The doors stick for a moment, and then slide open, cracking the frost covering the seams around the door.
The room beyond is coated in frost like the first. Inside is what seems like some sort of computer lab. Six desks with deactivated computer terminals are arranged around the room, including two in an area with a recessed floor in the center of the room. Large monitors cover the far wall. Several of consoles seem to have been undergoing some kind of repairs and have their innards exposed to the air, and a number of wall and ceiling panels around the room have been removed, exposing the wiring and conduits underneath.
Dawn continues to scan the new room. But if anything is in here, it is either mindless or concealed behind some barrier that is blocking the spell, and she detects nothing.
There is no sign of anything looking like a "turtle." Though there are a few crumbled up roasted seafood snacks and ration bars on the floor in here.
The glow fades from Dawn's circuitry. "I did not detect any intelligent creatures in the chamber. We will have to rely on our mundane senses to try to find the creature."
She slowly moves into the room and looks around.
As Dawn takes the first door, Thuldas cautiously shuffles forward. He slips his hammer back into its belt loop.
"I'd rather be bit by a space turtle than crush a child's pet in front o' their eyes. Mayhaps I can grab the thing."
Wint also comes in and looks around the room, looking for any signs of the Giant Space Turtle.
Iolas walks slowly towards the tanks hoping to get a better look at them.
Stell looks in the room and sighs. "Okay, kids, this doesn't look like a fire extinguisher was used. It's cold! My friends are risking injury to figure out what's going on, so if you know what happened, tell us the truth. I'm very good at spotting lies, so I'll know if you fib."
"I don't know why it's cold!" shouts Kieu Lan. "It wasn't like this last time!"
"The cow man turned off the fire thingy!" says Kieu Si. "Do you think Wang is going to get cold? We better get a blanket for her!"
"Is there a hole letting the space in? Do we need spacesuits?" asks Kieu Lan nervously.
Stell is pretty confident that the children are telling the truth.
Wint notices that one of the light fixtures has been unscrewed and tampered with, and thinks it has been done recently. Aside from that, it's hard to tell if any of the open consoles have been tampered with but for the most part he thinks that work was done a long time ago.
Dawn moves to the nearest computer console and tries to reactivate it, hoping that it can provide some clues as to the creature's location or use some system to flush it out of hiding.
Dawn examines the computer consoles.
First she learns that the computer systems had local battery backups, but the batteries are all drained. Iolas is able to reconnect power to the computers for her, and she is able to activate a terminal.
She then learns that the environmental controls were deliberately altered using one of these machines (though she can't tell specifically which) to reduce the ambient temperature. Since the environment system uses liquid coolant and heating fluids instead of electrical heating, this effect continued while the power was off locally.
Dawn can reset the thermostat to a normal temperature if she wishes.
Dawn resets the thermostat. As a priest of the sun goddess, she prefers the warmth.
"Th' way I see it, we've got two possible stories here. Either somebody came in 'ere and made this mess, or we've got a very clever turtle on our 'ands.
Is there anythin' small enough t' fit in that stasis pod, clever enough t' muck wi' the computers, an' roughly turtle-lookin'?
While he ponders, Thuldas shuffles over to the north door, checking to see if either the children had rigged another extinguisher or if the door is even working at all. If the door is uninteresting, he will shuffle over to Dawn and try to assist with the examination of the consoles.
Dawn resets the thermostat.
"On ya toes, folks. Thawin' the room might lead to a very mad or very happy turtle. Both could be prob'matic.
Thuldas is sure that there are all kinds of creatures that would be turtle-like and would fit into the stasis pod... there is no way that he could possibly know them all with most of the galaxy still unexplored.
But he is able to conclude some things about the creature.
The remains of the food on the floor are only barely eaten, and it looks like whatever tried to eat them was having a hard time holding it down. Plus the fact of the cold temperature, the drained batteries, and the opened light fixture suggests that the creature could be an electrovore, a creature that feeds on electricity itself.
Dawn tries to follow the weird splash pattern near the pod to see if the creature left a trail behind. "Let us work together to try to track down this wayward creature."
Thuldas, upon noticing the opened light fixture and drained computer batteries, makes a disgusted sound. "We might 'ave a conduit rat on our hands 'ere. They like t' chew on wires and suck up all th' power. If we can, we should clean it up b'fore it makes more conduit rats. They can really muck up a ship."
Thuldas was already making his way towards Dawn, so he does his best to lend a hand.
"Let me help you look"
Stell sees that the others are working well together to figure out the situation in the other room. She looks at the kids, hoping she can find a way to learn more about the situation.
"All right, I believe you. It would help if we knew what we were looking for exactly. Let me show you something."
If there is a working computer console nearby Stell will try to get a search engine working. If not, she'll try to use her comm unit.
