Back to the phantasmagorical. We've seen Grimwall's Hive comic before in
the flashbacks in Chapter 2, and Grimwall again in
Max's room in Chapter 4. Also, Martin
threw up some hints in the Tower Cell chapter.
So of course, now we play as Grimwall. In the Hive comic. It opens up with him struggling free from the...giant insectoid body to strangle the smaller insect, which can be seen at his...feet? Hooves? This is going to be confusing.
Access denied!
Trapped? Let's check the insect we strangled...
Hmph. This thing has some kind of mechanical harness!
Yoink! Note this is the "bugs are machines" thing Martin referred to.
Wearing this harness, perhaps they'll think I'm one of them. It's worth a try.
Fooled you!
Further down we find this machine.
And these kind of buildings. Took me a moment before I figured you have to click the off-colour (greenish) button to open it. There's two to the south but they're locked, and one more to the east. We'll head into this one first. Inside we find...
The insect is performing a grotesque experiment ... putting bits of machinery into the child.
Business as usual.
Let's talk to the cyclops, who looks like he's the same species as Grimwall though without the horn.
Grimwall? Is that my name? I don't remember much. Just waking up in this hive...and having to battle a few insectoids. I had to use this strange device that I found on the large one, just to pass their security forces.
It's an ID harness. Gromna built them for the insectoids since they lost their sight. With that on, you look like another bug to them. That's why they're not swarming all over you.
Look, my name is Gravin. We need to talk more ... but until the work slows down, I'm stuck here. Afterwards I'm going back to my pod --- we can meet there. My pod's globe code is 'Grenesir'. Use it if you need to get in there for anything.
Let's try that then. I first pick up the pincer hanging on the north wall. Picking up stuff is good.
It opens.
Yaaaay! Bugs go squash! I also pick up his tools. Should come in handy, sure he won't mind. I am a hero after all
The screen
fills us in on what's going on.
Gromna, huh? That couldn't be an anagram of a certain doctor we know very well, could it? We've already seen disturbing stuff concerning children, we just saw a load of baby fetuses ready for experimentation, we've heard of the HOPE drug. Recall everything that's happening here is an analogy to Max' past (as the game makes more and more obvious). Just keep it in mind and thread it together. If you played this game feel free to post the normal
material, but stay away from spoilers eh.
Oh I forgot, the Queen's Chamber is up north but it doesn't let us in because it recognizes us as a drone guard class. We'll probably need to upgrade the bit of insect armor we stole. We should ask Gravin.
Look, I'm too busy to talk now! The couriers are delivering embers from the furnace at a fantastic rate. I'll meet you later in my pod when they shut the furnace down ... if they shut the furnace down.
So, one building left, to the east. It's probably the furnace...
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!
Notice the bug draggin a body on top there. He tosses it into the oven and keeps carrying in fresh ones.
Ugh! I can hardly stand to look at these beasts!
Agreed. But they see us as a drone, so we can safely talk to them.
Who are you?
Chik-nik. Furnace operator. Why do you ask, guard drone? Why are you here?
I'm here to ... inspect the furnace.
(What) What is your function?
Pop quiz!
To regulate the flow of air into the furnace.
(Furnace) What is the purpose of this furnace?
Built by Gromna? In case you hadn't noticed yet, something is amiss here.
(Ember) Where does the ember come from?
We found deposits of it within the mountain while we were tunneling our way up to the surface. When Gromna joined our cause, he recognized it as a possible power source for cybernetics, if reduced to its purest form.
(Regulate) How do you regulate the temperature?
It's very complicated. You'd need to be at least the level of Operator to understand it, and you are still merely a drone guard.
Yeah well, so's your face.
(Operator) How do I become an Operator?
What about those bellows over there?
Man this bug talks a lot...
(Children) Are those Cyclopean children being thrown in?!
Don't be so alarmed. According to Gromna, they won't pollute the ember.
Oh, well that's ok then...WAIT WHAT?!
Where do they come from? And why burn them?!
Go Shepard on his ass, Grimwall!
You shall all die for this. See the patch on the pipe near the bellows? Let's check it out...
Hmm. This pipe has been fixed recently - though not too well.
Well since I really don't feel like waiting around until Gravin is free, and because this furnace pisses me off...
WACKO!
Drones! Stop the bellows! Seal the pipe! To continue pumping with that damage would overheat the furnace!
orly?
