Shuttle en Route to the Semper TyrannusUpon receiving Reflector's acknowledgement of his request, Bludgeon then turned his attention to those gathered around. One particular issue was playing around in his processor.
"Why didn't Bomb Burst show the usual signs of low energon?" He asked bluntly.
---
All optics went to Nightbird. She felt the weight of that, but didn't show signs of being uncomfortable. However, she was unable to answer with her lack of a voice. So she leaned over Bomb Burst's unconscious self as she knew he would have what she needed... He always did. And he did.
She took his data pad out of the compartment on his hip he always kept it in so she could type her answer to Bludgeon.
'I have been working with him on impulse control. He's been better at staying focused when things are out of control lately. Possibly the situation with all of us there and all going on he was too focused on us rather than himself.' she typed then held it up for them to see.
--
Bludgeon nodded. The Vampire usually was too self centered to bother with putting others first... But... Stranger things have happened with that mech.
As the shuttle landed in the Semper Tyrannis' hangar, he stood. His underlings all remaining seated until he would give them permission to move. He looked over the team of what one might call thugs.
"Snarler, carry the Vampire to med bay, Carnivac, assist Nightbird."
---
Both Carnivac and Nightbird looked like they wanted to protest. However, Nightbird couldn't type fast enough missing a hand. Carnivac, though, could protest.
"She doesn't look the type to need help." He said. Nightbird nodded vigorously in agreement.
---
"She isn't." Bludgeon said as his intense glare falling on the cyber-wolf. "You can carry her arm."
--
"Yes Commander." Carnivac relented. He knew better than to argue with Bludgeon. That was a no win situation... At least no win for him.
He took Nightbird's arm when she reluctantly handed it to him and was in motion behind the others as the shuttle doors opened and Bludgeon began walking out, before any others on the shuttle could disembark. Snarler at Bludgeon's heels, Skullgrin, Bugly, then, Carnivac and Nightbird right behind them.
--
Bludgeon always seem to walk with purpose... With confidence that was impossible to miss. Often the lower rank and file tended to unconsciously move out of his way as he walked towards them, his warrior's reputation proceeding him.
This was the case as they moved through the corridors of the Semper Tyrannis.
Nightbird felt incredibly out of place at the moment. Accustomed to trailing a half step behind Bomb Burst, or being right next to him, neither intending to attract attention, it seemed as if Bludgeon
wanted to be seen.
And she was surrounded by strangers. Though she had heard many accounts of their adventures and missions, she had never actually met any of them. Even when Skullgrin, Iguanus, and Bugly had all been with she and Bomb Burst on the Nebulous mission. Bomb Burst had mastered compartmentalizing his life, and she never crossed into this one until now. She was now surrounded by mechs who knew him as well she knew him, but knew nothing of her.
She did manage to type a quick message for Carnivac on Bomb Burst's data pad when they were paused in the corridor just before arriving at the med bay.
'Thank you, Carnivac.' she typed, showing it to him.
--
Carnivac smiled slightly
>>'No problem.'<< he didn't dare reply out loud in case Bludgeon was in a 'mood'.
>> 'I might need your help more than you need mine. I've never been on this ship.'<<-
'You've never been on the Semper Tyrannus?' she typed out.
--
>>'You spelled Tyrannis wrong. An I not a u_<<--
Scraaaaap She thought slumping her shoulders. All this time she had it in her processor it was spelled with a u.
--
Carnivac smiled slightly. Just slightly.
>>'And no, I haven't.'<< He replied.
--
Bludgeon was suddenly in motion again, entering the med bay.
As expected, a med berth and the necessary equipment was at the ready. He motioned for Snarler to set Bomb Burst down, a whisp of corroded dust from what was his armor floated up. Iguanus approached from further back in the med bay.
A technician approached, noting the lack of energon in the Vampire. Though looked perplexed by the need for an external pump.
"Just filling his tank will not work. It needs to circulate." Bludgeon informed the tech in a clipped tone. "LV117's acid rain stripped his armor and got in his systems. Clean him up and repair any damage. And do it before he wakes."
Then the Metallikato Master's attention went to Nightbird. He signalled for another technician to come over.
"Nightbird sit." He ordered motioning to the next berth which was also emptied prior to their arrival.
He looked at the technician though. "Replace her arm. Her entire arm, not just a patch job." He ordered. "Make sure her armor is sound and repair where it was damaged. Nightbird will be in peak condition when you are done."
The technician nodded and possibly said yes, though Bludgeon had stopped paying attention to him.
"Please tell me Bomb Burst brought a 'toy' or two aboard." He addressed them all, figuring Nightbird knew more than any of the others, however he left it open just in case.
--
Nightbird resisted squirming away from the technician as he quickly removed what remained of her arm and disappeared. But she turned her attention to Bludgeon at his question and nodded.
---
"I assume he has it stored in the usual place." Bludgeon remarked.
--
Nightbird's brow knitted a bit. She got back out the data pad and set it on the berth so she could type.
'In cargo bay.' she typed.
--
Bludgeon looked to Carnivac. "Go retrieve it." He ordered. "You know his hiding places well enough... Snarler, Bugly, go with him. Get the organic coating off yourselves too."
--
The three disappeared from the med bay instantly. There was no telling when Bomb Burst would regain consciousness, and he would likely attack the first Cybertronian he saw. They did not want any Decepticons to be that target.
Skullgrin also disappeared to get the coating off of him.
Carnivac stopped a bit outside of the med bay. "I just had a fantastic idea." He said with a sly grin. "We still are due to celebrate, right? Let's get Batty drunk too."
--
Bugly looked at Carnivac in disbelief, but said nothing at first. "Let's do it." He finally said. "I'll get the energon, you two locate the toys."
Bugly veered off towards the bar, Snarler and Carnivac went to the cargo bay to retrieve the Autobots that Bomb Burst had captured a long time ago and used to refuel himself. They would replace the energon so that when Bomb Burst was awake, he'd be getting drunk as well.
---
While only Iguanus was present, Bludgeon's attention turned fully to the spy of the group.
He looked Nightbird in the optics for a few seconds. "I accept." He finally said.
Nightbird looked at him perplexed.
"On Garrus 9, you offered your sword. I accept." He elaborated. "You have proved to be worthy."
--
'I don't understand.' Nightbird typed. 'The mission was uneventful.'
--
"Your fight with Punch." Bludgeon explained and Nightbird shook her head.
--
'That went horribly' she typed.
--
"No. It went very well." Bludgeon corrected. "You were at an extreme disadvantage. Your fighting style is not suited to mid air. You performed well under those circumstances."
--
Nightbird let down her mask revealing her entire face. She felt it disrespectful to hide her face at the moment. However, she showed no emotion on her face.
'Thank you, Master Bludgeon.' She typed. 'Once my voice is returned I will thank you properly.'
Bludgeon simply nodded.