It had been bad enough, trying to survive with a war waging over his head. Now, he was trying to survive on a dying planet, and those responsible were quickly evacuating, leaving fewer and fewer targets to scavenge from. This wasn't the aftermath of a battle he was approaching now. It was just a small skirmish, a handful each of Autobots and Decepticons, and the former had chased the latter away without leaving much behind. They had, however, toppled the remnants of some old structure in an explosion, and there was one body half buried under the rubble. That body surely contained some parts intact enough to collect. Keeping a wary optic out and a grip on his staff, just in case some of the others came back this way, Knockout stalked toward the unmoving form.
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Breakdown managed to refrain from groaning in pain - barely - as he came back online. He could feel that he was pinned in place by rubble, and it felt like that blast had done real damage, not just dropped a building on him. Wouldn't do to be heard moaning, though. Be a tough warrior, and all that. He shifted, trying to raise his head enough to get a look around him. Like there was anyone around to care. Looked like everybody had run off and left him for scrap.
No, not everyone. He heard footsteps slowly approaching from behind. Just one, but an ally would have said something, not crept up quietly on him. Autobot, then, and Breakdown was still pinned face-down to the ground by rubble. He made a desperate and largely futile attempt to thrash free.
"Scrap, you're still alive?" asked an irritated voice from behind. The sound of footsteps had stopped, at least for the moment. Breakdown didn't hear a weapon charging either, but that didn't mean he wouldn't, any time now.
"I'm alive, and I can still fight, if you try anything." He made his voice as tough as possible, hiding his fear. He'd had plenty of practice.
The unseen bot behind him sighed in apparent annoyance. "I'm not desperate enough to strip parts off a living frame. At least, I would hope not."
So it was a neutral scavenger, not an Autobot? Breakdown was somewhat relieved. He reconsidered when the stranger came around where he could see him. That smooth, shiny, well-cared-for red frame couldn't possibly belong to any neutral. But if he was an Autobot, why was he lurking around after a fight, looking for parts?
The red bot was now looking down at him speculatively. "I don't think you're getting out of there on your own any time soon, and your friends were all driven off. What's it worth to you if I dig you out?"
Breakdown glared at him suspiciously. "What do you want?" If he expected intel out of him, he could forget it.
"Hmm. A spare shuttle would do."
"What?!" He hadn't expected that.
"Your war has basically destroyed Cybertron. At this point, the only hope for survival is to relocate. I don't have the means on my own, but surely your illustrious army has at least one small craft lying around that no one will miss."
So he really was a neutral, out on his own? Breakdown shook his head, mostly in confusion. "I can't just give you…"
They both looked up sharply as distant noises - and voices - reached their audials. "That would be the Autobots coming back this way," commented the red bot. He was in a better position to see, but Breakdown could already tell that those voices didn't belong to his patrol unit. "I'm not planning to stay and meet them. I should have just enough time to free you, if we have a deal. What'll it be?"
"Fine!" Breakdown burst out. "Just get me loose!"
"Coming right up," hummed the neutral, even as he started quickly and efficiently levering rubble off with the staff he was carrying. Breakdown winced slightly as the pieces shifted across damaged armor, aggravating whatever injuries he'd suffered. Then the neutral stopped, staring.
Breakdown scowled. Yes, his armor was a scarred mess, and supposedly that was befitting of a warrior, but that didn't make him a display piece! He surged to his feet, throwing off what was left of the rubble. Then he gasped in pain, and dropped back to his knees. Seemed he was hurt worse than he'd thought.
The other shook his head. "I don't think you're walking, or driving, out of here on your own anytime soon." There was a commotion of nearby voices as the Autobots spotted them, and a couple of shots were fired in their direction. The neutral dove for the ground, transforming in the process into a sleek ground vehicle. "Grab on and hold tight!"
Breakdown did as he was told, and his unlikely partner floored it. Breakdown tried to get off a few shots back at the Autobots as they went, but he hadn't counted on how fast they were going. He had to scramble to find a more secure grip as they fled the site of battle.
"Hey, quit moving around up there! You're scratching my paint!" Breakdown gaped down at him, but he held still. "You really owe me now, you know." Yeah, about that…
Breakdown waited until they'd left the Autobots well behind, until they'd started to slow down, before he spoke up. "Look, about that shuttle. I can see if there's one nobody'll miss, but no promises. I'm not going to get myself in trouble stealing for you." At least if the neutral reacted by throwing him off and ditching him, he'd gotten away from the Autobots, and he could get back, somehow.
To his surprise, they didn't stop. In fact, the other didn't respond at all. "Uh, where are we going?"
"For the moment, back to my place. You clearly need repairs, and we clearly need to talk further."
"I already told you…"
"Yes, I heard you," he murmured. After a moment, he added, "Don't worry, Decepticon. No tricks, I promise- as long as you behave."
"Deal. And the name's Breakdown."
"Knockout."
