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thewidowsghost · 3 years

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Of Course You Did - Part 2 (Natasha Romanoff x Johnson!Fem!Reader)

Masterlist

Previously:

"Anyway," Natasha says with a laugh. She holds out her hand, "I didn't have a chance to introduce myself at the party. I'm Natasha."

"Hi," Skye shakes Natasha's hand. "(Y/n)'s told me a lot about you."

"She has, has she?" Natasha smirks and (Y/n) shifts uncomfortably.

3rd Person POV

Fury had assembled the Avengers and Skye in the Bartons' kitchen.

"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time," Fury says, as (Y/n) leans against Natasha's chair.

Natasha smiles at her niece as Lila runs over handing Natasha a picture of a butterfly that she had colored.

"My contacts," Fury looks at (Y/n) he says this, "all say he's building something. The amount of vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing,"

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asks, leaning against the doorway.

"Oh, he's easy to track. He's everywhere," Fury answers. "The guy is multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit."

"It still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans, though," Fury says.

Natasha glances up at (Y/n) who was looking down at the picture of the butterfly.

"Is he still going after launch codes?" Tony asks.

"Yes, he is," Fury says. "But he's not making any headway."

"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare," Tony informs everyone.

"Well, I contacted our friends at the Nexus about that," Fury continues.

"Nexus?" Steve asks.

"It's the work Internet hub in Oslo," Skye tells the soldier. "Every byte of data flows through there. Fastest access on Earth."

"So, what did they say?" Clint asks.

"He's fixated on the missiles," Fury answers. "But the codes are constantly being changed."

"That you?" (Y/n) asks her sister.

"No, I don't know anyone who could do something that complicated," Skye replies and (Y/n) nods.

"We don't know who it is," Fury says. "To be honest, some of us thought it was Miss Skye here, but now we know it's not her."

"So, we have an ally?" Natasha asks.

"Ultron's got an enemy," Fury corrects. "That's not the same thing."

"There is that whole, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' thing, but whatever," (Y/n) argues.

"Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is," Fury says.

"I might need to visit Oslo," Tony thinks aloud.

"Ooh, you should take me," Skye says, raising a hand.

"Well, this is good times, boss," Natasha says loudly, looking down at her hands folded together on the table, "but I was kind of hoping when I saw you, you'd have more than that."

"I do," Fury says, looking at the redhead. "I have you. Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere and ears everywhere else. You kids had all the tech you could dream up. Here we all are, back on Earth, with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world. Ultron says the Avengers are the only thing between him and his mission. And whether or not he admits it, his mission is global destruction." Natasha who had looked up at Fury looks back down. "All this, laid in a grave. So stand. Outwit the platinum bastard."

"Steve doesn't like that kind of talk," is the only thing Natasha says as her mouth twitches into a smile.

"You know what, Romanoff?" Steve says.

"So, what does he want?" Fury asks.

"To become better," Steve answers. "Better than us. He keeps building bodies."

"Person bodies," Tony adds.

(Y/n) reaches down and studies the picture of the butterfly again.

"The human form is inefficient," Tony continues. "Biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it."

"When you two programmed him to protect the human race," Natasha addresses Bruce and Tony, "you amazingly failed."

"They don't need to be protected," (Y/n) realizes after a moment. "Remember what Ultron said back at the Tower, 'You want to protect the world but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to evolve?'?" (Y/n) pauses, a scowl spreading across her face. Everyone had turned to her now. "Ultron's going to evolve."

"How?" Fury asks Coulson's Second in Command.

"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?" Bruce asks, exchanging a glance with (Y/n).

(Y/n) walks into the other room and motions for Fury to follow. "Did Coulson tell you about THETA Protocol?" (Y/n) murmurs.

Fury looks at her, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Ask Coulson about it and tell him it's time to tell the rest of the team. I'll get in touch with you about where to bring it," (Y/n) mutters. "Oh, and bring the team - Morse, Hunter, Coulson, May, Mack, Fitz, and Simmons. I think we'll need help."

Fury nods and leaves the room.

(Y/n) crosses her arms as she watches Fury walk out the door.

"I'll take Natasha, Clint, and (Y/n)," Steve says the next morning as everyone suits up.

"All right. Strictly recon," Tony says, Skye next to him. "We'll hit the Nexus. We'll join you as soon as we can."

(Y/n) walks down the stairs, talking with Natasha when she stops, catching sight of her sister, and walks over, wrapping Skye in a tight hug.

"Be careful," (Y/n) murmurs.

"Back at you," Skye says. "I'll see you soon. Love you."

"I love you too," (Y/n) steps back.

Skye leaves with Tony and (Y/n) and Natasha step outside onto the porch.

(Y/n) was gazing out into the field and Natasha nudges her gently.

"What's going through that head of yours?" Natasha asks.

"I'm scared," (Y/n) admits, looking at Natasha with a frown. "I'm scared about how this is all going to turn out," she pauses, as though considering her thoughts. "I really like you, Natasha," she murmurs and Natasha's green eyes soften.

"I do too," Natasha replies. "I thought I proved that when I kissed you," she says in a teasing voice.

(Y/n)'s mouth twitches. "That was a very nice kiss," (Y/n) says and Natasha's cheeks take on a red tint now.

"Let's go," Steve says, and (Y/n) jumps a little.

Wanda looks into the red android's head and screams, pressing her hand to her chest as she backs up into her twin's arms.

Pietro brushes hair out of his sister's face, murmuring something softly.

"How could you?" Wanda stutters, looking at Ultron, her eyes wide.

"How could I what?" Ultron asks, looking at the teenager.

"Y-you said we w-would destroy the Avengers. Make a better world," Wanda says, looking up into Ultron's eyes.

"It will be better," Ultron says calmly.

"When everyone is dead?" Wanda asks and Pietro looks over at the android as well.

"That is not . . . The human race will have every opportunity to improve," Ultron says.

"And if they don't?" Pietro asks, turning to face Ultron now.

"Ask Noah," Ultron says simply.

"You are a madman," Wanda says softly, and (Y/n) shrinks into the corner just outside the room a little more.

"There were more than a dozen extinction-level events," Ultron tries to explain. "Why, even the dinosaurs got theirs. When the Earth starts to settle, God throws a stone at it. And, believe me, he's winding up. We have to evolve. There's no room," he rubs his robotic hand on the Cradle, "for the weak."

"And who decides who's weak?" Pietro asks softly.

"Life," Ultron chuckles and as he looks at the ground, as Wanda uses her powers to shake Dr. Cho from her enchantment. "Life always decides.

"There's incoming," Ultron says as he hears the Quinjet. "The Quinjet. We have to move."

"That's not a problem," Dr. Cho says as she pauses the download of Ultron's new body.

Ultron shoots a laser towards the scientist and Cho collapses.

Ultron takes the Cradle and the legionaries outside leaving Wanda and Pietro alone. (Y/n) flashes the two a warning look as she steps out of her hiding spot and crosses over to Cho in a few strides.

(Y/n) grabs some bandages and wraps the scientist's shoulder tightly.

"(Y/n)?" comes Natasha's voice. "What's going on?"

"Ultron shot Cho," (Y/n) answers, keeping an eye on the two teenagers as they continue to watch her tighten the bandages around Cho's shoulder. "I patched up her shoulder."

"He's uploading himself into the body," Cho says, and (Y/n)'s expression turns hard. "The real power is inside the Cradle. The gem."

"You get that, Steve?" (Y/n) asks, rising to her feet.

"I'm on it," Steve answers.

(Y/n) turns her (E/c) gaze onto Wanda and Pietro. "Where'd he go?" (Y/n) asks.

Pietro is the one who answers, "We don't know."

(Y/n) glances down at Cho, who had pulled at her arm. "You need to stop him."

(Y/n) nods, unsheathing the sword from her back and Wanda takes a step back.

"I'm going to slice a couple of kids in half," (Y/n) says over her shoulder as she runs outside.

(Y/n) teleports to Steve's side as he was standing on a bridge.

"I got a private jet taking off across town," Natasha says in (Y/n)'s ear. "No manifest. That could be him."

"There. It's a truck from the lab," Clint says. "Right above you two. On the loop by the bridge."

"I've got it," (Y/n) says softly into the COM set. (Y/n) teleports silently on top of the truck

"You've got three with the Cradle," Clint tells (Y/n). "I can take out the driver."

"Negative. The gem could level the city," Steve says and (Y/n) hums her agreement.

"Also, I'm standing on top of the truck," (Y/n) adds.

"We need to draw out Ultron," Steve says.

There's a click in (Y/n)'s ear and Natasha speaks in her ear again, "Be careful," the redhead murmurs.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll be alright," (Y/n) answers as Steve jumps from the bridge and handing onto the doors. A red laser shoots through the door, knocking Steve around. He swings the doors around and the door gets shot by another laser, sending the doors dragging across the ground, creating sparks.

"Well, he's definitely unhappy," Steve says as (Y/n) teleports beside him. "We're gonna try to keep him that way."

"I've never done this before, I hope this works," (Y/n) mutters, placing a hand on Steve's shoulder.

With a blink, Steve and (Y/n) are standing on the top of the truck.

"Nice," (Y/n) says, but dives to the side as a laser shoots through the roof of the truck.

"You two aren't a match for him," Clint says.

"Yeah, thanks Clint," (Y/n) grumbles.

"You know what's in that Cradle?" Ultron asks, flying up to meet the two on top of the truck. Steve turns as Ultron blasts a laser at him, the laser bouncing off his shield. "The power to make real change. And that terrifies you."

"I wouldn't call it a comfort," Steve says, pulling his shield off his back and throwing it at Ultron.

"Stop it," Ultron hisses and (Y/n) teleports away, fetching the shield.

With another blink, (Y/n) realized she has miscalculated her jump and was hanging onto the front of the truck. She lets out a grunt as she swings herself to one of the mirrors as one of Ultron's legionaries shoots at her.

"Steve!" (Y/n) yells, hanging onto the mirror with one hand, the Captain's shield in the other.

(Y/n) throws the shield up and Steve catches it.

"You good?" Natasha asks in (Y/n)'s ear.

(Y/n) teleports behind Ultron and kicks the android in the back.

"(Y/n)? You good?" Natasha asks again, worry in her voice.

"Yeah," (Y/n) dives to the side as Ultron shoots a laser at her. "Just peachy."

Ultron knocks Steve's shield away again, and it lands on the road.

"I am not going to get that again," (Y/n) says, attacking Ultron as the android pulls Steve into a headlock.

Suddenly, Steve gets his shield back and knocks back Ultron, who knocks back (Y/n), who falls off the truck.

(Y/n) grabs the side with a hand and hauls herself back up.

Ultron catches sight of Natasha and flings up a hand, making some of the concrete rises into the air, making the redhead stop on her motorcycle.

"The hell!" (Y/n) yells, advancing on Ultron as he blasts Steve off the truck.

(Y/n) looks up as something - the Quinjet - shoots at Ultron, drawing the guards out of the back of the truck.

Steve had gotten back on top of the truck. He knocks Ultron back into a pillar and Ultron flies into Steve, blasting both of them into the train, (Y/n) teleporting beside Steve, pulling the soldier up.

Steve throws his shield around to (Y/n), and she slams it into Ultron's back, then throwing it back around to Steve.

"I'm going in," comes Natasha' voice again. "Cap, (Y/n), can you keep him occupied?"

"What do you think we've been doin'?" Steve asks as Ultron kicks him to the corner of the train.

Ultron turns to (Y/n), the teleporter dodging Ultron's punches; she let's out a grunt as Ultron punches her in the side.

A moment later, a blur pushes Ultron away, and (Y/n) unsheathes her sword.

"Please don't do this," Ultron says, looking between Pietro and Wanda - who had used her telekinetic powers to cross some bars between (Y/n) and Ultron.

"What choice do we have?" Wanda asks, her Sokovian accent thick.

Ultron aims at (Y/n), who had teleported in front of Steve, and the two have to duck the laser and it shoots straight through the train.

"We lost him," (Y/n) says into her COM set, speaking directly to Natasha."He's coming back your way."

As the Avenger is speaking, Steve had run to the front of the train.

"Nat, you gotta go!" Clint tells him.

(Y/n) goes to say something, but staggers as something rocks the train.

"Civilians in our path," Steve says and (Y/n) nods, her and Pietro teleporting / speeding around, getting the people out of the way of the train as it screeches to a halt.

Each teleportation seems to make (Y/n) more tired and (Y/n) leans against a wall, breathing heavily.

"The Cradle," Wanda prompts. "Did you get it?" she asks as (Y/n) walks forward, her right arm clasped against her stomach, her sword sheathed on her back.

Steve shoots a concerned look at his shorter friend. "Stark will take care of it," he says as (Y/n) turns, pressing a hand to her ear.

"I'm not getting anything," (Y/n) says, turning back to address Steve. "Imma head back, but you'll need to find a ride. I can't take all of y'all with me."

Steve nods his understanding and with a blink she's standing in the lab.

Tony, Bruce, and Skye stare at her but then surge forward as (Y/n) sways. She sags against Skye.

"I'm good. I'm good," (Y/n) argues as her sister sets her down in a chair.

"Sit," Tony orders and (Y/n) sighs in defeat.

"Clint and Nat should be on his way with the Cradle," (Y/n) tells the three.

"Where's Cap?" Tony asks.

"Steve had to find another way back," (Y/n) answers, her eyes closing a little.

(Y/n) had fallen asleep by the time the Quinjet had returned. She is slowly waking up when she hears, "Anything on Nat?"

"I haven't heard."

(Y/n)'s eyes fly open and she sits up.

"But she's alive, or Ultron would be rubbing our faces in it," Skye tells her sister hastily, sensing (Y/n)'s worry.

"This is sealed tight," Clint says, inspecting the Cradle.

"We're gonna need to access the program, break it down from within," Bruce says.

"Any chance Natasha could send you a message outside the Internet?" Tony asks Clint and (Y/n) rises to her feet. "Old-school spy stuff?"

"There are some nets I can cast," Skye says, and the two go downstairs. "We'll find her."

"I could try to find her," (Y/n) says. "Teleportation and all."

"I don't think you should be teleporting for at least a few hours," Bruce says and (Y/n) looks at him, then, defeated, she nods. "I can work on tissue degeneration," Bruce says, turning to Tony. "if you could fry whatever operational system Cho implanted."

"Yeah, about that," Tony says rubbing the back of his neck.

"No," Bruce says.

"You have to trust me," Tony says and (Y/n) looks at the billionaire.

"Kind of don't," Bruce says, backing up.

"Our ally, the guy protecting the military's nuclear codes, I found him," Tony says, flicking his wrist.

"Hello Dr. Banner, Agent (Y/n)," Jarvis says.

"Jarvis," (Y/n) says, turning to study the orange ball.

"Ultron didn't go after Jarvis because he was angry," Tony explains. "He attacked him because he was scared of what he can do. So Jarvis went underground. Scattered, dumped his memory."

"But not his protocols," (Y/n) says, realization dawning in her eyes.

"He didn't even know he was in there until I pieced him together," Tony says, nodding at (Y/n)'s realization.

Bruce scoffs before placing a hand at his temple. "So, you want me to help you put Jarvis into this thing?" he asks.

"No! Of course not," Tony says.

"We want to help you put Jarvis in there," (Y/n) steps forward to stand at Tony's shoulder.

"We're out in the field here," Tony continues, watching Bruce. "You know bio-organics better than anyone."

"And you just assume that Jarvis's operational matrix can beat Ultron's?" Bruce asks.

"Well, we've got all of Jarvis, and only part of Ultron," (Y/n) reasons and Tony nods.

"And Jarvis has been beating him from inside without knowing it," Tony adds. "This is the opportunity. We can create Ultron's perfect self without the homicidal glitches he thinks are his winning personality."

"We have to," (Y/n) says.

"I believe it's worth a go," Jarvis agrees.

"I'm in a loop," Bruce exclaims, throwing his arms out. "I'm caught in a time loop. This is exactly where it all went wrong."

"I know. I know. I know what everyone's gonna say," Tony says, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "But they're already saying it. We're mad scientists," Tony says and (Y/n)'s eyes flash with amusement. "We're monsters, buddy. We've gotta own it. Make a stand."

