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Characters:Optimus Prime, @strongarm Location: Northern Ireland Content Warnings: N/A Plot Summary: In Northern Ireland, Optimus Prime and Strongarm seek to locate one of the most dangerous Iacon Relics from the Project Iacon: The Spark Extractor.
The cool sea air and the salt and tang of the sea seemed to cut into Strongarm the moment she set foot through the groundbridge, arriving with Optimus at the coast of Northern Ireland. This was going to be a difficult search. While the coordinates were precise, the path to the Spark Extractor was less so. It was why they had to start this far from its actual location.
"No matter what, we're keeping it out of Decepticon hands. Yes?" She spoke up, looking to Optimus with a look of concern. She knew that the leader of the Autobots wasn't a cruel type of mech, but it never hurt her to have a little reassurance that the two of them were of the same goal. She had joined in the search with the intent of keeping the Spark Extractor itself out of Decepticon hands. The fact that she was teaming with Optimus to find the most dangerous relic that she had seen was something she didn't take lightly either.
Not that she took anything lightly. She couldn't afford to take things lightly. The war was serious, and so was the need to catch any escaped Decepticon criminals as well. Her spark was pounding, not at the thought of adventure, but the fear that a Decepticon may have also deciphered the location of the Spark Extractor. If so, she was going to have to watch out, make sure her own spark didn't end up extracted in the process.
The groundbridge wasn't that great at warning what was on the other side. So the salty sea air was quite an experience to walk right into once exiting the portal. Northern Ireland was an interesting place, full of moist air and salt... A very different experience than where they just came from. Stories of electronics not lasting a great deal of time in the salt air were heard of, yet he had no experience of just how long it will take. In a way it made him eager to search before their electronics to their devices went out.
"We will make sure this vile relic stays well out of their reach." Two Autobots together can be a useful number and he needed her help in getting this relic, he knows it! He looked to her once the portal closed behind them. "We'll need to move quickly." Soon after saying that he started walking while pulling out his data pad to triangulate the position of the relic. Just a short walk now, along these jagged cliffs with the sea starting to pick up. Though out at sea a storm was coming and quickly.
The idea of the Spark Extractor in their possession had him worrying about how to keep it secure. Perhaps they could lock it in some vault with thick walls. He will have to request a safe spot for this device, "Once this device is in our hands. We will need to lock it up, tightly."
The moist air and salt were the bigger concern. Getting closer to the mountains would reduce that, but at the same time it still presented the issues of the moist air, and cold on top of that. Despite the fact that the cold would stop an overheat, it was still less-than-ideal conditions for a Cybertronian.
"Agreed. If I should reach it before you, I'll leave it to you to secure it against their reach. I know my usual location wouldn't be secure." She spoke up softly. She would be moving quickly with him, making sure that she had the data with the exact coordinates on hand as well. They were near the area, but not exactly at the coordinates; apparently the geography of the area would have made it dangerous and difficult to try to Groundbridge to the actual area. After all, the jagged cliff edges that led to sea were precarious as it was, and she was fairly sure if it led closer to a mountain area, that would not be easy either. She had a tracker on their current coordinates compared to the map of where the relic's coordinates were given and while they were near, they were so far at the same time.
"Agreed. Because I know we won't use it. For good reason." The thought of the uses of it made her actually a little sick to her tanks to think of. To rip a spark out of a still-living frame and possibly destroy the spark, and catastrophically terminate life in the frame. That was sick, horrifying.
The sea itself seemed to be picking up, and with it, the wind that would gust into them. She closed her left optic to brace it against the wind, while the wind impacted, making the lubricants seem to either dry up in spots or chill in others. The wind itself was almost like little needles of air to her in certain spots like the optic.
An overheat is not a fun thing, nor is freezing over. Yet this was the wet cold. A miserable kind of climate that just worked it's way in you and you can't keep dry and warm. This made the larger mech look to his datapad then to the rocks ahead, "The relic is hidden away in that area... Lets make sure these rocks are familiar with a Cybertronian's grip."
He took the lead while glancing at his pad before looking up to see the cliffs and the storm brewing. This was something that will prove to be a nuisance. A glance to Strongarm before he turned his gaze back to the cliffs. From there he sped up his pace. Not wanting to wait out a storm. Yet the sting of the cool air and the mist that struck his face and optics made his dentae bare. Yet he could taste the salty air. His mask slid into view to cover his face without a second thought.
"This relic will be secure, I will ensure it does. As well as limit our uses on it to more dire happenings." With the Spark Extractor so close it only made him further excited to get it. The excitement grew until he forgot to blink in this blistering wind that grew faster while the ground was further soaked by the new rain. Deep footprints were left by the pair at this point. A forewarning of the loose ground up ahead.
