[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

[PERMA VID]

[mccrane]

[He nods, once. Cybertronians, he'd noticed, were a generally helpful race...which he was glad of, given that they all seemed to have been used in war. That was a fate he knew the Brave Police had been eager to avoid.]

A tire?

[For a moment, he glances down to the tires on his leg.] What size of rims? [He's not eager to give up any of his tires, but there were those cars he found in the junk pile...]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[He rattles off a measurement-- a custom measurement, unfortunately, which is part of the problem he's having in finding a suitable replacement for his missing wheel.]

[mccrane]

[19...and a half? Did they even make rim sizes in halves?]

...

[He's sure its illegal, somehow, if they do...but either way, it should be possible to fit anything from an 18 to a 22 on you, provided your full set of wheels are changed. His would definitely be big...but its not as if he's going to be giving you his.]

Those are larger than standard. [Its just an observation.] But I did find some cars which might have parts you can take. Would you be alright with 18 inches?

[automobile_enthusiast]

[He makes a particularly human-sounding noise of disgruntlement. He picked nineteen-and-a-halfs for a reason.]

Do you have any idea how much I'll have to recalibrate with eighteens?

[mccrane]

[He stares at you.]

No calibration should be required, provided your lug nuts are compatible.

You might even have better acceleration. [Even if they won't fill your wheel-wells as nicely.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that for a high-performance machine like myself. If I downgrade... [He heaves a sigh.] It's going to be tedious, that's all.

[mccrane]

I did find a truck with 22s...

[He doesn't really understand.]

What happened to your old one?

[automobile_enthusiast]

......I think I'll take the 18s. [22s don't exactly flatter the curves of his wheel-wells.]

Ah, I lost it in an... altercation~.

[mccrane]

If you could show me a video, it would help. [He'll be able to find a better match.]

I have been without a tire before, and it is unpleasant. Do you have someone to re-attach these for you? [He'd offer, but he knows he won't be able to. Humans do that sort of stuff.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Loathe though KO is to show himself when his plating's in this condition... The video comes on, showing a view over his shoulder of his wheels on their struts.] Sufficient?

Mn, I do. My assistant will take care of it for me.

[mccrane]

Can you transform?

[Because...he has no idea about scale when you're standing there being a robot, even with the struts.]

...

Is your assistant capable of making other repairs?

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Oh does he have to?] Of course~.

[Knock Out takes a moment to position his comm unit, doing his best not to show his face or too much of his still-damaged plating. Once he's got the device properly propped up, he transforms, balancing awkwardly on his three tires. It's not easy. He doesn't wait for an acknowledgement from McCrane-- as soon as he feels the other's had enough time to look, he transforms back.]

Depends on the repair. He's only my assistant for a reason. Why, did you need something?

[mccrane]

[Wow. Your rims. They are very yellow. However, they seem to be about the size he was suspecting.]

What I have found will work. I cannot bring it to you, though, while we are trying to conserve our fuel.

I was hoping that someone here would know an alternate fuel source for us.

[He doesn't know you are a doctor.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

Give me a location and I can have my assistant pick them up~. [He scoops up the comm and switches it back to voice. No more yellow rims for you!]

Hm. An alternate to gasoline? [He muses for a moment on what he knows of the functioning of Earth vehicles.] I'd suggest solar-- that's an easy enough adaptation-- but you'd need some very sensitive solar paneling to make use of the light we're getting here.

[mccrane]

I will wait for them at the northern end of the junk pile.

[That should be easy enough to find.]

[...]

...

And we would need to find the solar paneling as well, wouldn't we. [Because he doesn't imagine it can be made that easily.]

[...he's starting to really worry.] There are no other options?

[automobile_enthusiast]

I'll send him out right away, then~.

Mm, that's right. And the equipment to mount it, too. [Another pause while he thinks.] I don't suppose you've given energon a try yet?

[mccrane]

[McCrane will head to go get the tires, in that case~ Please enjoy crane mode.]

What is energon composed of?

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Oh my. Heavy duty~.]

...It's...energon. It's not composed of anything. Oh, there are some additives in its liquid state-- stabilizers and such-- but energon itself is just energon.

[mccrane]

[Six tires and all~ Just like Prime, but with a handy extra arm for lifting.]

I...

I suppose I could try it, if it is combustible with oxygen when exposed to an ignition spark...

[He thinks on this more, and...doesn't know if he wants to experiment.]

Unless the resulting combustion was explosive.

[...IDEA]

...can you have your partner bring some to meet me? We can try putting it in the tanks of the cars here in the junkyard.

[automobile_enthusiast]

[How... rugged~.]

...It's generally only explosive in large quantities? [He laughs lightly.] And we stabilize the liquid form so it's safer to store, so you ought to be all right with the liquid stuff in small quantities.

I'll send a cube out for you with Breakdown and you can give it a try~.

[mccrane]

[He notes what you are saying, and thinks this is definitely worth a try.]

It is appreciated.

You have my thanks, ah...

[That sudden, awkward moment when he realizes you haven't been introduced.]

I'm Sorry. What should I call you?

[automobile_enthusiast]

[He chuckles again.] It's Knock Out. And you said you were, ah, McCrane, right?

[mccrane]

McCrane. Yes.

[He inclines his head into a very slight bow.]

It is good to meet you.

I will be waiting for your assistant, and I hope these tires will be acceptable.

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Knock Out knows they won't be, but he also knows he doesn't have any choice right now, so he doesn't say anything.]

I'll send him out as soon as we've got the energon~. He's big, blue, and his name is Breakdown; you can't miss him.