The Toxic Caves =============== The wilderness warriors trudge towards their new goal. The arid, yellow landscape stretches out before them as the merciless mid-day sun beats down..mercilessly..but hey, at least this trail is easy to follow and ground fairly flat. After a couple of hours the group arrive at a canyon that after a cursorary inspection, Jonah indicates is to be their destination. It don't look like much. From their vantage point the team look down onto a canyon floor littered with bleached white bones and a small, dark cave entrance located at the foot of the north wall. Seeing nothing else the advanced team of hardened, close-in melee fighters make their way down into the canyon. Rocco the dog sniffs his way forward, followed by the large shadow of the mutant Vat-69, machete unsheathed and held ready. After him comes the hard, yet curveous form of Alex Mantilla, the tough female tech sergeant dragging the unwilling form of her (in)sobordinate Buster Sprocket. The remainder of the group take up firing positions on the lip on the canyon. Josiah Sawbones and Jonah Travis make their way to opposite ends on the canyon and then make themselves comfortable on the desert floor. The pair finger the triggers of their respective shiny new weapons(tm), a new hunting rifle and a grease covered sub machine bankrolled by the ever-increasing wealth accumulated by Vat69. A nod from Josiah is the signal for the advanced choppy-choppy team to make their way towards the cave entrance. As the quartet approach the dark, forboding orifice, they all spot the numerous yellow eyes peering back at them....a hiss echoes forth from the blackness, followed by a high-pitched screech. The melee squad ready weapons as the first wave of gecko lizards charge out of the cave and bear down on them. Those with firearms (and who choose to) open fire, three puncture wounds erupt within the gecko ranks, halting one of the mutated lizards in it's tracks. The battle begins in earnest as Rocco and Vat-69 enter the fray. A combination of pin-point gunfire and unbridled machete/canine teeth violence quickly subdue the hapless geckos as they are systematically killed to a mutated lizard. Machetes are then cleaned and guns reloaded. Gore and ichor is licked off dripping canine maws. Josiah raises an eyebrow in surprise when Jonah informs him that he doesn't need a reload for his SMG. Weird, the shaman himself has emptied 1 whole rifle clip and made a good inroad into another. 'I picked my shots' answers the tracker in reply to the unasked question on the shaman's face. 'Sheet man' thinks Josiah, 'guess I must be slipping'. The shaman watchs the tracker head towards the cave and then his eyes catch those of ever suspicious Buster Sprocket. The pair stare at each other for a while and then gaze at the retreating back of the tracker. The Vault Technician 3rd class makes a 'slit your throat' gesture with his hand. Josiah gives a nod and the pair walk towards the cave, all the while feeding new rounds into their firearms. Wonder Dog sniffs his way into the gloom of the gecko cave. The place stinks of lizard shit and something worst. The rest of the team slowly edge into the cave as their eyes adjust to the darkness. The cave is pretty small, and thankfully free of little baby geckos. 8-) A couple of small chambers lead off from the cave and Rocco takes it onto himself to investigate. The horrible not-gecko stink is getting untolerably strong as the canine makes his way across a puddle of sticky, watery stuff. Pain! Paws! More Pain! Paws Fire! Burning Pain! The large canine's whines and whimpering echo around the cave and bring the other party members running. After a quick examinaton, Jonah Travis pours water over the paws of the dog and then wipes off some green gunk with a rag. The pain eases and Rocco tentatively pads abouts uncertainly on his sore paws. The group then examine the green puddle of goo. Inserting the tip of his metal pipe into the middle of the green gunk, the mutant Vat69 then stares in fascination at the retracted smoking end. This is some badass stuff. By now the entire cave area has been searched and nothing of interest has been discovered, apart from the puddle of green gunk....and a circular hole in the cave floor in one dark alcove. A rusty ladder is bolted inside the hole and it leads downwards into darkness... Hmmm... The wilderness warriors make their way down the ladder in single file. At foot of the ladder, a stone floor, the surrounding area totally pitch black. Buster Sprocket ignites a flare, illuminating the darkness with a morbid, reddish light. The party find themselves in a man made corrider leading north. The not-gecko stink is so overpowering down here that Rocco the dog can discern no other scent. The team form themselves into a sort of order, with Vat69 & Rocco at the front, followed by the figure of Buster Sprocket holding the flare, with the trio of Alex, Jonah and Josiah Sawbones providing the long range artillery support from the rear. The group progress down the dark corridor and arrive at a T-Junction leading left or right. Other than the sounds of their footfalls nothing else seems to be alive down here... The Mutant Vat69 decides to head down the left hand branch and the rest of the team follow his lead. The corridor continues for about 20 metres before making a right turn...nothing of interest is encountered in the group's path, the small flickering flare providing a tiny area of reddish light in the all-oppressive darkness... Turning the corner, the mutant and the dog sense something in the darkness before them...the pair make out the shuffling, slithering sound of something moving far ahead of them down the corridor. Vat69 passes the word to those behind