Log edited with Logedit 2.6.9pl on Wed Sep 24 10:50:59 EDT 1997

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You move northward to the underground lake... 
Underground Lake(#4677 Rnt) 

Ultra Magnus's footsteps are heard coming down the cavern. 
Rodimus Prime is sitting on a small ledge by the side of the lake, hunched 
  over with one elbow against his knee, the other hand trailing ripples 
  absently in the water. 
Ultra Magnus notices Rodimus sitting by the lake and slowly walks toward 
  him. He calmly calls out, sending an echo through the walls of the 
  chamber, "Hello there, Rodimus." 
Rodimus Prime turns his head to look over absently, not showing any visible 
  sign of startlement. "Hey," he responds simply. 
Ultra Magnus steps beside his friend and motions to his side. "Mind if I 
  join you?" he asks in a calm voice. 
Rodimus Prime tilts his head to one side in silent response, waving his dry 
  hand out to the side in acquiescence. 
Ultra Magnus lumbers clumsily to the ground as he sits down. He looks out 
  over the ripples of the water and begins to speak, "You should know how 
  extremely uncomfortable I am in light of what you have confided to 
  me...I-I just don't know how to react." 
Rodimus Prime flicks a sideways glance at Magnus. "I'm none too comfortable 
  with the idea of dying, either." 
Ultra Magnus slowly turns his head to look at Rodimus. "I'm not too 
  concerned with that actually happening, to be honest," he says. "I think 
  you're just being paranoid...however, the change of events here on Earth 
  have cast our situation in a dramatically different light than how it has 
  been viewed in the past. It adds a degree of ...bleakness... to our view 
  of the near future." 
Rodimus Prime scowls. "This has nothing to do with me being depressed." 
Ultra Magnus looks directly at Rodimus, then sharply turns his head back to 
  gaze over the water. 
Rodimus Prime sits up, planting a hand against his knee as he turns to face 
  Magnus fully. "It wouldn't lie to me, Ultra Magnus." 
Ultra Magnus says calmly, "So you're absolutely positive this is something 
  that came from the Matrix itself?" 
Rodimus Prime says, "Well, where else is it going to come from?" He catches 
  his defensive tone and levels his voice carefully. "Yeah, pretty sure." 
Ultra Magnus lets out a sigh as he turns back to Rodimus. "What am I 
  supposed to do if the premonition comes true?" he asks. "You know how I 
  feel about ...leading." 
Rodimus Prime says earnestly, "I also know you're good at it. Look, believe 
  me, I hope it doesn't come to that, but I don't want there to be any 
  question if... if it does." 
Ultra Magnus stammers, obviously extremely uncomfortable. "I-I am a 
  military leader, Rodimus. Politics, diplomacy...I can handle that kind of 
  stuff. However, I think we all found out a few years ago just how 
  incapable I am to lead the Autobots on my own. I almost...almost caused 
  us to lose everything." 
Rodimus Prime quietly shifts his mental focus, almost uncannily naturally, 
  his tone softening as he reaches out to rest a hand on Magnus' shoulder. 
  "You can," he states quietly. "What happened that week... that wasn't 
  because of any failing of yours. No one could've done what you expected 
  of yourself." 
Ultra Magnus shakes his head emphatically. "No, Rodimus," he says, "The 
  fact of the matter is that I cannot. I failed once, and I cannot allow my 
  actions to place the Autobots again in any sort of jeopardy." He leans 
  back slightly, propping himself with his arms, "I appreciate your 
  confidence in me, but I just don't share it." 
Rodimus Prime grins slightly. "Then why're you my XO? You handle Earth fine 
  -- better than I could." 
Ultra Magnus frowns. "Up until very recently," he says, "the job of 
  handling things on Earth was more concerned with our relations to the 
  humans. That aspect of command has practically been thrown out the 
  window...I can easily take the approach that gave me success on 
  Cybertron..." His voice trails off before he continues several moments 
  later, "...but I just can't bring myself to act against those who were 
  our greatest allies just a few months ago." 
