7th Transmission - Audio

[heavyweaponsbot]

I want a status report! Infected, well, whatever, sound off.

Xanth, Zuko. Tell me you are unharmed.

Some illness will not affect me. I will protect anyone who requires it.

[With or without a response, the big Autobot is going zombie stomping, looking for his kids.]

Comments

[Commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[The entire time, he waits, crouched in front the kitchens -- his scans going mad to try and detect any encroaching threat.]

[Nothing.]

[When he hears Xanth return, he nods, and starts to transform. There should be room enough in the cab for the boy, even if he's still his Elegante-size. Xanth might have to lie down, but he'll fit. And be protected.]

Load it.

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[And Xanth does. It takes him a few trips to load everything into Ironhide's bed, but he does it quickly. Then, with only a moment of hesitation, Xanth climbs into Ironhide's cab. It's cramped, but that's okay - Xanth can curl up small enough.]

O--Okay. I'm-- I-I'm ready.

[Commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[And... there may only be one seat left. The other torn out by Xanth himself, after the Elegante began to sink.]

[There's a grunt, and the truck rolls out. Back toward the library again.]

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[Xanth sees Ironhide's missing seat and remembers. He touches the remaining fibers, still torn and frayed from his frantic cuts, and feels a pang of guilt. But he had to do it; it had been an order. Orders from Ironhide are not to be disobeyed.

(And if he hadn't taken it, he very well may not have made it to the Shore.)

Unless Ironhide tries to start conversation, Xanth will remain quiet until they reach the library.]

[Commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Even if it hadn't hurt -- and it hadn't, since the seats weren't anything vital -- he had felt what Xanth was doing back then. So, of course, he feels the boy's touch on the missing component.]

[He doesn't speak up right away, but waits a moment or two.]

Just another scar, boy. Have plenty of them. What is one more?

[Really, it's okay, Xanth. Which is what he's trying to say.]

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[At that, Xanth looks up. It gets him to smile, though it's a slightly sad one.]

Y--Yeah...

[Scars are just scars. Xanth has plenty, and he knows Ironhide does, too. But it feels different knowing that he is the one who made this one.]

[Commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide is, likely, one big walking mass of scar tissue. So to speak.]

Going to get through this. Just like the End.

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[Xanth's smile widens.]

Y...Yeah. We-- w-we got-- through that. W-We can do-- a-anything.

[Commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Feel better now?

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

Yeah. I-I... I do.

[The Elegante couldn't kill either of them, and after all that, what's one little zombie plague?]