Roger: Mad Scientist

[hazlogs]

It is currently 21:09 Pacific Time on Fri Nov 30 2001.

Currently the moon is in the waning Full Moon phase (98% full).

Currently in Saint Claire, it is raining lightly. The temperature is 44
degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in
from the north at 16 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.47 and
falling, and the relative humidity is 93 percent. The dewpoint is 42
degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.)

Walker Safe House - Lobby

        This small tenement building is a work that any interior decorator
would be proud of. The building is somehow filled with light and space,
despite the fact that the room is far from large. Mirrored surfaces and
lush green potted plants are much in evidence - jarring only slightly with
the video cameras that perch unobtrusively in various locations. A small
sign on the wall lists the number of apartments upstairs as eight, though
there are no names next to the apartment numbers. A very thick door leads
downstairs, with no visible method of being opened - except a keypad next
to it. A monitor is perched above the entrance, showing images from the
hidden camera that watches the outside of the building.

        The lobby branches off into what appears to be a small recreation
room; for use only by residents and their guests.

Salem comes downstairs, hand trailing lightly along the bannister. The
Philodox's manner is dour tonight and rather pensive.

Lianne lets herself into the Safe House, carefully closing the door behind
her.

A muffled explosion is heard downstairs, and a moment later Roger rushes
up from the basement with a wide grin on his face, which is covered with
black soot. "Eureka!" he calls out as he spots Salem's mood and heads over
towards him. "I've done it," are his next words looking towards Lianne
coming in. "A neutralizing gum shell as a directional tool for powder /OR/
liquid explosive compounds!"

Salem pauses at the bottom step, catching sight of Lianne as she enters.
Whatever greeting he was going to make is whisked away, however, by
Roger's sudden arrival. His brows rise. "Congratulations."

Lianne blinks and comes to a halt, leaning against her cane for support.
"I hope that you didn't cause too much dammage."

Roger frowns at Salem and shakes his head slightly. "Congratulations? Did
someone say 'congratulations' to Einstein when he discovered that nuclear
fission was not only possible but was in his grasp? No! ... though he
didn't tell anyone for a while because he unlike myself was worried about
the war-based applications of his findings... but thats not the point. The
point is only one other person has devloped this kind of technology and
she was an organic chemistry student in Russia and the only American
knowledge of this is jealously guarded by the military. I've just made
the, well invention, its been invented once or twice before... but rather
discovery that will make my bomb suit wearable on the move."

Salem's mouth twitches, like it doesn't quite know whether to smile or
scowl. He folds his arms across his chest and leans a shoulder against the
wall. "As I said. Congratulations."

In what was probably the time taken to pull on a t-shirt and some jeans,
after the explosion in the basement, John steps out of his room. Looking
down the stairs at the small gathering, he slips one of his pistols into
his belt and starts down towards them, frowning. He's unshaven, with
possibly a couple days' growth on his chin. And apparently just woke up.

Lianne merely shakes her head, a faint smile tugging at the edges of
mouth. At John's arrival, she scowls. "I must say, you're looking more
ragged then usual."

Salem glances up at John, then shifts his gaze back to the face-blackened
Galliard.

John gives a nod to the group of Walkers-- Lianne gets a gruff, low,
"Sleeping. Trying to, anyway." The Ahroun inspects Roger's face, now, then
folds his arms, waiting for the explanation. Or a repeat of it.

Roger looks up to John and almost instructs him, "Call Kaz, I'm ready to
demonstate the bomb suit."

That... won't be necessary. Kaz, carrying a large thermos and a small
plastic bag, and whistling Christmas songs incessantly, rings the main
doorbell, and then leans against the doorjam, still whistling.

Lianne merely watches, face impassive.
"Shall I get that?" Lianne offers.

Salem blinks, the moderately pleasant expression vanishing at the eerily
well-timed doorbell ring. He nods once, frowning.

John closes his eyes slowly, as a premonition steals over him. "I'm
getting a drink." he announces to the world in general, and starts towards
the rec room.

Lianne checks the viewscreen, frowning faintly. "It apears to be a woman
in less then sanitary clothing." The kinswoman sighs faintly. "I belive it
is the Gnawer, you were just speaking off." Lianne opens the front door,
letting the Galliard inside. "Evening."

Kaz whistles 'Silver Bells' at Lianne, cheerfully, and then adds, "Hey,
yo, how's it going? Is John around?"

