No One's There

[Emirate Xaaron-3]

OOC: This would take place right after Swerve-3 tries to radio Emirate Xaaron-3 while being kidnapped and thinks better of it

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Emirate Xaaron wastes futile seconds trying to raise Swerve on the radio, always to the same, disturbing nonresponse. As far as Emirate Xaaron can tell, Swerve has vanished off the face of the planet. He folds over himself, curls up, and sobs, cleaning lubricant, usually reserves for removing dust and grit from his optics, spills quite freely, pooling on the berth where he was lightly resting, forming a chemical slick.

If this is a joke, it's one of the sickest ones in the book, but still, perhaps Swerve has simply wised up and decided that he ever wants to hear from Emirate Xaaron ever again.

Emirate Xaaron rails at himself. If he had stayed with Swerve, he would at least know what had happened. If Swerve is really in danger, and the dark voices in Emirate Xaaron's head assure him that Swerve must be, Emirate Xaaron is wasting valuable time by sobbing when they could be out figuring out what has happened to Swerve. It's selfish, wasteful, ugly, and evil of him to cry, which does no one any good, least of all the one he for which he is bawling his optics out.

He pushes himself off the berth, wet with his tears, and he sprawls across the floor with a clatter, uncoordinated as a half-programmed drone. Emirate Xaaron scrambles to his feet and slams the door open button with frantic fingers. He does leave a dent in the wall; for all his weakness, for how pathetic he is, he is built the same as the other Emirate Xaaron, give or take a few million years of mistreatment, and he could throw someone bigger than him if his own insecurity didn't convince him otherwise.

When the door opens, he simply runs, ignoring the fact that he's supposed to have a guard with him at all times. A guard! Shouldn't Swerve have had a guard, too? Someone has to know what happened to Swerve!

[Ironfire]

Ironfire isn't much a fan of guarding this alternate Xaaron. The gold robot is just so slagging depressing. Wouldn't be suprising if the 'bot gets killed off at some point. Probably shortly after having a turn about. Or something. She's really not too sure. She needs more information on his character type first, really, before making a judgement.

Oh? Why's the door opening? Either it's malfunction, or Emirate Xaaron's coming out. Ironfire has her money on the later.

" Something you need?" There's really no point in asking. He's already past her. How infuriating. Ironfire's simply not designed for chase sequences. Hopefully, this will be the funny sort of chase, not the dramatic sort. Sadly, her money is again on the latter.

"Hey! Hold up!" She's after him. Hopefully she's fast enough to catch up.

[Synapse]

Synapse halts a few paces away from a hall intersection, the sound and vibration of heavy and fast footsteps drumming through the ground alerting the scout to an oncoming individual. A gold and silver figure dashing in an orthogonal vector has Synapse blinking for a moment. Emirate Xaaron?

Either something has upset the commander greatly or this is the not-Emirate Xaaron that he's heard bits and pieces about. Ironfire's shout doesn't help him choose, but it does push the minibot into starting after the runaway commander. After all, the Emirate has been good to him. If something is upsetting the other, best keep an optic on him, just in case. Lucky, Synapse is pretty good for chase sequences, be it running or aerial. Just as long as the Emirate doesn't jump into any large bodies of liquid.

Gradually, Synapse begins closing the distance. "Sir? Is there anything I can do?"

No questions like 'What's wrong?' or 'Is everything alright?' because Synapse doesn't really know how to respond to any answers except with an apology and the question that he just uttered. Best cut to the chase, whether or not this is his Emirate or not, right?

"Sir?" His flashing expression of concern might be the only thing difference that separates Synapse's looks from his own counterpart's.

[Emirate Xaaron-3]

Emirate Xaaron does not hold up, despite there being a tank after him. He just keeps running. He really has no idea where he's going. He should have paid more attention to Swerve, should have asked him where he goes when he's gone, and now Swerve is just gone.

There is also a Synapse after him, he sees, glancing back. Of course, when one runs, someone will always chase, cat to mouse, hound to turbofox.

However, Synapse's question does get Emirate Xaaron attention, and he replies in a frantic, plaintive tone that is entirely at odds with the steely in-control commander that Synapse would know, "Swerve is gone! It's like he turned off his radio. I have to find him in case... in case..."

Emirate Xaaron can't bring himself to say it. Instead, he gets a grip on himself and starts to run for an exit. If Swerve isn't dead already, he should look outside, if only because there is more room for bad things to happen than there is outside, such as an asteroid falling on Swerve, or Trypticon showing up and eating Swerve or...

[Ironfire]

It seems Ironfire is no longer alone in her pursuit of the golden robot. Hopefully, that'll increase her chances of catching him. Maybe.

Ah, good, some information. She should thank Synapse for getting that out of Xaaron later. Now, to act upon that information!

"Wait up, Emirate! It'll be easier to find him if we travel together." She pauses, thinking. An idea. "Safer, too. Groups are always safer." Well, usually. Sometimes they get stalked into oblivion. Perhaps she shouldn't tell him that. Ironfire speeds up her pace as best she can, attempting to catch up with him soon, hoping he listens to her suggestion.

[Synapse]

Swerve? But Swerve's been--wait, wrong Swerve.

