Dumb
Though seemingly distracted just a moment ago, in one fluid movement Hal turned around whilst drawing his sword, swatting the container out of the air without effort. The vial shattered mid-air releasing its nanites in a thin almost invisible cloud, though as of now, it seemed Hal was not aware he had been hit anyways or at least didn't show it. The guide on the other hand was less aware, being hit straight in the back, reacting to the 'attack' by jumping to the side with surprising agility and then swaying his spear, pointing first at Mainframe, then Halcyon and then Mainframe again.
"What are...!? I know I couldn't tr...", he yelled, though was cut of by his body freezing mid sentence.
Hal looked her up and down for a couple moments, then the guide, as if judging their capability in battle, his sword was still in the open, though he didn't attack yet.
"Hm, playing with tricks now, are we? I suppose I should not be the one to be blaming you.", he mumbled, seemingly more to himself than mainframe, as evident as he turned his full attention back to Mainframe a moment later.
"What I have here, is the key, the very key, we have been looking for. I suppose you wouldn't know, what it is, or what it means, not, that it mattered anyways. It would've been easy to turn your back and go the other way, let me do what I came here for."
He paused.
"Though, I suppose if you did that, then there wouldn't have been a reason for you to be here anyways, now would there?"
In the meanwhile, though still paralysed, the guide looked in terror at what lay there on the altar, behind Hal. He seemed to be straining himself considerably, trying to talk or move at all, though at the current time he was incapable of it.
Hal sighed.
Now, I suppose since you didn't try to backstab me immediately, it would only be fair to make you an offer. It is rather simple. Stand with me now and I will share the key with you."
He paused again, this time his eys narrowing, his stance going a little lower, the tip of the sword just a little bit higher.
"...or don't, though I suppose you already know what will mean."
In the meanwhile on the surface there another moment of silence, before the tension seemed to slowly release.
The man shook his head as if he had just talked to a naive child that didn't know any better than what it had said.
"If that is indeed the case and you only 'offer' then you should have no issues with waiting until our and your friend both return, do you?"
As they had been talking, it seemed most of the preparations had been completed, though nobody seemed to show any intention of leaving yet.
"When... If, they both return, we will consider your offer, until then we will stay here."
He turned around yelling several words she couldn't understand though everyone could hear, in response people went to their respective sleds and sat down, some pulling what would likely be rations off their packages and start eating or drinking.