tv, Metro City (Various locations), Pyrotechnics
Kelly: *walking out of the store and looking into the bag at her brand new dress* What a beautiful day. The birds are singing, the breeze is sweet.... *pauses without looking up as a happy whoop comes from over head* The crazy giant robot is playing Tarzan through the city.... *looks up* X-BRAWN, GET DOWN FROM THERE! ARE YOU TRYING TO DRIVE ME AS CRAZY AS YOU ARE?????
Kriti: *amused as she watches from nearby* I don't think he can hear you, miss... and if he can, I don't think he really cares...
Kelly: *yells louder* X-BRAWN!!! GET DOWN HERE THIS MINUTE, BECAUSE I HAVE MORE SHOPPING TO DO AND I AM NOT TAKING A CAB!
Kriti: Here. I'll give you a lift. *opens her door*
Kelly: >_> You're not my giant robot. *pause. Blink* Hey, you sound like a girl.
Kriti: I'm a friend of his. My name is Kriti.... *chuckles* That would be because I am a girl.
Kelly: 0.o Well... I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I guess.... *blinks and focuses* Do giant robot girls like to shop?
Kriti: I've never been shopping, to be honest... That's more Eclipse's thing, but I'm always up for trying something new. *gives the impression of ^_^*
Kelly: *horrified* Never been shopping! You poor thing. Let me show you.... *chatting up a storm as she gets in and shuts the door*
REV: //Kelly's going to kick your aft, X-Brawn.// *sounds way too amused*
X-Brawn: //Why do ya think I brought Kriti with me?// *Sounds just as amused*
REV: .... //Guys like you don't deserve girls.// *still chuckling though*
X-Brawn: //Better Kriti than Eclipse... Eclipse'd talk poor Kelly's ear off...//
REV: //Sounds like Kelly's doing that for Kriti.// *winces as another female voice sounds piercingly over the comm channel* //Kriti isn't going to be able to run interference with T-AI.//
T-AI: *yelling at not only X-Brawn, but also Mirage and Skids, who are racing over on a straightaway in the freeway*
X-Brawn: *would be wincing if he were in root mode* //Guess we'd better get back to work...//
REV: *sighs over comms* //Though even Optimus is taking some time off. Look over at the park.//
Optimus: *issa water fountain!*
X-Brawn: *settles on a rooftop to look and chuckles over comms* //Looks like the kids are having fun too...//
REV: //I don't think it's possible for little humans to resist a big red firetruck. Especially when it's giving them water to play in.//
X-Brawn: //Nope...// *chuckles again* //At least I know Sideburn won't be bothering Kelly today...//
REV: *casually* //No, because he's chasing around a little orange and black sports car.//
X-Brawn: //...What're the odds that Eclipse'll get fed up and ram him off the road?//
REV: //You mean again?//
X-Brawn: //Yep...//
REV: //Well, unless Towline catches up with him....//
X-Brawn: //If I didn't know any better, I'd say Eclipse was baiting Sideburn...//
REV: //Because she's doing some of the same things Kelly does when she's trying to get your attention?//
X-Brawn: //That, and she hasn't shot him yet.// *snicker*
REV: //I haven't met too many girls that were as trigger happy as guys can be.//
X-Brawn: //True... But even Eclipse prolly has her limits...//
REV: *distracted by something* //Yeah....//
X-Brawn: //What's up, REV?// *Watching as Kriti heads off to go shopping with Kelly*
REV: //Look at Heavy Load.//
Heavy Load: *driving along with a little red Tesla in his bed*
X-Brawn: //Huh... Would ya look at that?// *amused* //At least she's got an escort...//
REV: //Hey, Heavy Load, what're you doing?//
Heavy Load: //We're looking for spy cameras.//
REV: //...That's my job. There aren't any around here.//
Heavy Load: //We've found three so far.//
REV: !!!!!
X-Brawn: //...Seriously?//
Heavy Load: //Seriously. CC can see things nobody else would notice. It's pretty amazing.//
REV: //....// *remembering how Comet Chaser had said she'd seen them when he'd asked how she'd known he and Ironhide were pursuing her.*
X-Brawn: //Well, I'll be... Comet Chaser's somethin' else...// *said fondly* *then he's remembering an earlier incident and chuckling over comms again* //Hey Heavy Load, how long did it take Wedge to get that dent outta his head this morning?//
Heavy Load: //Not sure, X-Brawn. He gave himself a few more right afterward.//
X-Brawn: *snickers* //I'm not sure who was more surprised, him or Grimlock...//
REV: //Wait, what's this all about?//
X-Brawn: //Nothin' major... Just Wedge runnin' his vocalizer again, and Kriti taking exception to it...// *sounds WAY too amused for it to be that simple*
REV: //Uh huh. Wedge isn't the kind to randomly hit on girls, though. Other than that time he got tangled in the power lines and then tried flirting with Kelly when you came to get him out.//
X-Brawn: //He was complainin' 'bout havin' to go work on part of the space bridge tunnels, and Kriti walloped him for it...//
Heavy Load: //He just really wants people to be proud of him.// *stops so that Comet Chaser can get out and climb the side of a building to pick off something situated right where it could keep track of REV's favorite surveillance spot*
REV: !!!! What sensors is she using???