"It's not a loop," (Y/n) says softly and Bruce looks at her. "We know what went wrong last time."

"It's the end of the line," Tony adds.

A figure stirs on the concrete floor, before her eyes blink open.

"I wasn't sure you would wake up," comes Ultron's voice. "I hoped you would. I wanted to show you. I don't have anyone else. Upsetting the other female Avenger died earlier."

The figure on the ground groans in pain as she pushes herself up on an elbow, tears swimming in her eyes.

"I think a lot about meteors. The purity in them. Boom! The end. Start again."

The figure, her eyes full of pain and tears, stares back at Ultron.

"The world made clean for the new man to rebuild."

She shifts back a little.

"I was meant to be new," Ultron says, turning his red eyes on the woman on the ground. "I was meant to be beautiful. The world would have looked into the sky and seen hope, seen mercy."

The figure lets out a grunt as she scoots back a little more.

"Instead, they'll look up in horror because of you," Ultron snarls. "You've wounded me."

The figure on the ground scoots back as Ultron walks towards her.

"But, like the man said, what doesn't kill me . . ."

Ultron towers over the woman now.

Something grabs Ultron's head and rips it off, another Ultron standing behind it as the figure scrambles back in fear.

". . . just makes me stronger."

Ultron steps forward, closing the bars in front of the woman, who begins choking back her tears.

"This framework is not compatible," (Y/n) comments as she types furiously on a keyboard.

"The genetic coding tower is at ninety-seven percent," Bruce says, turning to the woman. "You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes."

Tony steps up to (Y/n)'s side, the two working together to power through the framework.

"I'm gonna say this once," comes Steve's voice.

"How about 'none-ce'?" Tony asks, leaving (Y/n) as he steps over to stand in front of Steve.

"Shut it down!" Steve orders.

"Nope, not gonna happen," (Y/n) says, staring down the Captain, her fingers naturally hitting the correct keys.

The Maximoff twins beside Steve don't know whether it is a trick of the blue light from the screen, or of lightning had flickered in her eyes.

"You don't know what you're going," Steve says.

"And you do?" Bruce asks. "She's not in your head?" Bruce asks, pointing at Wanda.

"I know you're angry," Wanda says, stepping around Steve.

"Oh, we're way past that," Bruce says, a vain pulsing in his neck. "I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."

"Banner, after everything that's happened . . ." Steve says, Wanda's expression having faltered.

"It's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony says, and there's a rumble of thunder outside the Tower, everyone stopping for a moment. It was clear outside . . .

"You don't know what's in there," Wanda retorts.

"This isn't a game!" Steve yells.

"No, no. Go on," Pietro says, holding up one of the many cables that had been unplugged. "You were saying?"

There is a gunshot and Pietro falls through the glass floor of the lab.

"I'm rerouting the upload," Tony says.

(Y/n), on the other hand, was staring, well, at her hands. They were glowing blue.

Amongst all the commotion in the room, (Y/n) seems to be the only one who notices Thor. He looks at (Y/n)'s hands and nods towards the Cradle. As if controlled, (Y/n) vaults over the rail and holds her hands above the Cradle. Thor raises his hammer, and in sync, lighting flows into the Cradle.

Thor and (Y/n) stare at the Cradle, then being blasted back when a figure explodes out of the Cradle.

Everyone stares at the figure. It's outershell was bright red, and there is a glowing yellow gem in it's forehead.

Catching sight of Thor, the figure launches itself at him. Thor deflects the attack, throwing the red figure through glass and it stops, looking outside.

(Y/n) jump over the exploded Cradle and follows, Thor just behind her; the others following Thor.

The red android is looking outside and Skye had appeared right beside her sister.

Thor sets his hammer on a table and steps forward.

"I am sorry," the red android apologizes. "That was . . . odd. Thank you," the android nods to Thor, then (Y/n).

"Thor." Steve prompts. "You helped create this?"

"I've had a vision," Thor tells him. "A whirlpool that sucks in all hop of life, and at its center is that," Thor points to the stone in the Vision's head.

"What? The gem?" Bruce asks.

"It's the Mind Stone. It's on of the six Infinity Stones. The greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities."

"Then why would you and (Y/n) bring . . ." Steve begins.

"Because Stark is right," Thor says.

"Oh, it's definitely the end times," Bruce says.

"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron, even with Miss (Y/n)'s new lighting powers," Thor continues, nodding at (Y/n).

"Not alone," Vision adds.

"Why does your Vision sound like Jarvis?" Steve asks.

"We reconfigured Jarvis's matrix to create something new," Tony says, stepping around to study the Vision.

"I think I've had my fill of new," Steve says.

"You think I am a child of Ultron," Vision says.

"You're not?" Steve asks, his voice hard.

Vision stops, shooting Steve a look. "I'm not Ultron. I'm not Jarvis. I am . . . I am."

"I looked in your head," Wanda says and everyone turns to look at her, "and saw annihilation."

"Look again."

Clint scoffs, "Her seal of approval means jack to me." He steps forward.

"Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone," Thor explains. "And they're nothing compared to what it can unleash. But with it on our side."

"Is it?" Steve asks harshly. "Are you? On our side?"

"I don't think it's that simple," Vision says.

"Well, it better get real simple real soon," Clint says.

"I am on the side of life," Vision begins. "Ultron isn't."

Steve had told the Avengers to suit up and (Y/n) - obviously - offers to go find Natasha as the others board the Quinjet.

With a blink, (Y/n)'s standing somewhere else, as if she'd been summoned.

Natasha's Widow's Bites and stun batons were in a bag slung over (Y/n)'s back.

The area was dark and it was scarily quiet.

"What the hell is going on here?" (Y/n) whispers as she steps farther down the hallway.

(Y/n) creeps down the hallway and when seeing no one, she relaxes a little.

"Natasha!" (Y/n) calls, jogging down the hallway.

"(Y/n)?" comes a familiar voice and (Y/n) darts down the hallway.

"Nat? You okay?" (Y/n) asks as she runs up, setting the bag on the ground. She grows concerned as she sees Natasha's watery eyes.

"You found a key?" Natasha asks.

"Uh, yeah," (Y/n) raises her hand before putting it on the lock. "Watch out," (Y/n) tells her and Natasha scoots back. (Y/n) concentrates on her hand and the lock explodes. "Are you okay?" (Y/n) asks the redhead, worry evident in her tone.

Natasha throws herself at (Y/n), wrapping her in a tight hug.

(Y/n) returns the hug. "I'm glad you're okay," (Y/n) murmurs.

"Same, I'm glad you're here," Natasha says, pulling back out of the hug.

As if thinking about something, Natasha steps forward and presses her lips against (Y/n)'s.

After a moment, Natasha pulls away again and (Y/n)'s eyes are warm with affection.

"Now," Natasha says, her cheeks red. "Where's everyone else?"

"They're up in the city," (Y/n) replies. "I brought your Widowy things," (Y/n) says, picking up the bag.

Natasha laughs pulling her Widow's Bites from the bag and (Y/n) helps her attach them to her wrists. Natasha then pulls her stun batons and slides them into their holsters on her thighs.

"So, how we gonna get out of here?" Natasha asks and (Y/n) cocks her head at the redhead in front of her.

(Y/n) laughs. "I thought you were smart," she teases, her eyes bright.

"Oh, right," Natasha says, looking a little sheepish.

Word Count: 4447 words

So yeah, this was only going to be two parts, but I think it might be three or four parts, so bonus for y'all I suppose.

Love y'all!

Kaitlynn ❤️😍

Taglist:

@marsromanoff

@ecruzsalaz

@procrastinatingsapphictrash

#black widow x reader #natasha romanoff x fem reader #of course you did #part 2 #nat

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blueskyscribe · 3 years

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Beast Machines: Some Observations on Toys

So I think most TF fans have some notion of the usual arguments about BM (the BW characters being out of character, etc), no matter which side of the argument you fall on.

But I would like to point out how weird BM was as a show tied to a toyline.

The Toys for the Leaders

These were the toys for BM Optimus Primal and Megatron:

Optimus' figure was small and not show-accurate and was one of the weakest BM figures for its price point.

Megatron was even worse. He was TINY (but they sold him at the pricepoint of a bigger toy lololol) and just . . . bad. Look at that dragon tail just hanging off his elbow.

Megatron is supposed to be the Big Bad of the show!! If they didn't want to make a new, big mold for him then why not recolor his final Beast Wars toy (the huge dragon) and sell that again? "Oh dear, I hate my organic dragon form. Buuuut look how rad it looks now that it's silver and black."

You might be thinking, "Wait a minute, I've seen a big, cool toy of Primal that looks just like he did on BM. And I've seen a toy of Megatron as a head-spaceship."

Those toys exist, and they are cool. But they're not Beast Machines toys. They were sold in the Robots in Disguise (2001) line, which came after BM.

The point of a show like Beast Machines is "Child sees character on TV, immediately begs parent to buy representative toy". Not "Child sees character on TV, begs parent to buy a representative toy in three years after show is over."

No Size Consistency

Listen, I don't think the toys need to exactly match the show characters. But I think it's very weird that Nightscream, the bat, ONLY had an Ultra size toy. That's huge compared to his size on the show.

My other main issue, Megatron and Optimus having dinky toys, I've already touched on.

They Skipped the Dinosaurs

Did you know there were Beast Machines Dinobots? No, not Dinobot, the BW character, but Dinobots, like a faction. Their backcards explained that they were formatted using memories / data provided by Dinobot's spark. So it was like Dinobot was reaching out from the afterlife to help his friends.

First, that's a cool and touching idea. Second, they were awesome toys THAT WERE DINOSAURS and yet were never in the show. Even though kids love dinosaurs.

I can't believe we missed out on surprised Pachycephalosaurus with pop-up head.

The Dinobot leader was a repaint of original BW Megatron, which could've played into the whole "BM Megatron hates beast modes now", like he'd be personally enraged to see that. Also, a lot of these could easily have been adapted from BW character models.

The New Guys Deserved Better

There was no way every toy-character could / should be in the show. (It didn't happen in Beast Wars either.) That would be way too many assets and too many bots to characterize well. So I understand why we just had a small crew of heroes fighting Megatron and the Vehicons.

But maaaan, I wish we'd had different heroes from what we got.

First, it would've sidestepped all the "Are the BM bots out of character?" debates. (The answer is yes, btw.) Second, I just think it would've been nice to get to know new characters. Third, a lot of coolest toys never got any screentime.

Silverbolt, who had the worst BM toy, with his head peering out of his crotch in bird mode and wings that looked like a stupid cape, got to be in the show.

But not this cool bull.

Or this cool snake.

Or this cool UNICORN.

Just . . . what a waste.

What I Would've Done

Okay, so here's what I would've done if I had to keep the general premise (the Big Bad has taken over Cybertron and only a plucky group of survivors can defeat him and his Vehicons.)

1. The Big Bad would be Nightscream. This is so obvious it blows my mind. His toy is huge and bats freak out a lot of people. Just change his robot-mode head so it looks villainous instead of emo.

His motivation wouldn't be related to organics, it would be something like . . . he's siphoning off the energy from Cybertronians' sparks to become a god or summon Unicron--you know, anime bullshit.

2. Nightscream has taken over Cybertron via some kind of electrical macguffin, like a stasis grid that covers the planet or something. TFs are lying around the streets in permanent stasis.

But then! Optimus Primal & crew (with Megatron tied to the roof) literally crash into the planet. The crash disrupts the grid in a small area and some TFs awaken from stasis. They start exchanging info with the BW crew. Their sparks are so weak that they have to be transferred to new bodies to re-energize them, so the BW crew uses the protoform pods from Earth--which have been pre-programmed with an encyclopedia of Earth animals, which is how they get beast modes.

But then the stasis grid is put online again. A handful of Cybertronians escape--mostly new guys, but maybe one or two of the BW Maximals. Megatron also escapes.

Maybe over the course of the show more BW characters are rescued and added to the cast. But mostly it's focused on these new guys.

3. I would have half the new guys be Maximals and half be Predacons, for some inter-faction tension. (And ROMANCE?!?!) Nevertheless everyone knows they have to work together to defeat Nightscream.

4. If they really want to sell the crappy tiny Megatron toy, they could have him try to cut a deal with Nightscream, but then Nightscream backstabs him and dumps him in the mini body to mock him, idk.

5. After that Megatron decides he's really going to give it his all to defeat Nightscream. And he decides the way to do this is to clone Dinobot, because he LOVES cloning Dinobot. So he tries, but instead creates these other dinosaur robots. They have Dinobot's independent streak, so they flip Megatron the bird and leave.

6. The Dinobots are also trying to stop Nightscream, but they're constantly messing up the plans of the Predacon/Maximal group, and vice versa.

7. But in the end the good guys win. And they sell a lot of toys.

#Beast Machines #Beast Wars #Transformers #Dinobots #long post #toys #headcanons #I can't believe they managed to make a snake TF that looks that good #and then SQUANDERED them

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cutegirlmayra · 4 years

Note

Here's an angsty prompt idea. After their latest battle with Eggman his latest invention inadvertently gets Amy sick which is quickly becoming fatal (not necessarily what IDW is doing but like same vibe you know). Sonic demands Eggman do something to fix this and save her. And we all know Sonic isn't the most emotionally vulnerable but when it gets touch and go he really fears it might be the end. But Amy gets healed and all's well that ends well. Appreciate it ^_^

Only if you’re okay with me going SUPER angsty lol.

-----------------*TRIGGER WARNING*--------: This will be dealing with disabilities/seizure like symptoms, if you are sensitive to this material, please read any of my other fanfictions! (As someone with Asbergers and ADHD, I hope you’ll understand that I know the severity of the context, but I’m in no way trying to make fun of or portray disability in any negative way. If my writing appears as such please note it was unintentional.)

I have put a ‘Keep Reading’ for those of you who wish not to read it.

(Image found from this location: (x), if you have art you’d like to showcase, I still need Preview Images! I’d love to have some helpful artist allow me permission to use their art with their links as credit to advertise their works and also for a preview image to my prompts, thank you so much and support the original creator of this image!)

Prompt:

After all was said and done... no one thought it would turn out like this.

Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Silver all piled around as Sonic sat beneath a shaded tree and held a sleeping Amy next to him.

“This doesn’t look too good...” Tails had taken a sample of Eggman’s third party experimental toxin, meant for Sonic but the enemy ended up targeting Amy as a test-run.

Needless to say, Eggman ended his alliance with the third party after he got ‘experimental crazy’ and decided he didn’t want to work with someone so trigger-happy.

The toxin seemed to place Amy in an endless sleep cycle, but she would twitch or sound off painful whimpers and groans and toss in the sleep at times.

“The data suggests it’s attacking her brain, working it’s way up from the injection point it was shot from all the way up the spinal chord, so it’s striking the main hub for communication signals to the rest of the body.” Tails was watching the gunky chemical inside her progressing at a sluggish pace as it infected up the spinal chord, but not quite at the brain yet.

The image made it look like it was hugging her spine and oozing its way up, but still had a ways to go.

Sonic blinked his eyes, not sure what this could all mean but looked down at Amy. She started her twitches and sounds of pain, so he took his hand and moved it up off of where she was leaning, looping it around to rub the opposite shoulder and looked back to Tails. Her struggles ended with struggling pants, before going back into a deep sleep.

Silver shook his head, folding his arms. He was clearly distressed, him and Amy had joined up early in the adventure, he felt this was somehow his fault, even though he did nothing wrong.

“That madman just kept shooting those shots with that drug everywhere! Whatever it is, it’s got to be a threat to the future as well.” He was so focused on the task at hand, that he hadn’t looked back until he heard Amy cry out and bent to a knee, seeing she had taken a hit for him.

Eggman hollered about waiting for Sonic to be the first hit, but the third party seemed to have their own agenda, and almost shot Eggman too.

Everyone escaped getting hit and defeated both him and Eggman before they parted ways, taking Amy’s limp form somewhere safe.

Before she was fully under the chemical’s effects, she had flinched and stiffened on the ground, trying to keep her pain silent before dropping into the blacked-out state...

