[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Catching Up [Closed]

[Optimus Prime]

Episode 3 | Week 4 | Day 4



When would the line be drawn? At what point would the only new humans within Omega One be those appointed by Agent Fowler? Perhaps it was a blessing they were only up to four civilians, not including the newest addition, instead of far more given the time spent and how many Autobots were around... Yet, that was still four too many in his opinion. While the children assisted with moral and offered insights that were priceless in helping them blend in that much better, in the end, they were children that had gotten lodged within a seemingly endless war. One that had chewed apart countless planets beneath its continuous flame. They were in far more danger than they likely realized, even if they thought they understood the absolute nightmare they were getting snagged and tangled within.

Now here they were.

Another added to the roster.

So badly did Optimus wish that incidents were reported to Fowler for him to take care of through his means instead. Assist with a cover story or find means to keep things low so it did not spread like wildfire. Yet, no. His Autobots had brought them to the base, where they not only got a first-hand view of more than one Cybertronian in their root form, but also the technology that came at its heel in the form of the Ground Bridge and other tech within the main area. It was headache-inducing, and it was thrown atop the sea of far more pressing matters which meant that he hadn't had a chance to even ADDRESS the situation as of yet.

Optimus wasn’t even certain he even had all the relevant information to even try to do so.

It was what it was. Nothing could change what had been done, and the only path was to keep going forward to try to clean things up and get everything back in line once more. It was with this mindset that Optimus had summoned their latest human, intending to not only meet them for the first time but potentially lay down some groundwork that would be required should she intend to linger as the children did. He simply hoped that she favored the idea of staying out of things and wishing to go back to her normal days before finding out there were aliens around, and if not? He hoped she was at least a soul who could try to keep the children... or more... Miko... in line, rather than add fuel to the fire.

Standing within the Control Room, Optimus was keeping himself occupied while waiting, which was both to continue to be productive and look into the situation with Patch, as much as it was to keep his mind off of the injuries that he was trying to brute force ignore from the day previously. It was a skill that he had cultivated well throughout this war, learning quickly that to show weakness or overt pain was not only a way to empower those who brought such injury upon him, but also demoralize those who looked to him for strength and a leading force. It left him ignoring what would cause others to suffer, the damage upon his frame as fresh as it was gnarled.

The entire curving shape of Optimus' left shoulder appeared as though it had been absolutely decimated by a series of explosive strikes, numerous indents and punches pushing in its outermost shelled frame into a chewed-up variant. While the general shape managed to survive, to an extent, its details were obliterated, one of the side fins crooked down and bent, while the other angled up and back with a piece of it missing. The chrome Autobot brand that typically was welded on display, was completely missing, leaving behind an array of blistered and blackened red paint that cracked and peeled at the edges.

Similar marring from the outer edges of whatever had occurred, also speckled at the top edge of Optimus' forearm guard, though it was significantly less notable than the armor above it which had undergone even more damage after the concussive force. Coring through this angular surface was a single line that revealed silver, leading down to the edge of the pauldron to leave a mar of the upper arm below.

These were not the only injuries he sustained, though it was the most overtly obvious, the others consisting of a ring of claw marks that encircled his lower makeshift ribcage, and some liniar grooves and cuts from shrapnel.

Nothing could be done beyond basic triage; it was what it was and there was no getting around that. So, as awful as he may look, Optimus carried on, as usual, waiting to see just who got roped into this war next, and what new life he was now forced to look after while also dealing with everything else on this damn planet.

[Cassandra Cassidy]

Down from the mesa Cassandra Cassidy came, walking as straight as she could. Purposeful in stride, she had squared her shoulders and kept her eyes forward. The cola can she'd nursed on top of the rock was gone, and the woman had made sure she didn't spill any on her shirt. Her hair was brushed, the dust was shaken out of her clothes, and she held a stern, businesslike air to her now.

When she entered the Control Room, that air slipped for a moment as she took in the site of Optimus Prime. He was big, larger than any of the Cybertronians she'd met so far, and he looked none too pleased to be there. (Cassandra couldn't blame him - from the drilling-down Fowler had given her, the entire situation was a security-related nightmare.) There was also a nasty-looking series of dents and scratches down one side, blackened and twisted like he'd been in some sort of accident. That looks like it hurts, Butch thought, and wondered if that also contributed to his foul mood. Luckily for the both of them, Cassandra wasn't here to waste anyone's time, understanding of any injury and the extenuating circumstances.

