2031 Olympics - Maze Ahoy! Part 1

Transformers: 2005 - Fortress Maximus - Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 9:04 PM

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The Swordfish - Gallery

This sweeping hallway serves as art gallery, view station for the wonders of space beyond, and entrance into the luxurious rooms provided by this craft. The same smooth white material, the one that looks like stone but isn't quite, is the basis of construction and decoration here, but by no means the full spectrum. Tapestries, drapes, and curtains cover those walls not decorated by relief murals, stretching between the doors leading to the private rooms. Luxuriously cushioned benches dot the walkway, and platforms holding statues of various toga-wearing species, urns, and other displays are placed at regular intervals. One end of the hallway, wide windows replace the tapestries, allowing a view of the void beyond. The Swordfish's routes are generally designed to stay in those areas of the great beyond that have the best scenery as much as possible.

With all this expensive artwork around, it would be pretty unfortunate if a fight broke out here.

Contents:

Windshear

Lab-Brat

Foxfire

Boomslang

Steeljaw

Penumbra

Obvious exits:

Scattershot arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Scattershot has arrived.

Ever since the other day when where a ragged off world adventurer had made a commotion about the hidden treasures of Six Laser, the publics' interest in the mysterious mazes has surged once more. Every place you look you can see a groups of treasure hunters, and thrill seekers trying to uncover the, often aluded to but never discovered, entrances to the Six Laser mazes. Even here in the Swordfish, more treasure hunters can be found in this area than actual patrons for have come to view the artworks.

Fortress Maximus can be seen in the eastern corner of the main gallery lobby, waiting for the other Autobots to arrive.

The Swordfish - Gallery

This sweeping hallway serves as art gallery, view station for the wonders of space beyond, and entrance into the luxurious rooms provided by this craft. The same smooth white material, the one that looks like stone but isn't quite, is the basis of construction and decoration here, but by no means the full spectrum. Tapestries, drapes, and curtains cover those walls not decorated by relief murals, stretching between the doors leading to the private rooms. Luxuriously cushioned benches dot the walkway, and platforms holding statues of various toga-wearing species, urns, and other displays are placed at regular intervals. One end of the hallway, wide windows replace the tapestries, allowing a view of the void beyond. The Swordfish's routes are generally designed to stay in those areas of the great beyond that have the best scenery as much as possible.

With all this expensive artwork around, it would be pretty unfortunate if a fight broke out here.

Contents:

Scattershot

Windshear

Lab-Brat

Foxfire

Boomslang

Steeljaw

Penumbra

Obvious exits:

Treasure hunting and thrill-seeking is right up Warpath's alley. Maybe there'll even be a chance to blow things up! But even if there's not, he's sure it's going to be fun. "Wham, bang, let's get this show on the road!" he says.

Penumbra finishes docking and shutting down the small shuttle transport that ferryed a group to this ship and he disembarks, entering the gallery. "Now this is a /big/ ship. I think I'd have to patch in to it's sensors for virtual 'possession' control. Ah, speaking of huge... there's Fortress Maximus." He strolls towards the headmaster.

Windshear had also heard of the adventurer babbling about treasure and what not. With nothing better to do, he decided to come check it out. Curious to see how much of the adventurers words were true and how much were hysteria he steps inside the Swordfish and stops just to look at the display and the artwork. The Seeker is suddenly involved in looking around that he does not notice any Autobots there.

Scattershot heads in with some of the other Autobots. "Wonder how many yahoos are gonna be signing up for..." he trails off, taking in the interior of the Galley. "Guess that answers the question," Scattershot chuckles.

Foxfire likes to fancy himself as an amateur treasure hunter. So, here he is, padding along through the gallery. Fortress Maximus is, of course, difficult to miss, so Foxfire makes his way over to him. "Hiya."

Being a Junkion Scientist, or really a Junkion period, Treasure hunting is an everyday event. So who better to find a treasure, then someone that constantly scoures through Junk to find the best parts to use... even if he only plans to blow those parts and usually himself up in the process. Lab-Brat, is currently dressed up as a pirate becuase, well what else are you gonna dress as on a Treasure hunt. "Arr Me HArdies, Shiver me tembers. A treasure is out there and I be intending to find it!"

Boomslang follows Fortress Maximus at a wary distance, uncertain of if this is some kind of elaborate trap intending to get a minority of the Decepticons alone somewhere no one will know if the truce is broken. He occasionally flickers in and out, suggesting that his photowarping device is running on a low level, in 'displacer' mode. Just in case. "This had better not be a waste of time, 'Maximus,'" Boomslang drawls.

Combat: Boomslang sets his defense level to Protected.

Specter has arrived.

Obviously, Steeljaw isn't much of a igyack rider. And it'll be a long, long time before he even considers drinking as much as he did in the drinking contest. But hunting? Hunting he can do. Stalking into the gallery, Steeljaw is back to his regular gold, without the tinge of sickened bronze that he had the day before. His metal shines a little as a result of a bath required to get rid of the muck from the stalls the day before. "Hallo, Maximus," The little lion autobot looks far up at the 'fortress'. Then grins sidelong at Foxfire, "After the treasures too, hm?"

Specter is actually already at the Gallery, picking his way about and observing the others from afar. His days of adventure and treasure hunting are far behind him, although keeping close to Fortress Maximus.. such is his intent.

"Greetings, Commander." he whispers from behind the Headmaster Leader, dropping down from a perch above.

Combat: Specter appears from the shadows...

One of the downsides to having Fortress Maximus as a part of your treasure hunting groupo is that he just stands out like a sore thumb whereever he goes. There's almost no chance of any sort of subtlety when you're dragging his hulking body frame around. Fortunately when you're one group amongst hundreds of other treasure hunting groups trying to find the hidden entrances to the Six Lasers' mazes, most people wouldn't really give a damn.

Fortress Maximus looks over to the gathered Cybertronians and announces, "Great, that's everyone who has signed up that's accounted for." The large Headmaster leader gives Boomslang a genuine smile, "Do not worry, the information I received on this matter is credible. I only shared this information to your leaders in the interest of fostering possible peace in the future between our two factions. Although I was hoping for more turn out on your end..." Perhaps the Decepticon officers aren't too keen on this whole thing? "Let's not idle here any longer, folks." Fortress Maximus urges the gathered treasure hunters before turning towards the corridor that'll lead into the Swordfish's engine room, "Try not to be seen, subtlety is key here." Irony. Yep. Irony.

Foxfire wags his tail, beaming at Steeljaw. "You bet. I do fancy myself a bit of a treasure hunter."

