Landing Site
OSC-01 stood still as a gravestone, casting a gaze over the decrepit model. The silent machine turned to Reman as he spoke, paused. "As unfortunate as their circumstance is, I've found it beneficial to keep oneself detached from those kinds of thoughts," the Overseer remarked, carrying more than a glint of apathy about her tone. The Overseer resumed their observations, moving around to the other side of the decrepit model. "We exist to provide a service, our meaning a purpose to fulfill. In the same vein, we all have an expiration date."
The Overseer slowed, considering the thought for a moment. Perhaps there was more to it than that, a shallow excuse of old world wisdom. What was going through the robots mind however, no one was privy. What resulted from the pause no longer than the beat of a mechanical heart was a snark shot as she departed. "...And I know mine is projected far longer than yours."
OSC-01 passed Juryrig, wasting not a moment to stop by him as the motorbike ramped up over the lip of the plateau once more. "The age is important because the one that's problematic is still moving."
Caught on a reflection of her conversation with Deimos, Dahlia tread towards the forming circle around Romulus. She shook her head, taking a heavy breath before pumping herself a little taller. "Hold up, captain coming through," she commanded, pushing through the others, "what's this lead I'm hearing about?"
The Captain grasped the device, taking a look at the photos the Artificer had collected. Her puffed up expression quickly reverted to one of curiosity. "A bunker... with some kind of surveillance? Looks old..." The captain hummed, rotating the pad. "You weren't gone very long, this must be within walking distance."
Dahlia clapped her hands together, taking a step back. "Alright everybody, we got a point of interest. Once we've got everything here documented, we can process the scrap later. Get ready, get armed, and let's go take a look." The captain turned back to Romulus, adjusting her hard hat to provide as much sun protection as possible. "...Good scout We'll head on down."
The Overseer rolled their eyes, or rather a gesture to the limited extent they had to work with.
---
A Handful of Minutes Later
Dahlia traipsed carefully down the side of the plateau, following the half-buried black cable as it wound it's way down the uneven path. The heft weight of her pack made her look almost like a turtle as she made her way down. It wasn't long before the Overseer caught up with her, moving with far more balanced grace.
"There's a question I've been meaning to ask, Miss Morgan." the Overseer interjected. Dahlia looked over her shoulder, slowing down to avoid a distracted fall. "And what's that, Osco?"
OSC-01 remained steadfast, inquiring after a pause. "What is it you're looking for, going forwards with this expedition, Dahlia?" The captain was taken aback slightly by the use of her first name. OSC-01 continued quickly, keeping a formal but gripping tone. "You've already been assured, the beast known as Arcadia existed. The world plagued by it has moved on, and what remains of it is a firm tale of ash. What's there to stop you from taking this information to your world and living with it?"
Dahlia puffed her cheek a moment, as if chewing on the question itself through her mind. Her azure eyes landed on the Overseer. "Well, first and foremost... we're a little sunk in financially here. The ship is barely paid for and it's already racked up repairs..."
The Overseer continued, firmly stopping the captain in her tracks. "If monetary status was your prime directive, you would have taken up that strange man's offer back in Alipier."
The Captain bit her lip, the Overseer calling her bluff entirely. After a minute of silence, the captain rebutted. "First off, that man was a shadowy creep. It didn't feel right. Secondly..."
Dahlia paused, looking back to OSC-01 with a little bit of intensity behind her glare. "I can't turn around live with just a story. Those are what got me here in the first place. I want so see it, with my own eyes." The captain paused, huffing as she adjusted her pack. "To catalogue it, for a new world. Not just the old one from your time. Things like this, it could go in a museum. Give inspiration, direction..." The Overseer tilted her head. "So, you've something to prove. Fidelity? Or something else..."
The captain waved her hand about as if to say "maybe", before gripping the strap of her backpack once more. Satisfied but not fully convinced of the answer, the Overseer left the captain with a stern warning on her way to her post. "I'd be cautious, Miss Morgan. Lose yourself in a search and all you'll find is disappointment."
---
Cave
After a few minutes of walking in the heavy desert sun, the crew finally rounded into the shallow outcropping beneath the mountain. The cave was a little tight at first, but gave enough breathing room once they made it through. To one end of the cave was the concrete bunker, the entrance of which remain folded open. The black cable ran through the open gap into the darkness beyond.
The captain set her bag down briefly, looking through the contents of it to ensure she was ready for whatever laid beyond. The Overseer stood simply at the entrance of the cave, looking it over for any patterns.
Above the bunkers entrance, the desecrated remains of some machine hung from the ceiling. The turret. It was a little high up, but nothing some ingenuity or dare say teamwork couldn't handle. Several pieces of metal laid buried under the sand, a quite hefty one more than likely catching the loose foot of at least one explorer. Not far from the edge of the concrete pad laid a dirty ball of metal laying amidst the rubble, quite recently abandoned from the looks of it.
