[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Hidden Delights [Downfall]

[Deleted]

Episode 3 | Week 2 | Day 5 | Morning
|To start at Blackridge and end up elsewhere|

Standing at the entrypoint of Blackridge was a mech of black, white, and brilliance. One arm rested against his lower torso, the servo cradled between hip plate and body; the other arm held a cy-gar to his mouth, supporting the device as he dragged from it.

It was Virtuoso's first (conscious) day back with the Decepticon’s main forces, and he could already feel the strain creeping up on him. Waking up at the bottom of some alien body of water? He could handle that no problem. Hell, he could understand the neglect. This was a war after all. Not some hospice care group.

Blue tinted smoke pillared upwards from the end of Virti’s cy-gar. Normally he’d watch the vapours as they dissipated, but even that wouldn’t help to distract- to soothe. No, today his attention was on the shadow on the ground before him. With faux impartiality, he watched as the sunlight pushed it back. A slow process, but a much needed distraction because Virti knew if he didn’t find something of beauty here, the real reason for his agitation would surface.

Another inhale, and he drew the suppressant further into his systems and held it there. With closed optics he tried to visualize the way it flooded inwards, tried to filter out the outside world. The mental exercise went wrong. He was back at the Nemesis, in the darkness, feeling the water rush against him again. A spasm of reaction, and Virtuoso was clamping down on the cy-gar, dentas crushing the dispensing end.

”Ugh, Primus blast it...” A tone too tired to hold anger. Virti vented the remnants of smoke from his systems. This he watched knowing that these little breaks would be as rare as the cy-gars themselves. ”One- just one good thing on this forsaken planet.” Stuffing the fractured device into subspace, he continued his verbal venting. ”Is that too much to ask?” A pause, and then he was chuckling to himself, bemused by a joke only he shared in. ”Yeah... I suppose I ask quite a bit of you.”

Helm tilted, Virti had pressed his servo into the spot between his brows. The laughter had faded just as quickly as it started. ’What am I doing here?’ There it was, the true upset. Cybertron- what was left of it- was still fresh in his memory banks. To Virtuoso, it was like yesterday- hell it was only yesterday to him.

And he was already homesick. He was where this god wasn’t- where the memory of his partner wasn’t. And he despised it.

Warmth struck his feet then, pulling him from his despairing thoughts. The line of shadow had moved away from him, letting the sunlight pool on him. Virtuoso vented, dispelling an ire that aided him none. Arms crossed, he leaned against a nearby wall looking out towards his first sunrise. ”This could be something.” It was much too early to refer to anything local as ‘nice’.

[Deleted]

Downfall couldn't actually enjoy specific times. The images were just a distant memory, colorful pictures lost and muddled through a damaged nervous system- those things were long lost and sometimes, he wished he could enjoy one of those moments again, watching the sun fall and rise, seeing colors wash over landscapes, shadows darkening in contrast as they moved over to grant rays of light space to unfurl its true beauty.

But regardless of time, work and duty never slept and as such, the green jet was up early to fulfill his job as best as he could. After all, just a day ago he and someone else had successfully established camp at a far out energon mine! This alone motivated him enough to start this day as successfully as the one before.

Right now, the massive behemoth made his way over to the entrance of Blackridge, or rather the exit in his case. In his servos he held a box, rectangular in shape, slightly bigger than the norm and certainly looking heavy with its fortified metal constructions lining at each side. It was a simple and rather basic fabrication, nothing special, at least if one was to look at its cover.

Its true value, however, lay inside.

With their forces recovering and seeking out new foundations to strengthen their position, it was not uncommon that he had been send out to assist their troops in need. Just like today he decided that it was time to deliver another outpost with its requested items- it was this what led him to traverse further towards the exit.

But as he neared, an unknown voice rang through the tunnel like a song. Vibrations and echos traveled along the walls that lined their way on either side of the corridors to deliver its sound directly to Downfall. He couldn't actually decipher its owner as he wasn't able to recognize its voice, but he could tell that it sounded- sad, calm, and somehow even depressed at one point.

