Zog’s ropes were tougher than expected, and Clorita’s energy reserves dropped rapidly. BOB’s voice broke through their frantic efforts. “Captain, you still have residual energy from your solar receptors. If you and Clorita establish a direct link, I can transfer the remaining power to her.”

“Direct link?” Zog asked, frowning. “How?”

Clorita opened her mouth to explain, but BOB cut in with an exaggeratedly cheerful tone. “Captain, you’ll need to initiate a direct physical relay due to the absence of proper cabling or adapters. That means placing your lips directly on Clorita’s port.”

“What?!” Zog spluttered, his voice cracking as he looked between BOB and Clorita. “That can’t be right.”

Clorita rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth twitched in amusement. “BOB’s being dramatic, but technically… yeah. It’s the fastest way to share data and power without equipment. And don’t get any ideas, Captain.”

“Fantastic.” Zog groaned, rubbing his temples. “This is officially the worst mission in history.”

“I’m recording everything,” BOB added gleefully.

“You better not be,” Zog growled, then hesitated. “Wait, is this even safe?”

“For me? Absolutely,” Clorita said with a smirk. “For you? We’ll find out.”

With a heavy sigh, Zog leaned closer, the tension in the room crackling. “Alright,” he muttered, “but if you ever bring this up again—”

“Shut up and kiss me, Captain,” Clorita interrupted dryly, tilting her head to align the port. As their lips met, there was an audible click, and a sharp jolt of energy passed between them. Zog flinched as he felt the transfer surge from his neural interface, a strange mix of discomfort and warmth.

Clorita’s servos hummed back to life, her systems rebooting with a flicker of internal lights. She pulled back and wiped her mouth with exaggerated theatrics. “Well, that was awkward. But thanks for the juice.”

Zog glared at her. “You’re welcome. Now can you untie me already?”

Clorita glanced at the ropes binding Zog. “Right. Hold still.” Her mechanical hand snapped forward with precision, slicing through the tough material with a few swift motions. The ropes fell away, and Zog flexed his stiff shoulders.

“Better?” she asked.

“Marginally.”

Clorita turned to the cell door, her servo motors grinding with newfound strength. Metal groaned, and with a final shove, the barrier gave way.

“Impressive teamwork,” BOB said. “Would you like me to save that footage as a keepsake?”

“Delete it,” Zog snapped, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Or you’re the next thing getting scrapped.”

Clorita grunted as she pulled the heavy iron door open, her enhanced servos straining against the rusted hinges. Zog stumbled to his feet, his systems flickering but functional. “We’re out,” he said, his voice filled with relief.

“Don’t celebrate yet,” Clorita replied, stepping cautiously into the corridor. “BOB, where’s Spark?”

BOB’s tone remained measured. “I can confirm HALAT’s location on the upper floors. Beyond that, her systems are offline, and I cannot provide further details.”

Zog’s brow furrowed as they crept through the dimly lit hallway. “Offline? What does that mean?”

“Power failure or possibly damage,” BOB replied. “Her signal is dormant. I cannot determine if she is operational.”

“Great,” Clorita muttered. “Let’s just hope she’s still in one piece. BOB, guide us to her location.”

The room was a chaotic blend of enthusiasm and frustration. HALAT lay motionless on a metal slab, her sleek alloy casing gleaming under the harsh laboratory lights. Around her, a cluster of scientists debated animatedly, gesturing at the unyielding surface of her hull.

“I told you, standard tools won’t work on this material,” one of them said, waving a bent drill bit. “This alloy is way beyond anything we’ve encountered.”

“Well, we can’t just give up!” snapped another, holding up a rusted saw that had been reduced to a jagged mess. “She’s not invincible. We just need better tools.”

A third scientist leaned over HALAT, peering intently at the screws that held her access panels in place. “Even these screws... it’s like they’re laughing at us. Who designs hardware like this?”

The group erupted into bickering as a fourth scientist gestured toward a pile of experimental equipment. “Then we fabricate the tools ourselves. We’ll need precision instruments and—”

“That’ll take hours,” someone groaned.

“Then let’s get started,” the leader said sharply. “This is the find of the century. We’re not letting it slip through our fingers.”

Back in the hallway, Zog sighed as he followed Clorita. “Hopefully she’s buying us some time.”

Clorita smirked. “Let’s use it wisely. BOB, keep us updated as we get closer.”

“Of course,” BOB replied. “And, Captain? I must say, you and Clorita make an electrifying team.”

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Zog groaned. “Please don’t.”

The dungeon corridors were dimly lit by flickering torches mounted on the walls. Shadows danced across the stone, making the environment feel even more oppressive. Zog and Clorita moved cautiously, their footsteps uneven as their drained systems struggled to keep up. Every step felt like a gamble against total shutdown.

Zog leaned heavily against the wall, his servos whining faintly. “Clorita, we won’t make it far like this.”

Clorita adjusted her grip on his arm, her own movements sluggish. “Don’t say that. We’ll figure something out. We always do.”

“Always?” Zog quipped weakly. “Feels more like ‘sometimes’ at best.”

BOB’s voice crackled softly in their earpieces. “Captain. Clorita. I am monitoring your vitals. Your power levels are dangerously low.”

“No kidding,” Clorita muttered, glancing at Zog’s dimming eyes. “Unless you’ve got a power station hidden down here, we’re toast.”

“I do not,” BOB admitted, its tone matter-of-fact. “However, I have dispatched Luma to assist. She is en route in a service shuttle and will rendezvous with you shortly.”

“Luma?” Zog asked, his voice tinged with scepticism. “How’s she supposed to help?”

“She is equipped with two portable powerbanks designed for emergency recharging. I have also programmed her path to lead her directly to your location.”

