[Audio] [Transmission from: Solian Temple] - Twelfth Offense

[namesnotprowl]

[The audio starts up out of the blue, with only a brief pause at the beginning. Even so, every word seems deliberate and carefully chosen.]

Sorry about the timin'a this, but... I've been thinkin' a lot lately. Dangerous habit, I know.

This is the third multidimensional hub I've been in. I've gotten ripped out of dimensions more than I can explain. I've gone backwards in time twice... forwards once. Turned into a human and a cat. Heh, got haiku-powered jet boosters for a while. I rebuilt my own legs from scratch. I've had my processor picked over more times than I'd like. I've lost more friends than I ever wanted to... and made a few more than I've expected. Including a few that were too stubborn to give up on me when they should have. I've seen how how our wars start... and I've seen them end.

And the one ending was enough. Three hubs has been too much, and I'm too old. I know too much that would compromise this Cybertron's chance at having its own future.

I can't stay.

I have a few things to finish up, still, but in a week... I'm leaving. I've heard rumors of a place in the Outlands that could use someone like me, and I've dug out the clues I need to get there.

I'll be contacting a few of you individually; this is what the humans call the Season of Giving, and I have things to give you. Call them parting gifts if you will.

{{Individuals on this list will be getting special presents as listed, though if Barricade is so much as a passing acquaintance of his you can expect a few cubes of high grade left outside your door (or a six-pack of beer if you're human).))

Comments

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...


Can't say I saw this one comin', 'Cade.

[There's an air of disappointment in his tone, but he's desperately trying not to let that slide through.]

[namesnotprowl]

I know, 'Jack.

But I've never been one to do the expected. It's too boring.

[He knew this would upset people. He expected that much. But that doesn't make this any easier for him.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Yeah well...can't argue with that.

Cept it's the Badlands.



[Barricade no, you're one of his medics--he needs a guy like you around, as selfish as that was to admit.]

[namesnotprowl]

No, it's not. I would never walk into the Badlands.

I don't think Drift or Wing went there either. I'm going to find them. They could probably use someone like me.

[Even if the Haven could use someone like him, too. Even if Wheeljack could use him.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

What makes ya think ya won't find your way back? If ya know where they are, just pick 'em up and get your aft back here.

[It's not that simple, Wheeljack.]

...

You know how I hate changin' physicians.

[namesnotprowl]

It's not that simple and you know it. Sure you knew it as soon as Wing left that poem and disappeared with Drift.

[A cryptic message, yes, but one with a purpose at least.]

I know better than you think. Last time I had to switch I ended up as my own doc.

Surely hope it doesn't come to that for you.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

I try not to think about it.

[Losing Drift was hard. One of the many in a long stream of disappearances. All from the Wreckers.

Like you.]

Startin' to look that way, 'Cade. Only problem is I don't got the finesse for it.

[namesnotprowl]

Figured. But sometimes... you ought to. Hard as it may be.

[Running from his problems had never helped him before, after all. Neither had trying to ignore them.]

Ordinance requires just about as much finesse as fixing folk. Which reminds me. I have something for you that you'll definitely have the finesse for.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

What, tryin' to soften the blow?

[A horrible joke, but if Barricade's leaving, he's going to fit them all in. To make it easier to handle.]

Didn't think you the type.

[namesnotprowl]

It might shock you to learn I'm secretly sentimental. And I'm actually a mechsuit driven by a fluffy kitten.

[Only one of these things is true.]

It's really rather practical, actually. Figured I shouldn't leave without imparting a few useful things to my friends.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Well, I'm not one to pass up an offer in this place. I'll see ya soon. We're...not too far from each other.

[Like two hallways down.]

[namesnotprowl]

We aren't, really. The good thing about living in the same temple, huh? I'll be here.

[He knows he doesn't have long to wait.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[The feed soon clicks off, with Wheeljack heading down the corridors to Barricade's room. It didn't take long--heck, a few minutes at the most for him to arrive at the door, giving a knock from his knuckles.]

Cade.

[Not the most eloquent of greetings, but Barricade knew Wheeljack by now. This was just how he was.]

[namesnotprowl]

[He doesn't hesitate in opening the door, stepping out of the way to let Wheeljack in.

Rumble, who is perched on the edge of the berth, creels at Wheeljack. He knows you hi 8D]

'Jack. C'mon in.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack saunters in, getting a good look at the room. It was nice being in a place that wasn't full of dents and scorch marks. You know...like normal people. Not that he'd trade his room for anything else.

At the sight of Rumble, his head tilts, eyes narrowing. Does he remember you, little buddy?]

Huh.

So. Nice place.

