Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
|
Post by Dead End on Apr 25, 2007 14:09:51 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Dead End raced back to the gully, and since it was only a couple of miles down the road from the 'service station', he reached it about the same time Skystrike came into view of Hook.
So. There was Hook, across the washed-out road. Here was Dead End, on this side of the gully, with his own cannon deployed and sighted in on the mysterious Seeker. Up there was Skystrike, her position, velocity and range precisely delineated by Dead End's radar and transmitted to Hook so that both of them had optimum firing solutions, if that proved necessary. Dead End preferred that it not be necessary; it would be nice to have someone else on the team to talk to.
However, just in case... Dead End made sure his forcefields were online and active. He waited silently, letting Hook, as senior officer, do the talking.
|
|
|
Post by Hook on Apr 26, 2007 20:24:33 GMT -5
The rocket-launcher appeared to be alarming her. Excellent, this one wasn't insane. He didn't think he could stand it if the people he was stuck with were more insane than Dead End. They'd probably end up dead, and he would have to lie about why that had happened.
//Settle down, Seeker. Just transform and drop to the road surface so I can get a good look at you. Besides, you're wasting fuel.//
|
|
|
Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on Apr 27, 2007 4:11:11 GMT -5
Skystrike floated just a little higher when she saw a dark red and black colored mech come into sight noting the cannon he took out.
//Settle down, Seeker. Just transform and drop to the road surface so I can get a good look at you. Besides, you're wasting fuel.//
If the seeker could have she would’ve glared down at Hook. It didn’t help that there was another mech she didn’t know pointing a cannon up at her. It didn’t help that she was lost and confused on an alien planet with little to no doubt that she was probably hallucinating all of it and now the Constructicon had asked her to simply land herself in a position that left her completely exposed and at their mercy.
Nonetheless, she admitted to herself, Hook was making a point about her fuel. Whether or not this was a hallucination it was always better to be safe than sorry.
//“Yes, sir.”//
Skysktrike hovered for a moment longer looking for someplace to land that would at least provide some cover if the two decide to open fire on her for whatever reason. The flier chose a patch of trees a significant distance away from the two other Decepticons before slowly cutting the power to her thrusters and then antigravs and floating down to her designated landing spot.
Trees weren’t very good covers, mind you, but it wasn’t like she had much of a choice. They were the nearest objects that she could dart behind if they do decide to shoot. Skystrike uttered a soft curse to herself before she pitched her fuselage upwards so that her nosecone was pointed skywards.
“Transform!” the flier shouted a few meters from the ground, a second before her thruster feet hit the metal road with a metallic ‘CLANG’ that sent the nearby avian animals screeching into the air. In one fluid movement she crouched down, shoulder guns snapping forwards with a click.
And of course, she glared balefully at Hook now that she was able to do so.
|
|
Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
|
Post by Dead End on Apr 27, 2007 17:04:15 GMT -5
Dead End transformed back into robot mode and performed the same running lifter-assisted jump to get back across the wash-out as he'd used to cross it in the first place. On the other side of the gully, he transformed back into car mode--a very well-polished dark red Porsche 928S--and zoomed off the side of the road opposite Hook and disappeared into the grass. ('Disappeared' being a relative term, considering the huge swath of beaten grass.)
He slewed around, causing the tall, fluffy seed-heads of the grass to sway and dance, and came to a rest, his concussion cannon deployed and aimed at the Seeker using his radar.
// So, which one of us has a weapons misfire first and starts a firefight that kills us all? Inquiring minds want to know who to blame. //
|
|
|
Post by Hook on Apr 27, 2007 17:07:54 GMT -5
//Do shut up, Dead End. Seeker- Skystrike, lower your weapons, or I assure you that Dead End's weapons will not misfire.//
As a show of good faith and because he would like to get back to his plans for a hydroelectric dam instead of dealing with everyone, Hook transforms. The rocket-launcher goes away in this mode, and all he readily had access to was a laser pistol.
//Now then, Skystrike, what is your understanding of the current situation?//
|
|
|
Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on Apr 28, 2007 11:48:43 GMT -5
An infrasonic rumbled rose from Skystrke’s shoulder vents as she watched the dark red car disappear into the grass. the most logical thing to have done by then was to dart into the trees and then blast off. The seeker however, stayed where she was, only the slight lean in her pose giving away what might’ve been her intentions.
//Do shut up, Dead End. Seeker- Skystrike, lower your weapons, or I assure you that Dead End's weapons will not misfire.//
Her optics momentarily darted back to Hook when he transformed. She was anxious and her wings were twitching in tension but nonetheless, the seeker stood slowly up from her crouch, shoulder cannons lowering reluctantly. Though it might’ve been stupid of her to trust them to this extent, this early into the meeting, she wanted to know what was going on. Running away from them or shooting them wasn’t going to get her answers.
