[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Calorific Values (Soundwave, Starscream, Ravage, Cintra)

[Pipette]

Episode 3: Week 3 | Day 6 - Evening. 
Concurrent with CON-fidentiality


Pipette looked down at the tray in her hands. Eleven cubes remained out of the original sixteen. She herself had eaten two. Her Starkun had partaken of one, and the other two were left for Knock Out and Flatline along with some iota of optimism that one of them would reply with subjective analysis.

She needed more opinions on her baking. Preferably from those with...capability. Clearly, she needed to go find more rational officer.

It was a brief walk to the main control room, but Pipette remained careful to keep the tray level. Tripping just wasn't a practicable option right now. She didn't have enough delicacies for all the Vehicon troops, so she studiously avoided contact with them. She also wasn't so certain their mass made opinions could be valid enough for the trial.

At the entrance to the control room, she looked around and spotted a very distinctive shape, one she proceeded to approach. She didn't know much about the tall angular mech, any rumors were said in very discreet hushed tones she was not privy too. But she did know he was competent in myriad ways.

"Chief of communications officer Soundwave, could you spare a moment please?"

[Soundwave]

Standing before the computer station in the main area of Blackridge stood a figure that seldom was found elsewhere. A constant presence, monitoring, watching, researching and looking for opportunities... There was never a lack of anything to do, as even if one were to check off everything on a list, the first item was ready to be re-evaluated once more. The output levels of mines, seeing what supplies were needed and estimations of how much more fuel could be obtained. Scanning reports and sending out soldiers for Energon hunts to find a new cluster, triangulating large portions of this earth to attempt to pinpoint anything.

Outside of their constant search for fuel and to stockpile their resources, he was also keeping an eye out on news reports and tv station transcripts to scan for keywords that could relate to a sighting of one of their kind. From a newcomer never seen before, to tracking the movements of Autobots, to a mistake of one of their own troops being seen or caught in a photo... Cleaning up that mess to try to keep their kind hidden... Managing supplies, trying to weave around and pluck materials were able...

Soundwave always had something to do, and this was even more true with Windshield planning to make a move tomorrow should everything go well.

A lure was placed.

Soldiers were on standby.

An Infiltrator was flipping over their final cards.

It was only a matter of time now.


As Pipette entered the area, she would be able to easily spot the navy mech, his figure planted down just before the terminal screens. Slender arms were raised, fingertips flicking across the control keys below to give commands to the prominent window, or type in information or search codes. A series of soft clicks would ring into the area from this, a near constant tapping with little to no pause between actions. Looping down from his chest was a data cable that locked onto the front of the station, magenta lights glowing faintly as information traveled along them.

The screen before him held many windows, it not apparent which one was being worked on actively as many were flicking and adapting at the same time. To the far right of one of the screens sat a smaller video on a news site, two muted individuals discussing a recent incident of interest from two days prior over a national park. An incident Soundwave was quite aware of and had yet to deal with fully. Whatever the case, he seemed to be busy, his focus absolute until he was directly addressed.

Soundwave's helm crooked some to the side as Pipette addressed him, before he eased back a single step from the control terminal to then turn and face her. The data line that tethered him to the system unlatched with a click and reeled up into his chest, while his arms hung down slack at either side. He assumed that if it was important enough that she would seek him out and address him over any other ranking individual on base, that it must deserve his full attention.

The monitors behind him fell still except two, one showing calculations and live update readouts, and the other being the news station that continued to chat in silence, no audio piped into the room.

[Pipette]

While Soundwave's physical parameters differed quite notably from the cybertronian norm of the base's personnel, Pipette payed little heed. Some saw him as almost alien, to the chemist who had spent an unfair amount of time amongst other sentient aliens and not enough around her own kin, his appearance was merely an intellectual curiosity and nothing more. Tall, skinny, long limbed, blank face - these were merely identifiers and elicited no emotional response. Her tone carried earnest respect for the mech associated to his well earned rank. The nervousness also present in her tone came entirely from social anxiety of addressing a superior officer.

