Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 2, 2010 19:14:05 GMT -5
Duskwing just smacked himself in the forehead at Spy Shot Six's1 explanation. "'Bright' means 'intelligent', you glitched-out overgrown scraplet! Slag, don't got any room for l--ling--uh, unnerstanding speech-type processors? Or like, sense? Did ya maybe think that I might NOT LIKE TO BE SUDDENLY BLINDED?" The big Seeker flailed his arms about again. "Slag and dross, at least gimme the freq of that flash of yours so I can get Hook to make some filters for it, like he did for Needlenose's thingy."
Duskwing's video processors finally finish rebooting, except for one laggard CPU, leaving him with one optic with scattered black pixels. Wait, Swindle was asking about tactical? "Nah, don't see nobody that shouldn't oughta be here." He lowered his arm guns; the charge drained away with a soft whine.
He stared distractedly at Swindle for a moment, briefly confused by the sudden topic change away from the tactical situation. "Huh? Oh, you mean 'literally', not 'literary'? Never did get what writin' had to do with tossing the trash on the floor, anyway." Duskwing has a perfectly good dictionary database, he just has problems with the indexing function--however, he can access obscenities and vulgarities in every language heard by a Cybertronian.
---- 1 Not to be confused with Six Shot, who is much larger.
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Post by Spy Shot 6/Cameron Otto on Jul 4, 2010 10:24:55 GMT -5
Spy Shot pauses for a moment to run a few memories through his head, then starts flailing his arms about in imitation of Duskwing. When he speaks, however, his voice remains calm and matter-of-fact: "'Quick-witted or intelligent' is a low-priority definition of the word 'bright'. The primary definition is 'radiating or reflecting light'. Secondary and tertiary definitions are 'filled with light' and 'vivid or brilliant'. Priority is given to the top three definitions."
He continues flailing as he systematically responds to the rest of Duskwing's comments. "I presumably have room for 'understanding speech-type processors' given that I understand speech." A pause. "Define 'sense'. And I did not think that, because I thought that was what you asked me to do."
He does a quick mental playback of Duskwing's rant again. Did he miss anything? Oh yes! He finally stops flailing and lets his arms drop to his side. "My flash is white. It is composed of several frequencies of light." None of which he actually knows the numerical values for anyway.
There! All done. Now he can just sit back and listen to Swindle and Duskwing talk.
OOC: Definitions courtesy of dictionary.com, which Spy Shot presumably raided back on Earth.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 5, 2010 23:42:38 GMT -5
Swindle facepalms with an audible smack of metal on metal. Being here is like watching a really dumb Unstoppable Force go up against a completely naive Immovable Object (i.e., fun unless you're in the middle.) "Alright, it's decided. I'm ransoming Spy Shot back to the Autobots. It's far too dangerous to have both of you on the same team. Spy Shot, I need you to tell me the Autobot's general radio frequency, or a frequency I can reach an Autobot other than you on, so that I can sell you back to them." Because he is NOT conducting hostage negotiations over the general Cybertronian band, where Shockwave and everyone else can hear.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 6, 2010 7:52:36 GMT -5
Long, appalled stare.
Duskwing sputtered, "You idjit! Dat wasn't what I meant! You gotta consider c--con--what's the word?--CONTEXT. Yeah, that's it. You gotta consider context. What was we talkin' about before I told you to be 'bright'? Dat's 'context'!"
"Huh? Whaddaya mean, 'define sense'? Everybody knows what 'sense' is! It's what keeps you from doin' stupid slag what gets you killed for no good reason!" Duskwing exclaimed, ignoring the worst case of pot meeting kettle in the universe. 'Sense' is what Duskwing conspicuously lacks.
His head slewed around and he stared at Swindle. "You're gonna what? I mean, I ain't got no use for the little punk here, but won't the bosses get mad if dey don't get a prisoner?"
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Post by Spy Shot 6/Cameron Otto on Jul 7, 2010 12:28:54 GMT -5
"We were talking about morality and Autobots and Decepticons." Spy Shot nods as Duskwing actually does a decent job of explaining what he meant by 'sense' in this case. "I believe I have room for sense."
Sense enough to avoid getting captured by humans while in Sector Seven. Not sense enough to realize that hanging out with Decepticons as an Autobot is probably not the greatest idea. It's a work in progress.
Spy Shot looks a little surprised when Swindle mentions ransoming him off, but is still obliging. "Oh. The Autobot's general radio frequency is [frequency]."
