[ OPEN LOG ]

[buffthis]

Who: Knock Out and YOU!!!
Where: All around L.A.
When: All day, TODAY
What: That talking sports car who is actually a giant space robot people have been talking about lately is out and about in L.A., being way less discreet than a Decepticon should.
Warnings: Inappropriately sensual is Knock Out's game. Approach with caution.

It's been only a few weeks since Knock Out arrived in L.A. after an extended tour in Europe, but he likes it already. He hadn't expected the vehicles around here to measure up to the ones he'd grown fond of in Italy and Germany, but the luxury car expo he'd tracked in L.A. had been a sight to behold. Admiring the glossy, flawless finishes on all of those perfect automobiles had nearly had him in fits of jealousy.

And the roads here. Knock Out can drive for miles, endless stretches of black asphalt that positively sing under his tires for hours on end. Yes, he thinks he could get used to this...he could stand to stay here for awhile.

Five years lounging around on Earth has made him slightly careless, and he hasn't been as discreet as he ought to be. But it's hard to contain himself when there's so much entertainment to be had on this planet. He can be found screaming down the California highways or cruising around the city -- occasionally, he'll send his holomatter avatar out to interact with the local life forms.

Comments

[buffthis]

Dragging the other bot into the forest had worked in Knock Out's favor -- to an extent. But he still has to do some creative maneuvering to avoid the falling debris from Starscream's ill-shot missile, and things are getting a little too close for his comfort. And without the traction of the road, Knock Out isn't quite in his element with all these close calls. His alt mode might no longer be the most useful choice here.

He comes to a roaring halt with a spray of dirt and underbrush, narrowly avoiding T-boning a tree -- he transforms before he's even all the way stopped, the unmistakable metal sound of transformation ringing throughout the forest. Play time isn't quite over, but it's certainly time to shift gears.

"All right, buster, that's it," Knock Out snarls, raising his arm to fire a few bursts of energon at the other bot. "Now you're playing with fire!"

[starscheme]

After his quick ascension to just above canopy level, Starscream cursed and circled above the forest rapidly. This situation would not do; he prided himself on his maneuverability in the air, but even he couldn't possibly navigate that mess without the risk of clipping his own wings.

He wasn't about to give up, though. Advantage from the air was his usual style, but he could swing getting up close and personal if necessary. He was adaptable like that.

Scanning and listening carefully for any hint of the enemy's location, on the third loop he suddenly caught the tell-tale sound of Transformation. Honing in on the source he plummeted downwards through the foliage and, with practiced grace and precision, transformed and landed on both feet with a thud that resonated through the trees, one hand transformed and blaster ready and pointed towards the enemy, and the other flexed for melee combat, claws glinting dangerously.

"Surrender now, Autobot scum, and I *might* just let you live--" He started to snarl and then trailed off in confusion, though he kept his weapons steadily aimed. He found his voice again with a confused yelp: "What in the name of the All Spark-- Knockout?!??"

[buffthis]

Certain that his assailant must be an Autobot, Knock Out fires an energon burst before the other bot is even finished transforming -- but it's probably just as well that it goes wide, and Knock Out jerks back in surprise, his guns faltering. He hadn't been expecting to see any Cybertronians on this planet -- let alone Decepticons -- let alone this Decepticon. This doesn't bode well for Knock Out.

"Starscream? What are you doing here?!"

[starscheme]

"I could very well ask the same thing of you!" Starscream squawked confusedly. His expression was a rather comical combination of fury and bafflement. He wasn't really sure what to make of finding Knockout here. It could spell danger... But if the med-bot was on his own and not sent out as part of some sort of search party this could work to his benefit. And of all of the Decepticon officers, Knockout was one of the more desirable individuals to have show up like this. His obedience and motivation left something to be desired of course, but he was skilled in both medical treatment and combat. And most importantly, he wasn't utterly and disgustingly devoted to Megatron.

At least, as far as he was aware of, he wasn't... Starscream vowed to keep that in mind.

He arched an eyebrow skeptically and continued: "And that's Commander Starscream to you," he said with a irked growl, lowering his weapon slowly.

[buffthis]

It's been so long since Knock Out even had to acknowledge there was a chain of command, addressing Starscream as Commander might as well be like flexing a rusty joint. Knock Out actually pulls a face, not quite a sneer, and grinds out, "Commander Starscream -- right."

He doesn't quite lower his arm, though he does relax somewhat -- he's still eyeing Starscream suspiciously, wondering what the full story is. With a haughty huff, he decides to begin with the most pressing question. "Why were you shooting at me?"

[starscheme]

He really can't help but roll his eyes at the fact that Knockout is already being so belligerently disrespectful, but Starscream lets it slide for now.

