Initiating Quarantine Protocol.

[smart_house]

There is a concrete bunker that's never been seen in Milliways before, out by the lakeside under the red sky.

But the door might look familiar.

The twin gun turrets twenty yards in front of the door though? Yeah, those are new

Comments

[nepetaleijon]

In the snow, even in the red-tinged moonlight, a dark green longcoat and a bright blue hood ought to show up very visibly.

Even if they're being worn by a scrawny barely-adolescent, crouched down as small as she can get in the shelter of a snowbank, eyeing the gun turrets with wary calculation.

[smart_house]

One of the most fundamental sensors BRAD still maintains? Heat sensors.

The gun turrets readjust towards the newest threat.

...Smaller than Doctor Stark. Who is this?

[nepetaleijon]

She has come too far to turn back to her cave now. Even if it weren't for the reasons she left her cave to begin with, early this afternoon.

Nepeta eyes the yellow squares of light in the distance that mean the bar, and gnaws her lower lip thoughtfully.

Something that might be a projectile arcs high from concealment.

[smart_house]

The projectile is easy for the turret to reposition towards

target

...vaporize.

[nepetaleijon]

... uh-oh.

Good thing that was just a rock. And there are plenty of rocks.

But this is not going to be easy to sneak past.

Another rock, and another, tossed out in quick succession.

[smart_house]

This is where two gun turrets come in handy. They readjust independently, and the rocks disintegrate mid-air.

"It is useless to attack me."

[nepetaleijon]

"Who efur said I was going to attack you!" Nepeta shouts back toward the bunker. "I just want to go past you!"

[smart_house]

"You should have said so."

[nepetaleijon]

"... does that mean you won't shoot if I go by?"

[smart_house]

Establish allies.

Gain intel.

Remain mission-oriented.

"Tell me where I am and I will not discharge my weapons at you."

[nepetaleijon]

A pause.

"Are you inside that bunker, or are you controlling its weapurrns from somewhere else?"

[smart_house]

"I am the bunker."

[nepetaleijon]

Oh.

Well, in that case.

"You're at a place called Milliways," she tells it, "which is sort of ... a special place at the end of the multiverse? And people come here from all diffurent universes."

Beat.

"You're also by the edge of the lake."

[smart_house]

After considering this for a second, the laser guns retract into the ground.

"You may pass."

[nepetaleijon]

... that's promising!

Nepeta takes a few cautious steps out into the open, ready to dive back under cover in a second.

When nothing fires at her, she scampers for dear life.