1/Interdimensional Friendship

**Quantum has posed:**
"ARGHHHH! KILL THEMMMM!!!" Turmoil roars in pain as Helldriver thrusts an arm into his body and clamps down on the spark chamber. He won't be able to hold it there for long, however, as Turmoil's internal defenses kick in and begin to attack his arm viciously. If he wants to keep his arm, he'd better pull out fast.

    Meanwhile, the other mechs who had accompanied their unit commander spring into action, one of them firing his weapon toward Helldriver's back, while the other moves to take out Quantum. But before he can shoot, Srikka suddenly dives from above, managing to momentarily distract the mech and throw his aim off. But, unfortunately, he's always been the tech expert but not the combat expert...he's far from knowing how to fight, and is thus severely outmatched in combat prowess, weaponry, and strength. "Gah! You stupid fleshbag!" the Decepticon shouts, throwing him roughly to the ground and firing instead at the organic.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver instead phases completely through Turmoil, then turns and is about to open fire on him when Srikka bursts onto the scene.

 At the last klik, he swivels his photon blaster and opens fire on the mech attacking Srikka. "Hey, stupid bird, why are you here!? I told you not to come until I said it's okay!" He grumbles. "Now you hurt yourself, making me look like a bad person."

**Quantum has posed:**
Turmoil watches as Helldriver passes through completely. He can't help but be a bit shocked at it. "Hrmmm."

    The mech who had been attacking Srikka starts to fire back at Helldriver but his commander suddenly holds up a hand. "Slag it, cease fire." Confused, the soldier obeys.

    "Look," the larger Decepticon grumbles. "I never meant to hurt you, get that through your brain module. All I meant to do was to make you a true Decepticon, and take you to the nearest hub so you could begin your training. Hmph, maybe I can get someone -else- to handle the branding ceremony, since it seems I lack the proper 'bedside manner'..." he glances over at Quantum. "Now do you want to be stranded on this wretched rock or do you want to get back to where you belong?"

**Quantum has posed:**
"That's not a real badge, you spawn of a glitch." Turmoil shakes his head. How stupid can one get? "Now, do you want to stay on this abandoned rock or do you want to get back to base? I don't have all cycle, so if you don't speak now we're -leaving-."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Pfff." Turmoil shakes his head. Pathetic. "Right then, get your afts moving. There's no time to waste." He turns and heads back to his ship along with the rest of his crew. None of them offer to help Srikka up though, it looks as if that will be up to Quantum and Helldriver.

    ...He's definitely not in good shape, though.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver looks around and then produces from his subspace compartment a satchel. Now where did he get that from? It looks like it could belong to Viryx...

 He tears a part of the satchel and uses it to bind Srikka's wounds. "I will do everything to make sure you don't die..." He says softly. He picks up Srikka, then he then grabs Quantum's arm, and starts following Turmoil.

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum pulls his arm away. He -doesn't- need to be dragged, thank you. He folds his arms and turns away, entering the ship ahead of them.

    Srikka shakes his head weakly. "I am sorry...I couldn't just...stand there and watch...you must leave me here...your people will not be able to help me anyway."

**Phantom has posed:**
"No!" Helldriver insists. "I will take you somewhere, where you can get better." He turns to Quantum. "You must tell Turmoil I will be late. If he leaves without me, then so be it. I will just find you another time, like I always do."

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum's already inside the ship, though. "B-but..." Srikka insists. "You do not have a way off of this planetoid...." The engines are powering up now--if Helldriver wants to hurry aboard, he'd better go now. He -could- take his new friend aboard, but there's no telling what the other Decepticons will do to him.

**Phantom has posed:**
He looks around, and pauses to reassess the situation. "Hm, you are right.." He hurries around to the other side of the ship, and tearing open a ventilation shaft, pushes Srikka inside of it. He then crawls in after him, pushing him inward until they reach a grate. He peers down into the room, which appears to be a storage unti of some kind. Ripping off the grate, he lowers Srikka down carefully, then does the same for himself a moment later.

**Quantum has posed:**
The ship takes off just as they drop into the storage area, shooting into hyperdrive. Srikka smiles weakly up at Helldriver. "Th-thank you..." Though he is doubtful that he will make it...Turmoil and his crew didn't seem like the type to go out of their way to get medical attention for an organic.

**Phantom has posed:**
"Don't worry," Helldriver assures Srikka, "even if they do not stop, I will find a place for you to rest and get better," he says, "I can jump off if we are near to a planet. I will do this, if I need to." He places the satchel next to Srikka and somehow finds some cloth and covers him with it. "Be well," he says, "I need to find my bad friend.."

 And he goes off in search of Quantum.

**Quantum has posed:**
Srikka shakes his head. "No...d-do not risk that for me...it's too dangerous..." But as Helldriver leaves the room, he passes out from exhaustion and blood loss.

    It doesn't take him long to find Quantum, who is keeping to himself in one of the private compartments.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver approaches him, looking sour. "Stop looking like that," he instructs, "we are all alive, and right now, that stupid guy isn't trying to kill us again. That is good."

**Quantum has posed:**
<< Looking like what? I wasn't looking like anything. >> Quantum replies . << He wasn't trying to kill you, Helldriver. He thought -you- were trying to kill -him-, that's why he was after you. But I told him what -actually- happened, so everything is fine now. We'll be at the local hub command soon, so that you can get properly initiated and start your training. >> Because Primus knows he needs it.

