>>5283725And that’s where the comparison between the standoff far above ends. Curled up in cover behind your pale-skinned friend, you venture a confused and somewhat annoyed glance at the thing that was <span class="mu-i">supposed</span> to kill you a few seconds ago. What gives?!
“Good question.” Sybil remarks as the <span class="mu-g">GOO</span> continues to fizzle, pulse, and beep like a child’s toy! “Do you suppose it’s a beacon of some sort?”
You rise to your feet with an appropriate eyeroll. If you seriously picked up <span class="mu-g">3 LIGHT BEACONS</span> you’re gonna be seriously peeved–who the hell leaves <span class="mu-i">those</span> lying around?
“Evidently the Atlanteans do.” Sybil frowns, clearly expecting something far more glorious than more <span class="mu-i">beeps</span>. “Still, being the first ones to witness advanced technology like this in action is a reward unto itse-”
Halfway through Sybil’s <span class="mu-r">GEEKSPEAK,</span> a very small and very curious little fish comes darting through the water to see what all the hubbub is! Immediately locking onto the flashing goo, the minnow makes a beeline for its center where an arc of electricity shoots out and reduces it to a convulsing mess!
As you, Ly, Syb, and your pet watch in growing confusion and horror, the relatively translucent goo flashes red for a split second before <span class="mu-s">EXPLODING</span> with the force of a pile of plastic explosives! Launched backwards, you and your crew land painfully on some of the <span class="mu-i">spikiest</span> clams you’ve ever seen with ringing ears and blinded eyes!
“That…” Sybil sputters, hair splayed all over her face, “That wasn’t a beacon…”
No, you groan, picking yourself off of the rattled-looking raccoon beneath you, it <span class="mu-i">wasn’t</span>. Beacons don’t explode, right?
“Not usually, no.”
Gotcha. Rising to your feet for what must be the fiftieth time today, you brush the sand off your haunches as the ‘beacon’s handiwork slowly becomes visible as the cloud of dirt starts to settle… revealing the <span class="mu-g">CANNON’S INNARDS!</span> Instantly getting over her shell-shock, Sybil scampers over like a kid on Christmas and instantly begins slobbering over the contents!
“Look, Stan!” She announces in a giddy voice, “<span class="mu-s">TUUUUUBES!</span>”
Pushing past her, you peer inside yourself and immediately feel a headache coming on–a maze of dark tubes awaits–each one faintly glowing a faint, different color! Giving one of the tubes an idle tap, you look to the rabid geek for assistance. Any clue what this crap does?
“No idea!” She giggles as a manic grin forms on her face! “But if I had to guess…”
Without further explanation, Syb climbs into the mess of pipes and begins tinkering with them! Taking a few steps back for <span class="mu-i">your</span> safety, you feel a familiar orb of fluff take cover behind your leg. Yea, you snort as you stare daggers into the raccoon’s eyes, <span class="mu-i">NOW</span> you want help, huh, <span class="mu-i">TUBBY?!
You get a hiss in response. Yea, real mature!
>CONTD.</span>