Heavy Load: Just her optics. *lets Comet Chaser settle into his bed again and proceeds*
X-Brawn: *impressed whistle*
REV: *clear signs of fussing as he communicates over closed frequency with his fellow Spychangers*
big explosion: *over from the direction of the new space bridge tunnel*
Heavy Load: Whoa! *stops and transforms, Comet Chaser's car mode in his arms as he gapes toward the rising smoke* //Wedge??//
X-Brawn: *moves to head for the rising smoke* //I really hope that's not where he was working...//
Heavy Load: *sounds a little frantic as his hail goes unanswered* //Wedge! Grimlock?//
Grimlock: //We could use your help, Heavy Load. Wedge is under a lot of rubble.//
Heavy Load: *back to truck, Comet Chaser aboard, and going faster than a big rig like him has a right to*
REV: *following over the rooftops*
X-Brawn: *following as well, using his grappling hook to leap from building to building*
Eclipse: *provides an ETA for herself and Sideburn*
Optimus: *gently shaking little kids off his back* //Watch out for attack. There's nothing there that should have exploded.//
X-Brawn: //Got it.//
Eclipse: //I'll see if there was anything that could've possibly caused the explosion... // *sounds worried*
Optimus: //Kriti? Report.//
Kriti: //I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, sir... When I'm in the clear, I'll head over as well.//
X-Brawn: //Kelly's with her at the moment, Optimus...//
Optimus: .... //Kriti, drop Kelly off at the soonest opportunity and report to the explosion site.//
Kriti: //Yessir.//
Optimus: //Spychangers, I want you to keep in contact with T-AI. This could be a diversion to distract us from something else.//
Hot Shot: //Understood, sir.//
Heavy Load: *nearly wings X-Brawn as he reaches the site, then transforms and hastily sets Comet Chaser on top of the SUV as he hurries into the smoking tunnel* Keep an eye out for CC, okay, X-Brawn?
Comet Chaser: *sitting there going '....'*
X-Brawn: You got it.
Eclipse: *slliiiiiiiiiides around a corner, Sideburn following in a similar manner, shortly thereafter*
X-Brawn: *shifts on his shocks a bit, wondering how to get Comet Chaser's attention*
Comet Chaser: *transforms and hops down, her hands moving in apology*
X-Brawn: *Transforms and explains that there's no need to apologize*
Eclipse: *Transforms and hurries into the tunnel, scanning for anything that could have caused the explosion*
Sideburn: Aw man... She's crazy! *transforming and wondering if he should follow after her*
Comet Chaser: *asking what's happening, her blue optics flicking from X-Brawn to Sideburn to the tunnel*
Grimlock: //Hurry, guys! His life sign readings are getting weaker!//
Eclipse: //I'm almost there. What're his injuries? And man, that's a tight squeeze, but I think I can get through no problem...//
X-Brawn: {Something exploded that shouldn't have exploded... We're trying to rescue Wedge now...}
Kriti: *Sliiiiides around a corner in a similar manner to Eclipse*
Grimlock: //Easy, kid! He's pinned in there, and we can't see him to tell his injuries. Heavy Load, move that chunk.//
Comet Chaser: *concern on her face as she looks back toward the tunnel*
Kriti: *Transforms, signs as she speaks* What's the situation, or do we know yet?
Grimlock: //We were digging and minding our own business when the roof suddenly came down on our heads. And I can smell explosives. High Tower, get hold of yourself! You can have a breakdown after we get Wedge out of this.//
Eclipse: //Hoo boy. Whoever put the explosives there knew what they were doing... *identifying the explosives material* You guys are lucky that this is all it did... this stuff's potent.//
Grimlock: //Lucky!// *sounds a bit wibbly himself, but determined*
Heavy Load: //I see him!//
Eclipse: *Seriously, even as she moves to help* //If it had all detonated, we'd have a salvage mission on our servos.//
Grimlock: //We're losing him! Move faster, people!//
Comet Chaser: *quizzical look up at X-Brawn as he glomps her*
Eclipse: //Not while I'm here, we won't!// *Determined to keep Wedge online*
Heavy Load: //Oh oh....//
Grimlock: //WHAT??//
Heavy Load: //Well, I'm pretty sure I just stepped on a bomb. And depressed the trigger.//
Grimlock: *incoherent sound*
Eclipse: //...//
Kriti: //WHAT?!//
Heavy Load: //I'm really hoping it's the kind that only goes off when you move again.//
Optimus: *rolls up and transforms, then signs as he speaks* What's the situation, X-Brawn? *blinks when he notices what X-Brawn is doing*
Kriti: *wants to pace*
X-Brawn: *Sheepish as he lets Comet Chaser go*
Sideburn: Eclipse is in there helping, but it sounds like Heavy Load just stepped on something bad...
Kriti: *far too calmly as she scans the tunnel* There's enough room in the tunnel for us... at least till a certain point, I'm guessing...
Optimus: *as the portable base sets itself up* Do you have explosives training, Kriti?
Kriti: Not nearly as much as Eclipse does.
Grimlock: //Slagging pit. Heavy Load, you're in the way. I can't reach to dig!//
Heavy Load: //Really sorry.// *sounds very sad*
Optimus: //Eclipse, what's the situation in there?//
Eclipse: //We're getting Wedge out now, sir. The explosive that caused the cave-in is *names the explosive*, and it looks like some of the wires were bad so most of it didn't go off.//
Optimus: //And what Heavy Load's standing on?//
Eclipse: //Looks like part of the detonation system... One of the triggers, and it's still live, looks like...// *Sounds quite tense now*
Optimus: //Is there anything you can do?//
Comet Chaser: *being glomped again* 0.o
Eclipse: //I can try and disarm it, but I don't want to do that while the Build Team is still in here.//
Heavy Load: //Uh... I'm standing on it.//
Eclipse: //Lemme try and see if I can get an equal amount of pressure on it, then you can move out.// *going to carefully edge a thin sheet of metal between the detonator trigger and the bottom of Heavy Load's foot*
Heavy Load: *watching, and still trying to sneak a little digging in*
Grimlock: *curses suddenly* Wedge! Slaggit, Wedge, hold on!
