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Post by Wheeljack on May 30, 2013 13:20:59 GMT -5
Wheeljack scanned Wavelength as he focused and then fired the light, his optics going rather a bit wide at seeing the results of both the scans and the effect on the submerged jetty. He scanned the area where Wavelength hit and while still rather astonished, nodded, satisfied the hazard was disposed of. Hearing the young mech's comment however was a little disarming and he couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Well, yeah. I probably should have warned you it was concrete and that stuff often has air pockets in it." he offered with a smile and a shrug. "That's some rather impressive firepower you've got though. I can definitely see why it worries you as much as it does." Another thought occurred to him and it made him chuckle a little more. "Too bad Ironhide isn't out here, he'd be duly impressed." he added to explain his chuckle.
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Post by Wavelength on May 30, 2013 13:27:01 GMT -5
Wavelength still had quite a look of eep on his face "Yes, that information would have been useful." he said, glancing back out as the boiling settled and bringing his hand up to play with his 'earring' "It doesn't take any of my energy to do, just a bit of focus if I'm not panicking. It can't be disabled unless I'm knocked out. Like I told you, I'm dangerous. Imagine if someone startled me, when I panic it takes less than an eight of a second to do, I don't have to charge it up like that." he said, giving a small sigh "I hate to say it but I think Ironhide would be jealous, and I don't like that fact. No one should envy this." he said, his gaze lowering a bit as he gave a sigh "At least there's one less hazard out there now."
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Post by Ironhide on May 30, 2013 14:20:47 GMT -5
"I dun envy it, I know better." came a deep gravelly voice from nearby, startling Wheeljack. A heavy black truck rolled to a stop a few yards away, then folded in on itself and stood up, revealing the stocky twenty-two foot tall Autobot Weapons Specialist, Ironhide. The burly mech walked over to them, looking at the water, then looking at Wavelength. "Slagofa weapon ya got there. Prime coulda used that fer clearin' rubble on the Archaeology digs he used ta lead back on Cybertron 'fore the war. Woulda come in handy fer that n demolition o' some o' the more hazardous ruins scattered here n there in the waste lands n some o' the Southern cities." He knew well why Wavelength was afraid of what he could do, and he knew how gentle a Spark he really was after seeing him trying so hard to save fallen bots on the battle field. He lightly placed one large hand on the young mech's shoulder. "Wish we coulda found ya 'fore the 'Cons did, coulda helped ya focus it fer better things than what the 'Cons try n make ya do."
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Post by Wheeljack on May 30, 2013 14:24:54 GMT -5
"Primus, 'Hide, you startled me." Wheeljack protested, but he let it go. He knew Ironhide well enough to know that the mech knew what he was talking about as he spoke to Wavelength. "He knows a lot, been around long enough." It was a playful jab at Ironhide's age, considering that he and Ratchet were the two oldest mechs on the base. The warning glare from Ironhide made Wheeljack chuckle, but he left the subject alone for the time being.
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Post by Wavelength on May 30, 2013 14:35:20 GMT -5
Wavelength looked back suddenly at the voice, his 'earring' clinging against the side of his face plate due to the sudden movement. He had been too occupied to notice the large mech coming up behind them though he gave a small sigh of relief seeing it was Ironhide. Though when his ability was called a weapon, his gaze lowered rather quickly "I wish I didn't have this ability. I was born with it." the young mech commented "If times were different, maybe I wouldn't feel as I do in regards to the matter because it would have been valuable in peaceful endeavors." he said, though he shook his head when Ironhide mentioned the 'Cons finding him. "It was not them who found me but the other way around. I was actively seeking them, to learn from one whom was among them." he explained, his proper speaking habits returning once more. However, at the hand on his shoulder, he did lift up his own hand, long, tapered but blunt fingers resting on Ironhide's much larger hand, a signal that he understood what Ironhide was getting at. "The Decepticons do not know what I am capable of and I intend to keep it that way. I did not even wish for you to be aware of my abilities, I merely did not anticipate such a loud demonstration." he said, letting his hand lower once more.
