LoC Second Dawn: Log 18

Swiftshock hovered about the lab, moving from machine to machine and
adjusting one part or the other.

"A british tar is a soaring soul..." He half-sung half-mumbled as he worked on
one piece of equipment.

LoC Cirrus.legacyofcybertron says (20:51):
"...I've information Autobot, Ancient and mineral. I know the kings of Kaon
and quote the fights historical from Iacon to Kolkular in order categorical..."

Lutrex lay in a meditative state on as the device continued to draw energy
from his spark at a slower rate.

There was a SCHWOOM as the lab doors opened and Flipswitch entered. "Hi,
geeky."

He continued to work, head first in what may have looked like a garbage
disposal unit.

"I'm very well acquainted with matters mathematical, I understand equations
both quantum and transmechanical, about transwarp theorem I'm teeming with
a lot of news, with many cheerful facts about the coefficient of the space-time
hypotenuse..."

Their was a small clank, then a crick. "Surprise: Oh not again."

Flip glared at the scientist as he sang. Walking over, he lightly kicked the side
of the unit. "You need a femme."

"Ack!" Swiftshock jumped, sending a wrench flying.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but what were you doing in there?"

"Greeting: Oh, hello Flipswitch." He said, shrugging off the surprise. "Query:
Can I assist with anything?"

"Exposition: Its a converter that will hopefully take the energy from the
siphon and, essentially, convert the raw energies to energon at a more efficient
rate."

He paused a moment. "Or it may just function as a microwave. I'm not sure."

Swiftshock took another look in the device. "It may boil an egg at thirty
paces."

Flip oildropped. "You are such a geek, Swiftshock. Anyway, wouldja mind re-
installing my IFF? The medical guys are all hung-over." He paused a moment.
"What's an egg?"

"An organic incubation construct for their newly born." Swiftshock popped a
panel on Swiftshocks arm and took a look inside.

He took out a part, inspected it... then tossed it aside. Then another. And
another.

"Oh. Hey! SOme of those might be vital!"

"Only for an Autobot IFF." Swiftshock replied before taking a metallic
cylinder from the table.

Twisting it and activating several lights and toying with several wires.

"Have you seen Dark Nemesis lately?" Swiftshock asked as he worked on the
IFF.

Flip looked around the lab. "Yeah, actually. SHe seems to be reather attached
to that

"Disturbed: ...I'm fairly certain I dont want to answer that question."

"Well for your information I actually left him back in my quarters..." a
feminine echoed through the room.

Inserting the device into Flips shoulder, he replaced the shoulder armor
sheath... and dropped the wrench in surprise again.

Flip looked over his shoulder. "Ah, the princess arrives."

Looking at Swift, he asked, "Need some help?"

DN morphed through the ceiling, landing next to FlipSwitch, "Yes I have,"
she chuckled.

"Er, no." He quickly handed Flipswitch a small energon cube from the siphon
machine. "A small energon dose to jumpstart the IFF device into full
function."

Flip raised the cube towards the KO'ed LUtrex in a mock salute, then downed
the cube. "Thanks, Swiftshock."

Going to another table, Swiftshock gathered what appeared to be a multi-
barrelled gun, then held it out to DN, where it promptly unfurled into a
vaguely conical shape.

Lutrex who had been listening silenlty with his optics powerd off turned his
head at the otehrs optics onlining he had been in a meditative state but had
come out of it to hear DN enter. "so glad i could help..." He replied with
sarcasm but turned his head back and closed his optics.

"Oh you've helped so much Autobot," DN chuckled, looking over to
Swiftshock when he handed her the weapon. "And the purpose for this would
be...?" she took the object in her hand.

"Its a gun that shoots gun that shoots people." Swiftshock said.

Flip just leaned against a nearby console to watch the show.

DN raised an optic ridge,"All righty then..."

Lutrex did not reply to that he had nothing to say to the fem. he would bide his
time.

"Specifications: The primary function launches miniature hover probes armed
with a small electron accelerator.

"...Addendum: The resemblance to a bouquet is totally coincidental."

Flip snorted. "Yeah, right."

Lutrex gave a faint laugh.

"Defensive: That would be illogical!"

"Uh-huh. Suuuuuure."

DN only blinked at the mech, "You're being flirty arent you?"

Swiftshock blinked, unable to respond.

DN opened her mouth, gasping, "And the scientist cant find an answer!" she
chuckled.

to lutrex it was strange to see how his enemies conversed outside the
battlefield he found it comewhat enlightening into their lives and again made
him realise how there realy was not much difference between the factions that
they were all cybertronian struggling for what they believed was right...

