Reflection of the Mirror

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Corizon pressed his hands against the mirror. His reflection glinted in his eyes. It was said that when you looked into a mirror, you saw yourself, and yourself saw you. He had to wonder what the other side saw in him.

 

The smell of the bar filtered through his nostrils. The sounds of drinking filled his ears, which were pressed back against his head. The air hung thick with smoke and sweat. Seedy establishments were a good way to find information with out attracting too much attention, even if the environment was less than desirable.

 

He was looking for someone. He was on the prowl. But the man he hunted would not be here. Someone who knew him might though.

 

A hand caught his shoulder. The pinned ears lifted and the hair on his neck rose. Killing someone hadn’t been on the agenda for the night, but that might have just changed.

 

“If you wish to keep that hand,” Corizon said without turning, “I’d suggest you remove it from my shoulder.”

 

“The doggy has a nasty growl. But look at his collar, his master must be missing him.”

 

The man was clearly drunk. Corizon turned to see a group of humans sitting at table. The man who’d touched him was clearly their ringleader. Tall, maybe 6’3”, he was quite the specimen, even for a human. His breath smelled of liquor…cheap at that.

 

“And a worse bite.”

 

“That’s bold talk from an alien slave.”

 

Corizon snarled his response.

 

“Aww, look at the little doggy,” the drunk said to his friends who joined in laughter. “I wonder if we give him a treat if he’ll do tricks?”

 

“Like ripping you’re throat out?” Corizon smiled, scarily serious. “I do that for free.”

 

“You lay one hand on me slave, and you’re a dead dog. Why don’t you just tuck you’re tail between your legs and run back to your doghouse.”

 

Idiots like this reminded Corizon why the humans were so hated by the aliens. Normally, he’d go about his business. But this moron was pushing the limits of Corizon’s patience.

 

“Clearly I don’t have a tail.”

 

“How sad,” the drunkard continued. “He doesn’t have a tail, aww…”

 

“I am going to give you one chance to apologize, like a gentleman you idiot human, then…I am going to make you wish you’d never been born.”

 

“Oooo Doggy’s pissed.”

 

“I warned him…you all heard it.”

 

“Go ahead…touch me. Do you know who I am?”

 

Corizon moved quickly, sweeping the legs out from underneath the human bring him to his knees with a thud. With a quick motion, he slid a hand underneath the humans arm and behind his head, holding him in place. “Why don’t you enlighten me…”

 

“You’re dead slave.”

 

“Perhaps if I were a slave…”

 

The others at the table, and the room itself were now paying attention. So much for not drawing attention to himself. The humans compatriots stood up slowly. “Move, and I will kill you as well.”

 

The stopped in place.

 

“What do you mean if…”

 

Corizon reached to his neck and removed the “collar” the idiot had referenced earlier. It wasn’t a collar, but a chain holding an order. “I am no slave.”

 

The mans eyes opened wide. “Death Dealer…”

 

“Yes.”

 

Corizon didn’t waste anymore time. In a smooth motion he buried his claws into the throat of the drunk. Grasping at the windpipe he removed the offending organ. Gasping for breath Corizon let the man drop to the ground. Flexing his claws and relaxing them, he dropped the humans Adam’s apple at his feet.

 

He licked his claws clean of the blood that stained them and spat it on the ground. The blood of his prey tasted stale. Senseless killing didn’t have the same feel. No he liked the hunt. The thrill of the kill. That blood would have to wait. People were starting to stare.

His eyes fluttered and he splashed his face with water. He looked into the mirror once more. The man he saw was dark and cold. A killer. A death dealer. And all that separated them was inches.

 

A sound caught his ears…