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Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 16:25:14 GMT -5
Mirage's answer sets up all sorts of warning bells in Kup's mind. Not only was it not really an answer, he immediately tried to turn it into an accusation (a tactic that might have worked better if it had been the same Kup... and if it weren't for the fact that he could barely keep a straight face at the idea of him working for Grimlock, much less seriously consider anything said in that context). He returns Mirage's gaze, but his expression is, for the moment, unreadable. Not so much intentionally, but because he's a bit too caught between concern and amusement.
(He supposes he ought to get over the whole urge to snicker at the idea of Grimlock in a leadership position soon, in case this other one shows up.)
There is a brief nod. He appears to be dismissing the matter. However, while Kup really does need to talk to Perceptor, he's not yet comfortable in letting Mirage leave, so he digs for other questions.
"How much combat experience do you have? You've hyped your aim, but can you do it when other folks are firing on you, or do you rely on your cloak for that? Can you deal with close combat?"
These are valid questions, especially if the war is a relatively new thing to Mirage, and they are ones he's been asking everyone else, anyway.
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Post by Mirage on Sept 10, 2007 17:28:07 GMT -5
Inwardly, Mirage sighs. He really doesn’t feel like playing these games, not right now. And he doubts that Kup is actually dismissing the issue. Either way, he really wants to go out for a run, clear his head, then he can see about getting his bearings.
“Truthfully, Kup, I’ve had little melee experience. A group of us used to spar before the war, but since then, my primary function has been gathering intelligence. As for firefights…I’ve been in a few. My aim was just as steady, though it still bothered me, firing on fellow Cybertronians. It will take time I think to get over that.”
Mirage rubs a hand across his face, a bit of tiredness showing in his features. “I understand that you likely don’t want to let me prance about the place on my own just yet. But I need some time to process this situation.” He looks at the older mech. “Usually, I would ask permission to head out on a scouting run. However, I somehow doubt it would be granted. Giving my word that I’d return would likely not set your mind at ease, either.”
He folds his hands back across his chest, awaiting an answer (or yet more questions) from the security officer.
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Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 19:38:20 GMT -5
Kup, of course, has also been consulting outside advice on the matter. He pauses and considers the matter, thinking over who's where, as far as he knows, while he's at it. Nightbeat, last he heard, was taking care of Screwdriver... Xaaron and Slingshot are dealing with Hardwire... Synapse is investigating the asteroid belt (and out of reach, anyway)... Jazz and Long Haul are, according to Perceptor, are either exploring or getting supplies... Holi and Wheelie... ah. There we go.
"Not just yet, I'm afraid," Kup admits. "But there's another problem, anyway, minor but... still needs to be tended to. You remember those two small Autobots who were in here when you first arrived? The smallest one, a Micromaster, is Holi, and the Minibot is Wheelie. I didn't have a chance to speak up when they were leaving, but, erm... Holi's already shown an impressive tendency to get in trouble. I hadda rescue him from a callizard and a skybull within a few hours of each other first day I met him. And Wheelie... he's pretty naieve himself." Kup does not add that he's still perfectly capable of taking care of himself. He talks in rhymes and he's small, and that's enough to get most people to assume 'helpless.'
"I'm sorry to be asking this of you so soon after you showed up here, but d'you think you could keep an eye on them? Since they've got the dragon with them, I doubt they've gotten very far, and I'd feel a lot more comfortable if they had some company."
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Post by Mirage on Sept 10, 2007 20:37:30 GMT -5
Mirage smiles slightly. He supposes that Kup could have given him a worse “assignment.” Of course it is quite possible that the older mech is worried about the youngsters; though Mirage doubts he’d be Kup’s first choice of chaperon, were the circumstances different.
It is not getting the downtime he would like, but it’s better than staying here.
“Wheelie and Holi? I will certainly do my best to keep them out of trouble.” Mirage starts to leave, but turns back to Kup, “If it makes you feel any better about letting me out of your sight, the…dragon can apparently find me when cloaked. How is unclear to me, but it can.” As he heads out the door, he says over his shoulder, “You can confirm that with your Emirate if you like.”
