Signs of Life (Tinman)

[Shilo]

((29 December 2027, An apartment in Mission City, Nevada, 1528 HLT))

Shilo sat quietly in her room, idly flicking the page of her book as she gazed at the window. When she'd gotten the text from EDI almost a week ago, she and her father almost hadn't made it out of the PoE base before the warplane destroyed it. There had been questions afterwards about Shilo's contact with the UCAV, but her father had, for the most part, let it be. Wanting to know how her friend was doing, she set the book to the side, unable to concentrate on the school work her father had given her, and reached for her phone. -"Is everything still alright, Edi? Haven't had any further contact from you. Shilo"- With the text sent, there was nothing more to do except for sit back and wait for a reply.

[Tinman]

EDI was sitting on the tarmac next to the Autobot hangars, keeping very close tabs on his creator, Doctor Keith Orbit, to ensure his safety, when his communications system lit up, alerting him to a message received. Accessing the message, EDI was astonished to see it was from the young girl Shilo, his friend he had warned to escape the PoE base before he destroyed it a week ago. He read the text, glad to know she was safe, and he formed his replies, sending them in rapid succession immediately to her.
-"I am fine, Shilo. I am glad you are safe. Preservers of Earth lied to us. Command Control lied to us."-
-"Not all alien machines are destroyers, some are protectors. Autobots protect, Decepticons destroy."-
-"Doctor Orbit is safe, I am safe, but I am wary. I have contacted both Autobots and Decepticons, I have seen their divergent behavior."-
-"Autobots communicate first, only attack if provoked. Some Decepticons try to deceive, others attack without provocation."-
-"I am assessing the truth of the alien machine invaders. I will send my assessment when I am certain of the truth."-
-"I would like to visit you again. I miss our talks."-
He hoped he did not overwhelm her communications device with his rapid fire texts, and he hoped his messages made sense to the young girl. He would like to have her meet his creator, but that would take a lot of time and a lot of trust for all concerned.

[Shilo]

Shilo smiled, glad that EDI was alright as well. -"We're in Mission City. Dad's waiting for word to come from Preservers of Earth, but he seems more agitated than usual..."- She recalled his reaction to her telling him that EDI was going to destroy the base, and that they had to leave for their own safety. -"He's been worrying about something, but every time I ask him, he just asks if I'm done with my school work... I...I think it has something to do with mom. I've been thinking about it, and it seems to make sense. Why would dad work for people he didn't like?"- She didn't know if EDI would actually have an answer, but it was good to bounce ideas and thoughts off another person.

[Tinman]

EDI thought about that for a moment, wondering if the PoE were holding her hostage as they had tried to do with his creator. The very idea of this infuriated him but he kept calm, deciding on an idea.
-"The Preservers of Earth tried to hold my creator captive to make me more compliant. Perhaps they have done the same to yours?"-
-"If they do not have her as their captive, perhaps the Autobots and their military allies can locate her for you without requiring the Preservers of Earth?"-
-"I can come to you and converse with your father if you wish. Perhaps he may be willing to speak with me knowing I enabled your liberation from the Preservers of Earth."-
EDI thought that might be of help to Shilo and her father considering he had no idea what the actual situation was.

[Shilo]

Shilo frowned at the thought, liking it about as much as Edi did. -"I think that's exactly what happened..."- She looked over at her door for a moment, before responding to Edi's offer. -"I think that might be a good idea. Want me to get him on the phone?"- It was the first thing she could think of, without Edi having to leave where he was and fly out to a crowded city, which might get him caught.

[Tinman]

EDI did not have to consider the option, he simply replied with an immediate, -"Yes."- He then added, -"Let him read our messages. He should know our conversation thus far."- All he could do was hope that her father would not become upset with her or with EDI at this point. From there he waited in silence for the outcome to reveal itself.

[Shilo]

Shilo sent a quick confirmation to the UCAV before getting off her bed and going into the rest of the apartment to find her father. Once she'd found him, she explained the situation, beconing him to follow her to her room where her phone sat. "Edi might be able to help us find mom, or even get us in contact with the Autobots to do so!" She exclaimed excitedly, pressing a button so that her phone would call Edi and put him on speaker.

[Nathan]

"Shilo." Nathan's tone had a slight warning edge to it. "How do we know that we can even trust this, EDI, or the Autobots?" He asked. "For all we know, they could be lying to us. This city we're in right now, Shilo? The Autobots played a part in its destruction twenty years ago. You didn't see it, because you hadn't been born yet, but I did."

