Skystone
Oct 2, 2018 20:36:15 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2018 20:36:15 GMT -5
CHARACTER INFO
Name: Skystone
Age: Late twenties, early thirties (equivalent)
Gender: Femme
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Neutral/Autobots (has changed over time)
Original Occupation: Freighter
Occupation/Specialization: Freighter/soldier
Appearance:
Being a cargo flier, Skystone is fairly large, as her alt mode is meant to carry any number of things. She’s a good mix of a four/five on the body scale, and stands at eye-level with Optimus's collarbone. She has a broad upper body, and is clearly meant to be able to contain large/heavy things. When she transforms, the bulk of her upper body is placed in the cargo area of the plane, so that is why. Her knees are where two of her wheels are, while the other is where the “small” of her back would be. Each of these are covered by thin, curving metal strips to avoid having her wheels and knee-joints completely taken out of commission. However, she still has to be careful, because the strips aren’t incredibly strong. Her wings rest on her back, and they’re massive, which can restrict her movement at times. Her plating is primarily white, but down her back is a large rectangular section that is blue. Her sides are red overlapped by the windows of her alt. mode (because on this alt. mode, the windows are smaller down it’s sides as there’s generally not many more in the crew other than the pilot and co-pilot). The massive engines seen on the wings of her alt. mode are in her pedes, protected and overlapped by thick armour because without them, she can’t fly. Her optics are a yellow-green color, with a white circle in each center. Her helm has two curved structures coming off of it not unlike the ones at her joints that curl close to her helm. They’re tinted dark red at the tips.
Altmode: Metroliner (without the logo):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VH-UZA.JPG
History:
Skystone was sparked to be a freighter by her cohort. They were Middle Caste, working in civil engineering. She lived a fairly quiet life, loved her job, and did it well. She usually flew in supplies for various construction agencies, but never asked the details of what she carried. She and her cohort stayed with the same companies, and she grew to make friends out of a few of the construction workers she flew in supplies to. One in particular became a close friend, and the two often confided with one another. Her friend, named Rebar, was sparked to simply build things. As such, she often confided in Skystone that her job was very mundane. Skystone was sympathetic, but never really understood the frustration Rebar often expressed. She loved being in the air and would always prefer it to anything on the ground, and so she had no issues with what she did day-in and day-out.
Rebar became increasingly adamant about the destruction of the caste system, and was a propagator of free choice for every Cybertronian. But Rebar was also headstrong, violent, and felt that the only way to properly end the caste system was through violence. For vorns this behavior continued in Skystone’s friend, until a gladiator named Megatronus started his revolution. At first, both Skystone and Rebar joined enthusiastically, Rebar to finally have her chance at choice and Skystone to not only support her cause, but also her friend. They went and protested at the homes of the High Caste, travelled around rallying others to join the cause, and even held a few functions dedicated to the planning of what the locals would do to help Orion Pax and Megatronus.
But then Orion Pax was named Prime, Megatronus began his rampage, and everything began to fall apart.
Rebar joined Megatronus’ faction, and was as ruthless, cunning, and savage as every future Decepticon should be. Skystone, reeling from this, found Rebar to have committed a personal betrayal of everything they believed in, which was change with peace. So she cut off ties. However, she also felt she couldn’t face her cohort. How could se go back knowing she had been one of Megatronus’ blind, naive supporters? Skystone had no qualms about standing for what she believed and wanted, but starting a war? That was different. So she stayed out of it, choosing to not choose a side. However, she couldn’t stay blind to the destruction around her for much longer, and so she went to the Autobots, offering her services as a freighter, carrying supplies for the Autobots and, very occasionally, transporting smaller mecha (mainly two-wheelers) off the battlefield.
She fell into a sort of routine with the Autobots, believing that she was doing this for the good of Cybertron. So when she was called to perform an emergency evac for a little two-wheeler, she thought nothing of it. The two-wheeler would be small, and would fit easily. Sure, she was flying into the middle of battle, but often times the other Autobots would at least try to move the hurt ‘bot somewhere she could reach him easily.
