Adjustment of character, 10
Short bit today. By which I mean only 1500 words instead of the regular 2k. However will you survive.
The next few orns went just as Roadstead had said. He and Metrodash changed their schedule easily enough, and Amber had little choice but to follow them. The femme was still angry with Roadstead, and so they were all rather happy to reach Ijurn. Their craft was small enough to land, but Roadstead had them in an orbit for now, because there were still some things Amber needed to learn. He had been lazy, avoiding her and not telling her sooner.
"It... looks like Earth..." Amber murmured, looking at the planet outside the window. "I didn't expect it to look so... similar."
Roadstead could see many differences between Ijurn and Earth. The atmosphere was different, Ijurn was much more built up, and the water was greener... He didn't mention any of these things. It looked more like Earth than Mars did, or even Chaar. "We'll be going down in a bit. But there's some basic rules you should know. Feel like listening to them?"
Red optics, so like his own, met his, and then Amber nodded. "I guess I should. About going to Ijurn?"
"Yes. Some basic things you should know... not just about Ijurn, actually. Basics about Decepticon society that I've been, frankly, too lazy to bring up before." The brown Seeker was abashed, but he tried to hide it.
"You mean something beside the fact that you're all sex-crazed?" Amber asked. "I've been watching the shows, you know... Everything but the kids shows have sex- interfacing, right there without warning...!"
"It's all story appropriate," Roadstead pointed out. "But yes, something other than the fact that interfacing is an acknowledged aspect of our lives." It was rather pervasive, though, he had to admit. He'd been told he adjusted so fast because his Seeker-spark predisposed him to be open about interfacing. "Actually, you'll find it's not as prevalent in shows which are aimed at those not on active duty. Which brings us to the other issue."
He pinged a file to her. "That's your ID. You won't really be alone, so it doesn't matter, but you might as well have it. And yes, I'm sure you're noticing that the 'rank' field is actually filled out."
Amber nodded, gaze slightly unfocused as she looked at the file on her HUD. "It... yeah. Why?"
"Because, technically, you're in the army." Roadstead smirked. "We all are. Every Decepticon adult is. Surprised me, too... it surprises everyone, and the 'bots hate it. But with so many of us armed, it makes sense. If there's an invasion, everyone's expected to fight it off, and those with more rank, like myself or even Metrodash, are both able to get the respect we've earned, and are expected to help keep the peace if we see rules being broken. Part of a youngling's maturity process is learning how to fight... It's like Sparta, without the pederasty and gender divide."
"...Sparta?" Amber asked, confused.
Roadstead huffed. "Never mind. You'll figure it out as we go on."
"So... does this mean that I should learn the ranks and... stuff...?"
"You can learn those by looking them up. Right now, we're close enough to a planets with a info-net up, so you need to learn to query-ping. You could query-ping me directly, but it's more polite ping the net. If there is no net, then you can ping a mech or femme directly. I want you to ping the info-net for my ID."
Amber nodded a little, then shrugged. "How do I... ping, then?"
"It's more or less right there on the HUD. You'll find ping, then have the option of who or what you'll ping, and then why. As you get more used to it, you'll be able to do a simple ping in less than an astrosecond," Roadstead answered. A moment later he huffed a little. "I said to ping the info-net... Not me."
"Oops... Er. Did I do the rest right?" Amber asked, looking abashed.
Roadstead checked, then moved his wings approvingly. "You did. If you'd pinged the net like I said, though, you'd get an automatic response. I'd have to actively respond, which is why it's more polite to use the info-net."
From her focus, Amber seemed to be trying again, and then she flinched. A moment later she was looking at Roadstead. "Why do you have your birthday on your ID...?"
"Because I could. I updated it... shortly after we found Earth."
"...Oh. And... translation date... that's when you came here? And joining..." She went on about the various fields, seeming rather stunned by what she had done. Then came, "Could I ping for other mech's IDs?"
He was pretty sure where that was coming from. "Yes. They won't notice, either. And they don't have to be on the planet. So yes, you can look at Megatron's ID if you want. And yes, he does have one."
Amber stared at him, and then laughed. "I think I won't. I dunno, it would be... weird. Um... how did you update your ID? I guess there would be a bureau somewhere...?"
"Not exactly. I took the file, edited it, attached my proof, and the uploaded it to the data-base technicians. They're the ones who actually updated it... and it's time to explain back-coding. And you won't let me into your systems to show you... So." Roadstead sent one of his copies of the ID file, which he had modified so it no longer carried the official codes. "Tell me when you can tell the difference between those."
