CANDICE'S RETURN TO EARTH: PART TWO Candice's Living Room CNN says, "This just in to our newsroom. Minutes ago, a Russian air defense outpost fired upon what appears to be a small spacecraft of some sort, claiming that the vessel refused to identify itself, and was encroaching on Russian airspace. The vessel was apparently severely damaged in the attack, and appears to be rapidly approaching the northeast coast of the United States in an uncontrolled descent. Military authorities are moving to intercept. For all residents of the New York metropolitan area: Stay in your homes. There is a very small possibility that the craft will crashland in the New York City area. For your own safety, stay indoors until further notice. More on this story as it develops...." You leave the apartment. 3rd Floor - Neal Building Candice knocks loudly on Catherine's door.... Catherine calls, "Come in!" Apartment 3C - Neal Building: Natalie, Catherine Candice enters the apartment. "Did you see the report?" Catherine nods. "They're replaying it again now." She points at the TV. Catherine looks to Candice. "Obviously Cybertronian. Your Aerials, maybe? We should go make sure they're okay." Natalie stands up. "May I come too? If you go?" Candice looks a bit shaky. "I dunno if it is. But the Aerials should have been back on Cybertron by now if it were." Catherine nods. "Sure! Why miss out on all the excitement." She shrugs at Candice. "Who else do you have in mind?" You say, "I hope it's not them. I was promised they wouldn't be harrassed!" Catherine raises a brow. "Promised by *who?*" Candice shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts from her panic. "The government officals who I informed I was returning. They went to the UN and got the permission." Catherine hms. "Well, Russia's in the UN... but maybe there were flight restrictions you weren't aware of. Like that they had to stay over US airspace or something." Candice blinks, not knowing what to do. "I wasn't told that. I was just told they wouldn't be harrassed. Why did they lie?" Natalie speaks up. "Well, maybe it isn't who you think it is.." Candice looks to Natalie. "For their sakes, I hope not. I'm the reason they were here in the first place. If I knew they would have been shot at I *never* would have asked them to take me back." Catherine lays a thin hand on Candice's shoulder, trying to reassure. "It could be another shuttle, following behind your people and they just... didn't see the Aerials leave or something..." Candice looks to Catherine but doesn't seem to be comforted. She looks back to the television screen, pale with worry. "Who would be follwing them? And who else would it be?" The phone rings and Natalie is then called to return home. She quickly leaves with a goodbye. The others respond with small goodbyes in return. Catherine isn't exactly a reassuring presence at the best of times. She turns back and watches the TV intently. "Cons maybe? I don't know, really." The anchor comes on, looking dire. "Ladies and gentlemen. We have just recieved word on the shuttle incident. The craft has been identified as from Cybertron, though we have so far not heard which faction, Autobot or Decepticon, it belongs to. A preliminary trajectory shows that the spaceship will indeed crash in New York City as was feared. National Guard units are on their way now. Please, it is extremely important that all residents of New York City stay inside of their homes until this catastrophe has been dealt with." Catherine hmms. "I wonder if it IS Cons." She quickly crosses the room and opens the closet, taking down a heavy, smooth black tube from where it hangs on its strap from a hook inside the door. Candice gass sharply and runs out of the room in a hurry. You leave the apartment. 3rd Floor - Neal Building You enter apartment 3D. Candice's Apartment You enter the study. Candice hurriedly types a subspace tranmission into the computer and sends it to Cybertron: "Just a few moments ago there was reported that a Cybertronian craft was about to crashland in New York City moments from when I'm relaying this. PLEASE tell me Air Raid and Skydive are already back on Cybertron. -- Candice Candice hears another news report from the living room television. "This just in." *You see a helicopter picture of Times Square in New York. A huge furrow has been dug into one of the street, ending in what appears to be the remains of the afore-mentioned shuttle* "The Transformer space shuttle has crashed in metropolitan New York, near Times Square. As you can see from the picture, the damage to the surrounding area has been extreme...." The anchor trails off, aghast at the wreckage. "...emergency authorities are already at the crash sight, and should soon have this horrible situation under control..." Candice then quckily grabs a few things and heads for her car. She speeds her way to the square. Times Square - New York City: National Guard Tank, Zip Shuttle - Zephyr '41 --From within the shuttle-- Skydive seems to be knocked momentarily unconscious, but starts to come to. He looks about the shuttle wearily, especially for Air Raid. Catherine pulls her coat tightly around herself. From the strained look of her motions, she must be equipped and armed to the teeth. Candice's eyes go wide with horror at the scene. She slams her car door rather harshly and begins walking hastily as far as the blockaid will allow. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid lays in the corner, body twisted almost over onto itself, as he seems to be wrapped around his midsection. Something seems to have lodged itself there, and nearly stuck all the way through. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive unstraps himself slowly, basically falling off his seat instead of getting up. His gyro is completely out of snc with his body, as he crawls over to his fellow Aerial. National Guard Tank is just sitting there on the other side of the blockade, watching the shuttle with its turret at the ready. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive says, "Air Raid? Are you functioning?" Candice sucks in a measured breath and pulls back a little. She goes into the crowd around her and brings out her radio which she grabbed from her room,careful to keep it hidden from view. Candice blinks and casts a watchful and worried glance around her. She's only playing on suspicious of course. But she recognizes the shuttle. You send, 'Skydive...are you in there...?' to Skydive. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid begins to wake. His optics open to slits, and the first sound he makes is something like a choking squeak. "Sky...?" He grunts, tries to move, and finds that the hull shard has him pinned. "Sk...get it...out of me." Radio message from Skydive, 'Yes, we are in trouble...'