The party is about as diplomatic as a Vesk with a tooth-sore, but slowly two children emerge. They appear human of vaguely Tian-descent and couldn’t be older than 7-9. The boy, slightly older speaks up, while the girl hides behind him. ”We didn’t mean to get stuck here! We were just playing with our new friend and wanted to keep him safe!” The little girl chimes in ”Don’t hurt it!” The boy adds, ”It was just hungry!”
Finally the pair relent sulkily, with a repeated, earnest, ”Don’t hurt it, ok? “ and ”We found our friend in one of the tanks here. It’s like a big centipede and I think it stowed aboard somehow, but it seemed hungry. It looked like it ate all the power in the area, so we’ve given it spare batteries. You’re not going to tell our Dad, are you?”
With those assurances, the boy adds in, ”... We wanted to make sure that no one hurt our friend, so we rigged up a fire-extinguisher to slow people down so it could get away.”
In the next room, the area consists of two adjoining chambers. Four large containment capsules fill the fore room, three of which hold stasis-locked objects, including a tablet, a strange curved sword, and an odd spiral of bioluminescent coral. A crack leaks fluid from the fourth capsule, which displays a foot-wide breach near the bottom. The aft room contains several desks, each hosting a deactivated computer terminal.
You note a multitude of tracks on the walls and that the vent covers are half open. You can use an Athletics check to crawl into a nearby vent to give chase, or make a Computers check to close all available vent exits and funnel the creature back into the chamber.
Based on the description from the children, you also think can use Engineering, Life Science, or Medicine check to feed it. Or maybe feed it a battery.
Unfortunately, it seems like someone (the alien?) has fiddled with the thermostat, freezing over the floor. Moving more than 10 feet per round in the area requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check, or you fall prone.
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"A cold loving centipede that feeds on energy? What sort of creature are we dealing with here?"
Domak looks at the children with sadness. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to tell about this. But we promise to do our best to not hurt your friend. We want to make friends with it too." Domak calls for someone to come retrieve the children so the group can continue its work.
"A cold loving centipede that feeds on energy? What sort of creature are we dealing with here?"
Domak looks at the children with sadness. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to tell about this. But we promise to do our best to not hurt your friend. We want to make friends with it too." Domak calls for someone to come retrieve the children so the group can continue its work.
The children give a resounding "Awwww." but seem resigned to their fate. When you message up, Fitch assures you that someone will be right down to escort the children to safety.
Flexer handedly deactivates the fire extinguisher. It likely wouldn't have been dangerous; just a bit unpleasant. With the threat of foamy spray removed, you venture into the rest of the bay.
Altronus appears to make headway in luring the creature out. Unfortunately, Zak can't manage to get the vent controls to respond he wants them to.
You manage to slowly coax the alien form out of the ductwork! It looks like a centipede mixed with a large dog, with flicking antenae. It timidly scurries about with its multitudinous legs, but pays -special- interest to any exposed power packs or batteries. It wouldn’t take much effort to navigate it to a crate that you could use to safely remove it from the area and allow an experienced group of Wayfinders to interact with it.
With some gentle prodding, you are able to convince the creature to head into a large crate where it can be safely extracted from sensitive power couplings. Fitch turns the alien over to an assembled team of experts in hopes of learning more of the alien’s language and culture; it is unclear where it originally came from, but still represents an important discovery! In a rare display of affection, Fitch even gives you all a pat on the back… before quickly getting back to repairing the ship.
With the alien gone, engineers can move back into E-Deck and fix the damage done. Additionally, a Tian-descended man that bears a family resemblance to the two childered you rescued comes forward and introduces himself as Kieu Kein. ”Thank you for coming to the aid of my children. They are are my treasure… but can occasionally get into trouble even when they mean well.” He offers you a mk 1 ring of resistance by way of thanks.
With your work for the Wayfinders concluded, you receive word that all four faction leaders have reported to Guidance and you are sent a summons back to the Lorespire Complex. There you find that Guidance once again presents itself in a holographic form—this time taking on the appearance of a wizened male korasha lashunta. The hologram states "Congratulations on their successful missions; you have concluded your Commencement in impressive fashion and all four faction heads have sent outstanding reviews. In the aftermath of the Scoured Stars incident, the Society needs skilled agents more than ever, and that I see great potential in you all as you start your new careers as Starfinder field agents. You are free to leave, but I expect new missions will be available for you soon.”