fic post: Pity Party repost part 2 of 4
I hope this is all getting posted right. My cellphone was been acting wierd lately.
Razer shut the access panel on his device. That was one more part of it done. He decided to go see what the rest of the group was up to. When he walked in, Bullet had flown the flycam down to the Nemesis computer and was trying to connect to the computer. "This should work.." he talked as he typed away on his laptop computer. "Unless the computer is password protected. Then my computer won't be able to connect to it." he said, bringing up the network connections control panel on his laptop. "aha." He grinned. "It's not protected. That's funny." Jade leaned over to take a look. "Why is it funny?"
Bullet shrugged. "Well, I would have thought the Decepticons would have password protection to keep the Autobots from hacking into their computer." Now Razer spoke. "You see, that just shows you how stupid they can be." The silver mech looked up. "Oh hi Razer. We didn't see you there." he kept typing. The flier squatted down so he was level with the rest of the group. "Dusk tells me your group repaired the flying spy-camera and are now using it to spy on the Decepticons?" he said.
Bullet nodded. "Actually, Needle repaired it. I just connected it to the my computer and the satellite oops." he paused. He realised all to late that Razer might not appreciate the team using the connection between the satellite and the base. But the black, green, and reddish-brown flier didn't seem to mind. He instead put a hand on Bullet's shoulder. "You have done extremely well. This device and the connections for it your team has put together will be invaluable in our mission." he sounded like he wanted to add a "thank you" to that, but he did not.
Bullet silently wondered what "our mission" meant, but didn't ask. "Tell me, youngling, what are you doing now?" Bullet typed a bit more. "I'm setting up the flycam so my computer can connect directly to the Decepticons' main computer. If I can set up the router throguh the flycam, I may be able to cross-connect the linkup with the satellite we have up in orbit." he gave the flier a sidelong glance. "Making a connection then taking out the middleman." Razer nodded. "I understood you."
"Oh. Right." Bullet clicked a couple things, then leaned back. "That should do it. All we have to do is sit back and wait for the connection to go through. It can take a while for it to show up in the network properties. Razer looked at the screen, and silently hoped this... computer prodigy could do it. He reminded himself to thank Dusk for believing in the youngling. His mate certainly could see things sometimes where he could not. It made him all the more thankful she had survived their mutual hardships and was by his side in their mission to bring this meaningless and destructive war to an end.
The computer beeped. Bullet grinned. "ahem, excuse me for a minute." he calmly set down the computer, stood up, then threw and arm in the air. "YESSS!" he grinned again then sat down and started typing. "Okay, the first step is done, but I have to find the back-door entry point into their computer system. The only files accessible through the network are the folders that're marked as shared. But if I can find the other way to get in..." his fingers flew over the keyboard, and he made a dissapointed noise. "This is going to take a while." he stated. Razer nodded and stood. "You are doing very well. I have faith in your abilities, Bullet." Ther grey mech looked up at him. "Thanks. I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best."
Razer nodded. "Keep me informed." He walked out. After a minuter or two, Mic looked around, then stood up. "I'm gonna go see if I can find a radio or something. "Hey," Needle stood too. "How about some target practice? you know we have guns. Maybe we can find some rocks to shoot or something, if Scythe will let us. "Let us? what are we, five? come on. Let's go." Mic huffed. Winstriker watched them leave. "I hope Scythe doesn't blow a gasket. Thet go the wrong way and the Autobots could see them." Buller glanced at twhere they had dissapeared to before going back to his typing. "I'm sure they'll be just fine. They probly won't wander too far from the base."
Another moment or two passed, and Gobee hopped up. "I'm gonna go see if they have a radio. That sounds like a good idea."
Windstriker stood also. "Yeah. Maybe Dusk has one. we could go ask." The little black and silver car nodded back. "Yeah, that sounds good." He then chuckled "Hey, maybe we could get Needle to build us a Playstation so we could play videogames.
"Oh, ha ha you guys. I'm not that much of a genius." Needle retorted. But he stood up anyway. "I wonder if they've got any more of that energy stuff. Have you had any of it yet?" the group walked out of hearing range, leaving Jade and Bullet and the laptop. "You don't have to stay here and watch me work if you don't want to." he said.
"Meh. It's not like there's anything better to do." Jade rested her chin in her hand. "Besides, it's kinda cool that we're gonna see what's in the Nemesis computer. I wonder what all goes on. Hey!" She let her hand drop. "We could probably access their security cameras if you can get into their computer system!"
Bullet sounded nonplussed. "That's the plan." He clicked on something else and scrolled down a list of items.
"That would be pretty cool." Jade nodded. Then realised she was distracting him. "Okay, I'm gonna go, uhm, well, I'll just find something to do. Talk to you later." she waved as she headed for the rest of the undergroound mountainbase. Bullet waved back without looking up.
x
Soundwave had finally had to send his casettes back to the Nemesis. Besides wanting to hurt someone anytime they said an ill word or even glared at Rumble or Frenzy, he found himself wanting to just scoop up his creations and huggle them. Or just be close to them. In fact, every time they took a break, he did just that.
He found himself constantly talking to them. So much so, he was barely getting any work done. But then, he would have talked to anyone. In fact, he noted, he really *really* liked talking. He didn't know why he hadn't done it more before now. Or singing. Yes, soundwave decided, he hated silence. Although he finally had to settle for the sound of the Constructicons working after Hook threatened to permanently offline his vocoder unit. He guessed there were only so many rounds of "Twinkle twinkle little star" a mech could take. Or "The song that never ends."
But that had just been to make himself feel better after Frenzy had flailed in an attempt to escape after Soundwave had started rocking him and softly singing "Twinkle Little Star". He and Rumble complained that Soundwave was treating them like a pair of sparklets. Well, at least Laserbeak and Buzzsaw diudn't mind. He wondered where the two were and mentally called them. They had dissapeared into the base after he returned for repair supplies and tools. Perhaps it would be best if they stayed here anyway.
Meanwhile, He didn't notice one of the security cameras had swiveled towards them.
On the other end of it, Bullet leaned back and basked in the glory of his genius. Well, he wouldn't actually have stated it that way, but it did feel pretty doggone good. He grinned and hit his comm. "Razer, I just wanted to inform you that I have tapped into the Decepticon base's security cameras. I now have access to their main computer."
Razer grinned on the other end of the comm. "Excellent. You have done exceptionally well. I will be there in a few minutes. I would like to see just what your laptop connection can do. However, I must finish what I am immediately working on first. I shall make haste and join you momentarily."
"Okay." Bullet sounded like he shrugged. "Did you want me to hook up the laptop to the base computer? I'm not sure I could do it right away, cause the keyboard is in Cybertronian, but I could try."
"That's all right. I will help you learn how to use the computer." Razer finished testing the components and set them aside. "I am on my way."
"Okay, see you soon." the comm line closed and Bullet grinned. Time to bring the flycam home. Besides, there were better uses for it now anyway.
x
Mic stared down the rock perched atop the ridge not too far away. "You're goin' down, decepticon." he took a cowboyish pose. Needle rolled his optics behind his optic band. The white camaro whipped out his pistol and fired.
and missed by two feet.
Needle looked away. He wasn't going to say anything.
"You didn't see that." Mic said.
"See what?" Needle grinned.
Mic snorted and fired again. He hit the rocky ridge. He put the pistol back in it's holstier. "Oh, you think you can do better?" he taunted. Be my guest." he made a hand motion.
Needle pulled out his rifle and took careful aim. He fired and the bolt of energy glanced off the edge of the rock. "hm." he made a noise.
Mic just chuckled. "see. You couldn't hit it either."
Needle just shrugged. Whatever."
"Whatever? what if it was a Decepticon?"
"I'd hide behind you."
"Oh ha ha. What if I jumped out of the way?"
"Pfft. you? jump? Are you sure you'd want to scratch your paint?"
"Right. Like the Decepticons wouldn't make a bigger one?"
from behind them Wyldkat rolled her optics. "boys will be boys." she grinned at the both of them.
"Oh yeah, you think you can do better?" Mic challenged.
Wyldkat shrugged. "I don't like wasting ammunition, but thanks for the invitation."
"chicken." Needle taunted.
Wyldkat stopped and gave him a "Really?" look.
"Yeah." Mic added. Wyldkat made a sound something like a sigh.
"All right, just a couple of rounds." she walked up, and the two mechs parted to let her through. The carfemme pulled out her gun and aimed, and fired.
The rock exploded. Wyldkat "hmm"ed. and Mic and Needle exchanged suprised looks. "Can... uhm, can you show us how to do that?" Needle asked.
"Aw, it was beginner's luck!" Mic went and set up another rock. He motioned to it. Wyldkat fired again. The rock flew back from it's perch, a scorch mark across it's surface. He gave her a look.