. Officer Caruso gets out of his police cruiser, sliding his baton into his holster, and takes off his cap, rubbing his head in amazement. "Geez....I've -never- seen anything like this before..." His knack for stating the obvious causes his partner to roll her eyes, as she goes over to help a wounded pedestrian. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive nods to Air Raid, a strong look of concern across his face. He looks down at the shard and can't help but look away, as the piece is lodged in his midsection in a gruesome sight. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid coughs, and repeats,"Don't...*care*... what it looks like. Yank...it out." National Guard Tank is just sitting there on the other side of the blockade, watching the shuttle with its turret at the ready. Several of the police cautiously approach the shuttle, one going so far as to tap on the side of it with his baton. Most of the others remain several yards back, pistols drawn. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive takes a deep breath, as he grabs onto the shard. He gets the best foot hold as possible, and pulls on it with a hard yank. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive falls backwards as he pulls out the shard and energon sprays from the wound. He smacks into the backside of the pilots chair, and slides to the ground. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid yelps, vocalizer thick with pain. "Augh..." He grabs his middle, and fluids seep through his fingers at an alarming rate. "Wh...happened?" You send, 'I'll do what I can...' to Skydive. Several members of the NYPD SWAT forces drop down from a nearby rooftop onto the hull of the ship, crouching down. Almost all of them carry not rifles, but rocket launchers, well-aware of what they could be up against. --From within the shuttle-- Skydives optics widen with horror. "Oh my." There's a dull thumping sound from off down the road, on the opposite side of the square, beyond the blockade, and a murmur goes through the police and National Guardsmen. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive quickly crawls back to Air Raid, "The wound...your loseing energon. This is not my field..." Amy walks out of some store or another, and blinks as she sees a Shuttle, and Tank and whatnot in front of her. She moves over to the scene quickly, almost sprinting. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive comes to a descion. "We need to caterize it."--From within the shuttle-- Air Raid moans, and tries to roll over onto his back, but can't. "SK...*cough*...gott...close the...wound. Use.. " He digs into subspace and produces his torque rifle. "That. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive says, "No, a laser will caterize it. It needs to heat it up." Suddenly, and without warning, there is a loug *BANG*, and even more smoke begins to drift out of the rear engine of the Zephyr. Apparently, one of the fuel-cells has been damaged in the crash, and may even explode. Candice looks around and hurries over to where the guards are. "Oh, no," she murmers. She remembers seeing Catherine there and scans the crowd for her. Becoming impatient she reches one of the enarby police officers trying to keep the crowd at bay. "Sir, please. There are wounded Autobots inside. We gotta get them out, help them, do *something*!" --From within the shuttle-- Skydive looks at Air Raid, and stares into his pained optics which mirror his own. "This is going to hurt my friend." A ripple of hushed speech runs through the tense groups of security forces. The word 'Dominate' comes up a few times. The thumping from the unblocked but empty street to the south grows steadly louder. --From within the shuttle-- With effort, Air Raid takes his rifle back, and he rolls so Skydive can get at the wound. With a moan, he removes his hands, and says, "Do it." Catherine still sits on the hood of her big black car, watching the scene intently. She hasn't seen Candice yet. A police officer near Candice turns to her, a sneer on his face. "Autobots?? Lady, we got wounded HUMANS all over the place, thanks to those infernal robots. Why don't you show a little concern for your OWN race?" Amy taps a woman's shoulder, not caring if she knows her or not. The woman happens to be Catherine, "What's going on?" --From within the shuttle-- Skydive raises his mounted laser, and carefully aims at the wound. He does some minor adjustments, hoping it will help seal the wound better. A small laser blast springs forth. Candice trembles. "Well the least you can do is try and call of the brute squad!" --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid bites off a shriek of pain, then clenches his jaw tightly, hissing harshly. Candice looks back to the officer. "I was promised by the UN these Autobots would *not* be harrassed or fired upon. I was *lied* to and you're blaming *them* for this?" Catherine hms? "Oh, a shuttle crashed. It looks Autobot to me. More than that we don't know at the moment." The cop turns away from Candice, shaking his head in disgust. The SWAT team remains poised over the entrance hatch to the Zephyr, ready to blast anything that might come out. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive shakes his head as he watches Air Raid roll with pain. "I'm sorry, it's the only way." Candice's gaze flickers to where some of the injured are being taken from the scene. She looks back to the officer. "I was promised by the UN these Autobots would *not* be harrassed or fired upon. I was *lied* to and you're blaming *them* for this?" --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid nods tersely, and says through a clenched jaw, "Just...*ugh*...get it...RIGHT." A long shadow slips out of the south, and falls over the SWAT team, who scatter before it as a giant grey form clomps into view. Dominator V1 has arrived. Amy says, "Ahhh... I'm surprised they don't have more troops here. Or that they aren't trying to clear the area." Catherine nods. "I agree..." She stares. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid shudders as Skydvie finally finishes with the laser. He squeezes his optics shut, and says in a tight voice, "Help...me up...Gotta see...if ship's gonn' blow." You say, "I'm the reason why they were here in the first place!" Amy nods and watches quietly. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive looks about the shuttle, "It looks as if we are stranded here. And in NY no less." --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid reaches up a hand. "Help me." National Guard Tank slowly clomps into the area of the crash, each footfall sinking an inch into the asphalt. Several of the cops gathered around cheer as the Dominator stomps in, and the members of the SWAT team look visibly relieved to have such a hulk supporting them. Dominator V1 slowly clomps into the area of the crash, each footfall sinking an inch into the asphalt. Candice looks at the officer nervously, then at the approaching tank. "Please!" National Guard Tank just sits there, turret trained on the shuttlecraft. