Gizmo
Rookie
Blue and Nerdy
Posts: 147
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 7, 2008 0:54:07 GMT -5
The defense-system malfunction finally comes to a halt, and Gizmo promptly kicks into reverse and shoots back to join the others. He's still shaking from the sight of the creature, though, and it's a few moments before he can talk coherently.
"Th-th-that was freaky!" he sputters. "I'm with you, Wedge, let's get the slag out of here!"
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Post by Swerve on Feb 8, 2008 20:32:55 GMT -5
"Whoa! Red light!" Swerve can't really glare at Wedge in racer mode, but frag it, he's trying. "We have to come through here anyway!" Alright, so that sand-flapper spooked him, too. He won't admit it, and wouldn't even if it meant losing a limb, but what else is he supposed to think with some unreal organic thing bearing down on him? Especially one that big?
They could probably just outrun it if they have to– wait, no. Wedge is too slow.
Blast it all. "So what're we s'posed to do when we have to cross this–?" he starts to demand, only to stop when the road starts shaking under him. "…Frag it, I think that thing's still hangin' around!"
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Feb 11, 2008 19:19:52 GMT -5
"Well I'm hoping that we won't actually have to cross this in the future if this whole mission works out!"
The road's shaking...oh joy. There's a loud rev of Wedge's engines as he realizes that okay, maybe running isn't a feasible idea. "Wedge, transform!" With that, he springs into robot mode, gun clutched tightly in his hands. "Maybe we can take it out--" Part of the road dents upwards causing Wedge to dance back a few feet.
Okay, okay, so what did Kup talk about in that melee class when it comes to fighting mechs like Grimlock? Fight in a team, alright, they have a team. Coordinated? Uh, yeah, they can do that. Get him angry and thus not as calculating?
Furrows begin forming again on the desert surface and Wedge's processors speed up even more before turning to Swerve and Gizmo. "You guys are fast," Wedge glances back out at the quickening movements beneath the sand. "I can distract him and you guys can shoot. If you have any other ideas, lay them out."
Cause if all else fails, he's just going to run distraction and tell them to run.
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Gizmo
Rookie
Blue and Nerdy
Posts: 147
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 11, 2008 22:46:52 GMT -5
Gizmo yelps as the road buckles ahead of him... and squeaks in terror as Wedge suggests they take the beast out. Has he slipped a cog? Gizmo's a computer hacker, not a warrior! Never mind that he's got a cannon installed in plain view.
The sand ray erupts from the ground to the team's right, jaws open to bare razor-sharp teeth-ridges. Gizmo shrieks and impulsively fires his cannon, the blast striking the beast's underside but having no effect save splattering the hide there with sticky glop.
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Post by Swerve on Feb 13, 2008 20:00:48 GMT -5
"I can drive and shoot," Swerve points out over the din of the road warping. He hasn't seen much for vehicle-mounted weaponry among the Autobots; it's such a handy feature, he can't fathom why more of them don't have it. "And I'm for whatever gets this thing outta the way so we can get on with this blasted mission!"
Then everything turns to chaos and flying sand with a very large mouth looming way too close for comfort. Gizmo's terrified shriek masks the grind of Swerve's gears as he tries to open up the distance.
"Cyber Key Power!" he calls, and brilliant red light cleaves the sky. That strange feeling he remembers from the mesa battle returns in full force when the Cyber Key jacks in and his cannons ratchet into firing position, a sensation of something off, like tainted fuel; he shakes it off – no time for distractions – and fires a quick couple of volleys at the sand flapper thing. One shot clips a "wing" and doesn't get much more than a loud snarl in return; the next hits the glue, setting it afire. Swerve would be mildly shocked at the sight if he wasn't so happy to hear that thing screech and watch it veer off, slam into the sand, and thrash wildly before burrowing under again.
He doesn't really expect it to stay gone. He hasn't seen it keel over and as far as he's concerned, that's the only way to be sure.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Feb 15, 2008 18:08:20 GMT -5
The sight of the sand flapper bursting before them in an explosion of sand sends fear lancing through Wedge. But fear just forces the Buildbot to steel himself as he forces himself to stand his ground and take action. It might be courage, it might be stubbornness. The rest of the Build Team would attest to both.
Before he manages any shots, Wedge stumbles back as that red light beams down from no where. His expression is akin to shock and amazement as something drops down from the air and plugs itself neatly into Swerve. But when the cannons come up, that's when Wedge finds himself catching a jaw drop. That's also when the Buildbot finds himself staring in awe and a mite of jealousy. Vehicle-mounted weaponry? Too cool! ...is there any chance in Perceptor taking requests when they get back?