No such luck. He had been grievously wounded in the middle of the battlefield, and that’s where she’d have to go, too. But unfortunately, a Decepticon noticed her and immediately shot her down before she could even get close.
In a way, this may have actually been fortunate for her-she landed prone on the edge of the battle, and so no one took notice of her.
When she woke up, the battle was still going on. Disoriented, she tried to return to her pedes, but her movement was noticed and an enemy approached her. At first Skystone did not recognize her, as the femme was painted black and grey, but she soon realized it was Rebar, and desperately tried to negotiate her way out. She almost did, too. But Rebar said that the “Decepticons” were her new cohort, and neither her previous one nor Skystone could ever change that. She told Skystone to either join or die with the rest of the Autobots. Stung, shocked, and devastated, Skystone looked at Rebar and realized that this was what the war caused. It didn’t engender loyalty or change- it turned good mecha into monsters, ate at their sparks like scraplets. She flew away and never looked back, knowing bitterly there was no way the two-wheeler she had originally come for lived anyways.
Skystone all but ripped off the insignia (which wasn’t very effective, as she mostly just scratched until the armor there wasn’t recognizable) and cut off any and all ties to the Autobots, and the war. She spent many vorns travelling with Neutrals, and began working on relocation and protection for those who had lost everything to a war they’d never even taken part of. Horrified at what she saw, she desperately tried to offer escort, medical aid, protection, and homes for these Cybertronians. But she couldn’t accomplish everything, despite her fire and fervor. This tugged and pulled at her, and over the vorns she spent living this lifestyle, it was like the bright flame within her that led to her humour, her temper, her animated words, and her blind loyalty just went out. The pressure of trying to heal a war-torn world without choosing a side was strong, and her shoulder’s sagged every day with the weight.
Soon there was nothing to be done anymore. No part of Cybertron was still, no safe haven to return to anymore. The Decepticons stopped discriminating who they killed-Neutrals were in just as much danger. After another day went by of watching fellow Neutrals die and she finally threw up her hands in defeat. She marched (flew) herself over to the nearest Autobot base and re-joined. Because by Primus, if she couldn’t save every Neutral possible, then she was going to kill every Decepticon possible. The insignia was returned to her other unscarred shoulder, and with it, came all the fierce emotions she’d held back for so many vorns.
When Exodus occurred, she retreated off planet as fast as she could. But old habits die hard, and she took a few stray flier Neutrals with her too. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to transport any grounders, as she’d never had the need for any sort of spacecraft. They all ended up splitting off and going to another group of Neutrals. She was invited by a few of them, but declined-she’d already lived that life.
She spent her time alone in space before Optimus’ call came in, and flew with vengeance towards Earth. The Decepticons had taken her almost-sister, countless friends, and any choice she felt she could have had in life. Now they’d taken her home, too. She was ready to throw herself into the war with nothing to lose.
Personality:
Skystone, before the war, was hard-working and energetic, but naive. She lived her life through thinking that she didn’t really have a need to rise above her caste, as if she could. She thought it more realistic to accept her situation and life, making the best of it. When Megatronus first started his revolution, she originally joined to support Rebar, and then stayed with it because she was starting to truly believe in the cause. But once the war started, she was panicked and horrified, feeling as if she should have realized earlier what the revolution would lead to.
As a Neutral, she started out still hard-working and energetic, but more jaded, finally understanding the full weight of actions and their consequences. Eventually, however, each death started hurting more and more, each failure keeping her up longer during recharge, until finally she just shut off. It was like something in her spark just offlined. She kept a distant, professional politeness, but not much else. After Rebar’s betrayal coupled with the deaths of her friends and fellow Neutral’s who she’d felt responsible for, she finally burned out. Skystone’s emotions are strong, but eventually everything ends. But when she began to lose hope, when more and more were dying, she couldn’t do it anymore. She couldn’t be the better mech, let go of personal attachments, and take care of the innocent just to see them offlined with her own optics. So with a new start, she re-joined the Autobots. Now with clear orders and a goal, more time to focus on herself and reflect, the feelings she had suppressed came back. Anger, sadness, bitterness. She was fierce, headstrong, and never backed down. Because she’d spent so long backing down, it simply wasn’t an option anymore. In the same way she ripped the Autobot insignia so long ago, she was now ripping out the part of her that ran, that gave the benefit of the doubt and always held a second chance.
