VIDEO | Few days prior to prom

[orerrible]

[ Who doesn't love a massive yellow eye peering into the screen as though at any minute you would expect it to be followed by a harsh static beep and a pre-recorded message from your chipper dystopian spokeswoman. Shockwave lost his flare for camera angles so it's just him glowering (if that's a thing) into the feed at a severe angle with what appears to be a lab behind him. ]

It has been something of a long weekend side project, but humans in the habitable areas within the city should take note that there are now small mechanoids similar in appearance to Insecticons but with a vastly different purpose within the city. There are antiquated, single minded drones I've created for one simple task: Retrofitting human inhabited areas with basic amenities. Indoor plumbing along with access to treated water and rooms with temperature control, for one. The planet itself was hasty to say the least in bringing you all here as this is not an environment suited to even your most fundamental needs. Allow the drones to do their work as it also expedites more long term objectives such as energon transport and establishing a stable infrastructure.

[ Among other things you get showers and shitters now, fleshbags. You're welcome. ]

That said I would like to take the time to be transparent with any Cybertronian listening in: Expunge from your hardware any ingrained anti-organic sentiment now while you're ahead. I am not speaking out of the goodness of my spark but from the most simplest of truths. The planet itself demands this change and I will not entertain disruption to this nascent planet. A significant number of these humans are not baseline and share my intolerance for the unnecessary.

That will be all.

Comments

[video]

[smarterthandad]

Oh, they're yours? I took one apart when it started trying to break into my lab, sorry.

[She's not sorry.

Shockwave might be the only Cybertronian who'd be able to realize instantly that Val should not be able to use the network, much less have a lab.]

[video]

[orerrible]

The drones are roughly three times your size and weight.

[ Stating the obvious to make it clear he's not upset. He's impressed ]

[video]

[smarterthandad]

Yeah, and?

[What's your point, giant purple robot man.]

[video]

[orerrible]

I'm waiting to hear if this served a purpose.

[ Which is an insulated way for someone like Shockwave asking if there was an oversight with its design. ]

[video]

[academybot]

That's a pretty impressive 'side project.' I'm glad to hear someone is working on helping out the humans. Like you said, Cybertron isn't exactly the most organic-friendly place. If there's anything I can do to help with that sort of stuff, let me know. I've spent a lot of time with humans recently.

Is anti-organic sentiment a problem where you're from? I haven't gotten the impression it's much of an issue with most of the bots here, especially compared to my cybertron.

[orerrible]

[ Shockwave makes a noncommittal hum in lieu of any kind of response, because Optimus makes is clear he doesn't grasp what constitutes a side project for the likes of him. ]

While more virulent in, say, the likes of the Decepticon conclave - it would not be unheard of for lower ranking soldiers on both sides to take a dim view of organics.

[academybot]

[Well it's not like he spends a lot of time with scientifically oriented bots. Other than Ratchet but the thought of him willing going out of his way to help humans just because was difficult to imagine.]

Yeah, other than the Decepticons that sounds a lot more lenient of a viewpoint than there was on my Cybertron. Though I'm sure the fact travel to organic planets has been strictly forbidden since the war had a big part in that.

[He moves closer to the screen, squinting a little as he tries to get a better look at Shockwave despite the strange angle.]

Just to verify, are you a decepticon? Not that I mean to imply anything about your stance on humans, just curious.

[video]

[txting]

[There is only one thing on Skipper's mind:]

Does that mean I can build a washing machine!

[She has been wearing the same clothes since she got here, and they were not clothes meant for roughing it for several months. They are clothes that are meant to be worn while playing video games and also looking fab, and while Skipper's built a few gadgets to help her out in this goshawful wasteland, she is super tired of her clothing being filthy.

After a moment of excited fistpumping in the air:]

Actually, hey, like, what all can your mechanoids build? Because I dunno what can be used as fiber on this planet, but a textile mill would be, like, the best thing. Heck, even just getting something to the yarn state would be super useful, I could make a ton of knitting machines for anyone who wants to make new clothes to program themselves...

[She pulls out her cell phone, and looks over her notes of Stuff. She has other ideas, but clearly clothing is the most important one.]

[orerrible]

The drones are an intelligent cluster, but an isolated group could easily be given a separate directive. Retrofits to a large communal space in the human inhabited apartments would be the more efficient.

[ So, yes. And he takes a moment to consider the logistics of dividing up resources for a textiles plant. It could be done, and it wasn't like there was any other economic competition to speak of. ]

That hinges on the majority opinion of polyester.

