Free Copper Visions by Elizabeth Bruner Page B

is unique among the creatures on this planet. A distilled form of it can be used to treat horrific injuries, provided the patient is able to survive having the wounds treated. He used it as a powder to sprinkle on knife cuts and various burns within the lab. The direct application of the powder was said to be very painful, however, and there was the feeling of the area being inflicted with very light electric shocks until it was healed.”
    “How very remarkable,” David said, looking down at the creature in the cage. “And it's this creatures blood that you use to allow Sophie to wear metal arms that are many times too heavy for her?”
    “The powdered formula Professor Alexander made from its blood is far too potent and painful to be used over such a large area undiluted. There was another formula found that involved the powder being dissolved into a saline solution. It works very well, as you have had the opportunity to see, but it absorbs into and is used by the body.”
    “Thus necessitating the ability to re-administer the serum that is created from this creatures blood periodically. That is fascinating, doctor. And it allows you to take its blood?”
    “Oh, yes. There's a little pain, of course, involved in the drawing of the blood and we have learned to wear gloves lest we drop the needle and vials before we are finished, but as you can see, it is largely a very docile creature.”
    “What would cause you to drop the needle during such a procedure? Does it fight that part too much?”
    “No, no, the blood is the source of the feelings of shock that were reported by the Professor's use of the powder.”
    “What are its tolerances for having blood drawn? Does it appear weak for any amount of time after? I would assume you're watching for these kinds of things, not wanting to kill such a unique creature from lack of care.”
    “Of course we are,” Doctor Blue snapped then settled himself. “It seems to eat what most civilized people would eat and it hasn't shown any ill effects from us taking samples, though we've been very careful to only draw samples when necessary. Honestly, once we've made enough of the powder from the creatures blood, we can dilute it enough to use it in experiments for quite some time. And, of course, we have some on hand for Miss Sophie when she is in need.”
    “Does it store well? I know through most of my studies that the ability to work with blood is often hampered by how quickly it dries and decays.”
    “The powder stores the best. Quite frankly, we've never had any go bad. The saline solution is bulkier and we've found it convenient to keep it stored away in crates filled with straw to keep it from getting overheated. When the bottles of the saline solution become overheated, they have a tendency to pop their tops off and start fires.”
    “Indeed?”
    “Oh, yes. Gave one of my assistants quite the fright. Thankfully there is little to catch on fire here and it was quickly put out.”
    “And you're certain it was the saline solution with the blood in it that caused the fire? Not a lazy assistant knocking something over?”
    “Oh, we thought of that but after some investigation we determined there was no way he could have started a fire there. Of course, we had to let the boy go. He became quite hysterical when he realized it was the liquids he was working with that had started the fire.”
    “I can imagine. Young humans do tend to be very excitable.”
    “They do at that,” Doctor Blue smirked.
    “I am very interested in this powder that you say my creator devised from this creature. Do you have any you could show me?”
    “I do, though there's not much. We'll have to do another blood draw soon so we can make some more.”
    The creature in the cage whined slightly and it sounded very human. It backed away from the front of the cage and curled up in the back, whimpering to itself.
    “Do you think it understands what you're saying, Doctor?”
    “It might, to some