Forums » General Roleplay » Sands of Time (1x1)

"Is that right," muttered Chris. "Because she's gone dark red and she's...I'm guessing...turned off now. So if we need to bypass it--and she can't do it herself I'm guessing again--then that means I'll have to do it. Is it a matter of rerouting the electrical current or is it more involved? Does it affect the AI core itself, or is it the mechanic system itself?" He hoped it was affecting only the AI core--because it would be easier to isolate the core than anything else.

''Just the core itself. I bypassed it myself, but I forgot it from being under the sea. She might be off, but she can still hear us. She just can't respond.''

"Ah, I see." Said Chris. "And thanks for the warning. Alright, 54, since you can maybe hear me but not respond, I'm gonna explain real quick what I'm about to do. I'm gonna bypass this system quirk for you around your AI. Which means I'm not going to mess with anything else, beyond fixing this immediate problem." So please, he thought, don't blow us up when I fix you.

He grabbed the Auto Wrench again and threw himself headlong into the engine, careful of what he touched and that he wore the insulated rubber gloves to keep from getting electrocuted. He didn't use a whole lot of insulation but rather a few grounding techniques that would reroute the electrical surges elsewhere to the car. Like the new capacitor he had installed as well.

"Hey, CD. You never told me, but since you can ah transform. Can 54 do the same?"

''Well, I'm not sure. She rarely shifts to anything else. But I'm pretty sure she could if she had to. Though she might be more fancy since she's a ferrari mix...Right?''

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Okay; I was asking because I threw in a capacitor much like you have which should not only collect and store the electrical current, but it might help with the transforming process too..."

He stepped back, finished with his tweaks. He just had to wait for the extra charge to divert and die down enough for 54 to come back online with all her responses.

After a few hours had passed the crystal sparks a bit and turns back to blue as 54 stirs, rolling back a bit as her blue eyes opened slowly. ''........'' She said, dazed. ''Huh..?''

By the time 54 awakened, Chris had reinstalled CD in her regular body again. The new engine had been installed, oil added, everything as good as new--compared to the old rusted stuff she had had initially. The only thing she needed now were bumpers, upgraded cameras, and new tires.

Chris was pleased with himself, even as Bill had returned indoors to finish some last minute paperwork. He turned to 54 when she finally awakened. "Well? How do you feel, 54? I've isolated your core a bit from extra current, so hopefully that'll help in keeping your core cool. I asked CD if you could transform or shift shape or something like she can and she wasn't sure; but anyway you have a capacitor that'll store extra energy for you--should you need it."

He paused here wondering if he should have given an AI renegade with the ability to take out a large city a way to shift shape in addition to already having a nuclear bomb. Well, too late now to take it back.

''Barely awake...'' She whined, still dazed.

CD snorts, once she was back on herself. ''Ya know, this is the only time she's woken up and not been berzerk. It sounds like her systems are barely getting into order.'' CD inquired.

54 stirs again, her blue eyes looking at Chris. ''All I see is a sea...And birds...''

"Fantastic; and you didn't think to warn me of this ahead of time?" Actually, if he recalled, she had. Multiple times. He'd just chosen to wait and see it for himself if it happened.

"Alright, you see blue; a sea..." Chris frowned and looked around him. They were in a garage. "Are you dreaming?" Did AIs ever dream? "Or are you reliving a memory? 54, please try to remember you're in a car shop, a mechanic's car shop and that my dad will kill me if anything happens to it. Or me. But mostly it."

She blinked a bit, but was still dazed. ''Huh....'' She said, then flinched quite badly and came back to her senses. ''Oh. Hmph...'' She muttered, shaking off a bit, crystal pulsing a bit. ''Sea? This a garage. If it was a sea CD wold be going crazy.'' She retorted.

''Short-lived moment of being dazed.'' CD grumbled.

Chris grinned but managed to hold back a laugh. "Sister AIs get along about as well as I had hoped. But welcome back to the present, 54."

Bill returned just then, carrying two small boxes. "Speaking of present," he offered, "I bring two. Not exactly new cameras, but slightly more updated than the ones CD has. Here, Chris, why don't you try wiring them in."

