The Worst Field Trip of All Time

[megatronicpolarity]

WHO: Megatronus & the Badlands volunteers
WHERE: At the edge of Haven, then onwards to the center of the Badlands offshoot.
WHEN: Sunday/Monday
WHAT: Now that they have their assault team, it's time to put an end to the recent influx of monsters.
WARNINGS: Violence against robotic centipedes.

Whether they hear it from Megatronus himself or through one of his Acolytes, all of the volunteer fighters are offered the same information: a time, a place, and instructions on what to expect from the Badlands. More of the monsters, surely, and the Call of the darkness is an ever-present threat. Stay within sight of the group at all times or risk being lost forever.

The only thing left to do now is make it to the rendez-vous point.

[[OOC note: tag in under the two sub-threads already provided: a more relaxed one for pre-fight chatter, and the actual fight thread. You can participate in both, or just do one and handwave your character's involvement in the other.]]

Comments

that's right, they saved vandal together. :3 forgot wing would know saber is capable.

[pendragon]

"Ah, Wing."

The knight turns to face the Cybertronian and nods politely.

"I am so grateful for your offer. I hate to be a bother."

Saber hates asking for favors; if she had to, she'd ultimately run into the Badlands on foot before she asked around for a ride. Fortunately, Wing offered, and Saber quite likes him. They haven't spoken much, as duty calls first, so the knight in blue is glad they are able to speak briefly before the battle.

Yes! They've done this before. Just, nowhere near this scale. o_o;

[winged_knight]

A companionable smile. "I often feel the same way. But in truth, if no one needed assistance, then what would ones like us do, who wish to be helpful?" It's symbiosis in a way. Wing is certain Saber will return the favor in some way in the future. "Rest assured that you are no bother, I'm just happy to be of assistance. For a long time I was unable to take passengers."

He actually does seem quite gratified to be able to offer such a boon, something that is perhaps a bit rare for his kind. Many find it beneath them to serve as what humans might see as beast of burden, when to Wing it is simply a resource worth offering to aid another. And, in more frivolous times, a joy worth sharing.

[pendragon]

"I see," Saber nodded. She could relate; after all, she felt lost without anything to offer others. Was that not what determined one's worth?

Turning back towards the direction of the Badlands, she gestures towards it in an arching motion.

"What do you feel about the upcoming battle, Wing?"

Saber .. knew her battles. She was beyond experienced. Not only would she receive other insight on the situation, but also be able to get a better idea of what kind of person Wing was. The knight could usually tell that from how they felt about an upcoming battle.

[winged_knight]

"I was a courier before I joined my order. I never had a need for passenger space before I arrived here." And it feels good to have it now.

Wing's gaze follows the sweep of her hand, gold optics flickering over the dark horizon. He takes a moment, considering, before answering.

"I do not fear the Badlands's call, my will has proven greater when I've journeyed there in the past." His mouth flattens, wing panels shifting restlessly. "The enemy's numbers are more concerning. Without knowing the capabilities of our group or how it's been increased with Megatronus's gifts, I find it hard to judge the outcome."

The Cybertronian knight is pensive a moment longer, before his face shifts to a confident half smile as he looks back a Saber. "But I have faith we will prevail."

[pendragon]

It's not very hard to read on Wing; he's definitely not certain of things, which is understandable. With Saber's previous position, she is simply used to being the one who everyone looked to. She had to always be and feel and look confident, and that hasn't changed since then.

"I'm certain we'll be fine; we have Megatronus Prime assisting, and I recognize quite a few here who have been noted as capable fighters."

The smaller knight shifts to bring her feet together and then separate them once again, standing upright. Saber had simply been standing in one position and spot for too long.

"I have yet to encounter the Badlands; if anything, I can learn from the experience."

[winged_knight]

It's never been hard to read Wing, he is quite possibly one of the most emotive and genuine mechs around. It's not as if he hasn't seen battle before, but these circumstances are unique in his experience. New things, the unknown, always brings trepidation.

"I imagine that if this force were not sufficient, more of Megatronus's brothers would be joining us." It's a mildly comforting thought and he's set a little more at ease.

It's interesting to contrast Vandal, the only other human Wing has spent a fair amount of time with, against Saber. Formal and casual, poised and relaxed.

