voice => video;

[loyalflier]

While exploring these last few weeks, I noticed something peculiar underneath the surface of the lake in Alpha Trion's quadrant. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it? Either way, I'm about to check it out.

[ what he isn't going to mention is the fact that there's a Decepticon symbol on the thing. the sound in the background is just Starscream flying before he cuts the feed.

and in a few minutes instead of just a voice recording... the video feed kicks on. looks kind of like a lab! actually it is a lab and quite a sizable one at that. ]

So it, ah. Let me in. [ can't say he's expecting that. and as he draws further inside, it's clear that this place isn't abandoned! ] Someone has been using this recently, that's for sure.

[ as he pans the Link around, anyone that's missing something due to the other Starscream stealing it can probably notice that this is where the guy has stored it. actually, looks like the majority of the items in here have been stolen. Starscream pauses at a particular piece of equipment with a frown. he knows this one! ]

This is Jetfire's... So much for misplacing it. My, my... Someone has some sticky fingers.

[ and there! it's probably recognizable to some... but that's definitely electrum in a container. Starscream meanders closer, looking at data!  ]

Now what's this...

Comments

[the_other_green_seeker]

[Jadewing watches with mild interest as Starscream explores what is apparently someones hidden lair.]

Hmph... an underwater base. How original.

[Most of the equipment and other brick-a-brack in the secret lair doesn't really mean much to him, but when the camera passes over the container of golden liquid...]

Whoa, wait a minute... Is that... electrum?!

[loyalflier]

I wasn't going to claim that it was...

[ a slight pause... ]

Electrum?

[the_other_green_seeker]

Was more a 'compliment' to whoever designed it in the first place.

Yeah, electrum. An alloy of gold and silver. Unless I'm wrong, that's a sample of the liquid variant of it that reacts with Cybertronian armor, making whoever applies it temporarily invulnerable.

I'm just wondering where the Pit anybody found some around here.

[loyalflier]

I can give you two guesses.

[ taking a look at more notes! ]

Hmm. Looks like he was trying to replicate more with little success.

[the_other_green_seeker]

And the first one doesn't count, right?

[After all, there's only one sciencey type around who would steal a bunch of stuff and hide it in a secret, underwater lair.]

Yeah. If there was a way to make it artificially, I think somebody would've figured it out by now. I mean, making electrum is easy enough, provided you've got enough gold and silver, but far as I know, nobody really knows what's different about the naturally liquid kind that makes it react with Cybertronian armor as opposed to just being a nice decoration.

[loyalflier]

You guessed it.

[ heh heh. ]

Even so... I think I am going to destroy these notes. Perhaps remove this substance at once.

[the_other_green_seeker]

I'm all for taking the electrum, but why not take the notes too? Finders-keepers, and all that. Besides, even if they're not good for making electrum, they might be good for something else.

[Don't ask him what else, though; a science-bot he's not. He just doesn't think something potentially useful should be wasted.]

[loyalflier]

I am planning on taking some of those notes.

[the_other_green_seeker]

Good. Better you have them than him. That way the rest of us might actually see some benefit from it.

[loyalflier]

If there is even anything that we can benefit from! I don't know anything about this substance. Well... Save for what you have just told me.

[the_other_green_seeker]

Honestly? I don't know much more than that either. But if there is something useful about it other than the obvious, I'd rather we have it than him.