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Post by eez on Oct 31, 2009 19:18:12 GMT -5
"You'll need to fly the ship; driving went out of style a millennia ago." Smoltz said, shaking his head with a raised hand. "And to answer your question, yes, yes you will need to learn how to fly and navigate around in both space and atmospheric conditions. You'll also need to know that fossil fuel has been replaced with crystallic fusion crystals so if you go overboard upon your ship's output, you'll blow the crystals and stall. Not a good scenario."
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Post by Blacksteel on Oct 31, 2009 19:20:22 GMT -5
"Drive, fly, same thing," Hellboy mumbled under his breath to himself. But he paid heed to the alien's next words. "Stall?" he asked. "Won't you be able to replace the... crystallic fusion cells with more in case that happens?"
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Post by eez on Oct 31, 2009 19:22:38 GMT -5
"Sure you can replace them, but since those blasted pieces of glowing rock are dreadfully expensive, most space-faring people don't bother to carry spares. That's why it's extremely important you treat them right." He explained. "But fortunately for you, since you work for Zurg who is unarguably the richest person in the galaxy, I'd imagine you'd have a far easier time than most people; just don't overdo it. Zurg does check his till, you know."
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Post by Blacksteel on Oct 31, 2009 19:24:23 GMT -5
"Wouldn't expect it any other way," Hellboy admitted, leaning back in his seat. "I don't suppose you could teach me how to fly a space-craft?" he added. It didn't look like Smoltz had one stashed in his backyard, for one thing.
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Post by eez on Oct 31, 2009 19:26:55 GMT -5
"Well...." Smoltz rubbed the back of his neck using a hand with an uncomfortable look and ruffled his white hair with the other. "I do have a spare parked out in the lot, but it's the only one I have....And with your level of expertise, it's a considerable risk." He admitted.
"That and there's no airbags...."
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Post by Blacksteel on Oct 31, 2009 19:29:40 GMT -5
Hellboy chewed on his upper lip. He really didn;t want to cause Smolts any further damage. The guy obviously looked like he needed every penny he had. And busting his space-craft would really put a dent in the guy's savings.
"Zurg was... quite adamant about me learning how to handle space-craft..." he said apologetically.
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Post by eez on Oct 31, 2009 19:31:29 GMT -5
"Oh I'm sure he was...." Smoltz grumbled, getting up with a sigh. "And if Zurg is adamant, it usually means his torture methods are just as adamant if he doesn't get his way." He remarked, pushing in his chair.
"Bah! Fine. You can fly my ship. It's not like I could get any worse than I already am." The alien concluded with a slump. "Follow me to the garage." He motioned, walking towards the back of the apartment complex.
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Post by Blacksteel on Oct 31, 2009 19:41:58 GMT -5
Hellboy followed him throughout the small apartment, then outside. The sun had properly risen by now, but their surroundings were perfectly still and silent; it was still far too early in the morning for people to be up and about.
He began to wonder whether this had been a good idea, after all. Not so much the fact that he had accepted to work for Zurg, but everything that accompanied it. To be honest, he wasn't used to this kind of lifestyle. Even though it was still far too early to tell, he could feel that it would be quite different from his previous profession. And if it hadn't been for that stone that had led him straight to Zurg, for all he knew he might have appeared in some other corner of this galaxy. Zurg had been right: no one would hire such a primitive as him. He really had to put all his efforts into learning as fast as he could and as efficiently as he could. Not so much for the sake of learning, but for the sake of survival.
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Post by eez on Oct 31, 2009 19:49:50 GMT -5
It wasn't long before Smoltz led them towards an elevator, in which they both stepped onto it promptly. The rickety old thing groaned under the agent's weight but it was a relatively short descent down and the battered, rusty doors creaked open to reveal a dark, flickering-lit hangar bay of sorts.
There were all kinds of rundown vehicles, most so riddled with holes that they could barely fly and a few had shoddy patchwork.
Thankfully Smoltz's vehicle, a rather small tiny little skimmer, was relatively a gem in the midst of all this rubbish.
"There she is!" The alien beamed happily, patting his hand upon a worn, dark-teal coloured hull fondly. "This is my ship, and she's got a lot of life left in her if you don't wreck her."
He took out a set of keys and hit a button once, the glass starshield popping up with a hiss and revealing three neat little seats for them to sit in: two in the front and one in the back.
Smoltz hopped in and took the passenger seat, patting the next one for the agent.
"Well, let's go! You have a lot to learn."
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Post by Blacksteel on Oct 31, 2009 19:53:20 GMT -5
Hellboy swallowed once, then climbed into the space-craft and into the driver's. She was a real beauty, he decided, placing his hands carefully around the controls. His right hand was rather awkward in this position, but it would have to do.
"So... how do you start her up?"
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Post by eez on Nov 1, 2009 3:16:29 GMT -5
"Simple! Just flick the ignition switches to warm her up and wait for the meter to indicate when to go." He said, pointing to several complex controls and one gauge. "She's an older model so she doesn't come in automatic, I'm afraid."
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Post by Blacksteel on Nov 1, 2009 14:03:11 GMT -5
Hellboy made a mental note to get himself an older model after he'd learned how to fly. If he was going to learn with an older model, it'd be logical to actually obtain something he knew how to fly.
He flicked on the switches, and the space-craft thrummed to life. It was a distant sort of buzzing in the demon's ears, and seemed to intensify as the progress bar filled. The vibrations also intensified, and he had to find a better way to grip the right handle the way his large stone hand kept slipping around it.
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Post by eez on Nov 1, 2009 14:09:36 GMT -5
"Alright. Looking good...full gauge and crystals haven't exploded yet." Smoltz said, snapping on his lap and seat belt. "Better buckle up. Insurance is a nightmare these days."
He double checked his restraints, eyeballed his passenger side and returned his attention towards the agent.
"Now check your mirrors to make sure your field of vision is aligned. Space Rangers like to give heavy fines if you get into a collision and they find out that you neglected the very first principle of flying." The alien instructed. "And once you're done with that, kick the parking brake and ease the thrusters gently; enough to coast a tad out of the space."
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Post by Blacksteel on Nov 1, 2009 14:18:39 GMT -5
Hellboy pulled on the seatbelt and snapped it into place after a few tries. Darn seatbelts never agreed with his massive bulk. He also double-checked the mirrors, adjusting them slightly so he could see better. Then, he kicked the parking brake loose. He ever-so-carefully drew the thrusters back a bit. They levitated a few feet into the air, the ship thrumming even louder than before, almost as if in anticipation to set off.
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Post by eez on Nov 1, 2009 14:22:07 GMT -5
"Good, good...." Smoltz was doing his hardest not to fidget and display his anxiety, remembering how the agent had kicked him before for his nervous tendencies. He looked over his side of the ship and felt somewhat at ease knowing that they were starting off on the right foot--or....was that a hoof?
"Alright! Now lower the starshield and make sure you secure it airtight. We don't want to get sucked into the vast vacuum of space." At least not today.
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