Tourist Beach Arrival Thread

[Perceptor]

OOC: Continued from tfdeadzone.proboards81.com/index.cgi?board=mysteryplanet&action=display&thread=1178564012&page=7#1180305727

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En route to their location, a scientific microscope housed within a green shuttle sighs.

"'The plan', ultimately, is to explain Long Haul's situation without incurring termination for any of us at Omega Supreme's hand. To that end... I think it would be best, an attempt to mitigate the potential damages, that is, if you and this Nightbeat individual were to withdraw and allow me to speak with Omega Supreme alone. I... I cannot do as Xaaron suggests, and I would rather see only one of us risked than all."

Perceptor pauses for a moment, deep in thought once again, before sending Synapse all of his files and calculations pertaining to their current position, both as he's estimated on this world, and where this world sits in the universe.

"Long Haul is not the warrior you are familiar with, and Emirate Xaaron is not a warrior at all. There are dangers on this world which require the skills of a more martially minded mechanism, and Hook may be the least of these dangers. Should the discussion with Omega Supreme end badly," and here Perceptor pauses for a moment, his tone growing quite serious, brooking no argument, "you will retrieve Nightbeat and retreat to Emirate Xaaron and Long Haul's position to defend them. You now have the calculations and charts by which you may plot a course back to Cybertron. So long as I continue to function, I will endeavor to reason with Omega Supreme."

[Synapse]

Synapse is usually pretty good at following orders, but this time he disagrees. That Nightbeat individual can withdraw if he wants, but Synapse has no intentions of leaving Perceptor behind (for both selfish and self-less reasons. After all, Perceptor's probably the one of the only people that can figure out a way to convert energy into energon, that and piece together why in the world they were all brought here. Also Synapse also has no intentions of letting one of his only life lines get squashed under Omega Supreme's foot).

"No. I'm staying with you. Someone has to lift you out of the way if things get antsy," mutters Synapse, but a mutter from him is quite loud within the hold of his alt-mode. "No offense, but you're not the fastest mech around in your robot mode, you're practically immobile in your alt-mode!"

Synapse barely pauses as files begin downloading into his system.

"It'll be fine. If things go bad, I'll just snatch you and we'll book it away as fast as we can. Or if you're so set on reasoning with Omega Supreme, I'll zoom around and you talk. Besides, even if I have the way home, what about everyone else, what about finding a way back to the right time? The right dimension?" Synapse draws in a shuddering breath from his filters and falls silent. "I'm not going to leave you behind." he finally adds quietly. Defying authority sure makes him feel heady, Omega Supreme's growing image on his radars doesn't help much either. Anyways, he refuses to land until Perceptor knocks some sense into his own head, unless Perceptor does something entirely drastic.

[Omega Supreme]

Omega Supreme is probably a fairly odd place to awaken. Considering Nightbeat, Omega Supreme is probably an oddly clean place to awaken, too. He agrees with Nightbeat, mainly because Perceptor said he'd be there. Perceptor is good on his word, extenuating circumstances aside.

He sights the green shuttle, and his internal monitors flicker online, showing pictures of the outside, Synapse featured on the most prominent screen.

Over his internal speakers, Omega Supreme intones, "Incoming."

[Nightbeat]

Nightbeat studies the screen, wracking his memory to see if he can place what he assumes is someone's alternate mode. Unfortunately, it doesn't belong to anyone he recognizes. Doesn't necessarily mean it isn't someone he knows, though. After all, Transformers adopted new alternate modes many times over the course of their lives, depending on the cirucmstances.

"Definitely Cybertronian... But nobody I recognize," he says. "Big enough for a passenger or two, maybe more depending on size."

[Perceptor]

The only "entirely drastic" measures that are currently available to Perceptor to force Synapse to land would involve injury to the other mech, defeating the entire purpose to attempting to convince Synapse to retreat. Perceptor sighs softly to himself; ah, the folly and optimism of youth. Absently, he wonders if this frustration is what Xaaron feels when dealing with him.

Recalling how reticent Synapse had been so long ago, however, Perceptor is actually well pleased to see him standing up for his principles. The timing could have been better, but Perceptor can do little about that except wait for their arrival. Should the time come that Perceptor must choose between himself and the others, he will find a way, somehow, to force Synapse to retreat. Those thoughts, though, he keeps to himself.

"Your loyalty, though misguided, is admirable, Synapse. I hope that you do not regret your decision."

[Synapse]

A soft sigh of relief escapes Synapse in the form of air hissing from his fans. That actually went surprisingly well. Though Synapse knows and suspects nothing about Perceptor's other thoughts. All he knows right now is the elation of his small victory. That and Omega Supreme's large base form growing in front of him.

