(Untitled)

[wolfinbotsarmor]

For a fellow who detonated a bomb in his chest several weeks ago in order to save one associate and avenge the death of another, Klank appears surprisingly whole. Seated in a large Nexus armchair, slouched back with his hands clutching the ends of the armrests like a sulking monarch on his throne, the Decepticon grumbles to himself as he watches

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[primus_seeress]

*Auspex puts a hand to his arm, gently attempting to peel one of his hands off his helm* You are still thinking like a living mech. Those who are one with the Allspark have different priorities. You'll find that very few of them are concerned about the method through which they arrived, anymore. The physical is no longer an issue. There is collective thought, among them, and there is the exchange of knowledge, of emotions; there is an understanding there, that cannot be achieved through the limited communication we share, while we are alive.

*her tone is soothing* Forgiving yourself is often the hardest part. This has, evidently, weighed heavily on your conscience throughout the vorns, whether you were aware of it or not. So I wonder, were your motives complete vanity, at all times, or was there real truth behind them, that you adhered to methods you yourself do not approve of?

((Hee... No problem. Auspex seems to have a way of making people think way too much about their motives. It's sort of a way of life for her, and the mun is used to it. ;) She's wishing I'd gotten her to talk to him when he was alive though, and she's kicking me. ;p But maybe it's just as well, like this, so they're not wading through his possible justifications, heh.))

[wolfinbotsarmor]

Klank is uncertain how to answer as he allows Auspex to take one of his hands from the side of his helm. His thoughts and emotions are so jumbled, so incoherent.

"I...I just do not know anymore!" he admits with another shudder. "At one time, I believed the Autobots were destined to lose the war because they would not do whatever was necessary to advance themselves and defeat the Decepticons. I honestly believed that and I was shunned for taking matters into my own hands, for attempting to conduct unorthodox experiments and research. My vanity and ego were wounded when my mentor turned me away, and when he perished in a Decepticon assault and Ratchet was made Chief Medical Officer in his stead, I felt cheated. I wanted him dead. I embraced the Decepticon creed and came to enjoy the executions of others who I deemed weak and worthless. Perhaps at one time my work could have been considered a terrible, violent labor of love for our species on the whole...but...when I began to take pleasure in what I did..."

Trailing off, Klank is silent a long moment before finding his voice again. When he does speak again, he seems to have regained a bit more control. "I cannot die again without seeing Steiner. I must go to him."

((It likely is just as well things happened this way... Prior to death, Klank probably would have mocked Auspex without mercy, adding in threats to chain her down and tear her apart if she got in his way at all. BUT! As I said, this encounter will help him later. It's basically set him on the right course for where I want him to go. :) ))

[primus_seeress]

*she pats his hand supportively, as he contemplates his motives. Hearing it stated aloud... no wonder he is suffering* I see. Misguided motives, turned to bitterness, sadism; I have seen similar before. You are not alone in this; do not lose hope. I will help you, if I can, but the Allspark would be the best remedy for this pain, though you may not believe that now.

*She pauses uncertainly at the mention of his friend* If you can, if he will not despair... this is a hard choice, one I would not wish upon you; but do what you feel is wise. Please, though, if there is anything I can do to aid you, or lend you support, simply ask it. I at least hope to find someone to guide you...

*she frowns, trying to find the right words* I don't wish to leave you with only the darkness to return to. If there is a way I can be certain of that, I will be in good conscience. Otherwise... I am reluctant to lose sight of you. *there is a hint of sheepishness in her tone, of all things*

((Ew. Nice. Not conducive to meaningful conversation, no, LOL. Glad this'll help him, then. :) Though he may have acquired an overprotective, self-appointed emotional/spiritual guardian, just now... >_> Feel free to tell her to stuff it, if required. ;) ))

[wolfinbotsarmor]

That anyone aside from Steiner and Shockwave would want to help him is strange. Klank can't decide if the feeling is one of relief or discomfort. His past self would have sneered at any offered pity or sympathy, but something about Auspex makes it easier to accept. Perhaps there is truth in her words and she has some sort of connection to Primus that Klank himself does not.

