Alien: Romulus (2024)

Daniel Betts: Rook (facial and vocal performance)

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rook : I can't lie about your chances. But you have my sympathies.

• Rain : Can you tell us what we can do to help her?

  Rook : You don't help her, you run. Get out, however you got in!

  Bjorn : No, no, no, no, wait, whoa. Nah, we're not fucking leaving her, okay? You understand?

  Rook : Then have mercy and end her life now. If not, you all die!

• Rook : ND-255 artificial person. Your model was once the backbone of our colonization efforts and it's an honor to be in your presence. Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Science Officer Rook and I humbly request your services now.

  Andy : I'm afraid I have just one directive. To do what's best for...

  Rook : Your upgrade came with a new directive. It overrides the old one.

  Andy : I see. What's required of me, Sir?

  Rook : To finish our mission.

• Rain : Can you tell us what we can do to help her?

  Rook : You don't help her. You run. Get out, however you got in.

  Tyler : No, no, no. Wait, whoa, whoa. Nah, we're not fuckin' leavin' her, okay? You understand?

  Rook : Then have mercy and end her life now. If not, you all die.

  Tyler : So what the fuck is he saying?

  Andy : What's it doing to her?

  Rook : That Parasitoid is implanting the Plagiarus Praepotens in her.

  Andy : I beg your pardon.

  Rook : A seed that will amalgamate with her DNA and rapidly grow out of her.

  Tyler : What's gonna grow out of her?

  [they look at the dead Xenomorph in the ceiling] 

  Rook : XX121 Xenomorph. One of our towing ships first made contact with this specimen over two decades ago. Of the seven crew members aboard the USS Nostromo, only one survived... blowing the creature out of the air lock. We've been searching for it ever since. 170 days ago, our search came to an end and the body of the Xenomorph was brought on board presumed dead. But of course, lack of food and oxygen is of no true consequences to this perfect organism.

  Andy : Yet nothing is truly immortal. Clearly.

  Rook : It wreaked havoc all over this station until what was left of our security forces shot it dead. Only to trigger its swan song.

  Andy : Acid for blood.

  Rook : Sulfuric and hydroflouric. I sealed the station back up, but it was too late.

• Rook : The company couldn't be prouder of what's been accomplished here today. I've sent a message back to HQ. When received in six months, they'll travel to Jackson's Star to retrieve the compound from you for further development.

  [Rain switches to autopilot] 

  Rook : What-what are you doing?

  Rain : Change of plans.

  Rook : Andy, stop her. Reconnect us now. No, no, no. You two cannot do this. The compound must be delivered to the company.

  Rain : I'm afraid I must deny your petition. Have a nice day.

  [Cuts off the transmission] 

  Rook : Now you better listen to me here, now, you two. You are insignificant in the great scheme of things. You...

  [the power to the station goes out] 

  Rook : No.

  [the station collides with the asteroid belt] 

• [after the successfully remove the facehugger from Navarro she wakes up freaking out] 

  Rain : It's gone. It's off of you. It's off of you. It's off. It's off. It's off.

  Bjorn : You're okay. You're okay.

  Rook : I wouldn't be so sure.

  Andy : What are the odds?

  Rook : 60 to 40 against your friend.

  Bjorn : What are the odds on what?

  Andy : That the creatures finished it's job already.

  Navarro : [weakly]  What is he talking about?

  Rook : Listen to me. Humans go through too many emotional stages before accepting the cold, yet rational sometimes hardest path. You must help them. You must help them.

  Rain : Andy? What's going on?

  Andy : I'm sorry, but we can't let her back on the ship.

  Bjorn : Oh, yeah? That is a problem.

  Rain : What're you doing?

  Andy : You must understand.

  Bjorn : You see? That's what I mean by funny ideas!

  Rain : What are you talking about? No, he's...

  [Bjorn zaps Andy with the taser knocking him backwards] 

  Rain : No! No!

  Bjorn : You fucking bitch!

• Rook : Z-01 contains the genome responsible for the Xeno's ability to accelerate and slow down its metabolism at will. Its symbiotic capableness easily rewrites the host's DNA through its blood. This is a much needed and well overdue upgrade for humanity. We simply cannot wait for evolution anymore.

• Rain : What is that?

  Tyler : Probably some fucked up bio-weapon, I'm sure.

