Temporary 'home' [open to any Autobot or ally]
Characters: Optimus, Read Alert, Mirage, any Autobot who wants to tag along.
Content: The Autobots regroup after the skirmish and decide what to do next. Luckily, the deserted Autobot base is where they expected it to be.
Location: Autobot base - Iacon.
Time of day: Late evening
Warnings: none.
Status: (Active/Finished?) Active
( How about camping here? )
Content: The Autobots regroup after the skirmish and decide what to do next. Luckily, the deserted Autobot base is where they expected it to be.
Location: Autobot base - Iacon.
Time of day: Late evening
Warnings: none.
Status: (Active/Finished?) Active
( How about camping here? )
A few words were exchanged before he allowed the scientist to return to whatever conversation he had been involved in, sitting off to the side as he did another full scan of the area and began to register the individual signatures. They were all familiar in some way but he couldn't assume anything until he actually met them all face to face. He was lucky enough to have discovered the Mirage from his universe but whether or not he'd find others was still to be seen.
Snapping out of his thoughts Perceptor realized one of the signatures--Prime's--was drawing closer and he moved to stand as the Autobot leader made his entrance, rifle left resting against the wall as he stood at attention out of habit really.
This was Prime though, not Kup.
"Likewise," he replied as he was addressed, glancing between his counterpart and the Prime. One would have to be an idiot not to put together they were from the same universe. At least it was a Prime though. "You said you have wounded on their way? How many, if I might inquire?"
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He observed for a moment longer. "Are you ... Perceptor, as well?" He cautiously demanded, gaze shifting between the two. The similarities were obvious, even if the two gave out a completely different feel.
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"Agreed, Prime," he finally managed, nodding dumbly. "We do."
"Ah, yes, this is my counterpart, Perceptor, from another dimension." He paused to chuckle softly. "Perhaps I should adopt a nickname to lessen the confusion."
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He was still observing both mechs intently, alternating between one and the other as if playing a personal game of 'spot the difference'. He could probably be there all day, but he didn't miss his world's Perceptor's small hesitation and focused briefly on him.
His optics narrowed imperceptibly, before brightening to hint a smile. Placing a firm hand on the smaller mech's shoulder, he spoke gently: "Are you alright, Perceptor? You sure were the last time I saw you, but Primus knows what's going on on this Cybertron."
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That makes one fo us, at least.
Perceptor gave himself a tiny little shake to gather his wits, smiling faintly at Optimus. "I was, hm? That is comforting."
"I wonder, though, Optimus... When are you from? What events had most recently transpired for you?"
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But just as Optimus is studying them he is studying the Prime and his interaction with Percy, taking note of everything from the way they speak to each other to the differences in the Prime's frame in comparison to the one he knows. It's all knowledge that he stores away in his own personal files, merely for his own curiosity then any real scientific purpose.
Arms folding over his chestplate, an optic ridge arches as he focuses on Optimus now, curious to see where this is all going to go.
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The question wasn't quite what Optimus had expected, but then again it wasn't exactly unprecedented for Perceptor to ask something the ...average mech didn't completely understand, was it?
"I didn't know time could be an issue," he chuckled lighty. "Do you want a date by Earth calendar, or will it suffice to say that the last remarkable thing we did was, I believe, rendezvous with Omega Supreme? Everything else has been pretty routine."
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"A date by calendar will not be necessary; I know of the event of which you speak," he replied, nodding. "And that merely confirms that not everyone is being taken from the same point in time as each other."
"You see, I come from a point in history roughly 20 years into your future, and much has changed on Earth between your most recent events, and my own."
Like, for example, Prime's deactivation. And zombie resurrection. And RE-deactivation. That was not something one explained casually, though. Gee, Optimus, when I am from, you've died *twice* already. Oh, and one of those was my fault, as I was incapable of making the necessary repairs to your fatal wounds, and Ratchet and Wheeljack were already deactivated. My bad.
No. Just... no.
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"Our immediate future? That's interesting. I confess I am tempted to ask you about it, Perceptor, but I am not sure whether that would violate some rule about 'time travel' such as ours that I am not aware of. Asking about the future would put us at an unfair advantage on the Decepticons, wouldn't it?" Optimus laughed again, good naturedly, but his hold on the scientist's shoulder tightened just slightly.
