Runner

The Runner is a Xenomorph-based strain, known primarily for its low key appearance, and shallow ranks within the Hive Hierarchy.

Anatomy and Genetics
The Xenomorph Runner is a result of embryonic impregnation of a quadruped host. With the embryo taking copy of the Host's DNA, in order to become more adaptive to the environment outside, is a direct result of this process.

As a result, the Runner walks on all four limbs as a means of permanent motion, as to a drone which can tune back and forth from upright, to all fours. The spine like tubes, similar to the ones seen on basic Xenomorph Drones, are gone, for the purposes of better mobility, i.e. rotation of the head. The runner is much faster than the other xenomorph forms but has limited strenghth. The runner is the result of a facehugger impregnating a dog, although in aliens vs predator 2 the game it is the result of embryonic impregnation of a Wayland Yutani corporation member in multiplayer mode. In the Alien 3 movie when it first comes out of the dog as a chestburster it has legs, arms, an inner jaw and is half the size of the adult runner. The runner seems to act best as a scout for the xenomorphs because of its speed.

Defects and Behavior
It should be noted that even though this strain presents great example of DNA adaptation, it does not primarily provide an adequate mentality; in other words, it could be that the Runner strain suffers from slight "retardation".

This being said, it has been noticed that on various incidents, Runners could be seen as the lowest chain in a Hive-like Hierarchy. Mostly used for sentry, or reconnaissance use, leaving the more internal job of Hive care to the higher Drones.

Facts

 * In the game Aliens Vs Predator 2, notes by Dr. Eisenberg can be found in the first Predator level, in the bowels of the "bomb shelter" like prefab. In these notes the Doctor christens these species Runners, and mentions their hostile and unorthodox behavior.
 * It could be known that the idea for the Runner was taken from the Alien seen in Alien³, or that the strain in Alien³ was, in fact, a Runner.

Appearances and Sources

 * Aliens Vs. Predator 2
 * Aliens Vs. Predator: Extinction
 * Alien³

Other Strains

 * Acid Alien
 * Arachnid Alien
 * Arachnoid
 * Bodyburster
 * Bull Alien
 * Carrier
 * Chrysalis
 * Commander Alien
 * Defender
 * Empress
 * Flying Alien
 * Flying Queen
 * Gorilla Alien
 * Infectoid
 * Jock-Alien
 * K-Series
 * Killer Crab Alien
 * King Alien
 * Leech Alien
 * Mantis Alien
 * Night Cougar Alien
 * Panther Alien
 * Praetorian
 * Predalien
 * Queen Facehugger
 * Queen Mother
 * Ravager Xenomorph
 * Razor Claws
 * Rhino Alien
 * Rogue Alien
 * Scorpion Alien
 * Smasher
 * Snake Alien
 * Super-Evolution Alien
 * Swarm Alien
 * Swimmer
 * White Hybrid
 * Wild Boar Alien
 * Xenoborg