CHAPTER 5: DAYS OF PERIL

[yendor]

"Prime directive?...I'm with Lex, you will have to explain things, future or not."

[Mierin]

Vivian nods in agreement with the others. "We can help you more effectively if we understand what is going on."

[doc]

"OK? Short version? That light beam is a time transport - my team finally found me." Reece shouted up. "ABOUT TIME!" She then shook her head. "And of course, I'm going to get a long, long speech on how time travel works and why they couldn't just have found us a second after we arrived from one of them that will be entirely too long, too boring, and I'll be too sober to last through it. Trust me, you are better off not knowing."

She then showed off her metal-coated arm. "Steelfist version.....you know what? I think we don't have accurate count, so let's call it the 2020 model just to be safe. The concepts that form the basis of the technology used for this won't even been invented for another quarter century, so it's going to be difficult to explain to you. Furthermore, we need to get rid of all the robot parts because if anything is left over, and I mean ANYTHING, someone is going to get an advantage they shouldn't and that will cause merry hell with the timeline and I will get an entirely different and super-long boring speech and have to come back here. Also, based on my understanding, there will likely be molten metal involved, and I'd just as soon pass on that. So how about we gather up every last loose screw, then I can go home, you can go home, and we can be happy?"

[yendor]

p7OppFpo1d100 Advanced Mechanics 81%
1d100 Advanced Electronics 81%
1d100 Analytical Chemistry 86%
1d100 Mechanical Engineer 86%
1d100 Electrical Engineer 86%
1d100·1d100·1d100·1d100·1d100

[yendor]

Note: The above rolls are geared towards understanding the technology on a minute scale, and do not include penalties for a rushed analysis, or alien technology.

Rex, the action catching up to him, while helping find the scattered bits of technology, blows off steam in Reece's direction. (He's had enough of all this 'you don't understand' hogwash, being treated like illiterate savages, and Reece's misdirected annoyance 'oh hey, people almost died, a couple of us are badly wounded, and you're still acting like a tart')

"One, stop being a bearcat bird. You are the palooka in this group, not us. Two, give us a modicum of respect that we can understand certain concepts and ideas without having to know what you know. Phrase it in ways we would know, instead of treating us like children. Three, I know molls with better personalities. Finally, next time we work together, treat us like adults, not backwood savages."

[dakota]

Lex was completely thrown off by Reece's explanation, and was a bit slack jawed when she referred to her arm as Steelfist, "A little fancier than my designs, but this still works in a pinch. I'm guessing that the baby will grow up to be someone important if you came here to protect him?" At the same time, he set about gathering up metal chunks like she had asked. "Gotta ask, if you're a future version, does that mean you're some sort of kin then, or just picked up the title?"

[Mierin]

Vivian was also a bit confused by Reece's explanation so she just continues to find pieces of the robots to throw into the light.

[doc]

"Her. You're here to protect her. She's going to be...pretty amazing." Reece gave a lopsided grin. "It's not quite as simple as that - let's just say that you inspire a few things over time." She responds to Lex before turning to Rex. "And so do you. And you." She looked at Vivian. "All of you. First of your kind, when it counts. Just...be careful. Your future isn't what you think it is."

[yendor]

"...I still stand by my statement. And thank you for the compliment. I believe that's what it was. Steelfist? What do you know about that Lex?"

[dakota]

"Well, I can't help but be curious why you would name whatever that was on your arm after me, young lady, but I'm guess you would never tell me anyways." Lex said in reply to Rex. "But if you know about us from your history books, can you at least tell me what they call Vivian in there. We have been having a devil of a time finding a cover name for her." He turned his attention to Reese and arched a brow.

[Mierin]

Vivian nods when Le asks his question about her. "I'd be curious about that too." she admits with a grin.

[doc]

Reece smiles. "Where I'm from, the Longbow is a legend." She walks backward into the beam. "It's been real, folks!"

[Mierin]

Vivian raises an eyebrow. While part of her is dying to know what Reece means when she said she was a legend, Vivian realizes that Reece probably wouldn't tell her. "Bye." Vivian says to Reece as she walks backward toward the beam. After Reece is gone, she muses out loud to no one in particular, "Longbow?" Turning to Lex, Vivian shrugs as she says, "That could work as a code name." Vivian thinks of something as she adds, "I wonder if that's what I would have picked if Reece hadn't shown up."

[dakota]

Lex waved as Reece vanished into the light. His chest puffed a bit with pride when he heard Vivian was remembered as a legend, since had been his protege before she had come into her own and he saw her as his equal now, even if he was a bit protective. "Longbow is a great name, but I'm still gonna call you kiddo." He smirked, then looked at the others, "And from the sounds of it, we're going to be at this together for a while if we're going to be remembered. Right now though we need to get the original Rider to a doctor as soon as we can."

[yendor]

vPf5WSwJ1d100 Field Surgery 86%
1d100 Paramedic 96%

Short jaunt to his car, Rex returns carrying a rather worn WWI medical bag. "I can keep him alive until then."1d100·1d100