Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 12, 2011 19:30:21 GMT -5
Month 4, Week 3, Day 1, Hook's lab, semi-private
One of the things in Blast Off's job description as Intel flunky is 'plug security cameras back in'. Further, he's supposed to try and determine who unplugged them in the first place and why. The answer might well be, 'because someone's alt mode bits snagged on the cables,' or 'it was hilarious at the time'.
The thing about the cameras going off in Hook's lab is that no one should be in there in the first place, with Hook MIA. The first time Blast Off did a sweep of the area, he left it alone and reported an all clear, to let whoever it was fall into a false sense of confidence about not being found.
The next time, Blast Off followed the manual, put the cameras back, and then plunked himself in the security room to watch.
Even if Blast Off had the skillset for it, dusting for fingerprints would be pointless. They don't have have fingerprints. Little flecks of paint? Not his thing. Blast Off is A-Team, not CSI.
Blast Off supposes he could have climbed up in the ducts and laid in wait, but really, when Blast Off is planning an ambush? He likes to be father away than that. The security room will do. He watches, and he waits.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 12, 2011 19:51:08 GMT -5
Assault enjoys being watched by Blast Off. It is a good reminder that he should always be on his guard and that this version is quite skilled indeed. Both at stallking someone unseen as well as in a more intimidating fashion. That time that he saw the shuttle dart away from a window that looked out on space is not something that the Seeker will forget anytime soon.
But sometimes, he desires a little more privacy. Such as when he is working on his little project or, in this case, busies himself in a place where he should not be. His own little hideout is adequate for most of the fabrication, but some things require a little more sophistication and top notch equipment, instead of what he has available to work with.
So here he is, busying himself in Hook's lab, carefully working on a large port, testing the functions on another, block-shaped piece of machinery. He observes the workings carefully, takes notes on his datapad of it all while calibrating it when necessary, all of his focus turned on his work. He does not worry about getting caught. The cameras have been...Altered so as to not betray his presence, and should someone with the appropriate codes enter, he has legitimate reason to be here, thanks to lord Scourge being so kind to make him a junior member of Medical.
Not to mention that he will not remain here much longer. As soon as he finishes this, he will take it back into his own little room to resume working there. It won't be much longer now until his project reaches completion.
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 12, 2011 20:01:15 GMT -5
Blast Off isn't proud of that time Assault caught him, but he had perfectly legitimate reasons to be outside, like documenting micrometeorite damage on the hull. If he knew that Assault likes it when Blast Off watches him, Blast Off would be... apathetic, because Vortex is still worse than that.
Watching the cameras, Blast Off notes that Assault didn't have to force entry, and indeed, a quick check tells Blast Off that Assault has clearance to be there, though that's a bit weird. Why isn't Assault in the Medical division proper? Blast Off files that under a long list of question marks.
Time to cross off one of the questions. Blast Off radios... not Assault and says simply, //Hello.//
If Assault so much as twitches in response, that'll be quite, quite telling.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 12, 2011 20:13:33 GMT -5
Assault is not one to disappoint. Blast Off gets his twitch. Then even more as the Seeker quits all of his work entirely. Leaving his work for what it is, he starts walking to the corner of the room, peeking into the airducts, but thankfully the Seeker does not have to break any of them and drag the shuttle out.
Which leaves only one possible thing through which Blast Off could potentially be observing him. He stops right in front of the barely visible camera and gazes into it, a small, nearly impossible to read smile on his face. Oh, Blast Off could always not be watching him, but that seems wholly unlike him. //Ah. I was starting to wonder how long it would take for you to contact me.//
//We have not yet been properly introduced, have we?//
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 12, 2011 20:31:05 GMT -5
Blast Off moves quickly when he gets that reply. He does not want to be stuck holed up in Security, alone, if Assault decides to come hunting. The Seeker is already looking right at the camera.
