Log Title: What Cosmos Found
Characters: Arcee , Backblast , Crankcase, Crosswise , Dawnfire , Dust Devil , Imager , Kitt , Nosecone , Ravage , Solstice , Springer
Location: Silent Grill - Helex , Hidden Chamber - Silent Grill - Beneath Helex
Date: October 6, 2023
TP: Silent Grill TP
Summary: Beneath Helex more mayhem lies.
As logged by Solstice, Backblast
NOTE: Each player experienced something 'different' while underground.
Silent Grill - Helex[]
The Silent Grill is a ruined part of Helex that few dare go. It once contained a tunnel network that was the home of cultists, their consorts, and things far, far worse. However, the warrens have since been filled in by Decepticon demolitions, and now it's haunted mostly by those buried underground. Very few are daring enough to live here anymore, and it's said that on quiet nights, only the dead prowl the grounds.
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Medkits checked, toxin kit checked.... radiation early detection kit checked < background noise sounds suspiciously like a tribble > Ropes..... shovel..... emergency beacon..... why do I pack so much scrap to check energon springs..."
Cosmos
Before he disappeared, Cosmos detected what he believed to be the lost citizens of Helex, trapped deep beneath the ruined city. Crosswise is skeptical, but he's willing to lead a team beneath Helex to look for survivors of Megatron's attack and the Silent Grill takeover. As if expecting trouble, Crosswise is armed for hellbear, equipped with his crossbow, flamethrower, thruster-cannon -- even a missile launcher for particularly nasty threats.
There is something afoot tonight. In Decepticon territory. In the abyss ridden hub of what used to be Helex. The Decepticon saboteur known is Ravage is stalking along, watching what is going to unfold.
Scene Playlist: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC6IITuXmo8rAzaAcRXrQqmZUFNzd12t&si=2YA0J85Q3pvqCRN_"
Ravage suddenly vanishes with a slight whisper of sound.
Kitt starts to fold down, his front end out as his head disappears, his arms collapsing to his sides and merging to become his fenders and doors, his rear end re-joins and folds in to meet the front end, and a polished black Trans Am now stands in his place.
When you're planning to go beneath places, of course you bring along someone that's skilled at going beneath places and if need be getting you back out of underneath places. That's all the reason that's needed for Nosecone to be here. Being a Technobot and fully capable of throwing down in addition to digging down is a bonus. Well, they'd rather avoid any fights, but he knows better than to expect that to be possible, as good as hope is.
Solstice didn't -want- to go back beneath Helex. Thought never crossed her mind as something to even consider. But when the call went out that there could be survivors, the nominally always cheerful femme's optics went white with surprise, then a determined frown etched its way across her face. No, she doesn't want to be here again, but if there are survivors, they deserve to be freed from whatever fresh hell could still be lurking. She spent the past 2 days basking in the solar light from Cybertrons new star, prepped her weapons, and "Medics First medkit' for the trip down.
Dawnfire is here doing what he is good at - being an extra set of hands and another alert guard. He?s here to help. Sword drawn and resting on shoulder, as he usually does when he's out and about.
Arcee drives into the area from Iacon, rolls to a stop at the rendezvous point Crosswise laid out, and transforms back to her robot mode. She isn't entirely sure what awaits them below Helex, but she's not a femme who's easily frightened or intimidated. She's pragmatic and is hoping that they do find survivors. While waiting, she checks her weapon to make sure it's at full charge.
A hovercraft with thick armor plating and a sort of older design sets down outside Helex. Imager transforms out if it, with a large stomp announcing her presence. She's clearly ill at ease here already. She raises a hand, a finger extended as if to declare 'point of order', "Okay. Noting that yes, not everyone under Decepticon rule is a Decepticon, I would like to point out that this area is frelling cursed!" She starts to count off issues, "FIRST is that the city has been blown up twice, Second, we have the reason why it's abandoned this time, because of that cult. THIRD, like, remember that giant cityformer head flying around? FOURTH, and like, the fallen's body was being used.... to bring THAT about somehow?" She gestures up to the sky where the head of Unicron orbits, "And lastly this is still Con territory.' She raises up her hand, and waves it, "I'm out of digits!"
Springer is here as.... uhm... support. Yeah. Support and a pair of extra hands.
And Ravage -notes- the large number of Autobots in Decepticon territory. And just watches from a distance as the group goes to approach Helex itself. He moves to stay several kilometers away, watching them and going to track them. He doesn't know what they're here for.... But he can make some assumptions.
Kitt drives up towards Helex, his sensor 'eye' swishing back and forth on maximum as they are in bad guy territory, transforming as Imager ticks of the various issues with the mission. "I must admit my previous experience here was less than pleasurable."
The black Trans Am begins to break apart and lifts upwards as the rear end splits in half, feet forming from the lower bumper as the rest rises, the front end splitting and folding in half, the doors coming out and forming arms, and a head rising from the top as the hood settles as the chest as Kitt rises to his robot form.
Dust Devil is also pretty familiar with being underground and he's been being trained to survive weird situations. So here he is...peering around and trying to figure where his teacher might pop out from. He really hates it when he misses a clue and ends up nearly jumping out of his plating. "I swear if he gets me again...."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "I am just saying we shouldn't be going too deep into this, mkay? The underground's bad enough without whatever the smeltspawn depths have for us here."
>> Backblast succeeds with his generic combat roll on Dust Devil. <<
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "That said, we cannot leave the potential of survivors unconfirmed."
Backblast makes a typically understatedly dramatic Backblast entrance, or at least reveal, by lighting an enercig. A flare of red light illuminates a shadow that you'd have sworn was empty moments ago and he steps forward with Kingslayer over one shoulder, giving Solstice, Arcee, Kitt, and Dawnfire an upnod. "We should probably not remain on the surface long." He comments. "There's something that resembles a truce, but this many of us on their turf is probably not going to make them very happy. You sure you're OK, Sol?"
As he talks, Backblast casually draws his pistol and, concealing the motion from Dust Devil's view James Bond style, shoots Dusty in the aft with a paintball. He holsters it again, as if that's the most natural thing to do.
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Underground isn't all that bad if ya respect it. But this...this is somethin else."
<<Autobot>> Springer says, "It's rather simple.... no one gets left behind. If there is even a chance there are survivors, I'll at least keep going. Stay behind if you need to, Imager.... someone holding the door open so to speak is never a bad idea."
Crosswise leads his small SAR group to the actual silent grill for which the area is called. Numerous legends account for its name -- most include the idea that when the Decepticons finished building Helex, they sealed the laborers beneath the city. Their screams could be heard through the vent preventing them from escaping, until one day it was quiet, as the last worker died from madness and energon loss.
Some say an explosion killed most of the workers.... others that they were attacked and infected by something from the Underworld. No matter the truth, few dare open the still grate and venture beneath.
Crosscut, however, doesn't hesitate, using a special tool to unlock and open the trellis. He pauses, however, before heading below. "Follow my lead," he says quietly. "Ve don't know Vhat ve'll face down zhere. Ideally, ve'll find zhe people of Helex and zet them free - - but, more often zhan not, zhinks don't happen the vay ve vish."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "GAH! Aww come on. Don't I get ta keep a little dignity?"
<<Autobot>> Imager sighs, and responds to Nosecone, "Right but I mean..... right, right, Autobot....." She adds, "If we're going underground, I am also rather large.... and spent half the Great Shutdown in a crevasse.... so.... yeah."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "We're going somewhere we need to be quiet. Where's your camo cloak?"
