The flow of time stops for none, least of all these budding adventurers. Reality turns and twists as the story continues exactly where it had last left off. Here in the depths of the enigmatic researcher's laboratory, leagues away from the reach of anyone familiar that might come to their rescue. What a strange yet wonderful place they beheld, Vladim's observatory kept as spotless as an operating room, dutifully tended to by at least six different robotic servitors kept busy rolling around and tending to their various tasks. The one that would lead the party inside however stops just short of a tall stairwell leading into what one might assume is the dome of their peculiar shelter. "Sit." The machine instructs, its synthesized tone as blank and devoid of life as one might expect from one so artificed. Strangely enough, it was the only mobile device capable of using actual legs, all the others rolled around on wheels or treads. Given how strongly it resembled a dog, perhaps it held a special significance to the lab's owner? Who knows.

Seems like they had two three-person benches to choose from, so Magnus merely takes his spot at the center of one, then leans forward with his elbows propped against his knees. Those feline eyes of his take in every detail of their surroundings. Spotless white tiled flooring and stone walls, adorned every which way with machinations of various purposes, wiring trailing and stretching all throughout the expansive chamber, display screens most of which turned off, where as the active ones seemed to show a cacophony of gibberish, at least so far as Magnus could understand. He didn't have a head for these sorts of things, after all. Above them meanwhile was a ceiling adorned with fluorescent lighting and the occasional vent gushing warm air to maintain a comfortable interior temperature. "Gotta wonder where this guy gets his electricity from..." The feline mutters under his breath, then simply bides for a while.

"Solar, maybe?" Yejian muses as she takes a seat next to Magnus, leaning her shield against her knees. "High up in the mountains like this, with enough arrays you could probably charge enough batteries. Or maybe there's an underground spring being used. Who knows, I suppose, but him. At least it's warm." She leans back and yawns softly. "I'm surprised we came all this way just for conversation."

"I dunno," Moose growls, taking a long draw on his cigar, "Conversation can be worth a trip." He does not really elaborate as he eases himself fown onto an empty bench and blows a pair of smoke rings. "Used to hike over a couple of mountain just to get to a spot where I could hear myself think without civilization butting in."

Hreit did not sit, would not sit. Looking around rather intently at every little thing. The robotics' locomotion, every flicker or motion on the screens. A lot to take on as she tried to read everything she could from where she stood, at the very least standing next to the seating arrangement. Doing so in order to stand generally still, in place. Jittery and getting hyperactive at all of the things that are new to her. Including things as simple as furnished walls with drapes or cloth. Has always dealt with so very much less everywhere. "I can about guess where it comes from." She manages while wrenching her hands together to help herself relax. "Something's making me uncomfortable here." Shaking her head a bit to try clearing her vision of sparks wafting off several of the people there. Just, it's not real. Just getting confused again.

Randel walks with the group after cleaning off his boot of snow and dirt near the door, and follows the mechanical escort. While he was very familiar with this kind of setting, having seen many well equipped labs in Zephyr Tower, this one made him feel uncomfortable. Not only was this someone else's 'home', but it was a very well equipped base of operations. For a moment, his face let slip how concerned he was about being here as the awe of the place settled in, along with the gnawing feeling that his maintained nanite bubble might have to be turned off while among so much sensitive equipment. At the thought needing nanites, he pulls out his hipflask nanite container, setting it to a larger than normal amount, and takes a sip before putting it away.

Being ever the curious one, the nanite researcher looks around and tries to see what is going on, finding it hard not to get a closer look at what screens are turned on. His nanite augmented mind takes in the flow of text like it was a picture, rather than a series of dense technical words. A worried look hits him again within a few seconds when comprehending some of it and says in a sober tone, "Oh yeah, this is the right place..." and ignores the topic about how the recluse scientist powers the place, distracted by something else on his mind. Though he is aware of what is going on, and when hearing Hreit talk about being unease, he says, "I'm sure we all are. Just try to keep cool, ok? We can do this." Finally he sits down beside Magnus on the same bench, but as close to the end as he can get to make sure he isn't crowding... and waits.

Crypto sits down on the closest bench without a word while trying to warm up his extremities. Shivering, he looks at each of the robots and in particular the only one that seems to have legs. It only a laymen's understanding of science, Crypto is uncertain what each machine does. All that can be certain is that this location wasn't chosen on a whim as no one accidentally just inhabits an observatory high up in the moutains, in the middle of nothing but ice and snow, with no resources to speak off. All that can be done is to hurry up and wait.