Another chapter I'm just kinda... iffy about. I like it ok, but once again I dunno how well the action fleshed out from my head, ya know? Let me know how you think it could improve. :)
Finals start soon, but they also end soon... so i'll get to write without feeling guilty. Maybe I'll work on some not bravura stories, like that Hot Rod one I wanted to do or Devcon/Curia, which is winning in that poll I have on my profile page. maybe the D9 one i worked on briefly and then quit. I've gotten my hands on a few of the IDW spotlights and after reading the little arc with hot rod/hardhead/doubledealer and so on, it's really caught my interest. it's a new world of possibilities!
The next time a Decepticon came to the door and tried to give us energon I took a cube with a quiet thank you. The mech, not one I recognized, just grinned lasciviously and shut the door. I sipped at it, didn't detect anything strange… To be safe I took a smaller gulp and waited a full half for any strange effects before coaxing Artemis to have some. At first she refused, but after having a small fit from the stress of being away from her mother she accepted the cube, which was much too big for her, and filled up her tank. I took what remained and left it by the door. I didn't need or want any, as my energy level seemed to be hovering mysteriously at 95%.
This confirmed, in my mind anyway, that I'd done the right thing in coming here. The Allspark was somehow sustaining me while I watched over Artemis and tried to work out a way to help out Sam. So far I was at a loss… Even if I got to Sam and got us above water we'd have to get away, and with the Seekers at Megatron's beck and call I'd be stopped. They would probably punish me through Artemis at that point, and…
"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do," I whispered. "Tell me what to do."
Artemis said something in sparkling chatter, so I looked down at her. She was sitting cross-legged, her head cocked slightly while she watched me. I sat up from my weary slump and reached for her, pulling her into my lap and cuddling her. At least she was safe. God, what were they doing to Sam?
When Megatron came back I was even more cautious than before. The Decepticon's calm explanations were pretty reasonable, if you looked at them sideways… but there was that edge, the bloodthirstiness that Sam had described. Megatron didn't compromise, he just destroyed the competition.
He saw the partially emptied cube on the floor and picked it up, taking it to the berth before sitting. I was already sitting there, cross -legged with my back against the wall while Artemis napped in my lap.
"It's a start," he said turning the cube, which looked small in his hands, so that the energon swished from one side to the other. He wasn't much bigger than Skywarp, if at all, and yet his size was much more imposing than any other mech I'd ever come across. Especially now that I knew he was on to me and still wasn't punishing me. What was he after?
"You say you're a neutral," Megatron said slowly. "And that your offspring's father was a neutral."
"Yes." It wasn't technically a lie. I had said it.
"Why did the Autobots allow you, a solitary neutral femme, to risk your life when the odds are immeasurably against you?"
"They didn't know. I made the decision to follow Starscream without thinking. By the time I got in the air the Seekers were on me and I couldn't exactly take it back."
"What experience do you have as a fighter?" His questions were making my wiring prickle, but I couldn't figure out why.
"Limited. As a friend of mine says, I'm better than your average neutral because I'm fast, but I can't hold up against a dedicated fighter."
"How did you survive the extermination?"
Don't lie to him again, Skywarp had said.
"I wasn't born yet," I said cautiously. I was stepping into uncertain territory now.
"So your mother survived it. How did she manage it?"
"I don't know."
"You are considerably younger than I thought," Megatron said after a few moments of silence. "Did you intend to have a sparkling so very young?"
"No." I did not intend to have a sparkling, ever.
"Do you consider yourself lucky to be alive, Bravura?"
Something in his voice made me cringe internally, but instead I just looked up at his crimson optics.
"Sometimes," I said after I let myself think about the question. "Your war hasn't created a very kind universe."
"I'm sure you believe I'm as cruel as the galaxy that you've endured."
I looked away, afraid to say something he wouldn't like.
"I can be a harsh master," he continued. "Being in a position of leadership for so long, I've become adept at certain skills. How much do you know about Starscream, the Aerial Commander?"
"He's your second, but he wants to replace you" I said quietly. "He's the fastest in the command trine. He's a snob."
"Amazing how accurate common knowledge can be," Megatron purred. "Starscream often lies to me, to try to bring about his own ends or to try to end me. I quickly became familiar with the qualities of a liar in action, my dear femme."
I looked up at him again, controlling the glimmer of fear that threatened to show. "That must come in handy," I whispered.
