[Video] DJD PSA: For Your Edification

[songofmypeople]

[The video opens with Tarn and-- wait... is that-- is there something sticking out of his neck? Are there multiple things sticking out the side of his neck? It's hard to tell from this far away and they're small, but ... are those maybe... white robot parasites????]

This evening, leaving Prima's temple, I was attacked. [He doesn't sound all that upset] Unfortunate, yes, but there can be a lesson here. It seems we have a mnemosurgeon among us. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, allow me to educate you.

[The camera pans out to show Tarn holding an abused looking Chromedome. The Autobot's head is lolling at an unnatural angle, and his neck is a pink, bloody mess -- as is most of him, actually -- with wires that should probably be inside his throat tubing... outside.]

I'd like you to meet our brave assailant. You'll note that he's an Autobot. [Tarn hefts the body up by its elbow until Chromedome's chest and brand are visible (along with the charred remains of what use to be his stomach. Anything south of there is simple gone, as is one arm that was obviously ripped off, given the torn look about the shoulder.)] He's also a member of your local police force.

Motivation is clear. That this has happened so soon after your Defense Committee passed their policies, tragically suggests: some people aren't too happy with power being wrest from their grasp --- one faction in particular it would seem; the controlling majority. Autobots.

I'd ask this one who he was working with, but I'm afraid his vocal hardware was damaged while I was defending myself. But back to the topic at hand.

[Carefully, movements soft, Tarn crouches to lay Chromedome down on the ground, supporting his head the entire time. He ignores the way the Autobot's eyes flicker in panic, and how the remaining arm pushes against his massive chest weakly. Catching the limb by its wrist, Tarn holds it up for the camera.]

A relatively unassuming hand, you might think to yourself, but fetching the other half of this matching pair... [He lets the first arm fall, reaches over and picks up the second.] You'll notice the needles. [There are two missing that look like they've been snapped off at the base] These are the tools of a mnemosurgeon's trade.

Upon injecting these, he's able to manipulate the brain's motivations, loyalty, and even memories. They're slender, yes, but incredibly sharp and can pierce through metal with barely a trace.  [Tilting his head slightly, Tarn very gently pulls out the two needles embedded in his own neck and holy robot-god those were in really deep because he just keeps on slowly pulling and pulling until they're finally out. ] Let me show you.

[One of those broken needles is pressed tip first through Chromedome's visor and into his eye] An educational necessity, but don't worry, it's harmless and he doesn't feel a thing. [The second needle is pushed in beside the first before Tarn straightens, along with the video; Chromedome's quiet, sad, wet sounds fading with the distance.]

I'll be keeping what's left of the immobility device, but should the police want the remains of their machine, they need only ask. I won't be requiring an apology this time either; Autobots don't seem particularly forthcoming with admitting fault.

As for your officer, I've left him where I found him so as not to aggravate his injuries. Hurry, he might still be alive when you get here.

To the rest of you, I suggest you question your interaction with the police force. You may not be the same person you once were.

[Spoiler: while Domey might be able to drag himself a little ways, he's not getting far in this life; which is to say he'll be mostly to completely dead before anyone can reach him.]

[Private Encrypted Audio to Dirge:]
He's all yours.

Comments

[songofmypeople]

Hardly; the world isn't ready for that happy ending just yet -- only the small steps on its way.

[He chuckles]

We will only cast aside our weapons when we have earned that right. So long as there are "beasts" we must fight for that perfectly peaceful future of ours.

[gtfostalker]

[See now you're just making him wary of everyone. He is not fond of paramilitary organizations, or of people convinced that guns need to go.]

I doubt that is a sort of future I would see. The places I call home are too harsh to allow it.

[songofmypeople]

Given your predicted lifespan, I'm inclined to agree.

[gtfostalker]

[He waves one hand flippantly.]

Ahh, no stalker lives that long anyway. What would be the point of that, eh? A long, safe, dull life.

[songofmypeople]

It's hard to imagine organic life as worth living.

[gtfostalker]

It is hard for me to imagine that of a machine's life. Especially when anyone can come along and scramble it like that fellow.

[songofmypeople]

An important correction: "Attempt" to scramble.

[gtfostalker]

Ah, but they do not always fail, do they?

[songofmypeople]

They don't usually go up against people like me, either.

[gtfostalker]

I suppose not. Still, no one is immune from things happening to them. Not the weakest, or the strongest.

[songofmypeople]

The best we can do is endeavor to make this universe a more uniformly safe place to conduct ourselves in, and to do our best to end such threats.

[gtfostalker]

An impossible task, unless you cover all things with, ah. Wrap made of plastic bubbles. It is dangerous everywhere; the best anyone can hope for is to be prepared for the things that would harm them.