DAY 19 MONTH JELLY

[sciencegirl]

Video

[Entrapta plants herself in front of the screen, holding eight tools at once in various locks of hair with her protective bug-mask pushed up on her head. She's got gloves now and her orange hoodie is accompanied by a purple shirt (she traded for one early on). Because she's the height of fashion, obviously.]

Hiiii! I know there are some very competent builders and makers out there. I'm still finalizing my chores robot-

[Two little robot clampers reach into the bottom of the screen. They make little 'grabby' motions, then withdraw.]

-Everyone, say hi to Sandra! Sandra, beep hi to everyone.

[Sandra beeps. That probably means 'hello'.]

I collected some data from the last stop we were at, thanks to both on-site observations and salvaged scrap, and I've started to get a better handle on hard-light technology! Think of all the applications! We could make temporary protective shields when you don't have someone with those abilities around. Or even drones that can carry a holographic generator into a place where you wouldn't normally be able to access, and you could work on something through a VR headset. Or you could generate an illusion to hide a location while you rest and plan! And that's just a few examples. The potential for mobile field generators is endless.

But I need some help working out some of the missing information. Some of you even have your own version of that technology or have ways to adapt it to be compatible with magic.

[The links two tools together, because that's the way to symbolize compatibility here one would guess.]

I also wanted to ask some of the fighters what they'd want out of practice, if I were, say, to build something with very specific specs. I was talking to someone about that sort of thing and she's not wrong about training resources.

Comments

[sciencegirl]

That's great, though! Those observations might be able to fill in some gaps. I theorize that everyone has access to the physics and magic of every source universe that the Void draws from. We might not be able to master powers related to other universes, but technology we mutually develop can make subtle use of its properties!

[thawed_pride]

I have yet to attempt to make use of entirely unfamiliar magic, so I would be quite interested to hear details of that theory. It would, however, be consistent with my prior experiences with inter-world travel. With rare exceptions, I have found that technology and magic removed from one world works equally well on others, regardless of whether or not that world has any native magic at all.

[sciencegirl]

You've experienced inter-world travel before? Fascinating.

Most kinds of magic are applicable here. I haven't met anyone fully deprived of their powers, just deprived of original resources.

I'm theorizing that maybe each object, including us, is an energy investment for the train, and therefore we have to 'earn' similar possessions from our own worlds by cooperating during missions. That way the train confirms we're worth the energy production.

[thawed_pride]

I'm ordinarily capable of traveling worlds on a whim, though I've found myself unable to pass through this strange form of inter-space. My mode of travel still works within the train, but attempting to create a pathway to another world yields nothing but a dead end.

If maintaining us and our belongings does indeed require an energy expenditure on the part of the train, it would certainly explain why I arrived with so little. I ordinarily carry a number of restorative potions and scientific tools, yet I arrived with merely my shield, notes on a singular project, my phone, a small number of two types of potion, and a protective coat.

[sciencegirl]

Oh! I heard about phones! Those sound neat.

But I hear you! I always carried my tools and insisted on using the appropriate ones for every job. Now I'm having to improvise! Not that I mind challenges, but this is very inefficient!

[thawed_pride]

This particular model is specially designed to be able to communicate between worlds. Unfortunately, it, too, seems incapable of penetrating the Void.

The lack of my own tools would be less aggravating if we had a proper laboratory on this Light blasted train. I am not going to resort to using common kitchen supplies in place of precision chemistry equipment!

[sciencegirl]

I put in a request! I also requested some sort of engineering space, because sometimes a laboratory stall just isn't enough for large projects that require unrestricted mobility.

Honestly it would be as good for the train and its mission as it would be for us, because having us able to produce our own necessities would save so much time and effort. Hopefully she'll see the logic in this.

[thawed_pride]

Quite true. If I had some decent alchemy materials, I could create healing potions for field medical kits. To say nothing of the wealth of personal equipment we could produce.

...Who is 'she'? Is that in reference to the will of this train?

[sciencegirl]

Yeah! Well, the voice of announcements is female-presenting. I'd adjust pronouns if any more decisive information becomes apparent.

I met someone who did alchemy when I first arrived, but they had the same problem. I hope she responds to lab space requests. Maybe you should make one, too.

[thawed_pride]

It is also fairly standard to refer to vehicles as female, although I know little about this particular train beyond having been told she is sapient. If she possesses a heart, it is either not housed in the engine car as one would expect, or it is obscured from my senses.

[sciencegirl]

I usually think of powerful beings on my world and associate them with Princesses. So I automatically thought 'she', being a Princess myself.

[But she'd absolutely adjust the thought if the train specified anything about herself.]