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File 162180245065.png - (330.17KB , 1024x768 , Title.png )
1001540 No. 1001540 ID: ca2950

Keimi bounds up to a spot on the mountainside and waves excitedly.
"I found it! Look!" she says, gesturing at a small opening in the rock face.
"Found what?" I ask, trudging up the hill. "The last time I went along on an adventure with you, I almost died fighting a giant monster."

Keimi rolls her eyes.
"Firstly, you did not almost die. You were only bashed up a little bit. Secondly, you did not fight a giant monster, according to those documents they forced us to sign," she says, wagging her finger. "Anyway, this leads to a cavity that was shown on the sensor scans of a cavern that, according to the documents that my mom brought home that she definitely wasn't supposed to that I was definitely not supposed to look at; runs adjacent to the area related to those creatures we definitely weren't supposed to know about!"

"This is a lot of layer of not supposing. Am I not supposed to get in deep shit if we get caught?" I ask, stopping to catch my breath.
Keimi ponders for a moment.
"No worries. We definitely won't get in trouble."

"Good."

"As long as we don't get caught."
Expand all images
>>
No. 1001541 ID: ca2950
File 162180249044.png - (187.36KB , 1204x856 , 1.png )
1001541

I'm a little reluctant to follow her inside, but I'll go along for now.
It's just a normal, boring cave from what I can tell.

"Look!" Keimi shouts, pointing in farther. "We've already found signs of life!"

"It looks like a rock to me."

"It shows clear sighs of being fabricated. Don't be a dummy," she snaps at me. "Let's keep going. We'll probably find something interesting for sure."

"Fine," I sigh.

I'm not big on archeology, so I'm not sure what I can be doing here. I guess exploring secret caves is pretty neat though.
>>
No. 1001542 ID: ac75a5

Y'know, it's just the two of you here, you can always... you know...

Actually, it is too cold for that.

Inventory check! What equipment and items did you both bring? Got a flashlight? it looks pretty dark there...
>>
No. 1001543 ID: 9a2966

Remember to look up.

They always forget to look up.
>>
No. 1001553 ID: 864e49

>>1001541
Make jokes about exploring her secret cave.
Gauge her willingness to let you go spelunking.
>>
No. 1001565 ID: e51896

yeah, lets check what items we brought.
>>
No. 1001573 ID: ca2950
File 162182523156.png - (160.24KB , 878x737 , 2.png )
1001573

>Inventory check
We've got some lights and some medical supplies in case someone gets bumped up and some snacks. Whatever you take to poke around where we ought not to.

>Remember to look up
The ceiling is made of rocks. Not even really interesting rocks. Just kind of lumpy. They don't look like they'll fall on us, as far as I can tell.
"There's a larger structure over here! I wonder if this area used to be above ground before some kind of seismic even buried it?"
Keimi rummages through the rubble.
"Hey, Alex! I found some bones."

"Are they cool bones? Spooky bones?"

"They're vuhio bones," Keimi calls back.

They're just normal animal bones. Not really a big, exciting discovery.

"Better watch out. This might be a khuar den. Your best hope is that it thinks you're too small to be worth eating."

"Or a wendigo," Keimi replies.

"Don't even joke about that. You're bad luck when it comes to monsters."
>>
No. 1001584 ID: 74c499

Are you planing to be dismissive until something happen?
You should just ask what she think is going on and go with it. Appreciate the adventure instead of lament the waste of time.
>>
No. 1001585 ID: 6322f1

Remind me, what are we doing here, again? Why do we keep mesing with this things tht are up to no good?

Seriously, we are just civilians messing with things we really shouldn't.


Also, remind me, again, what happened to your mom. I kinda forgot about it over "definitely almost not dying from a monster" experience.
>>
No. 1001591 ID: de0232

Ugh... just go in deeper, the sooner you get to the bottom, the sooner this will be over and you can get back to civilisation.
>>
No. 1001599 ID: ca2950
File 162185432379.png - (213.68KB , 837x904 , 3.png )
1001599

I look down and there's a figure looming in the dark.

"That was one time! Also, there's actually a wendigo! Help!"


>What are we doing here, again? Why do we keep messing with this things that are up to no good?

I think it's something that's just going to keep happening, alright?

>Appreciate the adventure instead of lament the waste of time.

I like adventure. Looking at rocks isn't my idea of a fun time, but now things are getting significantly more adventurous. Really adventurous, really fast.
>>
No. 1001601 ID: ca2950
File 162185436552.png - (335.37KB , 1418x859 , 4.png )
1001601

I need to help Keimi! I do not want to have to explain that I let her get eaten by a wendigo!
Good thing I've been working on my monster fighting effectiveness in my spare time.

Alex can move within the green highlighted area freely or exert himself to reach a red highlighted area.
Alex can use the technique "Fal" to cast a firebolt at a target within a range of 6 spaces.
Alex can tell Keimi to take actions which, depending on a variety of factors, she might do.


I need to get closer for sure, but do I want to wail on this thing or stay at range and shoot it? I'm better with the sword, but staying away from those claws sounds like it has advantages, too.

No time to think. Gotta do.
>>
No. 1001602 ID: 094652

Head to cover and open fire!
>>
No. 1001604 ID: 74c499

Do you really have a sword and how can it be better than "fireball"?

Since the highlighted movement grid is a square I'm gonna assume that diagonals count as two actions, therefor the fireball won't reach the wendigo from the edgy of the green grid.
The effects of "exert" are not clear. If you can attack move to the edge to the rock (8 left 1 down) and use fireball on the wendigo. If you can't, move to the closer corner of the rock (5 left 1 down) and take cover.
Either way tell Keimi to move closer to you, behind you if she can move that far.
>>
No. 1001611 ID: 84d56e

Run to keimi, pick her up, then slamdunk her into the wendigo's gullet. Countinue advanture with superior wendigo partner.
>>
No. 1001612 ID: e51896

go 6 squares to the left

Call Keimi over to you.
>>
No. 1001614 ID: 1d109c

throw a flare or something stick-like, maybe cute monster just wants to play? also tell keimi to run, remind her that genisys doesn't have attacks of oppertunity
>>
No. 1001619 ID: 9a2966

Rush up right next to Keimi.

Animals and beasts tend to get slightly more wary when confronted with multiple foes (or get confused by a new selection of prey choice).

Even if it DOES go right for Keimi, you'll be right there to do something about it. And if it goes for you, you can try to block or parry with your sword. Might even be able to GUARD COVER for Keimi this way.
>>
No. 1001620 ID: 6322f1

>>1001612
This.
>>
No. 1001623 ID: 287f8a

Get engaged to the wendigo. Talk about your feelings.
>>
No. 1001630 ID: 96c896

>>1001612
This
>>
No. 1001651 ID: ca2950
File 162190786969.png - (353.85KB , 1077x750 , 5.png )
1001651

I move over towards the rubble and tell Keimi to get over here with me. She makes a dash for it, then turns toward the wendigo when she gets close.

Keimi casts Fal.

The wendigo shrieks as a bolt of fire slams it in the chest and starts to sear its flesh.

"I'm not so easy to eat anymore, sucker!" Keimi cheers.
>>
No. 1001653 ID: ca2950
File 162190830904.png - (180.89KB , 629x526 , 6.png )
1001653

The wendigo lunges toward Keimi and lashes her with its claws.

"Kyaaaaa! Help!"

Now that it's in range, I can hit the thing. It recoils from the impact.

"Kei, get behind me or something!"
>>
No. 1001656 ID: 1d109c

>SPARE

come on Keimi you can make friends, you just gotta have determination!

failing that run away until you figure out how to make friends with cute fluffy monster
>>
No. 1001659 ID: 96c896

Alright Alex time to be the tank and use sword on monster.
Keimi can try to avoid being clawed, and instead apply fire to the problem.
>>
No. 1001660 ID: 74c499

I was under the impression fireball was a shotgun...
Fireball is a good option, but if you can move and attack it's better to slash the wendigo with your sword.
>>
No. 1001773 ID: cea07c

Wendigos are, like, immortal or something, aren't they? What are old people vulnerable to? Try asking about it's grandchildren! Or The Good Old Days, or what sort of music the young people should be listening to...
>>
No. 1001803 ID: e51896

stab it in the legs, lower its mobility.
>>
No. 1002710 ID: 15a025

>>1001803
Stabbie leg is good.
>>
No. 1013200 ID: ca2950
File 163468839212.png - (277.06KB , 1284x865 , 7.png )
1013200

I start hacking at its legs, but it's tough and sinewy. I can't do a lot of damage while this thing is wailing on me.
Keimi is keeping the damage to a minimum, but I don't know if I'm going to outlast it at this rate.

"Hurry up and kill it!" she yelps. "I can't do this forever!"

"I'd like do see you try. This thing is pretty tough!"

"My newly awakened lust for adventure is going to get us eaten by a monster before we even got to do anything!"

She's starting to panic.

"You're the brains here. Think of something!"

"Well, we could..."

