With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Neruz · Aug 7, 2024

Venustoise said:
Oh hey, Gary's a dad. Good for him.. that is what happened, right? I'm.. admittedly a bit lost on how Great-Mother reproduces...

.. and there's a sentence I never thought I'd say...

From the sound of it, a Great-Mother reproduces by vivisecting an interesting lifeform and then builds a daughter with new capabilities based on the information gained from the vivisection.

Chojin Patriarch · Aug 7, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
16th April 2013
04:57 GMT -5

"What foul and forsaken womb could produce such a maliferous monstrosity?"

I was a little surprised that Lord Malvolio was the one who responded to my alert, but I can't fault Mr. Queen for his judgement. Or Lantern Savenlovich for realising that she was way out of her depth.

Well, given how expansive the Mother Star matter is, I'm not surprised he called in the biggest gun he could. And Lord Malvolio would have the raw strength of will needed to haul the Mother Star for disposal solo.

Biotechnologist bows his head slightly, which my rings helpfully inform me indicates that he's ashamed of his ignorance. "That has been a matter of some speculation, though with so few examples to study little progress has been made. We-."

"They absorb people's minds until they get psychically powerful enough to make themselves unreal, then just ignore the physical laws that would prevent them getting this big." Biotechnologist stares at me while Malvolio continues to study the interior of the eye socket. "What do you mean, 'few examples'?"

Not the wisest idea to share that with him, but given the evident state of Dominator research into the immaterial realms, it's not like he could use it easily.

"Ancient records. Fossilised remains. Occasional communication intercepts from Green Lanterns. These were shared with us when we located this creature. How do you know?"

"A familiarity with the real operational mechanics of the universe, and direct mental contact with this Mother Star as it died. It's not that hard to work out once you know the rules. I thought that was how you knew to use the Dream?"

Oh, yes, OL.

Flaunt that you know 'the rules' better than the knowledge-hungry scientists... I would not be surprised if they someday look to capture you for 'questioning' involving said rules.

"This was an information gathering exercise. We had no certainty that this was possible."

"Are there more monsters of its irksome ilk secreted between the stars?"

With any luck, not anymore. If there are, they're very good at hiding, and will ideally stay hidden.

"Maybe." I shrug. "The Green Lantern Corps thought that they got them all, then this one turned up. Being optimistic, it's possible that they double-checked their work after they started showing up around Earth, but being realistic, the universe is a very big place."

In front of us, Swamp Thing clears the last of the vines away from Great Mother.

And a very empty place too. Seriously, unless you can magically scan the empty space between systems, you're not likely to find anything in all that nothing.

"How is Sector One Six Three Four?"

"I have made good the mad misrule of the wanton warlords and careless churls. Mine authority and autarky are resolutely restored."

In other words, you busted heads until they stopped being silly buggers and calmed down.

"No problem with the Green Lantern Corps?"

"Nay, for a nonce. They hold a virtuous vigil that malefactors and mountebanks may not breach my boarder." He glances my way for a moment. "In either direction. And how fairs the cradle of Creation now that the dirge of despair is expunged from the Earth?"

I suppose he gets around their restrictions on political involvement by not being a corpsman. Though I expect the local Lanterns are keeping a close eye on his borders.

"Well, it… Could be worse."

"Ah?"

"It could be on fire too."

They're not dead yet. Where there's life, there's hope. And depression, but that's starting to fade as normality settles back in.

"Ah." He strokes his chin. "Is there aught mine domains might offer in aid?"

"I… I don't know. The Orange Lantern Corps has a plan for reconstructing a world after a Reach occupation, but this is… Ah… Different."

Honestly, the Reach would at least keep a world in good order after taking over, even if they commit slow genocide.

"What weighs with the wardens of want?"

That makes me stare at him.

He certainly has a knack for alliteration.

"How long did it take you to talk like that automatically?"

He turns to face me with a smile. "I fixed upon it during mine first speech to the masses of mine new home. I had never given a speech, save 'pon the stage. After so many years, I can scarce stand to speak otherwise. But what of mine beneficent boon?"

Well, that explains the theatricality of his behaviour.

I… Don't know. At this point we're not looking at starvation. Infrastructure is… Coming online gradually. Training a group of aliens who aren't familiar with Earth standards would… It wouldn't be quick…

And there'd probably be some resentment about 'alien powers poking their proboscii into personal problems...'

In places where governments are still there, fixing things is a matter of time. In places where the governments died off, replacing them is a matter of inclination. The main issue will be places like China where the system is so universal that taking parts of it out has created… In effect, created Balkanisation. People on the spot took control and did the best job they could, and in theory they're almost all loyal to the Chinese Communist Party, but… That doesn't necessarily mean that they're loyal to the particular people who have achieved seniority in Beijing. Or even in the regional capital. There's an internal election coming up, and it looks like it might get bloody.