Backblast also upnods Imager.
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Rest assured you are accompanied by subterranean experts, then."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "..."
And from a distance, Ravage watches. The Autobots are here in number. Short of throwing Onslaught and Razorclaw at them, for now there is little more he can do than track and see what they're up to. He's at the edge of optical tracking range and on full cloak.
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "You OK Sol?"
"As the humans say, 'No plan survives contact with the enemy.' Be alert, be wary, and expect the unexpected." Kitt says.
Crosswise pauses, gazing down into the darkness. Me mutters, more to himself than anyone else, ""He Who Is Not Bold Enough to Be Stared at From Across zhe Abyss Is Not Bold Enough to Stare into It Himzelf." With that comforting thought, Crosswise descends beneath the city, crossbow ready, leading the others down collapsed passageways and partially-flooded corridors towards the energy reading Cosmos identified before he disappeared.
Crosswise goes to Hidden Chamber - Silent Grill - Beneath Helex.
Arcee moves to follow Crosswise into the passage. She does take a moment to look back toward Imager in concern. She can't entirely blame Imager for her reluctance. This whole place has a very ominous feel.
Imager starts pawing at her face, anxious. Granted, the team she is with is considerable. "Oh mech, why here? Why would ANYONE come down HERE?" She's being loud, but her just walking down the tunnels is loud. Steam vents hiss and crack. Otherworldly sounds come from the piping, probably mechanical but still. Mage draws her ballistic shotgun she's picked up and cocks it absently. "You know the one good things the Cons did?" She adds in a more hushed tone, "After the Misericorde event? They bombed this place into shavings. That's the ONE good thing the empire did." She grimly looks to Crosswise, but clearly is having a lot of issues already.
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Camo cloak is in subspace fer the moment, we got things that can snag gear easily, I figured I'd mute my colors.It's not like I'm walking around in hot rod's colors. There are a series of tunnels that may lead up to here and may need some extra tunneling to get to depending on how deep we go"
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "I saw literal spark ghosts the last time I was here"
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "the city was /literally/ and I mean literally moving about. not just...not just like the cityformer, I mean walls were moving and stuff."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Yeah."
Solstice blinks slowly as Backblast asks if she's ok. "Just... ducky!" tone brittlely cheerful. An internal diagnostics is ran, and she pulls 'My First Medscanner' out and checks the shock-casing around it. Then goes over things stowed in various actual compartments and subspace with lips moving but no sound, mental checklist perhaps. Door-wings give a flutter then swing down and flatten against her back, windows rolling into the heavier portions as she readies to follow Crosscheck. "It sucks down here. Suckity suck suck suck mothersucker." Camo? muted colors. This femme's coloured like a specially glazed solar storm, high gloss, orange and chrome. Somehow... tasteful as well.
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "I can attest to that.... the.... vines, being the best word, were practically alive."
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "It is best to focus on the task at hand than dwell on the past."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "THere's somethin' 'orrible down here in the dark."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Vines?"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "**ME.**"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "And I've got your back."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Just Ducky! It sucks down here. Suckity suck suck suck.."
<<Autobot>> Solstice makes a noise. "can we... not talk... about the -vines-...
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Cool it. You have something worse on your side - me. Cycle your air systems a few times, get a grip."
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "Indeed.... when I scouted the city prior to its last unfortunate circumstance, it was covered with vines that were wired into that so called floating Titan head, like a network."
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Backblast, are you a grue?"
<<Autobot>> Dawnfire says, "I think I hate this place."
Imager scowls at first, then grimaces, and every moment longer as she scans this disused hospital bay gets worse and worse, "What the smelt? What the smelt!? What the frell is that?!" She shines her spotlights around the area, clearly on alert for ambush.
Kitt has arrived.
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "I know aout the vies! I was part of'em... gak."
Springer looks around a bit as he takes in the area and who's there as people start to move downwards, "Imager, hang towards the back, ensure we have a way to fall back with any survivors... Nosecone, stick near the middle and move as necessary to help, I'll stick near the front... if I can fit, almost everyone else should be able to... and can provide a shield if we find any suvivors in trouble." He moves with his usual swagger as he sticks close to the front of the group but not quite infront.
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "YES, HATE THIS PLACE, DAWNFIRE"
Backblast slips after the others, looking from Imager to Solstice. "You two gonna be OK?" He ask. "I trust both of you, but it's going to make this difficult if either of you two wig out."
Nosecone clunks through shortly after Crosswise. "It would be preferable to avoid any confrontations.... but you are statistically correct it is unlikely do proceed entirely as one desires. Better to be prepared, than sorry later." As he draws his rifle in one hand, for that sake of being prepared. He's got no problem being near the head of the group, both to be ready if digging is needed, and to cover their more support oriented companions if necessary. A pause. ".... This is one of the few subterrainian locations even I feel uncomfortable," he finally admits.
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Deep vents everyone...ya'll are workin yerselves up"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Cycle your systems. Cool it. We can complain about it later when you're not working yourselves into a panic."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "listen ta Backblast."
At first, this large, dark room seems empty of the living. Various medtables have been set up haphazardly across the area, most covered with glimmering spilled energon. Additional strangely colored energon is pooled on the floor, making it slick and dangerous for walking. Trays of dirty medical tools have been left abandoned, dangerous cutting blades and arc welders left unattended. Pipes lead down to whatever the structure was above.
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Imma put a bookmark on that, Solstice"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Cycle in. Cycle out. Your feelings are valid but right now you need to box them up and I'll buy you a drink when we get back and you can let it out."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Cycle in. Cycle out."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Backblast"
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "you're being compassionate, and that almost scares me too, but...like....thanks"
Large numbers of Autobots going through the tunnels after... Things left in Helex. Oh, this cannot stand. Ravage waits at a distance while the Autobots go through the tight confines underground. As they slowly roll out and assemble along in a convoy. Staying far enough away..
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil snickers
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Compassionate my arse, if you freak out the first time something jumps out I need your head in the game."
(To Solstice) You receive a garbled, static-filled radio message, as if sent from far away -- possibly disrupted by how far you are underground. The voice sounds familiar, but you can't place it, although for some reason it sends shivers down your endostructure.
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "It's my arse at risk here too."
<<Autobot>> Nosecone chuckles softly. "Good recovery."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast is totally trying to hide the compassionate side.
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Arcee just about died down here the second time"
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Aaahhhh!"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "There are monster down here, yes."
<<Autobot>> Dawnfire says, ".... you alright?"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "One of them is me."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "touches imager to reassure her and scares her to death...lol"
Kitt looks at the various implements and the oddly colored energon pools. "This particular locale is rather ghastly, I must say."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "mis"
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Imager, the more you talk about what happened before, the more you're going to run your processor in circles. Please, just try to think about the mission instead."
Imager kneels down to examine the energon, she's a refueler by trade and examines some of it. She frowns, "Dead Energon." She shakes her head and stands back up. Her optics shift about, when suddenly her eyes flash as she receives a message, and takes a step back, "Aaahhh!" She calls out, "Backblast! There's some frequency down here...someone's saying something, its making my manifold crinkle up into a ball."
