It's so crowded in here

Sirrah: < Peace, Ish'ip. I will not allow you to die. Peace... >

Bee: *is MUCH younger than he acts or lets on sometimes, and he's out here alone (in a sense, in his mind - no other Autobots around...), and they're trying to kill him before he can even defend himself! . . . he's /scared/ . . . if she's telling him to calm down, he'll /try/ . . . but the people pressing so close around him will need to back off first!*

*all but a few will back off. One holding him up and another standing nearby.*

Terris: B-bee? *can't see, so he's checking*

Bee:  T-ter-... *coughs*

Man's voice: That was not meant to happen. *Bee will hear someone step towards him, and Sirrah mentally warns him that that the man is reaching for his face, to stay still, and he'll feel fingers softly touch his cheek before pulling the blindfold up and off*

Bee: *was /stiff/ before but goes RIGID at the touch, /flinching/ back, wide eyes looking at whoever's in front of him*  T-they...t-tried to k-kill us!  *Decepticons and other /obvious/ opponents, he can take, but this . . . this has /scared/ him, at least for the moment*

Man: *he's J'har* I know. I apologize for that. *studies him, then shifts to Terris to remove his blindfold*

Bee: *gaze darting all around*

*He'll see J'har....lots of J'har...some Half-Bloods, but mostly J'har....even some in all black who have stripped off their head coverings are J'har....*

Bee: ...............wow... */softly/*

Terris: *It's as he thought....and he's suspecting they /are/ the bandits.....* We mean no harm to you and yours. A friend of ours has fallen on hard times due to his orchards being raided by bandits.

Man: *wry smile* And you followed your noses and think you've found your bandits. *smile fades* You are probably right. We do what he must to survive...

Bee: ................some /very/ good people are going to be taken into slavery if they can't pay their land taxes.  Including a beautiful little Half-Blood girl whose father has been /desperately/ trying to protect her and her little brother.  *they don't need to know that they took care of her ears this afternoon*

Man: *looks between them* This is disturbing news. Are you sure she is a Half-Blood?

Bee: *pulls a breath and nods*  Her hair's light enough to get away with it, and they clipped her ears so that you have to be right on top of her to tell.

Terris: She is not a wielder, her eyes a brown.

Man: *nods* What is the location of this orchard? *nods again as he's answered* We will stay clear of that orchard. We do not wish to endanger one of our own.

Bee: *nods*  Thanks.  The whole family . . . and I mean /everyone/ who lives there . . . they're good people.  The master of the house, he said bandits had been moving in, more than in the past, and his crops had been failing.  He's not been able to pay his taxes in six months.  We almost lost Zisheri today to bandits.  We - *nods at Terris* - came out to see if we could figure out /why/ things were going like they were, so we could try to stop it.  Stop /either/ of the children from being kidnapped again, or anything else happening.  They're . . . theyr'e good people.  They hate slavery as much as anyone, and the /few/ slaves they /do/ have - because they can't afford to /pay/ workers anymore - they're treated the same as if they were free.  *please believe him, please leave the family alone...*

Man: .......*nod* They will be left alone.

Man1: What about them? They know where we are now! Or where to start looking....

Bee: ........ you're out here to be free, right?

Man: *the leader has put his hand up to quiet the others* We are. Free and safe.

Bee: *nods . . . mentally finding his footing, voice strengthening, with the places his mind is going as he continues*  A long time ago - *okay, not really, not for him, but by how /these/ people measure time* - I took an oath.  I'm a member of a group called the Autobots.  Our leader's name is Optimus Prime.  If there is one thing that Optimus teaches every one of us, it's that all life is sacred.  /All/ life, regardless of race.  Or even mixed race.  And freedom is the /right/ of all sentient beings.  *pauses, reacting a little to his own slip*  Okay, that's /two/ things.  But they're true.  */huffs/*  Slavery is /wrong/.  It's /sick/ and it's /wrong/.  I can't . . . we can't convince you to believe us, I wish we could - a slaver looking around at all of you would only see all the money he could make . . . but that's just /sick/!  I'm /glad/ you're free.  You /should/ be!  And /alive/.  *looking at whatever nearest Half-Blood he can pick out*  We don't want anything from you . . . and we'd never tell anyone you're here.  That'd be worse than murder as far as I'm concerned.