him to prepare for action before girding his loins and preceding boldly down the corridor. The mutant/dog pair trudge forward another 10 metres or so before a pair of red eyes stop them in their tracks. Vat69 and Rocco stare back at the red eyes, which appear to be about 7-8 feet *off* the corridor floor. The red eyes blink..and then move...Vat69 wipes the sweat from this good hand before gripping his machete once more. The mutant and canine watch the red eyes moving around down the corridor for some time...a deep, booming screech echoes down the corridor...answered by many, many others from all round the underground complex. These cries are proceeded by an almost simultaneous volley of 'KER-CHUCK' sounds from within the area of the red flare light. The standoff remains for some time before the red eyes in the corridor disappear and the slithering sound recedes, leaving the team alone in the darkness once more. Vat69 & Rocco resume their trek down the corridor, although this ends abruptly as the flickering light illuminates the slick of green gunk covering a wide swathe of the corridor floor. This stumps the team for a while before Vat69 decides that there's nothing for it but to cross the toxic slick and damn the consequences. The mutant ties a series of rags around his size 16 iron soled boots before lifting the whimpering Rocco and placing him around his neck. In this way, the pair cross the 5 metre wide puddle of green waste. The rags around the mutants boots are smoking as the green giant quickly unties and discards them. The others follow the mutants lead and make their way across using a variety of methods of their own devising. The majority opting to just run across and then quickly pour water over their boots to wash off the green gunk. The team's footwear sustains a fair amount of damage despite their best endevours. The worried but persistant group move on, this time for about another 20 metres before being confronted by yet another green gunk puddle sweeping across the corridor floor. Vat69 quickly repeats the crossing procedure with Rocco around his neck. This puddle is broader than the last and the soles of his iron shod boots are corroded severely. He deposits the dog on the far corridor floor before emptying the entire contents of his water flask over his smoking boots. The width of the crossing gives the others pause for thought. Worrying if their already decomposing boots will withstand another burning the group begin to wonder if this whole rescue plan was such a good idea. While the humans are pondering the "ifs", Vat69 notices something in the darkness up the corridor ahead. He motions to Buster to throw across the flare, which the vault technician promptly does. Holding the flare and his machete together in one broad hand, the mutant treads his way up the corridor. The 'something' he spotted turns out to be an alcove in the corridor filled with metal drums. The alcove(& drums) are surrounded by a green moat of toxic sludge which under closer examination appears to be leaking from the metal barrels piled up there. All the barrels have the yellow 'Radioactive' symbol printed on them. The mutant continues his investigation while the other party members are still wondering whether they should risk the crossing. A deep throated screech from the corridor *behind* them brings the humans out of the reverie. Jonah, Josiah and Alex immediately turn to face their potential new adversary while Buster's mind is made up as he rushes across the green slick towards Vat69 and Rocco. Another screech echoes forth from further *up* the corridor as Vat69 notices that the pair of evil red eyes have reappeared. The flare light now also illuminates the 2 rows of sharp, jagged teeth beneath. Vat69 and Rocco prepare themselves as the creature rushes towards them, the corridor echoing to it's heavy footfalls. Vat69 readies his machete and wonders whether the creature will cross the green toxic moat near the metal drums to get to him and the dog. Whatever the thing is, it can really move! Buster reaches Vat69 and Rocco just in time to see yet *another* creature appear from behing the metal drums in the alcove. The Vault Technician 3rd Class looks up at the 8 foot Golden Gecko lizard as it is fully revealed by the flare light..the beast slowly parts its mighty jaws lined with razor sharp teeth and then gives a ear splitting screech... 'Guys I think it's time to bug out and call it even' A volley of ineffectual gunshots echo down the corridor at the giant lizard by the waste drums, as it rushes over the green moat without pausing and then launches itself at Vat69. Josiah and Alex both secretly note that Jonah Travis, elects not to fire his SMG at this time. 'FERCHUNK!' The golden gecko's charge is cut short as it's fearsome head is seperated from its mighty shoulders by one savage blow. The deadly machete of Vat69, from which none could withstand. Buster looks up at the green mutant, mouth hanging open. The mutant meets his shocked gaze and raises the blood dripping machete. 'If it bleeds we can kill it' utters the mutant dryly as the next giant mutated lizard opponent bears down on him. Meanwhile, the long range artillery trio turn to face yet another golden gecko appearing from around the corridor to the rear. Alex Mantilla ignites one of her Vault issue flares as all three raise weapons. In the sputtering light, Josiah whispers 'On the count of three..' The monstrous giant lizard, stares at the 3 riflemen and issues a violent, deep throated grunt... 'One' The large reptilian begin to lumber down the corridor on massively muscular legs, the floor shaking at each footstep as it gathers momentum... 