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 9, 2007 14:01:55 GMT -5
Once the device was restored in his head, Cannonball tweaked the frequency setting. Presets were gone, yes, but like a cell phone, one can usually remember the most important numbers...this one being the Decepticon broadband. Someone rattling about Galvatron and purple and such. Ahh...good to be back and connected.
Cannonball turns, stepping back twice from Perceptor before setting Holi down gently, and reaching into subspace, grabbing a remote that he normally uses to unlock the Sea Slag back home...but for now, it will pass as a 'detonator'.
"No followin', and no firin', lads. I just want to get oot of 'ere." he says before turning around, and leaping off into the air, headed toward the forest.
---------- OOC: And out of this thread.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 9, 2007 15:14:21 GMT -5
Tense and silent, Holi waits through the reinstall of Cannonball's radio, awed somewhat by Perceptor's composure and careful work even in this situation – a situation that's at least partially Holi's fault, the Micromaster reminds himself. He has on occasion heard other Autobots speak with immense respect of the doctor's calm under pressure, and now he sees why.
It would be nice to be that calm, Holi decides as Cannonball stands and for a moment, he worries the pirate may well go back on his word and not let him go. He's much more happy than he may seem to find himself standing on his own again. He'll remember later being surprised at how lightly Cannonball sets him on his feet; right now, his relief overshadows everything else.
Once that passes, however, Holi's legs fold up beneath him and he crumples to his knees. He's alright, really… his legs just don't want to keep holding him up anymore.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 9, 2007 15:54:41 GMT -5
Calm? This is clinical detachment - which Perceptor is clinging to with both hands tightly - not calm. Holi shouldn't sell himself so short, though; he probably just needs the proper motivation to find that inner calm. Besides, it's not that easy staying cool and collected when one has a bomb strapped to them.
Or vice versa. Something which Perceptor can actually speak of from experience, ironically enough.
Perceptor barely gives Cannonball a glance as the pirate flees, more concerned with Holi than his abductor, especially when the small mech collapses. Unlike Holi, however, Perceptor does note the care with which Cannonball had set Holi back on his feet. Having no other alternative, he must assume that such care - compared to the pirate's previous vigorous handling of Holi - must indicate the arming of the bomb.
Two quick strides, and he is kneeling beside the micromaster, holding Holi's shoulders steady in gentle hands. "Holi," he murmurs. "It is all right, Holi. I will not leave until you are safe." Until the bomb is removed and disarmed or disposed of, he means.
"Hold still for me, Holi. I will work as quickly as I may," he orders gently.
Alas, poor Bluestreak's been forgotten altogether now. Sorry Bluestreak.
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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 19:56:38 GMT -5
Bluestreak shifts anxiously back and forth, wondering if the others can hear his fuel pump from here. What's going on? He hates being left in the dark like this... well, the figurative dark anyhow...
He tunes into the chatter on the broadband, and he catches mention of First Aid... and Cannonball leaving. So the pirate got what he wanted and is departing without Holi. Perceptor hasn't said a word to him; has the scientist forgotten about him? Or did that pirate Cannonball cut his fuel lines as soon as he got his radio back?
//Percy?// he ventures. //Is everything all right? Can I come up there now?//
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 9, 2007 20:36:39 GMT -5
It isn't until Holi parses Perceptor's words that he remembers he still has that bomb stuck in his back. He'd been so relieved just to no longer have a pirate's blaster pointed at his head that he'd forgotten. Although the doctor's hands on his shoulders are supportive and steadying, and the doctor's advice is sound, Holi goes rigid all over. Various joints from knees to neck lock up lest he start shaking again, and if he was planning on letting the other Autobots know he was alright, those plans are thoroughly derailed.
"Yes… yes, sir," he answers Perceptor, trying very hard to keep his voice level. Remaining still shouldn't be too much of a problem.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 9, 2007 21:09:59 GMT -5
Bluestreak! Oh dear...
// Cannonball has fled, Bluestreak, and does not appear to be a direct threat any longer. Approach at your own discretion, // Perceptor instructs. He is getting ready to deal with a bomb of unknown destructive potential, after all; he wouldn't blame Bluestreak in the least if the gunner, instead, chose to evacuate. The only reason Perceptor isn't ordering as much is because he doubts that Bluestreak can be persuaded to obey.
"I will not allow anything to happen, Holi," Perceptor offers softly as he shifts to begin examining the micromaster's back where the engine compartment is in Holi's robot form. First, to determine that it will be safe to open that compartment up to look for and deal with the bomb, and that it will not detonate merely by doing that. He keeps his voice low and calm, soothing - or as best as the awkward scientist is able, at any rate - as he carefully explains everything that he is doing, guessing that, if nothing else, the constant stream of sound will help keep Holi grounded. Fortunately for Perceptor, it generally requires more attention to remember not to chatter and murmur to himself in such a manner as it does to keep the words coming. It's all sensors and examination and quiet words of explanation and encouragement, and if Bluestreak has arrived, Perceptor is quietly oblivious.