A: stop healing Alex and enhance his physical ability, hoping it will be enough to defeat the Wendigo before he dies

B: make a dash for the snowrunner before the Wendigo catches and eats us both

C: run down the cavern passage to bottleneck the Wendigo in cramped quarters where its size will hinder it

D: frantically try to burn it to death before it manages to dismember one or both of us

>>
No. 1013202 ID: 094652

C+D; Wendigos have the evolutionary advantage here, so using fire to burn their coarse fur will eventually wear them off. But run to a stable position while you still can.
>>
No. 1013203 ID: 8483cf

We're the brains, let's do the math!

Alex has been at a slight to moderate disadvantage so far, and has needed healing to stay up. That's a losing status quo.

If we change the matchup and buff Alex, that means he probably won't need healing, or at least it will be even at that point. At which point we can tip the scales in our favor with whatever we have to distract it while it's fighting Alex.

Go with A.
>>
No. 1013207 ID: 894419

>>1013203
Yes, this man has the correct idea. Also yell at Alex for not being manly enough and heroically one shotting the monster.
>>
No. 1013218 ID: 96c896

I think C is the safest plan.
>>
No. 1013221 ID: ba1b50

>Switch to physical
High risk, high reward. Both of them would die more easily.
>Flee
Its legs seem to show that it would pursue quite fast. You'd be easy targets with your backs toward it. Bad idea.
>Passage
Also risky. There may be more hostiles past there, which would leave you hit by two sides if that's the case. If. However, if it's clear of hostiles, if gives you a serious leg up.
>Use Fal
You'd have to aim very carefully. Because of the melee, you might hit your ally. It did seem to really hate fire, though.

If your aim is good, use Fal. Otherwise, head for the passage.
>>
No. 1013224 ID: 2c9826

Non of the options seem to have high chances of success. I am going t logo with A, because at least it will free Keimi to do something else, unless you have to keep the buff up all the time. If not, it might at least let Alex be on the same level with the windigo. Let's cross fingers.
>>
No. 1013257 ID: c92a02

By setting the Wendigo on fire, you can replace your current problems with new ones.
>>
No. 1013261 ID: 5c87b4

A.

Use your enhanced physical ability to kick her in the balls.
>>
No. 1013264 ID: 30b9f6

Fleeing down a dark passage chased by bloodthirsty monster, unable to go back the same way you came until you find the strength or means to overcome it, or find a way to go around, going deeper through the mountain...

... certainly SOUNDS like the start of an adventure.

C! (and pray there aren't drums in the deep)
>>
No. 1013265 ID: 0840c2

>>1013200
A: stop healing Alex and enhance his physical ability, hoping it will be enough to defeat the Wendigo before he dies
>>
No. 1015226 ID: ca2950
File 163697973761.png - (190.27KB , 780x768 , 8.png )
1015226

We make a break for the narrow passage and continue to fend off the Wendigo. The cramped quarters make it difficult for the monster to swing its long arms and we start to gain the advantage, until it breaks off and disappears out of sight.

"Did we win?"

Wendigos are pretty vicious and don't give up on eating whatever they've got their eyes on, so it's probably just trying to find a better way to rip us apart.

"I doubt it. Keep your guard up, Kei."

Things are looking up, but are still not going all that great.

"The whole point of coming here was to see if the cave systems connected to whatever the VSA is poking around at. So we might find another way out somewhere in here... or we might get super lost," says Keimi.
>>
No. 1015229 ID: 5a5755

Well, forwards then.
>>
No. 1015230 ID: b73e3a

Alright, that was a long and tough battle. Time to set up a camp and spend the night.
>>
No. 1015234 ID: 3f74e4

Combat tactics 101. Always keep the path to exfil clear of hostiles.

You were poorly readied for that before, but after all that you've got some idea of what you have to deal with.
Top off with heals, stay alert, ears wide. Detect it before it detects you. Stay far away, it just has melee, but you both have fire. Light it up, fry it to a crisp before it gets close. Be ready to retreat to this alcove if you screw up.
>>
No. 1018741 ID: ca2950
File 164083200077.png - (59.28KB , 540x471 , 9.png )
1018741

"Alright, Kei. Now that we have the strategic advantage, we can finish it off."

Keimi seems hesitant and stays huddled up against the cave wall.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to keep it up without taking a break. I don't want you getting hurt for real if I can't heal you."

If she's to tired to keep fighting, we're probably not going to do well, since we only broke even last time. Better find another way and somewhere safe to rest.
"Okay. Let's find find somewhere safe to take a breather and look for another route out of here."

Keimi looks a little down. She was so lively a few minutes ago when everything was only moderately dangerous.

"Sorry, Alex. You might get hurt because I'm being irresponsible. Let's just get out of here as soon as possible."
>>
No. 1018746 ID: 894419

>>1018741
Relax, so far this is less dangerous than last time and we survived that one just fine. That said we really should have packed a gun or two.
>>
No. 1018771 ID: 3743c7

Yeah, seems like you should have brought a bit more gear. Little late to fix that, though.
Either way, you should rest a bit.
After that, there's two ways to play this.

First, if that beast sleeps, wait for it to fall asleep, stealth past it (or kill it while it's asleep). Go home, get kitted out a bit better. Doubt either of you is the cautious type, though, so...
Two, scout the area close by. Might be hostiles. Might be zero hostiles. Might be stuff leftover by people who are supposed to deal with this stuff. Tough to say. Best you at least figure out what you have to deal with, so if you have to fight, you set the terms.
>>
No. 1018773 ID: 9a2966

Cheer her up and say you appreciate her feeling like being more careful, but if she wants to keep exploring, you'd be up for it.

You two would just have to try to find some other non-wendigo way out of here while exploring, right? If you can't do so in a reasonable amount of time you'll double back. Maybe the wendigo will have moved on, be sleeping or whatnot then.
>>
No. 1018775 ID: ae9bd9

>>1018746
I disagree that it is less dangerous, we had guns last time. That ofc leads to your other point.

We should really retreat tf out of here and get some guns and more armor (like helmets). Hell, is Keimi even wearing any trauma plates in or under that jacket? Honestly, we are sorely ill-equipped for adventuring even if there weren't monsters. I doubt the snacks we brought would be enough to last if we do get lost, or end up on the wrong side of a cave-in. We should probably reevaluate what to bring before we head back.
>>
No. 1021345 ID: ca2950
File 164320065913.png - (188.87KB , 804x716 , 10.png )
1021345

"It's fine, Kei. We just need to get away from that thing for now and find another way out, which is sort of what we wanted to do anyway."

Keimi sighs and starts to look around, heading away from the passage with the wendigo.
"Alright, I guess. It's not like we have much of a choice now."

We move along until we're probably sort of safe and take a break.
"Do we know where we're going?" I ask.
Keimi reaches into her coat and takes out a folded piece of paper.
"Yeah, I made a copy of the ground scan," she says around a mouthful of energy bar. "There's a void here and a bunch of irregularities here that look like cave systems, so we can probably find a way around here."

"That looks like a bunch of wavy lines."
"It's a ground scan. You just need to know how to read it," she says, gesturing with the paper.
"Do you know how to read it? Do you know anything about cave science at all?"
"It's called geology, dummy."
"Yeah, well, how much to you know about geology then?"
"Tsk... L-Let's get moving."

That's a little concerning, but nothing is going too wrong just yet.
>>
No. 1021346 ID: ee9ae6

Let's keep moving through the caves then. Go find more of that trouble that we've been searching for.
>>
No. 1021350 ID: 9a2966

Well, wavy lines or not, there's clearly a cave system here. Explore it!

... but do you have a way to mark your way so you can backtrack as needed?
>>
No. 1021351 ID: 34dfce

>>1021345
Nope, fuck that. You need helmets in order to go spelunking.

Mark my words, one of you is going to get a concussion or worse if you dont leave asap and get some.
>>
No. 1021453 ID: 91b0da

>>1021350
>do you have a way to mark your way so you can backtrack as needed?
They have crumbs from their food. Trail of breadcrumbs is a classic! Though that may attract beasts. Or rats.

>>1021351
Yeah, yeah, it's clear these kids are dumb. All they brought is food. They've faced zero hostiles with firearms. All melee. Simple sports gear as well as bike/motorcycle helmets would have helped with that. However, they're dumb kids. I doubt they'll go home after all this.
Still, hopefully some of those troops that are *supposed* to deal with this set up shop here at some time. If they left stuff to salvage, that'd be good.
>>
No. 1023443 ID: ca2950
File 164481623174.png - (180.97KB , 1024x1024 , 11.png )
1023443

We continue down into the caves and arrange loose stones into little stacks at any junctions to mark the way back, in case we don't find a way out this way.

"Should we have helmets?"
"What?"
"You know, in case rocks fall or something."
"It's funny that you would be worrying about safety," Keimi says with a huff. "Mister Compound-fracture-while-committing-crimes"."

Oh, she's gonna bring this up.

"Okay, first of all; it wasn't a crime. We just borrowed that snowrunner."
"So you returned it?"
"No. I was totally wrecked."
"Crime," she states matter-of-factly.
"And second, that jump was awesome."

Keimi doesn't appreciate wicked, vehicle-based acrobatics.
"Was it worth the floppy leg?"
"Yes. Yes, it was."

Keimi pulls up her hood.
"Your anecdotes about suffering traumatic injuries have convinced me to protect my head. I keep my gigantic, powerful brain safe. Let's keep going."