“We have to find Eggman, he’s the one who knows the most about this experimental chemical.” Tails motioned his hands, then showed the gunk’s path upwards by pointing to Amy and traveling his hand up from where her spin would be. “We’ve still got time, a couple hours, just going off an estimate.”

Sonic looked back to Amy, “I can’t leave her like this, Tails. She’s unsafe, and that guy still hasn’t shown up yet.”

It was true that they lost sight of the mad scientist, but they were unaware Eggman had separated himself from their ‘unethical services’ but mostly because they wouldn’t follow orders.

Silver shook his head, getting a grip on his emotions. “I’ll do it.”

Knuckles, remaining silently crushed by the lack of help he could offer, turned in surprise to Silver.

“I’m partly the reason this happened... if I just had looked back and paid more attention to her...” he closed his eyes, clearly distraught as Knuckles turned his head away, also thinking that since Silver was with her, he should have been more attentive.

“It’s not your fault, Silver.” Showing some compassion, Tails moved over to him and placed a reassuring hand on Silver’s arm. “Honest, I’m sure if Amy could, she’d say the same thing too.”

Silver looked to Tails and sighed, nodding. During his brief moments of meeting her, he could tell she was a very kind girl.

“I know that, but... I still feel awful!” He kicked the ground and turned away, but looked back over his shoulder to Sonic. “Sonic,... I promise you, I’ll do what I can to keep her safe... but you have to go and confront Eggman about all this.” He swiped out his hand, showing his strong sense of justice as his eyebrows narrowed in his anger.

Sonic waited a moment, as though weighing his options and looked down at Amy.

He gently picked her up, and carried her over to Silver.

In a few short gestures with his eyes, he showed that he was passing the responsibility over to Silver, however short the time would be from him facing Eggman and then coming back to her.

They held a stare for a long time... as though both hedgehogs were making a silent contract, and Silver finally bowed slightly as he took Amy.

Sonic’s hand gripped her arm that was about to flop off her stomach and dangle to her side but his fast reflexes had caught it. He held it a moment, as though transferring the responsibility was a difficult decision. But... if there was hope, he was going to go for it, and Amy would have to be okay...

He had to make sure of it.

He slowly placed it back on her stomach, rubbing her hand discreetly as though promising her he wouldn’t be too long.

He then looked back up to Silver and nodded, the transaction was made and the message was loud and clear.

Don’t Fail.

As Sonic gestured for Tails and Knuckles to follow with a pivot to the new route and a nod, Tails spun his tails and lifted off the ground, taking one final look to Amy and Silver. He smiled weakly, as though also showing his agreement to this, and then went to follow Sonic.

Knuckles... just walked by, glaring Silver down... but finally he unfolded his arms and groaned towards the ground, taking off in a running start.

Looks like he felt too uneasy about this... but didn’t voice his concerns.

He was trusting that it was Sonic’s decision, and apparently would go with it. As he went though, he caught up to Sonic’s leisurely pace in waiting for him, and gave him the same uncertain glare he had given to Silver.

Another message between men: I don’t like this.

Sonic looked away from it, but his expression held no joy, only a serious focus towards the next, on-coming step and fight: I know. Neither do I.

Tails’s eyebrows bent, seeing the mute exchange between the two, his hands bundled up and held in as his usual go-to position for flying, but he turned his body around as he flew forward to look back at Silver holding Amy, his head slackening with his shoulders falling... Helpless.

Tails swallowed hard, “Be safe... Amy...” And didn’t look back...

When Silver finally took a deep, calming but determined breath in, he looked over to see Sonic and his friends had disappeared into the next zone.

“I won’t be naive this time.” He told himself, and headed towards the X-Tornado, stationed just beside the tree. “This time... I won’t make anyone worry.”

It was several hours later as Silver sat down after collecting water and watched Amy on the ground. He fiddled with his gloves, growing a bit restless, wanting to help protect the future but knowing his place was to protect Amy for now.

He looked up and used his telekinesis to fiddle with a blade of grass, making it move left or right and tugging on it but not enough to pull it from the ground.

The world was so beautiful to him... he didn’t want even one blade to die in it.

That thought... led him to look over at Amy.

His eyes bent and it was clear he was remembering her finding him, and how sweet and bubbly she was... she had persisted in joining him for his search for Sonic, carrying a warning that he never knew would have benefited her to know... why did he feel the need to keep it a secret for only Sonic to know?

It wasn’t like he disregarded her, but maybe he didn’t value her company as much as he should.

Now, seeing her so still upon the ground... the wind not even reaching her... It was all a bit much to bear.

He tucked his head down between the gap of his raised knee and bent arm, trying to hide his emotional state as his eyes squinted and mouth trembled.

He wasn’t crying, but he was also trying to fight the sensation of being about to cry.

Then it happened.

She started another twitching and jerking, making odd sounds that spooked him.

“N-no, you’re okay. You’re okay..!” he rolled to his knees and held his hands out as though once again... feeling helpless.

Even his words were desperate to sound comforting, but his panic was so relevant in them.

He used his powers to get a blob of the fresh water he had collected up into the air, moving it towards her mouth.

“Please Amy... just endure it a little longer...” He pleaded, before he heard a large crash and turned around.

The water fell to her side, as the twitching and flinching became minor, but still happening.

He saw a fallen tree, and narrowed his eyes at it before gasping as a robot from the third party, clearly stolen from Eggman’s designs, began to approach.

Then more and more of Eggman’s stolen property, with new logos that were just slapped on over Eggman’s logo sticker started approaching him.

“Not again...” Silver’s fists shifted into a rage-filled jerk, as though in one swift moment, he was ready to destroy and protect. “I won’t let you hurt anyone ever again!”

As the robots all raised their machine-gun arms, having detected them, it was clear they weren’t shooting bullets... but darts.

“Ur-rah!” Silver lifted up the X-Tornado with his power and held it up as cover to the shots fired. The darts stabbed into the X-Tornado, and the black substance was evident in a small cylinder attached to the dart’s tip.

It leaked into the X-Tornado,... but at least it wasn’t into anyone’s body.

He rose to a knee, shoving the X-Tornado forward to push the robots down. Amazingly, the X-Tornado didn’t even dent in, but was still perfectly intact.

However, some of the darts did bend like a nail having been jammed in the wrong way.

He shoved the X-Tornado to the side and skidded the robots hide off of it, shoving them back into the forest where they came from.

He stopped only to look down at Amy, her twitching much less now, but it was clear something was happening.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes still glossy from his despair before at her condition. “Hang on, Amy... They aren’t getting you. You’re no one’s experiment!” he moved one arm away from lifting the X-Tornado, but his balanced faltered now that one arm was using his psychic power to lift the huge plane up.

He strained, sweat falling from his brow as he jammed his teeth together even more and tried lifting Amy up from the ground too... then himself.

It was a huge escape effort, two hands carrying one large plane’s weight in one hand, and the other with him and Amy.

Knowing his power was faltering at handling too many objects at once, and one being massive, he kept feeling himself dropping and having to catch himself.

When Amy jerked, his mental concentration was momentarily lost and he almost dropped her.

That was the last straw.

“I can’t out run them.” He looked around, knowing he needed a better solution. “I’ll have to hide you and distract them.”

Seeing in the distance a mountain, he pulled up his legs, gathering the rest of his courage and strength, and shot himself towards it.

There was a cave!

His expression turned to joy at the realization, and he quickly flew down to it. “That looks safe!” he exclaimed, gliding down and putting the X-Tornado in the cave first, in and off to the back left where another tunnel formed from the main one.

Out of sight.

“Okay, Amy... Please forgive me...” He caught her into his arms, and held her tightly, dipping his head down in shame at having to leave her side. “Sonic... I said I’d do my best... this is my best option... please believe me...” He flew up to the plane’s passenger cockpit, thinking that if anyone did discover the plane, they would see there’s no pilot and perhaps not search it further but abandon it.

He lifted the clear shielding and placed her in the seat, strapping her in.

She had stopped twitching, and worried, he put two fingers to her nose and mouth.

Shallow breathing...

He frowned, but leaned forward and hugged her head one last time.

When he heard more logs crashing and snapping from being trampled by robot bodies forcing their way through the landscape, his head swung up to check the cave and hurriedly dropped the shielding down again.

“I’ll come back, and hopefully, I’ll bring Sonic and some good news too.” both hands were against the shield, he moved his face closer to look in and still saw her asleep.

“...I’m sorry.” He turned his head away, flying off from the plane’s exterior slowly... danging himself in the air before looking back to the entrance of the cave, having flown into the center tunnel way again and looked as though he was prepared to battle.

He shot out of the cave and began hitting the robots with his power, ramming them into each other and denting their hides till they sparked. “This way!” he cried out, and led the assault of robots after him.

More hours passed...

Shadow was running off with a stolen formula blueprint, trying to evade flying robots that were even greater rip-offs of Eggmans.

As he turned into a cave to hide, he walked down it stealthily, still holding the container with the data chip inside it.

“Rouge, I’ve got it.” he spoke out, touching a device by his ear as he examined the cylinder container further.

“Does it have it?” her voice rang urgently through the mic.

“No... but my scanners say it should be... what?” He walked towards the hidden tunnel path and his eyes widened.

“Shadow? What’s wrong? What are you getting?”

“It’s...” His eyes traveled down the darkness from the plane’s tip, seeing it littered on the side with darts. “The X-Torn-... AH!” his shock couldn’t have been more real as he hurriedly jumped from the cave’s side to the plane’s hide and pulled an intact dart out.

He tilted the chemical inside it... watching it slosh around.

“It wasn’t an error... they’re here!” He exclaimed, but hearing the robots outside, he moved down the plane’s top and kept stealthily pulling out more darts.

“Incredible! Way to go, Shadow! Who knew this abandoned G.U.N base would come so much in handy..! Oh, that’s right. I did. Is it some sort of secret lab..?”

He ignored Rouge’s gloating when his foot hit something in the dark, another cockpit. He looked back to adjust his foot and get around it,... when a darkened silhouette that didn’t match the angles of machinery caught his attention.

Then the shaded figure began to violently twitch and cause a ruckus, almost like a seizure episode.

The thrashes completely threw Shadow off guard, and he stumbled back, his expression showing his horror at whatever beast was trapped inside.

“Rouge, there’s something else here.” He didn’t have time to explain, but pulled out a Chaos Emerald, “Chaos Control!” he illuminated the cave and his entire demeanor fell into a grave look of confusion.

“It can’t be...” His eyes darted left and right, examining her condition as he couldn’t understand what he was witnessing. “It’s-!”

But before he could continue to explain to Rouge, who was blind as a bat from only being able to listen in and not see what was going on, robot steps started echoing in the cave. He turned around, a look of serious emergency on his face.

“Shadow!? What did you find!? Don’t leave me in the dark here! What’s all that thumping sound!? Shadow! Shadow, respond!”

“Not now, Rouge!” he killed the mic, tossing it to the ground as he ripped it off his ear and used Chaos Spears to jam into the shield and break the material.

He unstrapped her from the seat, feeling her flopping onto him and helped her over his shoulder. “Darn, I was hoping for more samples, but this is too important.” He turned back to the see the robots’ lights now come on, searching like a beacon out at sea in all sorts of directions... it was as though they were hurrying to find him too...

He jumped down and consequently crushed the G.U.N earpiece on his decent down, hurrying to the back of the cave.

When the robots fired on their jets, he knew he was heard.

“Chaos-!” he held up the Chaos Emerald. “Control!” and teleported through time and space.

Back with Rouge, she was complaining how the old computers couldn’t diagnose Amy and scan the chemical at the same time.

“What’s more important?” Shadow folded his arms, looking to Amy, “A life or a future life?” then glared to Rouge as though it wasn’t an option to contradict him.

She looked to Amy, not shaking anymore and sighed, knowing the answer as she cut off the research side of the computer and turned on it’s scanners.

“This is bad...” Rouge saw the screen... “The chemical has spread up her spinal chord and has it’s greasy little tethers at the base of her brain.”

“That’s impossible.” Seeing the image, Shadow’s arms dropped and he lurched forward, as though he wasn’t expecting the results to be this severe. “The chemical compound would need an extraordinary amount of time before reaching that far! Where was the injection location?”

When he turned back to Rouge... her hands were trembling, hovering over the keyboard.

He looked up to see her eyes mortified at these readings of Amy’s current state, and Shadow had to approach her and pull her away from the computer, quickly typing in to see more data.

It took all of Rouge’s strength to look away, turning back to Amy and covering her mouth, reaching for her hand.

“How... How could this happen?” Her voice was choking up, “Sonic... Sonic would never allow this to happen! How could they just abandon her like that!” she hit her hand holding Amy’s into the table she was laid out on.

“Keep it together, Rouge.” Shadow’s voice sounded controlled, as though a solider, keeping the trauma at bay and back away from his work. “We need a cure.” He continued, “Or the rest of us are going to end up this way.”

“Who says they haven’t already!?” Rouge’s back bent forward as she coughed into her hand, unable to keep her emotions under control with a sight like this. “She’s slipping away and they just left her there to-!”

Shadow flung around and gripped her hand, pulling her back to him.

His glare said it all.

Don’t assume anything.

She felt her knees get weak and slowly lowered herself to sit on the ground, her wings drooping in stages as they lowered down and dragged against the floor.

Shadow just watched her and removed his aggressive grip on her wrist as it slipped through his grasp. He didn’t mean to be so hostile, but now wasn’t the time to judge others’ actions.

It was the time to act and save.

“I will find Sonic.” He declared, moving back over to the panel of controls and typing in more directives. “I’ve seen enough to know her state... she still has some time before it completely eats away at her mind.” the entire computer shifted over to what looked like research on the chemicals being scanned. “The amount we found should be plenty, I’ve set the computer to reverse engineer. It will take some time... but keep her alive till I can bring Sonic and his friends here... to answer for what they’ve done.” With that last sentence, Rouge looked up to see the pain in his eyes... to show he had a heart after all.

Did he have doubts that Sonic wasn’t as kind and admirable as he had seemed to be? The answer was a resounding yes. He wasn’t denying Rouge’s accusations, but wasn’t going to give in to them until he had the truth.

Nothing was being ruled out, and Rouge nodded as she wiped her wetted eyes and stood back up, being brave.

“Make sure you give them what they deserve for me... Shadow.” she moved back to Amy’s side, and Shadow closed his eyes as though silently accepting that he would.

“If all looks lost...” He began, turning his back to her and talking over his shoulder.

She shook her head, raising her head up as though to catch any remaining wetness from becoming tears.

He looked back towards the exit, not finishing the thoughts, per her body language’s request... and took off.

More hours passed...

“This is ridiculous!” Rouge was surrounded by Eggman’s robots, but stood in front of them and held her arms out to keep them from approaching Amy. “You expect me to believe you came all this way for her!? And not to get your greedy hands on the chemical!?”

“My machines are already leagues ahead of your outdated G.U.N technology!” Eggman’s voice billowed through one of the robots, holding guns made of lazer-power towards her. “As you can see, I’m not equipped with that awful drug. I had thought it would make controlling mindless robots easier to get rid of the human mind entirely, I had no idea what they were really working on...” he confessed, pausing Rouge a moment as she listened to what he was saying. “Now, if you’d be so kind, I’d rather have something to barter with when Sonic realizes I’ve parted ways with the mad professor...”

“So she’s your bait and switch!?” Her leg swung as though threatening to drill into his robots.

“W-woah, woah, calm down, Mama Rouge. I have a nutralizer I created for myself in case this might happen... It would benefit both me and Amy’s current state to test it out, don’t you agree?” His voice sounded as though he was trying to negotiate. “Yes, I want Sonic’s fury to be redirected, but that doesn’t mean I have no intention to present a perfectly healthy Rose to him... Savvy?”

She... slowly lowered her foot down, still ticked off as the robots surrounded Amy and began to move her into a floating transport pod.

“There, now we see eye to eye...”

“If anything happens to her Eggman...” She flew to sit on the end of the pod, showing she was coming too. “You’re screwed.”

“Don’t think I don’t know that... come along then.” he groaned, showing his own ‘calm distress’ as the robot he was speaking through turned and the rest marched out with the transport pod in the middle.