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Knockout wondered, as he pulled into the sad shack he'd been calling home, if he were going to regret this. It had been a risk dealing with a Decepticon from the start, of course. This Breakdown could easily have turned on him the moment he was free. Certainly, he was more likely to welch on their deal than follow through. Really, the best hope was that he didn't consider it worth including violence in the welching.
On the other hand, Knockout wasn't as helpless as one might assume, at least as long as he was underestimated. Besides, there was always the possibility that he'd found a Decepticon too stupid, or unimaginative, to do other than follow through with the agreement. It was at least worth the asking.
He wouldn't have expected better cooperation from an Autobot (their alleged charity really only extended to those willing to join up), but there'd have been a better chance of an honest refusal. The Decepticons were a bit more shameless in their lying, as the name implied. That was why he'd been surprised when this one openly admitted that he might not follow through. It wasn't to his benefit, yet he didn't seem to be stupid in general. Knockout wondered just what kind of individual he'd found.
It might be worth a little bit of further risk to find out. Besides, Breakdown really did need repairs. Knockout had seen that as soon as he moved enough of that rubble and saw the wounds underneath. Breakdown couldn't do anything for him until he was fixed, and it wouldn't hurt to put him a bit further in his debt.
"Last stop, everybody off." Breakdown paused a moment, as if he had to gather his strength first, then slid off. He ended up sitting on the floor, and stayed that way as Knockout transformed and stood up.
Knockout let his guest study his surroundings, while he checked his own damage in the piece of darkened plate-glass he'd mounted as a mirror. Breakdown hadn't inflicted too many scratches to his paint while squirming around up there, but he'd left a few highly visible ones. Worse, they were all on Knockout's back, where he'd be hard-pressed to reach them. He frowned in annoyance.
Breakdown, meanwhile, was looking around at the shelves and other makeshift surfaces, all neatly laid out with whatever medical supplies and spare parts Knockout had managed to scavenge. It was a poor collection by most standards, but impressive for a lone neutral, especially these days. He must have realized.
"You… found all this stuff?" No, maybe not impressed. Breakdown was looking uncomfortably at some of those spare parts. It had to be obvious how Knockout had gotten them- especially since he'd originally approached Breakdown with the same intention.
"Yes, I did. You have a problem?" Knockout asked smoothly.
"Nah. I guess you do what you have to, out here." Knockout blinked in surprise. He wasn't judging? Even the other neutrals, those he'd tended to with this stuff, tended to look down on how he got it. Not that there were many others left now. It was a long time since he'd seen anybody- and longer since he'd dealt with someone who didn't have a problem with his ways.
"Look, if you're really going to repair me, I appreciate it," Breakdown continued, "but I told you I can't get in trouble stealing for you."
"Yes, I heard you. Still, I'm sure we can figure out something. You do owe me, for the save, and the repairs, and of course, for this." Knockout gestured to the scrapes on his back.
"Are you serious?"
"Hey, you may be fine looking like a repurposed scratching-post, but some of us have higher standards."
"Fine?! I didn't ask to look… I'm a warrior! What do you expect?! It's supposed to be honorable!" Breakdown sputtered angrily.
Knockout arched an eyebrow in surprise. It seemed his guest had some pushable buttons after all. "Well, if you are bothered by the disgraceful state of your armor, have you considered fixing it?" He could see that most of the scoring was old. Clearly, it could have been addressed, it just hadn't been.
Breakdown looked away, angry and embarrassed. "I told you, it's what a warrior's armor is supposed to look like."
"Says who?"
"Everybody."
"Hmm. If I were you, I'd quit listening to 'everybody'. It's your chassis, and this clearly isn't making you happy." While Breakdown pondered that as if it were a new idea, Knockout stepped closer to take a look at his actual injuries. Nothing overly serious, he quickly noted. Just enough damage to be painful, and limit his movement, until it was fixed. That wouldn't be too hard.
Knockout selected the tools he'd need. "I'll need you to try and hold still while I'm doing repairs. I'm afraid this is going to hurt, and I don't exactly have the equipment here to induce stasis."
"That's fine. I'd rather be awake and know what you're doing anyway."
"Not very trusting, are you?"
Breakdown shrugged.
While he proved impressively good at holding still, it was still obvious to Knockout that Breakdown was struggling not to flinch too hard while he worked. Some distraction was clearly in order, and in any case, Knockout was still curious.
"You kept insisting you might not be able to get me that shuttle. Why admit it? Wouldn't it be more to your benefit to string me along until you don't need my help anymore, and double-cross me later? I'd have thought that was the Decepticon way."
"If that's what you expected, then why ask me at all?"
"I suppose I figured it was worth a try."
"Huh." Breakdown twitched in discomfort as Knockout worked, then thought for a moment. "I guess I could have lied, but it wouldn't have been right. You did save me and all." He sounded like he hadn't thought about it before.
"You didn't even think of trying to trick me, did you?" Knockout guessed.
"Guess not."
"So what's an honest fellow like yourself doing as a Decepticon?"
"Hey, I didn't name them."
