Welcome to Two Sides to a Coin! This blog is devoted to answering questions regarding this work and expanding upon the AU we have put forward. Please feel free to ask questions of us or pretty much any character! Unlisted characters are still able to answer questions! Those listed are merely characters whose availability will not change.
Hello and welcome to the official ask blog for the Two Sides to a Coin Transformers Prime AU created by @lets-try-some-writing and @spreadwardiard.
Asks:
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-Asks can be directed toward any listed character and can be related to anything. Being mean to the characters is hilarious so please feel free to go nuts, but donβt be needlessly cruel. Mundane questions are also perfectly fine, they are fun to answer.Β
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-Feel free to ask for more commentary from a character if you find them appealing. We will be swapping characters available for questioning periodically. Knowing which ones you like will help us decide who to put forward.Β
Hey Megatron, itβs Hush. I donβt have a lot of time to say all the stuff I need to, but Iβll tell you what I can.
Iβve been recalled for a mandatory memory wipe. I had no choice in the matter. I turned against my order and they were not pleased. I tried to refuse to command, but they threatened your Conjunx, and I couldnβt allow that. I know you keep him safe and that they likely wouldnβt succeed, but I donβt want innocent lives to be lost or for you to be painted as even more of a villain after you inevitably kill a few agents sent to frag things up. Youβve done nothing wrong since the war ended and I donβt want you to have to go and do things you donβt want to. You are happy with Orion Pax, and I simply wonβt risk things ruining that.
So Iβll be heading back to headquarters, and when I return, I wonβt be me anymore. Not this new me anyway. There will be no Melody. There will be no more conversations or any of that. There wonβt be any quiet nights in the garden or tea parties once a deca-cycle. I donβt know how you feel about me, Megatron. Butβ¦ Iβve cherished every moment (minus the first few deca-cycles where I was afraid you were going to murder me).Β
Iβm sorry Iβm leaving like this, although I know you probably wonβt miss being spied on all the time. I donβt know if Iβll be back or even if Iβll still be alive in a few cycles. Depends on what the Chaplain decides to do with me after the wipe finishes. If it isnβt too much trouble, could you give this to Orion? This note should be attached to a little box with a few of my favorite knitted things. They are tiny, so donβt worry about putting them somewhere. You can even chuck them if you like.
And in the event that I do come back, Iβve also attached a chip. It contains a backup of all my memory since I started this mission observing you. Just leave it in my vent if I return. Younger me is a bit of an idiot so Iβll probably connect up to it regardless if you write a note saying something like βimportant dataβ on it.Β
Yeah. I guess this is my goodbye of sorts. Thanks for not murdering me and for being so nice to me. Thank you for sharing your work with me, for teaching me (although I am sure it was tedious sometimes). It has meant the world and Iβm sorry I couldnβt do more for you to get the Guard off your back. My only suggestion is to cover your vents and check all of Orionβs fuel if I donβt return. I canβt guarantee the Guard wonβt try something.
Well, thatβs about it I suppose. Thanks again for everything.
Chaplain P-059:Β Hush, you are to return, effective immediately.Β
Inquisitor H-0023:Β No. Iβm not moving. Not until I am allowed to speak to Smokescreen.
Chaplain P-059:Β Have you forgotten your duties, Hush? Your disrespect is baffling. You were sent to observe Megatron for a reason, and it seems that just like every other unfortunate spark to have interacted with him, you have been tainted.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β Tainted my aft. Megatron has done nothing wrong since the war ended. In fact, heβs opened my fragging optics and shown me the truth. His ideals are more pure than ours could ever be!
Chaplain P-059:Β I will give you one opportunity to retract that statement and return to headquarters quietly for a mandatory memory wipe. Failure to comply will result in you being labeled a traitor and forcefully removed, if not executed.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β You and all your little agents can frag all the way off. I am staying here until I can speak with Smokescreen. I canβt trust the rest of you. Not after all Iβve found.
Chaplain P-059:Β This is not a request, Hush. You will return, or you will be punished.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β Then so be it. Shred me if thatβs what you feel like doing. But do know that the moment you do, Megatron will know and you will have pits to pay for it later.
Chaplain P-059:Β Megatron has not exhibited a willingness to revive his movement. Your absence will be negligible in the grand scheme of things.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β Maybe. Maybe not. But this is a choice I am making for myself. Iβm staying here and I will be shooting any guardsmech who come near.
Chaplain P-059:Β Very well. I did not wish to use this tactic, but if you are going to be stubborn, then let it be so.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β What?
Chaplain P-059:Β If you do not return for a complete memory wipe within the next two cycles, an agent will be deployed and Orion Pax will fall ill. He will not die, but we will ensure he remains in critical condition until you comply.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β But the Prime ordered that Orion Pax be left alone.
Chaplain P-059:Β And he will be, once you obey.
Inquisitor H-0023:Β You are an absolute slagger.
Chaplain P-059:Β Return, sister. We will make this right.
Sir? Iβve sent a dozen small reports and I havenβt gotten slag back from you. What is going on? Why arenβt you responding? Every file reads as having been seen but you havenβt responded once, even to sensitive information. Iβve gone through every protocol. Why arenβt you looking? I donβt understand.
Iβve done everything right! Iβve sent all my reports, Iβve been loyal, Iβve followed every order! Why arenβt you listening to me? What did I do wrong? My concerns are serious and time sensitive. And now I have over a dozen Inquisitors staking out this location, all of them trying to get my attention. Iβve refused to leave the property, but they are getting closer every single cycle and it has been a fight to keep Orion from noticing. Has the Guard given up on subtlety? If so, Megatron will hear about this and he will NOT be happy. Iβm saving your afts by getting these spies of the property! What is wrong with you mecha?
You arenβt even reading my reports, are you? In the beginning you showed so much concernβ¦ but now you donβt seem to care. That is very uncharacteristic of you, Smokescreen. Unlessβ¦ itβs not your reading these. You havenβt been reading my reports for a long time now, have you?
I knew there was something going on. The Decepticon codex outlines this kind of slag and I know for a fact that the Guard is corrupt now. So listen up, third party observer.
Whoever you are, let me tell you a little something.
Iβm not moving from this spot. Iβm not letting you hurt these mecha I have come to care so much about. Iβm not going to report to you. Iβm not going to give you anything else. If you want to come and get information, you can drag it out of my cold dead corpse. If you can even do that, considering youβve refused to use the memory retrieval methods theΒ Decepticon medical filesΒ have outlined. Frag off with your little games. And just for the record, all those Inquisitors youβve been sending? Yeah, Iβve been getting rid of them one at a time.
Most of them have been wise enough to comply with my demands for them to leave. But there was one who got too close. I remember he trained with me. But I still shot him straight between the optics when he got too close to my targets. Iβll do it again if needed. Iβm not afraid, not now that I can see the lies the Guard has been feeding us. You donβt want to better Cybertron. You arenβt even serving our Prime. Whoever is in charge of this is manipulating the Guard into doing their bidding, and I have a feeling I might know who that person is.
Hereβs the deal. Iβm going to stay right here and shoot anyone with the badge of the Elite Guard who comes within viewing distance of this residence. Unless Head Guardsmech Smokescreen starts communicating with me again to work out the numerous issues I have observed, I am going to assume the Guard is hostile.
This is my warning, and I am not afraid to act on it.
Smokescreen, are you getting my reports? Iβve sent five additional files and the registry says youβve seen them, but you havenβt left any notes or sent me any mission details. Is something wrong? I understand if I came off as rude a few reports ago. I wasnβt trying to be antagonistic, I swear! I was just making a point! Please donβt view me poorly. I was simply attempting to inform you of the situation.
If you are just busy dealing with the information Iβve sent over, please leave me a note. Iβm getting worried. I know you are alive since I saw you on the news the other cycle, but if you are in any danger, Iβm here. I donβt know how I can help, but if you alert me I can do something! I have Megatron right here! Justβ¦ Please get back to me soon. I have more data and Iβm unsettled. I keep seeing more Inquisitors around as of late. Why are there more Inquisitors? Iβve had to shoo two away from the hab in the past stellar-cycle and I know there are at least a few others who have set up shop nearby with snipers.
Is Orion in danger? Is that why there are so many of my fellows here? Why wonβt they talk to me about the mission details? If it relates to Megatron in any capacity I should be made aware. How in Primusβs name am I meant to keep collecting data if I get my cover blown in front of Orion? Just a few cycles ago I found an InquisitorΒ scoping out the area with a scanner. I had to actively stop Megatron from killing the poor mech and I went out to deal with it instead.
Seriously, if there isnβt a reason for the Inquisitors to be here, get them the frag off my property. This is my mission location and I donβt need the extra stress of having a bunch of posers hanging around making Orion nervous. Heβs been on edge for deca-cycles now and has had more frequent night terrors because of it. Do you know how upsetting it is to see myΒ friendΒ so fidgety because Guardsmecha are following him back from the Archives whenever Megatron isnβt with him? Get themΒ away from Orion and Megatronβs hab.Β I swear Iβm going to start shooting at the fraggers if this continues.
