Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Feb 27, 2008 0:49:03 GMT -5
Dead End slipped out of the simulation chamber pretty much as soon as the door was unlocked. He hadn't heard anyone ordering him to stay for a debriefing or censure, therefore he left. That it got him out of optic and audial range of Starscream (and hopefully out of mind) might have been related, or it might not.
He transformed and drove out of the upper level of the base, down into town. One never knew who you might trip over in the base, but not many Cons came poking around the already picked-over buildings in town. Shortround had already looted the toys, and the low, run-down buildings of the area around Dead End's Garage (as he thought of it) didn't have the kind of vantage points to attract Eye-fire.
What the hell had Dead End been thinking, to dare to cross Starscream like that? Starscream was sure to figure it out, and turn Dead End into spare parts. He was doomed, no doubt about it.
He had to transform to open the garage door--really, he ought to install an automatic opener like some of the labs had, but it was too much bother--and back to drive in. Yes. It was a nice, cozy, car sort of place. It would have been nice if his room back at the base was like this, but the effort required, and the likely arguments with Hook... and it would all be futile when a stray shot in the next battle turned him into a pile of bubbling metal.
//I believe that I owe you a debt. How would you like to collect?//
Scourge. Dead End shifted into neutral, passive, yet able to be pushed or pulled into anything. This was why he'd crossed Starscream. He could not deny that dark truck anything. Anything that bound him to Scourge and Scourge to him.
// I hadn't really thought it out, but you did mention something rather desireable, // Dead End purred in response. // You do remember the garage? //
He needed Scourge. He needed a dark and deadly truck to anchor his sanity.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 27, 2008 20:13:56 GMT -5
//How could I forget it?// Scourge answers.
It was just a garage, but Dead End had shared it with him, and Scourge did not think Dead End was very free with who he told about the place. That, at least, made it worth remembering.
The black truck is not exactly swift in arriving, but he does arrive. It is so very easy to be waylaid, these days. Oh look, the door is open. Scourge won't have to let himself in. He rolls up beside Dead End.
Scourge is pleased with himself. The exercise did not go perfectly, but it went well enough, and he accomplished the assigned goals. However, Dead End has reasons to be worried, and if Dead End didn't have reasons to be worried, Scourge is quite certain that Dead End could find them.
Indeed, Scourge is starting to suspect that Dead End can never really be normal, that functional is as good as he gets. It's good enough for Scourge. He offers, "I believe that I owe you a waxing and a polishing, possibly more."
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Feb 27, 2008 22:01:37 GMT -5
Dead End did not exactly worry; worry implied uncertainty about the future. Dead End was quite certain that he has no future, and that there was no point in doing much of anything because of it. On the other hand, he preferred to look and feel his best. "Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking wreck" could be a Stunticon motto.
"I believe you mentioned as much," Dead End said in that languid British drawl, transforming into robot mode. He gestured at the racks of tools and his stash of cleaning and polishing supplies. "Did our overlords found out what they wanted to know from the exercise? I'm not sure I learned anything I couldn't have guessed already."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Feb 28, 2008 10:57:09 GMT -5
Scourge sighs and voices, "Scourge, transform." He stalks over to the rack of supplies and then looks back at Dead End, considering. Scourge shrugs and replies, "They're still processing the data. I've requested some tapes. I can go over them with you when I get them, if you'd like."
Going over simulated combat tapes – perhaps it doesn't sound exactly enthralling, but Scourge thinks it would be a good use of time. Maybe Dead End will be reminded of Onslaught, again.
First of all, Scourge is thinking that he had better go over Dead End with a light cleanser. He doesn't think the Stunticon is dirty, but any surface dust or dirt has to be removed, lest it get ground up against the surface. He selects a bottle of cleanser and a chamois and paces to Dead End's side. They can do this in robot mode, or Dead End can transform. It'll work either way – it's not like Dead End is a bladed mess. In fact, his design is simpler than that of most car Transformers back home, more like a Spychanger than a Car Brother.