You move to the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

The Swordfish - Engine Room

A room larger than New York City stretches out below, plunging to dizzying, unknowable depths. A white, pristine walkway crosses the area, a forcefield holding passengers safely in the intricately carved bridge from the forward section to the aft, letting visitors marvel at the scale of the Swordfish's engine room. Pistons the size of buildings turn and churn in the distance, far beyond the light's ability to reach, and a powerful thrumming, humming, reverberates up through the walkway and vibrates through every fiber of a viewer's being. Clean but dimly lit machinery crowds the walls and ledges along the walls, but from the pathway it's impossible to view either ceiling or floor - those are far too far away for the light to reach.

Obvious exits:

You'd need radar or enhanced senses to see in the dark here!

Penumbra arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Penumbra has arrived.

Warpath arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Warpath has arrived.

Lab-Brat arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Steeljaw arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Steeljaw has arrived.

Scattershot arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Scattershot has arrived.

Specter arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Specter has arrived.

Foxfire arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Foxfire has arrived.

Windshear arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Windshear has arrived.

Scattershot grumbles. "Peace between the factions, huh? Now where's the fun in that..." He trails off as they move into the room. "This place? Must have been a hundred people through here already. A thousand. This is the way to the coliseum an' the Space Arena." He points that way.

Boomslang arrives from the The Swordfish - Gallery.

Boomslang has arrived.

Boomslang begins following you.

Asking a Junkion to be Subtle is like asking a Decepticon to be honest. Its not likely to happen, espcially when said Junkion is dressed up and talking like a pirate. He looks around as the path gets darker the further in they get "YArr, it be darker in here then the belly of a rust whale."

Windshear had finally noticed the other Transformers in the room and realized there was safety in numbers in this situation, even if most of the numbers were the enemy any other time. He followed everyone into this room and stands there looking at the size of this engine as it vibrates through his body. its hard to see in here so windy lights up his optics a bit more to see a bit more in front of him.

Foxfire bounds along after the others. He comes to a stop, however, as he sniffs the air. "There's something here..." He takes a good look around...eventually finding a hidden way out of the room. "Ah-hah!"

Combat: Foxfire searches for < D > Down.

Combat: < D > Down has been found!

Despite the engine room being poorly illuminated, there's still various pocket groups of treasure hunters searching around in the area, however the majority of them stay in the safer areas clear of the pistons. Of course, there's a few intrepid solo treasure hunters in the area as well but they're spread so far out that they rarely meet.

Boomslang can be subtle. With his rubberized joints he's almost silent as long as he keeps his weapons and engines turned off. He eyes the enormous Headmaster leader skeptically.

Penumbra just marvels, pausing in his walk following Maximus into the engine room and gazing out into the phenomenally spacious power house. He rests his fists on his hips and just shakes his head slowly. "You couldn't hawk this ship if you ever managed to get a big enough crew to jack it in the first place.... not that I would ofcourse."

Warpath isn't usually stealthy, but he does his best. He stays uncharacteristically quiet at Fortress Maximus' request. No blowing their cover!

Steeljaw takes a moment once entering the engine room to take a look around. If the other transformers thought the room was large, it must be truly massive for Steeljaw. Undaunted, he continues ontwards, his tail flickering from side to side behind him. "Hm. Just this room alone has plenty of places to hide something." Not the most stealthy perhaps, but quiet none the less.

Fortress Maximus guides the group to an isolated area in the deepest areas of the engine room. Illumination is non-existant at this point aside from the light sources carried by the Cybertronians in the group. "Sometimes the most difficult to find secrets are hidden in plain sight, Scattershot." The large Headmaster leader comments to the Technobot leader before wandering over to a specific area right next to an oversized piston. He stops for a moment, there's an air of uncertainty as Fortress Maximus looks down at the datapad held in his left hand and examines the written notes on there, "Hmm... the source had said that the entrance should be around here... somewhere. Let's take a look around."

Foxfire bounds along after the others. At Maximus's mention of an entrance, a thought comes to mind, and he stops, sniffing the air. "Ah-hah..." He noses about, eventually coming across a hidden way out of the area.

Specter follows along, giving all a weary look.. remaining on Foxfire longer than the others though. It doesn't help that Steeljaw is there either, padding along with his four legged friend. "Peace?" he replies to himself, more than anyone else in particular.

Unintentionally blending into the pristine white walkway, Specter halts behind Foxfire. "Entrance, located."

Penumbra turns on the headlights on his shouldlers to add to the search and moves now in a methodical search fashion. His senses are not finely tuned or augmented, but the forensic specialist is used to looking for things and observing. However, he stays behind the Tapes, knowing that they are superior trackers.

Fortress Maximus begins guiding his hands across the walls, feeling every nook and cranny for any signs of a hidden entrance or what not, "I don't think this ship would make it out of the spaceport in time before the local authority takes it down, Penumbra. I heard the local government's policy on hijacking are quite strict."

Windshear says nothing and does nothing either but rather lets the Autobots do the work.

Scattershot heads over towards Foxfire as well. "You think we can go down there?" He says dubiously, looking over a railing. "Well, guess there's gotta be something on the bottom."

Steeljaw is checking out an area closer to the entrance of the area, slowly working his way along the wall. He raises his head from the ground as Foxfire seems to find something, head cocked slightly to the side. "Nice find," He says, walking up towards the extra exit, though he seems distracted, paying attention more to his senses than anythign else.

Penumbra smirks and nods at Fortress Maximus. "She's gotta be a slug for maneuvers and sub-light travel." He quiets and watches Foxfire.

Fortress Maximus looks over to newly uncovered hidden entrance, he snaps a finger in excitement, "Nice discovery, Foxfire!" He reaches down at the hidden entrance's and begins prying at the edge of the plating, "Someone give me a hand with this." Fortress Maximus shoots Specter, Scattershot, and then finally Boomslang a glance.

Scattershot slings his ever-present rifle over his back and so that he can lend both hands to the effort. "Let's do this."

Foxfire is too small to assist Fort Max! He bounds back, closer to Steeljaw, and just stands there, watching. "I knew having Focus help me hone my senses was a good idea."

Boomslang just looks back at Fortress Maximus. Apparently he's not one of the moving-heavy-objects Decepticons.

Lab-Brat isn't good at heavy lifting; now if you wanted the hatch blown up then he could help you. And MAybe with luck not take everyone in the room with it.

You look towards the The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor.

