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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 21, 2010 16:46:01 GMT -5
Hook yanks away from Shockwave's unwanted touch, and if looks could kill, the Decepticons would shortly be having a crisis of command.
He paces, not looking at Shockwave, and he explains, a bitter-sharp-steel edge to his voice, "Megatron wanted us at his side for his war. Of course. We gave him good taste, and we are the best. But we weren't combat engineers, then, and we cared for our cities more than war. Megatron found an ancient artifact, the robo-smasher. It... changed minds. He used it on us, and everything suddenly made so much more sense. We were freed."
Hook smiles, but the look is really rather unsettling, and he looks down at his hands, impeccably clean despite how fuel-stained they really should be. "We were enlightened. We tore down Crystal City, that pathetic ode to frailty. Omega Supreme chased us, and he thought he could return us to our previous states." Hook laughs bitterly. "There was no turning back, but we didn't turn our backs on him. We lured him to the robo-smasher, but it... didn't finish the job. A pity."
But Hook said twice, didn't he?
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 21, 2010 21:50:23 GMT -5
Ah, but Hook's looks cannot kill, and Shockwave finds the way the Constructicon jerks back most amusing.
He watches Hook pace back and forth, waiting a few moments after the Constructicon finishes speaking to make commentary.
"Enlightened, eh? That explains more of the animosity between you and the Guardian."
Oh yes, and Hook did say twice, did he not?
"And the second time?"
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 21, 2010 22:21:26 GMT -5
Hook does not want to amuse Shockwave. Hook doesn't want to amuse anyone but especially not Shockwave.
Hook admits, tone brisk, "Omega Supreme was the Guardian of our Crystal City. Quite a fan of our work. Wouldn't shut up."
He glares at Shockwave as the cyclops demands yet more information about Hook's tragic past. "Hmph. If you must know - what has you in such a nosy mood, anyway? - Wheeljack invented Dominator Disks, and the Autobots planted them on us. When we combined to form Devastator, his will was subverted to the Autobot cause. We could not entirely demerge, as the Discs could not control all of us individually, However, I was able to demerge as Devastator sat off to the side, and the Autobots put me to work in their medical ward."
Hook makes a face. "We got better."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 21, 2010 23:33:39 GMT -5
Shockwave walks back over to the screen and stops the code that has been streaming across it. Again, he pulls up the original three schematics he had up when Hook entered.
"In order to prepare for eventualities, one must have as much information as possible, Hook."
Shockwave turns back to Hook, fixing the crane with that flat stare for several moments.
"You do want Long Haul back, do you not?"
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 22, 2010 12:06:19 GMT -5
"Some information is need to know, and some people just don't need to know. You, of all Decepticons, should know that, Shockwave," Hook says quietly, looking off at nothing.
He pauses and shakes his head, looking back over at Shockwave, and he continues, his words very crisp and clear, perfectly enunciated, "I want Long Haul. I do not want a puppet or a clone or a facsimile, some abhorrent creation derived of free will, and I will have him. He'll see someday. He will."
Hook's fingers tighten, and he's very nearly going to crush that scalpel if he doesn't pay attention.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 22, 2010 12:49:21 GMT -5
"Of course you do. I was not suggesting overwriting him. You're too much of a perfectionist to want him unless he wants you and Mixmaster in turn."
Shockwave crosses over to an overstuffed chair and sits, waving an invitation to Hook that the crane might do the same.
"My point being that the Autobots would be fools not to try and suborn you and/or Mixmaster if they find the opportunity. For one, if they are as most, they will believe they can 'fix' you for Long Haul and for another, you are both skilled in your fields. Pairing you with Perceptor would give the Autobots a decided tactical advantage."
"Probability of such an attempt happening on Pz-Zazz is approximately eighty-seven point two nine five repeating. The setting is simply too chaotic, we are too spread out among the populace, and we do not know all the Autobots on sight."
"So tell me, Hook, would your past experiences preclude you from attempting such a thing on another? One who is not your wayward gestaltmate?"
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 22, 2010 13:24:18 GMT -5
Hook tries to sit down in a chair, but the fact that his crane deck and boom hang off his back make that rather hard. He ends up sitting on the chair arm, and he scoffs, "Can't be done. Omega Supreme tried," which, if Hook is saying that Omega Supreme himself tried, might just sound a bit odd, "Failed. But if the Autobots want to be idiots about it and try again, I'll gladly disabuse them of such foolish notions."
Then, he sniffs, "You weren't listening. I told you that we tried to use the robo-smasher on Omega Supreme. If I'd do that to my dear old friend," said somewhat sarcastically, "you think I couldn't do it to a fool-hardy Triple-Changer? But I'd rather rebuild Springer into a chair. This chair is terrible, Shockwave."
He glares down at the chair's other arm.
But yes, being a chair would be more merciful, Hook thinks, and Hook is not particularly given towards mercy.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 22, 2010 14:36:31 GMT -5
"Apologies," Shockwave says when Hook complains about the chair, "I've not yet brought in more versatile furnishing. You might find the ottoman more comfortable."
"I was listening, and beyond that I was observing. At the mere mention of the possibility, you drew a weapon and froze. As such, my concern is a valid one."
