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Post by Sari Sumdac on Mar 4, 2024 22:23:56 GMT
Characters Appearing: Sari Sumdac , Open Location (s): G.H.O.S.T. HQ Timeline: January 21st, 2024 Plot Summary: While G.H.O.S.T. is distracted and focused on the emergency situation with Scott, it gives Sari the perfect chance to escape with a little help from her dad. Can she escape G.H.O.S.T. HQ without getting caught by G.H.O.S.T. agents?
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Post by Sari Sumdac on Mar 4, 2024 22:38:38 GMT
To say Sari was unhappy with her new living arrangement was the biggest understatement of the century.
It had just been a normal day in Detroit when all of a sudden she and Professor Sumdac were taken into custody by G.H.O.S.T. Despite her tantrums she couldn't get any answers from her captors, and even worse still when they finally arrived at G.H.O.S.T. HQ (wherever that was) she was separated from her dad! Instead she was being kept in some small cell with energy fields only to be let out briefly when scientists wanted to poke and prod at her. Something about wanting to figure out just what she was and what had caused her to become what she was. It's not like she knew all of those answers, but she did know just enough to say she was a Cybertronian protoform that had absorbed Isaac Sumdac's DNA.
He was her dad now.
It'd been a few weeks since this new living arrangement had become her new 'home' of sorts, and every once in awhile Isaac was able to come visit her. It seemed that he was being forced to continue the project he'd originally been brought onboard for and was under heavy surveillance. Sari's dad would bring her food from time to time having it specially sent to G.H.O.S.T. HQ instead of being forced to just eat whatever was being served that day. She was so sick and tired of boring food. She wanted burgers and fries!
Today her father had visited her with a loving gift of burgers just as she'd hoped, but he whispered to her in secret. Within the bag of food he had slipped in a key card that he'd swiped off of an agent miraculously, telling her to keep it hidden. He told her how something had happened and that G.H.O.S.T. had shifted their focus elsewhere, and if she was to escape she needed to do it now. Naturally Sari didn't want to leave without Professor Sumdac, but he insisted that she needed to leave and that he would be perfectly fine despite how tired he looked. Despite her protests, Isaac Sumdac powered down Sari's cell and sent her away. The girl hesitantly ran, swearing she'd return for her dad as she booked it down the hall and swiped the key card in a slot registered to the elevator. She entered inside, watching as the doors closed and sent her up and up.
The elevator finally reached it's destination as Sari slipped on out. It looked to be the main lobby of G.H.O.S.T. HQ but it looked so big at the same time! Steeling her resolve, Sari took a deep breath and started looking for the exit. "C'mon, Sari. You can do this. Dad will be just fine for now.. Just gotta get out of here and find someone who can help."
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Post by Samuel 'Spike' Witwicky on Mar 9, 2024 10:09:54 GMT
Oh, Sari found someone who could help, alright. As she was bolting out of the elevator, there was Spike, with a cup of coffee in his hand. Until he realized what was happening, he looked like any other idiot official around here, ignorant of all the problems brewing beneath his feet. He looked at the young woman with a horrified expression on her face. He knew that look, the one of escaping captivity. He knew that Bumblebee's son Nick would know it too. Knowing what GHOST had been up to, and knowing he wasn't going to let them get away with it, Spike had decided it was time to start taking the problem into his own two hands directly. He wasn't under Optimus' command, he was a human, and could cut the funding off for all this madness. Croft, her goons, and whatever they'd done scared him. But behind that fear was a steel as hard as any Autobot.
He looked at the girl, and gestured toward the fire exit and the stairwell behind it. The government mover-and-shaker was gone from his expression, and she could probably tell that there was a veteran of the Great War helping her escape, just from his bearing. "My name is Spike Witwicky. I'm a friend. What's your name and who's your Dad? As soon as we get you safely to Autobot City, I'll come back and do everything I can to save him."
Spike had a reputation as a 'problem solver' in Washington. Those worthless stuffed suits didn't know the half of it. He led her, quietly, to the stairs, looking around for either a human he knew and could trust, or an Autobot.
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Post by Orion Hide on Mar 13, 2024 13:51:49 GMT
Orion Hide had just been called. Apparently, there was a disturbance in Witwicky and he needed to get to the site ASAP.
