38. Steam Gorilla
10-14-2023
A/N: Thank you guys for 25k reads and 1.3k votes! I'm really happy that all of you like this fic and that all the new readers are enjoying it too. This fic also finally got more votes than my old Assassination Classroom fanfiction!
Q: The new Dr. Stone episode came out! To those that watched it, what did you think of it?! Remember: no spoilers for anime-onlys!
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"What is this?!"
"Whoa, we're gonna save Chrome with this thing?!"
"It's as if you just started with iron and made a living beast!"
Seeing the finished creation after days upon days of work, it was the village's first time laying their eyes on a self-propelling object. The finished product was none other than the very first steam engine in the new world. It was running on its own after Senku had filled the engine with coal. The snow had melted enough for it to run with no issues, and it was warm enough for everyone to stop wearing their winter gear.
"Full steam ahead!" The scientist cried out as the villagers steered away from the engine's path.
"We've finally made it to the Industrial Revolution!" Gen cheerfully exclaimed.
As you ran together with the engine, you saw Magma, who standing still in the middle of its route. He put his extremities forward as he slightly crouched down, as if he was going to stop it with his bare hands. "It's nothing I can't handle!"
And with that, the blonde brute was gone in a blink of an eye as the machine knocked him out. The villagers cried out as the vehicle slowed to a stop, "Magma!"
"Are you insane? It's impossible to stop a steam engine with just muscle alone," said Senku as he looked at the man that was lying face flat on the ground.
Your friends came around to look at the machine when it had stopped. The expressions of admiration and awe was plastered on their faces. Though there were some with the look of worry.
"It's almost like a living thing!" Ruri exclaimed.
Kinro replied with sweat dripping down his temples, "Yeah, one with tremendous, superhuman strength..."
"It's almost like a gorilla!" Suika piped up.
Ginro added, "Even more than Kohaku-chan!"
After the lioness had beaten the blonde boy to a pulp due to his unnecessary comments, she spoke up, "With this, we can all go and save Chrome, right?"
You nodded, "Yes. I'm sure that once we're done, we can all get moving."
"Yeah, especially since this is science's superhuman monster: the Steam Gorilla!" The green-haired boy declared.
With that, he added a steering wheel in the middle of the platform that the engine was sitting on. Gen, the only person who legally had a driver's license back in the day, was testing it out once everything was connected. Unfortunately, with the wheels not covered with any protection and the roads nor paved to perfection, there were bound to be some issues. But that's what science is all about: trial and error.
"Why am I test-driving this clunky thing?!" The mentalist cried out, his words slurring with each bump he rolled over.
"Because you're the only one with a driver's license!" Senku hollered as he stuck a pinky in his ear.
"What use is a license in this world?!"
"You gotta obey traffic laws, right? Even if I don't think so at all."
You sighed to stop their arguing. "The wooden wheels are a massive problem since we don't have any paved roads. That's why Senku told to kids to weave some bamboo wicker, and for Kohaku to chop some bamboo poles down."
"Exactly. We're creating the airless tires developed by NASA for interplanetary exploration...bamboo wicker edition!" The scientist replied as the rest of the team had already finished their tasks.
The kids brought the wicker as Kaseki fixed the wheels, as well as making extra effort to upgrading the Steam Gorilla. After more days of work, the automobile was completed. The platform that the engine was on was now lifted in the middle of a boat-like frame and the steering wheel was also connected to the wheels for turning. In front of the car was a gorilla painted on it.
"Oho! It's finally completed! The Steam Gorilla!" Kaseki cheered as he jumped up and down in excitement. But soon, the expression on his face changed to sadness as his eyes had softened. "We have to use this to rescue him quickly...I pity the captured Chrome."
"Ah...don't worry, Kaseki. We'll be able to rescue him so he can see what you've made!" You tried cheering him up. But then you noticed him and Senku matching happy expressions, which made you take back your statement.