She came to a stop not far from where the Prime stood. Cassandra, though she was no soldier, did her best to stand at attention. "Optimus Prime, sir," she said, trying not to stare too hard at him, "it's an honor to meet you. My name is Cassandra Cassidy, though most call me 'Butch'."

[Optimus Prime]

As the elevator came down and the human exited, Optimus got his first sight of the latest civilian that got roped into things. He tried to judge the way she carried herself to the best of his ability during her approach, looking to see if she seemed casual and accepting of the situation she was now in with any form of confidence, or if she was terrified of the world that she had been dropped into. Part of him wished it was the latter, which he knew was unkind as he didn't want to be feared, yet, with everything going on, it was the first direction that his thoughts went so they could kindly place her back home. He knew that likely wouldn’t be the case given how long she had been around already, though it was his first impulse, especially with the pain he was biting down and his want to not need to go through all of this once more.

Easing away from the terminal, Optimus rocked his weight to one side and adjusted his standing so that he was regarding the newcomer more directly, rather than seeming distracted by what he had been working on mere moments previously. It was said terminal that he keyed while he repositioned, the green octagonal screen instantly shutting down to black to muddle over any details that may have been visible. Not that he expected her to be able to read it anyway. The skills that their smallest human friend had were beyond what any others had managed, catching the others off guard, though that didn't mean he would be the only one, and it was better to simply turn off the monitor.

"It is nice to meet you, Cassandra."

While his words were kind enough, there was a sort of tension behind it, uncertain how he should feel in these moments. It was during this greeting that he opted to call her by her real name, and not the less formal nickname. It was the same logic in how he treated others around the base. Max had always been Fortress Maximus before he departed, Raf was always Rafael, and even Fowler tended to be called Agent Fowler. It was how he tended to function, not one to flow into variants unless specifically told to do so.

"I assume Agent Fowler has familiarized you with our standing within this world."

Optimus did not doubt he had for an instant. The fact that Cybertronian kind was meant to be a secret was in no way a forgettable element in any discussion with an outsider. It was as important a rule, as it was completely frivolous. It being respected and followed was beneficial to not cause waves of any kind, however, if this new individual truly wished to preach to the world what she had seen, ignoring possible repercussions both by Fowler and social whiplash, then most wouldn't believe her to begin with, and those who may were few and far between. It was in her best interest to simply abide by said instruction as law, just as they all must within Omega One.

[Cassandra Cassidy]

"He has, sir," Cassandra said. "Another of your soldiers did as well - one named 'Avalanche'. I respect the secrecy within which the Autobots must abide on Earth. I have no doubts about the absolute sh...I mean, the absolute chaos that would happen if you were discovered, sir."

Straight and to the point. Butch had picked up on the tension behind Optimus's words, and it wasn't hard to choose her next based on that. Now she had to remember not to swear while talking to a commander, of all beings - creatures - people? People. He's a sentient being with human intelligence.

"Nor do I wish to be a burden, sir, to an active military base. My coming here was out of the goodness of one of your soldiers' own hearts. We were chased by...I'm still not sure how this happened sir, but a fu - a jet chased us. It somehow recognized the one named 'Kup' as one of your own. It pursued us into the outskirts of Las Vegas, where we took refuge in a parking garage. I ask that you do not discipline him if he's in trouble for helping me - my learning of his true nature was a coincidence. There was a sandstorm, and I was walking to work in it, and he stopped and picked me up so I wouldn't have to."

Cassandra stopped and took a breath. It...was a lot to try and wrap her head around, still. She hoped that Kup, wherever he was now, would be all right thanks to the word she put in for him. It'd been the wrong place at the wrong time for both of them, she knew now.

"If you have any questions, sir, I'll answer them to the best of my ability."