Solstice thin-lips a frown, optics bright as she follows the group down. Then pulls up, taking a look around as they enter a larger room. Door wings flick back up alertly, optics flickering and she lets out a soft whistle. It's like a switch is thrown - nervy newbie to cold professional taking in the 'scenery'. "Huh.." looking at the fluid on the floor, kneeling to study it and pulling out 'My first medscanner' to do so. And walks closer to the tables to try and ascertain a general 'when was this doohicky last used'. "huh.." she repeats, studying before tensing, "What was... that? Some... radio?"
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Nosecone, let me be clear about something. This place cuts things off of you that don't come back. You gotta understand this."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "you heard it too?"
Dawnfire keeps his attention on their surroundings as the group moves. He tries his absolute hardest not to look at the discarded tools and energon pools, and maintains a stony silence.
<<Scene-Coord>> Dawnfire says, "posts will be slow and short, apologies"
(To Solstice:) Medscanner picks up odd readings in the corner.... and above you.
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "Okay, is there ANY chance that this is done by the helex refugees?"
In the corner, however, those first through the door spot a large cage in the shadows. Resting within it are the Triumverate -- the former leaders of Helex. They are taking up the center of the cage, sprawled out as if this was their throne room and not a prison. Huddled in the corners of the cage are other missing members of Helex -- Ruckus, Salvo, and various citizens and Triggercons. They look dirty, tired, and nearly dead from lack of energon -- but still moving.
(To Solstice) You feel something lightly fall upon on you from above.
They appear to be flakes of rust, dislodged by barely heard grinding movement.
Oh, they can't have this.... Autobots in a long line, spread out. Ravage watches them cautiously from a distance. As they go along, he moves to slowly stalk after, still in full cloak mode.... Popping along to the ceiling, stalking along it by claw and hover-mode to minimize his profile. Occasionally prodding at something with a hww-sft every few dozen meters.
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Nnnhaaaaa... Someone's tryin t' radio from.... guess we're too deep. An.... medscanners pickin up something above us?"
Arcee keeps her laser pistol drawn, stepping cautiously through the filthy room. She frowns as she glances around, naturally uneasy but not yet spooked. The weird transmission makes her attempt to tune it in, but no amount of tuning can get the transmisison any clearer. The movement of the prisoners inside the cage makes her suddenly point the pistol in their direction. "First survivors. Could be more..."
(To Solstice) You look up -- and see the bodies of many of Helex's former citizens, hanging from the ceiling and drained of energon as well as stripped of their most valuable parts. The disgusting tableau is almost enough to distract from the sudden shuffling noise emanating from deep within the far end of the chamber...
Nosecone inspects some of the utensils lying about. "This chamber has not been used in some time." He turns his head one way, then another way, trying to analyze as much information as he can take in. "Conclusions cannot be fully confirmed if this was a medical facility...... or an experimentation lab." Gee, thanks, that's reassuring big guy. Then people notice the cage, in the opposite direction he was looking. "Oh.... This.... may lean more to the latter."
Kitt cranks his sensors to maximum. "I am focusing on the electro-magnetic spectrum, perhaps I can detect its transmitting location..."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Uuuuughhhh.... don't look.... Do look. Up.... Whoah.."
<<Autobot>> Dawnfire says, "I gotta ask even if I don?t think it?ll happen - what do we do if there?s survivors who don?t want to come with us?"
Backblast follows along with the others, amost silent. He's making just enough noise to let the others know where he is, Kingslayer held ready. "Yeah." he agree, listening to Imager. "Can you give me some numbers? I can wake up the comms gear and try and block it out." He frowns and tries to listen for the sound. "There." He murmurs, kindling one of his lights on low-beam to illuminate the survivors.
He frowns, moving closer, offering a flask of energon around. "Small sips." He murmurs, as if he doesn't want anyone to hear him being compassionate. "Pass it round, you don't want to go into energon shock from dumping fuel into a starved system."
With that done, he looks up.
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Depends if they appear under thrall or of solid state of mind..."
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "Oh dear..... my friends, I do not wish to alarm, but we not alone here.... I am detecting movement all around.... hidden from view. We must exercise caution, I am continuing to monitor."
And Ravage looks dispassionately over the bodies on display. It's a decidedly macabre work. And rather lovely quality. One could almost appreciate the artisanry of it. He waits, observing over at the dismembered frames. Some of which likely are survivors. But given what the Cult likely did to them, they might prefer to not be. Ravage waits on the ceiling, thankful for the Autobots propensity to keep themselves updated via verbal mechanics.
Solstice looks at her medscanner, shakes it, rekeys in request and aims it around. Then stops, door-wings flicking rust flakes from above off of them. Then slowly, she looks upwards and optics pale. "Ugnk... Don't look. Do look. Up... whoah." amazed shock and disgust. "Uh... Crosswise? Think we found... uhm.... where th' rest of'em went?"
Springer simply moves along with the group.
GAME: Imager FAILS a COURAGE roll of Extreme difficulty.
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Oh boy."
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "I would presume you have detected the same."
Those that DO look up -- see the bodies of many of Helex's former citizens, hanging from the ceiling and drained of energon as well as stripped of their most valuable parts. The disgusting tableau is almost enough to distract from the sudden shuffling noise emanating from deep within the far end of the chamber...
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Forcefields are priming up. if it comes down to it, point me out a solid wall we can back to and I can help divert incoming enemies inta a funnel"
Imager looks up to the ceiling, and frowns, "There's got to be corpses in the ceiling or something else." She avoids the dripping as best she can, uneasy. Arcee calls out about survivors, Imager approaches. When the flashlight goes up to Safeguard, Imager cries out loudly, "HAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" She throws herself back and away, knocking over cots and tables as she scrambles away, "NO!" Unable to gain much traction with the weird energon on the ground, she transforming to gain some distance....which gets her about a few yalms before she hits a wall. <<No no no!>>
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "NO NO NONO!"
In the cage, Legonis snatches the flask from Backblast. "I'll be taking that!" he announces, taking a long draught in spite of Backblast's warning, until he chokes. Only then does he pass the flash to Octus. "Now, let us out of here, good mech. We've been down here for.... well, I don't even know how long we've been down here!"
(To Backblast:) You hear movement in the walls, and above you...
(To Solstice:) Oddly, your medscanner is only picking up ONE lifesign in the cage.... a mech rocking in the corner.
Arcee glances up when Imager begins screaming, and she's clearly startled by the horror she sees, but she recovers quickly, frowning at the carnage. Eventually, they'll need to face whoever -- or whatever -- did this.
(Radio) Prowl sends Solstice a radio transmission, 'whyyyy..... whyyyy did you take my mind?'
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Immy....Yer fine. We're all right here"
Nosecone vents out softly. It's a sad, horrible sight above, but not much that can be done about it. Best to remain practical about the situation. "Let's focus on the ones we can still save. Someone get that cage ope--" He stops again, this time as there's screaming. Of course, it wasn't going to be so easy.
The clatter of furniture falling over gives Dawnfire a big startle. He snaps into a battle-ready stance, prepared to swing at anything that makes a move at them.
Kitt looks up as well, as he was distracted by the shadows, and his face molds into one of disgust. "My word.... such... brutality."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "NOPE NOPE NOPE"
Springer looks up as well, his sword sliding into his hand as he takes in the view... which sadly... is not the worst he has seen before but he suddenly freezes and his head comes back down as he scans the room as if looking for something... or possibly someone in particular, the normally speakative Wrecker very silent now.
Corpses start to move, tearing themselves from the hooks in the ceiling and dropping down amongst the Autobots. At the same time, there is a tearing sound in the walls around you, as if something was ripping through and wrenching pipes from the walls...
