Chapter XX:
Fire Breath
Part II
A sliver of light beckoned the 9S and Amos forward. After hours of walking, they finally reached it. An opening in the caves.
"That looks like the way out!"
9S rushed toward a hole in the stone wall. Amos was no less eager to leave these winding caverns behind. He removed his goggles and bolted after the boy. The two passed through the opening.
Free at last.
A cold wind rushed past them. It was downright icy.
Together they stood on the precipice of an immense ravine. It was far larger than the cliffs separating the city ruins from that old shopping center. Jagged cliffs stretched on for as far as the eye could see.
The tunnel they exited from was nestled alongside one of the cliffs, well inside the ravine. From such a vantage point, 9S could see the top of the ravine where level ground awaited his boots, yet he was far too low to see what the surrounding area looked like. They would simply have to find a means of climbing up the treacherous rocks.
Faraway lightning brought his attention skyward. It was predictably dark but there was no rain to be seen. In its place, something else drifted down from the onyx heavens. White flakes flowed downward in casual waves. In disbelief, the android held a gloved hand out over the ledge and waited for a few of these specs to land in his palm. They melted upon making contact with his hand.
"Is it snowing? Is this actual snow!? I've only ever read about it!"
He looked down to the chilling blanket that enveloped his feet. A deep pile of snow had accumulated on the outcropping stone. It covered his boots. He took another look at the landscape. Snow piled over every flat surface his crimson eyes could see. Miles of treacherous cliffs, slick ice, and piles of snow.
The path forward consisted of what was easily the most dangerous terrain the boy had ever faced yet he could not help but smile at this winter wonderland. Amazement clouded his thoughts. Cold air brushed against his soaked clothes and body.
"This is b-b-bizarre," he stuttered in awe. His jaw rattled from the frightful cold. "I w-wish D-Devola and P-P-Popola could see this!"
Amos ignored the change in the climate. He scanned the area for a means of reaching the solid ground above. A metal beam stretched from the ledge over to an extremely narrow path that ran along the cliff wall and wrapped around a bend. What lied beyond was unknown.
One thing they could both see high above them was a long bridge constructed out of nothing more than rope and rotten planks of wood. It stretched across the top of the ravine from one side to the other. A useless structure that was both out of their reach and in no shape to support their weight. Amos opted to ignore it for the time being.
Eager to get a move on, he carefully planted a boot on the metallic debris. Whether it was left intentionally or not, he could only guess. He pressed a good portion of his weight on the makeshift path yet it did not bend, although, it did rattle a bit. The metal was coated in a thick layer of ice. Slipping and falling straight into oblivion was not exactly difficult.
9S watched as the Legionnaire crossed the sketchy path. Amos pointed to the ice for the sake of ensuring 9S was aware of it. The android nodded and followed. He immediately slipped but managed to catch his balance. He looked down. He could not see a bottom to the ravine. Only a black void.
He reached the other side and the two proceeded with even more caution. Occasional rocks would slip from under their feet and fall into the endless pit. A reminder to remain ever vigilant.
They carefully rounded the bend, forced to hug the stone wall as they went. The uncomfortably thin trail came to an abrupt end.
"D-dammit! Where are we supposed to g-go now?"
Amos looked up to the bridge on high. With his claws, he could easily scale the side of the cliff and reach the bridge. Such a solution posed no help for 9S.
Amos cocked his head at a rope tied to wooden posts on either side of the bridge. Those posts kept the entire bridge suspended. The ropes were tied above the bridge to give passers something to hold onto. It gave Amos a radical idea.
He leaped off the ledge and dug his claws into the stone. He climbed to the top of the cliff and hoisted himself up over the ledge.
"Where are you going!?"
The android watched as Amos advanced on the unstable bridge. With the swipe of a single claw, he sliced the rope from the post and slowly lowered it down to 9S. There was not enough slack to get it any closer to the boy. It dangled a few feet away from him. It was just barely out of reach.
9S was perplexed by this course of action. "W-what? What d-d-do you want me to do with t-this!?"
Amos tugged at the rope. The motion caused it to bounce in the air as though he were trying to entice a fish. 9S grumbled to himself. He needed no further explanation.
Mustering what little courage he could spare, the android reached forward, first with only his arms. This proved to be ineffective. It was still firmly out of his grasp. There was no choice but to rock his whole body forward and reach for it. He felt himself sway as a gale of wind passed by. It whistled in his ears. Taunting him.
His shaking fingers wrapped around the rope. He immediately pulled back and pressed himself against the cliff.
"Happy? Now, what!?"
Amos did not hesitate to reveal the answer. He released 9S's rope and shifted to the opposite side of the bridge. He promptly cut the other rope and held onto it. The soldier then kicked off the ledge and fell forward. He swung to the other side and clung to the ledge. He slammed into the opposing cliff and clawed his way up to the top.
"You c-c-can't be serious!"
For lack of a better idea, 9S opted to get this over with as quickly as possible. He hugged the rope with all his strength and pushed off the trail. He instinctively sealed his eyes shut. The wind rushed by as he swung to the other side. 9S collided with the cliff and bounced back. That motion almost caused him to lose his grip. He hit the wall again and finally slowed his momentum. 9S immediately climbed up.
A pale hand reached down from above. Not willing to pass up the help, 9S reached out and grabbed hold. Amos promptly pulled him up. Along the way, he gave the android a congratulatory pat on the back.
Like a rag doll, 9S flopped down atop a mound of snow. The break did not last. The bitter cold forced him back onto his feet.
"I am not equipped to deal with this climate," he complained. "Has this always b-been here? All this s-s-now and ice?"
Amos shrugged
For the first time, 9S got a chance to truly take in the surrounding area. Vast hills rolled across the horizon. Enormous pine trees were scattered sparsely across the white vista. Not a single patch of ground was left visible. A thick blanket of snow wrapped across the landscape.
They stood in the middle of a rolling valley surrounded by incredibly steep mountains. Black cliffs extended high into the atmosphere and well above the storm clouds that draped over the region.
Amos tapped his companion's shoulder and pointed off to the west. 9S gazed in the direction of interest. On the horizon, he spotted a sizable bear roaming through the snow. Black fur-coated its body save for a single white stripe across its chest. He only saw it for a fleeting moment before the impressive mammal disappeared behind a hill.
"A bear! You don't see that back at the ruins."
He took a few steps forward and wiped the ice off of his clothes. "S-so where do we go from h-here? Any ideas?"
Amos was already a step or two ahead of him. The Legionnaire turned and marched eastward. Not too far from their position was an old, run-down cabin. The roof had collapsed and various stray planks of wood lay scattered in the snow. Amos may not have had a clue about where they were meant to go, but he knew exactly what he wanted to do next.
He picked up one of the sturdier boards and placed it at the edge of a hill. A downward slope laid before him. Amos planted both feet firmly on the board and tilted it forward.
"What are you doing," asked 9S.
Rather than bother with trying to charade an explanation, Amos decided to simply demonstrate. He kicked off the snow, sending both the board and himself sliding down the slope with rapidly increasing speed.
"Wait!"
