[Visible to All][Posting from the Junk Pile]

[mccrane]

This is McCrane.

[He is aware that there is some way in which to lock this to only his fellow Brave Police Officers, but he's not familiar enough with the settings yet to do this, so everyone can see it.]

One of the large inhabitants has informed me that we can take up residence with him.

Should we accept this offer?

I have yet to find any gasoline...

[As if now realizing that this might actually be useful if there are a number of viewers, he pauses, and changes tactics.]

Has anyone found anything that looks like this? [He holds up his one, single can of gasoline, hoping that the camera on his communicator can catch it.] It might become necessary.

[Considering they'll. Die. If they don't find a supply of it.]

Comments

[video] HE STILL DOES IT IS JUST HARDER WHEN YOU'RE LEAKING EVERYWHERE

[sword_redemption]

We, uh, we made it uninhabitable. At least twice.

[First Thunderwing, and then the Swarm. When Decepticons do science, Science Gets Done.]

Yes, Cybertron. This time, at least, we're trying to fix it.

[What, you mean this whole sort of rising sun thing he's got on the chassis?]
It...I'm sorry if it makes you homesick.

I guess it just makes me remember, well...one of the few places I've been where it was peaceful.

[There was Crystal City, of course, but there were too many emotional tangles there.]

....sort of. Eventually. When there's a cure. But they're working on it. [Stop asking hard questions!]

[rotafortunae]

Well, they're a little large for my tastes, but other than that, I'd even say it's a little nicer than the world I came from.

... worried about me? Really? I'm almost flattered.

[engrishdetective]

That was the plan. That's not a problem, is it?

[Video]

[herodecoded]

I have yet to see a Cybertonian rely on that viscous fluid for sustenance.

[What kind of robots are you seriously.]

[mccrane]

It isn't.

Actually, can you swing by here first? I have some peaches for Korra.

[mccrane]

((Oh yes! Time can certainly pass in threads with the permission of both peeps. Peaches are on their way to you!))

Gunmax is talking to you, I believe...

[He starts to trail off, because he just realized something.] Is it alright if I hand these off to him, before he goes?

[He's just found them again, after all.]

I can fly, when I am combined with my team. [Technically, at that point, 'they' were also flying.] Gunmax can fly when he combines with his bike, and Deckerd can fly when he combines with J-Loader. [Of the three, he realized, he was at a disadvantage. If it came time to fight, he'd have to consider something else.]

...

[And now you've hit a sore spot.]

...

[Because he really doesn't like the idea of being stuck here.]

[He looks away.]

We will have to make it happen, instead. We can't stay here.

[video] OR AT LEAST MORE COLORFUL

[mccrane]

[Well, that is visible surprise you've evoked.]

Please refrain from doing that to the earth! Humans can be very fragile.

[See now he's worried for this Cybertron. Your leaking isn't helping him. He does nod in understanding, however, knowing that its very possible to feel a connection to a place as much as you can feel a connection to a person...but then he tilts his head.]

Peaceful? We must not have been in the same Japan. [There is a tiny smile, at least. It was relatively peaceful when there were no super-crimes to solve.] The Japan I come from was being attacked by bio-engineered insects, or giant robots, or..ah...Pandas. Often.

[Okay now he's really worried.]

Is this disease fatal?

[not_halfbaked]

Yep, Gunmax just made it over!

Huh. Sounds like a...lot of combining there. [Korra frowns.] Does it hurt to combine, or is it just like putting on armor?

[Korra doesn't want to be stuck here either. Says softly]

No, we can't.

[mccrane]

[He hadn't thought about that, actually. This world would be scaled to its inhabitants, wouldn't it? The rooms wouldn't likely be too smallfor him, at least.]

I'd be more interested in leaving the junk pile, if I knew I could eat.

[He tilts his head.]

Of course I was worried. You were on your own, and you disappeared so suddenly. I couldn't find a trace of you.

[Video]

[mccrane]

Then I shall not blemish your record. I am not from Cybertron.

[Still, this is making him wonder something.]

Is there a problem with gasoline?

[mccrane]

Combining is one of our strongest resources against potential threats. [He confirms, with a nod...though her question completely throws him.]

It...

Ah.

Hm.

It doesn't hurt.

[Suddenly, he feels strangely embarrassed to talk about it, which has never come up before. On his world, everyone knew that they combined. He'd never had to describe it.]

It allows me to put my strengths with that of my team. We...work together. In one body. [Now he's going to add sadness to the awkwardness, and he really doesn't know what to do with that. None of his team is here.]

That does not matter, right now.

You have something important to be doing?

[patokichi]

No problem.

[Ah. Yes, that.]

I'll need an engineer to patch them, it's just superficial scrapes I got from digging around in the scrap metal. Nothing that will get in the way, it can wait. No need to be concerned.

[He uses that gentle-Deckerd-voice that's usually reserved for Yuuta or whenever Drill Boy is upset. He knows you're worried, McCrane. He'll be fine.]

I also suggest that we work with the rest who share this situation. Just because we're in a bad spot doesn't excuse of from helping someone who needs it. Please let me know if there are any emergencies, okay?

[not_halfbaked]

[Korra rants.]

