Duskwing-3
Cadet
I don't think you oughta do dat...
Posts: 80
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Post by Duskwing-3 on Jan 7, 2009 22:19:31 GMT -5
Duskwing-3's expression veers from blank stare to worry as he stares at his other self. "Hey, I'm all beat up over there!" he blurts--
The darkness from the crater creeps up on him as well, but where it just makes his violent, bullying counterpart even more angry, sullen and violent, it has a different effect on this Duskwing. Duskwing-3 has no hatred or meanness in him to be amplified; what he does have is a lot of insecurity and social timidity.
"He's dumb as a rock, dense as a quasar, and about as clever as a rusty nail," Barricade observes, snorting as he adds, "And that's the one I like. We're wasting our time--"
Barricade-3's commentary doesn't help. Duskwing-3 seems to hunch in on himself, his wings drooping visibly; his expression that of a small child betrayed by his best friend. So that's what they really thought of him!
"I'm just outta fuel..." he murmurs. "Didn't mean to bother you. Guess I'll go find it somewhere." The dark blue and purple Seeker turns away and starts to climb back down the rock...
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Post by Barricade-3 on Jan 9, 2009 17:36:31 GMT -5
"Yeah? Maybe he's not as hurt as you, but I actually give a slag about him being hurt, moron," Barricade growls, frustrated with himself for letting the rotten Duskwing distract them long enough to give those battered self repair systems a chance to work. They should have bugged out and left him to his own devices instead of giving him the chance to get back up and running so that he could threaten the kid or his--
Wait. What the heck?
"Dusky?" Barricade calls, trying to keep track of where one Duskwing has those weapons aimed while trying to keep the other one from slinking off like a kicked turbofox kit.
// Hold up, Dusky! I've got plenty of fuel left; you can siphon some off of me, // he transmits over the allied band.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jan 11, 2009 0:07:02 GMT -5
For an instant when Duskwing – when the bad Duskwing sits up and arms weapons, Holi freezes in surprise. And, yes, fear. It's hard not to be afraid when there's a gun bigger than he is pointed at him.
But there's a gun pointed at Barricade, too, and Holi just won't stand for that. He frowns, setting his jaw with determination, and draws his pistol to cover bad-Duskwing while Barricade gets distracted by the suddenly mopey good-Duskwing.
"Don't you dare," he warns with all the conviction he can muster.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jan 11, 2009 22:52:16 GMT -5
"Oh yeah, you really care," Duskwing says in a disgusted tone. "Dat why you talk like he ain't here, and call him stupid? You fraggin' slaggers ain't no different from my guys! Just 'cause we're grunts, and don't never get told nothin', you think we're stupid!"
He struggled to get to his feet while covering the both of them, but the fused knee defeated him for the moment--his wings were too folded, spindled and mutilated to properly balance him and keep his aim steady on the other two.
"Dare what?" Duskwing gave Holi a puzzled scowl. "Tell Silver Claw there to gimme my slagged radio back and get the frag outta my way. Way outta my way. I'm leavin'; you guys ain't the guys I was lookin' for. You can go show me over there how much you care."
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Duskwing-3
Cadet
I don't think you oughta do dat...
Posts: 80
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Post by Duskwing-3 on Jan 11, 2009 23:03:37 GMT -5
The weathered, fragile lava rock betrays Duskwing-3, crumbling under his foot. He flailed, trying to regain his balance, instinctively trying to channel power to his lifters--
There was a brief surge, then they shut down as Duskwing-3's power dropped critically low. Unfortunately, the surge and failure threw his balance off completely, and he tumbled to the ground, landing hard flat on his back.
"Oops." He dragged himself upright again, and peered around the rock at Barricade-3. "For real?"
Then he frowned, staring at his alternate with a puzzled look. What, exactly, was going on here? "Hey! Don't mess wit' Holi! He's nice."
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Post by Barricade-3 on Jan 12, 2009 19:44:59 GMT -5
Barricade simply snorts derisively in the other Duskwin'g direction. "You are stupid," he growls, turning his attention back to his own Duskwing.
Barricade honestly isn't too concerned about the alternate Duskwing; as badly beaten and damaged as he is, Barricade is pretty darned sure that he can dodge any shots aimed at him, shield the others from anything tossed at them, and/or simply tackle Duskwing back to the ground and make sure that he stays down longer this time.