The floor of the engine room is dark, the distant light of the walkway far above too far away to illuminate the sprawling, confusing maze of pistons, automated drones, moving objects and stationary equipment that can't be seen, but can certainly be deadly to anyone caught in the gears. If someone has their own light source, it gets easier, but such a source still only reveals a small area of a vast, city-sized engine. Strangely, though, no hint of an actual /power source/ can be found, at least not anywhere near here. It takes good reflexes to avoid being injured by the enormous pistons and gears that turn and pump relentlessly.

Not any better at heavy lifting than anyone else, Specter leans down to put in his effort. Giving Scattershot and Fortress Maximus a nod, "Ready when you.. are."

Steeljaw is clearly not much of a heavy mover. At least not when the door is on the ground like that. He crouches down next to the revealed panel, seeking to get a glimpse or sniff inside when or if the bigger bots manage to heft it.

The entrance hatch reluctantly cracks open under the combined efforts of the Cybertronians working at its edges. From the wide new opening, the stench of motor oil drifts upwards from below. There's a ladder that leads directly down into... pitch black. Nothing further can be seen down below even when lightning is directed at it, however there is a distinct echo of many mechanical pistons that can be heard from below.

Scattershot begins following you.

Boomslang leans over and flicks on the tactical lights on his arm guns, shining one of the beams into the pit.

The tank splits down the middle, then rises up. The treads separate into legs and arms pop out of the sides. The head comes out of the top of the tank. It's Warpath!

Penumbra steps forward and leans to peer down. "Now... wouldn't it be a laugh if this lead to an ejection air lock? How's first?"

Fortress Maximus narrows his optics behind his ruby visor as he tries to get a good look at the area below before commenting, "Great job, you three. Hmm... nothing but the dark abyss below." He slides his legs down through the opening and gains a footing on the steps on the ladder before lowering the rest of his body downwards, "And nothing to be discovered unless one dares to venture into the unknown." He gives Penumbra a pained smile, "If this does turn out to be a cleverly placed ejection air lock... well, let's promise to keep this embarassing secrets to ourselves, alright?"

Fortress Maximus begins descending down the ladder.

The Swordfish - Engine Room

A room larger than New York City stretches out below, plunging to dizzying, unknowable depths. A white, pristine walkway crosses the area, a forcefield holding passengers safely in the intricately carved bridge from the forward section to the aft, letting visitors marvel at the scale of the Swordfish's engine room. Pistons the size of buildings turn and churn in the distance, far beyond the light's ability to reach, and a powerful thrumming, humming, reverberates up through the walkway and vibrates through every fiber of a viewer's being. Clean but dimly lit machinery crowds the walls and ledges along the walls, but from the pathway it's impossible to view either ceiling or floor - those are far too far away for the light to reach.

Contents:

Boomslang

Windshear

Foxfire

Specter

Scattershot

Steeljaw

Lab-Brat

Warpath

Penumbra

Obvious exits:

You find a weak spot in the protected forcefield that keeps guests on the walkway, and can use that to get off the walkway and either fly down or climb down along one wall.

The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor

The floor of the engine room is dark, the distant light of the walkway far above too far away to illuminate the sprawling, confusing maze of pistons, automated drones, moving objects and stationary equipment that can't be seen, but can certainly be deadly to anyone caught in the gears. If someone has their own light source, it gets easier, but such a source still only reveals a small area of a vast, city-sized engine. Strangely, though, no hint of an actual /power source/ can be found, at least not anywhere near here. It takes good reflexes to avoid being injured by the enormous pistons and gears that turn and pump relentlessly.

Obvious exits:

Boomslang arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Boomslang has arrived.

Scattershot arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Scattershot has arrived.

This is a dangerous place for someone not very agile.

Foxfire arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Foxfire has arrived.

Lab-Brat arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Penumbra arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Penumbra has arrived.

Steeljaw arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Steeljaw has arrived.

"Any robots who can suffocate had better hang back then, eh?" Boomslang remarks snidely to Penumbra, and follows Max down.

Windshear arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Windshear has arrived.

Specter arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Specter has arrived.

Warpath arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room.

Warpath has arrived.

Penumbra scales down to the bottom and then grins slowly at the chewing machine that is the pistons of the engine. "This place coulda had an eatting contest with Unicron."

Windshear wishes he had a flashlight right about now.

Warpath moves slowly and nervously across a pathway that doesn't seem very stable. "One false move, and it's WHACK, game over," he quips. He chuckles at Penumbra's remark.


 * BANG* *BANG* *HISSSSSS* *BANG* *BANG*

No, this isn't Warpath belting out a number out in karoake night but it's close enough. Within the consuming darkness, the loud mechanical sounds of pistons working can be heard EVERYWHERE, and as you go further down the ladder the sound gets louder and louder. It's almost as if the origins of these mechanical sounds are everywhere around you. That just can't be right? Cause if the sounds of the pistons can be this loud, then it's got to be really huge... and if it's that huge... you really don't want it next to you, right?

The Pirate Junkion turns on his high beams, to try and illuminate the area around him better. "This be lookign to get dangerous mates. Hopifully no one will get squshed like a Pancake around those pistons!" He says,

Scattershot peers into the darkness. "Too bad nobody had their fights in HERE," he muses, tilting his head back and then panning his gaze from side to side. "Might spice things up a little."

The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor

The floor of the engine room is dark, the distant light of the walkway far above too far away to illuminate the sprawling, confusing maze of pistons, automated drones, moving objects and stationary equipment that can't be seen, but can certainly be deadly to anyone caught in the gears. If someone has their own light source, it gets easier, but such a source still only reveals a small area of a vast, city-sized engine. Strangely, though, no hint of an actual /power source/ can be found, at least not anywhere near here. It takes good reflexes to avoid being injured by the enormous pistons and gears that turn and pump relentlessly.

Contents:

Warpath

Specter

Windshear

Steeljaw

Penumbra

Lab-Brat

Foxfire

Scattershot

Boomslang

Obvious exits:

A little darkness doesn't scare Steeljaw. With a click, he rerouts the energy of his solar batteries, sending a pair of lights down into the darkness. A ladder, on the other hand, is a bit more of a problem. He's really just not made for ladders. Creeping himself down like a cat trying to climb /down/ a tree, he ventures further into the darkness. "If there's anything down here, I sincerely doubt it will deal with all of us," He manages, between creeping his way down.

Boomslang clamps his wings, concerned about getting them caught in machinery.

Fortress Maximus optics widens behind his ruby visors as Lab-Rat turns on his high beams and reveals just how hazardous this area really is, "Watch your steps, everyone! As well equipped as Six Lasers' medical staffs are, I don't think even -they- are skilled enough to put any of us back together again if we get caught in one of these!" He begins looking around the area, "There's got to be some control here to turn these things off..."

