Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Sept 23, 2008 16:35:19 GMT -5
A long silence descended.
"Ah get hands again? And optics?" Hellbender asked, daring to hope. "And a face thet folks can see?"
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Post by Hook on Sept 25, 2008 19:29:46 GMT -5
"Yes, Hellbender, all of that." But first, Hellbender, you get a lot of pain while Hook slowly and exactingly rearranges your insides.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Sept 28, 2008 19:15:14 GMT -5
Hellbender can endure, will endure, must endure the pain, if it gets him back into a real body that can transform again. Still, one other very important question...
"Will I have wings again? Will I fly?" Hope and fear warred within the great worm as he awaited Hook's answer.
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Post by Hook on Sept 29, 2008 16:40:31 GMT -5
"Certainly, some of the arrangements of your plates in robot-mode will resemble wings. And certainly, you will fly as I fly - with robot-mode lifters." But that isn't what Hellbender is asking about and Hook knows it.
Hook works steadily on the time-consuming and difficult task of rearranging Hellbender's internal systems to allow room for whole new sets of systems. After a time, when the entire length of the mining worm body has been worked over, Hook pulls himself out of Hellbender's carcass.
"I need to fetch more supplies before I continue," he informs the worm before leaving.
---
And Hook is off to The Setup for a while.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Sept 29, 2008 21:29:23 GMT -5
Hook's unartful evasiveness told Hellbender what he didn't really want to know--no, he would not be a jet again.
It hurt. Far more painful than Hook's gutting and shuffling of his remaining internals was the loss of the sky. They'd taken it from him, making him a blind worm that feared the abyss above, but Hellbender had held onto the hope that this was temporary, that when he was fixed properly, he'd have wings, he'd fly again.
It was not to be. The loss of his wings ached like the shame of cowardice--and Hellbender grew angry at himself.
I am a Decepticon, not a weakling! I am loyal, I will do what I am commanded; I will be what I must be!
Hook had been wise to disable his motor circuits; in his current vulnerable state, Hellbender would have torn himself apart lashing out at the nearest target. Instead, all he could do was lay still, his CPUs churning with pain and anger and grief.
...at least Ah'll be able to see the sky again. And the other Decepticons. Ah'll be able to walk among 'em, too. Might even get to know some of them now. Yeah.
Hellbender almost consoled himself. Almost.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 29, 2008 22:34:35 GMT -5
Don't be too despondent, Hellbender. Your regaining flight hasn't been completely ruled out by at least one individual; it will just take more time than is currently available. But some of the components Shockwave is currently carrying as he rather boldly enters Hook's sanctum will be laying groundwork for that possibility. It may not work of course. He is still leaning how to best incorporate Cybertron and Gillananese technology. But Shockwave is not one to let an opportunity slip by, and even Hellbender admits that he is little more than a walking slithering, thinking experiment.
Shockwave sets the components to one side, supplements the pile with others pulled from subspace pockets, then begins to set up his tools. No, he is not so rude as to use Hook's. That would be akin to fondling another's partner. Only when everything is set up to his satisfaction does Shockwave turn to Hellbender and address him.
"Hook has made a good start, it seems. Now to see how much our visions for you mesh, Hellbender," he says, before starting to work on one section of the internals which Hook had just finished arranging.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Sept 30, 2008 7:27:25 GMT -5
The despondent mining worm snapped to alertness at the sound of Shockwave's voice. His master was here!
"Yes, suh! Ah hope they do, suh." Lord Shockwave wasn't coordinating with Hook? Uh-oh. Now Hellbender wasn't angry or despondent--he was worried.
You're not a coward! Lord Shockwave knows what is best for me; he'll make me right. Probably has a new design or job for me to test out, too.
"Sir, what mission profile will I be testing in the future?" Hellbender couldn't resist asking.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 30, 2008 10:15:01 GMT -5
Actually, Hook and Shockwave have coordinated- but only to an extent. The problem with them working together on a project is that they are both perfectionists, and they both dislike allowing another input in such undertakings. So Shockwave isn't surprised to see that Hook has already progressed so far in his work; the gun-former half expects Hook had hoped to finish the upgrades and repair of Hellbender before Shockwave could make a return trip to base.
Of course, Shockwave barging in and making free with Hook's lab and patient isn't likely to endear Shockwave to the Constructicon. Hopefully, Hook will not rip out Shockwave's work out of spite.
"Making you able to transform requires the installation of miniaturized components as well as mass shifting protocols. However, simply tossing in Cybertron technology is not going to work," Shockwave answers as he makes slight adjustments in Hook's original arrangement, "I've had to create hybrid components from the local leavings in order to insure they will not be outright rejected by your systems. It is odd though. Some of the bits of technology I have found have such a...familiar feel. I just can't place it..." Shockwave trails off, busying himself with his work. Never mind that he did not really answer Hellbender's question.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Sept 30, 2008 21:51:03 GMT -5
Hellbender is the fortunate (or unfortunate) patient of two brilliant, egotistical doctors. Dr. House, meet Dr. McKay, and vice versa. All he can do is lay there and speak when spoken to, really.
"You told me once--that's my original 'you', not you 'you'--that you built me to easily adapt to new equipment and technology, on account of you testing so many different things with me, sir. Ah didn't have too much trouble pickin' up this here local mining robot, even if it did have the most bass-ackwards control protocols Ah ever heard of," Hellbender rumbled.
