Class is in session » open

[flickerandfade]

CHARACTERS: Megatron, whoever is interested in a crash course in Cybertronian medicine
LOCATION: The common area.
DATE: Nowish
CONTENT: Megatron is training some folks in Cybertronian first aid and other basics! This is supposed to be a bit free-wheeling, so feel free to jump around a little bit, throw in questions and etc. Megatron will do his best to answer all of them.
WARNINGS: Medical stuff

[ Megatron hadn't expected quite so many eager participants for his offer to teach the basics of Cybertronian medicine, byt maybe he should have. He's arranged some of the seating in the common area in a sort of semi-circle around a space where he's laid open the medical bag that looks suspiciously like a gun. Once all the students have filtered in, he straightens as much as he can, with his head nearly brushing the ceiling, and clears his throat. It's a strange sound, halfway between a cough and a burst of static. ]

Thank you for coming. This will not be a completely comprehensive review, as a proper medical education takes years. We will begin with the most basic and essential building blocks of Cybertronian life, Rossum's Trinity--

[ At which point he gestures to himself, touching his chest, head, and then chest again in turn. ]

Also known as Rossum's Rule of Thirds. This refers to the spark, the brain module, and the transformation cog. Significant traumatic damage to any of these three components can have a cascading negative effect on the other two and lead to death. Of the three, the spark is the arguably the most uniquely Cybertronian.

It is a mass of electrically charged positrons which in organic parlance could be likened to a 'heart' or a 'soul' but is perhaps best considered a combination of both. Each spark has it's own resonance and like a heart, pulses at a certain frequency to provide power and life to the Cybertronian body it inhabits.

Are there any questions so far?

[ The lectures will continue in this vein, with pauses for discussion and questions. Feel free to respond to the initial lecture, or to just have your character throw out any questions they might have as if they've been touched upon at some point! Discussion among the class is encouraged. ]

Comments

[ruinously]

[ yep, you can sign Dean right the hell up for this. A bad day (year) has turned seriously awesome, and this is frankly a fantastic distraction from the fact that his brother just raised friggin' Satan from Hell back home.

Awesome work, Sammy. Way to listen to your big brother. ]

Nope, not yet. Keep pontificating, Megs. I'm all ears.

[flickerandfade]

Of course.

[ Megatron waves a hand at his own head as he continues. ]

The next connection, obviously, is the brain module. The digital brain that contains all of our computing power and all of our memories. There's debate among scholars and medical professionals about whether it is the spark or the brain module that truly delineates a Cybertronian's personality, but in all liklihood it is some combination of the two. They are linked, inextricably.

The brain module is comparatively small when you place it next to the usual size of a Cybertronian body, making it difficult to destroy completely--and not all Cybertronians keep them in their heads. However, total destruction of the brain module can induce enough trauma to cause death, and usually does.

[ruinously]

So is it kinda like a computer motherboard?

[ Hopefully it's not a stupid question; while Dean's fanboyed over the robots, he never had time to dive into the whole...'fandom' thing because he was kinda busy, and thus doesn't have a great grasp of the anatomy. ]

Where's yours? Or is that personal, need to know info?

[flickerandfade]

If you require a reference, there are worse comparisons to make.

[ He seems unoffended by the comparison in this setting, at least. ]

Mine is located in my head. Most are, but not all. And everyone's moves a different place when we transform.

[venatoris]

Yeah, probably a little offensive, sorry.

[ But yeah, it was the best comparison he could think of. ]

So what do you turn into?

[droide]

[ Elthree stands in the back of the group, allowing the organic volunteers to sit closer to Megatron so they don't have to strain their feeble human eyes. Megatron is large enough that her optic can see just fine.

When the time comes for questions, Elthree raises her hand. ]

How is a spark formed? Are they naturally occurring?

[flickerandfade]

An excellent question, Elthree.

[ His favorite student! ]

They are indeed naturally occurring on Cybertron and its various moons. These planets are themselves made up heavily of what we call sentio metallico, living medal. From time to time, areas that we call "hotspots" occur close to the surface wherein these sparks form and bloom with a release of energy. Hence, hotspot.

At this point, they can be harvested for implantation into a ready-made body, a process known as cold-construction. Alternatively, a spark can be harvested with a certain amount of sentio metallico. In proper ratios and given proper nurturing a spark with the right amount of this material will create a protoform, the birth-form of a Cybertronian. This process is what we refer to as 'forging.'