The tunnel seems to turn into more of those old ruins at this point and there's some junk lying around. So at least we might find something neat and not just get lost.
>>
No. 1023445 ID: e51896

kick that ball over there in the ball.

What I'm trying to say is

Kick that green round thing that is on that orb over there.
>>
No. 1023446 ID: 96c896

Poke the ancient abandoned technology.
>>
No. 1023450 ID: a355d6

Lift Keimi and have her sit on your shoulders. Tell her that she's your helmet now.
>>
No. 1023459 ID: 30b9f6

>>1023446
I agree, but where can we find a stick this far below ground?


But seriously, is that like a laser tripwire or something? Maybe don't poke it direct. Looks like some kind of advanced tech, though. Keimi, study this object keenly. Use your student powers!

Alex scout ahead just a bit.
>>
No. 1023468 ID: 894419

>>1023443
touch hands all over derelict space bullshit and proceed deeper into ruins
>>
No. 1032379 ID: ca2950
File 165265951664.png - (153.52KB , 1024x768 , 12.png )
1032379

I warn Keimi to be careful of the thing on the ground, unless it has a trap trigger in it or something. She examines it, then picks up one of the parts laying next to it.

"It's not a trap. It's some kind of drone. It's not Valdran, Zieh or Aaloxi design. Do you think it's Urosian?"
"I have no idea, Kei."
"It's either them or some mystery race of aliens nobody has ever met before. If it's not Urosian, maybe it was made by whoever made the Urosians. They're machines, so somebody had to build them, right?" she says, turning the plate shaped thing around in her hands.
"Stands to reason, I guess."

Keimi seems pretty engrossed in the robot parts.

"So we're at very least going to get to sneak around in the ruins of a reclusive race of ancient robots or maybe something even weirder."
"Now we have to dodge antique androids as well as wendigos and maybe the military?" I ask, feeling a little less certain about being able to deal with this.

"Do you think we'll see something still operational down here? That would be so cool!"
>>
No. 1032380 ID: e51896

See if we can turn that robot on...
not in that way, pervert
>>
No. 1032384 ID: d2ac49

"Okay Alexa, buy dog treats"
>>
No. 1032388 ID: a68c82

Wendigos and weird alien technology? What a wierd cave. Can she turn it on?
>>
No. 1032438 ID: 899c9f

>>1032380
Maybe in that way. Try sitting on its face.
>>
No. 1032579 ID: 9748c8

Nah, let's leave the mountain. Not that your choice matters since Keimi is just gonna drag you deeper along with her.
>>
No. 1032999 ID: 5b0071

>>1032379
Definitely.
Maybe we can find an obedient one that can kill the wendigo.
>>
No. 1034415 ID: ca2950
File 165447257198.png - (110.81KB , 1024x768 , 13.png )
1034415

Keimi is looking over the drone, so I ask her if it might still work and if it might be able to blast that wendigo.
"I don't know. Nothing is showing any signs of wear or oxidation, but I don't think anything has power. Batteries are dead, probably," she says, shrugging.
I consider everything for a moment and look back toward the cave we came in through.
"Maybe we should make a run for it and go home, before something else can go wrong."
Keimi walks a short distance in the opposite direction.
"Yeah, I guess. If we need to be rescued, we'll never hear the end of it," she replies, her voice trailing off down the hall.
"Kei, I thought we were leaving," I call after her.
"Yeah, yeah. I just want to see a little bit..."

I follow her down the dark hall to find her crouched down, looking at something.
"Look. There's more of these drone things, but these ones are smaller. Maybe maintenance?"
"They didn't do a very good job."
"You don't know how long they've been down here. Besides, they look smashed up. Maybe they didn't get to do their job because someone or something went around and busted them all."

I look around a bit. Everything is smooth and clean. It doesn't feel like some ancient ruin. It's more like someone just stepped out a few minutes ago and turned out the lights before they left.
No signs of wendigos wandering in here either, which might be good for us, if they're too spooked to come in here, but it might also just be that there's nothing to eat in here most of the time and now they have a reason.

"Ready to go?"
"Yeah, just let me find a good one to take back."
>>
No. 1034416 ID: ca2950
File 165447260832.png - (65.21KB , 587x438 , 14.png )
1034416

I can hear the rustling of Keimi standing up suddenly
and a squeak of fear, which gets my attention immediately.

"This one still works. What do I do?"
>>
No. 1034420 ID: 899c9f

Catch it.
>>
No. 1034422 ID: 8483cf

Keimi, aren't you a genius hacker? Try some basic commands in a couple different programming languages to see if it responds.
>>
No. 1034427 ID: e51896

Grab it! use your coat like a net to cover and hold it in if you have to Keimi!
>>
No. 1034437 ID: 47cf7b

Well, if you turn it on, you can turn it off. You can analyze it later when we are out of here.
>>
No. 1034462 ID: 9748c8

Tell her that it looks more like a pleasure done, so she can safely stick it down her panties.
>>
No. 1034463 ID: 96c896

>>1034416
Uhhh... hello?
>>
No. 1034465 ID: 894419

>>1034416
Bap it away, give it a real solid backhand!
>>
No. 1034468 ID: 5b0071

>>1034416
Talk to it. Say hi in every language you know.

Maybe see if it will let you pick it up again
>>
No. 1034473 ID: 9a2966

>>1034468
Hi in every language sounds wise. Maybe follow up with, "lead us to a safe exit, please, a wendigo is about" or some other variation of "danger close, halp exit".

Don't let it taze you. Bet they can!
>>
No. 1035267 ID: ca2950
File 165551538090.png - (193.24KB , 1024x768 , 15.png )
1035267

"Uh... Try to say something to it, in any languages you know. Maybe it'll recognize something."
Keimi kind of edges away from the drone thing.
"H-Hello? Do you understand me?" she asks, no response.
"Taka'funuu. Kihini i unitsu sa eshiku tsuno kuri shi?"
Still nothing.
"Hei? Yimarat ko meenua? I don't know if these is working," she says, turning back to me.
"I don't know. Try another language."
Keimi slowly steps back, trying to distance herself from the drone.
"Why don't you come over here and talk to it then, Mister Multi-lingual?"

Suddenly, it starts emitting a light, then turns around and fires off down the hall and makes a sharp right turn at an intersection.

Keimi seems spooked, but otherwise fine.


What the hell was that?
>>
No. 1035271 ID: 273c18

Follow it!
>>
No. 1035277 ID: d523de

>>1035271
Maybe it understood and is trying to lead you out?

... went off a bit fast, though. Still, should probably follow. Only thing around here that knows its way around.
>>
No. 1035282 ID: e51896

Chase!
>>
No. 1035290 ID: 8483cf

Tease the "genius", then chase!
>>
No. 1035301 ID: 9748c8

Follow that flying vibrator!

>Keimi seems spooked
More like, she creamed herself from this high tech stuff.
>>
No. 1036015 ID: ca2950
File 165627903815.png - (182.45KB , 1024x768 , 16.png )
1036015

"So, do we follow it?" I ask Keimi.
She straightens herself up and brushes at her hair, trying to act calm.
"Oh, yeah. Sure."

We head in the direction of the hover drone thing and end up in a big, empty room, except for the drone and a strangely familiar mass of twisted flesh, which the drone is shining a light on, making it the center of attention.
When I look at it closer, it's just sitting there, stuck on the wall like a big piece of gum.

"That's not good."
"It's not moving at least. Maybe it wants us to clear the door," Keimi says, keeping behind me slightly.
"Yeah, but how? Do we just start hacking at it?"
Keimi shrugs.
"I have no idea. I just know it's terrifying and I don't want it to start moving because we tried to kill it wrong."

I can't tell if it can see us, but it does look like it's staring at us. It seems safe to assume that it's not going to do anything if we don't try to get through the door it's blocking up, but it's probably also safe to assume it's dangerous and we should expect it to attack us, given the chance.
>>
No. 1036016 ID: 273c18

>>1036015
Hold up, is that a tendril connected to it, running along the ceiling? Perhaps this is part of a larger mass, and you can simply cut the ceiling-connection to disable it, then hack it off.
>>
No. 1036017 ID: 8483cf

Why are we still here? Just to suff- uh, invite danger?

Question your life choices and consider leaving.
>>
No. 1036025 ID: 9748c8

Oh, a tentacle monster... I like where this is going.

First, talk to the flying vibrator. Ask if it can show you the monster's weak points. Probably not gonna work, but worth a try.

Alex can cast Fal? Or was it Keimi? The monster doesn't look terribly mobile, so attacking from the range should work, assuming that the high up tendril doesn't turn up any other clues.
>>
No. 1036026 ID: f73077

>>1036015
Step one should be checking out that ceiling tendril. It could lead to other, more vulnerable parts you can kill it with.. or a part that will try to retaliate if you attack
>>
No. 1036028 ID: e51896

Follow where that gross ceiling tendril leads you to.
>>
No. 1036054 ID: f373c9

Search for Monsterfucker Permits(tm), doublecheck if level is high enough :V
>>
No. 1036092 ID: ca2950
File 165630123145.png - (40.07KB , 751x601 , 17.png )
1036092

On closer inspection, there is a long meat tube running along the ceiling, which does go way back toward the hall we started in, then pries open the panels to worm off somewhere we can't see anymore.