"It certainly does. Since we both know the truth, there's no point in playing this little game any longer. This is not your sparkling."
I nodded, unable to tear my optics away from the predatory stare of the Decepticon leader. "You're right."
"Good femme. Now, tell me honestly why you came to my base, or I will take her from you and give her to the Stunticons. A few of their number… appreciate the charms of a sparkling." He seemed pleased at my sickened expression, smiling slightly.
"I want to find a way to return her to her mother and save Sam before you kill him," I whispered hoarsely.
He watched me carefully as I spoke. "What else?"
I looked up, shaken. There wasn't anything else. "Nothing."
In a move so fast I barely had time to widen my optics Megatron twisted around, trapping my neck against the wall and squeezing slightly. There was an eerie gentleness in the way he held me, almost like a lover, but the intent in his optics told me that he had no love for me. Still, he hadn't even woken Artemis up.
"There is something else," he hissed. "Tell me or I'll remove the sparkling from your care, as you have no maternal right to it."
What else was there? What?! I tried frantically to think why he'd believe I was lying when the possibility of a previously unconscious motive surfaced. Oh, no.
"I wanted to see something," I whispered.
"Continue," he whispered, his face frighteningly close to mine.
"Someone," I choked. I couldn't risk Artemis. I didn't dare give Skywarp away.
"Who?" he hissed, anger clouding his calm features.
"A Seeker," I whimpered, frantically trying to find a way out.
"Which one?" he snarled, his voice raising. Artemis shifted but didn't wake.
"Dirge," I gasped.
His optic ridges pinched together in surprise. It was true that my spark whispered for his, that if I hadn't been in such a panic in the City seeing the fearmonger might have actually given it a rise… but I'd been much too scared for it to respond to his distant spark.
"You came here to catch a glimpse of Dirge? I watched him knock you out." He was having a hard time digesting it, but it'd been true, in a way. I hadn't lied, not completely.
"It's a one-sided interest," I whispered. True again. Dirge had been far more interested in me, back in the Predacan ship, and before that after Sheol, than I had been in him.
"What do you see in him?" Megatron asked, sounding truly interested.
"You won't believe me," I sighed. "But he caught me once, not long ago, really. He did what you'd expect a mech like him to do to a weaker femme, but he also taught me a lesson in survival and let me go, and… it's kept me alive. I owe Dirge my life." I knew it rang true, because I honestly believed it. If Dirge hadn't told me to reject the upgrade on Predaca, or how to obtain a mindset that would keep me from getting myself into hotter water than I already was… I would've died a long time ago, that or I'd be an imperfect technorganic being bred to a smaller equally imperfect monster.
Megatron actually seemed to be a little embarrassed at this point. "You mean you came here, into the keeping of an army you've undoubtedly been taught to mistrust or even hate, to see a mech who raped you."
"I didn't realize it at the time," I said softly. "I thought it was all for Artemis and Sam. I didn't know how badly I wanted to see him." Though I wasn't referring to the same him, now. I had so badly wanted to see Skywarp again…
"Remarkable," Megatron muttered. "You're half-clocked."
"Yeah," I said, hiding my relief. "I'm pretty messed up. You saw me before the Allspark interfered. I didn't get that way for no reason."
"Look on the bright side," Megatron said, finally releasing me. "Under my keeping you'll get to see Dirge, and you'll be so closely watched you won't be able to ruin yourself again."
"Lovely," I whispered. "I'd rather Sam lived."
"No sacrifice, no victory," Megatron said with a soft chuckle. "How appropriate…" With that he got up and left without another word.
I seemed to be unable to recharge. As the second day drew to a close and my energy level remained constant I began to worry more and more that there might be a time limit on my gift. No clues had magically appeared in my processor to sneak all three of us out of here, so I was beginning to hope that the Autobots would get involved somehow. I was trying to work out how they could manage it when the door opened. I looked up from the rock paper scissors game we'd been playing. Nothing but an empty doorway.
The door shut again, and at first I thought I'd just missed my chance at escape. I heaved a sigh and was about to turn back to Artemis and our game when I felt… something. Maybe the air moving strangely in the room, or a faint noise I wasn't quite able to hear… A glance around the room told me I was alone, but I stood up and extended my knives anyway.
"Somebody's in here," I said slowly. "Megatron said you're not allowed in here. He'll have that creepy monotone bot after you any minute."
