It's so crowded in here

Zero: *they’ll sit in comfortable silence together.  Zero lost in his thoughts, TC guarding them.  When Warp’s shift is up, Zero will finally settle back to try to rest, just as he promised he’d try when TC laid down to rest.*

*The Seekers will switch places, with Warp /very/ carefully pulling away Sun for TC to take and snuggle with him and Warp taking the chair by Zero's berth.*

Zero: *softly* Rest well? *yes, he's...daring to speak up.  He just...needs to feel out Warp a bit.*

Warp: *winces a bit* Sorry . . . didn't wake ya, did I? An'...yeah, mostly. *huffs* Almost lost Sun again today. *looks at Zero...and offers his hand* I know TC's said it, but...I wanna say it. /Thank/ you for savin' him. For shieldin' him, for diggin' him out /with/ ya, for bringin' him ta help when you could run an' disappeared. We owe ya. Big time. Me an' TC both.

Zero: No, I was awake.  *he accepts the hand, a little smile on his face*  He’s a brave mech.  It didn’t feel right leaving him there. *and shielding him was instinct...*

Warp: *n-nods, looking at Sun* He is. He kinda had ta be before he bought me. A mini all alone livin' in the slums . . . he bought me because he was lookin' for a bodyguard cuz he couldn't afford ta pay someone. A-an' . . . an' a friend. He wanted a friend too. *fond grin* He /so/ didn't know how ta be a master. Didn't wanna know either. *soft huff* He's the only reason I'm finally free. *shudders as he remembers* Actually...he's the only reason I'm even still alive, an' not dead deep underground somewhere.

Zero: *little frown* ...The mines...your master was going to send you to the mines?

Warp: ................... *glances at Zero, and...nods, gaze dropping to his lap* I had barely a breem or two left when Sun came by an' I managed ta convince 'im ta buy me.

Zero: *softly* I'm glad he did.  No Seeker should ever be underground.

*TC is easily able to find records of Subzero.  He is alive and owned by someone in town even.  Not that there's anything TC can do beyond that aside from tell Laser that Zero still lives.  And...well...life goes on.  TC has accepted his position permanently and has been Captain for nearly two vorns now, permanently so over a vorn and a half.  He and his squad are called to help with a bomb threat at a local shopping outlet.  To make it worse, he’s gotten a ping from Sun that he’s trapped in the building, not far from the bomber... and before anyone can get in to stop things...the bomb explodes...*

Sun: *steps in* TC! We're home! How'd your interview today go?

TC: *looks up from something he was /obviously/ paying very close attention to, concentrating as he read* It . . . *frowns at a thought* I need to stop by the store tomorrow and apologize. I never made it to the interview. I was there a bit early and stopped into the store next door . . . and the fragger who owns the place got it into his head that I'd tried to steal something. He detained me. I . . . lied and said you were unavailable. I didn't want you worried or upset. There was an officer down the street so he was called in. Actually, it was the inspector who helped us when you were captured by those mechs who were after Warp.

Warp: Frag… *grimaces - he felt /something/ from his wingmate, but TC had kept insisting he was fine, don't worry about it, don't pull himself away from what he was working on, TC'd explain when he got home . . . and despite various reactions after that, TC was never hurt that Warp could tell, so Warp had dropped it for the time being* So what happened?

TC: The inspector got me out of there . . . and believed me when I said that I didn't do it. I wasn't going to bother trying to tell him, but he asked, so… *shrugs* We talked for a bit, and it . . . pretty much turned into an interview of sorts right there. Apparently, he's looking for a captain for one of his subsquads. *shakes his head, still not sure he believes it* He's offered me the position.

Warp: W-whoa, he /what/?

Sun: H-he did!?  What...what did you say?

TC: ............I haven't yet. He said I have time to consider the offer.

Sun: *comes over and sits by him* ...What are you thinking right now?

TC: ............I'm thinking that this could be great for me with my original training, I'm thinking if something is too good to be true then it probably is, I'm thinking meeting one decent police officer doesn't negate /megavorns/ of learning that officers are cruel and can't be trusted...

Sun: *rests a hand on his arm.* You know, if you did take the offer, it'd be easy enough to pull you back out of it if you wanted.  You'd just have to say...

TC: ................... *nods* The inspector said that I could just leave at any time, without the usual two decacycle notice.