"If you would considered my request, I require your subjective analysis, please." She offered up her tray of edible delights oblivious to the fact that she had not identified them to the communications officer. Somewhere unconscious in the back of her processor, she just assumed Soundwave knew everything, including the contents of the proffered tray.

As she looked to meet the face of Soundwave dawning realization broke through her lack of personal experience with the other. "Ahh...do you ingest solid matter?" The question was an ideal example of Pipette's her lack of social etiquette. Somewhere in the room a lone vehicon audibly coughed, covering the sound of a random cricket chirping.

[Soundwave]

Soundwave was likely seen as an individual that could not... or rather... SHOULD not be approached. Always occupied, always doing something. He wasn’t one to sit idle, as even when he was in a state of waiting he would monitor and review things until the larger ambitions could be worked on. Yet, as detached as he could appear, as uncaring and seemingly dismissive, he indeed could be approached should something require his input or particular set of skills.

It was what it was. The navy mech would do whatever was needed for the Decepticon cause as a whole, and, should situations permit, he would set things aside to address current ongoing concerns. This level of importance was placed upon what words may follow, dismissing his current tasks temporarily, squaring off with her while turning his back to the screen. Soundwave was prepared to contend with whatever issue the chemist may have located.

Instead, he got a tray shoved up at him.

Was this what he thought it was? No. It had to be something else. Soundwave wanted to give Pipette the benefit of the doubt. She couldn't possibly be offering what he thought it was. Correct? It must be something that was masquerading unintentionally. Perhaps they were some sort of amm- no... He couldn’t even slightly pretend to explain it away. He couldn’t even try to come up with one thing other than the obvious. The process of making an attempt to find any other alternative was a futile act of insanity. It was simply what it looked like, and the femme's follow-up words cemented this reality in place.

The slender mech did not move in the following moments. He didn’t tilt his helm or ease his weight. He didn’t raise a hand or ask a question through audio recordings or visuals upon the visor. It was a stillness as if this moment was locked in time, disbelief suspending it to make it stretch every second out. Waiting for her explanation. Waiting for something to be said to loop it from a futile action of socialization and 'fun', to something actually prudent to the function of the war.

Pipette's own reflection would be visible across the slick black glass, the screen unresponsive to her words as the only sounds were the soft clicks of the terminal and the distant sounds of the base as a whole.

[Pipette]

She fully expected the Communications officer to better communicate - at least more directly. A mech named Soundwave being quiet? The irony was not lost on her. Any appreciation however for said irony was understandably void. Her frayed nerves urged her to just drop the tray, unload all 12 rounds of her chemical grenade launcher and go bury her head in a dark corner until the humans developed spaceflight of their own. The higher functions of her processor ran in circles trying to find a solution to this utter social disaster of a day. Why was this damn planet testing her so?

But that was it, she was being tested she quickly surmised. The communications officer was testing her ability to communicate. So be it!

Finally her thoughts aligned on a path she knew well and could articulate, her own work. She stiffened her back-strut, met the nigh faceless gaze with rare confidence, and did her best educate the one who already knew everything.

"There exists a statically significant amount of data corroborating the theory that happy troops have greater efficiency and productivity. I have a surplus of Tri-nitro-cubane that would explosively decay given time. Thus I have created Bismuth-silicate based foamed rock-candy aerated with nitrous oxide using the tri-nitro-cubane as an aerosol and component for the nitrous oxide. It will be the base and carrier for additional additives that should both improve morale and physical performance in the troops who partake. It is my immediate goal to perfect the base ingestible before testing what additives would be most effective in the composite chemistry." There it was, the whole picture succinctly outlined - at least in her mind. "Ergo I need subjective analysis for the current formulation. Can you facilitate, should I look elsewhere, or should I hasten to add my menial labors to the nearest mine?" She probably didn't need to add the last bit, but she was aware of the fact of how much the chemist was needed at Blackridge, and how little that quantity actually was. 

