darkSpyro

The rear door opened to an almost vacant platform. Most of the soldiers and survivors had gone below to set up base. A few went on exploration trips into the base's interior, mostly in search of the star ship.

"Recent scans show the ship is approximately three floors down, and can hold more than who we have here. A crew may be assembled to fly it manually," TAD stepped out onto the apparent roof of the structure, "I will do what I can to get the base up to full operating standards. Then I will leave you to Dora's caretaking."

TAD turned to Bill, "I can get the power back myself, I suggest you take care of your sister and our new friend," The machine walked over to a hatch and turned the wheel to open it, "The main entrance is over there, the key code is 95742, with the panel on the left," TAD slipped into the chamber, "Dora, access any schematics you can find. I'll be scanning for any further damages along my way."

"It would be nice if I wasn't stuck in this blasted suit with you." the female AI retorted.

I'm locating a port with the scans first.

Well find a port before you go telling me what to do you dunce. Are you deteriorating? Is this why you didn't tell them you were staying behind.

TAD let the lights on the suit lightly illuminate the tunneling. Dropping down the shaft to the thin walkway, lined with pipes and cords. Walking the path in one of the two available directions, Current scanning shows the hall runs for about 400 yards with three turned to the east. One of those will lead to the main power core, where the damages can be analyzed. Should I hard wire your programming into one of these lines?

Allow me, you might fry me, Dora took over control of the drone as she desheathed and pealed away the casing of a wire, Power line, she covered it again and took the larger set to un-cover the plastic casing. This one, the cover was cut back. Alright, put me through. Connect a cord from your core to juice the lines for a few minutes.

"Do not turn off the system," Zexu called out though the radio, "Dora is in the system, if you turn it off, you will delete her too. We can gain control from here. The drones are not going to be a bother," TAD's lights brightened as a larger power output was forced through the base's systems. Dora, as fast as circuiting can go, locating a mainframe.

Give me two minutes to bypass the security programs, the drones will soon be on our side, Dora messages Zexu.

TAD had completely stopped moving to conserve the use of energy to supply the direct link to the mainframe. I think I can hold them here. TAD pulled up his sword and placed it flatly through the floor to stand it up as a shield of sorts. Lifting the Tesla Coil up to face it the other direction, a low charge was set on the coils, enough to stun electronics, but jot enough to fry them completely.

"They should be on our side in about a minute, even being AI, we aren't as fast as light," Zexu replied. Lights inside the maintenance tunnel TAD was in lit up as his power output was at a steady flow. "Dora has located the power supply problem. The transformer is not connected to the system, maybe a break, a cut in the lines."

"As soon as Dora is ready to head out. Can't leave her here without a power supply. Without the transformer, there is no place to store energy," Zexu replied. TAD let the Tesla coil cool down, figuring the drones will recover when the data inscription has been changed for current life forms as friendly's. The lights soon shut off and to which Dora relayed I'll be back soon, the process is nearly complete.

"Will you meet us there, most likely going to need some supplies to repair whatever is broken," Zexu added just as he pulled the sword from the floor.

"I'll send you the coordinates," Zexu sent a digital mapping of most of the structure, mainly a bath way to the power transformer.

"Security systems disengaged. Drones report back to charging stations." Dora both announced and ordered through the PA system.

"About time Dora, these drones could have only been held off about 30 more seconds," TAD brought the sword to its back. Zexu awaited the return of Dora, while also putting the Tesla Coil up in a ready position, "My last scan shows unknown heat signatures. Watch your backs, they don't look too friendly."

(let's give it a more Doom or Alien feel while in this dark building)

A light grown echoed through the tunnel, "You hear it?" TAD lit up the lights on the suit, "What ever it is, it seems to have adapted to the darkness of this base. This must have been the first fallen sanctuary," a spotlight curled up over TAD's right shoulder to aim where the coil pointed, "Determining that growl, it might be about four foot in height, up to five limbs maybe six, possibly a dull grey to black to hide in shadows. The lightness of it must mean it has a snake like tongue with large sharp teeth. Claws are also possible, a tail maybe, slight chance of a climbing ability," just as he finished a shinny reflection and figure slid into the light's range. TAD zoomed the suit's view, "Target is a slick black, not currently afraid of light, or mechanical presence. The fore legs are thin but seem to be all muscle."

OOC: I couldn't tell or see what it was. I'll try again later, sounded interesting... Ish

"If so, then we will be in for one hell of a night. There are seven moving about the structure, and what seems to be a nest deeper in the facility," TAD pushed a little more power into the Tesla Coil, "Lets see how it fares with electricity coursing through its body. Firing the coil off at the creature, the beam curved away as it neared the animal, hitting the wall of wires next to it. The energy fluxuation blew a few of the lights in the hall, "It must have a magnetic property, electricity will not be as effective as I had figured."

