16th Transmission - Video

[heavyweaponsbot]

[The video feed opens on Ironhide, looming large... and standing fully upright, in the keep's courtyard.]

[There appears to be a small tree, ripped from the woods themselves, and planted in the ground -- or propped up, it's hard to tell which. Either way, the old Autobot is watching it with an even stare.]

[And without warning, he kicks the tree, savagely, the motion accompanied by a rev of a massive engine. The tree shatters in an explosion of splinters and wood chips.]

[He draws himself up, and snorts.]

Yeah. Hip works all right. This will do.

Comments

[Audio]

[snowtop]

H-Hey, I-- I-I'm working o-on it! I-I don't need to-- t-to be a bug thing, t-to do that!

[Jokingly indignant here, for the most part. He hates how bad his handwriting is, yeah, but not much to do about that besides practice.]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Good. I would be worried if you did need to be one.

[Hey, he can tease you right back, kiddo.]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

M-Me too.

[He's only been a Prawn once, but he doesn't need to try it again to know it SUCKS.]

I--I'd say I hope i-it wouldn't-- happen a-again, but... kn--knowing these places? N-Next time I... I-I might be a-- a fish, o-or something.

[Less joking this time. Because it could happen.]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[There's a thoughtful pause before Ironhide answers, somewhat wryly.]

If you became a fish, I would pitch you into some water before you expired.

... and... remember to feed you.

[Because the last fish he 'rescued' starved to death.]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[That gets an amused snort out of him.]

Th-that's-- that's good t-to know. Just-- d-don't put me i-in th-the lake, I-- I hear th-there's-- a m-monster in there.

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Nah. I would use a bucket. Or a bathtub.

[Audio]

[snowtop]

B--Bathtub w-would... probably be th-the better option, u-unless I-- I-I was, like-- a m-minnow or s-something.

[And even then, he thinks he'd rather be in a tub than a bucket. More room to stretch his legs! Er, fins.]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[... the last fish hadn't fared so well in the bathtub. He'd thought a bucket would be better.]

Minnow?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

O-Oh, it, um, it-- i-it's like a r-really tiny, l-little fish. L-Like-- s-smaller than m-my finger.

[Then again, compared to Ironhide, everything is tiny!]

Uh-- i-instead of, like, a-as big as-- m-my arm.

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Maybe you would be a small fish, boy. You are not that large to begin with.

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[A slightly self-conscious laugh, and then:]

Y-Yeah, I'm-- I-I'm not a-a-- a sea monster, b-by a long sh-- shot...

[He'd say whale, only, he just knows those as sea monsters. Spooky...]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Yeah. Sea monsters are more threatening.

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[A snort.] O-Ouch. B-But, I-- I guess s-so.

[Yeah, Xanth is about as threatening as a puppy, if that puppy were floppy-eared and rolled over for strangers.]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Just teasing you, boy.

[No 'ouch' allowed.]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

I-- I-I know.

[He can take a little well-intentioned joking, at least from Ironhide.]

[Audio]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Good. Hate having to explain things like that.