STAGE III: CHESTBURSTER, BAMBI-BURSTER, IMP

The alien grows within the host animal’s chest, reaching a point of maturity where it is no longer dependent on the host for survival. While most hosts feel sick to their stomach as the parasite grows within them, some comment that they feel better than they have in ages. As the organs of the host are transformed into the embryonic alien, the host’s ribcage is also softened to a point where the Chestburster can perform the act after which it is named. Gestation complete, the creature erupts from the host, killing it from a combination of massive tissue damage, blood loss, and organ transformation. A newly birthed alien exhibits different traits depending on its type.

CHESTBURSTER

Jaundiced beige in color, the snake-like Chestburster has a mouth full of metallic canines. Depending on the length of gestation, a Chestburster will either be born with tiny arms or stubs where the arms will eventually grow in.

BAMBI BURSTER

Otherwise similar to the Chestburster, this fawn-like creature is the result of an alien embryo developing within a quadrupedal host. As animals generally mature at a faster rate than humans, the Bambi-burster is birthed with four spindly legs that it uses to propel itself at great speeds.

IMP

The immature form of a Praetomorph, the Imp has translucent skin, a carapace and rawboned features that make it look very much like a miniature version of its adult form. If an Imp doesn’t feel threatened upon emergence, it will sometimes mimic the actions of the nearest creature. Like all Praetomorph stages, Imps mature at a substantially faster rate than traditional Chestbursters.

QUEENBURSTER

An embryonic queen, the Stage III Xenomorph nicknamed the Queenburster gestates over days instead of hours. When born, the creature has a partially formed crest on its head, both sets of arms, and fully developed legs.

BIRTH

The birth of the Chestburster kills the host outright. The Chestburster has evolved to make a shocking display immediately after birth as a defense mechanism: it snarls, hisses and squeals whilst spraying the blood of its host in all directions. People who witness this for the first time must make an immediate Panic Roll. Within one Shift, the Chestburster evolves to Stage IV.

CONTAINMENT AND TERMINATION PROTOCOL

Surgical attempts to remove an embryonic Chestburster to date have resulted in the death of the patient—and depending on how far along it is into the gestation period—the death of the alien as well. Despite being able to defend itself, at this stage the Xenomorph is at its most vulnerable. It is easily killed by gunshots, explosives, knives, and fire—if it can be caught. Once birthed it will immediately seek both a place to hide and a source of raw metals to consume in order to complete the transformation into an adult—in addition to organic foods, aliens eat metals to increase their mass. Sufficiently fed, the Chestburster will begin to darken in color and shed its skin, cocooning itself in resin for the metamorphosis to the next Stage.

VARIABLE GESTATION

While under normal circumstances each Plagiarus species has a typical gestation period, various factors can retard or accelerate the process. For example, if someone is prone to cancer or has a compromised immune system, the rate of growth of any Xenomorph within them can speed up or slow down. Being infected while in hypersleep can slow the process upon revival, and being placed in stasis while infected will arrest the infection or incubation until the afflicted is awakened. It is ultimately up to the Game Mother and the needs of the story to decide how rapid any xenovirus gestation period is.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• STAGE II: FACEHUGGER

Genetic Descendants

• STAGE IV: STALKER, SCOUT, DRONE

Scientific Name

Plagiarus praepotens