Dora appeared in control of the assault drone, "Don't just stand here then," TAD placed the Tesla Coil on its back. Disconnecting the lines to the systems, she brightened the lights on the suit. Taking a battle ready stance without the blade, she charged at the creature. System power draining, the suit forced Dora to announce.

Magnetic properties! Zexu retorted.

Nuclear power, Dora came back. Rear jet propulsion initiated, two thrusters on TAD's back. Launching at the beats, she swing the left arm out with the extra force. Hitting the target, she knocked the creature back, scrapping the metal flooring and walls.

There was no reply from the AIs, but they knew it would have been the interference from the multiple charge exchange. TAD readied the firsts again. The creature took a step forward, raised up on its seemingly longer legs. Hissing, "Uh oh," Zexu commented as it pounced toward the drone. TAD rotated to bring about a right hook. Bad timing planted the fist in the creatures side, while it kept moving to tackle the suit to the floor. TAD rolled over to the right slightly, placing the left elbow flat on the floor. TAD lunged the left arm up to grasp one of the legs that could be seen, came back down to the floor, and was then forced to the ground flat. The limb snapped from the robotic pressure. It cried loudly. The creature took another arm off the wall it was using for balance to put its claws across TAD's head. Scratching out one of the head cameras.

To counter the next strike TAD fired off the right side and feet jets. Coming off the floor and propelling down the hall, TAD forced the creature into the wall as it was dragged and scraped. Taking a beating from each other, they rolled apart when they landed. The now increased distance cleared up the com.s, allowing a live feed to transmit to the others outside, "It scrambled our signals," Zexu finally replied, "Dora is dealing with the hostile, I'm keeping track of the others and we are both analyzing the creatures body and limits. Slightly thin limbs, but full of muscle," TAD aimed he cameras at the broken creature, "It put a hole in the helmet, breaking the connection to our right eye."

TAD back stepped and brought its arms up, "This thing will rip me alert if I can't use my sword... Everyone back away from the hatch, I'm bringing this thing up into the open," TAD turned and jumped up, using the thrusters, to ascend to the ladder. Climbing quickly, TAD surfaced. Lunging out, it pulled the sword off its back just before landing, and turning to the open hatch. Dora communed the gunship to start up, the engines lifted it up and away.

"If things don't go as planned, I can blow it to pieces," Dora said as the ship rose to a distance that it could be unnoticed.

OOC: I was going to wait to see if you'd correct yourself, but it is spelled "drones" not "drowns"

TAD awaited the creature to surface, but it took a little longer than expected, "It may not come out," it took a step closer to the hatch, "It knows it is vulnerable out here. Plus the temperatures inside are much higher than out here. The cold must be one of its weaknesses."

"The nest is deep in the facility, the cold does not reach due to the nest's immense heat source," TAD leaned over the over the hatch, "Heat signature shows it has bypassed the hatch to head into the lower levels of the building. Let's have the current survivors group in the mail hall, just inside the front doors," Zexu added, "I myself need a few repairs. Right arm and eye."

"Well, the security systems are down, they do not work without a constant energy supply source. The transformer is still out," Dora commented as she landed the gunship, "Until we get this place locked down, I suggest sending two ships back to our original base to retrieve what we can. This facility lack E-X materials... Element X that is."

TAD followed the group of people inside as they settled in out of the cold. Asking a few of the more mechanic looking people for possible repairs. With few turn downs, they managed to find two men willing to try. Though it is possible they may need addition replacement parts.

"Since when does one plan an emergency energy supply for more than a year?" Dora asked with a chuckle, "Even knowing your entire history and data base, you still have your amazing ideas," TAD walked over to one of the ships, "I would believe the emergency power is running out. Heaters and possible years of work already. Actually, the 08% number I passed must be a use full number. By determination and calculations, that equals out to about three more weeks with current adjustments to sustain human life again. Records show this base was run mostly by AI with few mechanics and programmers. Their last signatures disappeared off the grid about three years ago, so these new creatures must be rather new to this life."

Zexu allowed Dora to control the suit in order to set his AI chip into the ship's control board, "I will escort a crew of six back to our previous location in order to retrieve necessary materials, Dora will stay for repairs and defense."

OOC: Lol, "That's how I role." wow, that is gold

"I cam give you over six million possible occurrences that could stop me from returning, but the percentages of those happening are below the thousandths point," Zexu readied the ship as two soldier class and four scavenger class survivors boarded and strapped in, "We will be back in approximately seven hours if we are not delayed by anything. Dora will escort you to repair the power transformer once TAD is in combat ready stats. We are off," the AI announced as the ship lifted into the air some to launch off toward... The... Base... Uhhh... Yeah, the place they started at. Lol

TAD turned to the main entrance which was just out of reach of a personnel ship, "Let's get inside, your skin is near freezing out here. No need for frostbite," TAD opened the doors to step inside.