OSC-01 stood still as a gravestone, casting a gaze over the decrepit model. The silent machine turned to Reman as he spoke, paused. "As unfortunate as their circumstance is, I've found it beneficial to keep oneself detached from those kinds of thoughts," the Overseer remarked, carrying more than a glint of apathy about her tone. The Overseer resumed their observations, moving around to the other side of the decrepit model. "We exist to provide a service, our meaning a purpose to fulfill. In the same vein, we all have an expiration date."
The Overseer slowed, considering the thought for a moment. Perhaps there was more to it than that, a shallow excuse of old world wisdom. What was going through the robots mind however, no one was privy. What resulted from the pause no longer than the beat of a mechanical heart was a snark shot as she departed. "...And I know mine is projected far longer than yours."
OSC-01 passed Juryrig, wasting not a moment to stop by him as the motorbike ramped up over the lip of the plateau once more. "The age is important because the one that's problematic is still moving."
Caught on a reflection of her conversation with Deimos, Dahlia tread towards the forming circle around Romulus. She shook her head, taking a heavy breath before pumping herself a little taller. "Hold up, captain coming through," she commanded, pushing through the others, "what's this lead I'm hearing about?"
The Captain grasped the device, taking a look at the photos the Artificer had collected. Her puffed up expression quickly reverted to one of curiosity. "A bunker... with some kind of surveillance? Looks old..." The captain hummed, rotating the pad. "You weren't gone very long, this must be within walking distance."
Dahlia clapped her hands together, taking a step back. "Alright everybody, we got a point of interest. Once we've got everything here documented, we can process the scrap later. Get ready, get armed, and let's go take a look." The captain turned back to Romulus, adjusting her hard hat to provide as much sun protection as possible. "...Good scout We'll head on down."
The Overseer rolled their eyes, or rather a gesture to the limited extent they had to work with.
---
A Handful of Minutes Later
Dahlia traipsed carefully down the side of the plateau, following the half-buried black cable as it wound it's way down the uneven path. The heft weight of her pack made her look almost like a turtle as she made her way down. It wasn't long before the Overseer caught up with her, moving with far more balanced grace.
"There's a question I've been meaning to ask, Miss Morgan." the Overseer interjected. Dahlia looked over her shoulder, slowing down to avoid a distracted fall. "And what's that, Osco?"
OSC-01 remained steadfast, inquiring after a pause. "What is it you're looking for, going forwards with this expedition, Dahlia?" The captain was taken aback slightly by the use of her first name. OSC-01 continued quickly, keeping a formal but gripping tone. "You've already been assured, the beast known as Arcadia existed. The world plagued by it has moved on, and what remains of it is a firm tale of ash. What's there to stop you from taking this information to your world and living with it?"
Dahlia puffed her cheek a moment, as if chewing on the question itself through her mind. Her azure eyes landed on the Overseer. "Well, first and foremost... we're a little sunk in financially here. The ship is barely paid for and it's already racked up repairs..."
The Overseer continued, firmly stopping the captain in her tracks. "If monetary status was your prime directive, you would have taken up that strange man's offer back in Alipier."
The Captain bit her lip, the Overseer calling her bluff entirely. After a minute of silence, the captain rebutted. "First off, that man was a shadowy creep. It didn't feel right. Secondly..."
Dahlia paused, looking back to OSC-01 with a little bit of intensity behind her glare. "I can't turn around live with just a story. Those are what got me here in the first place. I want so see it, with my own eyes." The captain paused, huffing as she adjusted her pack. "To catalogue it, for a new world. Not just the old one from your time. Things like this, it could go in a museum. Give inspiration, direction..." The Overseer tilted her head. "So, you've something to prove. Fidelity? Or something else..."
The captain waved her hand about as if to say "maybe", before gripping the strap of her backpack once more. Satisfied but not fully convinced of the answer, the Overseer left the captain with a stern warning on her way to her post. "I'd be cautious, Miss Morgan. Lose yourself in a search and all you'll find is disappointment."
---
Cave
After a few minutes of walking in the heavy desert sun, the crew finally rounded into the shallow outcropping beneath the mountain. The cave was a little tight at first, but gave enough breathing room once they made it through. To one end of the cave was the concrete bunker, the entrance of which remain folded open. The black cable ran through the open gap into the darkness beyond.
The captain set her bag down briefly, looking through the contents of it to ensure she was ready for whatever laid beyond. The Overseer stood simply at the entrance of the cave, looking it over for any patterns.
Above the bunkers entrance, the desecrated remains of some machine hung from the ceiling. The turret. It was a little high up, but nothing some ingenuity or dare say teamwork couldn't handle. Several pieces of metal laid buried under the sand, a quite hefty one more than likely catching the loose foot of at least one explorer. Not far from the edge of the concrete pad laid a dirty ball of metal laying amidst the rubble, quite recently abandoned from the looks of it.