Shockwave
Nov 13, 2011 2:29:07 GMT -5
Post by shockwave on Nov 13, 2011 2:29:07 GMT -5
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-Player Info-
Player Handle: Dura
MSN: Duradayva@hotmail.com
-Character Info-
Name: Shockwave
Age (or human equivalent): 40s-ish
Gender (or human equivalent): Male
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Decepticon
Occupation/Specialization: Experimental Scientist
Appearance/Altmode:
Shockwave cuts an imposing figure, but not because he's particularly tall, large, or bulky. Rather, he's slender, his bulk reinforced and efficient but sleek. His unique design is memorable - a single yellow optic framed by a sharp angular helm, covered by a dark glassy mask, sweeping head fins on either side, his shoulders broad and pointy. More than his design it's his composure, his rigid stance, and blank expression.
Shockwave has large forearms with slender hands and extremely narrow digits that end in sharp talons. They're made for fine detail work, his wrist guards better used for smashing. His left arm is noticably larger than his right, containing the workings for his signature cannon. His right arm contains a variety of science oriented tools, transforming into something like a multi-tool. His shoulders are broad and tall, and his chest is compact. His middle and legs are lithe, indicating a non-combat build. His legs are multi-jointed, his pedes appearing cleft. His general frame is heavy, but it's been modified to be sleek and energy efficient - an mix of frontliner and noncombat features. His paintjob is matte and a dark, but warm violet. He has black undermesh with yellow piping. The yellow doesn't normally glow at full brightness, maintaining a dim gold unless he's posturing or feeling strongly about something. He is just shorter than Optimus Prime (about Megatron's shoulder height). His voice usually holds an aloof, unbothered tone, and he speaks with an English accent.
He has yet to choose an alt mode as he doesn't often venture into human populated areas. His alt mode resembles his WFC Version's alt mode, but much sleeker and Prime-ish: Shock Alt
His Primary Mode is a mix of his Movie/TFA self in Prime style, TFA being dominant. Here's a pic, although it's not QUITE accurate to his above description: Shock's Robot Mode
Personality:
Mechs that don’t know him would be shocked to find Shockwave startlingly Zen… before he blows their heads off. He is cool, composed, and generally unconcerned with anything but science, rarely showing strong emotion, or much emotion at all. This is not because he doesn't have emotions, it is because his mind is dominated more by logic and reasoning than feelings. Highly intelligent, his brain power overwhelms his processor. So firm in his certainty about...pretty much everything, his emotions are genuinely as placid as they seem, so he isn't conflicted much. It's the times his emotions do conflict, or do openly show, that they become a problem. Someone keeping an eye on him may be able to pick up on moods, even though Shockwave would be hard pressed to admit such nonsense. It's also apparent to an observer that he cares and/or likes some things more than others. This is exactly what prompted him to attempt to delete his emotions early in the wae, but the experiment ultimately failed. He still experienced emotions because he possesses a living spark, and there is nothing he can do to erase them without killing himself. Yet. His experiments, however, opened his eyes - er, eye - to the fact that emotions just might actually be necessary for the healthy survival of his species and the pursuit of science. He just doesn't see the logic in him having them, considering his position as scientist.
Shockwave is methodical, careful, forward thinking, surprisingly progressive in his political stance, decisive, reflective, and, to glue it together, a perfectionist. His goal within science is to pursue and discover, question everything he can, but he is not without a guiding force. He turns every discovery he makes into something that further progresses the perfection of his race and his technology. Many bots believe he aims only to discover and discover alone, blindly answering every question for the Universe he can think of, but this is not true - contrary to his own opinion of his aloofness, he is quite attached to the idea that Cybertronians are the most advanced race there is. His drive is to use every bit of knowledge to better his race and his world. His standards for this improvement are pretty high, though. Luckily, on top of everything, he is a patient mech, and wise, too. He knows that he doesn't even know all the right questions to ask, so he must wait and/or actively pursue what he doesn't know. Unfortunately for many bots, he isn't above 'stepping' on them to get to this ideal, and he would willingly weed out the useless if necessary. He'd experiment on them, too, each bot's life sacrificed for the betterment of many.
