I don't own Transformers, only Strike, Rave and Cross
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080
"Cross, I demand ya get out of yer room!" roared Rave as he bam his fist on the door.
"Make me!" shouted back the Femme.
Mumbling to himself, Rave started to get a running start at the door. Just before he could, Scavenger and Smokescreen came up on both his side and dragged him away. Optimus would have hated it if he broken down the door. Cross was still in her room after what happen at the last Minicon mission. Red Alert told everyone what happen after he check her over anything wrong and notice these marks on her neck. At once, both Hot Shot and Blurr demand that they hunt Sideways down. They really act like the kids sometimes. But again, Rave wanted to use Sideways' head as a ball. Now everyone was in front of her room, trying to coax her out.
"Get out of there!" shouted Rave as he was pulling down the hallway.
"I don't think she even listening to you," said Scavenger.
"Come on out, Cross," said Hot Shot.
"Please, we only with to discuss this with you," added Blurr
"I don't want to!" called out Cross.
"Argh, this is getting us nowhere," said Smokescreen.
"Maybe it best if we leave her alone for a bit," suggested Red Alert.
"I am afraid that all we can do,' said Optimus, "But, I want to everyone to keep an optic on her."
With that agree on, the Autobots started to head out on their separated ways. Scavenger noticed that Rave hadn't left his place. He was still standing there in front of the room, staring at the door. His arms where at his sides and his hands were in fists. The bulldozer knew at once that his friend was not happy. Shaking his head, Scavenger place his hand on green Mech's shoulder and tried to pull him away.
"Rave, move your can," he said, "We have other things to do."
"I should have been there," he mumbled under his breath as the two walked down the hall.
Scavenger just sighed as he figure that was the reason for Rave's depression. When you are around someone for so long, you become attached. That was one of the lessons for their training days; you don't get attach. But that is what makes them different from the Decepticons they were fighting. They cared about the beings that they swore to protect. It was part of being an Autobot. Rave seemed to know these two well since they were little kids. He must care about them if he was willing to go on this goose chase for someone that sold his soul to the devil.
"Look, there was nothing you could have stop it," said Scavenger, "It just happen."
"But I should have know that would happen. These Cons…they would that kind of thing. I should watched her," said Rave.
"Rave, you can't watch her twenty-four seven. She is able to create her own sparklings. She is an adult. Cross just will have to get over it," said Scavenger.
"I know that, but…"
"Listen to me; it not useful to beat yourself over this. It's not going to change anything. It happen and taught her a lesson. Next time, she will kick his aft if he tries it again. Just don't worry about it," stated Scavenger.
Rave hanged his head down to the ground. He knew that Scavenger was right about this. Still, he felt that he should have done something to help her out, prepare her with some kind of technique. It just never came into his head about that kind of situation. He always tried her like any other rookie under his command, just as hard and tough. But, she was not like the rookies of the past. Cross was a Femme. He had nothing against Femmes, he knew that they could be as tough as a Mech. Miss Ranger use to be living proof of that fact…that old bat.
"How long do you except she will kept up?" asked Scavenger as the two of them enter the training room.
"Let's see. When I brought her home after the take-over, she ran into my recharger room and locked the door shut. Spent three days in there, would have been longer but she fell unconscious from lack of Energon," commented Rave.
"Well, that just great,"
080
She just lay there on her recharger, looking at the wall. Nothing would move her form there. Death would have to come and take her. Ravage kneeled there beside her. He was the only being that she would allow in the out of her room. Of course, it help that there was a vent in her room so that he could crawl in and out. How else would he get inside?
Now, the time seem to be ticking by without a sound coming from either of them. The small Minicon was just focus on what was going within her head. There had to be a battle of some kind in there. He could only wonder what it would be about.
"Do you want to see something, Ravage?"
The small brown wolf minicon looked up at once. Cross had risen from her recharger and was on her feet again. Walking over to the desk in the room, she pulled open the drawer. Reaching inside, she pulled out something. The Minicon jumped off from his spot and walked over to see what she had. There in her hands was the Transformers version of a teddy bear, or at least what was left of one. He could tell that it was once white, but the chucks of white all over its chard body. It looked once that it was set on fire or was in one. It was missing an eye and what left of a red bow tie around its neck was hanging off. Why would Cross kept this thing? It was just a piece or junk.
