Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 6, 2007 21:41:42 GMT -5
Holi is indeed still riding along uncomfortably half-over his kidnapper's shoulder. A close look will reveal that his colour is off, washed out right now, and that he's trembling. He's trying hard to keep the shakes under control and remain very, very still, but it's hard. He's worried about the bomb in his engine compartment, and he's worried about Hardwire hurting one of the others even though they're doing as asked.
"Please," he says to Hardwire so quietly even he's not sure he's actually talking, "p-please… don't hurt anyone…!"
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 6, 2007 21:47:48 GMT -5
Perceptor jerks a startled look at the ramp up, before glancing over at Bluestreak.
"It would be best to keep Hardwire as calm as possible, Bluestreak; please relocate to the ramp down to the next level, and position yourself out of sight. Remain quiet and listen. When I require your assistance, I will call for you, however, the fewer individuals immediately in the line of fire, the safer everyone will be. Please," he asks quietly, although his calm tone is clearly more an order than any request.
"I am completing the repairs to your radio now, Hardwire," Perceptor calls, pitching his voice to carry up to Hardwire.
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Bluestreak
Rookie
Silence is golden, but the motormouth is silver...
Posts: 213
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Post by Bluestreak on Oct 6, 2007 23:30:28 GMT -5
"Uh... okay, Percy... I'll go... Just holler if you need me... or use the radio, that might be quieter... be careful, don't want to see you hurt..."
He hurries down the ramp and hunkers down, drawing his ion-charge rifle and cradling it in his arms. He tries to follow Percy's orders and "remain quiet and listen," but he's so nervous he can't help but keep rambling under his breath.
"Slag, this is all so frightening... poor Holi, whoever he is, I hope he's gonna be okay... this Hardwire guy, I hate him already and I haven't even seen him yet... hope I can get a shot off at him... wait, he's got a bomb in Holi, never mind... maybe I can sneak up, grab Holi, and shoot him... argh, what to do..."
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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 Oct 7, 2007 0:09:52 GMT -5
Cannonball grins to the smaller mech. "I got no plans tae 'urt anyone, unless they be attackin' me first, lad. Like that Nightbeat bloke" he replies, chuckling a bit.
As he wanders down a few levels, he rambles a bit to Holi. "T' tell th' truth, lad, ah'd rathah be oot plunderin' all these abandoned buildings fer valuables, not fightin'...but being a pirate, sometimes ya gotta do things that aren't nice. Once I git me radio back, I've every intention of leaving this place. Maybe knock some sense into the dirtkickin' interfacer Starscream for puttin' me on this blasted 'mission'..." The rest trails off into mumblings until Perceptor calls back.
"Ach, that ain't me proper name!" he answers, coming down the final ramp into repair, purple optics glowing menacingly behind his optic band, visibly adjusting his blaster under Holi's neck for a better fit. "That name be a pitiful alias, lad! I be the Dread Pirate Cannonball, feared the universe over! I carry a legacy of plundering and thievery upon me back the likes ye thought you could only dream of! I lead a band of oil-thirsty scalawags who'll as soon backstab ye and take ye credits as ye would greet a friend!"
And with that lovely introduction, Cannonball steps forward a few steps. "I'll be takin' me radio back now. Then I'll go back the way I came. I'll leave ye wee lad on the roof. Anyone follows, and I blow 'im into a million little pieces, savvy?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 7, 2007 1:22:02 GMT -5
Holi listens silently to the radio and to Hardwire's monologue, not really able to do much else and too sick with worry to say much of anything, pistol long forgotten. He's been jostled around so much he wonders if the bomb Hardwire planted in his back could go off should it be treated too roughly, and there is a blaster wedged under his chin. Holi doesn't normally worry for himself quite this much, but he really doesn't want to die.
…A pirate? Hardwire's a pirate? How is that nice enough that he can classify some things he 'has to do' as 'not nice'? Holi would like to ask, really he would, but they enter the mostly-assembled repair floor and Hardwire starts correcting Perceptor. The pirate shifts his blaster under Holi's chin and no doubt if the Micromaster were human, there'd be a sizable bruise taking shape. To his own credit, he makes nary a sound, though the renewed threats elicit a bit of a shudder. Hardw– no, Cannonball… Cannonball said no-one would be hurt if they just cooperate.
