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Post by Perceptor on May 7, 2008 22:46:00 GMT -5
Perceptor is from a kinder, gentler world where people only die when it is Significant. Besides, based upon the casual cruelties he's seen secondhand, he's already got a fairly good idea how truly terrible the villain is. Villains are. Whatever.
A bribe? Well, even if he had caught that, he is just not the type to have taken her up on it. He isn't one to bribe anyone anyway, and certainly not someone with such obviously nefarious plans in store for his friends. His ragtag new... family, such as it is.
Not that he has any verbal response for that revelation of this Pee-Dee's though. Nothing more clever than a simple, "Oh."
She is saving his remaining notes. With the combat rumbling both near and far, he is distracted enough that he doesn't even remember what is left intact t that might be useful, but he isn't in the mood to allow her anything more than he absolutely has to.
"I am afraid that I do not fit within your genre," he replies, slipping out from behind his dubious shelter to blast the wall she is currently photographing.
Wait. What is he doing? He shouldn't be bothering with this simple vandalism. Not when he can blast a quick hole in the wall behind him and escape, leaving the structure for Omega Supreme - still waiting for his word - to eradicate on a much more thorough, and quicker, level.
Thought to action, and a moment later, the walls shake as the corner behind the portal explodes outward, shattered by a blast of concussive force, leaving a hole barely big enough for him to squirm through.
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Pee-Dee-3
Cadet
"I know his name."
Posts: 105
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Post by Pee-Dee-3 on May 8, 2008 12:49:19 GMT -5
"You may not fit within my genre, but you can still die by the rules of it!" Pee-Dee fast-draws her pistol and takes aim at the fleeing Perceptor. Unfortunately for Perceptor, there's not much more than his legs visible at this point, and he's really not up to evading in this position.
When she's certain she's landed a few shots, she drops her pistol into subspace and does one last quick sweep through the lab.
A long, thick cylinder of red metal catches her optics. There, lying oh-so innocently in the floor where it fell, is Perceptor's light-cannon. Half the mounting is torn off, and it's blackened from the blasts that struck it. Undoubtedly, half the important crystals were smashed in the fall...
Oh, who is she kidding? She's always wanted an arm-cannon.
Laughing gleefully, Pee-Dee stoops to snatch it up. As soon as her fingers close around it, she slides into a transformation, shoving the scope into a pack that couldn't possibly hold it (gotta love subspace), and dropping down onto her spiked wheels. With a roar, she takes off, bursting through the door of Perceptor's lab, slewing around to create a spray of dirt, then taking off for the rest of the city.
---
Pee-Dee-3 out of thread.
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Post by Perceptor on May 8, 2008 14:05:03 GMT -5
He'd thought the loss of his precious scope had been pain enough, but as he tumbles free of the shards of the once-wall of his doomed workshop, propelled by the energy blasts slamming into his leg and hip, he realizes that it has been a long time since he's been hurt this badly. Damage reports, almost foreign to him in their quantity and severity, scroll across his visual display.
Right hip servo: damaged, right knee: compromised, right thigh: perforated and burned. Even the treads on his right lower leg are jammed - not life threatening, but painful and irritating. Lubricant lines and primary data cables are damaged all throughout that leg, and it seems like the alternate Pee-Dee managed to strike nearly every single tactile sensor from toe to waist. Fortunately, while painful, nothing is life threatening, although he will not be running any marathons until he received repairs.
Lovely. Take the slowest mech and slow him even further.
It takes far too long before he manages to gather his wits and stumble painfully upright once again, using the walls of a neighboring building to assist with his balance. He isn't certain if the Junkion is coming for him, if she is still ransacking his lab, or if she has fled, but he cannot afford to delay any longer.
