Throw the gauntlet

[fermionprincess]

[Recently, Alessandra commandeered the help of several mechanics and other crew members who probably thought she has official White Chalice business with them and are a bit cross right now. But forget that, because her efforts are finally crowned with this project!

A small portion of the open deck has pennants and banners heroically flapping in the wind, declaring the area to be a SCIENCE CONTEST. There are heaps of metal junk lying around, as well as mounds of sand, chopped wood arranged in surprisingly neat piles, and even science-y books and basic chemical apparati. What is the meaning of this?]

Listen to my words, oh people of White Chalice. Today, we shall participate in a mind-twisting competition to keep our intellects keen and sharp!

Using objects on hand present here, create a scientific contraption of any kind. Such is your objective!

[She's hoping for a certain doctor to participate in particular.]

Comments

[turningyaponese]

Wait... what is all this? What the heck would you build with sand?

[[Wait wait, no, don't be sp pessimistic Gainer. Knock that off.]] Why did you include sand, rather?

[fermionprincess]

For glassmaking of course!

Or, if one is afraid of extremely hot objects so close to their face - a sand castle.

[turningyaponese]

Wait sa- Oh yeah, that's right. It's easy to forget that you know.

I kept thinking hourglasses really but... that's not really productive to make, is it?

[fermionprincess]

No one may judge an action's productiveness but history itself! Therefore, make what you desire, sir Gainer.

[zaku_for_xmas]

You mean like...building models?!

[fermionprincess]

That may be a good example, but it is by no means a singular one. Where materials are plentiful and goals are many, a human's creative mind creates endless possibilities!

[zaku_for_xmas]

[Bernie looked overwhelmed by what he had to work it, staring at the tools, pondering over what he could do with them]

"Endless possibilities..."

Then he grinned, "Heh, alright!"

[fermionprincess]

Have you an idea sparking in your brain already? I am looking forward to its fruition!

[can_not_fly]

[And while Alessandra lays down her gauntlet, someone has stumbled into the mass of burners and beakers and plates and instruments in the chemistry section of her design, and is already working and singing! Weird to see Pit of all people at a table of science, though... what is he doing?]

♫It's a pastime good for boys and girls,
a wonderland of smell and taste!
Whether you're feeling heavy of heart,
or so happy you could jump,
there is one thing you can be doing!
Cooking, cooking, cooooooking!♫

[...cooking, apparently. He seems to have thought this is a kitchen. Also singing a terrible song with a happy voice.

That said, that Bunsen flan smells delicious]

[fermionprincess]

[Alessandra is immobilized by sheer adorableness! She can only watch as Pit works.]

[can_not_fly]

[Completely unaware of his audience, Pit continues humming a continuation of the tune as he leaves the flan to cool down in one of the cold storages meant for DNA samples, and uses a beaker filled with oil to lightly douse a roasted chicken he seems to be making on a cube of resistances]

He's quite something, isn't he? [Suddenly, a wistful-yet-proud voice pops up near Alessandra. A goddess seems to have materialized next to her out of nowhere]
He's fought more people than most armies, gone through more than your average mythical hero... and yet he's still just so innocent.

[kamogawa_maru]

Ahhh that smells great.

[A wild Maru appears.]

[fermionprincess]

Aah, please do not interrupt the science at work!

[bluehippopotamus]

This contest... you do know what I do for a living, right?

[fermionprincess]

Would it be perchance related to restoration and modification of discarded mechanical objects?

1/3

[bluehippopotamus]

That's right! I keep our ship flying just by using whatever discarded mechanical objects we can find!

[saikyocivrobo]

I'm a professional scientist. Won't it be a bit unfair if I participate in this?

[fermionprincess]

Oh, do not worry sir Werter. It is a professional scientist's attention that this contest is going to draw in the first place.

[saikyocivrobo]

What kind of ulterior motives might you have here, Alessandra...?

[Werter puts a piece of sodium into a glass of water. It starts to spark loudly almost immediately, as sodium in water is prone to do.]

Look, science.

[Surely this is not too impressive for anyone who knows much about chemistry...]

[wardeninexile]

Now what is a member of the Warrior caste doing in a science contest?

From the metal junk, chopped wood, and science books... Ranna has made a compound bow. She even used the leatherback of some of those books as the grip!

And with that done, she is working on her next item - more metal, and she seems to have moved some of the chemical apparati near her to be worked on.

[fermionprincess]

How intriguing! I wonder how well does the crafted weapon work - perhaps we shall find some targets.

[wardeninexile]

"Perhaps we can do it with this."

Ranna grins as she shows her newest creation - a make-shift musket of sorts.

[clumsy_moe_appeal]

AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Alessandra! A loud wail of a guitar riff is your answer as the Doctor rides towards the challenge area, his lab coat flapping in the wind. Tires screech as he hits the breaks and turns - as well as leaping off and... miscalculating his landing... bouncing a few times before landing on his face. Either way he dusts himself off with a triumphant smirk.]

So my metal-clad rival! This is to be our battlefield of wits and will is it? I! Doctor West! This Millenium's Greatest SUPER Genius, accept your challenge!

Today, all will know who is the greatest mind in existence!!!

[fermionprincess]

Finally you appear before my eyes, Doctor.

[Alessandra stands smugly despite her small stature.]

Well then, let us have our minds clash. The whole deck is your battlefield, and the materials assembled are the weaponry!

[clumsy_moe_appeal]

AH! Such a wicked scheme you've developed! Attempting to hamstring me by forcing me to make do with only the most base of materials.... however, even limited so, a man of my intelligence can only rise to the occasion and overcome all obstacles!

[The wild doctor laughs in triumph before literally leaping to his work station and throwing himself into his work... within moments parts, smoke and sparks are flying through the air, accompanied by the sporadic explosion that sent rattles through the deck - nothing too dangerous that would cause damage beyond West thankfully.]