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Post by Drift on Feb 29, 2012 23:05:16 GMT -5
//Where's your body?// Other than 'Jhiaxus.' The fact that Perceptor totally ignored that part simply meant it was all the more likely.
It's Driftlogic. You can't even hope to understand.
//Bunch of mechs not reporting in.//Probably how Drift had gotten stuck on comm duty in the first place.
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 1, 2012 2:39:10 GMT -5
Or that Perceptor isn't familiar with 'Jhiaxus'.
// My body? Beyond the construct that I am inhabiting now, I assume? I... have no idea. // She frowns, trying to think of somewhere that it could be. // Not there on the ship, then, I posit? //
The frown deepens. // For how long? //
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 18:27:53 GMT -5
Perceptor knows everything. At least, according to Drift.
//No!// How freaky would that be? Waking up next to some sort of freaky zombie Perceptor body? Eww.
//Couple of days.// Perceptor might hear the frown in his voice. Something was going on and Drift couldn't help. Not a happy-making thing.
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 18:34:44 GMT -5
His confidence is a comfort to her. It's not true, of course, but it does fill her with a soft, warm sort of pride to be thought of in such a manner.
// Approximately the time period which I have inhabited this biological form, then, // she remarks thoughtfully. // Until I have evidence to support an alternate hypothesis, I believe that it would be safest to continue under the assumption that this human construct is my body, then. Additionally, you and whomever remains in your original forms may wish to explore the possibility that others - namely those who have begun to fail to maintain contact - have been similarly affected. //
// How many of you remain? // she asks, suddenly realizing that she has no idea how many of them may not have been affected. If it is, indeed, something that has struck more than just her, that is.
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 18:39:49 GMT -5
//Did something happen?// Wait. Duh. Obviously something happened: Perceptor is now a squishybit. //I mean, an explosion or something?//
He nods, thinking through the roster. That's a lot of potential mechs. //Nightbeat. Optimus. Bluestreak.// He grunts. //Maybe some others. Don't know.//
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 18:55:03 GMT -5
Persephone shakes her head, frowning again. // I do not know. Nothing occurred to me, specifically. Nothing such as an explosion or component activation, that is. As I said, I had been studying figures, on the ship, in my laboratory, when, quite suddenly, I found myself in this form, preparing to instruct a human university course on basic chemistry. One which I... was expecting to instruct, oddly. //
She settles back into the chair she is occupying, which has the effect of displaying more of her environment on the video display. She's obviously in another laboratory, but one that seems quite different than Perceptor's lab on the Event Horizon. What parts are visible are just as neat and orderly as the lab Drift knows, but seems to be constructed of a great deal more glass and chromed metal. And extraneous sparking things which don't seem to serve an obvious purpose.
She uses one fingertip to push her glasses up on her nose, a thoughtful look on her features. // Based upon the calculations I performed once I had completed my course instructions, I do not believe that any significant time was lost between when I was in my own laboratory, and when I awoke in this construct. // She lips her right index finger, that thumb tapping the underside of her chin as she ponders what he had told her.
// Only you four that you can confirm at this time, then? There were more of us upon the ship at the time when the event seems to have occurred, though. Which argues that the others who have gone missing as I had, have similarly been affected. //
Her voice trails off, a familiar thoughtful look settling over her as she stares off into the distance for a long moment.
// Oh, // she offers, returning to herself with a shake of her head, // these are my coordinates. // They place her somewhere in Detroit.
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -5
//Internal chrono shows no lost time?// ...what the frag was he saying? Did those things even have internal chronos? Perceptor just said he--erm--she?--had to do calculations.
//Yeah. That I know of.// He frowns. //Who could have a motive for this?// Because a bunch of mechs trapped in squishy, unarmored frames? Someone was planning something.
//Want a pick up?//
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 19:42:02 GMT -5
// Well, these forms do not possess internal chronological counters as yours does. However, I did have external references to temporal placement, and was able to calculate based upon what I remembered, and the conversion to the local standard time, but, yes. No time lost. //
// As to motive, I do not have a hypothesis yet. If we had some means to determine if any Decepticons were similarly affected, it might be possible to begin to narrow the field of suspects. // Look, Drift! For once, she isn't arguing about the potential for this to have been some sort of weapon. Or trap!
