#{my scanner is broken heh}

[thiscrimsonsoul]

𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜: 𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑓𝑓 | 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝑭𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔: 𝑨 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 ​

#wanda maximoff #pietro maximoff #the maximoff twins #the wakanda files #captain america: the winter soldier #{ we volunteered for this } ʷⁱⁿᵗᵉʳ ˢᵒˡᵈⁱᵉʳ ᵛᵉʳˢᵉ #{so sorry for the crappy quality} #{my scanner is broken heh}

[dindjarins04]

CHAPTER THREE

I AM NO JEDI MASTERLIST

Still curled up on the small chair in Padme's living area, Anakin paces back and forth. He sighs and stops in the middle of the room while you calmly respond to the onslaught of Qui-Gon's messages.

"It's too quiet,"

"That's a good thing," You reply. "I'd rather not have to deal with blasters," You look and see him looking down at you. "Perhaps if you sat down, you wouldn't be so anxious,"

"Can you at least pay some attention to me rather than your holopad?" He asks with a huff. You roll your eyes and place it down.

"You're such a child,"

"Maybe I just need a distraction,"

"Oh and I'm the perfect fit for your distraction?" You tease as he sits down in the chair opposite you.

"Yes," He says. "So...why do you think we weren't allowed to see each other for 10 years?"

"Well, those 10 years were the most vital part of our training, maybe we were just too busy with training to make friends," You shrug as you stand to pour yourself a glass of water. Anakin stays silent as he thinks of different reasons for the Jedi keeping you separate. "Enough about us...what's your story with Padme?" You cringe at yourself. Smooth, (Y/N), that was real smooth.

"We met on Tatooine, I saved her planet and that's it," You quirk a brow and turn around, leaning against the table you got your water from.

"Really? I thought you two had something more, considering the way you talk to her," You say, sipping your water.

"Heh, jealous?" You choke on the water at the question.

"That's absurd," Anakin chuckles and shakes his head.

"Whatever you say, princess,"

"Quiet, mudscuffer," Then, Obi-Wan strolls in.

"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?" He asks as you move back to your holopad to send your last couple of messages to your master.

"Quiet as a tomb. I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her," Anakin complains as Obi-Wan checks a palm-sized view scanner he has pulled out of his utility belt. It shows a shot of R2 by the door, but no sign of Padme on the bed.

"What's going on?" Obi-Wan asks.

"She covered that camera. I don't think she liked us watching her," You roll your eyes.

"What is she thinking?"

"Actually, all of this was (Y/N)'s idea," You look to see the men staring at you.

"I programmed R2 to warn us if there's an intruder,"

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about. There are many other ways to kill a Senator,"

"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin. Don't we, master Jedi?" You respond with a smirk.

"You're using her as bait??"

"It was her idea... No harm will come to her,"

"I can sense everything going on in that room. Trust me," Anakin adds on as you finish your last message and put down your holopad.

"It's too risky... and your senses aren't that attuned, young apprentice,"

"And yours are?"

"Possibly," You roll your eyes at the duo.

"You know, I can sense everything too, Qui-Gon has been teaching me well,"

"I do not disagree, I was his padawan as well," Obi-Wan says as he moves to look out of the window.

"The water is empty, I'll get some more, comm me if anything happens," Obi-Wan nods as Anakin walks beside him.

"You look tired," Obi-Wan states as he examines Anakin.

"I don't sleep well, anymore," He responds truthfully.

"Because of your mother?"

"I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now. I haven't seen her since I was little,"

"Dreams pass in time,"

"I'd rather dream of (Y/N). Just being around her again is...intoxicating," He smiles to himself but Obi-Wan gives him a look of disapproval.

"Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you. You and (Y/N) have made a commitment to the Jedi order... a commitment not easily broken...and remember she is also a Jedi,"

"I understand Master...but there's just something about her. Being around her again...it brings a forgotten but familiar feeling back," Anakin grins, gently touching his chest.

"Anakin, (Y/N) is already on thin ice with the Jedi Council, please don't try and ruin this for her," Anakin looks up at his master.

"I...I won't," You return with a sigh.

"I couldn't get any water!" You exclaim. "Too many procedures to fill up one jug of water," You sigh placing it down. "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" Anakin and Obi-Wan share a discreet glance.

"No, it's been very quiet," Obi-Wan answers to Anakin's relief. But then, you all stop and look at each other.

"Is it just me?"

"No, I can sense it too," All three of you run and burst into Padme's room. Two creatures stand on their hind legs as Padme lays deadly still. Anakin springs onto the bed and slices the creatures in half with his lightsaber. You see a droid outside and race after it, crashing through the blinds and window. Okay. Bad idea. You did NOT think that through.

You fly through the glass window and fling yourself at the probe droid, grabbing onto the deadly machine before it can flee. The droid sinks under the weight of you but manages to stay afloat and fly away, with you hanging on for dear life, a hundred stories above the city. The droid sends several protective electrical shocks across its surface, causing you to almost lose your grip. As you dart in and out of the speeder traffic, you disconnect a wire on the back of the droid. Its power shuts off. Shit! You and the droid drop like rocks. You realise the error of your ways and quickly puts the wire back. The droid's systems light up again and it takes off.

Sweat begins to build on your forehead. You did not think this through what so ever and you have no idea where Anakin or Obi-Wan is. The last thing you remember is Padme's deadly still body. Is she dead? That sudden thought sends a pang of regret in your gut. Did you allow your best and only friend to die?

The droid bumps against a wall, hoping to knock you loose. It moves behind a speeder afterburner to scorch you. It takes you wildly between buildings and finally skims across a rooftop and you are forced to lift your legs, tenaciously hanging onto the droid.

"Would you stop?!" You growl as the droid heads for a dirty, beat-up speeder hidden in an alcove of a building about twenty stories up. When the pilot of the speeder, a scruffy looking person who is most likely a bounty hunter, sees the droid approach with you hanging on, she pulls a long rifle out of the speeder and starts to fire at you. Explosions burst all around you. "I have a bad feeling about this," You say.

Finally, the droid suffers a direct hit and blows up and you fall fifty stories until a speeder drops down next to you, and you manage to grab onto the back end of the speeder and haul yourself toward the cockpit. You struggle to climb into the seat and you sigh in relief when seeing Anakin driver and Obi-Wan in the passenger seat.

"That was wacky! I almost lost you in the traffic," Anakin said.

"What took you so long?" You ask as you finally sit correctly in the seat you tumbled into.

"Oh, you know, princess, I couldn't find a speeder I really liked, with an open cockpit... and with the right speed capabilities...and then you know I had to get a really gonzo colour..."

"Qui-Gon will not be happy about your recklessness," Obi-Wan chimes in.

"Well, I know who to follow now," Anakin zooms upward in hot pursuit of the bounty hunter as she fires out the open window at you with her laser pistol.

"And Anakin, if you'd spend as much time working on your saber skills as you do on your wit, young Padawan, you would rival Master Yoda as a swordsman," Obi-Wan says, scolding both of you.

"I thought I already did," Anakin replies smugly.

"Only in your mind, my very young apprentice. Careful!! Hey, easy!!" Obi-Wan says as he grips the sides of the speeder as Anakin deftly moves in and out of the oncoming traffic, across lanes, between buildings, and miraculously through a construction site, the bounty hunter still firing at you.

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like flying, Master," You watch with a small smile at the way these two communicate. It reminds you of how you and Lumarina shared a lot of jokes and banter just like these two.

"I don't mind flying... but what you're doing is suicide!" You barely miss a commuter train.

"I agree with Obi-Wan on that account," You say as you duck.

"Master, you know I've been flying since before I could walk. I'm very good at this and (Y/N)...just trust me," You roll your eyes as he laughs and Obi-Wan gasps as Anakin makes another narrow turn.

"Just slow down!" The bounty hunter and Anakin race through a line of cross-traffic made up of giant trucks. The speeders bank sideways as they slide around right-angle turns between buildings. The bounty hunter races into a tram tunnel. "Wait! Don't go in there!" Obi-Wan says but Anakin zooms into the tunnel after the hunter. You see a tram coming at you. Anakin brakes, turns around, and race out, barely ahead of the charging commuter transport."You know I don't like it when you do that!" Obi-Wan growls. "We also have another person with us, try not to kill three Jedi!"

"Sorry, Master. Don't worry, this guy's gonna kill himself any minute now!"

"No, you're going to kill us!" You scold, slapping his head. The hunter turns into oncoming traffic, deliberately trying to throw Anakin off. Oncoming speeders swerve, trying to avoid the hunter and three Jedi. The hunter does a quick, tight loop-over and ends up behind all of you. She is now in a much better position to fire at you all with her laser pistol. To avoid being hit by the laser bolts, Anakin slams on the brakes and moves alongside her. She now fires point-blank at Obi-Wan.

"What are you doing? He's gonna blast me!"

"Right, not a good idea," Anakin quickly turns and swerves away. Suddenly, the hunter throws a bunch of explosives in your direction. You stand and use the force to hold them away from your speeder as they explode. Out of a cloud of smoke and ball of flames Anakin tears after the hunter.

"(Y/N), that didn't do much help!" Obi-Wan slaps out the small fire on the dashboard.

"At least we're not dead!" You exclaim, sitting back down. The hunter goes up and down, through cross-traffic. There is a near miss as a speeder almost hits you. The hunter turns down and left between two buildings. Anakin pulls up and to the right

"Where are you going?! He went down there, the other way,"

"This is a shortcut... I think,"

"What do you mean, 'You think?' What kind of shortcut?! He went completely the other way! You've lost him!" You exclaim from behind him.

"Guys, if we keep this chase going, that creep's gonna end up deep-fried personally, I'd very much like to find out who in the hell he is and who he's working for..."

"Oh, so that's why we're going in the wrong direction," Obi-Wan says sarcastically. Anakin turns up a side street, zooming up several small passageways, then stops, hovering about fifty stories up. Obi-Wan folds his arms. "Well, you lost him,"

"I'm deeply sorry, Master,"

"Great job Anakin, he went completely the other way," You groan, unhappy for losing the bounty hunter. Anakin looks around front and back. He spots something. He seems to start counting to himself as he watches something below approach.

"Excuse me for a moment," Anakin then jumps out of the speeder. You and Obi-Wan watch as he jumps on the hunter's speeder about five stories below you. You quickly jump into the driver's seat and follow after them. You deftly gain on the rogue speeder. The two speeders dive through oncoming traffic and then through cross traffic. You then see Anakin drop something and you quickly catch it. You then notice it's his lightsaber. You sigh and hand it to Obi-Wan.

"I'm going to have to admit, this has been the most fun I've had since Naboo," You say as you follow the speeder as it crashes onto the ground.

"Naboo? You mean with Maul?"

"Well, everything leading up to that," You say as you talently spin around oncoming vehicles.

"Spinning is not flying!" Obi-Wan groans. "This is the first time I've ridden with you and your already matching Anakin's recklessness," You chuckle as you land. You grin as you land and wipe the sweat from your head. Obi-Wan looks at you before chuckling. You also laugh as he gets out and helps you out. "I will have to admit, that was something different,"

"Probably something the council will frown upon," You joke before seeing him. "Anakin!"

"She went into that club," Anakin said, pointing to the bright sign.

"Patience," Obi-Wa reminds as he hands Anakin his lightsaber. "Here. Next time try not to lose it,"

"Sorry, Master," Anakin reaches for the lightsaber, but Obi-Wan holds it back. "A Jedi's saber is his most precious possession,"

"Yes, Master," He reaches for his lightsaber again, but Obi-Wan pulls it back.

"He must keep it with him at all times,"

"I know, Master,"

"This weapon is your life!"

"I've heard this lesson before..." You and Anakin say at the same time. Obi-Wan finally holds out his lightsaber and Anakin grabs it.

"But unlike (Y/N), you haven't learned anything, Anakin,"

"I try, Master,"

"However, you should thank (Y/N) for catching it for you," Obi-Wan says before stepping away.

"Thank you...you've lost your lightsaber?" He teases as you follow Obi-Wan.

"Yeah, but I found it," You defend.

"How long did it take you?"

"3 lectures from my master and one full rotation,"

"Really? Where was it?" You look down. "(Y/N)," He says in a sing-song voice.

"It was under my bed," Anakin laughs loudly and you also chuckle as all three of you enter the nightclub.

#anakin skywalker #anakin #anakin x reader #anakin skywalker x reader #anakin x y/n #anakin skywalker x y/n #anakin x you #anakin skywalker x you #attack of the clones #I AM NO JEDI SERIES #I AM NO JEDI BOOK ONE #I AM NO JEDI CHAPTER THREE

[sasskarian]

First Line Meme

I was tagged by @asaara-writes. Thank you, my dearest! <3 

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

My Heart and I -

If there’s one thing about Evelyn Swann that the entire Commonwealth knows by now, it is her love of music. Silence does not mark Evelyn’s arrival anywhere— instead, the soft tones of Billie Holiday do, crooning about mountains moved for love. Or the sultry voice of Lady Day herself, Ella Fitzgerald, floating around her and the companions like a bubble of the past, dreaming on into the future. Heavy footsteps beat out a tempo contrasting Butcher Pete and his big old ‘knife’ and everywhere she goes, she trails ribbons of jazz and cheer.

Like Afterimages - 

The settlers call her a survivor. Sanctuary calls her a savior. Codsworth cries when she returns from the wastelands, dragging in another minute— heh— victory for the Minutemen, or another rescued synth she doesn’t tell anyone about. But Mama Murphy just calls her a ghost.

That’s what she is, after all. Just a two hundred year old ghost. Like a mirage, superimposed on the darkness, burned into immortality by nuclear fallout and tragedy. Evelyn is only sometimes here, those dark gray eyes a pair of rain clouds on the distant horizon, drifting on invisible fronts. The thunder is inside of her, too, a raging storm swirling in her chest, beating fists made of babies crying and gunshots rimmed in frost ringing out against her ribs.

The Thrill of Your Hand - 

Danse has been a soldier too long to be a deep sleeper.

That’s the first thing the Brotherhood trains you out of. The indoctrination comes later, because only a good soldier can be indoctrinated, and a good soldier has to wake up at the first hint of danger. So when he hears the first whimper from across the room, his eyes snap open.

Paladin’s Bubble - 

The Commonwealth is quiet tonight.

It’s not silent, by any stretch: Evie can hear the hounds in the distance, their mutated throats sending their boofs echoing through the streets of Boston even from a long distance, and somewhere— a mile or more— the whoop of a raiding party rises over the station’s lookout, too far away to do anything but pity the poor prey they’ve caught. Dogmeat grunts, his paws pushing against her armored thigh as he stretches. His ears are perked, though, so he’s just catching some rest while he can. Even the thwomp-and-hiss of her partner’s power armor is missing from the darkness, the red light of his scope the only thing highlighting his face in their little bubble of quiet.

After the Glitter Fades - 

“If there is a future to be had,” Fenris murmured, his lips hovering near Hawke’s, “I will walk into it gladly at your side.”

His gorgeous green eyes were fixed on hers and Hawke fumbled for a moment, a half-smile playing across her mouth as her fingers played with the crumbling stone behind her. Silly, but part of her almost wanted to believe him. With the smallest sound, Fenris leaned in, his gauntleted fingers sliding through her hair as he kissed her— it started out soft, a chaste brush of warm lips and warmer breath, but within a couple of heartbeats, it deepened into something that promised wildness and fire.

Glitter: Marginalia - (E)

She can’t remember what dragged her awake— only that it left a sour, desperate taste in her mouth like old coppers and the cheapest bottle of whatever would get her drunk enough to sleep.

Waking up with nightmares is nothing new. The Amell curse, as most of the Kirkwall film crews call it, has yet to hit Hawke directly, but it had taken her father (a stunt gone wrong) and her mother and uncle (an unlucky intruder)– had struck Carver, too. She and Garrett and Bethie are safe, so far, but it's only a matter of time until it circles back around. The curse is a generations-long predator, still and patient, and it will hunt them down one at a time if it has to  

Ah, Kirkwall, she thinks, some blend of annoyance and fondness and adrenaline mixing uneasily in her heart. You fuck with us again and again and still, here we are.

He Might Like That - 

“So. Let me get this straight.” Greef lifts his bad knee with a groan, settling it over his other leg so he can sprawl a little more indolently. Din’s HUD focuses in, shows the elevated temperature in the joint in a dark red, and he turns it off with a flicker of his eye. Greef lifts his glass again, takes a sip, and gestures with it before continuing. “You two. Not together?”

Where I Can’t Follow - 

The day Geralt of Rivia dies, he hears the whistle of the sword which almost kills him. There’s a series of tiny holes stamped along the spine of the blade, keeping weight down and adding a sinister shrill hiss through the air on each pass. The raiding party - if it can be dignified with such language - are nearly all armed with similar steel, with hunting horns, rattling chime-spangled shields, and bullroarer slings wailing and droning like an oncoming swarm of giant wasps. The effect is deafening, overpowering all efforts to coordinate the various companies on this mission.

Malicious Compliance - (M)

So this is how it feels to have a galaxy tremble at your feet.

Not just the galaxy, though— millions of lives shuddering under the weight of your boot on their necks cannot compare to the half-lidded gray-blue eyes drinking you in like you’re his salvation and damnation both. No, there is power in this, in these stolen moments with him, that rivals nothing else you’ve found anywhere among the stars.

He’s a brave man, your Captain.

Counting the Days (since Exegol) - 

“That’s good, Finn.”

Rey smiles, feeling the Force ebb and flow around Finn as he manages to lift himself a few inches off the ground-- along with the meditation mat, two glasses of water, and the plate of snacks they keep for anyone who comes to visit. Finn cracks an eye open, smiles back at her, and lands with a thump. For half a moment, she almost expects him to be disappointed that his training is progressing slowly: hyper-competency is a Stormtrooper trait he’ll never outgrow.

Star by Star - 

The galaxy looks different now.

It’s not just the cautious celebrations still happening, weeks later. And it’s not just the way people step back from her now, too much reverence in them for her comfort. It’s in the way she looks at the sky and sees the color of Luke’s eyes, and the gentle wind that feels so much like Leia’s hand, she cries. The way that Poe’s back straightens at the podium, broadcasting Republic news to everyone, and Finn’s hand clutching his under the table, their life forces bright and right in her senses.

Stardust and Memory (and a little bit of romance) - 

“Wow.”

Jaal chuckled against her ear, hands firmly on her waist; a good thing, probably, or she’d be on her face on the floor. “It is… a lot, I know.”

“No!” Sara protested, only wilting when Jaal tilted his head at her. “...okay, maybe a little. There’s just— a lot of them?”

Scars and Holes and Broken Things - 

Whispers follow him wherever he goes.

What’s left of the crew whispers in the halls, the mess, on the bridge, and conversations trail off when his ghost walks through, haunting the only place that's ever felt like home. Whatever they’re saying doesn’t matter, though—he doesn’t care. He’s too tired to care. He hasn’t slept more than his body demands in weeks. Tali’s immune system has already begun to destroy itself, and even though the Normandy is stocked with more dextro rations than it’s ever carried before—

Almost like Shepard knew. Always prepared, that’s my girl.

Heart of the Woods - (E)

You left the Templars, but do you trust mages? Can you think of me as anything more?

Less than a fortnight of sweet words, gentle touches, and stolen kisses are the only weapons she could levy against the trauma that shaped a man’s youth. And for a moment in time, Isera hoped.

Common Ground (isn’t so hard to find) - 

“Skkut! Ryder!”

“Sorry, Enroh— oh!” Sara tried to stop, bounced into a low bench, and crashed into a pile of bruised, groaning Pathfinder on the other side. At least this time, she remembered to shield her head as she skidded to rest against the wall. Lexi would be pleased. Another concussion would get her put back under the scanner and that just ruined everyone’s day. “...ow.”

A Language Reserved for Lovers - (M)

The first time you touch him, his skin flushes red; the first time he touches you back, he trembles. Interesting, since if there is a word to describe him, it is steadfast. But there is more beneath the easy surface, beneath the deadly grace and unflagging stamina. He is loyal, and good, and so fascinating under the burden of his name. But nineteen is a young age, even if you're only a little older, and he seemed so young at first, unsure and innocent— then he gave you that crooked little grin, and stole your heart with it.

Every Beautiful Thing - 

I would prefer to be Mary Shelley. She died a widow.

Despite a foolhardy counter, thrown in indifference and pride, Edith never really thought she would be a widow. Despite her foolish quip so many years ago, she is no Mary Shelley. And despite moderate success as an author and teller of stories, the only thing she and Shelley have in common is a belief in a world outside of the everyday, and widowhood.

Yesterdays - 

He’s always thought she was invincible.

Sure, Morrigan told them the truth of the Archdemon’s death, an account more grisly and heartbreaking than the one Riordan gave; just the sort of tale that might ensnare a young boy’s heart, give him delusions of grandeur, while an older man might look upon it with resignation. But the truth doesn’t sink in until now.

If You Ever did Believe - 

“There are people dying,” Isera repeated slowly, as if she could make her advisers understand what she'd seen. As if giving her memories voice might lift some of their weight in her heart. “We couldn’t even get to Redcliffe because of the fighting.”

Three days of being stuck on a horse, only to have to turn around after three skirmishes— their first mission to the Hinterlands had been a remarkable experiment in failure. Isera had learned her skills at the hands of the best of her clan, had fought alone for years, and yet the shock of tripping over Varric and accidentally hitting Cassandra with a ball of ice had made their first fight a near loss.

Some saviors, Varric had laughed afterward, staggering around like baby nugs.

Glitter: Velvet over Veridium - 

If anyone had ever accused Marian Hawke of being a reasonable adult human being, she might have laughed at them. No, she'd have pointed and then laughed at them. But under all her bluster, and all her immature jokes, her dirty one-liners and cheesy pick-up lines, there was an adult hidden in there somewhere.

Okay, maybe I put more than one opening line, but I have a thing for context, dammit! 

This got so long -- mobile users, I’m sorry omg. 

Forwarding the tag (no pressure as always!) to @mayihavethisdanse @athreehundredthirtythree @thebisexualmandalorian @natsora @loquaciousquark @valdomarx @theggning @cullywullycurlywurly @systlin and @third-rail-vip 

#dragon age #mass effect #star wars #cullavellan #fenhawke #fallout 4 #the witcher #shakarios #danse x sole survivor #geraskier #lavellan x fairbanks #ZevWarden #wardistair #rydaal #long post #my fic #i did the thing #do the thing

[capricornsims]

Strangetown Mystery 12: Covert scientists 

With Jenny locked away with her family in the barracks, the Curious brothers worked behind closed doors in the bunker’s hidden laboratory. Albeit skeptical of the general’s intentions, the brothers accepted the opportunity to work in higher paying positions with the added bonus of being close to their sister. Overall, their task was simple, find a cure for the syndrome and ultimately connect the cause to extraterrestrial threats. The brothers considered that working for the enemy would cover their tracks regarding the breach in the [Redacted] lab, not that they would openly admit their crimes. In order to keep their behinds safe from the General’s wrath, they simply smiled and nodded to whatever orders he gave them along with instructions given by the Dudes in Black to keep their operations in secrecy. While his brothers worked diligently in the lab, keeping their heads down and doing what they were told, Pascal wasted no time investigating their new inside job. 

Pascal: Lazlo, we need to be very quiet, but I think something weird is going on here, this whole lab is suspicious. 

Lazlo: Other than the fact that our sister is imprisoned in the other room? What is it Pascal? 

Pascal: My theory about the aliens and the government is real. Just look at them, the Dudes in Black, they’re blue, they are clearly aliens and what makes it worse is that Buzz is working with them. 

Lazlo: I don’t know man, those suits and hats seem pretty convincing to me. But I wouldn’t doubt that Buzz is up to something sketchy. 

Pascal: Wake up Lazlo! The Dudes in Black are are plotting something big and they’re using PT9 as a distraction for Buzz so they can do whatever they want. We need to find out what’s really going on in the [ Redacted ] lab or we’re all doomed! 

Lazlo: Are you seriously going back there? That place is dangerous, Pascal. 

Pascal: WE are going back there and we’re meeting up with Erwin later to investigate the lab and collect some spore samples. You also said that you would help me, we’re the Curious brothers not Curious brother! 

Lazlo: I know, but I don’t want you to get infected or get caught by the military. 

Pascal: Don’t worry, Lazlo, with your help we can stop whatever is causing the syndrome. 

Lazlo: I’ll do my best, but this investigation is escalating quickly. Let’s just hope that Vidcund is on board with our plans. 

Later that night, the brothers entered the foreboding gates of the [ Redacted ] lab, avoiding detection from the watch towers and sneaking passed security cameras. Pascal almost dragged Vidcund by his ear through the broken fence, annoyed by his reluctance to join them. Beyond barrier they encountered a familiar face waving back at them, it was Erwin with his flashy collider tin hat pacing back and forth clearly paranoid about something. To the conspiracy theorist, the three lab coated clad men looked like they were out to get him, brandished with government issued badges and everything. Despite Erwin’s suspicions, Pascal assured his friend that they were merely working for the government so they could get more information about the bizarre plants . He even presented his friend with a spore scanner that they needed for their research to further prove his loyalty. Shaking his head, Erwin hesitantly trusted Pascal’s motives but he was still weary about the other two brothers, especially Vidcund.  

Vidcund: Hey Erwin, long time no see! Damn it feels like ages since we broke into this lab and released a deadly infection. 

Erwin: Hello...Vidcund..if that is your real name. 

Lazlo: Dude, shush, we didn’t release it ,Pascal did. 

Erwin: Anyways, Where did you even get the spore scanner? The feds didn’t give it to you right? 

 -Flashback to that morning - 

Pascal: Give me the infection scanner or ELSE I’LL KICK YOUR BUTT INTO NEXT TUESDAY!

Military guy: *sniffle* Okay man, just..just...take it, you didn’t have to beat me up that bad *sniffle*

Lazlo: Nah, he beat up a soldier in broad daylight when he wouldn’t negotiate with him. He scared the feds so bad that they just left us alone. 

Vidcund: Yeah our older brother is kind of crazy. 

Erwin: Wow he’s more dedicated than I thought he was, heh. Anyways let’s get inside before we get spotted by the watch towers. 

They returned to the sub level of the lab, going passed the toxic cloud of spores that shrouded the other corridor. The distinct sounds of machinery and loud air vents added to the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned laboratory, but Pascal went ahead of his party unfazed by fear. Meanwhile his brothers speculated the relationship between Erwin and Pascal, wondering if it was even good for him to hang out with the conspiracy theorist. “ He’s going too far, we’re going to get in trouble if we keep coming here. This whole investigation isn’t worth our time” Vidcund whispered to Lazlo as they paced themselves behind Erwin. Instead of responding to his older brother, Lazlo just nodded his head avoiding the prospect of choosing sides. He believed that Pascal knew what he was doing despite the dangers that it held, remembering how his brother got himself abducted for science. “ I trust him, Vid. All we can do is be supportive.” He frowned and continued their trek deeper into the corridor. 