"There is that." Forewarned is forearmed however. "What do you know of the Calling? Have you heard it before?"

meanwhile, in another thread, saber and vandal are raging over board games.

[pendragon]

"The.. Calling?"

Saber pauses to search her memory. No, this doesn't sound familiar. However, it does sound quite important.

"As we have the time, would you please explain this Calling to me?"

Turning fully toward Wing in a respectful manner, Saber looks up at him so she may give him her full attention. It wouldn't be proper to ask for information and then not even devote yourself to listening, now would it?

It is the most amusing dichotomy. :D

[winged_knight]

"Absolutely, you'll need to defend against it, any sentient will."

He turns equally to face her. Under normal circumstances he'd even take a seat on the ground, preferring to be eye level with his companions regardless of size. But such a relaxed posture doesn't feel right given the current situation, and he rather keep limber and alert.

"The Calling is Unicron's influence trying to stretch out over Cybertron. It is ever-present over the land, any sentient will fall prey to it eventually. The glyph we each wear protects us from it. But if that protection erodes or our will weakens, then its influence grows stronger. The Calling draws us to the Badlands, corrupts us so we are no longer ourselves, lost, until we become no better than the monsters we will fight today."

There's more, but he knows time to absorb such concepts is key.

[pendragon]

"Is that related to the Glyphless .. then?"

Saber was there for that, and she remembers when that happened. How those without glyphs eventually met their end by going into the Badlands or losing themselves in insanity.

"I.. have heard of Unicron briefly before," the knight in blue states somewhat reluctantly. Suddenly, a somewhat uncharacteristic sigh comes from her. "I feel quite ignorant; despite being here for so long, I am still lacking in much knowledge that would be considered common."

Saber is somewhat guilty of her ignorance; she does not traverse the Link like many others do, as she finds that much of the content is.. irrelevant to anything, and something of a waste of time. The knight prefers to keep herself busy with tasks that are more helpful than scouring conversations for information. In fact, reading or listening on conversations that are not her own (even if public) feels somewhat like eavesdropping to her.

But, she is still not taking advantage of a resource she readily has.

"Please continue, if there is more you wish to relay."

[winged_knight]

He nods. "Related, but that case was special. Those people were pulled here intentionally to create insurgents in our midst. Vector warned us they would eventually turn on us." He frowns then, because it's not something he really wants to remember: Drift being killed by his own captain and friend...

Wing cycles a deep breath through his cooling system, like a sigh. "The knowledge itself, though avaliable, is not so common. Primus is our god, our creator. The essence of light and life. In most universes, he is manifest to us in some way, usually in the core of our world. This world is newly birthed. The First Forged prepare for his arrival. But his antithesis, Unicron, an entity of chaos, wants Cybertron for himself. They both wish to populate the world in their image."

The whole address seems to relax the knight, the passion of his faith burning away the dark shadow of memory that is the Glyphless. "I do not mind sharing my knowledge, so long as you do not mind listening." A small smile, because some would not have the patience.

"It's important to know that the Calling is strongest near the Badlands. The original site of the Badlands, Unicron's foothold on this world, is far from here, almost on the other side of the world. But they seem to be expanding. I do not know if this closer part will have the same effects, but it would be best to prepare for the worst I think."

+many friendship points! x3

[pendragon]

"I.. do not believe I have been affected by the Calling, but I will be certainly more aware of the possibility now. Thank you."

Unicron and Primus, was it? She'd have to remember Wing's explanation of those two and their influences. Although Saber knew of them, she had no idea the influence was so important.

"I am willing to listen to any information that is relevant to my current or future situations. To run into situations - battles or otherwise - without any information is the mark of a fool."

She lowers her head as she closes her eyes then, and smiles briefly before speaking.

"And I truly value those who are willing to use their time to divulge such information both on and off the battlefield. Thank you, Wing. I am ears for any time you wish to talk, regardless of information being exchanged or not."

Lowering her hands, she summons her blade into them. The blade remains hidden by the swirling winds around it, but the length of the great sword can be seen as she places the tip into the ground and then puts her hands on top of the hilt in front of her. The hilt rests at her upper stomach.