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Post by Kup on Sept 6, 2007 16:29:51 GMT -5
The sound of metal footfalls from below in the garage-turning-base can be heard well before Kup's head peeks up on the level that serves as medical. He strolls, casual as can be, up the ramp and into the general area. One would hardly expect he's juggling multiple rather significant radio conversations at the moment... in fact, considering Perceptor is holding Hardwire's radio, he's not likely to suspect it at all.
He scans those present... Holi, Wheelie, Perceptor, and... ah, yes, Hardwire, and dips his head. "Ah... hey, folks. Just came to see Perceptor about a rotator joint that's seizing up a bit..." Kup places his left hand on his right shoulder and moves his right arm around, the motion hitching slightly as during the forward portion of the 'circle,' "but if you're busy, Perceptor," he dips his head towards the scientist, "it can wait."
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Wheelie
Rookie
Can't sleep. Sharkticons will eat me.
Posts: 191
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Post by Wheelie on Sept 6, 2007 20:21:49 GMT -5
Wheelie had begun to tune out when Perceptor's explanation started taking more words than he felt like listening to, but he never stopped watching. How one person could possibly be that boring was beyond him.
Kup's arrival, loathe though he is to admit it, at least provides some distraction from listening to Perceptor drone on and on.
One might notice, however, that his entire body has tensed up at the presence of the elder Autobot.
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Cannonball
Minor
Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.
Posts: 470
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Post by Cannonball on Sept 6, 2007 21:32:27 GMT -5
Hardwire began to tap his foot a bit impatiently. Those 'few minutes' were just spent jawin' over some weird mass-shunting technique. Madness to him, it was, and it was eating up time that could be spent fixing the radio. Plus, that older Autobot made him a touch nervous, for some reason.
"Ah don' mean tae be pushy, lad, but can ye move it along some? Ye be usin' ye few minutes up gabbin' on about technical stuff" he says, trying to keep it in good humor.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Sept 7, 2007 10:59:05 GMT -5
"See?" Holi muses to Wheelie after Perceptor's explanation. Maybe he should mention Pipo, who uses a similar process, but the other way around. He's still amazed from time to time (though he'd never admit it – he should be used to it, he's the captain!) how his teammate can be normally-sized in robot mode but, in ambulance mode, be large enough to carry another Micromaster. It's all really fascinating, but even though he built an anti-grav pod for Jan once, it's a bit over his head.
Holi's ruminations on mass-shunting grind to a halt when Kup arrives and the general mood of the room plummets. Although he waves pleasantly enough to the elder, Holi casts about uneasily at both Wheelie and Hardwire. He isn't sure why Kup's appearance seems to have put the radio-less Autobot on edge, but he knows why his orange friend is suddenly tense. Now seems like a less than ideal time to try and smooth out things between Wheelie and Kup, though.
"If it's alright," says Holi, lightly nudging Wheelie's arm, "we can wait outside." Not that he actually intends to go all the way outside just yet. He's an inquisitive, nosy little thing and yes, he plans to step just far enough out of sight to listen without being seen. No, he probably oughtn't do it, but since when has that ever stopped his curiosity?
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Post by Mirage on Sept 7, 2007 12:17:14 GMT -5
As he and Emirate Xarron enter the garage, Mirage takes in the motley crew before him. Lovely. More unknowns. The red fellow apparently doing repairs seems vaguely familiar; but then, Mirage never bothered to get to know many of the non-combatants by name. The medic’s apparent patient was completely unfamiliar; however, his was one of the tackiest model’s Mirage had ever seen, more suited to a Decepticon. As for the youngsters, Mirage notes and simultaneously dismisses them.
As his optics come to rest on the oldest of the group, they widen a bit in both surprise and recognition. Definitely older than then the one Mirage knew, and also downgraded in model, but still….
“Kup?” he asks.
No, no, that’s can’t be relief in Mirage’s tone. After all, Kup was just a common (emphasis on common) solider, certainly not worthy of Mirage’s respect. Even if his Kup did have the thrusters to backtalk Grimlock.
