Dinos in the Desert (Grimlock/Open)

[Freelancer Kansas]

((March 3^rd, 2025))

It was really hot. Like, really hot. Her team had temporarily split up again, and honestly, without the suit on, it would probably be a bearable temperature. But she had the suit. And, even worse, her suit was soaking up the sunlight, a function it had. To relieve the heat, she'd tried expelling some of it by glowing, but it didn't help, and she was vaguely afraid of heating up the extra ammo she'd picked up for bunker and blowing herself sky high. That wouldn't be fun. She wasn't sure that she'd survive that, suit on or not.

She wasn't expecting to find anything, though she did kind of wish she could remember that town was so she could get a map, or at least a sense of direction. She wanted to go home, where it was slightly cooler, and greener. Definitely greener. She loved grass. But no, she was stuck in a burning suit out in the middle of nowhere. She couldn't even take the helmet off. What if somebody found her?

In fact, Sydney did not like this at all. Freelancer or not, Kansas was ready to call it quits. But something inside her said that she couldn't go home, they'd be in danger. She couldn't give up, she'd die. It was annoying, nagging, but she knew it to be the truth, and moved on. She wasn't expecting to be found, even though she admitted the possibility. She was partially hoping that maybe her golden armor would blend in with this featureless ground.

However, even that gave up as, in frustration, she sent a large beam of charged sun into the ground behind her, eliminating as much charge as she was willing to and still call it safe, hoping that it might release some spare temperature. It didn't. With a sigh, she trudged forward.

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[Grimlock]

So many bots, so many humans, it was all starting to become a blurr. Within the base they were all talking about complicated matters, and it just didn't interest the dinobot. So, he went out to explore around the base, try to find something that could interest him. Walking through the wide open desert, it wasn't hard to spot the bright burst of golden light. Lifting his head, it may have not been an exact beacon, or completely noticeable, but it had been there.

Narrowing eyes, he stalked in the direction of the source, wondering where it had come from. He moved in the direction at a slow pace, trying to make sure it wasn't an ambush. Of course, even if it was, he would still fight regardless, it was just what he was. To him, there was no retreat, no surrender, and he would give no offer of such to his enemies either. With the distance shorter, his optics zoomed in on what seemed to be another armored human. He had encountered three so far, and it made him somewhat annoyed with how they seemed to pop up.

Not trying to conceal his presence, he walked forward, towering over the human. "Why fleshie out in desert? he asked, not hiding his nickname for the humans. It seemed strange that they were all suddenly finding their way to the desert. Near the autobot base even, did the location get revealed and this was an invasion of some sort. He talked around the human a bit, watching carefully.

[Freelancer Kansas]

((I'm assuming he's in dino mode for now, so.))

She went on for just a little while longer, before becoming aware of a very large robotic dinosaur behind her. While a large part of her was slightly frightened by his presence, another, smaller, slightly irrational part of her was singing something along the lines of 'Rawr! I am, I dinosaur!', a short little line from what seemed like another world. In a moment of minor shock, she shook her head sharply before responding.

"I... Um... I'm kinda just walking around... While my team mates... Go do whatever their doing..." How was she supposed to talk to a giant dinosaur? Was she even supposed to be talking to it? Maybe... She should turn and leave? Her eyes shifted side to side under her visor, as though looking for another bot, while her golden form stood fairly still, her hand twitching, ever so faintly, for Bunker, the rocket launcher on her back.

She wasn't sure where this was going, but she didn't want a robotic dinosaur eating her or anything...

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[Grimlock]

The human seemed to shift uncomfortably when he showed up, and tilted the reptilian head of his to the side. Why was she getting nervous, he didn't attack fleshies, that would be abusing his power to attack weaker things like humans. It seemed she thought he was like a decepticon though, so he would have to tread more carefully. He didn't want the others getting yelled at, so he would attempt to be the long word for people that talk.