He waves a hand toward the screen, "I will provide you with a copy of my Springer's schematics, as well as my working plans for Hellbender's final form." Shockwave leans forward, hand clasped over cannon tip. "I want a delivery method for the overwrite, something that can be used quickly and under adverse conditions, preferably something that will not need to be left inside the boy as evidence. You mentioned my lack of time previous; so you understand why I am tasking you with designing this."
Hook probably also understands that Shockwave is basically telling Hook to get captured at some point afterward and go wreck havoc among the Autobots.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 22, 2010 15:11:53 GMT -5
Hook makes a non-committal grunt and stalks over to the Ottoman, sitting on it cross-legged, with his back components hanging off the edge. That's a bit better but still not ideal.
Finally putting the scalpel away before he breaks it, he sulks, "I don't like to think about it." Engineering is Hook's major interest, not the philosophy of free will, but he's smart enough to know that he might not have free will at all, and that thought really scares him.
Hook adds, "But liking something has nothing to do with the capacity to perform."
He chews on his lip as he considers Shockwave's priorities, that Shockwave considers working on Hellbender himself more important than designing a delivery package to subvert Springer. What if Hook redesigned the package to inject code to make Springer loyal to Hook?
"The delivery method will be the most difficult part," Hook reasons, "As we don't yet know if he has a lasercore," like a sensible person, "a spark, a brain module, or something else entirely - I'll do it."
Hook does get that drift, Shockwave, but... Autobots are idiots, and they pain Hook even more than Decepticon idiots. Does he look like Ravage to the over-grown calculator?
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Emirate Xaaron has been asking his Intel boys to look out for combiner pieces and talking to Springer about snatch and grab. Emirate Xaaron had the Wreckers assassinate Trannis... which the Decepticons wanted to do anyway. If Emirate Xaaron has his men kidnap Hook now, he'll be doing just what the Decepticons want him to! Emirate Xaaron should clearly be working for the Decepticons instead of the Autobots. He seems better at accomplishing Decepticon plans than Autobot ones.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 22, 2010 15:56:24 GMT -5
Hook making Springer loyal to the crane is a possibility, but it really wouldn't matter if Shockwave made the device himself or no; Hook could do the same after the fact. As it stands right now, Hook will only be getting the schematics- not Springer's programming matrices. Shockwave will input those once the device is done.
"I am sure you're up to the challenge, Hook. I would not trust it to anyone else."
"Now, as for the third set of plans- he was a project of mine before I was displaced. I have been considering revisiting the plans, when time allows."
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 23, 2010 3:13:09 GMT -5
"Hmm, really, it needs to penetrate armour and seek out Springer's neural net, whatever he uses to generate said neural net, be it lasercore, spark, or brain module, like some... cerebro-seeking bullet. But where would I find Kimian ore here? Hmm," Hook rambles, already thinking about how he wants to tackle this task.
Shell program hardwired into the device itself to encapsulate whatever Shockwave wants delivered and cage it in a chocolatey coating of what Hook wants. C'mon, if Tarantulas can do shell-programs, Hook should be able to figure it out, and speaking of Tarantulas...
Hook says casually, "I shall hold a Junkyard Wars to determine a second, with Mixmaster... occupied. I think I shall ask Needlenose to help judge."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 23, 2010 23:46:11 GMT -5
Shockwave tilts his head a bit. "That is acceptable. I am surprised at your desiring to choose someone other than Mixmaster, but he does have a habit of being... easily distracted."
"Do you wish to hold this on board Ship, or should we look for an adequate- and disposable- location down here? While I know we can certainly repair any damages done, we are not so flush as to be able to waste resources."
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 24, 2010 6:26:29 GMT -5
"Even I must sit on necessity's lap as a factory-fresh, now and then," Hook comments obliquely of his desire for a non-Mixmaster second.
He waves a hand dismissively. "No, not on Ship. It hasn't the proper... ambiance, and the training room is constrained by the limits of its programming." The laws of physics were made to be broken. "No, I need a junkyard, a machine graveyard, or failing that, a landfill." He looks up at Shockwave, smiling. "But luckily, this is Pz-Zazz," where one can buy anything for a price, "and I think renting a junkyard for a 'demolition derby' should cover it. I only need one night."
One night for his boys and girls to come out and play under clouded skies and show him what their creations are really made of.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 24, 2010 22:27:37 GMT -5
Shockwave nods, "Very well then. I shall have someone make the arrangements. You do not, I am sure, object to my observing?"
After Hook answers, Shockwave will wave at the screen again.
"Shall we make some plans and thoroughly annoy each other by refusing to compromise except on the trivial?"
Because seriously, that is exactly how a collaboration between Hook and Shockwave is likely to go.
OOC: Unless you've some more stuff, I'm okay with a fade on technical jargon.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 25, 2010 8:01:50 GMT -5
Oh yeah, Shockwave did mention that mysterious other multi-changer, didn't he?
Hook gets distracted, sometimes. Curse of the absent-minded engineer who tends to focus overly much on one thing.
He shrugs indifferently. "I could not stop you from observing, if you so desired." Maybe someone will splash grey goo on Shockwave. That would be interesting.
But more soberly, he promises, "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if you'd just review the Darcy–Weisbach equation, you'll see that you're going to have to scrap all of the hydraulic system and re-do it from the top because..."
OOC: Good by me!
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