A sort of Atonement

[not_your_gun]

WHO: IDW!Megatron and OPEN!
WHAT: Magnum has escaped from the Hollow, and is going around the different Zones trying to do good deeds for people. He's very amiable in this state, and will probably perform any service asked of him.
WHERE: Zones 6-3, probably
WHEN: Now-ish
WARNINGS/NOTES: Doubt this will be an issue, but since I've been so darn slow

Comments

[supreme_leader]

[He's sneakily strolling about, learning what he can of the comings and goings here. If he's to be successful in his plans he has to know Nexus well and there's no better way than with his own optics.

A mech catches his attention and he pauses, looks again. Oh, now this is interesting; it couldn't be anyone other than his duplicate, they were far too similar. He hadn't anticipated stumbling across Magnum randomly, too certain that he was out of reach thanks to Soundwave but this is quite the delicious little treat. Watching Magnum a moment is interesting, not exactly what he expected... perhaps this is what everyone meant when they said he wasn't himself.

He moves closer and stands just out of reach.]

Well now, just what do we have here?

[not_your_gun]

[Magnum had stationed himself at a crossing where a particularly large number of elderly humans seemed to live. If he'd known what a 'Retirement Home' was, he might have realized what the trend entailed, but since he didn't he contented himself to offer assistance to them as he might, and was currently giving directions to a man looking for tea. That...was something he knew, thanks to Mikaela.]

...just up two buildings, and then a left. Yes. A left...

[The man was safely on his way, however, when there was a voice he heard.

It...was odd, because it sounded sort of like he did...

...but it also didn't sound like he did, at all, causing him to look up and seek the source.

It also caused him to double take.]

M...Megatron?

[supreme_leader]

[He scowls as he watches the human walk away. ]

I am Malcolm, Magnum.

[He gives a suspicious glance around. This is the mech that had the loyalty of so many? He was finding that a little hard to believe unless this virus had more power than he thought.]

Slipped away from your watcher have you?

[Oh this keeps getting better and better.]

[not_your_gun]

[It...was really him. Another Megatron--and very obviously a Primaxian one. It made him intensely curious and intensely worried at the same time, knowing that he was not in his element and that Megatrons were strong, smart, cunning, and not particularly good with competition.

Thankfully, right now, he wasn't any of that.]

Malcom. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[He still offered a hand.]

Soundwave means...very well. But I needed to be outdoors.

I...

I did not know where was another of me in the city.

[supreme_leader]

[He eyes the offered hand with disdain and disgust. Even if he wasn't wary that this could all be an elaborate ruse to get him to let his guard down, he wouldn't have taken it; he's not at all pleased to meet another version of himself.]

Your Soundwave didn't tell you about me? ...Interesting. I've heard quite a bit about you.

[All of it tells him he should take care of you now, while you're not yourself, rather than wait. Something Soundwave was probably attempting to avoid by locking you up.]

You should have listened to him. [smirks mockingly] It's dangerous on the streets.

[Shifts the arm with his fusion cannon as he speaks, obviously calling attention to it but it's not entirely a threat, not yet. It's very much more a show of a strength and a warning.]

[not_your_gun]

Soundwave is...very likely preventing the spread of information until I am able to appropriately process it...he knows I am not well right now...

[His voice trailed off, noticing the cannon on his alternate's arm and glancing down to look at his own. They seemed comparable--but could he really make a shot? Wouldn't that go against what he was trying to do, today?]

It is dangerous on the streets because you're on them. You're dangerous. I was dangerous, too, and...very likely would have considered you a threat.

I still consider you a threat.

But...if you shoot me now...[He shuddered.] You would be shooting a coward. It would not show anyone else how dangerous you really were.

[supreme_leader]

It doesn't matter if I have to wait. I will offline you regardless when the time comes and then they will see how powerful I truly am.

[His fist clenches in aggravation; he knows you're right. There is no glory to be won if he finished you now and it would only succeed in making him look like a coward. ]

You don't deserve your designation, not when you're acting like some pathetic Autobot. What a disgrace.

[You're nothing like the mech he's heard about and it infuriates him. He doesn't want to deal with some cowering fool; he wants to judge the mech you're supposed to be.]

[not_your_gun]

I...am. I know. I am sorry I'm not who you are looking for.

[He completely lacked the confidence right now to argue with Megatron's assessment--he was pathetic, and a disgrace, and he probably would be offlined easily if it came down to that.]

I...could try to remember to contact you, when I am feeling myself? Or you could go to the Silver Bullet...I know I used to go there, often...

[supreme_leader]

Hmph.

[He scowls darkly; this is clearly a waste a of his time.]

I'll be certain to find you, perhaps you'll be less worthless when the virus is gone.

[Then he will be able to prove that he is superior to you and that the other Decepticons have made a poor choice in following you.]

[not_your_gun]

I...

I don't know. It is probable, though?

[He returned to the ground, readying another crystal for embedding.]

Thank you for not killing me. I will tell no one of this encounter.