Sirrah: *Bee can feel her still perched on his shoulder, though none seem to be reacting to her.  She'll give him a happy purr across his mind, she's proud of him*

Terris: *nods* I may not be one of these Autobots, but my beliefs are the same.  I have helped many J'har and Half-Bloods, and will continue to do so for as long as I live.

Man: ............*nods* I believe you.  *motions and Bee and Terris will feel people shift up behind them to untie their hands*  ...I still must insist that you be blindfolded and lead away from here.

Terris: You will need to learn to cover your trail.  It was not too hard to find or follow.

Man: ....*nods* We will work on that.

Terris: Let me teach you.  Let us leave in the morning, I can show you and your people what I know now.

Man: *glances at Bee...is he willing to stay longer?* Will people not worry for you?  I do not need more coming into these parts....

*The Amin will head out to and try to get her scent. Seems she was taken from her room. The room is torn up, things thrown all over the place....but there's no sign of her outside, and this is her home, her scent is everywhere. Even on the edges of the property it's impossible to find a sure trail, and there's acres of land to cover, she loved walking the orchard or the field....*

*WJ and Bee will help all they can, but . . . if their other Amin friends can't find the trail...*

*When it becomes clear that they're not going to find Sher Vashti will head into town with a few others to....make a withdrawal. Master may not have the money, but she does, and handing the money over may be the only way to get the girl back alive....they can always get her money back after...Come evening another message is delivered by an arrow shot into the yard....they know where to go...*

WJ: *at some point before that, he will pull Vashti aside in private to ask if she'll help him with at least /some/ of his wounds - won't ask her to /tire/ herself at all, knows she can't heal /all/ of him and still be ready to deal with these fraggers . . . but whatever she /can/ do, is /comfortable/ with doing....he'll take it, anything will help*

Vashti: ........*agrees....but she can't do much, not here, it would be a risk that could get them all murdered. But she'll do enough to help...*

WJ: ......... *had but /hadn't/ thought of that*  Maybe...we shouldn't.  M'sorry.  I shouldn't have asked.  I was thinkin' the bandages would hide it, but...

Vashti: They will, but I still should not do much.

WJ:  No, it's . . . it's okay.  Not like I've never been hurt before.  I wanted ta make sure I'm up ta speed for helpin' with Sher . . . but not like I'll be the only one there.  I should...I'll be okay.  Thanks, though.

Vashti: *puts a hand on his arm* As soon as we leave here. I promise.

WJ: ............. *will /hug/ her if she'll let him* *partly because . . . /he/ could really use it!*

Vashti: */easily/ hugs back, mindful of his back, but not hesitating to wrap her arms firmly around him*

WJ: *had been ready to just give a quick hug and then back off...b-but at that he just...HUGS!, tucking his muzzle to her shoulder . . . softly* M'sorry... *for the trouble he's been? for his current weakness? hard to say*

Vashti: Shhhh. *snuggles him, one hand shifting to pet at the back of his head*

WJ: */struggling/ to not just break down . . . breathes a few times and finally pulls back, looking at her*  T-thanks.

Vashti: *gives him a smile and touches his muzzle, the gesture soft.* You are very welcome. Come. It is about time to meet with these bastards that would kidnap a young woman.

WJ: *nods*  She's very kind.  You'll like her. */scowls/*  If those fraggers have hurt her at /all/...

Vashti: *would be surprised if they haven't...but won't say as much...*

*They'll head out, Master, Horen, and WJ going where they're obvious, Vashti, Bee, and the others following where they can't be seen so they can either stop the bastards that took Sher, or follow them back to where they were hiding, however things work out...  They arrive, Sirrah invisible and staying close to either WJ or Bee depending on Bee's preference, and will wait for the kidnappers to arrive.  It won't take long.  Five men approach, one holding a girl over a shoulder, a sack over her head to her waist....she's not moving....or at least, not struggling*

*The last Bee knew he had been fighting for his life, and the lives of his creator and friend, Amory, when pain exploded across his stomach.  He'll have faint memories of motion, and seeing Amory's face above him....and then nothing.  He'll wake to find Kendra sitting beside him, watching him with a worried frown, and Rashek working at the nearby table.  He's not in pain, but he feels very, very weak.*

