Click
Alexander Harris prototype stake launcher test, take forty-seven. By adding a screw pattern to the projectile, I've managed to increase accuracy by over ninety percent. The projectile has been reduced by over sixty percent itself, leaving said projectile at a little under three inches long, these 'bolts,' for lack of a better word, have proven effective against the dominant hostiles I have engaged. A heart shot is difficult in the extreme, so I am upgrading the computer and sensor systems onboard the Gear suit. On board magazine capacity is also prohibitive to extended use. As a forearm launcher is the most practical means of deployment, this has reduced expected magazine size to under eight rounds before reloading is required. Test Forty-Seven commencing
Click
Xander set the recorder down and pushed a small button, the original 'snap' had been far too sharp a sound to be used against the Sunnydale undead, the small size of the projectile had thankfully reduced the sound to a manageable level, especially once he worked a baffling system into the firing chamber.
Xander smiled as the Click from the weapon was noticeably quieter than his recorder. Powering down the magnetic, Xander double checked to make sure everything was 'safed' before walking downrange to his target.
--
Tony Stark wanted to kick his computer system. "What do you mean nothing changed? Last night I couldn't find this base without asking for directions and now everything is fine, therefore SOMETHING HAS CHANGED." The technologist yelled at the system and rubbed his head as he got the exact same response.
Sensor functional, computer functional, all systems nominal, report log shows no errors in systems.
"Yes I know you didn't get a report log of any errors because according to you there were no errors last night, that doesn't change the fact that you were unable to show me ANYTHING!" He explained in exasperation before finally giving an order to the computer. "Pull up the recordings of last nights sensor logs." Stark ordered and nodded at the confirmation. "Now overlay it with the current sensor report and explain how they don't match up."
Sensors match within ninety-seven percent accuracy, three percent variable is within tolerance for urban settings.
"What, show me the logs?" Stark ordered and frowned as the last twelve hours were replayed, twelve hours he was sure had been completely blank before.
--
Kendra walked into the warehouse and blinked as the strange boy she had been assisting sat among a pile of electrical equipment while he cursed silently to himself. For a moment, the Slayer considered disappearing as she was trained to do with anyone not of the Watchers Council before ignoring the feeling. If she couldn't trust him, then she couldn't trust anyone.
"Mr. Harris?" Kendra said just before the pile of equipment erupted in a string of pops and sparks.
Cursing as the new 'Gear' components snarled their electrical fury at him, Xander reached through the jumble of wires and jerked the power cord out of its socket.
"Damn it! Who the hell thought it would be a good idea for there to be two separate standard power types?" Xander grumbled as he shook his hand trying to return some of the feeling from the jolt. "Freaking AC/DC conversion problems." He growled, before finally noticing his guest. "Kendra, you're back." Xander said with a smile as he tried to put the skittish Slayer at ease.
"What seems to be da problem, sir?" Kendra asked carefully as she tried not to anger her host.
Extracting himself, Xander dusted his hands off on his pants before shrugging at the question. "I managed to put the finishing touches on my stake launcher last night. The problem was that with the 'on the fly' fighting, combined with vampiric speeds, I needed to update my targeting system." The young man said with pride as he went into geek mode concerning his latest project.
"I was most of the way finished with that when testing proved that the Gear suits computer system was too weak to keep up with the targeting program." Xander explained before looking back at the mass of electronics he had been working on. "When I finished updating that, I found that with the microwave cannon, stake launcher, targeting computer, audio/video ports, night vision and computer systems… I had roughly six minutes worth of power in the Gear suits original power packs before everything dies on me." He looks disgusted at this point. "I've spent the rest of the morning looking for an alternate power source within my tech range; unfortunately I have yet to find anything viable that doesn't revolve solely around the lots and lots of extension cords, plan."
Kendra watched as the young man sighed and sunk back into thought before her attention was drawn to a blinking red light on one of the consoles. "Sir, what does dat mean?"
Blinking at the dark skinned slayer, Xander followed her gaze before screaming a curse.
He was late for school again.
--
Alice Case filed her last report before closing the laptop and checking around her room once more. The night before had been a close call, far too close for her to ignore, so she was leaving Sunnydale on the first available flight out.
Picking up the small envelope, she considered once more the words she had written for the armored vigilante she had been pursuing before setting the document on the bed.
She knew he checked on her from time to time and she hoped he would read the letter before the two weeks she had paid for the room was up.
Picking up her luggage, the reporter walked towards the door.
As her hand touched the handle she froze when a knock came from the other side. Looking through the peephole, Alice frowned before opening the door slightly and speaking to the man there, "Yes?"
"Pardon me, are you Miss Alice Case?" the well dressed young man asked and grinned as she nodded. "Good, this makes my job much easier." He said before reaching inside his coat.
Tensing, Alice was preparing to slam the door and run when the man pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket.
"Sign here, please?"
Blinking, Alice opened the door completely, checking both directions in the hall for possible ambush and looking back at the plane ticket the young man was holding out to her. "What?"
--
(A/N) Well that's that… I considered leaving him going into his jacket and ending the chapter there, but decided that too many cliffhangers could spoil the moment. (And that, children, is how five seconds can be the difference between suspense and humor.)
P.S. Wow, almost eight thousand words on this little 'One Shot' fic I started… guess the muse likes this one. (Hope everyone else does.)
-Tjin