Of research and programming
Part five of my little story featuring @cuppajj's IDW version of Lord Imperious and my boy Quick Search is out! (And should something be off, please let me know. :3)
With that being said, enjoy!
Trigger warning: none? yea, I think there are none
_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._:_._
Work.
If something in his life was slowly falling apart, Quick Search loved to throw himself into his work. It was calming in a way the little terminal could never describe.
Doing his work felt right, as if he was made, maybe even constructed to do it, while also helping him sort out his own thoughts. And Primus knows how scrambled they became, after discovering the death of the little medical drone, the talk he had with Imperious and the realisation that something was wrong with him. It was a wonder that he hasn’t collapsed from an overworked processor yet.
So, work it is, and Quick Search sure enough had a lot of work to do. After all, files don’t sort themselves out and research papers aren’t written by ghosts. Granted, he wasn’t a researcher, he was only there to keep the research preserved, but that doesn’t mean he can’t write little summaries for when his captain and crew return. They would find his little attempts useful, right? Or maybe writing and compiling their research was for nothing after all. His captain always hated it when he worked “beyond his programming”, but then again, Imperious said that he didn’t have to limit himself to what he was intended to do. He could do more than he was supposed to, and with how things were going, Quick Search must admit that he trusts Imperious more than his captain.
His new friend was, after all, not treating him wrongly. Not like most of his past crew and, sadly, his captain did. Quick Search still doesn’t know what he did wrong. Looking back at how his crew treated him, with all the kicks when he wasn’t working like they wanted him to, the harsh comments about him being nothing but a “tamed beast”, or how a selected few of them would look at him with disgust and anger, it made him question if he ever truly was part of the crew. And that in return made him wonder if his loyalty towards them and his captain was even right. But then again, the second he starts questioning things, his head hurts. So, he tries to keep away from those thoughts, despite them lingering in his subconsciousness like a ghost.
Either way, back to work and sorting out the written reports and pictures taken of a planet they visited when it was still untouched by sentient life, or at least the definition of sentient life his captain used. It wasn’t uncommon for his captain to be a little biassed when it came to what was life and what wasn’t. If he could decide, Quick Search was sure his captain would only count Cybertronians as ‘truly sentient’, or something like that.
To be honest, Quick Search disliked thinking about that. So, he quickly chased the thought away, before looking back at his work. Compiling everything about the planet in a nice little report, before creating a new file and moving everything he had in there. Finishing it up by giving the file a name, before saving it in his database and not the ships. After all, unfinished and top secret research is not safe when stored in the ship’s database.
Although, maybe Quick Search was a little bit too concentrated while working, because he hardly noticed someone was entering the ship, followed by the bridge. Only when he saw the outline of a shadow hovering above him, did Quick Search react by jumping and wiping around. All the monitors on the bridge went black, as he tried to make out if he was in danger or not, but when he saw it was just Imperious, the small mech let out a sigh of relief.
“You know… knocking would be nice.” Quick Search chuckled, before turning back around. Optics fixated on the big screen before him as it, together with all the others on the bridge, lit up again. Each one displayed different files, while Quick Search started to work on quickly sorting out the information of another planet. Never breaking concentration, not even as Imperious started to walk around the bridge. Or when the taller one would stop in front of a monitor. Hands braced on the console and claws tapping away on it, before Quick Search made the information disappear and Imperious would walk on to the next screen.
A few months back, Quick Search wouldn’t have worked so openly in front of anyone. Not when it involved information stored on his own database, but ever since Imperious helped him figure out how to better store his information, he’s been doing just that. Connecting to the ship by using the connection cable and his own to better use the monitors. It was easier to see everything displayed, instead of having to sort through things inside his mind. And having someone who understood what he was doing and could offer some advice or point out things he overlooked really helped him.
Sometimes though, it made him nervous. This was his database after all, there were some things he didn’t want anyone to see. Especially his captain! If he found out that Quick Search was saving things his captain deemed as ‘useless’, he sure enough would make him delete them! And that’s something he never wanted to happen, because collecting his little secret was hard work. Being forced to lose it again would break him.
“Hm… I can’t recall ever seeing this, Quick Search.” At the mention of his name, Quick Search looked away from his work and over to where Imperious was. Although, he was quick to abandon his post and walk over to his friend, as soon as he saw what Imperious was looking at.
“Th-that’s because….ehm… That’s m-mine…” Muttered the cybertronian quietly, as he looked down in embarrassment. “It’s a small collection I started. N-nothing special… r-really… I must have forgotten to put it back, or something. It’s just… my little secret…”
“Yours? As in, not even your captain knows that you’re having a little secret?” Asked Imperious, before tapping at the screen with one claw. Fixing the small cybertronian with a look that made Quick Search squirm, because for one second it wasn’t Imperious standing there, but his captain. Fixing him with a stare filled with disgust and disappointed at discovering his first collection. But with a shake of his head, the memory was gone.
His captain wasn’t here and couldn’t take his collection. And even if he got the order to delete his secret, Quick Search wouldn’t. He was allowed to be a little selfish. So, he made his keyboard detach from his back and get in place in front of him. Typing in a small command, before opening the file and showing Imperious his little secret.