Eclipse: *to Optimus* //If there's anyone else who has medic training, tell them we need them here NOW.//
Optimus: *nods to Crosswise, who alone of the Spychangers is here* //He's coming in.//
Comet Chaser: *pat pats for Sideburn*
Grimlock: But we don't have Wedge fully uncovered.
Heavy Load: *sober comment about pancakes as he drags his teammates out of the tunnel*
Crosswise: *scoots past them and transforms, then hurries over, yanking a diagnostic probe from his side as he comes*
Eclipse: *nods to Wedge* Get him stabilized... *for once, isn't her usual sunshine and rainbows self, as most of her focus is on disarming the detonator*
Kriti: *now she's pacing and looking down the tunnel as far as she can see*
Crosswise: *already focused on that as he reports to Optimus* //The explosion hurt him more than the cave in did. But with the integrity of his shell breached the cave in did more damage than it usually would have.//
Optimus: //Is he going to make it?//
Crosswise: //If I have anything to say in the matter.//
Heavy Load: *sitting on teammates*
Kriti: *pace pace pace, glance down the tunnel again, pace pace pace*
Comet Chaser: *concerned for Sideburn, who is looking tearful. Pat pats him more*
REV: //Optimus! I just saw that black and silver bot Comet Chaser told us about! She's heading your way!//
Optimus: //Which direction is she coming from?// *frowning*
REV: //Look up.//
Optimus: *does* By the matrix!
Kriti, X-Brawn, and Sideburn: *Also look up*
Liedherz: *pauses and hovers, massive wings beating the air strongly* I come in peace.
Optimus: Forgive my doubt, but you look like a Predacon.
Liedherz: *snorts* I do no such thing.
Kriti: *Frowns muchly*
Sideburn: Just who are you, anyway? *not sure this femme is one to be trusted*
Liedherz: Mein name ist Liedherz. Und I have something that vill help get your friend out of that hole. But I vant it back aftervard.
Kriti: *more frown as she moves to approach Liedherz* Just what is that 'something' then?
Liedherz: May I land? *equine ears flicking busily behind her softly glowing horn*
Optimus: *wary, but nods* You may.
Liedherz: *wings up! And... BUTT down.* *ears back* Slaggit, not again.
Optimus: .... Are you alright?
Heavy Load: *looking over there* :o
Kriti: ... *raised brow ridge as she moves to see if Liedherz would like a hand up*
Liedherz: *perks her ears at the blue femme, then holds out a disk shaped object with a button in the center* It ist set. You have only to press the button vhile touching your friend.
Kriti: *visor flickers briefly before she nods and takes the object* Alright....
Liedherz: *gathering her digigrade legs under her, one wing lowered to push herself up instead of an arm* Just do not puke on him after you come out of the teleport.
Optimus: *watching this tensely even as he asks for an update from Crosswise*
Crosswise: //We'll lose him if we don't get him out of here soon.//
Kriti: *expression serious as she turns and runs into the tunnel*
X-Brawn: *concerned, doesn't realize he's signing as he speaks* I just hope Eclipse can get that bomb disarmed...
Eclipse: *cheerfully* //Okay! The trigger's disarmed! I'm gonna see if there are any other triggers to disarm, and check back with you if I find any!//
Optimus: *one weight off his shoulders. Signs as well as he speaks* She got it. Now we just need to get Wedge out of there.
Liedherz: *back on her hooves, her wings cloaked around her shoulders as she seemingly gazes into empty space and listens to the world around her*
Eclipse: //Whoah! Kriti's here now? Hey, what the-?!//
Kriti: *hand on Wedge, touches Crosswise with her foot, then brings them both back using the device Liedherz gave her*
Crosswise: *grabs the connectors from the mobile base as soon as they touch down on it and gets Wedge hooked up, then starts closing off damaged tubes and repairing connections ripped apart by the blast*
Optimus: *relieved! And going to see how Wedge is doing for himself*
Comet Chaser: *squirming as she's squished*
Kriti: *looks a bit rattled, moves to give Liedherz the device back*
Sideburn: *Acks and apologizes after letting Comet Chaser go*
Liedherz: Danke. *and then she steps into the smaller femme's shadow and vanishes*
Heavy Load: Whoa....
Kriti: ... *butt on ground*
Optimus: *head snaps around* What happened? Kriti?
Kriti: Give me a few minutes... My tank feels like I got rolled head over pedes a few times...
Optimus: Where's Liedherz?
Kriti: Your guess is as good as mine, sir... *cycling air*
Optimus: What do you mean? *coming back to offer the blue bot assistance*
Comet Chaser: {She went into Kriti's shadow and vanished.}
X-Brawn: *nods* What Comet Chaser said...
Kriti: I'm not hurt, sir...
Eclipse: //Found another trigger, but it's not been activated... Disarming it now.//
Optimus: *hands moving in time with his verbal speech* But that's not possible.
Comet Chaser: {She does it all the time.}
X-Brawn: *Raised brow ridge* {You've seen her do it?}
Comet Chaser: {Yes. This was the furthest I've ever seen her come from the shadows. And I didn't realize she'd be able to fly because of her optics.}
X-Brawn: {Huh? What do you mean?}
Comet Chaser: *turns and looks at him, though she keeps her body angled so that Optimus can see her hands too* {Her optics are like my audios. I've seen her trip over things that were very visible. My guess is that they weren't giving off anything that her audios could detect.}
X-Brawn: ... {Huh... Wonder why she's hanging around here?}
Comet Chaser: *simply* {She watches things.}
Eclipse: //I think there's still another three triggers or so to disarm... This one's disarmed.//
Heavy Load: *soberly* They really wanted us flat.
