Whatcha guys think of Casper?

Primes (In order of receiving Matrix) :

Prima

Primon

Onyx

Vector

Megatronus

Solus

Alchemist

Amalgamous

Quintus

Micronus

Nexus

Sentinel

Alpha

Time Units (Found on Tf wiki):

Astro-second: .498 seconds

Breem: 8.3 minutes

Cycle: 1.25 hours

Deca-cycle: ~3 weeks

Groon: ~1 hour

Klik: 1.2 minutes

Meta-cycle: 13 months

Orbital cycle: ~1 month

Solar cycle/lunar cycle: 1 day/1 night

Stellar cycle:~7.5 months

Deci-vorn: 8.3 years

Vorn: 83 years

Currency:

1 credit: ~60.25 shanix

1 cred card: 400 credits


Ch. 12

"And that is the last of them, thank you for the help Meister. I know the orphans will appreciate these once they arrive. Well the courier won't be by for few groons, why don't we go for a walk, you've been cooped up for so many solar cycles since you hurt yourself." Alchemist took the still healing arm that was in the sling to examine the weld marks. He felt terrible for letting his friend to commit to complete their test on his stamina in keeping his shift. The Polyhexian looked down at his arm and then back up at his code holder with a smile.

"I'm fine Alch, it just sucks slag cause I can't shift without hurting. I'm glad that you didn't take that medic's advice on taking me to AL for repairs, they would most likely want to do extensive repairs or most likely take me back to Gearshaft." Meister chuckled and held a datapad in his still good arm. Alchemist started loading up the items in the trailer while Meister was checking everything that the Prime was loading up.

"Alch, how come you are the only council member to want to do donations for the orphanages? The others care about the youth, but they haven't helped with many events to raise credits for them." The mechanism questioned.

Alchemist grunted as he heaved one of the large boxes into the trailer. He dusted off his servos before looking at his charge with a smile. "Well I have more of a personal reason for wanting to help the young sparks." The Prime put his servo on the droid's shoulder and smiled softly. "Meister, remember that there is always going to be evil in the world, but you can fight that by being charitable and help those that need it. Understand?"

"Even to those that are evil and have hurt innocents?" Meister asked while extending the datapad to the larger mech.

"Remember what I told you, it's very hard to determine what to do when it comes to fully upgraded Cybertronians. Remember when Solus asked you what you would do if a mech and a femme committed the same crime?" The Prime asked.

The silver mech nodded and spoke with that matter of fact tone, "I said I would shoot them both. Does that make me evil?"

"No, it just means you saw just what information you were presented and responded as such." They closed up the trailer with Alchemist continuing, "let's theoretically add some information to give you a more realistic view. Let's say the femme didn't shoot her family but found them already deactivated and was framed. And the mech had an aggressive glitch and shot them because of it. What would you do?"

Meister took in the theoretical information and thought of what to do. "If the femme was framed, then she would have her justice and get the care she would need. As for the mech he would be placed in a mental hospital."

"This is why it's important to collect as much if not all the information you can before making judgment. Bots can lie, but evidence never does, which is why we are collecting as much as we possibly can before bringing Artificial Life to justice." Alchemist locked up the trailer and the pair went back inside to fuel after spending five groons packing and loading the trailer full. "So, I've been thinking my friend, your card where you're stored do you know anything about it. Like why are the prongs digging into it?"

"I-I am actually not sure; nothing is showing up in my databanks on the origins of that our cases. And there are no firewalls firing up, which is sending red flags to my core." Meister sat on the sofa beside Alchemist and looked at his arm in thought. "Alch, if we were able to install parts that Cybertronians have, would that help medics be more willing to repair me?"

The Prime hummed in thought of the possibility, "hmm I don't see why not. Though usually to get parts like those you'd have to see specialists. Though… then again we could build them ourselves, we would have to be very discreet about it. We'll wait for that arm welds to settle before attempting anything."

"Sounds good to me." Meister looked down at his lap in thought before he looked back at Alchemist, "Alch, I have figured out what I want to learn on my own. Without downloading the information from a data slug."