“Music… Your little secret is music?” Quick Search nodded, refusing to meet Imperious’ eyes. “I… I’m not supposed to have anything of my own. My captain always made sure to tell me so. After all, a computer doesn’t need anything, but then… one of the drones helping the researchers with their recordings brought back sound samples. But they were different from the usual ones. They had rhythm, melodic words, and I liked that. So, I started a small collection!” With each word, Quick Search got more and more excited about his little secret. Opening files and showing Imperious just how vast his collection of music was. “And with each planet we visited, my collection only grew! Now I have music from all over the galaxy! Although… some of my collection is lost. My captain… he made me delete my first one as soon as he found out…”
Imperious looked at the Cybertronian next to him. Observing how ‘his friend’ would flinch whenever he mentioned his captain, or how his cat-like finals would flatten against his head, as soon as his mood dropped from excited to sad. “And that’s why you keep it a secret. But your captain isn’t here, he can’t make you delete anything, Quick Search.” He said, before looking back at the screen. “Some of those planets aren’t saved in the ship's database. Is there a reason as to why I can’t access their reports?”
“W-well… The ship’s database only holds finished reports and research from planets, after our captain looked over everything. He’s very… ehm… picky with what he wants to have safed and handed over to the research facilities and such.” Quick Search shrugged before pulling up the ship’s database on the monitor next to the one displaying his database. Showing Imperious the comparison between both, before pointing out some missing parts in reports the captain already approved. “Usually, when the report is approved, I should delete the information. Protocol demands it, but my captain said that it would be a waste of time and effort if we got rid of it. So, I’m storing and filing every last bit of research, information and such, while the ship has the censored versions.”
Imperious nodded. From what he could see in the ship’s digital library, when he did a little ‘research’ of his own, many reports were clearly tampered with. “I see, this also explains why some of the information I found doesn’t make sense. Also, your captain is terrible at censoring. Some of the reports I read are very contradicting, and are clearly missing some major information needed to understand certain cultural aspects of the planet.” He said, before quickly adding, “Not to sound disrespectful.”, even though he held no respect for Cybertronians, especially one as stupid as Quick Search’s captain.
“None taken. If I’m being honest, I don’t like the corrections the captain makes either. They’re too… I don’t know… They’re untrue. I mean, I already know that my captain is very biassed towards anyone that isn’t Cybertronian, but that bias shouldn’t be put into a scientific report or paper talking about the inhabitants and culture of an unexplored planet. It’s not right!” Quick Search stomped his foot in anger, before hissing and holding his head as he got another headache. “S-sorry… shouldn’t be talking… talking badly…”
“You have a right to speak your mind, Quick Search. You shouldn’t be apologising for that.” Those headaches were becoming a hindrance to Imperious’ plan. Despite Quick Search slowly losing the trust in his captain, it seemed like those headaches always made him turn around. A fail safe, or at least it seemed like it was one from what he could observe. And it seemed like the other one also noticed, if the way Quick Search would work around it was any indicator.
But still, Imperious had to come up with a plan, if he doesn’t want to lose his process. “Say, Quick Search, did you ever want to do something against your headaches? They seem to be-”
“They’re not normal, I know.” This was surprising. Seems like the small terminal was self-aware, or at least started to question why he would get them. “I mean… how normal is it to get a headache, just because you’re questioning your superior. My crew often did that, but never once did they get a headache. It was always me.” Imperious watched Quick Search’s expression shift from anger to resignation.
“What if I could help you?” Asked Imperious. Putting enough fake sincerity into his words, to hopefully sway Quick Search into agreeing to let him help. But from what he could see, his ‘friend’ wasn’t so sure about his proposal. “Maybe it is something like a virus, or a program that’s been affecting you. You Cybertronians can ‘catch’ a virus, can’t you? And with you having been stuck on this ship for a long time, who can say how great the damage is.” With each word, Imperious could see how Quick Search started to consider his offer. But he still needed a little push. “Just think about all the research you have in your database. If it is a virus, or something else that’s affecting you, who knows what it could do to it. Maybe it would even delete everything.”
“But… you would need a level four clearance to even access everything and an extra permission from me…” Muttered Quick Search quietly, to which Imperious only shook his head. As if those restrictions could stop him. Not when he’s been sneaking around and tampering with the ship and its security system for quite some time now. Of course, only when Quick Search was deeply in recharge or when he ‘helped’ him with it. Warm Energon mixed with Cybertronian Lavender sure enough could knock someone of Quick Search’s size out in no-time.
“I wouldn’t worry about that. Going from level three to level four shouldn’t be hard, and considering that we have known each other quite for some time now and are friends, it shouldn’t be hard for you to give me that little extra permission. Am I right, Quick Search?”
“Of course you’re right, but… A raise in security clearance still needs to be discussed with the captain and… wait… I never made you a level three… You shouldn’t even have a security clearance!” Damn it, looks like Imperious jumped the gun and shot off too quick, as humans would say it. Ah, but why should he worry? Quick Search might be experienced with writing small summaries, but Imperious was still better in using words to his advantage. And with a small gesture of his hand, he simply started to weave a net of lies. One that was convincing enough to get Quick Search to not only question himself, but also his memory.
“Oh, it seems like your memory is acting up. Can’t you remember, Quick Search? You gave me level three clearance a long time ago. And I believe I can even remember when it happened too.” Said Imperious, as he fixed the cybertronian with a look that showed concern on the outside, but inside, the Second-Born Intellect was laughing at Quick Search’s gullibility. “Remember when you were too exhausted to do any work around here? You asked me to take care of everything, while you took some time off to rest. And when I told you that I sadly could not, you gave me the needed clearance.”
“I… my memory has been lacking for some time now…” Muttered Quick Search quietly to himself, before looking up at Imperious. “I guess you’re telling the truth. You have the clearance, and how else should you get it, if not from me?” Hacking, but Quick Search didn’t know that. “… Appeal for Security Clearance four received and granted. We’ll have to change locations if you really want to help me. The bridge isn’t really suited to perform something like a processor scan or reprogramming…”
“Then by all means Quick Search, lead the way.”