"We'd better get moving if that's so, little lady."
The voice came from right in front of me, and it was one I knew well.
"Mirage?" I whispered, reaching in front of me blindly. My fingers met warm metal and I felt his hands curl around mine.
"That's right. Hound is working on Sam. We figured you'd respond better to me, since you don't know Hound and Sam does."
I nodded, relief flooding me. "Yeah. What's the plan?"
His hand withdrew and I heard a faint metallic noise, then he pressed something the size of a grapefruit into my hand. It shimmered to visibility as soon as he withdrew from it. "This is a damn good hologram projector, so don't go giving this one away. There's a hologram of one of the Stunticons already loaded into it, just install it and turn it on. I'll take Artemis and I'll lead you up. If anybody stops you, let me take care of it."
My hands shook as I installed the projector into my chest and let it load itself into my system. I knelt at the berth and took Artemis's tiny hands in mine.
"Look, honey, Uncle Mirage is here. He's invisible, but he's going to protect us. Remember what I said about being brave like the Primes?" She nodded. "We have to be extra brave now. Uncle Mirage is going to carry you, and I'm going to look like a bad mech. It'll only be pretend, I'll still be me underneath. Promise not to get scared?" I felt Mirage's hand on my shoulder, and he sent me a quick Hurry, there's not much time. Another nod from Artemis. "Good girl. I'm gonna give you to Uncle Mirage now. You get to be invisible like him, but you have to be extra extra quiet. You're good at that, so I'll know you'll do great. Are you ready? Ok…"
I lifted her up and passed her to where I believed the invisible Intelligence Officer to be. Artemis was lifted from my hands and for a moment hung in the air. My relief heightened yet again when she disappeared. Mirage would keep her safe. She'd be ok.
"Now you," Mirage said. "We have to move, Vura."
In response I activated the hologram. I felt the tiny buzz of its generator, and when I looked down I was gunmetal gray with lavender highlights.
"Eugh," I said softly. "Ok, Raj. Get us out of here."
I felt his hand on my arm- Not my true arm, but the arm of the hologram. It was solid. He wasn't kidding when he said it was a good one. He began to guide me out of the room, and I followed.
Try to walk like you weigh more, he sent. Like you're lugging a few hundred pounds of weapons systems.
They're that heavy?
They can be. That's better. Left here.
Artemis is ok?
She's being very still, hanging onto me for dear life. I do believe I'll have dents.
Good. I'll personally pop those out if we make it out of here.
I'm not going to forget you said that. Right and then left at the very next turn. Think heavy. Don't look around so much, you live here.
Much further?
We'll be at the elevator in three minutes tops.
We passed a couple of mechs, but I stared furiously ahead of me to avoid looking at them. They sniggered as we passed.
Why are they laughing? I asked Mirage nervously.
You're wearing a hologram of Breakdown. He's kind of… sensitive, I guess. You're playing him well.
Oh, good. Any chance this guy is wandering around down here? Two Breakdowns could get fishy pretty quick.
He should be on the continent. A lot of the groundbound troops don't like to waste the time getting lugged out here unless they need energon.
How do you know so much, Mirage? Come to think, how do you know your way around here so well?
I'm the intel, Vura. Hound and I made sure to get comfortable with the place. How do you think I knew where to find you?
He guided my around another corner. A couple of mechs were hanging outside a familiar looking doorway.
"Hey Breakdown, lookin' good."
I glanced at the mech who spoke and looked down quickly, quickening my pace.
"Come on, you don't mind me getting an optic full, do ya? Where ya goin', Breakdown?"
Don't answer. Your voice isn't covered.
I rushed way down the hall as quickly as I could without running, leaving the two mechs laughing uproariously.
How is it going with Sam?
Don't know. It's too risky to use comms down here with Soundwave lurking around. He could detect something, even if he can't decode it.
We walked down another hall. If it weren't for the comforting pressure on my arm, I would never know Mirage was walking next to me. His steps and movements were utterly silent.
Megatron talked to me a lot, I said without knowing why.
What did he say?
He's the kind of evil that looks good. He seems believable, until he says stuff like… 'the minority must suffer so the majority may thrive' kind of bull. I carefully avoided the stare of the one Seeker I'd yet to see, Thrust maybe, as he stood down an adjoining hall. We were out of sight quickly.
He didn't get to you, did he?
