Apr 09 18:27:02 109 PA - Where Oh Where Has Everybody Gone

From Chronicles

Apr 09 18:27:02 109 PA.

UNCOMMON MECHANICS

Only the first bay door light is on at this hour. Tek is inside with paperwork piled high still. The three workstations are still pulled together and what looks like invoices and other work related things pulled up. Tek is in the chair but leaning back with his eyes closed. Everything is still and quiet except the light sound of elevator music in the background. As usual the smell of coffee permeates the shop.

Light footsteps chose the open bay door this time, as nothing sharp, heavy or otherwise lethal seems to be in the immediate area. Gabriel's whistling a tune, hands in his pockets as he enters and looking more relaxed than he has in months. Many months. So much that he doesn't even wait for permission to speak with his friend. He calls, "Afternoon, Tek!" and continues on toward the desk.

Tek cracks an eye in Gabriel's direction, "Hey there Gabe. I am a bit behind as you can see by the state of the shop. I am fast and I do have some help but I have not had a chance to get to putting a design together yet. I still have several irons in the fire that need handling before I can give your project the attention it needs."

Gabriel smiles and snaps his fingers, then points another one at the young man. "See, right there! One of the lesser reasons that I resigned. Far lesser, but still a reason. *I* don't have to do paperwork." He pulls up at the desk, grinning. "Not here about the sight, I told you there's no rush. In fact, I don't even have a specific need for it right now. Did Bart give you the list of people he'd grabbed for the Tolkeen run? He and I were running it together, but now I obviously need to get as much of his end back onto my own plate."

Tek sits up with a chuckle, "I can hardly keep track of who him and I had lined up for the Arcadia run no matter the Tolkeen run. But I think it was Sabbat, Aya and Max. He was talking about talking to Val but the last time I talked to him he had not had a chance to do so yet. Like I said we mostly had been talking about the Arcadia run we were making. When we going to head out on that one?"

"Which one? Tolkeen?" Gabriel raises an eyebrow. "I'm not part of the Arcadia thing," he re-confirms with a shrug. "So it's You, Max, Aya and myself. With Sabbat to Tolkeen? That doesn't sound right. Sabbat, I mean; unless he spoke to her but never got a chance to tell me about it before trying to catch a laser blast with a bare chest. Are you sure about her?" His lips swish uncomfortably. "I hope I could get her to *not* come on that one. Did you maybe mix that up with Arcadia group? Oh, and Valeriya? No. *No.* Watch this, watch this -" he puts his foot down, hard. "She's not coming."

Tek smiles and shrugs, "I am pretty sure about Sabbat. I even remember you throwing a little tantrum about her Ulti-Max drawing too much attention and then something else about Bart inviting everyone and anyone. Look I am just a support piece. I don't care who is going. I just care that I get my fair share is all."

"Fuck," is Gabriel's first spit out term. "I'm not going to take a goddamn giant robot to guard an element unless that one goddamn giant robot is capable of fighting off every last Coalition unit and other bit of interested party that we may encounter. Because bringing along said goddamn giant robot will *attract* every last Coalition unit in the area!" After a moment's consideration, he says, "Just don't bring it up with her. Hopefully we can slip out without my having to explain the finer points of anything other than blunt combat. As for you? I'm sure you'll get your fair share, though I really, really wish that everyone wasn't so worried about their fair share. Just spoke to Jokin, and that was the first thing he wanted to know. 'How much does it pay?'" With a shake of his head, he asks - really, genuinely asks - "No offense to you, you're a good guy; but am I the only living person who just does stuff because it should be, or needs to be done? Maybe that died out over the centuries I was gone?"

Tek shakes his head again with a large smile and a chuckle, "I have never asked how much or even what the cut is. I know both those things change, I just want my fair share that’s it. And I am going to Arcadia out of the kindness of my heart, but something has to pay for the power armor I have my eye on."

Gabriel waves his hand apologetically. "I know, I know. Like I said, you're a good guy, decenter than most. But simple work here's paying the bills; put some in the bank with every paycheck and you'll have that armor before you know it. Anyway. I need to speak to Max, because I don't know what's become of Bart's stuff now that he's passed on. If we end up needing a vehicle, when will yours be ready for cross-country travel?"

Good thing Tek is most always in a good mood, "Well I thought it was going to be ready to head to Arcadia but it seems that someone, not naming names here, hasn't done any paperwork in quite a while. So I had to take a break and I have been working almost through the night on just that. But it is close. As soon as I can get to it I don't foresee anything else holding me back from getting it finished. But I really am going faster than humanly possible." He mumbles under his breath after *and doing a damn good job if I do say so myself.*

"I haven't seen Galvin around either," Gabriel winks. "But honestly, I'm expecting to be seeing a lot more of him soon. Can you tell me about your truck? Just so if we do take it, I know the vehicle and what it can do?"

Tek waves a hand over towards the Land Rover, "Well it does not have a large cargo capacity. But I have increased the outer armor and have reinforced the cabin as well. It has a NG-P7 mounted on top and controlled from the passenger seat. Full optics and radar are installed as well. It can carry four passengers comfortably and room to stow their gear."

Gabriel listens along, nodding. "Hmm, that's a little small. You know anyone that we could rent from? Another truck like it. Not like it, but with some relatively decent armor with room for cargo and passengers? Besides, I wouldn't want to go in only one vehicle any. Like we said in the Raiders, 'Two is one, and one is none.'"

Tek finally gets to his feet and you can see he is dragging ass. He heads over and starts making himself a cup of coffee, "Well there are plenty of places to rent from for the right amount of credits. What all needs hauling besides personnel?"

"Well, I know that I'm not going to be going unarmed. I'll be bringing a jet pack, at least two rifles, in case one fails, a sidearm, field equipment in case we get stuck, ammunition..." the soldier goes on with a number of further items. Then Gabriel smiles, "You're support, Tek. Gotta think about what kind of support's going to be needed. Still, the most critical thing is what I already said - another vehicle as a backup in case one breaks down. I don't want to hoof it out of dangerous territory, personally."

Tek shrugs again as he takes a big swig of coffee, "Like I said I am not sure who else has a vehicle. I will be sure to bring some spare parts for the Rover but so far as a second vehicle I am afraid I am not going to be much help there, sorry."

"Okay. Well, I doubt you'll see Aya, but if you see Max, send him my way, okay? You've got my frequency to pass along." Gabriel follows the mechanic over to the coffee, but doesn't actually partake of it himself. "Just whatever you hear about Bart's things and the rest of the Tolkeen group - sans Sabbat - send them my direction. I have most of the picture, but I need all of it. Bart was a very good soldier, but mostly when he was given instructions to follow." He stops, clears his throat and asks, "So what's with the Arcadia thing?"

Tek says, "Just some miners in a pinch, they are just trying to make it in the world. They found a rare vein of good ore. If I can help them then it's all good. Last time they gave me some scrap ore for helping and that did come in handy. And it gives me a chance to stick it to the Coalition a little bit. Why you interested in helping?"

"Interested? Sure, I'd love to. But I don't have the time right now, unfortunately," Gabriel explains. "What's the pinch? Someone trying to pinch the ore? Eh, I'm sure you know what you're doing. Who's going?"

Tek smiles and shakes his head, "Well since Bart has passed I am not sure if everyone who was in is still in. I will double check with them all once I get the Rover back on the road."

Gabriel's head quirks. "Going to be taking the road, then? Good. I heard that Bart wanted to take a SkyCycle or something over the forest. Didn't seem like a very good idea to me. But, I'll be taking off. Bye, Tek!" He abruptly turns and departs.