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Post by Perceptor on Jan 14, 2008 22:35:47 GMT -5
Perceptor is, indeed, holding on tightly as he continues trying to work out what the curious duo could have possibly wanted within his laboratory.
Perhaps the charge-to-fuel converters? But only the away team and Command even knew the single compact model existed. A larger unit wasn't even really in any stage of construction, and wouldn't do anyone much good anyway, as being far too large to transport easily.
His notations? Not likely. Pardonable pride, perhaps, but he private doubts that anyone would be able to fully follow his fussy but yet still somehow rambling calculations completely anyway. Botanica and Skyfire might be able to puzzle out some of it, but Swerve or Xaaron?
Assuming that this is some variation of Swerve or Xaaron and not infiltrators in disguise. That's always plausible.
It still does not answer what anyone could want in his workshop. The only other significant project he is working on at the moment is, as always, a means to get home in that partially constructed and, as yet, non-functional dimensional porta-
That quick left Kup makes almost dumps Perceptor from the older mech's bed as his grip slackens.
No, surely not. He has not even fully completed construction on that unit yet! Several of the primary breakers have not even been installed to prevent accidental activation! It cannot have been responsible!
Could it?
"Oh dear...."
The simplest explanation, no matter how implausible, is often the most probable.
"Ah... ahem... Kup?" This is one seriously sheepish sounding scientist here. "Prior to our sudden interruption... I, err... Ahem... I believe that I had not gotten to explaining the near operational trans-dimensional portal unit I was working on... ahem."
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Arcee
Minor
Token Girl-Bot
Posts: 330
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Post by Arcee on Jan 14, 2008 22:46:27 GMT -5
Arcee's on her way, and, well, let's just say she had to come the farthest. Even now, she can just make out the other figures.
But she'll be there soon.
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Swerve-3
Rookie
Maintain the Light
Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Jan 14, 2008 23:15:49 GMT -5
Well, no, supposes Swerve. He probably wouldn't want to meet another Emirate Xaaron; he's quite happy with the one he has.
Had, he corrects himself in horror as he realises too late his error and his passenger is torn free by the other-Emirate Xaaron. At this speed, it takes Swerve a sickening length of time to stop, tires shrieking as he spins 180° and narrowly misses clipping a street sign. Even before he can shift back into gear and race to his leader's side, there is Bumblebee blocking his path and all too ready to fight, if the sound of his engine is any indication. No, no, no! Too many mistakes!
"Blast it all," the constable hisses to himself, finally unable to fend off the exasperation and fear any longer. He lurches into gear so quickly his clutch screams the protest he can't let himself voice as he races forward; Bumblebee launches toward him at the same time. Swerve has seen this before many times on Velocitron, participated in enough games of it himself. There isn't enough space to dodge the yellow car on either side no matter how closely the constable cuts it. The street is simply too narrow. …Up and over, then, his only choice to avoid too much damage to himself.
His transformation is last-second, just soon enough for Swerve to boost himself over Bumblebee with a two-handed push off his hood. Even before his feet touch pavement, the constable's weapon is in hand.
"Cyber Key Power!" he bellows, and the night sky is briefly lit with crimson as the called-for power-up descends, slamming home into the port on his cannon. The twin barrels unlock and slam forward into firing position as he lands; when he rights himself, his sights are trained squarely on the other-Emirate Xaaron. Swerve does not tremble; he can't afford to. He can barely keep the quaver from his voice. "I'll thank you kindly to release Emirate Xaaron now," he says in a flat, knife-edge tone. Polite, always polite, but there is no patience left. There is no time left – in more ways than one, Swerve realises as the image of the other-Emirate Xaaron flickers and fades. Mirage. And armed, rifle trained on the constable. Swerve's reaction is instantaneous; the barest shift of his arm and he fires a single cannon blast into the wall just above and to the left of Mirage's head. Close enough, perhaps, for the spy to realise Swerve chose to miss.
Others would – have – scorned Swerve for his mercy. And maybe he should simply take out the other Autobots to ease escape, but he can't change who he is. He just wanted to bring down as little fury as he could on them in their escape and he's failing miserably in that goal. Attacking – killing – one or more of them would only make it worse now.
"Let. Him. Go."
