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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 15:10:06 GMT -5
Runner started bouncing excitedly where he sat, now even more eager to get to Iacon. Being clean and seeing a medic were things that he hadn't done before, and while they made him nervous, he was more excited about being someplace new and safe, and where he didn't have to be hungry all the time. ~"I'm going to hold you to that promise, 'Hide."~ He told the older mech.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 15:24:41 GMT -5
Ironhide grinned at him and held out his hand. ~"I'd be a bit worried if ya didn't, Runner."~ he answered. ~"'Ye'll be alright. The cleanin' stations're actually kinda fun. Ya stand in 'em n foamy cleanin' fluid rains down on ya from above so ya can scrub off the dirt n oil n grime offa yer chassis, then it'll switch ta clear rinsin' fluid ta get all the suds offa ya. Feel like a new mech after that, all shiny n clean. I think ye'll like it."~ he guessed, figuring he hadn't seen let alone used a cleaning station before. Some young bots took to it really well, some to the point a mech had to fight to get them out. Others were irrationally terrified of the cleaning stations, and while some got over their fear of it, others remained absolutely phobic of it for life. Ironhide sincerely hoped Barricade would be one of the ones who liked the cleaning booths.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 15:48:11 GMT -5
Runner took Ironhide's hand and gave it a shake. ~"I'd be worried if I didn't either."~ Truth be told, he was a little worried about the cleaning booths, having never so much as heard of one, and really the only falling liquid he'd really had experience with was the acid rain. He wasn't sure about going in, but he was also willing to give it a try.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 16:04:43 GMT -5
Ironhide smirked and sat back with Runner next to him. He was glad he found this youngster, and with his enthusiasm, Ironhide was sure he would do well in the Defense Forces training. And when the time came for them to return to Kaon and gather the other young mechs of the street and spirit them away to safety each Deca-Cycle, the older mech was supremely hopeful that enthusiasm and desire to help others like himself would stay strong in young Runner.
He sat there and chatted with Runner over the next few Micro-Cycles, answering questions about Iacon and the training base, himself, some of the other instructors, and Ironhide's reasons for returning to Kaon in the first place and how he got started rescuing Sparklings off the streets to take them back to Iacon. Ironhide had discovered on a trip to his former home in Kaon that there were young mechs, some of them too young to transform, abandoned, alone, terrified, and starving to death on the dark and filthy narrow streets.
Seeing them like that nearly shattered his Spark and it was on that very Cycle he vowed to rescue as many as he could, to save them from the brutal fate they had been subjected to. Then there were the little ones he was too late to save, the ones he found laying lifeless in dark corners of ruined buildings, their tiny little chassis barren of even the smallest scrap of Energon, their fluid systems dry as dust. He had cried for their lost innocent little Sparks, most having been not much beyond their first full Ano-Cycle, some closer to two or three Ano-Cycles old when they died, literally Energon starved to death, some beaten to death.
He shook with anguish and rage as he spoke of the lost ones, the little Sparklings that barely had a chance to live only to be thrown to the filthy streets, unwanted and forgotten. It was clear to Runner just how much it tore the burly and powerful mech apart inside seeing Hatchlings and Sparklings starving on the streets or laying dead in the gutters. While he had never Spawned any of his own, Ironhide would do anything he could to protect such young and fragile lives, wishing he could do more to save them, wishing others would care enough to help him save the lost ones.
The transport drone eventually let out a series of beeps, indicating they were nearing Iacon, then a short few moments later, it spoke. ~"Iacon training base, landing platform six, ETA, five Klicks."~ The announcement drew the older mech out of his melancholy daze and he managed a half smile. ~"Wanna watch our final approach t' yer new home?"~ he asked Runner and pulled himself up to stand and motioned Runner to follow him to the forward cabin windows so he could see out.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 16:21:46 GMT -5
Runner continued to ask questions through the Mega-Cycles of their journey, wanting to know as much as he could about what exactly he had gotten himself into, and listening intently to the answers. He knew well what Ironhide was talking about. As far as he could tell, it was for that reason that the street gangs came to be. It was hard for one youngling to make it on their own in the slums known as Kaon, but a group stood a fighting chance. It didn't mean that all of them could make it; if you couldn't take care of yourself you were useless to the group, but it ensured that more could. Even within a gang, hunger was a common factor. This would be his first time with a full tank as far back as he could remember. Also, unlike Ironhide, he didn't feel the same level of regret and remorse for those who hadn't made it. Considering the environment, however, it was something natural to happen. He had his own survival to worry about. Nice bots tended to not last too long on the streets.
