audio | location: ... SOMEWHERE AWKWARDLY CLOSE TO THE BAD LANDS

[thxforthememories]

[There's nothing much to the message. Just another plea for help from a robot -- those have gotten pretty common lately, haven't they? Especially from this one.]

I need someone's help -- out on the edges of the badlands... I --

I found Perceptor out here.

[Not exactly who he was looking for, but. A friend is a friend.]

He's damaged. Buried in rocks. I don't know what happened... I can't get him back safely by myself.

[The sound of rock shifting can be heard. Despite what he says, he's trying to get the Autobot out of trouble. Without much success.]

He needs help, please!

Comments

[thxforthememories]

I'll be here.

[He thinks about that for a minute -- torn. Does he stay? But Perceptor is his friend too.]

... I want to go to the repair bay with him. Just to make sure.

[mccrane]

Understood.

[He drives for a moment in silence.]

Then you can keep watch from the air, and look for both monsters approaching and Kay, at the same time.

Do you know how long he has been there? Is he awake?

[thxforthememories]

That will do, yes. I can do that.

[He hesitates.]

A long time. I hadn't heard from him since before the monsters came. He's... sort of conscious.

[mccrane]

Thank you, Kagerou.

The technicians have been working hard since this began. I believe they may still have space for him, however.

Can you do me another favor, Kagerou?

[thxforthememories]

They have to. He needs them -- what are we supposed to do if they can't help him?

... What is it?

[mccrane]

I don't know.

There were so many, I did not expect that this would ever occur.

[Yup. It is hell here, just like they'd talked about before.]

I'm going to need a good wedge-rock to work with to pull them off without others coming down. Can you look and see if there are any rocks that can be moved without risk?

[thxforthememories]

Has this... ever happened before?

[He's smashed as many of the smaller ones as possible, but they just don't seem to end.]

A... wedge rock. I can look.

[--> action]

[mccrane]

Not to me. Not for this many days.

I remember monsters when we first arrived, though.

[That had still been hard, but with Deckerd they'd been able to turn Gunmax into the MAX-CANNON and it had been...better. Other than Gunmax using too much fuel.]

That will help.

[He's almost there.]

[action]

[thxforthememories]

But it didn't last as long as this?

[That's not very comforting. It probably means something terrible is going to happen. Or something.]

I'll do my best to find one.

[action]

[mccrane]

No. And they were not so thick.

[He drives, and drives, and after a bit you'd see his dust on the horizon. Its one of the many times he's been glad for the energon upgrade.]

[action]

[thxforthememories]

... That isn't good.

[In the meantime, he's just going to go about finding that rock thing. And trying to dig Perceptor out on his own.]

[Stubborn ninjabot.]

[action]

[mccrane]

It worries me, as well.

[But what doesn't worry McCrane?]

[When he finally is able to pull up, he transforms carefully, surveying the area.]

Is there anyone else coming?

[action]

[thxforthememories]

[He's dirty, banged up, and has a big rock in his hands. But he looks relieved to see someone.]

I don't know yet. You responded first.

[action]

[mccrane]

[He looks Kagerou over for a moment, needing to see what state he's in before he makes a decision on how this is going to work.]

Then we'll do it with the two of us, unless another arrives.

[That rock would be a perfect wedge rock.]

Where is he?

[He asks as he's already moving to check.]

[action]

[thxforthememories]

[Unfortunately, he keeps twitching around, unable to keep still this time. Normally, he could stand as perfectly motionless as a statue. But... not now. Not when he's so worried.]

All right. I'll do whatever I have to.

[He shifts his weight, reaching down to touch an arm he'd uncovered.]

Here.

[action]

[mccrane]

That is good. Can you put the wedge rock...

[He looks above Perceptor, trying to map out roughly where the bot must be under the rubble and thinking about where to put the first wedge rock.]

There.

[He gestures to a point.] Between those two other rocks. Make sure it is in there very firmly, so the rocks won't move when we begin lifting other rocks off of him.

[And the proceedings for unearthing Perceptor will begin!]

[action]

[thxforthememories]

Yes!

[And he all but scrambles to do it. Literally. It's clear he wants to help, and badly. Whatever he has to do, in order to help a friend.]

I'll get it.

[action]

[mccrane]

You're doing well.

[And Mccrane will enlist Kagerou's help for a number of things--placing wedge rocks, then tying his crane hook around rocks to move them one at a time, then placing more wedge rocks. It will be a lot of work.]