Recon's Verse. Jackson Auto Parts Warehouse & Autobot HQ. Slagged Bots, Mean Girls

[ssjmihoshi.livejournal.com]

Jazz: *trying to slowly and carefully navigate his way home. It's dark, and it's raining in sheets, and he's charged so hard that every light he sees has rainbows around it* *has stamped down hard on the bond with Recon in his attempts to keep from intruding his feelings on hers* *or he thinks he did. He also thinks he's never been this slag faced in his life* *perks as he thinks he hears a ping on his comm. Very carefully pulls over to the side of the road to answer it* //Uhh... Bumblebee? Zat you? Or....// *tries to find the code. Was it Optimus?*

Ironhide: //Shut the slag up, Jazz. Some of us are trying to use the common channel for work.//

Jazz: //Meep! What're you talkin' about, man?//

Ironhide: //...Are you overcharged?//

Jazz: //Uh...// *blinks lights thoughtfully* //Think so.//

Ironhide: *growls and pings Optimus*

Optimus: //Yes Ironhide?//

Ironhide: //Jazz's slagged off his can, and his singing's getting in the way of comm signals.//

Jazz: //Tattle tale, tattle tale, hangin' on a bull's tail!//

Optimus: *mental sigh* //Yes, we've all heard it. Jazz, I don't care what you do on your off-time, but please, don't make me listen to Prowl and Ironhide talk about unauthorized comm usage...// *manages not to use the word “whine”*

Jazz: //Who the slag was doin' unauthorized comm usage? I'll kick his rusty aft!//

Optimus: //Just find some shelter. The weather reports are predicting hail in your area.// *is busy dealing with base flooding as it is*

Jazz: *sits and ponders what was said till Ironhide pokes him with a little ping* //Uh. What?//

Ratchet: //Jazz. I'm up to my elbows in Sideswipe's guts, and I'm in no mood to fix anyone else! GET YOUR CAN OUT OF THE WEATHER!//

Ironhide: //Slaggit, Ratchet, you don't need to blow out my receivers!//

Ratchet: //Stop whining, you overgrown can opener.//

Ironhide: //Listen here, quack...//

Optimus: //That's quite enough, you two. All able-bodied personnel report to base. Jazz, you get yourself indoors. And you will report back tomorrow for your scheduled patrol. Optimus Prime, over and out.//

Jazz: *sitting and wondering what he did wrong, and if they're currently having an earthquake. But then he yelps as something bounces off his hood, his horn honking with surprise. More sharp raps follow, and then he's haring off through traffic at just the speed limit. His goal is that warehouse he and Recon got into on Thanksgiving, though that memory currently doesn't exist and all he can think of is to get away from the damage he's sustaining before it reaches the level that will result in Ratchet apoplexy* *notes that the door is open and no one is in his way! Transforms as he skids inside, and then lays there on the concrete and stares up at the rafters as he gasps for air to cool his systems with* Slaaag, that hurt.

warehouse: *rain crackles on the aluminum roof, sounding almost as bad as the hail just by itself. With the solidified bits of rain adding to the mix, it's a cacophony inside. There are more boxes than the last time he was here*

Maria: *was rummaging in some boxes in the back when the screeching of tires on the concrete makes her freeze. Slowly she peeks over the boxes... and freezes again at the sight*

Jazz: *sitting up slowly and unsteadily to peer blearily at the strip of paint that used to be on his back and is now on the floor* ...I'm so scrap.

Maria: *eeps and drops behind the boxes again, breathing heavy and having a little panic attack* It's a big tin man! Some government weapon? *eyes snap to her purse, which is of course across the room*

Jazz: *rubs his head and sighs, then hugs his knees and lowers his face to them. He's silent for a few moments, but then his shoulders start to shake slightly*

Maria: *crawls to the edge of the boxes, peeks out to see if it's looking. But it doesn't seem to be all that menacing...*

Jazz: *a soft static sound like a sob manages to make itself heard in a brief lull in the cacophony from the roof*

Maria: *her brows knit together; she contemplates for a second, then stands up shakily and moves out between the boxes* Um...

Jazz: *gasps and jerks his head up, then meeps comically as he falls over*

Maria: *screams and bolts for her purse. Grabbing it, she ducks behind another box*

Jazz: *curls up and holds his head* D... don't scream. Ugh.

Maria: *has managed to fumble a tazer out of her purse, is now peeking back over the box* *what is this guy?*

Jazz: *soft moan* Slag... think I'm in trouble.

Maria: *raises eyebrows, kind of pitys him now* Trouble?

