The Hunter, part 11
The entrance to the command-centre was hidden deep within a cave system. Rommie took point, using her built-in sensors to detect booby-traps as they went. The door it's self was a solid sheet of metal set into a cliff-face. Dylan typed an override command into a keypad, and it slid open.
The corridor beyond was almost identical to those on the Andromeda, except it was deserted. Rommie scanned the first stretch of hallway, "No defences that I can detect, but there are several inferred-sensors along the walls. Stand clear." The others did as they where told as Rommie took a few steps back, then ran at the doorway.
The moment she cleared the door, she leapt into the air, and landing on her hands in the corridor, continued to back-flip until she reached the first junction. She landed expertly on her feet next to a control panel, and entered a command, "Ok, it's safe for you to follow now." Dex immediately stepped through the doorway, followed closely by the others.
Dylan stopped next to Rommie, "Where did you learn to do that?" Rommie shrugged, "Just something I picked up. Let's move before the AI sends a security-drone to investigate." As if to prove her right, a forcelance- wielding android rounded the next corner. Tyr reacted immediately, blasting the robot with his Gauss Rifle, "I think we should do as she says."
They quickly ran along a series of corridors until they reached a junction. Rommie stopped them before they could go any further, and pulling a small stone from a pouch on her belt, tossed it into the centre of the junction: it fell straight through the floor. Dylan smiled, "Holographic pitfall. Very nice." Trance took a length of rope from her backpack, and securing a magnet to the end, threw it across the gap. It landed with a re-assuring clang against the far-wall. Dylan attached a second magnet to the end Trance still held, and secured it to the wall beside them, "Ok, one at a time. Trance, you're the lightest, so you go first."
Trance nodded, and after securing a safety-line to her belt, started across the rope, hand-over-hand. She reached the other side and double-checked the magnet, "Look's safe." Dylan nodded and sent Dex over next. Try and Rommie followed, until it was just Dylan left to go. He was halfway over when his hands slipped.
He dangled from the rope by his legs. The magnets started to shift, threatening to give way. Tyr and Dex grabbed the line on their side and held it tight. Dylan tried to reach the rope with his hands, but was unable to get a grip. Rommie took a box from her backpack, and secured it to the ceiling. She took a length of cord from it, and secured it to her belt. Slowly, she started to ease-out along the rope towards the stranded Dylan, a thin cord playing out behind her, "Hold still, I've almost got you." Unable to do anything but node, Dylan did as he was told and hung on.
With a high-pitched screech, the magnet on the far side gave way, sending Dylan plunging down thorough the holographic-floor, Rommie following after.
TBC
The entrance to the command-centre was hidden deep within a cave system. Rommie took point, using her built-in sensors to detect booby-traps as they went. The door it's self was a solid sheet of metal set into a cliff-face. Dylan typed an override command into a keypad, and it slid open.
The corridor beyond was almost identical to those on the Andromeda, except it was deserted. Rommie scanned the first stretch of hallway, "No defences that I can detect, but there are several inferred-sensors along the walls. Stand clear." The others did as they where told as Rommie took a few steps back, then ran at the doorway.
The moment she cleared the door, she leapt into the air, and landing on her hands in the corridor, continued to back-flip until she reached the first junction. She landed expertly on her feet next to a control panel, and entered a command, "Ok, it's safe for you to follow now." Dex immediately stepped through the doorway, followed closely by the others.
Dylan stopped next to Rommie, "Where did you learn to do that?" Rommie shrugged, "Just something I picked up. Let's move before the AI sends a security-drone to investigate." As if to prove her right, a forcelance- wielding android rounded the next corner. Tyr reacted immediately, blasting the robot with his Gauss Rifle, "I think we should do as she says."
They quickly ran along a series of corridors until they reached a junction. Rommie stopped them before they could go any further, and pulling a small stone from a pouch on her belt, tossed it into the centre of the junction: it fell straight through the floor. Dylan smiled, "Holographic pitfall. Very nice." Trance took a length of rope from her backpack, and securing a magnet to the end, threw it across the gap. It landed with a re-assuring clang against the far-wall. Dylan attached a second magnet to the end Trance still held, and secured it to the wall beside them, "Ok, one at a time. Trance, you're the lightest, so you go first."
Trance nodded, and after securing a safety-line to her belt, started across the rope, hand-over-hand. She reached the other side and double-checked the magnet, "Look's safe." Dylan nodded and sent Dex over next. Try and Rommie followed, until it was just Dylan left to go. He was halfway over when his hands slipped.
He dangled from the rope by his legs. The magnets started to shift, threatening to give way. Tyr and Dex grabbed the line on their side and held it tight. Dylan tried to reach the rope with his hands, but was unable to get a grip. Rommie took a box from her backpack, and secured it to the ceiling. She took a length of cord from it, and secured it to her belt. Slowly, she started to ease-out along the rope towards the stranded Dylan, a thin cord playing out behind her, "Hold still, I've almost got you." Unable to do anything but node, Dylan did as he was told and hung on.
With a high-pitched screech, the magnet on the far side gave way, sending Dylan plunging down thorough the holographic-floor, Rommie following after.
TBC