Deacon



The Deacon — also known as a Proto-Xenomorph or Proto-Alien — is an artificial subspecies of Xenomorph created by the Mala'kak (Space Jockeys) to be used as a weapon, which turns around and backfires horribly. It bears many resemblances to a typical Xenomorph; however, it possesses more human-like teeth and has an erect bipedal posture. Its head shape is also unlike that of other Xenomorphs, and it seems to emerge using this pointed skull as opposed to simple biting 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. As of now it can only be speculated that it is an early stage of Xenomorph that undergoes evolutionary changes to become the recognizable parasitic alien more commonly known, or that its breed would simply evolve in a similar fashion to typical xenomorphs.

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 typical 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 typical 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 make-shift abortion; after Shaw leaves the area, she returns to see that although she removed the creature from her body it still grew 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, despite being two different strains of xenomorphs.

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 minutes, the Deacon is born fully-grown instead of requiring emergence as a Chestburster. It also completely bursts from the Space Jockey, not just from its chest, but its entire front side, using its head as a makeshift egg tooth.