It's so crowded in here

Zero: *chuckles* Yes. I can show you. We record everything so we can reexamine things in the VR. Can't exactly take the landscape or a person as a specimen, after all.

Dkd: Much appreciated by those you visit, I’m sure. There are those who /do/ take specimens, from what I hear. At least from Earth.

Zero: I understand that's a common practice among those who visit other worlds, but Crim and I respect life, and unless we're /sure/ the sample we take is /not/ considered living by /any/ standards we've encountered, we won't take it off-planet. *He steps into a plain looking room. It takes up a massive part of the ship just on its own. Zero steps to a panel, and the white walls shift and change. Deckard and Zero are now standing in a recreation of Zero's home back on Cybertron.* Welcome to my home. When you're ready, we'll step outside and I'll show you my home planet.

Dkd: *optics /wide/ as he tries to make sense of what he's seeing and scanning…on so MANY levels…*

Zero: Take your time. Try not to rely on scanners too much, just your optics for now. You'll get used to it.

Dkd: But . . . my scanners are primarily how I perceive the world around me. *looking around* How is this possible? Nothing is jacked into my processor. Unless it's a signal overriding my input feeds? *that's happened before, when those "Bumblegum Sisters" toyed with Power Joe*

Zero: Holograms. Holographic Virtual Reality, or HVR. One of my own inventions, actually. *proud* It projects recorded images and then the room is one large mechanism that will help what you see, feel real. Touch the wall there. It was open space before the HVR was turned on, but now you'll find it solid. A panel in the floor rose up so if you go to lean on the real looking wall made of nothing but light, you won't fall through.

Dkd: This is . . . amazing . . . *honestly doesn't know what to say*

Zero: Thank you! Take a little time, walk around, look at stuff. When you've gotten accustomed to the HVR, then we'll step outside.

Dkd: *nods and will…tentatively start exploring*

Maximus: *sitting in a room not too far in where DB comes in. DB will definitely spot him. If DB is quiet about entering, he may manage to catch Max doodling on a big tablet with a painter program.*

DB: *initially tries to sneak by the room, still kind of wanting to be left alone, but…then he gets a glimpse of what Max is doing, and he finds himself slipping /into/ the room rather than past it* Oh! You can draw?

Maximus: *startled yelp, fumbling the pad as he stands to turn and face DB...the look on his face is like he was just goosed.* Uhhhh......y-yeah. *lets out a buzz, looking sheepish.* Don't tell anyone.

DB: *confused frown* Why not? That's neat. None of /us/ ever drew. Actually . . . we really didn't do much but work. And sometimes watch TV or play games when there was time. Though I guess it makes sense that we could draw and stuff if we wanted. *approaches, reaching for the pad* Hey, show me what you've done?

Maximus: *because it'll destroy his tough guy reputation....he lets out a huff and holds out the pad. He's not bad!*

DB: *looks through them* Wow . . . these are really good. *honest!*

Maximus: *WOULD BE BLUSHING IF HE COULD!!* ...thanks...

DB: *hands back the pad* How'd you learn to draw? Can I learn too?

Maximus: *shrugs* Online videos. And probably, if you wanted to. *dammit DB, he's never told anyone this before.* Always wanted to learn, just...never had a chance before this place...

DB: …………. *gaze falls* Yeah . . . we never really had time for much either, even . . .well, before.

Maximus: .......So take the time now. ......I'll show you a few things....if you want, of course.

DB: Ah . . . sure . . . *kinda boggling at the thought*

Maximus: *smirks...feels they're even now. He'll sit DB down and let him play on the data pad, showing him a few how-to vids and how to use the program.*

DB: *is like a little kid!*

Maximus:  *......feeling like a proud big brother watching his little brother learn something new....dammit kid, he doesn’t want to bond like this....it’s unmanly...*

Tesla: *will lead him to a room full of all kinds of equipment.*

Yuuta: *unconscious and being lowered into what looks like water. There are all kinds of things hooked to him to monitor him, but nothing over his nose and mouth to let him breathe.*

Dkd: Yuuta! Wait, he’ll drown! *starts forward to catch whoever has his partner*

*The other mechs catch Deckard quickly, holding him back.*

Tesla: He won't drown. It's mostly liquid oxygen. Calm yourself, mech.

Dkd: Liquid…? *gaze /glued/ on Yuuta*

Yuuta: *body bucks in subconscious reaction to breathing liquid, eyelids fluttering, but then he settles quickly....and clearly keeps breathing...*

Tesla: *to Deckard.* Sit. *motions to a seat near the tank Yuuta is in.*

Dkd: *moves to it easily, one hand on the glass* How . . . why is he in there?

Tesla: To heal. I know that spinal injuries in organic life forms are serious.  He will need to be in there for two hours if he's to walk again.

Dkd: Two hours… *softly, to himself – still gazing at Yuuta, praying he doesn’t wake up before then*

Tesla: You will let my medic see to your injuries. You fuel on gasoline, correct?

Dkd: …yes, gasoline. *looks up at him* And I’m sorry, but I’m not permitted to allow anyone but my engineers to work on me. Some of my technology is proprietary and confidential.