You look towards the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

In the center of the vast city-engine-room is a large tower of the same white stone-metal that all the ship is made out of. Columns surround the walls, which are carved with images of strange creatures sneaking out from holes and cracks. The creatures are depicted using a different sort of material than everything else, something that looks more like black, volcanic glass. A door that depicts muscular warriors battling countless snakelike volcanic glass creatures stands next to an inscription and a keypad. The inscription reads:

I'm as small as an ant,

as big as a whale.

I'll approach like a breeze,

but can come like a gale.

By some I get hit,

but all have shown fear.

I'll dance to the music,

though I can't hear.

Of names I have many,

Of names I have one.

I'm as slow as a snail,

but from me you can't run.

Specter fidgets with one of his energon flash-bangs, removing the explosive and other harmful ingredients, reducing to an expensive strobe light. Holding the object in one hand, the nimble Autobot climbs down the steps cautiously and in rhythm with the light strobe effect.

Amongst the sea of pistons working frantically, one just might be able to make out the outlines of a white stone-metal tower located in the center of the forest of the hazardous engine related thingies. Yes. Thingies. There's no obvious safe passage over there, however the pistons works in a set pattern, and perhaps someone fast and agile enough can make it through.

"I think I can get through that," Boomslang muses, rubbing his chin. His image warps and twists as he redirects energy to firing up his jets and darts towards the pistons, flaring and dashing alternately.

Boomslang moves to the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Boomslang has left.

Combat: < C > Center activates its cloaking field and vanishes from sight!

Penumbra turns his own headlights on to high beam now too and looks around. Seeing nothing in the immediate area of the ladder, he looks into the hellish workings of the pistons and gears and then makes out the central tower through glimpses. "Hmm, I think this will take a bit of slick moving." He pauses uneasily considering the timings of the moving parts he can see. He then transforms and revs his engine. "If I don't make it... well just leave my crushed remains here. Wouldn't want anyone joining me." The Bugatti Veyron spins his wheels and then lets off his brakes...

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, Penumbra folds into himself to transform into his sleek Bugatti Veyron sportscar mode.

Penumbra moves to the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Penumbra has left.

Sorry, you're not allowed to speak on channel < Broadcast >.

CHAT: You are already on channel < Broadcast >.

Sorry, you're not allowed to speak on channel < Broadcast >.

Specter arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor.

Specter has arrived.

Warpath has arrived.

Scattershot has arrived.

Steeljaw has arrived.

Windshear has arrived.

Foxfire has arrived.

Specter moves to the The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor.

Specter has left.

Specter arrives from the The Swordfish - Engine Room Floor.

Specter has arrived.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Bugatti Veyron < Penumbra > woos! as he makes it through and transforms. A nice rush that gave. He looks to Boomslang who also made it through. "That was fun." He then looks for the controls to make the way safe and shut the pistons down... "What do ya figure?"

With a series of gear shifts and smoothly sliding components, the Bugatti Veyron sportscar transforms into the Autobot Penumbra.

Boomslang dashes through the pistons by carefully timing the blasts of his jets, landing with a soft scraping on the far side. He powers up his arm guns and fires a quartet of thin red laser beams at what looks like a power coupling. It turns out to be a telephone. The second thing he blasts is a power coupling, however, and with a low groaning sound the pistons wind down.

"Good enough?" asks Boomslang, giving Penumbra a shrug. "If it's important someone can fix it later.

Windshear makes his way through the pistons after the wind down and stop.

"Good enough?" asks Boomslang, giving Penumbra a shrug. "If it's important someone can fix it later." A Constructicon is is not.

"Good enough?" asks Boomslang, giving Penumbra a shrug. "If it's important someone can fix it later." A Constructicon he clearly is not.

Specter darts in behind Boomslang, letting the Decepticon do all the work of getting the pistons shut down. "Performance, acceptable." he blankly replies, looking around the center of the engine room.

Penumbra shrugs easily. It's not his boat. "Good enough. I didn't see nothing."

"Too bad I didn't get a chance to WHAM, BANG, blow the pistons up," Warpath says, as he makes his way after the others. But maybe he'll get his chance to blow things up later!


 * Vvvvvvvvv--spluttersplutter--rrrrrrrmmm***********

The sea of pistons seemingly loses strength as the destructions of the controls caused by Boomslang triggers a safety subroutine in the system. Soon the pistons slowly to a halt as whatever was powering it earlier shuts down and thanks to the almighty plot device, the pistons stops in a manner that leaves enough space for anybody in the group to make it through. Yay random destruction. Hooray convenient plot devices!

Scattershot heads in once the going is completely safe. If anything this makes him scowl more than before. His expression relents just a bit when he takes in the pictures of people fighting monsters. Things like that always make Scattershot feel a little better. Then he takes in the inscription. "Oh, great. Anybody got their vocabulary routines upgraded recently?"

Foxfire begins following you.

"That was certainly effective," Steeljaw admits reluctantly at the success of Boomslang's tactics. It really doesn't matter how it works, so long as it works. Easing his grip on the rail, Steeljaw pushes off. He lands heavily on one of the stopped pistons, shakes himself, and continues ontwards towards the next room. "Hm?" He turns his head towards Scattershot, glancing towards what the other bot is talking about. He tilts his head slightly to the side, walking towards the inscriptions to investigate. "Hmmm..."

Windshear reads the inscription and has no idea what it could be about. His mind just draws a blank.

Fortress Maximus hears an audible explosion that drowns out the sound of the pistons for a brief moment before the mechanical obstacle ahead of them ceases to function. It's not hard to figure out what happened. He quickly wedges himself in between the pistons, perhaps a futile gesture should the pistons ever do reactivate suddenly but it's nevertheless there to boost the confidence of others, "Quickly now, head on over and don't stop until you're through." Once everyone else is through, Fortress Maximus catches up from behind, crawling through the narrow openings in between the pistons before finally reaching the otherside.

"Hmm? What's everyone hanging around here for?" Fortress Maximus asks, at first not sure of what has gotten everyone's attention until he too sees the inscription on the wall. "Oh."

"Vocabulary routines?" Specter pipes up, looking over Steeljaw's shoulder. A word puzzle? Who would guard something precious with a word game? "Access requirement, puzzling."

Penumbra reads it a few times. "You know... Hobo would probably know this... it always turns out to be something simple ... basic..."

Lab-Brat follows after the others as the pistons stop, quickly moving from one piston to the other as he crosses the path and looks over the poem. "Aye, it sure be a brain teaser."