"Yes, I know. Chrome's not here to see it...it's just too pitiful~" the craftsman said with a smile. "We've made something as exciting as an automobile, yet he's not here~"
The scientist replied, "Yeah, it's so pitiful, all of America weeps. Well have to to and show off the Steam Gorilla with all our might, huh~?"
"What nice people the science team are~" Gen stood next to you with a strained smile on his face.
"I deeply apologize for Senku and Kaseki's behavior, Chrome," you muttered to yourself, imagining how irritated he would feel knowing they made something new without him.
Soon, you saw Kokuyo approaching the group with a grin on his face. "We can head out at any time now to rescue Chrome!"
"Alright. Well put the science tools on the car, as well as the gramps and grannies that will have a troublesome time walking!" Senku explain to everybody as they started loading up the materials.
"Senku, (Y/N), I don't think we can go after all," you heard someone talk. It was Natri, one of the few elders that were in the village. Before you and Senku could say anything, the old man continued as the rest of the elderly joined him, "We thought about it carefully. No matter how much scientific luggage you have, you could have taken most of it with just one trip. Given that, why did you go to the trouble of making this automobile? It was because of us, wasn't it?"
Looking away, the scientist replied, "Nah...that has nothing to do with it. I only decided to do it because science projects are interesting..."
"We were doing everything we could for the village and to save Chrome," you added.
With a small smile, Natri spoke up, "Well, we'll stay behind in Ishigami Village. You're all going to go to battle after this, and we don't want to end up being a burden."
"But if Tsukasa's army rear guard attacks, what will you do?!" Kohaku questioned them with worry.
"We're not worried about that. Because surely, before that happens, you'll win against the Tsukasa Empire, isn't that right?" The old man said as he looked at both you and Senku.
You nodded. "Yes, you're right. We'll definitely win and wave the Kingdom of Science's flag of victory."
He chuckled. "Very well. We will see you once you win."
~~~
Once all the gear and materials was set in place on the Steam Gorilla, everybody that was able-bodied headed off toward the Tsukasa Empire. They had said their farewells to the elderly with a smile as they joined your group and followed behind the vehicle.
"Ohoho, isn't our Steam Gorilla moving along wonderfully!" Kaseki cheered as he looked at the car moving smoothly against the bumpy riverside.
"Well, on ground level, it is," Senku told him. You were walking next to him by the river, taking in the scenery that coming up due to spring approaching.
"Compared to doing multiple round trips, even with this necessary detour, this is a good way to go without having to communicate from afar~" Gen called out from the front.
You noticed that your boyfriend began to pick up his pace from behind the car to the front. Looking at his face, you saw that he had that certain expression when he came up with an idea or had remembered something important. Before you could follow, Kohaku and your other friends spoke to you from behind.
"(Y/N), when you were in the modern world, did all cars look like this?" Ginro asked you.
His older brother added, "I can't imagine how they would look compared to the one we have right now."
You replied with a smile, "They were really different then. They were all made of metal and glass, and the insides were soft with leather or thick pillows. Unlike this one, you could sit down and steer as long as you had a seatbelt on. This car that we have right now just looks like the boats that we had back in the day. Only, there are wheels instead of propellers."
"Ohoho...I wonder if we'll ever get to see one of those beautiful cars or boats in the near future...it will be so fun to build one!" Kaseki daydreamed as he swayed side to side.
"All that stuff you had must've been so wonderful, considering it has helped us with daily living," Ruri mentioned.
Kohaku piped up, "Surely, we'll make all that stuff when the Tsukasa Empire is defeated!"
With glossy eyes, you felt nostalgic once more. "Yeah...when we beat Tsukasa, we'll get all that stuff back one day."
"(Y/N)!"
You looked up to see Senku waving his arm up to get your attention.
"Slowpoke, get over here. We need to talk," said Senku as he motioned his hand for you to stand by him. Gen seemed to be glancing at you as well, despite being the driver of the Steam Gorilla.
You excused yourself from your friend group, then picked up the pace to meet up with both men. You wondered, "What's up?"
The mentalist gave you a close-eyed smile as he replied, "Senku-chan and I thought it'd be a good idea to teach you some Morse code~! This way, you can understand what were saying!"