  Rook : Actually quite the opposite. Andy, tell them. Tell them what I told you.

  Andy : Our colonies are dying. Unbearable temperatures, novel diseases every cycle. Toxic mine fumes. It's all one unforeseen tragedy after the other.

  Rook : Mankind was never truly suited for space colonization. They're simply too fragile. They're too weak. The work of this station aimed to change that. "The perfect organism." That's how we should refer to human beings. So, I set this wrong right. I took its gift for humanity. Inside the parasitoids I bioengineered from the Xenomorph's DNA, I discovered a unique non-Newtonian fluid. Life. In its most primal, unadulterated form. This microorganism can be the most destructive pathogen ever observed. But acetylated and synthesized in our lab, I've turned it into the miracle Mr. Weyland died searching for. Prometheus fire. The divine gift to humanity. Z-01 contains the genome responsible for the Xeno's ability to accelerate and slow down its metabolism at will. Its symbiotic capableness easily rewrites the host's DNA through its blood. This is a much needed and well overdue upgrade for humanity. We simply cannot wait for evolution anymore.

  Tyler : Yeah, can we get out of here now?

• [Bjorn and Tyler are trying to get the facehugger off of Navarro it's tail starts to choke her] 

  Rain : Stop! You gotta stop! Hey! It's choking her.

  Tyler : Shit. Stop! Bjorn! Bjorn, stop! For fuck's sake, stop. Stop!

  Bjorn : What's it doin'? Is it fuckin' killin' her?

  Andy : I do not believe that's what the creature is doing. No.

  Rain : Andy?

  Andy : Based on the rhythmic dilatation of those bladders, and it's synchronization to her breathing patterns, I'd surmise it's feeding her oxygen to keep her alive. For what purpose, I do not know.

  Bjorn : Sorry, who the fuck are you?

  Andy : I'm an ND-255 Weyland-Yutani synthetic. Originally built for mining and safety task. You guys call me Andy.

  Rain : It's that module.

  Andy : Yes. That new module didn't just upgrade my credentials. It's substantially updated my my AI, and it's mending my motor systems as we speak. A most overdue upgrade, I must say.

  Bjorn : [picking up the taser]  Shit. I'mma fucking fry this thing.

  Rain : Okay, wait.

  Andy : Don't!

  Bjorn : Why not?

  Andy : The amount of current will violently contract its tail flexors and will break her neck.

  Bjorn : So what, you got a better idea? What should we fucking do then, huh?

  Rain : Hey, hey, hey! Andy, do you know how to help her?

  Andy : I'm afraid my knowledge database has not really changed. I do not know what this creature is or how to remove it safely. But there's someone in this room who might.

  [They hook up the damaged synthetic] 

  Rook : I need to secure Z-01 compound. Missions priority. All other priorities rescinded. Must complete the mission.

  Andy : I'm sorry... but your mission has failed.

  Rook : What? No, I...

  Rain : Can you tell us what we can do to help her?

  Rook : You don't help her. You run. Get out, however you got in.

  Bjorn : No, no, no. Wait, whoa, whoa. Nah, we're not fuckin' leavin' her, okay? You understand?

  Rook : And have mercy and end her life now. If not, you all die.

  Bjorn : So what the fuck is he sayin'?

  Andy : What's it doing to her?

  Rook : The parasitoid is implanting the Plagiarus Praepotens in her.

  Andy : I beg your pardon?

  Rook : A seed that will amalgamate her DNA and rapidly grow out of her.

  Tyler : What's gonna grow out of her?

  [Motions them to the ceiling where a dead xenomorph is hanging] 

  Rook : XX121 Xenomorph. One of our towing ships first made contact with this specimen two decades ago. Of the seven crew members aboard the USS Nostromo, only one survived, blowing the creature out of the airlock. We've been searching for it ever since. 170 days ago, our search came to an end. And the body of the Xenomorph was brought on board presumed dead. But of course, lack of oxygen and food is of no true consequence to this perfect organism.

  Andy : Yet nothing is truly immortal. Clearly.

  Rook : It wreaked havoc over this station, until what was left of our security forces shot it dead. Only to trigger its swan song.

  Andy : Acid for blood?

  Rook : Sulfuric and hydrofluoric. I sealed the station back up, but it was too late.

  Bjorn : Hey, shut up. Nobody cares about your fucking ship anymore.