SECOND TRANSMISSION - HEARD ON RADIO;

[redcosmedic]

[ On radio stations throughout the various Porter cities, a new talkshow is being advertised: ImPort Diagnosis. When it finally airs, the announcer gives his usual patter to hype it up. ]

"We're pleased to introduce a new weekly segment to our schedule lineup! Please welcome your new insider source to the imPort community and the host of ImPort Diagnosis, Knock Out!"

[ Knock Out's voice comes on, smooth and unflappable; if anything, he definitely seems like he's used to carrying a one-sided conversation and not unnerved by the thought of an audience. ]

Let's dive right in: if you've ever wondered whether we imPorts spend time thinking about Big Concepts, you're in luck: there's been a spate of imPorts pondering those very things lately. From anguished musings about justice to questioning one's true purpose, from finding one's life trajectory to the never-poignant matters of existence, imPorts deal with the same existential concepts as you do, our most gracious world hosts.

And why is this important to know? Because sometimes imPort actions can seem discordant with the image of touchless paragons that they are to the public. And it is this doctor's opinion: that is a good thing. It reminds both sides that they're not so different from one another. A touchstone of commonality, as it were.

[ It's clear by the way Knock Out's waxing poetic that he likes the sound of his own voice just as much as the radio show producers are hoping listeners do. ]

Finally: it's been a rough month for your favourite imPorts. Next time you see one of them on the street, cheer them up with a hug. Preferably in public, and persistently. Don't let your heroes suffer alone!

[ He's not sorry. ]

Comments

[viciousmaukery]

It's really just a hug when it comes down to it, no harm done to anyone. Except possibly your reputation as a cold, aloof imPort, if you were working on that.

[So does Molly. Drama is fun when he's not the one involved.]

Hold on a sec. [There's the sound of cards being shuffled. Sure, this is a phone call into a radio station and not a video on the network proper, but it's the principle of the thing.] Never did it like this before, but here goes nothing: ask the cards a question. Not a yes/no question, but otherwise go wild.

[redcosmedic]

[ Knock Out really does appreciate the thoroughness. ]

Oh, let's see now... something relevant. What kinds of things can I expect from my tenure as an imPort?

[ Short though it likely will be, at least to Cybertronian measures of time. ]

[viciousmaukery]

[Molly fans them out onto a table, pulls one out and winces. It's not evident in his voice, calm and confident as it is.]

Wheel of Fortune, reversed. Means you'll be headed for a spot of bad luck soon, your life as an imPort here is going to spin out of control in ways you didn't quite expect, but if you batten down the hatches you'll be able to weather the storm and survive it.

[A beat.]

Could also be a wake-up call—have you pissed someone off that you shouldn't have lately, besides probably half the imPort community here? Might be time to look at it from their point of view.

[redcosmedic]

How ominous! You really have a flair for delivering the goods.

[ He doesn't sound particularly worried about the actual revelation. ]

I can't say that anything comes to mind right now, but I'll certainly keep an optic out for the scenario you're describing.

[viciousmaukery]

[Honestly it's just some bullshit Molly spun together out of personal experience and the patterns of imPort life, flavored as ominously as possible. But he's not gonna say that.]

Higher powers don't generally add much flair to the goods, so I've got to throw that in myself.

[There's the sound of cards again, being stacked and shuffled.]

Any more questions?

[redcosmedic]

[ It does ring true for most imPorts, and Knock Out will likely get hit with the karmic retribution before too long. ]

Ah ah, it seems only fair that you do one for yourself. Same question?

[viciousmaukery]

You know, people don't usually ask the fortune teller to read their own fortunes.

[But he sounds amused by this. Another shuffle, and the cards fan out onto the table.]

Well, I got the Eight of Swords, reversed. Means I made it through a rough patch in my life and am free to be whatever I want to be, so long as I look in front of me. [No it doesn't, it means he needs to take a look at what he's hiding away even from himself unless it bites him right in the ass.] Now you, if you've got any more questions. I'll take two more.

[redcosmedic]

I do my best not to be like everyone else, Mollymauk. It sets a poor precedent to be dull.

[ Knock Out, unfortunately for the fortuneteller, has internet wired directly to his processor. It only takes a quick moment for Boogle to tell him that interpretation wasn't the standard fare. For the moment he doesn't call it out though. ]

Two more? Your generosity knows no bounds. Let's see... there's a rather big event going on back home. Anything I should know about it?

[viciousmaukery]

[Another shuffle. Molly does not breathe a sigh of relief when he's not immediately called out, either by Knock Out or some other listener calling in, but it's a close thing.]

Seven of Pentacles, upright. Means that whatever's going on where you're from, your efforts are going to pay off quite spectacularly. You've worked hard and you haven't turned back, and this event is going to finally, finally bear some fruit just for you.

[A pause.]

Big for you personally or big as in "oh shit, a city might explode if I fuck up"?

[redcosmedic]

Now that's a relief to hear!

[ He has no idea whether to put any stock in Molly's reading or not, but on the off chance that it has some merit, that's a sunny-sounding outcome to what he hopes will be the end of the war. ]

A little of both, except replace "city" with "planet".