[ti]Ep 2.5[/ti]Entry Eight [Knock Out]

[Knock Out]

Even though the object had begun to grow back, it was thankfully proving to be easily removed. The overly-cautious attitude toward it had been simply a precaution, given he didn’t know what this thing actually was yet. He didn’t want to risk jabbing it with the scalpel and possibly rupturing it - just incase it somehow held corrupted nanites or something else unfavorable.

Of course, he was just being overly careful though and probably needn’t of worried.

All in all, it didn’t take long at all to remove and safely store in a sealed container for Shockwave to look at should he want to. The scientist hadn’t gotten in contact with Knock Out yet about the larger samples that’d been removed from Flatline and Soundwave - and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

Regardless, he’d let the head of science know about this latest addition once everything was done here.

Knock Out had given up on the talking to simply make conversation thing. As much as he loved the sound of his own voice at times, a one-sided and forced conversation was a bit much, and so he continued to work in the ambient silence. There had been a small leak of Energon once the object had been pried away, which was then quickly and neatly sealed with the soldiering-tip of his index digit.

The surgery itself may have been rather small and almost insignificant compared to other injuries he'd worked on in his time, but Knock Out was dutiful and took care and pride in his work regardless - and not just because it was Soundwave on the table this day.

All that was left now was to seal up the incision itself, which wouldn’t take long at all.

He was about halfway through this task when the familiar buzzing could be heard approaching. Seemed Laserbeak was done with whatever mystery errand he’d been sent on, and was now returning to watch and loom - a little too late, considering the surgery was almost over.

Knock Out didn’t react to the cassette as he once again swooped into the room, landing on the same cabinet as before. His attention and focus on closing the incision, trying to be as neat as possible. If the mystery object did grow back again, this same incision would no doubt need to be reopened, but that was a problem for the future.

A few short minutes later, and the wound was now fully closed. A small hum of approval was the only sound given, and he’d gently shake his servo, flexing and curling his digits a few times before standing up straighter.

Then he’d spare the small avian a glance - optics narrowing some as his gaze focused and settled on what the cassette was actually holding. The object was vaguely familiar, and it took a second or two for it to click that it was a drive. It wasn’t one for any of the machinery here that he could tell, but he’d seen them before in backups.

At least, he thought he had. It’d been a long, long time since he’d seen one like that. Not since Cybertron at the least.

He wouldn’t draw attention to it though, nor question why Laserbeak had it. Soundwave hadn’t moved nor reacted to the cassette returning, and so he figured it wasn’t his place to, either - simply assuming it was some upper command business from Starscream or Pyrotech.

Carefully reaching over to grab a clean rag, he’d begin wiping down his servos, turning his attention back to the Spymaster, breaking the silence once more.

“Object safely removed - the feeling should be coming back into your frame shortly and you should be able to go back to your duties as normal. Again, let me know if anything feels off or odd, even just a little. I'll follow this new growth up with Shockwave, and find out if he's found anything regarding the other two.”

[Soundwave]

When Knock Out finished up, and effectively dismissed him, Soundwave's frame finally moved.

Careful, cautious to not tear or rip at the fresh seam... long bladed arms loped back enough so that narrow hands could grasp either side of the medical slab at his waist. Using this grip, the navy mech would ease upright, supporting his central frame enough so that systems there wouldn’t need to work as hard in the process. While no hydraulics or drivers were fiddled with during surgery, it was an extra precaution that cost nothing to do, and as such he smoothly turned with a pivot to allow his limbs to hang over the side.

Numbness, ache... while no pain surged and blipped through the medical blocks in place, he could still feel the injury as an anomaly. Pressure, a void as if that chunk of mesh that was numb was straight up missing rather than just lacking tactile information... it was odd, but at the same time recognizable, it not being the first, nor would it be the last time he had undergone local anesthetic for an injury of some type. Whatever the case, he eased forward, and a soft clunk sounded as his weight landed upon narrow peds and he straightened upright, before he dipped his helm slightly in Knock Out's direction.

A silent 'thank you' in a way, acknowledgment of his work and effort. While it wasn’t grandiose praising as others may give, it was there, not just casting it aside as 'his job' and something he shouldn’t expect to get recognition over. Brief, only after this required motion did he regard Laserbeak, helm turning up to the small creature while left arm raised some.

As if knowing already what was happening before Soundwave's arm was barely moved, the Cassette flicked his wings and swooped down from his perch, plated fins flaring out a second before contact to slow his progression, before delicately settling upon his hand. Here, Soundwave reached up and took the device in his right hand.