Kriti: *frowning muchly as she moves to get to her feet again*
Eclipse: //... Um.. Optimus, sir? You can accept databursts, right?//
Optimus: *looks up from Comet Chaser* //Yes, Eclipse. What do you have for me?//
Eclipse: *Sends Optimus an image of what she's looking at, which is the wiring and components of one of the triggers* //This isn't Cybertronian work... There's too many faults in the system and trigger method...//
Optimus: *dryly, as he studies the image* //...You haven't seen much Predacon work, have you?//
Eclipse: //This isn't Predacon work either, sir.//
Optimus: *frowns* //No. Those connections and such are too small and precise, for all that the design itself is flawed.//
Eclipse: //Plus, none of the explosives are anything even remotely Cybertronian in origin... This is all local stuff...//
Optimus: *face palm* //Great.//
Kriti: ... Sir?
X-Brawn: *giving the impression of frowning* What is it?
Eclipse: //Sir? You recognize this configuration?//
Optimus: //No. But I don't like the implications of this. Don't tell anyone, alright?//
Eclipse: //Alright, sir.//
Optimus: *looks at X-Brawn and Sideburn* X-Brawn, you're dismissed. Please be careful on your patrol. *knows he's not getting Sideburn away from where he's busily helping put Wedge back together* //Is there anything else you can tell me, Eclipse?//
Eclipse: //Yessir. *provides the chemical composition of the explosives*//
X-Brawn: Yessir. *invites Comet Chaser along*
Comet Chaser: *looks at Optimus, but sees that he's busy. Turns back and nods to her friend before transforming*
Optimus: *flinch* //Nitro glycerin?//
Kriti: *Much frown now as she watches Optimus*
Eclipse: //I'm guessing that stuff's pretty potent... There's also traces of another type of explosive... And apparently, it's called C4, from what I've found online...//
X-Brawn: *transforms and heads off after making sure Comet Chaser can keep up with him*
Optimus: //It is. They're both some of the strongest explosives known to human kind.//
Eclipse: //... I'll finish disarming the remaining triggers, and meet you outside here, sir...// *sounds a bit confused and concerned*
Optimus: //Alright, Eclipse. Optimus out.// *walks over to look at Wedge*
Wedge: *still looking rather shredded, his optics dark and his expression one of shock and pain*
Sideburn: *working with Crosswise to repair the other youngbot*
Optimus: *gently* Sideburn? Report.
Sideburn: Kriti and Crosswise got him out of there just in time... It'll take a little while, but he should be alright.
Optimus: Do you know when we'll be able to move him back to base?
Sideburn: We're still working on getting him stabilized... He's losing energy just as fast as he's getting it still... *not happy about this in the least*
Optimus: *deep frown as he hunkers beside them, though he's got his sensors peeled for trouble*
Crosswise: There it is. This is going to have to be replaced. *rummages through his subspace*
Kriti: *frowns muchly* Is there anything I can do to help?
Eclipse: //That's the last trigger... I'll be out soon.//
Optimus: *glances at Kriti, his gaze distracted and troubled* Keep your sensors turned up. The last thing we want now is to be attacked. //Good, Eclipse.//
Kriti: Yessir.
*lo and behold, it doesn't take long for Eclipse to get out of the tunnel, though it does seem she is stashing some of the trigger components in subspace for now*
Crosswise: *looks up* It should be safe to move him now. But we've still got a lot of work to do. *glances over at the rest of Build Team* Heavy Load, are you up to playing medical transport?
Heavy Load: *gets off Grimlock and High Tower* Ready and able. *transforms and drives over*
Sideburn: *will help carefully load Wedge into Heavy Load's bed*
Crosswise: *climbs up there with the young bot, who is still showing no signs of life*
Optimus: *watching. Would have lifted Wedge up himself, but he knows Sideburn needs to do this*
Sideburn: *looking very much like he wants to follow after the Build Team*
Eclipse: *expression neutral*
Kriti: *Doorwings almost parallel with the ground, clearly showing her displeasure with the explosion and the result of said explosion*
Optimus: Sideburn, you go ahead and return to base. Eclipse and Kriti, do you need to look at anything else here before the human authorities come?
Sideburn: Yessir. *transforms and peels out before speeding off after the Build Team*
Kriti: No sir... Unless... *looks to her teammate*
Eclipse: I'm going to study the triggers and see if I can't find any leads on who put that stuff there in the first place...
Optimus: Can you do that at base?
Eclipse: Yessir. I've got more tools back at the base that I can analyze the triggers with...