Jazz: Too drunk... *static* Slaggin'... Blackout. *passes out*

Maria: Wha... hey! *cautiously wanders out. Is he really passed out?*

Jazz: *totally still, and nearly silent but for a soft whine of excess energy that sounds when the storm breaks*

Maria: *looks over the robot, though he's made of metal it's shiny and somehow enticing* *speaks softly* How'd you get drunk? *reaches out to touch his forehead*

Jazz: *forehead is metal hard... but warm as any living thing. It's also vibrating very very softly*

Maria: This is straight out of a horror movie.... *moves to look out the door, scowls at the weather* Guess I'm not going anywhere... *looks from the bot to the door, sighs and pulls it closed*

Jazz: *struggling to reboot behind her, odd fingers twitching softly as he tries to find the right mental subroutines*


Elsewhere

Sheol: *pings Optimus* //Prime? This is Sheol, from the Nexus.// *hesitate* //There's been an incident.//

Optimus: *answers hesitantly; is in the middle of carrying a pallet of sandbags* //What kind of incident?//

Sheol: //Your Jazz came in to buy you a fancy air filter, and he thanked Blackout.//

Optimus: *mental optic ridge raise* //An air filter...?// *so he didn't just go and get himself slagged...?* //What happened after that?//

Sheol: *quietly* //She kissed him. And he wouldn't stop fighting, so she kissed him hard. I... I think he might have gotten more than is safe for a model his size.//

Optimus: *this is the last thing he, or Jazz, needed right now* //I think we heard the aftermath. Thank you, Sheol, I'll send somebot to check on him.//

Sheol: *quietly* //She didn't mean to damage him. She usually stops once they stop fighting.//

Optimus: //Please let her know we do not appreciate this. But...// *sternness vanishes into heartfelt appreciation* //...I thank you for the warning.//

Sheol: //...I can't do that. It's not my place to speak against the Warlady.// *softly* //Sheol out.//

Optimus: *confused by the reaction, but understands the loyalty* //Prime out.// *turns to Beachbreak, who has stopped to look up at him curiously* *pings him privately*

Beachbreak: *blinks but replies on his private channel* //Yessir, Optimus? Is something wrong?// *other than the little river running down the middle of the hall, he means*

Optimus: *gets back to carting sandbags for the smaller bots and humans to place* //Jazz has gotten into trouble. I need you to go and check on him, if you could.//

Beachbreak: //Alright! Do you have his coordinates?// *hefts his small load of sandbags over his shoulder and follows his commander*

Optimus: *sets down a pallet, pulls up Jazz's last coordinates from his previous channel-hogging and sends them* *gives a worried look to the little bot* //Please be careful, my friend. Make sure he's out of the weather, and bring him back when you can.//

Beachbreak: //Yes, sir, Optimus.// *adds his bags to the pallet, and then scoots to grab his cloaking device and that patio umbrella that he and Bee were playing with awhile back*

Optimus: //Please do not tell anyone, especially Recon.//

Beachbreak: //Understood! Beachbreak out.//

Optimus: //Prime out.// *intakes cycle in a worried sigh before he goes back to the sandbagging efforts* Be careful, young friend.


Back at the warehouse

Jazz: *trying to turn over so he can get up, but his arms don't seem to want to do what he's telling them* Slaggin'... headache. Ugh... we gotta earthquake?

Maria: *jumps and squeaks at the noises, then puts the tazer down* Hey, maybe it's not such a good idea for you to get up...

Jazz: *startles and blinks at her blearily with overly bright brown optics* *squint* ...Maria?

Maria: *is indeed Maria. Dressed in scrubs, has her curly black hair tied back in a ponytail, and generally looks more comfortable than usual since she just came from class* H... how do you know my name? *eyes wide, has the tazer ready*

Jazz: *seems to gasp a bit as he tries to cool down* *mutter* Hayden's lady. *then tenses and clamps down hard on blocking his bonds as he feels a flashback coming on*

Maria: *eyes widen more as she recognizes her boyfriend's name* *raises the tazer and lowers her voice* How do you know his name?

Jazz: *voice a whisper now as he fights through a hellish memory of pain* Know 'is car.

Maria: *can't made out his words now, but can see him in pain. Again she's conflicted, but since he hasn't attacked yet her mothering instincts take over* Hey, calm down now, it's ok...

Jazz: *small sound as his intakes hitch. He's shaking now*

Maria: Shh, it's ok. *puts down the tazer and edges closer, hands out comfortingly*

Jazz: Slaggin'... Megatron... Nnnnn. *shutters optics, his visor falling down to further cover them*

Maria: Whoever he is, he's not here. We're alone. *will rub his hand*

Jazz: *other hand going to the wide scar that circles his waist, still shaking but calmer knowing he's not alone*

Maria: *notices the scar and furrows her brow, but keeps rubbing and making comforting noises until he stops shaking*

Jazz: *feels spent as the flashback passes and the dizziness reasserts itself* Gotta... gotta get rid'a some'a this... extra energy. Spark... spark can't take it much longer.