In short, Food and drugs for the troops. Damn good ones too if the Chemist was allowed to perfect her baking.

[Soundwave]

Soundwave did not frown upon what Pipette was doing. Soldiers and scientists alike would always seek out some sort of outlet away from the gravity of war and their impending death that sat upon the horizon. Fighting for an ambition they once believed in... jumping to combative call where every command could lead to their demise... It was a stressful situation to live within, and side activities did bolster morale. Whether it was games and internal competitions, juggling the social hoops of creating friends and relationships, or possibly even manufacturing crude forms of alcohol... or in this case... a form of candy to deviate from the bland standard of their food.

A blind eye was offered, ignoring them so long as they were not done in excess and threatened nothing. The moment it became problematic to the war's advance, or resources were pulled other than a miniscule amount? Then Soundwave's all seeing gaze would finally look at them directly. The catch was however, that he turned a blind eye because it was often done in the shadows in a vain attempt to hide it. Not slammed into the forefront. Not boasted or shown off to High Command.

Pipette did not seem to catch the memo on such things.

So. Soundwave simply stared out at her, hoping she would catch onto this issue and move on. Go back to how things were where the navy mech could turn away and pretend this had not occurred. Only, instead of taking the loss, she seemed to double down on her bets, proceeding to further elaborate. A detailed description of its manufacturing and properties... a declaration of its value for morale... Pipette was atypical, and while such traits could offer new views and valuable insights, it evidently gifted her a profound lack of concept on what she was doing.

If she were not going to turn away and take the hint, Soundwave would do so for her in a gift of mercy.

With a calm movement, Soundwave eased his weight back, before he turned smoothly away from the femme, completely washing his hands of her to get back to concerns that mattered. Soft noises sounded from the plastic dampeners in his joints with each step, returning in front of the terminal where he had been stationed before her arrival. A scraping noise could be heard then, the data line unspooling to reach out and connect to the terminal once more, where the magenta lights faintly pulsed from download to upload as he went back to work, typing actively.

[Pipette]

He turned away from her!? For a brief transient moment, her ego demanded respect, demanded that Soundwave acknowledge her offer at least. But no, he just turned his back to her and went about his work. She felt confused, she felt angry, but such petulant emotions withered under the brief introspection of her intellect. If she didn't understand Soundwave, and his actions, then the failing was hers alone. She wasn't fool enough to believe that the tall mech did anything at all by accident*. Even she could see his every action was calm and deliberate.

Pipette however knew she had plainly and simply dismissed. A failure to be sure of her intended experiment, but an experience to learn from still. Just to be safe anyway, she nodded her head in the direction of the communications officer out of respect, before turning and heading another way to find somebody new to be abused by. Truly though, she had merely used up an iota of time and energy, and the expense to mental health was minor indeed. She still had a tray full of goodness and in theory, there were more mouths to sample.

So after such a one-sided conversation, the chemist went hunting once again for a more amenable test subject. Though she didn't get lost like a certain jetboy, Pipette nevertheless let her feet guide her just this once. Unguided footsteps would eventually lead the chemist to the assembly hall, a natural place of congregation and potential mouths. Sitting there in the furthest corner no doubt keeping one optic on the lookout, sat the Air Commander himself. Pipette had never had reason previously to speak to Starscream, and only barely recognized him.

In some ways, the current defacto leader of the Decepticons was an ideal subject. She knew just enough about him to beleive he would actually talk back if he was aproached, and he clearly had a mouth with which to ingest solids. But he was also intimidating. Both Starkun and Soundwave were intimidating too, in their unique ways, but she had never felt in physical danger. With the Air Commander however, she couldn't be so sure. Fear rarely stopped her and this time was no different. She stepped to the fore.

