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Post by Thundercracker-3 on Sept 13, 2008 0:17:48 GMT -5
The terror ebbs as Barricade recants his offer to get Thundercracker away from here... but it takes the hope with it. That small part of him that dares to fight the programming, that dares to hold onto hope, rails against what Perceptor has done to him, but nonetheless feels powerless to fight it.
But as his CPU clears of fear he's able to think with some amount of logic... and is able to recall a more recent, more valuable memory. Namely something Oracle passed onto him just before the last battle -- the order to take the chance at freedom if this world's Autobots ever came here to rescue Swerve... to aid them and escape along with the Velocitronian. 1
This isn't an Autobot at all, and he's not here for Swerve... but surely she wouldn't expect him to dismiss her order on a few technicalities.
"We can talk," he tells Barricade quietly, his wings dropping to a slightly more relaxed angle, though he remains wary and watches the door. "I... don't know when he'll be back. You'll want to be careful."
1. Worked out well in advance with Oracle-3's player, who said that since Skyfire-3 and Oracle-3 were involved in a relationship where Oracle-3 dominated, hopefully an order from "[Skyfire-3's] Master's Master should hold enough weight to override Skyfire-3's order."
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Post by Pee-Dee on Sept 13, 2008 14:51:42 GMT -5
"If he comes back, we'll have plenty of warning," Pee-Dee comments from the doorway. She leans one shoulder against the jamb, Singe-as-a-flamethrower resting comfortably on the opposite hip.
"Hey there, Thundercracker. How're you this fine, navy day? Got your gear together?"
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Post by Barricade-3 on Sept 16, 2008 13:50:42 GMT -5
Just to emphasize that this is his Barricade to Thundercracker, the Saleen does not even so much as turn toward the door - that he has his back to - when Pee-Dee enters. An obvious show of trust of the Junkion for Thundercracker's benefit.
"Yeah," he agrees, nodding as he straightens just a little. "Pee-Dee will hear and see him coming long before he could see any of us. She's good. She's on the level. Like us, yeah?"
Barricade is thinking hard as he slides another step closer. If Thundercracker is going to freak out every time they try to make a move to extract him, then they'll have to knock him out. Toting around an unconscious Seeker while trying to stay out of sight, though, is going to be one very tough nut to crack.
"So... Whad'a we do now, Thunder?" he asks gently. "We're not leaving you behind. But we can't let you get us caught, either. They still have friends here, too, that need help, and us setting off the alert isn't gonna help 'em."
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Post by Thundercracker-3 on Sept 17, 2008 0:07:19 GMT -5
At Pee Dee's entrance Thundercracker stiffens, ready to bolt (though where he expects to bolt inside the warehouse is anyone's guess...). But Barricade's reaction or lack thereof to her entrance, not to mention the lack of the buckles she normally wears, put him slightly at ease. The Other Pee Dee, then... as Barricade just put it, on the level with them. He does wonder just why she has a Targetmaster with her...
He looks back and forth from Barricade to Pee Dee at their questioning. He wants freedom, desperately so. And he wants to make their jobs easier for them. But every time he tries to voice those desires the words strangle in his vocalizer. Perceptor's programming, Skyfire's orders, Oracle's orders, the last remnants of his will that have somehow stayed alive this long... all vie for control of him. And that conflict is plainly written on his face as he struggles to speak.
"I... I don't know," he manages. "I want to go... but I can't... Skyfire... I have to obey him... I have no choice..." He looks away, unable to look Barricade in the optics anymore.
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Post by Pee-Dee on Sept 20, 2008 0:06:17 GMT -5
It looks like Thundercracker won't be coming quietly with them. Not that he's got much choice, but the longer they stick around to coax him, the higher chance of something going really, badly wrong.
Of course, she can't say any of this. Her radio's shot, and she's not going to spook the blue jet if she can help it.
Still, there is something important she can do while she's waiting. "Hey, Thundercracker, where do you keep your radio?"
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Post by Barricade-3 on Sept 22, 2008 5:55:43 GMT -5
Fragging Perceptor. "Yeah," Barricade agrees, nodding with a regretful sigh. Spinister couldn't do what Barricade is considering, but one chance, one shot, and Barricade will make sure that none of his friends ever need to fight themselves like this again.
For now, though... Looks like they'll be carrying Thundercracker out, after all. They just can't afford to waste any more time here negotiating. Barricade won't let Pee-Dee or Frenzy to get caught, and the longer they linger...
Frag, this Pee-Dee-not-having-a-radio thing sucks. He thinks she's planning on disabling that radio to keep Thundercracker from calling for help, regardless of how they do this, but without being able to ask her, he can't be sure.
// Be ready to move, partner, // he transmits securely to Frenzy. If Pee-Dee does make a move on Thundercracker's radio, then Barricade can engage him physically while Frenzy goes for the disable.
"I understand, Thunder," he sighs softly, moving close enough to lean down and force the Seeker to see his optics, still while holding his hands in a carefully non-threatening manner. And, more importantly, making sure that he is totally out of line for any shot Pee-Dee may or may not need to take on him.
