Wind under my wings

[wanderlusting.livejournal.com]

Characters: Setzer, Terra and Edgar (for now)
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Further explorations of the Celsius
Location: Tuscon Wastelands
Date: June 24th
Warnings: None?

Even with the rather unfortunate news that someone else had laid claim to this ship already, Setzer wasn't about to put a halt to his plans. If he only had a few hours in which to look her over, than that was a few hours he was going to put to the best use he could. And while the cockpit was certainly interesting, it wasn't the heart of a ship. No ship could fly with something to power her, and to that end he'd set about looking for the ship's engine room.

That was where Edgar and Terra would find him when they arrived. He'd left the boarding doors open, on the theory that anyone who'd want to make off with it in the meantime would have to make off with him as well. Besides, it was easier than waiting at the doors.

Comments

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

As soon as Terra was off the phone with Setzer, she went to tell Edgar about his find...if he hadn't found out already. Curious to see it up closer, if not having quite the same love of mechanical things, she was quick to depart the castle. Setzers' directions were follows and it didn't take too long to find the ship's location.

She paused and looked it over, then approached. Setzer wasn't at the boarding doors, but he had to be around somewhere. Certain he'd be fine with them checking in whenever they chose, Terra stepped inside. "Setzer...?" If he wasn't in view, then all the more reason to keep going.

[wanderlusting.livejournal.com]

He wasn't immediately in sight, at the very least. It was a large ship, after all and while there was nothing keeping voices from echoing down the halls Setzer only barely managed to heat Terra's voice as a faint murmur. But if the door was open, then yes, the odds were he was perfectly fine with them arriving whenever they would.

Wherever he was.

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm... fascinating," Edgar murmured to himself, stepping into the airship and up to the control panel for the hatch. "Absolutely fascinating. This technology is far beyond anything Gaia has, much farther beyond anything we've developed at home." He eyed the panel for a few moments, before shaking his head and consciously not touching it. He wouldn't want to break it and get them trapped inside, after all.

Next to catch his eye was a platform attached to a gearchain on the wall with a railing around it, and Edgar made his way over to it quickly. "Here - this looks like a transportation system of some sort. I can't make out the language, though - this writing style is too odd."

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

Terra, drawn back to Edgar by his voice, headed over and paused by him. Her brow furrowed as she looked over the writing as well. "It's obviously not Gaian, but...other than that, I'm not sure. Maybe Setzer's found out, by asking someone over the network? Let's find him."

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

"Of course. Now, how does this-' An unexpected button made the platform beneath them shake, causing Edgar to grip the railing tightly, though he didn't panic. The castle also always shook before moving, so this wasn't too dissimilar for him.

What was dissimilar was the way the platform began to descend, moving along the diagonal track through a hole that was specially cut in the floor to fit its shape. "Amazing! They've been able to come up with a much more efficient system for moving smaller loads than an entire castle."

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

When the platform began to shake, Terra automatically latched onto his arm. Not tightly, but it did startle her. She relaxed after a moment, though, peering curiously as Edgar spoke. "I wonder what else we'll find here. This place could be a treasure trove of ideas." Ideas which she had no idea how to put into practice, but Edgar might.

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

"Ahh, probably not. To truly understand anything, one must begin from the ground up, and that would require taking this magnificent machine apart. I doubt whoever owns it would allow me to do so."

But at that moment, they were lowered into the Engine Room - and if Edgar was inclined to fall in love with a structure, Terra would have some severe competition.

"Oh... Goddesses..."

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

Terra stared around the Engine Room curiously, but she obviously didn't see what Edgar did. Was it really that incredible? "Edgar...?" Her voice was gently prompting, hoping he would do more than gape.

[wanderlusting.livejournal.com]

"My thoughts exactly," Setzer answered, stepping out from behind one of the larger bits of machinery. He'd seen more than his share of engines and their workings across a pair of of (admittedly fairly similar) airships, and what he'd found at the heart of this one made even those pale in comparison.

To be honest, he almost didn't want to have to give her away, even if these Gullwings were the rightful owners. But he'd play it fair for now. No sense in pulling friends into things if that would be the outcome. And who knew, Edgar's presence might turn out to be an ace in the hole. Besides, he had a few hours yet. Nothing to worry about.

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

"This is..." Words utterly failed Edgar for a moment, and then he swallowed and shook his head lightly, searching once more. "I never dreamed that any world would reach this level - this is centuries beyond us, at least."

He was exaggerating, but that's what it felt like. Edgar moved closer to the mechanics, peering at them intently with a force that Setzer would likely sympathize with.

"And you say that someone's claimed it?"

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

Terra darted a sympathetic glance at Edgar and Setzer. It was a shame that they wouldn't have more time to study and explore it, but if it belonged to another, that was that. "At least there's a little time before they arrive, right? And once they get here, you could learn even more."

At least, Terra hoped for their sake that the true owner would be so generous. It couldn't hurt to ask.

[wanderlusting.livejournal.com]

"Unfortunately, yes. She called them the Gullwings, I believe?"

He was hoping that was the name of a group of some sort, since it would have made for quite a terrible name to have been saddled with for the entirety of one's life. Still, he wasn't going to ask, given that it would only have been rude.

"And I'm hoping as much," he answered Terra's comment with a nod. "For now though, we'll just have to muddle our way forward."

Enter: Gullwings, Stage Left

[knowshermachina.livejournal.com]

Outside there was the familiar rushing engine noise of a Gaian airship arriving, Rikku's modified one to be specific. She'd basically pushed it into the red the entire flight there from Luca, and she was bouncing in place behind the wheel as she brought her down to sink into the sand for a landing.

Two minutes of rushing across the sand later and there was a soft but noticable 'thud' against the side hull of the ship, right near the entranceway. Yes, Rikku had just hugged the Celsius. As much as a tiny Al'bhed could hug an airship, anyway.

"Rammu? Hello?" She was calling out as she scrambled inside, pausing once she got to the first available sphere console to check the ship's systems.