Chapter 5 – Metal Meltdown

“Now that our battle is complete, I must make preparations to reconstitute the Dark Elves.”
“But what about all the zombie bodies? What do we do with them?”
“Yeah, they don’t smell very good. They’re making me feel sick, leader.”
“Indeed, it would be best to dispose of them in preparation for the restoral.”
I convert the mass crowd defense tower mode into encampment mode and pull up the layout of the tunnels.
It would appear that there is a lava pool in a tunnel nearby.
That would explain the higher temperature than the tunnel by the outside entrance.
The important issue is to cross check that tunnel with the trajectory of the Tornado of Souls.
There is an intersection that the Tornado of Souls briefly passes that intersection.
I will need to set my timing so that I will have enough time to cross that intersection.
“So, what’s the plan, Mr. Ninety?”
“I will link the two repair assistance vehicles into one payload delivery vehicle where I will transport them to a nearby lava pool.”
“Oh, so that’s why it’s warmer in here that by the entrance.”
“Indeed. While I configure the vehicle start collecting the remains to be deposited into the payload area.”
“Got it. Let’s go Fenris.”
“Right.”
I link the two repair assistance vehicles together and configure them to into the payload delivery vehicle.
As soon as I finish configuring the vehicle I begin placing the zombie remains into the payload area as Ástríðr and Fenris begin placing their remains into the payload area.
Although Ástríðr has greater strength than an average Midengardian, Fenris is still smaller in stature and as such she is only able to carry small parts of the zombie remains due to her undeveloped strength.
Once we all complete depositing the zombie remains into the payload area, we enter the driver area and exit through the tunnel that is closest to the lava pool.
“Mr. Ninety, why are we getting rid of the bodies this way? Can’t you use the matter converter?”
“The amount is more than we will need however, I will use the matter converter to retain some amount for base materials. For the rest it would be best to return it back to this planet where it most likely came from.”
“That sounds very …um… eco I guess.”
“It is only sound policy. The dark elves will be able to utilize the materials when it reappears elsewhere on this cavernous system.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Oh hey, do think there’s a hot spring here?”
“It is entirely possible. The layout did annotate pockets of sulfurized water. That would be areas that is considered closest to your hot springs. However, the dark elves did not use them for much other than the occasional reclamation of the water itself.”
“Oh! I hope so. It would be so relaxing. Maybe I should tell them about soaking in them.”
“What’s a hot spring?”
“It’s a small lake of hot mineral water, or at least that was what was in Michiru’s memories. It’s supposed to be very good or your health to soak in.”
“I don’t understand. It’s just hot water, isn’t it?”
“It feels so good. Not like you were used to being in a stream or river.”
“I’m still don’t understand. You humans are strange.”
“Don’t worry about it too much. I’m sure you’ll like it. You had a lot of fur before so the hot spring wouldn’t have been so comfortable.”
We arrive at the intersection that the Tornado of Souls.
“Computer, what is the current location of the Tornado of Souls?”
“Master, the Tornado of Souls will reach your location imminently.”
“Understood.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The Tornado of Souls will arrive at this intersection momentarily. We will wait for it to pass before we cross.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to find out what would happen if we were caught up in it.”
“I’m glad leader helped us escape last time.”
Just as Fenris completes her statement the Tornado of Souls arrives.
“I didn’t get a good look at it last time but that wind is pretty strong. It’s shaking the dump truck quite a bit.”
“Indeed. It required very quick reaction so that we were spared being caught in its current.”
As quickly as it arrived it passes and then we proceed onwards to the lava pool.
After a short time, we arrive and I turn the payload delivery vehicle around to allow the automatic offloading of the zombie remains into lava pool.
A loud thud is heard from the top of the passenger area of the payload delivery vehicle.
“What was that? Mr. Ninety?”
“It is unknown. I may posit that it was fallen rock debris.”
“Are we going to be safe?”
“The passenger compartment is sturdy enough to sustain minimal damage that may occur from the debris.”
“I don’t think I could dig my way out if we’re buried, leader.”
“I would be able to provide a means of escape if the situation arose. I will now begin the offloading of the zombie remains.”
I press a few buttons on the panel and the rear of the payload delivery vehicle begins tilting to allow the zombie remains begin falling into the lava pool.
Suddenly the door nearest to Ástríðr is flung of the side of the payload delivery vehicle.