A vent opens and...
Chik-Nik burns!
With that bug gone, I can reach the controls. I'll shut down this abominable furnace.
Good. He dropped his mechanized arm, and we pick it up.
Hmm. This insect is hooked up to a machine, and the levers must control the furnace.
Fitting for this disgusting hive. It's all biomechanics.
Hmm. This is more complex than I imagined. There appear to be many controls, all interrelated.
So...the first set of buttons change the colours under his wings (red, blue or green), while the second set has him fold his left or right wings in out (he has six wins in total). Basically, the light shines through the wings and reveal certain markings, which you have to match up to the symbols to the left.
You don't have to match up both wings simultaneously and it's easy enough to see when you just have to add or subtract a wing, so this puzzle isn't as annoying as it could be. The only real pain is when you're trying to figure out what the hell you're supposed to do, initially.
Hurray!
No more embers will be delivered now. I'm certain I'll find Gravin resting in his pod.
Let us see...
No ... I don't remember much of anything. I wouldn't even know my own name, if you hadn't told me.
Every cyclopean child knows the name of Grimwall! You're the great hero of the War of the One!
(War) War of the One? Can you tell me about it?
(Won) If we won, then why are these things back above ground?
No one really knows. Actually, no one really believed the story of the War of the One, or thought that there were any insectoids ... until now.
(Furnace) That evil machine will be silent for a while!
Evil? It's just a furnace...isn't it?
Typical consoletard.
The thing was burning children, Gravin! Cyclopean children!
What?! But how can this be? Gromna would never allow such a thing to happen?
(Gromna) Gromna...that's the name the bugs were using at the furnace! They said he's giving the orders to burn the children's bodies!
If I ever meet this Grimwall, you'd damn well better believe I'll collar grab him until he dies from it.
That's absurd!! He's my mentor ... a brilliant entomologist! He'd never -
FFS stop the lies
Ento- what?
Mission?! What mission!? What the hell is going on here?!
Man this is a wordy update.
(Absurd) I tell you it's true, Gravin. Something is terribly wrong here and I think this Gromna person is somehow involved. You must help me!
Wait, how does the keyword "absurd" tie to that?
I'm sorry, but I can't ... Not unless you have some physical proof to back up these wild accusations!
FFS. I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
As we exit dialogue...
Take my advice, that harness you're wearing won't get you past every security device. You might want to see the cyber-technician for an upgrade.
Thanks.
The cyber-technican would be the insect-machine that was raping the human baby with technology. Thankfully he's done with technoraping the baby for now.
Who are you?
Chik-tok. Cybernetic technician.
(What) What is your function?
To intergrate cybernetic enhancements to the flesh.
(Cybernetics) Who designed these robotics?
Gromna, honorable assistant to Her Majesty.
Where is he?
He is within the Queen's chambers. Since it is the Eve of Retribution, there is much preparation required. His plan must be executed perfectly.
(Eve) Eve of Retribution?
(Plan) What plan do you speak of?
(Gift) How will this gift aid us? Are we not mighty enough to conquer the cyclops without them?
Seriously wordy update.
So anyway, enough chitchat. Upgrade, please.
I require my ID harness to be upgraded.
Upon whose authorization will I grant this procedure?
Whose whatnow?
Umm ...
You delay in your response. I am busy. Return when you can produce the proper authorization.
Ffffff...
Maybe Gravin knows.
(Authorization) Gravin, Chik-tok requires authorization to upgrade my ID harness. Who can do that?
What should I say?
Tell him that your authorization comes from Gravin, protégé of Gromna, honorable assistant to her Majesty. That should do it.
Right, attempt number two.
I require my ID harness to be upgraded.
Upon whose authorization will I grant this procedure?
Gravin, protégé of Gromna, honorable assistant to her Majesty.
Limb scanner eh? Good thing I was clever enough to steal an exploded worm's mechanical limb earlier.
The upgrade is, of course, analogous to Max' career.
As shown here.
The great Nur-Ab-Sal shall provide us with a cure!
Aaa! There's a fire in my brain!
Yeah, all that Aztec bs got to me too. Not the last we'll see of it. Mild
but oh well.
What shall we find behind that door?! Well, we shall find that out once we've recovered from this overly wordy update.
this game. Perfect atmosphere.
