Bulkhead (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
neverputincharge) wrote2014-11-09 11:40 pm
neverputincharge) wrote2014-11-09 11:40 pm
Entry tags:
Angelii Ascension Essay
Changes prior to Nautilus:
"I can build stuff. I can break stuff. And that's it."
They say a person's background can shape who they are. How they act, and how they do things. On Cybertron, Bulkhead was born into a caste society. If you don't know what one is, good. They suck. But the basic run down is that the Cybertronians in the higher castes were rich. They got the best educations, had the best places to live, and just the best stuff. They ruled over Cybertron, and made all the rules. Then there were the lower castes. The guys who did all the grunt work. Working in the mines, building the buildings for the higher castes. They generally didn't get much education, if they did at all. They were also pretty much ignored or brushed off by those in the higher. They weren't that important, despite the jobs they did.
Bulkhead came from the lower castes. When he emerged from the well, he was assigned a job, given the basics of how to do it, given an alt-mode and that was it. He was given no fancy education. Whatever training he got, he got on the job as a Construction worker. Because of this, Bulkhead grew to not look highly of himself. Believing he wasn't as smart as he really was. Despite how they were treated by the higher castes. They managed to makes good lives of it. Had friends, places to hang out, and things to do. But of course not everybody was happy with it, and eventually an uprising of the lower castes was started, by those wanting to reform how the society was run. Of course it didn't work, and war started, pitting Cybertronians against each other. Bulkhead made the choice of going with the Autobots, and one can only imagine how different he'd be, if he had become a Decepticon.
Specifically he first joined the Wreckers to fight the war. A black ops type group, they did the missions others wouldn't. They taught him a lot of things, not the least of which was the hardest education of all: To move on after the death of a teammate. For the casualty rate in the Wreckers was high. Many never returning from missions. Bulkhead being among the few that did, had an impact of him, developing a self-sacrificing side to him, wanting to see his teammates live, even if it meant he didn't. Yet, he managed to persevere. eventually transferring out of the Wreckers, to join up with Optimus' team after a battle. Following what he felt was right at the time. Believing following the Prime was the right thing, despite how much the Wreckers meant to him. The change to a more structured team had a lot of impact on him, he had to learn how to take his Wrecker ways, and integrate it into something that Optimus and his team approved of.
Once they landed on Earth, there was more change. Having to adjust to living on the planet, and also learning to work with the native humans, and blending in on a planet full of a species that wouldn't understand what they were and fear them. Complicated by the fact that three years later, they would be joined by three young humans. Bulkhead winding up with the energetic Miko. After being bossed around and told what they could and couldn't do by Agent Fowler and the US government. The kids were a refreshing change. Bulkhead himself had become closed off and distance in the intervening years of the war. But Miko managed to bring him out of his shell(so to speak). Starting with his fear of hurting ones that were smaller and weaker than him. While the rest of the team had some closeness with the kids. Bulkhead truly embraced being Miko's partner. To the point that he gave up a chance to travel the stars with his old Wrecker buddy, Wheeljack, because of her. She was also the main thing that kept him going when he was ready to give up while carrying the deadly Tox-en. Above anybody else, including Wheeljack.
He grew throughout his time on Earth, changing some of his ways. When he first arrived, and for most of his years there, he didn't care for the human race at large. Even the association with Fowler was just because it was required. The kids, however, managed to change it a little. Gave them a reason to fight for once they became friends. He was willing to go to the Earth's core and fight Unicron for Miko and the other two kids, while saying not for all of mankind. But this truly changed later in the series. Between Cybertron's revival, or Earth's survival at the hands of the Decepticons. While he was reluctant at first, and saddened over the loss of their possibly only chance to revive Cybertron. This started in him a change of view, to one of viewing humankind, and their planet, as one that should be saved as whole. Not just the few humans that had managed to get in their good graces. Which was one of the main reasons for the attack on Dark Mount, to take down Megatron who had dominating power, and eventually succeeding.
Changes after waking up in Nautilus:
It wasn't long after the attack on Dark Mount, that Bulkhead first woke up in Nautilus. While waking up in the forests of the Southern District was strange. It was helped by the fact that he was greeted by Optimus, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, and more importantly Miko. Over shadowed as they all slowly went back to sleep, except for Miko, over a short period of time. Still, it helped him adjust to his new surroundings, to have familiar people there. But there were other Autobots, and Decepticons to deal with as well. Including Sentinel Prime, though he knew he didn't have to follow him.
