[Video] [Solus's Temple]

[hammer_bro]

Right. So some little guy in a robe just explained a lot of stuff that basically means I'm not where I'm supposed to be.

[Breakdown glances around briefly.]

Never been in a temple before. It's pretty fancy.

[He shakes his head and turns back to the camera.]

Guess I'm checking in or whatever. Anybody else I know stuck here? Knock Out? Ehr, uh- Lord Megatron? [Let's hope the big M isn't mad he mentioned his partner first.]

Comments

[automobile_enthusiast]

[KO doesn't answer him. Actually, KO doesn't even stop moving-- he's skidded to a stop, sure, but only as a way to dump his forward momentum into a leap as he unfolds from his altmode.

A leap with Breakdown at the end of it.

A leap with his energon prod in his hands, business end centered on Breakdown's chassis.

If anyone's going to do away with the undead specter of his partner, it's going to be him, and he knows he has to do it fast or he won't be able to do it at all.]

[hammer_bro]

[Breakdown's optics widen as Knock Out flies towards him, his audials filling with the sharp crackle of an energon prod that is now aimed straight at his spark.

Pure instinct takes over, one hand changing swiftly into a hammer and maneuvering to intercept. Unfortunately, if it connects- this means KO is about to get clobbered. Big time.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Big time. Knock Out yells as the hammer catches him in the side, sweeping him away from Breakdown. He hits the wall hard enough to bounce off, prod clattering to the ground and spinning away.

He lands in a crumpled heap, and doesn't get up again immediately.]

[hammer_bro]

[Oops. Breakdown stands there for a few moments, staring at Knock Out's prone form and trying to put his thoughts together.

Why would his partner attack him? Was this actually some crazy kind of clone thing? Or something to do with dark energon?

Breakdown grunted and shuffled carefully towards the limp medic, keeping one hand as a hammer just in case. Geeeently he tapped KO's helm with the side of it.]

Hey. If you're an evil clone, you should say so now.

[He kind of hoped it was. Because if it wasn't...well, he was going to get an audial full for accidentally on purpose hitting him.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

'M not an evil clone. [The words were tiny bit slurred, but the movement of his hand was controlled enough as he reached up with a clawed hand and shoved the hammer away. The rest of him followed his hand up, even though it hurt enough that he groaned as he shoved himself up to his hands and knees.

He didn't look up at Breakdown, though. No, his optics were lower, roaming the floor until he found his prod. Despite the pain, he scrambled for it, knowing he needed the weapon if he was going to have any chance...

Any chance.....

He couldn't think about it. He just had to do it.]

[hammer_bro]

[Breakdown watched him warily, not really assured by the mumbled profession- especially when Knock Out went right back to scrabbling for the prod.

Breakdown growled and grabbed his arm, holding him away from the weapon and shaking him.]

What is wrong with you!?

[automobile_enthusiast]

Let go of me! [Knock Out tried to yank his arm free, still straining towards his prod with the other hand, but it was no use. Breakdown was bigger and stronger and KO's determination to get this done and over with was rapidly flagging.

He went limp in Breakdown's grasp.]

You're not supposed to be here. They said if you came back--

[He can't bring himself to finish the sentence.]

[hammer_bro]

Not until you stop tryin' to stab me! [Breakdown insists, refusing to let KO break his grip. It's not hard and eventually the medic relents.]

You're right- I'm not supposed to be here. But I haven't been here before. Okay? Who were you talkin' to?

[Somebody was going to get a hammer to the face for telling KO crazy things.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[That stops Knock Out dead, and he stares blankly up at Breakdown.] What? Of course you were here before! You came here the same time I did! We had-- have-- had quarters together in this temple!

[hammer_bro]

[Shakes his head.] I just got here. This is the first time I've seen you after leaving on my mission.

You gonna sit still or do I hafta keep holding you like this?

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Knock Out tugged at his trapped arm.] Let me go. I'll be good.

...Which mission?

[hammer_bro]

You promise?

