The Start of Something Interesting...

[lastonepercent]

The day was calm, with no recent Decepticon attacks, and none suspected to be incoming for some time.  The cons were too busy licking their wounds from the last battle, one that the Autobots had decidedly come out ahead on.  The celebrations had gone on long into the night and the recreation room was already a mess.

Thus, it was the perfect chance for a lone Autobot to slip casually outside.

Mirage had no shift currently scheduled, so he was free to spend his time as he pleased.  He certainly made no move to hide his departure, greeting his comrades in the halls on the way out, but the box in his hands remained unopened despite any passing curiosity.  It was quietly shifted into subspace before long, and  the former noble shifted into alt mode just as smoothly when he reached the doors.  Despite the completely inappropriate earthen race car mode, the mech had little trouble self-adjusting before driving off into the forest covering the mountain, for business unknown...

Comments

[cliffjumper]

"Fraggin' scrap, Mirage, I'm pretty slaggin' sure there actually---"

"Is, yeah!"

The tarp was ripped away, and Cliffjumper fired even as the leg Vortex had thrown out caught him in the side, sending the minibot flying across the relatively small cavern and slamming into the wall.

Whatever noise he'd made beyond the clatter as he hit the rocky wall was smothered by the loud clang and the shriek of a second blaster, ending with Cliffjumper on the floor of the cave.

... he needed to... his fingers twitched once in an attempt at reaching his gun, but he was fighting against the angry inexorability of stasis lock - his frame had had enough, and Cliffjumper didn't have enough concentration to understand the damage report flickering at him on the HUD.

He'd just have to hope it wasn't anything bad...

When Breakdown nudged the downed mini from the cave's opening while Vortex aimed for Mirage, Cliffjumper didn't move, and there was a faint trail of energon crawling across the frozen ground before it slowly started to crystallize.

[lastonepercent]

"Cliffjumper!" Mirage jerked under the tarp, watching in a dazed sort of horror as the minibot's senses proved right in the worst way possible.

"Shoulda paid more attention, Autobot," Breakdown huffed smugly, leaving Cliffjumper's downed frame where he lay.

"Don't even move. He's totally scrap."

Mirage groaned, not even the flare of battle-alarms and fear for Cliffjumper was enough to break entirely through the fog the cold had cast over him.

The gun pointing at his center mass didn't help.

[cliffjumper]

Maybe the reason the war had gone on for so long was at least one side's tendency to not check if their kills were actually kills. Though, admittedly, a stasis-locked frame suffering under the effects of low energon and injured to boot probably wasn't the best frame of reference for checking a kill or not.

Which was probably why, when the Autobots that had been on the mission the trip had been for came on the cave a bit later, Bee and Jazz thought they'd had to report a(t least one) casuality at first.

Luckily, Cliffjumper wasn't offlined.

Just very, very cooled down and stasis-locked.

Not that it in any way felt particularly fun coming back online, even if what he was slammed with first thing wasn't a scrolling list of injuries and an angrily blinking fuel gauge warning.

No, just a scrolling list of repaired injuries and a full tank.

It still took over a breem to properly boot up and get everything in order, and he came online in confusion (couldn't figure out why things were fixed) and flailingly ready to attempt to defend himself (both stuck on his last aware moment and 'DECEPTICONS').

"Mirage!" Jolting upright, Cliffjumper almost fell of the berth, barely keeping on it by pure reflex of grabbing the edge and First Aid being close enough to dart up to the circuit slab and pull him back.

"Where's---"

"Not here," First Aid said quietly, voice warm with sympathy as he shook his helm, "there'll be a debriefing later. For now... how do you feel?"

Cliffjumper just stared. How the frag could the slagging medic ask him how he felt?!

[lastonepercent]

Mirage was very, very lucky they wanted him alive.

He couldn't really resist as they hauled him out of the cave and onto the ship - the moment he pulled him outside, his systems began to crash from the sharp increase in cold. He blacked out in the snow, and came back online minutes later, dumped in a cell on board.

