OPENING NIGHT AT TRANSFSFORMERS.ORG Autobase - Muster Area A large empty circular room, illuminated by a single strip of white neon serves as the Autobase's primary muster point. Information screens, deeply set into the cold steel walls provide some additional light as they repeatedly relay Autobot news files, mission objectives, situation reports and other information relevant to those stationed at the base. Small keypads set beneath the screens allow those with clearance access to some of the more specific files. To the left of the large arched doorway leading back into the main body of the base, a rectangular board is bolted. To this iron framed surface, Autobots are allowed to post information they personally deem important. =============================== Message: 8/4 Posted Author Meeting Thu Jun 10 Grimlock-C ------------------------------------------------------------ *Grimlock suddenly looms into view on the monitor and peers directly into the camera. He snorts with contempt, then leans back into his chair. After a few moments to buld up the suspense he speaks...* "This Grimlock. It seem that Jazz, Bumblebee and me have returned. Me spend long time dead, but now me back and me have bad news." *He leans back into the camera, his optics burning. It is quite disconcerting to see Grimlock returned from the dead, and rather more worrying that he actually seems to have something to share with his fellow Autobots.* "Me call emergency meeting. Prime, me need words with you and other high ranking Autobots. We have situation that could lead to end of life across -whole- galaxy." *Grimlock pauses, then shrugs.* "Me say more at meeting tonight. Message end." ------------------------------------------------------------ Grimlock has arrived. Optimus Prime narrows his optics a searches through some of the recent reports on a nearby monitor. He doesn't notice Hardhead right away as his mind trails into thought. "The Dinobot has always had a...sense of the dramatic." Not known for keeping silent after being "dead" for a tad long is he? Grimlock steps through the base's entranceway, a flood of sewer water swilling around his ankles as the door slides shut behind him. He grumbles to himself at the indignity of it all and steps down onto the main level and looks around arrogantly. After a few brief moments he spots optimus and snorts, taking a step or two towards them, his human face breaking into a scowl. "About time you show up." Hardhead scowls at Grimlock. He slowly glances around the room."Grimlock." Grimlock cocks an optic ridge, rather taken aback that hardhead reckognised him in his brand new pretender shell so easily. But he shrugs and makes no comment, turning his full attention to Optimus. he crosses his arms across his chest and glowers at him. Optimus Prime strightens as the recently ressurected Autobot makes his way back into the base. Grimlock's bruskness is usual for him. Although, this time, it seems somewhat deeper than before. He glances over to his Second-In-Command, still trying to get used to him now being within the form of a Pretender. He offers a nod. "Your report seemed rather urgetnt. Some of the other Autobots are already gathered." he gestures to Hardhead. "Shall we?" Hardhead shrugs and nods slowly. Grimlock snorts. "Urgent. Maybe. Me just know that it could be end of us all." His voice rings out across the courtyard with a fatal tinge and a few of the Autobots passing by turn to stare open mouth a the Dinobot commander. He ignores them and nods towards the war room. "Jazz and Bumblee not make it. Them out hunting cons. They figure me able tell story as good as anyone." Optimus Prime hmms and nods as he turns towards the direction of where most of the gatherings are held nowadays. "I see." Grimlock did always hold a flair for the dramaitic. "Then perhaps it best we get started." Autobase - War Room The iron door slides shut with an automated slam. It takes a second before your optics adapt to the subdued red light, but soon you can distinguish several banks of glowing plasma screens fitted against the oval shaped perimeter of this cavernous room. A huge monitor presides over this dimly lit chamber, silhouetted against which, a large grey table rises from the polished floor. This room is entirely functional. No ornaments or trophies attempt to glamorise its purpose, and the whole area is kept meticulously clean and efficient. Grimlock shrugs, as if indiffernt to the news he is about to impart, but something about his stance suggests different. He looks about and then, with a painful crack, his body splits in two, the pretender shell dividing to disgorge Grimlock's robot form. Grimlock's roar rents the air, eventually mingling with the sound of transformation as he unfolds, taking a slow heavy step forwards into robot mode. Around the room low level whispers, mutterings, and chatter can be heard among some of the zlready assembled Autobots. This, of course, ceases when Optimus prime and his Second-In- Command enter the room along with the Headmaster. Optimus heads towards the front of the room ahead of the others. Hardhead scowls as he walks in, he looks from Prime then to Grimlock. Grimlock trails after Optimus, leaving his open shell standing behind him. He soon takes a seat at the head of the room, next to Optimus's chair. His optics glow dully in the gloom as he scans the assembled Autobots, looking for a familiar face. They are precious few. He gives a slight nod to Emirate Xarron, then leans back in his chair as Prime prepares to address the assembly. Optimus Prime pauses for a moment, watching