#part three!

Today was a strange day, or perhaps it was only a strange day for this ship. After all, when Imperious set foot on the bridge to greet his 'newest friend’, Quick Search wasn’t there. The terminal was gone, leaving nothing behind than the ship’s chord and a small trail of footprints in the dust covered floor. Or, at least in the dust that hasn’t been yet cleaned by the small cybertronian.

This is a curious development. Quick Search has only started to leave his post recently, and usually Imperious had to softly nudge him into the right direction with his words, to get him to actually leave his post and show him around. Granted, with the way things were, Imperious could easily go on his own, but that could ruin the illusion. He needs Quick Search to believe that he’s still in control after all. Also, if given the right prompts, the terminal was easily swayed to talk about some of the things his crew researched. And who was Imperious to refuse freely given information and data on different planets and their cultures?

But perhaps he shouldn’t think about what he can gain, when the mech he needs for that isn’t around. So Imperious started to follow the footprints. Walking out of the bridge and down the halls right to where the research lab with the plants was. And lo and behold, the footprints ended just right outside the door. However, before Imperious could open the door, Quick Search beat him to it.

“You’re late!”

“I am not. You weren’t on the bridge when I arrived at my usual time.” Said Imperious, as he stepped around Quick Search and into the lab. Taking a look around to see what exactly got the small mech to leave his post. “It is a new development though. Usually you would be very adamant about not leaving the bridge. And now? You’re outside and spending your time in a lab.” Imperious was walking along one of the lab's many counters, when a small pot caught his interest.

Although, when he made an attempt to step closer, Quick Search was quick to run over and put himself between Imperious and the counter. Arms stretched out wide, as he shook his head. “Don’t touch that one! It’s Cybertronian Nightshade!” Exclaimed the small Cybertronian, before turning around and picking the pot up with big enough tongs. Carrying it over to a shelf with other plants. “I should have put it away sooner…”

Now that was interesting. A plant that shouldn’t be touched, and one Quick Search hasn’t shown him the last time they were in here? How curious. It sure enough got his attention. “I didn’t intend to touch it, I merely wanted to have a closer look. But you mentioning it makes me wonder. Why shouldn’t it be touched? Is it poisonous?”

“Well… no?” Quick Search looked from the plant to Imperious. His mouth was a thin line, as he thought about the right words to use. He considered Imperious a friend, yes, but at the same time they have only known each for a short time. And some of the research was classified, but then again, it would probably be better if he told his new friend about what the plant can do. Just in case, of course. “Okay, yes. It is poisonous, but not as much as other plants of its kind. There are some kinds of Nightshade growing on planets inhabited by organics, but they seem to be more lethal than ours. Granted, it could be because of the size difference, but I like to believe that it’s something about the way the plants develop on their home planets.” With each word, Quick Search grew more and more excited. Listing off more results of their research and parts he would love to further study, but with the ship not being able to fly and there being no crew, that wasn’t a possibility.

“But I believe the most interesting thing about Cybertronian Nightshade, next to it being rarely lethal, is its effects on a Cybertronian. As I said you won’t really die if you eat it, let alone if you touch it, but ingesting it in any kind of way can lead to your reaction time slowing down.It also can cause nausea, although, I believe the most dangerous part is its ability to cause hallucinations if you consume too much of it.” Said Quick Search, before his excitement about the subject was damped as he remembered the next part of the research. “I once saw it happen to one of our crew members, who was okay with being tested on. They gave him too much and… he was a grounder and the hallucinations drove him mad…”

Imperious watched Quick Search’s mood turn from excited to sad. Which was somewhat new, because from what he’s learned, the small cybertronian hardly becomes this sorrowful. Then again, this might just be what Imperious needed. So, he walked over to Quick Search and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Did he recover?” He asked with a voice that might have sounded consoling to others, but underneath was nothing but amusement. Quick Search was, after all, falling too easily into his trap. It would be sad, really. Seeing such a pure mech clinging to someone like him for comfort, if Imperious cared. But he didn’t.

Quick Search though looked up at Imperious, before shaking his head. “Captain said that he would be fine, but he never recovered…” Whispered the small mech quietly, as his cat-like finals flattened down. “At least I think he never did. The captain said that he took care of the matter… but when I checked the log-book, any trace of him was gone.”

“Perhaps, your captain didn’t want anyone to know that an experiment of his crew went wrong?” He said, but when Imperious saw the way Quick Search flinched, he almost regretted his words. Maybe he had pushed the small mech too far, especially with how he still clung to his captain. But there was no going back on what he said, and so, he continued. “I mean, if he was captain who cared about his own appearance and reputation more than anything, he would probably not want anyone to know that something bad happened while he was in charge.”

Quick Search was about to say something, but stopped himself. Imperious’ words made him think about all the times something happened on the ship. His captain always took care of the matter and, sometimes, mechs would disappear. They would just be gone the next day, without a trace. Even the ship’s main database seemed to always lose their information. If it wasn’t for Quick Search’s Database and his habit to always store information double, there wouldn’t be anyone remembering the lost mechs. “I… I think… I think you’re… you’re… nghhh…”

“Quick Search?”

“I…” Why was thinking becoming hard? Why was his head hurting? Headaches were only supposed to come when someone tried and failed to hack into his database or when they tried the wrong password too many times. Not when he tried to make his own opinion. “I… it hurts… Thinking… hurts…” Was all he could mutter as he clutched his head. But he couldn’t explain why it was hurting. This wasn’t supposed to happen, and yet, strangely enough, when he stopped thinking about his captain being responsible for the ‘Lost Mechs’ his head stopped hurting. The more he thought about his captain being a good captain, a great captain, his head stopped hurting.

Although, when the pain was fully gone and Quick Search’s face turned from an expression of pain to an innocent smile, everything was okay again. “I th-think you’re wrong? It surely must be a misunderstanding or a coincidence. My captain is a good mech! I’m sure that he wouldn’t do anything like that!” He said cheerfully, before brushing Imperious’ hand off and going back to work. Looking at some of the vine-like plants to see how they were developing, before feeling two big hands wrapping around his middle and picking him up.

And even though he didn’ want to, Quick Search found himself facing Imperious’ piercing gaze. Which caused him to slightly crumble underneath it.

“I think you’ve worked enough today.” Was all the taller one said, as he tugged a pouting Cybertronian underneath his arm and walked out of the lab. Engaging Quick Search in easy smalltalk, that was only a front. Imperious was testing a small theory that had formed in his mind the second he saw Quick Search’s struggle to word his own opinion. There has to be a reason why the small mech couldn’t say anything negative about his captain. And worse, it seemed like his ‘friend’ didn’t even realise what was happening. Because every time Imperious suggested that the ship’s captain might not be as noble as he sounds and Quick Search struggled to give a response, he noticed how quick he was to bounce back to praising his captain without a second thought. Sometimes even forgetting what they were talking about, or at least it looked like he forgot.

Looks like turning this little Cybertronian over to his side was harder than he thought. At least, until he somehow manages to undo whatever Quick Search’s captain did to him. Who knows, maybe this could play into his hands too.

Yes, proof is always good when trying to convince someone to join your side. Imperious will just have to wait, until the time is right. But before he could plan further, Quick Search got his attention by asking about the outside world again. And Imperious, after entering the bridge and sitting down on the captain’s chair, with Quick Search sitting on the arm rest, entertained the smaller mech with his stories.

Making sure that he was fully engrossed in the stories, before starting to experiment a little bit to see how far he can go until Quick Search started to have a headache again. Turns out, as long as he didn’t make him question his captain, everything was fine.