1366/Pandora's Opening

Cast of Characters: | 12, Hammerstrike, Healthpoint, Goth, 135

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
It hasn't been terribly long since the mysterious shapeshifter had been spotted by the Decepticons in the outskirts of Stanix, not far from Maccadam's, and it has been even less time since Juris had written a report about her findings concerning Mimic's location through the courtesy of Blast Off and Buzzsaw.

 Consequently, it is most likely that at least a couple of Autobots have since seen the report and are investigating - meanwhile, Decepticons are making their way to Mimic's secret bunker now, hoping to discover more about the deranged outlier's intentions.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth was slinking through the place as per-normal, he was starting to wonder what was with this outlier and bunkers.. His optics where ignited as a full green as he scanned the dark hallways of the bunker as he moved, and spoke in a whisper into his communlink as he went. "<<How are things looking on your end, Sixshot?>>"

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
<<Doesn't seem too cramped. The mech seems to love their hiding places.>>, Sixshot replies as he makes his way through the tunnels. Optics scanning for anything out of place, <<Any clear signs of our quarry or their lair?>> The mechawolf idly sniffs the air, thinking maybe to request sensor upgrades in the future.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
There is nothing slinky or stealthy about Hammerstrike's movements. They are slow, deliberate, and while he isn't going out of his way to make noise, it is nonetheless inevitable as he makes his way through the tunnels. He is just an able body that could be spared to look into the tips the Autobots had received concerning the possible whereabouts of the mercurial shapeshifter. However, in terms of communication, Hammerstrike is his usual silent self.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint was only barely any more stealthy than Hammerstrike, send in to provide backup and field medicine if needed. She's read the reports about Mimic and is on edge. A mech that is trying to erase everyone's memory? That...well, actually that might not be as bad as all that. But, the possible side effects of his activities are too grave to ignore, not to mention the probability that it would just delay things rather than stop them. So, she is here, hoping they can talk him down. But, she is prepared to help take him down if it is necessary.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The hallway is cleanly swept, and Goth will notice as much. Everyone else won't really be able to tell much - it's pitch black down here, not even helmlights will reveal much detail about their surroundings.

 However, at the end of the tunnel, they'll reach a room full of... well, science stuff. Sparking wires litter the floor, as well as varying tools. On the far side of the room is a console displaying a several slow moving progress bars of some sort. Three of them are already completed, but the fourth is still slowly inching towards 100. What are they for? Who knows. The console doesn't really give any context, and the desk it's sitting on is interestingly devoid of well, anything.

 However, on the opposing side of the room, the sound of a a closet door opening and closing can be heard, and the rather familiar looking shadow of a certain blue speedster passes over the concrete floor...

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth frowns seeing the computer, but Mimic mascorating as Blurr gets his attention quickly, Goth has his own reasons for wanting to stop mimic, which.. Ironically align with the bots, but he's not going to admit that.. so that should count themselves lucky... He'd start sleenking his way to the mimic, sending Sixshot coordination data.

      He's unsure how well Mimic could see him, but, well, Goth keeps his color pallet a solid color for a reason! and this darkness was it! So like it or not he was probably going to be spotted the /second/ shots were fired.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot slowly makes his way to Goths position upon receiving the data packet. Optics shift left to right before protoforming back to root mode. For the moment the bots are unnoticed thanks to the dark. For now he focuses on his current target as he draws quickly his blasters and takes aim at the familiar shadow. Not wasting anytime as he announces himself with his shots.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The shapeshifter is struck by the sixchanger!

 "You /again/?" he howls in anger. "You are accelerating your own demise. Just think.. if the war could end tomorrow, if you could forget about it all, erase the past... /wouldn't/ you??"

 The fake Blurr reveals himself fully, fists clenched.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
It isn't sight so much as sound that cases Hammerstrike to draw his mighty hammer. The sound of violence and then voices echoing causes Hammerstrike to charge the rest of the way into the sterile laboratory. Hammerstrike slows, looking between the consoles, the Decepticons, and the fake Blurr. Seeing one of his own gives him pause, but it's been well documented that the mimic often takes Blurr's shape. Gripping his hammer tightly, instead of going for anyone in particular, he slams the hammer into the ground near one of the consoles, sending a wave of force outward from where he hits to those in the room.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint charges in after Hammerstrike, her syringe launcher at the ready on one arm and one of her scalpel-swords readied on the other. The Blurr look-alike gives her pause for a moment as well. As do the Decepticons. Hammerstrike tries to hit everyone, but Healthpoint isn't really equipped for that in her robot form. So, she just fires one of her syringes at Mimic. "Some of bots don't -have- any memory from before the war! Where will this overzealous plan of yours leave those, huh?"

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth snarls. "... No, because my present and future, would not exist without said past." He'd state cryptically, course Sixshot here is probably the only one that could piece together what that meant, however Goth is smacked pretty hard by Hammerstrike, he'd cough hard a couple of times, that did NOT help his venting issues!

