[audio] [the Game has Changed] - Ninth Transmission

[namesnotprowl]

[The initial assessment of the situation hadn't taken long. No guards, a strange place - this wasn't the mine he'd made into his home, not in the least - a small winged lizard creeled at him and then vanished into thin air. His shotgun on a table, with a holster. That was handy. The remnants of a life that apparently just left like the organic sitting strewn about.

Then, there was the communication network. He studied it for a good, long while. Someone here bore a face that was and wasn't his. And they were revolting.

Measures needed to be taken.

The Link transmission opens with a sharp electronic pop, and the voice on the other end is Barricade's, but rougher and colder.]

This is the Lord High Protector. Any Decepticons within transmission range - I require a sitrep on the current location and your status. I also require the last known whereabouts of the imposter Barricade.

I should not have to remind you that you ignore these orders at your own peril. By the Allspark, I shall feed you to the Autobots myself if you fail me.

That is all.

[The transmission cuts out immediately after. Anyone in Solus Prime's temple might catch sight of the 'Lord High Protector' in the halls, though. Barricade, though not with the face he was upgraded to... and without legs, wheeling himself through the halls in a battered chair, now-holstered shotgun slung across the back.]

Comments

[Audio]

[neverputincharge]

[Waking up suddenly in a room that he didn't recognize as his quarters, with junk he didn't know was his, was bad enough. Now he's getting threatened by some voice he doesn't know over the comm thing he was checking out. But still, after centuries of working under a Megatron who didn't hold back on his threats, it's enough to get him to respond. He does not want to get fed to Autobots, thank you very much. Or be killed. He's seen way too many Vehicons meet that fate with the bots.]

Uh, Bulkhead reportin' in, sir. [But who are you anyway?

[Audio]

[namesnotprowl]

[Threats are the most effective way for him to keep his troops in line. That had been the concern at the start; uniting them under his banner after the rest of the officers died in Chicago. No time to deal with fighting in a power vacuum, there was work to be done. So the fact that someone comms in does not surprise Barricade. The fact that he doesn't recognize the name however. He thought he knew every surviving Decepticon.]

Your name is not familiar to me. What is your current location?

[He will come to you.]

[Audio]

[neverputincharge]

[Oh, they're definitely effective, that's for sure.]

Your voice isn't familiar to me either, sir. Uh....just woke up in in a room that isn't mine.

[Perhaps it's best to give coordinates, cause he has no idea where Barricade is. So he'll ping them to him.]

I'll meetcha outside the room.

[And he'll be there, taking in the sights of this place with his pale yellow optics, which are narrowed a little. Was this some kind of Autobot trick?]

[skidaddle]

I didn't know you were so into role-play, Barricade.

Lord High Protector sounds like it has potential, however. What are we guarding?

[namesnotprowl]

[... What?

He just about splutters in confusion (no one addresses him so informally anymore, no one!), but manages to maintain his calm. Think. You heard this voice. Match the name to it.]

Skids. You are one of his associates. Where is he?

audio;

[stabbywheelfeet]

You're who.

[Asks a significantly more gruff voice than the last time Sideswipe said anything on the network.]

audio;

[namesnotprowl]

I did not stutter.

State your name and purpose.

[Smalltalk is for the imposter of him that still has legs.]

[Video] Safe to assume Deckard knows "old" Barricade cuz they've done the mods now?

[thankyou4myheart]

. . . Barricade? What happened?

[Audio] It is! And I swear I'm getting back to that thread

[namesnotprowl]

[Ah, a face! One that he doesn't recognize except from the network here, as someone the imposter was - ugh - helping.]

You know this imposter of mine. Good. You can tell me where you saw him last.

[audio]

[warp]

This is the what?

[No, Skywarp heard Barricade perfectly well, and his voice isn't confused, but rather heavy with incredulous scorn. That's the dumbest title he's ever heard.]

Who the frag are you?

[And why should he give you a report on anything, huh.]

[audio]

[namesnotprowl]

I didn't mis-speak, soldier.

Do you not know the leader of your faction? Are you new?

[Because he doesn't have the patience to break in new soldiers right now. Not when he needs an assessment of the situation.]

permavideo

[raceme]

[Blurr heard the voice and he would be lying if he said that the dark tone it carries didn't worry him. The orders given only helped to understand that something really wrong was going on here.]

Lord High Protector? If this is a joke it's not really funny,'Cade.

permavideo

[namesnotprowl]

[Ugh this is even worse than the last one. All these people just randomly addressing him by name. It's all that fake's fault. All of his friends and his Autobots. The sooner he finds him the sooner he can remove him and set things straight. But first.

Actually. Might as well start now. He flicks on the video, and the face is infinitely different, all sharp dentals and razor angles... and three optics that are broken but still blaze brightly.]

And who are you to address me so informally, Autobot?

[video]

[primest]

Lord High Protector? An imposter Barricade? Funny.

[what is your deal barricade we were having a somewhat civil conversation just the other week!]

Don't feed anyone to anything - the mess annoying to clean up. [because this is a joke and sentinel is trying to make a counter joke oh man what fun we have]

[video]

[namesnotprowl]

I find this fool pretending to be me not funny at all actually.

You have the look of an Autobot about you. Where do you happen to be, exactly?

[Because if he can't feed his soldiers to you he'll be more than happy to just murder you instead.]

[Audio]

[whatbedsidemanners]

An impostor? Barricade, I suggest you head to the medical bay right away so I may examine you.

[Though if you're in the temple, she might go ahead and find you anyway.]

This is most unlike you.

[Audio]

[namesnotprowl]

Only if you are Flatline, which I am certain you are not. If you were, you would know that the thing wandering about pretending to be Barricade is not Barricade.

I will be visiting no medbays; I am in my normal state and have no time for this.

[You'll never take him alive DX]

[Audio]

[perfavore]

...

Ahahaha~!

Thas' a good one, partner. Almost had me for a moment.

[Audio]

[namesnotprowl]

[Initial vocal pattern analysis turns up a 90.1% match to a known combatant. However something is off about the tone...

No matter.]

Mirage. I was told you had more of an affinity for Italy than for Clint Eastwood or John Wayne. Though I should expect no less from Autobot scum such as yourself; your only true concern is the United States.

[Video]

[sariexmachina]

[...what.]

Uh. Barricade? Are you...uh. Okay?

[Because that wasn't a sudden, terrifying reminder of 'cons back home at aaaaall.]

[Audio]

[namesnotprowl]

A human. Tell me. Are you his pet or is he yours? Is he no better than the Autobots?

[Let's keep up the reminders of the Decepticons, why don't we?]

[video]

[adamndoctor]

Well, good, now all you need is a porch and rocking chair. What the Hell is going on? You've got some sort of amnesia, Barricade?

[audio]

[namesnotprowl]

[Humans, ugh.]

He even associated with you insects. How revolting. The only way to rectify this now is public execution.

[video]

[rednotbluethx]

Frenzy. Duh. Oh, an' Dago here, too. [He points to his firelizard. It flutters its wings; oh, heya, Barricade, you're a little... off.] What's wit' you and Megatron, huh?

[audio HUFF SO LATE]

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Decepticon Ambulon. Can't say I've ever of any "High Protector."