2017-06-01: Scientific Progress Goes "Zap"

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search
  • Log: Scientific Progress Goes "Zap"
  • Cast: Emma Hetfield, Jacqueline Barber
  • Where: Adlehyde, Hetfield Industries
  • Date: 1st June 2017
  • Summary: Jacqueline goes to see Emma about her motors. And afterwards...testing begins. This may be dangerous for everyone.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

The door painted HETFIELD INDUSTRIES is intact, as is the doorjamb.

But that's because it's metal. Pull out further... the building that the business was located under is now gone, mostly crushed and somewhat burned. There's a hole in the old floor which has admitted sunlight into Hetfield Industries proper. The cellar door was unharmed. Emma Hetfield, currently sole employee and proprietor, has emerged to sit on a chair that's on the sidewalk, gazing meditatively into space and no doubt thinking deep thoughts, such as 'Should I go to the Starfell and sit there?' or 'I wish I had Ice symbology,' or perhaps 'do I want some alcohol, tobacco or fireARMs right now?'

Either way she is very approachable at present.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline had fretted over this meeting for a little while. She knew she wanted to speak with Emma about something that would affect the future of her business but...while she knew of her and her accomplishments, and had even been present at the ill-fated Exhibition, she hadn't really spoken to her personally. So, it was a little intimidating for her.

Probably she had an unrealistic image built up in her head that would soon be shattered, but that can be saved for later.

She had gone through efforts to make herself look more professional and presentable - or at least tried to - and now she was finally ready to seek out Emma.

Jacqueline pauses for a moment, spotting the scientist sitting in a chair on the sidewalk. She follows her gaze up to the sky, before looking back down at Emma, taking a deep breath, and approaching her.

"Excuse me...Doctor Hetfield? I'm Jacqueline Barber. I'd like to talk with you about business, if you're not too busy." She says, by way of introduction.

Emma may possibly already know Jacqueline as the owner of the now unfortunately quite thoroughly destroyed 'Jay's Curatives and Curios', or as one of Lunata's friends.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

Emma does look pretty neat and clean, at least. A little oil smudged, but what can you do?

Jacqueline speaks to her and Emma doesn't respond right away. Then, as if waking up, she startles awake. "! Oh," she says, "I'm a Professor, not a Doctor. The difference involves recitations and swordsmanship training. How do you do," she continues, creaking up to her feet. "I would LOVE to talk about business, Miss............... Jay?"

That was a long trailing Miss, but she had to search her memories. "Because," she continues blithely, "It will make me feel better about my poor contributions to recovery efforts!"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Things are quiet for a moment. Jacqueline shifts somewhat, a little nervously. And then, when Emma responds...

"O-oh. My apologies, then." Jacqueline replies with a nod of acknowledgment. Oh no. She'd already made a misstep.

It's okay, Jay, you can recover.

"You shouldn't feel too badly, Professor. I'm sure...everyone's doing everything they can to help." She offers. It was kind of a feeble platitude, but it seemed the right thing to say at the time.

"But, regardless..." Jacqueline clears her throat and continues, getting to the point.

"I'd like to learn more about your Emma Motors. My business is, unfortunately, going through some rough times right now...but I think if I can take it on the road, it might revive better than before. And I think your motor may be able to help me with that. I won't ask you to do it for free, though. I can pay you."

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

"Hah! You say that, but I've done almost nothing, despite only superficial injuries," Emma says, genially. "I wouldn't blame myself, but my 'brother' has been very self-sacrificing, and it makes me have strange and complicated feelings about my own role in society."

Adjusting her glasses, she listens. And then she reaches forwards, if not stopped, to clasp Jacqueline's hand.

"I'm so glad that you asked. Do you want the operating principles or just a description of what it can do? Here; let's go downstairs." The cellar door is helpfully open and Emma pivots towards it, walking down. There's a bunch of mess, crates, and a cot (looks comfy) down here, along with several large objects under tarps.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Emma had a brother? That's news to Jacqueline, and she looks a little surprised to hear that...and a little more surprised when Emma comes up to her and clasps her hand.

"Oh...well, perhaps both? I'd like to know what I'd be working with, after all." Jacqueline replies. She'd definitely feel more comfortable trusting her business with something if she knew basically how it worked.

She allows Emma to lead her down into the cellar, and once they're there she looks about.

It was...quite a long ways from what she had expected to see, admittedly, but for now Jacqueline charitably decided to attribute it to the invasion.

She is, perhaps, a bit of an optimist in that regard.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

The invasion is absolutely, without a doubt, responsible for the hole in the roof. The rest, well. Who knows.