It would have been short work to deal with him while he was offline, or while he was still back in the cave, for that matter. For a long while, he didn't even care: it was so warm.

His senses began to come back right about the time they arrived at the Decepticon base; enough so that Mirage could start preparing himself. Dazedly activating the subroutines that Jazz had written himself would hide away and block off vital Autobot intelligence from attempted hacks or Soundwave's probing. For a while, at least. He'd been captured in the past, and would probably be captured again, provided he survived the interrogation.

Decepticon intelligence was aware of both his mod and his status of Special Operations Agent, if not his rank in the special subdivision, after all.

...But as he was quick to learn, it was news to him that they were aware of his previous primary function as well.

And intended to use it.

[cliffjumper]

He should've insisted Mirage shut up. He should've talked with Mirage over the comm. for frag's sake, not talking out loud so the Cons could've easily heard!

It didn't matter that Prowl, Prime and Jazz had all in various ways after the debriefing pointed out that given his cooled-down state it wasn't strange he'd acted and reacted as he that.

Cliffjumper still felt he ought to have done things differently, and better.

If he had, maybe Mirage wouldn't have been captured.

Of course, if he had, he might have actually been dead too - but he might have been able to nail one of the slagging Decepticreeps before they got him, too!

---

Intended to use it, indeed. If nothing else to deprive the Autobots of the sort of help a priest could give, but they'd take advantage of it as much as they could first.

"I would suggest you cooperate, Autobot. It'll keep you alive longer," Megatron said coolly, eying the slim former noble mostly for hints of what he knew the mech had been.

And that "for longer" wasn't "forever". When they were done, or thought they might lose control of the situation, well...

[lastonepercent]

The only thing that could possibly be worse than being shoved in front of Megatron himself, was facing Soundwave and his mental probing.

...Or Vortex, but. Well.

Mirage could work with this. The longer the Warlord had reason to keep him alive, the better.

Blinking golden optics and straightening his struts, gathering as much dignity as a prone and chained mech could, Mirage did what most Autobots would find unthinkable: be inclined his helm in a faint bow.

"While you may have so succinctly pointed out our opposing allegiances, my duty to all Cybertronians remains intact."

He laced the words with accents, formal titles and glyphs of Old Cybertronian, the harmonics of his voice slipping from 'snobbish' Towers to the unconscious regalia of the priesthood. For all appearances, he sounded sincere.

Mirage spread his bound hands as far as he was able, stubbornly determined to wear the energon chains with as much grace as he had once worn the finest of silk mesh.

"What spiritual needs can this humble Priest of Primus assuage for your mechs, Warlord of Kaon?"


If Megatron wanted a Priest, he would get one. And eventually regret it, if Mirage had anything to do with it.

[cliffjumper]

Mirage's changing dialect and choice of words was at first met with simply a little tilt of Megatron's helm, though as Mirage continued to speak, an upper optic ridge arched.

And rose higher with every word, Megatron's expression going from faintly threatening to dryly... amused?

At least there wouldn't be much time spent threatening Mirage to cooperate. For now, anyway.

"Indeed. Your willingness to provide proper care for the children of Cybertron is duly noted, Flame of Cybertron." Megatron's smile wasn't even pretending at the courteousness his words were - it was all teeth, diamond-razor sharp.

"And while we'll discuss a proper rite of sanctuary in due time, for now, given your admirable graciousness, it will be enough for you to tend to the individual needs of the mechs here. You'll be provided accomodations, of course." Another sharp, not-really-amused smile.

Mirage might actually be surprised to find his cell would turn out to have been equipped better than would normally be provided, but it would, indeed, be a cell.

[lastonepercent]

Despite the falsely courteous tone, Mirage kept his expression pleasantly neutral and abiding. The use of one of his (many) proper titles prompted another bow of the helm.

"Of course. I would be glad to oblige any Cybertronians in need."

You may have destroyed the Senate, Megatron, but the High Priest of Primus once had to smile in their faces and work with their often ridiculous demands. Somehow without breaking his vows.