"I know what you are think, Ravage," she said with a chuckle, "What am I doing with this thing. It old and broken, it should be throw out. It just I don't have the spark to do it."
Walking back over to the recharger, she sat down again and hugged tight to the bear. The wolf Minicon followed her there. He wanted to know more about her. He didn't know why, he just wanted to.
"You know, Strike got him for me," said Cross as she warped her arms around the toy, "when we were kids, just little kids…"
FLASHBACK
"Let me go! It just an energon bar! There are hundreds!"
Strike and Rave were staring each other down again. Neither of them were willing to let the other gain the upper hand over the other. Older Mech had the younger one but the scuff of his neck joint and held him off the ground. Again, Strike had tried to take one of his energon bars from this new comer to the planet. Rave had just appeared only a month ago and Strike was already making trouble for him. The older mech was still shining in his metal and the Autobot insignia was still showing brightly on his chest.
"Of course! That what I sell! But that doesn't give ya license to steal! How many times do I have to tell ya!" roared out Rave.
Strike just suck out his tongue at him, " We're poor! We don't have the money for this stuff! Jerkface!" said Strike.
Rave just growled as the youth made faces at him. How could he show no fear when Rave clearly had the upper hand? This kid was just too hardheaded for his own good. Well, he would just have to teach him a lesson.
"What are you doing here, Strike?" growled Rave.
"I here to pick up Cross for supper, lungnuts, since you are using child labor!" responded Strike.
"Hey, she wanted to work for me, ya little brat!"
"Mister Rave, Strike, stop it!"
The two Mech turned to see a smaller Cross standing there. She was behind the counter of Rave's shall. She was standing height to the counter and had on an apron with energon dripping on the ground. She just frowned at the two of them and yet her orange optics were slowly filling up with tears. Rave growled as he dropped Strike to the ground. He hate that look the Femme gave him. That how he cave into giving her a small job, just packing up the pieces of Energon. Of course, she was great with the customers. No one could say no to a cute face like hers.
"Fine, but I am taking ya, I need to take to this Miss Rangers of yers," growled Rave as he pushed Strike and Cross along as he mumble under his breath, "I don't know why I do this,"
Strike just mumbled something that Cross couldn't make out, but Rave could. In one quick motion, Strike flew ten feet across the ground. Seeing if was hurt, Cross ran up to him and tried to help Strike back on to his feet. The older Mech just stood there with a frown on his face.
"Hey, why did you do that?" demanded Strike as he got back on to his feet.
"I don't want to hear those out of ya mouth," respond Rave.
"But, I didn't…"
"Slagging Decepticon Whor …"
"Ok, I get it!" shouted Strike as he stormed in front of the group as the halfway house was just up ahead of them.
Having enough of Strike's talk back. Rave grabbed a hold of his neck joint. Then with the squirming youth in his hand, the former Autobot started to bam on the door with Cross slowly coming behind him.
"Miss Ranger! Miss Ranger! Come out here! I have to have a word about yer rusted bolt here!" roared Rave.
The door open a bit and out step out Miss Ranger. She was a little bit shorter then Rave , but still had the thin feminine body from her final upgrade. Her red and pink armor had worn down quite a lot over the years, but her blue optics were still flashing from under her helmet that resembles a humans' motorcycle helmet and the cigarette puffing from her lip. But there were cracks and scratches all over her body. They would be easy to fix if she had the credits, but she spent all they had on the children that were under her care.
"Stop shouting. What is it?" she asked.
Rave was about to answer her when she looked at Strike in his hand and Cross behind his leg. She bended down to the kids' level, and had a smile on her face.
"Hello Strike, Cross," she said.
"Hi, Miss Ranger," respond the children.
"This is serious!" roared Rave as he dropped Strike to the ground. Cross quickly crawled over to him and started to drag him toward the house. Calming down some, Rave then turned back to Miss Ranger, who was seem to be laughing at him with her optics, "Listen, I'm new here, and the names Rave. Now ya have to deal with Strike. He being trying to take my products for the three past weeks and he earning a reputation in town!"
Miss Ranger just stepped up to Rave, her hand touching his face. Rave wince at the contact but still kept his angry face on. She wasn't going to get to him.
"Let him be. He's just a kid. Hadn't you ever stolen anything, Mr.…Rave, was it?"
