Um, how fast is this thing gonna go? And how am I going to get back? I have a limited food supply and time. Isn’t there somewhere closer or some other entity that can take this power crystal?

Proceed as ordered, an unknown voice told Alan.

Taking a deep breath, Alan decided to continue. What was the worst that could happen?

You die and lose your power armor in addition to the quest item, levels and new abilities, resulting in servitude to the Black Rose Guild and Icewolf for the foreseeable future, Eve sent.

WHAT? Alan furiously thought, as he began a rapid descent, the panels below him negating friction.

You asked, Eve replied. I considered this update prudent, despite the rhetorical nature of your question. I thought you may have forgotten that Rank A items and above always drop upon death.

I did… Alan silently fumed as worry began to set in as he began hurtling through space. He wanted to take risks, but this was a bit much. It turned out that he did not want to see what was in front of him. Unlike what he had previously surmised, the metal tunnel he was sliding down was not an ever-present fixture in the facility. Instead it was being constructed before his eyes, assembled seconds before he reached the spot, pieces appearing from points unknown.

This would have been fine, or at least not so nerve wracking, if he had been proceeding at a sane speed, but apparently the unknown entity that had constructed the facilities had a different idea of safe. Alan truly began to panic as a large missile shot by the opening in front of him, narrowly missing the constructing ladder-way of doom. Unable to take it any longer, he shut his eyes, concentrating on the feeling of his dropping stomach, trying to avoid thoughts of nausea and dropping into the abyss.

***

Countless minutes later (42 according to Eve), Alan finally felt his descent slow. The slide gradually began to level out. When he opened his eyes, Alan found that he was moving alongside a metal pathway nearly 50 feet wide. All about him were heavy fortifications, turrets and mechanical behemoths that would have been intimidating if they hadn’t been powered down. Eve highlighted countless shield batteries and hidden traps that were turned off as well. Alan couldn’t help but feel as if he was cheating the system somehow, but silently accepted it. It looked like he’d soon come face to face with someone with real power in this place. Probably a gigantic computer of some sort.

The slide finally came to a stop, depositing Alan before a massive metal doorway, hundreds of feet tall, the entrance to a structure that was built into the surrounding walls. It looked as large as an imperial palace, if not quite so impressive in its current dilapidated state. Alan could see wires sticking out the various battlements at the top of the door. Like much of the rest of the prison, the building was devoid of much that would tell Alan its purpose, the only outstanding features being the defensive battlements.