[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Quid Pro Quo [Javelin, Cloudcompass - closed]

[Deleted]

Ep. 3 | Week 2 - Day 5 | Sometime mid-day
Location: Montana/American Wilderness

Javelin, Cloudcompass

---

Cloudcompass flew slowly, letting what little sun there was warm his wings as he swept lazily along the valley, engines gunning low. He’d returned to his little hide-out in (what he learned was) Montana, following the previous cycle’s… tumultuous events. After a night cycle's worth fitful recharge in consequence, the jet had decided to explore his immediate surroundings. If he was to stay here further, he should familiarize himself with the area afterall- and it would help him process the things he’d heard from Rain. Hopefully to help settle any lingering unease and future anxieties over what was to come- solitude often soothed his spark of such things, after long bouts of socializing drained him. At the very least, his poking around had, and would continue to distract him just enough.

Eventually he pulled up to one of the mountains and transformed mid-air, plates shifting and frame flipping helm-over-pede so that he bounced a landing atop a rocky ledge. He stuck close to the cliffside- his paint job blending in well enough with the grayish-black rock- and took in the view. Behind him he knew, mountainside gave off to forest and a lake beyond, with another range of snowy peaks rising to frame it in. What stood before him was the opposite- and he was struck with the sight of fields rolling as far as the optic could see, the barest hint of hills breaking the horizon. Sure there was the occasional tree here or there… but well. It was utterly barren. No ground clutter in the slightest, and only low-hanging clouds to grey the atmosphere.
On one hand it was absolutely tempting to go for another flight, stretching his wings a bit, truly running his engines clean after going so achingly slow for so long (sure, two days wasn’t actually that long, but still).
On the other hand- what looked like a roadway stretched and wound across the fields off to the righthand side. Which meant, if anything, that his caution was well-warranted. He intended to keep his word with Optimus Prime, if nothing else. No causing trouble with the natives.

Not that he was particularly keen on meeting any of them just yet- other things needed to get done, and his current state needed getting over as top priority.

Just as Cloudcompass set his optics on the distant hills to do just that however, a ping that had become increasingly insistent over the last few… centuries… reared its pesky little head in his HUD.

!Low Fuel!

And its accompanying readout helpfully supplied that his levels’ were sitting at a grumpy 46%. It was dismissed with a disgruntled huff.

He’d grown used to operating with the discomforting thirst and churning tanks of low fuel, but this was getting kind of ridiculous! Based on his current consumption, he still had a handful of cycles before things got too dire- and despite his recent- meeting? Or what have you, with Rain- the thought of going to the Autobots for aid (again, and with no guarantee they would even bail him out) left a sour smoke to his vents. He hadn’t needed them before now, and he certainly would not have Mountainside Misadventures Round Two if he could help it. The flier still had some dignity- at least what he’d managed to claw back over the last few cycles.

So, no fast flying even if he wanted to. Well. The woodish hills on the horizon became a little more compelling now, as he refocused upon them with a scrutinizing optic. He’d poked around most of this valley already, hadn’t found anything of interest besides the serenity of nature and the pensive view. Perhaps there would be something a bit more tangible further along… Cloudcompass didn’t think much would come of it, but bounced a step or two to curl into the air beyond the cliff’s edge anyway. He ascended steeply, plating still shifting from root mode to alt as he took to the skies, radar primed to comb the landscape below. Thank mae for clouds- the cover they provided and his own ECM should keep him mostly concealed, should the sound of his engines draw any attention his way.

It was a healthy balance then- no joy-winging, but a cautiously-slow-trawling flight in hopes of finding something that would be of use.

[Javelin]

The sun was warm on her outer mesh, the asphalt humming under her tires as she drove. Occasionally birds flashed by in front of her, bright splashes of color flicking from one side of the road to the other.

The radio within was turned down low, a steady beat of the newest song from whatever band was popular at the moment, Just enough to make it out, but not loud enough to intrude on her thoughts.

Javelin wasn’t really in a good mood.

Normally, getting out of the base cheered her up, especially if there was an open road she could travel. Built for speed, (though nothing like some of the other Autobots she had met), the femme usually enjoyed long stretches of flat highway as was often found in Nevada.

