video;

[sciencetank]

[Yeah Perceptor doesn't even bother looking at the camera this time. He's too busy pounding away at the keyboard. The words ENERGON and COLOR VARIETIES can be seen on the screen.]

Yes, yes, I'm well aware of the issue, and, before anyone even begins to ask...

No.

I had absolutely nothing to do with it. And neither did any of my experiments.

[TYPE TYPE TYPE TYPE -- yes, he's well aware of how everyone here feels about his Synthetic Energon Experiments.]

I am however amassing a database of currently known aberrant energon varieties, based on network-wide complaints and attempting to create some sort of solution.

So do save your impending rage for a more appropriate target.

Comments

[loyalflier]

And why would the blame be placed on you?

[sciencetank]

Because the population has decided to view me and my work as something of a pariah. They disagree with what I'm attempting...

... loudly.

[loyalflier]

If you don't mind... What are you working on? I fear I haven't been here over long.

[sciencetank]

Synthetic energon.

It would mean a great deal to my homeworld, a fact which no one here seems capable of grasping, despite multiple attempts to explain it.

[loyalflier]

Ah. The project that Ratchet was working on.

Developing the formula would benefit all versions of Cybertron that have exhausted all, if not most of, their natural resources. I know that it would be useful in my own dimension...

[ he really doesn't have a problem with it. ]

[sciencetank]

Yes. One I began, here, actually, but that's beside the point.

Thank you. It's nice to see not everyone here is convinced I'm bent on causing horrific destruction.

[loyalflier]

Frankly I would be excited about the prospect. I fail to see how such a thing could cause destruction.

[sciencetank]

Good. It's nice to know someone agrees with logic.

You'll have to ask the rest of this place. I've no idea why they're all so opposed to saving our planet.

[loyalflier]

I'd like to think it comes with the profession.

You haven't asked them yourself?

[sciencetank]

You're a scientist then?

Mm, after a while all the complaining turns to simple noise and it's simpler to tune it out.

[loyalflier]

From Crystal City, yes.

...Even if their concerns may be valid?

[sciencetank]

Crystal... City. I'm not familiar with that location.

They aren't. Not in this case. I've made certain of it.

[loyalflier]

Perhaps it doesn't exist on every iteration of Cybertron.

If you say you have taken precautions, I believe you.

[sciencetank]

A logical hypothesis.

Finally. You have no idea how much of a relief it is to actually be believed for once. I've been performing experiments for centuries, I know what I'm doing.

[loyalflier]

I have no reason to doubt you or your word.

[sciencetank]

And for that, I'm grateful.

If you have any information on these strange varieties of energon, however, I would be even more grateful.

[loyalflier]

I may have a fragment of the black variety...

[ hasn't really taken the time to look at it. doesn't feel right. ]

[sciencetank]

Black?

[Oh shi--]

Don't come into contact with it! Contain it, if at all possible -- treat it as you would a highly transferable toxin!

[loyalflier]

I haven't touched it at all, given I don't know its properties.

[ has been treating it like it's toxic, thanks. what's goingo n here. ]

[sciencetank]

Good.

It's practically hazardous waste. Contamination results in... less than pleasant effects on the infected party.

[It kind of made someone relapse into zombie territory oops.]

[loyalflier]

Such as...?

[ color him curious. ]

[sciencetank]

The nearly uncontrollable urge to overpower another Cybertronian and ingest the energon straight from their body. If not possibly more.

It also appears to carry the ability to alter our facial structure to better accommodate such a drive.

[loyalflier]

Thank you for the information. I'm glad to have it before I tried to do something with the sample that I have.

Ratchet gave it to me from his cell.

[sciencetank]

He had that?

... Primus. I can't even... yes, good call. Well done.

[loyalflier]

I would say that he had been behaving oddly, but unfortunately that is par the course for him.

[sciencetank]

So I've begun to notice.

[loyalflier]

He was threatening to blow up the cell with it.

[sciencetank]

... As grateful as I am for your stepping in, I'm not entirely sure that would have been possible.

Granted, it is energon, but for any such energon to have the effects this does... one wonders if such combustibility would remain, or be lost in favor of the infection vectors.

[loyalflier]

True... However I wasn't going to let him play around with it and test it himself.

[sciencetank]

Understandable.

Thank you, then, for removing it.

[skidaddle]

You know, just when I think I'm over being a zombie it strikes again.

...

I want to help.

[sciencetank]

You aren't affected, are you?

[skidaddle]

...

I will give you one guess what happened to me.

..

One guess. I bet you will get it right.

[Because if anyone was going to thirst after the energon of the living, it was going to be the guy who already had the mandibles for it.]

[sciencetank]

... It must be one of the effects I've yet to catalog. You hardly sound pleased enough to be invulnerable, or upset enough to be intangible or invisible...

Your confidence hasn't increased, nor have you yet demanded to assume possession of my things.

Please elaborate.

[Locked]

[skidaddle]

...very well.

[He encrypts this post, checks to make sure the door to his room is still locked, and then faces the camera.]

Recognize this?

[His jaw splits, the same way that it had when he'd been dealing with the dark-energon/synthetic-energon combination.]

I. Am. Hungry.

[And he is so, so tired of being hungry.]

[Locked]

[sciencetank]

[It's probably ridiculous for a tank to yelp, but. Well. There you have it. A yelp.]

[So yes, yes he does recognize that.]

You... there was an aberrant energon sample that made... this occur?

[Locked]

[skidaddle]

[Skids is going to pretend he isn't as scary as he knows he is right now. Thanks, regardless.]

I found some black energon.

[He holds it up to the camera, and forces his mandibles to retract.]

I thought I might bring it to you to take some samples of, but then I rememembered last time I came to see you when I was hungry and thought better of it.

[See? He's learning...]

[Locked]

[sciencetank]

Black... no one has reported black, yet.

I'm so sorry.

[He passes a hand over his face. And, despite the earlier yelp, he manages to genuinely apologize.]

There should be a slot in the door, you can shove it through there... I'll... leave another sample out for you.

Someone else left a white cube earlier. I could give it to you, or we could go with one of the old standbys.

[Locked][oh, maybe later~]

[skidaddle]

I can see why.

I had half a mind to not report this at all. Maybe being exposed takes away some of your agency. It is definitely a lot more tempting to be doing other things right now.

[Like you.]

I'll be over there soon. Maybe we can try them both.

[Through a door.]

[Locked]

[sciencetank]

Such as draining energon out of living victims?

Get over here. I'll set up some sort of containment in the meantime.

[Locked]

[skidaddle]

Exactly.

It sounds so simple when you put it that way.

[He'll be heading out soon.]

I'll radio when I get close.

[Locked]

[sciencetank]

It is. More or less.

... I'll be prepared.

[neverputincharge]

Who's blamin' you for this?! Just gimme a name and I'll go punch them.

[Seriously, he will. With his hammer and all.]

[sciencetank]

...

Come again?

[neverputincharge]

If anybody blames ya, tell me. I'll take care of them.

[sciencetank]

I was hardly calling for violence, thank you very much.

[neverputincharge]

[Oh right, the pacifist.]

Right, fine. Forget it then. [And he'll move to cut the connection with a grumble.]