Omega Supreme
Minor
Shorter and Coloured Funny but Still Angry as the Pit
Posts: 456
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Post by Omega Supreme on Jun 26, 2007 7:17:01 GMT -5
Omega Supreme considers Kup's question and replies, gesturing off in the vague direction that the rest of the team went, "Split: exploratory. Local generators: active. Power elsewhere: possible. Decepticon threat: worrisome." The words are clearly hard for him to crank out. He hopes that it gets the gist out.
He then resumes looking about the area for trouble. Gee, there are a lot of birds here. He's started to count them.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 26, 2007 8:53:58 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron notes down that Kup specifically asks for the tactical details of the plan from Omega Supreme. It's easy to see why. Holi wasn't in on the plan, as he wasn't there at the time. Long Haul is best known as a Decepticon, and here Emirate Xaaron is, no different from Joebot and lacking a symbol, to boot.
Better now than later to establish exactly who and what he is, Emirate Xaaron speaks up, "Arcee, Nightbeat, and Swerve are swift cars. They'd cover the ground to the purported power station more swiftly than we could, and they can easily carry Perceptor, whose scientific expertise would be needed there to deal with the alien technology. Meanwhile Long Haul, Omega Supreme, and I, the slower group, could investigate this area and see if we couldn't get Omega Supreme fuelled and set about building a temporary base. If Nightbeat's team," of course it's Nightbeat's team, to Emirate Xaaron. Nightbeat led a Matrix Quest team, after all, "runs into trouble, we can have Omega Supreme transform to rocket mode and get over there swiftly enough."
"Indeed, we are all Autobots here Holi, but if Long Haul had been taken from later in his timestream, he would have been brainwashed into being a Decepticon, and if he was from my timestream, he never would have been an Autobot in the first place, so be wary of lime green construction workers. In fact, just be wary in general."
Beware. Be very aware.
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Post by Kup on Jun 26, 2007 9:26:10 GMT -5
Kup looks down at Holi and sighs before glancing at the Emirate. "And if almost any of the others had been taken from the point I was removed from," he adds to Xaaron's point, voice now sadder and grimmer than it had been, "even being an Autobot wouldn't have helped."
The elder seems pretty pleased to have managed a report that long out of Omega, even if it did take some translating. He dips his head towards Xaaron and says, "All right. Makes sense. I guess, then, we just start with one of the still active cages and see if we can't trace its power source." He gestures to the nearest one. "That looks like as good a place to start as any."
Kup begins to turn away, to head towards the indicated cage, but then a second thought occurs to him. He turns back and shouts up to Omega Supreme. "Omega! Keep an eye out!" Well, he was probably going to do that anyway, but then Kup adds, "If you see any infected folks from my time, folks with the Hate Plague, alert us and retreat immediately! Do you understand? Do not attempt to engage!" The idea that Omega Supreme would disobey him obviously does not occur.
Then he looks apologetically at the others. "Sorry about that. That Hate Plague business is probably the worst crisis I've ever encountered. Even knowing it's supposed to get cured down the road, it's still got me a bit on edge."
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Post by Long Haul on Jun 26, 2007 9:33:59 GMT -5
Long Haul lowers the dragon to let Holi pat its head. The creature is still squirming, but it seems to have started to calm down at last. He nods with what the others say, then speaks very softly. "Erm, yeah. Folks what wear my colors... they might be dangerous."
Once Kup starts walking off he lifts the dragon again to follow; he's probably the best qualified to chase down power sources, anyway. The transport pulls up short, however, and tilts his head at Kup in confusion when the other gives orders so casually to Omega Supreme. It seems so strange, all these other robots who are so familiar with this frightening, pained new version of his old friend. He supposes he should count himself lucky that Kup hasn't publicly questioned Long Haul's Autobot-hood, although given what Omega said over the frequencies, it sounded like he's questioned it privately.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jun 27, 2007 16:59:27 GMT -5
Holi scuttles along with the group as they move, hurrying to keep pace with the larger bots and trying his best to keep from frowning. Autobots who aren't quite Autobots… it's a horrifically sobering thought. He doesn't want to dwell on it.
"I'll… try to remember that," he murmurs sadly, thinking of the 'others' coloured like Long Haul. Brainwashed? That's – that's awful. "And I'm sorry, Long Haul," he adds very quietly. He isn't sure about looking for power sources, but since they have to keep watch in case of anyone dangerous, he can keep his receptors and sensor receivers wide open if it'll help. "Sir, I can keep watch!" he suggests to none of the larger bots in particular, raising an arm despite the redundancy of the gesture; he's used to needing to call optics down to his level. He doesn't want to be useless.