One thing that had not changed at all through the series, was Bulkhead's vehement dislike for jerks and bullies. He disliked them so much he was willing to leave them in the hands of his enemies. In Nautilus there were, and still are, plenty of jerks to deal with. After Optimus went back to sleep, it would play a critical role in one of the first big changes for him. Sentinel decided to try and take command of the Bots in the city, since he was a Prime. This didn't sit well with any of them, especially Bulkhead, for whom Sentinel had yet to gain the trust of. For the first time in his life, he refused to bow to a Prime's command, and basically told him to frag off. Still, angry as he was, and despite threatening Sentinel, when the Prime threatened him with punishment, he didn't go after him. Even refusing an offer from Blackout, to take him out.
While he agreed, with Miko, to look to Sideswipe when things went down, Bulkhead for the most part became a rogue Autobot. Not following anybody for once, and doing his own thing. Which for him was a big change. He's used to being a follower. Following orders, and having somebody in charge. He was rarely if ever put in charge back home, and it was good, cause he wasn't the best at it. But since he's gone rogue, he's done well on his own. Continuing to grow as time went on. About the same time he was dealing with Sentinel, he talked to Rex Salazar. Rex talked to him about giving jerks more of a chance, and having the patience with them. While he was a little reluctant at first, Bulkhead decided to give it a try. Starting with Sentinel, he did his best to get along with him, before the Prime went back to sleep himself.
His dislike for bullies would come in handy in one instance, though, for somebody in the city. Namely when Tails was bullied by images of bullies from his world. Even though it was just over the network, Bulkhead stepped in, and encouraged Tails to chase off the characters, giving him encouragement to do it himself. And together they succeeded in chasing them off(or in this case, making them disappear). One of the first things he learned of course was how to bend. He took up lessons, along side Miko, with Lelouch who taught him the basics of what he had to know. While he had the will for it, he had to learn the focus side of it. It took him a few lessons to get it right, but he eventually caught on relatively well, practicing when he could.
One of the hardest lessons he's had to learn, was standing back and letting the ones that could handle issues a normal Wakened couldn't. Especially when he was tired of sitting back and doing nothing. This not being made any easier after his being mind-controlled by the Scarab, who forced him into doing things he wouldn't otherwise do. While making him believe they were the right things. He finally relented at Sideswipe's insistence, being told to be useful by calling in those that could handle it. He's been striving to do just that since. Another thing he learned from that is to forgive, and move on. Which happened when he talked to Jaime after he was released from the Scarab control himself.
He would get his chance to help, when Ursaems decided to start his plan. When Ursaems started recruiting people to help him help other worlds. Bulkhead was tempted to go and help too, specially when several other Autobots were going as well. But something, to him, didn't feel right about the situation. Also during his time in the city, he'd gotten to know at least one of the Devas, namely Calex. He listened to Calex's protests against Ursaems's plan, as well as listening to Ursames trying to convince him to go. In the end, he stuck with his gut and stayed in the city, rather than follow Ursaems. A decision he doesn't regret. Instead, he got to help those in the city in the aftermath of the upheaval as a result of Ursaems's group's actions in Pink's world. He helped rescue people from fallen buildings and debris, and working along side others to get the job done. Plus helping people evacuate to the safety of Helix, to keep them out of the problems to come.
Of course he was angry, like the others that had remained in the city, with Ursaems's action, and confronted the Deva, about it. It only made him want to help protect the city more. It had become like a second home to him, it was a place to protect, with people with in that needed help and protection as well. So it was, when the attack on Kalliste happened, he rallied with others. Joining in the effort to fight back, and joining the teams. Even if he wound up on the back up teams, he wasn't discouraged, and helped keep up the morale of those going in first. When he finally got called in, he fought hard like everyone else, ignoring injuries until the fight was over. Once the fight was over, and they returned to the city, he kept helping. Clearing debris, rescuing people that were trapped, and then helping to rebuild the buildings that were damage, or building new ones.
