Page 22 of Alien's Challenge
“Okay, next step,” she said. He handed her a pair of pliers. “You’re joking.”
“No. Pull the damaged ones. They will not repair themselves, and the skin underneath will not heal properly and scar.”
A jagged scar lower on his back testified to this.
She gave the pliers a test clamp. “Will it hurt?”
“I am in a molting cycle. It does not matter,” he answered, which was no answer at all.
“Fine, be all tough. You know, it’s okay to admit that something hurts. To feel pain is…normal.” She almost said human but caught herself.
The quills on his head, what was left of them, flexed up and down. The gesture made her think of the way a person’s shoulders moved when they laughed.
“I assure you,” he said, “I experience pain. This conversation is painful.”
Oh, Hot Lizardman is sassy too.
“Hush, I’m a damn delight and you know it.” She slipped the pliers under a broken scale and pulled. His shoulders tensed, but he remained silent. The scale pulled free with a side-to-side jiggle.
She cleared the obviously broken scales and then the ones surrounding the area. They pulled away easily enough. Finally, all that remained was tender pink skin and the open gash.
She ran a hand over the remaining scales, surprised at how silky and smooth they felt. She expected rough, like a fish. The old scar on his lower back had a glossy pink appearance, and it felt hard when she applied pressure.
He grunted.
“Sorry,” she said. “What happened here?” She lightly brushed the scar with her fingertips.
“It was a long time ago.”
“Sold a kidney on the black market. I got ya,” she said in a joking tone and continued her exploration. Where was this touchy-feely stuff coming from? This wasn’t like her. She wasn’t a shy person, but she didn’t feel strangers up, even if they were incredibly attractive.
She ran her hand against the grain of the scales, the rough edges of a few catching against her palm. They were damaged as well and came away easily with the pliers.
With that finished, she rinsed again with the cleanser and Faris handed her a white tube. “Apply this to the wound. It will create a barrier,” he said.
Alice applied a dab to his back. A sharp, astringent odor tickled her nose. Good to know that medicine smelled like medicine on the other side of the galaxy, or wherever she was.
“This won’t, like, burn a hole in my skin?” she asked, her finger hovering over the glob.
“It is safe for many beings.”
“But humans? Specifically humans? I’ve had a rough day and I’d like to avoid chemical burns,” she said. Rather than answer, he handed her a square of gauze. “Thank you.”
After applying a thick layer with the gauze, she told him to turn around so she could clean his front.
Leaning forward to dab at the cut on his brow, the front of the tunic gaped open. His eyes drifted down. A moment later, she realized.
“Oh! Sorry. Didn’t mean to flash you.” She tightened the ties at the front of the tunic. “It’d be better if I was closer.”
His quills flexed up and down. “Yes, that would be more efficient.”
She dragged the chair closer, but that wasn’t close enough. The scales were small and the light wasn’t right. Feeling bold, she sat directly on his lap.
“That’s better. Turn this way.” With her finger under his chin, she tilted his head to the light. Now she could see the finer scales around his temple. Perfect.
She repeated the process of cleaning and plucking out the damaged scales.
“How about the quills?” she asked. He had a plucked chicken look going on but didn’t mention it to avoid insulting his vanity, though he didn’t seem the vain sort. She reached for the quills, curious about how they felt.
