~ Chapel Perilous ~

[Malaclypse 666]

Journal entry:
Malaclype 666

Merci volunteered for the mission.

I did not ask her, nor did I dissuade her. Perhaps allowing her to go would help to return her sense of self-worth. She was still blaming herself terribly for Beaus plight, and Miokis fate.

It was the strangest feeling. Merci and I were once again "sitting" in the waiting room at the Gran Canaria Medical Clinic, waiting for Beau to become lucid.

Something touched my mind. I knew immediately that it was Fnordie, as there was just a hint of unhuman flavor to the touch. But the thoughts I received were easily understood; even though through a background haze of exhaustion.

Even more amazing was the way Fnordie was able to project the codes onto the wall across from us. I was clearly able to see three sets of codes on the wall. I grabbed furiously for my pad, and captured the data. I thought back the codes in Fnordies direction as best I could, repeating the codes back for verification. I had them.

Three code sequences. The first was for the outer systems, which had been pretty much disabled by Dr. As initial attack. Merci would enter it at the main portcullis comms pad, just to be certain.

The second set would be the most difficult. They would open the hidden entrance to the hardened bunker beneath the villa. To reach them, Merci would have to risk the inner laser defenses; the ones which had caught our poor friend Shamus and an innocent passerby completely by surprise.

Merci was confident she could dodge those nasty buggers; or, failing that, she believed her hardened titanium alloy casing would protect her from all but a direct hit. Reluctantly, I agreed. The information in that bunker would indeed be vital.

I held my breath as Merci went in, in direct communication with her. She entered the outer code, and entered the inner courtyard. My breath caught in my throat when I heard : *Dammit!* Then silence. Then, *That sucker singed my tail! Im in, Boss, and headed for the bunker access door!*

I mentally breathed a sigh of relief. If the inner systems were working properly, Merci would soon be entering the final code within the bunker itself; deactivating and resetting the Verandas entire defense system.

*Done, Boss! Green lights across the board! Just let me sashay out and offer myself to those idiot turrets one more time to verify. 5 9s says we got the Veranda back!*

She sounded much better. I suppose an idle mind is the Devils workshop, even for a cyber sentient.

I started whistling an ancient Irish tune as I left the Clinic and started walking towards the Veranda.

Now, to plan one huge and glorious Wake for our friend Shamus!

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