robothell | [OPEN] Arrival

Entry tags:

optimus prime | academybot

[OPEN] Arrival

Who: Optimus Prime & You
Where: The Clinic, The Crater
When: After Optimus (IDW)'s return to the city
What: Optimus Prime arrives on the planet
Warnings: ?

THE CLINIC

Wandering through the destroyed city, Optimus took a moment to consider how getting suddenly transported to another planet was pretty high on the list of strange things that had happened in his life, a list that had grown much quicker in the past few months than he would have thought possible. This was certainly not a specific scenario they'd trained for at the Autobot Academy, that's for sure.

With so many buildings in serious disrepair, finding one that not only seemed intact but to have working electricity was a surprise to say the least. With some apprehension he made his way over to the building, cautiously sticking his head in the doorway and hoping whoever, or whatever, might be inside was friendly.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

THE CRATER

Optimus had left the clinic some time ago to try and get a better feel for the city. It was pretty unnerving how much the ruins looked like Cybertron, and the silence was starting to get to him by the time he made it to a huge crater in the middle of everything. An unrefined energon deposit? Just sitting here unguarded in the middle of the city? That was certainly strange. Even if there weren't many bots here, leaving a resource like that unprotected went against everything he'd learned at the academy.

He quickly made his way down into the crater, sliding down some of the steeper slopes to get to the energon vein, running a hand over the rough crystal with a frown.

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Optimus had been frequenting the crater a lot recently. Perhaps out of nostalgia, as it was the first place on this planet he had crawled out of, or perhaps because you can tell a lot about the planet from it. The foliage certainly still was growing, and provided an interesting mystery to work at.

As he kneels by the Energon pool, he can't help but notice something--no, someONE doing something similar. And...with a similar paint scheme too.

His brow raises as he tracks his gaze up to the bot's face, slightly intrigued by this stranger. Something was...awfully familiar.

"I see the Energon deposit has captured your interest as well, friend."

Optimus' hand shot back like he'd been caught messing with something he shouldn't, which might very well be the case as far as he knows. The first thing he noticed was the autobot badge (multiple, actually), which was a huge relief after the day he'd been having.

"Yeah, I'm not exactly used to seeing this much raw energon in one place. There haven't been deposits like this on Cybertron since before the Great War." He replied, sounding just a little awestruck. It really was quite a sight, probably one of the few good things about this planet.

As he answered he was still staring at the other bot, looking increasingly uncertain. The paint job was only one of the uncanny similarities, and Pipes had mentioned the Optimus he knew never lowered his face plate. He had a sneaking suspicion about what was going on here, and the thought made him a little uneasy.

"On my Cybertron, anyway," he was compelled to add, "I suppose you must be from a different one."

Optimus had heard Lock-On coming long before she made it to his location, and had already turned to face her when she eventually made it to his location. He was getting pretty tired of trying to guess alignments today and at this point was happy to just go along with the fact she hadn't tried to shoot him yet.

"Well there's not really anything I can complain about, for a hole in the ground." Actually this was a pretty excellent crater as far as craters went, but oddness of the question was a little distracting.

"Thanks. You've been a real help, whatever your name is." His tone was more harried than rude, he legitimately didn't know how these clones referred to themselves since they apparently didn't all just go by Starscream.

He took a deep in-vent of breath for composure before striding past her for the indicated door. She hadn't shown any indication to attack him this far, and if he was going to get shot by a Decepticon a medical facility would be the best place for it.

She watches him until he's abreast of her, then just past, then tells him-- "Slipstream. I chose the name Slipstream."

It's not a secret, and she doesn't say it like it is, but she does say it like it's important, because it is. She may be Starscream's clone, she may be made of naught but Starscream and Allspark and protoform, but she's not him.

She clears her vents, a little embarrassed that her voice let on how important that was her to, and in a totally flippant voice, she tosses off "Have fun!" and lets him continue unmolested.

Well, luckily for Optimus – and with a little bit of inspection – he will find that Lock-On is wearing an Autobot badge. This will most assuredly be a shooting-free interaction.

"It is a nice crater," she says casually, as if this topic of conversation were not odd at all. "Are you searching for something here?"

It's enough to placate Shockwave, who rubs at his temples once he's realized that Optimus has backed off, giving him a quick shake of his head. "I've always had trouble reigning in my temper," he say, by way of explanation. "It's gotten me in trouble many time before." And suspended from the Senate itself at least five times. Ah well, there's no helping how he is.

"Infiltrating?" He doesn't want to know, but he also does. "I was made to believe that I was simply a scientist. Subterfuge does not see like a," he pauses, distaste crossing his features, "logical use of my talents. My coworkers may think little of him, but I doubt Megatron is foolish enough to put me somewhere where my talents would be wasted."

But the question about what side he's on makes him smile, one hand going to his hip while he gestures to the empty air with the other in a wide, sweeping gesture. "Cybertron's. 'Sides' makes it sound less complicated than it is - but I think it's safe to say I would have been on your's."

The Optimus from his own universe, he means.

He watches the younger bot's movements, making sure that he hadn't startled him too much. Optimus (the younger one) isn't the only one feeling like something is uncanny about the situation. Something...familiar that he just can't quite place. Of course, he won't bring it up. No need to make first impressions awkward.

"I feel the same. The only time I've seen it like this was under the surface. At least...as you said, before the war."

Optimus wasn't completely in the dark, he'd met Orion Pax before and...knew that there were only a certain few bots that shared their paint job. Still, it's just as apprehensive.

"I believe I am. Although I suppose narrowing it down wouldn't help if we're unsure of which." He holds out his hand, nonetheless, the sincerity glowing in his eyes. "But I am Optimus Prime, nonetheless."

