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Post by Kup on Apr 8, 2008 23:02:31 GMT -5
Kup has an appointment, of sorts. He arrives at the entrance to the New Arrivals' room and knocks on the door twice, then opens it.
"Erm, excuse me, Emirate Xaaron?" the security chief asks. "Do you got a moment?"
OOC: This takes place a day or two after the party and after the chat with Oracle, but just prior to Long Overdue Repairs. Anyone who's currently assigned to the New Arrivals' room may be in this thread at the start, but be aware that Kup and Xaaron will be heading off to chat by themselves shortly.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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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 Apr 8, 2008 23:21:05 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron is pretty badly hungover, to be honest. He's curled up on his berth with one arm over his optics to try to keep the light out.
An incoherent gurgle greets Kup.
He struggles to remember what Kup might want with him. He's not young, he's not a car, he's not pretty - oh, wrong Kup. He's in this strange universe where he doesn't get torn apart simply because it's funny.
And yet, he still aches, but that is entirely his own fault. Emirate Xaaron sits up, takes his arm down, and looks around bleakly. He did say he'd talk to Kup, didn't he? Frag. Emirate Xaaron mumbles, "Purgatory's got all the time in the world."
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Swerve-3
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Maintain the Light
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Post by Swerve-3 on Apr 9, 2008 5:11:09 GMT -5
Unlike his ailing leader, Swerve isn't hungover. He probably wouldn't be even if he'd had more than a glass or two; it's just how his systems work. So instead of suffering (or, in fact, defragging), he has been quietly watching, not quite sure what he can do to help that wouldn't somehow upset Emirate Xaaron but sitting as close as he dares, straight-backed and alert, keeping his presence a constant one in case it's really the balm it sometimes seems.
He looks up, tensing for a split second when Kup peers into the room, and nearly tells the security chief that Emirate Xaaron is resting and doesn't have a moment. He gets as far as opening his mouth before the mech in question gurgles, then finally sits up. Emirate Xaaron doesn't look much better than he did when he bedded down. Swerve glances warily again to Kup.
"Would you like me to step out, sirs?" asks the constable, neither reluctant nor suspicious – a simple, honest query.
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Post by Kup on Apr 9, 2008 8:42:19 GMT -5
Kup appears to not be hungover, either, but maybe he just didn't drink to capacity. The elder leans against the inside of the doorway, arms crossed, and says, "I was going to suggest a walk, actually, but... erm... you're looking pretty rough right now, Emirate." To put it mildly.
"I could come back," he offers, then nods to Swerve. "Or just let the lad step out."
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Apr 9, 2008 8:56:15 GMT -5
Is everyone not-hungover except for him? It would appear to be so. Blast. Perhaps he shouldn't have had that last drink.... or the middle one... or the first one.
Blearily, he rubs his optics and smiles over at Swerve fondly. He was there the whole time? How sweet of him.
Emirate Xaaron considers. What, Kup would just let Swerve step out, to possibly wander off? That can't be right. He'll call another guard, right? Emirate Xaaron shrugs and demurs, "Whatever would work better for you. I'm sure you're anxious to get this over with."
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Apr 9, 2008 21:32:17 GMT -5
Swerve nods and stands. If he seems to move a little stiffly as he does so, he makes no attempt to either conceal or highlight it. It's just what comes with sitting in one place and one position for several hours.
"I'll be just outside," he states both for Kup's sake – the constable won't be wandering off unsupervised if that'll be a problem – and for Emirate Xaaron's with a brief glance to the latter; just in case is the reassurance he leaves unspoken. And there's always the radio. So he pauses long enough to give them both a respectful gesture, something that's a little bit salute and a little bit wave, before removing himself to the corridor to wait.
OOC: Please consider the good constable skippable.
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Post by Kup on Apr 10, 2008 9:43:38 GMT -5
Kup steps out of the doorway to let Swerve past, then shuts the door behind him before leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Well, that settles the question of how they'll converse!
"Of course," Kup begins, getting right to the point, "the problem is, while we know to prepare to fight ourselves, it isn't always that simple. I'd make different preps to deal with someone who's spent a few million years traveling the galaxy as a freelance security consultant than I would someone who stayed on Cybertron the whole time, and just preparing to fight our Rodimus wouldn't have alerted him to his... well, that anger-field thing I've heard tell about. So what I really need to know are the differences, besides the obvious of 'We sound like your Decepticons,' or whatever else. You've been here a couple of days now. You've had a chance to observe us, and should at least be able to give me a rough idea in a lot of cases."
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Apr 10, 2008 13:09:26 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron rubs the back of his helmet and then folds his hands in his lap and stares down at his hands. If these people will give Swerve a chance, they deserve to be given a chance, as well. It's hard to even think of his Rodimus Prime, but he must speak of him, because only if they know the true scope of his power can they effectively plan for him.
