0003: NEW ARRIVALS

[crux_npcs]

Who: New Arrivals, Captain Jack Hollis, Science Captain Urist McEngineer, Graham Baker
Where: Briefing Room
When: Late afternoon
Warnings: None

When awakening, you'll find the area you're in to be very busy. The people in the medical ward are polite and understanding, but firmly refuse to answer questions until the briefing. The same goes for the robots in the hangars. Either given hospital outfits resembling very comfortable pajamas, drone bodies, or their own bodies, they are escorted by polite, unyielding people in red and black uniforms to the briefing room.

The room is large, but not quite large enough for some of the bigger Cybertronians. They've been given drone bodies at least, skinny little things with no real features beyond primitive masks made of paper plates. There's seats for everyone, at least, well-cushioned and comfortable, and the room is pleasantly lit.

A few Security personnel, dressed in their red and black uniforms, stand at ease in the rooms in strategic areas. Three men stand at the head. One is Graham Baker, a slightly nervous-seeming middle-aged man wearing a multi-layered business suit that seems rumpled and oversized. The other two men are dressed in military uniforms, one with the blue undershirt and piping of Command, while the other wears the gold of Science.

[Questions to the NPCs will go in the briefing thread. The rest of the post is there for people to mill about and do whatever with.]

Comments

shockwave | transformers idw

[tomemyoutliers]

i. briefing
( Shockwave's drone blends in with the numerous others at the meeting, his set apart from the others thanks to the simple smiling face drawn on it. It isn't something he's particularly interested in using - it's clumsy and antiquated and he has a perfectly good holoform that he plans on using when he can. But he can upgrade it given time and equipment, he knows he can. There's a list forming in his head of things he'll need even as he listens to the briefing.

But he does move around the meeting - apologizing when he brushes into something or responding to questions when asked. His voice is cheerful at the least, although there's a wavering something behind it that he doesn't bother to try and hide. Give him more than a minute of your time and the drone will become far more animated - noodle arms and all.

He's still himself, and that is going to take time getting used to. At least he's a good conversational partner. )

ii. hangar
( It takes a moment or two for Shockwave to recover being placed back in his body, relief at it being his body and whole and unharmed aside. But rather than huddling in a corner, he jumps to his feet - flexing hands and legs and rotating his shoulders until he's satisfied and the technicians are convinced he's not going to trample them all.

He'd been told that there were other Cybertronians around, and that as they were too big to leave the hangar, he could find them there. And while Shockwave was doubtful that he'd find anyone he desperately wanted to see - the faces of Orion and Dai Atlas appearing in his mind and he unwilling to squash the sense of regret associated with them - any Cybertronian at this point wouldn't be unwelcome.

Which means that as soon as the technicians clear from under his feet he's wandering around looking for anyone he recognizes, or at least recognizes him. Shockwave's made a name for himself, after all, and he's certain there has to be someone around. )

hanger~

[arnhaid]

[He's probably not the Cybertronian anyone wants to see. Memory loss, scowl, dings and dents and a few scorch marks. After all, they'd given him back his body as it had been... and there hadn't been any time between his arrival here, and the confrontation with Trion.]

[Sure, he'd wanted a hand off the planet. He'd wanted someone to come pick them up. But this was... not what he'd expected. Not by a long shot. It really occupies his thoughts, enough to keep his head fairly down.]

[But the corner he's found to stand in, arms folded over his chest, scowl upgrading to a glower as the human techs stare, or flinch away, is far from out of the way. It's right smack in the middle of the hangar, made all the more obvious with the bright red paint job.]

[tomemyoutliers]

( Lucky for Ironhide there's no worries about disappointing someone who doesn't even know who you are. But he is a Cybertronian, and Shockwave isn't about to walk past one without attempting to start a conversation. Even Ironhide's scowl isn't enough to put him off - for the moment he's too focused on the fact that he's still himself.

