Day 35: Bus 2 (Return Trip)

[tsunagari]

Sai leaned his head woozily against the cool glass of the bus window. Helping out his fellow ninja had been a failed effort thus far, and he didn't have any idea how Naruto had been able to put up with that friend of his for so long. If he was asked to lead Sasuke around in the future, unless they came to terms with their differences before then

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[usoppsenchou]

[For Starscream]

As the nurses gently lined everyone up for the bus ride home, Usopp found himself parted from Chopper in the crowd, but didn't want to risk either of them being sedated by struggling to get back to his crewmate's side. Still, he hoped Chopper would be okay when the time came, that he wouldn't sit near anyone dangerous, and that they'd meet inside like they'd promised. Of course we will, two men can't break their word like that! The nice manful Captain Usopp voice inside was reassuring somehow, but he still sat towards the middle of the back of the bus, hoping it would be reasonably far from nurses.

He'd hoped to meet with some others today, maybe that guy from the board who kept wanting to be first mate co-Captain or something, but he hadn't gotten out into the town very far and the morning meeting had been busted by the Doyleton trip. Maybe they'd meet by chance, or just have to arrange another time. Sure, the guy seemed a little off, but if Usopp only socialized with perfectly friendly and sane people, he'd

[whiny_egomaniac]

Starscream trudged his way onto one of the buses at random, resigning himself to the fact that NONE of them was Astrotrain. No one handed him any items of nourishment this time around; luckily for him, his digestive system was not yet suggesting that he should consume anything. Further, dealing with those strange, identical flesh-creatures and their teasing about the object THEY were consuming put him off from the whole 'eating' experience for a while.

As the bus was somewhat empty and still filling, he found himself sitting at an aisle seat across from a...well, an odd-looking human would be a decent descriptor, if he didn't find all flesh-creatures odd-looking to start. Nevertheless, this one's olfactory organ was...UNUSUALLY long, and noticeably so as well. What a curious creature, the former scientist mused. This human's proboscis is more elongated than any of the others I've ever encountered. Perhaps a flaw in his gestational development? Or could it serve some useful evolutionary purpose?A sudden recollection sprang to

[usoppsenchou]

Usopp looked up at the newcomer and grinned widely, rubbing the side of his nose a bit, not with self-consciousness but pride. "I am the legendary Captain Usopp! You must be someone I spoke to on the boards, right? Go ahead and sit down, it's better to have something to talk about on the trip back anyway." After all, if he didn't, he'd spend the trip trembling in fear or wondering what his crewmates were doing, and if they were being eaten by nurses or evil birds yet

[whiny_egomaniac]

"Captain...that would be a military rank, correct?" Starscream said, brimming with what seemed like joy for the first time since his arrival here. He took the seat offered to him and immediately followed up on his own question. "I, too, am - or was, in my world, a person of great military importance as well: first Air Commander, then Leader of the Decepticons, Starscream

[usoppsenchou]

A military rank? Was this guy another military nut like Sousuke? Can you really call somebody else a nut when Sousuke's the one who actually has a rank instead of a made-up title?

... Well, he does kinda disassemble all his meals.Usopp shook off the uesless background thoughts, listening to Starscream's words. It was a lot easier to keep track of people when they gave so much information about themselves, and that was a pretty impressive summary of titles and accomplishments

[whiny_egomaniac]

Indeed, I AM far too advanced for this world, for the human world, at least, Starscream started in his own mind. He was about to speak up about what the Decpeticons - and what he - actually were; a race of robots from the planet Cybertron, who for millions of years were involved in a civil war with the group's other faction, the Autobots. Yet he held his tongue, and became uncharacteristically humble before Usopp. The flesh-creatures mock me and believe me to be truly out of my personality component whenever I mention my origin...of course, can I really blame their feeble minds? If, as HK-47 and now this Captain Usopp claim, we are from different worlds? If these humans have never met Cybertronians, how could I prove who I am to them? No, better now to avoid any controversy and leave out details that would make others think ill of me...I still have my prestige and greatness, even if I am trapped in this pathetic excuse for a shell.The Decepticon nodded as Usopp described himself briefly, not really committing to his memory banks

