Ep. 1 - Walking The Line - Closed

[Deleted]

<<immediately continued from Your New Lord>>

"I have been meaning to speak to you, Knock Out. It's about Dark Energon..."

Knock Out suddenly wished that he'd tarried just a klik longer in the supply rooms and missed completely Shockwave waking and wandering wherever he'd been heading. Scrap and fire, it was just one of THOSE days.

And honestly, at this point he was wishing that he could delete every memory of that cursed purple slag on the entire SHIP.

Knock Out made sure to stay very, very interested in the nanite patches he was laying down over the burn damage to Shockwave's torso mesh and plating. Also to sound suitably confused when replying, "Dark Energon, sir? Why, what about it?"

[shockwave]

Shockwave's sharpened finger tips twitched. It really was not often he allowed someone besides his own drones to repair him. He was not particularly fond of others touching him anyway, but to make any movement adverse to what the medic was doing would only contribute to more damage and stupidity. A self scan to find the small bit of glitched coding that caused him to twitch in the first place, however, was fruitless and he chalked it up to an emotional aversion to the doctor for some reason he cared not to explore. He had much more important things to investigate.

"I am aware that long before my arrival to this planet, Megatron had returned from a quest to find more troops with a plethora of Dark Energon. I am also aware, if only by..." Technically, his main source for the next bit of information was retrieved from Vehicons. "...'rumor' alone, that Megatron then used a share of the substance to raise armies of the 'undead.' These armies, however, were defeated by the Autobots and Megatron has yet to make another attempt."

He had not been given specifics. Most of the Vehicons who had volunteered to speak up did so only haltingly and with extra bribes. 'Zombiebots' some of them had called those bodies under the influence of Dark Energon, and there was an interesting rumor that Megatron could control his armies with his own tainted will. He had not a complete picture, but he had more than enough observed data to fill in the blanks with reasonable estimations of what happened. Megatron was a lustful, delusional fool.

"However, I deal with facts, Knockout," he continued. "Seeing as reports on commanding staff are lacking, I am requiring of you a report. To start, please tell me what you have gathered of its properties."

Shockwave's first question was where Megatron had found it, but to ask that would have been futile. Megatron likely would never tell anyone. And there was nowhere the scientist could turn but other officers. He was not certain, but he could guess that Megatron had had any reports and files relating to Dark Energon erased or hidden upon Shockwave's arrival..

[Deleted]

Nanite patches. And now mesh bandages. SO FASCINATING.

"Well, sir, I--like yourself--was not here for the z--undead-raising incident. I've heard much the same rumors and can make little of them."

Shockwave had something of a...REPUTATION in the army. His emotional capacity usually drew parallels to Soundwave, though less loyal, more creative, and more likely to drag in grunts for "testing". He was respected, but feared.

And, a scientific part of Knock Out's processor suggested...if anyone could figure out a way to safely use the dark energon, it would likely be Shockwave....

Yes, the practical part of Knock Out retorted, but results require experiments, and how messy will THAT be? How much contaminated slag will he have to clean up before then? How many contaminated, homicidal drones and who knew what else? Shockwave seemed the type to start his experiments with a true test of the capabilities of a thing, and if there was one thing Knock Out did not want to see, it was the true capabilities of dark energon.

Knock Out wondered if he could get out of this by manufacturing some sort of emergency. Primus knew there had to be enough of them on the ship...but no. That would merely extend this whole painful affair.

"As for dark energon's properties...well. I have no long-term exposure data at all and very little short-term data." Knock Out chose his wording carefully. "In the short-term, close exposure is...hazardous. Lord Megatron is--was--the prototypal case, and any mesh-deep exposure to his frame, even his claws, required extensive decontamination. Lacking that, the substance would cause a condition not unlike necrosis, subverting infected systems to some mysterious purpose and leaving healthy mesh and protomass to die."

Knock Out finished with the patching and moved to reset the wrenched neckplates. "Nasty stuff, all around," he said in his best and-in-conclusion tone. He didn't think he'd be so lucky as to have that be Shockwave's only questiong, but he could try.

[shockwave]

"I see..."

Shockwave took a moment to ponder and compare, but while Knock Out validated some of his suspicions on the matter, he was nowhere near as thorough as Shockwave had estimated him to be. Of course, the medic was speaking in medical terms, and what Shockwave wanted was a more personal account. A personal account would give a fresh inside look that he could glean information from. The necrotic nature of the substance, however, was an interesting point and one that the scientist had thought was a possible side effect of its use. Still, he was interested in first hand observations of Megatron's behavior as much as scientific insights.

"You are aware of its legendary origins?" he asked, taking a slightly different route. Not waiting for an answer he continued. "It is supposedly the blood of Unicron, enemy of Primus himself, spilled during battle as he went dormant and drifted into space, defeated. Any such occurrences are practically mythical except that some root concepts that seem to have been proven true over time. My belief in such myths is irrelevant," he added as an aside. "Many Cybertronians have ventured to find even a sliver of the substance, and only a few have ever claimed to have found any. I do not recount there ever being a case that such was found to be true. Until Megatron happened across a... sizable portion."

As a matter of habit he turned his head to look at Knock Out's face (looking into another mech's face not only amped up the scare factor his reputation had gained him, but also aided him in determining the emotions of others) , only to experience sharp pain lancing up through his neck. Ah, yes, his whiplash had not been cured yet. However, he could still see the medic and what he saw was what he believed to be apprehension, and his field seemed to reflect that with the tension of a mech unwilling to discuss an unpleasant topic.

