04 - video

[violetsedanchair]

[The screen at first only shows the flipped over blackboard in Walter's apartment. His head rises into view, close to the screen. He has an unusually mad gleam in his eye.]

They said I was mad! That it would never work! And now I have proven them wrong! I have shown the entire world that I was -

[He is interrupted by a very loud 'oink!' from off screen.

Walter turns his face to the direction of the voice, irate.]

You interrupted my mad scientist speech, Pierre!

[Oink! Oink?

Walter sighs and turns back to the console. He grins.]

But I did get you didn't I? Ha! I've always wanted to do that! "It's alive, it's alive!" Too bad there's no thunderstorm tonight!

[Pierre grunts.

A beat. Walter clears his throat.]

Long story short, I have acquired a veritable drove of specimens of the domesticated pig! [He lifts up a mirror the size of a sheet of paper and angles it just right so that a pig lying on a pile of towels can be seen through the console's camera.]

This is Marie. Now, you might say, "But Doctor Bishop, two pigs does not a drove make!" And you would be right, except it appears that Marie is expecting! I'm not positive, and that is actually why I'm broadcasting this. Are there any veterinarians around? I suppose pig physiology is suitably close so a human doctor might be sufficient. I think Marie is fairly far in her term but I am not certain, and I haven't midwifed a pig since 1974. Or was it 1975? We had Shine On You Crazy Diamond playing so it must have been 1975!

[Pierre grunts with satisfaction. Walter lowers the mirror and frowns, waving a hand in front of his face.]

So if you are a vet or know one or have any advice on pig-rearing, please get in touch! [He reaches forward and the message ends.]

003 ▐ VIDEO

[tomemyoutliers]

( For someone who is generally a smiling presence on the network, Shockwave is surprisingly morose. Dressed in a somber black dress, hair pulled back into a simple braided bun, there's a weight to Shockwave's expression that has been absent for most of Shockwave's time on the turtle. It's overwhelmingly sad, but lacking the traces of tears or red eyes that one might associate with it. There's only so much a holoform can do - crying is not one of them. )

Orion Pax has gone. If anyone has information on what happens after we've vanished from this place, I would appreciate it. ( Call it scientific curiosity, but also call it trying to keep tabs on if there's any trace of Cybertronian technology just laying around for someone to stumble across. A second or two passes in which Shockwave buries their face in their hands, shoulders slumping. Shockwave managed to get the majority of a very emotional reaction over and done with before approaching the network, but apparently not all of it. Looking back up at the feed, Shockwave continues. ) If you had dealings with him, I apologize. I cannot take his place in law enforcement, but I will do my best to keep any other arrangements he might have made.

( Shockwave pushes something away from the feed gently, a flash of plush horns and fur the only glimpse of the robotic plush Shockwave received as a gift the last landfall. But it does remind Shockwave that there's still things to be discussed rather than wallowing around in grief. )

It's come to my attention that a few datapads from my world might have ended up at auction last month. They're rather large - it's hard to mistake them for anything else. If you've managed to come into possession of one I'll gladly repay you the cost and more for their return.

And lastly, is there still any interest for a school? It would be impossible to force anyone to attend who didn't wish to, nor do I think we should be constrained by what we deem to be a traditional educational system. Just those willing to teach and those willing to learn, regardless of age.

( For most the transmission ends there, but there's private encryptions for a few others. )

botcryption 100% to Tony Stark (616)
You wanted answers - I believe I can provide some of them in exchange for a favor.

botcryption 100% to Leo Valdez
You are owed a long-overdue explanation, even if you don't think so.