Surprise crossed Chris' face. "You're actually going to let me do that?"

Bill shrugged. "I can't see why not. You've done a good job on everything else. And she does need to see, since apparently even our systems are a little too rudimentary for her." He meant the AI motion and obstacle sensors.

"Awesome," Chris replied, hurrying back over to CD. "Let's get your eyes working."

In the background there could be heard a horn blaring followed by Clutch yelling: "You're going to upgrade her before me?!"

54 blares her ear-hurtingly loud horn back at Clutch. ''DO YOU WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER TIRE?!'' She scowled at him. ''CD needs them more. Be patient.''

(Sorry for late, finally got a new Cars 2 for xbox360 disc)

Clutch settled down again, his words lost as he grumbled to himself about humans picking 'favorites'.

Chris winced as 54 raised her volume. "Anyway, yes, we'll get right on that. And I'm glad you're back to normal, 54." Well, that was a mixed blessing at least. She could go right on back to threatening to blow them up. What was it about AIs and their super protective stance regarding their AI cores, anyway?

Bill and Chris made quick work of exchanging the cameras in CD's interior. Chris ran a quick schematic of the lenses and focuses, before turning to CD. "Alright, CD, let there be light. Can you see anything?"

(Gack, was playing game waoting for you to come )

CD opened her eyes a bit, the cameras acessing the input quickly to the monitors and anylyizing the complex strings of data pouring in. Her eyes were brown, by a dim brown light that outlined the black 'pupils' of the cameras she had. After a bit she opened them all the way, snorting. ''I can see 54 being annoyed, and I can see Clutch. You call this battered up place the garage?'' She asked jokingly.

54 just grumbles, blue eyes glaring at Clutch.

Chris grinned. "It wasn't as battered before 54 decided to fire off a gun. But I'm glad you can see again."

Clutch beeped. "I'm next right? For getting eyes?"

Chris glanced at Clutch. "Uh, sure. But you're going to keep the sensors because you might run into things before you get a feel for how close they'll be."

''Because with cameras you'll see your hood and objects in front of you. I'm just built to be able to see. Also..'' And she names what exact brand of car Clutch was afer her cameras had fully scanned the area as so much to the slightest detail that was sent through her database and examined for any seen flaws. ''Is that about right?''

Clutch flashed his headlights. "That's not fair!" He whined. "I wanna see what CD looks like. And 54. And Chris. I wanna see!"

Chris clapped his hands over his ears. "Shut up, Clutch. The sooner you behave the sooner I'll get you upgraded. Besides, doing so means I have to mess with your AI core. And you didn't want me-"

"Never mind what I didn't want you to do," Clutch interrupted. "I want to see!"

Chris sighed. "Well, my dad's gonna have to get another set of cameras then. And CD, you were spot on."

''And that involves fixing your winsheild, also.'' She retorted. ''And alright. Was making sure my scanners were working. With those I can tell any make and model by it's features. Clutch, you've got dent on your hood. And 54's glaring at you.'' CD inquired.

54 growls, and her core sends out an electrical discharge into the room. CD's systems are electrocuted, and spazz out breifly. ''gRRZZK!'' CD yelped, startled.

"I'm dented?! See why I need cameras? How would I have known otherwise? Chris--why didn't you tell me!?"

Chris sighed and then lost his patience altogether. "Clutch--you're vain enough as it is. If I told you all the problems you had, I wouldn't sleep for three nights! Besides, you run well enough."

Clutch went quiet. "I have that many problems?"

Chris rolled his eyes. "Your attitude is most of it; and I was exaggerating. And 54, stop that! You're going to short out all the circuits I just rewired in CD and if you do it again, I'm gonna use your circuits to fix her."

CD shifted back to her human form, annoyed, electricity cackling on her hands. She fired it at 54.

54 gets hit and gets shocked badly, shorting out weapons. ''My weapons..'' She whined, whimpering.

CD huffs and changes back to her car form, though the '45' on her sides were lit up clearly, engine revving up loudly and clear.

54 pouts, her cores electrical weapon ceasing to work.