His Ultimate Goal? The thing he aims for, craves the most, wants to see happen? It's evolved over the course of his life. He used to want to change science, bring others around to his thinking that science could only advance without the limitations put on it by the law. With the war begun, he sided with the Cons because he knew he could take his studies further, and further he did take them, no need to change anyone's mind. As the war went on, he hoped to work towards bettering Cybertron (its structures, its internet, its systems, and he hoped to participate in restructuring the law and even putting new standards on model design to make Cybertronians even more energy efficient), thus buffering/cushioning Megatron's rulership of it, but this was thwarted by Megatron's increasingly selfish aspirations and Cybertron's death. After the war, he hoped to find and gather energon to restore Cybertron, find a way to continue the Cybertronian race, and restore order to his scattered species. Then, more recently, his goals are evolving once more - perhaps if Megatron will not deliver the Empire he promised, Shockwave will, and he's piecing together plans to do just that. He will want to go forward with his plans to rebuild, and he'll do what he must to do that.
Shockwave is famously loyal to Megatron and the Decepticon cause, but this is not the true extent of his loyalty. In fact, Shockwave is loyal above all to Logic and Common Sense. As a close second, he is loyal to his home and his people. That may come as a surprise to most bots, but as mentioned above, his efforts are not blind expeditions into the unknown, but calculated moves to better his understanding so he might use them for his ambitious objectives - most of which involve his home world and people! The way he goes about helping and bettering the people part of his homeworld is easily frowned upon, and he might have some laws he'd like to set forth that are a little TOO much. His decision to incise and dissect another mech while it still functions is purely logical - it is the most efficient way to test mods, surgeries, etc related to the Cybertronian body. Why experiment on hundreds of drones or mechanical animals when he could cut the cost and test the true effects of some such thing on an actual Cybertronian? And he does this with the good of Cybertronians in mind.
Shockwave is not unnecessarily cruel, just as he is not unnecessarily nice. He acts only on common sense, and adheres strictly to it, despite any moral conflict. He goes by data, tested theories, observable phenomena, and sometimes estimation based on previously observed fact. This includes the behavior and emotions of others, especially troops. He finds that while emotions are a weakness in himself, they may be used or manipulated to make others stronger. For instance, he feels that morale is important - let the troops do what they wish if it makes them more productive and fierce on the field. In this way, he was popular with some during the war as a lax commander. However, he is only 'lax' as long as they ARE more productive and fierce on the field. Once the statistics slip, he starts engineering social experiments to get them back up. A soldier or two is also known to disappear if troops aren't any good at doing anything else.
Likes:
Logic, experimentation that leads to improving and expanding the capabilities of Cybertronians and his homeworld, discovering what can and cannot be done in regard to the spark (he is not above experimenting on himself as well as his fellow Transformers), refining resource consumption, math, sudoku, cats, dark colors, Soundwave and other competent bots.
Dislikes:
Emotional conflict, sentimentality, anything that interferes with efficiency or his work, unexpected surprises, irrationality, damage to his personal stuff including experiments, research, and the like.
History:
Back on Cybertron Shockwave was brilliant. An engineer, doctor, hacker, physicist, chemist - no field of study was beyond him or beyond his ambition and his position and class offered him no limits in what he could do. His scientific pursuits were always well received... until, of course, he began to exhibit interest in study on live subject and broach unethical grounds barred by the council - spark-splitting, experimentation, and so forth. Such limitations, based on morality and ethical fabrications built by such a scientifically blind set of mechs as the Council - these did not impress Shockwave in the slightest. He joined the Decepticons when it became clear who respected great vision, uninhibited by the limits of weaker minds, more.
He was responsible for the energon deposits on Earth, having sent out many satellites loaded with the substance to seed other worlds early in the war. He saw how wasteful and lacking in foresight Megatron could be, and took it upon himself to make sure that the Cybertronian race would have resources to draw upon in the future. Nevertheless, as the war dragged on, energon supplies became depleted. Shockwave managed to stockpile plenty for his earlier experiments, but they wouldn't last forever and over time they too disappeared, halting his scientific progress. Also during the course of the war, Megatron's goals got bigger and more selfish, but while Shockwave disagreed with his ego driven leadership, he still felt Megatron was ideal as a ruler for his charisma, passion, motivation, and, more often than not, common sense (well, when said ego didn't get in the way). And so, even as Cybertron went dark, Shockwave stuck it through with the Cons.