Right, back to the situation at hand. Well, looks like Swerve has things down. Wedge grins and looks back at Gizmo. "If that thing comes up again, nail it with your glue gun, okay?" He steadies his own gun into a ready position. There's one more not-so-hidden admiring glance at Swerve's cannons before Wedge looks back out at the desert. The air is still full of dust but the surface of the sand is utterly still. Calm before the storm or has the thing retreated?
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Gizmo
Rookie
Blue and Nerdy
Posts: 147
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 16, 2008 0:15:26 GMT -5
Gizmo's screams finally abate as the critter plunges back into the sand, though he's still shaking with fear. That's the second time this critter's come at them. He desperately hopes there won't be a third time...
"Huh?" He starts a little at Wedge's suggestion. "Uh, sure, yeah..." he replies, though privately he hopes he won't have to fire at anything for awhile. Maybe if he got some super powers or whatever that weird light from the sky gave Swerve there, he wouldn't be so reluctant to take the sand ray on...
The ground ripples and swells again. Oh please, let this end, let this end...
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Post by Swerve on Feb 17, 2008 14:50:42 GMT -5
The looks being thrown his way are almost enough to make Swerve stow his cannons. He could swear he explained the Cyber Keys when he caved and made that entry for the database, so he can't understand the problem. Unless neither of these kids read it. What was the point, then?
On top of that, Gizmo sounds like he's about to lose his oil, Wedge is firing all cylinders, and Swerve just wants to get this stretch of road behind him.
"We're gonna have to get across somehow," he growls, keeping his weapon ready. "Parking it gets us nowhere, but no, here we are, makin' ourselves prime targets. Which part of this is supposed to–" His rant comes to a screeching halt and he tenses, engine revving angrily, as the sand moves again in a way the wind, even howling the way it is, wouldn't push it. Figures the fragging thing ain't dead yet. He's kind of surprised the wind isn't trying to sandblast all their paint right off, as much noise as it's making.
The wind isn't blowing a whole lot of sand at all, in fact, but that low keening sound is just getting louder.
"Anybody else hear that?" he wonders warily, watching the sand swell again in two places at once.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Feb 17, 2008 20:20:33 GMT -5
Not a kid!
Well, reading is one thing. Actually seeing how this Cyber Key stuff works is another thing entirely. t's like Wedge trying to explain the Space Bridge to someone without getting a chance to give them an actually tour. It's like Heavy Load going through katas without actually demonstrating them. No more metaphors now though, not enough time. But of course there's also the fact that the Cyber Key stuff looks Really Cool.TM Wedge can appreciate that.
The sounds suddenly filling the desert air sends shivers running up and down Wedge's shovels. Weird noises are never a good thing. Just as long as Swerve and Gizmo remain looking like they usually do, everything should be okay. "Yeah, I hear that..." Wedge swivels to get a look around. "I have a bad feeling about this." What Wedge sees are more swells forming out there, and the noises are coming in different pitches and directions now.
Now is not a good time to be applying the phrase 'The more the merrier'. Looks like it's going to be happening anyways. This gets a frustrated growl out of Wedge as he tightens the grip on his gun. "I say we get moving. Now," as much as this Buildbot hates to retreat, this situation is definitely calling for one. "Let's go! I'll be right behind you two."
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Gizmo
Rookie
Blue and Nerdy
Posts: 147
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 17, 2008 23:46:36 GMT -5
Well, Gizmo IS considerably younger than a lot of the mechs here, though nowhere near the youngest. So he really can't protest the "kid" comment that much...
The keening, howling noises grow in intensity, until they finally erupt in a chorus of shrieks -- most from the sand rays, but a few from Gizmo's vocalizer too -- as the sand all around them erupts in a living explosion. The critter's back... and he brought his friends. Is this a "you mess with me, you mess with the whole family" deal or what?
Gizmo doesn't have to be told twice to jet -- he's off like a shot, not quite as fast as Swerve's top speed but still a respectable speed.
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Post by Swerve on Feb 19, 2008 5:15:22 GMT -5
Swerve can't really glower at Wedge in this mode, but he can pivot toward the bulldozer and crank up his headlamps.
"Now you listen t' me for a nano!" he snaps. "I'm along on this half-shifted joyride for one reason – keepin' the two of you from getting scrapped, and if that's all I'm gonna be doin', I'm slagging well gonna do it! You get goin' and I'll take last position!" After all, he's the one with the vehicle-mode weaponry that's been getting ogled. He's also more than itching to get in a few more shots since the Primus-forsaken animal is getting in the way of the drive.