[Optimus Prime]

The act of performing a good deed did not bother Optimus, and would not have gotten Kup into any trouble. So long as caution was taken, then helping others in their time of need was simply an act of mercy in an otherwise cruel situation. He had done such things himself through the years that they had been stationed on this planet, however, what ones he responded to tended to have a more dangerous threat in play to risk as little contact as possible. One example of this was a time in which he stopped behind a small stalled vehicle that was trapped part-way in the fast lane on a busy freeway. A large semi-truck would be noticed far sooner than such a tiny gray shape and would draw the attention of individuals a longer distance back that they needed to slow and change lanes rather than screech past with a bob that could clip others to the right, or clip the disabled car itself.

It sounded as though the sandstorm had to have been rather vicious all things considered. Not just some wind and discomfort with a squint of the eyes, and was an act to offer shelter to someone who could be suffering under the assault. Typically Optimus tried to keep tabs on general weather issues, both in Nevada as well as around the points of interest for scouting missions to better plan a course of action and potentially deviate to a new spot. However, he had been notably preoccupied to a point that was so far off his radar that it borderline didn’t exist. Such tasks were unceremoniously dropped onto others to take care of, so he was rather in the dark about how aggressive it actually was.

It was irrelevant. What was done was done and there wasn't a way to backtrack.

"At what point did you become aware that Kup was not human."

As damning as a forsaken jet pursuing them was, there was still an ability to play ignorant and flee under the guise of a human. An odd freakshow of an occurrence with overlapping military flight patterns, ones that happened to cross an unlikely parallel, or an aircraft pilot going rogue for laughs, was far easier of a sell than contending with the fallout of the truth getting out. It also would have protected Cassandra from finding out aliens were real, and potentially falling down the pit of no return. While it seemed as though she was rather accepting of the concept overall and didn't appear to have an immediate desire to share what she learned, much like the children were, it still could not erase the foundational fault that led them to this place. She had just been forced into the cold reality that she was now another potential statistic should things go astray.

At this question, Optimus' weight would shift some, settling down into an idle state to try to get comfortable, despite the fact he was still in lower levels of pain. Paired with this, he did momentarily roll his left shoulder back in a subtle action, stretching the aching hinge that thankfully was relatively unscathed beneath the bloated appearance of damage. Despite this, his focus was absolute, cyan optics trying to read her body language with critical focus.

[Cassandra Cassidy]

The wince wasn't lost on Cassandra. She considered asking him if there was a place she could go to talk to him better, at his eye level. Catwalks rimmed the room they were in, and she didn't mind a few stairs if it made him more comfortable. Asking felt too informal or distracting from the matter at hand, so she settled for staying put.

Now, for the important question at hand. "In the parking garage we hid in, sir," Cassandra replied. She couldn't help but frown a little. "I...demanded to know what was going on, sir. He had tried to explain away the jet chasing us, and I wasn't having any of it. Something about him knowing members of a PMC unit left over from the Second World War. His story was bullsh - was full of holes, sir. Especially since a foreign jet like our pursuer, chasing a car in Nevada, where there are multiple government test sites? They'd be picked up by NORAD in an instant and have fighters on their tail."

Cassandra sighed. Now she looked guilty, and felt as much. "In the garage, after we were alone and were waiting for the jet to pass by, he asked for my word that I wouldn't tell anyone about your kind. Then, he switched off the person...hologram...thing he was using. And he started to tell me what he was. He didn't give me the full details until we were safe inside the base with Avalanche. I'm sorry, sir, it's not his fault - I was...threatening him. His hologram, I mean. With a knife. I thought he was some lunatic that had picked me up. I've nearly been hurt hitch-hiking before, so I carry a switchblade in case I need to defend myself...."

She trailed off and looked at her feet. "I didn't hurt him, I promise. I just...I wasn't buying any of it. I don't think he felt he had any other choice. I don't mean harm to any of your people, and I'm sure as shit not going to talk about them. I gave the knife to Agent Fowler when he asked me to surrender any weapons. I...."

She looked up into those bright, focused eyes of the Autobot commander. "I want to help you and your people, if I can."

