hsv, Decepticon base and middle of Kansas, Fangfire

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Frenzy:  *snerking at Soundwave for coming home looking a little bit dizzy*

Soundwave: *visor flickers a bit as he blinks at the cassetticon*

Frenzy:  'Wave 'n Wispy sittin' in a tree!  K. I. S. S.AIEEEEEE!

Ravage:  *mouthful of brother.  Perks ears at creator*

Soundwave: *bliiiink* ...

Shockwave: I trust your visit went well, Soundwave?

Frenzy:  *muffled snigger*

Ravage:  *bites him a little*

Soundwave: *blushing a bit*

Shockwave:  *slight head tilt as he turns back to his work, ignoring the tiny red mech on his shoulder*  I confess I've never understood the charm of losing part of your own identity to another.

Soundwave: *quietly* It is not losing... it is becoming more complete.

Shockwave:  That would imply that there was something missing from our sparks to start with.

Soundwave: *sends Ravage a suggestion to try to locate a suitable femme for Shockwave* This unit believes there may be more to the situation than can be accessed by all scanners and sensors.

Ravage:  *snerks and collects Buzzsaw and Laserbeak before bounding out through the door*

Shockwave:  *pauses and lifts his gaze from his screen, his optic darkening slightly as something occurs to him that he'd never been able to work out*  Soundwave, were Megatron and Blackout bonded before we left Cybertron?

Soundwave: *visor flickers, nods* Megatron wished to be strong.

Shockwave:  *blinks*  ...Wished to be strong, did he?  By bonding his spark to another's.... *frowns and returns his attention to the screen*  Oh yes, you're wanted at a meeting at the NEST base tomorrow at one o'clock local time.

Soundwave: Understood. This unit shall be there.

Shockwave:  I found you deck space on a tanker going past the edge of the restricted zone.  You're on your own from there, I fear.

Soundwave: *nods* Understood.

Shockwave:  *transmits the data to him*  I should think you'll be wanting to leave immediately.

Soundwave: *nods and turns to go*

Shockwave:  *resumes his work*


The next evening

Ravage:  *IS HOME!  IS DOING THE KITTY THING!  POUNCES ON SHOCKWAVE AND SHEDS NANOBOTS ON HIM!*

Buzzsaw and Laserbeak:  *no where in sight*

Shockwave: *startles and moves to brush nanobots off of his person* Ravage, weren't you with Soundwave?

Ravage:  //Negative.  Unit Ravage was hunting.//  *SHEDMOAR*

Shockwave: *sigh, not in the mood for games* What, pray tell, were you hunting?

Ravage:  *sits and looks thoughtful as the nanobots swirl and form into Melody*  //Unit requires assistance.//

Shockwave: ... You had better not have kidnapped anybody of importance. *moving to get up*

Ravage:  *head tilt, then gets up and saunters out with his tail up.  So not replying to that*

Melody:  *sits at the monitor that get transmissions from the satellites focused on space*

Shockwave: ... *moving to follow Ravage*

Ravage:  *gives him coordinates for a place three states away, and then demands a ride*

Shockwave: ... *borrowing a phrase from Great Britan, before he transforms and opens a door for Ravage*

Ravage:  *crawls in and lays on the seat, then sheds just a few more nanobots*

Shockwave: *not a happy SUV, pulls away from the base*

Ravage:  *sound asleep several hours later when they drive through the early dawn light and cross a fallow and snow-scattered field to where a self propelled haybine stands silent in an open machine shed*

Buzzsaw:  *is a lump of barn red on the otherwise weatherbeaten grey building*

Shockwave: *Checking coordinates, before slowing to a stop* ... Buzzsaw?

Buzzsaw:  *sticks out an eyestalk and peers at him, then grows tentacles*

Shockwave: *bounces on his shocks* Ravage, we have arrived at the coordinates you provided. Please remove yourself from my alternate mode so I may transform.