Flip laughed. "I think you broke the fanboy, Dark Nemesis."

"Obvious fib: Yes I can! Its just..." He shut up, fidgeting with his hands.

"Saaaaaaay iiiiiiiit..."

having recently having his optics opened to the rgreater piture helped him to
cope with his circumstance as well.

"Cant make me, don't wanna."

DN leaned over to the scientist, "What is it my dear Swiftshock?"

"Someone's got a cruuuuuuuuush..."

Swiftshock just shook nervously.

Swiftshock just tell her how you feel already... life is to short...
Lutrex sighed

"Stuttering: I sh-should do... science things. Yes. Lots of s-science things." He
didn't move an inch, though. Or take his optic off DN.

"Oy, loverbot! The microwave's smoking."

Swiftshock turned around. "What?!"

Flip pointed to the trashcan/microwave, which was beginning to emit dark
smoke.

"Don't give me that look. I needed to get your attention somehow."

DN smirked, crossing her arms as she chuckled.

He took a wrench to its innards, diving into the machine.

He muttered something technical sounding, a cranking sound coming from
somewhere inside.

Lutrex shook his head at that.

"Somethings destabalising the energon structure!" Shockwave tilted his head.

Flip leaned towards DN. "I say we repaint him while he's distracted."

"Er, I mean... Observation: The structure is lacking the necessary elements to
prevent the molecules themselves from reacting with themselves."

DN raised an optic ridge, "Just like what happened to you 'Pink'?" she
snickered to the mech.

Flip began to fume. "I . Had. No. Choice. She was the only staff on duty!"

Then something resembling lightning hit Swiftshock upside the head, making
him fall back.

Lutrex chuckled... "Sorry about that Swift..."

"Dazed: My hovercraft is full of eels..."

Flip pointed in a random direction. "Look! SHockwave is giving out
autographs!"

He sat right up. "Query: Where?"

DN laughed.

"Sorry, Swiftshock. My mistake." said Flip.

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Swiftshock sagged a bit.

"Only a bit. No major offense meant."

Swiftshocks posture sunk a little more and he turned back to the converter.

lutrex tried to shift in the device a but the pain still a constant in his spark..
"nghu..." he couldnt move verry much but the energy that was being taken
form him now he was diliberately altering.

Crap. Now he felt guilty. "Look, Swiftshock, I'm... sorry." He rounded on DN.
"If word of this goes outside of this lab, I can and will start telling stories of
your early training."

Swiftshock closed the converter, the smoke long gone. "Summary: Tachyon
generators added to the tertiary photon chargers. Instability eliminated for
now."

He went to a console, almost buried under the clutter of numerous blueprints,
notes and tools and called up a holo-screen of an energon molecule.

Lutrex clenched his jaw at that... "not for long..." he thought altering the
energy again.

DN only rolled her optics, "As if that would be any news to the others..."

Swiftshock looked back to DN. "Request: Be sure to tell me of any glitches in
the operation of the drone launcher."

"That whole incident with the sparkly polish would be."

DN raised an optic ridge, "I do not recall one..."

"Really? The holos say otherwise."

As DN and Flip bickered, Swiftshock... could not help but stare.
Adoringly.

Flip pulled out a small holo-projecter. It clicked on to reveal a younger DN
frikkin' covered in sparkles with a facepalming Dante in the background.

DN only looked at him flatly.

Lutrex saw teh image and stifled a laugh.

Swiftshock blinked and fidgeted under DNs scrutiny.

Flip smirked at the other two. "Go easy on him, Dark Nemesis. He's a bit
shy."

TF Laserbot.u says to LoC Cirrus.legacyofcybertron (21:58):
"You wer quite an adorable youngling... heh" Lutrex comented at the
holoprojector.

"First of all I was a youngling," DN stated casually, "And second of all I was
looking at him..."

Swiftshock mumbled into his hand/cannon-end "Mutter: No one interesting
here, yep, no one, nothing to notice..."

Of course, looking even more nervous than ever.

"Swift, just tell her."

"Statement: Dark Nemesis, I w-would v-very much like to..."

LoC Cirrus.legacyofcybertron says (22:04):
"Th-that is to say, when two p-people really..."

DN raised an optic ridge

Flip sighed. "He wants to date you, DN."

At this point, the harness suddenly sprang to life!

The running lights flashed as the drain rate visibly skyrocketed, the machinery
thrumming to frantic life.

Swiftshock looked between the machine and the other Decepticons before
going to a console.

"A-Analysis: Siphon remote connection has ordered a 400% increase in
current drain rate, increasing to 343 units per kiik."

DN's optics were raised, "He...wants to...date me?"

"Yep."

