With a high pitched whine of engine, Ike lowers his solo-saucer in front of the diner. He surveys the parking lot for types and time periods of vehicles, and notes the entrance and exits of the building as finds a space and parks. He jumps off and walks quickly inside, scanning the place for the back room.
"Sorry I'm late!" he exclaims to the group of strangers talking in the back room. "I'm Isaac C. Heinlein, explorer-for-hire."
"well greetings Mr Isaac C Heinlein, space cruiser and explorer for hire. I'm just plain ole Ash,"Ash raises his hand then gesticulates around the others, "now let me see if I remember correctly. Young Miss Tel here, she is from far down the Highway where he fixes mechanical things, Mr Axel 'smooth honey' Badger, arrived with a gorgeous entourage, he can put his mind to any matter. Mr Breeze is charismatically unpredictable, both a calculating calm and surging storm. Lastly but not least is Master Bait, hotshot mechanic and topgun."
Ash points to Baits' sawn off shotgun on his chest bandolier. "be careful where you point that thing, it could either blow your head or your bollocks off! Maybe Isaac here has sawn off ray guns?"
"Call me Ike," says Isaac, nodding to Ash and Tel. "Nice to meet you. I take it Harry isn't here yet then?"
The former space scout turns to Tel. "Actually it's alien technology beyond the rotary pulse drive, which requires too much fuel," says Ike, his voice seemingly becoming more robotic and his gaze unfocused for a fleeting moment. He continues talking while drawing on a napkin. "It is a series of electronic centrifuges based on the hyperspace or planetary gear drives. These are mounted outboard on a cowled disk, which establishes the characteristic profile of the saucer."
"Electronic centrifuges based on the vortex drive are mounted in gimbals to turn in sync with the revolutions of the main rotor disc. The tuned electromagnetic field generated by the vortex drive causes the vehicle to be carried by the earth's electromagnetic field like a dirigible electron."
He pauses, blinks his eyes, and adds. "I need a drink."
"After that spiel, So do I," I pour the last two glasses out of my second pitcher, "Go ahead and take one of mine. So how is it you find yourself here, as another of Harry's lackeys?"
Tel nods along as Ike draws out the diagram. "And this consumes less fuel you say? I get the basic premise, but this would only work within close proximity of a planet with an active magnetic field, right? Unless... Wait, they don't use this array to get traction on the quantum grid, do they?" Tel pulls a blunt stub of pencil out of a pocket and begins drawing equations all over Ike's napkin. The rough pencil tears through the thin paper napkin, and he writes with such exertion that soon she is left with little more than a pile of shreds. Looking up, she says, "Okay, I've got the theory, but there's a host of technical hurdles that I can't begin to untangle. You... uh, you wouldn't mind if I took a peek under the hood, would you?"
Tel looks around, and adds, "I mean, it looks like we have time. This 'Harry' doesn't seem to be in any sort of a rush to show up."
A red MINI Cooper pulls into the parking lot, circling the building slowly, several times, before pulling into a parking spot near the entrance.
A young woman emerges in a bright yellow sun dress emerges, most of her face hidden behind a floppy hat and oversized sunglasses with pink frames.
She slides a purse over her arm, and closes the door, locking it with the device in her hand. She transfers her keys to the purse and withdraws a book of heavy red leather and ornate gold lettering, from within.
She approaches the door with a relaxed stroll, enters, and looks around.
If this Harry guy doesn't show soon, I'm gonna bail, I'm not being paid to sit here and drink. It's money and time wasted as long as I'm sitting here waiting...
Bait has never been one known for his patience, and even pounding beer will only keep him tied downfor a short period of time. He goes to the bar and grabs a glass of water that he begins drinking at a slow but measured pace, almost as if he were using it as a timer.
Pulpatoon wrote:Tel ... "Okay, I've got the theory, but there's a host of technical hurdles that I can't begin to untangle. You... uh, you wouldn't mind if I took a peek under the hood, would you?"
"Sure, you can take a gander under the hood," replies Ike to Tel, taking a drink of his beer.