The first thing Blast Off needs to do is set up some remote windows on his datapad, so he can keep tabs on the cameras as he moves. Then, he needs to let Barricade know that he'll be out, if Barricade wants to post someone else in here as a warm body.
Then Blast Off needs to get out of the ship. That's the best place to hide.
He works on setting up the remote desktop on his datapad, wondering if he should answer or not. Blast Off ventures, //The fault there is yours. I asked for your name. What you have given me is not it. I played along with this deception to see what you would do.//
Blast Off wasn't entirely sure, but he was pretty sure.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 13, 2011 4:53:02 GMT -5
He wonders what Blast Off is doing now. Is he on the move? Holed up somewhere? Is he looking through that camera, or not? Oh well, he is certain that he will find out soon. Deciding that the best course of action is to not dwell on this and instead continue his work, so that is exactly what he does. In no time at all he is working on that machine again, test fitting other parts, though this time not all of his attention is on it.
//You are an unknown. There are too many factors involved with that. I had to be certain first. Apologies if I insulted you by not coming forward sooner, but I am certain that you understand. After all, if you were in my position, would you not have done the same? See if your brothers were worthy of their names?//
//Hrmn. Discussing this over the radio is terribly impersonal. I would much rather prefer to discuss this face to face. Perhaps I shall even show you what I have been working on that requires so much secrecy.//
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 13, 2011 13:05:23 GMT -5
The secure shell remote desktop boots up on Blast Off's datapad, and there, he'll be able to monitor the security cameras from anywhere, provided that no one screws with the connection from the security room.
Again, Blast Off wonders if he should even bother answering Assault, and again, he answers Assault anyway, //If they were my brothers, that would be enough for me.//
//I know on what you are working.//
It's pretty obvious, since he had to go in there to fix the cameras, anyway, and he can see Assault now.
//I am not meeting you alone, I am not meeting you with them, and I am not meeting you with anyone of your choosing.//
This where Blast Off's loner nature gets him in trouble. Who could he take? His roommates? The thought is to laugh. He hurries to log himself out of the security room. The last thing Blast Off needs is for Vortex to wander around in here and mess around with his account.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 13, 2011 13:29:23 GMT -5
//I see. So that must mean that your brothers here are similar to the ones you knew. Yet, you are unwilling to trust me, while you must realize that such caution is unnecessary now. Fascinating.//
There, done. He puts the tools back where they belong before picking up the contraption, giving it one last look over. Then, he gives one last meaningful look into the camera before he turns to leave the lab and head back into his little hide out.
//A chaperone? Why would you ask such a foolish and futile question? Certainly you realize how I would answer that? Allow me to grant you a better offer.//
//You shall decide the time. I decide the place. On Ship's hull, in a blind spot where we can not be so easily eaves dropped on. You will approach Swindle and request of him a pair of stasis cuffs with which you can restrain me, and I turn over my weaponry to you. I give you my word that I shall come alone. Should my word not be enough, then realize that you are far too valuable to double cross and inflict harm upon.//
//After all, you are quite a vital piece of the puzzle. //
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 13, 2011 13:48:09 GMT -5
Blast Off had already called Swindle. The coincidence there is rather spooky. He suppresses a shiver. Blast Off is a Combaticon and a creation of Shockwave's own hand. He is aristocracy and a soldier! He shouldn't shiver.
So many different things are scaring him right now. Assault knows where he is, or Assault thinks he knows where Blast Off is, and Assault has Brawl, and...
By the Hexagon, Needlenose is going to kill him, Blast Off is sure. Needlenose is going to kill all of them, and he's going to enjoy it, too. Hexagons.
Blast Off exits the security room and locks it up. Lord Barricade is probably also going to kill Blast Off, he thinks. The unfairness of it all weighs upon him. He takes a moment to rub his helm, and then he draws his ionic blaster and stalks off. Maybe Assault already got to Swindle. Maybe Swindle is compromised. Maybe Assault has rigged up the hull, too, and...
