if i were you i'd take a permanent vacation

[bigfuckinggun]

Who: Megatron and Baelheit
Where: Mintaka Industries
When: About now, after this thread
What: Having found out about the human scientists Starscream entrusted with the formula for synthetic energon, and that they are being pretty cagey about it, Megatron decides to take matters into his own hands
Warnings: BAD GUYS

Megatron has taken pains to ensure that his avatar wouldn't look too out of place walking into a human office building. But although the hologram is smartly dressed and well-groomed and does not have any fangs at all, Megatron's presence, even via digitally projected human shaped proxy, could not be subtle. Not only is the man he appears to be just a naturally imposing figure, tall and broad shouldered like the real thing, he carries himself like someone who is used to having people call him 'Lord', and despite not actually having a laser cannon the size of a man mounted on one arm, his deep inner conviction that he is capable of crushing anybody who rubs him up the wrong way makes people who have never seen him before step aside to let him pass.

When he strides up to the desk and demands – not impolitely, but as though he is accustomed to being obeyed in all matters – to know what floor Baelheit's office is on, the receptionist tells him. She asks if he has an appointment; "Yes," he tells her, and walks past the front desk as if he owns the place.

He's aware that his avatar may be actually stopped by the humans, but isn't particularly perturbed by the possibility – after all, his actual body is hovering a long way above the building, well out of harm's way. This is more about proving that he can just walk into Baelheit's office at his leisure than anything else.

Comments

[baelhat]

Baelheit is sitting at his desk when Megatron strides in as if he belongs there -- as if Baelheit's expecting him -- mere moments before he had received a page from his startled receptionist informing him that his afternoon appointment had arrived. Strange, he'd thought, for just a moment; he doesn't recall having an afternoon appointment on the books for today. Stranger still that he doesn't recognize the man who strides in at all, although he has a terrifyingly commanding presence.

But Baelheit does not look particularly upset or unnerved; a little thrown, perhaps, but he doesn't rise as Megatron strides into his office, merely removes his reading glasses and blinks in curious surprise.

"And you are?"

[bigfuckinggun]

He smiles. It's not a reassuring smile. It looks a bit less awful on the face of his avatar, though, probably because he doesn't have any enormous steel fangs.

"I am Megatron," he explains, his voice laden with the kind of obviously false politeness whose only real purpose is to accentuate the threat underneath it, "leader of the Decepticons. I understand you have had dealings with my subordinate – Starscream."

[baelhat]

Ah. Well, that changes everything. Baelheit's posture shifts subtly, and he's far more alert now. He and Miriel had theorized that there were now more Cybertronians than just Starscream on Earth, based on some curious readings in their scanners and the recent surge in rumors about them, and he supposes that given his most recent dealings with Starscream, it's no surprise things would escalate. He wouldn't have expected it to escalate so far that Starscream's superior would deem it necessary to come himself, though.

Now Baelheit rises from his seat, gesturing as though to welcome Megatron into his office -- as though Megatron had not already marched in on his own. "Ah, yes...Commander Starscream. We have indeed conducted business recently. I presume that is why you are here? Well -- in a manner of speaking. No doubt your real body is somewhere well out of sight."

[bigfuckinggun]

"Of course," says Megatron, smiling as if the concealment of his real body is a private joke between the two of them. He advances towards Baelheit like a tiger in an expensive suit. "You are an intelligent man, Doctor Baelheit; I will cut to the spark of the matter. We know you have made headway in your work on the synthetic energon formula. Tell me – what do you hope to gain by keeping your progress from us?"

[baelhat]

Baelheit can see there's no point in lying to Megatron. Unlike Starscream, who seemed overly fond of mincing words, Megatron is far more direct -- and formidable. And Baelheit is not given to theatrics, at any rate.

"I was merely gauging the wisdom of allowing such a potentially vital resource to fall into the hands of a largely unknown quantity," Baelheit says carefully, his words measured and slow. "If I seem hesitant to disclose our progress, it is only a practical precaution to take. As I have come to understand during the course of conducting our business together, Commander Starscream has proven himself to be...rather unpredictable in nature. I could not be sure what he might intend to do if I handed over the research without consideration. Initially he led us to believe that he was the only Cybertronian on this planet -- and I am sure he believed it at the time, as I have a hard time imagining he would seek medical assistance from a human otherwise -- but as that is obviously no longer the case, I see I now have much more to consider."

[bigfuckinggun]

"I see." Megatron straightens up a little, glad if anything for an explanation that makes sense – although he makes a mental note to chastise Starscream for this, on top of all of the chastising Starscream he already has on his to do list. "You are afraid of us. That is only natural, but trust me, your fear is misplaced... Allow me to clarify my position: myself and a number of my troops have found ourselves stranded here, against our will. We seek only the fuel we need to leave. We can find it elsewhere on your planet, if we must – or, indeed, I could summon more troops here, with starships, and supplies – but it would be ultimately easier for us, and far less disruptive to you and your fellow humans, besides, if we were able to create the energon we need artificially."

[baelhat]

"Afraid, perhaps -- reasonably cautious, most definitely. Commander Starscream was far from forthcoming with regards to his true motives, and while I appreciate your apparent honesty, I'm afraid that you and your Cybertronians are still far too much of an unknown quantity for me to be able to simply take your word at face value."

There is a lot that Megatron says that interests Baelheit -- not the least of which being that energon can be located so locally as this very planet. He has all the energon he needs for now with the synth-en formula complete and its synthesis well underway, but naturally occurring energon would be worthy of further study. That and with more Cybertronians on the planet, that makes for more potential areas of study -- and Baelheit has far from gleaned all there is to know about Cybertronians. There is much yet to learn from them, and he isn't interested in providing them with the means of leaving just yet. That, and he can't be totally sure that Megatron does indeed intend to simply leave this planet behind. He seems like a man with an ambition, and more than that, he's military. Military commanders like Megatron always have far more complicated priorities.

