Timeflip 21

Timeflip and Shockwave finally talk. A mech to mech moment for Barricade and Megatron.

Barricade dashes from the berthside at the sound of soft knocking on the door. He's really trying to pull up his calm 'Police Officer' persona but pulling the door open, he fails at the sight of one who can truly help.

"Oh thank Primus, Commander… I mean Sh-shockwave. Oh shit," he fails and steps out of the way letting the purple scientist and his mate enter.

Shockwave lays a hand on the navy mech's broad shoulder, "Breathe. Tell me what happened."

Barricade's hands shake. "I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to call. Um, hello Megatron." He feels so bad not sure what else to say to the other.

Megatron flicks the greeting aside and points back to the scientist to get to the point. Shockwave presses on, "Is the doctor here?"

"Y-yes. He's in the berthroom with her now."

Megatron grabs the burly mech's elbow and shoves him carefully into the chair to help him relax. Not a rough shove, but more of a someone has to be in control here and get the task on track and of course it's clear, the younger mech isn't thinking rationally. Both Shockwave and Megatron know what he was like before, but now bonded and on the verge of parenthood, this normally calm strong mech is wavering. Neither of them wants to see a proud mech crumble, but then again, both of them have had their own private crumbling moments as well with their own horrors and losses and understand all too well that wavering between mech-ego and crumbling-spark.

Pressing on, "Barricade, I can't help unless you give me some data to work with," Shockwave's tone is soft but the words stay firm on course.

"R-right." He takes a deep breath, says a swift prayers to get centered. "We had a tense conversation the other day. Bordering on a fight about the past, fixing it, all the ramifications and whatnot."

All three of them know that to any other normal bot it would just be a conversation about theories, ideals and thoughts, but when dealing with one who could ACTUALLY make it happen, that's a whole other story.

His hands clench, "I've tried to avoid talking about Starscream." Both former commanders glance at each other for a second and then back to the worried one. "I never brought up what happened after the shitty way he had treated her too, but well… it came up this week. She found out about the kidnapping." Barricade furrows his brow at Shockwave, "Did he …ever really hurt her, if you know what I mean?" His spine is ice cold.

Shockwave slowly shakes his head with sorrow, "I'm sorry, Barricade, I just don't know. Not to be rude, but…. It was a war and I had multiple duties to attend to."

Barricade nods to the hard facts and looks back at his hands. Megatron was never one for niceties during a planning session thus pushes this conversation along with a firm but gentle nudge of his own trying to shove all his own horrors aside to the dead flyer and traitor. "What happened today, Barricade?"

Barricade raises his head ever so slowly and looks right into Megatron's own ruby optics. "I know she went back in time. She said, she saw you….. Megatron."

"Oh shit," Shockwave breathes a whisper.

"When?" Megatron cringes and optics flare in horror. Maybe thoughts on the Seeker would have been a better topic. He examines his former soldier for further silent information as to what the young femme saw of the younger-horrifying version of himself. "Oh please say I didn't-!"

Barricade rubs his face and Shockwave slides his hand into his ebony mate's for support. "Sir, I don't think you hurt her. She would have reacted differently. I know my Timeflip well enough for that."

Megatron's shoulders sag with relief to that news. Shockwave is the one to press on though, "What else?"

Barricade chews his lip, "Shockwave… I just don't know what to do. What if she does this again? I… don't know if it's the hormones making her act this way or what."

Shockwave mentally frowns to the 'hormone excuse' feeling the hand grip his a little tighter although lucky for the squeezer, he does not add a smirk.

Burying his face in his hands once more, Barricade mutters, "What was she thinking? Did I push her to do this?"

"Barricade, look at me." It takes a moment for the worried mech to raise his helm and look at his mate's mentor. "She's tenacious. It's hard for her to let things go." Shockwave pulls away from his own mate to crouch down before Barricade. "I think it's time."

Barricade ponders for a moment and then with a heavy sigh, nods softly. "Do it."

"Are you sure? You know I would not do this without her permission if she was functioning rationally. She might be weak right now, so that's why as her bondmate I'm asking you… would she want this? I don't want her to feel like a lab-rat having something forced on her like the other did to so many others."

