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Post by Perceptor on May 20, 2007 21:46:25 GMT -5
//Ocean.//
Perceptor sighs, frowning to himself. Given the topography, the river this settlement is on could empty into an ocean, or a lake. Without a large aerial survey, they cannot know just yet where their current location is on this land mass, and it had been too late upon meeting up with Synapse to consider such a reconnisance mission.
There is so much information that he would like to ask about from the massive sentinal mech, and offer him in return, however, without knowing who may or may not be monitoring this frequency, some security must be maintained. A file transfer is much more difficult to intercept, and, unless the Decepticons have an entire gestalt hiding nearby - not likely, or they would have already attacked - Omega Supreme should be more safe from attack than they.
// What portion of the solar cycle is it at your current location? If it is night, are you able to transfer a visual capture of the sky to me, Omega Supreme? It would assist in triangulating positions. Additionally, have you come into contact with any other Cybertronians? // he asks. Perhaps a comparison of the stars from Omega Supreme's position to the stars over their position could more approrpiately triangulate their relative positions than any attempt to a verbal description.
He sighs again, turning to Long Haul.
"He comes from beyond my chronological placement. I... I agree that Hook should be warned, however, I am hesitant to alert any other Decepticons to Omega Supreme's presence until we have acertained his fitness to defend himself from attack. His fuel situation may be desperate, and I do not wish to endanger him," he explains.
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Synapse
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Post by Synapse on May 20, 2007 23:17:35 GMT -5
Synapse would jump at the opportunity to perform any sort of survey of the planet's geology. It's not so much his previous anxiety about the others as it is about his curiosity.
The space travel and planet hopping of various Cybertronian explorers are among Synapse's favorite subjects of perusal. But during war is not the time for extraterrestrial explorations and he has heard stories of Autobot scientists who leave Cybertron for their missions and never return again. The latter fact discourages him less than the former. But while he is on the ground right now, he listens raptly to Emirate Xaaron's words while keeping his optics focused on the outside and observing quietly the conversation going on between Perceptor and Omega Supreme. (This is where learning how to stream various senses from various sources comes in handy)
"Warning?" Synapse echoes. It is then the finally remembers the rather...rough history between the Omega sentinel and the Constructicons. Then there's Long Haul. "What about him? How are we going to explain to Omega Supreme about Long Haul before he starts blasting?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 21, 2007 11:36:10 GMT -5
“Synapse, Long Haul is distracted. If you would be so kind as to fill in for his watch?” Emirate Xaaron fairly bites out the words. Synapse has those node things. He can stand watch and hold a conversation, right?
Then, the Emirate turns away from the outside view and looks squarely at Perceptor and Long Haul and says firmly, “No. Absolutely not. First off, has Hook offered up who the Decepticons have? He most certainly has not. They could have Trypticon out there, for all that we know! If you tell Hook about Omega Supreme, you are explicitly saying that you value to life of a Decepticon, who would gladly see us all dead, greater than Omega Supreme’s own life, Omega Supreme the Autobot who is, at least in my timeline, a stalwart defender of the Autobot cause. Even if the Decepticons don’t have Trypticon or the like – and we don’t know that they don’t – giving them time to prepare for Omega Supreme is just building the foundation for his funerary vault. We are having enough trouble just keeping ourselves fuelled. What makes you think we’ll have any easier time with him? Do you want Omega Supreme to be caught out, half-fuelled and vulnerable? Like those jackals wouldn’t tear into him, given half the chance.”
“Second off, you can say that you’d only tell Hook, but we have no guarantee whatsoever he wouldn’t turn around and tell every other Decepticon there. Secrets don’t say secret long. We’ll have a hard enough time concealing Omega Supreme without Hook blabbing about him to the rest of the Decepticons.”
“Third off, if you tell this to Hook now, if you give him an inch, how are you going to stop yourself from giving him the whole foot, the yard - the ten mile run! He’ll see you as a weak, soft source of information. What next, warning Hook about all the raids we plan? Might as well just shoot ourselves in the face and make it easy for him.”