Overall, Skystone feels very powerful emotions, and while she does still feel the pleasant ones, the more dangerous emotions are the ones that often loom in her spark, giving her an edge that can only come from living a life torn by war. However, a part of her still remains that has hope for her world. She’s very socially capable, which is how she made friends with Rebar so easily and worked so well with other Neutrals when she first switched. Of course, later in her neutrality this was much harder for her, since so many of them were offlined, but before and after the easiest place to find her would be with other mecha, simply getting a read for those around her, and how she could best fit in and continue in any given group.
Likes: Earth music (orchestral), flying, alone time to think, meeting other mecha, small talk, politics (but this is mostly pre-war). She also enjoys reading, but this has dwindled over time, when she had more pressing things to fill her processor with.
Dislikes: The color yellow, strenuously using her pedes for just about anything, traitors of any sort, condescending mecha, feeling helpless. She also has a phobia of scraplets.
Strengths/Weapons:
Blades: On each arm she has a blade-like object that she uses for melee attacks. They each come out in a sliding motion from her arm, so she uses them in a chopping motion, swinging elbow down. These are her most powerful weapons, as they can take on medium armor and, with enough strength, even heavy armor.
Pistol: This was given to her when she first joined the Autobots, but since she was simply transportation then and no one figured she was going to fight, it’s not very powerful, certainly not as powerful as any other Autobot. However, aimed at light armor or a weak spot, she could technically do damage. If she had any real sense of aim.
Armor: Her armor is strong, often overlapping in areas. This means that she can usually take hits well, unless it’s directly to her helm, joints, or just general Cybertronian sensitive areas.
Weaknesses:
Joints: Her joints are comprised of her alt. mode’s wheels, and while she has metal protecting them, it’s not always enough, and so this is the most sensitive part of her body. Thankfully, also one of the most replaceable.
Experience: While powerful, and an adequate fighter, Skystone doesn’t have much experience in battles. She’s still trying to learn the ropes of being a soldier, especially one in an army small enough she has to be multiple stations at once.
Emotions: As stated multiple times above, Skystone’s emotions can be a standout for her at any moment. This can lead to rash decisions from her, and she will often make multiple spur-of-the-moment decisions.
Weapons: Skystone can generally take care of herself well when she access to some sort of a weapon (even random items) but if she were fighting in the air without access to her or any other weapons, she’d have a hard time staying online.
Special Skills:
Resourcefulness: When she had to scavenge as a Neutral while worrying about whichever group she was with at the time, Skystone became skilled at pulling what she needed out of seemingly thin air.
Negotiating: Spending the years as a Neutral trader has taught her how to make a good deal, and sweet talk herself out of a bad one.
Adaptability: Skystone has spent much of her lifetime changing lifestyles, and as such, is often unphased by sudden changes.
Extra Info: Skystone has a slight twang to her voice, as her cohort in general was not concerned with “proper” speaking. It’s somewhat similar to Wheeljack’s informal way of speaking. She never bothered to fix it, even after joining the Autobots. Despite everything, her history as a freighter was nothing to be ashamed of, and keeping her accent only proved that.
Also, when she first joined the Autobots, she was stunned by how small some of them were. Her entire cohort flew freight, so they were her size or larger, and the construction mecha she interacted with weren’t exactly petite. She finds herself having to restrict her movements around the other ‘bots, just in case she were to harm them by accident.
