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
"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
Fortunately for Tarn, Val had no problem working with morally questionable characters, and even if he had ulterior motives (of course he had ulterior motives) medical advances were a net good. She hopped down from his hand and turned to crane her neck up at him.
"Yeah, I reverse-engineered your comms protocols, so I can talk to your radios now." Which, for the knowledgeable listener, would indicate Val had been eavesdropping on their communications traffic. It didn't, however, mean she'd broken anyone's encryption.
Necessarily.
"What's your frequency?" She stood with one hand poised over her datapad to add him to her contacts list.
no subject
"Please, let me know if there's anything you need to help speed the process along. I have all the faith in the world that you will follow through, Valeria Richards."
He begins to wander off before calling over his shoulder.
"I will be back to check up on you periodically. Until then."
no subject
Well, now. Getting Ratchet to tell her about t-cogs without tipping her hand was going to be a challenge, wasn't it? Humming tunelessly under her breath, Val returned to her lab. Though none were around to suspect her, no hint of her quicksilver scheming showed behind her blue eyes as she resumed her work.
Things were getting interesting.