“Finally,” Emirate Xaaron rubs his head, thoroughly annoyed with everyone present, except perhaps for Synapse, “Omega Supreme only entombed that Seeker. You heard him. He must have been feeling merciful today. If the Decepticons dig him out before we do, they’ll know about Omega Supreme, anyway.”
Emirate Xaaron stands there, taut with anxiety. He can hear the soft rattle of his gears, protesting. Oh, he wants to shake Perceptor and demand that he listen to reason, and he’s pretty sure that this red scientist can’t transform into a tank on him (Xaaron’s wrong), but for now, he just stands and desperately prays that his words have shocked some sense into them.
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Post by Long Haul on May 21, 2007 15:39:21 GMT -5
Long Haul's optic band, which had been dimmed up until this point, now flares brightly. His hands ball into fists, his left foot moves forward, and his head lowers, like that of a bull preparing to charge. He stands there for a moment, all barely restrained aggression, and then he begins to tremble, just slightly. And then, all at once, the coil unwinds, and the transport deflates. Hands fall to his sides, gaze drops to the ground, shoulders sag, optic band dims once more.
"You're right," he croaks out, unable to force the current needed to give his vocalizer its proper tone. "Damn you... no, damn me, but you're right." His work-mate, Hook, had his choices stolen from him long ago, and this leaves Long Haul, out of place and out of time, faced with the most horrible choice the transport can imagine. Hook's safety, or Omega Supreme's... and both mean the universe to him.
"I... I needa find out more about what's going on, I guess. What his situation is." He doesn't specify whose situation. Then he looks up at Emirate Xaaron. "I may be worrying 'bout the wrong person, anyways. Look, if what Perceptor says is true... sounds more like it ain't Hook I gotta worry about wanting me dead." He gestures to Synapse. "He said it. How're you gonna stop Omega from finishing me off?" Long Haul should be frightened, but his voice is too hollow for fear just now. "Sounds like... sounds like this other me's made it by with help of the rest of these... rest of these Constructicons. All I've got is me."
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Post by Perceptor on May 21, 2007 17:19:51 GMT -5
Xaaron's words, have, indeed had some "shock" impact on Perceptor, but not the effect that Xaaron is likely looking for. If Xaaron still retains any doubts at all about this Perceptor not being his Perceptor, the scientist is about to shatter them all.
"I am sorry for you, Emirate Xaaron," Perceptor offers stiffly with absolute, and utmost politeness. "Yours must truly be a very bleak Cybertron, for Autobots to value expediency so highly."
He turns to Long Haul, his tone much warmer. "No, Long Haul. You have more than yourself to rely upon here," he contradicts firmly. Perceptor has done more foolish things in his life than step between Omega Supreme and an intended target. He hopes, however, for everyones' sake, that reason will prevail long before that becomes a necessity.
"Based upon the data transmitted to me, however, I must agree; you are in more danger than Hook. I calculate Omega Supreme's position to be very near our own, to the northeast," he explains with a small gesture in that direction.
"I am uncertain how he will accept any explanation... which presents us all with several options. Either I advise Omega Supreme to maintain position until daybreak, giving us an opportunity to better choose a location for any potential conflict, as well as routes of retreat, at which time an explanation of your presence can be tendered and the situation dealt with... Or I tender an explanation immediately, giving us all the cover of darkness, while it lasts, should the situation deteriorate."
He turns to Long Haul again, and perhaps Xaaron might be familiar with the firm, almost implacable nature of Perceptor's expression, although, doubtless not for the same reason. This is not Emirate Xaaron's hard and expedient Perceptor, nor, even, is this the Perceptor that Synapse knows. This is a Perceptor who watched his Prime fall, who stood by, helpless to repair him, after his closest friends and the only mechs likely to be able to communally craft the miracles needed to piece the fallen Optimus Prime back together had already been slain. This is the Perceptor who had vowed never to be so helpless again.