Ravage:  *lifts head, sees where they are... and bounds out of Shockwave and clears the vicinity like the proverbial bat from the hot place*

Buzzsaw:  *swoops after brother!*

Shockwave: *transforms, and moves to follow the casseticons*

haybine:  *transforms in a sudden flash of metal and glass, and then a mantid horror with befanged jaws and serrated scythes is leaping at him with lethal intent*

Shockwave: *Wasn't expecting this! Brings his on-board weaponry back online, and crosses his arms in front of his torso in a defensive move*

haybine:  *blast of fire aimed at his chest in mid-leap, and then brings forward large grasping feet with vicious claws to grab him as it lands*

Shockwave: *lets out a pained bellow when the fire scorches his arms and face. Then hidden blades release from the recesses on his forearms, and he's trying to use his size and mass to knock the haybine off-balance*

haybine:  *screeches metallically, one scimtar taloned foot closing around his arm as the other digs into his chest.  Those horrific jaws snap just millimeters from his face as his movements knock the beast slightly off balance.  One scythe attempts to close over his shoulder*

Shockwave: *brings one of his forearm blades up as a deterrant, aiming for the haybine's optics*

haybine:  *seems to be devoid of those sensors.  And furiously intent on rending the unsuspecting mech asunder*

Shockwave: *didn't get onto Megatron's very short list of trusted mechs by being a slacker in a brawl! He gives the haybine a shove in an attempt to put some distance between it and himself*

haybine:  *tightens the foot that's dug into his chest and snaps its jaws again as his hand comes in contact with its throat*  

Shockwave: *wincing, not that anyone can tell, and trying to pry the haybine's foot out of his chest* [Who are you?! If I am to die, I at least want to know the name of my killer!]

haybine:  *freezes, and suddenly the only sounds in the field are the laboring of two Transformers' systems and the sizzle of acid that's dripped from its fangs onto Shockwave's hand*

Shockwave: *in pain, and doing his best to hide it* [What is your designation and alliance?]

haybine:  *lifts that blind head and seems to look at him with searching surprise*  [...Fangfire... and I am neutral.]

Shockwave: [I am Shockwave... Lord High Protector within the Autobot-Decepticon alliance.] *yes, he's still not too sure he's leader material, and it shows*

Fangfire:  *spits and snarls, flames licking his face*  [Decepticon?  Feh!]

Shockwave: *would be scowling if he had a face proper* [You do not believe me?]

Fangfire:  [I hate all who wear the pointed face.]  *holds up one scythe to show twenty notches along the side*  [They die before they can kill me.]

Shockwave: [...Even when they were merely defending themselves from an unprovoked attack?]

Fangfire:  *pulls her claws out of his chest and leaps down, then straightens to show herself a tall and slender, but very alien femme.  Her head is long and lean- mostly jaws and teeth, her armor is strong but light, and her legs are built for speed as well as attack*  [Usually when I am wakened it is kill or be killed.]  *crouches, seeming to watch him as she licks her claws*

Shockwave: *taking in Fangfire's appearance* [I was only asked to assist a certain cassetticon with a hunt. He provided no information other than coordinates.]

Fangfire:  *lifts her head and scans the area*  [Casseticon?]

Shockwave: [One of Soundwave's symbionts... specifically, one by the designation Ravage....though I did sight Buzzsaw earlier...]

Fangfire:  [I detect no traces of others.]  *doubtful*

Shockwave: *sensor sweep of the area, as well as an attempt to ping Ravage's comm*

Ravage:  *leave a message at the beep* *is nose to nose with a polled Hereford bull a few fields over*

Shockwave: *sighs* [Ravage is currently engaged... Though he is close by, I believe...] *remembering his manners, or at least, some semblance of such* [Have you had an opportunity to refuel in recent days?]

Fangfire:  *even with a visage so different her confusion is clear as she tries to understand why he's telling her and asking her these things*

Shockwave: *calmly, as he assesses the damage to his frame* [The war is over... it has been for many months now.]

Fangfire:  *straightens and tilts her head*  [The war has always been, and always will be.]

Shockwave: *Shakes his head* [On my honor as Lord High Protector, I assure you that the war is indeed over.]

