Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on Jun 25, 2009 18:02:51 GMT -5
"You beat me to it, Perceptor. I've heard that name from Holi as well," Skyfire said. "Greetings, Dai-Janku! I am Skyfire." The big white shuttle-former tilts his head slightly. "I can't say that I'm familiar with a Decepticon of that description. Shockwave has one yellow eye and is purple, but he is not a jet-former--and he never spoke of Megatron."
"Hopefully we can scrape up enough clean water to get the worst of it off before we fly out." Skyfire looks around; he vaguely recalled seeing a deeper bayou not far away. Something white sticking out of the muck caught his attention.
"Perceptor, I think we have someone less fortunate than Dai-Janku here," Skyfire said, pointing at the pale robotic limb protruding from the mud.
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Post by Springer on Jun 25, 2009 23:36:38 GMT -5
Springer is still playing guard duty, taking the time to wander in the immediate area, as Skyfire and Perceptor have the social thing down for the quirky new 'bot.
Bleh... Nasty gunky puddle of slop, that leg sticking out. This place gives Springer the creeps.
Plus...he's no expert on organic places, but this place seems entirely too quiet for him.
He turns back to the others, scowling a bit. "Whatever we do, can we move it along? I really don't like this place for some reason."
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Dai-Janku
Rookie
Reject common sense to make the impossible possible!
Posts: 147
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Post by Dai-Janku on Jun 25, 2009 23:44:10 GMT -5
Dai-Janku gives Perceptor a curious look. "Rescue Patrol.... Holi..." He ponders, then snaps his fingers.
Or at least, he tries to, and just winds up slinging more muck in some direction. "Little guy, 'bout yay-high" he says, making a size estimate with his hands about the size of a Micromaster. "Blue and white? I know of 'im, yeah. Was just on my way to meet Star Saber and the rest of his group when...somehow I wound up in this nasty place. What this place is, I have no clue."
Then Skyfire speaks up, and Dai-Janku shakes his head. "Not Shockwave, then. Didn't get the 'bot's name. An odd one, that, devoted to a long-dead Destron commander..." Then he makes a slightly embarassed face. "Though, if he ever points his hand at you and it has a big red button on it..." his express drops to momentary seriousness, and he shakes his head again. "Do not push it..."
Dai-Janku ponders Skyfire's next words, and shrugs. "I figure I can get the most of it off here. Water's not Aquafina, but it's good enough for government work!" With that, he totally leaves Perceptor where he stands, and starts running off down toward where Wheeljack's leg is. Maybe the muck has his processor addled, as he's conflated deeper water with this area. As the Junkion runs, he's kicking up a fairly sizeable splash with each step, and rambles to himself as he runs, something about Billy Mays and explosions. Once he gets close enough to that particular area, he jumps in the air, limbs spread out and splashing hard into the swamp.
Impulsive? Naaahhhh....
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 26, 2009 8:31:33 GMT -5
"Yes, exact-" Perceptor begins to exclaim at Dai-Janku's reply, only to be drowned out by Dai-Janku's continued explanations. Oh, and his rather enthusiastic "bath".
Are all of the mechanisms from Holi's reality so... exuberant and enthusiastic? Perceptor watches the antics with a bemused smile. A smile which fades noticably as he follows Skyfire's direction - incidentally the same direction that Dai-Janku has flung himself - and notices the limb. A far too recognizable limb, in fact, despite the muck.
"Wheeljack," he breathes, expression falling. One stuttering step becomes two, becomes a dozen, and Perceptor is swiftly rushing over to investigate Wheeljack's protruding leg, falling to his knees beside it, all else forgotten as he begins digging through the mud and decomposing materials to excavate the engineer.
Oh please... Please let Wheeljack simply be in stasis, undisturbed in the silt and detritus.
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 26, 2009 8:58:24 GMT -5
Perceptor is doomed to be disappointed, as once he manages to free the body of his friend from the muck, he will find that it really is his friend, and the wounds on his body are entirely too familiar. The body is in an obvious state of decay after having been slowly sinking into swamp muck for what must have been some time. Swamp mud, decaying vegetation, and tiny six-legged swamp creatures cling to and reside within Wheeljack's body. It is, all and all, a very sad state for one to have fallen to.