as the true Grimlock emerges from his outer shell, still dumbfounded of what recent events have led to. He nods to the others to take their seats as he holds up a hand for silence. "Fellow Autobots, some recent matters have been brought up to our attention that appear to be quite dire...." Grimlock snorts, but othewise stays silent, for once allowing prime to get a few words in without interruption. It's almost as if he is stalling what he has to say. Optimus Prime continues, choosing to keep the introduction short. "As some of you may have heard the rumors of three Autobots, Grimlock, Jazz, and Bumblebee, recently being transported into the very heart of our world several months ago are indeed true. What transpired there is perhaps the meaning of this meeting and what Grimlock wishes to inform you now." He inclines his head towards the dinobot as he steps back for his seat. "Grimlock...?" Hardhead continues to scowl as he takes an empty seat torwards the back, he almost seems uncomfortable in this room. Grimlock regards the meeting sullenly for a few moment, his faceplate still managing to convey irritation at the number of headmasters and pretenders in the crioud. After a few moments he rises to speak and leans heavily on the table before him. For a few long minutes he scans the faces before him, then finally breaks the silence. "You hear rumours. Maybe you even hear what we find. Me not beat around bush." he pauses, then growls, "Cybertron is doomed." Optimus Prime flickers a glance towards his fellow Autobots while Grimlock rises to adress the others, only to bring it back onto him as he makes his announcement. He, along with Emeriate Xaaron and a few others within leadership potion turn to stare at the Dinobot with optics wide. "Explain yourself," Xaaron bids. Hardhead glances off some where past Grimlock, he scowls even deeper as Grimlock states that Cybertron is doomed. He idle taps on his chair. Grimlock holds up his hand to silence the sudden uproar in the room. When the muttering and cries still go on he smashes one fish into the table and bellows "SHUT UP!" Finally the noise subsides and he turns to glare at Optimus before continuing. "You hear right. We end up in core of Cybertron and there we find our God. We find Primus." Optimus Prime rises from his seat, gaze fully focused on grimlock now. "Primus?" he whispers, somewhat disbelieving it himself. But how can he deny the possibility...or even the reality? However, he finds the matter a little more that horrifying as well as awe0inspiring as well. "What exactly happened?' Hardhead just scowls...He glances around slowly and shrugs slightly. Grimlock stares impassively at the shocked faces of the Autobots, then shrugs quickly. "Me know, sound like bunch of smelt, but me tell truth. Primus not only -at- core of Cybertron. Him -is- core of cybertron. Our god form himself into planet, and create us to act as last line of defence. Him have powerful enemy. Enemy that threaten not only Cybertron but whole planet as well." Xaaron shifts within his seat uncomfortably, trading glances with Optimus Prime. Optimus turns towards his second. "What enemy?" Grimlock's voice takes on an even steelier edge and he snaps that dreaded name. "Unicron." Hardhead glances at Grimlock for a second and hopes his mouth."What is a Unicron?" Grimlock says, "Me know what you think. Unicron and primus, legends from dawn of our history, hand down from overlords. Load of garbage. But me see primus. Me hear his Keeper. Me know that he exist." A mask of confusion falls on the faces of various Autobots within the chamber. Unicron? Who's Unicron? Optimus himself advances a step or two towards Grimlock. "Unicron? The enemy of Primus? What else did his 'Keeper' tell you?" Grimlock shrugs and steps back, sitting down in his chair and leaning forwards to rest his hands on the table edge. He pauses then shrugs. "Me tell legends, and what me learn from primus's keeper." He shrugs, his method of storytelling neither lyrical or even discipherable in parts. But slowly the story begins to emerge. "Back at dawn of time, there nothing. Only void. The whole galaxy consumed by chaos bringer. Him lord of dark gods...Unicron." Optimus Prime blinks and retakes his seat...listening. Grimlock says, "But him not destroy everything. Chin reaction cause galaxy to be reborn, and new life and new planets formed. Unicron awake to find new galaxy, teaming with life, and him set out to destroy it once again."" Hardhead taps the side of his skull and glances up and looks around. Optimus Prime narrows his optics a bit at this history lesson as the story progresses. Grimlock's optics wash over the ententive faces of the Autobots before him, and his optics narrow, staring directly at Hardhead. He starts to speak again. "So galaxy fight back. Sentient core of whole universe creat a being able to defeat unicron..It create Primus, our God." Hardhead meets optics with Grimlock and begins to speak."That's all good in the past but if Unicron existed today we would have found him by now." One of the smaller Autobots, a Micromaster actually, moves from in between the legs of several of the gathered crowd to sit in the floor. He's joined by two others of his team. "Hey, lettim' finish da story! Hardhead glares at the little bot and shrugs. He goes back to scowling. The other Micromaster nods enthusiastically in unison. But he turns away at the scrowl and scoots a little tad over towards his companion... Grimlock lapses into silence, then narrows his optic further. After a few moments sullen pause he begins to speak again. "Primus