It's so crowded in here

Zero: *smiles* It was my pleasure.  He's an amazing mech to work with.

WJ: So's Zero. He's a /brilliant/ scientist. *faces DW* Like I said before, I'm /really/ sorry I didn't contact you sooner. Where we were was shielded, an' we didn't dare leave there an' risk exposin' other people. I'll tell ya all about the slag I got injected with. */bristling/ at that*

DW: I would like to hear all about it, but first, there's a certain mini-Seeker anxious to see you.

Zero: *smiles and offers WJ his hand* Take care, Wheeljack.  And don't hesitate to call me if you need /anything/.

WJ: I won't. Uh, hesitate, I mean. *pulls him into a /hug/* Thanks again. For /everything/.

Zero: *HUGS back, then shifts to gently turn WJ around and give him a light push for the door* Go on. 

WJ: *laughs as he's pushed, then turns to /grip/ one of DW's arms, not quite hugging (though he'll certainly not turn one down)* Primus, it's so good ta see you again. Really. An' know you an' the others are safe. They.../are/ safe, right?

DW: *not the huggy type, though he'd not stop WJ from hugging him.  He does grip back and give WJ a small smile* They're safe.  We've been worried about you.

WJ: Yeah . . . m'sorry . . . *gestures and will follow him back inside*

DW: *shakes his head* No, don’t apologize for something you are not at fault for.

Dream: *the moment they step in* Wheeljack! *GLOMP!*

*WJ and Cipher will get as much info as possible about the virus...and Cipher was right, the other mech is infected too, and has been for longer. They'll be able to see what it does. It doesn't...damage the brain module, so much as slowly overwrites things making the person susceptible to... suggestion. Makes them easier to brainwash. It's imperfect, it can be fought... which is probably why he wants the nanites, so his control can't be fought, can't be denied, that with an injection someone will retain their intellect and also be completely devoted to him. It's sick. Cipher and WJ will spend /joors/ working on it, before the other three Ghosts come put a stop to it by shooing them both off to get fuel and rest, they can continue in a few joors.*

WJ: */angry/, FURIOUS even, and not just at the fact that he’s got this, but that the other mech has it too, he /will/ put a stop to this!!! And reverse the damage already done if at ALL possible – he’ll pull Ratchet in to help him if he has to (take the poor mech with him to see his friend when he leaves this place) . . . he’s reluctant to go but does so, knowing he needs the rest*

Cipher: *also pissed, but has sworn that they’ll find a way.*

*They’ll rest and recover for the night and get to work again in the morning.  It’ll take four days to make a cure that works.... at least according to the tests anyway.  Now the moment of truth...to test it on one of the two infected.  WJ hasn’t had much chance to talk with the other victim yet, but he does know the mech’s name is Trailstorm.*

*At the call, a few medics will rush out and take DW, asking WJ what happened.*

WJ: *will tell them, also explaining what he did and what he suspects is wrong now*

*They'll take all the info and have WJ come with them in case they have more questions about what was done. It'll take a while before DW is moved to a room to rest and recover.*

WJ: *sticks close, making sure DW’s taken care of, doing whatever’s asked of him . . . finally he’ll settle by DW’s berth*

Dream: *on the other side (AFTER she's given WJ all kinds of HUGS!!) of DW's berth.*

Gear: *against the wall at the end of the berth almost like a bodyguard.*

DW: *stirs a bit, optics flickering on.*

WJ: *lightly touches his hand, not quite taking it (doesn’t want to startle the war vet)* Dreadwing, it’s Wheeljack. Can ya hear me?

DW: *fans hitch, and his hand jerks at the touch, but he relaxes when his optics focus on WJ.* I hear you, Wheeljack.

WJ: Good. How ya feelin’?

DW: Terrible. *said with a little smile. He's okay, just feels like slag.*  It’s all done then? *making sure...he wasn’t entirely lucid that last so long...*

DW: My household seems to keep growing since I met you, Wheeljack.

WJ: *tone of a small grin* S’that a bad thing? *DW is a good mech, but WJ doesn’t want to find the edges of his tolerance or something*

DW: *looks at the little group with a bit of a smile.* No. It is certainly not.

WJ: *relaxes faintly, low chuckle* Good . . . though I promise ta refrain from bringin’ home /every/ stray I come across.

DW: That might be a good idea. Though....we can look for a place with a thought for expanding.

WJ: *looks at him…at little surprised but also not* That’s completely up ta you, sir. Though you’ve definitely got the finances for it.

