"...I guess I'm not surprised," Ratchet says slowly. "And this is going to be difficult to explain, but--no. That was Dominus Ambus who created the Ambus test. Minimus Ambus was--is related to him." He looks down at Verity, his expression still.
"But Minimus Ambus is also Ultra Magnus. Or--the latest Ultra Magnus. The 'Ultra Magnus' you know is a suit of armor that people have been wearing since the start of the war, based on the original 'Ultra Magnus'--there really was someone by that name. I knew him. I've known every Ultra Magnus, but Minimus has carried the title the longest. Minimus is certainly the only Ultra Magnus you knew."
Ratchet stops, one shoulder shifting in a half-shrug. "Down to the smallest set of armor, Minimus is a little taller than you are. But please understand--this wasn't Minimus' secret to keep, not really. It was a long legacy, and we only found out because Tyrest stripped the armor by the time we'd got to Luna-1. Nobody would have found out if Minimus--if Magnus had a choice in the matter. If you weren't told, that's why, not because you weren't trusted or because it wasn't important. Magnus didn't even know I knew until after the whole thing had blown over."
He flips a hand palm out, offering, watching her face for a reaction. "I figured you deserved to know, after everything. Now that the secret's out. I know Magnus trusts you and would want you to know, if anyone does."
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"But Minimus Ambus is also Ultra Magnus. Or--the latest Ultra Magnus. The 'Ultra Magnus' you know is a suit of armor that people have been wearing since the start of the war, based on the original 'Ultra Magnus'--there really was someone by that name. I knew him. I've known every Ultra Magnus, but Minimus has carried the title the longest. Minimus is certainly the only Ultra Magnus you knew."
Ratchet stops, one shoulder shifting in a half-shrug. "Down to the smallest set of armor, Minimus is a little taller than you are. But please understand--this wasn't Minimus' secret to keep, not really. It was a long legacy, and we only found out because Tyrest stripped the armor by the time we'd got to Luna-1. Nobody would have found out if Minimus--if Magnus had a choice in the matter. If you weren't told, that's why, not because you weren't trusted or because it wasn't important. Magnus didn't even know I knew until after the whole thing had blown over."
He flips a hand palm out, offering, watching her face for a reaction. "I figured you deserved to know, after everything. Now that the secret's out. I know Magnus trusts you and would want you to know, if anyone does."