|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 17, 2007 21:31:22 GMT -5
"Long Haul, I suspect that you'll find yourself driving over said organic plants. I seem to recall that plants are often found on the ground," Xaaron notes. Sure, those lectures were over nine million years and two career changes ago. He could be wrong. Maybe plants were the things that hang in the air.
Emirate Xaaron prepares himself for the inevitable stop. He suspects that Long Haul braking will not be a pleasant experience. Xaaron readily agrees, "I look forward to some decent cover, yes. Perhaps we will even find some civilisation. If we do, we must exert caution. The natives may not be friendly."
Sure, say that he always thinks of the worst. Someone has to. Think of the worst, and anything better is a pleasant surprise. He inquires, "In the case where there is no civilisation, however, what are the usual fuel-procurement protocols on undeveloped planets?" The question is mainly aimed at Perceptor.
|
|
|
Post by Long Haul on Apr 17, 2007 21:40:06 GMT -5
Does, indeed, stop suddenly, and the moment his passengers have climbed out of his bed, he transforms, shuffling the small sample of black soil into subspace as he does. He grunts at Perceptor, and shrugs. "Hit it til it's flat, or some such. He's the team's demolitions expert." It probably says something about the group that will one day be known as the Constructicons that even in happier, more innocent days, they thought nothing of putting one of their team's dumbest members in charge of the explosives. Just what it says remains to be interpreted, but it probably says something.
And Omega Supreme palled around with these guys.
He listens to what Xaaron has to say, and even nods at the 'caution' bit (whether or not he intends to listen to actually exert said 'caution,' or what, exactly, his idea of 'caution' is remains to be seen), but since he doesn't know thing-one about gathering fuel on funny organic worlds, he lets Perceptor field the question.
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Apr 17, 2007 22:13:25 GMT -5
Perceptor actually chuckles as he stoops down to pluck several specimen plants from the dusty soil. "Wheeljack was once quite fond of the maxim, 'If it does not work, get a larger hammer'."
He transforms, directing his scope along the edge of the forest ahead and as far beyond as he can see, given the vegetation, and the curvature of the horizon.
"Actually, given the thickness of the growth ahead, driving may not be advisable. I am not certain what your full structural capabilities are, Long Haul. From a visual inspection, however, I do not detect any signs that the plant life ahead will pose us much overt risk. As for procuring fuel and materials, as little impact to the environment and world as possible is ideal. There-"
He breaks off as a slow sweep just east of their current southerly route reveals a distant outline, far too regular and geometric to attribute to plant life.
"I believe there is a structure at some distance within the forest in a south-southeast heading. Perhaps more than one. This world may be inhabited," he remarks, transforming back to robot mode to meet the others' optics.
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 17, 2007 22:23:43 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron nimbly lowers himself from Long Haul's truck bed before he would be rudely dumped. He lands lightly on his feet. There's something a bit odd about his agility, something that doesn't line up with the rest of his frame. It's just a niggling thing, though, and fleeting, for he is soon such a dusty standing robot.
Emirate Xaaron inquires, absently, "Once? Why, has he changed maxims?"
He looks over in the direction that Perceptor is looking and shades his optics with his hand to get a better look. He says, "I'll take your word for it. I wonder - ought we try to be subtle in our approach?" But there is really nothing subtle about a bright green truck or a shining gold robot. It's a bad day when Perceptor has the most stealth potential of a group, but he does.
|
|
|
Post by Long Haul on Apr 17, 2007 22:31:56 GMT -5
Long Haul shrugs. "I'm pretty damn tough," he says, not bragging; he is simply making a statement of fact. "I mean, I'm built for construction. Pretty rough environment and stuff." As he talks, he looks in the direction Perceptor indicates, although he can't yet see what the other had seen. "'Sides that, I can get farther on less fuel as a truck. I mean, I was close to full when I, well, woke up here an' all, but we're still gonna need to watch ourselves 'til we find a steady supply. Prolly best if I keep ridin' until I'm forced to do otherwise, y'know?"
He tilts his head to considers Xaaron's words, then shrugs. "Now, if it's subtlety you want, uhm... you prolly better just leave me here, if that's the case."
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Apr 17, 2007 22:48:59 GMT -5
"Wheeljack was killed in the same battle that claimed Optimus Prime," Perceptor replies quietly. "I have collected the samples I require. Thank you. We may continue whenever you are both ready."
"Perhaps when we draw nearer to the structures, we can re-evaluate for subtlety. Although I detected the possible presence of structures, I could not see any atmospheric distortion commonly associated with the presence of any type of industrialized life-form. The structures, if they are indeed artificial, may be abandoned."
He turns a considering look on Xaaron, examining him for a moment. "I am not familiar with you, or with your structure, Xaaron. Forgive my prying, however... When you dropped to the ground, it appeared as if you had an instant of maladjustment? Do you require repairs?"
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 18, 2007 8:53:21 GMT -5
"Be that as it may, Long Haul, you will also be able to go farther if you not blow out a tyre or break an axle," Emirate Xaaron reminds. "I will trust that you know your limits well enough not to drive over or into something that might damage you so."
He pauses and winces at the bee's nest he inadvertently roused. Stricken, he offers to Perceptor, "My apologies. I... had no idea."