"Regardless, you will not stand alone, Long Haul."
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Synapse
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Post by Synapse on May 21, 2007 22:51:16 GMT -5
He follows Emirate Xaaron's orders like a good soldier and picks up the mostly abandoned watch, his nodes flying back over the edge of the roof and into the settlement below. But his main focus lay with the conversation on the roof-top.
Synapse just hopes that the situation here will work out without major problems, Omega Supreme or not. Emirate Xaaron and Perceptor look utterly immovable in their stances. The last thing Synapse wants is a fractured party. Call him a wimp, but he hopes that a compromise will be hammered out some how.
His opinion on the matter is just as torn. But when push comes to shove, Autobot protocol comes first in his memory banks(he's not too sure though when shoves comes to full blown brawl though). They've got to take care of their own first, that means covering up Long Haul's skidplate from Omega Supreme.
"If Omega Supreme moves to join us, the ruckus he'll make stomping over here will definitely catch somebody's notice, if not us, the Decepticons. If he stays where he is, he's bound to be noticed some time. His presence isn't exactly subtle." Synapse says softly, almost to himself, but it's bound to be heard by someone. Both choices leave the Guardian quite open for the world to find, but Omega Supreme sitting quietly in one area is bound to be less noticeable than a moving one. He looks down suddenly interested in the roof plating. "It would be best if we had an opportunity to plan things out. This terrain is by no means predictable, and well...not all of you have very mobile alt-forms." He's still not really sure what Emirate Xaaron's is, or even if the golden bot has one. Time also means more fuel expenditure for Omega Supreme. It might be easier to explain things to the Guardian if he's not quite feeling the energy to discharge his weapons or step on them.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 22, 2007 8:12:48 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron rubs his face, tension defused. Long Haul seems to see the logic, but... Xaaron frowns and inquires sharply, "I feel as if I am the only one left out of a rather unfunny joke, and in the interests of not being punched by the punch line, could someone please explain to me why Omega Supreme would want to kill Long Haul? The Omega Supreme that I know is rather singled-minded about slaughtering Decepticons," not that Emirate Xaaron minds at all, "but I am sure he would understand that if a Decepticon has had a change of spirit - or never changed in the first place - that he's off limits. Did your version of the Constructicons particularly vex him? Kick him in the tank, perhaps?"
He revises his opinions of this Perceptor. There is no way in Primus's name that he is letting this Perceptor 'fix' him. Emirate Xaaron may be unable to transform, but he's not the broken one here. He rather feels like making a cutting remark right back at Perceptor, but for now, Emirate Xaaron decides to stand the higher ground. He does offer, "Perceptor is correct in the sense that you aren't alone, Long Haul. Between the four of us, I am certain we can devise something."
He smiles warmly at the wayward Constructibot. Spreading out his arms wide, Emirate Xaaron suggests, "And if this Omega Supreme does wish to kill Long Haul, for whatever reason... well, Synapse has some good points. Perhaps Omega Supreme ought to stay where he is for now. In the time being, think you can coax his radio control codes out of him, Perceptor?" Remember how Chip Chase controlled Prowl? That didn't happen in the comics. Ravage did, however, remote control the Insecticons to much the same effect, albeit less humorous. "Get those, and we shall have as long as we need to talk some sense into the fellow."
By now, Emirate Xaaron is almost waiting for some sort of anger or aghast expression out of Perceptor. Yes, revoking another mechanism's control of his body via trickery is a terrible thing. Xaaron knows and will admit that, same as the next Autobot. What he sees but the next Autobot does not is that if revoking control for a little while ensures the safety of another Autobot, it might just be the right thing to do.