'Two' *Josiah and Alex, each steal a glimpse at Jonah, trying to determine the intentions of the tracker's trigger finger* The golden gecko towers above the 3 warriors, teeth and sharp claws groping forward.... 'Thhhhhh..' *Jonah steals a glimpse at his fellow riflemen..his prying eyes meet those of Josiah and Alex staring back at him...* Huge, sharp teethed lined jaw arcing rapidly down towards the trio.... 'thhhhheee...' Josiah and Alex alternate between staring down their gunsights and staring at Jonah...waiting for him to shoot...Jonah in turn, switches between the lizard and Josiah/Alex, wilting under their incessant glare.... 'ROOOAAAAAR'...claws grasping towards tender flesh... Still Jonah fails to pull the trigger... Josiah Sawbones thinks 'He's sold us out...' Alex Mantilla thinks 'He's sold us out...' Buster Sprocket, 20 metres away, across the green slick, with his back to the rifle trio and fighting his own reptilian adversary, thinks 'Yes..now you *will* die PJ!..and vengance will be mine!..HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!' Flecks of giant mutated lizard spittle landing on Jonah's face.. 'eeeeeeee!' Jonah pulls the trigger on his SMG..the automatic weapon erupts into action, spitting out 10mm shells and lighting the entire corridor with it's massive muzzle flash. RAT-TA-TAT-TA-TAT-! The charge of the lizard falters... TAT-TA-CLUNK-CHUNG-CLICK-...!!??! ..but somehow it continues its advance, blood pouring from numerous holes on it's retilian body. BOOM! (Josiah fires his hunting rifle) BANG! (Alex fires her pistol) -WHING-CLANK-KABOOOOOOOOM! Many things happen during this combat round. The golden gecko facing the shooting trio falls to the corridor floor and wheezes it last... ..Josiah and Alex have just enough time to garner some small statisfaction at the lizard's hasty demise before Jonah's SMG explodes... ..the trio are flung in all directions from the force of the resulting explosion with schrapnel whizzes all around the corridor... This brings the golden gecko encounter to a close as the other trio of Vat69, Rocco and Buster terminate the life of the remaining mutated giant lizard at the other end of the corridor. Vat69 and Rocco stand..bloodied but unbowed. We Endanger Species. There is nothing left to do now but patch people up and scrounge for working, spare weapons. Jonah escapes serious injury from his little SMG tradegy..the explosion looking far more dangerous than it actually was. Ok, so he's down one shiny new weapon(tm) and has to fall back on his trusty tribal spear but hey, at least he now has the trust of his companions and the machinations of Buster Sprocket have been thwarted. What more could a human tracker want? So after a time and with bandages applied the intrepid wilderness explorers are ready to head down the dark corridor once more. Crossing the green moat of gunk near the oil drums is soon accomplished, as the green mutant Vat69 throws the Gecko carcasses across the slick to form a sort of reptilian pontoon bridge. The group's footwear takes no damage while using this feat of mutant engineering. The group then trudge down the corridor as before, approaching it's end a weak reddish light begins to illuminate the area beyond. Upon reaching this point, the corridor takes a left turn and the group spy a large, dimly lit alcove on it's right hand side. The whole area in front of them however is covered in one large green gunk slick. The corridor continues past the large alcove and into darkness...and the group can just pick up the sounds of more slithering and screeching from further down it. There's nothing for it, the group quickly rush across the accursed toxic sludge once more, losing the last vestiges of their footwear in the process. Shoeless but otherwise unharmed, the warriors examine their surroundings. What appears to a set of liftdoors on the left hand wall, another normal-looking door on the right hand wall. The whole alcove area is bathed in reddish light emanating from a series of small spotlights dotted around the area...fed presumably by the last dregs of some emergency backup system. Several members of the group gather around the "normal-looking" door on the right hand wall. After a preliminary examination to determine any possible security problems, Buster Sprocket opens the door and steps through..into a smaller room, one which contains a dusty computer terminal beside some sort of power generator..both items appear inert. Time passes as the group search and examine the power generator, computer terminal, main alcove area and the imposing set of lift doors. Nothing of note is discovered...except by the tracker known as Jonah Travis...examining the north wall, his sensitive fingertips reveal the outline of small cubicle built into the wall. Saying nothing and not indicating to the rest of the group of his discovery, the tracker awaits the opportunity to open his secret little cubby hole in private. As more times passes with fruitless attempts to prise open the 3in thick adamantium plated lift doors or trying to get something out of the unpowered computer terminal, etc etc..the time finally arrives when Jonah is left alone in the alcove area. Opening the door to the secret cubicle as quietly as he can, the tracker finds himself a little stash of goodies...a small medikit, a pile of flares similiar to those used by those arrogant Vault Dwellers and a set of five stimpacks. All items are stealthily stowed away on Jonah's person in double quick time. More time passes and the group of wilderness warriors are getting listless by the total lack of progess made so far. The group huddle around and examine the facts.... We have a unpowered lift, a broken down power generator and an inert computer terminal...what should the engineers in the group do?.....what would Scotty from Star