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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Nov 9, 2010 11:05:39 GMT -5
Day 26, rock room on Ship, open to 'Cons.
Rampage jolts awake sprawled across a pile of rocks. This in itself isn't a rare occurrence, but this time he hadn't been entirely expecting to wake up at all. Raw energon, right through his twisted spark; if anything could kill him, surely it would have been that. And yet here he is! Alive, in one piece, and not even in pain.
"Bad luck, old friend," he mutters to himself with a chuckle.
There's other oddities surrounding his awakening. The metal ceiling above him is new, and something feels... different. He feels different, and yet also very right. For the first time since he was forced into the ranks of the Predacons he feels... whole.
He lifts a hand to the gash over his spark - and why is that still there when the rest of him is healed? - even as the metal seals itself beneath his palm. Finally his spark is complete once more! Finally he is free!
Throwing his head back against the rocks, Rampage cackles loudly in euphoric delight.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Nov 9, 2010 11:20:37 GMT -5
Oh, but alas, poor Rampage will not have much time to enjoy his little moment of glory. An unsure growl rises up from behind him, followed by heavy thuds as something walks forward and around the rocks, keeping a slight distance. It's not long before the being comes into view, revealing a large, hulking purple robot with teal and black accents, looking down at him with a burning red optic, the unsure growl from before now replaced with an annoyed rumbling.
"Quiet yourself, pathetic mongrel! Only the great and GLOOORIOUS Megatron may cackle! Not that you have a reason to be happy." Lugnut chuckles deeply before he turns his body to the other who's there on rockwatch, though the side optics facing Rampage keep a close eye on him. "Seems like another Predacon. Even more vile looking then the others, as well."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Nov 9, 2010 11:47:02 GMT -5
Some moderately intelligent officer decided that Lugnut should be accompanied on rock watch by someone who could restrain the zealot if he got notional. Either that, or Hook was still annoyed with Hellbender for muddying his pool.
Hellbender reached over and tapped the forcefield button and said mildly, "Lugnut, don't make me keep reminding you of procedure. Ah hate havin' to nag; makes me sound like that whiny Ratbat. Would Megatron let you skip security just so you could insult people faster?"
Once the forcefield was on, the big worm-former got up from his station; blue-black armor shells stood out from his back like wings as he looked down at the crab-former. He's not as tall has Lugnut, but has the same sturdiness to his build. "Welcome to the Decepticon vessel Ship, Predacon. Since Ah figure your name isn't 'pathetic mongrel', you want to tell me what you go by and what your latest timestamp is? 'Cause you've just been hit by a bad case of temporal and para-temporal displacement, and this ain't where or when you were."
---- OOC: has Rampage opted for the size upgrade, or is he itty-bitty Predacon sized?
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Nov 9, 2010 22:54:57 GMT -5
OOC: No size upgrade, but he's on the upper end of Minibot. So still relatively small.
Rampage's laughter cuts off with a surprised 'hrn?' as he is interrupted by Lugnut's ranting. Pushing himself into a sitting position he glares up the purple annoyance who presumes to command him... and he keeps looking up. And up. And up. His optics go wide. He's never encountered a functioning Cybertronian so... very large.
His gaze fixes on the faction symbol emblazoned on Lugnut's chest. A Decepticon? Just what is going on? Did his battle with Depth Charge actually knock him unconscious for thousands of years, only to awake in the middle of the Great War?
He doesn't have long to consider the matter before a forcefield flickers to life around him and he pushes to his feet with a growl. Perhaps not so free as he thought. Approaching the barrier, he reaches out to touch it with one hand only to quickly stumble back as a shock lances through him. Only after he examines his lightly smoking fingertips does he finally look up at Hellbender - another hulking Decepticon - and bother to answer him.
"The name is Rampage," he says leisurely, as though this situation isn't putting him on edge. "Latest timestamp [partway through Nemesis Part One]. What do you mean by para-temporal displacement?" Spatial displacement he is familiar with. Temporal displacement, too. But that is a new one. He guesses, "A parallel timeline?"
He resists the urge to pace within the confines of the forcefield. He keeps trading one form of captivity for another, doesn't he? Still, better a physical cage than to be bound by an iron fist and an incomplete spark. That doesn't make him any more comfortable, though. In the presence of these Decepticons, for the first time in his life he feels small. He doesn't like it at all.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Nov 10, 2010 7:56:31 GMT -5
Lugnut's snaps to attention at the mention of the forcefield and protocol, the comment about Megatron doing wonders to calm him down. "No, you are right my comrade! I would shame the Great and Glorious Megatron with my reckless behaviour, even if this disgusting Predacon could never hope to damage us." He grumbles in mild annoyance before getting clear, turning around again to keep an optic on the Predacon, though he doesn't seem all that worried about him.
