Up ahead, the tunnel curved downward and opened into a massive chamber.
The walls were thick with fused metal. Car doors, armored truck panels, hull plating, all stacked and buried into the earth like a scrapyard fortress.
Savier whistled low, scanning the structure. "Damn. That Digger's a real architect."
Johnquis stepped forward, eyes tracking the wall. "It built this to guard what's beyond…"
He stopped. His voice dropped.
"A nest. The Queen's."
The smell hit them next. Rotting flesh and engine grease.
Johnquis froze a few paces from the wall, staring at the makeshift barrier.
"Well…guess she doesn't want company."
The Tanker moved past them, silent. It placed one massive hand on a rusted van door welded dead center.
The wall shivered.
A low hum vibrated through the chamber.
It stood there, motionless—waiting.
Johnquis glanced at Savier, then at the Tanker.
"Get ready."
Johnquis took one slow step back. "Alright, big guy… do your thing."