Meanwhile Dai-Janku may find much more than a bath in the deeper waters, if he pays attention. Tangled in the lines of swamp vines is another body. This one is badly beaten, mostly silver and black mech with a purple Decepticon sigil on his chest, and a rather large cannon mounted on one arm. Dai-Janku may not recognize him, but the ones above (excepting perhaps, Skyfire) will. Perceptor might recognize these injuries, as well, if for some reason the body is brought topside.
Those odd burbles in the swamp? They seem to be happening a lot closer to the crew now.
SceneMod is now part of regular rotation. And yes, that's a dead toon Megatron, because he got snatched before Unicron could give him a makeover.
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Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on Jun 28, 2009 19:29:21 GMT -5
"Dai-Janku, I don't think---" SPLASH! Skyfire winces. "...that's deep enough."
Skyfire turns his head sharply as Perceptor goes running for the mostly-buried Autobot. From his reaction... Skyfire strides over to join him, and helps Perceptor free the decaying shell from the muck. He doesn't know who this is, and may never know the friendship he would have had with Wheeljack if he had remained on Earth, but he knows that this buried mech is someone important to Perceptor.
Skyfire considers Perceptor his friend, and if this mech matters to Perceptor, he matters to Skyfire. That's all there is to it.
"Perceptor... who is 'Wheeljack'? A friend of yours... would I have known him too?"
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Post by Springer on Jun 30, 2009 0:25:22 GMT -5
Springer follows Perceptor and Skyfire, changing his pistol for his rifle, slightly hunched as he looks over the swamp uneasily.
Springer grumbles mentally - Great, now we're digging bodies out of the muck... Eggheads are too smeltin' curious for their own good, I swear.
As his previous plea was ignored, Springer opts to try and calm down and just keep a close watch on the surroundings.
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Dai-Janku
Rookie
Reject common sense to make the impossible possible!
Posts: 147
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Post by Dai-Janku on Jun 30, 2009 0:45:22 GMT -5
Yes, we're all this enthusiastic!
Once Dai-Janku splashes, a fair bit of the muck dislodges, and he thrashes lightly to get more off...until he butts heads with something else metal. Standing, the murky water leaks off of him. He's not totally clean, but it should be more obvious now that he's a Junkion by his colors and spiky appearance.
After he shakes a bit, he reaches down into the swamp, and dredges up the dead Megatron, and cocks his head sideways. "...looks vaguely familiar, but I can't quite place 'im. Ugly one, though."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 30, 2009 19:17:18 GMT -5
As the damage and decay become visible, Perceptor's expression crumples briefly, before he manages to firmly gather the shreds of his composure, although, when he speaks, there is deep pain in his voice. He had hoped, hoped against hope, that Wheeljack and/or Ratchet might find their way here.
But not like this. Not like this.
"Wheeljack," Perceptor manages softly, "was my friend." His closest friend. The best friend he had ever had. "Yes. You knew him. Would have known him. In time."
Even more than Optimus Prime, Perceptor does not want to bring this body back to be carved up and used and reused as parts and scrap, but the thought of leaving his friend, what is left of him, here to rust and decay away in this fetid, foul swamp is even less acceptable. It is a long, long moment, though, before Perceptor can tear his dull optics away from that greyed out mask and the shattered hole through Wheeljack's body to see what Dai-Janku has brought up with him.
And insult to injury, Perceptor's stricken gaze falls upon Megatron's corpse. That it is a corpse is the only comforting thing about the sight. The injuries, however, seem, like Wheeljack's, far too familiar.
That day. that horrid, terrible day. He is forver bound to his failure that day, to his shame, and Perceptor cannot stop the look of anger and hate and shame that flashes across his features as he hisses out a single word. "Megatron!"
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 30, 2009 22:45:11 GMT -5
The water in swampy areas can be deceptively deep in pockets, and what looks like solid muck can be soft and easily parted by foot or hand.
Such as the hand reaching out to grasp to grasp at Springer as the Autobot turns his back on one burbling patch of much near the causeway. A hand quickly revealed to be connected to a bipedal organism, unidentifiable due to the bulky suit and helm it wears. A suit which looks has been beaten and dented so badly in places, it looks more like a crushed tin can. It is a wonder the...person? Mech? Thing in the suit is alive.
