Bluestreak
Rookie
Silence is golden, but the motormouth is silver...
Posts: 213
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Post by Bluestreak on Oct 11, 2007 23:28:09 GMT -5
It takes Bluestreak a moment to realize Perceptor actually cracked a joke, but when he does, he enjoys a laugh. "Heh, that was good, Percy. Wonder who would go crazy first -- Red from all the spazzing out, or First Aid from always having to fix him. If Smokescreen were here, he'd tell us the odds."
He stows his rifle into subspace. "Hey, anything I can do to help you fix Holi? I don't know repair, but I can hand you tools and fetch supplies and stuff. Hee, I could be your nurse! Though I wouldn't wear scrubs, we don't need those, do we..."
He's also hoping he'll get the explanation that Perceptor promised, but he won't push. Perceptor's busy and still getting over the stress of this situation, after all.
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 12, 2007 16:59:02 GMT -5
He could have walked, Holi knows he should protest. He'd make his legs start working properly again somehow and walk himself down to repair if it would save Perceptor the trouble of carrying him.
As it is, however, Holi isn't really sure he can make his legs hold him up just yet. Some joints are still locked in place and he's a little worried that if he tries unlocking them to stand, his legs will just give out all over again, so he's immensely grateful for the help. Even if it does look a bit silly for the doctor to be toting around a captain like this. Not that Holi has done much to merit the title lately. He'll just have to keep trying!
"Bluestreak, sir," begins the Micromaster, a bit surprised at the reassuring way Perceptor has decided to carry him and unconsciously nestling himself in a little more securely anyway. Holi is about to do something most Autobots probably wouldn't, but there's a chance he's one of few who don't mind listening to the gunner. "Sir, would you tell me more about that race you mentioned, please? The one in Europe?" He'd like to hear someone talking to him and doesn't want to keep pestering the doctor. And Bluestreak just has so much to talk about!
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 12, 2007 20:48:06 GMT -5
Perceptor couldn't have cracked a joke, Bluestreak; it's common knowledge that the scientist has no sense of humor. Really. SCIENCE! is serious business! Giant Robotic Insecticide. 'Nuff said.
"Your assistance would be appreciated, Bluestreak. Thank you. And, no, I do not believe 'scrubs' will be necessary at this time," Perceptor observes calmly as he leads the way back down to Repair.
Perceptor would refute Holi's assumption that the micromaster is any trouble at all if he were aware of said thoughts. Truth be told, at the moment, Perceptor doesn't want to be "saved the trouble;" he's carrying Holi just as much for his own sake as for the young captain's.
Perceptor doesn't feel "pestered" either, however, he does feel the faintest bit of guilty relief as Holi asks Bluestreak for elaboration. If Bluestreak is relating a tale, then Perceptor is off the hook for a little bit longer. He knows he'll have to share the unpleasantness with Bluestreak eventually, but... after everything else, putting it off for another few minutes sounds very appealing.
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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 12, 2007 23:17:26 GMT -5
"The race? Oh, the Europa 2000!" Bluestreak recalls fondly as he follows Perceptor and Holi down to repair. "Sure, I can tell you about that! It was a big race from Paris to Istanbul -- those are two cities on Earth, a long ways from each other. 'Course, the was a Decepticon plot, but we didn't know that at the time. We just thought it was a charity race. It was me, Tracks, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Smokescreen in the race with a lot of human drivers -- including this one guy, Auggie Cahnay, he was a jerk. I didn't like him, but he was driving this fancy high-tech car that Prime thought Megatron might want to get ahold of, so he had us join the race to protect him.
"Partway through the race, the Stunticons attacked. Smokescreen, 'Jack, Sides, and Sunny were knocked out of the race, and the Stunts stole Auggie's car. He ended up driving me across the finish line. Tracks, Bumblebee, and I went to find his car, and we found that Megatron had dug up something called the Pearl of Bahoudin -- it was really the power core of a weather-controlling device, though. He wanted metal from Auggie's car to build a device to control the Pearl so he could control the weather and take over Earth.
"Of course, we couldn't let him get away with that, so we ended up fighting the Stunts and Bumblebee stole the Pearl. He used it to create a storm that helped chase Megatron and some of his goons away, but the Stunts formed Menosaur and attacked us. I thought we were gonna be scrapped... but Auggie turned out to be nicer than I thought, and he ran his car off a cliff and into Menosaur's face to knock him out! And not only that, but after we'd destroyed the Pearl he let us have the gold casing it had been found in so we could sell it and give the money to charity.
"Dunno what happened to Auggie after that, though. Maybe he kept racing, maybe he dropped out. I hope he's not such a jerk anymore, at least."
Were Bluestreak human, he'd pause for a deep breath about now. He grins at Holi. "What about you? You ever been in any races? Come to think of it, what's your universe like?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 13, 2007 5:07:31 GMT -5
Holi listens in rapt fascination to Bluestreak's tale, hardly noticing the transition into repair as the grey Autobot goes on and on. Participating in a charity race… if they weren't always so busy fighting off the Dinoforce or the Breastforce all the time, that sounds like something Commander Star Saber would encourage the Autobots to try. Or at least Holi thinks so.