The end of the darkened hallway revealed a laboratory with everything still intact as if scientists dropped what they were doing and fled their work. Pascal took in the rest of the room, noting the sterilized air and the numerous plants in containment pods similar to the mutated bizarre plants around town. In the center of the room he spotted what looked to be lab equipment equal to the ones in the bunker’s laboratory. This was it, this was the place where they would finally understand what the spores did and how they they were going to stop it. In addition to his own mission, he was informed to research the spores properties in order to build a filter for the hazmat suit he was building. 

Pascal: Don’t touch anything, we have to run these spores through the analyzer and figure these things out. 

Lazlo: Wow, these plants look so much cooler when they’re not trying to kill you. 

Pascal: We have them back at our lab, the scientists must have been analyzing the plants before they were interrupted by the explosion. 

Erwin: I can’t believe you guys are working with the military now, doesn’t that put you more at risk? Especially with the Dudes in Black?!

Lazlo+Vidcund: YES 

Pascal: Nope, in fact, it keeps us safe from suspicion because we’re doing everything they say, but I’m doing more behind their back. I can tell that the Dudes in Black are using Buzz for their own gain and using us humans as pawns in their game. 

Lazlo: Our brother-in-law is also being imprisoned by the General, who knows what the Dudes in Black are really doing.

Erwin: SEE the Aliens and the Government are both trying to kill us! Wake up SHEEPLE we have to expose them!!!

Pascal: We will expose them once I get all the evidence. So far I have a clear analysis of the spores, and other evidence about the plants, but finding the cause is the next step. 

Lazlo: If we can’t connect the syndrome to the Dudes, the best case scenario is that we prove that PT9 isn’t the cause of it and we free him. 

Erwin: And we find a cure along the way right? That’ll also be good! 

Vidcund: I’m happy that you found the properties and stuff, Pascal, but I have to go. This whole investigation is fun and all but I have a life to attend to. 

Pascal: Vid, you’re a plant scientist I need you here for this. 

Vidcund: I’ll work with you in our house lab, now I really gotta go. I have a date. 

Pascal: ...Fine, good luck on your “date”, Vid. 

-Later that night at the Beaker Castle- 

Circe: I thought you couldn’t make it for our date. I was getting worried that Loki would walk in on us. 

Vidcund: I ditched Pascal at the lab so I wouldn’t be late. He was totally butt hurt that I didn’t want to be on his fetch quest. 

Circe: Well Loki isn’t going to be here for a few hours so we can hang out for a bit. 

Vidcund: Great! I can’t wait to tell you about my new experiment! it involves reanimating guinea pig tissue with microwave radiation...but guinea pigs are very expensive in bulk so I ended up drying up my bank account and all my credit cards are maxed out.

Circe: Oh my goodness, I feel so sorry for you.

Vidcund: Don’t be, at this point I need a miracle if I want to complete this experiment. 

Circe: You work for a top secret lab right now, you’re going to get money no matter what. As for your miracle, you could work something out with your employers. 

Vidcund: How would that work? 

Circe: Just do them a few favors and maybe they’ll give you some extra cash. As a scientist you have to do anything to achieve your goals no matter what it takes. 

Vidcund: Yeah, maybe I will do them a favor... 

(( Note: It’s been a while since I updated Strangetown Mystery, but this story is very fun to write so it’s only going to get more weird. 

#strangetown mystery #strangetown #strangerville #pascal curious #vidcund curious #lazlo curious #sims 2 psp #sims 2 to sims 4 #simblr #sims story #premades #erwin pries #circe beaker #the dudes in black

[clonewarsreturns]

-Broken-

Part 1

Good soldiers follow orders.

The jet trooper stood like a statue at the cliff side, slowly regaining consciousness. He could hardly remember what had happened. Buddies from the 212 had comm’d him saying that general grievous was dead and he remembered running up to tell Taya. To celebrate with his friend. What happened….He recalled Jace...right beside her.. something happened...what did he do…thumper stepped closer to the cliffs edge searching for a clue.

He remembered hearing something before losing himself….some order coming over the coms. The jet trooper tried to think of what it might’ve been but was interrupted by his stomach retaliating. Pulling off his helmet, the jet trooper emptied his stomach as his body shook vigorously. What happened...what happened to them…

His heartbeat pounded in his ears as flashes of memory filled his brain. Order 66. Jedi. Treason. Jace. Jace no. Please help me. Please. Taya-

The gun shot echoed in his mind as he saw the memory of Jace being pulled over the edge of the cliff. Thumper gasped in distraught as he scrambled to the edge of the cliff. He stared wide eyed in disbelief at the rapids below. The rocks were sharp and jagged. His eyes darted all over the murky water for any sign of life. All he could see was the blood stained rocks below. His stomach turned again as he let out an agonizing cry.

Stumbling toward the base, the jet trooper wore a blank stare. He saw his brothers in a confused daze falling into line as they awaited new orders. Thumper started towards the line as if on command. But as he walked, his mind was in pieces.

-Sprinter, Scanner, Hops, Taya was murdered by...Jace...my last pieces of family.. gone.-

Thumper froze. He stared through his visor breathing heavily as he looked at the clones. These weren’t his brothers. Jace was his last just as Hops was his first. What’s the point of this?

The trooper shook as he removed his decorated helmet. The diamond insignias pierced his heart as he thumbed them one last time. Thumper dropped the helmet on the muddied earth before turning away from the troops. He forced his feet forward one step at a time, body trembling with each step.

Shouts from some officer were nothing more than a muffle to his ears as he pressed forward. He struggled to breathe as he waited for the inevitable blaster to penetrate his body. He was a deserter. A deserter from the grand army of the republic. He was to be shot on sight. But frankly he didn’t mind. It would mean he was a step closer to his family.

It wasn’t until he entered the jungle before him that he realized he was free. But was he ever truly free?

The trooper walked for hours, ignoring the pain in his legs. He didn’t know where he was going but just that he knew his time in the grand army was done. It died with his family.

Thumper couldn’t recall passing out but he hated being woken up. The world was fuzzy before him but the rain tried to clear his senses. A throbbing sensation spread through his leg as he laid at the bottom of the ravine. He didn’t move to adjust the pain, he didn’t care. He thought that in some cruel way he deserved this. All the headaches he’d given Jace, the scoldings from Hops, he couldn’t help but chuckle at what Hops would say if he saw him now. A rain drop hit his eye causing the trooper to sit up from a past memory. Force.. thumper cursed himself for moving but the memory was forever a part of him.

-The SCARIFF mission-

The LAAT’s took off in pairs of two. Intervals to keep from minimal casualties for the Seppies tried to cut them off from the cruisers. Thumper joked with a terrified Sprinter in order to calm his nerves but a hit to the LAAT door caused it to swing open. The jet trooper-in full equipment- was forced out of the ship. He remembered Sprinter’s hand reaching out as he plummeted to the surface. Thumper prayed to the force that the hit wasn’t going to hurt but before he could finish he had hit the watery surface.

The pain from the surface tension was barely an issue for Thumper had worse problems ahead. His ears rang violently as his helmet filled with water. He tried to hit his jet pack to get working but it had been damaged. Kriff! He choked on the water as it filled ever crevice of his weighted armor. The jet trooper tried desperately to fight the pull but it was no hope. Force he didn’t want to die-not like this.

Just as water filled his lungs he saw a shadow plunge toward him.

A moment of consciousness came over him as Thumper violently sprung to life. The red lighting of the LAAT illuminated the fear stricken faces of his brothers. Before fading again, he saw General Natali soaking wet as she argued with her Captain. Heh...marital disputes….

The jet trooper had thought that was the end of his worries but was met with a grave reminder in the refresher that evening. He turned on the faucet but the instant the cold water hit his face he blacked out.

He woke to Jace barking orders to nearby brothers who quickly threw on what they could before running.

Breath Vod, I’m here.. you’re okay. You’re okay.. it was then he realized he hadn’t taken a breath in a while. Jace squeezed his hand as he struggled to do so. It’s alright, Vod. I’m here.. He could hardly tell through his own tears if Jace’s eyes had them as well.

Before long, Hops came skidding into view with a small medical kit. Thumper felt awful seeing the disheveled silver hair since it meant he had been woken. Hops took Jace’s place but he could still feel his brother’s hand.

Force he missed them…

The triggered memory caused the jet trooper’s stomach to lurch in pain as he let out a sob. He didn’t ask for any of this..

-months later-

The former trooper didn’t recall what he had said to piss off the Zabrak before him but to be honest he didn’t care. The hit to his stomach caused the alcohol to turn in his bruised stomach. The rodian had a tough grip on him, not like he would’ve fought it. This wasn’t exactly how he imagined dying but with no war or family to leave behind, what’s the point of a glorious outing? He faded in and out of consciousness, something he had grown accustomed to in his depressive state. There have been so many instances since the fall of the republic that Thumper thought it was the end. But every time some not so Good Samaritan would come along and pull him back to life.

The Rodian threw him hard against the pavement. Thumper spat out the blood filling his mouth as the world spun around him. A cold blade was pushed against his throat. Finally.. he thought as he braced for the end.

But to his dismay the Zabrak turned their attention to something else. Thumper laid still anticipating the finishing blow. He squinted through swollen eyed for his attacker but was startled by a third entering the fray. The figure had knocked the rodian out clean with a pipe and held a pistol to the Zabrak. Thumper’s curiosity outweighed the depressive tendencies he had so he tried to roll onto his side. A stinging sensation spread across his neck as he held it tight. The blade had made a small wound but it hurt nonetheless. Thumper didn’t want to be saved again so he tried to crawl away from the attacker. He had been the victim of a not so well intentioned rescue before and was not looking to be saved that way again. But before he could get very far, he felt a hand in his. He froze at the sudden weight in his own. The words spoken caused his entire world to collapse.

“It’s alright vod… I’m here.”

Thumper stared at the masked man who shared his eyes. The man pulled down the mask revealing the mirror image he knew far too well.

“Oh force...I really am dead..” thumper muttered in shock causing his former captain to crack a smile. He had some new scars but Jace’s kind eyes stayed the same.

“Not yet, Thumper..” hearing him speak these words caused thumper to break. He fell into his brother’s arms for he was too weak to hold himself up anymore. He squeezed his arms around Jace as he cried into his chest. Jace rubbed his hand on the shivering trooper’s back as he hushed his brother. “Im bringing you home..”

#star wars the clone wars #cwacrossthestars #star wars oc #tcw #order 66 #clone trooper #clone trooper thumper

[greatgreengremlin]

can you put your bag things bingo fills on tumblr? it would probably be easier for requesters to see and the mods to keep track of. and, i just want to reblog your fem!hance, cause that was cute.

Actually I meant to do that, I just forgot. Oops. 

Sure I can!

(VLD) Space: Anger Born of Worry

AO3

Something Lana will never tell anyone is that during their first meeting, Huihana scared the crap out of her. Only for the first thirty seconds or so, sure, but in those thirty seconds the fear was real. She took two steps into the room the Garrison assigned her, took one look at her roommate, and felt her blood turn to ice.

That chick was freaking huge. Biceps like boulders, fists like frozen turkeys. She could probably take Lana’s head off with one punch. Nervously, Lana gulped, trying to think of something suave to say, straining to shape her mouth into a confident smirk so this Amazonian stranger wouldn’t smell her fear. Then the giantess advanced and before Lana could escape, those brawny arms encircled her, deftly lifted her right off the floor…and pulled her into a hug.

“Mmph!” Lana found herself pressed up against the soft, plentiful pudge of her roommate’s round midsection, and her face smushed into the pillows of her even softer, coconut sized breasts.

“Nice to meet you, new roomie!” chirped a voice of pure sunshine.

She gave Lana a hearty squeeze and returned her to the floor.

“So I’m Huihana, most people call me Hana for short,” she paused, amusement squiggling over her features as she blinked at Lana’s name tag. “Guess that means we’re Hana and Lana, huh? Pfft, Hana and Lana. We could totally headline a sitcom.”

“Heh, yeah.” Lana gave a chuckle, feeling herself melt in relief.

“I’ll help you put away your stuff, but let’s eat the muffins first. They’re best while they’re still warm.”

“You made muffins?”

“Uh-huh.”

Hana showed her the small oven she’d hidden in the closet. It was about the size of one of those toy ones, but Lana could tell it was made of spare parts. The metals didn’t match and the screws were different sizes.

“Let me guess, you’re here to be an engineer.”

“Yep.” Hana smiled and pulled a small muffin pan out of her makeshift oven and if the tantalizing aroma of apple cinnamon was anything to go by, mismatched metal didn’t prevent it from working.

Lana took a muffin and shook her head. Hana was a freaking teddy bear. No hecking way could she ever scare Lana again.

“You’re supposed to be in bed,” Lana scolds, crossing her arms over her chest.

Hana rolls her eyes and keeps rolling the orange dough in front of her. “As if you always do what you’re supposed to do.”

“This isn’t about me!” Lana barks, still too shaken to keep herself from snapping. “You’re a mess, you can hardly stand up!”

Hana shoots her a look that might’ve been dangerous if she were actually standing steady. But she isn’t steady at all, she’s tottering like a butterfly could knock her over and Lana isn’t sure if it’s making her nervous or furious.

“What I am is sore and stressed, and not in the mood,” she warns irritably.

“Oh, you’re not in the mood?” Lana scoffs. “Don’t even. I’m the one who gets to be mad! You almost got yourself killed!”

“We almost get ourselves killed all the time,” Hana grumbles bitterly, flipping the dough and rolling some more.

“This was different! You know we’re supposed to be extra careful since the pods got hacked, but you ran back into a Galra infested tunnel for no reason!”

“No reason my ass, I was checking for civilians.” Hana pauses to wipe the sweat from her brow.

“Civilians who weren’t there!” Lana huffs, grasping at her hair in frustration. “BLIP tech told us the tunnel was clear!”

“And like I already explained to you and everybody else, the dust storms on that planet were interfering with our tech. Our comms were screwy, our scanners were screwy, we had no reason to trust in the BLIP tech!” Hana gives the dough an exasperated whack with the rolling pin and Lana can see the immediate regret in her eyes as the movement sends repercussions through her battered body. Recoiling, she hisses through her teeth.

“Damn it! Ugh, just come off it. I clearly did the right thing.”

“How? No one was down there!”“But someone could’ve been down there,” Hana insists hotly. “We couldn’t rely on the tech to tell us one way or the other, so I checked for myself. It’s what a paladin would do.”

Lana chews her lip. She understands where her friend is coming from, but she doesn’t have any forthcoming fuzzy feelings for her decision either. It was too reckless. Lana doesn’t like to see any of her team in danger, but this was the kind of stunt she would at least expect from Keith or Shiro. Not Hana. It was a stunt that blindsided her coming from cautious, nervous Huihana.

“You should have at least called one of us for backup.”

And what she means is, you should have called me for backup.

“I didn’t think I had enough time.” Hana gripes, maneuvering her way around the kitchen. “It’s over and done with, so just lay off.”

Lana feels the worst of her fury dying away, but she still isn’t happy. This was too much, too close a call. She can’t just swallow it with a smile and pretend she wasn’t terrified to her core. Not with the echoes of Hana’s scream still rattling around like vengeful wraiths inside her head.

“Oh crap…I’m bleeding,” Hana mutters, yanking Lana out of her thoughts.

The red stain spreads through her robe and Lana gasps, scrambling over.

“Don’t want to say I told you so, but this is exactly why you should be in bed,” she says tersely, hiking Hana’s arm over her shoulder.

Hana is still the bigger of the two, but Lana is tougher than she looks and more than strong enough to offer her support. Hana accepts it wearily, and Lana becomes increasingly worried when she fails to fire back some retort. Lana studies her more closely and frowns.

Drops of sweat sprinkle Hana’s face, headband practically drenched with it. The pain is naked in her eyes, glistening with the mist of unshed tears. Her jaw tightens, teeth clenching as she fails to bite back a whine.

“Come on,” Lana encourages. “Just a little farther.”

“A little?” Hana shoots her an exhausted look. “The med bay’s on the other side of the castle.”

“But your room is right around the corner, and Coran helped me stock it with all the right aftercare supplies while you were out being a bad patient.”

“I wasn’t trying to be a bad patient,” she mumbles. “Today just caught up with me and sitting still in silence wasn’t exactly doing wonders for my anxiety.”

“Yeah, well you bleeding through your clothes isn’t exactly doing wonders for my mental health, either,” Lana retorts.

Hana must be too spent to keep arguing because all she does is glower.

When they reach her bedroom, Lana parks her down on the bed and slides the robe off her shoulders. The bandages encasing her torso are soaked scarlet and it sends chills up Lana’s spine. Even so, she tries to keep herself together. She opens the impressive supply kit Coran prepared and paws through until she finds the sutures.

“So you’re gonna patch me up even though you’re pissed?”

“Of course I am, jerk face.”

Lana gets the packet of numbing gel and the scissors, kneels down, eye level with the wound. She snips through the layers of gauze and they fall loosely to the bed. A wide absorbent pad remains, taped over her side. It’s sodden with blood that smears onto Lana’s fingertips as she removes it as gently as possibly.

What lurks beneath is like something out of a slasher flick. Lana is a tad nervous about tending to it because it’s such a gruesome injury, but she doesn’t want to admit that aloud. The blast from the sentry’s gun shaved off a good hunk of flesh. The aperture of the wound is irritated where Coran had to trim away ruined skin. The layer of fat beneath the remaining skin peeks out a bit, bumpy and glazed in blood. The open meat in the middle is this sickening, moist, melon pink.

“Congratulations,” Lana offers sarcastically. “You managed to pop all of your stitches.”

Hana grimaces. “I don’t wanna know the graphic details.”

“No,” she agrees grimly. “You don’t.”

Lana pinches the tip of the scissors over the broken thread of the old stitches and carefully pulls them through. Hana’s fist clenches into the blankets, a tight look of discomfort twisting her features.

Some of Lana’s frustration ebbs.

“This is the worst part and it’s almost over, okay?”

Hana nods tensely.

Lana removes the long, thin thread and discards it. She opens the numbing gel and carefully spreads it along the in tact skin around the wound.

“I’m sorry, okay?” she says softly. “I know I shouldn’t be mad at you, you did what you felt was right—“

“You mean what was right,” Hana breaks in stubbornly.

“…I thought you died,” Lana admits somberly.

“What?” Hana’s jaw drops.

Lana purses her lips as she opens the suture set. “It was the way you screamed. You’re super jumpy, so I’ve heard you scream a thousand times before, but never like that. That scream chilled me to the bone, I could just hear the hurt in it…and then when we started screaming back for you to answer, you didn’t. We— I was begging you to answer me but all I got was radio silence.”

“I scared you,” Hana concludes quietly.

“Yeah.” Lana huffs, poking the needle into the flesh. Evidently the gel is doing its job, because her friend doesn’t even flinch. “Scared me more than anything else ever has. You’re in front of me right now in one piece, talking to me, and I’m still kinda shook up over it.”

“Aw, Lana…”

Lana sews quietly, occasionally glancing up to make sure Hana’s tolerating it okay. She’s fiddling with her fingers, gaze pointedly fixed on the wall.

“Look, I’m sorry. Not for what I did, but for scaring you.”

“I don’t really blame you,” Lana says, finishing off the stitches. “This is war, we get hurt. But can you at least be a good patient for the rest of the day?”

“I will if you stick around to distract me.”

“I’m supposed to let you rest,” Lana mutters, distracted as she fishes through the supplies.

Hana groans quietly and shakes her head. “I can’t. You don’t think I got scared too? It’s so quiet in here, all I can do is relive getting blasted. It’s freaking me out.”

She takes another absorbent pad and thick roll of gauze, wincing sympathetically. “Alright. I’ll stay. Maybe I can get Pidge to bring us a projector so we can watch a movie or something.”

Hana lets out a sigh of relief. Lana returns to her bedside and strips the sterile packaging off the pad. She plasters it over the freshly stitched wound and gingerly pats it down. Hana gives a wince and she stops short.

“Too rough?”

“Nah. The gel wore off, that’s all. It’s sore.”

“I’ll bet.” It’s a hell of a wound, after all. Wide, deep, and butt ugly.

Lana unwinds a length of gauze and makes an effort to be especially gentle as she bandages her, starting from the bottom and moving upward. She smooths out as many of the wrinkles as she can and tries to secure the gauze around Hana’s torso without pulling too tight.

“Alright, almost there. Just hold your tits.”

“Huh? I’m not rushing you.” Hana puzzles, brow furrowing.

“I meant literally, my busty bestie,” Lana chuckles. “They’re in the way.”

“My bad.” Grimacing, Hana sheepishly hefts them up and Lana wraps the last layer around. She finishes up with small adhesive strips to keep the bandage in place and gives it the slightest of tugs to make sure they’re effective.

“All done,” she says brightly, pulling back. “That should keep it clean and safe. Just try not to bump into anything and don’t abuse the rolling pin anymore.”

“Thanks. I’d hug you if I could.” Hana sighs and slides her arms back into the sleeves of her robe. She raises her shoulders to get it all the way on— at least, she attempts to. Pain crosses her face halfway through the motion and the fabric slides back down.

“And I can’t do that either.”

She tucks her head down like a grumpy turtle sulking in its shell. Lana wordlessly pulls the garment up for her.

“Gonna do everything for me?” Hana lifts a tired brow.

“If I have to,” Lana says, crossing her arms. “As long as you promise not to scare me like that again.”

“If it were a promise I could keep, I would,” she says wistfully.

They gaze at each other a moment, an understanding passed. Lana deflates and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, leaning forward to pull back Hana’s blanket.

“Go on, climb in.”

“Could’ve done that much myself,” Hana mutters, sounding more weary than offended.

Lana studies her as she draws herself up, stiffly braced back on her elbows. Pain speaks in every movement, from her legs’ halting stretch, to the low breath hissed between her teeth as she carefully reclines to the pillows. Lana lightly drapes the blanket over her.

“Lemme get you something for the pain—“ Lana turns to go and stops short as Hana’s hand encircles hers.

She tugs with surprising strength for somebody who looks two seconds away from passing out, and Lana’s eyes pop wide as she gracelessly flounders to the bed.

Lacing their fingers together, Hana gives her a tender look. “This is enough. I feel better already.”

“Liar,” Lana huffs, crinkling her nose.

“No, really. Holding hands has the potential to reduce pain. Several studies suggest it produces an analgesic effect.”

Lana pauses, studying her face for any trace of deceit. Normally having genius friends is pretty cool because they can explain complicated stuff to you and help you ace your homework. But sometimes genius friends can mess with you by rewording bullshit to sound all science-y and smart. One time Hana and Pidge nearly convinced her that the moon was indeed made of some form of petrified cheese.

“For real?”

“Yeah, for real,” Hana insists, smiling gently. “When we hold hands our brainwaves begin to synchronize. It’s like communicating empathy through touch and it makes people feel better.”

“Huh.” Lana looks down at their hands and squeezes Hana’s a little tighter.

With Hana’s hand in hers, solid and warm, Lana is beginning to feel better too.

#bad things happen bingo #badthingshappenbingo #hunk vld #lance vld #platonic hance #i mean i don't touch shipping in the vld fandom no thank you #not even in genderbend aus #blood tw #injury tw

[megamanxfanfics]

S.V - Ep. 14: Taking The World Back

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT.  MHHQ BUNKER - Underground Shelter - DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

X teleports into the Bunker in his heavy Gaea Armor and lands on one knee, exhausted.

Instantly the New Recruits gasp, upon his entry.  

He resets his armor back into his gem with a beam of light and runs over to Alia with intrigue.  As he gets closer, the gaping sores and gashes across his base armor can be seen, making everyone in his presence cringe.

DOUGLAS: Oh my God! You need to see Lifesaver, Stat!

He puts out a weary hand.

X: Not yet.. What was that about a new Virus…?

Alia shakes her head slightly amused by him, but is more worried about their situation.

ALIA: Out of the frying pan, into the fire…  For the moment, we’ve named it the Zero Virus…

X: Hm?

ALIA: The strong energy signals at Point 11F5646 weren’t just coming from Zero.  They were emitting from the Colony, itself.

X: Huh??

ALIA: The Colony was filled to the brim with its own Virus.  And when it collided with Earth, it paired with the Sigma Virus, creating this frightening new cocktail that is off the charts! It’s as if there’s some sort of.. Dimension within the Colony now…  

SIGNAS: A Zero Space…

They all widen their eyes.

X: What does it mean???

SIGNAS: (worried) I don’t know…

ALIA: We may be able to solve the mystery of the Zero Virus, but it’s very risky…  Especially in your condition.  What should we do?

X: Well, I have to investigate!  

SIGNAS: Oh no... First thing is first.  You need to rest.

X: (sighing) I know….  But we gotta do something!

SIGNAS: We’ll analyze the toxin levels of the Zero Space with our long-range scanners while you sleep this off.

X: (reluctant) Okay...

Lifesaver looks over to X from a far corner and waves him over.

X nods and walks over to Lifesaver with Douglas’ assistance.

SIGNAS: It’d be good to get a full level of the World while we’re at it.

ALIA: Well, it’s a good thing we have all these Recruits. I know we can’t escape this…  So we’ll just have to fight it!  Together…

[Insert Title Card - Taking the World Back]

X is seen lying down in a pod with his eyes closed as Lifesaver and a clone tend to his wounds.

LIFESAVER PRIME: There...  That should do it.

He pulls a sedative out of X’s neck, which will allow him to sleep, undisturbed.

LIFESAVER PRIME: He’s out like a light, Alia.  Now we can clean these wounds and patch in energen tubes.

She looks over to X with concern, then gives Lifesaver a focused nod.

ALIA: Good.  (v.o, thinking) That’s not all he needs...

She turns around and looks over at the 11 Rescued Reploids who fell into this new recruitment operation.  Like it or not, they were Hunters now and they had a mission to do.  She walks over to them and clears her throat, before projecting her voice.

ALIA: Alright Gang! You all have a very important mission, but it’s going to take awhile.  

RESEARCHER: Hm?

The two Researchers she has worked with slightly perk up, but the rest simply look away in an attempt to ignore her or pretend that she is not there.

ALIA: C-come on. Gather around. You’re Hunters now!

SCIENTIST: Says who??

TECHNICIAN: I didn’t sign up for this…

ALIA: Shame on you! We don’t have time for this.

SCIENTIST: Hey.. We almost died, Lady!  Now you want to send us out there in that Nightmare??  I don’t think so…

The rest of the Reploids all nod and fold their arms. Tack looks apologetic.

Alia lets out a sigh and starts over.

ALIA: Look…  The Sigma Virus is gone, but the Zero Virus has replaced it.We have no idea what’s out there anymore and frankly, I need your help…  More importantly, so does everyone else.

Some of the group become more receptive and unfold their arms.

ALIA: There’s other Survivors out there that are counting on us…  I know you’re scared. Hell, I am Freaking Out right now!  But the only thing keeping me together is the fact that the World needs us. We’re not dead yet, and neither is this Planet! Do you Hear me???

Her 2 Researchers and Tack’s technicians all nod and look at each other.

TACK: Sure.  We hear you, but…  What can we do??

She nods with a poignant grin.  She has over half of them.

ALIA: I’m glad you asked. We need to do a full read-out of the World’s toxin levels.  Like I said, this will take time… This is a Science Mission first and a Rescue Mission second. Right now, we need to see how habitable the World even is, before we can attempt to save it. Douglas and I will equip you all with scanners and teleporters. And once we have X back, he will offer up basic training to those willing and able.  