Stell accesses a search engine and searches for "turtle-like space creatures." If need be, she refines the search a few times until she finds some pictures of creatures that look anything like a turtle. Presumably this includes a picture of a turtle as well as other similar creatures with shells.
She shows the kinds the pictures. "Did your turtle look like any of these things? Where did it come from? What did it eat?" In this way, she tries to zero in on what the kids are calling a turtle.
Dawn, Thuldas, and Wint all examine the splashes outside the broken stasis tank. After a while they conclude that the thing that was in the stasis tank was definitely a creature of some kind (though they can't rule out some kind of robot), and that it landed outside the stasis tank and some stasis fluid came out with it.
The pattern on the floor suggests that the creature had at least eight legs. It seemed to fumble around for a while, and then it... disappeared. But its footprints appear in various other places around the room, in such a way that it cannot have walked from one point to another. And some of these prints are high up on the walls, or on the ceiling (significantly around the broken light fixture).
Wint concludes that the creature must be able to fly. It occurs to him that he actually knows more about this than the rest of the group, since he is a pilot himself.
Stell is able to connect to the ship's infosphere, which is not as extensive as the one on Absalom station, but it is still comprehensive.
The children insist that they found the creature in the room, and that they were feeding it ration bars and seaweed snacks, which they claim that it "liked," though Thuldas doubts that based on the food detritus on the floor.
There are an enormous amount of pictures of "turtle-like creatures" available and Stell feels dismay at trying to find just the right one. But she begins showing pictures to the children and is able to narrow down what it looks like through process of elimination.
"Sorta like that only he never stuck his head out. He's really shy," says Kieu Lan.
"Her shell had a big crack like that one. But more near the back," says Kieu Si.
"No, he doesn't have a tail. Well maybe a littler one."
"Yeah, she has lotsa little legs like that."
"His shell was more bumpy at the front."
"She was more of a green color."
Eventually Stell is able to get an idea of what the creature looks like. This doesn't help her find it, but she's cconfident that she will know it if she sees it.
"Hm, so it likes electricity. I might be able to create a localised power surge to draw it here. Might also be able to check power levels to see where it might be. I'll see what I can do." Iolas sets to work checking access panels and system diagnostics screens, adjusting and tweaking power supplies to attract or locate the creature.
"This thing has even more legs than I do. And it looks like it flies like I do. Well, I use ships but you know what I mean :-)."
Can Wint use his piloting skill to predict where it might have gone? He'd climb up to the one fixture and then look around, seeing where HE'd go if he could fly.
Thuldas looks back and forth between the acrobatic skittermander and the diligent Nuar. After a moment's thought, he slides his hammer out of its belt loop and begins tapping it gentling on ventilation grates and access panels.
"Heeeeere, turtle-turtle. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere, turtle-turtle!"
"Heeeeere, turtle-turtle. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere, turtle-turtle!"
"You have to call him by name! Here, Wang! Heeeere Wang!" Kieu Lan says, helpfully.
"Wang!" calls Kieu Si. "Come out, Wang! Time for supper!"
The children seem to mean well, but their "help" doesn't produce any results.
Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Iolas does some tests and realizes that there are a number of major shorts in the wall behind one of the monitor screens. The main conduits run through here and this may have caused the power failure. Opening the wall panels reveals the damage, but no creature.
The readings also show that there were fluctuations in unusual frequencies that caused a burnout. Iolas thinks that he would be able to modify the frequency of the current to prevent a burnout if a similar drain occurred.
pilot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Wint is able to figure out from the various footprints around the room the paths through the air. Most of them lead to or from the light fixture in the ceiling. From the angle it seems that when the creature enters or exits the light fixture it is coming from or facing east, which means it is likely in the ceiling on the west side of the fixture.
Not having a ladder, the group is able to bring some crates from the adjacent storage area to stand on, and the ceiling panel is removed. There is about a 1' gap between the ceiling panel and the floor above, and voila! There is an odd creature, looking much like a green horseshoe crab, about 18" across. It seems to be hanging onto the ceiling upside-down. It begins to scuttle backwards into the shadows.
"There's Wang!" Shouts Kieu Si. "Come back down, Wang!"
Rising Dawn looks up at the strange creature. It seems harmless enough.
"Thuldas, you said this creature consumes electricity? Iolas, do you think you could provide it with some power for it to 'eat'? It might help to calm it down enough for us to retrieve it."
"Thank you, children. Now we're getting somewhere.
To the others, she says, "Let's start looking inside anything small enough to hold it. Also look for holes in the walls or ceiling. If it's looking for electricity, it might be following power conduits. Let's see if the computer can show is the power blueprints for the area."
Stell returns to her comm unit for answers.
"Should I try and chase it? Or will that scare it away?"
