[Audio] [Transmission from: Solian Temple] - Twelfth Offense

[namesnotprowl]

[The audio starts up out of the blue, with only a brief pause at the beginning. Even so, every word seems deliberate and carefully chosen.]

Sorry about the timin'a this, but... I've been thinkin' a lot lately. Dangerous habit, I know.

This is the third multidimensional hub I've been in. I've gotten ripped out of dimensions more than I can explain. I've gone backwards in time twice... forwards once. Turned into a human and a cat. Heh, got haiku-powered jet boosters for a while. I rebuilt my own legs from scratch. I've had my processor picked over more times than I'd like. I've lost more friends than I ever wanted to... and made a few more than I've expected. Including a few that were too stubborn to give up on me when they should have. I've seen how how our wars start... and I've seen them end.

And the one ending was enough. Three hubs has been too much, and I'm too old. I know too much that would compromise this Cybertron's chance at having its own future.

I can't stay.

I have a few things to finish up, still, but in a week... I'm leaving. I've heard rumors of a place in the Outlands that could use someone like me, and I've dug out the clues I need to get there.

I'll be contacting a few of you individually; this is what the humans call the Season of Giving, and I have things to give you. Call them parting gifts if you will.

{{Individuals on this list will be getting special presents as listed, though if Barricade is so much as a passing acquaintance of his you can expect a few cubes of high grade left outside your door (or a six-pack of beer if you're human).))

Comments

[namesnotprowl]

By choice. This world deserves better than someone like me making decisions for it.

Now don't go gettin' down about it. Drop by the clinic, if you have time; I have a few things for you.
... Or, I could track you down instead, if you're just gonna be mopey.

[neverputincharge]

With so many disappearin' or leaving, think we could use everybody we could get.

Stuff for me? [Now that's got him intrigued.] ...fine, I'll drop by the clinic.

[namesnotprowl]

We already wrecked Cybertron once in my dimension. I don't want to be responsible for that happening to a planet that's supposed to house a god.

Good. I'll be here. And a'course stuff, it's Christmas ain't it?

[neverputincharge]

....I get it, kinda. I mean my own Cybertron is dead cause of war. It was housing Primus like this one will. I don't want it to happen to this one too.

[Thus why he's fought hard to try and prevent another war here.]

....right, Christmas time again. [He'd nearly forgotten about it.] Be over there in a few minutes.

[And true to his word, he's arriving at the clinic, remembering where it was from when his other self had visited it.]

Barricade?

[namesnotprowl]

Neither do I. And honestly... best way for me to do that is not affecting its future more than required. Which I will if I stay in the Haven.
I know too much for my own good. For anyone's good.

[And how long until someone ambitious with the ability to poke around in processors figures that out again?]

It is. And I'll be here.

[Which he is, stepping out of his office with a pair of datasticks and Rumble riding on his shoulder when Bulkhead calls for him. The firelizard chirps a greeting to Bulkhead.]

Bulkhead. I hope the trip was uneventful.

[neverputincharge]

You'll be missed, though. You've done a lot here.

[Considering the Shockwave from his world is there, who created the cortical psychic patch? Who knows.

Bulkhead smiles at the greeting from Rumble, and nods to Barricade as he appears. There's an answering chirp from his own robotic firelizard perched on one of his pauldrons.]

For once, I can say it was. [He chuckles.] So no chance of convincin' ya to stay, huh?

[namesnotprowl]

I've tried. I can only hope I leave a legacy of some sorts... heh, or someone at least listened when I started ranting.

[Considering that Tarn revealed what Chromedome can do and Barricade has no reason to doubt him, too.

He smiles slightly, chuckles himself, and shakes his head, doorwings flicking.]

No chance at all I'm afraid, but you can try if you like. I give out points for effort~

[Barricade offers the first of the datasticks.]

I realize that you aren't the person your alternate was, but his skill is still in there somewhere. And most Cybertrons seem to have a network of space bridges on them. So I'd like to give you something that your Soundwave once took from me without permission.

[He pauses, pulling the stick back and raising one claw.]

But be careful how you set the coordinates. Some of what's in 'em doesn't just go to other places.

[Now, Bulkhead, will you take it?]

[neverputincharge]

Heh, we can hope, but I'm sure somebody listened. [They'd be crazy to not have done so.]

Just do me a favor, huh? If you see Miko out there...tell her I miss her. [He knows it's a long shot. But the thought of that, or her being home, was better than her in the badlands.

