[Video] Sad Dad Bad Had

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[After seeing Megatron's response, something certainly has been keeping Prime busy. He wasn't wrong--something did have to be done instead of wallowing in the loss (or victory) of a war. And if that meant following Megatron--well...he had to say he wasn't overly enticed by that plan. He knew the bot meant well, and would try not to let the same thing happen twice. But if there's one thing he's learned, it's that trying to change yourself turns you back into what you've been this whole time.

You can't outrun your identity. Optimus knows that now.]

I request an audience with all of you, whether it be in person or over the communications feed. As most of you know, I've talked with Cybertron itself, and although I don't exactly understand it, one part of its message was clear--we must learn to coincide with each other. To get along and make progress.  

Megatron is proposing a start to this. 

[Well, he might as well be honest.]

But there are going to be problems.  One of which is a symbol of the war--me. I am a Prime, and to some of you, I've been the toxin in your systems. The rust in your side. I'm here to dispel one thing--I'm not going to give the title up, as it's part of my identity. I will be commander to those who serve under me, as long as they'll have me. Other than that, however much say you want me to have in this world is entirely up to you.  If me stepping back will cause those who follow Megatron's dream to co-exist peacefully with the Autobots, I will gladly do so.

...

I've only been a Prime during the war. And I cannot look to previous examples for assistance. [Sentinel]

I suppose that's it. I hope that broadcasted nicely. I can never tell.

[Private to Sentinel]

Meet me by the crater.

[ROUND TWO OF REHAB, BUDDY.]

Comments

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[While he doesn't recognize the voice, he hesitates a moment before answering.]

It's hard to describe. It wasn't in a language like you and I are speaking. But more of a...feeling.

I'm aware how strange that seems.

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[redshitlord]

... Kinda?

I was there, but you were way more "oh Bumblebee don't screw up -- by the way, I'll take care of this city-eating Decepticreep. Ooo.".

[Why yes, he was trying to imitate Optimus' voice.]

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[optout]

And yet, you still seem a bit lost. Is there...anything I can do for you?

[Oh look who hopped aboard the guilt train. Well he's been there for awhile already, but...

He's never outright asked.]

[tsunclonus]

Cybertron spoke to you?

[It's not exactly a surprise, what with whole Matrix bearing business.

And probably better Optimus than Rodimus really.]

In what fashion?

[scaredybot]

Wait, do you mean all of us 'all of you' or just the, um, Decepticon 'all of you'?

[Because while Primes (and Optimuses) aren't really a big deal in his universe, he knows enough about other universe to know that they're usually Kind Of A Big Deal.

And Mayday is kind of the opposite of a big deal.]

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[myownbestfriend]

Not really.

[The only part that seems strange to her is that someone who's obviously a non-psychic is able to feel it. The planet must be reaching out to him directly.]

Interpreting a consciousness on that scale takes practice.

[Accidentally implying she's a Cityspeaker gj Emma.]

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[officerjuicebox]

Because I am lost.

There was a war I missed. I'm still tripping all over myself trying to call you the right name... I don't know.

I need a history book, I guess.

[orerrible]

The planet is more desperate than we are. Better the rest of us realize that sooner now than later.

[ Place is a shithole, but it's their shithole. ]

For your sake I would maintain a measure of discretion where you and I are concerned. Even through your rose-tinted optics one would be hard pressed to deny I would attract suspicion at best and unpopular attention at worst.

[ Shockwave is totally talking about working together with that loaded statement. ]

[optout]

Some don't believe it is, unfortunately.

And there in lies the problem.

[Prowl, being a prime example.]

[imatruck]

...woah.

Optimus! That or you're a really good imitation-bot, either way: wow.

Man, if only Bumblebee was here to see this...

[optout]

[Oh...even more people he doesn't know. This is...quite awkward indeed. He tries to recognize the bot at hand but....it's not coming to mind.]

Yes...that'd be me.

It's nice to meet you....

[He trails off, allowing for a name. As for Bumblebee, well...that CERTAINLY IS A SOFT SPOT.]

[optout]

Ah, I meant anyone who has dealt with Primes, or myself in the past. Opposite universes may not have our predicament, but if Primes cause a problem there, then I'd be happy to listen to the concerns.

[optout]

It's hard to explain, Cyclonus...

[Although, if anyone were to understand it, or the spirituality of it, it would probably be him. Optimus isn't even all up on that stuff, but he can admit that what happened...certainly happened.]

It spoke to me in something other than a language. In what was like feelings...something abstract.

[tsunclonus]

[Cyclonus cups his chin thoughtfully.]

When did this occur? And where?

[scaredybot]

I've... dealt with Primes before? And Magnuses and... [He flails his hands vaguely.] Emirates Xaarons?

But I haven't had any, um. Problems? Or anything. From... from people. Yet.

[imatruck]

Grimlock.

You're a lot more...polished than I remembered.

But yeah, Bee talks about you all the time! He puffs himself up and tries to do that speech thing that I think is supposed to be you...

[Completely oblivious.]

...it's kind of cute.

[villagepup]

How can Cybertron heal if the war that hurt it is still being fought...?

(The question is directed at himself, but it's said out loud. Logically, it would continue to hurt the planet until it ended...is ending it how they're supposed to fix the planet?)

[optout]

Grimlock.

[Now there's a name he thought he'd never hear again. The Dinobots had been stationed on Cybertron, of course, but they'd been without their leader since well before the war ended. For all they knew, Grimlock was MIA. Or worse.]

I fear we may have a slight mix up, friend. We may be of...different or alternate dimensions.

[optout]

I suppose that can only be good news, then. If you've had no problems, then my only goal is to not start a trend in that area.

Could you tell me what your Primes are like?

[Because he's reaching--hoping for something that sounds like what a Prime can be to people.]

[optout]

The outskirts. I took a scouting group a couple of months ago out because I...felt something.

Something in the back of my mind that told me to--Prowl thought I was imagining it, but when I went out there....the planet gave me some sort of message.

...

Do you think it was a hallucination, like he does?

[optout]

A good question, friend. It can't. And I think that is what Cybertron itself is trying to tell us.

[While it was a question to Koh himself, he certainly had an answer.]

So we must take action now, like Megatron suggested.

[tsunclonus]

No. There's a force acting on all of us. It's clear to anyone who has strayed too far from the city. And Cybertron has already spoken to us all in the form of images over the network.

The next logical step would be for it to attempt more personal contact with one of us.

[And of course it would be Optimus Prime that's contacted. He's not slightly jealous or anything.]

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My apologies, then, if it's a waste of your time. It's something that's plagued me since before I came here, and I need to know the opinions of my people.

It's logical to use this instead of walking up to each and every one of them.

...

I hope you are faring well, at the very least.

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[Blink, blink. The statement could not have gone over Optimus's head any higher had it been injected into orbit. He's trying to figure out just what is familiar about this...why this Cybertronian is...

Oh no.

He's Rodimus.]

I think there's been some mix up. I don't really recognize you...

[Well, your appearance.]

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Ironhide...your dedication to me is unwavering, and I appreciate it more than you know.

[Although THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED YOU DIED SO FORGIVE HIM IF HE'S A LITTLE JITTERY AT THAT STATEMENT.]

How do you feel about Megatron's message?