A cloned system file.

Given Soundwave's position in the hierarchy, the amount of sensitive data he knew and always had on hand, and how much could be ripped out and used against the Decepticon cause should he ever fall prey and become captured, his systems were broken up and fractured into two separate subsections.

Main processes that denounced personality ((or lack thereof)), system functions and autonomous things that settled beyond conscious thought ((such as fuel pump regulation)), and then add-ons like his visor and how to orchestrate images and utilize it to its full potential were in one metaphorical corner along with other basics. In the other, were things that were actually dangerous to fall into enemy hands. Data logs, experiences, strategy meetings and records and reports of missions and external Decepticon bases and means to contact them. Nearly all of his video recordings and a majority of sound files also sat in the second 'pile', among so much other Intel it was difficult to articulate it all. All of this? Was tucked into a nice safe... and most importantly... easy to nuke location.

Better to absolutely demolish his own drives and crash, than become a key to Megatron's fall.

But such Intel would not be lost forever.

Soundwave was an anomaly, but he was an anomaly that carefully set up his drives to not only fast dunk if the need arose, but to repair himself if gifted the proper data once again. Meticulous, careful... he had external drives with the highest encryption possible should he need to repair himself, tools that were so very seldom brought out from their locked away hide. It was this drive that was held carefully in his hand, the almost small innocent looking piece of tech, holding so much value to him. He regarded this carefully for a moment, before moving into movement.

That ever gradual stride... a slope of arms looping down to his side... Laserbeak flicked away from Soundwave's hand as the mech started to move, before clapping firmly onto his chest and docking safely into place, covering the fresh silver of his new injury almost completely. He would make his way towards the computer terminal, seemingly with purpose and intent that went beyond curiosity or just needing to borrow a computer a moment, intent to walk around the medic should it be needed.

[Knock Out]

While there was ample room in the Medical Bay for Soundwave to move freely, Knock Out couldn’t help but take a wary step and a half back once the Spymaster began moving. His optics narrowed just slightly, watching the movements of the slender navy mech - just incase there was something wrong and made apparent in these next few moments.

His gaze lingered some on the freshly sealed wound. While he was confident in his own work, and he knew Soundwave wasn’t about to backflip off the bench or anything dramatic, he was checking for dapples of bright blue Energon. Again, just being cautious.

But there was nothing.

Phew.

The helm-dip caught him off guard just a little - even if Soundwave was usually polite whenever he visited or had need to see Knock Out. He may have been the CMO but it was a thankless job, most taking him for granted. Then again, the same could be said about Soundwave, in a way - he was always listening which to most was an annoyance and breach of privacy, but he’d no doubt pinpointed things that may have been an issue before they came into fruition - it wasn’t just the Decepticons he listened in on, after all.

A nervous lip twitch, a faltered smile - a silent response to the dip of a helm. He’d eat up the praise and thanks of anyone who offered, but with Soundwave he knew better.

He’d watch curiously as Laserbeak swooped in once more after a gentle motion was offered. The drive hadn’t been offered to him when the cassette had re-entered the room, and so he’d honestly thought nothing of it, assuming it was something regarding more important matters for once Soundwave was done here.

It was an important matter, but Soundwave was far from done here, it seemed - rolling into a gradual stride, not out the door (like Knock Out silently hoped) but across the room to the computer terminal.

If it were anyone else, this would be the moment where Knock Out would screech at them to remove themselves from his Medical Bay, but he’d allow Soundwave to pass him, even going so far as to step out the way as to not make the Spymaster have to detour around him.

“Is everything alright? I uh - I do warn you, the systems here are a little slow compared to those on the Nemesis. But you probably knew that.” a nervous chuckle - what could Soundwave be doing? Backing up the data that they had here, maybe?

Primus, he hoped that data didn’t include his internet search history.

Then again, he could just blame that on Flatline.

[Soundwave]

Soundwave approached the computer terminal, looking over its system with care. He had already done some upgrades to the system upon arrival, trying to make it more functional and faster, but it still needed a good deal of work done to it to take it up to the level of the Nemesis. It should still do what was needed however, though it would take a fair bit longer more likely than not. Because of that, he didn't immediately respond to the medic, wanting to get things moving forward, as there would be plenty of time to explain while it progressed.