He looks up at Kup bleakly and starts, "I haven't really met your Rrr... Rodimus Prime. I don't want to. You'll have to figure out the differences on your own, but mine is... mine is the Chosen One of Primus, and as such, he has more power over and affinity with the Matrix than the average Prime. Rather than destroying Unicron in their fated battle, he purposefully caged Unicron inside the Matrix so that he could draw on the power of two gods." The words hurt to say. "He can use the Matrix to heal, but in using it to heal, the one healed is inevitably corrupted." That idea there rather terrifies Emirate Xaaron. Bad as Perceptor is, if he had to choose being repaired by the mad doctor and the Prime, he'd pick the mad doctor, who can only break his mind and body. The Prime could break his soul. "He sees... something in me. He'd tear me apart just because he can, but he especially tears me apart to look for whatever it is in me."
At the last, Emirate Xaaron breaks down sobbing, face in his hands. Why? What does the demon Prime see in him? He's a simple chaos-worshiper... a simple chaos-worshiper that Primus Himself rails at for being a coward.
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Post by Kup on Apr 10, 2008 13:38:15 GMT -5
Kup opens his optics wide in alarm at Emirate Xaaron's words. Okay this? This is bad. Very, very bad. Their own Rodimus used the Matrix to lock away Unicron, but the process of doing so reduced the power he could draw on himself. If this other Rodimus freely made use of both the Matrix and the one it contained...
No, simply preparing to battle themselves isn't nearly enough.
Kup shudders faintly at the thought of what's before them, but manages to force his horror back down. It's easier for him. He's never encountered it face to face. His expression softens at Emirate Xaaron's sobbing, but he doesn't move near to offer the other comfort.
"Take what time you need, Emirate," he says gently, and that consideration is all he has to offer Emirate Xaaron. In the face of the fact that the Autobots will be facing this monster, and more beside, it's all he can offer, woefully inadequate though it may be.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Apr 10, 2008 14:58:34 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron is wracked by shudders and shivers, but even in his self-absorbed fear of remembering what has happened and what could yet happen, he does notice that even Kup is scared. Perhaps it really is hopeless, here. All will burn before the Prime, and the rage for order will overcome.
Kup may well grow impatient, waiting for Emirate Xaaron to calm himself, but he eventually does, gnawing on one of his stitches. Emirate Xaaron adds, twisting his fingers together at awkward angles, "He can sense other Transformers, sometimes. Sneaking up on him is rarely a good option."
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Post by Kup on Apr 10, 2008 15:45:25 GMT -5
Kup is scared, yes, but Kup's been more frightened before. Bravery isn't facing a problem without fear, but in spite of it.
Oh, well, this just keeps getting better and better. At Xaaron's addition, Kup closes the covers of his optics and rubs the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. "Great. Just great," he mutters. Well, it's a good thing he spoke with both Swerve and Emirate Xaaron! Swerve may have provided what he could, but there are some things he obviously doesn't know.
The veteran lowers his right hand and lets it rest against his leg as he studies the Emirate for a moment. "All right," he says, then pauses. "Now, tell me... if you guys hadn't been able to come over here, to get out of that reality... how were you planning on getting away - and staying away - from this monster Prime of yours?"
Sure, he asked Swerve that once. He now wants to hear Xaaron's answer.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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Ate you alive since you were a child/That's when the monster first appeared in you
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Apr 10, 2008 17:52:49 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron appears to be trying to reshape himself into something non-Euclidean. He is not comfortable at all. If just talking about these people is so hard for him, what are they really like?
Emirate Xaaron shrugs and explains, "Swerve might have been able to fit in with the Decepticons. That would have been my hope. The Decepticons have often been beaten and sometimes broken, but they're never stamped out entirely. As for myself, I'm a damned kind. I may hate them, but I am an Autobot still. I would follow Swerve to the Decepticons, but I feel..." He nearly bites through his stitch. "I feel the best thing I could do for Swerve is get away from him."
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Post by Kup on Apr 10, 2008 18:21:32 GMT -5
Kup brings his arms back up to cross them once more and studies the Emirate for a time in silence. Finally, however, he sighs heavily.
"I take it you haven't exactly talked these plans over with Swerve yet, have you?" he asks gently.
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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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 Apr 10, 2008 18:25:17 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron shakes his head, feeling horribly guilty. He wrings his hands and manages, "It'd hurt him, if I left. He'd think it was his fault, that he'd done something wrong, but I'm just not a Decepticon. I don't have that kind of moral fibre. Still, for him, I'd at least try, so no, I haven't discussed it with him."
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Post by Kup on Apr 10, 2008 19:01:51 GMT -5
"Well, you might wanna. I mean, hopefully it'll be moot, but... you never know, and it never hurts to have a back-up plan."
Kup falls silent for a moment and gathers himself. What he's about to tell Emirate Xaaron is an incredibly cruel thing to say, but for Swerve's good, and even, perhaps, for Xaaron's, it needs to say.
What a blasted rotten universe it is, that someone should have to be this cruel in the name of greater good.
"Y'see, Emirate, I chatted with him last night and... it seems like his plan was to bring you to safety among the Decepticons... and then to turn himself into the Prime as a... distraction. Give him something else to break instead of chasing you. Hoped that by the time the Prime was done with his, erm... entertainment, he'd have forgotten about you."
Kup is getting nigh-on Furmanesque with the ellipses now. Considering the fact that he's a cartoon character, that's a bad sign indeed.
"Someone needs to convince him that that's a damned fool idea, that there's some better way, but I'm not so sure he'd listen to me."
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