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid snarls in pain, "Quick...lessgo..." Candice feels rather helpless...not knowing what she can do. --From within the shuttle-- Skydive nods and puts out his hand for Air Raid to grab, still feeling weak himself. --From within the shuttle-- Air Raid gets painfully to his feet, more out of force of will than ability, and hobbles, groaning, toward the door. The officer turns back around, his expression now just not annoyed, but clearly angry. "Lady...if that things turns your friends into little piles of junk, I'd laugh! My sister lost a leg when one of these things decided it might be fun to blow up an airport, and I'm thinkin' about arresting you for being an accomplice in this little party!" With a low whirl, panels flip open on either side of the Dominator's tank like body, tipped with powerful grasping claws. It moves forward, approaching the door of the shuttle... Air Raid has arrived. Skydive has arrived. Air Raid all but falls out of the shuttle, and slams to his knees on the ground. His midsection is a mess of laserburns and gashes. "Sky..." he mumbles over his shoulder.. Dominator V1 stops and eyes the Transformers with the turret that serves for its head. With a clunk it loads its main gun. Amy turns to Cat, as the 'Bots come out, "So... they're Autobots?" She stiffens considerably when she notices that they look like planes. Skydive quickly comes to Air Raid's aid, trying to help him up. As he does so, he eyes all the humans gathered here. Skydive supports his brother as he looks upon the crowd. "We come in peace." Catherine nods. "Those ones are. I recognize them... they're the Bot Air Force." Amy snickers at Skydive's reassurance. Air Raid shudders deeply, the wound in his midsection obviously much more grevious than it looks, and he makes no move to retreat. He stares around at the hordes of humans, and says, "Didn't...mean to..." He looks confused, then mumbles at Skydive, "They shot...us down?" As one, the crowd looks in horror at Skydive's proclamation, strangely out of place considering the carnage he has just inadvertantly created. All around you, the screams of the wounded, the wailing of sirens, and the sobbing of those who have lost loved ones can be heard. It is almost like something out of a dream, or more aptly, a nightmare. Skydive continues to speak, looking concerned at all the weaponry aimed upon himself. "Please, do not fire. We can work this out in a peaceful, rational manner." Dominator V1 looms there silently on its four thick legs, watching the other robots. It doesn't respond at all, the pilot waiting for any command from his superiors. Candice stops as the Autobots emerge, face claerly pained. Somewhat lost in the throng of the crowd, she continues to try and make it over to the national guards. The tank doesn't move at all, but for its turret swiveling slightly to track the Autobots. Amy decides to try to get closer, to get a better look. She gets as close as she can to the SWAT team to get a better view. Air Raid takes a stumbling, shaking step forward, and tries to hold up one hand, placating. "Wait..." He blinks at the tank, obviously not fully able to concentrate due to the pain he's in. "Wait, we didn't...mean to..." He clutches his middle with the other hand. Candice looks harder and finally reches one of the guardmen. "Take me to whoever's in charge. I know these Autobots." Skydive stands silently supporting his fallen comrade, for once, he is not sure what to say to these people. Amy turns her head as she picks up some people screaming, "Go away you freaks! Look what you did!" They continue with other profanity. Some of the other people nod in agreement with anger. "Yeah!! Look what you did, you tin-plated monsters!!!" Air Raid just stares around, and winces at the wounded, mostly out of respect for Hot Spot. He knows what the Protectobot would be feeling right now. His forehead crinkles as his brows knit together. "Wait..." He shakes his head, unsure just what happened, how the ship was shot down, and why he's suddenly here. HE seems disoriented at best and...in a weakened state. Some person perched on a streetlamp yells, "And they beheld a flying roll! Ezekiel five-one!" He cocks his arm back and hurls a half-full bottle at Skydive. He's immediately dragged down by police and cuffed. Candice shakes her head...trying to decipher what to do. Disgusted with the guardsmen she tries to make her way forward if only to try and reach the two Autobots. Air Raid's optics narrow as the glass shatters off of Skydive's chasis, and he scans the crowd, looking for the attacker. Despite his condition, he steps back and takes up a protective stance, even if he's too weak to do any good. The NYPD do their best to keep the blockade back, pressing the restless crowds back. The SWAT commander holds his hand up to his ear, as if he's receiving a transmission. After a moment, he nods, and holds his hand up to his team. "Prepare to fire!" You hear Skydive mutter to Air Raid: "shoot...." Air Raid growls, voice choked with pain, "We didn't do...anything..." Dominator V1 does not fail to notice this motion, and adjusts its weight on its legs, to get its SRM-launcher into a better firing position. Amy lets out a cheer as she over hears the orders from the SWAT guy. Candice shouts, "NO!" and picks up her pace...pushing through the crowd, slipping through the police, and finally reaching the Bots. "STOP!!" Air Raid grabs Skydive's arm as he stumbles, but he rights himself in time, and stands unsteadily. He leans close to mutter.. You hear Air Raid mutter to Skydive: "" Very angry now, Candice shouts at the tank, "I was promised they wouldn't be shot at or harrassed! It's not their fault!" Skydive nods silently to Air Raid. "Can you?" With a chatter of clacking weapons, several score of SWAT rifles train themselves on Candice. Candice pauses and looks wide eyed at the massive weaponry. Amy starts screaming curses at Candice. Catherine yipes, as Candice almost gets herself shot. Silverbolt flies above in SST mode, as if preparing to land at Kennedy airport. Air Raid shakes his head. He doens't see Silverbolt arrive. "Go...get...away now." The cop nearest Candice grabs her in an attempt to stop her from getting to close. "Ma'am, you're going to have to stay behind the barricade." Skydive says, "No, I'm not leaving you as acceptable losses." Skydive looks back at he crowd. "Please, do not fire! We are here peacefully. We will leave as soon as possible. I repeat, do not fire." Air Raid growls. "Fine...then..." Instead of trying to convince him further, he sinks to his knees and holds his hands up. "Please...don't. Leave...the human Candice alone." He winces, fluids starting to leak from his wound again. "We won't...do anything." Candice struggles as best as she can, kicking, hitting, even resorting to biting. Dominator