"It's no big thing. Just make sure you line up the little notches on the front and back of your gun" she motioned to the small projections "with your target. You try it."
Mic "harrumph"ed again and aimed at a smaller rock to the right. He fired and the rock blew into dust. "Hey, I got it." he chuckled. "Cool, kat, thanks!"
Wyldkat simply nodded, smiling. "no problem. I hope you two enjoy yourselves." she started to walk away.
"Hey wait, where are you going?" Needle called after her.
"I have some stuff I gotta tend to. I'll be back later though." she called.
"Okay, see you later." mic called after her. The carfemme waved and transformed, driving away.
x
Winstriker paused at Razer's workshop and was about to ask about a radio when she saw the two of them busily talking, leaning over whatever they were working on. They looked like they were working really hard on whatever it was, so the purple femme decided not to disturb them. she would ask about that radio later. She headed out to find Mic and Needle wherever they had decided to do their target practice.
Mic grinned and blasted another rock to dust. He did a cowboy-style pistol flip then magna-clipped the weapon to his side.
"You might wanna make sure the safety's turned on before you do that." needle gave the weapon an almost accusing look."
"Of course I made sure the safety was on." Mic whisked it out. "See?" he pointed it at a nearby tree. "I can pull the trigger all I want and-"
BLAM!
the top of the tree exploded in a shower of burning debris. Needle cringed and a nearby crow protested loudly.
"Whoops." Mic laughed nervously and looked at the gun to find the miniscule switch and flip it. "sorry."
Needle resisted the urge to facepalm.
"Let's just hope nobody saw that." Mic frowned and muttered "I said I was sorry", but let it go. Needle took aim and fired. Another rock was blown to dust.
"Hey needle, is the safety turned on?" Mic asked teasingly. Needle just gave him a flat look. Windstriker walked up.
"Hi guys, you mind if I join you?"
Mic turned to look at her. "No, sure you can." He took a step back, and the femme took out her gun. She took careful aim, fired, and missed.
The sound of screeching brakes, and startled cry, and a transformation-sound followed. "Watch where you're aiming that thing!" Gobee screeched.
"Sorry!" All three chorused. There was more mumbling and the little black and silver carmech walked up from the other side of the ridge.
"Sorry about that Gobee." windstriker apologised. "I didn't know you were over there. It was my fault." she said. The little car looked a bit shaken, but otherwise unscathed. He looked at the ground. "It's okay." he mumbled.
"You wanna join us?" Windstriker asked after a minute. Gobee shrugged. "sure, but I'm probably not any good." he said. Needle huffed. "That's okay, neither are we."
mic huffed. "Speak for yourself."
Windstriker smirked back. she knew the white camaro was only joking.
A few minutes later, Jade came walking up. "Hey, have you guys seen Wyldkat come past here?" Mic frowned and kept shooting.
"Yeah." Needle glanced over. "She went past here and drove off about five minutes ago." he glanced at Mic.
"Nuts!" Jade folded her arms.
"Why?" windstriker questioned, "What's up?"
"Oh, nothing. Jade waved a hand. "I was just wondering how she was handling things." She shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
"Hm. Well, I'm sure she'll be back soon." Windstriker checked the charge in her gun. Jade nodded. She looked over at Mic. He apparently was still annoyed, and blamed her for their arrival in this universe.
The seekerfemme was about to leave when Scythe appeared from behind them. "I see you have found something useful to do with your time." he smiled. The group glanced over at him. He glanced at Jade, then said "I have been talking with Razer and Dusk. I think we should hold a meeting about how to best survive in this world until we can find a way home."
Mic looked like he was about to start complaining again Scythe gave him a look. "Also, Backdraft has finished his report, and we should hear what he has to say about the device." The group murmured agreement and followed the green dragon-mech back into the base.
x
Razer and Dusk waited by the base's main computer as the group filed in. Backdraft folded his arms and tried his best to blend into the shadows. He didn't want to be here. He didn't like "people". Especially people he didn't know. The only reason he could stand to be around Razer and Dusk was because they had known each other, worked together for decavorns. Possibly, well, probably more.
Scythe took up his spot on the right side of the computer opposite Razer and Dusk on the left, and the rest of the group prettymuch lined up in front of it. "Is everyone here?" he asked. Windstriker spoke up with "Everyone but Wyldkat."
"She's been gone a lot lately." Gobee piped up.
"Yeah." Mic added accusingly. "Why is that?"
Scythe almost shrugged. "As much as I would prefer for her to be here, she is nowhere to be found, and has her commlink turned off."
"Sounds supicious to me. Why is she sneaking off all the time?" Mic questioned.
"Perhaps she just wants to be left alone. Some people aren't social butterflies." Backdraft muttered darkly. He got an elbow lightly in the midsection and a meaningful glance from Dusk at that. "What? I was just stating a theory." he said. but he let it go.
"I will make sure Wyldkat is properly informed of our newest information." Scythe assured them. "But until then," he motioned to Razer. "Please, proceed."
The reddish-brown, black, and green flier started typing.
"Thus far, we have tried to study and decipher the full capabilities of the device you call the Transmognifier." he started, the screen showing the device as it turned and angled. "we don't have all of the details, however," the screen switched to another view of the device. "We do have some information on what it's original purpose could have been." The screen switched to a dissection-view. "This is how we believe the device is designed. Originally, it may have been some sort of engine, possibly to an early Cybertronian spaceship. However, because of Kintari history, we have learned that it has become much more than that.
Since you are unfamiliar with quantum mechanics, I'll spare you all the details. But we believe the original purpose of the machine was a trans-warp engine of some sort, able to transport an interplanetary vehicle from one point to another instantaneously. This is general believed to be achieved by creating a temporary hole or doorway through the very fabric of space-time."
At this, there was a collective gasp of suprise and several mutters.
"Please. Let me continue." He held up a hand. The mumbling died down. "Anyway, after the device was discovered underneath Cybetron approximately nine and a half million years ago..." he had to stop and keep himself from grinning.
"Wow, seriously? that is such a long time!" Gobee exclaimed. "That's, like, before the dinosaurs and stuff, right?"
Razor let his smile show a little. "Yes. We believe it may have been before any significant life on this planet." he nodded. "Anyway, The mech who found it supposedly somehow bonded his spark to it, and since then the very nature of the device has been changed from it's original purpose."
"So it was lost for... a long time then?" Jade asked.
"Yes, it was." Razer nodded.
"So, how can it send us home?" Mic shifted impatiently. He just wanted the flier to cut straight to the point. Razer paused for a second. He wasn't sure how exactly to say it. "I don't know how to state this delicately, but it's unclear how the device created this doorway. Perhaps..." he paused at the glare he got from the white Camaro. Mic folded his arms and narrowed his optics.
"Perhaps if you were to re-enact the events that brought you here, you might be able to reopen the door."
Mic snarled something unintelligible, and started to shift from foot to foot. Scythe raised an optic ridge at him. He knew the signs of impatience. Then again, Needle was looking pretty angry right now, too.
Razer tried to rethink what he was saying, then continued. "Thus far, we have revealed that the device reponds mostly to emotional stimuli. If you concentrate hard enough, there is a chance the device could respond to you. It may be a good portion of how you were all brought here."
Mic rolled his optics. Needle muttered "Give me a break."
Jade rubbed a hand over her face in exasperation. Gobee whined (loudly) "I want to go home." and Windstriker put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. The little car was close to panicking. He just wanted to get home. He missed his mom! he tried not to let his shoulders shake. Dusk glanced at the gathered rabble, then gave Razer a pleading look.
"It's all right. It is not a matter of if you will get home again. It is a matter of when." the dark colored mech said.
"How long?" Scythe asked.
"What?" Razer had been trying to think of how long it would be and how to help make the device function more clearly and hadn't heard.
"I said, how long will we be here before we can go home."
Razer thought for a second. "I doubt it will be more than a month."
"A MONTH!?"
Mic raised his voice. "How the hell do you expect us to live her for a whole month when our parents are looking for us and we're in a whole nother dimension hiding out in a cave underneath a mountain!? We didn't ask to be brought here. And if it wasn't for SOMEONE handing around some alien ufo engine, we wouldn't be here right now!" he gave Jade a very clear glare. The comments were aimed at her and only her. The femme just shook her head. She wouldn't argue, but she wasn't about to take the blame for it.
Now Dusk stepped in. "We know what needs to be done in order to control the device. But not everyone can control the device and all it's functions. Do you know which one of you was holding the device when it brought you here?" she asked.
Everyone mumbled, then five heads turned to look right at Jade. Mic pointed and hissed "She was." Jade's shoulders fell. She remembered, she was. Dusk nodded. "Then maybe we should start with your influences. The device may respond to you."
