Jumpjet is overthinking Gem's whisper.  She whispers right after the guy says no secrets between Autobots.  Does that mean that they both don't consider me an Autobot?  Or is this Gem's way of giving him a slap to the face for what he just said?  Do Autobots put on a show of sunshine and rainbows to get your guard down while they conspire how to get away with you having an "unfortunate accident?"  Is she whispering right in front of me to try and get me paranoid?  Etc.

Beachcomber sure doesn't look insulted or annoyed, though.  Just as chill as ever.  "Reconstruction.  He'd have to let the mad science guys change his voice, his alt-mode, his entire chassis.  Or have Hound follow him around at all times to cover him with an illusion.

"Autobots won't get along perfectly with each other no matter what they believe about your history.  Just a fact of life.  Secrets tend to only make that worse.  So may as well have people treat you the way they do, good or bad, for what you know to be true, rather than for the lie that you think they believe to be true.  You know who your real friends are that way.  Disguises don't even work that well for avoiding the attention of Decepticons.  Best to just have Prime announce the truth to everyone even if complete overhauls were no big deal."

Jumpjet thinks back to his time with the Decepticons.  Huh.  Ironically, they tend to be pretty honest.  Well... about who they are, anyway.  Eeeeveryone sneaks sips of energon from what they plunder and lies that they brought back everything they found.

"Do you really?  Know who your real friends are?  Doesn't anyone pretend to tolerate someone they don't like?"

Beachcomber thinks on how to answer that.

Gem taps her finger to her mouth in thought. What would Optimus Prime say? "It's OK to be afraid. We all are. But the truth has a way of coming to light, so pretenders will be found out. And even if someone pretends to be your friend, that doesn't mean you don't have friends at all. Though I have yet to hear of an Autobot capable of pretending to be the friend of someone they dislike."

Well OK, so Prime would probably put it in a more heroic, awesome way and probably add in stuff like, oh just say it, Gem, "Fear is your true enemy, not your fellow Autobots."

  "I will make things as painfully awkward as it takes for your enemies Jumpjet." Words of...we THINK it's encouragement, from the semi-distance.

  "I will futilely punch the shins of Omega supreme if he sasses you. For I have called dibs on being the only one allowed to sass you." He's probably joking.  Hopefully.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:47, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Jumpjet sure doesn't know what to make of these three.  Don't all Autobots pretend to get along?  It's not an act?  'Fellow Autobots' sure sounds... weird.  Is Omega known for sass?  Who calls dibs on such a thing?  Do the Autobots have some hard rule on, 'only the being who called dibs may sass this individual.'  Must be for each-other only.  Autobots sass Decepticons without any restriction.

"You say, 'Have Prime announce,' like you expect him to drop what he's doing and make a broadcast on my say-so alone."

Beachcomber nods.  "Yep.  So long as he's not in combat, it's easy to get him to do you a favor.  Just ask."

Jumpjet is speechless.

Beachcomber chuckles.  "Well hey, sorry I didn't have the answer you wanted, but you've got my answer.  So unless you like silent star-gazing, this place'll probably be too boring for you three."

Gem says, "Thanks for your time, Beachcomber."

She looks to the others. "To Optimus Prime, then!" and transforms before racing off to look for Prime!

If Gem knew what was going on in Jumpjet's head, she'd answer is questions. Alas, the ex-con is still kinda secretive.

  Turbo Thunder's slider bar for how stoic or irreverent he is hasn't been the same since he voided his own metaphorical capacitor warranty.

  "Well that escalated quickly. Yeah okay sure." Curse you, 'Don't have anything better to do', not that he'll say it out loud lest he have something more lame than 'bug Optimus Prime' assigned as better to do.

Jumpjet is dumbfounded and follows along.

Autobot symbol spin scene transition!

Optimus Prime is busy at work at the central launch dome of Iacon helping with preparing the Arc for launch with several others.  Upon being approached by the group, he stops operating the loader and faces them.

"Good to see you, Gem, Turbo Thunder, and Jumpjet.  Congratulations on finding the largest stash of energy rods of all the teams.  Well done!"

Jumpjet transforms to robot mode and stands at attention.

Gem transforms to robot mode and smiles. "Thanks, Prime! We were lucky to find so many, but I'd shake the hand of any bot that went into Decepticon territory whether they brought in a haul or came back empty handed. Hope keeps fortune coming our way..."

Is she kissing up to Prime with words like that? Maybe a tiny bit. But she believes in those words all the same. You never know when's the last time you'll ever shake another's hand. She gives Prime time to respond to that first statement before piping in with her next one. Of course, any further affirmation Prime gives, she returns with a bright smile and encouraged expression.

She continues, "Hey, I've got two important things to talk with you about; First is that we heard you were still taking volunteers for the away team. We three would like to volunteer. Second has to do with Jumpjet here..." she talks quietly, "Acid Storm made him just from his voice. Given how easily his secret came out around Double-T and I, Jumpjet's worried about his secret getting out among the rest of the Autobots and being hated for it."