To quote the Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 'The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus has it ever been.' It's not the first time China's central government ever collapsed into many little states. They'll sort themselves out eventually...

Surprisingly, Russia's doing better in that regard. Perhaps we should try implementing Mafia Federalism in more places?

"I don't know. I appreciate the offer, but you'd have to ask Batman."

Or operate more like the Yakuza. For all that they're criminals, they do have an almost proprietorial care for their territory. After all, unrest makes for unprofitability.

"Great-Mother?" Lantern Son floats up to… His mother, I suppose. She doesn't have a face or obvious eyes, so I'm not exactly sure how that attracts her attention. "Is your mating successful?"

"It is in progress. Analysis of this mate is time consuming."

And why do I get a vast, booming voice in mind when I hear her speak... Booming yet feminine.

"We will have a sister?"

"Eventually, yes. Now that the though-twist aliens are gone and my mind is my own, I see no need to hurry."

In theory, she could make multiple offspring from a single template, couldn't she? The mixing of her and her sample's characteristics simply produce a new blueprint for a ship model, so to speak...

I covertly motion for Biotechnologist to back away, but he ignores it and walks forwards.

"Are the records my colleagues made intact?"

I'd say too dumb to live, but he does put data ahead of his own life, so...

"You. You suborned me." The sons in the area begin drifting towards him in a menacing manner. "Explain yourself."

"You are a fascinating object of study. A wonder of biotechnology. I could happily spend years divining the workings of your systems. It is a misfortune for me that research on Star Conquerors is more in demand by my superiors."

In any other species, that might sound almost reverent.

"I was a tool?"

"That was not my preference. You are worth study in your own right. But the Dominion has many ships, and few opportunities to study the unreal made real. If I had the data we gathered on you, they may come to feel differently. Your temporal weaving ability in particular would have many uses under our control."

Yeah... No. Let's not hand them the data that may lead them to produce the technology for localised time-reversals...

I take a few steps closer.

"Great Mother, have you given thought to what you will do next? We're planning on moving the remains of the Mother Star, so you'll need to make a decision relatively soon."

I mean, the remains of Pluto are right there. Nice little rock to curl up in while fabricating your offspring.

"I will remain near the World-Of-Father while I complete my daughter. Perhaps longer. Memory logs suggest that there are many interesting creatures here."

Biotechnologist makes an affirmative gesture. "That is certainly true! We had planned future expeditions here."

Oh, boy. Earth is just the most fascinating bait for ~~foolish~~ curious aliens, isn't it?

"Wait, future-?" I frown. "You mean to tell me that you haven't been collecting metahuman DNA?"

"No? None of us have the required specialisation. This work took all of our time. Your species is worth studying, but we have limits."

Which means there may be other teams out there he doesn't know about, or another party is poking their proboscii in...

Great. So either they don't know about it, or it's someone else.

"Swamp Thing? Are you..? Ah. Willing to-?"

Might be a heck of a commute out here, unless she plans to settle closer to Earth.

"I have little interest in acting as a father to her. But she touches the Green, and that is my domain. I will watch her."

"Thank you."

At least keep her from going on a collecting rampage across Earth for interesting biological specimens...

Okay, I think we're done here. Just need to remove then rest of the Dominion systems, and then we can copy the Green Lantern Corps and throw the corpse into the sun.

Once bitten, permanently shy.

About damn time. Honestly, there's few problems that can't be settled with the simple solution of 'toss it into the sun'... Of course, the ones that can't are the tricky ones.

Finally, one dangling leftover wiped off the table... And several new ones laying about after the meal. As so often happens with OL's missions, he inevitably ends up with multiplying matters to attend to. No wonder he has so little free time these days, juggling all these troubles. At least he's learning to delegate some things to the people better suited to handle them.

Vaermina · Aug 7, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Okay, I think we're done here. Just need to remove the rest of the Dominion systems, and then we can copy the Green Lantern Corps and throw the corpse into the sun.

Once bitten, permanently shy.

How about you throw it into a different sun instead of the one multiple civilizations are currently using?

Oglymogly · Aug 7, 2024

I really hope you enjoy writing Malvolio's speech as much as I enjoy reading it. Thank you for the chapter, and the arc! It was fun.

Lord Ernest · Aug 7, 2024

We really just letting this Great-Mother hang around? I'm not sure how long her "mating" takes, but it sounds like she's already planning her next one with people from the system, which might be anything from Metahumans to Martians. That sounds like a future problem.

So we finally resolve the Mother Star situation, only to leave a replacement that will also become an issue later on?

