----- Chapter 2 : Undiscovered Country
------
Sue knocked on the nondescript white door. There was no answer. The FOnewearl in green beside her shifted nervously from foot to foot. Sue sighed and pounded the door firmly.
"Ash? Ash! You in there?"
After about a Beat's wait she was about to knock again when a muffled reply came through.
"Go away, I'm not feeling well!"
"It's me, Kiki. I was worried." Said the FOnewearl.
There was a pause.
"Go away, I don't want to see you."
Sue saw that Kiki became visibly downcast at Ash's rejection. No doubt he was up to his old tricks again. She put her arm around Kiki's shoulders and led her away.
"Don't waste any tears over him, he ain't worth it."
-----
Ash hobbled slowly to the kitchen. Wrapped in blankets he was still shivering slightly. He reckoned that he must have caught a serious flu bug if he had been downed that long. His hunger and thirst over-coming any sense of food preparation, he consumed everything and anything that he could chew or swallow.
How long had he been out for? Two days? Three? He had lain on the floor wracked with a fever and a dull pain that seemed to permeate his entire body. He belched loudly as he stretched stiffly, muscles aching from the ordeal. He could feel himself getting better and knew that a good workout would be the order of the day.
-----
Eric rounded the corner and pressed himself up against the wall. If his creator had given him lungs they would be working overtime right about now. The discovery of the mines had been exciting, the people of Pioneer One had been keeping secrets it would seem. His fellow Hunters were happy to return to Pioneer Two, report their findings and take a break. But a break was not for him, he was built for action.
However, things had started going wrong almost from the get go. The upper levels of the mines consisted of a seemingly endless maze of labs and storage rooms. Within Beats of exploring he had encountered resistance. Mining robots on patrol and packing quite a punch too. His hand moved up to the large smoking hole on his chestplate. Dual Varista pistols had made short work of his assailants initially, but sheer numbers and military-grade lasers now had him on the run.
"I sure could use a FOrce right about now."
He activated a telepipe mat and tossed it on the floor in front of him. A column of green light emanated from it.
"Time to call the cavalry..." Eric said as he stepped into the light.
The Gillchic passed through the doorway just in time to catch the fading green light of the telepipe as it dispersed. Sensing no intruders, it resumed its patrol.
Sue knocked on the nondescript white door. There was no answer. The FOnewearl in green beside her shifted nervously from foot to foot. Sue sighed and pounded the door firmly.
"Ash? Ash! You in there?"
After about a Beat's wait she was about to knock again when a muffled reply came through.
"Go away, I'm not feeling well!"
"It's me, Kiki. I was worried." Said the FOnewearl.
There was a pause.
"Go away, I don't want to see you."
Sue saw that Kiki became visibly downcast at Ash's rejection. No doubt he was up to his old tricks again. She put her arm around Kiki's shoulders and led her away.
"Don't waste any tears over him, he ain't worth it."
-----
Ash hobbled slowly to the kitchen. Wrapped in blankets he was still shivering slightly. He reckoned that he must have caught a serious flu bug if he had been downed that long. His hunger and thirst over-coming any sense of food preparation, he consumed everything and anything that he could chew or swallow.
How long had he been out for? Two days? Three? He had lain on the floor wracked with a fever and a dull pain that seemed to permeate his entire body. He belched loudly as he stretched stiffly, muscles aching from the ordeal. He could feel himself getting better and knew that a good workout would be the order of the day.
-----
Eric rounded the corner and pressed himself up against the wall. If his creator had given him lungs they would be working overtime right about now. The discovery of the mines had been exciting, the people of Pioneer One had been keeping secrets it would seem. His fellow Hunters were happy to return to Pioneer Two, report their findings and take a break. But a break was not for him, he was built for action.
However, things had started going wrong almost from the get go. The upper levels of the mines consisted of a seemingly endless maze of labs and storage rooms. Within Beats of exploring he had encountered resistance. Mining robots on patrol and packing quite a punch too. His hand moved up to the large smoking hole on his chestplate. Dual Varista pistols had made short work of his assailants initially, but sheer numbers and military-grade lasers now had him on the run.
"I sure could use a FOrce right about now."
He activated a telepipe mat and tossed it on the floor in front of him. A column of green light emanated from it.
"Time to call the cavalry..." Eric said as he stepped into the light.
The Gillchic passed through the doorway just in time to catch the fading green light of the telepipe as it dispersed. Sensing no intruders, it resumed its patrol.