[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

[mccrane]

Skills made necessary by war?

[He recalls what Mirage has said, about Barricade killing someone important.]

[The change in light itself might have almost been unnoticeable, but for Barricade pointing it out. Suddenly...it makes more sense.] A white mark, and a white light...

Yes. Prima does have that lamp in his quadrant. Do you think this may be from him?

[The light has nothing to say about the matter.]

I hope he'll be able to find enough food. [That was always a worry.]

voice;

[thxforthememories]

... He's missing?

Since when?

[namesnotprowl]

Skills required for certain jobs I had during it, yes.

[Though a certain set had just developed... and he happened to enjoy letting loose, on occasion.]

It might be. It'd be something t'ask him, at least. Especially since it seems like the light won't be answering the question itself.

I do too. I'll keep an optic out while digging through the Junk Pile. [Though it would be easier if they had a population of organic fish... or even rats, for that matter.]

[Video]

[notyourblueangel]

[He nods - he's been unsure if he should try to check on the tiny stitchpunk, so he'll accept another's offer easily enough.]

Thank you. I'd appreciate that.

Huh. I don't know what it is then.

...let me know if there's anything I should be doing.

[Being part of the enforcement force and all...]

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

Good. Fixed it up best I could.

[Not sentimentality, fine. Whatever he says. But he feels -- something like that. He sighs a little.]

No. Maybe not. But this place -- we can't play by the same rules as we did back in Japan, McCrane. We can't and expect to be able to keep anyone safe.

[Gunmax scoffs a little.] I know English! [Or so he thinks.]

voice;

[mccrane]

I don't think he's missing.

[McCrane has a present from him that indicates he's still around, and alive.]

But I have not seen him.

I'm worried.

[mccrane]

I won't pry.

[He'll drop it, just like that, too. It is something to ask another time.]

I will speak with him tonight, then, if nothing prevents me otherwise. [He glances up to the light, wondering about it for another few moments, before leaving it. Prima will either know, or he won't.]

What does it eat? [He's out often enough that he'd like to help, if he can.]

[Video]

[mccrane]

You don't have an assignment, currently?

[Because that would wrap this all up, neatly.]

I'm not certain, either. Barricade has suggested it might be tied in with the changes to our Glyphs, but...I would have to speak with Prima about that.

ACTION;

[mccrane]

You fixed it? Yourself? [He's impressed, and subconsciously he reaches back to touch the rifle, feeling like that means something important. That Gunmax spent time on something. For him.]

No. You are right. [He cannot keep himself from wincing, hating how impossible it has been here to keep anyone safe.] But it is going to be so much harder without you.

Without someone I can trust at my side.

[That's as bare as he can get, for now.]

I...I don't know, then. It isn't from me. Perhaps someone else wants you to work on your pronunciation? [He secretly believes it is from the communicator, now, after how often its stumbled over Gunmax's words.]

[namesnotprowl]

Appreciate it.

[He really does. He may have taken up a policy of 'be more open' while he was out, but some things... just no.]

Good luck; hope he's got answers for you.

He eats a lot of meat, but I think he likes seafood best - shrimp and fish and the like. But, he'll take a lot of what he can get his little claws on. [Barricade had lucked out and managed to find half a package of jerky on a trip out, otherwise the worry would be more pressing.]

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

Well -- yes. Kinda had to learn on my feet here, but I was able to. Besides, I turn into a gun, more or less. [Well. That and he spent a lot of time on it. Because it was important to do so.]

...McCrane, I just.

[He wants to say it. The full and complete reason he quit. But he knows how no one would approve.

So he can't.]

This isn't for good. My leaving. It's just awhile, so I can get myself together. I haven't been the same since...

[Since everything? Since Deckerd disappeared, or the rest of his friends? McCrane and Kagerou getting murdered in front of him? Or Toudou going insane?]

A lot of things.

[He huffs at the dictionary. Whatever, he'll stuff it into some compartment into Gunbike.] How about the envelope?

voice;

[thxforthememories]

He had better not be missing.

... I'll look. I need to stretch my wings, anyway.

[Video][Locked]

[perfavore]

I understand the risks involved.

[So he had to track down Overlord...without being detected. Granted it was his specialty, but the thought put him on edge. Still, he was an Autobot, and he wouldn't just back down from that request. And it's not like he had to engage him.]

It is of no issue.

[His head dips down.]

It has been hard to converse with him. He is like a whole other mech. Almost nothing like he was back home.

[mccrane]

I hope Solus does for you, as well.