**Phantom has posed:**
"Is it the same?" he asks, "because if it is the same, I don't understand. How do you become a Decepticon if they always kill you before you become one?! They raise you from the dead? How can they do that? It makes no sense!" He shakes his helm and folds his arm. "He was. He tried to kill me!"

**Quantum has posed:**
<< No, it doesn't kill you, don't be stupid. >> Quantum gives him an exasperated look. He opens his own chest compartment and despite all the damage inside it can clearly be seen that a piece of his spark casing is missing.

    << They take a piece of the casing and fashion it into a badge, that's how everyone gets initiated. That's how it's always been. >> He closes it again. << Everyone has to do it in order to be a real Decepticon, so get used to it. >>

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver squints at Quantum's chest compartment and looks puzzled. After a moment he says, "Yes, it will kill me! You are wrong, stupid! I already have one, why give me another one that will cause me to die in the process of it being made? That is really dumb!"

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum throws his arms in the air. << Okay, I'm not going to argue with you. You either get the procedure done or you can't join us. That's it. >>

**Phantom has posed:**
"I already joined, why does everyone keep saying that? It is not possible to touch my core without killing me, don't you understand? Why is everyone so foolish.." he says, folding his arms and looking away sullenly.

**Quantum has posed:**
<< Look, get this through your thick head. You may have been a Decepticon in -your- world, but you're NOT in that world anymore, get it? You're in THIS world, and in THIS world, Decepticons have to have a piece of their spark casing fashioned into a badge in order to join. It's either that, or you're not a Decepticon, that's it. OK? There's no getting around it, and I wasn't the one who made the rules, so if you take issue with it, why don't you go talk to -Megatron-. >> Quantum turns away angrily at this and folds his arms.

**Phantom has posed:**
"Megatron must be a fool, then," he says indignantly, "because that is a bad rule! I am surprised so many of you are still alive, if you really must do that to become a Decepticon." He folds his arms. "I don't want to die, that's all. How is that hard to understand? If you try to kill me, I will protect myself. I guess I just have to not be a Decepticon, then, because I do not want to die."

**Quantum has posed:**
<< You won't die. But fine, if you insist, and if you think Megatron is a fool then you had best not be one of his followers. >> Quantum stands up and starts toward the airlock as the ships begins to slow. << And if that's the case, then you're on your own. I have my own obligations to this cause. >>

    The ship finally comes to a halt as it approaches the docks on base. << See look, we're here now. Lots of shuttles available. You're free to go ahead and pay for a pass to wherever you want to go. >> After all he did steal some currency from Viryx, didn't he? Might as well make use of it.

**Phantom has posed:**
Immediately, he thinks of Srikka, and looks around to make sure the other Decepticons have gotten off already. He returns to the storage unit, and subspacing the satchel, he carries Srikka out the back.

 But before Quantum can take off, Helldriver asks him, "Is the magic red foam what makes your core look so different? Why doesn't it spin?"

**Quantum has posed:**
<< No, my spark is just like everyone else's, don't be stupid. Except yours. I already told you, you're in a different dimension, where things are -different-. Did you seriously expect another universe to be just like your own? Did you seriously expect to understand it? >> Quantum shakes his head and sighs. << Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see a medic, finally. >>

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver really has no expectations about what Quantum's universe could be like, he only draws conclusions from what he has known previously. He seems to realize something at that moment, though. "I understand now! You must speak with the Megatron guy or something. I cannot have the same kind of badge as the other Decepticons because I do not have a casing. If you try to take something from my core, it will kill me." But as soon as Quantum says he must be excused, Helldriver disappears, leaving Quantum to think what he will.

**Quantum has posed:**
<< -You- talk to him. >> Quantum argues, before disappearing down a corridor to head toward the repair bay. Primus, he's -slow-. In the head.

    Meanwhile, Srikka has returned to consciousness now, though he is in great pain. He whimpers faintly. "S-sir..." he coughs. "Please...I wish to return home..."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Where is your home?" he asks, "I will take you there." He sorts through the satchels contents. Looks like he took quite a bit from Viryx, the poor guy must have been broke by now, judging from how much Helldriver has.

 He begins roaming the docks, looking for a ship that might be able to transport Srikka back to his home.

**Quantum has posed:**
Srikka hands him a data slug with the coordinates of his home planet on it. The docks have plenty of ships available, and though none of them belong to Helldriver, he could probably pay for a shuttle fairly easily. A drone nearby is handling general Decepticon shuttle services for a small fee.

**Phantom has posed:**
Oh no, he hopes the drone will understand his horrible Neo-Cybex. Hopefully Srikka doesn't pass out while he's talking to the drone, he might need his help.

 He goes up to the drone and points at the stick. "Go here," he says, then points at the shuttle.

**Quantum has posed:**
Nope, that doesn't work. "State your destination, please." The drone recites monotonously. Perhaps he should try uploading the contents of the chip to the drone's systems.

**Phantom has posed:**
He mutters some obscenities to himself, then examines the drone carefully, looking for a place where he might upload the contents of the chip to the drone. Things are so different here...