Slender hands rose, tapping softly at the terminal's keyboard to make the screen go active, and start to minimize but not close whatever Knock Out was working on. He didn’t want to break or ruin any attempted research, or... impair his hunt for illegal street car racing... so he more shuffled it off to the side on hold, before opening up a quarantine access system. Once the system properly guarded a data port, Soundwave pressed the hard drive in at the terminals' base, the device clicking into place with a snap before an error popped up to bar access.

An unspooling whirl, a quick connection to the terminal through the inbuilt data lines, followed by encryption keys being input before the quarantine program brought up a makeshift window to view the contents without interfering with them. The... exceptionally large content folder. Hundreds of years of data, thousands even, video clips, audio, data logs from reports and meetings that were deemed needed to keep on hand, all cataloged in an almost nonsensical pattern within zipped folders. While this all connected, Soundwave turned to look at Knock Out.

A flick of light, his screen backlit before white text started to scroll across its surface. It labeled the Data Log as having been cataloged a few weeks before Flatline was discovered here on Earth and retrieved from the felled ship. This meant the information that was preserved on the drive predated anything that could have been added by the mech's presence. Soundwave hoped this would be enough for Knock Out to understand what was happening here, as magenta lights pulsed along the data line from his chest as current data was being connected to a second quarantine access folder.

Now they need only compare.

They would be different, that was not up to question. Mutations, evolutions... no two copies would ever be truly identical given the progression of a Processor and the experiences that would be written in over time. A new memory and video clip suddenly holding links to another recorded earlier on, which then bridged a new link to an audio clip that was spoken a few years prior... The fluctuations and order of events... as much as it was a straight up data log, it was a bit more 'organic' in the way it was composed as Soundwave experienced things, making it all nonsensical likely to an outsider who did not know what they were looking for. That is, if they got past the encryption to begin with.

Perhaps within the list of 'differences' they would be able to find answers.

[Knock Out]

There was a glimmer of panic as Soundwave stood in front of the computer terminal. While Knock Out had been working when the Spymaster had arrived, he hadn’t expected this meeting to lead with Soundwave using the computer. Which was a little naive, everything was probably logged and tracked anyway, but there was something about him using the computer and seeing what Knock Out had been up to right there on the screen that was a little unnerving.

Suuuure, it was nothing more than browsing forums looking for potential illegal street races, but in an awkward time such as this when he should be doing his part for the Decepticon cause, there was no time for racing!

Oh how he missed it, though. He felt like a prisoner almost, stuck in this dingy little base watching over Flatline - which somehow made it even worse, not only was he a prisoner but he was tasked with watching over another. Unable to leave a list of errands with Breakdown while he found his freedom out in the world, showing off the sheer power and class of his altmode.

There was no reprimand for the window that’d accidentally been left open, and from what he could tell? Soundwave didn’t actually close it - simply moving it to one side and opening up another application.

He didn’t move closer - if this was some super secret file not meant for his optics, he didn’t want to see something he shouldn’t! Then again if it was something confidential, why the hell was Soundwave accessing it in the Medical Bay?

That was quickly answered with a gentle turn from the Spymaster, who was now looking his way. A moment of tension, he cautiously looked up to the visor as it lit up - not being able to see from here, he took a couple of steps forward to see what was being shown.

Data logs… Okay… There was a date but he didn’t know the significance - not knowing (or caring) to remember the day of which Flatline had been discovered, even if he remembered their first meeting well. Even despite him not knowing what the date was, he knew it was far back enough before any of this mess could’ve started.

Meaning they could compare.

Ack why hadn’t he THOUGHT of that?! They’d been testing the nanites, but there was so much behind Cybertronian makeup that they could’ve been looking into other differences. Sure Soundwave looked fine from a medical standpoint, but if one was to compare his readouts and data right now to one before he’d been infected?

Ghn. He suddenly felt like an idiot for not thinking of this sooner! Then again, Soundwave was probably the only one who had actual physical copies of this kind of data, and it wasn’t like he was about to stroll on down to his quarters and ask to see into every moment of his life (as fascinating as that may be to watch!).

This was some truly confidential information, here. Soundwave had been meticulous in his record keeping, it seemed. Not that anything would ever leave the confines of these four walls - Knock Out may have been a gossip, but he would never breach the doctor-patient confidentiality clause.

“Do you think from this data we can pinpoint the moment you got infected?” a cautious glance made to the screen, then back to Soundwave.

