tushanshu | 1st Gear

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1st Gear | Video

[The feed clicks on as Rex sits back in his chair, goggles hanging down around his neck and arms folded across his chest. He looks a little annoyed.]

Okay. So. Back of a giant turtle. War against some dude whose name we're not supposed to say. Get a job. The basics of the situation, right?

I gotta admit, ending up in some city that looks like it's part of an MMORPG was not where I thought I'd be after my day got off to such a great start. But seriously, who would think that? And not gonna lie, I did wonder for a while if maybe this is all some whacked out dream after taking a hit to the head in the middle of a fight.

[He shrugs, sighs and runs one hand back through his hair before sitting forward.]

Anyway. Since it seems like I might be here for a while...

My name's Rex Salazar. I happen to be really good with machines if anyone knows of any job openings around here that have to do with stuff like that. I've also done work as a bodyguard before. Fighting monsters and catching criminals? Got tons of experience with all that, too. I'm been assigned a place in the Metal Sector if that helps.

[Going quiet a moment, his frustrated expression becomes thoughtful. Maybe even a little hopeful.]

Also, while I realize this is probably a long shot? If there's a guy by the name of Six here, I'd appreciate it if someone would let me know if he's around. Doctor Holiday, too. Both or either of them. Or anyone from Providence, really.

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Normally I'd be okay with walking, but given I've already been taken down a couple of pegs, energy-wise? I'll opt for a ride.

[Slight awkward pause as he notes that bit of chocolate.]

Oh, uh. You got a little something like...right there, by the way.

[Cue gesturing at that same spot on his own chin.]

[Oops. Korra runs her finger along her chin until she scoops up the melting ice cream.]

Oh, thanks. [After licking it off her fingers, she rubs the spot just to make sure there's none left.]

All right, ride it is. Which suite in Metal? [Korra turns her head to whistle, which causes a loud thumping from her second floor to start down the stairs behind her.]

It's ME-2C. I can meet you out...

[Before he can finish, Rex is distracted by the sound of all that thumping. What the heck has Korra go in there with her? An elephant? The last word follows a second later, his expression betraying his sudden confusion.]

...front?

ME-2C, got it! We'll see you out front. [Yes, we. Giving a wave, the last thing the feed shows is Korra smiling and a wall of white fur behind her.]

Let's go, girl.

[Saddling up Naga takes practically no time at all and Korra's guiding her through the Metal Sector at a leisurely pace, giving Rex time to do any prep he might want to. When she gets over to his unit, she puts her hands on Naga's head to look down at him. It's one of the few ways she can given her height.]

Didn't keep you waiting too long? [As always, the console's feed can't compare to meeting in person, and Korra's assumption on Rex being in her age group is spot on.]

Okay... See you soon.

[Rex shuts off the console and sits gazing at the keyboard a few seconds after, one eyebrow quirked in thought. For as much as he's been through, for as weird as his life normally is...? This day is still ranking up there as one of the strangest of them all. Nothing to do but go with it for right now, though.]

[It only takes him a few minutes to get ready and most of that involves making sure his hair is properly slicked back beneath his goggles and that his breath doesn't smell weird. Not like he's just scored a date or anything, but like hell he's going to make a bad first impression in person, regardless.]

[After getting outside, Rex leans up against a wall to wait, watching the kedan pass by in the street until he notices something large and white coming down the way. It's as said large, white thing gets closer that he realizes he's looking at some kind of huge canine-like creature...with Korra on its - her? - back. As they come to a halt in front of him, he finds himself staring up at the pair, eyebrows arching just a bit.]

Uh, no. Not really.

[His gaze drops from Korra down to...whatever it is that's she riding. Dog? He's going with dog. Sure, why not.]

...that's seriously like the second biggest dog I've ever seen.

[A good first impression does go a long way, and Korra's no exception to that rule, but her attention's drawn from Rex at the statement.]

He didn't mean it, Naga. [Grinning, she pats the animal on the neck and Naga sniffed in the direction of Rex.] Only the second? Well, that's a first. You have polar bear dogs on your world?

[It's an off chance, but everyone else she's met has freaked out at the size of her animal companion and she just has to ask.]