"Oh?" The larger silver mech was instantly interested with what his friend had in mind.

"I was thinking maybe learning how to do some basic repairs. That way I don't have to go to medics when I accidently unshift in midair and break my arm." Meister teased himself. He folded both of his legs on the sofa with a smile as he removed his visors to look Alchemist with his optics. "What do you think?"

The Prime made a sound of astonishment as if surprised by what he had said. Alchemist adjusted in his seat with his large servos folded in his lap. "Honestly? I'm surprised that you want to learn, but if you want to learn we can see about getting you some medical datapads for you to study from."

Meister's optics glowed brightly as he bounced a little in his spot, "really!? You'd help me?"

"Well of course! There's nothing wrong with expanding your horizon! With what you've been learning from Wicker and the rest of the Council, along with myself, you'll be able to be anything you could possibly want. Especially when we take down AL and we free your people."

The droid smiled at the encouragement from his code holder. "I hope to be functioning when that time comes. If we fight for my kind's rights, I want to fight for Megatronus's people's rights also. They deserve just more freedom than my kind."

"Meister," Alchemist started with a concerning tone before it softened into a smile, "never lose your kindness. You are far too sweet for this world."

Meister sat up straighter with a determined look, his systems wanted to register that as a command, but he forced himself not too. "I'll try to not let Wicker's influence corrupt me." The pair laughed before Alchemist complimented his friend at the joke.

Later in the solar cycle, Meister was helping Megatronus and Onyx with cleaning the Prime Towers, well with as much as he could with one arm. He watched the beast master load different items from his office and placed them into crates. Both of them told the droid that they all cleaned out their personal offices sometimes to make room, especially when it came to documents. They would go through old documents such as cases and history, and if it was something that was suitable for public optic they would give it all to the data clerk and archivists.

"Megatronus, this datapad talks about future plans for something called Guardians. Is this vault or data clerks?" Meister was sitting on the floor with datapads around him and separated piles of the pads.

"Guardians? Uh, what's the first few lines? We have the Sigma guardians and then the titan guardians." The Kaonion was at his desk while organizing his personal things.

Meister looked at the datapad and sat up straighter as he started reading the pad, "the Guardian robots will be built to enact the peace all across Cybertron, given the duty to protect various cities. The first one to be given a Guardian, will be Crystal City."

"Oh, that mess was brought up by Onyx. He wanted to leave giant drones in charge of protecting our cities, but without sparks they were impossible to follow the whole 'protect your city and don't kill the citizens or visitors' programming." Megatronus sat a full box on the ground next to his peds. He picked up another empty box and started packing more things.

The droid instantly perked up, standing up with a happy look in his optics. "I don't have a spark and it's clear that I have that sense of morality, maybe I can help with programming if the Council approves. From the sounds of this request, the Guardians would be helpful in protecting Cybertron."

"I'll talk to the others about it." The Prime spoke bluntly, dismissing what the droid said.

"Megatronus? Can I ask what you gave up in order to be a Prime? I know you don't like me, or rather my kind, because of what Prima and Primon said about giving us citizenship. But, you are a good friend and have taught me a lot in the regards of fighting." The silver droid stood in front of the slightly stunned mech with a genuine smile on his face.

The Prime stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, "if you must know what I gave up to be a Prime, it was the ability to leave Cybertron. Iacon specifically."

"You can't leave? That is so sad. I-" Meister stopped talking and turned around with him shifting into his cyberwolf form, growling as he stalked near the open door. Megatronus grabbed his shield and sword, following behind the droid that soon pounced on top of shouting mech. The Prime didn't recognize the mech, but he clearly looked lost and frightened especially when Meister got right in his face.

"Who are you?" Megatronus stood over the mech while pulling Meister away. "Down, you crazy bolt head. Furthermore, how did you get through the doors?"

Meister settled down and backed away while still growling softly. The Prime helped the mech up and dusted off the light gray and gold mech. The mech was picking up the datapads that were scattered across the floor. Once he collected his items he finally answered, "my name is Shockwave, Senator Shockwave of Kaon, I came to speak with the council about Kaon's situation."