Yes, I am aware they are also part of the Guard. No. I donβt care. If I can stop needless death, I will. Because at this point, my priority is keeping Orion and Megatron safe. I donβt know whatβs going on back with the Guard, but I donβt trust it. I trustΒ you,Β Smokescreen. But I have to be honestβ¦ even that has been a bit tenuous recently. Please just get back to me soon with an update. Otherwise I am not moving an inch from the property. Iβve already refused to go anywhere unless with Orion or Megatron, so believe me when I say Iβm staying put.
I guess information wise, Iβve picked up a few more things. Iβm not going to repeat everything Orion has begun to tell me, mainly because itβs personal for him and Iβm not a glitch. But in essence, Alpha Trion was known to blackmail. Orion never saw much of it, but based on his recollection, it sounds a great deal like the slag the Guard does to get mecha to do what they want. I donβt know if weβve ever operated on a grand scale, but itβs suspicious. The tactics are lining up too well and Iβm concerned.
Additionally, Iβve gleaned a bit of information about our Prime. I was eavesdropping this time, not actually talking to Orion. But he was venting to Megatron about some ads he saw andβ¦ Smokescreen, I have to ask. Was our Prime evenβ¦ real? Orion has been saying that the MatrixΒ madeΒ him. And yeah I know the Matrix makes Primes, which might I add should NOT be restricted information in the archive. Yes, I saw that the data is all butchered. Why does it still list Optimus and Orion Pax as the same person? They obviously arenβt and thereβs propaganda in official documentation about the Matrix choosing Primes over making them. Feels like an attempt to make light of the situation and I donβt like it. But getting back on topic, the way Orion describes it makes it sound like Optimus wasnβt really operating freely. Something about Optimus not listening and not comprehending widely known information.
Isnβt that odd? I donβt really have a lot to say about it because I wasnβt there or trapped inside another mechβs frame for four million years, but things arenβt adding up. According to the records, old Primes came into being with a full understanding of their world, and more importantly, there wasnβt any of this whole angry other half stuff going on. Why was Optimus different? I donβt know if it means anything, but much like any new creation, I do imagine Primes can also be manipulated.
You should look into it. See if someone had their digits in our Primeβs development. It may lead somewhere. If you wonβt look for Orion, then look for yourself. I heard you cared deeply for the Prime while he lived.
Also, I think you should look into the medical system a bit. There have been a few inconsistencies with Orionβs medication and I worry that Ratchet may be acting up. First Aid hasnβt come for tea in deca-cycles and me and Orion are a little concerned. Oh, and for the record, the garden is growing well enough that weβve had a local HOA on our afts about it. Can you get them to can it? Iβve been intercepting their hate mail before Megatron or Orion can read it, but if that doesnβt get sorted I will be alerting someone or getting rid of the issue myself. I am not letting Orionβs garden get HOAβd while Iβm still up an operating. Primus, Iβve heard some horror stories from the bots at the florists shop a few blocks over about the fraggingΒ HOA.
Aside from all thatβ¦ Iβm only further integrating into Orion and Megatronβs lives. Megatron lets me actively come sit with him while he writes poetry and rants now. I help him check his spelling, although sometimes I think he just likes watching my reactions as he recites his work. Occasionally he even asks me to get into the vent for βold times sakeβ while he goes over his poem. I think heβs just a bit uncomfortable being stared at so much. Either that or heβs fragging with me. Regardless, itβs quite pleasant, and I make tea for us when I can. Iβm not as good as Orion and I doubt I ever will be, but I try.
For the record, I know it sounds like I spend every single cycle just looming in the background of their lives, but Iβm actually only present sometimes. Well, at least noticeably. I make it a point to only come out and interact during my βworkingβ joors or when we have tea with First Aid. That way it doesnβt seem too suspicious. Not that my absence stops Megatron from bothering me though. Sometimes I actually am trying to get a little me time and do some knitting in my little cubby and Megatron will come bang on the vent a few times to get me to spell check his work.
I know enough Kaoni from his poetry to probably get a degree in it.Β
And as if that werenβt enough, sometimes he just bangs on the vent to mess with me. I donβt know if heβs lonely or not, but maybe it's the visor. I know he had Soundwave around all the time back during the war, so maybe the faceless thing is familiar to him. Whatever the case, he likes to send me on pointless missions. But I have been refusing as of late for the aforementioned reasons and because of those fragging Inquisitors.
Iβm nervous, Smokescreen. Carnage has helped a lot and done a great deal of searching on the outside for me, butβ¦ Iβm starting to think someone is targeting me. Did you give the order for my forceful return? Because if so, Iβm still not going. Not until my concerns are addressed and at least one fragging Decepticon file is made public. Thank you very much.
Iβll keep up my reports for now. But again, it would make me far less upset if you just responded to me at least once.
Hey Smokescreen. Iβve found out a great deal over the past stellar-cycleβ¦ and I think we have a real problem on our servos. Just, work with me here as I try to explain it all. Iβll work down the chain of stuff I think is important.
I was doing as you asked and looking into Alpha Trion, and Iβve found some things out. Although before I begin, I will say Iβve found exactly nothing about that doctor. Heβs up and vanished again so Iβd drop it if I were you. From what I heard, this something or other Wire guy killed one of the mechs trying to track him. A guardsmech too, might I add. If you sent that poor spark outβ¦ Well, I found their body dumped into a ditch a few miles away from my current location. Iβd stay out of that Doctorβs way. He seems to not want to be found. And please, if you even give a frag about us, stop sending Inquisitors younger than me out on these sorts of missions. According to the Decepticon codex, no mech younger than twenty vorns should be anywhere near the front lines for a plethora of medical reasons, and that poor Inquisitor in the ditch was hardly five. Donβt let the younger ones get involved with this. I know it is their duty, but they deserve better.
Additionally, it has come to my attention that the Primal Steward is straight up nuts. First Aid came back to us on the brink of tears last deca-cycle. Doctor Ratchet is apparently on the edge of nose diving straight into some sort of breakdown and it does not comfort me in the slightest. He said it looked like a nervous reaction, something Ratchet couldnβt control. I am dead serious when I say heΒ needsΒ a Doctor, Smokescreen. Poor First Aid is losing his mind over all this. Canβt you do anything to help? I may not be Ratchetβs biggest fan after all heβs done to Orion, but even I can tell that mech isnβt doing all of this with a sound mind.
Regarding Carnageβ¦ nevermind. I donβt think you need to know about him. Simply put, Iβve experienced some frame changes. Having Carnage around has made my life make more sense. I also had a talk with Megatron after I ended up being unable to keep my sensory panels down after he dropped a plate. I was freaking out over it because, you knowβ¦ my processor is literally exposed in the back when that happens and I get so much visual data I donβt know what to do. He didnβt get mad or anything, he just sat me down at the table and passed me a new visor and told me to put it on. A full facial visor, battle worthy too from my assessment of it. I did as he asked and the moment I had it on, it connected to my sub-sensory systems. I can actually control what I am seeing now.
With the visor the world is a lot easier to handle, and even Orion seemed happy for me. I was able to control how and when I flare my sensory panels. I could even control my extra optics for once. I know it doesnβt mean a lot to you, but Iβve never been able to operate normally and that visor meant the world to me. It has made a lot of things better, but more importantly to me at any rate, the dust doesnβt bother me nearly as much. And on top of that, helping Megatron search out typos in his poetry is far easier. Our poem production time has gone down exponentially, thank Primus. I can only handle so much of that when Orion is gone.
On another note, Orion bought the land the engraverβs hab was on. Heβs hired a crew to go and build something or other in that area. He didnβt share the plans and Megatron keeps giving me this knowing look rather than actually explaining anything. The garden is growing well and I actually feel proficient in my work now. Everything is going according to mine and Orionβs outlined plans and things areβ¦ theoretically quiet.
Β It has been storming a lot as of late, and I ended up getting sick for a while. It was the worst when the date night I mentioned last report actually occurred. I really did my best to help Megatron prepare for it, I even took some meds I nabbed from the pharmacy nearby. But it was rough, Smokescreen. I got to help Megatron cook a strange dish I cannot pronounce the name of, and it tasted delightful of course. Hereβs the recipe if you like. I zipped it for your convenience.Β
[Kaoni_dishes_that_I_like.zip]
As I was saying, I was super out of it that night. I did what I could, but my vision was blurry even with the visor. I couldnβt see straight and it felt like all my sensory sub-routines were out of sorts. Carnage tried to convince me to not help since my vision was so bad, but in the end he served as my guide throughout the night. He was my optics throughout the cycle, at least until my tactile sensors began acting up as well. I felt like every little thing was so much moreβ¦ there? Even the ground beneath my pedes suddenly felt so hard that it hurt my legs. I must have been down on my firewall updates because by the time I retreated into my hole in the wall to let Megatron and Orion have their date night, I could hardly move far enough in to close the vent cover. I must have passed out at some point because the next thing I remembered was being pulled out by Megatron of all mecha.