and Unicron fight, and primus almost destroyed. But Primus trick Unicron, and them end up trapped in lifeless asteroids. Over billions of years they both manage to mentally shape their prisons. Primus turn himself into Cybertron, and Unicron turn himself into giant planet eating monster and begin to search for ancient enemy. As so primus think of way to fight back. So him create us. Cybertronians. And him give us matrix, the last of his essence to renew our line. And so we here. Children of God. Created to destroy Unicron and rid his purge from galaxy." Hardhead glances around and looks for anyone that he knows, but notes that most of his Headmaster's are listening to Grimlock. He then glances back at Grimlock and continues scowling. Optimus Prime perks his optic ridge at this. The Matrix? He looks to the floor for a moment, considering something, then picks up his chin. "Did the Keeper inform you on how we were to enact this 'defense' against Unicron?" Grimlock leans back in his chair and turns to Prime. "that what keeper tell us. And him tell us more besides. If Primus awake then through mental bond they share, unicron will know location of Cybertron." He pauses and manages to look a bit sheepish. "unfortunately, while we at core, Decepticons attack and Primus wake up. Me sure that not good news. Unicron could be on way to cybertron right now, and only thing able to stop him is if our race unite as one to defeat him and use power of matrix to destroy him." The Autobot next to Hardhead, a Pretender by the name of Landmine nudges him slightly. "What do you make of all this?" he whispers. Hardhead glances at Landmine and whispers back."If Unicron even exists....then he can't pose much of a threat....he most fear us, or he would have attacked by now." Emeriate Xaaron fingers his chin. "Then that loud 'rumbling' we heard, the one felt all across the planet--." Grimlock nods slowly. "That Primus waking up." Landmine sits back in his seat, regarding the Commanders. "Or if he didn't know where he was." Optimus Prime sighs, feeling something lodge itself deep within the pit conscious, shreading the very fibers of his being. Hardhead grumbles and shrugs. He appears unconcered about what is going on. Emeriate nods in like. He then gestures towards Optimus Prime. The Matrix bearer himself is among us." Grimlock leans back in his chair and looks around. "S, me say we doomed. Maybe we able to use matrix, try destroy Unicron. But if we try unite race as well...." He snorts loudly. "Decepticons and Autobots never unite. We not built that way." Optimus Prime tightens his hands into fists and again stands. "Fellow Autobots," he states quietly, "*that* may be the only way unless theres a way the Matrix may be found." he pauses for a few lengthy moments before forcing to go on with the revalation. "I no longer hold the Matrix." Landmind regards Hardhead for a moment and turns his attention back to the proceedings. Hardhead glances at Prime and scowls deeper. Grimlock's head snaps round to stare at optimus. He slowly blinks, his hands gripping the table tight enough to twist the metal beneath his fingers. A comment seems hardly neccessary, but he makes one anyways. "You WHAT?" Grimlock is on his feet in a split second, rounding on Optimus. "You -lost- matrix?!" Optimus Prime pans his optics towards the others crowded within the dimly lit room, feeling every one of them starting opening at him in a mixture of shock and disbelief. He sighs inwardly. "On Earth," he explains with some relunctance, "I had been rendered non-functional. Although recently I had been rebuilt and resurrected within this form," he states while gesturing to his framing, "the Autobots who thought I was deceased shot my old body into space in accordance with traditional burial customs. They...did not know of the Matrix being a tangible object." The last is uttered softly, just above a shear whisper. Brainstorm, an Headmaster Engineer, shakes his head. "He lost the Matrix?" he tones... The clash of metal on metal rings round the room. The sound on grimlock smacking his face into his hands. "How you be so -dumb?!-" he growls. "You -lost- only thing that able stop unicron from consuming galaxy?!" He pauses then just skakes his head in barely controlled rage. "Why me not surprised?" Hardhead looks at Prime and continues to scowl and then opens his mouth."The Matrix can't be the only answer....if he is matter than he can only take a certain amout of firepower...we could just blow him up. If Grimlock is right then we should have enough fire power..seeing as Primus created us for this purpose." Optimus Prime can't help but feel at least a *little* bit guilty. Ok, scratch that. *Alot* guilty. "I bear the full respoonsibility for this. If I had entrusted the true nature of the Matrix to the other Autobots this wouldn't have happened." How can he atone for such a grevious error? Grimlock stares at prime with utter contempt. "Oh well done" he snaps, then turns to Hardhead, face a mask of pure malice. "Him eat planets! Him not just roll over play dead if you foot him!" Emirate Xaaron then jumps to his feet. "Enough. We have greater matters to deal with other than the laying of blame." He faces his comrades. "Grimlock, is this all that occured during the unexpected transportaion?" Hardhead glares at Grimlock."Is that a fact Dinobot...Then why haven't we heard from a huge giant planet eating monster?" Grimlock collapses back into his chair, dispair and rage overcoming him. He regards Xarron from under furrowed brows but for now ignores his question, snarling at hardhead, "Him