Getting to Eggman’s base, his computer screens were massive compared to the old G.U.N base... but as Rouge stayed by Amy’s side... Eggman’s face grew more and more like stone...

The results... were not in his favor.

As though whimsical at first, he was now showing signs of racing against the clock. Treating Rouge like a nurse all of a sudden, he spoke quickly out without a shred of emotion, only hurry. “That extraction gun. Over there.”

Rouge was being to panic at his odd shift in behavior, but quickly used her wings to push herself to move faster, rapidly grabbing the object he barely gestured to and rushing back to him with dust flying up in her wake.

“She better make it Doc.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Hold her down, she’s not going to like this.” He jammed the gun’s barrel to her side.

“DOCTOR!” Rouge shoved it off her body, “Have you lost your mind!?”

“Rouge, if you interfere, I’ll be sure to blame the consequences on you.” His threat was nothing like she had seen from him before... and complying, she did as she was told.

She pushed Amy’s arms down to the her sides, over her head as Eggman swung the gun back into position.

“What will it do to her?”

He said nothing, only working fast, moving some parts on the gun as it lit up, and then cocked it.

“Eggman...” her plea revealed her fear...

He shot into Amy’s side.

Amy’s body lurched forward and from her, a painful cry.

“Keep her down.” Eggman seemed to be grabbing a stick with movable features and cocked it back again.

An odd substance started draining into the gun.

“You’re not gonna do it again!” Rouge cried out, but Eggman just lowered the gun and let the substance spill into it.

“Could you not talk and let me work, woman!?” Eggman rudely spat out as he watched the substance mingle with some blood... before unhooking it from her side and grabbing some medical supplies to stop the bleeding. “There... if anyone asks...” He kept one hand on the bandage... “I did what I could.”

Rouge saw the grim look on his face and her’s finally broke.

She looked back to Amy, who was slowly coming too, but something was off with her.

Eggman looked away, “I stopped the process.”

“You what?” Rouge saw him turn his face away from her, as though he was hiding something.

“...It’s damage could be recovered... but that’s up to Amy now...” he was speaking too sorrowfully, as though trying to distance himself from the situation.

Rouge wouldn’t allow it.

“EGGMAN!” she grabbed his padded shoulder and yanked him down, he let her, though it was clearly uncomfortable for a man of his height to slump so far to the side like this. She hollered frantically in his ear, “You tell me what you don’t want me to know!”

He grimaced, as though not wanting to but then Amy stirred again.

Her body did some more twitches... as though her muscles were aching, before she slightly... opened her eyes.

Rouge released Eggman and appeared right by her side in seconds, “Amy..? Sweetie, tell me you’re okay.” she placed a hand to her cheek.

“...Rrrrouge...” she breathed out.

Rouge sighed in relief and dropped her head, “Thank Chaos.”

But... when she looked to see Eggman’s face.

Stone.

Why wasn’t he relieved too?

Rouge, worried again now, looked back to Amy.

She was making odd hums, as though waking up, but something was off with them. She looked to Eggman, “Egg...” she said, but began to create weird forms with her mouth, and Rouge’s hand twitched off her cheek as she continued to move as though unused to her limps.

Rouge’s chest rose and fell... “What’s wrong with her?” she demanded, feeling her heart tighten as though not wanting to beat anymore. “WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?!” she turned to Eggman but that was when Sonic, Silver, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow busted through the door as it feel like cold steel to the empty entrance.

“Rouge!” Shadow cried out, and it was clear Silver was beaten down and bruised... what had happened?

Knuckles darted by the two, followed by a speedy blue blur and Tails... was frozen in fear.

Amy’s eyes wouldn’t concentrate on anything, and her expression didn’t match the situation at all.

Sonic’s blur paused in front of her... stone.

Knuckles halted his franic steps... before looking to the screen, then back to her... his footsteps slowed... and then he fell to his knees.

He bashed his fist into the ground, and then lowered his back as though unable to look further.

Silver’s eyes shook, “Is she..?”

Shadow turned his head away, and Tails finished everyone’s trail of thought...

“She’s... gone.” He gripped his head.

“B-but she’s alive!” Silver gestured to her, grabbing Tails’s shoulder, “She’s still moving!”

“She’s not there!” Tails jerked himself away from Silver, “Her mind’s gone! The Amy we knew is gone!” he cried out, crying and cringing as he fell to the ground, sobbing. “It’s been too much time... We traveled to the cave and she wasn’t there. That took time!” He gripped his chest as Silver’s world began to crash down on him. “Shadow took time to find us!” He seemed to curl up on the ground, as Amy gestured a hand in the air, as though trying to grab something flying around her, as though in her mind... things were different. “We were stopped by that man and had to fight for our lives! We finally got him taken care of and unable to stop us further, but then Shadow got the G.U.N results remotely and my miles-electric had to download the signal, that meant we waited!” he gripped his head again, panting and wheezing as though also going through a mental breakdown. He started shouting as the room fell motionless... still... except for Amy. “When we discovered that the chemical probably had destroyed half of her already, we rushed to find Rouge!”

The situation looked like they were hung up on a wild goose chase, trying to scramble around and find Amy.

“BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE SHE WAS GONE!”

Rouge collapsed to the ground, covering her face with one hand, but through the slits in her fingers, her eyes shrunk and trembled.

“WE COULDN’T SAVE HER!”

-Many days later...-

Cream was out with Amy, supervised by Vanilla as she sat on a bench and walked the two. Cream was bending down to pick flowers, but Amy was staring up at the sky, as though transfixed on something, before Cream held up a flower and she took it, wobbling it in front of her face.

Cream gave a forced smile, just glad that it amused her.

Then... beside Vanilla... Sonic appeared.

“..How is she?” he asked, but his usual cheer and charisma was gone.

Vanilla smiled and looked down to her hands laying gracefully on her lap. “... Her appetites good... she only says one syllable words though... and not many for several days now.” She looked back up with a mother’s care at the two girls, seeing Cream and Cheese try to engage Amy but Amy was still shaking the flower profusely in front of her eye.

Sonic also stared... then folded his arms and adjusted his balance, looking on the ground as though uncomfortable.

“...Does she recognize anyone?”

“She recognizes Cream, but doesn’t seem to notice me. She’ll speak to Cream, but not engage me.” There was some pain being held back in her words... “I hand feed her... But sometimes she bats my face or shoves my hand away.”

Sonic turned abruptly away from her, “I don’t need to hear that!”

“... You asked...” she lowered her head, as though she’s been answering politely for too long, and so she told him the truth to see if that would satisfy him. “She may never get any better, Sonic... You come by and ask but I always tell you the same, kind things... today, you must face the possibly that Amy may be mentally disabled for life now.”

Sonic whole being tensed up, but not wanting to lash out at her, he held it in, struggling.

“... You should see her. Talk with her.” Vanilla finally said, looking to him, “She’d like that.”

“...I don’t think I can handle if-” he cut himself off, hearing the shift in his voice cracking and not liking his emotions being so real in front of others. He cleared his throat and looked to the sky... just like Rouge had done to keep the wetness in her eyes. “If she doesn’t know me.”

Vanilla remained silent, but like a loving mother, got up and embraced Sonic from being, resting her head on his shoulder and leaning her cheek into his, rubbing and stroking his head to calm him down.

“Her mind may not, but her heart will always know who you are, Sonic. You should speak to her.”

With that kind, motherly encouragement, Vanilla called back Cream and Cheese and took her hand as Cream took Cheese’s arm.

“We’ll give you two some space.” she moved further down the trail as Sonic was now solely in charge of watching her.

He took a deep breath, clearly uncomfortable, but walked softly over to her, trying not to spook her.

He bent down by her side, “Hey,... Amy.” He felt a lump in his throat as his smile he had tried to summon for her sake vanished at the sight of the flower falling from Amy’s hands and her taking a few seconds to stop shaking, and just stare at her hand while her damaged brain tried to figure out what had happened.

He closed his eyes, sitting down from his squat and finding this terribly hard.

He had avoided this for so long... he had beaten up Silver in his rage and then yelled at Shadow for leaving her as well.

By the time he got to Rouge and Eggman, there was no rage, only heartache.

“It’s been a long time...” He admitted, “That we haven’t seen each other.” He pressed his two fingers into his eyes, and as he strained against crying, his lips trembled like Silver’s had once done... and it was clear he was on the verge of crying.

That’s when Amy’s eyes blinked and she turned to look at him.

She made some weird mumbling sounds that were in-cohesive, and hit his shoulder with a few strong bats.

“Ow, ow, stop!” he leaned away and held up his hand, catching her slapping hand.

“Son.” she said the first syllable of his name,... stared at him... and then angrily, almost child-like, began to hit him again.

“Woah, stop,.. stop,.. stop!” he kept counter-weighting the hand as she hit before trying to pull away from his touch, crying out as he finally let her go and she scrunched her arms into herself.

He didn’t know how to handle this, but he was going to do his best. “Do you... do you know who I am.”

She made a strange, but clearly upset face, and glared at the ground.

“... I’m so sorry.”

“Son...”

“I failed you.”

“Son...”

“I shouldn’t have left you there. I should have let Silver go with Tails and Knuckles. I shouldn’t have blamed him either... I should have listened to Knuckles’s gut feeling... he kept bringing it up and I kept thinking we had more time. I shouldn’t have punched and kicked him... I shouldn’t have shouted at Shadow... I should have just run, like I always do. I should have ran straight to you and I didn’t. I’m so sorry, Amy. I’m so-... I’m so lost without you.”

Amy’s body turned away from him.

It was a beautiful sky... a wonderful summer day... a perfect scene for a picnic or family outing.

But there they were, a broken man once revering himself as a hero... and a broken girl who he missed dearly.

Then, as though a snake about to strike, her hand went back up to strike him... but he began to cry.

Her hand twitched and slowed... before landing on his head.

“...Son...ic.”

He kept crying.

“Son.. ic... cry...”

He didn’t notice.

“Son..ic.. don’t... cry...”

Then his ear twitched, and his eyes shook a moment as they grew wider and wider.

“Sonic...”

He turned to look at her.

She was crying...

He watched... then cried out, “Vanilla!!!” his voice rang through the flowered fields...

It took time, but with help, Amy slowly recovered, and Sonic was with her every step of the way.

(A huge AU, but ya know, I thought-- ‘what’s worse than a huge side-effect that would lead Sonic to his breaking point?’ here you go~)

#sonamy #sonicxamy #sonamy prompt #amy rose hurt fic #amy rose prompt #disability warning

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youarejesting · 4 years

Text

Digital Art

[SPARKS MASTERLIST]

Pairing: Robot!Taehyung x Reader

Genre: Friendship, Comedy, Soft boy, Fluff.

Summary: You are an art student, who gets regular visits from the Universities kindest and oddest AI. He explores human nature and ponders the idea’s of like and love and finds himself tangled in emotions he was never programmed to understand.

The research lab at University S had different robotic creations that were cutting edge for human consumers. The Min-meow cat that caters to the elderly works like a real cat and purrs, yet never gets sick and can analyse owners behaviour like strokes and heart attacks in time to call an ambulance.

Kookie the rabbit was a robot made for very young children coping with disabilities such as deafness and blindness, it could translate speech to text on the screen on its back and he could even read books to them in his little rabbit voice.

Robot Tae was just a regular AI who walked the Lab. He would talk with the students and observe many other robots. He would sometimes lay on the floor, his chin rested on his folded hands and watch min-meow cross the room. They made his hair out of tiny thin fibre optics which meant he could change the colour depending on his mood.

He would call the role and greet each student to class, he would run errands to and from the class which was his favourite Job.

Today he called the roll and walked the classroom, helping students with their work and genuinely having a good time chatting. The girls put flowers in his hair and took selfies with him. He liked the girls; they made him feel happy when they smiled. The boys were friendly too always patting his back or ruffled his hair which after some research was a good thing.

“Hey Tae, have you ever been with a girl?”

“What do you mean? There are many females in this room and I am with them does that count?” He asked.

“No, dude we mean like sexually, do you watch porn?”

“He ran his systems, they connected him to the University Wifi, and he had his own built-in data it wasn’t hard to find out what they meant. I have never watched it before,” he shifted uncomfortably, “By the looks of the videos it is for human pleasure. The videos seem to work as stimulation of the auditory and visual responses. Is this correct?”

“Yes, do you have a dick?” They asked snickering he seemed a little off-put by their laughing, he knew the signal of laughing was usually a good sign of friendship but his data also told him it could humiliate the difference was the eyes and their eyes didn’t seem friendly.

“I am a fully functioning humanoid robot, I have genitalia just like you do,” he said confused “are you making fun of me?”

“No dude, you are our little brother we want to help you get some. If you see a girl you like you should ask her if she wants to....” Tae wasn’t sure about his methods but he walked over to Daisy one of the nicest girls in the class and asked her the way they taught him.

“Tae doesn’t listen to them, boys don’t know how to get girls. When you see a girl or guy you like and I mean really like as in more than friends, you don’t ask like that,” She said sitting him down.

“How will I know if I really like them more than friends”

“Look you will know, you will find it hard to think, you will feel like you are about to explode”

“That sounds scary”

“Love is scary, but when you feel that ask her to hang out, like ask her if she would like to see Min, girls love pets”

She patted his shoulder. And he was lost in thought, filing away this information. It was one of those days he was asked to carry a stack of Textbooks to the engineering offices. On his way there he saw people holding hands and a couple kissing against a wall. On the way back he saw a girl sitting on a stool, a puppy at her feet. She was doing something he understood in theory but not in practice. He approached and saw her paintbrush stroke the canvas slowly colouring the skies.

“How do you do that?” He asked his hair a brilliant sky blue, he liked this he stored this in his data next to min-meow purring on his lap, the tasty oil drinks he gets for breakfast and freshly charging batteries.

“Oh! You scared me” she said, watching his face fall and hair darken to a midnight blue.

“I am sorry, I should go”

It was a few days later when he saw you again waving to him and he waved back. The days past and he would pause on his errands to watch you paint a little more. Some days you explained your project other days you worked in silence.

“Do you want to try?” You asked out of the blue one day. He beeped and nodded, his hair paling to a golden colour.

“All right hold the paintbrush with your hand and I will guide you” he nodded holding the paintbrush and your hand wrapped around his and moved it along the paper. His face lit up and he could only make strangled beeps and squeals from his auto air gun, TSC, auto door, spindle and alarm systems. This must be it, his processors were slowing down making it hard to think and his fan belt sped up, he felt like he could explode any second now.

She laughed this was such a bright friendly laugh, her small Pomeranian started barking beside her from the sound, “you’re cute what’s your name?”

“I am Tae, what is your name?”

“My name is y/n, and this is Yeontan”

“He is so wiggly and warm and soft, I have never pet a living animal” he said playing with the dog as it rolled around on his lap. You exchanged contact information, Taehyung had a mobile number and all the social media accounts, he had posted a few videos of his adventures around the Uni even showed videos of you painting. Only after asking you for permission to film you and your painting.

“Would you like to see my quadruped companion, his name is Min,” He used the line he had worked on with Daisy a few weeks ago “Girls love pets”

“Of course, I would love to see Min, girls do love animals, can I finish my painting?” you giggled and reached up taking a leaf from his hair and he nodded sitting cross-legged Yeontan curling up in his lap, he watched you paint. Once you were finished he carried your things, you placed your canvas in the art rooms before moving on to the engineering labs.

He walked you inside, and the class stopped and he smiled “Hello Daisy, I found her, she made me feel like I would explode and I couldn’t think, she is an art student. You should see it, and I asked her to come to see Min because; girls love Pets”

You were bright red as the boys whooped from the back, “Our Tae has game, getting the chicks”

“Quick y/n let me introduce you to Min,” he said and dragged you across the classroom and you bowed low to the professor apologizing for interrupting the class. You played with Min who was a grumpy and stubborn cat. “We can’t sell him as they made him too cat-like, and he refuses to listen. And this is Kookie, he was the first model but his ears are too big so for commercial reasons they made them shorter.” You pulled out your sketchbook and began drawing Tae and the three animals Yeontan really liked Kookie the latter hopping around the Pomeranian.

