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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 2017548" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Targ Totality" - Part 13Fury resumes his sprint toward the crane, vaulting up the stairs toward the control box.  Back on the floor of the hangar, Archie continues to strain against the more powerful Targ automaton.  Sparks fly from the smaller robot's chest as the larger machine digs its talons further into Archie's metal chest plate."Archie!" Gustav catches sight of the struggling robots, "Ve have to help him!""We will." S'Ondra promises, as she assists the Doctor to his feet, "Are you alright?""I am fine." Gustav squints at her, then gasps as he notices her injury, "You are wounded!""It's nothing." S'Ondra shrugs it off, "Can you get to the Pathfinder and make sure she's ready for launch?  I'll help Archie."Gustav nods and runs across the hangar, disappearing up the silver ramp into the ship's interior.  S'Ondra turns and sights her heat lance on the robot melee.  The ruby energy bolt lances across the open space and scorches the automaton's head, but the machine's only reaction it to deliver another crushing blow to Archie's chest."I require assistixzzzzt." Archie's speech synthesisers fail under the unceasing battery of the automaton's fists.  He ignites another burst of his plasma burners, the point blank blast blistering the metal of his opponent's skin.  The other robot's blows continue unabated.Fury slams the controls of the crane into reverse and the heavy hook swings back across the hangar, building speed and momentum as it comes.  It careens toward the two struggling robots, striking a glancing blow on the shoulder of the automaton.Red lights flare on Archie's head as the Targ machine plunges a fist deep into his chest.  The armoured plates on Archie's torso finally fail completely, splintering inwards as the serrated fist of the automaton punches inside, smashing gears, shattering valves, and tearing wires.Archie's lights flicker, flare brightly once more, and then dim.With a crash of metal on metal, his shattered body falls to the ground."Archie!" S'Ondra shouts, her heels echoing on the floor as she races across the hangar.  With a shout of rage, she slams the point of her heat lance deep into the automaton's side.  The diamond-hard tip cuts easily through the Targ machine, and sparks fly from the point of impact.  The Princess wrenches the heat lance free, and smoke spills from the gash in the robot's side.The automaton is far from disabled, however.  It turns, raising its fists to smash S'Ondra to the ground -- and the crane's hook slams into its chest.The hook punctures the robot's skin, snaring itself in the metal plates.  The robot is staggered backwards, then lifted right off its feet as Fury activates the winch.  The hook's chain rattles across pulleys as the automaton is raised helplessly into the air."Ze Pathfinder is fully operable and ready for action." The Doctor's voice booms out from the ship's loudspeakers, "Ze Targ did not have time to begin dismantling her.""Father!" S'Ondra screams for Gustav as she falls to her knees beside Archie's fallen body. "Help!"Both Gustav and Fury are at her side within seconds."What can you tell us, Doc?" the Captain fiddles nervously with his atomic pistol, expression tense as he looks down on the fallen robot."Archie's body is destroyed." Gustav shakes his head, "All power generation systems are disabled.  His brain still has a charge, but zat will soon expire ... and zen, so will he.""Is there anything you can do?" S'Ondra's voice catches as she asks the question."Ja - maybe." Gustav produces a screwdriver from inside his Targ encounter suit and begins working to prise Archie's head away from his ruined torso."Better hurry, Doc.""I am going as fast as I can, Captain.  Trust me, I want to save Archie as much as you.""It's not just that, Doc." Fury cups a hand to his ear, and in the silence that follows, the thunder of running feet can dimly be heard, "Things are about to get very hot here."Gustav nods, working feverishly as S'Ondra and Fury step in front of him, levelling their weapons at the steel door.  Seconds tick by, slowly, as the thunder of the onrushing Targ grows ever more near."Doc.""Nearly zere, Captain.  Nearly ..." Gustav makes several quick more adjustments with his screwdriver, "Zere!"  He looks up, Archie's head cradled in his arms."Good work, Doc." Fury's voice sounds choked, "No-one could have done better."The hangar door slams open and dozens of Targ soldiers boil into the room.</blockquote>

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