// Omega Supreme, // he calls over the broadband, voice strained as he painfully hobbles his way down the street, clinging to the building beside him for cover. Hopefully the others will be too preoccupied to notice and worry. // I have evacuated my laboratory; at your convenience, destroy it. //
// Xaaron, I am making my way to secure the contingency routes nearest the zoo. Botanica, I will also set up a triage sector there for the wounded. // That he is one of those wounded matters little. His leg may be damaged and his scope missing, but he still has his most important tools and his hands. He isn't useless yet.
Now to stumble his way as far away as he can manage before hell drops out of the heavens and devours his work. His data. His notes. Everything that he's managed to build since arriving.
Perceptor leans his uninjured shoulder heavily against the wall as he turns back to fix a regretful look upon the little home he'd built himself here, upon the crumbling base beyond. They're losing. Being driven out. Again.
Bah. He shakes his head roughly, left shoulder and the tattered remains of his shredded and singed scope mount protesting the harsh motion. There's no time for this. He has to get someplace safe set up to receive the others, get out of the way before he is caught in Omega Supreme's destructive blast. They can rebuild; they've done it before. They will do it again. Just so long as everyone survives. He has to trust that they are.
One last sorrowful glance as he begins to turn back. Behind him, from the yawning darkness of an open doorway, a single yellow optic appears, and the world tilts crazily as Perceptor is seized and dragged within.
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 9, 2008 18:31:51 GMT -5
Shockwave does indeed have his own agenda for this battle, and it has little enough to do with destroying and/or incapacitating these Autobots. Not that he minds these things happening, of course. Swaying these Autobots in toto is impractical and improbable. Especially with these alternates present.
Planting seeds of doubt in one particular mind, however, is entirely possible. Especially when such a perfect opportunity presents itself.
Shockwave swiftly pulls Perceptor into the building, pushes him back against a wall and then firmly, but surprisingly gently, attempts to push him down to a seated position. If he succeeds, Shockwave will kneel down and begin to take stock of Perceptor's wounds.
"A pity. I had hoped to find you before you sustained such injuries...and before your alternate found you. You might not trust a word I say, but trust this- you do not want him to find you in this state."
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Post by Perceptor on May 9, 2008 20:30:17 GMT -5
Shockwave meets little resistance in maneuvering Perceptor about; the Autobot's hip simply doesn't have enough structural integrity to withstand any more serious abuse, and the rest of his leg isn't in much better shape. If it weren't for the mech staring down at him before Shockwave kneels, it might even almost be nice to sit for a moment and rest.
Especially when the rather obvious sound of his laboratory meeting its end washes over them in the safety of the building.
Perhaps someone like Kup, battle hardened and suspicious, or Rodimus, swift and ready, might have put up a struggle, might even have fought free. Perceptor is none of those things, and is far too often able to utterly lose himself in the narrow world of his work. He stares dumbly at Shockwave, mouth hanging open for those crucial first few seconds, without even the presence of mind to summon forth his rifle, or even something so simple as a scalpel to defend himself with. Shockwave has him dead to rights.
Except... that he doesn't. Or rather, he isn't using his advantage. Not really. The careful probe of fingertips against his wounds are not those of someone intending to torment, but of one intending to... No. Perceptor cannot believe it. Refuses to believe such a foolish idea. It couldn't be true.
Could it?
Regardless, he dares not call for help. Not with the way the battle is going thus far. He dares not distract anyone from their current duties, and especially not to call them right into the jaws of a likely trap. After all, despite his few injuries, Shockwave looks more than capable of terminating an unwary mech. Perceptor simply regrets that the few bits of salvaged technology will now be lost to the Autobots, for he hasn't a hope of surviving Shockwave's attack.
The attack that... that surely must be forthcoming. Shouldn't it?
"Why would you bother concerning yourself with--" he breaks off, hissing in pain as something in his knee shifts in a manner which no mech's design specifications would allow. "What is it that you want, Shockwave?" he finally manages, voice tight with confusion and wariness and pain.
