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knock out

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Who: Miko and Knock Out
Where: somewhere in Los Angeles
When: today (early-ish March)
What: With the rumors of alien robots confirmed, Miko decides to track down the original source in the name of INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Warnings: nothing in particular as of now, but. Knock Out...

After hours spent searching the Internet, Miko is pretty sure she's found the origins of the 'talking car' rumors - and, considering that new evidence suggests that they're probably true, she's not letting this opportunity go to waste.

Of course, that's not to say that tracking this mysterious talking car is at all easy, but from the sound of things it may still be in Los Angeles. So all that's left to do is keep an eye out, and hope she gets lucky.

So here she is, lurking around on a street corner, cell phone in hand, trying to peer into the windows of any red sports car that may happen to go by, and fully prepared to intercept any that may seem to be lacking a driver ('intercept' here meaning 'go charging up to them, run alongside if necessary, probably shout a lot', generally be in the way as much as possible). Clearly, this plan is foolproof.

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Oh for Primus' sake -- does the entire planet know about them now?

Not that he's really in a position to complain, given his first encounter with Sollux, but Knock Out has to wonder who it was she'd run into. Breakdown? No, he'd have brought the human along as another pet. Perhaps Orion, that seems more likely...

At any rate, he's not pleased with having his cover nullified like that. His engine growls as he inches closer, trying to threaten her into submission. What is wrong with this human? Where is her healthy sense of fear? "Oh, well if you know all about us," he says, his voice dripping venom, "then you should know enough to get out of my way. I have absolutely zero interest in chatting up a skinjob, so make like an egg and scramble. Oh, wait -- that's what I'm going to do to you if you don't get out of my way."

Seriously, humans, can't he go about his shifty robot business in peace? Jeez.

She stumbles back a step or two as the car moves toward her again, then forces herself to stay rooted to one spot, shoulders set.

"Geez, what's up with you, you puncture a tire or something? I never said I know all about you, just that you're robots." Honestly, this guy seems like kind of a dick, but she can't let that deter her from investigating. Even if he is threatening to run her over. "Besides, I'm a journalist, stuff like this is my job."

Technically not her official job, yet, but close enough. Besides, 'I'm an intern' just doesn't like seem as convincing an argument.

All right, he'll grant the human one thing -- she's got spunk. But unfortunately, that makes her at least twice as irritating, and Knock Out is so not in the mood.

"Like I care about what your job is," he snaps impatiently. "If you're looking for an interview, you'll have to keep shopping. I'm not interested."

She huffs indignantly and crosses her arms, not sure if she's more offended by the blunt dismissal of her 'credentials' or this car's apparent determination to make all her effort for nothing.

"Aw, come on, man! Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you? Like, you can't exactly just put a want ad online - 'looking for alien robot, red, turns into a badass car' - I've been hanging around this street for hours, thanks for being so shifty so I could notice you by the way."

She just wants to interrogate him about every trivial question that comes to mind, is that too much to ask.

Shifty? Wow, back it up there, fleshie. He was not being shifty. He was being stealthy. ...Hm.

"Hours, you say?" He sounds almost amused now, although there's a dangerous edge to his voice. He hasn't quite decided how he's going to handle this one. If he could transform, he'd certainly give her a good scare... But he can't afford another stunt like the one with CONDOR. He smart enough to know it's only by the good graces of luck that Megatron doesn't know about that (yet) -- if he exposes himself in the city again, he knows he won't off so easily this time. And he can't just run this human down in broad daylight. "My, you are the intrepid little reporter. I'm almost flattered."

Almost.

Yeah, he can't run her down here, and Miko knows it. That's not to say that her actions are based entirely in objective understanding of the situation, mostly she's irritated and stubborn. But the knowledge does lend her a bit more confidence in this situation.

"Yes, hours," she replies. She's relaxed a bit more now, some of the tension in her shoulders dropped now that he isn't actively threatening her. Maybe she's getting through to him. "Again, you weren't easy to find."

