re_alignment | [Video/Action] Backdated to the end of the Pillar event

Entry tags:

✘ tf: idw | optimus prime (crau)

[Video/Action] Backdated to the end of the Pillar event

[The video opens back on the surface at the farthest edge of Prima's territory, with Optimus still wearing most of the signs of damage taken in the core, barely repaired. His colors are off; blackened with odd marks that are neither burns nor cuts.

He seems...distracted, optics staring out toward the darkness past the edges of the Haven more often than at the camera itself.]

I hope everyone is alright and has found time to be repaired. I know we seem to be missing a few of our number...

[He glances away again with unfocused optics, tensing as if to move away, before relaxing with some visible effort. He rubs a hand over the bridge between his eyes, pained, before rubbing more harshly at some of the black marks marring the blue of his helm. After a moment, he pulls away with a look of disgust.]

I wish to assist in any search being preformed- but I'm afraid I find myself...distracted.

[Another pause; his jaw works under his mask, reluctant.]

I... may be in need of some assistance of my own.

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... You and Hot Rod are both scuffed up something awful.

What happened down there?

[He's not even going to offer assistance because it's pretty much unspoken at this point.]

Where're you at?

We were. It was an impressive battle, old friend.

The pillar itself was our opponent...

[He seems to drift a bit, falling silent; optics flickering away once more.]

...Ah. The edge of Prima's territory.

[He pings Ironhide with the coordinates after a moment's hesitation.]

Heh. Sorry I missed it. Had a couple things to tie up here, though...

[He sees that. And it's less than comforting.]

Stay put, Prime. I'm coming.

Don't be; we were well-covered by capable allies... But it was not a fun opponent.

[He resets his optics in a dull blink, attention briefly stolen by the horizon once more before Ironhide's order redirects his flagging focus.]

...Thank you, Ironhide.

I think your company might help.

Good ones never are.

[Don't worry, he'll roll up shortly. Like a good fanboy.]

[Optimus is still there when Ironhide arrives, though he doesn't immediately notice his arrival, which is telling enough on it's own. He's also on his feet, almost leaning in the direction of his intense focus-

Which is still riveted on the distant Badlands.]

[He transforms, as he gets nearer, his expression concerned the closer he gets.]

[After a second, he reaches out to grasp Optimus' elbow, lightly.]

Hey. Come back down to Cybertron for a sec, Prime... look about to fall over, there.

Optimus Prime...?

[Hoping he's remembering the name right.]

Sir, what assistance do you require? I'd like to help if I can.

I am. Deckard, correct?

[He remembers Deckard from the battle down below, and gives him a nod. His answering expression is rather grim.]

I'm...not entirely sure if help can be easily given. It is hard to explain.

[He glances away, falling silent as he stares off into the distance.]

. . .

[Okay, checking the coordinates of the comm signal.]

Sir, please stay where you are. I'm on my way.

...Thank you.

[The thanks are belated, coming after yet another drifting pause, but genuine all the same.

He has fallen silent once more by the time Deckard arrives.]

[Deckard drives close and shifts to robot form, stepping in the rest of the way to touch the taller robot's elbow for his attention.]

Optimus Prime, it's Deckard. [In case the guy's affected enough to not recognize him right away.] Sir, will you describe what you're feeling or thinking?

[He would have needed to reach out; Optimus didn't even notice his arrival, he was so focused on the dark horizon.

He jumps a bit, startled out of his trance.]

Deckard. When did you get here?

[Another pause as he absorbs the words; he shivers when he actually contemplates on it.]

...If I had to describe it as anything: a calling.

...just now, sir.

[The answer makes him frown. He looks in the direction Optimus had been . . . and his frown deepens. He's heard about the call of the Badlands, has even felt it a little himself (though he'd not known until recently what it was), and considering all that's happened recently? AND the odd, blackened marks all over the other robot's armor?]

I see. Sir, will you come back to the police headquarters with me? Or Prima's temple? I think it's not a good idea for you to be alone right now. I'm sure having others immediately around you for you to focus on can only help.

I've managed to find Sentinel this morning. Still have not seen any sign of Thundercrack, but I will keep searching.

[She notices those marks and she can guess what the mean. Unfortunately, she doesn't know what to do about them.]

I'm afraid that is all I have to offer in the form of help.

[The news actually stirs him out of his lost contemplation, at least for a moment.]

Good to hear, thank you.

[Some of his tension eases off his frame, and he nods in thanks. That is one less thing he has cause to worry about, at least.]

To continue the search is all that I can ask.

[He is well aware that the help he requires now may not be possible for anyone to give.]

Edited 2013-12-13 12:36 (UTC)

[That doesn't look good, at all.]

What do you need, and what's your exact location?

[It's nicer to ask than any other method of finding out his coordinates, but either way, she's already moving. She saw the pillar sort of just... crumble into nothing, and has been keeping an optic on the Link the moment it happened.]

[It takes him a moment to even notice her communication, but when he does, his bleak demeanor shifts, briefly lighting up before falling once more.]