“Since I was infected too, along with a few Vehicons - but showed no signs of mysterious growths. Yet this anomaly is the only thing you and Flatline have in common, maybe knowing for sure will help in Shockwave’s research of the objects,”

A gentle shift of posture, he’d clear his throat.

“Plus it’d be nice to know. For curiosity's sake, I’m sure.”

[Soundwave]

The systems were slow, and it was going to take some time for everything to pop up.

Within the window dedicated to new information, a few files started to appear. A video clip, an audio log, there were dates and timestamps associated with it from thousands of years prior, and then nothing else would appear for a minute, before another meeting file would blip up into place with a link to a different timestamp... Each file didn’t really give much context to what was lurking within, coded and phrased with shorthand of some type. About all that could be gleamed was a generic date, and then the formatting of the file itself whether it was a text document, video, image, or whatever else. There were no comprehensive titles like 'Meeting with Megatron and Starscream' or 'Restructuring of Mine 49', or anything else of the nature to even give a semblance of a clue, which is part why Soundwave wasn't concerned with the medic being close.

It wasn't like Knock Out would rush over and click a random file to try to access it with him standing right here.

While this list was taking its sweet time to populate, as it would basically fill with every event that had been logged over the past couple months, Soundwave continued to now stare at Knock Out, watching as he put together the pieces and figured out what was happening here. He was grateful the other mech didn't need his hand held to the finish line, getting there himself and progressing the conversation to what this situation meant.

At Knock Out's question, Soundwave dipped his helm ever so slightly in affirmative, but then misdirected to peer slightly over his shoulder with a touch of uncertainty. Most everything had a timestamp of some kind associated with it, if only to help him keep track of continuity, however there was no telling what sort of file this was if there even WAS an abnormal file or string of code. If it slipped in beneath his normal routines it may be lacking, but the chances of that happening were slim.

A few more files blipped into place, one... two... then a sudden large chunk of multiple data logs and text files, only for the program to stall again and filter slowly... It was going to take a bit of time, but Soundwave was not going to go anywhere as it did so, almost acting as a sentinel before the terminal to protect the data. Well... that and the fact half the data was still stored in his chest, the cable connecting him to the terminal still pulsing gradually with illumination as information surged through it.

He would angle to peer back at Knock Out, if there were other questions to be had, uncertain if they would even find anything here or not. It was best not to hold ones breath so to speak...

[Knock Out]

Knock Out couldn’t help but glance to the monitor when things started to appear and list in what he assumed was some sort of order. How could he not? He could only assume that these were backups of Soundwave’s entire life almost. The Spymaster was such a weird enigma in that not many knew of his history and past - rumors swirled and there was gossip, of course, but nothing had ever really been verified as fact. Maybe he was a stickler for organization and some sort of hint could be garnered from a file name, or maybe something would open by accident giving Knock Out some juicy details.

But unfortunately that didn’t seem to be the case - the names were generic, a date - and not much more that he could tell. If it were someone like Flatline he’d be backhanded aside as Knock Out scrabbled to open files to learn more about some scandalous past, but with Soundwave? Ha, he didn’t dare.

Especially with Soundwave staring at him. Creepy, much? He wasn’t exactly easy to read - so he couldn’t even begin to tell what the other mech was thinking.

Hopefully good things!

This was awkward, and he’d give a gentle clear of his throat.

“I suppose while that list populates with the needed data, I will make myself useful.” an almost nervous chuckle followed and he’d glance to the bench next to the berth where Soundwave had been laying moments prior with his surgery, the tools used sat neatly - but they needed to be cleaned and sterilized. He wanted to be productive, hoping it’d help pass the time a little quicker if he was actually doing something rather than standing here having a staring contest with an inky black visor.

“Unless you needed me for something right now?”

[Soundwave]

Knock Out's direct input and contribution wasn't needed, so Soundwave made this known with a slight shake of his helm to indicate as much. Time was the only thing that could help here... or... time, and an upgrade to the systems to make it work a bit faster. The latter option wasn't truly an option that was feasible however, so really, it was just a waiting game. As such, Knock Out was freed to tinker with and work on anything else in the modest medical bay while cleaning up from the minor surgery.

Cleaning, putting away tools, puttering on other tasks... Soundwave watched the other Cybertronian quietly from his new station, seldom moving or interacting in any way. He didn't pace or fidget, nor shift his weight really, becoming an inanimate object that stood sentry over the computer terminal. In a way, it could be compared to when he was laying on the table, only the most subtle movements occurring that showed any sign of actual life as light cut across his frame in a blotted shadow.