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 7, 2007 13:38:53 GMT -5
Perceptor glances up as the old warrior approaches, as if he had not been expecting him, and then tosses a rueful glance at Hardwire.
"Ah, ahem. Yes. Apologies," he replies to Hardwire's interjection. He's rather quite used to such sentiments after all this time.
He bends back to work over the radio, offering over his shoulder, "I am nearly complete, Kup. It should only be a mom-"
He breaks off when a few bright sparks shoot out of the radio module, and a thick curl of bluish smoke drifts upward from a large, and fresh, patch of char. Perceptor's shoulders slump dejectedly. Some of that, at least, is not totally feigned; it wounds him to intentionally damage something he's been entrusted to repair, but it's the only way he can see to fulfill Xaaron's directive.
"Or perhaps not," he sighs, shaking his head and eying the thin tool in his hand with irritation.
"My apologies, Hardwire," he offers, picking up the radio to peer at it intently. "The components and tools available to utilize in repairs on this world are significantly substandard to what I am accustomed to having at-"
Once again, Perceptor breaks off and tosses another rueful, apologetic look at the aforementioned mech as he censors his dissertation before he's waved to silence once more. "Ahem. I will require significantly more time to complete these repairs. Perhaps a day or more to fabricate the components I require."
Mission accomplished, and now he's free to notice Mirage. "We have a new arrival, I see."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 7, 2007 14:11:28 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron follows after Mirage, looking around carefully. He is expecting the unexpected, and it can come form any direction. Emirate Xaaron surveys those in the makeshift base area. There is poor Perceptor, looking quite frazzled. The scent of smoke on the air informs Emirate Xaaron that Perceptor has done as he was asked. Good boy. Kup is here, perhaps too nonchalant to be real, and it seems that Mirage recognises him. Wheelie looks anxious, for some reason. Emirate Xaaron makes a note to try to figure out why. Before he looks to Hardwire, he lets his gaze settle on Holi.
He crouches down and sets Tiny down on the base floor. The dragonette sniffs and sneezes at the smoke. Didn't Holi offer to assist with the dragonette? Emirate Xaaron inquires, "Holi, would you mind taking Tiny off my hands for a while? Even if you could just drop her off with Long Haul, that would be a great help." He smiles encouragingly at Holi and then straightens, dusting his hands off on his upper legs.
Brightly, Emirate Xaaron notes, "Ah, Kup! It seems Mirage knows you. Might you catch him on the situation here?'' He adds privately, over the radio, //Mirage seems a bit skittish. Don't give him a reason to run.//
He now looks at Hardwire, as if seeing him for the first time. That pleasant, good-natured expression stays firmly planted on his face, and he holds out a hand to shakes. He offers, "You are Hardwire, correct? Pleasure to meet you. I missed out on proper introductions in the chaos. I must say, I have never seen one of your particular styling before. You simply must tell me more about your universe! Come, we can walk and talk."
It would be criminal to disappoint the cheerful little golden fellow, wouldn't it? Emirate Xaaron shoots a rather surreptitious glance at Mirage. He's not abandoning Mirage here like some flighty society snob who just saw the next debutante enter the floor. He has his reasons.
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Post by Kup on Sept 7, 2007 15:54:35 GMT -5
Kup returns Holi's wave, but cannot keep a flash of disappointment from his expression at Wheelie's reaction. He nods faintly to Holi at his suggestion, but further ruminations, or attempts to chat with either Perceptor or Hardwire, are cut short by the arrival of Mirage.
A Mirage... with his Cybertronian build. Xaaron had mentioned a Mirage, hadn't he? Kup returns Mirage's greeting with a quick but generally nod and a "Mirage. Welcome." Yeah, Kup's never been high society.
Xaaron, unsurprisingly, arrives not long after Mirage does, and Kup greets him by his title. "Emirate." He glances to Mirage when the golden robot asks him to catch Mirage up on the situation then nods. "All right. I got it." In radio, he adds to Xaaron, //I'll try. I've never been great at handling 'skittish.'//
Noting that Xaaron is offering to 'chat' with Hardwire, Kup turns towards Mirage. "Hope you've got a moment. I was going to have Perceptor here look at my rotator real quick, if that's okay." Well, not really, but Hardwire is still in earshot, and appearances must be maintained.
