Operation Breakdown
Day of the Zombie's rise:
My head hurt. My eyes were shut. Everything felt loose, free, snug, as if I was floating in a lucid dream-state. Submerged underneath a sea waking thoughts. Images, broken, fractured scenes played, some on repeat. Annoyance: the feeling of annoyance. Starscream was there. Restraint. No restraint. No care. No thought of consequence. No thought of hierarchy: Absence of order. Everything appeared clearly, so clearly to my optics it was as if I had been blind every minute before and every moment after. Blinding slashes engulfed the scene. Then nothing: The absence of being. I sliced right through him, as if he was nothing, and nothing but scrap lay on the ground. Skyquake's remains, now nothing but scrap. Eyes opened. Wide-eyed. I didn't like the attention. I- it was almost as if I had just disappeared.
...
"... most of her injuries..."
That voice...
"... uncertain battle..."
Where do I know that voice from...
"... But, the worst were self-sustained..."
Whatever it is, it is annoying... Why... Why can't I move? Am I dead? Urgh. No. Too much pain. Ah, uh, AAAAHHHHH!
"She's seizing!"
Darkness... Redness... Pain filled wails... This is not death... What I want is death.
...
Day of Shadow's mission:
I crashed to the floor.
"Wake Up!"
New voice.
Slammed into the wall. Clunked against the floor.
"Wake—"
My claw, I can—
Slash
Megatron's arm fell to the ground. Ghost is kicked into another far wall.
Sweet relief... The pain... The physical pain distracts me from what's mental. It must be... It- it...
Everything began to fade again into painful darkness.
Maybe this time I won't wake up... then this slag would be done with.
...
I was restrained to a cold, medical table... Perhaps on an examining table? I could move neither my arms nor my legs from their cuffs. The lasers seared my symbiotic flesh when I attempted to free myself of them.
"Rise and shine, outlier," the first voice said again, "You have an entire day full of testing to look forward to."
I was in a lab. Cold metal. Plain design. Cabinets. Beakers. Sharp equipment. Counters. This examining table was just one of the attractions. I knew the layout, I didn't know how, but I did. All without opening my eyes. While closed, this could all still be a nightmare: Maybe even a huge misunderstanding.
The shriek of an electric drill invaded my audio receptors. Electric. Energon. Dark energon? Its point pierced the biometric flesh of my palm. My body came alive. I remember loud cries accompanying my flailing limbs. I could not hold still. Not until I felt nothing again. And then it stopped. And I was on the ground.
"Interesting result," the doctor said, "Extreme pain causes intangibility." And a broken drill that lay beside me. I materialized. My digits couldn't stop twitching as energon flowed atop of them.
I opened my optics and I ran for the door.
"Oh, nurse," Knockout called.
Breakdown stood in my path. There—there was no way out. No, no way, no way, I dropped to my knees, fell through the floor, and blacked out.
...
The day of the higher ups return:
"It's an interesting ability for sure."
"Yes. But, how soon can she be out in the field to scout?"
"Out in the field?" The doctor shook his head, "My dear Lord, I don't think she'll be able to go out any time soon."
"And why not?"
"The pain."
"Pain? She can't handle measly pain?"
"It's enough to rip sparks in two. That and the fatigue from her ability causes her to be unpredictable."
"Predict it then."
"An outward projection of pain is expected."
"She'll be better on the field."
"If you think irrationally ripping anyone and everyone to shreds constitutes better..."
"Fine, we'll send her out alone."
"She's still a danger to herself. I did say anyone, didn't I?"
"Agh!" Megatron punched through one of the thick metal walls with his good arm. "We don't have the time for this!"
"Accept death Mega—"
A loud plasma blast destroyed every piece of equipment on a counter top.
"I need a scout!"
...
The days blurred, oh, how they blurred. I was confined to the lab mostly. Fear. Fatigue. Pain. Repeat. My only comfort came from the screams that belonged to another. The only empathy I could feel: The only connection. Megatron had my story. I was a failure. He blamed me. This was my punishment. Punishment. Punishment until it proved successful. Until I could be counted on. He thought that day would be glorious. I received no further contact from him after one particular death stare and a threat. If it weren't for what I couldn't control, I was sure he would have attacked me. "Put me in my place".
