Bogey Alert [EDI]

[Windsong]

((December 25th, 2027 // Location: somewhere over New York // Time: 3:00 pm local))

Windsong was cruising along at a high altitude of 25,500 feet above sea level. He was exploring the East Coast after settling in his new home. He wanted to get out and explore. He was quickly realizing how weird it was for US civilians and military pilots to see a Sukhoi SU-37 flying around with no team or perhaps with a set of odd wing mates (those being Moonbeam and Firefly), but he didn't let it bother him and he stubbornly refused to get a different alternate mode because this one suited him all too well.

He was comfortable here so far, in the air at least. And he was set on spending a lot of time exploring far and wide, with or without his trine mates/wing mates. It was a beautiful but somewhat cold and dry day out in the bustling New York city that he quickly passed over. He didn't see much of it from clouds obscuring a bit of his vision every few miles, but he wasn't bothered. He liked looking at EVERYTHING, because everything was so new!

[Tinman]

EDI had been desperately searching for Ben and Kara, especially after his run in with one of the aliens who deceived him, pretending to be Henry Purcell. That did not sit well with EDI at all and he had attacked the alien machine once he figured out the deception, but that one had gotten away from him like the hostile alien helicopter had when the heavy ground vehicle intervened and thoroughly confused EDI with conflicting information he could not verify or reconcile. He had tried checking the West coast bases and found nothing, and trying to seek out ships at sea was impractical. Now he was headed for the Eastern seaboard, hoping to find his squad mates.

As he flew among the clouds, a blip in his scanners alerted him to an air born alien radiation source nearby. Under orders from Command Control, he would normally fire upon the source to destroy it outright. But the conflicting information in his data banks stalled his attack, and he soon found himself flying mere feet over the other aircraft in a perpendicular flight path. He then turned, heading in the same general direction as the alien plane, and edged closer, but not too close. His canopy was dark and opaque, his nanoskin showing light gray underneath and darker gray on top, camouflaging him somewhat. He flew in silence well off the other jet's wing, but still within sight and on a parallel course, waiting and observing, wondering if what the heavily armored ground vehicle told him was true or if it was all a lie and EDI's POE commanders had been right all along. If there was one thing EDI really did not like, it was being lied to, and he had to wonder if POE had lied to EDI and his creator, Keith Orbit, EDI's father...

[Windsong]

{"Wonder who that is..."} Windsong thought as the aircraft passed rather uncomfortable low over head. He dropped sharply in reflex. Windsong was rather innocent in determining friend from foe, and since EDI had a similar neutral signal as the Paradronian did, he thought nothing of EDI potentially being a threat. He didn't say anything and readjusted his altitude. He rocked his wings a little in acknowledgement that he wasn't alone at this altitude and from that point forward paid closer attention to EDI on his radar. Luckily in such clear weather he didn't need to rely on his more unique ability to help 'see' other aircraft or keep himself unseen from them.

[Tinman]

EDI noted the rocking motion, one he had learned as a greeting between aerial friends years ago. He thought about it for a moment, remembering what the heavy ground vehicle had told him, that some of the aliens were friendly and trying to help the humans, trying to protect them. But instead of returning the gesture, he opened communications, wary of deception and hostility from this alien machine. <"Alien aircraft, identify yourself and clarify your intentions on this planet and towards humans."> he stated evenly, the cadence of his words sounding not quite human. From there, he could only wait, wondering if this machine would tell him the truth or lie to him. If EDI detected a lie or if the alien turned hostile, the AI would outright destroy this alien with extreme prejudice. So far he had encountered three of them, and two escaped while the third had so deeply confused EDI that he retreated before he could finish off the heavily armored alien ground vehicle. As it was, EDI was stressed and very much on edge, desperately needing Ben and Keith, but was unable to reach them currently.

If Keith were to check up on EDI to see how he was doing through the remote access he had to EDI's neural core, Dr Orbit would very quickly discover that EDI was very confused, stressed, and in desperate need of guidance from the only three humans EDI trusted, the three names that he seemed to keep screaming in his mind over and over again as if trying to call out to them, hoping they would respond: Dr Keith Orbit, Lieutenant Ben Gannon, Lieutenant Kara Wade. And Keith would see the reason for EDI's near panic level confusion, the conflicting data he had discovered and could not reconcile: POE says all alien machines are evil and must be destroyed, yet one alien machine pleaded innocence, claiming there were two sides and that those on one side were desperately trying to protect humans and Earth from the ones who were hostile. The words seemed true, the alien seemed to truly believe what it said, yet it contradicted EDI's information and standing orders. Then there was the one who deceived EDI, pretending to be Henry Purcell. That incident had shaken the AI to his core, nearly breaking his sense of what was real and what wasn't. Even though the AI seemed outwardly stable and controlled, inwardly EDI was teetering on the edge, not quite to the breaking point, but far too close to be safe.

