[Video][A friend lost and a strange light Shining]

[mccrane]

[McCrane is on a late patrol, in the junk-yard at night. With the horrors of the Glyphless catastrophe over and all of the paperwork filed, he has been searching for two things: One, the materials to build a soccer-goal, and two...]

Has anyone seen Gunmax?

[He's worried. He's always worried, of course, but now he looks more worried than usual. He turns, and for a moment the camera catches a small ball of light hovering over a silver-wrapped box with a gold bow. Curious, McCrane approaches, and the light moves out of the video, as does the box.]

I am also wondering about Barricade, as he has been gone for several weeks now. I don't know if keeping track of the populace is part of our Law Enforcement duties, but...it should be done. [McCrane reaches down, and suddenly the silver box pops back into view while he holds it. It's still remarkably well-lit for this time of night, but that may be because there's that small ball of light, shining on it again.]

And now it looks like I'll have to add Whirl onto the list, too. [He fingers the nametag, turning it toward the camera. Today was strange enough, but it looked as if it was going to get stranger.]

Is anyone else encountering unusual lights?

[It reminded him of Drill Boy's mythical fairy.]

Comments

VIDEO;

[mccrane]

That...depends. [He goes quiet.] On if you want to be caught. [He would keep you, if he could. He needs your humor, and your reminders that it is okay to be emotional now and again. You don't want him to become like Ultra Magnus, do you?]

Or if you are just in a contrary mood.

[He doesn't have cuffs on him. He'll have to try something else.]

I will wait here.

[And he's going to look for something he can use.]

[namesnotprowl]

[Color him surprised, by that suggestion. Here he'd hoped that people had been talked out of messing with Overlord any more.]

Trapping Overlord?

Still worried that Megatronus Prime wouldn't be able or inclined to stop him?

[video]

[mccrane]

No. No, it isn't that.

You have actually been very helpful. [Several times, in a way.]

Such as now. You could be very helpful right now by telling me what to do with this.

[If bomb disposal is in his programming, he doesn't want to find out the hard way.]

[mccrane]

Megatronus Prime released him without our consent.

I do not want to be put in a situation where we have to rely on the Firstforged, again.

[He doesn't mistrust all of them...but neither does he want to take this risk.]

VIDEO;

[deadlydoctor]

I talked to them both a few days ago. They looked fine.

Maybe those lights you are seeing are Jetfire's bugs. Some are still running free.

VIDEO;

[mccrane]

Knock out...

[It's good to see you, again. He could have sworn you went into the Badlands, and that had been a sad thought.]

Ah.

I thought on that, but... [He holds his hand out, and it passes straight through the ball of light.] ...I don't remember the bugs being intangible.

[namesnotprowl]

... You don't trust them, do you? Not all of them, anyway.
Has anyone asked the FirstForged why this happened? I wasn't here when that all went down.

[Not that he won't assist if asked, but. He would rather find a way to work through it than testing something he's not entirely certain would work.]

VIDEO to ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

Depends on who catches me, I suppose. Just don't expect to tame me, hm? [No. He'd hate to see you turn out as boring as him.]

Good.



[Eventually, Gunmax does make his way over; no doubt McCrane recognizes the sound of Gunbike's engine.

He puts the bike into park and slides off smoothly.]

Yo, McCrane.

[mccrane]

I would rather be self-sufficient. [Drift had brought that up to him, and he'd liked the idea.] I don't want to have to be scrabbling for a plan when it all breaks down.

[Preplanned was forewarned.]

Blurr spoke with Megatronus Prime, and a few others have talked with their Firstforged as well. The results are...mixed. [It makes him uneasy.] I still need to talk with Prima, myself.

[Video]

[perfavore]

[Mirage's eyes flick at the polite gesture. It's...pretty new to him, obviously. He isn't used to such courtesy. His head nods in return, accepting it, and placing a hand over his chestplate, fingers splayed.]

I will do what you require of me. Merely name it.

[And then those wings fold down, almost harshly.]

He took someone from me.

[namesnotprowl]

Can't always be self-sufficient; everybody needs somebody. [He'd always worked better with a partner, himself.] But I understand your reasoning. ... I ain't a hero, but if you need me, let me know.

[Might as well offer.]

Hrm. Anyone talked to Solus yet? She seems the straight-forward sort, to me.

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[mccrane]

Maybe...

[And this, he finally understands, may be what made Deckerd so good at keeping track of Gunmax.]

...maybe it is the chasing part that I enjoy.

[He was a police officer, after all. The urge to track came from somewhere--and Gunmax, strangely, satisfied it. He did not know what to think about that.]

[He has time to think on it at least, and...he does.]

[What was it he missed, when Gunmax was gone?]

....

[No.]

...

[No, that answer, he knows.]

It is good to see you again, Gunmax. [When he says it, he means it, completely, and with an honesty he does not hide. He's holding the plain brown Amazon box in his hand, with a large, folded envelope on top.]

[Video][Locked]

[mccrane]

[McCrane locks this thread, very carefully. He is not a master of encryption by far, but he spends time with this, nevertheless.]