"Well once we rest or the power, the bay door can open, then we can bring in the ships. We may need to scavenge parts from them, there is no telling what damages have come to the star ship," TAD settled down in a clearing of the people. Randomly asking for mechanic skills, and acquiring a few to help, TAD turned the inner reactor off to prevent radiation leak(nuclear reactor, lots of radioactivity. The suit's power cannot regenerate when being manually operated) on the workers, "Before operations, please wear protective gloves and use propped disinfectant solution to prevent radiation exposure," Dora provided just before they started.

OOC: the doors couldn't open yet, so the ships kinda can't fit in yet. (activate cheesy smile)

Zexu landed just outside the old base, "Find a drone with an AI chip port, and bring it here for boarding and direct link," The crew exited the ship soldiers first to make sure the area was vacant of deamonds. Seeing the area was clear for the time being, they started pulling parts from interior for shielding, and repair parts. A smaller than TAD assault drone with minigun attached to the right arm, and a blow torch on the other. Zexu was then removed from the ship controls and placed into the drone.

Zexu drove the drone around the ship, "The queen monster must be back... Everyone back on the ship. Carry only what you can," Zexu backed the drone around the ship to drive up into the cabin again, "Put me back in the panel, we need to go," the soldier retrieved Zexu's chip and placed it in the slot on the control board. Blue lights pulsed through the ship as it started back up, and fast too. Once the scavenger survivors were back aboard, the ship lifted up off the broken ground, "Say your last good byes to the base, I don't believe we will be able to return again," the ship started forward.

--

TAD required a part replacement that they did not have a replacement for. The right arm slate must be reformed by heat and hammer. Dora read quickly through the extra data base of the systems she was previously in. It seemed this base was renowned for scientific advancements in human testing. The last file entry was corrupt and partly there. By the looks of the hastened writing, the humans were killed off by these new creatures. They not only adapted to the warmth, but to the human body, through these tests.

"I am no longer connected to the database directly. There are no radio signals, I must be connected directly to the system in order to retrieve more. That would mean fixing the power transformer," TAD stood up to it's full height, rounding up to seven feet. The legs locked down lowering the stature to five with ten inches, an average human height, "Something about the deamonds DNA that mixes with the human's iron in you blood stream, which the magnetic properties come from the charge changes. It disrupts the coil and the suit cannot operate by human control in a fight with one. The power is drained," TAD opened up and a small monitor showed a list of data. It cycled through hundreds of words letters and numbers, stopped to highlight a data log. Images of nuclear power plants and reactors displayed quickly. Stopping on a radioactive symbol, "The nuclear power core is too radioactive for human operations during recharge. Recharge operations active during AI control. If I were to safely take you to the transformer, chance of radioactive disease development is at a 97.32%. Chances of survival from massive radiation poison is .37% with treatment," TAD closed up and a power on sound was emitted as the suit stood back up to about six feet, "I suggest we await the return of Zexu and the extra supplies. They are part deamond, which mean the E-X will still have a major effect," TAD then looked to the main entrance, "I have an idea though, with a 78.3% chance of working according to plan. Come with me," TAD started for the doorway. Reaching the opening, TAD's scanners swept over the the remaining ships. It targeted the gunship directly, locking on and approaching the ship's undercarriage.

--

"No no no no," Zexu panicked, as he tried to pull the ship back into the air, "Brace for impact!" there was a big crash from the drop to the ground, "What was that? Nothing appeared on the scanners." the power was fading from the ship, "Quick, someone pull me out, pull me out!" one of the scavengers jumped out of his harness to aid the AI. Lifting the drone of it's side, he placed Zexu in the slot. Accepting the ship, and locking it in with a port cover.

The soldier class survivors were a little slower to raise out of their seat. Zexu drove to the back hatch, "Get this door open before the power is gone," one of the soldiers followed the order. Opening the rear hatch, Zexu roles out and turned about, "We need to get back to either base. Bring what you can, single file formation. Soldiers in the back, I'll take point."

TAD pulled open a panel to revealed wires surrounding a larger link, "If we can make the system think the ship is a primary power source, the security systems can become operational, and we will have a better chance against those things. Not only that, but I can re-enter the system and download all the information that the government decided for me not to know. In turn helping us better understand these hybrids," TAD turned to Bill and Storm, "We just need a cable large enough to fit this main power core to the bases power lines," it then looked to the shaft the first encounter had happened, "I can attach it to out previously uncovered location.