"I won't," he replies. The inner pessimist in him whispers that by the time that he's able to regret his actions, it would be too late anyways. He shakes those thoughts out of his mind, almost forgetting that Perceptor, who is still on board, might experience said shaking. "I'll go ahead and hail Omega Supreme."

[Omega Supreme]

Omega Supreme has no idea of the machinations of those in the small space ship. He listens along to Nightbeat's conjectures and, at the radio, pops open his door and extends down the gangplank. These are the Autobots that he has been expecting. He doesn't know Synapse, but Omega Supreme hasn't been a very social mechanism for a long, long time.

He radios, //Landing: cleared. Initiate approach.//

Perhaps now things will start to make sense. Perhaps not. It's Perceptor who is arriving. Perceptor possesses a love of fifty-cent words to beat out even Hook.

[Nightbeat]

Perceptor, eh? Nightbeat thinks. Autobot resistance chief with Cybertron who vanished over the spacebridge. Later revealed to have hooked up with Optimus Prime's crew, after nearly being killed both by a human named Circuit Breaker, and later by Galvatron. Supposed to be one of the 'bots Starscream put down...

But as this place was quickly starting to show, what he believed to be true didn't necessarily matter. Hopefully this Perceptor and Synapse could be trusted.

[Perceptor]

"Thank you, Synapse," Perceptor replies, waiting patiently.

So far, so good. Not long afterwards, he feels Synapse settle to a landing, and shortly after that, Perceptor is once again standing on his own two feet on a wide beach. He spares the surroudings a brief glance, taking in the other buildings - mostly missing the faded garishness of the tourist trap - before turning his attention to the familiar bulk of Omega Supreme, and the less familiar, and much smaller, Nightbeat.

"Omega Supreme, it is good to see you. You, I presume, are Nightbeat?" Perceptor asks as he waits for Synapse to transform and join him. "I am Perceptor, and this is Synapse."

"There is much to explain about our current situation, and, unfortunately, far more that is, as of yet, unknown. I must beg your indulgence as, much of what I am about to relate may seem... unlikely and far-fetched," he explains, optics darting uncomfortably toward Omega Supreme's considerable and imposing form. "I can assure you, however, that, unless specifically noted," such as in the case of Hook's transmission, but he'll get into that later. Much later. Maybe. "I have personally observed these circumstances."

[Synapse]

As soon as Perceptor makes it out and is a good couple feet away, Synapse transforms and pads slowly next to the scientist, transfixed on the monolith that is Omega Supreme before him. He spares a small wave at the guardian and then a quirk of the lips at Nightbeat, the blue mech's odd form catching his eyes. Perhaps it is because of the Porsche 959 form that Emirate Xaaron had spoken of?

He can't find anything much to say so he opts to stay quiet. Perceptor knows what he's doing. Synapse just remains close. One hand twitching as he watches the proceedings with wary optics. His nodes make a wide path around Omega Supreme before flying back into the forest.

The least he can do at the moment is alert Perceptor when Long Haul and Emirate Xaaron arrive.

[Omega Supreme]

The defense base's weapons sweep around, pausing in the direction of Perceptor and Synapse for a moment, and then sweep away. It's as close as he comes to a warm welcome.There is the low rumble of, "Perceptor, Synapse: salutations."

As soon as Nightbeat is out and away, Omega Supreme transforms slowly and shakes off the sand. He sits down and settles in for a rather lengthy explanation. Omega Supreme was listening on channel, after all, so he's heard the abbreviated version, but that didn't make overly much sense. With the hope of an explanation that doesn't hurt his head mind, he says, "Explanation: awaited."

[Nightbeat]

Nightbeat greets the arriving Autobots with a wave, though he does keep himself on guard. Suspicious by nature, he's not about to give his trust immediately.

"Perceptor and Synapse, then?" he says. "Hopin' you've got more answers than me and the big guy here have been able to come up with."

[Perceptor]

Perceptor watches as Omega Supreme transforms, and then takes a seat. He's faintly comforted by that fact; though the base alternate mode is fairly immobile unless Omega Supreme launches, the weapons constantly track and can achieve rapid weaponslock. The mech's robot mode, while generally more mobile, is large and ponderous, and, once seated, will give them a few seconds more to seek cover, should it come to that.

He hopes.