Trek do at a time like this?... After several more hours, an impatient Alex Mantilla requests a update on the penetration of the lift doors from her underling Buster Sprocket. Buster stops his futile blow-torch cutting of the mighty lift doors and pulls off his 'Riddick' model sunglasses...'I canna change the laws of physics Tech Sergeant..this stuff is tougher than adamantium metal...I've hardly made a scratch!' A chorus of exasperated moans echos around the alcove area, the warriors then huddle around again for another think on the lift door problem. We have a unpowered lift, a broken down power generator and an inert computer terminal...what would a criminal genius with a gift for breaking into security systems do?..what would Villa from Blake's 7 do in this situation? More time passes..Alex Mantilla, stands sweat drenched, braced against the biggest power drill in the Vault Dweller's inventory, attached to the hardest, diamond tipped drill bit they have...and pushs it against the stubborn liftdoor with all her strength..... 'Guys..guys...the drill's going through...the pressures easing...yes ..I think I'm almost ther.....ZZZZZZZzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZ!!!!!!! A powerful electric current travels up the drill bit to the power drill, from which it passes into the sweat drenched, curvacous female form of Alex Mantilla, Tech Sergeant First Class. The uncontrollable spasms and incessant drooling on the female Vault Dweller's body subside after a time...the blackened, burnt out drill falls to the alcove floor with a pathetic clump sound. 'I think she must have triggered some sort of security system in the liftdoor' informs Buster Sprocket after analysing the drill hole. 'I think it's pretty solid and can't be disabled from the outside'. The forlorn warriors wait in the unnerving red gloom until Sgt Mantilla has recovered enough to be able to stand up on her own two feet. They then huddle together in a circle once more and again, contemplate the "ifs" of this situation... We have a unpowered lift, a broken down power generator and an inert computer terminal...what would a group of desperate warriors do in a desperate situation like this?...what would the A-Team do in a situation like this? Several more ages of the world pass outside before the mutant Vat69 finally relents in his violent pounding on the liftdoors with his empty flamer fuel cylinder.... "Feck it!", roars the green mutant, throwing the battered cylinder away in disgust, "I say bollocks to it and lets get the hell out of this shithole!". The others look at each other in silent misery...there is to be no going forward....there is to be..no hope.....there is to be..no dawn for the race of man....?????.... ...unexpectedly, in the dim red light of this god forsaken place, the pensive form of Jonah Travis feels the overpowering presence of a deity-like spirit take control of his body. The helpless tracker is forced onto all fours and then made to crawl over to the liftdoors...as the other members of the group look on in shocked silence... ..Jonah Travis' tongue is then forced out to lick the lift doors several times before the tracker begins to crawl towards the side room containing the power generator...the other party members follow and watch in abject fascination... ...the tracker shuffles up to the broken down power generator and then begins to slide his tongue along it's sides... After a time the awesome presence of the deity-like entity leaves the quivering form of Jonah Travis....a period of stunned, terrified silence follows... ..broken quietly, gently and with perfect clarity..like a ripple arcing across a still pond...broken..by the simple, simple words.... 'we could always *repair* the power generator?...' cue: clashing cymbals, blaring trumpets, fireworks, waving flags, ticker-tape, smiling childen, large crowds of people hugging each other..HUZZAH! PRAISE THE LORD! MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY! In double quick time the power generator is repaired by the enigmatic Buster Sprocket. The power generator hums into life, dispelling the feeble red emergency lighting and bathing the alcove and generator room in hard, blinding, white light. YIPEE! The computer terminal besides the generator blinks back into existence and Sgt Alex Mantilla quickly navigates the simple menu systems to enable the lift and disable the security system on the liftdoors. WHOOP-DEE-DO! The vault repair team then leave the generator room and stride towards the open lift doors, within which, the other group members wait with renewed vigour and confidence. 'Ok..lets boogie' And with that the ravaged exterior doors of the lift close awkwardly. The lift then begins to rumble downwards carrying the motley group of Fallout adventurers down to level 1 of this secret military underground complex.... The lift stops at level one with an bone-jarring jolt. The interior and exterior lift doors open assuredly revealing a dim, red, emergency lighting type corridor environment outside. The air entering the lift smells stale and musty. The team walk out into the corridor somewhat gingerly but then perform a thorough search of the entire level once it is determined that nothing else is alive down here. Level one appears to be some kind of storage area and the intrepid wilderness warriors help themselves to any US Army military supplies they find. All doors lack power and have to be prised apart using mutant and human muscle. The team is undeterred however and soon crates of combat boots are found to much rejoicing, plus caches of water flasks, combat uniforms, webbing, backpacks, belts, etc. The team take all they need..and indeed some members..MORE than they could ever need...right Mr