Backblast grimaces quietly and leave the flask with the survivors. "Dust Devil, take care of Imager, calm her down, low-dose tranq her if you have to I need her head in the game." He says, glancing at Legonis. "If you go into energon shock I'm leaving you here." He adds flatly. Of course, he leaves out the fact that the other autobots will rescue them just the same.
Moving slowly and smoothly, as if not wanting to spook a stalking predator, he opens Kingslayer's breech and slots in a shell with a transparent projectile, filled with an evil-looking purple goo that visibly swirls.
He aims at the shuffling in the corner, then frowns. "I don't want to alarm anyone, but there's movement in the walls and ceiling."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "IMAGER. Breathe! Do you want to survive this? Control yourself."
'My First Medscanner' beeps a cheerful little series of tones and a soothing voice chirps, 'Please rekey parameters.' Solstice thin-lips, tearing gaze from the ceiling to the corner, aiming her little device around. Yes, it may be 'medics first scanner' but it's a fully qualified device. Just with... training wheels. And added heft and shock-plating. "Er... One" looking at Backblast, looking at her scanner, "Two" looking down again, then back at the corner, "Uuuuhmmm... Backblast... medscanner's only picking up... you and... a plus one in th' cage dude."
And on the ceiling Ravage suddenly goes tense, even as he moves to press something over to the hook. Something barbed to anchor it in place where it would chrpth as he presses the small disk over. His optics go wide for just a moment in a look of total surprise before solidifying back. His circuits must be mis-aligned.
<<Scene-Coord>> Backblast says, "Requesting permission to use the season's F-bomb"
The bodies of Helex's former citizens have started to move, although one cannot truly say they are alive. One by one they've torn themselves from the hooks from which they hung and dropped to the floor like dead weight. However, damaged and skeletal as they are, with hollow optics and empty chassis from which vital components have been ripped, the twisted forms slowly advance upon the living, moving in eerie, spasmodic silence. With claw-like, endoskeletal fingers, they reach for the chamber's interlopers, mouths opening in soundless screams.
Grey figures almost blend into the walls in the darkened room --- until they start to move. With jerky, shuffling motions, they tear pipes off the walls with surprising strength for their size, and slowly advance on the intruding party, moving in from all sides to slowly surround them....
Springer moves to interplace himself between the largest grouping of figures even in his somewhat distracted state, putting himself as a clear and somewhat shiney target.
Imager transforms back into robot mode, transfixed on Safeguard. Every light on her body is at full power, She points an accusing finger at Safeguard, "No no! Vector Sigma, you're 3 millenia dead! I..." She pauses for a second, and grimaces. Both of her hands cover her face. "Everyone was unfueled. Nobody'd survive here unfueled..." She pays no mind to the dead, its all around her, maybe even within her at this point.
Crosswise mutters to himself, "NNickel, iron, cobalt, chrome, He'll eat your soul, Turn your spark to stone"
GAME: Ravage PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
GAME: Arcee PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
GAME: Springer PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
Kitt frowns. "As the humans say, 'Out of the frying pan, into the fire...'" he says, bringing his weapons up to readiness.
GAME: Kitt PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
GAME: Dawnfire PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
GAME: Solstice PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
GAME: Backblast PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
Backblast hears Solstice, and sighs. "Fan-fucking-tastic." He says sarcastically, sounding unsurprised. His tone is resigned, if anything. Worst case scenario has just been hit. "I really need to get hold of a shotgun, Kingslayer's not suitable for CQC like this. Probably someone.... thing.... guiding them so I'll save this shell for them, until they show I'll be fighting mostly pistol and shoulder-gun. Someone remind me to get a shotgun when we get out of here."
One of the twisted forms -- a cybernurse, lacking a face -- says to you, "Welcome to our esteemed psychiatric facility. We pride ourselves on providing the utmost care for those in need of our services. Here, we specialize in delving deep into the minds of our patients, exploring the depths of their darkest thoughts and emotions. Our methods may seem unorthodox, but rest assured, they are tried and true. We look forward to welcoming you into our facility and guiding you on your journey towards mental enlightenment. Just be careful not to lose yourself completely in the process.
Welcome to our esteemed psychiatric facility. We pride ourselves on providing the utmost care for those in need of our services. Here, we specialize in delving deep into the minds of our patients, exploring the depths of their darkest thoughts and emotions. Our methods may seem unorthodox, but rest assured, they are tried and true. We look forward to welcoming you into our facility and guiding you on your journey towards mental enlightenment. Just be careful not to lose yourself completely in the process.
And Ravage goes to a half over as he sees the corpse-frames rise and he goes completely still. Not speaking, not maneuvering, not moving. He's just staying so still to move not a micro-meter. Oh yes, he's not going to do anything to intervene, more than happy to use his cloak system to stay out of view.
GAME: Nosecone PASSES a COURAGE roll of Trivial difficulty.
<<Scene-Coord>> Kitt says, "Very shortly, the recycle bin. >.>"
<<Scene-Coord>> Ravage says, "Communications still working?"
Backblast mutters to Kitt, "Remind me. Make D-E cure bombs. Get a shotgun..."
NOW PLAYING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMyB-TZdB5U
GAME: Crosswise PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Average difficulty.
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "I have a feeling that expressing our desire not to be part of their facility will be met with much agreement."
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "Not met.... oof"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Go loud, take 'em out and will someone calm Imager down please? Or failing that, pass me her shotgun!"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "I have tranqs in my left thigh if you need them."
<<Autobot>> Dawnfire says, ".... Is this an appropriate time to start burning things?"
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "Considering they will likely be attempting to do the same to us, this is a matter of self-preservation."
Crosswise checks the bolt on his crossbow. "La naiba!" he curses in an ancient dialect of Harmonex. "Blestemat Cosmos! I told him nozhing good vould come of zhis!" He aims his crossbow at one of the faceless nurses and fires. "Stay together! Don't let anyvone get zurrounded! Autobot," he addresses Solstice. "Vhat did you mean, there's only vone lifesign in zhe cage? Vhat about zhe others?"
(To Solstice:) The others read the same as the animated corpses.
>> Crosswise misses Bubble-Head Nurses with Crossbow. <<
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Don't get taken alive."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Immy.... ya need ta calm down. If you want we do have tranqs and a partial dose won't knock ya out. But If ya don't calm, you might get yerself and others killed."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "yer Strong, yer brave and yer not alone. We face this together."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "They're already dead."
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Then it won't hurt them when we shoot our way out. But we need to see if there are any live ones."
Kitt pulls a grenade from his storage compartment, pulls the pin, and hurls it towards the nurses. "It would seem our best tactical move at this point is to scatter them and prevent our encirclement."
>> Kitt strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Grenades <Medium>. <<
"...Yeah, I don't think so," Arcee exclaims with a frown, taking a few steps backwards as the zombie citizens and bubble-headed nurses draw nearer. When they amble closer, Arcee swings her leg around in a kick, hoping to at least topple some of them over on top of each other. They don't seem to Arcee to be particularly coordinated or fast, which may be to the Autobots' advantage. "We're definitely /not/ here to check in!"
>> Arcee misses Bubble-Head Nurses with Roundhouse. <<
Springer moves quickly to intercept the larger group of what he takes as 'hostiles', not using his sword, just his hand as he tries to knock a few of them down and back.... the Wrecker still mildly distracted as his optics dart around the room still.