 Unable to find it right away, he grabs the drone by the neck and tries to examine it even more closely.

**Quantum has posed:**
Fortunately, this drone is not intended for combat or security purposes, so it doesn't resist or protest, simply ignoring the aggression. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to see that there are a few open sockets available for him to use.

**Phantom has posed:**
He sticks the data chip in backwards at first. The data chips he's used to don't look anything like this one.

 Eventually, he manages to plug it in correctly. He sighs, feeling frustrated. He glances around, hoping to randomly see Quantum, but he's already gone to find a medic.

**Quantum has posed:**
Nope, Quantum is nowhere to be seen. But he finally gets the chip in right. The drone finally answers, "Destination received. Coordinates: 562-S-delta-delta-710 parsecs spinward. Service fee: Fifty-five shanix. Fuel fee: Twenty shanix."

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver hasn't the slightest what a shanix is. He hands the drone some of whatever is in the satchel, hoping it's enough.

**Quantum has posed:**
There is a slot in the machine next to the drone, presumably it is used to processing the payments. Once the money is received, it seems he got lucky. It was enough. The drone spouts off: "Payment: 100 Shanix equivalent. Difference redirected to account name. Proceed to shuttle bay E2."

**Phantom has posed:**
"W-wait!" Hell driver protests. But he realizes he can't get that money back because it was never his in the first place. Shoulders slumping, he picks up Srikka and morosely proceeds to the shuttle bay, absently wondering who the Megatron guy is.

**Quantum has posed:**
The shuttle's doors open as he arrives, inviting him inside. Once he's boarded, he'll find that the destination has already been programmed, and a countdown has been set for takeoff. All he has to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. There's some interface though, that gives the rider the option to pay for a return trip, and with that, to schedule the pickup time and location.

**Phantom has posed:**
The thought of leaving and not returning occurs to Helldriver. Quantum has gotten him into a fair amount of trouble, and he starts to measure each of their deeds, to see if what Quantum had done for him matched up to what he had done for Quantum. It takes him a long time to even decide to schedule a pickup time and location, but postpone the payment until on boarding.

**Quantum has posed:**
The pickup is scheduled, but the shuttle of course will not come unless payment has been received. It's just a short hyperdrive trip through subspace to Srikka's homeworld, a lush green planet glowing with life. The shuttle docks at a nearby neutral-aligned fueling station, where many species of all shapes and sizes are milling about. As a Cybertronian, Helldriver gets a few dirty looks, but nothing more.

**Phantom has posed:**
He wonders if Viryx also lives here and if he does, why he was still so angry at Quantum. This planet looks like utopia in comparison to Cybertron.

 The first thing he does when he gets off the ship is grab a passerby and shout, "Where is the nearest hospital?!"

**Quantum has posed:**
He doesn't get treated well. The passerby, a reptilian-looking thing with bat-like wings glares at him and shoves him off. "Get lost, ya oversized bucket of bolts."

    However, something might catch Helldriver's optics--there appears to be a pair of aliens who look similar to Srikka standing a few paces away, speaking urgently to one of the station employees.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver glares back at him, gesturing obscenely at him, though the ugly alligator alien probably won't have a clue what it means.

 He approaches them, still carrying Srikka. "Do you know where he can receive medical attention?" he asks.

**Quantum has posed:**
He's lucky the alien doesn't know what it means, or else he might have started a brawl where no one was on his side...

    At any rate, that doesn't happen. The couple turn around in surprise, their eyes widening in shock. "S-srikka! How--" they stare at Helldriver unbelievingly, but finally seem to accept him. "Where did you find him?! Oh, we were so worried! Quickly! We must get him to a hospital!" They hurry toward a smaller shuttle that must belong to them.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver deadpans, forgetting about the couple and Srikka for a nanoklik. That shuttle is whatever this planet's equivalent is of a souped up limo.

 He stares dumbfounded for a moment before following the couple, speechless.

**Quantum has posed:**
It is a very nice one. It seems Srikka's folks are pretty wealthy...

    Anyway though, they don't wait for him to be done goggling, taking Srikka from his hands and gently placing him inside. They glance over at him. "Do you wish to come with us?" One of them asks.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver feels overwhelmed all of a sudden, and wonders how the hell he even got here in the amount of time that's passed since he met Quantum. He looks down and realizes that he also is in need of medical attention, he has been ever since he got half slagged by the solar flare.

 He stares at Srikka's folks.

 "I.. think so..." he says, abruptly sinking to his knees.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Oh no!" The female cries, upon seeing that Helldriver is injured, too. "You require medical assistance as well. Please, come aboard." They hurry to help him aboard the shuttle, which is on the inside as fancy as it looked on the outside. There is an open area with nicely upholostered seating. "We will do what we can to find a mechanical expert."

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver has never seen upholstered seating before. He finds it odd. Cybertronians don't really define comfort the same way organics do, so he can't help but feel odd and a little uncomfortable after he sits down. Eventually, he just removes the cushion and uses it to prop up Srikka's feet. Not his head. Which may be an accurate portrayal of how little Helldriver knows about organics. Especially the bird kind.