Sprocket? Re-equipped, booted up and with weapons now harnessed in shiny new holsters, the team re-enter the lift and press the button to level two...all very methodical and not a hint of chaos frenzy in this team...oh how I miss the good old days..8-)..To The Keep! Anyway, the lift trundles down once more and comes to a halt at level two. This time the exterior liftdoors only open partially and a bit of brute force is required to force them apart. Level two is investigated as before and found to be similar to level one. The same rooms full of supplies, empty sleeping quarters, a few computer terminals (all inert), the same foul smelling air (or that could just be the mutant)...everything bathed in the same dim, red emergency lighting. The only major difference between the two levels are the numerous robots found lying, standing or fixed in little cubicles around the level 2 area. All are inert, their power cells having drained away long ago. Buster Sprocket examines a fair few in the red gloom but his inspection time is cut short as the team decide to mush on to level 3. Buster absently brushes the dust off a metal chassis of one robot lying on the corridor floor, as he turns to see the other team members beginning to re-enter the lift. 'Come on Technician Sprocket, time to go' calls Sgt Matilla from the lift threshold. The Vault Technician rises to his feet and then hurries into the lift just as the doors begin to close. A swathe of dust falls away from the body of the prone robot as the lift begins to depart downwards. A series of lettering is uncovered under the dust and to any observer still standing in the red gloom of level 2, the words 'Security Combat Drone' would be clearly visible.... Level 3 opens out into the same gloomy, stale environment as encountered before. The layout of the level however is totally different. There are only only three doors in the corridor, one opens out into a large power generating room, another is found to hold an immense computer of some kind. The Vault Dwellers are immediately reminded of their Vault's AI mainframe, as they watch the tribals in the party look on in awe. Everything on this level, as before is still, dust covered and powered down. Ignoring the third door for the moment, the group decides to see if it is possible to get the power generator up and working again (see they CAN be taught!). The Vault Repair team is set the task and after a few hours are found to be equal to it. Buster Sprocket is in the process of screwing back on an access panel when an efficent deep hum begins to reverberate around the generator room. He looks up at Alex Mantilla with a smile as normal lighting kicks back in, instantly dispelling the red gloom. The level comes alive with the sound of air conditioning units. Those in the Mainframe room, Jonah, Rocco and Josiah watch in deep reverence as the mighty AI computer begins its load sequence. Multi-coloured lights flash in sudden volleys across its sides, strange 'whizz..whizz' sounds emanate from deep within its metal construction and the computer terminal beside it blinks into life. A period of back-slapping and self congratualation breaks out on level three of this secret military underground complex. After a time, the Vault Dwellers decide to check out the mainframe AI so as to discern it's operational capacity and whether they can garner any clues to the whereabouts of other Vaults in this area. On hearing this, Jonah and Rocco decide to tag along as being the 'Chosen One of Arroyo' he feels some, small, insignificant part of him (duty?) should at least *try* to find the "G.E.C.K." in order to save the village (or maybe, if we want to be really honest, maybe Jonah just doesn't trust the Vault Dweller scum as far as he can throw them?). Whatever the reasons, the quartet head for the computer room leaving the mutant Vat69 and Josiah Sawbones in engineering to shoot the breeze and compare recent injuries. Team Vault together with Team Man and his Dog head down the corridor, they are delighted on discovering that interior doors now open and close with a "shush" sound as they approach them...'this tech stuff is something else man', exclaims the wide eyed Jonah Travis. The Vault Dwellers nod their agreement as the quartet make their way pass the liftdoors and onto the computer room. 'Zeee..clump....wooooo' Behind the distracted foursome, the liftdoors close smoothly before the lift departs upwards silently. Rocco the dog stops and looks back at the now closed liftdoors...the mutt angles his head before uttering a bark before returning to the side of his master Jonah Travis. A period of time passes as Team Vault embark on a rigourous analysis of the Mainframe AI (with Jonah and Rocco messing about in the background playing catch with one of the tracker's Spherical Objects with Pins). A lot of the stuff in the AI is pretty garbled as the machine has been shutdown for over 2 centuries but after a period of tentative machine to machine communication with B.O.X., the AI's mind begins to re-assemble itself into something approaching normality. Jonah comes to peer over the heads of the Vault Dwellers when they appear to be nearing the point of getting the AI up to full capacity. Buster stares up at the tribal tracker with a frown. 'Smoking or non-smoking?' he asks before returning his attention to the computer screen. Jonah puzzled, stares at the green display as the lines of numbers scrolling up it stops abruptly and are replaced by a static menu system. 'Yo' exclaims Alex Mantilla, 'Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...we're in'. Buster nods in agreement. 