Barricade nods to the respect the scientist is giving, "I know, Shockwave, but I also know it would crush her to know she harmed herself or the little one in a rash moment." He lays a dark hand on the light one, "Do me a favor, talk to her Doctor. I just can't decide if she's in her right mind or not. I don't know if she's doing this because she's mad at me or what. Is this all my fault? Hell's Bells! I-I don't even know if I'm in my right mind right now!" He tosses a hand.

Shockwave lays a firm hand over Barricade's, "This isn't permanent. It can come off at any time. How long does she have left before the sparkling arrives?"

Barricade looks towards the short hall, "I don't know. I don't know if this has made things speed up or prolong. The doctor hadn't finished his exam when you showed up."

Shockwave nods. With a twist of his limber body, Shockwave makes motion for Megatron to take Barricade out of the apartment. Megatron scowls at him; bedside hand-holding is NOT his forte. Shockwave tightens his hands to fists and narrows his optic to a scowling warning.

Megatron vents a scoffing-huff and follows the golden warning by standing up. "Barricade, come."

It's been a long time since the younger mech has heard this gentle order. The tone is not harsh but nor is it to be ignored. Not quite as warm as his father's when they needed to have a mech to mech talk, but still just as directive. Barricade rises and obediently follows his former leader out the door.

Megatron leads Barricade outside, shutting the door behind them and takes a seat on the top step. Barricade follows silently. Neither says anything. It's not like Megatron is a great conversationalist with anyone other than his therapist and his mate, nor does anxious Barricade know what to say to his former leader without getting punched in the mouth.

"So..." Megatron reaches into his hip pocket and pulls out his cigarettes he had yanked from the glove box upon finding out where he was being dragged off to. He offers one to Barricade but the blue one just nervously laughs the offer aside.

"I-I'd probably shove in the wrong orphus at the rate I'm going."

Megatron smirks a huff and puts the rest away then crosses his arms across the knees.

After a few moments, Barricade starts messing with the latch on his gauntlet. "Can I ask you something?"

"Are you going to regret it?" Megatron doesn't even bother to turn.

"Probably."

Megatron just casts the hands in a 'whatever' motion and takes a drag. knowing that he is stranded until Shockwave comes to release him from this new form of hell. "Alright, what is it?"

"Do you ever want to kill Shockwave for driving you insane with worry?" And instantly plunks his head into his knees to his choice of words and covers his helm as if that would actually save him from whatever death Megatron is going to rain down on him. And yes he has witnessed mechs beaten to death by those fists.

At first, the former murderer also can't believe what he heard, and just stares. Seeing the younger mech burrowing himself just makes the elder laugh a little. No one would ever recognize the terror of the interrogation room or the son of and Iacon Chief of Police right now. Megatron decides to go easy on the kid, though and blows out a long slow string of smoke. "You have no idea."

Barricade pokes one optic out to see if it's safe to raise the rest of his helm. "Really?"

Megatron quirks his lopsided smirk, "Welcome to bondhood, kid." Part of the silver one is laughing hysterically inside. Bondhood. His is in no way perfect, but who would have ever thought that he of all bots would be giving support in this institution? Puncture would probably pass out laughing if he could see his rough son right now.

Barricade plunks his head back down, chin to his crossed arms on his knees. He misses his father oh so much right now. What he would give for a moment to talk to his wonderful parents or even… Bezel. "She's going to be the death of me." He gives a soft sigh.

"Yep," Megatron calmly nods and blows out a perfect smoke ring this time.

"What am I going to do? I can't live without her and yet I think I'm losing my ever loving mind because of her!" His pulse is quickening again.

Once more Megatron just nods slowly. He's next to no help, Barricade is soon realizing. "Why did Shockwave bring you?"

Once more Megatron just shrugs his shoulders and waits. "I have no idea what goes on in his head half the time. The other half of the time, I don't really care as long as he's home safe with me."

Barricade's jaw drops. It pangs him once more. That sounds exactly like something his Dad would say about his own mate. He looks up to the mech who had taught him to stay alive and continued to provide a roof over his head while all hell and brimstone was raining down over Cybertron. He never really saw Megatron as a mentor like this (personal relationships), and yes he knows better than to say something like that to the tough mech-ever!- still, it means a lot to him that Megatron didn't just storm off down the steps or just shove a 'tough luck kid' tone to him when Shockwave kicked them out of the apartment. No, the older mech is very deep in his own way, as he stares off into the distance with those deep red pondering optics of his. After all he did turn Cybertron on it's head with just his speeches that encouraged sparks to aligned.