"I can take care of introductions, though. Don't know who you know... your timestamp might help me place you, though... but this is Perceptor, Holi, Wheelie, and Hardwire. Emirate Xaaron and, erm, Tiny you've already met."
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Wheelie
Rookie
Can't sleep. Sharkticons will eat me.
Posts: 191
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Post by Wheelie on Sept 7, 2007 22:54:32 GMT -5
Frankly, Wheelie wants to hear what's going on too, but he certainly doesn't want to be in the same room as Kup while he does. Quite the catch-22. He's aware, on some level, that his reactions are somehow hurting Kup, but Kup, for all his talk, can never know the true horrors of Quintessa. Of what he had to do to survive and the number of times he nearly didn't.
He allows Holi to nudge him forward. "Let's go wait, there's too many about! Anyone wants to be heard, they'd have to shout!"
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Cannonball
Minor
Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.
Posts: 470
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Post by Cannonball on Sept 7, 2007 23:44:31 GMT -5
There's a distinct look of shock and momentary fear on Hardwire's face when the sparks fly out of his radio. "Ghaaah! Ach, do be careful, will ye?!" The snap pauses, as Perceptor explains, and then he sighs a bit dejectedly at the delay. "Oi...fine, fine, jus' as long as it gits done...ah 'ate bein' oot of the loop."
He turns around to see this golden oldie all but right up in his face; then leans back, rather apprehensive. He glances down at the hand and steps to the side slightly, putting a better buffer of distance between him and the Emirate. Then he offers his hand in return, shaking it firmly. He'd hoped nothing like this would come up, but, life has a funny way of making things work out. A pirate's cursed luck, one might call it. Good thing the good captain is good at spinning yarns...
"...aye, I s'pose that'd be fine. Looks like ah've a fair bit of time on me 'ands now..."
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Sept 8, 2007 21:06:06 GMT -5
Don't worry, Kup; Holi will get this mess with you and Wheelie sorted out however he can! …Or he'll try his best, at least.
For now, though, he's on his way out with the orange Minibot. A strange white and blue bot passes them at the top of the ramp with hardly a glance – the Mirage that Emirate Xaaron mentioned on the radio, Holi guesses, since the elder is not far behind and with the dragonette in tow.
"Oh! Of course, Emirate Xaaron, sir," he says of the Emirate's request regarding Tiny, taking the leash to a doubtful look from the little creature. She doesn't seem very happy about being left with the Micromaster; Holi gives her a very genuinely apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I think he's busy, but I promise I'll take good care of you," he tells her. "This is Wheelie, by the way," and he gestures to his friend before moving to lead the way down the ramp. Tiny makes a discontented noise and pulls against the leash, wanting to follow Xaaron instead. "We'll wait for him outside, I promise!" Holi coaxes her, trying to tug her along without pulling too hard.
Clearly, Emirate Xaaron has made himself a steadfast little friend.
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Post by Mirage on Sept 8, 2007 21:12:01 GMT -5
Mirage is not “skittish!” He is simply being cautious. This type of thing isn’t exactly common in his time after all.
Ah, and apparently Emirate Xaaron is not binary bonded to that dragonette.
Inwardly, he groans at Xaaron’s overly cheerful proposition to the fashion disaster. Politicians! At least some things are the same, no matter the universe. Hmm, wonder what this one did to earn priority? Of course, Xaaron could simply be attempting to solidify his position. What ever that may be. It’s none of Mirage’s concern, not now anyway.
Nodding politely as Kup introduces the others, Mirage leans nonchalantly against the wall. He is, surprisingly, a bit more at ease. Kup he knows, and Kup he thinks he can deal with. This Kup can’t be that different from his Kup, appearances aside. He makes note, however, that Kup deferred to Emirate Xaaron. Interesting.
“Take as long as you like. It doesn’t appear that I have anywhere pressing to be at the moment.” He rattles off his last timestamp, his optics flashing a pattern akin to an eyeroll; he is already getting very tired of repeating himself. “I seem to be from a time much earlier than your own, if one can judge by appearances.”
