|
Post by blindspot on Jan 9, 2012 17:58:06 GMT -5
“You would need a ship, of course. We are able to travel through space, in a fashion, through the use of pods, but I was carried here, with the rest of my batch, through a proper vessel. It is,” he added with the hint of an indulgent smile in his rasping voice, “the only way to travel. At least, as far as space is concerned.”
It went without saying that Cybertronians were susceptible to cold temperatures, as well. After all, it is what had made the imprisonment of Lord Megatron (as well as the temporary capture of the Autobot’s scout, whose name escaped Blindspot) possible.
“You would be comfortable with flying?” the drone asked next, “Hmm. I would prefer to keep my wheels on the ground, personally.” He was not particularly fond of heights, not at all. Driving near the edge of a cliff was different. In that instance, he had traction, he had control. The thought of being suspended so high in the air, though, with nothing but miles of empty space between one and the ground… he shuddered just thinking about it, his rattling engine stuttering fitfully. No thank you.
KITT’s last words were sobering. For all their friendly intentions, they were in the middle of a war, and at any moment either of them could be struck down. Blindspot nodded slowly. “Let us hope we both see the end of it, then.”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 10, 2012 0:30:22 GMT -5
"It is possible a pod of sorts could be built by FLAG, or someone else who could sponsor the project - I am not sure how that would work. But if it was possible to create some sort of alternate mode and pod to protect me in space, I would welcome such an adventure, if I am still online after the War is over." KITT replied. "I have thought about flying, primarily because of Cira's interest. Unfortunately it is difficult extending my nanomachines beyond this form, but I am able to control them to an extent."
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 10, 2012 0:47:12 GMT -5
Blindspot shook his head and shuddered again. “I am not overly fond of heights,” he said, for further clarification, in case KITT did not understand the extent of his dislike for high spaces. KITT’s next words sparked his ever-present curiosity, though, and he cocked his head to look directly at KITT once more. “Extend them?”
He leaned forward again, but not nearly as close as before. Blindspot’s distance, this time, was polite and well within the bounds of personal space. “I knew that they acted with some sort of autonomy as far as protecting your shell went. They are capable of coordinated reconstruction, and so on.” He gestured vaguely with one talon-tipped hand. “But you are able to--extend them, you say? To what function?”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 10, 2012 5:04:07 GMT -5
"Mostly for self defense purposes, with limited range within my transformation sequences. It is an ability Sarah, my mechanic has fine-tuned over the years." KITT shifted his old Mustang form into a metallic light blue color. "The nanites are one reason why I can transform into vehicular forms larger than my Mustang forms, such as the F150 or even a van." he demonstrated this by shifting back into his Mustang form and then expanded into a much larger E150 Ford Van, blue just like the old 1976 Mustang had been just a couple seconds ago.
It was as if the whole form had stretched its chassis, and this was allowed because of the flexibility of the nanomachines as well as the transformation sequences themselves.
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 10, 2012 12:57:16 GMT -5
Blindspot supposed, by that point, he shouldn’t be surprised at yet another vehicle mode, but he was still impressed. KITT had quite an automotive repertoire (though he decided, privately, that Attack Mode was probably his personal favorite). He had to face, yet again, the fact that humans had been capable of this! Slowly, bit by bit, the notion that humans were not savage, primitive creatures whose only talent was destroying one another was creeping into his processor. He was silent as he looked back towards the lights of Bari behind them, a short distance down the coast. They’d made that place, and places like it, just as brilliant under the night sky, just as beautiful. They’d made KITT.
Warmth flickered unexpectedly through his spark.
“Your mechanic must be prodigiously gifted,” Blindspot finally said when he returned his attention to KITT. He did not ask to meet her--that would be a bit too much to request, considering their differing factions. He still felt it needed to be said. He paused for a moment to try and remember if the name “Sarah” had male or female connotations among humans. He was fairly certain it was female. “Does she still make modifications to you, if I may ask?”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 10, 2012 20:15:54 GMT -5
"Yes, but not as many as she did in the past. She mostly keeps up with maintenance and scans now. My systems have done well." KITT replied. "Even since her father's death. Both have allowed me to be who I am today." Of course there were something regarding her and Charles that KITT would be uncomfortable with sharing, like how Charles had created a back door method for hacking into KITT and a self destruct mechanism in case something went wrong in his programming as it did for KARR. KITT understood now that Charles had simply not wanted another accident like the one with KARR to happen again. Charles and Sarah had been surprised when he was starting to develop some of his own programming, as well as using contractions. During that time he had even expressed feelings of betrayal towards what Charles had done with out him being aware.
