[Police Headquarters][Open][SLIGHTLY back-dated]

[mccrane]

This is...a general...alert.

[The video shows McCrane, who is trying to look very composed despite his voice sounding haggard and his green optics glowing very dim.]

The prisoner...

Ratchet.

He escaped...from his cell a few...minutes ago.

[Those who know the police headquarters well miiight recognise that McCrane appears to be resting on one of the bunks in the prison, leaning heavily against the wall.]

I am sorry.

[Locked to fellow Police members.]

Prowl. Blurr. I...I am malfunctioning.

[McCrane does not understand the idea of being sick. He was not programmed to be sick.]

I need...one of you...to take over operations here. The rest of you...please begin tracking down the prisoner.

[That is the extent of his tactical expertise right now. He's trying. He's really, really trying.]

~~~~~

Comments

ACTION

[mccrane]

[McCrane pauses...not having considered that. He'd always been part of the Brave Police, and had not wanted for anything that had not been provided.]

I am sorry, Kagerou. I have never been anything but glad that you have joined with us.

We are family.

[Sora had reminded him, and now Kagerou was, too.]

Then I will make a promise, Kagerou. If you go...I will go after you. I will not let the badlands keep taking those I care about.

[Not anymore. He'd already lost Gunmax, and the first Deckard.]

Prowl is a very experienced commander. [McCrane realizes what Kagerou is saying, however, and understands.] However, he is not family. I will talk with Deckard first.

Maybe we will all work better, with things the way they were.

[He smiles, just a little, still leaning on Kagerou...up until he realizes how heavily he's leaning.]

Would it be better if I drove?

ACTION

[thxforthememories]

If you -- we -- are a family, then you can't say it's anything to be ashamed of. I wouldn't be ashamed of being Kay's family, after all.

[It's a simple matter to him. Then again, a lot of this is.]

Neither will I. I looked for the others... I couldn't... find them. And I'm tired of knowing we're losing what we care for. [His head bows.] I accept your promise, then.

[Prowl's name earns a little scowl.] No, he's not you. He's not any of you. And he doesn't care for us as we would. If Deckerd won't accept it... I would prefer Blurr to Prowl.

[At least Blurr tries to understand him.]

[The ninja doesn't really bat an optic at the leaning, though. He shakes his head.]

If you can't walk, you can't drive. [A beat.] I can try to carry you, if you wish.

ACTION

[mccrane]

I could not be ashamed of any of you.

[Okay, maybe a bit of Power Joe or Gunmax or Drill Boy on a soccer-binge, but...in his robot heart he will still love you all.]

It is our promise, then. We share it. [He offers a hand, to seal the pact.]

If it is easier on you, you can try to carry me, or try to tow me in my other mode.

Either way...I will remember your preference for Deckard over Prowl.

[It would not be hard.]

ACTION

[thxforthememories]

Good.

[Yeah PJ and Gunmax... they're a thing. But he owes a lot to them both.]

[His optic flicks to the offered hand, and, for a moment, he shifts his hold, taking it firmly. And his grip lingers.]

I believe you. Be still.

[The grip lingers only so long as it takes to shift the other BP into a better position to support his weight. He can't quite put him in a fireman's carry, given his shoulders. But he can brace McCrane against them.]

Don't squirm, or I'll drop you. Put your arms around me.

ACTION

[mccrane]

[McCrane listens to Kagerou's instructions carefully, aware that a relatively light aerial ninja-bot was going to have trouble enough carrying a construction-grade diesel like himself. He squeezes Kagerou's hand one last time, and then obeys, putting his arms caarefully around the other.]

Are you going to be alright?

ACTION

[thxforthememories]

[There's a squeeze of his hand... and he's left wondering, just for a moment, at it.]

[Only a moment, though. That's all the time he has before he has to brace himself to keep McCrane from slipping right out of his grasp. It's not like carrying Shadowmaru, in any of his forms, save the tank. He wobbles, dangerously.]

[But he's determined.]

Fine. I'll be fine.

[As long as he doesn't hit rough terrain, that is.]