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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 9, 2008 7:56:21 GMT -5
Oh, it's not all that important, and Rodimus has no intention of hauling anyone anywhere. He just occasionally tends to throw more... energy into his task than he really needs to.
Rodimus settles himself to the right of the door, so as not to block it, and leans lightly against the wall. He spends only a moment in trying to figure out how best to approach this, then, decided that Perceptor will find about it soon enough, anyway, blurts out, "Oracle's a precog, as is her alternate from that other Xaaron's universe. No more than a few seconds into the future, but still."
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 12, 2008 21:32:17 GMT -5
Perceptor has been attempting to make the scan as discrete as possible - really, Rodimus has no real need to know Xaaron's entire internal structure, especially since the Emirate has held his secret this long. He is only listening with half an audial, the rest of his attention consumed by cataloguing and mentally preparing schematics for the new component fabrication even as he runs the scan, paying what little attention to Rodimus as he is only to ensure that nothing is about to sneak up and smnack him on the back of the he-
A what?
"A precog?" he blurts out, pausing the scan to turn a look of perplexed shock upon the young Prime.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 12, 2008 21:43:52 GMT -5
"We have a prophetess in our midst?" Emirate Xaaron talks like that. Deal with it. He rubs his chin and murmurs. "How very interesting. Why did she now inform Kup of this fact earlier? What are the specifications of the ability?" The order in which he asks those questions is telling - to hide such a potentially useful ability means that Oracle has reason to hide it. The specifics are not quite so interesting.
To Perceptor, he comments, "I would assume that her capabilities function off of calculating out the most likely probabilities in a given situation, but lacking the exact specifications of her abilities, it is really difficult to say, and the exact mechanics behind many special abilities remain unknown," which is good, because Xaaron doesn't want to face a legion of teleporting Seekers.
Reticence aside, he tries to be a good patient for Perceptor, trying to not move unduly.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 12, 2008 22:21:28 GMT -5
"A precog!" Rodimus confirms Perceptor's question, then turns back to Emirate Xaaron, his expression severe. "Apparently the justification was to make sure it stayed secret from the Decepticons, she wanted to keep it a secret from everyone. She didn't even inform Kup of the ability at all. Her alternate self is less secretive, so the other Swerve knew about it. He told Kup, and Kup confronted Oracle." His tone speaks strongly of disapproval.
"After that, we got more details. We can expect anyone who goes into battle against her to have a difficult-to-impossible time hitting her, but she's at her worse in mass combat with large groups. The increased number of people and probabilities interferes with her 'sight.' This means that we need to avoid letting her draw off anyone for one-to-one combat. Also, she warned that blinding attacks won't be effective for very long against her. That's about as specific as the specs she gave got."
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 14, 2008 18:02:40 GMT -5
"Well, yes, I would assume similarly," he replies to Xaaron, returning to his scan, "although that does raise interesting ramifications for the opponents to causal predeterminism." Just the thought of it makes his little quantum processor squeal with the glee of a new challenge.
Oh, but he has tasks to accomplish first.
// Would you prefer that I stall until he completes his rteports, and then politely request that he leave while I work? // Perceptor radios Xaaron securely. He had expressed concern over the others being made aware of his capabilities, after all.
"How... curious."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 14, 2008 19:15:11 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron can almost understand that explanation. He has been willing to kill to protect certain pieces of proprietary technology, after all. Emirate Xaaron comments, "That is a facile understanding of secrecy. Were she captured by the Decepticons, we would have no idea that they might gain a technological advantage from studying her, and we would be worse off."
Knowing something is good, but not knowing when something when the enemy might know it is very bad.
"After all, if her alternate really has been that haphazard with letting people know about her powers, the Decepticons might be able to find out, if they ever encounter her, and then we Autobots would be a fine situation - knowing less about one of our own than our enemies do."
Emirate Xaaron muses, more in Perceptor's direction, "Ever thought that there is such a thing as fate - and it has several plans?"
He answers Perceptor, //Do what you need to get done. If he can divine what my transform is and it galls him so, the problem is his, not mine.//
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 14, 2008 22:47:23 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime mutters something unpleasant about predetermination and 'fate'. Not all the words are clear, but most of the ones that can be overheard are not the sort used in polite company, or even neutral company, and were likely learned from his reality's Kup. His expression is, for a moment, likewise foul.
