((Collab between Mtntopview and Archmage MC))
@Pirouette@Mtntopview@LmpkioFixing the damage from the power surge was simple enough for Shockwave. Simply replace the scorched parts with undamaged ones, and reconnect it to a more stable power source. Perhaps he should have borrowed an existing power source, rather than make his own. While it would involve risk, it would make the return to his original world arrive much quicker.
Turning around the sound of flapping wings, Shockwave observed his Insecticon minions return. From what he could see, they had taken the initiative to go out and steal a power source to replace the one that had been damaged. Fools! They had risked being discovered by the locals to retrieve something they didn't even know anything about. There was a high possibility that the generator they stole was inadequate for the power demands of the Space Bridge. To add onto their foolishness, it seems as though they had been followed. His large, singular optic focused on the tiny trespasser.
"Master, we bring you a replacement part!"
Resisting the urge to simply blast the Insecticon as it bowed to him, Shockwave instead gestured towards their unwanted guest with his weapon. "Indeed. But you have failed to notice that you have brought along an intruder as well. Terminate it, before it can send out for reinforcements." He turned back to the Space Bridge, ignoring the intruder in order to get back to work.
The two Insecticons noticed their mistake, their fists were clenched in annoyance at the situation. They both let out a fierce roar, both equally determined to make up for their grave mistake. Metal claws slashed into the ground, sending up sparks.
"Well, thats a bit hostile! I guess I can play around." Light said as the insecticon closed the gap. The Insections did manage to have their claw connect with Light, what they didn't expect was for her to pop out of the claw as many mini versions of herself all of them swarming the nearby Insecticon, reforming into a single Light.
She then started to snuggle its head from behind. "Aww... Aren't you just adorable!" Light said, antagonizing it by pinching what she thought were its cheeks. She was more interested in their leader, who had a nifty cylon eye deal going on, but she could play with the bugs for a little while.
The Insecticon growled at the tiny pests antics. His kind were not known for being particularly patient ... or smart. Without thinking, he brought his fist up with the intent of smashing the smaller creature. Unfortunately for himself, he put way too much power into his limb. He felt pain as his fist slammed into his face. He roared in anger at the situation.
Having successfully antagonized the insecticon, Light jumped off its head when she saw its arms were coming up, and sure enough, it hit itself on the head. "Man... These guys are incredibly dumb. And they're your minions? Man... I feel sorry for you." Light said, shaking her head at Shockwave in pity as she rached into her dress. Pulling out a hole, Light popped out above Shockwave, landing on his head. Leaning down to get a close look at his eye, she waved as if into a camera, a large grin on her face. "You look cool. Why fight? Being friends is much better." She said.
Shockwave's optic widened as the creature appeared very close. In fact, it was way too close. He swatted her away from his head before responding to her request.
"Elimination is the most logical option to maintain secrecy." Aiming his cannon towards the tiny toon, it began to release a purple hue from the barrel as charged the weapon. That said, he did have to admit that the Insecticons were not very bright. It was one of the many reasons he would prefer to work with Predacons. They were overall much smarter than the oversized bug clones.
"Secrecy?" Light said, getting up. "Why would you need that?" It was at this time she looked around the area a bit more, noticing a lot of crudely manufactured giant tools that looked very alien. Thinking for a moment, she said. "Wait... Are you some sort of alien supervillain? I mean... thats gotta be the reason! Why else would you use words like illogical and wanna be hidden but be so inefficient at everything. It makes perfect sense!"
Shockwave frowned at the creatures statements. While he was alien, he certainly didn't see himself as a villain. He avoided labels such as hero or villain, simply because they held no value to him. He was a scientist who followed where his curiosity lead him. He would not let morals stand in the way of discovery.
"Your reasoning is hardly logical." he fired off a blast from his arm cannon, sending up debris as it impacted very close to the tiny intruder. He then fired a second time, this one a little further behind. Sometimes he wished he had a second optic. He always had terrible depth perception.
