knowhere | [ 001 - Hologram] What's big, pink and smells like....strawberries?

[There's apparently a lot of giant robots around here. This one's looking a little out-of-sorts though, and it's pretty clear why, when he holds up--or attempts to--a very large wiggly semi-transparent pink cube. Give him a break okay: it's quite slippery, given its gelatinous state.]

Uh. Does anyone...want this? I bought it in the marketplace. I thought it was, ya know, something I could eat. Apparently it's for organics though. [Don't ask how Drift knows this. A medical diagnostic might be on his to-do list though.] And apparently non-returnable now.

[He has no idea what organics would do with such a large quantity of 'strawberry jello' or why it has any right masquerading in the form of an energon cube, but oh well, lesson learned. Drift sets it down before it nearly slips from his hot little fingers, (nevermind the squelching noise please) and pulls out an energon ration pouch, the pink liquid inside sloshing around as he holds it up.]

I am looking for more of this though. It's our fuel, and trust me when I say it's not good for organics. If you see any though, let me know. I can pay you for it, if need be.

[Just...not a lot. What a time to be without his gold currency card. But seriously people, Drift really, really likes not staving! He's done that before and would rather not again. But you better believe he's just the type of idiot to give out what rations he brought with him to the others of his kind. Because even if he's not fond of starving, hey, positive side: he knows how to tolerate it probably better than anyone.]

So Wing, Rodimus, Megatron, anyone else... let me know what supplies you have? I have some rations, if you're in need.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Care to spell out the "not"?

It's a long story. But in short? The Decepticons, a radical faction among my kind, got to Earth first and were trying to take over. We--er--the Autobots showed up and tried to stop them. Some governments didn't take kindly to our kind period and hunted us indiscriminately.

You almost can't blame them, given the initial hostile takeover.

[Jason isn't always sympathetic to the right things.]

Did you end up making good on it, or did you get the hell out of dodge?

No. The hostility was not surprising...

Thought some of the things that were...done. If it was your people you'd call inhumane.

[Slavery at best and body trafficking at worst. And then there's the thing that was done to Sunstreaker and Hunter. Hunter, one of their own kind. That probably bothers him more than anything.]

We helped resolve the final conflict. But staying to help with the clean up, well. That's when certain native allies turned on us.

Were these "native allies" radicals, or was this a majority opinion?

I've no idea what the opinion of the general populace was, aside from fear. I don't blame them, after the Decepticons invaded New York.

The military seemed grateful enough to us for some things, but it was one of the special ops organizations that turned against us.

Necessary evil type groups. I got it.

I suppose you could say that. [He's familiar with the concept. He's far from innocent himself, being a former Wrecker. Though the way Spike took matters into his own hands, Drift wonders about the 'necessary' part.] You have similar groups where you're from?

Similar groups, sure. I'm also one of them.

[Why hide it?]

Of course, I wouldn't bother gunning down some robots, but I'd want them gone, especially if they're causing problems. I can see it.

Ah. [Awkward? But hey, also potential bonding moment maybe?] What did you call yourselves?

And it was less that they wanted us dead, but more they wanted to use us against our will. And take our technology. [The extra emphasis in there seems to infer more than just stealing trade secrets and subtle manipulation.]

Depends on the how and when. I run solo now, so mostly I call myself the Red Hood.

[What's the point in keeping it a secret here, especially when he's already been recognized?]

Either way, I don't like to use people. Or sentient beings that I'm still adjusting to considering as "people."

Sounds classy.

[Way classier than the Wreckers anyway.]

'Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,' as we say. [He nods, grateful for the consideration.] It's an adjustment for most lower tech worlds.

I'm pretty sure there are some high-tech robots running around back home, but the most significant are still cyborgs.

Cyborgs?

[This term only half computes, best to be sure.]

Mostly human, with some robotics built in. Often to replace what's been lost. Where lines of humanity are drawn is up to them, I guess.

Human-robotic mix--ohhhh.....

[Yeah THAT is a cringe.]

I've, uh. Seen that. I assume your robotics are just simple machine parts though? Not, you know, parts of machines that were people?

Prooobably not, unless you sympathize with simple machines.

Not unless they're sentient. [Shrug. Parts are parts. Well, mostly. ] Or, belonged to someone who is/was. In which case, sentimental value ya know?

Good to hear the people where you're from didn't stoop to that though.

People stoop to a lot of things. You want to find a dirty bastard who'd do something like that? I bet I could find someone. Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean you should be counting us lucky or anything.

People'll jump at anything, in my experience.

[He sighs, because he knows this all too well. Look at the things Prowl has justified, Rodimus has allowed. All for reasons they thought were good. Even his own time on the other side as the Decepticon Deadlock. So many lives taken by his own hand, justified in the name of freedom that had been corrupted into tyranny.]

I suppose our worlds aren't too different after all.

[ 001 - Hologram] What's big, pink and smells like....strawberries?

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