[Rex instinctively leans back juuuust a little as Naga sniffs at him. He's nearly had his head taken off a few too many times by creatures with large teeth, so until it's a sure thing Naga isn't interested in chewing on him, he's a little wary.]

No. Just dogs. And polar bears. They're two separate animals where I'm from.

For a while we had problems with things mutating, though. You know, like getting a lot bigger and nastier than they're supposed to be? Like rats getting as big as dogs, dogs growing to the size of bears or even larger. Sometimes with extra legs or heads or...whatever.

[Even though she knows mutated turtles, what Rex is describing is crazy and Korra's mouth went slightly slack. Nothing she wants to deal with, ever. Dark spirits are what's in her future and that's more than enough.

Now she gets why he isn't the most receptive to Naga.]

That sounds pretty insane, but I don't think you'll find any of those animals here. Naga's tame and I think she likes you. She won't bite [Korra reaches her arm out to help Rex up onto the saddle, a smirk playing on her lips.] and I won't either.

[Rex risks stealing a glance off to one side, watching as a couple of kedan cross the street hardly a stone's throw away.]

Actually, what's kinda weird is that some of the kedan remind me of humans who turned EVO back home. Just, you know, different, but not going full-on rampaging rage machine.

[Accepting the help up, Rex settles into the saddle behind Korra, a smirk of his own crossing his features.]

And not biting is good. I'm all for playing rough, but I've been gnawed on way too many times to think that's any fun.

[Once Rex is settled in Korra guides Naga to start walking them along the sidewalk and she looks down at the kedan. The Metal Sector's gotten used to the sight of the Avatar and her mount, and she's gotten used to them. But now she's seeing them a little differently from Rex's description.]

That's a good thing. If EVO means rage monsters running around tearing up the city, [It wouldn't be too unusual now that she thinks about it.] well, I'm just glad the kedan are generally nice.

[Generally.]

Someone's not doing something right if the biting hurts that much.

[It's a few seconds before she realizes she just dropped one of Jim Kirk's nuggets of wisdom.]

Anyway, the Metal Sector's got a lot of fun things to buy. It's the only place outside of Stark Industries you can get some good machines.

EVO can mean a lot of things. [Or it used to, anyway.] I mean, technically it's an acronym for something more scientific than just "mutant", but it really depends on what kind of random changes go with being an EVO.

[It takes Rex a couple of seconds to process the part about biting and it being done wrong, but once he manages to figure out what Korra means, he goes a bit red in the face. Good thing he's sitting behind her where the obviously blush to his cheeks is tougher to see. Just...going to let that go. Yeeeaaah.]

What kinda machines are we talking about, here? Like vehicles? Weapons? Entertainment devices? All of the above?

[She can't see his blush and he can't see her embarrassment, so Korra definitely considers this seating arrangement to be the best one possible. And she is more than glad to let that one roll on by.]

Sounds complicated. [Anything that gets too scientific is usually over Korra's head, and it honestly doesn't take too much.]

For the most part. Cars and entertainment devices. I have a small music player pad and a friend got some songs on there for me. Otherwise it's just going to have the kedan's music. [Her tone says it all. One can only take so much of old, asian-esque music before craving to have the roaring twenties.]

Weapons are just the usual swords, knives, bows and arrows. [All typical implements of destruction from her world. Unlike guns and powered armor loaded with a sassy A.I.]

[The situation at home used to be really complicated. Enough of a mess, in fact, that Rex is content to save further explanations for later. At least in terms of what other EVOs are like, how they did or didn't manage to live alongside humans and all that sort of thing.]

Huh, gotcha. Wouldn't mind a few things for personal entertainment if I'm going to be here a while, but I won't need transportation or weapons. Those I can manage on my own.

Oh yeah? Car or animal?

[She says that maybe just a little too fast. Because that's exactly what Korra likes. Fast rides. Right now, she's just letting Naga take her time as they go around the Metal Sector so he can get a feel for the place.

Weapons she'll poke about in a minute.]

Neither.

Hover cycle, hover board and a set of wings.

[It's not hard to hear the grin in his tone, though it's all said quite casually as Rex continues to take in sounds and sites of the sector around them.]

