[Broadcast to all]

[maxicpolarity]

[It had started. If the strange electric feeling in the air hadn't clued him in, the fact that Dark Convoy had found him and talked with him would have cemented it. It had also given him an idea.]

Brothers...sister. Be ready. The time is soon.

To all those lacking Glyphs, I extend an invitation to you.

When the dark touch of chaos touches your minds, come find me. I may not be able to cure you of your ills, but at least in studying your descent I may find the tools to understand it.

[He has no more to say, and so he waits to see if there are any takers.]

Comments

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

No! You heard him, Magnus! He called me a monster!

I AM NOT A MONSTER.

[ video ]

[thehardway]

I know that. You don't need to explain that to me, Rodimus.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

[ He's so angry, furious at this helplessness and cruelty. This was-- this was just like before the war all over again. One of the forgotten ones.

He curls his hands into claws in frustration, looking at them helplessly. ]

Why do we have to die?





Why can't we just... kill them instead?

[ video ] 1/2

[thehardway]

You don't have to die.

[Call it stubbornness, but no, he refuses to think that someone like Rodimus could succumb to this.]

[ video ]

[thehardway]

Killing the Firstforged.

Don't even joke about that.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

Well why not?! They obviously want us to do something violent and monstrous. Why not that?

[ video ]

[thehardway]

And play into their expectations? You're smarter than that.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

Maybe I don't want to.

[ Drastic change from 'I'm not a monster'. Rodimus seems to realize that a moment later, his optics widening. He shakes his head, then presses both hands to his helm. ]

This isn't going to work. I need to leave.

[ video ]

[thehardway]

What do you need me to do?

[He does not enjoy feeling so helpless. He should have acted sooner about this.]

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

Come with me.

I should have-- I should have left sooner, when I wanted to. There's gotta be something out there. Something not... this.

[ video ]

[thehardway]

Outside of the Haven, there is the Badlands. That would only make it worse.

Which means we need a ship. I could not begin to fathom how long that would take, but I know Wheeljack had intentions of starting on one. Perhaps get into contact with him?

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

I don't have time for that!

[ He grits his teeth, squeezing his optics shut. ]

What about the other direction? I just need to be. Away. From here.

[ video ]

[thehardway]

...We could try.

I need to perform some escorting briefly, then I can go with you. If you need go ahead of me, I understand.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

Forget about the escorting. Just come with me.

[ video ]

[thehardway]

I can't abandon my duties as a law enforcer.

I will go with you, Rodimus, but I am required to do this first.

[ video ]

[maxicpolarity]

[He's been patiently listening to this.]

I see you're slipping already.

Making a kill will only hasten your departure.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

I'm in control of myself.

I won't let myself be controlled by you or anyone!

[ video ]

[maxicpolarity]

I am not the one controlling you.

But surely, you must feel what is coming.

[He leans in closer.]

The whispers that you can't ignore.

Would it not be better to have some use in your eventual death?

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

[ He's unsure for a moment, and it shows in his expression. Then-- ]

Get slagged. I'm going to find some other way to deal with this.

[ video ]

[maxicpolarity]

[For a moment, he pauses. There is no other way, he knows, but that does not stop him from saying what he says next. Perhaps because he did not like being yelled at, earlier.]

You're going to hurt him, you know.

[Ultra Magnus.]

And he will have that memory, forever.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

[ That takes him by surprise, slipped past whatever guard he had prepared. He suddenly feels like his privacy has been violated. ]

That's a low blow if you're trying to get me to volunteer to be one of your science experiments.

[ video ]

[maxicpolarity]

It is a warning.

I don't believe you're taking this seriously enough.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

I'm taking this seriously!

What choices have you been giving me? Go crazy and die or go crazy and die as a lab experiment? So I'm going to make my own solution.

[ video ]

[maxicpolarity]

Those are your choices.

If you think there is another, you are merely deluding yourself.

[ video ]

[heroicpose]

I refuse to believe that.

Besides, if those are my only options, then no matter what happens, it'll still hurt anyway.