After about a half hour of walking down the tunnel and nerves have been settled Kyro decides that maybe it would be best to tell Razzo what that show of force was.
Kyro quietly tells Razzo: “May that be a lesson to you that I don’t take kindly to those that disobey orders, you can ask my Automatons all about it”.
Razzo doesn’t respond to what Kyro tells him, the electrical coils didn’t hurt him but he understands that the main reason behind it was for show. Fear is a powerful force when you’re trying to motivate those that you’ve already betrayed. The reality is that even with that fear it can only take you so far as it will reach a point where it destroys its own credibility. Kyro knew this but didn’t exactly have the opportunity to let go of that fear with all the different beings that he had imprisoned before when they were expecting a helping hand. Kyro begins to grow slightly more anxious as the different beings move closer and closer together. Rather than panicking the captain decides that while Razzo leads it would be more practical to watch the group from the back to make sure there are no stragglers or anyone out of line. Kyro steps to the side and motions everyone to continue moving forward. Dre notices this and stands to the other side of the group staring at Kyro dead center while the captain directs traffic. Everyone continues along until Kyro is left on one side and Dre on the other side of the group that passed between them.
Dre walks over to Kyro and confronts him: “Did it feel good to do that?”
“Kinda yeah, I haven’t had a chance to spring these bad boys out on someone like that in a while. You got a problem with that… robot?” - says Kyro staring down Dre.
Dre fires back: “Yeah I do actually, because terrorizing your new crewmates in front of your prisoners does not inspire a vote of confidence in you as a captain”. After a moment to think, adds: “AND IT’S NOT ROBOT IT’S AUTOMATON TO YOU, YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS YOU WORK WITH THREE!”
A couple of the creatures at the back of the group turn around for a moment to see what the commotion is before turning back to the way they were going and continuing along the pathway without a care for the confrontation between the captain and robot. Dre has literal fumes coming off its head at this point. Kyro walks over to Dre casually and puts one hand just above its head.
Kyro says: “You’re burning up, be careful you don’t want to damage your circuits now do you?” After a brief pause the captain adds: “I understand how it may look from your perspective. Now imagine you were in my shoes and someone you had just asked to join your team immediately started questioning your decision making process, how would you feel?” (probably wouldn’t feel much because Dre’s a robot)
Dre cooling down says: “Probably not very good, but why in front of everyone?”
“It’s a simple thing of leadership, right now I don’t have anyone in this group's trust, respect, or compassion. I bet half of them think I’m leading them to their certain demise and I don’t even know if that’s the reality or not. So as a result I am forced to rely on fear at the moment. If things were different then I would also act differently, but alas I know how this story unfolds. I've been on that side before and it doesn’t end pretty for anyone. So I’ll do my thing for now and if things change then things change”.
Kyro begins to walk towards the back of the group to not fall too far behind, and Dre follows along closely.
Dre asks: “Have you had to use fear before?”
“Yes I have, quite a few times actually. But in my line of work it unfortunately is on a very thin line with respect and they go together”.
Dre dives deeper: “And is there no other way for others to respect you without fear?”
“Well you see if others only respect you for the respect that you possess, someone will eventually want to replace you because of a variety of reasons and gain your position in the ladder. Whether it be for opportunity, whether it be from jealousy, whether it be from a matter of different perspective on how a crew and ship should go about its business. The problem lies that respect on its own doesn’t protect you, it can protect you from those that stand by a creed, a code or something of nobility. But when you’re in this business you’re dealing with many beings that lack that aspect. For that reason I lean on fear when I conduct my business… but not that I always have.”
Dre processes the answer given to him and takes a moment to think about what Kyro had just told him.
“You said someone had a different perspective of who should run your ship?”
Kyro sighs: “Yes when I was first starting out with my crew and ship doing jobs I had a copilot that I trusted with my life, almost like a brother or a sister if you will. Unfortunately someone that I thought I could trust almost got me killed and without my crew, my ship, my way in life. Up to that point I had the perception as you do right now that you can rely on respect, maybe some compassion to lead the way. But it wasn’t enough. I had to turn to fear and exert my strength and skills over someone that I loved.”
