driftfleet | the word of the day is "paranoia"

Entry tags:

the word of the day is "paranoia"

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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

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

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.

Where are you right now?

Er... engineering.

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

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

[~~SCREAM~~

THAT WAS FASTER THAN EXPECTED THOUGH]

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

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

[ 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.

[...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!

[ 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.

[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.]

[ 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 ]

[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.

[ 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.

Edited 2016-03-14 01:12 (UTC)

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.

[ 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?

[Thankfully Kirito is more than happy to be grilled, since he loves talking about this stuff, and he's been starved for the company of someone who gets it.

Thus, the only time he actually hesitates is when Anakin asks to see it. He still has plenty of lingering trust issues, and. Well. Asking someone like him to hand over his sword is a hefty request. Hrngh.

Anakin does seem like he knows how to handle it, though, and he doesn't seem like the sort to run off or attack, so finally Kirito offers it out. His reluctance is pretty obvious, but if he gets to the point where he can't trust any of his crew, he's going to have some serious problems.]

[ He almost says that he doesn't have to, no pressure or anything. Because that hesitation is telling. And he doesn't quite mind. But he had such a good feeling about it, confident in his well, confidence.

When Kirito offers it, he smirks. He takes the handle of the sword and while he doesn't feel the same connection he has with any other lightsaber, it's a thrill to have something even remotely alike it in his hand again. ]

It's lighter than a typical lightsaber. [ He doesn't like that. Still, a photon-sword! ] But it's something you can work with. Have you fought with this before?

Yeah, I fought some monsters- er, giant snow beasts on the last planet we visited. It cuts just fine, though I'd like it if the damage output was better. The downside is I'd have to sacrifice battery life for that, and the internal recharge is slow enough as it is.

[He steps back to give Anakin proper space to swing if he wants.]

It's too light even for me, too. I was thinking of adding some weight to the hilt, but I haven't picked a material yet.

Why don't you just substitute the battery with higher power and no recharge? Or have another power input so it can handle two power sources? That would handle your weight and power problem.

[ He takes a step back from Kirito as well and ignites the sword. The power from it feels strangely empty but it's as well as it gets, he suppose.

He tries for a couple of test swings, going through the simplest katas and rotations. ]

Not bad, though. This is good work, kid.

Hah, thanks. All that's easier said than done, though- we have limited material and equipment, here. All the best power sourcing goes into the ship, and it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the crew to cut into certain supplies just to supplement my own weapon. I'm working on alternatives.

[Hence the scattering of parts and tools. It's a work-in-progress, for certain.]

This is just the first working prototype anyway, so it isn't perfect.

[ No, a true lightsaber would be a perfect weapon. A perfect weapon for a Jedi, anyway. He takes a few more swings before turning it off. Reluctantly, he hands it back to Kirito. ]

It's better than nothing. This is really good work. I'm pretty handy with tools when I was in my own universe but it seems like everything I touch here doesn't quite work. It's ... incredibly frustrating.

[ A beat before he asks. ] If I can find a better power source, can you make another, for me?

[He'd be lying if he said he wasn't relieved to have the saber back in his own hands, though it's not out of lack of trust for Anakin anymore, just an itchy need to be properly armed. Thanks for not cutting my head off, dude!]

If you can get me a better power source somehow, I'll make whatever you want.

[He could use a new project, anyway.]

That's that then.

[ He holds a hand out, customary hand-shake and all. ]

I might need an advance on a sword though. [ A shrug ] You never know what they'll have in store for us.

the word of the day is "paranoia"

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