The oversized mask drifted underneath a divot in the ceiling. The figures glanced at each other in the dark.
A steel mask glared in the dark. "Are you sure we're in the right place this time?"
A visor reflected his annoyance. "Yes, I swear we're in the right place."
"You said that last time and we got a boat load of literal piss."
The hooded figure spoke up. "Well technically, most of it went into the water."
"You know what I mean Go."
"Either way, we're in the right place." Rot grimaced.
"So, we're not going to pop up into a septic tank?"
"No."
"Or gunfire?"
"We're too low for that."
"You said it was one-hundred percent impossible to get buried from the last one. And then we were covered in piss and poop. And dirty water of other dubious origins."
Go tapped the ceiling. "Are we going to burst here or not?"
"As soon as Rot can guarantee that his measurement is accurate this time."
"Well, if you had a problem with it, why didn't you do it!"
"I tried to! But apparently, I'm the only one who knows how to steer a boat! Like seriously, how do you two not know how to steer a boat!"
"I was measuring distance!"
"That's total malarkey!"
Go took a sip out of their canteen. "I've never been on the water before, actually."
"Just clean off the surface so I can collapse it." Grunted Rot.
"Okay." Moss and lichens dropped off the stone.
"It better be right this time." Glared Dove.
"It is." Rot stuck his hands into a crack and yanked the first large stone out of place. With a surge of aura, a large collection of human sized stones dropped into the reservoir, revealing what appeared to be stone brick. With a second surge, an opening was made.
"Huh. Good job."
"See." Panted Rot. "Told you."
"I mean I was saying you did good. And he's unconscious, isn't he."
Go prodded the body with a toe. "Yep."
"Why do I get the feeling that this might have gotten much harder."
"It might have." The two then moved their makeshift boat and ally into the room and leaned the slump bodies against the wall. "How's Penny doing?"
"Had to put her into low power mode. No sunlight. You know how it is."
"Not really, but not particularly invested in trying to find out what you mean by that." Go extended their quarterstaff as they canvased the room. "Know what this room is?"
Dove drew his gun sword and checked his cylinder. "Appears to be a med bay of sorts. Probably was gutted when they pulled back from the Wall."
"You want to put him on one of the beds?"
"Not really. Getting him out of the cavern was difficult enough."
"We're just moving him up onto a bed."
"He'll be fine."
Go looked back at the crooked neck of Rot, resting awkwardly against the wall. "I'm moving him."
"Have fun with that." Dove moved close to the door and cracked it ajar. "We're in the underground levels of the Wall. If we want the armory, it should be on this floor." He looked back at Go, still struggling with the slack body of Rot. "You ready?"
"No!" Grunted Go. "Of course I'm not! He's not on the bed yet!"
"You know what, just keep this place locked down. I'll be moving ahead," sighed Dove. "It's not like you need anything from here anyways."
"Fair." Go rested the slack jawed face of Rot on an empty bed. "Go on then."
"Alright." Dove looked down the hallway and sprinted to the next out-cove, a good thirty feet away. From what he knew, the Stone Mile was still active. The two Atlas droids looking at him as if they were going through a boot sequence told him as much. Only an additional thirty feet between him and the two bucket-heads. But it was just his luck that, as soon as he comes out into the hallway, two tin-cans are going to walk out of maintenance. Dove took a step forward, only to see them both raise their rifles in return. With bullets ricocheting off of his armor and aura, Dove opens the door behind him, and slams it shut. A pair of droids rifle him from this side of the door as well, but ten feet is much less intimidating than thirty. Both fold like cards. A large oak desk is slid up against door with some effort. Should delay them a little bit. He turned around and saw a large wall of wires, lights, and sockets. And a camera, watching his every move. The pounding on the door grew louder. He had royally screwed up, incredibly quickly. In fact, he was kind of impressed how fast he did so. Probably a world record or something. Nothing he could do. "Huh. Darn." Time to act fast.
PP: Hello?
AU: Query: How have you gained access to this system?
PP: Unless a direct contact is made with another system, through a wire or some other appliance. Please do not shoot the intruders.
AU: Orders: Eliminate all intruders. Protect Atlas.
PP: Do not eliminate intruders in Sublevel 1. Override Code: In for a Penny.
AU: In for a Pound. Code Accepted. Additional Orders?
PP: Continue defending the wall. Standby for further instruction.
AU: Affirmative.
"Did that do the trick?" Called Penny from the tiny speaker.
Dove rested against the battered door. The robots had tried breaking it down, and it was just about to break off of its hinges. "Think so. Feeling better?"
"Much better! Thank you!"
"No problem. Is the Wall sentient?"
"On a technical level, yes. It was designed to be able to manage the droids as an officer would, in lieu of one."
"You think we can make a deal with it?"
Penny paused. "I am its superior officer. I can order it. A deal is unnecessary."
"Would that require you to stay here?"
"Potentially. I can now see why you planned on a deal."
"Plan?" Dove snickered, and then winced. "Not the plan, but I've gotten very good at on the fly diplomacy lately, for some reason."
"Understood. The plan is to make a deal between the Wall's Artificial Unit, Go, and Rot?"
"Affirmative, yeah, sure, ow."
