Skyfire considers that for a moment. // I know where we are. I visited here after I returned from space. After Unicron. // His voice is heavy.
// I don't know any part of Cybertron very well any more. Things have changed so much. And I can't follow him here the way I did in the Nexus. Air is too polluted. So we catch him here. Do you have a plan? My plans are a bit sketchy, to say the least. //
Skyfire tries to move carefully forward, out of the others' way; unfortunately, stealth is not one of his strong points. The sound of his footsteps echo through the tunnels.
// I am concerned, too. I don't know the layout of this place, beyond the tunnels lead generally to the hub in the one direction, and Starscream's own shrine is a short distance off the hub down a tunnel--that might be the place to look for him. I don't know what's at the other end of the tunnels, whether they just end, or connect with lateral corridors, or what. //
// Rodimus, do you know the layout of this place? //
// My appearance will shock him, period. I can't say whether he'll attack me or flee me. *A sound almost like a sigh* I strongly suspect if I were obviously incapacitated or trapped, he'd approach me, though probably not with benign intent. //
A brief hesitation. // There is one thing... I wish I'd thought of this when we were making preparations. If you could cover my Autobrand or replace it with the Decepticon sigil.... //
Before they can really get started, Skyfire gets a call from Blackstar. Blue optics widen in surprise.
// Frostbite, Blackstar is back in communication. Listen... // and he echoes Blackstar's transmission to his companions.
// Skyfire! He had me constrained for a bit while we talked; I couldn't warn you. He's convinced this is a dream, and I've been playing that. I've tried to convince him that he's been stuck in this dream, over and over until he gets it right, and killing you or anyone else isn't getting it right. We're flanking you now, though. He's not talking or listening unless he's got the tactical advantage. I... I'm not sure if I can take out his guns or not, now. Don't count on it. //
// Thank you! We were... concerned when we didn't hear from you. Frostbite in particular, // Skyfire replies.
Frostbite's here, too? He reaches out to include her - and Rodimus, who is also supposed to be here, and who he's thankfully met on the occassion of dropping off a pack of Zambonis - too. Unfortunately, Sideswipe gets left out of the loop, since Blackstar isn't aware of him yet.
// I'll worry about me. You worry about you, // he replies gruffly. It's a tone Skyfire, at least, is probably familiar with from Starscream.
// You have a cornered and angry Air Commander who thinks this is all fantasy heading your way. The down side to convincing him that he's trapped here until he gets it right, is he may decide that he's coming back anyway, and there's nothing to lose. You lot watch your afts. //
Even so, he has a very secure grip on the canister Skyfire had given him. Starscream can be damned unpredictable, especially when he's agitated, and they're only going to have one shot to cure him. If that.
"Okay. We know he's out looking for us. If we let him get the drop on us, that might put him in more of a mood to be reasoned with - that'll probably be your department, Skyfire and Frostbite. Sideswipe and I will be the Tackle Committee in case diplomacy goes south."
'In case,' he says, Rodimus thinks, rolling his optics at himself.
*Sideswipe smirks up at Skyfire.* //Fast. Fast enough to get it done in our time constraints.//
*Sideswipe quickly and efficiently loads the paint in the air brush as Skyfire gives him a lift up. He pulls a spare sheet out of his subspace pocket and uses it to quickly test the brush to get a feel for it, and then tweaks the nozzle just slightly. Finally he eyes Skyfire's Autobrand. With quick and efficient movements, he covers the red mark and then pauses to eye it critically. He touches up a couple spots before he's satisfied.*
//Alright, you can set me down now.// *Sideswipe pulls out a rag and quickly does a quick run-over his hands and the brush, setting that and the paint container back to rights. Once on the ground he hands out the materials for Skyfire to take back.*
Starscream slips through the relatively uncluttered cross-tunnel with his cannon forward. Now the closed-in, underground nature of the place doesn't bother him--Starscream is hunting, stalking his prey. All of his mind is focussed on that.
He pauses for a moment at the mouth of the cross-tunnel, checking this other mausoleum tunnel for enemies. No heat signatures nearby, but if one of his enemies has good thermal insulation and stealth capability...
Who could be there? Skyfire was not stealthy. The Neutral--unknown. Red unicorn--most organics shed heat. Doubtful it was lurking in wait so close. Sideswipe and the Stunticons - not stealthy. The Aerialbots--not stealthy, and at a disadvantage in these close quarters. Hot Rod-- definitely NOT stealthy. The silver Seeker--unknown, but probably at a disadvantage underground.
So... the two unknowns, who might have stealth capability. One was a Neutral, and the other a Decepticon. Possbily allies; probably not. The one had tried to talk nonsense at him, the other had all but ignored him
( ... )
Skyfire looks at his partner--F-15 wings, intent expression, so fully the Decepticon now... yet somehow diminished from what he truly was. The old anger at the universe was back, anger that had been banished by the end of all Starscream's fear.
