Hook-3
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No One Knows What It's Like
Posts: 94
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Post by Hook-3 on Aug 9, 2008 23:22:37 GMT -5
The crystal scatters sunlight in mazes of refraction and reflection. The brightness inside the cage almost seems less intense than the scorching desert outside.
Perhaps a sixth of the way around the circle of the cage from the direction Perceptor is approaching from, a blur of Constructicon green kneels near the edge. One fine-fingered green hand is clearly pressed against the crystal.
Just outside the cage, the partially-eaten away body of Nightbeat lies sprawled in the dust. The metal seems crumbly, and the edges of what remains ragged.
The one inside the cage spots the movement, and he turns and stands in one motion. He does not call out, though, or move from his place.
Closer to the cage, Perceptor and Grimlock can make out the figure within, watching them with a wary expression.
Hook.
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Grimlock
Major
There's no crying in Basebrawl!
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Post by Grimlock on Aug 9, 2008 23:32:42 GMT -5
After landing, Grimlock vents a good deal of heated air, and cycling new air in. However, doing so in a desert environment is only so effective. He follows behind Perceptor, slowly, but notices what's inside the cage.
"Um...am me Grimlock seeing mirage, or is that Hook?"
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Post by Perceptor on Aug 10, 2008 1:23:08 GMT -5
Perceptor pauses as soon as he can make out the cage's occupant, optics narrowing with suspicion and no little confusion. Why would Hook be out in the middle of the desert, trapped within a crystal cage? How would he have even gotten here?
"If so, Grimlock, then I am suffering from the same visual halucination," he replies uneasily, a match for Hook's wary expression on his own features as he continues edging toward the cage, always watching for the trap which must be here. Surely there must be a trap here.
"You are rather far from your base, are you not, Decepticon?" he observes once they have drawn close enough to speak easily. "And have apparently incurred someone's ire."
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Hook-3
Cadet
No One Knows What It's Like
Posts: 94
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Post by Hook-3 on Aug 10, 2008 1:37:55 GMT -5
The light in Hook's optic-band intensifies, expressing what a human would with narrowed eyes. Perceptor and Grimlock. Worse for the wear, too, and it makes a part of him he doesn't like very happy to see that.
"I have incurred no one's ire, butcher. You, however, will incur quite a lot of Omega's if he finds you here."
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Grimlock
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There's no crying in Basebrawl!
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Post by Grimlock on Aug 10, 2008 2:14:59 GMT -5
Grimlock stops some way from the cage, leaving Perceptor between himself and the large crystal thing. He looks up at the cage quizzically. "Perceptor, butcher? Me Grimlock think you been out in sun too long."
As for being the target of Omega's wrath, that was entirely possible when it came to Constructicons... Grimlock wasn't sure of how it worked if they beat up a bad one.
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Post by Perceptor on Aug 10, 2008 2:30:56 GMT -5
Butcher? Hook is calling him a butcher? This is one seriously befuddled and perplexed Perceptor here, and his expression couldn't be more plain in openly displaying that confusion. "I believe that you have our roles reversed, Constructicon," he replies, clearly agreeing with Grimlock. "It was not I who tricked another engineer to steal his work, and then entombed him in that very work once his use had been spent. Look to yourself for that cruelty, Hook."
Beating up a Constructicon and depriving Omega Supreme of that honor and duty? Oh, that would definitely not please the Guardian at all, Grimlock. Best not to even ponder that. Speaking of which...
"Curious to hear you speak of Omega Supreme's wrath when it is yourself who has the most to fear. You are fortunate that he is not here to find you so trapped, else your life would already have been forfeit. What game are you playing at here, Hook?"
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Hook-3
Cadet
No One Knows What It's Like
Posts: 94
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Post by Hook-3 on Aug 10, 2008 14:16:10 GMT -5
The Prime's dog appears to have developed a new and different vocoder glitch.
"What game am I playing?" Hook asks in outraged disbelief. He has been paraded around in a cage for months now, while this mockery of a scientist roams free to wreak havoc, and now Perceptor is toying with him.
"Who are you trying to fool, Perceptor? We all know the truth of the matter - you cannot pin your crimes on me."
Hook slams an open palm against the crystal cage, and it rings from the force of the strike. "At least I," he says quietly, voice almost covered by the ringing of the cage, "do penance for what I have done."
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Grimlock
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Post by Grimlock on Aug 11, 2008 12:09:42 GMT -5
Grimlock steps closer, to be just behind and to the side of Perceptor. "Me Grimlock definitely sure he been out in sun too long" he says, then noticing the bodies on the ground. "or him come from crazy reality..."
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Post by Perceptor on Aug 11, 2008 13:30:14 GMT -5
Crimes? Perceptor has passed beyond being totally perplexed by this accusation from the confined Decepticon. "Crimes? What--" he is interrupted by that resonant strike against the crystaline cage, making him flinch. Disbelief and confusion play across his features as he opens his mouth to demand what pennance exists that could possibly offer the least bit of retribution for what was done to Crystal City, to San Fransisco, when Grimlock's words penetrate.
Crazy reality? Of course. Why had he not considered that himself already? The accusations had rattled and distracted him more than he'd thought. Of course, this may yet be a trap, with their own Hook playing a role intended to lull them into trusting him long enough to lead the Constructicon, and by extention the other Decepticons, back to where the battered and demoralized Autobots are only now piecing themselves back together.
But if it is not a trap, a ruse...
