hugtopia_logs | Open + Closed prompts/ Catch all

[ Her hand slips from his shoulder when he leaves, but as soon as he returns with the crystal in hand, there it goes back to his shoulder, deftly neutral. Can't forget that he needs funds for whatever research he's doing.

Understandably, she looks surprised as he brings out the crystal to her. Just where did he get-- she won't inquire for now. ]

...May I?

[ She opens her free hand to him, palm up that he might drop the crystal into it if he is willing. Regardless if he does or does not, she continues the conversation. ] You are... right. It does have similar energy to that of the barrier. [ Like light interwoven, divine of some sort. She mentions this only to affirm his own findings with her own. ] But as for a conduit or source of its own energy....

Are you looking to use it for something?

For the moment, I wish to merely understand its purpose. I may be able to make use of it after that.

[He was willing to observe. After all, he had no powers of his own. He had simply gathered this information via research.

Well, on top of gathering the crystal with his own hands.

He didn't have much reaction to being touched, but that was fairly normal for him.]

Upon first discovering it I believed it might be a power source. However, it was nothing recognizable to me, which meant that it was of the utmost importance to uncover what it was.

[ She'll begin by holding it within her palm. It seems that it's mostly lost its power, but she feels a few more tracings of it within, buzzing upon the palm of her hand. It is these tracings that she begins to focus upon, calling deep within herself for assistance into this matter.

In the meantime, she continues their conversation. ] Were you... researching this only for the sake of research, or [ A pause, and her head lifts. ] are you seeking a power source?

You could say both. While I initially focused on discovering what it was, I have no qualms about using it for my own purposes if I am able. I've certainly plenty I could use it for.

[He watched with interest, wanting to compare the reaction of the crystal with her to how it had reacted to others.]

Depending on what you will be using it for, one of these crystals might not be enough...

[ It still doesn't answer where he got these from, however. And she won't be asking as of now. ] What do you hope to power with just one of these?

That may very well be true. I will have to see.

Regardless of whether I am able to use the crystal or not, I'm currently building an engine.

[Which he was working on in his home as well, and based on the size of the metal he'd been welding and shaping it was for something quite large. Definitely not built with such a tiny crystal in mind as the energy source. Several feet wide and a few feet tall, the metal cage sitting at the side of the room was shaping into something impressive.

He still needed to do much more on it, but for now it was coming together slowly. It took time as a one-man team.]

It would be difficult to make plans for the crystal before I knew it's purpose or had a clear understanding of how to manipulate it. Though I have suspicions it may be "Sildar" or "Nicean" ore. I've little to go off of for that hypothesis, though. I would need to learn more about what those are and what purpose they serve... It can at least be a starting point in research.

[ An engine.... ]

An engine for what, if you do not mind me asking? [ A pause, and she shakes her head. ] It sounds as if you have a greater thing in mind.

If using this crystal as an energy fails, do you have an alternative?

A modified dropship.

[And he'll just assume she knows what that is.]

Just as this city is using methods to shield us from the outside, if we wish to go out we will need to create something that can withstand the environment.

I've no concrete source of energy yet. That is no reason to waste time waiting for one, however. Ships take a long time to build. I can find something in the meantime.

[ A-- a dropship?

Did she hear that right?!

Pyra gapes at him for all of a few moments. What he hopes to accomplish is quite ambitious, especially as otherworlders they're given so very few resources and answers. She doesn't know if such a thing can be accomplished, but-- ]

[ Yes, they need something to shield themselves from the outside, and they'll also need a vehicle of some sort if they wish to travel out with any significant distance.

She considers his goals for a moment, and then decides to share some of her thoughts. First: ] That's... very ambitious. [ And from the honest surprise in her expression, he should be able to tell that that's notthe answer she expected. ] Incredible, in fact. [ She smiles warmly, almost excitedly. It would be wonderful if they were to build something like that, with whatever design he has in mind.

Second: ] If what we are doing with this crystal does not work, then I can provide an energy source, if you are familiar with nuclear power. [ Where just a little goes a long way. ]

As for protecting the dropship... if these crystals are of the same power as the barrier, perhaps they have be purposed for a small overfield above the ship's plating. [ OF course, she's just spit-balling ideas. She'll leave the genius to him. ]

Just-- let me know what else you need. Anything. You can definitely do this!

