Valeria Richards (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
smarterthandad) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
robothell2015-01-12 11:34 pm
smarterthandad) wrote in robothell2015-01-12 11:34 pm
Entry tags:
[open] Brainstorm has competition
Who: Valeria and visitors
Where: Her under-construction lab
When: Anytime from about a week after arrival on
What: Tiny supergenius for hire and/or underhanded plotting
Warnings: Val's Prowl-level ethics, idk
Based on what she acknowledged was her incomplete understanding of the Cybertronians' factions and the balance of power as it stood after their war, Val had decided that Optimus Prime asking for her scientific expertise counted as carte blanche to do what she wanted--not that she wouldn't have anyway, but the imprimatur of authority never hurt--which had at first mostly involved browbeating Drift into helping her scout locations, and then move heavy objects even an adult human wouldn't have been able to budge. Now, though, things were finally coming together to the point where she could get some useful work done.
She was rapidly filling up the floor space with remote-controlled equipment to let her manipulate enormous Cybertronian technology without needing to call for help every time, but much of it was still half-built. The spacious catwalk around the edge of the room at convenient Transformer eye height was quite finished, however. Val was used to having to look up at people, but 20 feet or more was a bit much, thanks. She should probably add some antigrav scooters when she got a chance; a room large enough to host even Optimus or Megatron comfortably made for a lot of walking when you were three feet tall. As with so many other things on her to-do list, that would have to wait until more pressing concerns were out of the way.
Like the fact that it didn't seem as though their war was quite as over as they said it was, so in true Cybertronian fashion, she'd focused on weapons. Her own Earth had something to say on that front, and after throwing together a few basic EMP grenades and an x-ray laser (you know, just in case) Val had switched to more interesting designs. Duplicating Iron Man's repulsors with Cybertronian tech had been a snap, though an adequate portable power source was taking time. Obviously it should run on energon, but she didn't fully understand that delightful concoction yet, and for the moment, her new toys were hooked up to a smallish fusion reactor that hummed in the corner behind a symbolic barricade of hazard tape.
The sharp zap of a repulsor blast and the metallic clatter of the makeshift target Val was practicing on were audible from the street, though hearing her giggling about the minor havoc she was causing would require being inside the lab. Not much of a feat--the door was unlocked and she had rigged an enormous "come in, we're open" sign of the sort that hung in the windows of stores on Earth. She found it funny, even if no one else was going to get the joke.
Where: Her under-construction lab
When: Anytime from about a week after arrival on
What: Tiny supergenius for hire and/or underhanded plotting
Warnings: Val's Prowl-level ethics, idk
Based on what she acknowledged was her incomplete understanding of the Cybertronians' factions and the balance of power as it stood after their war, Val had decided that Optimus Prime asking for her scientific expertise counted as carte blanche to do what she wanted--not that she wouldn't have anyway, but the imprimatur of authority never hurt--which had at first mostly involved browbeating Drift into helping her scout locations, and then move heavy objects even an adult human wouldn't have been able to budge. Now, though, things were finally coming together to the point where she could get some useful work done.
She was rapidly filling up the floor space with remote-controlled equipment to let her manipulate enormous Cybertronian technology without needing to call for help every time, but much of it was still half-built. The spacious catwalk around the edge of the room at convenient Transformer eye height was quite finished, however. Val was used to having to look up at people, but 20 feet or more was a bit much, thanks. She should probably add some antigrav scooters when she got a chance; a room large enough to host even Optimus or Megatron comfortably made for a lot of walking when you were three feet tall. As with so many other things on her to-do list, that would have to wait until more pressing concerns were out of the way.
Like the fact that it didn't seem as though their war was quite as over as they said it was, so in true Cybertronian fashion, she'd focused on weapons. Her own Earth had something to say on that front, and after throwing together a few basic EMP grenades and an x-ray laser (you know, just in case) Val had switched to more interesting designs. Duplicating Iron Man's repulsors with Cybertronian tech had been a snap, though an adequate portable power source was taking time. Obviously it should run on energon, but she didn't fully understand that delightful concoction yet, and for the moment, her new toys were hooked up to a smallish fusion reactor that hummed in the corner behind a symbolic barricade of hazard tape.
The sharp zap of a repulsor blast and the metallic clatter of the makeshift target Val was practicing on were audible from the street, though hearing her giggling about the minor havoc she was causing would require being inside the lab. Not much of a feat--the door was unlocked and she had rigged an enormous "come in, we're open" sign of the sort that hung in the windows of stores on Earth. She found it funny, even if no one else was going to get the joke.
no subject
Tarn doesn't know much about organics but from what he does know this creature appears to be human. Upon further consideration someone with this much knowledge and experience with weaponry and Cybertronian technology could come in handy...
"Very impressive, for a human." He sets her in the palm of his hand looking at her with less disgust and more veiled interest.
no subject
"Thank you." With strangers, Val was generally at least superficially polite. Her mother had drilled it into her, and she herself regarded the slight investment in 'pleases' and 'thank yous' to be worth the dividends it paid. "Am I the first human you've met?"
That was pretty obviously the case, but she would let him lie if he wanted. It would tell her something about his character.
no subject
There is no point in lying about it. And to be honest Tarn's opinion on humans, from the information that he has gathered, is not the best. This one seems to be particularly intelligent at least.