"I take it ya are the reason he is like this!" growled Rave, not liking the idea of yelling at a Femme.
"You pay for what he took, right? Thanks," said Miss Ranger as she lend closer to Rave's face. Their noses were almost touching and Rave could smell the smoke coming from her cigarette.
"Listen, I'm flat broke right now, but I'll pay you back later…in kisses," she said in a enticing tone
This was enough to start Rave blushing madly. Satisfied with her job well done, Miss Ranger started to head inside the house, with Strike and Cross waiting for her. It took a while, but Rave soon snapped out of it and now he was fuming.
"It's not about the money!" roared Rave as he stomped his foot on to the ground.
"Your face is turning purple," stated Miss Ranger as she stood out side the door. Cross and Strike were on the ground rolling with laugher. He was looking like a monkey. Miss Ranger pushed the two laughing children, leaving Rave outside raving to himself.
"Thanks Miss Ranger, I thought for sure that…"
Strike never had time to finished what he had to say. Miss Ranger had deliver a quick right hook to the side if his face. The silver-plated youth was sent flying in the air and crashed into the wall. Cross gasped and then ran over to see if he was still alive.
"Ouch…Why did you do that?" moaned Strike as he rub the side of his face that she whacked.
"You know that you shouldn't be stealing. We don't steal," stated Miss Ranger as she stomped towards the back of the building, where they could smell something cooking.
There was the kitchen of the halfway house. It was quite large; the largest room next to the two bedrooms, one for the girls and the other for the boys and it was just as run down, like the rest of the house. Everyone was already gather around the table, which was only just a large metal box, a total of 10 mouths all being waiting to be feed. Miss Ranger, fuming stomped over to the stove that looked like it was toss in the junkyard only to salvage for their use. There was a large pot on it and it was bubbling something purple.
Strike and Cross quickly grabbed their seats next to Petra and a short, yet heavy armor tan Mech. They want to get their share of the food, before everyone head in for seconds. Strike just sat there grumbling about something and Cross was staring at the table.
"What did you do this time?" asked the tan Mech as he looked at the silver Mech with his green optic.
"Nuthing, Zip," grumble Strike as he spun his spoon in his hand before turning to Cross, "I don't see what you work for that jerk for, Cross?"
"You know I want that toy at Jackstop's Toy Store," answer Cross as she looked at her friends with her large orange optics, "But, Miss Ranger wouldn't get it for me, so I need the credits."
"Which is good for you, Cross," agreed Petra as she patted the younger Femme on the back, "It good that you work for what you want, unlike other Mechs I could mention," then she glared at Zip and Strike.
"Hey, don't give me that look, I didn't do anything!" said Zip as he held up his hand in his own defense.
"You shouldn't let her get to you, Zip," stated Strike, "All she is hot air."
Petra frowned and threw her spoon at Strike. He wasn't paying attention to what was going on, so he never saw the object coming toward him. Before Strike knew it, the spoon hit him square in the face. That broke the entire table into laugher. They could always get a show when Strike and Petra were in the same room together.
"So, anyway, how much do you need before you can get that bear," said Petra as she turned her attention back to Cross.
"Just only two more weeks of pay," said Cross with a giggle, "It will be so worth it once I bring him home."
"Primus, you Femmes and your dolls," scoffed Strike, "Why would you spent a good 25 credits on a stupid bear and not on something useful?"
"Yeah," agreed Zip as he nodded his head.
"If I do recall, Zip you have a Ultra Magnus doll and Strike as the Rodimus one," stated Petra as she rested her elbow on the table.
That was enough for to the two Mechs to gain some energon in their cheeks as more laugher came from the table. Recovering more quickly from the comeback then his friend, Strike cleared his throat and glared back at Petra.
"For your information, they aren't dolls, they are action figures," said Strike trying to gain what pride he had left.
"In other words, dolls," said Petra.
Strike was just about to respond to that, just as Miss Ranger came over with the large pot and ladle in her hand. Supper was served. Each of them were given a couple spoonfuls of the soup into the bowls in front of them. It was the same thing they were eating every day. It was the only thing that they could actually afford. Zip and Strike dove into a feeding frenzy, while the Femme beside them tried to cover themselves from the flying food.
"Mechs," scoffed Petra as she tried to eat her own dinner.