The list behind the navy mech would blip and populate as time progressed. Something in this century, a bit in that one... things were few and far between, gradually leading up to more recent times as indicated by the date logged in file titles. There was a very notable change however a bit after, as the second it passed the date in which the old drive ended the entire filtered folder ballooned and started to flood out with hundreds of entries and fields.

What were a few dozen entries swiftly became a couple thousand. Audio clips from new personnel, video logs from surveillance, reports and notable Vehicon orders and schedules, all flowed within countless other graphs and photos and everything else that was deemed worthy to 'remember' in the Spymaster's life. It was substantial, and after this ballooning burst of data, the sifting slowed down, before coming to a conclusion.

Good. They have a list of differences.

Turning his helm once it completed, the navy mech gradually eased around to face the monitor once more, the reflection of the screen bouncing off his visor as he took in some of the data logs. With care, he typed a few commands into the program, slender fingers clicking against the keyboard thoughtfully. Isolating, organizing... Audio clips were audio, they were simple and didn't really have much heft to them. Bloated data getting in the way of more important things. With a flick, Soundwave removed and 'set aside' all of the audio files, substantially shortening the list down to heftier items.

Videos. Those would be the next things to cast aside but not delete. Another isolation folder, another filter to the list... bit by bit the master list was being chopped into, an unseen gaze peering intently for abnormalities or unfamiliar data types.

[Knock Out]

Knock Out was purposely going slow as he moved to put away the tools that’d been used. He’d carefully rinse them with the sanitizing liquid, letting each one air dry before rinsing them again - just to be double sure - given the mysterious growth was such an unknown part of this puzzle. Then, once they had air dried again, which did not take long, would he put them back into their correct spots. This Medical Bay was far smaller than the one he was used to on the Nemesis, but he made it work. Everything had its place, even if each ‘place’ was cramped.

At least everything was close together. That was an upside. He’d done well at managing to keep most of the dust out of here, too - having a base built into rock came with many downsides. Ones he’d voiced out loud many a time, but he was doing well at keeping his mouth shut today - trying not to draw attention to himself as he snuck the occasional glance over at the monitor.

It was taking a while to populate the screen, but given the speed of the equipment here and the data that it was no doubt pulling, that was to be expected.

He didn’t want to linger across the other side of the room lest Soundwave think he was just idling and wasting time, and so he’d eventually make his way over. Not hovering over Soundwave’s shoulder (far too short for that anyway) but standing close enough that he was there if needed, he tried to make sense of things as they flashed by but even if he did manage to get a good look, there was absolutely no context that he could pull from. The dates were more recent on some of the files, but it wasn’t like Soundwave was opening them and sitting through the recordings.

Ghn, the amount of juicy details the Spymaster had on everyone just sitting right here. Knock Out was honestly a little jealous. Also worried, given there was probably more than enough on him here to see some sort of discipline should Soundwave be in a bad mood, but mostly jealous.

Things seemed to slow to a halt then as it finished the transfer, and it was then that Soundwave moved again. There was a list of differences but it seemed that Soundwave was going to have to sort through it manually to see what differed. Maybe? Knock Out hadn’t done anything like this before, and so could only watch.

“Sure is a lot of data!” a nervous chuckle, wanting to breach the silence with some conversation so it wasn’t just him awkwardly standing here.

“Is there anything I can do to help or do you have it handled?”

[Soundwave]

Soundwave did not seem to mind nor pay heed to the fact Knock Out was doing whatever he could to stretch his tasks out. Cleaning the tools twice, carefully putting things away, quietly lingering while trying to find a goal... it could only consume so much time all things considered. The navy mech accepted this, and did not hold it against their CMO, not one to chide him for standing around or lurking when he was blocking his access to a computer terminal and subsequently all the records needed to line up his next job. Because of this, he did not draw attention or regard the other, until he was spoken to.

Gradually, Soundwave's visor tilted some to peer slightly in Knock Out's direction. Ghostly silent as always, simply staring for a brief moment, before a single gentle shake of the helm to deny his assistance before turning back to task. His input would be trivial all things considered, or... it would be until he actually found something- correction- IF he found something. Should there be a string of data skewed somewhere in these drives, then perhaps Knock Out would be able to stretch his usefulness and step in. But... it all came down to actually getting to that point first, which was more busywork than something that actually needed the input of a second individual.

Focusing to task, Soundwave dedicated himself to separating and scanning out all of the logs, things going smoothly and efficiently until he seemed to pause.