*They’ll reach a cave that.....has rather expertly been turned into something cozy and welcoming.  They’ll take WJ in and Terris will finish seeing to his wounds, getting his back stitched and bandaged, his wrists bandaged, and the patches of missing fur treated with a salve to help the fur grow back.  After getting him to eat and drink a little more, and this time the challenge may be /stopping/ when they say he needs to stop eating, they’ll fix up a place for him to lie down and get some sleep, promising that is his stomach is feeling okay when he wakes he can eat as much as he wants then.*

WJ: *doesn't care /where/ they take him so long as it's /safe/ - he's quiet and obedient as they tend to him and he does as told, including stopping when told, though it /is/ a bit of a struggle . . . he'll lie down and is almost instantly /out/ . . . and the nightmares aren't far behind*

SZ: *WJ will likely wake from those nightmares to find SZ sitting by his shoulder, softly petting his head or rubbing an ear, while he softly murmurs comforts to the mech* It’s okay.  It’s okay, you’re safe now.  You’re safe.  Wheeljack, you’re okay.

WJ: *FLINCHES back from whoever's too close, CURLING, /frightened/ eyes darting up to see who it is . . . there's a moment of frozen confusion before he relaxes in increments, looking around* I'm s-sorry... *still panting a bit, heart still /racing/*

SZ: *pulls his hand away until WJ seems to recognize him again, and then goes back to softly petting at him* You have nothing to be sorry for.

WJ: ...............I-I get like this. Restless. *yeah, that's one word for it* Don't...don't worry about me. I'll be okay. I'll just keep disturbin' ya if ya try ta stay here. I'm okay...

SZ: It’s all right.  I’m here to help.  Just try to rest.

WJ: .......I don't wanna keep ya up.  What... *shifts to try to see out the cave*  What time is it?

SZ: Not late enough for me to want to recharge yet. Just rest. *it is still light out...*

WJ: I'll, um...probably be doin' this all night.  *just so he knows*  It's normal.

SZ: Maybe I can help with that, likely not tonight, but maybe in time. *studies WJ a moment* You ever share your berth with anyone? *he's been helping traumatized mechs for a long time, he knows a number of "tricks" that may help with nightmares...*

WJ: *glances up at him with a /flinch/, looking /supremely/ guilty as he looks away - it's a moment before he can make himself answer, softly*  One . . . sometimes . . .

SZ: *not sure what to make of the look WJ gives him* ....Did it ever help ease the nightmares?

WJ: ..............yeah...a-a lot...actually.  */buries/ his face in his arms suddenly with a soft huffsob, how much he MISSES Ratchet suddenly squeezing his chest and making it hard to breathe*

SZ: .....Homesick...? *leans down to gently hug WJ as best he can...*

WJ: *huffs*  ....yeah... *only half-convincing - he misses /all/ of his friends, of course, both here and among the Autobots, but times like /right/ /now/ are when he feels like he /needs/ Ratchet...*

SZ: *starting to guess that....if WJ doesn't have his mind on a mate, then it's on a close friend. He hesitates, not wanting to assume too much, to push himself on this mech he's only just met. He'd not intended anything more than to help....so he pulls back enough to shift and lie down by WJ, gently pulling the Amin to him and hugging him. He's shifted up enough that WJ's head will easily tuck to his chest/shoulder*

WJ: *flinches back, looking up . . . making /sure/ he's not misunderstanding . . . b-but then . . . can't . . . just /can't/ resist, and /tucks/ into the Human with another soft huffsob, trembling*

SZ: *ready to pull back, ready to apologize and assure WJ he's done nothing wrong, but then WJ tucks in and he hugs a little tighter, softly petting at him. Only when WJ seems to be calming down a bit again will he speak, voice soft* Try to get some more rest, Wheeljack. I'll be right here.

WJ: *finally /loses/ it for a few minutes, /sobbing/ brokenheartedly...but quietly, at least . . . when he quiets, it's to /apologize/ again...*

SZ: Shhh. Shhh. Don't apologize for grieving, Wheeljack. It's okay. *petsnugglelove* Try to relax, rest some more.

