While Noir and Kales group were already making their own chaos. The surroundings of Leroy and his group had changed. The ground beneath them had went from the strange mold and fungus to hard black rock.
"Its…Obsidian." Raven said, picking up a chipped piece from the ground. Looking to its shiny luster and sharp exterior. "I make maps, and sail. But complex geography isn't exactly a strong suit." Kirk said.
Perhaps a slight underestimation of his abilities. But his job was visiting islands and learning about them. So not being the best at Geological Geography made sense
"Luckily I've studied Islands for a long time. So we can help one another" She gave a smile
"But that begs the question. Why is it here?" Leroy asked. His mind questioning as he continued "It means there used to be a large amount of Lava Here."
His eyes looked around trying to see around. "There." He pointed to the distance where many buildings rose from a ridge across the ground. The area was flat, but where these Chimney structures came from was a place a with a jagged ridge as if a crater was there
"I certainly hope that the others aren't having as much trouble finding places to cause trouble as us…" Kirk said.
They Certainly weren't, but the three made their way forward. The harsh black crystalline floor beneath them "Ugh." Leroy said, suddenly stopping. Hold on…"
He had to take his shoe off and began to rub his foot. "ugh…My feet…"
"What?" Kirk said with a slightly sneer "My feet! They hurt…" He said beginning to rub them. He'd always, despite being made of rubber, had problems walking really long distances.
"Ew. Well put away from me at least!" Kirk said. "I think he's grossed out by feet." Raven playfully teased "Uh, Yeah! They're gross! And sweaty! And dirty! Always! And I'll have you know, I think a lot of the body is gross.." He said with a huff and putting his hands on his hips sassily
"Like organs! They're just…In there! Clumped together! Or…Gums, or–" Leroy cut him off. "I get it…" He rolled his eyes "Thats so stupid." He pulled his sandal back on
"I wonder if Dezzi can make you something for your shoes?" Raven suggested "I like shoes." Kirk said "Oh hear that? He likes the thing that covers em!"
"Duh!" He jeered back
Putting his hands on the ground, Leroy pushes himself back up and begins to walk towards the structure. The closer they got the more they were able to see of just how strange this…Thing– Was.
They lowered themselves as they got closer to the ridge, no buildings or people in sight as they came over and looked.
It was indeed a crater. But buildings surrounded the rest of the ridge of the other sides, large chimneys coming from the ground as messes of ventilation pipes, heat transfer tubes, and and buildings that held maintenance operating machinery in them
The three could tell that there were people within. Working tirelessly with chains on their necks. They were connected to nothing. Floating a meter above them, the trio watched as one attempted to walk a distance longer than the 3 meter length of chain, causing them to be roughly stopped.
Others had longer chains that allowed them far longer reach, and some weren't anchored at all, but still had heavy chains on their wrist and necks
"What is that…" Raven pointed to the middle of the crater where a massive machine sat. It sat above a giant pool of magma! Large legs like a tripod balanced it as it connected to the sides, and into the magma with a long cylindrical machine going into the molten rock
"Are they…Drilling the Magma?" Leroy asked "I don't think so, why would Barbary Mine away at his own base of operations?" Kirk concluded
"This must be where all those slaves are put to use." Raven said, lifting a hand up. Her bloom bloom fruit had a radius from her point of 100 meters. As far forward as she could, she sprouted an eye on the wall of on of the buildings
It didn't matter if she couldn't see it or not. If it was in the radius, she could instantly sprout. The only time taken was the time for blooming.
The heat caused the eye to water as she could see. It was like seeing an overlapping image on top of what she was already seeing. Closing her eyes, the image became clear as if she were there herself
What she saw caused her eyes to wince. Inside the building were what looked to be coal engines that moved analog machines to power the thing in the middle.
Soon, the crew would find out just what it was–
Geothermal Energy.
Such concepts had been around for hundreds of years. Going up to a hot rock, use it to boil water and have the steam produce energy. In more recent years, this resulted in electric charges.
But this was a step further. Using Amber Electrum. An Extremely Rare material made of its namesake. Electrum, the alloy of Copper, Gold and Silver mixed with the crystalline form of resin from trees.
This combination had an incredible property of Absorbing heat, and producing an Electrostatic Charge from that. Large wires of copper covered in rubber then ran up the length of the tube and then out into multiple directions
In the room where Raven could see, there were gauges on the walls where wires ran into and out of. Monitoring the power output and strength. There seemed to be no safety precautions at all. A place like this would need many boards and switches and quick shut offs.
But it was clear the way they solved problems, was by throwing one of the slaves at it. Coil in the main conduit go out? Just have one go out there and fix it
Raven's gaze then shifted to other parts of the Facility. There wasn't a single enclosed room in the whole thing. It was all just exposed in a open floor plan with dozens of metal bridges and walkways going to and from
Then there were the large glass and metal tubes on the wall, liquid on the inside with chains down the middle. Batteries, or more specifically Leyden Jars. Holding the charge before being sent out.
Finally, in other rooms that were large. Dynamos, Electrical Generators that used magnets and copper to generate power via mechanical force. In this case, the force was made by slaves that pushed large horizontal levers around in a circle like a grind wheel. Dozens of slaves.
Strangest of all, each of them seemed to be infected with that Corruption…Probably done so to be more malleable to coercion. Had the People of the Town been that way too?
But before that question could be contemplated. Raven saw it. Saw them. Tall members of the Grateful Dead. Free of Shackles. As another near him, most definitely the leader, grew chains from his hands as he reprimanded a slave who had fallen to the ground