That bought Roadstead some silence, and he pulled Metrodash to him when the grounder came in carrying energon. He had been ignoring his pet... Even though Metrodash would never complain, it still wasn't really right to ignore him so much. "I'll make this up to you. And don't say there's nothing to make up," the Seeker murmured, nuzzling Metrodash before letting him go.
It was almost a joor later that Amber finally shook herself and focused on the outside world. "I think I found it. Um... Could I have an... unapproved? ID from Metrodash as well, so I can check?" Her voice wavered a little as she said his name, the femme still uncomfortable with his position.
"Sure!" the red mech answered, sending one easily enough. He knew what Roadstead was doing, and it didn't cost anything to send one.
There was another couple breems of silence, and then Amber nodded. "Got it. ...So... I didn't make mine, clearly..."
"I did. With a note saying to verify with Starscream. He told them I had the authority to make this, and update it for a groon. By then, you'll have records and know enough to take over your own updating. And if you don't update, anything there's records of will be updated automatically. It's a good idea to check your ID regularly, by the way."
"Okay. ...should I be worried about you making my ID...?"
Roadstead looked at Amber unsurely, and then realized that she seemed to be making a joke. He hadn't realized she had forgiven him enough to feel friendly. "If I put something false, it'll be caught. If I abuse my authority... I'll be caught. I'm being watched- you've turned into a test for me. And a chance to go back home, so that's always welcome."
Amber bit at her derma, then nodded. "Okay. ...How do I get this info if I don't have a name?"
"That's when you query-ping a mech directly. Most have their automated responses include their designation. And they probably won't notice. While we're kind of on the topic, too, name refers to human name. Designation is what mechs use. You haven't chosen a designation, so you go by your name still."
"Like this?" Amber asked. Roadstead had to check his logs to be sure that she actually had pinged him.
"Yes, like that. Now, last thing. You're the lowest rank. Most of the mechs on the surface are as well, and effectively everyone acts like civilians. You'll only really need to check if you're contesting an order. Again, you'll learn that while I'm with you, that's the point of this. Do keep a look out for brand, verses just paint. A brand will always outrank you, keep that in mind."
"Okay. Is there anything else?" Amber asked, looking out the window again. It was rather clear that she wanted to go down there... Roadstead didn't blame her. He wanted to fly, personally.
"Nothing that has to be handled up here. Let's land."
The next few orns went just as Roadstead had said. He and Metrodash changed their schedule easily enough, and Amber had little choice but to follow them. The femme was still angry with Roadstead, and so they were all rather happy to reach Ijurn. Their craft was small enough to land, but Roadstead had them in an orbit for now, because there were still some things Amber needed to learn. He had been lazy, avoiding her and not telling her sooner.
"It... looks like Earth..." Amber murmured, looking at the planet outside the window. "I didn't expect it to look so... similar."
Roadstead could see many differences between Ijurn and Earth. The atmosphere was different, Ijurn was much more built up, and the water was greener... He didn't mention any of these things. It looked more like Earth than Mars did, or even Chaar. "We'll be going down in a bit. But there's some basic rules you should know. Feel like listening to them?"
Red optics, so like his own, met his, and then Amber nodded. "I guess I should. About going to Ijurn?"
"Yes. Some basic things you should know... not just about Ijurn, actually. Basics about Decepticon society that I've been, frankly, too lazy to bring up before." The brown Seeker was abashed, but he tried to hide it.
"You mean something beside the fact that you're all sex-crazed?" Amber asked. "I've been watching the shows, you know... Everything but the kids shows have sex- interfacing, right there without warning...!"
"It's all story appropriate," Roadstead pointed out. "But yes, something other than the fact that interfacing is an acknowledged aspect of our lives." It was rather pervasive, though, he had to admit. He'd been told he adjusted so fast because his Seeker-spark predisposed him to be open about interfacing. "Actually, you'll find it's not as prevalent in shows which are aimed at those not on active duty. Which brings us to the other issue."
He pinged a file to her. "That's your ID. You won't really be alone, so it doesn't matter, but you might as well have it. And yes, I'm sure you're noticing that the 'rank' field is actually filled out."
Amber nodded, gaze slightly unfocused as she looked at the file on her HUD. "It... yeah. Why?"
"Because, technically, you're in the army." Roadstead smirked. "We all are. Every Decepticon adult is. Surprised me, too... it surprises everyone, and the 'bots hate it. But with so many of us armed, it makes sense. If there's an invasion, everyone's expected to fight it off, and those with more rank, like myself or even Metrodash, are both able to get the respect we've earned, and are expected to help keep the peace if we see rules being broken. Part of a youngling's maturity process is learning how to fight... It's like Sparta, without the pederasty and gender divide."