Then, suddenly, the constant shrills burst into receptor-splitting cacophony and the sand to either side of the road explodes like a salvo of Crumplezone's missiles just landed. It's more than sand rising into the air, though; more than one of those blasted sandflapper things. And there goes Gizmo.
Frag it all! Why is it always the big ones who put gangs together? Do they have to compensate for lower processor speed or something? Swerve shifts into reverse and his cannons whine faintly, drawing power before he fires again, a blind shot that hits one sandflapper near the corner of its oversized mouth. Doesn't seem to do much but get the thing even more torqued off at him. "Get it in gear, kid!" he roars at Wedge. "And don't spare the throttle!" And as soon as Wedge takes his advice – he'd better – Swerve will be right after him.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Feb 19, 2008 22:07:41 GMT -5
Between the shrieking from the desert (was one of those extremely close, or is it just Wedge?) and the sheets of sand going up everywhere, this is shaping up to be a very interesting start to a supposedly simple mission. In the future, there might be a notation on the map just over the Black Desert area that simply says, 'Cog-popping sand flappers roam here'.
Wedge doesn't get in any looks at Swerve's command. No, he's busy kicking it into gear as Swerve's authoritative shout clicks something between a torqued-off Heavy Load and Hightower. A transformation later, this bulldozer is roaring down the road quite literally. He's putting in his best and making to go as fast as his treads will carry him.
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Gizmo
Rookie
Blue and Nerdy
Posts: 147
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Post by Gizmo on Feb 19, 2008 23:51:44 GMT -5
It's not just you, Wedge...
Gizmo's top speed may not equal Swerve's, but it's still pretty fast. He has to swerve once, still shrieking, as one of the sand flappers throws itself onto the roadway in an effort to snatch at him. Thankfully the beast misses, but it still freaks Gizmo enough to make him floor the accelerator.
After a few frantic moments, when some of his terror has faded, he thinks to look back at the others. How are they faring...
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Post by Swerve on Feb 21, 2008 23:05:34 GMT -5
Swerve isn't sure if he likes or hates this. He can cover Wedge, but the bulldozer isn't the fastest vehicle out there and if Swerve splits to cover Gizmo way out in front, that leaves Wedge undefended.
"GIZMO!" Skid, accelerate, nearly ram Wedge to evade a swinging tail. Swerve fires on whichever sand flapper is in front of him. "GIZMO! Smelt it all!" There's getting out of a bad spot and then there's running blind. The string of foul language Swerve extrudes is about as fine as steel cable as he cuts around Wedge and guns it after their panicked teammate. "You half-clocked gearhead!" he rages as he catches up to and nearly overtakes the other car. "D'you got lead washers for circuits in that down-ticking processor o' yours? Or can you tell me how I'm s'posed to keep track o' you and the other kid with better than ten lengths between you?!"
Any answer Gizmo has goes unheard; another sand flapper charges the road, bearing down on them, and Swerve moves without thinking, pushing his steering hard to the left and ramming Gizmo clear off the road. Swerve slides ahead, almost spins out when he can't get decent traction in the flying sand. How they aren't both ploughed over by yet another blasted animal before either of them can haul themselves back onto the road is anyone's guess. The terrain ahead looks rockier. That had better be a good thing.
OOC: Ramming of Gizmo with player's permission.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Feb 22, 2008 19:59:57 GMT -5
"Whoa!" Bulldozers aren't nimble creatures, so Wedge can't exactly swing out of the way as Swerve nearly runs into him. All the better, because the Buildbot probably would have swerved off the road and into the roiling sand. He doesn't say a word though when Swerve cuts ahead after Gizmo. Instead, Wedge takes that as a signal to try and speed up more.
His engine jumps into a scream at the sight of a sand flapper going straight towards the two. "Gizmo! Swerve!"
A wave of black sand sprays across the road, obscuring Wedge's vision. Off he goes, not pausing as something catches against the edge of his shovel and nearly jerks him around. Wedge keeps spinning his treads until he spots a flash of blue and then red in the receding dust clouds. On slam the breaks and the orange bulldozer skids a few shrieking and sparking meters before coming to a stop.
Wedge spins about, peering around for any more oncoming sand flappers. A few dozen meters away, lumps of sand heave back and forth, but they don't move any closer. "Gizmo, Swerve, you guys alright?" He spares one last look at the roving lumps before rolling towards his two companions. "They're not after us any more. But I don't really want to stick around to find out why." Not until Wedge has learned some anti-sand flapper-fu.
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