othmtmte. /Faithful 13/ and Backwater. Fuel Run

[marsthewriter]

Continued from here


Random: *steps forward to steady himself after teleporting so quickly, intakes working a little hard. He takes a brief glance around the room while he calms down, greatly relieved that the Black Dog isn't as jam-packed as he's seen it. Sufficiently calmed, he goes up to the bar next to a red bot and asks Nemesis for the Faithful 13 crew's order* *looks around and notices the red bot*

red bot: *notices that the blue bot is looking at him* Good day.

Random: *wonders at this bot's friendliness* Hello. *waiting for his order* *STILL waiting* Is that a cat on your shoulder?

red bot: *looks over at Tom* Yes. He likes being called "Tom."

Random: He "likes"?

red bot: *nod* Yes.

Random: *Thinks this guy is WEIRD* Why does the cat "like" being called Tom?

red bot: He has not objected to being called Tom and when I asked him if he wanted me to call him that, he appeared to say "yes."

Random: *thinking that Nemesis is taking FOREVER* . . . So, what's your name?

red bot: My name is Sneaker. May I ask what your name is?

Random: *NO REACTION to the name his alternates know so well* Huh. Um, I guess. My name is Random.

Sneaker: *does not appear to be fazed by the other's name either* It is a pleasure to meet you, Random. Do you shake hands?

Random: *raises an optic ridge* Why do bots always say things like that? The "it's a pleasure to meet you" stuff? *reaches out to shake his hand with the bot, though he's not sure about the custom* Yeah.

Sneaker: The saying itself has become part of social custom. *not entirely answering the question but to do so wholey is to make a generalization he is not willing to make* *shakes Random's hand firmly and releases it* I am just glad to meet new people.

Random: *raises his optic ridge at the mech again again, but he can't accuse the mech in particular for the somewhat dishonest seeming custom* *is also surprised by the gentle firmness of the handshake, like it had transferred the trustworthiness of the mech's character with it*

Sneaker: *picks up and takes a drink from the cube in front of him*

Random: So, uh, what do you do?

Sneaker: I research and volunteer at the Nexus Library.

Random: . . . Your reality lets you come here that often?

Sneaker: I live on the Lost Highway. I am an Exile.

Random: *forgot that Exiles are a thing* Oh. I'm sorry.

Sneaker: I accomplished what I needed to do.

Random: *awkward shifting as he wonders where the supplies he was sent to get are*

Sneaker: *checks on his companion, to see that he is still well*

Random: *awkwardly a few moments later* Do you remember how you died?

Sneaker: *looks over* Were you speaking to me?

Random: *thinks this mech is weird* *frown* Yes.

Sneaker: Forgive me, what did you say?

Random: *thinks this mech is weirder* Do you remember how you died?

Sneaker: *shakes his head* I remember preparing to protect my comrades from the invading Imperials, but I do not remember the moment I died.

Random: . . . *frowns in confusion*

Sneaker: *waits for the blue mech to speak*

Random: . . . Imperials?

Sneaker: *nod* Yes, soldiers from the Empire in my home reality.

Random: Why did they attack your ship?

Sneaker: *looks thoughtful* That answer can be complicated. How much would you like to hear?

Random: *thinks about that* Why is it complicated?

Sneaker: It can be complicated because our reality is not divided into factions of Autobots and Decepticons like many realities here are.

Random: . . . *thinks that's a bit odd* *even if he wasn't either himself* . . . What do you have instead?

Sneaker: We have the Empire and the Rebellion.

Random: . . . So if the Empire attacked you, does that make you part of the Rebellion?

Sneaker: *nod* When I was alive, I was a part of the Rebellion.

Random: What were you that had you fighting?

Sneaker: I was part of the ship's security.

Random: The ship's? What ship?

Sneaker: The ship belonged to the Rebellion leader Princess Arcee.

Random: *thinks THAT was different*

Sneaker: *patient waiting*

Random: . . . The Rebellion are the "good guys", right?

Sneaker: *nod* I believe so.

Random: Do you miss your friends?

Sneaker: *shifts a bit, himself* I sometimes find myself wondering about the mech I considered my brother--and of his young charge, but I know they will be okay.

Random: . . . What were their names?

Sneaker: The mech I considered my brother was named Random, and his charge was Kia.

Random: . . .

Sneaker: *waits to see what the mech will say*

Random: . . . Why didn't you say that you had a me upfront?

Sneaker: I did not because you did not say you had a me and because you did not ask me if I had a you.

Random: *blinks at that*

Sneaker: *more waiting*

Random: *oftentimes, people just declare that they have alternates of people without being asked, but this guy did not volunteer it upfront!* *and now Random is wondering what he even asks*

Sneaker: *seems to have an infinite amount of patience*

Random: *this mech's polite patience reminds him of his Mom* . . . What does your Random do?

Sneaker: Do you mean what does he do as a function?

Random: And just in general.

Sneaker: He is an astrotech by function. When I left the reality, he was caring for Kia as her mentor and playing his part in the Rebellion.

Random: What is an astrotech?

Sneaker: *looks a bit unsure how to describe it* I am not entirely sure what they do, but the Random in my reality fixed transports.

Random: *oh, so like what he does*

Sneaker: *more waiting*

Random: *forgotten why he was here now* He's Kia's mentor? Why is he her mentor?

Sneaker: Yes, because she is a newspark astrotech.

Random: He's old enough to be a mentor?