If he could avoid triggering Megatron's temper, he felt he might be able to survive.

"I hope I will be able to accommodate them all."

He'd simply have to be crafty, as he had no intentions of providing Megatron will a full rite of sanctuary. It was what the other Decepticons might ask for that was in question...

Being in a cell was expected; being in a semi-comfortable cell was a pleasant surprise. He'd have to see if he could get away with asking the guards for the barest of religious supplies, since he was sure to be there for a while at least.

[cliffjumper]

Ratchet's final evaluation was that there'd be no lingering complications from his and Mirage's stay on Earth's freezer - no medical complications, anyway. Cliffjumper's worry, expressed as increased irritability and frustration when they didn't get Mirage back quickly, was certainly a lingering "complication".

He'd said during the debriefing that he was pretty sure the Decepticreeps had been aiming for Mirage specifically a few times by now, and while no one said anything beyond 'we'll look into it', he'd absolutely caught the glance Prime, Jazz and Prowl had directed at each other.

Bee didn't tease, so at least he could vent at his friend when he needed to - except he wasn't sure Bumblebee actually knew about Mirage being a priest, and since that was part of the reason he was... concerned, he couldn't even say everything.

It wasn't just about his crush on the fragging noble, after all, and he refused to go talk to Tracks about it, even if he knew the 'priest' part!

[lastonepercent]

Mirage was surprised how quickly it started.

Oh, there were the usual gawkers and gloaters, of course. That happened any time there was a Autobot prisoner, which only got worse when there was someone of any meaningful rank involved. Mirage, being a spy, was used to the particular brand of hate directed toward 'sneak-thieves' like himself.

But with his new 'rank' and title apparently open knowledge among the 'cons - and Megatron's dubious 'protection', since he was wanted alive and functional...

Well, they couldn't do more than throw things, and Frenzy and Rumble quickly got told off by the guards for it. A few Combaticons and Stunticons came by to stare - the Stunticons, he assumed, because were war-born, had never even seen a Priest of Primus. The Combaticons...Vortex made him nervous, but he could almost swear he heard Brawl murmuring a butchered version of a prayer under his breath.

Odd.

Mirage calmly kept himself seated in the center of the cell, meditating and maintaining his energy for the inevitable moment when someone worked up the struts to get let in the cell.

...Then Thundercracker showed up.

[cliffjumper]

"Why the frag ain't we doin' anything!?" Cliffjumper growled, throwing his hands up in the air as the door closed behind him and Bumblebee. Bee didn't just at the outburst, just grimaced and shrugged.

"You know these things take time, sometimes... but," holding up a hand when Cliffjumper whirled around, mouth already open and vocaliser clicking, Bee frowned, "but Megatron's being weird about an exchange or anything this time around, yeah. And you know if we can't get him to agree to some sort of hostage negotiation, planning any rescue is gonna take time."

Cliffjumper fairly hissed and muttered something about how they couldn't be sure Mirage wouldn't crack - or wouldn't willingly hand information over, and he just shook his helm.

He knew Cliffjumper didn't actually mean that, not as a serious accusation considering the worry he could easily tell was right there underneath the frustration (and part of the reason that caused it). Cliffjumper's temper and paranoia just got the better of him sometimes.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. You'll get to make eyes at him soon enough," Bumblebee said with a grin which only turned into laughter at Cliffjumper's yell - even when he had to dodge a datapad thrown at him.

[lastonepercent]

For a long moment, the Priest and the mildest member of the commanding Trine stared at each other. The Seeker seemed to be making a decision - probably to be the first to actually approach spy for something resembling a rite.

"...Welcome to my humble abode. What can I do for you?" Mirage smiled faintly, spreading his hands out.

"Can it." Thundercracker snapped, motioning to the guard. Letting out a long-suffering sigh, the guard unlocked the door and closed it again after the blue jet stepped inside.

From his spot seated on the floor, Mirage resisted the urge to move away or flinch. He didn't really think Thundercracker would be the type to attack a prisoner...

"Well. Let's see what you got."

"...Anything specific?"

