Blueprints 012: Sometimes you just need a little more crazy

[hardhat_truckie]

[Engie's been pretty busy lately. He's hardly come out of his garage at all, having been seized with the usual fervor that comes with all madboys when they stumble on an idea.

And boy, does Engie have one now. What started as an innocent walk around town two weeks ago took a turn for crazy when he idled outside the cinema. There was a poster there of a new movie, and it reminded Engie of the craziness of last Halloween...

Lightbulb.]

Action: John Doe Park, All Day

Mayfield, there is something new set up at the park. It's big, it's mechanical, and it shoots fire. It's...a fire-breathing robot dinosaur lizard thing! And there's the Engineer testing out the controls to his latest creation. Being around the size of a car, the robot takes a few jerky steps forward as Engie moves the joystick forward. Grinning, he presses the giant red button in the centre to release a thin jet of flame into the air.

Comments

[beetlemania]

[Well, THAT's new. Ted is quite curious to see what all went into building that mechanical menace. He's been working on constructing a few things of his own from Mayfield's spare parts, although he hasn't made much progress in that department in the short time he's been here. Problem is, he's not at all sure whatever made this thing is friendly. (He's dealt with a few too many robot building mad scientists in his time, after all.)

But he'll keep getting closer and closer to get a look, and...HOLY COW IT JUST BLEW FIRE and he has absolutely none of his equipment there to help him stop it.

But he spots a man with a remote control, and he figures he's found who's controlling this robot. He will approach, but it's with a slight amount of caution. After all, he's not sure he's dealing with a mad scientist, or just a regular one.]

I take it that thing's yours?

[hardhat_truckie]

[It doesn't help that he lets out a slightly maniacal cackle does it? But Engie's just excited that it's actually working; he doesn't have any plans to run it amok in town.

Yet.]

Yessirree. I'm mighty proud of it. Took me two weeks ta build this beauty, but it was a whole lotta fun, can tell ya that.

[beetlemania]

[Oh, that cackle was such a good sign. Ted is on guard, but at the same time, he's checking that robot out with the eye of a mechanically-inclined inventor.]

Looks like it must have been. What'd you use for parts?

Action

[kingofhero]

[. . . it's questionable, at best, whether that thing is legal. Still, Keith is friendly as ever as he approaches the man holding the controls, more out of a sense of duty as a police officer than real concern.]

That is a really remarkable machine, really, remarkable!

[hardhat_truckie]

Thank ya kindly stranger.

[Is that a tree? Yes that is a tree being chomped up by those mechanical jaws. Meet Lil' Chew Chew's cousin.]

It took me two weeks ta build'im. Got the idea when I saw a poster outside the cinema.

[kingofhero]

[He'll nod. The cinema, how about that.]

I can tell that you really value it! However, if it's okay with you, I have a suggestion to give you. Again, if it's alright.

[ooeeooahah]

[ So that's what he got himself into... Ilsa observes from a conventionally safe distance. Which is probably not far enough. ]

You built your world's version of MechaKomodo?

[hardhat_truckie]

If MechaKomodo is a robot lizard than can shoot fire, than I suppose so.

[With a flip of a switch, the robot shuts down. Engie pulls his goggles above his eyes and grins, patting the metal dino on the head before he turns back to Ilsa.]

Good ta see ya Doc. How've ya been?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She chuckles. ] I've been better, but getting there.

[ Nodding at the huge mech, ] Remote only, or can you drive it from inside?

[photonicfighter]

[...the LAST time she was at the park, it didn't have a large fire-breathing robot dinosaur. But here she was, and here it was, and her first instinct was "man, I wonder what kind of rare equipment this thing drops" "it's a hazard and must be taken down!"

So with a flash of blue light and a vrrrrrm, out comes her photon saber, and she takes a combat-ready pose....

....but wait, there's a guy with a joystick over there.]

Hey! What're you doing?!

[hardhat_truckie]

Jus' testin' mah robot out ma'am. I hope that fancy sword a'yours isn't there for what I think it is. It took me two weeks ta make Lil' Chomp Chomp here.

[He pats the robot dinosaur on the head.]

[photonicfighter]

[Her eyes dart to the dinosaur, then back to Engie, and then to her own sword. She slips from her combat-ready stance, but she's not putting it away just yet.]

Lil' Chomp Chomp...

And you built him? With parts from here?

[She looks impressed! Still on guard... but impressed!]

[imjustpicky]

[Oh wow.

OH WOW.]

Engie! That's SO COOL!

[Have yourself a Picky running up beside you, Engie, grinning from ear to ear.]

[hardhat_truckie]

Heya Picky!

[Engie's got an equally big grin on his face. He ruffles Picky's hair in greeting.]

I'm glad ya like'im! His name's Lil Chomp Chomp, ya can go up an' touch'im, he won't bite.

[imjustpicky]

I can touch him? Really?

[This is great! But wait...]

He won't breathe fire on me, will he?

[getsciencedone]

.........




You have far too much time on your hands.

[hardhat_truckie]

Afternoon Miss GLaDOS.

[He tips his hardhat off at her.]

Lovely day, ain't it? I'm jus' testin' out mah latest invention here.

[getsciencedone]

A giant dinosaur.

[princecreepshow]

[ Have Bel jump up to sit on your shoulders, Engie. ]

Hey, that's pretty cool~

[hardhat_truckie]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

[Engie practically falls down flat on his face, more from shock than the impact of having a lanky teen pounce on him.]

Bel! Lord ya scared me half ta Kingdom Come.

[princecreepshow]

Ushishishi~

[ Yeah, totally pleased that he scared him. ]

I haven't heard of that kingdom so it can't be that significant~

[butterflyinfojk]

Wow.

[ He's seen robots before. Well, he's seen the Power-dizer. But that's far from close to this thing. ]

Did you make that?

[hardhat_truckie]

That I did, son. He still needs a lil' work here and there, but I'm pretty happy with how he turned out.

[kinship]

[Cain pauses on his walk through the park when he sees that familiar figure standing on the grass... and then does a double-take when his companion breathes fire.]

Engie...?

[hardhat_truckie]

Howdy Cain!

[Engie waves the boy over, a big grin on his face.]

Say hi ta Lil' Chomp Chomp!