With careful steps he squeezed his massive frame further down the hallway, closing the distance between them while being careful to not suddenly drop the crate he was holding. Curiosity peaked and his interest and attention were focused towards the direction the voice was coming from.

“Excuse me, sir?”

A simple question, spoken politely and in a friendly manner in hope that the other mech may offer some space so they would not accidentally bump into each other.

[Deleted]

Distracted by the slow crawl off burning orange light, Virtuoso didn’t even register the weighted approach of Downfall. It wasn’t until the mech spoke, that he was jarred from thought and only barely so. ”Hm?” A low melodic tone of a mind unfocused. It was the kind of noise someone made to acknowledge the presence of an inquiring underling without actively addressing the question- not that Downfall was such a person. No- Virti’s thoughts were outdated, replaying old conversations in offices long since destroyed.

It wasn’t until a couple seconds had passed that time had caught up to him- as it so often did. ”My apologies-” Still trying to shake old memories, Virti turned to see who he had improperly addressed. His statement cut off abruptly, he wasn’t sure who expected to see, perhaps another vehicon- not a bruiser type frame. ”I...” Virtuoso would have liked to blame his lapse of action on the suppressants he had recently finished inhaling, but knew full well they didn’t carry that sort of effect. Though there were days that he wished they did.

No, what caused this freeze up was the thought that he messed up big time by addressing someone that could potentially be of a higher rank in such a dismissive tone. And on the first day too. Hard to recover from that. To stop himself from further blundering his speech, Virtuoso took a moment to actually appraise the situation. What was the stranger actually asking? Excusing himself for?

There was a quick glance upwards, something that didn’t answer anything. No, instead it brought more questions that did not surface fully. There was further puzzlement, eyes narrowed in an attempt to decipher the very obvious sign that Downfall sported above an opaque eye visor. The silent pause continued as he landed on a conclusion- help was needed? No.

It wasn’t until Virti finally looked down, that he actually clued in on the situation. No more than ten seconds would have passed since the initial encounter, but still, it was an inconvenient amount of time when dealing with heavy cargo. “Ah. I’m in the way, aren’t I?” The question was rhetorical, spoken to chastise himself. With a quick glance back over his shoulder, Virtuoso checked to make sure his path was clear before shuffling back out of the entryway. A side step followed so has to provide greater room.

Not wanting to be likened to that of a stick in the mud, and wanting to smooth the situation over, he casually inquired after the task. ”Did you need help with that?” Downfall seemed the type to manage well with hauling supplies, but the invitation was out there. A sort of unspoken apology for making the mech wait longer than necessary.

[Deleted]

As Downfall approached with his cargo in hand, he could tell that the other mech seemed to be confused at first- probably having been busy with something else before he'd interrupted him so rudely. One side of him felt bad, wanting to apologies for his own boldness.

It was until the unknown individual turned and spoke, apologizing first.

The green jet would stop in his tracks because of this, allowing the other to take his time and collect his thoughts. He could imagine how it must have had felt... but even that thought was swept off his processor as Virtuoso began to speak- only to dissolve into another state of limbo again it seemed.

That was something new!

However, Downfall always considered himself to be a patient mech and would wait as long as needed before approaching any further. For now he would stand there, silently, watching until the other caught on and offered him the space that was needed to safely transport his cargo out and into the open. Which wasn't all too long.

Yet, he was a large mech, a behemoth, well armored with multiple metal plates that were securely attached to his frame. And with such protection, there was also the weight that came with it. Each step he took to carefully squeeze himself through the corridor echoes an audible and thrumming sound at each impact, just to fade into the distance of the tunnel a short while after.

Outside- the sun was gleaming in its beautiful red and orange light, casting its ray of sunshine over the landscape to paint the environment in a burning color that rose majestically higher with each second passing. The wind was silent, calm even as it brushed gently over dry grass and shrubbery. A few birds could be seen overhead, singing in a shrill sound before sailing onward through the sky.