"Riddles aren't really my 'thing,'" Boomslang says, standing out of the way to let the heavy thinkers have at it.

Warpath reads it and scratches the back of his head. "Not sure I ZOWIE, get this," he murmurs, studying the script intently. "Not so good at riddles. I'm better at BANG, blowing things up!"

Suddenly, Fortress Maximus' head seperates from his body and transforms into Cerebros who lands in the outstretched hands of the now headless Headmaster leader. From Cerebros, Galen's voice can be heard, "Hmm, I've heard of something like this back on Nebulos. It was a children riddle though." Cerebros rubs his chin with one hand for a moment, as if recounting through Galen's memories before making a few entries into the keypad, "Hmm... water?" BEEP. "Air?" BEEP

"Shadow."

You key the word 'shadow' into the keypad, and the door opens, letting you pass.

The Swordfish - Near Center

This room, strangely, seems to be larger on the inside than the outside. Something about this place hurts the mind, however, as if the eyes don't quite process it correctly. Right angles don't exist here - everything is slightly off, and looking at the same corner twice will reveal it slightly different each time. The shadows don't fall on the white stone-like floor the way they should, and the strange carvings on the walls and floors of suns and strange, many-legged monsters seem to move anytime a viewer isn't looking directly at them. A hallway leads deeper into this structure, but the strange effects get stronger the deeper in one goes.

Obvious exits:

Boomslang arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Boomslang has arrived.

Scattershot arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Scattershot has arrived.

Foxfire arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Foxfire has arrived.

mindbreak

Penumbra arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Penumbra has arrived.

Specter arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Specter has arrived.

Warpath arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Warpath has arrived.

Lab-Brat arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Windshear arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Windshear has arrived.

Steeljaw arrives from the The Swordfish - Deep Engine Room.

Steeljaw has arrived.

The headless body of Fortress Maximus walks through, carrying Cerebros along with him through the door that opens after it beeped an affirmative to his binary bonded partner's input earlier. With his job done, Cerebros quickly transforms back into Fortress Maximus' facial vestige and reattaches himself, "Well, good thing Nebulos had a sun. I don't think Cybertronians would've easily guessed that one, seeing as Cybertron drifted through deep space for so long."

Lab-Brat looks around at the oodly shifting room. "What be this place? It can't seem to make up its own mind! It's like one o them cursed psychotests."

Windshear has no idea how shadow was figured out from that but keys it in and followed the rest into the next room. Once inside he stops and blinks. His Gyros seem to flux a bit and he shakes his head a bit. This room makes his head hurt. He hears Cerebros make his comment as he turns his gaze to watch the headmaster get his head back.

Penumbra is just starting to grin about the simplicity of the code while he passes through the door when the newest room the party enters is enough to make him feel put-off and unsure. Is this what life is like in the Twilight Zone, or even in a Yellow Submarine? "Whoh now..."

< Autobot > Kup 's radio blips off.

The Swordfish - Near Center

This room, strangely, seems to be larger on the inside than the outside. Something about this place hurts the mind, however, as if the eyes don't quite process it correctly. Right angles don't exist here - everything is slightly off, and looking at the same corner twice will reveal it slightly different each time. The shadows don't fall on the white stone-like floor the way they should, and the strange carvings on the walls and floors of suns and strange, many-legged monsters seem to move anytime a viewer isn't looking directly at them. A hallway leads deeper into this structure, but the strange effects get stronger the deeper in one goes.

Contents:

Steeljaw

Windshear

Lab-Brat

Warpath

Specter

Penumbra

Foxfire

Scattershot

Boomslang

Obvious exits:

Scattershot looks pointedly away from Fortress Maximus during the whole 'headless' sequence, but follows him through once the door is opened. "Startin' to get some optic interference down here," he notes. "Anybody else getting this?"

You look towards the The Swordfish - Mindbreak.

The environment continues to get more and more impossible, with walls reversing themselves and the images on the murals stepping off the walls to slither halfway across the hall before they become carvings on the floor instead. Eventually, reality starts to break down to the extent that it all begins to blur together, until everything is nothing but a solid field of white, with no obvious way forward.

"Oh, POW, of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Warpath says sheepishly. He keys the answer in and proceeds along the path. "This place gives me the ZOOM, surges. It's like a Terran Funhouse. Will I get to blow something up soon? My cannon has an itch I need to POW, scratch!"

"Occurence, noted." Specter nods his head, growing more and more pained when trying to study the room's layout.

"... That's almost too simple," Steeljaw mutters in irritation, turning his gaze off of the inscription. A little frustrating, but at least he wasn't the only one who didn't get it. He continues on after the others, heading in towards the next room. And after just a second, he has to shut off his optics. "Yeeow! Trying to focus my sensors actually /hurt/." Instead, he follows his nose further in, keeping close to the scent of the others.

Penumbra shakes his head slowly. "Looks like this could be a place we'd get lost in forever... weird huh?"

Windshear dims his optics. This room is messing with his mind and he cant handle it.

"I really wish I could reject this reality right now, and subsitute my own..." The Junkion says as this place is confusing even for him

Warpath wobbles as he tries to tell what the room is doing. "This room is giving me a ZOW, headache," he complains, "Can I shoot through the wall? At least then I'll BANG, feel better."

Fortress Maximus stumbles a bit, the startled expression on his face reflects his surprise at his misstep, "Ugh... you're not alone in feeling this disorientation. It's affecting me and Galen as well." *stumble* The large Headmaster leader skips a step again but manages to regain his balance and straighten himself up, "Looks like whatever's causing this, it affects biological and mechanical lifeforms equally!" He points ahead at the hallway at the end, "I'm willing to bet we'll find what we're looking for ahead. Something is trying to keep us out. Just soldier on!" Fortress Maximus pauses for a bit as he recollects his mental strength, "There just might be a treasure afterall!" He then begins walking onwards.

The Swordfish - Mindbreak

The environment continues to get more and more impossible, with walls reversing themselves and the images on the murals stepping off the walls to slither halfway across the hall before they become carvings on the floor instead. Eventually, reality starts to break down to the extent that it all begins to blur together, until everything is nothing but a solid field of white, with no obvious way forward.

Obvious exits:

Boomslang arrives from the The Swordfish - Near Center.

Boomslang has arrived.

power source

Penumbra arrives from the The Swordfish - Near Center.

Penumbra has arrived.

Steeljaw arrives from the The Swordfish - Near Center.

Steeljaw has arrived.

Warpath has arrived.

Specter has arrived.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Windshear has arrived.

