Ash was a Hyperdyne Systems 120-A/2 synthetic and the Science Officer aboard the USCSS Nostromo during its 2122 return from Thedus. He had been placed aboard the vessel two days before its launch, replacing the Nostromo's regular Science Officer and the crew were unaware of his true nature. Ash supervised the analysis of the alien organism that attached itself to Executive Officer Gilbert Kane during an investigation on a derelict space vessel. Ash was under the orders of Special Order 937 to return the organism to Weyland-Yutani and attempted to kill Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley. He was deactivated by the remaining crew after they caught him trying to kill Ripley, and his status as a synthetic was revealed.
Biography[]
Activation[]
Ash was a Hyperdyne Systems 120-A/2 model Synthetic activated by Weyland-Yutani Corporation in 2118. Fully loyal to the company's interests, he was placed aboard the USCSS Nostromo in 2121 and replaced the ship's regular Science Officer. Mother, the computer aboard the Nostromo, had picked up a signal of unknown origin on the ship's journey to Thedus. The company believed it was from a signal from a lost mapping satellite, so decided to replace the regular science officer with Ash to represent company interests when the ship was diverted to check it out on the return journey. The regular Nostromo crew were unaware of Ash's true nature as a Synthetic.[1]
USCSS Nostromo Incident[]
On route back to Earth from Thedus, Mother awoke the crew near Zeta II Reticuli to investigate the signal of unknown origin. When Captain Arthur Dallas was informed of the situation by Mother, some of the crew were resistant to the idea since it was not in their job description. Ash pointed out that if they failed to investigate per company regulations, then they would forfeit all their shares for the job.[2]
The Nostromo, decoupled from its refinery, landed on the planetoid the signal was emanating from. Captain Dallas, Executive Officer Gilbert Kane, and Navigator Joan Lambert departed the ship to investigate despite hostile environmental conditions. Ash monitored their progress as they discovered a derelict alien craft. Ash lost contact with them as their entered the craft. During this time, Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley had been attempting to decode the signal they had received, and told Ash that she believed it was a warning.[2]
Dallas and Lambert returned to the Nostromo with an incapacitated Kane who had an alien creature attached to his face. Ripley initially refused to allow them back on the Nostromo due to quarantine protocols, but Ash disobeyed and allowed them onboard. Taking Kane to the infirmary, Ash began to examine the creature. Determining that trying to pull the creature off would not work, he attempted to cut one of the organism's digits off. The creature bled acid that ate through several decks. With no way to remove the organism, Ash continued to monitor Kane.[2]
Shortly after, the creature detached from Kane's face and seemingly disappeared. Ash, Dallas, and Ripley searched the infirmary for it and found it had died. Ripley wanted to eject the organism from the ship, but Ash insisted they keep it for study since this was the first time humans had encountered this species. While examining the creature, Ash was interrupted by Ripley. She wanted to know why he had countermanded her order regarding quarantine. Ash quickly grew annoyed by her questions.[2]
Ash later notified Captain Dallas that Kane's condition changed and that he was now conscious. After Kane was visited by the crew, Dallas decided to resume course for Earth, although the crew would gather for dinner before going back into stasis. Ash joined the crew for the last meal and was present when Kane went into convulsions and helped restrain him. As Dallas and the others restrained Kane, a creature erupted from his chest, killing him. As Chief Engineer Dennis Parker was going to kill the creature, Ash quickly stopped him. Before the crew could catch it, the creature escaped into the ship.[2]
Dallas ordered the crew to find and capture the creature so they could throw it out of the airlock. Ash built some tracking devices that registered microchanges in air density to find the creature. The crew split up into two teams with Ash joining Dallas and Lambert. Ash later heard that the creature grew to at least the size of a man and that it attacked Engineering Assistant Samuel Brett and took him into the vents.[2]
Ash was later paired up with Ripley when Dallas volunteered to go into the ducts to flush the creature out and force it into an airlock to eject it into space. As Dallas made his way through the ducts, Lambert tracked the creature approaching him. Dallas attempted to retreat out of the ducts, but was captured by the creature. All Parker found was his incinerator unit.[2]
Revelation[]
Ash taunting the survivors.
After the alien killed Dallas, Ripley assumed command of the ship. She railed against Ash's failures to provide answers about the creature or a way to kill it. Accessing Mother, Ripley learned about Special Order 937, a company directive that was for the Science Officer's eyes only. It directed Ash to ensure the survival of the creature and return to Earth. All other considerations were not a priority, and the crew were considered to be expendable.[2]
With Ripley aware of the truth, Ash attacked and tried to kill her. Parker and Lambert rescued Ripley, and Parker struck Ash in the head. This revealed his true nature as a synthetic; Parker attacked again, and the blow took off Ash's head. Ripley brought Ash online again to ask him about the company directive. Ash was not convinced of their survival changes and offered them his sympathies. Parker turned his incinerator unit on Ash's body, destroying him.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
- Dan O'Bannon's original script treatment for Alien did not include Ash. Producers Walter Hill and Ronald Shusett felt that the film needed a secondary story element, so they added the sub-plot of Ash, the android spy who ultimately betrays the crew. O'Bannon was displeased with this, feeling that it was a cheap gag and disingenuous to his original vision. He referred to the new material as suffering from "Russian Spy" syndrome.
- On the director's commentary for the Alien special edition DVD, Ridley Scott attempts to rationalize the scene where Ash tries to kill Ripley. Scott ascribes a Freudian sexual conflict to the character of Ash, noting that as an android, Ash is not anatomically complete, and he vents his sexual frustration upon Ripley when he tries to force a rolled-up pornographic magazine (hint: phallic symbol) down her throat.
- Like most synthetics that appeared in the films, Ash follows an alphabetical name pattern with regard to the film release dates: Ash, Bishop, Call, David. This pattern was broken with the release of Alien: Covenant, with the title ship being run by a synthetic named Walter.
- Ash's blood is colored water. Milk was not used as it would have gotten very smelly very quickly under the hot studio lights. Milk was used though for the close-up of his innards, along with pasta and glass marbles.
- According to Ian Holm, Ash's head contained spaghetti, cheap caviar and onion rings.
Appearances[]
- Alien (First appearance)