"As do I. Unfortunately, while we have discovered some answers, we have also managed to raise significantly more questions. However, I shall do my best to explain what we've managed to discover thus far. The precepts of Quantum Theory, or at least several schools of thought on such, have long held that there exist many, infinite universes with many, infinite possibilities occurring. That touches upon our situation here, only in that, of all the Autobots transported here thus far that we have contacted, at least two realities seem to be represented," Perceptor explains, glancing between Nightbeat and Omega Supreme.

"You, Nightbeat, are familiar with Emirate Xaaron, whereas in the reality which Synapse and myself hail from, no such being ever existed, or if he had, had been deactivated long before any notation of his existence could be made in our historical files. Emirate Xaaron, himself, is en route to this location at this time, having been unable to fit withing the confines of Synapse's hold for transport. He is joined by another Autobot from the reality from which Synapse and myself hail. They should arrive later this morning, as they must both travel overland."

Now, Perceptor turns his attention entirely to Omega Supreme, subtly moving to place himself between the massive mech and Synapse; it's all he can do for the moment, and Nightbeat is well enough out of any line of fire for now.

// Synapse, this, should the worst happen, will be very much a shock to Nightbeat. You and I are already prepared to expect the worst. I am counting on you to assist Nightbeat initially before you worry about me. //

"Additionally," Perceptor continues aloud, giving Synapse little time to respond before the scientist plows ahead, "those of us from the same potential reality, seem to come from divergent periods of time in those realities. The date you supplied me with, Omega Supreme, is a short distance into my future. Synapse hails from shortly after Optimus first led the expedition from Cybertron which was eventually relocated on Earth - a date from our distant past."

"It is as of yet uncertain how each of us were taken from our places both physically and temporally, or to what purpose, or why each individual specifically was chosen. The important point is that... individuals have been taken from varying positions both in place, and time. An incredibly divergent span of time."

Perceptor steels himself, tense, though trying his best not to be too obvious about that fact.

"The final member of our number who is en route to this location in Emirate Xaaron's company is, like Synapse, a clear demonstration of that fact, as he comes from a point in our distant past, Omega Supreme. This Autobot is also known to you, as a former caretaker of Crystal City - one Autobot Long Haul."

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OOC: my apologies. I totally misread the page and thought I saw a post from Nightbeat up there right after my last post. Sorry for the confusion of posting out of turn.

[Synapse]

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Even seated Omega Supreme is like a large hill to Synapse. No less intimidating or awe-inspiring.

As Perceptor begins his oratory, Synapse finds himself relaxing a bit. It is only when the scientist gives him his direct orders that the spy tenses up once more. Perceptor, now between him and Omega Supreme continues on in his talk, leaving Synapse reeling in his thoughts. Nightbeat who knows nothing of what's going on, or Perceptor who at least has some semblance of a plan? Logic and common sense dictate that he aides Nightbeat before rushing for Perceptor. But...

He's given very little time to think about it as Perceptor drops the figurative bomb on Omega Supreme. All he can do now is coil and tense his form and be ready to take to air if news is taken badly by the large Guardian. Synapse glances at Nightbeat in hopes of maybe giving the other Autobot some fair warning...but any luck in transfering information by glance is very slim. He'll just have to wait and be ready.

[Omega Supreme]

Omega Supreme listens along. At all seems rather strange, but he vaguely remembers a report where several Autobot and Cyclonus were transported to another universe where colours were screwy. Same idea, except screwy people now instead of colours? And yeah, the Aerialbots were punted around in time, weren't they? And there was the thing with folks from both factions going mediaeval.

What Perceptor is saying now is just an extension of these concepts. Omega Supreme follows along and accepts Perceptor's words well enough. Then Perceptor gets to the end.

There is nothing swift or sudden about Omega Supreme's actions in robot mode. There never is. He shifts his position, changing from sitting to kneeling in the sand. He brings down his one hand to support himself and leans over, lowering his face down to a level with Perceptor's. The scientist will have plenty of time to see Omega Supreme coming, to move if he wants, but the Guardian comes nonetheless.

There is nothing of a request about his words. They are a directive. "Location: Long Haul. Now."

He isn't making threats. He hasn't brought weapons to bear, but there is tenseness about the Guardian. He knows Constructicons. They lie. They smile day in and day out, lying about their innermost beings. Long Haul is lying. He has to be. Omega Supreme will tear open his head and lay those perverted, corrupted, lying circuits of his bare. The other Autobots will see what treachery that little traitor has wrought upon them.

And if Long Haul isn't lying?

He has to be. It's his nature.

But if he isn't...

It'll show on his circuits. They will bear neither the foul touch of the robo-smasher nor Omega Supreme's own ham-handed attempts at repairs.