Brushing a bit of dust off his forearm, he continues, “I always said you’d regret not taking time for proper detailing and maintenance.” [glow=red,2,300][/glow]
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 8, 2007 22:26:06 GMT -5
"My apologies, Hardwire. I had hoped that it would be a simple and brief repair," Perceptor explains. And it had been a simple and brief repair... before he'd intentionally fused the primary circuit board. The new damage, however, is more dramatic looking than anything, and shouldn't take much to actually repair in truth. It should buy them the time Xaaron needs to instigate his... plan, though. "I look forward to having more materials on hand with which to effect more efficient work. I will attempt to have you back in communications with everyone as swiftly as possible."
Perceptor heaves a deep sigh and sets the radio down. "Kup, the repair on Hardwire's radio will take considerably more time than I had anticipated. Let me see to your shoulder so that you may return to your tasks rather than wait," he offers, patting the work station. "And greetings to you, Mirage."
He's relatively certain that Kup's rotator had been nothing more than a ruse, but appearances must be maintained, indeed.
"It appears that I will, indeed, not be able to accompany you on the scavenging foray, Holi, Wheelie," he calls after the pair. "Please exercise caution when you go."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 9, 2007 9:37:54 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron fairly grins at Hardwire's reticent reply, but it's a warm, welcoming grin, the grin of someone who would just love to hear what Hardwire has to say. It is certainly not a shark's predatory smile when he scents blood in the water.
He attempts to clap a hand on Hardwire's arm and lead him out of the makeshift base to where Slingshot will hopefully be waiting. To lessen the surprise of a surly white jet being waiting for them, he offers, upfront, "I asked Slingshot to come with us, just in case. Besides, I'm sure that Slingshot could use a distraction."
Emirate Xaaron takes a different direction than Holi and Wheelie did. He takes a direction that involves more overhangs and narrow alleys, actually. The Decepticons basically have an eye in the sky in the form of this Skyfire fellow. Emirate Xaaron does not want Skyfire bringing the Decepticons back his position or even his existence.
OOC: I'm going to crosspost to a new thread. You can follow, and Slingshot ought to show up there.
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Post by Kup on Sept 9, 2007 10:38:38 GMT -5
Kup watches as the room starts to clear out, although suddenly, and without any outward explanation at all, his optics widen and his mouth opens slightly in shock.1 He shakes it off quickly, and with so many people scurrying about, it's possible that some missed it. However, he does glance rather pointedly at Tiny before the dragonette is pulled out, and immediately after that glance, attempts to catch the departing Xaaron's gaze.
Maybe this universe never had a Gillanan IV? Then where'd that thing come from?
Kup files away the timestamp Mirage provides... hmm, seems to correspond to not long after his return to Cybertron, so Mirage would indeed know him, but the follow-up comment, besides being obnoxiously cheeky, also just flat doesn't fit.
"I'm from..." and he provides his own timestamp.2 Compared with the Kup that Mirage knows, probably not far enough in the future to account for the age difference he seems to display, lack of detailing or no.
"And... funny thing is, I don't seem to recall you 'always' saying something like that to me. You sure you don't have me confused with some other Kup?"
When Perceptor calls him over, Kup nods, saying, "All right, Perceptor," and ambles in that direction, now fully recovered from whatever had given him the shock earlier. This is twice he's willing submitting himself to medical attention in a rather short period of time! But then, Hardwire is still here.
(And yes, Kup is indeed shaming the injury. One nice thing about medical when you're old is you can always fake a convincing excuse to visit. It's getting out of the visits that present a bit more of a problem.)
Once Kup's moved over to where Perceptor indicates (he does not climb up on the station. It's just his shoulder!) he turns back to Mirage, and the right corner of his mouth turns up in a somewhat amused smirk. "So anyway... tell me about myself, then."
1 This corresponds to Kup's learning of the asteroid field from Skyfire.
2 Probably 2007. Mid-episode for the second part of the Return of Optimus Prime.
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