Everyone ate as much as they would be able to eat. Once done, everyone scatter to the corners of the house or back outside. Cross was the only one left. It was her night to do dishes this night. Everyone had to do it once about every two weeks, the youngest kids had to do it together with Miss Rangers help. So, the sink filled out with some type of water that was more dirty then clear. Pouring a bit of lime green soap into the water, Cross just stood there, watching the bubbles form.
Footsteps came behind her as she poked a couple bubbles and turned off the water. Seeing shadows over cast above her, Cross looked around to see who was here. Her optics widen at the sight of who it was and took only a couple steps back, crashing into the counter.
"Ha-Hangar," whisper the frighten Femme.
There stood the bully of the house. He was the oldest and the strongest out of all the children in the home. His black metal flashed in the light and his wings twitch a bit. His bright green optics stood out on his pale white face as he smirked down at the femme. There behind him were his two friends, a set of twins that went by Runamok and Runabout. Those two were always racing around and causing problems with everyone. Runamok was on the left of Hangar, had blue and green armor while his brother, Runabout was red and orange.
"Wh-What do you guys want?" asked Cross as she hope someone would notice that she was in trouble.
"Nuthing, really," said Hangar as he stepped closer to her, "We just want to know if you could give us a loan."
Cross slowly shook her head. They were after her credits, the credits that she spent all this time saving. There would be no way that she would let them have their oily hands on to her money. Hangar didn't seem to be very please to see that she had said no to him. With a snap of his fingers, Runamok and Runabout grabbed Cross on both side of her. She tried to scream but Runabout had placed his hand over her mouth. Hangar reach over to her side compartment and smile at once what he found there. He reached in and pulled out a red bag.
Cross' optics widen at the sight of Hangar taking her saving bag. She tried even harder to break free, to make the outside world know that she was in trouble. The only problem was that there wouldn't be anyone to help her. Everyone was scared to death of Hangar. The only ones that every stood up to him was Miss Ranger, Strike and Petra. But Miss Ranger was having her after supper nap, and Strike and Petra were fighting outside over the talk from the supper table with Zip being monitor. She was alone. Now, that he had what he wanted, Hangar point the twin toward the closest. Nodding their head, the two of them walked over and threw Cross inside there. With a twist of the lock, she was trapped.
She banged on the door for a good half-hour and still wasn't heard. This couldn't be happening. All her hard work was gone, vanish, just like that. How could Hangar and the twins gotten away with something like this? It was so mean. Cross curled up on the floor, drawing her knees belong her chin and tears started to fall down her face. She wasn't ever going to get out of here. She was going to die in the closest. As another fifteen minutes past by, Noise were coming from outside of the closest. Cross quickly stood back on to her feet and started to bad against the door. Someone had to here.
The lock turned and a small cracked open away. Then a small white head popped into Cross' view. Her optics widened and a small smile spread on her face. It was the bear from Jackstop' Shop, the one she was saving for. The door open the rest of the way and Cross found herself hugging the teddy bear for dear life. She felt so much better to get out of the closest.
"Glad to see…you are ok, Cross," said voice from behind her.
Cross turned her attention from the teddy to who had open the door in the first place. There stood Strike, a smile on her face and energon pouring down his face. His face and body was all dented and energon was turning his teeth purple. What happen to him?
"Strike, what…?"
"Ah, don't worry about me," said Strike as he held on to his right arm, "Over heard Hangar and his goons, and heard what they had done. I had a little 'chat' with them. Too bad, they spent all of your credits on…things. So, I just had to use my saving for the bear."
Cross looked at both the teddy bear and at Strike. He went all through that for her. He gotten the slag beaten up out of him and spend his own money, for her stake. Tears of joys started to form in her own optics as she charge forward at him and trapped the three of them into a giant hug. Of course, that wasn't the best idea with Strike in that condition.
END FLASHBACK
Taking the old toy in her hand, Cross just rubbed her face against the old bear. It always made her feel better. No matter what happen to her, it would put a smile on her face. It served her also as a reminder of why she was doing it. Strike went through so much to bring a smile to her face. Now, it was her turn. Nothing was going to stop her from getting her brother back.
