Modern Age Online

Kaleb yanked back on his crow as gently as possible. The back quarter panel was already loosened and ready for extraction. But he really didn't want to damage too much under it. This was the only Monaco that had decent paneling on the rear end. The other one was slightly smashed in at the trunk. He wasn't one hundred percent sure he was going to reuse the panels. But he at least wanted them whole.

With a loud pop, the quarter panel released from the side of the car and clanged loudly as it hit the airstrip. Kaleb's light disappeared and then reappeared as the panel fell in front of the floodlights they were using. They were a decent distance away from the hangar now, with nothing but the two cars and several portable flood lamps. Not to mention a bunch of flashlights, toolboxes, and even plastic bins. He, Roy and Daivor set upon the first car with a fiery intensity that quickly died down as the sun set.

Now the three of them worked in relative silence as they tore into the car and cataloged everything of use. Daivor and Roy, who were inside the car, poked their heads up at the noise and looked at the bit of metal. Roy nodded and then put his head back down. But Daivor pulled himself up through the window of the car and looked at Kaleb.

"Well Doc, restoration or scrap?"

Kaleb wiped his hands off and looked down at the piece of paneling. "Scrap probably. I'm thinking we reforge the panels, anyway. Something that's a bit sturdier."

Daivor nodded as he made a quick note on a notepad he pulled from under his hat. "At this point, boss. This is a Ship of Theseus."

"I'm surprisingly fine with that. Because at the end I'll have a car built to my specifications, capable of handling Milly, and tough as shit."

Daivor didn't know what to say to that, so he just shrugged his small shoulders. Kaleb looked at the old car and tried to find his next line of attack when Roy's voice spoke up from the backseat of the car.

"That's all well and good, Doc. But this entire interior is going to have to go. These leathers seats are cracked, discolored, and I'm pretty sure there's mold in them."

Kaleb pulled a face as Daivor hopped in to look. Getting closer to look as well, Kaleb saw Roy laid out on the back seat. He was pulling up a section of the leather and wincing at the sight. Both Kaleb and Daivor added their own winces and groans to the mix and sighed loudly. He waved the teen boy out of the backseat hurriedly as he said.

"Ok, so those are nixed as well. Pull out the seats and take everything off the frame. We'll reupholster later."

Roy nodded as Daivor sighed and made another note. Kaleb could guess how long that list was getting. But he didn't want to worry about it. First, they needed to get this car scrapped. Then they could do the same for the other car. Kaleb went back to working on the outside as Daivor went to the front seat. Roy took a small break before diving into the backseat again and taking it out. Thankfully, the backseat was one long piece that could be detached and wiggled out the backdoor. Which was easier in theory than in practice. But with Kaleb and Roy working in tandem, they managed to get the seat out.

Kaleb finished his own job of removing the various panels off. Which was made easier by the fact that the car didn't have an engine. He was able to get the fender panels off with little effort and began taking the rest of the engine compartment apart. Remnants of an ancient were tossed aside as he unscrewed them from the interior. Pieces that had been simplified and combined in the years since the car's introduction. He was pulling out a set of white plastic containers when a snap of electricity filled the air. Blue electricity lit up the night as Farrah stepped into their flood lamps, holding what looked like a tray.

"Is that coffee? Farrah, you sweet rabbit-woman. Come, let me kiss you!" Kaleb said, leaping out of the car and rushing over.

The color blue flashed in his face as Farrah raised a hand, and electricity snapped across his nose. "Back! You creepy lizard. This is for everyone. Roy! Daivor! Come get some food!"

Like dirt and grime covered zombies, Roy and Daivor pulled themselves from the car and shambled over to Farrah. Who took one look at them and glared at Kaleb. But he was too busy pouring himself a cup of coffee. Another arc of electricity danced across his eyes and he glanced up into her eyes.

"What?"

"They're exhausted!"

Kaleb rolled his eyes. "If they were, they would go inside. I'm not holding them here, Farrah. They're free to go at any time."

"Quote." Roy said. "we're working all night on this design. No breaks for either of you. Unquote."

"Obvious hyperbole… vicious traitor. As made apparent by the break you're taking now. So there!"

"Professor, you may enjoy working yourself to the bone. But don't force your friends to do it too."

"Thank you, Ms. Farrah. But I'm actually having a great time," Daivor said, grabbing a piece of sausage that was the size of his face.

Now that he had his coffee, Kaleb gave Farrah's try a better look and he could see far more delights to be had. Meats, cheeses, fruit, and other various snacks. He could've hugged the woman. But he had a thing about being electrocuted. He didn't like it much. Roy was nodding along with Daivor's statement as he poured himself some coffee and grabbed some meat and cheese.