WJ: *n-nodnods, snuggling in - if nothing else, because /he/ needs it...and h-he...he /does/ feel safe and supported and cared for, and that's.../so/ what he needs right now*

SZ: *will let his hands go still, arms around WJ to just comfort and protect. He'll doze lightly so long as it seems WJ might sleep a little more.*

 

Lewen: *was shown to a room before getting his bath. He'll take Jack back to that room and will crawl into the bed, and then whistle and wave Jack to come join him on the bed.*

Jack: *looks at it*  What's that?

Lewen: "It's called a bed, it's a comfortable place to sleep."

Jack: It looks funny.

Lewen: *smiles* "It feels really nice, though..." *motions him close again*

Jack: ........... *tentatively slips up and crawls up on the weird, squishy table thing*

Lewen: *will snuggle him close, softly petting him, rubbing his back, his arm, his head...finally he'll stop moving and will try to settle to sleep.*

Jack: *knows he can't sleep or he'll disturb Master . . . besides, this squishy thing they're on isn't comfortable . . . will wait till Master's asleep before trying to /very/ slowly and carefully slip away and off the bed...and /under/ it*

Lewen: *he's not used to snuggling with someone, so the movement wakes him* ??

Jack: *FREEZES*

Lewen: *soft whistle to get Jack to look at him* "You okay?"

Jack: *n-nodnod*

Lewen: "Are you not tired, or...?"

Jack: ...............t-the . . . the table's squishy.  *he knows the sign for "bed" but doesn't know the spoken word*

Lewen: ......"You don't find it comfortable...?"

Jack: It feels funny. *he knows better than to lie . . . or to /not/ answer . . . but he can't "argue" with Master about sleeping /with/ him if Master insists on it...s-so he'll concentrate on the feel of the bed, which isn't lying, it really does feel weird*  Master'll be more comfortable without me up here anyway...?

Lewen: "You've never been in a bed before, I'm sure it does feel funny. I'd like you to try to get used to it, though."

Jack: *TENSETENSETENSE!!! now what does he do!?*

Lewen: .....*motions him closer again, signing as Jack moves*  "Come lie down, close your eyes and relax.  Don't worry about disturbing me.  I want you to try to sleep..."

 

Jack: ............... *collapses in on himself*  I-I can't sleep with other people, Master.  O-or out in the open.  I sleep where I can hide, like . . . l-like maybe /under/ the bed...?  *will Master let him?  PLEASE PLEASE Master, let him hide!!!* ................and the bed really /does/ feel weird... *he's not lying!*

Lewen: ....."Because it wasn't safe?" *Life Light, what was done to this boy!?* *He nods* "I know it does, but will you try for me?"

Jack: .........but I'll keep you up! */plaintive/ whine, tears coming to his eyes - please PLEASE just let him be, please?*

Lewen: *sits up and will gentle draw Jack to him, settling the boy on his lap and rocking him gently* Shhh, shhh.... *he'll try to make sure Jack is looking* "It's going to be okay. Just try for me? You slept close to me last night, under the stars. Will you try again?"

Jack: There was nowhere else ta go last night!  Everythin' was so big an' open an' there wasn't anywhere ta hide!

Lewen: "You don't need to hide now.  I'll not hurt you, and I won't let anyone else hurt you.  You're safe with me."

Ralia: *grabs a couple towels and puts one around the boy and then around Lewen....* Get dried off, I'll get Sanrin. Clothes are over there. *points*

Boy: *has had towels thrown at him before, kind of knows how to dry himself off . . . will awkwardly try to do so*

Lewen: *will get himself dried and dressed, and will motion the boy over.*

Boy: *obediently follows*

Lewen: *will help the boy pull on the smallclothes, pants, and shirt if the child seems to need help. The fabric is soft while not looking too fancy.*

Boy: *kind of . . . picks at the clothes, not sure what to make of them - he's never worn so much before, just a pair of thin shorts*

Lewen: *once dressed, he'll have the boy sit on his lap and will gently hold a corner of a towel to his mouth to help stop the bleeding and keep the blood off the boy's nice new clothes.*

Boy: *f-finds that he . . . isn't afraid of being so close to Master, in fact it's comforting . . . i-in fact, he...he /really/ likes tucking in like this, he feels /safe/...and other things (warm, loved, things he has no real concept of yet)*

Lewen: *after a bit he'll start to softly whistle a light, slow tune, soothing ,comforting, restful*

Boy: ........?? *looks up at him, then tucks in again, small hands fisting lightly in Master's shirt*

Sanrin: *steps in* Oh dear. Let me have a look, child... *will have Lewen move the towel so he can look at the boy's lip*

Boy: */curls/, tucking into Master*  M'sorry!  I didn't mean to!

