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Post by Slingshot on Jan 1, 2012 12:52:54 GMT -5
"Guess I'm a leg." That's not that different from being an arm, is it? Well, either way, it's just programming.
It takes just a moment longer than normal to suppress the Superion-transformation for the new one, then-
It's really strange connecting up with Hook; the connectors themselves are entirely different from Silverbolt. But he just waits for the weirdness to fade with his consciousness as the new gestalt takes over.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jan 2, 2012 21:55:13 GMT -5
"And I'll form the head," Hook adds, as an unfamiliar transformation takes over. However, the way his mind has been restructured, anything before the fall of Crystal City or after his shell program was implemented is remembered clearly and with priority. Everything else is harder to recall unless he focuses on it. The other will find this out if they try to go rifling through his memories - some come easily. Others are like pulling a burr through molasses to retrieve, though they're there.
And this is not even getting into how weird it might be for Long Haul to see his own alternate universe memories.
The combiner's mind is based on Devastator. It's what hook knows, and it works. Also, it doesn't require fabricating an entirely new personality, like Defensor. It does not leave the combined form mindless obedient, like Bruticus. It does not shut off all the non-combat parts of the components' minds, like Superion, which allows the combined form greater flexibility in non-combat tasks, as they have those non-combat resources readily available. It does not rely on one strong leader bullying all of the components into submissions, like Menasor.
And it is not an eldritch abomination like Monstructor.
Of course, there are trade-offs. It is only what they can all mutually agree upon. Hook certainly wants to run the combined form through a serious of tests, pretty boring, mundane benchmarking stuff.
Does anyone actually agree with that?
For that matter, can they even agree on a name?
Because Hook is still just voting for Devastator.
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Post by Long Haul on Jan 2, 2012 22:13:25 GMT -5
Long Haul certainly does not go riffling through anyone's memories. The others can no doubt tell that he thinks this whole thing feels weird enough as it is. He's willing to do some of those tests, but he thinks Hook wants to do too many.
Also, he is absolutely not allowing them to call themselves Devastator. He suggests Awesometron instead.
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Post by Jetfire (Ani) on Jan 5, 2012 19:17:51 GMT -5
Jetfire totally disagrees with Devastator! They're protectors, not destroyers (as much fun as blowing things up and beating up bad guys can be). They should be something that represents that! Like Safeguard. Or Defensor (what do you mean that's already taken?).
On other hand, Awesometron is pretty cool, too. Jetfire wants to scratch their head in thought.
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Post by Slingshot on Jan 5, 2012 20:55:31 GMT -5
He can hear them in his head. They're in a gestalt, and he's awake, and he can hear them, and they can hear him-!
NononononononoNO!
Slingshot's descent into the screaming mimis is accompanied by doing his level best to break out of the gestalt.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jan 6, 2012 22:31:05 GMT -5
When Slingshot breaks the merge, Hook ends up on his face on the floor. This is surprising. He doesn't usually fall this way, but then - then, that was not Devastator, whoever it was.
He grumbles, "Not Awesometron," and he pushes himself up. "Well. We shall have to do this again. I shall be... arms this time, I think."
They have to keep on trying until they run out of cake.
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Post by Long Haul on Jan 7, 2012 8:41:27 GMT -5
Long Haul clatters to the floor, falling on his back. He sits up, one hand rubbing his head, optic band narrowed. "Hey!" he shouts. "Awesometron ain't that bad a name!"
He considers. "I'm thinkin' I should be the leg again. Not sure I trust these jet boys to hold the both of us up," he declares, completely ignoring the realities of mass-shifting. "Only this time, I'mma be the other leg."
He transforms again. He looks pretty much the same.
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Post by Jetfire (Ani) on Jan 8, 2012 12:20:48 GMT -5
Whoa! Falling out of a merge like that is disorienting! Combining with people who aren't on the same wavelength as you is tough. Maybe they should do team-building exercises or something first, to get to know each other better.
Getting up, he walks over to Slingshot. "You are not seeming too alright. What is wrong?"
And then, because he still doesn't think he should be a leg, he says, "I call torso!"
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Post by Slingshot on Jan 8, 2012 14:15:33 GMT -5
"What's wrong?" Slingshot sounds shrill as he jabs a finger at Hook. "What was that? I could hear everyone! I was still awake! And the gestalt-mind wasn't there!"
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jan 10, 2012 22:19:26 GMT -5
Hook pauses and stares at Slingshot. He struggles to understand what problem Slingshot might be having. Then the situation dawns upon him, and Hook frowns. He explains, "Ah. Yes. The merge style is different than the one to which you are accustomed. Superion is designed solely for combat. My design is more flexible. What if our combined form needs to place the top on a tower? You can't do that by shooting up the tower."
Hook sniffs disdainfully.
"So the combined form's mind if ruled by the lowest common denominator of the component parts. The ultimate form of democracy, if you will."
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Post by Long Haul on Jan 11, 2012 18:38:12 GMT -5
Hey, folks, random leg sitting here!
The leg, who would scratch his head if he had a head (and an arm, and a hand) asks, "Makes sense, I s'pose, but does our lowest common denominator know how to put the top onna tower?"
There are probably better (and less insulting) ways Long Haul could have phrased that, but he's never been that great at social interaction.
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Post by Jetfire (Ani) on Jan 14, 2012 22:45:07 GMT -5
Jetfire tilts his head at Slingshot. Overreacting much? "Is being a bit funny, yes, but is not being so very terrible."
Any style of combiner mind merge would have been weird to him, really. Being Safeguard was pretty much just being himself but bigger.
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Post by Slingshot on Jan 15, 2012 21:32:57 GMT -5
Slingshot glares at Hook as the Constructicon explains things. Smelt it! Why's he being so reasonable? This is totally the kind of thing Silverbolt would do-
'No, it isn't.'
His optic-band up-cycles in surprise, then he cocks his head as he tries to chase down that stray thought. But it's gone, and-
"Oh, slag you," he hisses at Jetfire. "You have your brother."
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jan 17, 2012 11:36:47 GMT -5
"Yes, because all knowledge is pooled. If I know how to properly set a tower, and I do, all we need to do is agree to do it my way, and we're set," Hook explains to Long Haul.
In practise, this is not what happens at all, because Bonecrusher decides that Hook's way of setting the tower is ugly, Scrapper decides that it will take too long, Mixmaster wants to cover everything in glue, Long Haul is sick of being a crotch, and Scavenger is desperately trying to agree with everyone at the same time.
However, the children here don't need to know that yet.
"You could ask command to make some more brothers for you," Hook suggests mildly to Slingshot.
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Post by Long Haul on Jan 17, 2012 13:08:15 GMT -5
"Your way takes too long, Hook," Long Haul answers reflexsively, unknowingly demonstrating the downside of the democratic method of gestalt operation.
He turns to look at Slingshot, then looks down at his feet. Because he has one of his brothers, at least. Again. Even if something's... not quite right about it. But still.
Finally, he approaches the jet and attempts to reach over and put a hand on Slingshot's shoulder. "Lissen, Slingshot, you don't... don't needa do this, I guess, if you can't handle it. We... we should hopefully be able to find someone else for it, I think."
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