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Post by Starscream (Movie) on May 16, 2011 21:41:13 GMT -5
Stupid worm with his stupid entirely reasonable objections and suggestions. Starscream just wants to shake him. He's made for command, not advisement! To have to play second cyber-fiddle to an earthbound upstart like Scourge is humiliating.
"Scourge is acting irrationally. He has set irrational goals, goals that could put us all in jeopardy. If we rip reality apart at the seams, there'll be nothing left to rule," he growls urgently
Starscream clenches a fist, the mechanisms in his arm whirring in protest at the strain as his claws dig into his palm. He releases it, finally, with a sigh. "Your counsel is wise. It wouldn't do for Shockwave to be angry upon his return." Starscream harbors doubts about if the purple gunformer will ever come back, but he's not going to voice them in present company. "But just be ready to act if Scourge shows signs of instability. I won't get stuck toadying to a second Megatron," he insists, extending a spindly digit and making to poke Hellbender in the chest for emphasis. "I won't."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on May 17, 2011 15:17:52 GMT -5
Hellbender nods thoughtfully. "Yes, suh. Ah seen enough nutjob Decepticon leaders to last me 'til 'All are One'; Ah got no desire to see another Megadeath or Thunderwing or even a Straxus."
He looks at the poking finger for a moment, his expression neutral. "Suh, Ah really do advise that you don't think about goin' 'gainst Lord Shockwave when he comes back. Seriously. Ah don't think you know how powerful he really is; in my reality, he was fully the equal of Megatron and then some. From what Ah've seen, Ah think our Shockwave here is even more powerful than that. Seriously."
He hesitates a moment and adds, "Ah would not be doin' my duty as a staff officer if Ah did not warn you of possible dangers that Ah know about in your flightpath, sir."
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Post by Starscream (Movie) on May 18, 2011 19:27:26 GMT -5
"I have no intention of trying to overthrow Shockwave, Hellbender. He commands much as I would." At least one of these things is true. "Scourge, however, is not Shockwave, and I will do what is necessary to preserve our race if he becomes a threat. I trust this is acceptable to you?"
Shockwave has (had?) always seemed a very private mechanism, but he was (is?) certainly a powerful one. How powerful is unknown. Hellbender is not an objective source for that particular information. Starscream makes a mental note that he may need to investigate this further.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on May 19, 2011 12:53:43 GMT -5
Hellbender bows his head in acknowledgement. "Yes, suh."
Starscream either knows enough not to take on Shockwave, or he's lying to Hellbender because he really wants Hellbender at his side against Scourge--which he's already said. However, that means he knows to hide any malicious intentions toward Shockwave from Hellbender, which troubles the wormformer. He can't serve Shockwave's interests best if he's successfully deceived. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so open about his loyalty to Shockwave.
"Of course, suh. Ah already said that we don't need a nutjob leader; 'Cons been hurt by that a lot in my history. Ah think we would have beaten the 'Bots a long time ago if we hadn't been fightin' each other so much. Crazy leaders look weak, and that just causes trouble," Hellbender says. Does he have to spell out 'I am with you if Scourge turns into Galvatron/Thunderwing/other flavor of fruitcake'? He doesn't say like to say that sort of thing out loud, not when the Mayhems probably have the sim room bugged.
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Post by Starscream (Movie) on May 20, 2011 10:53:23 GMT -5
Starscream really does care more about the Decepticon cause than his own aggrandizement, or at least that's what he tells himself. He far prefers Shockwave's less beat-Starscream-with-his-own-limbs style of command to Megatron's. He just thinks he could do it even better. For the greater good and security of the Cybertronian race, of course!
Hellbender doesn't need to spell anything out, Starscream leads him loud and clear. Of course, he also privately suspects that if Scourge turns out to be a fruitcake, or other unpalatable dessert, the Mayhems will be on his side also.
"Well then, I'm glad we understand each other, Hellbender. I'll let you get back to your training, unless there's anything you need of me." If the wormformer wants to make a request or a blackmail attempt, now's the time.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on May 25, 2011 9:04:45 GMT -5
Hellbender is reasonably content in most things--well, as content as he can be with his creator missing. Still, he fiddles with the sim room controls, resetting the scenario, adding a few things here and there. He glances at Starscream from time to time, shifting his weight from one massive foot to the other.
"Well..... "
"Ah already mentioned the main thing. Mah maintenance is not a trivial issue, sir," he said reluctantly. "Who will be coverin' it?"
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Post by Starscream (Movie) on May 25, 2011 21:40:04 GMT -5
Starscream puts on his concerned face. It's only partially an act. Hellbender being out of commission would be all sorts of bad. "Is anyone other than Hook qualified to perform maintenance on you? My first choice would be Blackarachnia, she's acting head of that department." Screamer doesn't really pay much attention to scientists and medics, as such. Sure, they serve a very important purpose, and they occasionally give you a nice new weapon to use, but they're not real soldiers.
If the wormformer can hold out for a few more months, Flame may be able to take care of him, but Starscream doesn't know that yet.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on May 26, 2011 10:48:15 GMT -5
Hellbender frowned for a moment. "Ah hope she's got access to Hook's files, then. Hook had to do all sorts of crazy mods to adapt mah non-standard processors to this here non-standard Gillanan robot body. Then Lord Shockwave and Hook did a lot more non-factory standard modifications to get me to transform again. Ain't nothin' normal or standard about me, and half my circuits are Gillanese-spec."
This is assuming Hellbender will let Flame near him without being offline first. He remembers that other Flame, and Kalis. 'Irresponsible git of a complete nutjob Autobot' doesn't begin to describe Hellbender's opinion of the one robot that got Ultra Magnus to work with Trypticon against him.
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Post by Starscream (Movie) on May 28, 2011 10:54:27 GMT -5
Not feeling safe around your medic is part of the Decepticon experience. If Hellbender wanted his scientists to be of the non-mad variety, he should have been a good guy. (Then Rodimus could be Paul, which would make Kup . . . Jessica? Or Gurney.)
"If she doesn't have access, we'll get her access ASAP. You have my word that you will not be allowed to fall into disrepair, Hellbender."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jun 10, 2011 18:37:18 GMT -5
Crazy or sadistic is one thing--you sort of expect that with Decepticon technical types--but crazy and incompetent is not a good combination. Hellbender's Flame suffered from the type of paranoid megalomania that seriously impaired his ability to run engineering calculations, or to consider that he might have made a mistake. Or several. He really hopes this Flame isn't more of the same.
"Yes, sir. Ah, that's 'bout all my concerns from this end, suh."
Ready for a wrap?
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Post by Starscream (Movie) on Jun 11, 2011 22:30:39 GMT -5
Starscream nods. "Very well. I'll see that Blackarachnia has access to your files. You may continue with your training. Always good to see a soldier taking the initiative to better their combat skills," he says as he turns to go. Plus it warms the cockles of his spark to think of Hellbender killing Optimus Prime over and over again.
Wrappity wrap wrap!
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