Page 38 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
At the same time, Sa’quii’s voice rang in my head.From Venom’s expression I could tell that he was hearing the chii as well.
More drones have joined the first.They are watching all exits to the cave.Other chii have arrived with news.Big Ones are gathering in the valley below.And monsters.So many monsters.
She sounded worried.
Venom sat up at once, coils shifting beneath me.“How many drones?”
Six.Two look different than the rest.
She sent us a mental image.It didn’t mean anything to me, but Venom sucked in a sharp breath.
“Those are weaponised drones.They can injure or even kill.If I’m not mistaken, they’ll also have tranquiliser darts on board.The game makers sometimes use those on contestants if they’re in an area low on monsters.They then move the unconscious contestant to a place more suited for drama.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.“Drama?”I asked.
“Violent death by monster.”Venom’s jaw clenched.“They’re forcing movement.Trying to flush us.”
I pulled the blanket tighter around my body, the chill of the cave suddenly far more noticeable.“Can we contact the Bloodstar?Or someone else?”
“I’d need a terminal, a computer to contact them.There are many layers of security wrapped around this planet, so to speak, and I don’t have access to the technology I’d need to hack them.I have called for help from the IA, but I don’t know if and when and even how they’ll reply.”
We have found many tools the Big Ones left behind,Sa’quii chimed in.Maybe you will find what you need in the cave.I can send some of my people through the hidden paths.They will not be spotted by the drones.
“We shall start searching,” Venom said.He was already scanning the cave walls, his coils loosening around me.I climbed off him, searching for the scarves I’d discarded last night to give me some more cover.
“Are you not too cold?”I asked Venom as a cool breeze made my gooseflesh rise.
“A little, but movement will help.The sun has risen and the cave is getting warmer already.However, I need to thank you for what you did for me last night.Without you… I would not be in the condition I am now.Thank you, from the bottom of my hearts.”
“Hearts?”I repeated weakly.
He grinned.“Two of them.”
“Two hearts, two cocks.Anything else you have two of?”
He flashed his fangs at me in reply, then rose to his full height in a smooth motion.He looked fully recovered, which reassured me massively.I’d really been worried last night.
While I got dressed – if you could call it that – he left the crate to examine the cave further.I packed up the blankets, stashing the remaining food rations in Venom’s bag.I wanted to be ready to leave if we had to make a quick exit.
“Clare?”Venom called from just outside the crate.“There might be a relay node buried in the bedrock.I think this was once a control chamber, before it was turned into storage.We’ll need to find old wiring.Something intact.”
“I’ll help,” I said, wrapping the scarf more tightly around my shoulders before stepping out of the crate.
The cavern stretched around us like the ribcage of some colossal beast, the black stone ceiling arched high above and glittering faintly where patches of diamond caught the filtered sunlight.The glowing orbs along the walls gave off a cold, bluish sheen that deepened every shadow.
Crates towered over us – some the size of kitchen cupboards, others large enough to house entire vehicles.I half expected one of them to start beeping or unfolding into a killer drone.Nothing moved.Yet.
Venom slithered toward the far side, his coils silent on the stone.“The fact that these orbs still work means there is electricity routed through the stone.I assume they run on solar power, fully automated, but there still needs to be a control panel to adjust the lights.Help me look for embedded panels or wiring – anything out of place.Focus near the back wall.Control tech would have been placed away from obvious access points.”
We split up.I would have preferred to stay with him.This cave was giving me the creeps, especially knowing that we were surrounded by drones on the outside.But it made sense to cover two directions at once.
I skirted around the larger crates, brushing my fingers across the stone behind them.Nothing but cold rock at first.Then I found a section where the wall felt… wrong.Warmer.Smoother.As if it had been polished, once.
“Here,” I called, waving Venom over.
He reached me in seconds, inspecting the spot with narrowed eyes.“It’s not a seam, but it’s newer than the rest.Stand back.”
He grabbed a thin metal rod from a pile of discarded tools on the ground and scraped it along the smooth section.We waited.