Sneaker: *nod* Yes, he is old enough.

Random: He's older than me?

Sneaker: I do not know how old you are and how age translates into maturity where you are from.

Random: Do I seem old enough?

Sneaker: I cannot make that assumption.

Random: . . . Then how do you know that your Random is old enough?

Sneaker: I know because Kia chose him to be her mentor.

Random: . . . That logic seems backwards. Shouldn't someone else decide that he's old enough to mentor?

Sneaker: The circumstances under which Kia chose Random to be her mentor are not the norm for the reality.

Random: Why do you say that?

Sneaker: She is the first newspark in hundreds of vorns.

Random: *looks thoroughly shocked at that*

Sneaker: *waits patiently* *confirming with Primus that he said what he was allowed to say*

Random: . . . Why was that?

Sneaker: *had been told to be cautious about how to mention Primus* *consults with him for guidance about what to say* When Emperor Galvatron took control of Cybertron, he tried to take control of Vector Sigma, the computer that gives Transformers life in my reality. Primus prevented him from being able to use it and frustrated Emperor Galvatron in this endeavor.

Random: The Galvatron in my reality is crazy. *is his first impression* And you only have Vector Sigma as a source of life? How was Kia sparked then?

Sneaker: The Galvatron of my reality went down a dark path. . . . *pauses as he thinks of the best way to explain it as he consults with Primus about this*

Random: *wondering why this guy hasn't answered his questions yet*

Sneaker: As for how she was sparked, I have never thought about it before now but I know Primus performed a miracle to do so.

Random: 0_o? The spark at the center of Cybertron is that active?

Sneaker: *nod* In my reality, he is.

Random: *no idea what to say*

Sneaker: *more patient waiting*

Random: *shakes his head* *apparently he needed to decide whether or not he wanted to know more about this "Primus" person since this mech and his Mom keep alluding to him* So, you said you're a security mech, right?

Sneaker: *nod* I worked on the security team on Princess Arcee's ship before I was Exiled, yes.

Random: So, what does that mean, exactly?

Sneaker: I ensured the protection of the ship's inhabitants by defending them from threats both within the ship and without it.

Random: So, does that mean you just know how to shoot a gun, or do you do martial arts too?

Sneaker: I am fairly proficient in the areas of both that I chose to study.

Random: But you do know how to get out of people's grip and things, right?

Sneaker: *nod* Yes.

Random: Would you be able to teach me? *gears are obviously turning in his head*

Sneaker: I am able and willing to teach you if that is what you want.

Random: *almost looks happy about that, but then he appears to remember something* I wouldn't have to ask my [Mom]'s permission, would I?

Sneaker: I was not aware that you would need permission because you did not tell me. If you need the permission, it would be better if you obtained it. *slight pause as he gets the translation for "[Mom]"* May I ask who your mother is?

Random: *gears come to a grinding halt at the question* *hesitates a moment* Nightwish.

Sneaker: May I ask which one?

Random: *momentarily distracted by the odd way the other mech is asking . . . before he turns so the other mech can see the winged 13 he had emblazoned on his new body and points to it* The one who wears this.

Sneaker: *studies the symbol* I believe I met her. *looks up at Random* She asked me to keep an optic out for you.

Random: *briefly miffed that Nightwish has seemingly been telling everyone to keep an optic out for him--until he remembers that's part of how he's here--and he's also a bit mortified because he's not sure he'll be able to get away without telling her* *not that he understands the latter emotion right now*

Sneaker: *patiently waits*

Random: *and now has no idea what that means for him*

Sneaker: *doing that patience thing again, how does he do it?*

Random: *wishes he hadn't given up cusswords when Kia went to live with them* . . . So what exactly did she tell you?

Sneaker: She said, "My son is a young Random. Keep an eye out for him?"

Random: *raises an optic ridge at that* *thinks that was rather vague, but he likes that better than the blabbing his processor had wrongly accused her of* *ahem* So . . . uh, assuming I can get her permission--*which he still didn't know how he was gonna obtain*--would I need to pay you to teach me?

Sneaker: *shakes head* I do not need payment.

Random: *seems vaguely, "okay, now what?"*

Sneaker: *calm*

Random: So, if you were to teach me how to fight so I can defend myself, when would we start?

Sneaker: It is close to evening here, and I have had a long day. It would be better for me if we waited before starting. It has also been a long time since I have taught anyone, so I would like to remember some of the better ways of explaining basic concepts before we start.

Random: *looks thoughtful* *agrees that today isn't the best time, and he probably needed to better decide if he should be telling Mom about this* What's the best way of getting a hold of you?

Sneaker: I can be reached at the comm frequency I am sending you. *sends it* I can also be found in the Nexus Library and at my home on the Lost Highway, where I live. *describes where it is in relation to other Nexus landmarks*

Random: *nods* All right. I think I'll think about it and get a hold of you.

Sneaker: *nod* Is there anything else you wish to ask?

Random: *thinks* I think I'm okay.

Sneaker: I think I will be going then. *places credit on the countertop for his drink and checks to see that Tom is still on his shoulder*

Random: All right. Have a good night.

Sneaker: *nod* I hope you have a good evening. Goodbye, Random. *and with that he turns to go*

Random: *watches the red mech walk out of the bar, wondering at the things he's learned and how he might have just found someone to teach him how to fight* *turns and see Aleph waiting to give him the order for his crew* *he receives it, thanks the drone, pays for the order, and leaves the bar himself--with LOTS to think about*