His reluctance would only drag this out longer than Shockwave intended, and thus would not do. After a beat, he decided to explain himself a bit further, if only to gain just enough trust that he would receive the answers he sought.

"Knock Out, I have come to you not to query after the technical applications of Dark Energon. My ailments are merely a convenient excuse to enter your wing of the ship - I fully intended to visit before we were ambushed." He paused. "While intriguing, the effects of the substance on the Cybertronian body is comparable to a symptom. I would prefer information regarding the 'disease.' In an effort to persuade you of sharing what information you possess, I will admit one thing: I have no intention of abusing the material for the nefarious purposes Megatron and his ilk have exercised in the past. Rather, I wish to study it, so it might be used responsibly. Do not misunderstand me - it could be used to Decepticon advantage, the army as a whole. However, if Dark Energon is as counterproductive in its use as it seems to be, it would only prove foolish to keep using it. If need be, every last sample will have to be destroyed. Any information you have in regard to Dark Energon would be vital to my understanding of it. Personal experience, observations, especially in the behavior of others, effects of its radiation, and so on." He waited a moment to regard the other, to take in his reaction. "Have you anything to share?"

[Deleted]

Destroyed? That was music to Knock Out's audials. Not that he believed Shockwave was being completely honest. He was suspected that Shockwave would consider "honesty" (as well as, possibly, "ethics" and "morality") to be quaint, outdated concepts.

Shockwave was a creepy fragger, but Knock Out had faced down scarier things. One of them had threatened him in his own medbay while dripping in cancerous purple ooze not too long ago.

The medic looked Shockwave in the optic. "You have to understand, sir, that my observations border perilously on confidential medical information. And as I have yet to see a body or an empty spark chamber, I cannot confirm or deny that the owner of that medical information might not one day take...offense...at my sharing it. Straighten your head, please."

When Shockwave did so, Knock Out took the rest of the klik he spent straightening wrenched neckplates to consider his words. "As I said...much of the activity surrounding Lord Megatron's original Dark Energon occurred before I arrived. I have no first-hand experience with it or its effects. What I have heard is mostly rumor, off-hand hearsay. Especially since Lord Megatron kept a vise over access to the stuff. However...there were instances when the Eradicons were allowed around it...to move it or something similar. Word was that more than a few decakliks in its presence weakened them, clouding thought processes until they thought they were hearing voices. I heard rumor that Lord Megatron mentioned something the same once or twice: that he could hear the thoughts of Unicron."

Knock Out finished with Shockwave's plates and washed another scan over him. Most of the rest was details and aesthetics.

"As for behavioral changes.... Well. I can't say I have much of a baseline to go on, not knowing Lord Megatron closely beforehand. But, again, via rumor...general consensus is that he was more...erratic after his return. Aggressive. Impatient. More confident, but less...ordered in his thoughts."

Knock Out shrugged as he reached for a dent puller. "I certainly saw those qualities in him. In Starscream, too, after his own exposure to Dark Energon. Whether they were abnormal, however, was difficult for me to tell. Is that more what you were looking for?"

[shockwave]

That was exactly what he was looking for.

He nodded once, now that he could, and contemplated the information he was given for a moment. His optic was a blaring light as the information he had gathered began to synthesize.

"Your account is sufficient," he said, waving off the dent puller and sitting up. He could handle superficial repairs himself. "And your anxiety regarding the discovery of the source of your contribution to my knowledge, while well placed, is, for now, irrelevant. I will not take direct action or leak your name in the foreseeable future. I may have use for you, after all. "

Shockwave stood, facing the berth, but stilled, almost tempted to reveal, or at least outline, his plans to the doctor. It was a logical move, he thought, to include those with medical and fighting experience on one's side, and Knock Out was as reluctant to put his faith in 'Unicron's Blood' as he. However, to expose himself too much right now could become a costly mistake.

While the 'rumor mill' was a valuable social mechanism and had thus far proven a fruitful vine of intelligence, he was not yet ready to make a bold move. His first attempt at 'fixing' the problem, therefore, was through subtle manipulation of the Nemesis' workings and becoming familiar with his wide and growing opposition. Perhaps he would continue to speak to the crew, who held far more power in sheer numbers and community support than anyone aboard the ship knew. In the mean time, he would simply watch the doctor and determine where he stood. Only when the time came, and if Knock Out was deemed an appropriate ally, would he approach him.

Before Knock Out could herd him back to a horizontal position, he excused himself, "Thank you for your cooperation, Knock Out. Your aid has been helpful. Now, I must continue my research. These voices you speak of are a prominent symptom that require further study."

[Deleted]

"You are very welcome, sir," Knock Out lied smoothly. "I would be very interested in hearing your findings...from one scientist to another."

Well, the last part of it, at least, hadn't been a lie. Knowledge was power, after all.

Might have use for me, eh? Knock Out thought, optics following Shockwave as he left the medbay.

Well, that certainly cemented a few rumors. There had always been whispers about Shockwave's true ambitions. It was certainly interesting seeing what shook out now that Megatron was...wherever the Pit he was.

Knock Out's optics narrowed. Might have use for me. Hmmph. Two can play at that game. Sir.

Not that any of the arcane machinations going on in Knock Out's processor got him any closer to an empty medbay. Or an oil bath. Or a full recharge cycle.

Knock Out swiped the leftover detritus from repairing Shockwave off the medberth and vented hard. "Next!"

~End