Ngamer11 said:
Hopefully Swamp Thing will have a defense for this in the future.

Swamp Thing? More like the Illustres and the Justice League need to start planning how to look out for the Dominators. Before, it was a possibility that they might come and be interested in Earth, now the Illustres has confirmation that they have trips planned here.

Neruz · Aug 7, 2024

Vaermina said:
How about you throw it into a different sun instead of the one multiple civilizations are currently using?

The thing is the size of a small planet, I'm not sure even Malvolio can easily carry something that large between starsystems.

e: Actually, given the size of the Mother Star corpse, unless it is somehow still ignoring the laws of physics it should be slowly but visibly compacting itself into a sphere under its own gravity by now.

Lord Ernest said:
We really just letting this Great-Mother hang around? I'm not sure how long her "mating" takes, but it sounds like she's already planning her next one with people from the system, which might be anything from Metahumans to Martians. That sounds like a future problem.

And future problems are for future Paul!

Lord Ernest said:
So we finally resolve the Mother Star situation, only to leave a replacement that will also become an issue later on?

That do tend to be how superhero comic storylines work yes.

boo600 · Aug 7, 2024

…ok, I'll bite.
What is 'temporal weaving,' and can Paul do anything interesting with it?

Lord Ernest · Aug 7, 2024

Neruz said:
Actually, given the size of the Mother Star corpse, unless it is somehow still ignoring the laws of physics it should be slowly but visibly compacting itself into a sphere under its own gravity by now.

Considering that it still has a Dream connection strong enough for the Dominators to use it as the basis of this experiment, I think its metaphysical weight is keeping the laws of physics somewhat at bay.

Neruz said:
That do tend to be how superhero comic storylines work yes.

I'm just disappointed that the Illustres can't see that he's apparently making the same mistake that landed him in this situation.

Mr Zoat · Aug 7, 2024

boo600 said:
…ok, I'll bite.
What is 'temporal weaving,' and can Paul do anything interesting with it?

Making minor alterations to time. And with most things, in theory yes but in practice no.

BartlettMagic · Aug 7, 2024

so again, i'm a little hazy on details, so if anyone could correct me if i'm wrong:

Great Mother is a sentient biological ship?

i'm unclear how she got mixed up into the Dominators and the Mother Star

the Dominators were already in the Sol system studying Mother Star when Great Mother somehow came across them?

i think i'm good on how the residual power of Mother Star connects it to the Dream

it was that connection to the Dream, combined with the Dominator plant computers used in their research, that sucked in Swamp Thing and Great Gumbo Man?

Great Mother took control of the Dominator research and Mother Star, in order to reproduce, and the "Sons" are her guardians/gametes while that happens

Great Mother, using the combination plant technology/Dream, used Swamp Thing and Great Gumbo Man and Gary for 'stud services' - all three, or just one, or two, is unknown

OL showed up, fixed everything and more or less sorted things out so that nobody is trapped in the Dream, Great Mother has reproduced or is still in a later phase of reproduction, Mother Star is still dead, Dominators are under custody and hopefully soon to be killed

so now, at the end, we have a sentient biological ship that is reproducing in the Sol system, has absorbed into itself knowledge of plant technology and the Dream, and one of its reproductive cells has an Orange Power Ring

am i close at all? still pretty unsure of the nature of Great Mother specifically and what all of this means for her. i understand that i'm basically asking for a synopsis of this entire chapter, but honestly i've been pretty lost through most of it.

Mr Zoat · Aug 7, 2024

BartlettMagic said:
so again, i'm a little hazy on details, so if anyone could correct me if i'm wrong:

Great Mother is a sentient biological ship?

Yes, though at a certain point the meaning of 'biological' gets unclear.

i'm unclear how she got mixed up into the Dominators and the Mother Star

They tracked her down and reprogrammed her.

the Dominators were already in the Sol system studying Mother Star when Great Mother somehow came across them?

No.

i think i'm good on how the residual power of Mother Star connects it to the Dream

it was that connection to the Dream, combined with the Dominator plant computers used in their research, that sucked in Swamp Thing and Great Gumbo Man?

Swamp Thing was using Dominion technology to increase his intelligence. They picked that up and hacked him.

Great Mother took control of the Dominator research and Mother Star, in order to reproduce, and the "Sons" are her guardians/gametes while that happens

The dominators used her to try and study real space/Dream interactions. She's perfectly capable of reproducing on her own.

Great Mother, using the combination plant technology/Dream, used Swamp Thing and Great Gumbo Man and Gary for 'stud services' - all three, or just one, or two, is unknown

No.

