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Driven
Mar 4, 2010 1:17:42 GMT -5
Post by Swerve on Mar 4, 2010 1:17:42 GMT -5
OOC: Day 5. Open thread; Swerve isn't making himself hard to miss.
Swerve scowls as he looks around the busy square. Getting here was a maddening ordeal, having to tolerate riding down on an unfamiliar shuttle that for all he knows at any point on the trip to the surface could have broken down or exploded or any other number of things that seem to go wrong with flying craft. It didn't blow up or crash, much to Swerve's relief. He just couldn't take milling about any longer, being stuck aboard the ship when he could be doing something – even if that was just getting in on the salvage work – anything other than being aboard the Event Horizon a minute longer.
And here he finally is with real, solid ground under his feet – not a deck. Here he is with real roads. Crowded roads.
"Ain't there anywhere to drive?" he grumbles, picking a direction and walking, looking around at the alien scenery with an uncharitable scowl. It's like… like a street exhibition. Noisy, bustling, packed with bodies. Strange, soft bodies with no windscreens or wheels or bonnets or mirrors to be seen, that don't gleam of glass, metal, or polish. Warm bodies that smell weirdly, that leave smudges where they bump against him as he stubbornly makes his way through the throng. It begins to thin out, growing more tolerable, as he gets further from the square. Still busy, but not so tight. Just as noisy even with the sky starting to darken. Streetlamps flicker on; signs above doorways light up. Swerve isn't interested in the wares for sale. He just wants away.
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Driven
Mar 9, 2010 18:57:05 GMT -5
Post by Breakaway on Mar 9, 2010 18:57:05 GMT -5
Roads? Where Breakaway is racing, he doesn't need . . .roads. Enjoying the sheer thrill of flight in his jet mode, he dives below an overpass then pulls back up, peripheral sensors registering the shock on the faces of commuters. It should be noted he's flying at subsonic speeds (barely) and leaving enough room so he's sure not to hurt anyone (again, barely). He passes over the street Swerve is on, banking between two buildings, wingtips slicing through the smog, shouting "YeeeEEEEEHAAAaaaaa!," the sound distorted by the Doppler effect.
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Skid-Z
Minor
'Not obsessed; possessed! There is a difference, you know.'
Posts: 411
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Driven
Mar 9, 2010 19:30:34 GMT -5
Post by Skid-Z on Mar 9, 2010 19:30:34 GMT -5
A black, shiny shadow passes through the crowds. His motions are liquid, like a ghost, and none, absolutely none of the organics seem to touch the metal as it shifts and steps out of the way constantly. It steps out into the open, crosses the street and pauses on one of the roadblocks in the center of the road, where it takes in the life of the street. One can now clearly see the magenta and white, as cars pass by on both sides and shine on him.
A bright red Autobot symbol gleams in the lights.
Skid-Z takes his time to look around, playing tourist. He’s alone and does not mind it, even if this planet is crime-filled. Examining the crowd for possible threats, he is attracted to a faction symbol, and finds Swerve attached to it. He contemplates signalling him, but is disturbed at sounds of jet engines.
When Breakaway passes over, Skid-Z startles slightly, fearing that the jet is a Decepticon. But because of the banking Breakaway does, his observing systems find yet another Autobot logo.
//[Shortband:Nearby Autobots] Did you two just chose the same place to hang about by cosmic coincidence, or are you tailing me? Because if I have stalkers, I might be tempted to see how well you can keep a tail going// He's making social friendlies. Because it's polite.
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Firebolt
Major
Brutal Gladiator, Scarab Lord Firebolt of the Shattered Sun
Moving Violation
Posts: 575
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Driven
Mar 10, 2010 0:53:49 GMT -5
Post by Firebolt on Mar 10, 2010 0:53:49 GMT -5
Robots don't exactly cough and wheeze, but somehow Firebolt is managing as she tries to push her way through the crowds and gets forced back somewhat. She's not too big, and the other aliens are just so big and crowd her back. She lets out a sound that is an 'ERK!' before she huffs and then pushes her way out onto the edge of the sidewalk and then looks around. Her ponytails fan out to the sides, making her look a bit angry for her standards.
//Too many people here, and there is no breathing room!// Firebolt declares on short-range Autobot radio in response to hearing Skid-Z speak. //I came to feel road under my tires not.. eeeeeew// She squishes against something and then makes a loud noise of disgust. This was not a well thought out plan, apparently.
//Which way to the road..?//
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Driven
Mar 11, 2010 11:53:33 GMT -5
Post by Swerve on Mar 11, 2010 11:53:33 GMT -5
The first thing Swerve registers is plane. There are Autobots with that stupid mode, but he defaults to Decepticon. Too many Seekers shooting at him. He draws his weapon and takes aim, ready to shoot back– pulls up short just as quickly when the stupid plane banks and he catches sight of the Autobrand markings.