--

Zexu looked about the open area, "Back to Sky One(I believe that as its name, lol), we will have a better chance with the defensive shielding," the small group advanced back the way they came rather hastily.

Zexu quickly turned toward the commotion, zeroed in on the relative area and launched a flare followed by a 40mm impact grenade, "Keep moving," the belted tread on the drone forced its way through the snow as the humans lead off ahead, "Watch for any movement besides your own. Do not hesitate to fire on sight."

--

TAD turned to Storm, "I suggest a blade of some sort. If it can distort electricity, it may have an effect on ones accuracy," Dora added just before he left. Turning to the hatch and walking over to look in, the spot light on its shoulder beamed down into the hole. Scans show no current movement in the area ahead.

Out of the blue, a stray signal hits TAD's radio, "No no no no!.... Get me out!"

That was Zexu. Something must have gone wrong with the ship. TAD backed away from the hatch and turned to face the direction of the signal's origin. Dora called out over the radio, "They are in some sort of trouble. I just received a distressing message that must have been recorded automatically from the ship crashing. By the sound of it, Zexu may have survived. If he did, there most likely is a few more with him still. I recommend immediate action," TAD ran back over to the gunship to close the panel, "I can pilot if I can get some gun hands aboard," TAD opened the rear loading bay of the ship, "Bill, do you know how to operate this TAD unit?"

OOC: I thought that was a pretty cool movie

Zexu rotated the mini-gun, looking up the large leg, and let out a few rounds a little higher up. As for the tentacle, he turned the treads in opposite directions with the grabbing direction in order to try and use the friction to heat up really fast.

--

TAD stopped and made a last order for the suit to plug into the control board. Dora downloaded herself into the system, and the ship fired up quickly, "Got a little more power than he let on. Alright, Bill, take control of the TAD unit, the power level is at 87% so it will last as long as you dont over use the Tesla coil."

Dora acknowledged the order, "Roger, weapons primed. Engines hot," the ship lifted away from the base. Through camms, "Storm, I suggest you stay here as the survivors best means of defense. I and Bill are currently undertaking a search and rescue mission. Zexu's ship was downed just outside Sky One. Survival is safe to say, and we shall not risk loosing any assets."

--

Zexu came out of the spin and rolled away with the others. The few left made it back to the main doors of Sky One. Taking the maintenance door to get in faster, they tunneled though to the main rooms and halls. They set up a small corner close together

OOC: TAD is aboard the gunship, that's how Dora got into the ship

Dora turned the ship away from the base and proceeded with the desired speed Bill had recommended. "Estimated time of arrival is rounded to about three hours at this speed. With an increased speed, the time can be halved. A higher chance of a successful rescue requires earliest arrival," the ship's under barrel turret cannon looked about as Dora was using the camera mounted on it for part of navigation.

--

Zexu was rolling the treads as fast as they could go, If I can get back to the base, I can operate each remaining drone and have a better fighting chance. But where did this creature come from, it is not recognized as a deamond species, and nothing shows in the data base of a possible origin. the top part turned around as the drone continued into the open door to follow the hall in to the area the others were. The building seems to still have a reliable power source, "I need someone to upload me into the base's mainframe. From there I can activate the station's defenses."

"Accepting new order. Speed increasing to full afterburner," the ship accelerated to its top speed. The scanners were also boosted to cope with the speed, and there were several spots where deamonds would appear here and there, but Dora ignored them and flew above them all. After the predicted time, something big made the areas ahead much harder to see. [i]Thermals show something very large outside the ship. Between us and Sky One military base. AI Zexu is within direct comms range. Should we connect?" Dora had taken the role of the computer, instead of the independent thinker due to the mission status. The ship came to a halt as Dora awaited command.

Acquiring thermal lock. Establishing communications with external AI, Zexu. the ship rose a little and banked over some to view the rest of the base. "Zexu," the drone's radio picked up the connection, "I and Bill are here for the emergency automated distress recorded beacon. A large creature, not found in data base, is currently standing over Sky One, and does not seem to be effected by the E-X materials. How many survivors are with you?"

Zexu had the drone spin around in the empty room, "There are five remaining humans, one was pulled away while we evacuated to the base. Confirm you are here to retrieve the survivors?"

"Roger, Zexu. We are currently on standby with weapons primed and locked on a large target, we will open fire when you are clear of any debris," Dora pulled the ship back to the left and lowered down to fly under the creature to the other side, trying to keep moving from the multiple tentacles the beast had. "Bill, if you want to have any effect on this animal, I can drop you off above its body. Use the thrusters to slow you decent, and dont be afraid to fall blade out and lit up," the ship pulled up quickly, and it shifted back away from the great alien. Getting just over its back, the ship moved forward to a point suitable for drop in.