Fire Down Below

McCoy made a mistake.

He should've been smart. Should've waited for the cops, instead of trying to be the hero.

Now he got to watch the black..things circle his men like sharks circling a raft in a cartoon.

Except it wasn't the least bit funny.

Where were those cops, anyway?

Out loud, he said, "No aggression."

Someone said, "They seem pretty aggressive to me, boss."

"Easy. We head back to the truck. No sudden movements."

"And what if they follow us?"

"We'll burn that bridge when we come to it. Start moving on three. One, two, three, go!"

They shuffled toward the truck.

McCoy half expected somebody to break.

And he should have seen it would be the probie.

Fiero crouched, screamed something inarticulate, and darted for the nearest creature.

Which didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't run away.

It was hard to tell in all the mist, but McCoy was pretty certain she was smiling.

His heart hit the deck. "Fiero, don't-"

Fiero swung with all his might. Really put his back into it.

McCoy knew the kid had played college ball. First string. Whenever they practiced softball, and Fiero got a bit, he always sent the ball out past the fence.

So it was a bit surprising to see the alien lash out, grab the tool with one hand, shove it downward, and wrap the black claws of its other hand, around Fiero's throat, all in the space of a heartbeat.

The kid tried to pull his tool away, to smack at the aliens arm. It didn't even seem to notice.

Dylan went, "Mac-"

"Don't move!" McCoy snapped, to her and everyone else. "Nobody move! If we spook it..."

"If we spook it? What about us?"

"Stow it, Nero!"

The alien pulled Fiero closer. Which put it in kicking range. It didn't really seem to notice those either.

Fiero's helmet hit the ground.

Then the monster ripped off Fiero's mask, and kissed him.

Some of the crew cursed. One or two took a step forward. McCoy held out his free arm. They all froze.

The alien released Fiero, stepped back and threw him at the other firefighters.

The impact knocked a few of them over, but fear made him scramble to his feet almost instantly. He yanked his breather over his face again.

And again.

And again.

"It's-it's not working!" he shouted, from the far side of panic.

McCoy blinked. Were the straps broken? Why wouldn't i-

Even in the smoke, even in the night, he could see the back of Fiero's head getting longer. Into a smooth, rounded, dark shape.

Oh.

McCoy swallowed.

And the only thing he could think of was, They never covered this at the academy.

"Change of plans," he rasped. "We run for the truck."

Dylan asked, "What about Fiero?"

McCoy opened his mouth.

"...Guys?"

They all looked at Fiero.

"I feel...I feel funny. My hands..."

Were almost black, and had cruel claws, and got longer even as McCoy watched.

Fiero giggled.

And maybe it was the gear muffling McCoy's ears, But he could have sworn that Fiero's laugh was a little more high pitched.

"We move on three," McCoy said.

As it happened, they never made it past "two".

Commentary in the comments.