[ti]Ep 2[/ti]Drop-pod crash! [Open]

[Knock Out]

Knock Out wasn't all too worried about Breakdown. He'd been a little odd since the Truce had been announced, but he'd always had a bit of a temper so this really wasn't anything new. Normally he had better manners than to storm off in front of a newcomer, though – how embarrassing and totally unprofessional. At least Sparkplug didn't seem too phased by it, and if she thought any less of Knock Out for how his assistant acted, she sure wasn't showing it.

“Mm, yes – you were lucky indeed. If it were one of the escape pods here on the Nemesis who knows if you'd have been so lucky.” He chuckled. “I assume Breakdown sent troops to salvage the wreckage as we can't have that laying around.” That was usually protocol; those who crashlanded here on Earth surrendered their vessel of choice upon arrival – usually some form of escape pod – and it was turned into scrap to help further the Decepticon cause. Or something. He had no part in any of that so could only assume.

He'd nod at her thanks, flashing her a genuine smile. It wasn't often he got thanked for what he did. Actually, no – now that he thought on it, he never got thanks or any kind of appreciation! That was the Decepticon way, though. Everyone did their job without question or praise.

It still would've been nice, though.

“Not a problem my dear. While things are looking good right now, if anything does end up bothering you in a day or two once you've settled, you know where I am.” He'd turn his gaze back to the datapad while it retrieved the data from the scanner, starting to pace as he waited. Pacing helped him concentrate, he found. Although he'd stop mid-step as she said his title, and he'd stand up a little straighter at her words. It was a heck of a posting indeed! One that he'd earned through hard work and dedication! Take that, Flatline!

Okay so maybe it had something to do with the fact that there had literally been nobody else, but that was just a minor detail that he'd conveniently forget about.

“Here on the Nemesis? Ah, Breakdown and I received a personal summons from Starscream, because Lord Megatron was on the brink of death and badly in need of my expertise.” He spoke so nonchalantly about it, like it really was no big deal. “I've been with the Decepticons, and in this position, for the long haul though - since long before we arrived on Earth. Haven't seen too much fighting, things are rather slow here on this little dustball, unfortunately.” He droned, a beep of the datapad turning his attention to it for a moment. It was unfortunate only because he was bored. At least on the front lines he had things to do. “The Truce was unexpected, especially as it was Lord Megatron who initiated it. Still, whatever works – if it gets rid of MECH then that's one less thing we have to deal with, I suppose.” He chuckled.

Her last question made him quirk a brow, and he'd get a coy smile on his faceplate as he thought of how to answer.

“Mm, he's a good patient that's for sure. Dutiful, coming in far often than he probably should for checkups and the like.” He chuckled, refraining from making a comment about how it was so obviously to spend time in Knock Out's company. “It's usually without incident, although one time I dared make a backhanded compliment. That didn't go so well.” He shuddered at the thought but he seemed in good humor about the whole thing and would smile and flash her a wink. “Lets just say I haven't done that again.”

There was a longer beep then from the datapad, followed by a shorter one – indicating that whatever it was it was doing, it had completed its task.

“Mm, well – everything is looking good even after this secondary scan. I suppose this is where I say you're free to leave if you want as there isn't much else I can do – unless you're needing directions to somewhere?” He quirked a brow. “I know the Nemesis can be confusing at first and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.”

[Sparkplug]

She smiled at his reassurances, relaxing a little more. It was certainly nice to be told she was welcome if anything troubled her, especially as her new alt-mode was still settling down. It wasn't something to change lightly, and even though her superstructure had settled down, she was peripherally aware of many tiny adjustments still underway to integrate the alien vehicle morphology smoothly into her own.

Then Knock Out obliterated her other concerns.

Megatron had been on the brink of death? And Knock Out had been drafted in to save him?

Sparkplug gaped at him, only slowly closing her mouth again. She listened as he went on, but with a faintly distracted look as serious portions of her mental architecture were dedicated to what he'd just said. The double beep from the datapad roused her from wondering what in the world Knock Out's backhanded compliment had earned him - a dressing down? - and she sat up properly, swinging her legs off the bed to perch on the side of it.

