Orion turns to me. "Which one is the real Nicholas?"
I study the two. "It's hard to say. Nicholas suffers from both extreme egotism and shyness."
"I do not!" both Nicholases cry out in unison.
"Why are you even asking her advice on this?" Killa mutters. "She obviously isn't completely accurate."
"But I do need therapy," the on on the right adds before gesturing to the identical uniforms between the two of them. "I had to watch myself change knowing it was actually a woman."
Orion tuns a bit green at this.
"Okay, that is a terrible rendition of me," the other Nicholas counters. "A female me is the sexiest thing that could ever exist, and watching-"
"Stop," Killa mutters. "Please. Stop."
Both Nicholases turn to grin at her in synchronization. "I know how you feel about me, Killa," the right one begins. "But other women have different opinions-"
The left one grunts. "No need to get jealous, sweetheart."
Suddenly, both cry out and are knocked to the ground.
I turn to find Orion holding his trank-gun, smoke rising out of it as he grits his teeth.
"What did you do?!" Killa cries, rushing forward.
"Shape shifters can't retain their borrowed shape while unconscious," he mutters.
Killa stares at him. "How do you know that? They never taught it in any of our training classes, and that's pretty important-"
"You only learn after a shape shifter goes unconscious," Orion mutters, approaching the two fallen Nicholases.
I follow, and find that it's only one Nicholas now, lying on the right. To the left is Wayta, Nicholas's clothing lying like a deflated balloon over her.
Orion stares down at her before gesturing for Killa to show him her handcuffs.
She does, and Orion undoes them without taking his eyes off of Wayta. Then he hands her his gun. "Cover me."
With that, he bends down and searches Wayta's limp form and baggy clothing for weapons. When he finds none, he picks her up into his arms.
"Orion?" I say.
For a moment, he doesn't say anything as he stares down at her sleeping face.
"Orion," Killa echoes.
Grunting, Orion slings Killa over his shoulder and turns back to us. "Let's get this one to the brig, Alicia Ivy. And Killa, please see to Nicholas."
With that, he walks out of the room.