I had no clue what time it was, where I was, or what was going on. I just recall being gently laid down somewhere soft and having my visor lifted enough for energon to be poured down my throat. It got bad enough that I remember being too overwhelmed to even vent properly. But at some point, I must have gotten well enough to sit up because my next real memory is of sitting in the garden all curled up late at night, my sensory panels fully flared.Β
Why am I mentioning this at all? Because I got mouthy when I was sick, and while I was out there in the garden, me and Orion talked. He had⦠a lot to say after I said my piece. And I think you really need to start checking out our ranks, Smokescreen. Something is off. But anyway, our conversation went something like this:
βIt is very lonely living this way. Always serving, never experiencing.β
βAre the working conditions here not to your liking? If so, I am terribly sorry, Melody.β
βNo. I love working here. I love living here most of the timeβ¦ but I have mecha who expect me to serve them since they took me in. Without them, I would probably have starved to death vorns ago.β
βYou are an orphan?β
βNo. My caretaker got rid of me after my optics became a problem. The Guar-, excuse me. My organization took me in after they found me wandering the streets. It was a chance at a better lifeβ¦ all in exchange for my service.β
βAre you running from them? Is that why you have no residence?β
βIβ¦ I donβt know. I donβt know if I can run from themβ¦ but I care about this place. I care about you and Megatron. You are the only bots who have treated me well. Like a real person.β
βI will not pry, but do know I understand your struggles to a degree. My Sire took me in from the wilds when I was just a sparkling. But he was a very strict mech.β
βYou were brought up in the archives, right?β
βBy the one and only Alpha Trion, the Master Archivist. He had plans for me that I never fully deciphered, so he raised me in relative isolation. I was forbidden to engage in anything that did not meet his standards. Including but not limited to most forms of leisure or potentially dangerous activity.β
βAt least he cared about you.β
βI like to believe he didβ¦ but my life was cultivated to his vision. Even my friends were brought in by him. Ratchet, my oldest friend, was my physician long before he became my associate and began taking me to see the world my Sire forbade me to engage with. And Jazz only entered my life after Ratchet went throughβ¦ an accident.β
βThatβs terrible. Iβm sorry.β
βIt has been over for a long time now. I have my Conjunx, and he showed me everything Iβve ever missed. I do not regret my life in the slightest.β
βIf it isnβt too much, could you tell me about Alpha Trion? How was he with you? Likeβ¦ his habits and whatnot?β
βWhy do you ask?β
βOne of my bosses was looking into him, probably trying to locate a secret stash or something. I donβt know. Itβs not really my business. But he wanted to know about Alpha Trionβs tendencies for his investigation last time I talked to himβ¦ I wonβt tell him anything sensitive, but it would be nice to know.β
ββ¦ My Sire was always a strict mech. He had a tendency to use the fears and beliefs of those around him to his advantage. He tried hard to get me to become religious to the point of fanaticism by leaning into my interest in history, but it was not very effective. His most common method of getting me to obey was to use conditioning, associating certain activities with reward and others with punishment.β
βSounds like my training.β
βWhat?β
βSorry, continue.β
βVery wellβ¦ He also had a surprising amount of influence, often digging his digits into religious organizations to get what he wanted. I do not know the extent of it, but by the time I was preparing to leave Iacon for good, I know he had much of the Primacy aiding him in collecting data. It seemed innocent enough for a Master Archivist, but looking back, those priests, and the Elite Guard for that matter, were oddly devoted.β
βThe Elite Guard?β
βYes. The Elite Guard and the Primacy listened to my Sire whenever he gave them an order. Strange, is it not? I never understood itβ¦ but I do know that he was very invested in cultural survival and put a great deal of time and effort into preserving archaic beliefs. I think he may have even been an associate of Sentinel Prime.β
βO-ohβ¦ How strange.β
As the conversation went onβ¦ I started to piece some things together. Alpha Trion had his digits in the Elite Guard and the Primacy, right? Well I started looking into our organization in my down time and I found a few worrying signs, Smokescreen. I know you are technically at the head of our order, but looking at the charts, it certainly doesnβt seem like you are actually in charge of much. No offence, but all you do is give speeches and assign personal escorts when needed. Do you actually know who is doing the sermons or the teaching? What about our recruits? I was looking into the Elite Guard training program and they are far harsher on the little ones than they were on me. Are we becoming radical?
The Decepticons did the same thing millennia ago and look where that led them! Seriously, who is in charge of the Elite Guard? Who is running the church? I canβt find any names, just references to the High Priest. Who is this person? Because Iβm looking at the details of the Guard and, by Primusβ¦ fifteen casualties a stellar-cycle amongst recruits. We are overly fanatic, taught not to doubt our Prime. Taught to obey without question. Thatβs textbook cult behavior, Smokescreen! The Decepticon codex outlines what a corrupt organization looks like and we are it! Money is going places I canβt track. We have agents that are being deployed to suspicious locations. The Primacy is issuing heresy warrants. Heresy! That shouldnβt even be a law! If for no other reason than our Prime would never permit it!
I know I believed in the cause onceβ¦ and I still believe in our faith, at least to an extent. Optimus Prime, even according to Megatron, was a mech with firm and moral ideals. But the Elite Guard? We areΒ corrupt.Β This must be addressed as soon as possible. There is no other option. And if you donβt start doing something about it? IΒ willΒ .
I have Megatronβs audial. Or did you forget about that? He trusts me now. He has shown me more kindness than all of the Guard combined and through him I have begun to see things differently.Β If I tell him our secrets and our training, I can guarantee you that he will tell Orion. And if Orion knows? There will be the wrath of Unicron banging on the doors of the Citadel. Please know that I donβt blame you for this. Iβve looked at your records. You were just a normal Guardsmech before the war, and from what I gather, youβve just transferred over what you learned to us. But that doesnβt change the fact that all of this is wrong.Β
I apologize for being so antagonistic, but something is wrong in our ranks. I donβt know if it is Alpha Trionβs influence or the mech himself, considering he was never confirmed dead. But I am going to stay here. I donβt care if you pull me back. Iβm not going. Iβm staying right here with my data until something is done about this.Β
Iβll be sending additional reports if I find anything else of note. But the time to act is now. Please, listen to me. If you care at all about what we are meant to stand for, help us become better. You are our Head Elite Guardsmech. You have the power to change things. I implore you, do what you can before it is too late to act and you end up removed from power or wrapped up in it. That is not a threat by the way, that is just the natural outcome of things according to Megatronβs writings.
Hush reporting once again. I really need to find a better greeting for these reports since weβve gotten so buddy buddy about this whole thing. Sorry for the lack of decorum Sir. I just donβt really see the need for it anymore. I still respect you a lot, donβt get me wrong. Iβm just real tired of posturing when I donβt need to, if that makes sense. It seems a bit much, really. Our Prime even said he hated the whole shtick, so I donβt see why we stick to it like magnets.
Besides that, Megatron and I were talking a while back and I kept calling you Head Guardsmech instead of Sir or anything else. Sorry for giving you away. Anyway, Megatron gave me a look for it and told me Iβm better than giving everyone honorifics all the time. He flicked the side of my helm and made this face that was almost disappointed and said, quote:
βSpider, you have more wit and skill than half of the newbuilds who call themselves Guardsmecha. Give yourself some credit and drop all the posturing. Youβve long surpassed those who claim to be your betters.βΒ
A little arrogant? Maybe. A confidence booster though? Absolutely. I like not having to metaphorically get down on my knees for everyone a rank above me. Didnβt the Chaplain say we are only supposed to bow for our Prime and our god? Well, Iβm only doing that from now on. Saves me the trouble of having to do all the extra honorific glyph work too.
That said, these past two stellar cycles have been interesting to say the least. Maybe weird is the best way to describe it. I can hear my fragging feline, Head Guardsmech. I thought it was just us getting along, but I swear to you on every single Prime to have vented on Cybertron that I can hear Carnage talking to me. Well, itβs not really words yet. But Iβm getting better impressions of what he wants and what heβs trying to say. Am I losing my mind? He keeps resting in my cockpit too. Heβs shifting around in there all funny and I think heβs trying to transform. Can mechanimals do that?
Maybe Iβm just suffering from isolation syndrome. Any advice? I havenβt told Megatron about it yet, mainly because I keep forgetting. Still, I could use some thoughts if you have time. The good news though is that my optics are fully functional again! I havenβt been able to see through all of them since I was small. I can even flare my sensory panels again! Iβll tell you what, after vorns of having those things wrapped tight around my helm, it was an experience having them flare up at the slightest hint of danger. Iβve just taken to taping them down for now. As nice as it is to have control of them, well partial control, I donβt think I can use them without throwing my mission into the wind.
Megatron has been looking at me funny ever since, but Iβm not budging on it. I canβt go flaring my sensors at people all that time. Thatβs not only weird, but stupidly dangerous for me. My processor is all exposed in the back when I do that.