However, more recently, the scientist has determined that Megatron's penchant for irrational emotionality and all consuming desire for conquest are not the most optimum solution for victory and survival. This new war Megatron has started, supposedly to finish it, is also becoming wasteful - not only of energon but of Cybertronian lives and technology. Therefore, Shockwave is of the ever more solid conviction that Megatron should be removed and Shockwave, as the mentally superior of the two, should lead the Decepticons - or, if it presents itself, a better choice. Whether he feels a desire to rule or not is irrelevant, cold fact rules above all else.
Strengths:
- The Spock His logical personality and generally dispassionate approach to everything make him unflappable, clear headed, and inclined to look always toward the bigger picture.
- Next Gen Machine He is not as strong as Megatron, but for his build he is powerful. His body is built to be more energy efficient than others in his frame class, which means he can go longer without refueling with less energon. His legs are built to anchor him better when firing his cannon, which has a ton of kickback. These legs also absorb shock very well, nearly eradicating possible damage from landing too hard with his bulk. His single optic can do everything two optics could, and his science-geek related addons are top notch. To boot, he has a high tolerance for high voltage because his lab experiments sometimes involve highly energized weapons/systems and he must be resilient to work on them unaffected. This is partly where his name comes from.
- Infamous Cannon His left arm is a bit bulkier than his right because it houses a massive cannon whose power is second only to Megatron's. This cannon is built into his arm, like most bots' weapons. The cannon generally does Medium damage, firing short bursts, but with a post or two of charging it can do Heavy damage, firing a longer laser-like blast. This is his main weapon, and with tactics and logic on his side, it's usually enough. Shockwave does not get into unnecessary fights, so one powerful weapon is sufficient.
- Doc Hands Are Deadly Shockwave is pretty decent at close combat, though no expert. His entire life's work has been done at close range so the same hands that can disassemble a bot on an operating table can dismantle one in battle. His sharp claws are employed, as is his surgical knowledge, to find the most vulnerable part of an opponent and tear into it.
- The Big Bad Bot He has a long standing reputation as a compete psychopath who has commited the majority of the warcrimes that Autobots and Cons alike shiver in horror about. This reputation precedes him.
- Logical Fighter His entire fighting style is based on how a fight should go and what the most efficient method of killing is. This makes him a formidable opponent because he's studied plenty and observed more, so he generally knows what to expect from someone whose fighting style can be easily classified or etc. He is also good at strategy.
- Star Caregiver Shockwave is a stickler for keeping useful things and people in top shape. His millenia old tools could be sold as New, his body is in perfect health, his drones are well oiled and unscratched, and those Cons in good standing are safe on his medical table (he doesn't get willing patients often, though, and it's not always clear who one should be in good standing with these days). It may come as a shock to some that he is extremely gentle and if given the task of repairs, he does them painlessly and with almost loving attention. This is not because of personal preference for whoever, but because gentle, if firm, handling means he does not add to any damage, and it relaxes the patient, thus making repairs run smoother, and lastly it ensures the cooperation of said patient both during the exam and in future exams. He has even given the tenderest of care to test subjects (which in a lab setting, under the knife, is terrifying). Don't resist treatment while he's being nice, though, or he'll resort to the next logical way of gaining cooperation, and therein lies the threat. Seeing as he is not a Medic, but an active scientist, his top notch health care generally goes unnoticed except through rumor, and his lab is feared.
- Tentacles He has 2 tentacles similar to Soundwave's that come out of his sides, about where his diaphragm would be if he was human. These are specifically for aid in the lab, and are not for use in battle. They are not very strong, but built for their fine motor skills to hold, transfer, manipulate and operate tools and small objects. They can stretch to one and a half times his body height, their comfortable stretch being about half that. The tube part is triangular and segmented, the end is irised closed. Inside, and capable of coming out, are 3 prehensile digits. This digits are very thin, with narrow but flatted tips. At the base of these fingers is a tiny flat area, used as a palm if necessary.
- Flier He can fly. Duh. A ground based alt mode is illogical to possess given the advantages of flight.
Weaknesses:
- Vulcan very linear thinker and can be completely thrown by more intuitive thinking and reaction. His fighting style is entirely based on estimations and 'shoulds'. It doesn't always work, and since he's more often in a lab than on the field, a more experienced fighter with plenty of tricks could really give him a hard time. His strategies are also dependent on logic - a battlefield is like a chess board and the battle like chess. When someone suddenly changes the game to rugby, that's when he fumbles. His strategic thinking is especially vulnerable to guerilla warfare.