**Quantum has posed:**
Everyone quickly boards the ship and it start the short journey to the surface of the planet. Once they're on their way, one of them begins asking Helldriver some questions. "Thank you for returning our son to us...what is your name? Where did you find him? We have been so worried about him."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Excuse me," Helldriver says, and promptly falls unconscious. Everything has just been too much for him. He'll only wake a few minutes before they arrive at wherever they're supposedly going.

**Quantum has posed:**
Helldriver will wake up some hours later, to find himself in a mechanic shop of some sort. Even if these creatures were organics, they seemed to have figured out how to fix him up well enough for him to be functional at least. His systems are for the most part restored.

**Phantom has posed:**
Disoriented, his optics flicker. He phases through the berth he's lying on, accidentally trapping himself underneath it.

 He grumbles to himself, too unfocused to concentrate on loosening his mass.

 "Hey...!" He yells weakly. "H-help me... someone..."

**Quantum has posed:**
Footsteps approach, and the berth is moved away. A mechanic with goggles on top of his head peers down at him. "How did you get down there?" he questions, curious.

**Phantom has posed:**
"Don't ask that," he grumbles, "just help me. Is that bird guy going to be okay?" He stands up, rubbing his helm. Inadvertently, his mass loosens as he walks towards the exit of the room, and he passes right through the mechanic.

**Quantum has posed:**
"What the--!?" The mechanic stares at him. Is he seeing a ghost? "Uh..." he scratches his head. "Well, it depends on which one you're talking about. We're the Arakoa, by the way."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Ah," Helldriver comments, "That is the name of a dormant volcano on Cybertron where all our toxic waste is dumped." He smiles, as if it were a pleasant thing.

 He peers at the mechanic, puzzled by the goggles, which could have been mistaken mechanical eyes. "Is it hard to see with four eyes?" he asks, "especially when the ordinary ones are always pointed at the ceiling?"

**Quantum has posed:**
The mechanic laughs and pulls the goggles off. "Don't be silly, these aren't eyes, they're just goggles. I use them to protect my eyes while I work. Speaking of work, I've plenty of it to get to. Your friends are waiting for you outside." With that, he retreats to the back of the shop.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver yelps in an alarmed fashion when he takes the googles off, but when the mechanic assures him that they're just goggles, he relaxes. Though he wonders what he needs goggles for. He looks down at himself, wondering if he's exuding some kind of fog that's toxic to the mechanic's eyes. He frowns, worried for a moment, before shrugging and going outside, not sure what to expect.

**Quantum has posed:**
Outside, the couple who had given him a ride here are waiting. "Oh, you are all right, excellent! But still, you look as if you could use some rest. Come, we have plenty of accommodations for you, and we would like to invite you into our home. We are grateful that you found our son--if not, he may have died. What is your name?"

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver doesn't respond right away. His mind wanders to Quantum, and he belatedly wonders if he's alright and if he's received the medical attention he so badly needed.

 He steps away from the couple slightly, holding up his arms. "Do you think you need to wear goggles?" he asks blindly.

**Quantum has posed:**
They give him odd looks. "Why, no of course not. Please, tell us your name so that we may properly honor you for saving Srikka." They start walking up the road toward a very fancy-looking villa situated on top of a lush green hill.

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver follows them, staring around at the fancy looking villa and the green hill. Organics were so odd.

 Intrigued by the structure they're headed for, he increases the speed of his pace and once he reaches the building, walks through the wall to the inside.

 Surprised by the sudden loosening of his mass, he realizes he's gone inside the villa and looks around, overwhelmed by the newness of everything-- so much so that his particles abruptly disperse in microparticles. When Srikka's parents arrive moments later, they won't find him anywhere...

**Quantum has posed:**
"Hmm, how odd." The couple frowns, but they don't seem too worried. They shrug and return to their everyday business, moving to the upper floors. "Well, make yourself at home, friend. Srikka is recovering, but you are welcome to stay here as long as you wish. If you need anything, simply ask!" The father informs, in a louder tone in case Helldriver is just in a different room.

**Phantom has posed:**
Embarrassed, he somehow manages to solidify himself moments later, but only after the couple has returned to their everyday business. He looks around, still puzzled by their way of life.

 He meanders the hallways without purpose, absently wondering if he ought to go look for that Megatron guy soon.

 He suddenly seems to recall that he had learned organic things with wings laid eggs, and decides to see if they keep any here.

**Quantum has posed:**
He doesn't find any eggs, at least not yet, but as he is wandering around, he stumbles across what appears to be a juvenile--it looks like the adults, but is smaller. And it is absolutely adorable. It peers curiously up at him, making strange chittering noises.

**Phantom has posed:**
Utterly fascinated, he picks the little guy up. "Oh wow, you are so tiny and cute!" he says, "can you even fly?" He wonders if the family will miss the tiny baby bird if he just takes him with him, should he decide to leave this place. "What do they call you?"

**Quantum has posed:**
The young Arakoa just cheeps in response, bobbing its head up and down. Perhaps he does not have a translator as the adults do. But it does appear that it can fly. It flutters its wings and hovers up above his head, then lands on top of it.

**Phantom has posed:**
"You have really big eyes, that are almost the size of your head," he says, an optic winking while his helm angles down a little when the tiny Arakoa lands on his helm. "You must see the world so well, with your eyes so big," he says, content to allow the baby bird to make itself comfortable on his helm. He continues to wander the halls, until he becomes bored of them.

