Cyberformed Inbox; $bombingrun

[unflights]

Seems like someone hasn't updated this in a long time...

"Ghost here. Raja, please use the text if you're calling. Don't just screech at the communicator again unless it's an emergency."

text | audio | video | action

Comments

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[soccerdrills]

i think this is pariah!
if it's not then i guess pls enjoy the picture i drew of him.

if it IS pariah i drew you! some day if i become a famous soccer player/artist/scientist i bet people will be super jealous you have one of my originals.

[ Attached to message is an image file. A digital drawing of Pariah wearing a really sweet cape and wielding an extraordinarily fancy sword. ]

[unflights]

[ Oh, if only Drill Boy could hear the laugh - small, but there! - that escaped Pariah at reading this. ]

This is Pariah. Hi, Drill Boy. Are you holding up alright?

This is really good. Thank you. I didn't know you were an artist. Though, the Winglord did tell me you'd be sometimes in the labs. And something about editing something for him?

text; $cosmedic

[redcosmedic]

You're the one currently in possession of the Apology, correct?

[unflights]

Yes sir.

It's in peak condition if needed. [ Starscream had been pretty clear about the collaboration. ]

[redcosmedic]

Not needed per se, but I was reviewing my notes on the weapons Starscream sent me schematics for, and I had a new idea for tweaking the power ratio that I wouldn't mind trying, if you're interested.

[ Knock Out's glyph for that Starscream includes the Brigade modifier. ]

[unflights]

Good idea. Where do you want me to meet you, sir?

[ He wouldn't turn down an upgrade. Not when sometimes it's the only thing keeping him feeling safe. ]

[redcosmedic]

Hm. My office in the Medbay, I suppose.

[ He doesn't really have a lab space anywhere on the ship, because most of the work he does is in his own quarters, but he doesn't especially feel like inviting a mech he barely knows there. ]

[unflights]

[ His first instinct is to refuse, considering how well his last stint in medbay had gone. His second one is to question the location. But... A superior officer is a superior officer, even on this topsy turvy mess of a ship.

So with a simple notification that he read the text, he shows up as requested with the massive sniper rifle slung over his shoulder. ]

Sir.

[redcosmedic]

[ Knock Out has cleared a countertop space in his small office, several calibration tools already laid out and ready. He's working on a monitor that looks custom made (it is), using small jolts of electricity emanating from one claw tip to test his readings. The deferent use of "sir" is nice, a small thing that doesn't fail to cheer Knock Out up. ]

Just set it there, almost got this tweaked where I want it. How much have you used the rifle since you've had it?

[unflights]

Shooting range, a few times. Nearly knocked a hole in the wall. [ He considers, and then decides it probably wasn't against protocol: ] Potshots at asteroids we passed, after.

[ He sets it down very carefully. Frankly Pariah is reluctant to let it go, but... It's not his call. ]

[redcosmedic]

[ Far from being disapproving, Knock Out actually laughs when Pariah admits to almost blowing a hole in the wall, although it's a touch nostalgic. He remembers an adjustment period after Breakdown had upgraded his shoulder cannon. ]

Well, better than potshots at the crew. Have a seat if you want.

[ He gives an absent wave at the chairs opposite his side of the desk, still intently tuning the machine. Finally he seems satisfied with the precision and brings it to where the rifle is. ]

Do forgive the impromptu work space in here, I'm sure the Medbay isn't your favourite part of the ship.

[ He may have forgiven, but not forgotten that he was nearly on the receiving end of Pariah's panicked introduction to the ship. ]

I don't have any usual lab space for working out of.

[unflights]

[ He sits down, slowly, and nods along to Knock Out's explanation. It is true. His wings crawl just being in here, and he holds them in a ready position... Just in case he has to make a quick exit he knows, rationally, he won't need.

He folds his hands in his lap, deliberately. Despite his nerves, he wants Knock Out to not have any reason to assume he's a threat; he remembers what Needlenose said about him holding grudges. ]

...I thought... [ But he frowns, shakes his head. Probably shouldn't add more to that thought. ]

[redcosmedic]

Hm?

[ Clear invitation for Pariah to finish the thought if he wants, as he calibrates the rifle's output controller with the tester. Then lifting up the business end to peer down the barrel with a frown, tapping a few numbers into his datapad. ]

[unflights]

I... Thought you might be afforded the Brigade labs. Sir.

[ He winces as soon as it's out of his mouth. Perhaps he shouldn't have accepted that invitation to speak. With all the activity going on these days in those labs, maybe Knock Out would find it too noisy, Pariah thinks- But all the same, it feels a little odd.

If he survived this interaction, maybe he would ask Starscream about it. ]

[redcosmedic]

[ Despite what Pariah probably thinks about him, Knock Out is typically amiable with people so long as they're respectful of his station and not threatening him, or complicating his life by being stupid. So all the large Seeker gets in response to the guess is a shrug, and no evidence of offense to the presumption. ]

He hasn't offered them, and I haven't invited myself on account of how possessive he clearly is of everything His, His, and His. He emblemed the door, for Solus' sake. If he'd wanted me there, I'm sure it would have come up.

[unflights]

[ He nods slowly, frowning slightly. Yes, definitely add that to the growing list of things Pariah needs to discuss with the Winglord at some point.

But maybe not something to bring up with the doctor until it was over. ]

...You said tweaks. [ He nods to the rifle. May as well change the subject. ] To the 'power ratio'?

[redcosmedic]

[ Knock Out catches the frown and laughs a little. ]

Don't worry about it. I expect if I'd had a different set of appendages on my shoulders, the outcome might have been different, but c'est la vie.

Right, the power ratio between energy consumed by the rifle's power core versus its output shot. I was revisiting my triple changer project notes and had some ideas for calculating that differential.

[unflights]

You worked on the triple changers?

[ Colour him immediately interested. Most of the initial Decepticon triple changers had been natural-borns, course, but he'd fought alongside the 'false' ones too. They'd all been good mechs. Good Decepticons. ]

...Shockwave's domain, here. And Holotype's. Mostly Holotype's.

[redcosmedic]

I'm a doctor, I've worked on pretty much every frame type. Triple-changers, minicons, combiners, you name it.

Shockwave believes everything's his domain, that doesn't make it true. I don't know a Holotype though. Different universes, and all that.

[ He finishes whatever calibrations he wanted to adjust and puts his tool away. ]

There you go.

[unflights]

Good. You don't want to know her.

[ And that is apparently all he'll say on that particular indvidiual. ]

Thank you. I owe you one. [ He's not afraid to say it, either. He owes Knock Out one regardless, in the Winglord's stead. ]