Expression hardening with new resolve, he slowly gets to his feet. "I will accept your assistance if you are offering, but know that I am not interested in crossing over again if it can be helped. Perhaps on the side of the Well, it is different; past transgressions from life are laid to rest, but I have never been a quitter. If there is any way I can remain here a while longer to try and make up for what I did out of vanity and cruelty, I will try to take that route. And if there is anyone else I know of who can help me there...it...is my rival. I owe him an apology as it is. Should he refuse to help, I can only go from there. He has no reason to trust me, but I want to try. Likely Steiner is with him, anyway. I told that big brute to follow the Autobots away from me and as that was my final order with nothing specific after, he is probably still following it."

((Actually, the idea of Auspex keeping an optic on Klank is one I find amusing. Although now I'm trying to remember if Auspex has met Bear!Ratchet or not...))

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex also stands, once she's sure Klank's pulled himself together, more or less. She senses his mixed reception of her offer of help, and understands why; it would not be the first time she's confused someone with her concern for, and willingness to devote her time to, a stranger, and she's not sure explaining it would be of much use; it's simply part of her function. She leaves it be.*

*She seriously ponders the situation he's outlined, conferring with Primus, to be sure of her decision* If there is any possibility that I can hold sway over the power keeping you here, and prolong it... Primus does have some power over the physical being of sparks, and I'd like to be there to try, alongside whatever help you may find. I will not be of any use to anyone, if there is violence; however... *she hesitates, not wishing to insult him, but she has practicality in mind* I'm not sure you could withstand attack, anyway, in your current state.

*She reflects on this for a few moments, speaking slowly* There is at least one Allspark messenger who would compensate for my lack of defense, and make sure your spark does not stray, should the worst happen. And perhaps... would I be of any help in putting Ratchet, or whatever others are there, at ease? I sense that you are sincere, but they, perhaps, cannot. I am unsure, though, how much weight the assurance of a servant of Primus has, with those of your universe.

*She ponders for another moment, uncertain if calling will work -- she's never tried this before. Wrapping herself in some of Primus' power, for good measure, she sends something like a comm, but not quite such, in that peculiar way that free-sparks communicate, to reality at large, however far she can reach... //Jet? Can you hear me? It is Auspex. Are you on assignment anywhere, at the moment?// She pauses for response, prepared to repeat herself again, if necessary*

((She hasn't. I doubt he'll be thrilled to meet someone that's vouching for Klank's change of spark, heheh. In case of warlike action in the vicinity (priestess is easily succeptible to bodily harm, and Klank's falling apart, anyway, heh), and for somebody to keep track of Klank's spark, Jet's mun has volunteered, though it's up to Klank if he can live with this arrangement, of course, heh.))

[guardianseeker]

//Yes, Auspex, ma'am, I can.// There was a brief moment of puzzlement; Jet, at this very moment was watching a pack of young mechs and femmes race and play in the Nexus and the call caught him a little offguard.

Huh.

But, but, but, it had to be important. The priestess would not call otherwise. And Jet was curious, feeling that this might be important... something the Allspark might want done, though not out and out telling him what (that was happening more and more these days). // No ma'am, I am not. Do you need help?//

[wolfinbotsarmor]

"You're not a Decepticon and you don't read as a threat. I seriously doubt Ratchet or his bodyguards will see any reason to attack you, even if you with the likes of me. Ratchet himself has proven that he has the strength to kill, but like most Autobots, he does not really have it in him to follow through." Klank pauses, thoughtful, his optics shuttering a moment. "Moledive may be a problem, but perhaps the others will hold him at bay. Out of all of them, he was the most eager to see me dead the last time we met. For whatever reason, he does not follow the typical Autobot habit of trying to take prisoners. If it were up to him, he would probably kill every enemy that got in his way with his bare hands."