When she answered his question, he searched through his data banks to get the names of the two he had met before today. "You friends Alaska or white one that no talk?" he demanded, depending on her answer, it would decide whether she was an enemy or an ally. The white one had been the one to give him a fight, while he respected its strength, he also knew it was unfriendly.

Though, the scorch mark in the ground near her looked strange, and he stood over her to see it better. "Human do that?" he asked, if so, she had a bit of power to her and he would at least extend some respect to her. It should she would be a good match if they fought, depending on how it worked.

(Yeah, sorry. I mentioned it this time with the mention of his head xD. and good guess x3)

[Freelancer Kansas]

She watched him carefully, not sure whether or not it was safe to respond. He'd met Alaska? Why had Alaska not communicate with her? Unless he was... No, that was impossible. Alaska couldn't die. And the white one sounded like Maine... She'd never been friends with Maine. Maine was higher up than she, and the higher-ups were generally something to avoid. After a moment, she sighed, responding to both questions carefully.

"Alaska is my team mate and my friend. And yes, I did do that..." As an afterthought, she added, "Would you like to see how...?" Again, hesitantly, trying to be friendly but not sure ho friendly she could be to a giant dinosaur, or what he would take as a threat. She'd never been particularly good at talking to strangers. She still wasn't exactly wonderful at talking to people she knew, either. In fact, talking in general was something she wasn't great at.

Hopefully she was not destined to be eaten by a metal dinosaur. She didn't think she was, but she didn't know everything.

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[Grimlock]

When she said the one named Alaska was her friend, he nodded and let himself relax. If he had been a friend of the white one, he may have had to be a lot more wary of her, given that he was attacked by the white one. With that out of the way, there was no reason to try frightening her either.

When she admitted she had done it, he looked back at the spot that she had blasted, "Impressive for fleshie." When she offered to show him, he nodded, "Grimlock curious how you do that." It would be an interesting way to see just what kind of power she had to herself as well.

He was somewhat excited to see what kind of weapon she had, he would probably like hanging with this human. Anything that could do that would be interesting to him.

[Freelancer Kansas]

She still had some charge in her suit, and it recharged very rapidly; she would be able to produce a sizable blast. But for a moment, she watched Grimlock, not sure how he'd react, before glancing ahead, at a calmer patch of ground, and, with her right hand, blasting it with a good portion of her stored energy - using some from the reserve to make her left hand glow steadily.

"I can take the sunlight, charge it up, and refocus it... In a variety of ways, really. And it doesn't just have to be from my hands, but..." She sighed and shook her head. It was still sweltering hot inside of her suit. "They call me Kansas. And you would be Grimlock... Correct?"

She felt strange talking to a giant Dinosaur. But probably not as strange as he felt talking to her. She had so many questions, but her mind was running to off-kilter to get them out so far. So this would have to do.

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[Grimlock]

Grimlock watched the blast she formed and raised an eyebrow slightly, that was interesting. Then she mentioned that she could refocus sunlight into other forms besides just the blast. He nodded in understanding, but honestly, he had no real interest in the others. He liked the way that she could turn the solar energy into a weapon, that was all he needed to know someone was useful.

"Grimlock like, good weapon," he nodded, that was impressive from the fleshie, so she would earn his respect at least for that show of strength. The fact that it didn't have to be from her hands was intriguing to him. When she asked if he was Grimlock, he nodded, "Me am Grimlock. Nice meet you, Kansas."

His tail swished idly behind him, a habit he had developed within this form. It was strong enough to create a light breeze though.

[Freelancer Kansas]

Of course the sunlight wasn't her only weapon. There was Bunker, her rocket launcher, and her pistols to contend with - but she felt no need to point that out right now. In fact, she felt that the sooner she got away from this giant metal dinosaur, the safer she was - physically and mentally. However, no matter how much she wanted to leave, she had to ask this robot one question.

