New Haven and a Random Reality. Autobot Base and the Redwood Park. Delivering a Message

[dens_extra_pups]

Charlie: So you understand what's needed? *looking up at Kriti with a serious frown*

Kriti: *nods* *quietly* For starters, his family needs closure.

Charlie: Yes. And they need to know not to start a war that no one can win.

Kriti: *nod* *slight frown as she considers whether or not to go with her visor up*

Charlie: What is it?

Kriti: I'm just wondering if I should go with my visor down or up....

Charlie: *slight, grim smile* His eyes are yellow.

Kriti: *slight quirk of a grin* Visor up, then. Alright. Anything else I need to do while I'm there?

Charlie: Yeah. One other person needs to know about him.

Kriti: Oh?

Charlie: The femme he kissed just before he hit the mountain.

Kriti: *raised brow ridge* Alright.... Who was it, and why can't his dad tell her?

Charlie: Because Thundercracker's a Decepticon.

Kriti: *wince, doorwings down* Ah, gotcha.

Charlie: She's been hiding from her faction. I think she's in shock.

Kriti: *more wince* Should I talk to her first and set my PINpoint back?

Charlie: No. I think you need to talk to the others first. *frowns* If Primus would stop wibbling I'd know better.

Kriti: *small nod* I can still set my PINpoint back.

Charlie: If you want to.

Kriti: *slight quirk of a grin* I'll get going then. *will also be listening for what Primus has to say on the matter*

Charlie: Alright. *steps back, blurs sideways, and vanishes*

Kriti: *PINpoints to the reality, and to the specific location, she needs to go to*

Optimus Prime: *knocks his chair over as he stands up behind his desk*

Silverbolt: *startled turn toward the sudden stranger, his optics flashing*

Kriti: *hands up* Easy.... I come in peace. *yup. Autobot insignia highly visible on her chest*

Optimus: *frowns down at the petite femmebot* *voice gruff and holding an uncharacteristic edge of rage that isn't directed toward her* Who are you?

Silverbolt: *watching in silence now, but his optics too are too bright*

Kriti: A messenger.

Optimus: *frown deepens* A messenger for whom?

Kriti: Primus, and the Greatest Creator.

Optimus: *optics flash*

Silverbolt: ...What?

Kriti: *resisting the urge to snark* I know it sounds impossible, but I'm being honest.

Optimus: *quietly, as his hand goes to his chest in response to a stirring in the Matrix* I believe you...

Silverbolt: *looks at his creator, and then down at the femme* ...Is it only a message for Optimus?

Kriti: *headshake* It's also a message for you and Skydive.

Silverbolt: *head lifts as confusion registers on his face*

Optimus: *voice a deep, quiet rumble* What is the message?

Kriti: *seriously* What happened was an accident. If a war is started because of it, nobody will win. *quieter* Also.... Fireflight is alright.

Silverbolt: *quietly, his voice broken* No. He's not. The wreckage...

Optimus: *bows his head, hands clenching*

Kriti: *gently* He's what's known as an Exile.... His part of this reality's story is done, but his own story's not finished.

Silverbolt: But I can't feel him.

Optimus: *soft static* *then* Will we be able to see him again?

Kriti: *gently* Someday, yes. Maybe sooner, if you happen upon the Nexus.

Optimus: *those sharp blue optics meet hers and look into them searchingly* The Nexus?

Kriti: *serious* Where all realities, all times, all stories converge.

Optimus: So... he has left all mortal time?

Kriti: Not quite..... He's still alive, but if he were to try to come back here, he'd either be a ghost, or he would get an error reading on a teleportation device. And someday he might join the rank of legendary Heroes, but for now his mission is to guard a young organic woman whose whole reality ended.

Silverbolt: *straightens slightly* Fireflight? A legendary hero?

Optimus: *watches in silence now*

Kriti: *nod* It's a possibility. *slight quirk of a grin* If an old riot-inciting clunker of a baytech Lumen can become a Hero....

Optimus: I do not understand the terms you're using. *grave and thoughtful. The rage is gone from his voice, and has been replaced with a soft haze of static*

Kriti: *soft chuckle* I know of a version of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe who are also Heroes...

Silverbolt: *surprised sound*

Optimus: *lowers his head with a soft sputter. But then lifts it again and once more looks at the little messenger* The brothers who are here are heroes.

