“You are wrong because, for one, we don’t know what kind of reaction the alien will have to it. What if it doesn’t die? What if it makes it stronger? What if its whole body turns to acid or becomes a bomb and you explode?”
He snorted. “Did the sample do any of that?”
“No. But it also wasn’t a four-armed snarling monster.”
“You know, the longer you argue, the more tired I get.” Not entirely true, but it got Leila moving.
“I won’t forgive you if this causes you permanent harm or death,” she threatened, exiting into her lab and returning with a spray bottle. She also wore gloves and protective goggles, but he ignored those to exclaim, “You do realize Blue isn’t a cat.”
“For this to be feasible in hand-to-hand situations, the liquid compound needs to be effective in small amounts that can beeasily carried. If it’s as potent as I hope, then it should only take a single spray.” She stepped closer to the glass. “Give me an opening, please, Tower.”
“What? No. Close that right away, Tower.”
Too late, she stood inside the chamber with him and a very nasty alien who got even more agitated by her presence.
“Get out,” Grayson yelled.
“Not until I spray,” her pert reply.
“You could have asked Tower to do it.”
“Tower’s done quite enough favors for me lately. Besides, if this works, then I’m in no danger; that is, assuming you’re strong enough to hold on.”
A challenge? Yeah, no way was he losing.
“Squirt the fucker.”
Leila aimed right at Blue’s face, the fine mist coating part of Grayson’s forearm. It stung slightly, but he’d experienced worse sunburns.
On the other hand, Blue reacted as if set on fire, jerking so hard Grayson’s chokehold loosened and the alien slipped free.
Leila squeaked and sprayed again as Blue lunged in her direction. Grayson tackled the alien and took him to the ground hard. Unnecessary, as it turned out, because Blue went into convulsions so violent Grayson got tossed. He bounced to his feet and stood in front of Leila, who growled, “I can’t see.” She peeked around him, and he allowed it because Blue no longer posed a danger.
The alien’s face, where she’d first sprayed, had melted, as had the clawed paws she’d misted when it dove at her. The damage, though, didn’t stay contained to those two areas. The poison spread, from face to head to neck, shoulders, and arms. In less than a minute, just a gross pile of goo remained on the floor.
“It worked,” she whispered.
“No shit it did.” And even faster than he would have expected. Grayson whirled to grab Leila and gave her a hard kiss. “Good job.”
“I didn’t do anything. I would have never even thought to use Lake Natron’s waters if it weren’t for the inactive meteor in that area.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re the one who’s been risking herself testing and the one who’s gonna come up with the recipe to make the alien poison in bulk, giving us the advantage in this war.”
“I’m going to help save the world.” Said on a wondering note.
“We should tell Aries the good news.”
“Agreed, but first…” She turned from Grayson to chide Asterion. “Stop toying with the aliens.”
“Do I have to? I think they’re having fun.”
More like getting frustrated. The mini-Blues kept throwing themselves at Asterion, who batted them aside, sending them flying and hitting the wall with audible smacks. Not that they seemed bothered, since they immediately rose and ran at Asterion again.
“Fine. But be sure none of them escape when you’re done. Grayson and I are off to report our success to Aries.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they stay in the box.” Punt. A tiny Blue soared.
Grayson and Leila exited the glass section holding Big Blue’s remains, the exit sealing soon as they were clear. Big Blue didn’t so much as twitch. Was it truly dead?
