De-Synced

In this Our World story, Sync gets an idea for a new project.

This is a transcript from Discord.

## Story

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News gets around fast, in this information age. But there always will be someone who knows about something last.
While the news outlets have a field day with Jack Beakton's betrayal, and GLACIA's reputation teeters on the brink. While they desperately try to alleviate concerns within and without about their failed Peace Gala, other branches of the organization are blissfully unaware, enjoying the rewards of a still relatively new organization.

Bozo:
"Ugh. Sync, this arm needs to be entirely rebuilt. You don't happen to have another set of interlocks for this elbow?"

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Sync:
*A frazzled young stoat girl sits next to a workbench, furiously fiddling with something...* "U-um... M-maybe?! Let me ch-check!" *She opens a drawer on her workbench, only for it to fall off of its rails and spill all over the warehouse floor.* "Oh gosh."

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We find Brenda Gutrail, ex-Resistance fighter, now a GLACIA agent, working with her new apprentice, Sync the Stoat, as they work on repairing a damaged mech.

Bozo:
"Oh! Good, easier to sort through." *Begins scattering the various bits and bobs all over the workshop.* "Gotta say, having a bigger space to sort things out is so much nicer than my spot on the *Rising Hope*! As nice as it is. Aha! Here we are. Gosh, this is shiny. What badnik did you get this from?"

Sync:
"The uh... The o-ostrich ones. F-from Metropolis."

Bozo:
"Ah, excellent." *Tosses and catches the interlock.* "Going to need two more of these! While I take the arm off, you think you can find those?"

Sync:
"D-definitely! You can c-count on me!" *She begins scrounging through the piles of parts on the floor.*

The loud sounds of techno-metal from a speaker about Sync's workbench drown out most sounds of actual clanging metal.

Sync:
*Even over the noise, Sync notices a vibration coming from Brenda's workbench.* "U-um, Bozo? Your ph-phone is ringing!"

Bozo:
"What?"

Sync:
"Uh..." (How does Uncle Inigo do this?!?) "**YOUR PHONE IS RINGING!!**"

Bozo:
"My phone?" *Glances over at her workbench, still wrenching away.* "Oh! My phone!"

It was at this point when the heavy mech arm, now fully unbolted, crashed to the floor with a terrific ***CLANG***.

Bozo:
*Unfazed, Brenda merely gives the mech arm a dirty look, where it landed inches away from her toes. Then she walks over to the phone on the bench, just as it stops ringing.*

Sync:
"S-sorry! I wasn't l-loud enough the first t-time!!"

Bozo:
"Oh! It's Sierra! Well, it was." *Picks up the phone, as it vibrates again.* "And she's left a voicemail!"
*Covers one ear against the awesome vibes of techno-metal, as the listens to the voicemail...*

As Brenda listens to the voicemail, her jovial and relaxed smile slowly melts down.

Bozo:
"...Oh."

Sync:
*Attention pulled from her search by Brenda's sudden change, Sync perks up, noticing the less lively look on her mentor's face.* "..." (I'm not gonna pry... If she wants to tell me, she will...)

Bozo:
*Brenda listens to the message once more, glancing at the unfinished project of the mech with uncertainty.*
*Finally, she sighs and pockets the phone.* "I... Uhh." *Checks her watch.* "Okay. Enough messing around, I guess." *Finally, she looks up and sees Sync.* "Oh. Right."
*Gets back to work, but her smile is replaced by serious focus. Her motions are more focused as well, as she quickly begins disassembling the arm to replace what's needed.* "That was Sierra, from the hospital. I have a friend who's on life support there."

Sync:
"O-oh. S-sorry to hear that. Has s-something ch-changed?"

Bozo:
"Sorta. His status hasn't, but his funding got cut. Apparently Jack Beakton's a traitor? Um, for context: Jack was paying Mudbaum's life support after GLACIA insurance wasn't going to anymore. Sierra's a nurse, slash, receptionist, among other things, at the hospital, and she saw Jack Beakton on the news. So she's sorta delayed any immediate problem, but I need to get down there soon and figure out how that's going to affect Mudbaum. Aha. Okay, here's what we need to replace. Got those interlocks?"

Sync:
"R-right here!" *She carries two interlock pieces over to Brenda.* "I-if the money r-runs out for Mr. M-Mudbaum, what will h-happen to him?"

Brenda:
*Brenda's socket wrench slips, breaking her concentration. For a moment, she stares at the socket spinning on the floor.*
*Watches it come to a stop.*
"...That's not going to happen."

Sync:
"I-if you need to g-go, I can t-take care of the sh-shop..."

Bozo:
*It takes a moment for Sync's kind offer to sink in. Everything's muted when her mind is this busy...*
"Oh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I guess that could work." *Smiles.* "Sorry, Sync. I'm not used to having a helping hand. Well, at least not with gearhead stuff."
*Waves a hand at the mech.* "I'm always trying to complete things in one go by myself, so they don't go unfinished."
*Glances back at Sync.* "Are you sure?"

Sync:
"Y-yeah! It's n-no problem!"

Bozo:
*Squints, judging.*
*But quickly smiles wide, her jovial demeanor somewhat recovered.* "Alright! I trust you, Sync! Trust yourself, you'll be fine! And, like, I'll be right back! As soon as I can."