Orion wasn't sure what it was about but he had the feeling it was nothing good. Some of the radio chatter even indicated it was possible Decepticon activity. His dad Ironhide would probably be glad to hear that.
As Orion walked into the lobby though he saw a girl who looked half robotic half human. He froze.
"Hey! What is this!?" he shouted.
Because it looked like more trouble was brewing...
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Post by Sari Sumdac on Mar 14, 2024 0:35:27 GMT
Sari yelped in surprise, jumping back a bit as Spike caught her off guard. She wasn't expecting someone to just suddenly start talking to her like that, and while she didn't know who the heck this Spike Witwicky guy was the fact that he stated he was a friend was both concerning and assuring all at the same time. Sari didn't know if she could trust this guy, but he seemed like he really wanted to help both her and her dad. Was it worth the risk just blindly trusting the first person she met?
"O..kay? If you really think you can help then I guess that's better than me.." The teenager paused for a moment, thinking about what Spike had just said. "Wait, wait.. Autobot City? Like the Cybertronians? They've got an entire city out here in.. ya know I don't actually know where I am. What city am I in? I was in Detroit when those goons dragged me and my dad here." If nothing else it gave Sari a chance to find out more about where G.H.O.S.T. had brought her and finally have a name for this place rather than just calling it a G.H.O.S.T. town. "My name's Sari, by the way, and my dad's Professor Isaac Sumdac. Ever heard of Sumdac Systems? Yeah that's him."
Before she could continue, the red haired girl gasped as someone shouted. She turned toward Orion, narrowing her eyes as her body began to transform. A helmet formed over her head as her body took a slightly more robotic look, holding up her hands in full kamehameha style as a ball of energy formed between her palms. "You're with them, aren't you?!" Her voice more mechanical sounding, Sari spoke with great distaste when referring to G.H.O.S.T. as them. "Better stand back, Spike. I'm not afraid to fight my way out of this place if I gotta."
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Post by Samuel 'Spike' Witwicky on Mar 14, 2024 1:41:04 GMT
Spike looked up as he heard another human voice from behind him. It was a good thing he'd remained close to the Autobots; he knew the young man by his face. Like Nick, he was one of the humans adopted by an Autobot - in this case, Ironhide. Hopefully he'd be less impulsive than his...
Nope, there it was. That was just what Spike didn't need right now, a normally smart person jumping to conclusions. At least he hadn't pulled out his gun. That was certainly a step up from Ironhide's worst habits.
He sighed heavily and just disregarded Orion for a moment, listening to Sari.
"You're in, well, Witwicky; in Pennsylvania, Sari. I've heard of your dad, and Sumdac Systems. I've only been in Detroit once. That was when Ironhide, Mirage, Bumblebee and I were there to foil a Decepticon plot. When we get you and your Dad to safety, and get you home, maybe you two can take me on a tour."
He emphasized the names of the Autobots so that hopefully Orion would realize that he'd acted without knowledge. Carly and Ironhide had bonded over a time when the big red bot had done the same, after all.
He turned to Orion, his tone sharp - the young man had to know who he was talking to now, after all. They'd only met once years ago, but he'd heard stories about the boy from Ironhide, and Spike was sure that there were war stories told that involved him. "What's this? This is the moment you get to decide whether you live up to the expectations of the Autobots, or you get put aside for acting like one of those Deceptibums out there."
He intentionally used one of Ironhide's nicknames for the Decepticons when he addressed the boy. If that didn't get the point across, nothing would. He saw the energy weapon in Sari's hands, and his eyes widened. He shook his head and held a hand in front of her forming energy beam. "Stop for a moment, Sari - please. We aren't the bad guys. We are not the people who shoot first and ask questions later. We're leaving, not hurting other people. If we have to fight to get you and your Dad, and anybody else who's been kidnapped, out of here, we will. But this guy, he's just confused - or he'd darn well better be. GHOST was founded for good reasons; some of us still believe in those ideals."
His gaze shifted between the two. All three of them were people caught with one foot in human society and the other with the Autobots, in different ways. Spike had spent years of his life trying to bring the two together, and he wasn't about to let Croft and her goons ruin everything that so many people had worked toward - including the impulsive young man who was very lucky that Spike was a peaceful man at heart. "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. We keep on fighting to defend it, 'til all are one."
