[audio]

[badboybikerbot]

Okay, check it out. I've got a project. This is important, so I need everyone's cooperation with this.

Someone teach me Cybertronian swear words. Some good insults. Stuff like that. I'm compiling a list. For, y'know.

Science.

[And by SCIENCE he means "actually I'm at work and just looking for ways to procrastinate on paper work" but hey]

Comments

[loborobo]

[If it isn't his favorite Greaser. But he sounds actually... kind of panicked. He picks up his link, answering.]

An emergency? What is it, Gunmax?

[badboybikerbot]

Okay. Don't get mad.

[because starting a sentence with that is always a good idea]

Okay, you know how we're supposed to steer clear of the badlands because things can kill you? Well Kagerou and I got attacked by a giant evil robot caterpillar and his balance is shot to hell and back and I'm missing half a leg.

Think you could. Y'know.

Pick us up?

[loborobo]

[He's silent for a long moment. Oh, if only you could see his face, Gunmax. There's a sound of a clatter, the link being dropped.

And in about ten minutes, there's a sound of a roaring jet over head.]

[badboybikerbot]

Hey. Shadowmaru. Hey!

[NOPE HE'S NOT ON THE LINE oh god silent ninjas are terrifying]

Kagerou, before Shadowmaru murders me, I need to ask you to do me a favor. I need you to slap one of those "kick me" signs on Power Joe's back the next time you see him. I meant to do it tomorrow, but I'm going to be dead. So I can't.

[And Gunmax just groans dramatically when he hears Shadowmaru overhead. today keeps becoming more suck.]

[thxforthememories]

[He spends most of that dramatic declaration just staring blankly at Gunmax. The words are coming too fast to focus on. He has lifted a hand, though, successfully, and has it pressed to the cut on his mouth.]

[A few slow blinks.]

[Right. He's being asked to do something. He can do that, right?]

Okay.

[It's debatable whether or not he knows what he's agreeing to. But at the sound of the jet engines, he lifts his head, very carefully, watching the sky.]

[loborobo]

[And it's then that the jet swoops down, but Shadowmaru changes quickly as he rushes over to Kagerou's side, his optics wide as he takes in the damage.]

Kagerou...!! [He looks him over once, holding either side of his face, before he turns an accusing glare at Gunmax, teeth bared.]

What the hell were you thinking?! You know better than to mess around in this area!

[badboybikerbot]

[Gunmax didn't really have the energy to engage in a shouting match, as much as he really wanted to, so he just rolled his optics like a cocky prick and kept it short.]

I wasn't really payin' attention to how far out we were, okay? Stupid, yes, I'm well aware. Now shut up and get him to a medic. You can bitch at me later.

[thxforthememories]

Sh...

[The word comes out a bit slurred, and he frowns, staring at his friend's face. He's trying his best to figure out why Shadowmaru looks so upset. But his processor is still firing at low, low speeds. He lifts his hands to touch the blurry image of the face.]

[He has to say something.]

My fault. It... should've known better.

[It's my fault, he's trying to say.]

[loborobo]

[He opens his mouth to snap back at Gunmax before he looks back down at Kagerou when he hears a sound escape him. He furrows his brow before he purses his lips into a tight line.

He looks over his shoulder to Gunmax. But Gunmax was right. There was no time to sit around and yell now. He could yell later. Shadowmaru lets his hand clutch around Kagerou's holding it reassuringly. Desperate as well.]

What about you? You need medical attention too.

[badboybikerbot]

Unless you think you can drag both of our sorry asses back at once, don't worry about it. I'm not gonna go offline from somethin' like this. I can wait.

[That was actually probably a terrible idea since y'know MONSTERS, but Gunmax wouldn't be Gunmax if he didn't act like a badass.

Also he didn't want to leave his poor busted bike alone okay]

[thxforthememories]

[He seems to relax a little, as the hand curls around his. He leans to one side, against the other ninja, gratefully. It's taking too much effort to keep sitting up. His head slumps forward, resting against Shadowmaru's neck.]

[Without realizing he's cuddling. At all.]

No. Monsters. Come back.

[The words are hazy, but he frowns, forcing them out. He has to say it.]

Use my thrusters.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru holds Kagerou closer absentmindedly as he nods, looking up at Gunmax.]

