The descent was treacherous.
Xen moved down the unstable slope of the scrap pile with agonizing slowness, testing each potential handhold and foothold before committing his weight. Loose debris shifted under his feet, threatening to send him sliding down towards the crushing machine below.
The rhythmic CLANG... thrum... CLANG... thrum... grew louder with every meter he descended, becoming a physical force that vibrated through the soles of his feet and up into his very frame. The air grew warmer, thick with the smell of ozone and hot metal emanating from the ancient crusher.
His Energon counter continued its grim countdown in the corner of his vision: EN: 18.3/150... 18.2... – the passive drain of his systems seemed amplified by his own tension.
He aimed for the cover identified earlier – a thick, partially buried I-beam lying parallel to the conveyor belt, close enough to the Energon fragments to make a dash feasible, but hopefully just outside the main shower of sparks and debris from the hammer's impact.
Reaching it required crossing a final, short stretch of pulverized scrap – a grey, gravelly substance that crunched unnervingly underfoot. He darted across, his small form hugging the ground, and slid behind the beam, pressing his back against the cool, solid metal.
He’d made it to the staging ground.
From here, the crusher dominated his senses.
The sheer noise of the hammer slamming down (CLANG!) was immense, echoing off the ruined walls, followed by the deep, powerful hum (thrum...) of its retraction and the jerky grind of the conveyor belt advancing. Sparks, some small, some alarmingly large and bright, rained down intermittently around the impact zone.
The ground vibrated intensely with each cycle. His optical sensors automatically adjusted, filtering the brightest flashes from the sparks.
He peered cautiously around the edge of the beam. The targeted Energon fragments lay scattered just a few meters away, nestled amongst the crushed scrap. They pulsed with a faint, reassuring blue light, seemingly undisturbed by the chaos around them. The two closest ones were tantalizingly within reach of a quick sprint.
Now came the hard part: timing. He watched the machine cycle, forcing his processors to analyze the rhythm, ignoring the flashing low energy warnings that were becoming increasingly insistent (
It seemed impossibly fast. His circuits screamed caution, flashing warnings based on the scan data about the hazardous zone. But the alternative – running out of energy completely, becoming inert scrap himself – was unthinkable. He had to try.
He selected the nearest fragment in his mind, a jagged piece about the size of his fist. He tensed his leg actuators, ready to move the instant the hammer began its ascent.
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CLANG! The impact shook him even behind the beam. thrum... The hammer started rising. Now!
Xen burst from cover, his DEX 12 pushing his small frame forward with surprising speed across the pulverized debris. He focused entirely on the target crystal, relying on his [Micro-Manipulation] passive for the necessary grabbing precision.
The two seconds felt like both an instant and an eternity. He reached the shard – his fingers closing around its rough, cool surface just as the upward movement of the hammer above reached its apex and hesitated for a fraction of a second before starting its descent.
He snatched the crystal. A larger spark from the previous impact landed near his foot with a hiss, showering him with tiny, hot particles.
Ignoring the alert, he spun, pushing off hard, scrambling back towards the I-beam. The shadow of the descending hammer loomed.
The air vibrated with imminent impact. He dove behind the beam, tucking himself low, just as the hammer struck home with another deafening CLANG! The ground beneath him shuddered violently, and small pieces of debris rained down around his cover.
He’d made it. Barely. Chest heaving (a simulated reflex, his ventilation systems cycling rapidly), he clutched the Energon fragment tightly in his hand. It pulsed with a steady, weak blue light.
System, absorb!
Yes!
He pressed the crystal against the intake port centered in his palm.
Unlike the sharp jolt that had leaped to his fingertips from the damaged power cell earlier, this felt different. A smooth, cool stream of energy flowed from the crystal directly into the palm port, spreading rapidly through his systems, instantly soothing the ragged edge of the low-power warnings. The crystal in his hand dimmed as the energy drained from it, crumbling slightly at the edges.
Twelve points. It wasn't much, less than 10% of his capacity, but it felt like a lifeline. The flashing critical warning disappeared, replaced by a less severe [Low Energon] indicator. It pushed back the immediate threat of shutdown.
<+15 XP Gained! (Resource Acquisition - High Risk)> XP: 86/100. Getting closer to Level 2.
He risked another quick peek. The machine continued its relentless cycle, utterly oblivious. The other Energon fragments lay scattered nearby, including the second one he'd initially targeted.
Should he risk going out again for another mere 10-15 EN? The potential gain seemed minuscule compared to the risk he'd just faced, especially with the half-point of HP damage sustained from the spark.
No. He had bought himself some time, some breathing room. The smart move now was to get away from this immediate danger zone.
Find somewhere safer to assess, recover the lost HP, and plan a search for a larger, more stable Energon source, now that he had enough energy to actually use his scanner a few more times without risking immediate shutdown.
Decision made. Retreat.
Clutching the memory of the life-giving energy, Xen began to carefully, quietly edge his way back along the I-beam, heading away from the crushing hammer and the scattered, tempting glow of the remaining crystals.He planned to circle around the base of the scrap pile he'd descended, putting distance and solid junk between himself and the ancient, dangerous machine.
His journey deeper into the scrap heap had yielded vital fuel, but also a profound respect for the dangers lurking within it.