Anyway, aside from my personal issues. Iβve begun to pick up bits and pieces from Orion via conversation. Since our talk and the whole scene in the garden, weβve gotten along more. He hasnβt told me much yet, but he almost has a sixth sense for when Iβm having a rough cycle and feeling down. He comes to talk to me when he picks up even a whiff of potential distress. So far, heβs shared with me how he also grew up very isolated, so he understands my struggles with loneliness. I may or may not have shared that my caretaker got rid of me after she got sick of my optics and all that, so Orion took that as something to bond over. Apparently, Alpha Trion was a very strict guardian, almost the opposite of mine, and rarely let Orion out to see the world. Heβs also mentioned that Ratchet was the one who took him out to experience the wildness of reality for the first time. Maybe you could look into that? Or maybe not actually. That probably wonβt go over well.
That said, I donβt have much data yet, but Iβm working on it bit by bit. Aside from that, First Aid hasnβt said much else about the doctor, but I think I might have finally gotten a partial name. Wire something or other. First Aid suspects it's a suffix rather than a first part of a designation. He brought some fascinating new energon goodies though. He said they were from offworld and made by some colony bots whoβve been coming by to establish trade routes with Cybertron again after the great war. Excellent treats by the way.
Oh yes, regarding the engraver next door? I got sick of waiting for you to do something when I saw the fragger dragging a body out back to dispose of. So I got Megatron and asked him to help me with it after Orion went to work. He was skeptical, but I showed him a few lines fromΒ Toward PeaceΒ talking about righteous judgement and some photos I took of the scene and he agreed to help. He was even grinning a bit too. I think heβs been itching for a fight. And yes before you ask I did memorize the book, mostly. Itβs got good stuff in it, as Iβve already elaborated on multiple times.
So yeah, we went on over there and got rid of the problem. It was a bit of a horror show, I must admit. Megatron had me go stand outside for a bit after I sniped the engraver from a nice spot a ways off. Iβm not telling you what he did because I know someone will try and charge him with something or other, but he was very careful about hisβ¦ aid. He didnβt want me to see whatever in the pits was going on in that building and Iβm glad I didnβt have to. Megatron just lit the structure on fire and let it do its work. I had to do a bit of falsification and line cutting to make it look like a bad line snap, but yeah the building went down and the engraver went with it.
Donβt worry, we kept the fire controlled until the firefighters arrived, at which point Megatron dipped and I stepped in to tell the sob story about the whole affair. I still donβt know exactly what went on in that building, but I think Iβm fine not knowing. And hey! Good news is that once they clear out all the rubble and stuff, Orion said he plans to buy the land to expand his garden! More space for me to plant stuff with him! See, itβs all for the mission. According to doctrine, Iβm allowed to get rid of targets as needed and that engraver was one of them. Itβs all to help me get closer to Orion, obviously.
Orion mentioned maybe hiring a crew to build something on the land too, but I wasnβt listening at that point. I was busy watching Carnage start chewing on bones I would rather not know the origin of. Good times were had all around, and if nothing else, I think Megatron likes me more now. Not entirely sure why, considering I murdered a mech. But then again, he is Megatron. So whatever.
After that whole debacle I helped Megatron prepare for a date night a few cycles later. That was surprisingly fun. Once Orion left for work, he had me sprinting all across Iacon to get him things. I had to run all the way down to a high grade place in the eastern quarter, and I ended up breaking protocol to transform and fly there since it was so far away. Got the cargo back safely and was promptly sent off to get ingredients for something I donβt know the name of. There was a lot of running back and forth.
He hasn't done anything with the stuff yet. He said he wanted to wait for the right time, whatever that means. But he did show me the recipe he plans to work with. I couldnβt read it for slag since it was in Kaoni, but it looked complicated. On the bright side, heβs been showing me how to cook via making fuel for Orion each night. I think heβs practicing for the date night he has planned, so heβs taking the chance to watch me flounder for fun I suppose. I may or may not have burned an entire crisp once.
I gave it to Carnage. He seemed to like it even though I got laughed at.
Oh, and I know you donβt care, but that fraggingΒ rugΒ is still in place. Itβs hideous but no matter how much I cringe at it, Orion loves the Primus forsaken thing. At least thereβs not as much dust for me to fuss over. And organizing is easier now that I can just walk around and do my work. Although I will say Orion got a bit miffed when he caught me touching his paints. Iβm not allowed near his collectables shelf anymore, no matter how much the disorganization irks me.
Honestly I think thatβs everything. Still waiting on you to get those records opened up and to get Ratchet a doctor. Iβll report back later, once something happens.
[Note from Head Elite Guardsmech Smokescreen: Thank you for the report, Hush. Please limit the snark. I can tell you are dealing withβ¦ something. But this is still a report, albeit a lax one. Try to stay professional. And for Primusβs sake donβt go performing vigilante justice. Iβm letting this slide only because you are working on Megatronβs surveillance, but listen closely, Hush. No murders going forward or Iβm pulling you back regardless. Understand?
We are servants of the Primacy, not freelance hitmechs. Get yourself straightened out before you get one of the Chaplains on your case.]
Hush reporting in with yet another report. This is getting tedious.Β
Before I begin, have you spoken to the Primal Steward? Or left a note for the Senate? I donβt mean to be pushy, Head Guardsmech, but this is getting out of servo. I give you a report with my genuine concerns and you never get back to me about it! You tell me to do something and I do it, but you donβt really talk to me. I know thatβs presumptuous and out of line, but this stuff is important. I feel like our Prime would agree if he were here. Primus bless him. You did take my mission handling on as your own, so I really think we need some more open communication here. Just saying.
Anyway, when it comes to my actual report, this stellar cycle was pretty calm incident wise. Nothing too out of the ordinary when it comes to Orion and Megatron. My life has beenβ¦ hectic. But they seem fine. Iβve had some strange protocols acting up, ones I canβt quite place. Carnage is around me all the time now, always trying to curl up with me, lick my plating, or otherwise be held. I think heβs fine, he certainly doesnβt seem sick. But maybe something is wrong with me? I am unsure. The medication First Aid has been giving me for my optics has been improving my sight progressively. Iβve found it easier to operate more of my optics, so if it means anything, I can see more of Megatronβs activities with less strain. I can almost move my sensory panels too. Almost. Whatever infection or issue was going on with them is being resolved quite quickly thanks to First Aid. My extra optics on my panels are starting to come online again as well.
I donβt know what to do about the excess protocols, but maybe itβs just in relation to my optics. Iβve always had problems with them. That said, Carnage went into the engraverβs place and came out with a torn off jaw. An actual jaw, Head Guardsmech. Iβm telling you, something is going on over there and it isnβt good. The Guard are meant to be the Primeβs servos right? We should be dealing with this! Or if not us, the Enforcers are literally everywhere except where they need to be! Please get a search warrant issued or something.
In other news, Orion went before the Senate again and came back in a huff. I pulled out my Melody identity and offered to sit and talk to him about it if he wanted to. He didnβt accept the offer, saying something about not wanting to burden me. Iβm working on it. I havenβt forgotten your orders. Once I build up enough of a relationship with my target, Iβll get that data on Alpha Trion for you. But Iβm not going to do it falsely, Sir. With all due respect, I donβt want to hurt Orion by being fake about it. If Iβm going to learn about this stuff, I want to do it the right way. Besides, I doubt Orion would talk about it at all unless he had to. From what I gather, he doesnβt even talk to Megatron about Alpha Trion.
I know Orion was Alpha Trionβs student. But whatever is going on there seems a bit more serious. Iβll approach the subject in a few more stellar cycles perhaps. You know, just to give our relationship time to settle. I think by now me and Orion are friends. Not great ones yet, but friends nonetheless. He lets me come inside for things not related to work now. I actually had to go learn how to take aesthetic pictures because Orion really likes coming with me to take them. At first Megatron accompanied us to the local gardens to photograph things Orion liked. I kinda just rolled with it. I wasnβt having the most fun, but Orion looked thrilled and I didnβt want to be a spoilsport. Honestly it was a rough cycle for me, that particular outing anyway. I was having that oh so lovely bout of loneliness that all the Inquisitors have after a while. I know I was trained to deal with it, but it was difficult at the time.
Seeing Orion and Megatron so happy reminded me of my past a bit. I got it mostly trained out of me during my time in the Inquisitor program, but stuff comes back to you after a while. I loved and hated seeing Orion and Megatron have something I didnβt have, at least for a bit. It never really bothered me up until that moment. But you know what? Orion noticed. I thought I was good about hiding it, but when he saw I was just going through the motions, he took my servo very gently and asked if I was alright.
