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Characters: Optimus Prime Location: Highway outside Toronto, Canada Content Warnings: n/a? Plot Summary: A fortuitous encounter with Optimus may be just the break Barricade needs as he takes a chance while out driving to converse with the Autobot leader.
"I'm the bad cop. Don't bother to ask for the good cop, I killed him."
Autobots were a predictable lot. He'd been observing them as he came across them ever since he'd deserted the Decepticons. Mostly so that he didn't have to worry about them trying to end him permanently, but also so that he could approach them as needed. On his own terms, not theirs. And he wasn't about to disarm himself. That was asking to be destroyed, and only fools believed when someone said they'd be safe if they just got rid of their weapons. The only true safety was within a faction, or being strong enough to remain standing as a Neutral. Honestly, he wasn't sure he had the strength. He could fight, he could plan, but he lacked numbers and in this case the numbers are what had him stuck.
So he'd waited, watching who they sent out on patrol and when, then picked his point of contact. He would rather have caught Ratchet, but in this case Optimus Prime himself would due. Provided he didn't try and slag him when he realized who he was, that is. So he'd have to talk fast and run should the massive mech shoot one off at him. But he'd been alone for too long now. The silence was getting to him. He was so used to Frenzy chattering on ceaselessly that to be completely alone bothered him in a way he had never expected. He could be alone, it wasn't that. It was the quiet that got to him. Even on the Nemesis there was always chatter over the public comms. One needed only tune into it to see what the latest gossip was, were they inclined. Mostly, he'd ignored the gossip and used the active conversations in order to learn things about his fellows. Things he could use against them if he had to. It was a cold way of thinking, but practical.
But it was time, and there would be no better. The Autobots usually travelled in pairs, he'd noticed, or at least the ones he'd viewed had. But a mech as big and powerful as the Prime didn't need a partner. And he for one wasn't going to argue that point with a mech that could destroy him. He had more common sense than that. He was damaged already, his state of being in a precarious position as it was. So, common sense, what passed for manners, and no weapons. He had them, he just wouldn't use them.
A wail of his police siren and a flash of lights announced his presence as he picked up a little speed to catch up to the big mech. That and the humans tended to part quickly at the sound of the siren and the sight of lights. He enjoyed making a mockery of their enforcers. He waited only a moment more then pinged a communications request at the larger mech, easing into a simple holding pattern behind him so as not to make too much of a fuss.
"Prime." He offered simply. "Don't shoot, I mean no harm."
A route was chosen to be explored and surveyed for any potential dangers. A lengthy highway that had a nice curve around the country side was ideal for this large mech that hauled a trailer full of rudimentary mobile scanning devices. If any signs of Energon or Cybertronian signatures arise, he could detect it with great ease. The big rig leisurely drove along the road, allowing his equipment to do most of the heavy work, this allowed a nice view of wooded area around him.
A signature was detected as he was daydreaming of a more peaceful ride through these highways and forests. A Cybertronian signature and one that put his engine into revs. For a moment his main goal was to get these heavy trailer to a safe spot before unhitching and further scanning the area of this elusive Cybertronian. Yet what came next had his engines revving down a bit as those lights and sirens came into range. Had he broke the speed limit by mistake? Was his trailer lights out? He had no idea why he was being pulled over and immediately conjured up a hologram of a bearded man in plaid and overalls as his driver.
The red and blue big rig eased off to the side of the for the police vehicle to approach, maybe he can talk his way out of this? Yet his scanners were chirping away that this was the Cybertronian nearby. This only made him wish this one was not so trigger happy. Though instead of bullets coming his way, he was met with his name and no ill will. Stopped off to the side of the road and still in vehicle form may provide these two good cover while it lasts.
"This is Optimus Prime and your wish of non aggression is well met." He had been trailed by this mystery figure and doesn't know of his voice all that well. It was putting him on guard the more the situation kept going, "May I request your name if you are comfortable enough to share it?"
It amused him to see such a large and powerful mech like Optimus Prime adhering to the fleshlings laws like this. He could have easily ignored him and gone about his business, but the sirens meant something on this planet, as they had once meant something on his own. Once he'd pulled off, and turned off his engine, Barricade produced a hologram of his own to keep up the premise of a simple traffic stop while he carried on his conversation with the Autobot's leader.
His frame visibly shifted as he settled on his shocks, fully prepared to take off if the bigger mech so much as twitched at him wrong. He hadn't survived this long by being careless.
"And well received, thankfully." He muttered before turning his attention to the large semi truck. "Don't shoot me." He requested again before deciding to continue. "Designation Barricade, neutral." He tacked that on before he got shot. Yes, he was paranoid.
But he also had his lights still flashing, still percieved the occasional pass of a human vehicle on the way past where he'd 'pulled over' the Autobot. Perhaps there was a chance of there not being a scene made over this encounter.
He wanted to be an example for his Autobots and if having to obey traffic laws on Earth would assist in that manner, he will happily oblige. Even if it meant sitting in traffic for hours on end. Of course there were a plethora of traffic laws that he had to obey while in cover, all of which he downloaded and reviewed studiously during those long hours of construction on roads. Having an officer of the law present themselves to the semi would lead to an inspection from an outside eye.