The Words sounded no less regal when Spike said them than when Optimus did. For Sari, they'd probably be embedded on her Spark - he was saying words from a Prime, after all. With Orion, he knew they would be ingrained in him too, by Ironhide. They carried the same weight, the same power, because he believed in them. What had been done here to Sari and others was unconscionable to Spike. He had to believe that like himself, Orion believed in the good that G.H.O.S.T. could do, and didn't know what had been done to subvert that. Maybe a meeting in Autobot City with the bot he was named for, Optimus Prime, would get him back on the right track.
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Post by Orion Hide on Mar 14, 2024 21:15:41 GMT
Orion calmed down but he had to roll his eyes.
"Spike. You just had to say you had it under control you didn't need to pontificate at me," he muttered.
He couldn't be too mad. Spike was one of the Autobots oldest friends. But still, Orion didn't like fancy talk—something he and his adopted Dad had in common.
"Sorry I've just been on edge since that breakout last year," Orion explained to Sari.
"Now, what's going on here exactly?" he asked.
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Post by Sari Sumdac on Mar 15, 2024 0:47:34 GMT
Pennsylvania?
She was in Pennsylvania?!
Never mind the fact that Spike just happened to share his last name with the entire city. Maybe his family owned the place or something. Sari didn't know, but what she did know was Orion suddenly yelling as he had put her in defense mode. She was ready to launch that ball of energy his way, only stopping when Spike practically pleaded with her to stop, though not before talking the other guy down as well. Slowly the ball of energy shrunk in size until there was a small pop when it fizzled out. Sari's helmet retracted, once again revealing her face and red hair. Spike really seemed like a nice guy, though she was having a bit of trouble reading Orion though. Granted, the guy did seem calmer now so she'd take that as a win. Maybe Spike should be a motivational speaker or something. Really, who comes up with lines like 'freedom is the right of all sentient beings'?
But at the same time, Orion mentioned something about a break out that got her curious. "A break out? Do you guys have problems with weirdo criminals too? Back home we've got a whole bunch of them that like to pretend to be supervillains. Let's see.. there's the Angry Archer, Nanosec, Professor Princess who's just some spoiled brat who hates all toys that aren't ponies.. I'm sure there's more."
Right.. They were kind of wondering just what had happened with her and her dad, weren't they? "As for me we were just living in Detroit, and I was helping to fight those criminals. I'm something of a superhero, but that's just how I see it. You see.. my dad was contracted by these G.H.O.S.T. people awhile back to do some super top secret research for them at their headquarters. I'm not really even sure the details of what they wanted him to do, but what I do know is he said that it involved working with Cybertronian protoforms. He got curious and touched one of them and then poof! I was just.. there? I'm part Cybertronian, but I absorbed my dad's DNA he said, so no matter how I look at it he's still my dad. He snuck me out and fled back to Detroit, and I guess these G.H.O.S.T. people found out about me because not all that long ago they showed up at our door and forced us into the back of a van. Next thing I knew I was here. They've been poking at me trying to figure out how I tick, but dad was able to steal someone's keycard and that's how I got here."
Sari smiled nervously for a moment, then looked to the two humans seriously with hands on her hips. "So if you're getting me out of here and taking me back home, I will go with you on two conditions. One, we save my dad when we can. Two.. since we just happen to be in Pennsylvania, I've heard there is a big chocolate factory somewhere out here and you're gonna take me there."
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Post by Samuel 'Spike' Witwicky on Mar 15, 2024 4:36:23 GMT
Spike eased up as well, gesturing for Orion to come closer; especially now that Sari had calmed down. Having an ally right now was as much as he could hope for. Having one with Orion's skills and knowledge was even better. He smiled. "Sorry, Orion. Sari Sumdac, meet Orion Hide."
He smirked at the young man as he looked around, making sure the three stayed safe. He had just seen Sari start to get violent; he hoped he never had to see it again; or at least not until she grew up. "Sorry... I'm really ticked at Croft right now, and whatever that woman thinks she's going to do to the dream that we helped bring to life. Hell, it's the dream you represent. And when I get like that, I think back to what my Dad or Optimus would have done, if they were standing in my spot. And, I guess calling it pontificating is fair, yeah."
He listened to Sari's story. "No, it was Decepticons, not human villains. That was when I got worried something was wrong around here. Some of them didn't recognize the war was over, and refused to just live in peace; I don't understand why not. Some people just want to fight over nothing, I guess."