OL showed up, fixed everything and more or less sorted things out so that nobody is trapped in the Dream, Great Mother has reproduced or is still in a later phase of reproduction, Mother Star is still dead, Dominators are under custody and hopefully soon to be killed

He's not going to kill them now that they're unarmed and in custody.

so now, at the end, we have a sentient biological ship that is reproducing in the Sol system, has absorbed into itself knowledge of plant technology and the Dream, and one of its reproductive cells has an Orange Power Ring

Basically. But Great-Mother has a lot of technological knowledge anyway. This doesn't make her that much more dangerous.

am i close at all? still pretty unsure of the nature of Great Mother specifically and what all of this means for her. i understand that i'm basically asking for a synopsis of this entire chapter, but honestly i've been pretty lost through most of it.

I'll give you six out of ten.

Stsword · Aug 7, 2024

boo600 said:
…ok, I'll bite.
What is 'temporal weaving,'

I mentioned it before.

Technis reversed time, which is how Swamp Thing got raped.

Swamp Thing, Champion of the Green, who claims more power than some gods, who was teleporting from planet to planet by making bodies from the local vegetation.

He escaped, than Technis called "Mulligan!"

BartlettMagic · Aug 7, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
I'll give you six out of ten.

excellent, thank you.

now that that's cleared up, i'd like to wildly speculate on things that i am obviously ignorant about in the grand scheme of things:

this is going to be crazy if Great Mother ends up with the Martians, or really anywhere having to do with Earth. now that she knows what she knows, i could see her being a seed ship (pun intended) to spread Earth insanity across the stars. she's basically tied to multiple fundamental forces of the metaphysical universe now, and could really be a huge asset when it comes to Earth branching out to other habitable planets and terraforming them.

maybe a great first step would be getting to Mars, breeding with their ships (if i'm getting that right), terraforming the Martian surface, and using that as a base of operations to spread Sol survivors.

Mr Zoat said:
He's not going to kill them now that they're unarmed and in custody.

ehhhh... i mean i get it but they seem really, really problematic to keep around and keep contained. if they can maybe be broken of their cultural drives to keep reporting back to their people, and instead maybe get an orange-light-rewiring to benefit humanity in its development, i could see some worth in them. or maybe handing them over to some other intergalactic power that wants them... but keeping them imprisoned on Earth is a pretty bad premise to work from.

Mr Zoat · Aug 7, 2024

BartlettMagic said:
ehhhh... i mean i get it but they seem really, really problematic to keep around and keep contained. if they can maybe be broken of their cultural drives to keep reporting back to their people, and instead maybe get an orange-light-rewiring to benefit humanity in its development, i could see some worth in them. or maybe handing them over to some other intergalactic power that wants them... but keeping them imprisoned on Earth is a pretty bad premise to work from.

Seems simple: offer Dr. Sivana new lab assistants.

Darko · Aug 7, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Seems simple: offer Dr. Sivana new lab assistants.

Offering a bunch of people that were brought up in a mad scientist society that sees everything around them as something to be dissected to a guy that's embraced such thinking will surely not backfire spectacularly.

...

Tha was sarcasm.

Mr Zoat · Aug 8, 2024

15th July 2014
08:57 GMT +5:30

Ratchet's eyes grow slowly wider as he completes his scans of Slipstream's larger body. Arcee and Jack are at the other end of the console, Jack standing on it and Arcee standing next to it. They're close enough to touch, but I think Jack's still trying to work out what the rules for that are.

Little Slipstream is sitting next to me a little further down the console. I thought about bringing my Pull body, but it's easier to keep things a secret if they're actually secret. And since most parts of Cybertron aren't adapted for people our size, I'm back to being carried a lot.

I say 'most parts' because enough midget transformers have come back that there's now a part of Iacon which has been redeveloped for things my size. Have to take a look before we leave.

"What.. have.. you.. done?"

Big Slipstream remains motionless on the scanner bed, but little Slipstream shrugs. "Can you narrow it down?"

Ratchet turns his head towards us while gesturing emphatically at the screen displaying the results with his right hand.

"Do you know what this means?"

"I know what it means for me." She shrugs again. "I guess Shockwave made some modifications to-."

"'Some modifications'-!" Ratchet throws his hands up, head jerking back and forth as he tries to get his thoughts in order. "When you first came to me I thought that you were using Nebulon technology, but this is far beyond anything I've ever seen before."

Ah. Huh?

Slipstream looks at me, but I just look blank. Yes, everything after the initial implants was made by Shockwave, but I… Thought he was just using Nebulon systems. Nebulon is a long way from here -and honestly not all that friendly to giant robots these days- and it just made more sense to get it done locally.

Big Slipstream props herself up slightly. "It's not?"

