I'm— yes, obviously I'm on the ship. You're back? The space bridge is indeed fickle. Which mutual acquaintance?
[ On one hand... it had been a relief when the R2's directory no longer listed her among the crew. It meant that she'd been safely returned to their world, where she could be in contact with the newsparks again. Where her absence wouldn't cause him worry that their uniquely Force-sensitive development might be hampered.
But on the other hand, Jane was a familiar touchstone in all the chaos and her disappearance had felt like... loss. But why now such a peculiar phrasing?]
Where are you? Did they assign you back to the same quarters?
I'm in the observation deck. [ Staying away from the Cybertronians who might not take kindly to an organic. She's had enough experience with that, though she seems to have won an "ally" from the worst (ahem) around. But it's also very... Supreme Leader-esque of her to just stand there and brood. Don't tell Kylo. ] You speak as if I've been here before. Miss me that much?
[ That's right, this organic has the gall to joke and banter with Starscream. How peculiar. ]
[ It's text, so Jane can't see Starscream's expression curdle. ]
Him. Call him Forestock if that is what he requested, but he is more commonly known by most as "Vos".
[ For a moment, he just reads Jane's text twice, three times. She doesn't recall being aboard the R2? Before he takes a beat to center himself again. ]
You were here previously, yes. The space bridge... it has an unheard-of malfunction. It brings people from different universes, alternate realities. It sounds absurd, I'm aware, but it is demonstrably true. You will meet others here who are not the versions of mechs you might know, myself included.
But it also brings people from different points in time. Others who are here from our universe, all of them seem to be from well before what you and I think of as current, by almost three centuries. They will not know you. The war hasn't even ended for them yet.
Something similar may have happened to you, if you do not recall being here before.
As for Vos... he has some peculiar circumstances that I will explain to you in person, but *do not* trust him.
There's a bit of a pause as she takes the rest of Starscream's information in. Alternate realities? Absurd, yeah, but she'd actually thought about that in her younger years, back in the Jedi academy. How curious. ]
No, I don't recall being here before. [ She wants to ask what that version of her was like, but she decides against it. For now. ] How do I tell you apart from your other selves? And there's been no adverse effect with you sharing the same space as them? [ Lots of questions that are probably more for Knock Out, really.
She almost retorts that she doesn't trust him, either, but she doesn't. It's... complicated. It's nearly in the same twisted vein as her trust in Ben. ] Understood, Commander. What must I do, then? Knock Out isn't here with the newsparks, is he? [ Because she can't feel them. Her children. ]
Yes, like the city. The DJD took their codenames from the first five Cybertronian cities to fall during the war. It's not the name he was sparked with.
It is not your fault if you don't remember. As I said, the space bridge is fickle. By contrast, I have been here nearly a year now.
You shouldn't have any trouble telling us apart, we look nothing alike. The other three still more closely resemble my original frame, not this one, although some of their colours are different.
[ It may have been a last minute change in deciding not to retort, but it has an unexpected consequence of making Starscream relax slightly. Finally, a little bit of familiarity for him. ]
No, the Knock Out that is here has no idea of the newsparks. I did tell him what happened at the end of the war, that the Decepticons are abandoned, but... like the others, he either chooses not to believe me, or to ignore it out of spite. Do be cautious around him — without the intervening centuries, Knock Out's bitterness against humans is no doubt more prominent. I don't believe he'd risk anything, as it would jeopardize his position in the Medbay, but it's something to bear in mind.
As for you... there's nothing specific you need to do. There are many here who I'm sure you'll get along well with, and there are other organics here.
[ And then, probably surprisingly: ]
It is good to hear from you again. You have been missed.
[ So Vos is only named after the city and not actually beholden to Starscream, though somehow he follows his orders. A debt? It wouldn't be the first time for someone to be indebted to the Air Commander. She'll have to ask for details later, when she and Starscream meet in person.
The rest of the message makes it clear that Starscream, as unbelievable as it may sound, is protecting her. Back in Cybertron, he'd had Contrail assigned to her when there was trouble, and now she had Vos. And there's all these warnings about those who might be inclined to treat her poorly for being an organic. She supposes that's what allies do, especially when each party still needs something from the other... but this time, with the messages coming from Starscream himself, she can't help but feel a small pang of relief. She even manages a smile. She could use a friend, though that's using the term loosely.