//Now then, Skystrike, what is your understanding of the current situation?//
Skystrike flicked a wing and switched between glowering unhappily at Hook and then glowering at the spot where Dead End currently was, before folding her arms.
//“I suspect that there’s been a warp gate glitch or relocation that I didn’t know of. I don’t know what it has to do with anything but that’s the only thing I can think of right now that might explain us being here.”// She frowned, wings twitching. //“What do you know of our current situation?”//
|
|
Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
|
Post by Dead End on Apr 28, 2007 17:06:16 GMT -5
Dead End felt a bit miffed at Hook's brusque command to shut up. Really, he was simply pointing out that the situation would inevitably deteriorate into something fatal if they all stood around suspiciously pointing weapons at each other.
Well, at least Hook had gotten Seeker to point her guns someplace else. Typical high-strung aircraft. No doubt the next thing would be a display of belligerance, as the Seeker attempted to "put the ground-crawlers in their proper place". They always did--at least until they found out they were dealing with Stunticons.
Or, Dead End amended his thought, Constructicons. He retracted his concussion cannon, reducing his own chances for a catastrophic weapon accident.
|
|
|
Post by Hook on Apr 28, 2007 23:57:27 GMT -5
//What was your last date-stamp before your arrival here?// Is there anything else he needs to take care of before he goes back to planning his dam?
Oh, yes, she wants him to provide information himself. //My understanding of the situation is that we are on an alien world without access to fuel or supplies. However, as the world isn't dead and has some technological infrastructure already in place, we shouldn't face any serious problems in coming up with fuel.//
Which is just as well. He has been watching his fuel expenditure like a hawk, and if they hadn't found something like this gully soon, he might have started to get worried.
//That is, assuming you two stop dawdling.// His irritation is directed at both Dead End and Skystrike equally.
|
|
|
Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on Apr 29, 2007 7:08:24 GMT -5
//What was your last date-stamp before your arrival here?//
Skystrike’s optics flickered quizzically at him before giving him the date; a few weeks after the Decepticons opened the warp gate that would allow them to travel back and forth between earth and Cybertron.
//My understanding of the situation is that we are on an alien world without access to fuel or supplies. However, as the world isn't dead and has some technological infrastructure already in place, we shouldn't face any serious problems in coming up with fuel.//
Okay so the alien world theory was probably valid by now, although it was still hard to believe if only because Skystrike wasn’t the kind of person who was very used to warp gate travel.
//That is, assuming you two stop dawdling.//
The seeker automatically bit back an insult at him, a rather nasty insult she’d learned after spending one too many times listening to Lighter shout vulgar worlds at random passer byes whenever the fuel carrier had one too many cubes of tainted energon. The flier scowled at Hook for a moment longer before letting out an irritated hiss of air from her head vents, optics dimming down to a more normal red color as she switched off her combat mode.
//“Then let’s stop, uh, dawdling if it displeases you so, sir.”// Skystrike said neutrally, relaxing and letting her wings fall back to their normal positions, the hinges holding them in place whirring. It was incredibly tempting to put a snide emphasis on the word ‘sir’ but the seeker managed to stop herself; as annoying as mechs like Hook were, if the situation he described was correct then he would be the most useful mech around. Better not tell him that, though. It was one thing to deal with annoying bossy mechs, it was quite another to deal with said bossy mechs with an inflated ego.
Deciding she had little better to do now, the seeker cast one last unnerved glance at the area of parted grass that Dead End was in before walking towards Hook, slipping to her usual and more casual slouch rather than a seeker’s typical proud and upright stance. Skystrike only straightened up ten yards or so away from the Constructicon and tilted her head the motion accompanied with a nonchalant flick of her wings.
“What do we need to do?” The blue seeker asked.
|
|
Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
|
Post by Dead End on Apr 29, 2007 13:25:23 GMT -5
Dead End rolls back out of the grass and transforms to robot mode again.
"I assume I need to return to scouting out that service station. It has some intriguing features that I only got a most cursory look at. Unless there is something of higher priority that actually needs doing, Hook?" His voice is mild, but there's an urbane, almost condescending note to it that suggests that everyone else is probably wasting his time with matters beneath his notice.
|
|
|
Post by Hook on Apr 29, 2007 13:53:55 GMT -5
"We'll all take a look at that service station," Hook declares. "There is nothing more to be gained by examining the gully, and I don't expect either of you to recognize what will be needed."
Alas, poor Skystrike. She needn't worry about inflating Hook's ego - it's already planet-sized.
He does not transform to cross the gully. He has lifters, after all. In fact, he barely lifts himself above the road-surface in order to cross. He doesn't even assume an interesting flight pose. It's only a short hop after all.
