Nightbeat-3
Cadet
Going to make you an offer you can't refuse.
Posts: 49
|
Post by Nightbeat-3 on Mar 8, 2008 23:54:09 GMT -5
Nightbeat is generally a mechanoid of violence. He's been an enforcer, leg-breaker, gun-runner, drug-runner, and everything in-between in his rise to prominence of Cybertron's criminal empire. He'd probably even have run a murder pit or too, if he'd have hadn't had too many fingers in the pot at the time.
But personally violent? No. Why kill when threats and damage can do so much better? He would be the first to admit he was a very bad individual... but he was also one of reasonable limits. He never hurt anyone more than was precisely necessary for the situation.
Except when he's around Rodimus. There, even that small bit of control threatens to snap. He knows several ways he could kill them all. So very easily, even the likes of Shockwave.
He settles for shooting Scourge an angry glare as he retreats. He'd have liked to have done some damage to the big black Prime-ish 'bot. After all, nobody got to mess with his lady but him.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 9, 2008 0:15:41 GMT -5
When Shockwave lets Synapse up to tend to Duskwing, Rodimus Prime nods faintly to Perceptor, then jerks his head towards Synapse, implying that he should be gathered up. Even has he does though, however, he also moves and kneels next to Synapse, mimicking a concerned commander checking on a downed subordinate.
Until he plucks one of the nodes out of it's lodging place and stands up. "Have issue with it, Starscream?" he asks, not looking up at the Decepticon but down at the node, still damaged in one place. He absently turns it over as he continues speaking. "They are, in fact, eager to do just that, to eliminate the weaklings who wear their faces."
With that, Rodimus casually rips a section of the node's 'skin' off, then turns and tosses that to Perceptor where he gathers up the Spy. To Perceptor he says, out loud, "See how deeply he was broken and fix it. See about... future resiliency. You'll have as much time as you need."
Then, he turns and smiles at Starscream. "Nothing personal, of course," he echoes the former Air Commander.
Then Scourge makes his angry departure, and Rodimus's optics brighten feverishly. He gives a laugh of delighted cruelty akin to that of a child who's just killed an ant with a magnifying glass, then turns to Starscream. "Having a bit of trouble controlling your troops, Starscream?"
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 9, 2008 1:23:35 GMT -5
Shockwave fights the urge to snap at Starscream's order; he suggested the Mayhem do the check for a reason. Shockwave actually stares at Starscream for several moments, a tiny, niggling feeling working it's way up through his processors, one that is more that annoyance, more than frustration, one that it is taking more effort than is normal to quell. At Duskwing's approach, Shockwave straightens, leaving Synapse to his Prime's pleasure. Hgn. The work on the Seeker looks sloppy. How very...not like Perceptor.
Shockwave considers for a moment handing the duty off, regardless of Starscream's orders. But...the actual risk in the doing is low, by Shockwave's estimation, and if pressed, he would admit to much curiosity over what Perceptor may have done to Duskwing. Considering that the pleasure of doing a full exam on the Seeker has been taken from Shockwave, and that Hook is not likely to share his findings without coercion...yes, this will do, for now.
He nods at Duskwing's salute, then indicates the Seeker should lie down. In short order, Shockwave has Duskwing hooked up and diagnostics programming running, performing a quick check on Duskwing's vitals, and also checking for any overt programming changes. He carefully inspects the work done on the wings, prying up patches here and there to check underneath. Shockwave isn't actively trying to cause Duskwing pain, unlike the one who worked on the Seeker; it is fairly obviously that Duskwing's discomfort was a major factor in how these repairs were done. Nothing is jumping out at Shockwave as dangerous to anyone other than Duskwing, however. Not that he expected to find anything; whatever was done (because obviously something would have been done) would be too well hidden for such a cursory exam to catch it.
Scourge's outburst is noted, and a tiny burst of anger pulses through Shockwave, hard and fast enough that the needles he is using to check a connection slip and he barely stops them from jabbing painfully into Duskwing's circuitry. It isn't at Scourge's retreating form that the sigil-less Decepticon glares, or even at Starscream for failing to control the tanker. It is at the laughing Prime. They will come to regret this alliance Starscream has forged. This Prime...something about him...Shockwave pushes that anger back again, visibly shaking it off. When Shockwave moves to examine the repair at Duskwing's cockpit, he pauses, tracing the welds. He looks up at Perceptor. Very sloppy work. The cockpit is welded shut in places. Too sloppy....
"This will likely hurt," Shockwave murmurs, the only warning Duskwing gets before Shockwave starts slicing through the welds.
