re_alignment | [Audio] [Transmission from: Solian Temple]

[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).))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Barricade, what kind of leader would I be if I did not understand the things that motivate people? You said that you are going to a place that could use you, you are not going off to languish until deactivation, but rather build yourself a new future, and your words are telling that you are feeling the need to be of use somewhere and you aren't finding that here. I can respect all of this. I won't try to burden you with reasons to stay, often ones that can be shackles to those you know and care for, when you wish to move forward.

It is a pity that you haven't had more opportunities, but who knows, maybe some day you will have more chances. And I should like to have chances to speak with people who have unique outlooks like yours more often as well.

[He is quiet a moment, and he seems... just a touch sad.]

I hope what you find, no matter where it is, no matter what it is, brings you happiness.

... Megatron, sweetspark. You are gonna make me cry.

[He is trying to joke. Really. But... it's true.]

I know this place could use me. The people here could use me. But I'm worried what some of them might use me for. And out there... the only one I'll have to worry about that from is the mech that wants to use us all to the burn this world down. I know that I can fight him and win. Besides... there's a couple mechs I know of out there that could use my help. That would use it for good. And I'm a little tired of unknowable god-entities jerking my chain for the fun of it. Out there I'll get to be me, without worrying that I'll end up as some other me.

I hope you get the chance to meet other folks that give you a different outlook, too. Though I have to say, that's not too hard around here. Swing a stick and you'll hit someone from a different dimension where things started and end differently.

[His engine rumbles quietly for a moment, the pitch low.]

Happiness... is a long way off. But getting this world to where it needs to be will be a good start.

Well, I wouldn't want to do that. [The sound of his voice is wry and joking, though there is a touch of honesty in it.] Besides, I'm sure I'm the least of the good bye's you have to endure, making an announcement like this.

To stay true to yourself, that is more worthy a reason to leave than anything else. I don't begrudge you your reasons, nor can I say I don't believe your worries. For now I feel I will be of the most help here, but in the future, who is to say. Still, that is me and not you. I wish you the best Barricade.

True, but what made speaking with you unique was that I got neither treatment as if I were a copy of your own Megatron, nor did I get treated as if I was unable to comprehend you. I liked that you took me for who I am, as I am, and spoke to me as just that. Not many others here did that at first, and even now, I think some forget or mistake things about me.

[There is a pause from Megatron as well, but when he speaks again his voice carries his smile on it.]

Indeed, the rode to happiness is hard and long, but you are making your way towards it, and that is where it is most important.

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

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