That is...logical.

Indie Shockwave | TFP Semi-Selective. OC/Crossover/Multiverse/Etc friendly. Tracking: ScienceglitchesWritten by Meido 🪆

[scienceglitches]

indie/semi-selective/OC, crossover, multiverse, etc friendly RP blog for TFP Shockwave

:\Guidelines \ About \ Verses \ Divider Credit

Room under the readmore for additional things that may be accommodating in the future for everyone.

:\Affiliates\ When Shockwave refers to characters he's most likely referring to these particular interpretations, but I do not exclusively interact with these interpretations for the particular character. During low activity I may prioritize these folks, it is nothing personal ! I'm chronically ill and am often battling fatigue q v q ;;;! ( but also please check them out ! i love them dearly ! )

:\Starscream\★soleresistar :\Ratchet\✚autobotmedic :\KnockOut\✧･ﾟ:cantbuffthis

[melamemea]

send me "be honest..." with a question your muse has been dying to ask mine and they'll answer truthfully.

[scienceglitches]

What is love to you?

A simple question, one that probably a deserved a follow-up of "Who's concern is it" but he cannot typically deter curiosity, no matter how shallow it may be.. An educated guess for the answer the scientist would give is something like 'An unnecessary attachment, pointless, something that provides zero advantages,'.

Logically, something useless.

However, Shockwave is starkly aware that despite this "obvious" answer they cannot bring their self to actually utter something so fundamentally untrue. To do so might imply ulterior motives, feelings about notions that shouldn't exist within him. Words that would carelessly cast aside the meaning behind time with spent with another. A defamation of information to betray his very character as a logical scientist.

Even now, this very time spent weighing the press against their spark puts Shockwave somewhere he's concluded cannot be pushed further. Where it's emotions lie.

Memories re-surface in it's processor, recounting how seamlessly communication had been. Discussions, silent, whispers absent, comparatively made using words seem like chores with others. Trust that grew in time, right under Shockwave's acknowledgement, mutually. Out in the field assistance needed to be requested or directed but not with the Information Officer, aid was given without hesitation- without a second thought. Times in private, in the off-hours, are where it abruptly cuts itself off from it's own thoughts.

Love is an understanding to Shockwave and most fail to with him.

A want to be understood is too vulnerable an answer, however, so a less damning answer would be simply. Soundwave,"Something that I am... missing," quite literally. To most looking in, that are most definitely not privy to his inner-thoughts, that answer should be taken as a piece dissected from their spark long by the hands of his own during that failed attempt.

As far as any other intellectual being is concerned, that is the end of it.

[scienceglitches]

y'all get three guesses as to who got into his own head about rping

[marzupial]

I decided to color it for fun heheh

[scienceglitches]

"Bad boy?"

"I'll give you time to reconsider your follow-up, Autobot,"

[scienceglitches]

Good boy

Oh, if only it had the ability to squint. One can only imagine the concern and complete lack of enthusiasm that would otherwise grace any other's being's face at such a..............""compliment"".

"Most would consider that- incorrect," the disgust is evident, despite how the words could come across as playful.

[scienceglitches]

@cantbuffthis \ An old co-worker needs your assistance...

Escape had been sketchy but enough time had passed since the volatile encounter to assume that it was as safe as it was going to get to move forward. Most of the in between being spent coping with the damage, largely focusing on the loud buzzing that now echoed within him. Analyzing it and the situation, struggling to construct the most ideal way of fixing the problem.

The last time ( of which makes this too many times it has happened ) the loss of his only optic was due to a blaster, more like an insect sting, less like a literal goring. Metal scraping across glass and the slow crunch as the doomed optic gave way to the gladiator's immense strength still echoed within it's processor, it's unsettling, but expected no less. Such great physical trauma would not subside so easily in the body. Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

With only an estimate of where they'd ended up, navigating Cybertron blind would not be such a simple task as last time. Before, the sight had not been 100% lost and the planet was completely vacated. No one to argue about how freely he should be walking with the reputation he carries. Now, there were more than enough to make a scene and enough to take advantage of it's blindness. Walking free from another confrontation may not be successful a second time...

