|
Post by Mirage on Sept 14, 2011 20:40:53 GMT -5
Mirage's expression grows more serious as Punch lists off the damages done by Gigatron- and to whom those damages were done. Once the other spy is done, Mirage gives a low whistle.
"If he could take on all of those people and still get away...."
He shakes his head, "So you have a full combiner now? That is not comforting news."
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 15, 2011 19:27:55 GMT -5
Punch nods solemnly.
"Right. All those people. Got away. Was still in good condition," he declares, enunciating fully and giving the words sharp little edges.
Then he shakes his head. "Most of a combiner. Still missing a leg. That wasn't much of an issue in space." He smirks. "It might make things interesting here on planet. He'll still be trouble for you, of course, but if any humans catch the fight on camera-phone and upload the thing, I'll bet the video'll be popular on the comedy sites."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Sept 16, 2011 22:04:13 GMT -5
It's obvious that Punch is upset by the incident with that Gigatron person, and the other spy's discomfort prompts Mirage to move over and try to clasp Punch on the arm.
"Are you all right?" he asks, voice and expression concerned, "This seems to have affected you badly."
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 17, 2011 18:28:39 GMT -5
Punch really hates the question 'Are you all right?' When it comes right down to it, very little in his situation qualifies as 'all right,' but it has to be endured. There's no cure.
He grunts. "I survive," is his only answer as he tries to pull his arm away from Mirage.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Sept 18, 2011 12:49:59 GMT -5
It's a trite, overused question to be sure, but there are few other ways to ask after one's mental health without, well, asking after one's mental health. Punch's situation is so far removed from Mirage's own, no matter how similar their function, that Mirage can not truly fathom what the other spy must go through.
Mirage offers no resistance as Punch slips away from his hand, though Mirage does frown at the literal and figurative brush-off.
"Mere survival does not a good life make, Punch," he says softly. It might well be the first time Mirage has actually called the other spy by his name, but his player is unsure.
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 18, 2011 20:32:34 GMT -5
Punch scowls at Mirage and shakes his head. "Neither does war, Mirage. We deal with what we must and we move forward." He shrugs. "I live with what I do, or I live with what they'll do if I didn't do it. I've already decided which one I want to deal with. 'Good life' won't enter into it until it's over."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Sept 18, 2011 21:48:39 GMT -5
Mirage listens and wonders if he would have the strength of will to do what Punch does every day. To live on such an edge, to become something one is not, to risk not just one's life but one's self....
He could not. And Mirage feels no small amount of shame at the admission. For all his breeding and his class, all his ability, he could not- would not- do what Punch does.
"And if it is never over- what do you do then?" he asks, "I worry for you. Perhaps no one else does, any more than they worry over any other soldier, but I do. It is why I take pains to try and give us time- to give you time away. Time as yourself."
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 19, 2011 13:01:50 GMT -5
Punch shakes his head. "It'll eventually be over. One way or another. Either the war ends, or..." he shrugs. "Nothing's forever."
He narrows his eyes and glares at Mirage. "But you need to stop worrying about me. That's not your place. I've got things covered."
He walks back towards his parking place. "You got anything for me while we're here? I mean, besides mush."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Sept 23, 2011 10:01:00 GMT -5
Mirage frowns again, deeper this time.
"Everyone needs someone to worry for them, Punch."
He shifts uncomfortably in his place. "I'm not authorized to tell you much of anything I'm afraid, just in case...." He shrugs.
"I will say this, however. If you ever encounter a ship that looks as if it is held together by tape and dead bodies- avoid it at all costs," Mirage shudders, "We... lost two of our own, recently. It was horrific."
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 23, 2011 13:43:15 GMT -5
Punch snorts in Mirage's concern. "What everyone needs are things like energon and repairs when they're damaged, but I suppose it's not unusual for those from your class to confuse nicety and necessity."
He inclines his head faintly. "I wasn't expecting much, and shouldn't be told much - just making sure there weren't any orders for me. Warning's appreciated, but I'm not sure how much good it does. If Scourge or Starscream want something looked into, there's not much I'm going to be able to say to dissuade them. The usual belief is that 'we' should be the most frightening thing that can be encountered in space, and if it isn't, we're slipping."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Sept 24, 2011 23:34:07 GMT -5
Mirage says quietly, "We have reason to believe that drug we encountered on Pz-Zazz, Blight, was involved."
