We are a literate, intermediate to advanced AU Transformers RPG Based off of the first season of TFP with dashes of other incarnations sprinkled here or there. Characters from any continuity are welcome however must be restyled to match the TFPrime universe.
Active, with ongoing plotlines, we are always willing to integrate new characters into storylines once incorporated into the setting.
“Hmm, okay, Sole.” June was using her best ‘this conversation is not over voice’. She studiously went back to studying the healed gash on Soledad’s thigh. She was right though, the wound seemed like a clean heal. “Either way, you’re 100% better off here with the Autobots for now. The Decepticons, as you may have gathered, are the hostile faction here on earth and you’ve seen them. I’m assuming Shadow’s made some mention of it, but once you’ve seen its best not to see them again.”
June fetched a blood pressure cuff from her medical kit and looped it about the girl’s arm, making no further comment as she pumped it up. “One-fifteen over seventy,” she commented, entirely neutrally, and pulled open the Velcro strap. A flashlight was produced summarily from her back pocket which she, after an inquiring arch of brow for permission, shined into the Soledad’s right and left eye. The dark brown ring of each iris contracted cooperatively. The flashlight was pocketed.
“I guess this probably wasn’t what you had in mind when you decided to on post-high school travel,” said June.
Somehow, Soledad got the idea that June wasn't convinced.
She didn't seem ready to kick Soledad out, which was nice of her, but it wasn't exactly safe either. Soledad had been lucky so far - until the thing with Starscream, anyway - but she well knew there were far worse fates for an underage girl runaway than simply being kicked out of a sheltering place with the first friend she'd had in longer than she cared to think about. She bore the examination of her leg, blinked through the flashlight shining in her eyes, and offered a weaker smile at June's comment.
"Well," she mused, "if I didn't think it'd get me a visit from the Men in Black, it'd make one hell of an essay for college applications."
"You'd just need some creative editing," Shadow teased, once again making sure to move herself out of June's way. "Jazz could help you; he's very good at that sort of thing."
She settled her weight against the wall and addressed June. "After dealing with Starscream, I think Soledad has a good understanding of why the Decepticons are best avoided. I'm sure Jazz will brief her on how to stay out of trouble before he lets her leave the base unescorted, and most of the time, she'll be going out with one of us." Which wouldn't necessarily keep her safe, but was better than the alternative. Shadow offered the nurse a wry grin. "We do have a little experience at dealing with humans, after all."
“Yes,” said June, her tone utterly cool, “you do.”
Her gaze turned upon Shadowrunner submitted completely non-verbally that she had not forgotten Ray Clancy. Her tone submitted that Starscream’s taking an active and unprompted interest in the human populace did precisely nothing to displace her nerves about any of this – about thirteen, fifteen, and sixteen-year-olds being in proximity to any of this. Barricade being scrap metal had gone a long way toward reconciling her dread, but by no means laid it to rest. Bluestreak still carried that death around with hir like a body in the trunk. Jack, Miko, and Raf didn’t talk about it – but someone was dead. Dead because a Decepticon figured it was tactical to pay attention to the natives.
She looked back to Soledad.
“Well, you’re about to get a visit from a man in blue. There’s the elevator.”
“What in God’s name has gotten into those Decepticreeps?!” This expansive outburst immediately followed the elevator doors coming open across the catwalks. Agent Fowler came barreling through, already puffed with indignation, positively steaming, his tie flapping patriotically somehow. June didn’t know how, but it did. “First the goddamn power stations,Chernobyl, and now they’re grabbing citizens off the side of the road?! This is some alien abduction bullshit!”
“Hullo Agent Fowler,” said June patiently.
“Eh, oh. Hello, Nurse Darby, Shadow, New Guy, League.” If Fowler was sorry about his mouth, he didn’t let on. He joined her on the platform with Soledad, looking her up and down. “I’m Special Agent William Fowler. I’m the Nonbiological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty liaison to Outpost Omega One here and that makes me the one responsible for what happens now. As you may have gathered, you’ve witnesses an international secret: giant talking robots from space. Congratulations. I hear Shadow got you a burger.”
The sudden chill in Nurse Darby's voice worried Soledad, though it was clearly directed at Shadow and not her. She glanced up at Shadow queryingly, but she wouldn't ask until they were out of Adult Range - not that it mattered, because when the man introduced as 'Agent' whateverhisnamewas stormed in already ranting all questions flew out of Soledad's head.
They've got a guy from the government here? ...I am so boned. Deported for sure. I'm on the next boat to Chile. That burger Shadow bought me was my last. I don't even know if they have burgers in Chile!
"Um," escaped her, and, mortified and heart-twistingly scared, she shrank behind Shadow's hand, clinging to her fingers with damp palms.
Shadow returned June's gaze levelly. She had no doubt what the sudden chill in the woman's tone meant, and she tilted her head curiously, as if to ask, Do you think we forget our losses so quickly? before pointedly dropping her gaze to Soledad.
Soledad, who was living proof that ignorance of the Cybertronian presence on Earth did not mean safety.
