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

[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...

[random_xtras]

"Lotsa stuff on t' Multinets." Hormah hands it over. "Yeah. He's a clone, b'y. 'N 'e didn' have no spark t' begin wit', so I dunno what went down t'ere...." She grimaces, but then reaches over and hits Auspex with an upgrade. "Here, t'at'll help. Now I gotta go 'cardin' t' boss's awake."

[primus_seeress]

...no spark? What did Starscream use to power him, and the other, I wonder? They'd have been only drones... *she sighs a little* I don't know. This is a strange situation. Thank you for your help, Hormah.

*she blinkblinks in startlement as Hormah uses her unique ability on her* Ah, that it might. It will help me to understand him better, certainly; thank you.

*she expresses more suprise as Hormah mentions Blackout. Her tone is relieved* She's awake? I'm very glad to hear that, it sounded worrisome. I won't keep you, then. Thank you, my friend. *she offers an encouraging smile*

[random_xtras]

The younger femme looks at her, and suddenly Auspex gets a clear picture of Blackout as she is now, and the whys of it.

Then she points to a large rolled up carpet laying on the table and indicates that it's for Bob before giving her friend a cheeky grin and PINpointing away.

Speaking of Bob, his hunger is now radiating very loudly. As is his confusion as to the fluttering feeling in his chest. And the ache of his missing wings.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex tilts her head, seeing the image of Blackout. That couch has not been kind to her... she says another prayer for her friend*

*She blinkblinks at the... isn't that something humans put on their floors? What in the world is Bob supposed to do with it? She shrugs; there are other things to do, yet. She tucks the carpet under one arm, and makes her way down the back hallway.*

*She takes a few energon cubes from her store, returning to her own quarters, for a moment. She examines the data chip, while absently reaching for a datapad... and is surprised to catch the sense of a spark! This is a very tiny Transformer, indeed. She seems to be asleep; hopefully reading the data she's recorded won't disturb her.*

*Very carefully, Auspex inserts the living chip into the datapad slot; it takes only a moment to load, then displays... video footage?*

*She sees Bob, on Earth, fleeing in terror from an unfamiliar Autobot, and an unmarked mech, probably a neutral. They've mistaken him for Starscream, and are intent on capturing him - which happens quite easily, given his state of panic. She winces as he's shot down, chained up, and unceremoniously dragged away.*

*As she sees the other seeker, she's reminded that both of these - clones? - look different from the original, but close enough for the unobservant to mistake them for Starscream. She puzzles over the reason...*

*...until she sees the last bit of footage. Now that the clones have been brought together in the presence of what is obviously a Megatron, both shut down, and spark chambers open to reveal explosives, instead! She watches the datapad incredulously, as Decepticons flee, Autobots scramble to get the two back to back and weld a rocket pack to them, activate said rocket, getting the two out of range of the city, where they detonate.*

*numbly, she shuts down the datapad, pulling the chip and cradling it in her hand thoughtfully. Well. That explains a lot. It leaves more questions, as well... but she's kept Bob waiting long enough. She takes carpet, cubes, and chip back down the hall to the room Bob currently occupies. She notes his feelings with a little frown.*

[gentle_seekers]

The purple mech is curled with his back to the wall, his head bowed as he hugs his knees and dozes uneasily. His body throbs with the dull ache of hunger and with the pain of phantom wings, and his new spark throbs as well, with fear and exhaustion and sadness. He's confused, and afraid, and so tired....

But he starts with a squeak as something stirs in Auspex's hand, and a cheery babble of binary starts up in a tiny voice. "Wh... what??"

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex blinks, bringing her hand up to eye-level. There, a little insectoid mech (with an equally small Decepticon insignia) waves tiny feelers at her, babbling happily away in something probably like binary, though Auspex can't understand any of it. She can't help but smile at the whimsy of it* I have an unexpected guest. I think she says 'hello'.

*she wonders if it's likely that the little creature will record anything they say here, but a glance at her aspect reveals that she seems content with the data she's already carrying. Auspex also picks up a hint of curiosity about... taste? It's accompanied by a little tickle against her fingertip. She raises a brow. She's just been tasted by a chip-mech. Strange little thing...*

*She sets the creature - I wonder if this is one of those "chiproaches" Ratchet mentioned once? - up on her shoulder, to free her hands, as she approaches Bob. She places a comforting hand on his shoulder.*

Here. *she offers him a cube* I think you need to refuel; I have a suspicion you haven't had a chance to do so, yet. *she queries Primus about sharing the information she just learned about Bob, as he's obviously forgotten a good bit of it; he responds in the negative. Very well, then; perhaps it's better he doesn't know.*

[gentle_seekers]

He's glad to see her; in his mind she's connected to safety, and now that she's back the tiniest spark of happiness stirs in him, too. He watches as she puts the tiny golden creature on her shoulder, and his optics widen with wary wonder.

Then he starts slightly and looks up at Auspex, having been so focused on the little one that he hadn't noticed what that big one was doing. -Energy!-

"Thank you." He takes the cube eagerly and drains it, but then cries out a moment later as his tank protests painfully, the sound interrupting the babble of the Chiproach and making her look at him. The little femme is ready to run away if she needs to, but isn't fearful or troubled in the least.

-Auspex wants to protect me, so this can't be her doing... Starscream must have found out....- Bob curls up, feeling his tank swirl sickeningly, and inadvertently sharing the sensation with the upgraded priestess.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex hisses softly, grimacing at Bob's mental broadcast. She curls an arm around his shoulders to reassure him, using the opportunity to steady herself as well* It's all right... I think that's the first time your fuel tank has been refilled; sometimes it takes a bit of time for the discomfort to resolve itself.

*she pauses, hoping to give him a moment to recover, physically, before addressing his errant thought* Don't worry about Starscream. He can't reach you, here.

[gentle_seekers]

"Oh. Alright." He leans against her, radiating blossoming trust. -She's my friend. She's nice. And her boss is here too.-

The pain fades, and then he's going :o with wonder as a feeling of well-being and strength passes through his systems. Is this what he's supposed to feel like?

As he leans there he notices the rug and reaches to examine it. -What is this? It looks like... I can't remember what it looks like.-

[primus_seeress]

*she pats his opposite shoulder, nodding with approval, and a little indulgent smile* There, you should feel better now.

*Auspex blinks down at the carpet, almost forgetting she was carrying it. She hands it over, brow furrowed* Hormah brought that for you. I have no idea what she expects you to do with it. *she chuckles a bit*

[gentle_seekers]

"For me?" He blinks, then unrolls it to look at it. "It's pretty... but what is it?"

Chiproach babble is go. Not that it's much help.

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex's optics brighten slightly as he unrolls it; it's beautifully ornate, woven with many bright colors and intricate patterns. She hadn't realized humans made such beautiful things to put on the floor.* It's a carpet. It's a human-made object, that they use to cover floors, to protect their feet, I think.

*She smiles in amusement at the little mech on her shoulder, reaching to scritch her with a fingertip*