Xenomorphs are typically portrayed as hostile and lethal, attacking anyone in sight. The concept of taming these aliens, known for their predatory instincts, is explored through various scenarios seen in Alien lore. This article examines different fictional methods that might enable humans to interact safely with Xenomorphs or even alter their aggressive nature to be tame and friendly.
Pavlovian Training Of Xenomorphs
First, we consider the classic approach of Pavlovian training. This method, relying on conditioning responses through rewards and punishments, has been successful with many Earth species. However, with almost all Xenomorph types, this approach falls short. Their inherent predatory nature and complex hive-mind structure render traditional conditioning methods ineffective, highlighting the need for more creative strategies. Many scientists in the Alien universe have tried this method (including Dr. Gediman from Alien: Resurrection) and failed with the Aliens escaping and wreaking havoc.
Reasoning With An Alien Queen
A more intriguing possibility lies in directly communicating with a Xenomorph Queen. Being the central figure and decision-maker of a Xenomorph hive, the Queen's cooperation could theoretically sway the behavior of the entire colony. Establishing a line of communication could open doors to negotiation. Ellen Ripley did this in Aliens, by threatening the Queen's eggs, the most important thing for the hive. Although Ripley gained some breathing space, the Queen still betrayed this temporary truce and Ripley had to torch the eggs and facehuggers.
Joining Forces With A Queen For A Common Cause
Another scenario involves forming a more permanent alliance with a Xenomorph Queen for mutual benefit, such as combating a common enemy like Predators or Hybrid creatures. This alliance, borne out of necessity, could lead to a temporary truce or even long-term cooperation, reshaping the traditionally adversarial relationship between humans and Xenomorphs. Although Xenomorphs have very rarely worked directly with humans, the old and experienced Samara Station Queen did this in the Aliens vs. Predator: Deadliest of the Species comic series. She joined up with Ash Parnall and Big Mama Predator to fight the evil Montcalm-Delacroix et Cie company and the race of White Hybrids that were threatening her existence.
Tolerating Hosts During A Hive War
In Aliens: DNA War, anthropologist Jocasta Malvaux believed that the adult Xenomorphs on Rosamond 6 had learned to tolerate her expedition. She walked among them and allowed several creatures to touch her without attacking. The adult Xenomorphs later killed Facehuggers that rushed the humans and deliberately kept the parasites away from Bonnie Bardolf and Colonel MacCormac. Jocasta and most of her researchers treated that protection as acceptance.
The hive war revealed that Jocasta had not tamed them. Two genetically different Xenomorph hives had stopped hunting humans while they fought for reproductive control of the planet. The adult Xenomorphs preserved the expedition as hosts for whichever hive won. Their restraint ended with the conflict, and Jocasta had never trained, commanded, or negotiated with them.
Mind Controlling Xenomorphs
In theory, the use of mind control devices presents a more direct approach of manipulation than controlling the Alien Queen. By manipulating the neural pathways of Xenomorphs, scientists could theoretically override their aggressive tendencies. Dr. Paul Church from Aliens: Labyrinth experimented with electrocution and brain manipulation to control Xenomorph behavior, using electric fences to keep Aliens at bay while studying their responses. Concept art created for Neill Blomkamp's canceled Alien 5 project visualizes a similar idea, with Weyland-Yutani personnel leading remote-controlled Xenomorphs on a hunt. Predators have also used such box-like devices on Xenomorphs, as described in the short story "Kyōdai" in Aliens vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey, which served as a sequel to the movie Predators.
Tuning In To Xenomorph Signals
Aliens: Cauldron established that Xenomorphs exchanged signals near 212 kilohertz, far above ordinary human hearing. The cadet Dan detected the frequency with the Umiak's equipment, while fifteen-year-old savant Pearl Floy heard the creatures without any device. She knew the creatures were inside their sealed cargo container before she opened it.
A wounded Xenomorph carried Pearl away instead of killing her, and a bronze-colored individual guarded her while she stayed with Adam Bay. Pearl believed the creatures treated her like a Xenomorph Queen, but the novel never confirmed why they tolerated her. She did not reproduce their signals, issue commands, or train them, so her ability was closer to receiving their communication than taming the hive.
Speaking Through Xenomorph Chirps
Alien: Earth later showed a hybrid android receiving and reproducing subtle Xenomorph chirps or clicks that humans could not hear. Wendy, a unique hybrid whose human consciousness was transferred into a synthetic body, was able not only to perceive this communication but also to replicate it. She influenced and commanded a Xenomorph, directing it to attack human targets including soldiers from Weyland-Yutani and the Prodigy Corporation. Among the Prodigy hybrids, only Wendy reproduced the signals and used them to command the creature.
Electric Shocks To Control Xenomorphs
Electrocution and electric shocks have shown some success when taming Xenomorphs. Electric currents cause pain and discomfort to the Aliens, and might even affect their brain functions temporarily. The Alien Queen captured by Predators in the first Alien vs. Predator movie was both awoken by electrocution and forced to lay eggs by it. Dr. Paul Church from Aliens: Labyrinth used electric fences to keep Aliens at bay, and experimented on the effects of electrocution on their brains. Electric weapons from both Aliens: Defiance and Aliens: Rogue have shown limited effect in subduing Aliens, at least temporarily. However, the Aliens will still lash out once the effects of the shock are over, often with surprising speed and aggression.
