Protihex-City state

[DarkXenith]

"Fine,"[/color] Jumpstart growled, optics narrowing, "Go ahead, frag this mech over one more time - he's expendable, right? The only thing that matters is gettin' a Prime on our side. - Good luck with that one!

A life ain't worth me gettin' jacked up about but some slaggin' relic of legend that just happens to land conveniently in our path is...obviously. Excuse me for failing to see that an' actually givin' a flyin' slag about someone."[/color]

Oh no, this didn't sit well at all with the medic at all, but as Laser had kindly pointed out, it was none of his concern. As usual, his sole purpose was cleaning up after mechs like these had kicked the chaos engine into effect and counting the dead left in the wake of their handiwork. Seething privately and chewing over a sizable collection of scathing commentary, Jumpstart fell to an edgy quiet and leaned back against a nearby wall to watch the scenario play out.

Whatever the AllSpark really was, he was sure that it wouldn't be the quick-fix to peace Towreck hoped for. Yes, it had the ability to create life, but that only meant it was immensely powerful though. Something like that was as dangerous as it could be useful. It would be a homing beacon for any deluded 'Con with ideas of world or even universal domination.

Power was the most dangerous drug the medic knew of. It had the ability to utterly corrupt those who gained it and that only ever spelled trouble for those others caught in their wake.

[Laser]

Laser was tired of this.

"Nevermind." He boomed. "To hell with it all. I'm only trying to help. I've explained that he will be fine; he's gone through the Iacon battle and experienced it's horrors...this would only be slightly tougher. But I can see that no matter how I explain, somehow this method seems to Jumpstart as if it will kill the boy. So be it."

He was tired of showing upmost patience with these bots and having them spit back in his face. He was tired of having to drag them into things and explain to them that this is real. Life or death. And if anyone knew, he did.

"Let me explain something to you all. I am 4 megacycles old. I have seen the most abhorred things, met the most despicable people, and fought in countless wars and battles throughout the galaxy--more than all of you put together. I am your most experienced soldier, and the very picture of war itself. I was crafted in a damned petri dish for one reason and one reason only. To kill. I will tell you all a little something about war. Those of you who have been through it will agree with me. It only gets worse. What you have seen in Iacon is NOTHING, trust me. Power is a sickening thing, and the enemy will start taking desperate measures to eliminate us...revolting...disgusting measures. I've seen parts of the future, comrades. I spent 3 vorns locked up in a damn vault under the core, with millions of deathly visions tortuously jammed through my processors, backed up by unimaginable pain, until I died over and over and over again. I know these desperate measures, brothers--" He stopped and looked over to Volca without skipping a beat, "--and dear sister. Let me tell you that this is nothing compared what the future holds. This dilemma of three choices we face today is a petty pick and choose compared to the crisis of tomorrow. When we have few options, we pick which is most convenient, and act from there. Within the circumstances, we are not choosing based on the value of an individual. We are choosing because it is he who had the damn vision. And we are willing to do whatever it takes to save lives. All of you are here because you are willing to sacrifice yourselves for a good cause. Why are we making such a big scene about a harmless experiment that could give us the jump on our enemies?!!"

He turned his back on them. "For the record, I do not believe Vibro is expendable. If it had been me, I would have dissected myself on the spot if I thought it would have helped find this spectacular artifact. An artifact that could turn this war around for the better.....all of you need to understand that you are most valuable to me, and I respect you. If you fail to see this, it is because my disposition is hard to read. But I'm growing increasingly tired of the collective attitude amongst us. I'm tired of being disrespected and given a hard time for caring. When I come back from Iacon, barely alive, struggling with my wounds--I find a group of Autobots indulging themselves in high grade energon not half a joor after the battle! When I act to straighten them out, I am almost punched in the face. I offer my services and expertise in this vision business, yet I am made to look as a cold, calculating scientist that doesn't give a damn about his friends and allies. No more. Do as you wish. I will no longer offer my advise on these matters because it is not respected in the first place. If you need a bigger gun, come and find me."