Tesla: I’m not giving you a choice in the matter.  My medic /will/ see to you, and if you refuse I will have your systems locked so he can do his job and you can wait in a cell for your partner to wake.

Crim: *gives DB a weak smile* Hello, Drill Boy.

DB: Well . . . help you get her repaired, anyway. We'll deal with the Wraith. *gives her a grin and salute* Drill Boy, Brave Police. Pleased to meet you, miss.

Crim: It's nice to meet you. Didn't expect anyone l-like us here.

Zero: *shrugs* Neither did I.

DB: */grins/* You're lucky I found you! *never mind technically Zero found DB, not the other way around* There's only a dozen of us at all! Eight on my team and four in England. *frowns* There were also those Chieftains, but they were /really/ bad news, so we had to destroy them. They were built from a stolen prototype, but they were completely evil.

Zero: I guess it's our luck the Wraith landed here. As I said, we could use the help. *and yet feels so bad involving them....but it's /their/ world if he and Crim fail, they have every right to take part in this.*

DB: No problem. The Brave Police were built to deal with the threats that normal human police aren't strong enough to handle.

Deckard – son of a constable and an officer.  His parents were murdered for botching a job of a notorious assassins guild.  He was claimed by the guild at the age of 15 and spent the next 2 years of his life with them.  They taught him many things, trying to corrupt the “cops kid”.

Duke – son of an upper class family.  Strict, proper, perhaps not around too much because of business (ambassadors maybe?).  Like Deckard his parents were killed and then he was claimed by the guild...few months after Deckard was.  They've been there about the same amount of time.

McC, PJ, Dumpson, DB - McC is the eldest at 17.  PJ and Dumpson are fraternal twins, both 15, and DB is the youngest at 13.  Pregnancy was hard on their mother, and she died in child birth when DB was born.  She should never have survived having one child, let alone four, it's a miracle any of the boys were born.  When McC was 8 (PJ/Dumpson 6 and DB 4) their father abandoned them. They were scooped up by the guild, always looking for young recruits.  They'd been with the guild for 7 years when they escaped with Duke and Deckard.

Kage and Maru - Mirrored Identical Twins.  They're both 16, and have been with the guild the longest.  Their mother was part of the guild...though not by choice.  She sheltered her sons as best she could.  They learned, and learned very well, but she was also able to instill morals into her boys.  They're good people, and they knew their mother hated the guild and so when she died (beaten to death by another member because she wouldn't just let him rape her) they determined to leave, just as they knew their mother would want.

Gunmax – ran afoul of the guild all on his own, after being orphaned at a young age. He got roped in – “either join us or we have our way with you (torture/kill).”  Well...much as he hated it, he wasn't stupid. But he also knows he can't trust /anyone/ . . . Deckard and the others have had to /earn/ his trust and it was HARD WON.

Ages: Deckard – 18, Duke – 18, McC – 17, Kage/Maru – 16, PJ/Dumpson – 15, GM – 15, DB – 13

*The brave band of young men has been moving from town to town for the last year.  They get by how they can..../honestly/.  They will help out, a band of vigilante heroes at times...and others they’ll take odd jobs and do street performances.  They’re not above panhandling now and then when they’re desperate, but Deckard and Duke are definitely big influences on keeping them honest.  They...don’t tend to stay in one place for long.  They always draw attention eventually, and when someone finds out that one of them is a “trained assassin”...they’re all forced to flee or face execution.*

*Today has proved to be a BAD DAY for all of them.  Doing a small performance for whatever coins people might spare, the whole lot of them were snatched up, arrested, and moved into cells.  DB, SM, and PJ are in the same hall.  They’re in separate cells but they can at least talk to each other.  They’ve had everything taken from them, pockets emptied....for now, at least, there’s no getting out.*

*Breakdown and Duke have been working on finding the others. When they can, Khela and McC join them. While Deckard is out today, he'll be set upon by vagabonds. He's overwhelmed and beaten down, and as they clap shackles on his wrists to take him, a large, dark blue mech comes barreling through with a roar. He'll smash in a head and the rest flee, leaving Deckard on his face before the big mech.*

Deckard: *dazed, part of his face ripped back and the camera behind that lens broken . . . isn't sure /what/ just happened, but he'll give a low, defiant growl as he tries to work himself to his feet…or at least to sit up…*

Mech: *catches hold of Deckard, hauling the BP up as though he's just a doll.* Easy, mech.

Deckard: *shying back*  I'm a free person!  *voice filled with static from a damaged vox*

Mech: Not arguing that. Be still, mech. *will reach for the cuffs.*

Dckd: ……… *does so, tense but…*

Mech: *grabs one cuff, gives it a twist and a jerk, and it snaps. He'll set Deckard back on his feet without letting go.* Gonna take you to a medic, mech. *will start to walk Deckard down the street, holding on to hold him up.*

Dckd: *lets himself be supported/led*  Ah . . . D-deckard.  My name is Deckard.  Pleased to meet you.  And . . . thank you.

Mech: Deckard, huh? Been looking for you. Name's Breakdown.