The creature is unidentifiable. The suit, to Springer however, should be very recognizable if he manages to get a glimpse before the shambling hulk pulls the triple changer down into the muck.
At the same time, a large charred white hand reaches from the waters behind Skyfire to try and grab the scientist's leg.
The decay and silt beneath the murky water around the causeway begins to churn...
Posing/grabbing of Springer done w/ player permission.
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Skyfire
Major
I'm a scientist, not a....
Posts: 891
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Post by Skyfire on Jun 30, 2009 23:17:19 GMT -5
Skyfire hesitates in his labor at Perceptor's side to glance at Dai-Janku; apparently he did find deep enough water to clean himself off.
"Perceptor, am I imagining things, or is our new friend a Junkion?" Skyfire asks, intrigued--then looks sharply at Perceptor, concerned by his tone and words.
He gently places a broad hand on Perceptor's unburdened shoulder. "I'm sorry. I wish I'd had the chance to meet him. I... I'm sorry."
Then Perceptor identifies the other dead shell, and Skyfire's optics widen at the anger and pain and hate in the normally soft-spoken red scientist's voice. The big white shuttle-former gently pats Perceptor and rises to inspect this new find.
As Skyfire looks over the silver-gray, massively armored shell, he can't help but wonder and think. This is the one who Starscream followed. The one who killed so many of Perceptor's friends. Yet... he is not much now.
"From the build of him, a formidable fighter when he was functional," Skyfire murmurs. He prods gently at Megatron's chassis, trying to evaluate how corroded it is. "He is far from functional now. I think this shell has been in the swamp at least as long as Wheeljack, and is just as far beyond repair. Impressive cannon though; might be worth salvaging. Even if it has corroded beyond repair, I'd like to analyze it. I still have room for all of us, Catilla, and the two of them."
He looks over at Springer; even kneeling, Skyfire looms over everyone. By comparison, the late Megatron is perhaps two-thirds his height. "It would be best to restrict this finding to our command ranks until Rodimus or the Emirate tells us differently. Springer, Perceptor has identified this body as Megatron; does he resemble your Megatron?"
Perceptor softly adds, "The wounds are consistent with those inflicted upon Megatron in my reality during the events of the battle upon the Earth in my reality where Optimus Prime was damaged beyond repair."
Skyfire rises to his feet--
And something grabs his foot. Skyfire reflexively yanks his foot forward to free it from whatever, only to stagger; something heavy is attached to his foot, anchoring him until he can drag the anchor free. He tries to turn, to see what kind of marsh creature is hugging his leg. Optics widen in disbelief; what has grabbed hold of Skyfire is seared and half-melted and could hardly have survived-- and it looks like Skyfire. Not exactly; the lines are different, but the head and nearly destroyed face are his own.
"SPRINGER! PERCEPTOR!" he shouts.
--- permission granted for patting Perceptor, etc. Perceptor dialogue from Perc's player.
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Post by Springer on Jul 1, 2009 4:50:15 GMT -5
Springer's still uneasy. And now he decides to voice it once more. "Not to be insensitive to what you've found, but really, can we speed it up just a bit? I've -really- got a bad feeling about this..." he says, and then Perceptor yells about Megatron, and Springer snaps in that direction, peppering a few shots on instinct. He misses the corpse, Skyfire, and Dai-Janku thankfully.
"Ah....sorry. Just really jumpy out he--eeargh!" Springer finds himself being yanked, and he turns to look, and... Well, it's like seeing a ghost. His gun clatters to the walkway as he loses all his bravado, fear replacing it.
That face is unmistakable, even in its beaten state - that's a rad-suit from his reality. And Springer doesn't have to guess how it got beat to hell and back.
"--better be worth it to someone, somewhere, 'cos facing death at the hands of a fellow Autobot? At his hands, of all mechs? No 'bot deserves that, Springer. No 'bot.."
Springer begins to claw at the dirt of the walkway, trying to drag himself back up frantically. "L-let me go! I'm sorry! I.... I didn't know it would go like that! LET GO!"
