2. [VOICE]

[warborn]

So here's a question. We've got the - 'Haven', whatever, the quadrants and temples and whatever inside of it, and other than that we've got the Badlands.

But this is Cybertron, right? That can't be it. So has anyone bothered doing any real exploring? See what's out there?

[there has to be more...right?]

---

PRIVATE; Vandal

Hey.

You still got some of your - what'd you call it, whiskey?...any of that left?

---

PRIVATE; Ultra Magnus

[attached is his 'usual' datalog - the progress report, as it were - but there something else he adds, short and curt;]

Done with Rung.

---

PRIVATE; Whirl [Text]

[he thought a long while before sending this. but. may as well just...do this, himself, before it's brought up anyway.]

Not gonna see Rung anymore.

He'll be safe from me.

Comments

[lifepersists]

[ For being as small as he is, First Aid is taking this in stride. He stares up at Max, shifting just a bit back farther. ]

And what were you going to do with Prowl? You said no one else would get hurt, that you didn't want to hurt anyone... All you've been doing is trying to justify hurting people!

[warborn]

They didn't deserve it! I'll admit that! I did them wrong, alright?! I was wrong!

But Prowl...that slag-sucking, scum-scraping, sparkless spawn of a glitch left us in Garrus to rot for more than three years! And I want to know why!

[lifepersists]

And what would you have done then? Do you honestly think that it would have made you feel any better?

[ First Aid vents hard, all kinds of warnings about Fort Max's current mood popping up in his HUD. He folds his hands into fists, standing his ground for the moment. ]

When you're sitting, rusting in some prison cell, that's all you'd have to think about.

[warborn]

Guess I'll never know, huh? For all I knew, I'd killed Rung as much as if I did it with my own hands - hell, I might have if they hadn't stopped me. Now...it's different. Pit knows I still want to talk with Prowl, but...I get it, all right? I was stupid. I was angry and I couldn't think beyond anything and I get that now, but...

[but it was different there, and he's visibly frustrated because knowing /now/ doesn't change /then/. his fists are trembling like he wants to punch something - or someone - but the only one around is First Aid, and aside from the fact that he'd have to cross those steps he took away (which may have been why he'd taken them), just...]

That what you wanted to talk about? Or you still got some more?

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid's optics dim again. He's unsure how he should feel about everything. It's a bit much to process and his trust in people is running low. He vents again, humming low. ]

I just wanted to know if it was true. I wanted to understand why.

[ He wrings his fingers. ]

I spent a year caring for you. It's not something I can easily forget.

[ No matter how he looks at it, he's responsible for Max being there. ]

[warborn]

...

[slowly, he lowers his hands. they're still fists, and he still wants to hit something, but...]

Yeah, well. Some things you just can't fix.

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid shakes his head. ]

I thought you were better than that. I'd figured... it might have been a mistake.

[warborn]

[...he wants to say something, but just...nothing's coming out. nothing right is coming to mind and yet there's so much in mind, he just...he can't...]

...they didn't deserve it.

[it's...as much as he can admit, right now.

that he did them wrong. but even those words, he can't...]

[lifepersists]

They didn't.

[ When First Aid is disappointed in you, you know you've fucked up. He doesn't really get angry. He doesn't raise his voice. ]

Please have a safe trip, Maximus. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[warborn]

...yeah.

Me too.

[that's...as much a dismissal as he's heard of any. so if First Aid doesn't make to stop him, he'll just be...

making

to go now.]