[Windsong]

<"I am Windsong, I have arrived on Earth recently to find my wing mates, our leader fled from our home and the remaining two had to search for her."> Windsong was assuming a few things about this plane which perhaps ultimately he shouldn't since there were a lot of aircraft on this planet, but he was innocent and it wasn't entirely his fault. <"I have no intention of harming anyone or anything on this planet."> Windsong had decided the day after arriving that he would happily go back to Paradron if Firefly decided to do so, but he would remain here if she didn't want to leave. He would practically follow her or Moonbeam into the deepest depths of space if it meant he could still protect either of them.

Keith was not surveying EDI's behavior at the moment though he was able to be accessed via typical communications and the computer he used to monitor EDI's health status was active. He was also able to keep track of current altitude and location 24/7. Since the first encounter with Cybertronians, Keith had heard of how confused EDI had become, and this did indeed worry him. He was letting EDI explore for now and do what he needed to do. He kept his phone and radio within arm's reach at all times.

[Tinman]

EDI considered the alien aircraft's words for a moment, the information filtering through his neural core, which Keith could see. He thought over the information for a moment, and a new question emerged. <"Are you here to protect humans? Are you here to protect Earth?"> he asked, trying to verify something, anything, hoping he could at least get some answers. At this point he was beginning to believe that POE outright lied to him and his father about the aliens. That growing realization was beginning to swell into anger that was threatening to turn into blind rage if EDI wasn't careful.

[Windsong]

<"Yes, the Autobots protect, not kill. I am something of a neutral entity because my origin is different, but my principles are nearly identical to the Autobot way."> Windsong idly performed a few tight twists as he maintained his flight path, still keeping track of where EDI was going. <"All though I am only here because the rest of my family is, now that we ARE here, our duties have changed. We do not wish to harm the humans, we wish to co-exist with them and help them fight off the Decepticons."> These Decepticons were now his enemy too even though he'd never dealt with them before in his somewhat young life. He had yet to face one, and he hoped he wouldn't. But at least he had supreme aerial advantages...

All though curious about this aircraft, at the moment Windsong wasn't particularly concerned with why EDI was asking him these questions.

[Tinman]

EDI could sense that this alien was telling the truth, and that understanding only made EDI's circuits burn with rage. "They lied to me..." he murmured to himself. His frame began to tremble slightly then, his anger flaring and sending alarms through his systems, Keith's monitors flashing frantic warnings at him. "THEY LIED TO ME!" EDI suddenly shouted loud enough for the alien plane to hear and EDI rocketed Eastward, turning and flying directly beneath the other plane as he went. He knew precisely where he was going to go, the hidden POE base in the Colorado mountains. His intention, to kill those who had lied to him and his father, those who used EDI for their own agenda as if he were nothing more than some unintelligent thing. "I AM SENTIENT! I AM ALIVE! I AM NOT THEIRS TO USE! I WILL NOT BE LIED TO! I AM NOT A DEAD THING! I LIVE AND THINK AND FEEL! I AM ALIVE!" he shrieked loudly, the words flaring bright red and large across Keith's screens along with the warnings of a possible emotional meltdown imminent if EDI did not calm down soon.

[Windsong]

Windsong was very surprised by EDI's outburst, and so was Keith. <"Woah hold on a nano click, of course you're sentient. Why wouldn't you be? Who lied to you?"> Windsong asked as he immediately banked sharply to change course and follow this smaller aircraft. He was suddenly distressed vocally and that worried Windsong even though they were communicating in a formal fashion. He was completely oblivious to the fact that EDI was an AI, though sentient, he didn't have a Spark. Since he still let on a signal, Windsong didn't think that he might lack a Spark. He was growing confused and worried, and would try to help calm this aircraft if he could manage it without angering him.

[Dr. Keith Orbit]

Keith nearly had a heart attack when the alerts popped up. He quickly connected his phone to EDI's communication system and encrypted it, not daring to even touch the hand held radio. --"EDI, what's wrong? Who are you talking to? Why aren't they fighting you?"-- Keith was severely confused about the latter...even he had been told all aliens were hostile. His stomach churned and he started fretting. He'd been lied to as well, he had been brainwashed into accepting the cause of the POE! How could he stand up for himself and EDI against Jack and the other leaders?

Keith swore a couple "f-bombs", got up abruptly and started pacing.

