[977]

Shorts in the world of Road Testing, Letter Limits, as well as The Perils of E-Mail and Licences and Little Girls.

In the future, I'll just call this the Human Element AU, because the crew are using human holoforms, and I like finding names related to elements.

-.-.- line breaks show completely different scenes, not just short time breaks!

"This is stupid."

I look over at Rumble with a smirk, "We're are learning about human culture."

He shoots me a look, "Yeah, but this is basically pointless bickering!"

Ravage's little human girl form turns around and shushes us, "At least their arguments are entertaining. Yours are boring."

We all look back at the screen as one of the characters, a blue one named Caboose, shoots his commanding officer, Church, with a tank. Accidentally.

The other person on their team, Tucker, shouts profanity-filled abuse at Caboose for killing their leader.

I look down at Ravage, "Okay, we've never gone that far, but this is hardly interesting."

The little holoform manages to glare back at me with surprising anger, "Shut. Up. I like it. I'm watching it. You don't like it? Go away."

Rumble and I exchange a nervous glance once Ravage turns back to the T.V.

Who'd have thought Ravage liked Red vs. Blue?

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"Umm... Ravage?"

Her freakishly adorable face tilts back to look at me, "What?"

I look obviously at her, laying on her back in the middle of our driveway and covered in happily purring cats.

She glances down at the cats, and looks back at me with a blissful expression. "I am their queen."

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I look down at Ravage, examining her holoform with unusual intensity as something occurs to me. "Ravage?"

She look up at me in irritation, "What?"

I keep staring, taking in her big amber eyes, curly black hair, and exceeding pale skin. "Why's your holo a little human girl?"

She focuses her full attention on me, "Excuse me?"

I stare back unflinchingly, "You heard me. Why not a cat or something?"

She looks back at me with an unreadable expression, and then, ever so slowly, a terrifying smile forms. "I am, as you so eloquently put it, a little human girl, because most human adults will see me as too young and innocent to do most of what I do. I am the perfect agent. Additionally," her smile softens, becoming one of amusement rather than evil, "I can't slap you without hands."

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I wince as Ravage glares up at Soundwave, "Really? You're naming my human form Ruth?"

Soundwave looks unperturbed. "Affirmative."

She twitches, her black curls bouncing slightly, "What is it with you and choosing human names based on elements?"

Rumble steps forwards, "Wait, Ruth is related to an element?"

Ravage snorts, "Yes, you half-wit. Ruthenium. Atomic number 44. Group 8. Period 5. Weight, 101.07. Density in grams per centimetre cubed, 12.37. Melting point, in degrees Kelvin, 2607. Boiling point, also in degrees Kelvin, 4423. Electronegativity, 2.2. Ruthenium."

Soundwave looks impressed, while Rumble and I are staring at her in shock. "How-?"

She stares at me, "Wikipedia." I continue to stare, and she sighs, "We do have internet connection here, you know."

Rumble giggles, "Whatever you say Ruth." He continues to giggle as she pounces on him with a snarl.

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"Hey, Ruth!"

I look back at a girl that looks to be the same age as Ravage's holoform shouts at us while running towards us. Ravage sighs quietly, "Oh, her."

I stare down at her in amusement, but the human catches up to us before I can say anything.

"Hi Ruth! I just wanted to say goodbye and I know we said goodbye in class but I also wanted to meet your dad and this looks like your dad and hello Ruth's dad it's nice to meet you I really like Ruth and we're good friends how are you?"

I smile gently down at the girl, well aware of how easily frightened young human children are, "I am Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Ravage slowly turns towards the girl, and I can see her mentally bringing up her human personality in order to civilly talk to the young girl. "Hey Rebecca," She says as she immerses herself fully in the personality, "this is my dad. His name's actually Samuel, but he likes Sam 'cause it's shorter."

The newly designated Rebecca nods sagely, "Shorter names are always easier to remember and it's nice to meet you Sam though I think I'll still call you Ruth's dad, or could I call you Mr. Wave? Because calling you Sam seems kind of weird because you're not an adult I know really well and the other adults I don't know really well are all teachers and I call them by their last names so I feel like I should do the same to you."

I keep smiling and nod, "You may call me Mr. Wave if you so wish."

Rebecca smiles happily, and starts walking backwards, "Okay then, it was nice to meet you Mr. Wave I just wanted to say hi and I've gotta go because I have piano practice and I can't be late and my mom will get mad so bye and I'll see you tomorrow Ruth!"

Ravage smiles and waves cheerfully after Rebecca, "By Becky!"

We watch the small child run back to her obviously impatient mother before turning away and walking back to my alt-mode. Ravage disconnects from her Ruth personality once we're in my alt-mode and in no danger of having to talk to any more of her class mates.

"Primus she's as bad as that Autobots gunner!"

I look down at Ravage with a wry grin, "Ruth. Obviously counted as a friend. Ruth's behaviour. Indicated fondness for Rebecca. Ruth. Must expect affections directed at herself."

Ravage scoffs, "Just because I can tolerate it as Ruth doesn't mean I like it as Ravage. The only reason I let Ruth like her is because she's actually pretty smart, despite being the human version of Bluestreak."

I simply smile at her, "Suggestion. Don't let Rumble or Frenzy know."

Ravage groans, "No need to tell me that. I'd never hear the end of it! Friends with a human."

I kind of like this AU...

Thoughts?

If there is any kind of chronological order to this AU, this would be after Licences and Little Girls.