I find the unambitious rarely create history.

[Though he was often shooting for the stars, sometimes a bit too literally.

She did, however, catch his attention. As much as he was willing to push forward on his own, he had no qualms with working with others. Particularly if they had something to offer.]

You've an energy source? Nuclear power... I believe that may be related to the power plant located in Lestallum.

[It sounded foreign in some ways and familiar in others - he could guess about it, though they'd used different sources of power back home.]

I believe I will be capable of finding a way to control it if you are able to provide. I currently have soil samples from the outside. With some air samples and a contained space, I could begin tests on what is able to withstand the outside.

It's... a large project to do alone.

[But he'd been doing it anyway without expectations. Help would definitely be appreciated.]

[ Currently, she's still analyzing the crystal. It seems that for the most part, it's inert with but only the tracings she feels tying to the barrier. But she focuses on this energy as much as she can...

Yet have another double-take, Verstael. Hol' up. ] ....You mean to say that you were doing all of this-- [ And this is with another look around his ~~home~~ laboratory. ]

Alone?

[ W A T

Dear Architect, someone get this man a proper lab and staff-- OF COURSE SHE'LL HELP. ]

[He gave it some thought.]

I suppose I have had assistance from Arche. I don't have access to welding gear, so her flames have been quite helpful.

[His eyes turned towards the large metal frame he'd constructed. Of course, he'd collected the metal and worked to shape it, but technically he wasn't completely alone on that.]

I suppose I have had some assistance in places. It has been quite a bit different than having subordinates as I did at home. The soil samples were collected by another, and a few other small things.

[Like giant spiders.]

[ Aaah.... Yet, it is all impressive. ] Even knowing that, what you've managed to build so far... it's all very amazing.

[ --Back on topic, however. ] I might provide the fuel [ She does not specify how. ], but as for containing the nuclear power for a generator to power your engine...

[ As wonderful as his lab is, it doesn't seem outfitted for a reactor, and and a proper one would be too costly and clunky for a drop ship. Fusion will be the way to go, but for that, they might need... gold. Powerful lasers. Something that can withstand a temperature of up to 100 million degrees Celsius. That, or some kind of funky magitek. It can be done, however, she believes, even with limited resources.

With her free hand, she makes a pinch between her thumb and index finger. ] The fuel cells I envision are... small for convenience and the weight of a dropship; the atoms remain contained as a gas, blanketed in an inert gold, hollow cylinder. They create the small processes found in stars to serve as energy. Between the two of us and your magitek, think we might manage? If... not so, I think I might be able to ask for another's help with creating them. Then from there, I can work on hooking up these fusion sources to power your engine.

[ She inclines her head. The last proposition is asking for permission. If he does not wish another one to help, she will not ask and she'll happily work with whatever he has here. ]

[He quirked a brow at her, listening intently as his mind churned away thinking of how to control such power. Were he at home he would already be hustling about the lab, putting together prototypes. However, he simply didn't have access to that here. What he had so far he'd done by hand.]

Normally I would be able to express much more confidence. I have been limited in the tools I have access to here. Given time, yes, I believe I could manage everything. However, recreating what I had from scratch and new inventions would take a considerable length of time, and given our circumstances it would be better to take advantage of whatever resources are available to us.

[He tilted his head in her direction.]

Whom do you have in mind?

There is a man that goes by the name of Emet-Selch, and--

[ Ah.

Her eyes widen for a moment as she looks down at the crystal in her hand. One by one, her fingers curl in over the facet of the gem. She shakes her head. ] It seems that utilizing our own fuel sour will have to do. [ Pyra looks to Verstael, replacing the crystal upon the laboratory table. ]

It's merely a conduit... And any energy it has left is mere traces. [ Sadly, these crystals can't be used unless they can be somehow repowered ~~without exploring and setting off alarms~~. ]

I see. I had suspicions but it is good to have them confirmed.

[It was, after all, quite small.]

I have met Emet-Selch. He has experience with magiteknology as well.