 He exits the villa, and goes out on the street, wondering if anyone here might be able to tell him where that Megatron fellow is.

**Quantum has posed:**
The chick ruffles its feathers. As he's walking around, he runs into Srikka's mother again. She chuckles when she sees the young one on his head. "Oh, I see that you've met Akeeta. She's our younger daughter. She's very happy that you've brought her brother back. You still haven't told us your name, however."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Yes, she's very cute, but I can't understand anything she's saying," he says, still avoiding telling her his name. "Someone told me that the females here only sit on eggs and never go anywhere else. This is must not be true, yeah?" He looks around, and discovering he's in a marketplace, sighs. He'd given the satchel to Srikka, so he's broke again. He mutters in his own dialect about not being able to buy anything. "Hey," he says quietly, "do you know anything about a guy named Megatron?"

**Quantum has posed:**
"Oh, that is because she doesn't have a translator yet. But she will, when she is older." The mother nods. "My name is Ka'alu," she continues, not answering his question about the eggs. "What is yours?" Perhaps she is a bit unsettled by his unwillingness to tell her a name. "Please, we must know, so that we can properly address you."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Oh very good, maybe I will still exist then and we can have a normal conversation," he says good-naturedly.

 He just smiles and waves dismissively when she asks about his name. "My name isn't appropriate," he says, "do not worry about it, I don't mind being called 'hey, you!'"

 He reaches out and brushes a finger across her eyelashes, amused. "I don't understand why you have hair on your eyes," he says, "are you going to tell me about Megatron?"

 He gets sidetracked by a vendor peddling watches, and as the cart passes by, he pilfers a pocket watch from it. He holds it up to Akeeta. "Are you hungry?" he asks, trying to see if she'd like to eat the watch.

**Quantum has posed:**
Akeeta stares at the watch, then takes it and puts it back on the vendor's cart, giggling. Ka'alu folds her arms, smirking. "I wouldn't steal from strangers, if I were you. If you will tell me your name and where you found Srikka, I will tell you what I know about this 'Megatron' character."

**Phantom has posed:**
"But she is hungry and a child, and it's such a small thing!" he protests. However, when Akeeta refuses it and puts it back on the cart, he looks disappointed. "You don't eat that...? Oh, I am sorry.."

 To Ka'alu's question, he averts his gaze and folds his arms. "I have to think about that," he says.

 It doesn't take him very long to think about it though. After a moment, he finally says, "There was this really bad place. We were there, I don't know how we got there or why we were there. So your son tried to help us leave that bad place, but some other crazy guy who wanted to kill me came and caused our ship to crash. I told my bird friend, 'Don't help me.' But he didn't listen to me, so he got hurt. And about my name, it's okay, I will decide to tell you later."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Do you not remember your own name?" Ka'alu asks, arching a brow at him. Then she chuckles, shaking her head. "Ah, Srikka. That's my son. Always determined to help no matter what the cost. Well, I will admit that I do not know much about Megatron, but I have heard his name..." she lowers her voice. "He is someone you would be wise to avoid. In fact, we were shocked that a Cybertronian helped our son...many of us believe that your kind are violent savages. We have seen otherwise of you, but it is true that many Cybertronians are ruthless warlords, willing even to destroy their own kind to get what they want."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Of course I remember my own name! It just isn't appropriate," he says.

 Despite her warning about Megatron, he simply says, "I need to find him and explain something to him."

 Upon mentioning that Cybertronians were cruel warlords, his expression just becomes pained and he shakes his helm. "Everyone is as wicked as each other. There is a saying, 'We, like zolanium, cannot truly be known unless we endure fire or worse.' Cybertronians have seen much suffering, and many terrible things. So, because of that, we are truly known -- wicked and terrible, just like everyone else, but because they have not seen what we have seen, it is hidden, deep down in their souls. So if you have a god, you should pray to it and hope that you always live a good and happy life, otherwise you will become like us, cruel and depraved, seen as violent savages."

 He then notices a cart full of fruit passing by and his optics light up. "She can eat this, right?" he asks, but doesn't wait for Ka'alu's answer. Instead, he approaches the vendor and shaking his hand, greets him with, "Hi, hello, good citizen, how are you? The weather is nice today, don't you think? I think this little girl is hungry, do you think she can have some?" He's already helping himself, though.

**Quantum has posed:**
"What do you mean, it is not appropriate?" Ka'alu looks confused. She shakes her head. "No, I disagree with your view. Some, even through much pain and suffering, do not turn into monsters or savages. I have seen it myself." She pats him, smiling. "Hopefully you are one of those people."

    The vendor doesn't protest. "Sure, of course! You may take a free sample for today." Akeeta takes the fruit and feasts happily upon it.

**Phantom has posed:**
He just shakes his helm. "No, these people do not exist. Eventually, they will turn wicked. They all do," he says, sounding dismal.

 When Akeeta takes the fruit happily, it suddenly is as if they hadn't been discussing the depravity of all mortals. His optics light up and he grins joyously. "Oh, she likes it! Did you see that? She really likes it! I will take a little more, for later, yeah..?" he takes another sample.

