harderfasterwrecker

[Whirl does notice, and it's probably not clear to someone not fluent in Whirl what exactly happens as he notices, because his first thought with missing limbs (and really most things) is violence, the nest thing he thinks about is exactly how long it took him to get used to working with the new hand, and how slagged it probably was to deal with it. As Whirl sort of works through that moment he goes very still, but then actually catches up to what's happening right in front of him, and his optic cycles huge.]

How in the pit are you doing that?

[Though he definitely seems entertained by it.]

[Luke chuckles.] It's something I was born with, but it takes a lot of training. It's complicated-- organic life naturally produces an energy field that certain people like me can interact with. It's a part of everything, even you.

It can be used horribly; it can even hurt people. Part of being a Jedi is swearing to use it peacefully, to help people.

...Huh.

[Whirl tilts his head, not unlike a giant bird and leans in to get a better look.]

I know a guy you'd get along with, if you believe all that scrap.

[And isn't that the first time he's thought about Drift in a while. Huh.

Whirl's...not a big believer in much anymore, but there's at least something to....some of it. Maybe. Mostly because there are people floating things or time travel or whatever going on that he doesn't understand. He can at least acknowledge that much.]

Is it just for floating things or other stuff?

It's hard not to believe, when it's right there in front of you.

[Both hands out, Luke passes a screw from one to the other in a pendulum. Neither of his hands, flesh or metal, move an inch.]

It's... complicated. It has many uses. The most important thing, I guess, is the risk. If used wrongly, it can drive people to do terrible things. Drive them insane. It's why it's so important to use it in the name of peace, not personal gain.

So like any other kind of power someone's got, someone frags it up.

[That part is easy to understand. Whirl watches for a moment, before he tilts his head the other direction and gestures with the front of his helm. He's curious and has no impulse control. What can he say.]

How'd that happen. Didn't think organics came with metal parts.

[That, finally, catches Luke by surprise. He stares at his hand for a moment, two, before looking back at Whirl.]

[He decides a barebones, if honest, answer is best.] I lost a fight. My opponent cut it off. [He reaches over and removes the prosthetic with a twist. It comes off, revealing a little cloth sleeve covering the remains of his arm, which he also removes. Underneath is just a stump, beginning a little before his wrist would.]

Happened to me once or twice.

[He says it particularly cavalierly, clicking a claw.]

One time in helmet head's stupid space stomach.

[Whirl's optic resets and then he continues.]

...Does that work good?

[It's probably pretty clear even without being fluent in Whirl that he means the prosthetic, especially with the way he's looking at it.]

[Luke knows now's not the time to ask what a helmet head is. Instead, he sets about slowly reattaching the prosthetic, putting the little sleeve on first, then clamping the metal in place so it holds.]

It's, um, a work in progress. I'd never built a prosthetic arm until I had to. I'm learning... I haven't figured out how to completely water-proof it, or make the vibration sensors the correct level of sensitivity mapping across the entire surface. And I still can't feel temperature with it.

[He flexes the fingers.]

But it's better than nothing.

[Probably best. Mostly because Megatron is a very...odd? Subject when it comes to Whirl]

You should ask Ratchet.

[Whirl pauses, as if he didn't actually really mean to give advice, but then he continues on anyway.]

Organics aren't his thing, but he's rebuilt all of us more than once.

[Whirl clicks a claw as if to prove a point, and then, after a moment he opens up one of the claws to let the smaller pinchers he's started to work with out. Every organic that's seen them so far seems to be entertained, and they are a fairly good show of what Ratchet can do.]

Ratchet... [Luke narrows his eyes. He hasn't met that one yet, but he doesn't have a high opinion of him. Thanks, Tarn!]

I don't know, I'm pretty good with droids. Uh- [He gestures to the droids behind him.] Those, I mean. That's how I got this far. I'm not really sure if replicating a human nervous system is something he'd know about.

[Which strikes Luke as odd, and he asks before he can think better of it-]

Do your people feel? I mean, physically. It's- it's probably not the same, nevermind. Sorry.

Water proofing. I took a nap on the bottom of the ocean and all my systems still work.

[And then there's Luke's question, and he tilts his helm and folds back in his smaller claw so he can better gesture with them.]

Could ask the same. How do you feel without a brain module?

[Clack clack goes the claws, and then Whirl sits back somewhat.]

Stuff hurts. Stuff feels good. I can tell if I hit something. That what you mean?

[Luke laughs softly, glad to see he hasn't offended. The other droids- Cybertronians he's talked to were more touchy about that.] With a brain. But I see what you mean. I just can't figure out how you wire a nervous system through metal plating.

[Luke raises his prosthetic hand, palm toward the screen. He taps the grey pads on the fingertips.] These are the only parts that really feel anything.

A squishy one. How does it not smash on the inside of your head when you move too fast?

[Whirl has a lot more to get offended about, so why sweat the small stuff. Also he's prone to the same kind of questions.]

But you can still use it, right?

Like you can still work and stuff.

[Whirl is not as subtle as he likes to think he is, and despite the fact that he's trying to still seem as cavalier, he's clearly actually asking.]

It does. [Luke chuckles softly.] That's what a concussion is, Whirl.

[He studies the hand again.] I can, yes. It doesn't have the same range of motion, and it's less strong and more delicate, but I can do everything I used to, for the most part.

[ Whirl clicks a pincer again. ]

Ah. Gross.

[Whirl cackles, it's a metallic awful sort of noise, but it's actually quite a happy sound. He just has a trash vocalizer. His optic arcs, and he tilts his head.]

That's...good.

[ There's a beat. He sighs dramatically, though it's not a sound he actually needs to make and is completely intentional. ]

Alright. Alright. What do you wanna know about little old me. I know I'm basically unvincible and the brutal sound and fury, best wrecker this side of the galaxy and all that. Whatever.

[Aka: Whirl speak for what'cha want kid.]

[Luke considers the question.]

I just wanted to get to know you better. You're important to the stability of the ship, you know. And I guess... [Now's the time for honesty, and Luke tries to think of a way to phrase it that doesn't seem inherently disingenuous.] I want to get to know you better, so if any accidents happen again, I'll be able to help.

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