You are aware of what Overlord is capable of? And...another, by the name of Tarn?

[He wants to make sure you know what you are getting into.]

In the war. Someone who was important to you?

[mccrane]

Barricade...

[He smiles, a little.] You have already been an immense help. It means a lot that you would offer more.

Talking with Solus would be the best place to start.

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

So, McCrane! You want to chase me?

[He leans back on Gunbike, folding his arms.] Wouldn't be fair if I was on Gunbike. You wouldn't stand a chance. Heh.

[There's a pause, and his expression softens slightly at the comment. How good it is to see him.

No one else in their right mind would say that of him.]

...You too, McCrane.

[He looks down at the box and envelope. Hesitantly, he takes both, then looks back up to the combat specialist.]

You get anything else for Christmas?

[Video][Locked]

[perfavore]

[Mirage notices the lock and...appreciates it. He'd rather not have his one boon on the battlefield exposed to anyone and everyone if he can help it.]

I have seen what Overlord has done. [That tone is dark, and razor sharp.] Tarn escapes me, however.

...

He was...comparable to a father figure.

[namesnotprowl]

[He smiles slightly himself, but wags a claw. The effect is probably lost since Rumble keeps swiping at the claw when it comes into range, admittedly.]

Don't abuse the privilege. Don't offer my help to anyone.

... Besides, kind of need t'talk with her, anyway.

ACTION;

[mccrane]

I would with this new rifle. [It is the one that you got for him. He pulls it out, when the packages are handed over.] It has a longer range than the shotgun I was constructed with.

However...

I would prefer not to do that to Gunbike, so our chase will have to be on foot.

[It is amazing how serious he can sound while saying that.]

I just did not expect it to...hurt. When you were gone so long.

[When there is no hope of chasing, and no hope of catching, at all.]

Only this. [His fingers tighten on the rifle, before placing it back over his shoulder.] I believe I would like to see you open yours, though.

[Video][Locked]

[mccrane]

Then you understand why this is important.

When you have the opportunity, and when it can be done...as safely as possible, I need you to relay his location to me. Tarn, we'll have to deal with when he appears.

[It would be a start, and it wouldn't require Mirage to be put in danger very frequently.]

I cannot imagine that would be easy to forgive. [It is also hard to imagine Barricade doing something like that...but at the same time, it isn't. He's had a taste of what war must be like since coming here, and dealing with Overlord and the Glyphless.]

[mccrane]

I would not do that.

It will only be me who contacts you, if we need more...excepting dire emergencies.

[Because if he died, then...he wouldn't be able to call the favor in.]

May I ask about what?

[He's watching that dragon of yours, again.]

[namesnotprowl]

Depending on the emergencies, y'might not even need to ask.

Though some of my... skills... are off-limits otherwise.

[Mostly because those cables are not for public consumption. Or use by anyone, really.]

Her Mark on my shoulder has... changed. Figure I ought to ask about what's going on with it, at least. Maybe see what information I c'n get about this Cybertron, too.

[The little dragon churrs, scrabbling from one of Barricade's shoulders to the other, trying to get a better look at McCrane in return. You are different!]

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

Ohh, so you already tried it out? I'm glad. Suits you well, I think.

Much appreciated! I'd hate to see anything happen to Gunbike.

[He could probably fix it himself, but without Toudou. ... Hm.

He pauses, uncertain of what to say to that. McCrane missed him that much?]

I... hm. You're not usually this sentimental.

[He looks down at his hands, the contents he holds. Then, he sighs and opens the box first.]

Sure, sure. Hmm, not coal?

[Gunmax holds up the Japanese-English Dictionary with a confused look.]

What? Really? This some kind of bad joke?

[mccrane]

[That warms his ai core, Barricade.]

I don't...know that I know which skills those are.

[He would probably be horrified by them.]

[Wait.]

Yours too? [Almost subconsciously, he reaches up to touch Prima's mark on his own shoulder. Behind him, the small ball of light glows brighter as he does.]

[No, small dragon, you are different. You are also kind of cute.]

It is remarkably tame.

[namesnotprowl]

I pray you don't have to.

[Nobody so much as tolerated them.
... well, nobody save one. But that one is gone now.

He looks surprised at the question, brushing his claws along the Sign absently. He nods, though his lower pair of optics focus briefly on that ball of light.] Mine too. And that light looks like it might have something t'do with yours.

[Rumble squeaks proudly, sitting up and spreading his wings a little. Barricade chuckles.]

Only when he wants to be. He's been sticking close since he got here... but I'm sure he'll start coming and going at his leisure soon enough.

ACTION;

[mccrane]

In the shooting range, and outside. [He wanted to see what his maximum accurate distance was. His expression alone says how happy he was with the results.] It will be better for the threats we face.

[The threats...the very reason why everything had become complicated here.]
It is not sentimentality. [He states, knowing very well it that what it is...is close.] If we are going to continue to encounter danger after danger, here...

I.

Don't think it is tactically sound to do it alone.

[He can't say how he's feeling any better than Gunmax would ever be able to.]

[If it is a joke, however, he does not get it.] I thought you wanted to learn English?