9S started to run but wading through all that ice and snow slowed him down drastically. He glanced back. Another wooden plank of around that same size laid half-buried in a mound of frost.
It practically called to him.
"Hmm," he pondered, teeth chattering under the sting of winter winds. His curiosity got the better of him.
"T-that looks like f-f-fun."
Snowboarding proved to be a formidable challenge for the inexperienced android. He tripped and fell face-first in the snow many times.
Amos tripped a time or two but he was far more adept, dashing across the frosty drifts. He showed experience with this sort of activity. 9S started wondering where Amos hailed from. Given the way Amos practically flew across the slopes all while maintaining decent control over the board gave 9S the mental image of a winter landscape not too dissimilar to the one they currently traversed.
The activity nearly resulted in 9S forgetting the real reason why they were out in such a faraway place, to begin with. All his focus was cast on exploration while practicing this strange, ancient sport Amos revealed to him. It evoked but a small grin.
The constant movement and effort helped the boy warm up considerably. The freezing air became nothing more than a minor annoyance.
He came to a stop at the top of a tall mound.
Amos disappeared behind a snowy dune up ahead. 9S kicked off the snow to regain his momentum. He tripped halfway up the next slope and resorted to walking the rest of the way. He reached the top of the hill to find Amos kneeling in the snow at the foot of the hill.
"What do you see?"
The soldier beckoned for 9S to approach. He quietly waded through the snow and peered over Amos' shoulder.
Buried in the frozen blanket was an enormous footprint. A fresh track that had yet to be concealed by the falling snowflakes. It was not the track of any normal animal. The indent was almost the same size as 9S's torso. The shape of the footprint was like nothing he had ever seen before. An especially large toe was spaced out from the others and curved inward.
Other footprints led westward and straight into the mountains. The tracks were simian in appearance. 9S recalled reading brief blurbs regarding the great apes who lived in faraway jungles. None of them were bipedal yet this trail indicated only one pair of feet walking across a vast stretch of cold wasteland.
"What kind of tracks are these?"
Amos shrugged unknowingly.
While 9S was content to admire them and get back to their search, Amos was far more interested in whatever left this trail. He pick himself up and carefully followed the line of tracks. He left his makeshift snowboard behind. The soldier also made sure to pull out his rifle. A not so reassuring sight. 9S reluctantly followed and remained on guard.
"Should we really bother tracking whatever this thing is," 9S questioned. "We should focus on finding the…"
9S paused. He briefly trailed off as he gave proper consideration to those two elusive plants he sought. "Shiverthorn and Fireblossom."
"…Shiverthorn," he repeated slowly.
He had been doing a considerable amount of shivering lately. Only then did he bother giving the herb's actual name any proper thought. Suddenly, it all made sense.
"It must be around here somewhere," he muttered. "But how do we find it?"
He was cut off. Amos aggressively shushed him. 9S immediately quieted down and looked up.
Amos slowed his advance up the next slope. The soldier suddenly threw himself into the snow where he remained perfectly still. An alarming reaction. Naturally curious, 9S lowered his stance and crawled up the hill. He peered over the peak to see what startled Amos.
The footprints they had been following came to an end in the field ahead. Stood tall over the rolling mounds of snow was a giant. A humanoid creature that was as ghostly pale as Amos. At first, 9S assumed it was another Legion, but this theory was crushed after a few more seconds of distant observation. It was far too big to be an android or even Legion for that matter.
The thing was roughly twice Amos' size. A hulking mass of muscle covered in solid white fur from head to toe. Its arms were long like that of a gorilla. The muscle structure was also very much akin to those massive mountain-dwelling apes.
Unlike the usual gorilla, however, this towering hominid stood upright on two legs. It stared at the mountains beyond for a few quiet minutes.
Such a sight was both bone-chilling and awe-inspiring for the android to behold. A behemoth of a primate unlike anything mentioned in the plethora of archives 9S' former self sought out. Distant, emotionless memories resurfaced of him exploring and reading through old information. Most of that data was highly classified, but never did he read of an animal that matched this description.
While astonished, 9S possessed nowhere near the same reaction to the animal that Amos did. The soldier took this opportunity to reach into his backpack. 9S assumed he was reaching for a weapon. He instead pulled out that archaic camera of his. Amos' hands shook with anticipation.
In spite of his frantic fidgeting, he snapped a photo. The excitable movement of his claws resulted in a blurry image in which the clarity of the monster's form was lost entirely. The click from the photo was just loud enough to be picked up by the ape-man's ears. In a flash, it darted behind a row of trees. It was insanely fast for its stature.
Amos snarled to himself. Determination took root. There was no other choice. That woman's voice, 9S's herbal quest, all of it would have to wait. He needed a picture of that legendary creature. How else would he convince the rest of his squad the next time they met if he had no proof of this encounter? He would merely be laughed at.
He gave no instruction to 9S. Amos abruptly stood upright and sneaked down the drift.
"Wait up," 9S whispered.
His words died under the howls of a chilling gale.
Trailing the hominid was a nerve-wracking task. It wandered through a narrow pass that winded up the side of an incredibly steep mountain. A fair chunk of this covert chase involved scaling cliffs and ice-coated rocks.
Amos had minimal trouble climbing the treacherous mountain. 9S, on the other hand, was not so skilled in this area. As he leaped over a gap in their path, he caught a glimpse over the edge of an ever-narrowing cliff.
Freezing rapids rushed in between the mountains. Chunks of ice sped through the water. The current led southward. It tore through a thin valley with intimidating ferocity. Falling into that frantic river was a sure means of achieving a chilling death. It reminded 9S to tighten his grip on the slippery rocks he so desperately clung to for balance.
Certain sections of the trail were so thin, the boy was forced to move sideways, inching his feet along the ground with intense caution. The thought that such an immense ape could move so quickly through this terrain left 9S scratching his head.
They reached a wider ledge after rounding a few more worryingly narrow corners. There was enough room for them to relax without fear of falling straight into a freezing, watery grave. A much-needed change of pace.
On their left was a small cave. The entrance was large enough for either of them to fit inside but Amos initially paid it no mind. The tracks ceased in that area. Amos was left baffled. He immediately started pacing around in search of a continuation of the trail.
"I think he's gone," 9S announced aloud, eager to put this chase to rest. He did not bother whispering. He had no fear of being overheard by that enigma. "Probably good that we didn't catch… whatever that thing was."
Amos promptly shushed him and resumed the search.
9S shrugged the interaction off and allowed his eyes to wander about the surroundings. He searched not for mysterious tracks or an equally bizarre animal, but instead for that illusive Shiverthorn. With no idea what to look for, he searched for just about anything that stuck out. Apart from trees, he had yet to see much of any flora in this frozen wasteland.
A twinkle caught his eye. Glimmering from the top of a ledge and overlooking their position was a lone plant. The stem branched off in multiple directions. There were no leaves on this plant. It was instead covered in thorns. By far, the most striking feature of that specimen was the color. It glimmered a semi-transparent cobalt.
