Haydee - Free Will

by AlexanderMugetsu

Through the walls and doors, past the machines and foes, and beyond what they didn't know, two unlikely people find themselves having to stick together to escape, and understand, this place, and what it all meant. Collab idea with Celfwrdderwydd.

8. Red Zone - Part 3

The door opened with a shrill hiss, instantly after allowing a flood of mist to burst forth. The foggy whiteness spread out and everywhere, over the ground and along the way, ejecting out from the doorway and quickly allowing two figures to follow on through. Their legs kicking the smoke as they quickly lead out, beginning with the organic of the pair irately fanning the last remnants of the vapour from his face. His free hand tightly clamped around his face to ensure the disgusting gloom now long streams into his lungs once more.

"Ugh. . . that smell is too pungent. Hope I don't get too used to it." Bursting forth herself, the gynoid could only shrug at his open question. Partly for not knowing whether or not those cubicles will appear again on their travels; but mainly for her own inability to feel what the organic one was feeling via her personal lack of nostrils. Even if it was a cleaning disinfectant, if the human's reaction was anything to go by she definitely would say her preference leant onto the 'no more again' side of the inquiry unless ultimately necessary.

At least, for now, that shouldn't be an issue, since when she looked on forward she was quickly able to note a return to normality about this next room. Well, with normality being a rather strong word to use here, that is.

More, it seemed the next room forward returned onto them the familiar sights they had likely by now expected to see; white tiles, bright and clean to see on every surface, at least after they walked out of this short semi-circular tunnel. Something the gynoid found note in seeing, and became a little more thrilled with the prospect of exiting entirely out of the area prior.

Not to say it all that had come before went truly poorly, but. . . the cocktail of mixed emotions currently buzzing around her head, intoxicating her thoughts and blurring her memories, served to stop her from striding forward with the same confident step she always took. The memory of that clone, the witness of that revelation, the sudden thought of seeing her Dale come to such an end she. . .

Straightening herself up, she quickly forced her body to stand up rigidly before the human could look at her with any concerned glances. For him, she would not falter. And for herself, she needed to keep herself focused and ready. How much farther they had to go she could not tell, like always, but surely she knew an exit would appear somewhere in the end. There had to be, and for the human walking forward from her, back to her, back to the events prior, their aim shall only be on important matters regarding his eventual escape to safety.

Not to say she would forget about all that happened before, but rather should see to it to remember what her goal was to be. Keep those moments locked up in her head, not to be forgotten, but if anything to help her further goal, to guide her into bringing him to safety. With that conclusion coming into her head, Haydee suddenly felt a lot more primed and ready to face whatever this room was to throw at her.

Exiting the tunnel she faced forward to see what there was for her to decipher.

The room outside the tunnel was spacious, in a word. Large and wide, but with many noticeable corridors lining the way. That said, she felt it safe to say it didn't look to be a maze like times prior. More straightforward, simple. Thankfully, on that she saw no enemies to face, or at least none too present, so her tension had yet to fully rise and bubble up with anger. But: that was not to say nothing of intrinsic importance was not found plain and present for them here. Something off was still found here for them to gawk at; something that Haydee quickly noticed the male beside her was staring at with deeply sad looks.

It was a Haydee. Another deceased one, sitting down and alone in this spread of a room. One that also looked to be holding onto something of quite possible importance.

Her eyes turning to the human, Haydee offered him a comforting hand on his shoulder. This was not the first deceased one they had come across, and sadly, she innately knew it likely wouldn't be the last either. Perhaps, in turn, there was some thankfulness in lacking a speech function, lest she slip up dispatching words like this. But her hands, those she did have ample control over, could always give a warming grasp on the disturbed human, letting him know she was always there with him. To tell him this fate would not be shared onto her. A single moment later, when he seemed to stop trying to be consumed by fret, she moved forward, walking down the steps with purpose as she made a beeline towards the body of the non functioning one. All the while, keeping the human close on by.

Standing before the cold one, that inert body of hers slumped up with her back against a block, Haydee knew not to let her focus attain over how she became deceased - the bullet hole framed in her cranium doing a decent enough job of that - and instead over to the strange new thing slumped on her body, kept over by her limp, exanimate arms. Strange, though; since it was appeared far bigger than any item they had come across before.

It was long; longer than her forearm, but not exactly thin either. Bulky, but not heavily wide by much. The bizarre new thing that caught their eyes was not open to colour either; utilising only a simple grey base of its body, save for some white lining along the top. It emitted no light, lacking any degree of constant energy rumbling through its chassis. It was not a purely malleable object either, as a sling looked to jut out from two spread-apart areas, connected to each as they ran around the unmoving machines frame. Though at first; it may seem like some random, unexplainable object the Haydee held her arms around like it were fragile glass, but a simple inspection over easily explained what it was to be:

With triggers, a grip, a magazine inserted in and a barrel jutting out from one side, Haydee knew right away what kind of piece this new component was to be for them: A weapon. An Assault Rifle, at least if her innate files were to give an educated clearance.

The gynoid knelt in front of the failed Haydee, looking at the rifle in her hands before making a reach. Haydee carefully pulled the sling from over her neck and shoulder, gingerly lifting the rifle from the others body without disturbing her too much. She then looked the weapon over.

It was a bullpup, the magazine behind the trigger assembly. The top was polished white, glossy and sleek, save for the black rail sliding along the top, with the bottom being black polymer. The same was true of the smaller weapon located on the underside of the front; a unique addition she found herself thinking. She tilted the weapon left, then right. Finding the charging handle folded against it, she opened it and carefully pulled the handle, checking the ejection port on the right side. There was no brass of a chambered round, and the magazine was empty. She released the charging handle, which folded back in as she looked, and found the magazine release above the trigger. She pressed it, and the magazine dropped free without any issue. She gave the empty magazine a quick check before returning it to the magazine well.

Next, Haydee gripped the handle. The grip was rather like that on her pistol, rounded to fit nicely in her hand, and with a nice, rubberized texture to prevent slipping. The fire selector was easily reachable from a shooting grip by her thumb. The same was true of the magazine release. Noticing one more lever, she pulled the charging handle back to lock on the empty chamber, and pressed the lever above her thumb down, dropping the bolt. Haydee then looked at the sights. It had normal, flip-up iron sights, but in the middle of the top rail was a flip-up optic. She pressed the release button, and the lens snapped up as a red targeting reticle flickered to life. Glancing through, she found the picture was nice and clear. A press of another button zoomed it in. Haydee pulled back, zooming the sights out, and looked at the side, where the legend "Cal 7.62X51mm NATO" was written upon the side. That would definitely work against any of the robots, if she had to make a wanting assumption.

Lastly, she glanced at the smaller weapon on the front underside. It resembled a large revolver of some sort. A large, six-sided cylinder held ammunition, and a second trigger was located below that of the rifle. Haydee looked, and saw a button just forward of the rifle trigger, pushed it in, and the cylinder dropped out. Catching it, she saw empty shells inside. Pressing the shell ejector, she saw they were to be shotgun shells, 12 gauge to be more precise, her innate prerequisite knowledge told her. Haydee glanced at the weapon, put the cylinder back in, and tested the trigger. The cylinder rotated and the click of a firing pin was heard. She pulled again, and the cylinder rotated and clicked once more. She looked it over, and was impressed. A combination bullpup rifle and revolving shotgun. This would be a most welcome addition to her arsenal.

Tearing her eyes away from this new, and rather impressive, armament before her, Haydee gave the falling machine before her a soft gaze, along with a thankful pat on her shoulder. Even if she was deceased, she would not let her demise go without reward; she knew she was going to put this weapon to an eventual good use.

"Hey, um. . . Haydee?" His words were meek and stammered partly, but the attention she immediately gave to the human made it seem like his voice boomed with the blast of a foghorn. The human seemed to fidget in place as the spotlight was placed on him, face despondent as he continued to speak. "Not to. . . rain on your parade or anything, but I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this room." Upon his words, Haydee's line of sight trailed over to the entryway over to her right; one that led into unknown waters, into the only possible way out.

Indeed, did Haydee feel no elation be ripped asunder from her. Instead, his honest truth only served for her hand to slowly grasp over to the grip, instinctively placing her fingers by the trigger in a noteworthy poor act of trigger discipline; simply because she believed to know what he may very well be referring to.

Their journey was far from over, her subconscious came to the conclusion over. The way things looked to be, not only was there much more danger ahead, but it was not at all going to get easier. And if she still retained her vow to keep her Dale safe, then in turn she must be more prepared than ever; her new rifle included.

Besides the fallen Haydee's head, atop the block its laid body was by, a set of three curved magazines sat in static. With a click of her release, the empty round dropped to the floor with an echoed clang while she casually grabbed the three full magazines with her free hand. Dropping two into her backpack for later use, she immediately inserted one full magazine into the port, clicking it in place, before she took the sling and rounded it around her right arm and left side of her neck. Her preparation ending, she took a hold of the weapon's second grip, before flipping up the holographic site: Now; now she was ready to face whatever this room would dare to throw at her.

She ushered the human along with her head, her frame not faltering from its primed position. The only attempt to undermine such a readied state was a curt nod to the fallen machine beside her, to the Haydee left to die alone.

Hmm. . . Haydee and her Dale. A Haydee and a Dale. Haydee and Dale, Haydee. . . a bizarre pattern looked to be emerging here, one she was not sure she how to understand in full. What she did know was; she felt ready to expect another clone along the way. She also knew she would dread that encounter.

But there was only one way she could do that; and that was to move on forward. With her boots ready, the gynoid led the way in.

The walls were closing in around them once they entered the enclosed hallway, but Haydee did not fear their flanking. Rather, Haydee knew exactly what this enclosure was trying to do, and she was having none of it. To hold them in, force them to only go their way, Haydee knew not to oppose their way, but instead act on compliance. Go by their rules; and take down any threat it dared to throw at them. With her new weapon facing forward, facing the only way they can be assaulted, she was sure to do that with gusto.

The corner was coming up, and Haydee was ready for it. Her new gun raised, her Dale safely secured behind her as she led the way, the gynoid would face the threat head with her finger over the trigger. With her boot hitting solid ground, Haydee dived around the bend:

A Walker was along the way. One with its back to her, however, as it never once realises the armed female pointing her barrel its way. With its sight not focusing over to her position, Haydee took the moment to fully feel for the gun. It was bulky, yet for its size she found it to be much lighter than first expected. Nine pounds at most, even when fully loaded. Her time free, she allowed the next moment to be of her putting the butt rest up against her shoulder, feeling how it swayed as she manoeuvred the sights around. Thick rubber, she assumed, giving fair comfort mixed in with a strongly practical grip. Alongside her middle finger get a feel for the second trigger. Granted, she knew the empty revolver magazine held no purpose as of this current moment, but she at least felt no wrong in getting a feel for it currently. To finish up, she looked deep into the holographic sight, staring through the red reticle and onto the back of the ignorant machine some feet away, unaware of how easy a shot she could take. Her sway did not blur up the reticle's aim; giving her enough reason to state she was more than ready to properly try out this new armament of hers.

Keeping her aim on the robots back, Haydee looked away as she silently ushered for the human to stay back. As he complied without fail, she re-peered through the sights, taking her aim to be solid as she readied her finger, froze her stance in place, and tensed her artificial muscles.

She pulled the trigger.

The fire that suddenly burst forth surprised the human behind her, even when he was expecting such a rain of bullets to clamour forth right in front of him. While Haydee, the one actually utilising the weapon, was only forced into a slight knockback by the recoil. Clearly, she let herself reveal, she was not used to such a power, either that or her weapon being two-handed. That said, from the mere second alone could she determine a lot from the gun; mainly the incredible fire rate this weapon possessed. So many bullets were fired in such a small amount of time Haydee felt nearly unable to perceive exactly how many bullets were fired out in that time alone.

None of this, it should not be ignored, was enough for her to lose focus on the sight at hand. Mainly; of the Walker now making a stride her way. Despite the power these NATO bullets possessed, said machine barely flinched by the metal shards being lodged into its plate of a back, and subsequently made a trek forward to meet head-on with the one that caught its attention.

Haydee felt no oppression coming her way, however; as she completely expected this turn of events to happen. Actually, she wanted it to happen this way. After all, how else could she get a good line of sight on this thing's face? Its turn only made it a bigger target, and with her reticle now hovering right on the Walkers faceplate, the gynoid let loose another barrage.

The empty cartridges that clacked on the floor only echoed out after the machine had taken its lethal load right in its faceplate. Sparks began to burst through the newly minted cracks on the machines lenses, while the once forward-moving body tripped backwards as it could no longer hold its own weight, and only once it smacked pathetically on the tiles did Haydee let her reticle fall.

Oh; she was indeed going to like getting used to this weapon.

Though, not to say Haydee enjoyed everything about it. Its fire rate was so fast, she still knew trying to always fully determine the correct amount of bullets she would fire would not be easy. Unlike her semi-automatic pistol, she could not control each fire of the next projectile, meaning to her that unless she came across a location that gave unlimited ammo for her to use, trying to fully determine the correct rate of fire would not be so smooth. Hmm. . . that was something worth taking note over.

Now letting the rifle falter, Haydee gave a little check back to the human behind her. Little change on his end, even with the new weapon she now was using, or at least she assumed that when he gave her a passive thumbs up. Somewhat lethargic, but otherwise still active enough to get the point across. She should, for now, see it as him going steady. After all they had been through, she saw it wrong to force him to shape himself up in any way, lest the high wall come crumbling all back down.

Continuing onward, down the way, before Haydee's boots even had the chance to cross the threshold that were the Walker's inert body the sound of footsteps did not leave her. Not by her or even his own, but something of purely mechanical design was strutting on somewhere between these walls. Something she began to see fully once she already crossed over the body of the robot.

Slashers. Two of them to be exact, sprinting in perfect symmetry to one another around a square meshing. Already was the sight upon them, ready to reign fire down on their merciless bodies; though no shot was fully fired off.

Mainly, why no bullets came barreling forward was likely down to said machines having spotted the duo. Unlike before, these machines were not simply on the same level as them, but instead the area they infinitely patrolled was actually on a block high above, a ladder on their side signalling the necessary need to push themselves up. Not to say there wasn't space on either side, but tall gratings denied the chance to simply jump up and grab them alone. Still, a sight of a reminiscent past did not deter her for knowing a danger was still ahead, and Haydee's new weapon seemed all too eager in deleting these Slashers for good.

They kept passing by the open section, never once seemingly knowing of the barrel aimed their way, or acknowledging the duo's presence in the first place. In turn this allowed Haydee to keep herself calm, compose her aim, and be ready for when the next Slasher was in the open.

Two blades were the first to appear from out behind the mesh, then the head swiftly followed. Her target aimed true, and through her scope did she let the aim of her barrage fire forth and slam forth right into the head of the unaware machine. It tilted with uneasy motions, before the Slasher crumpled into the floor, never getting the chance to see its assailant. But any chance to hold deep elation for its swift defeat would not be held so all sudden; there was still a major threat here to deal with.

Upon the first one's death, did the second one respond in kind, making an immediate charge to avenge its twin's defeat. Haydee expected as much, however, and readily prepared her aim for the machine making its way around the bend. Its own aim was true; it's singular lens focused only on the female up front, but any such luck in deterring her with terror gave was not present as Haydee's aim would not sway. Once out into the open, Haydee immediately let herself lay waste into the advancing metallic body. . .

Only to have the bullets shoot into the tiles behind it. Taken aback, Haydee could only let a second pass of realisation, of the Slasher having begun to drop down the mere second, before she rearmed her rifle at the oncoming droid. Aiming again, Haydee gripped her weapon with ferocity as she caught the machine back into its scope, the machine coming so close she could see her reticle centred on the sole lens. Finger on the trigger, she fired off, letting the bullets hit their mark like they should have. The glass shattered to the floor as too did the body, and only then did she let her finger slide away from the triggering mechanism.

Aiming the scope away, she let the gun drop, having to casually swing back and forth as she looked to the two fallen automations. A little unexpected, but then again she had yet to face a machine that dropped down to her level like so. Still, at least she was gaining a better understanding of the gun's workings.

With the danger having passed, they must continue on. With only one way to go, Haydee walked forward to the ladders, ushering Dale to follow while she stared at the steps; and to stop before them as she remembered something important about ladders: Dale's lack of investment in going up them. Still something of a mystery to her, Haydee took a moment to tap her chin in wonder about the humans sudden distaste of the harmless steps. Surely there was an answer there-

"I-I-I'll go first this time Haydee." Said human suddenly appeared before and took a grip on the ladders, actually bursting upwards with a feverish energy. The powerful gynoid in turn could only stare in complete silence and bewilderment by the humans unexpected enthusiasm. Shaking her head, the bountiful robot doubted she'd find the answer, turning her attention back to forward and making her way up the ladders herself.

The duo kept moving, though it was barely a few feet onward that the human stayed in front, nor the same length of distance with Haydee not reaching for her weapon. Something was sure to come next, and Haydee was sure to be ready. Once the inevitable corner was met, Haydee was already having a finger by the trigger and her second hand on the rifle. Her line of sight ready, she turned the corner with a sharp spin a met-

A Mauler - no! The human was already turning the corner with her, but by her own powers she would not let him see it on this day. Grabbing the human with her left hand, Haydee immediately pushed him into her back, forcibly wrapping his own arm around her waist to signal him to keep pressed into her, and wasting no time she aimed up and fired upon the sideways looking canine-crafted creature. Her line of sight be swift she fired her bullet straight into its eye, piercing its head and forcing it's blown drop to occur right after. Rightly, not even giving it a second gaze, Haydee kept on going, holding the human close as she led the way forward.

Though he attempted some muffled replies of protest, Haydee refused to drop her unceremonious drag. She disliked having to force him this way, but she knew this small moment of discomfort should more than make up for the chance of him going dull again, even if he was to see only an inert member of the four-legged freaks. Her pace was quick, the human barely even able to keep up with her quick stride, even when she manoeuvred off to the side for just a second. Her attention on him never wavered, even when thoughts of bile began to rise at the thought of their being possibly more of those things along their pathway anytime soon. Shaking her head at the prospect, Haydee only ceased her forceful move of the human when they met with the end of this hallway; a way out. Letting him go, she gave free reign in getting re-adjusted while she in turn hugged the right side wall and looked out.

On the left side she saw. . . a sight that screeched her internal servos. It was a Dale. A clone. A man that. . . had met his end sometime before her entering. Having falling limp on the cold, lifeless tiles, he looked so innocent, so indignant for a man like him. Once full of life and vigour, only to now be reduced to some morbid decorations. Littered in his own blood, taken from the arms of the only one that could have cared for him. At least she now knew both an answer to an earlier question, and a new question regarding this bizarre pattern she was seeing.

What a waste of a good life. . . could have gone so far, now to only end up with a bullet in his head, letting its blood seep out and darken the tiles with crimson sorrow.

A bullet hole. . .

Staring at the undeserved corpse, Haydee quickly made a conclusion that such a death was no mere accident. The circular wound, of an immediate mortal folly, was a death whose fault she saw as only one likely suspect; and one she found herself having a hampering to kill as swiftly as her body could allow. Pulling her gun up to her torso Haydee hugged the wall, pushing her body in with great force while simultaneously using gentle ushering for the human to do the same in turn. Body pressed inward, Haydee slowly sank into the side, peering her body outwards into the open and to the other direction of the lying body. Slowly, silently, the gynoid carefully peeked around the end of the corner and saw-

Something that forced her body to slam back into the wall, something she already had suspected was there already: A Sniper. One perked up behind some railing to boot. Its barrel already aimed in her general direction, she quickly saw it a boon that she had been warned about beforehand. To the corpse that still laid with an unceremonious defeat; though your death was forever unnecessary, she still gave thanks for the forewarning. At least she could say his demise was not a utterly fruitless one.

