Soft music thumped around a city block, it's source not apparent until a dark wooden door opens allowing it to spill out into the night air. A young woman and her date for the night walk close as they laugh about something that was said. The two walk down the cobbled street continuing in a hushed conversation mixed with more laughter.

"Elegance," Jazz's voice breaks into the Autobots thoughts, "Elegance. Do you see the target?" While she wasn't able to actually doze off like a human would, it was still not uncommon for a bot's mind to wander. The precessor kicks into high gear as it runs over the operational data. She was supposed to be watching the human woman, the daughter of a dignitary that intel had turned up about a possible snatch and grab. If the Decepticons grabbed her, they could force the dignitary to give up access to his country's oil reserves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBtPf7FOoM

She keeps Moët et Chandon
In her pretty cabinet.
"Let them eat cake" she says
Just like Marie Antoinette.
A built-in remedy
For Khrushchev and Kennedy.
At any time an invitation
You can't decline.

'I hear you.' Elegance replied languidly, spinning up her processors and stretching out her servos. 'I just hear Queen more.' Now there was music, true artistry, that lasted the test of time.

Her audio sensors might be near overwhelmed, and indeed actually focused on, the music spilling from the club, but her optic sensors had quickly identified the target: Fatima Raihani, daughter of the ambassador of the unfortunately named, too-recently democratised Republic of Karabomia, known for its oil reserves, especially to Decepticons. Elegance had been tailing her, one way or another, for some time now, with the support, or at least tolerance, of the British and Karabomian governments. Fortunately, Fatima and her friends knew, and could afford, some very swanky London clubs, and were keen to explore them. And so was Elegance. It was just a pity she couldn't fit through the door. But there was as much of a social scene in the street outside, where everybody paused to look over the beautiful Jaguar E-Type, its silver-blue paint and chrome gleaming in the lights.

Caviar and cigarettes.
Well versed in etiquette.
Extraordinarily nice.

'I see, as you put it, the target. I presume I should follow her?' Elegance reported to Jazz, fellow Autobot and music-lover, already powering up her engines. If Fatima was on the move, then so were the Decepticons – assuming they were here, as Elegance sensibly did. Almost nothing could get past her surveillance, but she wasn't about to bet on almost. From her sensors, she emitted sonar and radar sweeps for anything out of the ordinary in the neighbourhood. Out of the ordinary being anything Cybertronian, Earth military, or just in sheer bad taste. Decepticons usually were.

She's a Killer Queen.
Gunpowder, gelatine.
Dynamite with a laser beam.
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Any time.


OOC: Trying Surveillance: 8, a success.
11:22, Today: Elegance rolled 11 using 2d10 with rolls of 3,8. surveillance.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

"Optimus wants us to watch her closely," Jazz's voice says in her comms. "I'm in over watch less than a block away, but she's quickly getting out of my sight. I'm going to have to move soon."

Elegance's sensors pick up the small transponder they'd attached to her purse only an hour ago. If she was in a hurry, their ponderous movements didn't play that out.

An odd signal does suddenly pop up on her sensors, but it's quickly ruled out as her security detail making their moves. The van figuratively dripped with incompetence, but that wasn't really the humans' fault. Their equipment just wasn't as advanced as hers was.

Then, another blip pops up. This one disappears almost as fast as it appeared, and it was about a mile away.

'Now that doesn't belong in Soho...' Elegance noted curiously as she read the radar contact, quickly reporting to Jazz 'A blip on my radar, approximately 1.64 klicks away, bearing north five degrees west. It's gone now, but I imagine it will be crashing the party soon enough.'

Pausing only for a photo with some admirers, Elegance slipped her clutch and began to roll slowly down the street after Fatima and her friend. The hologram of a valet in her driver's seat made all this look perfectly natural to the humans. 'Don't worry, Jazz, I'm going to watch her very closely.'

Then the Jaguar E-Type slowed to a halt beside Fatima and her date, its door springing open in front of them. 'Don't forget your car, sir.' the valet said with a wink and smile, climbing out and tossing the surprised boyfriend something that looked like keys. Come on, take them, impress her. I'm the classiest ride you'll ever have for a date. Elegance silently urged them.

