Ep 1.5 Special Delivery (Closed)

[Deleted]

The blow struck hard, Wheeljack bit back a cry as pain exploded briefly across his side...then vanished, the sensors knocked completely offline. But he'd braced himself well enough that he was still able to complete the move, his pede pressed down on Fort Max's fist and he launched himself up, snapping his other pede into a kick at Fort Max's head.

The big mech staggered back as Wheeljack landed. The Wrecker backed up and put some distance between the two himself, one servo falling briefly to his side to check the damage. His armour had crumpled a bit under the warden's armoured fist, which he could not tell with those numbed sensors. Wheeljack couldn't determine whether they'd come back online on their own or if it'd take a visit to the doc to get it sorted. No matter, nothing was actually broken, he was just going to have a large dent in his plating for a while.

The Wrecker shrugged, flexing and rolling his shoulders. He took in the brief flicker in Fort Max's optics and a small spark of concern tugged at him. It was only a couple of cycles ago that the warden had his optics repaired by Ratchet. Whilst Wheeljack couldn't care less about undoing the doc's hard work in general, optic repair was a lot more tricky. He frowned to himself and resolved to be a little bit more careful. Just a little.

"Good hit," Wheeljack acknowledged in response.

The two Autobots circled each other warily. Wheeljack contemplated his next move. Fort Max was on his guard and waiting for him to attack. The big mech had him beat on reach at a distance and up close the warden had him beat on strength. The Wrecker was going to have to take a few blows to get a hit in, like he'd just done now. Except Fort Max's blows tended to put a bot out of commission a whole lot faster than Wheeljack's did. It really was going to be an uphill battle.

But when had he ever let that stop him?

The Wrecker threw himself forward into a fast charge straight for Fort Max. One fist drawn back like he was going to throw a punch at Fort Max's chassis, Wheeljack dropped low at the last moment, servos bracing himself against the ground as he lashed out with his pede, aiming to hook it around the warden's ankle and yank his leg out from under him.

[Deleted]

Wheeljack slid in low amidst a cloud of flying dust. Upon realising what the Wrecker's aim was Maximus quickly lowered his forearms and went into action. Instead of resisting the attack he allowed the hook to sweep out his leg and throw him into a whirling turn, twisting him around the leg still firmly planted.

At the last moment he kipped up and spun, rotating a full circle before landing solidly on both feet a distance back. His arms swung before coming to a halt in a defensive block, one raised in front of his chest. The big mech crouched there, blinking and disoriented. He shook his helm once more before he gathered himself with a deep inhalation and grimly charged back into the fight.

Another feint - Maximus kicked off one foot, dodged to the other, and sprang forward in one surge. His fist came roaring in, a sweeping uppercut aimed squarely at Wheeljack's side. But a brief glimpse of his face before it was hidden behind his arm and shoulder would reveal dull optics and an expression worn by strain, like the big mech's strength was failing and he knew he needed to end the fight before it finally gave out.

Worse still, the heavy strike left his entire flank bare to attack.

[Deleted]

Okay, so this hadn't turned out like he'd been hoping for. Fort Max had gone with the sweeping kick and used it to put some space between them. His servos both planted firmly on the ground, the Wrecker rocked then flipped himself backwards, getting back on his pedes.

He'd barely landed before Fort Max was there again, charging at him once more. When the feint came in, this time Wheeljack was prepared and decided to dodge it, not risking another blow. He move with Fort Max, kicking back with one pede to follow with the big mech, taking a nimble step back out of the way when the uppercut came flying at him.

Then the Wrecker was coming at Fort Max with a fist on his own, aimed at the warden's now exposed side.

[Deleted]

Buoyed by irrepressible Wrecker verve, Wheeljack's knuckles drove in for a easy tag against the struggling mech -

- and stopped, caught inches from Maximus' side by one big hand.

Maximus held his fist gently and shook his head.

"I'm done," he said simply.

He straightened, relaxing out of his battle stance. Maximus rose slowly to his full height, his joints humming. Heat baked off his dusty armour, shimmering against the desert sunlight. He looked burned out and defeated, but retained enough of his pride to carry his shoulders back and hold his head up high. His treads locked upright, trickling dust and silt down his back.

Maximus released Wheeljack's fist and backed off a step.

"No more for today," he said. "It was a good fight."

[Deleted]

Wheeljack tensed once his fist was caught. His first instinct was to pull back or throw another punch, get himself free and clear from whatever blow was coming his way.

