Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 18:33:20 GMT -5
Takes place on Day 21 (Small Plots day 5). This is a semi-private thread. Please ask before joining.
At the Decepticon base, an angry Decepticon checks out on extended patrol, transforms into a blue car bearing his faction's sigil, and drives off.
Many hours and many miles later, a blue car showing no faction symbol at all roars across the landscape, the setting sun glinting off his paint.
The next morning a car showing an Autobot symbol drives along a familiar forest road on the northern edge of the continent. He reaches one spot in particular, and transforms.
Precisely one week prior, a note may have been found in this spot. It read, "Can't be sure which you you are. One week."
The blue car transforms into a blue and orange Autobot. He scans the area, looking around alertly, waiting for something...
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 19:38:06 GMT -5
The note was found, as the one for who it was intended had made a quick run out to this spot before things went even more pear-shaped.
That individual has been watching Punch's approach from the crest of a nearby hill. Once Punch transforms, the watcher begins to make his way cautiously down the hill. About halfway down, Mirage lets his cloak drop.
Once close enough, Mirage calls out, "It is good to see you. I was not sure how you would fare, all things considered."
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 19:42:48 GMT -5
"Not fairly, that's for certain," Punch answers grimly, tossing Mirage a datadisk. He frowns and shakes his head. "That was too near a thing for my tastes by far. I almost delayed another week."
Punch looks at Mirage, optics narrowed.
"Too many enemies with the faces of friends around too recently."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 19:56:53 GMT -5
Mirage catches the datadisk and promptly subspaces it without a glance. The information is not for his optics; if any of it pertains to him, someone higher up the chain will let him know.
Punch's rather pointed look makes Mirage stiffen just a touch. He's been through enough hell over that already. "Quite. Though I can pretty safely say that there was not an alternate you amongst those brought across on either side. A lucky enough thing for you...and for us."
"How much time do you have before you need to check back in?"
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 20:03:26 GMT -5
"They left theirs home," Punch replies with certainty. "They do have one."
With Mirage's question, he shrugs one shoulder. "I could take another couple of days. Extended patrols sometimes run pretty far, and I'm not that important. Worst comes to worst, there's radio check-in."
Almost casually, he strolls off the side of the road, finding a tree to lean against and doing so. His arms cross and he studies the road, the area, constantly searching, as though even now expecting intrusion.
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 20:20:45 GMT -5
"Good. That gives you a bit of a break, then. Or as close to one as you may get," Mirage says, choosing to sit beneath one of the trees instead. He props up one knee as he leans back against the tree trunk, the picture of perfect ease. Of course, he can vanish in an instant; Punch does not have that luxury.
"They have one, do they?" Mirage muses. He looks over at Punch.
"He gave you trouble."
Mirage is fairly certain Punch will know which "He" to which the spy is referring.
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 20:37:13 GMT -5
Punch can just become the enemy at a moment's notice. Not that Mirage has witnessed this, but he no doubt suspects something. He nods.
"The Decepticons never knew this, but he had their frequency almost from their arrival." He looks down at Mirage. "And don't ask. That's too big a risk and too little gain at this time."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 21:01:16 GMT -5
One browridge arches up, 'Please, dear, give me some credit. I am not so crass nor so clueless as to ask for information which would put you at even more risk."
"And I am not surprised. Not pressing that advantage would have been stupid, and that Prime was not stupid. Mad as a one of the Ancients, perhaps, but not stupid."
A pause.
"Did he do you harm?"
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 21:10:43 GMT -5
"I... wasn't very fit company for a bit after," Punch answers, shrugging. It's an understatement, but so far as Punch knows, he's speaking the truth. Counterpunch is ruled by his anger and savagery. The effect of Rodimus Prime's presence...
But Punch denies that he is ever so far gone, even to himself, and only remembers that he was a bit angrier than usual.
He falls silent for a moment, watching the road. Finally he says, "I'm going to take you up on your offer. I'm not sure how much longer these pre-planned meetings will be effective."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 22:03:59 GMT -5
"<Mirage's Frequency>. Assign whatever name to it you would like for your records."
He does not ask for Punch's. If the other spy offers, Mirage will accept it, but Mirage will not ask. Professional courtesy and all that.
"I can say with some certainty that I doubt I can manage too many more of these without my immediate superiors intervention. I have a...certain amount of autonomy thanks to my function- more thanks to Kup,really- but I am afraid I have pushed the limits of that a bit far of late." That last is said quite dryly.
"By the way," he adds, slanting his optics up at Punch, "Are you the only blue car they have?" His lips quirk up just a touch.
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 22:49:35 GMT -5
Punch glances sidelong at Mirage, optic band narrowed as he explains that he's pushed things of late. "Yes, I imagine you have been pushing things. We were a good distance from those tunnels, and I somehow doubt you had an aerial drop-off." He shrugs, then looks to the sky. "I'll find a way to get things through. It'll be easier once we're on a populated planet."
"And yes, I am." He shakes his head faintly. "More blue jets than we know what to do with, but only one blue car."
With that, he provides a frequency of his own. "I imagine I don't need to tell you to use it sparingly, but I am, anyway."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 30, 2009 23:26:46 GMT -5
"It will, I'm sure," he agrees, that smile even more pronounced. He won't ask when or how Punch saw him around the old base. Punch is a spy after all. Nor does Mirage explain the reason for his question.
"I'll not use your frequency except in true need. And as far as anyone else is concerned, I do not have it. Unless," he adds, "you wish to add a qualifier to that stipulation."
Mirage settles back against the tree trunk. "I realize that you prefer to keep as out of our loop as possible. However, is there anything you would like to ask? Keeping in mind that some things I may not be able to answer, of course."
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
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Post by Counterpunch on Jan 30, 2009 23:48:21 GMT -5
Punch shakes his head and looks down at his feet. "No qualifier."
Then he pauses, optic band once more narrowed. His expression is distinctly uncomfortable... and just a little sad. After a moment, he lifts his face to look at Mirage, and how his lips are pulled back in a look of genuine concern.
"The racer... you guys were able to get him back safe in the end, weren't you?"
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Post by Mirage on Jan 31, 2009 0:04:14 GMT -5
Mirage wishes he could give Punch a bit more certain of an answer. He can't though. He sighs, looking back down the road.
"We got him free, yes, myself and the alternate Spinister. Quite the likable fellow, that one. But...Swerve was quite damaged. We were not able to get him properly repaired before the-," a pause, "before all the alternates were sent back. I hope that he is well. I truly do."
Mirage's hand clenches into a fist. He still blames himself.
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Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Jan 31, 2009 17:06:04 GMT -5
Punch nods, looking off in the distance. He has an idea what was done to the alternate Swerve... probably a better idea than Mirage. They had overlapping camps, and you hear things. Still, Punch doesn't see the need to mention it to Mirage himself. It's in the report, of course. It all is. But Mirage's defragmentation cycles will probably go a bit better without that little tidbit.
He shrugs. "Well, whatever happens, he won't pop back over there a prisoner. That'll have to be 'good enough.'"
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