His screaming ribs prevented him taking the deep sigh he craved, adrenaline rushing around his system as he automatically headed for the docks. Knowing he was crazy to be persuing the matter after what he had seen, nonetheless he felt there was something alot bigger then merely one lawbreaker going on here. And besides, Reno let a small smile creep over his face, if Bobby heard that there had been trouble and that his prize bounty hunter hadn't ended up slap-bang in the middle of it, he was bound to be disappointed.

The headlight of his Harley cut a swathe through the darkness as he wheeled somewhat recklessly through the streets, not recognising things as easily as he had in daylight. Soon though, he saw signs that he was nearing the docks, and he slowed, wondering where to start. His gun nudged his side as he turned his Harley to the left, ignoring the sharp pains that shot through his chest and straining his eyes through the darkness, coming out onto the edge of the working docks and seeing a pier looming in the distance.

As he was about to head in the other direction, a green blast sent waves of light across the water, emmanating from the bridge and then several distant shots rang out, carrying easily in the slight night breeze. Furrowing his brow and gunning his bike engine Reno shot towards the pier, 400 yards to cover. Streaming along beside the docks, the wind once again whipping his shirt and pushing against tender ribs, he watched the pier like a hawk, occasional blasts of light illuminating a crowd of huge alien creatures maneuvering one smaller one out to the end.

Overwhelmed by the strangeness of it all, he gained ground and roared closer to the action, now able to make out in the moonlight as they threw a figure into the choppy waves below, sprawling through the air before it crashed into the water with a smash and sunk quickly below the surface.

200 yards. Reno squeezed the gear handle.
The huge figures strode away from the pier, and Reno's mind shook aside the notion that a flying figure led them. Rediculous.

100 yards.
His eyes searched the water for signs of the figure emerging, white knuckles gripping the handlbars hard.

50 yards. 20.

Throwing the bike away to his right and ingoring the angry putting of the engine as it turned over and then died out, he ran out along the pier, his ribs screeching their protest. Reaching the end he ran past lengths of rope and discarded boulders, his mind reaching the horrifying conclusion - they had weighted the figure down. Without further thought Reno threw his gun aside, pulled his boots off, and with one glance to the water metres below he launched himself off the wooden platform in a hasty swan-dive.

He hit the ice cold autumn water head first, the temperature and the impact shocking the breath out of him once again, and he struggled for a gasp as he surfaced, paddling wildy. Giving himself only one chance to take a lungful, he dived under, the pain of the cold lancing into his head as he struck downwards, reaching out with groping hands and heading for the bottom. Stroking down and down, pain groping his chest like a vice every time he swung his arms, his eyes shut tight and teeth clenched, he went deeper and deeper.

Just as he thought his lungs would give out and his ribs would snap from the pressure his fingers screaped through rough sand. Striking out to the side he flailed out in the direction he guessed was nearest to where the figure had fallen. Desperately he pushed from the bottom and reached, stretched to feel around him in the bitter cold. His face crunched into concentration and stress, and just as he was about to give up in need for another breath his fingers once again brushed something. This time it was denim, he recognised the feeling and he flinched away at first, startled by its proximity. Currrents dragged him away and he struck forward and grabbed out again, getting a handful of material and body as a desperate line of bubbles escaped his mouth. Abruptly it jerked under his touch and he gasped and swallowed water in surprise.

He let go instinctively and pushed for the surface, choking on the seawater and shock, rising fast. Moonlight reached him from the surface as he rose and exploded from the water's waves, gasping and heaving for air, spitting water and choking salty liquid. Regaining his composure quickly and reaching down to grab his knife from his leg holster he took a quick gulp and dived again, heading straight down, hoping he had not moved too much.

Eyes closed again he groped, and fast he felt the material beneath his hands, this time one hand finding hair. Grasping the body he felt it buck next to him and he held on, feeling down to the legs as the figure shook and shook, all the muscles taught. Reno's mind balked in realisation, his movements quick and panicked, the man was drowning and he was feeling it beneath his fingers. With the man's feet kicking spasmodically Reno found it hard to find the ropes attached, but he eventually found thier rough thick forms, and wielded his knife hastily. One snapped and a leg drifted free. Reno flinched expecting it to kick out, but there was nothing, and with one hand grasping the other leg tightly he felt no movement. He slashed at the remaining rope quickly, fearing it was too late.

The current dragged back just as the rope snapped and the figure came free, and Reno grasped for a better hold as they both started to rise, striking out for the surface to increase thier pace. He got a firm hold round the limp figure's chest, feelings their legs bash together as he kicked and struggled to get them to the surface. The man was heavy, thick muscles beneath Reno's fingers and body dragging him down. His eyes snapped open when it seemed to take too long, and he was blinded by silvery moonlight as they broke the surface and he gulped for air, getting half a mouthful of salt water in the process. Coughing and spluttering, hanging on to what he suspected was his bounty, he turned around and around looking for shore.

