audio; transmission from: outside of the haven

[gtfostalker]

[Enjoy that full minute of static, Haven. It's not getting any better. At least someone eventually starts talking... just that it's all in Russian and half-staticked out for another minute before the translator either kicks in or the man on the other end realizes that English might be easier for most people to understand.]

... -llo?

... -ve gotten los-

... -omeone come get me?

[The static increases briefly - which mostly covers a rather colorful curse that nobody needs to hear.]

I will rep-...... -ess.

... -ank you.

[The transmission cuts out shortly after that, returning the Link to its regularly scheduled silence.]

Comments

[gtfostalker]

Good. Let us keep it that way, da? [Strelok mostly just looks like a thin, dirty, bald fellow in a hoody and armor. What you see with him is exactly what you get.] Ah, it is not all in the looks.

[Unfortunately for Blurr, this just makes him quietly resolve to pay him back. Let it never be said a stalker doesn't pay their debts!] You will lead the way? I am... fuzzy on the directions and my PDA and the Link are not locating things for shit today.

[raceme]

Yes, that seems like a great idea. [Is not the looks what worry Blurr, is the intentions. But Strelok has been nice so far and that's more than what Master Disaster did.] So true.

[Blurr will be surprised when that happens, but grateful.]I can carry you if you want. we could arrive to the Haven much faster if we do that.

[gtfostalker]

[Really, he wouldn't know what to do with a car-controlling device if you gave it to him with all the instructions. Strelok is more interested in drinking and exploring than races.]

That would perhaps be the best way, yes. My dignity will recover, and I should get back and ask Nexus about all of this soon.

[Because something is weird here.]

[raceme]

[That is a good thing and drinking and exploring is not so bad. Blurr likes exploring a lot.]

I promise I will try not to hurt your dignity too much. [Blurr's hands move down, silently asking permission to pick him up. For a bot of his size, his hands are quite big.]

[gtfostalker]

[Strelok and Blurr should get along well, then. Except when Strelok hauls into the wilderness on his own.]

It is hard to hurt, I promise. [Strelok nods once, and takes hold of one of Blurr's fingers to boost up and stand in that hand. He's surprisingly casual about it, really.]

[raceme]

[Strelok that might get you killed!]

That's a good thing. [He is, and it surprises Blurr how not worried he is about a giant robot holding.]

Ready? [Blurr pulls him close to his chest to minimize the wing resistance and starts to run. He's not running as fast as he usually does to make sure the organic is not hurt by accident but he's still moving really fast.]

[gtfostalker]

[But he always does that, it's practically tradition.]

Surprised by something? [Really, robots are one of the least weird things that have happened in his life before. And being carried by one... well, it's like a friendly talking car but with legs. He can work with this.]

Ready. [He does, at least, sit himself down first, watching the landscape speed by them.] You are extremely fast! [Strelok isn't actually sure how far he was out but now Blurr's speedy arrival makes sense.]

[raceme]

[Some traditions are bad, you know.]

You seem very calm. [Blurr appreciates the fact that he's not panicking, scared people are harder to deal with, it's just that it's new to him.]

Thankyousir. [The mech grins.] I'm the faster bot alive. I take pride on it.

[gtfostalker]

Well, I could try screaming in horror, if you like. [He's just not the sort to panic, really. Even when he really ought to panic.]

I can see that. I would take pride in it too, were it me.

[raceme]

NooooOOOOOOooooo it's not really necessary. [Blurr chuckles, he doesn't really enjoy hearing screams.]

Thank you! What are you Stalkers good at?

[gtfostalker]

What are Stalkers good at? [Strelok practically crows.]

Stalkers are good at surviving. We can take care of ourselves in a fight and we are good at living on very little - little food, little water, little ammo. And we can find things and get into places that others cannot go.

[raceme]

Ah then you and my people already have something in common. We are really really hard to kill. Most of us are not _{so good at the whole getting into places, though}. I'm on the small scale but others are as big as a planet.

[gtfostalker]

Well. It is not so much that we are hard to kill - we are not armored like you. It is easy enough to die in the Zone. But when you have been around long enough, you learn your way. I have seen how big some of you can get; I do know the ones called First Forged.

[raceme]

I'm hardly armored in comparison to most of my kind but I understand what you meant. When everyone is stronger than you, wits are all you got. [Ey look, they're already close to one of the temples.]

They are impressive, aren't they?

[gtfostalker]

Exactly. You get it. [He wags a finger at Blurr, grinning.] We must be smart because we are not so tough as others. But some of us get very good at shooting, just in case our brains aren't enough.

A bit, yes.

[raceme]

I try, sir. OooooOOOOOoooh shooting? I was never all that good with long range weapons but I agree that those help. [Blurr stops, looking up at the temple. ]

Nexus Prime's temple. Do you want to get some food or something to drink? I could get you to the Haven's Hub. [A place that Strelok most likely doesn't know.]

[gtfostalker]

Yes. I am very good at shooting. That is why I am Strelok: it means, ah... 'Gunslinger'.

[He looks up at the temple himself, grinning widely. Ah, home. Sort of. Though the question gets his attention, and he waves one hand.] Ahh, I am fine. I always keep supplies, yes? Though if you can tell me what direction this... Haven's Hub is in, I will be sure to stop by.

[raceme]

Gunslinger. I will remember that. You should meet my good friend Cliffjumper, he likes weapons too.

[Blurr leans down so he can be on the ground again.] OfcourseStrlok. I will send the coordinates to your comm link.

[gtfostalker]

Cliffjumper, eh? I shall have to speak with him, then. It is always good to meet another with an interest in weapons.

[Strelok stands, half-walking and half-sliding out of Blurr's hands.] I appreciate it.

[raceme]

He's a red mech _{shorter than me} and he has horns. He's one of Vector's too, like me.

You are welcome. I need to get ^{back to my duties but send} me a message if you need anything.