Ep. 1.5 - Crash and Burn - [Closed]

[Deleted]

Note to self: don't bring up the maintainence shafts again. The minibot winced at Prime's deadpan criticism of Zoom-Zoom's actions. He hadn't known, okay! Else he probably wouldn't have been up there.

…

Nope, he probably would have still been up there.

Even though Zoom-Zoom was pretty much socially blind, part of him picked up his Commander's waning patience. The sensation was a familiar one, a sudden feeling of dread crawling in his tanks as the minibot wilted under Prime's scrutiny. Zoom-Zoom curled in on himself, pressing his knees tighter to his chassis.

He...really didn't know what would be a suitable solution. There was no spot on base that felt safer than the others, well, except maybe the ones near Red Alert but Red barely tolerated the minibot's existence at best. Zoom-Zoom barely could handle the security director's presence either. Somehow, he couldn't see anyone agreeing to any sort of arrangement, least of all of himself.

Something had to be acceptable or else he was probably going to wind up in the same or similar situation somewhere down the line. Zoom-Zoom's thoughts quickly visited multiple locations on the base, the storage locker one level down, the broken vent chute down in the loading bay, the gap in the wall he'd found at the end of one of the side corridors…

Or maybe...maybe he was looking at this the wrong way completely.

"I…" Zoom-Zoom stopped. Paused. He wasn't certain how to phrase his request or if it was even permissible. "...my access to the base network. It's restricted currently. Because yanno, my probation." The minibot's optics went wide behind his visor as he frantically kicked himself, that was ANOTHER THING he shouldn't have brought up. Zoom-Zoom's servos curled into fists but he pushed on. "I was built to...work with computer systems. Massive ones. Got a hell of lot of processing power in here that just...idles most of the time." Zoom-Zoom's visor went dim. And when it was idle, he was free to think about...well, a lot of things he'd rather not think about at all. Made him restless. Made him twitchy. Certainly didn't help with his rampaging paranoia. "It's not so bad when I'm on shift because I've got something to focus on but when I'm off shift in my room…"

"If I could have more access, or even just do some computing work for the base, something to just keep my processor occupied...maybe I wouldn't mind it so much. Being stuck in my room. Used to be a data analyst, so I could, dunno, maintain the databases." Never mind that he hated that aspect of his original function.

"Just anything that requires enough of my processor that it makes me forget being in my frame for a while."

Another thought occurred to Zoom-Zoom and the minibot shrunk in on himself even tighter. His field was wrapped tight but was permeated in misery. "If...if I had that access though...to be connected to the base network for so long, I need to know what happened to my cohort otherwise I don't think I would be able to stop myself from trying to dig up that information without permission. It was a small Spec Ops cell, the 92nd Division. Sir Stomp -Fortress Maximus said it was classified information, though I think that was just because he thought I was a Decepticon at the time. But he's still right, it would be classified and since I've been on probation, I didn't think it would be...right to ask."

Zoom-Zoom really didn't feel comfortable at all. Finding his cohort had been his private little mission since the Exodus. One that he was determined to see to the end. Requesting an outsider's help felt like some weird betrayal...of something, Zoom-Zoom wasn't certain. Himself? The cohort? He'd been set on this mission for so long though that he really didn't expect to that his rambling request would yield anything. He'd only added it because if, by some miracle, Prime did grant his request for more access to the base network, Zoom-Zoom knew that it would only be so long before he tried hacking it to find that data. In this case, he was trying to be upfront, recognising that there was a certain extent to which he couldn't be trusted with the network.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus waited patiently. He could give Zoom Zoom all the time he needed to try to formulate a response that was truth, more so than the first thing the minibot could come up with to try to fill the gap. If they had to sit there a few minutes before dropping down a plan or request or idea? He would do so.

While waiting Optimus remained rather still, his hands resting on the edge of the berth, with fingertips loosely curled over its dropping surface at ease. His spine remained upright, and shoulders back, but his helm was dipped slightly to be able to sideways glance at the Minobot that was at his side sitting on the edge of the slab of metal. The sputtering 'coughs' of his filters had passed by now, though he knew he'd have to potentially look at them to make sure whatever this powder stuff was didn’t create a coating that would become detrimental when his frame went to battle. Last thing he needed was to start to overheat while toe to toe with Megatron.

When Zoom Zoom began to speak, Optimus listened carefully, evaluating the chosen words, and how they were approaching this subject. While one type of leader would have been angered that the minicon would ever even admit, let alone, THINK about hacking locked files? Optimus was not that type of leader, and took the situation for what it was. They were looking for their cohort, an act not fueled by trying to get info they should be barred from, it wasn't trying to dig up dirt on another, or other acts fueled by personal greed, no... He was looking for what happened to his so called 'family' and it did not seem false. This struck a cord in the Prime.

