robothell | Tarn and the very bad no good terrible week

Who: Tarn and Drift and Tarn and You
Where: The city center
When: A few days after the Rodimus incident
What: Tarn has an unfortunate run in with some new friends
Warnings: Tarn. Violence to come

Tarn has had bad days before. Occasionally his latest victim would get a good punch in, perhaps they were particularly good at eluding himself and his team, or they managed to temporarily escape. Maybe the pet decided to gnaw on a particularly important set of data pads. Or Vos decided to poach parts from one of the cleaning drones. Again.

Any of that is a walk in the park compared to the viciously terrible week Tarn has had. So far he has been transported to an alternate Cybertron without his consent. He has been harassed by Autobots, burned, shot at, disrespected,; but really, the proverbial cherry on top of the whole mess, was the incident with Megatron. The founder of the Decepticons, the mech he has sacrificed his identity, his name, his very life to serving, turned traitorous. Betraying his own faction and trading his own badge for an Autobrand. Honestly, Tarn is having a difficult time even wrapping his mind around the whole thing. One thing is for certain though...he is angry and on the hunt for someone to take his aggression out on.

He has been prowling the city ruins for hours, stopping every few minutes to transform a few times, just to take the edge off. He can feel his T-cog grinding more and more with every transformation. He is familiar with the sensation and the knowledge that the cog probably wont last him the month only adds to his every growing ire.

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Well that wasn't unreasonable, considering Dreadwing had only recently traveled to Earth in the first place, but he was fairly certain more than that was going on. He could be from further in Tarn's future, like Megatron and Starscream were for him. His frown deepened, thinking back to his conversation with that purple autobot. He was starting to miss the days when things were simple and he could spend his time tracking down and blowing up Wreckers.

He was certainly glad he hadn't announced his defection at the beginning of their conversation. Evidently Tarn held same the contempt for traitors and deserters that Dreadwing himself once had. Even though that very fact could prove his demise, Dreadwing couldn't help but admire Tarn's conviction.

"I recently made the acquaintance of someone who seemed to believe that those of us assembled on this accursed planet were brought here from numerous times and alternate universes." He said slowly, lowering his laser cannon. It sounded as ridiculous here as it had when Nautica said it, but it was, unfortunately, the easiest explanation for recent events.

"For example, she claimed that in her world Starscream ruled Cybertron, a situation that has not occurred in my reality." And never will, if Dreadwing had his way.

The concept of alternate realities doesn't shock Tarn in the slightest. After all he has seen and heard the past few days...he's not sure there is anything Dreadwing could tell Tarn that would surprise him.

He makes an indistinct noise of thought. So far in Tarn's eyes, this version of Dreadwing seems like a good fellow. Reliable. Well spoken. An upstanding Decepticon.

"Mm, yes i heard news of Starscream's rise to power on Cybertron. Temporary business, I assure you."

Although with Megatron now an Autobot...perhaps his thoughts on the matter will need to be reevaluated.

Glad to hear someone from that universe found that equally unreasonable.

"So, you do hail from the same universe as that autobot Nautica." That was one question answered at least. Though it did beg the question, how many different versions of reality had been brought together on this planet.

"Tell me more about this Decepticon Justice Division of yours."

"Of course." Tarn smiles, bowing his head slightly in courtesy.

"We are a group of five Decepticons who uphold the word of the Decepticon cause; hunting traitors and punishing them as such. Each of us have certain special talents, which help us in our jobs." he chuckles a bit, "I am proud to say Decepticon defection has dropped 40% since our creation. The mere mention of myself and my team is enough to send most Autobots running; as for the traitors well...they don't think much of anything after we are through with them."

"A noble calling. I've no doubt you performed a great service the Decepticon cause." He did, legitimately, believe that, even realizing by definition he was now a defector himself. He'd tracked down his fair share of traitors in his time, it would not be right to expect anything less than a soldier such as Tarn. But he would never agree that his desertion it was by choice, he still believed in the cause even if he could not follow the Megatron's leadership.

Perhaps things would have turned out differently had Dreadwing served with Tarn's Decepticons.

Perhaps things could be different with Tarn's Decepticons. The thought hadn't occurred to him before, but then he'd never considered such a thing would be possible until finding himself here. It would be a lie to say he wasn't very keen on the prospect.

"You serve Lord Megatron, I assume. How would you describe your leader?" he asked, trying not to sound too hopeful about the answer.

Tarn gives Dreadwing a sharp look at the mention of Megatron.

"I serve the Decepticon cause. Megatron betrayed us. He has abandoned the cause and took the Autobrand." He doesn't particularly care to talk about it with this stranger but continues anyway. "Before that, however, he was a capable, strong, feared leader. Now he is weak." Tarn looks away. "We will continue on without him."

Glancing around the ruins he continues on, "The Decepticons are few here. Vastly outnumbered by Autobots. Have you any allies so far?"

Listening to Tarn's account, Dreadwing's face took on a sympathetic scowl. It was almost like you couldn't trust any Megatron in any universe. Incredible.

"I understand. I myself have experience a similar clash of interests with Lord Megatron." He pointed did not mention what that was, but as far as he was concerned it was as much an act against him personally as all the soldiers of the cause.

"No, I have no allies here, at the very least none of which I am aware. I know of two other Decepticons from my universe who arrived here, Starscream and Megatron himself, but I would not align with them now if my spark depended on it."

Tarn nods slightly in understanding. He has to know, however. He has to know what to expect from yet another Megatron.

"If I may be so bold, would you mind telling me what happened? So that I may know what to expect if I find myself coming across them?"

He briefly wonders if every Megatron, despite the universe, has a Starscream to soak up his attention.

How very irritating.

It does seem to be an unfortunate universal constant doesn't it?

He briefly considered how to best respond to Tarn's question, but did not hesitate long before deciding on the truth.
"Megatron has recently shown some...questionable judgement, choosing to reward traitorous and cowardly behavior by his officers as opposed to selfless servitude and loyalty. He has little regard for those who have pledged themselves to the Decepticon cause, and I cannot continue to fight in his name if that is how he chooses to treat our brethren."

"That is...unfortunate. I had been hoping that perhaps I might find another to follow." Tarn curls his hand into a fist at his side, giving a resigned sigh.

Dreadwing seems like an honorable sort of fellow, loyal to the ideals of the Decepticon cause. It is probably best to trust his word on this. After all, what does Tarn know about this alternate universe and its events.

"I understand." He really did, something felt inherently wrong with the universe that the Decepticons leader had fallen so disastrously across universes.

"As I said, am without allies on this world. It would be my honor to fight alongside you and your fellow Decepticons, until such a time as we may return to our own worlds."

Tarn and the very bad no good terrible week

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