>> Springer strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Punch. <<
The bodies of Helex's former citizens have started to move, although one cannot truly say they are alive. One by one they've torn themselves from the hooks from which they hung and dropped to the floor like dead weight. However, damaged and skeletal as they are, with hollow optics and empty chassis from which vital components have been ripped, the twisted forms slowly advance upon the living, moving in eerie, spasmodic silence. With claw-like, endoskeletal fingers, they reach for the chamber's interlopers, mouths opening in soundless screams.
Solstice yelps and backs up, then spins, door wings up in alarm, down, then up again. "Uhoh." She looks at the scanner, shakes it then replies to Crosswise, "Scanner says only 1 thing is alive in that cage. Only picked up backblast and one other over there! Th' rest read like th' shambling HORDES coming right for us!" Armoring flattens against her underplating before right shoulder rocket ratchets up into place. "Fraaaag... can't scan and.... uh..." Pulling weapons systems checkup, one handed one handed one handed.... there! Summoning an energy axe and bringing that med scanner up like a makeshift shield. "Tryin t' scan for power sources in'em for targetin'! Or weak spot. Or -somethin! Will broadcast what I can get.... Ooh boy.... this is.... ohhhh..."
<<Autobot>> Imager says, "what's the point anymore."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "There's at least one survivor."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "DeeDee scanner only picked up one alive in th' cage alright! tryin' to see if can suss out weak points or energy source or OMG ew."
(To Solstice:) The only one alive is the one rocking in the corner of the cage, behind the others.
The faceless nurses advance on the Autobots, trying to surround them and block their escape. Crosswise's bolt slams into the chest of one of them, but she doesn't even seem to notice. Most carry pipes ripped from the walls, but a few carry very rusty yet extremely sharp knives.
Kitt's grenade is far more effective, detonating and scattering the ones nearest the door. There are a series of secondary explosions as the wounded self-destruct, taking out more of their members.
The rest advance on the Autobots in jerky, spasmatic steps, heads held at an odd angles as most move silently, even though beneath their energon-streaked masks, they seem to be screaming.
Arcee kicks one in her masked head, breaking her neck, but she just keeps moving, appearing completely unaffected. Springer is more effective, knocking several back as others converge on him with rusty knives.
>> Bubble-Head Nurses miss Kitt with Bash. <<
>> Bubble-Head Nurses miss Crosswise with Stomp. <<
>> Bubble-Head Nurses miss Arcee with Pipe. <<
>> Bubble-Head Nurses miss Springer with Knife. <<
>> Backblast strikes Helex Citizens with Khukri. <<
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "Umm OMG ew?"
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Find the one and we can get out of this slaghole."
<<Scene-Coord>> Nosecone says, "Nice shot BB"
Backblast sniffs "The other ones are undead, Crosswise. Agreed Kitt, I'll thin their numbers." He calls out, slinging Kingslayer and drawing instead his pistol and khukri. "Dark energon tainted. Pop the lock, grab the survivor and get them into the huddle."
And then he proceeds to show exactly why he was one of the most dangerous hitmen in the pre-war world. Seeing as they're already dead, Backblast has no problems letting out the full extent of the brutality that got him his reputation. He begins by stepping neatly under the first arm to reach out for him, stabbing upwards through its jaw with his khukri. With the weapon temporarily lodged he uses the impaled zombie as a counterweight to kick out for another, upwards towards the nose, driving it up into the unfortunate undead's processor chamber. He tries to tug his knife free for a moment, releasing it to pick up a drip-stand instead, clearing himself space with his pistol before stabbing it into the braincase of a third, grabbing his knife back, holstering his pistol to wrench the khukri free.
Backblast must dive back from another zombie, away from the autobots as he stamps on a surgical tray hanging off the desk to kick it into the air, grabbing it with his pistol hand and using it to beat back a zombie getting too close. He's thinned their numbers, yes.... but three re-dead and one knocked back is barely a dent. "...frack.... starting to get cut off, give me a moment to work back to you."
Dawnfire has a rough idea of how zombies(?) work. He spares no time or thought for speech and instead dives into the fray, seeking to thin the numbers of zombie citizens with several swift swings of his sword.
>> Dawnfire critically strikes Helex Citizens with Sword! <<
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "No heroics, Dawnfire. Stupid risks are my scbtick."
<<Autobot>> Dawnfire says, "Heh. I?m as far from a hero as it gets..."
While ceiling cat hides, the Autobots fight faceless nurses and murderous zombies.
"If we stay closer together we can coordinate. Cover each other. Less open sides for a single Bot to get flanked on. That said..." Nosecone uses a chunky foot to kick over one of the exam tables, sending tools scattering as it clunks down on its side. A makeshift barricade, but anything to keep the horde from swarming down on them. Of course, there's already Autobots wading into melee so he opts for his smaller gun, trying to aim laser shots between the other autobots to pick off zombie nurses and keep their flanks clear.
>> Nosecone strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Laser <Medium>. <<
Moxi seems to be the only nurse who speaks. "Welcome to Helex Psychiatric Ward!" she says brightly. "I'm sorry, but this is a locked unit -- please return to your cells at once." She swings a pipe at the nearest Autobot.
>> Moxi strikes Imager with Bash. <<
Imager shakes her head, she mumbles, "Why'd I bother? Why'd I come back? it was stupid, i was almost okay.... but..... I never really left here did I?" She lays there on her hands and knees, staring into her hands, as wiper fluid trickles down her face, "I've always been here in my processor...so what's it matter anymore? I lost my music to the dreams. My city's cut off from the world...it's my tomb now. It is. I can't do it anymore. I can't fight it." She lowers her head to the ground, as a pipe cracks against her frame, leaving a dent in her hard armor. "Sometimes, death....... is a mercy. It's alllll we have in common." As the unfed and creatures come forward, she just shakes her head and stares at the floor, "I'm tired of being in pain all the time."
The faces melt off those in the cage, and they reach through the bars, the rusty structure groaning against the weight. They, too, are already dead -- their optics empty, yet hungry. Those who dropped from the roof reach for the nearest Autobots, screaming silently as they bite, rip, and tear into anyone into which they can get their skin-stripped endoskeletons. None speak, but their murderous intent is clear. Backblast and Dawnfire thin their number substantially, though, making the dead lie down once more, although several are still twitching, even in pieces. The rest charge Backblast and Dawnfire, trying to bring them down through sheer force of numbers.
>> Helex Citizens attacks Dawnfire, and Backblast with Charge, striking nobody. <<
GM NOTE: round 2. Everyone +roll DEX/2"
GAME: Solstice PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Kitt PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Dawnfire PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Dust Devil PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Arcee PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Backblast PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Springer PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Ravage PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
GAME: Imager PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Very Little difficulty.
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Kid! Throw me Imager's shotgun!"
The Autobots are going to engage in a brutal close quarters slugfest with the scrap-frames. Ravage just goes to stay in position, not engaged. Up on the ceiling, moving away from the place where the corpse-frames were stowed just in case there's residue. Then pondering over and going towards some of the energon tubes. Moving to place another small, small disk by them in the midst of the melee.
Crosswise curses again as his crossbow is completely ineffective against the undead nurses. He deploys a machine gun.... and then his optics widen behind his green visor, as if seeing something no one else can. "No.... Cue-Eff.... not you. I killed you. I had to. You had become a Sparkeater.... don't.... don't make me kill you again..." He raises his machine gun, but backs away from what only he can see, hands trembling.
