the word of the day is "paranoia"

[huaaaaagh]

Who: Kirito / OTA
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Hiding out in engineering on the Paisley, if you so desire
When: Now!


[So, this is something he's been wondering - and eventually, seriously considering - for the last couple of months, mostly when they landed on Arslae and he realized how ill-equipped he is to deal with conflict. For most people, it would simply be a matter of avoiding fights. But for him... well. It's kind of all he's ever been good for.

Getting told that, hey, one of your crewmates is a murderer is more or less the last straw to break through his indecisive camel back.]

I have a question, mostly for whoever's gotten personal those personal augment upgrades you can buy, or at least thought about it. I'd really like to know- what's it like? Which did you choose? Why would you choose to get one- or why not? I mean, the people offering them up aren't exactly trustworthy, but they all sound pretty useful, too.

Basically, I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons. I'd appreciate the help.

Comments

AUDIO

[sandhate]

Some people call that a death wish.

But I like your spirit, kid.

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

That's not usually how people phrase it, but thanks.

[Most just say he's an idiot.]

Hey, you're one of those... Jedi wizards, right?

AUDIO

[sandhate]

A wizard.

[ He snorts at the old Tatooine slang term for "cool".

Blast it, Kitster, it wasn't cool the first time you said it and now it's in another damn galaxy. ]

A Jedi. Yeah, sure, I am.

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

[Half of their shipmates are wizards, it's not much of a stretch.]

So you must know how to use a- lightsaber?

[His memory of sci-fi is shoddy at best, but he's pretty sure that was how it went.]

AUDIO

[sandhate]

I do. But there's a little bit more to being a Jedi than using a lightsaber.

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

I know, but that's the part I'm interested in. I'm looking for someone who can help me learn more about wielding a weapon like that.

AUDIO

[sandhate]

You want to learn to wield a lightsaber.

Why not a blaster? Much easier to handle -- just point, aim and shoot.

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

No, I've tried guns before. I'm no good with them- can't seem to focus properly on a long-distance target.

I've always used swords.

AUDIO

[sandhate]

The thing is... Swords and lightsabers aren't exactly the same thing. A lightsaber is a weapon of the Jedi. I can train you how to move but it won't be the same. That's if there there are any lightsabers around.

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

Well, I've... sort of got one. That's why I'm asking.

AUDIO

[sandhate]

What do you mean you sort of have one? You either have one or you don't!

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

Well- okay, I'm sure it's not exactly like a lightsaber, but I modded the energy output of one of the guns. It works more or less the same way.

AUDIO

[sandhate]

Where are you right now?

AUDIO

[huaaaaagh]

Er... engineering.

[Should he start looking for an escape route? That was uncomfortably abrupt.]

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ The answer is yes but it's too late!! Anakin's banging on the door to engineering after a minute or two. ]

ACTION

[huaaaaagh]

[SCREAM

THAT WAS FASTER THAN EXPECTED THOUGH]

Th... the door's... open...

[He's really glad he has that lightsaber now.]

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ The door's pushed open almost immediately. Anakin's there like an aggressively excited big dog. He looks focused, at least. And not murderous is also a bonus. ]

Alright, let's see it. This "lightsaber" of yours.

ACTION

[huaaaaagh]

[...Okay, you are way less terrifying when you're standing in the doorway like a big excited puppy.]

Would it have killed you to say that's why you were coming here? I just about had a heart attack!

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ He looks around the engineering room, almost like this is an... inspection.

He looks at Kirito sharply and smirks. Anakin raise his hand and thinks about giving those hearty slaps on the shoulder that he gives Stefan... and thinks twice when he actually looks at Kirito. Instead, he holds his hands up. ]

Why else would I ask you where you were? [ keep up!! ] C'mon. Relax.

ACTION

[huaaaaagh]

[Inspect all you like, Kirito is a professional. He keeps the place in tip-top shape.

...Well, okay, it's a little cluttered, but only because he uses half the free space as a workshop for invention-related dabbling. Anakin might appreciate it. There's even an advanced robotics textbook!]

You came barreling in like you were about to start something, geez. But I can kind of understand the excitement. I'd probably do the same thing if I'd gone too long without a sword.

[You go a bit stir-crazy when you're used to being armed.]

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ Pfft advanced robotics! He's been building droids since he was nine!

Actually, he'll likely borrow that from Kirito and leave it lying around. Somewhere. On the ship. Anakin subconsciously puts his hands on his waist, fingers touching the spot where his lightsaber is usually clipped. ]

Hey, we might still start something. You waited to train with a "lightsaber", didn't you. First thing's first, let's see it.

[ LIGHTSABER LIGHTSABER GO GO GO ]

ACTION

[huaaaaagh]

[you put that book back where you found it, you brat, he sleeps with that thing.]

Haha, okay, okay.

[He shifts his jacket aside to reveal a holster, and he pulls a heavily modified armory gun from it. With a quick twist and a flip of a switch, it becomes the more familiar shape of a handle, and when he pulls the trigger, a sword. Vwoom sound effect and everything. He gives it a couple of test swings at a safe distance.]

Where I'm from, they're called photon swords, but it works about the same.

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ First of all, he wants one.

Second, as soon as he wipes the suspicious and slightly surprised look on his face, he'll want to take it apart.

Anakin leans against a counter and cross his arms. ]

How does it work? I can tell you right now it's not the same as a Jedi lightsaber. If it was, I would know without even looking at it.

ACTION

[huaaaaagh]

I did say that it was different.

[He turns the blade off again and holds it up, gesturing to the back area of the barrel.]

The power source in the armory's laser gun is coded to send a particular output when the trigger's pulled- short, controlled bursts, usually. I figured out how to change the output into a long, steady power flow instead. It's basically a constant series of energy blasts moving up and down two straight pathways instead of singular shots.

ACTION

[sandhate]

[ He asks a lot of other technical questions that can probably be skipped over because like who really cares - it's a faux lightsaber, deal with Anakin!

He holds a hand after the maybe 45 minute Q&A. ]

May I?