Synapse
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Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 7, 2007 13:53:32 GMT -5
The feeling of thousands of legs dragging tortuously over his tactile sensors is the first thing Synapse reacts to. His blue visor washes aglow in an instant and he jumps to his feet, searching frantically for the subject who is invading his space. A groan and shudder escapes Synapse’s vocalizer and he dares a glance at his right shoulder.
Crawling over the black surface of his node is some strange...thing. A rather large millipede squats possessively on the sensitive surface and stares with its empty gaze back at him. With a shake of revulsion, Synapse dislodges his uninvited and quite unwanted rider. Anything to get the tingling feels of its legs off of him.
Orange is the next thing that catches his attention. Trust Synapse to pay attention to his tactile surroundings before anything else. A burnt orange colored metal stretches beneath his feet. It’s nothing like the dark wash of Cyberton’s dark surroundings. Synapse whirls around, only to stumble back in shock when a wall of blue liquid enters his vision. This wall of blue containing waving stalks of...something.
Where is he? Confusion is foremost in his mind. Just a few moments ago he had been preparing to launch into orbit above Cyberton. Where are the others? Is this some sort of trap? ‘Is this some sort of new joke?’ he thinks bitterly to himself.
Tentatively he opens a radio channel. It should be easy enough to get Blaster to make the others stop this game. Synapse has patrol duty to report to! All he gets on Blaster’s channel is static. Flipping open other lines, Synapse’s panic becomes across his face as he’s met with only more static. He switches to the broadest Autobot frequency he can find. It makes more sense to broadcast over radio than to broadcast out loud to anyone in the surroundings. You never know if there’s Decepticon activity going on anywhere near by.
But…if anyone communications savvy catches his signal, it might as well be as if Synapse set off a flare above his head.
//Synapse here...t-this isn’t funny guys. I’ve got something important to d-do.//
He stops talking before his voice can give away even more of his evident fear. Somewhere in his mind, he hopes that this is just a joke.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 7, 2007 19:25:33 GMT -5
((OOC: Continued from Black Desert arrival thread. See it if you want to see the previous adventures of Long Haul, Perceptor, and Xaaron.))
Emirate Xaaron suggests, "Please, Long Haul. My point is merely that I agree that rushing across the desert when we have a whole city to explore is unwise." He then smiles slyly and notes, "If we do find high ground, a glider may be useful."
He looks thoughtful at the mention of the humans having a similar tale and comments, "Well, I am told that the Decepticons tell the tale with Starscream in the place of Prima. I can certainly understand blaming Starscream for all the ills of the world. The basics of the tale may be a cultural meme that has deeper roots that any one origin, something that is liable to occur to most sapient species."
Emirate Xaaron's expression darkens. He has been quite worried that there may be Decepticons about here. That is when a radio broadcastbreaks his train of thought.
//Synapse here...t-this isn’t funny guys. I’ve got something important to d-do.//
He looks to Perceptor and Long Haul and says, "Sorry to interrupt this educational talk, but I know of no Synapse. Is such a name familiar to either of you? Even if it is, it could be an ambush. I suggest that we approach with caution."
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Post by Long Haul on May 7, 2007 19:39:53 GMT -5
Long Haul merely listens as Perceptor describes the story of Pandora and her unusual storage unit, then nods his head when it's suggested that others might have been taken, too. He pauses to think about it, and is about to suggest that maybe they should use their radios to find out (the idea that the Other Guys might be enemies doesn't occur to him) when Perceptor decides it's story time and starts up again.
The transport tilts his head and his optic band dims slightly as Perceptor speaks. One hand goes up to rub the back of his neck. Some of Long Haul's 'mates habitually use long words, although even the smartest of them will trip up once in a great while - it comes of being a little too comfortable in the idea that someone else is going to finish your sentences for you - but this is the first time he's noticed Perceptor really at a loss for words. Long Haul doesn't know the microscope well, but well enough for him to realize that something's amiss. He gives a sharp nod, and is about to prod the other to go on, when his radio comes to life.