And with that, Laser calmly excused himself.

[Cutlass Rebooted]

Tecton lands and stands aside as Laser leaves. Not wishing to bother him for information he moves into the room standing in silence as he figures out what might have happened while he was away. Hmm, Jumpstart evidently stands opposed to the proposed plan. Which leads me to believe that it holds some risk to the well being of the group, or at least to one of the group in particular... Recalling what was mentioned earlier about Vibro receiving a vision, Laser must have suggested putting Vibro back into a trance to gain the information required. He looks over at Volca.
Volca simply sits looking forward at nothing in particular trying to think of what she can possibly say to move things on, not yet noticing Tecton.
He clears his throat as if to gain the attention of the bots around him. "Am I correct in assuming that Laser suggested that we put Vibro in trance to gain the information we require?" He notices Volca nod in response but instead waits to see if anyone else would answer.

"Yeah sure walking... I guess he just wanted to be part of the planning." Cutlass closes the ship's door and with a small bleep it locks itself. "Not sure how I'm gunna get down form here..." He looks over the edge of the roof. "That staircase has had it... And the ship is parked right on top of the roof access... Guess I'll have to jump across the rooftops again. That was fun the first time." Smiling he transforms and backs up as far as he can without hitting the ship, with less of a run up he wasn't sure if he would make this jump. But it was worth a shot... He revs his engine preparing for the jump. Just as he was about to shift into gear and leap across the roof he suddenly realized that there was a far simpler solution. Transforming back he facepalms. "I am an idiot... We could just move the ship..." He runs back to the door unlocking and opening it with one swipe of his hand and proceeding to his seat in front of the controls.

[concentratedrandom]

“Well yeah, we could do that. Not really walking, but I guess this would be more helpful. Just another chance to show me how good your ship is.”

Starport laughed as Cutlass came up with his idea. Flying in a ship sounded nice, it had been cycles since he had flown in another ship. It didn’t happen often being a large ship himself, so he had no completes to missing a walk. Following Cutlass toward the front, he waited for the ship to take off.

“I know your ship looks nice, now how about showing me how well it flies?”

[Rexacon]

Vibro carefully gave his thought into this situation. If what he said was true then this vision can be the key in turning this all thing around. Listening to Jumpstart, Laser and the others on giving their opinions, it was time to make a decision. Vibro calmly stepped up just when Laser had excused himself.

"Guys, its alright. If Laser thinks this trance can help us get the information then I'm on board. We can't let the decepticons get to the vault first."

[Laser]

Laser stood on a mound of soil near the outside walls, scanning the horizon. The mound was small, but his towering height made it seem like he was standing on a mountain. The night air was cool, traveling in a waning breeze that chilled the plates beneath his eyes. He was unmoving, lost in a determined train of thought.

Pondering.

Spironok saw him from beneath an old, hollowed porch, and scurried towards him through the dirt. He scratched at Laser's ankle, as if to say "what's going on?"

Laser never looked at him. After a while, he spoke, in his usual, poetic tone.

"4 megacyles ago, Prima created 9 elite Cybertronians. They were to protect Cybertron and the galaxy with their gifts...and they became known as the Guardians. I was the second brother. We were given the right to select our gifts. I was young, and arrogant. I continuously spoke out of place...My brothers took this as an opportunity to trick me. One of the most powerful gifts was that of destruction...but it came with a price." He looked down at Spironok. "It consumes one's very soul and spark. I was power hungry, and, with the coaxing of my eight brethren, I chose Destruction. As a result, I was locked away in the Galva Chamber underneath the core for 307 cycles."

