re_alignment | [video] Backdated to the early days of the event

[The video comes on in the middle of one of the recent battlegrounds, camera display (relayed optic-view) bobbing as the 'bot it belongs to runs along. The sounds of battle and low calls of the largest of monsters are distant, but after a few moments one of the smaller, faster beasts catches up with the speeding cameramech.

The bot deploys a glowing energon-axe as he jerks to avoid a blow, sparks flying off scoured armor, before dispatching the weaker beast with an awkwardly returned slice, not breaking his stride even when he has to leap over the still-glowing pieces.]

-This is Optimus Prime.

[Admittedly, he'd hoped to stay quiet, to largely lay low for a while and see how this newest inter-dimensional kidnapping played out. Perhaps it was benign. Perhaps he would not be needed.

...Unfortunately, he hadn't exactly counted on a full-scale invasion.]

Anyone in the South-western quadrant, adjacent to Prima's Northern-most borders may want to remove themselves from the line of fire, unless they are prepared to defend against two converging waves.

A large group of creatures made up of approximately twenty to twenty five of the heavier-class individuals are making their way into the next quadrant over- Alpha Trion's territory. Another group, possibly newly-arrived of almost the same scale is coming in from the center of the junkyard.

[Alpha Trion. A First-Forged. The view wobbled briefly as he shook his head. That was still...unbelievable.

Not that he had time to contemplate it. The Prime abruptly skid to a halt as he reached the top of a ridge, ducking down, voice lowering. Another large group of beings were on the other side.]

...I will be attempting to lure the bulk of this group and the one still on my tailgate into the junkyard, away from the facilities. If anyone is in the area and able to assist, I would appreciate it.

[A short nod. Right then.]

Prime out.

[And the feed cuts.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Perhaps not so easily as that; they were both capable fighters on their own and together they had obviously done very well. Elita did, however, acknowledge the fact that they could, if not have been offlined, been griveously injured by any one of the creatures, even less the dragon.]

We did. [She'd have said something more... maybe a bit more profound than such a simple statement. You didn't always have to be eloquent however, and she usually wasn't either way.

A smile stole over her faceplates in reaction to words and smile both, though and she nodded, her helm tipping an infinitesmal amount closer to his.]

I would hardly ask for a similar situation again, but that was... exciting.

[Her smile grew into a grin and she reached a hand out to grasp OPtimus forearm before she straightened and jumped off the dragon's back, ignoring the damage report that compained about an injury to one of the hull-panel's base joints which her self-repair couldn't fix.]

[So for once, it was Optimus' eloquence failing him, too flustered to to make any grand speeches about how easily - seamlessly - they had tied their attacks together.

Instead, he simply reset his optics at the (painfully familiar) touch, nodding in return while retaining the small optic-smile.]

...Nor would I. But it was...more enjoyable than most battles. And I enjoy few of them.

[His weapons got a brief, habitual once-over before being stowed once again, before Elita received a much more polite glance, checking for damages.]

Are you injured at all?

[She saw the signs, of course; the hesitation, the quick reset of his optics at the touch, but let the fact that he was staying... and that this was a lot less obviously awkward than the first time guide her into just chuckling.]

Yes it was, though usually they can't, shouldn't, be enjoyed.

[She shook her helm, and then straightened at the question, not bothering with trying to hide the list of one disjointed hull-panel as she spread both them and her arms.]

Not really. Got one of the hull-panels knocked out of alignment which my self-repair can't handle and I can't reach. I want a proper medic to get a chance to get it back where it should be, especially as it's neither function nor life-threatening... It can wait a day or two.

[Had she been more severely injured, or had another type of injury that she couldn't reach, she'd have asked him for help, awkwardness or no. She wasn't foolish.]]

Agreed.

[He nodded in satisfaction, pleased at both her response and that they both had actually managed to escape serious injury despite the massive risk. His own arm, battered as it was, was damaged only superficially and would heal on it's own.

He glanced briefly back toward her 'wing' panels, smile turning a bit sheepish.]

...I'd offer to help, but I have no experience with such modifications.

[She laughed and shook her helm, shifting the "wings" again when Optimus looked over at them. Though then she had to grimace somewhat at the feel of the injured hull-panel not completely following, and the protests of her system.]

I'll survive until I can get a medic. It doesn't surprise me... this isn't a very usual configuration.

[Then, unthinkingly, with a lopsided smile on her faceplates;]

Though, if you do have general knowledge otherwise, perhaps you'd like to get some experience at some point?

[She realizes what she's said after she'd finished, uninjured hull-panel twitching. There's no other outward evidence of the awkward realization except for a brief, soft pulse of blue optics.

She needed to keep a better check on what she said.]

-Ah. It is rather...unexpected.

[She's not the only one who catches on to the possible double meaning, and it takes Optimus a moment to keep control. With only a small, embarrassed huff from his smoke stacks, the Prime carefully maintains his air of polite nonchalance.]

Perhaps, someday. You never know when varied bits of triage knowledge might save a life on the field.

Ah, that was a bit---

[She says it at the same time as Optimus starts to speak, and cuts herself off. She's absurdly thankful that her insensitive slip isn't remarked further upon and really rather impressed the Prime manages to... well, keep his composure. She'd apologize, but that would merely really make things awkward.]

That's true, however much we'd rather not need it.

[She shakes her helm then and looks up towards the temple designated as their "safe house", the one she's currently counting as... well, her base. When she looks back to Optimus, there's nothing but - if such a thing would be possible - polite teasing in her voice.]

An escort back towards the temple, Optimus Prime? We should probably check if there's any monsters that way anyway.

[Optimus Prime hardly needs an escort, but that was part of the point.]

I would prefer the same, though unfortunately it is not a feasible reality. Even here.

[An escort for her or an escort for himself, he wonders. It doesn't matter either way, in the end, as he simply nods his head in a shallow bow and gestures them forward.]

But of course. Hopefully the majority of the creatures were chased out with our groups or handled by the others. If not...we will clear out the temple as well.

[Together.]

Not yet, anyway.

[An escort for them both, perhaps? Not that, most feasibly, it'd be one for her, but it had been said with pure professional courtsey, despite the slight teasing. And she'd lie if she said the polite gesture wasn't... endearing.]

From what I've been able to gather [Elita tapped the closed computer on her arm; she had been listening recently] everything currently appears to be under control, but with the possibility to hide in this place, I wouldn't count on it.

[At first preceding Optimus away from the dragon and the scattered remains of the deactivated sharkticons towards Solus' temple, she waited beyond it for him to catch up before she continued walking.

Despite the... awkwardness of this business with multiple realities and knowing her alternate (and quite closesly so), it was quite thrilling to be able to walk beside this mech.]

...I agree. It could be rather difficult to weed them all out, but their drive to attack should work against them.

And the Firstforged, of course.

[Optimus nods, giving the feed a brief glance; both trying to keep himself from gawking and trusting Elita's word. THIS Elita's word.

They'd fought together. It was more than enough.

It was enough to know she still existed, in any world.]

[video] Backdated to the early days of the event

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