Then Fort Max's words penetrated the battle haze he'd fallen in and the Wrecker relaxed, disengaging his combat protocols. The fight was over. Neither of them had won but this had not been a battle meant to have a clear victor. It did not matter to Wheeljack, he'd gotten a good workout, enjoyed himself and had developed an extremely healthy respect for the warden's skill. It had been one thing to watch the big mech crush Vehicons, but the fight had allowed Wheeljack to re-evaluate his measure of Fort Max's combat capabilities and gauge them more accurately.

"It was a great fight," Wheeljack flashed a lazy grin as he gave a respectful nod, still charged with the last vestiges of battle lust. The Wrecker was relaxed enough that his field, which only just beginning to wind down, was open enough in comfortable companionship that Fort Max could feel it, if he cared. "You gave this Wrecker a pretty damn good run and that's not something a lot of bots can say."

Wheeljack stretched, loosening up his joints when Fort Max let him go. A dull ache was slowly making itself known to his side where the warden had punched him. Seemed like sensation was finally returning to those sensors. Wheeljack's plating was hot, hot from the sun and the furious battle and he flicked the metal on his back once as if that could help dissipate it. Even the Wrecker's resilience was beginning to give under it.

He turned, examining the hard dusty ground for his swords. They'd been scattered during the fight and the Wrecker hadn't bothered keeping track of them like he normally would have, had it been a real one. Fort Max's broadsword also lay abandoned on the cracked earth, one of his swords on top of it. The other lay further thanks to the constant movement as the battle had raged over the testing ground. It was to the second one he beelined first, scooping it up and quickly checking it for wear before stowing it on his back. It was the first one Wheeljack was actually more concerned about, he'd treated it pretty badly with that move, using it to protect his pedes against Fort Max's sword. It occurred to the Wrecker he should probably look into making a few spares. Out in deep space, with encounters with enemies few and far between, he hadn't had much need to forge himself new blades but down here on Earth, Wheeljack was finding himself caught up in a lot more fights with high frequency.

Unhurriedly, he treaded over to the remaining two blades. The Wrecker picked up his sword, his servos careful traced over it, checking the blade for chips and weakness. He glanced up and over to Fort Max briefly. "Remind me to compile you a file on sword care," Wheeljack commented. "It'll be a mini-guide, once I have the chance to sit down and think about it. Blade maintenance and some offensive and defensive techniques that I think should work well with what you've got." He shrugged then smirked. "I'll expect to see some progress next time."

[Deleted]

Maximus stood back and watched him for a moment. With the fight over and his hard–pressed systems spinning down, the warden had retreated back into his usual taciturn demeanour, his expression stony and his authority drawn about him like a cloak. He said nothing, his fists closed and his back straight, and braced himself with an air of resignation.

But when Wheeljack radiated nothing but friendly camaraderie his stiff bearing faltered. Maximus frowned. His brow furrowed as he stared after the Wrecker. When Wheeljack stooped to pick up his swords he glanced away, nonplussed.

Inwardly, his mind whirled.

He didn't get it. It didn't make sense.

No gloating. No smirking. No backhanded comments or smug relish in beating the former warden to a standstill. You are large and powerful and ha, I stood up to you and got away with it. It was a wearying attitude that he had run up against a lot in the prison. And outside of it. Everywhere. Constantly. A forged warbuild, who did his job and fought and survived with honours, only to return a marked mech because of it. Gunned for and hounded, because in defeating him another mech could prove his equal without treading the ugly path he had walked to get there.

He didn't spar a lot these days. He had learned the bitter lesson not to. Most opponents didn't fight to win. They fought to beat him. He hated it. And he was tired of it.

And yet Maximus had to admit that there had been a moment where he had enjoyed their match – an opportunity to cut loose a little and put his hard new rebuilt frame to the test without reservation. But it couldn’t be that easy. There was always something lying in wait. A consequence, a snide remark. Something.

Maximus stood still and flexed his fingers testily, waiting. But Wheeljack merely examined one of his blades for damage. Confounded, he glared at the watchers back on the rise. Most of them were straggling off now that the show was over. The bulk of their applause had been for the Wrecker and his breezy confidence, his flashy manoeuvres. He was good and they knew it. But some of it had been for the warden’s composure in accepting defeat as well.

Maximus swallowed. Slowly, he relaxed his stance. Friendliness took a little more effort, but when he stepped forward to collect his own sword he tried to respond to Wheeljack’s comradely field with a flicker of his own.

“Yes, sir,” he said. The blade scraped off the desert floor when he lifted it by the hilt. Maximus glanced askance and gave Wheeljack a grim smile. “I’m sure I’ll have time to put in some practice, at least. I need it.”