"There is some damage to your plating, however I detect no external trigger mechanism, Holi. I am going to open the compartment now," he finally explains, fingers resting against the warped and torn place where Cannonball had wrenched open Holi's back.
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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 22:51:37 GMT -5
Relief swamps Bluestreak's systems, nearly making his knees give out. Perceptor's okay! Hopefully Holi is too... though he's pretty sure having a bomb in your chassis doesn't qualify as "being okay."
//I'm coming up// he announces, and climbs the ramp up.
He's startled by how tiny Holi is when he reaches the building's roof. How is there even room for a bomb among the inner workings of his body? He inches closer, not wanting to jostle either Holi or Perceptor and risk triggering the bomb.
"Hey there, you must be Holi. I'm Bluestreak. I dunno if I'll be much help getting rid of the bomb, but I can guard you... dunno if Cannonball'll come back or not..."
Well, at least maybe his chatter will help distract Holi from the bomb...
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 10, 2007 0:17:11 GMT -5
Holi can easily ignore the faint twinges of pain as Perceptor begins to check his back. It only stings a little and he does, after all, trust the doctor to make things right. For what it's worth, being spoken to, having the situation explained… it's a great boon to the young captain, indeed. The addition of Bluestreak's chatter only helps more (believe it or not). Holi, so accustomed to having someone or another always talking to him or at him, finds it all somewhat comforting.
"H-hello, Bluestreak, sir," Holi manages to mumble around the wince that springs up when Perceptor's fingers brush the jagged edges of his damaged undercarriage plate. That itself doesn't hurt, but there are sensors beneath it that protest the contact. Still, Holi doesn't budge so much as an inch.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 10, 2007 8:39:26 GMT -5
Perceptor will put a block on those sensors to kill the pain just as soon as he can, Holi. First, though, to carefully coax that panel open, not as easy a task as it sounds, with the mangling Cannonball had done to it. Okay, not as easy a task for one who is making every attempt to be gentle enough to keep from triggering any potential explosive, and reduce as much pain as possible. He could always just rip the panel open as Cannonball had, after all.
That would, however, somewhat defeat the purpose to keeping Holi calm and quiet, though, now wouldn't it?
Careful, delicate probing, and finally, the tangled catch releases, allowing the plate to swing open. How Cannonball hadn't managed to mangle more of Holi's structure with the canister he'd shoved in there, Perceptor can only guess at.
"Only a few moments more, Holi," Perceptor murmurs, attention flickering briefly to one side as he finally notes Bluestreak's presence.
"Once I have extricated the item, Bluestreak will assist you in evacuating the area," he instructs calmly. The fewer lives at risk, the better, and the better he will be able to concentrate on examining the canister for disarming.
"I will see to your repairs as soon as the cannister has been disposed of." Or First Aid will fix him, if things go badly. Fortuitous timing, First Aid; Perceptor won't feel nearly as guilty about leaving everyone without a primary repair tech/medic if he manages to blow himself to pieces.
OOC: changing the plan slightly Holi... Perceptor has to assume that it only looks harmless, and is, still, in fact quite dangerous. Figured Holi and Bluestreak might want an opportunity to flail a bit at being ordered to leave Perceptor and evacuate. He'll actually get the cannister removed and examined (and figure out Cannonball's bluff) in his next pose. If this doesn't work for all y'all, just lemme know and I'll edit back to sorting out the bluff in this pose.
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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 10, 2007 11:09:00 GMT -5
OOC: Works for me.
Bluestreak pauses in talking to Holi long enough to gape at Perceptor. What, LEAVE him up here? In plain view of Cannonball if he returns to take him out? They don't actually know whether or not the pirate's intending on really leaving, or if the deal was just a ruse to gain a better firing position, after all.
"But... but Percy! What if he comes back? You need someone to guard your back, don't you? Wait, what if I got Holi out of here, then came back? Would that work?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 10, 2007 14:36:01 GMT -5
Holi stops himself mid-reassurance to Firebolt when he registers Perceptor's orders. Leave? He's asking Holi to leave him with the bomb and– Oh, no. No! "No, sir!" the Micromaster says abruptly, turning his head to better see. "I can't do that! I – I got–" He frowns as he tries to think of how to word what he wants to say. The expression feels horribly out of place. "It's my fault you have to be here… so… it's my responsibility to stay, too." Isn't it?
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 10, 2007 15:36:45 GMT -5
Perceptor eyes them both with faint surprise for a moment, not really having expected such resistance. Optimus hadn't listened to him once, either; he should be used to this, somehow.
"I merely wished to reduce the chance of further harm," he explains. He would prefer to continue to urge them to evacuate, but he's all too aware that every moment he spends arguing wth them is another moment in which Cannonball may decide to detonate the device anyway. After the device has been disposed of, and the danger has passed, however...