That last question causes her to drift back into that "thoughtful" pose again, and she ponders for a long moment. // While I admit that I would feel more comfortable in more familiar surroundings, I am afraid that such a course of action would likely be unwise. First, it would arouse suspicion here, as I, or this personae I am occupying, am expected to continue my instructional courses four days out of every seven. Additionally, while my laboratory aboard the Event Horizon is quite complete, I am not in a form which would be able to utilize most of the components which I would need to, in order to conduct any research into this phenomena, whereas I am in possession of such a facility here, at my residence. //
She heaves a sigh and finally shakes her head. // In other words, I should remain here and maintain the fiction of my identity while doing what research and investigation that I am able to, here. // She isn't happy about that, though. Oh, the lab is nice enough, and certainly large enough that even if she manages to find a means to reverse this, Perceptor can easily inhabit this same space. But there is just too much that could go wrong by abandoning what appears to be a ready-made guise so precipitously.
Of course, this lab is quite large, and she 'knows' of the entrance designed for vehicles...
// If it is only your four, someone must remain aboard the Event Horizon to monitor and assist. But, perhaps Nightbeat could be persuaded to allow you to travel here for short time periods? These exact coordinates should allow you to spacebridge directly to my laboratory here? If you would, ah, like to, that is? //
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 19:51:44 GMT -5
A frustrated frown. He's no good at this whole...thinking thing. //Not sure about Decepticons. But...not sure it matters. Decepticons would let it happen to their own if it gave them an advantage.// Like, taking out more Autobots than Decepticons. Or if it made the Autobots vulnerable enough for a superweapon. Babu-Yar ring any bells?
//You have a way to protect yourself?/// Because, not gonna lie, you look awfully, uh, unarmored there.
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 20:00:48 GMT -5
// A good point, // she concedes.
At that, she looks a little sheepish. // That would depend upon what I am attempting to defend myself from. The ambient temperature? Yes. Espionage? Yes. Attack by an unaffected Decepticon? Not... exactly, // she replies, but continues, looking unhappy. // However, I cannot adopt any sort of external armor or armament that would withstand such an attack, as it would not fit with this persona I find myself in. //
Which would include having a giant whit robot following her around scowling at anyone who looked at her funny.
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 20:17:58 GMT -5
It's probably a little sad how Drift brightens at the compliment. //Something we should look into.//
But the frown returns. Then deepens. Then deepens some more, as she talks about her...ridiculously weak state. //You need protection.// Statement of fact. And it means: you need Drift.
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 20:33:04 GMT -5
She knows what you mean there, and offers a slightly wan smile.
// If I recall the chain of command correctly, I believe that Nightbeat is in charge? So long as it meets with his approval, and you promise to maintain a covert presence to the best of your ability beyond my residence... // Yeah, conditions. Sorry Drift. // I would welcome your assistance. //
Well, she'd welcome him either way, but running around scaring the students would probably out the kibosh on her identity, and if the Decepticons are behind this, then Drift's presence woul endanger her more than simply attempting to maintain cover.
Besides, it would irritate Nightbeat, and probably Rodimus and Xaaron, too, when they find out. She's been trying very hard to behave, lately. Really she has.
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 20:46:18 GMT -5
His head droops. Frag. Now he actually has to ask permission. He was just going to, you know, sign himself out or something.
Stupid authority.
Stupid chain of command. //Yeah. Fine.// He sounds entirely disgruntled. //Anyone touches you and I'm cutting their hand off, though.//
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Post by Perceptor on Mar 2, 2012 21:09:57 GMT -5
Persephone cannot help but smile at that; Drift's highest form of compliment is to threaten violence.
// If I manage to contact any of the other Autobots, I will pass along the details of their condition and locations, as well. Could you possibly bring any surveillance video from my laboratory between the times of <before Perceptor's disappearance> and <after Perceptor's disappearance> with you when you come? // No, she has no doubts that you won't manage to make it down to her. One way or another. // And notify Nightbeat that I will be conducting my own scientific inquiry as to my transformation here? //
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Post by Drift on Mar 2, 2012 21:17:03 GMT -5
He nods. //Maybe there's some sort of epicenter, where or when it happened.// Which means...more could change.
Another nod. And then a hesitation. //W-what format?// Can you even read standard holodisks? Or any of your sparkly incredibly-breakable looking equipment?
Drift snorts. //Imagine he's already guessed that.//
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