The Swordfish - Mindbreak

The environment continues to get more and more impossible, with walls reversing themselves and the images on the murals stepping off the walls to slither halfway across the hall before they become carvings on the floor instead. Eventually, reality starts to break down to the extent that it all begins to blur together, until everything is nothing but a solid field of white, with no obvious way forward.

Contents:

Windshear

Lab-Brat

Specter

Warpath

Steeljaw

Penumbra

Boomslang

Obvious exits:

Steeljaw keeps moving onwards, despite the fact that he's only keeping his optics half open. The room is simply too confusing for his highly sensitive instruments to take in full bore. "There has to be an exit somewhere," He rumbles, determinantly as he continues along the wall. Though seems to be just getting no-where for his determination.

Soundwave has arrived.

Soundwave walks into the area.

Reality continues to distort with each and every step that the treasure hunters take.

Suddenly the floor in front of you sinks away, taking your feet with it! It's too late now! You're done for! You--- totally safe? Nothing that you see or seemingly feel seems to be an accurate representation of what's going on. Is this it? After all this, is this the breaking point for the intrepid treasure hunters?

Boomslang looks distinctly unsettled. "Is this still... did we go through a dimensional portal or something back there? Do you have sensors for that?" he asks Maximus.

Lab-Brat struggles to keep his footing untill he realises its safe. "This be getting ridiculous..." says the Piraty Junkion and When a Junkion admits something is ridiculous surely all sanity has left the building...

Scattershot has arrived.

Reality continues to distort with each and every step that the treasure hunters take.

Suddenly the floor in front of you sinks away, taking your feet with it! It's too late now! You're done for! You--- totally safe? Nothing that you see or seemingly feel seems to be an accurate representation of what's going on. Is this it? After all this, is this the breaking point for the intrepid treasure hunters? --- repose

"WHEE, I'm floating!" Warpath says, "Did we just step into an antigravity machine?" He can't make heads or tails of this ridiculous place.

Windshear isnt moving if he doesnt have to once he follows the rest into this room. At this point he just powers down his optics and is trying to navigate on his radar alone.

Soundwave suddenly appears, forearms out to either side with half-open hands, looking utterly confused. "Locastion...Decepticons...Divide by zero." he says, and then shakes his head as if to get the cobwebs out of his circuitry.

Steeljaw is falling! Or is he? His feet stumble on the ground as if he certainly is, but he's... not? Even the cat's highly tuned senses are being fooled by this. Perhaps worse than the others simply because they ARE so strong.

Penumbra follows but without the usual cool edge in his walk. He thumbs at his metal stache every now and then as they go further ahead. His blue optics narrow as his head starts to hurt. He doesn't panic, but it's the first time in a long time that he feels like either just stopping forever or turning tail. The unnatural blankness of the place is just wrong.... and it takes over... up or down? Forward or back? "Uh Maximus buddy..."

Scattershot follows Fortress Maximus's ID signature. He's no Terrocon, but it's clear he doesn't have the processing power to handle this kind of environment. "Autobots, sound off. Everybody still with us?"

"Presence, affirmative." Specter shouts out, still trying to make up or down of the crazy fun house that Fortress Maximus has lead them into.

"I'm POW, still here. Wherever here is," Warpath replies.

"Soundwave!" exclaims Boomslang. "When did you get here? Were you here all along? What's going on?"

Lab-Brat notices the sudden appearance of Soundwave. "YARR! Be careful, he may be another blasted illusion conjured up by this bewitching reality we be stuck in!"

Fortress Maximus grimaces considerably, his gritted teeth a stark reminder to his comrades that even the big guy here is having trouble just standing upright, "Sensors for dimensional portals, Boomslang? Only mechs like Jetfire and Perceptor would have those contraptions on them." The large Headmaster leader forces out some dry humour in the face of extreme discomfort. He forces himself to go forward a few more steps, and then a few more. Each step itself seems to take an eternity, "Keep on searching for the exit, Steeljaw. You can do it!" He takes another step, "This might be ridiculous, Lab-Brat, but like Sit-Com once said, it's always darkest before the dawn. Just hold on!"

Fortress Maximus grunts, nearly collapsing down to one knee, but forces himself up in an effort to not show weakness in front of the treasure hunters, "Don't think about it, Penumbra. Just move those legs, it'll carry you proper!" He then responds to Scattershot, "We're all here, Scattershot. Stay the rear, I"m counting on you to make sure none of us straggles behind." Oooh so much inspirational words in so little time.

The Swordfish - Mindbreak

The environment continues to get more and more impossible, with walls reversing themselves and the images on the murals stepping off the walls to slither halfway across the hall before they become carvings on the floor instead. Eventually, reality starts to break down to the extent that it all begins to blur together, until everything is nothing but a solid field of white, with no obvious way forward.

Contents:

Scattershot

Soundwave

Windshear

Lab-Brat

Specter

Warpath

Steeljaw

Penumbra

Boomslang

Obvious exits:

Combat: Targetting Error: No target named 'scattershot soundwave windshear lab-brat specter warpath steeljaw penumbra boomslang'

Combat: Targetting Error: Penumbra is already inspired.

Combat: Fortress Maximus inspires Scattershot, Soundwave, Windshear, Lab-Brat, Specter, Warpath, Steeljaw, and Boomslang with dramatic and majestic words!

Steeljaw grunts quietly, a sound on the verge of a growl. He glances back behind him, focusing on Soundwave briefly only by scent. "No, he's here," He rumbles, his irritation growing. Not a fan of the decepticon tape master is he. But there are more things to worry about. Like the exit. Turning his optics to Maximus, the little lion nods his head firmly, a determined grin forming on his muzzle. Turning his head down again, he shuts off his optics. And lets his nose lead the way.

Frenzy has arrived.

Penumbra clenches his fists... after all is said and done, he'll be damned if he'll become a quivering pile of jello in front of the Decepticons. He finds it in himself to go on following Fortress MAximus' example.

Warpath has never been one to back away from anything, and the words of inspiration from Fortress Maximus solidify that. He can go forward and face anything!

Soundwave does not reply to Boomslang, but simply steps toward him, and proceeds to pull out a square scanning device from subspace. Two prongs come out from either side, and he runs the thing vertically parallel to Boom's body, then puts it away. With an index finger, he nudges Boomslang, as if to affirm his existance.