Colorado, however, was nice as well, the mountains reminding her a lot of some of the other planets she had travelled over the eons. The roads here had gentle curves, moving up and down the mountains, switching back on themselves, and giving some pretty impressive overlooks.

She was searching for energon.

Looking for energon was easy enough. Set all her internal scanners on high, and move around, keeping a low profile from humans. Normally, she enjoyed the task.

Today, however, there was so much on her mind.

The main one was Carbine.

She still burned with anger at herself at how badly she fragged up. Carbine was, in her opinion, one of the few people in Omega she could really call a friend – even if she didn’t exactly trust him completely. He had been one of the first to actually talk to her, making her feel like she wasn’t invisible, wasn’t just a ghost moving through a world of life and color while she was pale and dead. Their flirting game had been fun as well, making her feel that much more alive.

Now he most likely hated her.

She didn’t really blame him all that much. Javelin never did make friends very well....and usually managed to lose those she did. It was an old, old story.

So why did it hurt so much this time?

Talking to Thunder had helped to a degree. At least she had someone to help her work on helping Carbine – someone she figured he would trust, seeing as she doubted he’d even talk to her anymore. The problem now was how to approach Optimus about it.

Optimus Prime.

A faint shudder ran through her frame, and her alt mode gave a faint swerve in the road to shake it off.

Well, no matter. I’ll have to deal with it later. Right now I need to be...

Overhead, something flashed by, way bigger than a bird.

Casting her sensors up, she caught a quick scan of the strange plane shooting overhead.

For a split second, she thought it was Starscream, and she prepared to make a sharp turn, lunging into the woods on the side of the road if the Decepticon start to fire on her. Another swift scan made her realize that while similar in a once-over, this plane wasn’t the Decepticon Commander.

Javelin wasn’t entirely well versed on human planes, and what would be hanging around out here in the middle of nowhere, but...

She opened her broad channel, casting on a frequency no Human vehicle would be able to pick up.

Javelin didn’t say anything, didn’t speak a single word. Instead, all she did was send out a single, simple ping. If it was Cybertronian, he or she would probably at least show some curiosity. There would be no way of telling who had sent it out, so she was safe, at least for a moment or two. And if nothing else, she might be able to get a better look to see if it carried a Decepticon sigil.

[Deleted]

He’d left the cloudbank behind and broke into clearer skies closer to the roadway than originally anticipated, ground radar quickly blipping as he passed over a local vehicle scooting along below. Cloudcompass adjusted his flaps to hastily pull himself higher into the air, already berating himself- what had he just noted about being careful? He had known there was a road- but it had turned to cross his flightpath while he was flying in the clouds and hadn't had a visual on the ground. His radars alone weren’t so precise as to tell flat pavement from flat earth.

And it had to be said, he was still fairly distracted even with his new task at hand. Too many lingering thoughts and feelings he still needed to shove in the closest at the back of his processor to die.

At least, at the very least, he was still quite a bit faster than the blue Earth vehicle he’d just-

His comms Pinged, abruptly and mercilessly pulling the tracks out from under his train of thought.

What now?

It wasn’t a frequency he recognized, but it sure as pits was not Earth local. His radar blipped again, updating the ‘vehicle’s’ position as he flew. Somewhat incredulously, he failed to find anything else out of the ordinary on his scanners- which meant that (or they) had most likely been the source of this mysterious broadcast.

Of course, the first vehicle I cross....

Sometimes the universe’s sense of humor really was just scrap. Cloudcompass’ processor immediately jumped to Decepticon- in his experience they usually shot first and asked questions never. It could be a bid to get him closer though. His radar blipped once more, the ‘vehicle’ was almost out of his range at this point and still, nothing else was coming up.

Now, CC was sorely tempted to just keep flying. Ignore it. He’d had more than his fair share of conversation for a lifetime just last cycle.
However, a lil niggling voice at the back of his processor was quick to remind him again of just what for and why he was on this planet to begin with. He’d set himself to this investigative task of rediscovery, and he’d first shake Mae’s hand in 9th realm of hell then abandon it now because he was tired.
He’d always tired anyway, this wouldn’t change much.
Plus… he couldn’t exactly deny his curiosity on the matter. It could only most likely be a Decepticon. And in reality, it could just as likely not be a 'Con. Say an Autobot, or another neutral. Scrap, it could even be something else entirely.