After class Tae introduced you to everyone including the professor. “Ah, it is nice to meet you, I have a meeting Tae you remember to lock up, message me when you do?”

“Of course” he smiled, waving goodbye. You headed home talking with him all night until he said he had to charge.

One day was spent with just the two of you, he walked you around the university and he waved to all the students and got some photos he showed you his favourite music, his favourite place and even the little mug in the Uni store that reminded him of Yeontan. He asked why you didn’t bring Yeontan and you explained he was going for a check-up and grooming.

He brought you back to the lab, and you sat on the desk swinging your legs as you listened to him sing and sway his hips to his favourite songs. He was in a particularly good mood and he grabbed your waist lifting you off the table and spinning you around, he felt his search engines working without commands and they had brought up a web browser with videos on how to kiss. He didn’t know what came over him but he kissed you just as it explained and your lips were locked and you stumbled back together until you bumped against the lab tables.

Lost in the feeling, knowing it was wrong but unable to stop yourself. The door opened and the two of you jumped apart and you ran out of the lab upset with yourself. Taehyung was in a daze he felt cold without you, he stored yet another folder about you in his data banks.

He texted you but you didn’t reply; he got worried and continued to try texting you; he was getting worried as he plugged in Kookie and Min. He did something he had never done before. He hacked your student records to find your address he didn’t want you to be hurt or in trouble, Yeontan couldn’t call an ambulance. He ran across the city following his GPS location and the pre-programmed directions. Tae knocked on your apartment door, the door swung open and you froze when you saw him. Letting him inside shocked and very concerned.

“Why are you here?” You asked as he sat on your couch, Yeontan making himself comfortable on his lap.

“I don’t know, I can’t stop processing and I am completing tasks without commands, things that I am not programmed to do, I can’t stop thinking about you and I was worried you were hurt, and I can’t function without you close”

“Are you saying you missed me?”

“That seems like a fitting explanation” He nodded and the silence settled over the two of you and he beeped his battery getting low. You walked him to your room and laid him on your bed, taking his charging cable and plugging him into the wall outlet.

As he powered down into charging mode he whispered “I want to kiss you again”

How can I save this to receive and read updates?

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theultimatefanficwriter · 4 years

Text

Keebo x Reader-Not Just a Robot

Requested by uwu_chiaki on Wattpad

"I find this show highly robophobic!" You covered your mouth and let out a chuckle as your robotic friend Keebo exclaimed at the anime the two of you are watching.

"It's just a show, Keebo." You giggled, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"They should not show such inaccuracies!" The robot huffed, crossing his arms. "Not all robots have giant drills, or are that tall!"

"They aren't even really robots, Keebo. At least not a robot like you." You explained. "They're giant suits called mechas. They don't really have a conscience like you do."

"That's even worse!" The poor roboboy's voice cracks as he yells in frustration. "You mean those boys are controlling it without consent?!"

You sweatdropped and let out a nervous chuckle. "It...it's not alive, Kee. It's like a tank. It can't really give consent."

"Then why does it have a face? Tanks don't have faces!" He argued.

You sighed and opened your mouth to respond, but were interrupted by your and Keebo's roommate, Kokichi, jumping on the couch between the two of you.

"They have faces because they used to be alive and conscious, but the humans reprogrammed it to have no say in the matter!" The purple haired gremlin beamed as he finished speaking.

"They did what!?" Keebo exclaimed in distress, his eyes glued to the TV. You gave the little shit a glare, to which he responded with an innocent smile and wave. "Y/N, I forbid you from watching this show anymore! It is robophobic, and promotes violence against robots!"

"K-Keebo no!" You said, exasperated. "Kokichi is lying about that. This show doesn't promote violence against robots."

"Theeeeen what's that about?" Kokichi asked, pointing to the screen as four teenagers wearing black start attacking the robot. Seeing this, Keebo lets out an ear piercing scream that forces both you and Kokichi to cover your ears.

"Kokichi was right!" Keebo cried out. "The human inside isn't even trying to fight back! He's letting the robot take the damage!"

"Because he's hungry!" You tried to tell him. "It's actually a plot point in this episode! And they aren't really robo-ugh you know what, forget it." You groaned and grabbed the remote, turning the TV off before sinking into the couch.

"Aww it was just gettin' good!" Kokichi protested.

You and Keebo both glared at him. "Why did we allow you to move in with us?" You asked him.

The boy thought for a moment before blinking his eyelashes innocently. "Because you loooooooove me?"

You exchanged a look with Keebo before you both grabbed a throw pillow and began to beat the Supreme Leader with it. Kokichi screamed and tried to cover himself before running out of the living room.

After he's gone, Keebo looks over to you. "I'm sorry I could not enjoy your show, Y/N. I just do not agree with what it is showing."

You shook your head with a sigh. "That's not what the show's about, but it's fine. Not everyone can get into shows about giant fighting robots."

Keebo nodded before...blushing? Wait, he can blush? You raised an eyebrow at this as he spoke. "I...enjoyed spending time with you, regardless. I...always have fun when I'm with you."

You smiled warmly at him. "Aw, I enjoy spending time with you, too!" You agreed with him. "You're one of my best friends!" You noticed Keebo wince when you said that. "Keebo, you alright?"

He nodded, but clutched his chest plate. "Yes, do not worry. However, whenever you say those words...my chest hurts."

You tilted your head at your friend. "Where...exactly does it hurt, Keebo?" You asked him.

The robot thought for a moment before taking his hand and placing it on his chest plate where his heart would be. "About here."

You bit your lip. You didn't want to jump to conclusions here. You didn't know much about robots, so maybe they needed to have a heart like part? "Hey, Keebs?" You called to him, smiling over at your friend.

He returned it. "Yes, Y/N?"

"I apologize if this sounds robophobic. You know I'd never do that intentionally." Keebo nodded in agreement as you continued. "Do...do you have a heart?"

Keebo frowned. "That would be a robophobic comment coming from anyone else." The roboboy stated. He gave you a grin. "But I know you mean well, so do not worry." He shook his head. "I do not have a heart. I do however have a battery that acts like one. It is the most important part of my body."

You nodded along. "That's really interesting, Keebo." You said, genuinely interested. "Is it in the same place as our hearts?" When the boy nodded, you looked away and rubbed the back of your head. "Hey...Keeboy?" You said softy.

"Everything alright, Y/N?" Keebo asked you worriedly.

"Yeah. Everything's fine. Just..." You shook your head. "Keebo, that pain in your chest, what makes it happen?"

"Well, it usually occurs when you mention us being friends. Like how we're such good friends or how we're best friends. But it hurts even worse when I see you with another boy." Keebo scratched his head. "I cannot understand why."

You sighed. "I think I do." You placed a hand on Keebo's shoulder. "Keebo...I think you have a crush on me."

The robot's eyes widened as he stared at you. "What?! A...a crush?!" He exclaimed.

You nodded. "You know. Like...you like like me. You want to date me."

"I am aware of the meaning, Y/N." Keebo told you, attempting to regain his composure. "Miu has taught me many...interesting things about love in an attempt to make me more human like."

"She did?" You questioned. "And you never thought you had one on me?"

"Well..." Keebo lets out a robotic sounding cough. "As I run through the data now, it makes sense. Yes. I suppose I do. I suppose it never occurred to me." He turned to look at you slowly. "So what I am feeling when around you is...love?"

You gave him a warm smile. "If it's the same thing I feel when around you, then yes." You responded, placing a hand over his own.

The robot looked down at your hand on top of his. After a moment, he slowly turned his hand over and intertwined his robotic digits with your own soft fingers. "You reciprocate my feelings then?" He asked you quietly.

"Mmhmm." You hummed quietly, placing your head on his shoulder.

"That makes me feel very happy." Keebo smiled. "I apologize in advance if I do something wrong. I am still unsure what to do when one is 'in love'."

You smiled and cupped his face, gently turning it towards you. "I promise I'll guide you the whole way." You whispered. You stayed like that for a moment, your face dangerously close to Keebo's, before you decided 'fuck it' and closed your eyes, pressing your lips against Keebo's metallic features. You felt the robot stiffen and he let out a surprise sound, which you found adorable, causing you to giggle.

After a moment, Keebo seemed to relax. He slowly grabbed you by the hips and placed you so you were pretty much straddling the flustered robot. With you at this new angle, Keebo placed one of his hands against the small of your back, his other going up and getting tangled in your hair. Finally, he closed his eyes, and attempted to kiss you back, which was really him pushing his face against you. But you didn't really mind. You appreciated the effort Keebo was making, though you were positive Miu had a hand in most of this.

After a minute or two, you pulled away, a smile on your face.

"Was that...acceptable, Y/N?" Keebo asked, clearly very flustered.

You chuckled and kissed his cheek. "It was very acceptable, Keeby." You assured him.

#danganronpa #danganronpa v3 #keebo #drv3 keebo #k1-b0 #reader #x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #request

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literature-islit · 4 years

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Isaac Asimov – I, Robot (1950)

Straight up, I really hate highly technical science fiction about life on other planets and there’s a lot of that in this book. And also I’ve never seen the movie based on this book (nor do i really want to i should overcome my prejudice to action flicks and give it a go).

And also this book is made up of several different stories, united with some clumsy retrospective narrative technique that I didn’t really enjoy.

i don't really recommend this book

BUT

I have always feared a future of self-driving cars, and Alexa’s in our houses that do things like turn on the TV and lights for us, and a future where your fridge can automatically, like, notice that you’re out of something and place an order for it to be delivered so you can just SIT ON YOUR COUCH AND CONTINUE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF BEING A CONSUMER, BYPASSING THE BURDEN OF PICKING AND CHOOSING BY AUTHORISING AN ALGORITHM TO DO SO ON YOUR BEHALF I--

sorry tech overlords for my outburst of wrong think. pls let me to continue to enjoy the privilege of feeding u every piece of personal data i can generate in exchange 4 a service that commands my likes and attention.

Anyway, science fiction is based around thought experiments, and even so far back as 1950 Asimov was doing some very thought-provoking thinking about robots. For your reading pleasure, some highlights:

SCENARIO 1: A society where buying a robot companion for your child is the fashionable thing for the upper-class parent to do. But Gloria’s parents grow to regret their choice as her love for and attachment to the robot dwarfs any feeling she has for human companions (including the ones who brought her into the world)...

WIFE: “You listen to me, George. I won’t have my daughter entrusted to a machine – and I don’t care about how clever it is. It has no soul and no one knows what it may be thinking. A child just isn’t made to be guarded by a thing of metal.”

But here’s the catch-22. Doesn’t a robot make a more dependable companion than a human? After all, it’s exactly the purpose for which it was designed.

HUSBAND: “He just can’t help being faithful and loving and kind. He’s a machine – made so. That’s more than you can say for human.”

No more fake friends being shady and unreliable. Click attending on an event and cancel an hour beforehand? Your robot mate (TM) would never...

SCENARIO 2: Robots end up being way better than humans at, like, work and life in general. So much so that the robot, so sure of its superiority, refuses to even CONTEMPLATE the possibility that he could have been created by that flawed and ugly creature, the human being...

i’ve never seen this movie, i don't understand the context of this gif, but to post it here felt right. flame me.

The robot thinks humans only believe that they created him to protect their own egos, and that he actually takes his orders directly from the Master Creator. Any pleas from the humans, that he stand aside and let them into the control room to prove they created him, fall on deaf ears. Unable to shake these delusions, the humans finally have to concede:

“He follows the instructions of the Master by means of dials, instruments and graphs. That’s all we ever followed… He knows he can [do his job] better than we can, since he insists he’s the superior being, so he must keep us out of the control room. It’s inevitable”.

To put this in an everyday context, imagine if one day you were typing on your iPhone and it was so certain that it knew what word you wanted to type better than you that it autocorrected f*cking to ducking once, then twice, then a whole DUCKING TEN TIMES... before, profusely sweating, you finally manage to jab a forefinger at the autocorrect suggestion in time...

it looks like you’re reading a blog. Do you want help?

Just imagine…

SCENARIO 3: Okay, okay, i promise this is the final one. So, the people are hanging out with the governor of their society, who they believe is a robot because robots look a whole lot like humans these days, and they’ve never seen him sleep or eat. To prove he’s not a robot, they challenge him to eat a piece of fruit - which he does.

But...

Wouldn’t a robot, who didn't want to be identified as a robot, be programmed to be able to eat a measly piece of fruit for demonstration purposes of proving itself not to be a robot?

What happens in society where human-imitations become so realistic that there is constant suspicion and speculation in the absence of any meaningful way to distinguish between the two?

And - most mind-bending of all - what if most people don’t even think it’s a bad thing?

Susan Calvin: “I like robots. I like them considerably better than I do human beings. If a robot can be created capable of being a civil executive, I think he’d make the best one possible. By the laws of Robotics, he’d be incapable of harming humans, incapable of tyranny, of corruption, of stupidity, of prejudice. And after he had served a decent term, he would leave, even though he were immortal, because it would be impossible for him to hurt humans by letting them know a robot had ruled them.“

Brooooo throw out your university degrees and qualifications. We about to be made obsolete! Compared to our current crop of world leaders - would it even be a bad thing?

Im crying. That’s a whole lot of dystopic possibility.

#Isaac Asimov #literatureislit #recap #book recap #irobot

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okimargarvez · 5 years

Text

PHONE CHALLENGE

Original title: Phone challenge.

Prompt: Penelope and Luke tries a social experiment.

Warning: none.

Genre: funny, romantic.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: part 74 in Garvez canon Life.

Legend: 💑.

Song mentioned: none.

GARVEZ STORIES

PHONE CHALLENGE

-And now I would like to play a game with you, or rather a social experiment.- the magician, a man dressed in a way that looks much more like a pianist, makes his gaze slide over the audience. -You've certainly heard of it.- he seems to be looking for something specific. -Before: raise their hand who is here with boyfriend, wife, husband, partner... etc...- Penelope and Luke are among the first to do so. -Well, more than half.- he comments. -How many of you would be willing to exchange your cell phone with your partner's?- he then asks, and this time everyone is quick to lower their arms. -No one?- he chuckles, then changes expression. -Think about, after all, you have exchanged or you will exchange much more important things than a telephone, yet you don't want the love of your life to see what you have in there.- many people look at each other embarrassed and someone blushes too. -A nice paradox, but calm down: you are in good company, as you can see.- the atmosphere is relaxed again. -Then, nobody wants to come?- he tries again.

In the third row, Penelope nudges her boyfriend lightly. -We go, come on.- he is part of those who blushed at the last reproach of the presenter, although among them there are no secrets or passwords to prevent the other from finding who knows what code message.

-But, love, you know that I don't like being the center of attention...- he replies, speaking in a low voice. Penelope, however, she plays rough, looks at him with her puppy face.

-Can you make an exception for me? Please?- the second part also turns out to be like a question and that lip out there just can't really say no.

-Ok.- he sighs and watches her raise and wave her hand to get noticed.

-Hey, we have volunteers.- he doesn't have to wait long. They go on stage. -Good evening guys. What are your names? - the magician asks.

-She is Penelope and I am Luke.- he answers for both, keeping her hand in his.

-Good, a round of applause for Penelope and Luke! How long have you been together?- he asks.

-Just over two years.- this time she was faster.

But the other turns to Latin. -Luke, tell me the date of your anniversary.- he asks.

-September 22nd.- Luke, however, is quick to respond, earning himself a small smile.

-Wow, he remembered it! This is true love, people!- laughter from the public. -Guys, could you deliver your phones to my pretty assistant? Thanks.- then, another theatrical break. -Are there contents that would be better our audience could not see? Remember that there are also children present.- both shake their heads. -No? Then we can proceed. While we wait for your data to be processed, we chat a little.- she hears Luke sigh. -What do you do?- he asks.

-I'm an FBI computer analyst and he's a special supervisor, both at the BAU, Behavioral Analyst Unit.- she explains, increasing her grip on his hand.

-Wow, now I understand why you two proposed yourself. Luke, I bet you could not even trade sinful messages with your lover if you want to, because Penelope has definitely hacked your phone and installed one of those apps that send an alert for any suspicious activity or something... I guessed it.- more laughter. -Well, they show me that everything is ready. Let's start with that of the beautiful computer technician. Let's see what you have as a screensaver. A unicorn. Cute. And now the background... it's a dog, right? Is it yours?- he asks.

