Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 3, 2007 23:00:42 GMT -5
The coordinates are pretty easy to zero in on and Wedge finds himself skidding to a stop at the alley entrance. His arrival is noisy enough, bulldozers aren't built with any sort of stealth in mind. They're not built for speed either, but Wedge makes it quick enough.
It's a shady looking alley...He gulps and transforms, willing and making himself take one confident step over. Wedge spots Kup easily enough and stares for a moment at the odd choice for furniture. So this guy looks to be a little creepier than he first thought...Ack, it's not the time to be thinking about this. He waves and closes the distance between them. "Hey! Hope I didn't make you wait too long. Came as fast as I could."
He pauses and rubs the back of his helm awkwardly. "So...you wanted to ask some questions?"
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Post by Kup on Sept 4, 2007 7:30:06 GMT -5
Kup, for the record, is not being intentionally morbid or creepy. He's outside because he doesn't want to be underfoot of any work going on in base, and most the other buildings are too small. He's in an alley because it's closer to being in a room than, say, the middle of the street. He's sitting on vehicles because the options for what's large enough are pretty limited.
The fact that it lets him gauge different people's reactions to a situation slightly unusual? Totally coincidental.
Kup nods. He still has that same flat piece of metal covered with seemingly random scrawls on it. "That's right, Wedge. I'm trying to get an idea of everyone's different skills and abilities, and maybe what we can expect from folks in their universe. Now, to make this fair, this is a two-way communication. Anytime you have any questions for me, you just go ahead and ask."
"Now, to establish what I do already know... you mentioned being part of something called a Build Team, and that you do construction. That's good - very useful. I imagine you'll be working with Long Haul a lot, and Perceptor to a degree. You know how to build something called a spacebridge, but it... isn't like what we call a spacebridge back home. Still sounds pretty useful. And you've also been the only one to recognize that 'Predacon' symbol. See, now, where I'm from, the Predacons are a gestalt team with the Decepticons. Not really sure where they picked them up, t'be honest, the Quints, I think? But that's what they are. Five Decepticons with animal alt modes who combine to form Predaking. But if they're using different symbols entirely, they sound to be something different where you're from... wanna explain that for me, Wedge?"
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 4, 2007 20:08:25 GMT -5
"Quints?"
A twitch forms on Wedge's lips at the thought of a Predacon combiner. Sky-byte, Slapper, Darkscream, and Gasskunk...what a mess! That would be the most ungainly combiner team that he's ever come across...the ugliest combiner team as well. "Well, the Predacons where I come from are a faction, though they do all have animal alt-modes. We've been fighting them for a while, trying to keep Megatron from draining the energy off of different planets." Obviously the Autobots haven't succeeded many times if half of Megatron's planet decimating claims are true. "By the time we got to Earth, there were only five Predacons present: Megatron, his second-in-command Sky-byte, then Slapper, Gasskunk, and Darkscream. You guys do have a Megatron, right? And as far as I know, none of these Predacons are gestalts. That's what the Decepticons were for."
"As for construction, I can do it...but it's been a while since we--I've built anything other than tunnels. But those can't be beat," Wedge says with a sheepish grin. His gaze brightens at the mention of the spacebridge from Kup's universe. "Hey, your spacebridge spans dimensions doesn't it?" He's mixing up Xaaron's spacebridge with Kup's, but he doesn't know it. "You can tell me about it right? The spacebridges that I'm in charge of building are only trans-planet, but they're pretty quick and easy to use."
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Post by Kup on Sept 4, 2007 21:19:29 GMT -5
Kup gets a call from Perceptor on the radio, and he just can't help himself. He grins. It's not a pleasant grin. It's the grin of a mechanoid who's had some nasty suspicions... and suspects he's likely to get them confirmed in the very near future.
He puts the grin away quickly, however, so quickly that someone would have to have been watching him directly to notice, because Wedge is sitting right there, and the kid had seemed unnerved enough as it was.
"Quints, or Quintessons are the species that created Transformers in my universe. I understand some guy, er, god named 'Primus' did it for a few others. And that's all... pretty interesting. Considerably different from my reality, sounds like. The guy we had named Megatron was a Decepticon, and they're the faction we fight. The others are all just special teams in 'em."
"Well, we'll need you to do more than just tunnels and spacebridges," it hasn't hit Kup that Wedge is talking about the same thing, "so I'm glad to hear we've got another construction-mech. Our own spacebridges go from planet to planet, but maybe some inter-dimensional nonsense might be involved in doing it. That sorta thing's beyond me. You'll wanna talk to Perceptor when you get the chance." Which is just what Kup interrupted. Hooray!
"Now, next up, Wedge, I need to know about your combat experience. How much do you got, and what sort is it? We talking big battles, like what we just went through? You mentioned being part of a team, so you used to working with others out there?"
Please, don't let this be another Stubborn Loner.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 4, 2007 21:59:59 GMT -5
Stubborn loner? Far from it! Well...perhaps a little too far from it.