SCIENTIST: I’m a Scientist! Not a fighter… Come on, what is this??

ALIA:

(flippant, snapping) This is Survival, man.  So either get your head in the game or get out. I’m sorry, but that’s all I have to offer…

Alia folds her arms, disappointed.

Douglas makes an awkward face and covers it with his hand.  Discomfort spreads across the room while the taken aback Scientists huddle around each other to discuss amongst themselves.  When they are done, a different scientist peers out from the huddle and raises his hand.

SCIENTIST: We’ve agreed to do it, but under one condition.

Alia raises her hands with a miffed shrug.

ALIA: What is it?

SCIENTIST:

We’re not going to Antarctica.

ALIA: Let’s get one thing straight.  No One is going to Antarctica!  That’s X’s job.

SCIENTIST: Ohhhh, thank God.

NEW RECRUITS: Hahahahahahahaha!

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT.  TRAILER LAB – Salvaged Work Space - DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Gate stirs awake from a pile of rubble.  The broken shells of his reploids cover him as he looks around frantically.

GATE: Ah! I’m alive...!  But, how..?

ISOC: You can thank me for that...

Gate takes a good look at his surroundings.  As he gets up, pieces of Metal Shark, and Shield Sheldon fall off of him.

ISOC: I put a forcefield around the trailer.  ..Old X-Hunter tech that I... pilfered from a while back...

Without looking at him, Isoc continues to tidy up the work space, placing the damaged torsos of each reploid up on a table.

GATE: (awestruck) You... magnificent being.  I owe you my life! Thank you...

ISOC: (grinning) Hmhmhmhm.  Don’t mention it...

GATE: No, really.  I’d be dead if it weren’t for you.  I’m sure of it. H-how can I repay you?

ISOC: (smirking) You can start by finishing these Reploids.  It’s a mess out there.  This is the perfect time for us to resurface as the new heads of the Research Community!!

Gate’s eyes widen.

GATE: Yes!!  I can see it now. Gate Enterprises!  Soon, my Elite Reploids will wake up.  And Reshape this World!

Isoc smiles.

ISOC: (v.o, thinking) …and while you do that, Zero will create an Empire of his own…! (aloud) Hahahahah!  

GATE: HAHAHAHAH!!

Gate joins in his laughter as they pick up where they left off.

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

EXT.  ABEL CITY RUINS – Damaged Downtown - DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

DYNAMO: AAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Amidst a destroyed city, Dynamo runs freely among the broken streets.  Storefronts are being looted and the few people that are alive are either rioting or panicking.  But best of all, is that there are no humans in sight.

DYNAMO: (gleeful) This is it!  We won.  (v.o, thinking) So this is what it looks like when the Bad Guys rule the World.

He passes by a reploid who punches through the glass window of a store front and blows up it’s inhabitants.

DYNAMO: (v.o, thinking) The Repliforce has been eliminated.  The Maverick Hunters are fractured beyond repair!  And now I can do whatever I want in a World without Consequences!! AAAHHAHAHAHAHA!  

He takes out his blades and throws them at the predators and prey that are in his way.

DYNAMO: It’s downright Anarchy.  This place is Lawless!  

His bloodied blades return to his hands, while someone runs after him.

DYNAMO: Interesting as that may be for now.. /ourgh..  there’s one small problem...  

At the dash he /kicks the challenger down to the ground.

DYNAMO: This is gonna get real boring real fast...

He scowls down at the reploid and blasts him away with his buster.

DYNAMO: (smirking) Ah well... There’s just no pleasing some people, I guess...

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT.  COLONY – Sigma's Lair - DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

In a dim room, a full-bodied Sigma looks at his monitor, admiring Zero’s movements.

SIGMA: I am beyond pleased... The plan was a complete success. Zero is fully aware of who he is and now he’s heading to his post as we speak.  

He grins at the display.

SIGMA: I will make my re-introductions soon... Strongest Hunter...

-zoom into the activity on the monitor-

-pan to-

-------------------------------------------------------------------- INT.  COLONY – Zero Space - DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero weaves in and out of the maze-like structure he has created. A mysterious aura surrounds the area with an indigo glow, as the walls resemble that of Cyber Space.

ZERO: (v.o, thinking) What is this place…? I feel a great power, here. It’s calling me…

As he dashes around the walls and narrow halls of the broken Colony, he notices a series of laser cannons that are offline.

ZERO: (v.o, thinking) Hmph.  Those must be for intruders…

He jumps down into an open space and passes by more sets of laser cannons, before landing on a ground floor.

ZERO: (v.o, thinking) Heh. Guess that means, I’m home…

He comfortably walks through a corridor, admiring the hexagonal décor of the Virus-coated walls.  He can feel himself grow stronger with every step as the ceiling and floor cannons allow him to pass freely towards a Gateway.

-pan to-

-------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. COLONY – Mysterious Lair – DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------

As Zero steps into the room a glob of black goo passes him by and nearly hits him in the head.

ZERO: Hm?

His hair is shuffled from the speed of the glob, which has landed on the ground.  Then another passes him by, almost catching him at the legs.

ZERO: Hyuh!

Zero jumps up and evades the glob.  Then he notices a third and fourth pass by, nearly attacking him in the process.

ZERO: What the…?

More globs swiftly continue to appear and form around him, while he must evade their narrow attacks.  He dashes, ducks, rolls and jumps in an effort to dodge each glob, before a massive heap of residue accumulates behind him into a large gurgling cube of dark matter.

ZERO: Wait a minute…

He watches the dark matter melt itself down into a puddle. Then, it reforms itself into a sphere which grows massive arms and legs of it’s own.

ZERO: (smirking)

I know what you are…

-flash-

-A nostalgic image of a yellow creature with a white eye appears- -A nostalgic image of the yellow creature with upgraded shoulder pads and a red core appears- -A nostalgic image a black creature with golden Egyptian bands around it’s head, hands, waist and legs appears- -A nostalgic image of a green slime creature, covering a metal eye appears-

-flash-

The black creature looms before Zero as it glares at him with it’s red eye.

ZERO: You’re the Shadow Devil!

SHADOW DEVIL: GRROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The walls around Zero phase into purple where a distorted logo can barely be seen.

Zero closes his eyes and takes a calm breath.

ZERO: So it’s true.  We are his Children after all…

He allows his armor to shift into black as he stands before the Shadow Devil.

SIGMA: (o.s, v.o) Muahahahaha. This is… Magnificent!

-fade out-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. MHHQ BUNKER – Underground Shelter – DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:00 AM

X opens his pod and sits up, stirring the recruits and staff around him.

DOUGLAS: X, you’re up!  

LIFESAVER: (surprised) But it’s only been… 2 hours.

X: (mighty, rested) That’s long enough for me…  I need to go after Zero.

He pulls the empty energen tubes out from his ribs and looks at him with gratitude.

X: Thanks for the Energy. I won’t waste it this time.

Lifesaver sighs and gives him an understanding nod.

Alia walks up to X and interjects.

ALIA: Speaking of which…

X: Hm?

He turns around.

ALIA: We’ve been doing some global scanning and noticed some particular items that you’ll be very interested in.

X shakes his head.

X: It’ll have to wait. I need to stop Zero.

ALIA: That’s just it. In order to do that.. you might need to complete this!

She pulls out an unfinished heart-tank from her back pocket.  So far it has only locked in 2 pieces, out of 8.

X gasps at the sight of it.

X: My Heart Tank…  That could’ve completed my Armor.  Or overall vitals…

Alia hesitates to nod.

ALIA: As strong as you are, you’re not at full power yet…  I’m sorry to say…

X: But… there’s no time!  I can’t go scavenging around the World.  At any moment, Zero could-

SIGNAS: He’s asleep…

X: (shocked) What!?

He immediately dashes over to Signas’ post.

SIGNAS: We’ve been keeping an eye on him through his com-channel.  You have more time than you think…  Go and grab your items.  Then, knock some sense into that bastard.

X’s eyes widen with hope.  His eyes /sharpen.

X: He must’ve run out of steam, like me…  /Then there’s still a chance!

DOUGLAS: (smiling) Here, X.  This will increase your odds of success.

He walks over and throws a part at him.

X catches the enhancement disk with a smile.

X: What’s this?

DOUGLAS: It’s the Speedster.  I meant to give it to you before.  It’ll make you even faster without using Armor Upgrades!

X: (surprised) Really!

DOUGLAS: Oh yeah! There’s more where that came from, but.. it can wait.  For now, go ahead and grab those heart-fragments!

X: (excited) Alright!  Where to??

Signas changes the image on their monitor to display a World Map.

SIGNAS: You’ll need to retrace your steps.  The closest fragment is located right here at Duff’s Sunken Ship.

X: Okay!

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT.  PACIFIC OCEAN - Duff’s Sunken Ship – DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:05 AM – Hexagon Time

Equipped in his Gaea Armor, X walks over to the same wall of spikes, which was unsafe for traverse. With his Mech-like Armor, however, X is able to fearlessly kick-jump up the wall of spikes and over to the top floor of the Sunken Ship.

X: (smiling) Hm.

He jogs ahead with his heavy armor and hops onto another set of deadly spikes.  Some stray dejira mechaniloids come near him, but he blasts them apart with a default level-2 blast.

X: (amused) Heh.

He continues to run ahead as fast as the Gaea Armor will allow him, passing by more harmless spike traps and dejiras in the process.

At the end of the ceiling platform, X spots a heart-piece waiting for him, placed underneath a low ceiling spike trap.

X: (smirking) Hah!

X punches the spikes, cracking their sharp teeth as he runs through them and grabs his 3rdheart-tank.

X: Alright.  5 more…

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) Next, you’ll have to go to Izzy’s Fortress in Russia.

- cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

EXT. NOVIKOVO – Izzy’s Fortress - NIGHT

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 9:07 PM – Russian Time

X teleports onto the cobblestone roof of Izzy Glow’s Fortress, just like before.  With the drawbridge already down, X kick-jumps up the small wall leading towards the bridge and looks down.

With his Gaea Armor handy, he drops down onto the bed of spikes and looks ahead.  His target is sitting in a corner, wedged between two spikes.

X: (laughing) Haha!  What.. did he just throw this??

He snatches the item and teleports away.

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) From there, you’ll head due South, into Kamisu Japan.

X: (v.o, narrating) Adler’s Lab…

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. ADLER’S LAB – Locked Room 4 – NIGHT

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 3:08 – AM – Kamisu Time

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) You’ll be able to bypass all the locks this time, except for this one.

X teleports directly to the corridor with the lock that gave him trouble last time.

X: I got it, this time.

He fires a charged Gaea shot at the orange lock, which knocks the circuit into place and opens the shutter, immediately.

X looks up and kick-jumps above.

X: (continuing) Because this time… I have what I need.

He lands before the stack of unbreakable black crates and clenches a fist.

He takes a swift punch, which puts an incredible dent in the crate, but does not destroy it.

X: (surprised) Hmm..

He charges up and blasts it with a Gaea shot. Surely, it disintegrates upon impact.

X: (content) That’s it.

The two stacks from above, suddenly topple down in front of him.

X: Hmph.

He quickly charges up and destroys the 2ndcrate.

The 3rdcrate drops, just as X dashes.  His armor is so strong that it bashes the crate away, causing it to wildly bounce further ahead of him, damaged below another lock.

X: Wow!  That’s right, Dad said I could move these things!!

He walks up to the crate, sets it in place and jumps on top of it.  At a 45 degree angle, he shoots level 2 shots, which disappear just before the lock can be struck.

X: Agh..

He charges up and blasts it open. With the shutter open, his prize awaits just on the other side. He quickly jumps down and dashes into the small room, grabbing the heart-tank at last.

X: Nice…  3 more.

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) Once you’ve handled that, hang a left due North-West for another Pit Stop in Russia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

EXT. KHETA XETA – Slash’s Truck – NIGHT

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 9:12 PM – Russian Time

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) You’ll be on Grizzly Slash’s Truck, which has been stopped by Zero…

X lands on the strange abandoned trailer with a slight frown. He narrows his eyes as he studies the cargo.  It was a frame of a gigantic room-sized spike trap.

X: Slasher was probably going to fortify his warehouse with this…  Oh well, what’s done is done…

He wipes his eyes, thinking about how last night, it was Zero who stopped this threat.

Then he looks up a narrow gap between trailers.  He dash-jumps up and over to the wall-frame above him, where his Gaea Armor sticks to the wall, almost like a magnet.

X: (surprised) Whoa!  No wall-sliding?  I could really use this to my advantage!!

He kick-jumps up, impressed at his own abilities only to find a huge roof of spikes at the top of the trailer.  He climbs up and sees the heart-fragment sitting resting on top of a spike at the other end of the trailer.

He dashes multiple times and finally grabs it.

X: I’ll take that.

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) Then it’s back to Rose’s Jungle for you in Ukraine.

He teleports away.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

EXT.  ROSE’S JUNGLE – Hidden Crate Area - NIGHT

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 9:15 PM – Ukraine Time

X stands before the once impenetrable crates, and charges up another Gaea Shot.  He destroys one crate, charges up again and blows up the other with a slight grin on his face.  His goal was coming into fruition, and with this Armor, he was already more powerful than before.

He runs ahead and spots another blocked passage from two more crates.  He destroys them with 2 charge shots as well, and kick-jumps up a small raised set of rocky land.

He spots three more crates in his way.  After destroying the first one, a bio-maverick rose is revealed.  It attacks X with a vine, but he dodges it and blasts it away with a charge shot. The shot, destroys the next two crates in succession, allowing him further passage along the cavern.

X: I guess this was a secret storage space for Repliforce…  Either, they never got to use it, or Rosered looted the place.

He jumps along and dashes as the cavern opens up, only to see more crates in his path.

X: No matter…

He destroys another crate, where another rose is waiting for him. He fires at it, but it is able to withstand even the Gaea shot.  Once it’s pedals open up, X fires again and destroys it with quick level-2 shots.

He looks ahead at a stack blocking his path and charges up.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Don’t destroy those crates, X. You’re gonna need to move ‘em.

X: Wait, what?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) I did some analysis. You won’t be able to make that jump and you can’t use the Falcon Armor anymore…

X: Don’t remind me… Alright, I’ll get crafty.

He kick-jumps up the stack and sees a crate ahead of him. He trusts Alia and bashes into it with a dash, which forces the crate off of his platform.  The crate falls down below into a small pit, which evens out the land, below.  Then, he can spot the prize ahead, lying on a far, jagged cliff.

X: Alright..  I think I know what to do.

He walks back over to the stack of crates and looks at it carefully.

X: Do I need both of them?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) I think you can get away with 1, but I wouldn’t-

X destroys the crate at the top.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) …risk it…

X: Oops.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) You’re too much, ya know that…?

X smiles while he dashes and bashes against the crate, slowly moving it along the terrain towards the edge.

X: Heh.  Right back at ya, Pal.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Pal!?  Who said we’re Pals?

The tone of her voice makes him smile anyway, whether she meant that or not.  When the crate reaches the edge, he continues to beam at the prize ahead, which is now in reach.

X: Alright, I think I got this.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Good luck...

X gets on top of the crate, which is teetering on the edge of a long gap.  As it is about to fall, he dash-jumps and reaches out to the small ledge where the heart-tank sits.

His hands cling to the rocks and he is able to pull himself up.

X: Got it!

He grabs the heart-fragment with zest and teleports away.

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) And lastly, you’ll have to visit Sunhouse Mountain in Kenya, where you both defeated Burn Dino-Rex.

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – Pit - NIGHT

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 9:23 PM – Kenyan Time

X is taken to a metal plated underground cavern where he can see two small openings that lead into a floor below.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Alright, I warned Zero about this before…  There’s a lot of lava flowing below you.  It comes at fixed intervals, so you’re gonna have to be mindful of the timing and proceed carefully!

X takes a breath and nods.

X: Understood.

Just then, a tremor comes and shakes the area.  Below him a huge wave of lava passes by and makes the area beneath his feet a lot hotter.

X: OH MY GOD!!!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) I know!

X: (scared) Where is this Heart-tank!?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Hard to tell. I can’t get a clear read-out.

X: (worried) Hmph.

He relinquishes his Gaea Armor and forms his Force Armor in it’s place. In a moment, his head gem beeps.

[RADAR]: Heart-tank located 13 clicks, below.

The Radar from his Aiming Laser guides him into the lava and zooms in on the desired target.  The feed is distorted, but he can see that the Heart-tank is unharmed by the lava.

When it stops, he sheds his Force Armor, and relies solely on his Base Armor.

ALIA: (v.o, narrating) X! Are you crazy??

X: It’s time to see what this Speedster can do.

Without anything to hinder his movement, his Speedster legs, swiftly move through the small gap, allowing him to quickly drop into the dangerous pit.

From there, he unnaturally runs at twice the speed and takes a giant leap with a dash-jump over to a further pit on his left.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered, worried) Oooh..  You’re almost there.

X is gasping and panting with adrenaline as he lands down below into the depths of the pit.  If that Lava strikes again, he is dead.

He turns around and spots the heart-piece lying just before a dragon head.

X: There!

Just as he goes to reach it, the dragon head spews out a wave of deadly flames at him.

X: Ah!!

He pulls his arm away, just in time, before he can get scorched. But then, he can hear the tremors behind him.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Uhhh..  Get out of there, X!

X: Not yet..  So close!

He reaches out, but the heat is too unbearable.

Then his eyes widen, as he suddenly switches to Goo Shaver and blasts the flames with the water-based attack.

The flames taper off, and disappear altogether, making the heart-tank visable again.  Then, the lava Appears.

ALIA: That’s it!

X: Waaai-

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. MHHQ  BUNKER – Underground Shelter – DAY

--------------------------------------------------------------------

X: t

X teleports into the bunker with the heart-piece in hand. Once he realizes where he is and that he’s succeeded, he smiles from ear to ear and looks at Alia.

Caption:  11:27 AM – Hexagon Time.

X: YEEHAAAAA!  WE DID IT!!!

ALIA: WOOOOOOOH!! OH MY GOD!!

The two of them embrace in an excited hug.

ALIA: I’m so glad you’re okay!!

X: Me too…

The moment passes over them, and they immediately disembark with embarrassment.

X: I’m so sorry. That was unprofessional.

ALIA: Oh no.. That was all me.  I shouldn’t have-

SIGNAS: Ahem.

They both immediately turn to their commander and salute.

X & ALIA: (blushing) Sir!

SIGNAS: I’m proud of both of you.  We acquired those heart-tanks in record time.  How are ya feeling, X?

He wipes his brow with a smile on his face.

X: Hardly broke a sweat.

SIGNAS: Good, ‘cause we’ll need you back out there, soon.

He nods. Alia takes the heart-pieces from X and begins to set up a work area.

DOUGLAS: Here, X.  Why don’t you equip these parts, while Alia and I put this heart-tank together?

X: Alright.  What are these?

DOUGLAS: This one is the Buster-Plus, which will make your attacks even stronger and the other one is the Ultimate Buster.  You’ll be able to fire Level 3 Charges without even charging up!!

X widens his eyes, while Douglas walks over to join Alia.

X: Good, God!  I think I’ll use that one sparingly.

DOUGLAS: Whatever it takes…

ALIA: Yeah, really. And don’t forget that you have all of the Repliforce Era weapons in your arsenal.  Use your Ultimate Buster with that.  Don’t be afraid to let him have it...

X makes a saddened smile at the thought. Then, it fades as he stares at the ground looking hopeless and lost.

SIGNAS: Hey, X..  Have you met our new crew?

He raises his head, as if coming out of a trance.

X: Huh? Not formally…

SIGNAS: Come. Let me introduce you.

Signas leads him over to a corner, which is quickly becoming a lounge as the New Recruits have been working on it.

SIGNAS: Hey everyone. Fall in. It’s about time that you all met, X.

The Recruits muddle about and stop what they are doing, respectfully forming a line.

X: Uh… Hi everybody.

SIGNAS: I know it’s been crazy around here…  A Lot has changed in the past 24 hours…  For all of us!  …But with that change, comes a new chance at hope.

Some of the recruits roll their eyes, while others are frozen with fear.  This makes X smile, actually.  

Signas puts an arm around X.

SIGNAS: X…  You are our Hope.  And Hunters…  You will be the World’s Hope.  …Together, we will rebuild this planet. One Continent at a time!

X and the other recruits nod, with brighter eyes, feeling on the same page.

SIGNAS: Alia has already prepped them, but once things calm down, we were hoping you could train these New Hunters, X.  Then, we may all stand a chance at better serving the world in this ever-changing landscape.

X nods in agreement, feeling a sense of purpose once again.

X: (enlightened) Of course!

SIGNAS:

(smiling) Hm.  With that said, lets get acquainted…  

He walks over to the first 5 Reploids in the line.

SIGNAS: X, these are the reploids you rescued from Adler’s Lab.  They are /Iso, /Data, /Araki, /Batsu and /Cody.

At each dash we get a /close up of them.

He continues to two more Reploids.

SIGNAS: These are the 2 Researchers you rescued from Dr. Glow’s Fortress.  /Hanse and /Hal.

X nods at them.

SIGNAS: And finally, we have the Technicians that Zero rescued from Spiral Pegasus’ base.  This is /Tack, /Tekk, /Regina and /Kassy.

X: Wow…  In the end, he saved some of the Repliforce after all…

SIGNAS: He saved as many as he could…

TACK: We owe him our life…

The words catch X off guard, leaving an empty place in his heart.

X: …I owed him my life too… But I think… That life is over…

He starts to tear up and wipes them away.

X: (whispering) Please, excuse me. It was nice to meet you all…

Signas looks at the New Team blankly and makes a half grimace.

SIGNAS: As you were…

He walks back over to X.

SIGNAS: Hey…  Are you okay?

X cannot hide his sobs from his Commander, who puts a caring arm around him and walks with him.

X: (muttering, crying) I’m Scared, Signas.. I don’t…wanna lose him, but I think I already did!!!

SIGNAS: I know, X.  This is the hardest thing you’ve ever gone through, but it might not be as bad as you think..

X: ..Huh? What do you mean??

SIGNAS: You have to face him, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to finish him. 

X: Doesn’t it?  He was the root cause, of Everything!  And I still can’t believe it.

SIGNAS: If Zero goes unchecked, there’s no telling what he and Sigma might do… But I meant what I said earlier.  I don’t think you have to stop him. You just have to save him.

X gasps and sniffles at the thought.

Just then, Alia draws near, with X’s new heart-tank in her hands.

ALIA: Uh-hm..  I hope I’m interrupting, but…  We’re all finished.

X lightens up and cracks a half-smile as he turns around. He wipes a tear and sniffles again.

X: Thanks, Alia.

ALIA: Are you alright?

X: No…

ALIA: It doesn’t take an analyst to figure that out…

X: Heheh..

ALIA: Come here. Let’s set you up.

She opens his chest plate and places his Heart-tank in it’s compartment.

Instantly, he feels warmer, calmer and more in control. Energy swells within his body, as his spirit becomes renewed.

He takes a breath of life and lets out a sigh of relief.

X: (sober, prepared) Ahhhhh… Whoa. That did the trick… Thank you!

ALIA: No problem!

His eyes sharpen with determination, once again.

X: Alright, then. That’s everything. I’m all set!  Send me over there.

Her eyes sharpen, too. mission-ready.

ALIA: Go for it!  We must bring this to an end once and for all!

She walks over to the main console and dials in the coordinates.  In the next moment, he is gone.

-Freeze frame. Grainy effect-

SIGNAS: (v.o, narrating) In two short hours, X has recovered and gathered the strength to pursue Zero once again. But was it enough…?  Only time will tell.  Good Luck, X.

-Fade to black-

#MMX Fanfics #Season V #Ep. 14 #Taking the World Back #X #Awakened Zero #Gate #Isoc #Dynamo #Sigma #Item Grab #Zero Space

[fakesurprise]

Arrangements & Threats

It was two days before I was able to return to the Tower. Being part of the government means you are not free, even when it seems otherwise. I could have pressed the issue, but the deal had been struck and Lady Tower was no longer a priority; it wasn’t a battle I felt I needed to have. I did manage to arrange for a portable scanner attached to my right wrist: my senses are more than decent, but they were made for war as much as the rest of me and the scanner could be far more thorough in finding more practical matters, assuming the Lady did not alter the signals.

I took two lifts up, had my ID pinged twice on reaching the upper levels. Everything was run down and scarred when it wasn’t broken. Any war hit the upper levels of a city first, so no one sane lived here if they could avoid it. Which didn’t stop it from being too full of people. I made my way through narrow side roads and what were once transit hubs that now sat empty. No one is rebuilding after the last war; everyone is just hunkering down and waiting for a new one.

I try not to think too hard about that, find the side street where I met the boy and take the route back to the tower the Lady was in. Several streets, rooftops, boards and finally the rope ladder leading up. I subvocalized a commands to the scanner. One inhabitant, according to it, but the Lady could easily fool it from down here. I made my way up, pinged my location to Control, and knocked once on the door.

It could be a trap; I would revolutionize what Lady Tower could do. But even she knows what I do, and the door opened.

To the left was the shower, one of the two fridges, clothing, the mattress. No Lady, no technology, not even a single table left behind. The walls boasted new scorch marks in them that couldn’t have been more than a day old. The boy stood near the mattress, not moving at all. I walked in, the door closing behind me.

“I have a deep scanner on me; I am afraid I must use it.”

The boy hesitated visibly, then nodded once.

No trace of the Lady at all. The boy, though, was a surprise. His left leg had been damaged and regrown at some point, but body definitely bioengineered to be better than human. The electromesh woven into his flesh had been put in far earlier than I’d suspected, and his body was the only reason he had survived the gas attack. Damage to the lungs, a shunt for food and waste where his stomach should be, the false voice box made by the Lady. All the technology was well made, and that not a surprise. The surprise was that one of his kidneys wasn’t.

I double-checked the scan. “Your left kidney: you have a pocket. What is in it?”

The boy’s eyes widened a little. He reached up and touched his throat. “The Lady has done the best she could, but the mesh eventually destroys any voice box,” he said, and this box was an improvement over the one a mere two days ago; I only was certain it was a false voice because of the scan and that I knew it to be so. “I keep spare voice boxes in there.”

He opened it with a wince, closed flesh a moment later over a space that was too big to be normal. I’d know a couple of people with pockets that contained weapons a time or two, but the construction costs were too high to justify it normally.

“Your ID has been tampered with by the Lady.”

The boy nodded.

I continued the scan. He was male, though his reproductive organs were inside his body and dormant. A very rich family, to even do that at all. I turned the scan up to his head, and winced.

“When you told me you sold your eyes, I had assumed it was temporary.”

The boy said nothing; his eyes were eyes, but the cameras installed inside all fed into his brain and to various arrays sending the data elsewhere. Currently the Lady was not receiving them, but the boy wasn’t capable of doing so himself.

“You have a name, I trust?”

“Mello.”

“Stevens.” I walked closer. The boy moved toward me, frowned. “I’m not wearing the battle suit your mesh destroyed.”

“Oh. Right.” He walked closer, ran one hand onto my left arm, then slowly to my face and dropped it. “You have a lot of implants?” “I do. She left you here?”