'Ok, Buster get to work on the info we need..I need to stretch my legs' finishes the Tech Sgt. The female Vault Dweller vacates her seat by the computer terminal as Jonah promptly occupies it. He gives Buster seated beside him a big grin...Buster shakes his head in return. Alex stretches her neck muscles as she heads for the door. 'I'm gonna go see what the mutant and Josiah are up to' begins the Tech Sgt, 'let me know if you find anything good'. With that she strides towards the door to the computer room. 'All systems optimal..' mumbles Buster, 'hey sarge, he shouts towards the retreating back of his superior...'the AI's powering up the entire base...life support, maintenance, security, everything...this is something to see...now where's the map section...hmmm..' 'Shush' Alex Mantilla stops suddenly in the open doors of the computer room. 'Security?' utters the Tech Sgt turning to face Buster. "woooo....CHING" The female Vault Dweller's head turns slowly back towards the lift doors as they begin to slide open. Her eyebrows rise as two large robots emerge from within. One robot, which looks like a large metal eyestalk attached to a large silver ball, turns in her direction and then "hovers" down the corridor towards her. It's companion is a more humaniod shaped automaton, abeit larger, broader and mounting some sort of missile launcher array on its right shoulder. Thankfully it turns towards the engineering room and stomps down the corridor with thundering footsteps. 'Buster' screams Alex Mantilla, 'SHUT THE AI DOWN NOW!' 'But' begins the Vault Tech, 3rd Class... 'NO BUTS MUTHER-FECKER! DO IT! DO IT NOW!' roars the Tech Sgt, unholstering her 10mm pistol and aiming it down the corridor. Buster and Jonah turn to each other with puzzled faces before returning their gaze at the braced form of the female Vault commander. 'WE-ER-WE-ER-WE-WOOOOM!' A strange wibbly-wobbly, yellow ray hit Alex Mantilla square in the middle of her big breasted chest. The female tech sgt is flung backwards and lands on the floor as stiff as a sheet. 'Avenge me...Technician Sprocket...avenge me' she squawks pathetically thru clenched teeth as her body is totally paralysed from head to foot. The strange 'metal eyestalk on a large silver ball' robot appears in the open doorway....Rocco gives it a bark before backing off whining, Jonah and Buster stare between the robot and each other before frantically scrambling to turn the smeggin' AI off. Several fingers hammer down onto numerous keys, buttons, dials, etc on the computer terminal. 'WE-ER-WE-ER-WE-WOOOOM!' The yellow wibbly-wobbly ray whizzes just over the heads of the pair and strikes the far wall sending a welter of sparks flying in all directions. Buster and Jonah fall off their seats and hit the deck. The pair then draw weapons and listen to the sound of the robot from behind the computer terminal.... 'Woooooooo!' 'BARK!' 'Woooooooo?' 'BARKITY-BARK-SNARL....' 'WE-ER-WE-.....' *running sound* *WE-ER-WE-....* "CLOMP!" *efficient german sounds* '...snarl...rend...whine....' *doggy sounds intermingled with efficient german sounds* Buster and Jonah look at each other before rising slowly to their feet. They look across from the relative safety of the computer terminal at the titanic struggle going on between robot and dog. Rocco has his massive adamantium jaws clamped across the metal eyestalk of the strange robot. The dog bites down with all his canine fury, the robot in return attempts to lever open the jaws with it gun ports so as to allow it to fire it's paralyser ray deep into the open maw of Rocco. At the moment, the contest looks like it could go either way.... 'So...' begins Buster,'if it can't open it's gun port...that means it can't fire it's beam weapon, right?' turning to put his question to Jonah. A slow smile arcs across the face of Jonah Travis. 'Right!', replies the tracker smugly. *worried doggy sounds intermingled with quietly confident efficient german sounds* The pair leisurely move from around the computer terminal and close in on the dog and robot melee as the odd couple tussle their way out into the corridor. Following a period of 'After you...no no after you' the pair decide to let Buster shoot first followed by Jonah stabbing the robot in the happysacks with his spear. Buster nonchalantly draws a bead on the metal eyestalk of the robot and pulls the trigger on this 10mm pistol. 'CLICK..CRACK..CLUNK' The gun disintegrates before his eyes...but be not downhearted true believers the valiant Jonah Travis has yet to attack....the tracker picks a soft spot and stabs at the robot's silver ball with all his might! 'CRACK...splinter...break...' Jonah looks at the point of his spear, as it falls perpendicular to the haft to which he still holds.. *very worried doggy sounds intermingled with increasing confident efficient german sounds* 'Buster' 'Yes Jonah' 'I think you better go and work out how to turn the mainframe off' instructs the tracker as he drops the broken spear and pulls out his last remaining weapon...a heavy metal wrench. Meanwhile, at the other end of the corrider in the power room now filled with smoke and gay banter. The mutant and the shaman's 'fruit of the root' hour is interrupted by the appearance of a fecking great big humaniod robot lumbering through the power room doors. 'Come quietly or there will be ....trouble' exhorts the metallic voice of the robot as it's missile apparatus on it's right arm locks in a missile and lines up the mutant and Josiah in the sights. Vat69 sighs and then breathes out a long thin line of smoke before uttering... 'It's bluffing' The shaman Josiah Sawbones turns to look at the mutant in disbelief... 'Yeah man..but what if it's not bluffing like?' 'It's bluffing' repeats the mutant confidently. 'ok man...I believe ya...BUT WHAT IF IT'S NOT FECKIN' BLUFFING!' screams the tattoted shaman hysterically. The mutant undeterred takes a good long drag from his root ciggie before continuing... 