[Deleted]

Wheeljack gave a startled bark of laughter as his field flared with good humour. "Fort Max," he chuckled, "Call me sir again and I'm gonna have to go jump off something high."

The Wrecker hadn't in all honestly been expecting Fortress Maximus to respond to his field with his own brief flickers. Generally, Wheeljack kept his pulled tight, a natural extension of his self imposed isolation and his desire to keep his deeper emotions private. It was only around Bulkhead and their old band of brothers that he'd expressed himself this way. The fight though had left him in a good enough mood that he hadn't minded broadcasting it for once, regardless of his current company or even if he had none at all. There was no expectations or judgment had Fort Max chosen to ignore it. He gave a minute twitch at the unexpected contact, then simply accepted it for it was and moved on.

Satisfied with his blade for the moment, Wheeljack stowed it away on his back before looking up at the big mech before him. The warden looked tired and Wheeljack figured he should probably take his leave soon. He had, after all, shown up out of the blue and interrupted Fort Max's day without any warning. The Wrecker's focus turned inwards for a moment, trying to figure out whether he should call for a groundbridge or take the slow way and go for a very long drive back to base. One of those methods would probably deposit him straight into the path of whatever disapproving authority was waiting for him back at Bot base.

"Well, whenever you feel like putting what you've learned to the test, just shoot me a ping. Not often I find myself visiting the losing end of a fight," he commented dryly, amused at himself.

It had been a good reminder that he'd been growing overconfident as of late. Hunting down Vehicons was easy and making him careless. There had been plenty of close-calls during this match and it was only Wheeljack's agility that had allowed him to keep par with the big mech. Out here on the front lines, that arrogance could cost a bot his life, the fight had been a much needed humbling experience. And he'd enjoyed it, being forced to the very limits of his skills and creativity to keep ahead without that niggling concern about death at the back of his processor if he messed up.

[Deleted]

Maximus hefted his sword. Its heavy weight dragged at his arm, but at the same time the solidness of it was oddly reassuring.

He reversed his grip and slid the blade back down between his shoulders. The mag-clips secured it into place a moment later with a soft click.

"I will," he said. "I've got your comm. I'll get you cleared with Agent Fowler. I don't think would seriously object to an Autobot visiting here. He just doesn't like surprises. It'd be good to see you back sometime. And..."

Maximus trailed off.

He hesitated. It had been very quiet, the past two days. The base personnel were under orders not to interact with him unless necessary. He knew it was in part to avoid any interruption to their schedules. But he also knew that a handful of them had been warned. About him. The higher ups, Fowler's men. He resented it. But grudgingly he had admitted to himself that it was a prudent safeguard.

And he couldn't complain. The hanger he had been installed in was old and packed with scaffolding and thickly dusted storage, but isolated and silent. The floor was worn now after two nights of troubled pacing. But it was dry. It was shelter. It was enough.

It was just... very quiet.

Maximus drew in a slow breath. His manner was reserved and distant again, but a little more at ease.

"And... thanks," he said. "For taking the trip out. For bringing this with you. For the sparring session. I appreciate it."

Without a further word he extended his hand to the Wrecker.

[Deleted]

Ah yes. Fowler. Wheeljack didn't doubt that there were going to be some strong words over his unauthorised little trip here. Probably to Prime with demands to get the Wrecker under control like he was part of Optimus' crew. But hey, if Fort Max could work out an arrangement, Wheeljack didn't mind his life being made a little easier.

He grew a little bit sombre when Fort Max trailed off before thanking him. Wheeljack didn't think it was necessary, the Wrecker had simply done what he wanted and had benefited from the trip as well. But maybe Fortress Maximus had needed the company. 's far as the Wrecker knew, no one had ventured out after him to check up on him after giving him the space he'd requested. There were humans here, true, but he couldn't really see the big guy opening up to them.

"Don't mention it," Wheeljack replied with an easy smile. He boldly shook Fort Max's servo, aware of the crushing grip that the warden could easily exert but unafraid of that potential. The Wrecker stepped back, pinging the Omega base for a ground bridge. A green portal soon winked into existence as it opened with a flash of light nearby. He would drive, but perhaps that was for another time, when he had authorisation to venture all over military grounds. "I'll see you around."

[Deleted]

Maximus nodded and lowered his hand.

"Yeah," he said. "Watch out for yourself until then."

And with that he stood beneath the hard sun and waited until Wheeljack had strolled from sight through the ground bridge, a solitary figure against the scarred and cratered vastness of the surrounding desert.





end!