[usoppsenchou]

Usopp had turned to a blank page in the notebook for more reason than just to give Starscream writing space, and as Starscream seemed to start to flip back to look at notes, Usopp reached out to take the notebook back, trying not to be too grabby about it. It was paranoia, pure and simple, but at least the drawings of possible methods for the flamethrower's design and the fledgling internal sketches of Climatact Jr. were interspersed with personal sketches, drawings of familiar or nostalgic faces and locations

[whiny_egomaniac]

Heh

[usoppsenchou]

"It's not that," Usopp defended himself a bit awkwardly, "It's just that I'm also an artist, and I have some personal drawings in there. Very personal drawings. It's, uh, pornography. Flesh people pornography, you'd definitely not want to see it

[whiny_egomaniac]

"Por..." Starscream started, then paused for a while, a visible look of consternation on his face. Pornography...erm...that word SOUNDS familiar, but...bah, these humans and their primitive language! Bad enough we had to learn it to adapt as we did to earth! He looked back at Usopp and shrugged, completely nonplussed by the human's remarks. "Very well, Captain. If you say it is personal, then that's all I need to know." Besides which...I'll have to consult one of their dictionaries when we arrive at the institute to discern the meaning of this seemingly embarrassing word.The Decepticon leader nodded through Usopp's boasting, putting aside the fact that he had never heard of a human geographic feature bearing the name "grandline" (no doubt, he thought, this man is from a universe where such a thing DOES exist...it matters not to me now...) Mentioning the 'alchemists', however, and that they might not be able to synthesize his weapons caused him a great deal of frustration. Surprisingly, however, he was able to reduce his

[usoppsenchou]

"Yeah, the name threw me off at first too, but that's what they're called where they're from." Usopp took a moment to consider, before adding, "I think most of them are from the same world, but lately some other people with the same sort of bizarre powers might have shown up from another world. It's really convenient, anyway. The down side is that everyone else wants the convenient guys to build them simple things like swords, and so they've got a big back-up of projects. I have no idea how they do it, other than the fact that it's normal where they come from. I spoke to the Cooking Group leader, he's one of them, and he was the one who suggested I talk on the board about alternative, hand-made weapons. To be honest... if we can avoid leaning on them, unless it's something really spectacular, I'd be a lot happier. They have a lot to do, and there's already enough resources to make explosives and chemical weapons just with the stuff at hand. Even things like bladed weapons can be improvised without waiting a bunch of nights for

[whiny_egomaniac]

"I see," Starscream started. "So they use some kind of magic to instantly synthesize objects from their component materials? Normally I'd be one to scoff at such unscientific nonsense...but sadly I've seen such supernatural things at work before. As to their heavy workload...it is unfortunate, but I suppose it's for the best. I need to determine the best way to translate my weapons into devices that can be used by multiple people, and that may take some time in of itself

[usoppsenchou]

"That sounds like a great idea," Usopp agreed enthusiastically. "I think other people on the board'll help you too, if you ask about it. That's really the only thing that I was thinking of when I posted--that people need to be more organized and aware of what's up there, and what we want, and what we can get. So having others assist you in getting those supplies, and starting to put together your project, might be easier than if there weren't already contact between the groups and between patients. I know a lot of patients who've been working on solo projects," including himself, "and working like that is kind of a waste of time and manpower. Er, or whatever people are-power

[whiny_egomaniac]

"You're right," Starscream responded smugly. "Having others around always DID make my projects progress far easier in my world than when I attempted them on my own. I may well have to take advantage of others' eagerness to explore this place at night...we could benefit each other, of course, and the division of labor provided, if not by the alchemists then by anyone else willing to leave this place, could see our weapons created in less than a quartex."

All words, flesh-creature, Starscream thought quietly, standing as the bus came to its halt before the large gates of the institute. Of course I'll be taking advantage of you humans...you've proved yourselves so useful to me in various other times and worlds...once I have what I need, your own petty desires will be worthless to me. He turned to Usopp when he spoke of a 'meeting' with other flesh-creatures about 'shopping lists' to...did he hear correctly? 'Support' other clubs? Starscream is no supporter, no lackey...not anymore. But maintain the charade a little longer...