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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 12, 2009 17:37:14 GMT -5
OOC: Semi-Private for now. Please ask to join. May open up later. Takes place on Day 20.
Harassing Mirage: completed. Now Emirate Xaaron needs to cash in on an interesting bit of information he picked up when the dopplegangers stepped through the mirror.
He doubts that Perceptor can actually help him. It's been far too long. It's more important that Perceptor knows that Emirate Xaaron knows.
He leans against the door of Perceptor's lab, perfectly still for a moment, listening. Then, he raps on the door sharply with a balled fist. Is the absent-minded professor here?
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 12, 2009 17:49:09 GMT -5
Why, yes! Yes, the absent-minded professor is in!
"Come in, come in. The door is not secured!" Perceptor calls from within. He is totally trusting that whoever is knocking is friendly. After all, why would an infiltrating spy knock first! Pee-Dee certainly had not!
He would answer the door personally, however, he has both hands full of components for the guidance system for the new ship, and, well, whoever is out there, they should have hands and arms and legs by which to open the door.
Spy Shot would not be able to reach the access knob, though... of course, that had been too strong a knock for Spy Shot. And too high, and...
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 12, 2009 17:58:26 GMT -5
Assuming both hands and legs is awfully anthropoid bipedalist! A foolish assumption in such a world!
However, it's just an unassuming gold and silver robot, slight of height.
All the more dangerous to invite inside.
Emirate Xaaron opens the door and greets cheerily, "Perceptor! Good cycle! How busy are you?"
Not, Are you busy? Perceptor is always busy, However, he might be a tolerable level of busy right now.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 12, 2009 18:08:48 GMT -5
Yes, well, the absent-minded professor is absent-minded enough to be anthropoid bipedalist at the moment.
"No, no, not too busy at all," he replies, waving Xaaron in. It doesn't even occur to him that Xaaron stopping by for a visit is probably not going to be a real social call. "I was simply working on the guidance circuitry for the navigation system for the new ship. Do come in."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 12, 2009 19:15:24 GMT -5
"How very fascinating," Emirate Xaaron murmurs. He may even mean it. Guidance and navigation are good. Wryly, he inquires, "Anything to deal with strikes from space junk?"
Or are they going to go down like the Ark did, faster than a lightweight at Maccadam's?
He looks all around the lab, taking in the sights, even trying to figure out what some of the simpler experiments might be.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 12, 2009 21:10:38 GMT -5
There's a little of this, a little of that, a still in the corner dripping out energon, a couple of monitors scrolling gibberish and sine waves, some partially completed circuits. Perceptor is just a bit of a dabbler in everything.
"I have not yet begun those systems, no, but yes, there will be systems for such," Perceptor replies cheeerfully. "I was considering a combination of systems, from offensive targeting systems to more passive shielding." He waves a hand airily as if it is of no concern. "I will forward the specifications on to you when I have compiled them, if you would like?"
Because, why else would Xaaron be here visiting?
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 12, 2009 21:19:24 GMT -5
"Mmm. Redundant systems are good, in this case, considering... past performances," Emirate Xaaron notes lightly. He knows Perceptor knows all about crashing Autobot spaceships. He waves a hand airily and replies, "Ah, yes. I shall certainly peruse them," and throw a fit over Botanica's biodome, most likely. Water is /heavy/. Trucking it around on a spaceship is Not On.
"However, I really wished to speak of another matter." He looks up. And up. Tall scientist is tall. "I encountered your alternate." He holds up a hand to forestall any apologies or whatnot. He was not scarred as his alternate was. "He was possessed of a third mode."
Bomb dropped. Now to monitor for fallout.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 12, 2009 21:35:45 GMT -5
Well, Perceptor had been referencing the specifications for the deflectors, however, if Xaaron wants the complete ship specs, Perceptor can work on compiling those for him, too. "Of course, of course."
And, really, trucking water all over space will really only be an issue in 1) getting into space, and 2) dealing with its mass during acceleration and deceleration. And when it comes to that, well, mass is mass is mass, whether it's solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.
"Another matter?" Perceptor replies, glancing up. His Alternate? Oh. Oh dear. Perceptor has not thought about his Alt--
Oh.
He goes very still for a moment, before turning his attention back to the delicate connection he is making on the board he is putting together. "Yes, I imagine he would be. The primary differences between the Alternates appeared to be historical and behavioral, not physical."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 13, 2009 7:29:47 GMT -5
See, Perceptor? You do know diplomacy. That was a very tactful and oblique way of admitting, Yes, I do have a third mode, too.
"He was a tank," Emirate Xaaron adds, yellow optics narrowed as he studies Perceptor closely. Oh yes yes, the the scope like so, mix in some treads...
