07.02: Sufficiently Advanced

[Sadie]

Sadie pokes him with her nose trying and failing to initiate contact looks at him annoyed. She points at him with her paw, and nods "yes", then turns her paw somewhat towards herself and shakes head "no."

If he manages to reestablish contact the message was "We should get going."

[coldcandor]

Solten tries again to communicate and fails again, then frowns. After a moment he finally has a realization and puts a hand on her head and tries again. Having finally figured it out, he sends to Sadie "Well, apparently I have to be touching you. And if I understand you correctly, I have to initiate it. As to how... I don't know any more than you do on that point."

Upon hearing her statement's conclusion, he says to the group "Shall we be off then?"

[Joshua]

Oberon nods, "While we can travel to any place we want, things that are real kind of pull us in. So, Sadie is probably real, and not a shadow. Now, we'll talk properly once we get to some place with proper translation enchantments. Still, if it's okay, I'd rather not waste this trip... although I suppose we could come back." he hefts up the box with little fanfare. "You'll notice we tend to be a bit stronger than those in shadow. Watch out for that."

(OOC: Do people want an adventure here, or to glaze over this and have an adventure where Sadie can actually talk?)

[Joshua]

Travel to the shooting range is relatively painless. Murphy insists that Sadie be leashed, and states he can't be seen holding it. His hands clearly twitch with longing at that, but it's what's for the best. Thankfully, the shooting range is calm, and Murphy manages to pretend it's a "night out with his cousins". who want to do some real shooting.

[Sadie]

There was a group AIM session that contained the events at the precinct. In the next few posts is my attempt at cleaning it all up and making it presentable for all to read and enjoy.

As the group enters the firing range of the local police department they get a few odd looks. Murphy confidently brushes them off. “They're relatives from out of town, big into various period stuff.” He explains with the confidence of an experienced officer. “Brought them here because we were having a debate and wanted to give them a chance to experience something a bit more modern for some perspective.” One officer asks confused if the dog with them is Sadie. Murphy's eyes gloss over, then he sighs with a heavy heart. “No, I wish though. My cousin here fell in love with the breed after meeting her once. These two are inseparable. She reminds me of Sadie though, it's still so recent. They heard about what happened, is why they're in town.” He replies a little choked up. The performance flawless the officers leave the grieving lieutenant and family to do their thing. Losing a partner is hard and they know not to push these things. No one understands such a loss like a fellow officer.

Before entering the range he gives a brief tour of the various facilities he can access with visitors, giving a description of their intended purpose and demonstrating many items within. Upon entering the range he acquires a few pistols and demonstrates how to properly maintain and care for the pistol in roughly 30 minutes times, and explains why it takes so long and the importance of such maintenance. Solten watches intrigued by the new technology and even Nuall gives paying attention his all, for once. Apparently the planets have aligned.

[Sadie]

Guns maintained and prepped Murphy gives the first demonstration by taking a few shots. Seeing the effectiveness and killing power of a simple pistol during the demonstration, Nuall leans over to Oberon and whispers the obvious question. “Is this sorcery?”

To this Oberon responds in what to Nuall might as well be a different language, well in his opinion anyway, “Gunpowder, like fireworks... It's... Alchemy, usually called science.”

Offering the gun to Nuall to take a few tests shots, he explains, “It'll handle a bit like a crossbow, but with a kick.” Nuall turns out to be an exceptional shot. Murphy whistles impressed. Solten tries his hand not too much later and finds, he's not too bad a shot either.

To this Solten asks, “What is a crossbow?”

Murphy responds with an apology. “I'm afraid we only have more modern weapons here, can't really give you a demonstration.”

Oberon waives the question off with a quick, “We'll get to that later.”

Sadie, however, being the weapon smart police canine she is, takes a shot at an explanation, defining it as being, “Like a bow but typically uses a winch to crank back the string, and is held much like one of these pistols if small or like a rifle if bigger.” Of course only Solten hears this as he maintains touch telepathy through petting.

[Sadie]

“I see” responds Solten, “All these weapons appear to be of the same idea, just different methods of projecting something sharp.”

Murphy responds with a nod, “There are, however, rubber bullets as well, used for subduing. It can pack it's own punch though.”

Sadie of course, showing off for Solten, responds to Solten as well, agreeing that, “They are just better faster ways to throw sharper more explosives rocks. Some bullets can pierce armor and even others explode on contact. Really these guns are weak in comparison to more military hardware.”