Today, right now, I was rubbing my wrists. I was unrestrained. I was done. Knockout got all he could out of me for the day. It was under the commander's orders that I may return to my room. Not an enemy. He was re-instated. Must have been slag for him as well. So, I walked. And when I got there, I closed my door, and I locked it. The pain had never ceased. All I wanted was blackness, a loss of consciousness.
...
Shadow
I had been an Autobot for a few days now. I had not left the base. I had not contacted the Decepticons. The team had gotten to know me some. Miko had been begging me to take her for a ride. Optimus kept me within his sight most of the time. I enjoyed lounging lazily around, talking with the others, exchanging stories, listening to music, and playing videogames with the humans.
We were all in the main area of the base. Ratchet was repairing Bulkhead.
Optimus told the Wrecker, "Engaging the enemy on your own was foolish, Bulkhead."
Hahaha haha ha. I mentally laughed to myself. Fighting alone is exactly the thing I'd get yelled at for.
Bulkhead defended himself, "Breakdown jumped me. I knew I could take him." Bulkhead groaned from the pain of being repaired.
Ratchet told his patient to, "Stay still" as he welded Bulkhead's arm.
Miko pounded her fists and exclaimed, "But we should see the other guy! Right Bulk?" Miko leaned excitedly against the railing.
Bulkhead said, "About that..."
Miko asked surprised, "You didn't torch him?"
"Not exactly," Bulkhead explained, "I- I figured you all did." He gestured to us.
Miko understood, she sadly said, "oh."
Bulkhead looked down, and then at Miko, he admitted, "When I came to... Breakdown was just gone." Bulkhead looked down, away from his human friend, "I remember hearing a copter." He looked back at Miko and said, "Maybe it was agent Fowler."
Fowler denied, "Not me. But, I have an idea who." He demanded, "Show me where this Con-napping occurred."
"Con-napping," I muttered to myself and laughed, "Fowler, you are too funny."
Ratchet brought up the world map on his monitor. He signaled in on a location and stated, "This is where we picked up Bulkhead."
Fowler said, "The Kamchatka peninsula in Eastern Russia. Much of it was abandoned twenty years ago when its volcano first erupted. My Intel reported MECH activity earlier today."
Miko questioned, "MECH? You mean those tech-y guys?"
Ratchet confirmed, "The very ones who know of our existence on your planet."
Bulkhead said, "They must have tracked one of us there."
"But," Miko asked, "what would they want with Breakdown?"
Arcee didn't care, she sassily said, "What's it matter? They can have him."
I defended, "Arcee's partly right. What does it matter? We should go help him."
Striker shot me a death glare. She's trying to institute a "femmes before mechs" policy. I guess she doesn't like me hurting that. Or, I am just overthinking it. She could just not like Cons. How would I know what her reason was? Bots can be so mellow dramatic.
Bumblebee beeped, "But how did Breakdown get dragged off by humans, anyway?"
Bulkhead smugly replied, "Dragged off by humans," he pounded his fists together "guess I softened him up for them, huh."
Miko looked at her friend then turned away and disagreed, "Nyeh."
Optimus commanded, "Ratchet, reactivate the previous ground bridge coordinates. We will rescue Breakdown."
"Yes!" I exclaimed.
Ratchet freaked, he asked angrily, "What!?"
Arcee asked, "Optimus, you can't be serious?"
Bumblebee agreed, "Why would we save him?"
I responded, "Why should we let the humans keep him? Bee, what if it were you?"
Bulkhead disagreed, he reasoned, "Mech can melt him down for all I care. Let the Cons rescue their own!"
Optimus brushed off Bulkhead's response. He explained, "It is not likely that Megatron would bother with an errand of mercy."
I nodded, but decided to keep quiet. I only recently left the Cons.
Arcee placed her servo on her chin, she said, "Okay," She opened her servo and gestured, "But this is Breakdown we're talking about."