He was no fool when it came to his men. He could see Perceptor was troubled, but he wouldn't force an explanation out of him - especially if it concerned the so delicate issue of the 20 earth years difference between their personal 'timelines'.
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There would be time for conversation later, assuming he could track the noble down again.
"I do not know if there are any such rules against that sort of thing and one would have to consider the possibility that, if we do not return to our true timelines, what harm would it do?" he mused, frowning a bit before shaking his helm. "Until we are able to figure out what is taking place, it would most likely be best to keep details like that quiet for now. You yourself, sir, may be able to handle such information but there are others who I am not so sure would be able to grasp it completely."
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"We need to speak about some events. Others who arrive from my time period may... inadvertently discuss certain events, and I would prefer that you receive a full briefing from me before that can occur." Not that he wanted to have that discussion, but it would better if Optimus heard about his future demise before someone blurted it out in surprise upon seeing him here.
"I do, however, agree that most events should be, at least for the time being, held in confidence. When such time comes that we have determined the cause of our transplantation to this Cybertron, more information can be shared if it becomes relevant."
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"A wise suggestion, both of you. We shall keep 'delicate' information under wraps for the time being. There's no point in causing any turmoil."
He was, however, growing more curious about whatever classified facts Perceptor was so troubled by.
"I will gladly listen to whatever you decide to tell me, Perceptor." He nodded to the smaller mech, his voice reassuring. "I leave it to your discretion."
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Yes, that would definitely be a bit awkward.
"Forgive me if I have merely misplaced this portion of the conversation but which bots did you have with you at this time, sir?" he finally spoke up again, optics focusing on Optimus with a faint glimmer of fear and hope. "Are they all of your universe?"
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Wheeljack's sudden transmission decided him, especially with the information that Wheeljack shared then. Recovering from the shock of hearing from his long time friend, he stepped closer to Optimus, a solemn expression fixed firmly in place.
"Before anyone else arrives to interrupt, there is one vital piece of information that I need to share. In the intervening time between your present and mine, we have established a permanent city upon Earth. Megatron initiated a concerted ambush and attack upon that city in my recent past. During the battle, many individuals were killed. You arrived with reinforcements that were able to stave off the attack, and fought Megatron. Alone."
"During that fight... During that fight, both you and Megatron inflicted and received fatal injuries. Ratchet and Wheeljack had already fallen, leaving me the only individual left to make an attempt at your repairs... which I was... I was unable to successfully complete."
I failed you, Prime. You died.
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Even so, he didn't interrupt. A flash of anguish only crossed his optics at the mention of Ratchet and Wheeljack's demise, more so than the implications leading in a very clear direction - one that regarded him closely.
So that day had come. Would come.
Finally he asked, in a sober whisper: "Did that end the war?"
[ooc: I'm so sorry for my slow/hiatus, I'm in the middle of exams! D:]
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His counterpart remained blessedly silent, not further adding to Perceptor's guilt. Facing Optimus was bad enough, but Perceptor did not think that he could bear it if he faced another version of himself and saw blame or disappointment there. There were so many things in his life that, in retrospect, Perceptor had doubts upon, and he wasn't certain he was really up to self-evaluation from one so very like, and yet unlike, himself as his counterpart was. Not when so many of his questionable decisions had led to this moment, to facing the one he'd failed and confessing.
What if he'd been wrong?
He wasn't ready to think about that yet. Especially not with Wheeljack also on his way up. His ghosts were converging.
"Other than small skirmishes from a demoralized and poorly led enemy, yes. Other enemies have appeared, but the Matrix's chosen successor has handled them quite admirably, despite his own doubts and your rather potent example so fresh in everyone's memories," he replied softly. Perceptor found himself almost wishing that Rodimus were here; it would do the younger Prime's confidence some good, he thought, to be able to confer with the elder.
Or it might only refresh his rather deep-rooted sense of guilt and self-recrimination.
"Wheeljack should be here very shortly. He comes from closer to my own time frame, and has informed me that he is aware of his own fate already," Perceptor warned, wishing that he had more time to offer Optimus what comfort that he could. At least now, though, any other arrivals from after that horrid day would not shock the Prime so badly if they were to blurt out their surprise at seeing him. Cold comfort, that.
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