The droid looked up at Megatronus with a questioning tilt of his helm. He had never met a senator before, but he was fully aware of Alchemist's schedule and a meeting wasn't on his schedule. Apparently Megatronus agreed with the droid's confusion. "I was not aware of a meeting with you." He looked down at the mechanism, "Onyx is still here go get him."

Giving him a look of disapproval look before bounding off to find the other Prime. When he found the beast master tending to the newest Predacon hatchling in his office. Meister shifted back and was happily greeted by the hatchling gliding into his open arms. "Meister, what brings you here?"

"There is a mech claiming to be a senator and has a meeting set with the council." The silver mechanism sat the small Predacon down when the giant closed the space between them, holding his arm out for the small creature. "He said his name is Senator Shockwave, though I don't remember Alchemist having a council meeting with this mech. Should-"

The Prime interrupted him with a questioning almost concerned look. "This is certainly worrisome." He sat the Predacon onto a perch near the window and the pair walked back to where Megatronus was 'patiently' waiting with the senator. Meister looked at the two Primes curiously as to what he was supposed to do, luckily Onyx guided him. "Meister, why don't you head back to Alchemist's? We can handle this."

"Alright Onyx Prime. Would you like me to get Alche-"

"No!" Onyx spoke with a tone the droid never heard from him before and it was clear from his shocked expression. The black mech quickly pulled himself together, "no Meister, we can handle this. Our brother is busy with that donation to the orphanage. There was clearly a bit of miscommunication."

The silver droid simply nodded, "understood," and left.

Solar cycles passed and Meister was testing out his now functioning arm by turning into a cyberwolf, and sprinted through the Plurex Flats with a calming feeling running through his systems. He was originally going to go see the brothers, but they told him to take his time because they had a surprise for him. He was unsure what two youngling droids could do to surprise him, but he would give them two groons before heading back to Helix to see what happened. The Polyhexian droid was coming to a stop and his audio receptors flickered around when something in the far distance caught his attention. Meister shifted back and slipped his visors over his optics, and looked around with confusion as to what was setting him off.

"I must be imagining things," he shook his helm and shifted into his Predacon form and flew off to the apartment to see what Star and Saber were doing. Meister shifted behind the building before rushing upstairs with excitement on seeing the younglings. He opened the door and locked it, "Star, Saber I'm ba-"

Meister froze with his servo tightening around the lock when he saw the bounty hunter holding Star and Saber on his lap. The two looked up and smiled excitedly, "Meister, look he has a picture of Papa Alchemist and you!" The droid started to get that feeling that he had felt when that glitch, a word he had learned from Turbolight, stole them from him. He slowly took his visors off and sat them on the shelf next to the door, while keeping his optics on the white mech. Star saw the lack of excitement on his caretaker's face which put a frown on his own. "He said you were friends, like that Polyhexian that stays with us when you're not here. Are you mad at us Meister?"

Hearing this snapped the silver mechanism out of his thoughts, "what? No, I am not mad at either of you. Though I wish you had not answered the door. Star, go take your brother to the room while my friend and I converse?"

"Oh, but I think they should stay here. I mean, I'm not hurting the bits." Casper held the younglings with his arms which triggered the droid. "Can I say the same about you?"

"Let them go, you are not fully cognizant of the situation." Meister spoke deeply, his systems were screaming at him that his charges were in danger, but he refrained from doing anything to hurt them. No one moved until Casper released his hold and the younglings quickly went for the berthroom. When the door clicked, Meister quickly got in Casper's face with his blade going to his neck just as the bounty hunter did the same. "How did you find this place? Aren't bounty hunters supposed to go after Cybertronians that broke the law?"

"You aren't exactly that hard to miss. Though I was a bit shocked that it wasn't your master." Casper leaned in closer as his optics glowed almost an orange color. Meister clenched his jaw and pressed the blade against the mech's neck cables until he got a tiny reaction from the small nick. "What? Don't like that word? You are just a piece of equipment after all. You just think you have emotions like us, but you don't, I mean who if one of you were to be taken apart you wouldn't really care."