I restated, "Doesn't matter. We shouldn't let MECH benefit through harming a cybertronian. If we don't stop them, they'll just do it again."
Optimus stood tall and proclaimed; "Sometimes we must rise above ourselves for the greater good."
Bulkhead shouted, "Oh, what's that supposed to mean? Breakdown's going to be grateful and go all soft and join the cause?"
I glared at Bulkhead. I asked, "So, one has to be soft to join the Autobots?"
"Oh come on!" He yelled, "Breakdown? He wouldn't join us unless we were his last resort, and even then he wouldn't be doing it for the good reasons!"
I mustered the best death glare I could for him.
Optimus played peacekeeper. He stepped lightly, and tried to rephrase the words of his hardheaded teammate, "While it is unlikely that any Decepticon will choose the path of good," Optimus said, "Even they possess the potential for change."
I face palmed. Anger emanated from me. Did they realize I was standing here? Well, yes. But, they weren't acknowledging me fully.
Well, Arcee did. At the very least she didn't want me to be pissed in fighting condition around them. She said, "Shadow, you were an Autobot before a Decepticon. So, you don't count."
I muttered slurs beneath my breath.
Bulkhead was a little mentally late to the party. He growled, "Nyeh! I knew where this was headed!"
Now we're backtracking, great.
Optimus clarified, "By greater good, I meant human kind."
Bulkhead shook his head in anger.
Optimus said, "MECH presents a clear and present danger."
Fowler agreed and insulted Bulkhead, "Prime's right two ton. MECH is obsessed with obtaining ground breaking technology."
Optimus expounded, "Which means we cannot allow cybertronian biology to fall into their hands."
I asked, "So then, when do we leave to go save Breakdown?"
Optimus clarified, "Shadow, you should stay here. It is unclear if you have fully recovered yet."
Oh come on! That's so mean! You're being just like Megatron!
"It's a trust thing, right?" Striker asked. " 'Cause all I'm saying, is if we're fighting to save a Con, we might as well have one with us incase anything goes wrong."
"Cannon fodder?" I asked.
"It is not a trust thing," Optimus said. "Shadow is your teammate, Striker. She is an Autobot, past or not, and should be treated as such."
And this is where the Decepticon troops would dissent into madness, anarchy even... I'll wait for it.
"All I'm saying is another fighter'd be nice."
Because you're down one.
Ratchet opened the ground bridge.
Down one... That means a higher probability of failure. Breakdown might die, and they might be injured. But, I'm not. I'll be fine.
I angrily yelled at the other Bots, "It's MECH! All I have to do is avoid their little devices that one hit KO technology and I'll be fine."
Ratchet worriedly asked, "They have what?!"
Miko happily said, "I'll translate these human terms for you Ratch. If MECH hits you with one of their devices, you'll get knocked out."
Arcee said, "Just don't get hit with their devices. Great!"
Bumblebee asked, "So what do these devices look like?"
I answered and made the dimensions with my servos, "They are these tiny circular, puck-like metal objects. They are about the size of a human hand, and they are fired from guns."
Miko exclaimed, "Cool!" She walked over to Bulkhead and plead, "Come on Bulk! You gotta go with!"
Bulkhead whined, "Don't wanna!"
Optimus demanded, "Bulkhead."
Bulkhead explained, "Optimus I'm sorry. I just can't do it!"
Optimus complied, "I support your choice."
Great, now we're down two. Frack.
Miko and Bulkhead were surprised. In unison they cried out, "Wh-wh-what?!"
Optimus continued, "Given your history with Breakdown, your judgment may be clouded," Optimus pointed at Bulkhead, "And thus jeopardize the mission." Optimus looked at Ratchet, "Besides. The Decepticon may be in more need of a medic than of another warrior."
You're taking a medic in place of two fighters? Great plan, all-powerful leader.
Ratchet walked up to the group holding some item. He announced, "Locked and loaded Optimus."
Optimus signaled to his team. "Autobots," He commanded, "Rollout!"
The Autobots got a running start before transforming and driving into the portal. Once they were through, the portal went dark.
Bulkhead stated sarcastically, "Fine! Happy hunting."