Returning the gesture, you jokingly replied, "Are you sure you want me to understand all the lovey-dovey stuff you two are secretly saying to each other?"
Senku creased his forehead with a frown as Gen raised his eyebrows, a hearty laugh following. The boy scoffed, "As if. This is just for extra precaution if we can't communicate orally."
"I know, I'm just joking~ I'm all for it, even though it might take awhile...learning physical activities is much easier than mental tasks. How are we gonna go about doing this?" You asked.
The mentalist spoke up, "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, (Y/N)-chan. Just think of it as fighting with words, using a combo of slashes and stabs for different letters..."
You looked at him with half-lidded eyes. He stuck his tongue out as you answered him, "That's not how it works, Gen..."
"We'll start teaching you by using this metal whistle I made or knocking across the tank when we aren't moving. You will learn all letters of the international Morse code in sections," your boyfriend explained as he swung a tiny, metal pipe with holes on it connected to a string. You assumed that was the whistle he created. "Once you get all twenty-six letters down, we can start Wabun code if you want to."
Confused, you tilted your head as you replied, "Wabun code?"
"It's Japan's other version of Morse code, using katakana instead~ Do you want to learn it?" Gen playfully questioned you.
Sweat dripping down your temples, you responded, "No...I already struggled with that, hiragana, and kanji before...so I'm good."
"Okay then. I'll whistle the first few letters of the alphabet and repeat them to you. You have to do the same once I'm done. Got it?" The scientist said.
"Yeah, but will I get a whistle too?" You asked.
"I didn't have enough time to make a third one, but I have something else for you. I'll give it to you later on," he told you with a smirk.
With that, you also noticed the mentalist smiling with a teasing look on his face, as if there was something behind those words of his. You spoke out, "Do you have something to say, Gen?"
"No~" he giggled. "But we should start now. Let's get started, shall we?"
"Okay..." you said with suspicion.
Senku then placed the whistle between his lips and started blowing air through it. It produced a short and long whistles, and then he stopped.
･㼠/ ã¼ï½¥ï½¥ï½¥ / ã¼ï½¥ã¼ï½¥
"That's just A, B, and C, right?" You raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Or is there a D there too...?"
"Nah, you got it right. It's just A, B, and C," said Senku.
Sweat started dripping profusely down your head as you realized that it was going to be harder than you thought it was.
"Oh boy..."
~~~
Despite going through Morse Code teaching, it was interrupted when all of you had to push the Steam Gorilla up any inclines. This was because the engine didn't have any momentum when going uphill.
"WHY DOES IT STOP AT INCLINES?!" Magma screamed out.
Senku yelled back at him, "WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE EVERYONE PUSH!"
"The way...the oscillating engine works...is that if it can't build momentum...it can't spin..." the craftsman explained between pushes.
The scientist replied, "If it was...a double-acting type twin steamer...then we could get more power out of it! Are we seeing the downside...of saving time...?"
You answered him, "We had no choice...this was the only way to get it done...before Tsukasa's army could attack! We just gotta...rely on us being patient and resilient...!"
"More resilient..." your boyfriend muttered and stopped pushing upon hearing those words escape your mouth. Suddenly, an evil grin appeared on his face as he came up with an idea. "I just got a greaaaaat idea...anyways, slowpoke, we need to continue your Morse Code lessons."
"Wha...?!" You widened your eyes.
"This is so can memorize these before the final battle!" He exclaimed.
"WHY WOULD YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE WHEN WE'RE PUSHING THIS DAMN THING?!" You shouted at the top of your lungs.
You noticed Senku go back to pushing after he heard you scream at him. Then you heard him whistling from in front of you.
ã¼ï½¥ï½¥ / ï½¥ / ･･ã¼ï½¥ / ã¼ã¼ï½¥
"SENKU!"
-To be Continued-
A/N: Woooooo I made it again. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! By the way, those last letters are D, E, F, and G.
I'm feeling super romantical for next chapter heh~