(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #62 - Divide and Conquer

 Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers,  are at the KIA Academy.  They have completed a task by venturing deep within the sub-levels below, and have returned to the surface...

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Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades.  Very interested in a "Children's Alchemical Laser" he recently acquired.

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Previously "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies, but recently has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.  No Name has recently been fitted for a artillery device of the Ancients that chucks spears further than any human.  Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Former jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.  He's recently been struck by a weapon by a strange race of people and transformed into... something else... multiple times.

RHA-9: A lab assistant piece of "Living Metal" that seems to have befriended the group... for now!  Currently getting repairs done by the Restorationists. Currently safely in their hotel room on KIA Academy Level Zero.

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The next day, Sonny, accompanied by his friends went to the KIA Academy security kiosk and picked up his security badge for Level 8.  He was only permitted to stay in the library during Dr Kallax's "Office Hours" so he would need efficient time management.  

When the elevator doors closed, the group separated for the day. 

Squiggles began entertaining the local children with his telekinetic juggling.    He took time to deal with each child.  After his performance, he was motioned to an alley by an adult.  Squiggles decided "what the heck" and followed.  It appeared that the woman, Parker Grunch,  was a parent of one of the children (Marmie)  Squiggles made smile.  Parker and her husband Yeardley were members of the White Hand. (aka the elusive free healers).   Speaking with them, they had no issue healing anyone, so long as they weren't Programmers, the true controllers of all machines.   

They told a story of these Programmers wrecking havoc on the White Hand, when White Hand used to have a formal office in KIA Academy.  The Programmers believe the medkits could heal machines, "We can't even heal plants, and they want to equipment to heal machines?" 

Squiggles also learned that the Parker and Yeardley travelled downriver for most of their supplies.  They stick alongside the river, avoiding the animals across the river, and not venturing into the foothills of the wizards.  

Sonny:  Wait, there's wizards? 

Parker:  Yep, if not wizards, then sorcerers, part of the big three of Dimensional Beings, Wizards, and Living Metal.

The Grunches, secret White Hand healers.

Sneaky Pete had made some connections at KIA and was going about trying to use them, He went back out to Station Petro to recharge their used power cells, and ventured some to sub-level 1-2 to make more inquiries about bird feathers. She healed Squiggles and allowed him to bring his friends, so long as they don't cause any trouble.

Sonny was in heaven, but like most places regarded as mythological paradise, on the first day, he was completely overwhelmed. Expecting hundreds of books, he found thousands, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.  There were many standing units with pull-out drawers for blueprints, schematics, and the like.  

Plus the 8th floor view of the river was breathtaking: 

Sonny was unprepared for this trove of information, not only what it contained, but some simple items he was searching for that WERE NOT there.  He made a list, and would go over it the next day, and return in two days when these "Office Hours" would occur again.  

Next: #63 - The Ribbon Yew