Optimus: Alright then. Let me know what you find out. I'll see you and Kriti at base. *turns his head as Preds try to attack the medical convoy and get pwnt* *snorts*
Predicons: *tactical retreat!*
Sideburn: *Sending a few shots after the Preds, soooo not in an amused mood*
Optimus: *nods to Street Team to go after the others, then turns to walk back toward the tunnel himself*
Kriti and Eclipse: *Transform and head off. Though once they're out of audio range, Kriti veers off and takes a different route*
Comet Chaser: *several blocks away and following after X-Brawn. Her thoughts on many things and her sensors on high*
Kriti: *turns a corner to avoid the pair, needs some time alone to sort out her thoughts*
Comet Chaser: *very slight nudge to X-Brawn's backside*
X-Brawn: *pulls over and transforms* {Something wrong?}
Comet Chaser: *also transforms and replies* {I just saw Kriti go that way by herself.}
X-Brawn: ... {Where's Eclipse?} *concerned for the blue femme*
Comet Chaser: {I didn't see Eclipse. I don't think Optimus would send Kriti out alone after the explosion.}
X-Brawn: ... //Optimus? I think we've got a minor problem... Comet Chaser just saw Kriti headin' off by herself...//
Optimus: //What?//
X-Brawn: *Signs as he speaks* //Eclipse isn't anywhere in sight. Should we go after Kriti?//
Optimus: //Just a click.// *switches frequencies* //Kriti, report.//
Kriti: //About what, sir?//
Optimus: //Your coordinates, for a start.//
Kriti: //...// *reluctantly provides coordinates... which, if Optimus checks, will prove to be incorrect*
Optimus: *stern* //Kriti, report to base, and to your quarters, now.//
Kriti: *wordless acknowledgement*
Optimus: //I'll speak to you when I return.//
Kriti: *Another wordless acknowledgement before she closes the connection*
Optimus: *switches frequencies* //X-Brawn, will you and Comet Chaser escort Kriti back to base and to her quarters?//
X-Brawn: //Sure thing, sir.// *signs* {Looks like we're on escort duty... Let's go catch up with Kriti.}
Comet Chaser: {Is something wrong?} *blue optics go from his hands to his face, the concern in them clear*
X-Brawn: {Hard to say right now... But we're supposed to escort Kriti back to base, and to her quarters for right now...}
Comet Chaser: *frowns, but nods and signs her compliance before transforming*
Ro-Tor: *flies overhead. Autobots, Autobots, hey! Little Autobot all by theirself! Fly down and grab!*
Kriti: Ack! Hey! Let go!
Ro-Tor: *gives her a good shake as he takes off again* Stop yelling. *smirk* You sound like a girl.
Kriti: *Ugh, now her tank's sloshing again* Maybe that's because I AM a girl, slagheap! *trying to transform so she can fight back*
Ro-Tor: :o *grip loosens with his surprise*
Kriti: *uses that to her advantage to transform... only instead of attacking like she had intended, her tank's sloshing gets the better of her and she urks*
Ro-Tor: *squeals like a girl and drops her from several stories up*
Kriti: *Soooo not having a good day, sends out an SOS over Autobot frequencies and checks to see if there's anything she can grab to try and slow her rapid descent*
X-Brawn: *Hurrying to try and catch Kriti, and then both are doing ground time as Kriti lands on him and he ends up kissing the pavement*
Comet Chaser: *stays hidden as told till she sees the Decepticon fly off, then darts over to her friends*
Kriti: *has managed to rattle her processor pretty good from landing on X-Brawn*
X-Brawn: *Wincing and trying to get up without jostling Kriti too badly* *to Optimus over comms* //If I see Ro-Tor again, it'll be too slaggin' soon....//
Optimus: *sharply* //What happened? Do you need backup?//
Comet Chaser: *gently moving Kriti so she's laying on her back on the sidewalk. Pats the younger bot's face*
X-Brawn: //Ro-Tor grabbed Kriti, but then something happened while he was up above the buildings, and he dropped her... Kinda resulted in her 'n me collidin' when I tried t' catch her...//
Kriti: *sound of discomfort, tries to move away from the touch to her face. Her visor's got a crack in it, likely from the impact*
Comet Chaser: *takes Kriti's hand and squeezes it, then looks up at X-Brawn*
Optimus: *sounds angry now* //This is exactly what I was afraid of. Females are too small to be out alone, even if they can defend themselves. It's just too easy to grab them and carry them away.//
X-Brawn: //All due respect, sir... She prolly would'a succeeded in escaping unharmed if he hadn't dropped her...//
Optimus: //Still. How badly damaged are the two of you?//
X-Brawn: //I've got some dents, nothin' a bit'a time won't fix...// *tries to get a response from Kriti, gets more sounds of discomfort* //I think Kriti's hurt worse... She's not talkin' 'r snarkin' at me...//
Optimus: *quite angry now* //Can you bring her back to base?//
X-Brawn: //It's gonna be tricky... She keeps tryin' t' squirm away...// *not that that's going to stop him from trying to lift the blue femme*
Optimus: *switches frequencies* //Prowl, report.//
Comet Chaser: *making signs against Kriti's hand. Trying to tell her she's safe now*
Prowl: //Eclipse, Sideburn, and the Build Team just passed my location at *provides coordinates, which are close to the entrance to the base*, sir.//
Optimus: *quietly, though the tension's still clear in his voice* //Can you go help your brother and Comet Chaser bring Kriti home? She sustained damage in an encounter with Ro-Tor.//
Prowl: //... Is she alright?// *concerned* //What are the coordinates?//
Optimus: *gives the coordinates* //X-Brawn says she's not responding very much.//
Prowl: //Understood. I'm on my way.// *moving towards X-Brawn and Comet Chaser's location*
Optimus: //Thank you, Prowl. And once she's back at base and her damage has been tended to I want her confined either to the repair bay or her quarters.//