Strongarm herself was trying not to shudder. This was truly the wet kind of cold that would rust a bot if they stayed stationary too long. She winced her optics shut with the stinging rain once in a while, little icy wet needles of rain making it a pain to really keep her optics open. "Good plan." She was already nervous about scrambling for purchase on those rocks. They were going to be the hard part.
She slid her own mask into place, not wanting to let that tang of salty sea air get into her and rust her out if she could help it. The rain was making the ground slicker with the sands seeming to turn into mud. She seemed to slip slightly but turned her foot just enough to stop the slide before anything else could happen. Almost there. Almost there. Her spark was pounding heavily and she could feel the sense of nervousness rising with the storm's winds and rain.
"Might need to use cable if we have any. Those rocks are going to be slicked with rain." She indicated. She had a spool of cable she had gotten from the scrapyard before leaving out for the mission ready just in case. "I have cable from the Scrapyard in case. Russell insisted."
Even if he was a Prime, he had the right to hate the weather like anyone else. He cupped his hand over the data pad to keep the screen from getting a nice coat of rain on it while he took his shower. The icy needles struck his optics, making them close a tad bit as he went on the path towards the relic. "If need be. We can find an alternate route around. I'd rather you be safe than in those rocks below."
The sound of a foot sliding had him turning a bit to see if she was alright. Indeed she was and now he was set back to his ease prior to the slip. Yet he shouldn't be so relaxed while they are up in the rocky outcroppings for this relic. The waters below had washed away the rocks below and practically dug out the relic for them. They just need to pull a few rocks out of the way before gathering it up.
"My scanner is saying that the relic is located in that cliff. But this rain and wind is not boding well for free form climbing. We need ca-" He fell silent as Strongarm pulled out some cables. A silent nod came from him before he looked at the smaller Autobot, "I can act as an anchor for you to repel down to the relic." He will have to thank Russell for his insistence of cables. Maybe he can stash some stronger cables in his cab for future happenings?
Even the rookie cop knew the Prime had a right to hate the weather. Unicron to the Pit, she was pretty sure that if he liked this weather, then he had to be as barking mad as Sideswipe at un-Primian early hours. Thin patches of ice from sleet starting to pelt her had started forming, making her have to knock some of it free. "Understood."
She seemed to try to settle slightly with each step to be sure that she wouldn't slip like that once more. It seemed to help her for the time being but her spark seemed to thrum erratically from the nerves of the moment.
"Yes, please. Thank you, Optimus." She nodded. "I'll have to secure the cable to myself as well. I don't want to lose grip." She would make sure it was secured on her hitch, as well as around her waist for added safety before she would allow Optimus to anchor the other end. "Ready when you are."
The un-Primian weather had the sleet falling and some of it coated his shoulders, glistening soon enough. His armor had sensors yes, but to detect damage and not slight feelings of touch. Perhaps this ice sheet could help insulate him from heat based attacks? Either that or cool him down way too much. It was only when the ice formed on his face that he brushed it off.
The path up to the rocky out crops was interesting and the Prime noticed that each step grew heavier for the massive mech. He was sinking into the mud slightly and it did build up on his pedes. Thoughts of this slick mud came to mind as he would think of him sliding backwards down this hill or worse yet, off it.
Before the anchoring happened, he shook his pedes clear of mud so they can dig into the ground more effectively. From there he watched Storngarm fasten herself to the cables before he took his end to fast to his waist then looped it around his hands to allow him to feed her length. A quick check of the data pad revealed it was several meters down this cliff face and off to the right, facing the cliff that is. A quick nod came from the Prime as he readied to repel Strongarm down the cliff to search for this relic.
Of course, Strongarm herself didn't knock too much of the sleet off; just at the joints. She wanted to keep herself moving, after all! Okay, her face too but only if there were sleet-icicles hanging from her golden-hued chevron. But that was a visual distraction and anyone would make sure to free that.
Once Optimus had the other end anchored for her, Strongarm carefully started to rappel down the cliffside. The Spark Extractor was just down there, the occasional spray of seawater glinting off it like the occasional flicker of lightning from the distance. She would normally be a bit hesitant about the lightning, but they had no time to lose, and in all technicality, it was useful in this situation.
She brushed some of the icy sleet off her face again while rappelling down. Almost there. Almost. She could feel her pedes against the rocks, digging one in carefully to slow her descent. There it was! She dug her pedes into the rocks just a bit more. There, safe enough to finally extract the Spark Extractor itself. She delicately eased it out of place and into her hands, clutching carefully.
"Got it." She murmured. She would then tug at the cable, glancing up. "Gonna need a little help up, Optimus! Don't wanna drop the most dangerous, precious cargo."