Iβm a bit ashamed to admit it, but I answeredΒ honestly.Β I told him no, and that I wasnβt feeling well and needed to go home. I thought that was going to be the end of it when I handed him my camera and gave him permission to use it to take pictures at his leisure. But then he asked if I wanted to walk back to my hab with him and Megatron as escorts. He offered to come with me because, quote:
βYou donβt look like you should be alone right now. I know how isolating it can be, and sometimes, no matter how much you dislike it in the moment, it is best to have someone with you so your thoughts donβt take you away.β
I didnβt agree with it at first. After all, Orion is one of my targets and itβs not as if I can just reveal I live in his fragging walls. Megatron certainly seemed stressed as well, considering he also knows I donβt have a home to be walked back to. I mean Orion was operating under the idea that I only lived a few blocks away from his hab. That whole shtick was about to go up in smoke so I ended up coming clean again, kind of. I know I shouldnβt have, but Orion was being nice and I wasnβt about to throw Megatron under the bus. What I said was pretty much:
βI donβtβ¦ actually have a hab. Iβm sorry I lied during our initial meeting, but I didnβt want you to find me shady or incapable of working for you. I have somewhere dark and dry I recharge in, so please donβt worry too muchβ¦ but I donβt need to be walked back. I would rather not have you see where I hide out to escape observation.β
He looked horrified, Head Guardsmech. Well maybe thatβs a bit much, but pity mixed with shock probably comes close. I took my leave after that and was pretty sure Iβd blown something, be it our relationship or my station as a whole. I didnβt even climb back into the walls that night. I was too ashamed really. I know it was silly, but I donβt reallyβ¦ have a home, do I? Sure, the Guard says that we are all family and that our home is with our brethren but I donβt have a place of my own. I donβt have a hab filled with pretty little collectibles or comfy thermal sheets. I donβt have a place to put all my knitting material up or anywhere to hang the pictures I take or place my indoor plants.
I have a small hole in the wall where Iβve spent the past vorn and change wasting away, watching two happy bots live a life I could only ever dream of. Is that selfish? I mean I was chosen for this role. Taken up from the lower levels and saved from possible starvation and made into a better person through the Guard. But I wasnβt really given a choice in that, was I?Β Toward PeaceΒ and the Decepticon manifesto say that mecha of all frames, functions, and origins should be able to choose their path in life. I didnβt get to do that. I understand sacrifice and duty are the creed of the good and the holy, but I want a life eventually.
Itβs lonely living like this.
But, I think things are getting a bit better, even if itβs temporary. The very next cycle after my little outburst, I turned up for work as normal. But instead of Orion directing me toward the plants he wanted me to care for, he looked me dead in the optics and asked me if where I was living was safe. I told him it was mostly safe, if I was quiet and didnβt make much noise, a half truth of sorts. That seemed to set him off a bit, but not in an angry way. He sat me down, grabbed my servo gently and asked me again if I was safe. Not if my living situation was safe, but ifΒ IΒ was safe.
I didnβt know how to answer. He took that to mean no and pressed a card into my servo. He told me to consider it payment for my future services and to begin looking for a residence. He even offered to help me look for good places, and for a doctor to look at my optics. I wasnβt sure what to do, Head Guardsmech. I wasnβt supposed to get this involvedβ¦ but thankfully, Megatron stepped in and quietly asked to talk to me without Orion present. I donβt know what he said, but I assume Orion bought it because he left and Megatron sat across from me and for the very first time, we actually talked.
Orion wasnβt there, neither was First Aid. It was just us, sitting at the table as target and spy respectively. It was kind of awkward at first, but as we sat there, with me getting ready to run for my life, he just crossed his arms and started chatting with me. It was casual, starting with simple stuff like how it had been for the past vorn. I kept it vague, as training tells all Inquisitors to do when caught in the act of spying. I told him it was stressful but not unmanageable, that the situation had grown to be casual for me and that it was no longer too terrible since Iβd taken up dusting the fragging house. Seriously if I werenβt here the dust would be unmanageable,Β and the organization,Β sweet Primus.Β
Anyways, we just talked for a bit. Eventually we started discussing his works,Β Toward PeaceΒ and the like. It was an insightful discussion, not even lying. Megatron told me about his history. How he served in the mines and learned there was injustice was. He told me about how he fought his way to the pits, where he battled every single cycle just to live and spread his ideals. He never got into the war part, but he told me about his struggles during the times of Old Cybertron. It put a lot of things into perspective for me, but I did end up asking why he was telling me all that stuff, and you know how he answered?
βBecause, Spider, you remind me of an old friend, and what I saw in him, I see in you. All you lack is conviction.β
I donβt really get it, even now. But long story short, we talked for at least a few joors, maybe longer, I donβt know. Orion made tea at some point and brought it to us but I was a bit too wrapped up in one of Megatronβs gladiator stories to really thank him at the time. Eventually when Iβd had my tea and Orion wandered off, Megatron just kinda looked at me funny, as if thinking about something. Then he told me heβd cover for me and tell Orion Iβd gotten a temporary place, but that once I figured myself out, he wanted me to get a real hab.
I am unsure what he means by that, but I think he meant well since he clasped my shoulder and handed me a pastry from storage before making a show of letting me stay the night on the couch. It was really rough to not try and run, but Carnage curled up with me after a while and that made things better. I always feel better when my feline is around. Orion even let me borrow one of his thermal sheets.
I donβt understand why they are so kind to me. Well, logically I do. Megatron is keeping an optic on me because I am a spy. Why he tolerates me so much is beyond me, but Iβve learned from himβ¦ so maybe we have something. Orion is just a nice mech altogether, so it makes sense that heβd be nice to someone who doesnβt instantly go throwing insults or running in disgust. I might have been that way if weβd met in the wild, but a vorn of observation does stuff to a bot. Right, itβs fine. This is all fine. I got somewhere nice to recharge that wasnβt the hard vents for once and it was unreasonably nice. I wonβt get used to it though.
Ah frag what else happened? Uh, Iβm still working on the Trion stuff so please hold out another report or two. Iβve been asking First Aid about that random doctor you wanted data on. All I know is that Orion thinks he is interesting and wants to talk to him eventually about old records or something. I donβt know, it seemed kind of dull and I was eating Megatronβs energon goodies at the time. I had my priorities straight. First Aid also mentioned something or other about Ratchet becoming more unhinged, but that feels like the regular update at this point. Seriously, get that mech a medic. First Aid says he would help, but heβs not permitted to do slag about anything when it comes to his immediate superior officer. Another Doctor has to do all that.
Isnβt Doctor Knockout around somewhere? I get he was a Con, but so was half the population. Maybe ask him to come check the Primal Steward out?
I think thatβs all I have at the moment. Except one final note:
You should read Megatronβs works. Itβs made me think about some things and myself. Maybe it will help you too. The public deserves to have access to this sort of knowledge. So please, get this figured out.
[Note from Head Elite Guardsmech Smokescreen: Hush, you are worrying me. You donβt sound particularly stable based on your reports. I am aware you are likely using these as a way to vent, considering how unprofessional these have become in recent cycles. But Hush, I will have you pull back as soon as you get the data I need because this is concerning.Β
Donβt linger longer than you need to. Get the data on Alpha Trion and that doctor and report back. Then wait for further instruction and orders to return. Understood? I will try my best to look into the matters youβve suggested, but my focus is currently elsewhere.
Iβm here with yet another report. Sorry for being so slow in my writing. Thereβs been a lot going on recently. Not dangerous stuff, of course. Just things and domestic activity. Now that Iβm here as Melody, Iβve become wrapped up in household affairs. I canβt help but get involved in all of it, and I donβt think Orion minds much. Megatron certainly doesnβt. The longer Iβm here, the more accepting he is of my presence.
I know itβs unorthodox, but Iβm making progress like this. Iβm integrating and can learn so much more than I would have otherwise been able to by making myself part of this weird family situation thatβs begun to develop. Iβve been returning for my usual wipes, as requested though. Please donβt worry, Iβm not a traitor or anything. I went in just last deca-cycle to get my recent memories uploaded for the Elite Guard to share. Iβve read so much and seen so much that I really think we could use it. Iβm not trying to be a sympathizer or anything of the sort, but I do think some of the documents the Decepticons were using during the start of the war, before they went nuts mind you, were actually well thought out.Β
Hear me out about this.Β Toward PeaceΒ was Megatronβs first published work, and while it is certainly controversial, I think itβs still a fantastic read. If one looks at it from the perspective of the author, with the mindset of the time, and with knowledge of how functionalist things were back then, Megatron is not at all incorrect in his writing. Iβll get to my actual report in a bit, but I just want to emphasize this.Β Toward Peace, The Oppression of Self, Martial Law & Social Injustice,Β and even Megatronβs old poem collectionΒ Broken UnityΒ are brilliant pieces of literature. Some of the quotes still apply today if you ask me. Look at these lines:
βEven if our frames are shackled, freedom is still ours. True defeat only comes when the mind is rewritten and brought low. No matter how much we are beaten, so long as we maintain our hopes and our ideals, they can never fully break us.β
βJustice. That is what the priests proclaim from their ivory towers. Equality is what they cry as newbuilds are lined up like cattle mere moments after their emergence and then assigned a purpose with no regard for their sparks. Freedom is what they preach as the mecha condemned to the pits grind their gears to dust. Does this not scream of hypocrisy?β
βI write this from the very essence of my spark and with all the conviction of my being. No Cybertronian, young or old, femme, mech or other, should endure the sufferings of the castes. The worth of the spark cannot be determined by mere medical examination. To think otherwise is to deny the individuality that makes us what we are.β
Megatron has a point, Head Guardsmech. I think you and anyone else with a functioning processor can see that. I understand he did horrible things and that his ideals were corrupted as the war dragged on. But these thoughts, these emotions that he wrote downβ¦ they arenβt incorrect. They are enlightening. I donβt understand why these texts are banned. If more mecha read these things, I believe the people would understand the Decepticons and there would be far less cases of heresy because Autobots and Decepticons could bond. Thatβs less work for us and more freedom for the people. Thatβs what our Prime wanted, right? I mean, the Autobot regulation guidelines and codex are out and free for all to read. So why arenβt the Decepticon texts given that same treatment? I know you arenβt in charge of all that stuff, especially the Elite Guardβs internal operations. But please, canβt you do something about this?
