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'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.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex makes a small sound of hurt; she hates the sort of example that other-verse Transformers have made for their kind, to the Mini-Cons. She understands the fear, but it makes her spark ache to see such mistrust directed toward herself, much less her whole world, especially because there is no need...*

*She watches the terrified Mini-Con with a stricken expression, aching to offer some words of encouragement, but having none to give. Her optics flicker with uncertainty; she repeats her question* What can I do? I don't wish to frighten her...

[random_xtras]

"Just back off," says the male gruffly, not looking up from his friend.

"T'ere's no need t' be bein' rough t' Auspex, b'y," says Hormah firmly. "She's made t' comfort 'n help."

"Yeah, well, you should have thought of that before you just up and grabbed us."

Hormah frowns and unconciously sidles supportively close to Auspex. "I told you why I grabbed you," she says in Cybertronian. "Bob doesn't have much time, and your friend is the only mechanic I know of that I could get to on short notice."

"So? Bulks die all the time. So do Minicons. It's part of life."

Hormah flinches and looks away, her chin wibbling.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex sighs. She is upset with Hormah, for frightening the Mini-Con so - she considers calling on one of her other friends, to see if someone knows a medic who could rush here - but she knows that Hormah meant well, and she is sorry for the berating she's earned for it. But her spark aches for - Layali, he called her? And perhaps, seeking to calm her is faster than finding a Cybertronian medic, for the sake of the dying mech...*

*She manages to compose herself, her voice assuming that soothing tone she was attempting before, though her expression still speaks volumes of her reaction to the untouchable, but painfully obvious trauma before her* Tell my your name, my friend? You must forgive Hormah; she is young and enthusiastic, and has little experience with someone fragile, as your Layali is... I am not sure why she wished to turn to you, specifically, for help, but she must hold your repair skills in high esteem... *she glances at her for a moment, patting her arm absently, offering support* and I know she regrets the pain she caused you.

I cannot take back the method she chose to bring you here, but I am indeed a healer of such scars as Layali bears, and though my Primus-given senses do not extend to Mini-Cons, I still have my intuition, and I would gladly help her, if she could bring herself to overlook what I am. *she hesitates for a moment* Please, I am not of your world; I do not see your people as the Cybertronians of your world do... and this place is safe, for anyone who comes here.

[random_xtras]

He looks up sharply, but then forces himself to relax a little when he sees the expressions on both the large femmes' faces.

"Regret's not going to take back the pain," he says gruffly, one hand gently rubbing his companion's back as she beeps and shudders and hides her face on his chestplate. "And it doesn't matter how you see us, or what symbol you're wearing. You're big; you're stronger than us, and Nightwind's first memory; the first thing she remembers of her entire life, is of some Bulk grabbing her and forcing her to link. Those links affected our minds and our sparks."

His head shakes. "You can't repair that damage. And safety is only what we can make it."

It doesn't show, but Hormah is crying now, her spark shuddering with sympathy.

[primus_seeress]

*Her voice is very soft, optics dim* I am not a warrior, I am physically weak, and you likely have more capacity to hurt me, than vice versa. But it isPrimus who makes it safe, here; not even Unicron's servants can hurt someone in his care, while you are here. He will watch over you as he would his own, and there is nothing I can do to subvert that, in any way.

*she tentatively attempts to address the Mini-Con in question, her tone sympathetic, gentle and honest* Nightwind..? Layali...? I'm so sorry for what's happened to you, my friend, both now, and when you were new. Nobody deserves to be treated that way, and my spark hurts to hear of it. Please, I beg you... don't be afraid. I give you my word that you will be safe here; if that is not enough, I will offer whatever has the weight of truth, in your optics. I promise that I only wish for your help in repairing an injured mech... but I will find someone else, if this is too much; I will not ask anything of you, if it will frighten you further. *she bows her head respectfully, to both Mini-Cons*

[random_xtras]

Even without a face Bender's distrust and disbelief are plain from his body language. But he only looks down at his friend as the white Bulk speaks to her.

For her part, Nightwind cringes and curls as small as she can, still too frightened to be able to process.

Bender shakes his head. "Primus doesn't care about us. We're not his."

"He does," says Hormah softly, her hand going up and toward the Minicons of its own volition.

Nightwind starts as the small spark of energy jumps into her, then beeps and looks up as Bender gasps.

Hormah's optics are enormous. "I didn' mean t' be doin' that!"

"How the slagging...." Bender's staring. "You just upgraded us!"

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex's optics dim further, at Nightwind's reaction. It's too much, there's no way to reach her now...* Perhaps Cureall can make it here, before he's gone...

*She blinkblinks, looking over in time to see the energy exchange; her optics widen also* Hormah? *she notes that she's as surprised as the rest of them* Do you know what happened?

[random_xtras]

The younger femme gives a blurt of rapidfire deedlebeeping, but then remembers Auspex's race and switches to Cybertronian. "I think maybe the boss used it to show you he does care...."

Bender's staring at her with amazement. "But that was you? You can upgrade Minicons, too?"

Hormah nods, wincing. "Don't tell anybody?"

He looks down at his hand, flexing it and then touching the weapon port on his hip before he looks at Nightwind, who is still huddled against him, but is now looking at her captor with that avid curiosity that at times seems to be the only thing able to lift her out of her fear.

And then the purple femme sits up. "Can you powerlink?"

"I... don't know." Hormah looks at Auspex, seeking reassurance on a topic she's been trained is taboo.

"Do you have a port? Or do you just do the finger zap thing?" Nightwind beeps to herself.

"I... we don't have time. Bob's going to die!"

"I just want to know," says the little purple femme, cringing back against Bender.

"I... do. But it's covered."

"Is it Minicon or Bulk?"

"Iceberg said it could go either way." Hormah's uncertainty grows.

Nightwind actually sits up straight, her visor blinking as her processor whirs. "I bet you don't have Minicon sized tools."

Hormah's expression drops to dismay. No, she hasn't.

[primus_seeress]

*Unfortunately, Auspex is not the one to be looking at for confirmation on the subject of powerlinking; the whole concept seems foreign to her, anyway, not to mention unfair to the Mini-Cons. It only reinforces her loathing for Unicron, that he would assemble beings for the sole purpose of being used by others, like so much junk machinery, whether or not sentience was what he intended for them, originally. It's not right.*

*So, she simply listens to the exchange in silence, thanking Primus that poor Nightwind is communicating now. But...* No tools? Oh dear... *can this situation get any more problematic?*

[nightwind_benz]

"Where's your port?" Nightwind pushes shakily to her feet, her optic visor intent on Hormah.

"But... I don't want to do that to you." The younger femme cringes for the first time since Auspex has known her.

"Bender says you're one of us...." Nightwind shudders and beeps for a bit,b but then looks up again. "Maybe it won't be so bad."

Hormah flails her hands and prays.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex's brow furrows in concern* But why..? If it frightens you... *she grimaces, hoping her speaking doesn't stir Nightwind's fear, again. If she forgets Auspex is there, it might help.*

*meanwhile, she replaces her hand on Hormah's shoulder, channelling a bit, hoping to calm her. She quietly speaks to her* I don't like it, either. But she is brave to ask...