“No power? What am I supposed to do now…” Vardinn trails off as he looks around. Half frozen as if carved from the mountain itself, Vardinn finds a machine man. 

‘'He doesn’t seem to have any power either, oh wait a second, what’s this?'’ frozen in the machine mans’ grip is a bag with a stylized MM on it. After a moment of prying as hard as he can, Vardinn frees the bag.

‘Okay, what do we have here.’ Vardinn wonders as he opens the bag. Inside are three batteries and after closer inspection, they fit perfectly inside the battery slot for the door and the machine man himself.

‘Now why didn’t he use this on the door. Maybe I can wake him, for a moment at least.’ Vardinn pulls one of the batteries out of the bag, replacing the depleted one inside the machine mans’ chest.

With a buzz and crackle, one of his eyes light up. In a broken gravelly voice, he speaks. “Oh hello! Can you perhaps assist me? You see, I was supposed to deliver these” lifting his arm, he sees that his bag is missing “oh no! I need to find my bag! It is of grave importance!”

Vardinn holds up the bag so he can see it, “It’s right here! No need to worry my frozen fellow. I must ask though, why, if you had the batteries already then why didn’t you open the door?” vardinn says as he hands the bag to the Machine Man.

“Oh good! Can’t be losing that. Well you see, the city went into lock down while I was gone. I tried for days to open the door but when it didn’t work, I let my battery run out while keeping a hold of the batteries so they wouldn’t be lost.” He says as he clutches the batteries tight to his chest.

“Why don’t you let me try? I can pop in one of the batteries and see if there’s anything I can do.” Vardinn says as he holds out his hand.

“Seeing as how you already returned them once, I’ll choose to trust you. Not that I have much choice.” 

The Machine Man hands the bag back to Vardinn. With a thankful nod, Vardinn returns to the pedestal, opens the casing and places a battery inside.

Like magic, the door whirls, beeps, creaks, and lights up. ‘Let’s try this again.’ He thinks to himself as he places his hand upon the grooved hand print atop the pedestal. With the snapping of ice and snow, the door rips into the housing below, a massive gust of rushing air blows forth as the path ahead opens.

“Well then. I suppose you have the magic touch my elven friend!” The Machine Man calls to Vardinn.

“I guess so. Can you move?”

“It doesn’t appear so but that is alright. Take the batteries with you, including the one inside me.”

“I can’t do that. At least hang onto the one you have.”

“It will just go to waste. They need it far more inside. I left the city to find these batteries because my friends and family were shutting down. Batteries are hard to come by and only last a year or so. They will need them more than ever. As a final favor, please try to find my brother. He is a builder. He can rebuild my body. Good as new.” 

Vardinn approaches the Machine Man with a sorrowful look on his face. “I will do my best to find your brother. Oh my, in all the excitement I completely forgot to ask. What is your name, friend?”

Putting his hand on Vardinns’ shoulder, “I am designated Zero Four.”

Vardinn places his hand around the battery, “I swear on my name, Loc Vardinn, to find your brother Zero Four. thank you.” With a swift tug the battery is freed from Its housing and the single blinking bright eye of Zero Four dims and finally shuts down completely.

Vardinn turns from Zero Four, steps to the edge of the doorway and enters. 

The hallway to the cities’ entrance is musty and dark but surprisingly well kept. After walking for a few minutes, he notes that it is strange that he hasn’t come across any Machine Men. 

Vardinn reaches another doorway but this one is different, constructed more in line with the style of the Machine Men. in the center, a massive MM symbol same as the bag. Searching for a moment, he finds and pulls a lever and with much less strain than the last door, it glides open.

The way opens to an astonishing view. A massive city with buildings, walkways, and even transportation devices built to move all as one unit. A masterpiece of innovation and design. Vardinn takes note that the lights are dim throughout the city as well and not a sound. As if it has become abandoned.

Taken aback suddenly, Vardinn realizes he is exhausted.

‘When is the last time I slept?’ he thought to himself. ‘I suppose this is as good a spot as any to try it out.’ Vardinn pulls out his pistol, turns the cylinder to “shelter”, aims it downward ahead of him and fires.

The energy round flies from the pistol like dancing snakes, twisting, twirling, and vanishing into the ground. “Is that it?” Vardinn says aloud but is cut off by the grounds’ sudden shaking.

A massive stone and metal plant rises from the ground. Cracking and tearing the floor below. Atop the plant is a beautiful flower. It opens with a glorious flourish, laying gently on the ground. Each petal expands and inflates until it solidifies into six identical tents with the softest bedding  you could ever imagine inside. 

‘Well that is, somehow, exactly what I expected. I think it is time for some well deserved rest. Tomorrow I shall explore the city.’

And with a soft sigh of relief as Vardinn lays upon the bedding, he is fast asleep. 

After a good nights’ rest, Vardinn is suddenly awoken by an ominous noise. Exiting the tent, to his shock, he finds four completely depowered Machine Men. they all seem to be heading in the same direction. Following their line of sight, Vardinn wanders into the city. Every once in a while coming across more Machine Men, all headed in the same direction. He stops for a moment to inspect one of the machine men. ’Battery is depleted but also, the housing looks damaged.’ 

As Vardinn gets closer to whatever the source is, the Machine Men seem to have two different body languages and facial expressions. One angry and steadfast. The other panicked and hurried. After checking a few more Machine Mens’ conditions, the angry ones are depleted but seemingly undamaged but the panicked ones are damaged. All headed in the same direction still, at least Until he reached a crossroads. 

‘So the angry ones lead left and the panicked ones lead right.’ Vardinn looks both ways, pondering the possible reasons and settles on going Left first. ‘Lets’ see what got everyone so mad.’