The shady forms of the pier and buildings loomed to his left and he pushed out towards them, finding movement hampered greatly by his catch and his punished ribs. Kicking incessantly and frequently dipping below the surface with weight, he made a painfully slow process towards the edge of the water, and a slimy excuse for a beach below concrete walkways. His breaths coming harsh and fast, he finally felt ground trip his kicking legs and he planted his feet firmly on the ground, striding forwards through the dark water. As he dragged himself to the beach the true weight of his company was revealed and he moved his grip under the man's armpits, and started to drag him backwards through the water.

Sand catching being his heels as he pulled the man up the beach exhaustion tripped him and he sprawled backwards, his body sinking into the wet sand and the man falling over his legs in the shallow water. Faint yellow light from the docks cast soft shadows beneath Reno's form as he gasped and gasped for air, his chest heaving despite his attempt to keep movement at a minimum. His hands wrapped around himself, he cringed, his face crunched up and eyes pinched shut with pain.

Breeze ruffling wet hair and sand shifting beneath him gradually he gained some composure and his heaving gasps faded to fast breaths and the occasional cough to expell salt water from his throat.

Sitting up too fast for his tortured body he groaned as he struggled to his knees and shivered as he pulled on the man's body, dragging him further up the beach and out of the water. He fingered the black cloth bag that covered the man's head, and he found cords tying it tight around his neck. He had lost his knife in the waves, and couldn't find a knot. He cursed, cold hands shaking at their task. Eventually, dispairing and letting it lend him strenght he pulled hard on the string, feelig it dig into the skin of his hands and then snap suddenly. He ignored the hot pain where the cord had cut his hands and pulled the hood from the man's head. He revealed wide eyes thatstared him right in the face, and Reno jumped back with a soft grunt.

There was no movement from the man and he swallowed, moving back in for a closer look at the man's features as he tried to find a pulse with unsteady fingers. He peered at a pale face, blotted with blood amongst the stubble and wild facial hair. The man's hair lay in a matted heap beneath his head, wet with seawater and caked with more flakey blood. Reno's fingers could find no pulse. No sign of life came from the man. He cursed again, having no trouble remembering his emergency aid training from his police-days and tipping the man's head back, leaning down to press his mouth to the man's cold lips. One breath seemed oddly difficult to force into the man's lungs, and he leant back, frowning and breathing hard. Grasping the man's shirt in freezing fingers, he stopped suddenly. They sunk in. A hole.. and another.

He collapsed in on himself, the energy devoted to saving this man suddenly dissipated in the knowledge that his death was most likely garunteed before he had even hit the water. Gun shot wounds peppered the man's chest, perhaps all over his body.
Reno fell to the side, thumping back into the sand and lying prone next to the dead man, closing his eyes and letting a small soft sound of grief pass his lips. The night had been too demanding, and he had reached his limit. Alien creatures, dead and shot policemen, his bounty dead.
He let his mouth curve up slightly. Bobby was going to be pissed.

Taking as big a breath as his crushed ribs would allow, he opened his eyes and let moonlight fill his vision, tasting salt on his lips. His thoughts turned to his boots. He planted weak hands on the sand below him and started to ease himself up. His effort stopped suddenly at a sound to his left. The man had sucked in a breath. He froze, his face tilted, listening, afraid to look. Abruptly, the figure heaved a huge gulp, a whining gurgling gasp of air into water-filled lungs and his back arched as he curled up into a semi-sitting position with a gross yell. Reno stayed absolutely still as the man's eyes caught his, glinting almost ferally in the reflected moonlight. At the same second Reno thought to grab for his gun, the man leapt forward.

Reno felt his palms get a grip on the handle of his gun as the man's bulk hit him, hands grasping with immense strength and weight upon him, crushing him down and pushing into his injured ribs. He shouted as they went down, tumbling in a mess of wet limbs. His hair slapped his face as the man's grip went tight, sharp points pressed against his skin and suddenly he couldn't move.

They lay on their sides facing each other, Reno's sig pressed between them with both his hands round the handle, the nuzzle pressed up against the man's stomach. The man's arms were wrapped tight around Reno, one fist clenched and pressed hard against his temple and the other wrapped around and pressed against his back. His legs braced them tight together. The both breathed hard, staring into each others moonlit faces.

The man's eyes clenched and he gurgled again, his lungs rattling as he coughed hard, rocking thier position and making Reno wince despite his predicament. Where the man's fists touched him he could sharp pericing razors, and he cursed himself for not checking the man for weapons before he attempted any kind of revival. Disjointed from the situation somewhat, he reminded himself that the man had been dead, and that he normally didn't have to worry about checking dead bounties for weapons.

"Right," he said, feeling that as he had the gun he ought to take control before the man choked up a lung on him. "Move and I shoot," he croaked, trying to sound more confident in the abilities of his soaked Sig-Sauer than he actually was.
The man shifted with a chuckle that turned into a deep hacking cough, sliding into an animalistic growl. "Shoot and i'll spear ya," he replied, his voice incredibly hoarse and cracked, his eyes slitted.

Reno ignored the falling feeling in his stomach that told him he was not the one with the advantage here. "I shoot and you die," he corrected.
The man shook his head very slowly, his mouth curving upwards in an evil grin, "uhuh."