Kagerou is right. You can't be out here alone. You need to head back to haven, and get some medical help. There's bound to be more monsters out here, and you can't do anything in your current state.

[badboybikerbot]

Yeah, sure, lemmie just get Gunbike- OH WAIT.

[WITNESS as Gunmax makes a DRAMATIC sweeping gesture with his arm in the general direction of his bike chunks]

I don't know what his thrusters are gonna do but I can try to hop my ass back to haven and leak fluids everywhere!

Actually I really don't have any sort of game plan and I think I'm probably freaking out right now.

[thxforthememories]

[He scowls against Shadowmaru's neck, fighting the weird lethargy in his frame. No, it was his idea. He needs to explain.]

Shadowmaru. Supports. Both. Power in... in my thrusters. And his.

[He makes a frustrated sound. He wants to say that as long as both of them are using their flight capability, the fact he can't steer worth shit won't matter, so long as Shadowmaru can.]

We. Hold. Together. You... [There's a vague gesture at Gunmax.] Ride.

[loborobo]

[He blinks owlishly and carefully lifts Kagerou's head from his neck and looks down at him with concern. His optics scan over his plating and the damage inflicted upon it.]

But Kagerou... [His counterpart made a good point. They both could manage to get Gunmax back. If they could get them to haven quick enough, without straining Kagerou and his own systems in their current condition...]

It's the best chance we've got.

[badboybikerbot]

[gunmax wasn't really in any condition to argue. He heaved a little defeated sigh and shrugged, cocking his head toward Kagerou.]

He gonna be okay doin' that?

[thxforthememories]

[There's a sizable dent in one side of his head. Which probably accounts for a lot of the haze and bleariness. None of his damage is terribly serious, but it's added up. His gaze is unfocused.]

[But he nods, firmly as he can.]

Be fine. [And more strongly:] Hold me. Tightly. Can do it.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru stares at Kagerou for a moment longer before he exvents heavily. He believed that Kagerou could do it, but he couldn't help but worry. He lets go of his shadow before he hops up, transforming back into his jet form again. He makes sure he's beside Kagerou, as well as low to the ground for easy access for Gunmax to climb on when Kagerou is ready.]

You just let us know when you need a rest, Kagerou. I don't want you to strain yourself.

[badboybikerbot]

[Gunmax hobbled up onto his one good leg, sticking close to Kagerou in case he needed to help him up. It would probably end spectacularly since lol one leg but hey. It's the thought that counts]

This is the second time I've had to ride around on someone's back since I got here, y'know? This kinda shit's terrible for my image.

[thxforthememories]

[It takes him a minute to puzzle out how it was Shadowmaru just changed shape like that. And why he's no longer being held onto. And it takes him even longer to figure out he needs to do the same. The transformation, at least, goes smoothly, even though the bird is leaning heavily against the jet.]

[But he's hovering. He's sure he can make it, like this.]

[loborobo]

[The jet tilts his frame so that his wing is there to catch Gunmax of he were to take a misstep and fall. But in the same motion, the nose of his jet lightly brushes the side of the bird's head. Affectionate and to show that he's there for him.]

We'll take it easy so that Kagerou doesn't strain himself and so that you don't fall off, Gunmax.

[badboybikerbot]

[It takes Gunmax a few seconds to decide just how to approach this whole thing before finally sucking it up and climbing on.]

I owe you big time. Huge time.

[thxforthememories]

Fine. I'm fine.

[He'll wait until Shadowmaru takes off to do so too. But his head nudges back, grateful, and ends up resting on the jet's "nose". He's sure he can do this.]

[He has to. He won't fail his friend.]

[loborobo]

You're not fine until we get you to the Solarian temple.

[Slowly, he starts to rise up, making sure not to rise too fast, readjusting the nose of the get forward once more. He turns his nose in the direction of Solus' temple. And one they're ready, he takes off.]

You don't owe us anything, Gunmax. [He says over the roar of his engine.]

It's what friends do.

[badboybikerbot]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gunmax would be all for telling Shadowmaru where he can shove THAT because Gunmax is all about repaying debts and shit, but right now he's a little preoccupied with hanging on for dear life and being pissed that he had to leave Gunbike behind.]