He carefully listened to the rest of Shockwave's comments, surprised that the Lord of Logic seemed almost... hesitant and unsure. "That's peculiar. Now if it was me, and I couldn't place something familiar like that, Ah'd figure it was something you'd--my 'you' again--blocked out of mah memory banks. Can't figure nobody doing that to you, nor you doing it to yourself, sir, so I can't figure how to make sense of that."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Oct 1, 2008 0:38:20 GMT -5
"Your ability to adapt to use the local technology does not mean that we do not have to worry about compatibility issues," Shockwave admonishes, "Just because you can make them work alongside each other does not mean they will do so harmoniously. Best to make the blending as seamless as possible."
Shockwave finally finishes with the (very few) adjustments he needed to make within the worm. He fetches the first set of transformation machinery and begins to install it. He is running diagnostics and bringing applicable systems online as needed. If Hellbender is paying attention, he might be able to tell that some of the parts being installed seem to have uses which are not immediately apparent or accessible to the worm's systems.
"I will place it eventually. I have more important things to worry over than an elusive memory."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Oct 2, 2008 18:16:14 GMT -5
"Yes, sir." Of course Shockwave knew what was best for Hellbender's systems; he'd built the original version hadn't he? Well, his Shockwave had, and this one was much like him and probably knew all the same things.
He did notice, but did not worry about it. His own Shockwave frequently put in things that were not obvious, frameworks and stubs for future experimental gear.
"Ah, yes sir." Still, Shockwave having an 'elusive' memory wasn't like him; perhaps he had been memory blocked and didn't know it? If so, that was enemy action, whether internal or external. Hellbender resolved to keep track and note any more slips or hesitations on Lord Shockwave's part. If someone had tampered with Shockwave, Hellbender would have to do something. Something probably exceedingly violent and brutal.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Oct 2, 2008 22:59:32 GMT -5
Hellbender worries needlessly. The problem is not that the memory is elusive; it is simply not there. He has never actually seen some of the technology he found lying here and there before. But it, like the drone bits, tickle his memory banks. He has seen technology that has a similar feel, but he would not be able to place an alien name to it.
The way Hellbender deals with what is most assuredly a great deal of pain impresses Shockwave. Hellbender- or at least what he once was, had obviously been not only well built, but seemed used to being essentially gutted and remade. Like that other project of Shockwave's the one that is the culmination of he multi-mode research. This will be good data to take back, once he finds his way back to his reality. Perhaps the giant worm might even choose to accompany this Shockwave, rather than return to a reality where he- and possibly his creator- are likely dead mechs walking.
Finished with his current set of adjustment, he says, "I am going to test these additions for power flow. Advise me if you notice undue discomfort or energy drops or spike."
Yes, Shockwave is monitoring that himself. But he's curious as to how off a reading has to be for Hellbender to actually notice/repond to it. He would not possibly deliberately cause any issues just to test the worm's reflexes and tolerances now would he?
Of course he would.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Oct 3, 2008 18:29:48 GMT -5
"Yes, suh." Hellbender made an effort to pay attention to the pain and other sensations he'd been steadfastly ignoring. A good warrior did not complain about what must be endured. On the other hand, he reflected, it was the Primus-bestowed right of soldiers to complain to each other about short rations, bad fuel and stupid officers. Fortunately, Shockwave was anything but stupid, but he'd run into a few others in his time...
"Well, something doesn't feel right about that coupling you installed two cents left of that there pinion gear joint Hook installed. It's running warm," Hellbender said after a bit.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Oct 3, 2008 23:46:30 GMT -5
"Hrm."
Shockwave makes a few adjustments, not bothering to cut power before doing so- much easier to watch the results that way. The adjustments are minute, made more around the suspect coupling than to it. Seems there are just enough differences in his and Hook's styles...there. That should do it. Readings are stabilizing, and once he and/or Hook finishes installing what can be before they start the real rebuilding progress, the groundwork should be solidly laid.
Groundwork which he expects Hook to understand.
Halting his testing, Shockwave works his way out of the flayed worm and goes to gather up his tools and a few of the yet-to-be used parts. There are some parts here, some very delicate and beautiful parts made to Shockwave's exacting specifications by Needlenose1, that will not be installed just yet, but they will not be taken when Shockwave leaves. The gun-former trusts Hook's skill- he will know where to work these pieces in when necessary. Shockwave also trusts Hook not to destroy them out of spite.
"You are quite the achievement, Midnight, and a testament to your own Shockwave's skill. I am sorry that I can not restore the sky to you at this time," he says, as he works his way back in and begins to install yet another set of systems. It is a tiny kernel of hope and praise he gives the worm, another loose layer of binding.
1 Made offscreen per agreement w/ Needlenose's player.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Oct 4, 2008 9:41:48 GMT -5
"Ah, that's better," Hellbender replies after the adjustments. He waits patiently while Shockwave rummages around 'outside' his shell; eventually the gunformer returns to work on Hellbender.
"Well, Ah--" Hellbender cuts himself off as the import of Shockwave's last words sink in. "..at this time!" Hope leaps inside; someday, he will have the sky again! Patience, patience to wait, and serve, until that day.
"Ah got the notion from things Hook said that Ah wouldn't have made it this far if my Shockwave hadn't built well, suh. The redundant systems Ah got let me survive the damage from Unicron. Hell, thet ain't the only time I got mah fool head chopped off!"
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