Ratchet gestures to the screen again. I can sort of tell what it's showing -Slipsteam's brain module- but I don't understand enough detail to know why he's so excited.

"Nebulon technology relies on bespoke implants, customised and calibrated individually to each transformer and organic who use them. It takes a great deal of fine tuning before they give the users anything like the degree of synchronicity that the two of you have."

Little Slipstream leans into me, grasping my right hand in both of hers.

"Did you hear? He said we have a high degree of synchronicity."

"I had worked that out, darling. I hear your thoughts in my head."

Ratchet points at me with his left hand. "That exactly! You haven't known each other nearly long enough to have a bond that deep! And that's if you were both transformers. Human neuroplasticity falls off tremendously in adulthood, and transformers can't-."

His hands drop as he grabs the scanner and moves it down Slipstream's body. Then he freezes, staring at the readout.

"By the All-Spark."

I'd make a joke about where he's scanning, but Slipstream's main body doesn't have breasts.

Slipstream's grip on my hand tightens a little. "What is it?"

"Your… T-cog. I've never seen anything-. Who did this?"

Her good humour appears to evaporates, but I can feel that it's a front. "You can tell me what's got you so worried, first."

"Well, I think I've found out why your bond is so strong. And why there are hardly any modifications to your brain module." He expands the image… Oh, that's… Not what a T-cog normally looks like. Little Slipstream looks down at her chest for a moment before remembering that that's the wrong body. "Unlike a normal T-cog, yours is in constant communication with this… This module. Parts of the interface remind me of Scorponok's work on synthesized protoplasm, but… Transmetal? That's Vok technology. I can't even tell what it's doing."

We were looking for transmetal samples. I suppose that if anyone on Cybertron had then it would be Shockwave. Slipstream is just sort of staring at the image of her T-cog, but I still don't quite understand-.

Ratchet starts pressing things. "Whatever you just did, keep doing it."

Alright. I try to grasp how she feels about this. Slipstream was fine going under the knife to make this work, but a T-cog is an important part of a transformer's identity. Shockwave… No, she's… Worried about it going wrong? I suppose that makes sense; if Shockwave made it then he's going to be the only one who knows how to repair it. It might not even be regenerated by a transformer's normal healing processes.

"The T-cog is… Drawing data from that module before communicating with Slipstream's brain module."

Little Slipstream looks up at him. "Should I be worried?"

He gives her a frustrated glance. "It's a little late for that now." He returns his attention to the screen, pulling up more diagrams. "The protoplasm interface was designed to allow transformers to process tactile data from pseudo-organic skin. Transmetal isn't well understood, though some of our older records suggest that it could enable transformers to adopt organic-seeming alt-modes."

His right fist moves to his chin as he thinks.

"The T-cog is not capable of scanning organic forms. Similarly, our brain modules are not capable of mirroring some aspects of organic psychology. Nebulon technology requires that every point of connection be manually entered, but this… I think that whoever made this… Was trying to 'teach' the T-cog how organic forms work." His eyes focus on me. "Using Slipstream's connection to you to do it."

I nod slowly. "So Slipstream will… Be able to scan large animals to transform into?"

"No! That would require transmetal in every part of her body. I.. think her T-cog is… Gradually reconfiguring the structure of her body so that it is capable of mirroring organic forms."

Little Slipstream nods. "Transforming my brain module so that I can feel Paul's thoughts without having a human brain."

"It's not just that. I can see dozens of minor changes in your body compared to last time I scanned you. I have no idea what the ultimate outcome of this could be! And you!" He points at me. "Don't think that I don't know a transtector interface when I see one!" Busted. "I take it that your new body has a T-cog of the same design?"

"I… Don't know. Probably. Transforming-" Arcee and Jack are staring at me. "-feels weird." I turn to Jack. "Oh, come on. The transformers have an excuse but did it really not seem strange to you that Slipstream was hanging out with a transformer named 'Pull'? Who's never seen in the same room as me?"

He stares at me for a moment, then facepalms.

"It will feel less weird as your T-cog gathers more data, though since it can't transform your organic brain in the way that it can a transformer brain module I doubt that the effect will be quite as extreme. On the other hand… I suppose that there's no reason why transmetal's ability to bridge the gap between cybernetic and organic would only go in one direction." He shakes his head. "But that is well beyond my field of expertise."

Arcee looks around… Uncertainly for a moment. "Is it safe?"

"I have no idea. I take it this is Shockwave's work?"

Slipstream and I nod.

"Shockwave is a genius inventor, but even his designs take time to perfect." He focuses on Arcee and Jack. "I cannot in good conscience advise that you adopt these modifications at this time. And-" He turns to Slipstream and I. "-I want both of you to come here every Earth day for the foreseeable future so that I can try and keep track of how it's changing you."