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Omega Supreme
Minor
Shorter and Coloured Funny but Still Angry as the Pit
Posts: 456
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Post by Omega Supreme on Jun 27, 2007 21:16:35 GMT -5
Omega Supreme was already standing a de facto watch, Kup! The Hate Plague is the worst thing Kup has ever encountered? Kup has screwy priorities. Clearly, the worst thing to ever happen was Crystal City falling and the corruption of the Constructicons! Still, he shrugs and replies, "Affirmative."
He's going to ignore Kup if Long Haul is at risk, however. Let cities swim in pools of fire and fall sinking into the mire. That builder will be kept safe.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 27, 2007 21:52:57 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron has seen Perceptor trying to subtly assert dominance, and he fell prey to that and let Perceptor go off to his own team. He will be lucky if that team does not return expecting Perceptor to lead. Now he sees Kup try to assert himself.
Why hasn't he done more to stem this sort of behavior off at the start? What is wrong with him? He is Emirate Xaaron, general-maker and killer of tyrants.
Emirate Xaaron knows something, too. It's that those who want power the most deserve it the least. He never wanted power. He never wanted to be a politician or a strategist. He could have been happy with reactor physics, but not as long as he saw short-sighted fools putting in scientific proposals for utter rubbish and getting funded for it. So he ascended to the review board, and then the council, and then… well, the Decepticons massed power, and he found himself pleading that Optimus Prime be given control of the army. Not so long after, he found himself the leader of the underground.
Perhaps the strangeness of these Autobots made him balk from what he does best. Emirate Xaaron will not balk now. He didn't roll over and let Optimus Prime lead, even when he returned. The front was divided. Optimus would have been spread too thin.
Calmly, he deems, "Very well. Omega Supreme has the best vantage point. He can stand watch. Holi, since you seem so enthusiastic about it – assist him. Long Haul and I can search for power." They're not orders, just oh-so-sensible suggestions, and he looks right at Kup when he's done. Is he with Xaaron or not? Because the Kup that Xaaron knew? Xaaron could still call that Kup a young whelp.
"We do know that there is at least one Decepticon on this world – Omega Supreme's enemy, Hook - and perhaps there are more. We have no idea why we are here or even if there is as why. Answers won't come on empty fuel tanks."
There appears to be a dead Optimus Prime elsewhere, but he isn't going to get any deader for the waiting, so Xaaron does not mention him.
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Post by Kup on Jun 27, 2007 22:22:01 GMT -5
Heck, he might get less dead for the waiting. Dead Optimus Primes tend to do that if you don't keep a good eye on them.
Kup's apologetic expression fades and he considers Emirate Xaaron, head tilted slightly to the left. Being young to Xaaron is not the same as being young, and Kup is a fairly good judge of character when he's not making the mistake of dismissing the young for the sake of their youth. Finally, he nods. Kup is used to being an advisor, but while he claims some seniority and is capable of stepping up when needed, he is more follower than leader. So long as Xaaron leads well, Kup is with him.
"Yeah, you're right," the veteran agrees. "They won't come, and we can't chase them, if we're too drained to move. And they won't do us any good if we let the 'Cons run right over us." Kup is familiar with both the concepts of time travel and multiple realities, but the situation is outside of even his experience. Might as well tackle the problems he knows how to deal with, and wait for time to suggest a solution to the rest.
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Post by Long Haul on Jun 27, 2007 22:36:41 GMT -5
Long Haul's optic band brightens fondly as Holi tries to offer comfort. Still, if this keeps up, other people feeling sorry for him is going to get pretty annoying. For one thing, it gets in the way of feeling sorry for himself. There's somewhat less satisfaction in bemoaning the fact that the universe seems to hate you if the people around you actually agree with you and try to comfort you, rather than just dismiss it.
"Uhm... yeah, thanks, Holi," Long Haul answers. When Xaaron suggests that he help look for a power source, the Constructibot nods. "Arright," is all he says before he turns to trot towards the nearest working gate, mini-mecha-dragon still in his arms.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jun 28, 2007 16:57:45 GMT -5
"Yes, sir!" Holi snaps to and delivers the same smart salute to Emirate Xaaron he gave Kup, then turns and hurries back toward the titan. Sure, he can't see as far as Omega Supreme, but he can at least listen and monitor the airwaves. Two watchers are better than one, after all, and he's glad to help however he can.
