I'm not a robot without emotions, I'm not what you see [OPEN]

[thegoodtouch]

Characters: Optimus Prime? Is it really Optimus Prime? And the assembled crew of the Convoy.
Content: Prime gathers his crew to shed some light on what happened, along with planning their next course of action. But something very strange has happened to him...
Setting: The Mended Drum, a seedy but bustling tavern in the heart of Kropmork.
Time:

Comments

[thegoodtouch]

"I know," he said to Bumblebee, voice warm and understanding. "I'd have done the same if it were you." He turned his hand around to take Bumblebee's, holding it for a moment as the other asked his second question. "It has to be them," Prime replied, his own eyes narrowing. "I can't think of anyone else with both a motive and the knowledge of my schematics that this must have taken."

Then, Hex landed beside him, and he released the scout's hand to look at her. Optimus wasn't worried when she reached out to touch him, and resisted the impulse to pull back. She couldn't infect him. He was human.

Wasn't he?

"Hex," Optimus said, eyes widening, "what do you mean? Are you saying...that I'm not human?" If not, what on Reial was he at the moment?

Unfortunately, Sara's quiet comment went unheard by the captain, at least for the moment. Prime was distracted by a sudden thought in his head: Sam's voice, he knew. It was remarkably similar to receiving a comm-link transmission over a radio wave. It wasn't difficult to think back, Lucifer. Good to see you, friend.

[pink_is_best]

The Denouement...? Nena's face visibly paled and she shivered. She'd gotten lucky. Again. But when was her luck going to run out? They really were everywhere, weren't they... Thank goodness her secret was still more or less hers.

Noticing Sara's change in behavior, she went over to stand by her side. She had... a pretty good idea of what had caused it.

[flightofthe]

Bumblebee took his father figure's commander's hand, squeezing firmly - both taking and offering comfort. "We'll fix this, Prime. We'll figure out what they did to you and we'll fix it."

Hex landed next to him and he shifted to stand by his Prime's side . . . where he should have been all along. His optics flashed softly in shock at the Virus's words, but he kept his silence, waiting for her answer. He too was too focused on his commander to have caught Sara's soft words, though his audios were certainly sensitive enough to hear normally. The movement, however, caught his attention, and he glanced over to see Nena move to her fellow pilot's side. Not thinking anything of it, he turned back to Hex.

[morethanabot]

Rock began to collect the information. It...was kinda unbelievable, but the way Prime sounded, they way he acted, they way he was answering the questions, it remind

However he kept his eyes glued to the ground. What could they do? What should they do? He didn't know the answer. So he had to ask questions.

"Prime what do you think is the percentage of us getting the ship back and returning you to your body." It came out shaking, unsure, and quite sad, because of the suggestion he had.

[dontkillmebro]

Sara looked up at Nena and back down to Emily. She said nothing, watching the conversation continue to unfold, but she'd definitely have to say something later... to someone, anyway.

[son_of_time]

At the back of the room Sam smiled in relief. It was definitely him, unless his cover was completely blown, but that was unlikely.

And you too. I like the new look. Pleasantries aside (taking advantage of his naïvety and his new body could also come later) there was more pressing business to attend to. I've been tracking the ship. I left something on board that is specially boun--.

Mjölnir at that point decided it wanted attention and jumped up onto his shoulders. "Woah, careful there."

...sorry about that. Anyway I can track the ship in a fool proof way.

[icaruschmicarus]

"Percentages mean nothing," Hibari cut in. "Focus on the now."

The pilot had been lounging back in his chair, watching the proceedings without comment. At that moment, however, he was leaning forward, his usual dour expression replaced with something far more cold and calculating.

"You have pilots, and other means of tracking the ship. We need to secure the means to take the ship back."

The other issues did not concern him because he had no answers for them. They could figure it out.

[thegoodtouch]

He nodded in agreement with Hibari. "Our chances of success depend on how we chase it down. We're going to need a ship. A good, solid ship with decent firepower. Unfortunately, I doubt many of us have the funds we'd need to even rent a warship, much less buy one."

The idea of stealing one honestly hadn't even entered his head.

