Nothing Personal

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As offices go, this one is not going to win any awards for style or comfort. It is far more dedicated to the various uses it's owner has it for. There's any number of servers through the office, of various quality. Indeed it would not be hard to imagine that you could get a server lost in here under the piles of hard drives attached to random servers, cables up above hanging across the roof, as well as a veritable spaghetti junction under the flooring.
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 * style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); border-radius: 5px;" id="mf-links" width="50%" |< Specter Posed on Feb 03 06:48PM CST >-

Through it all, moving with confidence of being possibly the only one to know where everything is, Specter quietly moves from one server to another, accessing each and checking... well whatever it is he's checking on now. Oddly, despite all the servers, and the heat they generate, the room is perfectly cool. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 06:59PM CST >- As Specter is checking his various servers, the door signal sounds. It seems another potential client has come by, though he didn't have any appointment planned for right about now... < Specter Posed on Feb 03 07:06PM CST >- Being accustomed to unexpected clients dropping by, Specter isn't overly concerned when the door signal sounds, however he's also not the sort to take chances. And so he activates his standard security packages just in case the visitor is someone he needs to deal with in some other way than speaking with. Or in case the visitor tries to force information out. That done, he hits the control to let whomever is outside in, through the door with the rather obvious weapons scanner. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 07:14PM CST >- The weapons scanner would reveal that the visitor is indeed bristling with them. He looks to be a small space-capable craft, with visored optics and--actually, perhas he is somewhat familiar to Specter. Has he seen this mech before? Not with his own optics, but perhaps through another's? "So you're Specter, right?" he asks, despite the armament he doesn't appear hostile. < Specter Posed on Feb 03 07:24PM CST >- That Specter may have 'seen' this particular Cybertronian before isn't too surprising to him (he's seen quite a lot of them over the years, more through the optics of others). However that he can't find the name of the Cybertronian is very mildly annoying given his area of expertise is knowing things.

Making his way over to another of his data servers (one which happens to double as a desk), Specter stands 'behind' it in relation to Quantum. The screen that either covers or is his face remains fairly blank aside from two oscillating lines as he replies, "That would be correct." < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 07:36PM CST >- Quantum invites himself inside, and sits down across from Specter casually. Yes, there was a distinct lack of a name, but Specter would find that most of the people whose optics he may have seen this mech through witnessed him in some kind of violent act that usually involved the merciless slaughter of some unsuspecting mech or multiple mechs.

He smirks a little. "Not much of a chatterbox, are you?" < Specter Posed on Feb 03 07:48PM CST >- Specter watches the other sit himself down without waiting to be invited to do so. While he does so he also reviews all the data he has on the mysterious Cybertronian, and the data from the weapon scanner. All of which leads him to several hypothesis.

His screen remains neutral as he replies, "There is little need to waste time on pointless words, if the meaning can be conveyed with only a few. You have a purpose here I assume?" < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 07:57PM CST >- "Not all seemingly 'pointless' words don't serve any purpose." Quantum replies, shrugging. He really seems to act as if this was just as much his place as Specter's. "But speaking of purpose, yes, you're right I do have a purpose here." he confirms with a nod. "It has a lot to do with what I used to do, you know, before the war and all." And what he still sometimes does, in all actuality. < Specter Posed on Feb 03 08:05PM CST >- It does take time to go through all the data he has on Quantum. In part because going solely on physical appearance takes time (though Specter has quite a powerful set of visual search tools, a name would still have been better). But having come to the one of the oldest records he has (not chronilogical by date of recording, but oldest that he obtained), Specter replays it a few dozen times in his head (though this only takes a few nanoseconds), in particular focusing on the source of the data. Curious.

"All of our roles in this world have shifted with time. I trust however you're not going to repeat any of the violent acts that seem to mark your history. At least not in this room." Without any external indication he places the various security systems in place on their highest alert status. Just in case. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 08:14PM CST >- "That's kind of true." Quantum replies, standing up and pacing a little bit. "And you're right, I have committed a lot of 'violent' acts if you will. Still do. Never for no reason, though."

