re_alignment | [Video] [Under various locks]

[Locked to Wing, Kagerou, Fulcrum and anyone else that approached Drift during the Vandal-disappearance post. ]

[He looks concerned. It's been too long and he hasn't heard anything. ]

Any progress? Any clue we could go on?

We need a plan.

I'd thought...Tarn might have her. [There's a bad thought.] Because he's been here longer than he lets on. But. [He shakes his head.] He's, well, not subtle. If he had her, we'd know. [He both does and doesn't want confirmation about that theory. ]

[Locked to friends.]

[A tense smile.]

Tarn's here. He wants Ambulon. He's going to want me. Megatron said he'd talk to him but... [A rueful shrug.] I think it'd be better if we have another plan if that doesn't, well, work.

We need to protect Ambulon. And whoever else he might be after. [On that note. ]... has anyone seen Ultra Magnus lately? [Then again, Ultra Magnus, of all of them, probably stood the best chance of beating Tarn. So, right, Drift, that was a stupid worry.]

But we need a solution. A real one. Killing him might be only temporary--we've seen the dead return here. So we need...science or something. Something to neutralize him. Because no one should have to live in fear.

We need information. We need scientists. Let me know what information we need to find out about him.

[His mouth flattens, grimly. ] I'll get it. Just let me know what we need to find out.

((ooc: please feel free to threadjack each other and do IC planning stuff))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Survive. [Why is it so hard? Why is there only value in sacrifice?]

No, maybe I don't and maybe I'm better off. Because it's not making me do questionable things out of fear.

Drift you're doing half of his work for him. Why not just bind your hands before you get there!? [He stops with a hiss, regretting the outburst, though not the points made.] How do you know that will actually help?

[There's an old, calcified hurt in his optics.] You didn't. [Don't you dare argue against self sacrifice, Wing. You of all mechs.]

Fear. Is that what you think this is? [Dig that hole a little deeper, Wing.]

[It stings, the reminder of failure. Because with a whole contingent of Knights behind him it shouldn't have happened. He mollifies that by calling it destiny, something that needed to happen for Drift to become what he is. But in the face of that mech's pain, it doesn't quite feel right. His helm bows with the weight of it.]

I was willing to go it alone because we'd exhausted all other options. [He looks up again.] And if others stepped up to join you, would you allow them?

If it isn't, then tell me what it is. Why the harried response? [His tone is tired, not quite pleading, but near to it.]

We've exhausted options here. Only I'm not asking anyone else to risk themselves, for my sake.

I'm not afraid. [This is an old wound, Wing.] The only one harrying me. Is you.

But what have we actually tried? I don't understand?

[His voice is thin and high with frustration. Because he really doesn't understand, doesn't know what other options have been explored, what help has been sought.]

Okay. [He concedes.] You're not.

_{Is it so terrible that I don't want you dead?}

[Maybe Wing is the one who's afraid.]

Nothing. That's the problem. All we've done is run around in fear.

[He's not as expressive as Wing--no flightpanels to quiver or pinions to flare. Only his face, some emotion rippling over his mouth.]

Wing. You can't want me to hide forever from this. To be a coward.

So why does this have to be the first thing we try?

[In truth, Wing wasn't afraid before this, worried yes, but not truly afraid. But now, watching mech he'd seen phased by so little be so disturbed over one individual... It flickers over his face and he tries to still it.]

No, of course I don't. You can't live like that. But why are the only options hide or confront him immediately?

Because at least it's something that doesn't get someone else hurt.

[He's really helpless before this. In a way, things were simpler when no one cared.]

How could I live with myself if he killed someone else?

And once he's done with you he'll just move on to the next. And then we've one less skilled warrior to fight him.

[The low road is often the easier road. Most Decepticons never cared. But they never savored the benefits either.]

You could protect them Drift. [He offers.]

This is protecting them.