[audio] - from somewhere in Liege's temple which is NOT his room

[angleofscience]

[Things were completely wrong, and this wasn't where he ought to be, but he wasn't sure if Starscream's precense was more of a surprise than all the proof of things being off were.]

I want to know anything different from whatever you term as normal that might have happened in the last sixty hours or so.

[That wasn't a request by the way, and Jetfire's voice is recognisable, but much sharper than he'd usually sound - mostly to hide his frustrated confusion over what he found when he looked over himself to see what was different in conjunction to the different place he woke up in and found the Link.

He's looked through it, and what in the name of Cybertron was that?]

Comments

[angleofscience]

[He's not sure how to tackle this, at all.]

... I apologise. [It's said more or less on automatic while Jetfire's still staring at the door. Neither of them are where they should be and Starscream's acting as nothing is wrong.]

But, besides a few issues that still elude me, and none of them have nothing to do with my processor, this isn't where I was only a short while ago, Starscream. [There's that sharp tone again, Jetfire doesn't even notice - because at least, no matter the revelation he had a short while ago and the strange situation right here and Starscream, it's almost reassuring. Almost. Mostly it's suddenly just reminding him of where he went wrong.]

[aerospacecommander]

Of course you aren't. You left the room.

[angleofscience]

[Can't see it, but he just facepalmed - despite having the helmet on.]

That was not what I meant.

[Another moment of hesitation, and then he crosses the corridor and into the doorway, standing there. And it's odd to see Starscream again.]

Before this room I certainly wasn't here, but on a ship following an energy signature.

[At least as far as he's aware, despite what the upgrade to his comm. suite might imply - and that version just makes something twist in frustration.]

[aerospacecommander]

[He sighs. Why can't everyone go crazy on days he's not trying to sleep.]

And exactly what were you hoping to find? Also, you really don't remember any of what happened?

[angleofscience]

[Because neither the universe nor Unicron bends to the whims and needs of one particular Aerospace Commander, no matter what you think, Starscream.]

... The Nemesis. [Maybe. He'd not really expected to find anything, but it had been something to do.] It seemed... simplest.

[Then Jetfire sighs as well, crossing his arms over his chestplates.]

If I did, would I find this completely unfamiliar, regardless of what this... upgrade to the comm. suite might imply?

[But the fact that all those things are there? Well, it's strange at the least, suspicious at the most. And he almost wants to ask when Starscream got all... like this, but refrains.]

[aerospacecommander]

All right. Lets start from the beginning. What do you remember?

[angleofscience]

The beginning? [He'd rather not, because he's been through this a lot, several times over, and it led to a conclusion he doesn't like but also realises should've happened earlier. With a sigh, Jetfire shakes his helm slowly. Not telling Starscream when he's asking doesn't really come up as an option.]

The Academy, then joining the Decepticons. I wasn't there, but the attack on and destruction of Iacon. [Dragging a hand down the front of the helmet and the visor, there's a twitch of his wings as he shrugs.] Megatron and the Prime disappearing, and the factions breaking up... Shockwave tried to convince me to stay with the main faction, but that wasn't ever an option.

[Perhaps it should have been, but then, he could just as well have gone to the Autobots... which he hadn't.]

The... situation with the mech who called himself the Fallen, and then Megatron came back again. [Hadn't that been a mess, especially considering what Megatron had done to Starscream.] When the Autobots restarted the Ark mission and Megatron launched the Nemesis, you [or, well... whatever.]... convinced me... to stay behind, to 'keep an optic on Shockwave'.

[He's not sure whether he resents that or not - if he'd gone on the Nemesis, perhaps he wouldn't have had to think - though that's deeply cowardly. By now Jetfire's tone has gone back to being somewhat irritable, but it doesn't seem to be for any particular thing. Just... everything in general.]

[aerospacecommander]

You ... never joined the Autobots?

[Oh. Now this was interesting. Could explain Jetfire's general sharpness, but Starscream found himself unsure if he was resentful that crazy-Jetfire hadn't left for the other side.]

[angleofscience]

No. [That's a whole heap of frustration, defensiveness and annoyance that of course that would be the difference and that Starscream would ask about it.]

No. I didn't. [Jetfire straightens up, the red visor of the helm dim as he slowly shakes his helm. He probably should have but he didn't.]

... That's the difference, then.

[aerospacecommander]

Apparently. So what did "other me" do to get you to stay that I couldn't?

[Because that what was obviously important man.]

[angleofscience]

[Obviously! Jetfire's quiet for a moment before he actually pulls off the helmet, dragging a hand down his faceplate with his free hand.]

How should I know? The thought... just never occured to me. [It should have, though. It should have.] You probably neither did nor didn't do anything in particular, Starscream.

[It's all on him, which is, well. Why he's so frustrated.]

[aerospacecommander]

Hmpth. I still don't like it.

[Because why did it happen this way in another universe and not to him.]

[angleofscience]

... No, I wouldn't think you would.

[He doesn't want to admit it, and he manages to keep his expression straight, but he's slightly amused. Even if it's also frustrating.]

But... despite what I might have gained by staying, I'm not sure it's better.

[That's probably the most honest he's been able to be with Starscream since before the Nemesis left and then disappeared.]

[aerospacecommander]

Why not? Would you rather spend millions of years attempting to murder one another?

[angleofscience]

[Why did you have to ask that question? Jetfire stares quietly for a moment, and then frowns, dragfing a hand down his faceplates.]

... No. [Because after this long, he can't really say that's what he'd want.] That... seems sub-optimal as well.

[But it doesn't make him feel any better, but he's not quite capable of saying he'd want to have spent all this time facing Starscream as his enemy.]

[aerospacecommander]

Kind of a catch-22, isn't it? Either way, something bad happens no matter what.

[Starscream shrugs his shoulders.]

[angleofscience]

... Catch-22? [Sorry, Starscream, but alternate reality or actual reality, he hasn't been on Earth long enough to know terms like that.]

Though if I understand the context right, apparently so.

[aerospacecommander]

It means ...

...

Well, I don't know what exactly it means.

[Or how to explain it rather. Why can't you just know these things Jetfire.]

[angleofscience]

[Just putting your foot on Earth won't give you knowledge of all the slang in all the languages of that planet - and anyway, at present he hasn't even put his foot on Earth yet!]

... And yet you use it?

[So dry, though there's a brightening in his optics where he can't quite hide the surprise of being amused by something Starscream's said. It was a long time ago that happened.]

[aerospacecommander]

It seemed fitting at the time.

[angleofscience]

I suppose it doesn't matter. I understood the... er, spirit of it.

[He's a bit annoyed, but making provisions for Starscream is something he's so used to he doesn't even think about it.]