Prowl: //Understood, sir.//
Optimus: //Keep T-AI updated. Optimus out.// *another frequency switch* //X-Brawn? Prowl's on his way.//
X-Brawn: //Alright... Jes' gotta keep Kriti quiet and calm long enough to get her back t' base, right?//
Optimus: *frowns* //What exactly is her condition?//
X-Brawn: //Still squirmin' t' put Thunder t' shame when he doesn't wanna be held...//
Optimus: //Have you tried talking to her?//
X-Brawn: //Comet Chaser's talkin' to her now... 'N that looks like it's helpin' somewhat...//
Comet Chaser: *stops and really looks at Kriti, and then pushes on X-Brawn's hand that's resting on the blue bot's door wing*
X-Brawn: *blinks and looks to see what Comet Chaser's trying to point out to him*
Comet Chaser: *pushes again, frowning deeply*
Kriti: *Squirrrm, wants the hand to go away, plz* *whimpers quietly*
X-Brawn: //... Might'a figured out why she's so squirmy...// *is going to try and carefully turn the blue femme so he's not got a hand on her doorwing*
Comet Chaser: *nodding now* {Those are sensitive, X-Brawn.}
Optimus: //What is it?//
X-Brawn: //Her doors are sensitive, looks like... An' I was holdin' her so they were pressin' 'gainst my arm...//
Kriti: *ceases squirming once the pressure is off of her doorwings* *Still hurting a bit, but it's not as bad now*
Optimus: //Yes, X-Brawn. Doorwings are very sensitive. How is she now?//
Comet Chaser: *talking to Kriti's hand again*
X-Brawn: //She calmed down...// *looks up as he hears Prowl approaching* //Prowl just arrived...//
Optimus: //Alright. Prowl has my orders. Optimus out.//
Comet Chaser: *gently strokes Kriti's helm*
X-Brawn: //X-Brawn out.//
Kriti: *has her optics shuttered behind her visor, since everything's gone spinny and it's making her tank feel sloshy again*
Prowl: *To X-Brawn, signing for Comet Chaser* Let's get her back... We'll have to go slowly though, because it sounds like she's got some processor damage...
Comet Chaser: *looks at his hands and then shakes her head* {That pop travel made her dizzy. And it looks like she urked on the helicopter}
Prowl: ... *face.palm. Signs as well as he can with one hand* {Is that what caused him to drop her?}
Comet Chaser: *signs to Kriti's hand, asking her*
Kriti: *hand twitches a bit, before she manages to sign an affirmative*
Comet Chaser: *looks up and nods*
X-Brawn: ... *Snorts, amused* Well, don' that beat all....
Comet Chaser: *tells Kriti that the brothers are bringing her home*
Kriti: *another affirmative sign as X-Brawn moves to carry her back to the base*
Prowl: *Tells X-Brawn something over a private comm, then relays what he said to Comet Chaser* {It will be less stressful for her if we carry her while we're in root mode... And less likely that she'll purge on any of us en route.}
Comet Chaser: *to Kriti's hand* {Brothers will carry you in root mode.}
Kriti: *Slow, careful nod. Everything's still spinny, and it's getting harder to stay awake*
Comet Chaser: *frowns and gently puts a hand on either side of the younger bot's face, then gently lifts the cracked visor to peek at Kriti's optics. It's clear that she's worried now that there is something wrong with Kriti's head*
Kriti: *startle a bit, then makes a sound of discomfort, earning her reassurances from Prowl and X-Brawn that she'll be alright. Stubbornly refuses to turn her optics on though*
Comet Chaser: *looks up* {Maybe you're right, Prowl.} *deep frown of concern*
Prowl: {The sooner we get her back to base and into the repair bay, the better.} *being a bit more insistant as he helps X-Brawn carry the ailing femme*
Comet Chaser: *pat pats Kriti and says she'll still be there, then falls in beside them, her optics and other sensors scanning the area around them*
Several hours later...
Eclipse: *Quietly talking to Wedge about how comfortable a hammock is and how nice it is to sleep in one, and how she has a spare one if he's interested, she'll even help him get it set up and everything!*
Heavy Load: *as he comes back from chasing his other teammates out again* Would it be big enough? You and Wedge aren't exactly the same size.
Wedge: *just silently watching what's going on at the other table, his optics on at half strength*
Eclipse: Well, the spare hammock I have is too big for me to use... But I'm pretty sure it'd be too small for someone your size, Heavy Load, so maybe it'd be the right size for Wedge?
Heavy Load: *gentle hand for his young CO's shovelless shoulder* Maybe....
Wedge: *slight blink and looks up at Heavy Load, then squares his jaw and looks at the wall*
Kriti: *Silent as Sideburn and Crosswise work on repairing her*
Crosswise: *glances over* Why don't you take him to his quarters? He needs to rest quietly for awhile while his systems charge up again and his self repairs catch up with what we've done.
Heavy Load: *perks* Okay. *moves to gently scoop Wedge into his arms*
Eclipse: *moves to follow after, since it's clear there's not much she can help with to get her CO back on her feet*
Heavy Load: *gives her a quizzical look as he strides toward the door*
Eclipse: *quietly* Sideburn and Crosswise don't need my help to work on Kriti...
Heavy Load: So you want to come along? *amiable grin*
Eclipse: *nods* If it's not too much trouble...
Heavy Load: No trouble at all. *steps through the door*
Optimus: *looks up from where he's leaning against the wall by the door with his arms crossed over his chest* Wedge. How is he?
Wedge: *hides, looking stricken*
Eclipse: *Soothing sounds for Wedge before she reports* *quietly* Crosswise said he needs time to rest and heal... So we're taking him back to his quarters so he'll be in a familiar environment...
Optimus: *nods* Good idea. *gentle hand on Wedge's shoulder* It's good to see you online, Wedge. Don't worry, this wasn't your fault. *more quietly* Now rest and get better, alright?