Holding her weapon out, the gynoid gave one last thought to the new assault gun, acknowledging with the Snipers distance and cover her pistol's lack of long range would surely be a major hindrance. Her new weapon seemed more than perfectly suited to dealing with the malicious machine, almost like it was made for this room. . .

Ready to go, finger over the trigger, palm gripped underneath the handguard, Haydee looked to the side, to the open. . . and crouched down to her knees, her body only then leaning off the wall. . .

Before she moved! Her powerful knees piloting her move, the gynoid whipped around the corner, still on her knees and took sharp aim right at the machine's head. Not letting it be given time to readjust its mark Haydee shot without remorse; firing forth her powered projectile to tearing its head to shreds. It staggered back by the impact, the first and only shot having landed right in its lens, with its vision going completely black a mere moment before its power ran dry and no longer did it cease to function. Once the oncoming thud resounded out, Haydee stood herself back up, nodding with a complacent tone about herself when she noted it had met with a fitting end.

"You got it." She had difficulty deciphering whether or not his speech was meant as a question or an assurance, but it mattered not, as indeed was the mechanical evil gone, leaving them free passage to get on by.

The door for the exit out of here was right by the Snipers position, looking to be the last guard out of here. With dangers no longer present, they were free to move, something Haydee immediately took advantage of as she had them both move on along.

Now out in the open, she let her rifle fall from her hands while she spread her arms wide. Not that her pseudo-muscles would clamor up, but no longer having to ride on the rules of a thin corridor allowed her free reign to feel less oppressed. Why, she did not know, only coming to the conclusion that wide spaces allowed better movement to evade and spot dangers, but that at least seemed like a solid answer to be given. The exit out looked craving for their attention, and without any shown reason to deny its request Haydee began her march on-

"Another broken cog. . . " Being the only voice she has met since her awakening, Haydee had gotten incredibly used to hearing his sentences grab her attention. Before she even looked she was able to note it was spoken with a melancholic, slow tone, and the immediate fear she had about the situation was instantly shown to hold true when she saw him look down to the dead body just a few metres away.

Internally chastising herself for forgetting about the thought of him not having to see another dead carcass ever again, Haydee swiftly lunged right for him, grasping him by the hem of his shirt and quickly dragging him away. Having to hold him by his side, Haydee led him away, away from the sight that could resurface that bubbling, breaking threat of self-destruction. Quickly moving him up the steps, past the unresponsive machinery and to the door, only then did Haydee see it right to let the human go, now that they were but one move away from exiting this room.

Exiting away from that 'broken cog' as he called it. Were they all the same? Were they all broken cogs? Was that Dale a broken cog too, even after having suffered for so long? No; she refused to believe that. They were people, people that had life to give, to learn and create, to love. . . his Haydee.

Haydee urged him into the next room.

---

When she walked in, what caught her attentive eye first and foremost was the sudden podium presented right for them. Staring their way, as if urging them to come forth, the short outcropping from the tiles stood there silent and alone just a few mere feet away from their entry in.

With a quick check to make sure no danger was currently present, Haydee led them forth to the odd table seemingly presented for them. To the odd things left lying casually on the top. They certainly weren't another rifle, that she could at least determine as stood over. Not even a normal group of mags either.

Because what laid upon that podium was a bizarre concoction of various seemingly random equipment. Of something large and black, long and looping into itself, while the other side strewn about were three small, different coloured boxes. So random and odd, she may very well have not given them the time of day if not for the logical conclusion their purpose was likely held for some relation to those that wished to continue forth. Knowing that at least, Haydee made a grab for the large obsidian loop and held it aloft in her inorganic hands. It dangled free, the dark coil drooped and swayed in the open air as the gynoid kept it up with only a single hand. Taking a look at arms length, she quickly noticed how along the outside of the loop were a series of pouches, empty ones too; her other set of fingers quickly discovered, along with some more smaller hoops as well. To top it all off, in the middle of it all also on the outside of this hoop was a square metal insertion, along with another thin metal spike going through it. Tapping her chin, the machine saw it to be a rather curious thing

"Is that a. . . buckle?" Her human companion called out to the side, pointing to the square metal of this loop. "Haydee; I think that's actually a belt." Taking a look herself, she did indeed spy it to be very close to a supposed belt in design. In a moment, her fingers were wrapped around the buckle, grasping at the hem and the workings of the strap. Her inner knowledge brought up the information regarding this kind of item, meaning that in no time flat Haydee undid the clasp and pulled it apart.

"I think. . . you're the one meant to wear it?" Dale said quizzically. Honestly, she couldn't find a reason to disagree with him there; especially after she slid the belt around her own waist, pulled it tight, and fastened up the clasp, allowing her to see it fit snugly and tightly around her body. With how it looked, there was little empty space left on the new attire, giving her the sense that this was specifically made for her design in mind.

"It's looks good on you." Dale lightly complimented. " I mean. . . it makes you look a bit more, eh. . . snazzy?" She twisted her hips while she looked it all over, seeing the dark shade compliment against her white body.

That said. . . whatever its purpose was for, however, was still up in the air to her. Its reason for being here definitely must be a necessity, she was sure of, but besides making her seem a bit more 'snazzy' the odd selection of hoops and pouches did not give her much to work on. Unless, of course;

"Do you think the belt is related to these boxes here?" Dale questioned while he picked up and examined the small card boxes that once were seated right beside her new band. Curious as well, standing where she was Haydee observed that those boxes were all not the same; each of the three having different lines colours next to a mainly black background.

"Look; they all have something different written on each of them." He spoke aloud as he looked over all three. "00 Buck shell, Shock Shell. . . Explosive Shell?" Delicately, he placed the box back on the table. Then took a fair step back.

"I. . . do not think these were intended for me in mind." Slowly backing away, the human said that sentence with a slow drawl, all eyes focused on the small boxes. Eyes that looked to be going a bit wide, too wide for Haydee's preference, as she took his place before they could widen out his sockets. Taking a grasp onto the same box the human was previously holding onto, she took a good look at the outside, of the simplistic text against the contrasting orange and black outside, before making an attempt to open it. Rather than it being a simple flip-up, the box instead was a flip out on the side, something her internal knowledge told her was similar in design more towards the humble match box.

Yet unlike a match box, what laid inside was no simple set of wooden sticks. True to their name, shells, rimmed cylindrical cartridges, resided inside. She didn't even have to take one out to take a good guess about its existence, nothing about the plain text on the box fabricated any lie over what they wholly were. And instantly after, neither was it unclear for what purpose both those shells were intended for, and what this belt below was meant to hold as well. With a strong pull up of her rifle, Haydee held it aloft in her right hand, and with the other clicked out the revolving cylinder, and took out one of the shells before placing it correctly inside the top chamber, closing back the cylinder right after.

"At least that solves the mystery of what the second barrel was for." She nodded as she closed down the back, not needing an extra word as she took the rest of the two boxes from the table and began placing them in her pouches. Three boxes; three pouches: coincidences like this within this kind of realm were not purely accidental, she knew now to believe. With her new items in hand, or better said, on the side, it was time to lead on.

Two claps, and Haydee began to usher him away, towards the next exit out. Sadly, said exit was not exactly within reach, they had quickly come to see. There was a way forward, a line of mesh that headed on right went all the way up to the two walls and the ceiling, leaving only a small doorway shaped hole for them to cross right through, right at the farthest side of them. Yet as easy a way forward as it first seemed, the moment something caught her eye she immediately made the human pause his steps as well as hers, straightening her arm out like a steel bar as the surprise movement knocked the human into seeing what she was spying onto.

"A machine? Why is it so close to the front?" Indeed, as his moan described, a Walker was currently guarding the way. Not by the front, but sadly the still automation kept itself on the other side of the meshed barriers, facing to the opening that was mere feet from its position. Sadly, Haydee knew that its position was too tricky for her to make any sort of cheesing strategy of. With the opening right by the wall, trying to skirt it at an angle could not happen. Yet the machine was so close to the door any chance of jumping in and aiming point blank was extremely risky, if not outright suicidal. Even with her new rifle, such a chance would still be too risky, and she will not leave it to chance.

Though: it wasn't to say she was left completely clueless. Rather, if all her time continuously entering the next new rooms had taught her anything about this construction; then she already had a clue about the correct procedure. To her side did she lay out an order to stay, before whipping forth her rifle in record time.

"Be careful." The cautious call murmured her way before she had a chance to take her second step. She did not need to look back to see how he spoke out that whisper of a call, but she did nod as acknowledgment she heard him. If ever he felt worried, all he needed to do was call her, and she would always tell she was there for him. She would not let despair take him at any moment so long as she could disallow it. Back to focusing only on forward she stepped towards the open space.

Once she met the opening she looked to the side, where the Walker stood. A mere two few apart, so close she could have reached out and touched, barring the mesh was not in the way. But as always, the machine did not acknowledge her presence. She was not within its line of sight, something that could only happen once she crossed the threshold: one she found to fit both in the literal and metaphorical sense of the meaning. Taking a grasp of the rifle, as if to innately check its existence is still wrapped around her upper form, Haydee marched to the entrance of the meshing's, scanning the way forward where the obvious trap laid. Her finger itching by the trigger, her legs already beginning to crouch down, he knew she was now as ready as she'll ever be as she took her first foot forward. The step came. And in the third; did she enter through the meshing.

The machine immediately charged upon her the moment her frame stepped in: its crimson ocular sighting her presence the moment she stride through, and in immediate turn did it take its subsequent step forward alongside its raise of its solid fist. All just in time to see her rifles barrel, that is; her secondary one, spin down around and face point black at the unhuman design. A mere moment before its fist rained down, before its heavy bold hand could touch upon the body of the female model, her middle finger pulled back on the secondary trigger.

Like a blast of fire, a shoot of shrapnel, a hail of pellets burst forth from the second barrel. Ripping through the air for but a singular moment in time, that rocketed forthwith incredible speed, for all to land square into the Walkers body. It's faceplate, lens, its own torso, all fell victim to the simultaneous roar of small metal baubles, an unfestive barrage of death that ripped into the solid frame like it was paper, and shattered through any discourse of the Walkers chances over bringing it's own brand of death first. By the second that proceeded, it fell like any other, be it explosive, bullet or buckshot, as it was shown the by either case; it became obsolete before it's broken plate hit the floor.

Oh, there was no question about it now; she was very much fond of the new weapon.

She clapped twice, and as always Dale came to her. Ready to move when she was, Haydee began to head on forward with the male in tow.

"At least it was just one." She nodded, agreeing with the positive statement that only one enemy was to be found here. She focused her attention on the way forward, on the so-called tunnel that was beginning to shorten up; that has start enclosing. Narrowed by the meshing, Haydee only cared on the singular way on, the shadows not coming to affect her, to make her pause and tremble.

That is, not including something that managed to pierce through this onyx veil. As something did make her stop, take a pause and stare forward with apprehension. Something bright and crimson, dripping with natural dread, bursting through this containment of black and white. Carmine lens, shining out with only the dimmest light, broke this patterned construction of the two antithesis colours as they appeared at a distance away. Not one or two, but three whole machines were blocking their path onward.

". . . Me and my dumb stupid mouth."

One Slasher. Two Walkers. Each set in some odd 90 degree angle from the middle. That is to say, as two of the machines, two Walkers, stood opposite another by the walls of the meshing, while the lone one, that single slicing automaton, stood almost in-between. Not entirely sandwiched between the two, it stood but a foot or two before the middle, but that didn't stop it from becoming the centre of the pack; its sight was focused on only one way: hers. Haydee could not fully gauge the distance of the machine length of focus. How many more feet forward would she need to go before the Slasher's attention could be focused on the gynoid, even more so in this shadowed tunnel. At least, for the moment she hadn't garnered their personal interest, so she knew this to be a potential maximum distance. However, this did nothing to dissuade her from understanding the situation before her was a dangerous one.

One more single step, and the trio could be upon them. Even with her new weapon, they were still a major threat, thus it meant her best chance to keep moving forward was inclined towards defeating the three as quickly as possible. Or perhaps; defeating all three in a single blow - in one move that could simply wipe out all three. Something that could spread out in a wide area, covering all three and laying waste to them with low effort.

Course, she had already done such a similar thing before; yet why waste their last Floating Mine on that triad of machinery, when she instead could use something of similar nature designed more seamlessly for such an occasion - something she was already loading right into her cylinder.

She took aim: took her sights onto the small chest of the Slasher, gripped onto her secondary trigger with the practical strength of her middle finger: and pulled back. The shot that fired did so at a speed a Floating Mine wished it could have. It rocketed towards its target, arcing with only the slightest of decline from such an unimpressive distance, piercing through the darkness that even the robots ruby monocles could not outshine, and darted right into the centre; the centre of the trio, the centre of their standings: the centre of the Slasher's chest. Because the moment it did so-

An eruption of fire and metal cascaded to the enveloping mesh's walls, slamming all manner of wires, ricocheting shrapnel and other such newly burnt scrap into the available corners. What parts of the machines that were still somehow connected were pushed as far as they could go, either farther down the corridor and to slam into the cages and let limp onto the meshing. In the seconds the booming combustion stopped echoing off the far walls, leaving only silence and lifeless death in its wake.

Quickly noting, the explosives she utilised were quite controlled for what they were. Or at least, somewhat, albeit by a marginal amount, smaller in radius compared to the floating mine she still held in her very backpack. That said, however, the shell's speed, accuracy, and timing of firing more than made up for any such shortcomings; as far as immediate combat goes, she knew which one was much better her go-to.

Walking to the decimated scene, Haydee only gave a small check down to examine the damage she had caused before she focused back to the up world around her. Dale seemed to be doing so in a similar vein, his eyes staring out through the metal bars and to the walls of the main borders of this room, obstructed only by the solid components of shadowed ruby pipes out of their reach.

"How fitting." He suddenly remarked out of nowhere. As she looked down to him with her natural blank stare, he looked upwards to her in a bizarrely mirrored fashion. "It's the colour of blood."

Unquestionably uncomfortable stoicism aside, his words did make her think. From White, to Green, and now Red. Granted, she could not currently see a true pattern of these successive shades, but she did wonder if there was a lack of randomness involved with the colour-coding, and having red for blood and combat would make some sense. Just what exactly was this place intended for?

But such questions had to be pondered over another time, as more of crimson lights pierced through this veil once again, and it didn't come from unflinching pipework. Thankfully, though such glows of scarlet were not originating from lines of malicious machinery, but instead from the cherry-pip lights of mines. Not a reason for her to stop immediately, Haydee took a good look at the scene presented in full.

A good number of active mines, on the floor and walls, lined across her way. Beyond them she could see an end to the tunnel, the bright light trying to penetrate through to them, yet unable to get past the invisible barrier of the mines as well. Many of the mines lined the way, their radius of danger poking out like spikes, of jagged teeth ready to swallow her whole if she ever decided to desire a suicidal demise. Haydee was not afraid of any such thing happening, however, as such detonating discs were a hazard she was not afraid to clear. In truth; she already knew how - she had already gone through all this earlier.

An insert of a round later, Haydee took quick aim and let loose the shell, letting it lob along the way and reach its indefinite end. The moment it hit the tiles, the following cascade of explosion threatened to cave in this tunnel. Or at least, attempted to from one made only of thin metal barriers. So sudden was the following result she barely could recognise how many of the mines had all triggered, though, once the figurative dust all cleared it was obvious what the real answer one; completely unnecessary to figure out in the first place.

All those once pesky mines now simply were gone, reduced to rubble and shards. Simply litter upon their feet. No longer being prevented by high danger, the light beckoned them out, a call Haydee gladly accepted. Though she still exited the tunnel with some level of apprehension, such grandeur was thankfully not met with any opposition that supported her apprehension. No danger of active searching or simple threshold crossing was found now, not much else here but the exit to go out.

That is, if there still wasn't one final problem to occur: The exit was blocked off. Another meshed barrier, an occurrence the gynoid started to feel too was becoming too common for its own good. Of course at least, she knew really they need only find the mechanism to activate away the barrier, yet. . . to what end that was she had trouble deciphering.

She saw nothing of any indication on the way here, and even at the end looking left right and down offered her no solution. No pad by the door, no button to find and activate, the only interesting thing of note at the end of the tunnel was something entirely different she had to come across until now. Upon the wall where the exit laid, high above metres from the ground, was a grey metal box attached to the wall. Covered up by a panel with a zagged blue symbol stickered over, she noted how a small thin cable drooped down and around along the way, the other connecting end was onto the blocked passage before her. Along with that, a small red light appeared up above. Yet what did all this mean?

To her, nothing as of yet. Despite all that was presented, this puzzle for them to solve conditioned little clue, at least none she could see. The panel was too high to interact, unless it was expected for her to keep jumping up there with her boots. Even then, what would her next step be. For the moment, all she was able to do was tap her chin in thought, awaiting for the answer to come. Albeit, perhaps not by her own reasoning.

"I think I might have it." She looked to her side, finger still on her chin as she stared with interest at the man beside her. The man that, subsequently, began to fidget on the spot. "That is, to say, if you're actually willing to hear the rambling thoughts of a cl-" The moment two strong hands gripped at his shoulders his body practically forced himself to stop looking at the floor below, and instead to the lusterless face of the woman before him.

She could not convey her words through noise, or by expressions, but she could through solid actions: She nodded. Nothing more, nothing less. She didn't want him to say anything more, or other, than those rambling thoughts he had. So leaning back, she stepped to the side and offered an empty hand outwards. She was listening, so he need only to speak.

"Well. . . se that panel above there." He began with a point. "That symbol on it. It looks, a-at least to me, kinda like a lightning symbol." She did indeed look, and indeed again, the symbol above did match the simplistic drawings humans gave to announce the naturally occurring electrostatic discharge. "And lightning is, well, basically electricity. Something that would give. . . eh, a shock. A shock; like the same name of those new rounds; the one you have yet to put to any use." She looked down to her pouches, remembering which one conditioned the Shock Shells within.

"Now; I know this might sounds. . . too good to be true, but at I thought you deserved at least some semblance of an idea to-" A resounding click paused his self-called ramblings, breaking his attention away from anywhere else to now look over to the gynoid by him; who was currently taking abrupt aim at the panel above. In no time flat she had fired off her round.

The moment the shot hit, another explosion suddenly occurred without full warning; yet one was not a blast out fire. Instead, bolts of pure electricity thundered out, zapping all around it in a small, contained sphere of ranged rage. Though, perhaps in the seconds that followed such an outbreak may also be baulked up by another factor coming into play; the panel.

Because the mere second after her shot had fired, that once burning red light turned an almighty green; signalling when the barrier shifted away. The satisfaction Haydee quickly received almost made her want to jump for joy, as the humans would call it.

"Oh, I guess I was right here. I suppose even a c-" A hug so strong and forceful threatened to make him fall back. Too stunned to configure what was happening, the human did not get the chance to announce how he was feeling as the hug ceased as unexpectedly as it first occurred, only to be replaced by a feverish ruffling of his hair. A hand soon wrapped around his back, and swiftly did the male find himself best upon by a move on out. Not knowing what to say, he kept his mouth shut, and lightly smiled at the praise as the two continued on.

---

Walking in, upon her first quick observation of the walls around her the first immediate thing Haydee did was not a press forth of her boots, but instead a turn of attention to the new belt of hers. More precisely, to those small hoops attached along the length, as she suddenly believed she may have found their reason for existing. From their shape, of which they were two different sizes, to the number, three of each, to the fact they were related to the pouches from earlier, it all led to her having one final conclusion:

With ease, the gynoid pulled out both her extra rifle magazines and inserted them into the hoops. Fits like a glove! Perhaps she should have said the same for the pistol magazines as well, the smaller hoops looking to easily permit their safeguard in. Or she would; if she had any left on her, that is. If she remembered correctly, she still had a mostly full magazine, so at least she wasn't running dry there for now.