Kitt is fully committed at this point, switching his weapon to ultrasonic. "Hopefully this will have some effect on them..." he says, firing in hopes that he can slow their advance.
>> Kitt strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Ultrasonic Beam <Medium>. <<
>> Bubble-Head Nurses temporarily loses motor functions from the attack! <<
(To Solstice) Prowl emerges from the hoard of the dead, the top of his head missing and several of his circuits ripped out. "Why?" he asks, oil drooling from his mouth. "My.... mind.... it was all.... I had..." Behind him, Ratchet reaches with arms that end before his hands, and looming over them is Optimus Prime, dangling wires where his energy axe once was. "You.... cannibalized us..." Ratchet moans. "You are our corpse, daywalking in mockery of our death."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "EEEEEK!"
GAME: Solstice FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
Arcee narrows her optics when she notices that kicking the 'nurse' wasn't effective in the way she had hoped. Drawing her electro-sword out of subspace, she decides it's probably time to take some stronger countermeasures against these things. Crosswise and Imager's freakouts are beginning to concern her quite a bit. "Hold it together, guys," she says, probably as much to herself as to her friends. "We really, really can't afford to lose it down here." The sword in her hands brightens, and a burst of energy zaps forth from it, streaking in the direction of the creepy speaking nurse-creature.
>> Arcee strikes Moxi with Electrical Burst <Medium>. <<
(To Solstice:) When Moxi was hit, the images of the dead Autobots flickered.
Solstice continues to use her medscanner to try and suss out a weakness on the incoming hordes, door wings twitching behind her, internal systems geared up for fight and flight. She watches as Backblast and Dawnfire wade into the shambling hordes, then realizes Imager isn't moving as the large femme is attacked, "Imager! Get yer head outa yer ass! Freak out later! We're got t' worry about th' livin here -EEEEK!!
The sunset and chrome femme backs up, door-wings twitching high in alarm, rocket launcher whirring as it loads ordinance. Optics wide and white-blue she ulps. "Nononononono... Yer... Nononono... Not... Nonono... Nope-nope-nope-nope! AHHH!!!" And fires off a full round of Prometheus rockets! "Go away!"
>> Solstice attacks Imager, Crosswise, Dawnfire, and Helex Citizens with Prometheus Rockets, striking Crosswise, Helex Citizens, Imager, Springer, and Dawnfire. <<
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "AHHHH!!"
<<Autobot>> Nosecone is somehow remaining calm in spite all this. "We need to get out of here. Now."
GAME: Springer PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Above Average difficulty.
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "A noble sentiment, but one that is extremely difficult at the moment..."
Springer does not stop moving, the large Mech using his speed and agility to keep moving from point to point, still not using his sword and just his hands and feet as he knocks down as many as he can to try to keep more area 'open' around the Autobots so they can shoot and move as necessary to protect himself.... openly placing himself in spots to try to ensure as many of the strikes come his way...
Then he does a rare thing.... and stumbles a bit, his focus clearly zeroing in on a particular area and seems to move towards it before he pause suddenly.... then darts sideways and lashes out with hard kick at Moxi.
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Shotgun? Anyone?"
>> Springer misses Moxi with Bash. <<
Dust Devil dives fully into the room rolling to a crouch and staring back down the tunnel they had arrived from. "I hope there's a way outta here that has less stuff blockin it than the way we just came. I know I'd said I'd hold it open but there was too much comin down on my field." Hearing Backblast, he turns and dives for the Shotgun before sending it in Backblast's direction in a fairly graceful arc that should leave it in his hands ready for action. "Catch!" He gets to his feet and uses the plasma venting from his turrets to ignite his plasma blades. Ready to swing at anyone close!
GAME: Backblast PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Average difficulty.
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Thanks kid."
The nurses are struck by Nosecone's laser, but his makeshift barrier for the moment is keeping them at bay. As they turn on him, however, they are slammed by Kitt's ultrasonic beam, which washes over them and causes many of them to fall to their knees, dropping their pipes and knives. They turn to scream in return, making no sound. Some fall still altogether, never getting back up.
>> Backblast strikes Helex Citizens with shotgun. <<
Getting surrounded forces Dawnfire into being defensive. He's on the back foot now, parrying limbs and dodging charging citizens as he tries to hold his ground. All he can manage right now is making sure he doesn't get overrun. He can't parry rockets, though, and he's thrown to the ground as one explodes against him. Oof.
Backblast catches the shotgun, making a note to give the kid the formula to remove the paint stain from his behind later. He checks it's loaded and brings it up, blasting the nearest zombie in the throat at point-blank range. He stabs out at another with his knife, racking the shotgun and blasting another zombie, carving a path back to the Autobot group, where he reloads and fashions himself a rudimentary elbow-hook for the shotgun so that, until he has a chance to give it back to Imager, he can ue it one handed.
"Dust Devil! Good work with the shotgun, do me a favour and gibbs-slap whoever fired off those rockets please?"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Hey! You with the rockets! Learn ta < elephant trumpet >ing aim before you let off that kinda ordnance will you? You hit friendlies!"
"I am starting to better understand why so many bots hate this drekhole." Nosecone instinctively ducks as rockets spew across the chamber and strike indiscriminately, making it feel too much like Strafe was here "For the love of Primus..." He utters under his breath. Does a mental calculation of how many freak outs are going on. At least Arcee and Springer are dealing with the head nurse trying to 'treat' Imager. "This is a bust. Get our comprised allies and we withdraw." Kitt temporarily disorients the nurses, and he turns up the setting on his laser pistol to take advantage of the opportunity. As far as he's concerned, this is putting the monsters out of their misery.
>> Nosecone critically strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Heavy Laser <Medium>! <<
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Final analysis: There never truly was a survivor. There was only some poor spark left alive long enough to be bait. It is.... disquienting the effective tactics these.... anomalous entities have utilized."
Moxi laughs maniacally, bringing her pipe down hard on Imager -- until Arcee zaps her with her sword. The whole room flickers and wavers, as some things disappear, and others are revealed from hiding. The mech in the corner is revealed to be Crankcase, rocking and banging his head against the wall, but alive, unlike the rest of the citizens down here. Moxi then dodges Springer's massive leap kick, ducking under him and charging Arcee with a scream. At Nosecose's comment, she laughs. "Primus?" she scoffs. "What You Call Faith Is Nothing More Than a Child Crying Out for Love."
>> Moxi misses Arcee with Bash. <<
GAME: Backblast PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
Rockets flare out from Solstice and impact throughout the room, incredibly bright flares fill the room...probably more than anyone wants to really see, what with all the undead crawling out of the walls. Two detonate upon Imager, her frame crackling with electromagnetic energy from the assault. It's enough for her to raise her head, she locks eyes with Safeguard across the room, and through a grimace, she just says, " I'm sorry. Sorry I couldn't be there." She murmurs, "Faith.... the guiding hand." She shakes her head again.
<<Autobot>> Kitt says, "I must admit that I am tiring of that mad nurse's voice..."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Get me line of sight to her. It's time to finish this, get that bitch out of MY HEAD"
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "It's crowded enough in here with just me, GET THE <long stream of assorted animal noises> OUT!"