-Yes, a Belgian shepherd.- she replies. -It's called Roxy. She is our little girl.- she smiles.

-Compliments.- they look like proud parents. -Even she is a federal?- he asks.

-Yes, in fact she is also a former decorated ranger.- Luke is keen to point out.

-We didn't expect anything less. We see the gallery now.- on the screen behind them appear the last photographs he took. -Is it a cat with a hat?- he asks, really surprised for the first time. Both laugh.

-Yes.- the woman nods. -Sergio.- another exchange of glances with a little heart.

-Isn't he at least a cop?- she shakes her head.

-No, but almost.- he answers in her place, just above the laughter. Then follows a series of photos of the team, of Penelope among the girls, one with Ariana, some with Phil and Sammie on the first date in four, and then an infinity of Sergio and Roxy, Luke dressed as a chef, one with abuela, some at the wedding of Jose with the Alvez family and in particular those shoes, one of them three at the walk-run, some of them kissing each other, some of quotes taken from books or places that are difficult to recognize and then one that attracts the attention of the magician. Penelope with Morgan and Hank. Luke frowns and the man immediately notices.

-Ouch ouch, we have discovered anything?- he almost seems to hope, for sure a scandal would do more success, it would increase the interest in his show. -Is this her lover?- he asks.

-Yes, definitely dangerous. My rival number one.- Luke pretends to encourage him.

Penelope, however, nudges him. -He's my best friend and former federal agent.- she emphasizes in a serious tone of voice.

-We'll go to the messages. Anything to object, Penelope?- she doesn't answer. -We only see the screen with the last received. Who is chocolat thunder? Why does something tell me it's not you, Luke?- but the blonde can't help but giggle.

-In fact, it's Morgan, her best friend.- the Latin repeats like a robot.

-Wow, you have to be a really not jealous guy.- the magician comments.

-Right.- she replies in a low voice, in fact no one but him hears it.

-Well, we tortured Penelope enough. Let's move on to Luke's.- he turns to better face the other man's gaze. -Worried?- he asks him.

-No, I have nothing to hide.- he comments, quietly.

-We’ll see. Screensaver: a forest? Very picturesque.- Luke just blushes. -And background... uh.- what he sees shuts up him. Penelope with Sergio in her arms and Roxy that is licking her face, practically her family. -Romantic. Gallery.- photos of Roxy appear, about half of the space are images of the dog, the other part of Penelope in a thousand different costumes, among the many we recognize that of Ophelia for the show taken from Hamlet, some in sexy pose, irreverent but never vulgar, one with the cook's uniform and also the hat, in many it is spontaneous, not built, as if the subject wasn’t aware of being observed, some where they kiss. -I don't think there are words to add. And now, finally, the messages.- on the screen you can see: Phil: Did you buy tickets for the match?; Matt: So it's fine Saturday, unless a case arrives. -All men.- he comments, almost disappointed. -Penelope, you should be happy .- the blonde nods but just looks at Luke.

-And indeed I’m.- she says, barely resting her head on his shoulder.

-A round of applause for Luke and Penelope.- they finally come back to their seats.

-Next time, we'll sit in the last row.- Luke says.

--------------------------

TAGS: @arses21434 @martinab26 @reidskitty13 @thinitta @garvezz @mercedes-maldonado @shyladystudentfan @cosmicmelaninflower @criminalminds14 @pegasus-scifichick @paperwalk @inlovewithgarvaz @the-ellen-stuff @astressedwriter @kdramanmore @kamieshep @sk1l4targ @badrwadan

#garvez #criminal minds #cm #penelope garcia #luke alvez #penelope x luke #luke x penelope #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia

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destinyquest · 4 years

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Trouble at the Farm: Part 2

Afternoon, The Farm Three Guardians emerge from the forest and enter the perimeter of The Farm. Ever since operations were established at the Tower, few Guardians visit The Farm. Those who did, found it to be a quiet respite from the constant battle for life and death on other planets. Today, there was a slightly unusual sight: multiple combat frames patrolling the perimeter, and a human wielding a sniper rifle atop the barn. She notices the approaching Guardians, and waves. A falcon lands on her shoulder.

In the middle of the Farm, near the fountain, the locals have established a makeshift market. Civilian humans and awoken are milling about, exchanging their goods and services, and making small talk. Children are playing soccer in the field nearby.

Donnie was overjoyed to see familiar territory, even though it is being guarded by robots. Her joy is quickly turned to awe as she notices something enormous embedded into a distant mountain, spewing turbulent black clouds into the sky.

“What is THAT?”

“That would be a shard of the Traveler. Remember how I said the Traveler saved us? Well, that was part of it’s sacrifice.” explains an exasperated Alexa. Donnie’s Ghost had been trying to catch up her Guardian on everything she’d missed, which was proving difficult.

“We should go talk to Suraya”, said Zulgren. The Warlock points at the woman standing on a scaffolding upon the barn. “She needs us.”

As they climb the stairs towards Suraya’s post, Donnie is relieved to see some familiarity: stables with livestock, farm tools and equipment, humans. She could not understand, however, why the humans did not look at her with familiarity. Most seemed to show faces of awe and fear.

Suraya turns to greet the three, “Hello there! I’m assuming Zavala sent you?”

Nil and Zulgren nod, Donnie asks “Zavala?”

“Oh yeah, she’s... uh... new”, chuckles Nil.

“Hi! I’m Donnie, nice to meet you!”

Suraya is pleasantly surprised by Donnie’s effervescent personality.

“Well hello, its nice to meet you. Name’s Suraya. Suraya Hawthorne. Normally I think we’d make sure you go to the Tower but-”

“I’m sorry, can... uh... I have a question.”

“Yes, Donnie?”

“Do you have any farm animals? I would love to see some sheep, or some goats, or anything like that?”

“Well... um.” Suraya squints her eyes, “I suppose...”

She takes a lengthy, uncertain pause before asking, “Why exactly do you want to see farm animals?”

“Well, I used to be a farmer, and that’s about the only thing that could make me feel more normal in this strange world I’m in now.”

Suraya sighs in relief, “Ok. Yeah, that’s fine. We got some horses and chickens in the barn over there. I wasn’t sure what you needed the farm animals for, sometimes some Guardians can be a little... weird.”

She eyes Zulgren, who has now taken out a small bone from his pocket. He is holding it up to his ear, listening intently. He then whispers into the bone, and puts it back into his pocket.

“Anyways... before you go say hi to the farm animals, I kinda have a life and death situation here...”

Donnie covers her mouth in embarrassment, “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t-”

“No no no, its ok- I supposed I should’ve just led with that,” chuckles Suraya. “The reason why I asked Zavala to dispatch some Guardians here is because we’ve had some increased Fallen presence at the Farm for the past 2 weeks. Like... violent, aggressive, Fallen presence. It is really unexpected and I’m honestly really worried. They’ve left The Farm alone ever since operations were relocated to the Tower. Why would they attack here? It’s just civilians, peaceful civilians just trying to live their lives!”

“Oh yeah, we took care of some Fallen on our way here!” chirps Nil.

“You did? Well, that’s good and bad news. Good that you took care of them, not so good that they’re still on our doorstep. They already destroyed a civilians home on the outskirts. They lost everything- I... I should’ve been here. At least they escaped with their lives, they’re living here now, at the farm.”

“Indeed”, says Zulgren, “we were also unable to recognize the House these Fallen are from.”

Dinklebot, Zulgrens Ghost, emerges from behind him. It begins to project an image of a symbol painted onto the clothing of a dead Vandal. The symbol shows a crescent, with abstract clouds emerging from it.

“I captured this image of their house symbol on a Vandal we dispatched near here.”

“Fascinating. That’s definitely not House of Dusk, or any other House I recognize,” muses Suraya.

The group all stare at the mysterious symbol for a moment, before Suraya interrupts the silence.

“Perhaps Tyra can help. She’s down by the market,” Suraya gestures towards a platform near the market where an elderly Awoken woman is working at a cryptarchs’ station. “I’m open to suggestion on what else can be done here. For now I’m gonna head back to my patrols. I won’t be far in case any of you need me.”

Nil is distracted polishing his hand cannon, while Zulgren is back to whispering at the mysterious bone.

“Well it was nice meeting you!” says Donnie enthusiastically.

“And it was nice meeting YOU! I look forward to seeing you again Donnie.” Suraya smiles and walks off. As she does so, she mutters to her falcon Louis, “I don’t know about those two vanguards, but I like the new one. What do you think? ... Yeah, me too.”

Donnie, Nil and Zulgren walk towards Tyra’s podium, glancing at the market as they pass through. The cryptarch is lost in concentration analyzing an engram. She is momentarily surprised to see three Guardians approaching her. She had gotten used to most Guardians visiting Rahool at the tower, but welcomed the change.

“Greetings Guardians, engrams to decrypt?” asks Tyra.

“Actually, we are here because of the Fallen.” Zulgren informs her of their mission.

“Yes, this makes sense. Hmm. The mystery house, and the sudden attacks. It is a conundrum.”

Alexa peeks out from behind Donnie and offers, “The Fallen were the last race that the Traveler visited, do you think they’re here for the shard?”

“It is possible, indeed. There was a Hunter with that theory... what was his name... Leon! Yes, he was a sharp one. Went to go investigate a nearby Lost Sector, I believe it was called the Whispering Falls?”

“Do you know where this is?” inquires Zulgren

“Hm? Oh, yes. Let me see...” Tyra begins to rummage through the mess of her table and procures a small data bank. “Here, for your ghost.”

Dinklebot scans the data bank. “It is a 2 day journey.” he says, monotonously.

“Ooh! Maybe we can take the horses!” chirps Donnie.

"Do be careful, and see if dear Leon is ok. I haven’t heard from him since he left.”

The three Guardians begin to head towards the stables, but along the way Donnie and Nil are distracted by the market. Donnie finds an armorsmith selling a stylish spinweave armor piece, and approaches the vendor. Billy the armorsmith had never really interacted with Guardians before, and wasn’t sure what to make of the one approaching him now.

“Hi! I really like that armor you’ve got there, what is it?”

“Hey... um, its spinweave. Really high quality.” says Billy, through a forced smile. “Sorry, I just, we don’t have Guardians here that often.”

“Oh, well I’m Donnie! It’s nice to meet you, what’s your name?”

“Billy.” he says, lowering his guard. “You’re a lot nicer than I was expecting. I just don’t really know what to make of people who, you know, come back from the dead.”

“Trust me, neither do I” chuckles Donnie. “I would love to buy this armor, how much of the blue glittery stuff is it?”

“450 Glimmer. This is the only Guardian armor I have in stock, and it’s as high quality as it comes.”

Donnie checks with Alexa on how much Glimmer she has before turning back to bargain a little.

“So, any chance I could trade you my armor for the spinweave?” and, forgetting that she had taken a beating from a Vandal, says, “Its in perfect condition!”

Billy looks at the unsightly laser-riddled and scarred leather armor Donnie is wearing, and decides that she could use better armor more than he needs the extra Glimmer. Besides, she was the kindest, and only, Guardian he’d ever met! He gives her an amicable discount.

Nil finds himself at a weaponsmith’s stand, inspecting the various wares. The weaponsmith steps out from behind the tent to greet the Guardian. “Hello there!” they gesture towards his impressive collection. “If you have any questions about my hand-crafted weaponry, just let me know.”

Nil raises a mechanical eyebrow. “I happen to know a thing or two about gunsmithery myself, I’m Nil. Nillion-7”

The weaponsmith smirks, and decides to play along. “Oh, is that so? Friend of Banshee?”

“Friend? More like BEST friend. Banshee and I go way back.”

The merchant sees straight through Nil’s blatant lie. “Right, well. You see, I happen to know Banshee-44 quite well... and I don’t remember him ever mentioning a Nil.”

Nil realizes his error and meekly offers a correction, “I mean, Banshee doesn’t know that we’re going to be best friends. I see him as a best friend.”

The weaponsmith nods and chuckles. “Whatever you say Guardian. If you chose to buy anything, let me know.”

Nil mutters to himself as he walks off towards the stables. There he finds Donnie wearing a fresh set of spinweave armor. Zulgren is inspecting the horses, stroking his chin very slowly.

“Oh hey Nil! Do you know anything about weaponsmithing?” Donnie asks the Exo.

Nil cheers up, hearing that his skills are needed. ”Well, yeah! What’s up?”

“This pitchfork kinda... sucks. No offense Alexa, but I can’t hit for shit with this thing. Got any ideas on how you could improve it?”

“Hm... I could give it a nice plasteel handle and reinforce the blades on the end there. Gonna cost some Glimmer.”

“Done! Here.” Alexa transfers some Glimmer to Nil’s ghost, who then immediately starts working on improving the pitchfork. Nil and his ghost make quick work of it, considering he is accustomed to tinkering with machinery far more complex than farm tools. By the time he is done, the pitchfork has a plasteel-lined extended grip making it easier for two-handed wielding, and the metal points have been sharpened and reinforced with plasteel as well.

Donnie thanks Nil for his help and they return to Zulgren. The warlock is cautiously approaching one of the horses at the stable.

“Uh... hey Zulgren. Shouldn’t we ask if we can borrow this before we-”

Before Donnie is able to finish her sentence, Zulgren leaps onto the horse’s back. The horse immediately starts to buck and Donnie rushes to calm it down. Through their combined efforts, they are able to ease the creature’s shock from being so suddenly mounted.

“Ok. Maybe lets not steal horses from these nice people? I’m going to find Suraya. Nil, want to come? Nil?”

Donnie looks around, and Nil is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly a robotic face emerges from a haystack in the corner of the stable.

“Oh. Hey. Are we not stealing horses?” asks Nil, still in the haystack.

“Did you just... hide?” responds Donnie.

“Uh, I just thought we were about to steal horses and I figured I should be stealthy.”

Donnie rolls her eyes and walks out of the stables. She immediately spots Suraya walking the perimeter of the Farm, sniper rifle at the ready. Donnie waves at her, and Suraya waves back as she starts walking towards her.

“Hey there, was Tyra able to help you guys figure out more about the Fallen?”

“Yeah! We’re actually about to go on a quick mission into the woods, and I was wondering if we could borrow three of the horses in that stable?”

Suraya purses her lips and frowns. “Ah, yeah. I’m sorry you don’t have Sparrows but I can’t let you borrow the horses. They’re the only horses we have at The Farm and the EDZ can be dangerous. It’s not that I don’t trust you, and I definitely know they’d be for a good cause-”

Donnie cuts her off, “Don’t even worry about it. I totally get it. We’ll be on our way!”

Suraya smiles, “I really like you, thanks for being so understanding!” She nods, and returns to her patrols as Donnie jogs back to the stables.

“Sorry guys but looks like we can’t take the horses,” says Donnie as she enters the stable, “Suraya doesn’t want to risk anything happening to them and- ... WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HORSES?”

Three of the horses are glowing unnaturally.

Zulgren was looking proudly at Donnie, but his expression soured quickly. “Well. I had enhanced them with void energy, but I suppose we will leave them.”

Donnie rushes up to one of them, “Is- are they OK?”

“They are enhanced,” says Zulgren, in the same tone he might use to explain that horses are animals.

Donnie inspects them, and aside from the fact that they are glowing, they seem calm and in good health. Cautiously satisfied, Donnie begins to leave the stables with her two companions.

As they leave the perimeter of The Farm, they pass by Suraya making her rounds. She waves at the fireteam, “Good luck!”

Donnie smiles nervously, “Thanks! Um... You may want to check on the horses-”

“What?! What did you do?”

“They’re alive! Don’t worry!”

“ALIVE?”

Suraya runs off back in the direction of the stables while Donnie, Nil, and Zulgren sheepishly run into the forests of the EDZ. Dinklebot begins to chart their expedition through the woods as the intrepid team watch cautiously for ambush and surprises. The distant never-ending battle between the Light and the Darkness is a murmur deep in the woods, and the turbulent roar of the clouds billowing from the Shard of the Traveler is but a tremble beneath their feet.