The kid is trying to protect him, though, and that's both amusing in one of those odd juxtaposition ways, and really, really awesome. Kid's got some serious guts, standing up to the Seeker like that, even battered as Duskwing is. Especially to protect someone who looks like he should be an enemy.
"For real," he answers his Duskwing, still keeping an optic on the other one. "Look, you weren't supposed to hear what I said before, because it was a joke. One that was supposed to poke at him," he explains jerking a finger at the more battered of the two Seekers.
"It was mean and stupid, but he was slagging me off because he's a slagging bully. I really wasn't talking about you. I was trying to show him what a dumb jerk I thought he was, and I'm sorry I made it sound like I was talking about you. I don't think that about you, because you're my friend."
He turns a glare fully upon the nasty Duskwing and growls, "And friends stick together and take care of each other. Where's your friends at, then? Waiting to pick through your spare parts?" He tosses that shredded radio at Duskwing's feet, tensed to tackle whoever needs it - either of his friends to get them out of the way, or Bad Duskwing to kick his aft if he tries anything funny.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jan 13, 2009 14:45:55 GMT -5
Holi can't help making a face at Duskwing's question. He's aiming guns at Holi and good-Barricade! What else could Holi possibly be warning him not to do? Pistol-whip them? Why, it's enough to make Holi pitch a fit. Except that he's currently trying to cover the Seeker and there's no room in that for him to pitch a fit.
"Ch'," snorts the young captain, frowning. He probably can't stop bad-Duskwing unless he gets another lucky shot, but he'll sure try if bad-Duskwing makes a wrong move. He keeps his sights trained on the Decepticon even as he backs away, giving bad-Duskwing plenty of room to fetch his radio. Does he even have friends? It's hard to imagine Decepticons like him – Holi would say it's hard to imagine any Decepticons at all having friends, but the other-Decepticons seem amiable enough – having any friends.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jan 13, 2009 19:43:41 GMT -5
Duskwing gives himself a quick, exasperated look. "I ain't messin' with Stubby there, 'long as he don't shoot me again. I'm leaving. L-E-A-F-uh... ing. Got it?"
He watches Barricade closely, opting to take one gun off Holi to snatch up to his damaged radio while still holding the one gun on the strange Decepticon. Short means weak to Duskwing's limited thinking. He's from before the Micromasters taught the Decepticons that "short" means "belligerent, sadistic nutjobs in small packages".
"My friends are busy fighting!" Duskwing snaps, something defensive in his voice. He can't actually think of any friends here, but he's too busy to really consider the topic--not that he'll admit that to these Autobots. He sidles away, clutching his ruined radio to his ruined cockpit...
-- NOT out-of-thread yet
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Jan 13, 2009 20:04:39 GMT -5
They are not as alone as they all might think they are. From concealment, a battered, but still very much functional, red Autobot is watching this little discourse. With glee.
He's lost his scope to Shockwave, after getting the upper hand there, if only for a moment, and now, now he has been given this opportunity!
Not just one Duskwing, but both of them, and a Micromaster, and one of the mechanisms from Bumblebee's jagged and angular world! And each of them utterly unaware of Perceptor's proximity! If he is swift enough, he should be able to capture all four of them!
The Duskwing he wants most is too battered to flee quickly, and, really, Perceptor wishes to observe the fool's expression once he realizes his blunder and the futility of any attempt to escape. The other Duskwing is out of fuel and is in no position to flee quickly, either. The dark one... Barricade. He could prove to be problematic, however, he has just demonstrated that he has more compassion than sense; he will stay and guard the others if one falls, regardless of the lack of potential to truly assist anyone.
Holi... Holi will be problematic. Perceptor, since having been ensnared by the Prime's particular chains, has been planning, and those plans hinge upon the Holi from his multiverse. Doubtless that his Holi will not be very understanding about Perceptor possessing another Micromaster, even if it is Holi's own weaker alternate, to reprogram into his own personal... assistant. No. Regretful as it is, it will be best to take the others alive for use later, but confine his curiosity to Holi in a post-mortem manner. Especially since the diminuative mechanism, theoretically, has the ability to summon assistance for all of them in a much more efficient and reliable manner than the others.
One Duskwing's radio is disabled, and the other two Decepticons may be suffering from intermittant radio jams, a problem which Perceptor very much doubts that Holi is subject to. Very regretful, but a Micromaster corpse to study is better than no Micromaster at all. And should his plans with his own Holi come to fruition...