His fists tightened when Sari told him about how she and her father were abducted. "Okay, I'm sure that Optimus and I would have liked to know when you were, uh... born? I guess? So I'll have to talk to your dad about that and why he couldn't trust us with the truth about you. Croft, I understand, but Optimus or Ironhide... We'll talk."
It was obvious that when Spike said he'd talk to someone, he meant it; there was a discussion to be had over her birth. That was all.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Sari; I don't even know what to say. We never intended for G.H.O.S.T. to become the kind of organization that would ever do that to anybody. We're supposed to be helping bring people together peacefully, not kidnap a family in the dead of night. I'm trying to make things right, and so are the Autobots. I've got a lot of respect for you standing up like this. You're a very brave person, and I know that your father is proud of you for this. He'll be glad that you've found friends to help you."
He chuckled when she mentioned the Hershey factory. "First we get you to Autobot City. After you're safe, we'll go to Hershey. You have my word."
He looked up at Orion, his expression serious again. "Prioritize the girl, we'll get Dr. Sumdac when we can. They need him, so they won't harm him... I hope. Nothing stops us until we get to Metroplex, but like I said, we're not the bad guys. We're the ones making things right - no deaths, no needless violence."
He straightened and looked toward the emergency stairwell, reaching out for Sari's hand. He wanted to make sure she stayed by his side. They'd kidnapped her once. after all. "Sari, Orion - time for us to roll out."
He hoped that the sound he heard behind him was just his heart pounding in his ears, not the elevator coming up again behind him, full of human agents loyal to Croft. He didn't want to believe that so many people could be manipulated so far; or that so many people could be so evil.
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Post by Orion Hide on Mar 15, 2024 18:22:53 GMT
The more Orion heard of Sari's story the angrier he got.
"I can't believe... GRRRRR" he groaned.
He couldn't wait to tell dad about this... though why did Spike have to talk so much? Actions spoke louder than words after all.
"Yeah. Hang on Sari we'll get you out of-" Orion was interrupted when the door to a nearby elevator opened and a bunch of G.H.O.S.T. agents stepped out.
"What's going on here?" one asked.
Orion stepped in front of Spike and Sari, "It's under control. Nothing to see here." he said.
Okay... Hopefully he could manage the situation before it got out of hand.
"Agent Orion what's going on?"
"Nothing..." Orion insisted.
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Post by Sari Sumdac on Mar 18, 2024 23:08:53 GMT
Spike didn't seem too happy about Sari's dad not being honest with the Autobots, but Sari could at least understand possibly why he hadn't. Isaac Sumdac hadn't even told her the truth until she accidentally discovered it for herself after being injured. She still couldn't completely forget that initial shock; how she'd felt betrayed and lied to about her entire existence but once he'd sat down and told her why he hadn't before it started to make more sense. He was just trying to protect her.
If Spike or Optimus or.. whoever didn't understand that, then they were going to have to deal with an angry Sari.
Either way it didn't sound like either one of them were too happy to hear about what G.H.O.S.T. had done with the techno-organic and her father. She wasn't aware of what G.H.O.S.T. was doing with the other protoforms, and she didn't exactly have the time to figure that out with everything going on but someone had to know that something very suspicious was going on. To hear that they both were willing to help put Sari at ease, though she did chuckle at Spike's words about Hershey. "Good. It'll be a whole experience! Though I gotta ask.. Are we going to Autobot City or Metroplex? You kinda said both." Granted, Sari didn't realize that both places were one in the same.
Not that she had much time to focus on that as she grabbed Spike's hand. The sudden rushing of footsteps their way startled the girl as Orion stood in front of them in order to obscure her and Spike. She froze, looking to Orion in worry as he told the guards there was nothing to see.
A few of the guards believed Orion, but one in the group remained suspicious before seeing the slight tuft of red hair behind Orion. "It's her! They're trying to help the techno-organic escape! I'm afraid you're gonna have to come with us."
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Post by Samuel 'Spike' Witwicky on Mar 19, 2024 0:44:24 GMT
Spike smiled at Sari when she was confused between Autobot City and Metroplex - to be honest, he'd been confused the first time too. Well, at least he had until he saw the giant transform at a scale that made the combiners like Devastator and Superion look tiny. It was an awe-inspiring sight. Right now, he wished Metroplex could be here to help with this rescue. "Autobot City is a city, and it's also mostly made of Metroplex, a giant Autobot. He's a good guy. Huge, though - as you might guess from him hiding as a city most of the time. Really nice guy though. Very laid-back, whenever there's peace. I think you'll like him."