She pauses, considering her own approach here. "Look, all I want is to ask you a few questions, then you can go back to your weird skulking, m'kay?"

"I'm not supposed to be easy to find," he tells her airily, smugly, but he's obviously not winning out here. She's not going to leave him alone unless he answers her stupid questions, and maybe if he plays along this'll be over a little faster. He needs to finish casing this joint after all.

His internal mechanics give an agitated little rattle, and he huffs air out through his vents. "Fine. I'll bite. Ask your questions, fleshling -- but I make no guarantee about what kind of answers you'll get."

She grins triumphantly, fiddling with her phone to pull up a notepad app as she talks.

"Okay so first off, what's your name? And what are you doing on Earth, did you crash here or come here on purpose or what? What's your top speed? And if you're 'not supposed to be easy to find' then what are you doing being seen all over Europe and lurking around in public spaces?" That last bit is probably pushing it a bit, even if it's said jokingly, with significantly less confrontation or mean-spirited-ness than before, but she doesn't intend to let it go just yet.

Primus, the little fleshling can talk. Did she even stop to
breathe? Impressive. And annoying. Knock Out rattles off a list
of answers -- or non-answers, as it were -- effortlessly, sounding
almost bored.

"Knock Out, of course I came here on purpose, one hundred
ninety miles per hour -- though I can push two hundred on a
good day -- and none of your business." That last answer
is drawled out, a dangerous edge to it. "There. I answered your
questions. Now...go. Shoo."

She takes a couple steps away - maybe it is about time for her to be thinking about getting out of here - but stops short of actually backing off, remaining (dangerously) close to his side.

"Okay, fine, one last question, though - if you're here on purpose, why? Like, what's so interesting about Earth in particular?"

So persistent -- like a little bug, buzzing constantly in his audial.
It tries his patience, but at the same time, on some level he almost
admires her -- what's the human word for it -- guts. Well,
that's fitting.

He's not about to give her a real answer, of course. If he weren't in
his alt mode, he'd be smiling. "Very little, actually...but you humans
do produce some exquisite vehicles."

She considers that for a moment, then shrugs and steps completely out of his way. "Good an answer as any, I guess."

Suddenly, she remembers one of the main reasons she was here to begin with. "Oh, hey, would'ya mind keeping an eye out for a guy named- Orion, I think? He's this red and blue semi, when I talked to him he was kinda... well, hopelessly lost."

Well, that was...surprisingly painless. As strong as she comes on, Knock Out doesn't quite mind this fleshling as much as some of the others he's met. She's still irritating, to be sure, but at least he doesn't feel like he needs to murder her in order to escape the conversation.

Knock Out sharpens at Orion's name, though. That catches his attention. Orion had run into some of the natives, had he? Well, it's not like he's been out and about much lately. That must have been before Starscream found him.

"Orion, you say?" Knock Out sounds unimpressed, idle. He doesn't give any indication he recognizes the name. "Well, thanks for the tip, fleshie. I'll be sure to keep an optic out for him."

Miko snorts at his tone. "You're welcome, make sure you do." She would've thought he would be more interested to hear there were more Cybertronians on the planet, but apparently not.

She places a hand on her hip, gesturing dramatically in front of Knock Out. "Now, why don't you go on your way, like you keep saying? I'm sure you have plenty of important skulking to get to."

"Trust me, I'm going," Knock Out drawls, pulling forward past Miko. Skulking, right. He pauses before he picks up much speed, though, adjusting a side mirror to catch a glimpse of Miko. What a spirited little organic she is.

"I'll be on my way...just make sure you remember to look both ways before you cross the street, fleshling. And I wouldn't go chasing down any more strange cars -- if you know what's good for you."

He lets out a dark chuckle -- sort of ominous-sounding, honestly -- before he puts metal to the pedal and guns it, tires squealing as he speeds around the corner.

"Yeah, nice meeting you too!" she calls after him - once she's done flinching away from the noise produced by his tires.

She turns away with a huff and starts to head home. "What's that guy's problem," she mutters. At least he makes a really cool car.

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