“She said she can’t do anything more for for my voice, but the government might be able to grow me a real one? And a new stomach?”

“Given your mesh, it would be – expensive, and difficult.”

Mello nodded. “I understand. Would my eyes cover some of that?” So hesitant, those words. “I will need to ask. Wait here?”   He didn’t move as I left and dropped down to another rooftop. I pinged Alder.

He prefers debriefs, but does understand expediency: I dumped the data to him.

“Interesting. The Lady wanting to make certain we never renege on our deal. By proving she does not?” “I think so. The boy is clearly from a family wiped out during one of the wars, but it will take time to learn which one. That the Lady can alter official ID to scramble it means she can falsify. And that others can as well, and she gave that to us.”

“You want to use the boy.”

“If we don’t, others will. Patched into our Array he can be a walking deep scan, though limited. We can’t lose that kind of resource.”

“Anything else?” “Nothing that can’t wait until a debriefing.”

“Heh. I’ll start the approval process. Take him to one of your safe houses; if he is compromised, we can’t afford to lose any other assets beyond you.”

“Understood.” I disconnected and returned. “My boss is working out an approval process. Until then, I’m taking you to a safe house.”

Mello shook his head before I’d even finished speaking. “I’m safe here.”

“No, you aren’t. Not for what we’d have you do. I can’t give you access to the Array without approval; can you tap into Network feeds?”

He nodded. “I can see myself through them, use that, but right now I’m –.” He waved his hands over his head.

“Open. Vulnerable?”

“Outside here, yes.”

“Noted. Stevens. Access?”

Mello was silent over two seconds. “Granted.”

“Disable cameras,” I snapped, and Mello swayed a little. I had access to the entire command structure in him, to an extent. Definitely over the cameras. I wanted to know what had pushed him to a deal like that with anyone, but now wasn’t the time. I grabbed his hands gently, took them to my face.

He ran them over me slowly, and then moved and went over my entire body. Without the cameras, he wasn’t getting much data. Even the ones in his fingers were turned off, and I wasn’t certain what those ones were meant to do. “Thank you,” he whispered after.

“Not a problem. Preference?”

“Left hand?”

I headed out and he followed, taking the routes he knew by heart to the street and then a couple of more blocks before his left hand wrapped into my right. I shivered a little, unable to help myself. I understood sacrifice. I understood duty. But whatever Mello had done to himself went far beyond anything I was comfortable with. I wondered if the person he had sacrificed himself for would ever know, and what they might do in turn. The worst thing you can do for anyone is something they can never pay back, but I wasn’t sure if the boy understood that.

Or perhaps knew it too well, and that thought was so uncomfortable I wished I’d never had it.

One lift and a levtrain and a short walk was enough to reach the safehouse. Mello was silent the whole times, eyes closed, just listening to the world with a baffled frown. I wasn’t sure how long he’d spent above, but it was long enough that the solidity of the city unnerved him. Everything quiet, regulated and sane.

Everything in the upper levels of the city was neat and orderly by design. The buildings functional and solid, designed to withstand war and provide shelter and attack locations for us if someone invaded with soldiers. Everything was environment-proofed if a storm broke through the surface, and that was also enough to protect against a basic impact rifle. Nothing like what the Core of the cities have, but it was far better than the surface where survival would be a matter of luck more than anything else. The roads and sidewalks were all neat and tidy, government patrols regular enough in their irregularity to keep things orderly on the surface.

The safe house wasn’t anything special from the outside, or even the inside. It wasn’t particularly safe, since that could draw attention if the area was scanned. It was larger than the official maps suggested though and the asi that ran it more advanced than most of the surrounding ones. There were two caches of weapons and a shielded link to the governments private Array. I’d had to reinforce the three rooms myself and pinged the asi ahead of time to order supplies during our ride.

“It’s – quiet,” was all Mello offered softly as the sidewalk moved us to the end of one unit of buildings. I normally walked faster than the sidewalks travelled, but given Mello I just kept still, turned down the next sidewalk, and the next until we reached the safehouse. The building looked like every other building on the street: businesses below, housing on top though the businesses were all fronts for various government operations. The building pinged my ID and we went on, the lift taking us only to the fifth floor. I led the boy down the hallway and to unit 5L13, the door opening quietly.

The interior wasn’t much. One common room with a kitchen unit, info centre and table, and two bedrooms with a connecting bathroom at the far end. It was far more open than most housing units in the area, but that was for reasons of line of sight rather than anything else.

“Asi: add designate: Mello,” I said to the assistant.

There was a pause as the computer scanned him. “Provisional access granted per approval. Provisional exception authorized?”

Alder might not like using a lot of the modern systems, but he used them well when he had to. “Yes.”

Mello blinked a couple of times and turned slowly. The Lady – or whoever she had worked with – had designed to ocular implants to not feed back into him. But I could at least have him connected to the room cameras and see his own body that way. The asi noted the supplied and designated sleeping quarters to the both of us, and a map of the surrounding area and access points to lifts and glide tubes.

The boy walked slowly into the one bedroom, coming back out a couple of minutes later in a different shirt and pants.”These fit. You scanned my size?”

I shook my head. “No. I am good at guessing sizes.”

“That is an odd skill?”

“Not really. I was in the last war with Eden 4. You get good at judging people so you can order body bags and ship the dead home.”

Mello was quite a moment at that. “For their families?”

“More to keep the tech inside them out of enemy hands. Unofficially, of course.”

He nodded and made his way to the kitchen slowly, running his hands over the world surface and the fridge before opening it. “You ordered food I can eat.”

“I would be a poor host otherwise.”

Mello didn’t respond, pulled out a small food pack, lifted his shift and inserted it into his shunt before putting a Full patch on one arm for a few seconds before throwing it out. His shunt was civilian grade: insert food back, get nutrients equal to a solid meal. Remove back later when it collected waste. Repeat. Military shunts could use almost anything as a food source in them, but that wasn’t something we talked about with civilians. Replacing stomachs was practical, but seldom done without just cause because you needed to use drugs to convince the body you’d eaten even though you had. Put the wrong food in a shunt, use a Full and you’d starve to death thinking you weren’t.

He walked over after, circling me slowly. Using the asi scans only, since it was all he could access. “You’re taller than I thought you were, ma’am. Do you – use another name, besides Stevens?”

“No, I don’t. Ma’am is fine, if you want to be formal.”

That won a shy smile. “I’d rather not, If I may?” He was quiet a moment. “May I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“Your eyes contain cybernetics as well?”

“They do.”

“Can you cry?” he asked, even softer, a slight tremble in the words. I marvelled at what the Lady had done to make such a voice box.

“No. I have always taken that to be a blessing.”

“Me too.” He licked his lips. “Thank you, for the helping.”

“You’re welcome. I’m hoping I don’t have to kill you.”

“Me too,” he said again, with feeling, the Lady definitely an enigma to him as well.

I left him to learn the safe house as best he could and returned to make my report. It was true I didn’t want to kill him, but not as true as the reality that I would without hesitation. Sometimes I am far too good at being the person I was made into. But a small part of me wonders if I can always be good enough: surely there would come a point where I would not sacrifice everything for duty.

I suspected it would only come with my death.

#writing #prose #survivors #post cyberpunk #biopunk

[someonestole15]

Alone and cold

Cell block 11…

Something is off, I should be picking up a signal from Valkyrie by now. Even if she was still in that mech chassis, that thing had a good transponder built in. Nothing has reached my radio over the past hours, either it is broken, or something has happened to her. I kept moving through the blocks, there wasn’t anything to stop me, seeing as the Crimson squad had passed through… They were surely on my trail as well, so stopping wasn’t an option, but it wasn’t my plan. Blocks 12 through 14 were clear, but not empty. Several corpses and android chassis scattered everywhere and marks of damage on the walls around. Glad I hadn’t been here when the fights happened, but guessing everything useful is gone as well. Not that it would help much, having this trail makes me too easy to find if I stop.

Cellblock 15 was up next, the door was jammed wide open and the lights within the sector were off making it hard to see. The flashlights I had with me were of some use, but even their cones weren’t much with the darkness enveloping everything around me. My scanners needed a stable point to calibrate, so I took a knee behind a scrapped transport vehicle.

>Sensors active… ERROR: Designation preventing use of scouting sensors. >Triangulation scan possible! Placing waypoints to the other spots for a full scan… >Ready. Repeat scan at waypoint for a complete picture.

This designation thing is useful, but sometimes not as much. What happened to my past self who ran around as a hybrid? Have I gone too far to get back to that? No, why are these thoughts filling my RAM time after time? My firewalls haven’t stopped them… so where did they come from?

I made sure the area around me was clear and moved to the secondary waypoint. I sat down as the scan took longer than before. I kept my eyes on the door, any lights poking through and I would run like hell. The Carbine has proven to be a good weapon, but I was not prepared for war, more like a skirmish. Around ten minutes later the scan completed, off to that third waypoint.

The last waypoint was near the end of the block. Unlike the other blocks, there was no door to go further on with the cell blocks… so they had stopped at fifteen? I have a bad feeling about this, going to the waypoint will leave me with little to no exits. It seems like a perfect place to trap someone, but it might end up being my only option to locate Valkyrie.

I took a knee at the third waypoint and started my scan. I felt uneasy as the progress bar worked its way on. >Scanning… Please wait. > [|||……..] > [||||……] >Error: system jammed!

I was getting up when I felt it, an impact directly to my chest. The strike alone was enough to send me falling over, but the EMP effect sealed it. My hands could no longer hold on to the carbine and my feet couldn’t hold up under my weight, leaving me unarmed and limp on the ground. End of…

I rebooted back online after some time. The lights around me were back online, but my chassis still had no control. The EMP round had punched right through my armor, allowing it to shock me to my core. My vision cleared up as did my audio, I could hear someone speaking.

“That was easier than I thought, guess we had the element of surprise…”

“Shut it, if he access to his scanners, you would have been spotted right away…”

“Both of you, silence. We showed him the pain that I promised him…”

Crimson, they had used my own plan against me… who could have known they placed that sniper here earlier? Doesn’t matter now, I am quite literally dead in the water here.

Valkyrie… I am sorry… I gave it my all and failed.

“So what are we gonna do with his chassis?”

“Remove the AI and thermite the rest, The Corporation was quite clear on that…”

“Oh, but I wanted to steal those throwing knives in his arm.”

“Fine, take them, but do not remove that bullet from his chest. It is the only thing keeping him down for the count. Quite sure he can’t hear us anyway, I loaded that round myself and made sure it was powerful enough.”

So this is it… End of me… I failed everything I had promised and soon I wouldn’t be anything but a flash drive somewhere within the archives of the corporation. I sighted a shadow standing over me, the glow from his eyes was still blinding, so I couldn’t accurately know who it was.

“Surprised we found you here? Heh, we aren’t. Followed that signal like a dog on a leash, I thought you were smarter than that. I’ll let you in a on a little secret… Valkyrie is now mine.” He pulled out a square shaped object and waved it.

“Everything needed to run her is in here. You are going to make several bullets when they are done with you…”

--Connection terminated— --Connection… resumed—

Get up, smell the ashes. Rise like the phoenix you are and make them suffer for their overconfidence.

I would, but the EMP is locking me up.

You have been through worse, fight it. You are not fighting back, so it’s even more effective.

 --Ejecting armor… --Servos ready.

The maintenance mode had worked. It unattached the armor plate on my chest and so, the EMP round. Thankfully it was silent enough to not get noticed.

--Reactivating limbs… --Error, knife holster empty. Skipping…

>System active and ready.

>

BACK FROM THE DEAD

#stories #writing #cyberpunk #logs of an android #fiction #scifi #science fiction #sci fi & fantasy #fantasy #machine

[nierly-amazing]

yo talk to me abt 2b and 9s. i need friends 😭

You want me to talk about 2B and 9S? YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT 2B AND 9S????? ARE YOU SURE?!?

OKAY FRIEND

THEY ARE BOTH SO GOOD I LOVE THEM.

THEY ARE SAD BROKEN IMPERFECT CHILDREN WHO NEED LOTS OF TLC.

And there are people out there who are too hard on one or the other and it makes me S A L T Y because they’re shoving their moral purity bullshit on two deeply broken characters and expect them to make the right decisions all the time.

Of course they’re gonna make mistakes, of course they’re going to choose the wrong options. They may be androids, but they are pretty damn human.

2B’s trapped in a cycle of killing the one she loves over and over and erasing his memories of her and everything.

Defecting isn’t really an option in her mind. She’s an E unit so she knows how successful they are; she probably wouldn’t think they’d last very long out there with no way to maintain and repair themselves. She doesn’t know of any successful defectors; command never tells them about A2 when she kills them, obviously, because they wouldn’t want to give anyone any ideas if they found out there was someone who’s survived years on her own out there (albeit falling apart and only surviving out of spite).

Plus, A2′s much less of a threat than an E-model and their best scanner model who is powerful enough to hack into the Bunkers defenses to dig out classified information. A2′s just some prototype who found out she was sent down to die yet continued to survive out of spite. 2B and 9S had the potential to cause a LOT of problems for YoRHa, since 9S found out one of the biggest secrets kept from all androids and other info that could possibly be very dangerous if the enemy got their hands on them. So it’s pretty likely they’d put a lot more effort into killing them than they did with A2.

A2′s circumstances are different than 2B and 9S’ anyway. Her only order was to die at the end of her mission. So for her it’s either let yorha kill her, or go on the run until she eventually gets killed by them or a machine. There are no other options for her. She has no one left to protect or worry about losing, nothing to tie her back.

And she was in a similar situation to 2B; they all did find out they were programmed to die after the mission but chose to see it through anyway instead of defecting.

So if command ordered her to kill 9S again and said they wouldn't reinstate a new one, who says she wouldn't take him and gtfo?

2B hates her job so much that she once chose death over killing him again, and the only reason she survived because he killed himself instead and made her promise to keep killing him. He wouldn't let her take the 'easy' way out because he knew that wouldn't solve anything.

That promise kinda complicates things too. Since it kinda invalidates what the next 9Ss might be feeling so now she’s even more stuck since she has orders from command AND orders from the 2+ 9S that made her promise.

Like, her job hurts her to the point where her own data corrupts in a way that’s ‘physically’ painful to the ‘touch’ (aka memory thorns).

She’s tried what she could to try to stop 9S from coming to the same conclusions as last time. She’s even tried to get command to retract their orders before but to no avail.

She’s cold and strict with him, but never outright cruel and mean. And, heck, maybe she could have been gentler on him, maybe she could have been herself more to make life easier on him. But like at what expense to her? The closer she gets to each of them the harder it is on her to kill him. Remember the whole “as close as possible yet eternally distant” thing?

So like, she could have made some better choices, but she was pretty stuck in what she was doing. She was stuck walking down a path where any decision she made could have bad consequences, so geez, give her a break for choosing the ones that had less terrible consequences (at least in her mind).

AND NOW FOR THE BOY

I already gushed about the poor boy at length [Here]

BUT I can still gush a bit more anyway. 

Some people are too hard on him too. Like do yall really expect someone who was:

A: Thrown into an endless war from the day he was born with no ability to quit. 

B: Given all the emotions and wants and needs of a human and then prohibited from expressing or trying to get those needs met.

C: Paired up with someone who’s emotionally distant to him and he doesn’t know why, falls in love with her anyway, only to find out she has to kill him over and over and is falling apart at the seams because of it. 

D: Has his memories wiped but some remaining something still draws him to her to the point where he’s willing to sacrifice himself for her after only ‘knowing’ her for an hour or so.

E: Programed to be incredibly curious then punished when directing that curiosity in a way YoRHa didn’t like.

F: Tortured and violated by some creepy humanoid machine and forced to face his complicated feelings about her and the world in a definitely not healthy way.

G: Thrown into traumatic battle after battle the moment after she starts reciprocating feelings for him.

H: Watched almost everyone he knows and cares about die in the span of an hour, many of whom he had to kill himself.

I: Watches the most important person to him get stabbed right in front of him, just when they were finally free of their cycle.

J: Wakes up thinking she was murdered in cold blood and fucking nobody thinks to tell him it was a mercy kill. Anemone knew, the pods knew, the weapons dude knew, A2 obviously knew and had multiple ways to take 5 minutes of her day and safely let him know 2B was infected, but didn’t. 

K: Intentionally tortured by the machine network because the Red Girls had some weird fascination with him. 

L: Had no real support network because androids in the middle of a 6000 year war likely dont have any grief counselors. 

M: The only time he’s had contact with A2 she said some cryptic bullshit that could be easily interpreted as taunting or something by him.

N: I could probably think of more to get all the way to Z but I want to do something else now.

Like yall really think someone who has gone through that much trauma with little to no support would be expected to behave like some morally pure uwu angel and make all the right decisions? Could he have acted better and made better decisions? Probably. But give the poor guy a break. He’s an endlessly fascinating character to study and relate to despite his flaws and mistakes.

Anyway I love them both so much despite their flaws and mistakes and they are an amazing pair because of the potential to grow and heal with each other after they wake up after [E]. They’re finally free to be as emotional and supportive of each other as they want and finally get t-shirts. 

And i just love who they are too. 2B is a gentle and kind person when she’s not forced to be cold and strict. 9S is just a curious ball of energy and is super sweet and respectful to 2B. He can be kinda snarky but he always backs off and respects her boundaries.

And just, I love the role reversal in this pairing. 2B’s the strong stoic one, where 9S is the bubbly support. It wouldn’t have half it’s charm if the genders were reversed.

There’s just SO MUCH POTENTIAL with these two. Like before I had no real intention of reading or writing fanfiction but then I played nier and I probably have written nierly (heh) 200k words over all my fics but now like, I just want to explore so much with them and their complex and unique relationship and uguh just

I

JUST

LOVE

THESE

LOUSY

GOTH

ANDROID

BABS

#nier #nier automata #nier: automata #nier spoilers #nier automata spoilers #you wanted me to talk about 2B and 9S #SO ILL FUCKIN TAlk ABOUT 2B AND 9S I LOVE THEM SO MUCH #my shitposts #long post #Anonymous

[chronicbatfictioner]

Theater of the Soul - Chapter 11

He woke up to a number of new voices. Calm, soft, educated voices. Usually more prevalent with the presence of mean people.

He couldn't make out what they were saying. But there was a more important concern to be had.

From the smell of it, there were food. Fresh, hot food. A table in the middle of the room bearing a lot of food was present. But he didn't know if he would be chased away, or punched, if he were to reach for one. He knew he couldn't simply pilfer the food, either - there was no movement around the room that should have been enough to cover for his stealing some pieces of those very interesting bread. Some of the breads, however, he would not touch. They were special. They would be missed.

The boy and little girl who were his present companions were there, and they looked fine. A lady took the little girl somewhere else, but she did not look scared, so she has got to be a safe person, somewhat. She - the older lady - had looked at him and looked like she was going to cry, but then collected herself and did not cry. There was a big, big man who looked at him oddly. Neither spoke toward him. Or maybe they did, but he just didn't care enough.

Somebody placed him on the table, in front of the breads. He was given the special bread and wondered if they were joking or simply trying to see if he would take the bait. He waited. Oh, he could wait, alright. He has learned to wait out those nasty people a long, long time ago. Bide his time real good until they looked away.

But he didn't have to wait long. A hand took the special bread away, and replaced it with a plain toast. Buttered, warm... just like the way he liked it. He nearly moaned with longing as he looked up to the owner of the hand. Oh, it's that blue-eyed person. The person said something and somehow, assured him that it was his. That he may have it. He blinked. The person was nice. That person has been nice to him since... a while? Whatever. He decided that he would trust that person.

The first bite of the warm buttered toast felt heavenly.

Tim could tell that Bruce and Dr Leslie Thompkins, Bruce's personal physician from god knows how long (probably since his childhood) was there from Danny's stiff posture at the breakfast table - even if Tim could yet to see the table from his bedroom. He found himself smiling - Bruce tend to evoke such reaction with his enigmatic presence, alright. Especially if/when he decided to bring the 'Brucie' persona full on, i.e. one that had faced a renowned Russian President with enough scowl-factor that made said president fluster in shame.

His yawn stopped halfway when he finally rounded the corner and saw Jason also sitting on the table, albeit still glaring blankly at the toast and plethora of food before him.

"Oh good morning, Tim!" Barbara called cheerfully - and Tim knew Barbara well enough to know that she was being sarcastic. His eyes landed on the clock and he realized why. It was 10 a.m. already.

"Mornin' everybody." he replied rather grumpily as he made his way to the coffeepot because. Well, 10 a.m. or not, Tim was not a morning person. Plus, he'd spent the rest of the night worrying that Jason would ran out on them the minute Bruce got in - some time after 4 a.m. (he'd seen the clock and heard Bruce when he came in with Dr Thompkins, and Barbara opened the door for them). He - as well as Danny, Ellie, and Barbara, had gone to bed - Danny with Jason in the living room, Ellie sharing Barbara's room, and Tim got his own - a little after 1 a.m.

Danny and Ellie, if anything, were excited enough to stay up that late. Mostly due to the presence of food. But also because Helena was somehow able to call the County Jail where their mother was held and did some haughty commanding to get the wardens to actually collect her and allowed her to take the call, "regardless of the time, Warden. These children have not heard from their mother for nearly six months! You are not that cruel, I presume?"

Helena could be very convincing when she wanted to, obviously.

"Tim," Bruce's baritone made the wine glasses above the kitchen counter tinkled. "You did very well."

Tim reeled, partly from the lack of caffeine in his system, partly from shock.

"Thanks..." he mumbled.

"You know that thing can stunt your growth, right?" Danny quipped, eyeing the coffee in Tim's hands.

"Where's Ellie?" Tim wanted to know.

"Dr Thompkins is giving her a checkup there," Danny pointed at the living room. "Worms and stuff. Just in case, y'know. She's little."

"You?"

"I'm done. No worms, lice, or anything that'll make Mr Wayne here have to disinfect the pool." Danny grinned at Tim. "You didn't tell me your dad is Bruce Wayne."

Tim gave him a lopsided smile. "My father was Jack Drake." he said. A flicker of recognition flashed in Danny's eyes. "But yes, my dad is Bruce Wayne."

"Boy, you're like, connected. Like, Sean Astin level of connected! You should've been a star or something!" Danny gushed.

Tim huffed. 'Star'. Right. "Heh. Right. Anyway, has Dr T checked Jason yet?"

"Not yet," a kindly voice replied from the living room. "Dinah Lance gave me quite an appraisal in Jason's condition, and seeing that thus far, only Daniel and Ellie who have managed to move Jason from couch to here, I figured I should wait until I'm done with Ellie." Dr Thompkins replied. "Daniel here has also mentioned that you were able to settle him down a little yesterday. So, would you like to explain to me how?"

Tim flustered a little. "Yeeeah I don't know. I mean, I just..." his eyes landed on Jason, still glaring at the food on the plate in front of him. "Has anybody tried to make him eat, yet?"

"He didn't want toast." Danny said.

"Uh, yeah. He hated them with marmalade. You should know that, Bruce." Tim scowled, pointing at the marmalade-covered toast on Jason's plate.

"Hey, I've only tried it today, and it's pretty awesome!" Danny announced. "Ellie had two."

"Jason never liked them. He'd always switched with my plain buttered one." Tim smiled ruefully. "Bruce loved marmalade. I'm okay with it, but not too much of a fan. Dick - our older brother, could eat the whole jar in one go."

"Ah," Bruce almost smirked. "That's why I never noticed."

"Yeah," Tim agreed, starting to put just butter on a pair of warm toast Barbara handed him. "Thanks, Babs." he added, belatedly.

"I thought you've only lived with Bruce for a short time, Timothy?" Dr Thompkins asked.

"I did, but Jason and I talked, before..." Tim paused and bit his lip before continuing, "before he thought I was... gonna replace him." He ignored Barbara's and Bruce's gasps and took Jason's marmalade-covered toast and placed his own in front of Jason. Jason looked up to him and then back to the toast. Tim smiled at him and nodded encouragingly. "They're yours, eat up."

Jason gave a flicker of... something in his eyes, before picking up the toasts and practically devoured them.

"Wow," Danny said. "He woulda practically just go without if it's something he doesn't like... Like... he didn't like Thai much, did he?" Tim nodded - Jason had only eaten the rice of the Thai menu they had last night.

Bruce nodded solemnly. "That, I know. He'd had a bad experience with Thai food gone bad in the past." he explained. "Leslie?"

Dr Thompkins was watching as Tim handed a glass of milk toward Jason, who chugged it down as if it was water. And then as Jason looked up at Tim expectantly. Tim pouted at being put on the spot, but he put another two slices of bread into the toaster. "Wait," he told Jason, and then took a big bite out of his own toast. Jason kept glaring expectantly until the toaster popped its loots and Tim retrieved the bread, buttered them, and placed them on Jason's plate. "Next time, you do it yourself." Tim glared at Jason, who's started chewing contentedly the instant the breads hit his plate - and ignoring Tim. Also ignoring Danny's snickers.

Tim then shifted his glare to Bruce, Barbara, and Dr Thompkins. "Ideas, adult-peoples?"

Dr Thompkins shrugged, "I think he likes you." she said. Tim did not roll his eyes. Or faceplanted to the table.

"I can't disagree." Danny said in all seriousness.

This time, Tim groaned. "Really." he deadpanned. Not amused. "I hope there is a point in that observation, somewhere."

"There is. Daniel told me of the photo of Robin, and I surmised that it anchored him, somehow. Why don't you present him with that photo, after breakfast, and see if it could jolt something in him." Dr Thompkins replied with a smile. "A traumatic catatonia is not something to be taken lightly, Timothy, a wrong move could make the patient regress even further. He is still responsive, a little, by those he deemed to be safe people - Daniel, Ellie, you. To an extent, Barbara, Bruce and me, likely by our association with you."

"I disagree at Barbara's place in that sentence. But..." Tim shrugged. "...you're the doc."

"Yes, so are you done?" she asked, not hinting, really, as Tim poured a little more milk for Jason. Just half a glass, kind of automatically because he'd noticed in the past that Jason would only drink about half of his second glass of milk back then.

"So am I the only one anxious over this?" Danny asked, watching as Jason cleaned the milk out.

"No, Daniel, I can assure you I am, too." Bruce told him. Tim fully looked at him as they all started to leave the table and head back to the living room. A small tug by Danny made Jason got up, too, and followed. "Could he be jolted back to his memories, Leslie?"

"It happened in some cases. At this point, I can merely hazard a hypotheses that Jason's trauma came from the fall, since we had nothing to back up the diagnoses - if he'd hit his head, or if he'd had a concussion, or other traumas other than the fall. Furthermore, from his gait, I would diagnose that his broken leg had not healed properly." Dr Thompkins explained. "You have arranged for a scan, I hope?"

"I have arranged for a scanner, actually. It should be delivered here by this hour." Bruce replied, a little too innocently for Tim to not wonder how he'd made that happen. Danny, however, was less inhibited in his questions.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he set (pushed) Jason down onto the couch. "I thought that computer thingy has a scanner?"

"Oh, he meant a CAT scanner, Daniel." Barbara said. "It should come in a truck."

Daniel blinked slowly, and then blinked again.

