PCA: All Tech(nobabble) Considered

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"High Amp PK Capacitor?"

"Check."

"Multiphase Collider?"

"Check"

"Energy Conversion Module, Positron Stream Stabilizer, Diagnostic Connection Port?"

"Check, Check, and.... Check."

Hunter Rios raised an eyebrow, his long ears perked up, observing the scene he'd entered upon opening the workshop's metal door. The workspace was full of various tools, electronic components, wires, and the wayward scent of burned rubber and wire solder still lingered about. Psykes, the nerdy Porygon2, stood over a work bench, running down a clipboard full of notes in one hand while the pen in his other hand made little check marks beside those notes. The outfit of Psykes was pretty much his standard school uniform, except for having his sleeves rolled up from some earlier wire soldering.

As the Lucario walked into the workshop, his attention shifted from Psykes to Jinx, the more casually dressed Absol who's attention was focused on one of four large, metallic backpacks that lay atop a workbench, each pack created from an assortment of cords, wires, hoses, and technological equipment. The black fingers of Jinx brushed over the backpack as each part was called out by Psykes, his fingers inspecting that each part was properly bolted and secured into place.

"Magnetic Containment Module?", Psykes called out, his pen moving down to the item on his notepad, having not paid attention to Hunter's entrance into the workshop.

The backpack's module-in-question was checked over by Jinx, using his hands to make sure it was properly tightened on another piece of the bulky looking backpack. As soon as he was satisfied, the Absol just nodded and stated "Check" to Psykes. Normally Jinx would have at least said hello to Hunter upon entering, but not this time, too lost in his work to notice.

Maybe it was just because the Absol was so focused on his work, that he too had completely blacked out everything but his job to check each part on the backpack and to reply back to Psykes. Maybe Psykes' dedication to this new equipment he was putting together was getting the better of the Porygon2 and the Absol. Hunter rubbed his his paw against his chin a bit, pondering the situation, then walked up behind Psykes.

"Trans Warp Drive?", Hunter called out, grinning ever so slyly as Psykes' form flickered momentarily before he looked over his shoulder at the Lucario standing behind him.

"Chec....what?" Jinx turned his head from examining the backpack to see why a non-existent piece of technology was called out, only to realize that it was Hunter talking and not Psykes.

"Hunter! You're here. Just in time too. We were just running through the last checks on the fourth Dread Pack." Psykes set down his check list and walked over to one of the metallic packs, and handed it to the Lucario. As Hunter grabbed ahold of the backpack's straps, the weight of the technological hodgepodge hit him, causing his arm muscles to strain under the heft of the device.

"Jeez, Psykes, what is this thing? And what did you make it out of; bricks? This thing must be almost 50 pounds", Hunter complained as he slowly slipped the backpack's straps over his shoulders and arms.

"Actually, it's 42 pounds, 3 ounces, with a plus or minus variable of about 19 ounces", Psykes retorted back matter-of-factly. "As for what that 'thing' is, are you familiar with the concept of a Dread Plate, Hunter?"

"Dread Plate? Oh, sure, plates are something you can hold onto and it helps boost your your combat ability using a specific attack Type", he replied. "Dread Plate? That's one that improves Ghost attacks... no... wait... Dread Plates are used with Dark-based attacks."

Hunter looked over his shoulder at the technological backpack, and then turned his head back to Psykes, eyebrow raised, "Waaaaiiiittttt. This does NOT look like any Dread Plate I've ever seen. Not that I've really seen one up close, but I'm pretty sure that Dread Plates don't come standardly equipped with LEDs, cables, and batteries. And what does this have to do with being paranormal investigators?"

Jinx chuckled a bit and walked over to help Hunter get the backpack properly situated, "Hold still, Hunter", he stated. He tightened the shoulder and waist straps on the Lucario, which made the backpack's harness feel less burdensome to it's carrier.

"There we go. And as for what this backpack is... That, is a Techno-Dread Plate. Psykes came up with some blueprint designs a few weeks ago as well as the parts we were going to need to make them. Think of it as a high-tech version of a Dread Plate. Only... this one required weeks of building", Jinx continued, "It uses a small piece of a real Dread Plate, not a full one, so we used a particle accelerator, a PKE conversion module, and quite a bit of wiring and computer parts to make it actually work. I just was following the blueprints, Psykes is the one that actually knows how it works, if it does."