In a manner that was half nervous sneaking, and half deliberate grace of false confidence, Pip walked over to the table where the flier sat working on a datapad.

"Excuse me Air Commander Starscream, could you spare a moment?" She tried hard to suppress a nervous giggle from her voice.

[Starscream]

A plan had been formed.

One that’d been months in the making, yet could be rendered a disaster within moments should things not go exactly as planned. The risk was high indeed, not helped by the fact that communication with the infiltrator had been sporadic and overly brief whenever contact was made.

While Starscream intended to follow through on his part of things, Windshield had to play his cards right. From retrieving the signal blocker and installing it without being noticed, to luring an Autobot at the correct time without arousing any sort of suspicion - there were so many chances for things to go horribly wrong.

Starscream would do what he could to ensure that didn’t happen.

The silver Seeker sat alone in the Assembly Hall, and while there were ample tables and chairs to sit at, he had opted for one in the far corner out the way. From here he could see the entire room, including the doorway itself. While the change of scenery from his office was not entirely needed, it had been oddly refreshing as he peered at the same words on a datapad for what felt like the millionth time.

Basked in the amber lighting of the room, he did not pull his attention toward the door as it was opened. The light footfalls grew ever closer to where he was sitting, indicating that whoever this was intended to speak to him about something or another, yet he still did not look up in a show of acknowledgment.

Only when Pipette spoke was there any sort of reaction from him - one taloned digit sliding across the datapad screen, replacing whatever window had been opened with a blank document as he set the device down onto the tablet with a gentle tap.

“Not really, however you are here now - what do you need?”

Despite his choice of words, he didn’t sound annoyed, and as the question was asked, he would finally turn his attention - and gaze - to the femme standing before him.

[Pipette]

Standing straight and proud with a confidence she was absolutely faking, she applied her sales pitch to her de-facto leader. She held out her tray in a motion to offer one of the contents.

"I present the first iteration of foamed rock candy that when perfected shall enhance mental and physical output of the troops. If you would indulge me, I require subjective analysis of this current formulation." Her speech was rushed, and any atempt to keep mellow failed to hide her nervousness.

Would he accept? Would he decline? Polite or harsh, or stone cold silence? She had zero idea how the next few seconds would play out, and her inability to predict quite frankly scared her.

She was quite willing by now to accept any form of decline, turn on a heel and walk right out. And possibly go hide under a small rock.

[Starscream]

Starscream’s gaze trailed some over the femme, optics narrowing ever so slightly at the tray she held. While he had not had the pleasure of being formally introduced to this newer arrival to Blackridge Hold, his attention to reports and various memos meant he knew who she was.

A scientist. An occupation that at one time was close to his own spark, and in some ways? Still very much was. While he still held a certain fascination for the subject, he simply did not have the time to pursue such things at present.

Given the importance of what he had been doing upon her arrival to the room, should it have been anyone else he may have simply turned them away outright. But ah, first impressions went far indeed, and while he had seemed rather dismissive only seconds earlier, there were no motions made to send her away.

His attention would shift again to the tray as it was offered, a brow quirking with intrigue at her words. While their army at present was certainly a force to be reckoned with, should this candy do what she had stated? It could - at times - give them the edge that was needed to win not only battles, but possibly the war itself.

Though, another thought hit him. Should this be intended for the troops, why not test it on the Vehicons - of which they had plenty? Offering it directly to the Lord of the Decepticons was bold indeed, and should she be a Megatron loyalist? An easy way to get rid of him.

“Curious indeed. You made this yourself?” no motions were made to take a piece of the offered candy at first, optics shifting to look back at her.

“It is certainly refreshing to see some initiative. Even the smallest effort can turn the tide in war. However, I hope you understand my reluctance to assist - at least until I’ve seen you eat a piece yourself.”

It was then that he would reach forward to carefully pluck a piece of the candy off the tray, to show that he would absolutely try some and was not simply dismissing her efforts. He held it delicately with the tips of his thumb and index digit, not wanting to jostle or get too much of the substance on himself.

