[Video] [Transmission originating from: Junkpile]

[like_a_bossbot]

Greetings, citizens of... err... Cybertron.

[Somehow, it still feels strange to say that.  It had been thousands of stellar cycles since he'd been stationed on Cybertron, and while this planet may have shared the name, it definitely wasn't the home he'd known.]

My name is Optimus Prime - I am the leader of a small crew of Autobots, stationed on planet Earth.

I know that a lot of you don't want to be here.  In fact, I know a lot of you are here against your will.  But in spite of that, I think that it's important that we all do our best to make the most of our current situation.  We may be from different universes, but chances are, we still have quite a bit in common.  If we work together, I think that we'll be able to make this work, at least until we find a way to return home.

[It wasn't one of his better speeches, but then... what could he say in this situation?  There weren't many who would rush to work together with complete strangers.]

... If I can be of assistance to anyone, please let me know.

[He pauses, making one more effort to reach his teammates.  He doesn't particularly want to be there alone, but he wouldn't wish ill on any of them either.]

Autobots, if you are receiving this transmission, report back immediately.

Comments

[video]

[like_a_bossbot]

Oh. Er. I didn't mean that they came through the Lamda against their will-

[AllSpark, he could not get this right, could he?]

I'm sorry, but I don't follow your logic. I was trying to make contact with my team - the rest of what I said was directed at everyone. I wouldn't expect the Decepticons or anyone else to report to me. If my crew is here, I'd like to make sure that they're alright - along with any other Autobot. They're my responsibility.

... But that doesn't mean that I plan to pick a fight with the Decepticons, or that I would ignore anyone else in need.

[video]

[sword_redemption]

[Drift shrugs. ]

Good point. We're here now, and that's what matters, really. We should make the best of it.

I just...[He sighs.] I'm sorry if I snapped. It just that mechs focusing only on this [he taps his Autobot insignia] started a war that lasted for millions of years where I'm from. It's over, but...everything's destroyed.

And even so, after the war, they were still not letting go.

[Bumblebee and his kneejerk distrust of everyone but Autobots, the I/D chips in the Decepticons--that was not a 'peace' Drift had wanted to be a part of.]

I just don't want that to happen here. Too.

You're good to be concerned about your friends.

[Not that you need his approbation, of course. And he gives a sort of sheepish, lame wince, because wow, he's really made another bad impression. He'll never live up to Wing's ideals.]

[video]

[like_a_bossbot]

It's alright. While I haven't seen war myself, I can understand why you'd be wary. I give you my word - it's not my intention to stir up past conflicts in this universe.

[Which is true. Unless the Decepticons threaten the peace of this Cybertron, he's not going to seek them out.]

While the Firstforged maybe used to visitors, we still don't belong here - I just want to find my friends and figure out how to get everyone back to their respective worlds.

[He shakes his head, offering a friendly smile. No hard feelings?]

I'm sorry, but I didn't get your name?

[video] also sorry for that tsunami of text up there.

[sword_redemption]

[Give him a minute. An Optimus Prime....who hasn't seen war?]

...but you do have the Matrix, right? Or had it?

[Because that was what the whole 'Prime' title meant, right?]

Maybe part of that answer is figuring out why we were brought here.

It can't just be random.

[Magic, ancient Cybertronian demigods? He can't take it as coincidence.]

Drift. I'm Drift. I fought for a while under my world's, well, you.

[Video] Only if you forgive me for being late. ;3;

[like_a_bossbot]

[Optimus blinks.]

Matrix? I'm sorry, I... don't know what that is.

[He remembered the TransTech Shockwave mentioning it before, but he'd never known what it was. Did he have one? Wouldn't he need a Matrix, to have a Routine Matrix Check?]

But you're right - given how many of us are here, I can't believe that it's all a coincidence. If we can get to the bottom of it, chances are we'll find the way to reverse it. Hopefully.

I know we may have gotten off on the wrong stabilizing servo, but it's good to meet you, Drift.

[Video] not a problem!

[sword_redemption]

[...never heard of the Matrix? Even the mechs like Starscream who'd thought it was just some symbolic bauble had known it existed.]

Then...how are you the Prime?

[He frowns, thinking. Because this is Optimus Prime, and thus trustworthy for Drift's Brilliant Theories.]

Vector Prime told me that things fell through the Lambda all the time.

[And the Junk Pile wasn't built overnight, either.]

But we all seem to have arrived around the same time. Maybe that's a place to start.

[Drift looks a bit sheepish.] Sorry. Peace is still sort of new to me and I really don't want us to lose it.

[Video]

[like_a_bossbot]

[Optimus blinks again.]

I wouldn't say that I'm 'the' Prime. I was granted my rank when I took command of my ship.

[He was getting the feeling that this was another one of those cultural disconnects, like his previous conversation about Primus.]

That's a good point. As far as I can tell, arrivals of this volume are unprecedented - if we can figure out what we have in common, that might help. There has to be some connection that we're not seeing...

[Optimus just nods, smiling.]

It's fine. Like I said, I can understand why you'd be defensive.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

So...who is 'the' Prime? [Since you're, uh, Optimus Prime? Drift is so confused.]

Unprecedented is suspicious, don't you think? There's a reason: something or someone behind it.