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Post by Ironhide on May 31, 2013 6:42:08 GMT -5
Ironhide gave Wavelength a soft understanding smile. "Ya still can ya know. Use yer ability fer peaceful things like this. Is a choice, just like fear n hate're choices. I made a choice long time ago - loyalty, friendship, compassion, even love. It dun matter how we're built, it's the choices we make that matter n we all got the same choices ta make." He vented softly and lowered his head a moment. "Long as I been fightin' 'em, there's some things I learned 'bout 'em. One of 'em is there ain't no mech among the 'Cons I'd trust ta teach a bright lil Spark like you." he added, though he also knew there were some who never should have been with the Decepticons in the first place, bots like Wavelength. He looked at the young mech then. "Yer proof there's a few who ain't supposed ta be there, though. N fer what ya been doin' fer us n what ya did fer Jazz, I'd trust ya, Solar Laser Flare n all." he offered, hoping it would help ease the smaller bot's nervousness.
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Post by Wheeljack on May 31, 2013 6:49:44 GMT -5
Wheeljack smirked at the odd name Ironhide had come up with, but in a strange sort of way it seemed to fit. "Solar... Laser... Flare?..." he asked with a bit of a laugh. "Only you, Ironhide. Silly old mech." he chuckled and shook his head. Ironhide snorted at him and Wheeljack held up his hands in surrender, taking a step back, though he couldn't help but snicker none the less.
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Post by Wavelength on May 31, 2013 6:59:22 GMT -5
Wavelength pulled away from Ironhide a bit "Stop speaking of it as a weapon, that is not what I aspire to be." he said to the large black mech before turning towards the water "You can scan me, I have no weapons, there is no addition to my frame that enables this." he added, giving a heavy sigh before he began to pace a small bit along the water's edge "I've only used it four times, including this one, twice to attempt to learn to control it, once by mistake, and then, this instance. I do not intend to make it a habit." he said, pausing for a moment and looking skyward before his vivid red optics lowered to the water's surface once more. "What you witnessed me using it for earlier, the light trick to show what was on Jazz's frame, shifting the light and creating images, that is the extent of my normal uses when it comes to my gift, and my curse. . ."
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Post by Ironhide on May 31, 2013 7:20:23 GMT -5
Ironhide's smile vanished then and he vented a sigh. "I didn't mean it like that. It's a tool, like a wrench. It's what ya do with it that matters, kid. N there's so much ya can do with that. Ratchet uses wrenches ta fix us when we're broken, n ya could do the same thing. Bots all see me n my cannons n think 'weapon, fighter, killer'. But ya dunno how many lives I saved with these cannons, breakin' inta places n pullin' bots out ta safety. Put em t'gether n I can punch through a fortress wall with em. They're tools, just like Ratchet's wrenches, n I saved more lives than ya know with these things." He shook his head and stepped away. "But ya prolly gonna go hate me 'cause o' what I am. Is alright, I'm used ta that, but ya shouldn't hate yerself. Yer a good bot, n ya deserve better n what ya got with the 'Cons." He decided to let it go at that before he upset the young flier further and walked over to the edge of the water, looking at where the jetty ruins once were. "Ya did good, kid. Be safer over here now, thanks t' ya..." he offered softly, glanced over his shoulder at Wavelength, then to Wheeljack, then started to head back the way he had come.
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Post by Wheeljack on May 31, 2013 7:29:35 GMT -5
Wheeljack looked a bit confused and concerned as Ironhide started to walk away. "Ironhide?" he called, but the big mech didn't respond outside of shaking his head slightly, and the white and blue mech sighted, knowing the burly mech was mad at himself for upsetting Wavelength, however inadvertently. He looked over at Wavelength, trying to think of something he could say to help. "Ironhide means well, just takes some getting used to, I think." he offered softly, though he knew there wasn't a whole lot else he could say without making the situation worse. He knew just from observation that Wavelength was a very sensitive young bot and Ironhide's gruff matter-of-fact demeanor could be a little abrasive to some. "I guess I'm so used to him I don't really realize how... abrasive he can be..." he offered with a shrug.
