Not before I see this justice done

[dadcepticon]

Who: Krok, Ultra Magnus, other Autobots and/or Decepticons as interested; Krok and Chromedome (that one's private)
Where: Building 1; streets of the residential area (Chromedome only)
When: 5 July, evening.
Summary: Krok confronts Ultra Magnus about what's happened to Fulcrum. Chromedome, meanwhile, takes another step in dealing with the Decepticon infestation.
Warnings: Angry words, angst, memory tampering.

---

"ULTRA MAGNUS!"

Krok has never been imposing. He's neither tall nor bristling with weaponry, and his position as a strategist doesn't afford him many chances to practise being terrifying. But he has a voice, and it booms through the corridors like cannon fire as he storms toward the door of Tyrest's Chosen. If he holds onto his anger and his outrage, he can keep moving. If he holds onto the anger, he doesn't have to think about the way his spark aches and how he's inches from falling apart.

Fulcrum doesn't even sound like Fulcrum any more. It's like when they first found him. It's like the Fulcrum who made the leap for them is gone. And Krok knows who took him away. Krok knows who's responsible and there will be accountability or he will make his own justice.

He's pounding a fist on Ultra Magnus' door – the hand not clutching a plunger switch that he presses obsessively and repeatedly even as he stands there – before he even realises he's standing in front of it. He can barely see what he's doing; his optics are too bright, filaments overheating, light spilling from the corners in trails that follow him as he moves.

"ULTRA MAGNUS, ANSWER ME!"

Comments

[dadcepticon]

"Chromedome." Krok spits the name like a curse. "He attacked Fulcrum again and – and–" And Fulcrum is gone. "–HE MADE FULCRUM FORGET US!" His voice cracks now; he has to stop for a second or two before he can say anything else.

He wants to cry. He wants to shake Ultra Magnus until the towering jackass does something to make the situation right. He mashes the switch in his hand so hard his arm hurts.

"You're the law, aren't you?!" Krok demands. "We've done nothing to provoke this! We just want our peace! We've done exactly as you asked and look what we get for it – look what–" His voice cracks again, but this time, he chokes up and can't say anything more.

[thehardway]

"Krok-- Krok."

In the back of his head, he has a feeling that he could be right. Ultra Magnus wants to believe in the best of Chromedome; he stood up for him on Cybertron when he and Prowl got into their scuff. Despite all of their mistakes, Magnus remembers the best of him.

Which doesn't seem to be happening here. It's like Chromedome himself has forgotten his own best qualities.

Although Ultra Magnus has no love of these Decepticons, he isn't entirely unsympathetic to them. If Krok is being sincere, then to be caught in a situation like this...

"I need to correct you on one thing. I am no longer the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord. However, as acting captain, Chromedome is my responsibility." Ultra Magnus takes a moment to press his hand to his forehead, his optics dimming.

He struggles.

"If you are right, then... I will investigate this."

[dadcepticon]

It feels like a slap in the face. Something in Krok snaps and he just feels numb.

"If I'm ri– if I'm right?!" he cries, voice gone all the way back up to its full thunder. "Why would I lie?!"

[thehardway]

"You don't want to hear my answer for that."

Struggling. He's been struggling since--

"I need you to step back."

[dadcepticon]

"What, because I'm a Decepticon?" Krok doesn't step back. This is about his crew; he won't relent. Not for them. "Because we're Decepticons, and it wasn't worth doing something about him after he attacked two of us already? Because I might be biased?" He can't stop being angry. He can't. Despair is already snatching at his edges.

Ultra Magnus won't help you.

"I don't care what you do with him," Krok says, trying with everything he has to stay right where he is, to stay firm. "I don't care. I just want him to undo whatever he's done to Fulcrum."

[thehardway]

"No. Listen... listen to me--"

This is why he's been using text exclusively. This is hard to keep control of what little he has left. To cling onto his connection to the armor.

But he can't continue.

Silently, Ultra Magnus shoves Krok back, but not out of violence. Solely, because he doesn't actually want his armor to collapse on top of him. Once he pushes the Decepticon, it comes off in pieces, dropping apart around Ultra Magnus.

Leaving behind a much smaller, mostly green Cybertronian that's only roughly four feet tall.

Minimus Ambus sighs. "Well." He dusts himself off. "Anyway. Let me clarify: no, it's not because you're a Decepticon. Old habits die hard, but I classify everyone on what level of potential criminal activity they can perform. It sounds cruel, but you have motive against Chromedome, Krok. I'm not saying I won't help you, but I'm attempting to remain as unbiased as possible as well."

[dadcepticon]

Krok is staggered clear into the opposite wall by that shove, and he nearly retaliates.

But then Ultra Magnus crumbles. Literally. Krok looks at the pieces all over the floor, stunned into silence and stillness. But now that he's jarred out of his rage, the fear pours in, and the grief, and everything he's been trying to fend off since he first heard that audio. He picks his way across the hall on hands and knees to clutch at Minimus' shoulders with trembling hands, plunger switch abandoned.

"I don't care," he croaks. "Just… just give Fulcrum back to us. Please give him back."

[thehardway]

"Krok."

A more sympathetic expression forms, more genuine than Ultra Magnus's stiff indifference. The contact, as horribly timed as it is, is the first he's had in quite sometime.

He rests his hands onto Krok's shoulders. Krok has never made any indication to act offensively against them before, and he places his crew in high regard. Minimus can understand that.

He knows how that feels.

"I want to believe you, but I need to investigate this thoroughly. I can't march up to Chromedome making accusations, but I can work this case for you. If you're correct in your conclusions, then I promise you that I'll do everything I can to make this right." Minimus frowns faintly. "Are you willing to work with me on this? To help your crew."

[dadcepticon]

Magnus could ask Krok to go one on one with Optimus Prime and if it meant his crew's safety, he'd do it.

"I'll do it," he chokes out, voice tight, and hangs his head. "I'll do it, but please… help them." He can't bring himself to look up. He's afraid the answer will still be no.

[thehardway]

"I'll help you and your crew, Krok."

The longer the contact, the more he feels his strength returning. The sooner he can put his armor back on, the sooner he'll feel that same authority.

Minimus doesn't release him just yet. If Krok chooses to move, that's up to him.

"I'll contact Ratchet and see if he can speak to your friend. We need a foundation of evidence before we can move in."

[dadcepticon]

Krok doesn't move so much as he buckles, too spent and broken to do more than sit there. He can't speak; he can't even cry. His hands just fall limply to his lap.

Now he has to wait. Wait and, impossibly, hope.

[thehardway]

"Krok."

This is difficult. He isn't skilled at comforting, much less for a Decepticon. Minimus is inclined to believe him, but he can't jump to conclusions either.

Ultimately, Minimus gives Krok's shoulder a light squeeze.

"You're welcome to come inside for a minute if you need to while I make some calls."

[dadcepticon]

"No," Krok says, abruptly terrified at the idea of staying when he should be making sure Misfire and Spinister are safe and not running around shooting people. "No, I – I have to go back to the others. I can't lose any more."

It's a few seconds more before Krok stands on unsteady legs. Really, he'll be lucky to make it back to their quarters without stopping at least once.

"I want to know as soon as – as soon as you know," he insists, though he can't put any force into the words.

[thehardway]

"I understand."

Minimus's grip slips free from Krok's shoulders. He feels stronger already, but only physically. It's better than nothing.

"Contact me if you need anything else, Krok. I'll keep you in the loop."