If it's possible for him to give a pleading look at Perceptor even with his large visor, Holi does it and with fretting to spare. He doesn't want anyone hurt. He doesn't want himself hurt. He just wants this to be over and done with.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 7, 2007 5:35:07 GMT -5
The "Dread Pirate Cannonball" can go suck on a diode, as far as Perceptor is concerned. As much as he would like nothing better than to express as much to the pirate, however, that would hardly be in character for a "meek scientist". Nor would calmly explaining that if Cannonball puts so much as even a scratch on Holi, that Perceptor will happily demonstrate the full offensive capabilities of his shoulder-mounted-scope/cannon.
As Cannonball comes into sight, however, one thing becomes clear: Xaaron had been wrong. The Emirate had been certain, once, that if it were "really important" to Perceptor, that the scientist would be able to easily and convincingly lie. There are few things more important at that moment for Perceptor than to be able to be calm and cool and composed. The sight of Holi with that weapon jammed up tightly under his chin, and the frightened, pleading expression he turns on Perceptor, however, neatly shatters whatever attempt at composure Perceptor had managed to scrape up. He's shaken, and he cannot help but look shaken, though he tries valiantly to cover the fact to keep Holi from fretting even more.
Nascent protective instincts and fond attachment that have been stirring since meeting the young micromaster are fully roused now; Perceptor will do whatever it takes to get Holi safely out of Cannonball's hands. As he glances back up from the radio after tightening the last few screws securing the housing, he hopes that Holi can see as much.
"And trust you to leave him?" Perceptor asks tightly. "I've warned the others off; no one will interfere with you. But I will return this to you on the roof, and then you will leave Holi with me. The others will not dare risk Holi and myself. They cannot afford to be without my skills." No need to explain that Perceptor has begun to suspect that Swerve is every bit as skilled a medic and repair technician as Perceptor is. That would somewhat reduce the effectiveness of his bluff-bargain.
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Bluestreak
Rookie
Silence is golden, but the motormouth is silver...
Posts: 213
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Post by Bluestreak on Oct 7, 2007 10:50:32 GMT -5
Hearing the exchange between Hardwire -- wait, no, it's Cannonball -- and Perceptor, Bluestreak has to bite down on his lip components to keep quiet. A pirate! Perceptor's trying to cut a deal with a pirate! He hopes the scientist knows what he's doing... but then, Percy's smart, he usually knows what he's doing... he just hopes this doesn't end with them having to clean both Holi and Perceptor off the roof of the building...
He prays that Cannonball can't hear his knees knocking together. He can't remember the last time he felt so powerless to help.
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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 Oct 7, 2007 13:31:13 GMT -5
Cannonball frowns at the scientist's change in their deal, but it is...acceptable.
"Alright then...m' a reasonable mech. Let's 'ead on up there then, side-by-side, that way neither of us gets tempted tae stab the othah in th' back..." he replies, grinning. "Once we get up there, ye stick th' radio back in me noggin', an' I let the kid go. Then ah'll be on me merry way an' oot of alla ye's gears."
Assuming Perceptor agrees, Cannonball starts to head back up the ramp the way he came.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 8, 2007 13:14:56 GMT -5
No, no! Were Holi's arms not pinned, he'd be flailing them frantically at Perceptor. If he could make his voice work, he'd beg Perceptor not to do it. As it is, he may shortly make himself something of a pest with all his squirming. He'd only been hoping the doctor would cooperate, not put himself in more danger, too! Oh, Holi, look what you've done now. What kind of rescue captain is he supposed to be if he just keeps getting others in trouble?
Terrified as he is for his fellow Autobot's safety, and his own, anger tries to worm its way through his fear at the pirate's suggestion that Perceptor would do something as low and Decepticon-like as go back on his word. He's angry, too, at the implied threat. Holi dares to turn his outraged stare up at Cannonball's grin.
"The doctor would never," he croaks out, a strong surety to his words even if his voice is weak, "ever do something like that!"
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 8, 2007 22:25:15 GMT -5
After gathering a few other tools from the workbench - and moving slowly enough that Cannonball can see that they are nothing more than tools that will be required in replacing his radio - Perceptor does, indeed, begin moving with the pirate to the ramp.
