Why did the cloned Xenomorphs kill one of their own in order to escape their holding cells when they could spit acid? Wouldn't they have been able to just spit at the ground, thus melting it?
It just seems illogical given these creatures' survival-driven instinct. So what are your thoughts on this?
Here is what I meant, the spitting happens at around 0:50.
I also noticed that Drones from the first 2 movies were also able to spit acid according to this wiki article.
FATHER is continually monitoring the structural integrity of the holding cage. Spitting acid would have weakened the bars, but not before the handlers were able to use the nitrogen gas button to incapacitate the xenomorphs. By ripping one of their number apart, they were able to spread acid all around them (and cover themselves in it), hastening their escape.
“There is serious structural damage to animal holding facility number zero, zero, one. There is serious structural damage to animal holding facility number zero, zero, one. The damage is sufficient to breach the security of animal holding facility number zero, zero, one. There is serious structural damage to animal holding facility number—”
Note that the official novelisation mentions that the Alien that was killed was suffering from a bout of individualism. Despite being able to see the sense of killing itself for the greater good, it was also reluctant to allow this to happen.
The first warrior turned to his closer brother, transmitted information to him. The second warrior absorbed the information. He stopped pacing. Together, the two looked back at the third. The smaller one understood their objective, their reasons, the whole new concept. He even agreed with it. However, he was also burdened with his own individuality, and edged back against the wall of the cave nervously.