He once again tunes up his receptors – more carefully this time, since it wouldn't do at all for vocal background to cause interference – and for the first time since waking on this planet opens his communications array to all available wide-band frequencies. He goes for the Autobot frequencies he knows, too, just in case. If there's a transmission within range, he's sure he'll pick it up somehow. Optimism is great, isn't it? Omega Supreme sure could use more of it; he looks like he hasn't seen the upside of things in a long, long time. Not that Holi has the first clue what to say. So he just quietly stands a meter or two from the giant's feet for now, listening. And occasionally looking up to see what Omega Supreme is doing, because among other things, Holi is a curious and active little bot.
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Omega Supreme
Minor
Shorter and Coloured Funny but Still Angry as the Pit
Posts: 456
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Post by Omega Supreme on Jun 28, 2007 18:51:33 GMT -5
Omega Supreme looks anxious, for lack of a better word, at the suggestion that Long Haul go exploring the zoo for power. Yes, Omega Supreme is famished, but this is a strange place, and if Long Haul is mauled by something while trying to get Omega Supreme a snack, he's never going to forgive himself. Forgiveness is one of those things Omega Supreme is extremely bad about in general, but that? That would be unforgivable even if he wasn't.
However, he knows that he can't fit in there, and someone has to go look for power. He cannot protect Long Haul if he's unconscious or dead of starvation. So Omega Supreme does not make any move to stop Long Haul from heading into the zoo.
The Guardian does noticeably sulk, however. He looks down at Holi and, after some thought, suggests, "Move."
Waiting for the Micromaster to do so, he collapses down into his defense base mode at the gate of the zoo.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 28, 2007 19:25:04 GMT -5
He still has it. Of course, Emirate Xaaron never lost it. He was just a bit sun-baked and frazzled. The rain did well to cool him down. He's been a dweller of the underground too long.
Emirate Xaaron nods to Kup and then heads along after Long Haul. While Xaaron is from a later time than Long Haul, he still asks, "So… electricity still flows through conductors1, doesn't it?"
Don’t mention semi-conductors. Wishy-washy little sneaks. He asks mainly to make conversation but also because he never kept up on technology.
1 Well, electricity is sometimes stored in conductors in the cartoon. The question is more valid than Xaaron knows.
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Post by Kup on Jun 28, 2007 20:12:47 GMT -5
Kup follows along with Emirate Xaaron and Long Haul. There were no particular "suggestions" sent his way, but he decides that in a zoo with potentially dangerous animals on the loose, he ought to stick close to the others. He has no idea concerning Xaaron's combat capability, but if Long Haul is from far enough back in time that he hasn't been Robo-Smashed yet, odds are the worst he's ever had to deal with is the occasional bar fight. This, of course, leaves Holi all alone Omega Supreme but... he's with Omega Supreme. If Holi's not safe there, he's safe no where on this planet.
While the other two discuss SCIENCE and examine the cages, Kup examines the plaques. He touches the lettering on them lightly, a thoughtful frown on his face, before he looks up to examine what the poor, decimated creature that once inhabited this still active cage.
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Post by Long Haul on Jun 28, 2007 20:54:46 GMT -5
"Hnh?" Long Haul asks, confused. "Erm... of course they do. Why wouldn't they?" Long Haul is, sadly, completely unaware of the special Wheeljack conductors that store energy instead of, well, conducting it. He puts down the dragon, but still holds onto its leash, and kneels to examine the cage.
"Shouldn't be too hard to find the source of this stuff," he reports, pulling out his welder and his tool kit.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Jun 29, 2007 20:24:11 GMT -5
Holi just stares at first when Omega Supreme asks him to move, but the instant he hears gears starting to turn, the Micromaster is quick to comply. Though it does mean moving a bit more than usual, because that's a big base mode. But at least he got a warning.
Maybe Omega Supreme is more comfortable that way?
"Okay, I'll just…" Holi fidgets indecisively for a moment or two. Well, he's still on watch. So he'll be quiet and do what he's supposed to do. He takes up a spot only a length or two from the edge of Omega Supreme's track and settles in to wait and listen. He isn't too close, is he? What if Omega has personal space issues? "…Stand here… if that's alright."
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