Clash of Personalities

[Barricade]

Characters: @sunstreaker
Location: Outside Autobot Outpost Omega-1
Content Warnings: language
Plot Summary: During one of his routine patrols Barricade runs into one of the Autobots.

[Barricade]

He'd been patrolling this area more and more lately. It had become impossible not to remain in the area despite knowing the Autobots had a base somewhere nearby. When he missed a day of patrol his anxiety levels went through the roof and he found it difficult to get anything done back at the Harbinger. So he'd given into whatever instinct had him making the frequent patrols and stayed on course.

Ever since he'd encountered the Autobot medic Pharma he'd been more wary and alert in the area. He'd been lucky that encounter had gone decently well. If he was discovered by someone else there was on guarantee it would be met with as good a reception.

He'd changed out his police mode for the more civilian altmode, but he was still build for the front lines. If he had to he'd defend himself, but his primary concern was to secure the area and head home. No problems and no incidents.

Today he was cruising, making time on his circuit of patrol. He kept the speed limit, if only just, so he didn't draw attention to himself. He was masking his signature, but that didn't mean he was completely undetectable. With any luck he'd get this done and be gone before any Autobot patrols hit him.

Thus far, luck had been with him.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker had been out for a patrol, looking for inspiration as well as potential disturbances.

He'd promise Sideswipe he'd try to start his art again. And, while this planet was a slimy mudball...it did have some spectacular sunsets and sunrises. He pulled up on the edge of a desert plateau, off the road, and observed the landscape below, taking in the sight of the landscape stretching out into the distance, some thirty feet below. He considered the way the light played off the sand. He hated sand, but it looked decent from a distance.

His view was interrupted by a flash on the road some ways off. His visuals zoomed in, taking in the car there. Odd, as far as he'd seen, humans didn't frequent this area...but he wasn't reading a 'con or 'bot. His optics would have narrowed, had he been in his bipedal mode.

He quickly reversed, heading back to his own stretch of road. He took off, pedal pressed flat as he zipped down the dusty pavement, a flash of gold in the desert sun. The ground sloped down and evened out, the road following and then curving. He was gaining fast. When he reached an acceptable distance, he would slow, following at a distance, just to be sure.

[Barricade]

Seemed like his luck had run out. His sensors went off as soon as the signal got close enough, and the Autobot was gaining on him fast. Okay, not time to panic yet. Not time to get the frag out of there yet either. He could pretend he was just a lost tourist driving around aimlessly, and activated a hologram accordingly. One that was on a headset for a cell phone and carrying on a conversation about being lost in the middle of 'Desert Dump Nevada'. Which was all him talking to himself, but it was what it was. He could fake a cell signal, but he'd see if the Autobot bought his act before going that far.

He didn't speed up or slow down, and remained completely silent. Then, of course, a large animal of some kind crossed right into his path and he swerved to miss it. No way was he getting organic anything splattered all over him. Which, given that he hit a patch of gritty sand at the edge of the road, sent him spinning off the side and into the sand.

And the cursing began as he spun tires and realized he was stuck. And upside down. He'd have to transform to get out of this one. Barricade vented and mentally face palmed. Back luck found him.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker maintained his position. Zooming in, he could see a human figure in the driver's seat. Could be legitimate. Could be a holoform. He'd continue to follow until he was certain. The car ahead remained at the same speed, apparently unaware of him.

Had Sunstreaker not been suspicious by nature, he'd have taken this at face value and left the lone vehicle be. But, he was a soldier in a war, 'cons were tricky, his brother was nearby, and Sunstreaker hadn't gotten any action in a good while. In all honesty, he was equal parts hoping it was a 'con and wasn't a 'con. He wanted a brawl...but where there is an Autobot patrol, there is a base or other important location nearby. To reveal himself would be telling.

When the vehicle ahead of him spun out after swerving to miss one of the native organic species, he slowed to a stop observing. It was stuck. He scoffed in a bit of smug derision. How unfortunate. He, of course, would never be caught in such a predicament.

After a moment, he began moving again, activating his holoform as a precaution. His gold plating gleamed obnoxiously in the sunlight as he rolled to a stop, well within view of the other vehicle. If it was a human, they would signal for help and he would transfer a call to the local human authorities. As much of a pain as it was, it would go against Prime's rules to leave them stranded. If it wasn't a human...things would get interesting.