trapped on outer reaches of galaxy, millions of light years away, but if him know we here, he on his way towards us now! Maybe -you- no hear, but over year we hear legends, destroyed worlds, star systems suddenly gone! Maybe this work of Chaos Bringer." Grimlock finally turns his attention back to xarron and answers his question. "That not enough for you?" Hardhead continues to glare at the Dinobot and continues to scowl while he speaks."Nothing more than rumors to scare the weak...be good or the Chaos Bringer will get you...Frankly I thought you were made of sterner stuff Grimlock." Grimlock shoots hardhead a look of pure malice. "me meet GOD. It leave me with tendancy to believe what him tell me." Xaaron is actually overcome by some of the same emotions Grimlock is experianceing. "Then Primus...why did he nearly tear Cybertron apart? Why *now*" Optimus Prime swiftly turns towards Hardhead. "Can you bear evidence that what he speaks is *not* true, Hardhead?" Hardhead just shakes his head."If you say so, Grimlock...if you say so." Grimlock shoots a glance at xarron. "Him not try destroy cybertron. He -is- cybertron. Our world is also our GOD! The earhquake you feel was when him wake up. Decepticons hit him with..." he pauses, recalling what part a stray riochet from his armor had to play in the drama and he finishes simply. "Him wake up in shock. Him -scream-." Hardhead glances at Prime and scowls."Yeah, that's all good for the future, but the Chaos Bringer isn't or near here...if he even exists it could millions of vorns before he gets here...we should worry about the Decepticons, rather than phatom Gods." Emirate hmms. "Acting as some form of...beacon if you will," he muses. Whether or not Unicron may have heard is immaterial now. Preparations should be begin regardless." Optimus Prime straightens and peers hard at the Headmaster. "What you say may be true." he pauses, giving a nod towards the Iaconian Resistance Commander. "But it might not be. We have to find a way to begin to prepare for his coming. *All* of us. If Unicron truly is Primus's enemy he will not care whether or not if we are Autobot or Decepticon. He would destroy us both." Grimlock surges to his feet and growls at the back of his throat, turning to the astonished Prime. "Okay, me tell you what you need know stop Unicron. You need Matrix and you - lost- it. Pah, you idiot." With that he abruptly turns and storms towards the exit, his Pretender shell following a pace behind as he passes. He swings round and regards the room with a mixture of exasperation and utter contempt. "Me surrounded by idiots!" he bellows, then turns and storms out. Hardhead grins coldly."Beware of the Choas Bringer Grimlock...." Optimus Prime then stops and watches as the Dinobot storms out of the meeting *he* called before turning towards the Cybertronian Autobot resistance leaders to draw up preperations for what must now be done. Northern Expressway In the days before the Vos-Tarn war, this express route was one of the lesser ones linking Iacon with the northern states. nowadays it is the only one still intact, or at least the only one not shattered or broken by the toll of countless aerial battles. The main express route lies over to the west, reduced to rubble in the opening stages of the third Cybertronian war. It was here that the new commander of the Autobot forces, a young but charismatic officer called Optimus prime, made a last stand against the forces of Megatron. After ordering an Autobot retreat, the bridge was detonated, taking many of the Decepticon infantry and almost Prime and Megatron with it. Thankfully for both sides, their commanders survived that battle, but the express route unfortunately didn't. Kup is just walking along, appearing to be lost in thought.. Optimus Prime wanders over towards the remians of the bridge that had been destoyed almopst an eternity ago. Of course he's on the look out for any sort of Decepticon trouble which may come his way. This is some of what they consider to be their territory. But a part of him would rather not. It would rather just hide away somewhere, never be found. Forget the war, forget everything. But he can't, so he doesn't. Thus, he remains alert. He catches sight of what looks to be another figure. he hides himself so as not to try and cause alarm or attention. Kup, lost in his thoughts, doesn't notice the figure of Prime move into hiding, and just keeps walking, rather oblivious to his surroundings..How un-like Kup.. Optimus Prime doesn't do this in fear. But rather...well, many of the Empties fear Autobots. Either fear or despise. As Optimus watches Kup comes more clearly into view. Neither a vagrant or the enemy. He steps out from where he was an obsevers some moments lkonger. Scorponok arrives from the north. -Skitter Skitter Skitter- Kup pauses, and suddenly looks up as he hears movement, and instinctively reaches for his laser pistol, nearly drawing it before recognizing Prime, and smiling. "Hello, Prime." -Skitter Skitter Skitter Skitter- Scorponok approaches slowly from the north, his sensors picking up a high power signal. . o <> Optimus Prime is by the age-old remains of the demolished bridge, silently watching Kup as he meanders through the area. Of course, it had occcured to him if Kup had seen him he's probably wondering why the Autobot Leader is out here just as much as why Optimus is wondering why the older warrior is here. Alas, he does see him. Optimus makes no movements towards his own weaponry as he nods in greeting. "Kup. How are you fairing?" he asks quietly. Scorponok . o <> Kup