OOC: Posing/handling of Duskwing done with permission. Further description of Duskwing's repairs worked out w/ Duskwing and Perceptor's players.
|
|
Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
|
Post by Synapse-3 on Mar 9, 2008 2:06:31 GMT -5
Prime is here--as is Pee-Dee. But who else is present? There are a number of people all together in this group if the tremors and sounds on the soil tell the right tale as movements are made.
The pressure on his chest lessens and disappears. But any thoughts of flight disappears with the familiar footsteps that draw closer. Synapse cranes his head in the direction that the steps seem to originate from. He can now even hear the mechanics of pumping pistons and a whoosh as someone--no--Rodimus Prime crouches over him.
"Please, I d--"
The desperate subordinate to the Prime's caring commander is cut of with a sharp rattling at the scout's intakes. His node, Rodimus had his----a thrashing scream breaks from Synapse as a portion of the node feels as if someone has ignited a welder over its surface. Everything remains though. The world isn't plunged into a pleasant nothing and Synapse wheezes as he finds himself still online. It seems that Shockwave's previous tampering with his tactile network is still quite intact.
Mention of Perceptor's name rings through his audios and Synapse's jaw falls slack. "Sir, p-please I...I..." The stammering stops as soon as it starts. He has no excuse to offer, nothing that will work, nothing that sticks. Dirt works between his joints as the scout attempts to scoot away in a reasonable direction. It won't get him far though. Synapse's movements are uncoordinated and jerky, not only that, but he doesn't actually know where Perceptor would be coming from. For all the scout knows, he could be moving right towards the scientist.
In some circumstances, it might be something Synapse would nervously relish. But this isn't one of those circumstances.
|
|
Pee-Dee-3
Cadet
"I know his name."
Posts: 105
|
Post by Pee-Dee-3 on Mar 9, 2008 7:23:57 GMT -5
That wild grin is replaced by an expression more shrewd as Scourge looms over her with his sword. The black anger exuding from him might have made a fearful mech quake, but Pee-Dee was afraid of nothing and no one. So she stands before him without flinching, head tilted slightly to the side as she waits for the blow to fall.
But he does not strike, and her optics flash as he walks away.
Then the faint sound of a breaking window reaches her audials, and she smiles and turns smartly on her heels to face Rodimus.
//And the motto of all the mongoose family is "Run and find out",1 but is Pee-Dee allowed?// The Junkion asks over a short-range Autobot band. Will Rodimus let her go chase the big brute?
For that was ever such a curious answer. A Junkion answer, in fact,
---
1. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", Rudyard Kipling
|
|
|
Post by Bumblebee-3 on Mar 9, 2008 13:53:57 GMT -5
OOC: Please, treat Bumblebee as skippable until I say he isn't.
Ah yes, the Unicron effect. Scourge is obviously a rageaholic who has had too much rageahol. Bumblebee sometimes had to be reminded about this little gift of Rodimus'... for some reason he didn't feel his demeanour change all that much around him. Weird.
Bumblebee's cruel smile as he watches Rodimus torment Synapse is shared with none but himself. While he is envious of Rodimus' talent at this, and his own special gifts, he can still enjoy the show. Perhaps if Bumblebee pleases his master, Rodimus will reward him by letting Bumblebee carry out part of the punishment.
Unfortunately, because of the Rodimus distraction, Bumblebee doesn't notice Duskwing's return glance.
|
|
Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
|
Post by Starscream on Mar 9, 2008 14:14:09 GMT -5
Starscream was used to this whole 'pleasantries to the person you're planning on double-crossing' thing.. but it was REALLY hard today for some reason.
"Well, that's good to hear, Prime. We will be ready to mobilize as soon as your team is, and..."
...and then Scourge stormed off. What. Was that? Starscream scowled at the departing Scourge, and then frowned even more at Rodimus' snide remark. How dare he embarrass him like that. He KNEW how important this meeting was. Starscream was so furious. How DARE Scourge do that. Death was too good for him. Oh, and now he is breaking things. He is ruining EVERYTHING. Every wall being pounded and every window being shattered was another way Starscream was imagining beating on Scourge for this. Starscream was going to have to invent something to keep Scourge alive long enough so that there was a chance he would be able to survive a fraction of the punishment that he deserved....
...This is not helping the situation. Starscream shook it off, as best he could. All smiles again.
"I don't suppose you've got an Omega Supreme, have you?"
|
|
Eye-fire
Major
In two minds about everything
Posts: 597
|
Post by Eye-fire on Mar 9, 2008 16:17:29 GMT -5
Eye-Fire was slowly beginning to lose it along with the other Decepticons. He kept having to fight back the signals to change his hand into a gun and blast one of these damned Autobots into slag.