Iβve been looking into Orionβs work recently and Iβve found far more than just Megatronβs work restricted. I would understand to an extent if it was just his writing, butΒ allΒ Decepticon literature is banned. Even the medical texts! Iβve read over Orionβs shoulder while moving stuff around the hab for him and Iβve seen those texts. They have things that could help so many mecha, Head Guardsmech. Surgeries to help those with malfunctioning T-Cogs. Medication for those with severe mood swings. A whole therapy regime for those enduring wartime trauma and guilt over the war as a whole. By the Primes, I sawβ¦ a medical text that could have been used to helpΒ me.Β
They have a technique for bots with optics like mine. If I had been given access to this documentation when I was younger, I wouldnβt be like this. My optics wouldnβt hurt all the time from lack of care. I wouldnβt constantly be trying to cover my helm for fear of my processor getting blown out whenever I use my extra optics either. Those texts had schematics for a special helm piece that would cover my weaknesses. Donβt you know how much that sort of thing could help me? How much it could help others with heightened senses or extra sensory units? Iβll give you the answer to that. It could change everything for bots like me.
Look, Iβm not going to get on your case about it. I know it isnβt your realm of expertise. But please, look into it. IΒ knowΒ the Decepticons did bad things. But not everything they did was wrong. Canβt you talk to the Primal Steward? Maybe leave a note? It justβ¦ it would mean a lot.
Sorry. Getting onto my actual report, Iβve been integrating well, as I previously said.
I spend most of the cycle working out in the garden nowadays. It has grown well, and the plants arenβt overly unruly. The crystal spires are small right now, but in a few vorns, they will reach Megatronβs height if all goes well. The trees have thankfully adjusted to the soil instead of trying to die every two cycles. Most of the shrubbery survived its rehoming, but Carnage did attempt to eat the entirety of one of Orionβs stranger plants that I still donβt know the name of. I only really noticed it recently, but the garden is growing into a particular formation. I think itβs making an emblem, but I canβt be all that certain so soon into its development. Anyway, itβs very pleasant out there in the garden now. I have tea with Orion and First Aid regularly now.Β
First Aid has been bringing interesting reports with him, lots of talk about medical malpractice due to the old war vets coming back in. Apparently all of the βdoctorsβ from the war arenβt certified for the most part. Yeah a lot of them are certified, but First Aid says that their education is lacking or highly specialized to whatever world they were stuck on during the great Exodus. Supposedly, thereβs this older medic thatβs been wandering rogue in the lower levels for vorns now that First Aid has been trying to catch. According to the rumors, he wanders around doing work for free using strange archaic methods.
Surprisingly, amongst the patients First Aid checked up on, they are all perfectly healthy. Most say the Doctor came in, made them chew on some rocks or eat some unknown plant and the next thing they knew, BAM! Their self repair systems were shot into action. One bot even had his wings soldered back into place. And not even with a proper welder. This old medic just kinda came in, stitched the wing into place with wire, shoved a rock down the botβs throat, and the wing started to self repair. First Aid has been kinda obsessed when he isnβt chattering with Orion about stuff I donβt understand or worrying about the Primal Steward.
He doesnβt talk much about Doctor Ratchet, at least outside of his usual worries. You should check in on him. I know Iβve expressed my concerns before considering hisβ¦ tendencies with Orion. But I think you should get Ratchet some medical attention, just in case. With what I sawβ¦ he doesnβt seem well. First Aid isnβt making it sound as though heβs getting better either.Β
Regarding Orion and Megatron: They havenβt done anything particularly noteworthy. Megatron has been taking my work as his own, as per usual. He calls it rent when itβs just the two of us. But to be fair, he threw a few thermal sheets up into the vents for me so thatβs a plus. Megatron has also made a few more posts online about his dissatisfaction with the world at large, but Iβve been here long enough to know itβs not really a heresy charge. Honestly I doubt it would be worth it to bother with attempting to get him for anything with Orion up in arms all the time.Β
Speaking of Orion, heβs been improving rapidly. He no longer has rampant night terrors or severe reactions to physical touch aside from Megatron. I got to shake his servo two deca-cycles ago, and just last cycle, he clasped my shoulder. It may not sound like much, but for him, thatβs a big sign of trust. Over the last few stellar cycles heβs opened up a bit too. We talk a lot now. Not about important stuff, generally. Just the garden, landscaping, and thatΒ fraggingΒ engraver next door. I swear to you on every single one of the Primes that heβs doing something shady over there. Thereβs an unusual amount of shavings outside his hab now. And I keep tabs on his number of customers and it is not adding up.That level of shaving comes from either having a hundred customers wanting their engravings all within a deca-cycle of each otherβ¦ or someone is getting chopped up in there.Β
I have my mission and I wonβt deviateβ¦ yet. But if someone isnβt sent over to check that whole mess out, I will be letting Megatron know. I donβt think he is fully aware, if at all. Orion doesnβt really talk to Megatron about the engraver since itβs such a miner thing all things considered. I think heβs mentioned it, but only because none of us like watching that mech sit out on his porch and fiddle with what we are pretty sure is a real optic thatβs been put into a ball, like some twitched fidget toy. Me and Orion have our theories, but I keep the deck clear of any of the shavings, and now that Carnage is with me, the poor feline isnβt yowling late at night and waking everyone up.Β
Speaking of Carnage, he came out of my cockpit about a stellar cycle after getting in and refusing to get back out again. When he came out, he was different. I expected the poor thing to starve in there, but he was perfectly healthy when he emerged. And more importantly, he looked aware? I donβt know, but heβs been following me more, demanding in my cockpit and getting antsy with Megatron. He loves Orion, which I find hilarious. But I guess I can almost feel him, in a sense? I can vaguely sense when Carnage is around and maybe itβs just those optics getting to me, but I swear I can feel what heβs feeling sometimes. Itβs how I know he really really does not like getting scruffed by Megatron when heβs on the counter without permission.
Hmm I am trying to think of what else has gone on. Not a lot I think. Megatron let me lick the bowl clean after he made some sort of pastry using it. That was fun. Ten out of ten would try again by the way. I have no clue what he made because I was stuck trying to fight Carnage off while cleaning out the blasted thing, but it smelled delightful and considering Orion was covered in both frosting and various intimate marks, Iβm going to assume the pastry was a hit.
Oh, one last thing in case you were worried. Orion is under the assumption that I live nearby so when I vanish, heβs not all that worried. I am still very much hiding out in the walls so I can listen in. Iβve also done a ton of work to make getting dolled up as Melody more efficient by foregoing my Elite Guard colors. I still have my badge, but itβs all covered up. So if anyone comes looking to check in on me and sees white and gold, donβt worry itβs still me. Just in costume.
I made a few more plushies. But thatβs about all. Iβll report back in when something interesting happens.Β
[Note from Head Elite Guardsmech Smokescreen: Hush, Iβm warning you. Stop this. Stop trying to understand Megatronβs movement. I get it, you like him. I find the mech interesting when he isnβt being insufferable too. But if you keep getting into the weeds of it all you are going to lose yourself. You are already away from the Guard and actively living with these bots. Do you have any idea how easy it is to lose track of what you are doing and actually believe the lies you spout to blend in?
Iβm not going to pull you out yet specifically because I want you to listen closely to what First Aid has to say. Chaplain Paradox is interested in that wandering Doctor but canβt get slag out of Ratchet or his assistant on a good cycle. So listen out for information on that. Additionally, since you are so invested, I want you to try and get some information out of Orion for me.
Iβve been looking into some things around the Citadel. I canβt confirm anything, but I need you to ask about Alpha Trion one of these cycles. We have no confirmation of his death, but I have a feeling he may be around. If he is, I need to know. Please, be discreet if you can.]
Orion...I know I shouldn't get involved but...don't you think that you and Optimus should fix the differences you have? I know it scares you but he is also a victim of all this and I know that if he had known that you didn't want this he would have found a way to reunite you with your loved one.