No, not that I know of anyway. I still think he's evil incarnate.
Good. He didn't just kill the femmes. Mirage sounded faintly bitter.
The Towers.
Yeah, and everybot in them. Not to mention countless innocent neutrals all over Cybertron and the colonies. Oh, no.
What? I couldn't see what was bothering Mirage at first, but he didn't quite manage to shove me back into the hallway I'd come from before I caught a glimpse of wide winged shoulders bird legs. Who was that?
Arguably the one mech in the place who might know you're not Breakdown, Mirage said gravely. We have to backtrack.
We turned around and kept moving, but a glance over my shoulder gave me a little flare of alarm. It was Dirge, and he was following slowly. Focusing in, I could see his expression was curious and determined.
Mirage, I sent worriedly. He's behind us.
A couple of seconds passed, then he cursed. Ok, keep moving. I don't think he's getting anything from me, but chances are he's picking up Artemis. You, too?
Yeah, I admitted unashamedly. I was scared. Oh. Slag, he doesn't just know there are two of us!
I don't follow, Mirage said, tugging me around a corner.
Femmes smell different to him. Or taste, or something. Different bots have different feels, Mirage.
And he knows how you… feel. The last word was tinged with so much bitter hatred that I actually felt more grateful towards the Elite, if at all possible.
He sees Breakdown, but he feels Artemis and me. He knows, Mirage!
Right. Ok… if he stops us, I'll give you Artemis and take care of it. A file came in through his touch, a simple bare bones blue print of the base. Hound will meet you at the elevator. Do your best not to let anybot see her.
Don't leave us, Raj, I sent, panicking. I need your help.
"I knew it," I heard Dirge growl from down the hall.
I looked back when his footsteps started hitting the floor a little faster. He was coming, but he didn't look angry.
Don't do anything unless you have to, I sent to Mirage. He might not-
"Megatron called me to his throne room," Dirge said when he got close. His optics raked up and down me, looking for a flaw. "You wouldn't believe what he told me. Or maybe you would."
I kept walking and shrugged. Mirage's grip on my arm was almost painfully tight.
"He told me that yo- our guest admitted to being here for me. Apparently she's so obsessed me, she simply couldn't resist."
What is he talking about?
I kind of told Megatron I came here because I wanted to see Dirge. I didn't want to risk Warp.
You mean to tell me you came here to see Skywarp? Disgusting, Vura.
I didn't ask for your opinion, Raj.
"No comment?" Dirge purred. A thrum of false fear raced up my spine. "I found it to be more than a little intriguing."
I was yanked to a hard stop when Dirge grabbed my arm, luckily not the side Mirage was on. I was almost pulled between them, but Mirage corrected and eased up.
"I know who you are," he whispered, bending low to me. "I'm impressed. I don't know how you pulled it off, or how you're hiding the sparkling… But truly, I'm flattered that you have such a strong attraction for me, thought I'd advise against coming here again." With that he straightened up and stalked up.
I stood there shaking until Mirage gave a gentle tug. We have to go.
Ok.
We finally passed down the hall with the familiar elevator exit. I'd never gone up that elevator before. Mirage pulled me to a stop, so I leaned against the wall trying to look casual.
We're going to wait for Hound and Sam. When we get to the surface Hound will signal Breakaway and Blaster, who will drop from orbit and land. We'll load Artemis with Blaster, since she can handle the FTL if he has to use it, and Breakaway will have Sam. If they're attacked Blaster can get Artemis to safety and come back to help Breakaway.
What about us? How do we get home?
You trust me, right?
Of course I trust you.
Good. I know you had that episode with being underwater a few years ago, but you'll have to try to get over it on the fly. An Autobot is waiting a few miles out to convey us to shore, but until then we're going to have to go underwater.
I spent a few years in space without air, water shouldn't be a big deal…
Well, Hound and I have propellant equipment. You don't. If I drop you, you'll sink to the bottom and you won't be able to get up. It was true. My engines couldn't function for more than a short burst underwater. After that they cut out. But I won't drop you. Even if I did for some reason have to let go of you I wouldn't leave you down there.
I took a deep intake. Good thing you need me to pop those dents out.
I don't trust anybody else with the job.
I could sense Mirage's nearness to me because of the way the air moved, but if I hadn't known he was there already I might not have paid attention to it. He was very close, still holding onto my arm loosely. It was comforting, but I knew we weren't safe yet.