[That answer makes Korra turn as best she can to look at Rex, Naga perfectly going along on her own. She’s trying to remember seeing a hover cycle outside of his suite, but nothing came to mind. The board may have been in his suite.

But the wings; the wings is why she’s staring at him quizzically.]

You have all that? [It sounds like teasing, but Korra can’t think of any reason he’d do that. Her eyes dart from one side of his body to the other to find any hint of wings.

Not even a feather, but she did linger on his shoulders a little longer than she means to.]

[Rex waits for Korra to complete her visual examination of his shoulders before responding, a knowing smile on his face the entire time.]

Yep. Or I will, anyway. Starting tomorrow. I did say I was really good with machines, remember?

[He might be enjoying this a bit too much, but he's had a hell of a day. Might as well get a little bit of fun out of it where possible.]

[Korra tries to just play off his smile by giving him a sharp smirk.]

Yeah? I'd like to see them. [She's just guessing that first day downer is keeping him from concentrating on operating those machines. After all, a car's way too complicated to manage.]

But you said wings. Are those machines too?

You will. In fact, I'll even pay you back for today by giving you a ride on my cycle if you want.

[He nods at the question about his wings.]

Yeah, those are machines, too, with one turbine on each wing. They're also armed with bolas I can fire off to trip up targets, get them all tangled up in the lines.

[Korra's back straightens a bit and she looks over her shoulder at Rex, her smirk still there.]

I'd like that. Maybe the wings too. [Partially teasing.]

Now this place is a great spot to get some lunch and their hot chocolate is the b-

[Whatever their hot chocolate is gets interrupted by Naga letting out a bark and trying to chase down what might pass for an eight legged raccoon.]

Naga, no! [Hold on, Rex. This is where the ride gets bumpy.]

Really? Well, I can probably be talked into taking you flying.

[Rex has only just turned his attention toward the establishment Korra is referencing when suddenly Naga lunges forward. Now, granted, Rex has ridden his share of wild EVOs while trying to bring them down, but a jump forward without warning is STILL enough to give him a jolt.]

Whoa!

[His first reaction is to reach out and take hold of something to steady himself, his right hand catching hold of Korra's right shoulder. The next is to get his other arm around her waist.]

[Korra's athletic build is probably sturdier than the saddle they're on and she's hardly bothered by the points of contact. But Rex has the right idea:]

Whoa, Naga! [Yanking on the reins to the saddle doesn't do much and this is one of those times Naga's just going to do her own thing. Likely because Korra hasn't taken her out the other to run around.]

Hang on, she's not usually like this. [But she does mean hang on as Naga's headed straight for the car the animal crawled under. Fully climbing on top of it like it was just a step.]

Sorry! [She's not sure if the driver hears her, but really she just needs to try and steer Naga away from her quarry.]

[With one arm around Korra, Rex about has his front fully up against her back, so it's a good thing she doesn't mind. His other hand has found its way to the saddle itself. It's about now that Rex is reminded of why he generally prefers to rely on machine based transportation rather than dealing with animals. Not to say he dislikes animals, really... It's just that a car isn't going to start randomly chasing small furry creatures.]

[And speaking of cars, Rex can't help but look down at the one Naga just stepped up onto. ...is there such thing as auto insurance in Keeliai?]

Would it help if I got down and tried to distract Naga somehow? Or would she even care?

[She's not about to ask Rex to help her with the Avatar's stubborn animal companion.]

No, I got this one.

[Korra brings up her arms to bend a wall of asphalt after Naga's on the ground and the polar bear dog puts her paws up on it, barking at her escaping impromptu snack.]

Down, Naga. [Crossing her arms, Korra waits until she obeys and lets out a sigh, looking back over at Rex.]

Sorry about that.

[When Korra looks back at Rex, his grip around her waist will have slackened as he sits there with his mouth half open, staring at the asphalt wall. He's seen EVOs control earth, moving it according to their will thanks to the nanites spread throughout, but Korra is no EVO and there are no loose nanites in Keeliai. At least, not any that Rex is aware of.]

[His gaze shifts over to Korra after another second or two.]

Alright, that was...impressive. Especially since I have no idea how you just did that.

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