[Video, open to all, priority broadcast from Alpha Trion's Library]

[trionicpolarity]

[Please, have Alpha Trion sitting at a desk, looking very distinguished while he sorts through a stack of datapads and musty-looking books.]

Hm.

It seems that I may have...misplaced...something.

No need for alarm, it's nothing pivotal this time.

[He looks around the library, managing to appear only slightly less sheepish than he feels.]

However, given the recent events, I took the liberty of checking for the Tome of Possibilities, and...ah.

It wasn't there.

[Oops.]

Has anyone noticed any missing pages floating--perhaps literally--about?

Barring that, could anyone give me a list of what has changed?

[If he couldn't get the pages back, he might at least be able to set a few things to rights. Maybe. Hopefully before there was any major damage done.]

Comments

[schrodingersbot]

[Others? Changes? Drift! Could Drift's state be due to one of these pages?!]

I cannot speak for anyone else, however... I do know that Drift experienced a rather extreme transformation. I was not aware of any page that she may have located, however, the timing is suspicious, and I do know that she finds the alterations that have occurred to her to be quite distressing.

Rather... she did, when last I spoke with her. She took refuge with Vandal, I believe.

[Perceptor feels very much as if he'd failed Drift on that account, that he hadn't been able to... to offer any reasonable comfort or security. Except, this isn't his Drift, and this Drift has known Vandal for quite a bit longer than she'd... he'd... known Perceptor, so the preference to shelter with Vandal had been purely logical.]

[He still wishes...]

[Nevermind. It doesn't matter. And if it comes down to giving up the Greatsword in order to get Drift back to normal? Well, there's no need to even ponder that decision for longer than a micro; it's a simple choice, after all.]

The alterations have been quite widespread?

[trionicpolarity]

She?

[He is pretty certain that Drift was a 'he,' last he checked. It was in his archives somewhere...]

The good news is, these changes can be reversed. I will need to hear from everyone affected, however.

[He peers.] Have you encountered any alterations of late?

[schrodingersbot]

Ah... yes. She. Drift awoke from recharge recently... or rather, from sleep, to find that he had become a human female.

[Perceptor probably shouldn't be saying this without warning Drift first, but if Alpha Trion can reverse the transformation and return Drift to his normal form, Perceptor is willing to risk the swordsmech's ire. Especially since nothing Perceptor has managed to discover thus far has given him any clue whatsoever how to get Drift back to normal again.]

I will let Drift know and instruct, ah, her, to speak with you.

[Perceptor nods, stifling a slight sigh.]

I had been continuing my research and calculations regarding the spacebridge technology I am familiar with, although I had not completed any schematics or whole calculations, when a fully formed portal manifested itself while I was recharging. I had not concluded my examination and experimentation with it yet, else I would have brought the matter to your attention already.

[He pauses, and then reaches behind himself to dislodge the Greatsword, the deep blue gem winking somberly in the light.]

Additionally, from the portal, I found this. It... called to me.

[But if the sword was born of the Page... of course it would call to him. He created it.]

[trionicpolarity]

Well, that...does not sound like it could have gone much worse. [Poor Drift.] I'll make certain to get that straightened out, right away.

With the Lambda fluctuating constantly, I should get rid of the portals, as well. I'm not averse to the idea of a functioning transportation system, mind you, but I don't trust what might eventually start coming out of one that was not built.

[He considers.]

You can keep the sword, however, if you'd like. [Since it matches you and all.]

[schrodingersbot]

Thank you. [The relief in his voice is an almost palpable force.]

[Perceptor nods, a faint look of unease crossing his features.] It already seems to produce a discomforting quantity of, ah... Autobot parts. [Of course, Perceptor has gotten surprisingly used to dealing with scavenged pieces over the years he spent in the Deadzone. The "debris" is disconcerting, certainly, but not as tragically horrifying as it might have been to, say, someone like First Aid.]

[His expression brightens, though, at that last. His possessive grasp had been noted, had it?]

Oh! Th-thank you!

[trionicpolarity]

You're more than welcome. [Really, he doesn't like the idea of so much going awry on his watch. He'll have to be extra careful in the future.]

