Long, emotional one-shot, which I totally just spend the last two hours on...
There... will probably be a sequel of some sort to this. Detailing the reasons behind Percepors... ah, reaction to events. And possible elaborating ont the Inferno (and, by extension, Red Alert) bit. Things you need to know for this one: I've based this on the thought that the season two 'bots were sent to Earth by Elita One. Which means that Perceptor was not around when the Dinobots were created. He arrived afterwards, so he only really knows about the current circumstances. And he's not happy with what he finds.
The bunny for this was adopted from the
tf_bunny_farm. It was thirty in the most recent post from
kirin_saga, saying that the Dinobots often bring things they discover to Perceptor for explaining - hence the mention of the tree. Not something they've ever seen before, but I highly doubt anyone has ever thought to explain what the trees were to them. It's fairly serious, and much longer than any of the other chapters (actually, it's about the same length as my two Dion one-shots...), but I think I'm just going to leave it in the 'Close Drabblings' series for simplicities sake. After all, Optimus really is quite confused.
Anyway, this left me feeling fairly emotionally drained, so I'm going to go sleepy now. Will respond to any comments upon waking.
Title: And You Wonder (Close Drabblings Of The Third Kind, 06/??)
Characters: Perceptor, Optimus Prime, small bit of Wheeljack, small bit of Grimlock, mention of other Dinobots, Elita-One and Ratchet, unspecified others.
Summary: Perceptors been around just long enough to get settled when he decides to channel his inner medic and give Prime the chewing out of his lifetime, on the behalf of the Dinobots.
Disclaimer: I don't own these guys or the series. This issue would not have to be addressed in fanfiction if I did.
Prime cautiously eyed the group sitting in the middle of the rec room. While it was a normal gathering area for most mechs, the Dinobots rarely visited, Perceptor himself only dropping by when one of the others dragged him there out of concern for the microscopes health. So Optimus was fairly certain that the Dinobots and Perceptor were not simply ‘hanging out’ as the humans put it.
This was only reinforced through their seating arrangement. Perceptor sat in a chair at one of the many table, normal enough. The Dinobots, however, were on the floor, two sitting, two sprawling, and Snarl making a fairly successful attempt at both. The five mechs had arranged themselves in a half-circle in front of Perceptor, apparently to optimize their listening skills.
And the final clue that something was definitely not-normal was the data pads that lay in front of the normally rampaging five. Oh, and the tree Grimlock was holding. But the tree could be rationalized - the data pads really were much more abnormal.
Perceptor’s hands weaved through the air, seemingly painting a picture that, most likely, was being detailed by his voice. Prime listened briefly and was surprised to find that Perceptor actually seemed to be explaining what the tree was to the Dinobots. And the Dinobots were taking notes, though occasionally one would hold up his hand in a wait-just-a-breem gesture, before turning to his brothers. The five would have a short discussion, which normally resulted in a question of some sort being presented to an increasingly pleased scientist.
Optimus watched the six for nearly three hours before their session ended, during which many different mechs passed through, nearly all stopping to gawk. Fireflight wondered in at one point, joining the Dinobots on the floor for a while before being called away by Silverbolt for patrol, though the jet didn’t seem to find the lecture half as engrossing as the dinosaurs.
Finally, Perceptor seemed to decide that everything he could explain in regards to the plant had been explained - indeed, the discussion had gone from cells, to photosynthesis, to the environment, touched briefly on global warming, and included an in-depth discussion on the evolution theory, as well as the concept of survival of the fittest, from it’s place in nature to it’s place in society as well as the moral issues that were connected to it.
Perceptor had not spoken in quite as convoluted a way as he normally did, but his words had still been fairly difficult to understand, and Prime suspected that this was far from the first time this scenario had occurred, only away from prying eyes.
Once the Dinobots had exited, though they had exchanged worried glances at his extended vigil and Grimlock had apparently been unwilling to leave, Prime approached the recently-arrived scientist. When Elita-One had sent him more Autobots to supplement his own forces, he hadn’t been sure what to expect. Most of them he had only known briefly, and they were far from the same mechs they had been when the Arc had first entered their four million year stasis.
Perceptor, however, was a complete mystery to him, he now realized. He hadn’t met the scientist before the ill-fated trip and crash-landing, and he’d yet to make any attempt to befriend the others aboard the Arc. Optimus couldn’t help his curiosity, as the Dinobots were notoriously hard to handle, yet the scientist seemed to have no difficulty.
Surprisingly, Perceptor spoke first, and his tone was decidingly cold. “Is there some way I can be of aid to you, Commander?” Optimus frowned, unsure of what to think at the tone used in his first real interaction with this mech.
“Not really, I was simply hoping to talk to you…” In reality, the Prime was unsure what he was looking to learn from this conversation, but he felt it was important.