- Too Big a Picture Shockwave thinks on such an aloof level that it makes it very difficult for him to experience anything personally. While he cares for his home and his race, his feelings are for the whole world and the whole race, not individuals. His passion for science and discovery is perhaps the only emotion he allows, or maybe he doesn't recognize it. An interested psychiatrist might hypothesize from his behavior that he pours his affection towards things/people/concepts/equations that cannot or will not return those feelings, and that such behavior must stem from somewhere in his past or his programming. Indeed, it may come from the sheer amount of processing power in his brainz, which prevents him from willingly forgiving proper attachment he might develop. Forming relationships with people or things on a personal level is alien to him and considered disruptive to his work, especially if said feelings are for a test subject, a pawn, or cannon fodder. He has even inadvertently hurt his own feelings with cold logic. By thinking on too big a scale, he completely misses the importance of the smaller things that make life/Cybertronians what it is/they are. While he doesn't consider this a weakness...it can be. It is, after all, what makes him a "Villain." It's just hard to explain to him how. Someone observant and creative can likely use his inability to see these nuanced details against him.
- Lighter, Faster, but Still Kinda Slow Shockwave's new frame is a good fraction smaller than his original frame was (explained below). To cut down on energy consumption he had to cut out a few things from the design. One was all the extra hydraulics that gave him strength he didn't often need in the labs or, really, the battlefield. The other was all the extra bulky armor that made him steady but heavier than necessary, which meant he spent a lot of energy just walking around. However, while he is now lighter and faster than he was, he's still quite large. A much smaller, quicker mech could get in close and deal some srs damage to his more thinly protected parts, as long as they can outrun his talons. A big, strong mech of Prime's size or larger could also overpower him physically. Legion could sit on him and immobilize him.
- Vulnerable BFG The cable to his main weapon is hardy, thick material, but ultimately it's vulnerable. With a big enough shot, or a powerful enough punch, the cables can be severed or compressed, his cannon rendered useless. Disabling the canon usually results in retreat or the appearance of Secret Weapons.
- Slow Flier He's the flying equivalent of, say, a tow truck. He's a heavier build, with a compact flying design, making his turns wide and cutting back on speed. He has yet to see a human built vehicle that matches his tech specs that isn't a rotary craft.
- Bad Liar It takes a certain amount of emotional control, finesse, and empathy to lie well. Shockwave has none of this, 'cept maybe the finesse part. Instead of lying, he can withhold information or twist a truth, but he finds it difficult to tell a blatant lie. Furthermore, seeing as he rarely needs to lie, he's used to telling the truth. If he ever needs to lie, it's probably either because manipulation is involved or because something bad is happening/happened. Manipulation is easier - twisted truths are better used here than lies anyway. But something bad/he's under pressure/he's been caught? If Shockwave ever needs to cover something up quick, or he's confronted, he tends to admit the truth or a half truth, as a lie would be seen through easily. Overall, lying and manipulating are not specialties, though he can pull them off sometimes. His EM field can also sometimes give him away.
Special Skills:
His expansive intellect and age mean he’s a jack of all trades in addition to a scientist. There’s little he hasn’t done once or twice before.
Extra Info:
- Shockwave used to have a much bulkier and muscly frame (before the war, and during the revolution) of similar size and mass to Megatron's and with a tank-like alt, but this changed early in the war when he designed himself a much more versatile frame with fewer physical limitations and brought himself some peace of mind with thinner, more slender hands better suited for his lab stuff. He was also made faster and, seeing as flying is the logically the best way to travel, gave himself a flying alt. He's not as strong as he used to be, but that doesn't make him any less scary.
- Has Shockwave ever had feelings for anyone? Yes. In fact, he is 'emotionally active,' regularly experiencing feelings like everyone else. However, his feelings operate on an almost subconscious level. Not only that, but he's naturally a calm and placid person, his EMF rarely varying from that, which may throw others off. But he is also so mentally detached from his own emotions that when he detects them acting up, he uses cold logic to crush them. Over the years, he's occasionally been as much a monster to himself as to those under his scalpel, sabotaging friendships and even loving relationships with his own intellectualism. To say he is emotionally damaged isn't entirely off the mark, although it doesn't usually show and is entirely his programming's fault. This guy doesn't follow Disney advice and follows his mind, not his heart. He's extremely Aquarian.
- Bonus History -
As the war started up and Shockwave gained the freedom he wanted to experiment without restraint, he attempted to erase his emotions. He tried attacking the spark, testing procedures on others before performing on himself, but seeing his experiments fail he tried a different method - erasing his ability to detect and process them. He operated completely detached from emotion for a long time, and during this time he did some of his worst/best work.