Suddenly Lutrex optics flared bright blue and he grunted in pain as the drain
began to increase. "AAARRRGGHHAAA!!" Lutrex began to yell out in pain.

Oblivious, Swiftshock jumped to another console. "Swiftshock to Megatron!
Come in Megatron!"

Turning to Lutrex, Flip switched to his Pinky-voice. "Are you alright, sir?"

"Report, Swiftshock!" Megatrons voice boomed through the comm, weapons
fire audible in the background.

Lutrex otpics shifted to Flipswitch showing his anger but he clenched his fists
and grit his denta. "S Slag you FLipswiitcchhgaahah!"

"Drain rate has increased to 343 units per klik! Subjects nervous system will
burn out irrepairably unless rate is lowered within three cycles!"

"Run the current rate for two, then bring the drain to safe levels! My soldiers
WILL have the power for the siege cannons! Do not fail me!"

The comm abruptly shut from Megatrons way.

"N nooo gaahhh!!" Lutrex tried to fight the drain but the pain was practicaly
killing him.

Flip laughed.

Swiftshock paused a moment, before going to another console, calling up a
series of readouts and graphs - Including what looked like a scan of Lutrex,
various pathways flashing warning red.

suddenly the energy that the device was draining began to change color to a
green color. "Y You may take my energy but see if y you can ussee this!!"
Lutrex shouted out

the machine vibrated again.

"Understatement: That can't be good."

suddenly lutrex field flared to life only this time eminating in a angry purple
tint mixed witht he blue "Graahah!" Lutrex screamed as he did what he could
to constantly alter the energy.

Pain still floaded into him he felt like his spark was being ripped in two.

Swiftshock pointed to Flipswitch. "Fire controls on processors three and five!
Heat buildup reaching critical could overload and detonate the entire system!"

Flip nodded and quickly did as Swiftshock had instructed.

He typed amazingly fast for a mech with one hand, and a timer appeared on
the screen. "Dark Nemesis, monitor nueral readings and system overview.
Alert us when instability monitors turn black."

Lutrex gasped out his optics wide and his back and limbs arching agaisnt the
restraints his whole frame shaking in agony. "P PIMUS AAHHHGG!!"
Lutrex screamed as lines began to rupture in his neck and join junctions
leaking energon onto the floor.

DN growled, walking towards the monitors as Swiftshock instructed.

The countdown hit zero and the drain subsided, descending to safer levels.

"Suicidal moron..." muttered Flip as he took in the ruptured lines.

Lutrex whole frame slumped back at that onto the restraints he sputtered and
coughed out energon as it leaked freely form his mouth. "GahAHa..."

Swiftshock opened a converter, inspecting the cubes inside.

"Those things are stable, right?"

"For the Autobot's sake they better be," DN was flipping through the
monitors.

"For the troops sake." Swiftshock corrected, rummaging inside a moment.
"The unstable energon poses a significant mechanical failure risk."

The cube began to alter in colors goring from angry red to green to blue to
purple and back again before electricity began to jump trom it and it began to
smoke.

"Expletive: Oh bollocks."

Lutrex coughed out energon form his mouth as he chuckled humorlessly. "s
something wrong..." he wheezed again.

Flip glared at Lutrex. "No slag."

"Panic: I can fix this!" Swiftshock said, opening up another part of the
converter, sparks flying as he performed impromptu mechani-surgery.

"You better!" DN growled.

Flip looked to DN. "We might wanna back up."

Lutrex laughed outright at this. "you can keep fixing it but it wont to you any
good..." he coughed up more energon after this

Swiftshock looked back inside. "Assurance: Don't worry, the positron ratio
should --"

DN disappeared through the floor, "Time to go!"

Their was a small, violent blast from inside the machine, throwing Swiftshock
back, the impact audibly cracking his visor.

DN popped up through the ceiling, "Dont tell me I did that for nothing?"

Swiftshock's head sparked a moment.

Flip caught the geek as he flew by. "Well, Megatron is gonna kill us."

"Y you see Swiftshock... you assisted me... i have been gifted insight into a
greated understanding..." Lutrex wheezed out with a smile.

Swiftshocks optic flickered, died... then turned bright yellow.

DN landed on the floor, walking over to SwiftShock, "You okay?"

Flip dropped the scientist and backed away.

"I am functional." Swiftshock said, standing abruptly. Then he reached to the
counter and drew a pistol on Lutrex.

He fired, a dart embedding into Lutrex's chest.

"Dynamic adaptive capabilities are only possible while subject is concious.
This conclusion is logical." Swiftshock stated.

