[wavehawk]

Originally Posted by MeisterBabylon

I take it that you guys haven't watched Iron Man 3 yet. XD

- Don't spoil me. If you spoil me there will be pains. Many, many, MANY pains... (knives out)

...and depending on how I react to IM3, I may restart that...other fic I was doing for IS---the one involving:

Spoiler:

"Timestamp 4:03 AM 28th of the 8th. Hi dad." Ange began while the remote cameras rolled. "The frame's finished. All I need to do is pop the core in."

"In case you're wondering about the getup," She indicated the coveralls and construction worker's helmet she wore while filiming this documentary. "I've learned my mistake from my 3rd attempt, and have taken apropriate safety measures. Eddy doesn't like me walking in on him with all my clothes burned off. I think he's just a prude."

The recording equipment were part of an old system, one her father set up lifetimes ago in his garage. Ange simply took the old systems and applied them to her own little workshop--She kept the cameras and low-technology robots for sentimental value, as she remembered playing with them in her toddler years.

It also meant that there were limits to the recording. Instead of a virtual camera tracking her every move, it was a remote tracked vehicle with an arm. Every now and then it would stumble over a cable, or else reach for a fire extinguisher for no good reason.

"This one is Mark 1 Model 27. Took only three weeks to finish, because there were enough whole parts salvaged from Model 26 to build it off." Ange tried to keep the embarrassed blush to a minimum. "I've finally worked out the Fold-Out Armor system. Not as fancy as the 4th-Gen Akatsubaki, but it should do the job. I still haven't worked out the secret of either Dad's Repulsor tech or the IS Core, but I've got a gut feeling this combination will work."

There was a long, unsure silence as the robot cameraman tilted it's view.

"I know what I'm doing." Ange reassures the machine, then turns away to roll out a hardened suitcase she had set aside. "Trust me."

The robot bent it's camera downward, shaking in disgust.

"Okay, here goes everything." Stark rolled the suitcase in front of her. She then backed away, using a pair of remote robotic arms to deliver it's contents. "Installing the core. Hasn't happened yet, but here's to hoping it doesn't explode."

It was an IS Core, registered number 56. All Infinite Stratos exoskeleton systems required it to function, and a limited number of them existed in the world. The brainchild and creations of Doctor Tabane Shinonono, no one else knew how to build or maintain them. The alien-looking object had been in her father's possession in the early days of IS technology, kept mainly for research purposes. Thus, it had never been mated to an exoskeleton till now.

As far as Ange knew, her father hadn't cracked the core's secrets. she was also the only one to ever attempt installing this core into an actual IS.

There was a satisfying click as the robot arms installed the core into the model 27's frame. Almost immediately there was a satisfied hum and drone of machinery, signs of an IS coming to life.

And then an odd, out-of-place 'Ker-Plunk'.

"Oh, that can't be good."

The previously solid suit suddenly started dancing as if electrocuted, flapping rudimentary arms and legs wildly even as the winglike fold-out armor spun crazily along it's back. Without another word, Ange yelped and leapt behind her worktable.

Even the camera robot ducked as the Model 27 started throwing parts of itself all around the room, some with enough force to bury themselves in the wall. Every joint was smoking, and a distinct scent of charred metal and rubber was in the air.

The machine jittered and jerked for a little while longer before finally freezing in a squatting position, as if sitting on a throne. A loud POP sounded, and the IS core rolled out the machine's rear end.

Ange took a full minute before she peeked over the table and became convinced it was safe. It was another minute before she worked up the courage to touch the blackened heap.

On cue, the squatting machine collapsed into fist-sized bits of scrap metal.

"...yeah. That went well." Ange took off the helmet and threw it over her shoulder. "Timestamp 4:38 AM 28th of the 8th. Core synchronization attempt with Mark 1 Model 27 failed. Nothing salvageable from Model 27 remains. Back to the old drawing board."