"The Rookie" Biographical information Rank Private Physical description Species Human Gender Male Hair color Black Eye color Brown Chronological and political information Affiliation USCM Notable Facts Survived a massive Xenomorph infestation Killed the Matriarch Fought a Predator and survived Killed Karl Bishop Weyland Status Alive[1] Portrayed by Ian McQue and Clive Standen
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"The Rookie" was an otherwise unnamed Private and combat technician in the United States Colonial Marine Corps. He was stationed aboard the USS Marlow, dispatched to BG-386 in response to a Xenomorph outbreak at the Freya's Prospect colony and the nearby Weyland-Yutani facility. He is the playable Marine character in the 2010 video game Aliens vs. Predator.

Although the mission to BG-386 was a disastrous failure, with the Marlow being destroyed and virtually all of the Marines deployed being killed, The Rookie successfully eradicated the Xenomorph Queen on the planet and later fought and killed a Yautja Young Blood single-handed. He also eliminated the Weyland android in charge of the facilities on the planet. He was one of only three people known to have survived the incident, the others being Corporal Teresa Aquila and the android Katya.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 A rough first job 1.2 Out of the colony 1.3 Confronting Weyland 2 Personality and Traits 3 Equipment 4 Trivia 4.1 Hive Paradox 5 Gallery 6 Appearances 7 References

BiographyEdit

A rough first jobEdit

The Rookie was aboard a small patrol ship preparing to land on BG-386 when a Predator vessel dropped out of cloak nearby, and in a single volley blew the USS Marlow in half. The shockwave from the detonation hit the Rookie's ship and caused it to crash-land on the planet surface below, with the Rookie losing consciousness in the process.

When he awoke, he found he had been left behind by his squad as they hastily fled a Xenomorph attack. He received word from Corporal Tequila, apparently the last ranking officer still present, that he should make for the main colony of Freya's Prospect, where other Marines were regrouping. He was successful, but the colony was almost immediately overrun by another Xenomorph assault, forcing the Rookie to retreat. Tequila informs him that the USCM's commanding officer, Major Van Zandt, was currently leading an assault on the Alien Matriarch inside the nearby refinery. The Rookie moved there to assist, but arrived too late — the Marines had been slaughtered, while Van Zandt had been cocooned and impregnated with a Chestburster. At the Major's insistence, the Rookie executed him. While attempting to escape the Hive inside the refinery, the Rookie came face-to-face with the Matriarch and manages to kill her in a large explosion.

Out of the colonyEdit

The Rookie headed out into the jungle where Xenomorph activity was lower. He encountered several skinned corpses and fought acid spitting Xenomorph Drones, before Tequila arrived in the dropship Typhoon to evacuate him. However, a nearby Predator shot the ship down before the pickup could be made.

Under the guidance of administrative android Katya, the Rookie regrouped with some surviving Marines from the crash in the Yautja ruins. He acquired a Smartgun and fought off a large Xenomorph assault before heading out in search of the missing Tequila with Typhoon's pilot Connor. Deep in the ruins, the duo saw the Predator responsible for the crash collect the skull of an ill-fated Marine before coming under fresh attack from acid spitting Drones. After the battle was seemingly over, Connor was dragged away by a Xenomorph, leaving the Rookie alone. He reached an ancient Combat Arena where he was finally confronted by the Predator. After a fierce battle, the Rookie defeated the creature and rescued Corporal Tequila from a nearby Xenomorph nest, although she too had been impregnated with a Chestburster. She grimly requested a bullet to the head, but Katya informed them that she could remove the Xenomorph embryo if they could make it to the Weyland-Yutani research labs where she was sheltering.

The two breached the research facility in the midst of fighting between the Xenomorphs and Weyland-Yutani Combat Androids. They reached Katya, who prepared to operate on Tequila before the facility's commander, Karl Bishop Weyland, intervened and shut down the apparatus. Katya and the Rookie placed Tequila in a hypersleep chamber to prevent the birth of the Chestburster, and the Rookie set off after Weyland, who was in the Pyramid beneath the labs.

