randomplaces | tfa 'verse. A piece of tarmac somewhere near Detroit. Unenployed.

Halftone yawned inwardly, and then looked around as he woke from what had been a very long and satisfying nap... only to blink with dismay as he realized that he was not in the garage and that he had no idea where he was. He thought he could detect a trace of Detroit skyline in the distance, but other than that the only thing near him on the tarmac were a couple of run-down and nearly derelict quonset hangers and a lavender and pale teal Harrier jet.

A quick scan told him that there were no organics in the area, so he transformed, stretching absently as he stared toward that distant promise of dark and comfortable garages and possible fights. Then he turned away with a frown to study the hangers and the jet. "Eugh... somebody must've been drunk when they painted that thing."

"You're no eyecandy yourself, Rusty," came a crisp female retort.

Halftone nearly leaked oil with surprise, but then looked at himself quickly, his voice cracking. "I'm not... slag! I am." Scowling at the jet, he scratched at the patch of red on his hip. "Who the slag are you?"

"My name is Slipstream." She twitched her wing flaps slightly, then fell still and regarded him narrowly. "You have no spark reading."

"I know." He scratched his belly and eyed her thoughtfully. "You a 'Con?"

"I guess so," her tone was dismissive. "For all the good it does me now."

Halftone just gave her an absent side glance as he tapped into the internet and the Autobot data channels. And then he froze with one finger stuck in his audio. "Megatron's in prison?"

"Megatron's in prison. Lugnut's in prison. Blitzwing's in prison." Slipstream rocked slightly in a shrug. "I'd say we're out of work."

It took a few moments before Halftone remembered that he was standing there like an idiot and took his finger out of his audio. Then he winced as he looked at his chrono and realized just how long that last nap had been. "How'd I get out here?"

"The human that owns this place drove you out and parked you."

"Porter C. Powell?" asked Halftone, frowning around again.

Slipstream snorted. "No. I don't know the creature's name. But I know it's not him."

"He sold me??" Halftone's voice squeaked and whined with a vengeance as he found the record in Powel's computer. "The slagging piece of roadkill SOLD me!"

"Well, he did rack up a lot of debts with the mess he made with those Soundwave clones." Slipstream chuckled slightly, pleased with the arrogant human's discomfort.

"But he sold me!"

"Oh get over it. It doesn't mean anything anyway. And Megatron's not around to forcibly reformat your hard drive for being away from your post."

"...Roadkill the $@$%#@$#@," muttered Halftone, then turned back to the femme. "Why don't you transform already?"

"Why should I? What's the point?"

"It's easier to talk to someone if you can see a face to talk to." He scowled.

"Whatever." She shifted suddenly, then smirked a bit as he stared. "Don't say it."

He said it. "You look like Starscream."

Then he found himself quailing under the look she sent his way. "Sorry! Slag...."

She stared at him for a moment longer, and then turned away to hop up and sit on the battered top of the quonset that still had a whole roof.

He muttered sullenly, then looked around and wondered what to do now. New Kaon didn't sound very appealing. He'd have to work to get anything there. Though.... He brightened. There were a lot of potential brawls on New Kaon. Speaking of potential brawls.... "Where are the Autobots?"

"Cybertron, I guess." Slipstream shrugged. "I haven't seen any of them since they took off to deliver Megatron and Lugnut to the Council."

"Somebody should rescue those guys...."

"Be my guest."

"I wasn't talking about me!" He scowled as she smirked at the cracking of his voice. "Don't make fun of me, you glitch."

"Why not?" She lowered her optic shutters, the smirk still in force as she twitched her wings. "What are you going to do about it, ground pounder? Run after me and step on me?"

He displayed some of his vocabulary, but this only made her laugh.

"Whatever." He turned away and transformed. "I'm out of here." There are better places for stasis naps, and I need detailing.

Slipstream watched him go, then chuckled and transformed to fly low over him. "Where are you going? Mind if I come along?"

"Go away!"

"Why, I'd almost think you didn't like little old me!"

"#$%#$#@!"