Then, a heavy 'thud' ripped through the air as Downfall lowered his cargo to the ground, metallic and solid in sound. As he did so, some dust swirled up as its heavy weight pushed rocks and stones aside to grant an even surface for the box to rest.

It was then when Downfall turned to face the other mech head on. Wings pulled flush against his back, shoulders a tad lowered while his overall posture seemed to shrink a bit in itself. He tried to look as 'friendly' as possible, not wanting to accidentally 'threaten' the other with his rather massive appearance.

“I thank you for your offer.”

He began in a calm voice, laced with the same accent.

“My designation is Downfall, and I too have to apologise should I have startled you in any way. I am currently en-route to one of our mining operations...”

A quick glance over his shoulder to the large box on the ground was being made, before shifting his attention back to Virtuoso. It was a casual move, done so to signalize the other that he was just a simple soldier.

“...to deliver long requested items.”

“But pardon my curiosity as I do not want to appear rude, but is everything alright?”

This time, concern snug into his tone.

Virtuoso's absence of mind had not been forgotten, and Downfall felt a small flicker of worry crawl underneath his plating. The mech in front of him was so much smaller, delicate and seemed to have something on his mind- something that troubled him. And who was he to ignore a fellow comrade, and perhaps a potential friend's concerns? He just couldn't, and hoped to offer some help in return if the other Decepticon wished to speak about it.

[Deleted]

A mind still dazed over, this time with unease. Virtuoso kept an optic on the brute, unsure of how he might react. Would the stranger simply huff and carry on? Maybe yell at him for his insolence? There were a great many ways that things could have played out, all of which were running rampant in his mind.

That was until Downfall settled his cargo.

The sound was enough to both jarr Virtuoso and set his head clear. The mech straightened his form back to his typical composure of reserve. To hide the possible and mindless movements of his hands, he merely clasped them behind his back. Virti was just about ready for any retort that might occur- it was the behavior he was used to back when the war was on Cybertron. When Downfall adjusted his size to avoid being an imposing figure, Virtuoso raised one brow and narrowed his optics.

And yet the stranger’s move to appear non threatening was backed by an equally friendly manner of speech- something that Virti admittedly found charming now that he was able to focus on what was being said. The skepticism in his features neutralized, and was replaced with the calm mask he usually wore.

”Patriarch Virtuoso-” Was he pulling rank? Absolutely not. Once a priest, always one. The mech gave a partial bow in greeting, still keeping his distance. ”-and the fault is mine. I should have been paying attention in the first place.” A strange base on an alien world? Yeah, he couldn’t afford to let his mind wander like that again.

Virtuoso eyed the crate, wondering after what necessities could weigh it down so heavily. Most likely tools- possibly spare parts for machines in need. He figured that the ‘long requested’ part had something to do with the fact that the main forces were currently operating out of a hole in the ground- not that he would complain- yet. Before Virti could even ask after the contents, he was met with a question from Downfall.

There was concern well wrapped in a politeness that the mech seemed to use so well. Since when were Decepticons so conscious of others? So... So friendly? Virti didn’t hate it, but he certainly wasn’t ready to like the familiarity of it just yet. What was he to tell the mech? The truth? ’Oh- I’m just so very homesick!’ That would be laughable. Virtuoso was not going to set out to make himself a joke. At least not in this instance.

”Yes, yes. Everything is quite alright.” A light tone to show that there was no offense taken in the question. ”I’ve just come out of extended stasis recently- still trying to ground myself is all.” He gestured absently with one hand, trying to will forth the least personal explanation. ”This planet-” Virti tried quite hard to mask his disgust at being on an alien world, but his displeasure ebbed at the edge of his words. ”-it is a culture shock.” A glance back at where the sun was rising, optics narrowed. ”Unlike anything I have ever seen..” Virtuoso’s voice almost wandered at the end, but he was quick to correct and even quicker to avoid dwelling.