Kriti: The pair I know of.... are Legendary Heroes.... Even if the younger generations have long since forgotten their names.

Optimus: Forgotten their names? What do you mean?

Kriti: They've been gone so long that they're almost to the point that they can make short working visits to their reality of origin.

Silverbolt: ...How long is that?

Kriti: It's been several million years there.

Optimus: *optics flash in quiet surprise* That... is a long time even for us.

Kriti: *small nod* Their descendents are old, too.

Optimus: ...My mind can barely grasp that.

Kriti: *sympathy in her expression* Understandable.

Silverbolt: But you don't have any trouble?

Kriti: *blink* Trouble?

Silverbolt: Grasping the thought of that much time.

Kriti: Oh. Well, I'm familiar with people who were old before the Earth came online. *slight shrug* Plus, I was born outside normal time and space.

Optimus: *quietly, as Silverbolt hesitantly nods uncertain understanding* I see. *looks at his son*

Silverbolt: I'll go tell the others.

Kriti: *small nod* *quieter* The sooner they know it wasn't their fault, the better.

Optimus: *startled look for the little femme* What do you mean?

Silverbolt: *slips out of the room, his expression saying that he knows perfectly well what she means*

Kriti: *quietly* Air Raid and Slingshot are blaming themselves for what happened.

Optimus: *frowns* Because they weren't there to warn him?

Kriti: *headshake* *quietly* They were teasing him about something related to this.

Optimus: Ah. *sighs and shuts his optics off for a moment, his shoulders drooping* So that's why Skydive could not come to this meeting.

Kriti: *small, concerned frown* Should I go and talk to him privately?

Optimus: Silverbolt will convey your message faithfully. *lifts his head and once more gives her that searching look that seems to study her through and through*

Kriti: *small nod* Alright... *concerned for the Aerialbot*

Optimus: Have you anything else to convey, Messenger?

Kriti: *headshake* Other than that if you go to war over this, nobody will win..... *quieter* And that Primus is watching over everyone here.

Optimus: Alright. *intakes deeply* *quietly, his voice soft and full of concern* He is not alone?

Kriti: *headshake* No. He's not alone.

Optimus: *opens a drawer on his desk* Can you take him something?

Kriti: *nod* I can.

Optimus: *pulls out what's obviously a deluxe model Optimus Prime figure, slightly worn. Sets it on the desk, and then opens another drawer and pulls out a credit card* ...But this is only good here, in America. *perplexed and dismayed rumbling of thought as he absently looks from the tiny card to the tiny toy*

Kriti: *slight tilt of her head as she asks someone about the credit card and whether it will be good in the Nexus or not* *looks up* A package of paper currency and coins would work better.

Optimus: Yes... *sends out a call over comms* We'll need a few moments. *sets the card down, and then picks up the figure and offers it to her* ...He can't sleep without this.

Kriti: *understanding nod as she carefully stores the figure in subspace* I know what that's like.

Optimus: *brow quirk* You do?

Kriti: *nods, a slight smile coming to her face* I have a fabric doll as a comfort item.

Optimus: *softly* Ah.

Jazz: *sticks her head in after a brief tap on the door* Here, Op. My poker winnin's from the last game.

Optimus: *startles and gives his CO2 a reproving look, but then takes the money pouch and looks inside* ...Is there any point in Silverbolt asking the others for money?

Jazz: *quietly* Not much.

Kriti: *sooo not commenting on the poker game*

Jazz: *glances at the little blue stranger. Plainly wants to talk to her alone* But it'll make 'em feel better ta go hit Sparkplug 'n Raoul 'n Carly up fer money.

Optimus: *heavily* Indeed. *offers bag to the messenger* I'll be paying them back.

Jazz: You do, 'n they'll think yer a @#$@#$.

Kriti: *can't help the snerk* *will stow the bag in subspace as well*

Jazz: I mean it. That kid drove everybody glitchy, but we all loved him.

Kriti: *small nod of agreement*

Optimus: *heavily* Ah. You're right, Jazz. Forgive me.

Jazz: So how about I bring this lil' lady ta where the money gatherin's happenin', 'n let you get back ta work?

