Autobot Interim: Welcoming Committee

[Emirate Xaaron]

Emirate Xaaron stands out at the outskirts of the city, where Mirage would be mostly likely lead Rodimus Prime. Inside, he is apprehensive, but he hides it well. He knows that these people didn't want him. They wanted a Prime. Now they have a Prime. They put their trust in Emirate Xaaron. Will they take it all away for the sake of a mystical bauble?

Emirate Xaaron sighs to himself, frustrated. He has no idea what he'll do with himself if they throw themselves before this Prime and forsake him. Emirate Xaaron makes a poor advisor. He does not give advice. He gives commands. A leader needs the freedom to make up his own decisions, not someone turning his steering wheel for him.

He balls his hands into fists, and he vows to himself that he will not go down without a fight. Rodimus Prime does not know the situation here, what they've been through. Maybe he's the guy for the job, but maybe he isn't. Maybe even Emirate Xaaron isn't. Time will tell. Emirate Xaaron just prays that he has the strength of will to do the right thing, even if it is surrendering his position. If it isn't, he will use every weapon of persuasion and guile he has at his disposal to convince these people that a child with an artifact does not a leader make.

So.

On short range radio, Emirate Xaaron summons, //Autobots, I'd like a party to greet Rodimus Prime. Meet me here, if you're free,// and he transmits the coordinates.

[Nightbeat]

Nightbeat is part of the seeeeekrit group who's really running things here on this Primus-forsaken world. Of course he's coming to meet Rodimus with Xaaron.

He pulls up to the golden Autobot and transforms, snapping off a quick, if not entirely serious, salute. "You worried the Prime's gonna be after your job, Boss?"

[Emirate Xaaron]

Emirate Xaaron puts his arms behind his back, putting more weight on one leg than the other. He nods to Nightbeat in greeting absently. Nightbeat had not quite nailed what Emirate Xaaron was thinking, but as always, he was spookily close.

He explains quietly, tone somber and serious, "I'm not worried that he'll be after my job. He's from our own alternate future. He'll know that I claim leadership by way of the Council in Iacon. No. I'm worried about everyone else. I cannot inspire the troops on the battlefield, and I have no divine mandate within my chest that proclaims my worth. These people appear to be used to following Primes."

Emirate Xaaron grumbles, "Wonder what they'd make of Thunderwing?"

[Nightbeat]

Nightbeat gives Xaaron an accusing look. "Yeah. They're way to hung up on some piece of jewelry. Wonder what they'd think if they knew our Ark crew accidentally shot the thing off into space."

He goes on. "You can't inspire anybody? So what? Emirate, you had Impactor wrapped around your finger. You can get anybody to do anything you damn well want, so long as you put your mind to it. Heck, you even get me to play nice with others."

[Grimlock]

OOC: Grimlock's here after finding his roomie and after chatting with Kup, Holi, and Wheelie.
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Having heard the call for a meeting group for Rodimus, Grimlock eagerly took to dino mode and started off toward the outskirts, plodding in slowly once he arrived. Joy, it's the shiny one, and...blue guy with flames? Hmmm.

Moving closer, Grimlock leans over, sniffing at the detective from behind. "You Nightbeat?"

[Emirate Xaaron]

Emirate Xaaron smirks, rather nastily. There is nothing nice about the expression, but it does lend a familiar air to his face. Nothing like a little cruelty between friends, eh? Emirate Xaaron doesn't have to play nice around Nightbeat, and it's such a freeing feeling. He corrects, voice deceptively gentle, "I said I cannot inspire the troops on the battlefield. Optimus Prime was always very good at that. It's one of the reasons I wanted him back on Cybertron. I never said that I cannot inspire. I know that I assuredly can. My methods are different, that is all."

At Grimlock's arrival, the conversation must be cut short, and the wicked smirks vanishes from his face. He lets his arms drop to his sides, and he plants both feet firmly on the ground. Dryly, he congratulates, "Correct, Grimlock. You found the detective."

Isn't that a little backward?

[Nightbeat]

See, this is why Nightbeat likes Xaaron. The boss-bot knows when you need to play dirty, you play dirty.

It just so happens both of them find themselves in situations that require a lot of playing dirty.

"Er, ah, yeah, Grimlock. You found me."

[Grimlock]

Grimlock glances between the two of them, and just makes a grunting noise before moving around past them, getting to where he can watch the road.

[Kup]

The familiar form of Kup's alternate mode rumbles up not long after Xaaron's announcement is made, although it's pretty obvious a couple others have beaten him there. He transforms and nods towards the others. "Emirate. Nightbeat. Grimlock," he says, greeting them all in turn. He goes to stand near Xaaron, opposite of the side that Nightbeat is on, and looks towards the road. His expression is set, mostly neutral, but strangely solemn. Now and again, however, he'll shift his weight slightly, the best indication there is to just how nervous he really is.