"Yeah Jade." Needle snarked. "Open a door so we can go home."
finally, Jade was sick of being trounced on. She just glared back. "I didn't know what it was either. That's why I handed it around to you guys, I was hoping you could help me figure out what it was."
Mic took a step out of the lineup and was about to yell when Scythe walked over to Jade. He lowered his voice, looking directly at her. She looked away.
"I know you didn't mean to bring us here, but you may be able to get us home again." Though his tone sent a different message. His tone said "I know you don't like being blamed for this, but you have to just let it go because it won't help us any. So just let it go. Mic is angry because he's afraid."
Jade nodded. "Okay. And where do I start with this?"
Scythe brought out the device and handed it to her. Razer watched as the aquamarine-colored or swirled blue, humming softly. When the femme took it from scythe's hands, it hummerd louder and the orb turned blue with a whitish core for an instant, then swirled back to it's original coloring. He glanced at Dusk with a raised optic ridge. She nodded slowly as if to say "I saw it too."
"Just... concentrate on it, and try to feel the current. If the color changes or the pattern, you know you're effecting it." Jade nodded and concentrated. But the harder she tried to *will* it to change, the more solid the orb became. Finally she just got annoyed. "Grrargh. Darnit. I just.. can't I don't know."
Dusk tilted her head. "Stop trying so hard. Just... feel it. You don't have to sit here all the time and only try to do that."
When she got a mumble from Mic of "Yes she does", she added
"If you're not paying attention to it then it might be easier."
"Ooookay." Jade looked at the cylindrical device. With the silver casing stairstepping in diameter to a smaller size as it lengthened away from the core, the device looked almost ovalish. "What do I do with it until then?"
Dusk looked at her. "Try folding your seats, and you may be able to fit it into your cockpit."
As she did this, Razer put in "What if someone sees it? they may know what it is and try to take it."
Mic piped up with "She could stay here *safely* in the base." he sounded almost sarcastic like "Oh, shouldn't we protect the special child." tone. But Dusk simply replied with "we could increase the tinting on your cockpit windows. That way nobody would be able to tell you have it."
"And how can she tell it's working?" Needle questioned.
"She'll be able to feel it if it starts working."
"Really, how can she feel it? we didn't feel anything before." Mic jutted out a hand towards her. "Unless you know that from when *you've* handled it." he folded his arms.
Dusk suddenly felt self-concious. She didn't want to give too much away. She finally decided it would just be best not to lie about it. "Razer and I have both attempted to make the trans-mognifier function." she carefully pronounced the alien name for the device. "We didn't have any luck with it, though."
Gobee just looked at her. "and what if she can't make it work?" he asked timidly. Dusk simply looked at Jade and lifted her optic ridges for a second as though silently saying "Well, he asked." Scythe interceded with "I have the utmost faith in Jade's capabilities."
"Lucky for you." Mic grumbled, giving the other end of the lineup a sidelong look. Jade looked down at the floor. "I'll try my best."
Dusk nodded and looked at Jade. "I'll go see about mixing up some tinting spray. Jade, would you come with me please?" The femme slid her cockpit door shut over the device and followed the flier out of the room. Mic just glared after her. "And what if she can't." It was a statement, not a question. Scythe turned the computer off. "Then we will each take a turn trying to make the Transmognifier work. "How will we decide who goes next?" Needle put in. "Simple. We will draw straws. I think Jade should have fourty-eight hours, then after that, we will all draw straws..."
"wires. We don't have any of this... straw material you speak of." Razer put in.
"Right. We will then draw wires to see who will go next trying to make it work." Scythe finished.
"How about we give her twenty four." Needle folded his arms. Scythe sighed softly and thought about it. "If it will make you feel better, I will give her until sundown tomorrow. That is a full day and a half." Gobee and Windstriker had started to voice their opinions as well, but Scythe held up a hand. "That is all I am giving her." He gave them a look that said it was final. Non-negotiable.
"fine." the group mumbled their agreement, and Scythe noticed Backdraft had snuck off and dissapeared from the room. "Now, we have another subject to discuss, but we will have to wait until Dusk and Jade return. It will not be long. So if we could all wait here." The group nodded and dispersed around the room. Needle pulled out a homemade deck of playing cards and Gobee and Mic joined him at a nearby table.
x
Several minutes later, Jade and Dusk walked back into the room. "It's about time." Needle muttered, tossing his cards onto the table.
"All right. Now that you are back, we can discuss the other subject we have met about." The others stopped what they were doing. "Now, Bullet and I have been diuscussing what to do until we can return to our home dimension." he walked over to the computer. "There's allways a possibility of either the Autobots or Decepticons finding our base. BUT." he put accent on the "but" of that. "That may not happen. Either way, it would be in our best interests to be prepared that anything that should happen." Several people nodded. "Mic and Needle allready found a firing range where we can practice our target shooting. Razer and Dusk are working on setting up security cameras. We should fortify this mountainbase in case either faction finds us and try to get in."
Gobee held up a hand. "You don't think they'll really do that, do you?"
Scythe shrugged. "I don't know. But it is allways best to be prepared for anything." Razer nodded. "Plan for the worst but hope for the best."
"right." Scythe nodded. "So we should try to get up to standard.. well, try to be as prepared as possible."
Windstriker smirked. "You mean like have some kind of novice boot camp?" Jade grinned at that. "That somehow sounds like fun. Like, paintball drills and stuff?"
Scythe looked at her. "No." he said flatly. The jet's shoulders fell in dissapointment. "Nuts."
"What I meant was to learn how to run, evade, shoot, and fight should the occasion arise."
Mic and Needle looked at each other. "Well we can out-drive anything on four wheels." Needle grinned. "Or two." Mic put in. Scythe simply nodded at that. "Good. That's something you are good at. Can anyone else tell me what they have expertise in?" There was some mumbling then Needle pointed at Gobee. "He's really good at hiding." Gobee glared back. "Gobee?" Scythe sounded slightly amused. The little black car shrugged. "I guess so." he mumbled.
Jade took a step forward and pointed to Windstriker. "Windy is the best flier in our group. Psh. She could probably do circles around Starscream."
"Yeah, right. I'm not that good." she looked from Jade to Scythe. "But I guess I'm okay at flying."
"Okay, you can fly circles around me." Jade retorted.
"Okay, Windstriker can fly very well." Schythe nodded. Anyone else?"
"I have a question." Dusk sounded. "Windstriker, do you think you could fly over the Autobot base without being detected?"
The purple femmejet thought for a second. "I don't know. I could try though."
"What, no! what if the Autobots see her!" Mic objected. "Yeah. We don't know what they would do if they caught one of us." Gobee put in.
"Razer answered "I doubt it would be anything nice. I have heard how the Autobot's torture their prisoners, keep them without fuel in dark cells beneath the mountain their base is in. They never see the light of day again."
Jade gave him a glare, though he didn't see it. Windstriker gave him a dark look as well. The two of them knew a few things. That was one of the differences between their dimension and this one. A certain cartoon they were both fans of. One that happened to be about two groups of battling giant alien robots. Though neither of them could say anything without being hurrassed for information that could help Razer and Dusk's little self-proclaimed war agasinst both sides.
"Anarchists." Windstriker thought. "They must be anarchists to think neither side is worthy of ruling Cybertron." she shook her head and decided it was best to keep her mind on the subject at hand. She'd have to talk to Jade later. The seekerfemme had been desperate to find and talk to Wyldkat for some reason, and the carfemme had been missing almost constantly ever since they had gotten here. somethign was going on, and she didn't like it.
After another minute or so of silence, Mic nudged Needle. "I still think I could out-drive you." He teased. "Yeah right. You and what sportscar." Mic harrumphed. "I happen to be one of the most sporty and fastest cars ever made. You know the camaro can even pace a corvette."
"I can not!" Needle leaned back in his chair. "Can too." Mic argued. "At least in acceleration, if not more."
"Uh-huh, sure. Well I can still out-shoot you." Her grinned. "Yeah right. That's why I got more rocks than you." Mic looked proud. "And I can outrun the both of you." Gobee taunted. "Yeah," Mic replied "You probably could. But only if there's a Decepticon behind you." he laughed. Needle chuckled.
"All right." Scythe held up a hand. "Then it is settled. Razer Dusk Bullet and I will set up an itinerary for us and we will begin our training the day after tomorrow."
"Uh, what's an eye-tin-rary?" Gobee asked? "It's like a schedule." Bullet answered. "Oh, right."
