text: [Themes: historical, western]
  
  You figure you're as good as dead if you go back to One-Eyed empty handed. That's sort of what happens to newbies who fuck up.
  
  "I'm not going anywhere without that money," you state. "You can either hand it over or I can pull it from your cold, dead body."
  
  "Ha! You wouldn't be the first lackey to try," Mo replies.
  
  The distinct cocking of a gun rings from behind you. Not taking any chances, you twist to your left creating a smaller target and attempt to get a view of your assailant. Before your mind can register the image, you fire your .45 at the figure behind you. Not even checking if your bullet hit true, you fire a second towards Mo behind the counter. The shot hits Mo directly between the eyes making him look like the one of the Middle-Eastern Caravaners you traveled past days earlier. His body slams down on the counter top with a thud, settles in for a moment, and then collapses the entire wooden construct.
  
  You turn around to see the damage of your flanking attacker only to be surprised when there is no person. Behind you stands a mechanical figure of a man. Crudely painted skin lines the body of the mech creature. It has normal characteristics of a human. Arms, legs, even a face, although the place where its joints should be sit a mix of gears, ratchets, and knobs. Your bullet tore a hole through its left eye. The busted eyeball dangles at its cheek held by a single aluminum spring. The pistol in its hand is raised in a shooting position yet the entire body is stiff as if stuck in time.
  
  "That's certainly something new. What kind of monstrosity is this?" you quietly say to yourself.
  
  You walk up until you're right in front of the machine and wave your hand in front of its face to see if it has some reaction. Nothing moves. Just then, you hear the sound of crashing, like something toppled over from below, most likely the basement. Your job is to simply get the money owed. Whatever freak things Mo tinkered with aren't your concern, although you'd be lying if you said you weren't curious to see what is below, especially after discovering the mech creature.
  
  > investigate the basement
  Slowly walking backwards from the mechanical man in case it turns on again, you reach the counter, or at least what's left of it. Taking a giant step over the large body, you discover a grate on the floor hidden from the General Stor's main room. You grab the metal ring handle and swing it open. Cool air hits your face as you stare into the black abyss. You can just make out what seems to be the top rung of a ladder. Led by curiosity, you climb down into the darkness.
  
  After a few short seconds you reach the bottom. Your feet slam down on the metal floor and cause an echo down the hallway. Staring down the dark tunnel, you see a dim light straight ahead. Your first step forward triggers a floor tile. Suddenly, the entire hallway is lit up in a low red color.
  
  The light triggered a constant humming noise. In fact, it's so consistent that your mind begins to drown it out. The lights seem to come from the walls and ceilings themselves as there isn't a lantern in sight. Able to see features, you can tell the tunnel is built from shiny metal, silver perhaps. Only its gleam is much shinier. Carefully stepping now in case there are harmful floor switches, you continue towards the light.
  
  As you draw near, the light looks to be emanating from within a giant lantern. No, not a lantern: a giant cylindrical tank of water. Something, or someone, is floating in the center. The water is too hazy to see any more than that. From a machine to the left of the tank, two tubes connect towards the head of the floating creature. You see a giant lever on the machine with the word RELEASE. There's a wrench on the ground next to the machine. Probably the cause of the sound you heard. Your curiosity has gotten you this far, so you think a silent what the hell and pull the lever.
  
  The water from the tank drains into an unseen chamber below and the front of the glass tank swings open after the water has dispersed. The body inside unconsciously drops to the floor. You can tell now that it's a woman – a very naked woman. You take off your coat and wrap it around her shoulders. Stirring, she blinks a few times taking in the situation. Her platinum eyes meet yours.
  
  "Uh hi," you speak, not sure what else to say.
  
  "Quis es? Úbi sum," she replies.
  
  "I'm sorry I don't understand. Do you speak English?"
  
  She hesitates for a half-second and then answers in a voice that sounds like too perfect a pitch for a human. "Yes, English."
  
  "What were you doing in that tank? What is this place? I've never seen anything like it."
  
  "This is a hibernation chamber," she answers. Hearing her voice for a second time, you realize it's not the pitch that's perfect, it's the way each syllable is pronounced. Not one is spoken too lightly or overemphasized. It sounds the way you read words in your head.
  