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 9, 2008 22:33:50 GMT -5
As Perceptor's knee shifts, and he hisses in pain, Shockwave's hand and gun move automatically to brace that locked knee. Carefully, he works that leg down until it is extended as much as it can. Shockwave then carefully tests the knee, examines the injury, trails his hand over the slag fusing the joint, and finally gently probing the matching hole in the back of that joint.
It is only after this examination that Shockwave answers Perceptor, "You are entirely too valuable to allow them to destroy. And you will not make it to safety in such a state." Truth, and more truth. Beware truth from this Shockwave more than you would lies.
With that, a pair of fine needles appear in Shockwave's hand, and he moves to pop the armour on the top of Perceptor's thigh. It does not release completely of course; but enough so that Shockwave can slip those needles in and adjust the local tactile array's sensitivity down. Perceptor might wonder at how easily Shockwave manages this. No mistakes, no hesitation. Of course, there are a lot of similarities in internal design between mechs that do not share similar transforms. Coincidence, surely.
Shockwave lets the plating relax back into place, then performs a similar operation on Peceptor's damaged shoulder, and again, Shockwave knows just what and where he should work his needles. He gingerly touches the broken scope mount once he's done.
"Replacing your scope will take you much time, if you can even acquire the needed materials. How are you faring with only a portion of your sight?"
OOC: poking and prodding of Perceptor done w/ permission.
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Post by Perceptor on May 9, 2008 23:23:13 GMT -5
A rational mech would - should - try to escape, futile as that would be. At the very least, he should not be allowing this contact. Recoil, push away, something, anything, except... He is too confused to do more than tense uncertainly as Shockwave carefully, almost even gently, examines his wounded knee, careful to do no more harm as he does so.
"Valuable."
There's no judgment in that utterance, no scorn or derision, not even any of the quite obvious confusion. Oddly, it's comforting. He doesn't expect altruism from Shockwave, cannot allow himself to even suspect it. This, however, is not altruism; there will be a reckoning.
The memories of that disturbing out-of-the-blue radio conversation sit uneasily in his mind as pain quite suddenly, and much as he hates to admit it, thankfully, subsides in his leg. Shockwave is far too familiar with his systems - or similar enough to make little difference. Perhaps there had been truth in the Decepticon's blunt words of cooperation and assistance from Shockwave's Perceptor?
Perceptor flinches away from that touch upon the ragged remains of his scope mount. It's too intimate of a gesture; he never allows anyone to manipulate that, not without extreme cause, and--
"How did--" He snaps his mouth closed, staring at the Decepticon with a mixture of fear and uncertainty; no one's ever bothered to ask, to find out just how integrated his scope's functions are. Nothing is as he would have expected, and the physical handicap in addition to the loss of that function by which he partially defines himself... He isn't certain how he will manage to find everything he needs to rebuild his scope, or, as Shockwave has said, if it can be done with these limitations.
"You expect me to believe that you mean to assist in my escape?" Does he really? Perceptor would never betray his friends, and yet, what else would there be that he could offer to Shockwave to compensate for... for this?
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 10, 2008 11:01:46 GMT -5
Shockwave does not let Perceptor flee from his touch. That shoulder needs to be examined, and Shockwave knows better than most what a sensitive area that is. Leaving it exposed to the elements and additional damage would be foolish. However, Shockwave has little time, and there are worse damages that can be used against the Autobot scientist.
Finished with his examination, Shockwave tilts his gaze to meet those confused azure optics. "My Chief Science Officer, remember? This is not the first time I have worked on these systems- or similar enough, systems, I should say." Of course, Shockwave also has a black Perceptor clone in one of his workshops on Cybertron. Shockwave is more than familiar with the Perceptor model's baseline schematics.
He returns his attention to that badly damaged leg. He places the needles on the ground and a scalpel drop into his hand. He starts to slice away the patch of slag that has fused Perceptor's knee in such an awkward position. "Normally, I would have switched off your sensors for this, but I imagine you would prefer some feeling so as to better follow my movements. Once I have freed the joint, I will brace the leg. You movements will still be hindered, but you will no longer be at risk of your leg shearing off."
