The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [83] Just a Girl and Her Hydra

"System reboot initiated. Please hold." A neutral voice spoke from the control panel.

Everyone took a step back from the black panel on the large flat device. Their eyes slowly adapting to the bright lights that suddenly flooded the large room. The pods Tanisha noticed as she walked in now hummed to life each one opening revealing a comfortable looking bed within.

"Are they all golems? Traps?" Aurelius asked.

Bjorn hissed, getting everyone's attention and shook his head in response to the question.

The monotone voice continued. "Accessing, systems critical... please wait. Admin controls locked. User controls unlocked... adding user. Tanisha Scalebound, nonhuman, aether-arcanist, basic user privilege granted. Please hold. Additional entities detected. Please place your hand on the scanner."

Everyone looked at the black screen and Tanisha took off her armored helmet and stepped aside.

"Do any of us know what this thing is doing?" Fuyumi questioned.

Before anyone could answer, the voice returned. "Query: Individual user data is being collected to add you to the registry. Basic User Privileges will grant you access to all rest and working areas. Basic User privileges have been expanded by Site Manager to include use of food fabricators; token needed: zero, granted access to weapon fabricators: error. Manufacture room tokens needed: zero, granted access to R&D department tokens needed: zero. Additional free locations include: chemistry lab, hydroponic garden, training room, library."

"So we will be able to open doors in the facility?" Fuyumi asked the device.

"Query: Registered basic users will have access to unrestricted areas. Placing one's hand on the terminal will grant access. Maintenance, security and administration areas will remain restricted. Please place your hand on the scanner."

Tanisha asked a question next. "We were attacked after opening this door. Will being a basic user mean that the golems will stop attacking us?"

"Query: Unable to answer query. Error. Please contact your immediate supervisor as they will be able to guide you through your question. Additional entities detected. Please place your hand on the scanner."

After a moment of consideration Fuyumi walked up and placed her hand on the device.

"Scanning user data, Fuyumi Tsukihana, altered-human, non-aetheric. Basic user privilege granted. Additional entities detected. Please place your hand on the scanner."

Aurelius stepped forward next, his expression resolute as he placed his hand on the scanner. The device hummed faintly, its surface glowing briefly in acknowledgment before falling silent. They all expected that to be the final step, but the device's voice rang out again, flat and unyielding.

"Data incomplete. All user data required." The monotone voice droned on.

The group exchanged uncertain glances before turning to Bjorn. He moved toward the device, his claws clicking lightly against the metallic floor. Without hesitation, he placed one paw on the scanner. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the entire facility shuddered violently, the walls trembling as a low, ominous groan reverberated through the air. The room was plunged into darkness, the lights cutting out entirely.

Tanisha instinctively reached for her bardiche, her heart pounding in the oppressive silence. Bjorn's paw remained on the scanner, his calm demeanor at odds with the chaos around them. Just as suddenly, the lights flickered back on, casting the room in their harsh, sterile glow. The trembling ceased, leaving the group standing in tense silence, every nerve on edge. Bjorn finally withdrew his paw, his reptilian eyes scanning the room as if expecting another disruption.