That would be too lucky.

The jet had already started to slow and ease into a wide arc back for another pass around, opening up the broadcast’s channel to send his own Ping of acknowledgement. For now, he kept to the same altitude, guard up and senses drawn tense in case he needed to hit the throttle for a quick getaway.

After a moment, he followed up with a short, if somewhat clipped;
::Greetings. Is there something you require?::

Just polite enough to not be overly blunt.

[Javelin]

Still driving along, Javelin was a little surprised when she did get a reply. She had started convincing herself that the plane above her was just a human plane doing something important, and was feeling silly trying to contact it.

Now that he actually replied? She realized she had no real idea what to say.

Well now she felt stupid.

Considering he asked her what she wanted, instead of demanding to know whether or not she was Decepticon or Autobot was a vital clue. She felt that an Autobot might be less aggressive in their first response, but a Decepticon would definitely want to know faction. They were more aggressive in general, and definitely had an “attack first and ask questions later” attitude.

Was this a Neutral?

That would be two she had met in a short while. First Bandit, and now this one. Strange.

She decided she’d be open and honest, considering he at least replied to her with courtesy, (if what sounded like a slight bit of apprehension).

Slowing her speed slightly, but still moving along the highway, Javelin opened her com.

::Hello! This is Autobot Javelin. Saw you flying around up there and I was just curious if you were a human vehicle or not. Ah...forgive me, but I’m assuming you’re Neutral? If that’s the case, are you getting along here on Earth alright? Do you need help with anything? Information on the humans, the planet...::

She gave a soft laugh.

::Getting tired of playing Solitaire and fancy a game of Crazy 8’s?::

She flowed around a curve in the road, keeping her attention on the plane far above her.

[Deleted]

Javelin, an Autobot.

Well it could certainly be worse- she sounded nice enough. That she opened with a pleasant greeting and not guns blazing certainly won a point in her favour. Cloudcompass continued his languid, sweeping circle, contemplating a what next. He certainly did need help with something, but he wasn’t about to bring that up, yet- and possibly not without first parsing out some sort of deal so that he wouldn’t owe the Autobots any further.
But ah, he was getting ahead of himself- there was still no guarantee of her faction, let alone her identity or intention. CC would play this cautiously, and see what would happen- giving into his curiosity just the tiniest of bits.

::As the sun’s well met, Javelin. I am Cloudcompass- neutral, yes::

Despite it all, the cables in his wings were tense with nerves, his processor helpful with dredging up all the worst possibilities- and utterly useless at easing his fears. The worst of which was an altercation- the mere thought of this being a set-up for a trap caused cold, dark claws to start inching their way across his wings. It was almost enough for him to leave then and there- again- however he might be passing up another opportunity in doing so….

If only Flicker were here. She’d be better at this.

::Earth is… an interesting planet::

The jet dipped into another cloud, keeping a metaphorical optic on the little radar blip that was Javelin coasting along the roadway- he didn’t want to stay too close, nor did he want to lose her. He kept his attention divided- some on the skies around him and some on the ground below- built as he was, the later was the easiest to comb for any possible hostiles.

::There is much to see, I have not been here long::

He paused, before genuinely indulging his interest.

::What is… Crazy 8’s?:: Along with Solitaire- both (unfamiliar) games as she said, most likely in jest, but an easier subject to broach when he had a feeling that his directness would be best reserved for later.

[Javelin]

Down below, the blue Acura NSX flowed around a curve in the road, and eased off the pavement into a turn around lot used by the Department of Highways. Gravel crunched under tires as she moved to the side, angling the front end out towards the highway again. Here, she stopped. To a human passing by, it appeared as someone stopping for a quick rest, checking a map, perhaps, or making a telephone call.

Aha. Neutral.