Fangfire:  [It was the Lord High Protector who started the war!  By talking to the pointed face.]  *hisses softly to herself*  [I was there.  I was watching.  I saw.]

Shockwave: [Megatron is no longer online, and the Fallen has been vanquished.] *considering something* [Would it be preferable for you to speak to Optimus Prime?]

Fangfire:  *bluntly*  [No.  I know no Prime.  They died even before Megatron woke the pointed face.]

Shockwave: [All but one died. He was a sparklet at the time, and it was not discovered until later that he was indeed a Prime. He is now raising a sparklet of his own on this planet.]

Fangfire:  *very still as she listens to the local media feeds for the first time since she settled down to rest on this organic world*  *slowly*  [I remember Jetfire... he left when I could barely think.]

Shockwave: [He is currently stationed at the Autobot base... There are medics there, if you are in need of repairs.]

Fangfire:  *slowly, her voice a quiet and smoky alto*  Been running and fighting too long to stop....

Shockwave: *understanding nod* The Chief Medical Officer, a mech by the designation of Ratchet, is very skilled at repairs, as is his assistant, First Aid.

Fangfire:  *lashes her tail*  Not damaged.  Know how to take care of myself.  *sniffs and turns her face toward his chest*

Shockwave: *nods* There are quarters available at the Decepticon base, as well as the Autobot base, if you are in need of recharge.

Fangfire:  *goes still again as the quietness of his voice and what he's talking about stir up memories that she hasn't looked at in millions of years*  You just interrupted that.

Shockwave: *suddenly a bit sheepish* My apologies... *moving to carefully transform, mindful of his injuries*

Fangfire:  *hesitates, and then comes toward him, her scythes folding back so that she can lift one foot and use it to hold his shoulder still as she cleans the spilled fluid from his chest with her tongue.  This done, she scans to see how badly he's damaged, and if his self repair needs assistance*

Shockwave: *freezes, and if he had a discernable face, it would have a "...Is this really happening?!" look on it. Parts of his chestplating are dented or torn clean off, he's bleeding from a few secondary lines.... and then there're the acid burns to his hands*

Fangfire:  *quietly*  You need repairs.

Shockwave: *nods* I suspect that Ratchet will not be too pleased...

Fangfire:  *uses her tongue to squeeze one of the bleeding lines in his chest, then carefully melts it together with just a touch of flame*

Shockwave: *small, sharp intake of air, doing his absolute best to stay still*

Fangfire:  *does the same thing to the next line, and then has to carefully pull the next one together a bit before she can close the hole*

Shockwave: *staying absolutely still*

Fangfire:  *finishes with the lines, using her foot and tongue as hands, and then moves to do some rough repairs on his dented and torn chestplating.  The dents she ignores, but she uses weak acid to stick the torn edges back together before carefully licking away the excess and stepping back to look at him*

Shockwave: *starting to understand the human phrase "Brain-broken", as he's feeling that way just a bit* *Quietly* Th-Thank you...

Fangfire:  *tilts her head, and then looks toward the very faint sound of sizzling*  I missed your hands.

Shockwave: *optic flickers as he blinks, before he hesitantly holds his hands up*

Fangfire:  *carefully licks them clean and then scans them to see if they need any repair*

Shockwave: *aside from a few thin spots where the acid almost burnt through to the wiring and other components, his hands are alright*

Fangfire:  The self repair will make the plating strong again.  *steps back and looks around*

Shockwave: *also looking around after he nods to indicate that he heard Fangfire*

Fangfire:  *turns her attention back to him and watches him quizzically, her tail lashing slowly as she thinks and wonders*

Shockwave: *musing out loud* Perhaps I should attempt to corral Ravage and Buzzsaw...

Fangfire:  I only hear you on my sensors.

Shockwave: Ravage should be nearby... If he's wandered off, which I suspect he might have done, I do not relish the thought of having to pursue him.

Fangfire:  *scans again and moves her head up and back in a negative*  There's only you.

Shockwave: ... *shoulders slump* The next time I speak with Soundwave, I am going to suggest putting a bell on Ravage's neck.