OOC: Posing of Bumblebee and Mirage done with players' permission.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
Rookie
Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
Posts: 162
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Jan 14, 2008 23:46:50 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron tries to dodge, but the lithe, athletic spy is beyond Emirate Xaaron's meagre survival abilities. He hits the ground but barely. This doesn't hurt nearly as much as Emirate Xaaron was expecting it to. He's actually quite relieved that this is merely Mirage and not some nightmare version of himself. The apology rings hollow. If Mirage was really sorry, he wouldn't have tackled Emirate Xaaron. He bites out the words, "There is always a choice."
Emirate Xaaron pulls away from the attempt to help him up. One might even say that he recoils as if burnt. He wraps his arms about himself tightly and shudders. They are surrounded, and weapons are drawn. They aren't getting away. Voice quavering, he calls out to Kup, "Let Swerve go, Kup. I'll come quietly."
Emirate Xaaron can make himself useful enough to survive. He won't like it at all, but he cannot say the same of Swerve. Besides, if Swerve walks, he'll likely get up to some hare-brained plan to rescue Emirate Xaaron. Those sorts of plans work more often than they should, really.
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Post by Kup on Jan 15, 2008 0:02:04 GMT -5
"A trans-dimensi- Perceptor!" Kup shouts as he turns another corner, trying to get to the grouping from another angle. "Look, I know you mean well, but for future reference, when making reports, near-operational trans-dimensional portals take priority over replicator upgrades!"
Sheesh.
"Be ready to hop out as soon as I'm there," Kup tells his passenger as he turns the last corner. He drives towards the group and, before he even reaches them, he's more or less made out the scene.
The veteran transforms and springs into a crouching position. If Perceptor doesn't clamber out of his truck-bed in a hurry, he'll find himself dumped to the ground. He does not, however, draw his weapon. Instead, he holds one hand, palm towards the ground, towards Mirage. "Lower your weapon, Mirage," Kup says softly.
Then he straightens. The message is clear. He is not going to draw weapon, but neither is he going to move or simply let them go since they're surrounded. At this distance, Xaaron and Swerve can no doubt see some physical differences between this Kup and the Kup they know. The Kup they know pays more attention to appearances. Both are aged, both have faded color schemes, but this Kup's colors are more faded than that others, he's not been waxed recently, and no strong effort has been made to keep himself looking good.
His voice rough voice is soft as he speaks. "Now, lad, we don't want to hurt neither of you... and I'm getting the impression you don't want to hurt us, either. Now, if you can both just calm down, we'd just like an explanation for what the blazes is going on. That's all."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 15, 2008 0:47:48 GMT -5
Mirage stares a bit at the trembling fearful thing that is standing before him looking like Emirate Xaaron. Mirage may not particularly like the Emirate, but he would never have imagined a version of him that was so...unimposing. At the Emirate's comment about choice however, Mirage can't help but quip, "Quite right. I could have shot Swerve's tires out from under him, or put a round through you instead, but we don't do things like that around here. Not without provocation, anyway."
Keeping a wary optic on the Emirate, Mirage turns his attention back down the road. He watches with a bit of admiration as Swerve leapfrogs over Bumblebee, and then his jaw drops and his optics widen when Swerve activates his Cyber Key power. That is....odd. He quickly recovers, instincts kicking at the sight of that drawn weapon, his own rifle coming up and in line with the constable even as he feels his cloak timing out.
That deliberate miss on Swerve's part does not go unnoticed, but it isn't the heat of that near miss, the fragments of wall showering him that causes Mirage's face to pinch, causes a puzzled expression to settle there. It's the fact that this Swerve is so obviously trying to protect this Emirate Xaaron, and at the same so obviously does not want to hurt anyone in the process. Mirage's rifle is already lowering, even as Kup gives his order. Slowly, carefully, he puts away his rifle, looking from Swerve to the Emirate and back again. "Your Emirate is unharmed, Swerve. I was quite careful with him," Mirage's inflections and accent clearly mark him as a member of the Cybertronian upper class, something the Mirage these two would know most certainly is not.
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Post by Bumblebee on Jan 15, 2008 1:28:21 GMT -5
Bumblebee is going to engage Swerve in combat... and Swerve just leaps over him. Blast.
Now it's Bumblebee's turn to swerve around. But by the time he gets around, Kup is there and handling the situation. Something that Kup seems to do pretty well. Bumblebee unfolds himself once more into Robot mode. The weapons are not drawn this time, but his right hand is twitching slightly, ready for a last-minute transformation into Bumblebee's primary weapon.