Sample RP:
When she first got the comm that she’d be performing evac, she wasn’t that worried. A femme like her could easily carry a little two-wheeler, and as long as she was going to be sent to the fringes of the battle, she knew she could get them out both unscathed (or for the two-wheeler, less scathed). As she put on her pistol and sharpened her blades, just in case, she had to wonder why she was needed for this job. She had been given an assignment to transport weapons to the battlefield before that order was delayed for this, and while she would rather not question the general’s command, she had to wonder why a medic wasn’t given this job instead. Being one of the primary transport mecha, she was the only one capable of transporting these weapons.
Shaking off her doubts, she finished equipping herself transformed, started her powerful engines, and took off. While her alt. mode was larger, it had enough horsepower to get her where she needed to be quick enough.
Dismally, she noted the position of the two-wheeler. She would have to fly into the dead middle of the battle to get this done.
This thought didn’t last long, however, as the last thing she saw was a flash of red, and heard herself crashing to the ground hard.
When her optics flickered and onlined again, she realized she wasn’t out for long, as the battle was still raging. Thank Primus for hard helms. She struggled to her pedes, but a...revolutionary? Turned her helm and started her way. Skystone vented fearfully, seeing the dark paint job and knowing that this femme was probably just as dark in the spark. She tried to back up, but she was still unsteady and the femme caught up fast. Skystone’s optics narrowed in confusion. Something about this femme was familiar. Then, she realized. Rebar! For a moment, joy took over her spark, and it was fierce and bright, blotting out anything else. “Rebar,” she started, “how’d y’get here? This-I mean, how-” Skystone couldn’t do much more than stutter. Rebar’s optics slitted in response.
“Shut up.”
Skystone looked at her, suddenly fearful. After all, Rebar couldn’t possibly be a part of...this. Sure, she’d joined Megatronus, and that still hurt, but Rebar wouldn’t ruthlessly kill other mecha like this.
“Rebar, what’re you doin’ here? You ain’t fighting with these mechs, are you?” In her distress, Skystone’s accent was loud and clear.
Rebar let out a cruel laugh. “Skystone, darlin’,” she mocked cruelly. “I’m not fighting them. I’m killing them. Huge difference, really. One shot versus wasting ammo in tryin’ to be gentle, if you ask me.”
Skystone was enraged. “I knew you were hard-headed, Rebar,” she hissed. “but I never thought you’d look for the easy way out. Can’t you see these revolutionaries don’t care about individuals, so long as they get their revenge? This isn’t a cause, it’s madness!”
Rebar gave her a hateful glare. “Skystone, I’m not here to fight or kill you. But I take care of anything that gets in my way.” Skystone vented sharply, feeling her spark clench.
“Primus, Rebar,” she said softly. “how long have we worked together? Fought for equality together? Why are you throwin’ it all away for this?” For a moment, Rebar’s scowl faltered. The hope that welled in Skystone’s spark was agony, but nothing could compare to what was said after.
“You were weak,” Rebar snarled. “never willing to do what needed to be done for the cause. But I am. Is it so wrong for the High Caste to suffer like we did?”
“We never suffered,” Skystone scoffed. “we led a comfortable life. Sure, we didn’t get the same choice the High Caste did, but the sufferin’ was left to the Low-Caste. You were just unhappy to be bored.” Rebar’s bright blue optics suddenly flared with the brightness of a too-hot fire.
“No. The freedom to choose, which is every Cybertronian’s right, was taken away. That is suffering, Skystone.” Her voice suddenly became louder. “I chose this life, and I’m never going back! The Decepticons are my cohort, my brothers and sisters. My past cohort means nothing, and you, Skytone, mean nothing to me!” with that, she turned, shot a round at the nearest Autobot who fell lifeless, and threw herself back into the fray. Skystone, horrified, stared. The emotions inside of her were overwhelming, and numbly she transformed and prepared to fly away. Because if the war could take Rebar’s passion and turn it into hatred, then she wanted no part. As she flew overhead, she saw the two-wheeler and knew that he was offlined. With that extra burden on her massive shoulders, she gave extra power to her engines and never looked back. She had no place in this war anymore.