While his offer to give her directions was noted, and definitely appreciated, she simply couldn't stop herself from bursting out, "You saved Megatron's spark? I hadn't even heard that he'd gotten injured! I mean, everyone knows that he goes off sometimes to come up with new strategies for the war, but what in the heck could hurt him? He's basically indestructible, right? He was nearing spark-death, and they called for you?"

Before, Sparkplug had been impressed with the red mech, and rather charmed by his manner. Now she stared at him, optics wide. "You must be the best medic in the sector!" she exclaimed sincerely. "No wonder they made you CMO after that. I mean - what happened? How badly damaged was he? Was it totally, utterly terrifying working on him? Just - you know, one slip of the scalpel and oh well, I guess the last three million years of war were a waste of time."

She paused. "I guess that's why no mech said anything about it over open channels. I mean, there's never much news about the Warlord. I've seen a whole bunch of mecha, all telling each other different stories about where he's been, and what he's done, and even when they're obviously talking about him being in two places at the same time, they don't seem to really notice - so long as they think he could be anywhere, it works."

Shaking her helm, she went on, "I guess it's not surprising that he keeps coming back to you after that. He must really trust you to keep him tuned up." She blinked at him, glancing over his chassis again. "Did he give you a medal, or a commendation? It's not every day a mech gets to save his life, you know?"

[Knock Out]

Knock Out couldn't help but notice her gawking, although he was more than used to that and so wouldn't comment nor draw attention to it. Usually, he received those kind of looks from those who hadn't ever seen him before, simply because of how fabulous he looked. He was always a sight for sore eyes and took people by surprise. He didn't exactly fit into what was considered normal here among a sea of dull grays and purples. A dashing cherry-red, shiny and impeccable, with an air of confidence and charm that could light up the room.

The gaping expression he was used to. The words that followed? Not so much. Thanks and praise were rarely given here on the Nemesis, and the sooner you learned to expect that? The better. Which was probably why it was his turn to be taken aback, mouth slightly agape as she continued. She seemed so sincere, so genuine with her words that it was almost like he didn't know what to do except listen.

“Ah, I did – yes.” He hummed, regaining his composure some. He didn't want to break it to her that it was probably because they had nobody else around at the time – and still didn't, really. Not that he was complaining, as it meant that his position was so very valuable and he could get away with things that most others could not. Even so, he had managed to fix Megatron – he did have the skills needed to warrant and keep his title, at least. “He was caught up in an explosion – nasty one, too. If he barely made it out, then the rest of us would've had no chance.” Better Megatron than him any day, then again he'd never voice that aloud – even in the Medical Bay which was free from the eyes and ears of Soundwave. He tsk'd softly, shaking his helm – choosing to leave out the part about Dark Energon.

“He was... Well, he was very lucky – lets put it that way. and terrifying? Very much so.” He wouldn't elaborate further on that; how it was terrifying only because Soundwave was practically his shadow, or how he and Starscream had conspired to take command of the Decepticons for themselves during Megatron's moment of 'downtime'. Or how he actually had no intention of seeing Megatron live through things at all if it weren't for that pesky yellow brat Bumblebee ruining everything...

“Mm, you probably didn't hear anything because it was so touch and go, really – I wasn't about to lose him under my care, and so only those that were here on the Nemesis knew things were 'wrong' to begin with. No point in making a fuss, you know?” He smiled, plugging the datapad he'd been using moments earlier into a larger console that sat beside a desk stacked high with other datapads and miscellaneous tools and what looked to be half-built gadgets. Simply transferring the data over so he could file it under her records, no doubt.

“Starscream held things together well in his absence, so there was no need for an announcement on anything to those that weren't involved – no need to incite unnecessary panic. Should Megatron have left us, I am sure they would've said something, however.”

Pressing a few more buttons, he'd set the datapad down to do its thing and turned back to her, folding his arms casually across his chassis.

“He's an example we all should follow!” He chuckled, “I wish others were as dutiful about coming in for maintenance. Then again, he's the only one who can go up against Optimus, probably, so he needs to be in tip-top shape and at his fighting best.”

The second set of questions made him choke back a laugh, and he shook his helm.

“A medal or commendation? Ah, sadly no. Then again, the bragging rights are more than enough I suppose – and quite rightly so!”

