[ INTRO LOG ]

[robotsatan]

You don't know how you got here. One minute you were walking, sleeping, maybe dead -- then you're here, your feet suddenly carrying you down an empty street. Where's here?

Any Cybertronian would recognize this as their home planet, Cybertron, but it's not a Cybertron they've ever known. It has all the familiar hallmarks, but none of the specifics -- the city isn't one anyone here could identify, and even at a glance it's obvious that no one's set foot on the planet's surface in hundreds of years. The city and its surrounding areas all bear the marks of devastating war, of dust and rust collected over centuries. With no one in sight -- right at first, anyway -- there's plenty to explore. In fact, if you start walking, you'll find that your feet may just carry you in one particular direction.

A) The crater.
On one edge of the city is a massive crater left by some wartime weapon that seems to have taken out a large chunk of the surrounding metropolitan area. At the center of the crater it's broken through the surface of the terrain to reveal what looks like it might be a promising energon deposit. There is some strange but native vegetation growing around the edges, too, that no Cybertronian would be able to identify -- small, metallic, brittle-looking sprouts that bear a curiously organic-looking fruit of some kind that doesn't look like it's intended for consumption by any natives of the planet. In one rocky nook of the crater, light catches on the surface of a pool of water, which seems strangely out of place on Cybertron. On closer inspection, it seems that somehow an underground water source has formed a spring in the crater.

B) The center of the city.
If you follow where your feet seem to want to carry you, you'll find yourself in the middle of the ruined city. It seems that the center of the city was once home to a massive forum, and some of the pillars and structures still stand. At the very center of the forum is a massive, elaborately constructed fountain, although it has now long since run dry of whatever used to fill it. One of the low, inner walls of the forum has a terminal embedded in its surface, although it looks curiously ancient, out of place with the rest of the city, and unlike the rest of the technology still left around, there doesn't seem to be any way to power it on or operate it. There are a few scattered pools of water and a few of the strange metallic plants in the city, too, but they're not quite as plentiful as in the crater.

The planet was obviously once home to a massive network of communication relays, but those have all been long since destroyed. However, with the bits and pieces left behind and a few determined minds, it wouldn't be too hard to build a working, if rudimentary, one...

Comments

THE CRATER

[gimmicky]

Ooookay.

Weirder things have happened. He's definitely experienced weirder. With the right drink, you could see a bot's head float off his head and into orbit. Being displaced back on Cybertron when you clearly weren't? When you were on a planet so far out of the way that there's no way a hop, skip and a jump could take you there? That's doable. But that's not what's getting Trailcutter right now. It's the fact that he knows he's sober.

The moment he looks up again from Towards Peace, Bluestreak isn't there. First Aid isn't there either. Mainframe? Well...he didn't really notice Mainframe anyway. Still. Gone. An eyebrow perks as he scans the area, not registering any of the three as far as he could tell.

"Guys?"

With a heave, he gets to his feet, tucking the datapad underneath his arm, that perplexed pout turning into a frown rather quickly.

"This isn't funny."

Because...yeah, they're somehow responsible. Taking another step forward, the feel of the ground felt oddly...like home. In fact, he was getting a lot of vibes like that. The atmosphere, the stars...

"...There's something familiar about this place..."

Thanks, genius.

[warcorrespondent]

"Isn't there?" For an injured mech, Aftermath could sure hobble pretty quietly. It wasn't really his intention to sneak up on the Autobot, though. Moving quietly just tended to be a force of habit for a mech who regularly eavesdropped on people.

Now that he's made his presence known though, the broad gray and red mech continues, "I'm afraid I don't know a lot of these landmarks, however. The architecture is a bit different from what I remember. Anything you recognize?"

"I'm Aftermath," he adds, almost as an afterthought, offering a hand to Trailcutter. "Just woke up in here about ten minutes ago."

[gimmicky]

The moment Aftermath speaks up, Trailcutter turns around, probably the most alert he's ever been (the lack of alcohol in his systems helps with that, really). His hands raise up, the hum of his forcefields softly sounding as they power up, although not quite activating yet.

A subtle warning.

But the other bot wasn't out to attack, it seemed, and that was enough for Trailcutter to straighten up.

"Not really. I mean...maybe I might've...if it was less broken."

A hand reaches out, taking the other's and giving a nice firm shake. "The name's Trailcutter. And same."

The war was over, right? What did he have to fear?