"Me?" He blinks at the questions lobbed his way. So much for commenting on the story of the Europa 2000. "Oh, I've never been in a race," he admits. "I tried once, but the others in it were faster, and then Clipper told me how dangerous it was… Pipo and I had to come out the next day and help someone who'd gone off the road, so she was right." Holi has the good grace to look properly chastised.
Now it's time to see why Holi and Bluestreak may well be a bad combination.
"I've been on Earth for a while now," declares the Micromaster with a faint ring of pride in his voice. "I'm a member of the Galaxy Defence Force. We… well, we protect the galaxy from the Decepticons! Commander God Ginrai forced them off Earth and then followed them to Space Sector Two, and since he planned to stay there, Commander Star Saber was named Supreme Commander and given command of Space Sector One and the rest of the Defence Force. I went along with Supreme Commander Star Saber and the other Brainmasters when they left for Earth, but the rest of my patrol couldn't come with me right away. Jan came to Earth, too, so he could go to school with other human children, and the Multiforce didn't take long to get there, either. We lost our station base, though, thanks to the Dinoforce, so we stay in Galaxy Shuttle Base now. I think that's better, in a way… we can respond more quickly when the Decepticons go on the attack and try to steal energy." There's no way to miss the tinge of homesickness colouring his tone, but Holi forges on with all the same sprightly enthusiasm as when he began. "I'm the captain of the Rescue Patrol, too, but when I'm not on duty, I'm the one who keeps an eye on Jan. He needs someone to look out for him, since he can be a little stupid sometimes and he's always getting himself into trouble."
The irony of Holi's babysitting duties escapes him still.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 13, 2007 5:49:18 GMT -5
As the two talkative mechs exchange stories, Perceptor carefully settles Holi on one of the repair berths, privately significantly relieved to note how much more relaxed the micromaster is now. Perceptor has never been one to find fault with Bluestreak's chatter - glass houses and excessively poly-syllabic stones and all that - but even if he had been, the gunner would definitely have earned himself some considerable favor for the kindness he's done Holi.
Lacking any comparable input, Perceptor is content to let himself fade into the background for now, listening avidly to their chatter and filing the new information away as he works his way through setting Holi's damage to rights. It is, fortunately, relatively simple work - far simpler than the possible alternative would have been! The most difficult task is working unobtrusively enough as to not distract them from their discussion. The calming effect and the opportunity to learn more about the young micromaster and his reality are well worth whatever insubstantial extra effort it takes to accomplish that task.
And, as for any need for... "responsible supervision" being required, shall we say, Perceptor is hardly one to have any room to speak on such a matter. If it's not Stunticons and anchor chains, it's his own absentminded work ethic and insatiable curiosity. Long Haul isn't the only one who has had to sit on the scientist or rescue him from his own work before, after all.
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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 13, 2007 11:22:46 GMT -5
Bluestreak really hadn't meant to cut Holi off from commenting on his story -- it's just that not many people are actually interested in what he has to say. And he really does want to get to know the Micromaster better.
"Commander Star Saber? So you don't have an Optimus Prime? And Dinoforce? Sounds kinda like the Dinobots, but the way you talk about them they sound like Decepticons. and our Dinobots work for the Autobots... most of the time, anyway. Wow, Galaxy Defense Force! That sounds really cool! And hey, nice of you to look after the human. I know we do that a lot, especially Bumblebee with Spike and Tracks with Raoul and Hot Rod and Arcee with Daniel. Never really had a close human friend like that, but hey, maybe if we ever meet the natives of this planet, we can try befriending them like we did the humans. Kup says they weren't bad folks."
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 13, 2007 17:17:09 GMT -5
Perhaps the most trouble Perceptor will have with this repair is keeping Holi still. And don't worry, Bluestreak – if Holi remembers it later, he'll probably have plenty to say.
"The Dinoforce are Decepticons," insists the Micromaster. "They're strong, too… it's even worse when they combine into Dinoking!" Holi can't help an expressive shudder at various recollections of the massive combiner in battle, but he quickly sets those aside with a grin. "But they're no match for the Multiforce or the Brainmasters when they combine! And of course, Supreme Commander Star Saber can beat Dinoking all on his own!"
And that brings Holi back to Bluestreak's question about an Optimus Prime. The little blue bot takes a moment to think on it and rifle through his databanks with a pensive twist to his mouth.
"No… I don't think we have an Optimus Prime… or maybe I've never met him." There's always that chance, Holi supposes; he hasn't personally met very much of the upper command echelon, really. Who knows how many Autobot officers there may be on other planets? "Well, except for the one who died," he continues, growing much more sober. "He looks a little like Commander God Ginrai…." Just similar enough to have been unsettling at first glance, and to leave the Micromaster with a nebulous sense of intrinsic despair that the large Autobot is dead.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 13, 2007 19:13:14 GMT -5
While certainly not simple it is by no means impossible to work on a moving target-- although it gets significantly harder to do so for a moment as Xaaron transmits a disturbing image. He turns away to fetch another tool, using that moment to compose himself once more before he distresses Holi or Bluestreak. Unfortunately, it's beginning to sound as if he's going to end up distressing one of them anyway. Holi's mention of Optimus' body is bound to make Bluestreak curious, and it is irresponsible - and too much to hope for - to think that the gunner will simply shrug it off as a parallel between their realities. "Yes," Perceptor finally interjects into their talk as he gently coaxes the last bits of Holi's internal structure back into position. "That... is part of what we needed to speak about, Bluestreak. My apologies for the disruption of your discussion, however I do not think a further delay would be wise. What was your specific timestamp?"