He quickly packs that away, and takes on the more casual seeming that's the norm for him, even going so far as to offer a slight, self-conscious little smile in the wake of his quiet complaint. When it's well and truly clear that he's done grumbling, he suggests, "I doubt she had thought it through that carefully, sir. At least, I hope she hadn't." Because if she had, and she still didn't say anything, she really needs to be talked to.
He doesn't seem to have anything further to report, but he is sticking around for some strange reason. Maybe he's waiting to see if Xaaron has anything else to say to him?
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 16, 2008 20:21:48 GMT -5
Discussions about secrecy and potential ramifications takes a poor second place to philosophical and particle theory - which, of course, Perceptor is fully capable of twisting the current discussion into.
"That implies a sort of... anthropomorphizing to the very act of time passing and the actions which occur therein," he counters, making a few notations on a separate pad. "Additionally, such a theory could arguably negate, or partially negate a sense of purpose behind one's actions. That could lead to a sort of disassociation between one's actions and one's sense of responsibility for those actions..."
From the looks of it, he could just be winding up here for a lengthy discussion.
Fortunately, he has to break briefly to input the precise commands into the fabricator to begin producing the initial components for Xaaron's long needed repairs.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 16, 2008 20:47:00 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron catches a few of those unpleasant mutterings. Who ever heard of a happy Chosen One?
He nods and notes, "I really doubt she was thinking, which is a shame."
To Perceptor, he comments, "Rodimus Prime here is the culmination of a prophesy. However, such a prophesy did not come to pass in my particular branch of time. So is the fact that he fulfilled a prophesy mere coincidence, or.... is he just Plan A of however many plans?"
It's an interesting question, and given that Emirate Xaaron knows of Primus, he tends to think that Rodimus Prime is simply Plan A - or Plan B or maybe even Plan 796.
He continues to go along with the repairs, being as accommodating as possible.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 16, 2008 21:30:57 GMT -5
"And as for questions of responsibility and purpose," Rodimus Prime shakes his head. "I can only speak from personal experience, but I found that the person I became after I fulfilled the prophesy, the purpose... for which Transformers themselves were created in my reality, actually... to be more responsible than the person I was before." But is their purpose really fulfilled? Rodimus Prime saved Cybertron from Unicron thrice, once from inside the body but separate of mind, once from inside the mind but separate of body, and once from inside both body and mind.1 Even after all that, the Chaos isn't gone. He continues to keep it at bay, a living, ongoing sacrifice.
"I didn't do what I did because it was prophesized, though. If anything, I've... become a bit bitter to learn that I'm... some sort of pawn in a 'grand plan.' I don't play my part because it's my part. I do-didn't deal with Unicron because Primus wanted me to. I did it for the same reason I fight Decepticons. It had to be done and I was in a position to do something about it. Whether it was fate or god or some grand plan that put me in that position isn't really relevant to me. I'm not thrilled to be saddled with the job of finishing what our creator couldn't, but I'd rather be responsible for that than for what would have happened to Cybertron - to the universe - if I had refused."
Yeah, it's pretty obvious he's not even talking about Oracle anymore. As he speaks, he absently watches both Emirate Xaaron and Perceptor, and has already observed the generation of a few of the parts needed for Emirate Xaaron's repairs. Someone might want to shoo him off soon.
1 In the movie adaptation, the Matrix was opened inside of Unicron, just like in the actual movie. In Legacy of Unicron, Rodimus Prime lead Unicron into the Matrix from inside the astral plane, but while in the astral plane he was effectively inside Unicron's mind. In Aspects of Evil 5, Rodimus Prime was converted bodily into Unicron and had to recover his own mind in order to wield the Matrix, regain his body, and make Unicron a prisoner once more.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 17, 2008 12:05:39 GMT -5
Parts withdrawn, inspected, found wanting. There's a few bright flashes as Perceptor adjusts several sections of a new gear shaft - a rather heavy duty one, in fact - with a hand-held welder before setting both tool and part aside to inspect another bit of fabricated componentry.
"Prophesy and fate as a mechanism for maintaining integrity of a cohesive time stream?" he theorizes absently. "With the potential for a vast multitude of 'contingency pawns'? One of which may hopefully be placed in a position, such as you were, Rodimus, to act in a manner beneficial to the forces of order?"