Well, chalk one up for her apparent senses still working. Being able to determine who was enemy and who was friend was vital to a scout, often out alone in the middle of no where with no backup. That did mean, of course, anyone attempting to lie or deceive was an open book. But as she had found out, sometimes violently, Decepticons tended to be quite open about their affiliation. Shoot first and ask questions later, as it were.

::Well met and hail, Cloudcompass.::

Javelin couldn’t help but wonder again how a neutral was faring here on Earth. A planet with such low technology, it couldn’t be easy for someone without any backup to get by. Just getting energon must be extremely difficult. She wondered if he was aware how rare it was out here on Earth – or that he wasn’t supposed to show himself to the humans.

His next reply answered a lot of those questions. If he hadn’t been there long, he likely didn’t know.

::Earth’s a pretty nice planet, but it has some limiting factors, that’s for certain.

Oh, uh....it’s a card game. Something done for entertainment purposes.::

She mentally kicked herself in the rear. Good start, Jav, well done.

Pushing aside that, she decided to be brief and go right to the point.

::If you’re new to Earth, there are a few things that you should know about the planet. Not the least of which is the problem with acquiring energon.:: She figured coming straight out and asking how full he was would likely be seen as being pushy and pushing her nose where it wasn’t wanted, so she decided on a more tactful approach.

::The locations are hard to find, and it’s not easily processed for consumption here. Are you alright on that front?::

A large Greyhound bus passed by, the backwash of dust and the smell of cigarette smoke drifting over her as she sat idling quietly.

[Deleted]

Well now that just made him sheepish.

Javelin had hit the nail on the head so to speak- approaching it with social grace he could only hope to admire from afar. Not one to beat around the bush, and already somewhat prepared to give-up whatever dignity he had leftover from his blundered arrival and subsequent meeting with Rain- Cloudcompass dropped the pretense he’d prepared and answered with truth.

::Actually, no. I was mid-hunt as you hailed::

His worrying, if anything, seemed to be on-point. The Autobot was all but confirming his fears now- and while he was well-versed in the various ways one could struggle to sate an empty tank, most were null here. First, energon didn’t seem to be a viable currency option here as it was on some trading planets, nor could it be fetched on the blackmarket- he’d burned most of his contacts there, and what little credit he still had to his name was probably useless. Second, well- if energon was as tough as she suggested to find and harvest on Earth, it may be more of a long-term issue than a pressing short-term one. Good to know, not for much else...

::I am… as you could say, no stranger to difficult energon situations::

He slowly rolled into an approaching cloudbank, appreciating the cover for what it was and keeping Javelin on his ground-sweeping radar- easier now that she’d stopped moving, it seemed.

::However, I may be, ah, pushing it, at the current moment::

The turbofox had left the gates, now, might as well push forward- even if he was hesitant to straight up admit he was basically burning fumes... speaking of which, he'd probably need to land if this conversation continued its course.

::Would you know of a source nearby?::

Following his policy of fair-given for fair-received, the snowy jet continued quickly.

::I have little to my frame but a debt in the future owed and tools mostly useless to others, but I would not ask without offering something equal::

A trade, like he’d given Rain before. The ball was now in Javelin’s court, whether she accepted or not.

[Javelin]

That’s pretty much what she had figured.

Most Cybertronians were used to the other planets near their own, where energon was rather plentiful. Back when she had just left Cybertron for the first time, she had been rather naively stunned to realize there were planets out there without any energon on them at all. She had always assumed energon was universe wide. And here, on Earth, where there was energon, it was difficult to get and process.

So unless a Cybertronian had a personal stash hidden away somewhere on the planet, if you weren’t a part of a group, you could be out of luck.

Waiting until another Greyhound passed by, Javelin opened her comm again.

::Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of sources around that won’t take mining and processing to make it edible. There’s not a lot here, and what there is, has to be developed. The two factions have what’s needed to do that, but no one else.

However, I do have some with me, if you’re interested in it.::

She paused, taking in his words. While Javelin wouldn’t mind just giving it to him – a kind stranger had once done the same for her, long ago - she knew he would most likely not trust it, and assume it was either some sort of trap, or a trick to make him beholden to her. She had assumed the same.

