Acid blood + dies to crossbows

Sinesh dove , grabbed the big crossbow , and rolled to his back . Before he could shoot the beast landed on him , pinning him to the ground . Claws raked down the man’s leg . The demon’s head came close , so close Sinesh smelled its putrid breath , so close the creature’s hateful hiss was the only sound in the world . Thick saliva dripped in wiggling strands . Black lips wrinkled back , the jaws opened , and inside that mouth Sinesh saw the toothtongue sliding forward , opening to strike . One - handed , Sinesh hauled the crossbow butt to his shoulder , angled it up and pulled the trigger . The long bolt drove through the extended toothtongue and into the demon’s long black head . The bolt’s point punched the other side , an eruption of black chitin , thick yellow flesh , and splashing green blood . The beast shuddered , then collapsed , trapping Sinesh beneath . Burning blood flowed onto his left arm , his chest , his face .

***

Horribly wounded , Christuno stumbled over , pushed the dead beast off . Sinesh’s left arm smoldered and sizzled , a mess of wet - pink and yellow - red , the acid eating through skin and muscle , scoring bone . His own blood draining away , Christuno fought to save Sinesh just as Sinesh had fought to save him . Christuno dug his fingers into Sinesh’s eye socket , scooped out acid and melted eye , flung the mess away . Christuno drew his little friend , used the small blade to cut away the bubbling spots of Sinesh’s skin and muscle . There wasn’t time for precision or care , only time to slice and throw . Christuno’s blood flowed , as did Sinesh’s , puddles of wet red mingling on the stone and dirt .

***

Aliens: Phalanx, Chapter 6