EVENT ONE: JUNE 21ST-28TH

[luminals]

TAKE BACK KNOWHERE
When: June 21-28
Who: Everyone.
Where: All over Knowhere, ending in the Continuum Cortex and Observation Deck.

Event details are here, IC announcement is here.

Prose & Action brackets are both acceptable ways of posting to these comments, please be mindful of what threads you are posting under!

Comments

Drift | OPEN - Cortex

[alwaysadrift]

((Free free to swap to brackets if you prefer that. I'm going to be on vacation for the next week with limited net access, so my tagging will be slow, but I'm excited and absolutely welcome anyone willing to backtag as much as needed. <3))

Conflict, combat? Now this, Drift knows how to do. All the rest of that when he arrived here? It's still churning in a stunned little place in his processor, waiting to get sorted out. He gladly sets it aside though--contemplation can come later when he's found a safe place for it--the moment the distressing message ends.

The Cortex is clearly under attack this very moment, so he's speeding that way. Hopefully the other occupants of the corridors and walkways are deft enough to avoid him; at least the squealing tires likely announce his presence? And if they stand in his way instead? Well. That just means Drift knows where to get started.

His first challenge is a large alien--large for humans at least--with more limbs than should really possible for a biped if you ask Drift. He turns the wheel hard to swing around towards the thing's back, but the tentacle that whips out has other ideas. It curls under his front bumper and tries to flip him off the bridge, but Drift is a little more agile than that. He unfolds from his altmode mid-air and lands on his feet, blades ringing from their sheaths.

"Well that's awfully rude, can't we all just share the road?" Nevermind that he's technically indoors. Details, eh. Drift isn't exactly waiting for a reply though, he's already poised to leap in and press for a new advantage.

OPEN you say?

[knightoflight]

Wing has a pile of questions as tall as he is about this place, but that pile is about to get a little bit larger as he follows the sound of battle, plasma blades already drawn, feet pounding down the decking, skidding as he rounded a corner to find...another Cybertronian.

Under attack, it seems.

Well, Wing can take care of that, the twin blades slinging in parallel blue arcs, slicing through the limbs reaching for the other mech's ankles. "Some people are simply rude."

WIDE OPEN also forgive default icons I'm email taggin and lazy

[alwaysadrift]

He's not expecting others of his kind but the sound of footplates on decking is unmistakable. Drift doesn't want to take his optics off the twisting limbs so he sidesteps, putting his flank to the newcomer instead of his back just in case they aren't friendly. And his combined attack and defense would come next except the new mech is faster than him, blazes of blue flashing past Drift, the severed limbs falling to the ground and twitching violently. He turns to look, the bright white and red in his peripheral grabbing his attention, and nearly trips backward over the still flopping tentacle.

Because that can't be who he thinks it is. No. It's just not possible.

Is it?

These are Drift's thoughts as he flails ungracefully, still managing to swing a lateral parry at an incoming tentacle. His dignity won't let him go down on his aft though, so his legs buckle and he turns it into a mostly controlled backward roll, coming up and trying to reassess the situation. Because obviously he must be seeing things.

"What the--?!"

[knightoflight]

"I don't know what it is, either," Wing says, because that's clearly what the other mech is asking, right? Then again, living underground sort of narrows one's experience, so he's perhaps not surprised he doesn't recognize it.

The other's voice seems familiar, at first, but Wing shakes it off, because he doesn't look familiar (Wing would recognize those spaulders, if nothing else). It must be just the surprise at seeing another of his kind. He flashes a smile, before swinging his blades at the creature, which doesn't seem to care who or what it's facing. "I'm Wing; formal introductions later?" Right now, they have tentacle salad to make.

[alwaysadrift]

If he had any doubt before, that disarming smile banishes it all away. Drift almost doesn't even hear the introduction, optics full of Wing's luminescent grace: the grin, the flash of those blades, those gold optics...

He realizes he's gawking like an utter loon, the alien taking sudden advantage with a tentacle coming straight for his face. Drift circle parrys at the last minute, severing the end of that tentacle too. That's the least of his worries though, because the ones that had been severed before? Sure do seem to be growing into something that he really hopes isn't a smaller version of the their foe.

