fandomhigh | Popular Mechanics, Tuesday, May 5th, 3rd period

Ben's workshop was meeting in the Danger Shop because he'd met mechanics at Fandom before and a little extra fire protection never hurt anthing, okay?

"Hey," he said with an easy smile. "I'm Ben Skywalker, and this is Popular Mechanics." He tilted his head at Barry. "And that's Barry, he's my TA and will man the fire extinguisher if any of your projects get a little too exciting."

He gestured to the tiny herd of Roombas at his feet. "When I was a student here, I wasn't much of a sleeper. I'd make droids--robots--AI--whatever your term is--instead. Thought my roommate would kill me for all of the little friends I ended up making the first six months. Tinkering helped cleared my mind, which some of you might be familiar with."

He handed a Roomba to each student. "Poke at this and see what you can turn it into before our time's over. There's a book of ideas if you need one. For now, talk among yourselves--I always got better ideas when I shot them off of other mechanics. I'll wander around and get your names. Tell me about the last project you've been working on, okay?"

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"You aren't taking driver's ed, too, by any chance?"

There was a beer riding on Ben being right and Brian getting a "what's a car?" kid in his class.

Rude, Ben. So rude.

"It appears so. Why?"

Ben grinned. "No real reason. You'll love it. We'll take a car apart next week to show how it works."

Not Brian's. Ben didn't have a deathwish.

"And we may do what we wish with these... roombas?"

His would end up with really intricate metal work on it. For funsies.

"Yes," Ben said, "but you need to run any weaponization past me first."

Because he was being Responsible.

But it looked like it would be the right height to cut someone off at the ankles!

Thorin frowned at that roomba for that. "What if the weapons are only the secondary function?"

"I still need to be sure you're not going to cut off everyone's ankles," Ben said.

"You haven't provided the right materials to make a blade sharp enough for that."

GOD, BEN.

"That's because I'm smarter than I look," Ben said.

That was just setting yourself up for things, Ben.

Thorin just looked mulish at that. You're denying him his need to weaponize this tiny cleaning robot, Ben. "Will we have a forge to work in?"

Totally reasonable questions.

"Not exactly?" Ben hedged. "We have welding equipment, though, so it's basically the same thing."

Ish?

Thorin eyed the welding torch disdainfully. "Of course."

YOU WERE CRUSHING HIS CULTURE.

TAKE IT UP WITH THE MOOSE.

"Make sure you wear the safety equipment," Ben said. "Blinded is not a good look."

See what he did there?

HE WILL. But that moose was probably Elvish. Ugh.

Thorin looked at the provided safety equipment and was forced to wonder if maybe men were really that delicate. He had no need for goggles! THEY DID NOTHING.

"I will try to remember that."

Never.

Popular Mechanics, Tuesday, May 5th, 3rd period

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