robothell | [OPEN] Arrival

Who: Optimus Prime & You
Where: The Clinic, The Crater
When: After Optimus (IDW)'s return to the city
What: Optimus Prime arrives on the planet
Warnings: ?

THE CLINIC

Wandering through the destroyed city, Optimus took a moment to consider how getting suddenly transported to another planet was pretty high on the list of strange things that had happened in his life, a list that had grown much quicker in the past few months than he would have thought possible. This was certainly not a specific scenario they'd trained for at the Autobot Academy, that's for sure.

With so many buildings in serious disrepair, finding one that not only seemed intact but to have working electricity was a surprise to say the least. With some apprehension he made his way over to the building, cautiously sticking his head in the doorway and hoping whoever, or whatever, might be inside was friendly.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

THE CRATER

Optimus had left the clinic some time ago to try and get a better feel for the city. It was pretty unnerving how much the ruins looked like Cybertron, and the silence was starting to get to him by the time he made it to a huge crater in the middle of everything. An unrefined energon deposit? Just sitting here unguarded in the middle of the city? That was certainly strange. Even if there weren't many bots here, leaving a resource like that unprotected went against everything he'd learned at the academy.

He quickly made his way down into the crater, sliding down some of the steeper slopes to get to the energon vein, running a hand over the rough crystal with a frown.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shockwave's taken to surveying this Cybertron from the air - programs running to compose a map with notable differences in the planet; although he can't say anything interesting has come of it. It's better to keep busy and work on a solution than to do nothing, however, so he's been keeping himself occupied.

It's not the crater and the energon that draws his attention but the bot approaching it. That's a familiar color scheme if he's ever seen, although the bot isn't one he completely recognizes. Another one from a different universe. Well, he still should introduce himself, see how different similar this particular Optimus is.

Landing - and setting up a rather dramatic cloud of dust that, while great for atmosphere, just caused his paint job to become dimmer - he straights up with a grin and a welcome gesture towards the blue and red bot.

"Optimus, I presume? Or do you go by Orion."

Hearing something land beyond him, Optimus spun around, instinctively in a defensive pose. This bot didn't look like he was going to attack and he didn't see a decepticon badge, but then as far as he knew Jetfire and Jetstorm were the only flying Autobots. If they hadn't mentioned his name he would have already gone for his axe.

"Optimus Prime, actually." He couldn't figure out where he got the name Orion, but then he had only just been told about the alternate universe issue. It didn't occur to him there might be a connection.

"Ah, excellent," is his response. "I'm very familiar with a version of yourself. Taller, but no less Optimus than you are." Or so he assumes. It is one that will probably come and bite him later, if not sooner.

But he steps forward, brushing the dust off his plating and ignoring the defensive stance to offer his hand.

"Senator Shockwave, but Shockwave will do, seeing as the Imperium, if it existed, is long since rust and ruin."

Edited 2015-03-08 02:44 (UTC)

"Senator Shockwave?" He takes a step back from the offered hand, watching him suspiciously, even if this bot looked nothing like Shockwave, or his autobot alias for that matter.

"Let me guess, on your world you're an autobot, and not a Decepticon spy trying to destroy Cybertron from the inside."

There are three things that hit Shockwave at roughly the same time: first, that like everyone else this Optimus seems to think he's a Decepticon, that he apparently he has been attempting to destroy Cybertron, and that Optimus - of all bots - is regarding him with suspicion. It's three blows that Shockwave wasn't expecting, and his friendly face changes from hurt to anger to surprise and then back through all of them again before settling on some variation of upset and angry.

"I am not an Autobot. Nor am I a Decepticon, and there is nothing I value more than Cybertron." His optics narrow, arm falling back to his side where it clenches into a fist. "Whatever it is you think I am, I most assuredly am not."

Whatever reaction Optimus had been expecting it wasn't that, and he takes another half step back in surprise. Of course he's never known a time without Autobots and Decepticons, or Shockwave's relationship to his Optimus, or any context for the outrage. But this wasn't the kind of outburst he would expect from a double agent that managed to make it onto the Autobot Council undetected, he was willing to take the chance Shockwave was telling the truth.

"Alright. Sorry, I guess." He reaches up slowly in a placating gesture, "Sorry. This whole ordeal is a lot to get used to. In my universe we, uh, only just found out about Shockwave infiltrating the Autobots, so I guess you could say it's just a little unnerving on top of everything else going on here. I didn't mean any offence."

He put his arms down, looking sincere if confused. "If you're not an Autobot or Decepticon, whose side are you on?"

It's enough to placate Shockwave, who rubs at his temples once he's realized that Optimus has backed off, giving him a quick shake of his head. "I've always had trouble reigning in my temper," he say, by way of explanation. "It's gotten me in trouble many time before." And suspended from the Senate itself at least five times. Ah well, there's no helping how he is.

"Infiltrating?" He doesn't want to know, but he also does. "I was made to believe that I was simply a scientist. Subterfuge does not see like a," he pauses, distaste crossing his features, "logical use of my talents. My coworkers may think little of him, but I doubt Megatron is foolish enough to put me somewhere where my talents would be wasted."

But the question about what side he's on makes him smile, one hand going to his hip while he gestures to the empty air with the other in a wide, sweeping gesture. "Cybertron's. 'Sides' makes it sound less complicated than it is - but I think it's safe to say I would have been on your's."

The Optimus from his own universe, he means.

From Optimus' perspective, coming from a Cybertron where the war was thousands of years done and Decepticons had long been exiled for their crimes and the Decepticons he had met had done nothing but try and murder him, it seemed plenty clear and simple. He wasn't too interested in getting into any sort of debate about that though, especially is Shockwave considered himself an ally of this other Optimus.

"I wouldn't know about that, Shockwave was able to alter his appearance which is how he could pass as Longarm Prime for so long without anyone realizing. If I had to guess, I would say that was why he'd been chosen."

"Really?" His interest is caught, curiosity flickering over his face. "Was it a natural talent or something that he'd been modified for? I can't imagine myself as an outlier in any universe, but I suppose there's always an exception---"

Wait. Hang on.

"Did you say Longarm Prime?"

"Yeah, head of Autobot Security, until recently. I wouldn't know about any of that other info though."
He replied, with a bit of a shrug.

"Though he probably wouldn't exist in your universe, if you aren't a decepticon. Or at least probably not as the same person, I guess."

Not a Decepticon. Something in Shockwave's face twists at that, but he chooses to focus on something else instead. "I see. But -- Prime."

Someone should really tell Shockwave there's a universe where Prime isn't the top rank.

"Yes, I know it's a little unusual for the Head of Cybertron Intelligence, but it's not that surprising. Is it?"

Someone should tell Optimus there's a universe where Prime is the top tank.

"To me, certainly. I've no wish to be Prime. There are other candidates out there far more suitable for the task at hand." A beat, and then a smile. "Like yourself. You can't be that dissimilar from the Optimus I know."

They'll get to it. Eventually.

Well that was kind of oddly put.

"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess." Never thought he'd be compared to himself.

[OPEN] Arrival

CRATER.

Re: CRATER.

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