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Post by Perceptor on Sept 23, 2010 15:10:32 GMT -5
// Understood, Xaaron. // Look at that, Perceptor wholeheartedly agrees with Xaaron for once! // When you are ready to turn him over to me, I will see that Mirage gets a complete physical and mental examination. Until then, I will remain here with Pyrite. // He'll need to detail some notes, anyway, for someone to follow to complete his repair work on the Rock Lords, in case anything unfortunate should occur during his work with Mirage.
// Thank you, Jazz. I will take that into consideration. //
Perceptor nods as he examines the wound Pyrite shows him with brisk efficiency. He does not understand the reliance upon mere fabric as a modesty device, however, he can understand the need to cling to something familiar amidst all of the most recent events. And mere fabric it may be, armor is still armor of a sort, he supposes. But that is neither here nor there, and there will be ample time to feed his curiosity later.
"No other significant injuries, then?" he asks, pausing to add, "I will do my very best for her. I give you my word."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Sept 23, 2010 17:40:10 GMT -5
//Right. Then next time, I'll make sure I'm the first on in danger,// Rodimus replies to Mirage over the radio, smirk in his tone.
His optics widen as if in realization, and he looks up at Mirage. "When you get Glyph on that language, let me know. I might be able to help a little." Less than he'd like. His... source is reluctant. But if he can help fill in a few blanks, the cryptology expert should be able to do the rest. "This Venatorious, you called him a Gatekeeper, but they're also known as Executioners, while the five facer... did you happen to get his name? He'd be a Judge, fairly high up in their hierarchy, typically. From the sounds of things, they have a pretty extensive network of servants and ties - X, the tickets..." He rubs his forehead and considers. "Matched sets, huh? Pyrite and his sister were never going to go free, no matter how many Pyrite brought back to them."
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Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Sept 23, 2010 21:18:35 GMT -5
Pyrite manages a charming, perhaps even disarming smile, and he even jokes to Perceptor, "Anything else broken? Only my spirit." There's a hint of what the actor might have been like, just for a little while. Then, he shakes his head, and he murmurs, "You people are so very strange, but I can't thank Mirage enough, and now you? I may be morally bankrupt," a wry, self-depreciating smirk, "but if I wasn't, you'd have me in the poorhouse."
Bambi explains to Jazz, "Oh, him Mirage get huffy over tickets, no want them. Him spaceport man stink like fear. Nervous. So him Mirage buy other tickers, and us take two hop to throw off trail and then go home." She pauses. Did she just call the Event Horizon home? Huh.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 23, 2010 21:38:49 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron explains, though there's a deceptive note of command in his voice, "Mirage, the next time you come home with alien software in your mind and alien hardware in your body," because it's Mirage, and he gets up to stupid trouble all the time, "you will tell the on-duty medic immediately. You will also benchmark the extents of your new powers, if they prove benign enough to leave in, and you will allow Perceptor or another medic to complete examine the device and software for possible replication."
They probably won't be able to replicate it, but an army of invisible Autobots would be awesome, Emirate Xaaron thinks. Also, Emirate Xaaron doesn't want Mirage to discover in the middle of a day-long stakeout that his new toys make him turn lime green after twelve hours or something absurd like that. Forewarned is forearmed.
He eyes Rodimus Prime curiously but doesn't comment on it. Instead, he asks Mirage, "What do you expect me to do with your Rock Lord friends?"
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Jazz [G1]
Rookie
Cool as an icicle in a snowstorm.
Posts: 177
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Post by Jazz [G1] on Sept 23, 2010 22:54:36 GMT -5
They say home is where the spark is, but Jazz has a laser core, so that phrase is lost on him.
Jazz nods at Bambi, keying a bit more into his datapad. "Well, if he was working for them, looks like their minions run the gamut of horrifyingly skilled to horribly incompetent. Too bad we can't get more of the latter than the former. Then things would be easier."
Jazz sighs, then puts forth a small smile. "I think that'll do, little lady. You sit tight and wait for Perceptor, y'hear?"
Unless Bambi has more to add, Jazz steps out and knocks on the door to Mirage's holding chamber.
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Post by Mirage on Sept 24, 2010 11:00:00 GMT -5
"I don't know the other's name for sure. The name 'Excisionata' was mentioned, and Secutorious was in the company of a five-faced individual when last I saw him. They were en route together toward the lab from which we escaped," Mirage answers the Prime, "I'll be talking with Glyph as soon as I'm cleared from quarantine, so I'll be sure to call you."
Again, Mirage grimaces and rubs a bit harder at his temples. his next words to Xaaron come out perhaps harsher than intended, "Yes, Xaaron, I fully intend to document the extent of the upgraded abilities and make a full report on them. I'm not stupid enough to run around not knowing what I can and can't do. Nor do I intend to come back with more surprise elective surgery; it isn't as if I asked for or wanted this to happen, for Primus's sake."
Well. Maybe Mirage has had some serious cloak envy since that team up with Spinister-3. But he didn't want to get an upgrade through Terrible Trials and Tribulations!
"Once we've done all we can- or you allow- to attempt to repair their minds, I intended to escort them both to a ship to take them off planet and away from here. Perhaps it won't forever keep them free, but getting off planet at least would hopefully keep them from being immediately snared again."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Sept 25, 2010 15:46:32 GMT -5
OOC: Skipping Perceptor due to the slow-post warning.
