No. Fragging pits, if it had all been dictated by an organ, the Senate would have just started tearing it out of us and damn the consequences. [ His wings flare, somewhat defensively.
He doesn't like the thought. Of having so much of it biologically encoded - did this Starscream's world have Seekers HAVE to get a trine? - or of how the mere existence of such a thing could open up new worlds of cultural and generational trauma. They'd already suffered so much. ]
Seekers where I am from are biologically different from other mechs in some ways, yes, but not- Not to that extent.
No... they commissioned us built with them, the Colds. Because the flight capability benefits that a trined fighter gets empirically outweighed the social and psychological eccentricities it caused.
Cold Constructed were often looked down on by Forged Seekers, even though by my era we held the same standing by law. That hadn't always been the case. One of the few things Solarburn did correctly.
[ Starscream's wings are carefully still in intentional contrast to the other's sudden surge of emotional reaction. ]
I would not have mentioned it, had I known it would upset you.
[ He brings the flare of his wings back in at that, standing straighter. Drawing the display into something controlled; he used to be better at this, he swears. But he takes a vent, and shakes his head. ]
Well. At least that's the same where I'm from. Cold and forged... A stupid, stupid split.
...It's just a little alarming. I think there were mechs they would have removed it from back home, and done so in quite large swathes. [ He thinks of Skyfire. Tries not to think of Skyfire. ]
I also rather like the fact I didn't have to trine except on my own terms. Thousands of years after any 'good' Seeker would have, for that matter. [ There's a bitter grin, soon shaken off. ] Still managed to get a traditionally sturdy one. Hah.
[ sharply: ] Don't imply I trined on baser instincts rather than by my own choice. A trine core is not an all-consuming replacement for sense, it is simply a component of other systems.
[ A beat, and his EM field eases from where it'd grown prickly in an instant. He didn't like the implication, whether it had been intended or not, that he had somehow settled for trining with Skywarp and Thundercracker to sate some biological need. He would not have his counterpart thinking that Seekers of his universe were the equivalent of organics in heat or whatever disgusting allegory it conjured up. ]
[ There's a soft noise that more or less comes across as an 'okay', and Starscream ruffles his wings almost uncomfortably. ]
...I'll get used to the idea. [ That's probably as good as his counterpart is going to get.
He scribbles it all down anyway, crossing one leg over the other before slipping the end of the stylus into his mouth. There's a hum, and a frown. Very much a mech lost in thought. ]
...I should ask Ratchet to check if there's any biological differences between me and the Seekers he usually works on. Other than the obvious. This is a whole new can of worms. [ Starscream groans, rubbing his face a bit. ]
How many of the Seekers from his own universe has he actually worked on? I have not gotten the sense from Acid Storm that there were any Autobot Seekers, although I've not asked her such directly.
[ This Starscream hasn't interacted with the small Ratchet that much (although, it's the Ratchet he's had the most interaction with, out of the assembled Ratchets aboard the R2). ]
There was; he's dead. All the Rainmaker trine are gone.
…What were the names of his trinemates? [ His voice is a little softer, a little more lost. It may be another difference he’s charting, but it’s one that hurts.
And it’s not one to be recorded. The stylus remains tucked in the corner of Starscream’s mouth, only there to be worried at. ]
The Sunstorm I knew never trined so far as I'm aware of, but... I can't say that surprises me. The one here is much more—
[ Starscream's mouth pulls wryly, judicious. ]
—temperate. Acid Storm... she's not much like the one I knew, save name and colour.
[ And her propensity for gathering data, which Starscream purposely chose not to highlight to his counterpart. ]
Slipstream... she's similar in personality to the one I knew. I don't know what became of the one in my universe. The last fleet information we had on her was from Junkion. None of the returned ships have her confirmed as offline, but...
[ But it's been almost three centuries, and a lot of Decepticon ships — even the ones far flung during the war — have returned, and none bear news of his former captain. ]
He wasn’t trined. They just… He was their charge. A replacement. They’d held onto the trine name, but Nova had been integral for their role, and when Sunstorm was created- [ His voice catches for a second, but he stubbornly ignores it. ] Well. His abilities filled that role perfectly.
…No, she’s not like him at all, is she.
As for Slipstream… [ Starscream’s face twists for a brief moment, upset. He has no idea that she will come back to his side yet. Not here, not now. ] If she does exist where I’m from, I haven’t met her. Perhaps for the best.
[ The topic is straying too near the personal now, less easy to assess as academic; he hasn't missed that his counterpart isn't scribing a lot of this either. He tries to course correct. ]
I will add a brief overview of the more prominent trines to the files I send you later, as well as my captains and sub-commanders during the war.
[ It will be factual and without implied attachments. Safe. Impartial. It will still hurt. ]
[ Starscream lets out a sigh, nodding and pulling his stylus again out of his mouth. Right. They were here for a reason. ]
Yes, thank you. I can send you some of my own files on such things as well, if you would prefer. Just so this isn't... One-sided. [ That's what people do, right? This is... An exchange. Give up something equal. ]
[ Starscream (any of them) are never mechs to turn down free information, so he nods agreement to the offer. He finishes the glass of engex he's been sipping on this whole time, and reaches for the bottle to refill it. The next question comes from seemingly nowhere. ]
[ Starscream’s wings flick outwards in indignation, and he huffs. Despite that, he still keeps his voice civil. ]
Old enough to handle myself.
