>>222191
Okay, yeah, now that I look at it, they do seem to be pretty close. Lets still go with the lid thing, at least to get the axe.

And another thing: Call their mother a Sinarri whore. Throw racist doggie and snakie remarks alike. Maybe it'll 'cause them to miss a beat or maybe it would enrage them. Either would be fine.

Suggestion 2010/08/25(Wed)16:23 No. 222218 ID: 6059d0
File 128277859325.png - (182.03KB , 1000x750 , 243.png )

Tiak lifts up the lid of the box and uses it as an improvised shield. It seems to work for now. Then he retreats to the fuse box and retrieves the hammer.

With the weapon in one hand and the lid in the other, he starts pushing towards the source of the shooting, still spouting insults to his attacker.

What is your problem? Your Sinarri whore of a mother didn't love you as a child? Or maybe your mother was one of those half-snake bitches?

Tiak advances some more, still shouting swearings. If the shooter hasn't moved during his advance, he should be pretty close now . But he can't see through the lid, so he can't still see his assailant, and he doesn't know if it would be safe to peek out.

He has also another problem, the lid doesn't have any handles or way to hold it from his side. The only way to move it without dropping it flat is holding it by the side, which leaves Tiak's fingers dangerously exposed.

>>222218
...classy. You sound like a disposable goon.

May as well charge forth until you either collide with something or die like one, since you're now out of cover, effectively blind, and just waiting for them to either flank you or get a lucky shot on your hand until you close the distance.

charge up close and throw the shield, then follow up with some hammer smashings.

>>222218
Use CAMERA as THIRD EYE. (obviously you should try to keep it from getting shot)

>>222218
The lid probably has a ridge to ensure a secure fit. It's not a great handhold, but it should be serviceable.
I think this is an automated trap.

Suggestion 2010/08/26(Thu)02:14 No. 222356 ID: 032611
File 128281404391.png - (198.45KB , 1000x750 , 244.png )

Tiak cautiously peeks with the camera around the lid and checks his PDA for the input. The darkness, combined with the blinding flash of the laser gun firing doesn't let him see much about his attacker, but it seems that he's just a few feet away from him.

And it seems that the laser beams come from above the hazard suits cabinet!

Tiak hides the camera before it can be shot, and the firing continues. He's starting to feel the heat through the lid, and the smell of molten metal. The lid isn't going to be able to resist much longer.

CHARGE!! get as close as you can then shove the lid at the attacker. then smack them with the hammer when they are off guard.

>>222356
Looks like the shots are coming from sort of behind the cabinet?

Shimmy closer to the wall. Hopefully the cabinet will start taking hits instead of the lid, letting it cool off.

>>222356
It'll last.
It's taken this long to heat up, which means that it either has an incredibly high thermal mass, a high emissivity, or those lasers aren't packing much punch. Most likely a combination of the three. Heating up just makes it shed heat that much faster.

Light up a glow stick, toss it to your attacker, and then use the camera to see them in its illuminating glow.

Suggestion 2010/08/26(Thu)06:01 No. 222387 ID: 032611
File 128282766886.png - (281.43KB , 1000x750 , 245.png )

Tiak sticks as close as he can to the wall and the cabinet, and charges forward, pushing the shield into the space behind the cabinet. But there's nobody there!

Before he has time to react, an incredible burning pain strikes him in the arm, and shakes all his body, smell of burnt flesh flooding his senses.

Arrfhhghhsss!!

Burning out the last of his adrenaline rush, he turns around flailing the hammer wildly, but with luck enough to hit something! He can hear metallic "CLANG" and a small object falls at his feet.

The shooting stops, and nothing else moves in the room.

Tiak shakes his head and tries to pull through the sickening pain. His arm hurts a lot, but he can still move it. That must be a good sign.

>>222387
what's that? did someone set up a servo camera to shoot at you?

Suggestion 2010/08/26(Thu)07:24 No. 222392 ID: 032611
File 128283266249.png - (145.26KB , 1000x750 , 246.png )

Not just any camera, it's Tiak's servo-camera! The one he lost at the beginning of the flight. The only servo cameras aboard are the ones in charge of the security officer.

It looks like someone has attached a laser gun to the camera, and rigged it to work as a remote controlled turret. Pretty clever. The work is kind of rudimentary, but Tiak knows that it's effective. Painfully effective.

After Tiak hit it with the hammer, the camera bounced pretty hard against the wall, and ended up very broken.

And it seems that they've removed some parts of the gun, like the trigger, to make the firing completely dependable of the remote controller. Even if Tiak manages to detach the weapon, he's not going to be able to use it.