His head tilts to one side. "Does this mean I don't get to try being a Decepticon?"
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 7, 2010 17:06:56 GMT -5
"You know Duskwing, they might, if they learn about this somehow, but I honestly can't stand to listen to the two of you argue any longer." Oh, hey, the Autobot radio frequency! That's handy to know. Maybe he'll ask Spy Shot the combination to Emirate Xaaron's luggage next. But the little guy wants to try being a Decepticon. Swindle sighs. "Alright, I can't believe I'm asking this, but what do you think we should do with him, Duskwing? Prisoners aren't my specialty."
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 8, 2010 20:59:46 GMT -5
Duskwing scowled. "Ah, fergeddaboutit! Look, just don't flash me like dat again. I don't like it, see?"
Long blank stare. "Huh? Look, kid, you're either a 'Bot or a 'Con. I don't think you can just randomly switch. Well, maybe we did back in the beginning, back when dere was a bunch of us left with no cities 'cause dem slaggers blew it all up. Megatron got us all together and told us what to do after the other cities just left us to starve, slag 'em all in a crater. Den we became Decepticons, see? Before dat, everyone was just, like, Iaconians and Vosi an' Tarnese and a bunch of other guys. I think maybe Autobot was just the old word for what everyone here is callin' 'Cybertronians', see? So back then, maybe you could switch. Only dese days, you get built either Con or Bot. On the other hand, dat guy Skyfire switched from Con to Bot, or something. So I dunno."
He stared at Swindle for a long time, with a touch of increasing panic. "Uh, whatdaya askin' me for? You're the boss here!" Duskwing all but whined.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 9, 2010 12:52:36 GMT -5
If Spy Shot wants to try being a Decepticon, he's perfectly welcome to do so. Just not around Swindle. Duskwing is enough.
"Exactly, Duskwing. So you let me worry about the bosses getting mad and just keep your mouth shut about this whole debacle." Swindle would turn Spy Shot over to the other 'Cons if he thought there was something in it for him, but he doesn't see that there is. Shockwave doesn't seem like the type to reward a subordinate for capturing an Autobot, and he really doesn't want to think about someone as child-like as Spy Shot 6 suffering through a Decepticon interrogation.
So he hails the Autobot Broadband instead, and hopes for the best. If all goes well, he'll pocket a few credits. If not, well the Wreckers can't be that much worse than an angry Blitzwing and Lugnut, right?
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Post by Spy Shot 6/Cameron Otto on Jul 9, 2010 16:02:45 GMT -5
Spy Shot nods again at Duskwing. "I see. I will not flash you like that again."
No random switching of factions? Oh well, guess he'll just have to stay an Autobot! He'll have to find out some other way to see what it's like to be a Decepticon. In the meantime, he finds everything Duskwing has to say terribly interesting, even though he doesn't really understand what a lot of it mean, and he's not sure it applies to him anyway. After all, he wasn't built as an Autobot or a Decepticon.
Much of the discussion directed at him seeming to have wrapped up, Spy Shot quickly gets distracted by the urge to explore the rest of the room, and jogs to the edge of the table, getting ready to swing himself over the edge.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 10, 2010 8:42:17 GMT -5
Duskwing frowned sullenly. "Well you don't have to go acting like an officer! I just meant you come up wit' the plans. So go ahead and deal wit' it! Yeah, Six Shot, thanks."
He stalked off to a corner to sulk, not interested in further conversation for now; Duskwing was too busy nursing his bruised ego.
---- Skippable until further notice due to vacation.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 10, 2010 13:13:42 GMT -5
So the Autobots don't want to play ball. That's just fine with Swindle. They can play war instead. "Hey Spy Shot, don't wander around too much, stay where I can see you. If you disobey I'll have to stick you back in my private storage dimension. My boring private storage dimension."
The conbot sighs as Duskwing goes off to mope in the corner. "Sorry, Duskwing. I've just got a lot on my mind right now. Like the Autobots gunning for me. Could you help me round up all the crates with red stripes labeled 'DELICATE'?" He's going to move said crates to another store, with or without Duskwing's help. Because he doesn't want his delicate electronics to be here once he starts rigging high-yield EMP charges with proximity detonators all over the place. Needless to say, Swindle has no plans to be present if the Autobots arrive.
Speaking of which, he sticks his head through the door to the front of the store. There's a short, grey, hunchbacked alien with leathery skin, a breathing mask, and a red uniform working there, sweeping dust out the door with a long-handled broom. "Hey, Charlie? Go ahead and take the rest of the day off." Charlie pipes "Yippee!" and is out the door.