"Not anything in particular, just trying to get my bearings," he replied, looking down at the crater floor. It had been one of the more notable landmarks he'd seen wandering around.

"Have you been here long?"

From Optimus' perspective, coming from a Cybertron where the war was thousands of years done and Decepticons had long been exiled for their crimes and the Decepticons he had met had done nothing but try and murder him, it seemed plenty clear and simple. He wasn't too interested in getting into any sort of debate about that though, especially is Shockwave considered himself an ally of this other Optimus.

"I wouldn't know about that, Shockwave was able to alter his appearance which is how he could pass as Longarm Prime for so long without anyone realizing. If I had to guess, I would say that was why he'd been chosen."

"I arrived some time ago, when many of the others were arriving as well. You may call me Lock-On." She hasn't learned too much about their situation in the time that she's been here, but it's been pretty chill. That suits her just fine. "Did you just get here?"

"Really?" His interest is caught, curiosity flickering over his face. "Was it a natural talent or something that he'd been modified for? I can't imagine myself as an outlier in any universe, but I suppose there's always an exception---"

Wait. Hang on.

"Did you say Longarm Prime?"

"Yeah, head of Autobot Security, until recently. I wouldn't know about any of that other info though."
He replied, with a bit of a shrug.

"Though he probably wouldn't exist in your universe, if you aren't a decepticon. Or at least probably not as the same person, I guess."

"Optimus Prime, and, yeah, just about. Any advice for a fellow autobot?" he asked, hoping Lock-On could give him some new info on the whole situation if he was going to be stuck here.

"The decepticon I met was surprisingly non-aggressive as well. Sure would be handy if they were all like that, but I'm guessing that's not the standard around here." Before talking with Slipstream here, he hadn't met a decepticon that didn't want him dead.

"Yeah, Starscream found a way to use an All-spark fragment to make clones of himself. The one that's here is a tall purple bot calling herself Slipstream. Though with multiple Starscream here anyway it seems kind of a moot point."

"We can hope, right? As well as... not instigate."

It's probably a good thing Pipes doesn't have a visible face; his jaw would be on the floor, otherwise.

"That... sounds like a party..." Not really. He rubs the back of his head awkwardly. "Good point, though. Maybe a Starscream who isn't an obnoxious jerk will show up. That would be something to see."

"I kind of thought so. I'm... also Optimus Prime. Nice to, uh, make your acquaintance."
He hesitates for a second before taking the offered hand in the best handshake he could muster. Might as well try to make a good impression, even if it was...himself? Which he supposed had to be at least somewhat reassuring; this whole situation was so bizarre though he was still frowning slightly.

"You wouldn't happen to be from the same universe as that gold armored bot calling himself Sentinel, would you?" he asked, gesturing over his shoulder in the vague direction of the clinic he'd just left.

"He said you were the one to talk to about why we were brought to this planet."

"It's nice to meet you, Optimus Prime." Boy was that weird to say, and it certainly showed in the way he said it. Seems like awkwardness is something that spans the parallel universes. He gives a firm handshake though, with a nod of approval soon after. It didn't matter how awkward Optimus seemed to be, he still had his approval.

...

But the mention of Sentinel immediately puffs up his plating, and a hand goes to the bridge of his nose. "Oh no."

That's all he's got right now. Because anything related to Sentinel was 'oh no' worthy. "Yes...he is from my universe. And...I hope he didn't give you too much trouble."

There's a amused snort at Optimus' reaction to the mention of Sentinel, it was so much a mirror of how he felt dealing with Sentinel back home. Some things never change, apparently. The solidarity of the whole thing broke through the awkwardness a bit, making it feel more like dealing with someone else than just some spectre of himself. When he spoke again there was a bit of a chuckle to his voice, more at ease than he had been.

"Other than being stubbornly unhelpful, no. Though please tell me there's only one of him wandering around?"

The chuckle earns a somewhat surprised-but-in-a-good-way look, as he lifts his fingers from the bridge of his nose. Optimus can't really emote as much with his faceplate taking away so many ways to express oneself, but in his eyes alone, he's certainly sharing the same sentiment you are, Optimus. Sentinel somehow became the perfect ice breaker.

With yourself.

"I hope so. I'm trying to...rehabilitate him."

...

"It's a work in progress."

"Well, good luck with that one." It could be possible, even if he'd never had much luck convincing Sentinel to act like less of a jerk himself. Possible, but not likely.

"Anyway, you think you could fill me in on why I wound up here? Still pretty unclear on everything that's happening."

Pipes managed to get a smile out of him with that one.
"No kidding. Though I could do without another world shattering event for a few stellar cycles."

"So, Pipes, anything you think I should know about this place?" he asked with a nod back towards the city.

He brightens up a bit himself, it's nice to make other people smile.

"Nothing apart from the obvious stay away from the Decepticons. I mean, war's over and all but you can't be too cautious right? Especially with the, uh. Big ones around."

He'll take all the luck he can get with this one, Optimus. Sentinel's certainly not one he expects to relapse, but he's been surprised many a time in his life. Who knows, maybe it'll be the same for this.

But he looks at the stream of Energon, and then back to the smaller Optimus, giving a nod of his head. "Walk with me."

He starts to step forward, hoping to at least let the other fall in line with him. "How much do you know so far?"

As far as Optimus was aware, all Decepticons fit that description.

"As opposed to what? Exactly how big are we talking? Lugnut? Megatron?" Please tell him there is no Megatron-controlled Omega Supreme on this planet.

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[OPEN] Arrival

CRATER (five ever late forgive me)

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