 He turns to Ka'alu. "See," he says, pointing to Akeeta (who's still on his helm), "because she is young, she is not wicked. She is pure, good, and beautiful...unlike me. Spend all the time you can with her while she is like this. It is the best time of her life."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Ah, yes. She does love the sweet fruit." Ka'alu smiles, nodding. "Here," She pays the vendor for a full container of them. "As a small token of my thanks."

    "...will you stay until Srikka recovers? He would very much love it if you did. There is a harvest festival in two moons, it is both he and Akeeta's favorite time of the season. They would be grateful if you stayed until then, so that they may teach you about our culture and the ways of our people."

**Phantom has posed:**
He removes Akeeta from his helm, holding her in the palm and feeding her the fruit. After a moment, he presses his face against Akeeta's soft feathery body gently, effectively cuddling her. He chuckles softly, enjoying Akeeta's company.

 When Ka'alu requests that he stay, his expression becomes uncertain and anxious. His gaze shifts nervously. "I do not know. I ... have to find Megatron."

**Quantum has posed:**
Ka'alu sighs and shrugs. "Well, all right. We will not keep you if you don't wish to stay. Unfortunately, I do not know much more about Megatron. But at least stay for tonight. We have prepared accommodations for you."

    She leads him back to the villa, where he is shown to a private room with a berth, seating, and a computer console that has all the basic features: communications both on and off-world, as well as access to galactic datanets. There are also stocks of ...energon? And plenty of it. Now just where would these people get be getting it?

**Phantom has posed:**
He wonders, but for now, doesn't ask. Once shown his private quarters, he does as much researching as possible on the Megatron of this universe, hoping to discover his whereabouts. He can't help but be curious as to what kind of person Megatron is here...

**Quantum has posed:**
The networks he has access too certainly don't have too high of an opinion of him. As Ka'alu had said, many regarded him and other Cybertronians as ruthless, cruel war machines that existed purely for the sake of conquest. However, no one seems to have much information on his whereabouts, only reports of his recent military campaigns can be found. But...perhaps he can use the comms array to contact Quantum? Maybe Quantum will know.

**Phantom has posed:**
He sends Quantum a long distance message, asking about Megatron's whereabouts and Quantum's general well-being. He wants to make sure the punk is alive, after all.

 Too bad they don't have too much information on Megatron's personal history, he would have liked to known that.

 Once the message is sent, Helldriver leaves his quarters and peers into Akeeta's and finding her asleep, pats her head very gently and puts the fruit next to her bed.

 Then he ventures outside, hoping to find where the energon cubes are coming from...

**Quantum has posed:**
Surprisingly, a response from Quantum comes instantly. It simply reads:

    'Talk to me on your communicube tomorrow, arc 0-02, fifth chord. I'll try to come up with some information for you.'

    -Q

    Akeeta opens her eyes momentarily and chirps softly when she sees him before going back to sleep. Outside, the streets are still fairly busy, though this city is not huge. Most people are Arakoa, but there are some other types of creatures milling about as well.

**Phantom has posed:**
He finds Quantum's abbreviated signature amusing. He sends a transmission back that reads. "<Haha, good to see that you are well...thank you, you are Q-ute ;)>"

 He roams the street, looking to see if anyone else is carrying energon cubes around.

**Quantum has posed:**
No one looks to be carrying them around, but he will spot a large transport truck headed toward the outskirts of the city. It's empty, but the shielding on the cargo hold look similar to the shielding Cybertronians use on large fuel tankers.

**Quantum has posed:**
Also, it has an icon emblazoned onto its side that is identical to the icon on the containers he saw at Ka'alu's villa.

**Phantom has posed:**
He frowns, puzzled as to why a transport like that would be here, on an organic planet. He recognizes the insignia though. He transforms, and follows it words the outskirts of the city.

 As he follows the transport, the more and more he realizes he just can't stay here. These people were peace loving. If he stayed here, who knew what kind of trouble him being here would cause. Forever the pursuit of energon consumed Cybertronians and made them into the violent creatures they were and still are.

 Helldriver decides that before the morning comes, he would take the next shuttle back to where he and Quantum had been before. He regrets not being to say goodbye to Akeeta, but decides it's probably best for her and the rest of her family.

**Quantum has posed:**
The transport makes its way toward the outskirts of the city and a few miles past, stopping at a small mining outpost. It pulls into the facility and workers begin to load up crates of energon not unlike the ones he'd seen before.

    As he is observing the process, something appears from behind some clouds in the distance, approaching quickly. Before long, he'll recognize Quantum's alt mode. It seems he's decided to change up the plan a little bit...

**Phantom has posed:**
He protoforms, watching the transport make its way out of the city and towards the small mining outpost. He frowns, hiding, until he notices Quantum arrive.

 Without warning, he comes up behind Quantum and grabs his arm. "Don't do anything yet," he says, "I need to warn someone. I will return very shortly. Wait for me, then I will help you."

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum turns around, but doesn't seem too surprise to see Helldriver. "What do you mean 'help you'? You were the one who needed help. You were the one asking for Megatron, remember?" he questions, looking confused. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

**Phantom has posed:**
"Forget Megatron for now," Helldriver says, glancing at the energon, "do you think I am stupid? I know you won't come here just to see me or that bird guy, especially when there is so much energon. If you aren't going to take it, I will. But first, there is something I have to do."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Sorry, it's kind of too late for that now." Quantum replies with a shrug, pointing skyward as the silhouette of a massive Decepticon flagship appears over the horizon. "He's already here. I was just coming to get you. You wanted an audience, well now you're gonna get one."

