[network] Things just got a little bit hotter around here.

[warmesthugs]

[There isn't much visible in the video feed at first; the image is grainy and out of focus, and the frame briefly scrolls upwards a couple of times before falling into its rightful place, as though someone is tweaking the settings.

When it settles, all that's visible is a massive, dark shape silhouetted against the sky. He glares at the screen with two baleful red eyes and brimming rage makes the biolights tracking down his cheeks burn bright. Two words boom over the line.]

Explanation. Now.

Comments

[sparkwhisperer]

[As Tarn hurries to Helex’s location he is gripped with a certain degree of dread. The smelter has never been one to possess a great amount of patience and he would prefer to keep the damage control to a minimum.

That’s not to say that he isn’t glad to see his teammate. No, his relief to have someone who actually understands him is overwhelming. He and Helex have always had a good rapport with each other.

As he rounds the last corner of his journey he slides out of tank mode to approach his subordinate face to face.

Unfortunately the scene unfolding in front of exactly what he was hoping to avoid. A strangled wheeze escapes Tarn as he stops short, eyes wide with shock. Because there, in the middle of the shattered remains of a building, Helex was suplexing Megatron. The GOOD Megatron.

After the split second of second of pause, he forces his feet forward running over to break up the vicious fight.]

“HELEX. STOP."

[aminerproblem]

[His pained shout is muffled by debris as he's slammed face first into the ground. Not exactly what he wanted to happen, but at least he wasn't in the position of trying to leg press someone with fists the size of his head.]

[With Helex off kilter and Megatron's wits starting to come about him, he clenches the wrist of the hand grasping at his throat, being one good slip away from having him in a grip that could very well end the fight.]

[He begins to wrench it away with both hands when a familiar voice shouts from a distance, but ignores it in favor of bending back the fingers farther than the joint would allow. A mix of a little pain and Tarn's distraction might finally get him free.]

[warmesthugs]

[It hurts having his fingers wrenched like that, but he can work through pain. Helex wouldn't be as useful to Tarn otherwise. He does bellow in pain, though, feeling wiring and thick metacarpal struts warp under Megatron's grip.

He can work through it, but it still hurts.

So the pain doesn't bring him up short quite so much as that voice he only just hears over Megatron's snarling, his own shouts, and the roar of his power plant trying to get any more torgue out of his shoulders so he can snap Megatron's head off his neck. In fact, Helex freezes as though someone cut his motor circuits entirely, optics wide. His head whips around to look up.]

Tarn?!

[He stopped, as ordered. But he hasn't let go just yet.]

[sparkwhisperer]

Let go of him. Right now.

[Tarn can't believe that in the 20 minutes that it maybe took him to get here that so much has already gone wrong. As he gets closer,the smears of energon and dented plating becomes more apparent.

This is a disaster. Of anyone who could have found Helex it had to be Megatron. He was really hoping to explain the situation before they met.

Tarn stands tall, managing to exude an air of authority. He stares down at Helex, hoping that perhaps he may miss the small detail of his missing badge, and the more obvious disappearance of his double fusion cannon. He can't seem weak in this moment. There is too much riding on it.]

I will explain this later, but you're going to have to let him go.

[aminerproblem]

[He can feel the junctures of his neck begin to strain against the force of Helex's arm. When wrenching the metacarpals out of place does nothing to dissuade him, he gets ready to escalate, fingers digging into the wrist cables just between thick armor plates.]

[Megatron only pauses because the force slackens against his neck, and he watches at Tarn tries to de-escalate.]

[But his face is still contorted into a angry grimace as Helex keeps a clamp around his neck. Some probing from his hand reminds him of what he needed to look for: the radial nervecircuit. Helex better let go of him quick, because he'll be ripping it out of place and slipping free of his own accord if he doesn't.]

[warmesthugs]

[Helex looks like Tarn just personally told him to surrender, that the war is over.]

But…

[But Megatron abandoned them. But Tarn declared war. But Helex promised to follow Tarn into Hell for the cause.

But orders are orders. Slowly, glaring at Tarn and only wincing once as his dislocated and bent fingers struggle to move properly, damaged actuators audibly whining, he relinquishes his hold. Even more slowly, he backs away to pick himself up and give Megatron clearance.]

…Sir.

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn manages to glance down at Megatron's bleeding face. The anger radiating from him is palpable, even as Helex lets go.

His relief is shortlived. The glare and look of utter betrayal that his teammate gives him stirs guilt inside his spark. Tarn manages to push it aside; he will explain to Helex in private. For now he needs to defuse the situation. With Megatron only a few steps away, things still could go sour again.