[Optimus Prime]

As he had previously, Optimus remained rather inert and quiet while Cassandra spoke, not offering any notable expressions or shifts of his positioning as though he wanted to interject in any way. It was a level of calm patience that he had cultivated well through the years, wanting her to completely articulate her train of thoughts with no interruption of any kind. If he had something he wanted to be clarified, he could certainly loop back to it, though she covered most everything with little notable details left out. The only unknown was why the Decepticon had opted to depart, rather than land and consider pursuing into the parking garage. It was an irrelevant question, however, one that she likely had no clue about anyway.

When the tale came to a close, and Cassandra further pressed her desire to help, a soft sort of hum was made, a momentary flicker of thought before Optimus started to speak more than he had previously.

"Besides our own kind, a select few of Fowler's personnel work at this outpost. I trust you will treat them with similar respect."

Just because they too were humans, did not mean Laura or Nathan's rank and role should be disregarded.

"In addition, there are three children that frequent. They can guide you on much."

One could argue that they knew more about how their kind than anyone else given the fact they eagerly interacted with many of them as individuals, rather than as a collective. They asked much, pried for answers even if pushed aside, and tended to simply get into everything with an obnoxious level of skill and creativity. Miko alone knew how to infiltrate places she wasn't permitted, including a couple of incidents of going through the Ground Bridge which was horrible. If anyone was going to be able to teach Cassandra everything she needed to know, it would be the trio.

"In valid portions of the base, try to utilize the catwalks. Otherwise, use notable caution."

While everyone was told to mind themselves and be aware, there was still that nagging worry that would creep at the back of Optimus' mind, it being one more little thing to dwell over. Unintentionally bumping into a human wasn't going to cause any real harm beyond some bruising or a scrape should they fall, if that, however the crushing force of weight behind a plate of metal and the ground was where it would be less than ideal. They couldn't just repair or try to replace things like a Cybertronian could, and it would only take one mistake for a pair of lives to be changed. It was while he spoke this, that his right arm would raise slightly, offering a light gesture towards one of the ladders that could lead up top.

The fact Optimus was indicating this and sharing this information spoke much, effectively confirming the idea that Cassandra would be permitted to stay in some form or another without overtly saying as much. With this reluctant acceptance, there was a sort of begrudging relaxation that came on its heel, essentially giving up on control since there obviously was no way to backpedal in any form whatsoever. At this, he continued to speak, words softening ever so slightly, though were still stiff.

"You must have questions of your own."

[Cassandra Cassidy]

It was not an offer he accepted wholeheartedly. Cassandra could see it in the stiffness of his body language, the curt edge to his words. Even though his stance and words had more give at his offer to questions, she knew he'd prefer she leave.

If only he knew how personal this cause had suddenly become to her. If only he knew how more aware she was of the dog-tags around her neck, the minuscule weight like a stone now. If Optimus was worried about disrespect, he'd find nothing intentional from Butch. Apologies were in order, as well, to Kup.

Wait, did he just mention children?

"I have questions, sir," Butch began, "but mostly to how best I can be of use to you and your cause. I'm a professional cleaner by trade - my work centers around cleaning up after accidents, crime scenes, infestations, places of extreme filth.... Anything of that nature. I also know how to do some maintenance tasks, such as replacing a sink or changing out oil. I could also see if anything scrap or left over from work could be of use to you."

She hesitated for a moment. "...Would you also be willing to allow me onto an Internet connection, sir? I have people of my own that are probably wondering where I went. I don't want them to panic if they can't contact me. I never miss work without letting them know I can't make it, and I'm already coming up with a cover story as to where I've been. I'm...also wondering how one might leave the base - I don't need to stay here. I have a place to go, and I don't want to intrude on your operations. I would only be here if you have work for me, or if you deemed it necessary I come here for whatever reason."

She'd ask about the children in a minute.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus listened carefully as Cassandra spoke, trying to pick out the validity of her words and what emotions may lie behind them. While he was not adept at social interactions in more casual settings, finding them as unappealing as they were unnatural to him, he could be rather sharp at trying to find intentions that lie beneath more serious situations, ones that were not muddled with humor or forced pleasantries. It let him get a sense of just how truthful she was being, her words continuing to not feel like hollow filler to placate and get him to back down.

"Should you truly desire to assist in such means, then you are free to utilize your skills where you see fit."