No, Mirage didn’t have to tell Kup that. But doing so should show at least a willingness to trust the older bot. Or not. Either way, it’s an interesting tidbit of information.
OOC: Moving to the Idling thread
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 10, 2007 21:09:02 GMT -5
Perceptor watches thoughtfully as Mirage heads off. Interesting that, despite reluctance, he's still willing to follow Kup's lead/orders. Even more interesting that he's willing to give away such an important bit of information about circumventing his primary special skill.
Some odd corner of Perceptor's CPU wonders if the Decepticons are managing this level of cooperation from their wildly divergent ranks, as well. Hopefully not.
It is on the tail end of that thought that Synapse's transmission and recordings reach him. A quick scan later, and he's perusing the files.
"Kup... is that-" his question breaks off as the building resolves out of the darkness. He forwards through the footage, then scrolls back in high speed several times, taking in the scope of the asteroid field that Synapse had managed to capture.
"Gilannan IV, I presume," he observes in a soft murmur.
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Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 21:40:16 GMT -5
Kup smiles faintly as the spy departs, looking a little relieved as Mirage accepts his 'request.' Maybe he had worried unnecessary, but the fact of the matter is, suspicion is his job.
Then he receives Synapse's transmission. He can't reply; his own radio isn't up to the task. But he frowns as he decompresses the file, and when he reviews what's in it, both hands clench into fists reflexively.
This, of course, destroys his 'stylus' and ruins one corner of his metal-plate notepad.
The veteran takes a moment to open his hands and numbly examine the damage he has wrought, his expression completely blank for the moment. Still showing no expression, he sets the ruined stylus down on the nearby counter, then rips the damaged portion off his 'notepad' and does the same with that. What he is also doing as these actions are being performed, seemingly automatic and unthinking, is searching through ancient archives, attempting to access the correct old file.
Kup sometimes seems to have trouble remembering a detail here or there, and at other times his recall is slow. He's got a lot of stored memories; these take awhile to get straight.
Finally, the elder, expression even older, raises optics to Perceptor, and he nods once. "Yes," he answers roughly.
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 10, 2007 22:28:07 GMT -5
Perceptor frowns and studies the file intently, pulling as much detail from it as possible. He wishes that he could have gone with Synapse, if only to obtain visuals that are up to his rather... stringent standards. And samples. And measurements. And spectral analysis. And-
Well, if wishes were sharkticons, they'd all have been eaten for dinner long before now. He continues studying the footage.
"I require data storage," he observes, seemingly apropos of nothing as he peers around what used to be part of the garage they'd co-opted to modify into structures for their use. "Local storage media used by the former inhabitants. I cannot believe that nothing of the events which led to... to that, to this was not captured by some sort of media storage."
He looks almost surprised when his optics focus on Kup once more, as if he'd been so lost in his own thoughts that he'd forgotten the elder mech had been there. Given his propensity to speak to himself, he likely had, although that doesn't seem to have derailed his ponderings much.
"One world destroyed, the other stripped of sapient life. These events may not necessarily be interconnected," he observes evenly. "Or have any bearing upon our situation. There is still much to investigate to make any determinations yet."
He frowns, tapping one fingertip upon his chin as he continues. "And yet... Why were we brought here? What does this bode for our Cybertrons? What was done here... What was done there," he murmurs, jerking his head in the vague direction of space where Synapse is even now still continuing his explorations.
His thoughts are whirling in dozens of directions at once, each neatly organized in their own, individual subroutines. To one not used to his mannerisms, Perceptor's rapid changes of subject may seem disorganized and cluttered, yet the thoughts which he had most recently voiced have not ceased their processing. They have merely been suborned for the moment by another subject. Fortunately, the subject he brings up next as he meets Kup's gaze sharply is related.
"You realize that even if we come to terms with sharing whatever solution we arrive at for returning everyone to their origination points with the Decepticons... that there is no guarantee that such an occurrence would not happen again. That Decepticons could not be unleashed upon this reality once more."
