The life of the body was extracted into the cylinder. The computer had 3 remaining cylinders to be filled. 4 people remained locked in the mainframe.

Bronco was pinned to the floor. He was hostilely rebelling underneath two knights who remained crown loyal.

"Let me lay Scrappy out properly and cover over his body. It's the least that could be done for him you heartless bastards" he screamed.

Vito pinned Bronco's upper back. He further dug in his knee making communication difficult.

Very close to them the King paced the room trying to brainstorm a monologue speech. He needed to scheme while things remained relatively in control. The fool who had been helping him with tech support hadn't returned. Snaggy must have gotten himself killed outside the locked room they had become trapped. He was all alone in figuring out the solution to the problem of sacrificing three men one by one. This would get the teleport working, and himself back from the core. An fresh idea of attack popped, and he strutted over to the three knights struggling.

"This man here disobeyed a direct order from the crown, before I had to cut him down to protect myself, and thus his corpse will receive no honor" he paused to get closer, and let a little grin out.

"In fact I think I must burn it before it turns" taunted the king.

"There's nothing left to zombie now, the machine has taken him in already," said Bronco.

"That is just speculation and you know what facts we don't have to speculate about?" The king asked.

"The price of potatoes after you implemented the price lock?" Speculated the knight known as Mooseman.

"No, the penalty for treason?" said King.

"Death" said both the kings men together.

"No don't.. Punish me if we ever return there's enough threats for four to deal with already" pleaded Bronco.

The two knights relaxed their choke hold.

"He's got a point we need him to survive ourselves," said Zito.

"Huh, good point," said Mooseman.

"And that's why we gotta all be on the same page working together. If only you bozos could figure anything out without it being written in blood first" said Bronco.

"The three of us have always been on the same page, this is why if you follow the leader you don't have to think about much but following" said Edward.

"So he needs to follow all orders going forward, or else we kill him, " said Mooseman.

"I already don't trust him," said Edward.

"I'm not sure I even trust myself anymore, let's give him another chance for our own luck" said Zito.

" I agree," said Mooseman.

"Hmmm.." said Edward.

The two knights helped pick the third off the floor.

"No weapons for that knight then" said King Edward.

Bronco ran to Scrappy's body. He spoke to his old friend, and showed him some respect in death. A cold wind turned the King's attention from these matters.

The far wall housing a control panel had pulled back sometime in the commotion automatically showing only darkness within. All of them froze still as a statue. Bronco felt something pinch his back. He turned to see Vito gently backstabbing him.

"Psst" said Vito.

Bronco felt cool metal being placed into his hand. He looked down to see a small carved dagger with a blade made of cutting crystal. The entire weapon was carved with vivid pictures of sacrifices.

"I have plenty of loot stashed on me already, might as well share some with you Bronco before I pass" whispered Vito.

Bronco stuck it far down his empty sheets just as the King turned his attention back to his men.

"Well I'm going in, so how about one of you trailing me and the other staying here to guard the weaponless" said Edward

The King walked forward without waiting any longer. He entered the dark opening and vanished. Vito and Mooseman did a quick game of rock paper scissors. Moose was the winner who followed behind his leader disappearing into the danger.

In the dark Edward the cannibal king could hear suffering winds howling at him from away, but it wasn't human.

"Who there?" He asked.

"I'm behind you, your majesty," said Mooseman.

"Well make yourself useful and light something on fire so we can see in here" said Edward.

"Oh right well let me go ask the other guys if they got something" said Mooseman.

The knight was loudly banging around trying to find the exit.

"Send the other knight in your place with the light" hissed the king.

"Yes your highn.."

"Slam!"

Mooseman went tumbling having caught a foot on the other somewhere nearby.

"Here I am," said another voice echoing.

Vito walked into the picture illuminating a claustrophobic ice passage. It was dug straight as far as light could penetrate. The King would have to crouch uncomfortably to travel further her. He turned back again as the light was dimming. It was on account of one knight helping the other.

"Wait a second" said the King moving backwards.

He was momentarily blinded by the glowing lights on returning to the room sized computer. Finally after his eyes readjusted he noticed what was missing. That both the knight he intended to sacrifice, and the one he already had gone missing.

"Fools, I ordered one of you to guard me and one to watch the traitor, now he is gone and his missing dead buddy is lurking somewhere a zombie!" Screeched the King.

The two knights remained quivering with fear. A gust of frigid air had blown past them. With it came the smell of moldy tomb.

"I'm sorry but what's done is done, and now our only chance is to keep moving on for a chance of survival" said Zito.

Edward let out a massive sigh of annoyance.

"Well what choice do any of us really have?" said the king.

The party of now three started forward. Edward crouched, Mooseman crawled on his hands and knees, while Zito walked in front of them with the light. Another blow of the cold air threatened a case of frostbite.

"This is how I'm spending my last days when I had so much left to accomplish. I suppose it's having so much fun with you folk" complained the King.

"How you think we feel, we've probably been trapped in this icy paradise for over a year or more I reckon" groaned Mooseman.

"Let's keep our final moments to ourselves gentlemen," said Vito.

The knight forced himself to go forward down the path ahead. The two behind him continued to laboriously follow.