Maria: *more worried look* What can I do?

Jazz: *tries to sit up and fails* Ugh... Whole $#@#$%&* building shakin'... Need'a power cable...

Maria: *curses under her breath in Spanish* Hold on. *scoots to one of the boxes in the back and grunts mightily as she drags out a big-screen TV* Can you -eeeergh!- use this -graaaa- cable?

Jazz: Gotta be somethin'... *winces and statics as he starts to shake again* ...Kin feed power to.

Maria: Nyrrrrgh! *stops to lean on the box and wipe her brow* Well, there's this, the outlet by the door, and... some car stereos.

Jazz: Outlet. *tries to get up again, then sees the cable on the TV and reaches for it*

Maria: *hands him the cable, then tries to pull his hand over to the outlet*

Jazz: *rips the cord right off the TV, then lays and shakes for a bit, an unpleasant whine starting to come from somewhere in his chest* Plug... plug me in.

Maria: *plugs the cord into the outlet and STANDS BACK*

Jazz: *intakes hitch, and then an arc of electricity shoots out from the overloaded outlet as he feeds the warehouse wiring his excess. Every light in the place pops on, and then many overload and pop out*

Maria: *screams and covers her ears*

Beachbreak: *looks at that display, and hurries toward it to investigate, reporting it to Optimus as he does*

Optimus: *acknowledges and waits for the next report*

Jazz: *purges his systems of everything he can spare, and then lays on his back and circulates and shakes* Maaan. Never... never again. Slaggin' pit...

Maria: *peeks open her eyes* ...Wow. Do... does that happen often?

Jazz: *arm over optics* No...

Maria: *approaches, but is scared of touching him* Are you going to be ok now?

Jazz: *lowers his arm and turns his head to blink at her uncertainly* Maria? What're you doin' here?

Maria: *that worried look is starting to look familiar* You still haven't told me how you know me and Hayden.

Jazz: *squints one optic and then sighs* Hayden's car's one'a my best friends.

door: *rattles softly as something presses on it*

Maria: His... car? *eeps and jumps as the door rattles. Will hide behind the big robot!*

Jazz: *pushes himself up weakly, one hand transforming to his weapon* *tries to make his voice heard over the storm* Who's there?

Beachbreak: Jazz? Let me in, there's lightning!

Jazz: *soft gasp* Beachy.

Maria: You know him?

Jazz: Yeah. Let the poor kid in before he gets hurt. *concern for the other bot is clear in his body language, and in that deep voice*

Maria: *trusts him now. Will go and yank open the door again*

Beachbreak: *nearly loses his umbrella* YAH! Human! 0_0

Jazz: *soft huffing sound and then a groan* Don't make me laugh.

Maria: *it's a little.... er one!* Um... *stands by to let him in*

Beachbreak: *meeps at the roar of lightning, and scoots inside after hastily folding his umbrella. And then he stands there and drips and frowns at Jazz* Sir... you look terrible.

Jazz: *slowly settling back onto the floor* Thanks...

Maria: *closes the door, frowns at them and cocks her hip* Exactly how many of you are there?

Jazz: *turns his head to look at her* Don't worry, we don't hurt humans.

Beachbreak: *silent nod as he hunkers down and shakes the water off his umbrella the way he saw a human do once*

Maria: *yeah, the fact that he had to say that is real reasurring* *glances at the little one* You... kinda look like a jetski.

Beachbreak: *shy peek* That's my alt mode.

Maria: *eyebrow raise* "Alt mode"?

Jazz: Yeah. A vehicle form we can take. *voice sounds absent and slightly thick*

Maria: Vehicle? *wheels turn* Hayden's car...?

Jazz: *quietly, as his stressed processor reaches toward recharge* Recon...

Beachbreak: *gets up and comes over, his concern very apparent* Jazz? Sir, are you alright?

Maria: *angry scowl, is yelling now, but not at them* I knew it! I knew he was hiding something! All those weird things happening! *will continue ranting and pacing*

Jazz: Hey! *manages to get up on one elbow* Stop that!

Maria: *whips around with a smouldering Mexican glare*

Jazz: *looks right back without flinching as Beachbreak hides behind him*

Maria: Stop what?! My boyfriend's been lying to me! His car is a #&%(ing robot! That's probably why he's gone all the time!