While it felt odd in some way to tell someone what to do who did not serve beneath him as a soldier, if Cassandra truly wanted to help, then giving her a goal in order to do so would be the most ideal rather than letting her run wild around the base like the children did. It was still unnatural to him though, not knowing how he felt about ordering some job upon a civilian who stumbled within this world.

"The Medical Bay may be of most importance; however, you are not to attempt to clean Cybertronian technology."

That room was of greater importance, it a space where at any given moment someone could be thrown into it with their torso ripped open, exposing everything that needed to stay internalized to external elements. While some dust here or there wouldn't be some grandiose threat, even if it got a little prevalent at spots, it would be ideal to keep things as clean as they could be within reason. Any form of assistance with such a task would be appreciated, and knowing it was someone who specialized in such topics? It would be far more viable than sending a soul whose knowledge was related to just a broom and some paper towels with a spray bottle of cleaner.

"Within this space, Energon may be shed. Be aware that it is toxic."

Optimus didn't need her eager to help after someone was bleeding out, thinking she could wipe it up with a washcloth and little care about what it was. While he truly had no idea what level of toxicity the fuel was to humans, if it was a mild irritant or truly horrific, he knew enough to be aware that it wasn't really healthy to have skin contact with it for long. Beyond that, his knowledge came to a hard stop, and it would fall into the hands of others that were far more educated on the topic than himself.

"You are not to clean near the Ground Bridge."

At this mild warning, Optimus' arm would raise while his frame turned just enough so that he could indicate palm up to the piece of technology. It was a short hallway of sorts that dead stopped at a rock wall, a series of metal rings branching overhead in broad partial hoops. While it was rough and rather cobbled in the eyes of many Cybertronian, it still looked alien and complex with certain architectural flairs and shapes that coincided with their home world. There was no doubt it was an absolutely complex system, even if much of it appeared to be internalized elsewhere with hidden power generators and processing mechanics that permitted it to create the portals that defied rules governing spatial placement.

Tampering with it unintentionally would be devastating.

Lowering his arm down after this was indicated, Optimus' body posture rocked back in Cassandra's direction, so that he was addressing her directly once again.

"Arrangements will be made for your phone to feed through."

It wouldn't be a full open connection so there was no way for it to be reverse-tracked for location pings within Omega One, though outbound and inbound calls would be possible through its filter with no discernible issue by its user.

[Cassandra Cassidy]

A medbay? As in, a medical bay? Was he saying that these robots had doctors (or mechanics)? Cassandra couldn't help but give a fascinated look as Optimus explained its importance. She nodded along with his instructions, committing each order to memory. Don't touch Energon. Don't clean near the Ground Bridge. Use your skillset as you see fit within these rules.

When he mentioned allowing her phone to connect through to the outside world, her shoulders sagged a tad in relief. "Thank you, sir," she said, a little breath escaping her. "That means a lot. I appreciate your help - "

She then looked around, realizing that, other than the ground bridge, there was no way out of the outpost. Perhaps it was the only way out of the outpost, which made sense. If she was from a race of giant robotic aliens, Butch wouldn't want random doors around for someone to stumble through.

" - But, um...how do I get home, after this? If you'll allow me to leave so I can sort out my coworkers and my other jobs, that is. I can set up to work nights, so I can come in here during the day. And you said there were children around, sir? Are they, um...war orphans, or something of that nature?"

Did robots have children? Could they have children? Or, God forbid, their parents had been killed in the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. The thought made Butch's stomach twist.

[Optimus Prime]

"Dependant upon location, we may utilize the Ground Bridge, or arrange transport."

Optimus did not know how far out it was that Cassandra had been picked up, nor how far in what direction she would need to continue from her hitchhiking point to her intended goal. It could be quite a drive in which a quick Bridge was the most logical choice, though if she were just within the city limits the opposite may be in order. If it were the latter, then who would be the one to take her home would be the next question. A standard vehicle driving through a neighborhood or across an apartment building parking lot wouldn't draw attention, while a large semi-truck would be another thing altogether.