Jade and Windstriker exchanged a look. "I hope this doesn't mean getting up at the butt-crack of dawn." Windstriker commented. Jade tilted her head. "Why, not an early riser?" Windstriker shook her head. "Someone likes sleeping in, huh?" jade smiled. Windstriker snickered. "Yeah, gotta get my beauty sleep. you know, keep my wax job all nice and shiny." she giggled. Scythe just ignorted then, but bullet rolled his optics. "Girls."
"Oh yeah," Winstriker aimed her barbs at him now. "I'll bet you couldn't get up at five in the morning."
"Hah. I could get up at four-thirty." He folded his arms. "Yeah, right. You'd be sleepwalking, doing the zombie-walk all the way out here to the control room." Jade laughed. Scythe simply listened. before ending the conversation with "We will decide what the appropriate time to get up will be." Bullet nodded. There was another bit of silence, then Scythe added "you can all go now. We'll figure things out and let you all know later." Everyone nodded and dispersed.
Gobbe edged up to Dusk. "Uhm, excuse me. Would you happen to have a radio?" he asked.
"Radio?" she tilted her head? "Oh, right! I apologise. I did not understand your weord for it. I may have a transmission reciever you could use." she nodded. "I will look for it later after Razer and I are done discussing your..." she searched for the word that had been used during the metting. "Your shoe-camp?" Gobee blinked. Razer interceded "I believe they called it boot camp."
"Yes, boot camp. right." Dusk nodded.
"Okay." Gobee walked away and hurried to catch up to Windstriker.
x
A couple of hours later, Jade found Windstriker just outside the mountainbase sitting on a natural outcropping of rocks watching the sun set. "Pretty good for a first couple of days, isn't it." Jade walked up. Windstriker looked over at her then back at the sunset. The jetfemme sat next to her. "I know. I want to go home, too." she said, pulling up her knees and folding her arms on top of them. She rested her chin on her folded arms. "I just hope I can find a way to get this device to work again and open a door for us." she said. She then looked at the ground. She lowered her voice. "I'm scared, windy. I don't know if I can do it or not." she near-whispered.
"Yeah." Windstriker looked at the stringy clouds reflecting red and orange in the sky. Jade took her silence as non-encouraging and said nothing more. Gobee left and walked inside. Both watched him leave then Jade scooted closer to Windstriker. "What was it you really wanted to talk to me about? you were giving me looks inside the base just now." She asked.
"Well," windstriker started. "Have you noticed how Wyldkat's been gone a lot lately?"
"Yeah!" Jade nodded. "I think something's going on. She's been gone almost constantly lately. I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's anything good. I was trying to find her and..." she stopped, remembering her conversation with Scythe. "What? what is it?" Windstriker questioned. "Hmm? oh, it's nothing." Jade gave her a sidelong glance. Then sighed. "Okay, but you can't tell ANYONE about this, I mean it."
Windstriker's optic ridges went up. "What? What's going on?" she leaned in. Jade exvented, then started to explain.
"I was talking with Scythe earlier, and he said something about Wyldkat's been going to the Autobot base." Windstriker stifled a gasp. "Yeah. I know." Jade continued. "I don't know if the fliers found out, and I really hope not. I don't know why, or how long it's been going on, but somehow, for some reason, I think she knows some of the Autobots."
Windstriker's optic ridges inched higher and the beginnings of a grin formed.
"Now, don't go assuming anything." Jade held up a hand. "If the fliers even knew that we knew, they would be all over us, so we've got to keep this to ourselves for right now." she paused to look at the changing colors in the sky before them. "Like I said, I don't know if Scythe told the fliers or not. If he did, I think.,... I don't know if Kat would leave or not. Frankly, I hope she would. I like to think she's smarter than to stick around someplace like this where she could get into trouble for that."
Windstriker nodded emphatically and lowered her voice to whisper conspiratorily "So, do you think she's friends with any of them?" she finally let her grin slip. Jade grinned back "I don't know. But that would be pretty cool"
"I know!" Windstriker giggled and Jade chuckled as well. After a pause, Jade took an invent of air. "Okay, let's clear our heads here and think." she paused again, trying to think of what she was going to say to begin with.
Windstriker said "You don't think the fliers caught her and are keeping her locked up somewhere, do you?"
"Nah. I saw kat earlier and Mic and Needle said they saw her drive past today. If the fliers had found out she would have been locked up before that." Windstriker nodded.
"I wonder what she's telling them?" Jade's wings suddenly drooped and she gave her friend a sidelong glance. "I don't know." she said. "I hope it's nothing major though."
"Why?" windtriker made a motion with her hands.
"Because." jade let her arms drop from her knees. "It would be really bad. like, really really bad, expecially if the Autobots show up on our doorstep!" she motioned to the base.
"Good point." Windstriker replied. She exvented. "Maybe we should find her before our friends do and find out what she's not telling us before they do."
"Yeah, but how?"
"whattya mean how? We could just fly over to wherever she is and ask her."
"Yeah." Jade said slowly "And what if she's at the Autobot base."
"Hm." Windstriker rested her chin on her hand. "Maybe we could wait for her at the door or something."
Jade shrugged. "I don't think Scythe would just confront her and turn her over to the fliers as soon as she walks in the door. I mean, it was a couple, well, more like three or so hours ago when I talked to him and he had talked to Kat before that, and he still hadn't decided whether or not to tell the fliers, so it's obvious he hasn't, well, probably, he probably hasn't yet." Jade looked at the sky turning purple now. "Besides, it's getting late. And we don't know when Scythe is libel to start waking everyone up in the morning." she gave the purple thunderbolt a lopsided smirk.
"Hm. Well, you can go on to bed if you want. I think I'm gonna wait out here for a bit." She replied.
Jade looked at her for a minute. "That's okay, I think I'll stay." she finally said.
windstriker gave her an accusing glance. "You think I'm gonna go and fly over to the Autobot base, don't you?"
"No, I just don't feel right about leaving you out here all by yourself." Jade defended.
"Uh-huh. right."
"oh.. all right, maybe, just a little." But just because Wyldkat may be friends with some of them doesn't mean they'd instantly know us or recognise us or whatever... or be welcoming. You remember that first fight we had with them One of them shot at us." she pointed out.
"Yeah." windstriker thought about it for a second. "I suppose you're right. But we'll have to keep an eye... I mean an optic out for her tomorrow as soon as we get up."
"Right." the two grinned then walked back inside.
x
The recharge rooms were arranged with two people to a room. There were two berths to each one, with a table and two chairs. Windstriker wondered where they'd gotten the stuff, but didn't think too hard on it. the furniture looked rather homemade to begin with. She figured they'd snuck onto some construction site and gotten a bunch of supplies during the middle of the night or something.
The way things had been arranged, Windstriker and Jade had been assigned one room ,while Mic and Needle shared another room. Bullet and Scythe were together, and Gobee was rooming with Wyldkat. Razer and Dusk ovbiously had shared quarters, Windstriker suspected they were bonded, the equivalent to marriage she supposed (though Jade had other theories on just how that worked). And Backdraft was, well, nowhere to be found most of the time. Windstriker idly wondered if he didn't have a bunk stashed in the back of their workshop or something. She headed to the washracks while Jade went to find Dusk about some energon for everyone.
Mic flopped onto his rechrge berth and fluffed his "pillow" Needle rolled onto his, the lower one, and proceeded to immediately go to sleep. "Night Needle." Mic turned out the light without waiting for a reply.
Jade curled up on her recharge berth after finding a spare datapad on the nearby table. She was trying to figure out how to work it, and discovered it was fairly easy. even though she couldn't really undertand Cybertronian, she had just started pressing different buttons to see what did what. On the main menu was the list of programs, and tapping one would open the program. There was a back and save button, just like on a touch-screen mp3 player or a similar device. The femmeseeker gave a soft "Aha" as she tapped one of the icons and the screen and language glyphs morphed to english. "Dusk must've known we'd have a use for these." she said to Windstriker's back. But the purple femme gave to reply. Jade supposed she had gone to sleep.
She went back to the main menu and found the typing program. She started a new file. "End of day three. Bullet and I got back from Cybertron this morning, well, around 12 noon or so, and we had a chat with Scythe about a novice boot camp of sorts. They all decided since I was the last person to handle the device, they call it the Transmognifier, that I somehow have control over it. So they've told me I'm now responsible for opening the doorway between dimensions that'll send us home. Oh joy. *sigh*."
"Also, Wyldkat has been missing for a while, and I found out thanks to Scythe that she's been running off to visit the Autobots. Heh. I bet Windy is just green with jealousy." she thought for a second, then deleted the last part about Windstriker being jealous, then continued. "I hope the fliers don't find out. It would be helpful if we could keep track of what the Autobots are doing. Well, I need to get some sleep now. I'll type again tomorrow. More soon! ~Jade."
She saved the file then climbed up to the top berth, slid the datapad under her pillow with a silent reminder to thank Dusk tomorrow, then went to sleep.
