We All Float On

[out_of_order]

WHO: Cal Kestis, BD-1 and you!
WHERE: Agrii Ship
WHAT: Keeping busy on the way back to Agra 10
WHEN: During the trip back
WARNINGS: N/A


It's definitely a different atmosphere aboard the ship, now that they don't have imminent threats hanging over their heads. Having a full ship also helps for the mood. True, there have been disappointments and frustration in the aftermath of rescuing all the Agrii, but Cal hardly thinks the Agrii themselves are to blame. It seems clear enough that someone else is at work in all this, and while that in itself is disheartening, there's little that can be done that they haven't already tried in order to get any further clues in that. The current state of those of their own that they've rescued along with the Agrii and Graq is worrying, and not knowing what else to do, he can only hope that Cloud and Bucky come out of their sleep soon.

The padawan takes the time to get to know the Agrii. It's a nice change to be able to speak face to face to them instead of wait for mysterious messages. It's nice to know they're real. But sometimes they can be overbearing, and so he finds retreat as he can.

Naturally it's work that Cal throws himself into, finding the need to do something. Being busy comes easier than meditation at the moment, and there's plenty enough to be done anyway.


A
With no rush to get things finished, he's happy to work on the ships, putting in some perhaps much-needed upgrades. Can't hurt to, right? Given how woefully under-equipped they've proven in what might be considered necessary functions, the padawan's priorities would be to retrofit ships with whatever parts are yet available to provide protection and increase travel speed. He won't mind an extra hand, of course. Or maybe you want your ship to be upgraded next?


B
In a quiet, empty dead-end hall or perhaps even the Green Room, when he's not picking at tech, Cal and BD-1 can be found going over some of the latter's interesting findings. BD-1's been pretty busy with the Soldier, it seems, and now that they've got the time, Cal's trying to catch up with what's happened on the other end.

Comments

[plate_builder]

Ah, nothing so wonderful as being invited to work with his hands. Reeve takes off his coat and lays it over a box, rolling up his sleeves as he approaches. Mini-C jumps from his shoulder yet, and rushes over to BD-1 so he can fist-bump his friend.

"I was. I worked with Tony on it."

[out_of_order]

The droid bounces on his feet, hopping on one so that he can raise the other foot towards Mini's incoming nub of a hand.

Cal grins at the two, then nods at Reeve. "I've been working on giving our ships a speed boost. I think the next most reasonable thing to install would be shields. I'm...a little surprised that they were lacking in what I'd figure basic features. And thankful that we didn't run into any problems while we were traveling out here to begin with."

[plate_builder]

Mini applauds after their 'fist bump'. HE's so proud to have learned that. It's too much fun.

"I think a speed boost shouldn't be too hard to do. Or I would hope. But I'd be happy to show you what Tony and I put together for shields. Technically the one in the Star Duck is tied in to the cloaking systems, but it would be easy enough to untangle the two for a better distribution of work."

[out_of_order]

Mini's excitement is infectious. And now that he's got someone his size to hang around with again, BD-1 beeps and then runs around behind the cat doll to tap him on the shoulder before he dashes off a ways, pausing. Looks like he's instigating another game of tag.

"Well, we've got the time now. I imagine you were working on a schedule before." Cal gestures for Reeve to lead the way, gathering up the toolbox he'd been using. "Let's have a look then."

[plate_builder]

More tag? Mini is clearly down for that, toddling off again. Helps that this place has more obstacles to hide behind, under and around. This will be gleeful fun.

"A schedule while trying to make sure that the world wasn't falling apart," Reeve admits with a chuckle as he moves to pull some gloves out of his pocket. Why yes, he has gotten rubber gloves for dealing with electrical systems. Good of you to notice.

"It was definitely a bit of an extreme experience. I don't think I slept much for those days.

[out_of_order]

Cal watches as BD-1 and Mini-C run off, smiling crookedly when he looks back to Reeve, nodding.

"I don't think much of us did. If it wasn't dealing directly with systems, it was just being anxious about whatever else was still waiting to be dealt with. But we all managed somehow."

[plate_builder]

Even Reeve seems to have a happier bounce in his step at the way the droid and doll play.

"We did. I feel like I could sleep for a week. And this is coming from a man who is not prone to doing such things."

Sleep tended not ot be high on his to do list.

[out_of_order]

"Heh, I know the feeling." It had taken Cal some time to get back to a relatively normal sleep schedule in the wake of the Clone Wars' end. Then sleep became a necessity for the long and arduous shifts working for the scrapper guild, and you learned to catch what bit of rest you could. Even nowadays he still sleeps lightly. He can't remember when he's last had an actual restful sleep, and he hardly counts the nights they were trapped in Calibrations.

