EVENTS:

Rosa removes Curie's other leg, placing it in Klimt's Coffin. The doll looks at it for a few moments before answering.

Curie: "Replaying last session logs. It is late morning. The situation is quiet. A few undead mill about on the other side of the ravine, but not more than usual.
A report arrives from one of the lookout stations. It is marked as confidential, and viewed only by the base commandants. They look uneasy, almost panicked when they leave the conference room, and order me to unlock Silo number 2. I ask why.
Executive override is initiated. I am ordered to shut down higher brain functions and enter manual mode.

I comply. Darkness.

Session logs finished."

Curie: "A high-yield, continental-range hydrogen missile. The presence of the silos was the main reason Unit was assigned to that facility. To increase reliability."

Curie: "OPERATOR Klimt... You seem familiar, yes. Unit does not know where from, however. Scheduling a memory bank search."

Curie: "Permanently, a small amount. However, the reduction in capacity forced this Unit to compress much of the stored data. It is not trivial to access in its current state."

Curie: "Both. Unit finds its lack of connection to a stable power source... Unsettling, and exhausting. A single stomach is a poor substitute for a nuclear-powered life support system."

EVENTS:

Curie doesn't answer. The group huddles together to sleep, trying to not mind the chilly wind.


---

In the morning, Curie seems to have grown a thick bundle of tendrils under her body. She can't walk properly, but it's enough for her to slither along.

Another two days are spent hiking across the ash wastes. Sand and soot, as far as the eye can see, and not much else. A sandstorm happens, with nearly the same disorienting effect as the rain, though the ponchos help considerably.

Afterwards, there is a light drizzle, turning the soil into a caustic mush. Eigla ends up having to carry Curie again, as her tentacles begin to melt and slough off. Rosa's tail ends up covered in scratches and chemical burns, while the others' feet become red and swollen.

On the third day, food begins to become scarce. Rationing makes it last longer, but it's a matter of time until it ends.

On the fourth day, Curie stops suddenly.

Curie: "Inconsistency detected. Considering the group's pace and heading, Le Refuge should already be in sight. The road was followed, so there is no possibility of having gotten lost.

Does not compute. Does not comp- not- c-c-c-"

She repeats herself for a few minutes, before settling down.

Curie: "Memory Matrix failure. Unit apologises for erratic behaviour."