Oh, Holi... Perceptor doesn't mean to make you want to flail. There's just no way in the lowest smelting pit of Unicron's internals that he's going to leave you alone with that backstabbing pirate - especially with a bomb stuffed somewhere out of reach in your chassis! And doubly especially not with you, scared as you are, so ready to leap to defense of his impugned integrity!
Not that Perceptor gives a bent spanner just exactly what Cannonball believes about the scientist. Whatever it takes to get the trade-off done safely.
// It's all right, Holi, // Perceptor offers soothingly to the micromaster. Of course, he's worried enough to have slipped in a contraction there; let's hope Holi didn't notice.
// Bluestreak, maintain position for now, until I call, // Perceptor instructs privately to the gunner. There's a moment of pause, before he continues evenly, // Please, if I instruct you to leave, trust that I understand what I am asking you to do, and do so at your best speed. //
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Bluestreak
Rookie
Silence is golden, but the motormouth is silver...
Posts: 213
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Post by Bluestreak on Oct 8, 2007 22:51:26 GMT -5
Bluestreak's first reaction to Perceptor's radio command is a high, terrified "eep!" He has always hated fighting... so why does he have such a terrible urge to charge up the ramp after Cannonball and Perceptor and pound the ever-loving mech fluid out of the pirate? He forces his feet to stay planted where they are, but doesn't let go of his rifle.
//All right, Percy... I... I hate to leave you alone...// That's a BIG understatement! //But... I'll do what you say's best... but be careful, okay? Please be careful...//
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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 Oct 8, 2007 23:08:20 GMT -5
Cannonball cuts a glare back at the kid, snapping back "Ach, an' ah'm sure yer precious Xaaron wouldn't let his flunkies abuse their power to get what he wants, either?" He finishes with reminding Holi that there IS a blaster under his neck.
With that exchange, they're up to the next level.
---------- OOC: Once Holi responds, depending on the response, feel free to skip us up to the roof.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 9, 2007 0:54:53 GMT -5
Holi would like to be reassured. Really he would. It isn't that he doesn't trust Perceptor – quite the opposite – but… oh, how many times can he remind himself he doesn't want anyone else hurt?
That thought sequence is disrupted when Cannonball growls at him about Emirate Xaaron and the blaster barrel yet again reacquaints itself with Holi's upturned chin; if it hasn't already dented, it certainly will at this rate. He ignores the dull ache despite how fear renewed sets him trembling all over again. Anger once more rears its head.
"No," Holi says with as much surety as before, "he wouldn't!" Why should he take the word of a Decepticon who kidnaps him, threatens his friends, and sticks a bomb in him over what he believes of the Autobot who risked himself against the skybull to protect Holi?
OOC: Fine with a skip to the roof.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 9, 2007 1:35:55 GMT -5
Perceptor will not be the one to disabuse Holi of his youthfully trusting notions; he remains silent during the rest of the trip up to the roof.
Once there, he waits for Cannonball to settle himself - and Holi - before beginning to reinstall the pirate's radio. He isn't particularly proud to admit it, but, yes, there is a weak little voice whispering in his CPU about tweaking this wire or that circuit just so as he does so. Such petty revenge is beneath him, though, even if it would, regretfully, give him some small measure of satisfaction to hurt Cannonball for hurting Holi.
It would probably also end with their messy deactivations, which is precisely what Perceptor is attempting to bargain the prevention of.
// If you are able to do so silently, Bluestreak, // Perceptor transmits securely to the gunner again, // move up to Repair and hold position there, please. I have begun the replacement of Cannonball's radio; if he holds to his word, Holi should be transferred shortly. //
"Your radio has been repaired and replaced," Perceptor finally observes tightly, closing the last panel. "I have fulfilled my portion of the agreement. Now release Holi."
ooc: Cannonball's radio installation initiated with player's permission.
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Bluestreak
Rookie
Silence is golden, but the motormouth is silver...
Posts: 213
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Post by Bluestreak on Oct 9, 2007 8:00:27 GMT -5
//Gotcha, Percy.// It's not much, but at least it's something he can do. He carefully creeps up the ramp and back into Repair, setting his foot down with extreme care each time. Once there, he hefts his rifle into a position where he can aim and fire quickly if necessary, just in case Cannonball tries something screwy.
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