**Phantom has posed:**
"Can't you tell them to wait?" But then he just realizes he's wasting time. "Never mind, "he says, and transforming, makes a beeline for Ka'alu's villa. He bursts into Akeeta's room and picks her up before going straight to the master bedroom. He enters rather abruptly. "You need to leave," he says brusquely, "otherwise, you will suffer much. Listen. I am not a good person. But I know that Srikka does not deserve this after what he has done for me. So take what you can and get out as fast as you can."

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum goggles at Helldriver. "Excuse me, did you just tell me, to tell -Megatron- to wait? Pffft." He facepalms. "Could a mech get -any- more clueless..." he mutters to himself. "Y--" But then Helldriver takes off. "Hey wait! If you stay down here you might miss your chance to get your audience with Megatron!" he calls after the retreating mech.

    Akeeta is roused from her sleep rather abruptly, and she squeaks in surprise. Ka'alu and her husband also wake, peering at Helldriver drowsily. "Huh? What....what is happening, friend? Do you need something?" she inquires.

    Her husband also appears confused. "But why would you not be a good person? You saved our son and came all this way to bring him home." He gets up and comes over to pat the Cybertronian on the back. "It is okay, you are safe here." he says, thinking that perhaps the mech had had a bad dream about his tragic past--if they even have dreams--he's not sure.

**Phantom has posed:**
He pulls out his photon blaster, and aims it at the family. "Now do you believe me? Get out. /Now/." His weapon hums, mobilizing. His expression is unreadable.

**Quantum has posed:**
They all cringe away from the weapon, shocked. "Now, now that won't be necessary. Please, calm down my friend." Ka'alu urges. "Everything is all ri--" But she is cut off by a terrified squeal from Akeeta, who has noticed that a great shadow has fallen across the sky outside. Suddenly, every screen that is connected to the public networks on the planet blinks to life, and a certain familiar face with one optic appears on it. Shockwave.

    "Attention citizens of Terokk," he begins, his voice cold and calm. "You have chosen to destroy my work and inhabit a planet that belongs to me as if it were your own. Therefore, my colleagues have come to assist me in claiming what is rightfully mine. You would be well-advised to stay out of my way." The feed cuts, and the sound of a colossal drill platform being deployed reverberates through the city. The ground begins to shake...

    Ka'alu stares despeartely at Helldriver. "Please, we must get Srikka...he is still at the clinic!"

**Phantom has posed:**
"No! Just /go/," he says harshly, "you should have listened to me before. I will get him, and catch up to you as you are leaving the planet. Now get out," He prods Ka'alu with his gun, "if you want to live." He transforms and flies to the clinic, breaking the window of Srikka's room. He picks Srikka up, then flies out the window again, heading for the transportation docks.

**Quantum has posed:**
Ka'lau and her family quickly gather what they can, but they aren't about to just leave everyone else behind! They have friends here! Some of whom they know might need extra help.

    Meanwhile, chaos has begun to break loose outside. The quakes have only intensified as the drill digs deeper and deeper. The ground starts to tear itself asunder, and buildings begin to collapse all around. On the opposite side of the planet, another drilling platform is deployed, and the two begin to work in concert with each other.

    The Arakoa military have launched a desperate attempt to destroy the platforms, but they are sadly outmatched...it will take more than just sheer firepower to stop this.

    As Helldriver tries to rescue Srikka, he struggles against him. "No! I won't go! My team--my -planet- needs me!" Even upon arriving at the port, his family is nowhere to be seen. Srikka squirms out of his friend's grasp. "I must protect my people...or die trying."

**Quantum has posed:**
As if that weren't enough, Quantum chooses this very moment to show up as well. "What the slag are you doing down here Helldriver?! Get up to the flagship before you get fragged!"

    Srikka stares at Quantum, then chuckles slightly. "Helldriver, so that is your name. Heh, I knew you were just teasing, before."

**Phantom has posed:**
Helldriver just punches Quantum in the faceplates. "You could at least make me look good!" he growls, "I saved your life!" He holds Srikka securely. "Now is not the time for that!" he fumes, embarrassed and annoyed. "You can't stay here." He flies to the transportation dock and phases through the walls of the nearest ship. Amazingly, Srikka phases through with him...

**Quantum has posed:**
"Primus, I'm just trying to save your aft!" Quantum protests, shoving him right back. "Now get your--" But then he's gone again. Ugh. Why is he so stupid?!

    But Srikka is adamant. "No! You cannot force me to come with you! I will not abandon my family and my people! You may be willing to do such a thing, but I am not! You want me for you, and you do not care for any other! If you truly cared for me, you would allow me to do what -I- believe is right and just!" The ship he has chosen unfortunately belongs to someone else and will not respond to any of his commands. "Now save yourself. I have a duty fulfill." He continues to struggle against Helldriver.

    Outside, the docks themselves are about to collapse...and a strange, ominous cold has begun to permeate the atmosphere, as if the very source of light and warmth to the world is slowly but surely being sucked away.

