"Before I was brought here, I had resigned myself to do what was necessary to merely survive. To have aspirations, yes, but to be ready to do things that would revolt me for the sake of Cybertron."

He's sure his senior self would be familiar with the feeling. Hiding in the underbelly of Kaon, a city that managed to be as vicious than any cruel mine, and with nowhere to go but deeper. He went to Clench because he knew how to kickstart an untapped talent for violence. He had access that would get him the resources and followers he needed.

"I was ready to do what I needed to end the Old order, or I thought I was. And perhaps in being so willing to be shaped by something as cruel as my enemy - perhaps that was the true sign of weakness."