"Uh, yeah... it's not like he bought it, don't worry." Tim tried. Daniel just blinked owlishly. "Uh oh." Tim cringed. Jason had always snarked at him being a 'rich boy' and 'insensitive', and now he was inadvertently proving Jason's words.

"Bruce and I have a lot of work involving hospitals and clinics in Gotham City, so he knows the numbers of a lot of medical suppliers." Dr Thompkins explained. "I asked for one to be delivered here today, so we won't have to transport Jason to a hospital. I'm not sure if it would be good for him to be transported around too much."

Her explanation seemed more... succinct. Or maybe it was because she was a doctor, but Danny seemed satisfied.

"That's really cool! Can you scan me, too? And Ellie?"

Dr Thompkins regarded him contemplatively. "Have you any complaints? Either way, it will be good to have a scan of you on record while you're young." she said.

"Plus, if Jason could see them being scanned and come out the other side unharmed, he might be less..." Barbara paused and looked at Jason, "hesitant?"

"I know you're going to say 'combative', but yes. You can get scanned first if you'd like, Daniel." Dr Thompkins said.

"Awesome!" Danny gushed, and then patted Jason's shoulder confidently. "See, Red? Everything will be cool!"

#Jason Todd #Tim Drake #JayTim #no-capeAU #SoulTheater!AU #Barbara Gordon #Bruce Wayne #Leslie Thompkins #Bruce being a rich dude #back to our regular schedule

[two-lost-souls-of-strangerv-blog]

Chapter 7

The room was chilly, leaving goosebumbs on her pale skin. The glow of the blue light from the computer reflected off her glasses, making her skin look even more pale than usual.  She typed away at the keyboard, searching deeper and deeper.  “Hmmmm, I’ll need to Locate 5 spores to make each vaccination” she softly confirmed to herself as she read deeper and deeper into the file.

 Erwin, earlier that evening had forwarded a special code to hack into the military bases confidential files, it didn't provide as much information as the binder she took from the Medical wing of the laboratory, but it did provide her with enough information to piece the puzzle together. Erwin was back at him home, trying to figure out how to operate the scanner.  She kept getting paranoid that she would hear a knock at the door and it would be Bernardo, asking for his payment. 

Just as the Sun started to rise giving a glow in shades of lilac and fiery pink to the early morning sky, Serena passed out on her bed, Thoughts of Strangerville screaming in her mind. Her phone kept going off, it was Caleb.  “Serena, what the hell is going on?!” But she was fast asleep, ignoring Calebs angry texts. 

Rubbing her groggy eyes, looking at her phone. One Twenty Three the time read. She read over Calebs text. “shit” she said to herself. “I’ll deal with him later” She assured herself, getting out of bed and staggering to the shower. She was so grateful it was Sunday, no work! She let the hot water run down her body, her long golden hair saturated in the warm water and soap suds. Quickly she got out of the shower, and dressed. “I guess now is better than ever” she said to herself, patting Dexter on the head. She picked up the phone and called Caleb. “Babes, I’m sorry..Ive had an extra project at work” She lied. “Yeah..well, when do I get to see my girlfriend?” he asked, his toned obviously annoyed. “Well, tomorrow works k?” she asked. “Good because I would like you to visit my place, you can go to work from my house the next morning!”  He didn't ask, he told her what she would be doing. 

She rolled her eyes as she hung up the phone, opening the book from the medical wing. Studying it some more her phone went off again “Christ, what does he want now?” But to her surprise, it was a text from Erwin. “Serena, Hey, could we meet tonight at Sunset park...7pm?”  A smile formed on her face, Wonder what he’s scared up from his research.. she thought to herself.  

She Did some more research, read and even painted  a bit. It was the longest 3 hours, felt like an eternity. Why in the world was she so anxious to see Erwin? He made her feel warm to the touch, when she thought of him her face would turn pink, her heart would start to beat ever so slightly faster and she felt like her mind was being filled with Helium. 

She got herself together and gathered all her research and information. “an Hour to 7, I should be on my way.” 

Sunset park looked over a beautiful ocean in the distance. It got his loyal name from the sun that would set over its mountains, casting a phenomenal portrait in the sky of Oranges and Reds and pinks. It was was one of the most beautiful places in Oasis Springs.  

As Serena made her way to the summit, a bit out of breath from the long climb up the steps. She saw Erwin, staring out in the distance, so focused. His red hair swaying from the soft breeze, the sun glowing off his face, reflecting on his glasses. The sun setting his freckles a blaze. 

He turned to her, their eyes locking for a moment. ‘I’m so glad you came...” he said. His smile was as warm as the sun, a wonderous feeling in the cool sea breeze.

  She smiled and walked up to him, giving him a nod. “I really wanted to see you tonight” he said, his voice soft, softer than usual. “Whats going on?” She asked, her tone a little perplexed. He looked down at his converse sneakers

 “I really needed to tell you something...It’s just..., you see...um..” 

Serena’s phone started to ring “Just one moment” she said, stopping Erwin dead in his tracks. “Yeah honey, I know..we’re still on..I know. No its’ not...…. ok...hmm....Okay, I’ll be over in about an hour... just with my friend... yup. Okay babes, I love you too. ….. later”   She ended the call, looking back up at Erwin, his expression barely hiding the fact that he looked like he had his heart just shattered.  “yeah that's my boyfriend” she explained. “oh...I wasn’t away you were involved...”

“You okay” She asked him, not sure why his vibe changed. “yeah...”  “So what was it you were going to tell me?”  “It’s nothing, just.... Yeah, the scanner, I figured it out” He said, looking down, refusing to make eye contact with her. 

“Oh? Is that all? you could have told me that over the phone silly” she said teasing him. He gave her a sheepish smile, trying to hide his true feelings. “I hate to cut this short, but I need to get to Caleb, Hes having a mega tantrum” she chucked. “He’s 26 years old, but I swear he’s really about 3″ she said with a laugh. Erwin sadly chuckled back “yeah.. heh” Rubbing the back of his hair, his eyes looking down.  Serena wrapped her arms around him, giving him a warm hug. “see in a few days alright?” she said with a wink Leaving Erwin, turning her face towards him as she ran, giving him that smile that he was falling in love with. 

She was running to go be with him...and there was nothing he could do about it.

A storm started to embrace the sky, a low of thunder made its presence known. He stood there as the rain started to come down. 

What is this feeling...Why does my chest feel so hollow... 

and for the first time in the young mans life...he experienced what it felt like to have one’s heart broken...

[riathedreamer]

For Red Team’s “Lopez Apreciación”

Can we please acknowledge that Lopez sung the best love song of the century?

To Share a Robot Love so Real In which Lopez faces pendejos and memories of a puerto del acero.

“Hey, Lopez?”

The robot froze, knowing the problem as soon as Grif’s voice called out. A moment later the soldier appeared – dirt and soot on his armor adding to Lopez’ fears.

“Hey, buddy. You aren’t busy, are you?” Grif said quickly and nonchalantly, looking at his own outstretched hand, flicking some dry grass off his glove.

“ ¿Te destrozaste el jeep de nuevo?” [Did you wreck the jeep again?]

“Good. ‘cause the jeep is wrecked. No one really knows why. Mystery of the day. Sarge is blaming the Blues. Also, he wants the jeep ready at noon?”

“Si usted necesita un jeep para su fecha estúpida, entonces tal vez no debería haber destruido. Pendejo.” [If you need a jeep for your stupid date then maybe you should not have wrecked it. Dumbass.]

While Grif could not speak a simple sentence in Spanish the word pendejo had been used enough times, almost five times a day at this point, for him to realize it did not exactly mean friend. He tilted his helmet. “Oh c’mon. It’s really important. How can Simmons and I go on patrol if we can’t drive? Fucking walk?” He snorted in disbelief at the thought.

“Un paseo probablemente no te lastimaría, culón.” [A walk would probably not hurt you, fatass.]

“’sides I can’t really see anything else broken around here. So I just did you a favor by pointing out your task of the day! You can thank me later.”

Lopez took one step forward and Grif cowered slightly immediately.

Holding his arms around his helmet to protect it, he whined, “Ah shit. Don’t hit me. Again. Can you fix the jeep? Please? Thanks, and all that that stuff.”

Lopez sighed – air being cleared from his upper filters – but then walked outside with stiff steps, well-knowing he would have the fix the jeep again in the evening.

---

This time it was Simmons who walked up on him from behind while the robot was working. “Uhm, heeey, Lopez.”

The robot halted his work, lowering his hammer as he stopped trying to fix the hole the Blues had shot in their wall during their last attack. The maroon-armored soldier was fiddling his thumbs and cleared his throat nervously when Lopez turned his head to stare at him. “My man. Brother from another fax.”

“Por favor no digas eso.” [Please do not say that.]

“So, uhm, there’s a smaaaaaalll problem.” He stepped aside, revealing the burning warthog in the background. “And it may be on fire.”

Lopez debated whether or not it would be worth causing himself a short circuit right now, but after a couple of seconds he rose to find the fire extinguisher.

---

Donut had a confusing habit of sitting down next to him whenever Lopez rested while installing updates. When his sensors switched online again, he would discover the pink-armored soldier talking to himself (or maybe to Lopez – it was almost the same thing at this point) while reading from a Spanish children book.

He was not quite sure if it was an attempt to teach him English or to teach Donut Spanish, but the results seemed to be the same either way you looked at it.

“Ah, so that’s how you pronounce it! I keep getting it stuck in my throat. And that’s not the thing I want to choke on. The pictures really help, don’t they? I don’t mind having his naranjas in my bolsa, if you know what I mean.”

Lopez did not know what he meant. Instead of replying, he proceeded with update 4.12b.

---

“Lopez!” Sarge grunted and pulled out a red blueprint, holding it in front of the robot so he had no other choice but to look at it.

“Sí?”

“I need your thoughts on my latest plan. I call it bluetiful bombardments. See, if we use the rocket launcher but fill it was something else we could upgrade the rocket launcher from a rocket launcher to a rocket and/or miscellaneous launcher. But the real question:” The red leader straightened out his back as he looked over the robot he had built. “How far can you throw that head of yours without losing that so-called weefee connection?”

Lopez considered. “Desafortunadamente no lo suficientemente lejos para sacarme de este cañón.” [Unfortunately not far enough to get me out of this canyon.]

---

Dinner at Red Base had a certain rhythm to it.

“But tonight would be perfect!”

“No, Donut, we’re not having another karaoke night.”

“But it would lighten the mood!”

“You know what would lighten up my mood? More bacon.”

“More? Have can you have more bacon if we don’t have any bacon to begin with?”

“Exactly, Simmons. It’s a tragedy.”

“Does this mean you’re signing up for-“

“No.”

“But we already have the equipment!”

“Why and how did you even manage to order karaoke equipment to begin with?!”

“I still say we turn it into a weapon. Install a speaker in Blue Base, let the dirtbag have his go with it, and see those dirty Blues come running out like fleeing rabbits. I’ll have my buckshot ready, heh.”

“Yeah? Then what if I can actually sing? Have you considered that, Sarge?”

“Does that mean-“

“No!”

Lopez only turned himself online every once and awhile to refill himself with the can of oil that Donut had placed at the robot’s end of the table.

---

Lopez was always the last one to go to bed, if it could be called that. He did not have a bed. Instead he would position himself in the corner of the kitchen, the furthest away from the others’ sleeping quarters as possible.

By the time he switched himself online, the other Reds had left the dining table which Donut had cleaned before leaving as well.

With the humans sleeping, the base was for once quiet. Lopez’ heavy footsteps seemed to echo as he walked to the top of their home, ending his day with his brief, daily patrol. Should the Blues decide to launch a midnight attack, he would prefer to know about it, not say anything, and instead silently hope for the jeep to survive.

He glanced at the Blue Base in the distance, wondering if that buzzing at the end of his memory unit was caused by a virus. Deciding to ignore it, he walked back down, on his way to his corner.

That was when he noticed Donut’s microphone in the corner of his vision scanners.

Lopez halted and considered.

It was only a few steps away from his corner. It was turned off, of course, and the robot kept it that way. Placing himself behind the microphone, Lopez considering that strange buzzing that was disturbing his systems.

Then, softly:

“La primera vez que vi sus pisadas Y sus puerto del acero Supe que había encontrado alguien Para compartir un verdadero...” [The first time I saw your treads And enormous chassis of steel I knew that I had found someone To share a robot love so real…]

The robot cut himself off so suddenly that he might as well have experience a failure in his speech component. He slowly raised his head with a stiff motion in order to stare at Grif who was standing just as frozen in the doorway.

“Uh…”

Grif stared.

Lopez stared.

Grif slowly lifted a chip from the bag he had been fetching from the kitchen, placed it gently on his tongue, all while staring at the robot.

Lopez then clenched a fist, staring back.

Almost dropping his snacks in fear, Grif jumped backwards. “Please don’t strangle me.”

The robot took a step towards him.

“I won’t say a word,” he whimpered, holding up his bag of chips in front of his face, as if it could serve as a shield. Freezing again, he reconsidered, and instead he held out the bag as if it served as an offering, “Here. Take it.”

Lopez did not as much as reach out for it.

“Look, buddy,” Grif said, voice wavering slightly from anxiety. “I like staying alive. And you, apparently, like singing. So we can work something out. I won��t say anything. You won’t say anything.” When he received no response, he gingerly added, “And I’ll try not to break the jeep this week.” The silence remained. “Next two weeks?”

Finally Lopez let out something that sounded like a grunt of approval.

Grif let out a deep breath of relief, his defensive stance deflating. “Great. So I get to live?”

“Sí.”

“Cool.” Grif slowly began to walk sideways out of the room, eyes on Lopez the entire time. But the robot was only alone for a few seconds before the Hawaiian’s head peaked around the doorway again. “So, is this like a daily thing or…?”

Lopez just lifted his head the slightest, but the small action was enough.

Grif whimpered again. “Right. Going now. Running. Now. Bye.”

For the next five minutes, Lopez remained where he was standing, eyes scanning, noise detectors registering any sound. But the base was asleep – so much could he conclude from the faint but regular creaking from Sarge’s room whenever he shifted in the bed, and the low, cheerful murmurs from Donut who had a habit of sleep-talking, and the constant hissing from Simmons’ cyborg lungs and then Grif’s snoring to complete the Red Base’s night rhythm.

Lopez wandered back to his corner with stiff steps. Hands down by his side, back straightened but with his chin area of his helmet resting against his chest plate, he took his stance.

And then, a hum low enough to be confused with the whirring of gears, the robot sung, “…para compartir un verdadero...”

With red lights dimming behind the visor, Lopez went into sleep mode.

#rvb bingo wars #swearing #lopez #grif #simmons #donut #sarge #red team feels #please love this robot he deserves it #my rvb stuff

[notadog]

@demisexualhale sorry you had a rough time today. have this au that i saw you talking about after i creeped on your blog. it’s... uh. probably not what anyone involved thought it would be. but i hope you like it? 

anyway. 

sterek. 2k. spy au. warnings: i know nothing about spies, secret criminal organizations, or technology in general. just roll with it.

“I’ll pay you twenty bucks to hum the Mission Impossible theme while I do this,” Stiles muttered, fishing an exacto knife out of his tool belt. He fit it under the very edge of the ID scanner and, with a flick of his wrist, popped it off like a dream.

“You could pay me twenty thousand and I still wouldn’t do it.”

“Spoilsport.” Gently pulling all the wires out into the open was the easy part; it was identifying the right one to snip that was going to be the tricky part. Would it kill all organized crime syndicates to stick to one universal standard?

“Try the yellow wire. Third from the left.”

“Try?” Stiles repeated under his breath. “We’ve been planning this job for weeks and you want me to go in with ‘try’?”

He could practically hear the eye roll on the other end of the earbud. “Cut the wire, agent.”

“Manners,” Stiles snarked, guiding the exacto to the wire in question. It slid through with a gentle snick and the red light on the ID reader went out.

“You’re welcome.”

Stiles gently fit the card reader back into the wall and got to work prying open the door. “I don’t recall saying thank you,” he grunted, heaving the heavy metal back inch by inch.

“I’m sure it was implied.”

“I might be inclined if you—” Another grunt as he wedged his shoulder in the space he’d made, trying to use it to get some leverage against the protesting metal. “—helped me with this door.” Not for the first time Stiles lamented the fact that he was chosen for the field, instead of the literal werewolf. Instead, he was embarrassing himself and his very human muscles while Derek got his nerd on from the comfort of the unmarked van parked a few streets away. Life just wasn’t fair.

Stiles gave one last shove, and the door gave way with an angry screech that he was pretty sure was audible in China.

“Derek?” he hissed.

“Hold on.” Polite as always, his partner.

Stiles waited, every muscle in his body coiled tight and ready to spring. Whether that meant to fight or flee was yet to be determined. At least three times he imagined some noise that would precede his discovery, but he forced down the instinct to panic with a violent mental shove. The government hadn’t spent billions of dollars in training his ass to trust his partner with his life for nothing.

After an excruciating eternity, Derek’s voice filtered in through the earpiece. “You’re clear. Not for lack of effort.”

Stiles couldn’t help grinning. “You say the sweetest things.” False confidence was easy again now that his heart wasn’t jammed halfway up his throat. He rummaged through his toolkit for one of his most versatile gadgets: a retractable rod made of a polymer material developed by Derek himself. It was three hundred times stronger than steel but lighter than any other material of its kind on (or off) the market. It was a beautiful piece of some of the most sophisticated technology to come out of R&D, and it gave Stiles a thrill of childish joy to jam it inelegantly between door and wall to keep his escape route free.

“Speaking of which…” Derek’s voice was that special brand of pained that signaled to Stiles that his trick had hit its mark. “Let’s try to keep to aliases while we’re on the comms, all right?”

Stiles winced. He had called out Derek’s real name in a moment of panic, hadn’t he? “It’s not my fault you rejected my code name suggestions.”

The sound quality was considerably different behind the door than in the hallway. Though he couldn’t see into the space, it swallowed up Stiles’ voice in a way that suggested space… a lot of it. Stiles fumbled for the flashlight at his belt and stepped cautiously inside.

“You’re not calling me Eagle Two.”

“Well I’m not giving you Eagle One, dude. I called dibs.” He clicked on the flashlight and did a slow sweep of the room. Well. Cavern was probably a better word for it. It was big enough to swallow the weak beam of his government-issued flashlight, leaving the ceiling and far walls shrouded in shadows. “Are you seeing this?”

Derek hummed, but gave no further comment.

“Gotta admire their style, though,” Stiles continued conversationally. The whole affair was an ode to vaulted ceilings broken up by stone columns and sloping walls covered in expensive-looking tile. Whoever built it certainly had a flair for the dramatic. To his left was a small bank monitors hooked up to a lowly humming box. Stiles made his way over to it. “I mean, you gotta respect the whole batcave vibe.”

Derek snorted. It was a shock, completely at odds with his usual implacable stiffness. In his entire time working with him, Stiles had never once seen the man so much as crack a smile. And here he was, almost laughing in Stiles’ ear. “It’s an evil lair, agent. Much more Luthor’s speed than Wayne’s.”

Stiles considered the space again. It did bear an uncomfortably close resemblance to Lex Luthor’s underground lair in Superman. Much more so than any adaptation of the Batcave. Point to Derek. “I didn’t know you were a fan of the classics.”

“I’m multifaceted.”  

How someone can sound so unbearably smug with only two words, Stiles would never know. “Nerd.”

“Center console. There should be a panel under the monitors.”Definitely smug.

Stiles fumbled around until he found a hidden switch. A previously unseen panel slid forward, revealing three USB slots. Stiles thumbed open the smallest pocket in his tool belt that housed the USB sticks Derek gave him specifically for this point in the job. Just to be sure, he asked, “This the one?”

“Mhm,” Derek confirmed. “You know which one’s first?”

Stiles rolled his eyes. Even if Derek hadn’t labeled them 1 and 2 in obnoxious silver sharpie, the four consecutive run-throughs Derek had forced him to listen to before letting him out of the van would have been enough to hammer the point home.

“Yes, dad,” he muttered, fishing out the first stick. “Just let me know when I need to switch them out.”

“You’ll know,” Derek replied cryptically, which didn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence, but Stiles would be damned if he admitted that out loud.

Stiles watched in interest as the script contained within the flash drive did its thing. It was another of Derek’s projects, something he’d been developing for months with the rest of his little nerd squad back at headquarters. Derek had explained a little of it back in the van. If pressed by a superior, Stiles could explain that the code was meant to create a channel between this server and one controlled by their agency, one that Derek’s team could use to read through and copy every file stored on this server. Anything else had gone over Stiles’ head.

Stiles’ skills were more hands-on and intuition based. Identifying suspicious characters? Convincing them to divulge all of their deepest secrets to him? Finding the fastest way out of any resulting shootouts or capture attempts? That was where he shined the brightest. Developing extremely complicated code to infiltrate evil corporations’ systems, do… stuff while inside them, then exit without a trace? That was Derek’s thing. Stiles was just the sneaky middleman needed to insert peg A into slot B.

The screens flickered constantly between different windows. Lines of code would appear and disappear again too fast for him to read, but based on Derek’s intermittent hums of approval in his ear, Stiles guessed they were doing their job. As the script worked, he kept an ear out for any sign of discovery.

They passed the time together in silence, both of them tense at the thought of the most important part of their mission falling through at the last second. It left Stiles alone with his senses, feeling wrong-footed for the first time since infiltrating the compound earlier in the evening. After a too-long stretch of time, activity on the screens slowed down, then stopped. All the screens were black except for one, which held a single line of green text and a blinking cursor. Stiles leaned forward to read it. When he did, he made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat.

Insert 2nd USB stick, agent. (It has the number 2 on it.)

“Told you you’ll know,” Derek’s voice was a gentle tease in his ear.

“You were so cryptic about it,” Stiles muttered, complying. “I thought it was gonna be something cool.”

“Computers are cool,” Derek replied, then lapsed back into silence.

The second stick took much less time than the first, or maybe it was just the end in sight that made it seem like it was going faster than it actually was. Whichever was true, it felt like no time until a single green line of text was displaying Installation Complete before all the screens went blank.

Derek’s voice was like silk. “Don’t forget to take the USBs with you.”

Stiles rolled his eyes. “Thanks,” he snarked, tucking the USBs back into their pocket and securing it. “What would I do without you?”

“You would be dead seven times over if it weren’t for me.” 

“Fair,” Stiles conceded. It was gratifying to return the door and find it hadn’t budged an inch since he’d left it. It was rare in Stiles’ line of work that the things he set down stuck around and waited patiently for him to collect them. Granted, at this point in his career most of the “things” Stiles set aside for later were informants and enemies of the government, so a little bit of disobedience was probably to be expected. But whatever. Details.

Easing the door closed was trickier than forcing it open, Stiles soon realized. Not only was he worried about loudly protesting metal, he wasn’t sure how he was going to stop the whole thing from slamming closed the second he pulled out Derek’s rod.

Heh.

As always, Derek chimed in with the solution at Stiles’ precise moment of need.

“Retract it gradually,” Derek commanded, and Stiles complied. “Good. Now fold your jacket in half and stick it in so it doesn’t slam… Good. Now just pull the jacket out.”

Under Derek’s direction, Stiles eased the nightmare door closed. The jacket muffled the metal-on-metal impact, and when he yanked it out, the door settled back into place with hardly a complaint. Stiles made a mental note to make the whole experience sound a lot cooler in his retelling the next day.

“You’re welcome,” Derek whispered in his ear, voice dripping with self-satisfaction.

“I don’t recall saying thank you,” Stiles replied as he popped the card reader out of the wall again, grinning at the echo of their conversation from earlier. There was a prolonged pause as he bit off a length of electrical tape and carefully brought the snipped ends of the yellow wire together.

“It was implied.”

“Whatever you say, big guy.”

Stiles secured both raw edges of the wire with the tape, then confirmed that the ID reader was once again operational. He carefully tucked the bundle of wires back into their space in the wall, then returned the box to its home for the last time, good as new.

“Ready to get me out of here?”

“Always,” was the curt reply, sounding almost fond to Stiles’ delusional ears. “You’re alone on your floor, but there are two guards stationed outside the elevators to the west, same as when you came in. Your best bet is to go south to avoid them, then take the service stair up to ground level.”

“Got it,” Stiles said, already moving towards his exit. “See you soon, dude.”

“You better.”

Stiles made good on his promise, and was rewarded with a nod of acknowledgement from Derek when he threw open the van door. It was the closest Stiles had ever come to getting an honest-to-god smile from the guy, and it made something warm and gentle unfurl in his chest.

He couldn’t stop grinning the entire drive back to headquarters.

#demisexualhale #sterek #eternalsterek #eternal sterek #stereksupportnetwork #i feel like i need to apologize to everyone for posting this lmao #it's been a while since i've posted anything of my writing anywhere so pls be kind

[verdigrisprowl]

Jan 4 Blurr’s Horror Stream - The Birds

Half the room wanted the birds to get on with it and kill people. There was plentiful theorization about the cause of the birds’ behavior. Shockwave was just glad that birds are real. Prowl graciously loaned his imaginary sham-wow to Whirl, who later passed it on to Laserbeak, who got strangled by dust when it disappeared.