A pause. "But you of all people should know--you can't -really- trust anybody, now can you?" he asks, stepping a bit closer to Specter and leaning toward him slightly. "Tell me, if you were someone else, would you trust -you-?" < Specter Posed on Feb 03 08:19PM CST >- Showing no outward sign of concern (with a screen for a face it's not all that difficult to hide even if there was any real concern there), Specter remains silent for a moment in light of the question, before answering, "Do you require to trust me for whatever reason you are here for? Because if so then the question of if you would trust me is one only you can answer." < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 08:25PM CST >- "But that wasn't what I was asking, was it?" Quantum chuckles. "I was asking you if you would trust you, not if I would trust you. If you knew everything about you, your past, all the people you've no doubt killed and betrayed and sabotaged and coerced, would you want to trust yourself? Did it ever occur to you that your past might just come back to bite you in the aftplate, or did you just always assume that out of all the people you hurt in your lifetime, not one of them would come searching for some kind of retribution, or closure?" < Specter Posed on Feb 03 08:32PM CST >- If he had them, Specter might just raise an eyebrow at this line of questioning. "You are assuming I have killed, or betrayed, or sabotaged, or even coerced anyone. I am a business mech, I offer a service for which I charge a price for. What people do with what I provide is not something I care to know, nor can I be blamed for." Afterall, he hardles needs to kill since even before the war events tended to provide him with intelligence anyway. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 08:42PM CST >- "Well smelt it must've been -something-. Either that or you're just lying to yourself." Quantum smirks. Maybe that was why he was asking about trust. "Something heinous enough to work someone up into a rage. A rage so potent, it's all they can think about. Like an addiction, an obsession. They won't rest until it's over. Until you're -dead-. Of course, I'm not talking about myself. I've never met you. So believe me when I say--"

At this, fully charged weapons are suddenly drawn from their compartments and fired upon Specter. "--it's nothing personal!" < Specter Posed on Feb 03 08:52PM CST >- Well fancy that, someone with all those weapons fired them. Who could have ever thought that would happen. Oh yeah, pretty much anyone who had access to the data on Quantums history.

Said person remains seated exactly where he is as the weapons are drawn and fired. He remains seated as the bolts of energy fly through the air towards him. And Specter is still sitting calmly when said bolts hit the forcefield right in front of him.

"I am curious, given you seem to have been a rather successful assassin for quite some time, how you thought walking into an area I have complete control over, and entering through a weapon scanner, that you would succeed in killing me. Arrogance and stupidity, how efficient of you." Specter finally stands up. As he does so the number of oscillating lines on his face screen begins to increase, "As you say, nothing personal, but now I must insist on finding out who hired you. If you wish to provide the information it will save use both significant effort."

There's noises as three internal doors open up, and the lumbering forms of several other Cybertronians come through. Curiously though, the all seem to share one thing in common, aside from the fact they're walking, they all look very dead. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 09:10PM CST >- "Ha!" Quantum scoffs when his shots hit a forcefield, ignoring Specter's inquiry as to who hired him. "You should hear yourself talk. And here you are, calling -me- arrogant. You're such a coward, hiding behind your shields and dead bodies. You're even worse than I thought. This might not be personal, but I'm going to enjoy this, honestly. If you think I was planning on killing you with with a few gunshots you're hilariously wrong. If I wanted to do that, I would have trapped you somewhere where you couldn't run away, somewhere exposed where you are completely alone, instead of coming to your home turf, because you know what I -enjoy- a challenge. Unlike -some-."

With that, he unloads on the dead mechs. A retractable blade flips out of a wrist and he goes to slice the head clean off of one while firing the weapons on his other arm at the others. < Specter Posed on Feb 03 09:21PM CST >- Specter remains behind his shield, which has returned to it's see through state since nothing is hitting it right now. Contrary to what Quantum may think, or what he may have seen in those cheap horror films that get made, the undead don't stop moving when you chop their heads off. Mostly because there's computers through out the body that Specter can make move. Nor do the shots do much more than slow the others down, as the start to reach out for Quantum.

"Your definition of cowardice is rather curious. You would claim I am given I do not engage you in combat, when you are clearly more prepared for it, yet you don't seem to object to the cowardice of your clients in hiding behind you." Specter consider for a moment, before giving more commands, his visor turns completely black, and then the lights go out. "If, as you say, this is not personal, perhaps I could propose an alternative business arrangement. Afterall we have established you have information I want, I suspect there is bound to be information you want about something."

in the pitch darkness there's clearly more movement, not just from the dead Cybertronians, but from under the floor and above Quantum in the roof itself. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 09:36PM CST >- Quantum could really care less that the dead bodies are still moving. All he knows is shoot and hack and smash until they stop moving. There was always a...certain measure of fun involved in it, which was part of the reason he chose the profession he did. Maybe not a huge part, but...