Suddenly, there was this little creak sound. Cross thought at first she was hearing things. But it just got louder and louder. Now, Ravage and her were looking up to the ceiling. It was coming from the air vents. She placed her bear on the recharge and stood back on to her feet. Just as she was about to investigate, the front to the entrance fell over with a giant bam and a blur of orange, white and blue fell out of the vent. Ravage ran over and started to growl at the intruders.
/ Ah, down boy / said Jolt as he tried to put as much distance between the wolf Minicon.
/Help/ called out Incinerator as he placed Jolt between himself and Ravage.
/ Thank a lot, buddy/ mumbled Jolt.
Cross bend down to the ground and picked up Ravage in her arms. He was still growling at them and not taking his optics off of the two intruding Minicons. Both of them let of sigh of relief, until they realized that they were caught.
"What were you guys doing in the vents, by my room?" asked Cross as she gave the Minicons a questionable look.
They looked at each other and gulped. How where they going to explain this one? Hot Shot and Blurr had the two of them to find out how she was doing. Of course, that was without the other knowing. Jolt and Incinerator met while crawling the vents. It wasn't their fault that the two Autobots were fighting each other over Cross. Of course, it wouldn't be a good idea to tell her anyway. They were in enough trouble as it was. She might think that they were…taping…things... for videos…
/There is reasonable explanation for that/ said Jolt.
/Yeah, a really good one/ agree Incinerator.
/One that is totally the truth/
/True, as the sky is blue/
/And Incinerator here will tell you/ said Jolt
/Yeah, Incinerator will…hey/ shouted the white Minicon at his partner in crime.
/Just say something/ hissed Jolt as he pointed toward Cross.
He looked up to see the Femme was frowning at him and tapping her foot on the ground. Ravage was just as unhappy as her. He was still growling in her arms and seemed ready to attack, given the command. This was not good. He was thanking Primus that he was robot or else he might have pissed himself.
/Well…you see…we were…looking for…Ghosts/
"Ghosts?" questioned Cross.
/Ah, yeah, we saw this whole show on the television about humans capturing ghosts and thought we could do that too. So we were crawling in the vent, looking for them and then in just gave on us just as we came by your room/ said Incinerator.
Cross just looked at him with confusion. Chuckling to himself, Incinerator notice that Jolt was trying with all his might not to come right at him and strangle to death. There was no way that she was going to believe that they were looking for ghosts. Of all the stupid things he could have came up with, it had to be that.
"Ok, I guess that explain things," said Cross as she smiled at the two Minicons.
Their jaws dropped. Even Ravage gave her a strange look. She couldn't be that gullible. Still, she seem to have accepted the answer. Maybe she was just stupid or really believe the good in people. Walking over to the door, she opened it for them to next her room.
"Well, you guys better head back to Hot Shot and Blurr," said Cross, "I bet they are worry about you."
Not taking the time to give her time to think it over, Jolt and Incinerator zoomed out of the room and top speeds. Man, things really gotten weird since she and Rave had shown up.
080
Smokescreen just moaned as he watched Hot Shot and Blurr got at it…again. The youngest Autobots were in the weight room, and were trying to out do the other. Pushing up giant sets of weights over their heads, panting at the work-out, and not giving up until the other did. The orange tow truck just shook his head as he watched the contest continue. There was only one reason why they even bother with these things now a day. And she was still inside her room for the past five days. So, they were spending their time out doing each other, to prove themselves to Cross when she comes out. That is if she ever comes out.
"Ready…to give up," panted Hot Shot.
"Not on…on your life," responded Blurr.
"They are never going to grow up," moaned Smokescreen.
"Now, if only they show this much energy in finding the Minicons,"
Now, Red Alert was standing right next to Smokescreen. He just chuckle as he glad the their leader knew what was going on with these two. Blurr and Hot Shot continue in their competition, not paying attention to the fact Red Alert had entered the room. They just pushed even hard to out do the other.
"I don't know what we are going to do with those two?" mumble Red Alert as he shook his head.
"You really can't blame them. Haven't you every fought over the hand of a lovely Femme?" asked Smokescreen.
"Once," answer Red Alert.
"Ah…Breeze,"
Red Alert nodded his head.
Smokescreen just chuckle as they heard a loud cluck sound. Both weights felled to the ground, and both Autobots trying to gain their breath. It seemed that there was no winner in this case. Now, they were slowly getting back on to their feet and walked over to the Energon dispense. Sitting down in front of it, they started a drinking contest, seeing which one of them could drink the most.