Sanrin: Oh, child, it's okay. We'll get you cleaned up and healed again. *smiles* Here, hold still.

Lewen: *whistle!* *will gently get his arms free from the being around the child to sign*

Sanrin: Oh, of course. *smiles at the boy* You'll feel that funny feeling again, okay?

*The boy will feel that tingle go through him and then...the pain is gone....but even after the pain is gone the strange feeling continues for a long time....and then Sanrin is finally done.*

Sanrin: There, all done.

Boy: ...............?? *had /tucked/ at the weird feeling but then looks up at Sanrin, gingerly fingering his lip and chin*

Sanrin: *wets a small cloth in the water of the unused tub and comes back to clean the blood from the boy's face.*

Boy: *just holds still*

Lewen: *when Sanrin is done he gives a soft whistle to get the boy's attention, shifting him back and up to his feet, facing him....and signs, slow and deliberate with his motions* "Do you know what my hands are saying?"

Boy: *eyes go WIDE a-and he /jumps/ back, hugging himself*  H-how...h-how...!?

Lewen: *so understands...still breaks his brain to see it so easily done...*

Sanrin: I was able to give you my knowledge of handsign. You will have to practice, get your hands and arms used to making the motions, but you'll be able to understand others that use the language....You'll also know your letters. You'll be able to read...

Boy: I can understand Master now!?  ...what's "read"?

Sanrin: *nods* You can. And....I'm sure Lewen will show you later...it's something you'll have to see to understand.

 

Man: *he'll wake maybe an hour later, pulling a deep breath and shifting, stretching a bit. His eyes blink open a the strange pull on top of him and he finds the blanket there. He sits up, giving it a somewhat bewildered look before glancing at the pad where he left the boy*

    Boy: *sleeping fitfully and /lightly/, EVERY little noise waking him - he flinches awake at the sound of movement, sees Master's awake and shifts quickly up into submission pose*

Man: *blinks....and smiles. He'll gently sit the boy up, catching his gaze again...and shakes his head. He touches his finger to the boy's chest, bows over much like the boy was, points at the boy again and shakes his head. He doesn't need to bow like that...*

    Boy: ............... *h-he...t-thinks he understands, though he doesn't get /why/ . . . b-but h-he n-nods*

Man: *smiles and softly brushes fingers down the boy's cheek again. He gets up, packs up the pad, the blanket, and the plates. He picks up a backpack and another small bag. He'll settle the bag across the boy's shoulders so it rests at his hip/thigh. It's not too heavy at all. With that he'll move the boy to the tunnel he pointed to before and head to the one he packed with explosives before....with a bit of work he'll get a long fuse lit before he comes bounding across the small cavern, snatching up the boy (and /quickly/ adjusting where his arms are to not press on swollen butt or thighs), and goes running down the tunnel, a minute later the sounds of the explosion follows them down the tunnel.*

    Boy: *obediently stays put, YIPS! and is /clinging/ as the man picks him up and RUNS*

Man: *finally slows, panting softly. He gives the boy a smile, and will just walk, the child snuggled in his arms.*

    Boy: *leans back a little to look at him, t-then just...settles*

*The man will walk for a long time. The torch he got lit to light the fuse is starting to sputter slowly out. The boy likely didn't notice how tense the man was starting to get until he seems to /relax/, if the boy looks, he'll see light ahead, white and bright instead of flickering orange.*

    Boy: */gasps/, and it's his turn to TENSE, hunching - such a bright, strange-colored light can't be good!*

Man: Shh. *clucks his tongue a few times, softly petting at the boy* *he'll start to whistle a soft, happy tune...*

Boy: *CURLING against the man . . . the closer they get, the more he has to bury his head, even cover his face with his hands, panting in fear*

Man: *snuggling the boy, making soft, hopefully comforting, sounds with his tongue or soft whistles, arms protectively wrapped around the boy.  And then they're stepping into the light, the man /squinting/ in the brightness, blinking until his eyes adjust.  He'll move away, well away from the tunnel, before setting the boy on his feet and rubbing at his very, very sore arms....*