"Hey, while you're all putting yourselves together I'll go ahead and have a listen at this first door right here," Relas nods towards the nearby door. "May as well make myself useful that way since I can't carry anything!"
And so he pads over to the door and presses his ear against it, having a listen.
After satisfying himself that the northern room is empty, Relas nods to Globlob... opening the door, the group discovers a chamber that lies bare except for 12 cylinders integrated into the north and west walls, each attached to root-like cables extending from the stone ceiling.
Two wall lockers are built into the east wall - and, spending a little bit of time on it, Globlob picks the lock on each. One locker contains two battleaxes , two sets of studded leather amor and five potions . The other locker contains an Aegis of Recovery, a masterwork composite longbow and a Spur Rifle.
...and, as Ravboom starts his diatribe about determining how clever his companions are... or aren't... BR-N3R makes a most unwelcome pronouncement, "Garsilt gate remains inoperable... Analysing... Analysing... Residual power reserves are insufficient to simultaneously operate Atmospheric Shielding and the Transport Gate".
Ravboom thumps Brainer on the carapace. "OK, stop playing games. Where shield? If no power open gate and keep shield up, then maybe we build new shield? Show shield, explain why shield needed."
"More complications!" Relas groans. "Why can't anything be simple?"
He huffs for a moment and then sighs. "I'll check that door down at the end of the hallway while you guys figure out what to do next."
Once more, he pads up to the door and has a listen.
"Gotta be more damage, doubt they'd bring down life support whenever they want to bring more people in. Seems like that'd get annoying after a while."
Globlob nods in agreement with Relas and heads over to door with him. "Someday, fuzzy cat, we find something easy to do. And that be good day." He, too, mashes his face against the door to see what he can hear.
East from the room which may have served as some form of garrison, the group arrive at another door... Relas and Globlob satisfy themselves that there is nothing beyond it before BR-N3R, scanning a red light over the green disk adjacent to the door, opens the door... to reveal a stone chamber housing a slightly smaller internal room composed entirely of glass. Large panes form a rectangular enclosure over a shining, metallic pedestal centered in the floor. A single, transparent door swings outward from this internal chamber, already standing open whilst a small control panel occupies the wall just north of the room’s only exit.
”BR-N3R regrets to inform test subjects that the shield is the only technological solution to….”, the small machine is interrupted by the sudden reappearance of the mass of boiling clouds charged with electrical energy… floating near to Palomia, a fine beam of sparkling blue arcs from the cloud towards the summoner… and then, in quick succession, the arc branches to Globlob, to Ravboom, to Biggun, to Blekk, to Solie and to Andretta... Again, it seems that the creature is unwilling, or unable, to communicate with Relas.
The electrical field, initially nothing more than random sparks, abruptly starts to coalesce in front of their very eyes... and again, a series of images are conveyed...
The metallic circle is shown; stood upon its dais within the room... it is dark and silent... a feeling of desperation washes over the friends...
...and now, in what appears to be the room to the north east of the facility – the electrical being is shown as floating within the room’s central chamber… and Ravboom can be seen standing at a control panel. The goblin throws a switch and, with a sudden flash of light, a stream of electrical power starts to siphon from the being into a metal plate embedded in the floor of the chamber… it hurts… so much…
But now, back at the gate structure, light is pouring from the runes around its perimeter… the hope that had disappeared as the image of the unpowered gate was shown returns once more…
The strange group of companions watch as the being moves towards the control panel at the north of the room... and then, with an empathic connection made once more, it 'talks' Ravboom through the process of initialising the equipment here... a particular sequence of button presses and flicking of switches is shown repeatedly... over and over again until, as the being satisfies itself that Ravboom understands the process, the images fade and a feeling of wellbeing washes over the goblin.
...floating into the central chamber of the room, the being ceases its empathic connection with the friends and, flashing a stream of electricity towards the doors, closes itself within the glass-walled containment. Even as the door closes, the control panel lights up... green, amber and red lights blink in repetitive sequences... as the first button that the creature showed to Ravboom glows with an inviting, pulsating emerald colour. Depressing the button, the group watches as a metallic pedestal rises from the floor in the central chamber... the mechanical whirring that accompanies its rise ceases as it 'clicks' into position... and now the second of the buttons glows...
Pressing it, the air within the room seems to become electrically charged - an insistent humming builds and builds... and then, in a painfully bright flash, a stream of white plasma starts to pour from the being and over the pedestal.
...and the being is already visibly diminished.