He pauses, turning, a spanner in his hand as he eyes the young Prime, his gaze rather... distant. "Given time," he finally offers, "I would like the opportunity to personally examine several geographical points in relation to the data provided by Nightbeat last evening." His attention abruptly seems to focus sharply on Rodimus once again, as if surfacing from a deep pool. "If such could be arranged, and your presence could be spared, your possession of the Matrix might offer valuable insight."
A road trip with Perceptor. Wouldn't that be grand, Roddy?
Like a dog shaking itself, Perceptor shrugs and heaves a bit of a sigh. "But such speculations are not getting me any further along on my work here," he observes, offering Xaaron a sheepish, apologetic smile. "I find such subjects utterly fascinating."
And distracting. Is it working yet?
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 17, 2008 12:52:40 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron knows that Rodimus Prime is a very bright person possessed of some technical ability. While he himself may not be able to put together what those pieces Perceptor is making will do together, Rodimus Prime might. Emirate Xaaron does not want to have to explain why Perceptor is manufacturing what would appear to be tank components.
Emirate Xaaron narrows his optics and in a cool, slightly weighted voice, he asks of Rodimus Prime, "Metaphysics aside, is that all?" From his intonation, he might as well be asking why Hot Rod was caught making out with Arcee during watch duty, and he's definitely implying that Rodimus Prime might want to make himself scare.
He's happy enough to listen to perceptor talk, and he suggests, "Don't apologise. Ideas of fate are particularly relevant - and comforting - in ambiguous situations, such as our own. Who ever heard of a prophesy that runs, 'In a time of great peace, there will be more peace, followed by minor boredom'? No, they all deal with dark times, when people want hope the most. It is not a coincidence, I think."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 17, 2008 14:03:40 GMT -5
A thought something similar to, 'Oh, looks like the Emirate might be some sort of artillery piece. Strange, that,' had just occurred to Rodimus Prime when first Perceptor threatens him with a road trip and next Emirate Xaaron makes it very clear that he has no wish to be seen naked by anyone but the doctor.
"I..." Rodimus begins to answer Perceptor's request, mind instinctively racing for an excuse to get out of it, until that darned sense of responsibility kicks in, the one that has him doing dull inspections or patiently waiting for a trap to spring when he'd rather, well, be doing anything but. "We'll have to see when there's a chance to arrange something like that. We've got bigger concerns for the immediate future."
On the other hand, he has a perfectly valid excuse for employing a delaying tactic. Go, him!
"Speaking of which, I'd better get back to preps," Rodimus excuses, heading for the door. "There're some traps to set up, and I think Kup may have the combined reports from the alternates ready in a little while."
Yeah. Just wait until Rodimus hears what the other Emirate Xaaron had to say about his alternate.
OOC: Out of thread.
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Post by Perceptor on Apr 17, 2008 22:55:53 GMT -5
As Rodimus pauses mid-answer, Perceptor turns an utterly bland look upon the young Prime; surely he isn't guessing Rodimus' thoughts on the matter, is he? He doesn't offer much other than a polite farewell, otherwise, before returning to the fabricator to extract the next piece.
"I have noticed," he observes conversationally as he piles a few newly produced raw parts beside Xaaron's berth, "that, even when Rodimus possesses a vested interest in the topic of discourse, he generally lacks the patience for a lengthy discussion."
A single optic quirk - innocence - and another set of commands inputted sends the fabricator back into action working on a new set of transformation servos and gears. Meanwhile Perceptor begins sorting out the more delicate raw materials - circuit cards and wiring - that will go into the more detailed components of Xaaron's repairs.
"Now, as we were discussing... Causal Determinism?"
ooc: time skip at your convenience.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Apr 18, 2008 9:39:30 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron calls to Rodimus Prime, sincere and warm now, "Good cycle. Thank you for the head's up on Oracle."
He narrows his optics and comments to Perceptor, "A useful observation, that."
Emirate Xaaron watches Perceptor work and sort, and he clarifies, "Not precisely causal determinism. That would imply that every movement is dictated prior to the start of the universe. No, I'm talking more a... gated system, with multiple possible paths but a lack of ultimate freedom."
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