#tesarus

The air is thick on the surface of Clemency. Before Tarn is a vast battlefield abandoned, rusting frames of thousands of Decepticons lie scattered across the horizon, remaining in their position almost like immortalized statues of the destruction this war has caused. Poetically ironic given it's the moment where they approached the end of their mortal lives that have been mostly preserved, the rust only beginning to gnaw into their internal systems. Tarn is filled with a sense of melancholy, almost. How far the war has gone. He will admit though, the view is pretty wonderful despite the dark, dusk atmosphere.

Had their soldiers been stronger, maybe this wouldn't have gone for as long as it had. It's almost an apathetic view but Tarn believes that's the truth. The air feels almost heavy with the weight of this 'necessary' cost of war as he takes in the sombre sight.

“And that's another one.” Kaon mutters, another name crossed off The List. Some cowardly deserter really thought he could hide in the ruins of the battle he ran from. How shameless. Kaon sighs out as he goes through The List, datapad in servo; Helex and Tesarus are chatting off and Vos seems to be interested in the desecrated corpses of their own. Probably for his dissection table, no doubt. Tarn doesn't care, he continues to stare into the horizon. Pondering the future of the Decepticon Cause when a loud scream erupts from where Vos was digging around for organs, the sharpness of which startled them all, Tarn included.

He’s slightly annoyed and all of them immediately walk over to Vos who looks terrified.

“What are you screaming for?” Tarn scowls, the last thing he wanted was one of his own unit members to scream like cowards. Vos points at the pile of bodies uncharacteristically terrified, his crimson optics widened as he rambles out in Primal Vernacular. Despite the faceguard, the distress was apparent from his optics alone.

  “T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ b̸̼̋͛̑͆̈́͗̿̅ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅd̶̡̲̗̼̮̤̤̳̲͖͓͍͔͓̓̎̽́̽̏̐͂̆͆͘͘͘i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ ǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ m̵̢͕̫̓̔͑̊̈ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅṽ̵͇̟̺̣͓̰̭̲̼̻̪̩̰͒̓̿̄̾̔̊͝ͅi̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝ǧ̷̡̟̲̹̩̱͉̮̭͇͚̮̖̟̽̓͊̔̓̕!”

  Offline frames are supposed to stay immobile. This was not a normal reaction from Vos. A small purple glow emanates from Tarn’s fusion cannon as it loads just in case, better safe than sorry. Though, he seriously doubts it's worth their concern.

“It could be just a scraplet.” Helex frowns, Vos’ reaction seems out of proportion and Tesarus nods in agreement. They always warn Vos that there's going to be scraplets… Vos stiffens a little, slightly offended as he turns to face Helex because he's more than well aware that it's a jab at him. Last time, Vos had one stuck inside his systems. It was not very pleasant for him and the team to say the least. Tarn shoots a nasty glare at Vos through the slits of his mask at the memory. He swears, sometimes his team was just reckless and silly despite being infamous mass murderers.

Kaon scans for any signals that indicate spark signatures other than the five of theirs and… there's a spark signature, faint but present. Originating from the pile of bodies Vos yelped from.

“Actually, there's a spark signature.” Kaon wastes no time in informing Tarn who's somewhat surprised beneath the mask. How does one manage to get themselves stuck beneath a literal stack of dead bodies?

Soon enough, Helex and Tesarus are working on moving partially rusted frames from the heap of bodies like they weighed nothing, with heavy distaste as their servos come in contact with dried up energon, they preferred it fresh and warm; much better to feel. Tarn scans thoroughly, perhaps, there could've been another cowardly traitor that had joined alongside the now offline Runamuck.

But what Tarn sees shocks him and the others. There it is, a small little frame. The poor thing looks crushed. A tiny Decepticon insignia on its erratically heaving chassis. Helex and Tesarus stop hauling away offline, partially rusted frames. They would feel relieved at the prospect of not having to get anymore rust flakes on their frames but they too are very stunned, not expecting to see a newly-built of all things stuck under the rubble of offline frames in an abandoned Decepticon graveyard.