Psykes nodded some, as he retrieved a few cans of soda from the mini fridge under the work bench, handing one to each teammate, "It'll work. 98% of the simulations had them successfully working with little to no dangerous side effects."

Hunter sighed and shook his head, "Okay but WHY did you make did you make these things... and... wait... what about the other 2%?", he inquired.

"Oh, well, the pack is to help us in case we need to remove any paranormal threat, by being able to help us channel innately Dark-based attacks through the Accelerator, across the Dread Plate fragment, and out the Particle Thrower. Attacks like Dark Pulse should prove to be quite effective against Ghost and Psychic-Types", the Porygon2 stated, before taking a sip of the soda he was holding. His form flickered as he drank the soda, similiar to what you would expect from an older TV changing channels.

The Lucario blinked a few times and took a swig of his soda, digesting the information he'd been given, before setting his drink down, so he could grab the particle thrower 'wand' that was hanging from the side of the backpack, "So, we see a Primal or Feral Ghost-type causing problems, and we blast it instead of being run off with our tails between our legs because of a horde of angry books? Okay, I can dig that."

Hunter's fingers traced over the particle thrower wand, with it's variety of nobs and buttons and switches and the large cable hose connected to the backpack unit, before finding the red power switch near the handle. A quick flip of the switch caused the soft whirr of equipment on the backpack, LED lights flickering as the system came to life. The Lucario stood there for a few seconds, getting used to the equipment that was strapped to his back, when a small trickle of sweat rolled down his brow. He took a few deep breaths. Psykes walked over and put his hand on the Lucario's shoulder.

"Are you okay?", he asked, head tilted.

"I don't know. It feels like my power and part of my aura is being... compressed... Sort of like going diving down deep, only without all the water", Hunter said, taking a few more breaths.

"Oh, right. Well, the Techno Dread Pack is designed to act like a focus for your ranged Dark-based attacks, although it can also channel your other ranged attacks through the system as well. Most likely that 'compression' feeling you have is from your power being focused through the system. Hopefully this will have a secondary effect of helping you learn to focus your powers more effectively when you're not using the pack", Psykes rambled out, even as he checked a few of the LED readouts on the back of the heavy piece of equipment.

"Uh okay..." was the the only reply from Hunter as he looked over his shoulder, trying to see what Psykes was up to while fiddling with the back of the Techno Dread Pack.

Jinx chuckled softly as he drank his own drink before saying, "What he's trying to say is it's normal to feel a bit weird while you're using the Dread Pack, you should be able to use your Aura Sphere through the Pack, and that it's a good training tool even if it can't improve the performance of ranged non-Dark attacks."

"When did you learn Psykes-to-English?", Hunter said jokingly, "But okay, I'll keep all that in mind. But why not Dark melee attacks?"
 
Psykes turned a few switches on the Pack before he looked over the top of it, "Because we're only dealing with small fragments of a Dread Plate, Hunter, and I haven't had a chance to work on an efficient way to transfer the Dark particles for melee use without an intense containment field that would be needed to insure that there wasn't multiple secondary reactions to the surrounding the environment."

"Translation?"

Jinx chuckled again, "He said that he hasn't found out how to channel Dark melee attacks through the system without turning the attack into a bomb, one specifically centered upon the user. Nothing's stopping us from using melee attacks as normal though, they just can't be channeled through the Pack."

Hunter blinked a bit, "Okay, that's probably a good reason then. Not that it effects me as much as it does you, Jinx. But okay, that's not hard to work around."

The black and white furred Absol smiled, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure if Psykes' processors can work this stuff out, he'll figure something out later. Now... how about we go get something to eat?"

Psykes nodded to the suggestion, "That's an idea. How about the Chinese buffet down on the corner?"

Jinx nodded, "Sounds reasonable enough. Hunter?"

The Lucario powered down the Pack, and then unstrapped himself from it, placing it back amongst the other three Packs that were resting in their power cradles, "Huh? Oh, sure. Chinese is fine. But... what about that other 2% we were talking about earlier?"

"Some nice fried rice would really hit the spot right now", Jinx said as he pushed open the workshop's heavy door, seeming to have missed Hunter's question.

"Don't forget the eggrolls", Psykes replied back to Jinx, following him out of the workshop. "Hurry up, Hunter, or you're buying the eggrolls."

Hunter stood there for a second, wondering if his team mates had even heard his question, then quickly moved towards the doorway.

"Guys! Wait up! What about the 2%?"

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