There were two problems. While he did his work because it was the logical thing to do in his mind, he didn't want to do it. He had no passion for it, no drive, and yet no apathy or dislike towards it either. It made his work less meaningful. And while he possibly could have lived with this, (and was planning to because logically this was the best option for science), there was something else - while he could not process his emotions, they still made themselves apparent. His EMF was a mess and gave away to other bots that he was distressed and confused at the barrier between spark and mind. Because he could not detect those feelings, he couldn't control his EMF. And even after he'd built himself a device to cloak his EMF, he still experienced problems.
What made him doubt the success of his surgery was an event in one of his last labs before Cybertron went dark. Bots were scarcer, many dead or gone, and he'd holed himself up in an abandoned sector. He'd needed live bots to continue his foray into some research on the spark, but he'd been running low on POWs. The bot who'd found himself on the table had been a rather helpful assistant of his for a long time, and had even been the one to have performed the surgery that eliminated Shockwave's emotions for him. The mech had looked horrified, pleading with Shockwave to show mercy and recounted everything he'd done to assist the larger scientist on a professional and personal level since the war began. And, in answer, before Shockwave could begin, his hand had stilled on its own. He'd hesitated. And he'd continued to hesitate throughout the operation.
He didn't know why until after the procedure. He'd been slow and tired even though he was fully energized, his servos were shaking and weak, and, worst of all, he'd felt crushing pain in his chest that wasn't showing up on his HUD. This hadn't been the first time Shockwave had hurt himself, though it was most definitely the worst, and he inferred what was happening - he was mourning his assistant's death, likely experiencing the traumatic repercussions of witnessing the trusted mech's dismantlement, of being the one who'd done it.
As soon as he could, and as soon as those symptoms had disappeared, he got his emotional processing equipment back online. He'd contemplated leaving it out and being more careful in the future, but he figured this wouldn't work. He'd have to deal with emotions if he wanted to control them, as ridding himself of them entirely is as of yet impossible.
Since this incident, he avoids putting bots he thinks he might have grown attached to on his dissection list and will only take offensive action against them if he logically must, especially under pressure. (He has a whole list of requirements to be put on his 'Friends List,' as simply looking within himself and seeing who he likes and doesn't is too difficult.) Learning from similar incidents, he also avoids speaking with long term test subjects, bots he intends to use in some way, bots he knows will be likely be destroyed at some point soon, and long term lab assistants. He also seems to have tamed his experiments on others, not quite as liberal/adventurous with his pointy tools as he used to be. This is due to a variety of factors, including that Cybertronians are scattered and rare, so live bots under the knife is a waste. But way deep down, it could be that he emotionally associates his own horrific experimentation with unresolved traumatic pain/memories, making him avoid doing it. But who knows? (If someone brought it up, Shockwave would probably conclude that they're right and go about fixing it, even at his expense. This is not a good thing.)
The incident also impacted his interest in the mysteries of the spark, turning it from a hobby-like subject to a main focus in his research, but said research has been slowed due to scarce supplies and, well, sparks. - The lab assistant he dismantled was named Centrifuge. Centrifuge was one of the very few bots that Shockwave grew to care about in his life.
Sample RP Post:
Prompt, as given by Stark = "Side with me."
In which Shockwave reveals some important long term plans. Be warned that the following takes place within the context of a story that probably won't be written. xD It's just a random scene based on all that stuff above. Also, please forgive vague references to tools or body parts cuz I dunno what to call them. I need to brush up on sci-fi medicine and doctor equipment. I also took liberties with Shockwave's guest's characterization. I just don't buy that he's personality-less.
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In which Shockwave reveals some important long term plans. Be warned that the following takes place within the context of a story that probably won't be written. xD It's just a random scene based on all that stuff above. Also, please forgive vague references to tools or body parts cuz I dunno what to call them. I need to brush up on sci-fi medicine and doctor equipment. I also took liberties with Shockwave's guest's characterization. I just don't buy that he's personality-less.
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"It...is gravely unfortunate that you cannot understand the importance of choice and every individual's right to freedom to make those choices..." the voice was strong and unafraid, with an undertone of tense anger and, possibly, dread.