Will Hound be invisible too?
No. He's going to be a Decepticon called Rollbar. They're a similar alt mode, same size. He's going to be carrying a piece of equipment, Sam under a hologram.
Think we'll get them up ok?
They'll be fine. We're in more danger than they are.
It was about this time a deep and groaning alarm moaned to life. I slid against the invisible Mirage and his hand tightened. A few more seconds.
Who do you think they found missing?
Doesn't really matter. They'll be checking the other. Mirage tugged me to the elevator door, the pad to get into it lighting up under his invisible touch. I hate saying this, but we might have to go up without them.
We can't leave them, Mirage.
It's better to save at least some. Hound and I already agreed on this.
I will not go without Sam.
Bravura, we don't have a choice! He pulled me towards the waiting elevator door as it slid open, but a crackling sensation shuddered up my back and neck as the Allspark energy in my lines threw itself against his pull. I stayed put. He pulled harder, but in a quick whipping motion I twisted his grip off. "Take Artemis up. I have to find Sam. I don't have a choice."
"This is madness. I am not going to let you be their prisoner!"
"The Allspark won't let me leave without Sam," I told Mirage calmly. The energy was very much demanding that I ensure Sam's safety. Even if I didn't do anything, I had to be sure he was rescued. "I owe it for healing me. Just go up, Raj."
I heard a grinding noise, then his hand fell on my shoulder.
I'm staying with you.
Artemis is more important.
To whom exactly? He asked. Do you have no idea how important you are to me?
You don't understand!
No, you don't understand Bravura. I cannot go up knowing you're down here alone at their mercy. I can't just-
"GET IN!" I snapped my head around to look, and sure enough a green mech was charging for us, a chunk of wire-ridden metal in his arms. Mirage took advantage of my distraction and wrapped his arm around my artificially masculine waist, lifting me with ease and slinging me into the elevator. He forced me towards the back of the elevator just as Hound burst in with us. There was an electric crackle as he dropped his hologram, revealing a very similar looking mech beneath. Sam was unconscious in his arms. Mirage shimmered into view. As the door shut I caught sight of several Decepticons heading for us. No point in pretending now, so I let my hologram shut down too.
The lift didn't get far before it jerked to a halt. Mirage turned Artemis, who was statue-stiff with fear, into my keeping. The two Autobots conferred a moment.
"They stopped the lift. They'll have it going back down soon. We have to blow our way out," Hound said with gusto.
"The human," Mirage reminded Hound.
"Yeah…Could he last that long?"
"No," I interrupted. "He'd die this deep, especially in as bad as shape as he looks now… But I have an idea."
In a few moments I gave Artemis back to Sam and the mechs moved aside, giving me space as I transformed into the Tweet. I lifted my canopy so that Hound could lower Sam and Then Artemis into my cockpit just as the lift began to move down again. He forcefully pushed down my canopy, which kind of hurt, then turned to Mirage.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Hound's arms transformed into weapons, while Mirage slung his rifle down to point at the same wall as Hound. The sound in the small space would have been deafening to a human, but luckily Sam was shield in my cockpit. The inrush of water was more of a concern to me. The elevator shuddered and stopped, but the mechs were already at the hole, peeling the metal away while fighting the blast of frozen water. The waiting ocean was absolutely dark.
Be waiting, we're coming up from the water! We've been compromised. Hound sent on the Autobot frequency.
We're ready, Blaster sent back.
Once the hole was big enough the two mechs picked me up and carried me to the opening. The flow had eased up, since the room was already more than half full with icy seawater. Hound eased out first, the thunderous growl of his propellant system breaking into the quiet open water. Mirage's followed in moments and I was hanging as dead weight in the water between them as we rushed to the surface at a ridiculous speed. I did my best to spare Sam the rapidly changing pressure, but I didn't know what exactly would help him. Hopefully the Allspark would watch over him.
The water lightened rapidly, and in what seemed like just a minute or so we breached the surface. Almost before we splashed back down the roar of two engines, one familiar and one definitely not from an Earth ship, came in loud and fast.
Mirage and Hound maneuvered to keep me level as Breakaway splashed down before me, Blaster behind. While Hound held me up Mirage pulled himself up my wing and I lifted my canopy, allowing him to pluck out Artemis and Sam. I transformed as soon as the two were clear, relying on Hound to keep me above water and taking Artemis. Mirage went to put Sam in Breakaway as Hound pulled me to Blaster, and in a matter of seconds both of them were secured in the flyers. Just in time.
