Back at the simulation room, things were also getting intense with Neville in Ethan's arms.
Colonel Vane fired again, plasma scored a line across the Insectoid's flank, and the creature shrieked a horrible, wet, crackling sound.
But it didn't go down.
Its carapace was too thick for that.
Julius dove sideways, repositioning, trying to find an angle that didn't include Lilianna or Neville in its cone of fire.
But there wasn't time because Ethan was already turning the creature.
"I almost forgot!" Ethan called out, voice gleeful.
From his hip pouch, he took out a small, palm-sized canister. He thumbed the cap off, raised it high, and shook it hard.
A fine, glittering, red-violet powder burst out into the air. It caught in the convection currents of the still-burning bomb crater. It swirled upward and drifted out across the room in a slow, lethal-looking cloud.
"What is—" Sarah uttered, but she didn't get to finish when a low, thrumming, clicking sound rose from outside.
