[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

[megaton]

What.

[namesnotprowl]

I didn't stutter, darlin'.

[He's so sorry.]

[megaton]

No.

We have more to build.

We have more to do.

[namesnotprowl]

And we will. But I can't keep doing it here, in the Haven. For a variety of reasons that I will not enumerate on the network.

I'm sure you can figure out at least a couple.

[megaton]

I do not care about your reasons!

[He might be a little bit...angrier...than even he expected to be.]

We always sacrifice for the good of our kind. We are Decepticons. The very nature of it being difficult to obtain our goals is what makes them worthwhile.

[namesnotprowl]

Megatron.

[He sounds stern in return, the sort of tone he's take with a petulant hatchling. But only for long enough to say Megatron's name. After that, he just sounds... tired.]

I have nothing left to sacrifice, and very little to show for any of those sacrifices. All I have left to give is my presence here.

[megaton]

And you're giving it to someone else?

[He's hurt. That's what it is. He does not want to lose you, and...well. That's proof that he can be wounded. His only recourse is to act out.]

[namesnotprowl]

If we're going to have this fight, then come here and fight me.

[Because it will be so much easier to have it out face to face than trying to be obtuse about things over this network. It's stupid and Megatron... Megatron deserves an explanation more than anyone else here.]

[megaton]

Where are you.

[You can bet he'll be there immediately.]

You realize that if I deprive you of your legs, you will not get very far...

[namesnotprowl]

[Coordinates go! Let's see how fast you make it to his quarters.]

I've rebuilt my legs before, and the last one that tried to take advantage of my legless state didn't fare well... and there's only so much I can forgive from even old friends.

[megaton]

You do not have to forgive me, Barricade, you have to FIGHT me!

[And he will actually FLY there. If you have a window, well. His landings have not improved.]

[namesnotprowl]

Oh that I can do!

[Good sir he is shocked. Also augh, he has to replace that before he leaves. He's not going to shoot Megatron as he crashes through the window, at least?]