Eron tries to help using the complex’s mechanisms

Eron bides his time until the bandits have left the girl alone, then makes his way through the passages until he reaches the controls for the room she’s imprisoned in. Even with the Machine’s main functions inactive, some of these emergency mechanisms still work. He pulls the switch to open the control hatch at the back of the room, and watches as she gets the maintenance door open.

He follows her progress from different viewing points, trying not to pay attention to how little her rags cover her body. As he sees her so skillfully sneak past the bandits and find a weapon, he feels renewed hope; he’s sure, now, that she will be the one to help set things right.

Then, disaster! She takes a wrong turn, and is cornered in the storeroom. He sees her fighting the bandit, and losing. Eron is close to panic. There has to be something he can do…

Yes! The gas trap! He scrambles to pull the correct lever.

He hears a click, followed by the distant hiss of gas rushing through the ancient pipes. In the storeroom, both the girl and the bandit are quickly overcome, slumping to the ground. Eron allows a few moments for it to be safe before he slides open the secret hatch.

There’s no point in trying to wake the girl now – Eron knows that the gas will keep her asleep for some time. All he can do right now is carry her somewhere safe. He’s able to pick her up, with a bit of difficulty – she’s shorter than him by a foot or so, but he has to be quiet about it, or the other bandits could easily hear him…