That's when she notices Jumpjet standing at attention, ohs, and copies the posture with an expression that says "oops, did I mess up?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Mon 17 Feb 2020.

  Turbo Thunder is still expecting the Arc trip to go horribly wrong, but is just enough of a good person to want to stick with Naive and Nervous rather than ditch them.

  Turbo Thunder also didn't salute, the nerve of him-oh he didn't salute because he started operating the abandoned loader out of habit.  Are we sure he isn't secretly a constructicon? "Thanks Prime, Gem carried all of it though."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:20, Mon 17 Feb 2020.

Jumpjet continues to be bewildered.  Here's a golden opportunity to play up just how awesome you are for being the most successful team.  And brag about how you were the most important member of the most successful team.  And look down on the less successful.  But these are Autobots.  So you can't be so brazen about honking your own horn.  So you'll use reverse psychology or backhanded compliments to get the point across.

Nope.  Nothing but legit humility coming from Gem and Turbo Thunder.



To say they're programmed differently is an understatement.

"Agreed," Prime answers Gem, "And thanks for volunteering."

To Jumpjet he says, "Well that's 0 for 6: the number of times an Autobot has hated you after learning about your past.  With odds like that, I think you've got little to worry about.  Next time a Decepticon gives you a hard time for making the right choice, I'd say turn it around on them and ask them when's the last time they could trust their fellow Decepticons."

Jumpjet kinda flatlines.  It's perfect.  Telling off those numbskulls, inviting them to question the sanity of remaining Decepticon, bragging that the Autobots won't dump you into a smelting pit.  All at the same time.

"Uh...  R-right!"

An Autobot NOT Gem would suggest being an ex-con means that being an Autobot is an excuse to shoot at all the jerks you hated before swapping sides. But Gem isn't the kind of bot to even consider that angle.

Gem says, "Thanks, Prime! We'll stay near the launch zone so we can be on call. Unless... do you need an extra hand right now? Ironhide ordered us to get some R&R and we did unwind a bit before coming to you, so we've technically done so."

  Turbo Thunder finishes being a background gag just in time for Gem to ask Prime if they want help with work.  So far as successful labor without crashing into anything is a background gag.

  Not for the first time, he expects one of the reasons Prime is in charge is because when he says common sense, people actually listen to it.

"Affirmative, Gem.  And thanks, Turbo Thunder.  There is much to be done to prepare."

Scene transitions to Soundwave reporting the Autobots' plan followed by Megatron declaring that the Autobots will soon be defeated.  And the usual Starscream boast that he would have defeated them long ago, etc. etc.

Scene transitions to Autobot launch sequence.  The launch bay opens, Prime pushes the ignition button, engines fire up, and the Ark takes off!  Soon to be followed by the Decepticon ship.  The Autobot sensors do not pick up anything amiss, and the voyage is off to a smooth start.

In a separate part of the Autobot Ark that isn't the bridge, our heroes are securely strapped in for the initial takeoff.  Soon, the seatbelt light turns off.

"It is now permitted to disengage launch restraints," Teletran One informs the crew.

Jumpjet takes off his seatbelt and goes to look at a screen showing Cybertron growing smaller in the distance.

Gem joins Jumpjet (say that three times fast) and looks at Cybertron. "I've seen pictures before... but I've never been up this high."

She then looks over to the others present. "If I may recommend to everyone; minimal effort during the trip. Only what needs be done, and fun activities can be kept to things that don't involve any major exertion. I say this because we don't know how much energy we may need to use during or even after the trip."

Her nurse/medic's aid side is showing. But she's hoping Ratchet will back up her suggestion.

  Turbo Thunder takes a dramatic moment far too literally, and adjusts the zoom on the monitor.

  "We'll probably have bigger problems on our hands if I'm popping off lightning bolts indoors, so I should be fine otherwise."

Jumpjet considers how this scene would play out among the Decepticons.  "Don't you be wasting our energon with you compulsive target practice, Null Processor."  "You'll have more to worry about than that if I'm target practicing, Gas Guzzler.  You'll be the target!"  Etc.

After a quick jump through hyperspace, Jazz's voice can be heard over the intercom, "That's it for the majority of the distance, folks.  That's right, we really were that close to the destination.  Just need to take it slow through some space debris for the last leg of the trip, so kick back.  We'll let you know when it's time to strap in for the landing."

Jumpjet pulls up a space map showing the ship's location.  The ship has gone a mere 10,000 light years from one arm of the same galaxy to another.

"Huh.  Energy planet in our own back yard.  You'd think it woulda been noticed eons ago."

To Jumpjet, Gem giggles and says, "If you wanna hear Perceptor ramble on a bit, feel free to ask him why it hasn't. I know I would love hearing it."

Remember. She may be charismatic and an entertainer, but she's also a NERD.