DW: *nods* I think people in need are drawn to you, Autobot. *Autobot said with a tone of amusement if anything*

WJ: *shrugs, optics lightening a bit, a grin in his tone* People are drawn ta those who give a scrap an’ show it, however subtly. Heh…not havin’ kinda a scary face helps. *softly taps DW’s Brand with a finger – not accusing or judging, it doesn’t bother him anymore at all, just making a mild point (people who get a chance to get to know DW are drawn to him too, they just have to get past the brand)*

DW: *brushes his brand....but doesn't comment. He'll lead the group to look at different places, asking for their opinions and comments on any given place/location.*

*It’ll actually take them a few days to find the perfect place.  It’s got 8 rooms!!  But DW can afford it, and really is was Dream who talked him into it.  Think!  A larger library!  A lab for her and WJ to work in! And other things!  It’s....big, but...well DW in the end couldn’t say no to Dream’s enthusiasm...and oh does he ever have the feeling that they’ll eventually end up with all of those rooms full....*

*When they step out WJ will spot Gear waiting against the wall just outside the door.*

WJ: Geargrinder! */glad/ to see him*

Dream: Geargrinder!

Gear: *Looks at them....* Good to see you doin' better...

WJ: Good ta see /you/. *glances at DW*

DW: Let's go.  I have things I need to do yet tonight.

WJ: Sure thing. *SO ready to get back home!*

*They'll head back and....it'll take a bit of effort for DW to get Gear up to the landing so they can go in and fuel.  When done fueling DW will leave again...*

Gear: ........Seems like a decent mech...

DW: *he studies WJ a long moment* When did you join the war, Wheeljack?

WJ: ………………… *soft huff through his vents and he’ll sit down, gazing at his cube* Early. Most people still thought the uprisin’ was “their” problem, someone else’s issue, mostly centered around Iacon an’ other city-states in the north. I’d managed ta . . . heh, more or less con my way into the university in ((CITY)). Well, with help – I’d done some work for the doyen of the school, so he helped work up the documents I needed ta qualify. Ratchet was there too. That’s how we met. He was an intern then, most the way through his program. *optics darken* Then one day, our school went up in flames. The Decepticons had heard of a project we had goin’ in the Engineerin’ department an’ they wanted it. The whole school was destroyed. Only a handful of the faculty and students survived. Me an’ Ratchet were among the lucky few. Ratchet coulda transferred to another school, but me . . . I had nowhere ta go after that. An’ he wouldn’t leave me. We’d been among a group who’d been captured an’ rescued from a Decepticon transport. We owed the Autobots not only our lives but our freedom . . . so we decided ta join ‘em. We’d help fight the Decepticons an’ do what we could ta prevent happenin’ ta others what happened ta us, an’ we’d be able ta finish our studies while we were at it. That was . . . I don’t remember exactly anymore, maybe a vorn, vorn an’ a half, before Sentinel Prime was killed an’ Optimus took his place.

DW: ....I see. I was loyal to the Decepticon cause from the start.....but our cause was quickly lost in the violence and hate.

WJ: *looks at him* And . . . what exactly was the cause? As you knew it? *because all he ever saw was destruction, conquering, enslavement, power-grabbing…*

DW: The uprising was started by those forgotten and oppressed. We lived in slums, were denied an honest living, enslaved or just imprisoned and forgotten. The government had made it clear that our voices did not matter to them, and so we took action. It didn't start out as a grab for power, it started as a stand for equality. *it's clear on his face that he knows it didn't remain that way long.* ......I think it didn't take long for most to realize they liked being violent... *clearly he was never one who did. Considering he survived the war without his fellows turning on him means he must be rather formidable, hm?*

WJ: *studies him a long moment . . . finally nods, quietly* That explains a few things.

DW: *looks back at him* Oh?  And what things are those?

Dream: *sipping her fuel and quietly listening*

WJ: Thanks. Can I get you a cube too? *he won't "serve" the mech, but he'll do things as a favor, like this since he's heading that way anyway . . . or if DW asks, since he's never "made" WJ do anything*

DW: ...yes. *he sounds....weary.* I'll be on the balcony.

WJ: I'll be there in a few. *will go to get DW a cube, since he and Dream have already fueled, and will show Dream to the study* Like he said, you're welcome ta anythin' in here. I'll be back soon, okay? *and will go to DW, offering the cube*

DW: *accepts it* Thank you. 

Dream: *kind of poking around the room, seeing what's there...*

WJ: Is everythin' all right? Ya seem worn. *an invitation to talk, though he won't force the issue*

DW: .......Oilslick was not an easy mech to deal with is all. *and he worries the mech may cause troubles...*

WJ: ...........given Dreamcatcher's injuries, I can imagine what kinda mech he is. *he's dealt with the type before* Anythin' I can do?

DW: *looks up at WJ.  He always seems a little surprised when WJ is...nice to him...* Just take care of her....

WJ: *the feeling is /definitely/ mutual, but the old mech respects and appreciates it, so he returns it in kind* I will. Can I ask ya somethin', though?

DW: ....You may.

WJ: Why? You didn't /have/ ta do that. Don't get me wrong, I'm /glad/ ya did, an' so's Dreamcatcher, but . . . why?

DW: ...............Because it felt right.