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Post by Wavelength on May 31, 2013 7:49:22 GMT -5
"Actually, I do know, at least some of it." Wavelength said, he did not turn however, he did raise his wings, just a little, to aid in gathering more light before the multicolored wisps surrounded the area, encompassing all three of them even as Ironhide began to walk away though the three could still see each other, soon, that light took shape quickly, playing out scenes he had witnessed in his unseen watching, Ironhide tearing into a building and pulling two young sparklings out, carrying them to safety, images of Ironhide putting himself between an enemy and his wounded allies, using those weapons to cover his friend and hold off enemy fire, the big black mech shielding others with his own body, and then there were the other, non-combat moments he had observed. Ironhide cradling a small bot in his arms when they were afraid, the playfulness sometimes shown around friends, those were just some of the images Wavelength shared, things he had watched. The scene then began to go through all of the other bots he had seen, Wheeljack with his young ones and his more humorous failures, Prime pulling allies from rubble as well as laughing along with his friends at times, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's playful contests and pranks and the reactions of the bots, Jolt and his whip dancing for fun when he thought no one was looking, Ratchet's rare but funny little slip ups and how the others reacted, Huntress placing a wing over a smaller bot to keep them from the rain, Charter forgetting to duck when he went through a lower threshold, Red Alert flipping out over some minor thing, Jazz's silly antics to get a smile from his friends, the protectiveness, love and friendship found among the autobots, Wavelength had seem much of it.
It was a few moments before Wavelength turned to look to Wheeljack and Ironhide once more, stepping forward a bit "I have seen many things from all of you. Your pain, your fear, your pride and your love. I hate no reason to hate you Ironhide, I hold no ill conceived assumptions in regards to any of you because I have seen the truth. I have been right next to you without any of you being aware of my presence. I know what the truth is, preconceptions and assumptions have no place to me." he explained as he cycled through still more images. The young bot had taken to watching others for quite some time and, in doing so, he learned much "However, not all of us are what you think of us either, both sides hold preconceptions and that can be dangerous." he added before looking to Wheeljack and giving a small nod "My apologies for my reaction, that topic is still a rather sore one for me. I am easy to trigger due to it."
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Post by Ironhide on May 31, 2013 11:25:37 GMT -5
Ironhide stopped as he saw the light gather around them and as he watched the scenes, the things he had done, the things Wavelength had seen, the burly mech's intakes hitched and his expression shifted slightly. He reached up one large hand as if to touch the images, seeing those he tried so desperately to save, his friends, his adopted twin sons. So he did understand, he had seen who Ironhide really was, at least some of it, who they all were. With a shaky sigh, his hand came up to rest on his chest and his optics closed. When Wavelength spoke again, he looked over at him, his optics strangely foggy. Had he been human, tears would have fallen by now. It was strange that something like this would hit him so hard in the Spark. Perhaps the stress of the war and everything that had happened to him was finally taking its toll on him. Always the gruff and grumpy one with a few teasing jokes he poked at his friends periodically, he had hidden it well, until now. Unable to speak, he simply stepped forward and gently pulled Wavelength into a hug, careful not to touch his wings.
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Post by Wheeljack on May 31, 2013 11:56:55 GMT -5
Wheeljack was still in awe over what Wavelength could do with light, especially the images he was displaying now, but those same pictures made him smile, the memories, the good they've done and tried to do. Seeing the Aerialbots when they were still so young, however, made him look to the night sky, praying to Primus they would somehow find him, that they would make it safely back to him. When he looked back to the images, his Spark went out to the burly mech, seeing how close he was to breaking down. When he went to hug Wavelength, Wheeljack went up to him and lightly placed a reassuring hand on Ironhide's shoulder, glancing to the younger mech to be sure he was okay with the unexpected hug.
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Post by Wavelength on May 31, 2013 12:17:46 GMT -5
When Ironhide hugged him, Wavelength didn't hesitate to return the embrace "It's alright, I know the truth." he said, giving a small smile and burying his face against Ironhide's neck a bit "Honestly, you remind me of one of those who helped raise me, hard, stern on the surface, but, within, a tenderness many fail to see. Who I was closest to before the neutral community I was raised by got dragged into the war." he said, tightening his hold on Ironhide a bit and actually nuzzling his neck some "You're so much like him that I wonder if you are related, his name was Hardboot. Ever heard of him?" Wavelength asked, looking up for a moment to Wheeljack with a gentle smile on his face <"This. . .this is why the war has to end, so many kind sparks are in turmoil because of it, this is why I refuse to fight."> he sent to Wheeljack alone before moving his hand to caress Ironhide's back in the way one would do to a child, a gesture of comfort even though Wavelength was much smaller than Ironhide, he knew everyone needed comfort sometimes and, so long as he could focus on the needs of others, he would be alright, or so he thought.