Sync:
*Sync nods, shakily smiling.* "Y-yes, ma'am!"

Bozo:
*Grabs her pickup tow truck keys and runs out.* "Don't blow up the shop while I'm gone! Haha!"

Sync:
*Waves goodbye.* (Mudbaum... He means a lot to you, huh, Bozo?)

Roughly 3 hours later, Brenda returns.

Bozo:
"Sync? You still here? I'm so sorry things took so long, I..."

Sync:
*The mech the two were working on before is complete and moving, the cockpit tilts down revealing the pilot.* "W-welcome back!!"

Bozo:
*Gasps.* "Wow! Sync, this is amazing!"
*Quickly scampers around it, attempting to give a critical eye, but honestly too happy to see it completed to give any constructive criticism.*

Sync:
"Th-thank you! I made a f-few changes to the system. It should target a l-lot better now!"

Bozo:
"The... system? What, like the software?"

Sync:
"The s-software, the w-wiring, the p-power source... I reconfigured the wh-whole thing!"

Bozo:
*Blinks a few times.* "Show me..."

What follows is the apprentice becoming the master, and the master, the apprentice, as Sync shows off her specialty. Programming.

Sync:
"I w-watch a lot of online t-tutorials in my s-spare time..."

Bozo:
"More than that, Sync. You've got a gift!"

Sync:
*Embarrassed, Sync turns her cap to the front and hides her eyes.* "Th-th-thank you..."
"..."
"So... H-how did it go?"

Bozo:
*Sighs, her smile tempering a bit.* "Well, everything's okay for now."

Sync:
"That's g-good... D-do you like Mr. Mudbaum?"

Bozo:
"Oh yeah. We used to be war buddies. Er, rather. We fought in the war together."
*Pats the mech.* "Jax never gave up. We were called the Wreckers, and we did lots of 'suicide runs', quote, unquote. Me, Jax, and Twitch." *Her smile droops into a more natural bulldog face.* "But those days are gone now."

Sync:
"Oh..."

Bozo:
*Turns to Sync.* "But that's why I can't give up on Jax. He can't speak for himself, but I *know* he would never give up! And it looks like Jack knows it too... Even if I don't understand why."

Sync:
"W-what if we built something to h-help him?"

Bozo:
"Huh? What... W-what do you mean?"

Sync:
"Sir Ch-Charles Hedgehog... He c-created a r-really cool concept called Roboticization! It's where an organic lifeform can be transmogrified into a robotic body to prolong their life! There were even a few successful attempts where the subjects got new limbs, and even one where a comatose patient was woken up! It's got some risks but it's worth a chance to save the life of your-- ...A-are you listening?"

Bozo:
*Staring blankly at Sync.* (That... could work...! But...) "N...No."

Sync:
"O-oh. Sorry."

Bozo:
*Bites her lip.* "I'm sorry, Sync. That sounds like it could work... But no. See, Jax..." *Sighs, and scratches behind her ear.* "He... doesn't like machines. Like I do. We do. He finds them problematic. I've tried to convince him a few times, but he holds a grudge. Well, he used to. Now, he doesn't seem to hold grudges. Which is nice. But... I dunno. I..."
*Brenda's eyes wander around the fancy shop. All the new tools and supplies from the amazing GLACIA... And none of them are the answer to waking Jax up. Unless...*

Sync:
"I u-understand. I just w-wanted to... d-do something for you..."

Bozo:
"Huh? Whaddya mean? You already did. Do." *Waves at the mech.*

Sync:
"...Th-that's not enough!! You've done so much for me in just these past few months! There's gotta be something I can do to show you that I appreciate your mentorship! It's been so nice getting to learn under you, please let me do something!!"

Bozo:
*Momentarily surprised by Sync's most verbal statement yet, Brenda quickly recovers and just hugs her. Rather forcefully.*

Sync:
"H-huh?!" *Sync was not ready for that.*

Bozo:
"I'll..." *Sniffles, hoping Sync doesn't notice her tears.* "I'll think about it, okay?"

Sync:
"O-okay!"

Bozo:
*Brenda holds Sync in an awkward hug for a few moments more while she regains her composure, literally behind Sync's back...*
*Then backs up.* "Ooookay. Wow."
*Wipes away a tear with her sleeve.* "Can't believe I didn't think of that."

Sync:
"I... A-are you gonna d-do it then?"

Bozo:
*It's terribly obvious she wants to say yes, but what comes out of her mouth instead is:* "I'll have to think about it."
*Rubs the back of her neck, her teary eyes threatening to spill over again.* "I... I need to check a few more things, and it's getting late. I guess I'll see you back here tomorrow for whatever else we've got lined up for work."
*Looks up at Sync, and smiles. Pained, but genuine.* "Thanks, Sync."

Sync:
"O-of course! D-don't mention it."

Bozo:
*Smirks, and barks a laugh, causing the tears to spill.* "Okay." *She brushes the tears, grabs her keys, and heads to the exit, still smiling.*

Sync:
"..."
(But what if she waits too long...?)

Sync seems to have some ideas. Will we finally see Mudbaum recover? Why is Brenda so indecisive? The answers lie in the midst of celebration...

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## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Brenda Gutrail
* Sync the Stoat

## Participants

* Mortimer
* Captainclay55