"Hey, so, president, I forgot to ask while I was there, but would you approve a larger spirit paper for the airship scanner? As it is right now there simply isn't enough space in one page."
I stopped the Speakwrite from continuing.
"Well, that's embarrassing. I'll send this into the mailroom since incoming portals are blocked in Kursattle's room." I dropped the envelope stamped with the Engineer's guild symbol into a portal I opened.
"I'll get started on the cannon in the meantime." I touched my Telespeak.
'Devin, you there?'
'Sure am, and I already know what you want, the charge is ready for the cannon. I'm in the alchemy lab, shoot me a portal and I'll send you a prototype and a stat sheet.'
I spun up Rift Garden for the last time today and carefully let the alchemical charge down on a table.
"What have we here?" I picked up the stat sheet and looked it over.
On top of the page was the word "Enjoy" in handwriting.
Energy Density ~ 8 Megajoules/Kilogram
Total charge for a 3kg shot = 1/2 kg
Ratio of gunpowder to gas = 3:1 (by Mass)
...
The stat sheet went on about specifics, but my main concern was the energy density. My recipe for gunpowder had a total of 2.5 megajoules per kilo, this over tripled that.
"I can downsize the cannons a lot because of this, after all, a projectile gets better the faster it is, not the bigger it is. The bombardiers will still get bigger cannons though."
I poured over the sheet for many more minutes, making sure to be careful around the charge.
I drew up plans for a simple cannon made from cast iron and moved on.
"These are the cannons for the chasers, so they can be small, after all, the chasers are just insurance in case Gluaze has figured out airships."
I heard a muffled argument outside.
'Not my problem.'
I turned back to my work and began working on the bombardier cannons. There would be two types. One would be an explosive mortar and the other would be a downwards-facing wall-buster. The wall buster would have a high-speed projectile that's entire purpose is to destroy structures while the mortar will have a charge of timed impact-fuse explosives that will go off when it hits something after a short time.
I quickly assembled models and simulated the cannon shots with pressure Eneru.
BANG! CRASH!
My door caved in and a blur of fists, nails, and hair flew past me.
"OI! STOP!"
Once I focused my attention on the blur it became clear that it was Laveki and another girl fighting. When neither one listened to me.
'How troublesome.' My mind-voice went cold and I restrained both of them with a flick of my wrist.
"What is going on? Why are you two fighting and more importantly, why here?" I had the voice of a school teacher who just caught two delinquents fighting on my day off.
The two girls started talking at the same time and it was impossible to tell what they were saying.
"Shut up, Laveki, you go first."
"But-" The other girl said.
"You're an adult, you can handle going second."
'I can't believe I have to remind them that they're adults.'
Laveki straightened her story for a second and spoke. "Master, she was outside this room talking shit and I gave her what was coming to her."
"Who was she 'talking shit' about?"
"You." She replied meekly.
"What's your name?" I asked the other girl.
"Elna."
"What's your side?"
"I was outside your workshop reporting the news about how you were preparing the country for an offensive war. I didn't mince words when I relayed that this is a bad idea. So when this chick, who I can only presume is your student or girlfriend, shows up and starts arguing with me, I got into a defensive stance and she jumped me. The rest is history."
"You really are a reporter, very well, feel free to go, I don't care if my name is dragged through the mud, it hardly affects me." I turned towards my apprentice as soon as Elna left. "You're in deep trouble, not only have you attacked a reporter, but you also interrupted my experiment. However, most importantly, you injured yourself for no reason because someone said mean words. How old are you exactly?"
"I'm fourteen (twenty-one on Earth). Why?"
"Because I fear all that time in Fort Lao has left you a little immature, I think you should take etiquette classes. Even if you aren't a 'well-behaved wife' type when you come out, you would learn the lessons that you missed out on when you were little. To be honest, I like how you're a little rebellious, but for a lot of people it could be a personal offense and I'd like for you to be able to fake it when you have to."
Laveki watched me as I spoke, quietly absorbing the details until I finished.
"No." She said flatly.
"Why not."
"I'll just learn from you. It's easy to tell when you have something on your mind so I'll just fake it when you do."
'This again?! Why must my facial expressions expose me?!'
"Fine, it'll save me some money anyway." I turned back to my work, untied Laveki, and repaired the door in one motion.
Laveki pulled up a chair and watched me work. Sometimes she would giggle randomly and other times she would get distracted by the cannons. One time she started giggling and I decided it was annoying enough to address.
"What's so funny?" I asked
"Your face! It's fun watching it switch to 'focused mode,'" she laughed heartily and contained. "Your eyes narrow and you get a smirk, but most importantly, you always stroke your beard!" She laughed harder as I realized my artificial arm was stroking my beard at that exact moment.
I blushed up to my ears, dying my face violet. "Well, I would be more focused if you didn't laugh at it!" I turned away.
Laveki was roaring with laughter and I isolated myself in a Quiet Zone.
'When you can't hear her, she's kinda cute when she laughs.'
I stuck my tongue out at her through the Quiet Zone and she noticed the sound-proof dome. She closed her eyes and stuck her head in it, centimeters away from mine.
"You can't hide from me!" She laughed.
She opened her eyes and the only thing she could see was my face. Neither one of us pulled away, nor did we blush or get nervous, yet I could hear her heartbeat and she could hear mine, beating in opposite rhythms.
'What now?'