“Good effect on tar-“ The Computer Systems vocalised analysis cut off suddenly and Higan’s frown deepened. It didn’t take a genius to work out what was wrong, the Computer had registered a decent hit on Slimy. The issue was, before it could even take the time to pat itself on the back it had lost sight of the target. The A.S.P took three more lumbering steps and then halted suddenly, skidding and sinking in loose earth, its left foot forward to stabilise itself as its left arm slammed into a tree and brought the great metallic walker to a stop. If the Machine could look quizzical, it probably would have. Its Pilot certainly was.

“Well shit, Slimy’s gone and dis-in-te-grated.” Higan laughed in his country-boy fashion. He probably should have been worried, but it could have been much worse. At least he’d shot the bastard before it learned how to hide properly. The view on the main screen had returned to an ordinary vision type, though the Computer connected to the optics flicked through all available forms of sight in order to re-acquire the target. Higan was happy to let it do the grunt work as he had a little think of his own. Perhaps his shot had triggered some kind of response in the creature? He wasn’t sure how it could disguise itself from Electric vision, then again, he didn’t really know how it worked to begin with, nor how Slimy worked for that matter.

“Oh well, time’s a wasting.” He decided finally, getting the Mech moving again with a little less urgency than before. It strode through the forest, each mechanical hydraulic sound accompanying a soft thump of displaced soil, permeated with the occasional cracking and creaking of intrusive bark brushed nonchalantly aside. He was heading for the Pater’s last known location, there was a good chance he could pick up the trail from there.