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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 10, 2011 20:41:44 GMT -5
Scourge is younger even than Shockwave thought. Perhaps some time ago Sky-Byte mentioned how recent an addition to Megatron's ranks the tanker had been, but if so, the implication did not register with Shockwave. The gunformer pauses in his work and looks up, meeting Scourge's curious look with his own impassive one.
"You are younger than I expected," he says after a moment, bending back to his work, "This explains much."
After a few more moments- and the transposing of several lines of code- Shockwave asks, "What do you consider your function to be Scourge? Why were you created?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 11, 2011 11:34:35 GMT -5
"I don't think it matters much," Scourge says, detached and unguarded. "Sky-Byte is old, but it hasn't helped him any. Hasn't helped most of them. Misfire still hasn't learned to aim. Duskwing's an idiot."
Shockwave's direct question gives him pause. His head tilts a bit. Looking down at his up-turned hands, Scourge finally says, "I can't remember. I had a function, but I don't... don't know what it is. I turn into a tanker truck, and Megatron wanted Decepticons, vehicle-moded troops for his campaign on Earth. I assumed command of Megatron's Decepticons, but I..."
He stares off at nothing. "I couldn't say why my protoform was made."
Scourge was made to collect the O-Parts, Out-of-Place-ARTifacts, actually, to activate Fortress Maximus, but that's not something he remembers.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 12, 2011 1:23:13 GMT -5
"True, age is not always a determiner of wisdom or ability," Shockwave concedes, "One must consider other factors as well, and some people can never rise above their base programming."
The code rewrite and transference is moving along at a decent enough speed. Shockwave leans back and rests his chin on his hand as he studies Scourge. Shockwave has the tanker at a a major disadvantage; he could do so much to Scourge, make the tanker his mind and spark.
But no. Scourge gives Shockwave, for now at least, something Shockwave is seldom given- near unconditional trust. Trust is such a useful- and easily manipulated- thing and can be so hard to cultivate. He will leave things as they are.
"Your function should be part of your baseline programming. If you would like, I can give your genetics and code a more in-depth look," he says when the tanker says he doesn't know why he exists.
"What do you want out of your existence, Scourge?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 12, 2011 10:23:35 GMT -5
It would be pretty easy, Shockwave. Resetting Scourge to be loyal would be child's play. There's something wrong with his code that would make depriving him of his own will the simplest thing in the world.
Scourge isn't thinking about any of that right now. He's just answering questions. He says again, "I don't think that matters, either, sir. What I'm meant to be hasn't been important so far. I wanted to command Megatron's Decepticons in campaign after campaign until the universe was at it's knees - and then deliver the deathstroke. I would do the same for you, sir. Give me problems and I'll solve them until there's nothing left but your Empire."
And then? Scourge doesn't know. That's a long time away. He'll figure it out then.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 12, 2011 23:40:07 GMT -5
"Would you, Scourge?" Shockwave asks softly as he leans forward again. He reaches over and gently places his hand on the tanker's jaw. Shockwave turns Scourge's head so that the gunformer and the tanker can look each other in the optic.
"Why, Scourge? Why would you be so content, would fight so hard to give me the universe?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 13, 2011 16:36:56 GMT -5
"That is what Megatron asked of me, and you stand in his stead," Scourge explains. He's pliant under Shockwave's hand, moving without resistance. "It's challenging work. Worthy of me."
He'll want more someday, and he'll look back at himself now and curse himself for a vision-deprived fool.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 13, 2011 23:09:54 GMT -5
Tilting his head, Shockwave continues to study Scourge's guileless face. Detached as he is, the tanker can have no idea how his words affect Shockwave, how they tempt the scientist to violate his own ethics and make sure that Scourge will never change his mind about his loyalties. After all, Shockwave allowed Ultra Magnus his free will and lost him. Why should Shockwave risk such a loss again?
To reprogram Scourge to be loyal would be akin to admitting to the failure of Magnus, and Shockwave, though he will admit to mistakes, cannot easily admit failure.
So instead Shockwave agrees, "It is. But what if he arrived here tomorrow, Scourge?" Time to poke a bit deeper, "Would you still swear such fealty to me, or would you heel to his side like a favored pet?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 13, 2011 23:34:33 GMT -5
"You are very different," Scourge observes. "I did not know Megatron long or well, but he seemed more passive than you, more petulant." A hint of amusement quirks at Scourge's left optic. "But then, who isn't? You don't feel a thing." Scourge says so candidly, without malice, and with curiously little judgement in his voice.
"Perhaps you would learn from one other." The hint of amusement becomes full-blown. "Perhaps I'd learn from you both. I'd like that."