Dre mumbles quietly: “That’s an unfortunate burden to bear”.
“It’s neither here nor there anymore, it’s in the past that I cannot change”.
Dre says optimistically: “Maybe you can’t change the past but you can change what the future holds”.
“Ya maybe, but it seems like I’m running out of opportunities”. - chuckles the captain quietly in his response
Dre asks: “How come?”
Kyro brings his hand up signaling at the group: “Because I keep losing cargo, if I come back to my boss Vassoss one more time empty handed I’m afraid I’ll be dead…”
The Automaton interjects: “Well maybe your new crewmates can help you out with that!”
“Yeah we’ll see, we have to get out of here first”.
They rejoin the back of the group and together slowly make their way back to the front until they’re back with Razzo and Ostikous. After a couple steps in silence Razzo turns his head back and looks over at Dre and Kyro and smiles.
Razzo says in a jolly tone: “Don’t be so down guys, and by the way Kyro it didn’t even hurt, maybe get a grip next time ahahaha!”
“IS that so?” - replies the captain jokingly
Dre looks over at Kyro and the only visible part seen through the helmet is the eyes as they briefly interlock for a moment of eye contact. There’s an unspoken mutual understanding between them now and without saying another word they both come to understand that they’re on the same page about working together.
Kyro clears his throat and tells Razzo: “Listen, I wanted to actually apologize for that earlier, I lost my cool and shouldn't have done that”.
Razzo sticks his elbow out and puts his forearm up with a fist in his hand. Kyro looks at him confused and is prepared to take the hit that’s coming and deservedly so.
Razzo asks: “Fist bump?”
Kyro shakes his head confusedly: “What’s that?”
“Just put your elbow up to mine and bump fists” - he explains.
Kyro hesitates but puts his elbow to Razzo’s elbow and bumps fist together.
Razzo smiles and says: “See that wasn’t so hard, you did it!”
Kyro says in a jolly tone: “Awesome, any progress on finding this stupid train?”
“Well I threw an energy ball down the pathway but it went so far that I can no longer see it” - replies Razzo.
Kyro sighs: “Then we have a long way to go”.
The group continues along the train pathway with less and less visibility as they get further along in the system. Some lights are flickering and others are broken, even though previous sections of the pathway before were abandoned they were still in relatively good condition for the lack of use aside from a small dust build up. Razzo lights up an energy ball to light up the pathway for the group along with Kyro lighting the tunnel with his helmet light as best as possible. The Wokwoks being the smallest beings of the group have to be diligent as to not get trampled in this poorly lit area. They decide to make a deal with the Acarines to ride their backs during this stretch. Little do they know the Acarines plan on having them as a snack when the opportunity arises. As Chorion passes through this section he feels something drip on his shoulder, and he brushes it off. Soon after that something drips on his head.
Chorion says: “Hey everyone I think there’s some kind of goo coming from up top. Maybe there’s an oil leakage up top but we should probably make sure that there’s nothing there”.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Chorion grabs the goo off his head and tries to get it off his head but the sliminess just wouldn’t get off so easily. He lowers his hand so that the much shorter beings could inspect the contents of it and maybe one of them would know what it is.
Dre walks over and inspects the substance: “I don’t know what it is, I’ve never seen anything like this before”.
The rest of the creatures all huddle around the giant trying to take a look at the goo that’s on his hand. No one can quite understand what it is. The Froklins quack amongst themselves and point at the goo and the ceiling of the tunnel.
One of the Froklins telepathically tells the whole group: “This could be one of our oils that comes from our system, an extreme lubricant”.
Kyro says: “Wait did everyone just hear that”
Eekk screams in a high pitched voice off the top of the Acarine: “Yes they can communicate telepathically to groups”.
Kyro then demands: “Which one of you was that?”
One of the Froklins steps forward and speaks telepathically to the group: “That would be me, I am Dengrad, and these two are Fauwk, and Screep. This type of oil was used on our home planet in areas where we made things, such as our armor, or technology, and transitioning our materials into things that we could use. I will need to get a better look at the goo so I can determine if this is the case”.
