[Audio]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

 [Oh hey it's the day of showing others you truly care about them and sending them cards and chocolates and flowers--]

Hey.


Wreckers are disbanded. For good.



[That seems to be the end of the transmission. Well, Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Mr. Sunshine-and-Rainbows.]

Comments

[text][Private]

[sciencetank]

... what's happened?

[He can only assume something awful's come about, given... well. Everything.]

[text][Private]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[It takes a moment for him to answer, and when he does, it's only simple text.]

theres no one left

[It's...almost shameful to admit.]

[dinnerdate]

Everyone die again?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...


You're pretty much on mark, Deads.

[There's the sound of clanging metal in the background, as if he's shuffling through some things.]

[text][Private]

[sciencetank]

I see.

[It's really tempting to leave it at that. And not risk... further entanglement. Further thoughts.]

[But he can't.]

Don't have it in you to attempt to recruit new arrivals into the ranks?

[neverputincharge]

[Bulkhead knew this would be coming, their numbers dropped to just the two of them. But it still hurts some.]

It was...we did good while we lasted.

[dinnerdate]

... You okay?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[More than he'd ever like to admit.]

We had a good run, eh, Bulk?

[There's a sad, uplifting tone to that. As if he's trying to put on a brave face. Typical Wheeljack.]

[text][Private]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He expected Perceptor to leave it at that, too. There wasn't anything else the scientist would have needed to know.

But then there was the ping.]

not for the third time

gonna end the same way


[A pause, before one more text is sent.]

done with loss sarge

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...Not gonna lie, I've been better.



But I'll pull through. Always do, don't I?

[text][Private]

[sciencetank]

I...

[He was going to say something about stubbornness. About how Wheeljack was never one to give up before.]

[But that last part.]

Shall... I bring you a drink?

[Because he doesn't know what else to do. Only that he understands that feeling. More than he wants to admit.]

[dinnerdate]

Until you don't.

[text][Private]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He'd fight that, if it was brought up. Maybe try again, even if he didn't want to.

But the other message is sent, thankfully.]

much appreciated

you know where i am

[neverputincharge]

[It was a good run, for Bulk it felt amazing to be part of the Wreckers again. Before he even went home to be a Wrecker there. This team meant a bit more, though.

It was like the old days, no Ultra Magnus involved. They got stuff done how they had to do it. Not by the book.]

The best run. [His voice lightens some. He has to try and look on the bright side of this.] How many Wreckers can say they helped take down a phase-sixer. Or took out giant worms that attacked.

[He sobers a little as he trails off.]

Feel like we oughtta do somethin' to remember them by. Like a memorial or something.

[text][Private]

[sciencetank]

So I do.

[He'll just start heading out that way, then. Several cubes packed up for the trek.]

[deadlydoctor]

How so?

[raceme]

Wheeljack, did something happen?

[Action]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[There's no further response from the mech. He's gone back to working (albeit fidgety) in his little ravine hideout. Ever since he'd partnered with Solus, he's been slightly more agitated, even for himself.

Maybe it was the whole Wreckers thing--he was pretty much losing his sense of self.]

...

[Well, he'll be here.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[There's a slight pause.]

Nothin' that wasn't obvious. We're kinda down to two.


Me and Bulk.


[Seriously, that's even pathetic to admit.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...'s just gone, Doc. No sense havin' a team if they aren't even here.


[A beat.]

Badlands seems to prefer my boys.

[Action]

[sciencetank]

[It doesn't take him long to get there. He even packed more than just a few cubes -- varying degrees of grade in them. Like he expects Wheeljack to be gone for a long time.]

[And he hesitates, in the doorway. Watching him fidget around.]

[Calm. Focus on himself. That's what he has to do. To keep from getting drawn in.]

[deadlydoctor]

Hm, I see. They might be back home that's better than any other sort of fate. See it that way. [Primus, how does one COMFORT? Knock Out's still trying to figure out that sort of things.]

It could be for the best. There is a time and place for everything and the Wrecker already had their moment. Now It might be time to leave certain things behind.

[raceme]

[Not pathetic. Sad, but not pathetic.]

Some things can't last forever but can be proud of all you all did, Wheeljack. That's the things worth remembering.

[Action]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Eventually, his eyes pass by the entrance, seeing that the scientist had arrived. Everything is pretty much dropped as he just...looks.]

...

[Before snapping back to reality, wings flicking slightly.]

Took ya long enough.

[Oh look, he's being his usual self, at least.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

I will, Deads.

You think I lasted this long here and -this- is gonna be what finishes me off?