Cloned Xenomorph

Template:Species InfoboxThe Cloned Xenomorphs,^[1] also known as the Genetic Xenomorphs, were an altered strain of Xenomorph that were spawned by the Queen extracted from the cloned Ellen Ripley, Ripley 8, on board the USM Auriga. The cloning process used to acquire Ripley 8 and, subsequently, the Xenomorphs resulted in the Queen and her Drones becoming altered through the unintentional inclusion of human DNA.

As with other Drones, the Cloned Xenomorphs were capable of spitting acid. They were typically 7 feet tall when standing upright. The Cloned Xenomorphs' first appearance was in Alien Resurrection and they went on to appear in the video game Alien Resurrection and as a player skin in AVP: Evolution.

Creation

See also: Ripley 8

The Cloned Xenomorphs were not a naturally-occurring strain, and were artificially created through genetic engineering. Following the events on Fiorina "Fury" 161, blood samples of the deceased Ellen Ripley were collected from the planet and used as the starting point in an ambitious program to clone Ripley and, it was hoped, the embryo of the Xenomorph Queen that had been growing inside her at the time of her death. After 10 years of experimentation^[2] and 7 failures that only resulted in the creation of horrifically deformed hybrids, the program apparently succeeded and the Queen embryo was harvested by United Systems Military scientists aboard the Auriga.^[3]

However, the cloning process had not been a perfect success, and unbeknownst to the scientists the DNA of the Xenomorphs and Ellen Ripley had become mixed in the process, endowing both the Ripley clone and the Queen with anomalous traits and abilities, traits that were passed on by the Queen to her offspring, resulting in the Cloned Xenomorphs.

Characteristics

At a distance, Cloned Xenomorphs bear a strong resemblance to normal human-spawned Xenomorphs, but upon closer inspection they possess several unique differences resulting from their contaminated DNA. Most obviously, their skin has a distinct shimmering green hue not seen on any other Aliens, making them more insect-like in appearance. Their necks are much fleshier than the biomechanical design seen in normal Xenomorphs, a change that may relate to their ability to roar in a fashion not seen with other Aliens. Their bodies also adopt a partially quadripedal stance like that of the Runner, with digitigrade hind legs, rather than the primarily bipedal posture of other human-spawned Xenomorphs. Their tails have flat ridge of spines at the base of the blade, making them excellent swimmers. Like other Drones, they have smooth skulls.

The Cloned Xenomorphs are notably capable of breeding far more quickly than typical Xenomorphs, a characteristic credited by Dr. Wren to unintentional alterations incurred during the cloning process used to create them.^[4] This allows them to multiply even more rapidly, and causes them to quickly overwhelm the Auriga. In terms of physical ability, they are comparable to other human-spawned Aliens, being capable of battering down steel doors and tearing open metal grates and floors with their bare hands.^[3] They can spit acid, often aiming for a victim's face to blind and subdue them. They also possess heightened agility, with some even seen to dodge incoming weapons fire.^[3]

Intelligence

Thanks to the Xenomorph's ability to inherit memories genetically, and as a side-effect of the cloning process that created the Cloned Xenomorphs, the creatures have access to Ellen Ripley's memories through their Queen, although they do not apparently fully understand these memories.^[5] Through this connection, the Xenomorphs consider Ripley 8 to be one of their members and consequently spare her when she is captured whilst trying to escape the Auriga, delivering her unharmed to the Queen.^[3]^[6]

The Cloned Xenomorphs are shown to be more aggressive than normal Xenomorphs and significantly more intelligent too, displaying impressive problem solving skills and the ability to learn rapidly and even set traps to lure and ambush victims.^[3] The Cloned Xenomorphs were first able to escape their containment cells on board the Auriga by killing one of their own and using the effects of the dead creature's acidic blood to melt through the enclosure's floor and allow the others egress. Similarly, the Lead Alien Drone was shown to learn almost immediately that disobedience would result in punishment in the form of a freezing nitrogen spray, and later used the same spray to eliminate USM personnel searching for it.^[3] Later, a Drone used discarded weapons to lure Frank Elgyn to his death.

Behind the Scenes

The Cloned Xenomorphs were specifically designed to look "more cunning and vicious" that earlier versions, with harder, more angular lines and more prominent chins.^[7] For the first time, the practical suits were fitted with prehensile dorsal tubes, capable of cable-controlled motion. The Aliens' digitigrade legs were actually suggested at a late stage by the film's digital effects department. After showing director Jean-Pierre Jeunet how the effect could be accomplished with CGI, he elected to have the double-jointed limbs incorporated into the design.^[7]

Trivia

The Cloned Xenomorphs are similar in concept to the Xenomorphs in William Gibson's unproduced Alien³ script, which describes Warriors that have been altered through genetic tampering and cloning.