::I’m certain we can come to some sort of trade for it, be it an item or information, or just news. Everything’s valuable in some manner.::

There was another pause before she continued.

::If you’re amicable, we could meet somewhere and talk. Your choice, and your choice of location -:: her voice indicated her smile - ::As long as it’s some place a Grounder like myself can reach.::

[Deleted]

The decision was all but made for him, as another insistent ping from his tanks put him firmly in the red. If anything, Javelin’s timing was quite on-point.

While the implications of what she’d said about the scarcity of Energon on Earth was troubling, there wasn’t much he could do with it at present. Cloudcompass would know to account for the disparity in his plans, if nothing else.
For the moment though, he set the worry beginning to gnaw at his processor aside and focused on the terrain around them, searching for a spot both accessible and hidden. The fields surrounding them offered nothing, so his sights turned once more towards the hills in the distance. They were closer than the valley he’d left behind, and wouldn’t take the Autobot too long to reach by ground. Hopefully the location would be void of any local activity, yet still have a trail of some sort she could access from the road.
Considering there weren’t many other options, they’d have to settle.

::All right:: The mech tried his best to match her friendliness, but his tone could only, if generously, be called ‘open’. The jet was still flying tense, plating drawn tight against his fuselage.
::The hills coming up on your current heading should offer adequate cover::

Cloudcompass was arching towards the proposed destination even as he commed back, a rising well of anxious energy lending speed and urgency to his actions.

::I will fly ahead and find a suitable- ah, accessible- location:: Knowing his track record with the finer details of things, he was going to try his damndest to keep that in mind. ::If that is agreeable, I would gladly accept your offer::
The mech’s words were underlaid with a quiet, resolved sincerity- the most emotion from him since the beginning of their conversation. Either way, he slid his wings back to a steeper angle to adjust and picked up a little more speed. The quicker he could find a good spot, the smoother this would go.

[Javelin]

Well, there we go, then.

He didn’t seem aggressive or paranoid, and seemed easily enough spoken to. All good, so far. Some Neutrals tended to avoid all contact with either faction, and to be honest, Javelin didn’t blame them. However, wanting to steer clear of both sides in this case could be dangerous to him if they didn’t understand how Earth worked.

::Sounds good to me. I’m heading there now.::

Javelin eased back out onto the highway, and slowly increased her speed as she moved, settling back into a nice flow once more. Far above her she could still see Cloudcompass moving, and she kept an optic on him, as it were, to get some idea of just where the meeting would take place.

::So, have you been on Earth long? Your alt mode looks current, so you can’t have been on this planet for too long.::

A sudden thought came to her, and she spoke.

::Were...were you at Haven?::

She felt awkward asking about the Neutral site. It wasn’t the fault of the Autobots it had been destroyed – chalk one up to the Decepticons to go out and destroy the home of a group of Cybertronians who just wanted to live their lives as peacefully as possible. But in a way, it was their fault, wasn’t it? The Decepticons had wanted to destroyed the Autobots. There was war.

She continued to move along the highway.

[Deleted]

If it hadn’t been for his current shape and altitude, Cloudcompass would’ve winced. His misadventures in the north upon his arrival to Earth were… not his proudest moments. Nor had his introduction to the Autobot base gone the smoothest. At least it seemed that the whole event had yet to become public ‘bot knowledge- so perhaps there was some hope for his dignity and reputation still.

::Not long. A handful of cycles:: Rain’s datapad had provided much useful knowledge, so by his reckoning he’d been on the planet for a little less than a ‘week’. He kept it vague for Javelin. Either way, he figured that also answered her second inquiry. Cloud didn’t know of a ‘Haven’, hadn’t known one for a long time really. But if she was asking him about it, it had likely been something neutral-related. Which didn’t exactly bode well.

::And I am unfamiliar with any Haven, why do you ask?::

In the meantime, Cloudcompass swept the landscape as the hills rose beneath his radar. He started to lean into an arc, circling the area as he slowed and readjusted his wings. It was difficult to pick out what was and what wasn’t accessible from the paved roadway, and he couldn’t exactly see any side-roads, but after a little bit of searching he figured he’d found something. The way the hills were shaped formed a shallow valley hidden from the road, but close enough that a grounder could likely, hopefully, reach it with little difficulty. It was a somewhat wooded area, good for cover and really, all they had at the moment- so it would have to do. He pinged Javelin, a little relieved but still jittery.