Jazz: *frowns and tries to think of what to say* *then frowns more deeply* Conny never did that in 'er life.

Beachbreak: *choke!*

Maria: *oh, that didn't help* Did what?! *grabs her hair and curses*

Jazz: *repeats the word she used to describe Recon, still frowning* We don't do that stuff.

Maria: *pacepa- stops dead, glaring at him* Do what? You best not be thinking what I think you're thinking!!

Jazz: *facepalms and groans* Just stop dissin' Conny. She never did nothin' ta you.

Maria: "She"?! *Jazz, you're not helping* B*%@^!! *kicks in the TV screen*

Jazz: @#$@#@! *tries to sit up, and then calls to his commander* //Optimus, I gotta sitch.//

Optimus: *worried leader pings quickly!* //Jazz, are you alright? Is Beachbreak safe with you?//

Jazz: //I'm headin' for stasis lock. 'N Beachy's scared spitless, but he ain't hurt. But I just let the cat outta the bag, 'n Maria's spittin' fire.//

Optimus: //Maria?// *searches the name in his memory banks* //Oh dear.// *includes Beachbreak in the comm* //Beachbreak, you must make sure she doesn't leave. I'll send some humans for her in the morning.//

Jazz: *as Beachbreak acknowledges* //What... which humans, Optimus?// *sounds dozy*

Optimus: *hmms* //Sergeant Epps and a few others. I believe the one named Figueroa speaks Spanish.//

Jazz: *slightly staticky chuckle* //Yeah, even when he ain't supposedta.//

Optimus: //Beachbreak, how is Jazz doing?//

Maria: *still pacing and ranting in Spanish, looks like she may calm down soon... maybe*

Beachbreak: *worriedly* //He's shutting down. I think his systems need to self repair.// *pause* //Ratchet's not going to be happy.//

Optimus: //Just rest there until morning.// *sounds like a proud parent* //You've done well.//

Beachbreak: //Yes, sir.// *shoulders straighten slightly, but then he meeps as a soft clunk sounds during a pause in the storm*

Optimus: //And Jazz, go to stasis before Ratchet has something else to yell about.// *there's a smirk in his tone* //Prime out.//

Maria: Auuuuugh I was in her!! *rant rant*

Beachbreak: *absently, as he looks for a pillow for his unconscious superior officer* //Beachbreak out.//

Maria: *starts growling in Spanish now* [As if I didn't have enough to worry about!] *punts some packing peanuts around the room*

Beachbreak: *perks at sight of the peanuts* Is there something we can put those in?

Maria: *growls and yanks out some plastic the TV was wrapped in, then throws it to him. She continues to pace and curse her brother in Spanish*

Beachbreak: *works to gather the peanuts into the plastic till he's finally got enough to tuck under Jazz's head. Then looks around and grabs a tarp, which brushes against Maria's leg as he drags it back to where his superior officer is laying*

Maria: *follows the tarp with her eyes and then stares at the two robots, gears in her head turning again* ['The one that stood up'...]

Beachbreak: *glances toward her after making sure Jazz is completely covered* Stood up?

Maria: *eyes twitch and she looks annoyed again* Oh, so you know Spanish too?

Beachbreak: *quails slightly* Yes, ma'am.

Maria: *turns back to her epiphany, anger abated for now* ["The one that stood up," that's what he said!] *clutches her side reflexively* [It makes sense now! Holy @*%&#!]

Beachbreak: *worry clear on his face* Are you damaged?

Maria: *she was going to rant at the wall, but since you spoke up you're now her target* No, but I WAS! The "one that stood up" was Hayden's car! I thought he was crazy! But I remember that day now! It stood up, and distracted everyone! And you know what happened?!

Beachebreak: *ducking and hunkering down. Shakes his head*

Maria: I got SHOT, that's what happened! No wonder Hector hated him! *turns and begins pacing again, stomping on stray peanuts*

Beachbreak: ...Hated who? Who is Hector?

Maria: *not swayed from her swath of mini-destruction* My brother, you idiot!

Beachbreak: *hunkers right down and cringes*

Maria: Hector hated Hayden because he... *stiffens, sadness washing over her face* He caused it...

Beachbreak: *quietly* I'm sorry.