"It is not your fault, Holi, that you had the unpleasant misfortune of being present in Cannonball's path of travel," Perceptor refutes as he turns his attention back to carefully prizing out the canister. "You are not responsible for the actions of a self-serving Decepticon privateer."
Finally, carefully, the canister comes loose, slipping out of Holi's chassis and into Perceptor's hands--
Immediately, he can tell by weight alone that something is amiss. Unless Cannonball has happened upon some hitherto unknown manner of concocting an explosive or incediary device, the canister is far too light in his grasp. He frowns as he scoots back a bit to examine it.
"Cannonball lied; there was no bomb," he pronounces, peering at the empty container with the bare last dregs of energon still clinging to the inside. All that worry and fear for a bit of... of trash? An instant of cold fury, before reason reasserts itself.
"You are safe, Holi," he sighs, relieved.
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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 10, 2007 17:18:14 GMT -5
Bluestreak is so relieved that he breaks out laughing -- not mocking laughter, no. He's simply overjoyed that Holi's all right, and that none of them are in danger of being vaporized anytime soon.
"That's wonderful! I mean, not wonderful that Holi was kidnapped or had something jammed into his systems -- that had to really hurt -- but at least we're all safe now, right? Though it kinda stinks that we were all worked up over an empty can. Oh well, better too worried than not worried enough, right? Heh, just sounded like Red Alert then..."
He pauses a moment to reorient his thoughts, then speaks again. "So now what?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 11, 2007 14:22:32 GMT -5
How to say that he still somehow feels at fault? He should have fought harder to get away from Cannonball; he shouldn't have frozen up when the pirate came at him; he shouldn't have panicked when he was threatened with the bomb, or being dropped… so many things Holi should or shouldn't have done. In a way, he's glad none of his comrades are here to see just how miserable a soldier and captain he makes.
Knowing he was duped into being used as a hostage, tricked into believing that really was a bomb jammed into his engine compartment, only worsens the situation.
The final blow comes with hearing the raw venom in the words on the radio, from Swerve and Firebolt both. They're both so angry, and Holi still can't help feeling it's his fault. He's done nothing but cause strife and worry. How hard will he have to work to make up for that?
"I'm sorry," he says quietly. The smile that comes to his face is an uneasy one, doing its level best to look cheerful and relieved. "I – I didn't mean to cause so much trouble." And whatever it takes, he'll find a way to make up for it. To everyone.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 11, 2007 17:37:04 GMT -5
Horrifyingly, as he takes in that tremulously brave attempt at a smile, Perceptor finds himself contemplating, if only for an instant, that there are perhaps benefits to being a Decepticon. Decepticons generally do not care when they upset one another. It would be nice to not feel as if his fuel had begun to curdle into a hardened mass of lead choking his lines. Between the outbursts on the general frequency - his own included, and he is feeling none too proud of that at the moment - and Holi's distress and guilt, Skyfire's continued duping by the Decepticons and helplessness of knowing that there is little, if anything, which he can do to mitigate that situation, and finally, the accuracy of Kup's previous accusation regarding the recentness - and frequency - of the old soldier's recharge and defragmentation periods in contrast to Perceptor's, he's feeling just a little thinned out. There is no time to indulge in such weakness, though. There's never enough time.
Holi's repairs, ferreting out whatever mischief Cannonball may have caused, constructing the base, keeping everyone functional, that damned fabricator - by the Matrix, he'd converted a child's toy into a functional starship in less time than constructing this fabricator is taking! He misses his laboratory, and his friends, and the simplicity of how everything was before. And yet...
He's already growing attached to this mish-mashed collection of multiversal abductees he's found himself thrust in amongst. Some more than others, he'll freely admit as he tenders Holi a relieved little smile of his own, but each of them present their own individual challenges, opportunities, and amusements, and Perceptor has never been one to retreat from a challenge.
Bluestreak's rambling summon a tired chuckle. "I hesitate to imagine Red Alert attempting to make the adjustment to our situation, Bluestreak. I am not certain that, even with First Aid's current presence, that we would be able to keep abreast of Red Alert's processor malfunctions induced by stress," he quips.
"Although, I must confess that I cannot adequately express how preferable I found it to be for the situation to have proved to be a hoax. The alternative would have been far more grave. For now, however," he explains, glancing back down to Holi's damaged compartment. A few brief adjustments, and those abused tactile sensors are deftly disengaged until Perceptor can get Holi to Repair. "We get that damage rectified," he explains with a soothing pat, "and then add our efforts to the search for Cannonball's mischief. Agreed?"
Perceptor carefully scoops the young micromaster up into a comfortable position in his arms to carry back down the ramp for those promised repairs, and if that careful, comfortable perch in Perceptor's grasp feels a bit like a reassuring hug, well then, perhaps it's just coincidence.
OOC: tweaking pain sensors and being picked up done with Holi's permission.
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