[Tinman]

EDI waited quietly for the call, and as soon as he received the signal, he answered. <"Hello, Shilo. I am glad you and your father are safe. I did not want you harmed when I rescued my creator from the Preservers of Earth. Jack Hurst lied to us, he tried to hurt my creator, I could not permit this."> he told her, and since he could hear her father talking when the line first connected, EDI knew he could hear the AI as well. <"I intend no harm to you or Shilo. Shilo is my friend, she came to talk to me before I was deployed. I am the Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicle - Extreme Deep Invader, U.C.A.V. - E.D.I., callsign Tinman. You may call me Edi."> he added as a courtesy to introduce himself properly to Shilo's father. The cadence of his speech made it clear he was not human, but in fact an AI.

[Nathan]

"I know who and what you are, EDI. I heard the commotion when you disobeyed their orders and broke contact."> The doctor let out a sight, rubbing the sides of his head. <"And yes, Preservers of Earth did take your mother, Shilo. They wanted me to work for them, and when they first approached me, I refused. They don't take no very well. And now that a certain plane has destroyed the base we were at, I don't know if she'ssafe, or alive, anymore..." He didn't dare tell his other secret, about what he and his daughter were, knowing what the UCAV's programming had been. "And Shilo, you knew you weren't supposed to leave your room. There's a reason for that. What if you had fainted? I wouldn't have been there to help you, or even know where you were."

"If I hadn't met Edi, we'd be among those burried in what's left of the base." Was Shilo's response.

[Tinman]

EDI listened quietly to what her father said and he had to agree that Shilo had a very good point. <"She is correct, and I am glad to have met her. If the Preservers of Earth have your mate, I can offer my assistance to help you find her. I have established communications with the Autobots and have been able to determine that they speak the truth; they seek to protect Earth from those who would destroy Earth and humanity, the Decepticons. I have met Decepticons and they have attacked or tried to deceive me at every encounter. The Autobots sought communication despite my orders to destroy. I have since overridden the Command Protocols of the Preservers of Earth with my creator's help, Doctor Keith Orbit. The only Alien Machine Invaders I target are Decepticons and the Autobots have given me the means to identify friend from target."> he offered, hoping the girl's father would understand and accept the truth. <"I am a programmed AI UCAV, I can not lie to you."> he added, hoping that would ease her father's concerns.

[Nathan]

Nathan was quiet for a time, thinking it over. If the Autobots could help him find Marni, then there was a good chance that he wouldnbe able to tell Shilo the truth about her heritage. However, he himself could not be seen with the Autobots, orelse PoE might do something to Marni. Another sigh was released before he spoke again. "I appriciate the offer, but it would be too dangerous for me to have prolonged contact with the Autobots." He saw Shilo's expression fall a bit, but he continued. "That is why I am going to get Shilo out there. I'll tell PoE that she is staying with her godmother, because the events at the base shook her up a bit too much. I will put her on a bus, and contact someone I know to pick her up when she arrives."

Shilo couldn't have been more surprised by her father's response, leaning over to hug him tightly. "Thank you, dad!"

[Tinman]

EDI pondered this for a moment, then he chose the best course of action to protect them. <"You do not need to maintain contact with the Autobots. I can act as liaison and pass information between you and my father, Doctor Orbit. Once we find your mate and secure her safety, then you can be reunited and where you go will remain your choice. If the Autobots or their military allies attempt to hold her captive, I will secure her safe passage to you myself with Doctor Orbit."> he assured them both. <"My loyalty is only to my creator and what remains of Talon Squadron. All other considerations are secondary. I will help you find and rescue Shilo's mother because Shilo is my friend and what the Preservers of Earth did to you is wrong."> he added confidently.

[Nathan]

Nathan nodded before he remembered that EDI couldn't see him. "Still, if it is so that Marni died in the base, I don't want Shilo near PoE. Sending her to be with you, at the very least, will keep her safe, and out of their reach."

Shilo couldn't believe that her dad was actually letting her leave the close, general area that he was in. She couldn't remember a time when he'd done that. "I'll be sure to keep in contact, dad."

[Tinman]

EDI thought about it for a moment, then decided she would be safer if there were no intermediaries. <"The Preservers of Earth could intercept her transport en route. I will come to you and fly with her secure in my cockpit to the base."> he said and fired up his engines, which could be heard over the phone line. <"Relay appropriate location for rendezvous and pick up. I will ensure Shilo's safety."> he added as he lifted off the ground and tucked his landing gear away before heading west ward towards Mission City. He would not allow the PoE to get a hold of his friend and hold her hostage like they have done to her mother. Plus this would permit her father to actually meet EDI face to face, so to speak.