TC: *finally looks up, all the /hurt/ and /betrayal/ and /despair/ clear in his optics* Do you want to /talk/ or do you want your /revenge/ for what was done to Clouddancer? Come on! Take it! I won't even fight you. Just /do/ it already!

Sun: *he gives a nod...but won't promise.*

Warp: *eases his hold, but is ready to snatch Sun again if he needs to*

Mech: .....*drained, he just studies TC a long moment.* ....Hurting you won't bring him back.  Primus knows I've dreamed of it. *a buzz escapes him* Just talk.  Stop /dodging/ slag it, and fragging /talk/!  Or maybe you /want/ to be hurt for it?  Maybe you're not as innocent as you just claimed? Just stop /toying/ with me, and /avoiding/ my questions! *chokes back a sob, taking another moment to deal*

Sun: *will shift away from Warp.  He'll move away a bit, actually.  He's small and good at going unnoticed, and he doesn't move quickly, but with subtle shifting.  Hoping Warp's focus is more on his wingmate.  He's not /planning/ to interfere, but neither is he going to let TC be /hurt/ for something he didn't do.*

Warp: *nope, not happening - he's getting enough of TC through the bond . . . he's watching Sun /closely/*

TC: *his turn to /snarl/* Toying? With /you/? *pulls himself to his feet* You're not the one who was dragged from his berth in the middle of the night. You're not the one who suffered through a /farce/ of a trial. You're not the one who had his /wings/ ripped off and was flogged within an inch of his life. You're not the one who LOST EVERYTHING and was condemned to a life of /torture/ and /rape/ and /degradation/ with NO WAY OUT! For something YOU DIDN'T DO! Don't you DARE talk to me about /toying/! But I'm /done/ talking. I'm /done/ trying to get someone to listen to me. I'm DONE TRYING TO CONVINCE ANYONE OF MY INNOCENCE! The courts decided I was guilty. That /I/ was the one who brutally tortured and murdered Clouddancer SO FINE! /I/ did it! I killed him! NOW YOU KILL ME, FRAGGIT! COME ON! I DARE YOU! What's the life of a worthless /slave/ anyway!? *yeah...in this moment...he wants this mech to do it, almost /needs/ him to! - he's FURIOUS and he's HURT and he's /DONE/!*

Sun: *fine...but don’t think for a moment he’s going to /let/ anything serious happen, and shame on Warp if he allows it too, no matter TC’s emotions about it right now.*

Mech: *shocked by TC’s response, he’s shrinks back a bit. TC will see the struggle in his optics.  His rage and want to attack TC, his uncertainty and sparkdeep sorrow.  He’s on the edge, ready to blow.*

Sun: *voice soft, but raised enough to carry* Did you come after him to hurt him or get answers?

Mech: *steals a quick glance at Sun, a touch of his fury seeping away, though it’s still there mixed with his own HURT.* I want /answers/. If you didn’t do it, then /who/ /did/?

HR: *grins and nods* Would you like to try your hand at something, Skywarp?  I can't know if I want to hire you until I know what you can do.

Warp: O-oh, I-I well . . . ah . . . *looks around, intimidated by all the stuff around him that's surely way over his head . . . gaze drops, wings low* I-I can't really do much, sir. I'm a fighter an' a racer. M'not really good for much else.

HR: ...Hm.  Very well then.  Come sit over here.  *will guide Warp to a nice sitting area, with various models and parts.  It's the "think tank" as he likes to call it, though he doesn't say as much.* Feel free to tinker around with anything here, it's what's it's here for.  Sundance and I have some work to do and this will help keep you busy while we're at it.

Warp: Anything? Even for a slave? *is already looking around...*

HR: Yes, even for a slave.  You can't hurt anything in here, just keep yourself busy while we work.

Warp: *small grin* Okay! *it's not often - like.../never/ - that he's told he /is/ allowed to play with stuff!...........a-and then he remembers himself, and /bows/ before the mech can get upset at him for his rudeness* I-I mean, yes, sir. Thank you.

HR: *chuckles and will lead Sun off so they can get some work done.  He'll come check on Warp later.*

Warp: *at first just kind of /plays/ with things, but...as he really gets to studying them...his spatial calculations start kicking in, and he starts experimenting with things in earnest, just...seeing what he can build*

*HR and Sun will come back to him about midday for fuel*

HR: That looks rather nice, Skywarp, let me have a look at it.