Well, then, he should have access to more than enough Micromasters and assorted other mechs in various states of functionality to occupy his attention for quite some time to come. Patience. Yes, patience.
A fresh dart is pulled from subspace and slipped into the chamber of his dart gun, replacing the standard paralytic darts which are normally loaded. Just one special dart, though. There should be enough of his favorite toxin loaded in that single dart to even make Omega Supreme howl; it should be more than enough to incapacitate and deactivate one little Micromaster. Permanently.
Once his weapon is reloaded and ready - one toxin followed by the several rounds of paralytic - Perceptor rises from his concealment, exposing himself. He aims quickly, hoping to get off at least one shot, eliminate the communication specialist, before one of them spots him.
Four darts fire in rapid succession as Perceptor grins with savage glee and hopes that he has been swift enough.
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Duskwing-3
Cadet
I don't think you oughta do dat...
Posts: 80
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Post by Duskwing-3 on Jan 13, 2009 20:51:54 GMT -5
Duskwing-3 eyes his other self suspiciously. Other Him was just plain rude, and he wouldn't put it past him to shoot someone just for the heck of it. Duskwing-3 points his arm-guns at the Other Him, threatening--
The flash of red movement draws his optics and attention as Perceptor stands and fires. He's shooting at them--at the nice Holi! Duskwing-3 lunges--he was too far away, too busy watching his Bad Self to protect Holi--
He flings his arms wide and throws himself at the Micromaster, falling facefirst toward the ground--but his outstretched hand bats Holi aside, sending the little blue Micromaster tumbling. There's a dull 'crack!' as something smashes through his cockpit canopy, and a much louder crash as he hits the ground facefirst.
"Uh!" Duskwing-3 rolls back over to a sitting position and then freezes, a puzzled expression on his face as he stares down at the dart embedded in his cockpit.
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Post by Frenzy-3 on Jan 14, 2009 15:41:20 GMT -5
Frenzy reacts before Barricade himself does, launching himself from his hiding place in the police car's chassis. Red eyes flash as he springs into the air. Several sharp-stars launch from his chest towards the red monster.
His hands blur, almost seeming to flail, and then he crumples with a soft cry, dropping like a stone.
If investigated, a dart is pressed into his collar, fingers closed around it as if he'd tried to pull it out.
---
Skippable.
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Post by Barricade-3 on Jan 14, 2009 21:29:56 GMT -5
"Vee, not eff, stupid," Barricade growls to himself. He'd sya that louder, but that might delay Tweedle-Dumber's escape, and, really, Barricade has had just about enough interaction with the thug to last him the rest of his existance. He'd prefer not to delay that a single second longer than necessary.
And if it weren't for the kid and for his own Duskwing's presence, he might have just ridded the world of the slagger altogether. But he doesn't want to scar the kid, and shooting one Duskwing dead in front of the other... seems a bit... awkward.
The rest of his thoughts are interrupted when his Duskwing looks suddenly surprised and scared, and then--
Flings himself at Holi? Less than a second later, a familiar scrabbling catches Barricade off guard as Frenzy just as suddenly ejects himself and launches from Barricade's back. Barricade twists around in surprise, just in time to see Frenzy crumple to the ground with that quiet cry.
"Frenzy?"
He barely has time to register the dart in Duskwing's chest, or the hateful, sadistic red scientist grinning with mad glee down at them all, dart gun in hand pointed at them all, before he recognizes the dart spearing his partner.
"FRENZY!!!"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jan 16, 2009 17:18:41 GMT -5
Bad-Duskwing is leaving. Holi lets himself slouch just a little and lowers his pistol a tiny fraction of an inch – no more than that. He can't really relax, but he does feel relieved. Should Barricade have returned his radio, though? What if he calls for help?
"Barricade, sir?" Holi starts to ask, turning.
He doesn't finish the question. Everything happens in a blur; good-Duskwing lunges at him and Holi stumbles back, trying to evade and suddenly terrified it's a double-cross. He's only successful enough to catch the back of one hand instead of the entire falling Seeker and he hits the ground with a shocked yelp, limbs akimbo. Barricade screams and Holi scrambles upright, one foot beneath him and the other knee propping him on his way up, in time to see that silver body on the ground and good-Duskwing sitting there with something jutting from his chest–
Then something whistles in low, tearing hard through Holi's crest and knocking him back down by sheer momentum; he lies there for a moment, dazed and in pain. What just happened? Was he shot? Good-Duskwing was just shot. And that silver one. Frenzy? Barricade called him Frenzy. Frenzy was shot, too. Holi can't tell if he's been shot, though. Too dizzy, too woozy and confused. His head's ringing.