Light sighed at Shockwave. Sure he had a cool design, but he only reaffirmed her suspicions with his poor aim. "So... I take it you don't travel the multiverse at all. Or have been on the internet for any span of time. Or read books or watch movies? Your sorta following all the tropes buddy." She said, shaking her head and laughing to herself as Shockwave missed her with his cannon while she was standing still.
"It really looks like you could use some help. I think your confused." Light said, confused herself on how a giant robot with a massive cannon misses her twice. Pointing at the dazed Insecticons, she said. "I mean, I sorta did confound your henchmen without actually fighting them, so..."
"These units are merely temporary, made in haste to supplement my need for warriors. They are imperfect, which is an issue I intend to rectify with the next batch" The organic child did bring up a logical point though. Perhaps he could use allies ... although there was no logical reason to trust a source he just met.
"Man... You just keep reaffirming the 'supervillain' trope." Light said, shaking her head while laughing. "But thats not much of a problem. I remember this clown guy I met once. He was fun! Then there was this bald guy who really made being a supervillain into a profession and man was he good at it!" Light continued, acting out the people she was talking about including props such as a swivel chair and a few pies she threw at herself.
"So you made these guys? Coolio. So your at least into making life instead of destroying it, so thats cool." Light said, thinking about the situation. "But then what is that ring like thing your making? Some sort of gateway?" Light continued, pointing at the spacebridge.
The tiny organic was likely no threat. Therefore, it no longer required his entire attention. Turning around, Shockwave continued to work on his Space Bridge. He largely ignored the insect as it rambled on about the travels it had made. However, not moments later, it regained his attention by noticing his Space Bridge. He did enjoy telling others about his inventions, and perhaps if he sated it's curiosity it would go away.
"The gateway you speak of is known as a Space Bridge. It is a portal that allows instantaneous travel throughout the universe without use of a large space faring craft. I have recently come to discover that it may also be capable of transporting objects between the Universes. However, this ability remains untested, and I require a functioning Space Bridge to prove my theory."
Grabbing the power source the Insecticons collected, he dragged it towards the portal. Once there, he began to look around for the correct wires he needed to connect it to the Space Bridge. Quickly finding them in the piles of tools and debris around the construction site, he attached the correct power lines to the device that the Insecticons had stolen.
"OH cool! So your making a way to travel the multiverse? And I assume it works for everyone and not just you?" Light said. After a pause, she remembered something. "Hey, that group I was traveling with needs some sort of gateway like that. I'd take them where they wanna go with my holes but those only work for me." Light said, a twinge of sadness on her face knowing that she'd never be able to take even food through her holes. Shame, since she knew of some great food spots she'd love to share with people.
After a little while, Shockwave fiddling around with his new power supply and its wires, Light had an idea, a lightbulb appearing over her head. "So if you need some help with that gateway thingy, I'm sure I can convince my group to help out. They also need some sort of 'allies' or 'army', I can't remember which, or it could be both! But they need something like that, so I'm sure they'll help with that sorta thing too."
"Of course. I have heard of no ill effects from Space Bridge travel" Shockwave responded, still apparently more focused on the project he was working on.
He reached out and grabbed a soldering iron and some spare wire he had prepared earlier, and began to carefully solder the wires into their final positions. He held off on responding to his tiny guest any further, as he was thinking her proposition over. While it would be useful to have more hands, there were numerous possible dilemmas that might be created from allying with this mysterious group.
The logical option was not very clear this time, it would take a bit of thought to decide which was the correct course of action. Perhaps if he played this to his advantage, they could help him keep the Autobots off his back. It also would be nice to no longer hide in the shadows.
"Your proposal seems ... logical" He finished soldering the last of the wires, and turned back to face the much smaller being. "However, I would like to meet with them before any potential alliance is formed."
"Ok, no problem. I'll go find 'em. Don't go anywhere!" Light said with a wave, finding her way out of the maze of tunnels. When she found herself back on the outside, she saw a bunch of airships above the city. "Phew boy... Knew it was too peaceful here." Light said with a shake of her head. "Guess I've gotta find that group." Light said, pulling out a hole. The good news was at least thanks to the airships, she had a good perch to look down on the city.
Appearing on top of the largest ship, Light looked over the side, scanning for the group.