//Synapse here...t-this isn’t funny guys. I’ve got something important to d-do.//
His optic band flashes as surprise triggers a brief voltage spike, and he shakes his head quickly as he answers Xaaron. "Nup. Never heard of no one named Synapse." Then, back to Perceptor. "You?"
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Post by Perceptor on May 7, 2007 20:50:00 GMT -5
As much as Perceptor doesn't want to have this discussion, the interjection of the broadband Autobot transmission is a frustrating interruption. The voice, however, combined with the slight stutter and name make Perceptor pause for a moment, frowning in thought as a distant memory flags for examination.
Synapse. Space capable flight mode... no, an Autobot with a space vehicle alternate mode. Yes. Quiet, but capable enough to meet Perceptor's exacting laboratory standards. Voice patterns match those from Perceptor's memorybanks.
That does not, however, eliminate the possibility that this seemingly fortuitous and unexpected transmission could not be a trap, after all.
"I believe I may," Perceptor replies thoughtfully. "Several millions of years ago, a somewhat unassuming Autobot named Synapse was assigned to periodically assist me in my work, performing menial tasks primarily. The voice print, limited sample patterns, and identifier match the same samples from my databanks. That information and those vocal patterns can, however, be duplicated by a communications expert of sufficient skill," Perceptor observes warily. "Such a mech would easily be able to triangulate our position from a transmission to answer."
Perceptor scans their surroundings, almost expecting a phalanx of Decepticons to burst out from between the buildings at them. The timing of that transmission had been almost too fortuitous to interrupt Perceptor's explanation of Long Haul's potential future.
"Regardless of which scenario proves to be true, it is imperative that we speak, Long Haul, now, and before we rendezvous with Synapse, or anyone else. It concerns your team mates... your future from my past... And that if any of your team mates have been removed from their place at a point not distant into the future from when you had been... that they will not be the mechanisms you remember them to be. If this is the Synapse I am familiar with, he may be quite shocked with your presence, Long Haul. During the portion of his time in which I am familiar with him, you, and your team mates, are Decepticons, having been reprogrammed by Megatron. I will explain as much as you require, as much as I am able... but you must know that, should we chance upon any of your team mates, that they may not be who you remember them to be," Perceptor explains quickly, though with obvious regret.
"I lack the ability to triangulate the source of that transmission," Perceptor adds, addressing Xaaron as well. "But there is a high probability that the transmission does originate with the Autobot I am familiar with. We are not heavily armed, nor armored compared to even an average Decepticon capable of duplicating the pertinent information. Choosing such a relatively obscure Autobot from my past does not make as much tactical sense as a simple frontal assault."
He pauses, waiting for Long Haul's inevitable reaction of disbelief, knowing that there's little he can offer as proof. Simply planting the seed of information, however, may tip the balance should such a worst-case-scenario of meeting up with a true Constructicon occur.
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Synapse
Minor
Do not touch...please
Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 7, 2007 22:59:08 GMT -5
He jitters anxiously, having no idea or reason to believe that the validity of his transmission was currently being questioned. For all Synapse knows, whoever landed him in this odd hopefully-just-a-prank-sensor-illusion is currently getting a slight reprimand and in a few minutes someone would send out a repair mech to flush away the rogue program.
As the astro-seconds tick away, a noticeable tightening appears on his lips. They never take this long, really. Everyone gets their laughs, come dig Synapse out of trouble, and everything is back to normal.
The spy turns back towards the wall of translucent blue, peering into it, as if searching for any means of an exit or any signs of grinning faces. All that waves back at him are those strange stalk-like things once again. Tentatively, Synapse reaches forward. The faint tingle of an electric field rush down his fingertips. His hand is stopped as if a solid sheet of titanium between him and that...blue. A few bubbles register themselves in his field of vision within the wall and he realizes that the wall is not just a wall. Liquid lays on the other side. It's like a portal to another realm entirely.