[txting]

I don't give a gosh-darned schlond poofa if it's polyester, I really, really, really want another set of clothes. Or at least towels.

[She rubs the back of a hand across her rust-smudged cheek, which only makes the smudge worse.]

Do you need help building anything? I'm getting, like, way restless here, I would be super down with putting things together if it gave me something to do, you know?

[video]

[myownbestfriend]

Darling, I could kiss you.

[She doesn't care about the warning to step off humans; anyone who tries will learn the hard way that Emma isn't squishy. Showers, though.]

[video]

[orerrible]

[ A self-fulfilling prophecy much. ]

Ignoring the obvious physical limitations, I accept the approval nonetheless.

[video]

[myownbestfriend]

[You've seen what Emma can do with telepathy, Shockwave. Don't talk to her about physical limitations.]

Would your hospitality extend to some organic chemistry?

[She means cosmetics.]

[officerjuicebox]

That's uh.







Nice of you.

[WOW SMOOTH.]

[orerrible]

Roller.

[ That flat lack of inflection that just screams. Oh, this again. ]

[officerjuicebox]

[Look, he's trying to be civil and make chit-chat here.]

Yeah, hi.

So uhhh... humans. You're a fan?

[Oh my god Roller stop.]

video;

[sciencetank]

Ah, how kind of you to announce your drones' presence after releasing them upon the city proper.

... Shockwave, I take it.

[The eyeball thing sort of gave it away.]

video;

[orerrible]

And submit myself to the idling nature of a yet to be established Autobot ethics board? Unlikely.

Some of us don't have two hands to sit on, Perceptor.

video;

[sciencetank]

Oh, psh. Everyone is entirely too busy squabbling about old nonsense to form something so organized as an ethics board.

Mm, observant as your counterpart, I see. Complete with insectoid fixation, no less.

[justskidding]

Okay, I can't be the only one who finds it weird that you're taking a sudden liking to humans.

Planning on making some sort of biomechanical gestalt? You've always had a liking for fusing things together when destroying the universe wasn't at the top of the to-do list.

[Yeah, sorry. He's met other you, and he's hard-pressed to believe everything that happened after could be all absolved because of Shadowplay.]

[orerrible]

Skids.

[ Shockwave actually had to put effort in that sounded impervious to a more emotional response. All this time he knew they were here but he never... There were barriers now. Hard lines that a sudden bout of conscience and genuine empathy drew that prevented him from attempting contact. ]

'Like.' You keep saying that.

[ Maybe he had been spending too much time with Emma or their last mental timeout created some sort of bleeding effect, but the bristling huge bitch act suited him just fine. Not that it didn't always, but this time it was a higher risk social encounter. What with actually caring and all. ]

Neither have I been given to inaction. After the lot of became indolent; so damn pleased with yourselves because you found the light switch - quite literally running before you could walk. That it fell to me to oversee establishing a foundation for a more pragmatic approach to keeping this planet habitable.

[justskidding]

I'll send you a thesaurus if the word makes you that anxious.

[Skids knows which hills he wants to die on.]

In any case, this is still a little too philanthropic for your usual style of convoluted plan. Not that it isn't appreciated, assuming the water isn't laced with self-replicating nanomachines, but I'm getting the feeling that there's something bigger than this other than productivity.

And I right now, I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

[gimmicky]

[Should he even bother speaking up? He's no genius on the subject--in fact, Shockwave speaking just seemed to just highlight just how little Trailcutter knew. A small part of him wants to just shy away right now, not even bothering to try speaking to...his old mentor.

Remembering who Shockwave was is easy. Dealing with who he is--what happened to him...another part of him wonders just how much fighting Shadowplay actually saved.]

Because it's logical. That's why, right?

[Water is wet, apparently. But he could always hope that it was for a mutual partnership. That there was something other than calculations at work.]

[orerrible]

[ This is fine. Shockwave is okay with the events that are currently unfolding. Even without the rapidly shattering effects of Shadowplay, he is still an adult and therefor well versed in doing and this ballistic screaming on the inside.

What do you even day-

What does he even say. ]

Very good, Trailcutter.

[ Top marks. You always make top marks. ]

[gimmicky]

[His head tilts down, slightly. A finger tracing along the palm of his forcefield generator. The pure stoic-tone Shockwave gave was a familiarity. Maybe too familiar.

The alcohol buzz had drowned it out before. Now it's like a lump in his throat as he tries to branch for conversation.

Please...let him be in there.]

Logic's good! I like logic. I mean...you're--

[What are you trying to say, Trailcutter?]

I'm glad we agree. Really. It feels like a first in a long time.