Stan heard the car explode. They alldid. They rushed outside.
Bullock’s car! He’s dead! No! NowI’ll never get that promotion, Stan proclaimed, falling to hisknees. And my boss is gone. I’m not that heartless.
I’m right here, Smith, Bullockyelled. He had Roger pinned to the ground and had a knife in hishand. Now help me get rid of this space pest. It’s been nothingbut a burden for the CIA for years now. Now I’ve finally got thesneaky bastard.
I saved your life, bub. Rogerdidn’t want to die. Are you just going to kill me? You’d be deadright now if it weren’t for me.
It talks? Bullock was shocked.Stan hurry and help me. We need to kill it.
But sir, he did save your life.Don’t you have any feelings? Stan didn’t want Roger to die. He hadsaved his life, too.
He? You say it as if you know thiscreature. It’s just a pest that needs to die now. Now help me.
Stan help! Roger screamed.
Bullock stopped. What? How does thisthing know your name, Smith?
Well sir, his name’s Roger. I owehim my life, and you do too, sir. Remember back at area 51 when heescaped? He paused, and Bullock nodded, now on his feet. Stancontinued, I was in the lab that was blown up, but I had knockedmyself unconscious. Roger grabbed me and pushed me down the laundrychute. I had to let him stay with me.
Smith, you do realize that I’ll haveto fire you, then kill you, then kill your family, right?
Sir, please. I was returning afavor. A favor of life. Don’t you have a heart? Why can’t you sparehim? He hasn’t done anything to you, except save your life.
Bullock thought about this for a fewseconds. He did, in fact, owe the creature his life. What if ithadn’t saved him? He’d surely be dead. But on the other hand, he’dbeen hunting for it for years. What to do?
Deputy Director Bullock, won’t youplease come in for dinner? Francine had prepared a delicious meal;she didn’t want it to go to waste.
Of course, Francine. And while I’meating, I’ll ponder on what to do about your husband.
They all went inside. Francine hadprepared a gorgeous ham, glazed to perfection.
Francine, that looks scrumptious,Bullock said.
Why thank you, Deputy DirectorBullock.
Please, Francine, call me Avery.
All right, Avery. I hope you enjoyyour meal. Francine served Bullock first, then Stan, then Hayleyand Steve. She went upstairs to give Roger some food, but he wasgone.