Laser closed his eyes, seeing himself as a young protoform, screaming in agony and begging for mercy. "The weak cannot understand this power. They would be consumed and killed. Then they would wreak havoc. Nay, I needed to be locked away before Prima knew I could control this power. I fought it for 3 vorns, my friend. Horrible visions of the future.... of imminent destruction and festering, feeding organisms. Flameheaded bots choking on inferno, and the spilling of vile, black, boiling blood of a thousand nations--all conquered by the same enemy: themselves. I was killed over and over again, but I reigned victorious, despite my brother's betrayal. Now I am here, a changed man."

"Today I carry these memories with me for eternity, but not in vain. I use them as a permanent reminder--I must protect Cybertron. It is my home. I have done so for years...and I have even found that some of my old visions foreshadow my own actions today...I live them. But I currently find it increasingly difficult to protect this glorious planet. A place with such magnificent history...a place with such a frightful present...a place with such a fatal future. I've been through every hellhole, and stared in the face of countless dangers. I've killed thousands, but now it seems as if my drive is weakening. At times, I feel it is not only my enemies that fight against me...and as time goes on--and more and more of my brothers go missing...the more fight I have to put up with--I realize I may not be able to protect what I care about. Cybertron. And for the first time in eons..."

He opened his eyes and looked up at the moons.

"...I am afraid."

[Cutlass Rebooted]

Having gained his confirmation from Vibro himself, Tecton sits down next to Volca. "Cutlass and Starport are ready to load up the ship with every thing we require. If they begin now they should be finished by the time information has been gained, and we can leave immediately."
"I'll go find Laser and let him know." Volca runs out of the door, she was glad a decision had finally been made.
Unable to see Laser immediately she stops for a moment before deciding to run in the direction of the ship unaware that Cutlass was about to take off.

"Why wouldn't I?" Cutlass grins powering up the ship's near silent engines.
The ship hovers for a few seconds before effortlessly gliding through the air. Cutlass decides to show off circling Protihex a few times.
"I can't wait to get her out of this atmosphere and into space where she belongs..." He looks through the front window of the ship first spotting Laser, then further off heading towards where the ship originally was, Volca.
"I think they may be ready to board. We best land." Noticing a large empty courtyard round the back of the medical facility he decides to land the ship there.
Heading off the ship the door shuts behind both of them.
Cutlass kicks through the locked door leading back into the facility. "I hate hospitals... Which way were they?" Cutlass guesses heading off to the right. A lucky guess. There ahead of them at the end of the corridor is the room where the rest of the team has gathered.
"Almost forgot... I best let Volca know where we landed the ship..."
Volca instead contacts him. "Where the frag have you taken the ship Cutlass?!" If she had still been with Tecton she probably wouldn't have spoken with quite that tone.
Suddenly looking a bit nervous Cutlass replies. "We had to move it there was no other way down off the roof, we landed behind the medical place. I take it you guys are ready to go?"
"Not quite. You didn't happen to see Laser while you were flying did you?"
"Yeah I did actually he's standing near the outer walls, why's he out there by himself anyway?"
"There was a disagreement, but that doesn't matter now. We have a task to complete." She cuts the link and heads off towards the outer walls looking out for Laser.
Cutlass was hoping to ask what the plan actually was but since she cut him off he instead wanders into the room hoping someone would fill him in upon entering.

Spotting Laser a little further off Volca runs over stopping quite suddenly when she sees Spironok there too.

[Laser]

Laser heard the soft patter of feet, and noticed they belonged to Volca. He also noticed her discomfort with Spironok. "Begone." He whispered to it, and so it was. After Spironok left, Laser addressed Volca.

"Good evening, Volca. I see you have left the little scene as well. No doubt you needed a little fresh air...to escape the stench of stagnation that floats about the room, as if the participants of the conversation had incredibly foul breath--" he stopped a minute. "...Unless you came with a message for me. If so, whatever can I do for you, or not do for our stubborn friends in the medical centre?"

***************************

Beam couldn't believe this. Aeron had actual history with a Guardian! She would have to talk to Laser about this. She wondered if he knew Laser....he was done with his smoke break. He was continuing his story...

