Part 18: The last runaround

The last runaround

Last time we made our way through a cave and killed people.

This time we will make our way through another cave and not kill people. Gotta spice things up a bit, you know?




Shit, Hayes and his troops were faster than us. Probably cause they all rode dirt-bikes.

:"How did they?.. This is a catastrophe! I must take care of my people. You'll have to take care of yourself for now. I'll meet up with you later."

:"This... is horrific! So many wounded! And far too few helpers."

:"I know what you want, Anie, but at the moment it's better if you stay with me. We don't know what exactly is going on here."



:"Hmm... If you think so. There's little sense talking to you anyway. Besides, this way I know where I can find you. I'll come by later and pick you up."


Now we are free to move, with the vague goal of "helping out". This map is really huge and littered with bodies and destruction. I'll show it off a bit along the way.

We are standing next to the hospital.

So let's just start here.

:"Ah, the Medipacks have finally arrived! You did get them, didn't you?"

:"I'm sorry, what?"

:"I sent a messenger. Have you got the Medipacks or not?"

:"You're confusing me with someone else. Who are you?"

:"I'm Kayla, the medical doctor for the city. I know it doesn't look like it at the moment, but I simply haven't got enough Medipacks to do my job!"

:"What's happened here?"


Hayes and his troops really ran through this place. Coincidentally, I have the Medipacks on me. Aside from the quest XP this will also heal an Npc which we need later.

Once the situation is dealt with, Abel runs up to Seagull.

:"It's horrendous! Hayes caught us completely unaware. There are so many dead and wounded... I have to get to Kayla. She's our doctor and surely needs our help!"

:"I've already gave her some Medipacks. Is there more I can do in the sickbay?"


Timed explosives? Sounds like a job for Victor.

:"What's happened to the scientists?"
Oh right, they also were a thing.

:"There has been a cave in! It seems like they are trapped under the debris. I hope they're still alive! But we really must hurry now!"
Ah, don't worry! Seags' will save the day. As usual.

Let's take care of some explosives first.

There are four of them, placed on the main pillars of the cavern. Finding them is not that hard as they will get marked on your map, when they have been in your view for a tiny moment. I'm pretty sure that this is quest is timed, but that the timer will only start when you talk to the real quest giver. More on that later.

Victor takes care of the first two on the way.
:"A C4 charge with a time fuse. I better defuse this fast, or things are going to explode all around me."


I'm just making my way through the area. There are a bunch of containers around but most of the loot is crap. I don't even know why they bothered to place 9mm guns at this point. But I also find some M46 pieces, bringing me to four complete sets! The other two are only missing the suit and it will probably stay that way.

While farting around, Seagull triggers a pack of bears.

WHY ARE THERE BEARS?!


Crisis averted.

Just to give you some reference for the scale of the map.

While this looks like a bazaar, there never will be a trader around here.

For some reason, the Shadows have a bunch of caged bears.




Still trucking.

But I find this. Maybe it will become important?

You can call me childish, but

I've made my way to the top of the map, and trigger a small scene.


:"Toni is right! I'm the only one here who could take the risk."

:"But you don't exactly know how to do it either."

:"We must evacuate the city!"

:"Just leave? What a dumb idea!"

:"Well, it's not like we have a choice!"

:"Stop it! All of you. We have company..Stay away from the columns!"



:"Do you have a plan?"

:"I'm going to have to defuse the charges. Though I must admit that I'm not an expert. But I don't have a choice.."

Chillax bro, I got this. Already defused two of the suckers.

:"I'm impressed. You do know your stuff. Then get started. And remember you only have another hour, so hurry up."
I assume that the timer kicks in here. An in-game hour is 10 or 20 minutes, I never checked that extensively. I also don't know what happens when you get here without an explosive guy. I'm not crazy enough to play through the game again to check. You have to solve this to progress so I suspect another game over. I defuse the other charges for some XP and kind words.

If you have ever wondered how the Shadows can support a city down here..

Mushrooms. The funny thing is that they just copied the animations from the hospital workers. So the farmers frantically race back and forth between the trays.

I've finally reached the last part of the cavern.


Let's take care of that cave in.


:"What's going on here?"

:"A rescue operation!"
Duh!

:"What's happened then?"



We need to get the old drill-dong back in shape to help out here. It's not that easy as we need a special item and you're probably not going to find it by yourself.


See this guy? He is searching around on the ground, but otherwise he is similar to all the other Shadows which are pacing about the place. So you're probably not going to talk to him. But you have to, if you want to solve this damn map.

