The Energon Pub

Garrus 9 - Mines

Phobos eyed Nightbird, there was something about her he didn't trust. It isn't very easy to trust an assassin anyways, but something about her appearance made it all worse. Her yellow optics, how her weapons were all away. They were all in reach but an assassin would probably be holding at least one weapon when meeting a new con. They're not called Decepticons for nothing. Phobos gripped to his blade harder and looked down at his canopy, making sure he had the right gadgets packed in it.

"You will be meeting other Cons soon enough. Unfortunately the lively point has passed and we're finishing up the cleaning up."

>>Doesn't matter, that's fine. The less cons at a time, the better.<<

Phobos made sure to almost always keep optic contact with Nightbird, who knows what Nightbird could be planning and Phobos was determined on not deactivating by the hand of another assassin.

Corridors Outside the Command Center

As promised they met with more Deceptions soon enough... they caught up with Bludgeon's group after Cyclonus had made his departure. Nightbird casually looked towards the leaving Sweeps Commander, then back to the group. A respectful bow to Bludgeon before turning her attention to Bomb Burst.

She said nothing to Bomb Burst, except to tilt her head down respectfully to her commander.

---

Nightbird didn't need to say anything, she had never closed her team command comm so all the she had said could be heard, every Phobos had done in text transmitted along as well.

Bomb Burst's visor was down, blurring the light cast by his optics into almost a streak of red light. But his gaze certainly fell to Phobos. "A mercenary with selective amnesia?" He suddenly said to Phobos not feeling the need to introduce himself. He assumed everyone, especially an assassin, would know who he was. "Very interesting. Though I am having a tough time justifying letting you live since as far as I know you were sent after one of us?" He motioned towards the group. "As preposterous as that is..." he muttered, but a wicked smile revealed the deadly fangs.

Garrus-9 – Amphitheatre

“Well, good,” Firewire replied, eyeing Kronus, “I’ve no use for a cowardly minion.” She grinned confidently as Icepick made his way over to the slab.

"If you require assistance with anything medically, feel free to bug me."

“Yeah, yeah,” Firewire said with a wave to Gadget. "I'll still have to look him over when you're done though."

"I hope this is the beginning of the end."

“Don’t worry, Icepick,” Firewire said in another attempt to reassure the Monstercon. Words of a promise flew to her lips, but it was there that they died. She couldn’t make the promise that they would not combine again today. That was for Lord Scorponok. But looking at them…their optics were all hollow. So very shaken. As if coming out of some torturous, traumatic experience. Was it really so bad for them? Well, except for their leader maybe. He seemed to be holding together the best out of all of them.

Firewire shook her head. She couldn’t think about that now. She had to fix these mechs up. It was something within her power to ease their suffering. Going to work on Icepick, she began the examination of his injuries. He didn’t look to have sustained any physical ones. She examined the device that enabled them to control the Monstercons’ demon. It too was still intact and no worse for wear. Sighing with a bit of relief, Firewire closed Icepick up and gave him what was meant to be a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“You’re all done,” Firewire said with a smile before looking over to the rest of the Monstercons. “Next!”

While Firewire had been tending to his team, Slog had been watching them all. Many of them reacted poorly to both combination and separation from Monstructor. It was a traumatic experience. One that hit Slog the hardest out of the Monstercons, but also one that tended to impact Slog later rather than immediately. But it would come. He hoped to be far removed from his teammates by then to be able to shoulder the burden alone. However, before it did, Slog sought to reassure and make the best of the situation for his comrades. They needed the meager strength that he could muster this moment.

It was then that he noted that Wildfly had, at last, recovered. He often took the longest of them. Slog said nothing but placed a hand on his shoulder. Hopefully that would be enough to communicate the depth of Slog’s regard for Wildfly. As the slab became vacant once more, Slog gestured for Wildfly to proceed.

“Go on,” he said.

Garrus-9 – Amphitheatre

Slog seemed to be in bad shape. He and the others had the expressions of dread and trauma on their faces. What had that monster done to them?