Logically, it would be best to reach out to who few it could consider a comrade. One that had at least some medical knowledge or could at least follow instructions and both criteria needed to know how to not run their mouth.

Unfortunately, it's a very limited list. Not many remain of those that Shockwave could consider trustworthy enough... Still, a handful of distress signals are sent out; the first of which returns as "failed to be received", the second and third make it to their receivers with no timely responses, and the fourth....

[scienceglitches]

What in the Allspark...

[hellfire-saurian]

The world was nothing but red before him, drenched in the hunger that was his need to kill, to tear this mech to shreds, but no, that was interrupted. A bright flash slammed into his optics behind the visor, followed by a flood of purple, an explosion so powerful that it threw him back. So powerful it shattered the very earth beneath their feet. His sword went flying in the other direction, as did Shockwave, all cast aside by the sheer force of the blast. The world was blurry now, his optics couldn't focus, his audials rang, screaming at him. Grimlock groans, shifting his weight to lay on his side, attempting to get up from the hole in the ground his impact had made. His frame, scorched, coated in a thick black soot with bits of purple plasma burning and eating away at his armor's crevices. Clawing at the dirt and rocks around him, the Dinobot manages to haul his frame out from the crater, shaking his helm to try force his optics to see straight, but the spinning in his head wouldn't stop. Bastard, using a cheap move like that, it was out of his normal. When did Shockwave ever become so desperate in a fight to almost kill them both? Pushing the logical thinking aside, the smouldering, hulking mass of hate scanned the horizon, looking for the sickening mech who dared to fight back. He will know pain.

[scienceglitches]

And while that hunger may go partially pleased on this day it would not go fully satiated, for even blind Shockwave still had the will to persevere. There was not much to break when all emotion had been taken from him by his own servos, there was nothing else but to keep moving forward, for what logical sense did it make to just lay down and die?

Thankfully the blast did more to slide the scientist back than to send him flying, the luck of the draw of his otherwise disadvantageous angle under Grimlock at that moment. There was less debris for him to navigate in his wounded state, and whatever additional damage done to his armor and mesh came second to the glaring issue of vision. Lack of audial was a slight concern but it would return slowly and in the mean time there were no immediate tremors in the ground to indicate the attacker was closing the distance again right then.

For a moment it can consider some options, though they remain as limited as his eyesight.

Scanning for vitals gave them a direction to not travel in, stumbling to it's pedes several, quicker, shots are fired again. Serving only as a means to dig up dust to escape under the cover of. If it could. If a shot managed to nick the hunter it could be worse or better, depending on how much he'd re-cooped from that last blast it could tell him the exact location it wanted to escape from.

It's here they feel their last ditch effort for the best chance at escape is to be played, while scanning for signs of where Grimlock's body had been tossed they are able to discern a different source of power. The executioner's sword. Through a steady pace and constant bursts of searching for those different signals the blind mech manages to reach it first. Servo clumsily groping the broken ground until it meets with festering blade and adjusting his grip so he's able to grip it's hilt.

Now for the actually hard part among the blown dust and ground pieces; Making a successful escape while blind.

[scienceglitches]

If still believing Soundwave is alive is a conspiracy theory, sure.

Tagged by: @entice-and-artuate

[stellarcuriosity]

"Wait- really? You think so?" Ah, the chance to be useful... Wouldn't that be nice? It would be cool to have other Predacons running about- and it would make Predaking happy, too. The thought of helping such a cause had the corners of Starburst's maw twitching into a hopeful little grin. Seeing the change in Shockwave's 'demeanor' seemed to affix it upon her face.

"You want to see him? Um, I don't think that would be a problem." Almost as though she were parroting his actions to make herself more comfortable, a talon lifted from the floor and tapped at her own chin as she chittered thoughtfully. "I probably couldn't lead you to our home, because… Well, it's a secret base, and all… but I could arrange a meeting!"