"The Emma Motor makes use of the principle of electromagnetism in order to turn a prime mover," Emma explains. "Normally we've derived such things either from the sophisticated reliquary extracts that the Ethos have monopolized in the course of their god-bothering archeological oligopolistic behavior, or from windmills or water flow power. In the first case, I'm sure you've seen a Gear - one of those labor models if not the military kind - in the second case, of course, I don't have to explain."

Emma walks up to one of the tarp covered things. She smacks it fondly. It goes 'clang.' "Of course, there have been other objects found and excavated which have often been studied before being recycled. The Emma Motor, I might add, is certainly inspired by the motive principles of pump engines I've studied, but it's all-new, all fresh, all wow. I suppose it's of no concern to you personally, but these two here? Nothing in them is excavated; I've made them all myself!"

She's crowing. "Earlier prototypes made use of some relic parts, purely as a proof of concept, you understand."

Emma stops. "Now there is a flaw with the Emma Motor, which is that it does require a source of power to activate the electromagnetic systems. It's a way to convert energy into motion - or motion into energy if I put it in reverse - but it doesn't, in itself, 'extract' energy the way an Ether condensor or a water-wheel does. Do you have any questions thus far?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline listens intently to the explanation. She seems to be understanding it pretty well so far.

"That is pretty impressive, Professor." Jacqueline comments, when Emma mentions that they were all made personally. She understood that it probably wasn't an easy task, to understand the device and then replicate.

Feeding her ego may possibly be a dangerous thing, though it's hard to tell if Jacqueline knows that.

"I am curious about what sources of power it uses...and whether or not they're feasible to obtain. But, I assume you would be getting to that." She comments.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

"Well, it could use just about anything," Emma muses. "Really, in a sense, the best use for it is in a static mount, but I'm assuming you're considering a mobility based option, hm? From what you're saying? Not just wanting to be able to stage a vigorous rotary polishing when you've parked somewhere."

Emma looks at the ceiling. "... A vehicle... hm..."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Just about anything...?" Jacqueline repeats curiously. She considers it for a moment. They could use ordinary types of fuel, but...

"I wonder if I could empower it magically...perhaps through lightning invoked from a Crest?" She considers. It might work, or it might just fry the thing and she'd be stuck in the middle of nowhere. Maaaybe it was good that she brought it up before actually trying it.

When Emma mentions a vehicle, Jacqueline nods.

"That's right. I don't know about the logistics of it...but something mobile would be best." She agrees. "My horse is a dear, certainly, but there are times when it'd be easier if the wagon could pull itself."

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

"Hm," Emma says.

Then: "Hm-m."

THEN: "Hm-m--m-m-m-m-!!!"

Her eyes are widened as she looks at Jacqueline. "I don't know," she says, with excitement. "But I think we can find out. That said, have you tested yourself? Do you use Crests? What's your output for them?" Musing aloud, Emma says, "If we install an electrolyte jar in order to collect and buffer the surge of electrical force... It'd regulate the voltage too... Hm, yes, I'm starting to see it...!"

OH NO

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Admittedly, I've never checked what kind of power it outputs...but I am a decently-talented Crest Sorceress, yes." Jacqueline replies. To prove this, she reaches into the pouch at her side and draws out a Crest. She doesn't invoke it, just shows it back and front to Emma.

"If you have a way to test it, then I'd be glad to participate in whatever tests you need to get it working properly." She offers with a smile.

This...was probably going to end up being dangerous for everyone involved, but being a part of scientific progress sure sounded exciting.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

"Oh, of course," Emma says. "Here, let me get Mr. Wheels."

SOON

Mr. Wheels is a pull cart. The destination is a lot that was vacant even before the Metal Demons showed up. Emma starts attaching copper tubing together; there are Apparatus Chunks in the cart still, even as Emma explains, "We'll get your output figures from this. What I meant to ask, though, is how many lightning bolts can you summon from the Heavens, or your Crest, without exhausting yourself too badly? On an hourly or daily basis, assuming regular breaks for recreation, lunch, et cetera."

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline observes the prestigious Mr. Wheels as it is brought out. She has since drawn out the Crest that is specifically for summoning lightning - fortunately, it was one of her specialties, so she is familiar with its usage.

"That honestly depends. At full power..." She considers it for a moment. She hadn't really tried pushing herself to the limits. The invasion was the first time where she really began to exhaust herself magically...

Unfortunately, Jacqueline does not have the benefit of onscreen MP cost and usage numbers, so she has to ballpark it. It's reasonably high, though.

"But I can also supplement it with my potions to give me a little more energy." She explains, then turns her attention back to Mr. Wheels.

"Alright...just let me know when you're ready." Jacqueline takes a deep breath, and prepares to invoke the Crest.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

Emma sets out the frame, a cable to a meter, and a cable from the meter into a metal pot thingy.