First it was the feeling of worry when Mike and Sarah nearly died in his own form, then confusion, then the sense of betrayal, and when Charles died, he'd felt sorrow...KITT was evolving under their noses even to this day - though they were a little more aware that KITT had feelings to some extent, especially those close to him at the SSC. The subject of Charle's death prompted a whole series of past memories and emotions to shift through KITT's processor. He also had a sense of snarky humor and sarcasm, and those were no recent qualities.
KITT transformed into his Mustang form, deeming there was no reason to worry for now. Without another word, more holographic images of his recorded memories flickered onto the hood of the Mustang. He dared not show Blindspot what happened that one Halloween when the SSC was compromised, though he did replay the particular moments when he was trying to explain to Mike and Sarah that downloading his raw data into the former prototype would not restore his current being - the essence of who he was...He showed the time when he and Sarah had been able to save Mike from a deadly poison by filling in the missing antigens right in the middle of the action.
The Halloween thing was several years ago, and his frame shuddered slightly at the memory as it played. He felt like it was important to share since Blindspot was a drone, but he didn't need to see the rest.
KITT was busy remembering a lot in these moments, and seemed comfortable in sharing what scenes he did display on the holographic imagery.
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 11, 2012 0:15:45 GMT -5
Blindspot did not speak or question KITT when he started to play more holographic projections on his hood. He simply assumed that KITT was showing him something that he wanted him to see, and he leaned over, once again not quite as close as before, which left plenty of room for the mustang to remain comfortable in.
It didn’t take long for his agile mind to figure out what he was seeing. Memories. Blindspot was a little startled, but quite pleased to be given such a level of trust. He watched the projections closely, having no intention of wasting the gift that he had been given.
A lot was lost without context, but he understood much all the same. He hadn’t realized just how close KITT had been with humans--he had been raised around them, he had come into his own around them, it seemed. It brought up a thousand tiny questions that Blindspot wanted to ask. Did he find enjoyment in the same things humans did? Did they do more than just work together? Did they relax together, have fun together, even? What was it like, being a sentient vehicle, one of a kind, and being a new creation, at that? He was quiet, though.
Even though the moment was long passed, Blindspot found himself growing distressed at the thought of KITT being drained of everything that made him him. That seemed to be a fate worse than death on the battlefield.
He watched as KITT raced to save the life of someone important to him, as well. It reminded Blindspot of many times where he had done something similar, struggling as hard as he could to preserve the life of one of his comrades on the battlefield. When it was all done, the drone had been given a glimpse into KITT's past, into what made him the mech he was today. “Thank you for sharing that, KITT.” he said softly, but sincerely. He felt like he should tell KITT something in return, should share some bit of his own history--not necessarily out of obligation, but because he wanted to. He was getting to know KITT better. He wanted KITT to know him, too.
His thoughts were derailed when he saw KITT shudder, he raised his hand instinctively, as if he were about to reach out and reassure him, but he pulled back, remembering himself at the last moment. This wasn’t a fellow Decepticon; KITT would likely not welcome being touched, even if it was well-meaning. “Are you quite alright?”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 11, 2012 0:30:54 GMT -5
KITT didn't react negatively to any extent in regards to one of Blindspot's hand reaching for him before it stopped hesitantly. He wasn't expecting affection of any kind and never asked for it anyway. He reviewed his current mental and physical status after Blindspot asked him if was all right. "Physically I'm fine, but emotionally, it is hard to describe. I tend to remember the past whenever I think of my creator before he died in action. It is nothing serious." KITT replied. He knew other Cybertronians and humans shared the same feelings whenever someone died, so he was not bothered by what he felt and he knew it was good to talk about it.
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 11, 2012 0:58:36 GMT -5
Blindspot nodded slowly. “I think I know what you mean.”