But her pistol could be saved for another time; her rifle still functioned itself pretty nicely in her arms. And with two extra magazines under, or should that be over, her belt, she already knew which weapon she would likely first turn her attention to.

Though, considering all she looked upon as she properly set her sights on this new room, it quickly turned out she may need neither for this next room. With a high ceiling and long walls, this room presented itself way bigger than those previously. Or at least, far more open, bearing little with trying to emulate a labyrinth or enclosed tunnel. Big, wide spaces; and not a robot in sight. Not including herself of course.

Not to say there was nothing of note here. In fact, something very intriguing looked to be at play here; around them was on an odd route of wide spaces. Of small platforms, suspended on high by tall pillars, leading onward to an exit. A unique looking exit: in that it was covered all around by the squared meshing. The only way to enter appeared to be the entry way up on the open top, to the ladder that led inside. If that sounded at all familiar to the Haydee, then what really took the cake was the small circle sitting upon the tiles, stickered over with that all too familiar centre of a Boosting Boot diagram.

So familiar, so common, Haydee. . . Just tapped her chin in wondering thought. It looked to be the exact same kind of pad from before, no change about it's person. Same colouring and symbol and all else. And yes, she very much was glad she had come across this pad from the previous zone all those rooms ago; but that didn't stop her from looking at this one now with a confused glance. After all: she already has her boots.

Knowing she was not the only thinker of this cold room, Haydee looked down to her male companion, hoping to get a better grasp of the subject presented to them. Perhaps, he may have figured out yet another solution here. Sadly, however, such dreams were washed away the moment he looked up upon noticing the pair of invisible eyes laid on him, his face twisted into a bewildered, uncertain expression.

"I'm. . . not entirely sure myself." He announced, clearly as stumped as the gynoid. She knew she shouldn't expect too much; after all, she should not let him feel relied on too heavily at his current moment. Stress would not help his situation in any way. "I know what this room is trying to imply, but such implications seem rudimentary considering. . . well, considering the obvious." She looked back forward, trying to make sure she hadn't missed anything, but alas very little, that is; absolutely nothing, had changed nor better came into her view. Wondering if the circle was just a ploy, a red herring to deceive them like this location seemingly already looks to have done multiple times before, Haydee stirred her attention over to the spaced pathway up ahead. With it being the only possible way to the end, this obstacle course should, at the very least, be given main attention if they still hope to leave. Though she barely garnered any major thoughts to the simpler version of what came before, she still couldn't help but believe that something was actively amiss here: Something different, something. . . that stopped them from charging straight forth, or to better put it, up to the obstacle course.

"Could there be another reason for the pad?" Dale stated while mindlessly scratched at his hair follicles, leaving Haydee to see that staying here will serve them no use. Though she still held onto her suspicion, to go forth is what their journey demanded; a truth he held no reason to change.

With nothing left to lose, Haydee decided one only one course of action: to head forward. To head to the circular imprint, that stood between the course above and the entryway behind. As it quickly was shown to be, Dale swiftly caught on to what she was about to do, so speaking out loud he followed on behind her with a "I don't suppose there's really any harm in trying out. I mean: what's the worst that could happen?" lighting up this usually silent atmosphere while she strode herself to the pad.

Once she walked on, far less hesitation in her steps this time, Haydee firmly stood her ground as she felt her weight shift downwards slightly. Remembering all of what came before during the last time, Haydee felt no small surprise in seeing that white light spin around the thin frame of the plate.

And only lightly flinched once those metal cymbals burst out and gripped her boots.

"Though maybe I shouldn't have said that out loud also." She saw him lightly cringe at that. With the clamps no on, it was only a matter of second before something would arose; something would come forth that would answer the major questions they currently are holding.

As it quickly turned out, something certainly did arise; a thin framework of metal origin surrounded her from all sides. Though she no longer saw a reason to fear any danger, Haydee still held her suspicions until after the coloured lightings ceased from around her body.

To instead be replaced by bulkier clamps slam out and clamp all around her lowest frame.

"Is something happening? Is it hurting you at all Haydee?" She nodded, then shook her head, focusing her attention on the hidden work going on under her boots. Attention that was only halted as a small screen appeared before her face; where the familiar words of UPGRADE IN PROGRESS flashed over the holographic curtain. Though she may have called it a redundant situation, a superfluous task that did nothing but take free space out of their seconds, she couldn't help but feel something was changing down below her form. Movement, shifting, taking place inside those bulky clamps.

"Just. . . please tell me if anything is hurting." He was worried, she accepted that. Though, wanting to remind him if she was hurting was a dilemma she didn't hold a current answer for, she knew that if anything was to go wrong she would let him know what the best solution for him would be. Thankfully, she felt no pain or ache around her legs, only eased, almost pleasant shifting.

UPGRADE COMPLETE. BOOST DISTANCE INCREASED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

Those words flashed on screen for but a lingered second before the whole system collapsed on itself. The framework retracted away, and in the immediate second right after did those heavy clamps rip themselves off, scurrying away and leaving this room to return to its quiet, blank state. With a twist on her heel, Haydee looked, finally seeing the Boots for the first time anew; only to see nothing of any change at all. No bulk or discoloration, nothing to suggest a second layer of boots were added on top. Was it all a simple replacement? Haydee thought, as she twisted her heels and toes, seeing no difference here, not even in her own personal HUB.

"Haydee: I think something actually has changed with your boots." She looked back, seeing him look closely at the back of her heavy footwear, out of her visible reach. "Is it me, or have those jet nozzles gotten. . . bigger?" Standing firmly on foot, with the other she pulled her leg up all the way they could: for her to see upon those jet nozzles that made up her most notable use of the footwear. Though she wasn't entirely sure, she was sure they were once smaller from previous times. Larger, wider, longer, they seemed undeniably more predominant than what she had beforehand, she began to believe.

"Do you feel any different?" He honestly asked, and she honestly answered with a shrug of her shoulders. They did feel to be a little heavier than before, but otherwise nothing major looked to happen.

Of course, the gynoid new 'looked' was not the purpose of these boots. Rather, 'acted' upon was their entire sense of being, and to 'act' was an ideal Haydee knew how to put in place: with the course up above. The way to the exit; the way out she was yearning for. She looked at the so-called channel of hurdle's, refusing to feel it's overbearing presence cast upon her like a shadow of death, and eyed the way forward, the only way to begin this supposed trail.

"You're gonna start going up there now, then?" She nodded to his question, seeing the switch up above. If it was anything like before, it was likely cast down a ladder or some other sort to allow the human's passage up. So in the least, she had no reason in having the human grab a hold of her back while she lifted them both off. Instead, all she needed to begin this lengthy pace was nothing but a jump up.

Simple. . . though, something did stop her from immediately making a vertical leap away. The ledge upwards was tall, and though a redundant statement considering the following, Haydee couldn't help but notice how it might have seemed higher than normal. A far distance up, it was so high in fact she began to wonder if her boosting boots alone would be enough to reach the edge.

That is: she almost would have; if not for her deciphering as to what this upgrade was here to do. She understood without it being told, and bending down her knees, angling her elbows Haydee prepared herself a mere second before her internal springs burst her forward.

A sprint, one that only lasted but a mere fraction of a moment before she hit the wall; and jumped. The human behind her likely witnessed it all, her run, her jump - and her subsequent blast of her nozzles. Screaming like fireworks, a full blast of the two nozzles shot out those bright blue flames, lifting her off before gravity could take its lingering toil in her. Though she couldn't see behind her, she was sure the human was thinking the same as she: these newly upgraded boots had indeed gotten stronger. Haydee could feel the increase of power send her skyrocketing up, at a much greater distance than what previous expulsions could achieve. With all that noted and seen, Haydee fired her boots just once more, and grabbed the ledge up above with ease.

Once her hands caught onto the side, all it took left was a simple flip up and Haydee's newly changed footwear slammed over to the solid ground with ease. Straightening her knees, she tapped the tiles with a click of her heel, looking the heavy footwear over with a little flare in her step. Just to take a better look, of course, to get her to simply feel how much greater they now work. They had a shine to them too, very clean. Almost clean enough for one's face to reflect off the side.

Like the man down below. She hadn't forgotten about the human here, of course, and with a simple press of the button beside her she let a ladder pop out and run down, hitting the floor with an endearing clang. The human took the cue, being watched while he sprinted on forward and grabbed the ladder with an enthusiasm than seemed to omit his previous complaints.

"That was amazing, Haydee." His ardour was so positive he was talking before he even stood upon the ledge. "I could see it from where I stood. Those bursts were definitely much bigger than before." She nodded, believing his words when she couldn't directly notice it herself. In the least, she could easily feel how much more powerful each burst of her jets had become, though she saw that hearing him directly say it himself seemed to be enough for her to know.

"At least we know it wasn't a trap." Quite, but that doesn't mean the dangers have been passed. The drop down was quite sheer, and though she could drive the fall thanks to her swanky new bootsies, that doesn't mean the human could. Plus, such saves could only be done with reserve bursts, though that was an important note she already knew. Not wanting to allow the possible chance of acrophobia to burrow deep within the human, Haydee turned her attention to the front, where the next problem was quickly seated for their arrival.

A long distance away did the next ledge stay, being prevented by access by a long space in between. Again, a button stood on the side by the railings, leading her to see her trip over to be a simple solo one. At least if she made a mistake, Dale would not join her. So urging said human to take a stand away, Haydee took a firm step back herself, bending her knees as she stared dead ahead before taking off.

With a leap as mighty as she could, Haydee kicked at the end of the ledge and sent herself flying, both forward and with some elevation, before kicking her boosts at the computed correct time. Then a second, and with only a short distance to spare the gynoid made a grab, managing to grasp the end of the ledge before a fall of deathly proportions could take her. In no time flat she pulled herself back up and pressed the button, forming a bridge between the two ledges that allowed the patient human to cross. With a nod of affirmation to him, Haydee turned away to the next obstacle on their path: a jump down, the small triangle printed onto the tiles being more than enough to tell her this. With ease, Haydee made a calm dive down. Very much like before, her free fall was breached from a clean drop by two perfectly timed bursts of her boots, allowing her descent to finish with a calm and breezy stomp down. A push of the button on the side and a ladder came down for the human to come down himself and follow on behind, to the next, and as Haydee noted, seemingly the final hindrance on their journey.

It was another jump up, another double burst of her boots to reach the end, though such a simple task to complete was stopped before it even began when she released she saw no button up top. They were but a one step away from reaching the end, the exit so close she believed she could stretch out her hand and finger the holes of the meshing, but such an act could not be done, especially as she stood there and looked all over. With seemingly no way for him to come up after her, she already knew her choice of how she was to get up there with him in tow.

Before him, she crouched down, pointing to her back for him to understand her intentions.

"If I have no choice." He murmured out loud, trudging up to her as she assumed the position for him. He got on like always, tangling his thighs around her torso, while his body pressed into her backpack, letting his chest rest on the, hopefully, comfortable bag while his hands lurched around her neck. With him fairly in place, Haydee stood up, feeling the weight press her down while she held him up.

With herself ready, and by how his hands wrapped around her, him as well, Haydee marched on. To the ledge as she stood her ground, her knees bending, and her body making a jump. As her body took flights, and the jets burst them both up, Haydee couldn't help but feel his body lurch from the jerking movements. She expected this to happen, and not wanting him to feel uncomfortable for longer than necessary, she fired off her second boost, jumping so much higher now her torso elevated past the ledge itself. So close to the wall, Haydee reached out one hand and grabbed at the edge before her fall took its toll. Her other hand firmly pressed into the human, she pushed her weight forward, not caring by how the ninety degree side dug into her form, and pulled herself straight up before Dale could feel the lack of safe flooring for any longer.

Upon her jump on, Haydee leaned down, allowing him free space out of her. Strangely, she herself saw some comfortableness with how the human was pressed into her, even when on her back. Surely, of course it was simply down to him being as close, thus as safe, as possible. Most logical conclusion was the best conclusion. With that out of the way, Haydee stood back up.

"I feel like that won't be the last time we'd have to do that again." Perhaps, perhaps not, but at least for now the trail was practically over, so any disdain he would feel would not return so suddenly. All that was needed to be done here was a climb down, and out of here.

A simple crawl down the ladder. . . that Dale was not immediately going for. Instead, he seemed to hold his attention. . . over to the wall on the other side. She herself looked, but she saw nothing of important note there; or anywhere else at all. Was he seeing something she was not?

Unimportant, and with a clap Haydee brisked away his focus on the tiled slab over the way and to her, where she pointed to the ladder.

"Um, after you?" He interjected with a push of his hands, causing Haydee to simply shrug and do as he asked. Stranger and stranger, with noticeable enthusiasm to going up and down the ladders to proceed forth on their trails, to him waiting for her to go down. Was it the tower of meshing? The final leg of their exit out this room? Such thoughts ambled around Haydee's head as she took steps down the ladder.

Regardless, one she stopped down and him in tow, now held into this small area of meshed caging, the door to go on was but one step away, something took clean advantage of as she placed her newly upgraded boots forward and exited on out.

---

Stepping in, the moment her eyes spied on enemies in the distance her hands were already drawn to her rifle. It took a few seconds after, a prolonged moment filled with nothing but a pregnant silence and the Haydee's assertive eyes attempting to dominate any foe's desires to come closer, for Haydee to be able to see what else this enclosed accommodation tried to offer the two new visitors.

The hallway was long, yet not as wide to balance out this thinned rectangle of a room. Reasonably tall, too, but not for a reason that may also balance out the open pace of this place. There were no platforms or heights to this place. Actually, taking a solid that wasn't secured over the walking adversaries she found little in the way of distinct features. Some closed crates, and some random assortment of close-ranged machines on the far off, yet little else. She couldn't see the exit in her given position, but with how everything was aligned she doubted it would be anywhere else except far opposite of her.

It almost seemed. . . rather easy for them.

Fair, the gynoid believed best to say as she saw little reason to consider it a transgression at all. If it was but a straight shot onward, then she saw little reason to not oblige with the beeline that was forward.

. . . After she calmly opened up her secondary ammo port and quickly inserted two of the pellet shells before anything else. She may not entirely know what will come next; but in the least, a last second save like these would no doubt benefit her if the time calls. Once the cylinder was ticked back in place Haydee allowed herself one step forward, no longer seeing a reason to halt in place any longer.

Though in a matter of a singular second right after, the gynoid actively did exactly that. Upon her first step forward, a rumbling, quaking noise made a pause on her attempt for a second kick onward. Almost like continuous thunder shaking the very ground she stood over, sounds of strong movement, forces with unparalleled strength, seemed to echo from every corner of this room as her placement for such a sound could not be met even by her intrinsic scope. Instinctively, she faced forward, eyeing down the enemies presented to her in front; but found no reaction either from or to them.

"H. . . HAYDEE!" Such a surprised scream whipped the gynoids' focus away from the front and behind; to immediately have the sacred, wide-eyed expression of the human be set upon her.

"The walls! They're closing in on us!" Such a statement at first seemed ludicrous to the female, a bizarre rise of imagination conducted for an innocuous fallacy. Yet, once she looked out for his sake, it was then to her horror, to her shock and bafflement, she quickly found his words were carrying no lie within them. Both walls, the usually solid barriers that kept them caged within, now suddenly decided to want to do much worse than simply stand there in place. As of now, with crawling rumbles that felt like earthquakes beneath their feet, this enclosure was beginning to make slow, deadly approaches to their position. Worst of all, upon ehr look behind for an immediate jump to safety she had found the way back suddenly closed off with a meshed barrier; ensuring the two were now sandwiched into this room as little more than helpless prey.

She knew she couldn't stay in this spot any longer. She knew the only safe haven for them; the unbarred exit that was seated far away on the other end, and their time to reach was now ultimately limited.

They needed to move. And now!

A sentence Dale found himself suddenly forced to acknowledge when the gynoids hand grabbed his own and flung him forward. It was he that first saw these walls closing, first to see the once static dams suddenly rumble forward, so the moment when Haydee silently told him they needed to leave, it seemed obvious that understanding the meaning behind her actions would not go unnoticed to the human. When she made her run; so too did his own legs reach forward. They made their immediate sprint, beelining towards the safe way out as Haydee's arm kept him from lagging behind. With little option in the way of figuring out a plan ahead of time, all the gynoid could do is focus on each next step as the two made their mad dash away from the approaching death.

With no reason to turn back, and the death coming from both sides, it left Haydee to look only on the front as she convoyed the human along. Once the first obstacle was met; a line of crates, Haydee reacted to it in kind as she held the human close and jumped above them. The human right beside it, with her own power she let him be flown over the top with her, slamming down over the side as they both kept going.

Dale almost tripped as he hit solid ground, but by her intervention he managed to keep on running without prolonged trouble. Her hand did not lose it's firm grip, letting him stay right beside her as the weave around the next set of crates, the rumbling of the walls still yearning to crush not going unnoticed by the gynoid, before she came across a bigger obstacle in her path. Crates were stacked on high over each other, not permitting access above in her current state. Instead, Haydee chose to weave around the side that lacked the obstruction which in turn led her to the next problem immediately: A Walker right ahead, already turned their way.

She could not fire her assault rifle properly in her current state, that she knew already, but that never once meant she was entirely defenceless. She still had one weapon to use, one weapon that had been disregarded for a good while up until this point; but one she never once truly forgot about. A weapon that, simply, only needed one hand to function, one that she already was being brought out of its holster.

With a click, three bullets in quick succession burst forward and slammed deep into the Walkers faceplate. Even with her body jittering from its sprint, the close range distance was enough for her to land three consecutive, confident shots into the Walkers head. Weaving around the falling form like she did not next crate in her way, Haydee continued forth with her handgun kept out and ready.

Ready for the next enemy, as another Walker guarded their, this time guarding another opening, on the right side of a set of tall stacked crates. This time, Haydee would not even try and let it make a step towards them, as her barrel already was aimed forth; and with but a flick of her finger, the Walkers fate was easily sealed. It became but scrap the moment her boots stomped on the non-operational metallic body, little more than a placemark as she turned down around the stack to find-

A Slasher standing behind! Turned her way, the red lens aiming right in the spot of that only opening via treads, Haydee's eyes zeroed in the moment she noticed the sudden presence; and almost clenched her framework upon the realisation its first strike would effectively cut down not herself - but the human her left hand was still suctioned onto. In a singular moment, she imagined the scenario that could happen: of Dale cut down so mercilessly, of her promise being unfulfilled to the one she pleaded not to die before herself - yet such imagining were shattered like stained glass when a shift of her movement pulled her back into reality.

By not her, but the human beside her. The human that she quickly noticed ripped his hand three from her grasp and immediately dived down. Though the sounds of otherworldly rumbling, crashing boxes and echoing thunder still rained down over her waterproof form, it was the sound the human called out to her that boomed above all else.

"Shoot it!" He hit the floor, but that was the only hit that happened at that moment. The Slasher's blade swiped but cut nothing but air, its target diving away at the last second, leaving Haydee with just enough time to place away her simple firearm, and in quick succession pull up her rifle from its sling, position it forward and with a pull of her trigger, spiralled forward a payload of pellets that ripped the Slashers framework apart like paper. The least it deserved.

But any sense of danger being passed was not in the slightest bit true. Deaths' doors were still trying to close in on them, and Haydee next realisation was only beset but a small shock as her reach for the human went without necessity. The man's feet were already stomping on the ground, his body still rocked on forward, and his attention looked back to the Haydee behind him as he shouted out during his force back on his feet:

"Don't worry about me! I won't fall behind!" The conviction in his voice almost made her double take if not for the current situation. Such thoughts of being shocked could not be allowed, as death's hand still brushed their way towards them. She was not to let him down, let him die, and let his mental state become worse at any time so long as she could still twitch her fingers. So as she understood his words; heard the faith he both had in her and the one he wanted from her, she did not attempt to reach forward and grab his hand.