A snap and hiss is heard as his nodes detach themselves from their mounts and whiz soundlessly away. Synapse steps slowly backwards, doing his best to reign in the shaking of his hands. The feeling of warm air rushing past him fills Synapse's senses and he sees the images relayed back to him...there's no one around. It's just stretches of that burnt orange metal and more strange impassible walls portals.
'Definitely NOT funny, now.'
Twisting and turning through the maze-like structure, two black nodes float about recording any information that is possible to get a hold of. Synapse stands stock still where he is, escape impulses for any excuse to make a break for it.
Ultra Magnus would have to deal with missing his spy for a few orns at the rate this is going.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 8, 2007 8:18:49 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron points out, "This particular Long Haul is quiet different from the one you know, Perceptor, merely by a difference in time. This Synapse, if he is Synapse, could be a... serial killer or some such."
He listens to Perceptor's description of Long Haul's fate and is compelled to provide his own perspective, for what little it may be worth, "In my particular timeline, Long Haul? You and yours were never Autobots. You were built as Decepticons by Shockwave, on Earth." He omits the role of Optimus Prime's severed head in that story. "They were called Constructicons, and should we run into any of them, we have every reason to suspect that they will be hostile."
Emirate Xaaron's expression quirks. His own armour is quite good, although his injuries are still healing. Good as any warbuild tank. He thinks and suggests, "If Synapse is indeed the fellow you knew, we cannot miss out on a potential ally. Perceptor, you knew him and thus are most likely to notice if anything is awry with the fellow. I suggest that you contact him. Do not tell him of our numbers or location but try to ascertain if there is anyone else with him and where he might be. We should approach with caution, perhaps flanking the location from several sides."
He had a good mind for tactics and strategy. It was a pity, that as a tank, he never would have made it past sergeant.
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Post by Long Haul on May 8, 2007 9:14:53 GMT -5
Long Haul's fingers splay and his optic band flares in shock as Perceptor gives him the really, really quick version of events. He's stunned into silence, and can only mutely turn his gaze towards Xaaron as he adds his version of the story.
"No... that's... that's not... how can..." Long Haul stutters out. Disbelief Perceptor was expecting, and disbelief Perceptor gets.
And yet, both of these strangers had recognized him and known the name of his companions from the very first. Neither are, as near as Long Haul can tell, connected in any way with the field of construction, and both had claimed his group was quite "famous." But these are warriors, career hardened soldiers (although Perceptor might be quite surprised to learn Long Haul had labeled him such), and what sort of construction-men would be famous to such as these?
Long Haul had earlier dismissed these guys as "loonies," but over time he had come to the realization that it isnt his companions that were crazy; it is the situation. Now, he wishes he could dismiss their claims as delusions, or out and out lies, but it is their outward contradictions that seem to lend more weight to their claims. And why would they lie about this? There's no way of even knowing another from his group had been brought h-
Back when the whole thing started, shortly after Long Haul had awakened in the black desert, his radio had activated briefly, as though someone were trying to contact him, and shut off.
The lime green mech's gaze drops to the ground, and his band dims as he considered things. He goes back to the thought he had had before Perceptor had made his revelation. Open frequency? No... too risky. And Xaaron had claimed that in his reality, his team had been built on Earth. Long Haul wants to narrow things down to only those from his reality, or a reality very similar. His future-teammates, indeed, his future-self, would consider his choice of frequency very foolish, due to who else might be listening on it, but the potential danger doesn't occur to this version of the Transport.
After all, what has Long Haul to fear from Omega Supreme?
"Better go ahead and contact that Synapse fellow, Perceptor," Long Haul rasps out, only enough voice in his statement to keep it from being a whisper, "'cos if there's anyone around who can tran- who can trine- who can find us from our signals, they're about to get clued in, anyways."