Spike kept his hold on Sari's hand when the Agent threatened them. In part his intent was to keep her from being nabbed, and in part it was to make sure she didn't shoot first. He turned to the Agents, and though he was angry, he was still a leader; there was a coldness in his voice that hadn't been there with Sari or Orion. "Unlike you, we are not afraid. You're going to turn around walk away, and forget you ever saw us. We are leaving."
He looked to Orion - and for a moment, it was like a generation ago during the war, when Spike had seen Optimus first try to work with other humans, and fail. Before they'd founded G.H.O.S.T. and tried to make things better. When Optimus, Ironhide, and Spike had to push their way out - but that wasn't a case of someone being kidnapped. There was a snap in his tone that Optimus hadn't had then. "Orion, clear our way if they don't move out of it. Sari, get ready to run."
He considered whether Wheeljack's experimental remote for the exosuit could be trusted to work correctly. They'd have to get closer to the garage before he could bring the vehicle to them, though. It was tough as nails, but still had limits.
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Post by Orion Hide on Mar 21, 2024 21:39:02 GMT
"You heard the guy. Stand down." Orion said as he motioned his arm toward his back to pull out his rifle if needed.
Normally Orion liked a good brawl but this was not a good place for it. Not when a kid's life was in danger.
He still wasn't entirely sure what was going on, why everyone else at G.H.O.S.T. seemed on edge, what they knew about this techno-organic.
All he knew was that someone was in trouble and he had to protect them. That's what his dad taught him.
"You turning traitor Orion?" one agent asked.
"Not sure yet," Orion said. "Is it being treacherous to protect an innocent girl?"
"That girl is valuable G.H.O.S.T. property! Stand down!"
"She's not property," Orion stated.
"Then open fire on the deserter." one of the agents said.
Orion brought out his rifle. "Gave you a warning!" he shouted and he started firing non fatal shots on the agents.
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Post by Sari Sumdac on Apr 6, 2024 14:38:22 GMT
So Cybertronians could not just disguise themselves as cars or planes or whatever, but they could be entire cities, too?! Sari certainly didn't want to make that guy angry, but from what Spike said this Metroplex guy seemed pretty chill if he didn't mind a bunch of other Cybertronians making home on.. thinking about it Sari didn't want to know. All she knew was that she wanted to get out of here as soon as possible so that she could find the means of helping her dad, and she was glad that Spike was willing to help. Whether Orion would or not remained to be seen, but that also depended on the guards that had spotted her.
And boy did she hate that they were calling her property like she belonged to them or something. Gross.
Even with the semi-warning the sudden firing of Orion's gun startled Sari as Spike told her to get ready to run. "Wait, wait!" With her free hand, Sari's palm and fingers opened up exposing the internal components as a small energy ball formed. Nothing massive, but enough to do some damage as she aimed for the ceiling just above the guards. "Heads up!" The guards barely had time to react as they focused their attention on Orion before a small section of ceiling broke loose and started to fall around the guards.
"Ok. Now I'm ready, Spike."
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Post by Samuel 'Spike' Witwicky on Apr 13, 2024 9:21:06 GMT
Spike looked at the Agents when they said, clearly, that they believed Sari was property. That really ticked him off and pushed every button he had. His voice went quiet, but there was a warning in it as he took up a stance, ready to fight and protect Sari at all costs. "People aren't property. Not on Earth, especially not in America."
He had fought against subjugation around the world since the Great War ended, and made it his life goal to uphold Optimus' ideal, that freedom is the right of all sentient beings. To hear members of his own species, his own nation, and even the organization he helped found on that ideal refute it set his blood boiling. As he was ready to join in with Orion and fight the Agents, Sari did something amazing. She fired her energy blast into the ceiling, bring it down around and on their opponents. She told him she was ready now.
"Yeah. You look ready. Roll out! Orion, with us!"
With that, Spike tossed the coffee cup aside and kicked the fire escape door open, hard, waiting for Sari to go down the stairs first. He also pulled out the remote for his suit from Wheeljack - if they could get to the bottom of the stairs, they'd be in range.
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