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Dai-Janku
Rookie
Reject common sense to make the impossible possible!
Posts: 147
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Post by Dai-Janku on Jul 1, 2009 13:36:23 GMT -5
"This is the Megatron guy that the purple fool wouldn't shut up about?" Dai-Janku scoffs a bit, not impressed. "No wonder he--" Then shots ring out in front of him as Springer panics, and the Junkion gives him a Lookâ˘, about to snap something at him when the green Wrecker gets yanked down, and something grabs Skyfire. Dai-Janku looks down, and cuts loose a Wilhelm Scream upon seeing the Not-Quite-Skyfire, and does the most manly thing he can think of at the moment.
He drops Megatron on the emerging 'bot. Then he runs.
However, he's not running away! Zombie robots are scary, but he's not a coward. He's running after his previously-lost sword, sticking out of the water on the other side of the pathway. However, he still has a fair bit of swamp to run across...
"They're coming to get you, Barbara! They're coming for you, Barbara! They're coming for you! Look, there comes one of them now!"
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 1, 2009 17:28:09 GMT -5
Perceptor has not even had time to fully process Wheeljack's presence in his arms, much less one of his friend's murderers in Dai-Janku's grasp, when utter nightmarish chaos erupts around them.
"Skyfire!"
He does not even manage to slosh a single step toward the shuttle mech when Springer, too, is seized and the Wrecker begins to panic. Seeing Springer, of all mechs, begin to flail in such a manner is... terrifying, really. He doesn't even think. He just reacts.
Light lances out from the scope cannon on his shoulder toward the nearest target - the doppleganger attacking Skyfire - trying to blast the shattered wreck. He doesn't even notice as Dai-Janku scampers free, bolting away. All Perceptor is really aware of at the moment is the danger to Springer and Skyfire and the cold, dead hand still clenched in his own.
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Post by SceneMod on Jul 1, 2009 18:24:47 GMT -5
As Dai-Janku drops his grisly burden on top of the emerging Jetfire, the large shuttlebot throws up his other arm, half-melted and scarred as the rest of him- to knock away the body. As he does so, Perceptor's shot blasts a hole through Jetfire's shoulder. The mech shows no pain, not even a twitch; he merely levers himself further out of the swamp and onto the causeway, yanking hard at Skyfire's leg in an attempt to knock his almost-twin off his feet.
While this goes on, the crunched bot in the suit continues to try and drag Springer down, oblivious to the Wrecker's protests. Around the swamp, other mechs begin to rise from the fetid water, some recognizable to the group, some less so, Autobots, Decepticons, others. Some have weapons and bring them to bear, though they do not yet fire. Nor do they advance. It is as if they are waiting for something....
Dai-Janku is not stopped as he runs across the swamp, though he may stop of his own volition when he sees the mech that has risen next to his sword. A large familiar mech who looks like he has just risen from the dead. Literally. Colors half washed out, body damaged- damage Perceptor has seen again all too recently.
It is Optimus Prime.
The Prime grasps the sword hilt, pulls it free from the silt, and sends it flying point first toward the Junkion. Those paying close attention may note that the movements are jerky, not so smooth as those of the other risen dead, almost as if there is some sort of interference.
Megatron stands, transforming and dropping neatly into the hand of the dead Seeker who has risen behind him. The purple and black flyer aims his commander at Skyfire and fires. The horde moves forward.
And the dead hand which Perceptor is not holding grabs suddenly at the scientists scope, attempting to wrench it off it's mount.
Okays, so. Now you have Dead Zombie Prime from the end of Dark Awakening. You have a dead Marvel Skywarp, a toon Ironhide, a 2007 Brawl, and a random sharktacon (because they are cool). This is in addition to toon Wheeljack and Megatron, and the unnamed IDW solider tormenting Springer. There are additionally, enough "bodies" to give the impression of a hoard. Feel free to name these unnamed as you see fit, but remember, no ROTF spoliers, no more Primes, no more Megs.
Also, a lot just happened, but it happened very fast. These zombies-with the exception of Optimus- are not behaving much differently that they would alive; they are not slow shambling heaps. With the exception of Optimus and Megatron, all their optics are dark, as well.
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