Miko sighed angrily.
Bulkhead turned to face his friend. She looked sad. Bulkhead offered, "Uh, what do you say?" He made a pose with his arms and asked nervously, "Creature double feature?"
Miko half-heartedly said, "Sure."
Agent Fowler got excited. He exclaimed, "Waoh! I'm in!"
I was farther than just annoyed. I paced the base. I could not just stay here while my friend was being held captive! Who knew what they could be doing to him? He could be in pain. He could be tortured, right now. I couldn't deal with that. What kind of monster would torture an innocent –well, not so innocent- cybertronian?
Bulkhead and Fowler started the movie. Five minutes in, Fowler fell asleep.
Bulkhead called to Miko, "Dino Lizard versus five headed ape. You're missing a smack down."
Miko exploded. She yelled at Bulkhead, "No! You're missing the smack down!"
Bulkhead asked, "Huh?" and gave Miko his full attention.
The girl shouted, "Which stinks, 'cause Breakdown is your arch enemy! Not Optimus's! And definitely not MECH's!"
The green lug sighed, and calmly defended himself, "Miko, you don't understand. Breakdown and me... We go way back. You have no idea the things he's done." Bulkhead turned from calm to angry. He defensively argued, "I am not rescuing him okay! Not now! Not ever!"
I offered, "Bulkhead, I could go and rescue him. You could provide backup, or simply tell Optimus that you couldn't stop me."
Miko nodded approving my idea. Then she rolled her eyes at Bulkhead, "You don't have to bromance him Bulk. You just have to beat him!"
Bulkhead questioned, "Uh, what?"
Miko clarified, "No rescue: No rematch!"
I suggested, "My offer still stands. Do you want to join me, or play dumb?"
Bulkhead opened a groundbridge.
He turned to me and demanded, "Let's go rescue us a Con!"
We transformed and drove through the portal. When we exited, Bulkhead transformed. He saw tire tracks and changed back into his car mode. We followed the tracks. Bulkhead transformed again, this time behind the cover of a building. A car accelerated behind the aforementioned Building. It did not see us.
Bulkhead said with disgust, "MECH."
The car drove into a tunnel. Bulkhead ran after it. I transformed and sprinted after him. Bulkhead stopped at the entrance of the tunnel and readied his blaster. I drew my swords and lowered my mask. We continued cautiously.
A ways up, a metal door blocked our path.
I gestured with my swords, "Should I?"
Bulkhead denied and responded in a badass tone and said, "Allow me."
He got out his wrecking balls and swung at the door. I prepared for battle. The door flew off its hinges. Humans fired at us.
Bulkhead yelled playfully, "Marco!"
Some humans ran away, whereas others fired back.
Bulkhead swung at the humans' feet and yelled, "You're supposed to say Polo!"
Human phrases. I should've taught that one to Ghost. That would've been fun.
We ran on ahead. We reached Breakdown. He was lying down, restrained. I sprinted up to my friend and began slashing at his restraints. Bulkhead walked up to Breakdown's face.
Bulkhead stated annoyed, "It must be your lucky day," as he broke off Breakdown's last restraint.
Breakdown asked concerned, "Wh-wh-what are you doing?"
Bulkhead offered his hand and stated, "Getting you out of here."
Breakdown had this really confused look plastered on his face.
Bulkhead agreed, "Yeah, I don't believe it either."
Breakdown took Bulkhead's hand and was helped up.
Bulkhead asked concerned, "Can you walk?"
Breakdown answered, "I- I think so."
Alarms went off in MECH's base.
Bulkhead asked scared, "Can you run?"
Breakdown pulled out his hammer and exclaimed, "Never run when you can fight!"
Bulkhead pushed away Breakdown's hammer with his servo. He said, "Just keep that thing pointed away from me, right?"
I walked in front of the talking mechs. I turned to them and I called, "Are we going or what?"
Breakdown was extremely surprised; he looked as if he was seeing a ghost. He questioned, "Shadow? How did—"
I interrupted him, "Escape and fight now, talk after and or never."