Devoting energy for a moment to communicating with Sam, Prime's face reflected none of the pleased surprise he felt at the news. Finding the ship hadn't been a real worry of his -- they'd hear reports of it soon enough, if he knew the sort of thing Denouement did -- but it was very good to have a way to find it before the explosions started. Finally, a piece of good news. Thank you, Sam, that'll help immensely.

[gypsymothdance]

"What about commandeering one?" Jean suggested, remembering Erza's order. "I mean, this is an emergency! And I'm sure if we bring it back in one piece... it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, right?"

[princelyspirit]

"But where are we going to find a ship we can take?" Utena argued. "It's not like we can just waltz into the docks."

[flightofthe]

The idea might not have crossed the honorable Autobot commander's mind, but it did that of his espionage agent. Bee grimaced to himself, knowing Prime would never approve, but what else could they do? He more than anyone knew the potential firepower of the Convoy, and it had been him who had first discovered Denouement's plans for him and Prime, so he knew exactly what those slaggers were planning! They had to be stopped! Even if it meant-

Jean's comments cut him off, and he nodded. "True . . . but if we go head-to-head with the Convoy, I can tell you now we're not going to be bringing back a borrowed ship in one piece, unfortunately. The Convoy is originally built our technology, Cybertronian technology. Our weapons aren't quite like what's built here."

And . . . there was one more option that came to mind as the little Autobot's optics scanned the room.

"Prime . . . we've got a lot of talented people in the room. In a lot of different expertise. Maybe we can trade services for a ship?" He looked around the room, silently asking his many crewmates for support - this was their home they were talking about. "Or . . . or it's also possible we won't have to confront them head-on." He turned his gaze up to his commander's with a pointed look. "It might be possible to sneak onboard and infiltrate or sabotage it from the inside."

That, after all was one of the functions he'd specifically been designed and built for. And he'd be willing to bet dubloons to units of energon that he wasn't the only one among this motley band who could pull off something like that.

Ah, slag! His face fell and he tensed a bit as another realization hit him. His only recharge berth was on that ship! Well, unless he wanted to go crawling back to Denouement himself. He opened his storage compartment, checking how much energon he had left from his mission. It wasn't much - he'd been gone longer than he'd expected - but it'd have to do. He was, after all, not only the smallest but the most fuel-efficient of his brethren. Thank Primus.

Totally not mun-cesting since they're not talking to each /other/.......OTL

[destnys_overr8d]

Hellboy finally spoke up from near the back of the room. "So, two things, then . . . find the ship, and get it back." Honestly? The "getting it back" part, he wasn't overly worried about. At worst, he figured they could fly a smaller plane close enough to drop him on the deck, and he could just go to town on the crew till he got somewhere vital. "Sounds like we've got the first part covered. Nen-?" She'd moved. Where'd she...oh, there she was. He jabbed a big, stone thumb at the little redheaded pilot. "Nena says she can track it, regardless of distance."

[pink_is_best]

"Yeah. And I'm a pilot, but you should know that." Nena gave the 'V' symbol for peace but with a painfully flat expression. Her home had been stolen and things were affecting her best friend on a more personal, upsetting level. She couldn't be bothered to pretend she wasn't unhappy.

...That piece of information about the Convoy was interesting, though. And definitely something to remember.

/ZHOOOOPING IN

[armorgal]

"There is already a ship ready to be commandeered," Erza said, inserting herself into the conversation. "It is lightly guarded, and I can attest to its firepower personally."

She slammed her hand down on a nearby surface for dramatic effect.

"I speak of the Fiertia, former mercenary vessel, currently a novelty bar. If the engines still work - and there is reason to believe that they do - it will serve our purposes nicely."

[princelyspirit]

"The Fiertia?" Utena blinked as she processed Erza's gugestion. While she hadn't been a member of the ship for nearly as long as Erza had, she had spent enough time on the ship to attest to its merits. But still...

"All right," she said, "Erza's right about one thing - it is a good ship. But, even if the engines are working, how are we supposed to get it out?"

[flightofthe]

Bumblebee snapped his fingers. "The Fiertia! Of course! I've heard a lot about that ship . . . and I don't mean the recent market hype."

He looked at Erza and Utena. "Getting it out shouldn't be a problem, I'd think, if the engines do still work. Getting in might be the trickier part - " He grinned confidently. " - but I can probably help with that."