poly_chromatic | 0.04 gigawatts ⇒ voice / action ⇒ [desert city]

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back to the future - emmett brown

0.04 gigawatts ⇒ voice / action ⇒ [desert city]

[Hushed and awed, just above a whisper -]

Great scott.

[He trudges through the sand that has encroached on the floor of the building he's claimed as his workshop, one that had stood on the outskirts of the City. It's little more than a few half-standing walls now.]

One could hardly say there was a shortage of sand - a curious enough development, it seemed - but this is an extremely drastic and critical turn. Despite my limited experience in the City, I am forced to conclude that this is far more than a simple curse. My understanding is that the lengthy build-up towards this implies something of a far greater significance and a less fleeting nature.

[Then there's the rush of air that signifies a large, heavy sheet being lifted - off of the still-disabled DeLorean. Work's been done, though, and it doesn't have that far to go. There's an audible breath of relief as he finds it intact.]

In any case, these circumstances certainly warrant a bit of reprioritizing...

[ooc: As noted, this is open to action if desired! He's in the Desert City, so if you're in Glass, assume the appropriate distortion. Annnnnd I'm at work right now so tags will be slow/delayed.]

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"Reprioritizing." Yeah.

[There's a sunburnt Charlie on the video screen, Doc. Hope that's okay.]

I gave up hoping this was a simple curse about the time a vampire crashed through my ceiling.

[The story is actually a lot more convoluted than that. She's just shortening it so she doesn't talk too much about it.]

Now I'm hoping whatever's going on is over quick and without anyone getting hurt.

A light way of putting it, I confess. Much as I would love to study and decipher the cause of our current situation, securing a degree of protection and mobility is of the utmost importance at present.

[Oh dear. Not that Doc is looking any better off - sand doesn't belong in your hair, does it? Not that it should surprise anyone that it's worked its way into his.]

That's one way of measuring the direness of any given situation. It has been worrisome, but this is an extreme I hadn't anticipated.

[He's digging around as he talks, propping the device on what's left of a shelf as he searches for tools that haven't turned to sand.]

Do events of this magnitude typically resolve themselves?

[No but, Charlie expects sand to be everywhere so she's not phased. She even has some across the bridge of her nose.]

Last time the City changed this much, the color had gone out of the place. I don't quite remember it being extreme. Color returning seemed to be directly related to emotion but I don't think that's the solution in this case.

Yeah, probably so.

Do you think driving it through the sand is a good idea? [ The Doctor looks a bit skeptical. ]

Doctor Brown, you don't know what has happened either? I can't make out most of this. Just like with the other posts. I don't seem to be in the same place.

...please be all right.

Are you okay, mister?

[ Have a rather dusty, sweating assistant standing beside the Doc, arms crossed and surveying the now uncovered Delorean. He crosses his arms and tilts his head slightly to the side. ]

What are you thinking?

[ Fix the engine? Does the engine need to be fixed?]

[Doc turns to him with his brows arched, one corner of his mouth pulled tight. It's not a smile, not under these circumstances, but he is getting his game face on.]

Engine's almost operational, just a few parts left to swap out. I have them, in fact, just hadn't gotten it finished.

Seems like a good time to get it going.

[He's not that much less skeptical, but the tilt of his head is essentially a shrug.]

It seems a preferable alternative to walking, and I'm afraid the structural integrity of my workshop here isn't going to hold out for very long. Of course, the car can take a bit more than it looks like it can.

Unharmed, thus far! Though I haven't yet ventured out - well, that is, any more out than in has become. I can hardly say I've a sound structure here.

[He's peering closely at the screen, unable to make much out of it. He frowns hard, leaning to hear the audio.]

Ken? I'm afraid you're not coming through very well--

[He makes out some of it, though.]

I'll be taking every precaution to be as safe as I possibly can. Of course, I expect you to do the same.

The color? Now that's an unusual phenomenon...

[And for a moment, he pauses both verbally and physically, caught on the thought. He snaps out of it quite suddenly.]

Still, perhaps there is some sort of effort expected of us - assuming, of course, this isn't just the structural integrity of the dimension collapsing.

[You know, sir, your voice is very oddly familiar. Not that he's placed it yet, with circumstances being what they are.]