Her hands instead came to grip hard on her rifle as she sprinted back forward, the human doing the same. As together; they ran, they sprinted, hightailing it forward as the towers of shambling cessation still sauntered towards them. The fear, the complete and understandable worry, that their end is nigh here in this room was something Haydee was sure not lost on the lad; yet, it is upon seeing him take flight like herself, striking forward and jumping over the next line of crates like her in synchronised leaps, that made her believe it was not as if he was without panic inside him. Instead, he seemed to not let his unease cloud his sight from both sides, to only focus on the way ahead.

It was thoughts like that which allowed Haydee to move forward with the belief Dale would not ever let her down. If he believes he can stay right alongside her until the finish line, then she should do so too. For his sake.

Manoeuvring around more blocks, the moment something different entered their frames, a stack of crates, but weirdly this time stacked in such a way they were like large steps to a wall, neither Haydee, nor her trusted human companion as she genuinely sought to regard, did not flinch from their presence. Instead, in tandem did the two jump onto every step, where every crate was met by a pair of vastly different nadir's, before coming to the end as the two leaped forward in turn, right over-

Sniper! Right below by the wall of crates it stood, its own rifle at the ready, standing firm below both their leaps. Yet Haydee would not allow it any chance to so much as see their presence, let alone take a shot to their backs, to gun down the one she trusts so well. Flying in the air did not slow her down, did not hinder her taking a firm grasp of her rifle, aim down, and with the second shell still stuck in the cylinder she let it fly, bearing down a metal rain of hell onto the unsuspecting machine with a flawless dive.

She rolled forward, her weight deeming her to do so, but even such a twist of her body did not stop her from charging forward. Dale landed with a thud, arms crashing down with his legs to best bear the impact, while Haydee tucked into her roll, barrelling forward before stomping hard on her boots and untucked her position forward. As if in timed tandem, they both leapt on back onward, into the fray and heading towards the exit out.

The walls did not cease with their colossal rush to them, even as they jumped and weaved around, the oncoming twin tidal wave would not let up. It was coming in close now, even as the exit was not far ahead, so near to them she believed and feared she could touch the current of bricks. She did not dare, though, only on forward they must go, only to what she saw was the final stretch onward - and the final obstacle on their path. Slashers, two of them, both standing beside a middle crate. Though not facing their way, she knew they would the moment they made a leap forward, over the crate, as the chance of moving around them was not physically ideal to them now. There was only one way forward; and with a push on the humans back did she know how best to go on.

He did not retort to this action. As rather, he took it in true stride as he first leapt over the crate, and she came in second. With what little time they had, she knew they were being followed.

With no time to spare in fighting back, Haydee stared only onto the final leg of their journey, the unblocked exit out. Even as she sprinted for her life, even with the human curtaining up in front, she suddenly was clutched to the sight of the door being bathed in light, almost as if. . . the walls were not going to close in on that small spot. The sound of clanking footsteps manage to breach past the flood of shambling bare feet and rumbling thunder of crushing might, knocking the remembering sense they were still being chased. But they were not what she feared the most.

No, what she thought she was starting to see was the enclosing walls almost seem to be getting faster; the very dams on either side making the last stretch be stringed so thinly. So near, yet the only path to salvation was tightening by the second, narrowing down by every moment. To come so far, only to be met by such an inglorious end, the walls tightening so much even the human had to resort to stepping in close to her by default. Their last stretch closing for good by the nanosecond.

She reacted instantly. With no time left to spare, Haydee grabbed the human, held him tight to her body so by the kick of her boots for the final second left burst them forward and chucked them both to the last salvation here. She felt the air take them, felt the walls scrape along her back as she was hurled forward, throw with the human held securely in her arms. She omitted the feeling, cared not for how it scratched against her faux skin; because in the moment she felt all the strength be lifted from her body. That is to say: they by the last impossible second managed to scrape out the crushing walls before they clamped close.

Reacting by how she knew, in the air, Haydee twisted her body around, taking the grunt force of the door hitting her back. In turn her face away allowed her to see the final moment of the walls crashing in front of her, of her hand whipping out her pistol in an innate reaction, and of the Slashers, one still trying to cut them both to pieces, being crushed in front of their eyes. Its body twitch, sparks and wires alike spurted out as the walls still caved in, with only its head and single blade managed to be free of the walls crunching might, yet all that fumbling and twitching about the blade slashing at the open air for one final attempt at killing its prey. Within seconds, of the two just staring forward with unblinking eyes, the movements ceased, and the red lens went cold and dark, and the last Slashers turned into nothing but compacted decoration. From that, from the seconds that followed, the two simply sat there, catching their own respective respirations of calming.

However, Haydee did not need to breathe to calm her senses down, and before Dale had the chance to settle his pace those hands were upon him once again. Despite the bizarre onslaught, Dale did not attempt to struggle in her grasp for this time, did not try to wiggle away, because like a second nature to him now he understood her entire intentions.

"I'm fine." His voice was calm as he tried to reassure her. "Really, I'm not hurt at all. A little shaken up, but nothing more. . . " His voice trailed away, likely because he was pulled to his feet. Not forcefully, though, her strength onto him was as delicate as necessary. He didn't look to mind, at all, as once he bare soles touched solid tiles he elucidated a soft "Thank you." in gratitude before his attention turned to the major notions of this room that now bared so still and silent, one would think there was never any danger here at all.

Or at least, until they spotted the crushed, flinching body of the Slashers sticking out the small slit over the sandwiched walls. Sparks flying off occasionally, with slight twinges from its body as the cracked components somehow still contained a spark within them, morbidly too close to how dead muscles would react when electricity is coursed through.

"It looks like we ain't going back that way again." And she would not want to, either, lest they take the chance of having to run through that gauntlet again. Though, the thoughts of her doing so was done not holding the human hand in hand, but rather them both making leeway forward alongside each other, either cruising or blasting past any dangers along the way. It was strange to think of, having the human join her instead of her holding him close and keep him as protected as she could. Perhaps, she was beginning to see this man was slowly getting better, more focused, more attained and able to fend for himself, at least in ways he could do without her immediate aid. From there, she could see why such visions camped away in her mind.

However, she did not change the fact the walls were still closed, and, obviously, they had no reason to return that way at all, so such ideas were largely pointless to mull over anyway. There was only one way to go for them now, and it was not as if they'd think of a second choice even if it was fully presented to them.

She tapped his shoulder for attention, no sense of startling him when they were so close, and with but a nudge of her head Dale nodded in complete understanding of her meaning. They quickly left.

---

Upon entering in, the first point her focus encircled was the pair of magazines standing right on the side. Knowing it will still be there for a moment longer Haydee let the rest of the surroundings be known to her when she surveyed the roomscape. In front was a long stretch of corridor, albeit one that did not appear to fully enclose this room as a hole. The walls of left and right, though getting narrower by each passing metre forward, did not attempt to fully reach up out of their own accord. Instead, a few metres up the solid bricks were replaced with long vines of meshing, crawling up to the ceiling, leaving them obviously unable to go anywhere else but forward. Or up, in this case, as at the end of this long hallway did it end in a halt, with the next way on being a ledge up above. Seemed simple enough; save for the long way onward blocked by a meshed gate.

Strangely, to the other side of her body a green button was showing itself to exist. Stationary, unprotected, completely within arms reach, glowing out its welcoming light with care of who touches its shining circle. She pretty much knew what it could allude to, though it didn't help answering the question of why it needed to be there in the first place. Taking a good second to look, she found little out of frame with this picture presented to her, nothing amiss too amiss about her surroundings. She didn't try and tap her chin this time; as she didn't even find enough to inquire over.

Though still cautious, she knew they needed to move, even when doing so with suspicions over all there was to be. First off, of course, was her eyeing the two magazines left on the crate. They were quite thin, being long and smaller than her rifle's feeding port. Her hands could grip the cuboid shape with ease, fingers easily able to grasp around the length and touch her palm without even trying, unlike the stockier design of the rifle magazines. This meant only one thing:

At long last, she finally found some Pistol magazines.

She wanted to twirl them on her finger, now glad she finally could put those smaller hoops to use on her new belt. Though, such an action was pointless, even if it sounded a fitting one for spending so long with them unused. For now, at least, she was glad she could feel all the more secure with more bullets on her literal belt. Even if just a sidearm, having only four bullets left was not a situation she'd like to keep, given the choice not to.

Having placed them both into their respective 'slots' by the seconds after, Haydee turned her head to the opposite side where that odd button still stood. So close, so obvious to what it's intended purpose was to be - not like there was anything else here that would help get this infernal gate out the way - Haydee moved a tentative hand closer to the button, palm hovering right over the green-glowing disk while her free hand silently grasped around the rifle's grip before she gently pressed down onto the device.

The gate opened wide. As she had hoped to happen.

What she didn't hope to happen, or even know the possibility of, was the sudden rushing out of Walkers and Slashers coming from down the hallway - emerging from the sides without prior warning! Coming out the sides of the hallway she could not see, an unexpected march of the machines came barreling towards them, fists and blades alike tensing up for their desire of merciless judgement!

Haydee's rifle was already drawn but, such an aim she feared would not fully aid her right now. She may have held more than enough bullets to take them down, but time was not on her side for reloading and re-aiming. An explosive was of little use - they came in single file. And above all how many they were was unpredictable - the march of footsteps was a thunderous noise too much akin to those enclosing walls from moments previous.

So this is how it's gonna be? Coming in fast, she saw her dwindling supposed options before her, saw what she could do now, and saw that, above all, she needed to prioritise Dale's safety above all else. To get him to a safe place - to get him to the safe area for them; away from this mass of cruel machinery that threatened to take his life. That is to say, it was never stated she had to destroy all machines before her.

She knew her options now, knew what she could do, and saw the best way for them to continue before being met by an encircling metal death. Grabbing the human without warning before she pulled him close, she bent to a knee while she practically shoved him on top of her, slapping his arms around her neck in a symbolization of his own necessary action. Akin to instinct he quickly wrapped his limbs around her, barely looking to fully register what was going on as she ran forward herself - making a beeline towards the oncoming mass of metal.

"Haydee what are you planni-" He saw the march of crimson-eyed demise coming in so close he nearly shouted at the top of his lungs by her supposed plan; yet was quickly cut short, the words lurched from his mouth by the sudden force of gravity being lifted off him.

As right before the first Walker could get a taste of white liquid on its fists the gynoid leaped up and propelled her body and his over the first machine. She did not care to see or know just how many heads she was flying over as she leapt; her focus was only on the way forward. By the second blast she had more than enough room to glide over the last Slasher's slender head, coming down to the ground with a stomp that was quickly followed by a swift turn of her body. Because in one second right after she took aim and fired off a single round off - right into the Slasher's back knee!

She had but one option now: to wait.

10

The other machines had begun to turn around, swivelling their bodies to redo their march only to see the last machine crash down on the floor.

9

It was starting to get back up.

8

The second to last machine attempted to clamber over, only to fall over the last. The comical scene did not go unnocited by the gynoid, who placed the idea way only since more important matters were needing attention to.

6

The two dropped machines pushed themselves back up.

4

Haydee took a step back as the machines were charging in.

3

They were coming in close.

2

But she knew she didn't need to waste another round.

1

She turned. Ran forward. And once her innate countdown hit zero did she jump and double blast her body and his upwards. The machines still closing in would not dizzy her attention, not letting the real chance of mistake get to her, as she jumped up high, feeling the humans arms tighten around her form before both hands leapt up themselves and grabbed the edge of the platform with strained effort.

For a moment, she just hanged there, able to do little more than pause her frame while she took the safe second to look under herself. Like hungry rats, they swarmed her shadow, almost as if clambering on top of each other to get their own gnaw in. Even if her presence could not be met by them, they still walked to her final place on the ground, standing still immediately after and made not a move otherwise. They were they just stayed there, frozen in place, as if awaiting the moment she should fall, Haydee wondered if spitting on them was an appropriate response if physically feasible.

But no; she would not let them be given an endowment, here or anytime soon. No matter how much they looked to plead and beg, no respite shall be delivered to them on this day. With purely one shake of her head Haydee looked away for the final time, glad there seemed to be no reason for them to return this way. At least, now with that problem sorted, they could move on and get up this ledge-

"Haydee wait?" His quick words immediately paused her reach up before she even made it halfway. "I think I saw one of those ranged machines looking this way up top." A Sniper? That sudden revelation almost made her arms go limp in shock.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire, as one of those human sayings go. Typical, really, to find some safety only to be met with another problem for them to face so soon. She nodded, letting him know of acknowledgement of his statement, before returning to her work of pulling herself up. Of course; not to drag her body and his over the ledge; but rather, she leaned her neck back so as to expose as little of her while also ensuring the human's head stays below hers, she gradually dragged her sights upwards. Her vision reached over the top, her sight catching onto what lay up top; mainly, the head of one sniping robot waiting patiently with it's barrel aimed her way. Swiftly did she drop her weight back down, not wanting to take the chance of what would happen if its barrel aimed for the white of her faceplate.

Best not to think about what would happen to the human right after that either, with the thoughts being quickly shaken from the gynoids head as she proposed on what her next step would be. With forward out of the question, and down below definitely not a viable choice either, Haydee looked to her left and right spotting how this thin ledge went all the way onward.

From there, Haydee remembered the main weakness of these ranged variants, quickly deducing that a scurrying around the ledge had to be their best bet onward. She couldn't speak up to the human, either to thank him or to warn him of her next plan, but a simple double slap on his thighs, a knock to affirm his attention was drawn on the present. When she thought him safe, hands and legs tightly gripped over her frame she began to shimmy on along.

She kept her body low, ensuring only her fingers appeared over the ledge as she quietly trudged along. She did not dare look below her; nothing that could appear down there could provide any aid, she was sure of. Whether an abyss, or a small drop to solid ground, neither would truly contribute to helping them get past the Sniper.

Of which, she was also sure of, they were beginning to come closer to. In turn, that thought made her all the more cautious. True, she knew that tunnel-vision inclined machination was unlikely to see any spot of her as she tentatively crawled along the edge, but that shaking feeling she would be found out wrong was not a clause she'd like to witness. The only countermeasure she knew was to ensure her grip was solid and the human was not to let go.

Tap to tap, she kept her body continuously urging across the way. She dared not to take a peak upwards, not wanting to look up and find a submachine-gunned barrel suddenly pointed in her direction by mere feet away. Instead, she let her mind focus on the estimated length of the space between; of both the distance from the Sniper, and their few feet after, safe out of reach for it to know of their presence. So with careful, drawn-out moves, Haydee kept on going, kept her action of slipping past the Sniper be as long as possible, as slow-paced as she would deem necessary. . .

Until, of that she was perfectly sure of, she was at a distance away by the Snipers back. No time going to waste, Haydee pulsed her muscles for the oncoming drag and began to heave her body over. The first thing she allowed upon her haul to happen was a look, onto her left, and ensure that, indeed, the enemy machine had not noticed her presence. As silent as her body would allow, Haydee pulled them both out from the side of the ledge and into the open; with the gynoid not once allowing her sights to steer away from the automations back. Standing on solid footing; she knelt down, allowing the human to jump off, before she stood back up and whipped out her pistol.

Calmly, gradually, she let her firearm swing out wide, while she took a step back herself, feet paralleling in the direction of the ledge. Finger over the trigger, sights on the back of the ignorantly laser-focused foe, Haydee took a moment to keep her vision from swaying as she locked onto her target.

Only two bullets were fired, both hitting their mark with ample room for sway. Never being allowed to know what it's personal cause of defeat was, the Sniper simply lurched backwards the mere second after, its feet stumbling over as its processors could not keep its balance up, before it tripped over in an ungraceful crash. Crumpling on the floor as nothing more than spare parts for others to claim, its light faded, its body slumped.

Looking back on reflection Haydee saw that, perhaps, she could have let this one be without an attempt on its life. It's back to them, no doubt it was unlikely a use of limited bullets would have been completely necessary if its body never turned around. At the same time, doing so could mean an unexpected bullet in the human's back and - no, she was sure it's demise was essential now.

In the least, no point in standing here contemplating it's supposed necessary termination: what's done is done. And they had best be off. So turning back, the human standing at the ready with a patient, quiet look, she moved on, holstering her firearm so her hand could freely wave him on with her.

Going forward, Haydee noted how long this platform was going on for. Not exactly narrow in width, but in length it might as well have been, at least in comparison. Going on for so long, even the existence of metal meshing on either side of the edges, trailing out for a while longer along the elongated straight pathway. As the squared holes between thinned shadows engulfed them both, Haydee couldn't help but feel an unease wash over her. Something was off here, and she was sure it had to do with these grates. Only on her right side they laid, covering only half of her tall form. More so than that, within this oddly spaced room, the walls circling them like some sort of wide open tunnel, an outcrop from the wall appeared on the same size as well, coming right up to her as she passed it by. Her curiosity that followed did so in a mix of inquisitiveness and concern, her hands instinctively reached towards her rifle, and her vision swayed its way to the side. In turn, she noticed a wide outcropping in the wall, a short distance out-

And a Sniper standing on a platform with a barrel aimed her way.

As if the world slowed down, the moment Haydee spotted the ranged killer suddenly in her sights her body reacted in instinctive kind. Her arms moved first, quickly pulling forward her gun. Her legs moved second, jumping back and offering her body a shield for the human. Her head came third, and last, as she learned her neck forward, through the scope of the rifle, to the target standing on the platform a distance away, and prepared her aim with a pull of the trigger. She would not let the human be a target for this foe; even at the cost of her own operations.

Yet: she did not pull her trigger. As it was, with the revelation of its own aim coming first - she saw that the Sniper strangely did not fire upon her either. Yes, its aim was surely on her, that deadly rifle intending to put a bullet into her framework, but still, the seconds that passed did so in total silence; not broken up by the cracking of gunfire. Strange as it would be to say in any other situation; Haydee felt it safe to lower her gun when in the target of this enemy.

It didn't move. Didn't fire. Even with the obscuring barrier of this tall stretch of meshed, she could plainly see this machine not once make any kind of action.

"Do you think it's because it won't shoot the barricade?" She looked back to the human, whose look was focused forward, before she stared at the meshed blockade before her. Though it covered all over her form, at least in front, she was still able to be seen clearly from the Snipers perspective. The issue of finding its target was not the problem here, so why not attempt to fire? That seemed to be the question the human had inquired over.

But why then this barrier in particular? It looked as ordinary as the ones before, as drab in colour and as small in holes as every one that came before it. Surely, it could have tried; a round from that rifle looked more than capable of tearing a hole through these wires, but instead it just stayed there, silently observing them with an uninterest towards firing.

Her suddenly quizzical nature drove her to make the first move: with a hand moving away from the rifle and arcing it securely around the human's side; Haydee took methodical steps forward. Each clank of her boots did so with protracted timing, each hard hit of her sole on the tiles came alongside a form that refused to sway from the foe's existence. In doing so, Haydee found that, indeed, the Sniper still held aim on her; following her figure as she moved, yet still lacking a trace of any attempted shooting.

Dale's words were starting to become clear. Perhaps that, indeed, the Sniper would not shoot them when they stood behind the meshed barrier; even when it was clear the machine still spied on them. For what end did it not take an attempt on her life? Could it really not shoot the meshed barrier. . . or perhaps: Was it simply programmed not to? These were questions she was sure she'd not find the answers to, and honestly in her own mind, she held little interest in truly finding out. The best question for them was about whether it was safe or not to pass.

The following sentence that came out that human mouth did not answer this inquiry; but it did give her immediate pause.

