Trust crisis
I'm smart—at least that's how Steel Fork sees herself. Both her past experiences and later knowledge demonstrate one fact: she's truly intelligent. Superpowers put a burden on the body, and powerful superpowers put an even greater burden. But it seems that Priest opened a window while simultaneously opening a door for Steel Fork, creating a perfectly balanced design: her powerful superpower didn't make her body fragile or cause her brain module to burn out upon use—her body and her spark could fully withstand the powerful superpower.
Therefore, objectively speaking, Steel Fork's body does indeed possess an innate, preferential strength, and her processor also has the powerful computing capabilities to handle her supernatural abilities. So... whether objectively or subjectively, Steel Fork believes herself to be very intelligent, and she has that confidence.
She noticed Shockwave's furtive charging movements from the beginning, but wisely, she didn't disturb him. Her intuition told Steel Fork that if she investigated Shockwave's actions, something bad might happen. Besides, the etiquette guide also mentioned that people should leave room for each other in their interactions; it's better for everyone.
After all, Shockwave was the first person she encountered here. Shockwave was the first person she could live with, someone she could call a kindred spirit and a friend. Thanks to meeting Shockwave, Steel Fork stopped her previous aimless life. She had a fixed amount of energy blocks to obtain each cycle, her own charging bed that was more comfortable than anywhere else before, and a companion, a friend—Shockwave. Perhaps Steel Fork herself didn't realize that with each cycle they spent together, she grew increasingly fond of Shockwave and emotionally dependent on him. So, it's reasonable for Steel Fork to control her curiosity and not investigate further because of this affection, right?
But she was too curious. Where had Shockwave gone? What was he doing? Why couldn't she know? Curiosity was in Grimfork's nature. She relied on curiosity to hunt in the wilderness, to develop her abilities, and it was also because of curiosity that she didn't pounce on Shockwave and kill him the moment she saw him, but instead observed him from afar. Curiosity had shaped her current life; it was a part of Grimfork's being. It would be too difficult for her to suppress her curiosity and not investigate.
The steel fork decided to investigate.
Steel Fork began to regret it: the shockwave had really fooled her.
How did things turn out this way?
During charging time, the base was quiet. A head sculptor popped out from around the corner of the corridor, looking left and right.
There were thick, metallic scratch marks on the wall next to the shockwave room. She deliberately pretended to be in a deep charging state, but remained fully conscious.
Around the time she usually enters a deep recharge state, some noises came from the room with the shockwave: footsteps, the sound of a door opening, and... she wasn't mistaken, it was definitely the sound of a metal door rising!
That wall was actually a metal door!
What's behind that door?
The shockwave from the steel fork traveled far away, then it flew quietly into the doorway, trying not to make any noise, while avoiding the camera and moving as quietly as possible.
On their exploration, around the corner of the corridor, there was a room where Shockwave stood in the doorway. Steel Fork, clinging to the wall, secretly peeked out with her optical lens and saw him tap the lock a few times; the door quickly opened. After Shockwave went inside, Steel Fork gently flew to the door. Her powers allowed her to sense through the wall that on the other side of the door were neatly stacked energy blocks. Was the room filled with energy blocks? In Steel Fork's eyes, the room instantly shimmered with a dazzling light, drawing her in.
The door opened, and a purple figure stood in the doorway, facing the steel fork.
The single optical lens was pointed directly at her, its red light reflecting off her visor. In that instant, Steel Fork seemed to understand many things, and she asked, "Is this the legendary energy storage chamber?"
“Yes.” Shockwave didn’t intend to charge the hand cannon—that wouldn’t harm Steel Fork. He gave the order that if Steel Fork didn’t do anything rash, he might not need to activate the program that was already written into Steel Fork’s brain module, which could crash her.
"Go back to charging. Your actions at this moment are illogical."
“According to etiquette, I should say: I'm sorry for invading your privacy. But…” Steel Fork lowered its wings, trying to appear a little vulnerable, but looking down would reveal Shockwave's thick breastplate, which would make her unable to control the corners of her mouth. She could only stare at Shockwave's head sculpt with a straight face, trying to ignore the thought of charging her core. “I’m curious, why are you being so secretive? You’re hiding it from me, why?”
Shockwave's body tensed up. Why was he so nervous? Steel Fork jokingly asked, puzzled, "Do you usually get the energy cubes I get from here? I thought you produced all the energy cubes!"
“Yes, the energy cubes we use all come from here.” Shockwave answered Steel Fork’s next question, but not the previous one.
So Steel Fork pressed on, "That's not what I want to ask. I want to know why I can't know about this energy storage room? There's even a secret door!"
"Because I thought you would steal food, the secret door is a defensive device that was built when the base was constructed."
"I would never steal food! You underestimate me!"
"I think there's a high chance you stole the food, so you're not allowed to go near the energy storage room anymore. I've answered your question; you should go back and recharge."
"Just because you think I'd steal food?" Steel Fork stared at Shockwave, its wings on its back unconsciously curling up, exuding the oppressive aura honed by its status as a top predator in the wilderness.
The shockwave retreats one step, while the steel fork advances one step.
Until there was no more room to retreat, the back armor hit the wall. The larger machine was forced into a corner by the smaller one.
There was always a strong urge within her to act in accordance with Shockwave's words. Steel Fork had already noticed this phenomenon. She recalled the first time she encountered Shockwave. Why didn't she have the urge to obey his words then? Steel Fork pointed to her head sculpture and continued to ask, "Why do I always want to listen to you?"