"...Sparta?" Amber asked, confused.
Roadstead huffed. "Never mind. You'll figure it out as we go on."
"So... does this mean that I should learn the ranks and... stuff...?"
"You can learn those by looking them up. Right now, we're close enough to a planets with a info-net up, so you need to learn to query-ping. You could query-ping me directly, but it's more polite ping the net. If there is no net, then you can ping a mech or femme directly. I want you to ping the info-net for my ID."
Amber nodded a little, then shrugged. "How do I... ping, then?"
"It's more or less right there on the HUD. You'll find ping, then have the option of who or what you'll ping, and then why. As you get more used to it, you'll be able to do a simple ping in less than an astrosecond," Roadstead answered. A moment later he huffed a little. "I said to ping the info-net... Not me."
"Oops... Er. Did I do the rest right?" Amber asked, looking abashed.
Roadstead checked, then moved his wings approvingly. "You did. If you'd pinged the net like I said, though, you'd get an automatic response. I'd have to actively respond, which is why it's more polite to use the info-net."
From her focus, Amber seemed to be trying again, and then she flinched. A moment later she was looking at Roadstead. "Why do you have your birthday on your ID...?"
"Because I could. I updated it... shortly after we found Earth."
"...Oh. And... translation date... that's when you came here? And joining..." She went on about the various fields, seeming rather stunned by what she had done. Then came, "Could I ping for other mech's IDs?"
He was pretty sure where that was coming from. "Yes. They won't notice, either. And they don't have to be on the planet. So yes, you can look at Megatron's ID if you want. And yes, he does have one."
Amber stared at him, and then laughed. "I think I won't. I dunno, it would be... weird. Um... how did you update your ID? I guess there would be a bureau somewhere...?"
"Not exactly. I took the file, edited it, attached my proof, and the uploaded it to the data-base technicians. They're the ones who actually updated it... and it's time to explain back-coding. And you won't let me into your systems to show you... So." Roadstead sent one of his copies of the ID file, which he had modified so it no longer carried the official codes. "Tell me when you can tell the difference between those."
That bought Roadstead some silence, and he pulled Metrodash to him when the grounder came in carrying energon. He had been ignoring his pet... Even though Metrodash would never complain, it still wasn't really right to ignore him so much. "I'll make this up to you. And don't say there's nothing to make up," the Seeker murmured, nuzzling Metrodash before letting him go.
It was almost a joor later that Amber finally shook herself and focused on the outside world. "I think I found it. Um... Could I have an... unapproved? ID from Metrodash as well, so I can check?" Her voice wavered a little as she said his name, the femme still uncomfortable with his position.
"Sure!" the red mech answered, sending one easily enough. He knew what Roadstead was doing, and it didn't cost anything to send one.
There was another couple breems of silence, and then Amber nodded. "Got it. ...So... I didn't make mine, clearly..."
"I did. With a note saying to verify with Starscream. He told them I had the authority to make this, and update it for a groon. By then, you'll have records and know enough to take over your own updating. And if you don't update, anything there's records of will be updated automatically. It's a good idea to check your ID regularly, by the way."
"Okay. ...should I be worried about you making my ID...?"
Roadstead looked at Amber unsurely, and then realized that she seemed to be making a joke. He hadn't realized she had forgiven him enough to feel friendly. "If I put something false, it'll be caught. If I abuse my authority... I'll be caught. I'm being watched- you've turned into a test for me. And a chance to go back home, so that's always welcome."
Amber bit at her derma, then nodded. "Okay. ...How do I get this info if I don't have a name?"
"That's when you query-ping a mech directly. Most have their automated responses include their designation. And they probably won't notice. While we're kind of on the topic, too, name refers to human name. Designation is what mechs use. You haven't chosen a designation, so you go by your name still."
"Like this?" Amber asked. Roadstead had to check his logs to be sure that she actually had pinged him.
"Yes, like that. Now, last thing. You're the lowest rank. Most of the mechs on the surface are as well, and effectively everyone acts like civilians. You'll only really need to check if you're contesting an order. Again, you'll learn that while I'm with you, that's the point of this. Do keep a look out for brand, verses just paint. A brand will always outrank you, keep that in mind."
"Okay. Is there anything else?" Amber asked, looking out the window again. It was rather clear that she wanted to go down there... Roadstead didn't blame her. He wanted to fly, personally.
"Nothing that has to be handled up here. Let's land."