"Then let us go find out what is down there." A new resolve came to Kael's voice. The way to Sub-Level Engineering, according to the glowing arrow on his HUD, are seperate way from the control room and into the deeper and silent, ancient corridors of the Vault.
Asha: "Kael, before we head to Sub-Level Engineering, we have developed an important iobjective due to the recent power fluctuations that you... initiated. One of the medical bays for this sector, Med Bay Gamma-7, has in it an important power relay that stabilizes a specific block of cryo-pods, some of which are carrying 'Priority Genetic Stock.' My scans indicate that this relay is presently offline from what looks like a localized trip of a circuit breaker. That relay will need to be reset."
Kael kept his hand on the frame of the opened doors leading from the control room. "The power we got earlier… that didn't fix it?"
Asha: "This is a localized failure requiring manual intervention. Med Bay Gamma-7 is also projected to have usable, though outdated, basic medical supplies and nutrition that you might need. Given your recent minor lacerations and the hazards ahead we don't yet know about, getting those supplies would serve as a secondary objective."
Kael looked down at his stinging left hand. His HUD updated, [Primary Objective: Reset Med Bay Gamma-7 Power Relay. Secondary Objective: Scavenge Basic Medical Supplies.]. A fainter, newer arrow pointed them slightly off to the side of the route for Sub-Level Engineering.
Kael: "Okay. Fix those cold beds power, get stuff for my hand... makes sense." He much preferred objectives with simplicity, that he can understand in one go. "Which way to… Med bay thing?"
Asha: "Med Bay Gamma-7 is three corridors west from here, then one level down through the emergency Stairwell Beta. I am providing the updated HUD with the fastest route. Be careful. These auxiliary corridors have not been used for more than decades."
The journey toward Stairwell Beta had proved even more dangerous. Emergency light poles were few and far in between, casting great shadows that Kael's eyes tried in vain to look at. The air was colder, and there was a faint sound of dripping somewhere.
Kael approached a big hydraulic door, but it appeared to be sealed.
Kael: "Uh, Asha? This one looks... close. And not really friendly toward the whole 'opening' idea."
Asha: "My records indicate this door, 'Section Divider 3.4,' had a hydraulic seizure approximately 63 years ago during a seismic tremor. The electronic lock is also presently non-functional due to this segment power outage. It needs manual override. Or what you call physical force."
The door seemed incredibly thick. "Physical force, huh?" He remembered Asha's small note of Strength of +0.05. If he were to grow stronger, he need to give an effort. He reclined backward and found a handhold sticking out and pulled.
The screeching of the door against the metal was unbearable, but it did not budge.
Asha: "Your current Strength attribute is 4.75, Kael. Sustained force must be exerted with a minimum of 5.2 Strength to overcome the seized hydraulics. Focus all your strength and use your legs for leverage."
Kael grit his teeth and repositioned himself, ducking down as much as possible and putting his whole body into it. He gave another pull, he roared loudly. His neck was straining with veins showing from the surface.
The screech of metal to metal, with Kael sensing his muscles bursting, with probable micro-traumas that Asha said, probably having a party now in his biceps.
And then, quite suddenly, a loud crack, the door shake and few inches open. But still not enough for him to pass.
[Strength Attribute +0.02 (Sustained Muscle Strain)]
[Skill Initialized: Athletics - Basic Feats of Strength (0.5%)]
Kael (panting and smiling in pain): "It… it moved, Asha! … the…strength-number went up!"
Asha: "Indeed. But the gap is still insufficient. Perhaps if you…" Before Asha could finish whatever nightmarish suggestion she was about to give, Kael rammed his shoulder in and heaved. Pure adrenaline rushed to his body. With another roar, the door moved enough for him to squeeze through.
He stumbled into the corridor beyond, wincing as pain throbbing his shoulder. The new section was dark, Then he heard it a faint, quickly repeated scratching, like tiny claws on the metal, The hairs at the nape of his neck stood in warning.
Kael (barely above a whisper): "Asha… what was that?"
Asha: "My auditory sensors are picking up multiple instances of rapid, light footfalls. Scans indicate Mutant organisms signatures, Kael. They're fast…. And numerous. They do not correspond to any known terrestrial fauna documented within this Vault's initial ecological survey." A new icon flashed across Kael's HUD: [Potential threat detected: Unknown Organisms. Recommended Heightened Awareness.]
Kael was having a heart attack. That sounded like a recipe for a bad day. A sturdy metal pipe laying from the rubble near the wall, probably fallen from a damaged conduit. Better than nothing.
His aches seemed to melt away, replaced by a focused mind. There still people he needs to protect, even if they were still asleep.
Kael (with determination): "Okay, Asha. Tell me where they are."