Chapter Nine
Flash
Kay saw Peryn preparing to slit the girl's throat. Out of desperation, the agent tackled him to the ground and pried the knife out of the alien's hands.
"You have no idea what you're doing," whispered Peryn.
Moments later, Kay had killed him. Ember sat silently, tied to the chair, cheeks stained with tears.
"It's okay," Kay reassured her. "Everything's okay now."
Upon closer inspection, Ember had a thin cut diagonally across her chest. It was from Peryn, who, when he fell, hadn't moved the knife away from the girl. She slumped limply in the chair.
"Damn it."
Kay untied her and carried her to the door.
"Not so fast, agent," came the voice of the Supreme Commander. He stepped into the doorway, holding a gun in each of his hands. "Put her down, or you both die."
"No."
"Oh. I suppose you want her to be killed now. I'll make it as painful as possible. And after you watch, you can go down with her."
"What do you want from me?"
"Put her down, and hand over your neuralizer. Or, you know, die."
Kay didn't want to listen. He wanted to fight his way out or go down trying. But Ember's life was at stake now. Slowly, unsurely, he did as the alien told him.
The Supreme Commander looked the neuralizer over. "What a beautiful object. Capable of so much, isn't it?"
Ember tried to sit up. The effort made the cut on her chest bleed even more, so she groaned and lay back down.
"Everything is going perfectly," the Supreme Commander said. In one swift movement, he powerfully kicked the agent, sending him into the interrogation room. "Now that he's taken care of...Look here, girl."
Flash.
No.
The alien started to speak the words of what was to be Ember's new memory, but Kay was too weak to intervene. His eyes had been closed during the flash of the neuralizer, thankfully. Yet now, the memories of the seer had been destroyed.
"You are a lieutenant of the Alliance Against Alien Slaughter. For weeks, you were held hostage by Agent Kay of the Men in Black. He wants to capture you, for you are the Key, a force that could destroy or save the world."
How hadn't Kay realized she truly was the Key?
Kay struggled to stand. He had to get to her. He had to correct this.
"What...happened to me?" Ember whispered.
"The agent did this to you. The Men in Black are ruthless, you see."
"No," Kay said. He staggered to them. "It's not true, Ember."
Things started to go dark for Kay. He fell to the ground.
Voices.
"MIB! Freeze!"
Jay.
"Hello, Men in Black. I knew you'd come."
The Supreme Commander.
Cries of pain from Ember.
Finally, darkness rushed over Kay. He had no idea what would happen when he woke.