"Uh, Haydee, the barrier is stopping soon." Upon hearing the uttering of those words, Haydee immediately stopped in her tracks as she forced her head to observe forward, and see the meshed barrier stop just a few more steps away. She looked back to the machine down away, before taking another long shot out the end of this blockade. From there, she came to the conclusion that the moment she stepped out the barrier, while still in the line of sight of this horribly designed machine - well, the answer was too obvious for a need to acknowledge it.

That, of course, left her with quite a conundrum; of how to proceed on now. She could at least, try and make a peek out with an immediate turn back, giving her a free moment to aim and fire herself, but with its sights permanently locked onto her would she still make it back. Not as if crouching would throw off its name. There was no other way to pass forward without getting in an open line of sights from it. The solution had to be here; but deducing it was not so easily done. Perhaps maybe-

"Haydee; I think I have an idea." The finger paused right before it could tap on her chin, though she did not stop it from overing in place as she turned back to the human. She was quick to note, his face was stern, brow serious.

"Do you trust me?" That question came right out of nowhere, especially after his personal revelation for a solution. A little taken back by this inquiry, the gynoid began to ponder about his question as a whole. Not to say there was any doubt she trusted him - not once has he given her any reason to see otherwise given his genuine nature so far - but more because she wondered if that meant he had doubts she could trust me.

Maybe? It was not her right to answer her, and though surely, given how far he had come with her, she suspected in turn he would have learnt to trust in her actions. Then again; with everything that had happened to this point, without even her knowing about much extra, she could see him having doubts over everything, even herself. She did not feel it right to chastise him over not fully trusting his self-proclaimed bodyguard, as it was not her place to say what he should be feeling. In the very least; she did trust him. Even if, in pure logic, he helped her to help himself, there was still the notion of him believing to trust her to some degree. So to that; she answered yes with a physical notion of a nod.

"Good. . . " He fumbled his words, before he looked away, down to the Sniper. For a moment Haydee's body did not make a move, too confused by the enigmatic solution he seemed to hold. In actuality, she was almost ready to tap his shoulder to get the answer from him - only for the notion to be quickly passed up as without prior warning; Dale turned tail and ran.

So fast and unexpected, the sheer second of her being left in the dust ensured her grab forward was met with nothing more than the remnants of his breath. Her body jolted so forward she nearly tripped with her attempt to grab him. The was nothing she could do in that sudden moment; only take a look at the form of the human sprinting away, out of her safe clutches, absent from her ability to keep him close and secure-

"Haydee: the machine is looking at me! Now's your chance; you can shoot it down!" The moment he shouted back, face to her, expression mismatched from his usual cheery self, did his words attain meaning in her mind; the connotation of immediate context here. His words dragged her attention away from her, her neck nearly whipping her head to look down to the machine in question to see now that it's focus was not on her; but following the running human.

She fully understood what he had done. And it was not in her best wishes to let his dedication be wasted like so.

So to that, she ran to: into the open corner.

For what he had done; she would likely call unnecessary, fearful, dangerous. . . but for the moment she now could only call it grateful, as from his grace did she have more than enough time to take solid aim, and gun down the Sniper with three solid rounds to its body.

The foe dropped within the following second, and even more second later did it take her to lower her rifle down as well. Her body was slow; until she remembered the human was now being a distance away. When that happened; the gynoid immediately swivelled around; turning all her attention on the panting human that looked to get nervous when he noticed the invisible eyes fixated on him.

Even his breathing took pause, the human unable to make a move as the knowledge of her unseen focus peered onto him. He looked akin to a deer caught in the headlights, eyes so wide they glowed underneath her beam as he froze in place while the oncoming mass rushed towards him.

Be it car or gynoid, the cervine-symbolised human only stared forward as the Haydee made her stride to him. He mumbled out no words, only half-hearted attempts of intelligible phrases as he did not make a move even when the Haydee stood before. She pulled forth both her hands.

"S. . . I'm sor-" What words he was trying to make were quickly silenced by the force of his face being slammed by her chest. In no time flat was not only her internal heat shared to him, through her armoured vest or not, but also his hair was quickly ruffled in ways Haydee was sure he knew by now as thanks for his actions.

Strangely, when he managed to take a look past her bosoms and onto her face-less head she found him to be looking almost confused by her actions. In return she seemed a little confused, tilting her head as she wondered why the sudden stunned looked.

Perhaps he had thought she was to chastity him? The fact of him leaping away like that did bother her, especially with the sights of the Sniper aimed dangerously on him. Yet, he likely must have done so with the knowledge he would not be taken down; he had been the one to recognise the machine's uninterest in shooting the meshing. In his mind, that had meant he would have been completely safe.

Though she would have preferred he not scare her like that, she couldn't help but be a little impressed with his thinking, both for the help and in the knowing he was not putting himself in full danger. In all, she was mostly thankful for his actions. A tight hug and ruffle of his hair should be a sufficient action for him in return.

"Thanks." He smiled as he timidly looked away "We. . . best get moving." She nodded in agreement taking a step back which allowed him to walk forward. She came up alongside him too. Further onward; towards what looked to be the end of this high platform. As she stopped and stood by the edge, she could see, down the way during another long hallway akin to the way they just started from, an exit was carved into the wall, just barely visible underneath the ceiling of meshing that lurked below. Thankfully, the meshed ceiling did not extend all the way to the ledge; a small outcropping below allowed her safe journey through the hallway.

One that was guarded by a Slasher.

Upon her notice was a buckshot already inserted into the rifle's revolving chamber, the remembrance of it having gone empty until pinned into her computing brain. That said, the realisation that this was to be her final shell of this type halted her effort to shoot it down in one go. As she quickly was to see; such a use was to be a waste; especially when she had other better suited weapons at her disposal.

Instead, Haydee simply took out her pistol, aimed down, and with the last two bullets in her magazine delivered a payload from a safe distance. Call it cow hearted or yellow-bellied; she sought it as truly pragmatic. And placing a new fresh magazine into her pistol, she holstered her weapon away before crouching down in a presumed position for the human.

"I should have suspected as much." What should he have been suspecting then? It was a far drop down, enough for her to warrant a blast of her boots at least once. His supposed complaining did not stop him from getting on, with her in turn quickly standing up and making the short leap down.

One extra blast of her boots later, she hit solid ground, onto the small hallway onward to the exit, and was ready to let the human be off him - until she saw something that made her hands wrap all that much harder around his thighs.

Buzzsaws! Three of them, lined up all along the way!

But ones that didn't move, as she was quick to find out. They still stood, jutting out from the floor, but not once was spinning with a gearing death. The three simply stayed there, content with not moving. That said, such content was met with only contempt of Haydee's own; as despite the human's small plea to be let down, she refused to let him go so curtly. The exit but a short walk ahead, Haydee moved her foot one after the other; albeit not once letting her attention wane from the trio of electric saws out in front.

Every foot forward was met with equal parts hesitation and strained muscle, her body still crouching low and ready for any jump. Once she got in close, so near a hand out could make touch to the serrated metal, Haydee sprung up, over, and quickly landed back down on the other side, which was immediately met with a sharp turn around. But not even that accumulated a spin of the saws. Frozen in time that stood.

Not that, she was quick to gather, these immediately making a spin was to harm them; the intersection of the floor that showed the path of these oversized cutting tools ended before them. To begin so far, only to end without a move made this supposed trap so oddly. . . meaningless. Useless even, completely having absolutely no reason to be here if their use was invalid. She didn't know why; but the gynoid felt a little disgruntled by their inactive uselessness.

". . . Can I get off now?" When she crouched down, Dale's immediate jump away seemed akin to a spring, diving off from her as he touched on solid.

"Well. . . " He began as he stood up tall. "Least that's one thing we didn't need to worry about." She couldn't help but agree there, for once one problem was presented for them to worry and overcome. Though even with that settled, Haydee couldn't shake away that itching feeling something was still amiss. Those inactive saws wouldn't have been here if there wasn't a purpose, she was sure to believe now, so once her dawdling eyes trailed away they were quick to find another of that electricity box like before: the very same ones Dale himself recognised their purpose for. The wiring trailed only downwards, into the floor, leaving no other points of interest for her to ogle over.

Whether it be instinct or simple pragmatism, but once Haydee turned away she quietly loaded up the shocking shell into the chamber; lest the need arises.

Perhaps it did, or perhaps it didn't, that was the question Haydee nearly contemplated over once she saw the final barrier on the journey; another meshed grating. Same as before; not just in placement, but with the fact another button laid on the side for her to activate. As simple as it looked to be; Haydee had no intention of repeating the same mistakes like last time. Too similar for her liking, Haydee's gun was already half-ready after her hand swooped over to bring the human in closer.

When he asked genuinely with a "Something wrong?" she was unable to give a straight answer. Only a simple hold of him close had to suffice, hopefully enough to try and let him know not to stray for the moment. Her other hand raised up, twitching a little in preparation for what was to come, she aimed that to forward, to the button. Her entire focus on what may sprung up in the small section between grating and exit, she aimed her rifle at the ready for what may come; and pressed down.

The moment those doors opened, her free hand returned to the rifle, returned her stance to a more than prepared position as she aimed forward, looked down the sights and saw. . . nothing?

HOOOOWWWLL!

Her body froze. That sound, those noises of despair, echoed through the hallway to breach through to her head, were quickly pinpointed both where that noise originated from; and what kind of creation made that sound to begin with. The gynoid, her body locking up in place, could allow only her head to turn around and spot with grand fear over what she hoped to never come across again: Maulers. Four-legged monstrosities, compact inorganic creatures packed with nothing but hate and defile suddenly lurched and charged forward down from the end of the hallway

She hadn't looked. She never targeted their presence. She simply hadn't checked her surroundings

But what she did notice, however, was the tense nature of the human when he too heard that cry pierce his eardrums. He began to shake, to shiver from the cold-less chill, began to burn back into that state she knew would offer him no boon.

They were trying to take away his smile, trying to wreck him down, even after the hell was so casually presented to him with merciless disregard. They were trying to ruin him again, to tear away his fragile mind - she would not allow that.

Her body reacted on immediate notice - whipping round and aiming forward, she clicked the chamber of her rifle and line the sights of her barrel forward; but not out to the charging machines. No, her aim was on something entirely different, something in that quick moment she fully realised what the solution was to be; and why they also existed in the first place.

She fired her shot, and the shell that blew forth exploded in a wave of sparks and electricity as it fried the box by the saws, sending jolts into its frame; and subsequently, did the once horrendous sound of screaming murder suddenly became a variation of music to her ears. The saws roared to life, growling with new energy that revised their cause, with quickly after those spinning metal rumble forward to the pathway of the canines.

Roars charged into roars, a battle of screams was to be met within the seconds that followed; but the outcome had been already decided.

New screams, of shrapnel hitting the floor, of metal being slashed and twisted, of machines being torn to pieces, all of it accumulated and climaxed into a symphony of deserved demise. To have it be put simply; those Maulers never had the chance. Not like they deserved any for all they tried to do.

But there was one here that deserved a chance, all of them. One she could not let the satisfying picture before her make her forget about. Quickly, even as the Machines were still being ripped asunder, her attention turned over to the human.

He looked so frightened, so weak and pitiful almost, body shaking even when his vision never once looked around, or least she would assume so. Yet that didn't aid his state at all. She knew what she had to, with a gentle grip she held him close, engulfed her body around him and held him tight, being the security blanket he looked to need right now. Gently, she petted his hair, held him close and tight in her arms and began to rock back and forth.

"I'm okay." She stopped, but did not lease up on her. "I'm. . . fine, I. . " He looked up to her, allowing her to see every facial notice he had. His eyes were still wide and his mouth still slightly open, but his shaking ceased, and his breathing lacked exasperation. "I. . . it wasn't as long as times before." His voice seemed distant, despite being so close. "I'm not as bad. I don't feel as scared. I think I can. . . well the machines are taken care of, aren't they, so you shouldn't have to feel so. . . cautious with me now." Slowly her arms trailed off him, his words, though still filling her with some apprehension, did not seem to come from any lies hidden behind. She did wish to believe in his words, but her apprehension subsided from fully downplaying his own. For that, she had to point, to look him down and almost force him to tell her to her face that, indeed, his was not having a breaking mental state

"I'm sure." Haydee nodded, and let go. She could nor should push farther than that. If he confessed that to her, then she would have to believe him. He moved apart, she looked away, and with no other problems facing them now they both moved on forward, exiting out the door.

---

"I don't trust this room."

That was the confession uttered by the human a few mere seconds into entering this striking new area. A sentiment which Haydee evidently shared the very same assertion over. After all they've gone through, all they've faced, especially regarding the most previous of places, it was hard for her to imagine particularly anyone would not be holding internal issues of trust, directed solely on this seeming facility by this point, but that didn't change the fact his comment still stands.

"Was that wrong for me to say?" She cleanly answered with a shake of her head. Looking back out to this room and seeing in plain detail why he so refused to hold high faith for what this room held.

Nothing, in a very bare sense of this room; as this room had a very bare sense about it. No high platforms above them, no visible enemies to tear asunder, not even any turns and twists to hold anything out of their sight. Even the pipes seemed vacant for this room. To put it simply; this was just a simple square room. The only thing of worthy note held here was the single exit across to the other diagonal corner from where they were standing, one all barriered up, and a single button, one on a far reaching side from them.

And. . . that was really it. Nothing else, no noise or hum, no movement or shadows to reach over and engulf them. It all seemed so. . . plain. Safe. A word Haydee would prefer to use anytime, but now, it was almost a bad word to now focus over. As if the simple word carried with it a toxic-spewing centre, camouflage underneath a comfy innocuous cover. A false pretence; what is an idea that made Haydee internally scowl about.

Or at least, would have, if Haydee found something of any kind for her to hate over. Alas, no visible problem looked to occur, whether it was fatal or not, so she lacked an outlet for any supposed anger.

"Should we still go?" They had to. They can't have come all this far, only to stop by an invisible, largely-supposed danger. The only way they could go now was onward, even if the idea of doing so unsettled her mind. "Would it. . . help at all if you let me open the door?" His voice, his face, seemed so sincere she almost wanted to push him towards the button herself if it meant not disappointing him. "I mean. . . it doesn't look as if anything is going to happen. So. . . maybe it won't be as bad as we first thought."

She eyed him down, unable to express her opinions as best she could without a mouth or face. A shrug she supposed was her best reaction to give, but how best to tell him she could not shake the creeping dread something was amiss here for her. Something she was not quite seeing; her logical side forced itself to conclude.

". . . Well, I don't see anything that could give us any worry so. . . " Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him make a move towards the button. Main reason being her own attention was to this place as a whole. The weight of there being something off with this room lurched over her shoulders, peeking beside her head right out of her range of sight. It not simply followed her, but rather it lurked behind in her shadow, mocking her with its unseen presence. Unable to see what was behind, her eyes looked everywhere; every corner, every wall and ceiling and. . . floor.

Though usually she barely gave the ground below much thought, as unless open stretches for blades or long gaps for near unending depths were present the very floor itself rarely gave her much apprehension of its presence. Yet it was right then and there did Haydee finally see something that gave her pause. The tiles of the floor below, all around the room, seemed. . . much smaller than she thought they'd be. Tinier, approximately an sixteenth of the size of the regular tiles her boots had been stomping across. She wasn't so sure at first, but looking farther down, to the tiles her boots were presently stood over she found that, indeed, there tiles were of a much smaller degree.

That notion left her all the more confused; so why then is the space by the door the only part with normal tiles? Actually, a good look around found that to be a total lie; as there was in fact another section of the floor that lacked those quartered tiles: the small space in front of the other door here. Two doors, two normal spaces. Very much like the rooms prior, the spots before each entrance were the most simple and usual, the most. . . safest. . .

"Maybe we are overestimating this place. . . "

Dread immediately shot through the female upon that realisation; a dread that practically burst wide as when she remembered the human's talks over reaching out towards that seemingly innocent button. The world went wide while Dale's figure went small, at least in the gynoids vision, and as if the universe moved in slow motion Haydee's arm sprung forward, grabbed the human by the hem of his clothing, and shoved his entire being as far away from the edge as he could just in time for-

Shwing! Before both their very eyes, accompanied by a ring that penetrated deep into their memories, a tall blade, glistening with a deep shine that rose to such a height it towered over Haydee's dived state shot straight out of the floor and stood still out the ground. It was then during Haydee's innate jump back, that she managed to see a small lock of hair drift gently down from the blade. As meaningless as it was, the simply reminder her that this lock of hair could have been something more than important from the human if she hadn't taken her plunge to grab him only strengthened her muscles into diving as far back into the wall as possible, slamming into the wall as she smothered his frame as close to her as physically allowed.

Yet both sets of eyes did not look away, their vision completely fixated on that tall, long piece of metal jutting silently out the tiles. That is, only for a moment longer, as before either could get the chance to blink, one more metaphorically speaking, the blade dived back down as quickly as it appeared, exiting the room with a metallic ring that bathed this room back into stunned silence for a second longer.

"Or maybe; we were actually underestimating this room!" With her back still brushing against the wall, Haydee slithered her body into a standing position, not once letting the human out of her paws. Neither of their focus seemed to deter away from that position, as it only when the Haydee's focus drifted to the quartered tiles down, whereupon the threads of Dale's once perfect locks, did Haydee realise what damage had been undertaken.

By the immediate second after was Dale's cheeks assaulted with fine pressure, unasked by the gynoid as she lifted around his head to get an affirmative look at the humans head. As she internally hoped, had not a scratch on him, and whatever fibres of his hair he had lost seemed so insignificant he looked to make no change on that pretty mane of his.

"Did you. . . knew that would happen?" She didn't, or at least, not to that specifically detailed degree like they just saw. The only answer she could intelligibly give him was a shrug of his shoulders, but that was at least enough for him to look away and stand back up on his own two feet.

"Well. . . thank you anyway, Haydee. Least I can never say I'd be unhappy with you around to save me." That. . . was quite a pleasant thing to hear. Positive to acknowledge.

"But, now what do we do? I doubt that sword is only fixated on that one spot." She believed that too, nodding as she also had to think of the subject. "It's not just a matter of getting across, but also pressing the button to release the barrier. There are no safe spots for us until then." Tapping her chin, Haydee again looked around her, trying to find, to no avail, anything of useful note. He even thought back to her own personal contents, but she doubted either her last mine or her remote detail would provide incredible usage here.

"But. . . There still has to be a trick here. Everything so far could be overcome in one way or another. I. . . still have no confidence about any rooms thus far, but each one allowed us both to exit into the next. If not the one after. So. . . may you have any ideas?" Sadly, she had to solemnly shake her head to his inquiry. All ideas thus far had the supposed outcome range from useless to bloody. She thought that perhaps her boots could jump over the blade, until she recognized how low the ceilings were. She did, however, believe in his sentiment over a trick for this place.

Escape, while many times an issue, had yet to be proven utterly fruitless. Every trap, enemy and challenge thus far has proven conclusively doable, and while she has yet to figure out anything about this place for its entirety - what its purpose was, why they awakened her, and perhaps even what the end to these supposed trails were like - she was sure there was an end. Otherwise, what was the point of these supposed trails in the first place?

There had to be something, anything she was missing. Anything at all. . . just. . . a clue must be here somewhere.

"Haydee. . ." The voice said aloud, albeit slow and tepidly. "I think I might be onto something here. . . " Hearing those words placed the gynoid's attention right on him as he slowly looked around to meet her face-to-face. With her search coming up empty, the gynoid was more than welcoming for the human to herald an idea. Yet strangely to her, the face he adorned the moment after gave her unspoken apprehension.

"It's just-" He sighed aloud. "But-" He continued to stammer, looking away as if not wanting to look her in the face anymore. "I. . . wish to try something that may help. A have an idea in mind, but. . ." She tilted her head, completely perplexed by his stuttering and sudden bout of nervousness. "It's just. . . I feel I know what your reaction will be when I ask for it. So. . . can you promise to let me do it, even when I won't tell you what I am about to do?"

