Relas also bounds forward, zeroing in on one of the the klaven and attempting to deliver a vicious claw swipe to it's knees.
"Let us leave, or else!"
Ravboom retrieves his pack, glad not to have had to blow up the bag, although it would have made a nice boom. And it would have let him ask Relas what it was like to be blowed up. Maybe he could talk Relas into being blowed up soon so he could ask. He reloads his gun while the door is being opened.
When the pat on the shoulder comes, he looks up. "Meh, guess so..."
Bloody spray mists out behind one of the guards...
Biggun, rushing in with his new found toy, slams the fork into the closest of the klaven... doubling over as the weapon digs deep, the guard staggers backwards and is instantly caught by the explosion from Ravboom's gun. It is dead before it hits the floor...
...and then the second of the guards raises his rifle and lets loose with a spur at Biggun... but, unsettled by Blekk's furious roaring, it fires high and wide.
"Right then. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Blekk runs forward and bites the remaining klaven.
With a mighty heave on his bowstring, Globlob fwips an arrow at the last remaining guard!
Splattered with klaven juice, Relas maneuvers himself around behind the remaining klaven and snaps with sharp, pointy teeth.
Blekk's savage bite, fangs sinking deep into exposed flesh, leaves the klaven reeling... dropping its spur rifle, it starts to stagger away from the fight - only to be confronted by Biggun. Somehow, despite it's horrific wounds, it manages to avoid the over-sized goblin's assault... and, more by luck than judgement, ducks Globlob's arrow...
Relas' charge towards it is also avoided... and, evidently resigned to its fate and with a single-minded purpose, the klaven slashes at Blekk.
Ravboom shrugs. "Kinda boring, Klaven stupid, should run or surrender, outnumber 20 to 1." He sighs and fires the Boomrav.
The bullet creases the Klaven's skull, sending it into a tail spin it never recovers from, crashing to the ground in a twisted heap. "Anyway, search body, find keys... Brainer! How get through gate?" Ravboom asks as he reloads his gun.
"Maybe they look at death differently than we do," Relas suggests as he moves over to keep an eye on the way they'd came. "I'll watch for trouble while you guys figure out how to open that exit!"
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"Of course have good point, always have good point. Palo just miss point often as it fly over her head like white dragon with tail on fire. Then she just reach for head and ask 'What mess up hair?'."
The arachnid robot, replying in its mechanical voice to Ravboom, "The gate may be attuned to connect to a large number of other gates... Analysing... Garsilt Gate is currently directed towards Argosa... Test Subjects wait - Further analysis required..."
An impassive voice at ankle height announces, after Ravboom has finished his commentary on Palomia's awareness of the world she lives in, "Results of Analysis... It would appear that there is insufficient power to operate the gate whilst maintaining atmospheric shielding at Garsilt Research Facility... Calculating... Calculating... Calculating...", continuously looping in a calculation, BR-N3R offers no solution to the problem...
Rav rubs his chin. "This Atmos Spear Shield? It keeping us alive right? Anyone else still alive in facility besides us and ba-gra?"
"If we all by gate when Spear Shield go away, how long gate take to open, and how long before we all die because Spear hit us with shield gone?"
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Blekk shrugs. "Sure, it's bad. Could be worse. Other Brainer could've said that someone needed to operate gate from this side and one of us would have to sacrifice themselves so that the others could get through. Then we have to have long conversation on ethics and about who does it. Probably would be Solie, she's been awful quiet lately."
He glares at BR-N3R. "Don't even think about joking about it. Will eat you."
Rav rolls his eyes where Relas can see them as Palo complains she's not that unobservant and mouths the words "Bee's Nest, Quicksand" and "Orc Scout" at the feline while flicking an ear toward Palo.
In a matter of fact voice, oblivious to the fact that its' pronouncements spell out an inevitable doom for the group, BR-N3R answers Ravboom, "The gate structure shall require power feed for ten minutes prior to establishing connection with Argosa... Biomedical examination of test subjects confirms that, following failure of the atmospheric shielding, chronic respiratory failure of all test subjects will occur within less than one minute".
As the group discuss their next move, the air starts to take on a strange electrical quality… there is an odd metallic taste on the tip of everyone’s tongue and, as a static charge starts to build, hair stands on end… and then, seeping out of the wall, a shifting mass of roiling clouds charged with electrical energy manifests itself with the barest outline of a humanoid face.
…and, as it floats near to Blekk, a shower of sparks arcs from the cloud towards the goblin – for the briefest of moments he is outlined in crackling electricity before the effect subsides leaving residual electrical wisps and flames shrouding his head and shoulders…
"Stop shorting out on Blekk or Ravboom pee on you and short you out, stupid electrical cloud!"
"What did it do to Blekk?" Relas gasps. "Blekk, are you okay? Does it hurt?"
"Umm...think I'm fine? Definitely not dead, that's for sure. So this gonna sound real weird. But I think my butt can think and stuff. Think it's watching me? Uhh...daddy? That you? Did you die already? Been like six hours, couldn't even hold on that long? Figures."