Optimus: Work, yes... *sounds dazed and about on the edge of breaking down*

Jazz: *comes over, gets Kriti by the arm, and hauls her out of the room. Shuts door behind them*

Kriti: *surprised squeak at being hauled out of the room, concerned glance for the door*

Jazz: *looks past her* Coast's clear, Elita.

Elita-One: Thank you, Jazz. *nods to the CO2, and to Kriti, as she slips into the office*

Kriti: *understanding dawns on her face as she nods to Elita-One*

Jazz: *quietly* Eli'll help 'im. *shrewd look for Kriti as she leads her further from the door* Where's 'Flight at?

Kriti: *seriously* A Nexus between realities.

Jazz: 'N what's that mean? *frown*

Kriti: There're eddies in the Time Stream that make pocket dimensions.

Jazz: *frowns* So the poor kid ain't even in reality?

Kriti: Not in this one. He's safe though. Where he is, there's an anti-violence field. And it is a reality, just one that's open to everything and everytime.

Jazz: Yeah... like you said. *sigh* Like he didn' have enough trouble with just everyday stuff.

Kriti: It's safe enough. Plus, there are other Transformers who live in the Nexus, and are more than willing to help out.

Jazz: *perks* Yeah? Any pretty girls?

Kriti: Er... You're asking the wrong lady. I really don't know.

Jazz: Ah. Well, if there's Transformers, there's gotta be. And that'll mean he's distracted, but in his favourite way.

Kriti: *soft chuckle* Well, there is also the occasional concert at the Black Dog. And I know there are other places to find things to do for fun.

Jazz: *softly, with a reminiscent grin* Nah. You don't understand. The boy's girl crazy.

Kriti: There's someone out there for him. *certain about what she says*

Jazz: Or two, or three. *chuckles, and there is affection, sadness, and very much amusement in the sound* *then sobers* Moony 'n Lancer don't have anybody ta snuggle anymore.

Kriti: *slight frown as she thinks and listens to what the Boss has to say*

Primus: *quiet comfort. The femmes will be alright. And Fireflight will be alright*

Kriti: *quietly* They'll be alright though. *again with that certainty*

Jazz: Yeah. *deep sigh*

Primus: *compassionate amusement* *Jazz will also be okay*

Kriti: *reach, gentle patpat for Jazz*

Jazz: *startles, blushes slightly, and looks sheepish* It wasn't jes' the young gals he begged fer kisses.

Kriti: *gently* Nothing wrong with a bit of affection.

Jazz: Sweet kid. *shakes her head* They never last long.

Kriti: *more gentle patpat*

Prowl: *walking briskly around the corner and toward them. Holds out another Crown Royale pouch* We raised two hundred dollars.

Jazz: o.0 Somebot was holdin' out on me.

Kriti: *snickerfitdie*

Prowl: *shake head slightly and gives money to Kriti*

Kriti: *small nod of thanks, will stow the money with the rest*

Prowl: *seriously* Tell him we'll always remember him.

Kriti: *seriously* I will.

Prowl: *nods* Thank you.

Kriti: *patpat for Prowl's arm too*

Jazz: *muted grin at her, and then shoves Prowl off back the way he came. Over her shoulder* Yeah. Thanks.

Kriti: *slight grin, will PINpoint to the next location she needs to go to in this reality, visor down and ready should there be a reflexive attack from the femme she's looking for*

Thundercracker: *sitting quietly with her knees up, regarding a patch of scorched mountainside*

Kriti: *throat-clearing sound, will move so Thundercracker can see her*

Thundercracker: *on feet, guns out!* *... Frowwwn*

Kriti: *hands up, showing she's unarmed at the moment* Easy. I'm not here for a fight.

Thundercracker: Yeah, right, Autobutt.

Kriti: *ignores the insult* I came to deliver a message, then I'm gone.

Thundercracker: *shifts her stance, ready to dodge the "message" she expects. Optics are pale and hard*

Kriti: *gently* What happened was an accident. It was not your fault.

Thundercracker: *scowl* What?

Kriti: It was just some bad timing, and he doesn't blame you.

Thundercracker: I have no slaggin' clue what you're yammering about.

Kriti: *slight quirk of a grin* *still gently* He's safe, and you'll get to see him again someday. Right now, he's got another task to tend to. *PINpoints out to go deliver the money and figure to Nemesis, and then go hug her guy*

((Written with random_xtras))