>>5578087>Peedee rolls a crit success.With the planet quaking power of your voidship's twin mass driver, Peedee launches herself headfirst at the hulking slab that is Guard's manifested form in this space. A deafening crack rings your ears as her visored face smashes into the great round eye of the beast, and they both topple back into the confines of the mental control room. Finally free from the excruciating pain, you claw your way out of the pile of now limp limbs and just breathe for a moment.
"P-peedee?" Your voice cracks, throat hoarse and burning from your earlier screams. "Please tell me you're okay! I was meant to protect <span class="mu-i">you</span>, not the other way around.” You stumble to your feet and take a step towards the silhouette blocking the entrance to the control room.
Her small form floats up slowly from behind the fallen figure of Guard. Her visage has shattered in the violent clash and a huge crack runs the length of her visor from forehead to protruding snout. An empty eye socket stares at you, bone white, through the gap as the remains of her visor flicker a tearful expression.
“P-Pe- <span class="mu-i">I</span> am fine. I f-fight for my C-Captain.” She holds up two trembling fists.
You are stunned, speechless… and before you can find any words to express your gratitude or concern, the mass of cables surrounding you stirs and begins to snake its way towards its fallen-down source. It slowly begin to hoist the slab of metal and circuits upright, the great eye cracked but glowing an ominous red once more.
The imposing bulk of the machine rises, obscuring the hatchway and slowly but surely cutting you off from Peedee. She drifts forward as if to squeeze through the gap and return but you stop her with an outstretched arm.
“No, little one! You can’t help me anymore, escape while you can!”
“B-but..”
“No buts! Be brave and go! That’s an order! I’ll find you again my friend, I... I promise!”
“F-friend? Captain… Dal is Peedee’s first… friend.” She gasps with wonder and you can see her expression set into stubborn determination.
“Not if Peede- Not if <span class="mu-i">I</span> find you first!” She quips and turns to look at the almost vertical guardian AI in its eye, grinning mischievously.
“Hey! Stinky Guard dog! You better catch Peedee before <span class="mu-s">friend</span> hears that Pe- that <span class="mu-s">I</span> was-”
White noise assaults your ears as Guard fills the mental space with static and attempts to seize the little fleeing intelligence, propelled surprisingly swiftly in pursuit by its many tangling limbs. You can see them fade through the wall of the control room as if it were incorporeal, your little orange friend always just out of reach.
With the overzealous security AI gone and your reserves well and truly spent, nothing tethers you to this place anymore — darkness swiftly consumes you.
