A Day In the Life Of: Kup and Ironhide

Malfunction at the Junction

"Hey Kup, can I talk to you for a minute?" Ironhide spoke softy, unusual for one with such a commanding voice. "It's sort of personal."

Kup peered over the top of the research papers in his hands and found Ironhide staring at him, with sincere and almost pitiful optics. "Sure," he answered after checking his chronometer. "I've got a little time before my shift starts." He placed his reading material down in front of him and motioned for Ironhide to join him at his table. "Take a seat, old-timer."

Ironhide laced his fingers together and rested his hands on the table, outstretched and nervously twitching. He looked to his sides and then behind him to ensure their conversation would remain private. The Lounge was unusually empty this evening, which made Ironhide feel somewhat more at ease.

"You got a short in your circuits?" Kup joked, trying to ease whatever troubles were on his friend's mind. "What's bugging ya?"

"I ain't exactly sure how to say this," Ironhide confessed. "I've been having a little trouble with something," he stated, "Something of a private nature. With Chromia coming in for a visit, I'd sort of thought..."

Kup fought back the urge to smile and stopped his friend in mid-sentence. "Hold it right there," he demanded. He knew exactly what Ironhide was talking about, but was somewhat caught off guard by his seeking him out. "What makes you think I know anything about..."

"You're older than me," Ironhide replied innocently. "I just assumed." He noticed Kup shifting in his seat, his position revealing a sudden sensation of surprise and perhaps a slight tinge of embarrassment. "I mean, I thought you could identify with what I'm going through."

"Well, you thought wrong!" Kup snapped. "And besides, I'm fine! My plumbing works just as good as it did when I first came online."

Ironhide leaned back and took a long, hard look at his fellow elder statesman. "Kind of testy, ain't ya? You in denial or something?"

Kup started to leave. "I don't have time for this."

"No, wait!" Ironhide pleaded. "I'm sorry. Please, if you know of anything that might help, I'd greatly appreciate it." His tone was quite sincere.

After an awkward moment of silence, Kup decided to stay and help his friend. "Okay," he growled. He scribbled down something on the back of a discarded duty-roster sheet that was resting on the empty table to their left, and handed it to Ironhide with all the secrecy of young school children passing notes in class. "Go to the address on that piece of paper and ask for the specified item I jotted down."

"It'll work?" Ironhide asked skeptically while concealing the message in his closed fist.

"Yes."

"It'll get the lead out?"

"Yes."

"Give me back my stiff upper lip?"

"What?"

"Help me reach new heights?"

"Will you shut up and just leave already?"

A short time later-

Ironhide should have expected it. He had ruffled Kup's feathers and bruised his geriatric ego. Still, he took his friends advice without consideration or hesitation, so the blame was squarely on his own shoulders. What really bothered him is the fact he didn't catch on sooner.

For you see, it wasn't until after he had traveled to Larry's Outlet Store and stood in line for a solid twenty minutes while the 'Cashier Needs Assistance' light flashed off and on. Not until he noticed the clerk's strange look prior to calling out for a price check, an act which resulted in each and every pair of eyes zooming in on his location. "I need a price check for an Erector Set, please. Price check on an Erector Set, the Deluxe Edition. Aisle six."

Only then did he realize he had been setup, and he swore he could hear Kup laughing all the way back inside the Ark.

The End.