She remembered being told stories about the old Autobot outpost being destroyed- an incident that occurred before her specimen was even created. Starburst didn't want their new home to be destroyed too. Hopefully it would accept her proposal.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind, especially if it's to help me. He's learned a lot about Predacons from helping me grow from a tiny little thing." She still felt she was a 'tiny' little thing compared to the other Predacons, but that wasn't important now. What was important was learning more about Predacons... and maybe her creator, too.

"I mean- I'm sure you know much more than we do," Fawning over someone was something Starburst defaulted to- she always felt more comfortable if the other party 'liked' her. "You did so much with the Predacons! I haven't met Skylynx and Darksteel, but Predaking and I are friends! Buuuut even he doesn't know everything about Predacons. We've been guessing."

[scienceglitches]

Her emotions are easy to read, she's metaphorically wearing her spark on her sleeve. Reading her vitals only backs this up as the mere mention of making use of her elevates all positive signs, and it ponders what exactly of her life has led to such a crippled mental state for one of his projects. More questions came to mind of how this interacted within a pack but without an actual pack it would be hard to replicate any reliable answers. For now, they will continue operating under the assumption that resurrecting more Predacons is an immediate objective, "I know so," there's no arrogance, simply cold confidence in it's words.

At his request Starburst shifts in nature, grows more withdrawn, in matters of others it confirms that she is more...cautious. Worried. It would be a reckless to not assume that Ratchet hadn't spoken at least a little on the once Decepticon Scientist. With more elaboration on the Decepticons as a whole, of course, as well. Yet she is not so weary of it as to turn down it's request entirely. What part of that was Ratchet's warnings or natural instincts.

"...Understandable," as it stood, he had no intention of causing the Autobots any immediate grief, it would be disadvantageous and illogical. Ratchet is resourceful, and he didn't get to where he is now by being lucky. The request to meet with him again was on the grounds of respect for his work ethic and mutual curiosity. Shockwave didn't consider them all too different from one another, intellectually speaking, but their views on Cybertronian ethics is where they stood in vastly different spots.

If Shockwave was going to make any attempts to "befriend" ( and ultimately go under their radar of ) the Autobots, Ratchet was their best starting point,"I would not sell the medic's scientific capabilities short, he has been successful where I have failed in the past," the confirmation of Predaking's existence adds another layer of necessary caution, but that would be a problem for later. Right now, the best course of action to deal with even him would be to build rapport with those he liked,"Are there any immediate concerns you have?" and that rapport may just have to start with a little chat about Predacons. They truly were the epitome of a "Passion Project", a way for it to play as Gods do.

[sir-lancerlot]

'wave to 'wave communication.

[cantbuffthis]

He doesn't think Shockwave could handle his flirting.

[scienceglitches]

Oh- He can definitely handle it.

If "handling" is defined by physically removing Knock Out from it's immediate space or cutting off their communication link.

[hellfire-saurian]

It was no use. Grimlock was already there, the heat from his blade searing away protective layers of clearcoat upon Shockwave's cannon. The damage from the blast only caused more rage, smoke searing off his shoulder as that hellfire greatsword came hammering down in an inverted grip, gutting it's way through Shockwave's cannon, pinning it with so much force that it knocked the mech to his knees.

Now, so close, merely a breath apart, Shockwave could finally see the insanity driven hatred in his visor, and the optics burning beneath.

"YOU TOOK MY ALT!" He roars, shoving his blade deeper into his cannon, tearing away metal and gears, "NOW I WILL TAKE YOUR SIGHT! I WILL TAKE EVERY PART OF YOU AND TEAR IT TO SHREDS! JUST AS YOU DID ME!"

Without hesitation, his clawed servo reached forward, gripping the front of Shockwave's optic casing, slowly, painfully crushing it, watching the glass crack and shatter beneath his might.