"Fragger," he snorts to himself, grudgingly stowing his cannon and ignoring the looks and glares from other people on the street. Gunfights in public places are perfectly normal. It isn't his problem if they're a bunch of back-road rubberneckers.
He hears Skid-Z and… one of the kids – sounds like a kid – on the radio. He just doesn't respond to either of them, scowling and forging on through the crowds instead. Skid-Z, close enough to spot him, might even catch the angry snarl of his engine as he quickens his pace. He didn't come down here to make nice with other Autobots; he came down here to find something else to do before he starts punching other Autobots so they'll leave him alone. He's spent too long cooped up on that ship with the rest of them and worn what little patience he has far too thin to tolerate them much more.
This part of town's too polished, he decides as he shoulders past some sales booths. Nothing here for me.
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Driven
Mar 11, 2010 12:23:10 GMT -5
Post by Breakaway on Mar 11, 2010 12:23:10 GMT -5
Hearing the sudden burst of transmissions on the short-band, Breakaway puts on his airbrakes and loops around, reversing direction and somersaulting into robot mode as he nears the trio of carformers, finally alighting atop a nearby streetlamp, crouching on it Spider-Man style. Showing off? No, whatever gave you that idea?
"First of all, passing over an area at a a significant percentage of the speed of sound hardly counts as 'hanging about.' Second: if I was stalking you, why would I be going point nine-five mach and shouting?" It's hard to tell given his lack of a mouth, but the Breakaway's expression hints at a lopsided grin. Looking over at Firebolt he say, "There's a clear road near here at [coordinates]. Go straight that way," he points, "for about a klick, hang a left, and head up the on-ramp." The jetformer may or may not have failed to notice important details like 'Closed for Repair' signs and gaping holes in the road (perhaps with conveniently placed impromptu ramps next to them) that promise plummety death to anyone driving on said road. As Swerve stalks away he asks "What's his problem?"
OOC Note: Everything is more fun with the chance of plummety death, amirite?
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Skid-Z
Minor
'Not obsessed; possessed! There is a difference, you know.'
Posts: 411
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Driven
Mar 13, 2010 8:24:30 GMT -5
Post by Skid-Z on Mar 13, 2010 8:24:30 GMT -5
//[Shortband: Firebolt] I agree that this place is too crowded...// he glances back at her and grins somewhat reassuringly - the ferrari remains some kind of a relative after all, //we could-// The jet decides to come back and does his stunt-landing. Skid-Z looks up at Breakaway, and can't help but grin slightly, "I don't know, perhaps you're the decoy?" He brushes his nasal bridge with the back of his hand, swiftly checking on the other carformer while doing so.
Swerve is.... being Swerve apparantly, and because Skid-Z's current polarity is more introverted than extroverted, he pointly lays off communicating with the Velocitronian. He shrugs at Breakaway in answer, "Being himself; don't worry much about that. Does whatever he feels like doing" He gazes in the direction of the presumed road, wondering why it would be clear.... but then again, it's a road, and he's a car. And Firebolt is a car. And yes, Swerve too, is a car.
"Well, it sure sounds like our turf, and I haven't exactly managed to do a pleasant lap outside of holorooms. Like, out in the open and all" He contemplates. Then he promptly walks off in that direction.
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Firebolt
Major
Brutal Gladiator, Scarab Lord Firebolt of the Shattered Sun
Moving Violation
Posts: 575
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Driven
Mar 13, 2010 22:20:37 GMT -5
Post by Firebolt on Mar 13, 2010 22:20:37 GMT -5
//If there's nobody around I'll be oh so glad to head over there.// Firebolt declares as she manages to squeeze out of the crowd onto the road. The signs that declare it's closed are mostly blocked because of crowd.
"Yay!" Firebolt declares as she jumps up and then lands as a car. Her engine revs before she zooms off along the way.
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Driven
Mar 17, 2010 9:22:11 GMT -5
Post by Swerve on Mar 17, 2010 9:22:11 GMT -5
Swerve slows his stride, eventually stops altogether. A clear road and opponents mean a race, and he's aching for some action. But he didn't come down here to race Autobots, especially not kid Autobots like the other two cars. The last thing he wants to see right now is another Autobot because he can't race his way with them.
But it's still a race.
And they're still kids.
…Stupid fresh-paints. He scowls sourly and forces himself to not turn around. "Go split your treads for all I care," he pronounces, waving them off.