Did she even have a choice? Overall, quite truly; and yet with the way he is speaking and acting, she feared, if she did push into it, it would only drive the human deeper into madness. As much as she held disagreements over his secrecy, she cannot overlook the fact he seemed to hold idea that may aid their exit. In a sense, she didn't have a choice in the matter, unless she herself thought of a different idea. So to her own pique she slowly nodded for him.

"Thank you. Please, I. . . I promise you in return I won't get hurt." Get hurt? Haydee pondered over his words as she watched him turn his back to her. Still utterly unsure of what he meant, but refusing to belittle the promise he asked her to keep, Haydee simply stood back and watched, as silently as ever, the human stand at the end of the safe zone. He simply stood there still, looking forwards, up or down, neither she could plainly see given her own position. His pause lingered for a moment too long, with the gynoid beginning to wonder if she needed to shake his mind back to reality. Though, such a thought lasted but a moment as Dale began to move again, standing up straight, pulling a hand out and. . . shoving it right over the unsafe tiles.

Before even her incredibly fast reaction speed had taken its time to formulate the plan of how to act next; the familiar sounds of a blade jutting high out the ground entered into her peripheral. Appearing exactly where it appeared before, the sight of the glinting metal froze her immediately. Whether it was fear, or uncertainty of what was happening, Haydee could only watch for a second longer, enough to see the blade disappear into the tiles again, only to reappear a moment later; in a distance noticeably closer to the human.

As if a snap of reality forced the blade to do its merciless bidding, the gynoid watched in disbelief, of that singular blade continuously jittering in and out the ground, appearing in a new place after every lunge back down. It didn't just simply change position at random; the way it moved, the way it inched closer every time at a speed that left her worried, she finally began to see it: it was beginning to give chase to the human!

She moved immediately, jumping forward, both hands reaching forward as that blade dared to catch the human before she could. She would never let that happen; even if the sword was managing surpass her speed, she would not take the chance and let the trap try and kill the human-

Who immediately recalled his hand back. In turn; she suddenly stopped as well, just in time to see the blade continue to jut out to where the human's hand once hovered over, mere inches from the human's unmoving position, before it too recalling into the depths hidden deep below the surface. From there, the stunned Haydee watched the human calmly turn around, face her with a composed face, and smoothly spoke to her: "I've got a plan."

His calm face didn't flinch at all; not even on the moment after when Haydee jumped right at him, grabbed his sides, and stared him down so low her faceplate nearly touched his sedated organic own. She spoke nothing, but the way she was shaking, holding his arms so tightly it was as if she was trying to vibrate them both, spoke words to him over how stupid his personal decision was:

He could have gotten hurt. Or worse! In what kind of mindset was he having to even think to attempt such a thing? Let alone actually done so. Such an act was needless, and above all, if he had asked she knew she'd volunteer first and foremost. Just what on earth was this human even trying to accomplish?

"I know." Her shaking paused, her audible focus intertwined by whatever words he'd say next. "I. . . know what you're trying to tell me. But like I promised, I didn't get hurt. I don't want to feel pain at all, so please understand I wasn't trying to be so foolish. Not for your sake." Hearing that somehow made her less. . . apprehensive towards him, her fingers losing a strong grip as her face moved inches back.

"Besides I," he finally looked her way, deeply into her faceplate, "I have come up with a plan to get us both safely across to the next room." She let him go, straightening her back but not letting her focus wane away from him. Hearing his confession of having a plan in mind was certainly a delight to hear; even though the means to think it were not ideas she'd like to repeat again. Yet still; they needed an end to this place, so she had to conceit and hear him out, giving him a nod for him to speak.

"You won't like it. I know you won't like it. I don't even know why you won't like it for something like me, but somehow I can already see your reaction to it." His words were spoken so bluntly even she had to take a pause to rehear his words more calmly. Upon doing so, a sudden resurge of apprehension began to run right through her. True, she had a lack of knowledge for his plan in its entirety; but the dulled statement of him saying he knows she won't like it was a portend what he was about to say was not to her liking.

"Do you still want to hear it?" A genuine question, which must be met with a genuine answer: and her answer had to be a yes. Even with what he had spoke over, there was only one plan present between the two of them, and she had no idea if she herself could come up with another. He was her only lead. She could not deny any idea of getting him to safety.

"Well, I'm sure you know I can just run as fast, if not faster, than you, yes?" She nodded, idly remembering the sprints he had more since first meeting him. He was light on his feet, and what he lacked in leg muscles he more than made up for it with speed and endurance. Even when they both ran for life just minutes ago, she could not help but notice how easily his pace kept up with hers, barely looking to catch a sweat as well. "Well, with that blade that chases after us, the only one that appears to be in here, I think I can outrun it." The sudden idea of him running out, with that blade giving chase, ran a slither of ice down her spine. That idle thought of that actively happening certainly made the gynoid squirm in place. . . and just barely able to listen on the response he was about to conclude over.

"My idea is this: We have you run out to the button, after I run out there first, getting that trap's attention." No.

No. No. No. No. NO!

"I'll distract the blade-" No. "So you can make a sprint to the button-" No. "After that we both make a run for the exit-" No! "And meet back at the safe space, able to exit out." She kept shaking her head furiously, but the human kept refusing to understand her meaning. "That is my plan." Haydee did not stop the shakes of her head, even after he had finished. No no no, that is not a safe plan. She could not allow him do put himself in danger like that-

"Do you see another plan here?" That sharp question froze her vibrating head in place. "Cause I don't." She stared him all over, if not down, if she could. But his face was stern, holding an expression that lacked any of the joy or lies she might have preferred. Not out of any malice, but because him not actually taking the plan seriously would have meant there being a better plan that didn't involve him being the bait. But what if. . .

She pointed a finger to herself. "I'm afraid it's better if I am the bait." Her pointed hand began to furiously shake as she silently made her demands visible. "I am the faster one here, I'm sure of it. The plan has a much better chance of working if I'm the one who acts as the bait here. It has to be me, it has to be someone who's life. . . wh-whose more suited for it."

She. . . she had no idea what she should do now. No way back, and definitely no way forward, she. . . the gynoid hung her arms forward in dejected response, unable to find the strength to keep on going. He would not accept her to be the bait, and if she forces it upon him then the results; they may not come up well. She. . . just couldn't but. . . how could she let him. . .

She suddenly noticed two hands touch over her plate. Over the sides of her supposed cheeks, the soft, warm hands of the human grasped herself back into the now, the current moment, onto the face of the human who looked at her with an expression that amassed some semblance of guilt in her systems. A guilt that forced her to look and listen to his words with the utmost concentration she could muster.

"Please, Haydee. Tell me: Do. You. Trust me?" She gave no answer, only staring at him blankly as she listened to his words. "I trust in you, do you trust me?" With his hands still on her faceplate; she nodded. There was no question for it; she trusted him.

She knew what trust was: 'a firm, largely unwavering belief in the reliability, strength or truth of an individual'. That was the definition of truth. That was the definition of how she saw her relationship with Dale. There were zero doubts of a difference between them.

And as much as she could moan, complain and deny the reality of the situation; it truly has to be their best bet forward. There was no other choice. And she had to make sure the human was well aware of it.

Gripping his wrists gently, she pulled them down. Standing up to tower right over the human, she gave onto him but a point. A demand. A notion of her trying to say all about him. "I know the danger. It is a risk, but one we have to take unless we want to stay on this very specific spot forever." He spoke calmly, eyes piercing into her to command an answer. "I know you are worried, but I will promise you I will make it out alive. All I ask of you, is to trust me. Do you trust me, Haydee?"

She nodded. There was no going back after that, and she couldn't see the major fault in doing so. As much as she hated to admit her answer, the sight of his face clearing up upon her honest confession started to relieve some of the fears she was wielding.

"Then. . . thank you, Haydee. It. . . really does mean a lot to hear you put your trust in my hands. I. . . I promise you I won't ever let you down." Strangely, she found herself, not taken back by his words, but more intrigued that nothing about his statement seemed surprising to her in the least. She quickly came to realise that she must have done so already; of trust in him. Perhaps without acknowledging it before, for moments that must have likely happened even before this world of Red Pipes was breached inside too, Haydee had come to deeply place her trust in the human. Maybe. . . did that mean her faith in him had run deeper than first thought, deeper than she could ever have come to recognize on her lonesome.

That simple fact alone: was more than enough to alleviate most of her worries and feel ready to undergo this task they must complete. Most of them.

With her hand, she arced it around and out, silently verbalizing to the human she was ready for him to make his move. "Right then. Guess we shouldn't unnecessarily waste time any longer. . . " He said with a nod, letting his smile fade as his expression shifted into a serious note. Shifting his body too, Dale made a few steps forward until he was faced with the edge of the safe zone, at an area he had come to just minutes ago; but also one both knew did not hold the dangerous blade like time prior.

"Would I be correct in assuming you don't need me explaining the plan again, do I?" She shook her head to his sideways glance. He already explained in a. . . perhaps a little too much detail what his intended plan is. All she had to do now was follow his lead, and completely her section of the tasks. That was something she knew she had to do perfectly.

"Okay then." His voice tailed like his sight, away onto forward. "On my mark. . . " He crouched a little down, and as she knew what was to come, she prepared herself as well, both in position, and in mindset. Her body lowered down, arms to her side while her forearms jutted out at a ninety degree angle. Poised and ready, she kept herself still, steady. . . and completely unmoving on the first moment Dale's leg made a jump.

"Not yet!" He smoothly shouted out as his foot crossed the threshold, stomping on the outside tiles in one echoing crash; and in subsequence, did the unmistakable sound of a blade cutting through thick air pierce her presence.

She wanted; to move, to grasp forward, to immediately stop him from ever thinking of using himself as bait. She wanted him safe, wanted him in place of absolute security, to never face this or any dangers that come their way. The thought of him taking the reins for an escape was not an idea she had heavily pondered, not out of being mockful over the human's ineptitude or anything of the sort, but simply down to the obvious fact she was stronger, more powerful, and above the shield for the human. So seeing not only take the lead, but in doing so meant he was the one more in danger than her, filled her with a primal fear that threatened to overtake her conscience and reel him back into the safety zone she'd prefer he never leave out.

But if doing that meant betraying his trust over her, betraying her own promise, and may very well put down the human into a pitiful state she'd told herself to never let him go through again: that alone denied her innate worries to pull him away. He told her he'd keep himself safe, and she'd believe him, letting him be given chase while she'd focus on her own task.

For a moment, the world was bathed in nothing but the sounds of metallic rings by a blade continuously jutting in and out of the ground, and the sounds of bare soles slapping over the miniature tiles as they attempted to flee. Haydee did, and internally knew she had to do nothing but watch him be targeted by the guided blade as the human gave a ring around. He swerved out, away from her possible reach and kept going, no longer in the gynoids range of capture, no longer to be saved by anyone but his own accord; no longer a frightened one cowering into a corner.

"Go! Now!" She did not need to be told twice: The command that was called to her was not one she'd come to conjure as barking orders, ruling over another with a complete hold of their personage, but instead of one trusting in the other to go when he believed it'll suit them best. He believed now, once the blade had it's sights aimed at him, that it'll be safe for her to cross: thus she instantly did.

She too crossed the threshold, crossed over the safe line as she knew to make a beeline for that button that barred their exit out. Even still, though her body ran with gusto towards that device, her focus did not leave on that human being given the runaround, to put it mildly. In the back of her mind, she wished that blade would swiftly turn tail and make chase to her, but deep down she knew that may not work out for the best; especially when, through the corners of her, she witnessed the human not only make bounds away in distance to that blade, but looked to even outrun it! Upon seeing that; seeing the human given the trap itself a runaround, almost mocking the sword as its attempt to cut the man down was met with nothing but pathetic distance between, spurred her onto completing her own tasks about her person.

Her attention shifted, even with the siren-sounds of a blade trying to make an innocent human its prey, her main focus zeroed in on the button attached to the far-by wall. Just as the human was trying his best to keep himself alive; in turn she must also try her best to ensure he does not stay on that route any longer. Her feet charged on forward, her arm raised up high, and within appropriate reach did her hand practically slap onto the control. The button reacted in kind, turning red in an instant, alongside a familiar buzz that shortly overrode the sounds of blade chasing with death thundered out; announcing the removal of that barrier.

"Quickly; to the exit." She didn't need to be told twice; as for the first time here both her and the human made a swift beeline towards to the same destination. She rebounded from the wall, legs almost leaping off the bricks as her form began to make a new charge onto the exit. Despite all that, Haydee couldn't help herself from spying her eyes away from the safe area, yet it let a small sense of relief washed over her upon witnessing the human making his own blitz towards the exit; even with that blade still hounding after him. In fact, she saw the human was not only making strong leeway towards that safe set of tiles, but also was outdoing her pace as well. His legs kicking hard, the human ran with all his might like her and, to her great relief, quickly leaped into the zone of safety with the blade stopping short right at the edge of the full tiles.

"Haydee!" Yet her entire focus on the human left her at an unmistakable disadvantage; letting her guard down, and not thinking over the blade having found a new target. Now making a rhythmic morbid beat towards her, the gynoid ensured her legs kept her kicking forward while she still ran. But even with her muscular legs keeping her speed strong, the blade was making a push right towards her. Each second that passed, each moment of the blade continuously penetrating through the tiles and inching closer to her position allowed her in turn to see her expressionless face reflect off the shining metal. She had no face, but if she did, in that moment of the blade cutting in so close, her face should have been plastered over by fear and shock.

She could not give up, her legs kept her sprinting, leaping onward to that area of safe travels. Yet even in the last moment she could, making one final jump, her sights could not leave the blade still ripping in close to her, the blade daring to cut through metal and faux-flesh alike, she. . . she was not going to make it.

That was the last thought the gynoid held until all her senses were immediately whipped away by a tug of her outstretched arm. As if the world was collapsing, Haydee's mind and body tumbled out, her view a blur before her heavy body collided with solid footing, in turn slamming both her figure and senses all about in a senseless rock. It took a few seconds after, but in the moment her head could regain calmness from the momentum, her first sights were on the blade; standing tall out the ground, a distance away and not apparently jutting through her body.

"Haydee - are you okay!" A recognisable voice, one sound so close and so loud, whisked away her mindset of the blade having not cut her deep, but on the human; currently with his back against the wall, looking to be sandwiched between herself and the concrete. "You didn't get hurt, did you?" Hurt? Looking down at herself she saw that no cut or damage appeared on her body, searching her hands to feel over form while it took her mind a few moments to self-diagnose her condition. Though she found no problem occurring on her, it was the split moment after when she realised what the humans placement, with her on him, would have meant in the moment of her tumble.

Swiftly jittering herself off from her slump the gynoid quickly realigned her front to be over the human and quickly grab him off the wall looked him over with diligent focus.

"I'm fine. Really." He reassured, not fighting her as she actively moved around his face. "See, I didn't get hurt like I promised." He didn't, she could see. He trusted in her, and in wanting to be trusted back, both made their promise, both stuck to it: and both came out perfectly safe in the end

"I'm just glad you're sa-" His words were caught in his throat by the force of the machine's arms constricting his chest. She held him close, inadvertently shutting him up as she thanked him for his plan. True, there was still a part of her deep down that wished above all a better option was taken, but to see his plan be accomplished without a hitch, to see him come out of it no true worse for wear; and for his final action, the action of thanking him had to be done in the best way she saw pleasant for him.

Seconds later, as she stood back and looked at him face-to-face, she nodded, telling him she approved of what he did. He smiled so sweetly in return, not giving any resistance when she helped him to his feet. He looked to speak nothing more on it, so neither shall she, and snaking an arm around his back she turned them both to the exit, now unlocked, with only but a hair length away.

With one final look back, to the place the blade once stood last, she adjured them both on.

---

The room they found themselves entering was big, wide, silent. . . yet somehow also managed to be cramped and choking at the same time. Not to say it was entirely constricting, as the walls that surrounded them, though numerous, still gave able space to mark around themselves, though still towering over the two. Haydee thought it in this particular way; they seemed more than just the normal quad-style walls that barricaded them in. The current walls that encompassed them presently, from the left, right and forward did not long for the touch of the ceiling high above but instead settled for only most of the way on up, leaving a fractional, albeit still distant space between. Under the shadows of those Haydee pondered if this was to be another return of the mazes, which became an idea that did not settle all that well in her head.

Though, she found those tall barriers not the only thing of note here. To her rightmost side, almost hiding in view, did she spot an unexpected yet familiar site: a glowing crystal orb; the very same kind that appeared in that last puzzling room of the supposed shamrock-shaded area before them. Though whether or not it happened to give them a lead onto where to go next was something Haydee did not give full clearance over. Rather; her focus pertained to thinking just over what the point of it all was. The walls reached up high, too high for even her boots to allow a grapple up for, and the walls that cornered them in held nor vents, ladders or platforms for them to use as leverage. This was surely not the end, deep inside her was telling her their personal conclusion was not to be found in the form of a dead end. Though; such an assumption should not be relied on too early considering the situation currently at hand. Just. . . what was meant to be their action to proceed forward. Not much else could be seen, save for maybe tall, wide square pillars that did manage to touch the surface of the ceiling.

"Do you think. . . " The human began to make idle steps forward while he slowly sprouted out his contemplative ideas like a fountain of knowledge. "That maybe you could kick at the corner of a wall, and from there-"

An eruption of gunfire unexpectedly blasted around each of the walls, silencing both the human's words and the smoothed silence that appeared during their moments of mute observations. Haydee's body kicked forward before she could even get the chance of understanding herself, grasping at the surprised human to immediately shove his body downwards, letting hers cover him like a shield while she immediately whipped out her pistol to point it at everywhere. Front, left, right, even the back and ceiling got the chance to see the barrel's innate rifling interior. But no matter where she looked, no matter what corner she stared upon not a single other occupant of this room was to be found. Instead, she began to find something else.

A rumbling, vibrations that burrowed through her thick soles and into the inorganic nerves her body used to feel touches, suddenly seemed to pop into existence beneath her form. Instantly, Haydee's mind immediately turned to the return of those enclosing walls like before: ones that this time very well gave no safe place for them to escape. Fretting deeply by her own ideas Haydee looked both to her left and right, setting her sights upon the side walls with an immense animosity overtaking her mindset. Yet to her shock, and subsequent intrigue, did she see that those walls were not only both actively moving, but were doing so. . . downwards. That is to say; those walls were not seemingly intending to not cause the two harm, but instead were looking to retract down into the very ground itself.

"Haydee look; that orb had changed colour!" Her body was still arching over him as her innate appeal built towards protecting him remained, but nonetheless when his hand pointed up did she let her strained attention wane over towards his point. When he noticed exactly that she did not know, but she felt no need to question as after his shout did she recognise that, indeed; that once green-shining orb was now glowing out a pretty shade of scarlet.

Her head was tilted before she even realised it, her body momentarily ceasing any activity as she stared up at the crystallin sphere above with an even more befuddled observation. To what end anything was going on she could not comprehend, even as to the right that wall kept going down, showing more walls and pillars for her to gawk over, and to her left she now saw appearing above the way-

Snipers! Two of them, standing above in the rafters! Her eyes would have widened if they could, and her interest in portraying herself a security vest of the human only tightened further upon seeing the ranged foe's appearance. Instantly her sight darted around to every corner, to every crack and crevice she could see, but no shadows of any kind lofted down to them, indicating no covers were to be ventured around for protection. They were too distant away for safely dispatching either; meaning her first fears of the snipers became true:

They were sitting ducks.

Haydee knew her options were limited, but that was not to mean none were viable for them. She knew what their maximum chance of survival had to be geared towards, and grabbing the human before he even had the chance to see their current problem she held him tightly when she formed her focus across the other way.