I shrug. "Surely Axlegrease-?"

"This is cutting edge cyber-organic technology, not field repairs! This is well beyond her abilities." He calms down slightly, shaking his head. "And it may well be beyond mine."

"Okay." I nod. "Jack can't get implants for another year anyway. I don't mind you scanning…" I glance at Slipstream, who nods. "Us, if it helps."

Ratchet sighs. "That will have to do."

NightmareWarden · Aug 8, 2024

Wait, I was assuming it would be revealed as magic. Or a divine thingamabob. The Vok, a death-faced group of schemers, aren't that powerful. Although their ability to brainwash cybertronian protoforms into capable soldiers in Beast Wars 2021 paints them as having some expertise in this specific kind of technology.

The body modification is a bit more surprising. And I don't know about Shockwave's history so I couldn't speculate on how he was able to set this up, or believed it would work. I only know the bits Mr Zoat shared forever ago.

Bigking321 · Aug 8, 2024

Huh.

I guess they're... more than meets the eye.

ForeverShogo · Aug 8, 2024

Somehow, someway, these modifications are going to result in a robot getting pregnant. Can't wait to meet the coming abomination.

Someguy Somewhere · Aug 8, 2024

Slipstream and Pull might be the first evolutionary path forwards for maximals and predacons by the sound of it. Hmm...wonder if 'the last autobot' has a medical, or metaphysical, option they wish to share on behalf of Primus.

Chojin Patriarch · Aug 8, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
15th July 2014
08:57 GMT +5:30

Ratchet's eyes grow slowly wider as he completes his scans of Slipstream's larger body. Arcee and Jack are at the other end of the console, Jack standing on it and Arcee standing next to it. They're close enough to touch, but I think Jack's still trying to work out what the rules for that are.

Ooh, surprise addendum. Interesting that Ratchet's giving them a once-over. Presumably he wanted to see details of Shockwave's work before he considers letting Arcee and Jack get any of the same modifications.

Little Slipstream is sitting next to me a little further down the console. I thought about bringing my Pull body, but it's easier to keep things a secret if they're actually secret. And since most parts of Cybertron aren't adapted for people our size, I'm back to being carried a lot.

I say 'most parts' because enough midget transformers have come back that there's now a part of Iacon which has been redeveloped for things my size. Have to take a look before we leave.

Well, relatively speaking about your size. In the G1 comics, at least, Micromasters were still about eight feet tall in bot mode, and had alt-modes scaled to match. Mini-cons are a bit smaller than that, mostly. So you'll basically be the short guy around town.

"What.. have.. you.. done?"

Big Slipstream remains motionless on the scanner bed, but little Slipstream shrugs. "Can you narrow it down?"

Oh, boy. When the old mech starts talking like that, you know something's up.

Ratchet turns his head towards us while gesturing emphatically at the screen displaying the results with his right hand.

"Do you know what this means?"

"I know what it means for me." She shrugs again. "I guess Shockwave made some modifications to-."

I mean, cross-wiring her Processors into a separate psuedo-organic drone can't have been done without making some changes. I would at least hope Shockwave didn't do a crude hack job.

"'Some modifications'-!" Ratchet throws his hands up, head jerking back and forth as he tries to get his thoughts in order. "When you first came to me I thought that you were using Nebulon technology, but this is far beyond anything I've ever seen before."

Ah. Huh?

Not that that technology isn't a bit crazy in the first place.

Slipstream looks at me, but I just look blank. Yes, everything after the initial implants was made by Shockwave, but I… Thought he was just using Nebulon systems. Nebulon is a long way from here -and honestly not all that friendly to giant robots these days- and it just made more senses to get it done locally.

If their dealings with Cybertronians were anything like the depiction in G1 comics, I'm not surprised.

Big Slipstream props herself up slightly. "It's not?"

Ratchet gestures to the screen again. I can sort of tell what it's showing -Slipsteam's brain module- but I don't understand enough detail to know why he's so excited.

Presumably upset about the results of unusual science as committed by Shockwave.

"Nebulon technology relies on bespoke implants, customised and calibrated individually to each transformer and organic who use them. It takes a great deal of fine tuning before they give the users anything like the degree of synchronicity that the two of you have."

Little Slipstream leans into me, grasping my right hand in both of hers.

No doubt Pull used his Ring, if he started with one, to accomplish that, at the cost of its charge...

"Did you hear? He said we have a high degree of synchronicity."

"I had worked that out, darling. I hear your thoughts in my head."

Careful, guys, play up that too much and Jack might start having second thoughts...