"No, I suppose not." Knockout worked briefly in silence. "So tell me this: what are you fighting for? I heard that first it was freedom, and then it was conquest, which, frankly, sounds like Megatron can't make up his mind. Now there's nothing left worth conquering. Yet you and the Autobots are still at it. What's the goal here?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I was never really sure."
"Seriously? You're fighting for the Decepticons and you don't even know why?"
Breakdown shrugged slightly. "You fight for one side or the other, or you fall through the cracks. So I picked a side. Maybe I'm a Decepticon because my buddies were too." After a moment, he softly added, "They're pretty much all gone now."
"But you stayed."
"I made a commitment. Besides, what else would I do?"
"I supposed that's a good point." Knockout paused a moment to concentrate on fitting straightened armor-plates back into place, then reached for the welder. "I supposed you're going to continue fighting out in space after evacuating, then?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"The planet's basically dead, and you haven't stopped yet."
"Yeah, we're supposed to be guarding our spaceports from Autobot attack until we finish launching. Or looking for chances to attack their spaceports. Or both, I guess."
Knockout shook his head. "There. Technically, you're repaired, but I wouldn't consider this job truly done until I've smoothed out that paint job. Unless, of course, you're too worried about the opinions of a bunch of fools with no aesthetic taste."
Breakdown only hesitated for a moment. "Go ahead." Knockout smirked slightly as he grabbed a buffer and got to work. Never underestimate the value of looking one's best.
Indeed, once he was done, Breakdown was clearly pleased with the results. He lightly ran his hands over his newly-shined armor, almost in awe. Knockout allowed him to do so briefly, then shoved the buffer at him. "Your turn. You scratched up my back, where I can't reach properly, and remember, you owe me."
"Uh." Breakdown stared at him in surprise. "I don't really do delicate stuff."
Knockout frowned. Maybe he would end up regretting this, but the facts remained. "I still can't reach, and you still owe me." Breakdown rather gingerly took the buffer, and Knockout turned around, gesturing to his back. "Right there."
"Yeah, I can see it." Breakdown gamely started buffing. To Knockout's pleasure, and slight surprise, it didn't feel particularly indelicate. In fact, it felt like Breakdown was doing a very good job. He was soon finished, and Knockout checked in his mirror. He had done a good job.
"Hmm, you should try doing delicate work more often. You're clearly gifted at it."
"Me? No way. I'm only good for smashing things."
Knockout gently removed the buffer from Breakdown's hands to return to its shelf. "While I don't doubt there's quite a market for smashing things out there on the battlefield, it's clearly not all you're good for. I'd even go so far as to say you have the makings of an artistic touch. Trust me, I would know."
"But…" Breakdown shook his head. "I've never been good for anything like that. Everyone's always said so."
"This again. You should really stop listening to what others say about you. It doesn't seem to be doing you any good."
"Maybe you're right," Breakdown considered.
"Well, anyway, there remains the matter of getting me a ride off this planet," Knockout said briskly. "I imagine you can come up with something, and I didn't do all this just for fun, you know."
"No, you did it because you're trying to survive, like everyone else," Breakdown acknowledged. He was still thinking, but then his head suddenly snapped up. "Why don't you just come with me and join the Decepticons?"
"Are you joking? Why would I want to do that?"
"Well, why not? It's a ride, and energon and supplies, and a place to belong."
"I belong to myself."
"You must have have belonged somewhere, before all this."
"Yes," Knockout said stiffly. "Working in a government-sanctioned complex where I got flack for everything from my choice of alt-mode to simply having hobbies and other interests, when I wasn't supposed to be high-class enough to warrent the luxury. The end of that was the only good thing to come out of this war. Why would I go back to letting someone tell me what to do?"
"Because it's better than being all alone?" Breakdown suggested. "Look, the Cons won't make you change your alt-mode, and if you do what they tell you, you can usually do what you want with the time left over. I can't promise no one'll say anything, but you don't seem to care what people think. And," he hesitated, then blurted out, "I'd like you to come. You're the best company I've had in a long time."
Knockout looked at him in surprise, but after a moment, he smiled faintly. "I suppose that's mutual." It would be nice not to be alone anymore, and Breakdown had proven quite easy - and pleasant - to talk to. For that matter, Breakdown would clearly be better off for his influence. The lifestyle wasn't likely to be ideal, but then, neither was this one. He could adapt, if he had to- if it was worth it.
"Just tell me one thing. Are the Decepticons really as powerful a force as they claim? I don't want to end up dead or imprisoned or something in the end because I picked the losing side."
"Well, I don't know if anyone's gonna win at this rate, but I don't think the Decepticons will lose. We're a real powerful army and all."
"Hmm." Knockout considered a moment longer, then nodded. "I suppose we have a deal. There won't by any objections to your bringing me with you?"
"No way. We need more medics, honestly. I'll vouch for you. It'll be fine."
"Very well. One thing, though." Knockout looked at him seriously. "I refuse to wear one of those faction insignias. It doesn't match my color scheme."