If push came to shove, Optimus would do what was needed, though he wasn't too thrilled at the idea of transforming with his injuries. They still hurt, they still leaked if he moved too aggressively to agitate the mending points, though he was anything but crippled by such a thing. His tolerances were quite high, yet he knew there would certainly be a surge that ripped through his shoulder and chest as he transitioned forms. Perhaps it would be best to Bridge even if her home was near if another wasn't available, bypass possible problems for an act of convenience.

The topic then shifted.

The red and blue mech still felt odd about setting a civilian to task, this feeling compounded when Cassandra mentioned that she could work nights as though it were a legitimate job she was required to report to. This created a sort of discomfort he didn't know how to articulate, wanting to point out how she was not obligated to even return should she not wish to do so, and if she did, that she could simply interact with the others if it was of interest. This train of thought however was set aside, as her words continued and touched a point that he was confused about at first.

Optimus understood the concept of children, and the idea of orphans of course, he was not detached from such things, however, he at first equated it to their species since the term war was applied to it, creating a disconnect as it didn't line up properly due to the way in which they were created. The formation period was brief, and from that point on it was developing experiences and knowledge beyond the most basic of foundational points they had been gifted upon creation. There were no biological parents on par with humanity, and this detachment seemed to make him pause and think for a moment.

"Youngest among our kind is Bumblebee, though the term child does not equate."

He was catching up then, realizing the momentary misunderstanding.

"Cybertronian do not mirror humanity."

Optimus did not wish to get into a large discussion on the topic, any mentions of the All-Spark rather avoided given its profoundly polarizing nature. Those who opposed his choice were likely far more prevalent than those who agreed, and the less their Earth allies knew of the topic the more they would be unable to offer their advice or input on something that was very much not up for discussion. It was what it was, and Optimus was not going to bend or compromise no matter the situation at hand.

"The children are humans, who, not unlike yourself, stumbled upon the truth."

[Cassandra Cassidy]

Cybertronians didn't have children, but there were human children there. In a military base. They had "stumbled upon the truth", he said, and Butch's mind whirled with questions. How had they discovered Cybertronians? Did the Decepticons try to chase them down as well? Were they in the wrong place at the wrong time? Had they sought out Cybertronians somehow, like how some kids went alien- or ghost-hunting? Query after query piled up in her head, jockeying to be voiced.

"...I see," was what Butch settled on for saying. "I'll...keep that in mind, sir."

Silence fell, weighty as a stone. Butch shifted from foot to foot. Any nervousness she had pushed aside before now crept up on her, prickling at the back of her mind. What now to say, now that the most pressing questions had been answered? Should she start...doing something? Should she wait to be dismissed? Common sense dictated she ask if she could go home and make sure a Missing Person's Report hadn't been filed. Knowing her coworkers at What Stays In Vegas Cleaning, someone was bound to worry. Kaspar and Bridget would especially be worried, Kaspar being a nervous man and Bridget a mother hen.

But instead, Butch asked, "Is there anything in particular you would ask of me, sir, beyond what you've already spoken of? I...can't help but notice you seem a bit...uncertain."

[Optimus Prime]

The silence felt heavy as it lingered, it easily creating an uncomfortable aura that was further compounded by the fact that Optimus wasn't the best in more social situations. He simply waited with a high level of patience, expecting another question or comment to be offered that he could then properly address in some form or another, while also knowing that such a lull could help propel any other topics that may otherwise be held aside in order to fill an uncomfortable quiet. It was during this that his gaze did not deviate, offering Cassandra his full attention on the matter while also not finding things as awkward as they may have been due to how focused he could seem, his more pointed gaze and less expressive features not doing any favors.

At last, the quiet had been broken, though instead of moving on to a new line of topics, Cassandra addressed the very obvious underlying issue that snaked beneath the entire encounter. For some, denying could be an easy option, play off that everything was alright and assure the other person they were imagining things, yet that wasn’t how Optimus worked. Instead, he simply stated what was going on as it wasn't a grandiose secret, his words blunt and to the point.

"It is not my place to command a civilian."