“Hmm… My name is Perceptor, sir. There’s a reason you want to talk to me, and it has to do with the Dinobots.”
Optimus froze, surprised at the clipped, harsh tone taken by the other. “Well, yes…” He began, only to be cut off.
“I really don’t see why I should tell you anything, sir.” Prime didn’t know what to make of this, but he did realize one thing - Perceptor had a look about him right now that reminded Optimus of his Chief Medical Officer about to launch into a rant about the stupidity of one of his patients. He could only hope that there was a mere misunderstanding causing this anger to emanate from one of his newest recruits, that he could work out the problem, and that this mech wouldn’t be half as good at yelling as Ratchet. Prime suspected that only the last one would prove true, and that was only because he doubted that anyone would ever be able to match the medic’s wrathful rants.
“I… Don’t really understand what’s going on.”
“No, I didn’t suspect you did.” Oh yes, this was going to turn ugly quickly. A few other mechs were trickling in as the shift changed, meaning this entire thing would have no hope of blowing over smoothly.
“Perhaps you could explain it to me then.” Please, please don’t ostracize yourself too much, his mind begged, already close to hopeless for
“I suppose I could do that, but first I must question your desire to hear what I have to say.” That gave the Prime pause, as he considered exactly how horrible the scientist’s impression must be for him to doubt whether or not Optimus cared for his soldiers.
“I would truly like to know why you are so upset. But, perhaps we ought to move somewhere more private?” He accompanied these words with a sweeping gesture towards the various mechs currently lounging in the rec room.
“No, if we are going to hold this discussion, I believe it best that there be others to bear witness. Besides, this isn’t something that concerns only you. And you want to know why I am angry…?”
“Yes, Perceptor, I would.” Briefly, the Autobot Commander considered continuing, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to interrupt the rant he could practically feel blistering underneath the microscope’s skin.
“Well, I’d say that you already know that my anger is directly related to the Dinobots. How old are they, sir?” Of all the questions he could have been posed, Prime really didn’t like this one, though he wasn’t yet sure why his spark had a horrible, twisting feeling.
“About six earth months, if a recall.”
“If you recall.” Perceptor paused, and Optimus wondered how it was possible for such a small mech to flare, and then continued. “It’s actually closer to seven and a half, if you’ll recall. Seven and a half months old - and fighting on a battlefield. That I can handle - they were made for it. It’s understandable - a bit reprehensible, but this is war, some things must be excused. What can not be excused is your treatment of them.”
The odd, stone like feeling was growing, and Optimus was genuinely beginning to think that he might have made a mistake somewhere, though he wasn’t sure what it was yet. He didn’t suppose it mattered, since Perceptor seemed intent on informing him of it.
“You treat them as though they were completely unintelligent, incapable of coherent though. As though they are just as bad as the Decepticons themselves. They are not Decepticons, Prime! They are intelligent, growing younglings. Younglings who are still at the age where they are just now learning what the world is! Nobody is born knowing everything about the world around them - everyone must be taught!” At this point, the entire room was silent and watching the scientist, many with looks of guilt beginning to flicker across their face plates, though one of the mechs who had arrived with Perceptor - Inferno - had leaned back in his chair with a look on his face saying that he felt this talk was long over-due.
“You’ve ignored them, made them feel threatened, provided them with none of the care or emotional support they need - left them to raise themselves and each other, with their only form of advice being two mechs who are so overworked they barely have time for recharge, much less raise five younglings to be productive members of a team that has made it quite clear that they wouldn’t mourn their deaths.” As though the situation was bad enough, as Prime had a startling truth shoved harshly in his face, one the aforementioned two mechs - Wheeljack, actually - walked in, frowning, clearly drawn by the words that Optimus now realized had reached a very large decibel.
If the red microscope even noticed, he obviously didn’t care. “And you ask me why I’m angry. When they don’t know the most basic of information about themselves - things they should have been told as soon as onlined in order to ensure their survival. When Grimlock was slagging scared of leaving me alone with you, because he thought you would hurt me for interacting with them, for helping them. Is it any wonder that they’re rebellious? Is it?”
And then Prime realized that the other actually wanted an answer, but he found that there wasn’t one.
“No, Perceptor, it isn’t. But… I think you need to be quiet now.” Wheeljack. Wheeljack who was his long-time friend. Wheeljack who was watching him warily, as though he might attack. Wheeljack who almost looked scared, for Perceptor and the Dinobots and probably himself and Ratchet. Optimus knew he should say something here, but he wasn’t sure that there was anything he could say.
The microscope seemed to have run out of steam as well, sending a final glare at Prime in particular, and the entire room in general, though he did seem to ignore Inferno, as he was lead from the room.
