The bunker went much deeper than any of them could have thought, past the Aerobic Tark'ees' residence, then the (already opened, likely by other researchers) door. Current had originally anticipated that this would be a quick venture, hence her decision to leave her vehicle outside. It was certainly the best choice here, since the hallways were so cramped that the vehicle would have gotten stuck, but Current still silently lamented having to walk all this way.

The colonists were not faring much better either. Mika and Stryder were both panting and huffing, though the latter - being fitter - seemed to be coping marginally better. Current couldn't help but be glad that Mika had convinced Nicole earlier to accompany Edison and the whelps they found out of the Bunker and back to the vehicle to wait for them, since she would likely have been poorly suited to handle the heat. (Edison himself had not even tried to hide his excitement at being allowed to leave, to no one's surprise.)

"I didn't think the inside of a bunker filled with water could be so hot." On cue, Mika remarked.

"It could be a motor of some sort?" Stryder suggested.

"Why would there be a motor that generated so much heat in the middle of Rekes, though? What for?" Mika tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Hopefully we'll find out soon-" Stryder had barely finished his sentence when yells echoed through the cave, causing all three to immediately fall silent.

"Be quiet." As a thief, Stryder was the expert in sneaking around. Current and Mika both obediently fell silent, falling into line behind him as they crept forward.

It didn't take long before they saw what was happening. The area had opened up into a large cavern, with lava flowing on the ground in pools. Heat radiated from them, so intense that Current had to fight the instinct to recoil from them. Some sort of black rock jutted out randomly from the walls. Around the cave, groups of colonists and researchers were engaged in combat with muscular Tark'ee, the sound of yelling filling the air.

"We should go." Stryder muttered. The mystery of the heat had been solved, so they should leave before they were dragged into whatever was going on. Mika nodded in agreement and began to turn-

Just in time to see a stocky, spiky Tark'ee blocking their way out, head lowered. The single gigantic horn on their head pointed towards them, promising certain doom if it rammed into anyone. They were gigantic, towering over both Mika and Stryder despite their hunched posture.

"We were just about to leave." Mika told the spiky Tark'ee, keeping her composure despite being on the wrong end of a sharp horn. "Please step aside-"

With little warning, the spiky Tark'ee roared and charged. With all the agility of a trained thief, Stryder sprang forward, ramming into Mika's side and barely managing to get her out of the way of the strike. Current, for her part, dove in the other direction to dodge.

"I don't think we can reason with them!" Stryder warned, untangling himself from Mika and springing to his feet in a swift movement. "I'll distract her, you guys go!"

With that, he launched himself forward, raking his long claws over the spiky Tark'ee's hide. It barely left a dent, but definitely drew their attention as they struck at him again with their long horn.

Mika backed up a few steps. Both herself and Stryder were aware that there was little she could do, being nowhere as good a fighter as him. Instead, she focused on clawing at the spiky Tark'ee's tail, trying to make it harder for them to focus on Stryder without putting herself in the direct line of fire.