Gadget walked over to Slog to do a physical analysis.

"Alright Slog, I am only going to do an analysis. This won't hurt a bit. All I'm going to do with this is listen to your spark's vitals." Gadget used a tool to listen to Slog's spark circuit fluctuation vitals, "Back in my day, we called these 'spark checkers', but they're really supposed to be called 'stethoscopes'." Gadget pulled the stethoscope off of his audio receptors and said, "you seem to be alright spark-wise. Your fluctuation pulse is just high because of this unfortunate event."

Gadget then said to Firewire, "We should take them to the medical facility for further analysis. I am thinking we should do some energon tests. Or, I could just do this..."

Gadget then transformed into his repair/medical vehicle mode as close to Slog as possible. A small but decently sized working table/seat pulled out for further tests. "This might work. I suspect that you fellows would rather not take a meander to the medical facility, so we might as well just do some vital checks and such here. Alright Mr. Slog, I need to ask you to take a seat right here so I can do some further analysis." A small medical arm gestured toward the seat as Gadget said it, "Think of it just like a normal checkup, since that's pretty much what it is."

Garrus 9 - Corridors

Phobos followed Nightbird, still unsure whether to trust her and her comrades. She lead him to outside the command center, were he met up with the other cons and Bomb Burst. Once he saw Nightbird bow, he copied her. Phobos then examined Bomb Burst and made sure every detail was noted, Phobos glanced back at Nightbird and then looked Bomb Burst in the optics.

"A mercenary with selective amnesia? Very interesting. Though I am having a tough time justifying letting you live since as far as I know you were sent after one of us? As preposterous as that is..."

>>Indeed.<< Texted Phobos to Bomb Burst. >>I could be after any one of you, it might even be a poor generic assassin.<< Phobos grinned, he made sure his blade was completely visible and then ran his finger across it.

Phobos glanced towards Nightbird again and then looked back at Bomb Burst.

>>Of course, I forgot to tell you-<< Phobos didn't have time to finish the text before his canopy slipped open and a sphere rolled out and exploded, flooding the room with smoke. Phobos waved his blade around clearing some, if not, none of the smoke away.

>>Sorry, it's been opening without warning for a while now.<<

Medical Bay

When the smoke cleared... Nightbird had her sai out. One was pressed into Phobos' neck plating, the other in the soft armor of his waist.

Bomb Burst hadn't moved. He remained in the exact same place he was when Phobos dropped the smoke bomb, a bored look across his faceplate.

"Cute." The Vampire said flatly as he waved his actuators slightly at Nightbird to remove her sai from the newcomer.

--

"Your biggest mistake was threatening him, as veiled as it were." Nightbird whispered into Phobos' audio receptor, sai still held firmly in place for just a lingering moment longer before they were flipped back in place on her wrists. "Or at least that is how we view it threatening him."

With that she was gone. Disappeared... only to seemingly reappear behind The Vampire.

--

"No more games." The Vampire said to Phobos at the same time as Nightbird had disappeared from view. "If you are not here to kill one b of us, you'should better decide what you want to do. This would be your only chance to walk away... at least from here. Out there..." he motioned to the shadows. "Is far more dangerous." Again, he smiled, this one suggestive that something devious was on his mind.

Corridors outside Command Center

When the smoke cleared, Phobos suddenly found himself looking at the tip of Nightbird's sai's. She was threatening to cut his circuits. Bomb Burst hadn't moved at all and it seemed like his trick had no effect at all on him.

"Your biggest mistake was threatening him, as veiled as it were. Or at least that is how we view it threatening him." Nightbird then released him and disappeared.

I like you, Nightbird. Hopefully we meet again soon.

"No more games. If you are not here to kill one of us, you should better decide what you want to do. This would be your only chance to walk away... at least from here. Out there...is far more dangerous." Bomb Burst then smiled, deviously, and Phobos did not like it one bit.

