Like his father before him (also named Bishop), was a loyal Weyland-Yutani scientist working in various fields for the company, though specializing in the area of synthetic humanoid design and construction. One of his most successful android designs was that of a synthetic which he created in his own image, and named, aptly, Bishop. It was one of these models, serial number 341-B, that accompanied the marine expedition to LV-426. A time after this droid was sent out on this mission, Bishop II was told by company representatives that he must leave immediately for the prison planet Fiorina-161. Although not wanting to leave the comfort of his usual practice, he did not wish to defy the company and reluctantly obliged. It was not until then that the representatives filled Bishop II in on the full scope of the situation and the nature of the mission to Fiorina-161. As he learned of the specimen(s) which he was to attempt to retrieve, Bishop II became blinded to the danger of the creatures as his mind grew more and more fixated on his scientific fascination with them. Although not a dishonest man by nature, he was willing to do almost anything to retrieve an alien for his personal studies.
- "It's a magnificient specimen!"
And dishonesty was certainly part of
Weyland-Yutani's plan to get a beast. Bishop II had been brought
along in order to show Ripley a face that she knew and would be
more likely to trust... and thus make her more likely to comply
when asked to come along to the company ship to have the alien
embryo removed from her. But this plan didn't work out as well as
they had hoped. Ripley was initially distrusting of Bishop II
(whom she first believed to be merely another android of the same
model as the one she knew). But Bishop II kept pressing her to
allow them to remove the alien from her chest, claiming that once
they had done so, they were going to kill it.
- "We can't allow it to live. Everything we know would be in jeopardy."
Ripley still didn't believe in him and asked for some sort of promise that the monster would be killed.
- "What proof do I have - once you've taken it out - that you'll destroy it?" - Ripley
- "You'll have to trust me. Please... trust me?" - Bishop II
- "...No." - Ripley
And with that, Ripley slammed a gate in Bishop II's face and, together with Morse, manuvered the crane platform out over the huge blast furnace. One of the company men (who were standing by with pulse rifles) fired at Morse, hitting him in the leg. Bishop II cried out for them to stop, and then seemingly tried to apoligize to Ripley and Morse for what the man had just done.
- "It was a mistake! There was no need for any of it... "
Aaron, one of the two company officials that worked at the prison, who had earlier believed that the company officials had Ripley and the rest of the survivors' best interests in mind, was standing by at this time, and felt that he could stay silent no longer after seeing Morse shot. He picked up a piece of scrap metal lying nearby and hit Bishop II hard on the shoulders. Bishop II cringed and stumbled, covering the bleeding area with his hands. The company men standing by acted quickly and shot Aaron. Bishop II, undaunted, turned his attention back to Ripley as she rode the crane platform farther out over the furnace.
"Ripley! Think of all we can learn
from it! It's the chance of a lifetime!"
Ripley ignored Bishop II's pleas and stood with her back to the furnace far below. Bishop II looked at her curiously, and wondered out loud about her actions.
- "What are you doing?"
With that, Ripley plummetted backwards into the furnace. Bishop II cried out as he watched her fall, and the company men stared on in silent disbelieft as she fell into the flames far beneath her.
Written by Doug Skiles (rskiles@mail.win.org)