#destiny #destiny2 #dungeons and dragons #dnd #dnd rp

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sarahjaneblogspot-blog · 5 years

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WHAT’s IN IT(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)?

Information technology (IT) is the use of any computers, storage, networking and other physical devices, infrastructure and processes to create, process, store, secure and exchange all forms of electronic data.

Technology is very powerful and nothing is as good as technology at improving life. Even though this is both good on paper and on the surface there are drawbacks to this. Technology can affect life both positively and negatively. New technology always changes our life very much and takes it to a new level. It is like the new way of thinking or doing the normal things differently, better and much more faster with less hassle and at a much affordable rate. Imagine life before Electricity, Life before the Automobile, life before the Telephone, life before the Computer, life before the iPhone. Before those technologies life was much less complex but it was at the same time very difficult to get many things done with just the twelve hours of visible light that we are given with each day.

As illustrated in the figure, Technology evolves, as as it evolves there more we find more convenient ways to get many things done in a day without too much hassle and this is one of the great benefits of having new technology.

New Technology Improves quality of life for human beings and as a side effect it makes it complex and have a negative effects on the environment.

PROS:

Without technology life would be very difficult and behind. Technology has brought many great things such as the ability to have light during night by using what we call Electricity. Let us use electricity as an example, Electricity alone has taken life on earth for human beings to another dimension. Imagine how bad your day can be and how your life gets stuck if there is no electricity just for four hours. Electricity is the most versatile energy source on the planet, even though we’ve only depended on it for about 100 years now. Its been only hundred years and look how improved life is as compared to 5 centuries ago. So imagine if we had been depended on it from the very start, Life would have been very very much better... People like Newton, Galelio, Maxwell, Gauss, Kepler and others would have developed far more better tools that make life better for all human beings. Imagine a 1000 years with electricity? Life would really be in a different dimension… I wish i could live to witness that.

Technologies such as computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones make it easy for human beings of today to exchange information, make faster decisions, interact socially, get entertainment, process financial transactions efficiently, buy online, manage homes and other existing technologies. This has made it much more efficient to travel because cheap air tickets can be purchased at a press of a button, an Uber cab can come collect you at your own time no more waiting. There is a cheap way of connecting with friends and family through social media and now you don’t have to remember people’s birthday because social media can always remind you.

Technology unlocks life that was unimaginable. Life that only existed in people’s dreams. As Einstein once put it imagination alone is too powerful. Technology is the reflection of people’s imagination on solving existing problems. These problems pushes human beings to transform their imagined ideas to solving these problems into technological innovations which as a result improve life.

CONS:

However, as much as electricity has brought too much convenience to the lives of human beings on earth it has also complicated it in a way. There is too much dependency on electricity and as a result there is overuse of electricity and since most of electricity is generated through natural gas. Too much use of natural gas has a net effect on the earth’s climate system. This is really bad because it means the next generation of human beings may not find the earth as green as it is today.

Also electricity has led to complexity of many tasks. Today the average human being does not want to do laundry with hands but wants a machine to do that, same goes for warming food with a microwave oven, exercising on a treadmill, using a dishwasher to wash dishes. Walking around the city on foot is no longer easy one has to obey robot signs and etc. These things were made to make life easy for human beings however, if you do not have them or afford them life can be difficult and very complex for you as a human being because things are longer done the manual way.

Lastly, new technologies such as the Smartphones, Laptops, Tablets have negative effects on the environment and on the balance of life though they are meant to make life great. If you can’t afford these technologies your life becomes very backward. Technology also give too many options to choose from which can sometimes make life of a person very difficult.

Also most of computer technologies of today have a bad footprint on the environment because they expire after some time creating hazardous electronic waste or e-waste. Also the net energy required to create these technologies and also to transport them across the world also increases and contributes to the total pollution of the earth.

In summary:

New technology brings new qualities to the lives of human beings but also has a side effect. What i have noticed is that usually human beings tolerate this side effect for as long as it takes until that current new technology becomes irrelevant and again new technology has to be invented. I once read something that once said, Make something that will make people believe they are thinking and they will love you forever, but if you make something that will make people think then they will hate you. So in simple words, New technology can improve life both positively and negatively.

The magnificent ways of Bruno Mirchevski, Founder at HE Group about TECHNOLOGY(2018)

Oh, in so many magnificent ways, he said.

He is probably one of the biggest proponents for technology. He is so simply amazed and fascinated about it, that he just can't help but imagine how wonderful it would be if he is able to one day change the world for the better.

Truth be told, He is very aware of how huge the technology industry is yet to be. And he should be crazy not to say that there really is one scary side of future technology. However, today he would like not to put an accent on that.

According to him, Technology has indeed impacted our lives. In some aspects, it changed our lives for the better and in some aspects it completely ruined humanity.

Advantages of technology:

He will start off with the good sides because he simply owed by that.

1. Medicine - Medicine has truly improved since technology has improved tremendously. Various and numerous diseases can be cured due to technology advances. Today, we have many more health care technologies than what we had in the past. Technology positively impacted our health and the overall healthcare system.

2. Learning - He guess this one depends on how you perceive things. He like to think how many new things technology allowed us to gain knowledge in. He thanks to numerous sources we can find online, we are able to educate ourselves on any subject we would like. Also, there are different programs, online schools, and courses that we can take and pay for, in order to learn new skills and information.

Disadvantages of technology:

Following the two advantages, here are the two biggest disadvantages of the technology.

1. Communication - Unfortunately, due to technology it seems like people forgot how to appropriately communicate with each other. Even though this one also has a good side - such as allowing us to keep in touch with friends and family that do not leave near us, the technology still impacted the way we talk to each other drastically for the worse. More and more young people do not know the basics of healthy communication because they spend more hours typing than actually talking to each other.

2. Productivity - Technology, especially social media impacts our productivity beyond recognition. Today, one of our biggest struggles is to give up our addiction to social media. And it really seems like an impossible thing to do. Nowadays it is very easy to get distracted therefore not be productive or motivated since we have all these kinds of distractions around us.

The Uses Of Information Technology

IT is a key to business success, today many people using information technology for their business and from that their business successful. Information technology is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. Many people or customers use information technology because they’re not having many times gone to shop, buy the goods and from information technology customer also will get many information about your product and company.From information technology can turn fans into customers and customers into advertisers for your brand. For people want started the business their can use information technology for promote their company and product.

According to PresentSoft he says so it’s only natural that something as ubiquitous as I.T. plays a major part in business. Information Technology also affects the accuracy of business operations. When a company uses a computerized accounting system instead of relying on a real live accountant, they eliminate (or, at the very least, significantly reduce) human error. And because such systems allow for faster operations, the company’s workers can concentrate on more pressing tasks. (PresentSoft. Leave a Comment, 3 August 2010)

In our country have many business success use information technology the company not focus in traditional ways but their update to change in technology. Started using information technology their company gets many customers and from that there can make conferences or take information. Other than that, from the web company not just give information to all people or their customer the web also can do promotion, sales, update new product and so on. The company also will be close with their customer now day many people like using internet so it’s good for business easy, reduce time and so on.

All most of the people think that social media can generate exposure for their businesses and reduce the marketing expenses. On the other hand, they think social media can help in building new partnerships and rise in research rankings. Moreover, they thought social media can achieve selling to other businesses more than to their customers. Furthermore, they all thought social media can reduce marketing cost both on selling to businesses or customers. For example if company have Facebook, tweeter, and so on it is a point to company close with customer because majority people have own social network so from that company will get many customer and the business will be get more profit and success.

The Importance of Information Technology in Business

With the introduction of computers, the business world was changed forever. Using computers and software, businesses use information technology to ensure that their departments run smoothly. They use information technology in a number of different departments including human resources, finance, manufacturing, and security

Using information technology, businesses have the ability to view changes in the global markets far faster than they usually do. They purchase software packages and hardware that helps them get their job done. Most larger businesses have their own information technology department designed to upkeep the software and hardware.

Information technology has allowed businesses to keep up with the supply and demand as consumers grow more anxious to have their items instantly. Using information technology, businesses like Amazon are working to help busy consumers do their grocery shopping. Just a few clicks on a website allows the consumer to submit an order, and information technology sends that order to the company.

The Importance of Information Technology in Education

The world of education is changing as the modern world continues to grow. With so much progress happening, it’s important that education be able to reach students in new ways so that their students are prepared for the future. The students of today are the leaders, inventors, teachers, and businessmen (and women) of tomorrow. Without the proper skills, these students will not have the preparation needed to survive.

With so much focus placed on education, it can sometimes be difficult to hold a job and still get the training needed to get a better job. Information technology plays a key role in students being able to keep their jobs and go to school. Now, most schools offer online classes that can be accessed on computers or laptops, tablets, and even mobile phones. A busy student at work can easily check in or submit assignments while on their lunch break.

Teachers need to be prepared by staying up to date with information technology, and this can mean more than just reading about the latest gadgets. Using technology, teachers can prepare their students for a future flooded with gadgets including tablets, mobile phones, computers, and so much more.

Information technology is helping to prevent more high school and college dropouts as well. Life events can happen to anyone at any time, and even high schools are taking advantage of online classes so that students can continue their education instead of considering dropping out.

TECHNOLOGY JUST MEANS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

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ellestra · 6 years

Text

Act of God

Angela was not taken by Whiterose as she hoped. Angela has kept her faith in Whiterose project, in that reality reset that will make everything all right, and wants to stop people opposing it despite being discarded once her usefulness ended. But she was taken by Philip Price. Because he finally decided to tell her the truth. From the “I am your father” to all the ways Whiterose used her to stop the suit endangering the project and to simply spite him and as leverage. Cult deprogramming is always hard but this comes with accepting the guilt for the deaths of thousands of people and it’s almost too much to bare. Now Angela is just like the people she hated all her life and she tires to deflect the guilt into revenge. Price tells her she should find to live with the guilt instead. Opposing Whiterose never ends well.

This episode is about what people would do for those in their life who matter most to them. Even people like Philip Price who was hard to imagine to have ever cared for anyone but himself. Those connections humanise them but can be used to destroy them as easily and we saw the Dark Army mercilessly push these buttons the whole season. From use of Angela to get to Price through controlling Tyrell with his son’s fate to breaking Dom.

Dom finally figures out what is wrong with Santiago but it’s too late. This kind of betrayal is too big to believe so despite her instincts she hopes to the end there is another explantation so she ends up tied in a car going to Dark Army with Darlene. Cleaning up lose ends. Only she isn’t the one who ended up dead. Once Santiago started making demands his death warrant was sealed. Whiterose hates that and Irving should know - he used to be her right hand man before Grant (Washington Township clean-up maybe) - so he decided to give her a new mole instead. Dom is a straight and rule abiding as they come but Dark Army won’t take you life. Instead everyone you love is a hostage. We all hated Santiago but it's obvious now that he used to be Dom once.

I know Dom is angry because she is forced to become everything she always hated and do things against her every nature but it’s not Darlene’s fault. Sure, sleeping with you to get access was a shitty thing to do but you are here because you just wouldn’t let it go. Not of Cisco, not of Tyrell, and now you followed up on Darlene when Santiago was pointing you away. You solved the conspiracy. This would end the same way if Darlene was not involved. You are just too good at your job.

Still, the important part was that Elliot and Darlene are alive. Watching Elliot getting a panic attack thinking Darlene is dead or might die and that he can’t find a way out on time made me even more anxious. The level of his despair showed when he went to Mr. Robot for help. And now they talk again. And once he is captured too the clock starts ticking. But Elliot has hacked the Dark Army and knows what Whiterose really wants and use it to save himself and Darlene. I really hated it when Leon was pointing that gun at her but Whiterose listened and everyone else died instead. And now the project is going to Congo.

Eliot is the genius that makes plans to change the world and can understand what people want and use it as leverage on the spot. But his grasp on reality is tenuous and Darlene is connecting him with it though all their shared experiences. She is his reality fact checker. She reminds him of the true versions of the stuff he edited. Because just like he was the one who threw himself off that pier he was also the one who jumped out of that window as a kid. Their father didn’t threw him out (physical violence seemed to be more of their mother thing anyway). He had a rage attack and jumped and broke his arm. He has been lying to himself again but now he knows the truth.

And then he goes and has an honest conversation with Mr. Robot. Not a fight but exchange of truths. The new better plan with a target they can both agree on. And he gets the keys to undoing 5/9 in return. They both understand the parts of each other they share. And how much stronger they can be together.

But the coda was a downer. As Darlene’s new friend points out getting E Corp data back won’t save normal people. The rich got what they wanted. E Corp now owns money. Whiterose owns Congo and Elliot just got her transport for her project. And everyone else will have to start paying their debts again. No matter the jobs they lost in the total economic collapse. Nothing gets better. It would take an act of god to make it better. At least on TV we can hope that time reset machine is real. Or Elliot can really get the people on top.

But for now Elliot’s life is about to get even messier. Look who’s back. I wonder if Dark Army got him an early release too. As a way to keep Elliot in check.

#mr robot #mr. robot #Elliot Alderson #darlene alderson #dominique dipierro #dom dipierro #angela moss #Philip Price #whiterose #irving #Dark Army #leon #e corp #fernando vera

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junkyardlynx · 6 years

Text

As I entered the cockpit of my war-frame, something of a sigh escaped my psionic and vocal apparati. I had expected something…more. Maybe the Helyne were the remnants of galactic conquerors who saw the destruction and grief that they had wrought and, in their regret, allowed their societies and species to regress until the spark of sentience no longer lit their actions. Perhaps the Helyne were the watchers of the universe, sending their observations to a great cell that recorded all knowledge and meticulously cataloged it.

Yia, thus these were not the answers. The Helyne were…pets. As they always were. Spread by one sentient creature’s earnest wish to share their love with the universe expanded. This made them no less special, but in the moments as the Earth shrunk in the real-time visual feeds, I felt two things. Disappointment, followed by immediate guilt. The blackness of the space between stars swallowed the war-frame and I closed my eyes, allowing myself to process information more efficiently.

My issue was that I always craved the darker things.

“Was I everything you hoped for, Spiderman?”

The sudden voice snapped me from my thoughts as pinpricked black gave way to a warm and terribly constant light brown colour, a visual effect of the method that powered our faster than light travel. A projection of Emma-Uh lit up the soft golden glow of the cockpit, slender hands on her cheeks in an apparent show of mockery.

“I…yes, to find a remnant of a precursor civilization is alway-”

“Remnant? Wow buddy, you gotta work on your people skills. Listen. I may be a collection of data inside your sick 2030s anime mech, but I have feelings.”

“You are correct, I apologize. Emma-Uh, allow me to begin again. To meet a brilliant mind such as yours would be a pleasure in any circumstance, but to know the pinnacle of Earth-form achievements personally and to talk to them inside of Ashir is quite another. I am glad to have found you.”

“Okay, two things. Three, maybe. Let’s just start at one. One, my name is just Emma. The “uh” was a vocalization of hesitation. Two, if I had cheeks they’d be burning so watch it with the compliments. Three, is Ashir the name of your Ikari Shinji wet dream here? Four, why does it look like I spilled my mocha latte over all of everything?”

I was momentarily floored as I began to process the information. Translators were never good for popular culture references, so I filed “Ikari Shinji”, “wet dream”, and “mocha latte” away for later. The burning cheeks part…that I understood. Embarrassment causes a similar reaction for my people, lighting our psionic nodes up a peculiar purple. Best to play dumb though, I conclude.

“I apologize once again, Emma. It was not my intention to misname you, nor cause a simulation of physical agony.”

“That’s not what I…I mean…” My only thought was that her reaction was “cute.” Pointed retaliation. I continued.

“To answer your questions, Ashir is the name of my exalted war-frame. As Radiant Prime, I am naturally the most fit to pilot our finest craft, but that aside, Ashir is a dear friend to me. He spends most of his current existence in a form of stasis, acting as the core and power system of the war-frame. It is for this reason we describe them as war-frames - all machinery and technology is a housing for the being at the heart of it.”

“Wait, like, an actual perso- ah. I see now.” She was silent for a time, arms crossed in front of her torso, head inclined in thought. When she spoke, her voice was distant, analytical, but not cold. Just immersed in her thoughts.