Optimus did not tell the children to do tasks or chores, there were no instructions beyond basic rules to keep them safe and aware of their surroundings in case Decepticons tracked them down, and to respect that the military presence within the base had the authority to instruct and relocate should the situation call for them to push their hands. There was also the obvious, however, keeping in mind the fact their species were a secret to the rest of the world. This last element was quite an inconvenience at times, though its boons far outweighed negative repercussions, which would likely consist of an even greater number of outlier military groups like MECH trying to jump on the same wagon of seeking alien technology.

There likely were others out there either way despite this.

"Do you wish for transport to be arranged."

Coasting past the issue of assigning tasks, Optimus then backtracked to the previous topic of how she was going to get home rather abruptly. He hoped this step back would influence her in the new direction, not particularly inspired to have a tossing debate on 'I don't want to give orders' and 'but I want to help'. That volleying game would be a waste of time in his opinion, and he wasn't one to drag out conversation simply for the sake of pleasantries and prolonged discussion to try to make both of them comfortable in some form or another. As far as he was concerned, if it got to such a point then all important elements were addressed and it was time for her to move on.

Optimus said no more after his question, cyan optics watching Cassandra intently to see how readily she wanted to go home, or if she would hesitate for some form or another to indicate she had more to say. Either way, he was trying to consider who would be available to tend to her if she lived nearby, throwing the task onto someone else's shoulders so he could get back to work on other topics. Perhaps this drive with another more vocal individual would help her ask more casual topics.

[Cassandra Cassidy]

"Transport home would be great, thank you."

He wasn't going to give her some sort of task or charge. She would simply be allowed to exist, and come into the base as she wanted. That...didn't sound like a good idea for a military installation to do. Why let her mill around aimlessly? Why treat this place as a house she could enter and exit? Why even have children there in the first place, rather than place them under protection? All of these questions and more swirled around Butch's brain.

But, as it wasn't Optimus's place to command her, she felt it wasn't her place to ask. In fact, it might not be smart to ask if she could come back at all. This didn't stop Butch from opening her mouth and saying, "And if I wish to come back, sir, how is that done? Is there a way for me to come back?"

Even if Optimus wasn't going to give her direction, Butch still was determined to help. She'd start by doing what she did best: cleaning up the place, as Optimus had suggested. It might be a little pushy of her, yes, but the need to pay the Autobots back was strong. Butch had already proven that on top of the mesa with Sergeant Walker.

[Optimus Prime]

A softer sort of sound was made as Optimus thought over Cassandra's question for a moment.

"Dependent on the location of your home, you may be picked up or Bridged."

If she lived somewhere between the kid's school and Omega One, then it could be a rather simple fix to everything. One extra stop on a trip many of them would take a few times a week would be convenient for most involved, the only potential problem being if Arcee was the one driving at the time. If she did require being Bridged, however, then things may be a little more selective given the fuel consumption. That wouldn't be something that could be activated multiple times a day simply for convenience's sake, as the opportunity for a civilian to interact and learn about their kind was not a wartime necessity to validate that kind of usage in any way.

Though others may argue it is.

The boons that the humans brought to their team could not be ignored, and if Cassandra jumped on board in the same way as they did, it could be seen as another morale-boosting element. This was difficult for Optimus to fully wrap his mind around given his current stress loads. He didn't speak with Rafael, Miko, or Jack very much at all to begin with, and he only interacted with Fowler and his soldiers when it was required, opting instead to keep his own distance. The point was however, Bridging would get old fast, which is why he hoped his next words would have a favorable answer.

"Unless you hold your own vehicle, in which directions will be supplied."

Given Cassandra was hitchhiking, Optimus did not know if she actually had a car, motorcycle, or another thing that could be relied upon, or if she truly was a public transportation and long calm walk sort of soul. Perhaps it was being worked on, or it was left at home for one reason or another the day she met Kup and had her interaction with the Decepticon. If she had nothing, then options would be found, given it was too far to logically walk, and that she could not hitchhike or take a taxi to the outpost.

That would be the death of him.

Optimus had no belief Cassandra would do such a thing. It was not even a thought beyond the briefest of flickers when working through options. She came across as more than capable and adaptive, and not one to be overtly flippant with the grandiose knowledge she had just learned, which was a breath of fresh air. She wasn't pushy or in his face, and he could see her not being an issue once the logistics of her arrival and departure were ironed out.