13963/Race car technology, in a lava submarine...

Race car technology, in a lava submarine...
Date of Scene:	18 November 2021
Location:	Savage Lands, Antarctica
Synopsis:	Fun under the sun. Nope, under the lava, which has problems that will have to be worked on.
Cast of Characters:	Sinister, Lucifer

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Sinister has posed:
The thing about volunteering for missions, is that sometimes, there's explanations and training that has to occurr. Now technically speaking, a supervillain has a great deal of gadgetry to teach and practice with, but not for -everything- strictly speaking. One doesn't usually think 'I know, I'm going to have to teach someone to pilot a submarine through lava, let me make a simulation for that' because often enough, you don't REALLY care if the clone survives the ordeal.

So here we are. In a pool of lava on the surface of the savage lands, with a thing that looks like the mutant lovechild of an adult toy, a submarine and a hovercraft. Sorry, it's the overall shape, it's just reminiscent of things for bedroom entertainment. It's sitting on the crust of pummice at the moment, being just a little larger than one man, with several sensory gadgets and a control device in Sinister's hand, so that he can explain everything "...and this is the integrity guage. This is designed to self-cool the hull somewhat, but it -could- still go wrong. If it gets into the red, you need to teleport out of there, because otherwise it could get interesting." He exhales. "Otherwise, it's a little like a car with no wheels, an overhead display and a lot of sensors."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is slightly mesmerized by the hovercraft submarine thing that he's looking at, sitting on the edge of the lava pool. He tilts his head one way and then the other, poking at the machinery a bit while listening to Nathaniel explain about the mechanics. Though he doesn't understand why he would need to teleport away. Like he's invulnerable to fire or something. If Nathaniel is with him, however, that would be an entirely different story. Nathaniel will melt.

We cannot have that.

As Nathaniel gets to the end of his explanation, Lucifer turns his head to look at the man while straightening back up. "Define interesting?"

Sinister has posed:
"Well, you may be fireproof, but you'd also be stuck in an imploding machine /under/ the lava, in temperatures that rival the surface of the sun, where you can't exactly /see/ through the lava itself, because lava doesn't work like that. So, if imminent implosion is going to occur, get out, because it'll get complicated otherwise. And probably messy on your clothing -- I can imagine chipping you out of solid pummice would also be disturbing to my psyche." Sinister replies to that. "So Interesting is defined." Yes, he's being practical around certain truths, even if fire isn't going to kill the devil. But yes. He would vaporize.

"Do you have any questions regarding this? I mean that's why we're here, for you to ask things, fiddle with things and then pilot around the lake a bit, see if you can get the hang of it, where it's reasonably shallow and not in a subterranean tunnel of molten rock and solid igneus."

Lucifer has posed:
"Okay. That's fair." This is serious business, apparently, so there's no time for a few punch jokes. That's fine. Lucifer smiles and then steps into the hovercraft portion of the machine and begins to look over things. He offers up a few questions here and there while pointing at levers and counters and doodads to confirm he has most of what he's been shown so far down. "I mean, I think I won't really have many more questions until we get this thing moving and I can see how it all works. Know what I'm looking for. Are you sure you want to test it on lava first? Wouldn't...like...a water lake be more....uhm..." He pauses. Shrugs. "Not that I am doubting you, just wondering."

Sinister has posed:
"I know that it works in a water lake. I've done those tests in Italy. Italy's got a lot of lakes." Sinister says with a smile. "It's the occlusion of all vision when submerged, working through navigation on the screens and piloting it that requires a controlled... danger." He nods at the lava. "I am considering though, that I might ...hmm... meld myself with the machine to travel with, because otherwise it'll end up being a very tight fit in there. So, I should be able to function as a kind of AI for you."

Lucifer has posed:
"I... don't know if I would want you to do that... if something were to happen..." Lucifer begins, shaking his head. "I think I'll be fine...once I get used to all the knobs and gauges." He offers and then seems to consider something. "I wonder what the viscosity of lava is...and if it can be..." He makes a gesture with his hands like he's parting the air. "Kinda like what happened in the story of Moses.."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister's head tilts, looking at the lava lake that they stand not that far from. He lifts his hands in a similar motion to Lucifer and pushes them apart in the air, creating a track in the lava. "It weighs as much as the rock does, so I can move about ten tonnes of it easily, more if I strain myself. I don't know how much you can move, easily." He claps hands together and the lava sloops back into place. "The thing is, can you part it and walk all the way there, to the source and back, without exhausting yourself? And I know I can't walk on what had been heated by that, for any length of time."