I'll ask him soon, if he might be of assistance.

[ And if not, they'll just have to make do. Moving on... ]

May I see what you've accomplished of your engine so far?

[He turned on his heel, gesturing towards the large cage-like structure he'd built in the corner based off dropship engines on his world.]

It is but a skeleton at this point, but I haven't the proper equipment to work with. Still, I now have the 'case' built for the interior.

[ This outside-the-barrier run is going to seem more like a fetch quest, trying to find supplies... Or anything of value to mold into something of an engine.

Still, what he has build so far is nothing short of impressive, given that the locals here do not seem to keen on helping the otherworlders help themselves with exploration. Pyra looks over what he has so far. ] I... can work with this.

[ Even the smallest engines might work with the power she has in mind to supply it. Bit by bit, she's starting to believe they might actually do this. Build an engine and form a dropship of some sort. She looks back to Verstael. ]

If we find any suitable materials beyond the barrier that have lasted this long in the storm... [ It would prove their worth in standing against the atmosphere outside, simply by having endured the harsh weathering and erosion. ] I'll be sure to retrieve as much as I can for you. I, ah, assume you have a draft of the complete dropship already done?

[He tapped his head.]

I know well the blueprint of a standard dropship. However... I was planning on modifying this one for surveillance, and it would likely need to be smaller due to our limited resources. On top of which it may be easier to secure a smaller amount of space.

I could draw out the designs, though.

[He wasn't the best artist but he did well enough to be able to make an understandable draft.]

I would like to create a chamber that replicates the outside environment in order to run tests in.

[ Meaning, this man has kept such blueprints all in his mind alone? That's... She's amazed, really, and it clearly shows on her expression. It seems that he's only going to continue to amaze her; if not for what he's producing, but for his grand ideas themselves. Ambition, dreams, hopes will always gain her attention.

An actual chamber to replicate the outside, however... seems just a bit too much with what they have now. The cost in one matter, but being secretive about it is another. ] Er, perhaps... a small container would work, if I could bring you enough samples of air, and then the material being used to build this ship can be tested piece-wise? [ Instead of, like, building a whole testing room for the sections of the ship, which she's not sure would be feasible within the next months.

She looks down to one of the spiders he's still dissecting. ]

The... only other option of which I can think for plating of a ship would be to recreate the armor the same sort of exoskeleton these arachnids have.

Yes. If I could analyze what is in the soil and air, I could create something akin to my sunlight irradiator...

[With a pause he glanced around his rather humble-in-size abode. He was used to working and thinking big, which could get him in trouble. But being this limited had its own dangers.]

I will have to work with significantly less space available to me. I'm afraid that you're correct. We will likely have to test piece by piece. Like testing models. It is not my preference and runs the risk of missing potential miscalculations in the final product, but it is what we are capable of. You are also correct about the arachnids. Insofar as we're aware, these creatures live and survive outside. Which means they must have been able to breathe, eat and withstand the environment.

If they truly lived in the outside conditions, then it stands to reason that their exoskeletons are a sample of the material and build that we need.

If they were controlled and placed there for war, however... It is possible they did not normally live immediately outside of this city.

[He couldn't help but think of that black goo inside of them. While it was someone naive to immediately relate it to his own experience for no reason other than its familiar looks, it had placed in his mind that they might have been 'taken over', controlled by a substance within them.]

Have you any experience with foreign substances taking over another's body?

[ He expresses her own thoughts on the subject far more academically, she thinks, and Pyra nods along as he speaks. Although while she had suggested fashioning the plates off the exoskeleton of those arachnids... making an artificial copy of what is naturally organic might prove very difficult...

Her thoughts are dispelled when he poses another question. It earns him another glance, this time more curious than the last. ]

A foreign substance... Such as a toxin?

You could say something akin to that. On my world there is a disease that twists beings into unrecognizable forms and causes them to become hostile. Usually.

While the majority of the spiders appeared typical, a fluid quite similar to that was inside of them. It's a different, foreign world, so there is no reason to assume it's exactly the same, but I couldn't help but consider it. After all, everything else was familiar to me.

If there is anything like the plague outside... we may be in much more trouble than anyone suspects.

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