Realistically speaking, who among the Decepticons, beyond their mining worm, would be capable of transporting such a construct to this location?
"I believe... that you may be correct, Grimlock," he replies with the subtle amazement of dawning comprehension filling his voice. "This is either a cunningly inventive trap, one that seems far too convoluted even for Starscream, and too unpredictable of an outcome for Shockwave's tastes, or this is, indeed, Hook's alternate."
After all, if there are evil Autobots, then perhaps there must be good Decepticons?
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Hook-3
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No One Knows What It's Like
Posts: 94
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Post by Hook-3 on Aug 12, 2008 19:19:59 GMT -5
"Or him come from crazy reality..."
Hook freezes. Idiot! Idiot, he knew about this, he knew Omega had taken him through a gate, and the possibility never even occurred to him! Fool!
Grimlock talks very oddly for the Dinobot. Now that Hook has a chance to look at him more closely, the Dinobot's armor seems to be much flimsier than normal. All grey, too.
Perceptor... Looks much like the monster he knows. It's unsettling.
"Yes," he says finally, gaze drifting back to Grimlock. "That must be it."
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Grimlock
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Post by Grimlock on Aug 12, 2008 19:25:32 GMT -5
"Well, me Grimlock meant from place like these guys" Grimlock says, motioning at the dead Prime and Nightbeat, then looking back up at Hook. If the Constructicon pays more attention, he'll notice that Grimlock's optic band is blue, not the red of the hound from the other universe. "Him being good version of Hook possible too."
The Dinobot commander steps a bit closer. Time for a bit of interrogation, Grimlock Style! "Tell me Grimlock - What your Rodimus Prime like?"
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Post by Perceptor on Aug 12, 2008 19:49:11 GMT -5
Perceptor follows that motion, and if Hook is still watching him, the Constructicon may note how Perceptor... seems to flinch just the tiniest bit, at the sight of the dead Prime. He really is getting very tired of having his failure shoved in his face like this. Really he is.
Here, though, are the vital components they have needed to complete some of the more delicate repairs, and if his sensors can be believed, there are more... more bodies buried below them. Plus random other bits of electronics, broken sensors, apparently. Loathe as he is to use these parts, they are needed too badly to be squeamish.
First priority, however, is freeing this Hook. They will not leave him to the alternate Autobots' tender mercies. Not for one second longer, if he can help it. Well, provided that this is still not a trap, however, Perceptor is a trusting sort. He trusted Megatron to keep his word when the scientist had cured the Decepticons of their cosmic rust. He has already decided that this Hook must be their own Hook's righteous alternate.
It will not hurt to listen to Hook's response to Grimlock, though.
"And how is this cage accessed so that you may be freed from it?"
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Hook-3
Cadet
No One Knows What It's Like
Posts: 94
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Post by Hook-3 on Aug 12, 2008 21:11:32 GMT -5
"Rodimus Prime? He's a terror, a horror like those from the old days." Hook has lived a long, long time, even though that rarely comes up. "He gets into your head, and he makes you- Angry. Aggressive."
Hook wraps his arms around himself, optic-band dimming. "More like what he thinks you should be."
His head jerks around as Perceptor asks his question. They... They want to get him out? He tilts his head up, staring at the lock that Spinister tried to undo not a week ago. "There is a lock up there..."
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Grimlock
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Post by Grimlock on Aug 12, 2008 21:52:03 GMT -5
Grimlock clenches his fists as Hook explains about the Rodimus, getting riled up just remembering the mech and his terrible red optics. "...yeah, me Grimlock sure him good Hook."
When Hook answers Perceptor's question, Grimlock lifts off to the top of the cage, peering at the locking mechanism. "Me Grimlock good with locks! Best key always me fist!" Grimlock draws back with one hand, and then slams it into the mechanism. However...it's his hand that gives, and not the lock.
The dinobot commander groans, painfully flexing his hand. That's gonna need some repairs. "...me Grimlock need new key" he mumbles, dropping down low enough to grab Perceptor by the collar with his good hand, hefting him up to the lock. "You do it!"
---------- OOC: Yoinking of Perceptor done with player permission.
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Post by Perceptor on Aug 12, 2008 22:36:06 GMT -5
That sounds like the monster who had reduced so many of their number to charred ash and shattered componentry. Perceptor gives a shudder at the thought of encountering the dark Prime, himself, and hopes that he never does.
"Grimlock, wai--" Too late. Perceptor sighs mightily, wincing as he watches Grimlock flex that now-damaged hand, the groans of bent components audible even to him still on the ground. "...t.... Oh dear. Grimlock, please, you must be more careful! Remember that I still have not found appropriate materials to rebuild proper armo-- oooor!"
Well, that was rather... abrupt. Just a touch disconcerting, too, to be hauled about by the scruff of his neck, too. He nervously dusts himself off as soon as Grimlock plants him on the top of the cage.
Hook's Perceptor never would have tolerated such handling. Not without turning a vial of some vile concoction upon his assailant, and especially not with such a nervous, almost bashful response.
"Ahem. Yes. Of course. Ah... thank you, Grimlock? Ahem," he coughs, shifting to carefully kneel upon the dome of the cage, to examine the locking mechanism. "Grimlock, please remove yourself from my light so that I may better examine this mechanism?" he requests politely, and without a trace of the smug superiority that his alternate uses as a matter of course.
"You should be free momentarily, Hook. I apologize for the delay."
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