8th Transmission

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Things have died down. And now there's nothing going on but pounding, pouring rain.]

[While the old timer should probably have gone to refuel, he opts instead to go out in the wet. Why? He can't really say. Maybe he's disappointed he let his charges down -- after checking everywhere, it's become obvious Zuko is no longer among the Keep's guests. Maybe he feels he failed them some other way -- he should have been the one to put an end to Riku, not Xanth.]

[... He should still be on the Shore.]

[Try as he might these few weeks, he can't shake that feeling. There's something missing. And it's painful. Like he's missing a vital internal component.]

[Ironhide winds up near the lake, in the middle of the downpour, just staring out at the water. The water pings off his armor. He never thought he'd admit it, but the sound and motion of the waves is... well.]

[It's familiar.]

[And therefore, it's comforting.]

Comments

[missmimmi]

And that does not give you an excuse not to use caution. If you harm yourself I will not be pleased.

[Why yes, Ironhide, you are now receiving Mimmi's Mommy Tone. Congratulations.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Gives a perfect excuse. You wanted the least amount of suffering. Only one suffers this way.

[Your Mommy Tone will be countered by Stubborn Old Man Tone.]

[missmimmi]

One is still one too many.

[heavyweaponsbot]

That is not your choice to make.

[missmimmi]

I know that.

[She's just concerned, is all.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Then why are you still trying to stop me?

[missmimmi]

[Because she cares too much about people she hardly knows.]

I am simply concerned for your well-being.

[heavyweaponsbot]

... that is not necessary.

[She is not Ratchet.]

[missmimmi]

Of course it is. Someone has to be concerned.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Someone is.

[Someone that isn't here, but still.]

[missmimmi]

There does not have to be just one.

[heavyweaponsbot]

But there is!

[missmimmi]

[Mimmi just stares at him, confused.]

What?

[heavyweaponsbot]

[It dawns on him slowly -- what made perfect sense in his own head was a little... muddled... to anyone else. In part because Ironhide was just plain terrible at expressing himself verbally.]

[He growls, and shrugs.]

Nothing. Forget it.

[missmimmi]

Oh.

[Alright. Well.

Mimmi momentarily looks up at the sky, blocking the rain from pelting her face with her hand. And then she walks closer to Ironhide to pat his leg in what she hopes is... a reassuring gesture. She has no idea how robots work at all, despite Bass trying (and failing) to explain things to her.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[It probably doesn't help that Ironhide looks completely different than Bass. Plus he's a lot bigger.]

[He looks down at her when she pats his leg, blinking his good optic. But he doesn't pull away.]

What was that?

[missmimmi]

I am trying to be... assuring?

[heavyweaponsbot]

Oh.

... Move your hand a little. Got your finger in a scar.

[missmimmi]

[Oh god what.

And Mimmi automatically jerks her hand away.]

Oh! Sorry.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Fine. Stopped hurting centuries ago.

[missmimmi]

[Mimmi wrings her hands.]

Well that is... good. I suppose.

[Pause.]

You must be very old, then. Compared to humans, anyway.

[heavyweaponsbot]

I am.

[He looks down at her again. He's ancient by human standards. And... just plain old by Autobot standards.]

Your race probably was not even fully evolved when I came online.

[missmimmi]

That is a long time, then.

[Jeebus, Ironhide.]

So does that mean you are... immortal?

[She thinks that's the right word, anyway.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

No. Just lucky.

[They're a long-lived species, provided something doesn't blow them apart.]

[missmimmi]

Ah.

[And Mimmi doesn't know quite what to say anymore, so she stares down at her feet and digs the toe of her shoe into the wet dirt.]