All of them exchange glances while the little one lets out shallow vents, as if the poor thing was compressed. Tarn looks at the tiny purple insignia once again and is reminded that this little one is a Decepticon. Not a deserter or a traitor. A tiny little thing that's somehow just surviving… likely, all by itself… out here… in a desolate battlefield scattered with offline frames… His faceplates soften a little, for the first time in forever, beneath his mask as he stares deep in thought at the little Decepticon.

For the first time, the DJD has no clue on what to do. Kindness was not something they professed. But they had a sense of duty, being Decepticons; to ensure the future of their Cause. They all look at Tarn for any idea on what to do, but even he, deep down, is unsure. But the strength of the Decepticons lies in its internal administration and what good is the internal administration if it ignores the cries of those who would carry its future?

This was not merely an issue of pragmatism. It would reflect the Decepticons as a whole, or so Tarn feels.

“...we need Nickel.”

Immediately, all five of them move towards their ship, The Peacefully Tyranny. Helex holds the newly-built, trying to be as careful as he can but that proves to be a challenge for the far from gentle giant as he walks, the other four DJD members crowded alongside him. Looking at the heaving sparkling with uncertainty, curiosity and even a bit of worry. These psychopaths never have really been in a situation like this, let alone been near a sparkling. Kaon faintly remembers speaking to a few in idle playful chatter before the war, Tesarus can count the number of newly-builts he's seen on one servo and Vos has never seen one, period. Their optics are fixated on the little thing in Helex’s servos, his lower, smaller pair of servos holding onto the little one as well; Helex fears he might crush the thing. They look fascinated; curious optics in awe at how frail new life was. All but Tarn, who is not accustomed to the uncertain conflict that rages on in his processor.

“How did it even get itself in there…?” Kaon mumbles to himself, musing about how such a frail little thing could've possibly ever ended up under a pile of bodies.

  “T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅ ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅd̶̡̲̗̼̮̤̤̳̲͖͓͍͔͓̓̎̽́̽̏̐͂̆͆͘͘͘ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝?”

Vos thinks that the newly-built may have felt their presence and so, could have taken refuge that ended up being inconvenient for the little thing.

“Who cares about that? We need to make sure this little thing isn't going to offline on us.” Tesarus mutters, looking at the sparkling. Their plates rattling as it tries to vent properly. Helex can feel how warm its little frame is, frowning a bit and speeds up his pace, the others having no issue catching up.

Meanwhile, Tarn is lost in his own thoughts. The sparkling is Decepticon manufactured. He can see the serial number painted on its tiny frame and the little purple badge on its chassis. He might’ve found it oddly cute in a different circumstance, perhaps. But the questions swirl in his helm.

How in the name of all things Decepticon did a newly built find themselves on Clemency? An abandoned battlefield. There's nothing more than death here. How did it survive for so long? What did it even fuel on? How old was it? More importantly, how did it live with such a tiny little frame…? It's so fragile! Tarn barely remembers back when he was fresh off the manufacturing unit. Was he once this pathetic too? The thought is almost alien to the leader of the DJD.

The thoughts continue to whirl in all of their processors as they finally make it to the entrance rampway of The Peaceful Tyranny, moving towards the medbay in haste. Vos and Kaon continue to theorize about what could've possibly happened. Tesarus looks a bit worried, this isn't the usual routine after all. The three of them stand outside the medbay for now. They peep in and watch, listening closely. Helex meanwhile, stands in the medbay with Tarn as they watch Nickel examine the clearly injured newly built.

Now that neither of them were carrying it, they've come to realize that the sparkling is actually… a tad bit taller than Nickel. Vos probably would've said something snarky about it and Helex definitely would’ve chuckled but neither chooses to comment from where they stood, the air filled with tension.

“You know, you guys bringing back a newly built is the last slagging thing I could've ever expected…” The foul mouthed medic mutters out as she expertly works on the little one's small frame. The little one lays on one of the medical berths as Nickel moves with calculated precision, having to use a stool to really see past the berth in order to work. Helex and Tarn look at each other momentarily. All of them are very well aware of the irony of the situation, they were the last mechs that should be allowed near a sparkling.

“Yes but that… thing is one of us.” Tarn isn't sure what to call it as he points at the tiny purple insignia, Helex merely nods in agreement, lacking anything to add on. Nickel stifles an amused laugh at the way Tarn calls a sparkling as a ‘thing’, still focused on the soldering. A master of multitasking. She wonders how she got along with just out-of-touch and downright insane mechs sometimes.