Phobos looked around him, he had no way of leaving this planet without a shuttle or anything and Elba, as Bomb Burst said, is probably too dangerous for him. Phobos doesn't have a death wish, except probably by Nightbird, and he knows when something is too dangerous for him, sometimes.

>>I like your little group, mind if I stick around? As you know, I do not know who my target is.<<

Med Bay

Bomb Burst's optics drifted towards Bludgeon. Despite his habit of always keeping assassins near, so he knew what they were up to, this was not his decision to make at the moment.... though he had already processed back up plans.

This was Bludgeon's call. "Master Bludgeon ...?" He asked softly.

Corridors near ruined command centre

Bludgeon didn't even turn as he replied to Bomb burst

"Get your rabble in order Bomb burst the next time one of them starts something I'll be removing their sparks with my fist"

The electric warriors optics drifted over the fallen Fortress Maximus his thoughts lingering on Cyclonus's words. He then replied to the purple warrior with his usual insight.

"Surely it would better to let him live with the thought he'd failed rather than showing his failure. showing his failure might create an flame of determination that might never be extinguished"

Medical Bay

"Yes Master Bludgeon..." Bomb Burst muttered avoiding optic contact with him. In a team he looked to Phobos. "You're in luck, you're mine now. No more tricks, Bludgeon does not bluff." He motioned to Phobos to keep up as they followed Cyclonus.

Garrus 9 - Corridors

Phobos looked to Bludgeon, he looked as emotionless as he was in his current state.

"You're in luck, you're mine now. No more tricks, Bludgeon does not bluff."

No more tricks? Well that's no fun, is it?

Phobos followed Bomb Burst as he motioned him to follow him. Phobos eyed Bomb Burst again, still unsure whether to trust that toothy grin.

>>I belong to you? What does that mean?<<

Garrus-9--Mines

Tentakil watched as Overbite and Skalor lead the way on their little Seacon adventure. He couldn't help but muse how, in other circumstances, many of Tentakil's pleasant memories started out this way: a mech wandering off into a darkened space, Tentakil happily following. Some small-talk. Some pittering and pattering of metallic feet against foreign surfaces. And then the smooth embrace of darkness. Only to start anew again when Tentakil found another willing target. Such fun! In this little jaunt, though, he would be content to see where Overbite and Skalor's sensibilities ultimately lead them.

"Bots to hunt. Bots to hunt. Mmm. That sounds enjoyable," Tentakil said, keeping pace with the others as he did his best to avoid finding himself in the direct line of Skalor's unique odor. He and Blot should really have been thrown onto their own sub-unit. Tentakil never really noticed it when they were submerged. But up here? Yeesh. "I wonder how many are left. Surely not too many. Cells. Cells or dead. Wasted wasted wasted..."
___

Garrus-9 Corridors

Cipher's broad smile said more than any words. He returned the smile with one of his own, for he too was giddy at the prospect of seeing what all Cipher could unlock once he had access to that infernal machine.

It seemed like forever ago when they first stepped foot on Lv-117 and discovered the trove of potential locked within Jhiaxus' ancient fortress. But on top of that, the prize had always been about acquiring Aequitas. The Autobots could evade them for only so long.

“I am more than ready to leave. Wouldn’t it be simply marvelous if our Hunter has found our elusive quarry?”

"If anyone in the entire empire can track down that horror of days past, it will be Scourge. The High Commander clearly had the foresight to send his best. I'm sure it won't be long until we're whisked away from this desolate moon and sent on our way. And then you can play!"

"Let’s get going. I don’t want to miss a thing. Especially if Scourge has news of Omega Supreme’s whereabouts.”

"With haste!" Mindwipe said cheerfully, gripping the other's hand in return as they sauntered off to the amphitheater, both of them clearly eager to see what Scorponok had accomplished in their absence. When word from Scourge came in, it would go directly to Scorponok first and, like Cipher, Mindwipe had no desire to miss out.

