AUDIO;

[thehardway]

[There's a slow, steady exhale. Then, finally, no doubt a familiar voice on the network.]

It's Ultra Magnus.

How long... has it been?

Comments

Audio;

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[No.

The first thing that might sound over the feed is the clear chime of two swords hitting the ground. Wheeljack knew that voice--it was the same thing that woke him up every day. Practically ingrained in his processor.

But why-

He shook that thought out of his head. This world had some sense of humor. See: a crappy one.]

You...

Audio;

[thehardway]

Wheeljack.

I believe that you dropped something, from the sounds of it.

[Even by audio, he will not abide by a mess.]

Do you know? How long.

Audio;

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Not important.

[The tone's sharp, as if he's testing this person over the feed. It's Magnus, he knows it...but there's no way he's going to get his hopes up. So saying this...he's looking for a reaction. Anything.]

...At least two months. Give or take.

[Audio]

[neverputincharge]

..Ultra Magnus?

[You're back?]

[Audio]

[thehardway]

Bulkhead.

Can you provide a status update?

[Audio]

[neverputincharge]

Ya went missin' about two months ago. [And Wheeljack destroyed half their over it.]

Uh...that McCrane guy took over the police force while you were gone.

audio;

[sciencetank]

[Well, that sure was a muffled explosion in the background.]

[He'd only meant to check on Smokescreen -- to browse the network to assure himself the young bot was intact. Instead? Instead there's... this.]

[As a result, the concoction mixed far too quickly, literally blowing up in his face.]

C -- Commander?

[Excuse the coughing.]

audio;

[thehardway]

Perceptor. Are you all right?

I'm under the impression that I was gone for quite sometime?

audio;

[sciencetank]

I -- yes. Everything is -- yes, I'm quite all right.

[For once, he's at a loss for words.]

Ah... yes. Yes, indeed. Several months, though I haven't taken an exact measurement of dates--

No, no, Primus, hold a moment, shouldn't I be asking you that question? The first one, I mean, not the second, since clearly I've gone nowhere, and you're the one who up and vanished without a trace one day -- which was, I might add, damned inconsiderate of you, after all the work I did repairing your little smiling problem, or whatever it was, I can't recall at the moment, there's too much --

[PAUSE.]

You're all right?

[Audio | Private]

[rungout]

...Magnus...you're back.

[Yeah, there's complete shock in his voice. And if you could see him, said shock would be clear on his face.]

Are--do you--

[Calm down, Rung.]

Are you alright?

[Audio | Private]

[thehardway]

Doctor. [Spoken politely.]

I am... not sure. My injuries aren't much of a concern, but I am as well as anyone can be for missing two months of their time.

[Maybe this is what being Skids feels like.]

But I will be fine. Are you?

[Audio | Private]

[rungout]

Your injuries are just as much of a concern as the missing time.

[There's a gentle note to his voice as he corrects the other, so to speak, because he's not going to let you get by without having those injuries looked at, Magnus.]

I..am alright.

[It's not important. You're far more important, Magnus.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

[Video]

[flashdrive]

...Magnus.

Boy am I glad to see you...really. I mean it.

[Things have gone to SHIT, man.]

[Video]

[thehardway]

Rewind.

...Really? [Since when has anyone ever said that to him. SINCE. WHEN.]

What happened while I was gone?

[deadlydoctor]

Well...Smokescreen's going to be happy.

[thehardway]

Your interest in his emotional response is... noted.

In any case, he seemed well.

[Audio]

[raceme]

[There's a loud sound at first, because Blurr dropped whatever he was doing when he checked the comm link to see if something went wrong today.

It takes him a few more seconds to answer probably because he can't believe it, and his voice sounds strained when Blurr finally speaks.]

...


Way too much.

Magnus, where are you? Are you hurt?

[Audio]

[thehardway]

Blurr. You sound... tired.

I'm fine. I'm not far from the medbay.

[Video]

[young_upstart]

[Oh, that's a voice he hadn't expected to hear.]

Wh-

You're back!

[Video]

[thehardway]

[What.

WHAT.

WHAT.]

Hot Rod?!

video; private

[fun_police]

...You're alive.

[There's no particular warmth from Prowl, but he allows a little relief to show through.]

[Ultra Magnus's return was a piece of good news that he had not expected. It was obvious enough he was tired, and not just physically. A lot had happened since he'd disappeared.]

It's been two months and nine days.

video; private

[thehardway]

So are you.

[It's about what he expects, but he likes to think he's known Prowl long enough to know his tone, how he lets that slip through.

And that's enough for Ultra Magnus.]

The exact date is appreciated. Can you tell me anything else?

[Video]

[winged_knight]

[Wing is almost baffled by this turn of events. Not that it's impossible, more that the trend of late had been so many bad things. He's almost expecting more of the same. Not...this. That's why it takes him more than a few moments to respond, as if suspecting his need for something to go right is creating phantasms.]

... Ultra Magnus.

[His voice is small, as if afraid too much of it would blow the smoke away from the mirrors that makes this possible.]

[Video]

[thehardway]

[Now, this is a turn of events all right. Either way, there's relief.

Typical of Ultra Magnus, but more than he's willing to say, he's glad to see him.]

Wing.

[audio]

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

[He sounds slightly surprised, but not by much. Kinda getting used to this entire "people die when they are killed/disappear... but sometimes not always" thing.]

You couldn't have returned at a better time. [And he does sound a bit relieved, too.]