I ran in front. Bulkhead and Breakdown followed. Up ahead, a group of humans fired at us. I created a path with my swords and continued past them.
Bulkhead cried, "Creature Double Feature coming right at ya!" as he swung his wrecking balls. I had already created a path; he was just showing off. Mechs could have such egos.
We exited the tunnel and were immediately fired at by MECH agents in cars. The machine-gun fire stung, but it wasn't much more than a nuisance. I ran and sliced the cars into pieces. Breakdown fired his laser at a car while Bulkhead fired his at the helicopters.
Breakdown asked, "You have some sort of escape plan?"
Bulkhead confirmed, "Yep, but you're not gonna like it." Bulkhead put a finger up to his audio processor and created a COM link. He called, "Bulkhead to Optimus. Rendezvous to my coordinates. I'm in need of back up!"
Hey! He's actually calling for backup! I would of never of done that.
Breakdown grabbed a MECH car and hurdled it at a chopper. Bulkhead smashed two cars with his wrecking balls. I sliced a few more cars.
The helicopters increased their fire. One of the choppers charged an electrical beam and fired it at Breakdown. I threw my sword at the stream. The beam deflected off of it and hit a MECH car. I went to retrieve my sword. The helicopter charged and fired again. Breakdown pushed Bulkhead out of the way. My friend just saved an Autobot! I was so proud. The helicopters continued their fire. Breakdown and Bulkhead got back to back. They destroyed anything that got close. I was envious. They had silently devised a strategy while I ran around destroying cars.
The helicopters turned and fled. Similarly, the cars drove away. I walked up to the two Mechs.
Breakdown asked, "Your backup?"
Starscream and a team of four seekers flew in and transformed. I quickly hid behind Bulkhead.
Breakdown called out, "Commander Starscream!"
Starscream asked, "Consorting with the enemy Breakdown?"
Breakdown turned to Bulkhead and explained, "Bulkhead got me out of there."
Starscream insincerely jested, "Many spark felt thanks Autobot," The commander turned back to Breakdown and ordered, "Now destroy him."
Breakdown argued, "But he—"
"Do you plan on joining their ranks anytime soon!?" Starscream interrupted.
"No? Then be done with it already!"
I walked out from behind Bulkhead. I threatened, "harm Bulkhead, and I'll extinguish your spark, Screamy."
Starscream took a step back. He was a weird mixture of surprised, scared, and relieved.
Starscream exclaimed overjoyed, "Thank the All spark you're alive! Lord Megatron will be thrilled to hear of your recovery." Starscream looked to my symbol. He noticed that it was no longer a Decepticon symbol. He backed away terrified.
I began walking toward Starscream in a bitter rage, but Bulkhead put his arm out and stopped me.
Starscream asked with terror in his voice, "You aren't still angry are you?" He backed up some more and tried to reassure me, "I learnt my lesson. I promise. Lord Megatron punished me himself."
I looked at Bulkhead, he sighed and submitted, "Fine. Have your revenge, I can wait." Bulkhead removed his arm from my path.
Starscream commanded to his soldiers, "Destroy them!"
I ran at the commander. Breakdown tried to get in my way. I dodged him, leaving the Con wide open for Bulkhead's attack. I dodged vehicon fire. Bulkhead covered me by wiping them out with a large Breakdown projectile he threw. I got to Starscream and put my sword to his neck. I saw fear, regret, sorrow, and many other emotions I did not expect to see in Starscream's optics. I could not kill him, no matter how much I might have wanted to. But, I had to ask.
"Screamy, why did Megatron keep you alive?"
"He said that death would be mercy compared to his punishment."
And he doesn't do mercy.
"Was it really so bad that death seemed appealing?"
"You speak in the past. It still would be."
My spark stopped. I-I just couldn't. I had never gotten to that point. Here he was, fighting, telling me the pain was so bad, that he would rather be dead. My brain just couldn't process that.
The vehicons got up. Prime and his original team fired.
I pulled my sword away from the commander's neck.
Starscream ran and called, "Retreat!"
He and his vehicons flew away. Breakdown ran, transformed and fled as well.
