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Post by Springer on May 11, 2009 20:49:17 GMT -5
Springer scrambles back from the hole, though carefully. He was able make out that the ice might break more if more weight is applied.
However, the next bit is a mite lost on him. "Ah...short version meaning you can melt the hole bigger so I can get down in there?"
Then he hears Skyfire call back, but not quite able to make it out. "Hn...lot of good yelling did us."
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Post by Perceptor on May 12, 2009 0:50:13 GMT -5
Perceptor fixes Springer with a slightly perplexed look as he replies, "That is what I said." Are Springer's audio receptors damaged?
Skyfire! Perceptor is no more able to make out the exact words than Springer is, unfortunately. It is his visual cluster that is advanced, not his auditory.
"You are correct, Springer," he refutes as he moves closer with an odd, sliding movement to keep his weight distributed more evenly. "You have established that Skyfire is functional, and not offline from his fall. That is a positive sign."
"Skyfire!" he shouts, although since he is not crouched right over the edge of the hole, his attempt is likely to be even less successful than Springer's. Unless Skyfire has a significantly more elevated aptitude for catching brain-voice over brawn-voice, that is. "What is your condition?! How may we assist you?!"
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Skyfire
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Post by Skyfire on May 12, 2009 18:40:47 GMT -5
Well, that sounds like Perceptor up above. "I'M INTACT! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
Skyfire needs space to bend over. So... he cracks the throttle on his rockets just the least little bit, letting a trickle of fuel into the combustion chamber--
And ignites it with a WHOOSH--
Then shuts it off immediately as the hot flame washes around his feet.. Along with a torrent of steam and water. The water drains away somewhere, giving Skyfire a bit of room to maneuver. He leans over--
And partially transforms into gyrwalk mode, bringing his rockets horizontal. He fires them again, a much longer blast, lengthwise down the chasm...
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Post by Springer on May 13, 2009 18:57:18 GMT -5
Springer continues to move back and away from the hole, moving closer to Perceptor.
"Okay, you've got a point there. Still a problem that we can't understand a word he's say--"
Springer pauses, listening.
"I hear rockets. Maybe we won't have to melt it down and fly down..."
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Post by Perceptor on May 14, 2009 22:22:44 GMT -5
"Let me have a look, Springer," Perceptor instructs, waving the Wrecker back from the edge. "I am marginally lighter in mass than you are," he explains - although a simple microscope should be more than only "marginally lighter" than a triple-changing Wrecker. "The edge should hold me slightly more safely than you.
He pauses, though, as he, too, detects the rumble of Skyfire's rockets below. "He is at least functional enough to retain the use of his thrusters. That is a good sign. However, if Skyfire is utilizing their heat as a means to free himself, that may further destabilize this area. Be prepared to perform evasive action."
Evasive action for Perceptor, however, will basically consist of falling, if anything happens.
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Skyfire
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Post by Skyfire on May 15, 2009 7:15:14 GMT -5
The bubble is now filled with superheated steam--no check to the shuttle-former, but possibly daunting for others. Water sloshes around his feet and drains away,somewhere, and more snow collapses from above to melt, including the snow covering his head. Finally, Skyfire turns off his engines and returns to his upright robot mode to survey his handwork.
Behind him, there's a long channel melted downhill into the chasm, allowing the water to drain away. Beside him, there's a metallic... door? arch? yawning open, filled with steam. Above, there's a clear view up the chasm to the sky and--is that Perceptor standing on the edge?
"PERCEPTOR! STAND BACK, IT'S PROBABLY UNSTABLE! I'M INTACT. HAVE SPRINGER BRING YOU DOWN, THERE'S SOMETHING INTERESTING DOWN HERE!" he hollers up at the two. Skyfire hopes that Springer's being out of sight is a reflection of prudence, and not because he is buried in snow somewhere up the chasm.
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Post by Springer on May 17, 2009 16:00:57 GMT -5
Springer glances over at Perceptor, hearing Skyfire a little more clearly now. "Huh. Guess we're both going in..." he says, walking up to the edge. Should be able to manage landing down there with a jump..."
