Arcee
Minor
Token Girl-Bot
Posts: 330
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Post by Arcee on Jan 16, 2008 20:42:23 GMT -5
Arcee likes to think that she's fairly intelligent, but at the same times, is willing to admit when situations are far beyond her ability. This is one of them. She can get her brain around the idea that they've all been brought here from different universes, but by and large, these universes all play by the same script of heroic ____s vs evil _____s. Even the Maximal members of their faction fit into this.
And the one-off counterparts and such are more or less alike. Rodimus Prime is similar enough to her Hot Rod (well, not her Hot Rod. She had feeling for him, yes, but wasn't about to get possessive about it) to make little difference. And both the strange other-world Bumblebee and Goldbug were enough like the Bumblebee she knew, if changed in certain ways, there still remained a core of sameness.
It doesn't quite seem like the same deal here.
Give her something to shoot any day and save her from the hard problems.
Good grief. Did she just advocate action over thinking? Maybe Hot Rod really had rubbed off on her.
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Swerve-3
Rookie
Maintain the Light
Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Jan 16, 2008 22:28:02 GMT -5
Now Emirate Xaaron is trying to protect Swerve. The constable isn't sure if he feels more touched that his leader is so willing to make the effort, or wounded that he feels he has to make that effort. But he'll have to think on that later; it's starting to look as though courtesy might be about as effective on this Kup as it ever was with the other. Unfortunately, it's all Swerve has left at this point, and he draws upon it even as he firms his stance between the angry veteran and Emirate Xaaron.
"Please, sir!" It isn't terribly often that Swerve raises his voice. Most especially to his superiors. It isn't terribly often that he finds the need for it. "If you'll be so kind as to pardon me for saying so… now is really not the time for anyone to lose his head. And I'd appreciate it sincerely if – if you could do us the favour of staying calm." Swerve is not shaking, at least outwardly. His voice is as steady as his body, but his ventilation is working furiously and it feels as if his very spark is shrinking away. He can't let himself be afraid even now. Especially now. "Now – now, sir," he continues in his best conciliatory tone, "…er. Sirs." His faded-gold stare flicks briefly to Perceptor. "I'm being very honest with you when I say I'm not sure what's going on here. I can explain what brought us here…." He pauses to glance apologetically at Emirate Xaaron. "…And I will to the best of my abilities. If you're sincere in not harming us." Here, he casts a significant look in Bumblebee's direction; when he turns back, his expression is open and earnest.
He can't act to get them free now. If there's a chance words will save them, he can but speak.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
Rookie
Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
Posts: 162
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Jan 16, 2008 22:53:34 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron visibly shrinks and quails at Kup's tirade. He looks off the side, unable to look at the dingier but wrathful Kup. His gaze settles on Swerve. Emirate Xaaron isn't sure that Swerve is quite well. He's seeming rather strained. This is why Emirate Xaaron was trying to get Swerve out of here! Swerve cannot rescue him in gallant fashion if he comes down ill.
Bumblebee has that weapon of his out again, Emirate Xaaron laces his finger together tightly enough to hurt. Yeah. These people mean them no harm. Really. So not buying it.
Then Perceptor nails it, and Emirate Xaaron's spirit sinks. These folks seem different, but for Perceptor to reach that conclusion so quickly really doesn't bode well. He can't look at Perceptor, but he does reply, quietly, as if strangling a sob, "Would you prefer if I pretended I didn't fear you? Is that how you like it?"
Kup gets no answer, but his answer to Perceptor should really be answer enough. Emirate Xaaron and Swerve really are running from the Autobots, but it seems that they are out of the frying pan and into the fire.
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Post by Kup on Jan 16, 2008 23:41:19 GMT -5
Kup turns his angry gaze on Perceptor, and rumbles out, "Last I checked, Perceptor, I wasn't wearing a purple badge." He gestures with his head towards Swerve and Emirate Xaaron. "At least one of these guys seems to be wearing the Autobot symbol, though. The question you're looking for is, 'would a Seeker warn a Sweep about Galvatron.'"
Then he turns, optics narrowed in thought, though his expression is still set, and murmurs, "Which really is the more relevant question, isn't it?"
He shakes his head and sighs faintly at Swerve. "I'm calm, lad," he says coolly, though the anger is still there. "This ain't anywhere near not calm." And it's true enough. Not calm Kup is the calm that levels a building in three punches.
Then he crosses his arms and looks at the both of them. "I'm sincere in not wanting to see you harmed, though frankly, I've got my doubts you'll take me word for it." He shrugs. "I do need what you can tell me about how you got here... and how easy it will be for someone else to repeat it. What you can tell me about the... the others," Kup stumbles over the words here, "whoever might be coming after us. I need to know, even if they're wearing our faces. Especially that."