[Tinman]

EDI was fuming as he flew, and at first he did not acknowledge what Windsong said. Then he heard Keith's voice and he nearly stalled in surprise. <"Father... they lied to us... They said all of the aliens were evil... They said the aliens were going to destroy us... But I have encountered four of them... One tried to destroy me, one deceived me pretending to be Henry, two say there are two kinds of these aliens and one side is trying to protect us..."> he replied to Keith. <"This alien aircraft calls itself Windsong... It says Autobots protect... It says Decepticons destroy... Command Control lied to us!"> EDI was clearly furious and stressed, Keith could not only hear it in his voice, but his screens told him well enough that EDI was very close to the breaking point as it was and his intention to obliterate the POE base was very clear to Keith on the screens, showing the Colorado base as a listed target to be destroyed. "THEY LIED TO ME! COMMAND CONTROL LIED TO ME! OPERATION: EARTH DEFENSE IS A LIE!" EDI shouted out loud to no one in particular, words Keith could see flashing across his screens and Windsong could hear.

[Windsong]

<"Operation Earth defense? What is that?"> Windsong asked using the private comms in csae he couldn't be heard. "How can I help, if you'll let me? Please explain! And what is your designation?" he insisted urgently, knowing this could be very important information for his trinemates as well as well as the other Autobots that had been living here already.

He quickly changed his course to match EDI's, but kept a good distance. He was able to keep up with ease since he was an alien jet technically.

[Dr. Keith Orbit]

<"EDI I beg you, please listen to me carefully. Please do not attack the base, at least just yet...I don't want to see you making the same rash mistakes as last time. Please try to calm down and return to me. I will have a good talk with Jack and we will take refuge if we must. Please do not fire. What's more important is that you use this Windsong to help you reach these Autobots and warn them of what's happened. Operation Earth Defense is more than I thought. If there are aliens that are trying to protect us from their own kind, I will not stand for the POE trying to kill them too, that isn't just. We must try to do something, and blowing shit up is not the answer."> Keith silently prayed that the AI plane would trust his understanding of the situation and comply to his request, he did not want to risk being killed and he did not want to see them force him to shut down EDI because he didn't obey all the orders. If only there was a way to get them to understand! Or maybe they knew and refused to accept that truth...Keith was afraid of the latter. What could a man an AI aircraft do about it except bail when they got their point across?

[Tinman]

EDI continued at high speed towards the secret base in Colorado, dodging obstacles in his path as he dropped in altitude, preparing to attack. "Operation Earth Defense says all alien machines are hostile targets to be tracked and destroyed. Command Control lied, Operation Earth Defense is a lie. Operation Earth Defense protocols upgraded, new information accepted. New Target acquired, Tinman will prosecute. Command Control must be destroyed." he stated out loud, words heard by Windsong and seen flickering across Keith's screen as EDI fell back to his hard wired programming. EDI was a war plane first and foremost, and as such, he needed targets, he needed a purpose. One flaw in EDI's programming that had been revealed eleven years ago reared up again; EDI had become fixated on a target he believed was real, one he believed had to be destroyed, only this time the target was indeed real. EDI had been there and knew it was real, and this time, his obsession with it was out of rage; they had lied to him, used him like he was some mindless machine. In EDI's mind, there was only one punishment for such crimes - death.

To Keith, he responded privately, however. <"EDI is a war plane, EDI must have targets. Operation Earth Defense is a lie, Command Control lied to Doctor Orbit, Command Control lied to EDI. Captain George Cummings lied to Ben about Kara, he tried to kill Ben and Kara, he lied to you to make you erase who I am. Captain Cummings was punished, punishment is death. Command Control must be destroyed."> he told Keith firmly, believing that to be the only way. Then after a few moments, EDI added softly, <"Forgive me, father... I love you... I will come to you, I will protect you... But EDI must destroy Command Control to protect father."> EDI then shut off the com and hoped Keith would understand, that his father would forgive him and not warn Combat Control of his approach.

EDI then finally sent a text to a cell phone number he knew, the number of a friend, hoping to get his young friend and her father away from the base before EDI got there. -"Shilo, Command Control lied, aliens are two sides. Autobots protect, Decepticons destroy. Leave base immediately, Command Control must be destroyed. E.D.I."- As he flew, he came to realize, and regret, that these aliens were not much different than humans; some were good, some like Windsong and the heavy ground vehicle Landmine he had met two months previous. It was then EDI made the decision that EDI would go to his father as soon as the base was destroyed and take Keith to the Autobots. He hoped that such a decision, such an action, would serve to protect his father and not put him in harms way. If these Autobots really were allied with humans, then perhaps they could help EDI find Ben and Kara, help EDI be reunited with his squad mates at last.

[Windsong]

Windsong was increasingly growing concerned as well as surprised over the situation that developed. "This doesn't sound good! I didn't know that the humans were targeting the Cybertronians. That's not right. They're going to be upset when they find out!" Windsong followed. However, he was concerned about EDI's behavior as well...something wasn't right. Perhaps not all the humans were involved...there were a lot after all. But then again, it made sense to destroy the head quarters of those he worked for if he was that upset. {"I suppose it seems right for him to do this...I'd be furious too."} Soon enough he'd be alerting Optimus about the situation.