Interesting how Skids appears to be filling the role left empty by Shockwave becoming a demon. Particularly how in his conversation with Blurr a lot of his appearance and mannerisms evokes almost an image or a reminder of Shockwave. Because it’s easy to imagine that Shockwave’s absence left quite the void initially. And how to fill that void? How to learn to do something none of them have ever done before? Well one way would seemingly be to learn from example. Learn to mimic what had previously been done. Mimic what Shockwave had done. And by extension mimic Shockwave himself.
Though that then opens a question. The council very distinctly wanted to get rid of Shockwave. Not only get rid of him, but do so in a way that set a very public example. In a way that allowed for no possible questioning or doubt of the Council’s judgement because it was not the Council’s judgement at all but rather appeared as the judgement of Primus.
So what then does that leave if Shockwave’s academy carries on? And not only does it carry on, but does so in a way that maintains Shockwave’s legacy. And even beyond that that the individual leading the effort to maintain all of that is not only ensuring everything Shockwave started continues but also more and more taking on a likeness to Shockwave in doing so.
Skids is Shockwave’s younger copy except. Not really. He makes sure the legacy is carried on. He fills the role his mentor had. He does that the way Shockwave would but smarter. Cleverer, quieter. Unlike Shockwave he knows what exactly the stakes are and he has a faint idea of how much is too much.
It’s like making a run of a particularly difficult level in a video game after watching someone else failing to complete it. You don’t have the winning strategy but you confidently know what to expect and what to avoid. So you make your preparations less random and your strategy more specific that what the previous person had.
If I had to put it into perspective. The Senate used Shockwave as an example of what would happen to anyone trying to go “against Gods will”.
With Orion - it worked perfectly and Orion became too afraid of consequences to do anything. He got scared to try because he doesn’t want to end up a demon. For him it was a proof of some higher being being in control of peoples lives.
With Skids however - Skids took that as a tactical information. He learned what triggers the punishment and decided to work with that information. It wasn’t “oh no I should stop entirely” but instead “oh now I know how much I can push the limits before the reaction comes”.
……..also Skids has a uh. Rather unique condition/magical ability. Giving up and living a normal life isnt really an option to him. He either fights for his(and other monsters) right to live peacefully or he gives up and has to hide for the rest of his life.