:"Damn! How could I forget something as simple as that?!"

:"Hey! Where's the problem?"

:"You haven't seen a key around here by any chance, have you?"

:"No, sorry. Why?"


Didn't Abel say that Shadows usually croak when they push 30? If they get memory loss at this age, it sure sucks to be one!

We don't need to look for a key as Victor is an accomplished locksmith.

And fireproof.

:"Is there anything in the depot that I could use?"

:"I'm sure we could spare a few guns. We have a lot of stuff in there and the GNO won't be back in a hurry. Help yourself."
Yes, I'm going to take a "few" things.





Yes, I take the laser ammo.


And all of this.


This too.


More G11 ammo. The MP7 is also nice but there is no reason for me to take it. You'll see.

Now for the dumb thing.

Instead of placing this item in a container they placed it on the map. So you have to press the highlight key to find it. Seriously, how are you supposed to spot this tiny red thing?

With this and some fuel, Butch can repair the devil-dong.


Samson is really glad that I did it. But as it turns out, none of us knows how to operate it. So I have to backtrack to the hospital to pick up the driver.

:"Urgh... Yeah? who are you?"

:"Let's say, a visitor to your city. Who are you?"

:"Hale. I think.. I got a knock on the head. Everything is turning round."

I tell him about the cave in and that I fixed the driller.

:"Damn, why didn't you say so! Of course, I'll help!"
Never mind the concussion.

Have a good look at this stunning animation.
_{When you pay close attention, you can see that the driver spawned still sitting and gets up from thin air at the beginning.}



:"Who are you? And where are the two scientists? I thought they were shut in here too. I must speak to them!"

:"I'm Jacob. And I'm afraid you're out of luck. The GNO took them. That's why they even came in the first place!"
Hayes!

:"Damn! One thing at a time, what happened?"



:"I really have to find them. Have you any idea where they were taken?"

:"I reckon they took them to the biosphere. Jeff said that he was one of the few people who knew something about it."



:"Where is the biosphere?"



:"Notes.. a water detector.. Hmm.. and a small metal stick. Have you any idea what it could be for?"





Okay...what I don't really get is why we can't just ask Abel where the damn thing is? He said that his guys found it, for fucks sake! Oh and because we already are talking about him, let me tell you that he and Anie quietly de-spawned from the map.

Also, second dick move.

You need this item to continue. Now tell me that your eagle eyes would have spotted a tiny grey item on a grey background.

At least I don't have to walk that far, this time.

:"Thanks for helping with the cave in. We would have been digging around for ages in the debris."

:"I have a small metal stick and this weird helmet. Jacob said you might know what they're used for."



:"So what can you do with it?."

:"A few decades ago some people had the idea of planting a computer interface directly into the brain."



:"Sounds interesting. How come the things didn't catch on?."


Joe Six-pack is a close friend of Frank Hard-chest.

So..what to do now?


Use an old piece of tech to drill a hole in my head?...Sure!





:"Looks like everything went well. The interface is now installed in your brain. I presume.."




So, with the info in our head we should head back to the hospital and talk to Abel and Anie. Which aren't there anymore. I really can't say when the game removes them.

But there is somebody else.


:"No time! I have to be on my way. The GNO has kidnapped the two scientists who were here with you."


Well aren't we lucky? She will also lead us there, so we have no reason/time to think about the gaping continuity hole that the disappearance of Abel/Anie left.

Well, this was the last talky update. The next, and last, two updates will be the endgame. In light of that let me leave you with a look at the gear I saved up for this occasion.




As you can see, everybody has a ton of healing and some HP increasing drugs. I may not need all that healing but better safe than sorry.

Seagull packs the G11, cause he's the boss. He also has a clip for a special weapon that we will only get during the last battle.

Agnes grabbed the Laser Rifle, the only light weapon worth anything at this stage.

Victor kept his rifle as I didn't have anything good to replace it with. His familiarity will outweigh a bigger 5,56 gun. Also he has the petrol bomb, let's hope I find a good target.

Butch has the Laser Blaster and a ton of ammo. The thing bangs out 10 shots per burst so he probably needs it.

Ivana snatched the automatic launcher. 40 nades is not that much, so she also packed her SAW to not run dry.

Keno brings the M82. Good old .50cal bullets can solve everything. He had to ditch the shotty due to the high weight of the rifle.

Let's ruin some mans!



Next time: That's not how negotiating works!