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Post by Ironhide on May 31, 2013 17:53:22 GMT -5
Ironhide tightened the hug then, but not too tightly, venting heavily trying to keep his fluid system from venting overflow. When a bot is overheated, stressed, upset, or angry, fluid in their bodies can expand from the temperature increase, thus they have vents in their mouths and just under the optics to allow for overflow. All Transformers have these vents, though it takes different triggers and emotional levels for each to cause the vents to open, and though Ironhide was clearly stressed and his fluid system was heating up because of that, he was fighting to keep them closed. He was rarely an emotional bot, but emotional stress was clearly getting the better of him now as some fluid leaked from small vents just under the inner ridge of his optics, trickling down over his cheek plates a bit as he held Wavelength. He wasn't crying per se, at least not in human terms, but the emotional stress was clearly evident.
But at the mention of Hardboot, Ironhide blinked in surprise and looked at Wavelength, his processor struggling to recall the reason that name was so familiar. Then it hit him and his optics shuttered in sorrow, wishing he had gotten to know him better and wondering what had happened to him. When he finally found his voice, it was low and shaky, but he could speak and he told Wavelength what he knew, what he remembered, as he released the hug so he could better talk to the smaller, younger mech. "Yeah, I knew 'im, a little, not as much as I wish I could've though. My Alpha n his Beta were brothers, Spark brothers. The tribal wars separated whole families n my Alpha lost track o' his lil brother 'fore I was Spawned. Knew my older brother though n told his son 'bout his big brother n my older brother. My progenitors were killed shortly after I hatched n my brother raised me, grew up 'round Kaon, but he died a few Ano-Cycles after my last growth cycle. I thought I'd lost all the family I ever had, thought I was alone, 'cept Ratchet, good friend, he saved me." Ironhide vented heavily, then continued.
"I ended up tribal leader later, takin' my brother's place. After Reunification, I ended up combat instructor at Iacon's trainin' grounds. Made trips inta the city sometimes n regular trips ta Kaon lookin' fer young orphaned bots who needed me. Went other places too. Trip ta Tagon Heights n got the shock o' my life when I heard somebot call out my brother's name. I look just like 'im, just a touch shorter. Das when I met 'im, Hardboot. His Beta had showed him what my brother n Alpha n his mate looked like n he thought I was my brother. We talked a long while n I promised I'd try n get out ta visit as often as I could, told 'im what I did, n all. N he promised ta come visit me when he could. Never saw his Progenitors, but they lived there in Tagon Heights. We met up occasionally, mostly him comin' ta see me cause I couldn't get away often enough n the lil ones in Kaon needed me. He understood. Last I saw 'im the war just got declared n he wouldn't stand fer it. Lost contact with 'im n never knew what happened ta 'im when Tagon Hights was hit, but I heard some got away n headed East t'wards the mountains. Always hoped he got out, hoped he survived, somehow. Only family I got left, him n his progenitors, but never got ta meet 'em. Heard he had a kid brother, never met 'im either. Wish I had, though."
He shuttered his optics and shook his head then. "Slaggit, I shoulda stayed with 'im! He was all I had n I shoulda just slaggin' stayed with 'im!" he swore angrily as he stepped back from Wavelength, angry at himself for walking away from his only surviving family. So much he had lost over the years and he felt so alone, even with his closest friends around him, even with two adopted sons and all the young bots he had taken in over the long course of his life, brutal though it was at times. He still felt so alone and he missed his brother, missed his Alpha's nephew, missed the closeness he once shared with Ratchet, missed the young bot he'd fallen in love with in Iacon, missed so much in his life it hurt. But now he had a chance and he looked in the direction of the brig hidden under the main hangar, towards the prisoner that was held there, to the one he once lost. There was a chance for real reconciliation, a chance to regain something of all that he had lost and unconsciously his hand came up to his chest, dactyls idly rubbing the scar there. When he looked back to Wavelength, there was only one question he could ask, though he feared what the answer may be. "Wha... What happened ta Hardboot?" he asked hesitantly, hoping his uncle's son still lived yet dreading that something had happened to him. He had gone to Tagon Heights after the attack and found his uncle and his uncle's Spark mate dead. His own Spark felt like it ruptured on the spot, never having even met and gotten to know them only to find them laying there, broken and lifeless, his chance long gone; though he knew them from the stories Hardboot had told him and from images he'd showed Ironhide.
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