Maria: *sits on a box, no longer paying attention to the little bot, or even the loud rain anymore* Him and that $*#% car... *her brows knit up as she begins to remember how Hayden visited her every day in the hospital... when he didn't run into her brother that is*

Beachbreak: *sidles over to lean against the tarp-covered Jazz, then tries to see if he can't ping Recon*

Recon: *currently in Arizona, driving toward the Autobot base at high speed* *curiously answers the ping*

Beachbreak: //Is there any way I could talk privately to Hayden?//

Recon: //Vhy?// *sounds like she's had a long day*

Beachbreak: //Because there's something he really. Um. Really needs to know.//

Recon: *now she's worried* //Vhat is it? Vhat's wrong?//

Beachbreak: *uncertain youngling* //I'm not sure I can tell you.//

Recon: *protective parent, you can hear the optic ridge raise in her voice* //Vat kind of sing can't you tell me?//

Beachbreak: *glances at the lump that's Jazz, his brows drawing together worriedly* //Well. His femme is mad at him.//

Recon: //Oh.// *it's a human problem then* //Alright, here is his phone number. Don't keep him up too late, he has a test tomorrow.//

Beachbreak: //Yes, sir. Beachbreak out.// *closes that channel and opens the one that the number code leads him to*

Maria: *still musing to herself*

Hayden: Ack! *pauses his video game, tackles the phone* Hello?

Beachbreak: //Hayden? This is Beachbreak. Your femme's really mad at you.// *sounds worried and upset*

Hayden: What? Who? How do you know? *checks AIM... nope, she's not on*

Beachbreak: //We're stranded in the same storage building during this hail storm. And I... kind of mentioned Recon...//

Hayden: *eyes widen* Wait, she saw you? You WHAT?!

Beachbreak: *gulp* //I was helping Jazz, on Optimus' orders, and she was in here too!//

Hayden: What?! Hold on, I'll be right there! *hangs up and grabs his PINpoint out of the dark recesses of his closet before disappearing*

Beachbreak: *aloud and over comms* Hayden? Hayden? Oh no... *slump*

Maria: *looks up confused* What?

door: *insistent knocking*

Beachbreak: *sneaks over and opens it*

Hayden: *skitters in; did NOT know it was hailing!* Oh man, what happened to Jazz?!

Maria: Hayden? *alarm, confusion, and anger flash across her face*

Hayden: *look at that deer in the headlights* Baby! It's ok, they're not going to hurt you!

Maria: *anger rekindled, jumps off the box* Yeah, I know that NOW! You know what I DIDN'T know? You've been @($*ing around with your car-robot for TWO YEARS!

Hayden: *cringes, goes white* Chica...?

Beachbreak: *optics wide* What? You've been watching too many soaps! Recon's old enough to be my parent!

Maria: Don't you "Chica" me! Now I know why Hector wouldn't let you near me after the diner thing!

Hayden: Wha...? Hey, I didn't know... *slowly shuffling toward her, hands out*

Beachbreak: *leans against Jazz and hugs himself as he watches. Kind of wishes Bumblebee were here. His friend knows more about humans than he does*

Maria: How could you not know?! Your (@*%ing car got me SHOT, and now you spend more time with HER than with ME!

Hayden: *meek* You know I wanna be with you, but I'm at college now, baby... If-if you want me to come home more, I will...

Beachbreak: *confused and upset as he watches* //Recon... did you get somebody shot?//

Recon: //Vhat?!//

Maria: That's another thing! How the hell do you get home so quickly? What else aren't you telling me?

Hayden: ...... *Beachbreak, anybody, help!*

Beachbreak: *in his upset he reacts without thinking and relays the entire human conversation since Hayden's arrival*

Recon: *actually stops on the side of the road* //........//

Maria: Do you have a portal? A jet pack? Superpowers?

Hayden: Well, not really...

Beachbreak: ... *pings again* //Recon?//

door: *opens to reveal a soaked Recon*

Recon: Vat happened? *intakes hitch* Jazz?!

Beachbreak: Meep! *facepalms with both hands* Oh maaan.

Recon: *starts to panic a little after realizing she can't feel him* Jazz?! Vat happened?! *falls down next to him and starts to shake him*

Maria & Hayden: *spat interrupted as they watch Recon with wide eyes*

Beachbreak: He got critically overcharged. *tries to stop Recon* He's in healing stasis.

Recon: *stops shaking him, but can't help her own hands from shaking as her scans start reporting back* Oh Jazz... I'm so sorry... *optics shine brightly behind the visor*

Maria: *looks between the 2 robots, taking in these scene that seems straight out of a movie*

Beachbreak: Maria helped him siphon off the extra energy. That's why the lights are out. *anxious look* Optimus told us to wait out the storm here.

Recon: *slowly turns to Maria*

Maria: o.o!

Beachbreak: *looks back and forth between the femmes, wondering what's going to happen now*

Hayden: *backs up as Recon scoots over to them and closes her shaking hands carefully around Maria*

Recon: *leans down slowly, static in her voice and a grateful, sparkbroken expression on her face* Sank you. From se bottom of my spark, sank you...