At any rate, he continues to attack until the lights go out, at which point, he retreats to a different corner of the room, hovering into the air near the ceiling. He laughs at Specter's antics. "Are you trying to intimidate me, Specter? Because if you are, you're failing miserably. I'm a -Decepticon-. I've seen and done much worse than -this-."

He considers Specter's offer. "An 'alternative' business arrangement, huh. Not that I was here for business in the first place. But what makes you think there's information I want?" < Specter Posed on Feb 03 09:45PM CST >- There's always information to be found, but it's curious when someone contradicts themselves as then it's difficult to evaluate the information gained. Specter (who unsurprisingly can easily see despite the pitch black state of the room), has the undead follow Quantum to the new corner of the room. However he holds off introducing the Decepticon to his other defences just yet.

"Curious that you say it wasn't business that brought you here, and yet you previously states it was nothing personal. An odd contradiction to make in such a short time. And everyone has something they want to know. It is something we all share." Given the rest of Quantums comment, Specter does active protocol 17, with immediate effect. A silent call is prepared to be sent to the nearest Autobot location should Specter give the execute command or if he should fail to give the hold command regularly, advising them of the presence of a known Decepticon along with evidence that he is responsible for multiple kills. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 09:54PM CST >- "Sorry, I meant that I wasn't here for personal business with -you-. I was here for someone -else's- personal business with you." Quantum clarifies. "Thought you'd have figured that one out but I guess I was wrong."

He continues firing at the dead mechs. "Well I'll tell you one thing, I'm not engaging in any 'business arrangement' with you as long your brainless minions are attacking me." < Specter Posed on Feb 03 10:00PM CST >- The dead bodies stop moving, taking two steps back from Quantum, "There. So long as you don't attempt to fire again, they will not attack." The lights though stay off, since there hardly seems to be need for them for now. "Now, as I say, there is bound to be something I can assist you with, and we can put this business in the past." At least for now, Specter hasn't forgotten the source of one image of Quantum he has in his data warehouse afterall. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 10:09PM CST >- "Yeah, maybe there is...heh." Quantum stops shooting but remains in the air, the lights from his visor and other parts of his body glowing through the darkness. There's a pause, and he finally continues. "Tell you what. I'm looking for an Outlier, named Phantom. He went AWOL from Kolkular five megacycles ago. He's hard to track down, because he can phase through solid matter. You find him and tell me where he is, and I'll tell you who hired me." < Specter Posed on Feb 03 10:14PM CST >- As Specter said, there's always something. He reactivates the lights, and has his undead bodyguards take a few more steps back towards their storage closets. "I trust in the meantime I won't need to keep looking over my shoulder for you?" Though good luck to anyone trying to follow Specter anyway. "And I'll require a visual record of Phantom, both modes of course." Of course Specter has started to look through all his data already for any mention of Phantom, as well as all data on events in and around Kolkular for the last 6 megacycles. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 10:26PM CST >- And good luck to anyone trying to track down Phantom. "Oh, he's white and gold and has a flight alt mode, kind of gaudy in my opinion." Quantum shrugs. "I'll send you a picture, I guess." He finally comes down out of the air, landing silently on both feet.

"Well I guess that's it. Honestly I'll be surprised if you actually do find him. And impressed. Maybe." he smirks. And also afraid he'll have to kill Specter anyway, whether he finds Phantom or not, because he's already received a lofty downpayment. But of course, he leaves -that- nice little part out. "I'll be checking in on your progress, screenface." He turns to leave. < Specter Posed on Feb 03 10:39PM CST >- Specter doesn't really think 'gaudy' helps much, but he files it in the description anyway pending an actual picture. As for Quantum, well he assumes he'll have to work on the assumption the Decepticon will try and kill him again eventually. However once he finds out who hired the assassin he can deal with that particular issue at the source.

"Very well, you may leave the image at this drop point." With that Specter transmits a set of coordinates to the Decepticon. "Continuing to come here may draw undue attention." And Specter doesn't particularly desire the presence of an assassin in his office when said assassin has been hired to kill him. < Quantum Posed on Feb 03 10:47PM CST >- "Right. And don't worry, okay? You won't have to look over your shoulder for me. We've come to an agreement, remember? I need you to find Phantom." Quantum reminds Specter. "You can't do that if you're dead, right?"

At that, he transforms in the doorway and takes off into the dark skies above.

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