His voice drops to an even quieter murmur as he continues, "Tell me, Kup who comes from my potential future. I am no child who needs to be deceived for the good of all, and Arcee comes from near enough my time to take back whatever it is you wish to share with me. When the time arrives, is my return so vitally important to our future? I suspect that if a solution may be found, there will still remain work to be accomplished here then, as well."
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Post by Kup on Sept 10, 2007 23:05:41 GMT -5
Kup listens quietly as Perceptor rambles, and returns Perceptor's sharp gaze with a calm but worn one. Finally, when the scientist wraps up, he answers, "D'you really think none of that's occurred to me, Perceptor? I'm not the Kup who ever worked for Grimlock, y'know."
The elder straightens and starts to pace, hands moving while he speaks, as is his habit. "Y'know, I had just finished the interview with Wedge before coming here, and he asked me what the plan was. I told him that before we needed to be thinking about a plan back, we needed to figure out what was going on here and find a way to stop new arrivals. I told him we couldn't just abandon this reality to new Decepticon arrivals. And he agreed."
Kup turns on his heel and begins walking back in the other direction, hands now clasped behind his back instead of gesturing in front of him. "And, y'know, oddly enough, the thought did occur to me that hey, we got some sort of interdimensional, intertime whatsit here! And hey, we got ourselves an empty planet, and they might not be connected... but they might be. And do we risk going back until we know for sure, and know it ain't something that can follow us?"
Kup spun towards Perceptor. "And all this hit me before I started hearing things about Gillanan IV, Perceptor."
Now that he's done pacing and ranting, Kup holds Perceptor's gaze and says, "I might not be any sorta genius, Perceptor, but I'm no idiot, either. I've got responsibilities back home I can't turn my back on... but now, I got some here, too. I already had no intention of heading back until I knew my business here was taken care of."
Then Kup breaths in a long, saddened sigh. "But if you think your presence hasn't been important, you're severely underestimating your worth to the Autobots."
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 11, 2007 0:31:37 GMT -5
"I never intended to imply that you were an 'idiot', Kup," Perceptor replies softly, stifling his urge to retreat from the ranting security director. "You are not the only one to whom certain of these thoughts had been occurring to before now, but there has hardly been ample time or opportunity in which to share them with anyone."
He sighs, pinching nasal ridge between thumb and forefinger once more. Time has been the commodity, more than fuel even, that they have needed - and lacked - most. Between the extensive repairs required, and the modifications to surrounding infrastructure needed to ease those repairs and protect and shelter them all, he's fallen into the habit of fueling mainly when reminded to by others, and grabbing a defrag cycle even less often than that. He doesn't even recall his last defrag cycle, to be honest; likely whenever Long Haul last dragged him away and sat on him. There's simply been too much work to be done, and every question answered only brings up a hundred more, with all the attendant work.
He's struck by another fierce and sudden pang, a longing for his old friends that is so sharp and swift as to be physically painful; he'd never really needed to explain how he thought to Ratchet or Wheeljack. Or Skyfire.
But, although Kup is no scientist, he'd never intended to call Kup's judgment into question, nor doubt his reasoning abilities. He'd merely been musing aloud - an old and established habit of his - and attempting to indicate to the older mech that he, himself, hadn't merely been letting his processes wallow in nothing more than repairs and modifications.
"I did not intend to denigrate your faculties or your integrity. My apologies."
He turns stiffly away to retreat back into stripping Hardwire's radio. "Certain of our membership possess somewhat pivotal roles in history. I was merely questioning if, from your advanced placement along said history, my role between our points would be classified as such. Not my worth, nor the importance of my presence to date."
He grows still once again as he completes setting the pieces of Hardwire's radio out in neatly laid rows, minus the pieces he'd already removed and stowed.
"I believe that you are fully versed in my combative capabilities." Or lack thereof. "Is there anything further that you wished to ask of me?"
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Post by Kup on Sept 11, 2007 7:05:22 GMT -5
Kup sighs and shakes his head. "Sorry about that, Perceptor. I misunderstood. We're all under a lot of stress right now. That's not an excuse, but it is an explanation."
"Now, as far as pivotal roles... well, I wasn't along for that one, but I'm not sure Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, and Blurr would have made it back from Quadrent X if you hadn't been there. Something about Emulators and Isolator Keys." Kup shrugs. "That's pretty pivotal, I'd say."
