damned_institute | Day 39: Music Room

Lunch had been fruitful. Celes had chosen not to eat, but that was fine enough for her; she’d eaten plenty at breakfast and it was not very good manners to eat while discussing war (for Celes, it’d always given her a bit of a stomachache), or plotting. Especially if one was in mixed company. Her nurse escorted her to the Music room, citing that her ‘sister’ had suggested that musical therapy would be good for her. Celes rolled her eyes. This was no music room, with their ‘electronic’ instruments; where were the violas and the harpsichords and phonographs? She’d been past this room before, but had never been interested enough to go into it.

The general sat down at the keyboard, staring at the odd device before prodding the buttons with a nail. On, off, rumba, tango, Caribbean (what in the world was ‘Caribbean?’), little numbers that changed the tone. It was the first time Celes wished that there was a real instrument before her, instead of this ridiculous thing. Still, it didn’t stop her from curiously stringing notes together with one hand, and the only song she could bring to mind was the Aria di Mezzo Carattere.

How dreadfully delightful.

[for Adel~]

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...the direct approach. I should have thought of that myself. Starscream looked up from examining the compact discs; the human before him was tall and lanky, his face covered in tribal markings, something he'd never seen on another Transformer save for the ubiquitous faction insignias.

"I am," he said, tossing aside another case carelessly. "And I take it you are Lockdown? It's good to meet a fellow Decepticon that does not wish me ill...these traitors will be punished severely once I am returned to my body..."

Even though Lockdown was not technically a Decepticon, he did not bother to bring it up. Besides, since there were no Autobots here, and that "Maximal" wished him ill, he might as well consider himself a Decepticon during his incarceration.

"Yes, I am Lockdown." He picked up one of the plastic squares, and pretended to examine it, trying looking casual. "Yes, Lugnut and Blitzwing have never been too fond of the Starscream from my universe. As for me... well, as long as someone has the goods, I've got no reason to wish them ill harm."

"Indeed, that seems to be a recurring trait even among the Decepticons from MY universe, as well," Starscream muttered, half to himself. Looking up again at Lockdown, he noticed the square in his hand. "It's a human storage device developed in their year 1980 or so...a 'compact disc' that encodes data using small indentations in a polycarbonate plastic and read using a laser. Incredibly primitive and inelegant."

Starscream loved to hear himself talk, especially when it came to scientific matters.

"At any rate...you mentioned on the bulletin something about 'upgrades' and other 'goods' you accept as payment for your services. Tell me more about this."

Lockdown listened to Starscream's explanation. "I see," Primitive indeed. Lockdown placed the "compact disc" case down and looked at the other former Transformer.

"Yes, normally I would accept weapons or gadgets to add to my arsenal as payment. Sometimes I would take credits as well, if the employer did not have any upgrades to give." He picked up another case, still looking casual. Tje words 'The Rolling Stones' covered the front. Lockdown could not fantom what it meant. "Plus, if the mech I was hunting had anything useful on them, I would take that as well." He tossed the case aside. "However, like I said, since were in this current... situation, I'll just take anything useful. If you know of anything that can be used as a weapon, then that would do. That formula for "gunpowder" you said you were developing sounded useful too."

"At the moment it is the only thing I know that might be of use to any of us," he responded. "These flesh-creatures lack the technology necessary to develop my null-rays or any of the other laser-based weaponry we've been employing since our creation. As unsophisticated as it might be, however, gunpowder is nevertheless quite effective; the sooner I can secure the necessary compounds to develop it, the better."

"I have also witnessed some of the humans wielding other forms of rudimentary weaponry, mostly clubs and blades, though I do not know where they acquire them. The maps make no mention of any kind of weapons storage...then again, these 'doctors' seem set on convincing us that we are not who we say we are, so there may be far more to this facility than the simple maps would suggest."

Lockdown nodded a few times, taking in everything Starscream told him.

"Hm, clubs and blades would be most useful if we found them." He picked up another case without actually reading it. "And what exactly is required to make this gunpowder? Because if it's as useful as you say it is, I may just be willing to accept the formula or sample of it as payment."

"The ingredients are relatively simple: sulfur, potassium nitrate, and charcoal. I do not know how abundant these substances are here, however; sulfur might be the easiest to acquire, while charcoal could be made through the burning of certain woods. I will need to have someone...collect the potassium nitrate if I cannot locate it on the grounds. Regardless...you can have either one as payment, though I guarantee you'd prefer the actual finished product. Creating the substance takes some time, unfortunately."

Lockdown put a hand to his chin, thinking it over. It sounded as if gunpowder would be difficult to aquire as it was, and it would indeed be better to have some of the finished product, rather than just the formula. After a minute of silence, he looked at Starscream.

"Alright, you have yourself a deal, Starscream. I'll work for you, and take a sample of the substance once it is finished as payment."

Even in these circumstances, it did feel good to exchange service for goods again.

"Excellent!" Starscream exclaimed rather loudly. "And you needn't worry about me delaying in creating the gunpowder; I am all to eager to have something that can do REAL damage, and seeing its effectiveness first-hand, it is a fair substitute."

The Decepticon's smile widened considerably. It's all coming together, he thought to himself. Slowly but surely my new army is starting to form. Those traitors will pay dearly for their betrayal...my universe or no, no Decepticon shall insult the name Starscream and live!

"First things first...obviously we should look into locating these materials. I want you to come with me to the second floor tonight, where we shall break into some of the rooms and attempt to acquire what we can." Ordering others around...it was a feeling he savored immensely.

Lockdown showed no emotion at Starscream's slight outburst. The Starscream of his own universe was prone to such things as well, so Lockdown was not surprised.

"Second floor, tonight," Lockdown repeated. "I'll be there."

The bounty hunter had no problems with being ordered around. It was his function to be ordered around, after all. He was also glad that it sounded like Starscream would have his payment sooner rather than later. Lockdown didn't worked for free.

"You've only recently arrived, correct?" Starscream started, crossing his arms as if in deep thought. "I shall meet you at your quarters, and we can go from there. Though this building can hardly boast complex architecture, it is unusually dark during the evenings, and getting lost is something done quite easily without a map."

Lockdown nodded. "Yes, I arrived at the beginning of the cycle."

When he thought about it, Starscream did have the right idea. It sounded as though he had been here long enough to know his way around. Besides, it also sounded as if human optics did not have a night-vision setting. He made a mental note to copy down the maps on the bulletin board next time he was in the Sun Room.

"Okay then, we'll meet at my quarters. My room number is M57."

Day 39: Music Room

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