He shakes his head. "I can certainly understand if you don't want to talk about it. Believe me. If it's a secret you want, it's a secret you'll get."
Tanks Anonymous?
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 13, 2009 22:55:22 GMT -5
More like Perceptor stumbles over a diplomatic gem now and then. The humans have a phrase: "even a blind squirrel can find a nut now and again."
Now, just imagine Perceptor with a large, bushy tail. And perky little ears. You're welcome.
Perceptor sighs, nodding once sharply as he finishes soldering in that set of chips before laying down his tools. "Yes. Or rather, no. Hn." He frowns, resorting his thoughts to present them in a decipherable fashion.
"Yes," he repeats, holding up his index finger. "It does not surprise me that he possesses that additional alternate mode." And if Xaaron is studying Perceptor close enough, there should be some rather familiar looking treads tucked along the backs of the scientist's legs. "Certain of my contemporaries from my earliest days prefered to refer to it as a 'mobile laboratory platform..." However, it was a tank as we all knew it. Then.
He holds up a second finger, indicating his second point. "No, it is not... precisely a secret." He frowns again and pinches the bridge of his nasal ridge between the thumb and forefinger of his other hand. "It is not a... not a function which I utilize..." Ever. "Often."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 14, 2009 21:08:28 GMT -5
Squirrel bacon is said to be delicious.
Emirate Xaaron has never been a collector of insects. Why would be be, when he can transfix a squirming member of his own species with words alone? Bigger prey and a massless pin.
He says softly, "Don't use it much? Ah. Oh well." Emirate Xaaron sounds vaguely disappointed, for his own inscrutable reasons.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 15:04:41 GMT -5
So Xaaron is eyeing Perceptor's "backfat" now? Oh dear.
"I hardly have a need to, after all," Perceptor replies with a shrug. "There are others who are far more well suited to combat - both physically and behaviorally - than I, while I am better utilized in my scientific capacity."
He heaves a sigh and shrugs again. "Besides which, if even the Autobots are unaware of my... other capabilities, then the Decepticons will be likewise... ah... underprepared. In theory. Given that I am actually possessed of more speed in robot mode than in either alternate mode, surprise will render the use of my offensive mode most useful, and surprise is a parameter which can truly only be achieved once."
"In the right circumstance, however, 'once' may turn the tide at a crucial moment."
"This... displeases you, though?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2009 15:21:41 GMT -5
Actually, Emirate Xaaron's just glancing at Perceptor's lower legs, though he looks back up at the scientist to make optic contact.
"No, no, the element of surprise is wonderful. I highly recommend it. However, I have... used up any element of surprise I may have had. Twice."
He rubs the back of his head and stares up at the ceiling, not quiet bashful, but perhaps as close as he gets.
"Which means that when the Decepticons look at me, they're not going to be seeing a civilian Autobot of slight frame. They'll be seeing a tank. And I really can't match up to that expectation, right now." Perhaps he never will. "Being underestimated is a joy. Being overestimated is a right pain. I was wondering if you might perhaps some advice on... such matters. I suppose I can ask Ironfire."
Yes, indeed. He can go ask the girl who mouths off to Dinobots on how to be a tank.
If that's what it takes to be a tank, Emirate Xaaron's not sure he wants to get in touch with himself.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 16:39:57 GMT -5
Science gams Perceptor has not, nor would they be much use in trying to flag down a ride if he were hitchiking. Unless the trucker happening by happened to have a tank fetish, and then...
Well, Perceptor is still a nerd, so even then it still wouldn't be much help.
"Ironfire?" Perceptor remarks, waving one hand dismissively; Xaaron has pricked his pride again by asking for advice and then immediately offering to go to another. Even if that other would be a more logical choice - Ironfire is a more typical front-liner, and not an anonymous tank, after all - Xaaron asked Perceptor first.
"Hn," he adds with a derisive sniff. "She understands combative techniques perhaps a little... too enthusiastically, and I was not given the impression that you were quite that... Hmmm..." Suicidal? "Unsubtle?"
"So, perhaps first you would be willing to explain how, precisely, you have managed to, ah... 'out' yourself?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2009 17:07:07 GMT -5
C'mon. Chicks dig nerds.
Emirate Xaaron wasn't even intentionally trying to prick Perceptor's pride, here. Perhaps it is just his nature.
He shrugs and explains, "I am not combative at all." An amendment. "Not physically. As for how I outed myself, I, ah... I may have dumped a tunnel roof on Runamuck." He laces his fingers together. "And perhaps I also shot in the general direction of Shockwave."
"Oh."
"I also pretended to be a roadblock for a bit, and Mirage happened to not see the detour sign."
Three times, then.
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