He taps his chin, idly. "That's why I brought up the hologram map of all the tunnels. I've loaded that map into the onboard computer for the sub, so most of it can be autopiloted, but you always have to take into account the unpredictability and even with shielding, the electro magnetic energy futzes with sensors."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer considers for a moment and then nods his head. "I was more thinking that while in the craft, the lava could be moved so we have a clear vision of what's ahead of us..." He offers this much. "I'd hate for you to go through all this and then I can simply part the lava and walk. It would likely take a lot out of me to do all of that. But if I could do it in small portions while moving through the lava. I feel that might be beneficial? If there's a map, and an autopilot, that's great, and then I can part the lava as we travel so we can see what's ahead of us." This much more and then he motions. "Surely you have something afixed so you can monitor things from here. Safely. Yes?"

Sinister has posed:
Sinister shakes his head a little, pulling out his cellphone, holding it out for it to be seen. There's no signall at alll. "Volcanos and electro-magnetism, screw with this sort of thing. Sensors, allso trasmissions. That's why I was considering hopping my mind into the machine. But, we can see what can be done and whether any of it works, by a test dip." He nods at the lake. "From ground radar at the site, it's about twenty foot deep at its deepest, so you can't reallly get in too much trouble and up is up. Not a rock tunnel. So. In theory, it should be relatively safe. And I can see if I -can- do a technology interface effectively and safely. I might have to travel overland in the mirror of the sub in the actuall event, to be close enough at all times. Five hundred miles is quite a distance, but I'd rather be closer. On a giant ski-do wearing enough clothing to look like the michilin man."

Lucifer has posed:
"Ah. That makes sense. Yes." Lucifer comments, giving a nod of his head. "Alright, so long as you think you'll be okay melding yourself to the submarine... but if things begin to go wrong or something tells you that you may not be able to handle it... let me know. Somehow." He says, concern in his voice. He trusts that Nathaniel knows what he's doing, and is confident in the theory, but the practice can be significantly different. Likely why they're testing things. "Okay...so I guess...we should get ready to get this out and going?"

Sinister has posed:
"MOre or less..." Sinister nods, striding to the machine and crouching as he leans in to check on the dials and pop 'the hood' so to speak, just to be absolutely triple sure that it's going to do -precisely- as he wants it to. There are times being paranoid and anal retentive about your methodology is actually a very good thing. After all, he's achieved results with it, for two centuries solid! He reaches outside, levitating a small case of equipment over and with a handwave pops it open, to extract several tools to check electrical circuitry and also several vials with twists of muscle and tendons within them -- one even pulses as if it's part of a human heart. These are socketted into various bits of the engine, which is just a disturbing thing to see.

Only when he's finished and is absolutely certain of his calculations, does he take steps back, extracting what looks a little like a sonic screwdriver from his pocket, pointing it at the sub. Pressing the button causes a very strange sensation in the stomach, as of an EXTREME gravity event occurring right infront of them and a distortion in the air makes it seem briefly like the sub is within the sphere of a black hole. Eyes narrowed and chin dropped, he stares intently as he does this, reading whatever he reads with his mind alone and technological interface... then seems satisfied and switches it off. Sudden feelings of being extremely light and bouncy follow the extreme gravity of moments ago. "Well, that's a good thing. Excellent. It can resist that much matter density amplification, it will handle the pressures of the lava very well. Ok, do you want to get yourself comfortable? This -ought- to be quite fun, once you've got the handle of it, given you enjoyed Delilah immeasurably." He grins.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer watches Nathaniel as he double triple checks everything with the machine. It may be an anal retentive thing, but it almost also HAS to be done. To make sure that nothing will go wrong with the mechanics at least. Of course, that may put more pressure on the driver, but Lucifer is confident that all will go well. So when Nathaniel takes out another device and does other things to the machine for a moment, which all look really cool, he smirks as the man announces what he's found. "Good. I'm glad. And yes... yes I do..." So, Lucifer moves to get onto the hovercraft portion but then makes his way into the submarine part, where all the controls and such are for when they're going to go down. This is right, right? <If she handles anything like Delilah this is going to be REAL fun...>

