001 | [Video]

[unnailignment]

[You know how usually someone wakes at the altar of the temple they’re at, confused about their location? Not this one. Yeah, apparently he’s one of the few who actually listen to the acolytes. There's no sense in repeating what seemed to be a firm answer, so he'll just roll with the punches. There's a click of the video feed as it shows Metalhawk's face, a bit intrigued by the new addition of the Link.

With the glisten of Prima's temple in the background.]

I’m alive.

[He honestly couldn’t believe it. He felt the gun hit his body, the energy hitting his spark and causing immeasurable pain. By all accounts, he should be more than dead right now. He won’t even remark on his missing arm. It doesn’t matter right now.]

So this is not some form of the afterlife, but rather an alternate version of Cybertron. And from the looks of it, rather primitive.

Bumblebee, are you there? Any of the Unaligned?

[And then, his voice lowers, almost dangerously.]

And Starscream. If you’re there, I seek council with you as well.

Comments

[deadlydoctor]

No. Some people died here and then they came back. [He knows that so very well.]

Solus is one of the FirstForged, a really interesting lady. [And he's sending the data and coordinates of his clinic.]

What happened to you?

[unnailignment]

So even if we die here, it's merely temporary? How is that explained exactly? Is it our glyphs that keep us alive?

[Someone's a curious birdy. But the question occupies him for the moment.]

I was killed by Starscream.

[deadlydoctor]

Not always, some leave or die and never come back. But death is mostly not permanent. You know, I died and didn't really get a good answer to that.

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

[unnailignment]

So it's randomized, almost, or there is a system to this that we just don't understand.


Do you think my death in my world...it's void because of this? Because I was pulled here at a crucial point?

[deadlydoctor]

Pretty much.

If it's of any consolation, no I don't think it's void. It still happened in your world, with all that it implied. Why did Starscream kill you?

[unnailignment]

...



Because killing me would ensure his rule of Cybertron.

We were friends, before that.

[deadlydoctor]

Sounds like him.

I don't think any Starscream is really capable to have friends. They can only have people they don't murder until it's convenient for them.

[unnailignment]

Indeed.


[It's said sadly, as if...]

You're looking at one fool who thought differently, however briefly.

[deadlydoctor]

I made the same mistake too. [He frowns, remembering that little moment he shared with Starscream during the zombie apocalypse and how later the seeker blamed him in front of Megatron.] Never again.

What's your name?

[unnailignment]

Then we're one in the same, at least in that way. I assume you didn't meet the same...permanent fate, then.

[It was oddly comforting.]

...I am Metalhawk.

[deadlydoctor]

No, I punched Starscream before it was too late. [Such a happy memory.] It was really gratifying.

The name's Knock Out.

[unnailignment]

[Some people have all the luck...]

Knock Out. At least it's nice to know I'm in favourable company.



Is there anything more you can tell me about this place that the Acolyte might not have covered?

[deadlydoctor]

[>Favorable company.


>Knock Out.


The universe is probably laughing at them. That said, his behavior improved this last year so, yeah, he's not all that bad.]

Did the acolyte mention that weird things, really weird things, happens here from time to time? I'm talking about 'phantoms walking around and giant insect robots that speed acid attacking us' level of weird.

[unnailignment]

...



No. They didn't mention that.


[PERFECT. JUST WHAT HE NEEDS.]

Wonderful.

[Can you sense the irritation? Because he's radiating it.]

[deadlydoctor]

Go figure. It's not always all that bad.
Sometimes is worse.

But it's still better than being dead.

We have a bar here, if it helps matters.