re_alignment | [Video] DJD PSA: For Your Edification

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[Video] DJD PSA: For Your Edification

[The video opens with Tarn and-- wait... is that-- is there something sticking out of his neck? Are there multiple things sticking out the side of his neck? It's hard to tell from this far away and they're small, but ... are those maybe... white robot parasites????]

This evening, leaving Prima's temple, I was attacked. [He doesn't sound all that upset] Unfortunate, yes, but there can be a lesson here. It seems we have a mnemosurgeon among us. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, allow me to educate you.

[The camera pans out to show Tarn holding an abused looking Chromedome. The Autobot's head is lolling at an unnatural angle, and his neck is a pink, bloody mess -- as is most of him, actually -- with wires that should probably be inside his throat tubing... outside.]

I'd like you to meet our brave assailant. You'll note that he's an Autobot. [Tarn hefts the body up by its elbow until Chromedome's chest and brand are visible (along with the charred remains of what use to be his stomach. Anything south of there is simple gone, as is one arm that was obviously ripped off, given the torn look about the shoulder.)] He's also a member of your local police force.

Motivation is clear. That this has happened so soon after your Defense Committee passed their policies, tragically suggests: some people aren't too happy with power being wrest from their grasp --- one faction in particular it would seem; the controlling majority. Autobots.

I'd ask this one who he was working with, but I'm afraid his vocal hardware was damaged while I was defending myself. But back to the topic at hand.

[Carefully, movements soft, Tarn crouches to lay Chromedome down on the ground, supporting his head the entire time. He ignores the way the Autobot's eyes flicker in panic, and how the remaining arm pushes against his massive chest weakly. Catching the limb by its wrist, Tarn holds it up for the camera.]

A relatively unassuming hand, you might think to yourself, but fetching the other half of this matching pair... [He lets the first arm fall, reaches over and picks up the second.] You'll notice the needles. [There are two missing that look like they've been snapped off at the base] These are the tools of a mnemosurgeon's trade.

Upon injecting these, he's able to manipulate the brain's motivations, loyalty, and even memories. They're slender, yes, but incredibly sharp and can pierce through metal with barely a trace. [Tilting his head slightly, Tarn very gently pulls out the two needles embedded in his own neck and holy robot-god those were in really deep because he just keeps on slowly pulling and pulling until they're finally out. ] Let me show you.

[One of those broken needles is pressed tip first through Chromedome's visor and into his eye] An educational necessity, but don't worry, it's harmless and he doesn't feel a thing. [The second needle is pushed in beside the first before Tarn straightens, along with the video; Chromedome's quiet, sad, wet sounds fading with the distance.]

I'll be keeping what's left of the immobility device, but should the police want the remains of their machine, they need only ask. I won't be requiring an apology this time either; Autobots don't seem particularly forthcoming with admitting fault.

As for your officer, I've left him where I found him so as not to aggravate his injuries. Hurry, he might still be alive when you get here.

To the rest of you, I suggest you question your interaction with the police force. You may not be the same person you once were.

[Spoiler: while Domey might be able to drag himself a little ways, he's not getting far in this life; which is to say he'll be mostly to completely dead before anyone can reach him.]

[Private Encrypted Audio to Dirge:]
He's all yours.

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[Rewind's spark sank.

He'd had a terrible feeling this whole time. That Chromedome had been up to something that involved the mnemosurgery. In the end, foolishly, he chalked it up to overreaction. But this. This was beyond anything he wanted.

He's silent, as the feed is copied into his database, keeping himself from practically shuddering. Even if death wasn't permanent, it'd proven one thing to Rewind: that when it came to injecting, he was never promised anything. Nothing was sacred.

This wasn't how things were supposed to be.

He'd come back, though. And when he did... Things would be different. He'd fix all of Chromedome's mistakes. He'd do it...because that's what he had to. It's what he'd always done for him. And even if the bot hated him later, it'd keep him alive in the end, wouldn't it?

Second chances are something this world strangely grants.

There was no point running after the body. He'd never make it before an Acolyte or something picked it up.]

...

[The feed shuts off, without a single word.

He had a long walk ahead of him. To Liege's altar.

After all...someone had to wait for him.]

!!! Tarn! Are you okay? What happened to him?

[For Crow this is a moment of total and abject terror. Right now both sides: Autobot, Decepticon...they don't look so great. So what's a better response to horror than puns?]

Boy...he sure was needy...haha...ha...ha...

Armed with a stasis device, he attacked me while I was attempting to refuel. His grip was persistent, and I was forced to remove him.

I can only assume he meant to cripple my mental capacity.

Edited 2013-06-19 07:35 (UTC)

And the effort was needless.

I would have preferred not to have had to defend myself.

[He saw it playing out in his mind a thousand times over, and immediately knew that their plan had failed long before Tarn even got started on Chromedome.]

[As painful as it was knowing he would be torn apart in the worst way possible, he had to keep the bigger picture in mind. He couldn't try to save him. All he could do now was damage control.]

[Prowl was able to put some distance between him and the scene. Enough to successfully deny any involvement. He'd doubled back and waited in Liege's quadrant until the video began to broadcast, and took that as a signal to return to the HQ in Prima's quadrant. He'll need some backup before going to get Chromedome..]

[But not before encountering Rewind on foot, going in the opposite direction. The car slows down as it approaches him.]

...I'm going to Headquarters. To attempt to retrieve the body.

[Knock Out's going to watch all this mess from a distance, but that was quite the impression you made there, Tarn.]

