Nexus and Auspex's reality. Park by the sign and the sanctuary. Enter Bob

[gentle_seekers]

There's a flash and an explosion over the Nexus... and very few people look up other than to ascertain that whatever just went boom isn't coming down on their heads. It's not, so they go about their business as though nothing has happened.

Whatever it is streaks toward the park and leaves a smoking crater as it hits.

And a soft, wordless alarm call sounds in a certain priestess's spark.

Comments

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex is wandering in the Nexus, as she often does, when Primus captures her senses and begins to pull her in a specific direction. This is somewhat unusual; most of the time his steering is very subtle. Apparently, this is something important he wishes to address now. Somewhat bemused, sending thoughts of inquiry to her god, she follows his guiding, until she reaches a plot of land covered in grass and trees.

Grass, trees, and a very large hole, newly pounded into the ground. She attempts to see through the haze of smoke, quite certain this is what she needs to be looking at.

What's down there?*

[gentle_seekers]

At first there's no reply, but then something reaches her, so very faint that she might imagine that she's felt it. A scrap of pain that goes as quickly as it came.

[primus_seeress]

*Eep. Well... usually, if she may have imagined it, she probably hasn't. There's something Cybertronian down there, obviously, and in pain, though flickering in consciousness. She scurries forward, pausing to make sure there isn't too much heat in there for her plating to manage, and maneuvers to where she can see... a someone, or two someones, lots of magenta and red plating... a hand? She grasps it, tugging gently, trying to make sense of the jumble of metal and earth and smoke*

[gentle_seekers]

Red optics crack open, and then.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Hormah leaps back with a blurt of Minicon, her weapons whirring before she catches herself and stills them. Then she looks up at her brother, who is similarly startled, before shaking her head and taking the sedation tab that he hands her.

"Here, Bob," she says with slight humor, though she's wincing as the terrified screaming continues. "Let's give you a happy."

A quick application of the little program module, and the purple seeker droops, his pain replaced by comfortable fuzziness as he fades offline again.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex hisses and turns down her audials, cringing at the mech's clear expression of terror and pain* Ow. Ow ow...

*then the screaming stops, and she sighs shakily, relaxing her grip on the mech's hand. She looks over at him and blinks* Well. That was... disconcerting.

[random_xtras]

"Scared... stupid," says Hormah shakily, still in Cybertronian, trying to smile as she takes the box that Requiem hands her and starts pulling out tools. "I don't even want to guess what someone did to a seeker to make him squeal like that. He sounded like a little girl."

"Sounded like SpongeBob Squarepants," rumbles the big flier.

"Yeah, that too." Hormah finds her cutting torch and plugs it into herself, then sets to work.

[random_xtras]

"You'll be able to lift him." Hormah's feelings flinch away from the question about the couch, her only acknowledgment of it. "Whether you can steer him safely is the question. He's bigger than you and it might be clumsy."

Requiem too jags at the question, but his optics crease in an answering smile.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex winces slightly at both reactions to the question. Definitely something to ask about, later*

Well... then, unless you'll need your brother, it may be best if he carries the seeker, yes. I'd hate to damage him because I didn't have the strength to pull him back, if I misjudge. Is that all right, Requiem?

[random_xtras]

He looks down at her, puzzled by the question. Since when do superiors ask the rookie things like that?

Hormah's too preoccupied to notice his bemusement as she checks the purple mech a last time and then PINs away.

[random_xtras]

"She slagging grabbed us and kidnapped us, is what!" shouts the grey Minicon in a gruff voice. "Layali's got enough scars, this could mess her up permanently!"

"We needs 'er help!" says Hormah. "Buddy t'ere's all abroad, 'n he'll die accardin' nobody helps 'im!"

"I have no slagging idea what you just said, but if it's the same as you did before that ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THE WRONGNESS OF THIS!!!!"

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex's gaze darts between the two as they speak, optics brightening with anxiety. She attempts to keep her voice at a soothing level, despite rapidly rising alarm at all three partys' behavior* Please... there is no need to be frightened here. I... have a dying Cybertronian in my care... but I don't want your friend to be harmed, either. What can I do? Will anything lessen her fear? *It's not quite a plea - but if she were sensing the depth of the violet Mini-Con's emotion, she suspects she'd have a terrible headache, and would be pleading*

[random_xtras]

He stares at her from his single dark optic, then squirms again. "Put us down."

"But...." Hormah sparks with youthful anxiety and sadness.

"We aren't running off. Put us the slag down, kid."

She deedlebeeps a prayer, then sets them down on the nearest table, where the little femme collapses in a heap and tries to curl up.

"Shh." Her companion walks over and sits beside her, then gathers her close. "Shh, Layali. It wasn't a Bulk. The kid's one of us. Shh, shh."

The purple one seems to be sobbing uncontrollably, but her volume has lessened from scream of terror to very badly shaken.

"We needs somethin' fixed," says Hormah softly. "I's sorry... I didn' know."

The grey Minicon ignores her and continues to sooth.

[nightwind_benz]

"I can't use the big tools." Nightwind jitters fearfully, but then calms as Bender stands and puts a hand on her shoulder. "But maybe I can show her how to fix your friend. You said he hasn't got much time."