*********************

I had the entire city in the palm of my hand. I controlled the life and death of the population inside the Citadel, and I made the enforcers and High Council bend at my command. But I was in pain. My cancer was getting to me, and there was only so long before I would need a little medication to ease it up.

"Hello, Iacon." I said, appearing on the 3.2 million screens broadcasting this event. "Getting close to da 10 minute mark. Damn shame Ptacon ain't here yet...I could sure use da company..."

- - - - - - - -

Ptacon looked like he was going to cry. The look of frustration and defeat was painted on his visage, and he couldn't hide it. Central ignored his complaints, dressing him completely with bulletproof armor and covering his face with a protective visor.

"Ya'll let 'em get away with this, an' he'll nevah stop!" Ptacon complained. "You here me? He'll just kill me! This won't help nuttin'!"

"You agreed to go in. You really have no choice. It's your life over 2,000 people. If you did otherwise, you'd be shamed. So forgive me, but the time for bitching is over, General. Man up and serve your city."

The both shocked and silenced Ptacon, but he complied and he never complained again. He was escorted up the Nova Building, the feed sent publicly the entire time. When they approached the drop off point, CIB backed away, leaving Ptacon on the ground.

"We've brought what you've asked for! We are putting down our weapons and backing away! Do not fire! Do not detonate!"

I watched them from the blinds. They did what I asked for, which was more than enough. I still couldn't believe they had got that arrogant asshole in here, but I was sure glad they did. I dragged him inside of the room and sealed it off again.

"Ptacon! You sorry sunnava glitch." I nailed him in the nuts, causing him to moan uncontrollably. "Aw, I thought you would be happy to be here. You've escaped the chance to die with ya' men a thousand times...naturally you'll meet with dem soon. And you always seemed so eager to meet me, especially on projectovision."

"Frag you! You motherfraggin'...slag slurpin' glitch! You can't kill me!"

"Oh the question is not if I can or can't, dear General. I WILL. But slowly, painfully--now is da time to rejoice. And watch your language please." I bent down and pulled the hidden bug from beneath his shoulder plate. "You wouldn't want da boys in blue to hear you speak like dat."

Ptacon was horrified at the sight of the bug. "I didn't plant that! I swear! I'm not responsible!"

"It seems to me like da city still thinks I'm a joke...It seems like I'll need to make another example."

"Oh God noo! I'm innocent!"

- - - - - - - - -

"He's gonna kill the hostage! Sharp it's now or never!!" Vita screamed into the link as loud as he could.

A long, agonizing pause followed up...

"It's now." Sharp's voice pierced through the transmission, and the sound of a sniper rifle echoed throughout all parts of the city...

[Cutlass Rebooted]

Volca looks relieved as Spironok disappears. "That creature gives me the creeps. Smaller spiders I can handle but that one..." With a short shudder she continues. "It is nice out here, but I'm really here to tell you that Vibro has agreed to undergo the trance. Even if Jumpstart does not wish to assist I'm sure Tecton will be more than capable." She sits on the ground, looking frustrated with the whole situation. "I don't know how that mech can be so stubborn. I'm not willing to even take the chance that this could be false." She thinks of all the bots who have already lost their lives and how many more will follow if the decepticons beat them to the vault.

Cutlass leans on the door frame with his arms folded and legs crossed. "The ship's ready when you are all we have to do is load 'er up. Any equipment, weapons and such you want taken from here?" He directs his query to everyone in the room.

[concentratedrandom]

Starport fallowed Cutlass off the ship and to the others; he really had nothing to say. Landing ships and trying to load equipment, just like his old job in a way. Looking at everyone in the room, it looked like discussions were over, they had a plan. Laser wasn’t here for some reason, Starport guess he would apologize later then. Walking over to Vibro, Starport smiled to see his old friend up and running.

“Glad to have you with us again. During the battle, I had no idea what had happened to you. Afraid you missed the drinks though. There should still be some left but it’s not the time to drink anymore, is it? But more importantly, Vibro, we have a plan now, right?”