OOC: Scourge's player doesn't particularly know how to care for a car, but Scourge certainly has a better idea than his player does. If I goof, PM me, and I’ll edit.
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Feb 28, 2008 12:50:16 GMT -5
Dead End transformed back into automotive form as Scourge approached. Best to get a consistent finish first, then polish up the joints in robot mode.
Dead End pondered. Why would he care what happened in the combat tapes? On the other hand, Scourge was thoughtful enough to offer; it reminded Dead End of Wildrider, who would offer to take Dead End on Wildrider's wholly inappropriate notions of "having a good time" just to cheer him up from one of his funks. Admittedly, Wildrider's idea of "a good time" generally did kick Dead End out of his funks, since he was too busy dodging incoming fire to brood.
"That might be... interesting," Dead End allowed. "It would be useful to know my allies' strengths and weaknesses and how they are going to get me killed."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Mar 1, 2008 10:04:59 GMT -5
Scourge kneels down now and pours a little bit of cleanser onto the soft cloth before moving to go over Dead End carefully, especially attentive to where dust might accumulate, the little hard-to-reach crevices.
Scourge replies, a low dark growl creeping into his convivial tone, "If they get you killed, Dead End, I'll see to it that they learn there are only two varieties of fire: unfriendly and unfriendlier."
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Mar 1, 2008 20:38:58 GMT -5
Dead End's engine rumbled appreciatively. It felt good to have the dust film wiped off, and he anticipated the polishing to come pleasantly.
"Only if you yourself survive," he said dolefully. "Besides, knowing what my comrades can do helps me understand how things can go wrong with them. I never quite understood why--I know my risk analysis profiles are a bit skewed--but Motormaster always asked my assessment of a mission. Not that he or any of my brothers took it seriously."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Mar 4, 2008 13:41:47 GMT -5
Once Scourge is quite satisfied that Dead End is clean enough, he moves back around to where he started, to where the solvent will have entirely evaporated off the Stunticon's frame. He selects another cloth and a tin of wax. Wax first first; polish later.
Scourge does have to wonder how waxing Dead End even works. Has the Stunticon turned off his forcefields or something?
Cheerily, Scourge replies, "Rancor never dies. Of course, if you aren't being taken seriously, you may wish to reconsider your phrasing."
Scourge is firm about applying the wax, not hard enough to hurt or dent, but he's definitely putting some effort into the waxing job. He'll likely come back for another run once he has the first coat done, to make sure everything is even and properly worked in, and the polishing – that will be multi-step, yes.
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Mar 4, 2008 22:59:39 GMT -5
Of course he's turned off his forcefields. They eat extra energy, and besides, he'd look stupid with a layer of polish on his forcefields. Forcefields just don't polish well.
Oh my, that felt quite... nice. It was always pleasant to have a teammate rub one all over with polish, with such long, firm strokes.
"'Rancor never dies'? There may be something in what you say. It was certainly true in Starscream's case," Dead End said with a low chuckle.
"I suspect, rather, that my brothers knew how skewed my risk analyses were. Wildrider always said I was good for team morale: 'Once you've told us how everything goes pear-shaped, it can only go uphill from there!' " Dead End's tone suggested that he was highly dubious of Wildrider's sanity.
Yet more polishing to go. Dead End's engine just purred, a well-tuned engine ticking over just above idle, hinting at power just waiting to be unleashed.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Mar 4, 2008 23:54:55 GMT -5
The Prime doppelganger goes back over his previous works with gusto, making sure that he's got everything absolutely even. He understands on some level that he can die, but really, he doesn't believe it.
Scourge comments absently, "I would like to meet your brothers. You say so much of them." Motormaster, Scourge might have to tear a set of new holes, but black trucks are known for their dominance rituals. Actually, if a Motormaster ever does show up, while Dead End has proven that Stunticons can be torn apart, Scourge think he'll just call up Screwdriver and ask her if she has anything that disable forcefields.
