Author's note: I'm anxious to get this story moving, so …
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Chapter 8: Your Place or Mine?
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I stepped into a large room in the mine. The rock had been chipped away, and I could see some kind of clear diamond material in it. Another clipboard rested on another crate, so I picked it up and read it.
"I have finally found what I have excavated for: Glassire Diamond, worth dozens of Rings per pound! It's very remarkable, since it instantly shatters when chilled; likewise, it hardens when exposed to heat. I will sell this material as soon as I collect a sufficient amount."
Glassire Diamond? I thought. So that's what's mined here!"
Looking around, I spotted another one of those temperature sensors. A huge blockade of Glassire Diamond was in the way, though, and even if I flew, I couldn't get to the contacts.
An idea came to mind, though. I chose an Ice Feather from my leg and shot it at the blockade, and just like the clipboard noted, the stuff became shards in the blink of an eye. I calmly put another Ice Feather in between the contacts like I'd done with the first one.
The mine was a bit smaller than it seemed at first glance. The light from my lantern made dazzling patterns as the Glassire Diamond material in the walls refracted it. I hopped into another mine cart and started up my wings for a ride.
As I zoomed down the track, I passed through a gate that automatically opened for mine carts, then closed behind me. I then passed through another such gate, and came to a sudden stop.
"I think I saw another sensor between those two gates," I said to myself. "But those gates will only open for mine carts, and I doubt I'd be able to open one otherwise. I can't get out of the cart while it's moving, either; I might kill myself."
On a hunch, I rode the cart back, looking for a key feature. I spotted it in the form of a track switch lever by the track. Extending my pick, I tripped it as I passed. The cart was diverted, and came to a stop right in front of the sensor.
One Ice Feather later, I climbed back in the cart and rode on, remembering to flip the lever again to fix the track. I had found three sensors, but where was the fourth?
When I reached the next room, I paused to take off my helmet for a moment. My head was hot, and my layer of feathers wasn't helping. I casually glanced around, and spotted a suspicious-looking grate. I tried to fly up to take a look, but the pick was too heavy, so I had to leave it on the ground.
As I inspected the grate, I realized that it protected the fourth sensor. There was no way to remove the grate, but if I could get the pick up to this level, I could knock it away. How would I do that, though? I looked around for a clue.
I glanced at the cart that had taken me here. The first time I had ridden one, it had stopped abruptly, and the pick had been sent flying into the wall, where it got stuck. I had my answer in an instant.
Picking up the pick, I began to swing it in a circle. Faster … faster … faster … until I was getting dizzy. I then threw it, and it got stuck in the wall right next to the grate. I flew up and braced myself against the wall while I removed the pick and used it to pry the grate off.
The grate fell to the ground, and I had to drop my pick as well to stay in the air. While I was up there, I used another of my light blue Ice Feathers to sabotage the sensor. I then took the same route back to the locked door to watch the results.
I quickly heard a voice. "That's strange. The sensors show that this cave's temperature is near freezing. It doesn't seem that cold to me, though. Well, I had better come out and get my coat, either way."
Someone came out of the door, and I tackled him. I didn't get a good look at him, but he was wearing a cowboy hat or something. "Just who are you?" I quickly asked.
"You don't have to knock me down to ask me that," he responded as he retrieved his hat, which I had knocked to the ground. "I'm Nack the Weasel. Some call me Fang the Sniper, but that's just an alias."
Nack? I thought. So that's why he looks so familiar!
"Do you feel cold?" Nack asked me for no apparent reason. I shook my head, and he looked over at the sensor.
Uh-oh! Nack noticed the Ice Feather I'd stuck in the sensor. It didn't take him long to put two and two together, and realize what I'd done. "However you pulled this little stunt," Nack remarked, "it wasn't funny."
"I thought it was funny," I shot back. Nack didn't take too kindly to this last part, and I quickly found myself staring down the barrel of his … popgun.
Nack led me through the door he'd come through, and into what looked like an office of his. I took the opportunity to look around. There was a ladder leading down into the darkness. "You think you're funny, don't you, birdie?" he finally said to me.
"Birdie?" I confirmed. "Don't EVER call me that!"
I shot a feather down the barrel of his gun, knocking it out of his hands. He retrieved it. "Wait a minute, this is no place to fight. Come on, let's go downstairs to the storeroom." He climbed down the ladder, and I followed.
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Sorry if it's short. I tried to extend it a little, but I think I failed.
Quote of the Chapter:
"I like your looks. Howzabout a date sometime? No? Aw, you're no fun"
-NPC, RPGames, Ch. 4