This sleet will remind Optimus to appreciate Nevada's warmth and sunshine. He soon planted himself with his feet firmly placed into the mud while he watched the ocean over yonder. The winds began to pick up and toss more rain their way and that brought a frown to him. They will have to act fast.
He slowly fed the cable for Strongarm to rappel down. He did keep his comm link open for any of her instructions. Be it slow down, add more length, swing this way or that way. "How is the rope handling down there?" He called through the comms to Strongarm, wondering if it was remotely easy down there. He could only guess it was a struggle.
The sea storm out yonder gathered lightning and that made his eyes squint a bit when the flashes made imprints in his sight before fading away. This began to trouble him as lightning was attracted to tall objects and metal. He was the tallest, metallic thing out there. It was until he heard her voice before he nodded, carefully pulling her up, "I hear you, you can slide it onto the ground while I help you up. This side of the cliff will have anything round rolling away from the sea."
Once the device was in sight, he lowered a hand down to her while holding the cable firmly. He opted to pull her up and out of this danger zone before the lightning got any bit closer.
For Strongarm, it would remind her to be a little more appreciative of the calmer rains of Crown City. Much calmer than the sleet and rain she was having to deal with right here. Primus, Earth's weather was a pain in the aft to her. Not that she'd gripe to Bumblebee about that. The Lieutenant had probably been there, done that.
"Handling well, Optimus." She commed back quickly. "The rocks, not so much" Oh, the cable was doing just fine. It was the slippery rocks and her lack of grip with her pedes in such a situation that was the pain in the afterburner to her.
When instructed, she would slide the Spark Extractor onto the ground to reach for a help up. At least it wouldn't be rolling away into the sea once they were both up there. She clutched tightly to Optimus' hand for dear life, trying to shut out the mental racing at the roar of the thunder just off the coast. Ugh, how she hated storms!
"Thank you, Optimus." She gave a relieved look. "We should probably get out of here with the Spark Extractor before the storm gets worse..."
For gripping, it goes up the chain of command but not down it. Optimus learned that at one point of his career. Yet it was nice to write it down somewhere to get it off his mind. He did appreciate the much calmer weather back in Nevada. Something that shouldn't be taken for granted. When there was spare time he should take a leisurely drive through Nevada to relax.
He could feel the tension in the cable as it moved with each motion she made. He was careful to reel her back up to more flat ground before reaching a hand out to take her hand once he saw it in view. This time the cable held even though he would have preferred a sturdier one for Cybertronians. At least she was being helped up.
He was careful not to step on the Spark Extractor while extracting Strongarm from the cliff's edge. Yet the storm was starting to get a little too close for comfort as the first of the heavier waves slammed into the rocks below. A loud thoom was heard below before a large amount of white water sprayed high into the air before the two. This wave made Optimus nervous about the more minute moves they make, "Stand firm while the wind picks up."
The sea spray faded away as the wind kicked and buffed around Optimus who stood taller and wider. One could see the amount of sway he had before crouching down low to grab the spark extractor to clutch close to his chest.
Meanwhile, that had only solidified Strongarm's plans. She was definitely going to take the opportunity to take a relaxing drive near Crown City when she got back. Never again was she going to be harping to Grimlock or Sideswipe about the rain in Crown City.
Strongarm too noticed the cable wasn't holding up as well as she hoped. At least it had held up this time, but she could definitely see the wear and the strain that the cable had dealt with. They definitely needed a higher, thicker gauge of metal if they ever had to do something like this again.
"Understood." She seemed to be a bit more careful than she needed to be while trying to get herself to her feet. Stand firm while the wind picks up. Yeah, once she was to her feet. She would brace herself to stand even.
She drew in a venting and shuddered in the wind. Soon. Soon they would be out of here, she told herself. Soon they would be back where they were in safer footing.
His optics lifted to gaze out to the sea before squinting a bit. He mouthed the words, Where did the storm go? before lifting his helm upwards to see rolling black clouds above. Gathering this he carefully slid his foot back and allowed Strongarm to get away from the cliff's edge. Yet he clutched the spark extractor closely before lifting an arm to shield his optics from the wind and ice.
A moment of respite came and now Optimus took several strides back before huffing. A turn around before he transformed with the spark extractor buckled into the seat. Hopefully Strongarm took the cue as he drove down the hill, a lower profile than his previous state. Of course he still swayed when a nasty set of winds buffered him.
From there he began to radio in a ground bridge before checking his rear view mirrors for a certain blue and white vehicle behind him. The warp gate appeared further down the hill and he started to go for it slowly to let Strongarm catch up or perhaps to let her go through first.