Shuttle Longevity - InteriorBlindside listened to Veneer speaking to him with a clenched sadness in his spark. He kept it out of his faceplate with some effort but it was still there. Veneer had this small issue of his worries being infectious despite some of Blindside's best efforts to let them roll off. Searching for any way to break through the haze of darkness, a certain particular solution came to mind. It was a little mean. Ok, maybe more than a little, but the mischievous part of Blindside could hardly resist.
>>"Of course I'll be safe Vee. Stop worrying. It's just Hardhead that I'm going up against! You know, the Hardhead with the big guns that used to be one of our heaviest hitters? Yeah. That Hardhead. So no worries, it'll be a snap,"<< Blindside said with the hint of a grin on his face. He let there be a pause. Not too long, otherwise Vee would completely flip out.
>>"Just kidding, Vee,"<< Blindside assured - except that he wasn't kidding -
>>"I'll probably get stuck on aerial support. You know, bombing runs from high up above."<<Blindside left the communication to Veneer open while he awaited a response. However, it was his companion Howlstrike that captured his attention next.
“Interesting," Howlstrike finally replied in a low tone so that once again only Blindside could hear him.
“This bloodthirsty and vicious persona that you are trying to convince me of doesn’t seem to match your outward appearance. Maybe you should consider changing your alt mode into something more akin to a beast. After all, there are plenty of predatory animals on Earth to chose from that could aid your more ferocious side. I can even help you if you like."Blindside grinned and leaned over to Howlstrike. "And give up my wings? That's a tough sell,
Howl. Real tough. There's nothing quite like flying." Blindside seemed to have finally gotten through to Howlstrike, which, honestly, surprised the blind tactician a little bit. Maybe he had picked up some of Veneer's persistence somewhere along the way. Maybe Blindside's people skills hadn't degraded as much as he thought they had being cooped up in a medical bay for so long. Not that he had minded terribly. Vee had been there after all.
You know, maybe I was wrong about you, Blindside," Howlstrike cautiously admitted, placing his right arm around the tactician’s shoulders like an old friend.
"Oh yeah?" Blindside replied with a wry smile.
“If you really are as savage as you claim then we’ll get along just fine on this little mission. Of course, if you’re not, well, at least you won’t have to actually see me as I tear you to shreds for lying. Heh." Blindside's smile fell flat as he considered if Howlstrike were actually serious or not. It made Blindside wonder if there was a certain standard of savagery that Howl had in mind or...would any amount do...or...? Blindside broke off his pondering as Howlstrike's grin grew wider.
“Kidding!""Pfffft, hahaha! Oh man, you had me going!" Blindside chuckled lowly. It occurred to the blind mechanoid that this was probably karma getting back at him for his vicious little prank on Veneer. Ah, well. He
did deserve it. Blindside slung his own arm around the former Predacon's shoulders amiably. Blindside was rather pleased to have made a new friend. Not that this particular choice in a friend was going to make him very popular with the other Autobots, but he didn't particularly care about what anyone else thought.
Blindside turned his attention over to Prowl as he began to speak up, having had noted the congregation of authority figures a while ago. Work together with the Decepticons, divide and conquer...diversions. It was sounding like a sound battle strategy if one that was a little hard to swallow for most Autobots. Blindside had no qualms about working with the Decepticons if it was mutually beneficial. The tactician really expected no less of Prowl.
“Good," Prowl continued.
”If anyone wishes to volunteer to join Smokescreen’s diversion team, you are welcome to do so. The risks are high but they will be necessary if we are to succeed."“I volunteer," Howlstrike growled out suddenly from beside Blindside. The tactician blinked - a reflex left over from when he possessed optics - in surprise and looked at his new found friend. As the former predacon rose from his seat, Blindside unslung his arm hastily so that Howl could rise unfettered.
“I’ll help Smokes and so will Blindside here," Howl added looking down at his new found friend.
“Won’t you buddy?""Oh. Oh, yeah! I'd love to help!" Blindside called from the rear of cabin with a wave of his hand. Blindside spared a 'glance', meaning he just turned his head in Smokescreen's general direction and looked at the mech using his sonar capabilities. The rally bot didn't look too enthused about having them along for the ride, but he still smiled at them. Blindside supposed Howlstrike got this kind of treatment...most of the time.
As the ex-Predacon sat back down next to the disabled tactician, Blindside gave him an affectionate clap on the back, before leaning in and speaking in low tones once more, "Well, I guess that should get us closer to Hardhead. I'll be glitched if he doesn't look to thrilled to be working with us though," Blindside shook his head and let out a sigh, "Ah well, doesn't matter as long as we get our shot at Hardhead."
Blindside tilted his head toward Howlstrike as a thought occurred to him. "Oh, and I can 'see' just fine by the way," Blindside added air quotations for effect on the word see, "You don't have to worry about me getting blown up by a bomb I didn't see coming. Just to let you know."
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"Hey there little buddy."Who? Rewind looked up to see a ginormous Autobot towering over him, casting a rather formidable shadow on the tiny archivist's small frame. Rewind's optic ridges shot up as he slowly looked vertically into Railway's face. Oh. Rewind let the much larger mech take the broken drone with little resistance, still a little stunned by the sheer size of the mech standing next to him.
"What's a little guy like you doing down here trying to carry things twice your size?""Hi big guy," Rewind finally managed, regaining some of his composure. This guy probably turned into something ridiculous like a jumbo space jet or some kinda of armored carrier or-or something! Actually...this guy was kind of familiar...Rewind decided to answer the mech while he tried to place him.
"Ah, well, Hound was helping 'Bee inside and no one else was around, so I just thought I'd do my part. You know," Rewind glanced backward as the bay doors shut, and he felt the little upward jerk that meant they were on their way. To the Fallen. Fun. At least it would be one hell of a documentary if they all lived through this! First hand footage of the Fallen! For the archives! "So, ah, you ready to-"
Rewind suddenly snapped his fingers and pointed at the hulking mech beside him. "You're
Railway! Terror of the tracks! Right? Your alternate mode is a locomotive engine right? I'm not sure if I have audio files of your transformation sequence. Sure, I've got others...but...you mind transforming for me real quick? For the Archives. Please?"
Before Railway could answer him one way or another, Prowl began to speak, discussing their plan of attack. Rewind wasn't quite sure where he fit into things, but he resolved to go wherever Chromedome went. If only to keep the mnemosurgeon from doing something stupid like trying to make up for lost time acting like Optimus Prime. Rewind didn't need Chromedome doing any stunts.