"Think we'll have enough parts to go around for installing shields on the rest of the ships?"

[plate_builder]

"I suppose we'll have to figure it out. Tony and Billy were the ones best able to tell us whether parts we needed were around."

But he supposes they can scrape some things together.

[out_of_order]

Cal grins. "Well, our engineering expertise has to account for something. I'm sure we can figure it out."

While he doesn't expect things to be labeled, he supposes it'll be more like recognizing parts and pieces that would work with each other.

[plate_builder]

Reeve chuckles and nods. Yes, it does account for something. A lot of things. But Reeve whistles, and Mini stops running. He knows he is called to work.

"Help us search, Mini? You remember what the parts look like."

The doll nods and gives an apologetic bow to BD-1

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BD-1 comes to a halt and glances back at Mini and then the others. He hoots and gives a nod, scampering back with the doll.

"You can help too, BeeDee," Cal laughs. With the assistance of the little guys he has no doubt that they can get things done faster.

[plate_builder]

"They're both so good at this," Reeve smiles as the pair wanders off. It's good to see. Then he turns his attention fully on Cal.

"If you have paper I can quickly sketch out the system we used."

[out_of_order]

Cal pauses at that. Paper's not exactly something he's been all that accustomed to using in general. He gives a pat of his pockets before raising his hands with an apologetic look. "Sorry, not something I usually carry," he admits.

[plate_builder]

Reeve shrugs.

"What about a datapad? Something I could show you things with? Unless you can just take it from my mind?"

He really doesn't understand hte force.

[out_of_order]

The padawan winces a little at the suggestion of using the Force in such a manner. "Let's go with datapad," he says, stepping over to one of the crates to pick up a thick tablet-like device. It had done the job in pulling up ship schematics, so he's sure that using it for visual aid won't be a problem.

"Here, try this," he says as he hands it over, indicating the stylus attachment.

[plate_builder]

"Thanks," Reeve says, taking the pad and the stylus. While Mini continues his search Reeve quickly sketches parts, circuitry, connections, schematics. All in the sort of short hand that the Engineering datapoint had given him. The sort of instructions Cal would understand from the same.

At last he gave the completed notes over.

"Tony did most of the soldering and other fine wire work. He seems to not be bothered by litlte shocks."

[out_of_order]

BD-1 hops up onto crates and sometimes even dives right in after a brief scan of the contents. Crate-diving is practically a hobby for the droid.

Cal glances back towards the two little ones in between watching Reeve work. He takes up the datapad again once the man's finished, nodding as he looks it over. "If he's not too busy maybe we can snag him to help out here and there. But at least we're not in a hurry. Anyway, this looks manageable."

[plate_builder]

"That may be a more complicated request than it seems. His boyfriend does not like me. At all."

Not his fault, but he'll happily take the heat if it meant the two of them could finally talk and be happy.

Mini tumbles into a box of his own, finding a needed part and hauling it out.

[out_of_order]

Cal hadn't been updated on the situation since Jon had come and told him that he and Tony had had a fight. He doesn't try to mask his confusion at that, but isn't sure that it's a matter he should ask about. Complicated sounds about right.

"...well, if you managed with only a couple of people before, then I'm sure we'll do all right here," he says instead. Turning, he grins at Mini as he sees the little guy come up with his find. "You got that, buddy? Where's BeeDee... Ah."

The exploration droid has hopped back up on the edge of the box he'd took a dive in, reporting his own findings so Cal can pick them out.

[plate_builder]

"It was just the two of us, beyond others getting parts," Reeve smiles. "I think we can manage this together. Especially given you can save some of the carrying, right?"

And he wouldn't ask it, but it would make it so they had more time to work, if they weren't hauling things around.

[out_of_order]

The padawan grins at that. "That, I can definitely do," he says. He pulls out his arc welder and gives it a twirl in his hand. "Let's get what we've got so far together, pick us a ship and then we can get started."

[plate_builder]

"The best plan indeed," Reeve agrees with a smile and moves to go start looking through boxes.

"It will be a pleasure to start working with you. Hopefully it will help us find the best means to work together well before we start the project back in Temba."

[out_of_order]

"Likewise," Cal replies, giving Reeve a nod. They'd certainly have the ability to focus. Giving the man a salute with his arc welder, he shows BD-1 the datapad, sending the droid off to get started on looking through another box while he gathered the pieces from this one.

"By the time we get back to Temba, we'll be ready to tackle it."

we might wrap this soon because i'm not good at the tech talk

[plate_builder]

"I do hope so," Reeve smiles and opens a box. "Winter may or may not be coming, and electricity could mean we might be able to make heaters. That would be lovely."

Ah, a part. Very good. He takes it out and sets it aside.