Meister growled and shifted his left arm into a blade, getting reading to attack but Casper threw him across the room. Meister shifted into and growled deeply as he stood protectively in front of the room. Casper pulled out his small handgun out and aimed it at the wolf that was getting ready to attack. Saber barreled out of the room and hugged his caretaker tightly as he shouted. "Stop hurting him! Meister is our Carrier and Papa Alchemist is going to hate you forever! You're just like our code holders; stop being mean to us!"

The droid shifted back and hugged the younger droid closer to his frame, "Saber, I do not care what happens to this shell. If I must be deactivated to see you safe, then it's what Primus had planned for me." Casper lowered his blaster down slowly, but he was ready to take out his target just in case he, it, whatever moved.

Saber shook his helm as he started crying, "no! You promised that Papa Alchemist and the Council would save us from Artificial Life."

Star joined his brother and hugged Meister as he frowned up at Casper. "What did Meister and Papa Alchemist do to make you mad?"

"Oh, I'm not mad. I just came here to kill the sparkling nappers, just didn't realize it was a Prime and his toy." Casper shrugged and pointed his handgun at Meister's helm. "Now you two come here so I can take-"

"No! She's hurt us and wants to recode us. Go away meanie, you're not a good mech." Star held onto their caretaker with a glare up at the stunned white mech. Meister stood up and held the younglings to his frame, nuzzling them both with happiness on all of their faces. He looked at Casper with a frown replacing his smile.

Meister shook his helm and bit his lip nervously as he took a step forward to the mech. Casper took a step back while Meister's optics turned blue and hugged them before stepping another closer. "If you are uncomfortable with how I look, then I'll use my mod to make it more comfortable. Can I at least show you the truth before you make judgement on whether or not I should be killed?"

"Why not, not like I have many bounties after you." Casper holstered his handgun and crossed his arms, expecting for a hardline or the normal ways that a Cybertronian would show memories, but Meister knelt on the floor and opened his chest. The white mech tripped backwards onto the table, breaking it in half, "wh-what are you doing? Wh-What is he doing?"

"It's like your spark, but it's not." Meister explained before Star gently pulled it out and his frame was quick to power down.

Star nervously held the card out to the mech, "please don't take us back to the bad Cybertronians. I don't want to forget my brother or Papa Alchemist or Meister. I know I'm just a youngling, but they're my family."

"Alright, alright I get it don't hurt the thing that botnapped you." He took the chip and placed it in his wrist. He saw coding streams flow through his systems and was met with files of memories. The bounty hunter went to view it, but a blue orb appeared in his processor, startling him. "What is that?"

This is my true form. I can see that what you said about me you didn't mean. I'm sorry I put a blade to your neck, I didn't want to hurt you, but you were going to make a big mistake. Meister opened the first file for Casper, letting him view what he had to go through.

"Subject Meister-Jzz4, are all systems green lights?" A mech that was painted all white with a single orange optic asked after placing the droid in his frame. Meister looked around while his systems were updating and downloaded the files that were being transferred to the frame. His optics went down to his frame and he looked back up at the Cybertronian.

"This shell is calibrating to my systems at an acceptable pace. All functions and systems are working properly. Did that sufficiently answer you question?" The silver droid tilted his helm slightly before standing up straight again. He folded his servos in front of himself, patiently waiting for answer.

The scientist started taking down notes, "where are we currently located?"

Meister didn't want to answer, but the longer he tried to push back the coding forcing him to answer the more warnings appeared. He gave into his coding and answered. "We are currently located in Artificial Life's main training facility located in… I have hit a firewall."

"Good, subject has no ability to reveal our location. Gearshaft will be pleased to know this specimen has passed all current tests, now to test the modification chip." The scientist looked at Meister and held the datapad in front of the droid. On the screen was an astrofox. "Turn into this."

Meister shifted into it and then back without any questions. He stood there with his servos folded neatly. The mech continued shifting until the scientist lowered the datapad and lowered the datapad, and spoke with authority in his voice. "Shift into Primus."

