Deacon



The Deacon — also known as a Proto-Xenomorph or Proto-Alien (also referred to as an Ultramorph in Prometheus' special features) — is an artificial Xenomorph-like species created by the Mala'kak (Space Jockeys) to be used as a weapon, which turns around and backfires horribly. It bears many resemblances to the Xenomorph; however, it possesses more human-like teeth and has an erect bipedal posture. Its head shape is also unlike that of Xenomorphs, and it seems to emerge from its host using its pointed skull as opposed to simply biting or punching through the ribcage.

Due to its erroneous and extreme failure, it appears to have been immediately decommissioned, as it is never seen again. Nothing else is shown of this creature, but many Alien and Prometheus fans believe, due to its resemblance to the Xenomorphs, that it is a subspecies of them or a different breed.

It should be noted that the Deacon and its constituent castes are NOT the same species of Xenomorph encountered on LV-426; rather, LV-223 was a facility housing prototypes of this sub-species. Additionally, this does not count into effect the evolutionary time and gap between 2093 (Prometheus) and 2122 (Alien), which is a 30 year gap, not long enough for it to have evolved properly. However, each known infestation of Xenomorphs also seems to be somewhat different than the others, indicating some level of special variation presumably on-set by genetics leeched from hosts and their overall environment. The Xenomorphs encountered in 2122 and again in 2179 were believed to have been in hibernation for several millennia earlier.

Life cycle
The life cycle of the Deacon is similar, but still remarkably unique when compared to the Xenomorphs. Some examples of this are that its head is elongated but ends in a point. It lacks a tail but instead of a mouth-like tongue (the double jaw), it literally has another mouth within its first one which slides forward more like a goblin shark. However, it does resemble the Xenomorph by its reptilian/insectoid appearance and exoskeleton (and presumably the endoskeleton a Xenomorph also possesses). It also stands on two legs like the Xenomorph can.

A Deacon is released into a host by a Trilobite, of which only one was known to have existed. This Trilobite was gestated as a fetus within Elizabeth Shaw's womb, where it grew with frightening speed. It was removed via Cesarean birth before it has fully grown and developed yet it survived the makeshift abortion; after Shaw leaves the area, she returns to see that although she removed the creature from her body it still grows to be a giant mutant-like creature. This growth seems to have occurred despite nothing to consume (which a chestburster needs to molt into a Drone or Warrior). The Trilobite has multiple tentacle-like legs and coloring that resembles a Facehugger. The Trilobite soon infects the Space Jockey with a tube-like organ that injects an egg/fetus through the Jockey's mouth. This is also behavior of a Facehugger. It even dies after infection like a Facehugger, indicating that the two are very likely related, though it has not been confirmed that whether the Trilobite is part of the Xenomorph species or an entirely its own species separated from the Xenomorph.

The egg which produced it is believed to have been injected by the tentacled creature, tentatively referred to as a Trilobite by fans. After only a couple hours, the Deacon is born. It completely bursts from the Space Jockey, not just from its chest, but its entire front side, using its head as a makeshift egg tooth.