I was cold-constructed.

[droide]

[ Cold-construction... Elthree bites back a remark about how Megatron was in fact created by someone else after all. She knows that having a spark of living energy embedded into a metal body is not the same as having an organic program artificial intelligence into a droid.

Instead she'll focus on another interesting tidbit of information that this brings up. ]

So, are sparks transferrable then, between bodies? If a Cybertronian suffers enough physical damage, can the spark be moved to a new chassis?

[flickerandfade]

Yes.

[ That's the simple answer. ]

Ideally the original brain module should also be intact, but the exact relationship between personality and memory and the brain module and spark is complicated. Generally the spark itself carries with it the personality and many long-term memories. Without preserving the brain module between transplants there is some risk of short-term memory less and disorientation, especially in traumatic cases.

This is not the body I came online in, for the most part. I have suffered some extreme injury and been almost completely rebuilt on several occasions.

[droide]

[ She nods, listening. This is all good to know, for the unlikely-yet-still possible that either Megatron or the other Cybertronian aboard gets so injured that transplant becomes required.

Although-- ]

The transplant body... Does it need to be made of sentio metallico? Would a body made of other metal still work?

[ Knowing how to transplant a spark and brain module won't do them any good if there's nothing to transplant them to. ]

[coordination]

[ Yzak did say he wanted to get a closer look at that medkit. And in doing so, get a better close up look at Megatron himself. Since right now in his mind he's simply likening him between a cross of a smaller-mobile suit and some sort of advanced form of AI like Viveca.

Time for yet another round of ~Yzak Jule Learns About New Things~

So he shows up a few minutes after his conversation with Megatron on the network. And ever curious, he's definitely got questions once he's done speaking. ]

You said a transformation cog? The name makes it sounds pretty obvious as to what it does, but transform what, and how exactly? And why is that so important?

[flickerandfade]

[ Ah, another question. ]

The transformation cog is the third integral part. It is what allows Cybertronians to adapt--to take on other forms which may be useful for industry, military service, or other duties. A Cybertronian can adapt their alternate mode as is required, though generally a ground vehicle does not become a flyer and vice versa. I was one of the exceptions. Though currently...

[ With a distinctive sound Megatron shifts forms, the roughly humanoid shape bending and shifting and tucking itself away until a (comparatively) small armored vehicle of alien design sits before the assembled. Megatron's voice emanates from it, as if he hadn't just turned into a tank. ]

You see?

[coordination]

[ A literal tank is talking to him. What????

The sheer weirdness he feels from this all is pretty evident in his expression. ]

I ... see, yes.

[ He recovers though, or at least - looks like he does because presentation is important to Yzak. Especially since Megatron mentioned a term that catches his interest. ]

You mentioned military service, and then your civil war on the network. And, what was the phrase, superiority of mechanoid life. Were you originally made and used for war?

[ To Yzak that doesn't sound like a big assumption to make. Humans make machines for war, machines get self-aware, pissed off that they're being used as tools, so fuck them fleshy lifeforms, right? ]

[flickerandfade]

We were not made by any but ourselves, or our gods if you speak to particular sects of Cybertronian religions.

[ This does, however, touch on a subject very dear to his spark. He transforms back to his humanoid shape, because lecturing in that shape is just easier. He paces a few steps to one side, then to the other as he speaks. ]

There was a particular religious sect however, that dominated Cybertronian society for a time. It was known as Functionism. It's primary tenet was that our foremost God, Primus, had created all of us and our innate alternate modes with a purpose in mind. To change from that purpose to another was anathema. A rebellion against Primus. To that end, it was forbidden for any to change professions or functions without explicit permission of the government. A military flyer could not give up fighting to make timepieces. A humble mining mech could never hope to become a doctor.

Changes were granted in the rarest of circumstances and it serves the corrupt and powerful. While the religious sect was eventually partially suppressed by the Senate, the trappings of Functionism allowed a high degree of control over the populace and many of their policies were maintained. It was this struggle to overthrow the corrupt and debilitating inequality of that order that plunged us into civil war.

[ He pauses, considers his next words. ]

I was that humble miner who wished to train in medicine. And instead I turned myself into a weapon.

[coordination]

[ Professions and functions chosen for you based on what what form you had and what skills that came along with it. The basic concept sounds familiar, and shittily so. Only nothing that extreme came to be where he's from - only dangerously close.