”Is the mining operation far from here? Perhaps I could accompany you?” Anything to keep him busy. Even if that involved familiarizing himself with his colleagues, with an alien world.

[Deleted]

“It is my pleasure to meet you, Patriarch Virtuoso.”

A simple yet polite nod was then offered, dipped ever so gentle to show his respect towards the other.

It was truly a rarity to find someone like Virtuoso still alive, one who must have had worked so gracious in Primus' name. He could remember the places, could remember the shining architecture that acted as much like a symbol for many of their kind. The gold, the silver, the purity... now gone, lost to the war.

Downfall had never been a religious one, at least not right from the start, but once he'd found reason to do so-

“No apology needed. It must be overwhelming for you then, I understand.”

Reassurance was also offered once Virtuoso had stated his dilemma. The fact that he'd just came out of stasis, just to find himself grounded on an alien planet was certainly a true shock. Downfall could only imagine how he must felt right now.

The green jet would allow him to take his time, again, to gather his thoughts and sort them appropriately into his own processor. It was the only 'help' he seemingly could offer at that time; to be patient.

However, the sudden shift of curiosity did surprise Downfall as Virtuoso openly asked to accompany him.

The offer was not unwanted, yet it was something he would have to think about.

While doing so, a low grumbling sound left his vocoder. It was done so to signalize the other that he was in fact considering his offer, even if Downfall had no right nor rank to make this decision. A few precautions would certainly be needed, and they would have to inform their commanders about his sudden absence then. Perhaps, a quick check in on the control room to file Virtuoso as some sort of 'Back-UP' could work, as well as to check if the mech had been cleared for active duty so quick after his awakening.

“I appreciate your offer. It would be an honor to travel with you. The mining operation is not far from here. A good four hour flight duration should lead us to our destination- With an additional stop at an abandoned place called 'The Wreck'.”

His helm then turned, attention shifting towards the sky. Downfall couldn't decipher the other mech's alt-mode, nor could he foresee in which shape Virtuoso currently was, and therefore would have to rely on his own instinct. If anything would happen to this mech, Downfall would never forgive himself!

A quick shift of posture was made after that, his frame turning towards the crate that sat on the ground. His intentions were clear; getting ready for department. He hoped that his former sentence had given enough insight of 'HOW' they would actually travel.

A grounder would certainly fall behind as they were not outfitted to take to the skies.

[Deleted]

Virtuoso was not accustomed to waiting for permission. It was a poor habit among many that he had picked up before the war. His optics narrowed for a brief moment before reluctantly relaxing. He could fuss all he wanted to, but there were protocols to follow. With the Decepticon base in such substandard conditions, it meant all the more precautions must be taken. Still, the mech waited for Downfall to reach his own verdict- after all he was most likely up to date with the procedures of absences.

He just had the hope that none of those protocols would involve contacting anyone in the medical bay for any form of clearance. Virtuoso wanted to make a point of completely avoiding anything to do with that place or the mecha that operated out of there. At least until he either had a suitable revenge plot in place, or until he was certain that he wouldn’t absolutely lose his cool on whoever it was that forgot him back on the Nemesis. Hell, he was still trying to debate where his anger should even be placed.

Virti was just about ready to voice his concerns, but was stopped by Downfall speaking up first. Then he was ready to counter only to be disarmed by both the granting of permission and the wording. ’An honour?’ A low disparaging hum. Standing as he was then, Virti could think of a word or two about his company, honourable was not one of them. Still, he wouldn’t comment. Now was not the time to self depreciate- he was still focused on feeling sorry for himself.

”Four hours?” A spoken confirmation followed by a content sigh. Being away from the confines of the base- up in the air for almost half a day if one counted the return trip as well? Virtuoso could make no further complaints. Well there may be one- that being he wasn’t on Cybertron, but a flight would be good for familiarizing him with this new planet. ”A pleasant amount of time to soar, one would think. Weather permitting.” A glance over his shoulder plating, there were not many clouds to note in the red wash of the sunrise.