Med Bay

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:
>>I belong to you? What does that mean?<<

"It doesn't mean anything." Nightbird answered Phobos for Bomb Burst. "Just that he decided you're one of his assassins now. And he's less likely to make a meal of you."

Garrus 9 – Amphitheatre

"Alright Slog, I am only going to do an analysis. This won't hurt a bit. All I'm going to do with this is listen to your spark's vitals."

Slog glanced over to the new arrival, some sort of medic perhaps, holding his hands up in front of him. “Oh, wait a moment…” But the doctor proceeded to take some readings before the Monstercon artist could utter a word more of protest. He frowned unhappily, a touch displeased that his request to have his team examined first go ignored. Stepping away as the medic transformed, Slog frowned down at Gadget.

"This might work. I suspect that you fellows would rather not take a meander to the medical facility, so we might as well just do some vital checks and such here. Alright Mr. Slog, I need to ask you to take a
seat right here so I can do some further analysis."

“I’m afraid I must refuse until the rest of my team is seen to,” Slog said, waving over Birdbrain from nearby. “Please grant me this.” It was a little bemusing to be called ‘mister’, but ultimately of no consequence. This fellow seemed polite enough and likewise only wanted to tend to the welfare of his team, so Slog was content to let him do just that. But it would be his team that went first. He would be adamant on that point.

As Birdbrain approached, Slog gestured for him to take a seat, which he did. However, he gave Slog a bit of a look as he did so. “You should really worry a little about yourself, Slog,” Birdbrain commented.

“I am not worth worrying over,” Slog replied simply. Though his teammates might disagree, it was the truth for Slog. He was of so little worth comparatively to them. At least in his mind. They were his precious friends. They had been the only thing that had made their four million year incarceration even somewhat enjoyable. As such, he looked down at Gadget. “How is he?”


Central Wing – Medical Bay

Stranglehold followed Cyclonus with some amount of curiosity to the central med bay. He had no where better to be, and this sounded like it was going to be more than a little entertaining. Of course, they couldn’t go a bream with Bomb Burst around without him or his lackies causing some kinda ruckus. The wrestler, for his part, just ignored them and stopped a little behind Cyclonus when they arrived.

Slag, the warden was huge. He had known that. He’d been a prisoner here, slaggit. But. Frag. Stranglehold had never really been this up close and personal with the warden. But something nagged at him. The horned warrior had said something about breaking Maximus so he’d never be able to look Prime in the optic again or something.

“So…what has happened to the Technobots?” he asked. Stranglehold guessed they would see that soon, but…he figured he’d ask. Bludgeon had his own thoughts on the matter, but the enforcer didn’t care much for debating how to best break a mech’s spark. Afterall, it wasn’t him that was gonna be doing the breaking. But he was quite curious to see it.


Mines

“Gentlemechs. This way, please. We have 'Bots to hunt.”

“Go, ‘Bite, go!” Skalor cheered half-heartedly. Hm. He took a couple sniffs of the air. The nice little bonus of being immune to his own scent allowed him to pick out others with decent accuracy. Not that he had been sniffing a lot of the Autobots on their way to the mines, but…the stink of those Autobots wouldn’t be too hard to pick out. Still, Overbite was the keener hunter, so Skalor was more than content to let him lead the way.

"I wonder how many are left. Surely not too many. Cells. Cells or dead. Wasted wasted wasted..."

Skalor shrugged at that, spurting out a few globs of internal fluids from various joints in his armor plating. “Dunno, 'Kil. Can’t be too many. ‘Sides, we can mess with the ones down here all we want. Snaptrap just said don’t kill them, though he probably won’t be bothered if a couple turn up dead. Well. He might…actually…”

After a moment’s unease, Skalor simply shrugged it off. He hadn’t offed one of the Autobots out of boredom yet. He was safe at least. Whether the others were wasn’t really his concern.

Garrus 9 – Amphitheatre

“I’m afraid I must refuse until the rest of my team is seen to,” Slog said, waving over Birdbrain from nearby. “Please grant me this.”

As Birdbrain sat down, Gadget said, "Very well Slog, though I will have to check you eventually."