And then Long Haul tunes his internal communicator to a frequency that he had last used... just a few hours before, from his perspective. He tunes it to the frequency common to those charged with the maintenance and protection of Crystal City.
// Hey, uhm, h'lo? Anyone out there? This is Long Haul. If anyone else is getting this, answer up. //
OOC: GUH! Went back and fixed the tensing errors. I think I got them all.
Also OOC: Long Haul's conversation with Hook occurs in the "Crystal City Frequency Conversations" thread. If anyone's worried about time discrepancies, just imagine that that conversation takes place at a faster rate than normal speaking, since neither are actually vocalizing.
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Post by Perceptor on May 8, 2007 14:14:46 GMT -5
Perceptor listens to Xaaron's added account, watching as Long Haul attempts to assimilate this shocking revelation. Perceptor has to give Long Haul credit; the construction mech is far calmer about it that Perceptor had been expecting.
"If this is, indeed, the Synapse I am familiar with, we will likely be spotted on approach," Perceptor answers Xaaron as he pages through the appropriate memory files quickly. "One of Synapse's duties when he was not assisting me was reconnaissance and scouting."
Perceptor turns a compassionate look upon Long Haul again, wishing there were some way to soften the blow, or even eliminate it altogether. That is, however, not an option that have the luxury to utilize at the moment. Long Haul's advice to contact Synapse, and his reasoning, however, fill Perceptor with a brief flash of dread before he realizes that such a sentiment is pointless. Long Haul is already transmitting before anyone can gainsay him, and if there are any communications specialists in range, their position is already forfeit. Nothing to do but make the most of it.
Perceptor finds himself hoping that whatever Long Haul is transmitting, on whatever frequency he is utilizing, that the only answer is static. It would be kinder than any alternative which involves a Constructicon. With a sigh, Perceptor initiates his radio protocols, answering Synapse on the other mech's private comm frequency as to send up a slightly less blaring beacon of a signal.
// Synapse, it is Perceptor; your transmission is clear. Please restrict your broadcast to this frequency. Do you know where your current position is or have a landmark nearby to triangulate your location? //
OOC: Continued radio conversation between Perceptor and Synapse will take place on Synapse's Comm Frequency Conversations. As per Long Haul's radio conversation, "if anyone's worried about time discrepancies, just imagine that that conversation takes place at a faster rate than normal speaking, since neither are actually vocalizing."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 9, 2007 11:05:57 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron covers half his face with a hand and resists a number of very unAutobot and decidedly undiplomatic urges. The first is throttle Long Haul while lecturing on him what a complete and utter moron he is being, if he’s doing what he sounds like he is – giving away their leaking position chasing after teammates gone wrong! He would be better to deem his teammates dead and be done with it.
However, not only does Emirate Xaaron know for a fact he’d never be able to manage that particular act of violence, he knows that such an act, even attempted, would just instill doubt in Long Haul about his place with the Autobots.
Secondly, a lecture is going to have much the same effect – driving Long Haul away.
Also, it would likely make Perceptor severely question Emirate Xaaron’s presence here.
Emirate Xaaron removes the hand covering half his face, which was poorly hiding an utterly disgusted look. Run deep, run silent. Sound advice on sea or land. He should have been a submarine, terrorising the Decepticon coasts.
Taking a moment, he composes himself. Violence and frothing lectures are not the way. A bit of constructive criticism is in order, however, and it is with a calm voice that he speaks, “Long Haul.” When you spoke to the void, did it answer? “What have you gained from this endeavour? What have you lost? When all is said and summed, how do you account the balance?”
He then looks to Perceptor. Two radio signals from here. At least the enemy will have no idea that the Autobots have a third – a rather useless small gold robot. He inquires, “Perceptor? What of Synapse? Do you judge him to run true? Does he know what only he should know?”
