"A TURRET?" ZAN ASKED. "What is it doing here?"
That was when MAC chimed in through his earpiece. "Ranger-Knights. Please return to the central bunker terminal. I have an announcement."
He led his teammates into the bunker. Moments later, they stood in front of the heavy crystal-terminal display which contained MAC's image.
"You called?" he said, trying to show himself as ready for anything but likely only coming off as goofy from tiredness.
"A few days ago, the Order of Shiv under your command purified a nodal point within the bunker complex. I told you then that the full repair of the node would take an indeterminate sum of time. As you have seen above, the turret-connected to the node has been repaired to the point of operation. Be warned, however: the turret is strictly a defensive measure and if used too often, its body will quickly degrade. I rushed repair of the turret after witnessing the recent automotron attack. Additional repairs will be needed for its optimal function," MAC told them.
"Phew! I was hoping that turret-looking thing was from you," he told MAC. "What kind of help can we give?"
"Answer: while you were with Simulacrum and Sigma-Prime at the Command Center the answer revealed itself to you already."
"You mean the Spirit Core Processor thing?" he said, querying for the truth.
"Correct. Through the use of the Spirit Core technology, you can hasten the healing-factor of every Order installation. Additional: salvageable goods scavenged from slain fae-constructs and precious resources, generally speaking, can be used as well."
"Then, do we have anything which might help?" he asked.
"You do, yes: Answer: in your collections there is goods commonly called 'Batter Rocks.' Deposit all which you possess and I can use the spiritual essence from its breakdown to make additional repairs to the turret and to fortify the bunker shell. I will likely even have energy leftover to apply to the next defensive measure you purify once the fae-constructs infesting the bunker's interior have been removed."
The fae-constructs. He had nearly forgotten about them in the chaos of fighting. on the second level a massive Fatal Graze remained. Yet they couldn't face it now. Not until the Slipstream re-appeared and gave them a magical redux.
"Fine by me. How do I give them? I guess it would need to be back at the command center, right? That's where the Spirit Core Processer is located," he thought aloud but also to MAC.
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"Correct. I know the Wardens asked of you for an additional sum of resources themselves. Considering the well-paced recovery, my advice as aid to the Order would be to return to the Command Center and deposit the resources, so both the Wardens and I can make use of the resources in your possession. Be warned, Zan: although the use of the Backroads is a highly efficient mode of travel, protracted use of it can allow for the manifestation of unusual and un-studied effects. Effects of which tend to effect inanimate objects more than living creatures. If you carry the raw goods through the Backroads, remember to keep haste. Otherwise, the inanimate things might rapidly decay until their destruction," MAC explained.
"Wow! That's quite the reveal, MAC. I had no idea. How long do you think it would take before the materials I have turn to dust?" he asked, slightly edgy.
"Answer: Uncertain. Fifteen minutes? Twenty-minutes at the maximum. Even should you run the route through the Backroads with much haste, well before the fifteen minute mark, there is no telling how much quality degredation is suffered from even a routine travel. For maximum commodity 'freshness,' avoid Backroad travel while in posession of unrodily large sums of easily perishable commodities," MAC continued to explain.
Looking to his teammates, he said, "We don't have many resources... I know the way well. I am fine with using the Backroads this time to quickly get the goods back but I don't want to spend how long going the way by foot. Not after I just did it. I will accept the quality degredation just to ensure our other needs are kept in motion, like cleansing the bunker and rgrowing the Order. Thoughts?"
Neither Whiskey nor Jiehong had a rebuttle. No one was well-rested anymore. Reciving information about a short-cut neither of them really used did not grant them much, if any, wisdom on how Backroads navigation worked, much less insight on how they should proceed. He knew, however, that they knew, he knew about the Backroads. He felt proud his teammates could rely on him concerning this specialist information.
"Okay..." Zan said after a moment of introspection passed. "Once I rest up, I will carry with me the goods. I will quickly drop them off at the center and then be on back literally as soon as the chamber is finished recharging."
"Communication: Your plan of action is adequate. As grandmaster-in-training I will not interfere with your intention despite the risk it involves to the raw resources. Do remember the quickness of your step is necessary for the Order's survival."
Saying he knew the weight upon his shoulder, he excused himself to his chambers. His chambers being Room 14. Once he had converted the space and cleaned it up, it served as a halfway decent living quarters. Enough room for a mattress, anyway. Though he wished he had a window...
Once in his chambers he did nothing. Per the norm. He slept.
He would like to say he had interesting dreams. Or visions from a god... but he was not so lucky. He only slept.
When he woke -- pleasantly surprised he was not roused in the night by some emergency -- he had his breakfast and gathered up the resources he would take with him to the command center. With several loaded satchels on his back, he made his way back to the lodestone portal; seeing the distorted ream of space-time which marked the location, he was happy he did not have the make the journey back by bike. Or worse yet, foot.
His friends were at his back wishing him well when he stepped through the portal. He emerged onto the other side. Saw chaos. And ran.