The entire world in front of Fortress Maximus seems to collapse. For the Headmaster leader, he has experienced the sensation of falling through the floors and into the infinite abyss over a hundred times. He's near his breaking point, but it's a secret that only Galen is privy too. It's hard to explain why something as silly as a treasure hunt can make Fortress Maximus try so hard. Perhaps it's the fact that he's too stubborn to give up on something he's started? Or perhaps he refuses to yield to a seemingly impossible challenge? Whatever the reason is, Fortress Maximus soldiers on, forging a path ahead for others to follow.

In a burst of Inspiration, you are able to find the path for others to Follow.

The Swordfish - Power Source

This is where the world comes undone.

Pieces of white floor and white tile and white wall and white statue float in whiter nothingness, with M.C. Escher steps leading between the platforms and around them and into them and through them. It hurts the mind to stay here for long, but not nearly as much as the giant lense in the center of the zone does. It sits in the center of a large, intricate machine that shines a beam of some sort of energy through it. On one side, the energy glows a bright, bright white. On the other side, the beam becomes...

...the Mind-breaking Color of Space.

(Puce)

Contents:

OOC Note

Obvious exits:

Specter has arrived.

Soundwave has arrived.

Soundwave walks into the area.

Steeljaw has arrived.

Frenzy has arrived.

Warpath has arrived.

Lab-Brat has arrived.

Scattershot has arrived.

Windshear has arrived.

Soundwave presses his eject button, after shaking his head again. "Frenzy, Eject. Operation: Investigation."

Boomslang has arrived.

Boomslang puts up with being PKE'd until Fortress Maximus finds the way out.

Penumbra has arrived.

It becomes clear that this room is the source of ALL EVIL that exist in the universe. Well ok, not really, but at this point some of the treasure hunters just might probably have that sentiment towards this room.

Ironically, it was more disorienting for the treasure hunters earlier when the sensation of reality going through the progress of breaking down was occuring. Now that there's nothing but white ahead as reality becomes totally undone, the disorientation eases up significantly. The pain that of the mind, however, becomes ever more apparent.

In the middle of the room sits a lense where a beam is being shined into it by a machine of unknown origins.

The incredible tape that is Frenzy shots from Soundwave's chest and transforms into a more moblie form. The little con looks around the place, studying his surroundings, and gathers a synopsis. "Well... it's white everywhere, nothing but white.. which is blinding my poor, perfect optics! Blah, I would hate to stay in a boring place like this."

Windshear still has his optics shut off and is going by his radar. He picks up a new form and then a smaller one... He runs his radar up and down the form (ok cartoon reality here).."Soundwave?" he asks. "Where did you come from?"

Steeljaw continues on simply out of sheer determination. Maximus' encouragement helps considerably, to keep the little gold lion moving on, following his nose instead of his eyes. After a while, he lets his optics half open again, just to see where he is now. And almost snaps them shut again purely on instinct.

"... What the slag is that supposed to be?" He grunts, grinding his fangs against one another from the pain of opening his sensory system up to the room even for the brief moment he managed it.

Lab-Brat says, "Can't we just blow up that cursed lenses and get this over with?" Lab-brat states, obviously getting annoyed by all of reality breaking down around him. This has been less fun then he thought it would be, and its been way too long since anything blown up for the usually happy-go-lucky Junkion."

Specter follows behind Steeljaw, every once in a great while mistaking him for something.. someone else. When not completely blinded by the bright white decorum, the Autobot is amazed and simotaneously pained by the visual sight before them. Fortress Maximus' words help spur him on, but doesn't do crap to explain it.

Penumbra tries to remember the exterior of the ship, and space beyond that. Normal, natural, outer space. And planets. The ground and the sky along with the sense of balance in his gyro stabilizers. He then just tries to focus on whatever 'down' feeling his gyros are giving him and decides to look at everything else as something conforming around him and that. A technique he learned in solitary confinement.

Soundwave looks toward Waindshear. "Point of entry, unknown." he says, and moves toward the staircase. "Standardized physics not applicable in this location." He pulls out another remote-control looking device, and does a slow sweep in a semicircle, then stops, subspacing the device, almost with an air of frustration. "Progress tracking using conventional methods, also impossible."

"Another one of those things?" asks Boomslang. "So that's the treasure. Aliens must be hiding these lenses all over the place." He approaches it a little unsteadily to have a closer look at it.

Poor Warpath! He's still dizzy after the previous room.

Fortress Maximus straightens up once more as he enters this room, the visual distortion and whatever was altering his sense of reality begins to lessen its effect. Too bad it doesn't help to alleviate the pain in his head which is actually intensifying, " Alright... I don't see anything else in here besides that machine and I'm going to hazard an assumption here -that- machine is the source of our difficulties." He looks around a bit more, "If that thing is what I think it is..."

Scattershot grunts. "If that machine is the problem, I think I've got the solution." He looks around at the Autobots present - or tries to, but looking anywhere is kind of an iffy prospect in here. "Awright, who's got the sharpest optic and the steadiest hand servo?"

"Can I POW, blow it up?" Warpath wonders.

Lab-Brat is with Warpath on this one, the Junkion pulling out one of his cute little clockwork bombs, looking about ready to wind it up sned it on its way.

The Swordfish - Power Source

This is where the world comes undone.

Pieces of white floor and white tile and white wall and white statue float in whiter nothingness, with M.C. Escher steps leading between the platforms and around them and into them and through them. It hurts the mind to stay here for long, but not nearly as much as the giant lense in the center of the zone does. It sits in the center of a large, intricate machine that shines a beam of some sort of energy through it. On one side, the energy glows a bright, bright white. On the other side, the beam becomes...

...the Mind-breaking Color of Space.

(Puce)

Contents:

Penumbra

Boomslang

Windshear

Scattershot

Lab-Brat

Warpath

Frenzy

Steeljaw

Soundwave

Specter

OOC Note

Obvious exits:

"So we shut it off," Steeljaw rumbles irritatedly, continuing on his path forward. He chances opening an optic, enduring the pain. The cannons on his back raise up a little bit, as he attempts to level them. "I might be able to hit it with my pellet guns. But we might want to shut it off in fashion that might be less chaotic."

Frenzy does shade his optics from the intense light, but he really doesn't see the problem with this room. "Why are ya guys complainin'? The only problem with this room is the dang lightin'. I can stand the rest of the things here besides that bright white light!" He really doesn't get the point, does he? He's attention is more on the light than what's going on.

Fortress Maximus eyes the gathered treasure hunters in the room and one of the most potent source of power of recent discovery. Even a working sample of this lens can make turn the civil war and affect the galaxy as they know it. The risk is simply too much even to debate who is to take the lens. Fortress Maximus grimaces and nods to the others here before pointing his big blue finger in the direction of the lens, "Autobots, destroy the lens." He then shoots an optic, from underneath his ruby visor, at the Decepticons and the lone Junkion ally, Lab-Brat, "You're all free to collect a sample of the remains, but that thing isn't coming out of this room functional."