Scourge hasn't said much at all about his own team, and he wonders if Dead End even knows that Scourge had one, once. He sure he mentioned it, mentioned them. Didn't he?
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Mar 7, 2008 1:10:37 GMT -5
Dead End appreciated Scourge's gusto. That kind of intense, personal attention from a terrifyingly powerful and dark truck-former... Strength that could literally tear Dead End from limb to limb being applied so precisely and so delightfully...
"We were built by Megatron and given life at his command," Dead End said, engine and voice purring. "He made us to be his own special commando team of cars, to counter the Autobot cars. Our loyalty was to each other, and Megatron. We are all quite mad, but our quirks complement each other, so we work fairly well as a team."
"You, as I have said, remind me of Motormaster, but you are not him. That is a good thing, since none of the rest of us actually liked Motormaster. He had your power and fury combined with Counterpunch's charm and Shockwave's fondness for absolute subjugation."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Mar 7, 2008 13:45:09 GMT -5
"You have mentioned Motormaster and Wildrider. What are the names of your other brothers? What are they like?" Scourge inquires, actually interested to see what sort of team Dead End hails from. It sounds like a very... peculiar one.
Satisfied with the wax job, he moves to polishing now. Dead End did four runs. Scourge can do no less. However, he isn't paying any particular attention to what really seems to please Dead End and what doesn't. Scourge's mind isn't really there yet, due to lack of cultural exposure to those sorts of concepts.
Perhaps Hook should pen The Jets and the Stinger Missiles as a reference manual.
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Mar 7, 2008 17:25:41 GMT -5
Indeed, a little more attention to those hubcaps would have been nice.
"There are also Breakdown and Drag Strip. Motormaster is our leader, a dark gray truck-former with a face like Megatron's. Myself you know. Wildrider is dark gray and transforms into a Ferrari; he is a bit of a terrorist--wild and destructive. His particular madness is an inability to tolerate silence or stillness; he must have noise and action or create it himself. Wildrider tends to be... erratic and his attention span is limited."
Dead End fell silent, enjoying Scourge's ministrations. "I have noticed that my conversation calms him down when he gets too wired," Dead End added a bit later. "You mentioned you commanded a team, Scourge. What were they like?"
--- Dead End has more to say, but trying to stay away from infodumping all in one post.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Mar 7, 2008 17:55:33 GMT -5
Scourge listens carefully, processing the information. These Stunticons seem to be very varied.
Ah, so Dead End does possess a sense of curiosity, doe she? Scourge answers, "I had five troops. My second was Mega-Octane, a missile truck. He is calmer and more thoughtful than I am but not possessed of the courage needed to truly lead." What has become with Scourge gone? "He is our eldest and forms the centre of Ruination, their combined form. He is picky about taking his bath before the rest."
The preferences about baths are going to be a disturbing trend as Scourge continues to explain his former troops.
He works through a few more polishing rounds, and now, it is time for buffing.
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Dead End
Major
Yes, we're all doomed. I already knew that.
Posts: 797
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Post by Dead End on Mar 7, 2008 20:37:34 GMT -5
"A five-combiner, and their center was a missile truck? Interesting. The Combaticons are such a team, and Onslaught, their leader and center, is a missile truck. It's not a very common transform," Dead End added as an afterthought.
"Our team is a five-combiner, too. That seems to be the most common. Devastator, the Constructicon combiner, is a six-mech combiner, though," Dead End mused, his attention more on the buffing than who was in which team.
"One thing we Stunticons have in common besides our madness; we like to look good," Dead End said. "Well, Drag Strip insists on looking good and being the best at everything, and making sure everyone knows it, but that's Drag Strip," Dead End said in a tolerant tone, like one would speak of one's eccentric relatives.
"He transforms into a bright yellow Formula One racer--and doesn't take 'yellow' jokes very well. Vortex was silly enough to do that once, since he always got away with making 'yellow' jokes at Swindle's expense, but Drag Strip is a bit more violent than Swindle. He's a bit higher-strung, too."
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