"Gahh!" Lutrex shuddered as he felt his systems numbing. "G ghuh... sedate
me but it wont change anything this transcends anything you can do to me..."
he began to fade... energon still driping form his form onto the floor.

DN blinked, looking over at Lutrex, "Is he dying?"

Swiftshock placed the sedative pistol back on the counter, not bothering to
reply to Lutrex.

"...I hope not. I'd like to keep my spark chamber."

"Negative. Energy draw would stop if terminated. Rendering subject into
forceful recharge stops adaptive sabatoge techniques."

His optic turned back to its normal red.

"...Query: Where was I?"

"Off in your own little world."

DN raised a optic ridge to SwiftShock, shaking her head and chuckling.

He looked between the two, then the machines.

"...Did we fix the siphon?"

"Yep. You KO'ed the prisoner, too."

Swiftshock looked Lutrex over, then took a repair ray, dealing with Lutrex's
leaking.

Lutrex remained in a uncontious state as the repairray worked to stop the burst
fuellines for the time being.

The comm burst to life. "SWIFTSHOCK! REPORT!"

"...Oh slag."

Swiftshock tentatively opened up the comm. "Answer: Y-yes, Lord
Megatron?"

"WHAT WAS THE MEANING OF THE ENERGON INSTABILITY?"

"Exposition: Er, you see, when the electron count on an Energon molecule is--
"

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!"

Swiftshock reflexively ducked. "The prisoner can alter the state of the energon
produced! I dont know how yet!"

"The guardian is incapacitated?"

"Y-Yes, mighty Megatron! Subject is currently sedated. Reccomend more
primitive solutions until the battle is concluded." Swiftshock bowed his head,
typing something into the console.

"Keep him in recharge until my return. Megatron out!"

Swiftshock looked to the space where the holo-screen was, then to DN,
looking truly shaken.

"I wouldnt worry about it too much," DN waved a hand.

"Disbelief: ... Thats common?"

"Which part?" DN snickered.

"Answer: The shouting and the hinted death threats."

Flip gined "I think im gana go help Dante slag some Autos..." he replied with
a wink to swiftshock before departing.

leaving the two alone

"Oh yeah thats common," the dark femme had taken a seat on a nearby chair,
her legs crossed up over the console.

He had trouble keeping his optics away from them. "Erm, about, uh, what...
Flipswitch... insinuated."

Fidgeting ensued.

DN raised an optic ridge.

Rushed sentence: I'll totally understand if you have no interest whatsoever and
apologize for feeling completely and utterly creeped out."

It was pretty obvious his self esteem hung on her word choice now.

"Takes alot to creep me out..." DN snickered.

"Oh." Swiftshock squeaked. "Does... does that mean you're...?"

"There's one problem though..."

His single optic blinked.

DN sighed, "You gotta deal with my FATHER."

"...Is that technically an affirmative?"

"Maybe..." DN smirked.

"....I really can't tell if thats being sly or just toying with my hopes and
aspirations."

"None of the sort," DN shrugged her shoulders, "Just maybe..."

Another pause. "Rhetorical: He'll put me through the wall if I ever ask, won't
he?"

DN nodded, "Yup. Literally..."

His shoulder slumped.

DN shrugged, "He's...had a ban on me dating..." she groaned.

"Hopeful: And if their were no ban?"

DN only chuckled, "I'll let you know when that EVER happens..."

Looking more crushed, Swiftshock went to work on a nearby console.

DN frowned, then sighed, "Dont take it so hard," she said following him, "I
havent really dated anyone in a while."

"Statement: I should... compile these logs for Lord Megatron. Deal with the
unexpected sabotage."

DN only shook her head, running a single finger along side his helmet.

His posture stiffened. "Q-Q-Query: C-can I do anything further for you?"

DN snickered, "You can tell me when you get off..."

"G-G-Get off... what?"

"Work.."

His optic blinked.

Then he closed the console. "Search program will compile without further
direction."

The door wooshed open. "SWIFTSHOCK!"

"Eep." Was all Swiftshock could manage.

DN stiffened, "Crap..."

THEN he noticed their proximity.

DN waved a hand, "Hey dad..."

"I trust my instructions previously were understood?" Megatron glared at DN.

DN grinned sheepishly, "They were..."

"I would hate to find a new chief scientist at this time." He growled, casting
the baleful look to Swiftshock as well.

Said scientist only shook nervously.

DN shrugged, "We werent doing anything..."

"For your sake, I had better find every bit of evidence to confirm that."

"Swiftshock, why did the energon become unstable?"

"Note the armor plating is still on and hasnt been disturbed..." DN said
sarcastically.