[Barricade]

Barricade had to think for a long time, even as he knew there was only one option. He couldn't exactly keep up his ruse when his hologram had a range of only about 20 ft from his person. The second it disappeared he'd be found out anyway, so having someone called to 'get' him was out of the question. He didn't want organics touching him, not at all. Tires spun and he was only catching air, so he got out of himself and tried to see if he could use his hologram to shift the sand and dirt enough to flip himself over. No good, he was on stone. Meaning the bonnet of his vehicle form was going to be scratched.

He vented, leaning against himself with the hologram and trying to decide what he was going to do. Finally, after realizing he'd exhausted all other options, he nixed the hologram.

The former decepticon had the sense that this was going to go badly for him. But he had no other option left; he transformed. As soon as he was far enough into the sequence he pushed against the ground to get right side up and angled his frame so that he could protect himself if he had to. It was one of the times he was very glad his transformation sequence was a bit faster than average. As he had no markings on him there was a slim chance that he wouldn't be immediately shot at. It depended on rather or not he'd done battle with this particular Autobot before.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker watched with some interest as the wheels on the trapped car spun fruitlessly. This was quite the predicament they found themselves in, wasn't it? His curiosity diminished some when a human form exited the vehicle and moved to observe the ground beneath the vehicle. Hmph. Just an idiot organic, then...

And then it disappeared.

Immediately, Sunstreaker was on edge. This was a Cybertronian. A crafty one who'd been masking their signal and was taking care to fly under the radar with a nondescript alt. mode. He watched as the bot transformed, quickly, and immediately jumped into the air. A defensive maneuver. So, they knew what Sunstreaker was too.

The frontliner's own holoform fizzled out as he stood, golden plating shifting with a whir of gears. Whoever this was had expected an attack, which led Sunstreaker to believe that they weren't friendly. As soon as he was able, he charged, a snarl already in place on his faceplates. He would be unmistakable to anyone who knew of him now, his signature gold plating and audial fins marking him. If it was an Autobot playing it safe on an unfamiliar planet, they would clear things up soon enough. If it was a con...things were about to get a lot more fun for Sunstreaker.

[Barricade]

Frag. Sunstreaker.

There was no mistaking this particular Autobot. He stayed in a defensive stance but didn't attack, looking around for the second of this two-mech fighting team. He was in trouble if they were both here. One he could somewhat deal with, and had done so in the past, but both? Nope. He'd seen them fight in the rings way back when, he'd be destroyed. He was of frontline training, but he was also enough of a tactician to understand when he was outmatched. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe would destroy him.

But he didn't see or detect another Autobot signal nearby. Lucky, for once today. One he could at least meet on somewhat even standing. He'd engaged the twins on the field a few times, but never alone, and always in quick shoot and run tactics.

Barricade wasn't necessarily afraid of this mech, he just understood his limitations. They were both seasoned fighters, both frontline, both approximately the same size and reach. Barricade had a close range combat weapon as well. In combat they were somewhat matched, but Sunstreaker was far more viscous. With combat training in the rings of Kaon, he would have to be.

So it would be in his best interest not to immediately attack. He stayed on defense but didn't attack. "Are you going to allow me to leave peacefully?" It wasn't like he was a spy, though that depended on who one asked.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker closed the distance quickly, slowing as he approached. His entire body was tense, his plating pressed tightly to his protoform in combat readiness. He began to circle out and around when the other made no move to attack. Barricade, he realized when the mech spoke. He looked different, but, now that Sunstreaker was close enough, he could clearly identify him.

His faceplates pulled in a sneer. Peacefully? Word was that Barricade had defected. Whether that was true or not, Sunstreaker didn't particularly care. As far as he was concerned, 'Con or ex-'Con, this kind of encroachment wasn't welcome.

"Maybe if you tell me what you were doing prowling so close to the human settlement," he growled.

Prime wouldn't like it if he thrashed a neutral. And, as much as he wanted to throw down right now, that thought did keep him at bay...

