INT. REBEKAH SMITH'S OFFICE - NIGHT

REBEKAH SMITH (29, plain) talks soothingly to her client, SHALISSA ROBERTS (20s, bald), who is rocking back and forth in her seat.

REBEKAH

Shalissa, I'm telling you: we can win this if you just-

SHALISSA

No! H-he's already burned me jus' for comin' here once. He'll do worse next time, I know it!

Shalissa rises from her seat.

SHALISSA

I'm sorry, Ms. Rebekah, I really am but...

Shalissa points to her shaved head, gingerly touching the faint burned marks that dot her scalp.

SHALISSA

I can't go through this again...

REBEKAH

(grimly)

And you won't. Trust me. We have evidence that Shawn was at your apartment a few minutes before the fire.

SHALISSA

(stuttering)

B-but...they said h-he had an-an alibi and-

REBEKAH

I looked into the cops who conducted the investigation. Shaun had bribed one and threatened the other's family when she refused to take the money. They thought they'd cut the cameras, but it was still secretly recording. We've got the lies all on tape.

SHALISSA

So he's...

REBEKAH

(smiling)

Shaun's going to go to jail for a long, long time, Shalissa. You don't have anything to worry about for a little while. At least, not from him anymore.

SHALISSA

He's still got his boys-

REBEKAH

They won't get off without some charges, too. They were involved with some other scandals besides yours. While we might not be able to convict them on your trial, rest assured I'll have them in the slammer, too.

SHALISSA

Well...

REBEKAH

Until the trial ends, we'll have you in witness protection. Don't worry; I have you covered.

Shalissa starts to smile and say something but a rustling noise cuts her off. She jumps and both women turn toward the noise.

SHALISSA

(nervous)

T-the hell was that?

REBEKAH

Sounds like it was coming from the closet.

Rebekah stands and walks over to the office closet. She opens the closet doors and screams as a purple blob lunges at her. Shalissa screams as well, hiding behind the table.

REBEKAH

(unintelligible)

Ack-gak- hulp meff-fwap!

The purple blob attempts to shove its viscous mass into Rebekah's mouth. Her choked screams grow more agitated as the creature forces itself deeper inside of her.

PURPLE BLOB

Quiet, mortal! Zex will assimilate you in peace!

ZEX finally enters Rebekah's mouth fully. She starts choking, falling to the floor as she clasps her throat. Her body starts convulsing as Zex moves inside of her.

Finally, she stills.

REZEKAH

Ah! Finally. What a struggle. Now, let's see if Zex can move these controls...

Rebekah's body twitches. Her arm swings out involuntarily, slamming into the closet.

REZEKAH

Ow! This fragile body! Why is the pain tolerance so low? How long is it going to take to take control of this nervous system...

Rezekah mumbles unintelligibly for a moment before trilling happily. Rebekah's body sits up and then slowly begins to stand.

REZEKAH

There we go...Nice and easy. Nice host, nice host. Oof. A two-legs? I've not piloted one of these since three worlds ago...

Rezekah takes a step forward and nearly falls. They catch themselves on the edge of the table. Huffing softly, they right themselves and take another careful step.

SHALISSA

(quietly)

What the fuuu-

Rezekah's head snaps up toward her. They frown.

REZEKAH

Detection before Zex has been properly assimilated? Not ideal.

Rezekah's free hand starts to stretch, growing beyond normal human proportions. The end tapers off into a sharp, hooked point.

SHALISSA

(panicked)

W-wait! I won't say anything, I swear-

The hook swings toward her, ripping into the side of her head with a meaty smack. Shalissa slumps against the table, dead. As Rezekah pulls their arm back, parts of her head are attached to it.

They smile.

REZEKAH

Excellent. Zex will have to be more careful in the future. Zex cannot murder too many of the native population before discovery...

The door to Rebekah's office slams shut. Rezekah zips their head around to see a gray shape running down the hall. They hiss.

REZEKAH

(angry)

No! The host is still not fully under control! Stupid, stupid complex bodily systems!

Rezekah starts carefully waddling to the door. Their legs tremble as they walk across the room. Just as their body is about to collapse, Rezekah stretches out their arms and grabs the doorknob.

Their arms contract, dragging the rest of their body towards the door.

REZEKAH

The hands are useful, though, Zex must admit. In this state, however, Zex will be unable to catch the human that spotted it.

The inhuman creature hisses.

REZEKAH

(annoyed)

Zex is displeased. No matter. Further assimilation must occur at the host's home base. There, Zex will plot its escape.

Without looking back, Rezekah rips the door off of its hinges with ease. They giggle as they wobble out of the office, leaving a broken door and a corpse in their wake.