"That was beautiful, Megatron," Barricade compliments softly.

Megatron raises both optic brows and thinks over what he just said. A slight smile comes to his face, yeah it was and oh so true as well. If Barricade didn't know better, he might have seen a slight tint to those sharp cheeks. Ah, nah, must be his imagination!

From there, nothing else really needs to be said between the deeply bonded mechs. The two just watch the scene before them of a family of four struggling to carry in the remains of their last camping trip back inside their home.

Once those two are out of audio-shot, Shockwave walks down the hall to the berthroom. Not a place he would really like to be for one of his coworkers but he has a device that will help a unique individual. He pulls the single magnetic disk from his hip pocket and looks at it. They have a larger version they use for the space bridges, but this small one he had kept at home because it was a prototype he was quite proud of. He did not think he would ever be using it again.

Walking into the room he sees the black and red motorbike medic pressing a cool compress to the resting femme's forehelm. Hearing the soft steps padding into the room, the medic turns and smiles. His voice is soft and calm, "Hallo, I'm Dr. Stalkah."

Shockwave extends his hand in greeting. Out of respect for the ailing one, cuts a normal dignified introduction short with a very quiet voice, "Shockwave, Doctor."

The smaller red mech takes the lilac hand in greeting and they both move towards the doorway where they can talk softly but still see the patient.

Already, the medical professional can sense the concern on the droid-like features. "She's resting. Nothing critical and the sparkling looks fine. A little jittery but everything looks intact."

Shockwave sighs softly in sweet relief and nods. Last thing he can handle right now is her miscarrying. Pushing their joint painful thought aside, presses on. "I'm familiar with some biology. I am pleased to hear her young was not harmed. Is there concern for long term effects?"

The shorter mech rubs his goatee, "Too soon to tell. What do you have there?"

Shockwave turns the small disk over, "How familiar are you with warpers?"

"Just renewed my credentials for them. Why do you ask?"

Shockwave looks over to the resting one and then back to the disk in his hand. He's pondering long and hard what to say when a rustling comes from the berth. Dr. Stalkah strides to her side swiftly taking her hand to check her pulse, "Hallo there Mrs. Timeflip. Went on a little jaunt did you?"

Her hand crawls over her chest needing to feel the extra warmth for herself, he presses his other warm one over hers, "It's still viable and strong."

Her optics close and she sighs with relief. With a light chuckle the medic presses her hand again, "You have a visitor."

That causes the lemon optics to open back up. With out her glasses and still a bit woozy she can't see crisp and clear who it is, but there's no question who a large mass of warm violet with a golden glow topped off by snow white strips would be standing in her home. "Shockwave," she says his name with humiliation. Not who she was expecting at all.

The white antenna droop to the tone to his name. "Should I leave?"

She head shakes, "No, its fine. I just feel…."

"Yes well I did warn you about doing this again," he is firm in his admonishment to her. He steps closer to the berth and is a bit more firm this time with a near commanding term, "Timeflip, you are damned lucky and you know exactly what I mean! What were you thinking? Megatron? Really?"

Seeing her wince he regrets his tone but only for a moment when she tries to counter, "I just wanted…"

Shockwave lowers to the chair beside the berth, "It's not just you anymore, Timeflip. It's your mate and your sparkling. You can't afford to be selfish any more."

Her face pulls taught and glares, "I wasn't being selfish! I was-"

Shockwave doesn't want to hear any more. He takes her hand and turns it over placing the disk in it and folding her fingers over it.

She stops instantly and swallows hard knowing exactly what it is. "Y-you still have it?"

"Of course I do. This is what I used to base the larger versions off of. I dug it out after your last escapade and had a nice long talk with your worried mate."

"May I?" The medic asks to see the device. Timeflip is still mulling over all the implications to what Shockwave told her thus easily hands over the blocking device to the medic. Shockwave has never ever dressed her down like this, but then again, she has never done anything so…rash.

"Is this what I think it is?" Dr. Stalkah examines it carefully. "I thought these just came out."

Shockwave nods, "They did. Wave Industries has just started manufacturing a modified version for the medical field on an individual bases. Before they were only available to law enforcement for house arrest criminals with warping abilities."

"Ingenious!" The doctor marvels.

Shockwave picks up the disk and waves it back at Timeflip. "I will ask this again; what were you thinking?"