"I joke, but I agree with these pair of lunatics. I'm actually learning a lot just by helping and the project is fun too."

Farrah glared at all three of them before sighing loudly and moving the tray over to the busted car. Kaleb and the others stumbled along after the food and continued to dig in as Farrah put the tray down. She stepped over a few errant car parts on the ground and huffed.

"Fine! You three madmen have your fun. Just don't bring much of your mess in with you and shower when you're done for the night!"

With that, Farrah disappeared in a flash of more blue sparks. Kaleb popped a bit of meat into his mouth and took a long draw from his coffee.

"Does she think we're sleeping tonight?"

"Clearly." Daivor grumbled around a mouthful of cheese.

Roy was chuckling when another flash of blue signaled the return of Farrah. Kaleb was half-turned in her direction when his instincts kicked in. His hand snapped up to catch something as Farrah's voice echoed along the airstrip.

"And I checked that over. You did alright work, Professor. But I streamlined a few things."

Kaleb blinked as there was another flash of blue. Looking down at what he had caught, Kaleb saw his new scanner. Excitedly, he switched it on and strapped it to his forearm. Roy and Daivor saw what was happening and moved closer. Powering up the small device, Kaleb hurriedly looked around for something to scan. Finding his target, he reached out his cybernetic arm and pointed the scanner's lens at it. A yellow fan of light flared out, quickly shrinking into a single beam that lit up his target like a light bulb. The screen on the scanner came to life and dark yellow text identified the item.

Alternator

A small blurb about alternators came up on the scanner along with a series of images. There were several links on the text that would give him additional information, along with the history of the alternator. Kaleb grinned as he turned the readout toward Roy and Daivor.

"Holy shit! Yes! We fucking did it, Doc! The server works and you're getting everything in real time."

Daivor lit his pipe as he raised a hand. "Hold on, we're not exactly far from the hangar, y'know. It'll need additional testing."

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Kaleb nodded along and then raised the scanner at the tiny gnome. Daivor scowled as the yellow fan of energy scanned over him. The scanner's screen came alive again and a tiny question mark was emblazoned on it. Along with the word: Unknown. Kaleb wanted to smack himself.

"We didn't add Fae creatures to the server."

"Of course not. The creatures of Fae would take up most of the server's space. We can think about it for an upgrade, though." Daivor said.

Kaleb nodded as Roy pointed a finger at the screen. "But it identified the pipe, though. Look, as a secondary link."

Navigating to the link, Kaleb tapped it and read the short blurb on pipes and pipe smoke.

"Ha! Daivor's right, it's going to take more testing. But it's done!" Kaleb cackled. "All we have to do now is refine it."

"No. All we have to do now is go back to work." Daivor chuckled, pointing his pipe at the car.

Kaleb scowled as he looked at the broken-down car. But Daivor was right. One thing at a time, slow and steady. Of course, that didn't mean he couldn't play with his new toy. Draining his coffee, Kaleb hurried back to the front of the car, scanning everything as he went. He could hear Daivor and Roy making fun of him. But he ignored the haters and cataloged every bit of the car. He found he could even create folders of information and name them. Creating a digital library of the things he and scanned and where. He listed these things Car Project and continued to scan even as he went back to work.

Daivor and Roy joined him, and the three continued their work into the night. Before Kaleb knew it, he was snapping awake on top of a hot sheet of metal. Daivor clutched in his arm. Looking around, Kaleb spotted Roy seated in the second Monaco's front seat. The boy was asleep and looked relatively peaceful. All around them lay bits and pieces of the cars they had taken apart. Next to his head was a large plastic bin.

"That's right." Kaleb thought. "I was putting things in the bin when I laid down to rest my eyes for a second."

He tried to remember more, but that's when Daivor snorted in his sleep. Carefully, Kaleb laid the small gnome down and got to his feet. Farrah's tray of food was still where they left it. On a pile of boxes and scrap. Ambling over, Kaleb grimaced at the thought of cold coffee and warm food. But it was better than walking all the back to the hangar. Picking up the carafe, he was surprised to find it still hot. On the plate of meats and cheeses were now several sandwiches. Under the plate of sandwiches, Kaleb found a note.

"You dumbasses come inside and shower. Then you can go back outside and work on your whatever."

"Farrah, you are the best." Kaleb chuckled as he bit into his sandwich and went to wake up.

