[Audio]

[perfavore]

 [It was gone.

It was a quick glance at first, but a quick glance turned into a thorough search.  Going through it back and forth. Mirage didn't have all the time in the world, but he needed that last bit of reassurance before he met up with Sideswipe. And it wasn't there.]

Rung's name is no longer on the Link's roster.

[This was not how this was supposed to go...]

Comments

voice;

[thxforthememories]

... What?

[After everything that happened, everything that was going to happen... this is the very last thing he wanted to hear.]

voice;

[perfavore]

[Now there's a new voice. Still, he doesn't really want to break the bad news, at least not right now. And he can tell from the tone in his voice...

Best to peel this band-aid off right.]

His name is no longer a choice on the Link's list of names.


Mi dispiace, mio amico.

voice;

[thxforthememories]

... No.

No, he's not gone. He's just -- it's got to be a glitch!

voice;

[stabbywheelfeet]

Who?

Are you missing a ladder or something?

voice;

[perfavore]

Rung.

He is...a doctor I was seeing.




About my sleeping.

voice;

[stabbywheelfeet]

Right, like the things on a ladder. You--

[Well. That catches him off-guard. There's silence.]

You didn't tell me you were... that you needed a doctor for it.

[Video]

[happyduckbutt]

[He's supposed to be resting but he can't have heard right just now, could he? The boy shifts, mindful of his left arm that's kept in a sling as he grabs his Link.]

W...wait. What?

[Video]

[perfavore]

[Mirage's eyes widen at the boy, tilting his head slightly at the arm in a sling. He'd have to ask on that later.]

...He is gone, ragazzo.

At least...from the Link's signal.

[Video]

[happyduckbutt]

[The boy falls silent, slowly looking down at those words. He knows how it goes- it's how he found out other friends of his had vanished from this place.]

video;

[namesnotprowl]

Anyone tried to track him yet?

[Because as far as Barricade's concerned, they aren't gone until someone follows the trail to the Badlands. Especially Rung. He kind of liked the guy after all. The ribbing was all sorts of fun... but he was able to talk candidly to him without being concerned about his reputation or what Rung thought.]

video;

[perfavore]

Not yet. I've only just noticed his absence.

[His wings fold down, looking again at the list.]

There is a chance he is still here, no?

video;

[namesnotprowl]

'Course there's a chance. Always one of those.

[Barricade's wings flick and he glances away from the feed.]

Everyone else is tryin' to hunt down Tarn. I c'n try to hunt down Rung. For all we know he went to ground because of Tarn.

[raceme]

[Blurr's been to busy to notice and he even forgot his appointment with Rung. Now he feels awful about it. Oh frag, what if get got himself killed.]

Did you contact his FirstForged yet? They might be able to trace his signature.

[perfavore]

[That makes two of you guys, Blurr. Mirage had an appointment too ): ]

I did not...I only just noticed. But I will look into the situation.


...we had an appointment.

holy shit I missed this, I'm sorry

[raceme]

[What if Rung's hurt again? >: ]

Let me know what they tell you, PLEASE.


Ah...! you too? [But you look so well adjusted, Mirage.]

[video]

[gunfondlingbattlestat]

[He isn't looking at the screen, rather, off to the side.]

His office is gone, too.

[He'd gone to check on him several days before, and found the room... empty. Anonymous.]

[video]

[perfavore]

[His voice is just as quiet, scrubbing a hand over his face.]

This does not bode well.

[Him running off was one thing, but to have his office empty? Another entirely.]

[video]

[gunfondlingbattlestat]

There are others missing, as well.

[Not Drift and Wing. Yet. But he had checked.]

Rooms empty, calls unanswered, designations removed from the Link.

[And Perceptor can't help but feel... responsible, somehow.]

[dinnerdate]

It's been like that for a while...

[perfavore]

...

[Those wings flick, idly.]

For how long?

[dinnerdate]

Eight days...

[audio]

[rednotbluethx]

Awww, no more headshrink?

Too bad. Me an' him had some good times together.

[audio]

[perfavore]

...

[Well, THAT'S not suspicious, Frenzy. Those eyes narrow, not that you can see.]

You have something to share with the class?

[aerospacecommander]

Well, hopefully nothing from the badlands ate him.

[perfavore]

You and that statement are highly ah..


oxymoronic.