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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 13, 2007 22:56:44 GMT -5
"Wow, a dinosaur combining team! Wouldn't want to see OUR Dinobots form a gestalt!" He cocks his head to one side. "Commander God Ginrai? Who's that?" Something else catches his attention. "Prime that died? What do you mean by..."
Then he remembers the discussion on Broadband -- about a Prime showing up dead -- while he was on the way to base with Swerve and Sideburn, and he goes quiet. Just in time, too, as Perceptor requests his time stamp.
"Timestamp?" He gives the day of Megatron's attack on Autobot City (though he's unaware of it). "I was helping Kup set up a road block when Hot Rod crashed through it... and I woke up here. Thought maybe the crash had something to do with it at first, but Kup says no. Why do you ask?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 14, 2007 18:58:13 GMT -5
Holi would answer Bluestreak, and in fact is about to, when the gunner goes silent. Something tells Holi he has said something he really shouldn't have said. About the Optimus Prime? That has to be it.
The Micromaster stills himself and listens in his turn while Perceptor takes a somber tone. This is going to be a very unhappy discussion, he sees. He's already trying to plot how he can lighten the mood afterward; he's sure he'll need to do that much at the least. He has to try.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 14, 2007 21:51:47 GMT -5
Perceptor sighs and turns his attention to straightening the panel that shields Holi's newly repaired undercarriage. "I ask so that I may more appropriately determine which events you are in need of being forewarned about. As... regrettable as certain events may be, I do not wish you to be surprised by hearing of them, or being confronted by repercussions without being forewarned."
He pauses, glancing up to meet Bluestreak's gaze thoughtfully, before continuing. "It is fortunate that Hot Rod had disobeyed Kup's edict regarding Lookout Mountain that day. Our losses might have been heavier, otherwise."
His hands still their work, one resting on the repair berth beside Holi, close enough to the micromaster's leg to touch. It is a solemn tale, and, even though Holi will not know these Autobots Perceptor will speak about, it cannot be very comfortable listening to the dire events. And... perhaps... Perhaps Perceptor needs just that little bit of connection for himself. It's no easier in the telling of these events, especially with that body in the next room, as it is in the hearing of them. His expression is calm, though, as he meets Bluestreak's optics again.
"Before you were taken to awaken here, the shuttle which Hot Rod was taking Daniel to watch land had already been ambushed. All hands... All hands had already been lost. Had Hot Rod not been in the position he had at that time, Autobot City would have had no warning at all," Perceptor explains evenly.
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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 14, 2007 22:42:06 GMT -5
Bluestreak stares, open-mouthed, at Perceptor, once again silenced by shock. He can't be hearing what he's hearing... yet his audials are working fine...
"Losses? Autobot City was attacked? Or... or will be attacked... or..." So confusing, all of this timeline and alternate universe stuff!
He looks away, trying to gather his thoughts sufficiently, then turns back to Perceptor.
"Who... who was on that shuttle? It wasn't Prime, was it? And the attack... we beat 'em, didn't we? We always manage to hand them their afts, don't we?"
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Holi
Major
Captain Can-Do
Posts: 672
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Post by Holi on Oct 15, 2007 13:14:04 GMT -5
Holi has opened quite the can of worms this time. He listens to Perceptor tell his awful tale and finds there's nothing he can say. Nothing he can think to say. He turns and peers up at the doctor, then at Bluestreak with equal consternation for both.
"The Autobots always win," he says quietly, though if he's trying to reassure himself or Bluestreak more, even Holi isn't quite certain.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 15, 2007 16:32:15 GMT -5
Perceptor sighs and glances down at the table; he'd thought that everyone had known who had been inbound on that shuttle. Apparently not.
"Yes. Losses," Perceptor replies softly, heaving a sigh as he looks up again. "Megatron led a force to ambush the shuttle while it was en route from the moon base to Earth, intending to by-pass Autobot City's defenses. Brawn, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Prowl were all lost in the attack."
"Hot Rod's presence on Lookout Mountain gave him the vantage to see the damage to the shuttle, thus warning Ultra Magnus and the others in time to transform the city for defensive operations. Without that warning, more would have been killed," he explains softly.
"Megatron led an extensive force against Autobot City. Starscream and his other aerial troops. The Constructicons and Insecticons. Blitzwing and Astrotrain. Soundwave and his cassettes. Had Ultra Magnus not ordered Blaster to transmit a distress signal to Optimus Prime... More than Windcharger and Wheeljack would have been lost as well. Perhaps all of Autobot City, so, perhaps, in that, we can say that we won."
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