You shouldn't love each other, I know, but at least settle your differences *I'll give you an energon candy* and learn to tolerate each other even if it doesn't seem like it. Optimus needs you and even if he doesn't show himself, he's still a child so he needs you (along with Megatron) to make cybertron shine once again but better
From the desk ofΒ
Head Archivist: Orion Pax
Hall of Records
East Trion Square
Iacon
Ah. this is an incredibly difficult subject for me, please understand. I would genuinely like to believe you, anonymous one, that Optimus is not a threat to me or my Conjunx, but it simply is not true. I will agree with you that he may be a victim as well, but that does not excuse what he forced me to endure.Β
I know that you may believe that he was not aware that I was an unconsenting party in this arrangement, but I can assure you that I made my displeasure known to him again and again for millennia. My distress was obvious. My desires were crystal clear, especially after I was granted my freedom after Optimus and Megatronus united against the Unmaker.Β
Optimus had the opportunity then to rectify this situation. He knew what it was I wanted. He knew what Megatronus and I meant to one another. He knew that I was taken against my will. He knew that Megatronus and I were perfectly capable of ending this war on our own. He knew that we sought to restore Cybertron. He knew everything!Β
He had the chance to reunite us! He had the chance to do what was right! What did he do? He lied! He concocted a tale of amnesia instead of telling everyone the truth! He locked me away again and chose to continue with his war despite my continued communication expressing my anger.Β
He would not even let me die in peace! No, he had to try and pass this torment off on another! A youngling, no less! I may have disagreed with Smokescreenβs indoctrinated opinions, but he did not deserve to be locked away as I was for a new wave of war to start all over again! If Smokescreen had taken the Matrixβ¦ I would not have been able to stop him from destroying everything that mattered to meβ¦Β
I was not even granted freedom after my beloved was killedβ¦ I was not allowed to properly grieve. I was not given permission to cry with my own optics. I was not allowed to seek out his frame and touch him one last time. I was not allowed a goodbye!Β
He said nothingβ¦ I was alone. He chose to keep me alone, in the dark and broken. Iβm sorry, but not even a tempting energon candy can make those pains vanish. I fear him so deeply that I can not even begin to express it properly.
I didn't have a problem with him prior to the war. Not really.
I disliked him a great deal. I heard enough rumors, saw enough interviews, and otherwise gathered more than enough information to come to the conclusion that he's an entitled arrogant prick. Always going on about his battles and his fragging achievements, he annoyed me. I didn't have a problem with his preaching, but he was always running some sort of advertisement as well.
Yes, I am well aware that's how gladiators get their sponsors. No, I still don't like it. I didn't like his personality and I thoroughly disliked his entire disposition. I didn't even meet the mech in person until after I had to repair Orion's broken hinges. I tried to give Megatron the benefit of the doubt. I swear on the thirteen I did try. But regardless of my efforts-
He was just as much of a glitch in person.
I fragging hate Megatron and that fact has remained static since the beginning. It is almost poetic. If I believed in sparkmates, I would say that Megatron is my ordained foe. We share just enough in common that we have valid reasons to hate each other. Even without his crimes against Cybertron tacked onto his name, I still don't like him.
for π³πππππ π΅ππππ π°ππ how do you feel about the whole Orion situation? And I wanted to thank you for eliminating the excess pills that Ratchet gave Orion since I really don't trust him to take care of Orion. I'm sorry if we're careless I could kill him.
I'm afraid I didn't quite understand your last sentence. But I was more than happy to help! Doctor Ratchet can be a bit jittery at times and sometimes forgets to count the pills properly! It really isn't any bother on my end! He gets a little lost in his mind, and I am more than happy to fix such a minor mistake. Please don't speak too harshly of my mentor. He's... unstable. He's been through a lot and I genuinely think he just needs to process everything he's been through. The amount of work he takes on is mind blowing. I honestly believe its going to kill him if he isn't careful.
About Mr. Pax...
I don't know if I am qualified to talk about it. I'm just an assisting Doctor, I'm not meant to have an opinion on the matter. Besides, I think Doctor Ratchet would be a bit upset...
He never reads old medical files. Why would he read this?
I don't think I will get in trouble for answering this question. If you want my real thoughts on the subject, then I guess I am just concerned for everyone involved. Obviously Mr. Pax has seen a lot of terrible things and experienced horrors I can't even begin to imagine. He's not one to talk about it a lot when I visit him for tea with Miss Melody. I don't know everything, but what I do know scares me.
He was locked away within Optimus Prime during the entirety of the war. He felt everything. He saw everything. He had no control. I... I can hardly comprehend that. Being trapped in your own frame with no way out? No way to have even the smallest semblance of control? I would have gone mad. It pleases and surprises me to see him come back to himself so fast. By all accounts, recovering from severe trauma like that in twenty vorns in a miracle. I am not exactly fond of Megatron, but he is a good Conjunx for Mr. Pax. They are happy together. They deserve it after all that has happened. The war is over, and think its best if what happened during it is allowed to become history, not a weight on the present.
Mr. Pax is healing... but my mentor is not. Doctor Ratchet seems to be actively trying to make Mr. Pax's life worse. I've listened to my mentor ramble on and on for groons. He seems to have warped the figure of Orion Pax into a whole new person. He refers to Orion Pax as his friend, a precious thing to protect. Then the very next moment he uses strange glyphs and snarls as if Mr. Pax were there threatening him at gunpoint. Doctor Ratchet seems terrified of Orion Pax. I can't claim to pinpoint why, but his aggressive reaction is laced with fear whenever I am close enough to feel his field.
Doctor Ratchet is getting worse and Orion Pax is getting better. I've tried to get my mentor to assign me to Mr. Pax, but at this point he's made Mr. Pax into a pet project of sorts. He hates him. He fears him. He wants to keep him safe and destroy him all at the same time.
Orion Pax is healing.
Ratchet is breaking down.
I am doing what I can to help and make things right, but I can only do so much. I follow Ratchet whenever I can manage it and I try to stay with him overnight when he's upset, that way he can't do anything rash. Part of me wants to report him, but I can't exactly report him for things he's written, no matter how... disturbing. I would much rather he get his murderous thoughts out on a document than act on them.
Anonymous, I am afraid your question is very... complicated for me.
I lived my entire life in a state of constant warfare. It is almost impossible for me to pinpoint any one act that could be reasonably labelled as being worse than any other. There was so much death and destruction, much of which I did not even directly order to be wrought. If one were to think logically, the entire war could be easily pinned on myself and Megatron.
Putting aside my crimes against my host, I am unsure what exactly I would call the worst act I have committed. My early memory is uncertain, and there is much I do not recall. Even now, much of my memory is a blur of experience and combat. If I try hard enough, I can pull some things from the fog, but not much. I know I did horrible things, but much of it is distant. I am well aware that I killed millions and that I issued orders to burn cities and slaughter civilians. Yet, I cannot actively recall the moment, the memory. I carry within myself knowledge, but not the emotion I am sure most would be burdened with. It is a blessing and a curse.
Now, considering I cannot speak on the matter of the war with any degree of accuracy in large part due to the lack of morality during that time, I shall instead lean on my personal interactions.
I believe that the worst thing I ever did during the war, at least in my personal life, was leave Ratchet alone for so long. I was never the best companion to anyone, nor was I an excellent friend. But what I am burdened with the most in my personal interactions is the simple fact that Ratchet was left to raise Bumblebee in my stead. I had a war to lead, but I was selfish I could not bear to let Bumblebee go once I had him. My host agreed. We were both selfish. We both wanted to keep him. We couldn't help it.
That meant that the task of raising him fell the one we both trusted most. Ratchet cared for Bumblebee in our absence and the rest of our inner circle cared for Bee when Ratchet could not. We were not there as much as we should have been. We both wanted to, but we both had to fight. Megatron was my foe and I was Orion's. We did not have the will or the time to be there and ease the burden of raising a sparkling.
I regret that I missed so much of Bumblebee's early life. I think we both regret it. It was not right to leave Ratchet alone, and above all else, it was cruel.
Ratchet, canyou explain how field attacks work? Why is pax so good at them? Is there any defense against attacks like that? If field attacks are so powerful they can make the prime collapse, why werent they used during the war to help take down Megatron and the cons? Is there special training for that kind of weapon?
Orion is so fragging good at using his field as a weapon because evidently, he's had millennia to master it. I don't know everything, but based on what I've pieced together, Orion mainly expressed himself through emotion when he was within the Matrix. Without a frame to divert his attention, he could put his entire being into expressing emotion physically. I assume he likely caused Optimus pain by sending electrical currents through sensory systems in his and Optimus's shared frame. But again, I don't know the details. All I can say for sure is that his skill in focusing his emotions transferred directly into the most severe field attacks I have ever witnessed.
Let me make this clear. The EM field of a Cybertronian is not meant to be painful. It's purpose is to express emotion without words through electromagnetic shifts and flares. The average civilian does this without thinking until they are trained to hold their field close or are given a dampener. It is instinctual for our kind since we are so varied and can be forged with special needs and alternate ways of communicating. In fact, field communication is considered to be the first and purest way to express desire and emotion. Supposedly, before there was language, our kind were bound together as one through the whims of our sparks. Much like words, field flares are not meant to cause actual pain. They are merely intended to get a point across.
But of course, as with all things, there are exceptions.
As a Doctor, I was trained to actively dull my field and taught to increase and decrease my ability to sense fields at will. I learned this through focus training where I was instructed to actively force more of my attention into specific sensory organs. The same general premise applies for those trained to use their field. Not everyone can do it, mind you. Training to use one's field is incredibly difficult since it requires a mech to learn how to imbue more of their emotion into their field through an actual exertion of energy and mental strength. Even when trained, most only learn how to stun temporarily or to create a shield of sorts which makes it impossible for whoever is behind the trained field user to be read by others.
