58th Transmission

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide was going to speak up, to say something - check on Mikaela, bother his team, something.  But when he flips through the network, and notices another missing ID...

There's just an angry snarl before the comm goes dead.

Then he's off, storming around the ship.  He doesn't deal with loss all that well - he doesn't deal with feelings all that well.  He ends up on the Bee Deck, as usual, and just starts punching the nearest buzzing creature he can find.

Should anyone come across him, he'll still be there, whacking insects and growling to himself in Cybertronian.]

Comments

[embattled-angel.livejournal.com]

_{[Alita perches herself nearby and just watches him for a moment. She's not comfortable staying in one place. Not after years of moving from place to place.]}

You look bothered.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[He punches one bee square in the face - right between the eyes.]

I am.

[Another punch.]

[embattled-angel.livejournal.com]

Mind if I ask why?

[heavyweaponsbot]

This ship is an exercise in irritation.

[embattled-angel.livejournal.com]

It has to be more than that, doesn't it?

[heavyweaponsbot]

Does it?

[embattled-angel.livejournal.com]

Well, unless you're letting out a lot of pent-up irritation.

[heavyweaponsbot]

I am frustrated.

[As he sends another bee flying down the hallway.]

[embattled-angel.livejournal.com]

Anything I can do to help?

/a-apologizes

[hadalotofsugar.livejournal.com]

[Considering that King lives on this deck, and is dealing with his own feelings of Bryn's death and return, he was headed to bother the bees as well.

When he spots Ironhide, he perks up a little, but not by much.]

Hey buddy.

/still loves

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide's next swing lands one of the bees smashed against a wall before he responds to King's presence.]

... So you remain, at least.

<3

[hadalotofsugar.livejournal.com]

[King runs a hand over his head, scratching at the back of his neck.]

More or less in one piece, yeah.

More people disappeared?

<3

[heavyweaponsbot]

[He doesn't look at him yet, still in the process of decimating the bee population.]

Has someone been harassing you?

[A beat.]

Yeah.

[hadalotofsugar.livejournal.com]

[King kicks out at a bee that ends up near his feet, thanks to Ironhide.]

Nah, nothing like that. Bryn... Bryn ended up dying again. Accident. But it's still...

[He exhales sharply.]

Who was it this time?

[heavyweaponsbot]

[His good optic narrows. He wants to ask more questions - to find someone to pummel, and this seems like a perfectly good reason to. But he refrains.]

She all right?

[His engine growls.]

... Bumblebee. And another. Rfena. Robotic humanoid.

[hadalotofsugar.livejournal.com]

She's... doing all right. It's never easy.

[He doesn't want Tanvir to get into trouble, so he doesn't mention he caused the accident.]

....I'm sorry about that. [King didn't know either, very well, but.] It seems like - a lot of people are checking out, lately.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide grunts. He's more monosyllabic than usual today.]

Ratchet and I are... available. To look after her. Should you require it of us.

[He likes Bryn, and recognizes there isn't much else he can do but offer protection. Hopefully the message comes across - King and his female aren't alone here either.]

Yeah. None... Never really bothered me before now.

[Before Mikaela became convinced people die when they vanish.]

[medicalofficer.livejournal.com]

[Ratchet hasn't been dealing with Bumblebee's disappearance well in the fact that he's avoided dealing with it at all. Burying himself in his studies, hiding away from the others. The disappearances only served to remind him how easily they could be removed. How easily he could be removed.

There was really no question where Ironhide would be at this point. He was being selfish, locking himself away, leaving his companion to handle it alone.

Not anymore.

He doesn't both disguising his presence as he walks up behind the other.]

Ironhide.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[He knows Ratchet is still here. He saw him before he even left the room, but the sudden voice behind him is more of a relief than it probably should have been.

One last punch, and the area in front of him is devoid of bees. He doesn't look behind him.]

...

I will not accept that he is dead. I refuse.

[medicalofficer.livejournal.com]

I do not believe that he is.

[He frowns, slowly making his way closer. He wasn't going to stop him from attacking the bees, but he didn't fancy getting in his way either.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

... I do not believe it either.

[His shoulders pull in, and he stops. There's no more punching, he's only standing there.]

I cannot believe it, Ratchet.

[medicalofficer.livejournal.com]

It does not make sense. We were from varied timelines, Ironhide. That would not be possible, were the worlds destroyed upon our departure - If our world had been destroyed when you left, how would I have continued functioning to see the end of the conflict?

[He places a tentative hand on Ironhide's shoulder.]

They are wrong.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[It's a point he's made before - to Mikaela, usually. He scrubs a hand over his face, tired suddenly.]

... I know. It is not possible. But...

[The hand on his shoulder is all he needs to lean back against the other.]

It is easier to believe when your charges are here... with us.

[medicalofficer.livejournal.com]

This was Bumblebee's second time on the vessel, was it not? Clearly, that means that he is able to come back. You don't know that he won't.

[He braces his weight, still frowning.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Third.

[Which makes the argument all the more sensible, and moping all the more ridiculous. He still sulks anyway.]

Third time... He could, yeah. If the captain permits it.

[The heart of the issue, really, is his own helplessness. He's never dealt well with that.]