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Post by Victoria Raines on Dec 29, 2009 18:14:28 GMT -5
Day 4, open thread.
This place perplexes Shockwave.
He understands the lure of the gambler's lifestyle, but cannot understand any who choose it, even in the short time. It is illogical. Why choose a lifestyle which might destroy you in instant? The thrills of the gamble is not enough to outweigh the risks.
This planet, it caters to every vice, every whim, every fantasy. It seems anything can be bought for a price here. Convenient, perhaps, but it is also problematic. It means things here are too transient, too mutable.
It makes predicting moves of all parties most difficult.
So Shockwave has left the calm which is Ship to venture onto this chaotic planet. For one he does not trust Starscream to handle all aspects of their stay, though Shockwave must admit the Air Commander did well in his removal of the Wrecker Springer from play. For another, perhaps observing the local color will allow him to better understand Pz-Zazz's people.
He has not hid the fact that he has come planetside, or the fact that he is head of the Decepticon "merchants" recently come to Pz-Zazz. He has been visible in one of the more cultured districts. If someone wished to find him, they could easily.
He is currently enjoying (truthfully enjoying, though few could tell it) a late-night walk through a very ordered cultivated garden. Shockwave always did have a fondness for forced order.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Dec 29, 2009 20:51:20 GMT -5
Shockwave is shadowed by his loyal bodyguard, Hellbender. The burly shell-former keeps close to his master, and says little, though his optics drift back and forth, scanning the surroundings. Short-range radar and other sensors are active, as is his fiendishly acute hearing. He trusts no one and nothing here that isn't Decepticon, and even those, he doesn't actually trust in the mundane sense of the word. He does, however, know many of them enough to trust them to be themselves.
That's one of the reasons Hellbender is keeping an optic tuned for trouble. Starscream has been at large down here for several days, and who knows what he's cooked up--or who he has hired to do what. At least Duskwing is too stupid to be conspiring to do more than steal extra rations. Oil Slick, Barricade, and Blackarachnia have been off doing who knows what, and there's something about each of them that makes Hellbender's threat detectors twitchy. Misfire, Dead End and Skystrike are probably reliable, but what are the Mayhems up to? They were conspiciously absent when Shockwave took over from Starscream... will they be conspiciously absent for the next takeover, too?
Hellbender doesn't like being stuck on a wide-open world with so many strange aliens. He doesn't know who they are, or what they're likely to be up to. It makes him uneasy all over. At least Lord Shockwave isn't the fragile type, or Hellbender would be really nervous here. (Though if Shockwave were fragile, would Hellbender respect him enough to care?)
"Ah don't get organic people. First they do their best to pave and build over every inch that might support organic life, then they turn around and put a lot of work into breeding the stuff. Ah get it when they breed food and medicine, but what's this stuff for?" Hellbender rumbles.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Dec 30, 2009 12:48:51 GMT -5
"Is it not obvious?" Shockwave asks, almost musing, "It is about control. The growing things are random, unpredictable, and were there before the humanoid population. So they seek to master the wilds, bend them to their will. First they destroy and conquer, and then they offer succor to the defeated- but only under strict terms."
"It is not so different from my own model, Hellbender."
Shockwave walks a bit further along the path, then stops to admire a topiary that has been perfectly sculpted into the shape of some alien creature. The subject matters not; it is the exacting control that draws Shockwave's optic.
"Then there is the need for beauty around them that most beings seem to possess. The beauty itself may be subjective, but a garden such as this satisfies both desires."
They are not alone in the garden. Hellbender's sensors likely can pick out more than a few organisms of various sizes, both organic and mechanoid. Most are in pairs, and very close. It appears the place is a popular make-out area. Likely because of the shadows and niches.
"You have had no problems since your rebuild? I have not had the time to be as attentive as I would like, given the change in command and other recent events."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Dec 30, 2009 17:55:48 GMT -5
Shockwave's explanation makes sense to Hellbender. Mostly. It seemed like a lot of extra work to show off both control and beauty. Beauty was in the eye of the beholder; to Hellbender, it was weird alien growths in random deformed shapes, like blotches of corrosion on metal spires. Making it orderly was a lot like polishing rust, in his opinion, but it seemed more diplomatic not to argue the point
He kept a wary sensor or two on the locals, but they weren't carrying heavy weapons and they seemed more interested in their assignations rather than the two Cybertronians. Hellbender idly wondered if someone thought he and Shockwave were "an item". Given the cesspit of vice this planet seemed to be, someone was probably recording various meetings for blackmail purposes. He smirked to himself at the thought. Had the Mayhems picked up on this yet?
