With the Steam Golem defeated, the group pressed forward, their footsteps echoing through the now-silent factory. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, and the faint hum of dormant machinery seemed to reverberate through the walls. Victor, still remotely operating S-01, led the way, the Steam Sentinel’s glowing eyes cutting through the dim light. Aelin followed close behind, her bow at the ready, while Borin brought up the rear, his hammer resting on his shoulder. Pip, however, was practically bouncing with excitement, her satchel of tools clinking with every step.

  They reached the control room, a massive chamber filled with rows of consoles, monitors, and control panels. The screens were dark and covered in a thick layer of dust, and the air was stale, as if the room had been sealed for decades. Pip rushed forward, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the sight.

  “This is it,” Pip said, her voice filled with excitement. She brushed the dust off one of the consoles, revealing a complex array of buttons, switches, and dials. “If we can get the power back on, we might be able to access the factory’s inventory logs or locate its storage areas. There could be valuable materials here—intact machinery, power cores, maybe even rare components we can’t find anywhere else.”

  Victor’s voice emanated from S-01, his tone cautious but intrigued. “Be careful, Pip. We’re not here to reactivate the factory—just to loot what we can. If the power comes back on, it might trigger security systems or draw unwanted attention. We need to be in and out as quickly as possible.”

  Pip nodded, already pulling tools from her satchel. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’ll just reroute enough power to get the systems online temporarily. We don’t need the whole factory running—just enough to find what we’re looking for.”

  She set to work, her hands moving frantically as she connected wires, flipped switches, and adjusted dials. The others watched in silence, the tension in the room palpable. Aelin kept her eyes on the door, her bow half-drawn, while Borin leaned against a console, his hammer resting at his side.Victor stood guard, his mechanical body poised and ready for any threat.

  After several tense minutes, the consoles began to hum softly, their screens flickering to life with static. Pip let out a triumphant laugh, her goggles reflecting the glow of the screens. “Almost there…” she muttered, her fingers flying over the controls. “Just need to bypass the security locks and access the inventory logs…”

  The factory shuddered, a deep, resonant vibration that seemed to come from the very foundations of the building. The group exchanged uneasy glances as the hum grew louder, the sound of gears grinding and pipes hissing filling the air. The control room’s lights flickered, then steadied, casting a harsh, industrial glow over the room.

  “Got it!” Pip shouted, her voice barely audible over the noise. She pointed to one of the screens, which now displayed a map of the factory with several areas highlighted. “There—storage bays, workshops, and a vault! If there’s anything valuable left in this place, it’ll be in those locations.”

  Victor’s voice came through S-01, calm but firm. “Good work, Pip. Let’s move quickly. Aelin, Borin, keep an eye out for any more guardians or traps. Pip, you’re with me. We’ll head to the vault first—it’s the most likely place to find high-value materials.”

  The group moved swiftly, following the map Pip had pulled up. The factory was a maze of corridors and catwalks, but with the map guiding them, they made steady progress. Along the way, they passed rows of dormant sentinels and stacks of crates, some of which Pip stopped to inspect. She stuffed a few smaller components into her satchel, muttering about their potential uses.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  When they reached the vault, they found it sealed by a massive, rusted door. Pip immediately set to work on the control panel, her tools sparking as she worked to bypass the lock. “This might take a minute,” she said, her voice tense with concentration. “Whoever designed this security system knew what they were doing.”

  As Pip worked, Aelin and Borin kept watch, their weapons at the ready. S-01 stood guard, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. Finally, with a loud clunk, the vault door began to creak open, revealing a treasure trove of materials inside.

  The vault was filled with shelves of pristine components, neatly organized and untouched by time. There were power cores glowing faintly with residual energy, stacks of rare metals, and even a few intact blueprints and schematics. Pip’s eyes widened as she stepped inside, her hands trembling with excitement. “This… this is incredible,” she whispered. “We could build an army with this stuff!”

  Victor’s core pulsed with satisfaction, his voice emanating from S-01. “Grab everything you can. We don’t have time to be picky. Aelin, Borin, help Pip load up. We need to be out of here before anything else shows up.”

  The group worked quickly, filling their packs and satchels with as much as they could carry. Pip carefully rolled up the blueprints and tucked them into a protective tube, while Borin hefted a crate of power cores onto his shoulder. Aelin kept watch, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger.

  Just as they were about to leave, the factory’s PA system crackled to life, a robotic voice echoing through the halls. “Intruders detected. Security protocols activated. All exits sealed.”

  “No, no, no!” Pip shouted, rushing back to the control panel. “I can override it, but it’ll take time!”

  “We don’t have time!” Aelin snapped, her voice sharp with urgency. “We need to go—now!”

  Victor’s core pulsed with frustration, his voice emanating from S-01. “Leave the rest! We can’t risk getting trapped in here. Move!”

  Reluctantly, the group abandoned the vault, leaving behind most of the loot. They sprinted through the factory, the blaring alarm and flashing lights disorienting them at every turn. As they neared the exit, they found the doors sliding shut, heavy metal barriers grinding into place.

  “I'll clear the way!” Victor commanded.

  The Steam Sentinel surged forward, its piston-powered fists slamming into the closing doors with enough force to dent the metal. The doors shuddered, their mechanisms groaning under the strain, but they didn’t stop. Borin joined in, his hammer striking the doors with a deafening clang. Between the two of them, they managed to force the doors open just enough for the group to slip through.

  They burst out into the open air, the factory’s alarms still blaring behind them. The group didn’t stop running until they were a safe distance away, their chests heaving and their packs much lighter than they had hoped.

  Pip collapsed onto the ground, her face a mix of frustration and exhaustion. “We were so close,” she muttered, clutching the few blueprints they had managed to save. “We had it all right there…”

  Victor’s calming voice came through S-0, “We got out alive, and we still have something to show for it. That’s what matters. The factory’s security systems will keep anyone else from looting it for now. We’ll regroup, come up with a new plan, and go back when we’re ready.”

  Aelin nodded, her expression grim. “Victor’s right. We live to fight another day. But next time, we’ll be smarter about it.”

  Borin grunted, adjusting the crate of power cores on his shoulder. “At least we didn’t leave empty-handed. Let’s get back and put this stuff to use before the goblins or the Stormhammer Guild show up.”

  As the group moved on, the factory’s alarms faded into the distance, a reminder of the risks they had taken—and the rewards they had narrowly missed. They had survived, but the encounter had left them with more questions than answers. What other secrets did the factory hold? And how far were they willing to go to claim them? For now, those questions would have to wait. They had a base to fortify and enemies to prepare for. The fight was far from over.