Sinister has posed:
<<I should hope so. Only even more gleefully homicidal, potentially. It's hard to have tires that grip in liquid magma, so she may act more like well... we'll see how she handles.>>

The thought is amused at any rate. Once Lucifer is settled, the view of Sinister looking down on him from above occupies the patch where sky ought to be, the crooked smile and fond expression in place. "Comfortable?" is asked, before he leans down for an upside down kiss and secures the hatch, making sure the seal is tight. Cameras blink on, on the dash, essentially giving an almost 360 degree field of vision to the pilot, one Lucifer Morningstar. Sin ends up moving through all of the fields as he does a walking circuit, banging, smacking, rattling fixings and seals. He ends up then, infront of the machine, with both hands on the engine block and onboard computer housing, his head bowing over as digits spread on the metal.

THrough the speakers inside, a female voice: "Can you hear..." pause "...Oh that won't do at all." AS it drops down the octaves, the climate control also kicks in. Although heat doesn't bother Lucifer, machinery often likes things to be just a little cool. Pleasantly room temperature - one of the vials of human muscle in the dash actually freezes solid and goes blue, frost crystalizing on the inside of the cannister. Wonder who THAT was from. No prize for guessing, either. When the voice speaks again, it's the unmistakeable, but slightly electronic sounding tones of Essex. "How's that? Oh much better. I sound like myself and not like the computer from Star Trek."

Lucifer has posed:
"Comfortable. Yes. I am that." Lucifer offers, returning that upside down kiss before Nathaniel is locking the hatch. Then doing another round of checking everything. Being meticulous and all that. He checks the camera, okay so that's working. Valves and gauges are working, everything seems to be going right so far.

The sound of a voice from the speakers comes and he actually laughs. Then notices that it gets a bit cooler, but that's to be expected, and he can handle a bit of cool - just not really freezing cold. As he hears Essex come back through the speakers, he chuckles again. "Aww, but the voice from the Star Trek computers is kinda sexy...not gonna lie. Still, I do like the sound I am hearing now..." A tilt of his head and then a breath. "Alright... shall we be off then?"

Sinister has posed:
"Yes, I think that's a capital plan, don't you?" Pause "...you /really/ want me to sound like Majel Roddenbury, I can," comes out sounding like nurse Chapel "...but I prefer the honesty of me." In his regular tones. Sinister the ship, laughs softly. "Hold tight..."

In the rear view camera, Sinister can be seen sitting down on the cooled lava flow, resting his hands on his knees, cross-legged and eyes closed, terribly zen in the face of little spitting dots of red hot rock. Then the entire ship lifts up gently, floated forth and set equally carefully on magma. It sinks like a stone for a moment, before another of the vials kicks in, effervescing in its casing and releasing oodles of bubbles and bouyancy returns to the sub. "Ok, the controls are like a race car, except that you have full three dimensional control. Flappy paddle shifting, the helm behaves more like that of sesna. Altitude and depth by forward and backward motion. Take her out at your leisure my darling. I am going to concentrate on what my senses are telling me for a bit."

Lucifer has posed:
"The honesty of you is fine. Your voice is soothing. I like it. I was just commenting that I think the voice of the computer on Star Trek sounds hot is all..." Lucifer quips with a chuckle.

Then there's a moment where he can see Sinister before the entirety of the vessel is moved and plunked into the lava. It begins to sink, until a vial kicks in and the floating begins. After Nathaniel explains how the steering the such works, they're off! Not in any slow type of way either. Lucifer wants to really get a *feel* of how she handles on top of the lava before they go test diving within the depths. "Hold onto your knickers!