V1 sees Candice, and takes a step back to eye her cooly with its expressionless turret, but never takes its vulcan cannon off the Aerials. Someone in the crowd yells out. "They're not Autobots! Autobots turn into cars! Decepticons turn into jets!" Someone else screams, "He's right!" A large crowd of onlookers panic, thinking that the Aerialbots are about to open fire, and scramble over each other in an attempt to get away. Skydive points his Autobot symbol in desperation. "Please, we are Autobots, we mean you no harm!" Catherine watches everyone running around and muses that it's a good idea that she sat on her car. Over the screaming, a baritone voice calls out over a loudspeaker. "People! Do not panic! We have the situation under control!" Someone else yells, "See, it's pointing to it's symbol! It's a Deception-con!" The cop attempting to hold Candice, and slips as she scrambles away from him. "Hey! get back here!" Silverbolt starts smoking on his descent and roaring a bit louder than normal. Veering, he begins to lose height very slowly Skydive looks very concernend now, his brother slowly dying, and himself not too far behind at this rate. "We surrender! We will come in peace!" Amy screams in agreement, "Yeah! Decepticon!" Air Raid shudders, and snaps, pained, "Sky, kneel down...now." Skydive slowly kneels down, raising his hands in surrender. Amy says, "It's a trick!" Candice glances up at the Aerials and then to the crowd. "They aren't here to hurt anyone! They were only trying to help a friend!" Dominator V1 steps up behind the Transformers, and swivels its cannon down to target the center of Air Raid's back. It stands there and waits. A few rocks ping of of Air Raid's helmet, thrown by angry bystanders. One grossly fat woman in slippers and a bathrobe calls out to the police. "Whattaya waiting for! Shoot 'em!" Amy mutters to herself, "Never leave things to Civillian forces. Where the heckis the Navy and Marine Corp anyway?" Air Raid's optics roll skyward, and it's obvious that this robot is in quite a bit of pain, and is probably too weak to even stand again. He winces and squeezes his optics shut as the rock hits, and does the only thing he knows to do. He lays down, prone to the ground, his face turned to the side. He lets his arms lay out beside him, and he lays very, very still. Dominator V1 steps up behind the Transformers, and swivels its cannon down to target the center of Air Raid's back. It stands there and waits. Amy says, "SHOOT! Darn it!" Silverbolt veers off course unable to keep on course, and dives towards the ground and the Harlem area, and broadcasts general maydays. The smoke billowing from him thickens...trying to draw attention to himself. Candice watches in horror. "Stop!" Skydive gazes at Air Raid's fallen body, his emotions running him ragged. Dominator V1 looks up, noticing something going on in the sky with its advanced sensors. The pilot sends off a radio call to his commander. Air Raid simply lays on the ground, shivering as fluids leak out and seep slowly into the grass. He doesn't know what else to do, can't move himself, and can't get Skydive to leave. Candice tries again, "That *aren't* here to hurt anyone!" There is a curious stand-off in Times Square. The Aerialbots already seem half-dead, and the local authorities seem unsure as to whether they should finish the job. Amy says, "Darn this! DO SOMETHING!" Skydive says, "Please, we can assure you we mean no harm. My comrade needs medical assistance soon. Please do not deny him that." Skydive says, "I will give myself up, you may take me prisoner." Catherine bites her lip, watching tensely but in no position to do anything. Some of the crowd, hearing a loud shrieking over their heads, look skyward, to see a Concarde SST veering out of control over the city. "Another crash!!" Candice looks up at Skydive and tiredly blinks. She then follwos her gaze to where the newcomer arrives. Air Raid hears the noise, and he tilts his head, trying to see through hazy optics. "Sky..." he mumbles..."Get out of here." Skydive peers up at the jet, and realizes..yes! It *is* Silverbolt! Air Raid tries one last time to radio his team mate... Air Raid mumbles "" into his radio. Candice tries to control her breathing. "I never would have *asked* if I knew this would happen." Amy's common sense rushes back to her. She tries to move her way to join Candice. You mutter to Skydive: "I'm sorry. If I had known..." Commander Geraldson, of the National Guard, takes a few steps forward, flanked by a cadre of heavily armed guards. Smoking a cigarette, he walks slowly up to the Aerialbots. "So...you want to give yourselves up, do you? Well that's great. Clarence!" He calls to a trooper standing some distance off. "We're going to need something to tie our new 'prisoners' up with!" A brief hiss from the robot tank signifies a radio communication. Candice backs away and stands even closer to the Aerialbots...very confused now and uncertain... Air Raid sees nothing crash, and returns his attention to Skydive. "Please," he mumbles, vocalizer inaudible after a few feet, "Leave." Dominator V1 whirs as it steps forward, reaches out with one of its powerful claws and clamps it over Skydive's body, pinning him. Skydive continues to kneel. He mutters to his teammate, "I'm not leaving you, no way." Candice can't get herself to move.Dominator V1 swivels its turret as it secures one robot, unerringly tracking the prone Air Raid with its main cannon in case he tries anything funny. Skydive slowly pulls his hands down in front of himself, so they might be tied together. Candice is trembling violently now. "I'm sorry," she somehow manages. Air Raid sighs miserably, and rests the side of his face in the damp grass. It seems almost comical that the tank should be so concered about a nearly unconscious robot, and he makes a mental note never to trust humans again. Amy starts screaming at the SWAT team and such, "Wait! You can /do/ this! This isn't a war! They aren't POW's! They are just... Illegal Immigrants! They gotta have some rights too!" She gesticulates a bit, caught up in the moment. Several SWAT troopers back behind the armor units keep their weapons on the two humans who've stepped out, as NYPD officers run out to drag them back. One of them grabs Candice and holds her while another slaps cuffs on her. Two more do the same to the other woman, and they guide the two of them back to the barricad. Candice gasps as she forceably restrained and begins renewing her struggle. She attempts furiously to hold in her almost overwhelming emotions which, now, are past the breaking point. Amy starts to struggle, I am an officer of the United States Navy! You can't do this to me darn it!" She asks no one in particular, "Where the heck IS the Navy anyway?!" Skydive eyes Amy carefully, then turns to the Commander. "According to the illegal immigration act of 1964 you must give all illegal immigrants safe passage to their country of origin or political asylm. You may not forcefully harm them in anyway, and you must allow them medical assisstance if in need of it. Until such time they can be deported, the recieve all of the rights of a U.S. citizen." Catherine sighs in a little relief as Candi and Amy are removed from the combat zone. She thinks about waving 'hi' but realizes that might not be a good idea. Commander Geraldson takes another drag of his cigarette and gestures up at Skydive. "You boys have a lot to answer for. First, you're not supposed to be here anyway. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't have you executed here and now, just to end all of my problems the easy way?" Air Raid cranes his neck around to look at the Commander. As fate would have it, he has to look *up*, and it grates on him. "We...were shot down," he manages. Candice listens to the Commander and shouts, "It was approved and scantioned by the United Nations. They *gave* them permission. But you shot them down!!!" Skydive says, "As I said Commander, we come in peace. Also, as the Illegal Immigration law states, we should be rightfully be given asylum or be deported peacefully. It does not state that the sentient beings concerned must be from Earth." Candice accuses angrily. "You lied. You *all* lied!!!!!!!!!!' Officer Roland holds Amy firmly and says, "Whoever you are, this is a restricted area. Now keep back and you'll be released shortly. You can do that, right?" She seems quite serious. Amy shouts in reply to the question the Commander asked, "Because we aren't barbarians?! Because we have something called," And she emphisezes, "The GENEVA CONVENTION?" Geraldson's eyes widen as he hears Candice. Gesturing to the trooper holding her, he yells out in his southern drawl. "Will you shut her up!" The commander then turns back to the Aerialbots. "Shot down, eh? By who?" Candice seeths, "They were allowed to be here to help a friend!" before she can be silenced. Skydive says, "I believe the origin was somewhere from the Russian states." Officer Holbrook shoves Candice a little brusquely, forcing her back to the phalanx of police cars. "C'mon, you. You can sort all that out later." Air Raid coughs as the commander nears, and he squints, obviously expecting a kick to the face. "Don't know." Candice turns a murderous look to the officer. "I'm the reason why they were here in the first place. They were just bringing me back from Cybertron. Why won't you listen???" Amy blinks at Candice. Candice tries again. "I was there for 4 months. I'm their Public Relaitions Officer. Ask the Head of the UN General Assembly. He's the one that asked me!" Geraldson leans over and looks into Air Raid's face, and takes a drag on his cigarette. He then blows the smoke straight into the Aerialbots optics, and straightens. "I really like your sad story. Makes me want to cry. You boys don't seem to understand what you did, though. Right now, well over 30 people are laying dead, thanks to your landing on them. You two can just go and get some new parts, and be good as new. Think they'll come out alright? Nope." Officer Holbrook hmphs with very slight humor. "They don't pay me to listen to youse, lady." Another policeman steps forward and pops open the door of the cruiser, which Holbrook pushes Candice into and closes the door again. Air Raid stares at the ground just in front of his face, optics a little flat now with pain and frustration both. It's killing his pride to have to be the least bit polite to this human. He makes a mental note to exhume jet exhaust into the commander's face when this is over. Roland just holds Amy back for a moment, watching Geraldson in action, then does the same thing, popping her into the car with Candice. Candice winces as she's shoved roughly into the car. She lets out a kick if frustation at the door. Air Raid finally pulls himself together, and he says, voice weak, "We...didn't...do it. Get it...through your head." He gestures at Skydive," Now let him...go. Hold me 'till...someone can pick us up." Amy swears a bit and struggles angrilly. Dominator V1 is as still as a statue as it holds down Skydive and covers Air Raid with its cannon. The traditional tank still hasn't needed to move. From farther down the street, you see two flatbed trucks slowly driving towards the crash site. Geraldson spots them. "Ah...here we are. We've procured you boys some transportation. Don't know what we're going to DO with you just yet, seeing as how if you were human, you'd both be up for at least 30 counts of manslaughter. We sure as heck can't leave you here, though." Geraldson sticks his cigarette in his mouth and waves the trucks over to his position. Knowing the radio will probably be confiscated soon anyway Candice attempts to use it.... Dominator V1 brings its other claw to bear, and after a moment of straining hefts Skydive and walks back to the first flatbed, placing him on it and holding him there until he can be tied down. The National Guard tank covers Air Raid while the experimental weapon is busy. Air Raid repeats himself. "Take...*me*. Instead." He coughs, and his tone is too sincere for him to be taken as melodramatic. He sounds simply frustratred, and tired. You send, 'I'm sorry. You were only trying to help. I---*her voice trails off and she lets down the radio...not knwoing what else she could possibly say*' to Air Raid. Skydive allows himself to be put on the truck, seeing no other solution. His optics are locked upon Air Raid's weakened body. Geraldson takes a puff and blows out a perfectly formed smoke ring. "Take just you? Sorry, can't do that. You both are going to get a nice maximum security room." Air Raid attempts another radio, but his systems are weakening as he loses more fluids. Air Raid mumbles "" into his radio. Skydive's radio crackles with activity. Skydive mumbles "get out...this...your...about...we...of this..." into his radio. Air Raid's radio buzzes with activity. You send, 'I'm...sorry. I shouldn't have asked to come back.' to Skydive. Radio message from Skydive, 'Not your fault.'