>>222392
Mourn your fallen camera. IT SHALL BE AVENGED! Take it anyway, since the gun looks intact, and someone with enough engineering skill to bodge it to the camera could probably unbodge it back into a mostly functioning weapon. (Maybe we can destroy it more thoroughly with the plasma cutter later or something.)

So, did those scraps ever lead anywhere, or were they just breadcrumbs for the trap?

>>222387
Don't worry, Tiak. Chicks dig scars.

>>222393
We had to go there anyway. No other way to fix the electricity in this section.

Pocket the broken camera. Before you go to the doctor, drop off the key at the Queen's. We deffo don't want the doctor finding it in your clothes.

>>222392
would it be possible to attach the gun to the working camera?

>>222392
One way or another, take that thing with you. its dangerous to leave alone where it could be recovered by your assailant. If not the whole camera, then the attached raygun.

Don't just stand there get a poultice on that shoulder! Ice! Anything to cool it down, fast! Time is of the essence here.

Suggestion 2010/08/26(Thu)14:01 No. 222465 ID: 032611
File 128285650525.png - (159.59KB , 1000x750 , 247.png )

>>222393

For what Tiak knows, they were there just to lure him into the trap.

Tiak pockets the broken camera. To detach the gun from it he would need at least a screwdriver and a steady pulse, and right now he lacks both of them. But even if he did, he doesn't have the mechanic skills needed to turn the gun into something useful, with or without camera.

On the other side, if he wanted to destroy it, he could just throw it into the garbage disposal unit of the ship. It must be that blue machine near the door, with the "CAUTION" sign on it. That thing should be able to crush anything into little cubes, that will end up floating in space as soon as the ship finishes the hyperjump.

Tiak's arm is still hurting a lot, but at the same time he doesn't think that he should go to the Infirmary with the crescent key in his pocket.

>>222465
absolutely no destroying useful items. As for the key, you shouldn't trust just leaving it around. Since Zira's probably asleep we'd probably have to just give it to the queen if we don't want it just disappearing.

Take the key to the queen first. THEN go see the doctor.

I know where we can put the key. Zero deck! We're the only person that can get there right now.

( >>222485 There's a second key; Trake's supposed to have it: >>218849 )

GRAH.

FINE.

FIND A METAL BOX AND WELD IT SHUT AFTER PUTTING THE FUCKING KEY IN IT.

Suggestion 2010/08/26(Thu)18:36 No. 222514 ID: 032611
File 128287297193.png - (195.61KB , 1000x750 , 248.png )

Tiak makes his way to the middle deck, and from there to the cabin of queen Nayria. As soon as he knocks on the door, it opens. The Queen is waiting inside.

Hrmuhpf... I found one of the keys.

>And in such a short time. I'm impressed, officer. But it looks like it hasn't been easy, hm? War wounds?

Compliment the view and give her the key if you haven't already, place your groin uncomfortably close to her face.

>>222514
Wow, that pose makes her look really freaking lazy. :V

I guess give her the key, if that's what you're supposed to be doing. Probably better than holding onto it, given your track record.

Is she just pointing out your arm being injured for the hell of it or was she actually going somewhere with that?

"yeah, wouldn't happen to have any salve around?"

>>222514
Tell her the wounds are unrelated to getting the key. Someone's trying to kill you for investigating the murder.

Also, before we give it to her, ask what she'll do in return for the key. If we're only going to be rewarded for turning in BOTH, then we're going to keep this one for now.

>>222514
"No, this was the third or fourth attempt on my life so far, and the only deliberate one since my resurrection. Besides, the key's former owner knows for a fact that I couldn't possibly have taken it when I did."

So, Tiak, why are all those cameras glowing red if they're all off? Aren't lights generally a sign that they are getting power?

>>222529
(That's their night vision mode:
>>/questarch/199571 The cameras are fine; it's the server/Tiak's terminal for viewing them that aren't.)

Suggestion 2010/08/27(Fri)03:53 No. 222651 ID: 4f6386
File 128290643445.png - (143.97KB , 1000x750 , 249.png )

Eh, not exactly. I got the key without problems, but someone is trying to kill me because I'm investigating the murder. Nice view, by the way.

>Well, that's nice, coming from a Maurian. And of course, seekers are more likely to find guns pointed at their hearts than truth during their pilgrimage.

I guess... Anyways, you could give me something in exchange of the key. Or I might just keep it until I find the other one.