The Autobot Commander looked around at his troops and realized that he wasn’t the only one feeling guilt from this. Wasn’t the only one left speechless as his actions were force-feed to him. And as he met the eyes of his men, he knew that this was one event that would leave a lasting mark on his army. He could only hope they would all come out the better for it - and that there was some way to make amends to all those hurt by his thoughtless actions.
The bunny for this was adopted from the
tf_bunny_farm. It was thirty in the most recent post from
kirin_saga, saying that the Dinobots often bring things they discover to Perceptor for explaining - hence the mention of the tree. Not something they've ever seen before, but I highly doubt anyone has ever thought to explain what the trees were to them. It's fairly serious, and much longer than any of the other chapters (actually, it's about the same length as my two Dion one-shots...), but I think I'm just going to leave it in the 'Close Drabblings' series for simplicities sake. After all, Optimus really is quite confused.
Anyway, this left me feeling fairly emotionally drained, so I'm going to go sleepy now. Will respond to any comments upon waking.
Title: And You Wonder (Close Drabblings Of The Third Kind, 06/??)
Characters: Perceptor, Optimus Prime, small bit of Wheeljack, small bit of Grimlock, mention of other Dinobots, Elita-One and Ratchet, unspecified others.
Summary: Perceptors been around just long enough to get settled when he decides to channel his inner medic and give Prime the chewing out of his lifetime, on the behalf of the Dinobots.
Disclaimer: I don't own these guys or the series. This issue would not have to be addressed in fanfiction if I did.
Prime cautiously eyed the group sitting in the middle of the rec room. While it was a normal gathering area for most mechs, the Dinobots rarely visited, Perceptor himself only dropping by when one of the others dragged him there out of concern for the microscopes health. So Optimus was fairly certain that the Dinobots and Perceptor were not simply ‘hanging out’ as the humans put it.
This was only reinforced through their seating arrangement. Perceptor sat in a chair at one of the many table, normal enough. The Dinobots, however, were on the floor, two sitting, two sprawling, and Snarl making a fairly successful attempt at both. The five mechs had arranged themselves in a half-circle in front of Perceptor, apparently to optimize their listening skills.
And the final clue that something was definitely not-normal was the data pads that lay in front of the normally rampaging five. Oh, and the tree Grimlock was holding. But the tree could be rationalized - the data pads really were much more abnormal.
Perceptor’s hands weaved through the air, seemingly painting a picture that, most likely, was being detailed by his voice. Prime listened briefly and was surprised to find that Perceptor actually seemed to be explaining what the tree was to the Dinobots. And the Dinobots were taking notes, though occasionally one would hold up his hand in a wait-just-a-breem gesture, before turning to his brothers. The five would have a short discussion, which normally resulted in a question of some sort being presented to an increasingly pleased scientist.
Optimus watched the six for nearly three hours before their session ended, during which many different mechs passed through, nearly all stopping to gawk. Fireflight wondered in at one point, joining the Dinobots on the floor for a while before being called away by Silverbolt for patrol, though the jet didn’t seem to find the lecture half as engrossing as the dinosaurs.
Finally, Perceptor seemed to decide that everything he could explain in regards to the plant had been explained - indeed, the discussion had gone from cells, to photosynthesis, to the environment, touched briefly on global warming, and included an in-depth discussion on the evolution theory, as well as the concept of survival of the fittest, from it’s place in nature to it’s place in society as well as the moral issues that were connected to it.
Perceptor had not spoken in quite as convoluted a way as he normally did, but his words had still been fairly difficult to understand, and Prime suspected that this was far from the first time this scenario had occurred, only away from prying eyes.
Once the Dinobots had exited, though they had exchanged worried glances at his extended vigil and Grimlock had apparently been unwilling to leave, Prime approached the recently-arrived scientist. When Elita-One had sent him more Autobots to supplement his own forces, he hadn’t been sure what to expect. Most of them he had only known briefly, and they were far from the same mechs they had been when the Arc had first entered their four million year stasis.
Perceptor, however, was a complete mystery to him, he now realized. He hadn’t met the scientist before the ill-fated trip and crash-landing, and he’d yet to make any attempt to befriend the others aboard the Arc. Optimus couldn’t help his curiosity, as the Dinobots were notoriously hard to handle, yet the scientist seemed to have no difficulty.
Surprisingly, Perceptor spoke first, and his tone was decidingly cold. “Is there some way I can be of aid to you, Commander?” Optimus frowned, unsure of what to think at the tone used in his first real interaction with this mech.
“Not really, I was simply hoping to talk to you…” In reality, the Prime was unsure what he was looking to learn from this conversation, but he felt it was important.
“Hmm… My name is Perceptor, sir. There’s a reason you want to talk to me, and it has to do with the Dinobots.”
Optimus froze, surprised at the clipped, harsh tone taken by the other. “Well, yes…” He began, only to be cut off.