"Thank you Bait. I was hired through an intermediary for unspecified work to do for this Harry. It seems there is a motley crew of folks here. I wonder what the assignment is."
The crew hears a large diesel roll up, roaring and giving the whistle that big turbocharged diesels always make. A moment later, Harry walks into the back room with a set of saddlebags slung over one shoulder. He's apparently left his rifle in the truck.
When he speaks, his voice is a low, gravelly rumble that perfectly matches his appearance. "Howdy. Glad ta see ya'll made it- we're gonna have a good ol' time and make a ton o' credits in the process.
"I'm Harry Steele- the fella that asked ya all here today. You may feel like a motley crowd, but I kin tell we're gonna do fine together."
He opens the saddlebag and begins pulling out featureless black bricks, about the size of a paperback book. "These are Guides. Hella expensive, but worth every penny. They'll serve ya as guidebooks to everywhere along the Highway, communications gear so's we kin keep in touch on the road, best buddy, an' filing cabinet. They're Artificial Intelligence, made by a big ol' factory in Tech 3220. 50 Pentaflop processors, 60 Hept of memory,... Treat 'em with respect, folks- they may be smarter than you are." He chuckles as he passes one to each of you- except for the young woman. "I see ya got yer own already, darlin'. If you'll let Dahlia handshake with it, you won't have a problem." He pulls another Guide, this one scuffed and dusty, from the saddlebag and sets it on the table. "Dahlia, get the new Guides synced up."
A throaty woman's voice (think Jessica Rabbit) replies, "Ok, boss."
"These Guides understand plain English, so all ya gotta do is talk to 'em. Once we're on the Highway, you can get to know 'em, decide on a name, an' whatever."
"So, I contacted ya all 'cuz I figure we can work together and all be rich. I got plenny o' contacts up an' down the Highway. I'll arrange jobs for us, and then we'll git 'em done." He pours himself a glass of scotch from a bottle he brought along and sits at the head of the table. "So- what ya got to ask me?"
**The Guide will effectively be an NPC that I can use to provide info to you. Decide on a name to refer to it by, a specific voice if you want, etc. They can find any specific exit on the Highway and guide you there, they have limited IR scanners (20 feet at most), a small amout of computer hacking skill, and also serve as your debit card/identification while on The Highway.
Finishing lunch and seemingly with time to spare, Ash goes back to his rig and drives it over to the fuel filling station. He fills the tank and an extra jerry can kept in reserve, airs the tires and jet washes the body. Parking up again, he double locks the car and returns to the rear of the diner. Looking around he will makes a point to try to get hold of any Highway route maps and make a note of destinations further down the road.
Hearing Harrys' rig, well it made his little off roader feel small. 'Not to worry' he thought, 'mine will go up and over any obstacle'. He looks at Harry. "" have we met before? I kind of remember faces."Ash takes a brick and stuffs it in the duffel bag.
"Last few years I've just been cruising up and down this place. Not looking for anything in particular but trouble always seemed to show up, in one shape or form
Have you got trouble you need a hand with?"Ash raises his saw in a questioning way.
"Only the usual, son. Road Pirates, Council cops, runnin' out of fuel... I ain't even had a Black Decade to deal with in a long time.
"It's just that there's some jobs ya can't do by yerself, and I intend on cuttin' a slice of the credits from those."
As everyone talks with Harry, a huge black mud-splattered sedan pulls into the parking lot.
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A man steps out of the car and into the inn. A cigarette dangles from one side of his mouth and a battered fedora sits on his head. He looks like he's seen the wrong side of middle age.
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"One of you boys Harry?" he asks the room in a gravelly voice.
"Well this party certainly keeps growing by the minute," I say as I slide one of the black boxes off the table into my lap. I slide my chair back and put my feet on the edge of the table and lean my chair back onto two legs as I fiddle with the device."So Harry, I'm inclined to agree with Tel. you don't go tossing these around for simple jobs, so what is this? are we being hired or being told to hold onto this until you call us? I don't agree to anything until I know what I'm agreeing to."I toss the AI back onto the table by my feet and look up at him expectantly.
