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

Entry tags:

✘ tf: bayverse | barricade (crau)

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

[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

B-but... Everyone messes up eventually, right? That's no reason to leave, especially when you haven't done it yet!

[NOPE not going to cry. Won't, won't, won't. That's not a sniffle at all.]

...For me?

Sari, darlin'. May not have messed up yet, but my kind? When we mess up, planets get destroyed. We don't do these things by halves, even when they're accidents. Besides, I'll still be around on the planet. I just won't be in the Haven. Ain't nothing that could make me walk into the Badlands.

[Nope nope nope don't cry Sari, you're gonna make him choke up a little. Or it's too late and he is already. Must maintain composure.]

Yep. Especially for you. A Christmas present, sorta.

But that's still dumb...

[TOO LATE totally sniffling. She perks up a tiny bit at the mention of Christmas, though, and scrubs a hand over her eyes.]

U-um. Okay.

Where are you a-at?

I know it seems that way. But there's a lot goin' on behind the scenes, too. Stuff I can't get you involved in.

[That would be too cruel. He rattles his plating to get himself under control, huffing an exvent. Must maintain composure.]

My quarters. I can send you the coordinates and met you here, or we can meet somewhere of your choice.

[She makes a face at the explanation, sniffing wetly; almost glad to hide her sadness under anger.]

I'm not that little! I can know stuff too!

J-Just gimme the coordinates. I'll be there.

[Flying there via jetpack should give her time to hide any tears, after all.]

I know. But I don't want you to get hurt, even if you're old enough.

All right. Sending the coordinates now.

[This is the saddest bleep-bloop of all the bleep-bloop.]

HRMF.

[She huffs but accepts the sad coordinate bleep and closes the communicator.

It takes her a little while to get there from Nexus' temple, but she's gotten better with her jetpack. It's actually been modified to fit her, and she's had practice, so flying through the temple halls is only somewhat risky.]

Barricaaaade.

[She still sounds rather sulky.]

[He shuts off his own Link device and simply waits. He has time to ponder on things until she shows up, at which point he opens the door and crouches.]

Sari. Still mad at me, I'm takin' it?

[Anger, at least, was less unexpected for him. He'd thought people would be angry about his decision, not... begging him to stay.
Not one person has threatened to hit him yet. It feels strange.]

Yes.

[She can't manage a proper cross-arms-over-chest-and-sulk pose until she lands right in front of him, but when she does.

Most. Sulky. Baby. Cybertronian.]

It's not fair! You can't leave if you're not even gonna properly explain why!

[She stomps the ground with a foot for good measure.]

You shouldn't even leave at all!

[Oh don't do that you'll make him feel worse 88(]

I know, I know. That's what I've been hearing. But if you want the truth... and if you can keep a secret...

[He huffs briefly. Even telling someone this is dangerous, but... he's sure he can trust Sari. She won't tell anyone, he hopes, and she shouldn't be a target for anyone with cables... or needles.]

I have been to a lot of places, and learned a lot of things. Dangerous things. And if someone found a way to get those things, this whole planet would be in trouble.

It's already happened once before, and I can't let it happen again. The best way to make sure it doesn't happen is to make myself scarce before anyone figures out I could be of use to their plans.

[That is the point 8(]

I can keep secrets!

[Reluctantly, she perks somewhat at the mention of secrets, giving Barricade a look.]

...What kind of things? And who would do that? I thought all the bad guys here vanished or got locked up!

See now if I told you what things I knew you'd be in danger too. And that is something I can't do.

As for who would do it... not all bad guys are obvious. Or Decepticons. Sometimes they're the people you'd least expect.

[Barricade you sound paranoid. Like. Really paranoid.]

But so long as they think you're human, you'll be safe. If they don't think you're onto them.

That doesn't really explain anything at all!

[Sari wrinkles her nose, looking like she wants to object further. Paranoia? What's that?]

You could at least tell me who I need to watch out for, right?

All right. All right. I hate being this transparent to anyone- [And telling too many people.] -but. Be wary of anyone named Soundwave, unless he's the inverse one. His color scheme is mostly white, and he's a good guy. The others aren't.

And be careful around Chromedome. The orange and white fellow. He may not be as friendly as he seems. Just don't let him get suspicious of you, all right?

[Barricade's engine practically whines. The one really hard part about leaving is the fact that it means leaving a hatchling alone.]

Already am 'wary' of Soundwaves! The one back home was crazy! You make my robot-lizard colored like him too, you know.

[She makes a face.]

Didn't know about the other guy though.

[Sari shuffles her feet, kicking at the ground. She doesn't want to settle for such a small amount of info but SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE MEAN BEFORE HE LEAVES.]

They get worse from there, believe me. The one from Wheeljack and Bulkhead's world needs to be avoided and mine just needs to die. Again.
I swear I had no idea. I just thought blue and cyan looked good together.

Someone I know of mentioned him on the network. Regardless of anything he may have done... I believe him on that.
If they have needles like him... or cables like me... you have to be careful. That's how they get in, and most of them are not as scared as I am of using them to dig in and take whatever they find.

[But that's all he can say, really. Anymore, about the reason why he knows this... it's just too much. He lets his plating settle in their housings, motioning her close. C'mere you.]

Yeah, well...

Most people don't know I'm not anything but human. I don't think cables or er, needles work like that on people?

[As far as she knows, anyway...

But it's a sign of how far they've come that Sari rushes into Barricade's spiky arms without any hesitation, crashing into his plating and muffling a sniff.]

...You're gonna come back someday, right?

They don't. Which is why you need to be careful who finds out about you.

[Barricade automatically flattens his plating to avoid sharp edges, wrapping his arms around her as best he can. His engine kicks out a low, modulated rumbling noise.]

I might. And if I don't, Rumble probably will. You won't find either of us leaving this planet.

[When it's not the answer Sari was obviously looking for, the sniffle becomes a full-out sob, and she latches onto his armor as best as she can.]

S-Stupid jerk. You b-better come back sometime!

[The rumble of Barricade's engine hitches and gutters sharply, voice rough with an undercurrent of static in it. He can't cry, not really, but it's close.]

I'll try. But I won't make promises because I don't want to disappoint you.

Still gonna be disappointed - you're leaviiing!

[The whining is pure habit at this point. She still smooshes her face up against his armor, hiccuping between sobs. Sorry about the mucus, Cade.]

Better try. Send messages and stuff? With Rumble if nothin else?

I'd rather disappoint you less, then.

[Ah, he can deal with it. It's not like she's toxic or anything. He tightens his own grip carefully.]

With Rumble. That I can do. I'll send them as regularly as I can - or if there's anything I can warn you about. All right?

[Sari sighs, sniffling against armor.]

...I guess. It'll have to be enough, right?

[Definitely sulking.]

It must be. At least for a while.

But I do have a few things for you, to remember me by.

[Reluctantly, with a few stubborn snuffles, Sari pulls away, rubbing at her eyes.]

...Presents?

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

[Video] Weh ;;

[Video] Sari ;A;

[Video] Barricaaade ;A;

[Video] He's gonna miss heeeeeerrrrrr

[Video] Wehweh

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