Recommended at the price.
Insatiable an appetite.
Wanna try?


OOC: I don't know what if anything to roll to persuade them to get in.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Sat 12 Jan 2019.

The young man gives the decoy an odd look, but the chance at driving such a car overrides his caution. Opening the passenger door for Fatima, he quickly jogs around to the driver seat. He rubs his hands over the steering wheel in awe as he puts Elegance into great and rolls away from the curb. "Where did you get this?" Fatima asks in Arabic, her tone indicates that she is not happy. "I bet father sent it. Why can't I get one night without him watching? Ah, and there are his cronies."

The security van comes into view, it's blacked out windows making it difficult to see inside.  It isn't rushing up on them, but it is keeping pace. Now that she's inside, Elegance can hear the every soft pinging of a human tracking device.

"I saw it too and I'm going to investigate," Jazz says as he moved in the direction of the signal. "Keep her safe," with that he moves away.

That would fall under GM fiat. Lol

'I will.' Elegance assured Jazz. She liked the Autobot; he shared her love of Earth culture and music, though his taste in vehicle modes left something to be desired. She began searching local events calendars for an outdoor orchestra they could attend.

At the centre of the three-armed E-Type steering wheel was the customary Jaguar badge, but the roaring cat symbol in the centre was replaced by an angular, robotic, yet still somewhat feline face.

The human no doubt thought he was driving, but Elegance merely drove herself in the direction he seemed to want to go, for now, pulling away from the curb and down the street. She was regretful she'd interrupted their date like this and upset Fatima, but, to coin a phrase, needs must when the Decepticon drives. For now, she kept her identity quiet, though she switched the radio on so she could continue listening to Queen, which had been playing at the club.

To avoid complications
She never kept the same address.
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness.

The human in her driver's seat wanted to go left, but Elegance didn't like the street layout or the proximity to the blip, so she turned right. 'Recalculating...' she said through her GPS. She conducted another radar/sonar sweep, and especially examined the security van in her rear-view mirrors. There was something about it she didn't like the look of, and it wasn't just the design.

OOC: If you want Surveillance again, 9, a success (always automatic successes, actually)
11:22, Today: Elegance rolled 11 using 2d10 with rolls of 3,8. surveillance.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sun 13 Jan 2019.

Again, the odd signature already and then disappears, but she gets a little more information. It's definitely a Decepticon signature, but it's gone before it can be identified. "I saw it again," Jazz says. "There's only one Decepticon that I know of that can mask her signature, Slipstream."

The human security van has some chatter going on as their computers are searching for car rental companies and the boy's name.

You may auto succeed in your attempt, but that doesn't mean you can detect that which is telling to hide. 3:)

"Where are we going?" Fatima asks her date.

"I don't know the human male says. I keep trying to steer, but it keeps correcting."

"Should I call my father?" she asks with concern in her voice.

'Confirmed, it has Decepticon all over it.' Elegance reported, disapproval dripping from her vocaliser. 'But isn't her alt-mode a jet? Seems in poor taste for a street operation.' she sniffed.

Meanwhile, she could hear Fatima starting to worry, and decided it was time to come clean. Worried humans were unpredictable, uncooperative, and scuffed the leather interior. 'Best not.' Elegance answered aloud, the badge on the steering wheel flashing to indicate she was speaking, and no doubt surprising them both. 'The Decepticons may be eavesdropping on terrestrial communications... Ah, but where are my manners? Good evening, my name is Elegance, an Autobot agent and your ride home this evening. We have intel that the Decepticons may try to kidnap you to force your father to surrender Karabomia's oil reserves. It is my mission to ensure they don't.'

Met a man from China.
Went down to Geisha Minah.
Then again, incidentally,
If you're that way inclined.

Elegance suddenly turned an unexpected corner, weaving through the traffic or disappearing through a darker alley. She was using the streets as a maze to lose herself in, or any potential tails – Karabomian security, Decepticon, or otherwise. It was just a pity she'd chosen such a noticeable and memorable vehicle mode, even in London. But she had no regrets.