Autobot parts? Well. I can't...even imagine how that came to happen, really. [Perhaps he'll know more after he's assembled the pages.]

But you are welcome, again. Sometimes warping reality has some benefits...

[schrodingersbot]

I had not yet had much of an opportunity to attempt to determine a reason for the, ah... parts... However, I had been quite distracted from that project by attempting to locate a solution for Drift's transformation.

I do know that there is another portal extant. Perhaps the interference from both of them interacting is causing some sort of recurrence loop within the portal transfer space? The Deadzone where I most recently arrived from often received non-functional arrivals to it's various interstitial tear locations.

[He doesn't comment on the warping reality, too relieved for Drift (and for the possibility of having some future reason to interact with Drift) to come up with anything even less-than-witty.]

[trionicpolarity]

[Perceptor, has anyone ever told you that you're smart? Alpha Trion is impressed.]

That's a distinct possibility. If you'd care to take a few notes on the portal, I believe I can leave it open for a few more days. It might help you begin building a new one.

[Which would be useful for them. Not that the Firstforged don't have their own personal teleportation devices, but...there are a lot of Refugees that could use some, as well.]

[schrodingersbot]

[Usually when he is told that, there's some variation of hand twirling, impatient gestures, and admonishments to "just get ON with it already," that accompany any such declaration. But, yes, he has been informed about his intelligence now and then.]

[Perceptor shrugs, though he also nods.]

To produce a simple transportation portal - a spacebridge or landbridge for transporting individuals from point to point here - all I require is the appropriate materials and permission to construct such a device and network. I already possess the plans and schematics for several variations of such a device. [He pauses to tap his forehead, indicating his databanks.] Additionally, I have constructed spacial transference devices before, as well as having studied and worked upon similar devices both in deadzone, and in my original reality. Furthermore, I have even had the opportunity to examine and modify chrono-transference devices, although such a device produces very undesirable effects in the form of Chrono Particles, which interfered with the normal flow of space-time.

I would not hesitate to continue my study of this portal, purely to investigate if there are any further variations which could be utilized toward the development of a broader scope device that would allow for the breaching of the barriers between realities, as that was the intent behind the research I had been initially conducting with the calculations I had performed upon the page I found, however, if you find it necessary to close and eliminate the portal which I inadvertently created here, as I stated, I already possess the knowledge and skills to construct a transportation bridge device without need for further study of this one.

[Smart, and incredibly, very, ostentatiously wordy, Alpha Trion.]

As such, if you would have recommendations for locations that you feel would benefit from having the first of such devices constructed there, I would welcome your instruction. I could initiate that construction as soon as enough suitable materials have been located.

[Well, as soon as he makes sure that drift is okay, anyway.]

[trionicpolarity]

[Alpha Trion, as it happens, prefers long-winded explanations. They're so much better than leaving something out. He likes it a little more when he is the one giving the explanation, of course, but you seem good at this so he's willing to watch a pro at work.]

Take notes for posterity, then. [He muses.] And if you draw up your plans for building a small-scale portal to help the refugees get from, say, temple to temple and possibly the junk pile, I'd be happy to look it over and give it my stamp of approval. [The others would have to agree, as well, but at least there'd be a portal from his temple to somewhere.] You may need to obtain parts from Solus, however.

[schrodingersbot]

[Perceptor will love you for that more than you could possibly know, Alpha Trion. You've made him a very happy nerd.]

Of course. [He nods, a wan little smile hovering about his features as he suddenly realizes that Alpha Trion had not, nor seems about to, urge him to brevity.]

I shall prepare the diagrams and calculations for your approval right away. Thank you Alpha Trion. [He pauses to withdraw a small datapad from subspace where he makes a few notes.] Very well. I shall also include a detailed list of basic components required. I can construct the vast majority of them myself from raw materials, but if Solus would be willing to assist, that would simplify a significant portion of the fabrication and construction.

[trionicpolarity]

I appreciate it. [He smiles.] See who else you can't talk to. If I remember right, [and he does, because he's Alpha Trion,] one of the Ratchets was beginning a similar project.

He might at least be able to lend you a pair of hands.