But also, it's gonna take a little bit of time for Yzak to wrap his head around all this sentient robot stuff and he's already hearing about robot religions and oh god his brain is overloading help.

So his tone sounds a little stiff when he responds. ]

There's ... always some stupid shit like that, isn't there. Attempting to erase free will and just control everyone. [ Religion still exists in his world, but since the Cosmic Era began it slowly started to shrink from how widespread it was. ]

[neveroutwrenched]

[Oh man. Ratchet was captivated by everything the large robot(?) had to say, even if some of it was flying over his head. Humans were only so interesting, and it was exciting to meet an entirely new kind of species, so radically different from anyone else they'd had on the station.

He takes a breath, looking up at him.]

First of all, can I just say...cool. Like, so cool. And I have like, a million questions...what do you guys use for energy? Do you eat, or plug into something? Can your spark like...run out of juice?

[flickerandfade]

[ The tint, furry organic is enthusiastic at least? ]

We require fuel, usually in the form of Energon. Other synthetic fuels or replacements can be utilized but they are far less pleasant to consume and far less efficient. A lack of energy can result in death by starvation as your spark runs itself down.

[neveroutwrenched]

[The specific flavor of enthusiasm that comes from only talking to humans for months on end.]

Right. Well, that's relatable. [It was more or less what organics were like, and that told Ratchet a decent amount. The necessity of resources.] Where does it come from? Has Viveca been able to replicate that for you?

[flickerandfade]

Originally, it was an ore mined on Cybertron and its moons, which could then be broken down and refined into fuel of various grades and utilizations. There has been some success in synthesizing it over the eons but it is a difficult process.

[ Hmm. ]

We have located some and from what I can tell it suffices as fuel, so it seems to be replicable, insofar as it is usable and available for us here.

[spacedisaster]

[ A gun-shaped medical kit is not what Peter had expected to see, but it cements the idea that coming to this class was a great decision. He can't even remember the last time he was part of a study group. It was back then when his life was semi-normal instead of space adventures, so he must have been around 8 years old. It's a little sad when he thinks about it, which is why Peter tries not to do that.

He pays attention to the explanation and what the other people present are asking, enjoying all the details Megatron gives to L3 about spark and committing them to memory. ]

You can feel pain, right? How do we lessen it if we need to threaten a Cybertronian's injures? Normal painkillers for organics aren't a viable choice, so is there's a way to shut off our pain receptors?

[flickerandfade]

We can feel pain, though perhaps not the same way as organics. We have a bit more awareness about the causes of our pain thanks to our internal systems.

[ Megatron tilts his head a little. ]

We do have painkillers. Temporary patches of code that can dull or turn off such pain receptors, numbing sprays and so forth. Though I wouldn't recommend attempting to use one of our numbing sprays without safety equipment, the contents are often toxic for organic life.

[spacedisaster]

Now that's useful. We fleshy organics need to make estimates and different people have different pain thresholds, it's harder to tell when someone's really dying or when they're being drama queens.

[ This time, before speaking again, Peter raises his hand. It's not because he's asking permission and more to show Megatron that he's wearing gloves. ]

Is the numbing spray's toxicity strong enough to eat through leather? If yes, we will need to request Viveca some special gloves and sanitary equipment. And do you think those patches of code that ease the pain could be downloaded into, I don't know, some portable medical equipment? If we get hurt, we get hurt on missions, so we require tools that we can carry with us.

[flickerandfade]

That I can't tell you without testing. I've never used it on organic material before, but it is stored under significant pressure and at low temperatures.

[ Megatron tilts his head. ]

In either case, I wouldn't recommend testing it until you are very confident in your protective equipment. I currently possess a portable medical kit with supplies, as you've seen. Whether Vieca can or will also offer additional supplies I can't say.

[homeostatic]

( Look who's been an exemplary pupil this whole time, just listening and taking copious notes. He flicks back through his tablet to reference a previous question and lowers it to his lap.

...and lifts a hand. He's not a savage, sheesh. )

I'd like to circle back around to your discussion with Elthree, regarding damage repair.

In lieu of sentio metallico, are there particular materials or alloys that provide the next best substitute for, say, grafts, replacement limbs, and organs? If it should come to it.

[flickerandfade]

A titanium alloyed with chromium, vanadium, silicon and molybdenum tends to be the preferred patching material for external mechanisms as well as for internal structure. Organs are more complicates.