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Post by Perceptor on May 18, 2009 16:59:00 GMT -5
"UNDERSTOOD, SKYFIRE!" Perceptor shouts down into the hole. He feels much better now that he can make out Skyfire's bulk amidst the fading steam and ice.
"It would be best, I believe, for you to carry me down in my alternate mode, rather than risk landing two additional mechanisms of our weight at the same time upon such unstable terrain," he explains to Springer. Besides, his precious lenses will be safer if he's in his alternate mode - and smaller - and carefully tucked in Springer's hand, rather than if he jumps down on his own. He isn't exactly an acrobat, after all.
"At your convenience," he says, transforming with a flip, shifting his mass into his much smaller form and landing in Springer's outstretched hand. "I am prepared when you are."
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Post by Springer on May 19, 2009 3:42:18 GMT -5
And Springer catches the scientist, boggling slightly at the size change. "Haven't quite seen that done before..." he says, mostly to himself as he moves to the ledge. Once there, he sits down, and slides onto what looks like the most angled part of the shaft, and carefully moves down.
At least, he tries, and partway down, it all becomes straight, and he lands with a small thud, on his feet. Springer winces slightly, the unexpected impact straining his shock absorbers ever-so-slightly. Once he straightens up again, he opens up his hands and lets Perceptor flip out as he pleases.
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Skyfire
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Post by Skyfire on May 19, 2009 19:37:20 GMT -5
Skyfire watches Springer with an expression of subtle relief; the big green triple-changer was indeed not buried under an avalanche somewhere. He kneels after Springer lands and smashes a large bolus of ice with one fist, then tosses the chunks aside.
"Springer, Perceptor--look! There's something large and metallic down here. A ship, or a fixed installation of some kind. The entry is blocked with ice--it looks like something melted ice which pooled and re-froze--but I think there's something inside. I see shapes when I shine a light through the ice," Skyfire says, words rapid-fire with excitement.
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Post by Perceptor on May 20, 2009 20:14:31 GMT -5
"There is no mass shifting in your reality?" Perceptor asks as he unfolds himself and resumes his normal size in one, surprisingly fluid, motion. "It is not an ability possessed by all from my reality, however, it is not uncomm..."
Words trail off as Perceptor takes in Skyfire's undamaged form and his excited words. Perceptor turns, following the shuttle-former's gaze toward the odd structure, taking it in with wide optics. "Oh, my... Yes! Yes, I can make out the distortion of some mass concealed within the ice!"
Without further explanation, he transforms, maintaining his mass this time, and aims his scope barrel at the formations blocking the entrance. Of course, he hasn't exactly mentioned, yet, if he's planning on examining them, or simply melting them out of the way. Springer may want to mention that.
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Post by Springer on May 20, 2009 20:23:58 GMT -5
"I've heard of it, but never seen it in action, myself" he answers, stepping back a bit, pulling his rifle out. No telling what's buried here.
Then he looks over at Skyfire. "Might wanna back up, in case Percy decides he wants to melt the ice."
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Skyfire
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Post by Skyfire on May 20, 2009 21:11:59 GMT -5
Skyfire steps back a few steps and studies the problem. "I think there's just a big plug of re-frozen ice at the entrance; if we could remove that, we could see what's in there. I'd rather not use my rockets--they're likely to melt whatever is of interest in there, and if I burn off too much fuel, our trip will be cut short."
He glances down. "Speaking of re-frozen ice, careful about letting your feet stand still in that slush for too long."
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Post by Perceptor on May 21, 2009 18:46:33 GMT -5
"Fortunately," Perceptor observes as he examines the ice for weaknesses and occlusions, "I do not have quite the same restrictions." He shifts, rolling forward and back, repositioning himself just right before cutting loose with a carefully focussed beam of concentrated light. Steam billows up sharply from where the beam intersects the ice, and he begins tracing a thin line along the ice plug.
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Post by Springer on May 22, 2009 22:47:28 GMT -5
Springer peers a bit, not having quite as good optics as the science guys. "Just...what is it? A building, or a ship, or what?" he asks Skyfire, refocusing his optics to try and compensate for the steam Perceptor's making.
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