Chapter 72: Race to the Vault
The news that the Iron Wolves had already captured an artifact sent a jolt of urgency through the team. The fun and games were over. This was now a flat-out race.
"Emma, what’s the fastest way to the central vault?" Ryan asked, his voice sharp and focused.
Emma’s fingers flew across her datapad, her face lit by its blue glow. "The Iron Wolves are taking the main corridors. They’re loud, but they’re fast. They’re smashing through everything. We can’t beat them in a straight race on that path."
She paused, a small frown on her face as she studied the complex map. "But... there is another way. It’s not on the main schematics. It looks like... a maintenance tunnel.
It’s tight, dark, and probably full of whatever passed for giant robot rats in the Precursor era. But it’s a direct line. It will take us right to the vault’s doorstep."
"Perfect," Ryan said. "Lead the way."
He then turned to his new robot friend, who was still standing patiently. Ryan felt a little bad about what he was about to do. "Okay, buddy. New orders. Go find the Iron Wolves. Make a lot of noise. Distract them. Be as annoying as possible."
The Chrono-Golem’s green eye blinked once in understanding. It turned and glided silently out of the chamber, heading off to cause some trouble.
"Is it really a good idea to send it off alone?" Chris asked, looking after it with a hint of sadness. "We were just starting to bond."