Kyro asks Chorion: “Can you lift him up?”
The Freksteri nods its head and goes over to Dengrad and picks him up with both hands and begins to lift him above its head. As the Dengrad gets higher up he still can’t see enough of the top to be able to definitely tell if the substance is the same that he speaks of.
Dengrad speaks to the group telepathically: “Can someone help me get higher up? This is not high enough”.
The Freksteri mutters in frustration: “Well this is as high as I go, so do what you can tetrapod I can’t hold you all day”.
Feefee squeaks loudly from on top of Kreeg: “Put him down Freksteri, I’ll do it”.
Chorion lets out a loud laugh that echoes throughout the tunnel.
After finishing laughing he adds: “And how do you suppose to do that snack size?”
Feefee shouts and waves his arms around: “By being smarter than a dimwitted giant”.
Chorion mutters: “I ought to stomp you out and put an end to the misery that is your existence”.
Kyro intervenes: “Now hold on for a second you’re not stomping any single one of your companions you hear Freksteri?!?”
“Fine fine I won’t stomp out anyone, and call me by my name Chorion, instead of referring to by my species. At least that will keep me in a better mood”.
Kyro says without care in his voice: “Fine whatever just put down Dengrad and let the Wokwok try”.
Razzo whispers to Kyro: “That’s Feefee by the way and he’s an angry one so try not to piss him off or he’ll be a pain in your ass amongst other places”.
Kyro laughs: “I didn’t realize you were so scared of such a teeny tiny being Razzo”. And addresses Feefee and Dengrad as Chorion is putting down the Froklin.
“Thank you for helping Chorion, now Feefee I don’t know what you’re planning on doing but I hope it works.”
Feefee smiles and slides down one of Krougs limbs: “I know it will work because I am smarter than you captain.”
Kyro asks confusedly: “If you’re so smart how did I capture you and the female then?”
“That was sheer luck and trickery on your part, anyway get your ass over here Dengrad”. - replies the small being in an annoyed voice.
Dengrad walks over to the Wokwok and as soon as he’s standing near him Feefee touches one of the Froklins legs and taps his boots twice reversing the gravity in the small area around him that’s around him. The gravitational field even picks up half of a Zenvas and Screep who end up falling out of the field towards the existing field in the tunnel.
The Zenvas shouts: “Be careful with that and give us a heads up why don’t you”
Feefee halfway towards ceiling shouts: “I don’t understand how that’s an issue for me, because it sounds like an issue for you”.
The Zenvas says to Kyro: “I agree with what was it Chorion again? That we should definitely kill the Wokwok”.
Kyro shakes his head: “Nope we’re not killing anyone, every member of the group is absolutely vital”.
The Zenvas questions this: “How come?”
Kyro is baffled by the question: “Who are you again?”
The Zenvas introduces herself: “My name is Monticorn, and?”
Kyro says in a stern tone: “Well Monticorn then I’ll tell you this, that information is on a need to know basis and that is just something that you don’t need to know at the moment”. Then Kyro directs a message at Feefee and Dengrad: “How’s the progress coming up there, what are we dealing with?”
Dengrad yells: “I’m having a little trouble stabilizing myself as of right now, this gravitational field is a little bit strong right now”.
During this time Dengrad is pressed up to the ceiling of the tunnel while Feefee runs circles around the Froklin trying to help him up.
Dengrad tells the Wokwok telepathically: “Just don’t bother you got me up here even though I’m squished up to the ceiling this is something that I can work with”
Dengrad uses the amphibious hands to collect some of the goo, then inspects it closely, looks at the way the goo shapes around him and the sources of the goo, but it’s vastly spread out over the ceiling of the tunnel. The Froklin fears the worst that this could mean, before alerting everyone of the potential danger ahead he tastes the substance to confirm his suspicions. Upon tasting a bit of it Dengrad quacks to the other Froklins. The other two Forklins Screep and Fauwk look around in disarray trying to find someone in the group while everyone else stares at them trying understand who they’re looking for. After a few moments of panic they quack back to Dengrad.
