A Coyote Never Gives Up

Chapter 1: Rev's-Dialogue-Does-This

On the planet-city of Acmetropolis, in the headquarters of the Loonatics, things were about to get explosive.

Tech E. Coyote worked nervously next to a large, glowing red tube, reaching from the floor to the ceiling.

Reactor critical in sixty seconds! An automated voice called out.

"I know, I know!" Tech growled, shouting "Rev, I need my isolinear modulator and my thermo-nuclear circumnavigator. Quickly!"

Rev Runner was out and back in a flash, a pile of tools in his arms. "Here-you-go-Tech-I-brought-the-radon-buffer-too-just-in-case."

"Thanks, I should've thought of that." Tech barely glanced at the other, already busy wiring everything together in a complex mess that would've made him wince if he hadn't been in a hurry.

"Well-it's-okay-to-forget-sometimes-especially-when-you're-a-super-genius-like-you-and-you're-in-a-stressful-situation-like-this! I-mean-if-that-thing-blows-even-I-wouldn't-be-fast-enough-to-escape-the-blast! Well-maybe-if-I-had-started-running-earlier-but-I-wouldn't-just-abandon-you-like-that." Rev didn't even stop for a breath. "You-can-do-it-Tech-I-have-complete-faith-in-your-abilities-and--"

Tech's paw clamped down on the other's beak. Normally, he enjoyed Rev's praise, it helped him work. But, at that moment, he was definitely not helping. "Rev, stop, please."

Rev nodded quickly and Tech returned to his frantic work, but the computer called out Reactor critical in ten seconds!

Tech shoved Rev away from the reactor, activating his experimental shield system. Metal surrounded the tube, sealing Tech inside, but he continued furiously working to contain the blast. Heat overwhelmed him, alarms blared, but he just barely managed to stop the overload -- a mere second before it was too late.

The shield deactivated, revealing a blackened and burning coyote. Green energy sparked across Tech's fur, restoring his regular form. "Ouch..."

"Oh-Tech-you-did-it! Not-that-I-doubted-you-well-maybe-for-a-second-but-still!" Rev hugged him tightly for a minute, before gasping as he remembered what they had been doing before this "I-have-to-go-get-ready! Thanks-again-for-agreeing-to-come-to-my-family-reunion!"

"No problem." Tech shrugged, too used to the other to be overly confused by the speed at which he changed topics and moods. "After getting locked in a tube and burnt to a crisp, what's dinner with a marathon of coyote-hating roadrunners?"

"Come-on-my-family's-been-making-a-real-effort!" Rev protested, "A-year-ago-they-wouldn't-have-let-you-come!"

"I guess that's true." Tech conceded, smiling. Then he added, "I just hope your folks don't try to make me eat birdseed again. Seriously, what's wrong with pizza?"

"Okay-remember-it's-at-eight-I'll-see-you-there-love-you-Tech-bye!" Rev kissed his cheek and sped away.

"Wait, Rev, don't do that in front-" Tech started, but the roadrunner was already long gone, "-of your family..." He finished lamely, chuckling.

Tech stretched and headed for the door, intending to go get changed in his room, thinking about Rev's family. Between his parents recommendations for leashes and his little cousins constantly pulling Tech's ears, they were far from easy to get along with. But he had made a lot of progress with them, and he was determined to make them actually like him, even if it took him years to do it. A Coyote, after all, never gives up.

So distracted by his thoughts, Tech didn't notice a machine that Rev had dropped earlier, tripping on it. He managed not to hit the floor, but stumbled to the side, right out an open window. He just barely managed to activate his grappling gun, swinging miles above the ground as it thankfully hooked onto the building.

"That reminds me," Tech muttered breathlessly to himself as he began climbing upwards, "I need to bring my rocket boots..."

Chapter 2: Rev's-Dialogue-Doesn't-Do-This

On the planet-city of Acmetropolis, in the headquarters of the Loonatics, things were about to get explosive.

Tech E. Coyote worked nervously next to a large, glowing red tube, reaching from the floor to the ceiling.

Reactor critical in sixty seconds! An automated voice called out.

"I know, I know!" Tech growled, shouting "Rev, I need my isolinear modulator and my thermo-nuclear circumnavigator. Quickly!"

Rev Runner was out and back in a flash, a pile of tools in his arms. "Here you go Tech; I brought the radon buffer too, just in case."

"Thanks, I should've thought of that." Tech barely glanced at the other, already busy wiring everything together in a complex mess that would've made him wince if he hadn't been in a hurry.

"Well, it's okay to forget sometimes, especially when you're a super genius like you and you're in a stressful situation like this! I mean, if-that thing blows even I wouldn't be fast enough to escape the blast! Well, maybe if I had started running earlier, but I wouldn't just abandon you like that." Rev didn't even stop for a breath. "You can do it, Tech; I have complete faith in your abilities and–"

Tech's paw clamped down on the other's beak. Normally, he enjoyed Rev's praise, it helped him work. But, at that moment, he was definitely not helping. "Rev, stop, please."

Rev nodded quickly and Tech returned to his frantic work, but the computer called out Reactor critical in ten seconds!

Tech shoved Rev away from the reactor, activating his experimental shield system. Metal surrounded the tube, sealing Tech inside, but he continued furiously working to contain the blast. Heat overwhelmed him, alarms blared, but he just barely managed to stop the overload — a mere second before it was too late.

The shield deactivated, revealing a blackened and burning coyote. Green energy sparked across Tech's fur, restoring his regular form. "Ouch..."

"Oh Tech, you did it! Not that I doubted you... well, maybe for a second, but still!" Rev hugged him tightly for a minute, before gasping as he remembered what they had been doing before this particular disaster. "I have to go get ready! Thanks again for agreeing to come to my family reunion!"

"No problem." Tech shrugged, too used to the other to be overly confused by the speed at which he changed topics and moods. "After getting locked in a tube and burnt to a crisp, what's dinner with a marathon of coyote-hating roadrunners?"

"Come on, my family's been making a real effort!" Rev protested, "A year ago they wouldn't have let you come!"

"I guess that's true." Tech conceded, smiling. Then he added, "I just hope your folks don't try to make me eat birdseed again. Seriously, what's wrong with pizza?"

"Okay, remember it's at eight — I'll see you there, love you Tech, bye!" Rev kissed his cheek and sped away.

"Wait, Rev, don't do that in front-" Tech started, but the roadrunner was already long gone, "-of your family..." He finished lamely, chuckling.

Tech stretched and headed for the door, intending to go get changed in his room, thinking about Rev's family. Between his parents' recommendations for leashes and his little cousins constantly pulling Tech's ears, they were far from easy to get along with. But he had made a lot of progress with them, and he was determined to make them actually like him, even if it took him years to do it. A Coyote, after all, never gives up.

So distracted by his thoughts, Tech didn't notice a machine that Rev had dropped earlier, tripping on it. He managed not to hit the floor, but stumbled to the side, right out an open window. He just barely managed to activate his grappling gun, swinging miles above the ground as it thankfully hooked onto the building.

"That reminds me," Tech muttered breathlessly to himself as he began climbing upwards, "I need to bring my rocket boots..."