Stable tried to compose herself. She tried to keep a semblance of the strong attitude she once held before.

“The staff, its power is amplified by the biothermal energy of creatures,” She said, her composure still quite cracked.

Another spine-tingling step was heard.

I confusedly questioned her “So in dumber terms, body heat makes it stronger?”

I needed to be 100% sure that I had all the proper information. One minute detail could be the difference between victory and defeat.

I heard another slow methodical step.

At least it made sense why Stable kept me as her partner. After carrying her for hours on end, I had known all too well that her skin was cold to the touch. However, it did seem odd. Sure my body heat could power up a weapon. But was that really worth lugging around a strict liability? Maybe it was becaus–

Step

I can think about this later!

I needed to revise the plan I had mocked up in my head. First I get the staff, then I run. No hope fighting a monster that gave Stable a mental breakdown. Stable was the same person who shrugged off having half her body brutally torn off her. I’m pretty sure that whatever was around the corner was some eldritch being.

I took a deep breath in.

“Stable, hand me the staff!”

I was ready.

She threw up a metallic cube.

I saw the metallic cube appear in front of my face. I remembered that if I touched it, that it would’ve turned into the bow staff I sought. I reached out my hand to grab it.

A vortex of wind.

Like being sucked by a vacuum, I felt a vortex of wind pulling me towards the end of the alleyway. I was to hold my ground using my legs. Sadly the metallic cube didn’t have something to hold it down. It quickly flew towards the end of the alleyway.

I humanoid alien with a male build now stood at the end of the alleyway like a phantom. His fingertips grasping the metallic cube.

Damn! Why had I spent so much time thinking!

The predator had arrived, and the prey had lost its fangs.

I eyed up the competition. He had slicked-back white hair and tinted green skin. He wore nothing except a visor over his eyes and shorts that bore the same upsidedown “A” I saw marked on all the surrounding buildings. He had a toned physique, not as buff as the metallic alien we have seen before. I didn’t spot anything “special” on his body. How he created those gusts of wind was unknown.

He started spinning the cube on his middle finger like a basketball, indirectly flipping me off.

He started to speak.

“Howdy Hey! I spot a species 6798T and….” His voice trailed off and his face grew troubled.

He pointed his other middle finger at me. “Don’t know what species you are… But if a 6798T is willing to give you its item you must be pretty tough.”

Stable and I stood there in silence.

He stopped spinning the cube and placed it in a pocket.

He placed his right arm in from of him, palm facing outward like he was pushing the air. He then placed his left hand on top of his right arm as if he was holding a bazooka.

With his palm facing outward I could now see a certain quirk I wasn’t able to see before. Upon his palm was a gaping hole that led to the dark insides of his body.

He continued speaking. “How about we trade species info? I’ll tell you something.” Confidence was growing in his voice.

“I’m species 7684W, We breathe through our hands.” A wide grin came across his face.

“That vacuum of wind you just saw? That was my inhale. Wanna see my exhale?”

The situation I was in took on a whole new meaning. Earlier I had seen his exhale demolish a building. He was no longer pointing his hand at me. He might as well be pointing a loaded rifle.

“Make one wrong move and I’ll fire. I don’t know your mutations yet. I’m a little…. trigger happy” He said as he slowly inched forward.

I was trapped. As he inched forward, I tried to think of the possible solutions.

Zero.

There had to be a solution. There was no way that all future possibilities from this moment led to my demise. There had to be some combination of things that got Stable and me out of this.

C’mon isn’t brains supposed to beat brawn!

His hand his my chest.

I could now see his face clearly and through his shaded visor. He had yellow eyes. Interesting.

“Let’s get to the point. Where’s your emerald?” He said coarsely.

Looks like I was going to have to fake it till I make it.

I had a plan.

I spoke “Up”

“Huh?” He looked up.

I can’t believe that worked.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a hand dart from the right of my shoulder.

Stable.

She slid her finger under the visor of our white-haired predator. Just as quickly she applied a swift upward force, launching the visor clean off our predator’s face.

The huge sun that shone directly above us acted as our sentinel. As I’d guessed, without his visor his eyes naked to the sun.

He staggered back as if in pain.

I hadn’t expected Stable to act as she did. I was going to do the exact same, but her alien speed beat me to it.

The extra time she gave me wasn’t going to be a waste. With one strafe forward, I dove my hand off into the pocket of our bumbling predator. I snatched back the cube and continued on running. I had made it out the alleyway

I was getting out of this place.

As I grabbed on tightly to the cube, it transformed into a bow staff.

Stable sounded exhilarated.

“How did you know that would work?” She asked

I didn’t, but she couldn’t know that. This was a chance to prove myself.

I donned a British accent, might as well wallow in the glory.

“Well, it was quite simple reall–”

I heard a blast of wind. Our predator zoomed on past us.

For a moment I swear time stopped and I saw a devilish smirk.

Did he just use his exhale as a speed boost?

I tried to pivot my body in the other direction, but it was too late.

I felt the familiar vacuuming force of his inhale. Except it was much stronger this time. I couldn’t hope to fight it with my human strength.

I planted my feet into the ground, still tying. I wasn’t going down without a fight.

Eventually, my strength gave way, and I was sent hurtling towards him.

As I drew closer, I saw him preparing his non-inhaling hand for a punch.

Two can play at that game.

As his inhale drew me closer I readied myself for a bow staff swing straight at his face.

Frustration grew in both of our visages as we noticed each other’s plans.

I was rapidly gaining velocity, getting closer and closer to the jaws of the predator.

Closer

I tightened my grip

Closer

I saw him plant down his feet harder

Closer

The predator and I soon were no more than an arms-width away.

He stopped inhaling with his left hand. He then grasped my shirt with that same hand and quickly launched his right fist forward like a bullet.

I squeezed the staff with all my might, planted my feet down, and swung the staff.

It hit.