"Also, Ravboom please don't pee on me. Don't think I'm ready for that next step in our relationship yet."
As Blekk 'relaxes', a series of electrical arcs reach out to Ravboom, to Palomia, to Biggun, to Globlob, to Andretta and to Solie... each of them is briefly swathed in a cloud of sparks before the initial effect subsides and the electrostatic field concentrates itself around the heads and shoulders of those 'touched' by the creature. Tentatively, an eighth arc reaches out towards Relas... almost tendril like in its appearance, the arc stops a few inches short of the android before fading to nothing...
Those touched by the creature have their vision somewhat obscured by the electrical effect... initially appearing to be a random maelstrom of electricity, the field abruptly starts to coalesce in front of their very eyes... a series of images are conveyed...
The metallic circle is shown - stood upon its dais within the room... yet, this time, it is shown with several of the runes around the circle's circumference glowing brightly and, one by one, humanoids entering the circle and disappearing... a huge feeling of wellbeing washes over the friends...
...and now, a huge comet striking a planet - and cracks forming within the resultant crater... plumes of gas can be seen escaping and now the feeling of wellbeing turns to panic...
...you are now in a familiar looking room... the area just north of the vertical shaft on this level... turning to the left, various items of technological equipment have been destroyed and, through a massive hole in the western wall, a tunnel - walls glowing white hot - heads upwards... and, prowling over the ruined equipment, lion-like creatures...
...the next series of images come in quick succession, a piece of technological equipment catching fire, the lights failing within the room... and the glowing runes on the metallic circle growing dim... A sense of despair pervades...
...and now finally, several humanoids and an arachnid robot move towards the ruined technological equipment... and a feeling of hope.
"Guys, I think Sparky wants to come with us? Cool. Always wanted a friend who was also a cloud."
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Gripping his head in faux-pain, Biggun gave it a shake before looking at the strange cloud. "No put picture in Biggun head! Biggun head not wall!" Suddenly a strange look came over his face before he gave the elemental as piercing look. "Hey, cloud make spark, right? Biggun say put cloud on door to make it open!"
"Huh, Biggun brain need lightning to burn. Who knew." Ravboom looks to Brainer. "Brainer! Where need power make gate work? Sparky sparky cloud spark for gate, make gate work. Sparky power work for gate?" He asks, rapping on the scorpion's metal hide to get it's attention.
"Electro-mechanical spares for Power-Raising equipment are located in storage area F3-S1... Clarification... to the south of the lift shaft on this level. Electro-mechanical equipment is modular in nature and may be installed by creatures of limited intellectual capacity", the tone of BR-N3R's voice is, as always utterly impassive... and it is impossible to tell whether the statement is a thinly veiled insult or merely a stated fact.
"He says you can do the repairs, Biggun." Rav trnaslates, and then thumps the scorpion on the carapace. "Let's go get the gears and such and fix the gate." He sets off, whistling. "Everyone get ready to fight something..."
When the sparky cloud thing enters his brains, Globlob gives a yelp but holds perfectly still. It is once the dreaming starts that he begins to flail wordlessly at the rest of the group, who probably do not even notice. Once he has a solid handle on the fact that his brain is spitting out dreams while he is awake, he pipes up.
"You mean fight everything," the skull-toting goblin corrects Rav with a weary sigh. "Glob only know one more good song, so this better not take long."
"Wow...I wish I could've seen whatever you guys saw," Relas comments sadly as the group readies to head to where the equipment for fixing the gate should be located. "I guess our cloud friend could tell that I'm different from the rest of you. Maybe it doesn't work on people that aren't from this plane?"
One by one, the arcs of electricity that the strange cloud creature has used to ‘communicate’ with the friends fade away, followed a few seconds later by the being itself… as it leaves, the emotions of fear, despair and hope that had accompanied the images also fade away…
Following the mechanical helper towards the Maintenance Bay, the group keep stay alert... and ready to fight anything and everything. Moving southwards beyond the vertical shaft and an alcove from which fresh air seems to blow, the group pass a closed door to the east before the corridor they are following ends at a smashed door… physically peeled away from the track where it once slid into the wall, the door is scored and rent… Tendrils of green plant-like material are still attached to the door where it hangs crookedly to one side. Beyond the ruined door, metal shelving units fill the room, each containing various tools and supplies, some quite pedestrian and others so exotic as to defy explanation.
Rav holds a finger up to his mouth so all can see it, and points to the shelves. Where he points, there are two animals asleep. He points at Glob, then the animals. Then he makes his fingers walk in air, as if sneaking. Then he draws an his finger across his throat, as if he were slitting his throat. Pulling a dagger quietly off his belt, he begins to move very slowly and quietly toward the first animal, and motions Glob toward the second.
Globlob compresses his lips into a flat line of displeasure, but just nods along with Rav's plan. Crouching low, he pulls his cestus-clad hand into a fist, ready to smush one of the critters.