[ Younger than his counterpart- But he certainly won’t tell him that once upon a time the war had begun when most mechs would still blink at his youth. It had made the fight into the University of Iacon all the harder. Frag them all, though; he had still been their best and brightest. ]
And how many mechs would use the exact number in a sparkbeat if I said? Call defensiveness a learned reflex. [ Starscream half-snaps it back, looking away and crossing arms tightly over his cockpit.
But he sighs, and nods slowly. ] ...Okay. That would... Probably be for the best. Thank you for... Thank you for coming.
[ Starscream does not answer that frankly ridiculous accusation, but he gathers his own datapad, removes the Vos files from the lit screens, and waits in the doorway of the room with his arms crossed. This is a normally off limits area, he's not about to leave his counterpart here unsupervised. ]
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no subject
He doesn't like the thought. Of having so much of it biologically encoded - did this Starscream's world have Seekers HAVE to get a trine? - or of how the mere existence of such a thing could open up new worlds of cultural and generational trauma. They'd already suffered so much. ]
Seekers where I am from are biologically different from other mechs in some ways, yes, but not- Not to that extent.
no subject
Cold Constructed were often looked down on by Forged Seekers, even though by my era we held the same standing by law. That hadn't always been the case. One of the few things Solarburn did correctly.
[ Starscream's wings are carefully still in intentional contrast to the other's sudden surge of emotional reaction. ]
I would not have mentioned it, had I known it would upset you.
no subject
Well. At least that's the same where I'm from. Cold and forged... A stupid, stupid split.
...It's just a little alarming. I think there were mechs they would have removed it from back home, and done so in quite large swathes. [ He thinks of Skyfire. Tries not to think of Skyfire. ]
I also rather like the fact I didn't have to trine except on my own terms. Thousands of years after any 'good' Seeker would have, for that matter. [ There's a bitter grin, soon shaken off. ] Still managed to get a traditionally sturdy one. Hah.
no subject
[ A beat, and his EM field eases from where it'd grown prickly in an instant. He didn't like the implication, whether it had been intended or not, that he had somehow settled for trining with Skywarp and Thundercracker to sate some biological need. He would not have his counterpart thinking that Seekers of his universe were the equivalent of organics in heat or whatever disgusting allegory it conjured up. ]
no subject
...I'll get used to the idea. [ That's probably as good as his counterpart is going to get.
He scribbles it all down anyway, crossing one leg over the other before slipping the end of the stylus into his mouth. There's a hum, and a frown. Very much a mech lost in thought. ]
...I should ask Ratchet to check if there's any biological differences between me and the Seekers he usually works on. Other than the obvious. This is a whole new can of worms. [ Starscream groans, rubbing his face a bit. ]
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How many of the Seekers from his own universe has he actually worked on? I have not gotten the sense from Acid Storm that there were any Autobot Seekers, although I've not asked her such directly.
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[ There's a brief look that passes across his face at Acid Storm's mention regardless. The question asked next... Perhaps it is more personal. ]
Is there an Acid Storm where you are from?
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There was; he's dead. All the Rainmaker trine are gone.
[ So many of his Seekers are gone... ]
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And it’s not one to be recorded. The stylus remains tucked in the corner of Starscream’s mouth, only there to be worried at. ]
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[ The silver one's tone, by contrast, is carefully detached. Not uncaring but with the same distance he speaks of his own trine in past tense. ]
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…It’s funny. Even their names change. [ Starscream sighs. ]
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[ Starscream's mouth pulls wryly, judicious. ]
—temperate. Acid Storm... she's not much like the one I knew, save name and colour.
[ And her propensity for gathering data, which Starscream purposely chose not to highlight to his counterpart. ]
Slipstream... she's similar in personality to the one I knew. I don't know what became of the one in my universe. The last fleet information we had on her was from Junkion. None of the returned ships have her confirmed as offline, but...
[ But it's been almost three centuries, and a lot of Decepticon ships — even the ones far flung during the war — have returned, and none bear news of his former captain. ]
no subject
…No, she’s not like him at all, is she.
As for Slipstream… [ Starscream’s face twists for a brief moment, upset. He has no idea that she will come back to his side yet. Not here, not now. ] If she does exist where I’m from, I haven’t met her. Perhaps for the best.
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I will add a brief overview of the more prominent trines to the files I send you later, as well as my captains and sub-commanders during the war.
[ It will be factual and without implied attachments. Safe. Impartial. It will still hurt. ]
no subject
Yes, thank you. I can send you some of my own files on such things as well, if you would prefer. Just so this isn't... One-sided. [ That's what people do, right? This is... An exchange. Give up something equal. ]
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How old are you?
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Old enough to handle myself.
[ Younger than his counterpart- But he certainly won’t tell him that once upon a time the war had begun when most mechs would still blink at his youth. It had made the fight into the University of Iacon all the harder. Frag them all, though; he had still been their best and brightest. ]
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And young enough to get offended by an entirely harmless, mundane question.
[ He'll give his own age instead then, matter of factly, then gestures toward the datapads on the table. ]
But if we're back to being coy over basic communication, I take it we're finished here?
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But he sighs, and nods slowly. ] ...Okay. That would... Probably be for the best. Thank you for... Thank you for coming.
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