Page 61 of Alien's Luck
A missile intercepted the ship, exploding it into pieces. Ari distantly wondered if they needed to worry about falling debris.
Kronkee made a keening noise of grief.
“Sorry about your boss,” Carla said.
Which was apparently the wrong sentiment to express. The Nakkoni male fired recklessly in their direction, no longer threatening but intending to kill.
Ari grabbed Carla and held her tight to his chest, wrapping his wings around them. His shift was slow to respond. What was normally a fast transition now felt like fighting through sludge.
His wing burned as it took a hit. The shot went through the leathery membrane and scorched his back.
With chains dragging through the dirt, Poppy launched herself at Kronkee. The male produced a small device and pressed a button. Panic flickered across his face when it became apparent that the device did not have the effect he expected.
“I think we damaged her implant,” Carla said. “Sorry, not sorry.”
Poppy’s mouth clamped down on Kronkee’s hand. There was a moment where the only noise was the waterfall and the sound of debris falling to the ground.
The guard screamed. Poppy spat two fingers out into the dirt. She grinned, her mouth a menacing bloody maw.
“Hurry, to the ship,” Ari said.
CHAPTER 19
ARI
Once on the ship, he carried the struggling Nakkoni female into the medical suite. Her thick tail lashed at him, the spikes digging into his arms.
“Don’t hurt her,” Carla said, following, still shouting despite the lack of a waterfall or launching ship engines.
“She is actively trying to bite me,” he replied, his own voice louder than necessary.
“She’s ill. She doesn’t know any better.”
“Unlikely.” He placed her on the medical platform, holding her down as she fought against him until the machine automatically secured her.
Transparent material rose from the side, lights flashing as the machine scanned the patient. It only took a moment for the computer to diagnose the massive fungal infection and conclude that it could do nothing. An unpleasant noise sounded as various treatment options scrolled quickly on the screen above the platform.
“What’s that noise mean?” Carla asked, gripping his arm.
“The prognosis is not good. The machine can stabilize Poppy but not cure her.”
“Let’s do that. Stabilize.”
“If we do, she will be in a suspended state. She may not wake,” he cautioned. “If she does, the damage may be irreversible.”
Carla took a moment to respond. “And if we don’t?”
“She will continue to deteriorate.”
“I want a second opinion, from a real doctor, not a machine.” Carla’s face grew flushed, and her hands clenched, ready to fight.
“This unit is older, but it was very sophisticated for its time. I doubt you will find a more advanced medical unit,” he said.
“Tavat said it was slow moving. We have time.” Immediately after she spoke, she held her fingertips to her lips, as if embarrassed by the naivete in her words.
“Your friend will have to be restrained or confined to a cell. That is no existence,” Ari said.
“And putting her in a freezer is?” Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. “You’re right. Do it—the suspended state thing. I hate seeing her like this.”