::To your right-:: He paused, doubled checking it actually was her right- and when he found himself correct he continued quickly. ::There will be a valley between the hills, partially wooded. The terrain does not appear difficult::

He’d leave it to her discretion, and stay in the air until Javelin found a satisfactory spot.

[Javelin]

Continuing to flow along the road, Javelin listened to Cloudcompass as he spoke.

Well, at least he wasn’t a complete new comer, so there was that. He was most likely not about to go strolling down Jasper to say hello.

His next question made her feel even more uncomfortable. A newcomer to Earth, and no safe place to go, if not an Autobot or Decepticon. How did you really explain that there used to be a good place to live, but it had been blown up not too long ago? Whoopsie.

::Uh....it used to be a neutral base here on earth. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by Decepticons not that long ago, and....I don’t think there were any survivors.::

She cursed at herself, never being one for delivering bad news with any real grace or skill.

::I’m sorry.::

Angling down around the hills, she rolled into the valley that had been pointed out by Cloudcompass. Slowing her momentum, Javelin eased along until she found a shallow dip leading from the road in towards the more wooded area.

She carefully slid from the asphalt onto the rocky ground, moving slowly so the rocks and rubble didn’t bounce so hard off her undercarriage, until she was able to roll down a small incline that hid her from the road and any passing humans.

Once clear from line of sight, Javelin transformed, slipping back into her true mode, stretching out her left leg for a second before easing her weight upon it. Casting a quick look around, she moved several steps into the wooded area, searching for a spot accessible from the sky, to wait for the mech to arrive.

[Deleted]

::....Ah::

What could you say to that, really?
Cloudcompass started circling his descent, watching as Javelin drove up to the indicated area. He wasn’t surprised, Decepticons had a penchant for destruction a galaxy wide- could attest to that first hand. Or first leg, really; came the sardonic thought. Otherwise, what was there to say? Unless the femme herself had had a hand in this ‘Haven’s’ destruction- which he sincerely hoped was not the case- then she had nothing to apologize for. It was no loss to him, and he was actively trying not to dwell on the past and the things that could've been.

Keep looking ahead, indeed.

::That is a… pity. But it can’t be helped with Decepticons. Your apology is appreciated, but not necessary:: He tried not to come off too curt, but comms had a way of making it harder to read another’s tone and rendering them snippy. Which was just great, of course.

Cloud circled one final time, slowing in his descent as he double-checked Javelin’s location and heading. There was a small clearing ahead of her, roomy enough that if he played it right and transformed just above the treeline he should make it past any treetops without a problem. Takeoff later would be a hassle, but… well. He was in a pinch. Mae, there was even the slightest chance this wasn’t a horrible idea, a trap, and just maybe he’d make it out with his spark intact. If it could even be possible, his plating tightened to his frame over tensing cables, his nerves like bitter venom to his thoughts.

He dipped further a few seconds later, angling towards the clearing and waiting for just the right moment to engage his T-Cog. His alt’s swooping silhouette split at the nosecone and folded over, using the momentum to somersault so that he’d land feet first on the ground. CC had come up just the tiniest bit short, and had actually clipped a tree on his way down- the needles of which he’d be picking out of his armor for the next good while. The landing followed through a little roughly, his crippled leg letting it’s grievances be known in a flare of pain that momentarily knocked the air from his intakes. Otherwise, as he straightened, all was relatively well.

He pinged Javelin as he took a few steps into the treeline himself, fairly certain she’d have seen or heard his descent and would know where to find him. To remain polite, however, he comm-ed her further.

::I believe I am just ahead of you, looking forward to properly making your acquaintance::

That’s what one said…right...

[Javelin]

She paused for a moment to hear his reply, not sure how he’d take it. Some Neutrals tended to hate the Autobots as much as the Cons, and she wasn’t entirely sure if this mech would go off on her or not.

