Not Exactly a Cybernetics Lab (D1 EE, Open)

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"But Killbot Rex doesn't belong in this SMELLY old STABLE," Carl Heinrich complained to the stable attendant. "He's a CONSTRUCT! He doesn't EAT or excrete stinky biologicals. In fact it's frankly UNSANITARY that there is literal EXCREMENT lying around in PILES around here. He BELONGS in a LAB!"

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Despite the boy Wrangler's protestations, Rex did not seem to mind the stall he had been given. The Warwolf happily curled up and lay on a bed of straw.

"LOOK! He's getting STRAW into his air intakes!" Carl Heinrich exclaimed, gesturing at Rex.

Rex woofed. A stray piece of straw flew out of his mouth.

[Ari]

"No, Llyan. I'm not leaving you here. Don't worry." Ari assured the cindrow sitting on her shoulder. "I just want to see the others. I don't usually get to see larger monsters up close."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Ah. Hello," the blond boy said in a more uncertain-sounding voice upon seeing another Monster Wrangler. He turned to face Ari. "Didn't I see you at the TV interviews? But I thought you had a briarola."

[Ari]

"Haven't you heard? You shouldn't believe everything on TV." she shrugged.

The cindrow moved to the girl's backpack, peeking at the boy from behind her head.

"Llyan is shy. She hides from attention, however she can." Ari explained.

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Shyness will not help her in the final battle," the boy cautioned. "Aren't you concerned about the vicious MONSTERS that your companion may face? Being a Cindrow that's on FIRE seems great, but the disadvantage in MASS seems... considerable."

[Ari]

"The 'final battle'?" She raised an eyebrow. "I am trying to help her overcome her timidness. That's part of the reason we've been traveling and why we entered the tournament. The more she is exposed to other monsters, especially in direct interaction, the better she'll understand her capabilities. That will give her confidence."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Ah!" the boy Wrangler nodded. "So you are gathering DATA on your Monster's capabilities in combat. That's VERY smart. I hope your analysis is able to detect trends that are statistically significant."

"I'm Carl Heinrich, by the way," he said. "My Monster is over there - KILLBOT REX." The robot dog looked up at its name and began wagging its tail.

[Ari]

"I'm Ari. This is Lyyan." She introduced herself and her companion. "I am always collecting data. Discerning the various traits different breeds have is important for determining which combinations may be most viable."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"An interesting endeavor. Have you learned anything from your research so far?" Carl Heinrich asked curiously.

[Ari]

"I haven't found anything to compliment Llyan's abilities, but there's plenty of time for that." she answered. "There are questions of compatibility too, of course. I have been gathering an interesting database, but it's still limited. There's not much I can gain from non-organics, of course."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Ahh, I see," Carl Heinrich nodded. "It's too bad Llyan cannot benefit from studying non-organics; they have MANY advantages. For example, CONSTRUCTS don't need to eat, breathe or sleep. They don't feel FEAR and they NEVER get tired."

"My THEORY is that ROBOTIC CONSTRUCTS should be advantaged against organic Monsters in 80% of COMBAT conditions," the boy declared.

"Umm, controlling for extraneous factors, of course," he added awkwardly.

[Ari]

"Oh, they're abilities are impressive." she nodded. "But, they can't be passed on to progeny."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Progeny," Carl Heinrich echoed. "But, breeding Monsters is so RANDOM and... well, ICKY." He grimaced.

"No, biological REPRODUCTION isn't for me," the blond boy vowed. "A well-drawn SCHEMATIC will allow a good Mechanic to produce a new CONSTRUCT in HALF the time - and without requiring handling of any GROSS fluids."

[Ari]

"Perhaps." she shrugged. "I haven't studied engineering, though. I'm much more familiar animals than I am with machines."

[Carl Heinrich Mauser]

"Animals are okayyyy, I guess," Carl Heinrich admitted reluctantly. "I've studied other, ORGANIC Monsters a little; maybe I would've done more if I hadn't gotten into engineering."

"Anyway, I better get back to my room," he said. "It was nice meeting you, Ari. GOOD LUCK tomorrow!"

[Ari]

"Good luck." She and Llyan waved. "Good night."