007 // [Video]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[It's some time in the morning. Or rather, something close to that effect. Wheeljack's up and about, getting himself ready for the day. Doing all the menial tasks that are expected to take care of a human body. The feed clicks on, showing the Wrecker putting on his jacket as he looks up, taking notice of the accidental video. He's about to snatch it, to turn it off. That is...until an audio clip plays.]

You and Bulkhead share quite a history. And yet you prefer to work alone...

[It was Optimus's voice...but the man himself seems to be taken aback by it--looking around for the source. Not only because of the similairity in vocal signature, but the fact that he'd SAID this before. What seemed like ages ago. Before he can react, the feed cuts to a scene at night, in what looks like a desert landscape high up on the mesa.

A large, round, robot seems to be approaching the camera from around the corner. A hand goes to the back of his neck, as if trying to figure out how to word this.]

Jackie...look, even if it weren't for the humans, we couldn't take on the Cons right now! We're outnumbered!

[There's a sharp glare to the bot, eyes narrowed. Wheeljack's voice emits from the feed, obviously angry at that for an answer. It starts off as a list of names--of people who've died since the war started. Members of Wheeljack's and --by extension--Bulkhead's group. Only with every name he states...the feed clips to something else.]

*Roadbuster-

Can't say you chose the ideal place to get yourself scrapped, Con.

[The feed cuts to what looks like a Mexican standoff around a smelting pool of some pure blue liquid.. You know--the robot version of one. From Wheeljack's point of view, it shows two nameless bots, and all three of them seem to have their blasters aimed at each other. There's some twitching fingers, and--

In the span of half a second, everyone fires.

Unfortunately, the opposing one fired at the pool itself--

-BOOM-]


*Pyro-

Pyro, let's move!

[Blaster fire was everywhere, and it's obvious that Wheeljack and the other Wreckers are outnumbered. The enemies are swarming like an angry hive, inching them back further and further. That is...until one steps forward. One who looks suspiciously like Optimus--or someone who just WANTS to look like Optimus.]

Wreckers don't call for backup, right?

What are you thinkin'--

So don't back me up.

[The bot charges into the fray, dishing out some heavy damage to the enemy reinforcements. Although it's obvious that he won't be able to hold up his front for long. Using one bot to bash into another, he calls out to Wheeljack.]

Get them out of here, idiot! I'll hold e'm off!

I ain't leavin' ya.

Yes. You are. I can HANDLE this, Wheeljack.

[And the camera starts backing up, slowly, before running out the door. There are Wreckers alongside him, running as well, although cursing their decision. In the distance...a blood curdling scream is heard.]



*Impactor-

[Next, the feed brings us to a large bot standing on a ledge looking over a crowd. But it's hard to see--Wheeljack seems to be fighting to get towards said stranger in the distance, as if his life depended on it. Not that the bot seems to notice. He's too busy with someone already up on the 'stage']

I've brought you all some entertainment.

[That gaze snaps to attention, fixing in on the bot on the ledge. It didn't even take half a second--he had another bot by his head, holding him over the crowd threateningly.]

[To which the crowd practically goes wild for. They're vicious bug-like creatures, with mandibles and gargantuan in size. The bot holding the smaller...he seems to be their leader.]

Make sure to share.

[And like that, the bot is tossed in, and immediately clawing their way into him. It's brutal and graphic, and each second that passes by feels like an hour.]

[White flash

(disclaimer: that is Fort Max in the comic picture--its merely for an example)]

*Rotorstorm--

You don't know who you're messing with. We're not -just- Autobots. We're Wreckers.