It was- ’-No. Not nice.’ A shake of his helm, the corner his mouth curling down in a scowl. The mech was determined to hate this planet. He couldn’t bear to accept his new surroundings so soon. Mentions of a secondary location had him dropping the negativity in his features, and hiking up a golden brow. ”The Wreck? Sounds like something out of a cadets’ story.” A low chuckle followed- one that didn’t last long. Virti had a persona to maintain after all- he was no clown.

”What are we to find there?” So many questions. The mech was not fond of being without intel. Didn’t particularly enjoy being to one with no cards at the table. Seeing that Downfall was getting ready to depart, Virti offered up more room for the large mech to pass. Casually he rolled his shoulder plates, checking for any stiffness that might have set in while he idled. There was the slightest of hitches that he pushed past. If he could ignore the problem it simply did not exist.

[Deleted]

Downfall offered Virtuoso no further signs of acknowledgment- at least not now. Instead the big flier would reach up with one clawed servo to tab gently at the side of his helm; sending a small notification to the control room so that their commanders would be informed of the other mech's whereabouts should complications arise.

Then with a heavy grunt, he would pick up the crate to hold it secure in his servos once more.

“The Wreck is just a synonym some of our Vehicon friends gave this place. It is no more than a graveyard, full of items the natives considered useless- trash, if you so wish.”

“The place may hold missing pieces of requested items, yet, I have to say that the possibility may vary. Nonetheless, it can be a place full of useful items depending on what one may look for.”

The humans had many of those places and Downfall found that, if he was going to have a partner along for the ride, he may as well check it out to gather the last missing pieces he would need to make his delivery complete.

It was always a pain to look for something specific if one was merely blind, but with someone who could actually see, it could perhaps even benefit both mechs in the long run.

“I have informed our base about our leave. We should make haste, it may be a long day.”

And with that he would take off.

A snarl of heavy metal hydraulics creaking and clicked into place before the all too familiar sound of transformation followed.

With merely a good amount of accuracy the crate that had once rested in the big fliers hands was now engulfed around a Cybertronian jet, safely trapped within the foreign aircraft. It was the same muddy green-ish color, big, with four long appendages functioning as wings. The loud roaring engine told as much; he was certainly a heavy armored flier, one who could not operate in stealth mission.

Though, instead of just making a straight bee-line towards their destination, Downfall would circle momentarily into the air to wait for his new friend to take flight as well. It was this moment what would give him a good insight on the other one's alt-mode, to decipher their flight speed according to WHAT exactly Virtuoso may transform into.

Another jet could speed up their travel process- while a helicopter could slow them a bit down.

[Deleted]

“A graveyard?” An indignant start, one followed by a cynical tone. “I sincerely hope you aren’t implying we’re going grave robbing!” The exclamation lost its seriousness as it progressed. A poor pass at a joke that Virtuoso immediately regretted uttering. It was out of character for him, and he chastised himself in silence. Even if this was the actual case, there was no room for prudence during an old war such as this.

But this was not the case.

“A scavenger hunt. That’s the first stop?” A rhetorical question. The priest was not accustomed to fetch quests, but knew that he could not be so picky given the Decepticon’s current state of sorry affairs. Rather than continuing his running commentary of polite complaints, Virtuoso sighed and corrected his tone. “I am certain Primus will provide us with what is needed. If prayers of provision are not to your liking, then you have my hopes and optimism.” He spoke softly, as if the idea of speaking for his god calmed him.

And it did. There was a comfort there.

With Downfall’s confirmation for departure, Virti merely nodded. It may not be a glamorous trip, but at least it meant not being stuck underground for who knows how long. He had enough of grave-like environments for a long while. Virtuoso watched Downfall with a neutral expression as he transformed. He was expecting the mech to take on the form of something local- a horrible idea that Virti shuddered at. It was a pleasant surprise when Downfall changed into something Cybertronian instead.