In recent months he's been growing again. After a year of being leaderless, he's joined a team once again. Namely, working with the Wreckers that Ultra Magnus is putting together for times of crisis. As a result, he's working under a Prime once again, since Magnus made Optimus Prime the field commander. In this time, his history in construction came to light, and he agreed to help Drift and Rodimus perform their punishment, which was to build on an extension to the Beacon. Becoming a teacher to them in the ways of construction, since they knew very little of how to do it.
The city also seemed to throw a curve-ball at him, with the awakening of his arch enemy from home, Breakdown. But Bulkhead has stuck with what's he's learned in the city, and not just jumped into wanting to fight with the other. Breakdown being from when Bulkhead saved him from MECH is helping as well. While they're nowhere near best friends, they do have an uneasy relationship. With Breakdown even returning the favor, and helping Bulkhead when a storm messed with his stability.
Most recently, though, he's going to teach more people in the city how do construction(assuming they sign up of course), as he's agreed to teach construction as a class at the new school that Jiminy and Scott are opening up at some point. And maybe sooner if he has to actually build the school.
In conclusion, Bulkhead is a character who grows through actions, and events that happen around him. Whether subtle or large changes. But he's found a reason to stay in Nautilus, and to fight with the city when it happens. He works to refine his bending to make it better to fight with, and better to protect the city, should something else like Ursaems should happen. Whether he ascends or not, he shall continue to grow in the city of change, bettering himself in ways that would work to help protect the city.
If he were to Ascend:
Ascension itself, for him, would even be development. Angelii are given many responsibilities if they accept. Bulkhead isn't used to being put in charge of things, so it would take some adjustment to the idea of being trusted with this. Not believing he was good enough to hold the position. But in the end he would gain a sense of further purpose in the city, and a new way that he can help protect Nautilus. It would also give him a boost of self worth, that the city considered himself trustworthy, and good enough, to be given the responsibility. Another aspect he'd have to get used to, is he's come to consider the levels almost like military ranks. So to be thrown into a rank where he was essentially higher than bots like Ultra Magnus, or Optimus Prime. To be on the same level with Skyfire and Sideswipe, who were Angelii long before he arrived, would be quite a jolt. It would take time and awkwardness, but he would get used to it. But it wouldn't change how he treated people.
They say a person's background can shape who they are. How they act, and how they do things. On Cybertron, Bulkhead was born into a caste society. If you don't know what one is, good. They suck. But the basic run down is that the Cybertronians in the higher castes were rich. They got the best educations, had the best places to live, and just the best stuff. They ruled over Cybertron, and made all the rules. Then there were the lower castes. The guys who did all the grunt work. Working in the mines, building the buildings for the higher castes. They generally didn't get much education, if they did at all. They were also pretty much ignored or brushed off by those in the higher. They weren't that important, despite the jobs they did.
Bulkhead came from the lower castes. When he emerged from the well, he was assigned a job, given the basics of how to do it, given an alt-mode and that was it. He was given no fancy education. Whatever training he got, he got on the job as a Construction worker. Because of this, Bulkhead grew to not look highly of himself. Believing he wasn't as smart as he really was. Despite how they were treated by the higher castes. They managed to makes good lives of it. Had friends, places to hang out, and things to do. But of course not everybody was happy with it, and eventually an uprising of the lower castes was started, by those wanting to reform how the society was run. Of course it didn't work, and war started, pitting Cybertronians against each other. Bulkhead made the choice of going with the Autobots, and one can only imagine how different he'd be, if he had become a Decepticon.
Specifically he first joined the Wreckers to fight the war. A black ops type group, they did the missions others wouldn't. They taught him a lot of things, not the least of which was the hardest education of all: To move on after the death of a teammate. For the casualty rate in the Wreckers was high. Many never returning from missions. Bulkhead being among the few that did, had an impact of him, developing a self-sacrificing side to him, wanting to see his teammates live, even if it meant he didn't. Yet, he managed to persevere. eventually transferring out of the Wreckers, to join up with Optimus' team after a battle. Following what he felt was right at the time. Believing following the Prime was the right thing, despite how much the Wreckers meant to him. The change to a more structured team had a lot of impact on him, he had to learn how to take his Wrecker ways, and integrate it into something that Optimus and his team approved of.
