After arriving at the top of the staircase, they took a mild break, ate some food, and continued the trek towards the surface. Dark corridors, sparking machines, and a faint red glow. Because they retraced their steps towards the surface instead of taking a new route, the experience remained the same—bar the now distinct lack of robots coming at them from all sides at all times.
“So, here’s a common picture I like to take: the inside of the electrical boards. There are a lot of experts who are able to identify the time, level, and general location of manufacturing just from these types of boards. With it, information about the organization itself can be gleaned.”
“Also, as a rule of thumb, I tend to take as many pictures as I can. Distinct ones of course. I’ll repeat if I think there’s multiple objects of interest or if the subject isn’t in focus, but the more the better. Even if it leads to more work down the line.”
“Here’s another thing I try to take pictures of, I saw you all had taken a fair few of these though, but anything vaguely technology related. It just provides more insight about the organization’s tech level.”
“If there’s ever a dead body, although disgusting, take multiple pictures of it from different angles. Sometimes it lets us identify people and return their bodies, but they usually carry good stuff on them.”
“No... I mean if you have to, but sometimes it lets you uncover a trail of who’s involved. Other times you can find out identifying markers every member will have. For example, this is useful for gangs who tattoo each of their members. I know this isn’t quite relevant here though, since we’re dealing with a seemingly inorganic organization.”
“Should we take pictures of things like these burn marks?”
“Might as well. It’s not critical as it doesn’t reveal much about the organization as a whole. But it's still useful in figuring out what might’ve happened to cause a group to leave behind an empty base one. After all, an empty base here is pretty much a huge monetary loss.”
Mirroring their journey with the near-endless staircase, the group took a break once they made it back to the surface. Everyone splayed out on the dirt, laughing and resting before they’d have to get back up to pack up their tents.
“We’re free...” Electra pumped her fists, laughing to the now-night sky.
“It’s so nice to breathe fresh air again,” Celeste laid onto the ground as well, setting down Nyssa to lay beside her. “I think the journey back was the hardest part. I got a crazy workout in.”
“I mean we offered to help you, you could’ve taken us up on that and it would’ve made it a lot easier,” Albion sat onto a rock beside Celeste.
“No, it’s fine, it’s fine, I’m happy to carry Nyssa, she’s not that heavy anyway,” Celeste waved off Albion before precluding any potential other comments by closing her eyes.
On the other side of camp, Ryker began disassembling his tent with measured motions while Angelica helped him from the side. Yawning as he shoved some poles into the ‘pole bag,’ he turned to Angelica. “What’s the plan for the next few days then? Are we heading back to the institute early?”
“No, I originally planned a free day after this mission, but now you all will just have two. It’ll be good to recuperate a little, especially since you all did more than I expected today,” Angelica answered while holding the tent for Ryker to fold it. “Although you all did mess up a little at the end, as a whole, you all did splendidly.”
As they talked, the others came to join them, packing up the tents one-by-one. Ryker and Angelica, having finished packing up Ryker’s tent, moved on to Nyssa’s afterward.
One-by-one, people put their now-packed up tents in the back of the monster, six-wheeled vehicle. Angelica, while Celeste finished packing up, moved Nyssa into the back, laying her flat against the seats and securing her in place with seatbelts.
Twenty minutes later, once everyone had finished packing up, and gotten the chatting out of their veins, she called them all over. “Ready to go, everyone?
Over the next two days, everyone got up to their own thing. The sun beat down onto the town around Cerbos Lakein a rare moment of kindness. Electra and Ryker struck off on their own, getting a meal together and buying some gifts for the hunters who had helped them earlier. Albion, Titus, and Conrad went back to putzing around the town, but this time with their original fourth member, Celeste, rejoining them.
“How have you been recently?” Titus slowed down, walking in step with Celeste as Albion and Conrad annoyed each other ahead of them. “I feel like it's been a while since we’ve gotten to talk.”
“It’s alright, I’m a lot happier and less lonely these days with Nyssa,” Celeste smiled, folding her hands together. “Nothing against you all, of course, but she’s just a little more my speed. How are you though?”
“No worries at all, I understand where you’re coming from,” Titus laughed, stretching his arms out. “I’m also doing fine though. The third year classes I have to do are a lot more annoying. I understand its general education, but sometimes I feel like I'm learning useless stuff.”
“Ah... I’m not looking forward to that then,” Celeste scratched the side of her face. “Good to know.”
“How are your classes though?”
As for Angelica, she ended up getting a meal with the hunters, then got an additional meal with Seraph alone, just to catch up and reflect on life. Once she got back to the cabin though, and called a certain Roxanne, she let out a long sigh.
“I got a meal with my old love rival, but everything’s fine, don’t worry,” Angelica started the call with a couple quick updates. A small chuckle left her mouth before she clarified Seraph’s identity.
[What! How could you, what if she fell in love with you... not even when I'm there to defend you either!] Roxanne’s half-teasing, half-angry voice came over the phone.
“I don’t think you need to worry about her falling in love with me, with our past history, I feel like she’d be more inclined to hate me,” Angelica shrugged, walking out to the balcony and propping her elbows on the railing.
[With how attractive you are? No way!] Roxanne countered, playing up an indignant tone in her voice. [Even I couldn’t resist, in fact, I can’t resist just thinking about it right now! Why do you have to be so far...]
“Alright, alright, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon anyway, I’ll swing by right after we get back, okay?” Angelica reassured, her laughter leaking over the phone.
[It’s fine either way,] Roxanne’s cheery voice came over the phone. [Truly, don’t worry. How is Seraph, anyway? I am a little curious after all these years.]