Timeflip takes the disk firmly. "I just wanted to understand better who it was and what it was that caused this war to come to life."

Shockwave sighs heavily to all the truth he knows of Megatron's past. He lowers his head ever so grateful that her trip actually had her returning unharmed. It could have ended deadly for her if she landed at the wrong place and horrific time. Barricade would not survive her getting 'lost' again let alone forever. They've come so far to do something so stupid. Something he is all to familiar with.

Firmly the wiser one pushes out to kill her curiosity once and for all: "No. You. Don't. You need to let it be. There are things that are left better buried and gone." With a deep rise and fall of his chest asks the next question a bit softer, "Were you going to try changing the past?"

She stares at the disk that Shockwave had asked her to help create during the early designing process of the first space bridge. Her warping signatures he was able to evaluate and observe to base his notes of off along with his own theories. Willingly she tried this block out to see if he was correct. They found out that it blocked her ability to travel distance and even time which was invaluable information to the project. They both knew that if Commander Shockwave was to perfect the spacebridge for the Decepticon cause he would also need a way to protect it from the Autobots and others. So they found a block even before finishing the main project. They keep this project hidden from the Trine who had a warper of their own. Only yesterday did she understand why Commander Shockwave did not trust her Warp Instructor completely.

With a firm resolve of her own, answers his question: "No. I'm not worthy of that kind of power to manipulate the timeline structure," Timeflip honestly states softly.

Shockwave leans in, "Then what the hell were you thinking about by looking back to such a horrific time in Cybertron's past?"

She looks back up to him. He really is worried and angry. There's more, he's hiding something. Even if the tone is like her old commanding officer, the compassionate concern is still in there. Only the compassion is not towards her. He slowly plucks the disk from her hand again but this time holds it up where all three of them can see it.

"Then explain to me why Megatron, of all people, has your mate outside while the one who loves you most asked me to come evaluate weather you are in your right mind or not?"

Timeflip sits up pulling the blanket up with her and clutching it. "H-he what?"

Once more Shockwave takes a deep frustrated breath. He never intended to become an officer. He never saw himself as leadership material. Too young, too inexperience, too droid. Before he knew it though, he was in charge of training the troops and once that task was passed on to another, head of the engineering departments of the faction. Trying not to be an arrogant officer, like some of the others, he had told the troops he had an open door for them. He knew he drove them hard on the training grounds. In the labs he was a perfectionist, not an easy mech to work for. To counter all that, left his door open and several (if not many a time) regretted it immensely.

That side of him is here again. "Timeflip, is this your trusted doctor?" The older mentor asks carefully.

"Yes." She slowly answers knowing Shockwave is going to say something confidential and pretty sure she isn't going to like it at the rate this is going and tension in his shoulders.

Dr. Stalkah looks between the two of them with a furrowed brow and deep consideration but wisely remains silent just gleaning incredible information. Not only is she a warper but a TIME-warper! Fascinating!

Shockwave rubs the disk between thumb and forefinger pondering carefully through this emotional minefield. "Barricade and I have to remember that you have not aged like the rest of us. You are still a mere twenty something innocent femme. You are not a late thirties hardened and weathered soldier who has watched massive amount of carnage and destruction to the point where you get jaded to another death or spilled drop of oil. For you, the slaughtering of your family is still fresh in you spark. For the rest of us, our family's deaths have been buried, scarred over and pushed under all the other destruction and rebuilding we have seen. You are still asking why, while we are now saying thank Primus it's over."

Timeflip purses her lips and has an ugly expression back at him, "I'm NOT a child!"

Shockwave barks, "You certainly are acting like one!"

She doesn't want to admit he might be right. After all she fought with to be taken seriously when the induction office was laughing at her cute shyness. Commander Starscream had seen her as something to useful for his experiments. When she was turned over to Commander Shockwave, she pushed herself to be diligent and smart so she would be taken as a real part of the team and something behind the cages. After everything, the Decepticon Labs, gathering information on Earth, acceptance at the Tarn Police Department, and trusted secretary at Wave Industries to now have one she looks up to as much as her father finally tell her she's acting like a child! It hurt. A lot.

Timeflip sits silently to the rebuke. The way Shockwave sits back as well tells her he does not like this any more than she. Carefully she tries to get her thoughts together in a solid, rational, logical, scientific order.