"I could do more, but not and keep the appearance that you did not have assistance."
Shockwave continues to work, quickly, cleanly, and very, very precisely. "Oh course I will not see you to safety. Unless," Shockwave pauses, looks up, "You wish to become my prisoner. Considering how this encounter is going for your fellows, it would not be an illogical decision. " A brief flicker of his optic, and Shockwave's head lowers. "But I will give you a better chance at finding safety on your own."
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Post by Perceptor on May 10, 2008 18:52:52 GMT -5
Perceptor cannot stop himself from wishing that he could awaken from this disjointed collection of unpleasant residual processor output. A dream, no, a nightmare. That's what this must be. Surely.
Chief Science Officer. For Shockwave. A Shockwave who actually has a care to adjust pain sensors for comfort, and yet not utterly disable them for that illusion of control. An illusion which Perceptor clings to as he continues to struggle to make sense of this, to make sense of Shockwave's deft, precise touch upon his damaged structures. To make sense of Shockwave's complicity in Perceptor's unvoiced desire to keep this encounter a secret.
What would the others think if they but knew how intimately Shockwave knew him? How Shockwave had meddled with his tactile arrays and his structural and motor functions? What would the others think if they knew that Perceptor had allowed it?
And as that voice intones that single syllable so smugly over the general band, as Boondocker's report comes to him over the encrypted channel, Perceptor cannot help but wonder if there will be any left to care what Shockwave had or had not done by the battle's end.
Skyblast down, Slag down, others injured, their computers and the information destroyed, the base crumbling, his lab destroyed. Everything is lost, or is being lost, even his friends, and at the hands of those whom Shockwave allies himself with. Anger smolders. Flares. Catches, bursting into bright flames in those blue optics.
"There is more to living than logic!" Perceptor exclaims harshly, kicking out with his mostly undamaged leg to shove free of Shockwave, braces to lever himself upright once again--
Without the slag fusing his knee together, and with the bracing but barely started, the battered joint cannot support him. He folds, crumpling forward with a fresh cry of pain that sucks away his righteous anger.
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 10, 2008 20:18:54 GMT -5
Shockwave does not fight that leg pushing him back. He stands and watches as Perceptor struggles up, showing no reaction to the other's outburst. When Perceptor's leg gives, Shockwave quickly steps forward and catches him.
"You idealistic little fool. You cannot even walk, and you have likely undone at least a portion of my repair with your outburst. How can you help them in such a state?" Shockwave's calm tone seems at odds with his words.
He grasps Perceptor's chin and tilts it back perhaps a bit too far. Shockwave uses his gun arm and body to keep Perceptor's weight off that bad leg. "Think about it for a moment, Perceptor. It would be ridiculously easy for me to simply spirit you away, and yet I am risking much to keep you alive without having to do so. For the simple reason that I know exactly how much more valuable and useful you will be alive and unfettered. You do not function well under duress, and even less so in captivity."
That Shockwave knows this, and can speak so calmly of it in such a situation is worth noting. More and more truth, given freely. Are you worried yet, Perceptor, confused? Shockwave runs his thumb over Perceptor's cheek, "You are not the same, but similar enough. In my time, we have been allies and enemies again and again as circumstances dictate. Together, we have built a better Cybertron, one that stands on the brink of realizing it's potential."
"I want to get off this Primus-forsaken planet, Perceptor, and back to my time, my planet, and my people. And I will do anything necessary to aid that goal, whether that be suffering Starscream's idiocy, walking on crystal around that demon Prime- or even aiding your backwards-thinking compatriots, which is what I am doing by allowing you your freedom and your life."
Shockwave looks down at Perceptor a moment longer before abruptly releasing him to stand or fall under his own power.
"Now, are you going to take advantage of what has been freely offered, or will you risk losing your friends the advantage of your intellect and whatever you might have salvaged from your lab?"
