742 Words, this chapter. Another short one, again on purpose.

Chapter Twelve, Just a Costume 2: Redressed

Becker cursed, running as fast as he could into the corridor just outside Ops.

He had pulled away from the others, moving faster than normally possible. Adrenaline was kicking in. He had to get to Jess.

He entered the corridor. Jess ran in from Ops. When she saw him, she froze.

"Jess?"

She just looked at him.

"Are you OK?"

She stood still.

He noticed the panic in her eyes.

He had a sickening thought. "Jess, are you inside Ops?"

Just then Jess lunged at him.

The team entered the corridor to see a strange scene: Jess pouncing on Becker.

"Becker?" asked Jess in his comm. "What's going on?"

"Creature...is...outside Ops!" he cried, struggling with a crazed creature in the form of the woman he loved.

"Becker!" cried Matt. He couldn't fire. He'd hit the captain.

"Shoot!" cried the Captain.

The team shook their heads. He was just too entwined.

Finally Becker mustered the strength to do the unthinkable: he smacked Jess hard with his head.

She/it staggered back.

The creature hissed.

Becker fired. And missed.

It ran down the corridor. Becker and the team followed.

The Jess creature ran at an amazing speed, hissing and snarling at ARC personnel in the way.

"Move!" cried Becker, trying to follow it.

He cursed as the team came to an intersection of hallways.

"Which one?" asked Emily.

Becker shook his head. "I'll go straight." He ran forward, not waiting for a reply from anyone.

"Abby, Connor, go left. Em and I will take the right."

They nodded.

Jess watched on her monitors as the team split up.

"We'll back up Becker," said Vale.

She nodded. He and the others left Ops, running to assist their Captain.

Becker had no idea if he was on its trail. "Jess?"

"I'm here," she answered through the comm.

He chuckled. "I didn't think that was you, but it's good to be sure."

She laughed. "I'm never that crazed, even when I haven't had chocolate for a while."

He laughed again. "Do you see it?"

"You mean me?"

"It could have changed again," said Matt.

"Great. How do we find it if it has?" asked Abby.

"I'm looking for a crazed ARC person running and hissing at everyone he or she sees," answered Jess.

"Sounds good," said Becker.

"Damn!" cried Jess.

"You lost it?"

"No. It's still me. That makes me angry."

Becker had to laugh. "You've looked better, babe."

"Thanks a lot."

"Where is it?" asked Matt.

"It's running toward the canteen. I'll alert Chef Rice."

"That means I'm on it's trail," said Becker.

"We're behind you, Sir," said Vale.

"Good. I don't want to confront my girlfriend alone again. She's a beast."

"Ha ha," said a perturbed Jess. "It's not me. It looks like me. It's not."

Becker laughed. "I know. I'm reminding myself that."

Jess smiled. "I'm glad you're not enjoying beating me up."

"It had the advantage last time," he said.

"It may again," said Matt. "Stay alert."

"It's heading toward the elevators," said Jess. "Can it work those?"

"Let's not take chances," said Becker. "We need to contain it."

"We don't know what else it can do," said Abby. "We don't want it attacking anyone."

Becker neared the elevators. "I see it. It's still Jess." He cursed inwardly.

"You have my permission to man-handle the thing," said Jess.

He laughed. "Thank you."

It heard him. It turned.

Becker took aim, right at his girlfriend. Or what looked like her.

She looked terrified.

'Not her,' he told himself.

'Jess' hissed again, looking very un-ladylike. She spit at him. He dodged the goo, keeping his aim on 'Jess.' Her beautiful blue eyes darted about, looking for a way to escape.

Becker recognized the look of a trapped, scared animal.

It was about to pounce on him. He could tell.

He had no choice. He fired.

His beautiful, loving girlfriend made a horrible screech, a definite inhuman sound, as it tried one last leap at freedom.

In the same second that Becker fired it leapt backwards.

Becker watched as the form of Jess Parker fell into the empty elevator shaft. He moved to the elevator and looked down.

He stared at the crumpled body of the woman he loved.

End of Chapter Twelve