Wedge: *surprised and relieved blinking for his commander, and then a slight nod*
Optimus: Good bot. *smiles with his optics as he steps back again*
Heavy Load: *grins at Eclipse as he turns away from the Prime*
Eclipse: *hesitates again, wondering if Optimus will ask about Kriti or not, really wants to follow Heavy Load and Wedge*
Optimus: *catches her optic and nods. He'll ask later*
Eclipse: *small nod, then she's hurrying after Heavy Load* Wait for me, guys!!!
Heavy Load: I'm waiting. *turns his head to grin at the little orange and black bot. In his arms Wedge is now sound asleep*
Eclipse: *Going to scale your back now, Heavy Load... and use your shoulder as a seat*
Heavy Load: *grin widens* Comfy?
Eclipse: Yup. And this way, I won't have to run to keep up! ^_^
Heavy Load: *amiably* Yup. *turns to continue on his way* Brace yourself.
Eclipse: *is good at that!*
Grimlock: *striding to meet them the moment they turn onto the living corridor* How is he? What're you doing with him? Why is his leg still off???
High Tower: *look of horror on his face*
Eclipse: Ease up... Crosswise said he needs time to rest and recover... And it's gonna help if he's someplace familiar, instead of the repair bay...
Heavy Load: *nods* And his leg isn't ready to put back on right now. Plus the less systems he needs to run right now, the better. *nods toward the supplementary power source the young officer's wearing*
Grimlock: *frowning and herding High Tower out of the way* You better stay with him. *knows he's not getting the dump truck bot away from Wedge, so pretends he decided it*
Heavy Load: *grins and brings Wedge to his room, which is decorated with posters just like any young male sentient's would be. Including one small shy poster of a pretty girl bot who is a popular singer*
Eclipse: *blinkblink* Hey, I think I know who that singer is...
Heavy Load: *looks over at the poster* Do you?
Eclipse: I think so... *checking over her memory banks, before naming the singer* Stardust.... Kriti doesn't seem too fond of her for some reason... but I kinda like some of the songs she's done...
Heavy Load: I've never heard her sing. But Wedge has some of her recordings and holos, and that poster. *looks down at his CO* Do you have that hammock?
Eclipse: *Gets it out of subspace* Yup.
Wedge: *also has a toy turbofox sitting on that chair there*
Heavy Load: Great. Need me to help you put it up?
Eclipse: I might... It needs to have secure anchors so it doesn't fall...
Heavy Load: *nods and gently lays Wedge on the berth, then picks up the toy, which is dented and missing most of its paint and one optic and also wearing the trademark ribbon of a popular package delivery service around its neck, and sets it carefully in the crook of Wedge's arm before turning back to tender assistance in hammock hanging*
Eclipse: When we get it set up, and him in it, make sure he's laying diagonally, so the hammock doesn't wrap around him completely... I dunno how claustrophobic he is...
Heavy Load: *anchoring a hook* Gotcha.
Eclipse: That, and it'll keep the hammock from flipping... *nodnod. Has experiance in this area*
Heavy Load: Like Sideburn does? *gets the other hook*
Eclipse: Yup... And like I used to when I was first learning how to sleep in one...
Heavy Load: *applies second hook* There we are.
Eclipse: *quietly playing one of her favorite songs by Stardust* Let's get him situated...
Heavy Load: *pauses and gives her a wry grin* Shouldn't we situate the hammock first?
Eclipse: ... Oh yeah... *Sheepish*
Heavy Load: *chuckle* Have you got it with you?
Eclipse: *nods and holds the hammock up*
Heavy Load: *takes it in one big hand, will examine it a bit and tug on it to test its strength, then hang it from the hooks and turn back to Wedge, who is unconsciously snuggling the toy* Uh... don't tell anyone about this, alright? He usually doesn't do it.
Eclipse: I won't say a word about it. *sincere. If anyone does find out, it won't be from her*
Heavy Load: *grins and gives her a thumbs up, then gently lifts Wedge and transfers him to the hanging bed* Thanks!
Wedge: *small sound of discomfort and puzzled blinking, and then he's asleep again*
Eclipse: No problem... *and now she's not sure what to do with herself*
Heavy Load: *gently* Do you want down so you can go back to repairs?
Eclipse: *quietly* I'm not sure... I mean... I've had times when Kriti's been hurt before and not been able to come back to where we were staying, but I don't know what's gotten into her lately and it's wierd, because she never used to act like she's been acting lately and I'm a bit scared that it's my fault because half the time when we were training, I'd have to be rescued or I'd get shot or something of mine would blow up and things would be bad because of it...
Heavy Load: *frowns and settles carefully onto his butt on the floor, then sits cross legged without taking his attention from the little orange and black bot*
Eclipse: And it's not like we've not had the training or anything like that, I mean, we are soldiers, and it's not like we haven't gone through the simulators just like the next soldier but I don't get why Kriti's been acting so strange ever since we left Cybertron and it scares me a bit because she never used to act like that and I wonder whether there's really something wrong or whether it's just me being paranoid and stressing about stuff that's all in my processor....
Heavy Load: *realizes she's stopped and frowns* It just started happening when you got to Earth?
Eclipse: A little bit before, actually... We were on our way here and she just kinda started wanting to go off on her own for cycles on end and wouldn't tell me when she was doing it so I ended up having to search everywhere for her at least five times before I'd find her and then we got separated and wound up arriving at different times so I don't know if anything happened to her while we were apart.... *Wibble*
Heavy Load: *frown deepens with his concern*
Eclipse: *and then she's launching into another related tangent about how her orders were to help the Autobots stationed on Earth to the best of her abilities, regardless of what her team leader may say or do, and how she feels this is a test of 'worth'*
Heavy Load: *frown continues as he listens and nods*
Eclipse: *slows down after awhile for some reason* We're just... trying our hardest.....