Synapse follows the Emirate, confusing and a slight bit of worry knitting his face. Two black orbs dart out past him in an effort to conduct some sort of preliminary scan on the area from above. Perhaps it'd be best to report this trouble to someone. "I shall keep my scanners out and relay this to Kup immediately--this world's Kup." After all, who'd be better in a matter of security breech than the head of Security?

"Please keep close though, we do not wish for you to disappear as well."

[Emirate Xaaron-3]

Ironfire wants him to slow down? But his Swerve could be in trouble! He sputters, "Wait up? No, never!"

To Synapse, he cries, never the most coherent and direly panicked now, "I'd vanish, I'd fade away, I'd wipe myself out of existence if only I could know for sure he'd be safe."

Emirate Xaaron runs as far as he can, hopefully able to put the tank lady behind him and Synapse, as well. There are few who can outrun cannon, after all. They would make him wait, and he cannot bear that. He takes dizzying twists and turns through the base, and he's close, so very close, to making it outside.

[Ironfire]

Ironfire's brow furrows. If only he counted as an enemy combatant. Then, she could fire. Not enough to deal massive damage, just enough to slow him down. But, he's not, and she can't. So, she has to just do her best to keep up with him. It's not working quite well. She gradually falls farther behind, but keeps him in sight.

"It's dangerous! If he's gone, what about you?! You could easily be killed before ever finding him, and then what?!" In a burst, she speeds up to her maximum running speed. Not particularly fast, but hopefully enough to recover lost ground.

"That's a good plan, Synapse."

[Synapse]

Synapse won't try to stop this Xaaron, not when the situation is this panicked and rushed. That may mean making some sort of physical contact with the Emirate. When it comes down to it, between two individuals more than a bit jittery about touch, said action has a very low probability of occurring. So he mirrors this Emirate's sudden turns without outward protest.

This Xaaron though, the only similarity that Synapse can see between him and his own Emirate is their build. The frantic cries and desperate actions are entirely alien on this figure. It puts more than a sense of unease roiling in the scout's fuel tanks.

"Is there a specific location that you wish to investigate first, sir? I--I am ready to do so," says Synapse. Outside, his nodes have made it out ahead of them and already begin climbing into the skies. If Emirate Xaaron wishes for a speedy course of action, he shall get one.

He then dials up Ironfire's radio frequency¹, //It seems that out destination is outside of the base. If there is an easier course for you to take in order to keep up, I can radio you a more specific location when we exit.//


¹ Knowledge Ironfire's frequency done with player permission.

[Emirate Xaaron-3]

Did Emirate Xaaron not make it clear to Ironfire that he doesn't care what happens to him, so long as he knows happened to Swerve? He is no faster than Ironfire, but he does have a lead. He doesn't bother answering her, as words dry up in his voicebox, parched and cracking.

Synapse can likely out-pace him, and the cursed light of day strikes Emirate Xaaron as stumbles out into the open. Gesturing wildly, he demands of Synapse, "Find Swerve!"

Then, he takes off running again, off through the city. He shall be punsihed for leading his guard on a merry chase, but it hardly matters to him. Emirate Xaaron doesn't see Trypticon eating Swerve, but it could be an invisible, silent Trypticon.

It would still be better than their past catching up with them.

[Synapse]

There's a few moments of silence from Synapse as he splits his attention between following the Emirate, the coordination of his nodes, Ironfire's status, and Kup's radio call. Synapse loses a few meters of distance between himself and Emirate Xaaron, but as soon as the call is done with, he picks up speed and makes up the distance as best as he can.

"Sir?" voice soft but firm, "Kup wishes for you to meet him in the east vehicle lot." Synapse pauses and glances at the frantic mech he's shadowing.

"It regards news about your Swerve, sir."

[Emirate Xaaron-3]

Even the Minibots boss Emirate Xaaron around, and truth be told, they can.

Words of denial are on his lips, that Kup can go stuff it, and then Synapse says the magic word: Swerve. If there is news of Swerve to be had, he will comply and most swiftly.

Sound tumbles out of his mouth, "Nnn...uh, Swerve? Swerve! I'll be there."

Now, no news may be good news, but actual news may be good or bad. Perhaps Swerve's radio just shorted out, and they'll all laugh this off.

Or perhaps Emirate Xaaron will die inside over what he learns.

Either way, he runs off in the direction of the parking lot.

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OOC: out of thread.

[Ironfire]

Ironfire gives up. There's no way she's going to catch this guy at this rate, and he's clearly not going to listen to reason. Still, she runs on, if only to not lose sight of him.

//Alright, Synapse, that sounds excellent. Keep me up on his position, I'll try to find a shortcut.//

Thank you Synapse! Ironfire slows her run to a halt. She was not made for this sort of activity. She is not meant for pursuit. Fortunately, Synapse can take over the following action. Ironfire watches as the two others vanish into the distance.


OOC: REALLY sorry about not posting. I've been swamped with work.

[Synapse]

Synapse would be horrified to think that he 'bossed Emirate Xaaron around'. That isn't in his job description. In fact, it's supposed to be the other way around, universal counterpart or no.

//Ironfire, we are heading towards the vehicle lot on the east side of town. Kup wishes to have a word with the Emirate.//

As soon as the golden figure changes course, Synapse alters his own to match. Optics and cameras darting all around in an effort to keep note of all their surroundings, he goes after the Emirate.


OOC: Out of thread