[Sparkplug]

Perched on the side of the bed, Sparkplug listened with fascination as Knock Out gave a few more details, even as he downplayed his role with charming modesty. But to hear that he hadn't received any kind of recognition for his work - she frowned, and a trace of indignation leaked into her field.

"Well, I get that you probably can't tell me all about what happened to cause all that, and the organisation doesn't want to make a big deal of the Boss getting hurt, but Knock Out, that's a heck of a thing. At the very least, I'll make sure to come by regular so you can keep an optic on me, and I'll know I'm in safe servos." She tapped her left arm, and added, "Got to keep everything in good shape to keep the power conversion ratios up. Wouldn't do to start dribbling performance away."

Not to mention, it'd do her no harm at all to come by and greet him once in a while. The pleasant demeanour, the clean and relaxing lab, the chance to use or borrow a specialist instrument once in a while, and of course, the finish and the voice... he was definitely a mech she could enjoy getting to know.

Which probably meant she shouldn't end up making him sick of her company before she'd even finished making a first impression.

Pushing herself off the diagnostic bed, she looked up at the mech's faceplate with a bright, cheery expression, momentarily distracted again by his unusual ring-shaped optic lights. "Anyway, I figure I'm pretty much done with being checked over, and I'll have to get myself settled before I end up worrying about borrowing any instruments - which is a really generous offer, and I appreciate it, I do. All I need now is directions to somewhere I can wash any lingering grit out of my treads, and to know where I should go after, now that I'm aboard and checked out."

[Knock Out]

He didn't have to wait long for the data to transfer over, and after a few moments there was a loud, singular beep of confirmation – making him turn absentmindedly to unplug the datapad with a swift motion like he'd done it countless times before.

At least now she had some sort of record here on the ship – a virtual presence as well as a physical one. Medical reports would be listed here, as well as any notes on work that needed to be done, or had been done. The higher command could tack on warnings or any disciplinary measures that'd been taken, but unfortunately Knock Out couldn't access those parts of records (a shame, the gossip that could be gathered from them on others would be amazing!). Of course, nobody had access to their own file – but at least everyone had one.

Her words made him pause, and he'd slowly began coiling up the thin wire that'd been used for the data transfer, setting it neatly atop the larger console. She was right in that he couldn't divulge any further information; even if it wasn't Big M that'd been hurt, he did – even despite his love for gossip – follow a strict code of confidentiality. Then again, if she asked around? One of the Vehicons would probably word-vomit more details; some knew more than they let on, and rumors and gossip ran rampant at times.

“I appreciate the kind words.” He smiled at that. A genuine one. Thanks were rarely given here, praise even less so. It was nice to be appreciated, and the small, simple compliment of 'that's a heck of a thing' would sit well with him for a while.

“Be sure that you do! If you're going to be working alongside Shockwave and possibly Starscream? You'll probably need to.” He chuckled, flashing another wink before moving behind the desk that was piled high with datapads and various tools. He should probably get to work at filing some of these, ugh...

He liked Sparkplug. Sure, she was a little chatty, but that wasn't exactly a bad thing. She wasn't chatty to the point of annoyance, and she seemed like she would be able to hold a decent conversation – something else that was lacking around here.

He met her gaze as she looked up at him, and he'd smile.

“Mm? Ah, yes – you're done and good to go. I stand by the offer, though, just come by whenever you need anything. You'll find I'm more than accommodating to those who deserve it.” Tiny dig at Flatline there without actually naming him, but there was a subtle smirk on his faceplate all the same. “Ah, washrack – right. You go out of here, turn left and keep going straight – they're by the Vehicon dorms. Not the nicest of places, but maybe you'll get set up somewhere with your own personal one, given your possible line of work, so it may just be a one off.”

With a soft vent of a sigh he'd look down at his cluttered desk once more.

“- And I should get back to organizing this before it gets any worse... Again though, if you do need anything – you know where I am. It was lovely meeting you.” He smiled again at that, looking up as the femme made her way from the room, the door sliding closed behind her with a soft hiss of hydraulics.

Alone again. He should probably go and find Breakdown after his little outburst back there, but first... filing.

-End