Velkis's stomached ached as it begged to be nourished. He ignored it as he continued his job of running wire for future terminals. It was cold and damp in the tunnel; the only light being produced was from his eyes. The deep blue glow shining off the damp walls. The tunnel was one of many that connected rooms and chambers of what he concluded was an ancient human dwelling of sorts. Consumed by time and nature the walls were cracked and in disrepair. He stood when he heard footsteps to his right. With his bottom right arm, he aimed his trace rifle only to see it was a dreg bringing him new components.
"Parts for Velkis", The dreg spoke in a raspy tone.
"With the others there." Velkis replied as he pointed to his left.
"Captain is supplying ether." The dreg said before leaving Velkis in the dark tunnel.
Velkis rose to his feet. He grabbed his rifle and headed back to the entrance of the tunnel. His steps made the slightest splashes as he walked down its damp length. He entered an intersecting chamber. The floor was covered in coarse soil that had collected there over the centuries. A young tree rose from the soil. It was very thin, and its roots ran very shallow due to the stone floor. Overhead the ceiling was cracked with small amounts of light leaking through where thick roots broke through the stone. A constant drip of water trickled down from the roots and down to the floor. A small basin formed in the floor below the drip. It teemed with the life of smaller organisms along with the moss that floated across the water's face.
Velkis proceeded to the main courtyard. He walked down the long stretches of hallway. They were lit by lights that he and several other eliksni had installed. He passed doorway after doorway each of which contained dregs working on clearing rubble and making room for further expansions. A few vandals spoke as they overlooked the dregs' works. A room that was already cleared served as a shank maintenance area. He approached an old human door. He pulled a lever attached to the door to unlock the bars that reinforced the top and bottom of the door. It made a heavy creak as he pulled the thick iron slab open. Light flooded in as he opened the door. It bounced off the moist floor and further down the hall. The two vandals walked through the door to the sunken courtyard. Velkis followed behind them into the courtyard. It was long and narrow enough to harbor two skiffs. They sat covered in netting ready to be used at a moment's notice. Velkis gathered with the other eliksni near the skiff.
They were small in number and supply. Their newly formed House of Light was lacking support and needed to gather forces before they could give any support to Mithrax. Velkis' eyes rose from his rifle as their captain entered the courtyard with their only servitors. The two servitors were the only supply of Ether the entire encampment had. They were only brought into the open for their weekly ether distribution. The Captain stood guard as each of his subordinates brought forth their ether tanks. The dregs carried two canisters. If they managed to use it conservatively, they could stretch each canister to three days. Velkis came forward with his three canisters. Vandals were allowed more than regular dregs; they were also allowed to fill the canister currently being used. The Captain pulled Velkis and two dregs to the side after they were rationed.
"Patrol East sector near wall entrance." He ordered.
Velkis nodded. The two dregs ran ahead. They entered the eastern tunnels. Velkis followed behind them. He crossed another hallway that intersected with the northern tunnels. He entered the largest room of the fort. Large machines with pipes and levers that have long lain silent. The overhead lights showed the centuries of rust and oxidation that corroded at their exteriors. This room was neighboring the cave in. He ducked under some rubble to enter the side room. The light from the sun entered the room. Leaves scattered across the floor from the air that rushed in. The two dregs were already on the surface. Velkis climbed the rubble and joined them. They stood in the middle of a wooded hill. The trees that were there were old, but they were sparse.
"You two patrol the forest edge." He said as he pointed to the thicker tree line.
