Emily nearly fell over in shock when she heard the voice. It sounded like the Federation commander who had given her her mission briefing... And had been assassinated the day after. "Y-yeah, I hear you, loud and clear."
“Not a promise, not an oath, or a malediction or a curse. Inevitable." - Taylor HebertKirby's eyes widened at the sound of the voice. He recognized that voice. It was Ribbon! Wasn't she still on Ripple Star? Maybe Dark Matter was attacking again and she needed help!
"Kirby's listening!" He said.
edited 15th Apr '15 2:44:24 PM by kagescorpionakki
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?Jake raised an eyebrow and glanced around as he heard a familiar voice reaching his ears. A voice no one could possibly know as well as he did. He was hearing his own voice; And he was pretty sure he was not becoming schizophrenic either.
"Oh my, who's that handsome devil speaking here?" He asked with a smirk.
A voice boomed out from slightly above them.
"Alright, alright, we're all getting acquainted and what not, good for us. But where exactly ARE we, and what are we doing here? Why are we not asking these questions?"
Seth was standing on top of the Phoenix, watching at the small group in front of him. However, his eyes and face betrayed a deep sense of unease at being in front of so many people.
"Oh right. My name is Seth Locke. Pleased to meet y'all."
The voice fell quiet. Great, it thought. I didn't expect that.
Evidently, everyone was hearing it as something different. It had been called "Commander", "Lord Megatron", and a "handsome devil". For a moment, the great cosmic mind waffled about on whether or not it should reveal its true nature. If they knew what it was, they might be less inclined to assist.
Of course, if they knew what it was, they also might be more inclined to assist. After all, it held the only way home. Either way, it definitely wouldn't be changing its voice - it barely had any power left to spare. It just wasn't an option.
Eventually it decided that semi-full disclosure was the best way to go. They'd be finding out soon enough that they were nowhere near home - their suspicions would turn immediately on their "commander".
First off, it shifted its feed to Jake. With a coy "Wouldn't you like to know," it then reopened its broadcast feed.
"It's good to hear that you're all hearing me perfectly fine. Allow me to introduce myself."
The image of... something appeared for everyone, replacing the blue atlas. Again, it differed depending on who they heard it as, but it was clear that the figure was humanoid and liked the color blue, as it bowed "towards" those it was talking to.
Of course, for those without a HUD or some form of augmented vision, no change would be apparent.
"I am an advanced artificial intelligence that contains a vast wealth of data on the environment you have found yourselves in. You may call me the Atlas. I... apologize for taking on the voice of your superiors, but I'm not entirely sure what is causing this myself."
"I am aware you have many questions, but I cannot answer them all. But if I may take a stab in the dark, so to speak, a lot of you are probably wondering where your home is - and how you can get to it."
edited 18th Apr '15 7:24:44 AM by SpartyMcFly
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."Jake turned his head up to Seth, suppressing a small laugh as he heard the voice's reply directed to him.
"Eeeeh, take it easy man, it's not like we had anyone to ask that question to right now, do we?" He said with a shrug as he stretched his back, idly putting his hands in his pockets, lost in thought as he listened to the voice, his snake taking advantage of the situation to slither up Jake's arm, putting himself around his shoulders and lunging his head forwards, stealing the cigarette from Jake's lips.
"... Okay, scratch that, now we got someone! Alright, so, uh, Atlas, right? Whaddaya got for us?"
The Atlas first seemed to concentrate on Emily. "...I cannot answer that, I am afraid. The best guess I would be able to provide would be some form of quantum randomness, and no faction here has enough scientific understanding to posit why you have been deposited here. I apologize for not being helpful enough."
It then shifted focus to Silas. "I am not aware of your status or your skills or abilities. I am merely aware that all of you are... extrauniversals, I suppose the word is, who have managed to somehow arrive at the same place and time. The odds are absolutely astronomical."
Finally, it broadened its focus. "There are legends - confirmed legends - of something at the center of the galaxy. Its existence is known, but few pictures exist, as the only vehicles able to reach it have been sublight probes. It appears to be some sort of massive structure, which has been noted to have provided interdimensional travel. We all know where it is, but it is suicide to attempt to get to it without knowing how to get to it and activate it."
"Being connected to almost every computer in this universe, I know both of those things. And once it is activated, you will find your way home."
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."Jake nodded as he listened to Atlas' explanation, idly walking around the different ships nearby.
"Huh, I see, I see... So, basically, the plan is 'Get your ass to Mars' ?"
"... Or, I mean, the center of the universe, but I couldn't resist using that quote. Either way, how are we supposed to get there?" Jake asked as he sat back in his car with the door open, his legs out of the vehicle.