"Look out!" He shouts, one blade stabbing down into one of the smaller things before it can launch itself at Wing. Drift's not sure what's going on, how Wing's here or if Drift's still in his right mind, but frag if he's gonna let these things ruin his opportunity to find out.

[knightoflight]

Nice reflexes, Wing thinks, as the other dodges the tentacle at the last minute. A bit of a risk taker, but Wing's hardly a mech to hold that against someone else. That would be hypocritical.

"Thank you, friend." That was a nice save, and Wing's going to kindly return the favor, blade slashing through another of the tentacles aiming at Drift. "I don't know what you did, but these things find you very attractive."

[alwaysadrift]

It's good that Wing's seeing the best of Drift in this, because otherwise it'd be gloriously embarrassing. It still is to some extent, though Drift doesn't have time for the regret, not in mid-combat.

The word 'friend' from Wing's vocalizer resonates in Drift's spark like an echo from the past, one of the first things the knight had ever spoken to him. It meant nothing to him then, he'd scoffed and discarded it like rubbish, but today he cherishes it like an irreplaceable treasure.

The rest of what Wing has to say though, makes Drift's engine sputter. "AH-ha! Of all things in this place to find me attractive." Really. What is his life?! Can he vote for a new arch-attraction-nemesis? Because this thing goes way beyond unwelcome touch.

"I think we have to go for center of mass. Maybe there's something vital there?" The regeneration thing is getting out of hand, now with a few little guys and the big one who just leers smugly at them.

[knightoflight]

There's nothing embarrassing about fighting off an attack by nameless enemies, stranger. It's actually quite noble, especially if, like himself, this other Cybertronian was new here.

"Maybe it's just more forward than others here." Oh sorry, is this an inappropriate time for flirting?

BZZZZZ wrong answer: there's never an inappropriate time for flirting. Well, okay, maybe a funeral. But this? This was what Wing had pledged his life to: to fight alongside his fellow Cybertronians, and save lives. Which makes it absolutely flirtatious fair game.

"It's worth a shot." And by that, he means, right now, diving into the mass of enemies, one blade stabbing at the central blob of the strange body.

[alwaysadrift]

Noble is not exactly a common Driftish adjective but the swordmech tries, he really tries.

"Others?" Drift really is oblivious sometimes. And even if he reads an alternate meaning into any of that, clearly it's his own over active wishful thinking. "I can appreciate forwardness. Just...not beyond the first 'no thanks'."

And seriously, what says 'no thanks' better than a sword blade to the midsection? This thing really should take a hint. Drift's getting antsy now, because Ugly here is between him and a reunion with Wing. He steps it up, sweeping around the jet with arcing cuts that pass through all the little offshoots, bisecting them completely. And given the howl from the strange mouth of the adult, Wing's hit something vital.

[knightoflight]

"Well. Other," he corrects himself. Because there's only one other person here beyond the tentaclefoe, and that's Wing. "I'll remember that," he says, with a little wink, though he hopes the new mech at least gets to know him before he says 'no'. Wing can be very persuasive.

Without tentacles.

Wing steps back after his slash, blades at the ready, watching the thing. It's hard to tell if it's flailing or attacking, but it sure is doing a lot of movement. "I'll register that as a complaint from it, don't you think?"

[alwaysadrift]

Okay, is that really flirting? Because Drift needs to know stat. The wink makes his spark quiver and it travels through the rest of his frame.

"Can't imagine anyone telling you 'no thanks'." Just the thanks part, which will be coming some time soon. But look! Drift can flirt, sort of, even if it's just a simple and genuine compliment.

Tentaclefoe needs to go though.

"Complaint definitely registered," he says a little smugly, and rather than trying to decipher whatever the flailing is, Drift's going to issue a swift kick to its center of mass, sending it over the bridge railing. He's showing off a little maybe. Oh yeah, that was pretty smooth. Hopefully the thing doesn't grab his ankle on the way over.

[knightoflight]

If Wing flirts any harder with the stranger, he may sprain a pinion. Which would then, obviously, need a kiss to make better.