Optimus walked up to Bulkhead and I. He lectured, "Engaging the enemy without backup was even more dangerous this time. To learn nothing from past mistakes will get you both killed in the future." Optimus turned to Bulkhead, "But I am honored that you saw fit to rescue your rival. You have truly risen above your self."
Bulkhead turned to me and asked, "Did you see? I beat Breakdown and bashed him all with his own hammer!" He exclaimed excitedly, "I won the rematch!"
Arcee confirmed, "I'm sure Miko would be proud."
Ratchet called for a ground bridge. Bulkhead smugly gloated. I stepped away from the group and looked to the sky.
Optimus walked up to me and asked, "Shadow are you alright?"
I shook my head and answered annoyed, "No! I had my blade against Starscream's neck, I could've easily gotten revenge!"
"But?" Optimus questioned.
"I couldn't do it," I muttered to myself. I said louder, "I looked at him and I just could not kill him. I'm weak."
Optimus placed his servo on my shoulder and proclaimed, "Mercy is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength." He looked over his shoulder at Bulkhead, then back at me. He said, "You had the opportunity to and decided against revenge. I am as proud of you as I am Bulkhead."
The groundbridge arrived and we walked through.
...
Ghost
It's so dark here... I'm- I'm all alone.
...
Shadow
Back at base Bulkhead continued to tell the tale of how he (along with my help) rescued his arch nemesis, and then went on to beat Breakdown with his own hammer.
A call came up on the monitor. I walked next to it, and hid in the camera's blind spot.
Optimus answered, Megatron came on screen. I shook of fear, and anxiety.
The Decepticons' leader proclaimed, "Well if it isn't Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots. I'm calling to dismiss a certain rumor—"
From my position, I made a knife slicing motion on my neck, pointed to the monitor, then cupped my servo around my face- placing a wall between my words and Megatron- and mouthed the words "I'm not here."
Arcee asked Bulkhead, "What does that mean?"
Oh Primus, no.
Bulkhead said, "Miko taught me all about human signals. Shadow is saying, 'cut the signal, and don't let him know I'm here'." Bulkhead paused for a moment and realized, "Oh Scrap! I just did that!" Everyone looked at Bulkhead.
Megatron was silent.
I face palmed. Then as a force of habit I clenched my other servo into a fist and mouthed the words, "Bulkhead. I'm going to kill you."
Bulkhead could tell I wasn't serious. He exclaimed jokingly, "Shadow, threatening to kill me isn't very nice! Haven't you learned anything?"
I was so done with the Wrecker. I covered my face with both of my servos and sighed.
Megatron excitedly called out to me, "Shadow! That is you! You aren't dead!"
I stayed in the blind spot and shook my head. Optimus got the memo.
Prime told Megatron, "Shadow is predisposed at the moment. If she was your only purpose for this message, then goodbye." Optimus reached for the button to hang up.
Megatron sprung into action. He quickly grabbed Starscream and held his plasma blaster to the Seeker's head. Megatron exclaimed, "Shadow, come on screen or the Seeker dies."
I rushed out of my blind spot, into the middle of the Autobot group. Megatron was being serious.
Why did I just do that? He wants to die. Am I really that evil? I need to deflect.
I questioned Megatron's sanity, "Do you realize how flawed your logic is?" I made gestures to accompany my speech. I sighed, "Honestly, I hate that mech! Vector sigma! What exactly did you do in terms of reasoning? Seriously, Megatron! What if I didn't comply?"
Megatron dropped Starscream and cruelly answered, "Then I'd be down a commander," he paused. "But you're forgetting one key fact. I know you. I know you're weak when it comes to certain subjects. If anything, this little exercise proves just how much you should return to the Decepticons."
Bulkhead yelled, "You leave our swordsman alone! She's far stronger than any of your dimwitted subjects!"
Starscream was bent over from being dropped. He raised his claw on screen and said, "Not the case."
I ignored him.
Megatron glared at Bulkhead. I could tell he was about to explode, so I decided to end this.