Salem shifts his weight, giving said Gnawer an odd, slightly narrowed look
as she enters. "Speak of the devil. Good evening, Kaz." His tone's
pleasant enough, and after that first look, his expression changes to
match. The Philodox nods toward the rec room.

Lianne nods, back stiff and holding something of a superior air about her.
"Yes. As Mr.Salem indicated, John in currentky in the adjoining room."

Roger looks over at Kaz and seems to become excited. "Kaz! When you have
the time I have to get your measurements... so I can tailor the suit I
made to you."

An inarticulate grunt sounds from the rec room with a familiar, deep
timbre. "He's ready to blow you up, now."

Kaz says, "Yuh-huh," to Lianne. "Heard him. Thanks. 'Cause see, I'm
/poor/, I ain't /deaf/." Shrugging, she gives Salem a look, and is just
about to greet him when Roger enthuses at her. "So you're ready to --
yeah, that?"

Roger nods to this. "I'm gonna do a demonstration as soon as you and John
and whoever else wants to see is in the basement. I'll see you all down
there."

Salem unfolds his arms. "Lead the way," he tells the Galliard.

Roger is already headed downstairs.

John emerges from the rec room, holding a glass of whiskey loosely between
two fingers. Lots of ice. "This should be interesting." the Ahroun
murmurs, smoothly, as he comes out. He looks Kaz over. "Anything important
you needed to see me about, before you potentially blow up?"

The metis doesn't give Lianne a second look; she shrugs at John. "Nah. I
was bringin' over some martini mix but I see you already got a start on
that front. Let's get crackin', huh?"

John nods, and gives Lianne a curious look as he starts for the basement.

Lianne's shoulders lift and drop in a faint shrug, in response to John's
curious glance.

Salem hooks his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans and follows the
others downstairs.

Basement

        The basement consists of plain cement flooring and walls. Aside
from one wall, which is made out of metal and has a matching steel door.
This leads into the second half of the basement. Nothing has been done to
make the place homey at all. It is little more then a cement cube,
resembling and oversized bomb shelter. With a small drain in the middle of
the floor, and a hose curled up and resting neatly against on wall.
Directly above two metal tubs, that are covered with large sheets of
metal. Usually near the drain and metal tubs, is a well sized desk, that
is covered with an impressive looking chemistry set. Large chucks have
been torn out of the cement walls and are in various stages of repair.

The oversized tubs have been pushed out of the way and where they were
before a fifteen foot cubed section has been cut off from the rest of the
basement by thick square PVC curtains. On the inside of the curtains are
thick layers of kevlar that are firmly inplace. The ceiling and floor as
well have been covered perfectly within this fifteen foot area with
kevlar. This area is obviously in place as some sort of testing area for a
heavy duty explosion. There is a red circle on the center of the floor
covering, a bit larger then a man with six blue X's placed equal distances
from each other along the circle.

Roger steps in and turns on a four by four monitor array far from the
kevlar curtains which is viewing the interior of the curtain from various
angles and zooms. Currently there are six tripods with wierd sensors
placed on the six blue X's inside the cubed area. After doing this Roger
takes out a cigarette and places it between his lips, not lighting it
before steping up to the cube and unbuckling a corner. Before steping
inside he turns back and smiles to the crowd. "Watch the monitors. If
anything goes wrong... I'll have died in the pursuit of science for Gaia's
betterment. But if it goes right... I'll have done something that was
before now, impossible. Wish me luck." And then he steps in and buckles
the inside up, "Can one of you buckle the outside please," he calls out
before stepping into the center and picking up the 'suit' there and
placing it over his shoulders.

Kaz just leans against a wall and watches, one eyebrow raised.

John simply folds his arms, and nods for Salem to go buckle the crazy
Walker into his device.

Salem looks rather dubious -- he's probably wondering about his
tribemate's sanity -- but steps up to buckle up the outside of the cube.

The 'suit' itself is an odd yet symetric conglomeration of explosive
devices attached with straps of leather lined with some strange metallic
fabric. Its got a helmet component with a meshwork of small red boxes on
it and hanging from shoulder straps are larger blue and red cone-shaped
bombs that drape down and face in all directions. When the cube is buckled
he calls out. "Ok, all please watch the monitors and on my three-count,
push the red button on the pedestal next to them. At this moment he tilts
one of the red cones upwards slightly and it clicks into place at a
slightly more upward angle and he leans forward with the cigarette in his
mouth, the tip seeming to be just outside the cone's radius and a bit away
from it distance wise. "Ready?"