He could work with this.

"Let me offer a compromise Zoom Zoom."

Optimus spoke carefully, choosing his own words cautiously while thinking through some of the final loopholes in what he was going to say next. He knew Red Alert and some of the others may be against what he was going to offer to the little Autobot, but he felt it was fair, reasonable, and would keep them in line and out of trouble. If they had issues with this agreement Than... well... they could come speak to him themselves, for he wouldn't really appreciate it if they backlashed against the minibot for his decisions.

"You are to speak to Red Alert, and work with him to find what happened to the 92nd Division. In exchange? I would request of you to start learning of the native species technology."

Optimus' helm raised a bit, though optics were still peering down at Zoom Zoom. He was trying to judge his reactions, to see if the minbot was pleased with these revelations? Or if he was going to backpedal and 'flee' from them.

"Ratchet knows only what is needed, aided by Rafael. To have one on base that can understand their systems more? Can be beneficial for the team as a whole."

It seemed rather simple and clear to him. They needed a fulltime 'on call' help for that technology, and because they were on Earth? It was only a matter of time before they may be tasked to work in such systems far more than they do now. It would also keep Zoom Zoom occupied, and give him a task and goal to work towards.

"Once you have shown to us this skill within acceptable parameters, you will be relieved of your Probation, and permitted the same access others of your level are permitted to. Are these terms acceptable?"

[Deleted]

To be honest? Zoom-Zoom wasn't expecting that his suggestion would be taken even the slightest bit seriously, Much like when he'd been trapped by Megatron, he'd simply looked at the last option available to him and taken his final shot, not expecting to alter the outcome. He was pretty certain that Prime's mind had been made up and was simply humoring him at this point. Zoom-Zoom's experience was that no one ever really listened to him, so hey, he'd just keep talking, it wasn't like his words would matter in the end.

So it was kind of a shock to hear Prime offer a compromise to him. Immediately, the minibot was leery. No one did that to him without some ulterior motive that generally tended towards screwing him over. The universe was never nice to him. It liked to offer up false hope and then take it away in the same breath with a cheerful laugh.

Behind his visor, Zoom-Zoom's optics widened at Prime's first condition. Disgust briefly chased across his expression at the idea of working with Red but-wait. Wait. His expression quickly melted into surprise. He just had to expand his computer skills to human tech? In exchange for that, he'd get whatever info they had on his cohort AND his probation would be ended. That...was a ridiculously good deal. Too good to be true.

The universe was never, ever nice to him.

Suspicious, puzzled and confused, Zoom-Zoom frowned up at Prime. "Are you serious about this?" he demanded. "Like, really, really serious? You mean it?"

[Optimus Prime]

Zoom Zoom had some serious adapting to do if he was going to try to predict the Prime it seemed. Optimus was far too kind to let an individual's words go unnoticed or ignored when it came to them just trying to fit in and get comfortable within their base. While other things he would be almost... rudely dismissive of... such as if someone were harassing him with unimportant nonsense, when it came to making sure his soldiers had a place to retreat to? Giving them purpose and in a way comfort? That was rather important.

The probation was really something to make sure Zoom Zoom was not a spy, or other nonsense due to the fiasco that had occurred when he first interacted with the Autobot team. To be frank? If he had been a spy of some sort? ZZ likely would have already had gotten all of the information they needed by hacking the computers and risking that detection from Red Alert. If the experience from Makeshift had taught them anything, it was that the Decepticons didn't seem to have much by means of patience. Their most dedicated infiltrator at the time had been... so hard pressed to rush things through. Besides...

How do you know if you can trust someone, if you do not trust them first?

It was a bit of a risk he was willing to take, to prove Zoom Zoom could find sanctuary within these walls. The minibot need only to carry his own weight and show he was willing to learn and adapt to this foreign world. He would need to be fluent in human technology to a degree, Optimus did not expect perfection, but he wanted someone that could help the base out when Rafael could not.

"If you are implying I deceive or joke, than you are mistaken."

Optimus' reply was dry and unamused, not finding any humor in what he had previously said that could have led Zoom Zoom to assume a trick. Everything was a hundred percent legitimate, and he was not the type to hold out his hand in offer, only to pull it back when the other reached for it. When he made an offer? It was the end line, and it could either be taken, or rejected for what it was.

"You will need to know that which you are assigned to. This is not a free pass, but an opportunity."