He doesn't transform on the other side, either. //Come along. Lead the way, Dead End. We'll be walking.//
Flight requires increased fuel expenditure. A jet's primary mode of transportation was flight. Skystrike's alternative was to walk. Leaving her behind was a waste of resources. Therefore, they should all walk.
Besides, if he keeps the other two nearby, he has two people to use to check for traps.
|
|
|
Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on Apr 30, 2007 10:09:40 GMT -5
Skystrike tensed slightly when Dead End came into sight, but only for a second before forcing her wings back to their relaxed position. She was still quite paranoid of the two and as far as she was concerned, she had every right to be. The lack of detailed reason for their current situation left the seeker suspicious of them; Decepticon symbol or not, they couldn’t be trusted for now.
The jet transformer, nonetheless, listened in and looked at the dark red car with a questioning expression on her face as he spoke up.
“A service station?” The flier interjected quizzically after the Porsche finished, her curiosity piqued. There was a service station here?
Skystrike’s attention was then returned to Hook when he told them they were all to the service station. Well, at least that question would be answered soon enough. She made a rather offended noise at the last part of his sentence though.
“I can still carry things.” The blue flier pointed out a bit indignantly as she followed the crane across the gully, jumping and landing lightly next the green mech before casting a glance back at Dead End. Mostly to keep an optic on him despite the fact that the rest of her sensors did that well enough. If she’d known the dark mech better she probably wouldn’t have been so cautious about him, but as it was, the seeker’s first impression of the car wasn’t all too stellar.
//Come along. Lead the way, Dead End. We'll be walking.//
Walking. She didn’t mind walking; walking was fine and a part of everyday maneuverability -not to mention necessary in this situation. Still, the flier couldn’t stop her optics wandering up to the seemingly endless blue above her and felt the tug at her spark and wings that every flier felt. Who could blame her? She’d spent stars knew how long in an abandoned skyscraper’s dark basement, cramped up with terrified and lost mechs and the moment she finally stepped out of the horrible place she woke up to find herself here.
Why did the skies have to be so alluringly blue here?
|
|
Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
|
Post by Dead End on Apr 30, 2007 18:32:13 GMT -5
Dead End did another running lifter-assisted jump across the gully and continued walking down the road. Fortunately, it was only a few miles, or he would have transformed and rolled down the road. Wheels were much more energy efficient than walking on a smooth surface--and he was a Stunticon. Stunticons did not walk or fly, they drove.
"Oh, good. You lot can help me find the booby traps, probably by blowing yourselves to pieces." Dead End glances toward Skystrike; his expression is very hard to read, given the mask and visor covering 90% of his face. "For your information, the place appears abandoned and sealed up. This washed-out bridge or culvert suggests a distinct lack of recent maintenance. I have detected no moving vehicles other than ourselves within the 200 mile radius of my radar."
|
|
|
Post by Hook on May 1, 2007 22:07:42 GMT -5
Hook walked along briskly, seemingly ignoring the allure of both the black road under his feet and the blue sky above his head. The endless grey-green grass perhaps drew a measure of ire from him, but it only showed in the downturn of his mouth.
He didn't stop until they arrived at the service station Dead End had identified, then stood back and took a look himself. Two buildings arranged perpendicular around a drivable surface, as well as what looked like a fuel-delivery device. Yes, this did seem like a service station.
This could be very useful to him. But first he had to know if it did produce fuel.
"Did either of you bring something so useful as a cup or mug with you?"
|
|
|
Post by Skystrike/Skylar Stringers on May 2, 2007 6:20:43 GMT -5
“Or we could throw you on ahead and see if you blow up first. Your limbs will be useful afterwards.” Skystrike answered flatly, casting the car a sidelong glare as they walked. She wasn’t all too sure if he was saying it as a threat, a speculation or a simply as a fact. He hadn’t mentioned booby traps before so that left two options and most Decepticons reverted to the first. This flier, however, kept somewhat neutral for the moment, despite the strong urge to clonk him on the head; who knew how long they were going to be stuck in this place? She might as well try to at least have some sort of good relation with them.
“So it’s a ghost city.” The seeker muttered after Dead End finished.
Skystrike’s head perked up in curiosity when the so called service station came into sight and she came to a stop in the middle of the road, peering at the buildings. She wasn’t specialist at alien architecture but she could make some heads and tails of the place. It did look like a service station and that was enough for the flier.
Her optics flickered and she turned when Hook requested for some kind of cup and she shrugged unsubspacing an old can.
“Here,” she walked up and offered it to him with a shrugging motion of her wings. It was a dinged and sad looking little thing with black smears all over its rough surface as well as scratched on vulgar words, patched holes and various notes painted on by oil. Stars knew where the cup had been, heck, Skystrike didn’t even know where the cup had been.
Nonetheless, it was close enough to cup –-at least in shape.
|
|