"Hey, Kei. Does that remind you of anything?"
"Oh my God, shut up! I wonder where it goes, though. It's almost got to be connected to something else. None of the other tendrils go far from the main body," she says, standing up on her toes to look closer at the tentacle.

"I could try hacking it off and see if that does anything or we can look for whatever's on the other end. What do you think?"

Keimi wrinkles her nose and sways from side to side, doing some deep thinking about the options. "I don't know. It seems like something bad could happen either way."
>>
No. 1036103 ID: 273c18

>>1036092
Oh drat, I guess that means this part of the monster is the main body.

...I suspect that the reason it's done this is that it's boobytrapped itself. Let's go check where the tendril goes.
>>
No. 1036150 ID: 9748c8

It's probably where it's getting its food from. You know how some places on its body look lighter than the rest? It's as if those places used to be cut there, and the monster regenerated them.

I say, cut this thing on the lighter spot, and at the same time burn it to prevent regeneration. It might also be that, whatever is being supplied through this cord is flammable, and the flame would cause internal combustion.
>>
No. 1036151 ID: b0b5f8

Fire sounds like the safest option, yes.
>>
No. 1036157 ID: 30b9f6

Try to look for what's on the other end. As has been pointed out, this thing appears to have regenerated some damage already. If we can figure out what feeds it (it can't be drawing energy from rock and metal materials... can it?), we might stand a better chance of disabling it permanently.

This is definitely reminiscent of those beasties from earlier, though.
>>
No. 1036341 ID: ca2950
File 165641440508.png - (47.51KB , 1024x768 , 18.png )
1036341

Since we maybe want to be a little cautious, we check around for signs of the tendril leading somewhere.
After checking a few empty rooms, we find a big glob of meat stuff at the end of the hall that trails off around the corner.

"Do you think that's it?"
"I'd say the odds are pretty good," Keimi says. "At least it doesn't look like it has any differentiated parts over here. The eyes are creepy."
This is just a big gumwad of flesh. I wonder why it gets so big here, though.
>>
No. 1036342 ID: 9748c8

Attack its weak point.
>>
No. 1036363 ID: 9aeb7d

Cast magic missile at it. After that, rip it away and see if there's, like, a power source here.
>>
No. 1036366 ID: 30b9f6

>>1036341
Might be something feeding it on the other side of the wall?

This blob also has 'scars' on it, though. Maybe they're not scars after all, but some sort of veins or outgrowths? Or someone did a lot of attacking of this thing - and at various points at that!

Well... at least this part of it doesn't appear to have any obvious means of defending itself. Maybe you can kill the big thing by the door by chopping it off at the source here.

Start blastin', cuttin' and remember to stay the heck away from its juices. That one woman who got covered in it got KO'd pretty bad. Plus that stuff melted clothes - that'd be a pretty bad thing in this weather.

Could also peek up the corridor before you get started to see if there's any surprises coming from that direction.
>>
No. 1036394 ID: 273c18

>>1036341
There's probably something under it. Blast it and peel it off the wall.
>>
No. 1036526 ID: f73077

>>1036341
It was probably a feeding tendril.
Severing it may weaken the main body.
There's probably some kind of corpse underneath or inside of it.
>>
No. 1037667 ID: ca2950
File 165750113232.png - (145.63KB , 1024x768 , 19.png )
1037667

When we get closer, the lumpy part splits open and starts spitting more lumps of gross meat on the floor, which quickly jump up onto their horribly little feet.

"Those are the same creatures from the lab!" Keimi exclaims.

"Ya think?"

"I mean, the door monster shares a lot of traits with them, so it's not that surprising," she states, matter-of-factly.

"I think we've upset the locals, Kei. What should we do?"

She looks at me and shrugs.
"Should we smack them?"
>>
No. 1037668 ID: 899c9f

Wait, so the whole lab thing still happened?
Smacking worked last time!
>>
No. 1037669 ID: 15c72a

You should smack them.
>>
No. 1037670 ID: 7c25f3

Smack them, but don't get smacked by them, they have some toxin that paralyzes you. If i remember correctly.
>>
No. 1037671 ID: dc1018

>>1037667
You appear to have found a cloaca.
>>
No. 1037687 ID: c5322d

Fire spell's preferred. Why use melee when you have the power of range?
Of course if you have limited mana, then melee makes a degree of sense.
>>
No. 1037748 ID: 4286b4

Let them stab Keimi, I wanna see what kind of a game-over screen we get.

Alternatively, cut up these two up while Keimi burns the hole.
>>
No. 1037750 ID: 9a2966

Oh ew, a birthenin' sack.

Have Keimi shoot 'em. Only smack 'em if they try leaping for Keimi.
>>
No. 1037920 ID: 591e1d

Shoot, smack.
Fire might cause the building to be set on fire
>>
No. 1040409 ID: ca2950
File 166001906926.png - (228.10KB , 867x683 , 20.png )
1040409

The creatures are soft and squishy, so I can easily take out one of them in a single strike, but before I can hit the other one, it erupts into flames and evaporates in the blast. I think Keimi is holding a grudge against these thing.

I manage to avoid having my tail singed off and the creatures are wiped out.

Remind me not to piss her off.
>>
No. 1040410 ID: ddc2e6

Piss her off
>>
No. 1040411 ID: e51896

Okay, don't piss her off

Flame spell the monster on the wall now.
>>
No. 1040412 ID: 894419

>>1040409
Quickly while your sort of GF is distracted by her bloodlust start hacking away at that wall meat tube thingy
>>
No. 1040414 ID: a5732a

Quit looking like a happy ballet dancer seriously, that's meme image material right there and genocide those bugs! Oh, no more bugs? Slaughter that thing on the wall so you can continue to metroidvania your way through here GENOCIDE BUGS!
>>
No. 1041467 ID: ca2950
File 166111026991.png - (88.83KB , 532x457 , 21.png )
1041467

The meat vine just kind of crawls back together and reattaches when cut. Even if we burn it, it reabsorbs the damaged area and reconnects itself. It's an interesting and gross thing to see.
After a few attempts, I stop for now. It might provoke another attack if I keep it up.

I guess I could if there's nothing better to do.



"Hey, Alex."

"Yeah?"

I turn around and the little hover drone is floating near Keimi, making light patterns in the air.

"I think it's trying to tell us something," she says, staring at its blinking.

"Like what?"

"I dunno," Keimi says with a shrug. "Should we follow it or something?"
>>
No. 1041468 ID: e51896

Poke it

otherwise, just follow it
>>
No. 1041469 ID: 8483cf

Keimi's the genius, see if the lights correspond to an intelligible pattern.
>>
No. 1041470 ID: 899c9f

>>1041468
Do both.
>>
No. 1041472 ID: e51896

Also, give Keimi a scratch behind her ears. no reason other than an urge.
>>
No. 1041480 ID: 15c72a

>>1041467
Well I guess you can't get rid of this part, so try going back to the door and killing enough of that to get through.
>>
No. 1041481 ID: 9a2966

Try to make sense of the light patterns, maybe? Any logic to 'em?
>>
No. 1041631 ID: 8a5496

Tell the drone, "Change language: Engrish", or whatever your language is called.

If that doesn't work, then... follow the drone.
>>
No. 1043550 ID: ca2950
File 166295301876.png - (208.85KB , 903x768 , 22.png )
1043550

We follow the drone along the hallway, go through an intersection that leads into a room with some old consoles standing in the floor. Maybe a control room of some kind.

Keimi examines the computer.

"Do you know how amazing this is?" she exclaims.
"Not really. Kind of looks normal to me," I say.
"Yeah, but it's super old. Whatever made this might have had our modern level of technology when our ancestors were still hunting peera out on the tundra."
"The Uros were more advanced than us before that."
"Okay, but they're robots, they don't need the manual input stations, so this is probably someone else!"
"I guess it would be more exciting if we didn't have four intelligent races living in the system already."

Keimi pouts a bit.

"These ones are different and presumably dead, so that makes them more interesting than someone you can just go talk to."
>>
No. 1043551 ID: ca2950
File 166295303896.png - (36.19KB , 670x483 , 23.png )
1043551

"There's also these stupid meat monsters that probably have some kind of relevance to science, I guess..." she grumbles, shining her flashlight along the flesh tendril snaking along the wall. "They're mostly just a big problem and they suck."
>>
No. 1043552 ID: ca2950
File 166295310343.png - (181.31KB , 1024x768 , 24.png )
1043552

The light sweeps across the room and catches a gleam off of the glassy eyes of another creature like the one blocking the door, but this one is bigger, taking up the whole back wall of the room from ceiling to floor. Keimi makes a surprised sound and shuffles backwards.
"Don't worry. It's not moving, yet," I say, getting ready, just in case something does happen.
After a few long moments, nothing happens.
"Everything seems to be hibernating or something."
Keimi straightens up and keeps her flashlight on the creature.
"The other ones only activated when we got too close, so maybe we'll be okay if we stay over here," she says, keeping her eye out for any movement.