[Deleted]

Hastily, Zoom-Zoom backtracked. "Whoa, whoa, hold up," he said quickly, optics round and wide. "I didn't mean to imply that." Just like he hadn't meant to fall through Prime's ceiling and everything… "I just. Me and trust, we have this thing about not being friends. I thought we'd established this by now."

Idly, one finger began to doodle random patterns along the dust coating Zoom-Zoom's leg as he gazed up at Prime. "It's good. The terms you set out. I accept them. I'm..." the minibot's lip plates pressed together uneasily before he spat out the unfamiliar word, "grateful that you're giving me this chance." He was. Ish. It meant more work which the minibot hated but at least it was stuff he was actually interested in.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus watched the way Zoom-Zoom backpedaled from his words, trying to cover his bases. It was not really needed, the small mech would not get in trouble for his statement in any way, the Prime simply did not see how his offer could be misconstrued as illegitimate. Whatever the case may be, he had to feel a bit sorry that the other was so distrustful he could not even believe the words of one he was set to follow.

That seemed a bit odd right there, Optimus could not understand how one could follow a leader in war, yet not put legitimacy behind their offerings and words. It truly painted a picture on just how damaged Zoom-Zoom's trust abilities may be. But whatever the case, it was time to move on from the subject in play. They had covered it well enough in his eyes, and any further conversing over trust issues, finding the 92nd Devision, rooms, assigned tasks, or even probation, would just be needless conversational filler.

It was time to move on to the next facet of this interaction.

No longer intending to try to make himself more on Zoom-Zoom's level, Optimus pushed up off of the slab of his berth in order to stand upright. Hisses and whirs of internal mechanisms sounded out, while some of the settled plaster dust was stirred from his motion to curl in his wake while rolling off of the now dingy coated armor. His gaze broke away from the other mech, and returned up to his ceiling, peering at the ragged edge where some metal was barely hanging on.

"Then it is settled, and the subject of repercussion is to be addressed."

A single arm lifted, palm flat to place under the bit of metal. It only took the lightest of touch, before the mass broke free with a crackled pop. If left to its own, the object would have slammed down onto the berth, and kicked up all of the dust there, however it was caught. The Prime grasped the chunk, meaning only a few trails filtered behind the object.

"You are to field repairs for the damage you have brought. I understand the difficulties of such a task alone, So you will need to seek Thundercloud for assistance."

The massive jet would easily be able to hold up large panels of replacement parts, while Zoom-Zoom welds and patches everything back the way it was. While it was not ideal to loop Thunder in on someone else's punishment, the fact of the matter is Thunder would be assisting, and would not be doing a lot of the work. There is also the fact that everyone had to help out in some way, and repairs were something they all had to chip in on at any given time.

He already wanted his one retreat back.

[Deleted]

Zoom-Zoom winced. Repercussions. Great. Of course, they had to be coming. The minibot didn't think he was getting out of this situation without them but it had been nice to give himself hope that maybe he could get away free.

But. Well. Somebody was going to have to fix that ceiling. Zoom-Zoom had just been hoping it wasn't him. He was better with the whole dismantling and disabling side of things. Repair on the other hand wasn't his thing.

The minibot jerked, optics widening in surprise before they narrowed. Thundercloud…? The big aerial…? This time, Zoom-Zoom openly let the distaste crawl across his face. He had not forgotten the encounter with Carbine and Thunder that had been resolved when Mirage of all mecha had put a stop to it.

Now Zoom-Zoom had fragged off a number of mecha round base. Fort Max and Mirage. Optimus Prime. Yet they didn't rub him the wrong way like the two new Autobots did and, if Zoom-Zoom was honest about it, he'd brought Fort Max and Prime's anger down upon himself. The thing between Mirage and himself had been a matter of spook pride. But Thunder and Carbine? Something about them had felt off during that encounter, granted the minibot himself had been mighty shady and the two were technically right to chase after him. But, afterwards, there had been Carbine's casual, gleeful cruelty at the idea of hurting him and Thunder certainly hadn't spoken up against it. That sort of behavior, Zoom-Zoom knew well from his life on the streets, not from within Autobot ranks. And back then, he'd learnt fast to recognize which mecha to avoid, if he wanted to keep himself intact.

Zoom-Zoom had kept his distance from the two Autobots and he really, really didn't want to work with Thunder by himself. Not without supervision. Because, he got the feeling Thunder would act up if it was just the two of them and take the opportunity to continue what had been started before Mirage had interrupted. Thunder might have not been the one to attempt to hurt him but he sure hadn't protested about it either and Zoom-Zoom didn't think it was too much of a stretch to assume he was capable of the same behavior as Carbine.