Could never be too careful, after all.

[Pipette]

"Yes, I made them" she answered the question. Blame, praise, or responsibility, the chemist accepted facts. "We had some extra...materials...that would have deteriorated unless used." She assumed that the pertinent details of those said materials were not necessary to speak aloud.

"Well, I have already consumed three..." Her voice was just a touch petulant. She didn't want to keep wasting them on herself, though it wasn't a waste at all as she most certainly enjoyed them. "But I accept the wisdom of your decision." Her voice was now level again. She didn't really accept Starscream's wisdom on this particular point, why did everyone think she might concoct poisons for her kin? But concession here she calculated, was more practical than debate.

With care, Pipette placed the tray on the tabletop, took the next available cube and eagerly popped it into her mouth. Again, for the fourth time that day, Pip squirmed with the pleasurable taste. They were just soo good she thought to herself, again. But already she was considering how she could bend the flavor with particular keytones.

"Please do try it." She knew he would be pleased, but she needed feedback from someone that wasnt her.

[Starscream]

A gentle nod was the only initial response to the answer given - his attention mostly on the small cube as he carefully turned it this way and that to inspect it further against the light. The fact she’d made it herself was interesting, but the fact she’d used materials they’d already had on hand here at Blackridge? Even more so.

With a scientific background of his own, he was certainly curious as to just what had gone into making the cubes themselves, especially given the earlier mentioned properties of the candy itself. Should these actually be beneficial to the point he deemed it necessary to require more for the Vehicon troops, he would enquire as to the ingredients so she could continue production on a larger scale, but as it seemed to be early days and still in the testing stage? He would not ask in case things needed to be changed.

“I appreciate the resourcefulness shown.” he started, watching as she placed the tray on the tabletop. “With the loss of the Nemesis and some of our normal channels temporarily halted, it is paramount that we make full use of as many materials as we can, given they are - in some cases - harder to acquire.”

If she had used substances that weren’t being used and would otherwise be wasted? He had no issue with her experimentation.

His attention would shift to Pipette as she ate one of the cubes. Her reaction was carefully noted with the slight narrowing of his optics, silently watching for any subtle signs that something was wrong.

Despite the fact she had humored him and eaten a piece, he wouldn’t immediately sample the one in his servo. A delayed reaction could be in play, and while his reluctance could be seen as rude, previous experiences had taught him well.

“How long until the effects are felt?”

He wanted to know what he was getting into here, while stalling for a moment longer. While he did not expect a sudden rush of energy or anything of the sort, he did anticipate to feel something after partaking.

With that said, enough time had passed to the point he would finally pop the piece of candy into his mouth. The taste was… surprisingly refreshing, though he wasn’t exactly sure what he had been expecting. Given its chemical makeup, he had assumed it would taste awful - and was pleasantly surprised to find this was not the case.

“Hm.” a quiet hum escaped him after a moment. His face was neutral, and there were no squirms of delight nor twitches of his wings to give anything away regarding his thoughts.

“Well, it’s better than I was expecting.” he chuckled, nodding - lip curving into a gentle - but genuine - smile. “Is this the final product, or do further tweaks have to be made?”

[Pipette]

Pipette frowned with thought, “The subtle uplift from the nitrous oxide should be most immediate, but…, it will be highly subjective depending upon one’s typical energy uptake.” There was no reasonable way to up the dosage of nitro without increasing the total consumption, but it was a minor part of the entire concoction.

She was happy to see the Air Commander actually partake, but honestly, disappointed that her creation only earned a meager smile. Well, subjective was subjective she supposed. Possibly she had incorrectly assumed her own response was closer to average.

“Sorry for my lack of clarity. They will constitute, in part, the delivery mechanism for a particular suite of pharmaceuticals that I have selected for utterly precise and sympathetic beneficial effects.” There would be no unexpected side effects, no negatives, and no addiction unless she wanted it so.