Thundercracker snorted, sitting himself down on the floor with a huff. Mirage attempting to overpower him wasn't a worry - the spy was much to lithe to do much damage to a Seeker directly in front of and aware of him.

"Something basic."

Well then. Perhaps Thundercracker had been the one to draw the short wire. Inclining his helm gracefully, Mirage dimmed his optics and began a very basic, simple Rite of Tranquility.

[cliffjumper]

Mirage would've nearly reached to the end when the air just outside of the cell's door twisted with a hum, and Skywarp appeared - he'd have warped right into the cell if he wasn't expressly forbidden to do just that.

He might have ignored it anyway, but he'd had no indication that Thundercracker was in danger. The other Seeker had just consistently been rebuffing his pokes over the comm. for well over a breem now!

"---the frag is takin' so slaggin' long..." huffing, Skywarp kicked the wall beside the door, golden optics narrowing with definitive focus at the scene in front of him, "... huh, apparently you ain't a fraud or anythin'. I suppose Megatron'll be happy for that!"

Skywarp's laughter, then, wasn't particularly nice, but then that was basically Skywarp's default state.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage only twitched from his spot on the floor at Skywarp's arrival, voice barely hitching - and he certainly didn't stop. The meditation for any rite was deeply distracting.

And apparently, being involved in a rite and falling under it's effects was distracting as well, because the blue seeker's reaction was even less that Mirage's, not even moving at Skywarp's appearance or kick to the wall.

...Or maybe completely ignoring Skywarp was Thundercracker's default reaction. Impossible to tell immediately.

Ailerons flicking, Thundercracker cracked a red optic open, helm tilting back toward his trine mate.

"Seems that way. Now sit down and shush. I might actually be enjoying this."

[cliffjumper]

Skywarp sighed - a long, loud and definitely rude burst of static before he actually did take a seat on the berth in the cell with all the relaxed familiarity as if it was a proper room or his own berth.

"Fine, fine, whatever you say, TC." Waving a hand in the air, Skywarp eyed Mirage narrowly but there wasn't actually any easily readable emotion. Just a stare before he sat back, stretched his spread legs out, and crossed his arms over his cockpit.

Basically taking up as much space as possible while doing as asked and not quite disturbing Mirage and Thundercracker's little goings-on.

[lastonepercent]

Not quite was apparently just enough.

While Thundercracker looked grumbly for a moment, Mirage only continued his incantations at a stubbornly persistent pace, droning out the noise from the jet's careless entrance.

Slowly, the both of them resettled, Thundercracker's twitchy wing flaps relaxing back into a less defensive position. Mirage was oblivious, but Skywarp would probably be at the correct angle to catch their content little twitches.

Simply sitting there would even be enough to potentially begin to calm even a interrupting bystander...

[cliffjumper]

If he'd left the moment he felt the energy settle, he wouldn't have been affected, but he was staying, he told himself, to make sure the Autobot didn't do anything funny.

And maybe because it was nice to see Thundercracker so slagging relaxed.

But yes, that meant Skywarp ended up drawn into it as well, though remaining with a strangely attentive stare at Mirage, regardless of the easing tension from the rest of the Seeker's chassis.

[lastonepercent]

Slowly, over long minutes, the chanting song faded out. Most ended more abruptly or naturally; but the rites of Tranquility or Peace were gentle in every aspect, up to their very conclusions.

Mirage fell silent, and remained in his seated pose, even after gold optics relit properly. Thundercracker took longer to come out of it, shaking his helm with a grumble that sounded forced.

[cliffjumper]

Skywarp snorted at Thundercracker's grumble, which he very well knew was absolutely forced. It was the same one he made when he had to get up after recharge - especially after they'd interfaced.

"Feelin' all loose and limber now? Can we leave? Pretty sure there's a few other idiots who'd liketa have a turn now that you've shown it's harmless," Skywarp sneered and made a rude gesture in Mirage's direction, though he refrained from anything physically violent.