[warcorrespondent]

Oh, the war being over was the best time to start learning to fear. Now the war hounds don't have much else to keep themselves occupied with. Aftermath can't read the mech's mind to answer that question unfortunately.

"Fortunate that we met," the heavily armored mech retracts his hand.

"Think we should go have a look around and see what we can find? At the very least, I need to get something to fix myself up." And honestly, the truck looked like he rather needed it. One knee had a hole blown clean through it and he was missing bits of his armor plating here and there from a pretty rough fight.

He didn't have his faction symbol visible, although his build was clearly Decepticon.

[gimmicky]

Fortunate would be stretching it a bit. He can see the Decepticon framework--you don't really miss that after four million years. But...Trailbreaker wasn't one to really judge anymore. The war was over, and that was that.

The only way things would heal would be to let go of old grudges.

"Sounds a lot more like a plan than I had. Why not?"

There's a simple shrug as he tucks Towards Peace under his arm some more, looking around at what the landscape had to offer. "You want to lead the way or should I?"

[milkruns]

June had ventured out beyond the city in the hopes of more answers -- she should probably be worried about the danger, but as far as she can tell most of the planet is deserted, and she's only run into Autobots so far...even if one of them is Megatron. She makes sure to approach this bot from the side, coming around to where he can see her -- she definitely doesn't want to be stepped on.

"You look about as lost as I am, and this isn't even my planet," she offers with a little smile and a wave. "Are you alright there? Looking for friends of yours?"

[gimmicky]

The voice caught his attention--not one he's ever heard before, certainly. His head turns, at first seeing no one...until he looks down, where a human (A human!) is standing there. The general question of 'How are you here?' aside (his face does a good job of that already), he rubs the back of his neck.

"I sure am. Seems like I'm planet hopping for the moment. But this is the first time I've been stranded--"

He stops there, flashing a smile and a wave back. Simple things like that didn't happen very often.

"I'm fine, but I'm more wondering how YOU'RE still functioning."

[milkruns]

Well, it's nice to see someone have a normal reaction to seeing a human, like, say, treating them like a person. June conveniently ignores the fact for now that there's nothing normal about a human on Cybertron and decides she likes this Autobot. He's polite! And kind of sweet, so far. Yeah, she likes this one.

"It's a pretty good question, I'll give you that," June admits with a half-smile, stepping a little closer. She really wishes she could actually talk to anyone at face level, though. Maybe she can get up on one of the rocky formations left behind in the crater? Worth a shot. She starts to hoist herself up onto one close to Trailcutter as she talks. "I mean, this is my first time on Cybertron, but I was pretty sure it didn't have a breathable atmosphere for humans. But I guess...it does now? Honestly, I'm as stumped as you are."

[gimmicky]

As she tries to get up onto the rock formation, his hands reach out, offering her a spotter for her climb. He knew humans had some pride, too, so he didn't bother asking if she'd like to stand on his hands.

But the moment she's stable, he smiles, squatting down a bit to make the conversation a little more even.

"It'd be news to me too. I can't remember it ever having it, even back in the day. But...hey, look on the bright side. You've got it right when you need it!"

He flashes her a smile, and if visors could wink, he would.

"And...no offense, but if you're wandering around like you are, you've got a better chance of getting stepped on. Want me to watch your back for awhile?"

A pause.

"I mean...if you want."

(B

[staygoldponybot]

You're in hell, Teebs, and your old dead boss is here.

Evidently still disorientated, because he's backing up after just coming to and... right into Trailcutter. Woops.

internal screaming

[gimmicky]

Trailcutter is sturdy, but he's no match for Sentinel Prime. It's not long til he finds himself making friends with the ground where he belongs

"Hey, watch it!!"

He's never shut up so fast in his life, eyes going immensely wide under that visor.

"S-Sentinel?!"

bab

[staygoldponybot]

Sentinel does not recognise Trailcutter at all.

"Get out of my way." In fact, he's just being a grumpy bear because what the fuck is going on he's so confused and wah

[gimmicky]

And Trailcutter wouldn't want to get IN his way anyway. It takes him maybe two seconds to scramble out of the way, unable to hold his shock as Sentinel steps where he would have been should he not have moved.

"I thought you were dead....sir."

Look, miracles CAN happen.

Unfortunately...

[aminerproblem]

Megatron's previous experience with Nautica spared Trailcutter the fun experience of being tackled into the dirt for his assumed allegiance with Sentinel Prime.