Kyro has enough of all the quacking going on: “Can someone tell me what’s going on and stop with all this quacking?”
Screep telepaths to Kyro: “What Dengrad found up on the ceiling is that the goo is not the extreme lubricant used for production on our planet. What he’s saying is that it’s the slime that is produced by Krustsummus’ especially their tails”.
Kyro states: “I don’t know if I believe that, we should look out our Krutsummus’ tail to confirm that it is in fact a match”.
Screep adds: “That's the thing we looked around the group and the Krutsummus is gone, we don’t know where it went. It might be looking to alert the others in this tunnel system, and at that point it might be a whole horde that we have to face once we get further down the pathway”.
Jata says in a nervous voice: “Maybe we should turn back and forget about the train, it’s not worth dying over to help the Froklins anyway”.
Kyro waves his two index fingers and says: “Nope that is not an option actually, if we go back to the Froklins empty handed and don’t bring up the train we are all effectively stuck here or dead. And although I love their hospitality, I don't exactly see that as a win for me”.
Jata scoffs: “Not like they’re going to keep us here, not everything is about you captain”.
Fauwk telepaths everyone: “No they will most likely just kill everyone if the mission fails, we are a proud kind that doesn’t show mercy to those that fail us”.
Kyro gives Jata a look: “See what I mean, even the Froklin is telling you to go and they are effectively the most untouchable of the group and have the most to lose by continuing going forward”.
Eekk chimes in: “So then how do you want to continue forward when we’re most likely walking into the den of a very territorial creature?”
Kyro says: “The same way we’ve been going through this tunnel the whole time, one step at a time. You guys are acting like this wouldn’t be a dangerous mission. Why do you think I brought all of you along, it greatly increases my chances of survival!”
Dre walks over to Kyro and tells him disappointedly: “So that's why you brought us all along, as walking shields for you just in case…”
Kyro shrugs it off: “And you as payment you get your freedom in return. What’s so hard to wrap your mind around here you do something for me and I do something for you”.
Jata scoffs: “But you were the one that imprisoned us in the first place!!”
Kyro says nonchalantly: “Everyone that boarded my ship did so of their own free will and you know it. Now we either all continue going forward together and all reap the benefits of an increased probability of survival or some of us go back and get killed by the Froklins and the rest go and get slaughtered by the Krutsummus. Really the choice is yours guys, you decide how we do this''.
Kyro goes and sits down in front of the group leaving it up to the beings to decide how they’ll act going forward. Feefee drops down with Dengrad from the ceiling. Dengrad takes a moment to clean off the goo from half his body before contacting everyone.
Dengrad tells everyone through thought transference: “We must go forward. The train can’t be too far away, and we must do it now before the traitor tells the rest of their kind where we are positioned. At least with the train we stand a fighting chance of survival”.
Nobody is particularly pleased with what Dengrad says, but understand that they’re all in this together at this point and that there is no going back for them now. They continue along the tunnel with Razzo’s energy light guiding the way. There’s no other break offs from the tunnel; it is primarily a straight pathway with a little bit of winding about, the deeper the group got into the pathway the more this section was covered in Krutsummus goo. After more time passes and the only source of light becomes the energy ball that Razzo made and Kyro’s helmet as everything around them is covered in goo.
Kyro asks Razzo: “Hey Razzo, you think you can throw another ball of light ahead, maybe we’re close to the train now”.
“Yes can do captain”.
Razzo makes another ball of energy and throws it down the pathway but this time the ball flies and hits an object and disintegrates upon impact.
Razzo says: “I think we’re almost here because the ball hit something and splashed so unless we hit the Krutsummus it’s probably the train”.
Kyro announces to the group: “Okay everybody be on the lookout for any movement or any suspicious activity, we don’t know what to expect once we get there and while we stay there”.
Everyone silently nods their heads and the anxiety kicks up another level in the group as they inch towards their objective carefully to avoid making any commotion. They continue to move along until a large triangularly slanted face of an object becomes visible in the light that Razzo provides. After a long grueling journey spent traveling through a dark gloomy tunnel they had finally arrived at the train.