Maria: *can't think of anything to say; her heart is beginning to soften*

Beachbreak: *hides his wibble on a corner of Jazz's tarp as he pretends to be totally focused on hiding the ailing mech again*

Recon: *hangs her helm* I vasn't here again... I'm so horrible...

Maria: .... *leans down to look her in the eyes* Hey, don't worry. He'll be ok...

Hayden: *small hopeful smile*

Beachbreak: *peeks at Jazz's face, then covers it up again and turns back to the others*

Recon: *radios to base to let them know she won't be there tonight, then jury-rigs a bed out of the peanuts for the teenagers. Tells Beachbreak to rest as she stands guard through the night*


Morning

Jazz: *soft groan as he moves slightly, wondering where he is and why Ratchet's not fussing over him when he feels so bad*

Recon: *is at his side the second her audios pick up the noise* Jazz? *grabs his hand in both of hers*

Jazz: *gets the tarp pushed down off his face with the other hand and blinks up at her woozily* Conny? What... *groan* What happened? Why... ain't we at base?

Beachbreak: *peeking*

Recon: *smiling, grateful happy feelings leaking into the bond* Sey said you got ofercharged. How'd you end up here?

Jazz: *blinks more and searches his memory, dismay slowly dawning* Slag. I'm... missin' files.

Recon: *optic ridges knit up in worry* Vhen? How many?

Jazz: Last thing I remember's... *pauses to circulate a bit* Puttin' down the paperwork after goin' at it all night, 'n decidin' ta go get Op somethin' fancy.

Recon: So... how did you get ofercharged? *ponders before turning to Beachbreak* Do you know?

Beachbreak: *shakes his head* *softly* Optimus didn't tell me.

Jazz: *makes another soft sound of discomfort, and then makes a weak attempt to sit up*

Recon: *makes a note to ask Optimus later as she helps him up* How low is your tank?

Jazz: *checks it and winces as he leans against her* Rattlin'.

Recon: *rubs his back reassuringly* I don't haf any extra. *looks to Beachbreak hopefully*

Beachbreak: *pats his tiny tank helplessly, then tiptoes over and gently pokes Hayden*

teenagers: *initially sheepish about sleeping together, but over the night they shifted into a comfy position snuggled next to each other*

Hayden: Mrph... *wiggles and goes back to sleep*

Beachbreak: *blinks at that response, and then gently pokes Maria*

Maria: *complainy whine, turns over*

Recon: *smirk* Sey von't be up for a vhile. I'll get somesing from se Nexus. *moves to get up*

Beachbreak: *confused by the young humans' reactions, but then suddenly stiffens to attention as he hears an engine rumbling outside* *and then he startles as a horn honks on the other side of the loading door*

Jazz: o.0 *too weak to do anything*

teenagers: *startle, rub their eyes and look around*

Recon: *sets Jazz down and peeks out the door*

Ratchet and Longarm: *idling out there and waiting to be let in as the last soft remnants of rain fall from the sunny sky*

Beachbreak: *peeking too, and then relieved rookie is relieved as he tiptoes back over to Jazz*

Recon: Sat vas quick. *smiles and opens the door*

teenagers: *no, we weren't cuddling just now!* *get up and scrabble to make themselves presentable*

Ratchet: *gruffly, as he wheels inside* We had our orders last night.

Longarm: *soft whistle* Jazz, you don't look so good, sir.

Jazz: *bewildered look through brown optics dark with pain* Yeah, 'n the worse part... don't remember... nothin'.

Ratchet: Close the door quickly, Recon.

Recon: *closes the door after a quick scan outside*

Hayden: *sudden realization and worry* Hey, what about the security guards?

Maria: *oh great, more talking cars. Is sticking close to Hayden, but trying to look like she's still mad at him* They would've seen the overload last night!

Ratchet: *as he transforms* They did, but Sergeant Epps intercepted their call and they're convinced the warehouse was struck by lightning. *scanning Jazz and frowning deeply* What did you drink last night?

Jazz: ...Drink?

Maria: *jumps. She hasn't seen them do that yet*

Recon: *frowns as she returns to Jazz's side* You vere singing on se common channel. Very badly. *small smirk*

Figueroa: *enters through the human-sized door with Epps, still chatting away* Those guards think this place is haunted now. What's up with that?

