Kerag tried to keep him upright, listening to him babble some nonsense about controlling lightning of all things. It sounded crazy, and though he wouldn't put it past him, what just transpired made him doubt his ability, but more so concerned for his safety. Kerag raised an eyebrow.
"Three minutes?!"
The orc scooped Chaz up, easily throwing him over his shoulder as he made his way down, entering the Smithy.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I'm gonna guess you'll need my help," Alec says, following Kerag and Chaz into the smithy. "Just tell me what to do."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Two minutes, thirty seconds. Put me on the bench. Once Kerag sat him down, Chaz closed his eyes and winced, fumbling with the gears in his chest.
My mainspring is broken. Once it unwinds it'll snap off the main gear assembly, and it'll take longer to fix than I can survive without oxygen. Alec, above your head is a roll of iron sheeting. Cut it into a two foot segment one inch wide and coil it into a spiral. Crimp one end. Kerag, I'm going to need you to pull out the gear assembly. It's going to hurt. A lot. No matter what I do, keep it pulled out and help me replace the spring. Once it's pulled out we have twelve seconds until my brain starts shutting down because my blood isn't pumping. He bit his lip, then tried to smile
Anri could do it blindfolded. You both will have to do.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Tearing down the iron sheeting, Alec does as instructed, twisting and crimping it into a spring. Holding it at the ready, waiting for the orc, Alec grins, just a little shakily. "This happen often, then?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
He took a deep breath as Kerag pulled out the assembly, which pulled out smoothly as if on a track. They could see the small clockwork engine of his heart, a shiny brass box connected to the rest of him by tubes and wires. Behind it was the spring, burned and fizzled. Chaz hissed and pulled the spring out, throwing it aside, and threaded the new spring through, the crimped ends locking into pegs and tightening down. This was done mechanically, with the practice a man having done it a dozen times. His fingers flicked over gears and levers, making sure they were all in place, then he pushed the assembly back into its place, at the same time taking his key and winding the spring a few paces.
That took ten seconds. Chaz looked barely conscious, breathing in shallow gasps, his hands tightened around the workbench. Finally, he spoke.
That...that was close. He fell back on the bench, eyes closed, battered and exhausted.
I...I really hope that doesn't happen next time.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I do too," Alec sighs, then takes a deep breath. "Maybe you should think about, oh, I don't know, never doing this again? What were trying to do, anyway?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
He shut the panel, grunting a little. The picture on the inside of the glass panel was a little scuffed, but otherwise fine.
Trying to measure lightning. See what it could do. What causes it. I was just curious. He blinked.
You don't get curious?
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I certainly do," Alec says, rubbing at his cheek. "But I usually try my best to not die while I'm satisfying that curiosity."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kerag's concern for Chaz ended when he was sure the clockwork cathian wasn't going to die on him.
"War gods forbid I have to tell Anri you died on my watch."
The or chuckled, patting Chaz on the back.
"I honestly didn't think you had the guts to go through with it. I'm impressed Charles."
As far as harnessing lightning, it aroused his curiosity, but after seeing Chaz nearly kill himself, he shrugged.
"Do whatever you wish Charles you're a grown...erm cat but you can't do any good dead. Plan better next time, I might not happen to wander by when you get fried again."
His lip curved upward into a grin.
Last Edit: Oct 5, 2011 14:58:24 GMT -5 by Sir Kerag
Chaz looked embarrassed, blushing and rubbing his neck.
I guess I didn't think about it. I'm...I'm glad you guys were here, though. He grinned sheepishly.
Next time I'll be more careful...
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Sighing, Alec shakes his head and smiles. "I, personally, think there should not be a next time. But...you do what you do, Chaz." Turning to the door, he raises a lazy salute over his shoulder, and laughs his way out of the door.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.