      Goth shakes his helm hard and Snarls, ignoring the bots in favour of Mimic, and in something he'd not attempt in a while, that index claw of his is brought upward, and Goth immediately /swings/ it at the Mimic's chassis, attempting to dig into his Spark chamber.

      He can somewhat /empathise/ with the autobot medic, ew... He's going to need to bath after this.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshots optics narrow, "You know nothing of my past to even know if I would accept such a thing." He quickly steadies himself as the shockwave ripples through the room. He glances to Hammerstrike saying, "Stay out of the way or get slagged. Both of you."

 Turning his attention back on the Mimic he wishes there was more room to transform but then there would be the risk of collapsing the area, least in some forms. For now the Sixchanger moves forward and attempts to strike out on any weakpoints he can find.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The Autobots attempt to harm the shapeshifter, but he easily evades them.

 Transforming, he moves out of the way of Healthpoint's attack. "Then it will be like a rebirth for them. All the misery, pain, and suffering the war has brought, they will forget, and receive a new slate. A chance to re-do everything they ever regretted. How is that /not/ attractive? Don't you wish you could be reborn, and forget the war entirely?"

 "Foolish," he mutters to no one in particular. "You don't know what's good for you!"

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike lifts his hammer, looking almost as if he were about to smash the consoles. But there is hesitation. He doesn't know if it would actually stymy the mimic's plans or not. And valuable information could be gleaned. Instead, he sets his sights on the mimic. He doesn't bother trying to argue with the mimic. There's no point in reasoning with madmechs. And that is what the Mimic is, right? Right? He just levels a scathing stare at the Mimic.

Hammerstrike spares Sixshot a brief scowl and a grunt. But it seems he has no intention of listening to the Dececpticon. Instead he tries to see where the hovercraft is headed and moves into its path, swinging his hammer in a broad, powerful arcing motion to bring it down on the polymorph.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      "Maybe you don't know what is good for us, either. The memory of this war could be the only thing that prevents a war like this from happening again!" Healthpoint says. She charges for Mimic this time, aiming a syringe-laden punch at his chassis. "What makes you think you know any better than anyone else on Cybertron, anyway? And how much testing have you done to ensure that you don't just kill everyone on Cybertron or something?!"

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
"Any and everyone can be programmed," Mimic says in response to Healthpoint. "Idiot! I've dedicated my life to studying this method. Greymatter would have been proud."

 And then the Autobots strike again, and this time, get lucky. The shapeshifter is taking a beating.

 So what does he do? He vanishes.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth is once again struck rather hard! to the point he's actually leaking energon now from his jaw, his optics narrow and snarls, and he looks angry, very angry if not a bit desperate, he see's Mimic vanish and growls "Sixshot!" He'd call as he sent data regarding where Mimic was headed with his scouter that switched into it's heat-sensitive mode.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Of all the times for his T-Cog to freeze, lucky it was not in mid transformation. Sixshots optics flash green instead of their usual red as he once again pulls both blasters out, "Not so fast!" He quickly opens fire with both barrels towards the fleeing mech.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The shapeshifter disappears from sight, but only to be spotted by the mecha-bat.

 Caught off guard, he howls in pain as Sixshot's shot pummels him.

 "You.. you don't understand!" he cries, and boosters engaging, the shapeshifter makes a beeline straight for the tunnels, exiting the premises.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      "Then explain it instead of just insisting you know best!" Healthpoint shouts after Mimic.

      Which leaves them alone with a pair of pretty dangerous Decepticons. Healthpoint eyes them for a few moments, then vents lightly. "So, what now? Doesn't seem like fighting here will accomplish much. And I doubt we would be able to track him in these dark tunnels." she says. She looks toward the lift that brought them here, then back at the Cons. "So...just call it a cycle?"

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Whilst Hammerstrike's signature hammer manages to connect once, a second swing comes too late as the mimic speeds off. Hammerstrike strumbles forward, steadying himself to regain his balance. He then looks over at Healthpoint, and then to the Decepticons. He moves to put himself between Healthpoint and the Decepticons as best he can. At first his stance is hostile, but then he seems to eases back to a more guarded state. But he does not put away his hammer as he watches the Decepticons warily.

Healthpoints suggestion does seem to cause him to look as though he might object... but then he bears down and says nothing.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth growls under his vents. "Oh I plenty understand.. stupid glitch, will die." he'd grumble, his faux fur ruffling and standing on end as he doesn't let his guard down as he stares now at the bots from the dark.. Must be weird, seeing nothing but red bio lights and a pair of forest green optics in this darkness and then...