Such a color left 9S briefly wondering if he was staring at an odd ice formation. The texture of the plant was crystalline, strongly resembling that of an icicle. A plant covered in thorns which grew in a place that caused his very soul to shiver.
This had to be it!
The cliff before him was ludicrously steep and his minimal climbing experience was not a reassurance. Regardless, he had to obtain that plant. He could care less about hearing Popola sing at this point. It was now a matter of ensuring this little adventure the twins sent him on would not be in vain.
He took a deep breath and approached the wall. Synthetic hands trembled underneath gloves that proved ineffective against these severe elements.
The android kicked off the ground and grabbed hold of the nearest crevice in the stone. He used whatever was available. Outcropping rocks, creases, anything at all that looked sturdy enough to hold his titanium body.
At about the halfway point, he looked back on impulse. Amos was far below him. The soldier failed to so much as notice what 9S was up to. He kept his focus entirely around finding that overgrown monkey.
The revelation of just how high he had climbed came when he saw how much further away the river at the foot of the mountain was. The heights were dizzying. Mild vertigo evoked a spell of unease.
He gulped.
"Don't fall. Whatever you do, just don't fall!"
Having no desire to waste more time, the android resumed his ascension. Icy winds rushed past him, stinging his ears. The sensation did not help matters.
By some miracle, he managed to reach the top. He planned to simply grab the plant and climb straight back down. He reached for the supposed Shiverthorn. Things were never so simple.
It was barely within reach when a lumbering body emerged from the cliff above. 9S jumped, at first, nearly losing his already loose grip on the ice in the process. The creature had a white belly and a black back. The iconic shape and colors were a dead giveaway despite 9S never having seen such an animal in person.
"Penguins!? Here!? You've gotta be kidding me."
The flightless bird waddled along the ledge to get a closer look at the curious little automaton. 9S opted to ignore the bewildering bird. He hoisted himself further up the cliff and yanked the icy plant free from the stone. He felt a shiver run down his arm the instant he made contact with the icy weed.
"G-got it," he cheered.
His time to celebrate was cut miserably short. A second penguin emerged from behind the first. 9S did not notice it until the bird bent down and pecked at the flower out of his hair, liberating it free from his silver locks. He felt the motion and looked up only to find the very flower Devola gave him dangling from the penguin's beak.
"Give that back!"
In defiance, the bird waddled away from the ledge with his precious accessory in tow. 9S threw himself atop the cliff. Once atop the ledge, he found himself surrounded by these meddlesome birds. A small group of them huddled near a peculiar structure. It was only tall enough to reach as high as his knees.
He would worry about that only after reclaiming what was rightfully his. He stuffed the Shiverthorn in his pocket, lest one of the penguins get the bright idea to steal that as well.
He crept up on the culprit and yanked his decoration free. Miraculously, he managed to do it without tearing one of the pedals. 9S fastened it back to his head where it so rightfully belonged. The thieving penguin let out a frustrated squawk but harassed him no further. It waddled off, wings outstretched to keep its balance.
With that annoyance dealt with, 9S turned his attention back to that odd structure. On closer inspection, he realized that it was a headstone. A primitive grave marked with a stack of smooth rocks, held together by frost and ice. Illegible words were carved into the many stones.
Half buried in snow, 9S could only wonder how long this grave had been here. Perhaps it was not a grave at all but possibly a shrine.
He turned around. Jagged mountains stretched on and on. From this towering vantage point, he could get an uninhibited view of the surrounding landscape. In the distance, he spotted spires of ice. Sharpened towers that scraped the clouded skies.
Frozen spears of impossibly large size. He could not think of a single reason why such weird formations would occur yet there they were.
The spot was serene. So detached from the slow decay of a long-dead world.
9S sat down in the snow. The numerous penguins kept a small distance between themselves and him. They watched him with growing interest but none approached. 9S ignored them and stared off at the icy citadels decorating the mountains beyond.
He spent but a short while up there. With Amos still searching for that ape, 9S figured he had a few minutes to spare for a brief period of respite.
The YoRHa boy got up after a period of meditation over nothing in particular. The wild citadels of ice grew a bit old to look at. The cold was starting to get to him once more. It was high time to get a move on.
The penguins watched from their huddled groups as he nervously began his descent. He slid his first foot down carefully along a thick wall of ice that shielded the stone beneath in a slick, unnerving layer. He felt the sole of his boot press against a small but solid surface. He then focused on moving his other leg down.
"Steady…"
Three of the penguins gathered closer to the edge, observing his peculiar motions. 9S rolled his eyes at them.
"Yeah, just sit there and watch," he told them aloud. Bitter sarcasm permeated his voice. His eyes narrowed cynically. "Don't try to help me or anything. Can't have that."
An entrancing ribbon of lightning arced uncomfortably close to the mountain. He could see the sparkling reflection on the ice. The flash, even when facing the opposite direction, was blinding. The resulting thunder caused most of the penguins to retreat away from the ledge.
9S flinched but did not allow himself to budge. Doing so was bound to lead to a long fall. He placed his foot on an outcropping chunk of ice. He rested more weight onto it and gradually descended from the ledge. Suddenly, it gave way. With a loud crack, the ice broke off of the mountainside. 9S panicked. He lost his grip on the ice and fell straight down.
His fortunate alignment resulted in him merely landing at Amos' feet rather than in the river at the bottom of the mountain. He fell face-first into a thick blanket of snow. With a loud groan, he sat upright.
Frustrated by all the commotion, Amos placed an index finger over his brittle lips.
"Shhhhh!"
"Give it up! That monkey of yours is gone," 9S exclaimed with no regard to Amos' demands for silence. "Did you not see me way up there!? I think I found the Shiverthorn we need. …Or I need. Also, do you know anything about penguins?"
Amos folded his arms almost as though he were pouting. He carelessly shrugged at the android's question.
There was no convincing him so 9S reluctantly offered a suggestion. "Have you tried checking the cave? He probably went in there."
Amos took another look. There was no way a monster double his own size could fit in such a narrow space. Although, he had searched high and low and found no other possible route for the simian cryptid to take.
Yet another distraction filled Amos' thoughts. An aging, feminine voice that reverberated inside his salt-caked skull and the remnants of decayed and replaced gray matter.
It was that voice again.
"Cruel years march on by the thousands. I long to see you again. I cannot reach you from here. This lake of magma and fire ensnares me. Walls of glass and magic bar us. A mountain is my prison. Near a frozen river, I wait. Find me, Caim, and warm me as you did before."
She seemed as though she were speaking directly to him rather than murmuring to some unknown person. Her use of that strange name left him reasonably sure that she was not but it still surprised him.
Momentarily, Amos shrugged the woman's telepathic plea as just more obsessive gibberish over this Caim fellow. He went right back to looking around for any clues about where the alleged Yeti could have gone. Then he started thinking over the specific words she used.
A lake of magma. Magma as opposed to lava. Then it struck him. She had just given him a clue. He was starting to gain a proper mental picture. His mind raced with possibilities. He glanced down at the water running through the mountain range. That was probably the frozen river she spoke of.