Sinister has posed:
It is very much like hydroplaning in a hovercraft that married a speedboat. And yes, she has all the responsiveness of a formula one racing car, except that it's on lava and speeds are INSANE. But so are turning curves. G-force may make for a whoop or two. And it also tests Sinister as an onboard computer, as there's a couple of grunts from the voice and a "...oh, behave yourself you dozy cow..." as she tries to do a donut. On lava. And ends up spinning around as he gets the jets under control.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer loses control, then gains it back, then there's the attempt of a donut. Lava is likely splashing - or plooping - as it can while he cuts through it in the craft. Finally he brings it to a stop and lets it just idle for a moment. "Okay. Maybe that was too ambitious. But... it was also fun..." He offers and then chuckles. "Shall we go ahead and dive down?"

Sinister has posed:
"Go ahead. And yes, that was a little more excitement than I was anticipating. However, I have recalibrated to 'insane celestial' and am up to speed," Sinister replies with humour somehow in the tone of the computerized voice. So much so in fact, that as they DO dive, there's that 'Baaaach' noise from the speakers synonymous with deep ocean subversive Sub action and the lights in the cabin all turn red. It lasts for about ten seconds before the "Sorry, couldn't resist..." comes through and a problem becomes apparent.

Under the lava, the cameras can see sod all. They shuffle about, use a variety of different sensors to try and penetrate the liquid magma, settling on penetrating radar. That returns echos of the shape of the lake on the sensors, but it's not the most accurate thing that ever existed. "Hmmmm. Might want to throw a TK bubble out, darling. We'll see if that makes any difference."

Lucifer has posed:
Dive! Dive! Dive! The submarine goes down and Lucifer does jump a little at the red flashing and the Baach sound before Sinister apologizes. "And I'm the insane one..." He offers with humor in his voice.

Under the lava? Nothing. Lava. And the sensors can only do so much. At the suggestion of the bubble, Lucifer nods his head. Honestly, it doesn't take much concentration to begin it, starting center and pushing outwards in a 360 degree dome, then, as it would seem that might splash lava where they don't want it to go, so he focuses it more into a linear point of view from the front. Parting, parting, so they can see forward for a bit.

Sinister has posed:
They can't see. Red hot rock just makes a little bubble of red hot gas in red hot rock. But what it DOES do, is clarify the radar a bit. "Okay, hold...." sensors flash, flash more, flash again, a gigaplex of calculations going through silicone and quartz crystals, via electricity, controlled and mirrored in the non-human mind. "This is untenable for any length of time... you can't easily do what you're doing and pilot at the same time. And if autopilot takes over, it takes the intuitive out of the equasion."

The voice sounds mildly annoyed, but also like it has a problem to solve. Because it does. "I wonder if there's a way to shield electromagnetically. Hmm. Ooooh, do I have..." static, briefly kicking in as the sub lists without extraneous assistance with all the extra stuff that comes with a machine in LAVA. It rapidly restores. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. Ok, when doing this, I cannot stop concentrating. Put her through her paces, love."

Lucifer has posed:
"holding." Lucifer confirms while tests are made and he listens to Nathaniel think through his process. Then there's a moment of being unstable because someone let go of the controls. "It's not really much effort for me to make this bubble, or whatever it is I'm doing. I could likely use it in a way that I focus while heading in a certain direction. Pause, sonar, then go again.." He offers this.

A pause once more before he tilts his head some. "Should we surface and head back to shore? You can work on whatever your thought process is and I can maybe see about honing my skills to multitask while under the lava..."

Sinister has posed:
"Hmm, that might be a good idea. It isn't your power I doubt in this, but the tools. I might have to lean on your powers of persuasion or ecclectic knowledge of the wierd and wonderful in this, in that I hope you might persuade a mutant or two that I know of with electromagnetic prowess to part with their genetic matieral, or provide a good target that we might hunt for the same ability... the latter I highly doubt will give -me- the time of day. Ideological challenges and all that jazz." The voice fades out as the sub surfaces though, immediately kicking in the heat resistant hover cushion, which just makes for a lot more fun on the surface.

"Good work, though. I suspect with the good data I've recovered in this, that I could design a relative simulator, based on the data, for you to get jiggy with. Corner on a dime, all that jazz, whilst under laaaaaaaaaaaaava. Allez oop..." The sub lifts from the lava to land lightly on the crusted flow, so that release can be had and hopefully a design process. Very shortly, drones come to collect it, whilst other activities are had.