Relas also halts and watches intently as the two goblins try to get the drop on the unsuspecting creatures.
Creeping towards the sleeping creatures, Ravboom and Globlob... murder in their hearts... move unnoticed into the storage area. Close enough to the leonine monsters to feel their warm breath, Ravboom and Globlob have the opportunity to end the fight even before it starts...
Rav moves the point of the dagger toward the creature's closed eye, and after holding up 3 fingers with his other hand, then two, then one, he drives the palm of his fist into the top of the dagger, driving it into the sleeping creature's eye.
Globlob, on the other hand, has far less finesse involved in his efforts to slay the beast. On one, he just mashes his tiny fist straight into the beast's larynx in an effort to crush the windpipe.
Honestly, it looks more like he is tickling the cat.
Whilst the others look on, Ravboom and Globlob sneak into the storage area… and, thus far unnoticed in their murderous approach, raise their weapons… in Globlob’s case, his fist… with single-minded intent…
Striking suddenly, Ravboom’s blade stabs deep into the akata’s skull… it dies without waking – and, on the other side of the room, Globlob – surprising even himself – crushes the larynx of the beast. It wakes with a start, attempts to get to its feet… and then, wobbling precariously, crashes to the floor (if Globlob had any idea about the creature’s physiology, he would know that it has no wind-pipe as such – able to hibernate in the void of outer space, it has no need to breathe – but that his blow had, somewhat fortuitously, severed several crucial nerves…
Able to continue their search with no further interruption, the group discover that this room contains a huge variety of resources for the facility’s upkeep. Some of them include common carpentry tools and hardware such as buckets and mops, surplus alchemical equipment, and even food supplies (or what, at least on first inspection, appears to be food)... and, after around 5 minutes searching, Palomia discovers an enclosed wooden box on one of the highest shelves that, according to BR-N3R, contains the necessary items to repair the power plant.
...just as a warning sound blares around the facility, a violently cacophonous siren accompanied with an alien voice - a voice that BR-N3R, impassive as ever, translates for them, "The containment field is about to fail... biological life will, as previously stated, cease to be viable following this event".
Rav nods. "Ok, Brainer, you show Rav how put parts in gate. Everyone else, grab what you can from here and still move. Especially alchemy stuff..." He points at the alchemical supplies and equipment. "Repair may not last long, need be ready to move. Grab anything look valuable or rare or whatever. We may need later, or sell."
Rav then follows Brainer and follows the scuttlers directions to repair the system using the parts and his knowledge of clockwork construction. Tab A into Slot B he understands.
"Hey, we should take Brainer with us if Rav hadn't already planned on it," Relas suggests, quietly lamenting his lack of arms and being unable to help with carrying anything. "He makes a good uh...helper? Sidekick?"
Rooting around, the group find a few items of value... the equivalent of ten days of trail rations, 3 potions of Cure Light Wounds and enough alchemical supplies to allow Ravboom to fully reload the Boomrav... With the blaring alarms constantly reminding the group that they have little time left, they rush – Biggun carrying the crate of spare parts – back to the room housing the Power Plant… and then Ravboom tastes it in the air, a stinging acidic feeling that grows in intensity the further into the room that he gets…
…and so, taking the equipment (which does seem to be relatively non-complex), Ravboom moves towards the damaged section of the conduits – and closer to the failing atmospheric shielding. With BR-N3R scuttling along beside him, he arrives at the affected part of the Power Plant, ”Test Subject - first you must remove the damaged section of power conduit module… unclip latching mechanisms and withdraw towards yourself…”
…with a vague understanding of what the arachnid machine is saying but with precious few options as to what he can do here anyway, Ravboom finds the clips holding the damaged bundle of tubes together and, releasing them, pulls the surprisingly light bit of equipment towards him… all the while, the sirens blare and the voice warns of impending disaster in its alien dialect… ”Now, aligning the arrows, insert replacement module and secure with latching mechanism…”. Following the instructions as the field flickers next to him, the occasional waft of toxic air rushing in as the shielding fails, the technologically savvy goblin effectively performs the reverse of the removal operation…
Then…
…as the fourth latch is pushed into place, lighting from the ceiling of the power plant washes across the room… the voice and the siren cease their endless warnings… and the energy field becomes strong and constant. Within no more than a minute or so, the toxic vapours within the air seem to have been flushed away and a sense of ‘normality’ returns, BR-N3R confirms it, ”Life-Support systems within the Garsilt Research Facility are now stable… based on power utilisation and stored energy, Garsilt Research Facility viability is now in excess of one month”.
"Good, everyone go find more stuff to take. Brainer, you able to open gate now?" Rav asks the little golem. "Rav bet opening gate make one month be few hours, yes?" He asks, getting a feel for how the golem likes to make people run around to save their lives. "Occur to Rav that if want to figure out how smart people are, be good way if constantly give them problems solve to save lives. Or to find out who smartest are, or both at same time." He spits on the floor. "Rav say time to get out of here, but take everything we can carry so can pay way back home."