Shockwave did not respond, the tips of his narrow claws carefully lifting each of the flawless, eons-old tools laid out in front of him. He chose only the ones necessary to carry out his subject's surgery (no more, no less), and he had precisely the correct amount of energon, safety precautions, and sanitizing fluids necessary to buffer and prevent any possible complications. Neural circuitry was so very delicate and he had to be prepared for bleed outs and neuro-surges. It was not uncommon for this type of procedure in particular to catch fire midway through. The data transfer and memory dive he was about to attempt put stress on the tiny wiring surrounding the memory core and the very flammable energon lines that cushioned them.
"...Because, otherwise, our goals are almost exactly the same," the voice finished.
The tinny whining sound of an energon blade being powered up could be heard, but Shockwave stopped mid-motion to think. Then he replied as he continued his preparations.
"You are correct, at least in so much as our goals being alike," he said, his voice as lofty as it ever was. "The 'right' to choose and the 'freedom' to do so, however, are purely social structures. Morality, itself, is a social construct, and while it has its uses as a barrier to anarchy and social chaos, it also holds back great social progress. Namely, it disallows exactly the most effective methods of social change. Megatron had to resort to war to enact social change, as you remember; a massive and wasteful effort that has yet, even, to end. It could have been prevented if Cybertron's governing system and the rising Movement hadn't felt so entitled to these concepts."
His test subject nodded, face turning introspective and regretful. Quiet anger, however, was still the predominant emotion at having been caught and dragged into Shockwave's most deadly of chambers. But Shockwave did not notice this. Rather, he noticed the tension in the mech's posture and the stiffness of his neural waves on screen. They meant that while his guest was being cooperative, he in no way intended to yield to the inevitable and would resist in any way he could, even while strapped securely down.
Shockwave continued, checking over the operating table's restraints and double checking his subject's vitals. Normally, he'd keep quiet, only speaking to the bot on the table if necessary, but his guest was the exception.
"You, Optimus Prime," he went on, "down to the very core of your being, are a convoluted mess of social structures that exist side by side and on top of one another, structures that conflict when the ideals they represent contradict or neutralize each other. Of course your goals are similar to mine - it is a part of your very programming to see the bigger picture and to act decisively to return order to our world. However, your version of a revived Cybertron and a peaceful existence for our species is hardly comparable to mine, because your version involves reviving the same tired, overworked, inefficient system Cybertron had before. Therefore, I must disagree with your statement." The scientist lifted the subject's head and placed it in a vice, the sides of the gadget pressing closely on either side of the cobalt helm to keep it elevated and immobile. "It is unfortunate that you, of all mechs, cannot understand the importance of sacrifice, and my ability to transcend that web of unwieldy social structures you hold so dear for the betterment of us all."
There was a moment of silence as the prone mech contemplated what was said. He did not agree, but this intel provided insight into the scientist's mind. He did not know Shockwave personally, but was familiar with his ways, and his famous adherence to logic. It seemed Shockwave would see no reason, at least when it came down to arguing in favor of a system based on intangible concepts the scientist had trouble processing. The Autobot, then, would have to drop it. As the violet bot grasped his first surgical gadget unhurriedly, the prisoner decided to use his time to question exactly what was going on. As eager as he was to escape, he could see no option but to wait for his team to come find him.
"What is it, exactly, that you want from me, Shockwave?" he asked the dull ceiling. Any and all lighting was being directed at the dorsal of his helm, but the walls above were dark.
"The knowledge of the Primes," came the frank, and surprising, answer as the blue helm clicked apart under skilled servos. "I hypothesize that if it can be processed by your mind, then it must be in your CPU - which means it can be accessed. This is merely an experiment to see if I am right."
"And what question do you have that you must pry it from my brain, instead of asking for an answer?"
Shockwave paused again, something he did frequently before replying to inquiries. It was a nonsensical snag of behavioral coding he'd purged from his system many a time, but to no avail. It seemed to be a...'habit' directly linked to his thinking process. "I wish to know if the Allspark is the only source of Cybertronian life, or if perhaps there are other methods. I have sought the answer for vorns now, but only a few options have presented themselves, and none of them are promising for long term, repeated use. Furthermore, if you hold such answers inside of you, and I can gain access to them, then it proves that you are an invaluable resource of more use to Cybertron than I realized. I had estimated that you would remain 'tight lipped' had I just asked you for your wisdom, and I gather from quite an extensive matrix of proof that you would not help me if I bothered to try, thus making this test necessary. If my hypothesis is made fact, then I cannot dispose of you, and Megatron's continued efforts to deactivate you will have to be thwarted. The knowledge you hold can be better put to use by myself through my efforts than you and yours."