Well, okay. You have been missed? Whoa there, Starscream. Then again, he did say he's been here for nearly a year now... ]
Duly noted, Commander. [ Just to acknowledge she's read it all and she agrees to the terms and conditions, blah blah. She'll save the follow up questions for later. ] And I suppose I would say the same if I hadn't seen you for a year. [ She can't pretend to be sure, but hey. ] Perhaps we ought to make this meeting official? I need to stretch my legs anyway, and I'd like to know more about our... situation. [ Because she can't stay here for a year! What about the newsparks? ]
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no subject
[ On one hand... it had been a relief when the R2's directory no longer listed her among the crew. It meant that she'd been safely returned to their world, where she could be in contact with the newsparks again. Where her absence wouldn't cause him worry that their uniquely Force-sensitive development might be hampered.
But on the other hand, Jane was a familiar touchstone in all the chaos and her disappearance had felt like... loss. But why now such a peculiar phrasing?]
Where are you? Did they assign you back to the same quarters?
no subject
He asked to be called Forestock.
I'm in the observation deck. [ Staying away from the Cybertronians who might not take kindly to an organic. She's had enough experience with that, though she seems to have won an "ally" from the worst (ahem) around. But it's also very... Supreme Leader-esque of her to just stand there and brood. Don't tell Kylo. ] You speak as if I've been here before. Miss me that much?
[ That's right, this organic has the gall to joke and banter with Starscream. How peculiar. ]
no subject
Him. Call him Forestock if that is what he requested, but he is more commonly known by most as "Vos".
[ For a moment, he just reads Jane's text twice, three times. She doesn't recall being aboard the R2? Before he takes a beat to center himself again. ]
You were here previously, yes. The space bridge... it has an unheard-of malfunction. It brings people from different universes, alternate realities. It sounds absurd, I'm aware, but it is demonstrably true. You will meet others here who are not the versions of mechs you might know, myself included.
But it also brings people from different points in time. Others who are here from our universe, all of them seem to be from well before what you and I think of as current, by almost three centuries. They will not know you. The war hasn't even ended for them yet.
Something similar may have happened to you, if you do not recall being here before.
As for Vos... he has some peculiar circumstances that I will explain to you in person, but *do not* trust him.
no subject
There's a bit of a pause as she takes the rest of Starscream's information in. Alternate realities? Absurd, yeah, but she'd actually thought about that in her younger years, back in the Jedi academy. How curious. ]
No, I don't recall being here before. [ She wants to ask what that version of her was like, but she decides against it. For now. ] How do I tell you apart from your other selves? And there's been no adverse effect with you sharing the same space as them? [ Lots of questions that are probably more for Knock Out, really.
She almost retorts that she doesn't trust him, either, but she doesn't. It's... complicated. It's nearly in the same twisted vein as her trust in Ben. ] Understood, Commander. What must I do, then? Knock Out isn't here with the newsparks, is he? [ Because she can't feel them. Her children. ]
no subject
It is not your fault if you don't remember. As I said, the space bridge is fickle. By contrast, I have been here nearly a year now.
You shouldn't have any trouble telling us apart, we look nothing alike. The other three still more closely resemble my original frame, not this one, although some of their colours are different.
[ It may have been a last minute change in deciding not to retort, but it has an unexpected consequence of making Starscream relax slightly. Finally, a little bit of familiarity for him. ]
No, the Knock Out that is here has no idea of the newsparks. I did tell him what happened at the end of the war, that the Decepticons are abandoned, but... like the others, he either chooses not to believe me, or to ignore it out of spite. Do be cautious around him — without the intervening centuries, Knock Out's bitterness against humans is no doubt more prominent. I don't believe he'd risk anything, as it would jeopardize his position in the Medbay, but it's something to bear in mind.
As for you... there's nothing specific you need to do. There are many here who I'm sure you'll get along well with, and there are other organics here.
[ And then, probably surprisingly: ]
It is good to hear from you again. You have been missed.
no subject
The rest of the message makes it clear that Starscream, as unbelievable as it may sound, is protecting her. Back in Cybertron, he'd had Contrail assigned to her when there was trouble, and now she had Vos. And there's all these warnings about those who might be inclined to treat her poorly for being an organic. She supposes that's what allies do, especially when each party still needs something from the other... but this time, with the messages coming from Starscream himself, she can't help but feel a small pang of relief. She even manages a smile. She could use a friend, though that's using the term loosely.
Well, okay. You have been missed? Whoa there, Starscream. Then again, he did say he's been here for nearly a year now... ]
Duly noted, Commander. [ Just to acknowledge she's read it all and she agrees to the terms and conditions, blah blah. She'll save the follow up questions for later. ] And I suppose I would say the same if I hadn't seen you for a year. [ She can't pretend to be sure, but hey. ] Perhaps we ought to make this meeting official? I need to stretch my legs anyway, and I'd like to know more about our... situation. [ Because she can't stay here for a year! What about the newsparks? ]