He watches curiously as Kup's attention slips to something else for a moment. The expression that follows is surprising to say the least. He can almost relate it to the expression Prowl gets whenever the police car hears that Sideburn's been skipping patrol to hightail after red sports cars. But...Prowl is lacks a mouth. That and the officer's suspicions on his younger brother are no where near as bad as what Kup has for Hardwire, unbeknownst to Wedge.
"Well, we have Vector Sigma, the Allspark...Not quite sure about creation and everything..." Yeah, Wedge didn't pay much attention to that class. "Whoa, Megatron a Decepticon? What'd he turn into, five different kinds of planes and cars?"
"I can do that," nods Wedge with proud smile, both at the prospect of working on other stuff and talking to Perceptor. He's glad he thought of the idea to talk to that blocky scientist at first then.
Kup's next question has Wedge pausing slightly. Well, before coming to Earth, the Build Team together had little to none battle experience at all. Sure, Heavy Load, Hightower, and Grimlock separately...and they were trying to teach him. "Well, I saw my first action on Earth, that's...uh...not too long ago." Not even a year. "First time we fought the Predacons, it was mostly one-on-one...didn't work out too well," Perhaps he shouldn't have singled out Sky-byte for himself. "When Megatron got the Decepticons, that's when we pulled out Landfill. We're a gestalt team and man did we kick some tailpipe! We've worked with other Autobots, mostly Team Bullet Train and the Autobot Brothers...didn't come much above ground before that to meet with any others. My teammates are still...ah...were helping me with training, and we did run battle simulations a lot. Biggest battle was the one against Galvatron. That wasn't pleasant, even with all of the Autobots against him."
"Hey, something going on?" He'd like to help, sure. But one thing that bugs Wedge the most is being left out of the loop on things.
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Post by Kup on Sept 4, 2007 23:17:10 GMT -5
Kup scrawls down a few notes. "Vector Sigma, huh? We got one... never heard of an Allspark before, 'til Bumblebee, think it was, mentioned looking for it. Our Megatron only turned into one thing: a leaking powerful gun." Kup points with his stylus warningly. "Don't let that fool you. Not a mech to be taken lightly, should he show up here."
Kup's optics brighten even as he narrows them. Gestalt member, huh? Definitely going to have to watch this kid, then. They tend to be highly reliant on each other. So that'll make training all the more important. "Some of those names are familiar and some aren't, but that seems pretty par for the course so far. I'll be wanting more details later on, specifically concerning anyone on the 'Con side you might have recognized, but that's good for now. To give you a heads up, we'll be holding some training sessions, getting these folks used to working as a team and training up younger soldiers like yourself, so keep an audial out for that."
At Wedges question, Kup waves his hand faintly. "Might be, but nothing you need to worry yourself with."
"Now, a couple more questions. First, how did Autobots in your universe figure out who was in charge? I remember hearing something about an Optimus Prime from you, but d'you got any more than that? Second, if you were to take a guess, who would you say is in charge here, among us?"
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 5, 2007 7:03:59 GMT -5
A gun? Well, that sounds better than a two-headed dragon, Cybertronian race car, giant bat, Cybertronian jet, giant hand...you get the idea. Wedge makes a passing note about Kup's warning.
"Training session? Aw yeah!" beams Wedge. So he's not going to be regulated to only construction duty, he can definitely live with that. His smile turns into a faint resemblance to a pout when Kup waves his concerns away.
Kup's next question, Wedge knows the answer to. After all, hearing it explained by Optimus Prime and then having it touched upon each time Ultra Magnus was feeling snarly, information does get absorbed. "Well, back home, Vector Sigma chooses people to inherit the Matrix, so yeah, Optimus was chosen. Other than him, I don't suppose we have other people in charge. Ultra Magnus maybe, now that he's not trying to beat Optimus to slag." He blinks for a moment, looking inquisitively at Kup. "Who's in charge? Here? Well...I'd say you were, or maybe Emirate Xaaron." Emirate Xaaron when he wasn't walking that dragonette, that is. Power structure was never something Wedge paid too much attention to. But the raw power and compassion that Optimus presented was something he could definitely admire, even if Wedge didn't always follow the rules.
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Post by Kup on Sept 5, 2007 9:20:06 GMT -5
Kup nods at the responses he gets. The training goes down well - excellent - and Wedge's responses to the leadership questions earn an almost grim smile, although he does make another note or two. Ultra Magnus trying to beat Optimus Prime to slag? Well, that's different! He makes a few more marks, and finally says, "All right, then. We're almost done. Now, I just want you to think over your skills, talents, and background, and let me know if there's anything useful there that I don't know about." This would be a good time to mention any leadership experience, Wedge! "Also, if you have any more questions for me, now's the time to ask them."
