“What the hell?” Ria shifted under him, staring at the mess.
Raucous guffaws broke out, filling the cavern. Lala was bent over, her hands on her knees, laughing so hard she was crying. The robot was doing loops around her.
“What is this stuff?” He got to his feet and pulled Ria up with him. They both slapped at the goo, but it was stuck fast.
“Oh, just a little bit of fun I’ve been cooking up. You should have seen your faces!” Lala swiped at her eyes. “Wouldn’t get too close to naked flames though. That stuff could still ignite.”
Zayn swiped the goo off his face. “Lala, we really need your help.”
She tilted her head and the gesture made her look young. “Kidnap didn’t work so you’re going to appeal to my good side? I don’t think so. I don’t have a good side.”
This time she grabbed one of the bubbling beakers. One full of something that was a lime green froth. She threw it better than a VelocityBall quarterback.
Zayn and Ria were already backing up. The glass smashed on the rocky floor and this time the explosion was blinding.
The whole cavern shook. He was knocked backward by the blast, slamming into Ria. They tumbled to the ground, and he felt the searing heat wash over them.
Fuck. The little crackpot was going to bring the roof down and kill them all.
He jumped up and sprinted across the space. Lala threw another beaker. He leaped over it, ignoring the boom behind him. Again, the place shook and several large rocks fell from the roof, smashing to the floor.
He skidded to a halt near the girl. “Stop it! You’re going to kill us all. I told you, we aren’t here to hurt you.”
Lala paused, a tiny vial full of violent-pink goo clutched in her hand. “What do you need? Some special undetectable explosive? Something to blow up a small planet? Explosives disguised as something else?”
“No.” Zayn shook his head, then paused. “You could really blow up a small planet?”
Lala cocked a hip. “I could try.”
Ria, her hair coated in rock dust, walked toward them. “I need to lure out some bad people. You’re my best bet since I know they…don’t like you very much.”
Lala’s expression was considering now. “So, I’m bait.”
“Yep,” Zayn said. “But we won’t let them get you. Help us and we’ll drop you back here, or anywhere else you want to go.”
“Who are these bad guys?”
Ria drew in a deep breath. “The Assassin’s Guild.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “In the Devil’s Nebula.” She whistled. “Cool. I love being bait! Bring it on. I can’t stand those fussy assassin bastards. They got me to do a bunch of jobs for them and I made up batches of some of my best explosives. You know what they did then?”
Zayn shook his head.
“They tried to stiff me. Tried to kill me.” She sniffed. “I blew up their base on Thoth in retaliation. Oh, and their safe-house on Rainin, and three of their starships.”
The girl showed no fear. Nothing. Zayn couldn’t help but like her. He started laughing.
Lala grinned. “I’m in. Happy to help. When do we go?”
“Now. I’m Zayn, by the way. Zayn Phoenix.”
“Phoenix. Related to Dathan Phoenix?” The girl’s eyes turned misty. “I read all about him and his treasure hunts.” A dreamy sigh. “He’s sooo good-looking.”
Zayn grinned. “He’s my brother. I’ll be happy to introduce you to him. And his wife.”
Lala waved a hand. “Wife, smife.”
“And I’m Ria Dante.”