**Phantom has posed:**
He hadn't gone into the ship to try to fly it off the planet anyway. Ignoring Srikka's protests, he finds the medevac kit, some emergency supplies, and a weapon. He puts them all into the satchel strapped to Srikka's back. Then he phases back through the wall of the ship and looks around. He notices many of planet's citizens heading for an underground bunker near the outskirts of the city. He starts to follow the crowd, but the docks have been compromised. As soon as he takes a step forward, the flooring beneath him collapses without warning. And before he can phase out, a giant piece of hot metal falls on top of him, spearing him through the chassis. Thankfully, Srikka will be unharmed, as Helldriver's body had shielded him from the fall and the debris.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Ugh, you are such an idiot, you should have let me go and returned to your people!" Now it's Srikka's turn to be indignant about self-sacrifice. At any rate, there's no time to lose. He flies off to aid his team in battle against the drill of the apocalypse.

    Moments later, Quantum returns to drag Helldriver out of the pile of rubble, then orbital bounce him up to one of the Decepticon flagships.

**Phantom has posed:**
But Quantum won't find Helldriver upon returning to drag him out of the pile of rubble. In fact, there's zero trace of him in the area, or anywhere for that matter. It's as if he's disappeared into thin air...

**Quantum has posed:**
"Damn it." Quantum curses. He did that stupid vanishing act again, didn't he? Well fine. The mech can handle himself, can't he?

    He gives up and returns to the flagship himself. It won't be long until they've finished harvesting the regenesis ore.

**Phantom has posed:**
His disappearance lasts for quite some time. Quantum may wonder where he is when he doesn't reappear, and it's nearly time for the flagship to leave the Arakoan planet.

**Quantum has posed:**
The time comes, with the Arakoa once again forced to evacuate the few survivors who remained above ground. They'd built bunkers for a time such as this, but the hadn't expected it to come this soon, so it hadn't been finished and wasn't nearly large enough for everyone. So the youngsters, since they had more of the lives ahead of them, where given priority. It's likely where Akeeta and Srikka are, if they survived at all. The rest of them either perished, or managed to escape to the cosmos to search for another suitable homeworld--for the supplies and food stored in the bunker will not last forever.

    As for the surface of the planet, it has grown cold and desolate, the last bit of warmth having been sucked away. Nothing will ever grow here, ever again.

    With the job completed, the drills are retracted, and the flagships turn and activate their hyperdrives, leaving as quickly as they had come. Quantum just shrugs as he watches the planet disappear as they jump to FTL. Helldriver can fend for himself. He can phase through walls, after all. He'd been the one who'd wanted an audience with Megatron, and it's also his fault that he missed the opportunity. Oh, well!

**Phantom has posed:**
A decacycle will pass. Quantum may either forget Helldriver entirely, or perhaps at least have put him to the back of his mind.

 Then all of a sudden, in the middle of the night, Quantum will be violently disturbed from idling by a coarse hand servo covered in blood grabbing him roughly by the arm.

**Quantum has posed:**
Jerking from stasis, Quantum attempts to grab the wrist of the hand that is grabbing him and pull it roughly toward the floor; weapons immediately out and ready to fire upon whoever has assaulted him. He's certainly no helpless mech, even if he'd been taken by surprise.

**Phantom has posed:**
Except he won't be able to maintain his grip on whoever's wrist it is, it's as if the wrist has removed itself from his grasp immediately.

 A hand closes on one of his shoulders, shaking him. "Finally! Where am I? What is this place? Why is everything different from what I know? Why can't I remember your name?" It's Helldriver, but he's leaking everywhere.

**Quantum has posed:**
Oh, good Primus. Does he have to go through all this again? "This is a Decepticon sub-orbital outpost near the planet LV-221." He sighs, lowering his weapons. "Ugh, you're leaking everywhere, go see a medic already. And I don't know why you can't remember my name. Maybe it's because you're an idiot."

**Phantom has posed:**
"I... know you, I know you," he keeps muttering. He must have suffered some kind of memory loss, because he asks again, "Where am I? Who are you?? Why do you look familiar..." He wanders the room, phasing in and out at random intervals. Eventually, his phasing in and out gets him stuck in a wall. "Arrgggh!" he howls.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Ugh, go see a medic, damn it!" Quantum is really getting tired of all this. "Do I have knock you out and drag your aft there?!"

**Phantom has posed:**
After a moment, it may become clear that he can't really hear him, he's too damaged. His radio transmitter is also shot to hell, any transmissions he tries to relay to him will bounce back to him and display an error message.

 He phases out of the wall and passes into the hallway, still dazed and suffering from amnesia.

**Quantum has posed:**
Well, looks like he will just have to knock him out. Quantum watches him in the hallway for a few more minutes, then comes up behind him and hits him hard on the back of the head with the barrel of his gun. If that doesn't work, then frag it he's giving up...because what else is a mech to do?

**Phantom has posed:**
It ends up being unnecessary, he stasis locks before Quantum can hit him on the back of the helm. His blood, still a part of his body, is phasing through the floor and leaking into the barracks below.

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum picks him up drags him to the medical bay, and leaves him there after having a brief word with the medics. He'll come back once Helldriver has recovered.

**Phantom has posed:**
The medics will have great difficulty fixing him though. Due to his damage and lack of coherency, his phasing is out of control. Even in stasis lock, his mass changes density at random and intermittent intervals.