OOC: I mean I auto-succeed against myself, as I can only roll under. Rolling over an opponent, on the other hand...
Surveillance, 6
10:30, Today: Elegance rolled 7 using 2d10 with rolls of 1,6. surveillance.

Trying Espionage for stealth (concealing in traffic and streets, losing tails), 9 versus 5, that's a fail. :(
10:27, Today: Elegance rolled 16 using 2d10 with rolls of 9,7. espionage.

"I'll meet you here," a pin appears on her internal mapping program, "in 10 minutes, then we'll head to Karbombia's embassy." With that he transforms and heads that way. "Slipstream can look different with her holo technology. Be careful."

"Decepticons?!?" Fatima says, clearly exasperated. "We must head to the embassy." With that she pulls out a pistol that's an obvious Cybertronian knock off from her purse and starts looking out her window. Her date is just transfixed, unsure how to react to talking cars and energy weapons.

Weaving in and out of traffic, Elegance is just a minute or two from the rendezvous point, when a voice barges it's way into her comms, "Give the fleshings up and I won't destroy you immediately."

'The embassy it is.' Elegance confirmed for Fatima, though it would be after any rendezvous with Jazz. Acting for the convenience of human politics, really wasn't her concerned, only protecting human lives. She noted the Cybertronian-style energy weapon in Fatima's hand, remarking with faint disapproval 'And I'll ask you where you got that later. For now, put it away, before you make yourself a target.'

Perfume came naturally from Paris.
For cars she couldn't care less.
Fastidious and precise.

Elegance was making another surprise turn when she heard what had to be the voice of Slipstream. She replied with calculated amusement 'Oh? And if I don't, I suppose you'll destroy me slowly over some arbitrary length of time? Very well, I'll take that. After all, it might take you centuries.' While she kept her talking, she made another sonar and radar sweep to locate the Decepticon, and to find a nice dark garage to conceal herself in.


OOC: Surveillance 7, Espionage 4
20:00, Today: Elegance rolled 10 using 2d10 with rolls of 3,7. surveillance.
20:00, Today: Elegance rolled 11 using 2d10 with rolls of 7,4. espionage.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Sat 19 Jan 2019.

"Oh pretty," Slipstream's voice says in a velvety purr, "I was hoping for you to say that." The human van that had been keeping up with her suddenly melts away revealing the hovering alt form of the Decepticon. A glint of fire in the dark is the only warning Elegance gets as the missiles streak tword her.

A quick turn causes the missile to slam into the street.

Let's just do a she goes, you go style of combat. I'm trying to think of a way to stream line this though.

06:12, Today: The All Spark rolled 10 using 1d10 with rolls of 10.  Accuracy 7. That's a miss

As she executed a quick turn to evade the missile, Elegance was a little peeved to see that Slipstream had done to her more or less the very holo-trick that she'd been hoping to do herself. Pity hers only worked in robot mode. C'est la vie. C'est la guerre.

During the sharp turn, Elegance automatically raised her windows and her soft-top roof to protect her human passengers. Even without a direct hit, shrapnel could rain down on them, and do more to them than scratch paintwork. Fortunately, her canopy was made of stronger stuff than rainproof cloth. 'Check your seatbelts, this ride may get a little bumpy.' she warned them coolly.

Meanwhile, abruptly switching gears, Elegance let herself keep turning, swerving around, until she'd spun 360° and was facing Slipstream head-on, flashing the E-Type smile. 'Did you miss me?' she purred back, 'I won't.' Her bumper gleamed, and two silver missiles streaked from the ovoid mouth, pelting the jet with energon-draining, metal-straining force.

She's a Killer Queen.
Gunpowder, gelatine.
Dynamite with a laser beam.
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Any time.

Immediately, Elegance accelerated into top gear, surging underneath Slipstream, darting into the correct lane and away, hoping to get away again before she recovered and caught up. 'Jazz! Slipstream's on my bumper. Trying to lose her now.'