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Post by Long Haul on May 22, 2007 9:02:22 GMT -5
Long Haul falls silent as the others give their feedback. His blue optic band brightens, and he looks gratefully, first at Perceptor, and then at Xaaron, at the declaration that he is not alone. Then he sighs, and mutters, "Guess I shouldn't have used a private frequency... but it felt like private business at the moment." He straightens and turns towards Perceptor once more. "I'll go ahead and tell. It'll hurt, sure, but maybe telling will help me wrap my mind around alla this."
The transport, the... Constructibot? shuffles from one foot to another, than adjusts his position so that he can address the whole group. "Already mentioned earlier, but... the Omega Supreme I know, he was built a Guardian. Big, powerful things used to defend cities, structures, that sorta thing, but if you follow the stories back far enough, they was originally built by the folks what built us, to keep us under control. Omega is the only one what I know of that's actually... thinking, y'know? Real in the mind, where it counts. If Omega remembers back to his early days, he don't talk about it any, and he talks... talked to us a lot." Long Haul is still getting used to talking about the life he knows, the friends he values, as past tense.
Long Haul turns now to Emirate Xaaron. "He's... he was the defender of onna the cities my team built. Our best work, our highest achievement... Crystal City, most beautiful and bestest city on Cybertron." Even now, as he speaks, the faint color of pride can be heard in the builder’s voice. "He's, uhm... he's got a better appreciation of good buildin' than most folks. So's we built it, and we k...ept it up, and he protected it. We... were close, my group and him. Real close. And that's how things was, only a couple days past, when I left Crystal City on a supply run.
"Perceptor, here," Long Haul gestures to the red-painted scientist, "he tells me that right after my team... after we was reprogrammed, we tricked Omega Supreme out of our city. And we... and we..." The transport's voice hitches a moment, before he continues, "and we brought it down. And then he figgered out we tricked him, and came back and caught us, and tried to fix us back up to normal. And it din't work, and we tried to, uhm, to get him programmed into a Decepticon. And that din't work, but the process d...d...damaged his emotions. But apparently... apparently he can still be mad, though. I'm... I'm told he's vowed to do us in after that business." Long Haul leaves out such phrases as, "cannot be undone" and "destroyed." Phrases he cannot accept. "Only... only I ain't even done all that."
The logisitican's optic band dims once more. "Only two days ago..." he murmurs, trailing off.
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Post by Perceptor on May 22, 2007 13:39:06 GMT -5
"Given that Omega Supreme states his fuel level is 25%," Perceptor observes, glancing toward Synapse, "I believe your suggestion bears the most merit, Synapse. Not only would the additional time to decide upon a course of action be advantageous, it would serve no purpose to risk injury to Omega Supreme or ourselves, by attempting any sort of rendezvous amidst unfamiliar terrain and unpredictable hazards in the darkness."
Perceptor is not privy to Emirate Xaaron's thoughts on which of them is the most "broken," however, were he, Perceptor would likely not mind that the golden mech thinks him damaged. It's obvious that their values are quite different in some respects, and if being adhering to his own principles rather than Xaaron's makes Perceptor "broken," he can be content with that. He'd never seen optic to optic with Sunstreaker either, and had never considered himself lacking for that.
As for attempting to talk Omega Supreme's radio control codes out of him, Perceptor hasn't the faintest idea how to even attempt that. Subterfuge is not one of this strong points, nor is he a saboteur, spy, or member of the Special Operations division. He's a scientist, and is often hard pressed to simply keep up a congenial conversation. One's control codes are not something one merely hands off to the first mech who asks, particularly in an potentially hostile environment. That he doesn't approve of such an idea doesn't help him marshal any cleverness for the endeavor. He turns to Xaaron, a faint shadow of unease in his expression.
"Trust, once broken, is not so easily mended; I hesitate to resort to such a measure, and I'm not certain how I might convince Omega Supreme to part with such sensitive information," Perceptor admits slowly. Although the comment about trust had not, actually, been intended as a double entendre, it occurs to him afterward how apt the sentiment is at the moment. "I am open to any suggestions on how I might accomplish such a task."
His reluctant tone, however, clearly illustrates his desire that they find some other manner of facilitating a calm and peaceful resolution to a potential confrontation with the Sentinel.