  "Do you have the artifact?" she speaks again.
  
  "What artifact?"
  
  "The Telum Dei. I was only to be awakened once it is located. As Caretaker, you should know that. You are my Caretaker, are you not?"
  
  > Yes
  "Uh, yeah that's me... the Caretaker," you say not wanting to upset her.
  
  "Good. Now we must get the Telum Dei."
  
  "How about we get you some clothes first?" you suggest. "I like a naked woman as much as the next guy, but it might draw a bit too much attention."
  
  "The artifact is of utmost importance. Everything else is secondary."
  
  "Lady, you obviously aren't from around here. Actually neither am I, but I know folks around here wear clothes. You'll put the artifact in jeopardy sticking out like that."
  
  "Fine."
  
  You climb the ladder back into the General Stor and search through the junk to find her clothes. While searching, you figure now might be a good time to nonchalantly discover more about the woman and this 'Telum Dei'.
  
  Slowly walking backwards from the mechanical man in case it turns on again, you reach the counter, or at least what's left of it. Taking a giant step over the large body, you discover a grate on the floor hidden from the General Stor's main room. You grab the metal ring handle and swing it open. Cool air hits your face as you stare into the black abyss. You can just make out what seems to be the top rung of a ladder. Led by curiosity, you climb down into the darkness.
  
  After a few short seconds you reach the bottom. Your feet slam down on the metal floor and cause an echo down the hallway. Staring down the dark tunnel, you see a dim light straight ahead. Your first step forward triggers a floor tile. Suddenly, the entire hallway is lit up in a low red color.
  
  The light triggered a constant humming noise. In fact, it's so consistent that your mind begins to drown it out. The lights seem to come from the walls and ceilings themselves as there isn't a lantern in sight. Able to see features, you can tell the tunnel is built from shiny metal, silver perhaps. Only its gleam is much shinier. Carefully stepping now in case there are harmful floor switches, you continue towards the light.
  
  As you draw near, the light looks to be emanating from within a giant lantern. No, not a lantern: a giant cylindrical tank of water. Something, or someone, is floating in the center. The water is too hazy to see any more than that. From a machine to the left of the tank, two tubes connect towards the head of the floating creature. You see a giant lever on the machine with the word RELEASE. There's a wrench on the ground next to the machine. Probably the cause of the sound you heard. Your curiosity has gotten you this far, so you think a silent what the hell and pull the lever.
  
  The water from the tank drains into an unseen chamber below and the front of the glass tank swings open after the water has dispersed. The body inside unconsciously drops to the floor. You can tell now that it's a woman – a very naked woman. You take off your coat and wrap it around her shoulders. Stirring, she blinks a few times taking in the situation. Her platinum eyes meet yours.
  
  "Uh hi," you speak, not sure what else to say.
  
  "Quis es? Úbi sum," she replies.
  
  "I'm sorry I don't understand. Do you speak English?"
  
  She hesitates for a half-second and then answers in a voice that sounds like too perfect a pitch for a human. "Yes, English."
  
  "What were you doing in that tank? What is this place? I've never seen anything like it."
  
  "This is a hibernation chamber," she answers. Hearing her voice for a second time, you realize it's not the pitch that's perfect, it's the way each syllable is pronounced. Not one is spoken too lightly or overemphasized. It sounds the way you read words in your head.
  
  "Do you have the artifact?" she speaks again.
  
  "What artifact?"
  
  "The Telum Dei. I was only to be awakened once it is located. As Caretaker, you should know that. You are my Caretaker, are you not?"
  
  > No
  "No, I don't think so. I have no idea what this artifact is or what this place is. A few minutes ago, I was doing a job for my employer and then I stumbled upon you floating in water. Mo is into some messed-up shit if you ask me."
  
  "Then you have awakened me early. Do you know what you've done, fool?"
  
  "I'm pretty sure I just told you that."
  
  "You have delayed the mission. Neu Prexx will not suffer because of you."
  
  Her platinum eyes light up causing you to look away by the sudden brightness. Twin beams of light burst from her retinas and blast a hole through your head. You die instantly.