A subtle shift of the frame, helm marginally canting forward a small amount while weight shifted... Something had caught his attention, and focus upon Knock Out and what he was doing was thrown to the sidelines so that he could face it head on. This shift in focus was paired with slender fingertips dancing across the terminal, a single entry being ripped to the side and isolated fully from everything else.

The entry had a timestamp, it had a makeshift title following the complex pattern, and to Knock Out it may look like any of the other ones around... but it was a cloned title off of another entry, the file type different than the entry it was trying to masquerade as. This is why it stood out and looked abnormal once noticed and isolated. Only once it was safe to do so without compromising Knock Out's console, Soundwave carefully opened the file to see a slew of coding and abstract text that scrawled on for pages. A massive file that was in its base core... a potent virus that more likely than not orchestrated the problems they had.

Interesting.

A slight crook of the helm... Soundwave put aside the other folders that had the more sensitive data, and left the virus up on the forefront, taking a single step to the side to indicate that it was now time for Knock Out to approach the plate.

[Knock Out]

This was so horribly awkward.

And quiet.

Too quiet.

If it were anyone else, this would be where Knock Out busied himself on the computer terminal in the hopes they’d get the hint and leave, or would ask about the latest gossip - depending on who it was! But with Soundwave it was just… silence. Silence and the ambient whirs and hums of machinery, the gentle hum as the computer continued to pull the necessary data, hard drives working as quickly as they could.

He could, he supposed, ask if Soundwave knew anything about Flatline’s fate in regards to all of this mess. Today was the day, after all, that patient zero met his fate. Whatever that fate may be. Knock Out had been summoned to meet with Starscream days ago to discuss his findings and his opinion on the matter - opinions that Soundwave no doubt knew, given he listened in on damn near everything.

Would that be seen as gossiping, though? Ugh, probably. As curious as he was, he’d no doubt knew the answer to the question soon enough. Either Flatline would return to the Medical Bay, or he would not. There’d been no sounds of screaming, so that was probably a good thing.

Unless whatever it was was too quick for screams.

Ghn…

No time was given to dwell on these gnarly thoughts, however - the subtle shift of Soundwaves frame stood out against the quiet and still environment, and he’d turn his attention back over to the Spymaster and what had seemingly got his attention. A hesitant step forward was taken as the file in question had been opened, and he’d squint some, trying to look over the code from here.

He knew better than to barge forward, especially with the knowledge it was Soundwaves personal datafiles sprawled all over the console, and so he’d linger back a few paces until beckoned, which did not take long.

“Let's see here…” a confident hum of thought, he’d move to stand in the place Soundwave had been moments earlier, shifting his servos to his hips as he glanced over the mass of text.

“So… not only did this thing infect your nanites, but seemingly your very code. But- nobody else showed signs of this growth, well - nobody except Flatline, anyway. Why is it that you are special cases in this..?” he was murmuring to himself, trying to piece it together while speaking out loud.

“It… Mm. At a glance, it looks complicated, but I’m hoping it’ll be an easy fix. This was the earliest corruption, yes? Meaning whatever was done on this day - more specifically at this time - was probably the moment you got infected.”

A glance up and across at Soundwave.

“I don’t suppose you know what that was do you? Can’t get that information from these strings of code - this is a clone, an abnormality - a virus of sorts.”

A virus that, hopefully, he could work out how to fix.

[Soundwave]

Why were they the only ones indeed...

This was a question that may be answered right here in the virus that was now scrawled out before them. This jumble of text that need only be evaluated by a skilled eye could hold the solutions and reasoning behind everything that was going amiss. Given enough time Soundwave could probably decipher it, but due to the fact it was medical in nature it would be best suited to one trained in such arts. However, as Knock Out asked him a question, there was no immediate response.

It was hard to say the exact details as to WHEN the infection took place, and where it was obtained from given its cloned nature. While it would be an easy guess to assume it occurred at the same time of the duplicated file title, it was impossible to truly know for certain given it could have ripped the name off of any nearby title in a radius around it. Hidden within the virus itself could be the answer to this, to know if it renamed itself to the nearest entry or something different... but if they did assume the time WAS the same, it appeared to be when working data entry on the Nemesis... which meant...

Soundwave shifted his weight a small amount as he started to piece the puzzle together bit by bit; frustrated it was allowed to permeate the Decepticons as much as it had. If this was all started and kindled from a virus, which was an assumption given the new data obtained, then it meant it could lay dormant on a terminal or other mechanical device, which would explain how it got from Flatline to him. It need only require him to plug into a device Flatline had at some point...