Swiftshock ducked behind his console. "S-Subject has demonstrated the
ability to alter the manner of energy output, changing structure at will. Even
without knowing our exact reactive measures, simply varying the effects will
mean most of our new fuel will be unstable."

Megatron scowled, looking to Lutrex's inactive form. "Dark Nemesis. Wake
him."

DN rolled her optics, strolling to the Autobot that laid unconscience on the
table. She tapped a finger on his helment, "Hey Autobot," she said, almost
irritated, "Wake up."

There was no movement the optics remained dark.

Swiftshock coughed and made a discrete pointing to an injector device on a
nearby table.

DN blinked, looking down at the needle and almost grinning with delight.
Picking it up, she forcefully impaled it into his chest.

"Gaahhaaa!" Lutrex body suddenly lurched awake form the sudden jab and
the wakening agent all at once. he vents stutered and he saw Dn smirking at
him.

Megatron folded his arms, taking center stage in the laboratory. "Even my
prisoner, you still defy me."

Lutrex coughed. "Uhhg.. wh would you expect anything less..." Lutrex half
laughed but there was no joy in this laughter it was void of ay joy only filled
with malice towards the other.

"Your Autobots still crumble before me." Megatrons scowl deepened. "All
you do now is kill Decepticons, heroically fighting for the Cause."

"Th there is nothing heroic in your cause.. M megatron..." Lutrex sputtered.

His optics flashed. "Swiftshock! Convert your plasma cannon to a torch."

"Advisory: Sustained blasma burns could be fatal to--"

"DO IT!"

Swiftshock looked to his arm a moment, internal components altering. Then a
beep.

"It is done, lord Megatron."

"Excellent." Megatron said...

Then he tore Swiftshocks cannon arm from the elbow socket.

Swiftshock collapsed, holding the stump of the arm, wires spilling out of the
socket, screaming in pain.

One of the bolts that held the elbow in place rolled by DN.

"Do do you see Swiftshock this is the one you follow he cares nothing for.."
Lutrex was cut off.

"SILENCE!" Megatron roared, jamming the arm into Lutrex's side, the plasma
cutting through the armor.

"GYAAHH!!" Lutrex screamed as the plasma cut deap though his flyer mid
weight armor. he had never been constructed to withstand such heavy and
close range assult he was designed for flight and to be fast.

"You will obey me, Guardian! My victory is foretold, no matter how much
you squirm!" Driving the torch down, he burnt through sensitive nerve
endings.

"Gaaaahhhaaa!" Lutrex could feel the burn begining to cut into vital internals.
"N NEVER!!" He screamed "I KNOW YOU ARE WRONG!!" he shouted out
with everything he had left.

"YOU WILL NOT BREAK ME!!" He ground out with a growl mised with
his scream.

A fist slammed into Lutrex's face.

Swiftshock curled into a ball by his console, unresponsive.

"GMUHHGGMFF!" Lutrex head tilted to the side broken and battered one
putple helm fin handin by cords.

"I AM THE DEFINITION OF UNSTOPPABLE YOU INSOLENT CHILD!"
Megatron roared. "You will obey me OR SUFFER NEVER ENDING
TORMENT!"

Lutrex shuddered in pain but his optics still held defiance. his damaged
vocilizer sputtered as he tried to speak thorugh his broken jaw. "Y ou dont get
it... we are all... mer children... to whom i answer to..." was all lutrex said
before his frame slumped for a moment going outcold his optics powering
off...

suddenly the otpics reawakened and blue flames spit form the purple
guardians frame. "Great darkness shall befall many but there shal be a Light
that cuts though the veil of night and pour over the land once more... Lighitng
our Darkest hour..." Lutrex voice spoke powerfuly and in a dual tone once
again suddenly

the energy siphone was taking in more energy then its setitng once again it
practicaly being forcefead it till it overloaded.

Megatron clubbed Lutrex upside the head, the plasma torch burning a portion
of his cheek clean off.

however when it did the tip of the plasma torture also metled form being
exposed to the raw energy.

However the energy began to fade

He tossed aside Swiftshocks arm and took hold of the machines controls,
adjusting the drain rate.

and Lutrex optics powerd off once more.

As Lutrexs awareness faded, the last thing he heard was Megatron: "Dark
Nemesis! Activate automated repair protocol!"

the guardians spark began to flicker in and out

The machine flicked off entirely, giving the Autobot much needed respite.

The spark burned dim fighting to stay alive after the extreem outburst of
energy

Repair drones tended to the Guardian, feeding the starved shell... but leaving
the painful reminders of his disobediance.

Megatron stomped toward the door. "You may not fear for yourself, Lutrex...
but that has never stopped me before."