Once they landed on Earth, there was more change. Having to adjust to living on the planet, and also learning to work with the native humans, and blending in on a planet full of a species that wouldn't understand what they were and fear them. Complicated by the fact that three years later, they would be joined by three young humans. Bulkhead winding up with the energetic Miko. After being bossed around and told what they could and couldn't do by Agent Fowler and the US government. The kids were a refreshing change. Bulkhead himself had become closed off and distance in the intervening years of the war. But Miko managed to bring him out of his shell(so to speak). Starting with his fear of hurting ones that were smaller and weaker than him. While the rest of the team had some closeness with the kids. Bulkhead truly embraced being Miko's partner. To the point that he gave up a chance to travel the stars with his old Wrecker buddy, Wheeljack, because of her. She was also the main thing that kept him going when he was ready to give up while carrying the deadly Tox-en. Above anybody else, including Wheeljack.
He grew throughout his time on Earth, changing some of his ways. When he first arrived, and for most of his years there, he didn't care for the human race at large. Even the association with Fowler was just because it was required. The kids, however, managed to change it a little. Gave them a reason to fight for once they became friends. He was willing to go to the Earth's core and fight Unicron for Miko and the other two kids, while saying not for all of mankind. But this truly changed later in the series. Between Cybertron's revival, or Earth's survival at the hands of the Decepticons. While he was reluctant at first, and saddened over the loss of their possibly only chance to revive Cybertron. This started in him a change of view, to one of viewing humankind, and their planet, as one that should be saved as whole. Not just the few humans that had managed to get in their good graces. Which was one of the main reasons for the attack on Dark Mount, to take down Megatron who had dominating power, and eventually succeeding.
Changes after waking up in Nautilus:
It wasn't long after the attack on Dark Mount, that Bulkhead first woke up in Nautilus. While waking up in the forests of the Southern District was strange. It was helped by the fact that he was greeted by Optimus, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, and more importantly Miko. Over shadowed as they all slowly went back to sleep, except for Miko, over a short period of time. Still, it helped him adjust to his new surroundings, to have familiar people there. But there were other Autobots, and Decepticons to deal with as well. Including Sentinel Prime, though he knew he didn't have to follow him.
One thing that had not changed at all through the series, was Bulkhead's vehement dislike for jerks and bullies. He disliked them so much he was willing to leave them in the hands of his enemies. In Nautilus there were, and still are, plenty of jerks to deal with. After Optimus went back to sleep, it would play a critical role in one of the first big changes for him. Sentinel decided to try and take command of the Bots in the city, since he was a Prime. This didn't sit well with any of them, especially Bulkhead, for whom Sentinel had yet to gain the trust of. For the first time in his life, he refused to bow to a Prime's command, and basically told him to frag off. Still, angry as he was, and despite threatening Sentinel, when the Prime threatened him with punishment, he didn't go after him. Even refusing an offer from Blackout, to take him out.
While he agreed, with Miko, to look to Sideswipe when things went down, Bulkhead for the most part became a rogue Autobot. Not following anybody for once, and doing his own thing. Which for him was a big change. He's used to being a follower. Following orders, and having somebody in charge. He was rarely if ever put in charge back home, and it was good, cause he wasn't the best at it. But since he's gone rogue, he's done well on his own. Continuing to grow as time went on. About the same time he was dealing with Sentinel, he talked to Rex Salazar. Rex talked to him about giving jerks more of a chance, and having the patience with them. While he was a little reluctant at first, Bulkhead decided to give it a try. Starting with Sentinel, he did his best to get along with him, before the Prime went back to sleep himself.
His dislike for bullies would come in handy in one instance, though, for somebody in the city. Namely when Tails was bullied by images of bullies from his world. Even though it was just over the network, Bulkhead stepped in, and encouraged Tails to chase off the characters, giving him encouragement to do it himself. And together they succeeded in chasing them off(or in this case, making them disappear). One of the first things he learned of course was how to bend. He took up lessons, along side Miko, with Lelouch who taught him the basics of what he had to know. While he had the will for it, he had to learn the focus side of it. It took him a few lessons to get it right, but he eventually caught on relatively well, practicing when he could.