What about yourself, are you properly equipped? Or I suppose, as properly as could be expected.

[ The Doctor grins. ] Better get to fixing, then, shouldn't we?

[Congratulations: you have met a Real Live Cowboy. Too bad you haven't realized it yet.]

I think I can get on all right.

I don't think anything's sound around here. I've never been in a desert like this before.

[ liz expected to find sand, sand, and more sand as she trudged through the desert, not a man standing next to some car that looked like it had rolled right out of some cult eighties movie. she approaches, weary but not so much that she's willing to stay away. it's hot and she's alone out here and quite honestly rather frightened. as bold and brazen as liz parker can be, this is a bit too much. she'd rather go back to the weird kissing curses and people turning into animals than whatever this is. ]

Hi.

Tell me what to fix, and I'll get to it.

[ The way he says it - there's no sass at all. He glances around the room, checking for any supply closets. ]

You have any water stored around here?

There's a fuel pump - or there was, I certainly hope it hasn't turned to sand - in a box beneath that shelf...

[And he points, towards what's still standing of a corner of the room, as he gathers up what tools he can and moves to the back of the car, to access the car's basic components which are nestled between the large, added, exhaust fins and below the Mr. Fusion.]

It's one of the final repairs. Body work was completed shortly after I arrived, the brake rotors have been changed out. I'll need to install the new shocks as well, of course, certainly if we're going to be traveling through a desert...

[After he trails off, the second question penetrates, and he glances up from the car as he answers it.]

I had some - it was recommended in the guide, to keep fresh water on hand. Advice which, I must say, I do not question the wisdom of now. Extra fuel, as well!

No, it's certainly not natural-- not with the advanced rate of deterioration. This sort of damage should take decades, even in as harsh an environment as a desert can prove.

[And he gets a grin right back.]

My thoughts precisely! I have an assistant here now, and with an extra pair of hands, I'm certain we can get the car running in no time. Will you be able to get here safely?

[The man by the car is rather easily startled; he expects his new assistant, Amory, to be around, and of course The Doctor should be by. This young lady, however, is a completely unexpected presence. So he turns away from the car and toward her quite abruptly.]

Ah! Hello!

[To his credit, at least he pulls himself back from his startled shouting pretty fast?]

Are you all right?

[Displeased frown. It's still static at certain points, but Ken gets the gist of the second thing said.]

I will. If you can hear me, don't worry. I'll be careful.

I'll try to find more out about this situation.

Hope you're not counting me as the assistant! [ He nods to the question, though. ] See you in a bit.

No, no, he's a student of sorts that I've taken on. [Said with a slight laugh.]

We'll be here. [With a nod and a smirk, because... well, obviously.]

[ Doc blarey has to say it. Ams is already pulling the box from beneath the shelf, gingerly taking the part out. He has yet to tell the Doc that car repair, well, isn't his best skill, but after fixing up his old clanker back at home one too many times, he's at least got enough basic knowledge and intuition to get the simple jobs done. ]

Are you sure-

[ How do you say this without being insulting?! ]

- this car's going to withstand driving-- potentially long hours in the desert?

[ Maybe... he looks at the Doc, an entirely too-innocent expression on his features. ]

Could we skip ahead, maybe?

[Maybe a stock DeLorean wouldn't make it, but Doc scoffs.]

I assure you, this vehicle can withstand far more than one would expect based on appearances alone. It won't be ideal, but it's certainly a better option than walking.

[Now with access to the engine, he's already setting about tinkering with it.]

As for jumping ahead, that hardly seems wise! If this is the structural integrity of the dimension collapsing, we may well jump ahead into nothingness and obliterate our own existences. A wiser option would be to jump back to learn if there was some way to prevent this from happening. Regardless, neither is a viable option, given the fact that several of the time circuits' boards need repair and replacement. We have neither the time nor the parts to complete those repairs - and obtaining the necessary parts now may be impossible.

Magic, then. Or the deities.

[ ohgood, one of the doctors. rose told her they were around here somewhere. ]

Yeah, just... Sandy. Which I guess everyone is right now. Where'd you get a car?

[ And there is a Doctor in your garage. Another Doctor, I mean. He's rolling up his sleeves (metaphorically; just try separating him from that leather jacket) and ready to help. ]

Looks nearly operational. What still needs doing?