Hormah shivers at the touch. If she were anything other than Decepticon trained she'd turn for a hug, but instead she only squares her shoulders and reaches down to her middle to rip off the patch that Mega-Octane had put there and expose the port on her stomach. "Okay... but if you want out, then get out."

Nightwind nods and looks at her, but then realizes that the younger femme isn't going to give the command. "Uh... transform and combine?"

"Yeah, b'y." Hormah nods, though she's still spurting upset feelings and apprehension.

The purple Minicon shifts and folds into a small cube, then fastens herself to the port, and there's a flash of light as Hormah stumbles slightly.

There is absolutely no change to any of her guns. Bender notices this and looks confused.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex looks very dubious about this, but doesn't protest; she doesn't know anything about Nightwind, and as far as she knows, practicing this may help lessen her fear of it. She prays so, anyway; though Primus can't touch Nightwind directly, perhaps Hormah may make it possible to channel to the Mini-Con, if just a bit... her friend is very unique in technology. Viable theory or not, at least she can do something for Hormah, herself*

*She blinks at the other Mini-Con, noting his confusion* Is something wrong? *she has no idea what powerlinking is supposed to do, other than boost a Cybertronian's power*

[random_xtras]

The little grey and green mech glances up at Auspex as Hormah deedles to herself rapidly. "Her weapons didn't upgrade."

Then he starts as Hormah suddenly twists and shifts, integrating Nightwind seamlessly into her own shell as the fear and uncertainty fades slightly and changes to avid curiosity. "Layali!"

"What what?" The combined being blinks at him. "Oh... don't worry, we're okay... hey, that's cool...."

Auspex can now sense two presences there... and yet there's only one.

[nightwind_benz]

-There. All done.- Nightwind beeps and gently breaks the link, feeling amazement that she's allowed to do so.

Then she pauses to mentally look at Hormah, who looks back soberly.

-Thanks,- says the Minicon femme awkwardly. -Uh, time to disconnect, huh?-

-Whenever yer ready, b'y.- Hormah sends her the feel of a grin, and of Primus's grin too.

"Right." She steps back, Hormah's shell shifting and ejecting her own, which folds out into robot form and kneels on the floor to rock and beep a little.

"Layali." Bender jumps down and runs to her, and she leans against him.

"(I'm okay)," she says softly in Minicon. "(Just tired... wanna go home.)"

"(I know.)" He sighs. "(How about the Nexus, for now?)"

"(Yeah.)" She beeps wistfully, then looks up at Hormah.

"(Right. Grab on.)" The hybrid femme offers them her leg to hold onto, and then looks at Auspex. "D'ye need me here fer now?"

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex can't help but sigh a little in relief, as Nightwind's form emerges, unscathed, from Hormah's shell. She starts to approach, thinks better of it, hanging back near the other side of the berth, instead. Still, she feels like she should say something. Her voice is quiet, but sincere* Thank you so much, Nightwind. I wish there was some way I could help you, in return... but I don't wish to cause you any more discomfort. If there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate... but I think you may be eager to return home, and I won't keep you. *she attempts a smile, though it's rather wan, and nods to her and her companion*

*she considers Hormah's question* I... think I'll be all right, for now. Provided he doesn't panic violently... but I don't think he will. He may perhaps be tired, besides. You... probably need to see to Blackout. I won't press you on that, now.

*she reaches up to rest her hand on the fem's shoulder* Thank you for helping me, my friend.

[gentle_seekers]

"Auspex..." he repeats slowly, remembering what the more soothing of the two females who'd healed him had said. The memory makes his fear fade to a dull quiver in his spark as he looks at her with tentative trust.

[primus_seeress]

*she nods in encouragement* What is your name? I'd like to be your friend, if I may.

[random_xtras]

Hormah's leaning against the nearest table when she comes out, but she turns and holds out a data chip, saying in Cybertronian, "I dug up all I could about Bob. It's not nice."

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex's optics brighten* How...? I didn't think there was any way to find out. Does someone know him? Thank you so much for looking...

*she moves forward to take the chip* He said he was created by Starscream, but that's all he can really remember...

[gentle_seekers]

Bob studies the design closely, momentarily forgetting his fear as he traces threads and studies the workmanship with great curiosity. Then he fingers it again and contemplates the shadows beneath it, considering how safe and comfortable they look.

And the next moment finds him curled on his side, totally covered by it and feeling very comfortable indeed.

The Chiproach likes scritches, and tells a story about it. Without words.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex blinkblinks at the seeker in surprise, and a bit of amusement* I suppose that's one use for it. *she smiles, though with a bit of melancholy, peeking under the carpet tentatively* You probably still need to recharge... you've been through quite a lot, in a very short time.

*she listens to the tiny mech on her shoulder with fascination, if not comprehension. Who thought up such an endearing little spy?*

[gentle_seekers]

He's shaking, his optics squeezed shut, and when she finds his hand he clings to hers with a death grip.

"Don't...." he whispers. "Don't let them hurt me... please...."

He's nearly too terrified to make a sound, his spark fluttering dangerously and his mind begging for protection.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex makes a little mournful sound, finding his terror and his plea to be incredibly painful... this won't happen every time he recharges, will it?*

*She perches on the edge of the berth, and tries to encourage him to sit up a bit, while attempting to pull back enough of the carpet for her to reach him*