Windshear doesnt see what Fortress Maximus is talking about so he says nothing. With Soundwave there, its a sure bet (least he thinks so) that they will get a sample.

"WHAM, BAM, now you're talking!" Warpath whoops, "I'm goona BOOM, blow the lens to smithereens!"

Penumbra shurgs, quickdraws his pistol, and opens fire.

"With pleasure, Maximus!" With some effort, Steeljaw levels the twin pellet guns on the machine. He's going mostly blind now, bit his sense of smell and hearing are still working at least. Keeping his eyes barely open, he focuses more with his other senses, listening for the sound of the machine. There's no sun in the area, but his batteries are well charged. The ends of the guns glow brightly with solar energy being drawn from his batteries. And he opens fire on the lense.

Lab-Brat says, "Al last, something fun!" He says, even though he's not an Autobot he winds up his little bomber and starts it marchign twoards the lense; he doesn't much care for the state of the lense he just wants an awesome explosion at this point; as he had hopped that the teasure would have been monitary to allow him to by more materials for his inventions."

Warpath transforms and opens fire with explosive shells. "WHAM, POW, ZAM!" he says, as each munition flies out of his tank-barrel. "Now this is what I call FUN!"

Warpath folds down into his awesome tank mode.

Scattershot transforms into his Battlestation < Scattershot > mode.

Boomslang makes sure to stand WELL back from the lensing machine before everybody decides to have at it. Behind Soundwave, ideally.

Specter shakes his head of any remaining dullness caused by the room, then leaps into action. Rounding the lense on one of it's sides, the Autobot tries his best to blend into the background.. where anyone attempting to discern his presence would have one helluva headache just from staring in the room.

Grabbing into his munitions bag slung across his waist, Specter activates and throws about thirteen small knives with flash-bangs attached to the tailends in about six astroseconds.

Battlestation < Scattershot > 's radar takes a moment to lock the machine's energy signature, then he unleashes streams of firepower from his omni-targetable weapons array. All this is just a precursor to his main cannon, which even through the barrage is building up power for the finishing touch.

Soundwave just hangs his head and clenches a fist. "Loss: Immeasurable." he says, looking up at the mass of gunfire.

The lens in the middle of the room shatters into pieces under the EXCESSIVE amounts of firepower that's directed at it. The beam that was directed at the lens ceases the moment the lens breaks apart and the room itself suddenly reverts to the normal bulkhead of the Swordfish, revealing this place to be the cargo bay of the large ship. There seems to be enough fragmented pieces of the lense for each and every treasure hunter present.

The tank splits down the middle, then rises up. The treads separate into legs and arms pop out of the sides. The head comes out of the top of the tank. It's Warpath!

Windshear hears the firepower and the resulting destruction of what they were firing at. Tentively he powers his optics back up and finfd himself looking at a normal looking ship cargo bay.

The lens fragments shimmers a bit, for a brief moment it looked like it still contained a portion of the power it once had when it was whole. Was it your imagination?

Battlestation < Scattershot > transforms into his Scattershot mode.

Penumbra puffs at his smoking barrel, twirls the pistol a few times, and then reholsters, feeling his ease return as the environment reverts to something natural and comprehensive. "I guess that was the correct solution." He looks around, appretiating the lack of difficulty there is in just standing.

Scattershot seems just a little bit drained after the energy output of firing in his battlestation mode. But he also looks as close as he ever does to pleased. "Nice job, Bots."

Frenzy slowly uncovers his optics when he notices the room's lighting darkening. Why didn't he turn them off is certainly a good question, but one must not question the little con. "Ahh... the white light is gone now..." He turns his little head upwards to look at Soundwave before fully turning his body. "Say Soundwave, can ya tell me what has been happening when I was covering my eyes? The light was grabin' all my attention!"

"WHOO, yeah, I finally got to BLAM, blow something up!" Warpath crows. He pockets his treasure and looks around at the others. "So are we goona ZAM, blow this popsicle stand?"

Lab-Brat watches with pure glee as the lense explodes beautifully and the room is showered with fragments, he reaches down and grabs the closest peice and tosses it into his junk pack, maybe it might be useful for what he's working on for the science event..

Steeljaw hmphs quietly, a little bit of smoke rising from his pellet guns. Activating his optics again, he reaches one front paw to rub furiously at them, as if trying to clear them. "I guess that sort of counts as a treasure. My optics won't work right for a while now." He huffs a little bit, but starts forward to collect a few pieces of the lens himself. Maybe Jetfire could use something new to study.

"Frenzy. Retrieve several fragments.", Soundwave says, doing another sweep of the area for changes since the fragment's destruction.

Boomslang collects a few himself, slyly tucking them into his cockpit. "Hmm, that one looks like it might be useful."

Specter retrieves a handful, tossing them into his satchel. Resuming his place among the Autobots, he can't help but give Boomslang and the other Decepticons a nasty glare.

Penumbra scavenges a share of the shattered lens, wondering about it and all the things they had to go through to get here.

Windshear watches everyone grab pieces of the lens. Hes not interested and turns lookig for the way out of the room.

"Fragments? Fragments of what?" Frenzy turns around and notices all the small glass pieces around the area. "Oh! Those glass things! I'm gonna get a lot of 'em for ya, Sounders!" The con rushes towards what appears to be a 'Gold Rush' and tries to gather up the best pieces he can find.

Fortress Maximus nods in agreement at Scattershot's comment, "Yes, that should keep the balance of power in check for a bit longer." He kneels down and picks up one of the larger lens fragment on the ground and holds it up, "Gather up what you can for Operations' scientists to process, but avoid any disputes with the Decepticons if it can be avoided." The Headmaster leader then stuffs the fragment into his left shoulder's compartment, "I think the way back will be much easier to pass through than on the way here now." He looks around, satisfied that they've gotten to the bottom of the maze, "Well, the maze is real and the treasure -is- also real. Let's keep a receptor out for more clues to where the second maze could be, but for now, take it easy. I think I've had enough maze trekking for one day." He then disappears down into the corridor.

Windshear has left.

"More than enough," Steeljaw agrees, his optics switching on and off a few times. His lens shars disappear into a compartment on his shoulder for storage. "I need to find a place to recharge my batteries and recalibrate my optics." Eyes flicker towards Soundwave and Frenzy briefly, his tail twitching with irritation. But he continues his way back, still trying to recalibrate his optics.