"What is that music?!"

"I haven't the faintest idea," Tracks murmured in response to Cliffjumper's distressed outcry. He traded looks with Jazz, who shrugged, the helpless grimace below his visor saying clearly that he couldn't process it, either. They knew where it was coming from and with a nod of silent agreement to each other they headed up the hallway. The sounds filled the next two hallways up and one hallway over until they reached the spot they fully expected to end up in: outside Blaster's quarters. Tracks knocked on the door while Jazz stood off to the side, tilting his head one way, then the other a moment later as if still trying to make the noise compute. It was rock with some classical layered on and Cybertronian thrown in now and then. Or else it was new age with some pop and blues...

When there was no response Tracks knocked again. He counted to ten then knocked one more time. Nothing. Jazz waved him back and delivered a resounding kick to the door. The music stopped and after a clatter, a laugh and an "Oops", the door opened and Blaster smiled out at them. "Hey, guys, what's happenin'?"

"That would be our question," Tracks said, leaning to look past the boom box into the room. The clatter had been a stack of CDs, now all over the floor amidst a collection of audio equipment -- some of human design, other of Cybertron, and some an amalgam of both. Steeljaw was skittering around picking up CDs, although he seemed to be playing with them more than stacking them. Seated beside one of the human equipment set ups was Rewind with his head propped on one hand, the very picture of long-suffering weariness.

"Just jammin', m'man! I wanted t' work on that new piece while I had the chance."

"The one you said was on your New Year's resolutions?" Jazz inquired, also trying to sneak a peek.

Blaster grinned broadly. "Yup. The idea t' integrate is workin' out great!"

Tracks met Rewind's gaze with an answering frank look then stepped back to regard Blaster. "As I recall, you also made a resolution to not disturb everyone else with music. You can hear this four hallways down. Perhaps farther. Have you ever tried measuring the distance your sound system can project?"

"While I'm more'n happy to hear it," Jazz added, "You're pushin' it. I'm afraid to tell you you're gonna have to quit it if you keep this up."

The grin fell from the boom box's face. "But--"

Tracks tapped him on his tape deck door before he could protest. "Keep your resolutions in mind, Blaster. You can mix music without it being at full volume."

"But where's the fun in that?"

Jazz chuckled briefly. "If you insist on the volume, turn off the external speakers an' play it to yourself."

Blaster appeared to debate the idea, then grinned again. "I'll try it. Sorry about the disruption, guys. Catch ya later!" He went back into the room, scooping up a handful of CDs on the way. Rewind stood and strolled out as the door began to close.

Tracks peered down at him, looking for signs of distress from being that close to the source of the noise. "How can you stand to be in there?"

Rewind's optics flickered. There was a few second's pause, then he said, "I'm sorry, what was that again? I had my audio receptors turned off."