"Sir? All my systems have been working fine; Ah got no complaints 'bout your work or Hooks. Ah still miss the wings a bit, but bein' able to transform again is a big step up. So's havin' functional optics. Was gettin' a little weird, workin' blind for so long," Hellbender replies. probably missing Shockwave's meaning entirely.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Dec 30, 2009 23:35:40 GMT -5
Shockwave nods, oblivious to Hellbender's inner musings about their possible relationship status.
Ignorance really can be bliss, you see.
"I only regret that it took us so long to get you to this stage. Time and resources- mainly resources- have been against us from the off," Shockwave says, turning to face his bodyguard. "As for wings, continue to be patient. It is a much more difficult process, retrofitting a standard transform into a triple-changer, than building a triple-changer from scratch."
He speaks with experience, as if he has done both.
He has.
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Post by SceneMod on Dec 31, 2009 10:40:15 GMT -5
Most people in this park move in pairs, that's true enough.
That applies, also, to the pair moving towards Shockwave and Midnight now, but if they're out on a romantic tryst, they are part of a very alternative lifestyle indeed! One is roughly humanoid, and had either Shockwave or Hellbender been at the crash site, they might have recognized him as Violin Case Man. The other looks vaugely like a green tentacled blob poured into a pinstripe suit.
Just as Shockwave's made no effort to hide the presence of the head of the Decepticon 'Merchants,' these two make no effort to hide their approach from along one of the pathways.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Dec 31, 2009 19:39:48 GMT -5
Hellbender is slightly taken aback. Oh, there had been hints what was in the works, but no one had come out and said so.
"Well, suh, Ah can't say as Ah've ever tried that before. Ah reckon you 'n Hook will be takin' your time and gettin' everythin' just right, like you did with the first transform. Ah figure y'all know what you're doin'." He pauses, thoughtfully. // Two organics incoming, bearing 085. Headed straight for us, not wanderin' like all the others. Been trackin' 'em since they entered this here garden, but wasn't sure they were for us until just now. //
Hellbender continues talking to Shockwave as his shoulder-laser swings to cover the approach, targeting reticule glowing redly. "Ah figure you got some heavy-duty missions in mind for me, too. Seriously."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Dec 31, 2009 20:33:18 GMT -5
Shockwave has plans for the mining worm, oh yes, but he does not mention them, or really acknowledge Hellbender's rather leading comment. The gunformer has given his pet a nice treat of information, and one such nugget is enough for tonight. Unless, of course, circumstances dictate that further sharing might be prudent.
He turns to examine a particularity intricate woven trellis, the ivies and brambles tied in such a way as to make a tight checkboard pattern. The flowers must be a nocturnal species, as they bloom bright red under the night sky. His angle of examination allow him to watch the approaching natives without being quite so...obvious about it as Hellbender.
//I see them Hellbender. I am not worried. Wary, yes, but not worried. Let us see what entertainment they bring us.//
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Post by SceneMod on Jan 1, 2010 21:21:34 GMT -5
The aliens hesitate a moment as Hellbender aims a weapon at them. The blooby one starts to step back. The more humanoid one frowns and glances at him, then shakes his head. Then he strides confidently towards the robots, with blooby following after a moment's more hesitation.
"So you'd be the head of the 'harmless merchants' what think it's a good idea to start... peddling your wares on a protected street without consulting the local... business association first, huh?" he sneers, the word 'harmless' dripping with audible sarcasm.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jan 1, 2010 22:10:36 GMT -5
It seems obvious to Hellbender that Shockwave has special missions planned for him. They're Decepticons; Decepticons don't pour that much resources into one trooper out of kindness. A return is expected from such an investment.
All the better, as far as Hellbender is concerned. He'd rather being doing his job (killing Autobots and breaking things) than lounging around. It's what he's built for.
