[IC] Barrier Set-Up

[slashgoggles]

[ in one of the abandoned rooms at the underground labs, a teenager is setting up complex technology ]

Okay, so that's the switch, which means the panel should go there...

[ totally complex ]

Comments

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

It'll be a trial but I'll do it.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

Try not to collapse from it.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best. So what's all this doing?

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

The main generator is the power supply. See the funnely-thing on the top? It sends a signal really high up and then sets the barrier. The panels here are the warning systems in case the room is jeopardized.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

Then what?

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

The barrier should be operational a week from now. It needs to store the power before it starts up. I'll be here if something happens. Otherwise, we should have an operational barrier.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

How strong will it be?

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

Strong enough. It's not something I can hack into easily either. You would a really strong concentrated charge to make a hole... but that's even harder than building this.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

It'd be nice to offload some of the barrier energy drain onto something else, instead of it being all on me.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

All on you?

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah. Right now I'm kind of ... keeping the thing up. Sort of. I'm fixing it, I guess?

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

By yourself? That's crazy!

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

At first it wasn't; I was supporting Charlotte. But the initial working back in August, it ... well, it's now up to us. I just haven't found anyone who can share it yet.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

And how many people did you actually tell?

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

I've made no secret of the fact that if we don't get the barrier repaired in time, I'll die in four months.

[he shrugs]

It is what it is. It's just a little tiring at times.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

... I don't like that. It is what it is... I get it, but it's not... okay. It just.. it isn't okay.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

It'll be all right, okay?

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

Don't make those kind of promises. I learned early on that they don't work out.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

It's not a promise though. It's a statement. That's what I do, make things turn out.

Though ... in any case, I don't want you telling Vanya. I know you two are talking but she wouldn't get it.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

... Fine. I won't tell her.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

See ... she sees wizardry as ... as party tricks and talking to everything. But it's a promise. I made a promise to the universe that I will do what I can to ease pain and suffering, to prolong life wherever necessary, to give a quick and painless death when necessary and I live to fulfil that promise. I don't really want to die; I've done it before. But if that is the sacrifice I need to make for everyone else to live, then I will.

The thing is, Vanya would never understand that.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

I dunno if I could do that. Or anyone I know could. It's impressive. But right now, I think it sucks.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

I know I couldn't do what you do. It's why I wasn't called to do it.

[swissarmycock.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't let anyone do what I do. Not now, not ever.

[tobethemiracle.livejournal.com]

And that's why I won't let anyone else take on this test, unless they understand what they will be doing. Thus far, there isn't anyone, and I'd be shirking my responsibilities if I just ... left it undone.