“Yeah, they've got all the trade marks from a standard Decepticon manufacture unit.” Nickel replies, optical ridges furrowing slightly as she words to untangle wires and fix a clogged ventilation system. Such high unnatural frame temperatures were a standard sign of it and considering the poor thing was beneath literal corpses, Nickel is damn sure the kid probably is infected with a virus after all, they don't exactly give firewall updates on Clemency. “...including the bugs.” She mutters out to herself, making sure neither of them heard that but Tarn raises an optical ridge beneath his mask; however, before he could question her by what she meant, a thought strikes Nickel.

“...what are you guys going to do after they wake up?” She asks, looking at the two of them and… Tarn freezes for a moment, what he was about to ask hitting a screeching halt and Helex stiffens. This truly was something he had no idea on what to do. It would appear neither of the DJD had any foresight on what to do next. Helex looks at Tarn, understandable since he is their leader but Tarn does not dare to look back at all. Infact, he wishes Helex wouldn't look at him for this.

“That… will be decided shortly.” Tarn leaves the medbay, signalling Helex to follow. Nickel shrugs and goes back to repairs, the sparkling letting out a sound almost akin to a glitchy cough. Poor thing, Nickel feels. Sighing out words of comfort, she can see the terror in their optics.

“We need to make a decision about the sparkling, now.” Tarn would've unanimously taken a choice himself but… he honestly has no clue what to do here. The urgency is present in his tone as all the other three perk their helms up to Tarn, Helex standing nearby him.

“I say we drop them off at the nearest training facility.” Tesarus says, it is a rather logical choice but…

“The nearest MTO facility is lightyears away and if we go that far, we'll lose our trail on Overlord.” Kaon frowns as he speaks. Flickers of annoyance are hidden beneath Tarn's mask at the mention of that wretched designation.

  “T̷̡̧̬̲̭̦̘̩̊̉͛̓̓̌͌̕ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ǧ̷̡̟̲̹̩̱͉̮̭͇͚̮̖̟̽̓͊̔̓̕ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅs̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ m̵̢͕̫̓̔͑̊̈ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅr̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅm̵̢͕̫̓̔͑̊̈p̴̩͙̺̩͓̣͈͖̎ͅŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅr̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅǎ̴̯̀͠ǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ.”

Vos adds onto Kaon's point. Overlord was a high priority target, they were all aware of that.

“Agreed. But it's not like the DJD can keep a sparkling on board.” Helex huffs, optics narrowing slightly at Kaon. Keeping a kid onboard the The Peaceful Tyranny was a stupid idea. Newly-builts are curious and none of the rooms on their ship are exactly suitable for the little one. Not only that but it's not typical of their reputations to keep a sparkling onboard.

“Are you saying we should risk the possibility of finally getting Overlord for the wellbeing of a sparkling?” Kaon raises an optical ridge, questioning Helex who now has second thoughts on what he had said.

“...fair point.” Helex mutters out. Vos who went silent voices his opinion, his red optics brightening a bit as he finally gets an idea on what to do with their new problem.

  “W̵̰̻͍̉̔̅̀̐͐͒͆̒̚ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅu̷̬̩̰̫͕̘͎̔́̃̄̍͋̓l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆d̶̡̲̗̼̮̤̤̳̲͖͓͍͔͓̓̎̽́̽̏̐͂̆͆͘͘͘ s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅm̵̢͕̫̓̔͑̊̈ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝l̶̬̞͎̖͉̹̝͕̝͖̣̉͆t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅt̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ! F̵̜̜͎͉̯̜̓͂r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅp̴̩͙̺̩͓̣͈͖̎ͅǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ p̴̩͙̺̩͓̣͈͖̎ͅǎ̴̯̀͠r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅs̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ…”

Vos says, feeling rather proud of himself for racking his processor up for that idea. Helex, Kaon and Tesarus look down at Vos; faceplates in disapproval. But at the same time… something stops them. They can't really put a digit on it either.

“Normally, if it were any other mech…” Kaon mutters out. The others clearly didn't expect a response like that but it wasn't exactly unwelcome. Though, they were disappointed that neither of them thought of such an easy solution.

“In the usual case, yes…” Helex replies, this was not the usual case after all.