Could she be somehow trapped in the earth's mantle or possibly even deeper? Amos swiftly banished the idea. He could not fathom a scenario in which exposure to such pressure and heat would be survivable. As hardy as the Legions were, not even they were likely to survive down there, and Amos also had no means of reaching such depths. If she was down there then she may as well be considered a lost cause.
A more sensible idea came to him. An active volcano. Finding such a thing on what used to be the mainland of Japan would not be a difficult task. The island housed plenty of them. If she was describing magma, then that would indicate an active volcano. How many of the volcanoes peppered along the island remained active was unknown to him. He could only pull out a map and guess.
He was on the verge of doing exactly that when something stirred from the cave ahead. The one place Amos did not bother checking. A lumbering figure leaped from the narrow crevice in the stone.
The massive body of a familiar primate. Its white fur and size were instant giveaways. 9S backed away, inching closer to the edge of the cliff. There was nothing beneath them to break his fall this time. Knowing this, he gulped fearfully.
Amos backed away right along with him. The Legionnaire did not so much as pull his weapon. Instead, he observed the giant bipedal ape closely. While watching for any abrupt movements, Amos slowly reached for his camera.
"Hey," 9S frantically muttered. "Maybe we should think about killing this thing before it does the same to us! It's looking kinda hungry right now!"
Amos hissed at his panicked partner. He was not at all in favor of killing this creature. A stance 9S could not understand even if he wanted to, but he was in no position to argue. He took out his sword and examined the dull edge. Even if it was sharp, he had serious doubts about being able to take on the gargantuan slab of fur-covered muscle.
The animal's face was as blue as the ice. Brutish, gorilla-like features comprised its harsh visage. The head shape was almost identical to that of a gorilla. It snarled at them, revealing enormous teeth akin to that of a baboon.
9S briefly glanced back to Amos. The soldier was not looking directly at the hominid. For some reason, he was intentionally avoiding eye contact. Amos turned his head to the left all while keeping his eyes locked on the camera. So determined to get one focused shot on the pale behemoth.
9S wondered if he should be doing the same. Conduct around apes was a mystery to him. Dealing with these primates was something that never crossed his mind. Despite his apprehension, he looked directly at the ape; feeling the need for at least one of them to keep a proper eye on it. That turned out to be a mistake.
The bipedal ape stared him down in response. It sent a shiver down 9S's spine. The way the beast gazed back at him was horrifying. The ape let out an unexpectedly shrill scream. 9S promptly averted his eyes. He could hear it shuffling through the snow, inching closer towards him.
Amos stood his ground. Not quite sure what to do with himself, 9S mimicked that behavior and finally averted his eyes. Neither of them made any indication of retreating or advancing. It was not until the ape got a little too close to Amos did the Legionnaire suddenly snap. In a flash, Amos locked eyes with the ape and let out an imposing screech. His howl was absurdly loud. 9S flinched at the unexpected exchange of nonverbal communication.
Surprisingly, the beast immediately stepped back. It lumbered closer to the cave entrance where it proceeded to stare off into the distance, intentionally avoiding Amos' gaze. The soldier returned the gesture and shifted his attention back to the camera. Amos was going to get his picture one way or another. All he needed was one clear image.
9S anticipated a fight to break out. He was shocked to discover his prediction had proved incorrect. Amos displayed the same abrupt bout of aggression that led to him nearly ripping S404 limb from limb. This time he showed restraint. He exercised patience. It was clear that he was not going to kill the rare hominid.
The two appeared to reach a mutual understanding, or perhaps it was a stand-off. Left completely out of this primal loop, 9S had a hard time figuring out which was the case.
Amos could feel an odd kinship with this cryptid beast. Possibly the last of his kind living out his days in these mountains. Amos could not help but admire the monster. It reminded him of old stories and legends of an elusive ape living in the Himalayan mountains. These combined facts left the ancient soldier awestruck by this unlikely encounter.
White fur shuffled against an arctic wind. The bipedal ape stood perfectly still, chest puffed out. Its stern gaze was locked on the clouds above. Amos took this opportunity. He already knew he would never get another chance. For all he knew, this truly could be the very last of its kind.
No one would believe him were he to leave without proof of this encounter. Isaiah was the squad's resident fan of supernatural subjects. Aliens and cryptids were among his favored topics. As Amos carefully focused the shot, he thought back with fond nostalgia on all five of his team members and what their inevitable reactions would be.
His index claw pressed down on a large button sat atop the camera.
Amos made a single mistake that caused the entire situation to deteriorate. He forgot to deactivate the flash function of his camera. The sudden flicker of light predictably frightened the hominid. It howled and started stomping toward them. Amos sprung into a full retreat. He extended his left arm in front of 9S, pushing him further back.
He only wanted to clear more distance and buy precious time to figure out a way to deal with this situation that did not involve killing such a rare specimen.
The duo backed off a little too far. 9S took one more step backward but his foot never touched ground. For but a split second, his stomach sank into his bowels. He knew exactly what happened. In an instant, he fell over the cliff and plummeted down. The boy slammed against rock after outcropping rock.
He fell straight into the river but did not hit the water. Instead, the android landed head-first on a massive hunk of ice. He felt the back of his head crash against the frigid, smooth ice. Everything went black.
Amos was only slightly behind. He landed on a cluster of outcropping rocks along the riverbank. He spotted 9S lying on a slab of ice floating in the water. In one well-aimed leap, he landed on the ice and moved to inspect the unconscious boy.
A small amount of blood dripped from the back of his head, turning spots of his silver hair red. No signs of severe damage, at least not at a glance. He was no medic. Neither in life nor in death, but that fact alone did not stop him. He turned away from the motionless android and began digging through his backpack.
There was bound to be something he could use as a bandage. As he rummaged through his belongings, he stumbled upon several regional maps. He set them aside until he could spare time to begin his own search.
He eventually came across a few meager medical supplies. He immediately went to work at wrapping a bandage around the android's injured head.
With that out of the way, and with a clear picture of that simian beast in his possession, he could focus on a much more important matter. The distance between himself and that woman was closing. He could almost feel it. However, he still needed to uncover her location.
After tying off the bandage, Amos returned his attention to the maps. He flipped through the different depictions of the surrounding regions. The first task would be to identify where they are. A tricky task as his maps were ancient and no longer accurate when depicting the world's current geography.
Upon a frozen river, they drifted but that only fulfilled one of two criteria. Her disembodied voice mentioned magma. He needed to find a volcano. Ideally, one that was close to the river.
It did not take him long to find exactly what he was searching for. Their next stop was determined. All that remained was to get there.
Running water-filled 9S's ears. Icy air chilled his synthetic flesh. Groggy and disorientated, 9S peeled his eyelids open. He poked and prodded at the bandage wrapped around his head but he did not try to remove it.
He shivered violently under these wintry conditions.
The surrounding area was oddly bright. An ironically warm light draped over the interior of this ethereal place. It took a minute for his blurred vision to refocus. The glitches and other abnormalities cleared away, allowing him to get a better view of things.
He was no longer outside, exposed to high altitudes and mountainous terrain. Instead, he found himself in the belly of a bizarre structure. It was a jarring shift in pace.
