i_speak_softly | Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

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Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

[Yesterday the village grew quiet, as many villagers were called on a draft, and many others began the anxious wait to see if their friends and loved ones would return to the village safely.]

[Also yesterday, a breath of warm weather arrived in Luceti. Don has been out enjoying it, trying not to dwell on those who are fighting on a flying island right now. He has enough other things on his mind, and around midday he does something about one of them.]

Filtered to Beast || Unhackable

Beast... I haven't thanked you properly for what you did for Robert and me. For everything you've done for us.

End Filter

[Later, he leaves a brief, unfiltered message:]

Would anyone be interested in learning how to program computers and fix cars?

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[Don stands abruptly, giving Robert a "stay here" kind of pat on the knee as he does so, and heads towards the house. He'll be back in a minute.]

[It takes a lot of discipline for Robert to not follow Don at this. A lot more than is probably obvious, honestly.

But Don's orders are ones that he does not disobey lightly. So he sits in place, just staring at his knees and hands instead.]

[Distracted as he is, Don doesn't particularly notice any of this. But he returns momentarily with the encyclopedia of Earth botany, resumes his former position, and begins silently paging through the large volume.]

[Robert calms a little when the Turtle returns, at least looking a bit better now that he has an encyclopedia to look at. Quietly, he takes his place somewhat to the left of Don, perusing the pages over his shoulder.]

[Yeah, he probably should have explained that.]

I don't know what plants Master Splinter had, but... I would recognize them if I saw them.

[There's a subtle hint of desperation in that last part, as though he's not really confident about his statement.]

I'm fine. Things are mostly back to normal. My concern now is the draft, and everyone going on it.

[Ooh, fancy. Pascal skips over and taps the car a few times with her hand.]

Oh wow, really? This thing would beat a Turtlez transport hands down! It's got these wheely dealies, lights on the back- Ooh!

[Getting down on her hands and knees she cranes her head down to get a good look at the underside of the car.]

Where's the thingy that makes it go? There's gotta be an engine or somethin' around here.

[No, the Turtles' transport is -- oh, never mind.]

[Don pops the hood, fitting the prop into place and leaning over the engine block like he does this all the time, which he does.]

280 cubic inch V8 with 9,000 power and 6,000 torque. Zero to sixty in three and a half seconds. Nice, huh?

Rei-sensei.

That's right. I'll be worried while she's gone.

It's the same for you, isn't it? You'll be worried for the people involved.

[He nods.]

I listen to the journals, and... try to be ready when they come back.

Me, too. At the clinic, and at the house. I make sure we have enough space for everyone. [This, if all goes well, is not too much of a challenge; but the Drafts are times when more people than usual are likely to be injured and need treatment.]

[And so many people were called for this draft...]

You can always call me if you need extra help at the clinic.

I seem to be more in your debt the more we speak. [She says this good-naturedly, however.] You'll be instructing me, and also willing to help if we need extra personnel.

Don't worry about it. Let's look at some cars.

Yuh-huh, this is pretty sweet.

[She's not too sure what a V8 is though. Or how good 6,000 torques might be. Or what's counting from zero to sixty in an engine of all places. But hey, it's her first time around a car.

Pascal pushes herself off the floor and walks over to peer into the engine. Aw yeah. Now they're getting to the good stuff.]

When does the learning part start, huh? Awh bananas, I should've brought my own tools and stuff along. Got any extras laying around? Ooh, and what do those pointy thingies do?

[Enjoy the barrage of questions as Pascal reaches into the engine and taps one of the engine cylinders.]

[To no one in particular, Don says:] Render toolbox.

[Immediately, an impressive set of tools appears on the floor by the car's bumper. Leaving them within reach, Don begins a detailed lecture on the structure and function of every part of a standard automotive engine. He assumes that Pascal is knowledgeable about physics and engineering, but not about vehicles in particular.]

[Nothing else would have Ami in clothes that, while they're not exactly torn and stained, are definitely designed for the possibility of both without any complaint of ruining a favorite or a new or an expensive piece of clothing.]

Right. [She flashes a quick smile.] You'll have to show me everything; I've never really done this before.

[While Don goes on with his lecture, Pascal continues poking and prodding different parts of the engine. It's nothing like what powered the shuttle back home, if anything this all seems a lot simpler. In fact, before Don is even finished with his explanation, Pascal snatches up a spanner from the set of tools on the ground and starts haphazardly tapping different parts of the engine with it.]

Y'know, I could totally get this thingamajig to whoosh along faster than it does now. Like from zero to sixty in three seconds flat. Or zero to seventy.

[Don is suitably impressed, and quits the lecture to let Pascal work.]

Be my guest.

[Problems Don doesn't have.]

[He boots the sim and leads Ami into the Garage, letting her look around at the wide variety of vehicles.]

We'll start at the beginning. Do you know how to drive?

[Well.... yes.... mostly.... Luckily, she's had more practice since back then, though she hasn't exactly had opportunities to drive much in Luceti.]

Mm. I have my license. I can drive.

[She answers Don before letting herself take a full look around.]

Alright! You might wanna take a step back though, just a teeny tiny one.

[She takes a moment or so to give the engine one more look over before she starts tearing into it in the spanner. Next she grabs a hammer and starts smacking away with that, then back to the spanner.]

Lemme see, don't need that. That part would totally just get in the way, so maybe if I- Nope! Need that part, better screw around with this doodad so the whirly-thing does it's job...

[Yeah, that's kind of how Don learned to drive too.]

[He'll wait for her to examine his "fleet".]

Which one do you want to know about?

["Stand back, I'm doing science" is not usually a thing that's said to Don, so at first he's not sure how to react. But when tools and engine parts start flying, he thinks he'd better get out of the way.]

[Normally he wouldn't let anyone do anything like this to one of his vehicles, but since the car is virtual and can be repaired with the press of a button, he just watches in amazement as Pascal employs her unconventional methods.]

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Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

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