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

[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.

[orerrible]

Logic can sometimes be a closed loop approach risking stagnation without outside influence. I've had the pleasure to speak with Prime in detail concerning best course of action. If you'll remember correctly this would not be the first cross-faction project where the planet was concerned.

[ If Shockwave could grimace he would - he sounded like he was giving Trailcutter a tes. That this came with an education packet at the end of the conversation.

Did they ever speak again after lectures became a distant memory. No, they hadn't.

Only a fragile exchange before the words were left hanging out in the air. Shockwave couldn't break this. Not this time. ]

We all must...adapt. And yes, yes you're right.

[gimmicky]

[It's amazing how familiar that was, for a lecture to happen when he asked a question. It was different--obviously parts of the Shockwave he knew for centuries was still there.

But it was a refreshing change of pace from the crushing apathy.]

You've talked to Prime?

I...how'd that go? I mean...obviously well, you agreed to something. And you said 'pleas--

[A pause.]

Shockwave. Can I ask you something?

[orerrible]

We came to terms on how best to serve the planet.

[ A vague, politicians' non-answer; some habits just never die. ]

Oh?

[ Taken aback, although it was difficult to tell, Shockwave was hesitant in his response. Of course Trailcutter had questions. ]

No time like the present. What is it?

[gimmicky]

[He'll take that for what it's worth, then.

But when granted the question, he suddenly becomes somewhat silent. Tracing the palm of his hand again.]

Did you ever think about us?

Like this? Like with the humans just now?

[orerrible]

No.

[ Shockwave's voice was cold white noise; flat monotone with nothing behind it. Static that cut to silence for a long, long time. ]

I do not consider what gives rise to the happiness of a human. Never do I think what it means for them to be happy or the nuanced emotional context therein. Their dreams for the future or what criterion they measure their lives in.

What they are afraid of. What causes emotional distress. It never crosses my mind the joy and unimaginable sorrow that is the trials that culminates to the unique experience of the individual. What they think of me after all this time.

I do not think that way.

Not about humans.

[ And Shockwave goes quiet again. ]

[gimmicky]

[The cold tone of that answer stings, and he can't help but slightly wince at it. But it's what comes next that really surprises him, his optics widening behind that visor. His jaw drops slightly, mostly in awe as he listens, his hands now frozen when they'd been idly moving as a nervous gesture.]

You're...

[He can hardly get the sentence out, his voice a little hoarse from surprise.

But he can get a chuckle out, the first genuinely happy sound he's had in quite some time, since he'd been taken here, surely.]

It's really you.