"Cross finally came out of her room just a few minutes ago," said Red Alert.
"Really, that good news. Did you wanted to tell fraternity boys now?"
That was enough for Red Alert to give Smokescreen a confuse look. Even with the face mask over his low half of his face, it was still easy to tell. Smokescreen chuckle as the fact he would have to explain the Earth term.
"It some club the males on Earth have in collage. Sort of involves a lot of partying and trying to out do the other males. Saw it all in this movie the kids left here once."
"What was it called?" asked Red Alert.
"Animal House,"
"Ah, I win!"
The two older Autobots turned to see Hot Shot standing on his feet, waving his empty glass around in the air. Blurr was out cold against the table. Several cups were lying around the table with little bits of Energon dripping out of them. Hot Shot had this dumb grin of victory lying on his face that was before he collapse off-line on to his back. Red Alert just shook his head in disgust at the two Autobots. They got themselves over energize off the Energon. In human terms, they were drunk.
"We better get them out of here before Optimus sees them, because he would be happy about this," said Smokescreen.
"That underestimating things," said Red Alert.
The two of quickly picked up the two drunken Autobots towards the medic bay. All the while, both Hot Shot and Blurr were throwing insults at each other. It was hard to tell if they were being serious or not in this moment in time or much less knowing if they were doing it. Just at this moment, Cross was coming down the hallway, with Ravage still in her arms.
"Hey guys," she responded with a wave.
"Hello, Cross," respond Smokescreen under Hot Shot's weight, "Ok, the kid moving to unleaded."
"What happen here?" she asked seeing the condition Blurr and Hot Shot were both in.
"Nothing that quick trip to the CR Chamber can't fix," said Red Alert, hoping to get the boys away from Cross. With them like this and her being the cause, not purposely of course. There was just no telling what they would do to each other or to anyone around them.
Hot Shot lift his head and just smiled at the group in a drunk matter. This was not his finest moment in his life. Blurr too was starting to come out of it a bit, but was still in the same condition as his partner. Now more then ever, Red Alert knew he better get them out of here before they did something more stupid. Then it happen.
"Hey, lookie, it Crossy the Hottie," chuckle Hot Shot as he pointed toward Cross.
Smokescreen and Red Alert quickly tried to move but the drunken Autobots were dragging their feet. Why couldn't things be easy for them?
"Hottie?" puzzled Cross.
"You know what, Shot?" hic up Blurr.
"What?"
The alarms inside Red Alert' head were going off. This was going to get bad, Danger level five bad. He knew that they didn't realized this, but if they continue this path, they are going to wish they had. Smokescreen seemed to have the same look on his face that agree with Red Alert' own.
"Look, we better get moving, if you excuse us, Cross," said Red Alert as he and Smokescreen tried to quickly walked by her.
"No, hold it, me want to tell Crossy something," mumble Blurr as he tried to pulled himself away from Red Alert.
"How about later," suggested Smokescreen as he pulled them along.
"No, I want to hear now," whine Hot Shot.
Cross looked at the four of them in confusion. She couldn't under what was going on here with Hot Shot and Blurr. They weren't acting like themselves from what she was about to gather in the time she knew them for. Now, Smokescreen and Red Alert were trying to wrestle the two of them and keep on moving. Primus, some Mechs were just weird.
"Let's kept moving!" order Red Alert as he was on the last of his patience.
As the medic tried to pull Blurr along the hallway, the white Autobot managed to escape his grip. He took a few wobbling steps away from the group, crashing on top of Cross. Now, Smokescreen and Red Alert were entering in panic mode. This was the last thing that they need right at the moment. Cross struggle to get Blurr off of her. Ravage was biting at the sharpshooter but that really didn't faze him much.
"…Blurr…could you get…off me?" asked Cross as she tried to push him off.
"You want to know something, Crossy," said Blurr as he slurry his words around.
"What would…that be?" asked Cross, having him almost off her.
"I bet your armor would look great on my quarter's flo…"
He never had the chance to finish what he was saying. Red Alert ran over and picked him up at super speeds. Now, both him and Smokescreen were running down the hallway towards the medical bay. That left a very confused Femme lying on the ground, looking up at the ceiling with a little brown metal wolf, wondering what had just happen.