It’s been a week since they started the bridge project. AJ is surrounded by wires, old batteries, and salvaged radio parts. Blaze is parked outside the open shed door,patiently waiting.

AJ:Okay,the structural integrity of the north side is good but the main span is a monster task. The hardest part is coordinating our work when I'm here and you're gathering steel beams near the quarry.

Blaze:The quarry is miles away, AJ! I can't hear you from there!

AJ holds up two salvaged radio walkie-talkies.

AJ:Exactly. We need a reliable communication system. I found these old military radios but they need to be programmed to a single frequency that won't interfere with the human settlement's safety channels.

Blaze:Programmed?

AJ:I'm teaching you basic computer programming. We have to assign specific signals and beeps to letters so we can send messages. It’s like a secret code!

Blaze rolls closer,peering at the wires as he is inside the garage.

Blaze:A code? That sounds smart!

AJ:We’ll use simple binary code. Two signals: a short beep and a long beep. We can call them a "Dit" and a "Dah".

AJ holds up one walkie-talkie and presses a button quickly. Beep! Then holds it down. Beeeeeep!

AJ:The letter "A" is Dit-Dah. That's a short-long. Try it on your radio,Blaze.

AJ tosses the second,slightly larger radio unit to Blaze, who expertly catches it on his bumper. Blaze presses his button tentatively.

Blaze:Beep!

AJ:Good! Now a long one!

Blaze:BEEEEEP.

AJ:'A'! Perfect! Now, my name: 'J' is Dit-Dah-Dah-Dit. Short-long-long-short. Try it!

Blaze focuses intently,his tires wiggling as he concentrates.

Blaze:BEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEP!

He tested the walkie-talkie in beeps as the radio on AJ's end crackles with the exact pattern. He grins widely.

AJ:You got it! You're a natural programmer Blaze!

Blaze:This is incredible! I can talk to you from anywhere now!

AJ is carefully putting on his safety helmet.

AJ:We can coordinate the entire bridge build! No more guessing! We just solved communication technology! Now let’s go apply it. We need those steel beams before sundown!

Blaze:Right behind you,AJ! Let's get blazing!

Blaze revs his engine excitedly, his wheels spinning a little in the dirt. AJ climbs into his cab. They speed off toward the quarry. As Blaze sped off along with AJ happily driving him with a wheel,the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. The sky is dark and stormy.

Rain begins to fall heavily. The bridge structure looks impressive now, thanks to the combined efforts and communication. The steel beams are laid across the gorge,supported by the triangular wooden structure they built earlier. AJ and Blaze stand at the human settlement side,looking up at the sky nervously.

AJ:That storm moved in fast. We need to secure those central bolts before the wind picks up.

Blaze:I can get across in two seconds, AJ!

Blaze starts across the new bridge structure.

AJ:Blaze,stop! Look at the river!

Blaze stops halfway across the bridge and looks down. The small river is now a raging torrent of brown, muddy water. It’s rising fast,slamming against their brand new,strong triangular supports.

Blaze:Oh no! The water level is going up super fast!

AJ:It’s a flash flood! The ground upstream must be totally soaked. The force of that water is too much,even for our triangles!

A massive log barrels down the river, slams into a central support beam and the whole structure groans under the impact.

Blaze:The bridge is going to collapse! All our work!

AJ:We can't just reinforce the bridge more; we have to change where the water is going! We need to use fluid dynamics!

Blaze:Fluid what-now?

AJ:Water naturally takes the fastest path! It speeds up when the channel is narrow,like right here in the gorge!

AJ quickly pulls out his sketchbook,which is now soaking wet.

AJ:We have to make a new path for the water, upstream! We need to dig a huge, wide diversion channel before the water gets to the bridge!

Blaze:A new channel?

AJ:Yes! The wider the channel,the slower the water moves!