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Driven
Mar 17, 2010 12:27:43 GMT -5
Post by Breakaway on Mar 17, 2010 12:27:43 GMT -5
As Skid-Z and Firebolt head off, Breakaway launches from the streetlamp he's perched on to land on a balcony in front of Swerve. "What's the matter?" he says, "Afraid to race? That's understandable." He crosses his arms and shakes his head sadly, though the twinkle in his optics suggests a slag-eating grin behind his face mask. "I mean, you probably wouldn't even be able to keep up with the two of them, let alone me." He shrugs, and ignites his engine again, hovering over the carformer. "So I guess I'll see you later, then, Grumpy. Say hello to the other dwarfs for me." With that, the jetformer shoots Swerve a lazy salute and blasts off after the other two turbo-revvin' young punks.
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Skid-Z
Minor
'Not obsessed; possessed! There is a difference, you know.'
Posts: 411
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Driven
Mar 17, 2010 17:11:17 GMT -5
Post by Skid-Z on Mar 17, 2010 17:11:17 GMT -5
"Go split your treads for all I care"
"Go suit yourself, crankshaft" Skid-Z bounces back without hesitation, walking on, "Just know that your grave is gonna be mighty cold; don't know why you're wasting your fuel griping and moaning all the time!"
He's bristling, he's agitated, and the red Autobot is just one more of those attitudes that sets him off on this planet. He steps onto the road, transforms and sprints after Firebolt's taillights to the clear road.
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Firebolt
Major
Brutal Gladiator, Scarab Lord Firebolt of the Shattered Sun
Moving Violation
Posts: 575
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Driven
Mar 17, 2010 23:36:18 GMT -5
Post by Firebolt on Mar 17, 2010 23:36:18 GMT -5
Firebolt is too far along already to either notice or care that Swerve is angry, or that the others are talking back to him. She's driving and that remains one of the few things that she still feels so good about doing, it was always something fun to do on Earth.
"Oh man," she says as she goes a bit faster. She is quite about ready to launch into talking to herself about how happy she is but she narrowly misses a hole in the road. Then another and another. The little Ferrari glances about and then notices some construction vehicles and tools laying about on the sides of the road.
"Ah. ... This road's out of order. So that's why there's nobody on it," She declares, stating the obvious. Her small visualization of herself on her dash gets quite a determined look as she decides to take this as a challenge. She swerves a bit back and forth, getting into the motion of dodging the holes for driving and tries to find the right line.
//Careful, guys. Road's busted,// She says. Despite seeing it as a challenge, she doesn't have the heart to not tell comrades about it.
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Driven
Mar 18, 2010 12:48:32 GMT -5
Post by Swerve on Mar 18, 2010 12:48:32 GMT -5
Something in Swerve's neck audibly snaps as he spins after the others.
"Afraid?" Out comes the cannon. "Afraid?! I'm not the one running away!" he roars. "Cyber Key Power!" and he opens fire on Breakaway, drawing a bead on the loudmouthed plane for that first blast and peppering the air with laser fire after that. If he misses, it won't be because he's pulling his punches.
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Driven
Mar 18, 2010 14:29:45 GMT -5
Post by Breakaway on Mar 18, 2010 14:29:45 GMT -5
The first blast hits Breakaway square in the back . . . where his jet engine is. Luckily it doesn't do any major (i.e. horrible explosion) damage, but it does send the jetformer spinning out of control, ironically saving him from Swerve's potshots. After he restabilizes himself, he turns around to head back toward the enraged Velocitronian, dodging and jinking to avoid any additional laser fire. He had hoped to goad Swerve into racing, he didn't think he was going to start shooting! In public! As if the Autobots weren't in enough trouble with Omega Supreme crashing. As Breakaway transforms back into his jet mode, he privately reflects that the top brass are going to kick his aft for this. He also notices that the damage to his engine has slowed him down significantly. He can't even break the sound barrier!
"Play nice!" he shouts at Swerve as he passes overhead, releasing a thermal wave and hopefully overheating the carformer's weapons. Then he loops back around toward where Firebolt and Skid-Z are moving onto the under-construction road, taxing his damaged engine to the fullest as he hears Firebolt's transmission. He's getting shot at and he told the ground-pounders to go play on bad ground. "Scrapscrapscrapscrapscrap . . ."
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Skid-Z
Minor
'Not obsessed; possessed! There is a difference, you know.'
Posts: 411
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Driven
Mar 18, 2010 17:00:23 GMT -5
Post by Skid-Z on Mar 18, 2010 17:00:23 GMT -5
Skid-Z gears into overdrive as he gains on Firebolt, staying behind her. He doesn't slow when he hits the broken road, dodging the pits by minute alterations.
He doesn't care. Not about the road, not about the jet in the sky, definitely not about the red triggerfish they just left behind. The voice of conscience tells him that he should be concerned for Breakaway, for the Autobot looks injured, and it might be readily assumed that Cyber Power Keys announce their usage pretty well. But Skid-Z expects/fears that that's just going to be the next mech wearing a red sigil telling him to shut his trap. And he really can't handle that right now.
He sides up next to Firebolt, keeping a slightly paranoid watch out.
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