[The feed cuts to an indistinguishable planet, but what looks to be a prison. The camera is through the eyes of someone, probably obvious by now, with all the memories going around. To the sides, there were bots that, obviously, most couldn't place a name to. Prisoners, all circling what looked to be an 'arena' of some sorts. Counting them up, there couldn't have been any more than twenty total, not including one gathering special attention. Speaking of--

In the distance, a large, nameless bot has another by what looks to be helicoptor blades--or the Cybertronian version of them. With a simple flick of his hand, the goliath throws the bot forward. The statement doesn't seem to impress the giant, looking over towards Wheeljack and the camera itself. Getting a glimpse of his face, it was enough to send shivers up your spine. The eyes were soulless, red pools--with a smile that was anything but cheerful. It was bloodthirsty. Wheeljack moves--or at least the camera does, ready to attack the bot who had one of the Wreckers hostage.

He's soon stopped, though, as the bot's hand changes into a rather impressive looking blaster pisotl, pointing directly at the smaller one's forehead. Wheeljack stops dead in his tracks, eyes wide.

The giant only chuckles. As if watching a tiny dog attempt to make itself seem more threatening than it is. His expression? Almost taunting.]

Well whattya know! This guy's got a sense of humor, Wheeljack. Let's give a round of applause to-

[BAM]

[The white light flashes out once again--]

*Seaspray.

[The camera settles in space--away from any real planets or star systems. The line of sight this time is from inside a ship, and anyone who knows Wheeljack knows that this is his ship. He's doing the routine gestures: checking the scanners, getting a track on what looks to be a ship in front of him.

A flick of the switch sends a transmission out.]

Hey Sea, ya gonna land somewhere so we can rendezvous? Or are you gonna have me chase ya forever? Don't think my spark can take that kind of let down.

[A whistle sounds out from the other end of the feed, almost nautical in pitch.]

You know I wouldn't do that to you, Jackie. It'd crush ya.

[Wheeljack's chuckle sounds through the ship's walls, and turns to check those scanners one more ti--

There's silence for a moment, time almost slowing down as a wall of force suddenly hits the ship. It's hurled backward, tumbling like a tumbleweed as Wheeljack holds onto his controls for dear life. Stabilizers immediately went to work, straightening the ship's bearings out, and giving him a glimpse at what caused it.

What was Seaspray's ship was now ground zero of an explosion.]

[The camera flashes to with one final time, coming back to Wheeljack, who looks like he's just seen a ghost.]

All Dust.

[He falls to his knees, right in the middle of the apartment living room, staring blankly into the feed. Like a deer in the headlights. If there was one thing he didnt' want to relive...one thing he could have gone without...]

Wh-Wheeljack...?

[It takes a moment for him to respond, even if its just looking at You. And as he's about to say something--one last audio clip]

The Wreckers scattered a long time ago...

...and alone's..usually a lot less complicated.

Comments

[yayashton]

[The apartment is just noooooot having a good week. Like, at all. Ryan sticks his head out of his room when he hears the thud of Wheeljack falling to his knees. That didn't sound good at all.]

Are . . . you okay?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Could be worse, right? Hah...ha...

Wheeljack only vaguely hears that, scrubbing a hand over his face and attempting to recollect himself. It already happened--centuries ago. So why is it still affecting him?]

Y..yeah. I'm fine, kid.

The Link just showed a TON of robots dying, how can you say you're fine, idiot?!

[yayashton]

[The . . . ? Oh.]

I take it that was a particularly bad memory leak. [He's been avoiding a lot of them, so he hasn't seen it, but he's seen enough of them to know that they seem to be pretty universally awkward for everyone.] Do you want a cup of tea?

[fuckinstoplights]

[... Well that's certainly more robotic gore than he's ever seen before. Or imagined. He's just sort of staring into the screen from his phone booth perch, numbly.]

[At least until his little hell muppet reaches over to shut off the video feed.]

We're sorry -- we didn't really mean to see that...

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[You manages to catch them on the feed, scampering over to it--since Wheeljack's not really up for moving right now.]

I-It's okay! It was...wow. That was something...

These memory flashes...

[fuckinstoplights]

[It's okay, You. The hell muppet is pretty much taking this one, too.]

They're awful...

... Is he all right?

[Video]

[neverputincharge]

Bulkhead...?