[And Doc slides out from where he's currently working, under the car which is propped up on some desert rocks.]

You made it! Excellent!

[He's sprung to his feet in just a moment, wiping his hands off on the heavy leather welding apron he has on.]

It is nearly there; I was changing out the shocks, then I have a trailer design I'll need to assemble. Should be fast work - enable us to carry more supplies, maybe pick up a few people if we find anyone out in the desert. The car itself does lack a bit for seating.

Or, in the worst case, the structural integrity of the dimension has been compromised, leading to rapidly accelerated climate change that will culminate in the destruction of this reality and everything contained within it, possibly creating a ripple effect that could extend that damage across all realities.

Of course, that's a worst-case scenario.

We all certainly are!

[He agrees with a bit of a grin, then turns to the car with a sweeping gesture.]

I arrived in the City in it, actually, which I understand makes mine a rather unique circumstance. It was damaged upon arrival, but is very nearly repaired now.

[ The man is in remarkably good shape for his apparent age. His hair reminds the Doctor of his first self, just a little, enough to make him smile. ]

Time like this I miss my ship. [ Although the sudden imagery of attaching a trailer to the TARDIS makes him grin again. It wouldn't be necessary, but how she'd protest! ] Point me to the trailer. I'll get that going.

[ His sonic screwdriver hasn't been reclaimed by the sand yet. It should make quick work of things. ]

That sounds pretty bad.

[He's had a bit of help in that department; he was always in decent shape, but a quick trip to a rejuvenation clinic in his world's future has knocked off a few decades of aging. The hair's not doing very well now, though; the sand and wind are really exaggerating it.]

I could only imagine. My strongest lamentation is for the car's loss of flight capability.

[He nods even as he speaks, gesturing toward a collection he's brought together of the surviving scraps. Nearby, he has a design drafted up on a propped-up board. It is a pretty detailed draft, but it's not to the Doc's standards.]

Forgive the crude state of the design; I haven't had the time to do a properly detailed and scaled schematic. And certainly, we may have to improvise given the lack of material that hasn't turned to sand, but the central idea of the design was to give it blades rather than wheels - less resistance going over the sand, easier on the car. It really wasn't built to do much in the way of towing.

It would be! But that's absolute worst-case, and I don't think it's terribly likely. Most of the individuals I've spoken with indicate that this sort of event is typically resolved by these "deities", though I haven't been given much indication as to the cause of such incidents.

[ Flight. Now there was something to fix later. Definitely. The Doctor is making a mental note. And he's looking at the design, somewhat impressed with the detail. He hadn't been expecting anything other than, say, a doodle, which was how he designed things. This seemed like it would work, especially if he fudged a few things here and there. Improved them, he meant. ]

Blades, right. This is more than enough. [ He pulls his sonic screwdriver from his pocket and grins. ] I'll get on it then.

Most of the stuff that happens around here is their doing, yeah. They must get bored a lot.

[He really likes his schematics and models and details and things. Despite the detail, he'll have no problem with The Doctor putting his own spin on things - there are few things he loves like sharing interests, and he has enough appreciation for others' work that he'll certainly welcome some collaboration.]

Fantastic.

[And then the sonic screwdriver grabs his attention.]

Now that is an intriguing device. Tool of yours?

I suppose that might be one possible explanation for why they've brought so many people here in the first place. Though, I could hardly understand going through all this effort for entertainment alone.

Sonic screwdriver. Never leave home without one. [ He grins. ] Works on nearly everything. Not wood. Not concrete. [ He presses the button and it makes a whirring noise, and the end lights up. ]

I was joking, of course.

[ So that he doesn't sound like a complete idiot. ]

There's no telling whether the physics of this universe align with ours. Even if structural integrity isn't a issue, who's to say that the same calculations.... the same equations would apply to this universe. We can see the stars, but they're not stars.

[ Uh-oh, that's another problem. He finishes up with the fuel pump and walks over to the Doc. ]

Making it drive is the easy part.

Edited 2012-02-24 03:06 (UTC)

Maybe they were really, really, really bored...

Nah, I don't get it either.

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0.04 gigawatts ⇒ voice / action ⇒ [desert city]

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