He'd been "gifted" with the rite's result as well, but he'd never had the patience for scrap like this, even if his mentors had made a lot of noises about his suitability.

Suitability, hah! They'd stopped when it was obvious he didn't have the right... temperament. Or the needed patience, plus the fact that no one could get him motivated to do anything.

[lastonepercent]

Thundercracker grumbled again, with more genuine irritation this go around.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. They can do whatever. Boss'll be pleased, at least." Stretching, Thundercracker rose from his seat, giving the priest a narrow glance.

For a long moment, it looked like he might actually say something - a thanks, or a word of warning - but it was impossible to tell, and the moment passed.

"...Come on, Skywarp. Let's go before you get in trouble for 'porting out of here."

Gold optics watched him go, already working on a plot.

[cliffjumper]

Whatever plot Mirage was working on would have to be worked on and working around what the Decepticons who went to him for personal rituals after Thundercracker had broken the ice and what Megatron had him do.

Megatron, who apparently had good enough an idea of what the rite he wanted done would include and entail and had procured the basic implements that would be necessary, overseeing Mirage performing the blessings on them, which slowly, but surely, brought them closer to the thing Mirage wanted to avoid or not perform at all.

[lastonepercent]

Even that was part of the plot forming in Mirage's processor. Every Decepticon that came to him for a rite got some form of a peaceful, calming rite, even if it was not the one requested. Oh, he hid it easily enough, under demands for courage and strength and, in one 'Con's place, luck in love, of all things.

He was never going to be able to view Brawl the same way again, really.

It wouldn't do much to delay what Megatron himself was planning, but hopefully, it would make his eventual escape all the easier.

[cliffjumper]

Mirage would certainly have to hope his little plot worked, because as the days went by and the necessary components for the rite Megatron wanted done were slowly finished, both what was needed from Mirage's end and what could be done by others, well...

After little over a week, the preparations were done.

Mirage better be finished with his own planning now.

Cliffjumper, on his end, was practically being insufferable, but since that usually only got turned into a very short temper and sharper attitude than usual, most of the Autobots on the Ark were unaware of why he was being more obnoxious than usual.

Of course, some also just waved it away with the rather unflattering "it's Cliffjumper", as well.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage could tell that his time was running out.

Using his previous experience inside the Decepticon base, he already knew the basic layout and escape routes. The main problem would be getting out of the cell.

Thankfully, he'd had an entire week to lull both his visitors and the guards into complacency. The guards had become taken with slipping closer to the cell to be able to hear the rites in full - and gain the benefits without being the ones 'begging' a dirty Autobot for them. For once, Decepticon greed would work in his favor.

Mirage decided the time was right when a battered-looking Astrotrain of all mechs had dropped by, demanding the rite of the Spacefarer's Blessing by name. It was old, and not one that Mirage had preformed often. The heyday of of Old Cybertron's exploration, expansion, and colonization was long before his time, but everyone knew tales of shuttlemecha lost to the dark void of space. A plea to Primus to avoid such a terrifying fate was a common request in that time.

It was long, part soothing song and somber warning, given the topic. Mirage began it readily enough- but was slowly able add a rite of healing and recovery, as well. Deep healing, one that he had so far avoided using during his capture. Astrotrain was damaged enough that he felt justified in doing so...lulling the hulking mech - and the guard outside - into a healing recharge was just a convenient bonus.

[cliffjumper]

Mirage was, at least, having luck with lulling his guards, so all he needed after that would be a way out of the cell!

... and then navigate out through the base without getting caught, but he would be in luck since incidentally right around the same time the Autobots' planned attempt at freeing Mirage since Megatron wasn't opening negotiations were set into motion.

Not that it was all that easy mostly because no one was comfortable with fighting underwater and they only had one armed shuttle to act as a ship, but it was happening.

Cliffjumper had insisted he get to be on the slagging assault team, because he felt he had to make up for his failure (even if those who knew insisted there wasn't much else he could have done).

Even if being submerged like this was unpleasant and he couldn't use his favoured method to keep fire off of other people. He sure as slag would make sure to do what he could.