"Oh there was one, once. Though he didn't say 'thank you'." And to his mind, once was just earlier today, when he'd stood on the sand, ready to face battle next to Drift.

After the battle, though, Drift would be free of Braid and his slavers, and then...well...Wing could hope to change his mind.

The thing is definitely into Drift, flailing a tentacle at the ankle, just as he might fear, but Wing slashes out, one blade neatly severing the creature's limb, so it topples over the edge. He turns, grinning. "I think we make a pretty good team, don't you?"

[alwaysadrift]

If that's what's necessary to make things better? Sign Drift up! He is happy, obliged even, to assist. It'd only be righ to rectify things. Aside from it being his pleasure, mind you.

"There was? Who would that stu--" Oh. Wait. He was incredibly stupid once upon his stupidly stubborn life. Right. Biting that one off with a cough, as he switches his hips in an effort to keep his balance while Wing frees his ankle. If anyone here is going to be 'into' Drift, that guy's last on the list! Not that there's much of a list at all really...

"Team?" This is what flabbergasted sounds like, with a dash of startlingly pleased. Drift just stares, a little openly mind, drinking in the view of a living Wing. "Yeah. We did make a pretty good team, once upon a time."

If 'team' means Wing yelling at him and Drift actually listening for once that is.

as promised

[sorrynotguilty]

[ getting through the hallways is a challenge within itself for Megatron. he isn't sure what exactly is going on here, but there are clear signs that the place is under attack. he'd be half tempted to crush them underfoot ( literally ), but there are other smaller creatures meandering about. it might not look so nice if he squishes one of them.

thus he's moving about in his altmode. it's slow, but tanks usually are and they make up for in in fire power.

granted, he can see Drift just fine - the aliens aren't so big and bulky that he can't notice. but Megatron has this certain flare about things, doesn't he? the former warlord doesn't think anything about raising his canon and right before Drift takes a swing? well he'll be blasting the thing to rocky bits. ]

Shouldn't you pick on someone your own size?

[ like he's one to talk. ]

Re: as promised

[alwaysadrift]

[Drift's spent plenty of time wandering space during his life but he's never seen aliens of the like that he's seen here. It just reinforces the news that he's very far from home. There was no ryhme or reason to the multiude of different species before, it didn't feel like a cohesive invading force at all. Now that he's closer to the Cortex that seems to be changing though, there's more of these rock things and fewer of the other guys.

There's a shower of dust and Drift throws his weight to the side at the last minute, dodging debris of a type he doesn't even want to think about (is that or organic or mineral? He doesn't even know). He comes to his feet warily facing the tank, an odd devolopment but what about this whole thing hasn't been?]

I would, if there were any sizable challengers.

[Really. That guy attacked him first anyway! Rude. Drift's trying to assess friend or foe with this newcomer in the tank but then he realizes it was the tank speaking and not a driver, not to mention that voice, the one he'd never forget.

Drift drops immediately into a defensive stance, swords at the ready and optics flickering around for more enemies, including Decepticons this time.]

[sorrynotguilty]

[ only as that canon raises once more, it's not aimed at Drift. nope. Megatron fires another shot at an incoming enemy.

Drift's stance isn't missed. there's not a chance that the wandering swordsmech knows about the trial. news can't have traveled that far yet. ]

I would highly suggest turning your attention to the immediate threat.

[alwaysadrift]

[He tenses as the cannon aims again, ready to dodge away, but it seems the tank is intent on the other enemies. That's fine by Drift, it gives him space to deal with the next incoming enemy, which is soon left with one less limb.]

If that's the way it's going to stay...

[Not that he doubts Megatron--if that is Megatron--because the warlord doesn't need to take advantage of a mid combat distraction to dispatch Drift. That and, the mech likes his words, so Drift imagines Megatron'll have more than a few for him before anything else.]

[sorrynotguilty]

I have no intention of shooting at comrades.