"I'll follow whoever isn't dead when the dust settles. I followed Starscream before you."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 14, 2011 23:12:16 GMT -5
A sound comes from Shockwave that on any other mech might be called a chuckle.
"Such a very Decepticon answer."
"You followed him, but he did not command your respect. Not as I do," Shockwave says. It is not arrogance. Shockwave knows how Scourge reacted to both Shockwave and Starscream. The tanker's preference was clear.
"But then, you prefer structure and rules, guidelines to uphold. You have a gift of innovation, and you are clever, but you are a soldier. Structure equals security."
The terminal chimes, letting Shockwave know the transfer and rewrite is in the final stages. He reaches over, pops open a few panel, and begins to adjust some of Scourge's physical components.
"I feel more keenly than some realize. I simply do not allow such illogical things as emotions cloud my judgment of a situation."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 15, 2011 11:00:46 GMT -5
So Scourge likes guns better than jets. So sue him! He's not sure he agrees with all of what Shockwave is saying, or maybe he's just disagreeing as a gut reaction to be contrary.
His consciousness starts to shift a bit as the rewrite starts to finish. Scourge slides back into himself, and everything that's been happening starts to seem very far away and very fuzzy. His hands go up to his head, clasping his antennae, and his optics dim.
"What... could ever cut you to the quick?"
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 18, 2011 12:46:14 GMT -5
Shockwave pauses in his work as Scourge's mind syncs back in with his body. He reaches up to place his hand over Scourge's.
"Give it a few moments. You should feel back in control of your full self shortly. Other than a slight headache, you should feel no after affects of the detachment."
He returns to working with Scourge's components.
"I am a nuclear-powered mechanism, Scourge. I can- and do- work tirelessly toward the betterment of my people. I do not appreciate having my efforts thrown back at me like so much refuse."
Shockwave makes one last adjustment, then closes the access panel.
"I do not deal well with betrayal, Scourge."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 18, 2011 15:59:52 GMT -5
Scourge does have a headache, and he has trouble remembering what he was just talking about. The warning about betrayal slides over him - he doesn't know it now, but someday, he will betray Shockwave. It is simply his nature. What sticks with him is Shockwave's phrasing. He looks up at Shockwave, sliding his hand out from Shockwave's, and he points out numbly, "You've never put on a symbol."
Scourge has had this conversation before, he thinks. Then he veers off a mental embankment.
"I'm not your people," he says, with a hint of defiance, taking a stab in the dark. "Someday, you won't have a use for me. You won't have a use for any of us. Our paths just coincide for the time being."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 18, 2011 20:37:25 GMT -5
Shockwave does not immediately answer Scourge. The gunformer has not, nor will he ever, put back on a faction symbol. To do so would be to admit failure of his vision, and he cannot do that, not and remain sane.
The tanker's accusation garners a sharp tilting back of both headfins. Shockwave stands.
"You may believe that if you wish, though if usefulness were all I cared about, we would have a much smaller force at our command. I am not in the habit of tolerating certain personalities when I have the choice."
He offers Scourge a hand up off the table.
"You are mine for now, and I am very possessive of what is mine."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 18, 2011 21:45:38 GMT -5
Scourge takes the hand, but there's a distinct hint of doubt about him. He is not entirely reassured. He repeats uncertainly, "For now."
It haunts him, how Shockwave won't just come out and say that, yes, they'll take over this universe and kill every last Autobot and Maximal. That Shockwave won't say that the Predacons and Decepticons are his people. Scourge feels as if he just looked down and realised that he's the Coyote, and he's run himself off a cliff and there's nothing but air beneath him. If he looks back up and covers his optics and pretends very hard, maybe he won't fall.
Reassuring Scourge would be so easy, and yet, Shockwave doesn't do it. Why?
Scourge wasn't going to rest easy, given the attack tomorrow, but he especially won't rest easy now.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Feb 18, 2011 23:06:16 GMT -5
"I would like to run a diagnostic to confirm the integration of the new coding," Shockwave says as Scourge sits up, and does so.
After a few minutes, Shockwave speaks again, not taking his optic off the screen.
"If it were possible, and you wished it, I would bring you to my reality once I find the way. You are a more than competent warrior, and I trust you."
"I do not trust many."
"I am not an emotional mechanism. You know this, and yet you are dissatisfied with my answers. You want promises and platitudes, assurances of your worth, like any other, and I simply cannot give them to you."
"I possess emotional programming, but keep it buried. Cybertronians in my reality posses a higher tendency toward aggression and impulsive actions, and I will not allow my genetics to overpower my mental faculties. I cannot."
"I am sorry, Scourge."
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