The vaulted ceiling above him was made entirely out of ice and coated in a thick layer of white frost. Certain areas were completely translucent. These segments were gorgeous to behold. The surrounding light reacted with the cobalt ice. It seeped into the transparent spaces and bounced off of trapped air bubbles and cracks.
Walls of solid white ice and expertly carved pillars supported this mesmerizing ceiling. The architecture was a splendor of archways, engravings, and rounded edges. Chains dangled from the ceiling. They too were made entirely of frozen water.
Other sections of the chamber were comprised of more rough, unrefined ice hidden behind all of those complex pillars and arches. A strange choice of design, but one that did not at all detract from the awe that the overall interior inspired.
Above all, 9S was perplexed by where all this light was coming from. Somewhere in this massive, geometrically complex chamber had to be a light source. He searched for anything of the sort. He soon found it.
Glowing white crystals jutted out from the walls. They had an enigmatic texture to them. Ripples resembling water moved along their cleanly cut, translucent surfaces.
Enormous bowls were mounted to the surrounding pillars. Small fires burned at the center of each bowl. Mystical flames colored a deep azure. 9S had no way of explaining the surreal sight. Blue coloring in fire was normal, but to see an entirely cobalt flame was another story entirely.
The chilling sensation of lying on a tiled floor made entirely of ice became unbearable so he sat up.
"Amos? You there?"
A small chip of ice suddenly flew at him and struck the back of his head. It likely irritated his wound but he felt nothing from it. 9S twisted around. He spotted the Legionnaire. Amos stood with his arms folded, leaning against one of the many crystal pillars.
"Oh. Where are we? What happened?"
Amos let out a low hiss. He kicked off of the pillar and sat next to 9S. He then pulled out a map. The claw of his index finger traced a path along a vast stretch of land. A river marked the path previously traveled. 9S's jaw nearly hit the frozen floor. They were an incredibly long way from home. The trek back was bound to be painstaking.
Amos tapped his claw on an area just east of their current position. The landscape was marked by the illustration of what he could only presume was a mountain. The boy cocked his head at the gesture.
"You want to go there, I assume?"
He nodded. It perplexed 9S but he did not question it. Perhaps in the time he had been unconscious Amos had somehow found a lead on the last ingredient he required. Fireblossom. The thought that Amos may be looking for something completely different on this excursion also did not go over his head but he did not so much as try to fathom what it could be.
Gradually, 9S's memories started to return. He recalled falling off the side of that towering cliff only to slam into a solid surface. He could remember no more than that.
"I take it I was out for a long time."
Amos nodded.
"This place is bizarre. Do you know anything about it? Looks like something humans might've built back in the old days."
The soldier shrugged off the question.
"Ah, well. Let's just keep moving. You lead the way. You've got better bearings than I do right now."
Through winding halls, they wandered aimlessly. At no point did the architecture ever feel repetitive. The colors of this bizarre castle were of course limited. Whites and blues were all that could be afforded in a structure made entirely out of ice. What the facility lacked in diversity it made up for in vibrancy and geometry.
Some areas were built as though they had been inverted. Ceilings occasionally acted as floors and vise versa. Numerous staircases and ladders led to nowhere and were seemingly built for the sole purpose to look pretty.
They passed by a group of frozen machines. Automatons that appeared to have been deactivated an extraordinarily long time ago. They looked nothing like the machines 9S was accustomed to seeing.
Their bodies were shaped like that of a box. They had a set of treads instead of legs. Their arms had dual prongs in place of hands. Weapons that 9S could only guess were used to generate electricity. Lights lined the tops of their bodies where a head should have been. Glass domes protected the bulbs. Each one was tinted a dull yellow.
"Look at that," 9S muttered. His stride came to an immediate end. "These are the weirdest machines I've ever seen. Do they… Do they come from the Old World?"
Amos nodded.
The expression on Amos' face indicated that he was not exactly surprised to encounter these decrepit robots hidden away in such a place.
"Were they made by humans?"
He once more bobbed his head in confirmation.
9S scratched at his hair. He took on a confident smirk and kicked one of the frozen hunks of metal. "I'm guessing they were made to fend off your kind. Didn't do a good job from the looks of it. Glad the superior beings won out in the end."
He walked away, smugly snickering to himself. Amos stood back and observed 9S' behavior. It struck him as odd. Amos wondered if the possessed android would still be so supportive of "his kind" were he to witness the world-rending destruction that a full-scale Legion invasion was capable of.
The thought of which evoked a cruel, nostalgic grin.
Grand icebound halls gave way to a sprawling chamber much like the one 9S woke up in. The pair of explorers stopped just before entering the room. They both took a moment to soak in the scenery.
Pillars lined the walls. At the center of the room was a pool embedded in the floor. The water was somehow not frozen. It was colored an unnatural shade of blue.
Surrounding the pool stood four identical statues. Crafted from azure ice, they had detailed feminine forms. Elaborate gowns were carved with a ludicrous degree of attention to detail. Every lock of free-flowing hair was expertly sculpted. In one hand they each held a cobalt halberd. In the other, a torch engulfed in blue flames.
Magical fire that, by some manner of sorcery, did not melt the surrounding ice.
The statues were incredibly tall, even towering over Amos.
"This place never ceases to amaze."
9S took the first step forward. He was too busy admiring the architecture to notice a small sliver of red light embedded in the frame of the entrance. Unwittingly, he walked straight into an ancient security measure.
Amos followed behind. He entered the room just before a pair of frozen doors slid closed behind them. They slammed shut. 9S jumped at the sound.
There was another exit on the far side of the room. Miraculously, it did not automatically seal off. A malfunction left it wide open.
"W-what? What's going on!?"
All fell still momentarily. Amos took hold of his rifle. Anticipating a fight, 9S summoned Skald's Song to his hand. He waited by Amos' side. The sentient Legion eventually took the lead once again and cautiously maneuvered to the pool at the center of the chamber.
The silence was starting to perturb 9S. "Okay. This is creepy."
Very briefly, they both thought this would be the end of their troubles. The frozen automatons outside indicated just how decayed the abandoned facility was. One that was bound to be unable to maintain automated defense systems.
The sound of cracking ice filled their ears. The torches held by the four statues went out. A cloud of frost was kicked off of them. Ice broke free from itself. All of the statues came to life.
Angelic runes manifested in the air around them. Neon blue symbols raced along their suddenly animate figures. They yanked their feet from the tiled floor and stepped forward. The unified stomp caused the entire room to shake.
They aimed their spears at the intruders. With speed and athleticism that betrayed their bodies and size, they advanced.
"Look out!"
9S's screams were cut short. He used his sword to shield himself from the oncoming blade of a freezing halberd. The attack sent him flying into a pillar. Amos moved in between his downed android companion and the advancing statues.
One of the golems of ice swung its weapon his way. Amos kicked off the ground. Upon landing a safe distance away, he fired off several explosive rounds at them. One managed to strike a statue on the head. The explosion caused half of its face to shatter like glass. To Amos' annoyance, the critically injured giant did not go down.
