A good ol'-fashioned Forum War

Inside CJMErl's subconscious, CJ resumed his commune with his new Spirit Guide, ally, and friend, Primus. Each being told their own stories and shared their own distinct origins and knowledge.

...so you actually KNOW Ratchet?

OF COURSE, YOUNG ONE. HE IS A CYBERTRONIAN IN ORIGIN, AND ALL CYBERTRONIANS ARE AS MY OWN CHILDREN; EACH ONE CARRIES WITH THEM A SPARK--A FRAGMENT OF MY OWN POWER--AND EACH OF THEM, IN TIME, REJOINS THEIR SPARKS WITH ME IN THE NEVERENDING VOID OF THE MATRIX.

I see...

This conversation continued, meandering its' way into the topic of CJ's current missions and ordeals.

For some reason, I just can't help feeling this way about Jenkins. Is there something...wrong with me?

*chuckles* OF COURSE NOT, MY CHILD. YOUR BODY MAY BE MOSTLY MECHANICAL, BUT YOUR SPIRIT IS YOUR OWN. ALL SENTIENT BEINGS HAVE FEELINGS LIKE WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING. IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE HOW YOUR FRIEND, SWIFTMAN, FEELS ABOUT HIS FRIEND, ANTHA.

I...see...so these feelings, this...awkwardness...is normal?

INDEED IT IS. HOWEVER, YOU MUST TAKE GREAT CARE, YOUNG ONE.

What? Why? I know my feelings may not be returned, but is the risk THAT severe?

IT'S NOT THAT. THERE IS...A STRANGE DARKNESS SURROUNDING HER. I CAN SENSE IT EASILY; LIKE AN UNWANTED CORRUPTION OF HER VERY CORE SPIRIT.

I wonder...could it have something to do with her vampiric curse?

QUITE POSSIBLY, BUT EVEN I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN.

Suddenly, a klaxon alarm can be heard. The sound seems close, yet muffled for some reason.

An alarm?! What could it-

Suddenly, he finds himself back in real space, in his body (with a minor headache from the needle going in and out of his temple), with alarms sounding from the stasis monitor near Jenkins' bed.

Ratchet! What's going on?! What's happening to Jenkins? Is she alright?

Ratchet turned from next to the monitor near Jenkins bed to face him, a look of great anxiety on his metal face.

<ooc>Unforetuneatly Cortez, none of us are near Romsource City, biplanes weren't used extensively in WWII, and to be frank, your skills are a little sub-par. Not that they're especcially bad, a more story-like format of writing is much preferred for this RP.</ooc>


"It's a new problem, Mr. CJMErl..."

CJ strode up to almost face-to-face with Ratchet.

"Tell me what's wrong!"

"Well, it was your blood, you see. There were properties of it that did not seem to mix well with her..."

"So tell me what's wrong? How can we fix it?"

"Her best chance now is to place her in a life-support pod and let machines take over her system so she has more power to fight the irregular properties within her."

"What... About the disease?"

"As you expected, your blood donation worked and she beat the disease in record time. But there were... strange properties in what your blood contained, and it's diisrupting her chemical balance."

In an underbreath, CJ whispered so lightly Ratchet barely heard it "The light and dark...."

((Hmmm...I see. Well my mistake. I'm more used to script format than prose. >_>))

*THE NEXT DAY...*

Swiftman, Yami, and Minion go into the sick bay, feeling rather chipper, despite the problems they had faced the day before. Of course, nothing would prepare them for what they saw the moment the opened the door...

*barges in* HEEEEEEEEEEEEEY CJ!!! How's everythi-

He and the other two immediately come to a dead halt.

What...the...crap...

They gaze upon the scene: Jenkins, all but bare skin (she was still covered in her essential areas, much to Yami's chagrin), with various wires and electrodes attached to her, floating silently in what appears to be a life-support tube, with Ratchet making fine-tune adjustments to the dials and monitors hokked up to the giant stasis device. CJ sat (helmet covering his head once more) with his head against his knees, totally silent, unmoving.

Swiftman spoke up.

"Here, here, what's going on? These life-suport pods are only to be used in the most dire of emergecies!"

Ratchet turned to face the others, a somber look on his face.

"I'm afraid...that we have a dire emergency."

Minion balked.

"Don't tell me the disease beat her!"

Ratchet shook his head slowly.

"No, it's not like that. We were able to beat the disease, thanks to a blood donation by CJMErl here..." He indicates the deeply depressed CJ sitting alone in the corner, far away from the pod and equipment. "...but it seems as though his blood...er...does not mix well with Ms. Jenkins' "unique" properties."

WHOAWHOAWHOAholdonholdonholdon--you're telling me that CJ...OUR CJ...caused this?!

...yes...

Startled, they all turn to see CJ standing in the corner. No-one could see the face behind the LCD-HUD visor, but the outer display clearly conveyed a feeling of deep, deep sadness and bitter regret.

I...did this...I tired to save her...I HONESTLY tried...and look what I have done.

He gestures weakly towards the life-support pod and it's floating occupant.

I failed...I failed myself...I failed her...I failed everyone. *turns away* Who was I kidding? I couldn't heal her...I can't heal anyone...I'm a monster...

Forgive me for asking this, CJ, but aren't you overreacting just a *little*-

*whirls around angrily* I AM NOT OVERREACTING! I CAUSED THIS! ME! MYSELF! AND NOBODY ELSE!!! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY FEELINGS! JUST...LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

He runs away, a mixture of anger and sorrow flashing chaotically on his display visor.