      He just looks momentarily confused, and doesn't answer, the fact he's only a corporal shows as he looks over to his Captain, Sixshot, for that answer... He does look at the computer though.. They can't /really/ see him so he starts inching to it as he waits for Sixshot's answer.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot turns to focus on the Bots, "Not going to waste anymore energon with you two." He doesn't even glance at Goth or the rest of the room as he watches the pair. Let the bat have his chance with the computer.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint glances at Hammerstrike as he seems like he might say something, but then as usual he doesn't. She vents softly and doesn't move yet. She doesn't want to surrender a possible trove of information to the Cons. They don't seem to be leaving either, but he did say he wouldn't waste energon on them, sooooo...she also starts inching toward the computer. She's no super scientist, but she figures she should be able to get something if there is something to get. "Right. No need to waste energon. So, you won't mind if I..." She blinks as she realizes a set of lights is moving toward the computer as well. "...uh...see what's on this computer?" She pauses, watching those lights, and finally shines her helm light toward them.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
It looks like the progress bars have all finished loading as soon as Goth comes over to it. It makes a sound of confirmation before the dialog itself disappears completely. The console now shows a desktop that has a couple icons on it. One of them is the trash bin, the other is an encrypted message file. Goth will have to try to crack the encryption in order to view its contents...

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Goth succeeds at decrypting the message file and upon opening it, those viewing the screen will see a subject line, and a few sentences in the body of the message. It reads:

 Blurr,

 I miss you. Remember when you used talk for cycles on end? You didn't know how to control yourself back then, but I was so lonely, any company was welcome. Your endless rants distracted me from my trapped existence. I was so grateful for your friendship. Oh, how I wish for peace. For all this senseless violence to stop, and for us to resume the lives we had, without Greymatter or Axle present.

 There's also an attachment on the message file, and opening it at first seems to do nothing, but a nanosecond later, they'll hear a clank coming from the hallway....

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
The sixchanger doesn't make a aggressive move as his blasters are back in their maglocks though his stance is obvious that he's ready for anything, "You can try." Sixshot ignores the large pair as his optics narrow at the sound. He quickly turns and rushes down the hallway, sensors on high alert for whatever is down there.

**Goth has posed:**
     Theeres Gothy! One black, furry Decepta-Bat! He squints at her. "If you're trying to blind me I fear you need something better then that." He'd say dryly as he also made his way over to the computer, he was... rather relaxed if not guarded, he wasn't going to lash at her because, honestly, he also needed what was on this computer to figure out how to impede or stop Mimic some out.

      He'd roll his optics as she failed. "Move." He'd say as he went over and started effortlessly dealing with the computer... He raises a ridge at the message. "...This bot has issues." He says dryly to himself, and then his ear twitches at the clank and he looks back, scanning the darkness.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint just lets out a bit of an annoyed 'mmph' at the comment about blinding. "I wasn't trying to blind you." And an even bigger mmph as she fails to crack the code and has to step aside for the Con. She stays close, and for a moment forgets that they are enemies as the message is revealed. "...yes, but whether those issues are complete insanity or..." She stops as she realizes that they -are- enemies and she could reveal information that the Cons do not yet have.

      That clank makes the large medic flinch and quickly spin around to aim her weapon at...she doesn't even know what. Sixshot rushes down the hallway, and Healthpoint looks toward Hammerstrike before motioning with her head. They should check it out, too. She makes her way in that directly, though is quite happy to let the dangerous Decepticon go into whatever ambush is about to happen.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The hallway has a hidden door apparently. It would seem that clicking on the attachment has triggered its opening.

Behind the hidden door is a small, dark room, that has a single trapdoor embedded in the floor.

Healthpoint and Sixshot may notice that the tunnel ahead of them is covered in blood. The shapeshifter must have been very badly damaged...

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Once he arrives in the room Sixshot looks to the energon trail then around till he spots the trapdoor. Looking back he ponders pulling it open or let the Autobots check for traps. Theres no obvious clue if theres anything dangerous besides himself for a moment as he tightbeams, <<These bots are going to be a nuisance with whatever is hidden here. If you have any suggestions, relay them.>>

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth stays back a moment, looking over the computer before he carefully follows the group, taking note of all the energon, he wasn't to pulsed by it, he's done and seen worse. "Hmph.." He'd note the box and looked at the letters, raising a ridge. "<<Agreed, I'm unsure what to do at the moment though..>>"

      His optics and scouter would zoom in on the locks and squint. "<<...Oh, lovely, word puzzles.>>" He'd sigh, he'd also just remember, he was still bleeding himself. "<<Unfortunately I have a helm ache at the moment from being run over, so It's making it hard to decipher such words.. that and i am bilingual, thus I know about two different languages and words that could fit.>>" He'd sit there, tapping his face plat as he thought.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      She hasn't been shot yet, so Healthpoint cautiously continues forward. "...what's this?" she asks to no one in particular as she looks down at the padlocks. "A puzzle of some kind...word locks instead of numbers." She steps forward and crouches in front of the trap door to try and puzzle this out. She realizes she has her back to the Decepticons and nonchallantly shuffles around until she is at least facing them. "Any ideas?" she asks them, mostly just to keep tension from mounting.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot looks to Healthpoint half tempted to blast her. If was possible would just try to force the trapdoor open. He doesn't answer the Autobot as he looks to Goth unsure whether to attempt the puzzle or drive the enemies out.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth glances back, he's not exactly sure on this as well, honestly he's tired and this injury of his is making him more and more irritable as he leaves it intended to... He'd shift into the shadows a moment to quickly transform and deal with the damage.