"Haydee, what's-" The rest of his words were but a babble in her head as her mind focused only on getting them to safety. Her boots became a run without delay while she held the human close out in front as she prayed her vest could protect them by at least one blow from the twins penetrating ballistics, a thought she found herself quickly not pertaining to when faced with the wall she dashed to still not fully down. Thankfully, the gynoid had fully anticipated this outcome - clicking her heels while making sure Dale was still gripped in her vice-like limbs, Haydee made her jump, blasting her boots that gave her the leverage needed to make a bound over the top of the declining wall. When out the other side, Haydee made her inevitable dive down to the other side for what could only be a singular moment of shelter. Even still, a quick drop down was all that was needed to be behind safe cover-

Bang!

The noise erupted out a mere moment before Haydee's boots slammed onto the tiled floor. The moment that her boots landed onto solid matting did the gynoid immediately make a frantic search for the possible penetration. A self-diagnosis later, Haydee swiftly checked the human over, one who's confused and rattled state left him unable to fully grasp the situation at hand, not too unlike herself really, and returned her focus to the way behind. The wall still descended, with her current arched over position below the still declining top, leaving her feeling a bountiful moment of reprise to come as they were thankfully out of the snipers sights for a moment. . . a moment she noted was feeling heavier by the second as the sounds of rumbling looked to be ardently increasing, vibrations jittering her body into toppling over; along with a crystal orb on the other side was glowing out a deep scarlet. A scarlet that reflected off the white tiles of a rapidly descending platform: and one that so happened to have a Slasher standing diligently above!

Her hands were still securely grabbed onto the human's prone, befuddled form, allowing her at least some current ease as swiftly did she guide his blinded position into a corner, even as the rumbling continued without care.

Once their bodies were behind the non descending wall, Haydee quickly pulled his body into the framework before flattening her own body onto the solid surface in turn too. Not letting this moment of safety fly by without use, Haydee nimbly switched out her pistol to her assault rifle and let loose a small volley into the Slashers frame. Whether or not it would have sensed their presence and acted accordingly was not something Haydee cared to find out - its body slumped into the descending platform way before it was made parallel to the floor itself. Rather, in the very least, its elimination from their existence was a small reprieve in this frantic world they currently occupied.

Sadly, Haydee felt no elation in seeing the bladed machine's design, as by the second more and more gunshots were firing out, echoing out from every corner of this room to every corner of these declining walls. In turn, the vibrations continued with a harsh increase, threatening their attempted still bodies to tremble by the repeated earthquakes exploding all around them. Unable to form a coherent understanding between them, the mismatched duo could only watch as the room almost looked to distort around them. Shifting from one look to the next, it almost looked to be unable to sit still as it warped its own space with wild abandon.

It was then that the gynoid realised: nowhere could be safe for them now; their only option was to move, find where the exit is located, and make a strategic beeline to it. Despite all the happenstance around them, Haydee was able to stand tall with a clear mind about her. Hand on the grip, trigger discipline not an issue for the automaton, she used her other hand to signal to the still befuddled human to stay close and near, allowing said arm to rest on the gun's handgun by the stern nod he delivered to her. Now believing herself ready, even when the sound of shifting walls still boomed towards them, she readied herself to move on.

The sudden jolt of a strong vibration jilted her attention away from anywhere else but the wall right beside them. It too was starting to decline downwards, quivering by the slightest margin as it started its tempered fall. Haydee did not let it surprise her too hard, watching it descend before her: above all, not letting herself be caught off guard by the sudden appearance of two Snipers above the framework of the walls. She reacted on cue, taking her aim and firing off her rounds into the two; or at least into one.

Too few bullets were left in the almost empty magazine, and shooting down just the one depleted the rest. Not that the gynoid felt the slightest bit wary of that; the moment her final bullet was fired she dropped the emptied magazine without so much as turning her head, and immediately let go to quickly grab for her pistol and make short work of the second Sniper with a second volley. As her rifle dangled to and fro with gravity's appeal, so too did that adversary in turn, jittering about as its torso was pierced asunder. It flopped down hard in the second after, allowing Haydee both the chance of a small reprieve as now new dangers were presented to them; and a moment's thought.

It wasn't hard for her to take notice of the second one's aim. It's barrel, long and well-fitted so shoot down even one such as her, had not been pointed in her active direction. Instead, its aim was truly far off, not even aiming for the ground below, but rather its trajectory looked to be based more above them. Into the rafters that stared down their way. . . wherein that shining crystal still lied.

Haydee felt as if she was starting to understand this place more and more. At least, enough for her to start gaining the notion they could, and above all, need to move on.

Into the newly opened place she rushed into, Dale scurrying right behind as Haydee looked out and forward, having quickly reloaded her rifle in hand as she peered to find her next plan of action. Left, right and forward were all closed off, making this nought but a dead end. . . or at least at first glance. Above them, opposite the side of the now-decrypt Snipers another of those crystal orbs hanged down. Perhaps, before, Haydee would have seen this as little more than an empty hold, an unceremonious end to a labyrinth of mockery. But now, upon looking into the gleaming shamrock-tinted shine that burst out, the answer was calling to her in finding their next way forward.

She took aim. She fired. And upon her bullseye hit onto the solid glass not only was there an immediate change to a glow of scorching red; but in turn did the ground beneath their feet began to vibrate heavily too. From her left, and her right, the walls began to make a descend, shaking and kicking up the non-prevalent dust as they seemed more than wanting in continuing their drop down until a smooth squeeze to its flat brethren was met. Any such interest for one to take exultation for their efforts, not that it was something Haydee would unnecessarily do, were quickly seen to be undone by said gynoid; as upon her sightings over she noticed a rather distressing sight; a number of Walkers, many of whom faced close to their way.

With their way now forced over one way, the machine knew they needed to move, and immediately. Even without the right-sided wall fully down, Haydee took her chance. With a grab on the human, she held him close to her torso as she took tail and jumped. Her boosts blasted her body over the still declining wall and onto the top, just in time to hear-

A shot firing out! Albeit, one she was quickly able to deduce had been aimed neither onto her nor the human she held tightly onto. Up above, along the rafters, two Snipers stood their ground as they peered over the railing. Knowing to shoot first and ask questions after Haydee made an immediate aim on her two foes, making quick work with her rifle as both swiftly dropped liked stones without a seconds notice. Not desiring to waste more time than needed Haydee quickly saw the next platforms be raised high, by her north and west way, from the south that was the entering door, before she took a perturbed look around to notice the Walkers had already began their immediate assault. Looking back up, she saw the crystal her shots had touched upon still glowed vermillion; which finally cementing her understanding of this place.

There was no audible signal for when the platforms touched in parallel, no indication they had stopped besides the vibrations below their soles dying out, and footsteps of Walkers were born. Haydee barely gave them a half-gaze, however, as her attention would not forced onto the charging hammers, but instead her rifle aimed itself rightly onto that orb like before and fired off. Immediately, setting into action a swift un-decline of this platform. Not even giving the metal foes a second look, her still skyward barrel spun its aim around and onto something new; that new orb that controlled the next set of platforms. They had but moments to spare, which Haydee allowed at least one of these moments to look on and spy out to the nearly completely surfaced floor section.

On the East, did she quickly spot a large number of Floating mines held above. Not too completely packed to elicit a rain of explosions to be burst by one bullet, but too enclosed and abundant to allow any safe travel. Haydee concluded of that leaving them with only one way to go.

The machines were still marching on like lambs to the slaughter; though death on either side was something Haydee saw not needing for this moment. After all; why fight and use multiple bullets when a single one could herald their escape? Allowing that inquiry to guide her rifle, she fired forth to let it ring out among the near deafening sound of rumbles and sniping rounds, hitting the new orb point blank and eliciting her next phase; for the platforms to now wheel back down.

Though only one would suffice for her. The northern floor began barreling back down, and though still high up since the Walkers never once stopped their tread, with her current platform already on the rise it left more than ample space for her to make this jump. Same as before, she took charge and ran with the human in tow, jumping up with a blast of her boots while she spied around, seeing the Walkers about to meet up with the already shoulder level platform of seconds prior.

With the way behind clear - those machines were to come and meet only a brick wall - it left her to immediately focus onward; to whatever danger was next in line for them. The platform was already lowering, and knowing her time would be limited Haydee's sight immediately forced itself to look around and above. The rafters were safe, at least for them now. No such Sniping guards currently tilting their barrels anywhere close to their position. So to the East she saw more Walking foes atop a raised floor, albeit ones not currently staring her way. Up northwards the gynoid believed she could see the red flashing of mines atop another raised platform, thus, to the inorganic one that left only just-

"Haydee, there's Slashers right below us." Westward, where by the edge the frightened human was slowly backing away from. He only managed to get a mere few feet back, as the presence of the circuit-innards one reached forward to hold him steady, along with a reassuring squeeze on his shoulders to follow soon after. She looked down in turn, seeing the lower floor slowly becoming closer and closer; and the heads of Slashers also getting near enough by the second to see her own shins. The section after was fully raised, too high to make it. Yet, that was not all of note. Floating mines were also present, laid out in a line separating the machines right below her feet with the raised section over the side. There was little time to act, the Slashers but seconds from seeing her boots, too little time to heavily think of a full strategy: but still more than enough for the gynoid to swiftly formulate an immediate plan of action.

She dived to her knees, back arching out, and with a double clap of her hands-

"On it!" Dale practically jumped on her, getting around her torso with his legs while he gripped her shoulders. Not a single moment's hesitation in his movement, Haydee affably noticed, gingerly gripping the back of his thighs in return. Though that action took a mere moment, Haydee was sure as she stared out the way, once this floor had been lowered enough her gaze was suddenly met with the singular ocular lens of a Bladed foe. Even that, though, was not at all enough to distract her from her current intention. Standing back up, not seeing the floor go past their shoulders, Haydee made a few steady steps backwards; before kicking her legs into a major sprint.

She jumped, soaring right above the heads of the supposed blades with intentions of not being cut by any swinging blades. She didn't stop with just one jump; her newly upgraded boosting prowess allowed her to full burst, kept her flying, kept her ariel long enough to jump right out of range of the mines, before landing over the top and slamming hard into the ground behind. In the second that followed; she knew what was to come, of quick marches by sharp feet across tiles, breaching her way. Immediately, did she rush forward - right into the wall blocking their way. From their; Haydee quickly turned around, facing the advancing march of the blades and-

Squeezed the piggyback-riding human's body into the wall behind her.

"Haydee, what are you-" His words were silenced as her prehensile arms ducked behind themselves and shoved the human away, or in her mind, out of sight for the Slashers whilst they marched forwards. Into the fray, into Haydee's preference of staying distance; into the radius of the mines.

What happened next could best be called the setting off a fireworks cascade. Like blind lemmings diving head first off a cliff, the line of Slashers ran into the radius of those mines, not once caring in the slightest of self preservation, or at least, such programs were not inserted into the code. Because by the seconds when their march first began did their metallic bodies charge headfirst into the radius of the explosives: before Haydee's very eyes, one after the other did the eventual explosions burst forth. Second after second, did they allow themself to be caught into the detonations, permitting themselves to a fiery grave of scorched metal and burnt bits. Even from a distance, even with her inability to feel true warmth she could see the immense heat blasted her way, the hot air heating up her faux-skin while she ensured her body shields the human from the burning draft.

Such an act lasted but a mere moment, the heat, the ricocheting metal, the barrage of explosions, all of it came and went in the matter of a few seconds. In the moment that followed was a seeming silence, until the sounds of more random gunfire and moving floors entered back into their heads. The moment was safe now at least.

"Haydee?" The moment that followed was a reprieve that lessened her tense body. Or at least, enough for the human to jump away and dive in front of her. "Are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you?" She shook her head, not needing a self-assessment of her entire form; her mind was clear and steady and any small amounts of shards more than likely bounced off her steeled exterior. "Oh thank all. You had me worried for a minute there. I. . . I'm just glad you didn't get hurt." She would not, her innate memories having told her the area of danger of those explosions. Of course, the human obviously lacked such a programme, so she had no reason to look down on his fears.

He was not at fault for anything, and in the least, pushing away the innate positive notions of him being worried for her, signalled she was doing fine with a fair thumbs up.

"Good." He smiled. Quite nicely at that, or at least nice enough to be lugubrious when it disappeared instantly by the dropping of nearby gunfire. His body jolted by the rude awakening, only to likely tense up when the gynoids body jumped on him in protective motion. Rifle back out and raised, Haydee stayed silent and vigil until she realised that echoing shot had not been aimed for them, but more likely on a nearby orb, stated as such as the room her body stuck to began to rumble downwards.

She let him go, albeit still making sure he doesn't travel far - not that he really could or should, of course - as she stared up at the sinking section before her. Weapon at the ready Haydee took a firm step back as she readied herself to see what comes next. Whether it be Walkers, Slashers, Snipers or other such kind, her body tensed itself to be ready to see. . . the human suddenly made a jump up at the descending section and lift his head over the top.

When the gynoids' mindset quickly caught back to her at what just happened, her hand immediately struck forward and pulled his arm away with a reeling motion. Though he stumbled back, being dragged away by the indignant, confused one, his expression never looked to change even by how she looked him down. In fact, all this human had to say for himself was: "I see two Snipers up on the high left."

She let go when she understood the action he had undertaken. Foolish as it were, she couldn't hate him for doing so when it meant seeing the dangers ahead. No less, his action allowed her quick insight to the problems ahead, and with her rifle quickly aiming itself to the desired position, Haydee waited for when the pair got into her range of sight and-

A mere moment later they were quickly dispatched before either got the chance to even see down their own sights. He told of no more dangers, and she knew he would speak no lies. Seeing less in front save for another high raised section right after, Haydee simply observed her surroundings to quickly spot that precocious orb for them, right on the other side of the Snipers, before gracefully stepping up onto the platform with a kick of her heels. The human followed on after while Haydee took her shot at the orb above with a flick of her pistol, returning to its holster with ease.

Once the floor began to ascend again, Haydee did let the occasion go to waste as she took a firmer look at her current surroundings. To her right side she saw nothing but empty space, but on her left. . . a large wall appeared by the next floor section. Noting that the way is completely blocked off, Haydee made a look on forward, readying her rifle and, this time, staying still as the human repeated that jumping action of before. She didn't feel the need to make a grab for him, to reel him back or chastise him for his actions. Rather, she simply waited for him to come back on his own with a fair report.

"I don't see any enemies up top." She nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for his actions despite her preference for him to stay as far away from danger as she could. To why that is. . . she was allowed a juncture of time to formulate over. Maybe. . . with all the danger that had been presented thus far, that small little take was not anywhere close to the most dangerous he had been put through. From pits to blades to. . . those damned dogs, comparatively that little peekaboo was not anything close to most deadly to the human. Not to diminish its own danger, but at the same time, being the human has hardly gotten hurt from such savage instruments of death, an action such as that seemed. . . practically menial in comparison.

He is an adult, her sensors had already deduced, so it would make sense small problems such as these were not seen as such a problem for him. He was not a child to be coddled, she knew, and even when she still believed her purpose was somehow related to this place's mysteries, or simply to guide him to safety, she still had to make sure he did not fall prey to such dangers. In turn, she saw that deep down, he needed space to breathe, learn and develop himself, especially when taken that. . . enigmatic revelation into consideration. She would still be a body shield for him. . . but for anything less worrisome, he should be allowed to move freely on his own feet. At least so long as it didn't interfere with her attempted soothing of his likely still fragile mind.

Haydee's head could now see over the top of the platform, allowing her the moment to look around and see the dangers. Or better yet; lack therefore. She never doubted his words, so the Haydee saw nothing but dull surprise pop up on her as she stared at the empty space presented in front. Nothing over this section of the floor, no dangers above, but that did not mean she should let her guard down. Stepping forth, Haydee looked and turned to her surroundings. The way on North, while raised, held a number of mines scattered about, while the way on West held an open section down below, spaced out and sanctioning off a raised section across the way. Now, up top did Haydee spot a free orb just sitting up there, awaiting a slam to come on its frame; yet the gynoid reserved her motion to take her shot and bring up the lowered section for them. At least, once she saw what was presented below.

Mines, both floating and land, were strewn about all over the tiles down below. Blinking off their tiny red lights, it was as if crimson eyes were staring back up at her from the deep abyss below. There was no way, in her unseen eyes, that could she see a safe passage with that section, barring the use of so much ammo taking each and every mine she could see in sight. And with the amount of time that could take-

A sniping round suddenly echoed from somewhere in this vast place.

She instantly did not liken to the idea of staying in this dispatching realm for any length longer than necessary. Her eyes trailed away from that solid chasm down below her feet, prying away from that square death hole below their feet to then trail up and take a good luck at the ledge standing peacefully on the other side. At the distance that they are at, the length from this edge to the next. . .

She knew what they had to do. So bending down on her knees, she readied her position and held out her arms to-

"So we're going to jump it?" The arms stayed outstretched, Haydee's body still like stone; save for her neck as she slowly trailed her head around to see him. Simply, she nodded gently yet firmly, awaiting his response to this statement of her question.

"Understood." Without a moment's hesitation he was on her back, smoothly snaking his arms around her neck while his legs came beside her side. No doubt in his movements, no defiance in his tone, the human simply crawled on her back the second she deemed it necessary. She saw a reason to like that.

Up she stood, physically coiling the human's legs around his waist before taking a good few steps back, her vision focusing only on one thing before her. She tapped on the human arm, hearing a defiant "Ready!" be loudly uttered right on after. That was all the confirmation she needed.

A slam of her sole on the tiled flooring, and Haydee took off. Running on forward, she waited until the edge of the platform was hit, the toes of her boot reaching over the edge - and jumped hard. In the few seconds they were up in the air, she followed her innate programming to fire off her first round once they were distant enough, then the second, and with high rise of her hands grabbed onto the end of the ledge, slamming her faceplate down hard onto the surface.

"Haydee, you okay?" The sudden shout erupted inn her ears, by one ever worrisome of her form. But such a slam would not now, or ever, bring her down, and firmly she reassured him with a nod. "Good." For some reason, she was sure he was smiling right then and there. She couldn't see his face nor his reflection, yet strangely in her mind she believed he was adorning on his face a fair beam between those facial cheeks. How pondering an image to suddenly mull over during this time. . . wha-

The weight shifted on her back as the human pulled himself over her for a moment before coming back down. "None of those ranged ones - but I do see a blunt-handed machine looking in this direction not too far away."

Blunt-handed? Oh; a Walker. She swiftly nodded, acknowledging his report before grasping her feet against the surface before her and quickly pulled herself up. In the moment her head peeked over the ledge when her body was pulled over did her sights meet with the blunt-handed in tow. It was not too far away from her when she rigged up her frame, immediately making a stride towards her hauling form when her boot grasped onto the ledge. It was coming, and her body was still pulling herself over, yet her sight never left the Walkers marching frame. Even when coming so close, Haydee did not fret, jitter or take a fright, but instead her one hand grasped at her rifle, whipping it forth while her other helped to pull the rest of herself over, and it aimed it straight.

With a pull of the trigger, a single one-handed raise, and the Walkers faceplate was blown asunder in one swoop. With that last buckshot round, the charging foe's face was churned into pure inorganic mincemeat by the rapid piercing of multiple pellets, smashing into its body and blowing it to pieces. Her rifle dropped neatly out of her hand before the Walkers inevitable drop of its body too, allowing the human easy access of jumping off and aside as she continued on, firmly pushing aside the Walkers freshly inanimate state out of the way for her and Dale's trek forward. The way on clear, Haydee and her human allowed themselves a moment to stare on the way that was forward, out in the clearing as past this on out she could see a full wall - a true end of these sections. No more Snipers up on high, no more orbs destining their traversal. Instead, as Haydee saw more of what was to come with every step, she looked down, spotting, to her immense elation right below a door, unblocked and ready for them to enter into and exit. And standing right below them three-

Snipers!