//Under…// he radioes shakily, trying to make the world stop spinning so he can get back up again. //Under attack. We're under attack!//
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jan 16, 2009 18:45:13 GMT -5
Duskwing is indeed sidling away when two things happen: his Other Self suddenly flings himself about in an absurdly dramatic fashion, Barricade's pet Frenzy leaps out and does the same thing, and something thunks into Duskwing's cockpit. Okay, that's three things. Fortunately, there's no Spanish Inquisition involved.
He stares at them in puzzlement for a moment, head turning from side to side with an unpleasant grinding sound against his crumpled air intakes. A flicker of continuing movement that his sensory processor has been tryiing to tell him about for several seconds now and--
Duskwing sees red. It's HIM! Red, raw hatred burns through his processors, as furious as anything conjured up by the Demon Prime. Perceptor-3 isn't going to get the satisfaction of this Duskwing realizing the futility of trying to escape--escape is the last thing on his mind.
Filling Perceptor so full of laser holes that he'd stand in for a window screen and then tearing apart what was left with his own hands is much closer to the top of Duskwing's mind. It's a simple enough thought for even him to hold on to.
A certain low cunning makes him snap his guns up and fire at Perceptor-3, continuous bursts that track and converge on his target, before he utters a word. Duskwing may be a battered wreck of a Seeker, but his guns still work!
"You slaggin' tailpipe-sucking Autoscum fragger!" Duskwing snarls, unable to restrain himself for more than seconds. "You got a lotta noive, comin' back here! I'm gonna shred you like c--con--con--uh, pop youse like bubble wrap! And den I'm gonna cycle the parts through Hellbender's teeth, yeah, and den--"
Duskwing's ranting is non-stop with his shooting, keeping time and tempo with it. Holi, cover your ears; you're not supposed to know such language.
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Duskwing-3
Cadet
I don't think you oughta do dat...
Posts: 80
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Post by Duskwing-3 on Jan 16, 2009 19:37:27 GMT -5
Duskwing-3 stares at the dart in his cockpit for a moment, slowly realizing that he's been shot by Perceptor. That is bad. He tries to yank the dart out--
Too late. It was too late when the dart hit, but if he'd acted immediately, Duskwing-3 might have had the empty satisfaction of flinging the dart away--without its contents. As it was, the first part of the payload--the electro-magnetic disruption pulse--had built in intensity through his circuits until it exceeded the threshold necessary to jam all his internal control signals.
Duskwing-3 freezes, completely paralyzed. Unlike the other Duskwing with his damaged motor control router, this Duskwing can't even speak or operate his radio. The disruption program continues to propagate, rapidly infiltrating the rest of his circuitry. Perceptor likes his victims to hold still and pay attention to what's happening to them, without any distracting calls for help as senses and perception degrade.
Except pain and damage sensors. Perceptor-3's paralysis program carefully avoids degrading those.
The paralysis program isn't the really nasty part of the payload; it's not what puts the toxic in the toxin. That's reserved for the catalytic toxin, one of Perceptor's more ingenious chemical formulas.
Duskwing-3 feels the acid eat into his fuel lines; painful, but localized. He can't feel the toxin bind to the last of his energon circulating through those fuel lines and be carried to all his major fuel-consuming systems as it goes through several chemical reactions that slowly--slowly enough for it to be delivered everywhere--slowly transform the toxin into a deadly catalyst for the energon.
Duskwing's fuel goes unstable, and reacts violently, starting with his cockpit and then spreading. Confined in fuel pipes, the energon explodes, destroying his fuel pump instantly; a single burst of flame bursts out of his mouth and air intakes and explodes out of his cockpit, then vanishes. Finally, the blast splits open the fuel lines leading down his legs to his engines, demolishing Duskwing-3 from the inside out.
The flames vanish, their fuel consumed in that one furious burst of reactivity, and the wreckage collapses, too shattered to sit erect. A dark-cowled head rolls several yards across the desert sand before coming to rest.
--- exceedingly skippable
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