"As for Ratchet and his belief whether or not I am sincere, or whether you can convince him of that... We'll have to see. I have no idea as to what his mental state has been like since I died." Though most of his scanners are shot, his olfactory senses are still fully functional. He takes a few seconds to test the air, optics narrowing. "I am fairly sure none of them are here, but I have a good guess as to where they may be."

Trying to ignore the fact that he is still leaving tiny bits of metal behind him as he walks, Klank gets a PINpoint from one of the nearby vending machines. His own PINpoint is long gone, but his memory is good enough to remember the coordinates to the other nexus hub. As he works with the device, he continues talking. "Send for that All Spark messenger if you think it best. Perhaps the both of you in mere presence will convince Ratchet I have not returned from the dead to have one last try at killing him."

((I think that'll work. Ratchet and company are over at tf_dressing and have been for some time, but I'm considering taking this to Klank's own account so there aren't any interruptions. There are a couple of mechs over at the dressing room not belonging to me who probably wouldn't mind pounding Klank into pulp in his weakened state. And seeing as how that place has no anti-violence field...yeah. I'll put a URL up here once this end is settled.))

[primus_seeress]

*she nods minutely* I don't expect to be attacked, but I may also inadvertently get in the way. Hopefully, that possibility will discourage attack on you, though I'm aware that it may not.

*Auspex is very much not ignoring that he's still breaking down, eyeing his crumbling wake warily, and praying that he can stay in one piece long enough to be helped*

*It is then, that Auspex receives her answer from Jet. She offers thanks to Primus, much relieved that Jet heard her call. She quickly explains*

//There is a dead mech, here, who has been forcibly reintroduced to his body via a spell. Unfortunately, his body is also decaying at an alarming rate. When he died, before the spell was put in place, he was encased in darkness, and alone - I don't know what happened, but he obviously hadn't found the Allspark.

Now that he's here, he wishes to stay - but the condition of his body may prevent this. I'd like someone to watch over him, who can help him find the Allspark, if he doesn't survive. Meanwhile, he is going to someone who he thinks could help counter the breakdown of his shell; unfortunately, this is an enemy of his, who also has potentially brash friends. Obviously, the possibility of his death is increased...//

*she hesitates for a moment* //I'm also going to accompany him, in case there is something I can do from the spark's end of things; I may unintentionally end up in harm's way. My priority is keeping Klank alive, and if that fails, to keep his spark away from the darkness... my own safety is secondary, but if you can multitask, I'd be very grateful. Otherwise, please, just watch over this mech, if you can. This darkness he came from sounded horrible, and I don't wish for him to return to it..//

((Okay, sounds good. Yeah, Auspex is all for avoiding confrontation if possible. So is Jet, probably, and Klank goes without saying. ;} ))

[guardianseeker]

Jet nodded once, firmly, and the young dead Seeker faded from the scene he was watching a bit regretfully, leaving those living who were his age and a bit older to their games.

// Yes ma’am, I understand.// But, hexnuts, something here was unsettling him quite a bit. //You said he couldn’t find the Allspark? That’s… oh frag, no one’s supposed to end up in the Void.// Jet was reminded a bit of what had happened with Duskwing, and though circumstances were not the same, the reality of what would happen to a dead spark that did not manage to reach the Allspark sooner or later was made clear.

They would drift. Fragment.

The Allspark had made it clear that intercession was needed then. And now? The Allspark -softly singing, always singing, there, in the back of his spark and mind - said that help was needed now.

No way, no how, was Jet going to fail, no sir. Uh uh. It wouldn’t be very guardian ghost-like of him.

//He knows he can come back, right, ma’am? I mean, there were others that didn’t want to cross over because they didn’t want to be done and have made no difference. And they were able to come back - anyone can if they need to.// Like Duskwing.

Then Auspex told him how she wanted him to prioritize protecting them. And then Jet thought about how many would be Not Happy with him if the Priestess got hurt or killed (starting with The Commander and Mr. Scary Jet and the Truceverse crowd and ending with his fellow guardian spirits and the Allspark) and how many would be very capable of showing Displeasure in ways a ghost could feel. Meep! // … ah… um… how ‘bout I make sure no one gets vaped, ‘kay? The Allspark really wouldn’t like that; too full back here as it is. And nobody’s falling back into darkness; not if I can help it.//

Damn right on that.