"This is, however, an excellent start," Baelheit continues, spreading his hands. "Please don't take my reluctance as a sign of outright refusal, Megatron. All I ask is the opportunity for myself to become better acquainted with you and your troops, to learn what I can about you and ascertain that your motives are as you say...and then I'd be glad to make an exchange for the research."

[bigfuckinggun]

"I'm afraid that's out of the question," Megatron replies, without hesitation. "While I understand your caution, you must understand mine – my Decepticons have already suffered for the sake of human curiosity, and I find myself uninclined to entertain it." He clasps his hands behind his back, his eyes narrowed. "I am not here to bargain with you, Baelheit. I am here to give you an opportunity to hand over the formula before I am forced to take it."

[baelhat]

Ah, and here's where Megatron differs from his subordinate. He doesn't waste time with subterfuge -- although Baelheit still has his doubts about Megatron's intentions with the formula, he certainly doesn't make any pretense about what he's willing to do to get it. And that, Baelheit thinks, is his mistake -- giving him any sort of warning.

He resumes his seat, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. "If your...Decepticons, as you say, have suffered at human hands, it was certainly not in my laboratory. Commander Starscream was treated with all due care and respect during the procedure." Despite his notedly botched attempt at breaking into his building, no less. He looks back up at Megatron, his expression curiously mild. He doesn't seem afraid or concerned -- if anything, he appears to be only slightly harried. "But if you are unwilling to meet me halfway, or give me more time to assess my position in all this...well, it would seem we have reached an impasse."

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron stares down at him, eyebrows raised. He does not look pleased.

"The... procedure?" His voice is level but absolutely not calm. "What procedure, exactly, are you talking about."

[baelhat]

Well, that's interesting. It seems that Starscream is in the habit of withholding information from his superiors as well as alien life forms. Baelheit notes the shift in Megatron's demeanor, glad that he has a personal forcefield generator installed in his office for emergency purposes, and raises his eyebrows slightly.

"Yes, the procedure -- the medical assistance I mentioned earlier." Baelheit's expression is touched with just the slightest hint of concern. "Did Commander Starscream not explain why he gave us the formula in the first place? It was payment, you see. We met because he came to me seeking help."

[bigfuckinggun]

"I see," says Megatron, inwardly making another mark on his list of reasons to break Starscream in half at the earliest opportunity. "I take it that because of this you feel the formula... belongs to you. That I have no right to simply demand it back; that you are owed something in exchange."

[baelhat]

Baelheit merely gives him a faint smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, one that doesn't seem to answer either way. He doesn't know much about this Megatron, but he can tell the Cybertronian is far from pleased. Baelheit, for his part, merely seems to watch him, as though a distant observer. At any rate he doesn't seem all that worried or intimidated by Megatron.

"Commander Starscream and I had an arrangement," he says simply. "The synth-en formula in exchange for the repair of his transformation cog. If he did not plan any farther ahead than that, or indeed even consult his superiors on the matter...I'm afraid it seems to me that that is an internal affair, and has little to do with me."

[bigfuckinggun]

"Indeed it is. However... the fact remains that you have something I need, and that is very much your problem, Doctor. I am not Commander Starscream." His lip curls in disgust as he says his subordinate's name – but then he seems pretty disgusted by this whole situation. "The only offer I have to make you is this: you will hand over the completed formula... or I will annihilate you, and tear up the surface of this world to extract what I need from its soil."

[baelhat]

Ah, and now they're getting into dangerous territory. To his credit, Baelheit still seems well-composed. He has a forcefield generator at his disposal if needs one -- he doesn't even need to move to activate it, not with his psychic powers -- but even so, he'd prefer not to have his office become the scene of a battle if necessary. At least it's becoming increasingly clear that there is some dissension in Megatron's ranks. That could prove useful -- as long as he survives this encounter.

"A compelling offer, although I've never been overly fond intimidation and brute force," Baelheit says, a touch coolly, but by all appearances he is still quite cordial. "Very well, then. It seems as though you've forced my hand, Megatron...will you at least grant me some time to gather all the necessary materials? I was not the only member of our staff involved in the project. I'll need to coordinate with the rest of my team to ensure that what we're giving you is, as you say, complete."

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron laughs – not in triumph, but because he can tell an attempt to buy time when he sees it. "Of course," he says, and, with a broad hand gesture, "Summon them here, now. I would be delighted to have an opportunity to witness first-hand the scientific processes of such a primitive species."

[baelhat]

Primitive? If Baelheit were the sort to get riled up by such obvious jabs at humanity, his lip would have curled by now. But he's not interested in rising to Megatron's obvious provocation.

Besides, if he has anything to do with it, humanity won't be considered so primitive for long.

"This is an office, Megatron, not a laboratory," Baelheit says, gesturing crisply with one hand. "If it's a practical demonstration you're after, I'm afraid you'll have to make an appointment to visit one of our hot labs with the proper facilities. We simply aren't set up for any process in this office. Now, if you would..." He begins to rise from his seat again, sweeping his hand rather pointedly toward the door. "I have preparations to make."

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron's eyes narrow.

"Very well," he rumbles. "But know that we are keeping you under close watch, Baelheit. I do hope that you will not... disappoint me."

He does not move towards the door. Instead the avatar flickers once, and then abruptly disappears.

Above, in the clouds, the hovering aircraft hums to life, and soars towards the desert. Baelheit will need to be dealt with, that much is clear. But Megatron has internal affairs to address first.