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Catfish
Oct 20, 2010 14:50:21 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 20, 2010 14:50:21 GMT -5
Day 11, late, after Twisted Wreck. Semi-private. Please talk to Hook or Ravage if you want to either be a (un)helpful ally or a snooping do-gooder. Starts at some docks; is heading underwater shortly after.
Hook is orange. He doesn't look too happy about this fact. His purple is also more of an indigo, maybe even navy. This is Hook's idea of a disguise, because, after all, Hook would never be caught dead orange.
Hook wasn't going to put on clothing when he was just planning on getting wet and would have to take the clothing off again right after putting it on himself.
He's standing on a dock, next to a robot who looks about half submarine, and he's listening along as the robot talks about undertows and poor visibility. While the other is talking, Hook pulls out a floodlight and attaches it to his forehead, rather like a lamp on a coal miner's helmet. He adds, "I'd love to hear more about your research."
The robot freezes, looking a bit deer behind the headlight, and stammers, "I can't talk about that."
"Mmh-hmm," Hook replies smoothly, staring down at the dark, polluted water. Their hired guide's working for a firm that is ostensibly trying to clean up the water. "Well. This'll be one less thing in the water when we're done, so shall we?"
Hook was not particularly surprised to discover, in looking through files, that Ravage can swim. Sure, some cats, like Steeljaw, hate water, but given that Ravage is an alien cat that turns into a beetle/missile/spaceship/something, being too surprised by anything is just a recipe to end up looking stupid. As a bonus, Ravage is even officer of the law!
That'll be handy, later on.
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Catfish
Oct 20, 2010 21:45:12 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 20, 2010 21:45:12 GMT -5
Ravage is an officer of the law, yes. He also is painted white and blue, and his optic color has been changed to yellow. He is currently undercover kitty, and has been recently posing as some artist's pet.
He hates being white.
The cat looks up at Hook, then back to the boat. Without waiting for orders, Ravage jumps into the murky waters.
Time to go bobbing for jets.
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Catfish
Oct 20, 2010 22:00:48 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 20, 2010 22:00:48 GMT -5
The guide covers his mouth with his hands and watches, awfully fascinated at the sight of the cthonic feline talking to the water like a fish in the sea.
Hook radios Ravage, //I can't swim. I'm going to have to walk along the bottom. What I'd like you to do is take my line and follow our guide. Up to you how you want to hold it, or if you want it tied to you somehow. Just don't bite into my hook or the line.//
No, Hook is not going to try to leash Ravage and is willing to at least let Ravage try to figure out on his own what he wants to do with the line. Hook's own Ravage was quite competent but not overly talkative, and this one seems to be similar in those respects.
Hook explains to the guide, "I'm going to drop like a stone with the same drag profile as, well, me. Just make sure Officer Ravage doesn't hit any riptides or cross-currents and lead him to our, ah, goal."
That said, Hook tosses his hook over towards Ravage and drops off the side of the dock.
The guide makes a rather funny expression, turns on his own built-in illumination, and slips down into the water, swimming up next to Ravage.
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Catfish
Oct 21, 2010 21:37:15 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 21, 2010 21:37:15 GMT -5
//Acknowledged.//
When Hook tosses out his line, Ravage's shoots back to the surface, tail whipping out and snagging the line. A few turns, and the line is pulled taunt.
Hook's weight pulls Ravage down suddenly. The cat is strong, yes, but water leaves him nothing on which to brace himself. The murky water swallows his yelp of protest.
Soon enough, though, Hook hits the bottom, and Ravage levels out.
//Worth the trouble after all the trouble he caused?// he can't help asking Hook.
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Catfish
Oct 21, 2010 23:15:14 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 21, 2010 23:15:14 GMT -5
If Hook feels Ravage tugging on the line, he'll reel more like out, to allow the cat freedom of movement, but Hook honestly can't see anything at all on the bottom, despite his head lamp. The water is just that dark and murky. His line goes up and just vanishes off into the darkness.
He replies, //Truth is, few people are worth the trouble, but if I didn't bother on all the people who aren't worth the trouble, we'd run out of troops rather quickly. Lugnut is, at least, rather dangerous, but he really needs to be pointed in a direction to ensure that dangerousness doesn't backfire.//
Hook pinches the bridge of his nose and keeps on slogging in the direction that Ravage is tugging him.
The lights on the guide will let Ravage make out the guide just fine but not much beyond that, since the guide is staying close to Ravage. The guide is just thinking that this is a decent way to earn some extra money, off the clock. The research work pays well enough, and as a waterproof robot, the polluted waters don't do much more to him than make him need to wash himself off more often. Get that crashed... thing out of the lake, get these nosy tourists to leave, and get back to the real work. All good.
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Catfish
Oct 22, 2010 21:24:23 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 22, 2010 21:24:23 GMT -5
Ravage continues to swim along next to the submarine robot. Something darts in front of him, and Ravage snaps out of reflex, jaws crunching down on something rough and wriggling, fins stabbing at his palate. He gives the creature a few violent shakes, then tosses it away.
It floats down into the depths, fluid leaking from it's torn body.
