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[gone_byebye]

The door opens briefly to a view of a New York City alley, and Ray ducks in, followed closely by a stylized robotic dog about the size of a Rhodesian Ridgeback. For once, neither he nor his companion are covered in slime.

It's been a good day.

Comments

[doc_venkman]

There was a lump on one of the comfy couches. Upon closer inspection it would be revealed to be a dozing Peter, his daughter securely in his arms. She was also sleeping, nestled against his shoulder.

[gone_byebye]

"Whurf," the dog firmly announces, nudging at Peter's leg with its nose.

[doc_venkman]

Peter blinked his eyes opened, and Maria yawned some.

"Ngggh? Huh, not now, Buster," he sleepily said, waving a free hand away.

[gone_byebye]

"WHURF."

[doc_venkman]

Peter jerked his head some with surprise, but then made sure Maria was still secure before he sat up proper.

"Huh? ...Oh, it's Robo-Fido."

[gone_byebye]

"Francis," says Ray firmly. "Not Robo-Fido. He's got a name, Peter."

[doc_venkman]

"Right... I forgot. Hiya Francis." Peter waved slightly, and shifted Maria back over to her stroller seat, strapping her in securely. She seemed more fascinated by the shiny dog, and tried reaching for it. She was also making loud 'bababa' sounds as she did so.

[gone_byebye]

Francis wags his butt enthusiastically. "I went home last night," Ray says, "so I figured I'd better bring him here this morning for you. Ecto says it's okay if you keep him for a while. As long as you need to."

[doc_venkman]

Peter nodded, "Ok, thanks. Got some more info from home about Lillith, also spoke with Wesley and Malcolm earlier. Wesley said he knows a ritual that might help. An amulet. Egon back home was talking about it a little, not so much the ritual part though."

He eyed the dog while Maria continued reaching. Like doggie at home, but shinier!

"...So how does this work? He needs walks regularly, robo chow, what? Does he eat batteries?"

[gone_byebye]

"Always good. If you need anything from my copies of Spates or Tobin, let me know. Or if you wanted to borrow Lenny for some reason."

Francis cocks his head, rising up a little on his hind legs to nose at Maria's hand. There's no ears to pull on, no sensitive nose to squish- just metal and intake grates for the smell.

"Actually, he usually recharges in his kennel at night, but he'll be good for a week without one," Ray says. "After that he'll start slowing down. Bring him back here and I'll get him charged. The kennel's sort of built into one of the walls now- it's easier that way. He'll probably want to sleep near your Ecto-1, since in my world he's her pet."

[doc_venkman]

Peter nodded as he listened, his eyes conveying how grateful he was for the help, "Thanks, Ray. Still no further word on Oscar. Dana's been frantic, but who can blame her? Bad enough this happened once during the case with Viggy...She's been having a hard time sleeping lately." Actually all Venkmans, including the two present haven't been getting a good night's sleep.

Maria meanwhile was babbling more excitedly, and trying to pat Francis. Even though it didn't seem right. Ears are meant to be pulled! That's what they're there for.

[gone_byebye]

Maria is lucky Francis has anything even resembling a muzzle. His head was originally designed to be far more triangular and less recognizable. At least he sort of kind of resembles doggishness.

"Yeah, I'm surprised she's getting sleep at all, honestly," Ray says. "I know I'd be pretty tied up in knots if this happened to Alex or Joey, and they're not even mine. How about yourself, though? You look a little raw around the edges."

Not that Ray got as much sleep as he should've last night, but he's looking better than he usually does when he's working himself down to the bone.

[doc_venkman]

And of course, Peter tried to steer away from that, "I get enough. How about you? I know you've been burning the midnight oil and the noontime oil and what have you on this major project for Eddie. Everything good there now?"

[gone_byebye]

"The Beam generator alterations worked," Ray says, "and so did the holemaker, but Eddie couldn't make it back. Maintenance spider robots took the holemaker apart before he could get through. I've got half a 'bot upstairs in my room- well, both halves, but I separated them and locked them in two individual containers just in case something weird happened."

[doc_venkman]

Peter blinked while Maria continued babbling in the background.

Finally he asked, "...Define weird here...?"

[gone_byebye]

"Well, I 'sabered the thing in half, but we are talking about a millennia-old maintenance robot built by a long-lost civilization to look after serious ubertech. I didn't want to take the chance that a power surge of some kind might cause a self repair mechanism to kick in and rejoin the halves. I just want to dissect the thing down to its component parts and see if I can work out anything useful from it."