Welcome to the 'speedxstealer' room. Shockwave: *He takes a seat.* B l u r r: / He has arrived. In his nice cloak made of mech's parts and such./ B l u r r: [[ one second ]] Shockwave: *How fashionable. This establishment rivals the Culture Club in terms of class.* B l u r r: / Oh does it? / B l u r r: Hello, Shockwave. Shockwave: Greetings. It appears I have arrived before the rest of the frequent guests. Whirl: *trots right in and makes a beeline for the Whirl Hammock* Eyy, Teach! Shockwave: ...Well, that did not last long. B l u r r: Yes, it appears so. B l u r r: / wiggles claws at Whirl / Shockwave: Do you require any assistance in setup, Blurr? Whirl: *snip snips his claws back* B l u r r: Ah, well, if you'd like to. B l u r r: I don't have many snacks. The journey for the key was a bit time consuming. Whirl: The key? *tilts head* B l u r r: Yes. A key. Shockwave: That is fine, I do not necessarily require any. FakeProwl: *huh. he thought he'd be late. but no.* B l u r r: / smirks at Shockwave/ Well then. You can help me roll out the tables if you'd like. Whirl: What kinda--are you down there having all kinds of adventures on Earth WITHOUT me? Shockwave: *He gets out of his aquired seat to assist. Consider this a subtle 'thank you' for the first energon donation.* Shockwave: *Of course, this doesn't pay it back in full, but he's doing what he can for now.* FakeProwl: *claims seat on Soundwave's couch to wait for him to show up* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave is preceded by a yammering crowd of minis who all seem excited to see tonight's movie. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw are the most vocally excited.* B l u r r: / setting tables up/ No, it wasn't on Earth, actually. B l u r r: Although... we've... come to a compromise. Roadbuster and I. Whirl: Oh? *tilts his head, interested* Whirl: They're not staying here any more? B l u r r: They are, but... just until I... /grumbles/ Shockwave: *He nods to soundwave just as he's finishing up with a table.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave himself nods his helm to everyone on the way to his couch and - aha, there's his usual companion already waiting for him. No arguments here. He'll slide in and be pleased.* Whirl: ...*Blurr: Ah, sorry. Y'know it probably should've dawned on me that it's... y'know. Sensitive Subject. Whirl: *will spare a moment to nod at Soundwave and the usual crowd* Whirl: Well, you know where to find me if you need anything, yeah Teach? *tilts his head to an even further degree* B l u r r: / waves at Soundwave / B l u r r: / twitches finials/ Actually, we might need your help. B l u r r: [[ is Whirl comming Blurr right there? ]] FakeProwl: *nods to Soundwave* _Whirl: ((yes he was)) _Whirl: ((the "well, you know..." was out loud tho)) B l u r r: [[ ooh okay ] _Whirl: ((but the more personal stuff, he DID exercise a basic modicum of tact lol)) B l u r r: @Whirl: :: Don't worry about it. It's not so sensitive anymore... :: B l u r r: [[ heard! ]] _Whirl: *sits up a little straighter* Yeah? FINALLY time to go down and get wrecking? ItsyBitsySpyers: \\THERE'S WRECKIN'?\\ B l u r r: ... Yes, maybe. B l u r r: / waves to Shockwave/ The tables look fine. _Whirl: *he'll bob his head, but he manages, with no face and only one staring optic, to convey an expression that says, "Yeah, SURE."* Shockwave: *he nods and returns to his previously chosen seat.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy gets a running start and slides up to Blurr on his heel wheels with fingerguns pointed.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *He then flops down and looks as interested as possible.* _Whirl: ((omfg frenzy)) _Whirl: ((his heelies will never not amuse me)) Shockwave: (( okay, okay, at some point we need to watch this movie consecutively after watching The Birds: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075620/ )) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Buzzsaw settles over near Shockwave, Laserbeak and Rumble with Whirl. Chimera and Laserbeak take the not-Prowl-occupied space on Soundwave's couch. Birds everywhere.* Shockwave: (( frenzy is beautifully extra, yes. )) ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Iacon progresses well? ItsyBitsySpyers: ((excuse me that should be Zori and Rumble)) FakeProwl: @Soundwave «Well enough, I suppose.» _Whirl: ((omg shockwave)) FakeProwl: ... *ping. pictures of New York City being rebuilt.* Shockwave: (( /chuckling. )) B l u r r: / shhh let him be in denial / _Whirl: *Zori will happily be helped up, and Rumble, if he requests it* _Whirl: *nope sorry Blurr Whirl's gonna be Real with ya& B l u r r: / waves at Frenzy / ItsyBitsySpyers: ((lmao excellent followup choice)) B l u r r: Anyway... it's a long thought out process. B l u r r: The whole... Earth thing. ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Assistance ne-- Shockwave: *He nods a welcome* I understand you enthusiastically anticipate this cinematic experience? Shockwave: *To buzzsaw* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Files? Files! Is this New York City? Prowl already got them? He's gonna spend a minute flipping through them with interest* _Whirl: Well. _Whirl: *tilts head EVEN FURTHER. HIS NECK LOOKS BROKEN* You know what I can do. WILL do. Will ENJOY doing. ItsyBitsySpyers: }}It is to be savored. A cathartic experience.{{ ItsyBitsySpyers: }}...For me~{{ B l u r r: We might need air support. B l u r r: And you're the only flier I know who'd be perfect for that. B l u r r: [[ are people ready / everyone is here? ]] FakeProwl: *look, they fixed the statue of baldy the wolf-dog. ... that probably means nothing to Soundwave, who as far as Prowl can recall wasn't at that movie night. but Prowl's still pleased for them.* _Whirl: ((I am!)) _Whirl: I can give you air support, ground support, whatever kind of support you need. Shockwave: I see. So you have seen this one before? B l u r r: im willing to wait for anyone who isnt ready ]] _Whirl: Setting-Things-on-Fire Support. Exploding-Things Support. Squishing-All-of-Our-Foes Support. B l u r r: You have to look like one of them... one of those mechs. B l u r r: You have to change your look FakeProwl: ((i need like 2 minutes)) B l u r r: [[ okay! ]] B l u r r: [[ no problem! ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: ((i'm here when everyone's ready)) _Whirl: We can manage that, probbaly. I dunno... hmm. If their cross-dimensional scanner type still will work on me. _Whirl: *looks down at as much of himself as he can see, critically* I'll probably need to bulk my armor up a bit again. Shockwave: *so he's checking out his boobs pretty much?* _Whirl: But, let's be honest--I don't look a lot like mecha from my OWN dimension. Can't be too hard, fitting in. _Whirl: *basically. But he's also probably covered in minicons now* B l u r r: No, but I need you to at least blend in with their air support. B l u r r: Which means maybe a repaint? _Whirl: *or, one minicon and one used-to-be-mini-con* _Whirl: *shrugs* Hey, it's more work than I'm doing NOW. I don';t mind a re-fit. I can always swap back later. _Whirl: Will I need an Earth alt? B l u r r: Hmm... depends on if your alt blends in with theirs. _Whirl: *wiggles* One minute, you two. *and extricates himself from his hammock* ItsyBitsySpyers: *He has no idea what the canine is, no. It's a nice statue though... for a dog.* _Whirl: *steps back, into a clear space, and then shifts abruptly into alt-mode; he bobs neatly in the air before hitting the ground, but his rotors are kicking up a windstorm. A surprisingly quiet one* _Whirl: What's the verdict? *he looks like a goddamn spaceship, obviously. Whirl will blend in 0%* FakeProwl: ((ready!)) ItsyBitsySpyers: }}Oh yes. A favorite. Isn't that right?{{ B l u r r: / tilts helm and looks over Whirl/ Mm... no, you're going to have to change a little. ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Heh heh. Faaaaavorite.}} _Whirl: Why don't you toss me one of their frequencies? I can ask 'em what they need me to be, unless you got a model for me to look up. _Whirl: *continues just. HOVERING. He's an almost eerily quiet flier* B l u r r: I've got some images I've gathered. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\I WANT IN ON THIS SUPPORTIN'. HOW COME HE GOTTA CHANGE UP? IS THAT A THING?\\ B l u r r: / looks at Frenzy / Because Whirl won't blend in on Earth... not this kind of Earth _Whirl: Gotta blend in! We're trying not to tip these creeps off that there are multiple dimensions interacting here. _Whirl: Just ping them my way. starscream: this song is bad B l u r r: Plus, if they find out there are multiple universes, they might expand their search. Shockwave: *Clasps his hands as best as he can with only one hand and sits back. If the birds like The Birds, it'll at least provide insight into their tastes.* B l u r r: / vents and pings over images to Whirl / FakeProwl: *mainly though it's a mix of humans walking around construction zones and new buildings, with a few scenes of dealing with the still-remaining rubble* B l u r r: [[ okay you guys are ready then? ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: ((yep)) Shockwave: (( extremely ready.)) FakeProwl: ((yep)) B l u r r: [ k ] ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave pings Prowl, finally finished with looking through these photographs. The speed at which humans do their rebuilding is - well, like Megatron once said. Humans. Resilient.* Shockwave: *acknowledges starscream's existence. even if he is a rash decepticon, he is still a decepticon* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Even if they haven't completely reworked it all, they're making impressive progress.* _Whirl: Got it! ..oh, hey, Hitchcock! Nice. Shockwave: *Oh man, those sure are the silhouettes of some birds.* _Whirl: I don't think I've seen this one. *raises up a bit so he can shift back, landing neatly and smoothly on  his many-jointed legs before carefully clambering back into the hammock* ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Appreciated. Important progress record. What owed? FakeProwl: *prowl already hates the noises they make* B l u r r: Anyway, we have an actual job to do... B l u r r: On Earth, I mean. FakeProwl: *he'll give Soundwave the same request Arcee gave him* @Soundwave «Nothing right now. I'll let you know if I need images of anything similar later.» starscream: Their flight doesn't seem very effective.  They're slow. ItsyBitsySpyers: *An IOU? Very well. He nods.* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Peh! You slow. Us good flighting.}} Crosscut: -quietly slips in- ItsyBitsySpyers: \\WHAT'S THE JOB? DO I GOTTA CHANGE UP IF I WANT IN? CAN I GET IN?\\ ItsyBitsySpyers: *Notices Crosscut.* starscream: ((Miner birds are awful)) ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Prowl wants seat shared? Soundwave moves over? B l u r r: / looks at Frenzy/ I don't know, Frenzy. Maybe not this job... but you can help me with something else if you want. starscream: ((great typing *myna)) B l u r r: I don't think Soundwave would let you on this job... ItsyBitsySpyers: *Laserbeak and Chimera can always perch on his arm.* FakeProwl: *didn't see Crosscut, doesn't understand the question* @Soundwave «I sat here, didn't I?» ItsyBitsySpyers: *Sour sulk. It sounded fun.* \\WHAT'S THE SOMETHIN' ELSE?\\ FakeProwl: *sees Crosscut. understands the question.* @Soundwave «... Ah. I'm fine now.» B l u r r: Well, I've got the key I needed. What do you say to coming with me to see what's behind the locked door. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Good. He was about to pass over room coordinates. He just nods* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Get free! Leave!}} _Whirl: For the record, the way birds fly--flapping their wings, analogue flight--IS slower than a jet. But--*looks to Starscream* It's also some of the most INTERESTING flying I've ever done. Shockwave: Foiled by a hat. _Whirl: It's really something else. Fascinating flight dynamics. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\...DO I GET ANYTHING BEHIND IT?\\ starscream: Why would you want to fly that slowly? _Whirl: Maneuverability. Crosscut: ((I think i'm just gonna go.)) _Whirl: Also, it's just FUN. Shockwave: *He rests his helm on an arm.* starscream: I maneuver just fine at high speed _Whirl: Pfft. Keeping telling yourself that. Anyway, rotors are obviously the best, but analogue wings? Not bad, not bad. ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Not so fast as Bird!}} FakeProwl: *that man was obnoxious from beginning to end.* _Whirl: ((seeya, CC!)) FakeProwl: *they're probably going to end up dating and Prowl will be very annoyed.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Chimera spreads their wings and rustles the feather plates. One moment of pride for the least noticed.* B l u r r: I suppose I could share with you IF you behave, Frenzy. /smirks/ starscream: If this ends in romance I'm going to be disappointed ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy grins.* \\ME? I'M A SAINT.\\ starscream: ((the real question is why would someone want a myna bird, they're awful)) _Whirl: *swivels his halm around to nod at Chimera--he isn't sure if that was in response to his statements butit seemes like it was* _Whirl: *he "saw" you spreading them wings on the sonar, little dude* B l u r r: If you come with me, you become part of my crew. Which means you listen to me. ItsyBitsySpyers: *It was. Chimera is quite happy rn.* _Whirl: *well, Chimera has something to be proud of* _Whirl: *at least in this chopper's book* ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Original question return. Assistance needed? Shockwave: *Ah, that driving greenscreen though.* Shockwave: *That's quite realistic looking.* Shockwave: *//sarcasm* ItsyBitsySpyers: \\I CAN DO THAT.\\ He fidgets. \\I MEAN, TH' BOSS GOT PRIORITY 'N ALL, BUT Y'KNOW. I COULD!\\ B l u r r: Well, I don't think I can take you to Earth. But after I'm done there, I'll take you with me to see what this key goes to. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy jumps up with a delighted yell and does a cartwheel before sitting down again.* ItsyBitsySpyers: \\KAY.\\ _Whirl: Yeah, no offense, Frenzy--but I don't think you'd blend in. _Whirl: It's gonna take some doing for ME to do it. ItsyBitsySpyers: }}Less bipeds. More birds.{{ B l u r r: The plan is simple, but I'm sure we'll face complications. starscream: She's going a long way out of her way for a pest FakeProwl: *and now SHE'S being onoixous. who stalks somebody just to passive-aggressively give him birds.* _Whirl: Yeah, can't say I'm enthusiastic about this pair yet. Romance, in my experience, isn't Hitchcok's strong suit. _Whirl: We should watch North by Northwest in Culture Club sometime. Shockwave: *This must be like trying to watch bayverse movies for laserbeak and buzzsaw.* starscream: Romance is boring, no matter who writes it B l u r r: This isn't even romance. B l u r r: this is boring. _Whirl: It can be nice enough, if done properly. _Whirl: But usually people just sort of... shove it in there, with no work. Or use it as a metaphor while not bothering to make the actual romance APPEALING. _Whirl: Even good movies suffer THAT flaw. starscream: If they start eating each other's faces I'm leaving B l u r r: If they start eating each other, THEN it's romance. _Whirl: *snrks* What? eating faces off ISN'T courtship where you come from? *looks to Starscream with a round, surprised optic* Shockwave: Wouldn't cannibalism finally make it a horror film, or do humans find that acceptible? Shockwave: ((*acceptable)) B l u r r: Humans don't find much acceptable. That's why they're humans. starscream: I'm talking about kissing, obviously ItsyBitsySpyers: *Prowl's never heard of giving someone the bird before?* ItsyBitsySpyers: [[What is North by Northwest?]] _Whirl: Another Hitchcock Film. Probably my favorite. _Whirl: Also, oh, yes. Kissing. The warm-up tier before you start gnawing your true love's face off. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[And cannibalism is frowned upon by most species.]] _Whirl: Weak stuff. B l u r r: Is it? How boring. _Whirl: These two have more chemistry than the other two. starscream: Courtship could probably be improved by murder.  At least it wouldn't be so boring that way. _Whirl: Murdering together? As a couple? Probably. B l u r r: It's fantastic... FakeProwl: I may put in North by Northwest for my next Culture Club suggestion. FakeProwl: I haven't seen it, but I have faith in the quality of Hitchcock's work. _Whirl: No pressure, co-president. *dryly* But I always enjoyed it. It's... not quite a comedy, but it's a sort of light take on a spy thriller. starscream: Either way.  I'm never dealing with courtship though, so I don't have to worry about the details. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Little perk up. That sounds like his jam.* B l u r r: Or day. B l u r r: Murdering together as a couple is the best... way to spend a night. _Whirl: Well, of course YOU'RE not. You're Starscream. FakeProwl: No, it's on my list of films to watch anyway. That would be convenient. starscream: I wouldn't, even if I had an offer starscream: It's inconvenient _Whirl: And let's be honest--who would offer? You're Starscream. ItsyBitsySpyers: //Heh heh heh.// starscream: Not looking for offers Shockwave: (( which universe is your starscream from? )) starscream: ((armada, i switch though)) ItsyBitsySpyers: [[He would appreciate the selection. We do not see enough of that genre.]] _Whirl: ((gotcha)) _Whirl: Well! I think neither of you will be disappointed, then! Shockwave: (( have not seen armada, but cool. )) _Whirl: Rodimus has next pick, but after that, you can go. _Whirl: And, Teach--you should swing by Culture Club sometime! B l u r r: Hm? FakeProwl: ((the one prowl was helping rescue. btw what happened on that thread? did y'all need me to jump back in, or is it one of y'all's turn?)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Prowl is getting something for using his film choice on that. Soundwave doesn't know what, but something.* starscream: ((Tarantulas' turn)) starscream: ((yeah, that's me)) FakeProwl: ((o7 want me to remind her?)) _Whirl: *sighs* I've had enough of this nonsense. Can the birds please start eating everyone now? ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Bird already has snacks.}} ItsyBitsySpyers: *She waves a few rust sticks in one feeler claw* _Whirl: *snickers* Well, if this keeps up much longer, then you're gonna hafta devour me. _Whirl: Out of mercy. ItsyBitsySpyers: =Promise?= ItsyBitsySpyers: *A dark rumble-laugh from Ravage* starscream: ((I'm just worried that they've been too busy to reply)) _Whirl: No promises for YOU. *eyes Ravage slyly* B l u r r: Don't worry ,Ravage. _Whirl: Anyway, I mean, I guess you can eat me when I die--didn't I say so, if it meant that Piston wouldn't get my corpse? B l u r r: I have plenty of bodies you can chew on. _Whirl: I don't really care one way or the other. Toss my body i the trash, o soemthing. B l u r r: Piston is INTENT on having your frame. FakeProwl: (("young lady cut herself" bruh why don't you tell him the damn bird did it)) _Whirl: wHY!? _Whirl: He has so many to chooce from! FakeProwl: ((why you make it sound like she had an accident)) B l u r r: Because you made an impression. _Whirl: Well. ...okay, I'll grant that. I tend to leave those wherever I go. But, still. B l u r r: He talks about it a lot. ItsyBitsySpyers: ((seagulls eat trash. it's not polite to call your love interest garbage, however mismatched)) _Whirl: Aside form bing weird-looking, there's not... a lot going on. I'm not an outlier, or anything. _Whirl: ...*pauses and peers* O, okay. I see. NOW I see. Har har, very funny. B l u r r: Don't ask me, he's the one that wants the frame. Do you want me to call him in here? B l u r r: He'll answer all your questions. Shockwave: (( she's starting to sound quite obsessive. )) _Whirl: *snorts* Nah, I don't wanna disrupt the film. _Whirl: * but he is now Highly Skeptical. Clearly, this is a prank* Shockwave: (( are we sure the TRUE HORROR of htis film isn't human infatuation? )) Shockwave: (( *this)) B l u r r: / smirks and shrugs/ If you choose to talk to him later, go ahead. starscream: ((it definitely is)) Shockwave: (( Trus this movie to be an especially introspective flick. )) _Whirl: *snorts softly through his vents but doesn't remark further* _Whirl: ((also, starscream--are u the same one that comes to prime nights?)) starscream: ((sometimes)) _Whirl: ((if not, then Whirl might not have been quite so rude to him--that Starscream has needled Whirl a lot in the past)) _Whirl: See? They would make a much more interesting couple. starscream: ((yes he has, that would be mine)) _Whirl: ((OKAY, gotcha 8) then... yes if this is the same one, carry on. I just had a moment of "OH NO WAS I MEAN TO A NEW PERSON FOR..... NO REASON" lmao)) B l u r r: ... That looks like a house you can murder someone in. B l u r r: / smirk / starscream: ((used to that reaction anyway, starscream's awful)) _Whirl: Blurr. I bet you say that about EVERY house. B l u r r: That is absolutely untrue. B l u r r: Drift's house doesn't look like a house you can murder in. B l u r r: My house, however, is definitely a place for murder and slaughter. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\YOU JUS' AIN'T TRYIN' HARD ENOUGH.\\ Shockwave: (( i may have to leave immediately after the movie ends, as it is Late.)) starscream: only Drift's? B l u r r: [[ aww, okay ]] B l u r r: Dodge designed Drift's house without ill intent involved. ItsyBitsySpyers: ((noted)) Shockwave: (( i told my mom i was watching The Birds, and she immediately chastised me. )) Shockwave: (( Apparently this movie gives my grandmother nightmares. )) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((your poor grandma D:)) starscream: ((how?)) Shockwave: (( she's still afraid of large flocks of birds to this day. )) B l u r r: [[ yo ive been attacked by a bird ]] Shockwave: (( i don't know, old people logic isn't my logic. )) starscream: ((i haven't seen this movie before)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((i've met a lot of older people who are wigged out by bird flocks cuz of this film)) _Whirl: *snickers* Clever kid, Shockwave: (( neither have i.)) _Whirl: And, okay. Fair. FakeProwl: ((I've seen it... two times? three?)) B l u r r: BUT. Every house can be a house of murder if you try hard enough. _Whirl: THAT's more like the Teach I know. B l u r r: K-Kyehheeheh. _Whirl: *gasps* Oh, no. Guys. I'm so sorry. _Whirl: I just realized... how scandalous. _Whirl: I'm naked right now. Shockwave: ...You haven't removed your plating. _Whirl: ...of course not? Then I'd be, like. Partially dissected. B l u r r: I can remove limbs if you'd like. B l u r r: My body is mostly knives and sharp edges. I'm ready. Shockwave: ..... *returns to the movie.* _Whirl: Nah, someone just get me a sock or a hat so I can have some clothes. FakeProwl: *gets out of his seat* FakeProwl: *walks over to whirl* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave looks up, confused. What did he do?* _Whirl: *raises his head and regards Prowl solemnly* FakeProwl: *offers him: a holomatter avatar of a shamwow* _Whirl: Are you here to arrest me. FakeProwl: I'm here to make you decent. _Whirl: *reaches up and gently takes it. Then drapes it over his head* At LAST. FakeProwl: *returns to his seat* ItsyBitsySpyers: [][][]Master has given Dobby a sock.[][][] _Whirl: *raises his head proudly* Prowl has done us all a great service, this night. _Whirl: *LAUGHS* Shockwave: (( I'm fuckign )) _Whirl: Anyway. See? Much more chemistry. I'm telling you. It could've been a great twist--the film sets things up like the obvious couple's gonna be the couple, yeah? FakeProwl: *puzzled look. he doesn't understand the reference* _Whirl: But then these two team up when the crisis hits and they hit it off. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Oh. Okay, he can fix that. He doesn't want Prowl to be confused.* B l u r r: Meeting mother figures is obnoxiously drawn out starscream: Sort of hoping they all die instead B l u r r: There are so many questions starscream: Before the romance gets any worse ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Human movie dialogue. Context: Magical creature servant given no comforts freed if clothing given. Accidental sock delivery freed creature. _Whirl: Luckily, I don;t have one of those. ...unless you count Vector Sigma. _Whirl: I guess that's technically my mother. Shockwave: (( Does this movie pass the bechdel test??)) ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Reference not claim Prowl keeps servants; sock-shamwow focus only. B l u r r: Me neither. We're recycled. Shockwave: Being that this is film is of the horror genre, that is still a potential outcome. _Whirl: I wish it was, but I doubt it. FakeProwl: ((i don't think the love interest talking to the sister counts, since she's probably trying to set up her brother with him)) FakeProwl: ((**her brother with her)) ItsyBitsySpyers: [[We were originally created by the Well.]] A pause. [[Chimera has a creator, however.]] B l u r r: We weren't created, but recycled by Terminus. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave reaches over and gives the odd bird a gentle scratch on its spine. Chimera wriggles happily.* Shockwave: (( how much time does this movie have left? )) _Whirl: Really? *swivels his helm around, curious* Who made you? starscream: *isn't joining the conversation on creation* ItsyBitsySpyers: <<Chimera's creator is Shockwave!>> Happy chirp. _Whirl: Oh, yeah? The same one who comes by? The worm guy? FakeProwl: @Soundwave «I see.» ItsyBitsySpyers: <<Yes!>> No. _Whirl: Neat. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[Terminus again?]] _Whirl: I guess he decided the geriatric squad needed a second babysitter. *sly look at Soundwave, Ravage, and the birds* starscream: ((seriously why a myna bird)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Ravage closes his optics and looks away. He ain't acknowledgin' your rudenes.* _Whirl: *GRANDPA RAVAGE* Shockwave: *his attention was caught at the sound of his designation, looking behind at the conversation taking place, only to find that they were speaking of the alternate who frequents these showings.* FakeProwl: @Soundwave «Well, I'm not terribly into being called master. But I'll make an exception.» Shockwave: *still, he catalogues that little piece of data.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Laserbeak and Buzzsaw shiver with glee. Here it goes.* _Whirl: ....*looks back to the screen. At last. ...ALREADY SNICKERING* Shockwave: *ah! so the birds finally arrive.* B l u r r: [[ also the movie has 53 minutes left ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave goes slightly rigid. He wasn't expecting that. It takes him a second to figure out how to respond.* B l u r r: What do you mean 'again'? _Whirl: This. Is hilarious. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[You mentioned Terminus before in passing.]] starscream: I'm pretty sure humans could kill those if they stopped scaring them away ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): ...What preferred? B l u r r: Ah, yes. Well, it is where we come from. B l u r r: See, we don't have a Primus or All Spark. FakeProwl: *ah. at last. leans forward, focusing on the movie, looking for clues about what's causing these unusual attacks* FakeProwl: @Soundwave «My name.» ItsyBitsySpyers: *Oh thank Primus. He wasn't sure what he would do if Prowl said something worse here.* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Keheheh!}} _Whirl: *laughs* Shockwave: (( 50+ minutes? gah. that's quite a bit.)) _Whirl: *JUST. CRACKING UP* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Special delivery!}} starscream: Those are definitely small enough for humans to be able to kill B l u r r: [[ no, wait. It's about halfway. ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: [[Ah. Then your figure is called that?]] _Whirl: LOOK AT THEM. THEY'RE LIKE BIG BUGS. B l u r r: Figure? starscream: What's wrong with these people, squash them _Whirl: This is HILARIOUS. FakeProwl: *the first one was when she was on the boat. one bird. the second was when she was at the other lady's home. one bird.* ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Prowl's preference logged. Shockwave: *He now understands why laserbeak and buzzsaw enjoy this now.* FakeProwl: *the third was right after her conversation with the man, and the mother came out to see them.* FakeProwl: *the fourth was when they were talking about her staying the night* Shockwave: (( okay, presumably older people: should i leave in about 20 minutes or make it to the end? )) _Whirl: Look, they can't even fly into walls without dying! B l u r r: / kicks pedes up and lays out on his couch/ How odd... _Whirl: I'll bet the schoolteacher is already dead. B l u r r: Humans are afraid of the most idiotic things. starscream: Surely humans are strong enough to kill the smaller ones at least FakeProwl: *the species are different, but attack in flocks. unlikely to be disease, as they specifically hunt out targets to attack.* _Whirl: After all, she already served her BORING purpose: dumping exposition for the romance. B l u r r: [[ tbh there are about 60 minutes left ]] _Whirl: ((I'd say, that's up to you, shockwave! I've never seen this)) FakeProwl: *all known incidents seem to surround this one woman. that may not remain true— ah. apparently no longer true.* Shockwave: (( /hmmmmmm./ )) ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Them suicide bombers.}} starscream: How did they kill him, surely losing their eyes won't kill a human immediately? B l u r r: Mmm... ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Them bird many more than human. Two, three not big sad loss.}} B l u r r: / scrubs claw down face / Sometimes it can . Shockwave: (( depends on how deep the cut goes, it could penetrate to the brain. )) Shockwave: (( unlikely in this case, still viable in general. )) _Whirl: They probably burrowed past there into the processor. B l u r r: / makes a noise and sinks into his couch / _Whirl: ...*ah, ***, he fucced up again* B l u r r: / kicks a leg out to lay better. There. / ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy pats the leg.* _Whirl: B ut it doesn't matter--it's still ridiculous. They're so small, you could just swat em and kill them. B l u r r: / twitches pede / starscream: how close are human's eyes to their processors?  No barrier between them? _Whirl: Dunno. Doesn't matter--it's just a movie. Shockwave: *He tilts his head for a moment. Heavily considering asking someone here to retrieve one for him for dissection.* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Them many, MANY more. Human can't punch all bird.}} _Whirl: *busies himself with checking on Zori; he usually doesn't like horror films. How's he holding up? Awake?* Shockwave: *In this case, a dissection would actually be quite useful, seeing as humans have aligned themself with the enemy.* _Whirl: Yeah, I guess being squishy makes it more dangerous. I mean, I can see fearing someting... like. Microscopic. How do you fight that? You can't. _Whirl: Bu something big enough to hit is just... a nuisance. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Zori has his claw over his optic after seeing the human without them but he's holding on.* FakeProwl: *emotional dependency. Ugh* B l u r r: They could use a tennis racket. Or a baseball bat. ItsyBitsySpyers: *They could probably find a bird for Shockwave next time they crept down to Earth.* _Whirl: *gently rests his claw on Zori's back; he would offer him a hiding place if Zori wasn't so huge* ItsyBitsySpyers: *He'd have to ask though.* starscream: ((I thought that said basketball bat for a moment and I was very confused)) B l u r r: [[ well i mean if u try hard enough it could be a basketball bat ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: [[Is the older one trying to get her killed?]] Shockwave: *He'll probably ask after the movie, but he would find having a human to dissect to be more beneficial* _Whirl: Oh, guess she's not dead yet. _Whirl: But I bet she's not gonna last much longer. FakeProwl: It's possible. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Zori whistles and carefully - CAREFULLY - pats the claw with the side of his stinger.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *No acid.* _Whirl: *Probably for the best. Whirl woul;dn't feel it but getting a new claw made would be a pain* Heh. What's that translate too, Professor? starscream: They need some cats _Whirl: The real horror is this damn song. B l u r r: It's meant to assist in memorization ItsyBitsySpyers: *Ravage looks at Starscream. That's the first sensible thing he's said all night* _Whirl: It's still awful, ugh. FakeProwl: ((i love how they keep cutting back and there are more birds)) B l u r r: It's a good tool to use, though. ItsyBitsySpyers: }}Do you know what Earthlings call groups of crows?