'Look I've dealt with these security droid pussies before, it'll never shoot that missle at us...because it knows what I know..' 'Which is?' ask the worried Shaman and the robot in unison. Vat69 drops his ciggie to the floor and stubs it out with a large boot. He then unsheaths his machete purposefully and braces himself for action. The robot follows the action and then lines up the mutant with it's launcher. 'It's knows...it can't fire that missile in here and damage all the stuff it's supposed to be guarding...isn't that so metalhead?' answers the grinning mutant. Josiah begins to comprehend...'Ahh I see man' begins the shaman walking over nonchantantly towards the metal hulk, 'big bad robot can't fire it's big bad missile launcher in here?...boo hoo...', he continues rubbing his eyes in a mocking way... 'Erm Josiah' 'And to think I wuz worried you'd do something my cycloptic friend' continues the Shaman as he stands on tiptoe to stare into the rectangular visual receptor of the armoured robot. 'Erm Josiah..I wouldn't get that close....' 'That must *really* piss you off eh metalhead? continues the shaman oblivious to the mutant warnings...as he begins to mimic the action of the red dot moving from side to side on the robot's visual receptor with his eyeballs. *view from Robot's sensor showing a panoramic image of the shaman's distorted features, nose and forehead most prominent* 'Are you eyeballing me sonny?' taunts the shaman bearing his teeth. *SMACK!* The robot backhands the shaman across the chest. The reeling form of Josiah Sawbones flies across the power room and thuds against a far wall. He then falls to the hard floor with a grunt. Vat69 winces. The robot then unlocks the missile from it's launcher using an efficient sounding mechanism and turns it's attention back to the mutant. It's arms come up and two appendages appear crackling with electrical energy as it begins to converge on Vat69's position. 'Come get some...' states the green giant as the robot crashes towards him. With a roar the mutant unleashs himself at the automaton.... FER-CLANG! The deadly machete of Vat69 impacts with deadly force on the robot's metal chest and imbeds deep. 'HAH HARR! laughs the mutant, just before a large electrical current travels up the machete hilt and into the smiling green giant. A scream escapes from Vat69 lips as he loses his grip on the machete and falls backwards. *efficient german sounds of robot leg rising to attempt "Stomp Mutant Manevuer"* CLANGITY-CRUNCH! Vat69 rolls away just as the robot leg crashs down in the spot he previously occupied. The mutant then scurries behind some power machinery and draws his backup weapon..the trusty but rusty lead pipe. The robot watchs the mutant retreat behind a power console and loses his target lock-on, it's head begins to spin around slowly searching for more viable targets in the power room area. Meanwhile back in the computer room, Busters attempts to shut down the AI are proving futile..the procedure is a complex one and there is no HELP menu. In the corridor Rocco is still attached to the Eyeball Stalk Robot as it picks up the dog and tries to shakes the canine off it gunport. Jonah hammers the machine with his metal wench whenever he gets the chance. 'Jonah?' CLANG! 'Yes Buster' 'Do you know what 'Enter the Assigned Shutdown code' means?' CLANG! CLANG! oof!..it's means Vault Dweller that you better.. ..CLANG!...think of something else! roars the human tracker from within the middle of the robot/canine melee. Meanwhile back in engineering..... *View from the Robot's visual sensor showing the sneaking form of Josiah Sawbones trying to sneak out of the power room doors* The tint of the robot's moving red dot gets deeper in intensity. The missile array on it's shoulder whirls back into life as it loads and locks a missile onto the moving form of Josiah Sawbones. The shaman follows the action and decides to run through the opening power room doors as quick as his legs will carry him.... *smoke begins to come out of the missile's exhaust pipe* FER-CLANG! The mutant Vat69 re-appears from behind the power console and smites the humaniod robot on the missile array with his heavy lead pipe. The whole of the robot's right arm falls off taking the missile launcher with it....just as the missile fires.... 'Woooooooosh...*missile skittering across floor*......KABOOOOOOM! *Robot rocking on its feet from the shockwave* The missile impacts just within the power room near the doors and the resulting explosion sends the shaman flying out into the corridor. Josiah comes to a halt after sliding across the floor for a considerable distance. The tattoed man is clearly stunned and reeling. In the power-room, the explosion ignites a large amount of the generator machinery...before the sound, concussion, shockwave of the fireball has subsided the din is replaced with a wailing klaxon, a flashing yellow light and an eruption of halon gas from many ceiling vents. The mutant Vat69 takes refuge under a power console as the chaos in the power room swirls about him. Meanwhile in the almost tranquil computer room... 'Jonah!..I can't shut this damn thing down...IT WANTS TO LIVE!' 'CLAN-break-snap.?...Well you better do something you idiot!' snaps back the tracker, hurling the haft of his now broken wrench at the Eyestalk Robot...BA-TOING!..'I'm outta weapons and the dog's tiring!' *cue: Rocco being smashed against one corridor wall to the other in rapid sucession by the very much alive robot* Suddenly, Jonah and Buster hear a explosion from within the power room as the body of Josiah Sawbones comes hurtling down the corridor from it....then a klaxon beings to wail in sync with a strobing yellow light. Jonah looks across the corridor to see the power room being flooded with white gas.... 