Cold air crystallized into beautiful shards near its destroyed cranium. The light from the magical scrips scrolling through the surrounding air pierced the fragmented ice. The cacophony of light and floating ice shards melded together, instantly repairing all of the gruesome damage Amos inflicted less than a second ago.
All four of them dashed forward in unison. They twirled their spears at Amos. A series of dodges, as well as a streak of blind luck, kept Amos from being struck.
"Amos!"
The Legionnaire followed the sound of his name being called. In the short time Amos spent dueling with these icebound sentries, 9S recovered from his fall and rushed to the only exit still available to them.
He was almost tempted to stay and fight. He had never encountered automatons quite like these. Seeing exactly what they were capable of was tempting. That temptation did not last very long. A beam of crimson energy erupted from the tip of one of their spears. It failed to hit him, but it was enough cause for alarm to retreat. He was not in the mood to risk dealing with magic today.
One of the statues moved away from Amos. This gave him a clear opening, but in turn, the wandering golem advanced on 9S. The quartet unified their motions. They simultaneously lifted their spears in the air and twirled them. Neon streams of energy were generated from the edges of the blades. They were sent in all directions.
When these failed to hit their targets, the statues transmuted into liquid. In the span of an instant, the four automatons melted into torrential bodies of water. They raced around the room at violent speeds.
The crushing force of colliding water proved to be a formidable threat. 9S was grazed by this assault. He felt the temperature drop at an alarming rate. It was so bitterly cold. His arm reeled and his entire body shivered. Briefly, he was reminded of the concept of pain.
The liquefied statues suddenly rematerialized. At last, an opening was exposed. The duo seized the opportunity. Amos unloaded another barrage of explosive rounds in all directions. This briefly pushed their encroaching enemies back. They then scrambled for the exit. Both of them expected to reach another decorative hallway where they could keep running, hoping to find an exit.
This did not pan out. There was no hallway beyond the main chamber. There was also no floor. Unbeknown to them, they both stepped onto thin air the minute they passed through the malfunctioning security doors.
A bottomless pit for as far as the eye could see. Gargantuan pillars filled the void-like antechamber. The space was as well-lit as all other parts of the icy facility. White fog drifted in both above and below the entrance. It was thick enough to completely veil the ceiling and floor of the chamber.
Chains crafted out of frozen water dangled from on high. They were numerous and served no identifiable purpose yet to 9S they were a godsend. As he fell, he reached out and latched onto the nearest chain. Amos did the same. He used it only to swing to one of the pillars where he jumped onto it, digging his claws into the ice.
Like a spider, he scaled the vertical surfaces. Leaping from pillar to pillar in order to secure more distance from their pursuers. He only slowed to look back at 9S as if silently expecting the boy to follow. As if 9S could cling to walls via a set of razor-sharp talons and defy gravity through brute strength.
He turned back. Surely enough, they were still being chased. The statues of ice morphed back into torrents of water. Arcane scripts danced in the air around them. Familiar magical runes of which he could not read or understand but could easily recognize. The waves crashed against the pillars and briefly solidified into brilliant crystals of reflective ice only to liquefy moments later and repeat the process. They bounced between the white columns.
There was no time to think. No time to fear the heights. He used the chains to swing himself across the pit like a monkey traversing to vines in the jungle.
As the hostile entities drew closer, their spears manifested from the waves. 9S dashed from chain to chain all while dodging the sweeps of crystallized blades. From up ahead, Amos fired off explosive rounds to slow down their advance. The tactic somewhat worked. It gave 9S a small amount of breathing room.
It also gave 9S a chance to take in more of his surroundings. He saw the other end of the chamber at long last but no obvious exit. His eyes wandered further down the enormous, frozen walls. What looked like a cave could be seen some distance below him. A narrow, circular opening that was far more inviting than sticking around in this inopportune environment. The tunnel seemed potentially too small for those ancient weapons to follow them. At the very least it was bound to slow them down.
Amos had taken notice of the same thing. The two began the tricky descent. It was a much less nerve-wracking process for Amos. He landed along the transparent wall and clawed his way to a stop. He waited by the entrance until 9S was able to maneuver to a position on the chains in which he could fling himself through.
As the seemingly unstoppable cluster of magical statues closed in, the two just barely managed to enter the shelter before being descended upon.
The tunnel turned out to be a vent of some sort. A circular shoot that the duo found themselves using more like a tubular slide than a mere passage. The smooth, downward slope of ice caused them to build up alarming momentum.
The thin cave veered off into wild directions. 9S was forced to continue sliding, perpetually accelerating. The walls around him were completely transparent. This allowed him to see an entire network of similar ventilation shafts all carved from the same ice.
Pockets of empty space remained frozen in time like bubbles in the ice. Strange machinery was encased in the lower layers.
Where these shoots and slides would inevitably lead them was unknown but there was no better choice than to follow them.
9S slid straight out of the winding tunnels. He was flung high into the air. Amid this unwanted flight, he caught first sight of the conflicting vista he had just entered.
Behind him was a predictable cliff of ice hidden beneath layer upon layer of snow. In front of him, however, was a vast hellscape of obsidian stone and rivers of lava. The heat of which caused much of the ice to gradually melt off into a river that separated the two dueling environments.
Stacks of soot rose high from erupting vents in the ground. A towering volcano sat at the center of the inferno. Blackened snowflakes descended from the inky heavens.
Waves of lava poured from the top of the volcano. A steady stream of molten rock flowed freely across the black steeps.
9S could only admire the dramatic landscape for so long before he had to start worrying about where he was going to land. The moment at which he slid out of the ice sent him worryingly close to a stream of lava.
He flailed his arms about in a futile attempt to swim through the air. To position himself in such a way that he would not instantly sink into a pool of molten earth was his only priority. By a stroke of luck, or perhaps divine intervention, he landed face-first on an obsidian island. Two vast rivers of bubbling lava drifted down the slope on either side of him.
Amos landed next to him mere moments later. The soldier had a slightly smoother time of it. He at least managed to land on his feet. As such, he was the first to stand up. He reached down and pulled 9S off the ground by the back of his tunic. The boy hoisted himself upright with the help of his undead companion.
"Ugh… Thanks. So, what fresh hell is this?"
He turned back to face the glacier they had just escaped from. To see a place where lava and ice met was a bewildering sight that he had trouble looking away from.
Chunks of semi-liquefied rock bounced out of the lava and arced in the air. Heatwaves rippled on all sides. The slick obsidian sapped what little confidence they had left. Such terrain made gaining a proper footing almost impossible.
9S choked on the volcanic gases. Clouds of ash swept by him in a noxious wave. All he could do was cover his face and wait it out. It was no ordinary smoke. The fumes felt downright toxic. He could taste it. The melting of so many congealing minerals. His eyes burned. The experience was swiftly becoming unbearable.
He could only sit there and wait for the wretched gases to subside. Temporarily, the air around him cleared ever so slightly. With tears swelling in his burning eyes, he looked up. He searched for anything resembling a blossoming plant.