Her tone is just like trying to present a proposal. "I was trying to understand for myself. Cutting through the rewritten history and the rumors. I needed to know for myself so I know what to tell my sparklings when they ask. Does that sound like the works of a child?"

The stronger mech rests his hands on the arm rests appreciating what she is saying but also needing to counter this action with it's own logical order and reasoning. "Timeflip, you were an innocent little thing when you came to our labs and I figured you to cave at the first shelling. You didn't. What did you do?"

She swallows hard remembering that first barrage she experienced, "I did what you ordered. I locked away everything you said and began backing up the research while you ran out to assist the others in the attack."

A soft tip points at her, "Exactly. That wasn't what I was expecting to come back to. I figured I would find a pile of cowering worthless imps hiding under a table when I came back that had done nothing but wet themselves and implode emotionally. I dreaded returning. I was not expecting to find the place secured."

She shakes her head, "I don't understand. I did the only thing I could think of to keep myself from going insane. It wasn't much different that helping my dad move his own works when we got evacuated from a dig sight."

Shockwave gives her a brighter look and warmly raised antenna, "My point exactly. When I came back, you and the others were pretty much ready to continue where we left off. A saving grace to me. Science and logic are my solace, not irrational basket cases." They both give a light chuckle to that. One for his own mate who he bonded to during an 'emotional basket case' time of his life, the other because she has caused her mate to be an 'emotional basket case'.

Shockwave continues his praise, "After that moment, you proved yourself to me. Trial by fire, you could say. I never heard you never used your family's death as a crutch or a means of attention like so many others. You never chatted opening about anything confidential. You were not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting a scared little femme, a bit daft in the head looking for an easy meal ticket or even a *cough* tart." Both of them flush in embarrassment to that.

With an elegant shiver to his helm, he continues, "I honestly was not expecting Starscream to plunk a focused, driven, organized, trustworthy bit my way. When I figured out he was going to try using you as a lour, a spy so to speak, you impressed me more, by seeing through it and not giving in. That's why I trusted you. That is why I still trust you."

Timeflip is flushing hard to this compliment. Privacy is very dear to this mech. Honor is held extremely high. She saw it every time Lord Megatron. He always showed him the utmost respect and honor and tried to for the Second in Command (as he should) but that was like sand in the gears, she soon recognized by the backstabbing fellow scientist.

Timeflip turns her attention back to the one who had not coddled her but did his best to teach, encourage and protect her. With a soft nod, "Of course. I was scared. I had no place else to go. The De'-"she glances at her doctor for a moment who has remained silent this whole time. "The Army was all I had. It was my ...home."

Shockwave nods, "Mine to and we needed to trust each other. Lives depended on it."

She looks at him carefully trying to figure out where he is going. "Shockwave, what are you trying to say to me today?"

A soft lilac hand lays over hers. He never gave this kind of soft touches in the lab or even at the office. It's unprofessional, but this situation is highly personal and thus he does make the move. She knows he has deep private emotions, for she can see him relax at just the sight of Megatron,. Feeling his warm hand upon hers, moves her dearly but added with his warm English support, she's sure she's going to cry, "I'm not your father. I'm no longer your commanding officer. I can't tell you what to do."

This time her reply is softer seeing his tone drop a notch too. "I know. You shouldn't have to. I'm not a child nor an innocent peon that needs a commanding officer. I'm sorry you are here."

"Oh Timeflip," once more he didn't expect her to feel she was a burned to him after all her own protection she has given back to him. With a gentle nudge presses the disk into the air again, "You once called me a mentor, correct?" Softly she nods. "A guide? A teacher? An advisor?" Once more she nods.

He lays the disk into her hand, "I could force this onto you or he could." The lilac hand motions to the medical professional. "But I want you to think about something..."

She cuts him off before this moment is never spoken of again, "I wanted to meet the person that became my Leader. I wanted to see if there could have been any other outcome to the war if only-"

Shockwave shakes his head. "No. The people we were are not the people we are today. I know I sure learned a lot from the war. If I had not been where I was then, I could not be who I am today. Nor would I have met some dear and wonderful bots who became my friends and more." She smiles to meaning herself and his mate.

Once more the older golden optic looks deep into the young lemon optics, "You know that I am not a follower of Primus like yourself or even Megatron's own sense of faith and it doesn't really matter. Fate, a god or chance, things are set in motion for a reason. True?"