[Barricade]

"Patrolling."  He deadpanned the word, but at least he was telling the truth on the matter.  Though he stood in a clearly defensive position he hadn't armed himself as of yet.  While he had to admit a good fight would be just the thing to break him out of the monotonous routine he'd fallen into as a neutral, he didn't want to risk it if there was any chance of Sideswipe being around as well.  It was as he'd said; one he could handle, two was suicide waiting to happen.  And he wished to live.  He was also missing the protective ram guard that used to sit across his chassis, making the area much more defended as it was on of the most vulnerable areas on a Cybertronian's frame.  A bad enough head or chassis injury and you were as good as deactivated.  "Hard to beat years of habit."  And he'd been an enforcer before the war too.

He only had a few things going for him right now.  One was that he was technically neutral, though some Autobots had the mindset that there was no such thing as a 'former' Decepticon.  The other was that he didn't see or catch the signature of the other half of the despicable duo.  No Sideswipe to annoy him into attacking/egg on Sunstreaker into it because the other was bored meant that he may yet be able to back out of this.

If they were on the same side, Primus forbid, he'd have probably been happy to spar with this mech.  They were about the same size and build, and there was very little chance of either of them blaming the other for being too rough in a sparring match.  In fact, he'd have been insulted if someone went easy on him even in training.  He preferred a challenge.  But they were not on the same side, this was not a training match, and he could really end up dead.  And with no medic at home to attend his injuries he couldn't risk serious damage.

So, he'd have to see where this went.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker's engine kept up a steady growl under his plating. He itched to fight. It had been far too long since he'd torn into a 'Con, and someone was overdue. Unfortunately for him, this wasn't going the way he wanted. The problem was, as much as he disliked Barricade, and distrusted him, he knew what the other mech's role was. Barricade was too infamous for him not to. He had been and enforcer, and a saboteur during the war. Patrolling...wasn't too much of a stretch.

"Hmph," the Frontliner 'relaxed', shifting to a more 'casual' position without losing his battle-readiness, "Patrolling."

He folded his arms over his broad chassis. Every outward component of him was that of a fighter, from his thick armor to his build. Even his servos were more suited to beating enemies than much else. Though, they missed the feel of his artistry tools. Barricade was of a similar build, obviously a fighter. But, Sunstreaker's battle-trained optics caught, he was missing the chest guard that had previously been in place. Stupid move if someone was still an active combatant.

"Word is you defected."

It wasn't a question, but a demand for clarification. He couldn't do his damndest to thrash Barricade if he was now a neutral mech, that much was certain.

[Barricade]

Barricade was far too paranoid to relax even when the mech across from him stood down the slightest bit. Nope, if he had to get out of there with speed he wanted to be ready to do so. He kept his optics locked on Sunstreaker, watching his body language for any sign that he was about to attack. They were similar in the way they fought, give or take a few key differences obviously. But he also knew warriors, and frontliners always gave the slightest sign before they lunged. It was never intentional, and some of the better controlled ones didn't broadcast it as much, but it was always there.

He shifted his weight back and forth slightly, restless as he was forced to remain still. They were apparently going to have a bit of a conversation. Better than a full out brawl, at least for now. "Better than boredom." And his paranoia wouldn't allow him to remain without a proper patrol for too long. But he wasn't saying that.

"I did, some time ago." Well, he didn't remember actually defecting, but he did remember Megatron trying to dig his spark from his chassis and running for his life. There was no going back to the Decepticons after that. So yes, he was defected.

He actually itched to try this mech. They were well matched in a battle, but again the primary problem there was that he didn't have the luxury of a medic to patch him up waiting at the place he called home.

[Deleted]

Sunstreaker remained unmoving, optics fixed on his possible opponent. He'd already sized him up, compared the new frame to what he already knew. Yeah, it would be a tough fight. And he could definitely use one. Barricade was the type of mech who could stand against him toe to toe, though, if Sideswipe was backing him up, it would be a hands-down victory.

Barricade's confirmation of his defection caused the frontliner's expression to sour further.

"Tch," his optics narrowed in a glare, "Consider yourself lucky, then. Prime wouldn't like it if I thrashed a neutral. And I'm not in the mood to sit in the brig for it."

At least...not at the moment. Not when he and Sideswipe had just found each other again and patrols were painful enough separation.