. Silverbolt has arrived. Silverbolt comes flying in again, but this time he banks and flies towards the ground, right towards the middle of this gathering Candice aims yet another tempermental kick at the door....unable to do anything more. After a team of burly fellows ties down Skydive with cargo straps, the Dominator thumps back to Air Raid, grabbing him by the chest and legs with its claws and slowly lifting him into the air, a little like a forklift with four stumpy legs. Air Raid can't help a shriek of pain as he's moved roughly by the machines. He rolls his optics, and lapses into moaning. Amy groans quietly and mutters to herself, but loud enough for Candice to hear, "I am going to get SO much flak in the mourning." Candice doesn't even look at Amy. "Shut up! I don't want to here it. They lied and no no one is even listening! They were only trying to help!" Silverbolt soars in and with a swift move, transforms and lands directly between Air Raid and the Dominator. "This is ridiculous." Silverbolt transforms into Robot mode. Amy says, "Oh, you shut up, I don't even know why I tried to stand up for them anyway. Darn murderers." Air Raid gasps as Silverbolt enters his visual scope, and his first thought is for Silverbolt to get out. "No," he mumbles, frothing at the mouth now from the damage being done by the machine. "They...get out...Bolt." Geraldson turns around and watches as -another- robot appears. "What the heck? Boys! There's another one! They're comin' outta the woodwork today!" Silverbolt turns around. "Where is the leader of this group?" Candice gives Amy a look that could kill. "They had permission to be here and then they were shot down. It's not their fault people happen to disobey orders and get trigger-happy!" Air Raid's optics roll again, and he clenches his jaw, trying not to make noise, but the internal damage done by the hull shards is taking its toll. Dominator V1 swivels its turret around to face Silverbolt, cannon spinning up with a low whine. Candice aims yet another kick at the door and yells, "Let me outta here. I can explain why they were here! They were on Earth because I asked them to come!" Skydive pans over to SIlverbolt, his optics full of surprise. But then, he expected no less from Silverbolt as well. Similarly, the National Guard tank rumbles as it elevates its cannon and draws a bead on the new robot. Amy glares back, with bitter anger she says, "Why the heck would anyone want Alien freaks here?" Silverbolt shoots Air Raid a glance of concern, but his face remains placid. "I will /NOT/ fight you. But I must ask that you release my comrades now. We have United Nations permission to be here. if you'd like, I can call your leaders now." Candice bites back, "*Never* call them alien freaks!" A voice in the crowd screams out. "I know that one! It's the Decepticon that wrecked my school! He called himself Ramjet!" Candice adds, "I was on Cybertron and needed to come backl to Earth. They simply brought me back. I got permission for them but they were shot down anyway!" Silverbolt shoots a calm, collected look to the car. "Candice, you're not really helping matters by shrieking and emitting loud human noises." Dominator V1 rumbles in the amplified voice of a young man, "My commanding officer is Seargant Geraldson." Silverbolt looks around. "Someone, please point me to the leader of this outfitso we can settle this matter without further incident." Candice blinks and his suprised Silverbolt was able to actually hear her. She slumps into her seat and respectfulyl complies, not knowing what else to do. Amy says, "That's what they are, Alien freaks. And they are murderers too... But, murderers have rights, at least." Silverbolt's voice remains calm throughout the entire exchange, but you can make out a slight stress in it. Air Raid jerks and twitches in the grasp of the human machine, as it has stopped in mid-transit to the flatbed, and he hangs, limbs dangling. Catherine oys, facepalming a bit. Geraldson walks up fearlessly to Silverbolt, staring up at the massive robot. "I'm the one here in charge, buddy. You their commander?" He jerks his thumb back at the other two Aerialbots. Skydive continues to kneel on the flatbed truck, his hands tied. Skydive mumbles "Air...needs...possible....The...exactly...with..." into his radio. Silverbolt's radio fizzes with activity. Candice looks as if she really would like to punch Amy. She turns away and attempts to state more calmly, "They're not freaks. They're my friends. *More* than friends..." Dominator V1 hasn't had its orders countermanded, so it matter-of-factly places the fallen Aerial on the flatbed, where he's secured by the same team of handlers. The SWAT team watches the Dominator with a good deal of pride. Air Raid starts to kick, almost reflexively, at the machine holding him in the painful position. His optics seem nearly crazed now, from trying too long to hold still, and he lets out a coughing, agonized sound as one foot hits home. The machine shudders from impact, but doesn't seem damaged. Silverbolt nods, kneeling down to better view Geraldson. "I am. My name is Silverbolt. We are here on a mission to return the human, Candice Thompson from her UN designated assignment as liason to Cybertron. Accoriding the satellite information from your own satellites, a Russian warhead struck our shuttlecraft attempting to leave here and return home." Candice looks as if she's very ashamed to even *be* human at this point. Amy smirks, "Whenever they fight, someone always dies. Whether it's children or whatever, they don't care. Admit it." Air Raid is finally put on the truck, and he seems to relax somewhat. One hand instinctively clutches his middle. Candice refrains from looking back at her fellow prisoner. "They do." Silverbolt hears the ruckus, and calls out, "Air Raid, quit resisting until you can get medical attention." without having to look. He just somehow knows it is Raid. Dominator V1 steps back, not seeming to mind being kicked before Air Raid is well-secured. It thumps across the square to stand at attention, at the opposite side of the normal tank. Amy shrugs. "Bull. But, it's a free country." Air Raid lays very still, and fluids bubble out of his wound and between his fingers. He tries his best to stay quiet, but a low moan escapes him now and then. Candice falls silent for the longest time. "Go to ****," she tells the other woman. Geraldson cocks his head and puffs on his ever-present cigarette. "Russians, eh? That doesn't matter. Your boys still crashed their little spaceship right in the middle of a major American city. I can't just let them off the hook." Silverbolt continues calmly. "/None/ of this would have happened if your own people wouldn't have shot down our shuttle. We came in peace. Let us leave so. I hurt for your lost lives. But does that give you the right to kill in return? You would murder my comrade because of an accident?" Someone's got a boom box, apparently, because 'Pimpin' Ain't EZ' by Madd Hedd drifts out over the crowd. Candice just sits for now...and watches the chaotic scene. A tear rolls down her eye just then. She doesn't bother to try and wipe it. Amy just remains silent, refraining for kicking Candice's butt. She mutters, "And where the heck is the Navy?! We have a SWAT team here, but no real armed forces." Skydive mumbles "Remind...law he...deport...or...His...court...marshall...." into his radio. Silverbolt's radio bleeps with activity. Silverbolt offers. "I can contact your United Nations, or your President. They can clear this with you. But if you don't let me bring Air Raid home, he'll die. And his death will be on your hands, and your conscious." Candice simmers. She doesn't say anything at first. the...without warning, slaps