Bumblebee looks similar enough to the counterpart that Swerve and Xaaron know, but he seems to turn into a much older car, and is in a pretty poor state of affairs, all things considered. Still, he sounds just like the Bumblebee they know.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 15, 2008 1:47:04 GMT -5
Perceptor's expression can only be described as abashed. Perhaps just a little petulant.
"I had not believed that the unit could be this near operational stat-" His apologetic explanation is cut off abruptly in a startled squawk as Kup's warning registers a second too late and he finds himself unceremoniously dumped on his aft in the street. He really needs to learn to, first, pay closer attention, and second, be quicker on his feet.
Literally.
Unfortunately, save for the awkward expression as Perceptor picks himself up off the ground - and perhaps the worried expression he casts in the direction of the unfolding stand-off once he has regained his footing behind and to one side of Kup - this Perceptor looks no different than the one that Swerve and Xaaron are familiar with.
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Arcee
Minor
Token Girl-Bot
Posts: 330
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Post by Arcee on Jan 15, 2008 23:10:03 GMT -5
Arcee pulls up to the scene, very aware that she'd taken just a little too much time in getting to this party, because, frankly, she had no idea what's going on. But since the others are hanging back... around Xaaron and Swerve?--she will too, even as she transforms.
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Swerve-3
Rookie
Maintain the Light
Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Jan 16, 2008 2:32:00 GMT -5
The sight of Emirate Xaaron shrinking away from Mirage, tucking in on himself in fear, very nearly overwhelms Swerve's control. More than being surrounded, more than being hopelessly outnumbered, seeing that truly drives home the fact that he has failed his leader. Despite himself, he grimaces as an internal alert pipes at him; he's too angry with himself, too much heat buildup because of it. He has failed and Emirate Xaaron–
"…Sir?" Swerve blinks at first, then a look of dull horror paints itself over his features as he processes Emirate Xaaron's words. "Sir – no!" he pleads, composure finally cracking and weapon vanishing into subspace as he rushes to his leader's side. He very nearly clasps Emirate Xaaron by the arms, even lifts his hands to do so, but stops himself before his fingers can touch gold plating. Instead, the constable whirls, first to Mirage, then Kup, then Bumblebee, back around to Perceptor and then to Arcee. They aren't attacking; they aren't even threatening. Not so much as a single worrisome leer.
Just what sort of new hell could be hiding behind these faces?
"An explanation," he echoes unsteadily as his gaze drifts back to Kup and he shifts and pivots, almost unconsciously, trying once more to shield Emirate Xaaron with himself. This Kup looks… worn. Strange. And though the voice is the same, it sounds all wrong. "I… am not…." He needs to rein himself in again; he needs his wits about him. What good it will do them now, he isn't sure. What exactly is going on – other than they've been caught, well and truly – he isn't sure. Too much uncertainty. "I'm – I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure myself. Sir." Courtesy doesn't always impress the Kup Swerve knows; perhaps this Kup is different.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
Rookie
Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
Posts: 162
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Jan 16, 2008 10:41:38 GMT -5
Terrible things can happen when one is captured intact. They can be worse than when one is captured injured, in fact.
Emirate Xaaron notices that Kup doesn't have that polished, kept-up look about him like the one he knows does and that Bumblebee looks more rusted out and faded. If these people pay less attention to their own well-being, they might be even worse to their prisoners. On the other hand, this Mirage sounds quite high class, but being genteel doesn't imply being gentle. Mirage didn't harm him? Mirage touched him. See, Swerve has the sense not to touch Emirate Xaaron.
Emirate Xaaron gestures to Swerve, "I want him seen off with rations – not made by that Perceptor of yours, and I'll talk."
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Post by Kup on Jan 16, 2008 11:55:49 GMT -5
Courtesy - from Swerve, anyway - mostly just confuses this Kup, but it's not puzzlement so much as a thoughtful frown that Kup casts in Swerve's direction. His optics narrow at the sputter and restart, before he turns his gaze on the trembling, fearful creature in Emirate Xaaron's body. He seems to listen carefully to the alternate-Emirate's words before his optics sweep the rest of those gathered - Bumblebee, Arcee, Mirage - making sure that they do indeed have these two surrounded. The gaze lingers a bit longer on Perceptor - why specify the rations aren't made by him? - passes over Swerve once more, then settles again on Emirate Xaaron.
