Lazing around the Pool

[Sable Conolly]

Ask Scourge, and he'll tell you that he skipped the last battle because he was still injured from his fight with the alternate Rodimus Prime.

This is technically true, though even damaged, he's the better of at least three men.

Ask Scourge, and he will tell you that it is tactically unsound to deploy all one's forces in one area, and that it was in fact wise of him to stay home and guard the base.

This does make strategic sense.

None of this changes that he's currently lazing in the pool that Hook built, arms loose along the edge of the pool, and head up, staring at the ceiling.

---

OOC: Day 3

[Dead End]

Dead End slinks into the indoor pool area; though his expression is hidden by his battlemask, his posture bespeaks general unhappiness and a desire to not be noticed. Perhaps the reason for this shyness is embodied in the mismatched, unpainted panels replacing the pieces of his side that were melted and blasted away in battle.

He regards the pool for a moment, then his visored gaze shifts to take in Scourge. He takes a step forward, then draws it back again, then looks toward the door he just entered....

[Sable Conolly]

With a massive splash, Scourge twists and hefts himself out of the pool. Dripping, he attempts to stride over and grab Dead End before he can flee back out the door.

Scourge has a strong desire to chuck Dead End into the pool. He has missed having his siblings around to boss around entirely too much, and Dead End is just going to have to fill in today.

[Dead End]

Dead End freezes at just the wrong moment and finds himself grabbed by Scourge's mighty hands.

"Er, is there something I can do for you?" he asks plaintively. Scourge is going to tear his limbs off, he just knows it, and then Hook will refuse to fix him Yet Again and he'll rust away, a helpless cripple, and....

[Sable Conolly]

Without fanfare or any warning, Scourge attempts to fling Dead End into the pool, aiming for the deep end. He's not terribly worried about damaging the Stunticon. He had a forcefield and anti-gravs, right? Dead End can soften the landing if he wants.

After the flinging, Scourge stands at the edge of the pool and puts one hand on his hip, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

[Dead End]

Dead End finds himself flying through the air to land in the pool with a tremendous splash! Water flies everywhere, and the patchwork Stunticon finds himself sinking to the bottom. How undignified! Not only that, he's all wet!

This better be freshwater, and unchlorinated. If it ruins what's left of his finish... Then another thought occurs to Dead End--

He transforms, and roars out of the bottom of the pool¹ to land on the coping in another mighty surge of water. Dead End transforms back into robot mode, puts both hands on his hips and yells at Scourge, "MY SEATS! How could you! You've ruined them! They're leather, not plastic you great oaf!"

----
¹shameless invocation of cartoon physics & engineering for cars that drive underwater.

[Sable Conolly]

"You needed a bath," Scourge states, entirely too amused. So, ruining his leather actually gets Dead End angry and passionate about something? Good to know. The rage has to be healthier for Dead End than the terminal depression. Scourge may be biased, however.

He waves a hand dismissively and assures, "We'll raid a Coach Leather factory just for you when we get to Earth, Dead End."

Scourge attempts to step around Dead End, apparently intent on returning to lazing in the pool.

[Dead End]

Dead End, feeling quite pissed-off and petty, sticks a leg out to trip Scourge, hopefully into the pool.

He then folds his arms and says in a rather petulant tone, "I'd rather raid a Gillanese paint factory NOW! They simply don't have any paint in my shade as yet, and not much at all, what with all the repairs that need painting. The only one who can make paint to order is Mixmaster, and he's probably busy with some evil chemistry project or other."

Dead End sounds downright pouty as he adds, "I'm simply hideous! I can't be seen like this--half-painted and unpolished. It just isn't done."

[Sable Conolly]

Scourge is tripped and falls into the pool with a massive splash.

That was a bad move, Dead End. Does the Stunticon have a self-fulfilling prophecy complex?

He grabs the side of the pool wall and hauls himself up, lumbering onto the walk around the pool, red optics fixed on Dead End, fingers twitching.

Running would be advised.

[Dead End]

Scourge... is looking uncommonly like Motormaster right now. Motormaster in one of Those moods. Normally, Dead End would be too apathetic to care that another Decepticon looks threatening, but this is Motormast-- er, Scourge, and Dead End really doesn't enjoy pain. He's a depressive, not a masochist.

Dead End transforms to car mode and hits the accelerator away from Scourge and out into the hall...

---
Out of the pool area unless stopped, but if there's anyone in the access hall that isn't expecting a Porsche doing 60+ mph....

[Sable Conolly]

Scourge has a top speed around 250 MPH when he really puts the hammer down. However, semi-trucks, even alien semi-trucks of doom, are not really known for their cornering abilities.

Dead End might be able to hear Scourge bellowing out his frustration, but Scourge does not give chase.

Instead - instead, he will go try to accomplish something productive. Or beat someone else's face in. Whichever.

[Blitzwing]

There is, in fact, someone not expecting a 60 mph object to come tearing like heck into the hall.
Having been on his way to take a nice, relaxing dip he is entirely unprepared for Dead end, and lets his instincts take over.

Changing his stance to "catch" Dead End as he charges, Blitzwing prepares to eat tire or tear Dead End's arms off, depending on whether he stops him.

He has most certainly not had chance to factor Dead End's shields into the equation.

[Dead End]

Dead End's shields still need a bit of work--several of his nodes were fried in the battle in the forest, and repair was too backed up with seriously damaged bodies for the persnickety fiddling and tuning Hook considered necessary for proper repair. He'd shooed Dead End off after fixing his grievous bodily injuries and told him to come back in a week.

In short, Dead End is still not a masochist--and he is a Stunticon. He barrel rolls like a Seeker, his tires skidding across the wall and the ceiling as dodges Blitzwing and drives past--overhead and upside down.

[Sky-byte]

Blitzwing isn't the only one not expecting a car screeching at 60+ mph down the hallway. Unlike the triple-changer though, Sky-Byte's first reaction isn't 'catch', it's 'evade'.

With a quickness that'd be surprising for anyone of Sky-Byte's stature and mass, the Predacon melds himself against the wall at the sight of the oncoming Dead End. It's a futile gesture though. Now there's a quadruplet of matching tire-tracks running across his torso.

"Why you---" Sky-Byte's growls and curses cut off half-way as he casts a sidelong glance back at where the Stunticon came from. A curious look passes over the Predacon's face and he shoves and jerks himself out of the indent he's created in the wall. What on earth sent Dead End running away so quickly?

[Sable Conolly]

Scourge stomps out of the pool area and into the hall, dripping wet. He transforms, his trailer appearing out of nowhere. His engine growls like a caged tiger, starved and mean.

He puts the hammer down.

Getting out of the way is a good idea.