Swiftman watched the display with a mixed feeling. Happy that Yami got told'd, but also feeling deeply worried for his friend's sake.

"Minion, watch over Yami and make sure he doesn't wreck anything. I need to go after CJ."

Without another word, Swiftman left after CJ's trail.

He easily caught up to CJMErl, who was running somewhere, even he didn't know.

"Hoi, chummer!" He said in a happy voice, hoping to cheer the deeply distressed person.

Swiftman was pushed aside. Not one to give up, he pursued.

"Hey now Seej, c'mon, it can't be that bad!"

"It is..."

CJ hussled on more, passing the concerned pilot. Not about to abandon the situation, Swiftman again followed, walking alongside him.

"You sure? I mean, those life pods are nigh-unstoppable when it comes to preserving life."

"But how does she fully recover?"

Swiftman gave CJ an interesting look. "Don't underestimate those vampires. It might take less to heal us than you once think!"

CJ stopped in his tracks.

"Of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner!?"

CJ turned on the heel and dashed back for the Medical Bay, leaving Swiftman feeling confused, yet relieved.


<ooc>Not up to my usual caliber here, final tomorrow and all...</ooc>

Dashing back to the medical bay, CJ burst open the doors and raced over to where Jenkins' stasis pod lay (along with Ratchet). Ratchet stared at him, puzzled.

"CJ? What are you doing here?"

He pushed past the medical robot and took out his ULC (universal link cable)

I did this to her, and only I can set things right! I'm going to use my Mind Transmission to fix the damage done to her...in more ways than one!

"Are you sure that this is a good idea? You could aggravate the condition even further!"

CJ paused. He's right. What IF I only make things worse? Suddenly, a bright, blue-white light shone above the medical bay.

DO NOT DESPAIR, YOUNG ONE. YOUR INTENTIONS WERE PURE BEFORE, AS THEY ARE NOW. AS THE HIKALIBUR, THE CHAMPION OF LIGHT, YOU CAN SUCCEED.

CJ stood, a determined look on his hidden face.

You're right, Primus. As long as I fight for what I believe in...I will not give up. I have the power...the power to save everyone!

He plugged the cable into the stasis pod.

Plug-in! CJMErl, MIND TRANSMISSION!!!

From the sidelines, Swift watched alongside with Yami, Ratchet and, to his surprise, the now-present Byte man.

None could see what went on within all this, but they could only hope for the best.. CJ wasn't the sort to give up easily, least of all when good people were on the line.

<!-----OOC: Short and vague, Iunno what your zomg plans are, Seej, so...------!/>

None noticed that Byte's eyes, while normally, blue or green, were now, golden. Swift, however, noticed Byte mumbling incoherently, and Byte's hands making small, weird, and almost imperceptable gestures.

All of the sudden, it all fit into place.

Byte must've seen how events would play out, and allowed them to run their course until magic would be needed. He then allowed Elminster, he of infinite magic, to take over his body, thereby allowing the expert dwemocrafter and Archmage to provide the most expert assistance.

Who stood with them now was not Byte Man at all.

He was the over 1000-year old best hope for all planes of existance.

And now, he was assisting once more to save a life not his own.

CJ sped along, through the digital plane of the stasis interface and into the etheriorganic plane of Jenkin's mind. He landed with a soft *thump* inside what looked like a dark hallway.

What...is this place...?

Before he could turn on his Scan Visor, the hallway was lit by an unseen source. He saw two doors.

To the left of him, what looked like the entrance to a space station or hangar bay stood, a cold metallic gray.

To the right of him, what looked like a barrier of darkness, interrupted only by what appeared to be a pulsating mass attempting to look like a door.

Two doors...? CJ contemplated this for s econd before realizing.

This...this must be the result of the curse! On the left of me is Jenkins' normal mind, and to the right...her dark side.

He thought about this.

Do I go and talk to the original Jenkins? Or do I confront the darkness within her?

Out of the corner of his visor, he saw something flash near the left door. he turned quickly to try and locate the source, but found nothing but the steel-gray wall. Plucking up his courage, he touched the pad near the door, and it opened with a *hiss*.

Probably best to find the real Jenkins first--I'll be needing all the help I can get in here...

<!-----If this is one way to remove Jenkins' vampire-nes, that'd be sexcellent------!/>

CJ stepped into... The Hanger? No, it wasn't the same.. The regular McQuarrie hanger was always bustling with activity, and never truly slept. This one was barren of anything moving at all.

No movement but... A small figure, in the distance, overlooking one of the ships. The dark orange pilot suit adorning the fair figure, the anti-heat attachments still covering her top, was trotting between the ships at a slow pace, seeming contemplative. CJ, naturally, strode over to see her.

She paused between two ships, looked up at CJ cautiously, and seemed like she was about to duck in cover, but saw that it was CJ, and didn't flinch as she slowly walked up to him.

<!---Dammit, I had an awesome idea for this, but then Thrust came and I lost it. Ah well...---!/>

[<<

>>

I wanna plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay....]

*A sudden transition takes place and we are now outside of McQuarrie, looking at it from space. A small ancient soviet scout vessel warps in, keeping a more than safe orbit around the station, but still remains well within sensor range. A boney hand reaches forward and activates the com, sending a coded message to the station. A microphone is picked up and place just a few inches from the exposed, gnarled teeth of the pilot*

"Attention McQuarrie station. Do you read me, over. McQuarrie station, do you read me over. My ship is damaged and I need a safe place to rebuild it. I'll explain more later.Over."

*The microphone is set down, and the figure sits back in its chair, patiently awaiting a response*