When the shield goes up and Hellbender walks forward, Lugnut stays at the terminal, leaning against it. He listens to the two talking, snorting when Hellbender mentions his earlier insult, but otherwise staying quiet as he calls in the new arrival....At least, until Rampage mentions a parallel timeline. "Yes, a different reality, one without the glorious presence of the magnificent Megatron. But I have no doubt that one day he will arrive here, and lead us all to GLOOOORYYYY!" Lugnut practically roars that last part, thrusting both arms high into the air...And then drops them and leans in again, like nothing happened.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Nov 10, 2010 8:11:09 GMT -5
Hellbender managed to avoid face-palming as Lugnut launches into another "All Hail Megatron" speech, but his expression probably revealed to Rampage that he'd really like to. Fortunately his back is to Lugnut at the moment.
"Rampage it is. Ah'm Hellbender and this here's Lugnut. Don't mind the forcefield, it's just precaution 'til we confirm what you are--had some violent Autobots show up now and then." Hellbender waves a hand lazily. "Ah think the last one really ticked off Hook, 'cause he cranked up the juice on the field some. Hook don't like it when people make holes in his ship."
"First things first--Lugnut, you getting all this in the log?--you've been sucked into this here other universe like the rest of us. Ain't figured out a way back yet, so if you're all anxious to go home and take care of somethin', relax and forget it, it ain't happening. Anywho, some mysterious force is snatching Decepticons and Autobots and Predacons and Maximals and Vehicons and Minicons and Ah don't know what else from all kinds of different universes and dumpin' on these here rocks, or the other set the Autobots got. Ah think we got 'Cons from at least 5 or 6 different histories, and all up and down their own timelines with us, which is why I asked for your timestamp. That's the first thing you might wanna know."
Hellbender shifted his immense weight and added, "Ah already told you yer on the Decepticon ship. Lord Shockwave is our Supreme Leader--like Lugnut said, we ain't got a Megatron here. We got Starscreams, though, so if your history is like my history, it's kinda familiar-feeling. Now then, can you tell me what you call your lot and who some acquaintances who can vouch for you might be, just in case we have some of them?"
Meanwhile, Hellbender sends out a radio query...
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Nov 10, 2010 17:22:58 GMT -5
Rampage's optics narrow at Lugnut's insults. The zealot might be surprised by how much damage he could do. However, juvenile posturing over strength isn't likely to get him out of this forcefield cage, and so he sits down on a nearby rock, decreasing his already lesser height - small! How can he be small! - and keeps his expression wide-eyed and curious, other than a hint of irritation as he endures Lugnut's ranting.
That one is worse than the ant, and likely just as dim. Apparently even Decepticon Megatrons attracted the mindless loyalty of idiots. Hellbender at least seems to have some modicum of intelligence, and Rampage listens to his introductory spiel. Snatched away to another dimension, hm? Then perhaps he had pulled away from the endgame with his old playmate, before his spark could be introduced to the sharp end of a shard of energon. Snatched from the jaws of death? ...Maybe.
He certainly has no issue with a universe without a Megatron, though he knows little enough about the history of the Great War to judge whether or not this Lord Shockwave might be a preferable alternative. The next name mentioned makes him sit up straighter.
"Starscream?" he says, with a hint of venom he didn't entirely expect. His feelings towards his history's Starscream are... complicated.
He slouches backwards again as he answers Hellbender's question, "Difficult to say. It really all depends on when they came from, doesn't it? Were any of the Predacons taken even involved in the Beast Wars?" After all, the individuals involved in the Beast Wars make up such a small minority of the Predacon population. He strokes his chin. If there are any Predacons here that know him, it could be problematic. He's whole again at last; he doesn't need some opportunistic scientist getting ideas about poking around in his spark upon hearing about its unique characteristics. Especially not a Decepticon scientist who might be over twice his size. Rampage is powerful, very powerful for a Predacon, but he is doubting his ability to resist Transformers of Hellbender or Lugnut's size.
If there are any who know him, he might have to see about silencing them. It would certainly be entertaining.
Note: pre-Tarantulas on the Broadband.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Nov 10, 2010 17:34:27 GMT -5
"Of course I am, Hellbender! I will not shame the Great One by ignoring protocol!" Not again, anyways, even if it is such a giant hassle to use the controls with just his pincers. It might even be a comical sight, with how he leans in close over it and carefully pressing each button with the very tips of them. But once he's done that he stands at attention again, listening to the two talking, though he can't control himself at the mention of the Starscreams. "BAH! Two of the vile, treacherous traitors! At least the new one's appearance betrays his true being, and does not hide it beneath an appealing exterior! Oh, if only the grand Megatron were here, he would vanquish them both, purge them from our beloved Ship!"
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Nov 10, 2010 18:11:30 GMT -5
A tiny motorcycle with legs zooms into the arrival room, skidding to a halt and flipping forward into robot mode. Tarantulas strides over to the forcefield to get a good look at Rampage.
"Do we have a timestamp yet?" he asks without turning around.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Nov 10, 2010 20:31:09 GMT -5
Hellbender chuckled darkly. "Starscream does have that effect on people, doesn't he? The new one comes from Barricade's reality and doesn't seem to be quite as grating. Haven't worked with him yet myself. As for good old red & blue Screamer from my reality, he was Leader when Ah first arrived. Got himself deposed by Lord Shockwave after demonstratin' the usual leadership skills."