Amy *hard*, handcuffs or no. From afar, Skydive [Dive] laughs! Geraldson looks vaguely irritated. "Lemme tell you something, robot. Russians sure as heck ain't MY people. And I never said I was going to kill your boys. If I was going to do that, they'd already be two smoking piles of junk now." Amy says, "Okay, THAT'S it, I don't care if I get grounded for life!" She then hits Candice back, just as hard. Candice oofs as he head smacks against the car door. There is a gash in her forehead now, and some blood. Silverbolt shrugs. "I apologize. But you point out an excellent similarity in us. You regard all Transformers as 'Robots'. I regarded all humans as one and the same, in error. You would group us together with the Decepticons, but we are, I hope, above what they represent. You represent a nation that is above the 'Russians',or at least, your comments indicate you feel so. Prove it to us, and let my dying comrades go." Geraldson considers Silverbolt's point as he smokes his cigarette. "I'll give you that one, robot. You still don't seem to get it, though, that your boys have created an incident here in New York." Geraldson turns around and looks at Air Raid and Skydive. "Tell you what. If they're dying, we'll help them to get repaired. YOU have to do something to alleviate this problem they've created though. There's no way on God's green Earth that I'm going to let you just 'fly away' and leave us to pick up the pieces. You robots have already done that too much." Air Raid is eerily quiet now, and just a little too still. Long distance to Skydive: Candice wants to shoot someone. :P Skydive [Dive] pages: Hehe. Silverbolt nods quickly. "What can I do to alleviate this problem? As much as I wish I could, I cannot bring your lost citizens back to life." Catherine muses, "I could bring out that big foam 'We're #1 hand.." Amy sighs quietly and calms herself. Catherine mutters something into a microphone at her throat. Chitter has arrived. Chitter shifts and folds, changing from a diminuitive black cassette into a small turbo-spider. Chitter ejects from Catherine's cassette player, waking up... Catherine blinks as the tap pops out of her walkman and lands on the street next to her car, suddenly turning into a spider the size of a doberman. Bystander yeeps and backpedals. "GIANT METAL SPIDER THING!" Silverbolt swings around at the noise. "What?" Chitter chitters, "Cat? Nnnrgggnnn? Whrrre Nnnrrrgggnnn? Skydive looks about, as hell is about to break loose again. Air Raid doesn't even lift his head. His optics are very dim. Chitter is still awakening from his rest cycle, not having noticed the Aerialbots... Silverbolt looks quickly at Geraldson. "If you value your life, get the civilians out of here NOW" Amy says, "They're everywhere!" Gerald turns toward the noise as well. "Giant metal spider?" He looks back towards Silverbolt. "That your pet or something?" Silverbolt stands. "No, it's a Decepticon. I don't know how he got here." Catherine facepalms! "Oy gnon shvelt.." Candice blinks and holds in a groan. Amy blinks as Silverbolt seemingly threatens the life of Geraldson. She mutters to herself, "I knew it..." Chitter turns about, then looks UP! and BACKS away, slowly Catherine mutters something to Chitter as she rolls over the car, appearing to try to flee Chitter. Silverbolt puts himself between the spider and Geraldson, making sure he is out of the line of fire. A person in the crowd overhears Silverbolt's reply to Geraldson, and screams in terror. "A Decepticon!!! It'll kill us all!!!!" Chitter continues backing, hearing Catherine's mutter. He starts to make a break for it, using his small size to an advantage... Candice tightly shuts her eyes as the situation appears the worsen. She can't help but feel a little unstable from the gash in her head. Silverbolt does not bring any weapons to bear. "Decepticon, leave the area now, or face the consequnces of a united human/Autobot force!" He calls, hoping Geraldson will play along. Chitter starts to back up faster, hissing in fear... Chitter clicks at Cat, asking "Cat cmmme wtthhh Chtrrr?" You send, 'I'm so sorry...' to Skydive. Catherine shakes her head slightly, backing up as if afraid. Silverbolt shoots a glance to the human it addresses. Radio message from Skydive, 'Do not be sorry. Try to get an UN official on your radio that can clear this up.'. Chitter continues backing as well, fearful. He starts heading for a very small, unreachable area...Silverbolt's optics narrow as he thinks he recognizes someone in the crowd, but can't be sure with all the people. Catherine's face is hidden by her big poufy hair, but she's probably recognizable. She cowers from the Decepticon and fades into the crowd... Candice weakly nods, activating her radio and begins trying to contact one of the UN officals involved with giving the go-ahead on the mission in the first place. Geraldson shoots an annoyed glance up at Silverbolt, but plays along, knowing that 'Decepticon' is almost always synonymous with 'destruction'. "Boys! Train your weapons on the little spider guy!" Chitter hears the threat to be attacked and FLEES! He's not very big, nor does he seem very brave.... Chitter has left. Silverbolt seems to relax a bit. "He had to come from someone in the crowd with a cassette player..." Geraldson scowls as Chitter runs off, and gesticulates wildly to the driver of the Dominator V1. "Get after that little thing! We can't have it running around New York!" Dominator V1 dutifully swivels its cannon, trying to track the Decepticon, but he's soon lost. It thunders, "Sir, shall I pursue?" Dominator V1 affects a sort of mechanized salute, and moves off towards the barricade, the crowd scattering before it, parting like the Red Sea as the NYPD clears room for its ponderous feet. Bystander watches the Dominator leave. "Wow. Cool!" Candice seemly perks up a little as she finanly gains somesort of response from her constant radioing. Catherine has apparently had this same thought, because she tears her walkman off her belt and tosses it down a sewer grating. The guy with the boom box gulps. "Oops." Skydive watches Silverbolt negotiate helplessly, as his brother slowly dies... Silverbolt turns back and moves towards Air Raid. "Air Raid... can you hear me?" he asks quietly, a kindness and concern in his voice you hadn't heard in his negotiations. A good many people around him turn and point. "HEY! He's got a tape player!" Dominator V1 has left. Candice tries to hold her voice steady as she speaks into the radio...hoping some good can come from her actions. She really doesn't know what else to do. She mutters a silent prayer hoping *something* comes of it. Silverbolt mutters a curse at his injuries. "I'm not a medic... I dont' know what to do to help him." Geraldson watches the Dominator thunder off in pursuit of Chitter, like an elephant chasing after a beetle, and turns back around to look up again at