That eye in the center of its 'torso' looks like a good target, but considering how this thing is hooked into the whole facility, it might raise a big alarm to attack it. On the other hand, this thing is connected to the spawner pods and the door monster, so wiping it out might get rid of all the problems.

I'm kinda guessing it's going to end up being both.
>>
No. 1043553 ID: 8483cf

Don't do anything with the monsters yet. The drone brought you to the consoles, so examine these more closely.
>>
No. 1043565 ID: 15c72a

Check the consoles first and foremost. Think up a plan to output as much damage as possible in your first attack. Can you spend extra time charging up a fire spell? Can you set up delayed explosions?
>>
No. 1043600 ID: 30b9f6

Those face-tubes seem sort of like the squirtem that sprayed cloth-melting paralyzing acid goop all over Alma. Has the same number of eyes too, seems like? Guess these fellas are important in the meatsack hierarchy.

Have one of you keep an eye on it while the other tinkers with the console to see what might get it working (or see what else the drone attempts to direct you to do). Avoid waking the beastie by poking it and definitely avoid getting hit by that spray with extreme prejudice (if you can pry off the side of the console and use that as a shield. You don't wanna be nekkid when you return to the snow-bound outdoors.

If you HAVE to alpha strike it, do so by ensuring it can't direct it's schnozz-spray anywhere - cut those off and/or sear 'em shut before you go for the eyes... and on the off-hand chance this thing is just full of that melty goop, try not to get it all over you if you go in hack and slash style.
>>
No. 1044377 ID: ca2950
File 166379848781.png - (149.27KB , 689x529 , 25.png )
1044377

Keimi slides around behind me to keep my body between her and the thing and peeks out from under my arm.
"Hey, can you do something with this computer?"
She shuffles her feet.
"There's no power, so I can't even tell if it works, let alone how it works," she replies.
"We could go look for a power switch. We haven't really explored much."

Keimi nods.
"Maybe. Then we wouldn't have to walk around in the dark."
"That would be nice."
"And I don't want to mess with this thing, because it might shoot acid that melts clothes off and poisons you."
"Better be careful or I might die how I lived; very sexy."
Keimi scoffs. "Har, har. Let's not do that."
>>
No. 1044378 ID: ca2950
File 166379850520.png - (36.04KB , 1024x696 , 26.png )
1044378

We've mostly just walked down a long hall, so there was a few side halls we didn't go down. Maybe we can find something that controls the power systems or who knows what.
That creature sustains the thing that's blocking the door, but we can't open the door without power. This is starting to seem like work.
>>
No. 1044381 ID: 15c72a

>>1044378
Alright let's check in the room right across the hall. (up)
>>
No. 1044534 ID: 4286b4

>>1044381
That.

Maybe we can find a Flesh-Monster-B-Gone spray.
Even if we don't find anything, there's always the "seduce" option.
>>
No. 1044551 ID: ca2950
File 166394913998.png - (192.48KB , 1024x768 , 27.png )
1044551

A bit of exploring and we find a room full of machinery. Judging from the conduits everywhere, this is whatever this place uses to produce power.
That was easy.

Keimi walks over and taps at the console.
"Doesn't work."

Shit.
Okay. There's a big cannister thing and a spot that looks like a big cannister goes, so I heave it into place,
and nothing happens.

"I think the battery is dead," Keimi says.
"I kind of figured. Alright, we just need to find a new one."
Keimi shuffles her feet.
"Okay. If you were an ancient alien power cell, where would you be?"
I shrug.
"Gotta be around here somewhere, right? Let's keep looking around and try not to disturb the flesh horrors."

Keimi looks annoyed and narrows her eyes at me.
"When you say it like that, you make this sound like a terrible idea."
"Hey. This is your irresponsible secret cave adventure, I'm just tagging along."
>>
No. 1044552 ID: ca2950
File 166394914989.png - (43.47KB , 1024x599 , 28.png )
1044552

We know where the power generator is and there's a few places we haven't checked.
Time to meander.
>>
No. 1044557 ID: a1a0ff

Alright, time for the South corridor.
>>
No. 1044558 ID: ba37ee

Let's go south. It's the closest unexplored place.
>>
No. 1044560 ID: 8a5496

Show the big canister to the floating vibrator.
>>
No. 1044563 ID: 9a2966

Let's backtrack all the way to the entrance and check the unchecked room there.

Supply closets are usually close to the entrance.
>>
No. 1044760 ID: ca2950
File 166416287023.png - (142.46KB , 981x768 , 29.png )
1044760

The corridor to the south or left or whatever turns out to be filled with horrible alien meat and a handful of creatures, too.

"I'm starting to think this is a terrible place to hang around in."
Keimi scoffs.
"I figured that out a while ago. But look! There's a new one I haven't seen before. Do you think they have one of those at the lab or did we discover a new subspecies?"
"It looks like a roasted bird..."

These things probably wouldn't just be wandering around down here for no reason. I'm thinking they're waking up from us stabbing their little guys and shining lights on their giant eyeballs.
"I think we're stirring up the hive, Kei."
"Hm... Maybe."
"What do we do about it?"
"I dunno. Do you want to smack them?"
>>
No. 1044763 ID: 8483cf

Bait them into attacking a spot illuminated by the flashlight, and then when they're grouped up, fry them all at once, but do it when they're away from the tentril. Don't fry the tendril.
>>
No. 1044766 ID: e51896

>>1044763
Do this
>>
No. 1044813 ID: 8a5496

Kill them just a little bit so that they let you through.
>>
No. 1044830 ID: 1545e9

Kill them or they will attack you in the back later.
>>
No. 1044831 ID: 30b9f6

Argh, new enemy. Be super careful, you don't know its capabilities. Seems like it'll be a tougher thing, maybe, so try to get the drop on it. If it's like almost every other type of critter encountered it could have some sort of disabling attack.

Ugh. This is an escalation thing, but you can't leave enemies creeping around and ambushing you as you wander back and forth.

Try to pop the small ones with ranged attacks, then retreat around the corner and ambush-slash the larger critter once it comes after you (if they come after you) - try to keep distance from its front and don't give it time to react. Then jog for the remaining unexplored corridor to see if you can hunt down a power thingy before too many new critters get spawned.

Be on the lookout for more waking enemies as you go, you could end up surrounded here if you're not careful. At some point soon you may just have to admit defeat and run back to take your chances with the wendigo.

>carry on forward through tentacle tunnel
Let's not wander down a meat hallway from which more enemies can spawn behind us if we can help it - at least one of those vein lumps seems... full. At least if we leave and come back, we might see if it's about to burst with more critters.
>>
No. 1045936 ID: ca2950
File 166531683807.png - (133.81KB , 814x635 , 30.png )
1045936

Picking off the small ones is easy enough and now we just have to deal with the new thing, which is super eager to just rush us.

I refuse to die to something this stupid looking.
>>
No. 1045937 ID: 8a5496

It's a tough decision but, you'll have to smack this one as well.

Use evasive pattern delta.
>>
No. 1045944 ID: e51896

Pick up Keimi and use her as a shield

Kidding

Just simply take one step to the left to dosge, then bonk it.
>>
No. 1045947 ID: 9a2966

Man, the way this guy rushes in, hope his 'type' isn't a form of suicide bombers or anything. Guess they're biters, with those chompers.

Maneuver - duck, dodge or sidestep its charges and jumps, then slash or kick as it passes or as you move about. Try to keep a bit of a distance, you should at least have melee range over it. If it opens its mouth it might spit or something, so definitely don't leave yourself open for that.
>>
No. 1045948 ID: c9b764

It's really weird that it's just rushing, it must have a trick up its sleeve...
Rush toward it but feint and dodge to keep your distance.
>>
No. 1045984 ID: 15c72a

>>1045936
Focus on evasion, see how it behaves. Exploit vulnerabilities-- like, does it run into walls if one's behind you? Does it have trouble turning? Will it run blindly into your sword?
>>
No. 1046729 ID: ca2950
File 166597143474.png - (110.82KB , 543x443 , 31.png )
1046729

It tracks me fairly quickly when I dodge out of its way, so I guess I can't just trick it into not trying to bite me.

"What should I do?" Keimi calls from behind me.

With me scuffling with this thing, it's not a clear target for her.

Should I tell her to:

>help hit it
>shoot it anyway and try not to catch me in the crossfire
>buff my strength
>buff my defense
>>
No. 1046730 ID: a7a180

Buff your defense. Darn melee users, always getting in the way of the mage's firebolts.
>>
No. 1046731 ID: e51896

Buff defenses!
>>
No. 1046734 ID: 15c72a

>>1046729
Strength. Then keep its teeth away from you using your sword until you can grab one of its arms. Keep a strong grip and swing it around like a ragdoll until it stops moving.
>>
No. 1046742 ID: 8483cf

De-fense!

Clap clap

De-fense!
>>
No. 1046744 ID: bd97d3

How do you know it's trying to bite you?

Buff strength.
>>
No. 1046749 ID: df47df

Buff defense. It will help you survive whatever nasty surprise it's got in store.
>>
No. 1046750 ID: 30b9f6

I'd say Buff Strength. The sooner you can end this fight, the better, right?
>>
No. 1046841 ID: bcab5a

First two are no-go.
First may get the squishy spellslinger damaged.
Second will probably go bad if you have to dodge.

