The wheel squeaked loudly when she turned it and the silhouette clicked and pulled away from the screens. It balanced on its needle-like arms and that crack in its face opened, revealing sharp, spinning gears. It lunged for them, clacking maliciously.
She gasped, jumping back quickly and not making a sound other than her trying to desperately hush her fast and nervous breathing.
The creature still reached for her, seeming to know her exact position. It hissed and Dali slapped it in the face, throwing it backward. "Get the hatch open!"
The hatch complained, but the wheel began to get smoother to unlock. The Automaton seemed to be determined not to let Aspen get to the hatch and it hissed before lunging again. Dali leapt in the way, tackling it to the ground.
Dali kicked the automaton off again and threw it to the back of the room before leaping for the hatch. He got through and wrenched it down as It lunged at it, hissing. They were plunged in darkness.
"Dali, light up your eyes, will you?" Mo called. It would take a moment, but Dali's yellow eyes would slowly glow, sputtering slightly. He had a crack in his eye and his chest plate was sparking weakly.