One of the hardest lessons he's had to learn, was standing back and letting the ones that could handle issues a normal Wakened couldn't. Especially when he was tired of sitting back and doing nothing. This not being made any easier after his being mind-controlled by the Scarab, who forced him into doing things he wouldn't otherwise do. While making him believe they were the right things. He finally relented at Sideswipe's insistence, being told to be useful by calling in those that could handle it. He's been striving to do just that since. Another thing he learned from that is to forgive, and move on. Which happened when he talked to Jaime after he was released from the Scarab control himself.
He would get his chance to help, when Ursaems decided to start his plan. When Ursaems started recruiting people to help him help other worlds. Bulkhead was tempted to go and help too, specially when several other Autobots were going as well. But something, to him, didn't feel right about the situation. Also during his time in the city, he'd gotten to know at least one of the Devas, namely Calex. He listened to Calex's protests against Ursaems's plan, as well as listening to Ursames trying to convince him to go. In the end, he stuck with his gut and stayed in the city, rather than follow Ursaems. A decision he doesn't regret. Instead, he got to help those in the city in the aftermath of the upheaval as a result of Ursaems's group's actions in Pink's world. He helped rescue people from fallen buildings and debris, and working along side others to get the job done. Plus helping people evacuate to the safety of Helix, to keep them out of the problems to come.
Of course he was angry, like the others that had remained in the city, with Ursaems's action, and confronted the Deva, about it. It only made him want to help protect the city more. It had become like a second home to him, it was a place to protect, with people with in that needed help and protection as well. So it was, when the attack on Kalliste happened, he rallied with others. Joining in the effort to fight back, and joining the teams. Even if he wound up on the back up teams, he wasn't discouraged, and helped keep up the morale of those going in first. When he finally got called in, he fought hard like everyone else, ignoring injuries until the fight was over. Once the fight was over, and they returned to the city, he kept helping. Clearing debris, rescuing people that were trapped, and then helping to rebuild the buildings that were damage, or building new ones.
In recent months he's been growing again. After a year of being leaderless, he's joined a team once again. Namely, working with the Wreckers that Ultra Magnus is putting together for times of crisis. As a result, he's working under a Prime once again, since Magnus made Optimus Prime the field commander. In this time, his history in construction came to light, and he agreed to help Drift and Rodimus perform their punishment, which was to build on an extension to the Beacon. Becoming a teacher to them in the ways of construction, since they knew very little of how to do it.
The city also seemed to throw a curve-ball at him, with the awakening of his arch enemy from home, Breakdown. But Bulkhead has stuck with what's he's learned in the city, and not just jumped into wanting to fight with the other. Breakdown being from when Bulkhead saved him from MECH is helping as well. While they're nowhere near best friends, they do have an uneasy relationship. With Breakdown even returning the favor, and helping Bulkhead when a storm messed with his stability.
Most recently, though, he's going to teach more people in the city how do construction(assuming they sign up of course), as he's agreed to teach construction as a class at the new school that Jiminy and Scott are opening up at some point. And maybe sooner if he has to actually build the school.
In conclusion, Bulkhead is a character who grows through actions, and events that happen around him. Whether subtle or large changes. But he's found a reason to stay in Nautilus, and to fight with the city when it happens. He works to refine his bending to make it better to fight with, and better to protect the city, should something else like Ursaems should happen. Whether he ascends or not, he shall continue to grow in the city of change, bettering himself in ways that would work to help protect the city.
If he were to Ascend:
Ascension itself, for him, would even be development. Angelii are given many responsibilities if they accept. Bulkhead isn't used to being put in charge of things, so it would take some adjustment to the idea of being trusted with this. Not believing he was good enough to hold the position. But in the end he would gain a sense of further purpose in the city, and a new way that he can help protect Nautilus. It would also give him a boost of self worth, that the city considered himself trustworthy, and good enough, to be given the responsibility. Another aspect he'd have to get used to, is he's come to consider the levels almost like military ranks. So to be thrown into a rank where he was essentially higher than bots like Ultra Magnus, or Optimus Prime. To be on the same level with Skyfire and Sideswipe, who were Angelii long before he arrived, would be quite a jolt. It would take time and awkwardness, but he would get used to it. But it wouldn't change how he treated people.