Holi to Perceptor

[Holi]

OOC: Crossposted from here in the Rodimus Wanders Around Town thread.

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There is no preamble, no polite greeting, no cheery question after Perceptor's well-being in this transmission. Just a hoarse, frantic little voice crackling across the airwaves in a fit of dread.

// Doctor…? Doctor?! //

[Perceptor]

Caught off guard by Holi's transmission so quickly on the heels of Xaaron's, Perceptor blurts out the first thing that comes to mind.

// It's all right, Holi! I am unharmed! //

[Holi]

// Doctor! // To say that Holi is much relieved just to hear the scientist's voice is a gross understatement. He'll feel even better once he can see Perceptor hale and whole with his own optic band. // Doctor, the body – it's wrong, but it looks the same, only the colours are different and – but you're not – you're alright? I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Doctor, I – I just– // He squeaks and trails off abruptly in a swell of shame at his own outburst.

[Perceptor]

// No, Holi, it is all right, // Perceptor reassures the micromaster. // I had just received notification myself, and it... well, I have not even seen what you have, and I must confess to some shock, myself. It's all right. I am uninjured. //

// There is no need to apologize, Holi. Truly, // he adds soothingly. // I am all right. //

// I am assisting in Repair at the moment... // he offers, his voice trailing off in unspoken invitation.

[Holi]

// I… I'm sorry, // and this apology is much quieter than the last, // for interrupting, sir… but… I'm relieved that you're alright. // Although it may take Holi some time to forget having seen the body, even if he purges the image from his databanks.

For a moment, he wonders if he should purge it, or if he should transmit it. Perceptor, more than anyone else, deserves to be prepared for that. Doesn't he?

// I… I think we'll have to bring– If– // Holi may well be looking at his feet here. He might just take advantage of that implicit invite, even if the body isn't immediately taken to repair anyway. He doesn't want to keep seeing it.

[Perceptor]

// You are not interrupting, Holi, // Perceptor refutes gently. // And, thank you for your concern. // Perhaps they are destined to worry and fret about each other. Perceptor can truly think of worse fates, really.

// Come to Repair, Holi. They have hands enough there to move the remains and... and I have not seen you for several days, // he asks, and if his voice stumbles just a little over the "remains", perhaps he can be forgiven. Suddenly, that odd, haunted look Rodimus had favored him with upon their first meeting begins to make so much more sense.

His explanation is true enough, though, and he'd been relieved just to see Holi intact, if battered, after Cannonball had finished with him. Perhaps it might help return some of Holi's calm and cheer to see him hale and whole after such a shock.

[Holi]

Several impossibly long seconds pass before Holi musters up a response.

// Yes, sir, // he says quietly. He'd much rather be there, again, than where he is now.

[Perceptor]

// Holi, are you possibly free to assist me with something? // Perceptor radios out of the blue.

[Holi]

//As– Assist, doctor, sir?// Not a moment's hesitation once Holi recovers from his very brief bemusement at the unexpected transmission in the middle of the firing range; curiosity, certainly, and a surfeit of that. //With what?// And will he be looked at askance for abandoning his training…?

[Perceptor]

// I placed some sensors in a few key structures, and one set has become active. I need to examine them, however having assistance, particularly from someone more appropriately scaled for these structures, would be very much appreciated. I can, however, adequately function in a solitary capacity if you are otherwise engaged. //

[Holi]

There's a pause before Holi answers again.

//…Is this related to the new radio noise that's kicked up, sir?// He's just making a wild guess, he supposes, but the timing does seem awfully convenient, doesn't it? //Oh! And of course I'll help! I mean, if you need someone who can get indoors…!//

[Perceptor]

Perceptor's pause mirror's Holi's, although there's a more surprised air to his hesitation.

// You detect additional transmissions? // Surprise fades to genuine pleasure as he continues. // Yes, I believe it will be related, given the particular cluster of sensors that need examined. And yes, if you possess advanced communications abilities, then your skills will be most particularly useful. How fortuitous, and thank you! //

Perceptor has paused at the edge of the training grounds, waiting for the micromaster's response, and, although he glances off into the distance periodically, there is a very pleased, eager cast to his stance.

[Holi]

Oops. Hasn't Holi mentioned before he was the communications specialist in his patrol? Okay, maybe he forgot to tell Perceptor at some point.

//…Yes, sir, I can. Er… I do,// Holi confirms bashfully. //Well, they aren't really transmissions… but there are new frequencies open.// Empty air, maybe white noise here or there, but he can 'hear' them out there all the same. //Oh! No thanks necessary, doctor, sir!// chirps Holi, pleasant mood returned. //I'll be there right away!//

So much for target training.