Watching KITT’s memories had left his own recollections teasing at the back of his mind, and they came forward suddenly, in a rush, and at the crux of them all was an individual called VC216. “I feel the same way, sometimes. I have lost many comrades since we started our search for my Lord.” A pause. “I never really minded much. I was… it was upsetting, to think that they would be gone, and to see the places where I was used to finding them empty, but it was expected. We are drones. Sometimes our superiors must spend our lives.”
He retained his posture, leaning slightly towards KITT and facing him. “But VC216 was different. I... I do not really know how to describe it.” He paused, lowering his head slightly, bringing the free hand that had almost touched KITT to rest lightly over his chest, over his Spark. “He named me. He is why I am called Blindspot. I tried, afterwards, to think of a name for him. I never could.” And it hurt, now, just to think about him, to know that he was gone. He had been from Blindspot’s batch, had looked and sounded identical to him (before Blindspot’s vocalizer had been damaged), but Blindspot could have picked him out of a dozen drones. There was something special about him, something that resonated in Blindspot’s Spark.
“I do not have a family, but I always thought that if I did, I would have liked 216 to be my brother. I know you do not choose family, but I did not choose him. He just… was, if that makes any sense.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “I do not think you can really choose who you care for. It just happens, sometimes. But yes, I do understand, I think, what you mean. I think it is probably normal. It is likely even healthy.”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 11, 2012 1:06:38 GMT -5
"From what I have observed of human families, this is true, it is not wrong of you to feel that way towards V216. With selecting mates however, it is different, but that is another discussion." KITT replied with a dash of amusement in his voice. "My creator simply took the role of a father figure, whereas Sarah is more like my sister but in a different form. KARR, unfortunately...I did not feel much towards him, primarily because the others never let me get close to him in the first place. Perhaps things could have been different in another universe, but who knows. We are both unique siblings in various ways." KITT hadn't even mentioned his younger brother, that was a different discussion as well. Interceptor was unique in his own ways as well, but with near identical programmed protocol, he felt much closer to Interceptor than he ever had with KARR - and also felt protective of him as an older brother.
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 11, 2012 1:34:40 GMT -5
Blindspot had never really discussed his feelings towards VC216 to anyone else before. To do so was to admit weakness and to invite exploitation. As such, he had never received any sort of reassurance, anything even resembling sympathy, and he felt a rush of gratitude at KITT’s kind words. Once again, without meaning to, he’d bared a bit of vulnerability, and once again KITT had been very careful with what he’d been given.
KITT’s somewhat humorous comment lightened the mood a touch, making Blindspot feel less sad and awkward in a very small, but meaningful way. He laughed, as well, in his customary steel-wool-on-aluminum-foil sort of way. “Ah, I‘m afraid I would not know much about that,” he responded in regards to the process of choosing a mate. Blindspot was about as romantic as a wet paper bag, and he knew it. He was at peace with it, though--not everyone could play the part of dashing and attractive Decepticon hero.
As KITT when on to speak about his various family members, Blindspot couldn’t help but wonder what VC216 would have thought about the alien vehicle Blindspot was currently sharing the beach with. He would probably say that KITT was kind, but dull. He seemed more like the type to get along with Cira. He did not know what to say in regards to KITT’s regret towards KARR, so he decided to focus on something he could talk about. “To an outside observer, such as myself, it would seem that you have also adopted Cira into your family. What role does she play?”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 11, 2012 3:48:12 GMT -5
KITT took a moment or so to reaffirm what he thought of Cira in terms of family. She was adopted by Mike and Sarah about a year after they had married. "She is like an adopted niece. Sarah and her husband adopted her after she was in an accident caused by KARR's reckless behavior and became an orphan. Now she is my partner since Mike, Sarah's husband has decided to settle a little, and remain at our base. I also see her and her father as very close friends, not necessarily family as I do towards the Graimans."
He generated a chuckle then. "To be honest, I don't know much about romance either, even human romance, only what I have learned from co-workers." he added, thinking of Billy and Zoe and some of the 'rules' he'd learned from them, such as a couple bound to make out in a car if they were alone at night. "My family is not an Autobot family and all though they are strange, I care for them all the same. As much as I can being what I am anyway."
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 11, 2012 4:32:35 GMT -5
Blindspot nodded slowly at KITT’s description of Cira. He understood the terms “nephew” and “niece” in a very detached sort of way. He really had nothing to add in return, as he did not feel the same way towards any of his fellow officers, currently, as he had towards VC216. He had some with whom he was friendly, of course, but none that he’d felt that connection with.
