The Aethon, more commonly named the Deacon due to its characteristic head shape, and sometimes dubbed Plagiarus noxapater—to wit, "mimic father of night"—was a stage in the life cycle of the Proto-Xenomorph species. One such creature emerged following the destruction of the USCSS Prometheus on the moon LV-223 in 2093. The Deacon was also encountered on the Weyland-Yutani Corporation mining station Erebos in 2185 as the facility was overtaken by a living Proto-Hive. Reports implied that the Deacon was not the end result of the Proto–Xenomorph evolution, with scientists positing the possibility of a further form dubbed the Archdeacon.