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Post by Spy Shot 6/Cameron Otto on Jul 11, 2010 13:42:57 GMT -5
Spy Shot gives Swindle a mildly incredulous look. Not because of the command, but at the idea that Swindle's storage dimension is boring. How could anything with that much new and interesting stuff ever be boring?
He pauses at the edge of the table, though, glancing back and forth between Swindle and the edge. How much wandering exactly is 'too much'? And does he mean to stay where Swindle can see him from his current position, or just in general? Surely Swindle can see him almost anywhere he could go in this room, though it might involve moving a little.
Spy Shot opens his mouth to ask for clarification, but pauses. He wants to explore. It occurs to him that if he doesn't ask, then he can just assume which interpretation of Swindle's words best suits him. Hm, that does seem preferable to potentially being told to stay on the table.
"Okay," he says, agreeing to his chosen interpretation of the command. Then he swings over the edge of the table, clinging to the top with only his pincers. Shuffling along the edge a bit to line himself up with a table leg, he lets himself swing back and forth to gain momentum then makes the leap to the leg. Clinging to the leg with foot and claw, he slides to the floor. Then he's off.
It'll occur to him later that as an Autobot he isn't really obligated to follow the commands of a Decepticon.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 11, 2010 21:08:27 GMT -5
Shockwave is angry at Swindle over the radio. Duskwing didn't tell Shockwave anything, and Spy Shot 6's radio is still jammed. Which means an Autobot clued in Shockwave. Which means the Autobots and Decepticons are in cahoots and are probably all out to get Swindle. To say that the merchant is a bit panicked would be an understatement.
It's not that he's never had people gunning for him before. He's had Decepticons after him before. He's had Autobots after him before. But having 'Bots and 'Cons (apparently) set aside their differences to come after him is new and scary. One of Swindle's eyes twitches as he runs after Spy Shot, scooping the little robot up and clutching him in both hands like a lifeline.
"What do you say we rent a hotel room with no windows and sit in it with a gun pointed at the door for the rest of natural lives, little guy? There's two of us, we could take shifts holding the gun! You and me against the world! No, that's dumb." The con takes a deep breath, cycling air through his filters. "See, if my people get you, they'll torture you and take you apart. And if your people get you . . .well, I don't know what they'll do, but apparently they'd rather put an innocent at risk than part with a few credits! How does that make sense? There's no bottom line in it! It's all economics, kid, economics. Stick with me, Spy Shot, and you can grow up to be an unprincipled sleaze. It's the only way to get ahead in life."
Still clutching Spy Shot in one hand, Swindle rushes over to the table, picks up the Cone of Radio Silence in his other hand, and runs out the door. It bangs shut behind him, leaving a moping Duskwing alone in the shop.
OOC Note: Spy Shot 6 scooping performed with player permission. P.S. Say the preceding line five times fast.
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Post by Spy Shot 6/Cameron Otto on Jul 12, 2010 20:25:52 GMT -5
Spy Shot is a bit startled when he only makes it a short way before getting snatched up. He's about to express his interest in being put down when Swindle begins to babble. He turns his head to watch the Decepticon's face. His mouth opens and closes several times during the chatter, but in the end he finds himself with little to say. He's a bit dubious about the idea of becoming an unprincipled sleaze, though.
Best to just sit back and enjoy the ride for now. There will surely be plenty to see as Swindle makes his hasty escape.
Duskwing may have had a point about a lack of common sense.
OOC: Did you want to do a time skip now?
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 13, 2010 22:32:43 GMT -5
OOC Note: Short timeskip, say 15 minutes or so? Also, Spy Shot 6 posed with permission.
A tiny (by Pz-Zazzian standards) green Hummer with purple windows pulls up in front of a nondescript warehouse in a bad part of town. The front passenger-side door opens, and an even tinier robot climbs out, before the SUV transforms into Swindle with a whirl of parts. "Enjoy the trip, kid?," the merchant asks, voice somewhat manic, as he punches in the access code to the lock on the warehouse's door. "Plenty of neon signs, right?" As the door to the warehouse swishes open, there's the sound of shattering glass and a cat screeching, followed by a car alarm going off. Swindle flinches and pivots on one foot, deploying his arm-mounted scatter blaster to cover the street. Seeing no obvious threats, he chuckles and winks at Spy Shot. "In you go, kid."
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