//Waters, creatures, are close to dead.//
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Catfish
Oct 22, 2010 21:32:35 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 22, 2010 21:32:35 GMT -5
//I suppose it is a shame to someone, somewhere,// Hook replies pitilessly. Not Hook's planet; not Hook's problem.
The crosscurrents are sudden and strong. The guide, knowing these parts, gestures, making a swooshing motion with his hands. They need to do down, or they'll run into a riptide and be swept away. He does frown over Ravage not bothering to eat his catch. Typical cat.
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Catfish
Oct 23, 2010 11:16:24 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 23, 2010 11:16:24 GMT -5
Ravage nods at the guide's direction, diving down to follow and hopefully avoid the riptide. This creates some slack in Hook's line, but Ravage imagines the Constructicon can manage still.
Like most cats, Ravage is a picky eater. He doesn't eat tainted food.
//Repairs here, or drag him out?// he asks, wondering exactly how they are dealing with Lugnut.
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Catfish
Oct 23, 2010 15:52:49 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 23, 2010 15:52:49 GMT -5
Hook does manage. Walking along the bottom is getting him absolutely covered in the toxic sludge that has settled on the lake bottom, but Hook can deal with exotic, dangerous mud.
//While I can lift 20 tons, that does not necessarily mean that putting my brute strength to work here is the correct option,// Hook muses. //If we can just get Lugnut up and operational, we can march him back and affect complete repairs on Ship. I'll have to see the extent of the damages myself to really decide, however.//
Hook should be seeing Lugnut soon, since the guide has finally led Ravage to Lugnut's resting place. The submersible robot doesn't quite touch the fallen Decepticon, looking over at Ravage nervously.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Catfish
Oct 24, 2010 8:38:30 GMT -5
Post by Lugnut on Oct 24, 2010 8:38:30 GMT -5
To say that Lugnut has seen better days is an understatement. Likewise for him needing a salvage crew. The area where he crashed is not quite a crater, but the sludge is different around him, moved by the sheer force of the impact. The zealot himself is half buried in it, his shoulders, back and head sticking out the most prominently, his optic dimmed. But even at a distance, it's obvious that the crash took a heavy toll on him; the re-entry had no real effect on him, only searing some bits of paint off his armor, but the impact had broken his armor, crumpled some parts of it, and then there was a rather nasty hole in his back. It didn't look like it was done by the crash though, more like something (or rather someone!) had drilled into it.
That was where the damage was most severe as well; circuitry was turn apart, sub-armor had been punctured, and even a few pistons were broken. His auto-repair systems had already begun their work, pushing aside sludge and mending broken systems, but progress had been minor, and he was going to need actual repair work if they wanted him up and running before sometime next year.
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Catfish
Oct 26, 2010 15:31:07 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 26, 2010 15:31:07 GMT -5
Ravage circles Lugnut's fallen form, much like he does a certain fallen leader at a point in his reality's future. He keeps his yellow optic turned on the submarine robot, however, watching.
Witnesses wouldn't be the best thing to leave behind. His orders however, do not include murder.
Yet.
//Big mess.// he says. He could mean the water, he lake bottom, or Lugnut. He probably means all three.
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Catfish
Oct 26, 2010 19:16:00 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 26, 2010 19:16:00 GMT -5
Hook reels in the line, finally nearing the group, and he comes up behidn their naive, trusting guide. Wan violet light splits the gloom, and the guide spins, but he spins too late. Hook neatly thrusts the blade through the guide's midsection and pulls it out cleanly. The guide vents something dark, floating listlessly, dead as the water.
Hook smiles and says coldly, //Terrible riptide that caught our guide, Officer. Luckily, you know the way back, now.//
He then deftly butchers and renders the guide, looking for just the parts he needs, parts which are conveniently waterproof. Hook tries to give Lugnut just enough repairs to get him awake, complaining, //My word. Parasitic drill infestation?//
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Catfish
Oct 28, 2010 18:30:15 GMT -5
Post by Lugnut on Oct 28, 2010 18:30:15 GMT -5
As Hook does his handiwork, Lugnut keeps laying still. But with every part that's inserted, a system starts up, lights blinking before kicking in, though it barely penetrates the dark toxic water. Then, one by one his side-optics activate before the central one comes to life, and almost immediately he tries to push himself up. Muffled sounds escape from the dirt before he finally manages to pull free, a string of curses/promises of revenge escaping his hinged mouth. Angry zealot is angry.
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Catfish
Oct 29, 2010 23:34:10 GMT -5
Post by Ravage (ROTF) on Oct 29, 2010 23:34:10 GMT -5
Ravage mrrrs softly as the guide's fluids vent into the water. The cat shakes his head and sneezes, then begins to circle again. There are things in the water which may be attracted to the fluid.
//Of course.//
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Catfish
Oct 30, 2010 9:51:03 GMT -5
Post by Dr. James Hook on Oct 30, 2010 9:51:03 GMT -5
Hook moves back as Lugnut wakes up, angry. Hook suspects that Lugnut often wakes up angry. He waits a moment, and then he radios, voice sharp, //When you are quite done, I need to do a servo check on you, and then we all need to get out of here.//
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