heavyweaponsbot | 10th Transmission

U-Um.

[Xanth would reach up to try and take it, but even if he's noticed a little bit of growth lately, he's still nowhere near tall enough to reach Ironhide's head.]

D-Do... do you... w-want me to-- p-put it back?

[Because he will! If Ironhide wants him to!]

[Ironhide's good optic tracks up, as if trying to see the little frog perched on his head. No such luck.]

... No.

[He pauses.]

There... something I should... be doing? To look after it?

O-- Oh.

[Ironhide wants to keep it. That almost seems strange until Xanth remembers the frog he had on the Elegante. A different sort of frog, to be sure, but frogs are frogs.

Xanth puts a finger to his lips.]

U-Um, well, it-- i-it needs a-- a place to... s-stay, like, a, a cage or-- s-something, and you... y-you need to-- to feed it. I... I-I think they-- e-eat bugs, b-but I'm not... sure which...

[There are so many kinds of bugs, Ironhide.]

Yeah...

[He sounds a little sheepish about it. He wouldn't keep the thing around if it didn't remind him so sharply of C4. And, therefore, his missing partner.]

[He sort of hunkers down a little as Xanth talks, listening to him.]

Where do I find these things?

U-Um... w-well you-- you catch bugs like-- flies a-and ants and things j-just by leaving out r-regular food, so, th-that's not... so hard.

I-I think you-- you might have to build a--a cage, though. I-I mean. I don't-- I don't think th-there'll be any p-premade.

B-But we-- we could a--ask around?

[He just sort of... gives Xanth a blank look. Catch bugs? Build a cage? Really?]

[And then he looks down at his hands.]

[That's not going to be easy.]

Right. Got... it.

[Xanth follows Ironhide's gaze. No, it won't be easy - Ironhide's hands are gigantic. A handful of frog for Xanth would only be one frog, but Ironhide could easily fit five, six, eight, fifteen...]

I--I can-- I can help!

Um.

I-I mean, I, a-at least-- with-- th-the cage? I-I'm-- I'm not th-that bad with a h-hammer...

[Meanwhile, the frog busies itself crawling all over Ironhide's head. It's like it's looking for something.]

Good. That will work.

... Knew I called you for a reason.

[Yeah, okay, that gets a mostly proud (slightly sheepish) grin.]

S-So I guess-- I guess w-we should, uh, g-get that cage, f-first? It's, uh, k-kind of a... a roamer.

[but where is it goooing]

Probably...

[He tries to catch it, as it wiggles away from his hand, looking for some armor seam or joint.]

It is... hmn. Curious.

I-- I guess it just-- l-likes you?

[It's kinda crawling everywhere. It hasn't even noticed Xanth yet, or so it seems.]

Hmnf. And I liked C4 better.

[The frog croaks in indignation. And settles on one of Ironhide's head-crest-things.]

H-He was, uh, a-- a little more-- w-well-behaved.

[Frowning thoughtfully, Xanth chews his lip.]

D-Do you... think you can t--train f-frogs?

Yeah... he was.

[He says it sort of forlornly. Yes, he does miss C4. No, he won't say so out loud.]

Train it? How?

Um-- I-I don't know. L-Like a-- a dog, I-I guess? Are-- a-are frogs even th-that smart?

...

Ratchet would know.

[Yeah, Xanth thinks. Ratchet would know. He knew damn near everything, didn't he?]

Y... Yeah.

B-But, um, there's-- th-there's gotta be books o-on frogs in... i-in the... library...

[Ironhide agrees -- Ratchet does know everything. Which was helpful.]

... I could go and look. Or ask around.

[Since he's not sure if Xanth would want to go back in there, after what happened.]

[Xanth bites his lip and thoughtfully looks to the floor. Then, he looks back up and tries for a smile.]

W-Well, uh, two-- t-two heads are b-better than one, r-right? I-I mean, it, i-it cuts down s--searching time.

[As long as they don't go back in that room, he'll be fine. Not great, but fine.]

[He looks at Xanth for a long moment, clearly debating how best to respond to that.]

[Finally, he nods.]

We will go together. Figure it out... somehow.

[Xanth's smile gets a little brighter.]

Y--Yeah.

I-In, in-- in the meantime... a-are you gonna-- g-gonna carry that guy a-all over?

[Ironhide grunts, and tilts his head to try and look up at the frog in question.]

Guess I have to. It will not leave me alone.

[It is pretty affectionate.]

G--Guess so.

W-We should-- start now, th-then, to-- to get this l-little guy set up?

[Maybe someday the frog will realize there is no way to sneak into Ironhide's main intake, and give up. But for now, it's going to keep frog-walking around his head.]

[While he puts up with it. For C4's sake.]

Yeah. C'mon. Best get moving.

[With a solid nod, Xanth heads back towards the door, then steps out. Since he's sure Ironhide's not far behind, he holds it open for the old 'bot.]

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