Starscream was afraid again.
"Starscream... you know that things aren't what they seem. You were ambushed, trapped in this moment--"
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// I don't know any part of Cybertron very well any more. Things have changed so much. And I can't follow him here the way I did in the Nexus. Air is too polluted. So we catch him here. Do you have a plan? My plans are a bit sketchy, to say the least. //
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(The comment has been removed)
// I am concerned, too. I don't know the layout of this place, beyond the tunnels lead generally to the hub in the one direction, and Starscream's own shrine is a short distance off the hub down a tunnel--that might be the place to look for him. I don't know what's at the other end of the tunnels, whether they just end, or connect with lateral corridors, or what. //
// Rodimus, do you know the layout of this place? //
// My appearance will shock him, period. I can't say whether he'll attack me or flee me. *A sound almost like a sigh* I strongly suspect if I were obviously incapacitated or trapped, he'd approach me, though probably not with benign intent. //
A brief hesitation. // There is one thing... I wish I'd thought of this when we were making preparations. If you could cover my Autobrand or replace it with the Decepticon sigil.... //
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(The comment has been removed)
// I'm not sure if I would appear better as the Neutral I was, or the Decepticon I very briefly was. //
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// Frostbite, Blackstar is back in communication. Listen... // and he echoes Blackstar's transmission to his companions.
// Skyfire! He had me constrained for a bit while we talked; I couldn't warn you. He's convinced this is a dream, and I've been playing that. I've tried to convince him that he's been stuck in this dream, over and over until he gets it right, and killing you or anyone else isn't getting it right. We're flanking you now, though. He's not talking or listening unless he's got the tactical advantage. I... I'm not sure if I can take out his guns or not, now. Don't count on it. //
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// Thank you! We were... concerned when we didn't hear from you. Frostbite in particular, // Skyfire replies.
Frostbite's here, too? He reaches out to include her - and Rodimus, who is also supposed to be here, and who he's thankfully met on the occassion of dropping off a pack of Zambonis - too. Unfortunately, Sideswipe gets left out of the loop, since Blackstar isn't aware of him yet.
// I'll worry about me. You worry about you, // he replies gruffly. It's a tone Skyfire, at least, is probably familiar with from Starscream.
// You have a cornered and angry Air Commander who thinks this is all fantasy heading your way. The down side to convincing him that he's trapped here until he gets it right, is he may decide that he's coming back anyway, and there's nothing to lose. You lot watch your afts. //
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Even so, he has a very secure grip on the canister Skyfire had given him. Starscream can be damned unpredictable, especially when he's agitated, and they're only going to have one shot to cure him. If that.
"Okay. We know he's out looking for us. If we let him get the drop on us, that might put him in more of a mood to be reasoned with - that'll probably be your department, Skyfire and Frostbite. Sideswipe and I will be the Tackle Committee in case diplomacy goes south."
'In case,' he says, Rodimus thinks, rolling his optics at himself.
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*He turns and looks up at Skyfire.* //Do you still want me to do that paint job?//
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*Sideswipe quickly and efficiently loads the paint in the air brush as Skyfire gives him a lift up. He pulls a spare sheet out of his subspace pocket and uses it to quickly test the brush to get a feel for it, and then tweaks the nozzle just slightly. Finally he eyes Skyfire's Autobrand. With quick and efficient movements, he covers the red mark and then pauses to eye it critically. He touches up a couple spots before he's satisfied.*
//Alright, you can set me down now.// *Sideswipe pulls out a rag and quickly does a quick run-over his hands and the brush, setting that and the paint container back to rights. Once on the ground he hands out the materials for Skyfire to take back.*
Reply
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He pauses for a moment at the mouth of the cross-tunnel, checking this other mausoleum tunnel for enemies. No heat signatures nearby, but if one of his enemies has good thermal insulation and stealth capability...
Who could be there? Skyfire was not stealthy. The Neutral--unknown. Red unicorn--most organics shed heat. Doubtful it was lurking in wait so close. Sideswipe and the Stunticons - not stealthy. The Aerialbots--not stealthy, and at a disadvantage in these close quarters. Hot Rod-- definitely NOT stealthy. The silver Seeker--unknown, but probably at a disadvantage underground.
So... the two unknowns, who might have stealth capability. One was a Neutral, and the other a Decepticon. Possbily allies; probably not. The one had tried to talk nonsense at him, the other had all but ignored him ( ... )
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(The comment has been removed)
Starscream was afraid again.
"Starscream... you know that things aren't what they seem. You were ambushed, trapped in this moment--"
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