[Video | Alpha Trion's Quadrant]

[shutupndrive]

[Talk of zombies and stuff has Smokescreen on edge. Not because the Firstforged aren't telling them things.

No.

Because he's scared he'll see the hits he's lost here. Optimus. Ratchet. Ultra Magnus. There's a part of him that's bitter at the thought of them bein trapped here as ghosts or zombies, to think that there is really no going home.

Another part of him doesn't want to believe any of it. He wants to think like Perceptor and not be skeptical.

Still...]

Anyone want to go ghost hunting and find some answers? Since apparent ghosts are a thing here now.

Comments

video

[sciencetank]

... You cannot possibly be serious.

[Perceptor has never sounded more unamused in his entire stay on this Cybertron. Not even Wheeljack has ever managed to drag this amount of deadpan unamusement from the tank.]

Re: video

[shutupndrive]

Why wouldn't I be? If anyone can avoid getting hurt by ghosts or zombies, it's me. And anyone that goes with me I'll protect. There's got to be a reason for all this and I wan to find it before--

[Theres an odd flicker in his optics before he closes off.]

...there are just some ghosts I don't want to see...some that shouldn't be suffering, sir.

video

[sciencetank]

How in Primus' name...?

[He drags a hand over his face.]

You're leaping at shadows, Smokescreen. One hysteric post about something strange in a cave does not mean this planet is going to be overrun with nonexistent creatures out of some ridiculous myth.

I realize you are upset over Magnus' disappearance, I am as well, but that is no cause to suddenly abandon logic.

video

[shutupndrive]

I'm not abandoning logic, sir. [Cue the serious expression again.] My team told me about something that happened before I got to Earth. Megatron resurrected a bunch of fallen Cybertrons, including one of our own. They...they were monsters. Uncontrollable killing machines.

I don't want that to happen here and if we can stop it now..we should.

video

[sciencetank]

I sincerely doubt you can credit him with anything so grandiose as "resurrection", Smokescreen. It's much more likely the event you experienced was the result of tinkering with their bodies. Perhaps they were made into attack drones -- which, given your description -- sounds highly probable.

You don't know it's truly happening at all.

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

Sir, I trust my teammates and they told me what they saw. Megatron even went as far as to reanimate one of the Autobots he'd killed recently--Cliffjumper was his name. He was almost able to bring an entire army of dead beings back from Cybertron and would have wiped Earth out..

And no, I don't know what's happening which is all the more reason for someone to find out.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

And I would argue that "reanimation" is entirely plausible with simple mechanics and rudimentary AI. There is absolutely no reason to automatically assume you're dealing with some sort of horrific, otherworldly being.

All the more reason to gather evidence. Take precautions.

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

How are we supposed to gather evidence if we don't go out there and find it, sir? If nothing else, that's what we're going to do; find information that can help us figure this out.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

Send... probes, use recon drones!

Just don't go charging in, weapons blazing, like one of those thick-headed Wreckers.

[coughWheeljackcough]

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

Sir...

I'm not going in weapon's blazing. This is recon. The only time the weapons will get used is if we get attacked. I'm not that much of an idiot.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

Hunting implies... Primus.

[HE'S WORRIED OKAY. Worried and really had at showing it.]

Fine. Yes, very well. Keep in contact or something sensible like that.

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

[PERCY YOU SHOULD JUST SAY THAT THEN.]

I wouldn't not keep in contact, sir. I know you think I'm an idiot but I'm not that much of one.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

[NO. THAT'S NOT BRITISH ENOUGH.]

I never said you--

[If it's possible for an Autobot to develop a migraine, he's certainly feeling one.]

Fine.

Re: [Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

[DRAMA QUEEN.]

You don't have to say it, sir.

[Have a lopsided grin and a shrug.]

It's what everyone thinks.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

Smokescreen, if I thought something, don't you think I'd say so?

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

Probably.

Or you could just be that fed up with me that you don't even know what to say.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

I assure you, should I become that "fed up" with someone, I am hardly the type to remain silent on the matter.

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

I'll keep that in mind, Notdad~

[There's a pause before his expression turns serious again.]

I promise I'm going to be smart about this. I know you think going to check things out is pretty dumb but..we need to see if we can figure this out.

I'll have Bulkhead with me, if nothing else. We'll be okay.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

Fine. Do as you please.

... I suppose he'll be suitable.

[Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

...You could come if you want?

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

I have entirely too much to do in my lab without gallivanting about looking for nonexistent creatures.

Re: [Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

Alright, alright..I figured I'd just ask.

Re: [Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

Alright, alright..I figured I'd just ask.

[Video | Private]

[sciencetank]

I'll make certain there are medical supplies awaiting your return.

Re: [Video | Private]

[shutupndrive]

...Thanks for that vote of confidence, da--sir.

[Yeah, way to almost slip up here and use a real human term.]