“I really don’t see why I should tell you anything, sir.” Prime didn’t know what to make of this, but he did realize one thing - Perceptor had a look about him right now that reminded Optimus of his Chief Medical Officer about to launch into a rant about the stupidity of one of his patients. He could only hope that there was a mere misunderstanding causing this anger to emanate from one of his newest recruits, that he could work out the problem, and that this mech wouldn’t be half as good at yelling as Ratchet. Prime suspected that only the last one would prove true, and that was only because he doubted that anyone would ever be able to match the medic’s wrathful rants.
“I… Don’t really understand what’s going on.”
“No, I didn’t suspect you did.” Oh yes, this was going to turn ugly quickly. A few other mechs were trickling in as the shift changed, meaning this entire thing would have no hope of blowing over smoothly.
“Perhaps you could explain it to me then.” Please, please don’t ostracize yourself too much, his mind begged, already close to hopeless for
“I suppose I could do that, but first I must question your desire to hear what I have to say.” That gave the Prime pause, as he considered exactly how horrible the scientist’s impression must be for him to doubt whether or not Optimus cared for his soldiers.
“I would truly like to know why you are so upset. But, perhaps we ought to move somewhere more private?” He accompanied these words with a sweeping gesture towards the various mechs currently lounging in the rec room.
“No, if we are going to hold this discussion, I believe it best that there be others to bear witness. Besides, this isn’t something that concerns only you. And you want to know why I am angry…?”
“Yes, Perceptor, I would.” Briefly, the Autobot Commander considered continuing, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to interrupt the rant he could practically feel blistering underneath the microscope’s skin.
“Well, I’d say that you already know that my anger is directly related to the Dinobots. How old are they, sir?” Of all the questions he could have been posed, Prime really didn’t like this one, though he wasn’t yet sure why his spark had a horrible, twisting feeling.
“About six earth months, if a recall.”
“If you recall.” Perceptor paused, and Optimus wondered how it was possible for such a small mech to flare, and then continued. “It’s actually closer to seven and a half, if you’ll recall. Seven and a half months old - and fighting on a battlefield. That I can handle - they were made for it. It’s understandable - a bit reprehensible, but this is war, some things must be excused. What can not be excused is your treatment of them.”
The odd, stone like feeling was growing, and Optimus was genuinely beginning to think that he might have made a mistake somewhere, though he wasn’t sure what it was yet. He didn’t suppose it mattered, since Perceptor seemed intent on informing him of it.
“You treat them as though they were completely unintelligent, incapable of coherent though. As though they are just as bad as the Decepticons themselves. They are not Decepticons, Prime! They are intelligent, growing younglings. Younglings who are still at the age where they are just now learning what the world is! Nobody is born knowing everything about the world around them - everyone must be taught!” At this point, the entire room was silent and watching the scientist, many with looks of guilt beginning to flicker across their face plates, though one of the mechs who had arrived with Perceptor - Inferno - had leaned back in his chair with a look on his face saying that he felt this talk was long over-due.
“You’ve ignored them, made them feel threatened, provided them with none of the care or emotional support they need - left them to raise themselves and each other, with their only form of advice being two mechs who are so overworked they barely have time for recharge, much less raise five younglings to be productive members of a team that has made it quite clear that they wouldn’t mourn their deaths.” As though the situation was bad enough, as Prime had a startling truth shoved harshly in his face, one the aforementioned two mechs - Wheeljack, actually - walked in, frowning, clearly drawn by the words that Optimus now realized had reached a very large decibel.
If the red microscope even noticed, he obviously didn’t care. “And you ask me why I’m angry. When they don’t know the most basic of information about themselves - things they should have been told as soon as onlined in order to ensure their survival. When Grimlock was slagging scared of leaving me alone with you, because he thought you would hurt me for interacting with them, for helping them. Is it any wonder that they’re rebellious? Is it?”
And then Prime realized that the other actually wanted an answer, but he found that there wasn’t one.
“No, Perceptor, it isn’t. But… I think you need to be quiet now.” Wheeljack. Wheeljack who was his long-time friend. Wheeljack who was watching him warily, as though he might attack. Wheeljack who almost looked scared, for Perceptor and the Dinobots and probably himself and Ratchet. Optimus knew he should say something here, but he wasn’t sure that there was anything he could say.
The microscope seemed to have run out of steam as well, sending a final glare at Prime in particular, and the entire room in general, though he did seem to ignore Inferno, as he was lead from the room.
The Autobot Commander looked around at his troops and realized that he wasn’t the only one feeling guilt from this. Wasn’t the only one left speechless as his actions were force-feed to him. And as he met the eyes of his men, he knew that this was one event that would leave a lasting mark on his army. He could only hope they would all come out the better for it - and that there was some way to make amends to all those hurt by his thoughtless actions.