“Maybe if it were an Autobot sparkling…” Tesarus mumbles, in thought.

“We could just reprogram it into a Decepticon then.” Kaon sighs, why waste an opportunity to get a new addition like that? Tesarus looks over at Kaon, murmuring out that usual saying; "Once an Autobot, always an Autobot.".

Vos, despite the faceguard, is very clearly frowning, rather agitated by the fruitlessness of this discussion with his peers and even more so, unable to understand why they feel obligated towards a random sparkling they found in the middle of nowhere on Clemency. Crimson optics narrowing a little. They're the DJD! They commit atrocities! It's literally their job too! Why must they tolerate something which gets in the way of completing their sworn, near divine duties?

  “I̸̺̺͎̰̥̜̯̼̮̰͖̜͂͆̿̈́̿̔f̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊ͅ i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅt̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ's̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅt̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅǎ̴̯̀͠ǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝d̶̡̲̗̼̮̤̤̳̲͖͓͍͔͓̓̎̽́̽̏̐͂̆͆͘͘͘i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝ǧ̷̡̟̲̹̩̱͉̮̭͇͚̮̖̟̽̓͊̔̓̕ i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝ t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ ẃ̸̝̝̰͋͒ǎ̴̯̀͠y̶͔͗ ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅf̵̢̻͈̫̬̻͔̘̞͈̆̇̍̈̌͊ͅ ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅu̷̬̩̰̫͕̘͎̔́̃̄̍͋̓r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ d̶̡̲̗̼̮̤̤̳̲͖͓͍͔͓̓̎̽́̽̏̐͂̆͆͘͘͘u̷̬̩̰̫͕̘͎̔́̃̄̍͋̓t̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅi̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ, ẃ̸̝̝̰͋͒ḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝y̶͔͗ m̵̢͕̫̓̔͑̊̈u̷̬̩̰̫͕̘͎̔́̃̄̍͋̓s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅt̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅ ẃ̸̝̝̰͋͒ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝ b̸̼̋͛̑͆̈́͗̿̅ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅt̸̫̫̤͕̳̻̰̣̭́̌̉͝ͅḥ̸̨̧̗̮̖̽̂̓̀̍̋͋́̅̃͘͜͝ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠?”

Vos argues, Tesarus clears his vocalizer.

“Because that sparkling is a Decepticon. It isn't a traitor. It's probably too young to even know what counts as treachery. We are the Justice Division. What Justice is there in killing one of our own simply because of their presence being a mild inconvenience?” Tesarus retorts. Vos looks down for a moment, not wanting to admit that Tesarus had a very good point there. They were cruel, they were the DJD but that cruelty was supposed to be reserved to those who truly deserved it. They all go silent for a moment, they've discussed enough amongst themselves now. They turn to Tarn as their final beacon of… not hope, Tarn never gave hope but their beacon of ‘knowing what the frag to do right now’.

Tarn thinks hard about all the points they have presented. All of their helms glued on him. As their leader, he's the one that gets the finalizing vote. The sparkling should probably go with more… sane bots but then, they'd risk losing track of Overlord. They can't kill a sparkling. Megatron did give strict orders not to involve themselves with those not on The List and as far as Tarn was concerned, newly-builts never showed up on The List. But… if they kept the sparkling, they could perhaps raise a strong Decepticon… After all, it survived on the wastelands of Clemency all by its lonesome without hardly any weapons other than the tiny handgun blaster that's out of charge that they found clenched so tightly in its little servos. Anticipation floods the air as he continues to think.

The idea of moulding a Decepticon… an eternally loyal Decepticon…

There is a lot of appeal to that prospect.

“The sparkling is to stay.” Tarn sighs out, making a decision everyone seems to have mixed opinions on. Kaon seems slightly pleased, Vos let's out a frustrated groan, Tesarus looks as unsure as ever and Helex is... well, he's rather indifferent to it.

But the real issue was informing their wonderful medic about this...

the fanon term is ‘sparkling’ but in the comics, they mainly use ‘newly-built’ for freshly made Cybertronians so i’ll be switching between the two but i’ll mainly use the canon comic term. also, reader is not a baby. i think it makes more sense for newly builts to be smaller but able to walk immediately when they are made since they are Cybertronians. though, i feel like other functions like transforming are slowly learnt.