Epps: I dunno, man. I never said nothin' about that. And you shut up about that possum. I'm tellin' you, guinea pig was bad enough! Hey, Jazz man, hear you ran inta a femme fatal! *grin*

Jazz: *very blank look, and then his optics shift to Recon*

Figueroa: *gets that far-off look when he's remembering a good meal* Yeah, but it didn't taste like possum at all. It had this orange glaze on it, all crackly... *continues rambling to himself in Spanish*

Recon: *worried look* It vasn't me.

Hayden: *shivers at the ..."food," but approaches Ratchet* Is he gonna be ok?

Ratchet: With time. We need to get him back to base as quickly as we can. Can you transform, Jazz?

Epps: *shudder* English, dude. English. *frowning as he looks from Jazz to Recon, and then up to Ratchet*

Jazz: *takes a moment to register the question, and then shutters his optics and concentrates* ...Maybe...

Recon: *comforting thoughts through the bond* Try?

Jazz: *soft sound of discomfort as he grits his teeth* ...Am... Conny.

Epps and Longarm: *concerned expressions as they step back*

Recon: *worried both because of his discomfort and because she can't feel anything from him* *steps back*

Hayden & Figueroa: *step back as well*

Jazz: *shudders, and then stills as Ratchet goes to one knee and gently slips a hand under his head to support him. Weary brown optics look up at his friend*

Ratchet: *gruff voice more gentle than Hayden will have heard it before* You're slipping into shock. Go back into stasis and don't worry. We'll get you home.

Jazz: *quiet sigh and then goes limp and silent*

Recon: *very worried now, takes Jazz's hand again* I should have been sere...

Maria: *slightly confused at Hayden's worried expression; even cars have never gotten this reaction from him, only her when she was in the hospital*

Ratchet: *quietly* You were protecting Hayden, Recon. And no one expected Jazz's errand to end like this. *gently puts his free hand on the red femme's shoulder* You're going to need to step back so I can manually trigger his transform.

Epps: *unwontedly grim expression as he masks his concern. Arms folded over chest and feet set apart*

Recon: *optics dim and sorrowful, she steps back as everything she should've noticed runs through her processor anyway*

Hayden: *steps forward cautiously* Hey, you don't have to do that. I mean, if it'll hurt 'im. I can get a tarp to cover him up on the tow truck.

Figueroa: *silent for once, taking in the exchange*

Ratchet: *looks down at Hayden. Kindly* It won't hurt him. When he's in stasis he can't feel anything.

Hayden: What you can't feel can still do damage.

Ratchet: It won't damage him either. *he is so unsnarky right now it's scary*

Hayden: *seems satisfied by the qualified medic's opinion* Ok. *steps back*

Figueroa: *whispers to Epps as he points at Maria* Hey, that must be her.

Epps: *glances at Epps* Didn' Hayden ever show you his picture?

Ratchet: *gently trips the trigger, and then lifts the beautiful little silver Solstice into his arms and brings it over to where Longarm has transformed and carefully hooks the two together. He makes no comments about it, but the sight of large finger shaped dents on the car troubles him*

Figueroa: No, I saw it in the file. She's cute.

Recon: *silently fusses and follows Ratchet, helping wherever she can*

Maria: *senses someone checking her out, glances at the two new guys*

Epps: *grins and manages to come across like a brat of an uncle*

Maria: *not amused*

Hayden: *remembers the strange boxes again and goes back to Maria* You gonna tell me where those came from yet?

Maria: *still not amused* No.

Ratchet: *standing back and watching as Longarm gently winches Jazz up, and then he steps back and transforms to his own alt mode* Recon, will you put Beachbreak on my roof?

Beachbreak: Wha... oh man. *transforms*

Recon: *gently lifts him and ties him down* Up you go...

Figueroa: *approaches Maria congenially and holds out his hand* [Hello, Miss Perez. My name is Jorge Figueroa.]

Maria: *eyebrow raise*

Epps: He ain't as sleazy as he looks. *grin*

Ratchet: *catches that comment and makes a throat clearing sound*

Maria: *crosses arms and scowls* What, thought the little niña needed a translator?

Figueroa: *blink* Um...

Ratchet: A translator, yes. But not between human languages. These men are our liaisons. They're members of the US Army Rangers under the command of Major Daniel Lennox.

Maria: Government men! That explains it! *stomps off to grab her purse* You're not making ME disappear!

Hayden: *trying in vain to calm her* Maria...

Epps: We ever make surfer boy disappear?

Maria: *stomping her way toward the door* No, you just gave him a giant babysitter.

Recon: No vone gave me to anyvone.

Epps: Um. Miss Perez. Stop and think about what you just said.

Maria: *stops, crosses arms, and gives Epps her best Latina smoulder* What?

Figueroa: *looks on in amusement*

Epps: Girl, you should know that NOBODY 'gives' a woman, or makes one go anyplace they #$@##@ well don't wanna go.

