Sigma/Star

Chapter 47: The Cave

Sigma delved further into the dank cave in the side of the icy mountain. Regardless of the biting weather outside, this geological hole was rather warm and filled with moisture. Stalactites dripped warm water down onto fuzzy patches of lichen and moss that would normally have no business living this far north. Ochenkov placed a hand on the cave wall to find his path and found he slid right down its slimy surface.

An eerie purple light was cast around from Sigma's eyes and skin as the energy within him radiated out from his body. Ochenkov drew close to the rocky floor and observed some of the little puddles shaped like a foot. The ground was so soft from being soaked and composed of nothing but limestone that it worked almost like mud. "He here. Or someone is."

"Do you suppose the cave here is deep enough that I can use some of my sensors without detection?"

Ochenkov slowly examined the space they were in and mulled over the question. "Is why doctor is here yes?"

"Very true." Sigma's computer senses started to return to his body and numbers and graphs started to flit around the edges of his sight. What was once a dark cave came alive with mineral deposit readings, water sample analyses, and heat signatures on small reptiles crawling along the walls. Down ahead along the path though, everything remained cold and lifeless, though there were a variety of shapes and forms. "Nothing warm and human registering yet."

"Will never reveal self," Ochenkov grunted. "Master at hiding not stupid enough to show self at last minute. Will be tough until end." Ochenkov sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling as it met with acrid scents: sweat mingling with oil and machinery. Very human, salty sweat. "Is down there."

"I assumed as much," Sigma stated as he strode ahead. "But he cannot leave now I'm afraid. Trapped in the hole he dug himself." The pair continued to slowly slip and slide their way further into the cave. Ochenkov pulled some moss off the ground and tucked it away in his clothing, noting its medicinal properties and Sigma shook his head at the partner he had tagging along. At least the barbarian had proved useful in tracking without electronics.

Sigma's purple light bathed a cluster of machines in its eerie glow. They were mechanical boxes, quietly whirring as they worked and pumped something through pipes connected to their bases. The cyborg and tribesman slowed their approach, creeping forward and softly moving around the machines, only to step into a circular space in the cavern; a dead end.

There were more of the metal pumps against the walls of the cave, all of them emptying out whatever they were pumping into pipes that headed towards the middle of the area before diving into the earth. Ochenkov shuffled into the centre of it all and spun around, scanning everything his eyes could pick up in the light cast off by Sigma. The android joined his comrade and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps he lived here at one point but it seems he has moved on Ochenkov."

"No. Something not right." Ochenkov placed his ear to the ground and then tapped his knuckles against the floor. There was a dull sound from the earth, revealing it was solid rock under them.

"Again, I know you don't like the idea of being wrong but-"

The ground shook and vibrated, interrupting Sigma mid-sentence as a circle was cut into the ground surrounding the pair. "Is rock under us yes, but under that..." Ochenkov smirked. The centre of the space was slowly dropping, shifting downwards like an elevator and Sigma watched the metal boxes rise up and then out of his vision as he started to descend into sheer stone. Light burst up from under them as the rock continued to fall with control and grace. They were into an underground cavern now, one that was hung with artificial bulbs along the ceiling and others buried in the walls. As they continued to be lowered the pipes from above burst out of the rock and snaked down to join different machines that were scattered around the cave.