Razer shut the access panel on his device. That was one more part of it done. He decided to go see what the rest of the group was up to. When he walked in, Bullet had flown the flycam down to the Nemesis computer and was trying to connect to the computer. "This should work.." he talked as he typed away on his laptop computer. "Unless the computer is password protected. Then my computer won't be able to connect to it." he said, bringing up the network connections control panel on his laptop. "aha." He grinned. "It's not protected. That's funny." Jade leaned over to take a look. "Why is it funny?"
Bullet shrugged. "Well, I would have thought the Decepticons would have password protection to keep the Autobots from hacking into their computer." Now Razer spoke. "You see, that just shows you how stupid they can be." The silver mech looked up. "Oh hi Razer. We didn't see you there." he kept typing. The flier squatted down so he was level with the rest of the group. "Dusk tells me your group repaired the flying spy-camera and are now using it to spy on the Decepticons?" he said.
Bullet nodded. "Actually, Needle repaired it. I just connected it to the my computer and the satellite oops." he paused. He realised all to late that Razer might not appreciate the team using the connection between the satellite and the base. But the black, green, and reddish-brown flier didn't seem to mind. He instead put a hand on Bullet's shoulder. "You have done extremely well. This device and the connections for it your team has put together will be invaluable in our mission." he sounded like he wanted to add a "thank you" to that, but he did not.
Bullet silently wondered what "our mission" meant, but didn't ask. "Tell me, youngling, what are you doing now?" Bullet typed a bit more. "I'm setting up the flycam so my computer can connect directly to the Decepticons' main computer. If I can set up the router throguh the flycam, I may be able to cross-connect the linkup with the satellite we have up in orbit." he gave the flier a sidelong glance. "Making a connection then taking out the middleman." Razer nodded. "I understood you."
"Oh. Right." Bullet clicked a couple things, then leaned back. "That should do it. All we have to do is sit back and wait for the connection to go through. It can take a while for it to show up in the network properties. Razer looked at the screen, and silently hoped this... computer prodigy could do it. He reminded himself to thank Dusk for believing in the youngling. His mate certainly could see things sometimes where he could not. It made him all the more thankful she had survived their mutual hardships and was by his side in their mission to bring this meaningless and destructive war to an end.
The computer beeped. Bullet grinned. "ahem, excuse me for a minute." he calmly set down the computer, stood up, then threw and arm in the air. "YESSS!" he grinned again then sat down and started typing. "Okay, the first step is done, but I have to find the back-door entry point into their computer system. The only files accessible through the network are the folders that're marked as shared. But if I can find the other way to get in..." his fingers flew over the keyboard, and he made a dissapointed noise. "This is going to take a while." he stated. Razer nodded and stood. "You are doing very well. I have faith in your abilities, Bullet." Ther grey mech looked up at him. "Thanks. I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best."
Razer nodded. "Keep me informed." He walked out. After a minuter or two, Mic looked around, then stood up. "I'm gonna go see if I can find a radio or something. "Hey," Needle stood too. "How about some target practice? you know we have guns. Maybe we can find some rocks to shoot or something, if Scythe will let us. "Let us? what are we, five? come on. Let's go." Mic huffed. Winstriker watched them leave. "I hope Scythe doesn't blow a gasket. Thet go the wrong way and the Autobots could see them." Buller glanced at twhere they had dissapeared to before going back to his typing. "I'm sure they'll be just fine. They probly won't wander too far from the base."
Another moment or two passed, and Gobee hopped up. "I'm gonna go see if they have a radio. That sounds like a good idea."
Windstriker stood also. "Yeah. Maybe Dusk has one. we could go ask." The little black and silver car nodded back. "Yeah, that sounds good." He then chuckled "Hey, maybe we could get Needle to build us a Playstation so we could play videogames.
"Oh, ha ha you guys. I'm not that much of a genius." Needle retorted. But he stood up anyway. "I wonder if they've got any more of that energy stuff. Have you had any of it yet?" the group walked out of hearing range, leaving Jade and Bullet and the laptop. "You don't have to stay here and watch me work if you don't want to." he said.
"Meh. It's not like there's anything better to do." Jade rested her chin in her hand. "Besides, it's kinda cool that we're gonna see what's in the Nemesis computer. I wonder what all goes on. Hey!" She let her hand drop. "We could probably access their security cameras if you can get into their computer system!"
Bullet sounded nonplussed. "That's the plan." He clicked on something else and scrolled down a list of items.
"That would be pretty cool." Jade nodded. Then realised she was distracting him. "Okay, I'm gonna go, uhm, well, I'll just find something to do. Talk to you later." she waved as she headed for the rest of the undergroound mountainbase. Bullet waved back without looking up.
x
Soundwave had finally had to send his casettes back to the Nemesis. Besides wanting to hurt someone anytime they said an ill word or even glared at Rumble or Frenzy, he found himself wanting to just scoop up his creations and huggle them. Or just be close to them. In fact, every time they took a break, he did just that.
He found himself constantly talking to them. So much so, he was barely getting any work done. But then, he would have talked to anyone. In fact, he noted, he really *really* liked talking. He didn't know why he hadn't done it more before now. Or singing. Yes, soundwave decided, he hated silence. Although he finally had to settle for the sound of the Constructicons working after Hook threatened to permanently offline his vocoder unit. He guessed there were only so many rounds of "Twinkle twinkle little star" a mech could take. Or "The song that never ends."
But that had just been to make himself feel better after Frenzy had flailed in an attempt to escape after Soundwave had started rocking him and softly singing "Twinkle Little Star". He and Rumble complained that Soundwave was treating them like a pair of sparklets. Well, at least Laserbeak and Buzzsaw diudn't mind. He wondered where the two were and mentally called them. They had dissapeared into the base after he returned for repair supplies and tools. Perhaps it would be best if they stayed here anyway.
Meanwhile, He didn't notice one of the security cameras had swiveled towards them.
On the other end of it, Bullet leaned back and basked in the glory of his genius. Well, he wouldn't actually have stated it that way, but it did feel pretty doggone good. He grinned and hit his comm. "Razer, I just wanted to inform you that I have tapped into the Decepticon base's security cameras. I now have access to their main computer."
Razer grinned on the other end of the comm. "Excellent. You have done exceptionally well. I will be there in a few minutes. I would like to see just what your laptop connection can do. However, I must finish what I am immediately working on first. I shall make haste and join you momentarily."
"Okay." Bullet sounded like he shrugged. "Did you want me to hook up the laptop to the base computer? I'm not sure I could do it right away, cause the keyboard is in Cybertronian, but I could try."
"That's all right. I will help you learn how to use the computer." Razer finished testing the components and set them aside. "I am on my way."
"Okay, see you soon." the comm line closed and Bullet grinned. Time to bring the flycam home. Besides, there were better uses for it now anyway.
x
Mic stared down the rock perched atop the ridge not too far away. "You're goin' down, decepticon." he took a cowboyish pose. Needle rolled his optics behind his optic band. The white camaro whipped out his pistol and fired.
and missed by two feet.
Needle looked away. He wasn't going to say anything.
"You didn't see that." Mic said.
"See what?" Needle grinned.
Mic snorted and fired again. He hit the rocky ridge. He put the pistol back in it's holstier. "Oh, you think you can do better?" he taunted. Be my guest." he made a hand motion.
Needle pulled out his rifle and took careful aim. He fired and the bolt of energy glanced off the edge of the rock. "hm." he made a noise.
Mic just chuckled. "see. You couldn't hit it either."
Needle just shrugged. Whatever."
"Whatever? what if it was a Decepticon?"
"I'd hide behind you."
"Oh ha ha. What if I jumped out of the way?"
"Pfft. you? jump? Are you sure you'd want to scratch your paint?"
"Right. Like the Decepticons wouldn't make a bigger one?"
from behind them Wyldkat rolled her optics. "boys will be boys." she grinned at the both of them.
"Oh yeah, you think you can do better?" Mic challenged.
Wyldkat shrugged. "I don't like wasting ammunition, but thanks for the invitation."
"chicken." Needle taunted.
Wyldkat stopped and gave him a "Really?" look.
"Yeah." Mic added. Wyldkat made a sound something like a sigh.
"All right, just a couple of rounds." she walked up, and the two mechs parted to let her through. The carfemme pulled out her gun and aimed, and fired.
The rock exploded. Wyldkat "hmm"ed. and Mic and Needle exchanged suprised looks. "Can... uhm, can you show us how to do that?" Needle asked.
"Aw, it was beginner's luck!" Mic went and set up another rock. He motioned to it. Wyldkat fired again. The rock flew back from it's perch, a scorch mark across it's surface. He gave her a look.
