Page 22 of All You Need is Alien Love
I gasp. “That’s fucking brilliant.” My mind starts racing with ideas.
“But if they’ll be here within ten days, we have almost no time to prepare,” Kai says, his brow furrowed with concern.
Also, our Sanctioning Ceremony is butting up awfully close to this motherfucking alien invasion.
Looks like Kai and I won’t be getting that honeymoon anytime soon.
Nirblob waves a tiny, gloved hand dismissively. If he had an eye patch, he’d be rocking the Dr. Strangelove vibes hardcore.
“Designing weapons is easy. Why, I designed my own spacecraft. Nowthattook some real time and effort.”
“I think we could totally do something to redesign those projectile nets the Alliance has for capturing baddies,” I offer. “Like, what if they could also tase whoever they wrap around? That way we knock them out while they’re trapped and can cart them off to a holding cell.”
Mal blinks at me. “That’s… actually a pretty good idea.”
I flash him my sunniest smile. “I’m totally brilliant. I thought you already knew that, my dear bro-in-law.”
Kai chokes on a laugh.
My mind flashes back to some of our recent escapades and then I have the kernel of a magnificent idea forming.
I turn to Ellie, because I know if anyone can make it happen it will be her. “Any chance we could get our hands on some Groxil slime?”
Ellie stares at me and then a slow, knowing grin spreads across her face. “I think that can be arranged. Let me see what I can do.”
“Work your magic, Mama-in-Law. The more we can get, the better.”
She arches an eyebrow. “You gonna tell us what you’re cooking up in that brain of yours?”
I grin. “You’ll just have to wait and see, but I think I can use it to give us an edge over these invaders.”
Kai looks at me like I hung the freaking moon and stars. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I’m sure it will be amazing.”
“New weapons are a good idea. We need to surprise these fools who’ve underestimated us.” She makes a growling noise that tells me she’s ready to rumble. “I’ve been itching for a real fight with this tool, Layne Madison, and his goons.”
Nirblob rubs his hands together in anticipation. “River and I will get started on some prototypes right away!”
“We’re totally going to show these asshats that they picked the wrong Alliance outpost to mess with,” I declare.
My mom’s smile is blindingly bright as she leans over to give me a high five. “Fuck yeah. We’re gonna kick some serious bad-guy alien ass!”
I couldn’t have put it better.
As is typically my way, another sudden and amazing idea comes to me like a tractor beam out of the blue.
“Hang on just a second, my friends. I think I just came up with an offensive strategy.”
Everyone focuses on me.
Kai looks so fucking proud. “Wow us with your cleverness, darling.”
I grin and push my glasses up the bridge of my nose. “We’re gonna be like James T. Kirk when confronted with the Kobayashi Maru.”
I get nothing but blank stares from everyone except my mom. Who is the person I inherited all my sci-fi geekery and knowledge from.
“Ooh! We’re going to hack the attack and turn it in our favor. Tell us more, my son,” she grins.
“You bet your ass we are. But this plan is not without danger,” I admit.