So, last two.
Would appear the bugger's got speed. Question is what else does it have?
Probably best to play safe 'til you're sure, so go defense.
Still, have her ready to blast it if it disengages. Will probably go after her if it does.

Would say go speed if we had that but alas, we do not have speed spells.
>>
No. 1047896 ID: ca2950
File 166716954703.png - (211.64KB , 747x760 , 32.png )
1047896

I shout to Keimi to protect me while I rush the thing even harder.

Any hits from the creature feel muted and I can focus on slicing right through the thing as hard as I can, splitting its head wide open and it goes down without issue.
>>
No. 1047897 ID: ca2950
File 166716960127.png - (116.21KB , 680x717 , 33.png )
1047897

Keimi cheers and pumps her fist.
"Yay! Winners!" she hoots. "We're having fun now!"

She seems happy to be fighting weird monsters in an ancient ruin.
A little weird, since she's never wanted to take many risks before now, but it's definitely not boring, so I guess I can't blame her.

The hallway is clear of monsters, unless you count the weird meat-roots growing on the walls.
>>
No. 1047898 ID: e51896

Continue down the hall. When you reach the corner, peek over there
>>
No. 1047900 ID: 8483cf

The monsters are waking up now, but they're slow. Focus on making your way forward quickly, before they wake up entirely.
>>
No. 1047901 ID: 15c72a

>>1047897
Alright get moving further down. We already know the roots regenerate so trying to cut them down is pointless. However, they were protecting something, so whatever it is is something we're quite interested in.
>>
No. 1047930 ID: 9a2966

Join Keimi in the RPG victory dance. 'tis obligatory.

Poke at the dead body you sliced open. Any interesting observations to be made of its innards?

And since you cleared the enemy, proceed down the hall - but with caution. Check if the veins have telltale bulges that might disgorge enemies behind you.
>>
No. 1048041 ID: efc971

Collect the phat lootz
>>
No. 1048189 ID: e51896

You know what, yeah, join in on the awkward dancing
>>
No. 1049146 ID: ca2950
File 166835383124.png - (230.52KB , 658x680 , 34.png )
1049146

Attempting to victory dance immediately causes her to become self-conscious and stop.
"What's the matter, Kei? Having fun in this life-threatening situation?"

She straightens up and tries to brush it off.
"N-No. It's just exciting to see all this scientifically relevant... stuff." she says.­ "That's all."

She seems to mull things over for a moment and continues.
"After the first time, I kind of started worrying that nothing exciting would ever happen again. I'd just go back to my life and it would just be a funny thing that happened once. Then I started thinking, what if I could do something where I could explore and always have something new to discover, but I didn't know how to do that properly, so I snuck out here with you and here we are. I think I'm just being selfish, probably," she says, looking kind of sheepish.

"Sounds like you're having your run-of-the-mill existential crisis. ­It's normal."
"Yeah, well... Whatever. We just need to figure out what we want to do now."
"Like, in life or right now in this situation?"
"Yeah..."
>>
No. 1049148 ID: efc971

>After the first time
Reassure her that just because she lost her virginity it doesn't mean the 2nd and 3rd time are gonna be bland.
Also, that you're sure that you're about to uncover some intergalactic conspiracy which will lead to more exciting adventures and meeting many new friends with benef-, I mean, interesting friends.
>>
No. 1049165 ID: 8483cf

Would Keimi have gone out and started exploring by herself if you hadn't come along?

If so, she's not being selfish by letting you come along. She's telling you that she's going to do something stupid, and offering you the chance to stop terrible things from happening when she does.
>>
No. 1049861 ID: ca2950
File 166912175753.png - (256.81KB , 818x655 , 35.png )
1049861

"So the first time was so good, you're worried nothing will ever be as good again?" I ask, heaving her up to eye level. She's not very heavy. Almost entirely fluff in a big coat.
"You know what I mean, dummy."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you're not selfish if you were going to come out here on your own and I choose to follow you."
She smiles faintly.
"No way. I'd get eaten by a wendigo instantly that way. I need a meat shield."
"Okay. You are kind of selfish."
Keimi props herself up on my shoulders.
"I just admitted that already, but you're going to let me get away with it, right?"
"For now, I guess. Should we keep going into the unknown?"

She kicks her feet in the air, starting to get fidgety from being held up.
"Yeah. It's been like a minute since we got attacked by meat monsters. We need to keep up the pace."
"If you wanted to get attacked by a meat monster, we could have stayed home and you could just ask."

Keimi starts drumming furiously on my chest with her fists. The amount of force is not very impressive.
"Ah! Stop being a perv!"
"I refuse. Besides, you're not completely innocent yourself."
"Yes, I am. Always." she says defiantly, puffing out her cheeks.
"What about the time th-"
"I said always!"
>>
No. 1049862 ID: ca2950
File 166912177822.png - (200.89KB , 1024x768 , 36.png )
1049862

I set her down and we continue down the hall for a bit, a few closed doors block the way, but the meat-roots lead down to a room that's just swarming with the different kinds of monsters, including a big one I've never seen before.
The floaty eyebot makes some movements in the air that seem to indicate it wants to go in there, but it's a big mess in there.

"You wanted meat monsters, you got them. There's a ton in there."
"Is it a problem?"
"I don't know. There's a kind of beefy looking one I've never seen before."
Keimi seems lost in thought.
"We'll probably live, right?"
"I would hope so, so I'm going to be an optimist and say yes."
"I'll leave it up to you, so whatever happens, it's your fault," she says, nodding to herself.
>>
No. 1049867 ID: 894419

>>1049862
Okay Adds First, big guy last. Have keimi smoke the hoppers while you deal with the medium size back ranks. Hoppers are slow, no clue how fast the other monsters are but perhaps it'd be wise to put your pet gremlin/girlfriend at the far end of the hallway and kite the enemies down it, so she has has much firing time on them as possible.
>>
No. 1049880 ID: 30b9f6

Oh wow. Yeah, this is a lot. And a biggun. Backup plan is to leggit, right? Right.

Can the floaty drone be told to distract the meatbeasts in a pinch? You don't want this thing damaged, though. Probably need it to have any understanding of what to do to get this place functional again.

>>1049862
This sounds like a somewhat workable plan, but we might be able to use the element of surprise better. Assuming we even have it against these hivemind-seeming things.

Could do a hit-and-run + ambush? Keimi leans through the doorway, zaps all the jumpers and pretends to flee down the hallway, only to turn to focus on strengthening Alex.

Stronk-Alex waits around the corner and doublehand overhead slices the first unfortunate thing to come scampering around - probably a chomper - then the next. Then it's oh god time. As long as Alex is fighting more than one foe, defensive buff should go up, though Keimi should prioritize targeting any additional jumpers, since they can KO with a sting. Or if something slips past Alex and aims for her she should prioritize that (and/or running in circles with it on her tail).

Might also be additional meatbeast reinforcements in there - the room is larger than we can see - so the faster we can dispatch the ones that come the better.

They might also not take the bait or try to corner-ambush you as well, so Keimi should zap 'em good when she reveals herself and hang on to doing so until it looks like they've well and truly taken the bait.

Alternatively... we've got some paths we haven't explored yet, haven't we? Could backtrack there, see if there's anything that could potentially give us an advantage here.
>>
No. 1049923 ID: 7c0da2

There is too many of them and there is probably more where you can't see them. You'll need a way to lure them somewhere else without acting as bait, or a more efficient way to take them down. Maybe lure the wendigo to them? Anyway, attacking them doesn't look like a good idea.
>>
No. 1049926 ID: 15c72a

>>1049867
Yeah, if Keimi stands near the end of the hallway, then Alex aggros them and draws them into the shooting gallery while keeping his distance and staying out of the line of fire, we should be able to thin their numbers before either of our heroes get injured.
>>
No. 1050009 ID: 4286b4

Might need to split them up somehow, or use a diversion to try and sneak through.

Whatever the case, it seems a tiny bit dangerous so I'd go and explore the other unexplored path first tho.
>>
No. 1050029 ID: bbb04b

This... seems like a bit much for us, at least for now. Especially if we're putting flesh roots behind us, though that shouldn't be necessary even if we do engage.

There's still a room to explore back near the entrance, right?
>>
No. 1050384 ID: ca2950
File 166960614960.png - (105.41KB , 706x483 , 37.png )
1050384

Trying to be sneaky, we're able to get some shots in from around the corner, then lure a couple in to finish them off.

The others are almost certainly going to rush in after all the commotion. We should probably get ready to deal with that.
>>
No. 1050389 ID: 61540c

Light the chokepoint up! Get a wall of fire going that they have to deal with to get to you guys!
>>
No. 1050396 ID: 15c72a

>>1050384
Brace! Get a defensive buff up, block their path, be the tank.
I don't suppose she can make spikes on the ground or something?
>>
No. 1050401 ID: 4eb864

>>1050389
ooh clever, lets go with that.
>>
No. 1050426 ID: e355ca

Plant some mines.
>>
No. 1050428 ID: 9a2966

Attack buff as long as Alex is only facing one enemy, Def buff if more.