Lugnut's reply merited a nod. "Thank you, Lugnut."
"Rampage, if you mean, do they have Beast modes, yes, we have several. Bots got some Maximals, too."
Hellbender quickly entered his own report in the log. "Tarantulas--yes, we do; [timestamp]. Ah hear you two know each other. So Rampage is definitely a Predacon, and not a Maximal/Micromaster/Pretender-Autobot or something that?"
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Nov 10, 2010 20:55:35 GMT -5
Rampage stands as Tarantulas enters the room, giving an idle rumble in response to Hellbender's talk of Starscream. He has more important matters to think about than the possibility of meeting the Decepticon he was patterned after.
Of all the Predacons that might have known him, it had to be one of the very few actually intelligent ones who ended up here. There are advantages and disadvantages to dealing with someone who isn't an idiot. He's not quite sure yet which of those outweighs the other.
"Oh, we're familiar enough with each other," Rampage says, a hint of dark laughter in his voice. "You could say I know him inside and out."
Looming as close to Tarantulas as he can get without touching the forcefield, he tries to lock gazes with the spider in silent threat.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Nov 11, 2010 5:12:25 GMT -5
Lugnut mumbles a "Yes, of course" at Hellbender before he finally calms down, pushing the Starscreams to the back of his mind. He's then content to watch the going ons, waiting for the cue to lift the forcefield.
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Nov 11, 2010 13:40:59 GMT -5
"Interesting. That's only a short while after me. How did the business with Tigerhawk turn out?" Tarantulas chuckles. "Yes, he's a Predacon. Definitely." There's no real reason to let everybody know about Rampage's loyalties or lack thereof. Not when blackmail is so much more fun!
"Yes, Rampage and I got quite intimate during the Beast Wars. Inside and out indeed. Though I was never as close to him as Megatron was. There was always a certain spark to their relationship that ours could never seem to capture," the spider says, narrowing his optic band and staring right back up at Rampage. Just don't forget who's on which side of the forcefield, crab-cakes, both literally and metaphorically.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Nov 11, 2010 14:37:15 GMT -5
Hellbender quietly logged the intriguing conversation the two Predacons were having while apparently continuing to fill out his reports. Tone of voice mattered, and his acute hearing made him sensitive to it, enough so that he put in an equally quiet call to Shockwave. Finally, he looked up from his console.
"Fine. Just as soon as I get the okay, I'll be releasing you to security and medical for in-processing, health check, and room and duty roster assignments. Watch out for Bonecrusher, he's a complete flipped-out psychotic berserker, but he should be locked in his room most times. Other than that, Ah can't think of any major warnings beyond the usual--we got a lot of people from different realities, and they might look like people you know or heard of or even carry the same name, but they ain't them. Probably. On the other hand, some of 'em, like Tarantulas here, might be the same guy you know. Do yourself a favor and don't ignore ship safety regs, 'cause some of us get mighty tanked at people what endanger the whole mission 'cause they can't bothered to do it right, or ain't thinking. Lugnut, can you think of anything else?"
Hellbender added a directed radio message to Rampage, very low power: // You probably don't want to say anything disrespectful about Megatron around Lugnut. He's a bit on the zealous side about him. Just a friendly warning. //
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Nov 11, 2010 18:49:44 GMT -5
"Oh, he joined the Maximals. That seems to be a common trend." His optics narrow at Tarantulas's veiled threat. His tone remains rather casual as he responds, though the amusement has gone, "Yes, it's difficult to be as close as Megatron and I, but I could always make the attempt." He discreetly lifts a hand slightly and clenches it into a fist. Would you like to know how it feels, spider, to have your spark crushed in another's hands?
So, it seems like Tarantulas is willing to play this game with him. A mild relief, given that the spider could just have easily passed along the information while Rampage remained trapped, rather than keeping it a secret. On the other hand, his continued secrecy would no doubt come with a price, and Rampage was loathe to be bound by anyone. But... better to be bound by words than the straps of an examination table.
Still, it irritates him how little fear radiates from the spider's spark even as they stand face to face. Is Tarantulas so very confident in his ability to keep him in check? How easy it had been to rend him limb from limb! Perhaps he wouldn't feel so optimistic without this forcefield to separate them.
He finally looks away from Tarantulas to focus on Hellbender. What was that about being released to medical? He only bothers to nod in response, crossing his arms and strumming his fingers impatiently as he waits to be let out. In the meantime, he turns his attention to his more exotic senses, stretching out with his spark to get a better sense of his new shipmates...
He replies dryly to Hellbender: //Oh? I hadn't notic-// He's cut off suddenly by a very startling realization, and he can't catch himself before he blurts out, "You have no spark!"
OOC: Tarantulas's emotional state courtesy of Tarantulas-mun.
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