The large semi sat there on the side of the road while the window rolled down for a hologram driver to poke their head out to speak. "Barricade, seeing as you are neutral I will not aim my weapons at you in aggression only in defense." The trucker gave a warm smile to the officer tending to his routines. A slight tip of the head was given before the driver leaned a bit out of the window only to speak once more, "Officer, may I inquire as to why I was pulled over? Surely a name exchange can not be all?"
The presence of paranoia did tip Optimus off. What had caused this neutral Barricade to be so on edge? Was it because he has committed heinous war crimes on both sides and is avoiding them? Were the DJD pursuing him? His mind went to aspects of the war rather than something that was less bloody. Many years had that effect on one's psych. What haven't they done in these past centuries of fighting? This only made the semi keep his engines rumbling softly, ready to kick into action.
Well, at least his current guise was keeping things calm. Which was for the best. While he had been repaired just enough by First Aid to function as he needed to, he hadn't been repaired enough to fight. The strain an extended battle could put on his spark would likely kill him. His systems needed a full overhaul, including the internal damage to his spark chamber. Potentially, only Ratchet was skilled enough to manage that.
He vented, the sound loud enough that it traveled from his true form while his hologram dealt with the Autobot's leader. He needed to tread carefully here, especially as he needed further repairs.
"It's safer to approach an Autobot that's by themselves than in a pair. I stopped you to talk. I have no intention of joining your faction, but I do need certain...delicate repairs that can't be done by myself. In short, I would like to petition for safety temporarily as well as repairs." He paused, considering his next words. "If the Decepticons found me now they'd kill me. One simply doesn't defect from Lord Megatron's army."
The hologram's head tipped. "Also your trailer has a flat tire on the left right side furthest back." He shook himself, wondering why he bothered saying that. Perhaps because he'd definitely owe the Autobots something in return if Optimus opted to allow him safety.
[OOC: Let me know if you aren't okay with the 'flat tire' thing, I'll fix it.]
The situation was still tense for the Prime who was still in disguise, unable to quickly perform quick counters. His rear view mirror shifted a bit to give him a better view of what was happening behind him. Barricade was still there and no hidden weapons unfolded. A bit of respite was granted at knowing this while knowing that his trailer provided plenty of bulk between him and any sneak attack weapons.
A venting sound came from the police cruiser, helping thoughts of tiredness enter the Prime's mind. Yet he was redirected from his thoughts back to the hologram at hand who spoke so freely. His own truck driver rubbed the back of his neck to give a casual feel to an outside observer, "If you are in need of repairs we can provide them." The idea of helping a fellow Cybertronian in need was in his coding, even if they were of opposing sides. Somehow when Barricade said he needed more delicate repairs a thought of a trade could be used. "I will see what I can muster for your repairs Barricade. In the mean time I will ensure your temporary safety so long as your end is upheld." His driver gave a curt nod soon enough before attempting to roll his window up but stopped short, only for his head to pop out and peer at the far wheel.
"Ah yes, I will get that changed out at the nearest truck stop. There are plenty of wheels to hold this... big girl up." His Earth lingo was haphazardly constructed, showing inexperience. "Thanks for the heads up, Officer." His head ducked back in while making the driver hold his chin in thought. More to his ruse, he turned back to the officer outside, "You know. I may travel these roads back. I will tell you about the weather up where I am heading." In truth he was just driving around to scan the area rather than having a true destination.
He was candid in his speech patterns, if nothing else. He had never felt the need to be subtle, and didn't care to be hidden on this planet of far lesser beings. If they figured him out then they figured him out, let them kiss his aft if they didn't like it. That aside, he needed to pull his processors away from sarcastic remarks so long as he was asking the Prime for assistance. After all, big mech could squash him if he set his mind to it.
That Optimus so readily agreed to his help, and hadn't yet named his return price was a good sign. He knew he was desperate enough to be lured in by what he would call a good deal, even if he knew the bigger mech was doing so. It would help Prime to have another scout, and one older and better trained than Bumblebee was. Plus he knew where several energon mines were that no one had found yet. He'd hidden out in one for ages before being repaired enough to go out again. He could be very useful, provided the Prime treated him well.
"That's agreeable." He had to shake his head at the weird way the other mech spoke. So Optimus insisted on adapting to this planet? Very well then. He was perfectly capable of adapting, he just chose not to. But he put on his best good old boy grin to his hologram just in time as a state trooper pulled up behind his true form and a real officer started coming over to see what was going on. "Well then, mister, let's get you and this rig of yours safely down to the truck stop. That tire going bad is a safety hazard and we wouldn't want the trailer to take a flip on these roads. Slow or not we take the safety of the people 'round these parts seriously." And if Optimus called him out on the abrupt change in front of the squishy that was now just on his left side, he would go semi tipping the next time he caught the other in recharge.
Barricade would follow him to the truck stop, maintain the cover, then leave off and wait for Optimus to pass through again. By then he'd have an answer. If it was good he'd just follow the other back to wherever he was being lead, ready to fight if he had to. If not then they'd part ways and he'd see about approaching Ratchet instead.
Unless, of course, Optimus asked him to accompany him. In which case he'd switch to a less conspicuous alternate mode and follow at a distance.
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