'We've got problems!' shouts Jonah over the clamour. He notes with some small relief that the shaman Josiah Sawbones isn't dead and is beginning to regain his senses. 'woooo' It is then that Jonah notices that the liftdoors are sliding close again. Realising what this means, the tracker gestures to Josiah to stop them.... 'STOP THAT LIFT BEFORE MORE OF THE BASTADS COME DOWN!' There is immediate comprehension on Josiah's face as he nods and then launches himself across the corridor, leaping then sliding across the floor towards the closing liftdoors. The stalwart shaman *just* manages to get one outstretched fingernail between the doors before they can shut fully. The liftdoors sensing an obstruction begin to open once more and Josiah takes this opportunity to ram in a knife at the base to stop them from ever closing again. Satisfied his makeshift wedge will hold he looks over to Jonah and gives him the thumbs up. The tracker acknowledges with a nod just as the lights on level three blink out and the dim red emergency lighting returns. A call from within the computer room catches the tracker's attention and he turns his head to listen.... 'Jonah...the mainframe's shut down!' informs Buster excitedly '..has the robot stopped moving?' Jonah returns his gaze back towards the dog v robot death match.... *cue: Rocco still being smashed against one corridor wall to the other in rapid sucession by the still very much alive robot* 'Not exactly' replies Jonah removing a coil of rope from his backpack, 'just get out here and lend a hand...' he finishes. The war against the machines now becomes one of attrition and breaks down into two discreet melees. On one end of the corridor, in the halon gas filled power room, the one-armed mutant pummels the similarly limbed humaniod robot with his heavy lead pipe. Each mighty whack against the automaton's armoured sides sends an electrical shock traveling along the length of the pipe and into the green giant. Undeterred the mutant persists in his smiting with the help of a liberal use of numerous root healing bags and stimpacks. Jonah Travis arrives after a time to help the mutant in his titanic battle with the robot..but as is his fate, the tracker net effect in the engagement is a lot of straining and then breaking of his length of hemp rope. Jonah looks down at his hands..his last remaining weapons...'I have only these hands...I will die a pauper'...8-) At the opposite end of this...'corridor of extreme pain', the metal eyestalk robot is assailed from all sides by the industrious trio of Rocco, Josiah and Buster Sprocket. The dog is still stubbornly afixed to the gun port of robot, rendering it's main armament useless. The droid's mobility unit (i.e. the large metal ball to which the eyestalk is attached) is attacked by the blowtorch wielding form of the Vault Technician..while behind it, the shaman Josiah Sawbones pumps round after round of hunting rifle ammunition into it's metal eyestalk at point blank range. This three pronged offensive proves too much for Mr Eyestalk and it gives up it's existence at about the same time as Josiah's shiny new hunting rifle gives up its. The weapon unravels itself under the shaman's tearful gaze...leaving the tribal to hug the remains of the wooden stock to his chest and howl it's lament. The dog's mighty fangs are freed from the inert robot and Rocco gingerly opens and closes his jaws several times to work some blood back into his painful maw. Luckily there seems to be no serious injury to the dog's second favorite bodily thing. The trio then head down to the power room to see how the other battle proceeds...the halon gas has stopped streaming and most of the fires started by the errant missile are out. The team arrives just in time to watch the mutant bash the robot one last time and send it crashing to the floor in many pieces. Ho hum. After a discussion on the causes of the appearance of the robots, the group decide a new plan of action. To wit, the repair of the power generator once more, the turning on of the AI mainframe and THEN commanding it to turn the security systems OFF. Double checking that they haven't missed something the warriors agree to implement 'Plan B' and it is all accomplished in due time. The base is now powered up, the security systems are powered down and all that remains is to check what lies beyond the mysterious 'Third Door' in the corridor. A locker room full of..em..lockers. After a repetative sequence of checking for security traps, unlocking locker doors and then staring in the locker innards..the team gather a substantial pile of high tech goodies within the centre of the room...the team are relieved when Buster holds aloft the 'Quantum Communicator' device that is required for the release of 'Vic the Trader' by the Slavers. The tribals gaze at the small featureless black box without humour and then turn their suspicious gaze back to the other items in the pile...after meticulous examining and sniffing of various gadgets and guns...Josiah, Jonah and Rocco take little (a few combat knifes and combat gloves) and wander back to the corridor area. Everything is too small for the tall, broad mutant and he also leaves without a word. Leaving Alex Mantilla and Buster Sprocket, the Combat Armour, the Leather Armour, the Combat Shotgun, the Strange High Tech Looking Pistol, the Motion Tracker, the Geiger Counter, the Neural Imager (one of the items on their 'List of Parts') and numerous other useful things...*sigh*...didn't they do well! 8-) Weighed down with plunder the wilderness warriors re-assemble within the lift as they prepare to ascend out of this toxic hellhole. FIN