Kaz just grunts, watching carefully.

John raises his eyebrows in a faintly pained expression. "Fire away..." he
murmurs, mouth twisting with slight concern.

Salem steps away from the Cube of Explosive Death; his attention shifts
from the outside of the cube itself to the view on the monitors.

Roger turns to one of the protected cameras he had setup to look directly
at his face, which is in a wide grin. Only Roger could smile at a moment
like this. OK. "Salem, if you could do the honors. Count to three and push
the button." At this moment he positions the cigarette in his mouth over
the cone again and waits, not shaking or even sweating.

Salem mutters a few syllables in Serbian. Then, with as little drama as
possible, he counts, "One. Two. Three." And then presses the button,
decisively.

John merely frowns.

BOOM! The red cones erupt gelatin flames that shoot out with massive force
in large expanding cones that balloon out the curtain containing Roger,
coating them in a goo bright with blue-hot flames. The blue cones however
are the ones Roger is proud of. Out of these comes both giant BB's and
large nails that shoot out in much the same pattern as the flames and slam
into the curtain and stick in causing massive damage and making sure the
same curtains won't be used for another test. The small boxes on his
helmet also explode, but these each fire BBs in a generally upwards
direction with enough force to embed themselves in the 'walls' of the
testing area. And in the end... after the smoke clears a bit Roger is
standing there, wearing the remenants of the 'suit' with no damage on him
at all... smoking a lit cigarette.

Slowly, John begins to smile. His eyes fall to Kaz. "Think you can stomach
doing that?"

Salem, though ready for loud noises, twitches at the explosion. Both
eyebrows rise at the image of an unharmed Roger on the screens.
"Impressive."

Kaz thumps back against the wall, and then, slowly, starts smiling as
well. "Iceman, m'friend," she says, an eager layer suffising her voice,
"You can count on it."

Roger undoes the straps of the suit and lets it fall to the floor before
moving to the curtain, "Can one of you all let me out?" he calls and waits
for whoever does it before stepping out, all smiles.

John nods a few times to himself, still smiling with a dark satisfaction.
"Well done Roger." he says, mildly. "You've outdone yourself." The Ahroun
unfolds his arms and turns to leave the basement. Still smiling.

Salem does the honors of letting the Mad Midnight Walker What Bombs At
Midnight out. "How long have you been working on this?"

Meanwhile, Kaz says, with hertofore unseen glee, "/I/ get to be a walking
/bomb/."

John actually laughs out loud, shaking his head as he disappears up the
stairs.

Roger nods to this and adds, "The best part... is that there are two
stages to the suit. The metalic lining of the straps is a charged
magnesium based explosive, after the charge that sets off the explosives
goes off a second charge activates the wiring and on a second push of the
button the suit itself will explode..." With this he tosses the cigarette
in on the suit and buckles the curtain closed quickly moving to push the
button again as the suit explodes in a giant incendiary mass that
obliterates the insides of the curtain which is rocked so badly that it
pulls away from the ceiling and folds down on itself.

Dryly, Kaz says, "I think I'll avoid that part, at least up close."

Salem steps back. Quickly.

John's head appears through the door. Quickly. And frowning.

Roger looks at Kaz with a 'duh' expression. "Well of course. You throw the
suit and then do it... its quite light weight after the inital explosion."

Kaz nods. "Right, I was just bein' a smartass."

John's eyes look at Kaz, then Roger. "Any more surprises? Or can I get
some sleep?"

Roger shrugs. "Well... I'm done for the night. All and all a success. I've
had enough time that I already have the second one made, it just needs to
be sized to Kaz and calibrated so it doesn't, ya know... kill her."

John nods a few times, narrowing his eyes slightly in a way that suggests
that on the whole, yes, that would be preferable. He disappears again, up
the stairs, scratching at his chin.

Mock-dismissively, Kaz says, "Details." Then grins at the Galliard. "Rock.
Bug me when you got it runnin' -- meanwhile, I gotta go patrol."

Salem shakes his head slightly, his eye shifting at the collapsed remains
of the explosion cube.

Eventually, Kaz wanders upstairs.