#hexbolt

Note: This takes place in the NEST base arc of Rogue Seeker before Skywarp and co. show up. Hexbolt is an OC, an uploaded human mind who inhabits a network of drone bodies and fought against the Autobots in the Invasion three centuries prior.

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"Fascinating, this plethora of bodies."

Starscream grinned and commented as kha purveyed Dr.Hex's collection of drones with gleaming optics. It wasn’t hard to get into the old workshop, after all Starscream was former SIC of the Decepticons and sparkbonded to khyr ship, The Nemesis,  kha had bypass codes for all of nir chambers.

The Organic Intelligence, Hexbolt and NEST had moved into the ship centuries prior, but their inferior tech hadn’t unlocked most of the locked rooms.  Still, their...occupation was enough that places like this drone workshop now existed.

Kha holographic crest pricked up in interest.

There was the near-human replicant frame, winged and tailed. It was curled in a nest of blankets and pillows on a shelf-loft with human-sized tools, furniture and living quarters with a small kitchenette and a bathing area. It’s breathing was shallow and slow. Starscream took a mild note on the differing scales that the Organic Intelligence used for their differing sized bodies

Tucked away into shelves and cubbies on the shelf-loft was the smaller frames. Kha sneered at the drones in the shape of organic Terran insecticons and fictional ones like the creepy food insecticons from Bugsnax. Artificial birds and small mammals stared at khyr with dead eyes.

On the wall above the sleeping replicant, was the unmoving Kafka-esque drone, in the visage of an Earth roach, its wings crowned with a human face.

Starscream’s holographic feathers flattened against khyr helm in disgust and kha swept khyr holo tail feathers over the roach drone in reflex.

[Starscream: Explain presence.]

Soundwave’s private message burned in the lower right corner of khyr HUD.

Starscream spunned on khyr heel and looked in the darkest corner of the workshop. Ah, there.

Soundwave, keeping sentinel. Zir pigment nanites had shifted to be pitch-black and zir biolights was off. Ze was nothing but a mech-sized silhouette, their visor flashed in the darkness.

[I just need to ask them something, Soundwave. Nothing to worry your pretty helm over.]

Soundwave didn’t reply, but kha could tell they were recording.

Starscream shook khyr helm and turned around. Kha paid zir no heed, let zir go back to being the silent one.

The network was silent, each drone body had empty eyes and dim optics.

Starscream wasn't sure if anyone was home.

Just because the near-human replicant was breathing, didn’t mean there was a mind to pilot it.

Soundwave's presence had a way of ensuring that Hex wasn't around, let alone in what was their private quarters.

There was only one way to find out.

Starscream picked khyr way past several old mechframes, while Soundwave's helm slowly turned to watch khyr movements.

Sitting against the wall was an old familiar drone frame, it leaned against the wall, its four hands clasped in its lap as its legs were outstretched before it.

"Ah, I remember this one. The satellite-former that my darling Skywarp once built, based off that ancient extinct codeline. You used to own this as a drone, Soundwave."

Ze did the barest of nods.

Khyr talons reached out to caress the side of the helm.  Kha remembered Skywarp craving violence and metal to grow that frame.

It's faceless visor flashed and its engines rumbled and its vocalizer crackled.

DESIST

The frame boomed out, sounding exactly like Soundwave when angered.

In the corner, Soundwave's data cable unfurled.

In a flash, the Satellite frame leapt to its feet and slapped the data cable away, its own talons glinted.

DESIST

"Ah, so someone is home!" Starscream smirked, khyr own denta flashed in the dim lighting.

"You're an ass. The hell you want!? I was sleeping." Hexbolt said.

"Ah, is that anyway to speak to your elders? After how I settled the status issues between you and Soundwave here?"

Hexbolt turned on their heel and tilted its helm, EM field tense and tight against their frame.

Starscream just cackled.

"You really are like Soundwave, even moving your helm like zir."

Hex just flexed their claws. " Yeah and without me, you wouldn't even be awake with a working body. I doubt you came here to compare the two of us. What is it?"

Soundwave nodded in approval in the background.

Starscream knelt down and picked up the toaster body from its cubby on the shelf-loft. It warbled in annoyance. "I see this little one's currently connected."

The toaster pouted on its screen.

Its little nubby legs flailed.

Soundwave's data cable snaked its way from zir corner to the back of Starscream's neck, kha could hear the slow spin of its tines whir menacingly.

Heh.

Hex folded their arms, all four of them, and silently watched, the visor had the recording mark. No doubt they were studying the dynamics between khyr and their adopted parent.

Starscream gently ran khyr talons over the toaster body and handed Hexbolt's small drone body to the satellite frame. Handing them back to themself.  The toaster warbled in appreciation at being back with theirself.

Soundwave's threat didn't relent.