Confronting WeylandEdit

Heading towards the Pyramid elevator, the Rookie faced and defeated a Praetorian. He descended to the Pyramid entrance, where he engaged a horde of Warriors and two more Praetorians, before heading inside in search of Weyland himself, hoping to retrieve his datapad, which would allow the survivors to contact his personal shuttle and escape. The Rookie confronted Weyland but was caught off guard by cloaked Combat Androids (created with stolen Predator tech). Nevertheless, the Rookie slaughtered the androids and then set upon Weyland himself. Once he fell, the Rookie took his datapad, only for a revived Weyland, revealed to be an android, attacked him again. The Rookie finished Weyland with a single shot to the head and the android plummeted into a pool of lava below.

The Rookie barely escaped from the collapsing Pyramid and boarded Weyland's private dropship with Katya and the frozen Tequila. As they entered stasis, the dropship's pilots began transmitting information from Weyland's data pad about the Xenomorph homeworld to another synthetic copy of Karl Bishop Weyland.

Personality and TraitsEdit

The Rookie was new in the Corps and was often teased by his fellow Marines for this fact. However, once things went bad he proved himself to be an exemplary combatant and his performance on the battlefield was commended by both his comrades and superiors. He repeatedly threw himself into situations that had left other Marines both emotionally and physically wrecked and emerged unscathed, a testament to his mental fortitude as much as his combat abilities.

He is seen as the strong and silent type. He is also incredibly loyal to his fellow Marines, as seen when he heads into the refinery alone in search of Van Zandt, or when he risks his life to rescue Tequila from the Xenomorphs.

EquipmentEdit

The Rookie wore M3 Pattern Personal Armor, complete with shoulder lamp, and an M10 Ballistic Helmet, typical of most Colonial Marines. He also carried a standard issue M41A/2 Pulse Rifle, although he loses the weapon during the rough landing on BG-386 and consequently is initially reduced to just his VP78 standard issue pistol. He is well trained with numerous other USCM weapons, including the M56 Smartgun and the M260B Flamethrower. He is also equipped with illumination flares and health stims.

As a combat technician, he carries a hacking device used to override the security systems of locked doors and gain access to restricted areas with ease.

TriviaEdit

• His appearance is revealed to be to African-American, implying him to be the first black Colonial Marine protagonist of the AVP Video Game Series.
• He is Marine #2427-88 as revealed in the game manual.
• It is possible he was previously stationed on USCM Orbital Fort Osney before being posted on the USS Marlow as revealed in the game manual.
• He has a friend in the Colonial Marines with the initials of J.W. as revealed in the game manual.
• The Colonial Marine unit the Rookie is specifically assigned to aboard the USS Marlow is the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment.
• Even though he is silent, he makes a grunting sound when he melees and cries out when he takes damage.
• Throughout the game, the Rookie repeatedly uses the password "MART" on various door consoles and his hacking device. It's not known if this has any specific reference.
• The Rookie's gesture of tenderly stroking Tequila's head and face as she is put into stasis has been interpreted by some as a sign that he may have begun developing romantic feelings towards her.^[1] However, as he is silent in the game, this is merely speculation.
• The Rookie also appears as a multiplayer skin in the game, unlocked when players reach Rank 28.

Hive ParadoxEdit

There is a major paradox in the game surrounding the Rookie's actions in the Hive. In the level "Refinery" of the Predator campaign, a Marine can be overheard saying that Delta and Echo teams (presumably Van Zandt and his men) are making an assault on the Matriarch. However, when the Predator reaches the Matriarch's chamber later in the level, she is already dead from the Rookie's solo attack. This is impossible, as the Rookie does not encounter and engage the Matriarch until several hours at least after Van Zandt's assault has already failed, because Van Zandt has been cocooned and impregnated with a Chestburster by the time the Rookie reaches the refinery. In the Marine campaign, Tequila confirms that Van Zandt's squad were the last people to enter the Hive prior to the Rookie, so Delta and Echo teams could not refer to anyone else.

Furthermore, before the Rookie enters the refinery, he repositions the nearby satellite dish so that it is pointing roughly towards the refinery itself. When Dark comes across the same dish, it is still in its original position, meaning the Rookie must still be inside the colony or the mines at this point, which would make it impossible for him to reach the Matriarch in time to kill her before Dark finds her, especially considering all the things the Rookie has to do in between.

GalleryEdit

AppearancesEdit

• Aliens vs. Predator (video game)

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1}  Aliens vs. Predator [Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]. Rebellion.