[ 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

hi B)

[officerjuicebox]

After peeling himself off the ground, he'd wandered into the city, looking for any sign of life anywhere. Nothing. Not one familiar street. Or face. Which is just perfect.

It's not until he pokes his head through a doorway that some twinge of relief hits him. Even if it is the Senator. But, then again, if Shockwave survived, then, maybe the others did too.

And maybe Pax wouldn't have his hide for failing to keep the guy in one piece.

"Hey!" he calls out, stepping more into the room. "You okay?"

[tomemyoutliers]

Ah yes, his erstwhile babysitter. There's no bitterness in his face when Shockwave looks at him - just relief that Roller is alive and well. Which means the other mech gets a smile as Shockwave pushes himself away from the terminal.

"Well enough, Roller. For finding myself on a Cybertron I don't recognize. And yourself."

[officerjuicebox]

Babysitter excuse you.

But he takes that as invitation as any, easing into the unfamiliar room warily. Sure, there hasn't been anyone here yet, but that doesn't mean there won't be. And it doesn't mean there won't be any more problems, either.

Best to keep close.

"Have a headache the size of a moon, but that's sort of, y'know. Expected and all." A few more steps puts him within arms' reach of Shockwave, the better to shove him out of any more potential lines of fire. "I'm guessing you haven't found anyone else yet."

[tomemyoutliers]

Shockwave likes it even less than you do, Roller. But that's what he felt Orion had assigned you to be, and he didn't need it - even if evidence had provided a very real reason why he had. Not that it had done much good in the end. Another frustrated sigh and he dusts his hands off as best as he can.

"I'd get that seen to if it doesn't fade by tomorrow." Always helping, Shockwave is. "No, not yet. But if we are here there's bound to be others."

Statically, that is. Grabbing two Cybertronians who were familiar with each other is too unlikely a scenario if selection is completely random for there not to be others.

[officerjuicebox]

Evidence also showed they'd ended up needing more than just Roller's brawn to keep things from ending so poorly as they had. Which... even now, in all the weirdness of this place, he can't displace the nagging feeling of guilt about the whole thing.

"Huh?" Oh, right, Shockwave was talking. "Right, I'll get right on that. Since we're up to our optics in clinics and all."

Even guilt and weirdness can't keep the bit of biting sarcasm out of the words. "I haven't seen anyone either. If they're here, they're not telling me about it."

And he was hard to miss.

[tomemyoutliers]

"Honestly, Roller. I may not be a medic but I can at least offer my help where I can." He can't promise an accurate diagnosis but he can offer advice like 'lie down and don't move or you'll make it worse'. It comes with taking care of a group of younger bots who have extraordinary powers.

Shockwave hums slightly, realizing he was too wrapped up in figuring out the how and the why to do a proper sweep of the area.

"Give me five minutes and I'll come back with a report. Seeing it from the air will give me a better idea of what we're facing."

[officerjuicebox]

"It's just a headache, don't worry." He shrugs. "If it's not gone, yeah, we can talk, but right now, there's more important things to worry about."

Pax trusted him. Roller... still isn't entirely convinced on the subject. But he does trust his partner. Completely. And if Pax thinks this guy is on the level... He sighs.

"I didn't see anything coming in, but, sure. Just come right back when you're done."

So I can keep an eye on you goes completely unsaid, but it's more or less painfully obvious, anyway.

[tomemyoutliers]

If Shockwave was one for rolling his optics he would do so at that - what trouble does Roller possibly think could find them here? It's an abandoned Cybertron, left to ruin.

"Of course, I would hate to keep you waiting." With another grin, Shockwave transforms, quickly taking to the air. He doesn't use his alt-mode much at all, preferring to walk around, but he won't refuse to use it when it can be useful. After doing a small roll (because he can), he takes off in a brief survey over the city. The crater catches his eye - energon deposit along with organic life. Hm. That bears further investigating.

He returns in short order, transforming before he hits the ground - kicking up dust and ash and dirt as he stands. Dramatic. He grins at the thought, brushing off what's settled on his arms and wings.

"There isn't much - it's completely in ruins. But there is an uncovered energon deposit close by." So they won't starve, which is good to know.

[officerjuicebox]

Who knows? Those plants could be a menace. He should know. He woke up facedown in them.

Of course, he has to hold his hand up to shield his face when Shockwave takes off. Right -- how could he forget the color-changing fanatic was a jet? Why did the guy always walk around when he could fly, anyway? Weirdo.

He doesn't go far while Shockwave is out exploring. He does, however, give the terminal a good try of his own, figuring he might as well keep occupied. And he'd always been fairly handy with them.

So that's where Shockwave finds him as the jet returns, tapping at keys. "Great. See anyone while you were up there...? Good, bad, ugly?"

[tomemyoutliers]

That's just called 'being a plant', Roller. They exist, they do that.

"No one. It seems, Roller, you and I are alone for the moment."

Which is.. well, it could be worse. Couldn't it? But he grins and gestures towards the terminal. "Have any luck?"

[officerjuicebox]

They're weird and creepy and they should feel bad.

He can't resist the face he makes at Shockwave, given the "alone" comment. If he had eyebrows, he'd have waggled them a little. But the expression on his face is close enough. "Wow. Alone with a Senator. Go me, I think that's one for bragging rights."

Maybe.

He huffs, gesturing at the console. "Less than zero. Which is saying something -- usually these things like me."

[tomemyoutliers]

They aren't sentient so they don't have feelings. He's very sorry about having to bring science into this.

But Roller's expression does get a chuckle out of Shockwave, grin flashing over his face. "I'm afraid they'll think of you less if it's me. Hope for Proteus next time - although he'll be quick to deny any association."

The negative response regarding the terminal just causes Shockwave to sigh, rubbing at his temples. "Best leave it, then. Until we have a better grasp of the situation."

[officerjuicebox]

That look is abruptly replaced with another. One that suggests Shockwave has just suggested Roller go and make out with raw sewage. If robots had raw sewage. Something comparable. "You got to be kidding me," he says, grimacing. "I think I'd rather have them think less of me. That guy... eugh."

He waves his hands in a dismissive gesture, and then it's back to work.

"I'm wondering if maybe I can get it to broadcast, instead of access anything... if that makes any sense." He looks thoughtful a moment. "Let someone know we're here. That kind of thing."

[tomemyoutliers]

Shockwave laughs louder at that, grinning widely. "You'll find that I'm in agreement. He's a vile individual - the less time spent in his presence the better." Seriously, Proteus is The Worst.

"You'll need a power source for that, and as far as I know we're all out."

Believe him, Roller, he's tried that. With no success.

[officerjuicebox]

"Yeah, I've had a bad feeling about him for a long time. Besides, way too flashy for my taste, eugh..."

He makes another face, but distracts himself again with the console.

"Maybe we can jump start it somehow."

[tomemyoutliers]

"Which requires getting into the machine itself, and Roller - I've tried."

And he is the genius here, sorry buddy. But he pats Roller amicably on the shoulder before turning away from him. "There's a crater nearby - I didn't get a good look at it earlier."

Read: he's going to look at it, and Roller can come or not. It doesn't matter to Shockwave.

[officerjuicebox]

He looks at Shockwave, and then over at the terminal again. Out of nothing more than childish spite, he thumps it a few times with the heel of his hand. So there.

"Hold up -- You're not going alone."

Not until he can find Pax and hand the wayward Senator over, that is. So he tromps after the other bot, somewhat sullenly.