Fowler broke the chill in the air with the heat of his bluster, and in spite of Soledad's obvious fear of the man, Shadow was grateful for the interruption. "Hello, Agent Fowler," she said, hands curving into a protective wall around Soledad. "I'm glad you got word so quickly. Soledad wasn't the first human Starscream took, and you're in a better position to address dealing with a threat we can't warn your species about." A wry smile with just the hint of an edge to it. "Not to mention we don't want the whole giant talking robots from space thing getting out, if Starscream lets another of his experimental subjects get out alive."
“I’ll say she wasn’t the first human Starscream took! I’m pretty sure I hold that inestimable honor.” Fowler’s bluster didn’t quite reach its usual climes. He was clearly trying to figure out how old this girl and processing, silently, the possibility that what he’d gone through at the hands of the enemy may have been visited upon a civilian, a young woman at that. He dismissed that notion after a bit of processing though, regaining his usual bulk of indignation. “Since Nurse Darby here aint rushing this girl to a hospital, I guess that means he held off with the energon prod this time. I’ll give him a gold goddamn sticker. Short-bus musta blown a logic circuit since we last met. Last time we ran a fowl he was at least prioritizing military assets and not going outta his way to expose him and his to the human population, but I guess I’m lowering the bar to pure terrorism.”
“Short bus?” June repeated.
“Starscream’s appropriate alt in my opinion.”
“If the Decepticons are targeting children, Agent Fowler. And not just as witnesses, but going after them…”
“Oh NEST is lookin’ into it. Trust that,” said Fowler, a kind of menacing edge in his tone. He glanced at Soledad, who was clearly hiding at this point. “Alright, so what is it that’s happening here? That thing about the big national secrets aint goin’ away any time soon, but it can also wait.”
“Well,” said June, looking toward Soledad and up at Shadow. “I think Soledad would like to stay on base for now. Presumably under Autobot and NEST protection.” She looked at Agent Fowler. “Is that an acceptable temporary solution until Soledad figures out what she wants to do? I think the time for legalities, paper work, and duty of care should come later. My recommendation as a doctor.”
Agent Fowler was too busy ranting about Starscream to think to ask about Soledad's age or her immigration status. This was all to the good as far as she was concerned, and she agreed with every word one hundred percent - especially considering that Fowler seemed to actually have firsthand knowledge of what Soledad had gone through, and had suffered worse than she had even. An energon prod? I don't even know what that is and it doesn't sound good.
She relaxed a little, no longer huddling behind Shadow's fingers so much. She was still wary of the agent, but she thought now maybe she could speak to him without stammering. "I won't be in the way," she offered, her arm tightening a fraction around Shadow's thumb. "I could help out around here, even - I know a little mechanic-type stuff." Please? she wanted to add, but Grown-Up Eighteen-Year-Old was the role she was playing, not scared little kid clinging to big sister's hand. Even though that was totally what she was doing.
"I know the engineers could use help with some of the human sized equipment left on base," Shadow said. She wouldn't lay odds on convincing Ratchet to teach a human anything about Cybertronian biotech, any more than she'd bet against June having a purely professional fit over a human exposed to dangerous Cybertronian components, but Rhinox, Airazor, and even Rattrap, would probably be willing to accept human help in some of the tighter areas. "You're smart, you obviously don't panic easily, and the base is getting full enough that we could use some...support staff. Humans call it on the job training, don't they, Agent Fowler?"
“Oye, temporary solution,” said Fowler, puffing up a bit while June kind of smirked at him.
“Officially, Jack and Miko and Raf are in some kind of special state-funded after-school training program,” said June innocently, as though it had just occurred to her. “I seem to remember you telling me that Jack is going to get glowing recommendations into whatever school he would like to go to into whatever career he would like. Since we are doling out such generous benefits for those who come into dire contact with the Cybertronian race, I see no reason why Soledad should be excluded from that protection.”
“Well, first of all,” said Fowler, “this situation is… well, it’s… oh son of bot. Fine.” He looked at Soledad. “What was your name again? Full name? Sounds like you've got everyone vouching for you so like it or not, you’re about to become part of the freak show.”
“Car show,” said June.
“Whatever. Optimus Prime sanctioned this? I’m not having Big Blue roll up on my lawn in the night. Where is he anyway? Shouldn’t he be doing the meet and greet?”
There was only one reason Agent Fowler would want her full name: to look her up in a database somewhere, to get her Social Security number, to fill out some forms and make things all official. And when he discovered she didn't have one?
She didn't know. She wouldn't be allowed to stay here, certainly. With - with the Autobots. ...With Shadow.
But the good Agent was apparently easily distracted. Soledad encouraged this, giving the conversation a gentle push away from the question of her name. "Who is Optimus Prime?" she asked. "The Eradicons who looked after me mentioned his name a few times, but Starscream never did. I think he's afraid of him. The Eradicons certainly are."
"The Prime sanctioned the rescue, or I wouldn't have gone," Shadow said. Which was, at least, half true, and by giving his blessing Optimus hadn't forced her to test how thoroughly she would have violated his orders. Over a human, and an unknown at that.
Fowler's questions were making Soledad nervous again, judging by the human's renewed grip on Shadow's fingers. "Optimus Prime is our leader," she answered Soledad's question. "Both politically, and in battle. Most of the Eradicons probably think he eats sparklings just because he's leader of the Autobots." And the ones who had actually faced him in battle had more reason to fear him, but Soledad probably didn't need to hear that.