I told the Lord, "Listen. You replaced and alienated me. To add on, your second in command left me for dead. I switched sides. I'm not returning." I pressed the button and hung up. I turned around and addressed the Autobots, "He won't call back. He's too prideful and stubborn. Aside from that, he has many political pressures that won't permit him. I'm sorry you guys had to deal with that. I'm going to power down and rest."
I walked straight to my room. It hurt to speak to him. Not the actual speaking part, but the telling him I betrayed him. I could almost feel his spark breaking. I went to my berth and powered down.
...
Matrix's POV
"So... she's not dead?"
Megatron growled, "No Matrix! She's not. Now could you please let me be?"
"Fine. All I wanted was to—"
"What did you want? I don't care! Leave!" He roared.
I stumbled backward into a table. I caught myself, and then sprinted out of the command center as fast as my metal feet could carry me. I walked down the hallway towards Elf's domain: the doctor's office.
"I don't see why Bucket-head had to yell at me. Did I do anything wrong? No! How dare he! It was his fault after all! He has some nerve—" I walked through the doors into the medical place. Knockout was fixing up Breakdown. "— If he thinks that he can just go off and just—"
"Trix, just what are you going on about?"
"Bucket head has gone bat sh*t insane!"
"Hmmm? What did he do?"
"He yelled at me! Me, of all people!"
"Could you please keep it down?" Breakdown asked. "My head is still ringing from the humans' experiments."
"Quiet down? Quiet down! Yes, I'll quiet down. Quiet down as soon as our leader can get his head out of his *ss and apologize to me!"
Knockout chuckled to himself. "I'm sorry Breakdown, but you might just never get her to quiet down."
Breakdown got up from the medical berth, "If you won't be quiet then I'll leave."
Elf pushed his friend back down, "You're in no position to go anywhere."
"Then could I please just get quiet for five minutes? Five minutes!"
"Matrix, could you please tone down your incessant chatter? Yes? Thank you for your cooperation."
"Fine, but I'll still be angry about it."
Knockout moved his attention to Breakdown's torched optic.
"Now let's see..." Knockout moved to his tools and searched through them.
I moved closer to Breakdown, "Looks like that hurts."
"The pain is gone, but it did hurt at the time."
"No it didn't. Your pain receptors were turned off."
"Well, I never said what hurt!"
"You can't have your pride hurt, if you never had any in the first place."
"It wasn't my fault!"
"What exactly happened?" I asked.
"Humans happened."
"Well, that's descriptive."
"Eureka! I found it!"
"Ouch, could you please lower your voice Knockout?"
"Sorry Breakdown, I forgot."
I leaned in towards Elf, "So, what did you find?"
"This," he showed me some weird metal thing.
"So, what is that?"
"Watch and find out."
Elf put the device on Breakdown's eye and screwed in some bolts.
"Oh, so it's an eye patch. Ooh, like a pirate!"
"Like a what?"
"A pirate. You know, long beard, sharp hook hand, one eye covered? Usually has a pet parrot?"
"A pirate? No, Breakdown has a hammer, not a hook. Besides, Soundwave is no pet."
"Hah! Good one Elf!"
"Five minutes?" Breakdown asked, "Was that too much to ask?"
"You're fine for now old friend. You can go."
"You barely even looked me over. Are you sure I'm fine? Those humans," Breakdown shivered, "they were inside of me. I could feel them in my head. Is there really no damage?"
"Other than your eye? Hah!"
"Now now Trix, don't be rude. And to answer your question Breakdown, I did look you over, all of your damaged parts. If you really wanted, I could give you a full examination. But we both know how long and tedious those can be."
"You're right. Besides, what's the worst that they could have done? Yeah, it's best not to overestimate the meat bags. I'll just get out of your hands, you know, because there is no need for the umm—"
Breakdown was a few feet- large metal feet- from the door. The giant was shaking.
"Full body examination?" Knockout asked.
The door opened and Breakdown ran out down the hall.
"I think you scared him."
"Who, him? I don't know what it is that you could mean."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot."
"Forgot what, my little racing star?"
"Forgot how pissed I am at Megatron."
"How about I take you down to earth. We can go blow off some steam on the open road."
"Can we bash some cars in?"
"You know we can."