Saber: *will settle back and try to sleep some more....but only ends up in nightmares.*

TC: *carefully snuggles her close, droning soft harmonics to try to help soothe the nightmares away, though also ready to /back/ off if she should wake poorly*

Saber: *will wake a few times, often with her hand to her chest and the other up as though to... stop a shot? She's often left with fans heaving and trembling from the nightmare*

TC: *just…soothes and reassures her as best he can*

Warp: *hasn't moved from his vigil at the door*

*The only interruptions are a quick ping early yet in the day from the officer that the household is well and medics checking in now and then.*

Saber: *wakes from a nightmare, left shuddering and fans whining.* ....I would like fuel, and then I want to go home.

TC: *nods, looks at Warp*

Warp: I'll go get a medic an' fuel. *slips out*

Saber: *just tucks into TC. She's strong enough to fuel herself when Warp comes back with fuel, though she'll still need help walking out (and yes, medic has released her).* Fly me home?

TC: Of course. *they'll head out, both Seekers close on either side, for her to lean on or just to protect her, then TC will gather her in his arms and they'll take off*

Saber: *leans more than she likes, and... is just about limp in TC’s arms while he flies.  If he can carry her differently, like arms behind her shoulders and knees, she’s appreciate it, but he’d have to think to do so, because she won’t think to ask or speak up.*

TC: You should get a good wash and shine before then, so you can be at your best.

Warp: */grins/* With real polish, even, ya think?

Saber: Absolutely. Thundercracker, show him to the washroom, please. And you can give yourself the same treatment.

TC: *small bow* Thank you, Mistress. C'mon. *will get their cubes cleaned up, then take Warp to get a good cleaning-up*

Warp: *practically /bouncing/ along behind him*

Saber: Soak a while, Thundercracker. I'm sure your wingmate will enjoy that. *calling after as they move to leave the room.*

*TC acknowledges over a gleeful trill from his wingmate. They'll get washed off, helping scrub each other, then will sink into a warm bath, Warp all but /melting/.*

Stars: *jealous...and enjoying as much as he can from them.*

*Yeah, they're both definitely wide open to him, sharing and having him "there" with them as much as possible. After they've both had a relatively decent time in the bath, they'll get out, dry off, and get each other polished up, then go look for Mistress again.*

Saber: *looks up from what she’s doing and gives them a little smile*  You both look nice.  Are you ready to go?

Saber: *tone gentle as she very lightly curls her fingers around his hand.* I'm not your mistress. My name is Saber. *looks at the officer* His collar?

Officer: *had been doing something with a small device. He nods and steps to Warp....and removes his collar.* Good luck out there, Skywarp.

Warp: ………M-Miss Saber… *fans /hitch/ and he /braces/, hand /closing/ on Saber's (/painfully/, likely…he's a strong and momentarily /scared/ mech) as the officer comes at him reaching for his collar, /flinches/ with a trill at the click and shudders as the collar is peeled from his throat . . . i-it actually takes him an instant to really register what's happened, and then his optics snap back on with another /trill/ as both hands dart up to his neck, feeling for the collar…feeling the bare metal of his own throat . . . legs go weak and he sinks to his knees with a staticky warble*

TC: *just . . . just there for him*

Stars: *nearly loses the match he's in. He /snarls/ as he ends the match, turning to Warp* //Skywarp?!// *CONCERN!!*

Saber: *will just....gently wrap her arms around him*

Warp: //S-sorry, Stars . . . s-sorry . . . // *too overwhelmed to react properly to nearly making Stars lose the match or that he didn't warn him…or even to tease him with "Screamer" . . . j-just /curls/ up, leaning into Saber when she embraces him, /sobbing/* I-I'm free . . . I-I'm f-free! I-it can't be. Th-they were never gonna l-let me go!

Saber: ....You just needed someone willing to speak for you. You're free now.