glances around, looking for the source of the 'skitter' noises, and sighs quietly.."I'm as well as can be expected, Prime. Old, tired of the war..But other than that, I'm doing just fine. What are you doing way out here?" Zarak's steely gaze remains fixated straight ahead, his form half emerged from Scorponok's hatch, located on his back. Currently, his helmet rests on the armor plating in front of him, as he sits with his chin cupped in one hand, allowing his hair to flow freely in tune with the swaying motion of his binary bonded partner's insectoid gait. At the mental communication, his eyes dart downwards, to the consoles below in his compartment. Wordlessly, he slides inside, pulling his helmet after him. . o <> His fingers fly deftly over the panel, bringing other sensors online. Optimus Prime pans his optics towards the ruined landscape, not yet catching sight of his foe. But, as always, he remains on alert. "It's...been awhile. I just had to see, look for myself is all." Scorponok comes to a rest in his movement towards the signals, letting out a distinct -whoosh- from his legs hydralics systems. He sits there idly, as if waiting for prey, his stinger instintively in it's attack position. . o <> Optimus Prime adds cautiously, "And yourself?" Kup nods, and follows Prime's gaze to the devastated area with another sigh, this one a bit more audible than the last.."Just needed to get away for a bit. Mainly, though, I'm just patrolling the area, though I managed to get lost in my thoughts, and just started wandering." Zarak widebeams the scan for a moment, watching the readouts. Then begins to narrow it down, finally coming up with a pair of blips. . o <> Scorponok . o <> Zarak offers a few more twiddles of a dial. . o <> Scorponok . o <> By Kup's manner and words Optimus is discerning the older warrior wasn't present at the time of meeting so urgently called by his Second-In-Command. In a way, he's relieved. He already feels rather badly for what he had learned and what past actions may cause his fellow Autobots as well as his entire race itself. "Understood. The changes. It's certainly differnt than when the Ark was first launched all those years ago." Kup nods.."Yes, it is. By the way, what was so urgent about that meeting Grimlock called? I didn't recieve the message until just a bit ago." Zarak taps a few more keys, and is rewarded by the flashing red symbol he was expecting.....and hoping for. Already he begins to reach for his helmet. . o <> he mentally states, with a tinge of satisfaction. Optimus Prime perks an optic ridge. "It was a very urgent matter indeed. It is probably best if it be explained once we are back in the base. But not out here." Not with prying optics or audios. Scorponok emits a slight chuckle. o <> Kup nods, and looks around again, suddenly edgy, for some reason.."There's something not right here, Prime. I don't like it. My instincts are telling me we should get out of here.." (I was hoping you'd say that..Hehe..:) Zarak smirks cruelly, his helmet slipping perfectly into place. Now he speaks audibly as he slips out of the hatch. "Indeed." With a loud -thwoosh-, Scorponok's legs kick back into gear, skittering towards the two Autobots. Scorponok approaches slowly his large stinger the first thing that appears over the horizon, oh he's not one for sneaking around, Scorponok's here baby, and he's gonna be loud and obnoixious about it. Zarak has had more than enough experience in riding his charge that he keeps a steady footing during the advance. Perched on Scorponok's head, he chuckles dryly as they begin to come into view. "Prepare Autobots. Scorponok and Zarak would meet with you!" Scorponok . o <> Scorponok . o <> Zarak blinks, narrowing his eyes at the forms. Kup is somewhat recognizable. He's seen bios of the old coot. The other one is even more recognizable, but he's practically unable to believe what he's seeing. . o <> Optimus Prime flickers a glance around, inwardly struggling with something which momenarily hampers his state of wakefulness. He's about to state agreement. However he's jarred back into the present rather rudely with the new arrival making himself, or themselves, known. He soesn't withdraw his rifle but he keeps mental lock on it...even as he sees the interloper. "Indeed." Kup watches Scorponok come up over the rise, and frowns, reaching for his plasma blaster.."I hate being right all the time." Scorponok . o <> *A Hasbro Executive ahems, "On the contrary, after you kill him, we shall ressurect him as an Action Master to milk even more money out of him." Scorponok smashes the Hasbro Executive, "Hush." The Hasbro executive squishes.* Scorponok draws closer to the two autobots as he grates, "Ah.. Optimus Prime, such a pleasant suprise... I don't belive we've been formally introduced..." he suddenly rises up into his robot mode... The large scorpion's tail begins to retract as legs begin to fold out and the large form begins to rise up, the arms fold down as Zarak rises up and attaches to his shoulders, completing the monolithic form of Scorponok' robot mode. Zarak leaps high into the air, folding inwards and becoming........a head. Scorponok lets a malicious smirk dance across his features as he clenches his clawed hands, "... I am Scorpnok, Decepticon Overlord." He narrows his deep sanguin optics on the Autobot Commander, almost unaware of Kup's presence at the moment. Optimus Prime narrows his optics as the intruder draws closer. He glances about him, knowing somehow that there are locals here...empties. They may be unseen at the moment, the civillians scamper when