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Post by Kup on Feb 8, 2009 21:03:01 GMT -5
Day 7. Semi-private. Please ask before joining.
The humans claim that the only certainties are death and taxes. Kup doesn't really pay taxes, so he doesn't much believe that saying. If you were to ask Kup, the only certainties in life are death and watches. He would add patrols in there as well, except that a patrol is pretty much just a mobile watch, anyway.
Right now, patrol is just what Kup's doing, rumbling along the forest roads between the temple arrival area, the arena, and the tunnel entrances to the Autobot base. Somewhat to his embarrassment, he took rather minimal damage during the big battle - partly because the alternate Prime seemed to be going easy on him - and so he's been taking on extra patrols until those with more damage could recover.
For the time being he's enjoying the day, the ride, the forest, the good weather, but he's also on the alert. For one, there's no point to standing a patrol if you're not going to pay attention, but for another - a certain spy should be reporting back from a certain visit any time now...
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Post by Mirage on Feb 9, 2009 11:23:24 GMT -5
And look! A certain spy is returning from a certain meeting. Why, it's almost like someone arranged things to allow for plot advancement. Perish the thought!
The spy is, however, in the mood to be a tad difficult, and so he lounges against a tree, cloaked, and watches Kup drive by once or twice before radioing.
//Enjoying being above ground for awhile, old timer?//
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Post by Kup on Feb 9, 2009 19:18:15 GMT -5
Probably only once, as Kup's patrol area is wide enough that he's not likely to pass the same spot more than twice, anyway.
//Eh?// Kup starts over the radio. Then, //Mirage! Where the hell are you? I'm in no mood for any hide and seek games, 'specially not from you.//
He hasn't transformed or, indeed, even slowed down, but he knows that Mirage can catch up with his pace easily enough.
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Post by Mirage on Feb 9, 2009 20:35:59 GMT -5
//But hide and seek is what I do, Kup// Mirage chuckles as he transforms. He catches up and paces Kup for a minute before decloaking. "But I suppose you're right. Now is not the time."
"Got something for you." A pause. "And that alternate Prime gave a friend of ours a hard time."
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Post by Kup on Feb 9, 2009 21:58:58 GMT -5
//Yeah? Well, I'm startin' to think that's all you do!// Kup shouts over the radio. //Runnin' off half-cocked across the blasted conti- nevermind,// he finishes with a grumble, but one that suggests the matter isn't over.
He transforms, apparently expecting Mirage to do the same. "Not surprised to hear that, 'bout the trouble, but if he didn't come back with you, sounds like he found some way to deal with the situation. Now, you going to give a proper report, or make me dig for every detail?"
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Post by Mirage on Feb 10, 2009 11:02:28 GMT -5
Mirage does transform, and though he does not find a rock or tree to lean on this time, he never the less manages to give the impression of lounging as he stands, utterly relaxed, his neutral and careful courtier's mask in place.
He'll not rise to that bait at the moment. He did what was needed, and he'll take the consequences when they come.
"Here's this, for starters," he says, tossing the datadisk to Kup. "He and I were supposed to meet up earlier, but the...environment was not conducive to such delicate operations. He was obviously unsure about meeting me even now, but he kept his appointment, so things must not have gotten too bad amongst his...other comrades."
"The alternates apparently had Decepticon frequencies from the off. Though he did not go into details about just how that came to be, I got the impression that the information exchange was not...pleasant."
"His only inquiry was if we managed to free the alternate Swerve before the return wave was triggered. He was...very concerned." Here, Mirage rubs the back of his head, not quite meeting Kup's optics. He saw Swerve's injuries, but dose not want to know the cause of them.
"I also warned him about Spinister's invisibility and we sparred for a bit to give him practice in the event of such an encounter."
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Post by Kup on Feb 10, 2009 18:11:15 GMT -5
Kup absently catches the datadisk. He examines it for a moment, then slips it into a compartment in his arm before nodding. "Next time you see him, make sure he knows. He ever wants to pull out, he just has to say the word, and that's it. He's done. No one'll think less of him."
He lifts his head, gazing at the sky, then shakes it. "Goodness knows, I wouldn't want to be in that situation, especially what with everything else that goes on here."
The veteran is silent for a moment, then shakes his head and looks back at Mirage. "Well, good job on getting him the warning. But you know... we've been pretty lenient with you, and you've pretty much abused that. Considering you're not one of mine, I'm not sure how much longer I can keep Rattrap and Goldbug off you without them asking questions. Fact is, I imagine it'll be to Xaaron what to do with you at this point."
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Post by Mirage on Feb 10, 2009 18:59:47 GMT -5
Mirage sighs, "I think he knows that well enough, Kup. I also think it makes no difference. He has...and overdeveloped sense of duty."
When Kup begins to admonish him, though, the spy stiffens. It's not that Mirage expects to get off without punishment- quite the contrary. It is that he is being berated, that he will be punished, for doing what was, essentially, what he would have been ordered to do in the first place.
"You think so?" he asks quietly, "Though I was given permission to go after him from the off and though I did what was needed according to my function and provided information? That I quite possibly saved a life?" He shakes his head, "If I have abused it according to your mind, or Rodimus', or Xaaron's, I will not apologize. I'll take my comeuppance in what ever manner required, but I'll not apologize for doing what was right."
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Post by Kup on Feb 10, 2009 21:24:32 GMT -5
"Yeah, but would it have killed you to check in a bit more often?" Kup demands. "And don't even start on that, 'radio silence, I was in enemy territory' business, because you weren't the whole time. If that were true, they wouldn't have been breathin' down our necks while you were still half a continent away."
He looks away, grumbling, "Communication's seeming to be one of our biggest falling downs, and that's even before random 'Cons start jamming the blasted frequencies."
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Post by Mirage on Feb 10, 2009 21:55:35 GMT -5
"I am used to operating under radio silence in almost every situation, Kup, at least where spying and tracking is concerned," Mirage counters evenly. "Much like our drag-wearing friend, regular check-ins are not a part of my standard operating procedures."
"However, in the future, I will endeavor to be better about that, if you wish." The spy sighs again, and for the time actually looks a bit tired. Just a wee bit. "He really wants to blister my aft over this, doesn't he? And not in a good way. I-"
Clipper's worried voice on the radio interrupts him, and he looks distracted (and for a brief moment, disturbed)..."Sounds like the Zoo." Mirage actually half-turns, intending to head off, the dashing racer to the damsel's rescue, but he stops, looks back at Kup, questioning.
He's asking, even if he can't quite ask.
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Post by Kup on Feb 10, 2009 22:48:30 GMT -5
"He's tough, but reasonable," Kup assures. "If you ju-" but he doesn't get farther, because the radio is going off, indicating a new arrival.
He catches Mirage's questioning look, and returns it with a nod, a silent 'go.' That Mirage might have ulterior motives for dashing off never occurs to him - someone's in trouble, and they need to be taken care of. That's good enough for Kup.
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Post by Mirage on Feb 10, 2009 22:55:27 GMT -5
As soon as he gets that nod, Mirage is transformed and darting off.
He's only delaying the inevitable, he knows. At least he's fairly sure that stuffy Emirate won't actually blister his aft.
Fairly.
And gone
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