"As for sending any information back with Arcee, only... hell, Perceptor. If this stuff does let us change our history, Long Haul should be the only one we're worrying about. The idea of the Decepticons not having a nine million year head start on gestalts... them not having one of Cybertron's premier construction team at their disposal over that time... the impact that would make is mind boggling." The elder looks a bit unhappy as he admits, "I'm doubting we can change our own pasts at all through this thing. I don't expect what I have to tell you and Arcee to change things for me, but... I was kind of hoping to give you both an edge in two different potential futures, y'know?"
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 11, 2007 11:37:02 GMT -5
Perceptor waves off the apology with a brief shake of his head as he turns back again. "We would all benefit from more rest and fewer encumbrances," he sighs, studying the elder mech. For good or ill, Perceptor is the closest that they have to a real medic, and his responsibilities as such need to extend to more than merely effecting repairs. He wishes that he had a better baseline for Kup to gage whether or not the security director was getting adequate rest. Asking directly, however, is not likely to get him more than dismissively waved off, with an offhand comment about it being adequate. Kup has never been known for over-indulgence in himself, after all.
The fingers of one hand unconsciously brush over his Autobrand, behind which his Emulator rests, as Kup explains his future role. "Duly noted, " he murmurs thoughtfully as he files that away for later.
"I am not certain that I can agree with your hypothesis concerning the immutability of aspects of history. There are sound scientific principles which-" he breaks off there, looking faintly sheepish as Kup's expression starts to sour, "you, ahem, doubtless have no interest in at the moment. I will gladly accept whatever advantages which you are willing to offer."
After all, it's not merely his own future/history which may be at stake here.
ooc: Notes about Kup's expression added with Kup's player's permission.
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Post by Kup on Sept 11, 2007 12:13:11 GMT -5
Kup is not trying to be particularly cruel in cutting Perceptor off, but he's well aware that if he lets the scientist get started, it'll be difficult to get him stopped... and liable to go over his head, anyway.
(Besides, Kup wants to be the one to ramble on just now, darn it!)
The veteran shrugs, and says, "Well, either way, not like you'll see me in the 'the past must be preserved' camp. I believe in learning from experience so's you don't make the same mistakes again, but if we can learn from them so's we don't make the mistake in the first place, so much the better."
The elder is still standing, but that's largely because he's getting into storytelling mode, and Kup can be a very active storyteller at times. He begins, "For the most part, things between your time and mine go pretty well... yeah, we run into some pretty odd troubles at times, but we generally come out on top using what knowledge and whatnot we've already got. But there are two events in specific you need to know about... and if you got something to sit on before I get started, I suggest you use it."
"Matrix knows, I never shy away from telling a good tale, Perceptor, but what I got to tell today ain't good. If I were making these up, they'd be late night campfire material." Kup's left hand rises to point in the direction of the morgue, and he adds solomnly, "And both involve that body we got lying in two pieces in there."
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Post by Perceptor on Sept 11, 2007 12:47:33 GMT -5
This... does not bode well. Yes, Kup is a dramatic storyteller, however for even him to qualify one of his tales does not fill Perceptor with inordinate quantities of optimism.
"Omega Supreme had said that Optimus Prime somehow returns," he offers hesitantly as he does as Kup advises and finds a seat.
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Post by Swerve on Sept 11, 2007 16:37:44 GMT -5
Swerve takes his time on his return drive to the Autobots' makeshift base. It isn't like he has to get back right away, and he is enjoying the time to himself. He's enjoying it a lot. Even the slagging radio has been fairly quiet. Smelt, he wouldn't even be here now if he didn't have nothing better to do but check the husks in repair for anything else that might still be salvageable. A spare cooling fan would be great. His is starting to falter and, naturally, he didn't think to bring a replacement.
Yeah, the city is pretty leaking boring. He must have missed the groups out and about; that's probably a good thing for all parties involved.
Eventually, Swerve makes his way indoors, transforming at some point, engine gearing down to a low rumble. If Perceptor is as distracted as he usually is – he never seems to slagging leave – the racer should be able to duck in and out of repair with no delays.