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Post by Perceptor on May 10, 2008 22:43:11 GMT -5
Perceptor is expecting another shock, to feel the jarring impact of the ground as he lands in a crumpled heap at Shockwave's feet, a position that he is certain that the Decepticon would be all too happy to see him in. As such, he is not expecting to have his fall arrested by that very Decepticon, especially not so calmly, so carefully.
So casually.
Shockwave speaks of captivity, of freedom, of Perceptor's very spirit with such calm confidence... and insight, Perceptor must grudgingly admit. Shockwave takes such liberties, such simple, assumed... almost comfort in this proximity. The feel of Shockwave's body pressed so tightly to his own is suddenly all the more uncomfortable for the familiarity of it to the Decepticon.
Worry? Yes. Confusion? Most definitely. Apprehension, and discomfort, and such frightening vulnerability, and, yes, fear. Worse than fear. Shame, especially as that digit strokes so intimately across his cheek.
What would the others think to find him in Shockwave's arms in such a manner? What would they think if they were to discover how... familiar Shockwave had been with him? Either Shockwave's Perceptor in Shockwave's reality, or he, himself here and now?
What would the Autobots think if they find out that he had not fought, had hesitated in striking back?
Bereft of support, he stumbles backward, landing against the wall, sliding down it to drop heavily back where Shockwave has first placed him, jaw clenched to bite back the grunt of pain. His head bows under the weight of his thoughts, and his hands clench at his sides, thin screeches of his fingertips against the flooring lost in the distant clatter and clash of the battle still raging outside. The battle that his friends are slowly losing. Or not so slowly.
"'Freely offered'... with payment to be delivered at a later date," he intones quietly, resignation thick as congealed fuel in his voice.
What will the Autobots think if they ever discover that he'd accepted the devil's deal, even if it had been for them?
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 11, 2008 1:34:26 GMT -5
Shockwave remains standing and is silent as he watches Perceptor's struggles. Shockwave is fairly certain what the Autobot's answer will be, but still...let Perceptor think he has made the decision on his own.
As soon as those resigned words leave Perceptor's lips, though, Shockwave is kneeling again, taking up those needle again to work swiftly at repairing Perceptor's knee. As he works he makes a few sounds of annoyance and disapproval. That little show of anger did not help. Perceptor is lucky not to have lost the leg. Whatever intimacy or closeness was implied or inferred by that brief moment of embrace is gone. These touches are entirely professional and precise, almost brusque, despite the care being taken.
Shockwave has the knee mostly braced before he actually addresses his patient again. "Your sense of obligation is as great as ever it was in my reality. I have requested no payment, and yet you 'freely offer' the promise of one." Shockwave carefully tests one of the internal braces he added to strengthen the joint. "But since you have so graciously offered...I will hold you to your word, Perceptor." Game. Set. Match.
Shockwave finishes the bracing. "And in return will offer my word that said payment will not be made by betraying your friends to destruction at my hands or deed." No, no, if the Autobots come to that, it will not be because you led them down the primrose path, Perceptor, but because they blunder down it in their own ignorance.
"I have not the time to do much to your hip, I am afraid. Let us test that brace now," he says, standing and holding out a hand to Perceptor.
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Post by Perceptor on May 11, 2008 19:17:07 GMT -5
Perceptor does not look up as Shockwave resumes his work, no more than he needs to, at least, in order to watch the Decepticon's hands as they work upon his injury. Oddly, he is both comforted by and irritated by the resumption of brisk, detached efficiency in Shockwave's work; he has the sneaking suspicion that he'd allowed the Decepticon to use that previous discomfort to manipulate him.
A suspicion that Shockwave confirms with his musings as he completes the work.
Perceptor's head flies up sharply, optics flashing with an incredulous betrayal. "That is not--" He breaks off, clenching his jaw and staring up at Shockwave and that extended hand. Not only has he made a deal with the devil, he's brokered it himself. Snared by his own hasty words, even if that had not been his intent.