Stars: *what? Is he really getting what he thinks from Warp?* //Thundercracker? What's going on?//

Warp: *clings to her, sobbing, one hand locked at his bare throat*

TC: *explains, including why he's not indicated anything sooner (didn't know /if/ let alone when it'd happen, didn't want Warp hurt)*

Stars: *disbelief... a touch of jealousy... and he's /glad/ for his third if it's true.*

Saber: *will just comfort him until he starts to calm*

Warp: *takes close to a half-breem, but he finally does, shifting back from her to curl further* S-sorry, Mistress . . . I-I'm sorry . . . *for…being a burden, for delaying her here, for…he's not sure*

*OP has been strapped down to a berth.  He's a beaten mess, but Master didn't seem upset...or interested in doing anythign to him.  He's just been bound down and left...*

OP: *laying there...alert (as much as he can make himself) while at the same time catching what rest he can...*

*It's a joor later when someone steps in.  She's tall and sleek.  She pauses at the door to study him...*

OP: *looks at her long enough to see if she has a collar...then pulls his gaze down and away as is proper*

Femme: *steps over to him and slides a hand down his arm that's held above his head.  Fingers lightly brushing from elbow to shoulder.*

OP: *shudders and looks further away, /making/ himself not shift from her*

Femme: *reaches over and gently catches his chin with two fingers and turns his face back to her.*

OP: *another shiver but...doesn't resist, offlining and closing his optics, fans laboring softly*

Femme: *softly brushes her fingers down his cheek* *her hand finally pulls away and goes to his wrist...and releases his hand from the bind*

OP: *flinches a bit...doesn't /dare/ move otherwise, even with his arm freed*

Femme: *will release his other hand.  She'll then slide her fingers down his leg starting at his knee to his ankle and will release first one foot, then the other*

OP: *so...either he's been sold to her and she's his new master now, or...he's been given to her for the night and she's releasing him for...the duration...he's still not moving without permission, though he's trembling softly*

Femme: Sit up. *her tone is gentle.*

OP: *obeys, chin tucked*

Femme: *will guide him to sit on the edge of the berth, legs hanging over the side, and then she'll slip onto his lap, facing him.  She'll gently tilt his head back brushing fingers along his cheek*

OP: *trembling . . . very /obviously/ DOES.NOT.WANT.THIS but...isn't resisting*

Femme: *will shift his hands to rest on her hips...and then will softly kiss his forehead.* *she whispers to him* Tell me your name...quietly.

OP: *optics off the whole time, hands only /very/ lightly resting where she's placed them, whispers* Optimus, Mistress . . . o-or whatever Mistress decides to...to call me...

Femme: *she'll slide her arms around his neck, resting her forehead against his.* Tell me about yourself, Optimus.  What knd of mech are you? *still whispering.*

OP: ................I-I'm not sure I understand the question, Mistress. *what kind of answer is she really looking for...*

Femme: *she moves one hand to open his chestplates and then her own, but doesn’t make the connection.* Hm...what skills do you have?

OP: *nods, ready to catch and take him to the washroom again if needed*

Light: *OP won't need to.  He sets his barely touched cube aside and gets up to head to the washroom...*

Moon: *trills, but follows, if only so they all stay together...*

OP: *follows as well, but snatches Light's cube first - he'll want it after he's done purging (/if/ he does)*

Light: *will....will sit and will gulp down the vial of blue liquid.  He'll sit there, looking miserable and sick for a little bit...will purge a little...and then seems like he's starting to feel better....* That...wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting...

OP: Seems like most of the work was done last night. I'm glad. *hand on Light's shoulder the whole time* I'd still like for Master Subzero to check you when he comes back.

Light: *nods* I think that would be a good idea... *he sees the cube in OP's hand...and gets a small smile.  He holds his hand out for the cube* Thank you, Optimus.

OP: *grins and gives it to him* Someone has to take care of you, sir. *glances at Moon* Well, two someones. *Moon takes /excellent/ care of him, of course*

Moon: *beams* Who knows what he'd do without us.

Light: *soft laugh* Thank you. *will start to sip at his fuel again* We're going to a bit late for work today.  Send Geargrinder a ping to let him know so no one worries over us.

OP: Yes, sir. *and he does so*

*Gear is glad to know and will let others know as appropriate.  When Light is fueled he'll get up and is ready to go*

OP: *stole away at some point while Light was fueling to snatch his own cube and fuel as well - he's ready when Light is*

Light: *will make sure OP and Moon have time to fuel and then will head them out and off to work.*

*It'll be shortly after they settle into work when a stranger is shown in to Light's office by Gear.*

Mech: *gives a small nod of his head in greeting* Lightweaver?  My name is Ironshade. I'm one of Subzero's friends.

OP: *moved forward protectively when the door opened and a stranger was shown in, but he stands down at that*

Light: And Subzero is well?

Iron: *nods* Just resting.  I hope you don't mind my company today...?

Light: *shakes head* I appreciate your help.  Thank you.  Optimus, please show Ironshade around.