"Sir? I-not with Thunder," Zoom-Zoom protested. "Or Carbine," he added hastily. Ordinarily, the minibot wouldn't have chosen to air a problem about another Autobot with a commanding officer. Normally, he'd have shut up and relied on himself to get through the punishment duty even with a bot who had it out for him. But Prime had been patient and understanding throughout this conversation, had taken the minibot's problems seriously and sought to resolve them within reason. It was enough to make Zoom-Zoom grudgingly attempt to trust Prime with something he'd ordinarily deal with himself.

"Before, in the rec room. You said I should talk to you if-" the words came out clipped as he struggled with himself to reach out. "I'll work with anyone, just not them."

Mulishly, Zoom-Zoom set his jaw, having said all that he was willing to say.

[Optimus Prime]

Being that Optimus was looking up at his ceiling and the chunk that was now settled in his palm, he did not witness Zoom-Zoom's immediate shocked reaction to the revelation of who he would be working with. It was not until the little mech spoke that the Prime had any idea that this was going to be an issue, which would spawn other issues.

Nothing could ever be easy could it?

Cyan optics flicked away from the managed chunk of metal and plaster to settle upon Zoom-Zoom's features, partly surprising Optimus with the look of disgust the minibot wore. However for surprised he was over the look, he was more partly annoyed at the fact that nothing seemed to go smoothly with Zoom-Zoom and as such had to brace himself for whatever grievance would be displayed. He tried to offer compromise and compensations, deals and agreements, but it was like those earth animals the humans reference....

A donkey...

Yes... Zoom-Zoom was a donkey...

Optimus knew that the newer Jet mech within their team had a sketchy past, one that was not fully known. Yet he did not seem to be a true danger, and he played by the rules when told to do something the majority of the time. To hold Thunder's past stance as a convict against him was not a very agreeable thing to do, especially when time had been served and the two had been freed through old laws. The Prime was not going to let such bias thoughts step in and put wedges between his team so long as he could help it.

He was very patient, and he could listen to grievances to try to rectify them, but he thought he was being rather reasonable in his reaction and sentencing, and couldn't place anything but bias against the Jet or Helicopter. It is because of this, Optimus' peered down upon Zoom-Zoom with newfound interest the more the minibot spoke.

The phrasing used and the reference back to a similarly as odd (though not as destructive) encounter between Zoom-Zoom and himself, made him worry he was blind to something behind the scenes. If there was a true issue than Red Alert would have ideally told him within twenty four hours of the incident, and in addition one had to question why Zoom-Zoom wouldn't bring it up for so long, instead smothering and hiding it away.

"Have they harmed you?"

The question was simple, and even if they had not directly HARMED Zoom-Zoom it was apparent Optimus wanted some more elaboration. He could try to arrange something else, but the fact of the matter was that he needed some more proof before he would go down that path. Thunder, Carbine, and himself (not including Fort Max) were one of the few that could even reach the ceilings in some parts of the base without aid from difficult to relocate structures and supports. To get someone different to help would just create that much more work for something that could be so simple if the two could work together.

Family was a big part of what made his Autobots fight as well as they did, and while he didn't want to return to the more ridged structures of a militaristic edge, he understood those lessons played a role at times. He wanted to work from unity and cooperation, but if individuals could not get along they would need to put emotions aside and look at each other as mere militaristic teammates where said emotions don't play a role.

However, being injured from a teammate is another thing.

[Deleted]

Zoom-Zoom glared at the wall opposite him and kept his gaze averted from Prime. He was already regretting speaking up. Harmed him? No. Threatened to do so and had been on the verge of it? Yes. However, without Carbine actually following through with his actions, the mech could always claim that his intentions were benign and that he was just fooling around. In fact, if anything, Zoom-Zoom had been the one who'd harmed the helibot, forgetting where he was so completely he'd struck out with his stun baton. And he really didn't want to touch the whole mess of Megatron-shaped issues that had caused him to attack a fellow Autobot.

He really, really shouldn't have said anything at all.

The minibot snorted, bitterly, at himself. "They didn't," he answered sullenly, aware that his protest was mostly baseless. Each word was a struggle to get out when all Zoom-Zoom wanted to do was shut up and go someplace not here. "But they sure acted like they were going to. If...if Mirage hadn't come along, I don't know if they'd have reigned themselves in or not. For fun."

