Chapter 7
–
“When you split an atom, you’re making a hole in one!”
You glared at Cordax with exceeding disappointment.
“No good? let’s try this: because nuclear energy is sub-par! That any better? Or how about: because nuclear plant workers have to be on the ball! Or how abo-”
You send your hand flying upwards, smacking Cordax on the cheek. “Stop embarrassing the air you’re breathing by associating it with your string of disjointed prose, and stop your attempts at standup comedy before I deliver the quickest punchline you’ve ever seen.”
Cordax rubbed his jaw, glaring up at you. Your reprimand had gone unnoticed by the rest of the party, or at least they weren’t contesting it as they walked inside the entrance to the factory, which loomed darkly over your head. The first thing your sharp eyesight took in as you entered was the ventilation duct closest to the entrance had been torn open… From the inside.
“Not good.” Pakari grumbled, shining a light from his palm up into the open vent. “We’re dealing with someone or something with a memorized map of the ventilation system. You can tell by the-”
“You can’t.” Winger retorted, browsing a pamphlet for Uncle Ghid’s Cider Factory Tour. “They could have entered from somewhere close by and happened to know the direction to the door. For an emergency rescue team you people are so shallow.”
“I’m not going to have you start being a problem this early on.” Pakari snapped, jabbing a finger at Winger. “You want to be a problem, you can go and wait in the train car.”
Winger looked at you, which caused Pakari to look at you as well. You looked back and forth between the two of them before giving a slightly comical shrug, unsure how to resolve the tension and bring it off yourself without telling Winger what to do.
Racie snickered at your reaction. “Okay cool. Can we find a working computer someplace here? Because otherwise I’m going to continue being useless, and if you’re all going to keep being jerks to each other I’ll head back to the train and wait till you go at each other’s throats.”
“No sign of anything,” Wild yapped as he flew down from the inside of the vent. “Tons of twists and turns in every direction, but no other light coming from any other direction other than right here. Although you were right about the chemical, Pakari. Two types of the bleeder stuff and the other part I’m not sure about, but your freak science theory may hold up if we test it on what’s-her-face.”
“Excuse me?” Racie glared from under her hoodie. “I have a name and you very well know it.”
“Yeah, but I think your name is stupid.” Wild grinned. “So let’s stick with what’s-her-face.”
Pakari rubbed his forehead. “Can we all stop trying to out-snark each other for five minutes please? Wild, if you don’t stop being a piece of crap I’m- You know what I can do, so don’t make me. Let’s work this thing out instead of giving everyone a reason to hate each other.”
Wild responded with a mad cackle before swooping uncomfortably close past Winger’s face as he made for a utility closet at the other end of the room. “Ohh wow, you’re so scary right now! I almost cried with fright when you whined at me like a three year old who tells his parents what to do. Give us all a break and go suck your thumb so you’ll have enough emotional strength…”
Wild disappeared into the keyhole. Pakari tapped something on his arm with obvious irritation, likely following up on the threat he had stated to Wild. Winger looked between several members of the party and finally at you before walking to the utility closet and flinging the door open.
It was hard to tell what was inside due to the distance and the lack of light, but by Winger’s violent reaction involving stumbling backwards until he collided with Racie and wordlessly jabbing a shaking finger in the direction of the door, you could guess that it was pretty serious and warranted further examination. Pakari had begun to move to the door but you easily outpaced him, shoving him aside with your massive hand as if his technologically advanced frame was as strong as a toddler. Your glowing head illuminated the dark space as an even more angry Pakari came up behind you.
“That is so it,” He snapped, angrily stomping on the carpeted floor as he approached. “Get off your high horse right now before I… Oh no.”
The body of a large mechanical person was crammed into a space it was too small to occupy. Fragments of bone were sticking out from places they shouldn’t be in, and the smooth orange faceplate that looked up from the middle of a contortion of limbs was one twisted into an expression of dread.
“Bird.” Wild flew out from the keyhole. “He’s been dead for three days.”