Just another Awakening Pitch
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-08-2017 4:38 PMAs soon as I finished writing an outline for what the Alien Covenant prequel novel could have (or rather should have) been, I turned my thoughts towards what a proper Covenant sequel would entail. I bashed it out in under two hours based on long-gestating ideas of mine and stuff that popped into my head after initially seeing the film. Again, more of a first draft subject to tweaking (at this point it feels a bit uneven but speculative suggestions could help), but this is how Awakening would wrap up David's storyline and directly lead into Alien without leaning on traditional Alien creatures.
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Much like Covenant taking place 10 years after its predecessor, Awakening takes place another 10 years into the future, bringing events extremely close to Alien. As far as Weyland Yutani knows, the Covenant reached Origae 6 as projected, but all communications ceased and the company really wants to know why, especially as detachable pieces of the ship were discovered in space, as if the crew discarded them along the way. A rescue ship crewed by experienced SAR (search-and-rescue) personnel and a couple of company executives has arrived at the planet without incident and initial scans reveal that the atmospheric readings and topographical layouts are so radically different from their past scans that it’s practically uninhabitable now. Multiple attempts to survey the planet via probes and drones prove unsuccessful. One of the company executives orders a team to find out what’s going on down there firsthand and assigns their own synthetic to accompany them. That synthetic is revealed to be none other than…ASH!
Fully suited and equipped, the rescue team descends to the surface of Origae 6 and the first things they find are ginormous, organic hive-like structures. The landscape is initially devoid of life, but one of the team members is attacked by a hostile, water-based lifeform that shares xenomorph characteristics (particularly in the face), but it’s more snake-like. The xeno snake kills the team member by damaging his suit and exposing him to the toxic atmosphere. The team members are also attacked by flying xenos, but they manage to kill the xeno snake, which Ash collects as a specimen, and get the hell out.
Studying the lifeform, Ash enthralls his corporate superiors with his findings and strongly recommends more expeditions to the surface, much to the outrage of the crew. Another expedition reaches the planet, this time more equipped to deal with the threats of which they now know. They even set up neat sentry guns that are designed to shoot down any aerial resistance. Among their eerie findings include a graveyard/dumping ground for human and non-human remains as well as a makeshift island in the middle of a roiling sea (primitively reminiscent of one of Giger’s Neconomicon structures).
The team trek towards the structure and find a number of experiments inside (much like David’s citadel in Covenant). While they don’t find any human occupants, they find a more advanced-looking xenomorph which attacks and kills one of their own, revealing another, and another, until the structure is overrun by the aliens. Two of the team members are abducted by the xenos while the rest are slaughtered. Naturally, the company executives care more about losing data than lives.
The remaining crew members know that they’ve entered a hopeless situation and make efforts to turn against their company contingent on board the ship, but this fails and the company assumes full control of the operation. Ash, who was not wiped out by the advanced xenos, tells one of the executives that this planet is a goldmine of endless possibilities and has followed the xenos (and their captives) to one of the organic hive structures.
Ash ventures inside and sees the scope of how complex and horrifying these hives are. Running into one of the cocooned team members, Ash callously ignores his pleas for help as the cocoon itself impregnates him in a way not seen in previous Alien stories. The idea is that Origae 6 has produced a radically different version of the xenomorph species, including its lifecycle. Finally, Ash encounters David, or rather, what David has become. It appears as if David had found a way to become one with the hive structure at some point and willingly sacrificed himself to achieve another state of being with his own creations.
Meanwhile, the other cocooned team member finds a way to escape her confines and narrowly avoids several mutated creatures (again, xeno-based but different) before confronting Ash herself. Ash proves to be just as taken with these strange creations as David once was and tries to kill her in order to preserve the secret of this planet’s existence for Weyland Yutani. The heroine manages to gravely wound Ash and escape the hive, but not before planting a bomb that the team leader brought with him to destroy the planet-bound abominations once and for all. In spite of her pleas for rescue, the ship leaves and the hive explodes, decimating the landscape.
Later, a professional Weyland Yutani team (similar to the one we saw at the end of Alien 3) hone in on Ash’s mobile beacon and find him severely damaged amidst the ruins of the alien landscape. At a WY base on the planet Thedus, Ash is repaired and approached by one of the executives, who tells him that there must be greater opportunities beyond the ones they found (and lost) on Origae 6. Luckily for them, one of their deep space probes has detected an unusual, non-human transmission in the Zeta II Reticulii system where a scientific expedition was lost 30 years before. The company figures sending Ash with another crew to investigate would suit his prior knowledge and interest. Ash gives a cold, reassuring smile as we hear the haunting wail of the distress signal sounds through the cold, unforgiving depths of space.
THE END
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As you can see, I wanted to wrap up David's story and use Ash as the connective tissue between this story and Alien. One could argue that it betrays the twist from the original film, but it explains not only how the company became interested in the possibilities of the signal emanating from LV 426, but reinforces Ash's presence on the Nostromo (being somewhat of an expert already). I actually wanted to feature David in a greater capacity; perhaps another run through will improve on that. Needless to say, things didn't end well for Daniels, Tennessee, and the colonists, but that was to be expected since people have the worst luck in the Alien-verse. Let me know what you guys think!
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianJun-08-2017 7:09 PMI really wish FOX would pay some attention to those of us, like yourself, in the fanbase who write from love of the ALIENverse.