Gene Splicing The Xenomorphs To Be Tame
Genetic modification presents a more radical solution. By splicing Xenomorph DNA with genes responsible for docility in other species, scientists could create a genetically modified Xenomorph with a naturally tame disposition. The mad Doctor Ernst Kleist was the creator of a genetically enhanced strand of Xenomorphs in Aliens: Rogue, including the Alien King. These Aliens were somewhat docile at first but still turned out to be aggressive later. Specifically, the Alien King went on a wild rampage in the secret research base, even attacking the Alien Queen, but losing the fight in the end.
Android Xenomorphs Are Friendly
In a fusion of biology and technology, the concept of Android Xenomorphs emerges. These synthetic versions, programmed to be non-aggressive and cooperative, interact safely with humans while retaining the physical prowess of their organic counterparts. Many android Xenomorphs have been developed in the Expanded Universe, including Jeri from Aliens: Stronghold and Norbert from Aliens: Harvest. Often, the real Xenomorphs ignore these robotic versions of themselves, as they sometimes ignore all androids, including ones with human likenesses.
Carrying A (Dead) Chestburster
In the unique dynamics of Xenomorph behavior, an individual carrying a Chestburster inside them often goes ignored by these creatures. This phenomenon suggests a possible method of evasion or coexistence, but only for a short while. Intriguingly, there are instances where the Chestburster has died while still within the host, yet the Xenomorphs continue to disregard the host's presence. This happened with Paul Church in Aliens: Labyrinth, who was facehugged in a hive infected with an unknown sickness, leading to impotent Xenomorphs. Church was ignored by the Xenomorphs, escaped the hive, and surgically removed the dead chestburster by himself.
Xenomorph Born From A Family Member
Aliens: Dust To Dust hinted at a never-before-seen concept of a Xenomorph choosing not to attack the former host's close relatives. In the comic book, Anne Cregar, the mother of a young child named Maxon Cregar, was infected by a Facehugger on the colony world of LV-871. After being born, the Xenomorph stalked the group that Maxon was a part of, and killed several members of it, losing its arm in the process. However, in some instances, it appeared confused and did not attack or abduct Maxon. Some of the group theorized that the Xenomorph's DNA reflex inherited the maternal instincts of the host. However, this is proven to be false later, as the Xenomorph gets over its confusion and almost headbites Maxon.
Joining A Xenomorph Cult
Lastly, the emergence of Xenomorph cults, groups of humans who revere and worship these creatures, presents a unique social dynamic. These cults might develop ways of coexisting with or even taming Xenomorphs, driven by religious or ideological beliefs. Many Xenomorph cults exist in the Alien universe, with varying degrees of cooperation with the Xenomorphs. Some cults were telepathically controlled by the Alien Queen Mother to do their bidding. Another cult called the Darwin Era from Aliens: Dark Descent resorted to carrying semi-dormant chestbursters inside their bodies (named Guardians), to gain the effect mentioned earlier.
In Gavin G. Smith's Alien: Cult, the Church of Biotechnological Transcendence worshipped a Queen they called the Goddess and kept her in a bioreactor on Gamma Leporis 3. They treated communion as body-change surgery and wanted her children as a sacrament, not as a Company weapon. She rejected Dawkins anyway and later tore through Steer City.
Rage War Xenomorph Soldiers
In Alien: Invasion the Rage ran Xenomorphs as soldiers under android generals, not as a hive answering a Queen. Patton arrived on the Yautja habitat UMF 12 with a pack whose wounded melted or blew, and Lieutenant Johnny Mains found Patton's name stamped on the carapace behind the head. Rommel, Alexander, and Mashima did the same work on later fronts, while the control sat in Liliya's veins as well. The Rage had taken old Fiennes sleeper ships, filled them with eggs, and turned the colonists into armies. When Liliya burned that android net, the generals blew, and the Xenomorphs lost the leash but still hunted.
Xenomorphs As Guard Dogs
In S. D. Perry's Aliens: Criminal Enterprise, crime boss Adrian Msomi did not train the adult Xenomorphs on Fantasia. He used them as untrained perimeter guards around an illegal MX7 plant. The workers kept them outside with sedated cattle, electrified transports, and lock fire. Word on the plant was that the first six came from an MX7 addict who had worked for Weyland-Yutani or Biotech. The workers believed the numbers would hold because each feed run killed some of the adult Xenomorphs, and because the creatures could not breed without hosts.
The adult Xenomorphs attacked anything that was not one of their own, including the people who fed them. Nobody on Fantasia had seen the egg-layer, and Msomi never put a leash on the rest. When the locks were blown so the creatures would kill a raid, they wrecked the plant as well. A small group escaped, led by John Kaye, a former Colonial Marine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the taming of the Xenomorph remains very difficult and the methods provided here don't always work. The best solution seems to be to go through the Alien Queen and gain leverage over her in some way, including threatening her children. In return, this will gain access to her minions thanks to the hive mind of the Xenomorphs, by following their leader. Exploiting the Xenomorph weakness of ignoring androids (including android Xenomorphs) seems to be the second-best viable option. The Rage later ran whole armies through android generals, until that net burned. Msomi used untrained adult Xenomorphs as a fence on Fantasia, and that fence turned inward once the locks opened. But perhaps best of all, it's better to avoid Xenomorphs altogether and nuke them from orbit.
Tag Categories: Xenomorph Behavior | Alien Lore
