turn on your electric heart

[ This call is coming from the local garage, where Jolt has stopped to pick up supplies. ]

Those statues are not statues- I met someone who knows that they are, and what they can do- and they're dangerous.

They can only move when no one is looking at them, and they're fast. Don't take your eyes off them if you get near one, not even long enough to blink- but don't look into their eyes. They'll kill you if you do. They can also send people to any point in time just by touching them.

As far as I know, they can't be killed, but they can be immobilized if there are two of them facing each other.

Right now, April and I are working on getting chains so we can tie them up. Keep them from moving. It's not a permanent fix, but the less of those things that are free-roaming, the better.

How's everybody else doing? Is anybody missing in action?

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, but I guess the town had other ideas. I don't think we're... what's the phrase? Oh! I don't think we're quite out of the woods yet, but I figured I'd take advantage of the calm.

Anyway, what exactly is Halloween? I'm guessing that's why everything is suddenly decorated, but I can't even begin to guess what's supposed to be going on.

I think this is the last time I have to ask that, though. I'll have been here a year pretty soon, so I've hit all of the human holidays this place feels the need to torture us with.

... Also I guess I'm supposed to talk to a guy named Conrad?

Hey, I think I-- [ There's a horrid noise, followed by a burst of static over the phone and the line suddenly goes dead. ]

[ Meanwhile, the lights in the living room at 1249 Williams Road can be seen getting brighter, and brighter, and brighter. The TV kicks on and gets louder, and louder. Sparks start pouring out of outlets and lightbulbs begin to burst.

And here comes Jolt, making a mad dash out the front door, covering his head as the porch light erupts in a shower of sparks and broken glass. He carefully takes up position in the middle of the lawn- staying as far from both the house and the power-lines overhead as he can. ]

((ooc; Jolt's regained his ability to absorb electricity from outside sources- only now outside sources are absorbing it from him. All interactions will have to be actionspam since he can't go back inside or get near a phone.))

... Ever get the feeling you missed something?

You humans pick the weirdest things to talk about.

All that aside, is there a... well, I don't even know if such a thing exists, but is there someplace here where I can... buy plants and seeds and things? I was thinking the garden could use some more color.

Sooooo, any other holidays coming up I should know about? Next time I suddenly find myself locked in a room, I'd kind of like to know why.

... Not that this place really needs a reason to do whatever it does, but asking never hurt anybody.

[ filtered to the residents of 1249 Williams Road ]

Despite my showing up for dinner the other day, I'm staying with Sideswipe for a while. The address is 5718 Cunningham Lane, if you need anything.

Just so you all don't think I've fallen off the face of the planet or something.

(( ooc; )

)

[ there is a long silence, then a groggy groan-slash-yawn ]

Guys? Did- did it work? I- wait. This isn't right. Ratchet-? Hello? Ow. Primus, my head. Ratchet said I might be sore, but...

[ a yelp, followed by the distinct sounds of someone falling out of bed ]

Ow. W-what's going on?! Where- what- my body--

Okay, Jolt. Let's think about this for a second. One klik I'm in the desert. On my right, Optimus. On my left... that... one mech. I never got his name. Anyway, I'm positive I did everything right, so how did I wind up here?

Frag it, I better be dreaming. Dreaming that I'm a human. In a house.

...

Forget dreaming. Maybe this is really a nightmare.

...Guys? Autobots- tell me I'm not the only one here. Please tell me I'm not the only one here.