>>5912035You turn, and see the fallen technomat surrounded by others, one propping him up while Hollie and another ripped open his torn robes, exposing an augmetic shoulder- or rather, the remains of one. It had blown apart from within as every circuit inside had been overcharged, opening up his shoulder and allowing blood red to wash over his robes. They were trying to staunch the bleeding, but most of them sounded confused.
“Why'd his shoulder overload like that?”
“Did we anger the spirits?”
You blink. You would have thought they would have all been diving for cover in terror, but they were just trying to deal with their fallen friend, his still-standing partner stabilizing the braizer as whatever was inside continued to burn. Tobias stood above them all, his mechadendrites moving in agitation, unfurling from beneath his robe to reveal tool tips and scanning equipment as he looked around. The two of you share a brief look, while you nurse your burnt hand.
Without anything to say, all you can do is try to shrug. The movement comes out tight and unnatural, but it was all you could manage before one of the technomats to the rear of the crowd stands. “Keep him breathing. I'll fetch a medicae." He turns for the wall, running past you.
You feel a flash of irritation that he didn't think to fetch someone for you, either, but the thought barely comes before the lights dim. The hairs stand up on the back of your neck again, and you turn as the running man reaches out for the panel controlling the door. Your lips open to shout a warning to step back, to stay away from the <span class="mu-i">power</span> gathering in that box, but too late. Inches away from the panel, it suddenly explodes with energy, and bolt flying out and surprisingly missing the man by a wide margin.
It flies past you as well, and your head whips around just in time to see the technomat on the other side of Tobias jerk back. The Motive Force breathes into life within his skull, and with a scream compelled by the nerves in his vocal chords and lungs, he slumps back, all the hair on his head and the neck of his robe bursting into flame as the power of the charge burns in his skull. The smell of cooking meat wafts over you, and the features of his face are hidden by a gout of steam- which is probably a blessing, as you see several things hanging from his face or running down it as he slumps backwards against an electrical socket on the wall, sliding to a stop beside it.
You stare, as a few of the technomats finally scream, clutching their fallen brethren and looking around in fear.
The lights dim again.
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