Those jaws are big enough to fit their skull inside and crush with a single bite. Chara jerks away, and for a few tense seconds it's not clear who they're planning to put the needle in first.

The seconds pass. The pakler reaches some point of no return, and its struggles are more feeble than not. Chara shoots it a gaze with specially directed venom, but they straighten from their ready-to-move stoop, and the needle retracts back into its container.

"Come on," they tell him. The pakler's eyes sink shut, then force halfway open again. It's losing its battle. "The airlock's this way."