To go take care of Airachnid.

[automobile_enthusiast]

Yes I pr--

I--

...Breakdown, what's... the last thing you remember...?

[hammer_bro]

[Again with the unfinished sentences. Really, KO isn't usually this incoherent.]

Walking in the forest with Dreadwing. Why?

[automobile_enthusiast]

Looking for... Airachnid. Nothing after that?

[hammer_bro]

Nope. 'Cause then I was here.

Hope Megatron isn't going to be pissed with me.

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Knock Out tries to tug his arm out of Breakdown's grip again. Amnesia was not a good sign; he can't forget the warning that if Breakdown came back, he'd be different... and dangerous.]

Let me go, Breakdown.

[hammer_bro]

[Breakdown's grip remains solid.]

You gonna freak out again?

[automobile_enthusiast]

I'm not going to freak out.

[But he is going to try and kill you again.]

[hammer_bro]

Alright. [He slowly lets go.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Cue Knock Out diving for his prod. He grabs it and comes up in a crouch, weapon in-hand and pointed at Breakdown. With a despairing howl yell, he charges again.

Sorry Breakdown.]

[solianpolarity]

[A simple footstep from a being her size, taken with a tad more force than usual, is enough to rattle the light fixtures in the Marked-scaled areas of her temple.

A pointed stomp coming from not thirty feet away...should be enough to at throw Knock Out off his aim, if not topple the both of them off their feet completely.]

What is going on here?

[From across the hall, Solus Prime eyes them both with crossed arms, distinctly Not Impressed. Her own Marked aren't allowed to kill each other, especially not in the middle of her Temple.

...After all, this was no Arena, and she was no Megatronus.]

[automobile_enthusiast]

[Relatively small as he is, and certainly not expecting the seismic interruption, Knock Out stumbles and crashes inelegantly to the floor. He shoves to his hands and knees, fingers clutching tight to his prod as he slews his head around, trying to figure out what happened--

He vents in surprise when he sees Solus. When he registers her demand, he drops his weapon and puts up his hands, palms out.]

I-- We--

[His first instinct is to cover. Cover for himself, cover for Breakdown, convince Solus that nothing's wrong and get her to continue on her way. Finish dealing with this in private. How many times had he done as much for the two of them, when he was arguing with Breakdown somewhere that was a little too public?

But this wasn't the army, and Solus Prime wasn't a superior officer. She was something more than that. Bigger than that. He didn't dare lie to her, and especially not about this.

He gestured at Breakdown, and when he spoke it was in a subdued voice.] He wasn't supposed to come back. He went to the Badlands, and they said-- Liege said of Starscream that if he came back, he wouldn't be the same and he'd have to be... dispatched.

I... wanted to be the one to do it.

[He glanced sidelong at Breakdown, then looked away, obviously unhappy.]

[hammer_bro]

[...He really should have known better than to trust Knock Out. They were partners in crime, hell maybe even friends, but KO was still another decepticon with his own agenda. And right now he seemed bent on killing Breakdown.

The bigger mech dropped into a defensive stance, ready to grab KO again when a loud rumble shook the ground so hard he toppled over. By the time he managed to get to his feet again, an imperious sounding voice rang out from across the hallway. A glance in that direction assured him that the huge angry mech in question was very likely that First Forged the acolyte told him about.

Uh oh.

Before he could say anything to his defense, Knock Out wass already speaking and what he said made Breakdown frown. Badlands? Dispatched?]

Look, I don't even know what he's talkin' about. I just got here!

[solianpolarity]

[Solus glances between the two of them briefly, before venting out a sigh.

Liege, you idiot.]

Clearly, you either missed part of the conversation or, more likely, Liege simply did not bother to clarify things properly. Those that venture off into the badlands are, more often than not, lost for good. If they return at all, sans mark, they are already Lost and pose a threat.

[She points down at Breakdown, specifically at his shoulder armor where her own mark glows faintly.]

If he has returned with an identifying glyph, he is perfectly well and safe. And claimed.