Predalien (Nexus)

*"Did you see the size of that thing?! What the HELL was that?! I've never seen an Alien like it before!"* —Wey-Yu Security Guard, regarding the Predalien

The **Predalien** was a Xenomorph spawned from the Berserker Super Predator on the planet Nexus and serves as one of the main antagonists of the novel (the others being the Matriarch and Karl "Bishop" Weyland).

The Predalien was spawned after a Super Predator was impregnated by a Facehugger after a fight in the combat arena. After defeating the Alien Queen, the Chestburster emerged. Once fully grown, the Predalien began stalking and killing the human colonists of Nexus Prospect. It was later discovered by the Predator Shadow, who made it his mission to kill the creature at any cost.

## History

### Birth

When the Xenomorph outbreak on Nexus and the subsequent Colonial Marine intervention overwhelmed the Young Blood Pack, several members of the Elite Clan arrived on the planet to investigate the disappearances. One of these Elites, the Berserk Super Predator, engaged the Xenomorph Warrior known as Specimen 6 in an ancient combat arena on the planet, after the Warrior had killed two of the Young Bloods there. After a struggle, the Berserker was defeated, but rather than kill the wounded Predator, Six removed his Bio-Mask and allowed a Facehugger to latch onto the helpless Predator's head. The chestburster it implanted would later hatch and quickly grow into the Nexus Predalien.

### On the Hunt

*"See the size of that thing?! What WAS that?"* —Colonial Marine, after encountering **the Predalien**

The Predalien soon begun attacking the human colonists of Nexus Prospect, at least, the ones who managed to survive, as well as the Colonial Marines deployed to the planet, collecting trophies from many of its victims. Its extensive rampage eventually caught the attention of Shadow, another of the Elites searching for the Young Bloods on the planet. Through his sighting of the creature, Shadow's clan leader, Wolf, learned of its existence. At some point near the ruins, the Predalien attacked surviving colonists and wounded Taylor before the Marines drove it off. Once Shadow's mission to locate and recover all the missing Yautja technology on the planet was complete, Wolf ordered him to find and destroy the Predalien at any cost, calling the creature an affront to their very ancestry.

### Death

Finally, the Predalien came face-to-face with Shadow inside the Yautja Pyramid beneath the surface of Nexus, in a large underground arena flooded with molten lava. In a titanic duel, during which the Predalien attempted to bring down the very structure itself, Shadow emerged triumphant and dragged the abomination's corpse to the roof of the research facility above the pyramid, roaring in triumph as he threw the dead Predalien to the ground before entering his ship and leaving the planet.

## Traits

As with all Predaliens, the Nexus Predalien displayed strength and resilience far beyond any common Xenomorph strain; it was even able to survive submerged in magma for a short while, and its skin was durable enough to resist a blast from a plasma caster near point-blank without any visible damage. In appearance, it was far more Warrior-like than other Predaliens previously seen, with Predator features essentially limited to the creature's head, which was oval-shaped, showing a cross between the elongated cranium of the Alien and more human-shaped Predator head. It's body, while similar to a Drone's or Warrior's, was more bulky, suggesting increased strength and durability. The creature possessed dreadlocks, although they were fairly small and more numerous than often seen. The Predalien on Nexus also possessed an inner jaw, unlike most Predaliens.

Unlike most other Xenomorphs, the Predalien typically moved by jumping rather than walking or running, bounding from spot to spot in great leaps. It had a distinctive roar, more akin to the deep cries of a Yautja than the wailing screeches of other Xenomorphs. The Nexus Predalien also displayed notable Yautja behavior, including a habit of ripping the skull and spine out of humans.

## Notes and Trivia

* Many of the noises made by the Predalien on Nexus are taken from a Bull Elephant.