Emirate Xaaron crosses his arms and taps his fingers on his other lower arm, thinking on the issue of subtlety. He muses aloud to both of them, "If they are unfriendly and we walk right in, there are two options: either they are advanced enough to pose us a threat or not. If they are advanced enough to pose us a threat, it matters not if we come to them. They will find us eventually. If they are not advanced enough to pose a threat, we have nothing about which to worry. We have nothing to gain by staying out here, so we may as well proceed. I will say this - if they do attack? Both of you, run. Forget me."
Emirate Xaaron barely knows them and one wears the form and bears the name of a hated enemy. However, he knows that he is the weak link in this chain, and he will not have them endanger themselves for a lost cause.
Finally, reluctantly, he answers Perceptor's question, tone brusque and discouraging further inquiry, "I am old, Perceptor, and do not have all the functionality of a younger machine. Please, don't worry about it."
|
|
|
Post by Long Haul on Apr 18, 2007 9:16:28 GMT -5
Long Haul's blue optic band dims as he studies Xaaron for a long, quiet moment, and then he grunts. "I ain't agreein' to nothing." He crosses his arms and widens his stance a little more, a pose built on pure stubbornness. "Even lookin' at it from the purely practical standpoint, leavin' anyone behind don't make no sense to me. Right now, only sort of supplies we got that we know we can count on is each other, an' I don't aim to see a full third of 'em left behind unless things get pretty blamed bad. Just can't afford it!"
Then he transforms. "An' no, I won't break myself. An' if it looks like I'm spending more energy to struggle through this stuff as a truck than it would take me just to walk it, I'll letcha know. But for right now, guess it's time to load 'em back up, and we'll move 'em out."
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Apr 18, 2007 14:09:23 GMT -5
Perceptor stares hard at Xaaron for a long moment before turning and climbing back into Long Haul's bed. He reaches down to offer Xaaron a hand up, something he would have done anyway, even without having noted the gold mech's brief ailment.
"Perhaps things are different in your timeline... However, in mine, we do not leave our own behind."
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 18, 2007 14:48:37 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron hates it when he’s a supply. You raid for supplies. You steal them. They’re valuable and essential. But they’re not people. Supplies are too valuable to have any say in their own destinies.
He takes Perceptor’s hand and mutters a ‘thank you’. Emirate Xaaron settles himself in, again grabbing onto a side to make sure he doesn’t fall out. He returns the hard looks that he has been given and replies, “Noble sentiments, both of you. I hope that you do not live to regret them.”
What more to say? Good of the few versus good of the many is a long, old debate. Emirate Xaaron doesn’t have a stock answer, as context is always important, but he is generally more on the side of the many, even if he isn’t one of the many. He has lost friends to such a philosophy, but he likes to think he would have lost yet more without it. He doesn’t care to make his case when the others have already made their thoughts on the matter clear.
|
|
|
Post by Long Haul on Apr 18, 2007 16:18:55 GMT -5
Maybe Long Haul just figures that with only three of them, there aren't very many manys to begin with!
His engine starts up with a loud roar and then a quieter (but not by much) rumble, and he says over it, "Ah, even that won’t be so bad! 'Cos at least livin' to regret is still livin'!" And then he begins trundling forward at his better-than-walking-but-still-not-particularly-fast pace.
"Might wanna keep hold on the sides a bit. Like I warned before, s'gonna get bumpy. And before any of you start, I'll stop afore I'm taking any risks what I don't need to, 'kay? But I ain't there yet!"
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Apr 18, 2007 19:20:13 GMT -5
Perceptor would agree with Long Haul's thoughts about the dubious state of their "many" at the moment, particularly since each of them may yet hold but a piece of this curious puzzle.
"Thank you, Long Haul," Perceptor replies, hunkering down and holding tightly as the going, does, indeed seem to get rougher. "I trust your judgement on your durability and agility. If we see anything ahead that raises any warnings, we shall be sure to let you know. Otherwise, the potential settlement is south-southeast."
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 18, 2007 20:15:32 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron was already holding onto the sides! He comments, tone a bit distant, "Actually... if you wouldn't mind, I think I'll keep my attention behind. I wouldn't want anyone to attack us from the rear."
He glances back at the trail they've left. That's always the problem with wheels, not that his alternative form was any ever better about not leaving traces. He then scans up. Danger often comes from the sky. It's quite amazing, to see a sun-star again. It was so long ago that Cybertron was cast away to drift.
|
|
|
Post by Long Haul on Apr 18, 2007 20:23:29 GMT -5
"Right. South-southeast." And Long Haul steers himself on a path that's as close to that as the terrain allows him. The ride does, indeed, get bumpier, but he manages to struggle along, often by smashing over or even right through plants that get in his way.
"So we got the front and back covered, huh?" the truck says cheerfully. "Guess that means there's only the sides to worry about!" Long Haul's tone indicates that he, himself, isn't too worried at all, but there is a touch of under-strain that implies he may be attempting to make light of things.
|
|
|
Post by Perceptor on Apr 19, 2007 5:49:40 GMT -5
Perceptor offers Long Haul a chuckle, doing his own small, subtle part to reassure the others. The growth that Long Haul is so blithely plowing through and over thickens, gradually at first as the forest struggles to conquer the scrub band, and then more suddenly. The water table here must be more shallow, allowing for more lush growth.
"There is possibly a river or other water way ahead," Perceptor observes, pitching his voice to carry over the deep rumble of Long Haul's engine and the crash and rustle of trampled vegetation. "The ground will become considerably softer near the bank, if there is. If the anomaly I noted was, indeed, an artificial structure, or a gathering of them, a settlement would, in all probability, be located adjacent to such a water way."
|
|