"It's no big thing. Just make sure you line up the little notches on the front and back of your gun" she motioned to the small projections "with your target. You try it."
Mic "harrumph"ed again and aimed at a smaller rock to the right. He fired and the rock blew into dust. "Hey, I got it." he chuckled. "Cool, kat, thanks!"
Wyldkat simply nodded, smiling. "no problem. I hope you two enjoy yourselves." she started to walk away.
"Hey wait, where are you going?" Needle called after her.
"I have some stuff I gotta tend to. I'll be back later though." she called.
"Okay, see you later." mic called after her. The carfemme waved and transformed, driving away.
x
Winstriker paused at Razer's workshop and was about to ask about a radio when she saw the two of them busily talking, leaning over whatever they were working on. They looked like they were working really hard on whatever it was, so the purple femme decided not to disturb them. she would ask about that radio later. She headed out to find Mic and Needle wherever they had decided to do their target practice.
Mic grinned and blasted another rock to dust. He did a cowboy-style pistol flip then magna-clipped the weapon to his side.
"You might wanna make sure the safety's turned on before you do that." needle gave the weapon an almost accusing look."
"Of course I made sure the safety was on." Mic whisked it out. "See?" he pointed it at a nearby tree. "I can pull the trigger all I want and-"
BLAM!
the top of the tree exploded in a shower of burning debris. Needle cringed and a nearby crow protested loudly.
"Whoops." Mic laughed nervously and looked at the gun to find the miniscule switch and flip it. "sorry."
Needle resisted the urge to facepalm.
"Let's just hope nobody saw that." Mic frowned and muttered "I said I was sorry", but let it go. Needle took aim and fired. Another rock was blown to dust.
"Hey needle, is the safety turned on?" Mic asked teasingly. Needle just gave him a flat look. Windstriker walked up.
"Hi guys, you mind if I join you?"
Mic turned to look at her. "No, sure you can." He took a step back, and the femme took out her gun. She took careful aim, fired, and missed.
The sound of screeching brakes, and startled cry, and a transformation-sound followed. "Watch where you're aiming that thing!" Gobee screeched.
"Sorry!" All three chorused. There was more mumbling and the little black and silver carmech walked up from the other side of the ridge.
"Sorry about that Gobee." windstriker apologised. "I didn't know you were over there. It was my fault." she said. The little car looked a bit shaken, but otherwise unscathed. He looked at the ground. "It's okay." he mumbled.
"You wanna join us?" Windstriker asked after a minute. Gobee shrugged. "sure, but I'm probably not any good." he said. Needle huffed. "That's okay, neither are we."
mic huffed. "Speak for yourself."
Windstriker smirked back. she knew the white camaro was only joking.
A few minutes later, Jade came walking up. "Hey, have you guys seen Wyldkat come past here?" Mic frowned and kept shooting.
"Yeah." Needle glanced over. "She went past here and drove off about five minutes ago." he glanced at Mic.
"Nuts!" Jade folded her arms.
"Why?" windstriker questioned, "What's up?"
"Oh, nothing. Jade waved a hand. "I was just wondering how she was handling things." She shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
"Hm. Well, I'm sure she'll be back soon." Windstriker checked the charge in her gun. Jade nodded. She looked over at Mic. He apparently was still annoyed, and blamed her for their arrival in this universe.
The seekerfemme was about to leave when Scythe appeared from behind them. "I see you have found something useful to do with your time." he smiled. The group glanced over at him. He glanced at Jade, then said "I have been talking with Razer and Dusk. I think we should hold a meeting about how to best survive in this world until we can find a way home."
Mic looked like he was about to start complaining again Scythe gave him a look. "Also, Backdraft has finished his report, and we should hear what he has to say about the device." The group murmured agreement and followed the green dragon-mech back into the base.
x
Razer and Dusk waited by the base's main computer as the group filed in. Backdraft folded his arms and tried his best to blend into the shadows. He didn't want to be here. He didn't like "people". Especially people he didn't know. The only reason he could stand to be around Razer and Dusk was because they had known each other, worked together for decavorns. Possibly, well, probably more.
Scythe took up his spot on the right side of the computer opposite Razer and Dusk on the left, and the rest of the group prettymuch lined up in front of it. "Is everyone here?" he asked. Windstriker spoke up with "Everyone but Wyldkat."
"She's been gone a lot lately." Gobee piped up.
"Yeah." Mic added accusingly. "Why is that?"
Scythe almost shrugged. "As much as I would prefer for her to be here, she is nowhere to be found, and has her commlink turned off."
"Sounds supicious to me. Why is she sneaking off all the time?" Mic questioned.
"Perhaps she just wants to be left alone. Some people aren't social butterflies." Backdraft muttered darkly. He got an elbow lightly in the midsection and a meaningful glance from Dusk at that. "What? I was just stating a theory." he said. but he let it go.
"I will make sure Wyldkat is properly informed of our newest information." Scythe assured them. "But until then," he motioned to Razer. "Please, proceed."
The reddish-brown, black, and green flier started typing.
"Thus far, we have tried to study and decipher the full capabilities of the device you call the Transmognifier." he started, the screen showing the device as it turned and angled. "we don't have all of the details, however," the screen switched to another view of the device. "We do have some information on what it's original purpose could have been." The screen switched to a dissection-view. "This is how we believe the device is designed. Originally, it may have been some sort of engine, possibly to an early Cybertronian spaceship. However, because of Kintari history, we have learned that it has become much more than that.
Since you are unfamiliar with quantum mechanics, I'll spare you all the details. But we believe the original purpose of the machine was a trans-warp engine of some sort, able to transport an interplanetary vehicle from one point to another instantaneously. This is general believed to be achieved by creating a temporary hole or doorway through the very fabric of space-time."
At this, there was a collective gasp of suprise and several mutters.
"Please. Let me continue." He held up a hand. The mumbling died down. "Anyway, after the device was discovered underneath Cybetron approximately nine and a half million years ago..." he had to stop and keep himself from grinning.
"Wow, seriously? that is such a long time!" Gobee exclaimed. "That's, like, before the dinosaurs and stuff, right?"
Razor let his smile show a little. "Yes. We believe it may have been before any significant life on this planet." he nodded. "Anyway, The mech who found it supposedly somehow bonded his spark to it, and since then the very nature of the device has been changed from it's original purpose."
"So it was lost for... a long time then?" Jade asked.
"Yes, it was." Razer nodded.
"So, how can it send us home?" Mic shifted impatiently. He just wanted the flier to cut straight to the point. Razer paused for a second. He wasn't sure how exactly to say it. "I don't know how to state this delicately, but it's unclear how the device created this doorway. Perhaps..." he paused at the glare he got from the white Camaro. Mic folded his arms and narrowed his optics.
"Perhaps if you were to re-enact the events that brought you here, you might be able to reopen the door."
Mic snarled something unintelligible, and started to shift from foot to foot. Scythe raised an optic ridge at him. He knew the signs of impatience. Then again, Needle was looking pretty angry right now, too.
Razer tried to rethink what he was saying, then continued. "Thus far, we have revealed that the device reponds mostly to emotional stimuli. If you concentrate hard enough, there is a chance the device could respond to you. It may be a good portion of how you were all brought here."
Mic rolled his optics. Needle muttered "Give me a break."
Jade rubbed a hand over her face in exasperation. Gobee whined (loudly) "I want to go home." and Windstriker put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. The little car was close to panicking. He just wanted to get home. He missed his mom! he tried not to let his shoulders shake. Dusk glanced at the gathered rabble, then gave Razer a pleading look.
"It's all right. It is not a matter of if you will get home again. It is a matter of when." the dark colored mech said.
"How long?" Scythe asked.
"What?" Razer had been trying to think of how long it would be and how to help make the device function more clearly and hadn't heard.
"I said, how long will we be here before we can go home."
Razer thought for a second. "I doubt it will be more than a month."
"A MONTH!?"
Mic raised his voice. "How the hell do you expect us to live her for a whole month when our parents are looking for us and we're in a whole nother dimension hiding out in a cave underneath a mountain!? We didn't ask to be brought here. And if it wasn't for SOMEONE handing around some alien ufo engine, we wouldn't be here right now!" he gave Jade a very clear glare. The comments were aimed at her and only her. The femme just shook her head. She wouldn't argue, but she wasn't about to take the blame for it.
Now Dusk stepped in. "We know what needs to be done in order to control the device. But not everyone can control the device and all it's functions. Do you know which one of you was holding the device when it brought you here?" she asked.
Everyone mumbled, then five heads turned to look right at Jade. Mic pointed and hissed "She was." Jade's shoulders fell. She remembered, she was. Dusk nodded. "Then maybe we should start with your influences. The device may respond to you."