It's the little things in life, really. )

I haven't decided if we should be concerned that they've managed to pull so many of us here or not.

( Shockwave smiles, one hand on his hip while the other makes a gesture out towards the entire hangar. )

[arnhaid]

[At least this way, he doesn't need to worry about that pesky memory loss issue. Not knowing someone legitimately... that has its advantages! He looks up, as the other approaches, his scowl turning more thoughtful than anything. No one he immediately recognizes... and no one bearing an emblem he needs to be wary of.]

[The bulky bot relaxes, visibly.]

I'm gonna say "worried". Just 'cause that seems safer than gettin' too cozy.

[He shrugs a little, and makes an attempt to look more friendly than angry glowering bouncer.]

[tomemyoutliers]

( The other bot is probably right, and Shockwave's smile changes to one of contemplation. )

Perhaps. ( But Shockwave has been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, and the smile soon resurfaces. ) Interrogation aside, they do seem to have a vested interest in keeping us unharmed. Even if they weren't aware of how important our sparks are. As if they resembled hard drives.

( Honestly. )

[arnhaid]

Long as we're willing to play by their rules, anyhow.

[Not that he has any particular interest in harming the organics around here. Even after what they'd done. The strange 'bot seems right, in that respect -- they didn't seem to realize what it was they and their equipment had actually done.]

[Annoying, a little disturbing, but probably not intentionally malicious.]

[He grunts.]

Guess there ain't much we can do about it. 'Cept try and find a way outta here. Eventually.

[tomemyoutliers]

Mmm. ( A pensive rumble. He's so used to having a plan, having something to fall back on that having none is an annoyance he's eager to fix. There are vague ideas - half formed avenues to consider, but he's yet to settle on one completely. ) Cooperation will give us the most information at this point. And the more we know sooner I can come up with a way to return us to Cybertron.

( Casually assuming he can do that. And why can't he? Then he remembers his manners, and Shockwave holds out a hand. )

I'm Shockwave. Senator Shockwave, but it seems pointless to hold on to the title in a world where I don't hold any sort of office.

[arnhaid]

[Ironhide snorts. Figures he'd end up with someone more scientifically minded than himself. That always seemed to be the way of things. At least this bot seemed a damned sight more friendly than Trion.]

[... okay, so there were Insecticons friendlier than Alpha Trion, but still.]

Sooner you can, eh? That works for me. Glad someone around here's--

[He'd reached out to grip that hand in sheer reflex. Right as the stranger offers their name.]

[The big soldier goes still. Staring. His jaw works.]

... uh.

[Oh yeah, super smooth.]

You wanna... run that one by me again...?

[tomemyoutliers]

I'm Shockwave?

( His own face falls in response, to one that's slightly more confused and concerned. )

[arnhaid]

[He stares. There's a second when he actually looks behind the stranger, wondering if this is some kind of bizarre, elaborate mask or something.]

[Nope.]

You gotta be kidding me...

[tomemyoutliers]

I can only assure you that I'm not.

( Shockwave throws a glance behind him to see if there's something he's missed or anything like that, but when he turns back to Ironhide his expression is just confused and perhaps a little apologetic. )

I take it I'm not who you expected.

( Did someone take his name after the Institute was done with him? )

[arnhaid]

[Maybe this is some misunderstanding. Maybe... Shockwave suddenly turned into a common name or something, while he was out. Or maybe it always was?]

[Either way, memory malfunctions aside, he's pretty damned sure this guy has way too much facial expression -- among other things -- to be anything like the Shockwave his limited memories recall.]

Uh.

[His expression is something between apologetic and ill. He makes a few vague hand gestures, intended to help words along, but just end up looking ridiculous.]

Not really. At all. You got a lot more... [His hand waves at his own face.] Face.

[tomemyoutliers]

I've never had anything less than the current amount. ( He's too vain to do a serious overhaul of himself in an attempt to make himself look better - after all he thinks he's quite attractive as is. ) A different color, perhaps - I can never limit myself to just one.

