Angry Jasper: Forty-six

“You’re the bounty hunter.” Said Thomas.

“Call me a jealous boyfriend.”

“Why didn’t you let him kill me?”

‘Thought about it, but my fight ain’t with you-for now.” Jazz pushed past Thomas, who quickly disappeared in the chaos. Jazz should have dropped him when he had the chance. He would come to regret that oversight, but that was to be a fight for another day.

The conspirators were now fighting a running battle with Thomas’ guards. The fight turned into a bloodbath as dozens were cut down in the wicked cross fire. Several of the guards turned on Jazz as he reached Kate’s side. He blasted them all before turning her over.

“Jazz?” she said, surprised.

“No time to talk, we have to get out of here.”

Maury’s man appeared at that moment. He felled two gunman with clean shots off the hips, like some gunslinger of old. Jazz blinked with surprise. The men had come up so quickly that in the confusion Jazz hadn’t noticed them.

“Thanks,” he said, lifting Kate into his arms.

“A deal’s a deal,” he shouted above the din.

At the center of the hall, amid the death and wild confusion several conspirators managed to surround Thomas. As they raised their weapons he transformed into something ghastly and unspeakably monstrous. Thomas’ eyes swelled and long spider-like legs appeared. The conspirators reeled back, momentarily taken aback by this sudden hideous revelation. Just as they raised their weapons Thomas’ razor-sharp legs sliced them to pieces in the blink of an eye.

Jazz nearly tripped over Buzz. Holding Kate as he was he didn’t see the robot until it was nearly too late. He hated that damn machine. More than once Jazz had to restrain himself from kicking it right in that smart mechanical mouth. Jazz stopped quickly enough, but Buzz kept going, obviously disoriented and overwhelmed by the madness all around. He ran head long (no pun intended) right into Jazz’ family jewels. Hard enough that Jazz nearly dropped Katy on the damned thing.

“Careful with those!” jazz winced. “They’re near and dear to my heart!”

“Closer to your brain,” said Kate. “Put me down. I can walk.”

“Katy!” came a terrifying cry from the far end of the chamber. It was Thomas, caught in some grotesque transition between human and creature. As his mouth opened wide, calling for Kate in an almost agonizing sort of way, strange black things slithered out. He started for them, those deadly spider legs clacking and clamoring across the floor, skewering or tearing to pieces anyone who got in the way. Jazz urged the others on and prepared himself for what he knew was certain death. His little ARP would do little more than piss the creature off. Only a blistering fusillade from the rallying conspirators drove Thomas back and chased him from the cathedral.

They were running out of time now. The Government man grabbed Jazz by the collar an dragged him towards the nearest escape, behind Kate and Buzz and Skullboy. “We have to get off the planet!”

Maury’s spy led the way, guiding them through the impossibly complex and disorienting maze of tunnels and passages. Jazz prayed the guy knew where he was going. Behind them something large charged through the passage. It shook the walls and made a sickening grinding sound as it forced its way through the narrowing tunnel. Jazz turned and came almost face to face with one of Thomas’ minions. It struck at him with those murderous legs, missing Jazz by inches. The thing cried in frustration, all by wedged into the tunnel. Indignant and not the least bit impressed with his first close encounter of any kind, jazz grabbed his crotch, spit and dispatched E.T. with two well placed mercury rounds.