The mechanism tilted his helm with nothing popping up in his memory banks with this title. "I am sorry, I am unable to shift into something without a previous visual. Do you have a vi-" Meister screamed in pain as he fell to the ground with electricity surging through his systems. His motor functions stopped, and his optical feed started glitching; it continued until Meister was taken out of his frame and was placed into a large server.

Casper slowly rose off the ground and moved to the couch as he felt Meister pull up another file for him to view.

"Meister-Jzz4, what do you do when you see someone committing a crime?" The same scientist tested the droid that was standing in the middle of the testing room.

"I am programmed to report any crimes to the proper authorities as I am an AA1 model, and we are entertainers." He answered without looking at the mech to his left before he quickly whipped his helm to the scientist. "Does that fully satisfy your question?"

"Subject seems to have lost that personality coding since being recoded." He walked in front of the silver mechanism. The Cybertronian tapped on the datapad and held up an image of this strange creature that had four different faces on each side, making different expressions, several long tentacles were hanging out from the lower half of it, and a beam of light directly under it. "Turn into the Quintesson."

With a visual Meister shifted into the Quintesson as ordered, and then back once the notes were complete. Meister backhanded harshly, sending him to the ground. He touched his cheek plate as he slowly stood back up. "What did I do wrong? I completed the task given to me. I cannot maintain a shift without proper training."

"Did I give you a question subject Meister-Jzz4? No, then why are you speaking?" The cyclops activated the shocking setting on the black band around his neck. Meister dropped to his knees like an Insecticon with their wings pried off their frames. He shouted in pain and grabbed his neck as he tried to ask the scientist to stop.

Casper rested his chin in his servos as he ex-vented hard, "you were just helping them with their tests. You didn't need to be shocked for that." He looked over at the youngling droids with a disturbing look. "Were you both treated like this? Shocked for ridiculous things?"

Star nodded with a small whimper, "if we didn't play."

"Or if we asked why we didn't have creators." Saber whispered and held onto Meister's servo. "I don't like Cybertronians like them, but Papa Alchemist. He's really nice! He made a way we can drink energon and made our armor, and… and treated us like Cybertronians!"

The bounty hunter rubbed his helm at the amount of information that he was getting. "This still doesn't explain why your creators… owners… whatever would have a bounty to find you both. I know you're listening, are you going to show me what's so bad about-

Code holders. We call them code holders. Meister informed the mech before adding. You were an orphan? Alchemist and I often visit the orphanage in Iacon, I love spending time with the younglings.

"So weird having something in my helm." Casper's thoughts were interrupted by Meister showing him what he saw when he initially saved Star and Saber, and then when he rescued them from their code holder. With that information, the half-Predacon bounty hunter scratched his helm before pulling out the card from his wrist, giving it to Star to put back in Meister's frame. There was a moment before the silver frame started showing signs of life; the mech sat up and slowly rose to his peds. "Look, I was just doing my job. The femme just said that someone napped them."

Meister nodded and gently nudged the younglings to other room. When they were inside the berth room, he looked at him with a hurt expression. "I understand and I don't blame you for it. And despite you wanting to kill me and take the younglings to a code holder that wish to wrongfully recode them, I wish to see you again." He smiled while picking up the pieces of the table.

Hearing this threw Casper off and he went over to the shorter mech to tower over him. "You wish to see me again? After I held a blade and a handgun at you? And said all of those things about you?"

The AI nodded with an even bigger smile as he folded his arms behind his back. "I wish to get to know you on a personal level, and also to learn about a different type of companionship that I don't have with Alchemist nor the twins." Meister took a step closer and stood on the top of one of his peds, "that is if you wish to spend time with a tool."

"You are not a tool, and I should not have called you those names. I'm sorry for that." Casper apologized again, but Meister brushed it off with a smile. "You are a strange creature Meister; most would have kicked me out and threaten to have me arrested."

The AI laughed at the joke before giving a serious answer. "I find you just as strange Casper of Nova Cronum."

"Casper, you can just call me Casper." He suggested and the droid adjusted to the request. He nodded with a smile.

"I hope to spend more solar cycles with you, Casper."


I'm still alive.