Gem begins looking for Perceptor. "I can't wait to see what kind of world it is. Maybe a world with a lot of storms, but just calm enough to be able to safely collect the energy? Or a rocky world with lots of energy-infused surface magma and active tectonic activity!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Tue 03 Mar 2020.

  "Space is huge, and we are but dust etc etc.  Except for all the times it's incredibly crowded."

  Turbo Thunder shrugs, "With our luck, we'll probably get one of those worlds that can't make up it's mind what extreme conditions to have at any given time, so wants all of them"

Jumpjet follows Gem, trying to figure out if Turbo Thunder thinks his luck is good or bad.  This is the team that got the most energy rods, so must be he figures that more than 1 extreme condition on a planet is a good thing.  A Decepticon would find a way to complain no matter how nice the planet is, so this is a welcome improvement.

Perceptor isn't on the bridge, he's manning a computer console with all kinds of data.  Possibly thinking out loud, or maybe talking to someone very patient over the com, he's spouting scientific theories about the sensor readings.

"These readings are consistent with the idea that the stellar dust in this region blocks the majority of the E.M. spectrum, allowing only visible light through.  But the answer to the question of how the 'window' recently opened to allow more data collection through this region remains elusive in spite of point-blank sensor readings.  Even now, with only fly-by-sight available, it would be nigh impossible to make out any high-speed navigational dangers with sufficient advance warning to completely circumnavigate the trajectory of the object.  Nevertheless, I calculate the probability of encountering any such objects in this region of space to be infinitesimal.  Though a tunnel through the dust could be carved with the main cannon, it would be a great expenditure of energon with only the slightest of improvement in long-range sensor readings."

Ramble ramble ramble.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:22, Fri 06 Mar 2020.

Gem sees this and concludes in a quiet tone, "Sounds like Perceptor isn't entirely sure himself what made the difference. Let's leave him be since he's busily trying to find the answer..."

She isn't intimidated by Perceptor's babble like most bots would be. She just doesn't wanna bother him when he's clearly busy looking for the answer to the very thing Gem would have asked anyway.

Speaking of leaving busy people alone, Gem expects the bridge is only to be approached when summoned. So she heads off with the others back to where they were and prepares to play some kind of three-way videogame.

Gem looks to Turbo Thunder. "If it has all the extremes, chances are the energy will be very high. Though I will say this: Optimus wouldn't expend the resources on taking a trip to a world if he wasn't sure it was safe enough to extract the energy. If we get destroyed, technically that means we no longer need energy, but that would defeat the point since we are collecting energon in order to survive."

  "Not crashing because of one of the many, many equivalents of driving too fast with the lights off is worth letting him be verbose."

  Table Flip Simulator 4000 is an incredibly niche game, and Turbo Thunder isn't sure these two are quite ready to face the nuances of ricocheting a table into all ten eyes of a quintesson in a single flip.

  "Well, whatever ends up eventually killing me it probably won't be with the last words I hear being Optimus saying 'oops'"

A pleasant chime sounds over the intercom followed by a message from Teletran, "Immanent asteroid collision detected dead ahead.  Please return to your seats immediately and buckle up."

Perceptive bots can possibly overhear Perceptor saying, "Fascinating.  The probability of such an astronomical event happening at this precise moment at this precise location is, well, astronomically low!"

Jazz chimes in on the intercom soon after, "Bad news good news.  You just heard the bad news.  The good news is that we're not in any real danger.  It's just gunna cost us a little extra energon to blast through the surprise debris in the way."

Jumpjet finds a seat and buckles in.  "Nothing quite so suspicious as nothing going wrong."

To Turbo's comment, Gem giggles. "Prime saying 'oops'. It's funny even trying to imagine him say it. That would be the most authoritative and wise oops ever heard in the history of Cybertron."

Gem goes to her seat and buckles in also. "Are you saying this asteroid collision is ironically calming to you, Jumpjet? I can't deny your logic, though... and I'm positive the people in charge of the energy allotment for our trip accounted for unexpected things like temporary malfunction in the nav systems or other such things that would cause us to use more energon."

Space seatbelts, they (hopefully) save lives.

"Perceptor is smart enough to check that the asteroid won't explode violently when shot, right?  Or would not being able to tell that ahead of time fall under 'sensors impaired' problems?"

Wisest "oops" in history?  Jumpjet's processor flatlines for a bit from that one.

"Um...  Was kinda more of a reaction to the 'oops' train of thoughts, but yeah.  Sure.  Surprise asteroid is just proof that we're probably not going to die on this trip."

Moments after the hum of the main cannon is heard, (And violent explosion of asteroid is not heard), Jazz coms, "To your battle stations!  We've got Decepticons on our tail!"

Jumpjet had managed to find one of the few seats left that wasn't within arms reach of a battle station.  He grumbles as he unbuckles to find a seat at a targeting computer, "Spoke too soon."