touchscreens | First Lance

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First Lance - [video]

[The rat woman who may have been seen atop various buildings across the city appears on the screen, sans hat, looking unsure for a moment before appearing to realize the feed is working correctly. She clears her throat quietly before speaking in a serious manner.]

I have a question for you all, if you would be so kind as to answer.

There seem to be many worlds represented in this city, but I have noticed that there are many from a planet called Earth. I am from the planet Gaia, but I have yet to meet anyone from my world, be it the same or an alternate version.

So my question is: What world are you from, and is it similar to this place we've found ourselves in? I would like to see if there is any correlation between the home worlds of people brought here.

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Heh. The only race that survives.

[Probably some turbofoxes left, but who cares?]

Yeah. Not really buying that we're here to 'fix' things.

[She'll mark Cybertron as notably different than all the other worlds. Certainly the first to not have any humans...]

I have my own reservations about trusting them, but at least what they ask of us isn't as unreasonable as I might have expected. [Being kidnapped from home to essentially get to spend time with other people definitely registers as mostly harmless in her book, if strange.] I would like to find the truth behind their requests if it is different from what they have told us.

Yeah. That's how it starts. First 'hugs'. Then...what?

I just want to go home.

[Freya looks down, then gives a nod. She feels you there.]

I cannot blame you. I think that most of us do... which is why I'd like to gather information to see if there might not be some way we could return more quickly.

Hnh. They have a way. They said they returned a bunch of people who weren't fitting in or whatever.

[Which...why Deadlock's still here? MYSTERY.]

They have? [It's news to her; she doesn't hover around the network terminals, so she misses a lot.

Deadlock is such a charmer they can't bear to let him go.]

Do you recall what they meant by "not fitting in?"

[Deadlock's theory is they're keeping him here to torture him: they're evil. It makes sense.]

They said they were too sick.

[Grunt.]

Believe me, I've tried getting sick. Hasn't worked.

Then the "usual" sickness is not what would bring them to send people home? What other sort of sickness could there be...?

[That definitely gets a concerned look out of her, though. Deadlock, please.]

... Though I hope you do not intend to attempt such an experiment again...

[Huh. He hadn't thought of that.]

Thought it was the same. Not touching people.

Hnh. Why would you care if I did?

I would have assumed it would be due to the sickness that came from avoiding contact, but if you were not sent home when you actively became sick... It does not seem to add up.

I would prefer that none of us become ill if we can help it. It would not be helpful for any of us to be bedridden. Though different from one another, we are in this together.

[Him too. He's wondered that himself.]

Depends on if you think all that's going on is hugging for energy or whatever they claim.

Probably some sick social experiment.

[Or, you know, a special Hell for robots like Deadlock.]

[Well, that gets a pause out of her. A social experiment? What sort of weird things have you been imagining, Deadlock?]

I... am not certain why they would set up such an elaborate ruse for such a thing.

Just because you can't figure something out doesn't mean it's not fraggin' real.

[Deadlock's not smart, so he's learned that from experience.]

[No offense, but...]

I still have my doubts.

Yeah, fine, don't believe me. You'll see.

Besides, you got a better theory?

There may be explanations for the questions I have that are simply above me. [Considering all this technology stuff she's never encountered that still mildly confuses her, it's a possibility.] I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I still intend to seek the truth on my own, however.

[Just so you don't get any ideas that she's some gullible fool, Deadlock. You seem like you have some kind of grudge against those.]

Yeah, just don't expect straight answers from them.

[Because they weren't really forthcoming with him and why wouldn't they tell the large, angry robot the truth?]

I certainly plan to take what they say with a grain of salt, but if everything appears to match up, I do not have any reservations against believing them.

[Sure she's not happy with the kidnapping without permission thing, but she's trying to be as unbiased as possible here. And you'd think possible threats of pummeling by said large, angry robot would be enough to loosen their tongues.]

But if it does not and I learn of whatever is going on first, I will be certain to let you know.

Hnf. That's on you, then. They come up with a slick story.

[He'll grant them that much, grudgingly.]

[Threats and scowls are only half as effective since the city types only respond to Deadlock via text. Anyone can be brave over a comm line. Frag them all. ]

....why?

[He's not used to being offered anything like 'help' however obliquely. ]

[Those cunning jerks, keeping themselves hidden.]

It is as I said; we are in this together. [A brief pause, then just to make sure:] Would you rather I not tell you?

[One day those city types will be in punching range. Then they'll see the Wrath of Deadlock. It will be glorious. And probably messy.]

Hnf. Yeah, but some people seem just fine with being in Hug or Die City.

[Deadlock is not one of them.]

What? No. Just don't....get it.

[Hopefully someone will be there to clean it up.]

Yes, but... [So he wasn't familiar with just plain old camaraderie? She wasn't unfamiliar with loners, but...] I believe the more informed everyone is, the better off we are likely to be.

[Cleanup is SO not Deadlock's job.]

Yeah, good luck finding others who don't want to be here. Everyone seems pretty fine with it.

[Except Deadlock.]

I... [Certainly a cheerful and optimistic one, aren't you, Deadlock? She can't help but be a little exasperated, but she'll just pretend his sarcasm isn't there.] Thank you. I'm certain there must be a few others, at least.

Haven't found many.

[Because of course they'd all come to tell Deadlock, right? With all this charm?]