Elita. I...am not yet sure it can be helped. Just a ...feeling.

[He pings her his coordinates on the edge of Prima's territory.]

[That distraction is seriously worrying, and her optics narrow - at least she has coordinates now.]

A feeling? What is it? [A faint, static sigh escapes her.] Feelings aren't easy to combat, but surely there's something to do about it.

A feeling...

A calling, perhaps?

[He shivers lightly, armor taunt with carefully-held restraint.]

... Ah.

[She pauses, frowning as she thinks.]

Until someone catches up with you, whoever reaches you first, I want you to send me a location ping every breem. Is that all right, Orion?

[Better safe than sorry, and if it's a... calling of any sort, being careful requires keeping Optimus in the Haven.]

Has it done anything else?

I...should be able to manage that.

[He sounds a little doubtful, though.]

Not as far as I'm aware? It just...

[He drifts again, falling silent.]

I'll remind you if I have to. [She smiles briefly and then frowns again when Optimus falls quiet.]

It's just... what? Focus.

[If she needs to keep him on track, she'll do it as well as she can, but it does, admittedly, feel a bit odd to phrase it in such a demanding way.]

Good to hear from you, Optimus.

[He's concerned at the state of the other, but it's a relief just to see him at least.]

I think most have been accounted for by now, but there are still some I haven't heard from over the Link...

[He stares at the screen, and it takes a disconcertingly long moment for the recognition - or any sort of focus at all - to appear in his expression.]

...And you, Hot Rod.

Who is missing?

[That pause bothers Hot Rod. Just what had happened to him?]

From what I've caught, it seems like Thundercracker hasn't checked in with anyone. Haven't seen Sentinel either, but I think Rose has been on the lookout.

...you going to be all right? What happened?

...I hope they can be found soon. Though I admit, I am glad to hear that there are so few missing; I thought it might be worse than that.

[At least his concern for the others seems to sharpen his focus, for the moment. Optimus sighs; all he can really do is shrug and gesture down at his armor.]

I do not know. I just seem to be suffering from some...residual effects.

[Nod.] Same here.

I think most of us have been hit by something, but hopefully it's nothing long term.

[Well, you've caught his concern.]

Optimus, are you all right? What's wrong?

I...

[He starts to pause, optics unfocusing, before he stubbornly shakes his head. The seemingly simple bit of effort makes his shoulders slump.]

Honestly don't know.

You should see a medic nonetheless. Let them run a diagnostic scan. Just in case. You can't afford to be incapacitated. [Come on, Optimus, you're a leader! You know seeing a doc just in case is the wise thing to do!] And if there is something wrong, at least you'll be able to stop it before it possibly gets worse.

I should.

[He sounds tired.]

I know I should.

[But he doesn't seem to be actually planning on doing so.]

What's stopping you? Do you need transport?

[RELENTLESS]

I'm not going to have to insist that you go to a medic, am I?

[Sassy Prowl at your six, Prime.]

[The edge of Prima's quadrant just happened to be one of the areas he patrolled rather often due to its proximity to the HQ, and considering how rarely the two spoke to each other...]

[He'd figured that he should approach.

[He should have been startled by the unexpected voice, given his focus on the horizon; maybe even enough to reflexively twitch for his guns.

Instead, his reaction is both belated and understated. Optimus only glances away from his vigil over the edge of the Haven several long moments after Prowl speaks up, as though he had been listening to another, unheard conversation reluctantly abandoned.]

...Prowl. What brings you out here?

[Megatron did his best to smile pleasantly at the video. Optimus Prime was looking fairly dark, not unlike his world's Optimus was, but he sounded friendly for the moment so the Decepticon leader chose to be kind in return.]

You said you are in need of some assistance? Is there anything I can do to help?

[There is a pause as Megatron seems to focus on Optimus but not at the mech's face...]

Is that writing you have on you?

...Likely.

[It takes him a moment, but he draws his optics away from the dark horizon to stare down at the marks on his own forearm.

Seemingly triggered by the glance alone, his plating starts to itch, and he drags blunt fingers across the marks with a faint squeal of metal on metal.

It takes him a moment to refocus, but when his does, his stare is stubbornly intent.]

...I don't suppose you can read this?

I... should be able to read it... I think, I recently gained the ability to read any language, or most any perhaps. But perhaps the video is making it hard to decipher. May I come to where you are to try and read it?

Did this come about when you dealt with the Pillar? Before or after? And was there any particular length of time before it showed?

...If you like. It might be helpful, even if you can't decipher the marks.

[There is a long, unfocused pause, before he nods.]

Yes. ...At the end of the battle, perhaps? I was not very focused on my armor at the time.

Assistance?

Why, what did it do, make you even more righteous?

[It takes him several minutes to even bother to read the text-ping at all; oddly enough, the words manage to raise enough ire in him to make him huff, gaze and posture both refocusing on the communicator rather than the horizon.]

...'Righteous'? Oh, must you really?

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[Video/Action] Backdated to the end of the Pillar event

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