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Post by Thundercracker-3 on Sept 22, 2008 9:22:50 GMT -5
At Pee Dee's question Thundercracker turns just slightly to give her a puzzled look. What does that have to do with anything at the moment? "Right side of my helm, why?" he replies without really thinking about it.
Then Barricade moves in closer, and while he wants to turn away from his gaze, he doesn't. "Find Swerve. He's... somewhere around here. He deserves this rescue more than I... I'd only get you caught."
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Post by Pee-Dee on Sept 25, 2008 1:10:33 GMT -5
Thundercracker's words shift the whole situation, though she's not sure if Barricade realizes it. That's all right, because as long as one of them does and one of them guides, then they'll all four get out of this alive.
Besides! Now it was time for her to be the fast-talker in the partnership and let Barricade take care of the silent brooding chores.1
"Wee~ell, Thundercracker, here's the thing. We want to rescue Swerve, we really do. But we can't really go find him by ourselves, not without running into some bad trouble." Pee-Dee gives the Seeker a hopeful look. "But would the Decepticons and Autobots give you any trouble if you went wandering around...?"
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Post by Barricade-3 on Oct 1, 2008 4:48:05 GMT -5
Swerve is confirmed to be here, huh? That does change things. Barricade cannot in good conscience leave Swerve here with these psychotic dreks anymore than he could leave Thundercracker here.
Of course, he's got just a bit more attachment to Thundercracker, but the sentiment remains true.
Forgetting that with Singe here, Spinister will already know, Barricade radios him. // Boss, Swerve is confirmed in Autobot custody. Our Autbots. Keep your optics peeled. //
Time for him to follow Pee-Dee's lead, now.
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Post by Thundercracker-3 on Oct 1, 2008 21:58:00 GMT -5
Thundercracker's optics flicker in surprise at Pee-Dee's question. When he advised them to rescue Swerve instead of himself, he hadn't expected them to recruit him for the mission! Then again, he was never given any orders regarding Swerve, save Oracle's advice... he was never told to stay away from the Velocitronian, or to avoid speaking to him. It couldn't hurt, could it...
"The Autobots might give me trouble... but the Decepticons here have never tried to hurt me. I... I suppose I could help you find him..."
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Post by Pee-Dee on Oct 3, 2008 20:37:51 GMT -5
"We'd really appreciate that, citizen." She looks at him thoughtfully. "We're going to have to do this off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.1 You think you can handle that?"
---
1. L.A. Confidential
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Post by Barricade-3 on Oct 6, 2008 20:21:24 GMT -5
"So where would be a likely place to start, do you think?" Barricade asks, ready to forward that information on to Spinister, as well.
Perhaps they could use the search for Swerve to get Thundercracker to the edge of the encampment so that there would be less chance to get caught when the conditioning kicked in as they extricated him? Damn, he sure wishes that Pee-Dee had a radio of her own to coordinate things!
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Post by Thundercracker-3 on Oct 7, 2008 8:32:15 GMT -5
Thundercracker just stares at Pee-Dee, taking a moment to process what she's just said -- it's not as if he's fluent in cop-show-speak. "Uh... yeah, sure, ma'am."
To Barricade he says "I'm not sure of his exact location." Because somebody's pet is hardly of enough note to entrust with the location of a prisoner isn't said, but it's implied. "I can't imagine that they'd keep him outside the camp, though. Maybe closer to the Prime's quarters..."
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Post by Pee-Dee on Oct 7, 2008 20:44:00 GMT -5
Pee-Dee has a radio! A radio that turns into a flamethrower and a wee little man!
Pee-Dee, in short, has the best radio ever.
"Good, good." And like hell is she taking Thundercracker anywhere near the Prime. She might be able to fool some of the Decepticons, but there's no way in the Pit she can fool that one.
No way she wants to, either. The next time they meet, he's getting her boot in his face.
"A thought occurs to me. Not only do we need to find Swerve, we need to find a safe place to hide from the Prime and his hounds. It'd be unpleasant to get him away safely only to get caught. Any ideas there, Thundercracker? And would you mind terribly doing some aerial scouting for us?"
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Post by Barricade-3 on Oct 9, 2008 17:08:33 GMT -5
Now, if only that radio didn't require Singe to vocalize all that radio traffic to Pee-Dee, thus rendering it rather... non-secure in exactly this kind of situation, Pee-Dee really would have the best radio ever.
But, yeah, a radio that turns into a flame thrower and a little man? Uber cool. Barricade is rather fond of his pointy little partner, though, so no flame thrower for him. That's cool.
Hmm... someplace safe from the Dark Prime for Swerve would also be someplace safe from the Dark Prime for Thundercracker, too. That would work. That would work perfect. And if they can convince him to help find this place without too much of a fuss, then once he's in it, *poof*, take out his radio to keep that programming of his from alerting Skyfire, and then they can knock him out, or have one of their own docs come and fix the programming altogether, if need be.
Barricade shoots Pee-Dee a subtle look of agreement with that plan, one claw sketching out an equally subtle "thumbs up" gesture behind his back where Thundercracker shouldn't notice it.
"Should be someplace close, since we don't know what shape he'll be in, but not too close so they don't sniff him out again," he adds, nodding. "And we'd better get looking for it quick. The longer we stay here, the more likely someone will notice."
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