KITT had at least received some sort of lesson from his coworkers on the subject of romance. The Decepticon ranks weren’t known for their number of healthy relationships. He imagined the sorts of “lessons” one might learn from seeing the sorts of things that he had seen between his comrades, and laughed quietly. “I think it would be best for me not to learn from those around me. I suppose I’ll figure it out on my own eventually.”
The mustang’s final statement piqued Blindspot’s curiosity. “If I may ask, what exactly do you mean, ‘being what you are?’ You seem very calm to me, but are your emotions, in some way, limited?” KITT’s rather emotionless way of speaking had seemed to Blindspot to be an indication of a very well-grounded individual, not necessarily the product of a restricted being, but he could be wrong… he seemed to realize that he had just asked a bit of a personal question only after he had asked it, and stiffened in sudden embarrassment. “Er, that is to say, if you do not mind answering--I am sorry, I do not mean to pry and ask so many questions. It is only...” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It is only that I find you very interesting.”
|
|
|
Post by KI3T on Jan 12, 2012 5:21:07 GMT -5
"Simply...it was theorized that I wasn't supposed to have any sense of emotion, nor was I supposed to be capable of using contractions." KITT replied. "But since the improvement of my Mustang self, I have evolved in ways that Charles nor Sarah could explain. Now I am learning things for myself as I experience new things and with that, I also experience new emotions as well as ones I have felt before at some point in my past. They have begun to accept that I am sentient, not simply an artificially intelligent device. I have developed a full fledged personality, I think and feel just as a human does. That is what I mean by 'being what I am', I am referring to what I am "supposed" to be, theorized to be. My apologies for confusing you, that is how I should have put it."
Luckily for Blindspot, KITT didn't mind his genuine curiosity, only as long as he knew that he wasn't recording this information for the Decepticons, and KITT had faith 'Spot wouldn't do that.
Secretly, KITT was a little curious about love...romance in general. And so, 'being what he was', what he was 'supposed to be', he'd never had such opportunities and could only observe what little snippets of what love and romance were by observing the humans he worked with. It was an awkward but interesting subject for him, but one he would certainly be more intrigued by than a little boy would typically be. Of course at the moment that was only a secondary thought distracting his processor - he was still more focused on what Blindspot was asking him about. Something had triggered that curiosity again, but not knowing what to do about it, he ignored the thoughts for the time being, deeming they lacked correlation to the current discussion and were simply just a distraction.
|
|
|
Post by blindspot on Jan 12, 2012 13:19:50 GMT -5
There was a lesson in KITT’s story that sailed right over Blindspot’s head and vanished somewhere in the night. KITT had exceeded the expectations of his superiors, had become more than what he was originally intended to be. In some ways, so had Blindspot, but he was not as self-possessed, as autonomous as KITT was, even now. In a fraction of Blindspot’s lifespan, KITT had made huge personal strides. By comparison, the drone probably seemed somewhat stunted.
“Oh. I hadn’t thought… well, if it is any consolation, you do not come across that way. Er, what I mean to say is…” He exvented in an exasperated sigh, annoyed with his own inability to articulate. “When I met you, I did not think you were not sentient, that you were just a human device. I suppose that is because I assumed you were Cybertronian, and thus have something of a different perspective regarding life-forms. After I saw Miss Knight driving you, I was a little confused, of course…” But by then his thoughts had not been on anything but the thrill of the race.
Blindspot shrugged with the arm he wasn’t using to support himself. “But after I talked to you, I never doubted that you were alive. You certainly seem very alive, to strangers. Which is good. Because, clearly, you are.” KITT had faced skepticism from his comrades over the course of his existence, as he developed into more than what he was meant to be, but there was at least one lowly Decepticon drone that accepted him for who he was without question.
Blindspot was just as curious about romance as he was about everyone else, but his surroundings were not exactly the best to explore such feelings in. Decepticons weren’t known for that sort of thing, so he had simply put his interest in the subject on the backburner. “And do not apologize. I don’t imagine you have to explain it very much, any longer. I suppose it is not often you find yourself in Italy talking with what you must consider an alien.” He gave his scraping laugh once more.
|
|