Fangfire:  *pause and then absently rattles one scythe*  You want to frighten birds away from him?

Shockwave: *Dryly* I want to ensure that he can be found. *scanning the area, and pinging Ravage's comm*

Ravage:  //Unit destination Nellis base.  Transport acquired.  Returning uneconomical in regards to time.//  *click*

Shockwave: ... *calls Ravage a very impolite name in a long-dead language*

Fangfire:  *quizzical look, and then gives a very large and very toothy yawn*

Shockwave: *starts, before remembering that he did, in fact, interrupt Fangfire's recharge* I shall be going then... *Databursts Fangfire his comm frequency* If you are ever in need of assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.

Fangfire:  Thought you wanted me to go to your place.

Shockwave: In time, if you wish to do so. *moving to transform again*

Fangfire:  *transforms as well, her scythes clattering into place as the blades of the haybine*  I go.

Shockwave: ...Very well then... Would you prefer an escort, or would coordinates be more to your liking?

Fangfire:  *seems to shrug*  Go.  

Shockwave: ... Very well. *heads back to the highway*

Fangfire:  *follows*


The next day, after it was discovered that there are limited roads that a haybine can be driven on legally...

Buzzsaw:  *Igor mode*  Maaaster!  *hobbles in, bibbling*  They come, Maaaster!

Melody:  *looks at brother from where she's sitting on top of Soundwave's console*  ....

Soundwave: *makes a mental note to put a limit on the Netflix account* Understood. *attention back on his console*

Ravage:  *skids in after brother, looks at Soundwave's screen and snerks, and then vacates the room*

Shockwave: *hobbling slightly as he moves to hold the door open for Fangfire* Soundwave should be here as well...

Melody:  0_o  XD

Fangfire:  Smell another in different places.

Shockwave: Those are his symbionts... No doubt Frenzy is up to mischief somewhere... *pauses when he sights what Soundwave has up on his screen* ...

Buzzsaw:  *cackling and snorting to himself as he climbs Soundwave's leg*

Laserbeak:  Stare stare, like a bear....

Fangfire:  *looking around for the mischief*  *and yawning all those teeth out*

Soundwave: *glances over his shoulder momentarily, before comming and asking Ravage if he's certain he picked a suitable femme for Shockwave*

Ravage:  //Affirmation:  Femme is only unmatched female of proper age on the planet.//

Shockwave: ... *sighs as he watches the little cartoon humans on Soundwave's screen interact*

Soundwave: //If Ravage unit is certain.// *indicates the screen* Adventure Quest Worlds. Function: combination massive multiplayer online role-playing game and socialization network.

Shockwave: ...At least it's not Warcraft.

Ravage:  //Unit is certain.  All other femmes of suitable age are taken.//  *yeah... Shockie got the barrel scrapings...*

Frenzy:  *yells in the other room about being king troll*

Shockwave: ... I'm not certain I even wish to know.

Soundwave: *attention going to Fangfire* Designation?

Fangfire:  *finishing another yawn, and then cocks her head*  Fangfire.

Soundwave: *slight headtilt, checking over rosters, visor flashes momentarily* Relations: Jetfire and Skyfire?

Fangfire:  Gone.

Soundwave: *slight headshake* Incorrect. Jetfire and Skyfire stationed at Autobot base.

Fangfire:  *tilts her head slightly the other way, and then seems to look at Shockwave*  Tired.

Shockwave: *nods* There are spare quarters here... *on an impulse, offers Fangfire his arm*

Fangfire:  *looks at it, and then licks off a blotch of tar*

Frenzy:  *ranting about Draenei scum is cut off with a slight crunch*

Shockwave: *optic flickers as he blinks* Er...

Soundwave: Fangfire requires assistance in finding quarters?

Fangfire:  *licks lips and looks at him quizzically before turning the glance to Shockwave*  Does she?

Shockwave: *shakes head* I shall escort Fangfire to quarters, Soundwave.