*****
Meanwhile, back at the gate room... the Bhagra, Solie and Andretta are already waiting there, previously dormant panels gradually start to awake. Series of lights - a strangely beautiful kaleidoscope of colours - within an array of technological equipment built into the walls of the chamber start to glow with increasing brightness... as four separate spotlights, one from each corner of the chamber, direct their light on to the gate.
...it is obvious now, with the near-daylight brightness in the room, that the various runes - and there are many - around the perimeter of the gate structure may be manipulated in some way. Four in particular appear to have been recently 'pressed', the light feathering of dust that covers most of the gate is absent on these particular runes.
Andretta, initially taken aback by the sudden activation of the equipment within the room, calls to the friends, "The aura around the gate... it's growing stronger!!!"
Hearing Andretta's call from the gate room, Relas turns and looks up at Palo and the others. "It sounds like it's working! We'd better get ready to go!"
But then he gazes with concern at the elemental who had helped them along. "Do you think it'll be okay? Will it be able to get away once we've gone through the gate?"
"Dunno, Relas-why don't you ask it? Oh wait-you can't!"
Blekk chuckles to himself before sobering up. "But seriously, is good question. Cloud man, you gonna be okay?"
In the room where the electrical being is contained within the central chamber, a steady arc of plasma... whites, violets and electric blue... runs from the shrinking creature to the pedestal from where multiple strands of cable lead into the ground...
...one by one, lights which were red as power was restored turn to a healthy green...
Whilst, in the gate room, BR-N3R provides a limited explanation on the operation of the gate, "The sigils of the gate determine the destination of the traveller... Assessing... the gate is currently aligned to Argosa. If the test subjects wish to travel elsewhere then the navigation must be reconfigured" ...and then, as the lights within the equipment around the room grow brighter and brighter, "Assessing: Garsilt Gate initialisation will be complete within four minutes and twenty five seconds... twenty four... twenty three..."
"Yeah, we'd better get going Blekk!" Relas agrees, nudging the remaining goblin towards the door.
"Wait, where's Argosa? Never heard of it, is it near my hut? I live near Mount Pointyrock, if that makes difference..."
Blekk hurries after the others.
Within the power conversion room, the electrical being is bathed within a field of plasma… and is visibly shrinking in size by the second… until, seconds after the group hurry to the gate room and hence witnessed by no-one... accompanied by a flash of searing light and a dull 'thud', the plasma field collapses and the being... is gone.
Whilst, in the Gate Room, BR-N3R continues it's inexorable countdown, ”Power is fully restored… Excess power is being diverted to backup batteries, Initialisation of Garsilt Gate will be complete in One Minute…”
"Okay-whatever happens, we find each other, k? No idea what's on other side, and you guys seem good in fight. Want us to stick together on other side."
Blekk takes a deep breath and cracks his neck. He looks over at his friends and stands in front of the gate. "Shall we?"
"No know any other place to go, no know right runes to reset gate. Might go in volcano if put in wrong runes." Rav mutters, then thumps Brainer on the carapace. "Ok Brainer, we all going through gate when it open. Bhagra, Blekk, Casty Woman, even Relas and Sparky. Brainer go to. Brainer say Brainer job protect as much of Gar Silt as possible. Gar Silt going to go boom soon, only thing Brainer can protect of Gar Silt is Brainer, and only by going through gate."
After what seems like far longer than a single minute, BR-N3R reaches the end of his countdown, ”…three …two …one …zero”. The lights within the technological panels are almost universally green, a low hum starts to emanate from the gate structure and then, as five runes which are currently depressed start to glow sapphire blue, the space within the gate’s circumference becomes a silver-sheened fluid… lazily rippling, its appearance is almost like a vertical oil-dappled pool…
…and, accompanied by an increased frequency in the humming noise, the blue-glowing runes suddenly burn with a sharp white light. BR-N3R, volunteering information in its impassive voice, ”Connection to Argosa has been made from destination gate…”. The arachnid robot may have been about to provide further commentary or advice… but events overtake it.
…as the hum builds to a crescendo, the pool within the gate starts to ripple at an increased frequency… and then, emerging from the fluid-like surface of the gate… a green skinned arm lined with bone spurs… and then the rest of a single klaven guard. Its eyes narrow as it takes in the situation, a crowd of escaped test subjects within the gate room… and then, moving through the gate next to it, a further three guards. As one, they level spur rifles and let loose with a salvo of missiles… the brutal thorns fired from the alien weapons fizz into the gathered crowd… and, accompanied by a spray of blood, two of the bhagra fall.
Ravboom draws his BoomRav, and sights it on the lead Klaven. "Heal Doggies, Kill Klavan. Use order make most sense." Then he pulls the trigger on the BoomRav and thunder fills the room! (Along with acrid sulfuric smoke).
