“What now, agent?” Bollar asked, with a deep voice that sounded like he was drowning.
“Now,” Trent answered, “we teleport you to the cryogenic holding cell where you will remain there until we get back to Ashlar. Then you will be charged with the multiple crimes and murders you committed here on this planet, along with the murders of the guards and your escape from the transfer ship.”
“I killed no one on that transfer ship!” he gargled.
“You didn’t?” Genghis incredulously added. “What of that guard by the name of Mallton? As far as I know you were the only inmate incarcerated on that ship with arms like that.” He gestured with his head.
“How about we make a deal?” Bollar drooled. “You turn me back to the way I was, and I leave this wretched town and never look back. And before I go, I’ll give you Prodor Moffit.”
This got both their attention. “You’ve been in touch with Moffit?” Trent asked.
“Of course. He’s here. Turn me back and I’ll tell you where to find him.”
“We’re not turning you back, Bollar,” Trent replied. “You give us Moffit and I’ll make sure to tell my superiors that you cooperated.”
“What, and get a lighter sentence on murder!” Bollar angrily spat.
“That’s all we can do for you. Where can we find Moffit?”
“I’ll give you some information as a good will gesture.” Bollar said. “He produces a drug that the locals are buying up like candy.”
“Go on, we’re listening,” Genghis said.
“I believe they call it Dragon's Breath. Now, how about you change me back, and I’ll tell you more.”
“We can’t turn you back, Bollar,” Trent said. “So, you might as well tell us what you know.”
“What do you mean can't?”
“Because it is not possible to go through replication more than twice.”
“So, now I can’t coexist on this planet even if I could?”
“That’s correct, Bollar,” Genghis said. “So, you might as well tell us what you know.”
“Very well then agents,” Bollar said. “You can find Prodor right HERE!” Bollar swung a large tentacle at Jeff like a whip. It caught him in the mid-section and threw him five feet. Trent lost his grip on his PK30A and watched it sail through the air seemingly in slow motion.
Genghis instinctively lunged for Bollar with a snarl, but Bollar was already swinging the tentacle back toward Genghis. He lifted him off all fours and threw him hard against the sidewall. Genghis made a yelping noise and slid to the ground. Trent was reaching for his K8 handgun from his holster when the whip struck him again and wrapped around his neck. Two more tentacles grabbed each arm.
Bollar was now much stronger then his former self and lifted Trent off the ground and pinned him to the back wall. The fourth tentacle started to methodically remove the other weapons from Trent, tossing them to the ground.
“You're not much without your weapons and canine, are you, agent?” Bollar said, as spit hit Trent in the face. “I’ve killed several IPF agents on that transfer ship, two more won’t matter, will it?” Bollar looked over at Genghis, motionless on the ground. “Well, one more won’t matter. Then I’ll take your finger. And then I'll replicate myself back, because you lied to me about that, didn’t you, agent? Just to get me to talk.” Trent felt the tentacle tighten around his neck so that it was completely impossible to breathe. He started to get tunnel vision as the blood circulation cut off.
The gunshot came from behind Bollar. The round embedded itself in a thick fleshy part of his back. Bollar only felt annoyance. He loosened his grip on Trent, but kept him pinned to the wall as he slowly turned.
Jennifer was standing with Trent’s PK30A shaking badly in both hands. “You let him go, you big ugly fuck!” She said with tears filling her eyes.
“Little earth girl,” Bollar said, regarding her with minute interest. “I will take two of your fingers.” He then whipped a long tentacle toward her.
She saw it coming and screamed loudly and fired two shots back to back. One went high, but the second slammed into Bollar’s right eye, obliterating it and exiting out of the back of his head in a cloud of pink-green mist. The round continued and struck the back wall, not a foot from Trent’s head.
Jeff felt the tension of Bollar’s tentacle momentarily tighten, then slowly loosen. It slipped from around his neck and fell. Bollar stood dead for a second until gravity took hold of him and brought him to the ground in a cloud of dust.
Jennifer stood with the PK still violently shaking in her hands and still pointing at where Bollar once stood, the space now occupied by Jeff. Jennifer’s breathing was heavy, and she had a disconnected look in her wet eyes.
Jeff moved very slowly at first, extending his hand. “Jennifer?” he quietly said. “Jennifer, it’s alright. It’s over.” Jeff took a tentative step forward, not sure if Jennifer would just start arbitrarily shooting at other aliens, like himself. “Jennifer, it's me, Jeff. Hand me the gun. Twinkie? The gun?”
She just kept staring into space, PK trembling in her hands. Then her eyes refocused on Jeff. She was still breathing heavily and her voice broke when she said, “He killed Genghis.” Tears slid down her cheeks.
Jeff gently reached out and took the gun from her just as they both heard, “Twink!” Genghis was slowly getting up.
Jeff flipped the safety on and checked the weapon. It had a round chambered and was ready to fire.
“I’m fine, Twinkie. I’m sure as hell not dead!” He stood, but had trouble putting his right hind leg on the ground.
She ran over and knelt down by him. “Are you sure?” She saw a drop of blood drip from his nose. “No you'renot!” She took the bottom of her shirt and wiped his nose. Genghis slowly pulled his head away and looked her in the eyes.
“Twinkie, really, I’m fine.”
Jeff looked at both of them