He eyes the datastick strictly, wondering what it was. But he's quick to look back up at Barricade, at the explination. His eyes widen some in disbelief.]

Hey hey, wait. I'm not the one that deals with spacebridges. [Unless you want them blown up. He left that to Ratchet.]

[namesnotprowl]

Heh. Claws crossed. I don't do it just for my own health, after all.

I will. [And if she's not herself anymore... He'll take care of it. The last thing he wants is for Bulkhead to deal with his friends coming back wrong.

Barricade smiles slightly, wagging the datastick at Bulkhead almost teasingly.]

Here I thought you were a builder, which is what these require. And... well. They aren't strictly spacebridges. Not entirely.

I've separated the construction files from the operation files - which aren't entirely complete, I'm afraid. The operation files can go to whomever you deem capable of figuring them out. Though I might recommend that they have a chat with the Megatron with the red paint. Think he knows his way around portal calculations better than I do.

[neverputincharge]

[Barricade, you're a good friend. He definitely wouldn't want to see her like a glyphless or something.

He holds his hands up at the wagging of the datastick.]

You must really think I can do this.

Guess I could find somebody to help, with how to actually work the thing.

[namesnotprowl]

I do.
Though I might just be biased in favor of the guy working on the roads, with the alternate version that's a spacebridge expert, that happens to be aligned with Solus... of course.

[So it's not like he has any reason to trust Bulkhead's abilities or anything~]

Probably not a bad idea - the math can be pretty harsh. Besides, teamwork for the betterment of Cybertron and all that, right?

[neverputincharge]

That's a lot of bias, Barricade

[But he should. Ask Ratchet, Bulkhead had more of a reputation for breaking things around base.]

Yeah, right. But...fine, I can at least try Just don't want anything to go wrong. [He holds his hand out for the datastick.]

[namesnotprowl]

And yet my bias is not unfounded, Bulkhead~

I have utter faith that you can manage it. I do not place my faith in people lightly or wrongly anymore.

[He hands over the datastick, before holding up the other one.]

Now this one. This fulfills the Pleasure part of 'work or pleasure'. It's a selection of movies from back home I've held on to. Best watched with friends - or boyfriends~

[neverputincharge]

I just hope I live up to it, Barricade. But...I'll do my best.

[He smiles a little, and takes the datastick. His eyes brighten a little at the second stick.]

Movies? Heh, been a while since I seen one. [He keeps missing the movie nights that Blurr holds, plus no way to play them anyway.] They any good?

[They must be if Barricade likes them enough to hold onto them.]

[namesnotprowl]

You will. Don't worry.

[He chuckles at the question.]

My dear Bulkhead. I do not watch bad movies.
... Okay, sometimes I watch bad movies. If they're funny. But I'm not cruel enough to do that. Racing films, science fiction, action, explosion films, a romantic comedy or three for when you're feeling sappy. And one extremely good Christmas movie.

[Barricade don't lie, it's Die Hard.]

[neverputincharge]

[Damn it Barricade, why do you have to leave. You're too good of a friend.]

Hey, I don't know what kind of movies you watch. For all he knows they could have different likes in movies. And probably do. But hey, free movies are always good. The movie type selections make him grin, though.]

Sci-fi, action and explosions? You know me too well. Bet Jackie'll like the racing ones too. [Or even Smokescreen.] Not sure about the romantic comedies, though.

[namesnotprowl]

[Because he has the potential to ruin everything and it's probably not even him being melodramatic for once.

... Besides, he'd rather leave before everyone figures out what he's done in the past. He's seen how well cold-blooded torturers fare and leaving is the better option.]

Awh, just making a good guess, that's all~ I get the feeling most of us're into the action and explosions at least. [Seeing as that's what they all did for a living.] Those were mostly me not being sure what you prefer in movies. Feel free to share and hand 'em off if you want.

[neverputincharge]

[Oh please, they all have the chance to ruin it, you know.

But that's not a bad reason to leave. Bulk's probably heard what Airachnid did to Arcee and Tailgate, when she had them captured. At least to a point. He likes you 'cade, to the point of trust, best not to ruin it.

He chuckles.]

Yeah, guess we do. Can't denyin likin' action and explosions. [Especially Wreckers and their explosions.] Nah, I'll still take them. Maybe give them to Knock Out, he seems like the type to like those.

[His features soften a little in appreciation.]

But, thanks Barricade. I'll definitely watch them once I find a way to.