Taking a measured step between them, Tarn's mind races for something to say.]

[For once he's at a loss. Instead he glances angrily between the two opponents.]

What is going on here?

[aminerproblem]

[His hand slips out of Helex's wrist as it slackens from his neck. As he stands to his feet, he notices his face drenched in streams of his own energon.]

[At the very least, Megatron's expression is no longer twisted into a snarl, but it holds a familiar quiet, controlled temper. The kind that lies in wait like a vat of nitroglycerin.]

[He doesn't answer Tarn's question, because he couldn't quite encapsulate what he was currently feeling into words, and like hell is he going to scrabble to explain why he was attacked. He does watch him though, curious to see how he'll reign in his brutish teammate.]

[warmesthugs]

…

[Helex is silent for a long few seconds. Not to think it over; just to glower at no particular point over Tarn's shoulder and trying to shunt some of his anger into his heating coils. It's no less threatening than throwing punches, but if he can't throw punches, it has to go somewhere.

Then he spits out a mouthful of his own energon.]

He told me the war is over.

[He looks very pointedly at Tarn.]

You ordered different.

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn squints. He never explicitly told Helex such a thing. That isn’t to say that he wouldn’t. In fact, admitting that the war is over and playing the peaceful toothless old hound has never been his plan. Not even now. ]

[However, telling Helex that now, in front of Megatron, simply can’t be done. The miner is young, and naive, and inexperienced and that sort of statement will most certainly end badly. Tarn just needs to find an angle to get through to him. A bit of patience and charisma is all it will take]

I have told you no such thing. We will discuss this later in private.

[He casts him a stern glance, hoping that Helex has the sense to drop it for now. He will make everything clear soon. He turns to address Megatron, bowing his head ever so slightly. ]

You have my sincere apologies, Megatron. Sometimes Helex has the tendency to jump into action before knowing the entirety of the situation. While such dedication and enthusiasm is to be rewarded in the field, sometimes it can get him into a bit of trouble.

[aminerproblem]

[Megatron remains oddly cool as Tarn runs his mouth. He does tilt his head in a mock curiosity, hiding a sickened realization as Helex explains his motives. How inconveniently truthful of him to give away what he suspected to be Tarn's true intentions.]

Keep your damn apology.

[He wipes the energon from his face.]

I know the only reason you didn't let him twist my head off is because you're waiting for me to become whatever cruel master you want to use to justify your brutality. I'd always wondered what you'd do when you realize that won't happen.

[He closes the distance between him and Tarn, some of the explosive rage, the fire that would have kept him alive in Kaon's fighting pits, beginning to twist his features.]

Seeing as mercy is clearly something beyond you, here's a simple warning: If I see either of your handiwork undermining my word again, the blood spilled on the ground will be draining out of the stumps of your necks by the end of the cycle.

Have I made myself clear?

[warmesthugs]

[Tarn doesn't really need defending, ordinarily; but Tarn ordinarily has his cannon, which is missing, and ordinarily it isn't Megatron getting into his space and being threatening. Tarn is angry and will probably be even more angry later, but Helex is nothing if not loyal to his commander.

He doesn't try to grab now, but he does shove, both trying to push Megatron away from Tarn with two hands and wedge himself in front of his commander, to make himself a wall between Tarn and Megatron.

Helex says nothing. Tarn's the talker. Helex just scowls.]

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn takes a step back from Megatron as he advances on him. He is shocked for a moment at the purely murderous rage twisting his features. It only takes a moment for that shock to turn into absolute pride.

His Megatron is in there, after all. slowly, but surely, beginning to emerge with time]

[Tarn stumbles a bit as Helex pushes himself between them in a show of misplaced protection, too distracted by his fan-girlish awe. he is thankful that his mask covers his wolfish grin.]

Helex, step back, It’s fine.

[Tarn stares very levelly back at Megatron, peering around Helex’s broad frame.]

Understood. I won’t disappoint you.

[aminerproblem]

[Megatron seems fairly unintimidated despite nearly having his head torn off by the smelter. He's silent as Helex shoves his enormous body between them, giving the Decepticon only one step as he's pushed back. Despite the maelstrom of emotion that had struck his expression, he manages to settle his rage-shaken limbs.]

[Tarn sounded a little to content with the arrangement to satisfy him, but he wasn't here to exact vengeance. He was here to ensure Tarn's minion didn't destroy what peace they had.]

[So he straightens his posture and stares back, waiting for them to make their leave.]

We'll see.