Intrusion alarms began wailing from both the comms mast and transit station. “Foreign access detected, commencing emergency shut down” An automated voice chirruped. “No, no, no, stop that!” Dr Wetherall shouted, running for an interface to frantically try and regain control. [i]”Parasites that use my power and break the sanctity of my ecumene are [b]not[/b] permitted."[/i] The voice boomed in their heads.

Dr Wetherall slammed his holo-pad into a mount on the side of the transit station and pointed an accusatory finger at the beast. “Now you listen to me. I don’t care if you’re a giant worm, you don’t get to sniff [b]my[/b] tech willy-nilly, alright? That’s not the way to make friends; I’m warning you. Turn our transit station and comms mast back on right now!” 595 held a consolatory hand up from where she stood transfixed, motioning the beetroot-faced scientist to be quiet. “Dr Wetherall, please! Let’s all just relax for a moment, okay? We don’t want to piss this thing off.”

“Yeah Richard, shut up!” Dr Ngata crackled, from down at the bottom of the valley, looking up at the titanic worm’s face as it studied the whole camp. [i]“You will come and speak with me personally.”[/i] The voice intoned again, and the worm looked to the light in the distance once more, before returning it's gaze to the assembled interlopers.