"Why was I-- I thought you were an Autobot! And really, can you blame me? What sort of self respecting Decepticon would choose a land based vehicle mode over a flight capable one?" he gestured aggressively up and down at Knockout's form with his non-transformed hand.

"Besides which I've been sending out a constant encrypted distress signal for weeks now and received no response..." he growled with an accusing frown.

[buffthis]

Knock Out had good reason to stay on edge, it seems -- he almost cringes, but doesn't quite, managing a scoff instead. "How could I have responded to a distress signal I wasn't even around to receive?" he retorts. He's beginning to think he shouldn't have left his Decepticon communications frequencies offline for the last five years. If he hadn't, he might have actually known Starscream was here. "I've barely been here a week. And -- I think part of my transponder may have been damaged in the crash..."

[starscheme]

"Indeed..." Starscream's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Then I suppose," he took a careful step towards the other robot, "you would not object to taking me to your ship then?" He kept his tone level, placating. "Certainly the two of us together could get it working once more, or at the very least provide us with the parts to send out a signal strong enough to secure our passage from this planet?"

[buffthis]

"Don't you think if that were possible I'd have done it already?" Knock Out spreads his hands in resignation, letting out a sigh. "I didn't come here on a ship, Starscream, I crashed. In a shuttle. Which now rests..." He twirls a finger in a vague gesture. "...at the bottom of one of this planet's endless oceans."

That part is at least true -- mostly. He had crashed to Earth in a shuttle -- but not in this sector of the planet. His shuttle had laid to rest in smoldering ruins on another continent entirely, but that part's not important. Details.

[starscheme]

Starscream pinched the space between his eyes where the bridge of his nose *would* be, if he had one. It was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a calm demeanor. He had forgotten how trying Knockout could be.

"It... is.... COMMANDER Starscream," he gritted out in frustration. He lowered his hand and fixed Knockout with another piercing look. "If you crashed into the depths of the ocean, how in blazes did you even escape to land?"

[buffthis]

Knock Out's general respect for the chain of command is grinding out like a rusty gear, and he barely has the decency to look even slightly cowed, merely grimacing in response.

"I was cycling salt water out of my vents for days," he says glibly, pulling a face. "I wouldn't recommend it. So how did you get here, Commander?"

[starscheme]

He was really reaching the end of his chain now, but somehow Starscream found the inner strength to contain his wrath. If Knockout wanted to drag things out with small talk then so be it. He could play along.

"Mmmmghh...." He crossed his arms impatiently. "A space bridge mishap ended up flinging me to a nearby sector; this was the closest inhabited planet that registered even a trace of Energon, so naturally I was drawn here hoping for supplies and shelter."

It wasn't fully a lie, and he managed to put on a pretty sincere act at any rate. There was absolutely no reason for Knockout to know about the incident with the human scientist either, for that matter.

[buffthis]

Knock Out's optics brighten at the mention of energon on Earth, and he grins. "Ah, yes! We were scouting energon deposits in this sector and this planet registered considerably in our scans. We were on our way to investigate when we were...unfortunately separated." He grimaces again. "Unfortunately, all my data went down with the shuttle."

[starscheme]

"Fortunately for YOU, I am actually already well on top of the matter," Starscream scoffed arrogantly. "Lost all of your data... Please. As if you couldn't simply locate the energon by other means without a ship."

He wasn't sure if skimming human tested geological surveys really counted as a fair form of "other means", but he also didn't really care.

"Very well, if you don't have any supplies or information to contribute, you can certainly lend a hand to the cause now to make up for that," he sighed dramatically.

[buffthis]

"Of course," Knock Out says, looking a little disgruntled. Someone's just had his fun spoiled. And Knock Out had really been getting used to the roads on this planet. "Right. Anything...for the cause."

He could probably have mustered up a little more gusto, sounded a little more convincing than he did. Meh. He really feels like someone's taken all the air out of his tires. "I take it you arrived on this planet alone as well, then?"

[starscheme]

Starscream pointedly chooses to ignore the obvious disinterest in Knockout's voice. The blasted med-bot never was very easily impressed, and it wasn't worth getting his circuits in a bunch trying to force him to care, so long as he contributed.

"Of course; crashing here in a group would have taken the fun out of things," he said sarcastically. "I have managed to begin gathering some materials for a long range communications booster though, and with your help it should be far easier to complete... If you haven't any prior commitments," he stressed that word a little too much, "I'd be thrilled to show you."

His serious tone made it clear that it was not a polite suggestion.

[buffthis]

Knock Out's time of leisure on Earth is quickly coming to a close, and he couldn't be less pleased with this new development. He'd expected his partner to find him, not...Starscream. Eurgh.