The teen was even buckled into the front seat as if he was going to drive the junker somewhere. Kaleb tapped the boy's shoulder and then jumped back as Roy jolted awake. The teen's arm snapped up and a long baton suddenly appeared in his hands. Kaleb heard the snap of electricity as Roy blinked at his surroundings.

"Seriously? You're wearing your baton dispensers?"

Roy flicked his wrist, and the baton disappeared. He cracked his neck as he unbuckled himself, saying.

"You're wearing your damn pistol, Doc. I thought the idea was to always be prepared."

Kaleb snorted. "No. I'm always paranoid. Which is not a trait I want you to pick up."

"Haaaaa! Too late for that, doc." Roy yawned as he stumbled from the car.

"Sandwiches are on the platter over there. Make sure to wake up Daivor on your way over."

"Why do I have to wake up the gnome?"

"Cause I slept with him and I'll be damned if I'm going to get him breakfast too."

"You two were adorable."

"I'm always adorable."

Roy snorted as he meandered over to Daivor. Kaleb stuck his head in the broken-down car and looked over at what they'd accomplished. Bits and pieces were coming back to him as he looked around. The first junker's instrument panel was fried, so Daivor had leaped over to this one and pulled it. This one's backseat had been collapsed from whatever rear-ended the car. But he and Roy still got the broken frame out the back window. He had also continued his work of detaching all the larger panels from the second Monaco. Now both cars sat with little more than frames on display.

Looking around at the flight line, Kaleb saw tons of junk and debris just casually tossed everywhere. Which is probably what sparked his plan to clean everything up. He wanted to hurry up and continue, but Farrah was right. He needed a shower. Roy poked Daivor awake and dodged out of the way as the angry gnome started flinging tiny fireballs in every direction. Kaleb watched the fire as it got too close to the car's. But the gnome's fire quickly flashed out of existence after flying a short distance. Roy tried to calm the half-awake gnome as Kaleb hurried over to the coffee.

"No-good-son-of-a-goblin-bastards! Don't you know what happens when you wake up a gnome too early?"

"We stop him from getting sun burnt?" Kaleb joked.

"NO! He'll fucking set your pubes on fire!"

"Oh calm down, Grumpy. We've got to head back inside real quick. Then we can come back."

"Fuck that! I need my beauty sleep." Daivor said, using his belt cable to swing himself up to Roy's shoulder. "Take me home, boy. I'm going back to sleep."

Kaleb rolled his eyes and picked up Farrah's tray. Roy ran over and grabbed a sandwich as the three of them hurried back across the hot airstrip. It wasn't that long of a walk really, but the hot sun cresting over the horizon was making things hotter and hotter. They were all panting and sweating when they entered the Hangar's shield. A cool blast of air hit all three of them and they all sighed loudly. A few hunters and brute lizards stared at them. But Kaleb ignored them. Instead, he turned toward the stairs as Roy headed toward the workshop.

Jumping down to the housing level of the hangar, Kaleb quickly found his room and undressed. A quick shower later, and he was rushing back to the stairs. Roy was on his way as well, making Kaleb raise an eyebrow.

"Shower room was finished a day or so ago on the second basement floor. The hunters and brutes love it cause it means they can wash up after training now."

"Did not know that," Kaleb said as they arrived on the main floor. "Well, if it's ever crowded in there, you can use the one in my room. Just don't touch my heat lamps."

"Maybe you should sleep outside more. You seem more awake than normal."

Kaleb nodded as he thought about the warm metal panel he'd been asleep on. The two of them crossed the hangar and arrived at the workshop. Kaleb looked around for any of the others but didn't see anyone. Not even Farrah. Shrugging, he stepped into his workshop and closed the door.

Terrance and Marie were already working away on their projects. They both looked up as he and Roy entered. Marie pointed a hand toward Kaleb's desk.

"Boss, you've got a special commission. It says it has to be you and you need to deliver it to Under-Town."

"Wow! Who's the recipient?"

Marie shrugged as she turned back to her work. "Some Brute Clan Elder. The commission came from one of the grunts, though. Maybe you can ask them."

Kaleb nodded his head as he tried to remember the clan elders. There was V'alla, Jerald, Gor'kinak, and Wulkun. Wulkun was out, as he was an older lizard. The big guy could probably still throw down, but Kaleb didn't see it. Jerald had been hesitant to even wield a spear made by Kaleb. So it had to be the aggressive Gor'kinak or the quiet V'alla. Kaleb was hoping for V'alla. He picked up the commission sheet from his workbench and looked it over.

"Who the hell is Rhot?"