{{ _Whirl: At last, we're released. B l u r r: Oh Oh I know this one! _Whirl: No, what? B l u r r: Pick me!! B l u r r: / waves claw / ItsyBitsySpyers: }}Yes. Blurr?{{ B l u r r: They call it a murder! K-KYAHAHA! / kicks a pede out again / FakeProwl: ... Appropriate. _Whirl: Quick thinking. ItsyBitsySpyers: }}Isn't it!{{ _Whirl: And, yeah--that's cool. B l u r r: ... If they had just walked, they wouldn't have brought attention. _Whirl: *LAUGHING AGAIN* Shockwave: (( Why are the birds pulling at their hair instead of going for the eyes? )) starscream: wring it's neck ItsyBitsySpyers: *The twins swoop and soar around the room, cackling to themselves* Shockwave: *There goes shockwave's sitting partner.* starscream: she literally had the bird in her hand and didn't kill it ItsyBitsySpyers: *He'll be back in a moment.* _Whirl: *pulls his holo-sham-wow over his eye, making exaggerated sounds of mock-horror* _Whirl: The birds!! Shockwave: *Those certainly were some Birds.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Laserbeak perches on Whirl and waves her feelers around* _Whirl: I'm done for. _Whirl: Just eat all of me, okay, Laserbeak? _Whirl: *peeks out from under his shamwow to regard her solemnly* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Lightly pinches Whirl's head with feeler claws* Shockwave: (( /kinkshaming whirl )) ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Om nom!}} _Whirl: ((PFFT)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((omg)) Shockwave: (( bird vore. sounds niche. )) _Whirl: Truly, this is the most excrutiating way to die. *he does not bat her off his head* _Whirl: ((OHO OUTDATED SCIENCE, corivids are ABSOLUTELY SMART ENOUGH FOR THAT)) ItsyBitsySpyers: {{You get tennis racket and Bird zaps.}} FakeProwl: ((corvids are smart cookies)) B l u r r: [[ that's me ]] _Whirl: All I have to defend myself is my... thing that Prowl gave me. But then I'll be naked. starscream: ((pretty sure she doesn't know what she's talking about)) _Whirl: ...also, you can zap? ItsyBitsySpyers: *She lifts her feeler up. Crackle crackle. She can zap.* _Whirl: Huh. Neat! _Whirl: How hard? _Whirl: Could you knock me clean out? ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Bird dropped big big Prime~}} FakeProwl: *so whirl is into being eaten by birds and treating giant fliers like footrests. good to know.* B l u r r: I'd like to drop a big big prime /mumbling/ ItsyBitsySpyers: \\GROSS.\\ B l u r r: He'd be ang-rrry. _Whirl: Give me a test zap. Not on the head, though. ... _Whirl: *LAUGHS AGAIN, swiveling his helm towards Blurr* I bet you WOULD. Still willing to help you, with that. *cheeky look; he's a good wingman* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Laserbeak's feeler wiggles uncertainly* Shockwave: (( he's also apparently into being zapped. )) _Whirl: ((when will the roller coaster end)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *She's not sure she's allowed to do that here.* Shockwave: (( i mean, whirl being kinky shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, really. )) B l u r r: Help me with what- dropping a Prime?I _Whirl: ((the funny thing is: he isn't. At least not yet. He's woefully inexperienced. But I am not saying he can't learn to enjo some form of... most of these things)) B l u r r: ... I'm not looking to anger him. Yet. _Whirl: ((but he doesn't know that yet)) _Whirl: Help you getting stepped on by that Prime. _Whirl: I know you want him to. *EVEN SLYER LOOK* B l u r r: ... Ah, yes. /hums/ Shockwave: (( oh man he needs to go on a *sexual journey of self discovery* )) B l u r r: He'd crush half of my internal workings with one stomp... B l u r r: / covers face with claw / ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Bird arrested if Whirl zapped?}} _Whirl: ((just one long horrific music montage of getting zapped and bitten and putting his feet on people)) _Whirl: *snickers again, and then looks back to Laserbeak, then to Blurr* Hey, Blurr, can she zap me a litle? I'm just curious. Shockwave: (( what music would be playing in the background? )) FakeProwl: ((and gently wafting over it all is the scent of pinesol)) B l u r r: ... I don't care? _Whirl: ((god. PINESOL I FORGOT ABOUT THE DAMN PINE SOL. also: Yakkety Sax)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave flicks a servo. If the others don't have a problem, neither does he. It'll teach them not to doubt his deployers.* Shockwave: (( PFF)) _Whirl: ((that or the Goon's cover of Unchained Melody)) starscream: Birds usually make a lot of noise, how do these people who presumably are on the alert not hear them coming every time _Whirl: All right! Okay. Hit m--wait, will Zori and Rumble get it, too? _Whirl: Shoudl I get up? ItsyBitsySpyers: //Yeah, don't get us toasted. C'mon, Bug.// _Whirl: ((FOR THE RECORD IM LISTENING TO THAT NOW OVER THIS AND IT'S MAKING THIS HILARIOUS(( starscream: genius B l u r r: Wow. The birds are better arsonists than Nos. Shockwave: (( /SNORTS)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Rumble hops down and motions to Zori to follow him. Bug does.* Shockwave: (( that's just hilariously stupid. and the birds planned this?? )) ItsyBitsySpyers: //All clear!// starscream: ((smoking kills)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *She floats up off Whirl so as not to knock herself out too, sticks both claws on his back, and gives him a half-level jolt. Which is to say she -shocks him like hell-.* FakeProwl: ... That was unlikely to be planned. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\THEY'RE RUNNIN' WITH IT THOUGH, AIN'T THEY?\\ Shockwave: *did buzzsaw ever return to his seat? * ItsyBitsySpyers: *Yes! Yes he did. Sorry.* Shockwave: *Shockwave welcomes him.* starscream: Yeah I think their only target was the guy they attacked at the pump FakeProwl: Even if we're to believe that the birds are intelligent and malevolent enough to have caused the gas spill, they couldn't have predicted the match. _Whirl: *he sits up eagerly right before she jolts him and JERKS LIKE ANYONE WHO JUST GOT THE HELL ELECTROCUTED OUT OF THEM WOULD, optic flashing and a startled burst fo feedback BLARTing out of his vocoder* _Whirl: Hhhhot damn! HA! _Whirl: Not bad! *gives a little wheezing laugh* That;'s pretty wicked. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[It can be worse.]] FakeProwl: It seems likely to me, then, that we're— *wtf was that noise, whirl* _Whirl: *don't worry it wasn't a Chriograph moment* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Bird giggles. That was a great reaction.* FakeProwl: ... that we're supposed to believe this event is supernatural in origin. B l u r r: / snort / starscream: Wouldn't they have attacked in her usual city if it was her? FakeProwl: If we weren't supposed to believe that, then they would have depicted, for instance, a bird diving at the man to cause him to start the fire. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[He doesn't understand why a supernatural force would opt for birds. Surely insects would be worse.]] Shockwave: *oh that blood looked VERY REAL right there.* _Whirl: *his involuntary noises are very strange, as he has non-standard vocalizer* Damn respectable, laserbeak. *nods to her* _Whirl: ...and, yep. Figured this would happen. ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Whirl should feel whole thing.}} _Whirl: *nods; Laserbeak. He is absolutely willing* starscream: get back inside idiots, the dead can wait til the birds leave _Whirl: *did you guys forget he chugged that entire cube of Gaugebuster WHILE HE COULD TASTE IT. Whirl loves this kind of stuff* ItsyBitsySpyers: *All right, well. Don't say they didn't warn him.* starscream: go inside ItsyBitsySpyers: *Eat electricity, Whirl.* FakeProwl: *covers audials* _Whirl: *shifts and sits up* If you th--*WELP HE'S ZAPPED* ItsyBitsySpyers: [[How many days have passed in this town?]] _Whirl: *Sorry everyone with sensitive audials another poorly-synthesized wail warbles right out of his vocalizer--it sounds, birefly, like a Casio keyboard IN PAIN* Shockwave: *but to what extent would a cybertronian find electricity to be painful?* _Whirl: *followed by another wheezing vent, and Whirl shaking his head to clear it, after a few moments that breathless laughing can be heard, softly, and he rasps* Nice. _Whirl: I think you very nearly knocked me out, bird. Shockwave: *in any case, shockwave's audials /are/ sensitive, and he immediately shoves one side into the couch to block some of the noise out.* FakeProwl: *mr sensitive audials here appreciates the apology, but at least he was prepared* FakeProwl: *... in hindsight, since he's a holomatter, he could've just cut his own audio feed, but whatever* _Whirl: *snorts again, loudly, and shakes his head. He seems a little bit dazed but all right* You know what? That was more fun than this movie has been. B l u r r: / Velocity is louder at times- he's used to these noises / B l u r r: / maybe not exactly that sound, but the volume / _Whirl: I like Hitchcock but this is a stinker. Shockwave: *immediately after this and a good recharge, goddamnit, he's going to develop some dampeners for these excursions.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *She's slightly disappointed he didn't pass out like Optimus did, but she flutters with pride anyway* _Whirl: *son';t worry, Shockwave, Whirl isn't usually this dang loud; and don't feel bad, Laserbeak. Whirl is hard to put down. VERY hard* starscream: Kill the lovebirds ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl, Shockwave: [[His apologies. She gets few moments to shine.]] B l u r r: Look, just do me a favor. Don't run into any power lines on Earth. /scoffs / starscream: how have they not already done that _Whirl: ((the faces of true killers)) FakeProwl: *small nod* Shockwave: @Soundwave: Apology accepted. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\THAT'S HOW COME YA SHOULDA LET ME GO. I'M TOO SHORT FOR DUMB OL' POWER LINES.\\ _Whirl: *flops back, stretching on his hammck* Thanks, mech. That's a neat trick. Definitely damn useful in a fight. *raises one arm and clicks a claw, a touch sluggishly* I think it's dapmened my reflexes-- ItsyBitsySpyers: \\BUT I'M GOOD WIT' THE DOOR. GONNA FIND ME SOME COOL SCRAP!\\ Shockwave: @Soundwave: So sounds of such amplitude are not so common? starscream: Like you need worse reflexes than you already have B l u r r: / snort / I would take you to Earth, but I don't know if you'd be cleared for that. _Whirl: --a bit. Damn useful if you're trying to take out someone bigger. *of COURSE he's gonna analyze the combat potential of that right after he gets hit with it* Okay. Hammock's safe. Everyone can pile-- ItsyBitsySpyers: [[No. He is not.]] _Whirl: -back in. ...pfft. *looks to Starscream* My reflexes are perfectly fine, actually. Dunno who told you different. B l u r r: You see? Soundwave said no. /pouts a little/ But you can come with me to see the door. starscream: Go kill the birds B l u r r: The Quintessons were responsible for the door, I hear. ItsyBitsySpyers: //They ain't shut the damn chimbley?// ItsyBitsySpyers: @Shockwave: [[Negative. Most guests are not electrocuted in public.]] Shockwave: *Yeesh these bird noises are loud.* ItsyBitsySpyers: //What for they think doors 'n stuff's gonna stop birds? Ain't they hearda woodpeckers?// _Whirl: OR the windows? Shockwave: @Soundwave: Reassuring. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Rumble helps Zori climb back up before hopping onto Whirl's legs* _Whirl: *will also lend his assistance if it is needed before settling in* ItsyBitsySpyers: \\QUINTESSONS? THEM WIGGLY FACE ALIENS?\\ _Whirl: *Laserbeak is free to leave, or stay, if she wishes* B l u r r: Yep, those are the ones. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\THEY AIN'T RIDIN' AROUND IN ME. I'LL FEED 'EM THEIR OWN LEGS.\\ ItsyBitsySpyers: *She'll stay. She earned this perch.* B l u r r: K-Kyeheheheh. Well, good. If we encounter any, we'll kill them. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Buzzsaw is being a much better guest. He hasn't shocked Shockwave at all.* _Whirl: *she is certainly welcome to; Whirl is probably alreadycovered by a Lot of Scorpion. He has perchable places on his anatomy* _Whirl: *excuse you the shocking is a PLUS* Shockwave: *And /his/ name is already partially electricity themed.* Shockwave: *shockwave would prefer to not be shocked, at this point in time.* B l u r r: Besides, anything the Quintessons locked up is bound to be valuable. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\DAMN STRAIGHT.\\ B l u r r: But first, I have to hand deliver a few Wreckers to their boss. _Whirl: *LAUGHS* ItsyBitsySpyers: //Go through the fraggin' door, lady.// _Whirl: It's RIGHT THERE. B l u r r: [[ this scene always bothered me when i found out he didn't tell her he was gonna throw real birds at her and then did ]] FakeProwl: *wreckers boss? quietly listens in on blurr's conversation* starscream: ((Isn't this the scene where the actress almost lost an eye)) B l u r r: [[ yeah ]] FakeProwl: ((wow really? rude)) Shockwave: (( >8/ )) _Whirl: ((not surprised, it was hitchcock--he was an ***)) B l u r r: [[ a real bird got close to her eye when they threw it ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: \\WHAT WRECKERS?\\ B l u r r: [[ He said he wouldn't use real birds and then told his assistants to throw real birds at her ]] _Whirl: *blinks and also looks over, curious* ItsyBitsySpyers: ((damn rude hitchcock)) B l u r r: [[ not ALL of them are real, but some are ]] starscream: ((he did that a lot)) B l u r r: [ indeed ] Shockwave: (( 20 minutes left? )) starscream: ((told the actors one thing, did something else, usually more dangerous instead)) B l u r r: Look, I saved the morons, so I may as well... B l u r r: I may as well take them all the way back. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\YA ACTUALLY GOT SOME LEFT?\\ B l u r r: [[ 9 minutes left ]] B l u r r: ... /dims optic at Frenzy/ Well. I don't... but I found some in another universe. _Whirl: Who leads the Wreckers, in that universe? Shockwave: (( oh good. )) B l u r r: Roadbuster said he didn't know if anyone was still alive. /tilts helm/ ItsyBitsySpyers: \\WHERE'S BACK? THAT GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME?\\ B l u r r: When I knew Roads, the leader of the Wreckers WAS Roads... But Leadfoot and Topspin worked along with him, so they answered to Optimus Prime on Earth. B l u r r: I'm not sure who Roads' superior was on Cybertron. Probably someone pompous like Ultra Magnus. FakeProwl: *none of those are wreckers that prowl cares about. tunes out of the conversation* B l u r r: / looks at Frenzy again/ ... I said I would take them back to Optimus Prime of Tyran. _Whirl: *Topspin! There's a name he rexognizes* So... Optimus leads them directly? *seems somewhat skeptical. It should be noted he's still wearing the sham-wow* B l u r r: No, Optimus is their leader now that... well, this Roadbuster was listening to Leadfoot. / vents/  Couldn't save that one. ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): ...What strategy, movie situation? B l u r r: So, Roadbuster and Topspin came onto my ship and I... told them I would take them to Optimus Prime. _Whirl: *nods* Ah. Gotcha. Well. Of course. *sits up a bit, that sly look coming back into his optic* ItsyBitsySpyers: *He'd like to know what he ought to do if the entire flobster population ever loses its damn mind.* _Whirl: Of COURSE we gotta take them to Big O himself. B l u r r: ... What? B l u r r: / looks at Frenzy/ Er, I'm not sure how long it will take. FakeProwl: *hmm. sits forward and thinks* @Soundwave «On a macro or micro level?» ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Both. This never experienced. ItsyBitsySpyers: *The closest he could think of would be scraplets, but they'd attack the moment they noticed him.* ItsyBitsySpyers: \\...EH, I CAN WAIT. QUINTESSON SCRAP'S GOTTA BE GOOD.\\ B l u r r: / props his helm up with his elbow/ They used to work close with NEST, but I'm not sure where NEST went. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\PRIME BETTER PAY YA REAL GOOD THOUGH.\\ FakeProwl: @Soundwave «The first step needs to be discovering the amount of time in between attacks.» FakeProwl: *another long moment of thought* B l u r r: ... I hope he hits me with the end of that rifle fresh after a shot and it burns a permanent mark on me. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\PFFT.\\ FakeProwl: @Soundwave «... Then, get a flamethrower and a scuba tank.» _Whirl: *SNICKERS* _Whirl: All angry, right up there in your face? _Whirl: Want me to be super obnoxious so he gts nice and riled? B l u r r: In any case, I said I'd get them there safe. _Whirl: *he is a good wingman, Blurr* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave shakes with silent laughter.* B l u r r: ... what id he shoots you instead of me? B l u r r: *if _Whirl: Eh, I can take it, B l u r r: But /I/ want to take it. FakeProwl: *glad he appreciated that* B l u r r: / vents and moves to sit up/ In any case, Roadbuster and Topspin will need an escort, so that's us. I plan to get them there alive. starscream: Why are they taking birds with them?  How dumb are they _Whirl: Hmm. This will require some level of finesse, then... ItsyBitsySpyers: //...What if the birds is mad cuz them other birds is caged up?// _Whirl: I'll do my best. This is a... *prime* opportunity for you, after all. B l u r r: Not that they'll sit there and walk while we fight...- B l u r r: Wow. FakeProwl: The birds are caged and can serve as an early warning system. If the caged birds become agitated, they know to take shelter. _Whirl: *looks inordinately proud of himself for that one* B l u r r: / judgment, whirl / _Whirl: *STILL PROUD* _Whirl: Wow, what a stinker THAT was. ItsyBitsySpyers: //...Wha, that's it?// ItsyBitsySpyers: //They make it somewhere or not? Whattabout the rest of the world?// _Whirl: Hitchcock can do much, much better. FakeProwl: ... That's it? B l u r r: Still, you can't take humans lightly. starscream: So the answer is... B l u r r: They've taken out more than just a few mechs... starscream: From that performance I would say you can B l u r r: / grabs datapad and pulls up a roster. Turns it around to show Whirl/ Look at their list. ItsyBitsySpyers: }}No doubt they consumed all the humans.{{ starscream: They had birds in their hands and didn't kill them on multiple occasions _Whirl: I'm with Buzzsaw. I choose to believe they got eaten. ...*tilts head at datapad* Is this the humans' kill-list? Shockwave: @Soundwave: For confirmation: the creatures featured were nonfictional, nor are they extinct? ItsyBitsySpyers: @Shockwave: [[The creatures displayed were real and remain alive.]] B l u r r: This is the list from the verse Roads was from. /taps screen/ Before they stopped it all. _Whirl: Hmm. ...do WE have a list? Yet? FakeProwl: I'd suspect that when they're holding one bird and another twenty are pecking them, their priority is not killing that one bird, but moving it away from their body as quickly as possible. ItsyBitsySpyers: @Shockwave: [[They gather. He does not know if they attack.]] FakeProwl: In order to move onto relocating the next twenty. B l u r r: For the verse I've dipped my claws into? _Whirl: Because I can guarantee you I can do better than THAT. *optic flickers as he shifts to to regard Blurr eagerly* B l u r r: / taps screen and brings up a new list / This is the new list. Optimus Prime is on top- the humans are going to want him first. Shockwave: *Even if the movie was a bit preposterous at times, he can appreciate that the creatures were real.* B l u r r: Which means not only do we need to watch out for Cemetery Wind humans, but Lockdown as well. starscream: ((interesting, the book seems to actually have the answer to what caused it)) B l u r r: / swipes screen/ Lockdown wants Optimus Prime, the humans want to catch Optimus for Lockdown - it's all some long, complicated plan. ItsyBitsySpyers: ((oh? what was it?)) FakeProwl: ((what was it in the book?)) starscream: ((not a very good one, but one anyway)) B l u r r: But, the humans get free parts if they kill all of the mechs they want to get there. B l u r r: [[ what is the book reason again? ]] _Whirl: *oh *** it';s that STUPID RIDICULOUSLY SEXY GUNFACE LOCKDOWN AIN'T IT* starscream: ((it has to do with the tides)) _Whirl: *GOD. DAMMIT.* Shockwave: There was talk earlier of speculation towards human anatomy. If anyone is willing to provide a sample, I may provide answers upon our next gathering? starscream: ((so just go out when the tide is at a safe point)) B l u r r: / YES WHIRL / Shockwave: *clearly just really wants to dissect something* FakeProwl: ((huh)) B l u r r: [[ weird ] FakeProwl: ((I had a film professor who theorized that the attacks came when the mom was feeling jealous about the new girl moving in on her son)) _Whirl: *GONA BE A SHAME TO OBLITERATE HIM BUT these things happen* Right. Well, I mean, we're... not working with any limitatuions, here? _Whirl: No "don't kill the humans" policy, right? Because if I don't have to worry about collateral, I can see this being a walk in the park. FakeProwl: ((which is why they could just walk out the door at the end—not because it was a safe phase, but because the mom is taking care of the girl and doesn't see her as a threat)) B l u r r: [[ the birds are ruining the romance that sucks anyway ]] B l u r r: /frowns/ I haven't talked to Roadbuster about that. I mean, we have... but, he seems intent on protecting the ones who are on their side. /taps screen and holds up images/ One Cade Yeager and his - B l u r r: daughter, Tessa Yeager. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave cannot assist Shockwave in finding a human, but perhaps Blurr and Whirl...?* FakeProwl: ((which is an interesting theory, but doesn't explain things like attacks at the school or in town)) _Whirl: *sighs* Seems like a dumb idea but, whatever, I'll humor them. Shockwave: Hm. Though an alive sample would be preferred, but something preserved but deceased would provide more information than nothing at all. B l u r r: [[ does the tide bring it inland? Maybe that's why? ]] B l u r r: / vents/ It's not our universe. At the end of the day, we get to walk away with absolutely, positively, no connections. None at all. FakeProwl: *quietly scowling at shockwave* B l u r r: / sounds like he's trying real hard / _Whirl: *Whirl's not going to deliver human remains to an active Decepticon, so no use asking him* starscream: ((In the book they eventually take over the whole world apparently)) _Whirl: Well, Blurr, I'm not from your universe. I'm not even from the universe I LIVE in, right now. Shockwave: (( good ending. )) FakeProwl: ((Planet of the Aves)) B l u r r: [[ good ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: ((LOL)) _Whirl: ...frankly, I don't really know WHERE I come from. Different universes doesn't mean anything. We can still roll with these guys when we're done. Might need to. B l u r r: / making a face / No. Impossible. B l u r r: Roadbuster and I have made it clear that we are not... friends. B l u r r: / they're in denial friends, tbh / Shockwave: @Blurr: *pings for attention.* _Whirl: *shrugs* Whatever. *Whirl hasn't seem them interact so he can't call Blurr out on his **** I'm not saying you gotta hold hands and sit around a campfire singing SONGS. B l u r r: !! @Shockwave: :: Yeeees?:: _Whirl: But sometimes you've gotta keep in touch. Seems like it might be useful. B l u r r: okay okay, fine.  Fine fine fine. /vent/ Even so... this is about delivering them from point A to point B. Shockwave: @Blurr: Is it possible for you to provide a live or well preserved human sample? B l u r r: @Shockwave: :: With pleasure! I can get you anything you want. :: _Whirl: *nods* Right. Escort mission. And we'll be fending off Cemetary Wind and possibly Lockdown. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave is having nothing to do with wherever Lockdown is. Lockdown means Galvatron. No.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy is definitely not going.* B l u r r: ... Can I trust you to fight Lockdown?  /smirks / B l u r r: / looks to Frenzy/ And you. I need you to help me out with this door. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\SAID I WAS GONNA, YEAH? DONE DEAL.\\ B l u r r: We might need to... break into a few places. I want the main treasure. You, Frenzy? You can have ANYTHING else. ItsyBitsySpyers: \\...FRAG, REALLY?\\ B l u r r: Of course. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Whooping noises* Shockwave: @Blurr: My thanks. Do you require compensation for such work? B l u r r: @Shockwave: :: If the human dies, that's compensation for me. :: B l u r r: I'll try to contact some old... / VENT/ Friends. from the Tyran I know. B l u r r: Maybe they can give us some supplies or tips. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Well, while the others aren't looking, he's sneaking a lean. He hasn't stolen many of them on the Lost Light lately.* _Whirl: *snorts* Of course I'll fight him. I'm not scared of some overconfident bounty hunter. B l u r r: Trust me, they're all like that, apparently. B l u r r: / taps his datapad/ Some should have their mouths sewn shut. _Whirl: And, breaking and entering, can do. B l u r r: / scrubs faceplate/ What am I supposed to tell Optimus Prime... B l u r r: "Hi, I found these, I think they're yours." _Whirl: I'll look into the list you sent me and get an alt-mode conversion in the works. ...PFFT. _Whirl: Okay, here's what you do. You're taking the chainsaw, right? B l u r r: Mine? _Whirl: Yes. B l u r r: Yes. Always. Shockwave: @Blurr:....Hm. Very well, then. You have my coordinates, yes? ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Disappearance cause visitor questions prepared when Prowl's stress: lower. B l u r r: @Shockwave: :: Yes, of course :: _Whirl: All right, good. So, you've got your chainsaw, and, hopefully, by this point you'll be covered in the energ--fluids. Whatever. f your enemies, yeah? maybe smoking a little. Just generally looking-- _Whirl: --like you walked through the Pit and the Pit could nopt contain you. That's key. Okay? Follow? B l u r r: ... Yes? _Whirl: Call his name, but before you get real close. Good effect. And when you're right in front of each other, shoulder your chainsaw--make sure it;s a smooth motion, maybe a little, like, cocky. Put your-- Shockwave: @Blurr: Then we have a deal. Thank you for hosting us tonight. B l u r r: @Shockwave: :: A pleasure, of course. LL _Whirl: --weight on one hip. Looks as confident as you possibly can and say--"I believe I have something that belongs to you." B l u r r: * :: ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Purpose: Threat assessment. Until then, postponed. _Whirl: Can't fail. B l u r r: ... /makes a face/ Uh...huh _Whirl: Trust me. It'll be awesome. Shockwave: *Alright it's late as *** so he's leaving, saying goodbye to anybody he considers a friend, and leaving.* B l u r r: Right.../vents/ B l u r r: / waves at Shockwave / Shockwave: (( g'night. )) _Whirl: ((night!)) starscream: ((night)) B l u r r: It's just a pity that I can't get into contact with any of the Autobots I used to know, aside from Jazz. B l u r r: We should just grab that moron and throw him at the humans... ItsyBitsySpyers: ((bye)) _Whirl: He's the one who made Zori all big, right? He might know a few tricks. B l u r r: [[ ni ni! ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: [[Do not give Jazz to the humans.]] B l u r r: Mm. I believe so? I don't know. We don't talk as often. ItsyBitsySpyers: *He just said that. That came out of his mind. Primus.* B l u r r: / flicks finials/ Well , why not? _Whirl: We're not giving ANYONE to the humans. _Whirl: We're killing the humans. _Whirl: They picked a fight--they're the enemy now. B l u r r: They have ALWAYS been the enemy. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[...He must be preserved. His timeline cannot afford to lose him.]] ItsyBitsySpyers: *WHYYYYY* B l u r r: His timeline? He has no one LEFT in his timeline starscream: I thought Autobots usually aligned themselves with humans ItsyBitsySpyers: [[More can be created.]] B l u r r: ... /looks at datapad/ Except Optimus Prime of Tyran , who is currently MIA. Sideswipe, MIA. Mirage, MIA. _Whirl: *dryly* Those of us severed from our timelines don't necessarily consider ourselves useless, you know. ItsyBitsySpyers: //These ain'tcher normal humans, Screamer.// B l u r r: / vents and looks at Soundwave/ Just because he thinks he's a special night lite doesn't mean he gets to sit in the back. _Whirl: Yeah. these folks catch and dissect Cybertronians. I've run into... similar folks before. Humans are just another species of alien--they don't get special treatment when they pick fights. ItsyBitsySpyers: //They been pullin' us apart both sides 'n turnin' us into creepy fraggin' li'l slave machines.// B l u r r: ... Besides. /smirks/ Jazz has a lot of power. If I twist his arm the right way, he'll do me a few favors. FakeProwl: ((i disappeared, sorry. i went downstairs to use the fridge and i got offered an astrology reading.)) B l u r r: [[ the best fridgeventure ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: [[And if the humans get hold of him? Dissect him? Destroy him? Steal what he contains?]] starscream: ((not going to lie, that is a sentence I never thought I would hear)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((wb. soundwave is leaning on prowl and said he wanted to ask questions about the two needle nerds when prowl felt strong enough to handle it, for threat assessment purposes)) _Whirl: ((omfg)) B l u r r: I'd never let the humans TAKE him... B l u r r: Regardless, he IS still... he was nice to me. A few times. ItsyBitsySpyers: ((and soundwave is defending a jazz where everyone can hear and hating every second of it)) FakeProwl: @Soundwave «"Disappearance cause visitor questions"?» *he can't parse that phrase* B l u r r: [[ SOUNDWAVE WHY ]] B l u r r: [[ Jazz in the bg, wiping a tear ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): ...Two mnemosurgeons appeared. Prowl disappeared. _Whirl: He seemed nice enough to Zori. *that's reason enough for Whirl, apparently* FakeProwl: @Soundwave «There were two of them?» ItsyBitsySpyers: ((lemme check chat)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((please hold. i am pretty sure someone blabbed)) FakeProwl: *he only heard Chromedome before leaving* FakeProwl: ((yeah someone blabbed. but prowl only noticed one of them)) B l u r r: Well, if I could get in contact with Sideswipe, we'd have his swords. But, he's missing, too. ItsyBitsySpyers: ((okay yeah and that's the one soundwave got told to follow during host week. i'm good)) B l u r r: Last I heard from Jazz, no one is answering his calls except Scorponock. ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Chromedome; "Nimbus"/Trepan, "masseuse" on space station. FakeProwl: @Soundwave «... Chromedome is hanging out with Trepan again?» B l u r r: / taps datapad and leans back / Regardless, it looks like it's you, me, and the Wreckers. _Whirl: Well, if we can't get him, no big loss, I GUESS. B l u r r: It's more like a short loss.. B l u r r: / snicker / ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): What 'again'? Reminder: Soundwave not native. _Whirl: *sits up, optic glinting gleefully with the promise of mayhem. He is still wearing that damn sham-wow* Sounds like a hell of a party. FakeProwl: @Soundwave «Contact me tomorrow, after my work shift. And if you should go somewhere Trepan is, watch your neck.» ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): ...Understood. FakeProwl: @Soundwave «And around Chromedome, of course. But Chromedome is an unconfirmed threat. Trepan is an active one.» B l u r r: / smirks and kicks a pede out/ Though, I want Optimus Prime of Tyran in my debt, I would rather deliver them to their real boss. B l u r r: It was unclear who it was... any guesses? B l u r r: I hope it wasn't Sentinel... he was a prime assshole. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Small visible plating puff. And they were all in the room with him unaware...* FakeProwl: *well, he should at least be aware of the danger of Chromedome* _Whirl: I... wouldn't be able to tell you anything, but I've never known the Wreckers to answer to a Prime, and if YOUR Sentinel was anything like OUR Sentinel... _Whirl: then he's. A dead mech walking. ItsyBitsySpyers: *No, no. They all, as in him and his minicons, around a mnemosurgeon who isn't necessarily limited to one more surgery before death* _Whirl: OUR Sentinel was just. *shakes his head* I can't talk about that guy right now. I want to keep my MOOD. B l u r r: My Sentinel is an idiot. Tyran's was a slagger. ItsyBitsySpyers: *His plating settles. He's good. He'll be sure none of his group go near those two.* B l u r r: / vents and just sits up more / Optimus Prime of Tyran /does/ have a destructive attitude. B l u r r: It wouldn't surprise me if they looked up to him.