( Beauty and brains. That's what he wants to be remembered for. )

hangar :3c

[staygoldponybot]

[oh hey he almost managed to sit upright that time. almost. fuck, that hurt.

at this rate, sentinel will have to lower himself to using that stupid noodly drone that he was assigned to - which is currently in a pile next to him. ass in the air; he did not disconnect with any grace - so he could seek out the other cybertronians.

he sees the movement, though, and tenses ow. please don't be a decepticon. that would be awfully inconvenient.]

[tomemyoutliers]

( It's the movement that catches Shockwave's attention, which means that he's about to make his way over to greet the other bot when the ghastly color scheme registers. There's something different about him as well - in the same way that Trailcutter's frame was - time had passed for him since Shockwave had seen him last. But it's still obvious who's lying on the hangar floor. )

Sentinel?

[staygoldponybot]

[oh, for fuck's sake. it had to be this asshole, didn't it? rev up that schadenfreude, shockwave. sentinel looks like he was dropped into a blender; that ghastly colour scheme is barely visible anymore. the shitty rushed job the fleet engineers only really held him together so he wouldn't die. or, you know, have all his internals fall out.]

Shock- [kzzt-- oops there goes his vocalizer. can't even talk, wow it must be like christmas all up in here for the former senator.

at least he tried?]

[tomemyoutliers]

Internal comms, Sentinel.

( There's a moment or two where he heavily considers just abandoning the head of security there. He'd be justified, wouldn't he? After the Shadowplay, after empurata. His hands tighten into fists and his expression darkens.

Shockwave could just walk away. He could.

But he doesn't. Instead he moves to crouch down by the side of the other bot, not touching him because he's not certain the other bot would even want him to. Which suits him just fine. )

The repairs are barely holding you together. You should be dead.

( Why aren't you dead. )

[staygoldponybot]

[he tries to scowl, but his expression just managed to come out pained. this might be easier if he could stand and rumble angrily. alas.]

I would say luck if you hadn't shown up. I expect you'll be finishing off Megatron's work.

[seriously, hated enemy half dead in front of you... he'd totally do it.]

[tomemyoutliers]

Megatron's work? He's hardly in any position to do this to anyone.

( He's a miner. Also sent off-planet to keep the Senate away from him and to keep Megatron away from the Senate. But back to the topic at hand - )

No, I don't think I will.

[staygoldponybot]

Then if you're not planning on offlining me, perhaps you could do a better repair job. I believe there is much to discuss if you think Megatron is not the one who did this.

[or just leave him to die in peace, either or.]

[tomemyoutliers]

Do a-- I'm not a doctor, Sentinel. ( But he can definitely do a better job - venting a sigh and running his hand across his face in exasperation and disbelief that he's actually going to do this. ) I'll need any number of supplies and a clear working space first.

( And then-- )

I've heard about his writing - he hardly seems the type to take out the head of security.

( Thanks, Orion. Also what would be the point of taking out Sentinel? )

[staygoldponybot]

[you know what he's not going to do while half dead and in such a vulnerable position? tell shockwave he was made prime.]

I'll make a note to tell you at a better time.

[tomemyoutliers]

( probably a wise choice, gj sentinel. )

I believe there's a saying that goes 'no time like the present'. ( okay but focusing on the problem at hand. ) You require more than just what I have on hand - the job our hosts did will take time to undo before I can fix your existing injuries.

[staygoldponybot]

[there's another burst of static. that might've been a sigh.]

If they can pump me full of a synthetic energon potent enough to keep me online, I am sure there will be some way to get the parts needed.

As long as I can stand up without all my internals falling out.

[he can dream, right?]

[tomemyoutliers]

( it's tempting to ask how much of his own energon he lost, but-- it's rather obvious. )

I'm no medic - you won't like what it looks like when I'm done.

( spoilers: he doesn't actually care if sentinel likes it or not. )