"Although I will admit, I did expect Humans to be slightly larger."
no subject
"I'm little because I'm a juvenile. My adult height will be about twice what it is now." Which, granted, would still put her in the mini-est of minibot territory, but right now she was just unreasonably tiny.
no subject
"Apologies, how very rude of me! I never properly introduced myself." He bows his head slightly, "They call me Tarn."
no subject
"Valeria Richards. By social convention, since you're the senior of us, you'd address me just as Valeria." No harm in playing to that overinflated Cybertronian sense of superiority. It was merely the local version of her cute facade from back home, after all. "Do you have a rank or title I should use?"
no subject
"As it happens, I am Commander of the Decepticon Justice Division. But such formalities are unnecessary; you may address me as simply Tarn." He takes a sweeping look around the lab before continuing. "Would you mind showing me around? I am curious about some of these projects that I see laying about."
no subject
"I can give you the 10-cent" whatever that was "tour, sure. Lemme grab my tablet." She trotted down the catwalk--a distance he could have reached without moving--to where there was an electronics workbench scattered with various human-scale components. From the mess she retrieved a similarly-sized datapad with a logo on the back that didn't match anything from Cybertronian history. That piece of tech, at least, she'd brought with her.
"I'm several iterations away from being able to build the equipment I'll need to start answering the question of how we got here and how we can not be here anymore, but on the engineering front I'm in pretty good shape," she said, gesturing around the room. "A lot of the machines are just to let me work on Cybertronian-scale tech without having to stand on someone's shoulder and tell them what components go where."
no subject
Tarn leans forward slightly in feigned interest. Really what he's looking at is the repulsor strapped to her hand. Was that what caused the blast? It looks so small and unassuming.
no subject
Tiny though it was by Tarn's standards, the repulsor was large enough to be unwieldy for Val, and interfered with using the datapad. In a casual gesture, she adjusted the strap so the device was cinched around her forearm like the universe's most high-tech statement bangle, leaving him an opening to ask about it if he wanted.
"I do whatever," she said with a shrug, revealing nothing of the continuous social calculations she was running while she spoke. "I prefer physics and engineering--and pure math, not that I ever have time for that--but it's not like I can't perform in other fields if I have to."
no subject
"Weaponry as well, it seems." He wants a closer look. "How do you feel about a quick demonstration? Surely, you have other little experiments as well."
no subject
'That kind of thing' was delivered in the dismissive tone of voice that made it sound like Val regarded the projects as dull but necessary grunt work--which she did. Messing around with energon would be much more interesting once she finally had the time.
no subject
"That sort of thing, eh? Well let's see it." He gestures to the wall, hoping to get a bit of a show. Weapons upgrades are always important in keeping adversaries on their toes.
no subject
Not that any of the buildings around them were inhabited; Val didn't like the idea of nosy neighbors.
no subject
"Of course. Whatever was I thinking."
no subject
"Fusion cell," she explained as she climbed onto Tarn's extended hand. "The emitter disc is too small to store enough power for anything worthwhile."
no subject
Walking out into the street, he takes a sweeping look to ensure that they are alone, before walking over to a neighboring building. He hopes that his anticipation of what he may see here is not unfounded. He would so hate to be disappointed.
"Alright, Valeria, show me what you are capable of."
no subject
"Right, so, a repulsor is a muon field that can be used for defense or offense. I was calibrating the offensive configuration when you came in." She held up a hand, repulsor disc strapped to the palm, and without further preamble, fired a blast that ripped a hole bigger than she was in the metal of the nearest wall, the crackle and snap of the discharge echoing through the deserted city.
"The blast is concussive, so a wider dispersal results in the effect that gives it its name." She changed a setting, and aimed at a pile of rubble this time. The scraps went flying as though swept away by a giant hand, the leading edge of the blast pushing them down the street in a clattering mess.
Val giggled.
no subject
Walking over to investigate the damage he lets out a low chuckle himself.
"Very impressive. I dare say even equal to that of a Cybertronian scientist." And with such limited resources! It seems that she is able to make quite a bit out of scrap; which in this universe is and extremely important quality to have.
no subject
She also caused no small number of problems, but she didn't regard them as problems when they didn't inconvenience her personally.
no subject
"Tell me then." He smirks down at her, cocking his head slightly to the side. "Have you ever considered biological engineering for Cybertronians?"
no subject
no subject
"Ah, you see We have a sort of organ that allows us to change shape. The Transformation Cog, it has a tendency to burn out if....over stimulated. And unfortunately, when it burns out, that's it. The only solution is to find a donor." Tarn lifts the girl a bit higher to look more levelly into her face. "As it so happens, my own t-cog is on the verge of burn out."
no subject
"It must connect to every one of your systems. That is not going to be an easy problem to solve." She held up a hand to forestall any interruption. "Before you start trying some reverse psychology nonsense on me, I don't think I can't do it. Just that it won't be quick. I'm going to need lab facilities and expertise I don't have yet, and those are going to take time to get."
She smiled reassuringly. "But don't worry, I taught myself biochemistry in a week. I can pick up Cybertronian medicine, no sweat. I like machines better anyway."
no subject
"Anything that you might manage would be a great contribution to Cybertronians as a whole."
He walks back to the entrance of the lab, kneeling to set Valeria back down on the ground.
"Do you have any sort of comm system set up for communication?"
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)