#boy howdy; I'm not proofreading this. I'm too tired for that. XD

[soundcrusher]

Of Plants and Freedom

I did it cuppa! I wrote the second part! Wohoooooo!

(Sould anything be off, please tell me. I'll change it as soon as I can. ^^)

IDW version of Lord Imperious by @cuppajj

Quick Search is my boy

Either way, please enjoy!

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It was another good day on board the ‘Wandering Scholar’. A day which Quick Search spent like every other since Imperious accidentally woke him up.

The first thing on his list was making sure the ship didn’t have any ‘nightly visitors’ who tampered with its machinery. He nearly caught one visitor who tampered with the ships engines, but Quick Search was too slow to capture them. Both physical and on camera! All he had was a blurry picture of something long and green slithering out of his ship. A picture he kept to himself, because he didn’t want to bother his new friend with his troubles.

He was the security system after all, and this wasn’t the first time someone snuck onboard the ship and tampered with the machines. There once was a weird organic who managed to come on board and stow away until the next planet. Granted, Quick Search was the one who kept the existence a secret from the rest of his crew, after finding out that the organic was running from bad people, but still. It was a security breach, and one the small cybertronian patched himself.

But then again, letting Imperious walk around the ship with security level 1 was also, in some way, a breach of security. And then there was the fact that he managed to enter the ship in the first place. Yes, Quick Search was in stasis, and that pretty sure means that he’s nothing more than a control terminal/computer when in that state, but still. The security protocols should have still been activated, unless they got somehow damaged, or someone disabled them. But the only one who’s been messing with the security mechanism was Imperious as he came on board. And Quick Search was too much of a people connoisseur to actually accuse Imperious of partly disabling the security system, that he himself is.

After all, that would mean that Imperious a.) knows his way around machines, and b.) messed his programming up or worse, his processor…

Either way, after finishing step one, Quick Search started with the next thing on his list. ‘Checking the ship overall’, which often included things like cleanliness or sources of danger that have gone unnoticed as of far. But after checking the cameras twice and thrice, Quick Search hasn’t found anything out of place. Except for some dust still clinging to some of the machinery, research and laboratory equipment. But he couldn’t really clean that himself, not with him having to stay on the bridge in case of an emergency.

So, onto step three then, which was remaining on the ship and making a report, before transforming back into a terminal/computer and waiting for the next time someone needed him… But that was boring, and Quick Search had already recharged longer than what was normal for a cybertronian.

With that in mind, the little mech walked over to the communication terminal and sat down on the chair. Making sure his connection cable was still connected to the one from the ship, before spinning around in the chair. It was funnier than just sitting around and doing nothing, but considering how quickly things got boring when no-one was around, Quick Search found himself growing tired after half an hour of just spinning and letting his thoughts travel.

But he wasn’t bored for long, as he heard pedes walk down the halls, and with a quick look at the cameras, Quick Search found himself jumping out of the chair and rushing over to the bridge’s entrance. Or, at least as far to it as the connection cable allowed him to go. Halfway to the door, it grew tight and pulled him back, reminding the small mech that he couldn’t truly leave his place unless he had a good reason. And with disconnecting and leaving not an option, he went back to sitting on his chair. Optics trained to the entrance, as his whole frame started to shake from excitement.

He already called himself lucky when Imperious showed up for the first time. Despite his initial distrust, Quick Search was quick to warm up to his newest visitor. Especially after he came back the next couple of days. Bringing and sharing new stories from outside Quick Search’s little world. Stories, the smaller one soaked up like a wilting flower in desperate need of water. Hanging on Imperious’ captivating words, unless he had a question or his own opinion to give.

After all, despite finding the stories interesting, Quick Search was still someone who would much rather make his own opinion. Especially when he had access to the cybertronian version of the Internet and could read up on things regarding a certain topic. Also, Quick Search’s captain once told him to never blindly trust anyones words, unless they are his. And the small terminal always listened to his captain, even when he wasn’t around.

Mostly because his captain was the one to find and save Quick Search from wherever he came from. Giving him a purpose, a home and companionship the little terminal has never known before. Although, hasn’t Imperious kind of given him the same? His captain never bothered with giving him a name, an actual name, Imperious did. He has given Quick Search a name and didn’t want him to constantly stay in his alt-mode.

Well, Quick Search will think about this later. Maybe when his captain finally answers the messages he’s been sending him ever since Imperious accidentally woke him up, he’ll be able to ask him about that.

“I am still surprised that you haven’t left the bridge, despite being able to do so.” Said Imperious as he entered the bridge. Which caused Quick Search to stop his musing and quickly rush over to the taller mech. Although, the second he got too far away from his place, the cable connecting him to the ship pulled him harshly back. Tripping the small mech up and making him land face first on the floor. He was quick to get back up though.

“Why should I leave it?” Asked Quick Search, before tilting his head at the question. ‘Leaving the Bridge’, what a strange idea. “My duty is in here. Keeping the ship running and making sure no-one gets in, while also taking care of the ship’s and, in extension, my database. So, there’s no need for me to leave.” Said the smaller mech, as he shrugged his shoulders. “And even if there wasn’t any work for me, even if I was allowed to walk outside, why should I?”