[namesnotprowl]

[Considering Barricade renovated the whole place himself he'd prefer not to scorch it. Besides, he usually makes up for it with half-finished projects on every horizontal surface but the berth.

Now there's a bunch of finished projects. And Rumble, who chirps again. The little critter had seen Wheeljack on the network a few times, if nothing else. Having a mental connection with Barricade doesn't hurt either.]

What c'n I say? That Home Depot dropped in and I got inspired. Gonna be a shame that it'll sit empty.

But that's not why I asked you down here. How's that armory project goin'?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack can't help but smirk at that answer, picking a few things up to inspect. He'd say that Barricade's quarters were looking pretty similar to that of the ravine he'd holed himself into as of recently.

Glad to see it's not just him going crazy.

He walks over to the berth, nudging the chin of the lizard with a finger, smirking. Oh you're cute.]

I'll keep an eye on it for ya. I mean, ya never know when ya need a vacation.

[Just a bit of hope, making it seem like it wasn't forever. That last bit catches his attention though.]

...

[Barricade was leaving, so...he can trust him with this.]

I'm makin' two. One for the public, one on my own.

[namesnotprowl]

Truth. Mm, I appreciate it.

[Rumble chirps again, tilting his head up, eyes changing color to a deep purple. Barricade chuckles.]

Looks like you caught Rumble in a good mood.

Two, huh? Well, I'd hate to leave either of 'em empty. I'm no weaponsmith, but.

[He heads for one of the tables, shuffling a few things aside before finding a datastick.]

Towards the end, back home, we started looking for alternatives to using our on-board weapons. These are some of the results.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

That's a first. Don't normally get on anyone's good side the first trip around.

[There's an amused smirk, continuing to scratch as he turns to face Barricade--before seeing the datastick offered.]

...You're givin' me blueprints. I got ya right on that...


Right?

[namesnotprowl]

Heh. If you brought him food and flattered him he'd be putty in your hands.

[Rumble is easy to please... when you aren't Barricade, anyway. He trills happily, content to be petted. Barricade simply grins.]

Sharp as a tack. They are. For every Decepticon-made hand-held weapon I was ever able to get my claws on. Swords, hammers, firearms, a few explosives - though I should say most of these will explode if built or handled wrong.

Everything that would go in an armory is on this datastick, they just have to be built. And a few lessons where they might be needed, just in case.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Aw, 'Cade, ya flatter me.

[That hand trails along the lizard's chin before resting on his hip, focusing on Barricade completely now. And from the sound of it...this was big. That little datastick held information that could completely turn a situation around, militaristically.]

...Heh.

[There's a small snort of amusement, looking back up at Barricade with an amused, yet fond expression.]

Can't be here, so ya leave me toys to play with.

[namesnotprowl]

Only when you deserve it~

[That was what they had been designed to do, really. Here it's just more true, because there is no one on the other side to design things to keep up with or surpass them. At least not yet.]

And only the best ones. We were military and our scientists were tops, after all. These are technically only half the plans from my world; if you want a literal hand cannon, afraid you'll have to see Knock Out for the upgrade.

Left the plans for those robotic firelizards in there too. The population should keep itself stable, but if something disastrous happens it'll need help. Left in the programming for the ones the Police Force is getting, too, in case any need replacing.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Blasters at my side are good enough anyway. Don't need to worry about them. These--[His hand tosses up the datastick, catching it between two fingers]--are gonna come in handy.

...How do they faire with...condensin?

[Someone may have mentioned to him that she liked weapons. And she is on the smaller side.]

...

[He takes a glance to Rumble, then back to Barricade.]

...So say I needed some as...yannow, sentries. To a place.

[namesnotprowl]

Can scale down all the way to use by folks three feet in height. Though obviously you'll probably need smaller hands to get some help with firearms at that size.

[Rumble perks, creeling. He so knows you're talking about him. You're totally talking about him. Barricade tosses the little firelizard a sly smile before looking back to Wheeljack.]

Similarly, the 'lizards can be scaled up. Blurr commissioned a guard for the prison in a larger size. Can't promise they'll fly though. I never managed to figure out how to keep the flight capabilities past a certain size.
But the guard's plans are on there too. You'll just have to alter the programming from the prison to your mystery spot.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Good, good. I owe ya, Cade. Not the best time to say somethin' like that...but I do.

[There's an outstretched hand. By now, the bot had earned his respect more than twice over. And when he makes a statement like that, he's not intending to never see him again. Somehow.]

Don't worry. Place I'm thinkin' of is underground. Wings won't be needed there anyway.

[A guarded armory is sounding like a better idea by the second.]