magic man

I would never be able to tell if my moral teachings would stick with them but I was damn sure that my science lessons would with how they took to them like fish to water if in there own way.

See while echo seemed to have unnatural talent in electrical based science, powder wasuch better at any science that required either moving parts (like clockwork) or chemicals (like the biofuel from the horizon series atomatons) and wasn't that a talk and a half to explain to them.

The first time they saw the mechanical animals was when the herd returned to my workshop because a grazer had been attacked and it's faceplate was almost crippled from a gunshot not allowing it to open or close its mouth. It took a while to explain it but I managed to convince them that I had used what I learnt from repairing the Colchis bull to make my own animals made of metal.

They were happy when after a week of learning from me I allowed them to help with repairs of the grazers faceplate. and while echo was easily able to keep up with me as I taught them, powder damn near figured out the organic matter-biofuel conversation system while only being able to inspect the grazers head.

I rewarded the young kid by letting her have first pick of the new k-9 line of atomatons I had slowly been working on in my spare time, after a lot of hard thinking she decided to go with the husky based atomaton while echo picked the German Shepherd.

I was happy to let them take the k-9s home with them on the express rule that they in no way harm the animals intentionally (I know I've accidentally stepped on my dogs tail before so I'll excuse accidental harm) and it was a marvellous sight to watch the incredibly playful kibble (the husky) bother his brother max (the German Shepherd that echo couldn't think of a name of) as the two friends played with their new friends.

"Well the week is over so you guys need have two days off and when that's over I'll see you again here" It took convincing for them to accept the concept of a weekend as it was entirely non existent in their little world.

They sulked but a quick bark From max and a bork from kibbles (it was specifically a bork not a bark) cheered them up right quick as they hurried to go show powders family the K-9s.

When the kids had left in their joy filled sprint home I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled for the big man himself to come out now that the kids were gone.

Bounding out of the behind a large 'scrap' pile (I was a fake pile that served as the big man's kennel) with a goofy smile on his doggy face was the Big Man himself, Major Pain (or just Major) he was a massive black wolf cross Labrador made to look like my best friend from my last life who shared his name and disposition.

I brace myself for the collision that knocked my off my feet easily as the big goof didn't realise that he was larger than me by a good bit, see Major here was not only disigned to look and act like my old dog but was technically not even apart of the k-9 series and was instead a N series with his own imaginary gear built around the work 'pack'.

Majors IM gear (I'm using this for the short hand of imaginary gear) was made as a mix between a communication system and long distance repair station, by using a master IM gear built to oversee a collection of sub IM gears in all of the K-9s it allowed Major to not only be used to relay orders to K-9s that aren't nearby but also allowed the auto repair systems in him to be used by his pack members.

I grab the big lugs face and smoosh it with all my strength barely moving his artificial skin and fur at all, "who's a good boy, you are. Yes you are" I coo at the multi-ton mechanical beast like it's a baby and just as any dog would he replys with big ol sloppy dog kisses and woofs loud enough to hurt my ears.

"Ugh Major don't slobber on me ya arsehole" I grumble but makes sure to talk in a happy tone so he knows I'm joking.

"Alright big guy I need to get up now and you need to start getting the K-9s to their designated areas" I say as I wiggle my way out from under the almost two metres tall wolf-dog.

"We want them spread out as best as we can so they can help as many people as they can and get as many pats as they can" I say the last part as motivation to get Major to hurry up with his task.

I watch as his ears perk up at the mention of pats before he grins like an idiot and bounds off to his kennel to start his task.

"God I love that idiot" I say with a smile that almost hurts with how wide it is before I turn back to my workshop and head back to the grazer that we had finished repairing.

I whistle the tune of doodles by Rose Betts as I put the final adjustments on the grazers before moving on to checking the other herd members.

I work for about two more hours before deciding that was enough double checking of the herd, so I gave the thunderhawk a quick pay on the beak to signal that I was done inspecting it to which it flapped its wings gently before hopping out of my workshop and taking to the sky's.

"You know you could just ask before trying to sneak into my workshop heimerdinger" I say as I continue wiping off my hands as the unashamed Yordle hopped down from his perch in my rafters and landed quite a bit more silently than I expected.

"You are quite observant my boy, and from what I have seen so far incredibly intelligent. But I must ask you to forgive an old man curiosity when he learns of tales of metal beasts and birds of Prey seeming to use magic" I knew it wouldn't take to long before he found out about me and to be honest with myself I expected him to come find me a lot earlier than this.

"Well you found the big secret, sir head of the piltovian council. It's just me building atomatons with the same technology used in simple clocks" I didn't really care if he knew what I was doing because as I have already set up a base of operations I was a hell of a lot harder to kill than if i was just starting out.

"Clockwork technology may be diverse in its applications but what is being done here is well past what should be possible with even an academy grade knowledge base young man" he said, probably wanting to see if he could pull the wise old mentor thing he does with everyone else from what I've heard.

I shrug and grab the textbook I used as an introduction to science for echo and powder before handing it to him and turning back to my workbench.

"That text book holds all the knowledge needed to make simple atomatons with basic logic systems" I didn't mind if he learnt anything from this as it was beginner grade at best and the kids had already past apprentice grade.

I hear the Yordle mutter and mumble as he tears through the book (figuratively) absorbing as much as he could in as shirt a time as possible most likely thinking I would take the book back so to assayed his fears I call out over my shoulder.

"Feel free to take the book with you Doc, and I don't really care if you return it" I pay the small man no more mind beyond the occasional look over the shoulder to make sure he isn't stealing or fiddling with anything.

"Well then I thank you young man and I shall take you up on your offer. I will return in a few days with equal compensation for the knowledge you have given me" I didn't expect anything in return so I just nodded at him and continued my work in putting the final gear into alignment for K-9 on my desk.

"Oh yeah if you want, you can watch me finish this atomaton" I yell out to the retreating form of heimerdinger and smile as he hurriedly makes his way back in as quickly as he can while still looking dignified.

"I would very much like to watch that, and I thank you for the opportunity to do so" I carefully reach into the K-9's chest cavity and with the incredibly small screwdriver head start to wind the sub IM gear until I hear that oh so satisfying click of the gear reaching full wind.