“You should really worry a little about yourself, Slog,” Birdbrain commented.

“I am not worth worrying over,” Slog replied simply.

"All my patients are worth worrying over," said Gadget.

Gadget went on to check Birdbrain. “How is he?” asked Slog. "All main vitals seem to be in order. His energon pulse, spark fluctuation rhythm, everything seems to be in order. Seems your spark pulse is slightly lower than Slog's, Birdbrain. You seem to be a bit less stressed than Slog, though your stress levels are still quite high. I do worry about you too Slog, though I'll grant your request and check your teammates first."

Gadget then checked Birdbrain's internal temperature, "Hmm your temperature seems to be quite high Birdbrain. You could use some coolants and a good rest."

Gadget then said to Slog, "Overall, Birdbrain seems to be mostly dealing with high stress, though I do recommend watching each-other for any further symptoms."

Gadget then transformed back to robot mode, and then asked Birdbrain, "Speaking of symptoms, how are you feeling?"

Corridors near the Command Centre

Bludgeon moved alongside the massive form of Fortress Maximus his thoughts his own as he heard Nightbird speak.

"I do not remember saying anyone was his, I guess the fault is mine Nightbird"

He stopped and looked back at the ninja his optics flashing briefly

"So let me be clear you step out of line or threaten fellow decepticons again you will be ended"

Medical Bay

Nightbird simply just stood quietly as Bludgeon spoke.

"My apologies sir, I did not mean to suggest you had said that, rather that was what Bomb Burst is saying." She finally said after Bludgeon had finished speaking. "I shall endeavor to be more clear, again, my apologies... as for threatening anyone... my first concern is the safety of Bomb Burst, he has always made it my job to 'watch his back' as it were. However, while I am in your presence, I will allow Vampire fend for himself. Dealing with him is different than dealing with any other creature in this universe."

Her yellow optics drifted from Bludgeon to Bomb Burst. The Vampire knew what she was asking of him without her needing to say. He simply nodded slightly.

Letting her mask slide away from her faceplate, she turned back towards Bludgeon and removed her katana from her back.

"I will again apologize, sir, I should have done this sooner, but in the chaos as you prepared to take the communications array, I neglected to." She said to Bludgeon. "I have no desire to fight you, in the metaphorical sense of course... fight you with my willfulness as Vampire does."

She held her katana towards Bludgeon, the swords glinted, revealing their old age. They were not ornate in any way, but they had a craftsmanship not seen in many, many years. "My spark, my blade, my processor, are yours. I am your weapon of your will, your desire, the extension of your wrath for as long as you require me. I will die before I fail you, and I will do all in my power to bring you honor. Your enemies are my enemies." She recited her oath to Bludgeon, one that she had recited before to Bomb Burst, and very few times before that. "A mercenary does not give her oath lightly... I will give my life before I break it, without an expectation in return."

To be honest, as she stood there symbolically offering her blades, she expected Bludgeon to reject her offer. The Metallikato Master, she figured, would rather not deal in the dishonorable world of ninjas, assassins, and spies. Bomb Burst rarely spoke of Bludgeon, limited mostly to say how much he troubled and disgraced The Warrior. So she expected to be rejected and would be fine with that as well, she would simply slip away at his word. This prompted her to add a caveat:

"If my offer does not disgrace you, of course." She said softly. "And despite my association with him...." Her optics went to the Vampire for just a moment. "I'm much less a loose cannon than he."

Garrus 9 - Corridors

Phobos stared at Bomb Burst waiting for an answer, but suddenly Nightbird reappeared and answered for him.

"It doesn't mean anything. Just that he decided you're one of his assassins now.

Bomb Burst could've worded it better...

"And he's less likely to make a meal out of you."

Cannibalistic robots?