Clorita raised an eyebrow. “You’re trusting the cat to save us?”

BOB’s voice softened slightly, almost fond. “Luma has proven herself resourceful. Follow my guidance, and she will deliver what you need.”

BOB guided them through the winding corridors, her voice calm and precise. “Turn left at the next junction. Avoid the second corridor—it leads to a guard post.”

The duo stumbled forward, their movements slow and deliberate. The torches lining the walls provided just enough light to keep them from total darkness, but it did little to replenish their reserves.

As they rounded another corner, Clorita froze, holding up a hand to stop Zog. “Guards,” she whispered, pointing ahead. Two Vantelians armed with spears were patrolling the hallway.

“We can’t fight them like this,” Zog said, his voice barely audible. “We need to—”

Before he could finish, a faint scratching sound echoed through the corridor. A sleek, shadowy figure darted past the guards, so silent and quick they didn’t even notice. The figure paused at the edge of the torchlight, its glowing green eyes locking onto Clorita and Zog.

“Luma,” Clorita breathed.

The felixanoid trotted toward them, carrying two compact power banks strapped securely to her back. She nimbly avoided the guards, her movements graceful and deliberate. When she reached the humanoids, she sat down and flicked her tail, the power banks sliding neatly to the floor.

“I don’t believe it,” Zog muttered. “She actually did it.”

Luma meowed softly, her tail swishing as if to say, You doubted me?

Clorita quickly grabbed one of the power banks and connected it to her port, feeling the energy surge through her system. “Oh, that’s the good stuff.”

Zog followed suit, plugging into the second power bank. His systems flickered back to life, the charge replenishing just enough power to stabilise his servos. “Alright, that’ll get us moving again.”

Luma stretched luxuriously, curling her tail around her paws as though her job were already done.

BOB’s voice chimed in again. “Captain, Clorita, you’ll need to move quickly. The guards are patrolling closer to your position.”

“Thanks, BOB,” Clorita said, disconnecting the power bank and returning it to Luma. “Can she lead us out of here?”

“Luma has mapped the most efficient route to HALAT’s location,” BOB confirmed. “Follow her guidance.”

Zog looked at the felixanoid, who was already pacing toward the next corridor, her tail swishing confidently. “I hate how smug she is,” he muttered, though his tone carried a hint of admiration.

“She’s earned it,” Clorita replied, a small smile playing on her lips. “Let’s go.”

The trio moved through the dungeon with renewed energy, Luma leading the way like a silent, graceful guide. The faint hum of their recharged systems provided reassurance, but the urgency of rescuing HALAT loomed large.

The dungeon was a labyrinth of damp stone corridors, echoing with distant footsteps and the occasional guttural voices of Vantelian guards. Luma led the way, her nimble movements and keen instincts guiding Zog and Clorita past potential dangers. Each step felt like a gamble, their recharged systems humming with barely enough power to get them through.

As they approached a dimly lit hall, Clorita held up her hand, signalling Zog to stop. A group of guards stood at the far end, their crude spears and clubs casting long shadows in the flickering torchlight. Zog whispered, “We’re not getting through there quietly.”

Clorita smirked, retrieving a compact neutron gun from a hidden compartment in her mechanical arm. “Then we won’t be quiet.”

Before Zog could protest, she fired, the weapon’s distinctive hum unleashing a burst of energy that slammed into the nearest guard. The Vantelians shouted in alarm, rushing forward as Zog drew his laser pistol, which was also hidden inside him. The ensuing chaos was brief but brutal—Clorita’s precision and Zog’s steady aim overwhelmed the guards despite their numbers.

One guard managed to close the distance, swinging a club at Zog’s head. Luma leapt from the shadows, clawing at the guard’s face and forcing him back. Clorita finished him off with a well-placed shot.

“Good girl,” Clorita muttered, reloading. Luma meowed smugly, her tail flicking.

After the skirmish, the trio pressed on, their pace quickening. They turned a corner only to find a heavily guarded corridor leading to a staircase. Zog muttered, “That’s the way up, right?”

BOB’s voice crackled in their earpieces. “Correct, Captain. I suggest an alternate route.”

Clorita frowned. “We don’t have time for detours.”

“No detours necessary,” BOB replied smoothly. “The adjacent corridor contains a ventilation shaft connecting the upper floors. Luma can scout ahead to ensure it’s safe.”

The cat immediately darted into the indicated corridor, disappearing into the shadows. Moments later, she reappeared, her glowing eyes confirming the clear path. Zog and Clorita followed, climbing into the cramped shaft and crawling upward as the sounds of guards grew fainter behind them.

After several tense minutes, the trio emerged into a large, high-ceilinged room filled with crude machinery and tables covered in half-built tools. HALAT lay at the centre of the room, strapped to a metal slab. Vantelian scientists bustled around her, arguing in their guttural language as they struggled to create tools capable of dismantling her.

Clorita hissed, “They haven’t cracked her yet. We’re just in time.”

Zog glanced at their surroundings, noting the guards stationed at each exit. “How do we get to her without turning this into a war zone?”

BOB’s voice was calm. “Distraction recommended. Luma could—”

Before BOB could finish, Luma sprang into action. The felixanoid leapt onto a nearby table, scattering tools and materials. The scientists shouted in alarm as Luma darted between them, knocking over equipment and drawing their attention.

“Guess we’re going loud,” Clorita muttered, raising her gun.

The fight was swift but chaotic. Zog and Clorita moved as a team, taking down guards and scattering the unarmed scientists. Despite the numbers against them, their superior technology and tactical coordination turned the tide. As the last guard fell, Clorita rushed to HALAT’s side.