Fangfire:  *oh, and he's got tar on his back too.  Won't take much to get that off....*

Shockwave: *Staggers forward a step, due to his startlement*

Fangfire:  *foot goes up and closes carefully on his shoulder to hold him still*

Soundwave: ... *Smirking under his mask, turns back to his console*

Ravage:  //Primary unit concedes?//

Soundwave: //Affirmative.//

Fangfire:  *finishes the cleanup, and then lets Shockwave go*

Shockwave: ... *blink blink* Err.. yes... quarters are this way... *moving to lead Fangfire down the hallway towards private quarters*

Fangfire:  *goes along, her claws making soft scrapes on the floor and her sonar making even softer vibrations in the air*

Shockwave: *stops in front of the door to spacious quarters that are revealed to have been left empty for quite some time* Will this be suitable, Fangfire?

Fangfire:  *steps in, looks around, crawls under the bed....  And starts recharging*

Shockwave: ... *quietly makes his way back to the control room*

Wisp:  *on a screen, talking to Soundwave as he shops for something for his small rogue class game character to wear*  And then Sideswipe got under Elita's feet and tripped her, and she landed hard.  But Optimus picked her up and helped her get straightened out.  It was so sweet.  *shy smile*

Soundwave: *soft chuckle* Sideswipe's guardians absent, or searching for him?

Wisp:  *smile fades a bit into a wince*  Searching again.

Soundwave: Suggestion: Bell collar.

Wisp:  He ate it.

Soundwave: ... *face. palm*

Wisp:  *wince wince.  Quietly*  And Ratchet enriched his vocabulary when Sunstreaker and Showtime brought him to medbay.

Soundwave: *weighing options* Steeljaw is adept at finding those who do not wish to be found.

Wisp:  Steeljaw?  *hasn't met any of Blaster's symbionts yet*

Soundwave: *As he relays the suggestion to Blaster* Steeljaw is one of Blaster's symbionts. Configuration similar to Ravage unit.

Wisp:  Ohhhh.  I didn't realize he had symbionts.  But then I don't see him very much.  *because he seems to be afraid of being near her*

Soundwave: *nods, as Showtime and Sunstreaker run past the moniter room in the Autobot base, chasing a little scrap of red*

Wisp:  *looks over her shoulder, her lights slowing as she wonders if she's going to have to dodge soon*

Sideswipe: *Squeals in protest, and then Showtime and Sunstreaker are carrying him back to quarters for a nap*

Wisp:  *going 0_o as she turns back to Soundwave... and oh hai there's someone else there.  When did Shockwave show up?*  Oh, hello, Shockwave.

Shockwave: *blink, oh, someone's addressing him! Nods in greeting* Hello, Wisp.

Wisp:  *smiles her shy smile*  How are you?

Shockwave: I am functioning...

Soundwave: *silent snerk, databursts Wisp a summary of goings on at the Decepticon base within the last 48 hours*

Wisp:  0.o  //Soundwave!//

Soundwave: *innocently* //Yes, Wisp?//

Wisp:  //That... that's just terrible.//

Soundwave: //If attempted matchmaking does not succeed, mission is not a failure. Fangfire has secured recharge quarters, as well as access to medics and energon.//

Wisp:  *still giving him the shocked look, though more mildly now*  //At least you didn't lock them in a room together.  Why are you trying to matchmake anyway?//

Soundwave: *slight visor flash* //It was the best idea of the moment.//

Wisp:  *gentle and quizzical look, as though she's trying to see past his visor and into his thoughts*

Soundwave: *isn't revealing anything this time* //Shockwave is in need of Ratchet or First Aid's assistance.//

Wisp:  I'll let them know.  *last searching look*  *then, softly*  I love you.

Soundwave: *retracts his visor and mask, as he does every time* I love you, Wisp.

Wisp:  *soft touch to the screen as it goes dark*

Shockwave: ... *headshake, mutters something about insanity, and settles at his usual station with a stack of datapads*

Frenzy:  *from the other room*  For the HOARDE!!!!!!

Ravage:  *sound of a swat*

Shockwave: ... *headdesk*

((co-written with random_xtras))