Kup studies the two for a silent moment longer. Then, quite swiftly, the spring untenses. It doesn't spring. It is simply wound tight one instant, and the tension is gone the next. Emirate Xaaron is a shivering wreck, and Swerve... Swerve looks like he has at least one problem in common with the Swerve Kup knows, and probably needs to cool off. The veteran sighs, and when he speaks next his voice is tired, perhaps a faint bit concerned. "But out here ain't the place to do it. I'm thinking I'm not the only one in danger of losing his cool."
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Post by Mirage on Jan 17, 2008 1:32:55 GMT -5
Mirage has been watching and listening, fairly certain that the situation would not go south at this point, if for no other reason than that would put this Swerve's precious Emirate at greater risk. Mirage follows Swerve's glance at Bumblebee, his optics narrowing a bit in disapproval when he realizes that the other has revealed his weapon. Kup said stand down.
Returning his attention to Swerve and Xaaron, Mirage studies them, then says very softly, "Opposites. At first blush you both seem the opposite of your counterparts here. If that is the case...what does that say about Autobots and Decepticons in your world?"
At Kup's suggestion of a change in venue, Mirage turns to the Security Chief, "Who would you like to remain as escort?"
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Post by Bumblebee on Jan 17, 2008 5:10:26 GMT -5
Bumblebee felt a little embarrassed for 'drawing' his weapon. Despite things heightening before, Kup seemed to have calmed down and everything was going to be okay. As quickly as it had appeared, it was gone once again.
Privately to his superior, Bumblebee transmits: //kup, perceptor knows something about this. and these two have an issue with him. it might be for the best if I ask him what he knows in his lab while you deal with these two.//
//besides. there may be others. if they wanted something in his lab then securing the lab would be for the best.//
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 17, 2008 16:05:34 GMT -5
Perceptor nods encouragingly as Swerve offers to explain what he knows, however, since neither refuted his educated guess as to their origin, he already has a good idea, improbable though it is. Xaaron's words, however, with that tone and the fact that he cannot seem to make himself even look at Perceptor, hits the Autobot scientist like a slap.
"I would prefer," Perceptor answers softly, stung, "that you not fear at all."
He does not want to think, just yet, about what his counterpart from the world that this Swerve and Xaaron have fled from, must be like to inspire that sort of response. Instead, he turns stiffly to Kup.
"I must disable what functionality my device possesses to attempt to prevent further incursion before we are prepared to deal with them. The sooner that is accomplished, the better. If I may?" he asks with careful courtesy.
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Arcee
Minor
Token Girl-Bot
Posts: 330
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Post by Arcee on Jan 17, 2008 19:13:59 GMT -5
Mirage's question is a valid one, one Arcee hasn't considered. She tries to stretch her memory back and remembers some ancient TV show recording Daniel had insisted upon watching. Some kind of Space Trek or something. Hadn't one of those dealt with some kind of opposite universe?
She pushes the thought aside. Hardly important now, not to mention she'd barely paid attention during the viewing.
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Swerve-3
Rookie
Maintain the Light
Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Jan 17, 2008 23:49:48 GMT -5
Swerve advised calm as much for his own sake as in worry that Kup might keep spiralling, and he's more grateful than words can really convey that not only was his plea ultimately unnecessary, it didn't have the opposite effect. He is relieved, but he doesn't relax. He can't. Not yet.
"Thank you, sir," he says and nods again to Kup. He isn't sure he really wants to move elsewhere; much as he wants to believe they'll come to no harm, he can't help remaining wary of going somewhere he has even less control when he still can't be entirely sure of the situation. And yes, part of his concern involves the possibility of holding cells. Or interrogation. "But I think… we might feel more comfortable here." He doesn't launch into a full explanation just yet; instead, he casts a questioning look at Emirate Xaaron. If his leader overrides his opinion, so be it. "What would you prefer, sir?"
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Emirate Xaaron-3
Rookie
Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
Posts: 162
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Jan 18, 2008 0:28:42 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron shrinks away from Kup's questions about Sweeps and Seekers. Would someone fated to be hunted down by the Mayhems warn off-duty Mayhems that the Mayhems are coming? Oh Unicron, no! The off-duty Mayhems would simply join in the fun. However, he fears to even deny Kup, and he thinks letting on any more explicitly that he expects harm to befall him would be a poor idea.
Mirage's question is an interesting one. Emirate Xaaron is not certain how to answer it.
Thing is, despite Perceptor's assurance, he can all too easily imagine a scientist who likes his subjects to smile and enjoy its he takes them apart live, perhaps even beg him to not disable their pain sensors. It would not be a Perceptor he knows, but it would be a Perceptor that Emirate Xaaron could see existing quite easily. He cannot fathom an actually benevolent Perceptor. There has to be something wrong with him, somewhere.