She nods, "But why do I have this gift of time travel if not to make a difference?"

He chuckles lightly shrugging his weighty shoulders, "I can not answer that. I may be a genius, but I'm not that smart."

Timeflip gives a light huff of amusement back to that.

He takes one of her hands and unfolds it. "My question to you is this, look at what you do have. Would you risk all that you have already gone through in a chance you might lose it all?"

Pressing the disk into her hand once more, taps it. "You could have a long life with ones you love here and now. What kind of a life do you want with them?" He points towards the front door where his own mate and hers are sitting on the steps. "Do you want him constantly worried for your sanity or your impulsiveness?"

He presses and hand to his own chest pretty sure that the chance of turning the tides of the war was on her mind when going back. Swallowing hard, he ponders his own loss in a swift moment, "I know what it's like to risk your life for your mate. Sometimes we don't think everything through in a rash moment. If you do see me as a mentor, then heed my advice from one who has already walked a dangerous road; do not put yourself at any more risk than you have to. You could lose something very precious and never get it back." He turns back to the door and sighs softly thinking of his own mate, "It worries them so. It causes them to fret and get anxious and the last thing you want is someone in a dangerous occupation to not focused completely on their own task but on you causing them to make... deadly mistakes."

Timeflip watches the way the wiser mech is looking at the door. She's not sure if he said that more for her or for himself. Either way, he was right. "Shockwave, c-can you help me put this on so Barricade can sleep well at night?"

It takes a moment for Shockwave to come back to the here and now, but then he turns and takes the disk activating it. Leaning over her and with soft pressure, he fixes it to her helm top right next to her lamp. Before he can pull away completely, she slips her arm around his neck and gives him a tight hug then swiftly releases the reserved mech.

Flushing warmly, Shockwave just pulls to his regal height and adjusts his antenna with a clearing throat as well. "Right, so your doctor can take it from here. Good night, Timeflip, Dr. Stalkah." With that, he takes her warm embrace of gratitude with him and heads towards the front door.

Timeflip watches one of the best gifts Primus dropped into her life stride away whilst a tear slips down her cheek. Dr. Stalkah watches the mech leave as well and then take some more readings silently allowing the femme to digest the conversation.

~~8~~

Outside, it's not too surprising for Shockwave to find Megatron and Barricade sitting on the top step looking out over the parking lot silently. The silver one is smoking, the Navy blue one is fiddling with a spring in his removed gauntlet letting it make that tiny 'twang' sound. Megatron turns to the sound of the door opening. With a thump to the blue shoulder, he turns and rises with optics pleading for information.

The scientist gives his report, "She and the sparkling are fine. I didn't have to force the blocker, she asked for it."

Barricade's whole body just sags in relief. "Thank, Primus."

"I believe she will have a few days of medical leave, if not, I will say that is the case," the antenna cock in warning.

Megatron smiles to his former commander still pushing the orders around. Before either of them say anything more, Shockwave raises both of his hands, "Look, she was a good little lab assistant then and a hell of a secretary now, but you have to remember, she's still just a young femme. She has a LOT to learn and I can't help you. She needs a real mentor, not me."

Barricade chews his lip, "I found her mother. She's on her way now."

Shockwave sags in complete relief feeling like a ton of weight just came off his shoulders. "Thank goodness!" The youngest mech shakes his head and chuckles a little. Shockwave leans closer to his own mate, "Please take me home, now."

Megatron holds up his hands though stalling that thought, "Wait a moment. You mean to tell me that we had someone within our ranks that could travel through time and you didn't think it important to tell me?!"

Shockwave scowls and shakes his head and hands. "Oh no! I'm not going through ethics of dimensional time travel and the long term ramifications of it with you tonight, too!"

Before Shockwave can make it down the stairs, Megatron grips the violet bicep, "You withheld valuable information from me, Commander."

Shockwave narrows his optic and lowers his tone to a warning, "No. I was not going to put anyone at risk on a young inexperience femme. Most certainly not you, My Lord." He can use the title softly in response to the former situation.

Barricade can feel the tension beginning to rise and slips back into the safety of his own home carefully closing the door on the two stronger ex-commanders. Not a time he wants to be standing between them. As he locks the door, he wonders if calling Shockwave may not have been the best idea. If he could go back and do it over again...

He laughs to himself.