Solten responds with fascination, stating, “Exploding rocks shot out of a metal cylinder. Science sounds rather interesting.”

With almost a smile Sadie responds saying, “You should see a Gatling Gun someday.”

This inspires Solten to turn to Murphy and asks, “Can we see a Gatling Gun? It sounds quite impressive.”

Sadie informs him that, “He doesn't have access to that, you'd need to see it on a television or computer. Televisions are boxes with moving pictures of education and entertainment.”

Solten looking briefly sad adds, “Never mind, Sadie just informed me I need to find a TV to see all this.”

Murphy smiles and replies that, “I can demonstrate this easily, come over here, let me bring it up on my computer. Ahh here we go, this should do.”

[Sadie]

After the video Solten exclaims “Whoa.” and looks to Oberon questioningly while Nuall stares at the video transfixed.

“Thought you'd like that.” Exclaims Sadie wagging her tail.

Murphy explains that, “Those aren't used a lot in what we do, but if you're at war... Personally I hope to never face one of those.”

Solten turns his attention to Sadie stating out loud for everyone's benefit, “You seem to be quite knowledgeable about these things for such a friendly creature.”

To which Murphy responds simply, “She's a cop.”

Solten nods, “Things you need to know in case you have to face them I suppose.”

Nuall taking time away from the new toy chimes in, “I think I shall always prefer swords. They are so much more... Personal.”

Murphy responds, explaining that, “You can be personal with a pistol. Besides facing down a gun with a knife can be... difficult to say the least.”

Nuall laughs, “What I prefer and what I end up with is rarely the same thing.”

Sadie says to Solten still missing the ability to speak out loud. “They say never bring a sword to a gunfight. That said I've taken down a few gunmen and I have neither a gun, nor a sword.”

Solten looks Nuall over appraisingly. “I can appreciate that sentiment. It'd be interesting to spar with you in hand to hand sometime.” Then turning back to Sadie, “From what I've seen today I'm betting it was more than just a few.” To which she responds by panting happily and wagging her tail.

[Sadie]

Finally chipping into the conversation for the first time in awhile Oberon replies that “At least a sword won't misfire, and besides in many worlds the rules are different and gunpowder doesn't work.”

Sadie notes to Solten that such a world, “Would be nice. Getting shot sucks, trust me.”

Nuall ever the curious sort asks Oberon, “Changing the rules of the world? And yes sparring would be nice sometime.” He responds turning to Solten briefly.

Oberon explains that, “We'll be going to a place where magic works next, you'll see there.”

Sadie with an air of sadness tells Solten he should ask about nukes to see the true horrors of what technology can do.

“Alright, Murphy, show me a nuke on this computer of yours.” Solten asks.

Murphy reluctantly almost ashamed brings up a short 3 minute documentary on Hiroshima and the effects of the bombing in world war II. As he's bringing this up Sadie explains that, “A nuke can destroy whole cities in but a moment and leave a place uninhabitable for years. Those who survive often die not long after or live painful malformed lives due to radiation poisoning. I do not like nukes at all."

Solten responds to her that it “sounds horrible indeed” as Murphy brings the video up. Upon seeing the video and the horror of what a nuke can do, Nuall finds himself needing to find a place to sit down as the impact of it sits in. Solten exclaims, “Tonight has been full of things I never thought possible, but those were interesting and often fun. This, I hope to never see.”

Oberon comforts that, “Thankfully, those things only work where they're made. You couldn't bring one home, it wouldn't explode. It wouldn't even explode just two shadows over.”

“That's good to hear” Sadie says to Solten who almost in synch says the same thing out loud.

Almost like he felt the need to shatter the relief shared by both Sadie and Solten, Oberon adds, “I think Dworkin can force it to work, but I've never seen him do it with something that complex.”

Nuall amazingly replies uncharacteristically that, “Home is suddenly starting to appear much more attractive. The worst one has to worry about there is a catapult."

[Sadie]

Solten adds catapult into his list of things to learn about turns to Oberon and notes, “So many things to see... Should we perhaps be moving on then?”

Sadie, however, seems to have other plans and asks, “So splitting atoms works differently in other places?” Which Solten repeats, while debating and deciding against asking what atoms are.

To this Oberon turns to face Sadie directly and laughs explaining that, “Physics, gravity, time, they work differently depending on the place.”