As Downfall took off, Virtuoso transitioned his voice to comms. “It’s nice to know there are some who have not forsaken their original forms for the sake of hiding from the diminutive life forms here.” A harsh statement perhaps, but it was one of those distasteful things he could not keep to himself.

Seeing that the bruiser was circling, Virtuoso knew better than to keep him waiting. He had already delayed Downfall enough as is. With a running start, the priest was in the air within seconds. The transformation was rather uncomfortable given the fact that he was thoroughly testing his repairs for the first time. He took this straining in silence, there was no way he would allow a minor hurt to ground him.

Like Downfall, Virti had kept his Cybertronian alt mode. Another jet as luck would have it. Unlike Downfall, this jet was smaller and sleeker. A solitary type of vehicle that served no purpose other than being a stylish personal transport of blacks, whites, golds, and bio lights. Pyramidal in form, there would be no mistaking craft for anything local. There was a small hope that their shared flight path would lead through unpopulated areas. However there was little care given to such a concern.

It did not take long at all to play catch up.

[Deleted]

While Virtuoso spoke, Downfall remained silent and would not comment on the other ones attempt to joke about their intended plan.

Some things were best left unsaid.

However, once the other flier had transformed and was up and into the air with him, Downfall seized his circling and made haste to get back on course. A small flicker of wings occurred, adjusting and moving during his own correction of flight pattern. Four large appendages on either side shifting to accommodate to their current air flow in order to keep the heavy vehicle up and steady into the air.

Once this had been done, he himself spoke via communication link to respond to Virtuoso's statement.

::I have to admit, it was not my own choice to keep this form, but mere circumstances of long lost events forced me to remain as I am.::

A certain amount of sorrow washed over his tone as he said this.

While he'd never paid much attention to his own alt-mode, it was a great loss to be robbed of this freedom to choose. How much he actually yearned to be able to have his vision back, was something that could not be put in words alone.

::If you allow, I would like to ask if you have encountered the native life form yet.::

Downfall did not particularly like to be reminded of such traumatized past and therefor decided make a quick shift in emotion, and a shift of the topic.

It was perhaps a bold question to begin with, but given Virtuoso's prior statement, it was difficult to overhear his distasteful tone in which way he spoke of the dominant species. At least, it offered Downfall enough insight to acknowledge that his current partner had also remained in their original Cybertronian form.

The jet that quickly kept pace with him was anything he had encountered on earth before- on Cybertron however, this triangular shape spoke volume! It was one of the most iconic shape seekers and other flight capability individuals chose back on their home planet. What kind it was exactly on the other servo, the armored jet could not tell. Colors and details were lost to him, merely merging together to form a rough outline of what could be described in many ways.

---

As they sailed forward towards the horizon that slowly began to emerge ever so slightly from its slumber, the sun began to cast its golden light further into earth landscapes. From yellow spots, contrasted by large shadows that embedded themselves into small gaps of stone and rock, up to deep menacing mountains that rose high into the sky the further they progressed their travel.

Up and into the sky, the world seemed to slow.

Though below, dry shrubbery and grass moved in tandem to the faint breeze that swept over them while trees gave an occasional wave as if they wanted to greet whoever was near. And if one payed close attention, they could even spot small movement of unknown creatures snaking their way through carved out pathways.

[Deleted]

‘Well, scrap.’ An internal cursing, the recognition of a boundary overstepped. It was a mistake to assume another’s choices without actually getting to know them. From casual politeness to the low tone of sorrow, there was no mistaking the emotional shift.

Virtuoso fell back slightly in the flight path, creating both a physical and emotional distance. He lapsed into a soft silence, taking a moment to actually mull over Downfall’s response. The priest knew there was a great importance in the freedom to choose. Hell, that lack of liberty was one of the starting reasons for the unending war. To have such a personal choice taken from you- it was an unbearable concept.