To his utter shock, right off the bat, he spotted exactly what he was looking for. Across a nearby lava flow, perched upon a mound of ashen rock stood a peculiar flower. A black stem adorned with fiery red petals and a yellow center. The polar opposite of the frosty flower he collected back in the mountains.
"There it is," 9S exclaimed. "That's gotta be it!"
9S advanced toward the lava. He staggered back the minute a large fragment of boiling rock shot out of the glowing river. The closer he got, the more the heat became a problem. Previously, he had only to worry about freezing to death. In the blink of an eye, all of that changed.
He leaped up and dashed over the infernal stream. The android clung to the rocks on the other side and climbed them until he reached the desired flower. It took a surprising amount of strength, but 9S yanked it from the heated earth. At long last, they could return home.
He turned back and hoisted it up high into the soot-infested air for Amos to see. "Finally! Now, let's get out of here!"
Amos stood on the other side, studying him with a worrying level of disinterest. He tapped his foot on the ashen ground. With folded arms, Amos averted his gaze to the surrounding hellscape. He had something else to find. Their journey was not quite over yet.
Sensing something was wrong, 9S dashed back to Amos' position.
"What's up? You not ready to leave yet?"
As usual, Amos allowed his actions to answer the question. He marched toward the volcano.
"Wait up!"
They proceeded to scale the mountain, dodging fire and geysers along the way. Upon conquering an annoyingly steep cliff, 9S took a brief break, allowing Amos to wander off ahead. He took the time to survey the environment. The high vantage point gave him a lay of the lava-coated vista.
Several small huts crafted from sheet metal dotted a stretch of flat ground to the west. He squinted his eyes. He could see machine lifeforms moving in that area. They seemed undisturbed by all the fire and brimstone.
9S noticed the same thing. He tilted his head in confusion. "Why would anyone want to live next to an active volcano? Hey! Amos! Are you seeing this!?"
Amos glinted at 9S. His eyes briefly darted to the horizon but he immediately turned away and resumed the trek. He was not at all interested.
9S shrugged his shoulders and continued on as well. It would not be long before they stopped again. Amos paused his march after they came across a cave leading straight into the belly of the mountain. A wide stream of lava flowed from the mouth of the cavern yet narrow paths of elevated stone were positioned on either side. Just barely enough space to use as a walkway.
Seas of magma could be seen deep inside the subterranean passage. The cave was anything but dark. Brilliant yellows and reds coated the interior. Stalactites resembled teeth. The cave was like a maw inviting them both into an abyssal inferno.
"Don't tell me you wanna go in there. We've got what we need. What more could you possibly want from this hellhole? What are you looking for?"
In truth, Amos did not have the answer. There could be absolutely nothing inside, but a hunch kept him from simply turning back. The fields of ice and the cold river that led them to this place of fire matched the mystery woman's description too well. At the very least, it was worth a shot.
Amos carried on, not bothering to address 9S' questions. The boy was given no choice but to follow.
Save for the boiling magma, all was quiet in the spiraling caves. 9S was mesmerized by the steady flow and cooling of magma. It was sweltering outside but beneath the mountain it was downright unbearable.
9S removed his tunic and tied it to his waist. Whether this actually helped him at all, he could not tell. He turned away from the glowing fluid.
A vast chasm laid ahead. The rock formations were colored in reds, ambers, and oranges. A lake of magma covered the bottom of this underground void. Narrow bridges of slick obsidian were their only way to progress. They were a bit too flat and uniform to be natural formations. Someone carved them.
It gave Amos a glimmer of hope. No one in their right mind would build anything in a place like this if there was nothing worthwhile inside. He picked up the pace. 9S groaned and chased after him.
"Wonder who made all this," 9S asked aloud. "Seems kinda pointless. How do you even build something this close to magma?"
His curious eyes wandered to the sea of yellow and crimson that slowly moved beneath him. The texture and color made it hard to look away from. It was pretty to behold. 9S was almost tempted to reach down and scoop some of it up for closer examination. He kept an eye on his internals. He had yet to be given any notification that his systems were overheating which baffled him.
The path wrapped around a naturally formed pillar of stone. Upon reaching the other side they discovered an obstacle in their way.
A lone machine lifeform stood on the land bridge a fair distance away. It did not notice them at first. It cast a vacant stare on the glowing magma. In its hands was a burlap sack.
"Hey, you," 9S called out.
The machine jumped and twirled around.
"Ah. Newcomers."
"What is this place," asked 9S.
The machine stepped away from the ledge and pointed to the vast reaches of empty space around them.
"It is a volcano."
"I can see that! What are you doing in here?"
"What are you doing in here?"
9S leaned closer to Amos. "I hate these things so much," he muttered with seething frustration.
"Also," the machine announced. "You've got a strange friend there. Is he a new model of android?"
The two exchanged perplexed glances.
"Uh," 9S stammered. "Sure. Let's go with that. So, what's in the bag?"
"Supplies. Every month or so we bring them to the hermit who lives in these catacombs."
"Who's we?"
"I speak of the fishing village just outside the mountain. You must have seen it on the way inside. Did you not pass through it?"
"Fishing? Where do you fish at?"
"In the lava."
At that, 9S furrowed a brow. He glinted to the boiling magma and back to the enigmatic machine. "You fish… in lava? And that works?"
"No. Not at all."
Dead silence. 9S shook himself to refocus his mind. He was getting far too sidetracked with meaningless questions.
"You mentioned something about a hermit. Care to tell me more about that?"
The machine suddenly seemed hesitant. "Well, he's our village oracle. An android much like yourselves. He's a very old model. Claims he dates back to an age before the aliens came. He spends most of his time guarding the bones of an ancient dragon."
Once again, Amos and 9S exchanged quizzical glances. Suddenly they both became more interested in the happenings of this strange place.
"Dragon bones?"
"Yes. I was on my way there, now. Follow me."
The machine waddled off, leaving 9S and Amos utterly bemused. The pair trailed after him. Seeing dragon bones was not an everyday occurrence. Naturally, their interest was piqued.
Oozing magma lit their path. The glow was a welcome change to the usual darkness that plagued their travels yet it came at a cost. As they progressed through the caverns, 9S's skin was starting to feel as though it could melt right off his bones at a moment's notice.
The temperature was unbearable. Dealing with the constant sweltering heat of an external sun was bad enough back in the days when it did not constantly rain. Delving into the depths of a volcano was a very different scenario.
He was still impressed with his ability to withstand such a horrific environment. It made him curious as to just what it would take for a YoRHa model to kill over due to heat or any other environmental factor.
"Tell us more about these dragon bones," 9S asked, putting an end to an awkward silence.
"Not much to tell," the machine informed in a predictably automated tone. "They arrived here long before we were. So was the android who tends to them."
They rounded another corner. A dead-end came into view. A hefty iron door resembling the entrance to a vault lay ahead. The machine headed straight for it.
"Dragon or not, what's the point of looking after a bunch of bones," asked 9S.
"That information is well beyond me. He said it has something to do with keeping them contained. They're dangerous but he has never fully elaborated why. Something to do with the dragon's breath, I believe. He mentioned something about it being able to breathe fire, but the thing is long dead. I don't know why he still guards it."