[ the way he says it punctuates a fine point that Drift might pick up on. hopefully.

but right now Megatron is backing up through a different corridor to push forward. his intention is to clear the way to the Cortex. these small hallways are not really meant for beings of their size to comfortably fight in. ]

[alwaysadrift]

[Well that gets a lift of a browridge from Drift, mostly use of the term 'comrade'. He's not sure if that's a reference to the old days or not, (and kind of grossly ironic because Drift sure didn't hesitate to shoot one of his comrades in the face back then), but it'll do as partial rearrurance for now.]

Are you pushing towards the Cortex?

[Don't mind Drift as he finishes dispatching his current foe. He shuffles forward as if to follow then, wary, but the temptation to gravitate towards the familiar is strong. Wing is the only other scrap of the familiar here and they got separated in the fighting. He's desperate to find the jet again, and hastening towards their joint destination seems wisest.]

[sorrynotguilty]

[ unfortunately it is going to be slow moving, in comparison to Drift's strides. at least he has the firepower to clear the way. ]

Yes. If the enemy forces are also trying to force their way to the Cortex, it must be more important than what we realize.

[ in theory anyway. Megatron has no idea what these aliens intend, but he is going to find out. he can't take captives in this form, so the best chance for him to do so will be at the Cortex. it's sizable enough for him to shift into his usual form.

hopefully Drift knows to take out the ones that Megatron can't quite get. in fact, he's kind of trusting the other to watch his back, so to speak.

Now we're playing Knowhere the MMO

[alwaysadrift]

[Drift nods, he's thinking the same thing.] Can't say I'm excited about the people who brought us here losing before we can find out why.

[And Megatron should probably know better. Teamwork? Sure. Hanging back? Not do much. Drift vaults the tank even in the small space, the upgrades to his endostructure done in Crystal City giving him flexibility most mechs don't have, and darts forward. He's always been a frontliner, that'll never change.]

I'll scout ahead then.

[And probably bring back friends. It's efficient! They might run from an approaching tank, but not a skinny little swordmech.]

8T /tsks at you

[sorrynotguilty]

That I intend to find out.

[ Megatron states this as if he will do what is necessary to be able to capture one and interrogate it. WHICH HE WILL. in due time.

though really he should thrust his cannon up as Drift vaults, just to show the guy his displeasure at being so casually treated. ]

See where else they are heading.

Re: 8T /tsks at you

[alwaysadrift]

[He's sorry about the footplate print Megatron. And the hand print on your cannon turret too. Drift never had great combat manners and his faction change really only upgraded then to 'passable'. For what's its worth though, he does squeak out a belated 'pardon!' after avoiding the twitch of that turret.

He's not gone too long, thankfully there's a vantage point from which he can observe movement on upper levels. And does he bring back a few friends? Oh definitely. The grin on his face is a little beyond smug as he rounds the corner, three baddies in tow. They seem to think they're cornering him, oh how wrong they are.]

Incoming!

[It fells weird, and a little wrong, to be fighting with Megatron again. He can't quite wrap his brain module around it and there's a goodly part of him that's strongly on the denial camp. First Wing and now this? This is just full of the impossible.]

[sorrynotguilty]

[ yeap. he's pretty sure that ship had been full of dunderheads like this. all reckless abandon and no decorum. it's no wonder they hadn't been very successful on their quest. if Megatron had been able to make a facial expression it would be just the most surly of scowls. ]

Why thank you, Drift.

[ the sarcasm. can you hear it? oh well. Drift best be moving out of the way because Megatron takes aim and fires, regardless if the swordsmech can dodge or not.

a little vindictive, but not unexpected coming from him. ]

Report?

[ because the other had damn well better have SOMETHING to tell Megatron. ]

[alwaysadrift]

[If Megatron wanted decorum from his mechs maybe he should have put Drift through charm school instead of advanced tactics. He'd have less footprints on his tank chassis at least.

And Drift certainly is expecting Megatron to open fire. Just not and cut it so close. Right. Maybe he's getting a little over eager again. Combat does that, sometimes. Ahem.]

I can confirm activity in the direction of the Observation Deck, more than what was suggested in that broadcast. Nature of the enemy is unknown though.

And I think we're getting close to the cortex. There's more of these rock things that direction. I'm not sure if it's passable though. Some kind of energy field...

[Hey that's something, right?]