re_alignment | [Broadcasting from the tallest peak he can find in the junk pile.]

[Someone has been through this before. Someone knows this drill. Someone has worked very, very hard to finally make it back to his Cybertron, only to find it all wrong. Again.

Someone probably has destroyed a few piles of junk in their anger.

However, someone also has paid attention to the communications on the network, and has ventured to the 'temples' that were mentioned, and has found them locked against him.

This someone is not surprised.]

Listen closely, and listen well.

[It is time to act. The feed opens with a closeup on Megatron's faceplates, optics blazing red, the scant remnants of gladiator paint still burned onto the metal.]

This is not where we belong, and I am done with this.

I am done with waking up to see an unfamiliar sun obscuring all-too-familiar stars. I am done with strangers being cast from world to world. I am done with mechs-who-would-be-gods so graciously patronizing us by allowing us to remain while simultaneously enforcing unethical segregation and I am done, finally, with the thwarting of destinies that I and my allies have slaved, toiled, and died to create.

You can listen to those who make the rules here if you desire to. I have heard a song like theirs, before.

Or.

[He flashes, briefly, a datapad that seems to have some sort of schematic on it--a schematic that looks (to those who are familiar with them) like a complicated space bridge.]

If you are 'done' as I am, you can help me.

I am Megatron, and I will deliver anyone that joins me to their rightful homes.

[A single, pointed tooth is visible in the smirk that finally dawns on his face. His interdimensional portal had only worked, once, but with the right mechs he would see it to completion again. Immediately.]

I guarantee it.

~~~~~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The thing is. I don't know about the science but it seems to me, if he did change things in our world, that would either create a splinter world where we still suffer the consequences of all our actions....and he doesn't. Or everything changes in our world and then...maybe...I'd never meet you.

[His voice tries to stay neutral, but it's clear which option seems worse to him.]

How do you help when you're not even sure what you're helping, a monster or a savior?

Wing.[This is probably weak, but so be it.] I wouldn't let that happen.

So even if he changes things, It doesn't affect us, unless...unless we're with him in that splinter world?

[His face twitches, a nervous frown flitting over it.] Or everything changes.

[He sighs, because it's not an easy call for him either.] We just have to trust ourselves. I'm sure Megatron has been both, and even all at once.

[He can't really hid the smile that brings, and really, despite it feeling a tad selfish, he doesn't even try.] Would you...would you go with him? With me?

What happens to us doesn't matter. But our world, our history, us? If he changes anything, it either changes nothing or it changes everything. [He nods. ]

[Drift sighs. It's not even a question for him.] I would go with you. _Always

Or, potentially, it does both. If the timelines splinter. Which means we can't really save our world, we can only save the new one Megatron's return creates.

If that is true, then we have to decide where we need to be. [Much harder than it sounds.]

[But if they are together, maybe there's less change of being torn apart.]

[His optics flicker with emotion, speechless. It's impossible to express what this level of devotion means.]

But...what if you could go back? To the Lost Light and continue your quest? [Likely just as worthy as guiding Megatron or helping the formation of society on this new world.]

[He laughs.] Listen to us. We're talking as if we really believe Megatron's plan's going to work. We've been here how long? But he shows up and instantly has a way to get back home.

[It sounds crazy, doesn't it?]

...I don't know. Our quest would put things right, repair some of the wrongs I did to our world.

But staying here...repairs the wrong I did to you. [A flash of a smile, almost a grimace.] _{I hope}

[He has to chuckle a bit to himself.] Well, okay. You have a point. Even if it works we have more than enough time to make a decision. He's given me the plans, I fully intend to get as many consultations as I can on how feasible this is.

[Only half crazy.]

Drift... [It comes out hushed but full of emotion. By the way he leans into the camera he just wants to hug you now. He gestures...] All of this. Being here, with you, together. Loving you...it's enough.

Do I have to come over there and prove it to you?! [A slightly wiley grin.]

...but...I'm still only one person. The Lost Light...

Wing, you don't think, if there was a way off this place, that the First Forged would just...let us leave. [Not from the conversations he's had with Vector.]

I'm trying. To make it enough for you.

[His optics drop from the screen, embarrassed. ] I'd still choose you. If I had to.

[That's...something he's never considered before.] Would they really stop us?

And you're succeeding Drift. Just...do it because you also love, not just because you feel obligated.

[It's both immensely flattering and a little troubling. But Wing can't find it in his spark to blame Drift. Not the way he's a little embarrassed by his own relief.]

I think we make a good team, wherever we go.

Wing. They've marked us. They think of us as 'theirs'. Would they likely just let us leave?

[His optics dim. ] Team. Yes.

We do.

But the Marks are the touch of Primus I hear. I thought the different ones...were mostly to divide responsibility.

[A warm smile.] Yes. In so many ways.

It's the same. If we're marked by their god, they won't let us go.

And they seem inclined to make pawns of us, even so.

Is it? I would think, one implies ownership and the other custodianship. They've said they don't want to rules us, and Vector at least only to wants to look after us. They've not made any demands of us to fight for them, only taken what we've offered.

But...'their' god? You really think there's a difference?

[Drift taps his Autobrand.] You've never worn one of these, have you? Even a mark you choose owns you, after a while.

[He shakes his head. He doesn't trust the First Forged. Because he knows they have their own interests, and as much as they said they cared, he wasn't sure which way they'd fall if they had to choose.]

Other universes have this Unicron. We don't. Their god can't be the same as ours.

No. Not, exactly. [Though in a way, the Circle had its own symbology, its own way of claiming its members. So in a sense he can relate.]

But we're not talking about things as extreme as slavery and oppression. They seem to prefer non-interference if possible.

[Wing trusts, but the degree definitely varies. He does believe they don't wish the refugees any harm, which is a positive bottom line.]

[He ponders openly.] So he isn't our creator, we weren't sparked from him, but...if he represents all the same philosophies and values, the same power, isn't that worthy of respect?

Non intereference. Like letting Prism go free. And Overlord.

[Sorry, he doesn't share your rosy perspective.]

We're not talking about 'respect'. We're talking about this isn't our world. It's not that we shouldn't respect it. But we don't belong here.

[Broadcasting from the tallest peak he can find in the junk pile.]

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