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 5, 2007 14:43:31 GMT -5
It’s pretty easy to give out and slightly brag about information on the Build Team. Trying to find information about himself though, that’s something Wedge usually lets his teammates handle (and it’s something they usually do pretty well, sometimes to his own embarrassment). “I’ve got some experience in programming and gaget tinkering, but that’s mostly related to the spacebridge. Well, I suppose I know my way around a group and working on and with a team. Grimlock does say that my leadership skills are getting better,” he tries to think of more and fails. Hands tighten into fists and Wedge levels a confident stare towards Kup. “I know I might not have too many other skills outside of construction, but I’m sure has heck willing to learn. On my honor as Build Team leader!” Burn fiery passion, burn! Heavy Load couldn't be any prouder if he were here.
Wedge watches, nervously flexing his fingers as Kup scribbles things down. “So, uh, what exactly were you back where you came from? And…what are the plans for getting back home?”
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Post by Kup on Sept 5, 2007 15:56:16 GMT -5
The name 'Grimlock' is, of course, familiar, but given the context Wedge is using it in, he rather doubts it's anything like the Grimlock he knows.
He grins at the youth's passion. "I'll keep that in mind, son, although believe me, construction and field combat experience alone are looking to be valuable commodities out here."
"Back where I came from, I was Chief of Security of Cybertron. This also put me in charge of security for all Autobots, as the chiefs of any off-planet bases, such as Autobot City, also reported to me. I was also one of the top advisors to our leader, Rodimus Prime... in fact, pretty much the only people I reported to were him and our second, Ultra Magnus. Who, uhm, incidentally, doesn't really sound much like your guy of the same name, judging by what you've said."
"As for plans for getting back? I'll level. There aren't any yet. The problem is, we just don't know enough about what's going on to know how to reverse it, and besides that, immediate survival concerns have taken priority. We need fuel if we're going to figure this out. We need to be able to defend ourselves from the 'Cons. Dealing with those alone has kept Perceptor, who's our only scientist, busy. And after that?"
Kup shrugs. "I'm going to say right now that simply getting us back where we came from is not enough. We've got to figure out what's bringing people here and stop it, or it might just happen again. We've got to deal with the Decepticons here... we can't just leave this universe helpless against them. And, you know, we probably ought to make sure whatever cleared out this planet can't follow us home."
Kup sighs. "So we've got an even bigger problem before us than it looks like, we don't have any plan beyond immediate survival- actually, I think the next step may be to try to reach this universe's Cybertron, maybe figure out whose universe it is from that- and we haven't yet settled the leadership question. From what I've been able to figure out, Emirate Xaaron," 'Emirate' is a real word, people! "is the best qualified, but he's uncomfortable about just declaring himself, so wants to run a vote."
Swerve had pretty much made it impossible to talk about this subject but... interesting that Kup never brought it up with Nightbeat, isn't it?
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 5, 2007 19:19:42 GMT -5
"Ultra Magnus is Optimus's brother, really weird guy. I'm glad he's more on our side now, don't think we would have made it if he wasn't. I mean, we needed him and Optimus to make Omega Prime and all."
Wedge nods slowly as he digests all the information presented by Kup. The older mech's got a point though. They usually do, the older ones, don't they? Well, the sooner they deal with survival issues and finding out how they got here, then everything else can follow.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Wedge shifts in his stance and quirks a smile. "Well, I don't have any more questions. Anything else for me?" If not, then Wedge will go back to what he was doing. Or attempt to.
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Post by Kup on Sept 5, 2007 19:39:31 GMT -5
Kup hesitates. "Erm... one more thing. Nothing official, nothing important... very low priority. As in, something to do if you're bored some time... and only if you want to. This is a request, not anything like an order. In fact, if you want, I'll help you with it, as much as I can."
"But anyways... y'know the south road out the city? Over where it bends towards the beach? Right now there's a spot in it that's been damaged pretty badly. That was, erm, a mistake on my part, but one I'm not able to fix on my own, so I was wondering if you could help me set it right sometime. No hurry or anything... just eventually."
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Sept 5, 2007 19:58:21 GMT -5
"Sure thing, Kup! Anytime, it's not as if I'm terribly busy. 'm probably going to need a welder right?" says Wedge, recording the request and its location somewhere he'll remember to look often. The orange bot gives Kup a parting wave as he exits out of the alley.
So, that didn't seem to go too badly. Not at all. Now off to find a welder, and maybe those computer parts he was wondering about.
Off goes the little orange bulldozer.
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Post by Kup on Sept 5, 2007 20:07:38 GMT -5
Kup smiles and waves after the little orange bulldozer. Nice kid. Pleasant change after earlier, too. Then his expression sobers as he makes a few more 'notes.' Not all of them are about Wedge. He holds off calling for the next interview as his attention is grabbed by the conversation going on over radio. His optics narrow, he puts his stylus and plate of metal into subspace, and then he stands up.
It may be time to pay a little visit to "Hardwire" instead.
OOC: This thread's on-hold as Kup deals with "Hardwire." Expect him to be posting into the Salvage thread shortly.
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