[Boulder's worried voice came from the comm after the feed and the leak ended. Bulkhead, too, had been getting ready to head out, to meet with Magnus and the rest of them for morning training. He'd taken the chance to check for any possible messages from the commanders, when it started.

First Optimus' voice, and then his own. Followed not too long by Wheeljack's and an all too familiar conversation on top of the base. Just hearing the names back then had hurt him, and as the names started he got ready to feel the hurt again. But he didn't expect the imagery, the audio from the deaths that made it about ten times worse.

He'd frozen where he was in his tracks, trying to remember to breath as sadness and anguish hit him like a ton of bricks. Like it had just happened yesterday. But it was hard when his chest felt like he'd just been kicked in the heart. He hadn't been there for all of them. But it didn't matter. These were Wreckers. Wreckers he knew personally, for centuries. Been through the highs of victories, and crushing blows of loss with. They had been brothers in arms.

The last audio finally manages to snap him out of it, but it takes him a minute to respond.]

I-I'm comin' down.

[The sadness lingers in his tone. He didn't care about Wheeljack's roommates right now, all he wanted to do was get to the other Wrecker. To be with him.]

[Video]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[That voice pings him back to some kind of reality. Something familiar--to cement his thoughts to. Bulkhead was the one constant he could associate with.

His eyes turn to the feed, seeing Bulkhead start to make his way for the door.

and all he can do is sit here. After a few moments, a hand scrubs down his face, attempting to recollect himself.]

Meet ya here.

[Video]

[neverputincharge]

[The connection cuts without another word. It doesn't take Bulk long to get to Wheeljack's apartment, since he's only one floor above him. So it's not long after the the connection is cut, that he's at the door knocking and seeing if it's unlocked.]

Jackie?

[voice]

[rustypistons]

[A front line medic gets to see a lot of the dead and dying, but it never gets any easier. War changes a person, and so does loss, and Wheeljack--Wheeljack has had both in spades. When they worked together, Ratchet could see his type plain as day, had seen it out on the field enough times, and yet still managed to get annoyed, upset, frustrated. He'd thought at the time, before they parted ways, that they simply couldn't mesh.

But he'd been proven wrong. Thank the Allspark for that.

This...glitch in the city, affecting the people, seems to be doing a lot more harm than good, and it's hard to just sit back and do nothing, even when there's nothing to be done.

Bearmon seems to get that Ratchet wants to say something but hasn't made the attempt. Guess who gets to speak first?]

Hey, um, you know, maybe if you need to--

[Ratchet chimes in, quiet but stern:] No. Bearmon, leave him be.

Oh...but, don't you want to talk to him? Like what you did for Cam?

Give me that. [There's a bit of a squeak and a shuffle.] Wheeljack. [Give him a moment, he's not good at this touchy feels thing either.] I'm here if you need me and not if you don't.

[voice]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[The feed's gone, and it's silent for the time it takes Wheeljack to return to the land of the not-emotionally scarred. And when he does, the feed's on once more--this time in audio.

But it's a familiar voice.]

Thanks, doc. It's...well. It's a thing.


It happened. Over now. That's it.

Wheeljack--if it hurts you should talk about it!

There's nothin' to talk about. Pretty clear what happened.

[voice]

[rustypistons]

Yeah, we saw what happened, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to say.

Old war wounds, Bearmon. No need to go poking at them.

We'll let you be, but my comm line and my door is always open.

[Action]

[robotfightclub]

[Haha, yeah, there isn't even a video call from her. One might even think she was ignoring it altogether.

UNTIL A HORRIBLE POUNDING COMES FROM THE DOOR.

You best answer, Wheeljack.]

[Action]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[The pounding seems to snap him out of his momentary daze, slowly turning to face the door. You's about to go grab it, but he pulls her back, slowly getting to his feet.

Just a bad memory. Memories. That's all.

He goes to answer the door, though, in case roommates woke up.]