A tilt of a helm, a shift of a glossy black visor, Soundwave stared down at the data cable that was firmly connected to Knock Out's computer, a sort of frustrated deflation felt when he realized not only was this system likely bogged with it, but any others in the new base. Which means anyone else who worked on the systems now could harbor this virus which would eventually lead to the issues? Hard to say how it got from point A to point B through firewalls, given they haven't figured it all out yet, but if this was the course of actions and cause, then there was a very good chance Haven was corrupted too given he worked to boost the systems there.

After a notable pause as he evaluated the implications, Soundwave had to consider how he could articulate these thoughts in a concise means. While he took his vow of silence seriously, and would not break it for mere convenience, it sometimes threw a wrench into situations where medical information was involved. As such, not wanting to try to cobble together recordings to get his point across, the navy mech raised his hand to motion briefly at the data cable connecting him to the computer terminal, before he gestured at the screen where the code lay.

A flick, a new window formed.

Using the computer screen as a larger visor so Knock Out didn’t need to squint up as the information populated, glyphs appeared at the top indicating 'Theory'. After this was written, a small portrait of Flatline as a wireframe appeared, with a line leading down to a computer terminal. The computer terminal branched then to Soundwave, and from Soundwave's icon it fissured out to the Nemesis, Haven, Blackridge... which then fissured out to Vehicons and then a series of question mark glyphs. Knock Out's portrait then appeared to the side, with a line leading to the computer as well with a question mark in the center of the line.

If this nonsense has spread, at least they only had to clean it up, since they already had a cure and monitored anyone for abnormalities before they got violent.

Tie up the loose ends, more of an annoyance than a real THREAT any longer.

Starscream would probably want a copy of the virus.

[Knock Out]

Knock Out was slowly working things out.

Probably not quite as fast as Soundwave was, but it was clicking. Finally.

There was no vocal response from Soundwave with the answer to the question that’d been asked, but it wasn’t like it really mattered when he got infected to the exact second. Only that he had - and via a different means to the way that Knock Out had, given the evidence of the random growth-like thing.

He hadn’t even thought of that, how it was seemingly like a different strain, or some altered version, merely assuming that Soundwave and Flatline had been further along that the virus had advanced in its progression. But this- ghn, they’d given the cure to everyone - even to those who hadn’t shown signs of the nanite-altering virus - but the new growth in Soundwave and the corrupted code before them? Well, it meant that they’d have to do a second one - only this one to alter their very code.

But how was this one spread? How had they interacted in a way that’d caused this new strain - if it was even new at all? That was what he couldn’t work out. If they could just get that piece of the puzzle, then-

He’d moved forward without thinking, peering at the lines and rows of random code, as if staring at it would make the answer or even some theory jump out at him. It didn’t, but movement from Soundwave caught his attention and he’d look to the Spymaster, peering at the data cable, then to the screen.

Uh…

His servos would shift to rest on his hips as glyphs appeared. Theory. Okay - Soundwave had a theory, and at this point? Knock Out would take anything. Even if it was the most random, useless theory - it could maybe jumpstart some process that he could run with.

The details that were being shown were clear, concise.

Troubling.

It made complete sense, though, and was something they all took for granted. How easy it was to plug in a datapad or diagnostics machine to back up something, make a note without typing it out, or reveal with ease when there was an issue within their frame. But if these devices were corrupted via the nanite virus… and with Soundwave being the eyes and ears of the Decepticons and using probably every terminal they had…

He didn’t like how his portrait had no real answer. But- problem for later. He felt fine, he’d certainly know if he had a weird growth-like thing in his frame, he was obsessed with his frame!

“Well. At least it won’t be hard to tweak the original cure.” he started, turning his attention back up to the screen, frowning some. “Of course, we’ll have to give this new fix to everyone just in case, as well as do a once-over for those who’ve probably come into contact with any terminals or equipment that either you or Flatline have used. Just in case they show signs of similar growths.”

A low growl of annoyance then, he’d look over his shoulder to the doorway. Of all the times for Flatline to get called away by Starscream, it just HAD to be today.

With a huff of a sigh, he’d turn his attention and gaze back to Soundwave.

