----- Chapter 10 : Cry, for "IDOLA" the Holy -----
At the time Rico could not be sure of the meaning but it had felt like something bad. Now... now she had the knowledge but did not know if she wanted it. She rose slowly to her feet, her muscles still sore from the constant exertion. When had been the last time she had slept? Maybe days? With nothing to mark the passage of time there was no way of knowing. The playback of her story in her mind had afforded her a few hours rest but she had a mission, a purpose now.
The idea that these were ruins had given way to the realisation that this was in fact a gigantic spaceship. A ship built to carry something here, buried forever till we came along. The pillars were a warning placed to keep the foolish away, while the monuments of the 'ruins' served to tell a story. Much was missing from the translations provided by Calus but what information was available chilled her to the bone.
An entity by the name of Dark Falz had been imprisoned here, a destructive force that could only be contained not destroyed. The military must have awakened it, the monsters, placed here as guards failed to stop their curiosity. But this creature lacked a body and needed a host in order to achieve its 'perfect' form. This was when it was weakest, she was the only one in a position to do something.
Briefly, a wave of anxiety had passed over her. Calus' last message had been to inform her that the subroutine she had sent was attempting to corrupt him and that he would have to shut down to prevent permanent data loss. This had left her alone, necessitating her rest break in order to refocus her mind.
Tapping a key on the panel on her arm flashed up her inventory, but she already knew what the result would be, a couple of Mates and three Cure Status vials. Pick-ups on her travels had been few and far in-between. The strength and resilience of the monsters here using up her supplies at an alarming rate. Coupled with her fatigue and injuries she knew that it was only a matter of time before she might get overwhelmed. She looked up at Kabanda over her left shoulder. It stared impassively back.
"Sorry buddy, the cupboard is bare."
She felt bad not being able to feed her mag, but they had been through much together and she knew it would understand.
She sidled over to the door and peered through it. The chamber before her was large, but it was divided down the middle by the organic material that lined the walls of the section of the ship. It pulsated like it was alive, no doubt maintained by the tubes of nutrients that snaked the corridors. The room itself was devoid of enemies but that was no comfort. She had learned at great cost that the monsters mostly transported in, alerted by whatever she happened to be fighting at the time.
Her sword comforted her with its glow and its weight in her had felt natural. Confidence restored she stepped in and made her way towards the far end, keeping close to the walls to remain unseen. She muttered obscenities under her breath when she caught the now familiar sound of teleporting monsters. She turned to see that a Belra had practically appeared on top of her. The behemoth had barely solidified before it flung its arms out knocking her flying to the ground. She cried out in pain at the force of the blow but found herself unable to get up. The bio-electric charge generated by the lumbering giant played havoc with the circuitry of her frame resulting in almost total paralysis.
She was prepared for such an eventuality, her trembling hands just able to utilise the Cure spray in time, its mist earthing the charge and giving her the mobility to avoid its next swipe. Weapon in hand she maneuvered behind it and proceed to carve great tracts of damage into its back. The Belra arched backwards in response to her actions before dissolving into a cloud of black dust.
Rico decided not to hang around any longer and hobbled as fast as she could to the door set against the far wall consuming a Mate as she went. When it opened she saw a transporter, large and set into the floor and ceiling of the small room. She took a step towards it and then hesitated. Where would it lead? She shook her head, this fear was holding her back and going forward could be no worse than going back. With this in mind she stepped in and vanished...