Two mechs burst up out of the water, one just feet from Blaster. In response the two mechs burned their engines. Blaster rose immediately, Breakaway following a little more slowly. I couldn't see how Breakaway was pushing himself straight up, but it was something I'd seen Skywarp do before, once when I was human and a couple of times in the desert. More tech I didn't have. There was an audial shattering peal, and then Blaster was gone.
Hound started to sink, but my Allspark drive hadn't left me yet. The two mechs who'd broken water, Thrust and Dirge, were coming in. Breakaway was going to be alone and unable to maneuver. Using Hound's body for leverage I threw myself from the water and poured the livewire energy of the Allspark into my liftoff, clearing water from my vents and transforming before the green mech could pull me back down, which he tried. I think I may have burned him a little. My presence seemed to throw the Seekers, but only for a moment. Dirge broke away from his brother to target me while Thrust continued for Breakaway.
Dirge hit me without holding back. I transformed just before he slammed into me, and when we hit the water it felt like slamming into concrete. I think he was trying to sink me, but I hung onto him for dear life, using the confusion of the swirling water to get on his back. His arms were easily long enough to grab me, but as his claws closed on me I crisscrossed my knives against his neck. He'd have to cut through his own wiring to dislodge me.
Let me back in the air, I ordered icily.
You're safer down here, he said in a velvet huff. Just drop.
I can't. Get out of the water.
Let go.
My blades sawed gently against his wiring. I cannot let go. Get in the air or I'll cut your lines. I won't be sorry.
You're asking to get killed, Dirge snapped, but then he started rising to the surface. We broke out of the water and I let go of his neck. He flung me away, towards the water, but using the Allspark's tremendous power I just managed to stay clear. Breakaway was struggling with Thrust high overhead, but even as I watched Blaster reappeared with a painful peal. He shot some kind of laser at Thrust and the Decepticon peeled away, though he didn't give up. Very quickly the mechs flew away at speeds I could never hope to match. Dirge didn't follow, stalking me.
Get down here, you idiot! Hound sent furiously. They'll be fine!
He seemed to be correct, and at this point there wasn't anything I could do. Even as transformed and let myself fall into the water I felt the sustaining energy of the Allspark fading from my system. I felt strangely empty.
Mirage caught me as I sank and held me lengthways against him, streamlining our two forms as much as possible before beginning our escape underwater. Dirge didn't come after us, nor did any other Decepticon.
Climbing up onto the waiting ship, I couldn't help but feel the weight of water in my vents and feel painfully tired. My energy level had dropped explosively in just those few minutes of seemingly pointless activity in the air, so when Mirage and Hound climbed up behind I just stood there dumbly. Hound moved to the stern, his arms combining into what looked like a nasty missile launcher, while Mirage pulled me to the bow. He held his rifle ready to use. I sank to the deck of the ship at his feet, relief overwhelming me.
"Are you ok?" Mirage asked quietly, his optics on the skyline.
"Yeah. Tired, the Allspark's energy just disappeared as soon as Breakaway and Blaster flew off."
"You look great, and judging by the way you managed to handle geting used as a beach ball it didn't jus fix the exterior."
"Right." I leaned against the mechs legs, not too hard. "Thanks for saving us. I had no idea how I was supposed to get all three of us out of there."
"At least you kept Artemis calm."
"Yeah… where's this Autobot we were supposed to meet? Is he driving the ship?"
Mirage chuckled. "He is the ship."
I jumped slightly, then settled, feeling stupid. "We're on him?"
"Yep. He's one of those super-sized mechs. You don't see them anymore, they were just too big as targets. He'd normally be a smaller interstellar cargo ship, but since we needed the help getting in close to the Decepticon base he volunteered."
"Can he hear us talking about him?"
"Of course."
"Can he talk to us?"
"Yes," a deep and unusually electronic voice said from the cabin of the metal ship.
"Oh. Thanks for this, um..."
"Depthcharge," the mech offered.
"Depthcharge. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure." By his tone I sensed he might prefer to remain silent. Mirage and I decided to follow his example, so while Hound stood watch at the back and Mirage had the front I sat lightly against the Elite's legs and tried to help him keep an optic out.