either of the two factions come into sight nowadays. Leaving now would perhaps draw the Decepticon away. But he can't be lead back to base. And fighting here is out of the question. "I see. And what is your purpose here?" He seems largy unimpressed by the Headmaster's title for some reason... Zarak's concousness slips into place with Scorponok's. Though he wastes no time. Taking control of his little half of the merging process, an invisible beam emits from Scorponok's forehead, essentially scanning Optimus over, from feet to blue antennae. Scorponok grates an unsettling chuckle, "This is destined to be my planet, as are all of those within this galaxy, I am merely taking inventory over that which I possess. Now I must ask you Optimus Prime, what you are doing back from the grave." Zarak . o <> Optimus Prime folds his arms over his chest, opticing the newcomers. He also keeps tabs on Kup as well, hoping that he doesn't become a target of this...Decepticon. "Wouldn't you like to know," he states. He's not really in the mood for this. Although, he chides himself to tred carefully. Optimus Prime . o O(Indeed, if my "resurrection" is unknown, are the Powermasters in full also under unheard of?) Kup just stands back and watches, ready for trouble, one hand on his plasma blaster. Scorponok chuckles, "Indeed, such is the response I would expect from the true Optimus Prime..." . o <> Zarak warns, . o <> Optimus Prime nods towards Scorponok in acknowledgement. "And if you believe I am the true Optimus prime you also no I do not take lightly Decepticon presence amongst the inhabitants of this place." Scorponok . o <> Scorponok holds his arms out openly, "I am not causing any type of harm to the area or it's inhabitants, by what basis do you make judgement on my presence here?" he smirks as he narrows his optics, "The matrix seems to have messed with your mind, or maybe it was the death." Zarak falls silent again as he returns to quiet contemplation. Observing. Optimus Prime blinks and strightens as if perhaps some sort of sensative cord had been touched. "I make my basis on the past actions of those who follow the Decepticon creed and feed off it's posion." Kup continues observing this 'meeting' silently, his optics never leaving the form of Scorponok, though he nods in agreement with Prime. Optimus Prime unfolds his arms from his just and rests them at his side. His stance, however, appears tense. Zarak mentally chuckles. Able to read expressions like a book. Even on transformers. . o<> Scorponok laughs, "You judge me by my predecesors? Megatron who wasted his troops in his obesssion with destroying you? Straxus, who's fate was sealed from the begining? Thunderwing the pretender to the throne? HA! They never understood what it meant to be a Decepticon, they didn't see the -true- meaning. I am a mech of honor Optimus Prime, one who seeks peace, through a unified galaxy, under one banner, the Decepticon banner... and -I- shall be the one who sees to it that this ideal is met." Scorponok . o <> Optimus Prime continues looking on sternly. "And those who fail to flock under the banner are met with nothing but destruction." Zarak . o <> Optimus Prime adds, "There is no peace in that. There is only a hollow people that are left." Scorponok bahs, "My aim is not to destroy, but to convert... ruling a kingdom of nothing is pointless, a detail that those before me never understood." Scorponok says, "Only those who openly oppose me, who actively seek to fight against the peace I wish to bring to the galaxy shall be struck down, and even then with temperment. Those who bear your banner tend to fall into that category. I do not ask your understanding Prime, merely your obediance, such is inherit in your group of throwbacks."" Optimus Prime gestures around him to the barran wasteland as if that's all the evidence that needs to be shown of the legacy the Decepticon 'empire' has wrought. "Your way is not of peace, Scorponok. It is slavery. Slavery of the worst kind." He clenches his hands into fists, attempting to restrain himself. "You ask for my obediance. But yours is a master that shoukd *never* be served by *anyone*" Kup watches the rapidly deteriorating situation, and tightens his grip on his plasma blaster, praying that it doesn't come to a fight, but being prepared nonetheless.. Scorponok chuckles, "Perhaps my words did not reach your vocalizers, or maybe you chose not to listen to them, perhaps someone else may be able to persuade you..." Scorponok begins to shift, fold, and contort as numerous sounds of grinding and gears working can be heard, within a few seconds his body begins to take the form of an assault base. The head snaps open, revealing Zarak's humanoid form. Optimus Prime's stance slightly falters as the Decepticon's human partner is revealed. The revalation suddely strikes him with full force, allowing the suprise to be visible upon his features. He recognizes the armor as that of one who has gone through a process simular to the one his fellow Autobots had undergone. "A human?" Zarak snaps upwards as his binary partner assumes his more stationary mode. He pauses in mid-air, flight systems managing to keep him aloft. Deliberately, and with no fear, he begins to approach Prime, on an eye to optic level. His vast intellect calls upon every scrap that he's studied of the once dead Autobot Leader. "Slavery.....Optimus Prime?" he grates, his voice taking a taunting edge. "Much...like you feared would happen to all humankind at one time? Much has changed while you've been gone I am afraid." his arms cross over his chest, as