He shakes his head, "And no orders at present. Just appreciation for the job your do." Which may be true, or may just be Mirage being nice. He sighs, "I suppose I should not keep you longer."
"Be careful, Punch."
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Sept 28, 2011 16:52:40 GMT -5
Punch nods, then transforms.
"I'm always careful," he says.
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Nov 3, 2011 21:44:04 GMT -5
OOC: Reopening this thread after a timeskip.
Punch is eventually returned to his parking spot outside the car show, where he remains for some time after Mirage leaves, waiting for the crowds to clear out. Still an Autobot in mind and form (though he's a car in form, it's an Autobot car), he has the patience of glaciers. Not that he doesn't as a Decepticon, but then, it's just a grumpier patience.
|
|
Knock Out
Cadet
Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
|
Post by Knock Out on Nov 6, 2011 21:08:54 GMT -5
It takes a little while for the crowd to disperse. Longer still for the media to clear out. And it wasn't until late into the evening that only the security guards were left. They had been patrolling on a pretty strict schedule, making sure that nobody got to the million dollar cars in the lot, cars that the people had been gawking over, when not distracted by the space robot.
Now, at this late hour, they all remain completely motionless, dead husks without a driver to bring them to life with a deep rumbling roar....Except for one. A red sportscar of European make, which out of nowhere starts up with nobody getting into the car. It pulls out of it's parking lot and slowly and stealthily rolls along, passing some truly gorgeous vehicles, sometimes slowing down as if to gawk at them, but never stopping. No, he wanted to get out of here while it was nice and quiet.
Before too long he makes it, quietly leaving the premises, and is about to go down the road when he sees something very interesting. Enough so to make him take quite a dangerous risk! He pulls up to the blue GINA, his engine cutting off, remaining there perfectly still for a moment while he checks to make certain that nobody's watching them.
Then with that familiar sound of moving panels and gears it transforms into a humanoid shape that's kneeling down besides the car, black lenses with bright red circles looking around to make sure that the coast is clear. With a wicked smile he leans closer to the magnificent blue car, lifting a hand and darting his clawtips over the surface with a finger light touch and the steadiness of a skilled surgeon. "Ohhh, you were worth the wait. Look at you, look at you." __________________________
Touching done with permission.
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Nov 7, 2011 13:45:48 GMT -5
... What is this? What is this?
Of all the stupid...
Punch considers his options. As he sees it, he has two. The first is to transform into Counterpunch and chew Knock Out out for handling him like this. Of course, this means having to explain why he's out here to begin with. The second is to simply sit here quietly and wait for the Decepticon to lose interest. This is probably the better option, even if it means allowing himself to be manhandled (mechhandled?) by the creepy medic, but it does assume that Knock Out will eventually get bored and just leave. Can he take that risk?
The significant thing to note here is that Punch has not turned into Counterpunch yet. Even Punch himself does not realize the depth of the change that occurs. On a conscious level, sure, he is always fully aware that he's an Autobot and that he serves the Autobot cause, but when he's Counterpunch he thinks like a Decepticon. He reacts like a Decepticon, his instincts are Decepticon.
And right now? He's not Counterpunch. He is Punch, Autobot down to his core, not just his conscious mind, but every instinct.
It's possible that Knock Out, distracted as he is by Punch's alternate mode, had not noticed the human passerby across the street, a human who had stopped to gawk at the Decepticon's transformation, but observation is Punch's stock and trade, and he had noticed. This wouldn't have meant much to the Autobot, were it not for the car that suddenly turns a corner and loses control - perhaps the driver is also distracted by the giant robot? Perhaps something else entirely - and the vehicle goes screeching towards the innocent bystander. The pedestrian screams.
And Punch, Autobot to the core, yells, "No!" and transforms, leaping from Knock Out's reach to dive for the human, grabbing him and rolling, pulling him to safety before the car's out of control slide can lead to fatal consequences.
Damn it. That was stupid. That was amazingly stupid, but what else could Punch have done?
He is, after all, an Autobot.
|
|