"Do you know where Alaska is, Grimlock?" She'd noticed the breeze his tail was making, and so much did she long to feel that breeze against her skin... But she would not take her suit off to feel it. She refused to allow that comfort, no matter how small, to risk her life. She wanted to live. So she'd move on, yes. She'd keep going.

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[Grimlock]

The humans with armor were odd ones, they didn't behave or react like the others. It was hard to place where they fell sometimes, so it would be necessary for him to trust them. Though, if this one knew Alaska, it might be easier to know which side they were on. "Alaska talk with Prime," Grimlock stated, he didn't bother with explaining.

If she wanted to know more, he supposed he could contact Prime, but that wasn't really on his list of things to do. "No know where he go from there," which was true. While he respected autobots as warriors, he hated the authority. However, he tolerated them, since they were opposing the Decepticons.

[Freelancer Kansas]

Okay... This was a clear case of "Everybody must know what I know, because if I know it, it must be really fuckin' obvious." "... Prime? Who is that?"

[/color] She assumed it was a 'who'. Most 'whats' didn't talk much... She was slightly rigid at the moment, stiff from the fear of the new encounter, and a bit queasy from the heat. In fact, the level of personal discomfort was great enough that she kind of wanted to know more in the hopes that she'd be taken somewhere for more explanation. She wasn't sure how... Though she had always had mild dreams of riding a dinosaur, she'd never thought they might actually come true...[/blockquote]

[Grimlock]

Grimlock raised his eyebrow a bit as she asked who Prime was. " Prime Autobot leader." He stated. He was one of few words though they tended to be straight to the point, he didn't like to lollygag, or at least he wouldn't if he knew what the meant. He didn't even like saying 'leader' unless it was about himself though the fleshie had asked so he answered. He tilted his head slightly as both his red optics narrowed almost as if he were thinking...though he never did have enough brain to think about anything too complex. His tail idly swung side to side behind him, almost as if he were eying up his next meal or at least it'd look like that to someone who happened upon the scene. He soon nodded his head and grunted slightly. "Grimlock take Kansas to Prime." He finally growled out to her. He had been thinking of whether she'd be a threat or not but he'd deemed her as unable to be and even though all he was thinking of was 'yes' or 'no'...still, he'd take her there if she wanted to find out who Prime was.

[Freelancer Kansas]

Kansas nodded slightly. Working with him, if it weren't for the fact that he was a giant robotic doom dinosaur, and apparently not the only one, was kind of like working with a little kid. She'd make sure to avoid saying that out loud. "I would appreciate that, Grimlock." It was a matter of civility - and, if they were going somewhere, that provided the chance to get out of the sun for a while, which was good; she felt like she was walking around in an oven, which, to anybody who hasn't tried it, was a very uncomfortable situation. In fact, she was very eager to get going - she was ready to follow, if that was the intention, or be carried, as disturbing as that could be... Well, she'd let Grimlock make the first move, her only motion to indicate that was a slightly expectant look from behind her helmet visor and a slight tensing in her body to indicate that she was about to move.

[Grimlock]

After things had been settled between the two, he took a step toward the base but he raised his head up to the sky. After a few seconds to get the message sent to his 'father' Ratchet back at the base, his maw opened and out came a thunderous roar that his primal alt form was well known for though it obviously held a weird metallicy sound due to him...well being a robot. This was just his personal way of calling for the ground bridge...he did whenever he didn't feel like walking back the sometimes very large distances he'd gotten away from the base. Sure enough the air around them began to change before the area in-front of them seemed to sink in on itself, the bridge appearing as a portal with the other side being back at the base. "Kansas follow Grimlock, meet Prime." He growled out to her, lumbering forward to step through the portal. Each step seemed to shake the immediate area, as with all bots though their was something about a gigantic Rex that seemed to fit the shaking all the better. As he finally seemed to vanish from the desert, he reappeared in the Autobot hangar where the other side of it was located and he walked forward a bit more, stopping and turning his head to wait for his 'guest'.