he comes -very- close to Prime's faceplate. "Megatron once saw fit to rule us as slaves.....yes. But Scorponok has a much broader view. He has believed in the harmony of working together. Humankind, and cybertronian, for a better whole." his arms move in an outward gesture. "Do I appear....a slave to you?" Optimus Prime is stunned speechless. he's been informed that the Decepticons have partken in the various binary-bonding processes, much like hius fellow Autobot who stands with him...indeed, even Optimus himself. But for a human to binary-bond to the Decepticon *leader*. "For a better whole?" he manages after regaining his voice. Although now it sounds somewhat weak. "I somehow very much doubt this." Scorponok emits a chuckle, "Is there something caught in your throat Prime? You sound... meek." Optimus Prime shakes his head in order to clear it. The implications he has been recieving this evening thus far are staggering to say the least! At the Decepticon's taunt he shifts his stance once more. "You're alliance will not avial you," he says to the human. "I don't believe you know what you may have done." Zarak inwardly smirks. The weakness in Prime's voice is merely a catalyst for him to continue in this. He has only dreamed of moments like this before, and suddenly..it's a reality. Ever so slowly, he floats around Prime's shoulder, to the side of his face. "A better whole.....yes." he admits. "Is it a crime, that I wish to see humanity advance? For us to reach towards the stars? We humans do not have the long lifespan of your species I'm afraid. Like a flickering flame, we are gone in a hearbeat. I wish for my species to grow, to expand. To learn more." It's now that both his face and his voice twist into a harder edge. "My people approached you at one time Optimus. We requested that you share your knowledge with us....in the vain hopes that your 'friendship' was genuine. But no. You turned us down. You said we were not ready for such." he raises a clenched fist, now floating back to a face to face view with Prime. "HOW would you know!? Can you claim to understand humans so easily? You would not even give us a chance! No Prime...you were just as bad as Megatron ever was. And while you disillusioned yourself with the fact that you fought to keep us from falling into Slavery. Or so you thought." he floats backwards slightly again, motioning to the Decepticon nearby. "But now...it is the Decepticons...the very ones who you claim are the enemy, who have extended their hands to us. We have only to accept, and we shall learn from them." again his arms return to being crossed over his chest. "Is it a crime...." he repeats. "...to want to advance?" Optimus Prime shakes his head. "No, wanting to advance in itself is not a crime. But choosing on how to do so, the means, and the reasons *are*. If the Autobots had freely given technology whatever chaos which ensued afterwords due to that action would have been our responsibility. You're race, as all others, needs to expand and and grow at its own rate, not excell by some outside force." He turns towards Scorponok's seeminly inert form. "What have the both of you done?" Zarak's composure actually slips for a moment. "WHO MADE YOU JUDGE OF OUR DESTINY!!?" he practically roars in Prime's face. Scorponok chuckles, "By the looks of it Optimus, the same thing you ha.." he falls silent as Zarak snaps, finding the human's enthusiasm and warriors spirit impressive. Zarak says, "WHO gave you the authority to make decisions for us!? Who ASKED you to take that mantle!?" Optimus Prime is forced silent by the demand. He's sometimes pondered this himself. He optics the human. Instead of answering directly he asks this: "And what are your reasons for wanting so badly to advance with the technology we have developed?" Zarak's eyes practically flash with fury. Frustration festers deep, mixing with the sheer rage and hatred for the form before him. The fact that he cannot simply reach out and seize Prime by the throat infuriates him all the more. "Because Prime...." his voice lowers to a sense of calm again, though it quivers slightly, as he must fight to restrain himself. "...humankind has ALWAYS advanced. We have always desired to go beyond the station that we are at. It is who we are as a species. It is no secret that your race is more advanced than mine." he pauses, catching a breath, still struggling with himself. "But you deceived us. You stated that you intended only friendship, but you were content to leave us festering in our own frustration. Frustration that you would not share with us the glorious works that your kind had invented. Your -death-..." and he emphasizes on that word, letting it trace. "....and that of Megatron were the best things that ever happened. It removed those who would hinder us.......and allow those who would help us take the forefront." Optimus Prime continues to rest his gaze on the tiny figure as he fires accusation and accusation against him and all he holds dear. He allows the human to speak however before he returns a reply. "Deception was neither intended nor given. Freindship was offered and was the intended goal and still is. And a trait of such a one who holds concern for not only the short term effects but also the long term. Can you honestly say that *no* harm would come to your people if they were given what they themselves did not know? Those who attempt to use such 'gifts' choose to use them to harm rather than help their own. It's been proven within human history as well as ours." At this he casts another glance towards Sporknok and then back