The Way There (part 1)
(Between the first and second doors, on level 1)
*Things are unusually busy today at the front entrance of Outpost 3. There is a large, heavy drone-sized bus in the middle of the room, where the soldiers of the WDF would usually be playing cards diligently protecting the outpost. Instead, they were helping the students of Class H1A make a final rundown of the laundry list of activities they’d be bringing.*
Tug of war rope?
Check.
Hockey equipment?
Check.
Cube of energon for playing cube?
Check.
Soccer ball?
Check.
Trouble?
Check.
Twister?
Check.
Chess set, MD size?
Check.
Chess set, WD size?
Check.
First aid kit, in case something went horribly, horribly wrong?
Chase: “Check.”
Boulder: “Bobsled?”
*The Elite Guardsman in training glanced at the red and yellow bobsled Bumblebee and Huffer were hooking up to the back of the bus.*
Chase: “Check.”
Sideswipe: *from offscreen* “PLEASE DON’T SCRATCH IT!!!”
Boulder: “I think that’s everything.”
*With that, they begin shutting the doors to the luggage compartments. As they do, the rest of their class assembles nearby.*
Trailbreaker: “Remember kids, keep your heads, hands, and legs in the vehicle at all times. And no killing. I’m looking at you, V.”
*Door #2 opens, with Mr. Vernon and his class entering the room…
*Well, part of his class.*
Trailbreaker: “Ey, Treavor! I can see… I thought your class was bigger.”
Treavor: “Some dead, Lizzy’s serving time in the brig.”
Braidon: “Uh, teacher, what’s even the purpose of this field trip?”
Treavor: “Yeah, Bumblebee and Uzi’s idea. Ask them.”
Braidon: *scoffs* “The dwarf of a heavy drone? And who’s the other guy? Never heard of ‘em.”
Uzi: *peeved* “I’ve sat next to you nitwits for years!”
*The rest of her class, sans Thad, ignores her.*
Bee: “Well, arguably you guys would’ve won your online popularity contest—”
Rebecca: “We did.”
Bee: “—so we thought it’d be fair if we brought your class with us! … But, uh, where are the rest of you? I swore there were more of you guys even after… you know…”
Braidon: “Teach is mad at their test scores.”
Treavor: *apathetic as ever* “No monthly paycheck, no learning.”
Riley: “So we’re supposed to go… wherever, unsupervised!?”
*At that moment, Door #2 opens again, this time revealing Orion Pax with Jazz, the former carrying a black briefcase.*
Jazz: “I’m tellin’ ya, Orion, I don’t have time to babysit a bunch of kids right now!”
Orion: “Teenagers, Jazz. I’m sure they mostly know how to behave themselves.” *notices everyone’s already there.* “Besides, you’re one of only two people here who knows how to troubleshoot a bus’ autopilot.”
Damien: “The Archivist and the DJ? Ok, I can already tell this is gonna suck balls.”
Whirl: “Oh it’ll be worth it, trust us.”
Jazz: *notices the disassembly trio, specifically V* “Weren’t ya shot up with incendiary rounds?”
V: *picking between her teeth with her blade hands, speaking dismissively* “Yeah, and I lived, bitch.”
Orion: “Ahem.” *gets the students’ attention* “I’m certain your teachers have already outlined our expectations for you kids, but I cannot emphasize this enough: stay close to an adult. We’re going into… well not exactly uncharted territory, but territory that’s not traversed very often. And that means potential dangers that the survey corps may not have found when they came by 25 years ago. So while the goal is to have fun at the resort, be a little weary in case something unexpected happens, and remain close to me, Trailbreaker, Mr. Vernon, or Jazz at all times.”
Rebecca: *sarcastically, rolls eyelights* “Sure thing, dad.”
*The red and blue Heavy Drone ignores the cheerleader’s comment as he re-opens one of the bus’ luggage hatches, puts in the briefcase, and closes it again as Trailbreaker does roll call.
*Within minutes, everyone was aboard the yellow bus. Due to their size, the Heavy Drones sit on the side of the seats closer to the windows, and help the Worker Drones up beside them. The disassembly trio get a seat to themselves in the very back.*
Uzi: “Wait, who’s driving…?”
Trailbreaker: “Nobody! This bus is guided by local maps, whatever’s left of the GPS system, and what little good code was in Tesla’s self-driving experiments! Now let me enter our destination.” *gets up and leans over a console in the middle of the dashboard, and begins typing* “Cabin… fever… resort…”
Emily: “Uh, do you know how to drive in case something… happens to the autopilot?”
Treavor: “As far as I’m aware, that’s why Jazz is here. Tried talking Soundwave into this job, but apparently he’s busy with something else.”
Thad: “Aw, that would’ve been so rad.”
Jazz: “An’ that’s why I can’t release my next ED for another week…” *to Treavor, Orion* “I really hope this is worth it, otherwise I’m filing a complaint to the Council for— SWEET MOZART!!!”
*As he says this, Trailbreaker finishes entering the destination into the console, hitting the enter button. Almost immediately, everyone inside can hear the engine start…
*…And immediately the bus accelerates, prompting Jazz’s outburst, panicking the students, and nearly throwing the black Heavy Drone teacher to the floor due to inertia. Fortunately, everyone else was already seated as the bus (and the bobsled behind it) went pedal to the metal on the icy landscape.”
Most of the students: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Sam: *high on magnets, at the same time* “Wheeeeeeeeee!”
Chase: *also at the same time, to his classmates in a monotone voice* “Remain calm. Remain calm. Remain calm.”
Treavor: *still as apathetic as ever* “Jazz, could you please refrain from recklessly driving?”
Jazz: “I ain’t doing this! My hands are here–” *puts his hands in the air so Mr. Vernon can see them* “–and my feet ain’t touching the pedals! This thing’s drivin’ on its own!”
Orion: *leaning over the divider behind Jazz* “Can’t you adjust the settings!?”
Jazz: “Not while we’re moving! I need to keep my eyes on the road in case there’s any obstacles to avoid!”
Treavor: “Then make sure we don’t crash. … and isn’t the resort to the east?”
“You are on the fastest available route to: Cabin Fever Resort Park. Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 38 minutes.”
Trailbreaker: “Kids, buckle your seatbelts! It appears we’re gonna have a real bumpy ride…”
