+1 confused alien nerd

[thanksoptimus]

Who: Orion Pax and YOU.
Where: Around Los Angeles.
When: The same day that Megatron shows up.
What: A semi truck asks you for help.
Warnings: ???

There's no precedent for this, really. No explanation that brings this sudden transition any closer to making sense. He's never been anywhere that isn't Cybertron before, and organic based planets like this are something he's only read about in the archives.

Thankfully, he figures, he can at least peace something together in terms of appropriate interspecies diplomacy. Because while he's managed to scan an appropriately sized alt form, his last one wasn't the shape he was expecting at all. With this much going wrong, he's going to need help.


It's late afternoon when you'll have a chance at noticing the large red and blue semi truck that seems to be following you around town. It is, inherently, not very subtle. It drives slowly, pursuing you with an almost shy looking trepidation, rolling forward and then hesitating the moment you look at it.

It's sticking to less populated areas for now.

Comments

[scribes]

Sneaking up on someone like the Disciple was a difficult enough task on its own. She was a person who took pride in being a huntress, and stealth and speed were her forte.

Needless to say, having the form of a giant human vehicle didn't really help matters. She had ignored it at first. While she definitely noticed it, she figured it was just coincidence that they happened to be going in the same direction.

Yet she could only believe that for so long, especially since whenever she looked its way it seemed to pause. Again at first Di gave into doubt, but she could only do that so many times.

Had she not learned about Cybertrons from Sollux a couple days ago she would have thought she was going crazy. Now, however, she could put two and two together and purposely went into a more isolated part of town before turning to face it. She folded her arms, looking rather cross.

"Can I help you?" She really hoped she wasn't wrong. Otherwise she was going to feel like a damn idiot.

[thanksoptimus]

Oh.

The semi truck stops where it is, it's engine idling awkwardly. He had been trying to find a good time to speak to her specifically because she appeared to be as alien to this environment as he was, and that seemed like it might make her more likely to help. Even if he dimly recalled her species as being a rival.

He really wasn't expecting to be called out like that, though. She must know about his kind already - either that, or this planet has a precedent for sapient vehicle.

"Ah..." the semi truck says, in a deep masculine tone. Unsure of what else to do, he spits out the words he had been preparing to start the conversation with.

"Bah weep graagnah wheep ni ni bong," he says, very seriously and articulately. He hesitates for a moment after that. "I do not have a customary food offering. My apologies."

[scribes]

W-

Wuh?

For a moment all Disciple could do was stare in complete bafflement. Even when she had been expecting some sort of communication to happen, it was startling to actually hear a voice coming from the semitruck. Especially one so clear.

That wasn't even getting into what had actually been said, which sounded like nothing more than a wiggler gibbering away. Even after he switched to English there was just a moment of awkward silence.

Um.

"...that's ok. I do not require an offering of any sort. Just an explanation?" Her tone rose up at the end, as if asking a question.

[thanksoptimus]

He's disappointed that it doesn't seem like the Universal Greeting was effective in this case...no matter, he'll try to make it up by other means. If a truck could frown, this one would be.

"I simply require assistance," he says. "I do not know where I am."

[scribes]

Oh.

Well if that was the case, he should have just said so.

Di relaxes a little and gives the truck a small nod.

"This is the sound end of Vine Street in Los Angeles, California." Di wasn't exactly familiar with this place. It was a huge city and she was a person much more accustomed to villages than towns...packets of civilization like this was a first for her and given how she had only recently started to venture out it was still a bit overwhelming. The troll didn't think she was really the most qualified for helping a lost alien find their way home but damn would she try.

[pullingamiko]

Miko isn't an easily-intimidated person, but she may as well admit - this truck that she's never seen before has been following her, she's not sure how long, and she is creeped out.

She considers her options briefly; there aren't many people around, and she's unarmed. The wisest option would probably be to head somewhere more crowded, or maybe make an active effort to lose the truck. But caution has never been Miko's forte.

She turns abruptly, darting up to the driver's side of the cab, and raps on the door with one hand.