A hole appears in the Klavan's chest, and blood splatters the faces of his fellow Klavan...
"HEY! You leave them alone!" Relas snarls angrily as the klaven set their sights on the dog-men. Bounding forward, he attempts to sink his teeth into one of the klaven's legs.
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Blekk gasps at Palomia. "That's it. When we get out of here, finding biggest bar of soap possible and washing your mouth out with it, Palo."
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"Palo bought cherry flavored soap last year, tasted very good!" Rav comments, then looks thoughtful as he spins his BoomRav's cylinder. "Palo, no think that physically possible unless you break Klavan spine, and if do that, no think he enjoy doing it cause no feel below waist."
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"Dunno, Rav-they could be like my friend Slinky. She had spine turned into rubber. Made her really bendy. One time we pushed her down stairs...fell down in a really funny way, end over end."
Stepping forwards and impetuously waving the scorched wand at her sudden foes, Solie sprays the gate... and the new arrivals with it... with amber flames...
...whilst Globlob, in his inimitable style, pokes fun at the size of the klaven's brains, their demeanour and their smell...
Again, the klaven aim their rifles at the cowering bhagra... and a salvo of thorn-like projectiles slays two more of the escaping specimens...
Blekk focuses on a klaven, and his eyes narrow. "Guys-what if there are more klaven beyond the portal? Think I got a way of figuring that out." He crouches down, and with an animalistic scream of rage, he runs full force at the klaven, intent on slamming it through the portal to use as a living shield.
Ravboom growls. "Nobody listen, I repeat. Heal Doggies, Kill Klavan. Use order make most sense." Then he pulls the trigger on the BoomRav and thunder fills the room again! (Adding to the acrid sulfuric smoke).
Unfortunately unable to prevent the klaven in front of him from shooting down yet another bhagra, Relas snarls with anger. "These guys are monsters!" he exclaims as he attempts to tear into his foe.
Rushing at the closest of the guards, Blekk slams into it... and, wrapping his arms around the waist of the stumbling klaven, kicks forwards... the fluid-like surface of the gate, slips around the wrestling enemies... and swallows them up...
…as they disappear through the gate, the fluid-like surface starts to shine with an increasingly intense light… and the gentle humming sound that had accompanied the gate’s operation becomes higher pitched. Moments later, the spotlights that were shining on the gate change from a bright white colour to a pulsating red… bathing the entire room in their crimson light…
Biggun and Relas, encouraged by Blekk reducing the numbers, attack with a renewed intensity... and in a flurry of violence, smash two of the klaven into submission. Ravboom shoots into the chaos of the fight around the gate and, once more, spends a spray of black blood against the farthest wall...
Panicking as the gate starts to make its ominous sounds, Globlob and Solie make a bid for freedom... running towards the gate, they shriek with uncontained joy as they jump into the 'portal'.
...and the remaining Klaven, dropping its weapon, makes a last stand in front of the increasingly turbulent Gate.
Ravboom growls. "Kill Klavan, drag bodies through shiny." Then he pulls the trigger on the BoomRav and thunder fills the room yet again! (Adding to the acrid sulfuric smoke).
Relas watches with increasing anxiety as first Blekk and then Solie and Glob pass through the gate and out of sight.
"Oh man, we gotta hur-YOUCH!" he yelps as the remaining klaven delivers a nasty blow to his flank. He steps to the side and then responds in kind, hoping to put an end to the creature so that they can leave in peace.
Between them, Ravboom and Relas give the klaven enough reason to consider retreating back into the possible safety of the opened gate… yet, maybe responding to some kind of base programming, it remains in front of the portal… its claws and its ferocity, the final obstacle to escape…
...and now, in the crimson light, the previously gently rippling surface of the gate is becoming ever more turbulent. BR-N3R starts to make another pronouncement, "Garsilt Gate collapse is...", whatever it was trying to say is lost beneath the sudden blaring of a deafening klaxon...
The klaven, seeing Biggun's clumsy attack before it strikes, forces the fork aside with the bone spurs across its arm... and then, turning its attention towards the goblin, attacks him instead...
Andretta and the remaining Bhagra, seeing their opportunity as the last of the klaven is occupied by their erstwhile rescuers, run for the gate... and slipping through the turbulent surface, dissapear from view...
Ravboom huffs. "Biggun, fork go in eyes, not in arm spines." Then he pulls the trigger on the BoomRav a forth time and thunder fills the room yet again!
The recalcitrant Klavan finds he has a new hole in his gut...
"Palo, you guys, go! I'll be okay!" Relas calls out as he continues his assault on the remaining klaven.