He felt himself about to lose control, and he nearly gave into it. He could probably get at least one of them before they took him down, and those were odds good enough for him....
And then he caught himself on the brink, and he was thankful that he didn't have a conventional face. The huge, insane grin on it would have given him away. There were other ways he could get at them, and he'd probably get a chance to blast them. He reatreated instead into the cold mind of a sniper, using his training to keep calm and pull back his emotions even as he lighted up the face of each of the Autobots with a crosshair.
He hoped Starscream wouldn't go so far as to offer them accommodation inside the base. If they had to set up camp elsewhere, he'd find it, and he'd watch everything they did. And if they did even a single thing that looked suspect.... well, they'd soon know the fear he can bring.
__________________________________________
OOC: Skippable agian.
|
|
Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
|
Post by Perceptor-3 on Mar 9, 2008 19:19:48 GMT -5
There is a cold inner light in that studiously calm expression as Perceptor obediently steps up toward his new subject. He watches, lip components twitching so very faintly, as Shockwave's gaze darts up to him. Ah, but to have a bit of telemetry in the Decepticon scientist's CPU, to hear the thoughts running behind that single golden optic.
But Perceptor has his own work to do, which Synapse's brief flailing reminds him of.
"As you command, Prime," he murmurs, his voice a low, cold purr that speaks volumes of the pleasure which he anticipates from this "duty" that has been set upon his shoulders. A low, unsettlingly close murmur, nearly right in the blind minibot's audials, and utterly uncaring of Synapse's brief cry.
Perceptor catches that node as it is carelessly tossed at him, his other hand falling heavily upon Synapse's shoulder, hauling him upright to his feet, holding him there for a moment. Only a moment.
Optics still fixed upon the Decepticons, watching for hostility, watching Shockwave begin his work, Perceptor spins Synapse about, facing back toward the Decepticons and slips his arm across the minibot's chest. Feet dangling against Perceptor's shins, Synapse is held pinned, the scientist's arm binding the minibot's tightly to his side as Perceptor retreats backward to the rest of the Autobots.
"How disappointing," he whispers in Synapse's audial, his thumb stroking the underside of that node still clutched in his other hand. "I believe a thorough examination of your memorybanks is in order to determine precisely where the failure occurred." Fortunately, Perceptor has been granted all the time he requires to do so. Isn't that lovely, Synapse?
|
|
Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
|
Post by Duskwing on Mar 9, 2008 19:46:54 GMT -5
Duskwing turned his head slightly to watch Scourge's outburst and angry departure. He stared after him, puzzled. Unable to hear Scourge's broadcast, he had no idea what was going on.
Shockwave wanted him down to be checked over, so Duskwing got down. No matter how pissed off he was at that Rodimus slagger, or how much he wanted to shove cluster bombs down the Autobots' collective throats, it wasn't going to happen here and now. Now was the bosses talking politics and plotting treachery. Over his paygrade, still. Duskwing just wanted to get properly fixed.
Then it would be time to plan a few fraggings.
He scowled as the evil Prime peeled off a piece of the mini-bot's node, and the wimp cried and tried to crawl away. Pathetic. Rodimus had a thing for ripping skin off, didn't he? Twisted slagger. He needed to be pushed into a smelting pit and held down.
"Having a bit of trouble controlling your troops, Starscream?"
Red optics narrowed at that. "Slagger pisses me off," Duskwing muttered to Shockwave. "He pisses everyone off."
"*KRRKKKK*" Duskwing shuddered suddenly, grimacing lop-sidedly in pain at the burst of static in his vocalizer. "Low-balling incompetent, ham-fingered jackleg excuse of a drone-repair droid slagged up my repairs but good. Can't even talk right."
He fell silent, only nodding at Shockwave's warning that the cuts would hurt. Duskwing grimaced at the pain as it came and went, the expression slightly twisted, facial circuits not quite in sync.
|
|
Nightbeat-3
Cadet
Going to make you an offer you can't refuse.
Posts: 49
|
Post by Nightbeat-3 on Mar 9, 2008 22:43:04 GMT -5
Nightbeat's expression doesn't change, but if it was, he'd be wincing at Prime's torture of Synapse. Some things just shouldn't be done, even if you're the Prime.
Certainly not his place to speak, however. Especially not in front of potential suckers.
