As Xander began pulling out the tech they'd brought for the exchange Faith and Salem continued to banter in the background. "Hey, cat, maybe you can tell me why it's so cold down here. Is it just because we're in a mountain or have you been a naughty kitty and played with the temperature controls?"
"If you're cold, foxy lady, I can warm you up." Salem offered.
"I've had better offers." Faith informed him. "And just recently I met a cousin of Xander's in another reality who says the local me is dating another cousin of Xander's there."
"What's so special about this cousin that beats my offer?"
"An average body temperature 3 degrees above normal. And than there's the whole pyrokinetic thing. Xan's got people checking to see if he's related to them in our reality, if they are my needs may be well met." The innuendo laden voice flowed like honey as Faith continued to tease Salem and pretty much every one who could hear her to some degree. "Unless of course I can convince Xan and Cordy to let me play with them, than I'd be reeeeal warm."
Xander banged his head on the workbench. "Swear to the gods, I'm not going to survive puberty at this rate." He muttered, the men were both amused and sympathetic and the women were quietly taking bets on who broke first, Faith or Xander. If Faith broke she'd probably be chasing Salem with her knives out. If Xander broke he'd probably just go insane.
"There, there, Xander, it's a terrible burden to be surrounded by hot women who think you're cute." Cordelia mockingly patted him on the head. "Especially when you turn red when we're teasing you."
"You're not helping."
"Was I supposed to?"
"Okay, focus, lots of toys for the megabrains to play with."
"I thought we were playing with you right now." Cordelia grinned at him, as the Scoobies shred a little of their recent stress in playful banter.
"First item," Xander stated, determined to keep his mind on business. "is the panther habit." He pulled out what looked like a necklace, having determined that the comics they used for reference had never existed in this reality, he used them to explain the technology. "It comes from a small, wealthy and isolated country in Africa called Wakanda. Decades ahead of the rest of the world technologically and only recently begun to share their tech. The panther habit is nanotech."
"What's nanotech?" Zelda asked, not having heard the term before.
"Nanotechnology is the science and engineering of manipulating atoms and molecules at the nanoscale. It's used to create new materials, devices, and structures." Carter answered. "Strictly theoretical at this point. You're saying the scientists in this Wakanda have managed to create technology at that scale?"
"Yes, no Magic involved in this, it's pure tech."
"What does this piece do exactly?" She picked up the necklace and began examining it.
"It can be coded to respond to a single individual." Xander answered. "And what this particular piece is, is a protective garment." He touched the necklace around his own neck and those watching saw it flow out over his face and body, what they could see of his body. "It's breathable, lightweight and absorbs energy in a variety of forms, which can be stored and discharged. Bullets don't bounce off of it, the suit absorbs their kinetic energy and they fall from there. And since it's form fitting, it can go under your uniform with no one knowing it's there. Over the eyes lenses form that can cut glare and enhance night vision." He tapped the necklace again and it retreated. "This is a first generation suit, rumor has it they're figuring out how to enhance it with weapons."
"If we can figure out how it works, we can prove nanotech is viable and have protection that's vastly superior to bullet proof vests." Carter was practically vibrating with excitement. "What makes it able to absorb, store and discharge energy?"
"It's made of a metal called Vibranium." Xander answered. "We don't know the atomic structure of it, but it's the basis of their technology."
"If we can figure it out, than we could recreate it in a lab." Zelda was looking just as excited. "The application for a metal that could do all that -."
"It has one weakness that I'm aware of." Xander warned them. "Vibranium can be damaged by Vibranium and the panther habit can be cut in the direction of the weave. Aside from that, I don't know of anything else that could damage it, given it absorbs, stores and discharges energy, even Jaffa staff weapons may not damage it and consequently whoever's wearing it."
"Which would give us a huge advantage when fighting the Goa'uld." O'Neill was definitely seeing and liking the possibilities of this little tech toy. "Me likey!"
"It may even allow us to create energy weapons of our own." Carter enthused. "A gun made of a metal that can absorb and store energy for later discharge, which is essentially what the staff weapons do."
"And once again Xander has managed to give a girl the perfect gift." Cordelia grinned.
"Sure beats whatever tuna breath over here probably considers a good gift." Faith flashed a grin at Salem.
"Hey! I'll have you know, I give great gifts."
"Yeah, right. Show me a girl who actually likes getting a dead mouse as a gift and I'll show you a zombie wanting a snack."
"Faith, don't be silly." Cordelia chided. "Mouse brains aren't big enough for a snack and besides, zombies only eat brains when ordered to by their zombie masters. Although the zombie cat that invaded Mrs. Summers house last fall might have been an exception."
Yeah, now Cordelia was getting double takes.