[ EU ] - A zergling breaks free from the control of the hive mind .

`` Go OuT aNd PlAy WiTh ThE tErRaNs'' the hivemind had ordered the newly hatched brood of four legged xenomorphs and they spread out through the jungle sinking long hooked claws in the moist ground, propelling themselves between parting trees at breakneck speed with powerful elegant moves, taking in the many smells rich with the promise of prey, half mad with the joy of the first hunt. 
 
 When he entered the clearing he was filled with a pleasant weariness. He'd gone farther than all the others, having allowed himself no rest, ever hungry to gaze upon new sights. He went on slower now, bringing in his head all the images he had acquired, dwelling on each, remembering smells, and motions, and almost ran into the small human without noticing it. 
 
 With barely contained excitement he ran a few circles around it, he sniffed at it deeply then snorted air out at it again and again just so he could see the human's long hair scatter and fall back down in fascinating patterns. 
 
 `` I'm not afraid'' the child declared and tried her very best to look big as she had been taught, with only moderate success. She considered feeling guilty because she had n't been entirely truthful, but then she decided the creature could n't talk so no one will know. 
 
 The xenomorph bopped its nose into the human with what he thought counted as gentleness, causing it to fall over. Evidently something had gone wrong with the cloning process, some out of place gene had caused this one to either be stupid enough to take his orders too literally, or smart enough to pretend to do so, for it was determined to play and play and then play some more. 
 
 `` Stop it!'' commanded the child as it got back up on its small feet, and with something not unlike wry humor it amused the alien to whimper, shuffle backward and look downward at being reprimanded. 
 
 `` PlAy HaRdEr'' the overmind commanded with a note of exasperation, and the xenomorph starting running really fast here and there, jumping over the child, rolling over in front of her, and generally making a spectacle of itself. 
 
 `` UsE yOuR TeEtH'' tried the overmind once more before resolving to find better uses of its APM elsewhere, and he came at the child with a giant open mouth full of rows of sharp teeth. At this the child showed her own and made her hands into claws, in a fierce display calculated to instill proper respect in her adversary. 
 
 If such sight had n't already caused the alien to fall in love he certainly did so when she produced the brightly colored ball. He begged and whimpered and pounced the ground in place and sniffed and snorted. `` Fetch!'' the girl said and he knew he had found his place in the world. 
 
 Off he ran and back he ran, carrying the ball with affection and care, putting it down proudly. They spent the rest of the day with much joy and in the evening he let her climb on his shoulders and guide him home. 
 
 `` Mommy, can we keep it, can we?!'' the girl asked with a tone that brooked no opposition.