Ratchet points at me with his left hand. "That exactly! You haven't known each other nearly long enough to have a bond that deep! And that's if you were both transformers. Human neuroplasticity falls off tremendously in adulthood, and transformers can't-."

His hands drop as he grabs the scanner and moves it down Slipstream's body. Then he freezes, staring at the readout.

How far down her body? I mean, it's not like she's got much space in a flier's frame to start with.

"By the All-Spark."

I'd make a joke about where he's scanning, but Slipstream's main body doesn't have breasts.

Ah. If she were more G1-designed, I'd make a crack about her Intakes, but the Prime flier design lacks that element.

Slipstream's grip on my hand tightens a little. "What is it?"

"Your… T-cog. I've never seen anything-. Who did this?"

Her good humour appears to evaporates, but I can feel that it's a front. "You can tell me what's got you so worried, first."

Ooh, that's worrying. Transformation Cogs are fairly important to cybertronians, after all. Not quite analogous to a heart, but issues with them tend to be about as critical.

"Well, I think I've found out why your bond is so strong. And why there are hardly any modifications to your brain module." He expands the image… Oh, that's… Not what a T-cog normally looks like. Little Slipstream looks down at her chest for a moment before remembering that that's the wrong body. "Unlike a normal T-cog, yours is in constant communication with this… This module. Parts of the interface remind me of Scorponok's work on synthesized protoplasm, but… Transmetal? That's Vok technology. I can't even tell what it's doing."

Oh, my. No wonder he's concerned. I wonder where Shockwave even got that sort of technology from. Studies of beast-formers, perhaps, like his work on the predacons?

We were looking for transmetal samples. I suppose that if anyone on Cybertron had then it would be Shockwave. Slipstream is just sort of staring at the image of her T-cog, but I still don't quite understand-.

Ratchet starts pressing things. "Whatever you just did, keep doing it."

What, interactions through her organic drone?

Alright. I try to grasp how she feels about this. Slipstream was fine going under the knife to make this work, but a T-cog is an important part of a transformer's identity. Shockwave… No, she's… Worried about it going wrong? I suppose that makes sense; if Shockwave made it then he's going to be the only one who knows how to repair it. It might not even be regenerated by a transformer's normal healing processes.

Which is still a strange concept for a race of living robots. Regenerative nanites, presumably. But they still need good materials to work with.

"The T-cog is… Drawing data from that module before communicating with Slipstream's brain module."

Little Slipstream looks up at him. "Should I be worried?"

Interesting way to do it. I presume that's how she's able to interact without lag or feedback issues.

He gives her a frustrated glance. "It's a little late for that now." He returns his attention to the screen, pulling up more diagrams. "The protoplasm interface was designed to allow transformers to process tactile data from pseudo-organic skin. Transmetal isn't well understood, though some of our older records suggest that it could enable transformers to adopt organic-seeming alt-modes."

His right fist moves to his chin as he thinks.

Right out of Beast Wars, of course. Because their organic shells somehow protected them from the energon deposits of the world they landed on...

"The T-cog is not capable of scanning organic forms. Similarly, our brain modules are not capable of mirroring some aspects of organic psychology. Nebulon technology requires that ever point of connection be manually entered, but this… I think that whoever made this… Was trying to 'teach' the T-cog how organic forms work." His eyes focus on me. "Using Slipstream's connection to you to do it."

Interesting. Which raises questions about what would happen to one or the other if they're damaged.

I nod slowly. "So Slipstream will… Be able to scan large animals to transform into?"

"No! That would require transmetal in every part of her body. I.. think her T-cog is… Gradually reconfiguring the structure of her body so that it is capable of mirroring organic forms."

So no beast modes anytime soon. Pity, the Transmetal designs of Beast Wars and its Japanese sequels were... Sometimes bizarre, but always fascinating. Beast-robot-vehicle triple-changers, for instance.

Little Slipstream nods. "Transforming my brain module so that I can feel Paul's thoughts without having a human brain."

"It's not just that. I can see dozens of minor changes in your body compared to last time I scanned you. I have no idea what the ultimate outcome of this could be! And you!" He points at me. "Don't think that I don't know a transtector interface when I see one!" Busted. "I take it that your new body has a T-cog of the same design?"

Busted indeed. At least it's not around anyone you need to keep fooling.

"I… Don't know. Probably. Transforming-" Arcee and Jack are staring at me. "-feels weird." I turn to Jack. "Oh, come on. The transformers have an excuse but did it really not seem strange to you that Slipstream was hanging out with a transformer named 'Pull'? Who's never seen in the same room as me?"

He stares at me for a moment, then facepalms.

Seriously, he's never seen any superhero stuff even once? Surely he wasn't at least suspicious?

