[ VIDEO ][ ORIGIN: Megatronus Prime's Temple ]

[bloodsporter]

[ Overlord always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic when addressing an audience, so video it is.

He's unashamed of showing his face, broken eye and all, energon drying on his cheek. He surveys the feed for a moment, annoyance tugging at his expression. It eventually molds into a default smile. ]

I've been briefed on the situation. Decepticons! I'm assuming command from this point forward. Join with me and you will be rewarded.

[ And just by the tone of his voice, it's less asking and more of a demand. He reaches up, wiping away stray bits of glass and smearing the tacky drops of energon over his cheek. Very casual, like it doesn't hurt at all. ]

Perhaps one of you would be kind enough to help me. I'm in need of repairs. Bring me someone who can do the task.

Comments

Re: This is fine w/ me!

[not_halfbaked]

[OOC: Whoops, I thought they'd be sliding whooshing doors. Maybe they can open different ways, or there are different designs?]

Korra startled at the way the door creaked open. Waiting a second, she finally ducked her head in, then tiptoed inside.

She looked up, up, at a veritable mountain that was curled up against the wall, shaking and making strangled sounds.

Korra was intimidated by the size. But the position, when she tried to imagine him smaller and in more familiar human terms, looked desolate. The strangled sounds, when she listened more closely, sounded distressing. She was reminded of waking up from her own nightmares of Amon and Tarrlok and the earth sweeping up and metal bent around strangers in the snow, young and old, they were helpless against....

Still, Korra hesitated at approaching the very large figure. She tried talking to him while keeping her distance.

"Um, hey? Hey, are you okay, Sir?"

[warborn]

(ooc; I did it mostly for effect/mental image - whatever works! If Megatronus-mun says the doors are all a certain way, then retcon :D)

Another voice.

Fortress Maximus didn't register it at first, but when he did, he went still. Rigid. Found, found, starting again-

It took most of his willpower to raise his helm enough to identify it. The fact that it was unfamiliar was only so comforting, but-

But it wasn't him.

"Hey, are you okay, Sir?"

He could have laughed. Hysterically. Instead he just shook his head, a fraction of an inch.

No.

No, he wasn't.

[not_halfbaked]

[ooc: I thought so; it is a good mental image!]

Korra frowned. Dared to take a step closer.

"Is it like physical? Are you hurt? Sick? Do you need a doctor?"

Korra's brow furrowed, shooting a quick glance around the room. Did these guys just sleep in huge beds?

"Or did you have a nightmare?" Her voice was softer.

[warborn]

It's a rather spartan room, all told; berth, closet, a single empty cube on a table- Fortress Maximus hasn't had much opportunity to accumulate personal possessions, even if he were so inclined to have them. And as of late, well...

He's still getting used to being a person again.

If anything, his spark hurts the most, right now. It aches with memories of agony, of torture and torment- the word 'nightmare' does have him laugh, a short, hysterical 'ha' as he reaches up and puts his face back in his hands.

All he needs. All he fragging needs- no need to guess how pathetic, how worthless he looks right now. He can guess. He can guess very well...

"Nightmare's just begun, starting again, I can't..."

[not_halfbaked]

Korra bit her lip. This wasn't something she could punch. Things were so much easier when she can attack. Korra couldn't remember ever comforting another person before. What to do, what to do--what would Tenzin do?

He had wanted to talk with her. Had wanted to accept she was scared. Seems like this guy had accepted his fear already.

Korra bridged the gap, slowly placing a hand on the figure's--what, knee, leg? She wasn't sure. And yet her body was tensed to run in case he shifted too quickly, in case he didn't like her touching her. Could he even feel her touch? He was so big, and she so small....

"Why's the nightmare starting again?"

The girl blinked, then added, "I'm Korra by the way. What's your name?"

Maybe that would help soothe him. Even get his mind off whatever was hurting him.

[warborn]

Accepting it is one thing. Dealing with it is something that Max still can't handle, not like this. For years, he tried, but everyone has a breaking point.

He flinches at the touch, even the light contact enough to have him pulling away. With how high-strung he is, everything seems magnified; for all his blind fear, he's hyperaware of the organic, of her being there, watching him, probably wondering what the hell to do with him-

Korra.

Her name is Korra.

It takes him a few moments to respond, but he does. Finally. Trying to- focus. Something else, it's a distraction, he can't-

"F-fortress Maximus."

He.

Doesn't really feel the name right now, though.

[not_halfbaked]

Korra moved back slightly--only slightly, as the guy moved backward, not toward her. Good.

Korra blinked. That...sounded more like a place than a person's name. Then again, she was used to knock out just being a helluva strike in probending, not a charming red robot doctor with a capital 'K' and 'O.'

But it did sound--

"That's an impressive name," Korra said, giving a small smile and a sorta awed, surprised shake of her head. "Any meaning behind that name?"

'Change the topic' seemed like a good strategy at the moment. He seemed slightly calmer, more focused when giving up his name.

[warborn]

What kind of meaning was behind 'Korra'? he had the urge to ask. An urge that died as quickly as it came.

Focus. He could- sort of. See the subject change for what it was. And anything that let him think of anything other than him was a lifeline he'd take.

Slowly.

"Onlined d-during the war. Built for it. F-figured it f-fit."

Mostly.

[not_halfbaked]

Korra found herself reminded of her world's 100 Year War, Sifu Katara born during it and enduring it in her adolescence....

Suddenly Korra found it all rather sad. Sadder than it already was, anyway.

She tried to shake it off; it was her turn now.

"I think my name means 'maiden' back home." Kinda obvious, but hey, she did prefer being direct.

[OOC: Digging around, found that apparently in an interview the creators said Korra's name is based on a dog named 'Cora.' Googled 'Cora' and pulled up a baby name site, which actually said Cora is Greek for 'maiden.']

[warborn]

Home. She looked human, he was guessing, so that meant...

"Earth?"

One word without stuttering. Small victory, but it was one at least, he thought. He'd learned to treasure those, over time, though they were often hardly worth the effort fought...

[not_halfbaked]

"Yeah, but I don't know if it's one you know. Getting here, I've learned there's more than one version of Earth."

Korra crossed her arms. "What's the Earth you're thinking of like?"

[warborn]

Fit with multiple dimensions. But either way...he shook his head, slowly, rubbing his face.

"Never...never been there." He just knew humans came from it, but hell - he'd never seen a human before this place, for that matter.

[not_halfbaked]

"Oh, so I guess you just heard of it.... Where have you been? Besides, y'know, here."

[warborn]

"...plenty've places." He leans his helm back, dimming his optics a bit. His hands are still there, but they've lowered; he doesn't seem to be hiding as much anymore, at least.

The initial stress has passed, though it's still there. Clearly. It's simply not...being built up, anymore.

He names a few planets, a few places on said planets; Simanzi among them, though that was back on Cybertron.

Garrus-9 - the prison he was warden of - is not among them.

((OOC; Canonically he's been plenty of places, but not much of them have been named; hopefully the handwaving is okay?))

[not_halfbaked]

(OOC: Handwaving is cool.)

"Wow." Korra was in awe. "It sounds like you've been all over. I barely left my home and then got to know Republic City even less, before getting stranded here. But I've always wanted to travel."

[warborn]

"Yeah, well...'swhat happens when you're in a war."

You're sent where they send you - or stationed there for a few years. However it goes. And with the war taking place in so many places...

Fort Max was a good soldier.

Was, he thinks bitterly. Now, if he's cowering from a voice on a comm...

"...plenty of place here to explore, I figure." Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to leave for a while. See what's out there.