“A logical explanation is that you’ve become accustomed to following my teachings.” Despite retreating step by step, Shockwave maintained his composure.
The logic might make sense, but emotionally, Steel Fork still couldn't believe it: "During that data connection, did you really just download some data?"
"Yes."
"Then why do I still need to carry those data boards? I should already know them."
"That knowledge is actually useless; making you memorize it is just a form of punishment. That's why I didn't download it for you."
"You're making me memorize something that's useless?"
“I’ve said it before, it was just a form of punishment.”
"I don't want to carry the data board! I hate carrying the data board!" Steel Fork was furious and embarrassed. Her purpose for this trip was overshadowed by another, more painful emotion—the pain of carrying the data board. "You're not allowed to make me carry the data board anymore."
“This is impossible until I find a more suitable punishment. Go back to recharge.”
"No!" Steel Fork took a step back, a surge of anger burning within him. "Don't give me orders! I don't want to..."
The shockwave initiated the program.
Because the steel fork is disobeying him.
Her consciousness rapidly blurred, and Steel Fork suddenly felt utterly exhausted. At the same time, her head throbbed with pain, as if she had been struck hard with a blunt object. But she fought back fiercely and remained conscious. With her willpower sustaining her consciousness, Steel Fork finally realized that the shockwave had indeed tampered with her body in this unusual state.
Like thick, acidic bubbles blocking its core, the steel fork felt wronged: "I always believed in you... and you lied to me. Why did you do this?"
Because you're powerful? No, even if it were a weak Cybertronian, Shockwave would have done the same. So he said:
"Because you are not me, and I am not a mind reader. I have to be wary of you."
The shockwave server covered the optical mirror of the machine in front of her to help her log off more easily. The hand cannon held the other's machine, his last act of care. "If you had always obeyed my orders, things might not have turned out this way."
"Farewell, steel fork."
How did things turn out this way?
What is he going to do?
What gives him the right to still be standing there!
Steel Fork felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She struggled desperately, but inevitably, her machine gradually locked down. Soon, she would be completely offline. What would happen after that? What would Shockwave do? When she woke up next time, would she still be herself? Or perhaps, she would never wake up again.
She had to admit that the countermeasures taken against her by Shockwave were indeed very effective.
But she'll be faster! She's the one who's truly amazing!
Extreme anger sustained his consciousness, and the steel fork activated its supernatural power.
The shockwave's spark was extracted from the spark chamber by the superpower. The large red optical mirror quickly dimmed to a dark red, and the machine knelt down helplessly before collapsing to the ground.
The steel fork held the fire in its hand, yet it had no desire to eat it.
Because my energy levels are currently high, and the flavor of the Fire Seed is far inferior to that of the Energy Cube? Shockwave said that Energy Cubes come in many different flavors. That day, during a break, he concocted a delicious energy liquid. He also said that if he found the ingredients in the future, he would show me how to make more flavors of Energy Cubes, and we could even create our own favorite flavors. He also said… many, many other things. Steel Fork remembers them all clearly.
Her gaze fell on the machine lying on the ground, its flame dimmed from the loss of its spark. The server trembled as it brought the spark to its lips, opened its mouth, and gently placed its metal teeth on the surface of the spark. It dared not bite hard, but still licked it.
"Ugh, it's sticky and tastes like waste liquid, it's absolutely awful!"
In an instant, the spark was slammed back onto the ground, returning to the spark chamber. The energy fluid flowed again in the fuel lines, connecting every component of the machine. The breath of life returned, and the dimmed machine regained its original color.
“You win, Shockwave.” Steel Fork slumped to the ground, the program still in effect, she was losing control of her legs—she was completely exhausted. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so you win.”
His consciousness grew heavier, filled with resentment and the fear of losing consciousness. Steel Fork leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on Shockwave's machine, muttering incoherently: "After you wake up, you have to let me live. I want to eat more flavors of energy. There are so many places on Cybertron I haven't been to yet. I want to see Green Hills, Iron Fortress, Crystal City. I want to see Cybertron in its golden age, I want to see the revived Cybertron, I want to see more..."
Steel Fork's gaze remained fixed on the lying machine, and the optical lens slowly dimmed.
...
wrong!
The closed optical mirrors lit up again, and Steel Fork struggled to stay afloat on Shockwave's chest armor; just below was the Fire Seed pod.
This might be the last time I'm conscious, and I can't accept it. I can't accept that the shockwave deceived me without any consequences! It must remember me! It must be punished!
The damage to the body could be repaired, but excessive damage would kill Shockwave, which was not what she wanted. Steel Fork thought of the AllSpark fusion; Cybertronian physiological knowledge was stored in her brain module along with the data package: the AllSpark was sacred and inviolable, the most important organ of the Cybertronians.
Who says that a fusion of sparks that is not of one party's consent doesn't count as punishment? Shockwave is not of one party's consent.
With this thought in mind, Steel Fork swiftly pried open the fire-generating compartment of the machine beneath her, while simultaneously opening her own fire-generating compartment. The machine trembled with excitement at what was about to happen, and she hugged it tightly, her fingers denting the armor with such force.
The two sparks of light merged into one, intertwining and leaving indelible marks on each other.
The spark link is difficult to detach, and forcibly detaching it would damage the spark, while the shockwave would never do such a useless thing.
So don't think you can just say goodbye so easily! You must always carry my link, my mark...
Until death.
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