He then takes the battery out of his laser pistol and tosses it onto a ceiling panel between the creature and himself
"Hey little guy. I'm not going to hurt you. Here, have some electricity"
On the off chance
With the children and Wint attempting to cajole the creature out of hiding, Thuldas turns to see if he can help Iolas manage the local power systems.
Stell looks up at the strange creature from another world, trying to think of a way to lure it out. Then she gets an idea.
"They say music hath charms to smooth the savage beast," she says, pulling out her violin and turning on the synthesizer and internal amp and speakers.
She sets the key and waits for the auto-tuner to adjust string tension. Then she draws her piezoelectric bow and pulls it across the strings, playing a soft lullaby tune from her instrument.
"Iolas, do you think you could provide it with some power for it to 'eat'?"
"Hey little guy. I'm not going to hurt you. Here, have some electricity"
The creature does not seem to understand.
Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
"They say music hath charms to smooth the savage beast,"
The creature stops, and holds still for a few moments. Then it inches forwards, and begins to make a trilling sound. The creature is making two distinct notes simultaneously in a minor seventh chord.
Having figured out that the creature has been trying to feed off of electricity, all that remains is for the group to try and figure out how to safely "connect" the creature to a power conduit.
Dawn smiles when the creature starts to harmonize with Stell. "I think it likes the song."
The android listens to the music, analyzing the melody for a deeper meaning. It stirs some emotions in her artificial heart, but it's unclear which ones exactly.
"I might 'ave a hunch on 'ow to placate our friend 'ere..."
Thuldas pulls out some conduit from the wall and attempts to coax the creature into an open circuit, making an educated guess as to where exactly to hold the loose wiring.
"Hm, let me see if I can jury-rig the circuit. Could help."
Wint figures that this is one of those times when the best way to help his friends is to keep very, very quiet :-)
Stell keeps playing. "Could this be intelligent? I've never known animals to sing along to music before."
"I might 'ave a hunch on 'ow to placate our friend 'ere..."
Consulting with Iolas, Thuldas recalls that an electrovore must have both a positive and a negative connection in order to "feed." Therefore it would need to have two "mouths," and these mouths need not actually "open;" the merely would need to make contact with the source of power.
Iolas separates out two cables and prepares to run a charge from one to the other once the circuit is complete. Thuldas lifts the two ends of the cables up towards the creature...
The creature clambers down out of the ceiling and begins to hover in midair. It comes down to meet Thuldas, and it takes the ends of the cables, taking one end into a small socket in the center of it's "belly," while curling its short tail around the other cable. The circuit is made, and with Iolas' recalibrations, the connection is stable and no burnout occurs.
The starfinders call up Fitch on the Comm to report their status. Fitch appears on the screen.
"What? An alien? I didn't catch that..." Fitch turns aside from the screen and shouts, "WILL YOU KNOCK IT OFF? I'M ON THE COMM HERE!!!"
Fitch turns back to face the screen, though the background noise remains about the same.
"Children? What? I can't... who?" Fitch turns away from the screen again. "WHERE THE HELL IS KIEU KEIN? HIS KIDS ARE ON THE LOOSE AGAIN!!!"
Once more Fitch returns to the screen. "Yeah, I'll be down soon," she says, and disconnects the call without waiting for a response.
Shortly thereafter, Fitch arrives with a few technicians, one of whom introduces himself as Keiu Kein, the father of Kieu Lan and Kieu Si.
"There you are!" he shouts "The governess was worried sick! How can you run off like that?"
There's a lot of babbling from all three Keins but eventually Kieu Kein grabs both children in a big hug.
After a few moments he comes over to the group.
"Thanks for finding my children and looking after them," he says. "They told me they were trapped in the storage room in the dark until you came along."
He looks around, and then pulls a ring off his finger, and offers it to the group.
"I'm not really a field agent now, so I suppose I don't need this anymore. Please accept it as a token of my thanks," he says.
Fitch looks over at "Wang," who is feeding contentedly from the power cables, though he (or she, or it) does appear to get a bit nervous when the other people enter.
"So that's it, is it? Amazing something so small could short out the whole deck. Is it intelligent? I better get my xenologists down here."
He looks around the room at his technicians.
"Well, looks like you've secured the place, and we can get to work." He pulls a credstick out of his pocket, and offers it to the party. "Consider this your first commission. Starfinder field agents get paid on a commission basis when they complete assignments. But I'm sure you knew that."
"When you're ready I can have Kipp ferry you back. Stop in the mess hall first if you want."
"Thank you, sir. It's been a pleasure workin' for ya." Thuldas takes the credstick and slips in into his pocket.
Turning back to the party, he says, "I dunno about you lot, but I could use a bit of feedin'. I say we stop by th' mess an' get a bite while we discuss our next assignment."
"Yes, lets stop there. I always like swapping recipes with others. I can add some more to my collection, and spread some of my special ones to others."