"Yeah Jade." Needle snarked. "Open a door so we can go home."
finally, Jade was sick of being trounced on. She just glared back. "I didn't know what it was either. That's why I handed it around to you guys, I was hoping you could help me figure out what it was."
Mic took a step out of the lineup and was about to yell when Scythe walked over to Jade. He lowered his voice, looking directly at her. She looked away.
"I know you didn't mean to bring us here, but you may be able to get us home again." Though his tone sent a different message. His tone said "I know you don't like being blamed for this, but you have to just let it go because it won't help us any. So just let it go. Mic is angry because he's afraid."
Jade nodded. "Okay. And where do I start with this?"
Scythe brought out the device and handed it to her. Razer watched as the aquamarine-colored or swirled blue, humming softly. When the femme took it from scythe's hands, it hummerd louder and the orb turned blue with a whitish core for an instant, then swirled back to it's original coloring. He glanced at Dusk with a raised optic ridge. She nodded slowly as if to say "I saw it too."
"Just... concentrate on it, and try to feel the current. If the color changes or the pattern, you know you're effecting it." Jade nodded and concentrated. But the harder she tried to *will* it to change, the more solid the orb became. Finally she just got annoyed. "Grrargh. Darnit. I just.. can't I don't know."
Dusk tilted her head. "Stop trying so hard. Just... feel it. You don't have to sit here all the time and only try to do that."
When she got a mumble from Mic of "Yes she does", she added
"If you're not paying attention to it then it might be easier."
"Ooookay." Jade looked at the cylindrical device. With the silver casing stairstepping in diameter to a smaller size as it lengthened away from the core, the device looked almost ovalish. "What do I do with it until then?"
Dusk looked at her. "Try folding your seats, and you may be able to fit it into your cockpit."
As she did this, Razer put in "What if someone sees it? they may know what it is and try to take it."
Mic piped up with "She could stay here *safely* in the base." he sounded almost sarcastic like "Oh, shouldn't we protect the special child." tone. But Dusk simply replied with "we could increase the tinting on your cockpit windows. That way nobody would be able to tell you have it."
"And how can she tell it's working?" Needle questioned.
"She'll be able to feel it if it starts working."
"Really, how can she feel it? we didn't feel anything before." Mic jutted out a hand towards her. "Unless you know that from when *you've* handled it." he folded his arms.
Dusk suddenly felt self-concious. She didn't want to give too much away. She finally decided it would just be best not to lie about it. "Razer and I have both attempted to make the trans-mognifier function." she carefully pronounced the alien name for the device. "We didn't have any luck with it, though."
Gobee just looked at her. "and what if she can't make it work?" he asked timidly. Dusk simply looked at Jade and lifted her optic ridges for a second as though silently saying "Well, he asked." Scythe interceded with "I have the utmost faith in Jade's capabilities."
"Lucky for you." Mic grumbled, giving the other end of the lineup a sidelong look. Jade looked down at the floor. "I'll try my best."
Dusk nodded and looked at Jade. "I'll go see about mixing up some tinting spray. Jade, would you come with me please?" The femme slid her cockpit door shut over the device and followed the flier out of the room. Mic just glared after her. "And what if she can't." It was a statement, not a question. Scythe turned the computer off. "Then we will each take a turn trying to make the Transmognifier work. "How will we decide who goes next?" Needle put in. "Simple. We will draw straws. I think Jade should have fourty-eight hours, then after that, we will all draw straws..."
"wires. We don't have any of this... straw material you speak of." Razer put in.
"Right. We will then draw wires to see who will go next trying to make it work." Scythe finished.
"How about we give her twenty four." Needle folded his arms. Scythe sighed softly and thought about it. "If it will make you feel better, I will give her until sundown tomorrow. That is a full day and a half." Gobee and Windstriker had started to voice their opinions as well, but Scythe held up a hand. "That is all I am giving her." He gave them a look that said it was final. Non-negotiable.
"fine." the group mumbled their agreement, and Scythe noticed Backdraft had snuck off and dissapeared from the room. "Now, we have another subject to discuss, but we will have to wait until Dusk and Jade return. It will not be long. So if we could all wait here." The group nodded and dispersed around the room. Needle pulled out a homemade deck of playing cards and Gobee and Mic joined him at a nearby table.
x
Several minutes later, Jade and Dusk walked back into the room. "It's about time." Needle muttered, tossing his cards onto the table.
"All right. Now that you are back, we can discuss the other subject we have met about." The others stopped what they were doing. "Now, Bullet and I have been diuscussing what to do until we can return to our home dimension." he walked over to the computer. "There's allways a possibility of either the Autobots or Decepticons finding our base. BUT." he put accent on the "but" of that. "That may not happen. Either way, it would be in our best interests to be prepared that anything that should happen." Several people nodded. "Mic and Needle allready found a firing range where we can practice our target shooting. Razer and Dusk are working on setting up security cameras. We should fortify this mountainbase in case either faction finds us and try to get in."
Gobee held up a hand. "You don't think they'll really do that, do you?"
Scythe shrugged. "I don't know. But it is allways best to be prepared for anything." Razer nodded. "Plan for the worst but hope for the best."
"right." Scythe nodded. "So we should try to get up to standard.. well, try to be as prepared as possible."
Windstriker smirked. "You mean like have some kind of novice boot camp?" Jade grinned at that. "That somehow sounds like fun. Like, paintball drills and stuff?"
Scythe looked at her. "No." he said flatly. The jet's shoulders fell in dissapointment. "Nuts."
"What I meant was to learn how to run, evade, shoot, and fight should the occasion arise."
Mic and Needle looked at each other. "Well we can out-drive anything on four wheels." Needle grinned. "Or two." Mic put in. Scythe simply nodded at that. "Good. That's something you are good at. Can anyone else tell me what they have expertise in?" There was some mumbling then Needle pointed at Gobee. "He's really good at hiding." Gobee glared back. "Gobee?" Scythe sounded slightly amused. The little black car shrugged. "I guess so." he mumbled.
Jade took a step forward and pointed to Windstriker. "Windy is the best flier in our group. Psh. She could probably do circles around Starscream."
"Yeah, right. I'm not that good." she looked from Jade to Scythe. "But I guess I'm okay at flying."
"Okay, you can fly circles around me." Jade retorted.
"Okay, Windstriker can fly very well." Schythe nodded. Anyone else?"
"I have a question." Dusk sounded. "Windstriker, do you think you could fly over the Autobot base without being detected?"
The purple femmejet thought for a second. "I don't know. I could try though."
"What, no! what if the Autobots see her!" Mic objected. "Yeah. We don't know what they would do if they caught one of us." Gobee put in.
"Razer answered "I doubt it would be anything nice. I have heard how the Autobot's torture their prisoners, keep them without fuel in dark cells beneath the mountain their base is in. They never see the light of day again."
Jade gave him a glare, though he didn't see it. Windstriker gave him a dark look as well. The two of them knew a few things. That was one of the differences between their dimension and this one. A certain cartoon they were both fans of. One that happened to be about two groups of battling giant alien robots. Though neither of them could say anything without being hurrassed for information that could help Razer and Dusk's little self-proclaimed war agasinst both sides.
"Anarchists." Windstriker thought. "They must be anarchists to think neither side is worthy of ruling Cybertron." she shook her head and decided it was best to keep her mind on the subject at hand. She'd have to talk to Jade later. The seekerfemme had been desperate to find and talk to Wyldkat for some reason, and the carfemme had been missing almost constantly ever since they had gotten here. somethign was going on, and she didn't like it.
After another minute or so of silence, Mic nudged Needle. "I still think I could out-drive you." He teased. "Yeah right. You and what sportscar." Mic harrumphed. "I happen to be one of the most sporty and fastest cars ever made. You know the camaro can even pace a corvette."
"I can not!" Needle leaned back in his chair. "Can too." Mic argued. "At least in acceleration, if not more."
"Uh-huh, sure. Well I can still out-shoot you." Her grinned. "Yeah right. That's why I got more rocks than you." Mic looked proud. "And I can outrun the both of you." Gobee taunted. "Yeah," Mic replied "You probably could. But only if there's a Decepticon behind you." he laughed. Needle chuckled.
"All right." Scythe held up a hand. "Then it is settled. Razer Dusk Bullet and I will set up an itinerary for us and we will begin our training the day after tomorrow."
"Uh, what's an eye-tin-rary?" Gobee asked? "It's like a schedule." Bullet answered. "Oh, right."
Jade and Windstriker exchanged a look. "I hope this doesn't mean getting up at the butt-crack of dawn." Windstriker commented. Jade tilted her head. "Why, not an early riser?" Windstriker shook her head. "Someone likes sleeping in, huh?" jade smiled. Windstriker snickered. "Yeah, gotta get my beauty sleep. you know, keep my wax job all nice and shiny." she giggled. Scythe just ignorted then, but bullet rolled his optics. "Girls."