When the drone beeped, then spoke, Runner's head popped up and listened, making him bounce in excitement. At Ironhide's question, his face split into a wide, broad grin. ~"Frag yeah I do!"~ He replied eagerly.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 16:58:13 GMT -5
Ironhide's smile widened at the innocent excitement Runner showed, and led him to the forward windows, lifting him so he could see out real well, his arm around Runner's waist while he pointed out various structures of the shining capital of Cybertron itself: Iacon. It was a far cry from the dark, narrow, filthy streets of Kaon with Iacon's broad avenues and glittering spires, glowing multi-colored accent lights lined the streets and highlighted buildings, even the bots themselves were aglow with strength and vitality, their chassis lights brighter than most of the urchins in Kaon's ghettos. These mechs had plenty of Energon, enough to set their very frames aglow, even Ironhide's own frame finally switched on the deep blue patterns that highlighted his armor and broke up his outline. Ironhide then pointed out the training grounds, a walled structure with several buildings and six different fields, each with a different setting, and at the South East end was the transport platforms. ~"That's where we're goin', Runner. Iacon Defense Force Trainin' base, best o' all o' Cybertron."~ he said proudly as the transport approached one of the landing platforms, preparing to land.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 17:07:14 GMT -5
Runner pressed his face against the window, looking at everything Ironhide pointed out. ~"It's so bright, 'n clean, 'n alive."~ He commented in awe. When Ironhide's chassis lights came on, Runner looked at him in surprise. ~"You're glowing!"~ He exclaimeded. In Kaon, practically no bot walked around with their chassis lights on. For one, it made them stand out greatly against the dark streets. For another, it was an unnecessary drain on energy that could be put to better use elsewhere. ~"Everything is glowing! What makes it all glow?"~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 17:18:04 GMT -5
~"Energon. Everybot in Iacon, even Iacon itself has enough Energon ta not only survive, not just live, but ta thrive so good they got Energon enough ta spare ta let their chassis lights shine bright in the dark. N you'll have enough Energon ta not only keep yer tanks full n happy, but no more pain o' hunger, no more fightin' fer the barest scrap o' rations, n ya can let yer own chassis lights glow bright as all o' Iacon itself."~ he assured Runner confidently. With a soft thump the transport touched down and settled on its landing gear, then opened the door for them to exit. ~"Thanks Transport."~ he offered and received a set of beeps in response, then he set Runner down, taking the young mech's hand in his own. ~"C'mon, let's go get ya cleaned up n fed proper like, then we'll visit the med bay n make sure yer all okay."~ he said and led the young mech out of the transport and to his first steps in his new home.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 17:27:14 GMT -5
Runner felt a slight pang of sadness and anger at what Ironhide said about the citizens of Iacon. Still, he kept it quiet, knowing that soon enough he'd be able to help Ironhide with bringing more Sparklings back to Iacon where it was safe for them, and where they could start on a path where they could help make Kaon a better place. ~"Thanks Transport!"~ He called back to the shuttle before they exited it completely, and his attention was caught by everything around him.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 17:50:17 GMT -5
Ironhide smiled as the Transport beeped happily in response. ~"This is what Optimus wants fer all o' Cybertron, n this is what I want fer all the lost lil ones in Kaon. That's why I been tryin' ta bring all o' ya here."~ he assured Runner as they walked from the landing platform and towards the trainee barracks. He didn't comment on Lord High Protector Megatron's opinion, however. Megatron felt that decadence would be the downfall of Cybertron and that only the strongest were fit to survive while Optimus felt that all had the right to live and be free to chose their own destiny, to be in good repair with full tanks and peaceful rest.
Ironhide led Runner down to the juvenile trainee quarters where the rooms bunked four and four rooms shared a cleaning station. The others that lived in those rooms were out finishing their last training session for the day, so Ironhide and Runner were alone for the time being. He showed Runner the empty bunk then. ~"That's yer berth, Runner. That's where ya get ta sleep fer now til ya hit yer next growth cycle."~ he said warmly.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 17:56:49 GMT -5
Runner continued to look around, though he made sure to listen carefully to what Ironhide was saying as they walked. When they went inside, he paid even more attention to everything so that he hopefully wouldn't get lost. ~"A berth? A real berth?"~ He poked it curiously. It was definitely a step-up from sleeping on the ground or in a scrap pile. ~"And it's just fer me?"~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 18:05:22 GMT -5
Ironhide nodded affirmatively. ~"Yup, a berth all t' yerself. Ya share the room with three other youngins bout close ta yer age, n three other rooms'll share the cleanin' station with ya, but when ya get yer next growth cycle, ye'll move ta the other quarters, private rooms all t' yerself but ya share a cleanin' station with a few others. Instructors like me get private quarters with our own cleanin' station. Maybe one day ye'll decide ta be a mentor n instructor like me."~ he suggested, patting Runner's shoulder. ~"C'mon, 'fore ya try out yer new berth, lets get ya cleaned up first."~ he added and started leading him away towards the shared cleaning station in a hub between the four rooms.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 18:16:48 GMT -5
Runner let himself be led by Ironhide to the cleaning station, though he was a bit apprehensive about it all. ~"Being an instructor sounds like lotsa fun. I could go t'Kaon like you, 'n try to bring the Sparklings back here fer a better life. I'm already liking it a lot here."~ Once they were outside the cleaning station, he held on tighter to Ironhide's hand, his frame tensing up a little.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 1, 2011 18:21:24 GMT -5
Ironhide nodded and squeezed Runner's dactyl reassuringly as they approached the cleaning station. ~"Is alright, you'll see."~ he offered softly and triggered the foaming cleaning fluid to start raining down and motioned for Runner to go ahead and step inside, though he kept hold of the younger mech's hand just in case it frightened him.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 1, 2011 18:25:47 GMT -5
The moment the cleaning fluid began spraying from the ceiling of the cleaning station, Runner completely freaked out. ~"Acidrain!It'sacidrain!"~ His first instinct was to try to run away, but with Ironhide having a firm grip on his dactyl, he wasn't going to be getting very far anytime soon, though he tried his hardest to as he freaked out.
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