"No, you have not done that, Long Haul. I am sorry that you are faced with this," Perceptor adds to the lime green mech. It's not pity that colors his voice, but the flat sorrow of sympathy; he wishes there were more he could do to fix this.
"I shall advise Omega Supreme to settle in until daybreak, then, if that is acceptable?"
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Synapse
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Post by Synapse on May 22, 2007 22:44:12 GMT -5
The concept of radio control is something of whispered stories and half-hearted warnings to Synapse. He's never truly heard any sort of official report documenting the remote control of one Cybertronian by another. If there has been any, it must have occurred before his creation.
He almost thinks that such a thing only exists in Xaaron's realm, or is half a joke, until Perceptor's response confirms its validity. To him, it's like how a modern day human would react to the idea that voodoo exits. Only, to giant technologically advanced mechanical beings, the concept of remote control of one another is a little more viable, after all, he does control his own nodes by a form of remote control.
He watches as Perceptor do whatever he can to help Long Haul and make the green mech feel better. Synapse can't help but feel a little petty in his lack of any sort of compassion as deep as that for the transport. He's just almost getting over the hurdle of Long Haul does not equal Constructicon any more. It's the lime green mech's broken narration of the events of Crystal City that finally pushes him over that troublesome block.
How long does it take for Synapse to get through his thick head that this Long Haul is not a Constructicon? A little too long apparently, but it's through now.
Synapse nods to Perceptor's suggestion. More time to come up with a workable plan of action without harming both parties: theirs and the party of one consisting of Omega Supreme, is a very desirable option. "Sounds as good as ever to me," he shifts from one foot to the other. "If there's any trouble in that from Omega Supreme, I'd be willing to fly over or ferry someone along for a more personal explanation."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 23, 2007 12:36:23 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron says quietly, soberly, "Thank you, Long Haul. I can tell that was hard for you, but I appreciate it. My condolences on..." He searches for the words, struggling to deal with the temporal disjunctions. He settles on something simple. "...your loss." He walks over and tries to settle a hand lightly on Long Haul's shoulder, intending to offer support. Xaaron knows what it is to lose friends. He lost one of his oldest friends twice, and the fault was his in both cases. He cannot blame it on some future-him or the influence of brainwashing. Emirate Xaaron wonders which is worse - to shoulder the burden of rightful blame or to have such a burden forced on the most innocent of innocents. Either way, Long Haul has his sympathy.
With his other hand, he rubs his chin and suggests, "Tell him that you would like his codes so that his weapons can be manned while he slumbers. It's plausible - we might have wanted to do that, anyway, even if he wasn't out for Long Haul's fuel. And yes, have him stay where he is for now."
The precise reason why he thinks Perceptor could talk Omega Supreme's codes out of him is likely why Perceptor doesn't think he'd be any good at it. The scientist is guileless. What treachery would Omega Supreme have to suspect?
“Just what sort of load can you sustain in flight, Synapse?” he inquires. It’ll be useful information to know, though he doubts it is very much. Well, hopefully he could carry Perceptor, at the very least. The scientist can compact down, right?
Emirate Xaaron pauses in mid-thought, listening to the Autobot broadband. This voice has not been on the radio waves prior and sounds very, very familiar to him.
//This is Nightbeat to any available Autobots. I've found myself in an unknown location, some kind of beach. Anyone else out there?//
Softly, Emirate Xaaron says, “I know a Nightbeat. He is a detective and an excellent one, too. This sounds just like him. Was there a Nightbeat in your timeline?” He looks to the other three assembled. Emirate Xaaron hesitant to give himself away on radio, as he’s refrained from using it thus far. There are a number of commonalities between the timelines, but there are differences, too. It is too much for him to hope that this is his Nightbeat, when the Long Haul, the Perceptor, and the Omega Supreme have all been so different – a naïve Autobot rather than a destructive Decepticon, a bleeding heart, and a laconic on a vendetta.