Silverbolt. "Alright, robot. What do you want to do now?" Silverbolt lowers his head for a split second, then turns from Air Raid. "I want to get my comrade home before he is beyond repair." Silverbolt says, "What do you want of us in return for that?" The poor guy with the tape deck is set upon by a dozen or so angry people, and is rather severely beaten before NYPD officers can extract him and toss him into another cruiser. Candice expalins the situation and the dire need for someone to repair both injured Aerials...particularly Air Raid. She briefly looks outside again and tells whoever she's talking to something needs to be done *now*. Geraldson looks from Silverbolt to Air Raid. "Your buddy's dyin', eh? I was in the 'Nam, and I know what losing a friend can be like. I can't let him leave, though, until I get clearance. And...." He points to Skydive. "...he stays." Silverbolt's jaw sets a bit. "Until what?" Silverbolt shakes his head. "Keep me here. Skydive is injured himself." Skydive says, "No, Silverbolt. I can stay. I'm not that heavily damaged." Skydive says, "I should be the one held accountable, even though it was not our fault or intention." Silverbolt shakes his head. "No, Skydive. I need you to get Air Raid home." Silverbolt's tone indicates it isn't up for debate. Candice presses her lips together as her comminque ends, only hoping it can put an end to this madness. You send, '*voice extrmely shaky* I did what you asked...' to Skydive. Skydive nods, trusting Silverbolt's instinct. Radio message from Skydive, 'Were you able to find anyone?'. You send, 'Y--y-y-yes. I-I was told the Chairmen of the General Assembly was just informed...C-Calling the president.' to Skydive. Radio message from Skydive, 'Thank you.'. Skydive lets loose a sigh of relief. You send, '*sounding heartbroken* I-I don't know what else to do.' to Skydive. Geraldson shakes his head, and is about to say something when his cell-phone beeps loudly. Cursing, he rips it off his belt and barks a greeting into it. "What?! Oh, sorry sir...I...yessir. Well, I'm not sure if....no, they're not. I was not aware of that sir, no. No sir, I was not. You want me to WHAT??! Uh....yessir...sorry. Understood. I'll get right on it." Cursing, Geraldson clips his phone back to his belt, lights another cigarette, and looks up at Silverbolt. "Looks like you've gotten a little help from on high, robot. You'll be allowed to leave, to repair your friends. BUT..." Geraldson holds up a finger. "...you Autobots are required to send a team back here to Earth, IMMEDIATELY, to help fix this mess. And your leader, that Optimum guy, will have to be with them. You've created an international incident here, and it has to be fixed." Skydive mumbles "suggest...evacuation...us from...area,..." into his radio. Silverbolt's radio fizzes with activity. Silverbolt's face flashes a quick look of surprise across it before returning to his normal, calm look. "You have my word that we will return as soon as it is possible, sir. And I'm not one to give my word lightly. I ask that you release our friends now, then, so that we may make our departure." Catherine whews at these proceedings. Candice simply watches, at a strong loss to know what to do otherwise. Geraldson gives a frustrated wave to the troopers on the flatbed trucks. "Let 'em go, boys. These orders come from the President himself." Silverbolt mumbles "I...need...of that...allow...the technology...into human..." into his radio. Skydive's radio buzzes with activity. Candice glances back down at the handcuffs on her wrists and leans back, her expression sullen. She feels rather ashamed to be human right about now. A wave of remorse and regret fill her nearly completely. Skydive mumbles "Please explain...these..." into his radio. Silverbolt's radio bleeps with activity. The troopers nod in reply, and go about undoing the restraining straps on Skydive and Air Raid. Skydive waits patiently as he is unbound. Silverbolt turns to General Geraldson. "We will have to disintegrate the remains of our shuttle here. The weapon will cause no further harm to the area here. But it is unsalvageable." Skydive says, "This will allow a quick clean up of the area, General." Candice looks back up, visibly relieved. She totally ignores the car's other occupant however, lost in her own concerns. Silverbolt walks over and quickly, but gently, scoops Air Raid up into his arms. Silverbolt takes Air Raid. Amy smirks quietly. Skydive finally is unbound, and he slowly rises to his feet. He then climbs off the flatbed, and walks over to the shuttle remains. Geraldson does not respond to Silverbolt or Skydive, but instead turns to a team of yellow-suited individuals, who have been running various sensors and scanners over the shuttle. One of them nods to the commander, and Geraldson turns to Silverbolt. "Alright. Do what you want. Just get OUT of here before I decide to stop being so nice." Silverbolt turns to face Geraldson. "You have shown great honor and courage today, General. You represent your country, and your planet, well to all of us. It is my hope that we some day meet again, under less stressful circumstances." In response, Geraldson clamps down on his cigarette, crossing his arms. Silverbolt nods once to Skydive. "Do it." Skydive summons a small pistol sidearm to his hand, and carefully points it at the shuttle. He triggers it, as a small orangish-yellow beam emits from it. He slowly runs it across the body of the shuttle. It starts to disentegrate as its molecular bonds are broken down. Skydive finishes his job, as all that is left is dust. Candice picks up her gaze as the shuttle is destroyed. Silverbolt begins moving south. "Let's get out of here, Skydive." Silverbolt moves his way carefully through the crowd and heads south. Skydive , looking distraught, walks back over to his leader. "Yes, Sir." The Aerialbtos then take leave. Geraldson watches the Aerialbots a moment more, and then turns to one of the police officers. "How about you clear this crowd out, will ya?" The police officers nod and begin dispersing the crowds. Geraldson hopes back into the jeep he arrived in, and barks a command at the driver. At the same time, Officer Caruso, the cop who has Amy and Candice in his car, slides into the driver's seat of the cruiser and looks over his shoulder at the two young women. "Ready for a nice visit to the local jail?" Candice blinks slowly. "My friends were allowed to leave. I don't care what happens to me." Caruso doesn't respond, turning around and starting the cruiser's engine. Amy gives the officer a crude gesture. "Just give me my call, and I'll have your *** on a platter." Catherine fades out with the rest of the crowd, slipping into her car as she passes by it. Catherine has left. Caruso chuckles at Amy's threat. "I've heard all that before. Tell it to the judge." Smiling, he guides the police car out of the area, towards the local jail.