“Why shouldn’t you? Aren’t the Autobots alway preaching about how all sentient beings have a right for freedom? Doesn’t that mean that you should also have the freedom to leave this room whenever you want?” Asked Imperious. “Then again, maybe you are right to stay inside. The world outside is surely boring, with all the interesting things to discover and sights to see.” Imperious already had Quick Search’s interest, if the way the smaller mech’s catlike helmet-decorations perked up was any indication. It was always easy to get the little one’s attention. Just one small story about the outside world here, a little bit of praise there and a willingness to listen to his rambles in return. And if Imperious played his cards right, Quick Search was easily convinced to share some more informative stories about his crew and their research.

He was especially interested in the research the small cybertronian was hiding about the different races, planets and cultures his last crew had compiled. But sadly, with the way the security system was built around Quick Search’s database, it would take some time to break through it. Unless he managed to convince him to willingly share the research. Which might take some time, but Imperious was patient. After all, slow and steady wins the race, not rushed and unbalanced.

“Now then, how about I tell you about one of my latest quests, unless you have something to share?” Said the taller mech, as he placed a hand, he had to slightly lean down for that, on Quick Search’s shoulder. Carefully leading the little terminal towards the captain’s chair, before letting go and sitting down on the only chair big enough to fit him. With one leg folded over the other and his hands resting neatly on said knee. Watching Quick Search like a dragon guarding its horde, as the smaller one sat down on the floor cross legged. His own optics trained on Imperious’ face, as he recounted his day so far, before starting to talk about the only hobby he could do outside the bridge.

Helping out with the plant related research. A topic Imperious found rather dull, but gained information is gained information, and it made Quick Search happy. Which was only helping him with gaining his trust. Although, listening to the small one talking about the lab with such excitement sure enough gave him an idea. “Why don’t you show me the plants, Quick Search?”

“Sh-show you the plants?!” Quick Search jumped up while widely waving his arms around. “I can’t show you the plants! It’s a restricted area!” Huffed the smaller mech, as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned around. “Also, captain’s orders are captain’s orders. I can’t leave the bridge.”

“Why not? I don’t see any problem with it.” Countered Imperious as he stood up himself, and walked over to Quick Search. Planting his hands on the small mech’s shoulders, while leaning down far enough to whisper into his audials. Even though there was no need for that. “As you said, your captain allowed you to help out with the plant related research, didn’t he? And who’s taking care of the plants now?”

“N-no… No-one?”

“Exactly? How would we know if they are still thriving, with you stuck here and me not allowed to set foot in the lab?” Imperious had him. He just needed one more push, and Quick Search would play into his hands. Maybe he wouldn’t give away all his cards, but this decision felt like a good one. Perhaps even one that would reveal the rest of his hand. “Oh, but if you don’t care that much about the plants, then maybe I shoul-”

“NO! I care about the plants!” Shrieked Quick Search, as he pushed himself away from Imperious. Frame trembling as his mind was racing. On one hand, his orders were clear, on the other, Imperious made a good point. There wasn’t anyone around to take care of the plants. No-one. And while the camera feed was showing him that everything was okay, Quick Search couldn’t ignore that Imperious had a point. Just because they looked fine didn’t mean that they were. Plants were delicate, especially the ones they had on their ship.

“I… I care about them… I care, but I can’t just leave the bridge… Who will take care of it? What if my captain finally answers my messages? I need to be here when that happens. I… I need…” There was a headache forming, Quick Search could feel it. It was against his captain’s orders, no matter what he did, and that alone was causing his processor to work overtime to figure out what to do next. But without his captain, it was too hard. He needed his captain to tell him what to do. He needed him. Where was his captain? Why couldn’t he be here?

“SCREW IT!” And with one final yell, which surprised Imperious a little bit because he didn’t really expect such a small mech to be this loud, Quick Search pulled one of his keyboards forward. Typing something quickly into it, before it snapped back onto his back. He then turned around to look at the two connection cables and waited for some minutes.

And with a mechanical hiss, the connection cable from the ship detached from Quick Search’s cable. Causing him to let out a relieved sigh, because the small terminal didn’t really expect this to still work. “Alright! The wireless connection has been established!”

“I fear I don’t understand Quick Search.”

“Oh…” The smaller mech looked a little bit dumbly at Imperious, before grinning. “Oh! Yea, you don’t know that. I can disconnect from the bridge, while still maintaining my connection to the ship. But I can’t do it for long without risking losing my connection to the ship.” Quick Search explained, before marching over to the bridge’s entrance. Turning around and waving at Imperious excitedly, “Come on! We have to check on the plants!”, before running outside. Not even waiting for the other one.

And with nothing better to do, Imperious followed Quick Search. Smirking internally, because the little mech, without knowing it, has just revealed one of his trump cards.

A trump card, Imperious could take advantage of.

#part two! #cuppajj #lord imperious delirious #this is cuppajj's version of lid #transformers oc #quick search #fic #boy howdy; I'm not proofreading this. I'm too tired for that. XD #but I skimmed it every now and then when writing. so. it should be fine?