Missed some.

_Whirl: It's very rare for a Wrecker to retire. B l u r r: Some shouldn't. B l u r r: /flexes claws / I don't know why I agreed to this. It's a pain.... annoying. FakeProwl: *it's so nice to be dating someone with humor standards low enough for Prowl to meet them* _Whirl: *shrugs again* _Whirl: I think I might. *he tilts his head and stares at Blurr; Roadbuster, he wagers, has a LOT to do with it. But he's not gona say that out loud* B l u r r: / vents and just looks back at him./ Oh, yeah? _Whirl: *he's also gonna finally remove his sham-wow* Well, prowl, I appreciate it, but at the end of the day, we all know the truth: I'll never be a decent mech. _Whirl: So I might as well be naked. B l u r r: /snort / FakeProwl: That's fine. The sham-wow was fake anyway. FakeProwl: *a sham sham-wow* _Whirl: It was a metaphor all along. _Whirl: For pretending to be a decent, polite person in company because that's whate everyone expects. ItsyBitsySpyers: //My optics! I'm blind!// _Whirl: *sagely nod as he drapes the sham-wow on Laserbeak's back. His gift to you for so generously electrocuting the shi t out of him* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Rumble rolls off Whirl and twitches dramatically* ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Request permitted? _Whirl: You're naked, too. _Whirl: Our first casualty. But, Rumble... *zoops his neck over the edge of the hammock* I've got bad news, pal. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Sits up.* //Sup?// FakeProwl: @Soundwave «Request permitted but response not guaranteed.» *depends on the request* B l u r r: / shifts and motions to Frenzy/ Look. This is the door. /shows him datapad/ It's not like a real door, but it blocks something vast. Isn't it awesome? ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Rest near Constructicons. Active threat, assailant association not trusted. Starscream's security: sham. ItsyBitsySpyers: *He's not asking you to sleep -with- them. Just... by them. For safety.* _Whirl: You're naked too. FakeProwl: @Soundwave «... I sleep with them every night.» FakeProwl: *so we've got that covered.* ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Good. Stay. FakeProwl: @Soundwave «I intend to.» ItsyBitsySpyers: *And that means no running off to be across the house wiggling at Tarantulas* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Do your wiggling near them* FakeProwl: *there's a reason a Constructicon was lurking outside the door, and it's not because said Constructicon felt like watching.* ItsyBitsySpyers: //I ain't neither, sir, 'n I'm offended at your insinu-nations. I got more platin' than the Boss do.// _Whirl: *snorts and twitches his long, thin stabilizer fins for emphjasis* So do I. _Whirl: I've got plenty of PLATING. Just no clothes. ItsyBitsySpyers: *Small nudge against avatar. Thank you. He does not want to ping you and find out they've taken everything else.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *After all, he doesn't know enough about what's yours to rip it out of them afterward yet* ItsyBitsySpyers: //I got a tarp. That count?// ItsyBitsySpyers: ((OH WHOOP i missed a question from blurr hold on)) _Whirl: Well, you're not WEARING it, are you? ItsyBitsySpyers: *Frenzy belatedly snatches up the datapad and stares at it. He doesn't see anything doorlike.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *...He's looking at it upside down. There we go.* FakeProwl: *what does the nudge mean? is this like the hand-tapping thing that Ratchet did. nudges back.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Good.* FakeProwl: *good job prowl, Successful Social Interaction* ItsyBitsySpyers: //Boss! Tarp.// B l u r r: / snort / ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave pauses to fish around in his side and pull out a folded heating tarp. He flicks it to Rumble, who drapes it on himself like a cape.* ItsyBitsySpyers: //Now what, smart-aft?// _Whirl: There ya go. _Whirl: Now, you're not naked. ItsyBitsySpyers: //Then I'm the classiest bot in this fraggin' room. Perverts.// ItsyBitsySpyers: \\...THIS GOTTA BE ONE BIG KEY.\\ _Whirl: Excuse you. *points to Laserbeak, who now has the holo sham-wow* B l u r r: It goes to a console on a command center floating around there, I think. B l u r r: Anyway... I have the key ItsyBitsySpyers: //That ain't real. It's fake clothin'. Bootlegger, bird.// ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Peh. It mine.}} _Whirl: It's good enough. FakeProwl: It's digital cothing, and therefore high-tech. Scorponock: ... [shuffles in to bring a few snacks ] FakeProwl: *don't u diss his fake sham-wow* _Whirl: *NUDGE NUDGE YOUR BUDDY'S HERE* _Whirl: ! *nudges Zori* ItsyBitsySpyers: \\BRING IT NEXT TIME, I WANNA S--YO, THE OTHER BUG!\\ ItsyBitsySpyers: #:O #my friend! B l u r r: / snort / Oh, there you are. I thought you were still hiding. He's been shy lately. ItsyBitsySpyers: *WHOMP Zori is off that hammock and scuttling over to pap his big bug buddy all over HI* B l u r r: I will bring it to show you next time, Frenzy Scorponock: [ chittering!!! ] Scorponock: [ clicks the claws and wiggles tail side to side ] Yeeez. I have come vizeeeet. _Whirl: *was quite prepared and is NOT dumped; he just sits up straighter and ajusts his balance, watching Zori with a subtle mixture of amusement and fondness* ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Bird's shamwow. Prowl can't have back, heh heh.}} ItsyBitsySpyers: *Flies around with it* _Whirl: ...*which he straightens into a neutral expression when he realizes he's making a face. ...well. Sort of. As much of a face as Whirl CAN* FakeProwl: You realize I can turn it off, right. ItsyBitsySpyers: {{No!}} ItsyBitsySpyers: {{Rude.}} ItsyBitsySpyers: #are you okay? #you have been gone a long time #yes #very long ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave caught that, Whirl.* Scorponock: Yeez. I am veeery okay. Been zeek _Whirl: *snickers* Looks like you'll have to get your own. *NO U DIDN'T* _Whirl: *DON'T LOOK AT ME* FakeProwl: I'll warn you before I leave, but it's going to be soon. ItsyBitsySpyers: #D: ItsyBitsySpyers: #you are not sick now? B l u r r: / shifts and looks back at his datapad/ When can you be ready to go, Whirl? Scorponock: No! Am no zeek anymore _Whirl: When d'you need me? I might need  aday or two to get my alt switched up, but otherwise... *shrugs* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Bird whistles and loops and - oh. Hmm. It didn't stay on. That's the trouble with clothes, she supposes.* _Whirl: We've been docked on Cybertron for ages. I'm not being useful back home at all. _Whirl: *so Laserbeak* You need a scarf. ...and a neck for the scarf. ItsyBitsySpyers: *She grabs it in a feeler and holds it out to Prowl. Here. It is a bad Autobot cloth anyway.* B l u r r: I'll have to talk to Roadbuster , but it might be a few days. ItsyBitsySpyers: #good #do not be sick more #only healthy #we missed you #:( _Whirl: All right! I'll get ready. *bob his head* FakeProwl: ... You don't have to give it back now, I'm not leaving for another couple of minutes. And it doesn't really need to be "given" anyway. ItsyBitsySpyers: {{And leg! Good leg.}} ItsyBitsySpyers: *In that case, it's HER bad Autobot cloth for another few minutes. She floats around dusting everyone's helms with it because try and stop her.* Scorponock: You meez me? FakeProwl: *have fun with your bad autobot cloth* ItsyBitsySpyers: #yes! FakeProwl: *... when it disappears, all the dust it mopped up is going to drift away. and probably into laserbeak's vents.\* _Whirl: Yeah! *neatly ducks as she tries to dust him, HAHA LASERBRAIN* The legs on that bird body I got were pretty great. ItsyBitsySpyers: *BAD AUTOBOT CLOTH* Scorponock: I meez you too, yeeez. _Whirl: If you think you might use the scans for an upgrade, let me know. I bet it'd be wicked. Scorponock: Been looking for Blacky. ItsyBitsySpyers: [[We are considering it.]] FakeProwl: *well maybe laserbeak shouldn't dusting things with imaginary fabric* _Whirl: Nice! ItsyBitsySpyers: *dirty dirty TRICK is what it is. see if she trusts Prowl and Whirl presents again* _Whirl: *excuse you he's innocent in all this* _Whirl: *aside from being shamefully naked* FakeProwl: *prowl didn't make her dust things* ItsyBitsySpyers: #I did not see him #only little helicopters Scorponock: Oh... [droopy scorpion ] ItsyBitsySpyers: *well what else was she supposed to do with it, eat it?* _Whirl: ((what if we find him on Earth)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((EEEEE)) B l u r r: [[ whirl he dead ]] _Whirl: ((whirl grabs him by the... robot lapels "Look here you little sh it. Your scorpion is worried about you. GO. HOME.")) B l u r r: [[ he's dEAD ]] _Whirl: ((well. ...i mean if we find his body I suppose, closure)) _Whirl: ((but I like shaking him by the robo lapels better)) B l u r r: [[ oh my god that would be so sAD ]] _Whirl: ((........soundwave have you ever wanted to have TWO SCORPIONS)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((HE CAN'T CARRY SCORPONOK)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((WHERE'S HE GONNA ATTACH? HIS EVERYWHERE?)) _Whirl: ((GET SHOCKWAVE TO MAKE HIM ABLE TO SHRINK, DUH)) FakeProwl: ((gigantic backpack)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((...okay but scorponok isn't made for that.)) B l u r r: [[ a scorpobackpack ]] _Whirl: ((Shockwave tho)) B l u r r: [[ HE IS BLACKOUTS SPINE I MEAN ]] _Whirl: ((he can do anything)) B l u r r: [[ well he comes from his spine ]] FakeProwl: ((like those "skinny white nerd going on a camping trip and overpreparing" backpacks)) _Whirl: ((and if he is Very Small, maybe one day he, too, will be granted the right of hiidng in whrl's cockpit from Movies That Unsettle Him)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((well then why doesn't he get very small and whirl can have him)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((skip the middleman)) _Whirl: ((Whirl is not a carrier)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((lmao puff soundwave is top heavy enough)) FakeProwl: ((second suggestion: replace ratbat. ENORMOUS FANNY PACK)) B l u r r: LOL ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: ((NO)) _Whirl: ((Scorponok can be a triple changer and just turn into a scorp-gun)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO HIS AFTLESSNESS)) _Whirl: ((attched to a shoulder mount)) _Whirl: ((....actually y'know what scorpo-gun sounds cool I'll take him instead)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((seeeeee)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((now blurr and prowl need scorps of their own.)) FakeProwl: ((why does prowl need one)) B l u r r: [[ why would blurr need one omg ]] _Whirl: ((EVERYBODY GETS A SCORPION)) _Whirl: ((YOU geta  scorpion. and YOU get a scorpion)) FakeProwl: ((his thigh pockets have already been mapped)) _Whirl: ((well technically Prowl already has a spide)) B l u r r: blurr has velocity. He's like a bug ]] ItsyBitsySpyers: ((i forgot about the thigh pocket map... soundwave needs to just bring that up again randomly one day)) _Whirl: ((HEHEHHE)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((lmao velocity is the worst kind of pest)) _Whirl: ((YOU GOTTA MAP THE OUTSIDES NOW, SOUNDWAVE)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((HE'S WORKIN ON IT)) FakeProwl: ((starting from the face and moving out)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((Sorta. The old outsides. He'll have to start over again later. This is not a complaint.)) FakeProwl: ((the thigh pocket map was a beautiful accident)) _Whirl: ((Gotta be thorough)) ItsyBitsySpyers: ((ok i'm gettin sleepy time to call the nerds to the bigger nerd)) _Whirl: ((AIGHT)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *And so it was done, with Soundwave being partially tipped over by Rumble and Frenzy's fight to dock first. Carrier troubles.* _Whirl: *will clamber out of his Hammock* Just give me the word when you need me, Teach. And pass me the frequencies of your guys, too, or have 'em contact me, in case they need to give me any more details, y Scorponock: [ aw the friend going home ] _Whirl: *yeah? ...*bobs his head goodbye to the Soundwave Posse* B l u r r: ... Yeah, sure. I'll contact you. B l u r r: / waves claw / ItsyBitsySpyers: *Zori gently taps his claws against Scorponok's* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave nods* _Whirl: *clicks his claw back at Blurr in farewell* Scorponock: [ claw tap!! ] ItsyBitsySpyers: #you be safe #I will see you soon! #:D Scorponock: Bye bye, Zzzzoree! ItsyBitsySpyers: #we will go to sand ItsyBitsySpyers: #bye! Scorponock: Zaand! [ claws to the air ] Bye ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave manages to right himself once both twins are docked and flexes his hands. Okay. They got on the right ones.* ItsyBitsySpyers: *He bobs his head at Prowl.* _Whirl: *he will now scuttle off to look over this list of alts Blurr has sent him& FakeProwl: I'll see you next week. ItsyBitsySpyers: @Prowl: (txt): Company always enjoyed. Rest well. FakeProwl: *poofs out* FakeProwl: *nod* FakeProwl: *SHAM-WOW DUST ATTACK* B l u r r: / wow / FakeProwl: ((cmon livestream you know the nod and the poof should've been in the opposite order)) ItsyBitsySpyers: *Laserbeak immediately explodes into coughs and hiccups as she drops otu of the dust cloud to try to get clean air in her vents* ItsyBitsySpyers: *Soundwave shakes his helm and rescues her.* ItsyBitsySpyers: [[His apologies. We will bring dust cleaning materials next time.]] ItsyBitsySpyers: [[Be safe, Blurr. Do not fall to the meatbags.]] ItsyBitsySpyers: *Out they go.* B l u r r: Aw, thanks. B l u r r: I won't. I think...

#chat

[ecotone99]

[HR] "Hello, Nine-Triple-One, how may I help you?"

I'd taken that route a thousand times. Maybe even more. Every bend and curve became muscle memory to me. Every tree and every rock became recognizable. The view of the valley below, as you cling to the edge of the mountain peak, became as common a sight to me as my own home.

Every day on my way back home, my bike and I would cling to the tarmac of that winding road, the cool mountain air and the hum of the engine below me becoming part of my routine. Brake here, swing hard there. Accelerate until there.

Maybe I wasn't being as careful as I should have been. Maybe the darkness caused the irregularity, causing the all-recognizable treeline to become strange and menacing to me. Maybe the shadows stretched the road an extra inch that I wasn't used to.

All I know is, I didn't brake in time.

I could see it coming, but it was just too late. I slammed the brakes as hard as I could, my tires locking below me as they squealed and smoked in protest. But it wasn't enough.

I slammed into the safety barrier, the impact jarring my bones as it traveled through my body. My bike came to a dead stop as the barrier crunched around it.

I didn't stop.

There was a moment of weightlessness. I felt calm as I rose in the air, my thoughts collecting themselves into a resounding 'oh fuck', as my situation sunk in.

Then I fell, my stomach sinking into my gut as I realized what it meant. My moment of weightlessness was over as gravity swiftly re-affirmed its hold on me, reminding me sharply of what happens to those who defy it.

I smashed into the first tree, the impact crashing through my frail body as I heard my own bones crunch. Momentum carried me onward, flipping me over as I flew through the trees at breakneck speed.

After what felt like an eternity, I hit the bottom hard, the unrelenting ground coming up and forcing the air out of my lungs. I laid there for a moment, as my brain frantically assessed the damage.

That was when I first screamed.

My body burned, the skin over my leg stretching taut where bones lay broken under its surface. I pushed myself up, leaning myself against a fallen log, my vision going white as fresh pain seared through me.

I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to force back the darkness of unconsciousness as I assessed the damage. My leg was bent at the wrong angle, in two places where it shouldn't be. It hurt to breathe. My arm felt like it had been smashed by a sledgehammer and my head felt cloudy, unfocused.

My stomach felt warm, though.

Wet.

I lifted up my shirt, letting out a small cry as I saw the branch sticking through it. It was the width of my thumb, and there was no telling how deep it had gotten.

I started to panic as blood slowly seeped out the wound, painting my stomach a violet color in the moonlight and drenching the soil beneath me in an endless stream.

I needed help. I needed help badly.

I pawed at my jacket pocket, forcing my shaking fingers to rip open the velcro holding it closed and fishing out my phone.

I tapped the fingerprint scanner and it came to life, bathing me in its blissful LED light.

It still worked. It survived the crash. Thank God.

I clumsily opened its dialer, then typed those three numbers that were seared into my head since I was a kid. I put it on speaker and forcefully flipped up my helmets visor, as the call connected on the first ring.

"Hello! Nine-triple-one here, how may I help you?" said a light, cheery voice through the speaker.

"Gah, fuck, I need an ambulance!" I managed to croak out through clenched teeth. "Please, it's urgent! I fell off the side of I-40, and now I'm… I'm bleeding everywhere, and… And… Oh God, think I broke a few bones."

Silence hung in the air for a moment, as the lady on the other line stayed silent. I took a few shallow breaths, trying not to agitate my chest any more than it already was.

Suddenly, she laughed. It was sincere, almost apologetic, but with every passing moment I became more and more infuriated by it.

"What the fuck? I need help!" I started screaming into the microphone, in an attempt to shut her up. "Why the fuck are you laughing?!"

"Oh my, I'm sorry! It's just… Heh… Hoo boy… You must be looking for nine-one-one right?" she replied.

"Yes! Fuck! I need serious help!" I shouted, as I watched my life drain from the hole in my stomach.

"Oh my, I'm sorry, but it seems you called the wrong number!" she said, her voice straining as she tried to hold back further laughter. "A common mistake, but a mistake nonetheless! Sorry about that!"

For a moment it didn't sink in. My mind, in its haze, just couldn't process this new information. I stared at the screen of my phone for a few moments, "9111" displaying in bold on its screen.

My vision started to go dark, as the cold crept through my body.

My head started to feel light.

"Fuck, I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die here."

I started to cry, my eyes burning as the first tear fell and I realized just what I had done to myself.

It was stupid of me. Stupid to think that I was better at driving than I was. Stupid to think I could judge the distance the same at night as in day. Stupid to drive so fast in the first place.

It was a stupid thing to do, and I'm going to die a stupid death because of it.

"Alright. Sorry about that. Bye." I managed to say to the speaker, as I attempted to lift my hand and hang up.

"Woah, hold your horses there Michael deary. If you hang up now you won't be able to contact anyone else." the lady said, her voice becoming serious for the first time. "You've lost a lot of blood, right? Try moving your fingers."

For a moment I sat there, confused. I didn't remember giving her my name, but my head was so fuzzy, I couldn't be sure if that's true. I stared at my hands, I couldn't feel my fingers anymore, but I could still see them hanging there, limp.

I tried wiggling them. I could barely get them to wiggle the way I wanted them to.

I couldn't feel them.

She was right. If I somehow managed to hang up, I wouldn't be able to manipulate my fingers into dialing the right number anyways.

As it got even colder, I realized that this stranger will be the last person I'll ever speak to.

"Fuck. I'm going to die."

"Not necessarily, Michael my dear. See, we can still help you. It'll just cost a bit… More than usual." she replied, her voice washing over me as I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"How much?" I slurred, as I barely kept my consciousness.

"Don't worry about it for now. All I need is for you to say yes, and we'll work out the fine details another time. How about it?" she cooed, her voice dripping with honey.

I didnt wanna die. I really didn't. If she could help, I wanted her to.

"Yes." I managed to spit out, before I lost consciousness.

My body was floating, the sound of the ocean waves washing over me and becoming louder and louder, roaring in my ears and drowning out all other sounds as I floated upwards, out of my broken body to somewhere better. Somewhere where it wasn't so cold.

Before I reached the top, I heard a ladies voice. It cut through the rumbling waves and whispered clearly into my ear.

"Perfect, Michael! See you in twenty years."

I woke up a few days later in a hospital bed, attached to countless wires and drips.

At first I had no clue where I was, what day it was, or even who I was. I had a severe concussion, three breaks in my left leg, a hairline fracture in my left arm and three broken ribs. On top of all that, I had severe open wounds in my abdomen thanks to the branch that lodged itself in there.

The doctors told me it was a miracle it missed anything vital, and that if it was a millimeter out to any side, it would have hit major arteries and I would have likely bled out before help arrived.

A family was driving home when they found my wreck of a bike on the side of the hill, still smoking, and stopped to investigate. When they saw that the barrier was smashed through, and that there was no driver in sight, they called for help.

The rescue team found me at the base of the mountain, about a hundred meters down, crumpled over myself and passed out. They found my phone next to me, it's screen still on, the words "call disconnected" flashing across it.

The recovery took months, the first few weeks spent in a confused daze as the concussion caused short-term memory loss. I didn't know where I was, or how I got there. I couldn't remember my girlfriend's name, or that we moved into town two years ago.

But slowly I regained my memories. It started bit by bit and in no particular order. I'd remember my old managers retirement party, or a date with my girlfriend a year ago. After a few weeks, though, it all came back to me.

I remembered the crash. The whistling of the wind flying past my helmet. The crack of the branches breaking against me.

The shock I felt when I finally landed. The pain searing through me as the adrenaline wore off.

I also remember the lady. How she laughed and laughed at me. How she offered me a deal, and that I took it.

But worst of all, I remember what she said as the world slipped away from me and went dark.

Her voice as smooth as butter, dripping with honey and venom.

"You'll love it down here, just wait and see."

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