OOC: Fine by me, this is my first battle, and I'm still working it out.
Low Fuel Consumption: 1d6 = +4 energon
Action: use Energon Bow, two attacks, drain 1 energon
#1: attack 10, critical success; energon damage 1
#2: attack 5, success; energon damage 5
Burn: Save (Courage/Trooper) or take 1 damage at end of turn for 3 rounds

Move: Dash, move 11 areas the hell away.

While the bolts strike home, she gets away with only minor damage. "Oh. Resist. I like that."

"In almost there," Jazz says and she can hear the effort in his voice just before he plummets from the roof of a nearby building right into Slipstream.

"Get. Off. Me. Autobum!!" Slipstream struggles under the weight of Jazz as she starts to lift off.

Meanwhile, inside of Elegance. "Don't you worry were I got this Row-bot." Fatima says the last word in English. "My father knows much about your kind. I can help in my own defense." She rolls down a window and squeezes off her own shot into the night. If it hit, it doesn't show up on the Autobot's sensors.

The human male seems content to just keep his head down as the rubble guess flying.

"Ah!" Jazz calls out in surprise as he holds on for dear life.

19:13, Today: The All Spark rolled 7 using 1d10 with rolls of 7.  Courage 9.

19:12, Today: The All Spark rolled 13 using 2d10 with rolls of 9,4.  Endurance 6.

Drop of a hat, she's as willing as.
Playful as a pussy cat.

Elegance watched in surprised as, on her scope, two blips became one and, in her rear-view mirror, Jazz crashed onto Slipstream. 'I didn't say "get on her bumper".' she chided him, almost amused, almost hiding her alarm, and almost jealously. But of which one? Internally, Elegance was debating whether to let Jazz continue distracting Slipstream while she transported her humans to safety and completed the mission, or if she should help Jazz deal with Slipstream first. In the end, the threat of Slipstream dropping Jazz from high atmosphere into the middle of London made her decision for her.

'Very well, but try not to hit anything.' she told Fatima as she executed an abrupt U-turn and went back for Jazz.

Speeding on, Elegance weaved deftly through the traffic, some of which was now, for her, coming the wrong way. She accelerated faster and faster, the city flashing by in streaks of light and Doppler-shifted sound, and then suddenly swerved sideways, forward momentum sending her flying, rolling the E-Type through the air. With a thud, she collided with a wall, tires first, still spinning until a tread more like the toes of a gecko caught hold. Then incredibly she kept going, straight up the tower.

Then momentarily out of action,
Temporarily out of gas,
To absolutely drive you wild, wild.
She's all out to get you.

'Hold on, I'm going to try a little of this Jet Judo that's so popular.' she warned Jazz over their comms.


OOC: Driving back, leaping onto a wall, and using Adhesive Tires to drive up the side of a tall building to get above Slipstream. Yes.
Speed 11, Acrobatics 4
14:45, Today: Elegance rolled 16 using 2d10 with rolls of 8,8. dash, speed 8.
14:48, Today: Elegance rolled 4 using 1d10 with rolls of 4. acrobatics 10.

Slipstream flies shakenly up into the sky as Jazz scrambles to get a better hold. Sounds of whirling gears fill the deserted industrial area as she tries in vain to shake him off. Both grunt with the effort of their actions as Fatima gives Elegance a dismissive click of her tongue.

As she starts to climb the tower, both her passengers' eyes widen, one in fear and one in surprise. Leaning out again as the Autobot climbs the tower, Fatima squeezes off another shot, this time pinging the Decepticon. It didn't seem to do a whole lot of damage, but it that cold just be that it wasn't a solid shot. The power levels are odd coming from such a small weapon.

Okay, you're close to them. What are you doing to do?

OOC: Can I drop Fatima and friend safely off on the roof? I'd guess so, but I'll confirm the location first.

Also, I assumed we were still in the middle of London, or did we wisely relocate somewhere safe?

Yes you can.

You're just inside of a warehouse district that's just outside of an industrial district. It's pretty safe from prying eyes.