//Youse really wanna chance after that brusier, doll? Don' wanna see your pretty little head get kicked in.//
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 9, 2008 23:23:41 GMT -5
//Touching, Nightbeat,// Rodimus says dryly, using a low-powered burst over the Autobot general frequency, //but you may have noticed that Pee-Dee's perfectly capable of dealing with a kicked in head.//
//Very well. Pee-Dee is allowed. But keep in mind: we will have to work with these people, at least until their Autobots and our Decepticons are crushed.//
Prime studies the scene at hand, lips pursed. Oh, the Decepticons are affected, all right. But if all Rodimus did was rile those around him up, he'd never have managed to remain leader, and they'd never accomplish anything.
Though it's not part of his native ability, Rodimus also has some skill in directing such violence.
"I do have an Omega Supreme, and he is remaining in my reality for now." His tone is firm and certain, but not condescending and, perhaps, containing a hint of apology to it. "We can't bring the portal through itself, Starscream, and I won't leave it unguarded in my reality with our Decepticons still there. This benefits you as well - it serves both of us best to leave our enemies divided."
Rodimus smiles faintly, optics glittering. "We'll crush their forces, one after another, Starscream. And then... we'll have the portal. You asked before if two realities would be enough for the two of us?" Rodimus smiles, and his optics are narrowed. Oh, you're angry... but aren't there so much better ways to direct that anger?
"Why should we limit ourselves to just two, Starscream?" Rodimus practically purrs out.
Then, it's back to business. Rodimus has explained what he won't bring to the table. Now to add what he will, and suggest plans. "We do have Skyfire, as you've noticed. A transport swift enough to bring the battle on them before they know it. Of course, they may have a Synapse, so we may wish to find a means to distract them - either draw them out, or divide their front - before the attack."
(This would be a good time to mention, oh, giant burrowing mining worms or some such...)
|
|
|
Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 10, 2008 10:12:34 GMT -5
Shockwave carefully pries open the repair at Duskwing's cockpit. The Seeker may be rather under-clocked, but, colorful vocabulary aside, Duskwing is bearing pain well enough.
"If it hurts to talk, then do not do so." Shockwave says. "And I wouldn't say he fragged them up. Perceptor knew what he was doing." Which apparently included wiring Duskwing's pain sensors into the welds. How novel.
Shockwave just tacks the metal back into place. Hook can deal with this mess. There will be something other than punitive additions to Duskwing's anatomy, surely, but there is nothing Shockwave can spot under such crude conditions.
He looks over at Starscream, "Nothing overt found in form or programming, though the work seems sloppily done." Another glance at Perceptor
Privately to Starscream: //Deliberately sloppy. Hook will have a fit. I would recommend against Duskwing transforming for the trip to medical. That might place too much stress on the repairs. Perhaps Eye-Fire or Needlenose could assist Duskwing?//
Shockwave stands. He listens to the Prime's list of assets, but offers no advice regarding tactics. This is Starscream's berth. Let us see how he makes it.
|
|
Synapse-3
Cadet
It would be a pleasure...
Posts: 84
|
Post by Synapse-3 on Mar 10, 2008 17:37:03 GMT -5
To hear Perceptor use that tone sends the bottom of Synapse's fuel tank plummeting and he flinches back. Why the glee? What exactly has the Prime just given permission for the scientist to do? A much more specific question may be: Just what isn't Perceptor allowed to do? The table that generates remains chillingly unpopulated.
"Sir?!" Synapse grimaces and stiffens at the heavy contact. "I can walk, sir. Following will not be of issu--" Gyros suddenly spin and Synapse nearly kicks out as his feet leave the ground. "Please!" Back with the Autobots, yet his amount of control over the situation still remains at nil. Panic switches over from nibbling to taking large bites out of his already frayed nerves.
"It will not happen again. I know--" he stops, body fighting to arch away from the unexpected tactile feed and from Perceptor's chilling voice. All the time that the scientist needs? Synapse's delight shows in the form of fitful jerks as he tries to break free. His normally soft and assured voice turn into something a bit more desperate and nervously pitched as he makes an attempt at plying the scientist. "I know where I erred...truly, sir." At least, he thinks he does.
|
|
Pee-Dee-3
Cadet
"I know his name."
Posts: 105
|
Post by Pee-Dee-3 on Mar 10, 2008 21:16:23 GMT -5
Oh, goody, Rodimus had 'xplained to Nightbeat before she could. Her explanation would have been much less couth. //Nightbeat hasn't heard the swearing-in oath for people of my rank before.//1
Pee-Dee turns towards the Decepticons. "Got a report of vandalism in progress. Closest unit is moving to investigate."
That warning given, she dive-transforms to the side and goes racing off after Scourge. Shots fired after her will make her pause and transform to look back.
---
Pee-Dee is out-of-thread unless shot at.
1. "I will do as I am told, or I'll get my goohuloog head kicked in."2 2. "Men at Arms", Terry Pratchett
|
|