audio;

[sciencetank]

... Has anyone heard from Smokescreen, of late? He's... been suspiciously silent.

[There's an awkward silence, before his tone suddenly turns brusque. As if brushing off the other words.]

Likely, he's become bored of his studies with me, and is avoiding the work. I'll... simply have to drag him back, if that's the case...

[He trails off, something in that tone failing him.]

That said... I'm in the middle of some very intensive trials. So I would prefer any and all interruptions or visitors to be kept to the bare minimum. Unless you're answering the aforementioned question.

[Translation: I'm working so hard so I don't think about missing people.]

[The feed is then full of that awkward silence until he simply shuts it off.]

Comments

[Audio;]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He doesn't know how to say it--call him cynical, but he's already chalked this up to the obvious.]


I'll keep an eye out, Sarge.


[Not like he'll tell him that, though.]

[Audio;]

[sciencetank]

[Oh, he knows what this probably is. He's not stupid, after all.]

[But denial... that's a powerful thing.]

Your assistance is appreciated. As always.

[Audio;]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...You uh...need anythin'?

[Look, he's trying, he's really trying, Percy!]

Got some high grade left over.

[Audio;]

[sciencetank]

I have enough fuel here, in the lab.

You needn't trouble yourself.

[He can tell, but... with the way his head is right now, he doesn't know if he could focus enough to shut out distractions.]

[Audio;]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

It...wouldn't be.

[But he knows the feeling of needing your space.]

Keep the line open, though. I uh...I'll keep it on my end too.





Just sayin'. If ya need it...

[Audio;]

[sciencetank]

It wouldn't do for my laboratory guard to keep his comm-line off, so. Good.

[Somehow, he manages to cram a lot into the single sentence.]

[You know where I am, it's saying. You know how to get to me. And, If you wanted, you could get the door open.]

That's good.

[Audio;]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[I know I can, idiot. Only question is if you want me there.]

...Right, I started doin' that, didn't I.


Guess I'm already late. Gonna fire me?

[Audio;]

[sciencetank]

No.

My lab needs its guard, after all.

[I need you, after all.]

[neverputincharge]

[It was too much to hope for wasn't it. Too good to be true that two from their world would show up again, and remain.]

Haven't heard from him in a while. I'll keep an eye and an ear out for him.

[Despite his efforts, his tone is neutral and a little resigned. He knows where this is probably going. Just like all the other times.]

[sciencetank]

That would be appreciated. I assume he's simply gotten distracted.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, plenty to distract him here. Maybe he just got caught up in Trion's library or something.

When did you last hear or see from him?

[sciencetank]

Perhaps that is where your search should begin, then, hm?

[Mostly because he doesn't want to be confronted with the reality of the missing bot.]

... weeks ago.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, we'll check there.

[He doesn't want to either. He's seen so many from his world disappear. But he's resigned to it. It's just something else to deal with in this world.]

We won't leave a stone unturned, Perceptor. If he's here, we'll find him. I'll drag him to you personally if you want.

[sciencetank]

He is. He's simply... absconded somewhere, that's all.

[neverputincharge]

Yeah, that's all. I'll keep ya posted. [He plans to look, check everywhere. If nothing else, to just be sure in his own spark that the kid's not just out there dying somewhere. Specially considering the crazy Ratchet was on the loose.]

...anything else I can do for ya? Or bring ya?

[deadlydoctor]

He's gone missing again. [Which is the same as saying he's gone. Knock Out noticed too.]

[sciencetank]

For the moment, it would appear so.

[deadlydoctor]

He really needs to stop doing this.

[sciencetank]

I'm sure once I locate him, he'll cease the behavior.

[deadlydoctor]

What are you planning on doing to him?

[sciencetank]

Simple discipline.

[deadlydoctor]

Good luck with that, Magnus already tried.

[calibrates_big_guns]

I think I've heard the name, but I haven't heard anything. I can try and keep my ear to the ground, feel out incase anything there's anything.

[sciencetank]

He's a rather loud, boisterous individual. It's difficult to miss him.

[calibrates_big_guns]

I think I know the type.