She steps back behind Jay then, saying, "Just aim at the lightning rod. What will happen is that your electrical force will flow into the chemicals in that jar, where most of the energy will be stored. Something like when you keep ice in your ice-house over the summer, but in the opposite direction."

That made no sense, but the point is clear.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods. She...doesn't really understand the metaphor, but she understands what she's supposed to be doing here.

She focuses on the lightning rod and holds her Crest out towards it. The Crest is invoked, bringing a bolt of lighting crashing down from the sky towards the rod.

She was putting her all into it, trusting that Emma knew what she was doing and that she wouldn't just destroy it by zapping it too strongly.

The question was, how would it react?

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

Lightning crashes, better than Ezra.

There's a crackle and the jar of electrolyte EXPLODES! Acid flies across the lot, fortunately favoring a space away from either of the two women. The exploded jar tilts over, gurgling as the electrolyte drains onto a scrubby bush. The bush withers and smokes lightly.

In hindsight, maybe that's why Filgaia is dying.

"Oooo!" Emma says in delight, sauntering forwards and bending over. "Let's see... hm... 1.21 gigamillivolts, that's quite impressive. Your amperage isn't that high, but I imagine that's meaningless to you."

"Stay right there," Emma says, before wheeling off Mr. Wheels.

SOON

Emma comes back with thirty-two identical metal jar-tank-thingies on Mr. Wheels. They have been already set out in rows of 4x2, and Emma starts attaching cables. "As you can see," Emma points out, "from their space on Mr. Wheels, we're going to have to build these into the bottom of your new space. Just how big of a wagon is it?"

Everything is connected, so Emma scuttles clear. "Do it again," she calls, sitting on a tree stump.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline flinches as the jar explodes. She is glad that it didn't splash either of them...particularly when the bush that got the brunt of it isn't looking too good afterward.

"...Ah." Jacqueline says, a bit stunned. She was...a little surprised it was that powerful, but at least Emma seems impressed.

She waits there until Emma returns with a newly-outfitted Mr. Wheels.

"Hmm...it's fairly large. Big enough to carry quite a few crates full of merchandise, my alchemy equipment, and one or two passengers depending." Jacqueline explains.

"I was thinking about making some adjustments, though...perhaps with a section I can fold out into a stand...but I can think more on it later. I'm sure whatever I use, there'll be enough room." She explains.

Now, it was time to cast again. She focuses on the rod, and invokes the Crest. Once more, lightning flies down from the sky at the rod.

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

Nothing blows up this time, although one of the jars rattles alarmingly.

Emma saunters over. She feels the side of the one that rattled, and then quickly snaps her hand back. "That was a near thing! I'll have to fabricate something here. Unless you'd like to use the battery jars as cigarette lighters."

Back to Jay, she says, "It's likely we'd have to construct it from the ground - well, floor - up. But I don't think it'll be too obstreperous. What I'm imagining, if you like a little secrecy, is a situation where you can still draw it with a two horse team... Or do you want to rage, loudly and proudly, showing the truth of the Emma Motor to the people of Filgaia, Jacqueline!!?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Oh good. No explosions. Jacqueline is almost relieved at this.

"Ah, no...I'm good." Jacqueline says, shaking her head. It was...probably not a good idea to have anything that hot around. Especially if there was the risk that it would explode at some other point in time.

The more important question was...subtlety, or the exact opposite?

Jacqueline chuckles. There was really one one answer.

"Well, while I'm sure it may cause some problems in the future...I think it'd be better for business to wow everyone, don't you think? It'd be some great advertising, for both of us."

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

"You could have the horse collar sticking out ahead - maybe even have a toy horse there, for show," Emma says. "Yes - hm - In fact, if I'm reading this meter right... With the Emma Motor, you could get perhaps an hour at a full ten horsepower equivalent--"

Emma pauses. "Do you know what a horse-power is? Well, it's about the power one horse can generate. A standard horse, mind you. There's variation in practice."

Emma considers further. "Will you let me put an advertisement on the side of the wagon?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline looks down at the ground in thought. Hm...ten horsepower. Power equivalent to ten horses. That was...pretty powerful! She nods in understanding. An hour didn't seem like much, but she could always just put more lightning into it once it had time to rest.

Ah, the wonders of technology. She wouldn't have to spend money on fuel!

"I don't know about the toy horse...but that would admittedly be an amusing eyecatcher." She comments with a smirk, looking up again.

An advertisement, huh...?

"Hm...I think that'd be alright. I'm sure we can work something out." She agrees with a nod. Something that wouldn't overshadow either of them.

Knowing Jacqueline, though, it would likely end up having a rather gaudy color scheme...would Emma rein it in, or would she enable that madness?

<Pose Tracker> Emma Hetfield has posed.

Emma would totally enable that madness.