Chapter 3: Wrenching in the Warp
The Grot, whose name Tony learned was "Gnash," watched with open skepticism as Tony began to examine the chainsword. Gnash probably expected Tony to fumble with the crude weapon for a few minutes before giving up, but Tony approached the task with surprising confidence. He might be trapped in a green, diminutive body, but the knowledge in his brain hadn't shrunk.
"Alright, Gnash," Tony said, his voice still a bit squeaky but gaining a bit of authority. "First thing we need to do is diagnose the problem. Show me how it runs… or, well, doesn't run."
Gnash grumbled, but he obliged, pulling the starter cord on the chainsword's engine. The engine sputtered, coughed, and then died with a pathetic wheeze. A cloud of black smoke billowed out, smelling vaguely of burnt squig.
"See? Told ya it was busted," Gnash said, folding his arms.
Tony nodded. "Inefficient fuel combustion. Classic. Now, let's see if we can figure out why."
He began to disassemble the engine, carefully laying out the various components on a nearby piece of scrap metal. Gnash watched with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"What're ya doin'? You gonna break it even more?"
"Relax, Gnash," Tony said, with a reassuring (or at least, attempted reassuring) grin. "I know what I'm doing. Just need to take a look at the… uh… what do you call this thing? The 'gubbinz'?"
Gnash snorted. "Gubbinz? Dat's what da Mekboyz call 'em. You ain't a Mekboy, are ya?"
"Nah," Tony said quickly. "Just… picked up a few things. You know. Tinkering."
As he worked, Tony began to identify the problems. The fuel injectors were clogged with a gritty, unidentifiable substance. The ignition coil was cracked. And the power coupling was so corroded it was barely making contact.
This is worse than a Yugo engine after a demolition derby, Tony thought to himself. But hey, at least there's plenty of scrap metal lying around. I should be able to MacGyver something together.
Using a combination of scavenged parts, some creative re-wiring, and a surprising amount of sheer ingenuity, Tony began to repair the engine. He worked quickly and efficiently, his hands moving with a practiced grace that belied his diminutive stature.
Gnash watched in amazement as Tony tinkered. He'd never seen a Grot work on machinery with such skill and confidence. Most Grots were lucky if they could operate a rusty spanner without accidentally hitting themselves in the face.
"You're… you're actually fixin' it," Gnash said, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Almost there," Tony replied, wiping a smear of grime from his forehead. "Just need to… adjust the flux capacitor…"
He paused, realizing that Gnash probably had no idea what a flux capacitor was. "…Uh, I mean, just need to tighten this… thingy."
After a few more minutes of tinkering, Tony finally stood back, wiping his hands on his greasy rags. "Alright, Gnash. Let's see if this baby purrs."
He gestured for Gnash to pull the starter cord. Gnash hesitated for a moment, then shrugged and gave it a yank.
This time, the engine roared to life with a satisfying growl. The chainsword vibrated in Gnash's hands, the chain whirring with deadly intent. The black smoke was gone, replaced by a cleaner, more efficient exhaust.
Gnash stared at the chainsword, his eyes wide with astonishment. "It… it works! You actually fixed it! By Gork and Mork, you're a genius, Stikk!"
Tony grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "Just a little tinkering," he said modestly. "Glad I could help."
Gnash clapped Tony on the back, nearly sending him sprawling. "You're gonna be a big help 'round here, Stikk! Da Boss is gonna be real pleased! Maybe he'll even give you extra rations… or at least, not feed you to da squigs!"
Tony chuckled. "That would be nice."
He had gained Gnash's trust. He was no longer just "the new boot-cleaner." He was Stikk, the Grot who could fix things. And that was a valuable position to be in.
As Gnash went off to test out his newly repaired chainsword, Tony smiled to himself.
Alright, Phase One complete. Now it's time to start figuring out how to use this newfound influence…