Rodimus nods as Mirage speaks, and sighs. "All right, then. You... actually didn't answer my question about whether or not you could find your way back. But outside of that, that's all I've got right now. I'll probably have more for you later, but in the meanwhile, I'll leave you to get repaired and rest up."
"I don't have to ask you to add more details if you think of them." Sometimes, waiting too long can taint the results, but they have the first impressions already.
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Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Sept 25, 2010 17:33:35 GMT -5
OOC: Skippable
Bambi watches Jazz go, frowning to herself and fidgeting. Being locked up in a glass quarantine cell is very uncomfortably like being in a cage, to her. She goes back to trying to figure out the melting temperature of the walls and floor, pulling out her sketchbook and jotting down back of the envelope calculations.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 25, 2010 19:25:39 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron nods politely to Jazz as Jazz enters. He actually smiles as Mirage gets sharp with him, folding his hands behind his back. Ah, there's Mirage. Good to hear he hasn't lost his snotty attitude and complete lack of respect.
He does have to ask, "Do we know this slave ring doesn't span several planets? Do we know that they want to leave? But I think I'm ready to surrender you to Perceptor, unless Jazz has more for you."
He looks to Jazz and then Rodimus.
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Jazz [G1]
Rookie
Cool as an icicle in a snowstorm.
Posts: 177
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Post by Jazz [G1] on Sept 27, 2010 12:11:09 GMT -5
Jazz shakes his head, holding the datapad he's holding out to Xaaron. "Not a thing, boss - just turning in what I got from Bambi."
Considering the shape these guys wound up in, Jazz is far from his usual upbeat self. "I dunno what to think - these guys are even worse news than the Quints back home. They did the slavery thing, too, but not like this - they built their own rather than capturing innocents."
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Post by Mirage on Sept 28, 2010 20:51:06 GMT -5
Mirage looks apologetic, "I'm sorry Rodimus. I'm having trouble focusing. Yes, I can find my way back, if required."
"I think perhaps I might lay down until Perceptor can see to me. I won't sleep," he hastily adds, "Just... try and rest a bit. I'll make a report in the database when I'm able."
After a moment, he does say to Xaaron, "We don't know. But they deserve the chance, at least." He looks up, trying to meet the Emirate's gaze, "Isn't that what we do? We protect, and we give people the best chance we can to live without being oppressed."
I'm fine w/ you guys wrapping and heading out. Perceptor has asked that thread be kept open, because he still wants to talk w/ Mirage once he's able.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Sept 28, 2010 21:17:38 GMT -5
"I don't recall ours specifically trading in slaves," Rodimus explains of his home universe's Quintessons, "but they did have a history of targeting robotic species for other things, including attempted planetary takeover, and they did have the Sharkticons - whether they built them or adapted them from elsewhere, I don't know."
"We do what we can," Rodimus's answer to Mirage's question comes automatically and sincerely. For all his Matrix-derived wisdom, the Chosen One can be terribly naive at times.
Sometimes because of it.
He sighs. "I'm sorry this turned into such a fiasco." It's partially his fault, after all. He's the one who sent Bambi out there by herself. "Now, at least, we know better." He turns to walk out, hesitating briefly at the door. "Get better, huh?"
And then he's gone.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Sept 28, 2010 23:32:34 GMT -5
"Yes," Emirate Xaaron answers, "we protect those who cannot protect themselves." Even if it means sacrificing ourselves. A bitter legacy to have to bear, but better them than anyone else, he supposes.
He looks to Rodimus and Jazz, "I would suggest researching what the Quintessons of this universe are like, as they don't seem to quite match up to either of yours."
Emirate Xaaron takes a moment to kneel and murmurs, "Matrix be with you, Mirage."
Then, he rises and also heads off.
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Jazz [G1]
Rookie
Cool as an icicle in a snowstorm.
Posts: 177
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Post by Jazz [G1] on Sept 29, 2010 13:22:58 GMT -5
Jazz grins at Mirage, and offers an informal wave. "Yeah, get better, man - I'm anxious to hear your version of the story when you can tell it."
Then Jazz follows Xaaron and Rodimus out.
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Post by Perceptor on Oct 30, 2010 22:44:05 GMT -5
Some time after everyone has finally filed out and left Mirage alone, he receives a new visitor. One who wastes no time in securing the quarantine partition behind him and then crossing over to Mirage's berth.
Perceptor has been fretting since the moment he'd been informed that Mirage and company had tangled with the Quintessons. That worry had only increased, exponentially, the deeper into his investigation of Pyrite and Chalco's systems. Clearly, these Quints were not only insidious, but ruthless, too, and that they had had their tentacles on one of his mechs... and not just one whom he had claimed as an associate, but one whom he had claimed as a friend...
Perceptor was very unhappy. Pz-Zazz was making him unhappier and unhappier every moment that they were being forced to remain on the blasted planet. That discontent, however, had gone from the irritated disquiet of watching something so deeply corrupted that it could probably never be healthy again slowly dying before his optics, to the personal anger of having someone he cared about harmed by that same corrupt... thing.
Cliche as it may be, it's personal now.
"Mirage?" he intones softly, loathe to waken the spy, but more intent on getting that... that contamination out of Mirage as quickly as possible.
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