"It's lovely outside, wouldn't you agree Darwin?" the reptite said, finishing up the final adjustments on the machine. The Nu just stared blankly ahead like it always did when its master started getting excited. "Lovely breeze, not a cloud in the sky..." The reptite continued, pulling on the straps to make sure they were good and tight. The machine, which was affixed to the Nu's back with strong vine straps wrapped around its armed and legs, was a crude metal box. From the sides of the box sprung wings not unlike those possessed by the winged apes, crafted from wood and covered in leather. Three crystals jutted out from the top, each inserted into a specialized receptacle, and a pull cord hung down from the back.
Satisfied that his assistant was securely strapped to the box Dr. Sleestak tottered over to his work table, grabbed a blank stone slate, a chisel, and a hammer, grabbed Darwin by the hand, and led him over to the elevator. They both grabbed one of the wheels sticking out of the side and gave it a pull, the elevator creaking upwards slowly as they continued to pull.
The door at the top of the plateau opens automatically as the exhausted reptile and his blank faced assistant gave one final pull and the elevator brought them up into the twilight. Panting, Dr. Sleestak took Darwin by the hand again and guided him to the edge. Here, at the top of this mountain, you could overlook the entire jungle. He took a deep breath, really breathing in that evening air. A fine mist was already beginning to rise out of the jungle as the heat of the day gave way to the pleasant not-as-hot-but-still-comfortable heat of the night. "For best result we should probably be doing this at noon, but I really don't want to risk it. I don't want that female finding me, and can you imagine how the humans would react? Seeing a Nu flying around? They'd think the world was ending Darwin."
The old Reptite peers over the edge of the cliff, down to the jagged rocks below, before looking back at the setting sun. This was going to be close. He reached over and gave the cord a good rip. The apparatuses holding the crystal sprung up on polls, shining even in the weak light of the setting sun. The wings began to flap, slowly at first, but then faster and faster until they became impossible to see. The wind they kicked up blew a cloud of dust from the mountaintop, and Sleestak had to cover his mouth to keep from breathing it in.
"I suppose I should make a speech of some sort?" Sleestak asked to no one in particular, before shrugging and kicking Darwin over the side. Quickly he laid his tablet on the ground, bringing up the hammer a chisel expectantly as he watched with rapacious excitement. Then, as he watched, his excited grin began to turn downward before a loud *THUMP* wiped it completely from his face. He sighed sadly and began tapping the results of this latest failure into the tablet.