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Post by Long Haul on May 9, 2007 12:26:11 GMT -5
Long Haul slumps when he cuts off the radio, something inside, something more essential than any strut, placed under such strain that it's near breaking. Perhaps even broken, but Long Haul is part of the premier build-team on Cybertron, and when something breaks, it's his job to pick up the pieces and try to fix it.
He turns a dimmed optic-band on Xaaron and stares dumbly for a moment as the meaning of the other's words is initially lost on him. It takes more time than it should for Xaaron's questions to process, but eventually his CPU is able to make coherent sense of the syllables.
He answers, voice soft, hollow, and flatter than it had been previously. "Gained? Well, I know you two ain't crazy or liars, even if you're willing to delay some truths and cover 'em up with flattery and thank-yous when you need something from me." The hollowness gains a dangerous edge with this last bit: Long Haul knows he's been played. He may at least partially understand the reasons for it, but he's can't be expected to be pleased with it. "If we gotta work together, and we gotta, s'kinda important for me to know you guys ain't crazy or liars. I learned you guys was right in worrying there's Decepticons on this planet. There's at least one: Hook. I learned I'm able to shut out one of the most important people I know." Pain cracks the death-calm of his voice with this last statement, and he takes a moment to collect himself before continuing.
"For what I lost... I ain't got enough words in my language processors for that. But y'know what? I had already lost that bit, and just didn't know it. Sooner I find out, sooner I know for sure, sooner I can get to figuring out how I'm gonna deal with it. Don't know if there's anything inna whole universe that can sum and balance alla this out, but by the shining towers, there sure as blazes is gonna be an accounting. I just gotta figure out how."
Then, Long Haul straightens a bit, although his stance still suggests a burden that can't be seen. His optics brighten and he turns to Perceptor. "I always figure things through while I'm working or traveling. So I guess what we needa do is figure out what's next, so's I can get to that." He tilts his head as he studies Perceptor. "I'll wait until we know what we're doing about this Relapse fellow before I make you guys tell me the whole story, though."
So evidently, yes, the void did answer.
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Post by Perceptor on May 9, 2007 13:11:43 GMT -5
Tracking two conversations at once, one audible, the other radio, Perceptor catches Long Haul's angry rejoinder; he flinches slightly.
"The gratitude was sincere, Long Haul," Perceptor says quietly. "I was not attempting to to be disingenuous for personal gain. If walking across that wasteland could have spared you this, I would have gladly done it."
He looks up to meet Long Haul's gaze. "I do not take pleasure from another's distress or pain. I am sorry."
Perceptor is more sorrowful that Long Haul has learned what he needed to learn to believe them, that Long Haul managed to contact Hook, than he is sorry for having concealed the truth from the other mech for this long. It's a heavy burden to bear to be thrust out of one's element and into the midst of strangers, only to find that the one being present - thus far - who knows you best is now unreachable across the vast chasm of faction and history. Perceptor finds himself feeling the same sympathy for Hook, wherever he may be in this vast territory, as he does for Long Haul, and for the same reason, despite their adversarial natures. This deep loss is something that Perceptor cannot truly comprehend; his dearest friends, though now dead and gone, had only truly entered his life two short decades ago. He cannot fathom what it must be like to lose someone who has been so close for so long - worse yet, to not lose them, to have them so near, and yet so far.
Such ruminations, however, do not alter the fact that there are Decepticons present, at least one at any rate, somewhere out there. Or that Synapse has spotted them.