Elegance drove until she ran out of wall, and then ran out of momentum, attaining maximum height somewhere in the air above the building. Then, starting to fall, she transformed, the E-Type coming apart around Fatima and her friend, parts unfolding, rotating, sliding, expanding, twisting through dimensions beyond human perception. 'I want to have a look at that gun later.' she told Fatima, after a quick scan of the thing, right before she ejected the pair of them roughly onto the roof. 'Now get under cover!'

Mid-air, she finished her transformation, parts coming together into a magnificent robot clad in sleek silvery-blue plate armour with gleaming chrome trim, a long black coat unfurling from her back and fluttering in the wind. Her face was quickly shuttered over by a battle-mask, giving her the aspect of a medieval English crusading knight. The front bumper was folded over her left arm, now clearly an ornate longbow. And in right hand was a massive longsword with a straight blade singing with power.

Then she dropped, down on Jazz and Slipstream, sword swiping through the air to slash the jet with all the gravitational force of her fall...

She's a Killer Queen!


OOC: Free: Surveillance on Fatima's gun, 10, critical success.
15:23, Today: Elegance rolled 11 using 2d10 with rolls of 1,10. surveillance 10.
Free: Transform into robot mode
Move: Fall artfully on top of Slipstream
Standard: attack Slipstream with sonic sword, melee attack 6, damage 5 hp; Cone attacks three squares in a line, hopefully missing Jazz; and Push Slipstream down 2 areas, plus 1 area for every size I am larger than her, hopefully back to the ground.
Free: try to land safely, Acrobatics 9
16:03, Today: Elegance rolled 9 using 1d10 with rolls of 9. acrobatics 10.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

If Jazz's move was reckless, Elegance's was pure beauty of form. The scan data safely tucked away for later review, she doesn't even listen to the human's rude retort as she leaps, crashing to the Decepticon and easily sending her crashing to the ground with a boom that is sure to have been heard miles away, possibly even to the Queen herself.

"Ah!!" Slipstream cries out as both Autobots land on top of her, causing further damage. The force of the landing cause both Jazz and Elegance to bounce off and away, Jazz lands in a crouch while Elegance lands on her feet. Slipstream does not look good as she pulls herself to her feet, transforming but clearly something is badly damaged. "You've won this one Autobrat, but I will get even with you." She coughs, spilling energon onto the ground before she jumps into the air and blasts away.

"Uh oh," Jazz says, "We've got company." Looking back toward the center of town, lights of approaching police reflects off the walls and windows of the surrounding buildings. "Get Fatima and let's get out of here."

The night ends with Fatima's date being dropped off at home by Jazz, and Elegance escorting Fatima to the Karabomian embassy. A read out comes in that she's being reassigned to the Arc come the morning, but for now, she has the rest of the night to herself.

OCC: End scene, but you can post a conversation with Fatima or just a fade to black if you'd like.

Gunpowder, gelatin.
Dynamite with a laser beam!

Laughing in triumph, Elegance rode Slipstream down to the ground; fortunately, the jet's landing gear broke her fall, and themselves. Prepared for the bounce, she leapt with it, executing a neat back-flip and landing on her feet, and on her guard, in a fencer's stance with her thrumming sword facing the Decepticon.

Guaranteed to blow your mind!
Any time!

'And my little dog too, I suppose?' she remarked to Slipstream with amusement, calling after her departing engines 'Remind me to get one when you do!'

Recommended at the price.
Insatiable an appetite.
Wanna try?
You wanna try.

At Jazz's warning, she looked up the street to the approaching lights and sirens, folding her sword back into its extra-dimensional sheath and raising the visor of her battle-mask. The song was winding down over her radio. 'I can smooth things over with the constabulary.' she said confidently, but she accepted Jazz's direction. The Autobot ran at the wall, flipping over and folding up into her E-Type vehicle mode. Tyres touched brickwork and she sped up the side of the building again to collect her charges.

'So, Jazz, do you fancy taking in an outdoor concert some time?' she wondered idly over the communicator.


OOC: I'll leave it there. Thanks for that, it was fun! :D