He's not exactly friendly in approach (thin stalks and energon crystals make for poor cover in case he was wrong), but the fact that he approached at all is likely a step up. He's careful to keep some distance.

"The soil is Cybertronian, but these things aren't," he pushes aside an organic fruit.

[gimmicky]

Let's count our blessings with that one. Trailcutter certainly will in his subconscious. His allegiance with Sentinel wasn't exactly one he willingly liked.

But he'd recognized that frame anywhere. And...well, thankfully, he doesn't have to run for cover. Because that certainly looks like...Megatron.

Yeah, you heard right.

"Captain? Surprised to see you he--you. Look different.

Old. Young. Some weird mix of the two."

[aminerproblem]

Looks like the guess was right, in this case. Trailcutter wouldn't be the first Autobot that apparently worked for him. It still didn't feel right.

"I'm not your Captain. Not yet, apparently."

He steps a forward a few paces.

"I believe I've met your crewmate - they go by Nautica."

[tomemyoutliers]

Shockwave's taken to canvassing the area in his alt-mode, as much as he prefers his robot mode there are some advantages to being able to fly. Such as finding someone you didn't think you'd see again, and the moment Shockwave recognizes Trailbreaker he's dropping out of the sky, transforming right before he hits the ground in a somewhat flashy display. Because Shockwave.

"Really, Trailbreaker? If you've narrowed it down further than just Cybertron please share. I'm not often stumped but I must admit - there's a first time for everything."

[gimmicky]

For a moment, Trailbreaker didn't know exactly who to expect. Shockwave (and THIS Shockwave) certainly wasn't the top of his list of people who would drop out of the air, for a brief moment thinking it was a Decepticon.

His face immediately changes from dread to absolute shock (haha funny). Was he...currently seeing things right? Shockwave was standing right in front of him, as if nothing had happened. As if four million years didn't exist.

Towards Peace literally falls from his hands as his jaw drops, unable to speak.

"Uh."

[tomemyoutliers]

His lack of response is somewhat worrisome, and Shockwave takes a few more steps forward - hand reaching out to take Trailcutter's shoulder.

"Are you alright? I must admit that instant teleportation is generally regarded as unsafe unless you're using a space bridge but--"

[quantumechanic]

"Trailcutter!" Nautica, wrench in one hand and familiar, ominous briefcase more usually associated with a certain weapons designer in the other, was running towards him across the crater. "Trailcutter!"

She almost threw herself the last few yards as she went for a hug. "You're okay! I was worried!"

Don't you dare disappear again, Mister. Or, idk, get killed by the DJD.

[gimmicky]

His name. Someone--someone familiar--was calling his name. He makes the connection on the source of the voice at about the same time as Nautica's hug, raising his arms and smiling, if only slightly.

"The one and only...unfortunately."

His arms wrap around her too, in a lighthearted hug as his visor glows a bit, then holding her at arms length. "You're a sight for sore optics in this place!"

He might have better luck here. JRo isn't writing him.

[quantumechanic]

"Heh. I wouldn't mind more of you." Wow, did she ever misinterpret his self-deprecation. Teebs will just have to try harder in the future.

"Speaking of this place, is the city familiar at all? My wrench says we're on Cybertron, but I don't recognize anything--not that I would, necessarily." Her upper arms were pinned by his friendly grip, so she shrugged from the elbows down. This was his neighborhood. Help her out here, Trailcutter.

[planate]

Trailcutter. That's Trailcutter.

Pipes hasn't spoken to him all that often, despite them hanging out at the same bar almost every day. Why hadn't he? He's not sure. Maybe he thought Trailcutter was too cool. Maybe he just never got around to it. No time like the present, he supposes.

"Trail... cutter, is it? Sorry, I'm not sure which one you prefer. Um. Hi?"

[gimmicky]

If asked the same question, Trailcutter would have chalked it up to not being worthy of conversation, or too drunk to care. Probably the latter, most likely. But he's sober now--and...that seems to be the one thing wrong with this picture.

That was CLEARLY Pipes.

PIPES WAS DEAD.

"PIPES? Is...is it really you? I'm not drunk, am I? No...no that's impossible."

[planate]

"The one and only!"

He decides not to touch on the 'am I drunk' part. Unless Teebs actually was drunk and there's a bar nearby, then he's good.

"How long've you been here, bud? I was starting to think I was all on my lonesome!"