"Oh yeah," Winstriker aimed her barbs at him now. "I'll bet you couldn't get up at five in the morning."
"Hah. I could get up at four-thirty." He folded his arms. "Yeah, right. You'd be sleepwalking, doing the zombie-walk all the way out here to the control room." Jade laughed. Scythe simply listened. before ending the conversation with "We will decide what the appropriate time to get up will be." Bullet nodded. There was another bit of silence, then Scythe added "you can all go now. We'll figure things out and let you all know later." Everyone nodded and dispersed.
Gobbe edged up to Dusk. "Uhm, excuse me. Would you happen to have a radio?" he asked.
"Radio?" she tilted her head? "Oh, right! I apologise. I did not understand your weord for it. I may have a transmission reciever you could use." she nodded. "I will look for it later after Razer and I are done discussing your..." she searched for the word that had been used during the metting. "Your shoe-camp?" Gobee blinked. Razer interceded "I believe they called it boot camp."
"Yes, boot camp. right." Dusk nodded.
"Okay." Gobee walked away and hurried to catch up to Windstriker.
x
A couple of hours later, Jade found Windstriker just outside the mountainbase sitting on a natural outcropping of rocks watching the sun set. "Pretty good for a first couple of days, isn't it." Jade walked up. Windstriker looked over at her then back at the sunset. The jetfemme sat next to her. "I know. I want to go home, too." she said, pulling up her knees and folding her arms on top of them. She rested her chin on her folded arms. "I just hope I can find a way to get this device to work again and open a door for us." she said. She then looked at the ground. She lowered her voice. "I'm scared, windy. I don't know if I can do it or not." she near-whispered.
"Yeah." Windstriker looked at the stringy clouds reflecting red and orange in the sky. Jade took her silence as non-encouraging and said nothing more. Gobee left and walked inside. Both watched him leave then Jade scooted closer to Windstriker. "What was it you really wanted to talk to me about? you were giving me looks inside the base just now." She asked.
"Well," windstriker started. "Have you noticed how Wyldkat's been gone a lot lately?"
"Yeah!" Jade nodded. "I think something's going on. She's been gone almost constantly lately. I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's anything good. I was trying to find her and..." she stopped, remembering her conversation with Scythe. "What? what is it?" Windstriker questioned. "Hmm? oh, it's nothing." Jade gave her a sidelong glance. Then sighed. "Okay, but you can't tell ANYONE about this, I mean it."
Windstriker's optic ridges went up. "What? What's going on?" she leaned in. Jade exvented, then started to explain.
"I was talking with Scythe earlier, and he said something about Wyldkat's been going to the Autobot base." Windstriker stifled a gasp. "Yeah. I know." Jade continued. "I don't know if the fliers found out, and I really hope not. I don't know why, or how long it's been going on, but somehow, for some reason, I think she knows some of the Autobots."
Windstriker's optic ridges inched higher and the beginnings of a grin formed.
"Now, don't go assuming anything." Jade held up a hand. "If the fliers even knew that we knew, they would be all over us, so we've got to keep this to ourselves for right now." she paused to look at the changing colors in the sky before them. "Like I said, I don't know if Scythe told the fliers or not. If he did, I think.,... I don't know if Kat would leave or not. Frankly, I hope she would. I like to think she's smarter than to stick around someplace like this where she could get into trouble for that."
Windstriker nodded emphatically and lowered her voice to whisper conspiratorily "So, do you think she's friends with any of them?" she finally let her grin slip. Jade grinned back "I don't know. But that would be pretty cool"
"I know!" Windstriker giggled and Jade chuckled as well. After a pause, Jade took an invent of air. "Okay, let's clear our heads here and think." she paused again, trying to think of what she was going to say to begin with.
Windstriker said "You don't think the fliers caught her and are keeping her locked up somewhere, do you?"
"Nah. I saw kat earlier and Mic and Needle said they saw her drive past today. If the fliers had found out she would have been locked up before that." Windstriker nodded.
"I wonder what she's telling them?" Jade's wings suddenly drooped and she gave her friend a sidelong glance. "I don't know." she said. "I hope it's nothing major though."
"Why?" windtriker made a motion with her hands.
"Because." jade let her arms drop from her knees. "It would be really bad. like, really really bad, expecially if the Autobots show up on our doorstep!" she motioned to the base.
"Good point." Windstriker replied. She exvented. "Maybe we should find her before our friends do and find out what she's not telling us before they do."
"Yeah, but how?"
"whattya mean how? We could just fly over to wherever she is and ask her."
"Yeah." Jade said slowly "And what if she's at the Autobot base."
"Hm." Windstriker rested her chin on her hand. "Maybe we could wait for her at the door or something."
Jade shrugged. "I don't think Scythe would just confront her and turn her over to the fliers as soon as she walks in the door. I mean, it was a couple, well, more like three or so hours ago when I talked to him and he had talked to Kat before that, and he still hadn't decided whether or not to tell the fliers, so it's obvious he hasn't, well, probably, he probably hasn't yet." Jade looked at the sky turning purple now. "Besides, it's getting late. And we don't know when Scythe is libel to start waking everyone up in the morning." she gave the purple thunderbolt a lopsided smirk.
"Hm. Well, you can go on to bed if you want. I think I'm gonna wait out here for a bit." She replied.
Jade looked at her for a minute. "That's okay, I think I'll stay." she finally said.
windstriker gave her an accusing glance. "You think I'm gonna go and fly over to the Autobot base, don't you?"
"No, I just don't feel right about leaving you out here all by yourself." Jade defended.
"Uh-huh. right."
"oh.. all right, maybe, just a little." But just because Wyldkat may be friends with some of them doesn't mean they'd instantly know us or recognise us or whatever... or be welcoming. You remember that first fight we had with them One of them shot at us." she pointed out.
"Yeah." windstriker thought about it for a second. "I suppose you're right. But we'll have to keep an eye... I mean an optic out for her tomorrow as soon as we get up."
"Right." the two grinned then walked back inside.
x
The recharge rooms were arranged with two people to a room. There were two berths to each one, with a table and two chairs. Windstriker wondered where they'd gotten the stuff, but didn't think too hard on it. the furniture looked rather homemade to begin with. She figured they'd snuck onto some construction site and gotten a bunch of supplies during the middle of the night or something.
The way things had been arranged, Windstriker and Jade had been assigned one room ,while Mic and Needle shared another room. Bullet and Scythe were together, and Gobee was rooming with Wyldkat. Razer and Dusk ovbiously had shared quarters, Windstriker suspected they were bonded, the equivalent to marriage she supposed (though Jade had other theories on just how that worked). And Backdraft was, well, nowhere to be found most of the time. Windstriker idly wondered if he didn't have a bunk stashed in the back of their workshop or something. She headed to the washracks while Jade went to find Dusk about some energon for everyone.
Mic flopped onto his rechrge berth and fluffed his "pillow" Needle rolled onto his, the lower one, and proceeded to immediately go to sleep. "Night Needle." Mic turned out the light without waiting for a reply.
Jade curled up on her recharge berth after finding a spare datapad on the nearby table. She was trying to figure out how to work it, and discovered it was fairly easy. even though she couldn't really undertand Cybertronian, she had just started pressing different buttons to see what did what. On the main menu was the list of programs, and tapping one would open the program. There was a back and save button, just like on a touch-screen mp3 player or a similar device. The femmeseeker gave a soft "Aha" as she tapped one of the icons and the screen and language glyphs morphed to english. "Dusk must've known we'd have a use for these." she said to Windstriker's back. But the purple femme gave to reply. Jade supposed she had gone to sleep.
She went back to the main menu and found the typing program. She started a new file. "End of day three. Bullet and I got back from Cybertron this morning, well, around 12 noon or so, and we had a chat with Scythe about a novice boot camp of sorts. They all decided since I was the last person to handle the device, they call it the Transmognifier, that I somehow have control over it. So they've told me I'm now responsible for opening the doorway between dimensions that'll send us home. Oh joy. *sigh*."
"Also, Wyldkat has been missing for a while, and I found out thanks to Scythe that she's been running off to visit the Autobots. Heh. I bet Windy is just green with jealousy." she thought for a second, then deleted the last part about Windstriker being jealous, then continued. "I hope the fliers don't find out. It would be helpful if we could keep track of what the Autobots are doing. Well, I need to get some sleep now. I'll type again tomorrow. More soon! ~Jade."
She saved the file then climbed up to the top berth, slid the datapad under her pillow with a silent reminder to thank Dusk tomorrow, then went to sleep.