Behind a giant isopod body, several fryder drones watched warily. Kha reached out for them and they skittered underneath.

Another data cable reached out, this one aimed for the base of khyr helm, the tines on this data cable spun even faster.

The old satellite frame ex-vented as the toaster body wriggled itself free. It nubbled its way over to Soundwave, who picked it up with gentle spindly digits.

It chirruped happily.

The satellite frame's claws started to crackle.

"Both of you get out. I went to sleep. Alone for a reason." Hexbolt turned to look at Soundwave, both faceless visors stared straight at each other.

The toaster whined sadly.

Both satellite-mech and toaster eyed each other, a silent battle of wills.

Starscream chuckled.

"Mind conflicted, aren't you? A part of you wishes to stay with Soundwave and recharge like a good sparkling, the rest of you is determined to stay independent and free of flock and adopted creator."

Whirring tines started to slow.

Soundwave's grip on the toaster tightened and the toaster nestled in zir grip.

The satellite frame backed away from both of them and turned their back on both of them.

"Out."

The toaster beeped.

"Yes, that includes you!"

Hexbolt's satellite frame looked over their shoulder. "Well?"

Soundwave nodded, and zir data cables withdrew back into zir now glowing frame. Ze picked up the toaster to its helm and it nuzzled the Voidwing's chin.

Soundwave stalked out the doorway, zir e-m field flickered happily.

"Fascinating. With your network, both your wishes came true. Independence and a good snuggle." Starscream laughed.

"I told you to leave."

"Ah, I need a favor of you."

"Right, when you harassed me awake." Starscream purred and khyr tone became silky.

"It's for science."

Hexbolt's turned around and leaned against the wall, arms crossed and right leg planted on the wall behind them. Their faceless helm cocked in interest.

"Okay, you bastard, I'm listening."

"This frame, you built. " Khyr claws swept over khyr frame. "It's flawed."

Hexbolt sagged a little as they hunched over and their most outer two arms tapped their claws against the wall.

"....I'm not surprised. You are the first and only Cybertronian I've tried to revive. My old mech prototypes fell apart, until that modified Thunderbolt jet came together."

Starscream's smirk grew.

Khyr holo tail feathers slowly curled around the once human drone network in front of khyr. The lack of belligerent debate was surprising but welcome. So different then from dealing with Megatron.

"Yes, you see the problem then."

Their faceless visor recorded the hypnotic movement of khyr holo feathers.

"At least that works, eh? I got the holographic feathers down. That took a while."

Starscream tsked. "Actually."

Hexbolt's helm dipped down.

"It's missing a whole spectrum of color, in the UV range. Among others that don't come naturally to your biological cameras."

"...I see. I was guessing from old video and simulations ran on my network. You understand. The few surviving cybertronian appliances  aren't really interviewable."

Starscream nodded. "Still impressive for a species with your limitations. But you know." Kha said, airily.

"It's limiting your communication opportunities. The missing range is a disability. Though....do you even need that to communicate with Soundwave?"  Hexbolt's helm looked straight up at Starscream, it bored into khyr, despite the younger network being half khyr size in that form.

Starscream scowled and khyr holo feathers flashed neon blue, the color of life, energon, and rage.

"No. Zir codeline didn't rely on holographic displays for communication."

The ex-Winglord reached out with a claw and gently tapped on the face-screen.

"This? They used."

Hexbolt raised an arm and pushed away khyr claws as Starscream laughed softly.

Hexbolt straightened their back and looked straight up at Starscream, with that eerie blank face. Unlike Soundwave, they never displayed anything to the adult Cybertronians. Kha had only seen them display to other humans and khyr shared creations with Soundwave. 

"I'll send you some textbooks on human consent and you send me what you need fixed.  Display an understanding of human consent culture and I'll start on your new improved form."

Starscream's optics shuttered.

Hexbolt continued, "Deal? Can't be that hard, Winglord. Just some simple reading you need to get done, while I have to build a whole-"

Starscream scowled. "Please. While your work is quite admirable for your species, I'll still be supervising and giving aid as needed."

"Of course, such supervision and aid doesn't need face tapping. Unless there's some form of cultural meaning, I'm not aware of." Hexbolt looked Starscream up and down. "Now get the fuck out of my workshop, unless you want to know why I survived the Autobot Purges."

Starscream's optics narrowed along with the glowing optics on their holographic feathers.

Khyr crest flattened against khyr helm, streaked with irritated grey. "This will be a fruitful venture, yes? I'm more then happy to let Soundwave know of your progress and emotional state."

Hexbolt stiffened.

"Yes, ze will be quite pleased to know that you agreed to work with me on this." Starscream smiled and slowly sauntered out of the workshop.

The door slid behind khyr as Hexbolt's blank face screen recorded khyr.