In my world, there's always an Avatar that's born to keep balance and peace everywhere. I'm the latest one. I was...taken, from my world, just when it looks like civil war's about to break out in one of the major cities. I was taken when a bunch of innocent people and my friends were taken to jail, and they could still be there for all I know. I was taken after realizing that one of the ruling councilmen of the city is completely bad news for everyone. I was taken without warning--my family and friends will have no idea where I am!

[mccrane]

[He's quiet for a moment, because...how do you respond to something like that? If he was there, he'd want to help, somehow. Not being there, and not being able to do anything for you?]

I'm sorry. [He speaks softly.]

On my world, I was also built to keep the peace, and protect civilians. Without me, and without Gunmax, and without Deckerd...those who are remaining might not be able to save our world, when it comes under threat.

They might die.

It may not help to know that I understand your situation, but...

[He looks closer into the camera of his communicator.]

...but I will do everything in my power to get you home safely, Korra. For your friends.

[video]

[sword_redemption]

I'm glad we left it before we could do too much damage.

I wish I could say it was because we'd learned better, but....

[But Megatron had surrendered, and they'd been summoned back to Cybertron. It was more a retreat than a pulling out.]

[Dude, you are a giant robot.]

If your insects were like ours, you wouldn't have a city left.

...pandas? [Wait, weren't they, you know? Pandas? Maybe that was some acronym for a superweapon.]

[Drift shrugs.] Yes. Not exactly how I wanted to go, [he holds up a hand slick with rust] but not like you have much choice, you know?

[not_halfbaked]

[Korra sighs, blushes.]

Sorry to dump all that into your lap right there.

[Korra sighs again, after hearing his own story.]

Sounds like we're in the same boat, then. I'm sorry, too.

[Korra blinks at that promise.]

I...thank you, McCrane, I...I owe you one. I'll do what I can to help you get home, too. Teamwork, and stuff like that. Should get the job done.

[mccrane]

You have persevered with far worse wounds. [He doesn't even mind being placated, right now. Anything to ease the worry, which...is his default state, right now.] Still, maybe we should find out if anyone here is capable of repairing us. We may need to be in peak condition, to make it home.

[Optimism. OPTIMISM. Or, at least, attempts at it.]

[He nods.]

I will keep doing my rounds. I found a pile that offers a reasonable vantage point of the entire yard, also, if we need a place to rest in before moving on.

[patokichi]

True enough.

[A sharp nod.]

One of the people here has got to be an engineer or a repair technician. We can ask around.

That sounds good to me.

[engrishdetective]

Sure thing. I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

[mccrane]

[He offers a smile to you, after a moment.]

Maybe neither of us should be sorry. It helps me, to know someone else shared my predicament.

It makes the task seem less lonely, when those I care about are far away.

[You're the closest thing to Seia he's met, even if your personalities are not much alike. It is the responsibility you share, however...and also the brown hair. He misses her, and hopes she'll be alright.]

I would enjoy hearing more about your world sometime. If I find gasoline...

...

I would be happy to give you a ride, when there is somewhere you need to go.

[not_halfbaked]

(OOC: Seia? Interesting. Who's she, what's she like? Haven't seen all of Brave Police.)

Sure, I can tell you about my world sometime. And I'd like to hear about yours too. Gunmax said you guys came from Japan, right?

[Korra nods.]

When you find gasoline, cool. Thanks, McCrane.

[She smiles.]

Oh, I was telling Deckerd on another phone link call thing, that maybe if you find any intact cars, those might have gas still?

[Korra frowns, rubs her chin.]

And did you see that message from Swindle? He's some kinda merchant blacksmith I guess--and I think he said he does mostly armor and weapons, but maybe he knows something about gas?

[video]

[mccrane]

You sound like a very aggressive....species. [Can you call robots a species? He does not know.] It seems like it might be peaceful here, at least. [Though the fact that you are rusting might mar that somewhat. And the fact that there aren't cherry blossoms.]

If we weren't there to stop them...then no, we wouldn't have a city left. That is our job.

The over-sized panda was a little outside of our normal requirements, however. It is an Earth-animal.

[Your insects sound terrifying, though. But...everything you have told him sounds terrifying. Everything you've showed him sounds terrifying, too.]

Is there nothing you have to look forward to? [You have invoked his policey protection.] I could fetch one of the local inhabitants to help you...

[mccrane]

I am by the fallen tree.

[It was distinctive enough in its strangeness that it made a good landmark, he figured. He transformed, and waited there to hand off the peaches.]

Korra has mentioned you share her mark. If you visit her...can you check out the temple? See what it is like?

[video]

[sword_redemption]

If we weren't before, four million years of fighting have made us that.

[He sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face.]

I hope it is. Peaceful. I'm tired of fighting.

[Right now he's plain old tired, too, though.]

[He nods.] Then you do a good job. Protecting others is the best thing we can do.

[Right. He's going to let the Dreaded Panda pass without comment. It's....weird, though.]

Look forward to? [He shakes his head.] Not really. Die for a reason, I guess.

[Another shake of the head, more urgent.] No. I'm...I don't want anyone else getting this. From me.

_{bad enough Wing may have}

[mccrane]

Then I will talk with you tonight, and let you know what I have found.

[He has some less than pleasant news to share, if neither of you have learned about the 'probably not going home for a really really long time if ever' part.]

Are you going with Gunmax to visit Korra?