Try to use the corridor length to string out the enemies - let the fastest ones get to you first and give Keimi space to nail them with more ranged attacks before they can reach you.
>>
No. 1051864 ID: ca2950
File 167112172891.png - (279.96KB , 1024x768 , 38.png )
1051864

The big one rushes up pretty quickly once the commotion starts and I nearly get smashed in the head.

"Kei! Shield!"

She obviously makes it in time, since the impact feels muted and I can block it without being thrown down the hall.

"Quick! Cast mines at its feet!"
"I can't do that!"
"Create a wall of fire to block them in!"
"I can't do that either!"
"What can you do?"
"I can run, because that thing's huge and it's gonna kill us!"

This thing is going to bulldoze me pretty easily if I just try to match it in a shoving contest.

"Alright, we either run or you slip past and see if it's guarding anything important, and maybe keep those little ones off me while I try to deal with this!"
"Are you nuts!?"
"Obviously, since I'm here in the first place! Pick something quick!"

My legs feel like they're gonna buckle. C'mon Kei, decide how we're doing this. It's your dumb alien ruin monster maze adventure.
>>
No. 1051867 ID: 5f7ef7

We run, we cant hold this monster off for much longer, keimi slipping past would take too long
>>
No. 1051874 ID: 9a2966

Oooh, of course the big one is the fastest one. Big enemies are only lumbering and slow in video games. Uh. Fuck it, try to juke it, then ruuuun!

To the narrow passage! This brute will be too big to get through and if it tries to squeeze in you can stab it lots!
>>
No. 1052080 ID: ca2950
File 167132180850.png - (129.46KB , 632x488 , 39.png )
1052080

We make a sudden, strategic withdrawal and wind back through the passages until it doesn't seem like anything is following us. What the hell was that? Don't these weird underground monsters know they're supposed to gradually increase in power in line with our strength so it's moderately challenging the entire time. They can't just throw a giant kill-beast at us. It's not fair.

"Ah... So, what do we do now?" Keimi says.

"I dunno. Maybe we should get out of here and come up with some kind of plan, if we want to keep stirring up the ancient alien hive."

"Yeah. I guess it's not a good idea to keep poking at it if we can't handle it. We can head back.
I don't think there's much more we can do right now, right?"
>>
No. 1052084 ID: 9a2966

>>1052080
There was a room right by where you entered that you haven't investigated yet.
>>
No. 1052087 ID: 15c72a

Aren't there other unexplored rooms?
>>
No. 1052180 ID: e51896

Yeah, lets explore the unexplored areas first before we decide to leave, like that room near where we entered
>>
No. 1052366 ID: 00eb4b

Turn to the flying vibrator for the plan.
>>
No. 1052414 ID: f73077

of course, if you try and leave, the Wendigo will be waiting. Are they smart enough to set traps?

Perhaps its time to start killing the lumpy bits of the wall meat.
>>
No. 1052417 ID: ebb557

Bait the big strong fast monster into fighting the Wendigo! It'll be a ways to run, though. Can Keimi keep up?
>>
No. 1053832 ID: ca2950
File 167381306179.png - (130.57KB , 658x768 , 40.png )
1053832

The room we didn't check when we got distracted by floaty ball is full of EVA suits.

"So whoever made this place was person-sized and shaped," Keimi says, checking the suits.

"I just kind of figured."

"You're not supposed to just figure! You're supposed to form a hypothesis based on collected evidence."

"That sounds like a hassle, so I'm just going to assume things."

She's starting to look irritated with me.

"You're a terrible scientist."

I shrug.

"Never claimed not to be."


I don't think this suit would be much help fighting these things. I don't think it's made for fighting or for using in gravity at all.

I mention to Keimi that we could try to lure the wendigo in here to fight the monsters and get rid of both threats at once.

"Yeah, I thought of that, but then I had to consider two things. The wendigo is avoiding this place, so it means that either it's afraid of these things or they're not digestible and it doesn't consider them food.
Considering how savage wendigos are when hunting, I'm thinking it's probably the latter. If we get it to come in here, it might focus on us, since we're actual prey items, then we'd have double the monster problem."

"Okay then, what should we do?"

Keimi thinks for a moment.

"I dunno."
>>
No. 1053834 ID: e51896

Just go home. Keimi was talking about going back earlier.
>>
No. 1053839 ID: 8483cf

Communicate with the floating beepy Alexa drone and see if there's anything we can do to gain the upper hand against Punchy Big Boi. Going home brings us back up against the Wendigo, no need to risk that again without trying to find another way out.
>>
No. 1053841 ID: 9a2966

>Suit not made for gravity
So... this is some kinda ancient spaceship that got buried in the mountain? Wow.

>Don't think the suit would be of much use
Hold on, if it's supertechy, what if it has a battery pack or something that still has some juice? Maybe that could be connected to that console the little drone wanted us to activate.

Also, if those things are detecting people by way of body heat or whatnot, maybe the suit could trick them into thinking you're inorganic? Or be a way for you to hide through hopping into it and sealing it up. Though if it's clumsy to move about in, I wouldn't take a chance on the former. These guys do have stuff that can (weirdly) melt clothes while seeping into the skin to KO you.

>Just leaving
If all else fails, we could, but maybe we should just take a shot (hah) at that torso thing? For how important it seems it wasn't as well defended as that other room.
>>
No. 1053843 ID: 15c72a

>>1053832
EVA suits make for decent armor... Alex could wear one to fight the big monster. Or maybe the Wendigo would be afraid of you if you wore it? Or consider you to not be food at least?
>>
No. 1053852 ID: dee951

>>1053843

EVA suits are typically custom-fitted to specific individuals, and also are incredibly unwieldy to move around in. You could spend a lot of time and use one as a base materials to *make armor with*, but they aren't really good for fighting.

Well, not this design at least. You'd need an armored mechanical counter-pressure suit or something, or something with powered mobility assist to counteract the 'you're a person-sized inflated balloon and can thus barely bend' issue, and those two things are even MORE custom made.
>>
No. 1054492 ID: ca2950
File 167447752863.png - (125.55KB , 720x595 , 41.png )
1054492

"Alright, Alex. I've thought of a few options that don't introduce more slavering monsters to the situation.
We can try to force that door open like this floaty eyeball seems to be trying to indicate we should, or I could distract that big monster and lure it past you, so you can sneak in behind it and see what it's got back there, maybe take out the small monsters while you're at it," Keimi says nonchalantly.

"That sounds a bit dangerous."
"As opposed to what? Besides, I'll sure to be fine, because my speed is superior!" she retorts.
"Kei, it's a big, powerful monster and you're a nerd with stubby legs."
Keimi huffs indignantly.
"Okay, whatever. I'll use my small to hide as soon as you sneak past it and I can always scream if something goes wrong and you can come save me," she says, wagging her finger. "Or we can just do something else, if you're that worried."
>>
No. 1054493 ID: 15c72a

>>1054492
Let's force the door open. Boost Alex's strength a lot and just manhandle it. ...no crowbars around huh?
>>
No. 1054503 ID: 08de23

Seconding forcing open the door. Be the Tom to her Ruby!
>>
No. 1054524 ID: 9a2966

>>1054493
>>1054503
It's a spaceship, even if it's old the bulkheads should be quite difficult to get up.

Maybe you could be clever about it, though - there might be some sort of manual release to these things built into the wall. That might be more forceable than the door itself.
>>
No. 1058528 ID: 68f7c5

I suggest that we first see if the flying drone could be used to do the scouting of the dangerous room. To see if it's capable of doing that, first instruct the drone to fly between Keimi's feet and do a 3D scan of topology of everything above it. And then to project a hologram of this topology in front of you.
If it's able to understand such complex instructions and carry them out, then scouting should be a piece of cake.
>>
No. 1058549 ID: 08de23

(( Can I just say how happy I am this is back? Thanks, Alex! ))
>>
No. 1059613 ID: ca2950
File 167991623786.png - (256.79KB , 1024x768 , 42.png )
1059613

We'll just break through that door the floating ball seems to really want to get through, but that means getting past the meat creature blocking it up.

"We're going to have to do a lot of damage all at once to get this thing out of the way long enough to open the door."

Keimi steps forward and holds up her staff.

"I'm not good enough at this to use it in a fight, but if I just need to get rid of this thing, I can probably manage. Now watch my back while I do some calculations. If they can sense what I'm doing, things might get messy," she says, preparing for whatever she's doing.

"Formation of spears, thunder of chariots, charge forth and shatter, vermilion flower that blooms and withers into desolation, blacken the earth and skies for as far as I seek!
Gran Fal!


I can feel heat and a shock wave, and when I turn around, the door monster is gone, except for a ragged flesh tube dangling from the ceiling.

"Holy shit, Kei. A few months ago you didn't even know basic attack techniques."

She looks a little winded, but also smug.

"Finding out there's monsters living under where I live has motivated me to practice. Pretty good, right?" she says, doing a little pose with her staff.

"Very impressive. Just like my Itanese animes."

She looks flustered, but is interrupted by a distant gurgling howl.

