Climb the Ladder
Corik decided a less direct approach was the best option, and so proceeded to climb the ladder. It was a short climb, but for him it felt like an eternity with blaster fire and bomb explosions sounding not far off.
When he reached the top, he saw a mess of broken and burnt machinery scattered about the platform. It must have been the sentry droid traditionally posted outside the door to the top floor entrance. The culprit was some sort of heavy discharge weapon. The hundreds of fried metal scraps lying all around him confirmed it, as a simple blaster could not have inflicted such damage unless fired numerous times. However, something caught Corik’s eye among the sizzling wreckage. He brushed and eyed the small shimmering white piece of metal. It was completely undamaged and intact, and although it bore an insignia and had a few small buttons on its side, Corik had no idea what it was.
As Jethra reached the top, he surveyed the scene as well. “What happened here?” he asked, almost rhetorically. “Heavy arms fire of some sort,” Corik answered anyway. Jethra looked around until he saw what Corik was holding. His eyes immediately lit up. “An energy shield! That’s awesome!” he exclaimed.
So, Corik thought, this is an energy shield. The newly developed personal combat shields were said to have a remarkable resilience to blaster fire. It must have been equipped inside the droid and remained unharmed by the blast. However, it seemed to have been little help for the droid in this case because of the heavier weapons.
Corik equipped the shield on his belt, ready to use it if need be. All that lay ahead was the door into the facility, and to what he believed were the catwalks of hangar. Being the only one armed, Jethra proceeded first.
Corik has acquired an energy shield!