[voice only]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[There's a looong moment of silence between the transmission's start and Knock Out actually beginning to speak. And when he finally does, his voice is very even.]

Has... anyone seen Breakdown lately? Or heard from him, perhaps? Big blue and silver mech, grounder like me, prominent chassis... He has a striking red-orange face and a patch over one optic.

[And he's missing. KO doesn't like that. He also doesn't like that he woke up in the middle of nowhere outside of the Haven, alone, and missing time, but he's not exactly about to go sharing that publicly. In fact, he doesn't sound nearly as agitated as he actually is right now, because that's something else he's trying not to be public about.]

Comments

voice

[ex_dishonestly997]

That's right. [he didn't miss the "grounder like me" comment, either] There are plenty of advantages to a ground alt-mode. --As I'm sure you know.

[just gonna be verbally feeling out Breakdown's pal, wondering what kind of mech it takes to make a Decepticon (from any universe that isn't the freaky red-badge version) talk about trust in such glowing terms.]

Starscream.

voice

[automobile_enthusiast]

[He laughs, although the sound is dry and more than a bit forced.] Oh, I could extoll the virtues, of course, but now's not exactly the time, hm?

... [Well that was a bit unexpected, although he's not ignorant of the phenomenon of name-alikes around here. Still...] You don't say.

voice | locked

[ex_dishonestly997]

[The distinct sound of transformation--and then a moment's silence as he works on making this transmission at least semi-secure.] I can talk and fly - but you're worried about him, aren't you. Did something else happen?

[the soft purr of his engines in the background of his connection, as he ponders how to respond to that. When all else fails, play it self deprecatingly light] Now I've got the disadvantage. So what's the damage? A dozen apologies for him? Fifty?

voice | locked

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Knock Out appreciates the increased security... but he still doesn't actually know this disembodied voice claiming to be a Starscream, and that makes him inclined to be wary and evasive.] Usually he's better about responding to his hails-- at least when they're from me. When he doesn't...

[Well, there's not a good precedent, and that shuts him up.]

[He manages a laugh, if a dry and humorless one.] Oh, he didn't do anything to me that warrants any apology. You just don't sound anything like the one I know, that's all~.

voice | locked

[ex_dishonestly997]

Right, I've got it. [And case in point, why Starscream mistakenly doesn't like trust. When things go wrong (or, you know, people you care about let you down somehow), it's usually the first thing he can find to fault.]

As long as you don't call me ma'am, I think we'll be okay.

voice | locked

[automobile_enthusiast]

Hah! You'd have to sound like a ma'am for me to call you a ma'am.

[The feed goes silent for a long moment as Knock Out considers what to say next, if anything at all. Finally, he offers:] You may want to watch out, while you're out there for a... well, I suppose it must have been some kind of signal transmission, though not in any modality I'm used to. It registered as an... impulse, to keep driving, out into the wilderness and away from the temples.

voice | locked

[ex_dishonestly997]

[he considers that seriously for a long moment] That would be the Badlands that I've heard of.

Were you just exploring, or were you looking for something?

voice | locked

[automobile_enthusiast]

...Badlands? [This is the first he's heard of it.]

[Knock Out shrugs, though it's perceptible over the transmission only as the faint sound of his actuators and plating shifting.] We were driving. Just enjoying ourselves and each other's company. We hadn't planned to stay out long.