"And he just let you see the bones," asked 9S. "Shouldn't something so dangerous be kept from prying eyes?"
"I've never actually seen them."
"What!? Are these bones even real?"
"...I think so."
9S rolled his eyes. "And if he wont let you in then what makes you think he'll let us inside?"
"Because you're androids. He may be interested in talking to you."
While 9S was bewildered, and in some cases, only half listening, Amos was hanging on every word. The salt-coated cogs in his head were turning. An android looking after ancient objects, allegedly the bones of a dragon. Quarantined in the bowels of a volcano and right next to an old world facility filled with ancient robots and magic-wielding statues.
He had nothing but a string of extremely vague clues that led them both to this hellish place. He still could not fathom everything that was going on but the mental image was becoming clearer. He checked the surrounding cave for any signs of Hamelin activity. A seemingly random hunch concerning such an ancient organization but one he could not ignore.
As they neared the sealed door, Amos inspected it for any markings or insignias belonging to that old organization. He saw nothing of the sort. The only thing he did see of any interest was a keypad next to the entrance. It somehow still functioned but Amos could not figure out where power was coming from.
The machine hopped up to the ironclad door and knocked. The echoing of metal clicking against metal filled the tunnel.
They waited for a moment.
"He claims many others used to guard this mountain," the machine announced. "But all of them either left or passed away. He's the only one left. What all the fuss and potential danger is about, I have no idea. I really don't want to know."
"Wonder if he's worried this dragon will come back to life," 9S muttered with fleeting interest.
The machine ignored his outlandish suggestion. "Where are you two from?"
9S averted his eyes from the arched ceiling and down to the biped in front of him. "We come from a ruined city beyond those snowy mountains."
The biped turned back to the door. No one answered his knocking.
"Unusual…"
He knocked again. They waited for a few more minutes. Yet again, no response was made. The door remained sealed. All beyond it was dead quiet.
"Hello," the machine inquired. "Are you alright in there?"
9S cocked his head. "Does it normally take this long?"
"Never. This is worrying."
Amos stepped up. He snapped his fingers toward 9S, gaining the boy's intention. He then aimed a claw at the keypad. It only took a second for 9S to figure out what this gesture meant.
The android approached the digital lock. After a brief examination of the device, he extended his hand toward it but did not touch it. Instead, he utilized a tool that he practically forgot he had up until then. Hacking. So much time relying on physical violence spoiled him. He no longer bothered to use this crucial ability.
Breaching the archaic security system was an easy enough task. It was programmed in the same language that comprised Devola and Popola's mental matrix. Ancient technology that he had no choice but to learn during their reconstruction.
In no time at all, the electric locks were overwritten and the latches on the iron door released. The hunk of metal slid open seconds later.
The machine was the first to peek inside the tunnel beyond. Not a soul was present. Nothing moved.
"This is strange," the automaton muttered. "He should have heard us."
9S noticed the way Amos was inspecting their surroundings as though he were searching for something. Keen to this, 9S waited for the Legionnaire to take the lead so as to not get in his way.
"Wait, don't go in there. We need to get permission to go further," the machine pleaded. The robot suddenly trailed off. "Uh… Never mind. This could be an emergency."
The machine overcame the initial wave of hesitation and moved forward down the unfamiliar tunnel. Amos and 9S followed closely behind. They check their corners and along the way. Anywhere that could house a potential threat did not go unscrutinized.
The trio reached another expansive chamber. A lake of magma stretched outward for miles. A horseshoe-shaped bank of obsidian and ashen stone-lined one half of the chamber.
9S was the first to point out a series of four massive cylinders jutting out from the ground around the infernal lake. Pillars made from glass and covered in runic markings.
There was not much time to admire the peculiar constructs. The group soon noticed a more pressing detail.
Lying on the ground, several feet away, was a blood-drenched corpse of a male android.
"What happened," exclaimed the machine. It scrambled toward the body.
Amos was not far behind. He knelt down and examined the damage. He started with the clothes. A tattered uniform with no markings or indication of an affiliation. He could have been an observer model but Amos had no way to verify this.
He turned his attention to the wound. A deep gash left across his throat exposed cables and synthetic muscle. Dried blood stained his upper body. He had been dead for a few days at the very least.
9S approached from behind and leaned forward, peering over Amos' shoulder. He then turned to face the machine.
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"A few weeks ago. He was just fine. No indication that there was anything wrong."
Amos made a discovery. The weapon used was a small knife that rested in the palm of the corpse's right hand. The display indicated a suicide. Amos scratched his head at the curious revelation.
He had seen this sort of setup before. It came in handy anytime he and his team wished to wipe out a priority target but not take credit for the kill. Framing it as a suicide was a preferred tactic. A strategy often employed against android observers in an era when the Legion was assumed to be defeated.
Amos surveyed the ground for any signs of a struggle. Nothing was found but it did not completely quell his suspicion.
9S stepped up and took a closer look at the body.
"Maybe he just went crazy. Being isolated in the belly of a volcano. Surrounded by magma. No clean air. Having to rely on machines to visit you. I'd probably do the same after a while."
Another oddity drew 9S's attention well away from the obvious suicide. A strange glow shined over the hue of the magma. A transparent dome sat in the sea of fire near the rocky shore. 9S approached it. He got as close as he could before the heat became unbearable. Runic scripts floated along the glass-like surface of the dome. It was a barrier composed of what he could only guess was magic.
Inside was a cluster of massive bones. Ribs jutted out of the magma. Bones resembling enormous wings leaned against the interior of the energetic barrier. What little of this skeleton he could see reminded him of the ancient pterodactyls depicted in various Old World archives.
Oddly enough, the bones seemed brittle. Their texture matched that of Amos' body. It appeared as though they were both made from the same salt-like substance.
"Is that… the dragon?"
9S received his answer but it would not come from anyone he expected.
"Yep!"
The voice was feminine and completely unfamiliar. All three of them jumped. Amos instantly took up a stance and pointed his weapon toward the left side of the infernal shore. Dual barrels trained on a lone figure sat upon a stack of outcropping boulders close to the magma.
9S squinted to get a better look at her. Circular glasses reflected the hellish hue of the molten lake. Dark hair tied in pigtails dangled along her back. Her clothes almost reminded him of the way Adam dressed. A short black tie adorned her neck. Her white shirt contrasted against a black skirt and tall boots. An enormous travel bag rested at her feet.
She smirked almost playfully at the two even as a rifle was pointed at her. She did not bother ducking for cover. She merely sat there and observed them.
Amos let out a low-pitched, predatory growl. He could hear the Dragon's voice creeping into the back of his skull.
"Kill her. KILL HER! Sever her head and release me… from… this… prison!"
There was no question in his mind. She was speaking directly to him. Giving him a proper order. The order was not necessary. He knew this woman's identity. He could recognize those glasses anywhere.
He bared sharpened teeth. His finger ever so slowly lowered onto the trigger.
The bespectacled stranger's smiling lips parted once again.
"So, who might you be?"