"My schedule is wide open, Commander Starscream," Knock Out grinds out, forcing an unconvincing smile. "Please -- by all means. Show me what progress you've made on this planet."

[starscheme]

Starscream stepped back and crossed one arm across his chest, his other one resting on it at the elbow as he gestured flippantly with one hand. He looked maliciously amused. "My dear Knockout, if I didn't know any better I would say it sounds like you don't want to leave this horrific planet," he purred, voice dripping with false sympathy.

Perhaps he was being a tad bit cruel, but after so many months of being at the mercy of a lesser species, it felt damn good to be in a position of power once more.

Besides which, he mused angrily, he had every reason to believe that Knockout was lying to his face, which made him even less inclined to be polite.

[buffthis]

Yeah, because Cybertron has so much going for it right about now, Knock Out thinks dryly, but he sees the bait for what it is and huffs, resisting the urge to roll his optics.

"Don't be absurd, Commander Starscream. I'm every bit as eager as you are to locate my partner and resume our mission," he all but purrs, managing, at least, to sound a good deal more convincing this time. Not that it'll help his case much. "This planet has its...charms, I suppose, but the vermin infestation is simply intolerable."

[starscheme]

"On that, at least, we can agree," Starscream says placidly. "Not only does this planet come with its own reprehensible variety of organic vermin, but I've even run across Alternians in the time I have been here." He sneered unhappily as if he'd actually just laid eyes on a troll at that moment.

Shaking his head he shrugged helplessly. "At any rate I suggest we Transformer and... make... tracks," he trailed off, glancing at Knockout's frame, which showed clear signs of having integrated a land based alt mod. Truly baffling...

[buffthis]

"Alternians?" Knock Out says, with genuine surprise. "Really. Well, that's...unexpected." What could the trolls possibly want with this planet? They never were all that interested in vehicles, and the rest of this planet really leaves something to be desired. "Ah -- yes. Of course, Commander Starscream, please -- show me to your base of operations."

If he has one. Knock Out transforms in a smooth whirl, his engines practically purring -- Starscream can say what he will about land-based vehicle modes, but this is one smooth ride.

Starscream does his best Megatron impression

[starscheme]

That was was all he needed. One look at Knockout's alt mode and a quick cross check with the database of images he had pulled from years worth of conspiracy board posts left no doubt in Starscream's mind: The little wretch was lying to him about how long he had been here.

A lie itself would have been inconsequential; disrespectful and disobedient, but ultimately meaningless. But considering everything Starscream had just gone through to restore his transformation capabilities, well...

It only took a moment for Starscream's expression to switch channels from an authoritative smirk to all out livid fury, and he kicked out one leg and brought a foot wailing down on Knockout's hood, pinning him without any warning. “Do you honestly take me for a fool, Knockout?! Only here for a week, you said? How laughable.”

Except he was definitely not laughing.

somebody just leaked a little transmission fluid

[buffthis]

Starscream's foot connects with his hood just as soon as he puts metal to the pedal -- his tires squeal helplessly on the ground for a moment, only kicking up dirt, and a momentary whine of panic rips through Knock Out's mind as he realizes that not only his he pinned, Starscream has just a left a huge, nasty gouge on his hood.

He jerks involuntarily, cycling through his options -- and they're considerably limited. He vocalizes a few false starts, spluttering as he tries to find a few actual words -- his voice progresses into a stuttering laugh that can't seem to decide if it's nervous or angry.

"Wh -- Starscream! What are you -- what's going on?!"

[starscheme]

It was Starscream's turn to roll his eyes in exasperation. “Oh please, like you have no idea what I'm referring to. Let me ask you Knockout, how do you think I located you in the first place?” He pressed down with his heel a bit more. “Some of the more unsavory parts of the humans worldwide networking system are rife with photos and stories of a mysterious sports car that drives itself... many of them dated back several years.”

He twisted his heel, grinding it into Knockout's hood ever so slightly. “Naturally, it was obvious that the mystery car was Cybertronian, but I assumed it was an Autobot... I had honestly expected a Decepticon to have a better appreciation for stealth and secrecy.”

[buffthis]

"Hey -- watch the finish!" Knock Out splutters desperately, attempting in vain to shrink away from Starscream. He's spinning his wheels, here, and his glibly constructed lie has just blown up in his face -- what options does he even have? He could stick to his guns, but that's not going to do him -- or his paint job -- any favors.

"All right -- all right -- I lied! Are you happy?" He sounds agitated, almost waspish, and he huffs air through his vents. "Yes, I've been stranded on this planet for years now -- now will you let me go? It's going to take hours to buff this out!"