Hellbender is not quite as obvious as he could be. He hadn't turned to face the newcomers, nor did he look over his shoulder at them until they started talking. As for his shoulder-gun, it does occasionally slew about to point in the direction of scuttlings and gropings in the bushes, as if it had a mind of its own.
When the alien speaks up, Hellbender turns his head toward the conversationalist. The solider in him reads 'THUG' all over the vocal one; he's seen the type before. Like sharks, they go after the wounded and swim warily around the strong. Glowing red optics narrow slightly.
"Ain't nobody dead yet on our account, so Ah figure we done 'harmed less'." Hellbender points a finger at the being. "Mah boss is enjoying this here garden of yours. You got a name and reason for disturbin' him?"
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jan 1, 2010 23:53:34 GMT -5
Shockwave takes his time turning turning to face the approaching pair, reaching out as he does so to try and place a calming hand on Hellbender's upper arm.
"It is all right, Hellbender. I am surprised it has taken this long for someone to contact me about that unfortunate lapse on the part of our new recruit. I am certain these gentlemen will be no trouble."
Double meaning, what double meaning?
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Post by SceneMod on Jan 2, 2010 21:53:59 GMT -5
Pointing a gun at someone, even if the gun also points at other things, is a pretty inherently hostile act.
Unless you're in a porn movie.
"Name's Larry," the vocal, humanoid one sneers back up at Hellbender, weapons or no, "and I just said why I'm here." He looks up at Shockwave as he explains Oil Slick's actions. "Lapse? Really now? 'Cos, well, he said that his boss told him to sell there. Went on about how his boss doesn't take too kindly to others interfering in his people's work, too." In other words, if Oil Slick had been trying to make it sound like a new gang was trying to muscle in on that turf, he couldn't have picked his words better.
"'Course, he did admit to it being a misunderstandin'... and then continued to do pretty much what he was lookin' to do, anyway, so I'm wondering just how much he was, y'know, 'misunderstanding'?"
While Lenny speaks, the blobby one quivers in place. Or looks around nervously. Or blows his nose. It's REALLY hard to tell.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jan 3, 2010 21:03:05 GMT -5
Thug one is talking, not drawing weapons; the threat is not immediate, Hellbender judges. His shoulder gun muzzle lowers, less of an immediate threat, but the reticule still glows; fire control remains live, ready to slew the gun on target in an instant.
He still watches them suspiciously, especially the one that doesn't talk. "Larry. Got it. Ah'm sure Ah can look you up in the main directory like that and give you a call. Ayep."
He settles back a bit at Shockwave's words. "Yes sir. They ain't gonna be no trouble at all. Gotcha." Because Hellbender will make sure of that.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jan 3, 2010 21:43:48 GMT -5
Shockwave sighs heavily. "He overstepped his bounds on almost all counts," he says apologetically. Later, Shockwave is planning to have a little talk with Oil Slick about collaborating stories before running of at the mouth.
"I did ask some of my representatives who were planetside to discreetly investigate the crash of the Autobot ship. The Autobots are troublesome mechanoids, you see, and my people have a long history of bearing the brunt of their persecution."
"I did not however, give any of them leave to peddle any wares at that time. That was a poor decision on his part, and he has been disciplined accordingly."
"But you do not care about that, do you?"
Shockwave takes one step closer to Larry and looks down at him. "What you care about is compensation. So let us get down to that, yes?"
"What do you want?"
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Post by SceneMod on Jan 4, 2010 9:39:18 GMT -5
Larry looks between the two, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Not only are these guys' stories not fully jiving with what he got from the crashsite... their demeaners contradict each other. From one, offers of compensation, from the other, poorly veiled threats. At Hellbender's 'observation' about the main directory, Larry only answers, "Sure you can."
Now, whether Hellbender can find anything may be another matter entirely.
He turns back towards Shockwave. It's pretty obvious that he is nervous - as humanoids go, the typical one found on Pz-Zazz is pretty tall, but Shockwave is still taller, while Hellbender is more overtly armed. Despite this, however, his voice is still steady, his attitude can best be described as politely defiant.
"You seem to have my priorities confused. Compensation is all well and good, and certainly I don't object to it, aaaah, but really, what I care about is... I guess you can best describe it as property rights."
In other words, they're most interested in making sure their turf remains their turf.
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