She was relieved to hear his reply, while perhaps disappointed, wasn’t angry, not aimed at her.

The sound of a jet approaching was clear in the relative quiet of the place, and she caught a quick glimpse of him as he angled down, before vanishing from sight. It was easy enough to figure out where he was likely to be from his angle – but his communication to her made it clear enough anyway.

Javelin sent back a simple ping of acknowledgement, letting him know she had gotten his last message.

As she slipped inside the treeline, easily sidestepping some of the larger trees, she couldn’t help but smile faintly at his way of speaking. It seemed formal, almost high class, as if she were a colleague about to meet to discuss science or the latest information gained regarding the newest education to give to the newly sparked.

Primus knew it had been a long time since she had heard anyone speak like that. Even back on Cybertron, Javelin had little reason to mingle with any upper class, save for the few times she had to deliver messages. And despite his more formal speech, he didn’t seem to have that...sneer to his voice that she often heard from those who walked the higher paths. He seemed polite and formal, but not cold or off putting.

Of course, she laughed at herself mentally, you’re making a hell of a lot of assumption about a mech you haven’t even seen the face of yet, Jav.

She moved almost silently through the treeline, for a person made of metal. She had, in fact, been altered slightly for just such an environment as this, and dampeners kept her from being too clunky as she moved.

It didn’t take too long before she was able to make him out. His white paint caused him to stand out rather easily in the shadows of the trees, not to mention his size.

Javelin let her optics run the length of him for a split second – old habits die hard. Look over anyone new, especially if there’s a chance they might not be friendly. Frames said a lot about a person, from potential weak spots to overly armoured sections. Her eyes seemed to linger for a moment on his lower legs – having never seen that sort of configuration before.

Interesting.

Not to seem as if she were lurking creepily, nor looking like she was about to attack, Javelin pushed forward, now making no attempt on moving quietly. Just the opposite – she wanted to make him aware of her presence and not startle him.

“Hello there!” she called out to him, smiling and raising a hand, “It’s good to meet you.”

[Deleted]

Ah.

Cloudcompass stilled at the sound of footsteps, weight on his toes and cables tensed in anticipation. His wings twitched and shuttered tightly behind him as he turned towards Javelin, the only indication to nerves he couldn’t quite conceal. He dismissed the twinge such motion garnered, shoving the ping from his pain grid to the back of his processor where it usually lived.

“Good day to you Javelin. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He called back with a smooth dip of his helm, “Properly, of course.” Now that they didn't have the staticky interference of comms, it was somewhat easier to measure his tone- keeping it... friendly. Her own seemed just as open as it had previously.

Let's hope it stays that way. She had seemed agreeable as they spoke before, but on the off-chance this was still a ploy of some sort… well. The mech shifted on his feet, frame barely bobbing with the semi-constant movement necessary to keep his balance poised. The Autobot badge emblazoned on her shoulder reassured him just a bit, its familiar shape catching his eye as he gave her a quick once-over. Javelin was slighter and shorter than he- no doubt faster. He wondered if blue was a popular colour among the faction, even if, granted, he hadn’t met many of them. He wasn’t keen on revisiting the memory files of his disastrous arrival either, so he dismissed that notion from his HUD entirely. Her build suggested support or stealth over might, but that was nothing to sniff at. It was likely that she’d let herself be heard for his benefit, and for that he was thankful.

“I hope your way here wasn’t too- difficult?” Cloudcompass moved to hold his hands at the small of his back, for lack of anything else to do with them. Truthfully, the mech had no idea what to do next. He really did not have much to offer her, and whatever information about the galaxy at large was very likely outdated by now. Things moved fast in the outer worlds, even if the more they changed the more they stayed the same. There was always something to be done for someone, and he’d learned the trick to finding the correct contacts through many missteps and misadventures.

In some ways, he supposed, this was kind of the same deal. Building up a network… The beginnings of an idea- a possible solution to his predicament- were forming at the back of his processor. Not one to linger, especially on small talk, he continued.
"I have little to give, but as you mentioned previously- everything's valuable in some manner. I'm sure we can parse something out."