[Open][Video; At the edge of the Haven, slight static]

[megaton]

[So he'd made it. He'd made it, he was alive, and he was still here. He could see the distant temples from the mountain he stood on, some ancient and run-down building in ruins behind him. Despite the dilapidation, there is a very new 'STARSCREAM FOR OVERSEER' poster tacked onto the wall within his view...the perfect place for a high-flying, far-ranging jet to test out non-permanent adhesives without anyone noticing.]

So.

[He begins by reaching out, aiming, and completely blasting the wall and accompanying poster.]

Is there anyone who actually intends to vote for Starscream?

Comments

[megaton]

I doubt there is a way to know that beforehand.

I would be willing to bet that you could get by without an 'overseer,' however. You already have the Firstforged setting restrictions, do you not?

[And a police force, and a whole committee...but who is he to assume? Besides Megatron, that is.]

I've certainly gotten more alive. Tell me, Wing...

Do you believe in fate, retribution, or hell?

What about all three?

[winged_knight]

Some, yes. In reality I think the overseer is going to be more administrative work and First Forged liaison than anything else, though they will get a deciding vote in the event of a tie. In general though I have a feeling it's more real work than Starscream wants to do.

[ Government has to start somewhere.]

I prefer alive to not, frankly. [Yes, even Megatron.]

All three. After a fashion.

[megaton]

He won't know until he's in the thick of it...

At which point, you'll find out precisely how strong your new bureaucracy is.

[If Megatron doesn't topple it, first. He hasn't decided yet.]

I think they are becoming inescapable, myself. I am beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be better to stop trying to get home.

[Every time he did, something worse befell him.]

On the other hand, I've got a gear to shave with destiny, and it is so hard to just give up...wouldn't you agree?

[winged_knight]

No. And so much of what we're doing here is in its infancy, with none of us exactly experts. We'll all need to be adaptive.

I know that we all want better checks and balances than we had in our world, that's for certain. You should contribute.

[That's way more constructive than toppling the thing, right?]

There does seem to be, if not a pattern, a flow of things in the universe. I like to think that there is a reason that I am here, a contribution that I am meant to make. That overall, this place is a chance to use the lessons of the past to create something better.

But then it's easier for me to rise to the immediate need here. As I have nothing to return to at home. That's not the same for you.

[He smiles, because it doesn't surprise him that Megatron broaches these questions. If anything, questioning is the greatest lesson Wing learned from him so many years in the past. Just, not soon enough.]

Stubbornly holding to a thing simply for the reason of not giving up is a sure way to invite failure. Because your focus is not on the product of the accomplishment itself, but your pride in doing it.

That said, I understand the difficulty. Just remember, when we do see patterns in events, often that is life trying to teach us a lesson. If we don't learn it the first time, it will keep issuing the lesson until we do.

[megaton]

Contribute?

Oh, I intend to.

It is simply a matter of discerning where I would be of most use.

[He's getting some clues from talking around...which was how it always worked. To know the beat of a place, you spoke to the locals.]

You do have other possible destinies, Wing. This one does suit you, however...and I cannot deny the magnetism of an unblemished world.

[He likes how certain you always sound.]

It may be time to change my tactics, then. Provided that life is not simply issuing such moral tales just to screw with us.

[It was something he'd do, to throw others off track.]

[winged_knight]

You should. This place needs leaders. You had great and inspiring ideas from the very beginning. [In fact those original ideas were the best.] But here you have an opportunity to help build a better system from the start, without having to use violence to dismantle a flawed one.

[He has hopes Megatron. And he sees the amazing potential you have. And even beyond that, he doesn't want you drifting in the direction you did before.]

It's heartening to know that, but I don't mind the one I narrowly missed. As long I can have an impact, change lives for the good, and leave behind a legacy that betters or world and the people in it, then I am happy.

[Not quite unblemished, but close.]

Regardless, we can only grow from such challenges. [He grins, a twinkle of hope in his optics.] If I can help, please let me know how.

[megaton]

It does.

You will have a problem there, however...because no matter who is prepared to leave, some portion of the populace will actively distrust them. Autobot, Decepticon, or Neutral--it will remain the same.

It might actually be more interesting to have a shadow president.

[He watches you for a moment...and then simply nods.]

Fluid. Like air. So long as there is a direction to be heading--you will put your entire being into it...won't you?

[winged_knight]

And in a way it will be that way. Trust will have to be earned, but once it is, loyalty will be so much stronger.

I just hope people give that leader the chance to prove himself.

In truth, the Overseer won't have a huge amount of power, most of it currently is divided up among the committee.

[It's often that he wonders what goes on in the process or of your Megatron. He has a feeling he might be both fascinated and horrified. He hopes more of the former.]

And why shouldn't I live my life so fully? I have no fear for owning my mistakes same as my victories. If I misstep, I would rather it be with firm footing so that I may leap forward, rather than retreating back to where I started. [He grins at their use of metaphors. It's a quaint habit he enjoys.] And besides, it's easier to flow with turbulence than against.