Log:Seeing the Tip of the Iceberg

2021/09/02 	 Radical|Connor Grimm

1

It's been a whirlwind of work. After getting back from the other dimension and loading up on coffee to fuel the work ahead, Radical and Grimm return to Radical's home in Green Acres. There's a lesson plan to develop and mana batteries to build! Gabrielle ordered a carafe of coffee and sugary treats to power through it. "This kind of makes me feel like finals week smashed into one day. Why didn't we promise them we'd get them the magic back in a few days?" she chuckles.

Connor chuckles. "We can probably show up with a few of the batteries, and show them how to leverage them...and make a few more over a week or two."

Grimm nods and sets the snacks and drinks on the kitchen counter. "Do you think we could teach them how to build the batteries and give them the components and supplies?" She looks over her shoulder at him and smirks. "I mean, if you could teach me how to help build them, I'm sure you could teach them."

Connor nods. "Maybe. We'll want to show them the components. The question is whether or not the supplies are available to them. The crystals and the electronics.

"Well...how hard are the crystals to obtain? And how expensive are the electronics?" Gabrielle asks as she turns to face him and leans back against the counter.

Connor shakes his head, "Not hard. It just requires knowing what to look for. And the electronics aren't that expensive either. But...it's a world that might not HAVE any electronics, right?"

"Hah. Based on those robes and their old school magic? Probably not," Gabrielle agrees. "What sort of crystals even powers these things?"

Connor smiles. "It's called a moonstone. You know how those people who hold crystals...and they claim they can 'feel power in them'?" He chuckles, and then says, "They're not entirely full of it."

"Yeah, they're called hippies." Gabrielle gasps. "You mean they were right??"

Connor nods. "To a degree, yes."

Grimm laughs and shakes her head. "I guess that means...what, a trip to a new age store for supplies?"

Connor smirks, "They likely don't have one of those."

"I dunno, did you see the robes and stuff?" Gabrielle chuckles. "Okay, okay. So where do -we- get moonstones for them?"

Connor chuckles. "Oh...a new age store."

Connor says, "Though I already have several for use, since I stopped by one earlier today."

Grimm rolls her eyes as she laughs. She reaches back for one of the coffees and holds it out to him. "Here. You need this." Her eyes widen at his revelation. "You? At a new age store? And I missed it??" she grins.

Connor takes the coffee and smiles. "Why does that surprise you? It isn't all bull. I mean...sure, the people that are new age folks tend to be...a certain kind of person."

"I mean. You never hear of a kumbaya circle coming together to save the world with magic," Gabrielle offers as her reasoning, smiling back. "Just never thought...y'know...a man of science and the mystic arts would turn to chakra crystals and the like. But...I guess I learned something new."

Connor chuckles. "I mean...they way they USE the crystals is wrong. But they're seeing the tip of the iceberg."

Grimm snickers and grabs herself a coffee. "Great. Progress. Maybe you could teach them, too, and we can ship them over. They'd love it. Y'know, once the land's restored. All nature-y and stuff," she winks. "Speaking of...what's next? Is there something I can help with here? If not...hmm. Maybe I can try and track down the Dark One who did that."

Connor nods. "Well, we need to actually assemble a couple more. I have the casings built. We just need to insert the crystals and close them up. Once that's done, and it should only take a few minutes, then we can do whatever. Take a short break. Look for the 'Dark One'. Whatever."

"Get a much needed nap," Grimm mutters under her breath as she takes a sip of her coffee. At least that solves the problem for a little bit. "Alright, let's get to work. I don't even think I ever saw your mana battery before."

Connor nods. "I should show you the inner workings, such as they are." He sips his coffee, and then grabs one of the partially finished ones. "The crystal sits in here, and acts as the battery itself. But that mana needs to be accessed. So, the leads are attached here...and are linked to another transmitter and switch. The crystal will naturally absorb mana over time...and this allows you to access what's inside. That's what the new agers are missing out on. The way to access what they can barely sense."

Grimm pays close attention to his explanation. It seems she's following this better than she does math classes. "But then...if you draw on its mana, you still need to know how to mold it into a spell, right?"

Connor taps his nose. "Yup. Having a power source is just one step in the process."

Grimm smiles and looks over the battery one more time before looking up at him, impressed. "And you came up with this design to unlock it?"

Connor nods. "Well, I already knew the other half: How to wield mana once you had it in your control. So, I just needed the means of collecting it and powering what I already knew how to do."

"That's really impressive," Gabrielle says honestly. It's a far cry from the anger and distrust she held toward mages. Even after the recent reminder of the mages from that world using a spell to summon her with the intent to slay her. She takes a breath and thinks of all the things they have to do. "So. I guess I can help get the stones in place like you showed me, and then you can double check any of the ones I do to make sure I didn't, y'know, reverse the polarity or something on them," she chuckles.

Connor chuckles. "That's only a concern with the electronics. We don't want to blow out a capacitor or something."

"Ohhh, good, so I can't accidentally assemble it wrong and have it suck the life force out of people to convert into mana, then? Good. I was worried," Gabrielle teases.

Connor laughs. "No danger of that, no."

Grimm chuckles. "Okay. Cuz a dark wizard tried to trap me in one once, but then decided I wasn't 'ripe enough yet'," she imitates a raspy voice with intonation at the quote as she sets her coffee down. She collects some of the moonstones. "Let's get to work," she grins.