"Vocal patterns match, and he has given me an appropriate timestamp," Perceptor answers Xaaron, nodding toward the distant hovering node in the sky. "Additionally, he has spotted us, and, from this distance, I believe that is, indeed, his surveillance equipment. Insofar as such a thing is possible to gage without direct observation, I believe Synapse to be genuine."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 9, 2007 20:58:03 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron sighs and admits right out loud, "I wish that I could have handled the situation more delicately, I honestly do. You are clearly not the Long Haul of which I knew." Although the similarities do make it uncanny. "There may be a version of myself who is a Decepticon. I do not ever wish to meet him." He shudders at the very thought. "I did not consider the discussion of my version of Long Haul relevant to the more pressing topic of survival in a strange land, just as speculation about a Decepticon version of myself is irrelevant. Also, I needed to be sure that you would not dismiss my words out of hand as sun-crazed babblings. I mentioned my universe's Long Haul because Perceptor saw fit to inform you of what is one possible future." Emirate Xaaron is unyielding on that point. He's not going to lose a machine who has been such an ally. "Your teammate's history need not be your future. Your destiny is your own."
He steeples his fingers. What comfort he can offer goes out to Long Haul. His reasons may be impure, but they are there nonetheless. A dirty column supports still. It's too soon, too fragile to think about exploiting his link to Hook, but the seed of the thought is there, a desert rose waiting to sprout when the rains come.
He listens to Perceptor's analysis and gives a curt nod. Emirate Xaaron is uncomfortable about being spotted. He reasons, "We have a few options. We can attempt to meet him where he is, but as we aren't sure where that is, that is one of the less practical options. He can meet us here. This does give him the element of surprise, but as he can see us, it is easier, if he is on the level. Finally, we could meet midway."
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Post by Long Haul on May 9, 2007 21:20:05 GMT -5
Long Haul waves away Perceptor's sympathy, but his first reply is to Xaaron. "Damn straight my destiny is my own. That's why I need to know what this guy," he points at Perceptor, "knows about what happens, so's if I'm in a position to stop it, I can. Some of us was starting to worry that maybe Megatron might take an interest in Crystal City's resources... even knowing something small like that he's apparently as interested in us as our city will make a big difference in how we prepare. And the more I know, the better."
He looks straight at Perceptor. "Sorries are all well and good, but they ain't what I need. I need information." Then he tilts his head and turns slightly, so as to glance over at Xaaron again. "And, erm, I guess, I need to know if we're going looking for Burlaps, or if he's coming to us. S’kinda the immediate issue."
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Post by Perceptor on May 9, 2007 21:36:37 GMT -5
// I am from your very distant future, Synapse. Make your way to us. Keep a sharp optic for further activity, Decepticons, Autobots, or significant lifeforms. Be careful. The creature we faced would have been quite dangerous were it not for all of us working together, // Perceptor radios Synapse.
That done, he turns back to Xaaron and Long Haul. "Synapse will be en route to our location shortly. Since we have already been spotted, it is easier for him to find us than the reverse. At least here, we have the ground of our own choosing, and open space to prevent ambush, should my judgment prove erroneous."
"I will tell you all that I am able," Perceptor continues, addressing this to Long Haul alone. "My accounting is second-hand, and quite long removed from the events, but I will recount as much as I know."
Perceptor turns again, facing back towards where he'd noted the node hovering low in the sky before. "For the moment, however, we should await the arrival of Synapse."
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Synapse
Minor
Do not touch...please
Posts: 380
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Post by Synapse on May 9, 2007 22:14:17 GMT -5
Very distant future. Synapse makes no comment but just hopes to himself that it's a brighter future than what's going on in Cybertron at the moment.
//I'll be careful.//
Eagerly, he closes the comm after Perceptor and jumps into the air. His chunky green alt-form now hovering above where he had been moments before. He propels himself upwards, past the sky-reaching holding cells into the open air with its heady blue sky. His nodes zoom before him scanning in images and occasionally transmitting the strange feel of the thin green sheafs of vegetation as they graze over treetops.
He almost fails to notice another metallic flash originating from where he had been not moments before. 'Lucky me.'
Synapse hopes that it doesn't try to follow him as he doubles back to maybe try a more roundabout way of getting to Perceptor's and his group. It would do no good at all if something follows him to them.
//Ah, I'll be there momentarily.//
Hopefully.
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