Because what else had it been? The two fliers could have called an Autobot officer, if they'd thought they had called a spy. But once they had figured out that he wasn't a Con, they hadn't let him go and had taken up themselves to deliver a thoroughly out of proportion punishment for something Zoom-Zoom hadn't even intended to do. He'd have much preferred to have recharged through that conversation, if he could have, instead.

'sides, he couldn't have cared less about what he had overheard. Still didn't. All he'd wanted back then was the blissful obliviousness of being offline. So long as Carbine and Thunder weren't Decepticons and they weren't doing anything that affected Zoom-Zoom, they could have done whatever they wanted and the minibot wouldn't mention a word to anyone.

[Optimus Prime]

So they had not harmed Zoom-Zoom, and only implied it via motions or words. This was not ground enough for actions to be made upon the duo. If they were repeatedly acting out against one individual, or the entire base, then yes... Optimus would pull them aside and try to set them in line, but one incident that didn't end in anything occurring was not quite enough to do much with. They all have been pushed to acting out of line in one way or another, even the best of them had been rude or mean after a trying time.

Individuals should not be judged on one interaction.

"We each come from different pasts, the memories of which shape us to who we are this day."

He started this cryptically, gaze leaving Zoom-Zoom to peer across the way at the dust covered console. While he directly spoke to the minibot, he seemed almost distant in thought for a moment, thinking back to the myriad of histories that had occurred only to nestle themselves in this single point in history upon Earth. It was almost remarkable in a way.

"The individuals in question have had a rough past, as many of us have, translating it to less than desirable reactions and actions. Learning to work with a new team, one must adapt and grow past discomforts to settle into place. In their case becoming less aggressive-"

He broke away from his gaze upon nothingness, to glance back down at Zoom-Zoom.

"-and in yours, learning to trust your environment..."

Optimus was rather done with negotiations now, he felt he had been more than accommodating considering his bedroom had been essentially OBLITERATED by the minibot. He offered him a means to remove his probation, and a means to seek closure for what occurred with his team. He had almost rewarded him so far for what he had done in a way, and wasn't really in the mood to keep doing so.

"If either harms you, or bullies further, than actions will be made. But our army is not what it used to be, and we cannot afford for lines to be cut that bar one from one another. I still would like for you to work with Thundercloud."

[Deleted]

Lip-plates pressed tight in annoyance, Zoom-Zoom kept his gaze on the wall. Yeah, no, shouldn't have said a word about this. His problems were his problems and it was stupid to think for even a moment that anyone was going to help them with them. The minibot tended to rely on a 'run away/don't think about it/keep the problem away from him' strategy. He relied heavily on his gut instinct too, his long journey alone didn't give him much opportunity for second guess or correct his first impressions of someone.

So for him, it was as simple as that. He'd gotten off on the wrong foot with Carbine and Thunder and it would take a lot to fix that impression. And he didn't want to or cared to do that.

"-and in yours, learning to trust your environment..."

The minibot had glanced up at this. He met Prime's gaze rebelliously, before scoffing internally. That as far as Zoom-Zoom was concerned, was quite simply never going to happen. Ever. Because he really preferred to stay alive and trusting one's environment was a good way to get yourself killed.

"Understood," he said curtly. Somehow, he managed to give the impression of curling further inwards on himself. Zoom-Zoom waited for Prime to dismiss him. He was tempted to ask if they were done here but decided not to push his luck.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus could understand when a situation had come to a close, and he could also understand when an individual was closing off as well. Zoom-Zoom seemed to be locking himself away from the conversation, and pushing the discussion would do nothing but harbor frustrations and cut new wounds if forced to continue. The Prime understood this, and it was because of this fact, he decided to end things just as the minibot curtly stated he understood the conditions set.

Standing up and maneuvering some among the rubble was one thing, it was another to step around the destruction that was in a sort of ring about his berth. Using the side of his ped, he pushed the previous large chunk of metal to the side with a scraping screech, some new dust flicking up into the air from the movement. After a path was made, he strode over to his door, grasping its side.

Not wanting to struggle with the half broken door in front of Zoom-Zoom, the Prime simply grabbed its edge and forced it open with more strength than he normaly would. It caused it to slide aside easily, though may have also further damaged the clunking internal components that were already strained. With the door open, the Prime eased back one step, turning his frame in the process to face Zoom Zoom.

"Then I believe our discussion here is completed."

It was a bit clunky of a disengagement from a conversation, but Optimus was not the most social of individuals. Despite all the knowledge the Matrix bestowed upon him, despite his hundreds of years working in close proximity of others, he never seemed to get over that emotional hurdle to learn how to socialize on a better level. He could play the leader, he could be inspirational and give good advice, but there was a line somewhere in there between that, and everything else.