[Action]

[robotfightclub]

[He'll be greeted by a very angry looking Arcee, although what she's angry about is anyone's guess.

She doesn't...saying anything, either. Just...stands there. Oh, okay.]

[Video]

[notmyprophecy]

[Hollyleaf's head is dipped in a bow. She's somber, and quiet.]

I didn't watch it all. It seemed too...personal. However, Nyaromon, she... [She sighs.] I offer my condolences. I hope...the stars lit your Clanmates' paths.

[Video]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[It takes a moment for Wheeljack to react, and even then, he's quiet. And not just from stoicism.]

...Much appreciated. I'm...glad ya didn't, to be honest. Not exactly my finest hours.

[And finally, looks into the feed again.]

Your ..digmon thing. She okay?

[Video]

[heyloser]

[Wow. And he thought his battle with the D.J.D was bad -- but that was just one thing. This was a whole collection of things. Bad things. War things.

So, naturally, Misfire tries to lighten the mood.]

You Autobots just have the worst luck, don'tcha?

[If Crummy had hands, she'd be facepalming.]

[Video]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Let You do that for you, Crummy. Wheeljack just looks at Misfire like he just got punched in the face.

Foreshadowed pain is foreshadowing.]

Not as bad as yours is gonna be.

Video

[bigsoftie]

[Oh notdad...he knew he had it bad, but this was far different. Leatherhead didn't lose people, not in that way. Sure, he still reeled from the onslaught of negative emotions but this served as a remind that others had it far worse. He had no one to lose. He couldn't imagine the emotions associated with watching people close to you die.

Leatherhead considered not answering, leaving Wheeljack to his devices. But after what he did for Leatherhead, he couldn't leave him behind. He was a Wrecker too, wasn't he.

Impmon saw what he was doing and tried convincing him otherwise, tugging at his pant leg.]

Hey come on, Heather, just turn back...

[...he should have had something prepared to say.]

I'm....I am sorry...

Video

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[At his voice, Wheeljack snaps to attention, focusing on the video feed now taking the place of what was there before. It was...welcome. He'd rather focus on Leatherhead than...that.

His eyes flick, giving a soft huff before reaching to grab the device.]

Wish ya didn't see that, kid.

[calibrates_big_guns]

[So ... this is what Wheeljack meant. It's painful to watch, like losing his team all over again, and it leaves him stunned for a moment. Then, he sees Wheeljack down on his knees looking like he's been punched in the gut.]

Wheeljack? Wheeljack, you alright?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He really wish you didn't have to see that, Garrus. At least one of them should be spared from this. With a shake of his head, he's brought back to the land of reality, looking into the feed.]

Yeah. Just...distracted.

[His voice is quiet, almost soft.]

[action/text - some time later]

[shoulderpads]

[Magnus didn't reply right away; he was fully aware of the impact of the slow thinning of the Wrecker ranks had on their survivors. Although he never brought up the topic, seeing the team he'd help train and command slowly get picked off by Decepticons... It naturally brought a painful ache to his spark.]

[He expected Wheeljack wouldn't want to speak with him over the comm, and it wasn't in his nature to toss his current duties aside to visit him.]

[That said, he wasn't going to leave this to stew before the day's end. If there was anything he'd managed to pick up from Optimus and his time here, it was that keeping open lines of communication with your subordinates was essential when they were - well 'family'.]

[Wheeljack gets a simple text:]

Meet me downstairs.

[Action]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He got the text, managing to go through the day with little to know trouble--at least on the outside. In all honesty, he didn't want Magnus to see that. If anything to save him a lecture about how the Wreckers needed to be led with protocol.

That wasn't their way. It never had been. Which was why Wheeljack was so adamant about his arrival.

Rust in the gears.

But he'd still comply, if only to see what Magnus would want, leaving his apartment to go meet up. You was quick to follow, scampering along his ankles as they walked.

He didn't even know what to say about this, so he was hoping it would be short and painless.]