Blast Off is being ridiculous, and he knows it, and he's scared, anyway. He's always been a bit of a coward. Assault has him wrong, though. He wasn't saying Vortex and Brawl are similar to his brothers. He was saying they aren't his brothers. If they were his brothers, Blast Off could go to them now. He wouldn't be in this fix, but now, Needlenose is going to kill him for being too forthcoming, and Lord Barricade is going to kill him for not being forthcoming enough.
Blast Off curses his past - condemn it to the absence of logic! - and moves off to hunt down Swindle. For the time being, Assault gets no reply at all.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 13, 2011 14:16:19 GMT -5
No answer. How tedious. Was it not a fair proposal? Or is Blast Off skulking about and doing exactly what Assault wants him too? Ah well, he shall worry about that later. For now, he is drawing up plans in his mind while also working on assembling some pieces for his project, increasing the pace that he works at. He has a deadline after all, and if when he goes to meet Blast Off, the extra work will nullify the impact it would have.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 13, 2011 16:58:18 GMT -5
Swindle stands in the door of the storage room that he's appropriated as his shop, leaning against a counter with a half-smile on his face and twirling a pair of stasis cuffs on his index finger. There's a half-disassembled photon torpedo on the table behind him, but he's facing the door rather than working on it. It pays to be attentive to a new customer! (Especially if the last customer who belonged to the same group as the new customer slugged you for not also belonging to said group.)
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 13, 2011 17:07:00 GMT -5
Blast Off is still carrying his ionic blaster out and ready, though he doesn't point it at Swindle or anything that looks explosive, like that photon torpedo. He ducks into the shop and puts his back to the wall, near the door, so that he can easily turn and fire on anyone who walks in.
To say that Blast Off seems nervous would be an understatement. He calms himself, salvaging some decorum, but he doesn't put the blaster away. He does greet Swindle pleasantly if coolly, "Swindle. Thank you. I appreciate your promptness. Where do I sign?"
He radios Assault the coordinates for Swindle's shop and the time now. Surely Swindle will not let Assault do anything horrific to Blast Off while Blast Off is in the process of giving Swindle money?
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on May 13, 2011 18:33:45 GMT -5
When he gets the call, Assault is quick to finish his work. He takes the shortest route there, walking at a quick, brisk pace and it is not long before he arrives at Swindles's shop.
Briefly, he considers waiting outside the store itself, standing in a suitably shadowy spot so that Blast Off will walk out and be startled to find him there. But no, he is trying to gain the shuttle's trust. So instead he walks inside with a confident step, nodding in greeting to Swindle, before turning his gaze on Blast Off. He says nothing, though. He merely waits and smiles.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 14, 2011 10:50:29 GMT -5
The photon warhead to the torpedo is on the other side of the room. Swindle isn't crazy, unlike some of his co-workers.
"Any time, Blast Off, any time!" he gushes, producing a datapad and stylus from his drawer and presenting them to the shuttleformer. "Just sign on the dotted line there, please. Oh, hello, Assault! My, but that's an unsettling smile you're wearing today! It suits you!"
Once Blast Off has filled out the paperwork (there aren't too many pages of it, as it's a short-term rental and most of the print is really small) Swindle will hand him the stasis cuffs.
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Blast Off
Rookie
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite.
Posts: 177
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Post by Blast Off on May 14, 2011 21:27:39 GMT -5
Blast Off actually reads all of the fine print. He knew a Swindle too, remember? But if Needlenose kills Blast Off, it won't matter! He tries to ignore Assault while he reads, but it's hard. It's also hard to read something while holding a gun, but Blast Off manages somehow.
Holding the datapad, signing, and holding the gun proves completely ridiculous, but Blast Off manages that, too.
Blast Off still doesn't put the gun away when he gets the cuffs. He does, however, try to promptly put them on Assault. He says dourly, "I hope to not need this service too often, if it is all the same with you."
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