He couldn't feel anything, but the Autobot knew Shockwave was already in his head, the tinkering unfelt but the soft scraping and cutting heard easily in the quiet room. He was getting uneasy. What Shockwave spoke of... Yes, his questions were answerable, though Optimus wouldn't speak to quell the mech's curiosity, and yes, it seemed that a foray into discovering how to expand their race was a good thing, but not if it was Shockwave at the helm of the research. On a more personal note, and to prove that sentiment, if this 'operation' continued, the Decepticon could do irreversible damage to his mind, to his system...And if he was honest with himself, the knowledge of the Primes didn't exactly tell Optimus whether extracting said knowledge through a Prime's head was possible. Optimus was...well, 'hopeful' would have been accurate if he was still Orion. Something more like determined that this wouldn't work filtered into his thoughts. However, this could still be bad news.
"And what if this experiment fails and you find that you cannot access the wisdom of the ancients?" he inquired, mentally resisting a wince at the sound of a drill.
Shockwave had no answer for a moment, as if analyzing the question for its true intent, and then, "Are you asking if I intend to kill you?"
Optimus glared at how the question hung in the air, his optics meeting nothing but the spotless surfaces of Shockwave's lab. He said nothing.
"No," finally came the heavy answer, and Optimus' optic ridges flew up into his helm. He wasn't expecting that.
"Why? If I am of no use to you -"
"But you are," the dark mech corrected, and in another moment he moved to look the Autobot leader in the eye. His words, he knew from experience, would have more effect if received face to face. "I only captured you to run this test. I had no intention of deactivating you. You provide a valuable diversion, keeping Megatron and his minions busy. It is highly unlikely the Decepticons will conquer for the time being, meaning you will remain unharmed and I can collect you later. And if indeed you are killed in action, then Cybertron loses its last Prime, and a new Cybertron can be born anyway. In the meantime, you factor more into my plans than you realize, more than to the extent that I have already debriefed you. But those plans are not yours to know." He moved back to where Optimus couldn't see him, and continued to fiddle with something that sent error messages across the Prime's vision.
"And why have you debriefed me? Why have you been so open with your thoughts if you intend to let me live?" The words once again held a certain amount of anger, this time with a healthy dose of suspicion.
Once again, it was silent, this time for much longer as Shockwave formulated a calculated response. In the distance, at the very edges of his hearing, Optimus could discern the sounds of gunfire and the walls he'd let drop during his conversation snapped back into place. He was ready for action, and so very proud and glad that his team had found him.
Shockwave seemed to have heard as well, and his careful slowness sped up slightly. Still, he didn't seem to be in a hurry, which was alarming.
"Because I wish you to side with me."
And then the room went silent. The diesel truck's hearing was fine, but muffled shock forced Optimus to reboot his audios. In all his time as Prime, he hadn't quite expected he'd ever receive a proposal for alliance from The Mad Scientist of all people.
"Hm. Please refrain from rebooting your systems. It may interfere with my - "
"Side with you?"
The scientist's tone was more clipped, now, time ticking. "Yes. There are details to work out, of course, but this war cannot continue any longer. I know you agree." The larger mech did. "Cybertron's number one issue used to be the powerful, jaded, and corrupted government. Then it was a lack of energon. Now, however, it is Megatron. His childish ambitions and unsteady mind are dangerous and unpredictable. Worse, they are destructive and careless. It cannot continue. The 'adults' of this war should decide Cybertron's fate, and if it is you and I at the opposite ends of a battlefield, at least I can trust that my opponent can reason with a sense of selflessness that Megatron lacks."
Optimus Prime blinked, still in some disbelief as his mind raced to analyze this little twist in his perception of Shockwave and his horrific reputation. Luckily, he was Prime, and his mind was rather fast with these things, and before he could blink again he knew his answer. But before he could reply, Shockwave appeared above him, a single yellow light shining from a black mask.
"I will allow you time to think about it. While you are disabled by your notions of justice and freedom, I know you are capable of logical thinking. And if you turn me down... Well, I'll find another way eventually. I always do." The optic disappeared and the tinkling sounds of metal on metal returned.
A prickling sensation hit, and Prime went numb. Gunfire still distant and only crawling closer, the Autobot leader's vision went dark.
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