to Zarak. "How is humanity better now than it was then?" Zarak growls, slowly beginnign to float backwards again, towards Scorponok's form. "Human history is BASED around advances being created to harm others Prime. And you are a fool to think that you can prevent it from happening again. There are those who have tried before you, and failed. They have all failed, as will you. Only then will you see the folley of your endeavor. Humanity now has a hope that had been stomped out by your faction. But it has now been rekindled." Now, he floats over Scorponok's frame. "I would suggest that you remain here on Cybertron Prime. Your kind are not wanted back on Earth. We only welcome those who intend their friendship in earnest." Zarak leaps high into the air, folding inwards and becoming........a head. The assault base begins to contract as many of the weapon emplacements begin to fade into subspace. Zarak leaps up and attaches to the empty shoulders of the large husk as the monolithic visage of Scorponok's robot mode takes shape. Scorponok smiles as his head attaches, "Perhaps now Prime, you understand, maybe now you see what harm you have caused to the people of earth." Optimus Prime furrows his brows as he watches his enemies bond watch more, doing nothing to stop them. "Neither of you speak for the entire human race. There are those who will resist you both. And we Autobots will be there to defend them." Scorponok points to Prime's chest, "And as for your arguement, it seems you have washed yourself in hypocracy, you yourself brought the humans directly into this war, something you always claimed you didn't want. Then, why, praytell, did you let the war rekindle there? Why did you not simply let Megatron have the planet, instead of drawing more and more innocents into the fray?" Zarak's anger flickers, mixing with his partner's consciousness. Needless to say, the past few moments have been very taxing upon him. One of the few times he's actually let his emotions run rampant. Scorponok chuckles, "That much -is- true Optimus Prime, but for how long, that is uncertain." he turns sideways as if to leave, "Let your mind ponder over what I, and Lord Zarak have said, and perhaps you will be ready to accept the guilt of your crimes." Scorponok smiles, "I worry not for the human race anymore, they now have the tools to create and destroy, in order to pave their way to a better existance. It is our race that is stagnant, our race that still fixates itself on this rediculous war of realism against fantasy." Optimus Prime stares at the two who are now one, clenching hsis fists tighter than what they had been before. But he maintains his restraints even as their words seep their claws into the chasms of his own guilt and remorse over past actions. "Enough," he states in a mysterious calm. "The future is not yet chosen, nor is it fixed. We shall see what path it takes." Scorponok chuckles as he turns his back to Prime, begining to walk away, "Indeed we shall Prime..." he pauses, and half turns, narrowing his optics at Prime as he draws his lips into a stern look, "We shall see..." Scorponok kneels down a bit then launches himself into the air, flying off. Scorponok moves to the west. Optimus Prime remains standing where he is, watching his nemisis take leave. "That we shall..." he whispers...his words trailing. =============================== Message: 8/5 Posted Author Current Situation Fri Jun 11 Optimus Prime-C ------------------------------------------------------------ Fellow Autobots, I have distressing news to give you. For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting that Grimlock had called earlier this evening I will summerize. Several months ago, in the midst of teleportation between here on Cybertron and on the Ark, Jazz, Bumblebee, and Grimlock who had been recently revived by our friend and comrade Ratchet *he pauses to sigh* were taken into the heart of Cybertron where they had met the keeper of Primus. They were told Primus's enemy, a being known as Unicron who once devoured all of creation. We were created as a last line of defense against this enemy. To keep his whereabouts secret, Primus has been "sleeping", Unfortunately, Primus himself was accidently awakened during their visit when three pursuing Decepticons arrived. Although Primus returned to his rest soon after his wakening may have allowed Unicron to know of his whereabouts... Where does this leave us? I know for many of you what I have just told you is very difficult to accept. And yet, we have no choice. It is true. And whether or not Unicron was alerted by Primus's wakefullness is immaterial. We must prepare for his coming regardless. How may we do this? The Keeper told the three we could defeat him as one race. The civil war prevented that from happening for so long. A second way was with the use of Primus's essence contained within the Creation Matrix. *at this there's a signifigent pause* However, I fear, at the moment that is not a possible choice. While on Earth before I was rebuilt and reformed, the Autobots there had taken my former self and, in accordance with Cybertronian customs, disposed of the body into space. With it they also, unkowingly, disposed of the Matrix as well. They did not know the Matrix was a tangible object. And for that, I bear the blame. Currently Emirate Xaaron as well as his advisors, and ours, are conferring on what action to take. As to our stay on Cybertron itself, with these new developments, you will be kept posted. For now, continue with your current assignments. That is all. ==============================