[video]

[knightoflight]

[Wing is standing outside the hospital--obviously, because he's far too big to fit inside. He has several long black chars on his white armor, and a few dents where he's taken rounds.  ]

[The biggest injury, though, is to his honor. He was trying to protect the hospital, but the Authorities...did not see to care.]

[He's standing by one of the low, ramshackle buildings when he speaks.]

I owe...everyone...an apology. I was trying to help. I thought I could minimize the damage, and protect the Hospital.

[He cycles a vent of air, like a sigh. He doesn't need to say this next part, but he does. He needs to admit it.]

I was wrong.  This?  [He gestures toward the crumbling walls, the jagged glass still hanging in rickety window frames,] is my fault.

I would like the opportunity to make up for it.

[It's up to them, now, if they'll have him.]

Comments

[knightoflight]

But....

[Yeah, sorry. His little robot mind is blown. So much for superior robot logic.]

But we're not even 'enemies' and that's...that's not right. [It's an obvious, perhaps weakly worded thing to say, but he can't even begin to describe how it makes him feel. They'd left Cybertron for a similar reason.]

It shouldn't be allowed.

[golden_retriever]

Seriously? They come here, wipe out half the people, go around shootin' and killin', and you don't think they're enemies?

Listen up, they are going to kill you... [ A moment of consideration for the creature he was talking to. ] —Take you apart, or whatever they do to a robot— and it's best you don't think they're to be reasoned with.

I've seen types like that, alright, and they aren't lookin' to make friends with the inferior natives.

[knightoflight]

I said we're not their enemies. We've done nothing to be a threat to them.

I certainly think they are...unjustified and need to be stopped.

[He's a bit startled at Eliot's vehemence.]

If you've seen this kind before, you know how to stop them.

[golden_retriever]

If they can be bombin' the hospital, you can trust they don't care.

[ The sound of air being blown out heavily through the nose in a noisy exhale came over the phone. ]

Last time I dealt with any, they required firebombing, hand grenades, and the lives of a lot of good men.

[knightoflight]

They are certainly trying to make themselves enemies.

[His voice lowers, sad.]

There is no other option? I've seen that, fought in those battles. There has to be another way.

[golden_retriever]

Last I heard, there ain't even an open line of communication with them, okay? I won't hold my breath.

Best choice is to not aggravate'em until proper defenses can be rigged.

[knightoflight]

Yes. [Another good point. Another thing Wing doesn't know enough even to consider.] And after what happened to the Commander Shepard, I'm not sure anyone wants to change that.

[He can see both sides of that, himself. Violence unopposed went rampant, but he's seen in his own world how quickly these types of grudges grew to neverending war.]

Defenses, yes. Do we have plans?

[golden_retriever]

Your guess is as good as mine on this. I'm gonna get in touch with some of the people here and find that out.

[ Though something in what Wing said piqued his interest. ]

... What happened with Shepard?

[knightoflight]

Please keep me in mind. I'd thought about a way we could possibly install passive perimeter defenses, but...I lack the skill to create them.

[He frowns, uncomfortable even with the memory.] It appears she gained entry to the dome and she was...horribly treated. [At least what he saw before the video cut off.]

[golden_retriever]

She what!?

[ Eliot knew that Shepard had been inside, she said as much to him, but he didn't know about the circumstances or the whole 'horribly treated' part. That was why she was in the hospital.

Keeping in mind that they were still on the public network, Eliot decided to not speak more on the matter, on either of the two matters. ]

I'm sure we'll think of somethin'. Hey, I'm on my way over to the hospital right now. Maybe we can chat more when I get there.

[knightoflight]

That's all I know. There was a video on the network.

I didn't know she was going to go alone. I would have tried to help, at least distract them.

All right. [A beat.] Hospital? Are you unwell? [....again?]

[golden_retriever]

Thanks for the heads up on that. [ Eliot would have surely blundered with his questions otherwise. ]

And no, I'm gonna see what I can help with. And see her.

[knightoflight]

I thought you saw. But what matters is she's back.

[He nods.]

Please convey my wishes for her recovery. [She...tolerates Wing. He doesn't think she'll ever truly trust him.]

[golden_retriever]

No, I was off my phone for a few days.

I'll pass it along. Again, thanks. [ He doubted she was the type to truly trust anyone, but it took one to know one. ]