[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

[namesnotprowl]

Have t'say, a lot fewer volcanoes around here.

[Which he tried to avoid himself, admittedly. Well. Stayed out of the way of eruptions.]

Him, yes. And I will. It'll give him a chance t'see more of the Haven, at least. [And meet some new people, for that matter. Rumble hasn't met most of the mechs here.]

About, oh... six or so years, by the human calendar. A number of Decepticons picked up the tech before making planetfall to Earth. Made it easier to blend in. Long enough to learn how to tweak things at least.

[mccrane]

That...would be another fact I am glad for.

Was there anywhere hospitable out there?

[He has to ask, despite the fact that things have been better lately.]

What can you project?

[He has reasons for his curiosity beyond the floating ball of light.]

[namesnotprowl]

A few spots. Just they'd only be hospitable t'robotic types right now.

[No other water sources, but. Things seem to have settled down a bit, at least.]

Lotta things. Usually a human to 'drive' me, but I can use it for memory playback too. Even used it once for a Halloween costume.

[mccrane]

That won't be enough, but...it is a start.

[It means it is worth looking into, at least.]

...

[A human to drive you. That is...that is brilliant.]

Do you think you could project a copy of yourself very far?

[namesnotprowl]

Reason to keep looking, at least.

[There's a lot of planet left after all.]

Of myself? Not far, probably; it'd take a lot of power. They're prone to a little destabilization at certain levels. Suppose it'd be an interesting experiment, though.

[mccrane]

Yes.

[You hit the nail on the head.]

A smaller creature would be less of a problem, then?

[namesnotprowl]

Much less of an issue; I c'n get my holoform pretty far out. Probably even more if it was the size of a bird or something.

[mccrane]

[He nods, and goes quiet, thinking for a moment and doing some quick estimations.]

Between you and Mirage, then...we might have a chance to trap Overlord, should he become active again.

[It is something he has thought on a lot, since speaking with Kagerou.]

[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?

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.