Open Misfire Log!

[microbrobotics]

WHO: Hiro + anyone with a comm!
WHERE: Your comm, courtesy of data-jumping and the server misfire event
WHEN: October 3rd
WHAT: Hiro tries to jump back into his own comm and misses. Badly. Repeatedly. Shenanigans ensue.
WARNINGS: Probably none!

[ The good thing about being able to data-jump is that it makes the commute into De Chima ridiculously easy. Set up two beacons - one in his comm, the other at his work terminal - and just follow that path back and forth. He doesn't even have to think and he's there.

Unfortunately, those beacons are just as dependent on the server update as the rest of the network ... and when the misfires start happening, Hiro's beacons get mixed up too. What should be a big bright arrow pointing to his comm is just complete garbage ... meaning he's going to end up in a whole lot of comms that he shouldn't be before he finally makes his way home.

For those getting the misfire, there's a only a quick ping, like receiving a message, before a very confused teenager's face appears on the viewscreen. He does, at least, keep from going through any data, but that means he has to look out at the surroundings to try and figure out where he is. Which means staring up at whoever's comm he's in now. ]

Seriously? Not again.

Comments

[microbrobotics]

Not just an inventor. I've been building robots since I was three. I might be the smartest guy here.

[ Clearly not winning any awards for humility though. But he feels a need to look impressive in front of someone with a freaking dinosaur. ]

I can definitely build you a tracker, is what I'm saying. Annnnnd anything else you need.

[blahnik]

[ she finds his enthusiasm endearing — and reminiscent of her youngest nephew. claire covers up the pang. getting to her feet, she brushes off her clothes. ]

If your prices are fairer, I might take you up on that. While you're here, are you hungry?

[microbrobotics]

I'll take payment in dinosaur petting, just saying.

[ But food... He can't help it, he's a teenaged boy. He's always hungry. ]

Sure. If you have something on hand.

[blahnik]

Get permission. Then we can negotiate.

[ stepping up to the stove, she slides the pan over the still hot warm burner. ] I was making stir fry. If you want to wait a couple of minutes, I'll get you a plate.

[microbrobotics]

[ He makes an incredulous noise. ]

Permission? From who?

[ Stir fry sounds great though. He perks up, watching her. ]

As long as there's no peanut oil in it.

[blahnik]

[ no peanut oil, she promises. ]

From your brother. She may be young, but she's still a Tyrannosaurus. If he says no, [ she shrugs, ] sorry.

[microbrobotics]

Ugh, jeez ... I'm old enough to make my own decisions, y'know.

[ Says the fifteen-year-old. But he relents. ]

I'll double-check with him and Aunt Cass.

[blahnik]

[ and there's zach. claire disguises a smirk. ] I appreciate it.

[ she finishes up quickly with the food, beef and vegetables, and separates it into plates for the two of them. she lays the plate for hiro on the table. ]

Here you go. If you want more, there's some in the skillet.

[microbrobotics]

[ He gladly comes over to eat. Even just a few minutes spent relaxing on the couch is enough to revive him reasonably well. ]

Thanks. Uh, what's your name again?

[blahnik]

Claire. Dearing.

[ while they eat, ripley whines at them. claire shakes her head. ]

Ignore her. She will eat all day if I let her.

[microbrobotics]

Claire. Got it.

[ But the temptation to feed a dinosaur scraps under the table is overwhelming ... he barely reels himself in. ]

She's a growing t-rex.

[blahnik]

[ a little pause. ] Yes, she is. [ her growing is claire's most pressing problem. there's still a chance ripley might be growing at a normal pace. but there's every possibility she has the genes coding for accelerated growth. which would mean a fully grown t. rex in about three years. and when ripley gets bigger, her appetite will too.

but it's not a topic she feels up to broaching with a teenager. claire sticks to simple facts. ]

They spent about half their life growing. It takes a long time and a lot more food to grow that big.

[microbrobotics]

How long? Am I gonna see a full-sized one soon?

[ He seems excited by the possibility rather than alarmed. ]

[blahnik]

Not for a few years.

[ not for a lot more, she hopes. ]

[microbrobotics]

Well maybe I'll be here that long. I'm gonna try and stay as long as I can.

[blahnik]

You don't want to go home?

[microbrobotics]

[ He looks down at his plate, pushing some of the stir-fry around. ]

It's not that. Home is where my family is, and they're here.

[blahnik]

[ that's…odd. claire blinks in surprise. ]

Your family's very lucky. You must be close.

[microbrobotics]

Really close. And we're all here, so ...

[blahnik]

[ definitely something up. but with no point of reference — and no familiarity with him or confidence asking either — she does not pry. ]

Well, if your family has a Saturday free, and you wouldn't mind spending an afternoon in a museum, we have a new fossil being exhibited soon. I'm the curator of the paleontology wing so I can get you in the day of. We have many more exhibits too, and a café so you can make a day of it. Ripley will probably be helping me. If, [ she adds with a small laugh, ] I can find a leash for her in time.

[microbrobotics]

[ Probably for the best. He brightens at her invitation. ]

I think they'd really like that. I mean, I would too. And they can see that Ripley's okay for me to be working with.

[blahnik]

There you go. [ she smiles encouragingly. ] Just have them give me a call so I can save your passes.