[To say that Burr was shocked was putting it mildly, however he managed to keep himself relatively calm, considering the situation at hand.]

There's self defense and then there's taking things a bit too far. I'm already in my way, DON'T touch him further and don't go anywhere.

We'll investigate what and why this hapened.

[And people wonder why he doesn't trust you in the least.

Hopefully this will change some opinions on you, Tarn.]

[Drift doesn't even know what to say: Chromedome was his ally, who was working with he and Prowl about Overlord. But this...? He hadn't suspected this of him: attacking people? Even Tarn?]

What did you do to provoke him?

[AKA There has to be more to the story. ]

[Barricade watches the whole scene with a cool, nearly-professional detachment. The fact that another mech has been ripped apart does not shock him; he's done worse himself. And really, even the fact that there's someone here that professionally scrambles processors doesn't. The only really surprising thing is that they have a term for it. His voice is completely even when he finally responds.]

I appreciate the forewarning about him. This will still be a problem when he resurrects, your realize. His fingers, I mean.

[He doesn't care if someone tortures the guy more before he expires.]

[Oh, Rose is so not happy. Sure she is not happy about someone trying to brainwash someone else, but seeing what happened to the guy is too much. That, with the idea someone felt it necessary to go so far as to brainwash Tarn, all she's been hearing about him from both 'Bots and 'Cons, and not to mention he was acting just too charming for her taste. All that is just raise more red flags concerning Tarn. Actually, saying she's not happy is an understatement.]

What in Soa's name are you doing!? Was it absolutely necessary to beat him half to death? Not to mention that it looks like he's been tortured and you put this up for all to see like you are making an example of him, rather then contacting the rest of the Law Committee about the situation!

Ever since those policies have been announced, I felt like I've been putting out fires concerning you. This can easily be use to justify them all! Did you even think about that?

Speaking of needling people...was that...really necessary?

I mean, that looked like it hurt.

Edited 2013-06-19 17:00 (UTC)

I am en route.

[He...had no idea about any of this, but it was clear a person was in trouble and something needed to be done about it. Prowl and Blurr were both not at HQ...but one of them was heading in, and so McCrane would join him shortly.]

Both sets of injuries will be investigated.

[Because that seems a little extreme for self-defense.]

[Words couldn't even describe what Rewind was feeling towards Prowl right now. He knew the Autobot had something to do with this--Chromedome didn't break promises unless there were an outside force persuading him.

The same outside force that tried to get him to use them just before they got on the Lost Light.

Still, Rewind's a master of Tranquil Fury, so he stops when Prowl does, staring towards Prima's Quadrant.]

I won't make it to Prima's in time. So I'm going to wait for him.

[That blue visor turns towards his car mode though, knowing full well Prowl's smarter than to forget what direction the body would be.]

You have a plan, don't you.

I'm going with you.

Edited 2013-06-19 18:37 (UTC)

Thanks for the warning. Messing with someone's processor is nothing knew but being able to do it that way? Now that's something one does not see every day. Why the people trust the Police Force is beyond me.

Would you be needed a medic to look at that injury in your neck? [Those are not big but they sure go deep.]

Edited 2013-06-20 00:46 (UTC)

Oh yes, sure. Poor Decepticons.

Because Autobots torture other bots. And put it all on display like it's some big show. Right. Sure. You're the victim and we're the badguys.

Go tell it to a bunch of brainwashed organics or rocks or something, Emblem-face. I believe you're a victim anymore than I think I'm a four-wheeler.

Don't go alone.

[Broadcasting torture on the network? That just screams of what happened with Overlord...]

[And look how that turned out.]

McCrane!

You don't really think you're going without ME, do you?

[...]

[The car's cockpit-like passenger area opens up for him. It'll be a tight fit, but Rewind should be able to squeeze inside.]

It'd be best if you stay at HQ. The confrontation with Tarn can take a turn for the worse if he doesn't cooperate.

[He seemed to be taking the whole situation rather well. Of course, Rewind would be unsurprised to know he was fantastic at keeping his guilt over this failure well under wraps.]

[Locked because Blurr is one of the few people she has some trust in.]

I am on my way as well, Blurr. He has definitely crossed the line.

[Dirge's been watching the report from Tarn with rapt attention, wondering what the boss intends to do with the mangled, nearly dead Auutobot. Just as the message ends, a private comm opens up.

Well, well- it must be Dirge's lucky day.]

::That's what I hoped you say. You really are generous~::

[He croons, picking up the coordinates from the video and shifting to jet mode. He's off as fast as he can go, hoping Chromedome will stay alive for a little while longer. It's more fun when they're still squirming...]

Edited 2013-06-19 21:04 (UTC)

[...what just happened here? As much as Tarn's explained, Ven still feels a little sick to his stomach upon seeing what's happened to the Autobot. He shudders as he forces his hands to release the Link. Does he do something? But what should he do? What could he do..?]

Edited 2013-06-19 23:44 (UTC)

I wasn't planning on it--I will be meeting up with Prowl and Blurr on-site.

[This is...actually really touching.]

Would you be willing to sky-watch for us? Tracking down Tarn if he attempts to go too far would be of great assistance.

Power Joe...

[Oh BPs. ;-;]

Of course not. How quickly can you get to HQ?

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[Video] DJD PSA: For Your Edification

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Not funny, Tarn, stop. Your puns are terrible. That's not even a proper one and now is not the time.

action; HI 8D

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Crow started it

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