[Sideburn]

Sideburn had been racing around a different area just beyond the city limits. However, at Xaaron's call he zooms over. He's free, and he's curious to who this 'Rodimus Prime' is. Going faster than he probably should, he hits the brakes hard just beyond the group, skidding to a stop right next to them. With a cry of "Transform!" he switches to robot mode.

He grins at the Autobots that have already gathered and glances at Xaaron. "You mentioned a party?" Yes, he knows what Xaaron meant by 'party'. Wordplay is always fun, though.

[Synapse]

A green spacer flies quickly into the area. Synapse transforms, feet hitting the ground upon completion. Rodimus Prime. That name is curious enough, the fact that this mech is from Synapse's future makes things even more intriguing. What is this new Prime like? Would Synapse ever be able to encounter a 'Rodimus Prime' if they ever found a way to return to their worlds?

Synapse approaches the other Autobots with a quick nod to all of them and perhaps even a tiny smile. He situates himself in what he thinks is 'close enough' and waits, optics and attention given mostly to the road ahead of him.

[First Aid]

Repair is as prepared as First Aid can get it, and if he knows Rodimus (which he does, even if not this Rodimus) it's unlikely that he'll get there in anywhere near as timely a fashion as First Aid, ever protective, thinks he should.

So First Aid rolls up, transforms, and pulls his field kit, a many pocketed, canvas affair, easily folded out on any improvised workspace, out of subspace, slinging it over his shoulder as he nods to everyone.

He crosses to Emirate Xaaron and Kup and says, "I wouldn't want to worry anyone, but it seems like it couldn't hurt to get started."

[Rodimus Prime]

Finally, rounding the turn up ahead, the bright red but battered Cybertronian Winnebago drives into view. Dents and scorch marks mar much of his body, but in this form, the most obvious damages are the missing portion of flame-painted side paneling on the left aft-end of his trailer, the mangled wreck of a spoiler that can just be seen between where his trailer overlaps his cab, and the badly dented, blackened, and cracked section of his hood near one shattered headlight.

The young Prime closes the distance swiftly and transforms, landing firmly on his feet and straightening to his full, impressive height. One watching closely will note a slight sway when he first stands upright, however. His damages transfer to their appropriate places on his robot mode, and in this form the powerful hit he's taken on one red leg becomes all the more obvious. Less serious dents and scorch marks cover much of his body, the damage to his spoiler, which is missing one of its tips, becomes more obvious, but his face and head are largely untouched.

To those who have met a Rodimus Prime, it's obvious that this is not he. The build between the two are virtually identical, the face and make of the helmet the same, but the reds are brighter and include his lower legs, the hands are orange, and the face is a paler silver. To those who know a Hot Rod, the resemblance is still very strong, although this robot is much larger, the lines of his face more mature, and, again, there are differences in colors.

To at least one person present, however, Rodimus's face may bring to mind another being entirely...

Rodimus scans those assembled. Two, he does not recognize at all. Kup... is green? Grimlock's alternate mode looks pretty much as Rodimus remembers it, although he does note the blue optics. Nightbeat is an even closer match to his memories, but in one case, Rodimus can only compare appearance with pictures. His mouth opens slightly, and he almost gasps out, "So it's true. Emirate Xaaron... it really is you!"

[Bluestreak]

OOC: Takes place after "Looking At Assignments"

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A gray Datsun Fairlady slides to a halt close by at that moment, then transforms into Bluestreak. Is he too late to meet Hot Rod? He scans the crowd quickly -- Xaaron, Sideburn, Grimlock, Synapse, First Aid, and a blue mech whose name he doesn't know yet... and here's Hot Rod! But... he's taller than he remembers, and older. Plus he looks as if he's just come out of a battle. Good thing First Aid's here, then.

"Hey Hot Rod!" he exclaims. "Or wait, Rodimus now? You said on the radio you were made Rodimus Prime... oh wow, so YOU got the Matrix after Optimus..." He's not sure if he wants to talk about that yet. "But I thought Percy said he gave it to Ultra Magnus? Did Magnus not want it or something? And what happened to you? You look awful..."

[Mirage]

Mirage pulls up right after Rodimus, transforming as well. Already a bit concerned about the Prime's injuries, he makes an almost imperceptible move towards Rodimus when he sways. Upon seeing that Rodimus has steadied himself- for now at least- Mirage stills.

At least First Aid made it over in time.

Rather than make a show of joining Xaaron's group, he stays where he is, a bit behind and to the right of the young Prime.