"You kids be careful. Not every strange creature you stumble across will be as harmless as Wang. I'll come back to visit and we can have that party to welcome everyone back from the 'scared' stars, okay?"
Stell echoes Thuldas, "Thank you,sir," with a wink to Fitch.
She also thanks Kevin for the ring. She explains about her parents sharing the same fate as the children's mother.
When she gets to the mess hall, Stell plays some tunes to entertain the other diners.
Iolas extends a large hand to Fitch, "Good working with you again Fitch. This time was quite a bit more interesting than the last but I wouldn't have it any other way." After exchanging some pleasantries with Fitch, Iolas turns to the group, "I could certainly go for some food."
"While I do not require sustenance, I will happily share a meal with the rest of you," Rising Dawn says.
In the mess hall, Thuldas grabs something along the lines of a sandwich and a hot beverage and then snags a seat near to where Stell is playing music.
"Fishin' that creature outta the ceilin' reminds me of a story m' mother likes to tell. See, she opened up a mechanic's shop in Maro a few years b'fore I came along, an' in those early years she got all sorts.
"One day, she's sittin' there in the shop, and this ol' Sanjaval shuttle comes nearly fallin' outta the sky, thumpin' through the yard an' nearly knockin' down 'alf the buildin'. The hatch bursts open, an' one o' th' flippin' Shobhad-ned comes tumblin' out wi' a roar to shake the 'eavens and swingin' a pair o' plasma doshkos.
"Now, you gotta realize, the Shobhad are an 'onorable people, but they don't treat laws an' regulations like we do - if they 'aven't promised to not take your head off, you best watch your neck.
"So, m' mother grabs a hammer an' a scrap o' hull platin' and she charges right in. She fought the Vesk an' she fought the Swarm - she ain't gonna let anyone just roll over 'er shop like that! She gets within maybe ten feet o' this twelve-foot terror an' it falls to it's knees an' bellows, 'MECHANIC! I REQUIRE A TRUCE!'
Thuldas dramatically reenacts the Shobhad's actions, dropping to his knees in the mess hall with his food in one outstretched hand and his beverage in the other.
"Now, this was the last thing m' mother was expectin', an she's movin' at a breakout sprint. Tryin' t' disenage, she stumbles and ends up flyin' head over heels, an' lands flat on 'er back, starin' up at the Shobhad. She ain't flummoxed, though - she stares right up at 'em and yells right back, 'WHAT 'RE THE TERMS O' YOUR TRUCE, SHOBHAD?'
Thuldas is heavily invested in his storytelling now, using a slow and bellowing voice for the Shobhad and a disconcertingly deep and gruff voice for his mother.
"They went back an' forth like this for some time, apparently. Turns out that th' Shobhad had bought a ship off a trader an' discovered 'bout a mile into 'is journey that it was so infested wi' conduit rats it could 'ardly fly. Eventually they struck a bargain, and th' two o' them went about cleanin' the ship o' parasites, slashin' and hackin' wi' hammer an' doshko. Eventually, m' mother got that bucket flight-worthy, an' the Shobhad paid for the work an' the damage to th' shop in 'MIGHT AND HONOR', which apparently means an eight-foot long rifle an' a rope wi' 'alf a dozen dismembered 'ands!
"Anyhow, she mounted the rifle an' the 'ands above the door to th' shop - best anti-thievin' device I've ever seen.
Thuldas composes himself a bit, finishing up the last of his snack and beverage.
"Moral of the story? When ya buy a vehicle second'and, be sure t' get a third-party inspection before ya sign th' dotted line.
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As Thuldas starts into his story, Stell adjusts her playing to provide a dramatic background music, full of minor crashing chords and ominous melody until the story resolves and she finishes with a rollicking Dwarven reel.
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"Dwarves are crazy. His mother should just have given the Shobhad what it wanted. A store isn't worth fighting and dying for"
Kipp comes by the table and chuckles at Thuldas' story.
"I once knew a dwarf whose favourite insult was 'Your Mother Doesn't Wear Army Boots!'"
"Anyway, I've got clearance from Flight to launch whenever, so let me know when you're ready to go. There's a few spots I could dock so if you know where you want to go next that would be good. If you need to call the station your comms won't work but you can use a terminal. There's a bunch in the hallway outside."
Kipp gets up and gets ready to go.
"I'll get to work on my pre-flight and you guys can catch up when you're ready."
Dawn listens with devout attention to the dwarf's story, applauding lightly when he finishes.
"Where should we head next? If we are saving our return to the Lorespire Complex for last, we should either seek out Radaszam in Nyori Palisades or Zigvigix in Downlow."
...we should either seek out Radaszam in Nyori Palisades or Zigvigix in Downlow."
My vote is for th' Downlow. I'd rather move bottom t' top than top t' bottom.
"That works for me," Stell says to Thuldas' suggestion.
"Yes lets go to Downlow"