound found on the Jockey's chest easily and without obstruction. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Growth and Continued Development An interesting note comes into play here. Once the embryo is free of the host the host body remains untouched. The few reports that were received from the USCM dispatch sent to LV-426 stated that the spent host bodies were found in varying degrees of decomposition, and did not appear to be in any way used as a food source. The crew of the Nostromo also reported that the Alien was able to grow from the embryo/burster stage to an adult with little apparent nourishment. So what the hatchling uses as food is still uncertain. Data achieved from the Auriga is also limited in its accounts of the creature's development. In order to reach its full size (that of approximately 2 meters), in a time span that has been recorded to range from two to three hours, it would need an extremely high metabolism. In order to fulfill the body's needs brought on by such a high metabolism there would have to be vast amounts of ingestion. Dr. Mason Wren speculated that the young Alien has a metabolism approximately 32 times greater than that of its adult counter parts. We do know that it molts very much like an insect (though the sheddings more closely resemble those of a reptile). The supplied data acquired by Wren and his team seems to indicate that the Alien molts only one to two times before reaching adult size.
There exists a second theory as to how the hatchlings on LV-426 received nutritional sustenance: trophallaxis. This idea would remain consistent with what we know of various social insects and organisms. The transference of food via regurgitation between adult and young is a common practice as well as a means of creating and identifying chemical bond between the young and adults of a given nest among a specific species. It is widely believed that in a hive setting I. raptus hatchlings will rely largely upon the presence of the adult members of the brood for nutritional sustenance. The exact chemical composition of this regurgitated material is not known, but it is believed to be extremely high in proteins and carbon. Given the growth rate of a typical Chestburster it is believed that a single hatchling may engage in trophallaxis only once, or possibly twice before development is complete and molting occurs. It is further believed that the saturation of necessary dietary aids in the regurgitant is incredibly high allowing for a quicker developmental rate of hatchlings than those left to find food sources on their own. It is a commonly accepted view that trophallaxis is the primary means of sustenance for I. raptus young when born in a hive structure. The ingestion of inorganic material is presumed to be a secondary means of nutritional intake and is rarely engaged in while in a nest. It is most likely a behavior that is related only to when an Alien is isolated from a hive, and is otherwise alone as a species. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Home
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