Swift as the wind itself, the gynoid swung her arms out and pushed the human all the way down onto the floor so fast she doubted the poor man would've had time to even blink. Instead, all he could was shake his head and immediately turn to her with a tentative look.

"Did you see dangers up ahead?" She nodded, finally letting her hand off his pressed back before making a motion for him to stay right there. Turning back to forward, Haydee crawled forward with cautious steps while ensuring her body stayed as low as it could be. Save, that is, for her head, as the gynoid slowly peeked it up from the edge and gingerly spied on the major last problem she believed this room had thrown at her. Indeed, on an elevation guarding right by that door three Snipers were pointing their barrels dangerously outward in the hopes of quickly putting holes in any new targets. To her relief however, the trio of ranged adversaries were not holding their barrel up top, instead only on the flat point across the way, but that didn't help with knowing what to accomplish next.

Sure she could fire with her rifle at this range, but with all three right next to each other she feared she might not be able to take two down by the time one had looked over and held her face in its scope. She still held her single shock and explosive shells, but this range, arc and the cover below their torso's such an angle and distance might not be enough either. Not including her not being as experienced with the shells at longer ranges. The only thing else of worthy note she could spot down below was somewhere between this floor section were a set of waist-high jutting out both sides of the wall. A bulwark; or at least what she believed she was seeing before them.

She bowed her head down, internally taking a comment to compose herself before the realisation hit her; they had to get closer. Shaking her head gently, Haydee slowly backed from the crawl to meet back up with the still prone human.

"Everything all right?" He spoke gently, after a few seconds too long. Even she did not notice how still she had been when having slid back to him. There was imminent danger before them, and she couldn't spot any other way around either. At the very least, she knew of how they could continue on forth, at least. So with a nod to signal how she'd prefer he'd see her be orderly, she then quietly told him to follow her with a point on him, then over to herself, right before slowly crawling off to her leftmost side.

Once by the end, Haydee smoothly flipped over to her back and aimed upwards with her pistol, firing off a well placed shot into the orb above. Though she had only suspicions to rely on, nonetheless she would not take risky chances with keeping them both out of harm's way. Thankfully, her suspicions did not prove so fruitless in the preceding moment after; with a rumble, she felt the floor below slowly descend down. Whether or not that meant the mined floor before was rising or not mattered little for her; her priority lay with clutching the human and holding him close to the wall.

Keeping him knelt by the far side, Haydee's pistol did not drop down as her focus was entirely built on that triad of Snipers not too far off. The moment her sensors picked up on the sight of those rifle-wielding adversaries her attention could not be waned, the only permittance of anything was her free hand snaking round and holding the human close to the wall.

The drop down, while slow, felt ever-expanded to the gynoid. Even once the floor had stopped its descent, her body made not an ounce of movement until she was sure either of the three before her would not do the same. A prolonged moment in time, a pregnant pause, silence not broken by distant sounds or even the humans slow breath, and only when Haydee was completely sure their barrels would not swivel in the two's direction did she allow them both to finally move on. Crouching low, crouching flat on the walls, Haydee led the human slowly on, keeping that barrier up before them as a shroud for their arrival. A repeat of before, not once did her pistol drop - its barrel pointed up and ready while the wielder crawled along the wall. It may have been a slow processive, tentative to the point it seemed overt by how long it seems to take them; trudging forward like wading through molasses. Yet her caution was rightfully proven to not once underestimate her troubles, as with a slam Haydee kneaded her and the human's body into the short barricade.

Now that her arms were ready to be free she cleanly swapped her one-handed weapon to her major assault rifle, fingers tight around the grip as silently and carefully did she let her head peek out. As suspected, the machines were still keeping still - vigil and watchful for reasons Haydee saw as nothing but ruthlessly unnecessary. Though she could exploit their tunnel vision quite functionally, it still could only do so much. With these barriers as they are, leaping out or even over seemed a suicidal task even at best, not to mention-

Haydee immediately ducked her head down once she believed she had spotted the barrel of the closest Sniper swivelling in her direction. Whether or not that actually happened, or it simply randomly moved was not an outcome Haydee felt daring or stupid enough to find out, as her body stayed hiding behind for a few seconds longer while she awaited the chance of any shot to ring out.

Even when none did, Haydee did not dare to look again, believing she had seen enough; especially now when she saw even a small peek out could be too risky. No, a plan was needed here, a firm one. One that would ensure all three were taken out in quick, if even immediate, succession. But for the means how. . .

"Haydee?" Her chin-tapping paused as she looked around to stare at the human beside her. "I. . . I have a plan." The gynoid simply titled her head, a little surprised he had come up with one so soon. "I had seen, even when you were keeping me locked to the walls and floor, that problem beyond here. Seen the door, I mean, and those that kept guard." That explained him as much, she quietly thought to herself. She nodded to tell him to continue. "Well the plan I have involves. . . it involves me doing something you may not approve of." Slowly, her head tilted upwards as she continued to stare him down. This was not the first time he had said something like this, and deep down in herself her mind suggested this to not be the last time either. Nonetheless, with an opened palm wave she told him to go forth with his strategy.

"I don't think those sniping ones are good at close range fire, or at least with those rifles. My plan. . . " He paused, shaking his head before he looked to force himself to continue on speaking. "I'll dive out there, catching their attention so you can get a clean shot of them."

The following seconds became bathed in nothing but a washing silence, not broken by any outside noise. Haydee did not make a move herself, instead her unchanging face only looked to him in questionable interest. In turn, Dale simply fidgeted in place, not looking too comfortable by this immobile stare.

"I-Yes I know." He finally muttered out, unable to meet her gaze. "It's dangerous and stupid. But I think with what I have seen of them they won't do too well with keeping track of me while I'm so close. I. . . I know what you're gonna to say; it's risky. It's braindead. It would be easier if you are the bait yourself. But I do honestly believe it's better if I do it. I don't want to ask too much, I just want you to tru-" A finger silenced him. Not with great force or pressure, but with a simple tap on his lips. The lifeless index finger slowly back away, returning to the front of the one that halted his sentence of thought. With all his attention drawn on her, Haydee whipped out her rifle and let him watch as she opened out her revolving chamber and placed it in a singular shell, before slamming the whole thing back in place; speaking all she needed to say without uttering a singular word

He spoke his promise to make it out alive, and he did not break it. He promised he'd make it out alive, and he did not break it. He promised he won't ever let her down: and she refuses to believe he would ever even think to try to. Therefore, it is in the interest of both if her own promise is kept. For this she would not falter; she would not let him die, or let him down, in this plan or any other. He will make it out alive: and she will ensure he does.

"Thank you." For a split second a smile so sweet it made her wonder if it was made from soluble carbohydrates appeared between his cheeks, before it was swiftly replaced with a serous brow. Before her he looked, slowly crawling forward and pausing his creep when his head was just before the end of this cover. "Okay: the moment I sprint out so when you take them down. We may only have one shot at this so. . . I promise you I will make it count." He already made enough promises as it is.

Though, she saw no harm in him making a fourth. She held strong doubts he would attempt to break this one.

On her knees, rifle at the ready, Haydee prepared herself. Fingers over the trigger, body packed into the cover, she signalled to him she was ready. At least as ready as she'll ever be.

As in, the moment she saw him prop his body into a running position her internal mind suddenly screamed at her to stop him, to drag him back and demand they think of a better plan. Something far less stupid and fatal. But: she will not do that. For him, she will use her one and only shot to make a massacre of these deranged automations standing before them. For him, she will remain vigil, prepared and ready to undertake this task she leaves in his hands. She had to remain still, not budging an inch until he made the first move.

"On my mark. . . " His voice trailed away, akin to being taken by the very wind. His body as solid as stone, his tone but a whisper as if his whole body was ready to be flown thus forth at the drop of the hat. Her attention, though permitting itself to look outside at that hate-filled trio before them, could noy truly pry itself from staring down at the hunched human, prepared to become the live bait that will eventually help their cause. The seconds that passed right after seemed to linger, as if stretching time itself to draw out her personal nervousness of what could happen next. Of what mortality will be taken by the oncoming action.

But in turn Haydee knew such outcomes would not come true if she ensured it. No matter what could or even may happen, so long as Haydee tried her hardest to make sure no danger would come about to him, then that would be the greatest asset she could ever use in ensuring.

"Go!" He jumped. As if the world focused entirely on only him, Haydee watched with fair mix of terror and trust the human shoot off and out the cover.

"OVER HERE YOU RUSTING BUCKETS OF BOLTS!" Whether or not his shouts of attention meant anything to tunnel-visioned machines did not deter from their focus immediately shifting to the sprinting body. The moment he made his dive out, into the range of their deadly weaponry, all their sights pertained to him, looking more than ready to bring him down with a hail of bullets.

But that was not an action she would allow. With her own weapon, the immediate moment his figure jumped into the open, jumped into the range of their rifles, Haydee too made a dive herself. Her internal mind had quickly formulated, had quickly researched and observed their position from her, their placement and the areas her own weapon can make deserved strikes into. She had one shot, one round left to do this, one moment to not screw it up, and for the sake of the human willingly using himself as bait to complete she would not let harm come to him. So in the nanosecond he plunged to the open so too did she whip around and aim her weapon straight. Finger on the trigger, her aim holding true, she knew where to aim once out in the open, where to place her loaded shell the moment it was released from its chamber; and fired it without a second's delay.

Haydee saw nought else but her round once it rocketed from the barrel. Her entire being focused on completing her mission, her vision simply could not stray even to the endangered human as her complete body pertained only onto watching the adversary be ripped apart. So focused they seemed, so attentive to the human they dared to hold desires to main, their ignorance that was fueled with nothing but needless disdain left them open to the fired shell, to the arcing round that dived down to them from above. What reasons these and any hold in dismembering and tearing apart the human she may not have known, or even may will, but neither option tore away her internal smile at seeing the round closing in, mere inches from hitting down on the middle Sniper with complete accuracy - and slam hard on the unassuming machines chest. In an instant a sphere of explosive action, of pressure and heat, burst forth like a flower in motion. In but a second later, Haydee saw the eruption engulf not only the middle machine, but the other two similar unassuming automations in a blaze of fire and vengeance, tearing their outside to shreds as the blast shredded into the innards like a saw through paper.

And within that flash of time, did Haydee hear a gunshot fire out.

The moment a gunfire round exploded her audible sensors, seeing within that occasion of retribution a flash of light burst out that was not contained inside her personal ball of flame; Haydee's entire senses went silent. Nothing seemed to occur, no noise or sound belonged in the world she was currently occupying. All her attention on what used to be an instant ago on that burst of wrath suddenly became void as her immediate focus shifted entirely onto the human that had acted as the bait for her. What would occur next for the trio mattered little to her now, in the instant her sight shifted over to watch the human that had done so much for her fall down and hit the ground hard.

She dropped everything. Her rifle, her focus on the machines, even her desire to see them get karmic revenge for their attempted assault. Nothing else mattered to the gynoid now as her complete being made its own personal dive towards the downed human. Her legs kicked as hard as they could, hands swinging to enhance her momentum as the gynoid entire body shook with immense fright, daring to send her own body down in an uncoordinated drop. Whatever much happened to her left, the light, noises or even vibrations are completely drowned out by her immediate leap to the human. Her body was hastily upon him, dropping to its knees as the gynoid speedily reached forward and grabbed at the human. Her hands gripped to his form, swiftly but gingerly Haydee lifting the human by his head, fingers digging into the back of his scalp while the subtle feeling of his lithe mane vaguely helped to keep her calm. With the utmost care, Haydee carefully pulled his top half up to her, holding him close and quickly examining him over as-

His eyes popped open. "Ouh." He mindlessly muttered as his hand came to the side of his cheek, shaking his own head as if his brain was a mess of jumbled vines. "Sorry: I didn't scare you, did I?" Haydee simply stood there, her mind as blank as her expressions. "I simply dived down after I had run out. Thought that helped to ensure the Snipers have even less chance of gunning me down." He looked to his side, completely missing the innate sighs of relief the gynoid was slowly exhaling to instead smile at the sight of the blasted trio. "Great work, Haydee I knew you could-" But before he could utter any more fair compliments the gynoids way he suddenly found himself in a deep hug by said female.

"H-h-hey now Haydee. Don't worry, it's like I promised you:" She pulled her head back to look at him straight in his facial features. "I wasn't going to get hurt. And I didn't." He didn't; in the same way she had promised all that time ago she was not going to leave Dale behind nor would not be kept safe no matter what. To that, she was thankful she had allowed her trust in the human to be shared with his trust back. An informal communal agreement, shared between two. . . what would be the best word to use here. . .

Best way to describe a person with whom one has mutual trust in. One where both show minimal care towards each, backed up mutual interest for the others seeming wellbeing. More than a simple companion, more than a vague term to describe general comradery but somethingthat ran a little bit deeper, something where both parties involved work, act and hold at least some desires of being around another and keeping them safe. . . almost like a. . .

A friend.

A promise kept between her friend. She liked that word. Friend.

And even when he may not feel the same way back, she didn't see herself as needing to mind that. She didn't mull too hard over what he may think of her back. She just wanted him both safe and happy. That was more than enough for her to ensure he was kept safe until their eventual departure; wherein the human would leave this crappy place and be free without even needing to look back. . .

"Um, Haydee; if its not too much trouble could you let me down please? My feet aren't exactly touching the floor." Suddenly staring down, Haydee noticed her legs had happened to be standing up straight. In turn, her hands were still tightly wrapped around the human form. Altogether; Haydee had not noticed she was holding the human high off the ground.

Gently, Haydee lifted him down, allowing a moment for him to take a step back and lightly brush himself down.

"Shall we be off then?" His words may have held a twinge of cheerful rhetoric within its brow, but nonetheless Haydee agreed immensely. The sounds of distant gunfire and shifting floor still managed to ring into her head, but so distant it seemed she felt no tense nature of seeing it harm him. Though that said, she still wished to move on as quickly as could be.

Her hand wrapped around the human's back, before she quickly urged him on with her. Up the short stairs and over the remnants of machinery Haydee had half-forgotten would be there, the two went and left this room for hopefully good.

---

No dangers.

Zero. None. No traps in place, no enemies around, no saws, deep dark pits or even complex whacky scenarios for them to accomplish over. There was naught here, nothing, save for simple crimson pipes held behind meshed gratings above their heads and what looked to be a ladder, all the way down this simple hallway.

That was all, that was it, and honestly Haydee thought of nothing else but relief. Even when she still kept herself half-alert just in case, the gynoid could not help but understand how fortunate this place was to come across with all that had come before. Stepping forth and letting herself examine the admittedly plain surroundings, knowing that nothing here could cause the human harm, in any venerable way, allowed relief to wash over her like a hot showed, cascading down her faux-skin form and removing any excess dirty ideas like dismay and fret.

There was not much to do here except walk and go up the ladder at the far end. And though such truth meant little excitement could be had here, perhaps with all that had come before, this tiny moment of reprieve was worth more to them than any fresh magazine or fashionable new item that could tear any enemy asunder. She agreed to that; at least, if the human behind her could see that point.

On that, Haydee's steps paused when she realised the human had done so too, noticeably before her own pause. Taking a look she found the human in question propping himself up by the wall. Though first thought was of some casual flare, it was when she noticed his hunched position, his stare at the floor and his slow deep breaths, Haydee internally felt a pang of pain in thinking the human was in any worse of injury.

Quickly, did the female strut forward in almost a sprint, jogging back up to check him over, to ensure her friend was not in any dire straits. Though, before her hand could even attempt to make a hold of him, he was swift in smoothly rebutting her internal scare.

"I'm okay." He calmly stated with a wave of his free hand, his head taking a moment to acknowledge her presence after his mouth did. "I'm just a little tired, that's all." Her worries dissipating, the gynoid let her tense body relax while she calmly understood his pose. She did not need to be told why he had to feel this way; with all that had gone through lately, all the dangers, problems and vigorous exercise he had been put through the ringer, Haydee could easily see why he needed a moment to reprise himself. He was an organic, unlike her, his body tied, strained and eventually needed rest. A simple charge of his batteries could not be done so smoothly, and his body's build up of lactic acid and other such ailments had to mean he should eventually rest.

So in turn she would let him do so at his own pace. She would wait, she would stay there and pause herself to give him the time and space needed to unwind and shake away any such tiredness.

The moments passed by, a minute at most had gone on by, unchanged by anything but the slow, calm breathing of the lethargic human. A sound like a tune to the gynoids ears as she made not a fidget while she waited. It was only on the second the human did move, stand up straight and stretch his muscles did she allow herself to act in turn.

Dale blinked once he noticed a hand offered to him. Just as the human relaxed himself, so too did Haydee make herself appear as such. Her offer was not a demand, not a way to tell him they needed to go now, but instead she wanted to present herself in such a way that he didn't need to take her metallic hand in turn, if he so desired not to. Simply, she was there to tell him she is always there to offer him a helping hand, if he ever needed it.

He looked back to her hand. Then her head. She tilted her head as he stared at her. Then he smiled, right before he slowly reached out and gently grabbed her hand. Metallic and inorganic it may be, Dale, the pure human before her, wrapped his lovely fingers around her hand. Even when he lacked the strength to hurt her, he still treated his touches on her as if she were precious glass. Those elegantly tapered hands held onto her purely lifeless own, allowing her to feel just how soft and gentle his mind and body seemed to prefer to always be.

With his boy connected to hers, Haydee slowly led him off. Guiding him gently forward, the two stepped in near tandem as they caroused down the hallway. Though it was an admittedly short walk on, one that neither needed to actually stay so close to each for, Haydee didn't mind so much. If anything, the simple feeling of him being connected to her, being so close and holding on, eased her mind for all current problems. Not just with regarding this place's dangers and revelations as a whole, but even the worries of the humans own state of mind. Maybe. . . that deep down; she is hoping her closeness is a heal to him.

If that were true. . . then perhaps he is deserving of far, far more hugs in the future. To ease his broken state of mind, obviously. All just for him.

The moment they stepped in front of the ladder, a twinge of disappointment ran through her. No so much directed onto anything specific per say, but rather a bleeding idea that it would mean her hand had to depart from his. Maybe. . . if they joined side by side, one hand each on the ladder the two could simply move up the ladder one step at a time in perfectly synchronised fashion the duo go on through the hole and-

Wait, what is she thinking about?

Whatever it was didn't seem all too important, however, as the sudden feeling of gentle hands departing from hers knocked her attention back into the real time as she looked over to see the human offer a small smile her way, taking a step back before he eyed the ladder for a brief second longer.

"You. . . can go first, Haydee. I know you prefer to go in front. Don't worry; I promise I won't look." Though a little confused by his final statement, Haydee still understood the reality of the situation he was presenting her with. They still needed to move on, if Haydee was to bring him to a safe haven. Nodding fairly, Haydee slowly looked away from the human to stare up deep at the ladder before her. How far it went she couldn't fully determine, as it appeared to be a complete shaft all above her. For that, she felt glad the human wanted her to go first; dangers would not take him first. Thus, she reach out to the metal extent.

That feeling still lingered, a ghost of a hand still wrapped around her own hand. Clenching her fingers simultaneously, she was sure she could still feel his hand gripped to her own. Though it should be but a memory, the effect was more akin to a phantom's presence, invisible to her eyes yet completely present all the same. Why it still lingered, she did not know. However, in the moment her hand did take hold of the railing she felt a strange urge to regret run through her as the feeling suddenly ceased. Quickly passing it off as nothing more than acknowledgement of Dale's own healing state Haydee made a raise for the ladders, setting food after another up the steps with Dale shortly following.

She may not knew what appeared above this tunnel, but one thing was sure for her as she made an ascend:

Dale should never leave her side.