Rodimus Prime says, "We're not going to." 
Ultra Magnus says calmly, "What are we supposed to do? For once, I don't 
  have much to offer for a plan...I haven't been forced to alleviate such 
  an intense turn of events. We've lost wwhat was our greatest strength 
  against the Decepticons."" 
Rodimus Prime says simply, "We stay and help. We do what we can to protect 
  the planet and its citizens. As long as there's one human left who still 
  believes in personal freedom, we're not going to abandon them." 
Ultra Magnus nods his head. "I agree with you entirely on that," he says 
  with a smile, "but I just can't be the one to lead the Autobots. I've 
  also held the burden of leadership, albeit briefly." 
That player is already on that channel. 
Connected players on that channel are: 
Scourge, Ultra Magnus, Airwolf, Rodimus Prime, Caern, Chikome-Ollin, 
  Soundwave, Nightbird 
Rodimus Prime says, "Hey, I didn't want to, either, but you wouldn't let me 
  back out. You can do it." He lowers his tone, "You're the only one who 
  can do it."" 
Ultra Magnus's voice grows apprehensive, "On the contrary, I think you 
  would be much better off placing your confidence in someone else..." He 
  turns his head to look away. "I'm sorry." 
Rodimus Prime says, "Who? Kup? Can you seriously see that?" 
Ultra Magnus says calmly, "No, I cannot...he's all-soldier." 
Rodimus Prime says, "Well, that leaves you. Get used to it," he smiles to 
  take the edge off his words. "We're talking about extreme measures, 
  anyway. But you know the Autobots can't afford to be left in confusion 
  now." 
Ultra Magnus nods his head. "You're right," he conceeds. "You can count on 
  me to do my best...I just hope it's more fruitful than ...last time." 
Rodimus Prime briefly considers saying, "Well, it couldn't be much worse," 
  but only very briefly. 
Rodimus Prime decides on a more diplomatic approach. "You could do it," he 
  says, his voice entirely sincere. "If you had to. I know you would. 
  Besides," he grins, trying to lighten the mood, "You couldn't possibly 
  run things any more slipshod than me." 
A smirk breaks across Ultra Magnus's dreary mood. "Depends on the 
  perspective, I suppose..." he says. 
Rodimus Prime smirks. "Who's perspective?" 
Ultra Magnus says calmly, "Any of those who consistently argue that I'm not 
  'fun.'" 
Rodimus Prime chuckles. "So being 'fun' is a good thing now? That's not 
  what you tried to drill into me before." 
Ultra Magnus shakes his head, "No, it's still not befitting for a commander 
  to be lighthearted. Sterness makes for better obedience and following of 
  orders. I'm just saying I'm too often criticized for being good at what I 
  do as city commander." 
Rodimus Prime prods Magnus in the upper arm. "So why're you so insistent 
  that I be the commander, then?" he teases. "You know I'm never going to 
  give in to the paperwork." 
Ultra Magnus half-playfully thrusts his arm to thump solidly against 
  Rodimus's chest. "It's not my decision," he responds. 
Ultra Magnus slowly gathers himself to his feet. He places a hand on 
  Rodimus's shoulder. "Let us hope for all our sakes that the Matrix was 
  wrong," he says. "The events from a few months ago were a lesson to us 
  about what knowledge of the future brings..." he pauses, "...the gift of 
  an opportunity to prevent it." Straightening his stance as he finishes 
  standing, he adds, "You know I'll do what I can, Rodimus, but you know 
  noone hopes more than I that it doesn't come to that." 
Rodimus Prime nods quietly, forcing a smile. "I'm not really partial to the 
  idea myself," he manages a note of humor. "I'm not giving up." 
Ultra Magnus nods his head toward Rodimus. "That never ever entered my 
  thought circuits," he says with a grin. "Anyhow, I should go try to help 
  get things moving with the relocation of materials from Metroplex. 
  ...I'll see you later, I guess?" 
Rodimus Prime smiles a bit more naturally. "Of course. Who else is crazy 
  enough to try to supervise something like that?" 
Ultra Magnus chuckles and wave to Rodimus. "Of course..." he says as he 
  turns around and walks down the tunnel. 

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