"Ahhh -- unfortunate." Tarantulas manages to get his knees under him as Erik puts him down, reluctant both to let its cold sides touch his stomach or to put any more weight on his back. His hands and claws gingerly press at his sides and his distended gut; through labored breaths he mutters, "I fear several of my organs have been displaced. And there's --" He winces. "Internal bleeding. We haven't much time. No, never mind that," he says to Sally as she begins to uncap an analgesic. "There's no time."

A note of panic can be heard in his voice.