"It will feel less weird as your T-cog gathers more data, though since it can't transform your organic brain in the way that it can a transformer brain module I doubt that the effect will be quite as extreme. On the other hand… I suppose that there's no reason why transmetal's ability to bridge the gap between cybernetic and organic would only go in one direction." He shakes his head. "But that is well beyond my field of expertise."

Oooh. That's probably good. One of the most weird examples of organic-cybertronian cross-contamination was, again, G1 Marvel, with Hi-Q and Optimus Prime...

Arcee looks around… Uncertainly for a moment. "Is it safe?"

"I have no idea. I take it this is Shockwave's work?"

...A pity they couldn't have gotten a second opinion before going under the las-scalpel...

Slipstream and I nod.

"Shockwave is a genius inventor, but even his designs take time to perfect." He focuses on Arcee and Jack. "I cannot in good conscience advise that you adopt these modifications at this time. And-" He turns to Slipstream and I. "-I want both of you come here every Earth day for the foreseeable future so that I can try and keep track of how it's changing you."

Welp. Bit of a dampener on the romantic prospects, but at least they're aware of the issues now.

I shrug. "Surely Axlegrease-?"

"This is cutting edge cyber-organic technology, not field repairs! This is well beyond her abilities." He calms down slightly, shaking his head. "And it may well be beyond mine."

Hope some of the genius Autobot scientists are around, then. Like Highbrow or Perceptor...

"Okay." I nod. "Jack can't get implants for another year anyway. I don't mind you scanning…" I glance at Slipstream, who nods. "Us, if it helps."

Ratchet sighs. "That will have to do."

Better to make sure the process is safe, definitely.

I suspect Ratchet is going to have Words with Shockwave next time he has the opportunity to meet him. Which might well be soon. At any rate, It looks like Pull and Slipstream are in for some changes in the years to come. And I have to wonder just how functional Slipstream's organic aspect is. Which leads to the question of how much Shockwave knows about human biology... And where he learned it.

Nebulon technology requires that ever point of connection...

Nebulon technology requires that every point of connection...

Ngamer11 · Aug 8, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Slipstream looks at me, but I just look blank. Yes, everything after the initial implants was made by Shockwave, but I… Thought he was just using Nebulon systems. Nebulon is a long way from here -and honestly not all that friendly to giant robots these days- and it just made more senses to get it done locally.

That should say 'sense'.

Nugar · Aug 8, 2024

@Mr Zoat Seeing Ratchet actually brings up an important question to me. Why did he go with 'pull' when there's the setting thematic 'pawl'? A pawl being the toothed bar that engages the geared drum of a ratchet and provides its function. Too close to actual 'paul' or just didn't think about it?

Mr Zoat · Aug 8, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Nebulon technology requires that every point of connection...

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'sense'.

Thank you, corrected.

Nugar said:
@Mr Zoat Seeing Ratchet actually brings up an important question to me. Why did he go with 'pull' when there's the setting thematic 'pawl'? A pawl being the toothed bar that engages the geared drum of a ratchet and provides its function. Too close to actual 'paul' or just didn't think about it?

Because this SI had never heard of a 'pawl'.

Nugar · Aug 8, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Thank you, corrected.

Because this SI had never heard of a 'pawl'.

The hazard of being a writer is you can only write what you know. You always need to know more things.

On the other hand, I bet you could rewrite the entire DC wiki from scratch if need be.

Khornelius · Aug 8, 2024

ForeverShogo said:
Somehow, someway, these modifications are going to result in a robot getting pregnant. Can't wait to meet the coming abomination.

Zoat is the only author I know of that could build up to such a concept without it feeling as cringey as all the other fanfic instances.

Mr Zoat · Aug 8, 2024

Nugar said:
On the other hand, I bet you could rewrite the entire DC wiki from scratch if need be.

Not even a fraction of it.

I don't think I could even write a wiki of this story.

PrinceJonathan · Aug 8, 2024

ForeverShogo said:
Somehow, someway, these modifications are going to result in a robot getting pregnant. Can't wait to meet the coming abomination.

Jack: "How am I going to tell my mom that I got my motorcycle pregnant?"

PDV · Aug 8, 2024

PrinceJonathan said:
Jack: "How am I going to tell my mom that I got my motorcycle pregnant?"

Just say it matter of factly and only elaborate if she takes you seriously, which she won't.

Darko · Aug 8, 2024

So I recently discovered a wonderful series on Youtube that does the most wonderful things with its characters, and I think one of its most well known videos could be applied to Paul and his interactions with other people.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg0SmgoSMg4

Think about it, both Paul and Anakin are intelligent and educated in philosophy, but are also kinda up their own ass and others are forced to listen to them talk for what seems like hours.

With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

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