"YO, can I HELP you with something?" She cranes her neck, trying to see through the window.

FUCK i love miko

[thanksoptimus]

The whole semi truck jostles uncomfortably as Miko dives over to the driver's side door, in a way that would be sort of improbable for a conventional semi. He was not expecting this level of aggression to escalate so quickly, and he realizes that his cab will appear as empty as it actually is.

"B-Bah wh-" he sputters in surprise at the sudden confrontation, before thinking better of trying the greeting again. It wasn't super effective last time. Instead he focuses on a different approach.

"Ah - I apologize for my intrusion upon your planet. I only intended to ask for your aid."

Re: FUCK i love miko

[pullingamiko]

She jumps back, alarmed, when the truck moves, and her shock is only magnified when the truck itself talks.

"Wait, your intrusion on-" She frowns and takes a step back from the door. "...You're an alien?"

She's heard a couple vague, 'friend-of-a-relative-of-an-acquaintance-says' kind of rumors recently of alien car robots or something, but she had decided to consider them bull until she got some actual first- or second-hand evidence.

This probably counts. At least he (it?) doesn't seem like the harbinger-of-invasion sort.

"Uh... sure? What do you need, exactly?"

[thanksoptimus]

"I am Orion Pax of the planet Cybertron," he says, composing himself much better this time, his voice low and serious. "I have woken up here, on Earth, with no memory of how I first arrived. I simply wish to return home."

[pullingamiko]

She nods slowly, mentally filing away a number of questions to make sure to throw at him later.

"Hmm... not sure how much I can help you out there... I mean, I'm not exactly up-to-date on the latest in alien crash-landings." She pauses, thinking it over.

"Maybe try Alpha Force? This seems more like their kinda deal - unless you want to keep this on the down-low?" She pauses briefly. "'Course, if it's subtlety you're after, I'm not sure why you're talking to me here, huh."

[sciencewizard]

It isn't long before Miriel, who is on some personal errands, notices the semi truck. Even if its colors did not stand out among its surroundings, Miriel is an observant person. Without a doubt, this vehicle is following her. For what reason? She will simply have to find out.

She turns around and walks directly to the driver's side of the semi truck. With no hesitation, she taps on the door. There is the possibility that this will develop into a dangerous situation, but she is prepared. She can protect herself – subtly and thoroughly – if need be.

"I presume that you require something from me?" she asks whoever is in the semi truck. "If that is correct, inform me of what it is so that I may assist you and be on my way."

[thanksoptimus]

He makes a note that he will really have to work on his stealth capabilities if he is to blend in unnoticed on this planet. All the same, at this point, he is willing to take the opportunity to speak openly of his predicament. It seems to have worked out well before, after all.

"I am Orion Pax of the planet Cybertron," the truck says. "I have need of your assistance."

[sciencewizard]

Another Cybertronian in need of help? Interesting. This Orion Pax is the second one she's encountered so far, the other being Commander Starscream. She knows that there may be scientific benefits to helping Orion, but before she decides her course of action, she must gather more information. At the very least, she must determine if he is dangerous. If she's lucky, he is not, and whatever assistance he needs can be provided with the knowledge of Cybertronian anatomy and biology that she and Baelheit gained from Starscream.

She looks around for any observers, but the coast seems to be clear. "I am somewhat familiar with your kind, Orion Pax," she says lowly. "I do not guarantee that I will be able to assist you, but I will listen. The privacy of our conversation, however, may be better preserved if I enter the passenger's side of your current form. Do I have your consent to do so?" She's not worried about being trapped once inside if Orion proves a threat, but not asking does not seem conducive to a positive interaction.

[thanksoptimus]

"Oh - of course," he says, and his cab door can be heard unlocking, popping open just slightly for her to let herself in. Once again, he is sort of caught off guard by how much the organics here seem to know about Cybertronians.

