Thread:FleetCaptainT/@comment-27324808-20170430070726

Forty-one

  There was a change in atmosphere going into the Maelstrom Mine. The jump was intradimensional so fast enough to disorient Intrepid. The first thing he felt was the heat.

  He, Cyclone, Edgar, and Allison had emerged in a long hewn tunnel. Steam jets blasted in through holes in the rocky floor and puddles of water collected in low spots, while condensation dripped down from a stalactite studded roof. The tunnel ended with a large fan built into the wall that lazily tugged the steam elsewhere in the facility. There was a constant sound of dripping water.

  The Future Dimensioners had set up a shield zone, similar to a building zone, not far ahead. Leading the team, Intrepid ran into it and they were instantly protected from the heat and noise.

  "The primary Ore repositories are directly below us,” Mara said, “that’s where all this steam is coming from, since Maelstrom fog is separated from the Ore in steam vats. The fog is directed to power the Maelstrom’s Unverse Gateways, while the leftover steam is just blown around in these tunnels and re-used.”

  So this is just harmless steam. Intrepid said, considering the steam jets in the tunnel. Harmless, except scalding to touch. “Wouldn’t want to touch Maelstrom fog, though.” he said to himself.

  "Maelstrom fog has Unverse breaching properties." Future Dimension's Cyclone, Charles Bradfordson, clarified. “It’s an aspect of their chaotic nature. Needless to say touching it, or traveling through Unverse infected by it, would infect you too.”

  “So it’s conventional transportation going forwards.” Future Intrepid said. “There’s too much Maelstrom interference in the Unverse here. Use of a manipulator any further into this Mine will infect you. So no Unverse breaches, inter or intradimensional.”

  Edgar folded his arms. “I thought this would be an in-and-out operation. What’s our escape plan?”

  “You can leave now.” Future Intrepid said.

  “There will be fighting.” Future Luke advised, cracking his knuckles.

  “I’m not leaving.” Edgar stated.

  The Shinobi shared glances with the rest of the team. They all nodded. “We’re not leaving.” Intrepid declared.

  “Now that that’s settled,” Charles projected a holographic image from the arm of his suit, “this is what a Maelstrom Unverse Gateway looks like.” Illuminated over his arm were schematics for something like a giant metal box, cube-shaped, with a drawbridge-style ramp that became its sixth face when closed. Numbers indicated the container was a hundred feet in each dimension, large enough to move a small army and tall enough to fit the Darkitect. Maelstrom Fog was fed into the cube by tubes.

  “There are a few Gateways here.” Charles continued. “Our primary target is the Ore collectors, if we take them out we take out the entire Maelstrom, but if we can’t hit them we’ll crash the Gates instead.”

  “We could split up and hit both.” Cyclone suggested.

  “We’re already splitting up.” Future Mara said, twirling a revolver, while Future Intrepid unsheathed a Long Sword. “I already said, ‘We’ll distract them, so you can get in and use the antitoxin’. You four are the strike team.”

  Intrepid also remembered Future Mara counting the Maelstrom forces at over ten-thousand Stromlings and other assorted Maelstrom monsters. Cyclone also remembered. “You’re going to die.” the brown haired boy warned.

  Future Intrepid shrugged it off while Future Luke pretended to inspect his weapons. “I’m not planning on it,” the former said, “and besides, we’ve got each other.” He turned to Charles, Luke, and Mara. “It’ll be just like old times, right? Right?”

  “Let’s just go.” Charles huffed before his visor closed, sealing him behind his helmet. With that he backed out of the shield, turned to the fan, and raised a laser pistol. A piercing shot rang out smashed the contraption.

  Without a doubt security forces would convene on them soon. Charles lead the way into the newly opened tunnel, followed by Future Intrepid, Luke, and Mara, while ambient alarms blared from deeper in the tunnels, farther in the mine, with over ten-thousand Stromlings between them and their target….

<ac_metadata title="Chapter 41"> </ac_metadata>