Figueroa: [Especially Latina women.] *smiles to himself and shakes his head*

Hayden: *knows this all too well*

Maria: *scowl, seems a bit more responsive* Well I ain't gonna get involved with no government robot conspiracy. I got my own problems. *involuntary glance at the boxes in the back*

Epps: *looks over there, and then frowns and pushes away from the shelf corner he was leaning against with crossed arms* ...You movin' out, girl?

crates: *much bigger than anything a teenage girl would own*

Maria: *surprised by this question, but ponders anyway, musing to herself* Maybe. *but that's not important right now. She resumes her exit* I hope he *jerks a thumb at Jazz* gets better. I have to get to class.

Figueroa: *steps in her way, hands up, with an apologetic expression* [I'm sorry, Miss, but I can't let you leave.]

Epps: *steps forward too, expression apologetic nicely covering any apprehension he might be feeling*

Maria: *eyes widen indignantly* You can't do this!

Hayden: *approaching from behind, reaching for her shoulders* Maria, it's ok...

Epps: I got a whole stash of those Toblerone things. You can have it if you come along quietly.

Maria: *quickly slips out from Hayden's reach, stepping back and rummaging through her purse* I won't go! *eyes widen as she realizes she forgot her tazer back on the floor somewhere*

Hayden: *starting to get scared now*

Epps: *sighs* Kid, don't make us arrest you.

Maria: *twitches at the word and backs up more* You can't arrest me, I haven't done anything!

Figueroa: [I promise you won't be hurt, we just need to talk...] *begins rambling again, trying to calm her down* [Yeah it's dumb but it's policy...]

Epps: If the wrong people find out about these guys. *jerks his head toward the Cybertronians* Their lives could be in danger.

Maria: "Lives"? They're robots! *has now backed up into Ratchet* o.o

Epps: *slowly shakes his head* They're people.

Jazz: *quiet groan*

Ratchet: I told you to... Recon, grab him and unhook him, he's going to be sick.

Epps: Oh #@#$#@$#! Toxic waste now.

Recon: *twitches at the comment, but quickly turns her attention to Jazz, unhooking him and ready to make sure he doesn't vomit on himself, or Longarm*

Ratchet: *remote triggers the silver mech's transform just as Jazz jerks and loses the contents of his tank*

Epps: *hand over his mouth as he calls headquarters for a clean up squad*

Figueroa: *holds his nose, complaining about the smell and insisting the clean-up squad hurry... in Spanish of course*

Recon: *supports Jazz until he's done, then moves him gently back onto Longarm's bed and strokes his helm*

Jazz: *sounds of discomfort despite being in stasis*

Ratchet: *voice grave* Recon, do you have your teleporting device? I think spending less time in transit and exposed to the elements will be beneficial.

Recon: *apprehensive about admitting it; the Nexus is still technically a secret, but this is an emergency* Yes, right here. *unsubspaces the PINpoint*

Maria: Teleport? *her glare at Hayden says, "What ELSE aren't you telling me?!"*

Epps: *closing his phone* Nuh uh. If you wanna know more you gotta come along.

Recon: *fiddles until she has the coordinates of HQ* Tell me vhen.

Hayden: *looks like a kicked puppy* I'll be with you the whole time, Maria.

Maria: *doesn't respond. Not sure which is worse, being stuck with government lackeys or a boyfriend she doesn't know anymore*

Jazz: *twitches and shudders*

Ratchet: Ack! *transforms and catches Beachbreak under one arm* Hayden, bring the humans! *hand on Recon's shoulder* Now!

Hayden: o.o Everybody hold on! *grabs Maria with one hand and Ratchet's leg kibble in the other*

Figueroa: *grabs Maria's other arm and Epps' shoulder*

Recon: *hits the button*

Knockout: *falls on his aft as everyone appears in the front foyer* What the fraggin' slag...?

Recon: *silently subspaces the PINpoint and makes to follow Longarm and Ratchet straight to the medbay*

Maria: What the-?

Hayden: Long story...

Epps: *staggers sideways* D*******!

Figueroa: [Holy smoke that was somethin'... right outta' science fiction movie, no?] *giddy grin*

Epps: English, dude... *sits on floor* ...English.

foyer: *still damp from the night before. There are sandbags and waterproof tarps piled in one corner and "wet floor" signs extending into the connecting hallways*

Hayden: *moves to hold Maria, who looks a little green* It'll pass.

Maria: *once again moves out from under him. Groans and holds her head*

Epps: ...Now I'm gonna look like I wet my pants.

((Written by ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))