[sciencewizard]

Miriel wordlessly climbs into Orion's cab and moves to the passenger's seat. After adjusting her glasses, she folds her hands in her lap. "So – you are in need of assistance, but of which kind?" She looks around at his interior as she speaks. He looks quite similar to what she would expect a typical semi truck to look like, much like Starscream looked quite similar to what she expected a typical military jet to look like. "The more information you are able to provide me, the better."

[metabee]

Metabee had been wandering around town to stretch his legs when he first noticed the truck. At first he hadn't really given it much though, it had been following him long enough that it was starting to get irritating. Or what if it was TRIDENT? They had just taken Karkat after all, what if they were targeting all the Trailblazers.

Karkat may have made a habit of getting kidnapped, but Metabee wasn't about to get that kind of mark on his record. He quickly darted down one of the side streets which turned out to be the loading zone for the nearby stores.

He crouched down behind one of the dumpsters, watching the opening of the street for any signs of the truck.

[thanksoptimus]

Orion is discouraged when the little robot runs off to the side, worrying that he's frightened him. He really doesn't like the discomfort his attempts to speak to people seems to be causing, but it's difficult to navigate these streets carefully enough in a vehicle form of his size.

He doesn't want to make them feel like they're in danger, so as he pulls up to the size street he saw him turn into, he gently tries to call out for him.

He clears his throat and then softly honks his horn.

"Excuse me. I mean you no harm."

He doesn't see the bot anymore. His mirrors shift around to no avail. Scrap, he was the only one of his kind he'd seen...

[metabee]

"Then why have you been following me around, dude?"

He was admittedly a little thrown off by them telling him where they were, but then it could be a trick. Metabee poked his head around the corner to get a better view of the truck, still ready to fire on any potential kidnappers. Forgetting his horns would probably give him away.

[thanksoptimus]

He sees the horns are is immediately relieved. At least he'll have a chance to talk, even if the little bot seems displeased with him.

"I am sorry. I only wished to speak to you discretely," he says. "Are you truly a Cybertronian?"

[metabee]

Ok that....was probably not TRIDENT then. Hadn't Sollux mentioned something about these guys?

"Uh, no. Sorry, dude."

He stepped out from his hiding place, peering up at the windows but unable to see anyone through the blacked out glass.

"Aren't they some sort of alien robots?"

everyone has been way too nice to you so far. let me fix that!

[spitemancer]

Every so often, Nivata leaves the college district of LA in search of less-populated areas. ...Well, more specifically, in search of fresh roadkill. She's tried the 'animal shelter' centers, but none of them are willing to relinquish any live materials to her. (In fact, she's been told to never return, ever, for any reason.) Butcher shops are out of the question, because if Nivata is going to buy an entire raw turkey or fish of food quality, she is absolutely going to eat it. Thus, roadkill: free, not 'cruel,' and probably a service to the community if they think about it.

She's hoping for a deer.

Instead, she gets a semi truck. Not unused to people following her and staring at her, Nivata does not put up with this for very long at all. She rounds on the truck, ears turned up aggressively. "Is there a problem? I am not here for your entertainment!"

[thanksoptimus]

The truck stops in its tracks abruptly, as if physically shaken. There is a long, awkward pause where Orion tries to figure out what to do.

"I am sorry, there is no problem. I was only looking for a situation in which I could speak to you more covertly."

[spitemancer]

Nivata eyes the truck up and down. She has a remarkable amount of disdain for someone whose head would barely clear those (admittedly enormous) tires. "You," she says severely, "are not covert. At all. Emit your request." It's possible that her words increase exponentially in complexity the more irritated she is.

[thanksoptimus]

"I have awoken on your planet with no memory of how I arrived," he says, mostly nervous about talking to someone who seems so aggressive, though slightly annoyed with her attitude as well. "I only wish to leave."

[spitemancer]

Nivata jolts fully upright, insulted beyond belief. "It's not my planet," she snaps automatically, vibrating with fury. "Nor do I have any intention to stay here whatsoever!"

She takes several deep breaths, squeezing her eyes closed and pressing two blunt claws to her forehead. "...As to your predicament, I am unable to offer assistance at this time. I don't even have the equipment to send myself home, much less you."