"I'm getting the impression he wouldn't go even if we let him," Kup observes, as he shrugs his left shoulder faintly. Then he tilts his head back a little, and seems, instead, to be looking towards the horizon, blocked though it is by the city.
"So we seem to have a problem here. Swerve... isn't sure what's going on. If you are, you won't talk unless he leaves, and he doesn't seem to intend to leave. So instead, I guess I'll just have to make my guesses based on what little I do know.
"You two are running. From us, obviously, but not just us. There's something that set you off to begin with, a reason you seem terrified of us, though you never met us. When you run from something, that usually suggests you expect it to follow." Kup now looks back down at Swerve and Xaaron, and his expression hardens with a smoldering anger. The coiled spring winds tighter. "And you two," he goes on, expression still controlled but with a undercurrent of strong disapproval, "you two are perfectly content to go running off and leave us to deal with whatever you've just brought down on our heads without warning or explanation, just because we're total strangers who just happen to be wearing faces you don't much care for!"
"No!" His voice roughens, the disapproval starts to express itself in a faint growl, and anger narrows his optics and knits his brow-ridges. "No deals! We've got no interest in hurting you, but neither of you go until I have got an idea on how to protect my people from whatever the blazes you are running from. Am I clear?"
And still, the spring has not uncoiled.
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Post by Mirage on Jan 16, 2008 12:51:43 GMT -5
A quirked browridge is all that betrays Mirage's astonishment at the fact that the use of the word "Sir" in reference to Kup, coming from Swerve's lips did not herald the end of the world. Of course, depending on what the odd couple are running from, that might yet be the case.
Mirage has not moved from his position near the fearful Emirate. As Kup's voice hardens, Mirage casts a concerned glance at the Security Chief. The spy can certainly appreciate Kup's point of view on the matter, but..these two are spooked enough as it is. And Kup, oldtimer or no, is an intimidating individual when angry. Mirage looks back at Swerve, this wound tight yet oddly collected Swerve.
This... will be interesting at least.
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Post by Bumblebee on Jan 16, 2008 13:33:01 GMT -5
Bumblebee looks to Kup, grateful that he's never gotten on the old-timer's REALLY grumpy side.
Tensions mount. Bumblebee does the same. His hand folds back as a barrel and manifolds extend and lock into place, configuring back into a weapon. He doesn't draw it up, doesn't threaten. it's just sitting at his side, ready to be fired when things inevitably turn to custard.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 16, 2008 17:23:44 GMT -5
Perceptor isn't quite sure which baffles him more: Swerve's studious courtesy, or his vehement defense and protection of Xaaron.
From them.
No, not possible. Is it? Perceptor shakes his head, his gaze, for those who might have been studying him in that moment, distant and vague as he grasps at the data just out of reach. This Swerve and Xaaron had recognized he and Kup upon sight - at least Xaaron had, addressing each of them eventually by name, unprompted-
Wait. What was that Xaaron had just said? As long as he was not involved in the formulation of any rations for Swerve? Perceptor's baffled gaze - and, admittedly, yes, there is a shadow of hurt in there, as well - rests upon the pair, Xaaron trying to be brave despite quaking with fear, and Swerve, trying to make himself a wall to stand between Xaaron and... and the rest of the assembled Autobots. As if they posed some sort of threat, and not merely by their presence, but by their presence.
Kup's vociferous concerns barely register to the scientist as he continues trying to turn everything over in his processors, trying to make sense of the chaos. He steps forward a single pace, drawing even with Kup as he continues staring intently at the beleaguered duo, an expression of baffled scrutiny on his features.
"They fear... us," he murmurs softly, mainly to himself, but also in an attempt to placate Kup.
"You clearly recognize us - or recognize someone so similar to us as to share the same names - and yet, you still flee in fear," he continues, addressing Xaaron and Swerve directly - something the Perceptor they are most familiar with would never have done, and certainly not in such a perplexed tone, rather than one of calculated calm or deep superiority.
Perceptor shakes his head, casting a brief look at Kup. "Would you stop to warn a Sweep that Galvatron may be in pursuit?"
"You did arrive through the portal device, didn't you?" he asks softly, turning that perplexed gaze back upon Swerve and Xaaron. "Why do you fear us so?"
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