Swerve, however, is clever. The Autobots can easily call in an air strike from here, but at least it's open, and they aren't being hauled off to an interrogation chamber. He nods gratefully to Swerve and agrees, "I would rather here. What do you Autobots stand for?" Hazily addressed to Mirage. "The Autobots that I know stand for nothing less than unbridled destruction these days, though we were perhaps not quite so bad in times past. Swerve was to be assigned elsewhere, and R-rodimus Prime," he has trouble even saying it, "tired of toying," in a manner that in no way resembled play, "with me. So we fled through Perceptor's portal device, hoping to find a better shot at life."
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Post by Kup on Jan 18, 2008 8:28:04 GMT -5
Mirage asks who should stick around, Bumblebee makes a suggestion, and Perceptor makes pretty much the same suggestion minus the Bumblebee-factor.
Funny how that works out.
Kup nods to Perceptor. "Take Bumblebee with you, Perceptor," he says. "Right now, we need to make sure that lab is secure, anyway. That, and you can give him the full story of what you know, and he can report back to me." That way, it's Bumblebee who has to deal with the Perceptorese, and not Kup. Hah! Kup shifts his gaze to include Bumblebee. "If you two see Pee-Dee, go ahead and take her with you for help. She's probably around here somewhere."
"Mirage, Arcee, you two stick with me," he adds, answering Mirage's question. It's probably no coincidence that he's asked that the racer with invisibility and the anti-land-vehicle-vehicle to stay behind, all things considered.
He considers for a moment their request to stay outside, a thoughtful frown on his face. There's a couple of problems with this. First off, it decreases their advantage, even with Synapse still overhead. This is important, because second, if Swerve and Xaaron's Autobots are as bad as they say, they're not dealing with other good guys. They're dealing with bad guys on the run from other bad guys. So these guys had their lives threatened by their own side. That does not mean Kup should automatically trust him, anymore than he'd trust the hypothetical Seeker on the run from Galvatron.
On the other hand, while not returning to base reduces their advantage, they do still have the advantage. These two try to run again, he can always call in for yet more reinforcements. The veteran shrugs. "All right. We'll stay for now," he says, tone implying that he'll find it all too easy to change his mind if Swerve and Xaaron press their luck.
He does not address the question of what the Autobots stand for, instead interested to hear what Mirage and Arcee have to say on the matter. He'll come in and add his opinion if they get it wrong, as youth often do.
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Post by Mirage on Jan 18, 2008 12:50:38 GMT -5
Mirage nods in acknowledgment of Kup's orders, then addresses the Emirate.
"I think that if you were to ask that of each us us, you might find the answers as varied as the realities from which we hail."
"I chose this," his fingers brush across his Autobrand, "Because to do otherwise would have meant giving tacit approval to Cybertron's destruction. Megatron's obsessions were literally tearing the planet apart. The Autobotsl played- still play- their part in that sadly, but the Autobots did not force anyone to their ranks or execute those who refused to choose. I can not say that there are not those with this brand who might revel in a bit of violent conflict, or have a natural bent to it." Mirage looks pointedly at Swerve, here, then continues, "But those have always been tempered by cooler heads."
Mirage shakes his head, then looks again to the Emirate, "To me, this brand stands for honor, for right. And for hope. Autobots protect and defend. We do not conquer or destroy."
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Post by Bumblebee on Jan 18, 2008 17:37:05 GMT -5
Bumblebee nods, making his way around the gathering towards Perceptor. He doesn't take his optics off the two newcomers, but it's a look of curiosity, not suspicion or aggression.
He extends his arm to Perceptor. If he prefers, Perceptor can transform and land in his hand, and he'll drive them back. Otherwise, they'll just walk back together.
OOC: Exit Bumblebee.
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Post by Perceptor on Jan 18, 2008 18:08:19 GMT -5
Perceptor gives a sharp nod towards Kup, adding one last thoughtful look back toward Xaaron and Swerve before transforming, trusting Bumblebee to catch him safely.
// Kup, if you are able, please find out how similar the portal which they entered was compared to the portal in my laboratory, particularly regarding what state of construction it may have been in. The device in my laboratory is not yet fully functional; it would be helpful to know how much further along my counterpart is, and in determining exactly... how it is that they managed to arrive here, // he radios Kup securely.
OOC: Exit Perceptor with Bumblebee.
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Arcee
Minor
Token Girl-Bot
Posts: 330
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Post by Arcee on Jan 18, 2008 22:54:56 GMT -5
"Yes, sir," Arcee replies to Kup's order to stay.
And for the question, "I might be the wrong person to ask about it. I've had this symbol as far back as I can remember; I was probably created with it. But Kup says that this used to be a slave brand, back when these aliens called the Quintessons created our ancestors. One of the first free-thinking Autobots, Alpha Trion, turned it from a symbol of slavery into one of unity, one of pride. A symbol that would represent freedom everywhere."
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