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianJun-08-2017 7:10 PMYou remember that Ash did try to kill Ripley in a pretty horrible way?
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-08-2017 7:30 PMThank you, blackwinter-witch! As I mentioned before, I'd probably tweak some elements that weren't immediately clear to me as I was writing, but writing the David/Shaw prequel outline yesterday made the Covenant sequel idea easier to crack.
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-08-2017 7:37 PMDG very nicely done. It ties in very neatly between Covenant and Alien, and even Fire and Stone. and it offers an interesting and compelling new story.
Upvoted!
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianJun-08-2017 7:53 PMYou're quite welcome! Tweaking and adjusting, well that's always part of writing, nice thing about editing is it lets you take full advantage of hindsight. :)
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
joylitt
MemberNeomorphJun-08-2017 7:55 PMDG I think you did good, your concept has promise. And I can tell you are working on an unlimited budget! hehe So you have a cocooned heroine who breaks free... is she infected? I wouldn't use the flying xenos, though...
dk
MemberTrilobiteJun-08-2017 8:11 PMTdby You seem pretty fixated on mentioning evil homo androids hating on women. Care to elaborate or are you a troller in need of being reported?
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-08-2017 8:28 PMagreed dk, this person's only topic of conversation is "evil homo David" lol. every thread. Regardless of the OP topic.
Surely we are all grown up, and intelligent enough, not to repeatedly and deliberately bring up sensitive topics that may upset or offend.
dk
MemberTrilobiteJun-08-2017 8:36 PMIRaptus Smells like a troll. Reported to Admin.
Once in a while is understandable not on almost every thread when the member landed on the forum just today.
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianJun-08-2017 9:46 PMJust reported that nasty little troll Tdby.
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-08-2017 10:25 PM@joylitt I agree that flying xenos were a bit excessive in retrospect. I initially based that idea on a Giger piece that probably works better in a purely artistic context:
joylitt
MemberNeomorphJun-08-2017 11:31 PMDG well that creature is not exactly a xenomorph. The only reason why I was advising against the flying xenomorph is only because this is a sequel and it might be perceived as one of those overblown things that sequels try more often than not. Maybe if you use it as a vulture type of creature that is spotted in the distance and only attacks when disturbed. It would be also creepy to have some of these creatures pass for sculptures and give the explorers a nasty surprise :-)
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-08-2017 11:37 PMExcellent idea! They could actually be used in the island setpiece and thrive more in the darkness like sculptures instead of flying out in the open. Great suggestion, joylitt!
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-08-2017 11:41 PMjoylitt those are some sweet ideas!!! especially the sculpture suprise :)
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-09-2017 3:52 AMthat's fine Tdby, but maybe keep it to yourself in this case. This is not the forum for that kind of discussion, especially across every thread and topic on here.
Not trying to be the PC police but please be respectful of others.
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-09-2017 4:21 AMYeah mate, your feeling about robots is not the issue that is causing concern with people.
colonialsoldier
MemberFacehuggerJun-09-2017 4:31 AMSo now we get to find out that Ash has seen the Alien creature way before he is planted on the Nostromo? I like your imagination but it is too far-fetched to me.
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-09-2017 4:43 AMI respectfully disagree colonialsoldier. Ash seemed more than a little familiar and comfortable with the species. He was studying the facehugger like someone who knew at least vaguely what to expect from it....he had some form of prior knowledge. And having him swapped in as the science officer at the last moment is definitely questionable.
Personally I would like to see a David vs Ash encounter... Hell, Id probably even have to root for Ash lol. Lesser of two evil's and all that.
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-09-2017 10:01 AM@IRaptus I was thinking that if David had a bigger role in a revised outline, he would impart his extensive knowledge and passion for his creations to Ash, which would explain his "perfect organism" line from Alien. Maybe at the end, David lets himself go down with his "kingdom", secure in the fact that his legacy is secure in the hands of a worthy acolyte (unlike Walter). On the flip side, there could be a conflict because Ash shares his thirst for knowledge and admires the Xenos but only on behalf of the humans David hates so much. Needless to say, these discussions are very helpful and allow a story like this to evolve into something better. Thank you for the input, IRaptus!
colonialsoldier
MemberFacehuggerJun-09-2017 10:24 AMWell, they would have to get a young actor to resemble Ian Holm IRaptus but my point is that I am getting tired of the android stories. I seen it play out in each film. Yes, to an extent, they play an integral part but I think there are much other angles and approaches a director can take with the new film.
DG
MemberOvomorphJun-09-2017 10:29 AMAfter watching what they did with Peter Cushing in Rogue One, I figured that would be an awesome route to take. I agree with you to a certain extent regarding android overload, but while writing the outline, it made sense to put Ash in there since he seemed to know a lot more about the alien than was possible. Of course, there's no way around David since the prequels are more about his journey.
I.Raptus
ModeratorPraetorianJun-09-2017 3:13 PMDG thank you and no worries :)
colonialsoldier yes definitely agreed on that. To Android heavy, so many other things to explore!! 100% agreed.
Unfortunately I think whatever Alien: Awakening ends up being it is going to have to finish the David story arc, simply because he has become way to prominent. Just like in Covenant when we all knew "Walter" was really David without question because there was no way he went 1.5 films to be killed off-screen and so easily cast aside lol
So if we have to endure another David heavy film, might as well be a fascinating story with an intriguing encounter with Ash. And DG's script has that in spades.