[He nods, realizing that its not so different from what Yuuta's kitten ate.] I can keep a watch for anything like that. There were some cans of dog-food about a mile west of here, if you think that might work.

ACTION;

[mccrane]

I have noticed. [It was one of those things he noticed far more often than he should have, but he suspected that was part of his programming. He was a tactician. He assessed ordnance. Gunmax...was walking, talking, sassing ordnance.] You did an excellent job, Gunmax.

[And now guess which gun he's going to use for the next forever.]

You've done so much, and put up with so much. You've earned a break, it is just...

[He reaches out toward Gunmax before his hand stops, uncertain.]

You don't deserve to be left alone.

[And, selfishly...he doesn't want Gunmax to go.]

Open it.

voice;

[mccrane]

You would?

[Kagerou, this means a lot to him.]

Thank you. If you see him, would you just tell him to contact me? I found a present for him in the junk pile.

voice;

[thxforthememories]

I like flying. ... Keeping track of a fool in the process is... an unintended bonus.

[He'll do it but he'll pretend he hates it.]

I wouldn't call anything in that pile a "gift".

[namesnotprowl]

Claws crossed.

[He just tries to keep Rumble away from pastries, really. Barricade offers a nod.] It'd be worth a shot. I'll let you know if he won't; someone probably has an animal that'll eat them somewhere around here.

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

Well now. I'm glad that I can't blush. ...Not that I would. [He might enjoy the ego stroking, even. Hard to say, with the sass and all.]

I... [Gunmax looks at McCrane for a moment, not sure how to read into that reach. McCrane is subtle, far more than Gunmax is; it's part of his nature and personality, the quieter, more polite of the Build Team.

Also the first of the Brave Police that caught his respect. It was the professionalism more than anything else. For all that he teases, he respects it.]

Tch. I can survive on my own, if I have to. [Yet at the same time, stupidly, he fears being alone. So he pushes and clings all at the same time.]

Fine, fine.

[Gunmax gets to working the envelope open, then.]

[Video][Locked]

[mccrane]

[That was what he needed to hear. He nods.]

I wish you luck. Do not hesitate to contact me or Blurr or Ultra Magnus if you find yourself caught.

[This makes him feel a little better, though, just...having an extra pair of eyes watching out.]

I would not have believed it, if I had not seen how coming here has changed others from Nanamagiri. [Gunmax. Kagerou. Himself.] It has been very hard for us. [The deaths and the disappearances.]

voice;

[mccrane]

Mm. I believe the word you're looking for is idiot. [He's heard Gunmax use it more than once. Enjoy McCrane-brand humor.]

Why not? This one seems to be from the amazon. [Or, at least, it says 'Amazon' on it.]

[mccrane]

I will pick them up before heading back, then.

You can stop by the Enforcer headquarters, and I will have them for you.

ACTION;

[mccrane]

No. You don't need to. [He nods, getting this.] You know you do good work.

[Sometimes it was rushed work, but not this time.]

[The reach stalls where it is, though, and his fingers slowly close into a ball, and drop back to his side. It is always when he thinks he is getting close to Gunmax that there is this wall, impassable. Not so long ago, Deckerd had been the one to realize the wall had been erected out of pain--the fear of letting anyone close after Gunmax's partner had died.]

...

[And that, in a way, is mirrored right now. Gunmax had given in, and had let them close, and now Deckerd was gone and Todou was dead, and the number of people in Gunmax's life that he could rely on were depressingly few.]

I'm still here, Gunmax. [He says, softer.] You don't have to survive on your own.

I won't...

[This. This is the hard thing to say...but at the same time, it's the easiest part, as well, because it is the truth.]

I won't leave you.

[Inside the envelope...are silly things. Decals. Mostly, they are flames. Green flames. One has a flaming skull, and all of them are sized for Gunbike.]

voice;

[thxforthememories]

You sound like him. It doesn't suit you.

[It's like humor is a football and Kagerou is Charlie Brown.]

The amazon? What's that?

ACTION;

[engrishdetective]

McCrane...

[Deckerd said the same thing, after Breakdown disappeared and returned with no memories. To hear McCrane say that, he initially wants to snap at him. He flinches visibly, but he remains silent.

McCrane doesn't deserve his bitterness. But he has a point, too -- that with so few of them left, there's no point to being alone. Because he isn't.

Maybe McCrane is scared to be alone, too.]

Don't make a promise you aren't sure you can keep, you know.

[He stares at the decals. Silly, sure, but they suit him. They suit Gunbike.

There's a half-smile from Gunmax.] Hmm. It's a good match...