>Tsk, tsk, where are your manners? Trying to haggle with a queen, no less! Our deal was, information about the murder in exchange of the two keys, and I will keep my word. You can keep the key meanwhile, if you want. Just try not to lose it...

So, nothing?

>Oh, don't be so hard on me, officer. I already gave you a valuable clue for free, don't you remember? I suspect that you haven't followed it yet.

>Now, about that wound. I'm skilled in the healing arts. I can treat that arm of yours, saving you time and pesky questions from the rest of your mates and the doctor. What do you say?

>>222651
Give her the damn key already. Toting it around is asking for it to be taken away. Accept the healing, too.

>>222651
Accept healing, keep key. We don't know what the key is FOR yet. For all we know it's part of a three-piece activation matrix for some kind of superweapon and by giving all three to one person we'd be opening up the gates to genocide.

If it gets taken away we can just find it again later. So long as nobody has all 3, nothing terrible is going to happen.

Also note that you DID try to get into the files and registers but the damn thing's password protected... wait, could we just use the cutter on the cabinet? Should've tried that, I guess.

>>222651
Sure, I guess, take the healing. May as well.

>>222659
>So long as nobody has all 3, nothing terrible is going to happen.
And this is a compelling reason to not get the key out of our hands before we wind up inevitably losing it because... ?

>>222651
Trade key for healing.
>>222659
We can always drop the third key into the waste disposal and let it get flushed into space. :V

give her the key, accept the healing, accept it hard

>So long as nobody has all 3, nothing terrible is going to happen.

Hey let's make sure she has two keys what a great idea

>>222692
Better that she have two than someone else. She may be creepy, but she's been helpful so far. Plus it would make the healing more like part of a trade. I don't think it would be a good idea to owe her something.

Suggestion 2010/08/27(Fri)15:08 No. 222714 ID: 4f6386
File 128294692289.png - (180.04KB , 1000x750 , 250.png )

Alright, here's the key. Think that you can patch me up in exchange?

>Thank you, officer. I was going to do it anyways. Now, take off your jacket and sit down here.

Humm...

>Now, now, this is no time for modesty. I can't work through your clothes.

...Ok

Tiak takes off his jacket and sits on the cushions, kind of nervous, as the queen places herself behind him, closer than what Tiak considers comfortable.

The Ziranée starts spreading a mix of ointments over the wound on his arm. It feels cold, but at the same time, it immediately soothes the piercing pain of the laser injury.

>My, officer you look like you've been through a battlefield, and it's been less than a day of flight! You should be more careful, or soon there won't be enough Belint left for the rest of us~

Hmm, I guess...

The pain slowly disappears, and with it, Tiak's consciousness starts to fade away as well. The ointment has a powerful and intoxicating smell that joins up with Tiak's tiredness caused by a long day full of abuses.

Tiak is losing a battle trying to keep his eyelids open, vision blurring, the only feeling remaining, the gentle touch of Nayria's hands.

>You look so tired, officer. It's been a long day, don't you think? You should just relax and let your problems go for now. There will be time to complete your mission after a...break~

>>222714
Before you pass out, ask if she could possibly let you wake up still in possession of all of your things for once. 8V

>>222714
"Before I sleep, I need to know what you know of Zira. Who does she work for? What's her goal?"

Good night, sweet prince.

>>222714
...well, it's probably safer than sleeping in your half-exploded cabin with a heavy plasma cutter for a pillow.

Say something about the modesty needing to be equal, her clothing needs to go.

Suggestion 2010/08/27(Fri)17:24 No. 222736 ID: 4f6386
File 128295504310.png - (66.30KB , 1000x750 , 251.png )

Hmmm... Wha- what 'bout.. .Zira. She...

>Shush now. There will be time for questions later. Now it's time for healing.

Hrrg...Modesty needs to be equal... Your clothes.

>But of course, where are my manners? Now, come here.

And then the lights went out. But the whispers remained.

Suggestion 2010/08/27(Fri)17:24 No. 222738 ID: 4f6386
File 128295507926.png - (23.11KB , 1000x750 , 252.png )

END OF CHAPTER 2

>>222736
Honestly, Tiak? Mumbling another girl's name as you fall asleep in her arms?

>>222742
he is in her breasts, not her arms

>>222742
I'm not entirely sure she cares who he's muttering about. She's using Tiak, and attempting to develop a stronger affinity between them. Make him want to stay on her side. If she's offended she'll probably get her revenge after she's done with him, or in a more subtle, personally hurtful way that he can't justify retaliation for.

She's a schemer.