Kitt is indeed getting tired of it and resolves to do something about it. Tapping his weapon, a missile slides into position in the launch tube beneath the barrel. "I think you will find sometimes faith can move mountains.... but for now, I would prefer that it end your incessant babble..." he says, hitting the trigger...
>> Kitt strikes Moxi with Missiles <Medium>. <<
Keen observes might note the missile had 'Faith' scribbled on it...
<<Autobot>> Dust Devil says, "What?! No.... No NO -NO- I'm not -HIM!- This isn't my fault.... You aren't my fault."
Several more of the zombie hoards are blown to bits by Solstice's panic rockets, and those nearest Backblast are taken down by round after round of his BOOMSTICK. Solstice's tormentors continue after her, many of them undisturbed by her rocket blasts. Their visages flicker, as many see them as people they've lost, or others from their past. The zombies take advantage of the situation and advance.
>> Helex Citizens attacks Backblast, Dust Devil, and Solstice with Charge, striking Dust Devil, and Solstice. <<
At something unseen, unheard, unshared.... Ravage's form ripples. Not visibly, but in motion.... Even as he darts forwards, along that row where the inert, dismembered frames had once or still hung. Darting and placing another small disk behind one of the medical beds. If one could see the felinoid, Ravage would be cackling over at something unseen or unshared. Staring bck at something with just as much, if not more intense loathing. But mocking, almost giggling mania. Even as the melee continues and he goes to stalk quietly back to cover anew.
Crosswise shakes his head, blasted out of his fear by one of Solstice's wild rockets. "She.... she was never here!" Seeing the image of his lost love disappear when Arcee his Moxi, and coming to the same conclusion as Springer, Crosswise's optics narrow behind his visor. "You mindbending c??ea," he growls. He loads an explosive bolt into his crossbow and lets it fly, directly at Moxi.
>> Crosswise strikes Moxi with Rocket. <<
Kitt ratchets a control and a series of barrels form a circular pattern at the end of his weapon. "It seems that you are tougher than suspected.... but permit me to weaken your structural integrity, in quite a few places..." He says, pressing the trigger sending a stream of high caliber bullets soaring towards the head nurse...
>> Kitt strikes Moxi with Minigun <Medium>. <<
GAME: Solstice FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
Solstice blink acks as her rockets fire off. Well, oops? "Slag! Sorry sorry sorry!" she yelps, ratcheting the launcher back into unarmed position and putting her medscanner away. The axe is given a shake, handle lengthening into a halberd "Stop wearin' their faces! They're not dead -here-!" A manual pump of the stock to flip rounds and load, (oddly familiar rifle, hmm) "Need a plan! Come on!" Optics white-blue, flipping through thoughts, calculating positions, what she's seen everyone utilize thus far, what's been -effective-. Before her attention side-slides, there's a yip of startlement and she swings that polearm, taking aim at the bubble headed nurses.
>> Solstice strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Bash. <<
Arcee staggers a bit in surprise when she spots someone in the crowd -- it sends shivers to her spark, and she shakes her head in disbelief. "What?? ...No, he can't be down here, that's impossible," he murmurs, wondering how on earth Daniel would be doing down here in the first place. But she *knows* what she saw. Only -- it doesn't make /sense/. As she's trying to puzzle this out, she nearly gets knocked off her feet by Moxi, but she stands her ground defiantly. She smirks as Crosswise gets a really good hit on the assailant, Kitt following up with a decent shot. "That's it, we got this!" she yells enthusiastically, turning back toward Moxi. "I don't know what you're doing, but I'm -- *we're* -- not going to let you get away with it," she says resolutely, swinging her electro-sword at Moxi with a fierceness rarely matched.
>> Arcee strikes Moxi with Electro-Sword. <<
>> Springer succeeds with his generic combat roll on Moxi. <<
Springer is silent.... which those who know him well knows that is usually a very /bad/ sign. The Wrecker recovers from his earlier miss, turing quickly to move out of the way of the others who focus on the head nurse.... a quick scan to take in the situation, notices how a few are setting up before he charges back in, taking any hits that may come his way from either side, growling out as he turns enough to make her as vulnerable as possible to the others, "Never.... should of.... used Impactor."
Dust Devil suddenly lashes out at whatever he is seeing around him. "What?! no.... No..-NO- I'm not -HIM- This isn't my fault.... You aren't my fault. " The plasma blades along his turrets glow in the darkness Though he is probably not precisely seeing what is attacking him, they work as a suitable solid form to make up for the ghosts that he sees. Something hit him. He is trying to hit back.
>> Dust Devil strikes Helex Citizens with Plasma-Blades. <<
The monstrous, faceless nurses are burned where they lay by Nosecone, the smell of scorched steel permeating the chamber. The remaining still able to move crawl jerkily towards Nosecone, slowly climbing the table he's claimed at cover.
The nurses open their mouths behind their masks and scream silently, bring up their pipes and trying to bring them down on the Technobot's head. However, before they can connect, Solstice draws aggro with a swing of her polearm, knocking away those closest to Nosecone.
The remaining nurses come after Solstice instead.
>> Bubble-Head Nurses strikes Solstice with Smash. <<
Backblast blinks at the voices, at the faces he recognizes. "Hero?" He laughs bitterly "That's why you dead f-" He self-censors with a shotgun blast at a zombie reaching for him before it can get a grip. "-kers think I'm doin' this? Hah! I'm doin' this for cybertron. Not repentance.... not to make good on my past sins that's never gonna happen."
Backblast continues to keep the undead away from the group and himself until the room flickers as Moxi is hit, and Backblast starts to get an idea. She seems to be the local 'nexus' for the undead.... if they can drop her, it might cause the undead to become disorganized or better yet, shut down entirely. The faces he's seeing in the crowd of undead, he knows they're dead, and they can't be here. Some of those from his past he rendered very much incapable of coming back even like this.... and she's most likely the cause of it.
Calmly, Backblast unlimbers Kingslayer, still with that evil purple anti-Dark-Energon catalyst-filled round in the chamber. As he aims, he has a moment of satisfaction as several other Autobots fire at her, before squeezing the trigger and sending one of the nastiest rounds he's ever developed - so nasty he won't even use it on Megatron - at the mind-bending Moxi
>> Backblast critically strikes Moxi with Kingslayer <Medium>! <<
Moxi is overcome by injuries, losing consciousness.
Backblast growls "Get the frack out of my head."
Dawnfire picks himself up with a growl. He takes a moment to assess the situation and look for targets.... And he's found some! He takes off towards the faceless nurses at a sprint, sword drawn back in preparation to strike.
>> Dawnfire strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Cleave. <<
Moxi is blasted back by Crosswise's explosive bolt, then riddled with holes by Kitt's Minigun. Still she stands, slowly drawing a scalpel from her belt and dragging it along her arm, drawing dead energon, which runs down her hand. Before she can strike with it, however, Arcee slashes and burns her with her electric sword -- and the illusory beings disappear, including Daniel, Impactor, and the others.
Moxi is grabbed by Springer, and she turns, boring into his optics with her own. His mind starts to warp, and reality spins.... until Backblast takes her out in Springer's hands, and the Wrecker's mind is freed. Even as Dawnfire cuts them down, the remaining zombies begin to fall, lying still and dead once more. The only thing still moving in the creature in the cage, crying and slowly banging his head against the wall.
The threats are down. Ravage looks (not that one could see him) rather smug. Even as he goes to finish placing the last of those cartridges and disks that he's spent the melee scattering around. Whatever was that he saw and that he heard seems to have put him in a rather pleasant mood. Each of the dots on them going to hum contentedly.