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Post by Long Haul on May 23, 2007 16:01:49 GMT -5
Long Haul allows Emirate Xaaron to place his hand on his shoulder, and indeed, the physical contact seems to console him somewhat. He tilts his head when the new voice comes over the channel, but does not answer it for obvious reasons. In response to Xaaron's question, he shrugs, an act that may or may not dislodge the other's hand. "I don' t know no Nightbeat, but most of what I know seems wrong, anyways." His voice is still sad, but he seems to have calmed again. It's time to carry forward.
"S'far as Omega Supreme, can't we... just explain things to him? I know... I know things go pretty far wrong, but he is still an Autobot, right?" The lime green mechanoid still has trouble believing that his old friend would try to kill him once things are properly explained. "And... and... anyways, we gotta get this settled pretty quick, seems like. The longer we put things off, the worst it might be when he finds out folks have been hiding stuff from him, an' stuff. So someone can just fly out with Synapse," the transport gestures to the scout, "once it gets light, and explain things to Omega. Then I can follow over by land."
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Post by Perceptor on May 23, 2007 18:24:42 GMT -5
Any answer Perceptor had planned to make to Xaaron or the others is interrupted by the transmission from Nightbeat. Perceptor meets Xaaron's optics and shakes his head.
"I know of no Nightbeat, either," he replies quietly. "If one such existed in my reality, I have never met him. Perhaps you should initiate contact with him, if you are aware of a mech of his designation."
Perceptor turns to Long Haul and Synapse. "Is your fuel situation adequate to transport me to Omega Supreme's location at daybreak? If so, I will attempt to mitigate any potential situation without endagering the rest of you."
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Post by Synapse on May 23, 2007 22:38:10 GMT -5
The arrival of the mech named Nightbeat over the radio waves causes Synapse to pause and frown. He's never heard of anyone by that name either. He shrugs and eyes Perceptor thoughtfully, making internal calculations and measurements of the scientist's dimensions.
"Mmm, I've been able to carry a minibot and someone just a little larger if they remove the cushioning in the cabin," replies Synapse to both Emirate Xaaron and Perceptor. "It's a good thing that your alt-mode can go a little smaller." It's a very good thing. Perceptor in his robot mode definitely would not fit inside Synapse's alt-mode, he also doubts that the scientist would fare well just clinging to his roof as he flew over the landscape. Then again, the Autobot scientist has been known for doing the strangest things to achieve whatever results he's looking for.
"My fuel situation is still in the green. Should stay that way for a couple of days, I hope."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 24, 2007 9:16:43 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron takes his hand back after the shrug.
Now, Nightbeat is a master detective. Emirate Xaaron remembers his work during the Matrix Quest. He could probably tell there was something off about this Perceptor, Emirate Xaaron would wager, and something off would make him suspicious.
On the other hand, this Nightbeat may not have an Emirate Xaaron, and even if he does, he might not be this Nightbeat's particular Emirate Xaaron. He looks up at the stars, as if looking for a sign. Is Primus even out there? If he is, would he even have any useful input on the matter? When one has only one universe with which to contend, it is easy to assume that the gods are a safe constant, but call him a heretic for thinking it, he has to wonder if Primus really is a constant. Synapse, Perceptor, and Long Haul seem to lack him, and he supposes that Omega Supreme would be included, too. The thought is unsettling to the extreme, and he shakes it off.
"Very well," Emirate Xaaron says quietly. "I'll radio him."
//Nightbeat, this is Emirate Xaaron// Which is suspicious enough. Emirate Xaaron never leaves Cybertron. //The situation is highly unusual.// Understatement of the vorn. //Keep a cool head about you. We appear to have been placed here by an unknown force. Is it night where you are? If it is, relay a star chart, please, and I'll have Perceptor work on correlating your location. If not, could you describe your surroundings?//
He listens along to Synapse's statement of capacity and nods. Handy.
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