Orrrrr not. Swerve stops dead at the sound of an infuriatingly familiar, gravelly sort of voice as he reaches the bottom of the ramp into repair. That Primus-fragged old clunker. Swerve nearly turns and leaves right then and there, in no mood and at no temperature to deal with Kup again today. The only reason he doesn't exit right away is he catches a few of the old Autobot's words, just the last handful of sentences. He's telling Perceptor something about that Optimus Prime mech Swerve woke up next to those days ago. (Or maybe it was weeks. Swerve has given up keeping track of time around here anymore.)
He doesn't want to be curious. He doesn't really even care. But something keeps him riveted to that spot, listening.
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Post by Kup on Sept 11, 2007 16:42:59 GMT -5
Kup, of course, is unaware of the racer lurking below.
"Oh, yeah," Kup answers Perceptor, right hand lifted, palm up, in an exaggerated shrug. As usual, he moves his hands quite a bit as he talks, a trait that's only increased when he moves into storyteller mode. "Twice, in fact."
The hand drops to his side and Kup looks at Perceptor sadly. "I've known Optimus since... not long after he became Prime at all, Perceptor. A lot longer than most of you. I considered him an old and dear friend, and I respected him as I did few others. So you have to understand that I don't say this lightly when I tell you: even he's not worth what we've been going through."
Kup shakes his head and looks at the floor. "As glad I was to see him this last time, the fact is, if his body hadn't been brought back, we wouldn't have been in the situation we were in where we needed him, anyway."
"But I'm getting ahead of myself," Kup adds, lifting his head once more. "Before I tell you about the second return of Optimus Prime, I should go over his first one. The false one.
"It was me, Rodimus, Arcee, Ultra Magnus, Spike, and Daniel on the Ironclad1, with Galvatron and his bunch in another vessel, hot in pursuit! We had taken a lot of damage and had to detach and detonate the ship's aft portion.2 That bought us some time, but cost us most our engines, so we were forced to take refuge in the only place near enough to reach from that sector of space: the Hall of Heroes. Our space morgue.
"We docked and boarded the morgue before trying to figure out what our next move was. We were going to look into some of the displays - y'know, see if any of the wrecked, decommissioned ships they store in there3 could be brought back into operation - but Daniel wandered off on his own. We had only just realized he'd gone when he came running back, screaming his head off and claiming to have seen Optimus."
"There was some doubt about this, what with Daniel's sometimes fanciful imagination and the sort of mood a place like that sets up," Kup, himself, had not been the one to express doubt. Kup was, in fact, all for staying outside the veil. Kup knew damn well the universe could be a weird place sometimes. "Still, Rodimus felt it should be checked out and made the decision to open his tomb."
Kup sighs. "Before he opened it, he stated that if Optimus were alive, he'd know, that the Matrix would have told him. He should have remembered that later on." The elder looked down, shaking his head. "He knew the truth, but ignored his instincts. That's typical of the lad. He'll put his faith in the Matrix, put his faith in his troops, put his faith in Optimus Prime... but his biggest problems seem to come when he forgets to put his faith in himself.
"He opened the tomb. Sure enough, it was empty. Then... I don't know what triggered in Rodimus, but somehow he knew the Decepticons had got on board the vessel. We all rushed to the docking bay to deal with them, but we was overwhelmed. There were too many of them, and we were forced to withdraw further into the tomb.
"Galvatron, Cyclonus, and the Sweeps followed, but just when it looked like that would be our final resting place, too, who should show up to turn the tide of battle, but Optimus Prime himself!
Kup pauses in his narration to lower his head for a moment, then he looks up and glances towards the temporary morgue. "At least, his body had," he added darkly. "He looked like death warmed over. Without the 'warmed' part."
(Story break put in for other character reactions...)
1 The spaceship was never named in Dark Awakening. I'm just coming up with a name on the spot for color purposes.
2 Actually, the ship got completely destroyed and they used an escape pod. Kup's getting his escape details mixed up with other incidences. That'll happen!
3 Explanation for the multiple shuttlecraft that were stored there.
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