Heavy Load: That's what we're all doing, Eclipse.
Eclipse: *offers no response*
Heavy Load: *gently lifts her down and sits her in front of him on the floor, hands on her shoulders* *quietly* Optimus isn't trying to keep you from doing your job. He's just trying to do his job, which is to protect us all along with the people of Earth.
Eclipse: *soft, absent sound, has her optics turned off, and if Heavy Load checks, he'll find that she fell asleep, likely mid-ramble*
Heavy Load: *blinks, and then pulls the little bot close and tucks her in the crook of his arm before leaning back against Wedge's berth as he checks on the inhabitant of the hammock. Satisfied that his CO is alright, he shuts off his own optics and settles down to sleep himself*
Across town, in front of a comfortable walk up apartment
Kelly: SO DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU DOING IT AGAIN! DO YOU HEAR ME, X-BRAWN?
X-Brawn: Yes'm... *sounds a bit sheepish. Kelly is scary when she's mad!*
Kelly: *gives him a LOOK, totally unaware of the fact that she and a giant robot are acting like an 'old married couple', so to speak.* I mean it. That was stupid!
X-Brawn: It was, 'n I'm sorry...
Kelly: *hands on her hips* You better not just be saying that....
X-Brawn: I'm not... *just wants to get going so he can check on Kriti*
Kelly: Oh, and this is Kriti's. She left it with me when she had to go. *holds up a bag from a popular automotive bling store* I guess she must have forgotten in all the excitement when those stupid Predacons attacked. ^_^ *she's assuming that's what happened*
X-Brawn: I'll make sure she gets it.
Kelly: I hadn't even realized you guys had women. ^_^ Though Kriti doesn't really sound old enough to be a woman yet. Has she been here all along?
Thunder: *passes out in X-Brawn's hand*
X-Brawn: I'm not really sure how old she is... She just arrived the other day...
Kelly: Oh really? *frowns and thinks, realizing that she should have realized there was a reason that Sideburn liked to chase her red cars. And then her eye falls on a pretty little Tesla Roadster that's parked nearby. Perks, but then notices the Autobot symbol and frowns slightly* ...Is that another giant robot lady?
X-Brawn: *nods* Her name is Comet Chaser... She's been here on Earth for awhile.
Kelly: ...Is she Sideburn's girlfriend?
X-Brawn: Not that I know of... She's a lot older than he is... Kriti's closer to Sideburn's age, if Eclipse wasn't lying about her own age...
Kelly: *mouth purses suspiciously* So she's around your age?
X-Brawn: I guess so... Sideburn's closer in age to her though.
Kelly: I mean her. *points to Comet Chaser*
X-Brawn: Oh... I'm not sure.... *never thought to ask*
Kelly: *gives him a narrow-eyed look as she wonders why the red bot is here, and then growls at him and whirls to flounce back through the door of her apartment building* Well I won't keep you from your date. *closes door with a bang*
X-Brawn: *Flinches, and blinks* ... Date?
Thunder: *soft complaining sound. Kitty is tired and wants bed*
X-Brawn: ... *Sighs and gently sets Thunder on Comet Chaser's hood for a few moments so he can transform to root mode* *thinking* I don't even have a gal I'm dating... Where'd Kelly get that impression?
Comet Chaser: *saw him getting yelled at, gives him a gentle bump of sympathy*
Kelly: *at her window, slams the blinds shut. Her yell of rage can be heard clear out onto the street*
Thunder: *looks toward yell*
X-Brawn: *Flinches and hunkers down on his shocks a bit*
Comet Chaser: *transforms, catching Thunder in her hands and setting him on her shoulder* {X-Brawn? Is something wrong?}
X-Brawn: *Transforms back to root mode* {I think Kelly thinks you and I are dating...}
Comet Chaser: *tilts her head* {Dating? I don't understand.}
Kelly: *sound of cursing wafts out of her apartment*
X-Brawn: *rubs the back of his head a bit before responding* {She probably thinks you and I are together as a couple....}
Comet Chaser: *mouth falls open in dismay, and then she's stepping back with her hands upraised and shaking her head*
X-Brawn: *blink blink, isn't sure whether to feel slighted or relieved, settles for feeling relieved* {I know that, and you know that... But Kelly's not going to change her mind about that so easily, I don't think...}
Comet Chaser: *calms, though she's blushing* {But why does that make her angry?}
X-Brawn: {I'm not sure... But she's pretty miffed right now... Maybe we should head home...}
Comet Chaser: {You really can't explain to her about her mistake?} *concerned and confused. Not used to a lot of interaction yet*
X-Brawn: {I can... but right now's not the best time to try... She's upset, and needs time to calm down so I can explain without upsettin' her even more.}
Comet Chaser: *looks at Thunder, who is sitting up and listening with interest to the building that the human woman went into* {Alright. Let's go. I want to see how Kriti and Wedge are.}
X-Brawn: *nods and transforms, before trying to coax Thunder inside his alt-mode*
Thunder: *ready to jump! Waggle bum!*
Comet Chaser: *catches the kitten and gently tucks him inside, then transforms herself and waits for X-Brawn to lead the way*
Thunder: *purr purr, licka seat*
X-Brawn: *Squirms a bit* Hey now, Thunder... None'a that... *fond chuckle for the kitten, before he moves to escort Comet Chaser back to base*
((written with random_xtras))