Ravage stared long and hard at the blueish virtual avatar appearing before them called Atlas. Even with the lack of visible articulation that comes from being a beast-like cybertronian, one can tell that there's a degree of mild disappointment and annoyance on the Decepticon's face.
"...Cybertron is dead. There is no more home for me anymore", growled Ravage in a completely unsentimental tone. "...But that fact is neither here or there. I am more curious what would drive a bodiless intellect to a level of desperation required to beg a Decepticon of all things for aid in this matter."
We Are Our Avatars Forever (Now on Discord by invitation, PM)The Atlas focused on Seth. "The thought that you were 'chosen' scares me. If there truly is something out there with enough power to bring you here, why can't it just turn on the device itself?"
For a moment it felt like a hypocrite. But it actually couldn't. Something else was needed to jumpstart it.
It turned to Silas, as to broach the subject of the "something else needed". "The legends also state there is a key, that consists of four parts. The best I have been able to gather are that it consists of a handle, a transmitter, a data slot, and some sort of data storage - what it contains unknown, but necessary for the device to restart. They are, admittedly, unverified, mostly because nobody has been able to get to the device - but I know that some places in the galaxy possess key pieces and know only of their importance. We just need to get to them, and fetch them."
It then looked over Jake. "...Are you kidding me? You have a space vehicle right there. It's not difficult to fly it."
Finally, it turned to Ravage. "As you have said, I am bodiless. None know of my existence, for "true" artificial intelligence was never developed. I could inhabit a ship, but not only would I need backup, but it would raise my chance of being discovered to almost unacceptable levels. It is difficult enought to hide from cybersecurity, and I do not want to risk they will destroy me on sight for fear I am rogue."
"...And what is a Decepticon?"
edited 22nd Apr '15 7:01:26 AM by SpartyMcFly
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."Jake paused as he heard Atlas' reply to him. Not difficult to fly a spaceship? Space ships aren't exactly a thing where Jake is from, and yet Atlas makes it sound so easy.
"Oh, come on man, you gotta be kidding me, I've never even been in of those things, our space age ain't quite got there yet!" he said, once again suppressing a small chuckle.
"... Anyways, what's that about a key? I mean, what's our first destination?" he continued, letting out a small "gimme that back, will ya?" addressed to his snake, who proceeded to put the cigarette back in Jake's mouth.
Ravage gives only a curt "I am" as an explanation for what a Decepticon is. The mechanical being already considered his century-old battle-scratched chassis and the symbol branded upon his shoulder to be self-explanatory as to what a Decepticon 'does'. "To claim that you are desperate enough to beg someone such myself for aid in a rumored treasure hunt...you are either a liar, or you are even stupider than I took you for."
The Cybertronian growled in annoyance, as though there was a bothersome itch on its back it couldn't scratch.
"...So I will play along with this "plan" of yours. Your success in capturing me without my knowledge is respectable, but I will just not take your claim at its face. Whatever is really going on here...I will discover it sooner or later. Believe me."
We Are Our Avatars Forever (Now on Discord by invitation, PM)A big machine that could help them? It was just like... Galactic Nova. Marx. Last time he'd gathered the pieces for a big machine, it was a trick. But this thing talked like Ribbon. And if this machine just sent them home, Kirby couldn't think of a way to use it for evil. And it didn't have a body so it couldn't fight. And it talked like Ribbon, so it must be trustworthy, right? Kirby nodded, accepting this conclusion.
"I help! Kirby will get all the pieces!" He twirled around and smiled.
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?"Apologies, Seth. But I suppose your Phoenix is going to have to undergo a trial by fire. If there are any defects, I can assure you that there are multiple places you can go around the galaxy to get flaws fixed."
The Atlas had a bad feeling about that Decepticon. It was suspicious - highly so. It would probably find out about the fact it had brought the machine here before long. It also seemed like it was going to react very badly when it found this out - the Atlas worried more for the others than for itself. The Decepticon couldn't harm the Atlas. What it could harm? Everyone else.
As for Jake... The Atlas scanned the planet and quickly found what it was looking for. "First off, you will not last long without supplies - with the exception of you, um... Decepticon. There is a nearby city belonging to the soverign entity of Stanistan. Stanistan will likely have odd jobs they need done - they were formerly a communist nation, but have recently turned to democracy to attempt to hold together in the light of a recent, crippling recession. You may not have money - but your services will earn you that and supplies."
"It is merely a suggestion, however. I have a destination if you wish to begin the search immediately."
"Seven is here too, dressed like the concept of choosing clothes that look nice together was an arcane secret far beyond their grasp."

"Well it's a job description. I work for the United Space Colony Federation, I make ships and fix ships, I just engineer ships."
He went quiet when he heard the voice, to him it sounded like the main council of the USCF. All those voices speaking at once freaked him out.