“If you could make a copy of this file I would appreciate it. No need to leave the whole thing, just this particular part so I can reverse engineer it, or at least make sense of it all. The fix shouldn’t take too long. A day or two of work, maybe? Depends on if Flatline returns in one piece. Then again, I won’t be letting him near this - but I will be opening him up to check for more growths…”

Primus this was going to be a lot of work, but- hopefully, it’d be the end to all this mess. It meant going around and basically administering an ‘antivirus’ of sorts to all their equipment as well as all their Vehicons and troops, just to be on the safe side - but… At least they weren’t on the Nemesis anymore.

[Soundwave]

"No need to leave the whole thing, just this particular part so I can reverse engineer it, or at least make sense of it all."

If Soundwave could let out a scoff...

Of course he would only be leaving the infected file, not one to leave his entire life bared out into the open unless it was absolutely needed to recover his personal drives. There was so much here Knock Out could never lay witness to, so much that was beyond his rank, and even more that was from the navy mech's actual LIFE. Because of this, it was a given such a drive would not be left behind, Soundwave keying a few things into the terminal to disconnect and make the tool safe to be removed, before he unlatched it from the system with a solid click.

Lifting the drive up, Soundwave looked down at its shape for a moment, making sure nothing was damaged on its exterior or the prongs, before his helm rose up a bit, and Laserbeak crooked forward with a partial transformation. A snapping click, a whirling swing of plates of metal peeling away... the Cassette seemed to pull off from Soundwave's core just enough to make a 'pocket' between it and his chest, allowing the drive to be dropped into the void before clapping back down and into place. Should Knock Out have not seen Soundwave do this, none would be any the wiser given how flush the Cassette still lay in place, no indication something was hidden there.

With the drive now appropriately dealt with and shielded from damage, Soundwave turned back to the terminal where he started to delete the quarantine folders that held some of the excess data from the cross examination. Purge, a behind scenes purge so the files couldn't be restored... a final new folder made to relocate the virus folder into... Once all was said and done, Soundwave's data line pulled free to spool back within his core, leaving Knock Outs computer restored to its previous state ((with all his projects minimized neatly to the side)) and the last quarantine holding the virus left open forefront and center.

One... two...

Soundwave stepped back and away from the computer system fully, indicating that he was done with it, and what remained was fully Knock Out's now to meddle with. It would take time, that was for certain, but as long as they had the cure available to negate Nanite issues, than it didn’t really MATTER too critically if it did take over a week to finally be concluded. They were simply removing a cause while treating a symptom. As such, Soundwave turned his helm to Knock Out, awaiting any final words or last statements or requests... anything to indicate he required something to assist in this new goal, or if he was now free to retreat and tend to his new unseen injury.

[Knock Out]

Of course he knew Soundwave would be taking the rest of the files, he just stated it out loud so Soundwave didn’t think he expected him to leave them all. How he wished he would, though - being able to snoop through even a fraction of the things Soundwave had seen and heard over the years? Those files were like the biggest goldmine of gossip and secrets ever. He wouldn’t have to go to a drive in movie for at least a few years with all the things he’d have to sift through.

But alas, it was not to be.

He would remain quiet as Soundwave worked at unhooking the drive and deleting the necessary files. There may have been a twinge of disappointment in his frame as the secondary purge was done so he couldn’t do a sneaky recover to get back some of the files - but he was foolish to even think for a moment that Soundwave wouldn’t be nothing but thorough.

It didn’t take long until only the quarantined folder remained.

Honestly he hadn’t been expecting this extra workload to be thrown at him, but at least it would keep him busy. The hard part would be effectively cleansing everyone and everything that Soundwave and Flatline had been in contact with, and double checking - even TRIPLE checking that the virus was well and truly gone.

He’d look to the screen, then back up to Soundwave.

“Well, I think that’s all. Just leave this with me and I’ll get this sorted - like I said, it hopefully won’t take too long. A day, a day or two - depending on how complex the virus is once I get into the nitty gritty of it all.”

It’d been a long time since he’d done anything like this, but would take the challenge.

“For now, uh- you are free to go.” he didn’t know how to word that without it sounding awkward or like an order “I’ll keep you updated and be in contact over the comms should I need your assistance, though. If you pass Shockwave’s lab, you could take the new growth over there, if you’d like? It was small and mostly insignificant, but he has the other two. Either that or just leave it and I will dispose of it properly once you leave.”

A gentle shift of his weight, he’d bob his helm.

“Thank you, by the way - for finding this new piece to the puzzle.”

He would’ve got there eventually, he was sure - but Soundwave had made the process a whole lot easier.