The gecko shook his head at this. "No... I don't remember anything like that!" he insisted. "There was no code last time! It was... it was something else... more like a trial or test..." he murmured, trying to remember.
He looked over as Axel reported high energy readings on both side doors. "Mmm... I don't see how they can be opened without interfacing with the computer." he responded. He nodded for Marita to stand aside, and he looked down at the screen. "Hell if I know about any code... nothing like that sounds familiar to me at all." He noticed now that one of the command prompts was a bypass, and he reached out and selected that option. "Screw it... just bypass the code."
"Only the worthy may proceed." the computer stated, this time in a stronger, more resonant voice that echoed throughout the room. A light blue beam shot out from the terminal and danced over Vergil's white form, lines playing about him as it was no doubt scanning him. "Welcome, traveler. Those who seek the awesome power of the Retarans must prove themselves worthy. Three challenges await for those wishing to prove their worth. The worthy shall proceed... the unworthy... shall die." the machine stated coldly, and the doors on the left and right began to slide up and into the wall now with a hiss.
Vergil turned to glance inside the right-hand door, and could see another computer console within, but also something else... something moving within the darker room. Spindly legs unwound from a circular body as the sickly pale blue light of the console revealed a multitude of robots. They each sported a single red eye that glowed like a burning fire as their heads rotated to fix the party with deadly glares. Deadly indeed, for a red beam shot out right for Vergil's head, and the gecko just barely managed to flip backwards and upwards over the beam before it caused a small explosion in the floor behind him.
Landing with a pant, Vergil could see the machines advancing on them from either side of the room from the two doors, marching out in formation and into the light, fully revealing their bodies to the party. They stood on six legs, and had a circular body of some material that looked like polished chrome. A long, serpent-like neck extended from the top of the body atop of which rested the head, which was flat and resembled an arrow-head and was a duller tan in color. The tip of the arrow-head contained the eye, which whirred as it moved.
It was like a grotesque combination of an insect and snake and like nothing found in nature. At the "knees" of each leg rested what looked like a laser cannon of some sort, and they began leveling themselves at the party.
There were three on each side, for a total of six surrounding the group. Pulling out his energy blade and igniting it, Vergil adopted a combat stance. "Whatever it is they're selling, I don't want!" he exclaimed. "Let's take these things out!" he shouted, and leaped towards the nearest one as the machines began to open fire...
Tony commenced the proceedings with Mace as Mace had his guests sit across from him around a coffee table in his suite. It was in stark contrast to what was going on thousands of feet below the ferret, human, and gecko as they talked. It was the absolute lap of luxury up here, and Mace was negotiating with Tony for his company's shipping rights whilst offering them tea and select finger foods.
Tony was attempting to negotiate a reasonable rate for his services, and for the most part, Mace seemed interested. During a lull in the conversation, Tony asked if he and his "aide" could take a restroom break, and the request was granted. Tony was shown towards the bathrooms for visitors, but before they entered, he motioned for Soren to stop. "So I'm not sure if he bugs his own suite, and while I doubt it, I don't want to take any chances. I want to know how things are going below us, so maybe once we return, you could pretend to get a call and excuse yourself, then see if you can reach the others just to check in. Text me what you've found out before returning back, OK?" the ferret asked.
