((And now for the "official" version to commence...))

[prankster_femme]

((This takes place as roughly the same time as this arc*Wingblade fumbles as she inputs the access code Steadfast gave her. She's shaking and the air is hitching in her cycling systems, though she's physically undamaged. Once the door slides open she throws herself in and onto the berth, then opens a comm to Steadfast, her voice breaking

Comments

[lavender_wings]

Receiving the message, Steadfast instantly knows what Wingblade means by 'gone'. This is what she's been dreading - Wingblade's parents' fate catching up with them. That it's not her universe's Skywarp and Thundercracker this time doesn't make it any less real, but despite the shock that's spearing her spark, Steadfast is oddly calm. As fatalistically calm as one can only be when a long-expected catastrophe arrives. The wait is over.

//Stay where you are, I'm coming!// is the only thing she comms back to Wingblade. All else, she knows she'll have to deal with in person. She hurries to her quarters as fast as she can, having a hunch that Wingblade would be there.

And there she is.

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast doesn't loosen her hold. She frantically, desparately nuzzles Wingblade, muttering she doesn't-know-what... most likely just incoherent syllables, interspersed with sobs of her own.

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade whimpers and sobs, clinging desperately to Steadfast. It doesn't matter if what Steadfast is saying is incoherent because Wingblade can't understand her anyways, only able to hear her tone. Her whole body shakes as she pours out her grief, not loosening her hold one bit.*

[lavender_wings]

Some remote part of Steadfast's mind whispers at her to get herself under control, to be strong for Wingblade, but she isn't yet able to heed its call. The lavender Seeker is shaking all over, pained noises escaping her. Not loosening her hold on Wingblade, she sags to her knees, then crumples into a heap on the floor, pulling Wingblade down with her.

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade offers no resistance as Steadfast drags her down, clinging to her mama just as tightly as her mama is clinging to her. She is sobbing and shaking violently, unable to control herself in the face of such intense grief and pain.*

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast is shivering and trembling, aware of Wingblade's pain as if it was her own. She makes desperate, incoherent noises, holding on to Wingblade for dear life.

The small part of her that's still coherent realises that she can't handle this on her own. Struggling to keep herself under control enough to do so, Steadfast comms two particular Autobots - //Strata, Photon! Come here quick, your sister needs you.// The tone of the message should be more than enough to get the point across, but Steadfast has the afterthought it would be a good idea to tell them where "here" is. //We're in my quarters at Terradessa-1. Please come!// She still has the presence of mind to transmit the elevator codes for them as well, before curling up, desperately clinging to Wingblade.

[strataseeker]

The reply is prompt and brief, a thin note of urgency in their dualed reply to hint that they understand exactly what Steadfast is calling them to.

// Acknowledged. Out, // they transmit simultaneously, their voices blending into a single harmonious tone.

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast wraps her mind around the knowledge that they're on the way, drawing strength from it as she wraps herself around Wingblade, her touches a wordless message - 'It will be all right. Endure.'

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade continues to shake as she clings to Steadfast, though that in itself is a good sign--she's not giving up on her life just yet even though she feels like her whole world is gone. But still, her pain is powerful enough to almost touch and goes straight to her spark.*

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast is glad - if that word can at all apply in this situation - that Wingblade at least still has the strength to cling to her. If she's seeking comfort, seeking something - someone - to hold on to, it must mean that she wants to hold on, that she doesn't want to die.

However, the lavender Seeker has no illusions as to how much it takes Wingblade to do even that act of holding on. The young Seeker's pain is as obvious as can be. Narrowing her optics, setting her face, Steadfast tries to will herself to make her own shivers stop. However much it takes, this is not the time for her own grief. She knows she has to be strong for Wingblade. She has to.

[strataseeker]

Anyone monitoring the general comm frequency for Terradessa-1 will be privy to a pair of Autobots, courteously informing the base that they have arrived, simultaneously transmitting the clearance codes to summon the entry tower. A moment later, the massive elevator tower bursts from the sea's surface, the door dropping open in time for twin flickers, one red, one black, to flit inside

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast puts up no resistance to being held by the Autobot Seekers, but she isn't ready to let go and curl into their arms. Her posture is stiff, and she doesn't loosen her own hold on Wingblade.

The twins' words are met with a shuddering intake of air. Let go? How can she...? She can't. Must be strong for Wingblade...

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade's only apparent reaction to the arrival of her sisters is to shift slightly so that they can get closer. She continues to sob and cling to Steadfast, her entire frame shaking.*

[strataseeker]

While Wingblade is consumed by and lost in her grief, there is little they can do but hold the younger Seeker and wait for her to decide to live again.

[lavender_wings]

The sight of Wingblade as she is now - shaking, shaken - cuts Steadfast to the core. She clings to the young Seeker, her expression one of grief and near-despairing, raging helplessness. She holds back the urge to wail, but some shuddering, incoherent noises escape her, and anguish is evident in her entire posture as she cycles air far too rapidly.

[prankster_femme]

*Choked noises come from Wingblade in response, and she clings fiercely to her mama. But the shaking is starting to die down slowly, even if the pain is still too fresh to let go of.*