MCNICHOL: "I don't see what the big deal is."
WONG: "Just watch the footage. You'll see."
MCNICHOL: "Right, right. And? What's the problem? It's just a bunch of tinkertoys, I've seen this before."
WONG: "Shh. Be patient. Keep watching."
MCNICHOL: "Okay...HOLY SHI---!"
WONG: "Mm-hmm. That's what caught my attention. I've submitted a report on it, but I wanted your take. What do you make of it?"
MCNICHOL: "They're not supposed to do that...wait. Rewind, rewind. Go back to around one twenty five."
WONG:"About here?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah, play it slower, this time."
WONG: "This do?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah...right, okay. That's a Fifth Column flamethrower. See the igniter assembly and fuel tank?"
WONG: "I see it."
MCNICHOL: "We know the Clockwork got into a Column depot last week. This is obviously from that."
WONG: "And you don't see anything strange about this?"
MCNICHOL: "Well...the Clocks always build new Clocks out of whatever. Tesla Prince plus flamethrower, and we have a...Toaster Prince. Or something. No big deal."
WONG: "Mm. Let me roll the tape a bit more."
MCNICHOL: "Yeah, yeah. More toasty Clockwork action, right."
WONG: "Please. Just keep watching."
MCNICHOL: "Okay, okay. Jeez, you need to...what...what the HELL?"
WONG: "Mm-hm."
MCNICHOL: "What the HELL is it DOING?"
WONG: "Exactly what it looks like."
MCNICHOL: "But...but that's not POSSIBLE. A flamethrower can't DO that!"
WONG: "Oh yes. It can't. Normally. Psi division says it's a telekinetic field. Contains the ignited fluid from the flamethrower and shapes it into...well. What you see."
MCNICHOL: "You're joking. You're 'ing kidding me. That's crazy."
WONG: "C'mon, Leon. We know the Clockwork King animates his creations through telekinesis in the first place. This isn't really that much of a stretch."
MCNICHOL: "Ehhh, I guess. You're right. Still...that's just freaky as hell."
WONG: "Mm-hm. You want to know the best part?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah?"
WONG: "This is security camera footage from Overbrook. Faultline. This particular Clockwork's been hanging around Yin's Market."
MCNICHOL: "What, one of that Penelope kid's bodyguards?"
WONG: "Yes. I think it was made specifically for that purpose. A Knight for the Clockwork Princess."
MCNICHOL: "Okay. Okay. I can see that. But why the whole bit with the flaming sword?"
WONG: "Haven't you read any fantasy? The hero always has a flaming sword."
MCNICHOL: "Yeah. You know all about flaming swords, don't you?"
-- PPD Special Investigations Report CK-345 Annex B (Transcript)
* * *
For our next contestant:
A Plant Control/Psionic Assault Dominator.
-- Acyl
WONG: "Just watch the footage. You'll see."
MCNICHOL: "Right, right. And? What's the problem? It's just a bunch of tinkertoys, I've seen this before."
WONG: "Shh. Be patient. Keep watching."
MCNICHOL: "Okay...HOLY SHI---!"
WONG: "Mm-hmm. That's what caught my attention. I've submitted a report on it, but I wanted your take. What do you make of it?"
MCNICHOL: "They're not supposed to do that...wait. Rewind, rewind. Go back to around one twenty five."
WONG:"About here?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah, play it slower, this time."
WONG: "This do?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah...right, okay. That's a Fifth Column flamethrower. See the igniter assembly and fuel tank?"
WONG: "I see it."
MCNICHOL: "We know the Clockwork got into a Column depot last week. This is obviously from that."
WONG: "And you don't see anything strange about this?"
MCNICHOL: "Well...the Clocks always build new Clocks out of whatever. Tesla Prince plus flamethrower, and we have a...Toaster Prince. Or something. No big deal."
WONG: "Mm. Let me roll the tape a bit more."
MCNICHOL: "Yeah, yeah. More toasty Clockwork action, right."
WONG: "Please. Just keep watching."
MCNICHOL: "Okay, okay. Jeez, you need to...what...what the HELL?"
WONG: "Mm-hm."
MCNICHOL: "What the HELL is it DOING?"
WONG: "Exactly what it looks like."
MCNICHOL: "But...but that's not POSSIBLE. A flamethrower can't DO that!"
WONG: "Oh yes. It can't. Normally. Psi division says it's a telekinetic field. Contains the ignited fluid from the flamethrower and shapes it into...well. What you see."
MCNICHOL: "You're joking. You're 'ing kidding me. That's crazy."
WONG: "C'mon, Leon. We know the Clockwork King animates his creations through telekinesis in the first place. This isn't really that much of a stretch."
MCNICHOL: "Ehhh, I guess. You're right. Still...that's just freaky as hell."
WONG: "Mm-hm. You want to know the best part?"
MCNICHOL: "Yeah?"
WONG: "This is security camera footage from Overbrook. Faultline. This particular Clockwork's been hanging around Yin's Market."
MCNICHOL: "What, one of that Penelope kid's bodyguards?"
WONG: "Yes. I think it was made specifically for that purpose. A Knight for the Clockwork Princess."
MCNICHOL: "Okay. Okay. I can see that. But why the whole bit with the flaming sword?"
WONG: "Haven't you read any fantasy? The hero always has a flaming sword."
MCNICHOL: "Yeah. You know all about flaming swords, don't you?"
-- PPD Special Investigations Report CK-345 Annex B (Transcript)
* * *
For our next contestant:
A Plant Control/Psionic Assault Dominator.
-- Acyl