We'd better get moving. I think we've stirred the hive.
>>
No. 1059648 ID: 273c18

Yeah get through that door and try to close it behind you.
>>
No. 1060656 ID: 16b7a6

Lol, even the panels read right to left. Go through the door and block the path with anything on the other side.
>>
No. 1060740 ID: b57fea

>>1060656
+1
>>
No. 1061485 ID: 08de23

Thirding the above, also say a snappy one-liner as you barricade the door.
>>
No. 1062931 ID: ca2950
File 168348688511.png - (77.19KB , 658x527 , 43.png )
1062931

After the meat creature is blasted away, the door is free to be opened.
I have no idea how to open it, until a few hints from floating ball lets me shove the thing open, right as a mob of the resident flesh-beasts come flying around the corner, ready to tear us to shreds.
We slip through and I slam it shut, just in time to hear the pounding and clawing at the metal from the other side.
>>
No. 1062932 ID: ca2950
File 168348690778.png - (95.10KB , 662x520 , 44.png )
1062932

"What do we do now?" Keimi says, gasping for breath.

"Not going back out there is top of my list," I reply, making sure the door is secured.

"How do we get out of here, then? What if there's no way out this way?"

"Kei, you're new to this, so I'm going to let you in on the cardinal rule of getting into trouble; never think about the consequences of what you're doing. We just need to assume everything will work out."
>>
No. 1062933 ID: e50490

Time to see where that little robot will go next now that we helped it get in here.
Hopefully it wont want to change its mind and go back out like a cat would
>>
No. 1062935 ID: 16b7a6

Use your eyes on your surroundings
>>
No. 1062954 ID: 273c18

>>1062932
I can't see where we are so just follow the orb.
>>
No. 1062978 ID: 2b8e7b

Well, you could just wait till they get bored and leave, but that might take a while so may as well look around.
>>
No. 1063028 ID: f8083d

Look around ; if you see several passages save following the orb for last.
>>
No. 1067020 ID: ca2950
File 168842506385.png - (139.91KB , 902x689 , 45.png )
1067020

"How have you lived this long?" Keimi says in a huff, quickly regaining her composure.
"Access to fancy government healthcare and a tattletale that ran off to tell the adults so I didn't freeze to death in a snowbank somewhere."
"Yeah, you're welcome," she replies sarcastically.
Since we have no idea where we're going and the little floaty thing has been eager to get into this area, we'll let it lead us where it wants to go. It must be something pretty important with all the meat monsters strung up over the door. It zips down the hallways and enters a corridor lined pods containing vaguely humanoid figures.
>>
No. 1067021 ID: ca2950
File 168842509218.png - (37.04KB , 327x228 , 46.png )
1067021

Before we can do anything, the drone swoops over and fits itself into the hollow on one of the figure's chests and it twitches to life almost immediately.
"What do we do now?" Keimi asks, positioning herself behind me.
"I don't know. We don't have a good track record with the things moving around down here."
>>
No. 1067022 ID: ca2950
File 168842510724.png - (64.14KB , 850x768 , 47.png )
1067022

While we're considering our options, the figure emerges from the pod and emits a flash of light that causes intense pain, but I think that's because it's really dark down here.
"Are we dead?" Keimi says, once the light fades.
"You're the doctor. You tell me," I reply, blinking away the spots that make up all I can see at this point.
"I'm thinking we're not, but I can't see anything to confirm it," she says, obviously in the same state of dazzled by the flash as I am.
>>
No. 1067023 ID: a7a180

Choose the form of your destroyer!
>>
No. 1067025 ID: 8f9bc4

OK now the little robot buddy has a bigger robot body. What's it planning on doing with that body?
>>
No. 1067027 ID: 273c18

>>1067022
Say hello. Ask it if three's a way to get rid of the weird monster things.
>>
No. 1067047 ID: b57fea

Say hello to the nice robit
>>
No. 1067404 ID: ca2950
File 168882821832.png - (138.30KB , 740x755 , 48.png )
1067404

All I can see now is spots, but I can just make out a figure getting closer. I hold out my arms defensively and call out while my eyes readjust.
"Hello?" I call out, but there's no answer.
>>
No. 1067405 ID: ca2950
File 168882825104.png - (65.24KB , 638x666 , 49.png )
1067405

The shadowy figure gets closer and bumps right into my hand, but this can't be the robot. This is something soft and squishy.
"Kei, is that you? I lost track of the robot."
Keimi's voice comes from my right side.
"No, I'm over here. I can barely see anything," she replies.

I immediately jump back. I really don't want to be touching any of the fleshy things that are down here that aren't us.
>>
No. 1067406 ID: ca2950
File 168882837530.png - (274.77KB , 629x768 , 50.png )
1067406

After my eyes start to recover, I can't see the robot, just a naked girl with the same markings as the robot.
"Kei, did the robot turn into a naked girl?"
"That's my working theory," she replies.

>CHOSE THE FORM OF YOUR DESTROYER
"Do you think it read our minds and turned into that?" I ask, keeping a close eye on it.
"Were you thinking of naked girls when it flashed us?"
"No. Not at that exact moment."
"Then I don't think that's the case. Stop staring at her." Keimi says, glaring over at me.
I keep myself between Keimi and the robot girl.
"I'm not staring, I'm keeping on guard for a potential threat," I retort. "What do we do now?"
"I don't know. This is a new one for me," she replies.

Keimi peeks out from behind me and there is a moment of silence, until I can feel a dull thump on my leg. I have been struck by a small, soft fist in the thigh.
"Hey! You're definitely staring."
"Am not," I say defensively. "But I am noticing she kind of looks like you a bit."

Keimi looks the robot over.
"I think we both got scanned and the result got averaged out. Maybe some kind of disguise or to be able to interact with other species." she muses.
"Must have got the boobs from me," I observe and immediately get punched again. "Urk! Well, it can't be from you."
Another punch. A few more hundred like that and I'll be in real trouble.

I guess I should figure out what to do instead of standing here being abused.
>>
No. 1067407 ID: 3ed73d

Try giving it a command. How about “State your name”?
>>
No. 1067408 ID: 9fdc4a

Tell keimi that if she got naked too, you'd stare more at her instead of the robot

If she refuses, then just let Keimi try communicating with her instead so you dont get distracted.
>>
No. 1067409 ID: 273c18

>>1067406
Tell Kei if she doesn't want you ogling the robot she can give it her coat.

Greet the robot directly, ask it what its name is, and what it's going to do now. Is it going to follow your orders, or does it want something from you?
In the former case, ask it to explain the purpose of this facility, and maybe also give details about what the weird monsters are, and how you can get rid of them.
>>
No. 1067410 ID: a7a180

Try to provoke a verbal response from the robot. Compliment her markings, how tall she is, and how she's not beating on you with puny fists.
>>
No. 1067411 ID: bb78f2

Do you think the guys that made these robots were a bunch of perverts? If it's a weapons system, there's not much of a need to give it a good hologram that could make really nice pinups.

Wait, robot, how sentient are you? If you're very sentient and NOT programed a chat bot, sorry for treating you with disrespect.
>>
No. 1067427 ID: 7c0da2

Introduce yourself and Keimi to the robot.
>>
No. 1067432 ID: ca2950
File 168886490346.png - (115.90KB , 532x706 , 51.png )
1067432

We dress her in Keimi's coat, which doesn't really fit, but it covers some things.
After trying to speak to her, get her to speak or communicate in any way for a bit, something clicks and she dashes back the way we came.

Keimi squeals and stomps her foot.
"She's gonna let all the monsters in if she opens the door!"

This communication barrier is just going to be a problem, isn't it?
>>
No. 1067434 ID: a7a180

Try and intercept the control panel, shaking your head for the universal sign of bad ideas.
>>
No. 1067436 ID: 273c18

>>1067432
Just let it. The robot should know there are monsters out there, so that body must be able to handle them, at least with your help.
Kei might want to throw down some buffs beforehand.
>>
No. 1067437 ID: f2ecb2

Flying tackle time. This robot isn't used to its new body, so Alex should be able to stop it before the monsters are alerted.
>>
No. 1067440 ID: 9a2966

>>1067434
Yeah, trying to warn them by the way of the mime will surely work.

At the very least stand ready to repel and re-close the door.
>>
No. 1067444 ID: b57fea

>>1067432
She's too sexy to die! Get to the panel, stop her!
>>
No. 1073804 ID: ca2950
File 169623289353.png - (41.35KB , 474x410 , finish.png )
1073804

And then Keimi woke up and it was all a dream and nothing happened.

THE END.
>>
No. 1073806 ID: 5b55b9

>>1073804
The frustration at not actually having had a real epic adventure happen is palpable. Maybe next time, Keimi!

(Aw, for real?)
>>
No. 1073812 ID: ca2950

>>1073806
Trying is just wasting time up until the point of failure, so never try.
>>
No. 1073814 ID: f14228

>>1073812
Some tries are cool and good, tho. Not that one is ever obliged to keep at them just cuz of that, but value was had.

So thank you for the fun says I, and all the best onwards.
>>
No. 1073919 ID: 2a4e86

>>1067432
Stop her by assaulting her butt

>>1073804
It was going fine! Keep going!
>>
No. 1073922 ID: 02e7e9

aw cmon gnoll, he grabbed her nipple and everything. was it all for nathing


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