It was a constant thing, to remind himself to respect others decisions. It was a new thing to accept what was not a choice.

Virti could have let the silence run on, but the idea of not correcting a fault of his own causing was unbearable. ::I should not have assumed.:: A brief pause- he did not want to give pity in place of an apology. He was fairly certain now that with Downfall’s inability to adopt a local alt form, and his visual impairment- that pity was something unwanted. ::I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to jump to such a conclusion.:: It was a sincere statement. There would be no benefit for falsifying such a thing. Virtuoso could have made a defense, an explanation for his misstep, but they would only be excuses for his own shortcomings.

::Only one of them, and it wasn’t the ‘humans’ as they’re called.:: The priest was glad to welcome the change of subject; even if it was about things he did not like. ::It was some sort of aquatic creature...:: Virtuoso sped up as he tried to pick apart the memory as delicately as possible. ::It was the very first thing I saw here. An admittedly unpleasant experience.:: While his tone was light, he was not ready to laugh about it just yet.

::Have you had much experience with the locals?:: Virtuoso masked his reluctant curiosity with the simple reciprocation of conversation. It was the least he could do after his earlier blunder.

He was not ready to embrace their new surroundings.

And he was failing at maintaining a bitter and impersonal distance to this planet. With the way the landscape slowly and gradually washed over in hues of gold and bronze, Virtuoso could not help but to drink the sight in. Had he woken to such a vision, maybe, just maybe, he might have formed a more positive inclination towards the Earth.

Yes, Virtuoso’s resolve was cracking.

Because far down below, this organic world was chocked full with life. Whether it be ambulatory or simply shrubbery. And while Virtuoso couldn’t exactly make out what creatures ran from the roar of both his and Downfall’s engines, he knew there were many of them.

The colours, the lights, the life- it was a stark contrast to Cybertron.

Unfortunately Earth was not Cybertron. It was a mud ball with primitive lifeforms.

That's what Virtuoso needed it to be.

[Deleted]

While Downfall could pin-point the creatures roaming beneath them with ease, he sure couldn't tell what kind of creatures they were, and because of this, didn't pay it much attention. However, what the green alien jet could deter was Virtuoso's shift in flight pattern, yet he wouldn't question it as the other mech most certainly had his reasons.

And reasons he had, the apology with the attempt to correct whatever it was he felt to correct would not go left unnoticed.

::No need to apologise, you have not committed any wrong doing.::

Downfall tried to assure him in a calm and collected way as he kept his flight pattern rather straight forward. There would be no hint of a wavering attempt to comfort the other by slowing down or offering space so that Virtuoso could catch up again. No, it was better to ignore such a thing and not delve further into a cave without light.

::I do have to admit that I have not encountered the superior species of this planet yet, not personal at least. But I am much adept with alien life forms from many planets.::

No, Downfall could not pride himself with having met, nor interacted with the creatures that populated this world, but he could pride himself with having a vast amount of knowledge regarding organics and other species in general. He had visited many planets in the past, interacted with many species and races throughout his travels in many different ways, yet it had been a shallow and non-personal interaction... which he was glad about.

::But do not blame yourself for what misfortune you have experienced. Sometimes such things are beyond our control. But try to understand that in every unpleasant experience lays another opportunity to surpass yourself as an individual.::

The growing worry within his companions voice was thick and it was easily to catch onto things like this. If anything, it was the only advice he could offer at this moment anyway. Everyone had their own reasons, their experiences- and it was way too early to judge Virtuoso in any way. They were still strangers and slowly testing the water to accommodate to each other. Thankfully, Downfall was one of the more patient and understanding Decepticons and could sympathies with most of his kind; a rare trait which could be dangerous for both parties involved if done wrong.

---

Downfall would fall silent should the other have no further questions and simply enjoy the wind beneath his wings and the company he found himself in. It was still a good one or two hour flight before they would reach their first destination point. But for now he would offer the other his audials in case Virtuoso needed the talk.