A hand reaches in and grabs Ástríðr and pulls her from the payload delivery vehicle.
Fenris growls and jumps out after her.
I quickly exit my door and run towards where Ástríðr should be.
Ástríðr is laying on the ground with a Kirtov over her draining her life force.
Fenris is on top trying to provide an attack but is unsuccessful due to her physical limitations and the defenses of the Kirtov.
Ástríðr is trying to reach for her weapon but is unable to due to her weakened state.
I draw my weapon and fire a shot which lands in the in the center of its face just above its eyes.
The Kirtov falls backwards and Fenris jumps to the side to avoid being crushed.
Vitran Particles begin flowing from the wound and strats to heal it.
I begin firing six shots into the main body and then seven more shots into the head.
The amount of Vitran Particles being released increases and I raise my hands and summon the Vitran Particles into me.
Much like before I met Spectral Form Michiru, the amount coming back to me is more than I can contain.
Computer’s voice come on, “Warning! Vitran Particle overload!”
As I keep the flow of the Vitran Particles entering, I use my right arm to continue the flow from the Kirtov.
I then raise up my left arm and try to vent the particles out and much like before it explodes forth.
Briefly pointing the Vitran Particles towards Ástríðr to restore any damage she may have sustained and then move my left arm to an open area of the cavern.
The reclaimed particles fall to the ground sprouting new life in the form of bioluminescent plants and mushrooms.
This continues until the last of the particles leaves the fallen Kirtov and the body crumbles to dust.
“Whew, that was a shock! I couldn’t break free. Thanks, Mr. Ninety.”
“Do you have any injuries?”
“I feel great thanks to your Vitran particles.”
“What was that thing? I couldn’t hurt it at all, leader.”
“It was a Kirtov, little one and they arrived here from space over 500 Ár ago. They’re pretty nasty as you can tell and pretty tough.”
“I don’t like them Miss Ástríðr. I felt a strong feeling of anger when I saw you taken away by it.”
“Your emotions were triggered by a carnal fear response and as such initiated fight mode.”
“Wow! Look at all the glowing plans and mushrooms! That’s way different than when Michiru met you.”
“Indeed. The Vitran Particles adapted the flora to the environment and this is the result. From the logs the fungal forms are native to this tunnel system but the other flora has no data.”
“Well, it’s something nice to see and it lets you see. It’s pretty nice light.”
“It provides sufficient lighting for the area.”
I go to the door that was removed from the payload delivery vehicle, pick it up from the ground and then put it back into place.
The payload delivery vehicle reattaches the door.
“Wow all better. Do you think there’s anymore Kirtov in the area?”
“It is a possibility. Once I complete the reconstitution of the dark elves, I will send probes into the remaining tunnels to remap all the cavernous system and determine any threats. For now, let us continue with the disposal of the zombie remains and return to the village.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t look like there’s another Kirtov nearby anyway.”
“I want to go back too. It’s too hot out here.”
“I will adjust the climate control within the passenger area to a suitable temperature so as to mitigate the outside conditions.”
“Thank you, leader.”
“Yours and Ástríðr’s comfort are of importance.”
“Gee thanks Mr. Ninety.”
I finish the disposal of the remaining zombie remains and then we depart.
The return trip had no further incidents and we soon arrived at the village.
The structures are made metal and stone and due to their location have been unaffected by the outside elements and mostly intact so they will need very minimal modifications to accommodate the dark elves.
“Now that I had a chance to look around at the buildings, they are pretty sturdy.”
“Indeed. I estimate little time to prepare them for their inhabitants.”
“That’s good.”
“Computer, I need to restore this village area so that it can receive the spectral forms of the dark elves.”
“Command confirmed, master. Time to complete will be minimal as the surrounding structures are mostly intact.”
“Understood. We will evacuate so that you may proceed.”
“Standing by, master.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“I will release a remote orb in here for computer to retrofit the structures so that they can receive the dark elves’ spectral forms. I will need to reconfigure the repair assistance vehicle so that it can assist in this retrofit.”
“Let me guess, Fenris and I are on clothing duty again.”
“If you both could please do so.”
“Don’t worry Mr. Ninety, we got this, right Fenris?”
“Yeah, leave it to us leader.”
I disassemble the payload delivery vehicle back into the two individual repair assistance vehicles and “scooter” form of the auxiliary transport vessel for Fenris to use.
We leave the main area and head toward the main entrance to the outside where we arrived originally.