Let me start by saying:

"I am ALL ABOUT CONSENT"

"I AM NO APOLOGIST" for bad behavior.

Anything I present to you, you can make your own judgments about. I will present you with the "facts" of the matter. That is all. Whether the fictional giver of those facts is reliable or not...

Sometimes, we are thrust into situations, or placed in positions, where difficult choices must be made. That is what my works are supposed to be about. Choices. And their consequences. Agreeable or not.

I am a lifelong fan of this franchise. I was elated, as a child, watching a diverse group of men take on a predator more formidable than even themselves. All their training, all their muscle, and all their tech? It didn't matter. In the end, it took instinct and brain power (a different kind of muscle)...To win.

As a childish, quirky nerd, I found this impressive. For me, Predator wasn't just your average campy monster movie. This movie had depth. Coming from a wily first-grader? Uh...Okay.

When the second movie came out, I was touched by the predator's compassion for the pregnant police officer. As I was for the so-called rogue's compassion for the first movie's female protagonist. Such acts forever cemented this species in my brain. Whatever else they may be, I saw them also as protectors. Call me crazy? You wouldn't be the first. Haha.

Then, came AVP. I was stoked. I was finally going to witness my dream come true on the big screen. A battle for the ages, right?

Needless to say, I was disappointed at the brief screentime my favorite alien species commanded. But I understood why certain things were done or not done. I would have welcomed a warm and loving relationship for the two pyramid survivors. (Same kid who was happy when the Klingons finally joined the Federation. So...) Platonic or otherwise. The makings of a story were already there.

As a sidenote: Anyone who doesn't believe that AVP (or Alien) was a very sensually charged movie...Might enjoy watching it again. Please do. Like now. I'm not kidding. Kidding. 😂

1)When Max and Alexa meet (the eyes say it all)

2) The pyramid experts vying for her attention

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

3) Max in the meeting hall with Weyland

4) Max in Alexa's room after the meeting. He observes the (cough, cough) in her bag, and makes an approving gesture before leaving

5) Even the female mercenary seems infatuated with Alexa, making racy jokes. Did she and Max have a conversation about what he observed in Alexa's room? 🤔

6) The back and forth between Max and Alexa, like an old married couple.

And much later....

7) The way that the main predator views Alexa through his mask (more than once).

8) The way she studies him as he is marking himself. No fear, no revulsion, only curiosity.

8B) The way Lex notices the mural at the front of the pyramid and tells...No one. Even her expression was unbothered. Maybe she believed it was myth or hyperbolic. Gods and demons? Hmmm.

8C) Same with the first attack, when Max is killed. She stares in curiosity watching the larger yautja take the alien on. No real fear, as if she had faith he could handle his business and was only intrigued.

9) Alexa was meant to be desirable. End of story. The comics set her up for this. Even though she was not featured directly in them. There is a similar story with a yautja and another human woman.

I had an audioblog detailing all of my findings, but I took it down. This is an abridged version. Really think about everything you know about Alien and Predator. Forced impregnation. The anatomy of the alien. Especially, the facehugger. Why a bunch of hunky male television idols versus an alien invader in fishnets? Huh, what?

And then, there's Mr. Giger. He was once pulled out of line at an airport because the concept art in his luggage was so visceral and lifelike. Security believed he had pictures of mutilated women/people in his bags. Or so the urban legend goes.

Anyway. I know I'm not special. I know my writing will never be great. I've been told as much. But that's not why I write. This fandom or anything else. In this case, I write because this particular franchise resonated with me. More so than Alien. Which I positively adore.

Alexa Woods was, to me, what Ripley was to women of the late 70's and 80's. I saw in that storyline the making of not one...but two heroes.

A species which prides itself on individualism and victory at all costs. Yet, he fought and died for her. I always wondered: "Why?" Perhaps, I need to dig deeper for that answer.

The characters in this book...And the next...Have choices to make as well.

I hope you will join me for Book Two: Blood and Oaths. This will be a two-parter in one. One book; two stories. I'm too lazy for volumes. A choice. Haha. Besides, people adore longer stories. Amirite?

Thanks again. I surpassed my initial hopes for view counts. Waking up and seeing 6,000 made my day. It doesn't take much.