kismet_loop | [Action then Video] Newscast for SY 614/10/20

[Early in the morning a loud rumble shakes the west edge of the central part of the city. The explosion rips through a large section of housing and apartments. Sirens will be heard by those in the vicinity a short time later, as the local law enforcement heads out to play the part of fire department and emergency medical team.]

[An hour later all comm drones will pop open their screens to show a familiar reporter. He looks grim. Behind him, the air is thick with smoke and the ordered chaos of people trying to put out fires.]

Just this morning a terrible tragedy has torn through our peaceful city. An explosion of unknown cause has destroyed several housing units; as of yet the total number of injured is unknown. Our last count was fourteen in critical condition, and another nine with minor injuries.

[Thillens shifts and motions behind him.] Our brave police force has stepped up to the plate to put out the fires and move the injured to the hospital.

But this is where the tragedy gets worse. Our Guardian Medic, Paian, seems to have gone missing!

Please, if anyone can get in contact with Guardian Paian, let him know we need him at the hospital.

This has been Eric Thillens with a special HVNTV Emergency Report.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The broad-shouldered mech is a bit on the smallish side for his kind, though that still means that Lea only comes to maybe mid-thigh on him. He's scuffed and scorched from helping pull people from the burning rubble, his hands covered in blood and mech fluids. Not that any of it seems to bother him at the moment.]

[The mech too seems to relax a little as things start to calm in the immediate vicinity. He shifts to look down, giving a nod as the nozzle folds away and he straightens. His face is rigid, unable to express like most people's, but the warmth in his tone helps make up for it.]

Nah, thank you. But yeah, hi, name's Wheeljack. I'm the Chief Engineer an' one'a the Guardians here. Pleased ta mee-

[He starts to stoop and offer a hand - though it'd wind up more like a fingertip - but then he notes the gore on his hands again. He hesitates, the straightens again, tone taking on a hint of sheepishness.]

Uh, I mean . . . yeah, pleased ta meetcha.

So you're the Chief Engineer I heard about! Been meaning to ask you; why do you put Bulkhead's name on all those gates you made?

[Yeah, Lea side-eye's the offered hand a bit, though he smirks a bit as Wheeljack apparently realizes why and pulls it back.]

Hey, I just kept things in check til help arrived. You guys are the ones actually knocking this fire out.

Name's Lea, by the way. Got it memorized?

[Y-yeah, he realized it about the same time Lea noticed. Haha, sorry, he's not always as mindful as he could be. He nods with a chuckle.]

Lea. Got it. An' yeah, that's me. I designed an' oversaw the construction of a lotta the machinery an' automation in the city. Most'a the drones around are mine too, like the comm-drones.

[He waves at the scattering of thick-bodied "flying saucer" like constructs, including the one that follow Lea now. Then his head tilted in confusion.]

As for the Gates, well . . . that was the name that was on the schematics when they were found. I finished 'em - mostly just tweaked a few things - but I didn't come up with 'em. Didn't feel right not givin' due credit ta the company that did. Or . . . person . . . ?

[Thoughts and ideas - and other people's words - circle through his head at least three or four ~~dozen~~ times before they settle, and sometimes a thought or an aspect of something occur to him belatedly after the second or third pass. Like how Lea's wording made it sound like it was maybe an individual. And his tone like this was someone he knows??]

[Lea nods as Wheeljack seems to cotton on to the fact that Bulkhead is the name of a mech, not a company.]

Yep, person. One of us that came in with the last batch that the Miasma dropped in. He's around somewhere, if you wanted to meet him. I'm pretty sure he'd be interested in meeting you.

. . . wait, if you guys just got here, how's your friend's name on blueprints I found a few vorns ago?

Because we were here before, way back when the First Forged were still in charge and Haven wasn't much more than a collection of temples, the Hub, and a big pile of junk. I dunno how long a 'vorn' is, but from what we were told that was hundreds of years ago, at least, by this point.

[The old engineer's optics /brighten/ at that revelation.]

You . . . wha- . . . really!?

Uh, I-I mean . . . well, first, a vorn is . . . well, a vorn. It's what we call a solar cycle, the length of time it takes the planet ta circle the sun. If you're from Earth, it's about eighty-three years - our orbital path is much wider'n yours.

Wow . . . I've been here almost six-hundred earth years, but I've never met anyone from before that. We knew-

[Jack, you've still got work to do. He remembers their surroundings and what's going on, glancing around before focusing on Lea again.]

Listen, now's not a great time - obviously - but if you'd be willin', I'd really love ta get ta sit down with you an' maybe some of your friends sometime an' hear about all that. Sound good?

[Lea smirks a bit, amused at the reaction.]

Really.

[He keeps smirking right through Wheljeck's explanation, but then he too recalls what they're supposed to be doing.]

Sure, I'm up for that. Just buzz me later, let me know when and where you wanna meet up, and we'll see what we can work out.

[Action then Video] Newscast for SY 614/10/20

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