V1.01.3 - Data in, data out.

[viral_takeover]

WHO: G1 Skyfire, Megabyte, possibly others if they feel so inclined?
WHAT: Transportation, education, and more than likely, plotting
WHERE: Between zones 8 and 3.
WHEN: Right after this.
WARNINGS/NOTES: Nothing I can think of!

Comments

[not_your_taxi]

It wasn't long before a cybertronian shuttle dropped slowly from the sky, the pulse from his thrusters kicking up dirt and loose scraps. Skyfire landed neatly at the coordinates he'd been provided, keeping his ramp pulled up until he had some confirmation from the person he was meeting. It just wasn't safe to sit around open in a Zone like 8.

::Commander Megabyte? I'm here.::

He commed, trying to keep the nervousness from his voice.

[viral_takeover]

Megabyte certainly couldn't miss him, the Cybertronian was huge. He glanced down at his com when it started beeping, grinning slightly when he read the message. Ah, huge size and that oh so wonderfully exploitable willingness to accept what he was told. Megabyte flicked an errant newspaper from his shoulder and stepped out into the street.

"Indeed, and you arrive with such haste even at this level. I am impressed, Skyfire." He paused a moment, then gestured to Slash, the malgian rather uneasily lurking by the building. Sure things were different here in Axiom, but Slash had been a Decepticon before his... change in loyalties, and Skyfire was a BIG autobot. "This is my acquaintance, Slash. You certainly seem spacious enough for him, but I hardly want to impose. He can stay behind if you wish."

[not_your_taxi]

::I was worried. Zone 8 is not safe.::

Came the response, and because Skyfire was a trusting individual, it was heartfelt and honest. His hatch popped when Megabyte approached, a long metal ramp folding downward. The shuttle's scanners took a moment to analyze the other's strange companion... A construction vehicle build...with a strange symbol Skyfire didn't recognize on his chest.

::I could hardly leave him in a place like this. You're both welcome to come aboard.::

[viral_takeover]

His feet clanked softly against the metal ramp as Megabyte boarded the robotic transport, examining the interior with a curious eye.

"Hmm, spacious indeed," he remarked, his voice echoing slightly. "Although it must be necessary to transport other Cybertronians. It that your primary function?"

He moved to the other side of the hold as Slash entered, looking over the interior paneling and tapping it lightly. How curious these beings were. There were multi-function programs and filetypes in Mainframe and the Net, but none altered their data structures to shift between functions. Almost all of these Cybertronians did so, but why, and how? Slash had hardly been educated enough to know - even a complete data scan had yielded minimal results.
Where, he wondered, beneath this metal plating, was the computer - no, multiple computers, the network that ran this being?

[not_your_taxi]

Skyfire's systems were suddenly quiet, save for a small light on one console that blinked abruptly red. There may or may not have been a soft sigh echoed somewhere amongst the sound of his engines powering up.

::It...wasn't always. I was an explorer and a scientist before I was brought to Axiom.::

The ramp rolled itself back up neatly and the shuttle's hatch closed, thrusters starting to fire.

::I recommend you sit down while I am in flight. ...And would you mind telling your compatriot not to touch the button he's staring so intently at on my console?::

There were no obvious cameras in the hold but it was obvious Skyfire had something that enabled him to monitor his passengers.

[viral_takeover]

"You don't say?" For the moment, Megabyte contented himself with finding a suitable bench and resting himself on it. He would be getting the answers to many, many queries soon, if this DAL was indeed the information archive he imagined it to be. Although that thought brought up other questions he'd have to get around to asking soon. For now though, he kept on the subject. "I imagine that might be a difficult change of professions. You have been unable to find employment in your other specialties?"

Glancing over, he noticed Slash was indeed blinking at a button, hand already half-raised to poke at it. Megabyte sighed.
"Slash, do listen to our gracious host, will you?"

The malgian sulked and slowly pulled himself away from The Button. It was a red one! Those were the best kind! Well, maybe later...

[not_your_taxi]

The shuttle rose gently into the sky, cruising above the wreckage of zone 8. Skyfire was silently glad to finally be leaving the remarkably unsafe area- much more at home in the atmosphere.

::Very difficult. Ferrying customers from place to place is not much of an intellectual challenge. There is not much need for a...a lowtech scientist. The Transtechs are far advanced and refuse to share any of their technology with mechs from other Universes.::

[viral_takeover]

Megabyte took the change to the skies remarkably well. The world he originated from didn't have atmosphere so the slight change in pressure was a unique experience. However he was quite used to flying and so carried on the conversation easily. (Slash, by comparison, was a tried and true ground-pounder and just kind hunched in on himself and waited for the vertigo to stop.)

"Yes, yet another example of the authorities here treating their guests with disdain. Quite rude of them, I should say. They rather remind me of the Guardians."

He paused, frowning. Yes, they did remind him of Guardians. And that thought put quite a sour feeling through his circuits. They were in charge, desperately holding all of the keys and putting on airs as the special 'keepers' of the city. Chances were good they would be impossible to infect, as well.
"Ahem. Regardless, you'd think there would be at least some calling for scientific minds. Are there many of them without work here, in this city?"

[not_your_taxi]

Skyfire flew straight and with the least amount of weaving about- ever so careful to assure his passengers' comfort. It wouldn't take much longer to reach the DAL; it was an often requested destination, so the shuttle knew the fastest route.

::It is a terrible shame. Knowledge should be shared- with the processors of so many beings from other Universes and their advanced technology- who knows what could be discovered?::

Skyfire commed back, sounding both defeated and frustrated. He wondered silently what 'Guardians' could be.

::Less then you would think. Most of them end up working for AmbrosusTech. I....didn't apply there.::

[viral_takeover]

"Yes. I've often found that so much more can be accomplished through an open sharing of resources." Provided, of course, that what was being accomplished was for his ends. "I am curious though, this information archive that we're headed to now, could you not use the data there?"

He settled back on the bench, letting a little wistfulness enter his deep, rumbling voice.

"Since my arrival here I have been cogitating over the plight of some of the less fortunate here in the city - both of those without power and those restrained from enacting their calling, as it were. It would be productive, I think, to be able to let them work towards a worthwhile goal."

He waved a hand, as if dismissing the thought as an errant fantasy.

"Ahh, but I ramble. What is this AmbrosusTech? You seem averse, do they have an unfortunate reputation?"

[not_your_taxi]

::I can- but I do not have the clearance for high level transtech files, nor does any other low-tech in the city.::

Skyfire banked gently to avoid another vehicle, reflecting silently that it would be nice to have a worthwhile goal... it wasn't his place to comment on it, but he had to admit it was something he dearly wanted.

::Not at all. AmbrosusTech is probably the most sucessful buisness in Axiom. It's just... the company's president is very similiar to an old associate of mine.::