Thomas Doyle // Ford Prefect (dontpanic) wrote in parabolical, @ 2008-05-06 23:00:00 |
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Entry tags: | ford prefect, giselle, open |
Who: Ford Prefect and OPEN
What: Arriving and Hitchhiking
When: Late morning
Where: A busy street corner
Rating: PG
Status: In Progress
A six-foot square panel slid open revealing a small compartment that resembled nothing so much as a shower unit that had found a new function in life as an electrician's storage locker. Wiring and components littered the floor and a small, neatly-lettered sign on the wall said Emergency Teleport System. A slightly larger, messier sign beneath that said Out of Order.
Ford attempted to sort through the wiring and parts but quickly gave it up as a bad job. He jiggled the switch and got a small spark. Good enough. He entered the compartment, closed the panel, and threw the switch again.
It was late morning on Earth when a faintly surprised looking man with a towel wrapped around his head suddenly appeared on a busy street corner in the middle of Los Angeles. Of course the surprise wasn't because he'd suddenly appeared, Ford had known he was going to suddenly appear somewhere, he just hadn't expected it to be here of all places. This was an excellent example of why it's a bad idea to use emergency teleportation systems without first programming the guidance systems.
He looked around, noticing the buildings, the cars, the people wearing digital watches. There could be no doubt about where he'd landed: The Earth.
"Oh no, not again."
Ford sighed.
He carefully unwrapped the towel and used it to wave at passing cars. He stuck his thumb out hopefully.