User:Nextoy/Rogue Gems/3

Time is interesting. It changes based on where you are. Many species figure that out before becoming a largely spacefaring civilization like the gems. This, of course, meant that whenever a spacefaring species is told “Meet me in an hour”, some mental math had to be done.

Lapis could easily figure it out -- especially after a full night in this planet -- but it would make meeting back up with the native, humanesque species at his office a bit more awkward.

Still, she couldn't help but to ask herself what they were doing there. Wouldn't it make more sense not to engage with the natives? That laying low would be their best bet?

Furthermore, why did nobody seem to notice that her ‘skin’ was blue?

“Hello?” Agate asked, opening the door to this office mentioned to them. It seemed to just be a small building attached to the side of the windmill.

“Didn't anyone teach you ladies to knock?” The man from before asked, groaning a bit. He got up from the leather chair he sat in, having been watching a video of what looked like some kind of sport, and motioned for them to come in.

Needless to say Agate was rather excited while Lapis was simply keeping her guard up in case anything happened.

“Now come on. And pay attention, I’m only explaining this once.” He told them, walking over and opening up a door that led to the insides of the windmill itself.

Again Agate was quick to follow, amazed at the machinery within, while Lapis only grew more nervous. While the technology was primitive compared to her own, it was advanced enough to show that these people could be a real threat if they chose to.

“These gears here turn to power the electricity headin’ into town. As the wind passes by it turns the blades up top, pushing the gears along.” He explained, walking over to what looked like a small kitchen area. “Hell, sometimes I even use it to stir things when I cook.”

The arm extending down towards the kitchen area did, indeed, have a small and mildly irregular spin to it. It was fast enough that it would help with such things, as far as Lapis could tell.

“I dunno so much about what happens beneath the windmill, I only operate the big guy himself, but I’ve heard that the cables down there stretch into a grid that goes all over the place.” The man explained further, sitting down near a set of control panels.

“How many gears are there?” Agate asked with childlike wonder.

“Almost 500, last I checked. Think its 480 something.” He answered. “486, 487, something like that.”

“And you run all of these?” Lapis asked, staring in almost disbelief at the machinery running along the room.

“I’ve got a buddy that helps sometimes, but otherwise yeah. Runs itself, mostly.” The man chuckled a bit. “Course it's got a backup engine that runs at all times in case the wind ain't blowin’, but that doesn't emit nothin’.”

Agate looked up where the man was pointing to see a series of wheels pushing pistons back and forth sticking out from the walls higher up, turning in time with another set of gears.

“Call em Stirling Engines or something. Dunno who that Stirling fellow was, but he was a clever S.O.B. Made a thing that generates power just by having something be cold on one side and hot on the other.” The man explained further. “Pretty warm outside but it gets chilly quick in here so that works out well for me long as I keep the heater off.”

“So if I understand right the heat outside powers those wheels, while the wind turns the windmill blades, so that there’s a constant energy flow to the grid connecting below this place?” Lapis asked, with the man nodding in confirmation.

“Cool! So the warm and breezy makes everything work!” Agate reiterated, causing a quiet groan of frustration from Lapis

“Yes Agate. That's what he said.”

“Any other questions?” He asked, giving an annoyed look to Agate.

“So what happens if the gears stop working?” Agate asked, turning back to the man.

“We fix ‘em.” He answered, growing more annoyed. “Though there is a hand crank as a last resort, but the thing sure as hell doesn't like moving much.”

“So then what-” Again, Agate was silenced by Lapis. This time with the correct hand.

“Thank you, Sir.” Lapis told him, glaring down to Agate. “Is there anything else that we should know?”

“Yeah. People don't like seeing strangers pop up on their lawn.” The man answered. “Now if that's all then get going.” He told them, standing up and rushing the two out.

Lapis wondered what kind of power people here had if they were already this far invested in clean energy. Guns? Lasers? This world wouldn't be welcoming to her or Agate, that much she was sure of.

Agate, however, couldn't help but to imagine what the windmill actually powered! Lights, videos, and food were already shown. Maybe some kind of vehicle were charged similarly. Or maybe they could use it to power some kind of game! It was all very exciting!

“We should get a windmill.” Agate blurted out as they left, with Lapis only giving a sigh in response.