"YOU WILL KNOW ONLY FEAR. YOU WILL NOT BE GRANTED THE SWEET RELIEF OF DEATH."

With a harrowing roar, he rips the optic out from his helm, stringing wires and Energon across his golden chest in a gorey, brilliant display.

[scienceglitches]

Metal met metal in bias and any chance of his canon once again serving as any sort of defensive measure was completely dashed the moment it was reduced to an anchor point. Leveraging their positions and putting the attacker out on top. A rough angle to re-coup from, and even more difficult by their weight classes between the two opposing mechs.

And yet, he can apply all the logic and statistics that he wants to the violent encounter but nothing will ever compare to the raging hellscape that this Grimlock has suffered time and time again. Each new ring adding another vicious layer of experience and another promise to himself to make the one who ruined him face even a portion of the suffering he'd endured in the fire of "science's sake".

Malice-washed visor meets cold optic, an overflow of emotions drowns out any line of thought to attempt escape. As long as Grimlock willed this it is what it would be, it's disadvantage too great. At no point did Shockwave stop trying to escape the moment, even if it was only an inch or click of undermining their positions, but little success was met as a roar of emotions so bountiful began it's own onslaught. Shockwave's canon receiving more damage felt like a small price to pay if it potentially meant escape but it would soon discover that is not where the horror would stop, as the horrors never ceased for the other. Concern stood in the place of panic as his sight was threatened, growing deeper as the threats never stopped.

For a moment the mad scientist considered that he had survived this once before so he need only to make it to other side but that certainty was soon dashed as the optic was crushed. Numbing their servo as it tried and failed to process what exactly was happening, and it only got worse. The horrifying sound from inside of cables ripping and breaking and the scraping of broken glass against metal overpowered the body-numbing pain.

When the warrior pulled out it's optic, he also managed to pull out an expression most uncommon, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH--!!" Grimlock could never win against the cruelty of his life's reflection, but he had come as close as he possibly could. There was not a single surviving memory in Shockwave's processor that compared to this moment.

Unable to witness the triumphant, Shockwave is stunned in pain. One servo gripping at where his optic once was, numbed and stilted further in an ocean that he could only fail to describe...,"That will be...your mistake to make," ventilation system now working in overdrive as a means of wrongfully coping with the immense moment of Grimlock's victory.

As a last ditch effort the whirring of the heavily damaged canon begins again, the warmth from the oncoming blast heating itself up in a way that would normally not be well advised but a necessary evil to escape the moment. It blasts at the ground where it's aimed in an attempt to tear the two apart from each other, even if it meant the blade fully slicing through. One more smaller blast was fired in the victor's approximate direction to, ideally, push him further away from the injured.

[scienceglitches]

"Oh hey, dad, you're back!" He's waving.

If it had any construct way of squinting, even with it's only optic, it would be doing so right about now.

'Dad' ? Is that not what that affectionate beast, Starburst, refers to Ratchet with? Some sentimental title?

"You've severely misunderstood our relationship," and it should not be misunderstood that they have no use for those softened in these lavender titles.

[cantbuffthis]

Why do I hear boss music?

Emotionless — that's the claim, isn't it? Everyone has a fault line and Knock Out wants to know where to press.

Shockwave seems to be beyond trivialities such as fear, anger, and distress. But sparks still flutter and systems still react. Even the most disciplined mind betrays itself under the right pressure.

A scalpel can cut more than metal. It can cut certainty, expose hesitancy, fluctuations in response time. Any imperfection, Knock Out will find it, see it.

Maybe it will be pain. Maybe it will be the humiliation of vulnerability. Perhaps the knowledge that he is being watched, studied, and reduced will be enough to achieve a reaction.

Shockwave can claim logic all he likes, but Knock Out doesn't need him to scream. He doesn't need him to beg. All he needs is one flicker, one infinitesimal break in that perfect, rigid composure.

Truly, he is the perfect subject.