And despite his foolishness... Despite Shockwave's eagerness and willingness to take advantage of his lack judgement... Shockwave freely grants him the unasked for concession to protect the Autobots from his own mistake. Neatly trapped by his own words... save for Shockwave's... integrity?
Perceptor's gaze flickers between that extended hand and that single yellow optic staring down at him and back again. There is something so sinisterly final about that gesture. As if some vital part of himself will be irrevocably tarnished and sealed if he should accept it.
Except that the deal had been struck the moment he'd uttered those ill-conceived words.
Perceptor's jaw clenches, his expression setting into studious neutrality as he reaches up to accept that hand and is hauled to his feet. His knee holds, while deep within there is a sound only he hears that reminds one of a nail being driven into stone.
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Post by Victoria Raines on May 11, 2008 23:18:11 GMT -5
Shockwave's optic flares briefly when Perceptor accepts the hand up. Surprising. This entire encounter had been surprising, for as confident as Shockwave is in his knowledge of the Perceptor archetype, in his ability to sway, Shockwave had expected more of a struggle. Obviously, this battle and the damages being dealt to Perceptor's allies has clouded the scientist's judgement. What thoughts would come to mind later, when Perceptor is safe and calm? Will he rage against himself, and against Shockwave?
Most likely.
As soon as it is apparent that Perceptor can stand unaided, Shockwave moves to lean against the wall just to one side of the doorway. He studies Perceptor a few moments, then sighs and says, "And this, Perceptor, if why logic trumps emotion. You are a victim of your own caring, help hostage by your ideals, by your black and white concepts of right and wrong. You are even now regretting this encounter, but I would wager backing off your word has not even entered your thoughts."
Shockwave crosses his arms under his chest, then nods at the door. "Go. Do what you can to save them from that Prime and his darkness, as I work to save my own from his influence. But something to think about, Perceptor, to consider," one arm extends to momentarily block the doorway, "It is not immediately obvious that you were aided in bracing that leg, but a more thorough examination would be telling. You can tell your commanders about this meeting or no, I do not care. But not telling may be more damning, were the truth to out at an inconvenient moment."
After all, while Perceptor's superiors may not be so easily swayed by one act of altruism, it will still be remembered. And that remembrance may or may not gain Shockwave ground at some point in the future. Planning, always planning, and sowing seeds for future crops.
Shockwave's arm falls. "You have my frequency should you need it. Go and save them, if you can."
OOC: If Perceptor leaves on his next post, the thread can be considered closed as far as I am concerned.
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Post by Perceptor on May 12, 2008 16:57:44 GMT -5
There will definitely be railing once the toll is reckoned and space is wrested for thoughts. For now, however, it has been too soon since the last time that everything had been lost to the Decepticon's attack. The memories of the fall of Autobot City, the fall of Optimus Prime, the shattering of huge swathes of Cybertron at the hands of Unicron, are too fresh in Perceptor's non-combatant memories.
Too comfortable he had allowed himself to become here. Too content, for all the trials and hardships. To lose it all again, to lose his comrades again, plucked away, one by one by the dark Prime and the Decepticons...
Later there will be time to understand the depths of his own shock that tricked him to such hopelessness and vulnerability. For now, however, it is Shockwave's own words deriding that which Perceptor has always considered part of his strength that pricks him, perhaps urging him beyond the bounds of that shock into sense once again.
Sense enough to realize from the radio chatter that he does not have time to stand here and trade remarks with the Decepticon. He's delayed long enough.
"Too valuable, indeed," he intones softly, pausing at the doorway. "You care far too much about my welfare, Shockwave. Be careful that your tool does not twist in your grasp and strike you when you are not looking."
Perceptor's hip may yet be a little stiff, but the newly braced knee compensates nicely as he slips out the door and quickly jogs out of sight to begin making his way to the evacuation routes where the others should be bringing the wounded on his recommendation.
ooc: out of thread.
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