Urson wrote:The crew hears a large diesel roll up, roaring and giving the whistle that big turbocharged diesels always make. A moment later, Harry walks into the back room with a set of saddlebags slung over one shoulder. He's apparently left his rifle in the truck.
When he speaks, his voice is a low, gravelly rumble that perfectly matches his appearance. "Howdy. Glad ta see ya'll made it- we're gonna have a good ol' time and make a ton o' credits in the process.
"I'm Harry Steele- the fella that asked ya all here today. You may feel like a motley crowd, but I kin tell we're gonna do fine together."
He opens the saddlebag and begins pulling out featureless black bricks, about the size of a paperback book. "These are Guides. Hella expensive, but worth every penny. They'll serve ya as guidebooks to everywhere along the Highway, communications gear so's we kin keep in touch on the road, best buddy, an' filing cabinet. They're Artificial Intelligence, made by a big ol' factory in Tech 3220. 50 Pentaflop processors, 60 Hept of memory,... Treat 'em with respect, folks- they may be smarter than you are." He chuckles as he passes one to each of you- except for the young woman. "I see ya got yer own already, darlin'. If you'll let Dahlia handshake with it, you won't have a problem." He pulls another Guide, this one scuffed and dusty, from the saddlebag and sets it on the table. "Dahlia, get the new Guides synced up."
A throaty woman's voice (think Jessica Rabbit) replies, "Ok, boss."
"These Guides understand plain English, so all ya gotta do is talk to 'em. Once we're on the Highway, you can get to know 'em, decide on a name, an' whatever."
"So, I contacted ya all 'cuz I figure we can work together and all be rich. I got plenny o' contacts up an' down the Highway. I'll arrange jobs for us, and then we'll git 'em done." He pours himself a glass of scotch from a bottle he brought along and sits at the head of the table. "So- what ya got to ask me?"
**The Guide will effectively be an NPC that I can use to provide info to you. Decide on a name to refer to it by, a specific voice if you want, etc. They can find any specific exit on the Highway and guide you there, they have limited IR scanners (20 feet at most), a small amout of computer hacking skill, and also serve as your debit card/identification while on The Highway.
With a quizzical look on his face the man picked up a brick and examines it. "Any way you want it..." Looking at Harry he takes the brick and asks "Where do we go from here?"
Grognardsw wrote:"Hello Hal," says Ike to the black box. "Please access and provide all information on Harry Steele."
Tel laughs. "Good one. I should have thought of that."
ylinett wrote:With a quizzical look on his face the man picked up a brick and examines it. "Any way you want it..." Looking at Harry he takes the brick and asks "Where do we go from here?"
Ylinett, could you use your character's name in your posts? It's a lot easier to keep track of who's who that way.
Harry nods. "I knew ya'll were smart and cautious.
"Yeah, the jobs we'll git will be difficult an' dangerous- maybe deadly. As fer immoral, that depends on your morals.
"The first job will be nothin' more than a milk run. One o' my old friends is in Apophos 2042, fetchin' a truckload of gold and silver bars. He's found a place to settle down, so he's doing this job to get his 'retuirement fund'." Harry chuckles and finishes his drink.
The waitress Breeze was talking to enters with a heaping platter of sandwiches and fresh vegetables. Harry continues, "I ain't givin' these things to ya fer free. Our first job is to meet SamanEric at the Apohos 2042 off-ramp, transfer most of his load to Mother Beast, and run it to Tech 3220 to pay for these things. There's been a lot of Road Pirate trouble 'tween here and there, so this is an escort job.
"After that is when the real fun starts. Ya see, there's certain things out there along the Road that are Unique. Most stuff, if ya find it on one version of Earth, it's on all of 'em. But there are certain objects that exist on _only ONE_ of all the worlds there are. Naturally, certain collectors will pay through the ass to get them. I'll be getting us contracts to fetch Uniques.
"No bullshit- it'll involve a lot of sneakin' around, plannin' raids, and maybe gettin kilt by the locals. But I won't ask any of ya'll to do worse than steal stuff an' kill in self-defense.