Phobos then got a good look of Bludgeon when he turned around, Phobos was completely silent and made no movement. Phobos was unsure whether he was talking to him or Nightbird, but Nightbird answered. He looked at Nightbird and smiled. Phobos realized he was still holding his blade, he put it back in his canopy to see if they would try and catch him off guard to test him. Nightbird then went and did a whole traditional apologizing thing and Phobos did not think highly of it.

Med Bay

Bomb Burst's attention was caught briefly by Phobos putting away his blade. His curiosity piqued over that. He had not figured the newest addition to feel comfortable with them... ever... no one should ever feel comfortable in the midst of assasins.

>>"You seem very out of your element at the moment."<< The Vampire sent silently to Phobos as he drifted optics back to Nightbird for a moment. >>"Like you are comfortable. Why would you put your blade somewhere so inaccessible as your cockpit?"<< Habit of his unit was never to not have a weapon within a quick reach. And despite his faults, curiosity was one trait he possessed a lot of... a lot of.

Garrus 9 - Corridors

>>"You seem very out of your element at the moment. Like you are comfortable, why would you put your blade somewhere so inaccessible as your cockpit?"<<

Phobos looked at Bomb Burst and grinned.

>>I haven't been quite myself since the crash.<< Phobos replied.

>>Not really, actually. So, you noticed, well I'm just seeing if you really trust me.<< Phobos glanced to Nightbird and Bludgeon and then looked back at Bomb Burst. >>I still have my rifle on me.<<

Medical Bay

>>"I trust no one."<< Bomb Burst replied to Phobos. >>"And I notice everything. In what I do, I must notice everything, and must never trust anyone, else I'd have been terminated a very long time ago."<<

Garrus 9 - Corridors

>>"I trust no one. And I notice everything. In what I do, I must notice everything, and must never trust anyone, else I'd have been terminated a very long time ago."<<

>>Fair enough.<< Phobos looked around. >>So, not even Nightbird then? She seems to trust you, but she probably has the same principles as you, to trust no one.<<

Phobos took his blade out of his cockpit and split it, he connected them to his wrists and looked around again.

Med Bay

>>"No one should trust Nightbird."<< Bomb Burst replied to Phobos' inquiry on the ninja. >>"She is, in her spark, a mercenary, making her a spy willing to sell out to the highest bidder."<< He looked to her briefly before going back to staring straight ahead. A small smile crept onto his faceplate then quickly dissipated. >>"The highest bidder just happens to be me. Neither of us trust the other implicitly, as our relationship is built on the foundation of I will kill her and she will betray me. But, if anything could be said about her, she is true to her oaths."<<

Garrus 9 - Corridors

>>"No one should trust Nightbird. She is, in her spark, a mercenary, making her a spy willing to sell out to the highest bidder. The highest bidder just happens to be me. Neither of us trust the other implicitly, as our relationship is built on the foundation of I will kill her and she will betray me. But, if anything could be said about her, she is true to her oaths."<<

Phobos stared at Nightbird.

A mercenary, like me. But Bomb Burst isn't paying me to do this, am I losing faith in my own spark? That can't be possible. It must be the crash landing. Wait a minute...I still have a target...

Phobos shook his head and stared at the floor for a while, he turned back to Bomb Burst. Something suddenly hit Phobos, he closed optics tightly and was completely still for an astro second or 2. It was like the gears in his head were stuck and couldn't rotate and then they suddenly started going again. Phobos straightened his stance and looked around again he glanced down at the energon daggers strapped to his wrists. He looked back at Bomb Burst.

>>So, in the event that I do remember my target, what would you do with me?<<

Medical Bay

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:
>>So, in the event that I do remember my target, what would you do with me?<<

>>"That would entirely depend on who your target is."<< Bomb Burst said watching Phobos out of the corner of his eye as the mercenary received the answer. >>"If your target is of no consequence to me, then I would give you every means possible to terminate it. If your target is someone under my charge, I would kill you before you could draw your weapon. If it is Bludgeon, his crew, or Nightbird... well, that is just insane. No one would be that stupid to actually send an assassin after one of them. But none the less, I would kill you before you could even completely process the insanity of it.""<<