A small project.

[Nash Riley]

Nash was in the Danger Room working on a personal project. While the danger room does have some tools to speed up development Nash wasn't currently using them, instead he was doing everything by hand. He was hunched over a workbench with a small hand-held welder, welding on something that was rather small. What it was exactly wouldn't be easy to tell from the entrance or from the observation deck, both of which he had left unlocked.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Another future inventor eh?" a voice asked curiously over the intercom.

[Nash Riley]

Nash didn't respond until he finished the current weld he was doing. He then set the welder down, flipped up his mask and turned too look at the observation deck.

"What do you mean, future?" Nash grinned.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Confident too. I like that," the voice chuckled.

[Nash Riley]

“Somewhat confident I guess. So far this has been working better than some of my previous projects.” he admitted.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Ah, the casualties of invention. Care if I take a look at what you have there?"

[Nash Riley]

"No, come on in." Nash motioned Madrox in with his arm before turning back to the table, looking at what he was working on.

When Madrox got closer he would see that it was a robotic beetle. The top and bottom shell were sitting at the side of the table, while the part Nash was working on resembled mandibles. There were also several small circuit boards laid out that he could look at. One thing he'd probably notice was none of the circuit boards on the table appeared to have a processor.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Very nice design," Madrox said as he looked over the assorted pieces. "But I hope you plan on giving it a brain," he added, motioning to the processor-less circuit boards.

[Nash Riley]

“Look at it a little better, it has a brain of sorts, but it certainly isn't standard.” He grinned.

Madrox could analyze the circuit boards closer but would notice the same thing, something was missing. It shouldn't even be able to function with just what he had looked at. In wondering how it could work he might suspect that there was another circuit board still attached to the top or bottom shell.

If he flipped them over and looked at them he would find his answer to how it worked, but he wouldn't find a circuit board as he expected. Instead there was a complex system of mechanical components.

[Madrox Saavedra]

Madrox did take a closer look, whistling at the contraption.

"How wonderfully clockpunk," he chuckled.

[Nash Riley]

“It just has basic functionality right now. I plan to add on to that and have even more of it being mechanical but that is going to take a good bit more work and planning.”

Nash finished adjusting pressure sensors on the on the mandibles, or gripper claw, as it was apparent that it was being used for. He then started to put the little robot back together.

“My first attempts were more conventional, a far larger robot using one of those little hobbyist boards with a CPU like in a smart phone, but my programing skills are terrible and it didn't work right. I then planned on using just analog electronics, but then I imagined mechanical solutions for a few things I needed it to do. It just grew from there to what I have now.”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Your skills are developing quite nicely. Reminds me of the things I made on my steampunk kick."

[Nash Riley]

Nash continues putting it the beetle back together and is now almost done.

“Due to what I've heard about you I'm assuming you didn't just glue little gears to stuff. So what all did you make?”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Ever see the Clash of the Titans? The original Harryhausen one, not the remake."

[Nash Riley]

It took a moment or two to register, but Nash then stopped what he was doing if just temporarily.

"The clockwork owl? You made one of those?" Nash looked surprised.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Yep. Well, okay, I cheated a little with the AI and flight was... gloriously awkward ... but I did build one."

[Nash Riley]

Nash went back finished putting the beetle together.

“Should have guessed. Making a complex mechanical AI is would be extremely difficult. Your description of the flight as gloriously awkward does make me still want to see it though.”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"I'll gladly dig it out of storage for you."

[Nash Riley]

“I'd like to see it sometime then. I'm in no rush, so just when ever you are able to get around to it.”

He then turned towards the center of the room.

"Computer, bring up the testing area and randomize obstacles and objectives. Perform simulated test of modified design at two-x speed."

A small walled of area appeared before them, it was mostly white though a box near the starting area was outlined in green. It had various obstacles as well as several green and red blocks lying in various places.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"This ought to be interesting," he smiled.

[Nash Riley]

It it was taking awhile, even though the little robot moved around the area quickly at twice its normal speed. It avoided the red blocks and picked up the green ones and carried them back to the area outlined in green. It started taking longer and longer for the robot to find the next block as fewer and fewer green blocks were left.

“At least its getting a better grip on the blocks this time, before it was having trouble holding on to them if it approached at too much of an angle.”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"How long have you been developing it?"

[Nash Riley]

“Hard to say exactly. The thing as a whole I only started on a little over two weeks ago. Parts of it have been brought over from previous projects though.”

The robot had found most of the blocks but was still missing two of them.

“Computer, increase simulation speed to four-x.”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Cannibalizing old projects is tough isn't it? That final admission that that particular creation is no longer viable."

[Nash Riley]

“That's not what I meant, though I have done that before. I was referring to some parts of the design coming from earlier projects.”

The beetle found the next to the last block, but still wasn't finding the last one.

“Computer, display path." A dotted line appeared along the ground where the beetle had traveled, the line covered most of the test area but didn't get that close to the last block, which was situated between two of the obstacles.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Well the little guy almost got them all."

[Nash Riley]

“Yeah, he isn't going to find that last one. Still did better than I expected though. Computer, end simulation.”

“So do you need to use the room for something? I guess I'm done here for now, Reprograming a clockwork brain takes time... and a a machine shop.” Nash grinned.

[Madrox Saavedra]

"Just a routine bit of combat training, but there was no hurry."

[Nash Riley]

“I'll let you have at it just as soon as I put this stuff away.”

Nash started putting his tools away, placing them along with his robot beetle into his backpack. Some of the tools were left on the table, but they soon vanished along with the table.

“Computer, end program.”

[Madrox Saavedra]

"I'll shoot you an email when I drag out the owl."

[Nash Riley]

“Sounds good.” Nash said as he headed out the door.