"It would seem that we have taken the advantage, however I must stress caution.... I am detecting several explosives along our escape path that were not present before the fighting. We may not be fighting only these terrors..." he says, and he begins to retreat from the area...
Arcee sighs with relief, stepping over to Springer to make sure he's alright -- he can take a LOT of punishment, so typically she's not that worried, but this mind-witch-thing was another story entirely. Backblast gets an impressed grin. "Nice shot," she admits.
Nosecone backsteps as the nurses start to climb over his improvised barricade. But then Solstice steps in to swat them aside. Only to draw their ire in his stead. "Enough of this. All calculations point to the only plausible solution to this situation being to handle it," the pistol has been stowed, if only so he can draw his larger rifle and cock it, "in proper Technobot manner." The rifle roars to life as he starts blasting away at the damned nurses left and right. "Gratuitous gunfire!" It can be a little scary when Nosecone actually starts acting like the more bombastic members of his team.
The corpses on the ground ARE the citizens of Helex. Cosmos was wrong.... none survived, except Crankcase, who an examination will reveal was used by the cultists for certain qualities of his brain.
>> Nosecone strikes Bubble-Head Nurses with Ballistic <High>. <<
Bubble-Head Nurses are overcome by injuries, losing consciousness.
Springer turns just enough the shot doesn't take him as well. He holds the corpse for a moment longer to ensure it isn't moving before he drops it to the ground and re-equips his sword and cuts the creature's head clearly off.... then stomping it to ensure its full destroyed before he looks up and looks around and shrugs.... "Better safe than sorry, yes? It always gets back up in those human movies if you don't remove and destroy the head." He chuckles at Arcee's checking him and lifts his arm up, showing the damaged plating there from a rocket earlier, a bit of his boisterous self returning, "Am good.... just a bit of a scuffing is all."
Backblast walks over to Moxi's corpse and pokes it to make sure she's really dead.... only for Springer to make extra-sure. He watches a moment, and nods "There's a mood." he murmurs, before going back to the cage. "Hey. Hey." He says. "Look at me. You sane? Look at me. I'm the monster now. And I'm an Autobot."
Backblast looks over at Arcee and nods. "Thank-..." He hears the gunfire from Nosecone and watches a moment. "They stopped moving fam? Let off a few more to feel better. Then save the ammo."
Crankcase looks up at Backblast. The top of his head is gone, and it looks like at one point he had a lot of hardware plugged into his head that was subsequently yanked out with no concern for the damage. He stares blankly up at Backblast. Damaged, shell-shocked, but alive.
Crosswise seems to have recovered from whatever it was he faced. "Vell, zhat vas qvite the monster hunt. Ve make a good team, me an' you Autobots!" He moves around and puts an extra bolt in each corpse's head, just in case.
Solstice turns, world seeming like it's in treacle for a click as Moxi falls, then the nurses and then the 'citizens. The halberd is given an expert series of spins after she smacked the nurses herself and she hops backwards, looking around before door wings perk up. A look around to check out her fellows, halberd shrinking, back to axe which is stowed.... and 'Jr. Medical Scanner' pulled back out. "Thinkin' we should get th' Aich ee double hockey sticks outta here. Everyone mobile? We good t' get outta dodge?"
Backblast sighs quietly at CrankCase. "You need a more compassionate medic than me, but I'm all you got." He says, breaking off the lock and performing basic field triage on the poor mech. "And I'm.... working on the compassion part."
Backblast nods, then looks to Springer. "You help get Imager out, I've got this guy."
And Ravage goes to consider over and moves to slowly got to stalk outwards.... Even as there's beeping starting to intensify for those that have good hearing. Up through the tight tunnel they came through...
Dust Devil leans against a wall for a moment, frowning. "Can the digger burrow us outta here? I really don't wanna get locked down here." He sighs and looks at the ground, "Not him.... myself."
Springer nods and moves over to Imager.... and since he is likely the only one here who /can/ do this.... he leans down and picks her up, giving her a proper Princess Carry as he carries her towards the exit.... pausing to wipe a bit of Moxi off his foot on the doorway out.
The gunfire doesn't stop until the last nurse's body collapses to the ground full of holes and the rifle clicks repeatedly at the empty magazine. Which Nosecone quietly ejects, and vents out. ".... Frag this place." The rifle is stowed and he turns back to the others. "One survivor is.... better than none, if depressing." Letting all that out gunning down the horde has settled Nosecone back to his usual impassiveness. "Yes, I can dig us a passage back out." Much the reason he was along after all.
Nosecone folds down into a chunky armored drilling machine.
Dust Devil starts humming the diggy diggy dwarf song as he moves behind Nosecone, "I can help make sure the tunnel behind you is stable if ya trust me ta be right behind ya."
Solstice uhms, and walks over to Backblast and the survivor. There's a flicker of optics, "I can.... help too? Let's just.... get 'em out of here. I've medkit with me. Or.... yeah, nevermind. You got it.." She tucks jr med scanner away and awaits direction, looking around with a sort of glassy optic'd frown.
Springer takes Imager back to Iacon.
And Ravage has spent his time watching. And waiting. The Autobots have spread out and are exhausted and talking about departing. Well, now they've managed to scatter themselves and there's only a tight passage on the way back.... Then there's a high-pitched mania as the scanners go out and the Bots attempt to coordinate themselves.
The purple flashes on each of the small disks kick into overdrive as there's a loud SCREECH from them along the entire passageway, through the medbay, and on some of the mostly empty energon containers!
Ravage's tone fills the air with a taunting "Goooo Baiii Baiii!" As detonations go along the way they came in!
Dust Devil raises his hands and uses his forcefield to try and keep the roof from coming down on them. He angles is so that what does hit, falls to the side rather than making him hold that weight. "Come on guys, get together, I can't hold a large field really...Nosecone, I'm sending you my local maps fer some tunnel options though I'm sure yer skills have already figured."
Backblast sighs as he watches the tunnel collapse "Nice work kid. Anyone recognise that voice?" He shakes his head. "Gonna find out who that was, and I'm gonna.... remind them why it's better to try and stab me in the face, rather than the back."
The exploding and collapsing roof is just the icing on this sh**cake. Fortunately, Nosecone is already on the task, drill revving up and tearing into the nearest wall. First to get everyone out of the chamber, then he'll worry about finding a proper route to somewhere safe.
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "Appreciated, Dust Devil, I can focus primarily on the digging part then."
Solstice tucks doorwings and follows everyone out. "This day just keeps getting better and -better-."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Nice work Nosey.... dig out a little in case whoever that was called something in."
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "That is a good suggestion."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "I'll set charges to bring the tunnel down behind us. As fun as it would be letting this crap out to f<cow moo> with the Cons, the last thing we need is a full outbreak."
Dust Devil snorts at Solstice, "At least yer not tryin ta keep a roof over our heads..." He grins a little. "How are Immy and everyone doin?"
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Mebee anyone that got injured should get a good screenin' as a precaution an system flush."
<<Autobot>> Nosecone says, "That is also a wise suggestion."
<<Autobot>> Para-Droppable PITA Backblast says, "Everyone gets one. Injured or not. Remind me to give Imager back her shotgun."
<<Autobot>> Solstice says, "Roger roger."
Dust Devil keeps up his forcefield though he's going to be wasted when they're done and out. At least they survived