Crimson optics first appeared in the air and then the rest of a blue and white tetrajet faded in behind Auspex and solidified until he had the appearance of a living mech.

“Hello sir, I’m Jet.” He nodded in greeting to Auspex. “Priestess.”

Just… just Jet hoped that the one place they would not find this guy’s enemy and his friends would be a bar. He, on principal, hated being sent to bars on a mission. Because there were inevitable Bar Fights of Potential Universal Doom.

Just… no. No. Not after the last time.

[wolfinbotsarmor]

Klank startles just a bit as Jet fades into existence. He's encountered a ghost in the Nexus before...just not quite like this. And though he's still shedding bits of metal, Klank is also still regenerating - he's not in deadly territory just yet. One might guess, however, that it won't be long before the strength of the spell over him drops off and leaves him to completely fall to pieces.

"Jet, is it? Call me Klank," he responds, unable to keeping from wondering how it is that this fellow ended up dead and with the job as a messenger or ferrier or whatever it is that he does. "If my current state is an inconvenience, I apologize. I have a feeling Auspex here has explained the situation, however..."

Glancing back down at the PINpoint in his hands, he rechecks his coordinate programming before glancing between Auspex and Jet again. "I believe I am ready to try this and see if my memory is accurate. This should take me to where I believe Ratchet and his bodyguards are hiding. Jet? Er, you seem not to need such a device. Auspex, I am not sure of your usual mode of travel between the realms...? But if you can both follow, I will PIN out and get what I hope is a peaceful meeting underway."

[primus_seeress]

//Ah. I did fail to mention that. Usually... it's hard to resist staying in the Allspark, once you've arrived; I don't usually recommend it. But he should at least know that it is possible, yes. And I do hope everyone will be reasonable enough not to kill each other; hopefully, you won't need to intervene. Thank you, Jet.//

*Offering a small smile of greeting, she nods to the former young seeker as he appears.

Auspex has a similar allergy to bars, for the same reason. She and Jet could start a support group, if they end up in another one.*

*She frowns for a moment* I usually travel via portal, but that will take too long, I think, in this case; there's also a good chance I would get lost. I do have a PIN, but I've not used it to travel anywhere but my own universe. *she materializes it from the odds-and-ends in her subspace storage, 'hmm'ing absently as she peers at Klank's already-programmed device, attempting to reset her own to the same location.*

*After a bit of difficulty with the rather unfamiliar contraption, it looks like she might miraculously end up in the same place as Klank. Fortunately, she often has miracles on her side.*

*She nods; ready when they are*

[guardianseeker]

//Yeah. Hard. I know.//

Jet knew.

“She has, Klank, sir, and it will be no trouble. I’ll be able to follow wherever you go.” If Klank asked, Jet would tell him how he died. Not a way for a Decepticon to go, no, frag no, and exceptionally embarrassing for a warrior’s pride, aw lugnuts, yes - but he would tell him. And why he became was what he now was.

A spirit that ferried, protected, and delivered the Allspark’s messages - whatever required. A guardian.

He nodded. He was ready.

[wolfinbotsarmor]

Klank allows Auspex to copy his coordinates, sighing heavily through his intakes as he stares down at the PINpoint. His momentary silence is not wasted, however; for once in his life, he is offering a few mentally composed, silent lines of prayer to Primus that everything doesn't go to the Pit in a handbasket if they manage to meet up with Ratchet.

"Alright, then. Let us see if my assumption is correct and hope for the best possible outcome." Activating his device, Klank PINpoints out...

[primus_seeress]

*Auspex nods quietly* If this is your path, Primus will enable you to take it. *If not... Primus give them the strength to endure what comes. Giving Jet a tiny smile of encouragement and thanks, she too disappears*

[guardianseeker]

And Jet followed not a second later.