“Your species commands immense psionic power. Psionic power, being the manifestation of thought and emotional energy leaving imprints on the world. Theoretical uses range from telekinetics to mind-reading to seeing into memories of the past. You also appear to be long lived, but that’s just conjecture based on your physical form. Psionics were something we dabbled in but it never got out of its infancy because the kids kept frying their minds. No proper channeling organs. No natural aptitude. But you. Those crystalline nodes. With training you could turn your entire body into a conduit. Training, or…an accident…” She trailed off.

“You have the framework of it, as it were. The greatest fear in psionics is losing one’s self in the flow and to become unable to turn off our connection. That being becomes a torrent of power, suffering something akin to a death of the self as a singular mind cannot separate from the flood. Two options remain at that point. True death, or service. Ashir kept enough of himself to choose service to his friend. So we shackled his disintegrating form to a binding crystal and built him a new existence..” Mutual silence filled the war-frame. In the aftermath of this revelation, the geometry of the space felt akin to one of our necropoli, quiet and permeated old grief.

“Well, I’ve heard of friends giving you a ride but this is a whole other level.” Her humor was appreciated. As if in affirmation of this Earth-form, the golden glow of the cockpit intensified and became laced with warm reds.

“I believe he likes you” I attempted a smile. Though Ashir did not often directly communicate, he retained awareness of what happened in the confines of his form, and would often reflect his emotional state with the lighting. I…made many attempts to avoid blue lighting.

“As for the color of the space outside, its the determinate average colour of this galaxy. Our war-frames and ships use our unique power sources to complete normally impossible feats. I’m sure you know of the idea of folding space - connecting two faraway points by “folding” the distance and punching a hole through.“

Emma nodded, whispering something about “can’t fucking believe Dune got it right” under her breath. What did sandscapes in desert climates have to do with this?

“Our method is similar. A psionic who becomes a conduit is privy to an unprecedented amount of information. They see their current point in space, and their destination as well, and every single connection between the two - from dead space to blazing stars. We observed a peculiar law of the universe thousands of cycles ago. To merely observe changes the outcome of an event. If simple observation has such an effect, can you not affect events with raw willpower? And so, the psionic sees himself in space-time, sees his destination and determines that he has arrived at his destination. With the backing of such psychic force, the universe cannot challenge this without creating a paradox of observer inconsistency. We do not move the stars, but they move for us.”

Emma was stunned for the first time. It was an expression that I could find nothing but charming.

“So you lie to the universe so hard it gives up? That. That’s awesome. But in, if the travel is as instantaneous as it sounds, why has it been twenty minutes in a Starbucks latte for us?”

Through cross referencing of Ashir’s databanks on Earth broadcasts and media, I found that a latte is a drink of steeped bean juice and cream. It sounded delicious. My only record of a Starbuck pertained to the late human period of Galactica, in which living robots overthrow their creators. Was this their downfall? Dark, to be sure. Returning in the blink of an eye to the question at hand, I answered.

“Though we move instantly, the universe refuses to bow to our will completely. We are forced to wait an amount of time before we can leave a set boundary field, or we risk causing a chain reaction of paradoxical inconsistencies. So…ten more of your minutes, I’d estimate, given the distance from your Earth to my Empire.”

“Huh. Wait. Your Empire, Ves? Like, you run it or…”

“Emma, perhaps I should have explained. In our Empire’s military, we are granted titles based upon our rank. The titles are named as such for the beacon of knowledge we have proven to shine with, along with a numerical designation.”

“The words Empire and military make me suspicious of what kind of knowledge that is, you know. But uh, illuminate me. Hehehe. Illuminate.”

My lips formed a wry smile at the joke. Ashir and I built a very good translator to be able to allow such easy jokes.

“Very well. An enlisted member is first ranked at Dull. Disparaging, but with promise. From there, Dim. At the top of the main corps, Gleaming. No numerical designation is given for the first three ranks, because we simply do not have the patience to ascribe numerals for trillions of people. From there, Glowing, Lustrous and Lucent. The leap from being a Gleaming soldier to a Glowing one is quite large, and as such, Glowing receive a numeral. Our lowest Glowing is Six Hundred Thousand, Forty Three. The numbers shrink from there, to a mere four digits for a Lucent.”

Emma was miming at me, nodding furiously and pretending to take notes. As if she needed to. I knew first hand her sharp intellect.

“We have specialists above those, each in lateral ranking. Penumbral officers are those who have delved far into the psionic record and lost a piece of themselves in exchange for martial prowess. Incandescents are those that work with psionics to create dazzling illusions for both recreation and war. But from there, the ranks thin considerably.”

“Yayayaya, you’re all really bright kids. This sounds like a practiced speech so I’m gonna hurry you along.” Her flippanch betrays her voracious eyes, eagerly devouring this alien culture. Through years of study and bloodshed alike, I have learned that most sentient races with classical “faces” perform many of the same expressions. She craved more. More of this second chance at existence. A bemused part of me eagerly awaited her first contact with a Shalui. Most were visibly bewildered.

“As you wish, oh enlightened one. Speaking of, Enlightened is after Lucent. Its said that one reaches this rank when their actions have left a permanent mark upon the starscape. Much like you.” Emma was quiet, but her digital form averted its eyes as its cheeks flushed a sweet red.

“After that, Luminous. And last, Aureate. There are only twenty Aureates, and one could bring down a star system with just their War-frame and personal armaments.”

“Okay, well, that’s somewhat terrifying if cool in a wish fulfillment power fantasy kinda way. You guys sound very warlike, but I suppose humanity doesn’t get to talk about other species being warlike. Anyway, I didn’t hear about any Radiant.”

“Ah. Yes. I am Radiant Prime. There are only two Radiants, currently. The war prince and his younger sibling. She is Radiant Second.”

“So, Ves…you’re an older brother?” She skirted around the question, obviously wanting me to answer as clearly as possible.

"Yes, Emma. I am first in line of the royal family. My mother’s royal, personal title is Her Burning Will, and has been for the last four hundred cycles. Those equate to years in your parlance. The hellion that is Radiant Second is named Selin, and I love her dearly. Even if she insists on being a…royal pain in my side when she gets the chance.” I couldn’t help but fill with pride as I spoke. I had been bred and engineered for royal perfection and bearing, a kingly child since I emerged from my crystal, but this went beyond that. I rarely had the chance to speak about my beloved little sister and my strong, amazing mother.

"Your job description is literally war prince and your mom has been top dog for 400 years. I. I went to MIT.” She went silent again. I assume that whatever institute she attended was quite prestigious on Earth, to have turned out such a person.

“Well, you’re just Ves to me. Or is that gonna lead to my deletion at the hand of some uppity noble?”

I laughed. My psionic nodes sang joyfully and my own voice rang out with them.

“No, Emma. We encourage people to treat us as they would any other. Even if not…well. No one would harm the Radiant’s charge. Especially since I plan to make you a member of the royal court. It’s more like an extended family than a traditional court, being composed of close advisers and trusted compatriots.” My words ended with a flourish as we returned to normal space, and the shining capital of Iluria Mari sprawled out before us. The cockpit retracted as I set Ashir down on the red grass of the Imperial Courtyard. Golden pedals shining with bioluminesence whirled around us and the smell of my beloved Haja fruit trees warmed the air. I wished she could smell it.

“Family…”

“Yes, family. I cannot accept that you have been alone for so long after your wondrous deed. You deserved more. I demand the universe repays its debt to you, and I make it so with my will. Welcome home, Emma.”

#writing #i think this is weak but eh #my writing #short story

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thethoughtnetwork · 4 years

Text

Three Weeks into Lockdown

Three weeks into lockdown: Reflections, Progress, Futures

Being on lockdown is an incredibly difficult concept. I find that as an artist, lockdown is incredibly bittersweet. One moment I thrive being in my own ecosystem, I can access deep thoughts that sometimes feel too difficult to reach, I feel like I’m in my own playground of materials which are at my disposal. There’s no reason to stop. Like other artists, I come alive when re-shaping, re-hashing, re-thinking. I love that I’ve had to challenge myself to another mode of working; I have learnt so much more about the way that I practice. There’s something so liberating as an artist, knowing that you can adapt and move forward.

But within that same breath of liberation, comes a heavy wave of passion need to say something, loudly, about how upset I am about this situation. This upset is not at my own circumstance, but one of local, global weight. It’s hard to nurture an outrage that is based on decisions in the past when loss of life is happening today – more so when the Government has removed itself from the picture and has shifted responsibility entirely onto the public, responding to concerns by robotically repeating the mantra: “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives”. So as lives are extinguished in their hundreds every day, we become bruised with questions, deep mourning for those we never get to meet, and trying to find yourself somewhere between here, there, not here, out there, in here.

We no longer have the ability to be open and curious about our senses in our outside world. We are fearful of asserting our presence on the outside, and receiving anyone else’s presence or anything else’s presence. Humans also progress with that connectivity, especially artists. We have conversations, analyse body language, go away, come together, eat together, sit in silence, create energy and distribute it into (material) things and each other. With that being taken away, you’re relying on your own being and becoming to multiply your voice, thoughts and feelings. I have always found in my work that I embody this tension between machine and matter, I exist digitally and physically simultaneously in my work, but now I am my own critic, friend, family, artist, I fear at times I am spreading myself so thinly I am just about holding together. Whatever ‘together’ is?

There’s kind of so much more I have to say about the horrible sickness of being in this situation. I constantly feel deflated by our country, the way our society can be so inconsiderate, ignorant, deceptive. I feel such a division from this chaos, I don’t even feel part of it sometimes. My mind constantly drifts to the borders, the borders of our country, our systems – I think I’m searching for an exit point, like we all are. A few years ago, I had to force myself to stop caring about everything – I felt such a huge weight, responsibility, passion for those who were suffering. When Brexit happened I barely thought about my own future, I was thinking about those across borders or trying to cross borders. When the virus happened, I was thinking about those below the poverty line, the domestic abuse victims, the homeless, the disabled. All those feelings of ‘oh shit – but who will think of them now’? came back to me. A constant emotional shiver that paralyses your thought process from deviating to something more productive. I sometimes think that if we had a more compassionate Government, someone who should care for the many, I wouldn’t have these momentary lapses of deep, deep guilt and frustration.

It is interesting that we operate in these ways. Is it an artist ‘thing’? That feeling of empathy for a subject, a thing, a person, a group of people, a feeling? A need to respond to that gut feeling. As I write this text, I smile at the constant shifting between content and distraught feelings within this text, based on the last three weeks. I really cannot stress the highs and lows of this situation – only the people going through it will understand. Although we have this total breakdown in structure, networks, routines, we also have gained so much more than we had before. Although I will stress, nothing can make up for the loss of lives we have experienced globally.

Another artist ‘thing’ is that we listen to our environment and constantly respond to it. Sight, touch, smell, sound, energy, thought – what incredible utensils. It gives us a reason to emerge out of our complex haze of unknowing and knowing. Whilst as a collective, we are constantly flooding with disrespect, hate, violence and ignorance, nature is rebuilding. All that is silent, the forces in between our narratives are growing, we are emerging a new system of previously uncharted strength. We have had to ground ourselves to the present and stare out of our tiny windows to the one thing we should have never hurt, the thing that forces us to survive. I think as humans, this is the one opportunity we will receive to connect and acknowledge our losses, weaknesses and move forward with the right values.

We are kind of manifesting and developing co-personalities as our world has `broken down we have had time (or are having time) to disjoint. I can’t help but feel that we are in a tunnel, and once we are through it, we are human beings with a new-found agency, ability and responsibility to never go back. Artists are constantly in a state of open-exchange, so this process of exchange that has been somewhat distorted, has been strange. I find it incredibly ironic that I have dedicated a lot of my research to networks that function without human intervention, and now that has become more apparent than ever. I previously made the connection that there is no hierarchy between humans and non-humans, but now I think it needs underlining.

For me, practice is in headspace. This process has truly taught me that I do not need physical territory to practice, it kind of exists all around me – like a body zorb. Before my University went into lockdown, I did something that can only be compared to Dale Winton’s Supermarket Sweep. I loaned all of the books I felt deep in my gut that I needed to access, knowing that they would be my other voices. That impulsive moment has served me well in the last three weeks. I will now go onto talking through my practice, and the research that has guided my transition from being in a state of comfortability to ‘what is happening (with everything)’? Thank you for getting this far – my confusion, rage, sadness, and whatever else is here for you to connect to or just listen to.

Having inhabited a space that wasn’t my space to keep forever, feeling for material formations that weren’t mine to touch (belonging to the material world), I have now had those abilities revoked since moving out of the Yard. I am now bound by my own square space, existing among digital bacteria and other sonic dust. The world has kind of enforced this re-shuffle of physical and mental existence. I can’t help but acknowledge one of the books which has guided me through this state of uncertainty: Practice of Place by Emma Smith. This text outlines a displacement of ‘stable entities and presences’ to the ‘activation impermanent spatialities in a continuous process of becoming’. This narrative feels increasingly prominent as we kind of shift from nothing to something – mediating in a state of presence and absence. Attempting to exercise The Thought Network and finding a visual form for it has been challenging, but that is because I am not flicking an on button to activate it and make it ‘work’. This question of place, space and presence has reminded me that the structure of a thought network is not just created/activated by me alone. It’s interesting how it took isolation to realise this fundamental truth. Non-conscious thought, external forces, material force are all variables in a virtual democracy. Do any of them have this place, or space? Is this process about giving them that space to flood to?

The process of turning mind to matter is simple: 1. Think about a shape 2. Make the shape. However, with the changing circumstantial tides, we are re-shaping the matter once more. Are we in the act of creating a new material condition? I began reading ‘Curating Immateriality’ (DATA Browser 03) which challenged materiality ‘is’ by subjecting it to mental abstraction. It was soon on my radar that The Thought Network could be in a state of de-materialisation, a process the matter becoming post-object. This would suggest a new independent, open-exchange between the conceptual and material dimensions of the work.

Previously, my work relied heavily on the experience of releasing thoughts, engaging with multiple forces beyond the human condition and the ability to affect and be affected. How do you facilitate those same connections, but online? I’m not sure you can without acknowledging that everything has changed, everything is constantly changing. Our population, our potential, our becoming. I still feel that I am in a deep dwelling of the immaterial condition.

The Internet: A host of production and consumption. I have shifted my thoughts onto the internet, in a somewhat, live unfolding of my headspace. Like the diagram, it feels like when you’re in it you kind of shift in states of actual and virtual. I am raised with more questions, narrow paths down cybernetic imagination, models of language replacing models of matter – it feels like I am in one giant, flowing, modulated, open, closed, collaborative diagram with the world, the internet and myself. I’m not sure if I lose agency over my own thoughts, does the internet own it? Freeze it? Lose it? Do my thoughts exist inside of the internet? Outside of it? around, among, in between? I’m fascinated with spaces – where is my territory? Where can I act? Is it far away from here? I would like to point out that in one of my most recent texts I speculated about the diagram’s state:

Deleuze argues that the diagram is transformed from the realms of physical experience and continues existing above, in an ‘energetic dimension’ (1988, p.121). It could be argued that the diagram reaches both a state of morphology and morphogenesis. Morphology is the study of forms and arrangements and the latter arguing for the agency to act in a phenomenological sense. Therefore, it became clear that the diagram articulated both internal and external space that blurred the line between ‘here’ and ‘there’.

Like the diagram, the internet also exists in oxymoronic tones. Rosalind Krauss said that the ‘“the net” cannot be called a medium – only a ‘meta-medium’ as all of the machines create an “ensemble”’. In this way, this collaborative way of practicing remains – even being within isolation.

So, here we all are – taking great leaps in our personal and artistic lives. A few years ago, I bought a book called ‘The Internet Does Not Exist’ and it suggested that if the internet disappeared, we would have no evidence to say it ever existed in the first place. This trustless experience of virtually being and becoming online is very interesting. It’s incredibly challenging being in this situation of floating between being in a site and non-site, I must continue to remind myself that I do not have to understand the internet fully in order to exist on/in/around it. We can liken the internet to a cloud of unknowing, but at the same time it feels like we are in our own cloud of unknowing – so I guess we have that in common.

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