“But you are correct, I do intend to adjust the ratios of several components to better please the masses.” And while Starscream was the opposite of the general population, an aim towards perfection required rigorous testing, which brought her around to the question.

"What is your analysis sir? Flavor? Texture? Personal preferences?”

[Starscream]

“I see.”

He mused this out loud, leaning back ever so slightly - though not quite to the point of relaxation. His wings flared to account for the change in position, before he would lean forward once more, elbow resting on the surface of the table.

“These ones are, I assume, formulated with the standard Vehicon frame in mind?”

It certainly explained why his own reaction had been probably lackluster in comparison with her own. While she was no Vehicon, Seekers were so very different to the majority - and while there had been something of a ‘subtle’ uplift, it was just that.

While he was certain that anyone would feel the effects of the candy - as it wasn’t like such a thing could discriminate - it would no doubt differ by frame type and build. While he wouldn’t vocalize his thoughts in depth, perhaps making different varieties to account for an assortment of frames could be beneficial once things had been perfected.

Though it seemed there was no need to voice his rather obvious opinion, as her following words seemed to elaborate on this, almost as if she had read his mind.

He would smile, nodding.

“Well, as far as delivery mechanisms go, this one is rather effective should they be able to be mass-produced. A piece of this candy with a morning ration… yes, I can see how that could work. Saves far more time than having them visit the Medical Bay one by one for a booster.”

Tapping a claw on the desk in absent thought, he would mull for a moment after her question.

“Flavor was pleasant enough, to the point it probably shouldn’t be a priority and could be left as is. Should tweaks be made, keep it subtle.”

They didn’t need a blast of flavor, as that ran the risk of some Vehicons disliking it. The last thing they needed was the troops recoiling to the point they became averse to consuming.

“The texture was… a little odd. However, that was only because I wasn’t expecting it.” he admitted, trying to be as informative as possible. It’d been described as a foam rock candy, though he hadn’t anticipated it to dissolve.

“I assume given the makeup of the candy itself, adjustments to the texture will be hard to do? I suspect it is simply one of those things that once we are used to it, it will be no issue.”

She had practically squirmed with delight upon eating a third piece, which did indeed bode well. They weren’t awful to partake in, and now he knew what to expect? Any further pieces could be enjoyable.

“How long have you been working on this?” a question of his own, then.

While he knew who Pipette was, an all-consuming schedule meant that unfortunately he simply couldn’t afford to check in on things as much as he’d like to. Given her role in science, he was certain Shockwave knew of her projects, however, they had not been reported to him.

[Pipette]

Pipette raised an optic ridge as Starscream spoke, and the more he spoke, the more her usually blank face smiled. This one conversation alone, with such an erudite individual was worth more than all the previous combined. Though that bar was fairly low. It was clear to her why he was the Aircommander and defacto leader in Megatrons absence. He displayed consideration and insight, and even curiosity. He showed her a modicum of respect. She liked him.

“Your assumption is astute. They are indeed formulated primarily for the vehicon troops. Their mass production affords certain ideals for this type of chemical boosting.” The idea was simple, if you can't make perfect soldiers at the point of manufacture, then improve on what you had when you could.

“Ahh…the texture is quite deliberate.” She was a little sheepish here. “It was based on old notes I had for some pre war delicacies.” Nothing she had ever had first hand experience with so she couldn't ever be certain she got it right, but the result was perfect for her.

Pipette looked away in thought for a moment. “I’ve had this idea for some time, I recall that it occurred to me during my stint at outpost delta omicron six…so…2.4 million years I guess. It’s only on this last day that the opportunity has been realized.”

And that was it, she had made a mental note of Starscream’s every point. It was good, he was good, she felt good. Maybe, just maybe she had done good. Again.

“I am honored by your time and feedback. I’ll leave you to your own undoubtedly important issues. Unless there is anything you need with this Chemist?”