The only actual defense against field attacks is to completely shut off the ability to sense fields. Being unable to sense a field means it cannot be registered as pain. However, that is a very... unsettling process for the untrained. It is akin to losing a whole separate set of optics and is very distressing for anyone who hasn't gone through endurance training. Fields are used for so much, and you never really know how much you rely on it until you walk directly into a wall because your proximity sensors were shut off along with your field. I honestly don't know how the humans last without the ability to sense one another.
It is also somewhat dangerous to train as a field user. Once you learn to use your field as a weapon, it is incredibly difficult to go back to using it as a simple means of communication. Trained users, even when they are trying to be docile and loving, have been taught to put so much emotion into their fields that they are incapable of being mild in their communications. Their average field usage is suffocating for normal mecha, and when they get violent, it physically hurts. Sensors read the emotion being flared as danger, which in turn is translated into pain since the processor is unable to locate any actual source of pain in the frame.
It is a flaw of Cybertronian biology. But it is what allows us to sense danger, so there is no actual winning in this regard.
Explanations out of the way, it is because of the sheer amount of training involved that few soldiers were ever trained in the art of wielding fields. It is time consuming in the extreme and during the war, we simply couldn't risk having our soldiers hurting each other with their fields when things got tense. It would have been chaos. Not to mention field users would have projected their feelings at all times like blazing beacons for the Decepticons to notice. It was simply more efficient for the average soldier to live with field dampeners and keep their emotions hidden from view.
Only the elites were trained to use their fields, and even that was more of a side note. The knowledge needed to train field users was all but lost when the Primacy was destroyed and only the Elite Guard still maintain a degree of the skill that field users once had. Even they are nothing like the Limit Breakers the Council employed before and during the start of the war.
EM fields are not intended to be made into weapons. And quite frankly, I think turning fields into weapons is something that should go die along with the sins of war.
Ratchet, in your last post you mention orion having spark merge injuries. 1 Can you please explain that a bit more in depth, how did orion get hurt spark merging? 2 what kind of injuries did he have? 3 where they Megatron's fault? 4 what other kinds of injuries can come from sparkplay? 5 how do you fix those kinds of injuries? 6 are those kind of injuries common?
If the core of your questioning didn't revolve around Pax, I would have told you to go ask your caretaker about the details of merging. I may be a doctor, but I am not a pediatrician nor do I specialize in the more sensitive parts of the frame. However, in this instance I am willing to answer your queries. I will begin with a bit of an explanation of spark merging as a whole.
Spark merging is, in simple terms, exactly what it claims to be in the name. The spark is the power source that keeps the Cybertronian frame functioning, and it is tied so deeply to the rest of the frame that it often physically reacts to emotions an individual is experiencing, much like an engine would have varying levels of performability based on environment. If you are religious, then the spark is the essence of a Cybertronian and it dictates our emotions rather than the processor having control over such reactions. With all this said, the spark is highly sensitive and very delicate when exposed to another of its kind. Merging sparks can have many practical uses, but it is often used as a sign of trust largely because of how dangerous it can be if one is not careful. For this reason, some frame types are recommended to avoid merging with other specific frame types for both parties' safety. Too big a difference in size and frequency can cause pain for one or both parties. And frame size can also play a factor in potential danger since a larger frame will have larger clamps and hinges.
To keep it nice and simple, the clamps are what keep a pair locked together during merging so that nothing can possibly harm them from the outside during the delicate procedure that is a merge. There is a reason most try to remain within their frame range when picking partners. Clamps can break, sparks can go out of sync and cause severe damage, charge levels can be too high for a smaller frame and burn them out, and honestly the list goes on. Orion's injuries stemmed from incompatibility issues not just in spark, but also in frame.
Megatron is fraggin huge, and Orion, while not exactly small, is dwarfed by him in almost every regard. I don't care to know the details of Orion's dalliance in Kaon prior to the war, but eventually he came to me with several broken hinges and one torn clamp from his fling with Megatron. By Primus, I wished it stayed a fling. I did make attempts to use his injuries as a way to show him that continued interactions with Megatron of the variety he favored were damaging.
Of course, he didn't care for my concerns. I was punished severely once he found out about Orion's interactions with Megatron.
In short, his injuries were relatively minor and they absolutely were caused by Megatron. I've already listed several potential outcomes of poor interfacing, but some of the most common injuries are easy enough to fix. Broken hinges need to be pushed back into place and held there with medical grade cast tape that wears away naturally. Torn clamps are stitched closed and medically made inactive until they fully heal. Burnt out sensors and other internals may require surgery to fully address, but often it is enough to just slap the patient with boosters for a few deca-cycles. Dents and whatnot just require a quick pop out and buffing.
The more serious problems such as spark chamber cracks require surgery and bedrest, but such things are rare. Most of the time, foolish younglings keeping beat up in their efforts to have a good time recover quickly.
[Inquisitorial Report: Subject - Head Archivist Orion Pax]
[Authorization Level: Prime]
[Listed Authorizations: Optimus Prime]
[Assigned Inquisitor: Jazz]
[Seven deca-cycles into assignment]
Hooooooooooooooboy. Things certainly took a turn for the messed up after your return was announced. Orion Pax is NOT OKAY. He hasn't left his hab since the announcements went out on the news, and has spent each cycle working himself up into a near frenzy with paranoia and fear. Of YOU, Optimus. Heβs scared of you.
He hasn't been to the Archives in many cycles, and has mostly been spending his time in berth, shaking like a slagging leaf in the wind. He's started having nightmares nearly every recharge cycle, most are severe in their presentation. Megatron even is struggling with the lack of proper recharge due to Orionβs disruptions. Several times in a recharge cycle he wakes Megatron either by screaming, thrashing or releasing some extreme field manipulations. It sometimes takes a joor or longer to calm him back down enough to attempt to recharge again.
He's also been having a difficult time keeping his field under control. Apparently this is why he has chosen to self-isolate in their hab. I heard him and Megatron discussing it this morning. Orion indicated that he feared he would unintentionally harm others if he were to leave. Judging by how ahβ¦.. Oppressive his positive emotions feel when heβs at home, I can only imagine how bad his negative ones must feel.
Megatron then contacted Ratchet to request some medications and an extension of medical leave. Sounds like the two argued a little, I'm not sure, but Megatron was angry enough for Orion to politely suggest he calm down.
Regardless, Orion Pax is terrified of you. I'm⦠trying not to take what Orion says to spark. I'm not going to lie to you, Optimus. I always had a hunch that you weren't⦠him. I don't know all the details of how you came to be and I don't blame you for your creation but its⦠It's hard to stay neutral after hearing the mech who was my best friend speak about how afraid he is. Of you.
Primus, Optimusβ¦ In his nightmares, you come to trap him and to kill Megatron. Heβs petrified of you coming after Megatron. He sometimes rambles for joors about you fulfilling your duty and coming for them. Iβm notβ¦ entirely sure what he means by being trapped. I canβt even pretend to fully understand the situation between you two during the war, but it sounds like it was a truly torturous experience for him, by how much he fears returning to that state.
I tried again to crack into his medical records to see if I could find any more answers on his thoughts regarding his time with you, but yeah, It was a no-go. Orionβs records are LOCKED DOWN. It's honestlyβ¦ a little weird. Medical files arenβt usually secured so tightly. Maybe this is something to ask Ratchet about??
Anyway, he was working when the news of your return came through to him. I happened to be at just the right angle to see exactly what happened: Orion was at his work station assisting his archivists in processing data from the current news cycle when your announcement hit. As soon as he processed your voice he froze solid, and his optics cycled in a weird way, like he was in a dark room. He started to shake uncontrollably, so much so that I could hear his plating rattling even from where I was hiding.
One of the other archivists came up behind him and placed their servo on his shoulder, and that sent Orion into a frenzy. He tried to run, but he didn't seem to know where he was. He crashed into a wall and clawed at it like a mechanimal. I donβt think he was processing visual signals correctly. It was a mess; datapads everywhere, work stations overturned, broken shelving units... The archivists all scattered, one of them thought to comm Megatron. By the time he arrived, Orion had been locked in his work station for everyone's safety, and was on the floor in a near catatonic state. He didn't even address Megatron when he came in, nor did he seem to notice Megatron when he gathered him into his arms to soothe him. Megatron stayed with Orion in the Archives until it closed down for the cycle, singing to him and telling him that he was safe. Once all the other archivists had gone home, then he brought Orion out and carried him back to their hab. He couldn't get Orion to talk to him until the next morning, though.
Listen Optimus. I really donβt understand the deal between you two. I wasnβt there all the time. I have no idea how bad things were for each of you, but I do know that I have never seen Orion react to anything that way. I have never seen him that afraid. And it lingered, OP. He has been in a constant state of fear since that cycle, even with Megatron at his side. He jumps at every sound he hears, even when heβs in recharge. He seems to think that you and the guard are an imminent threat.
Iβm not entirely sure what your intentions are with Orion, but my suggestion is that you do not attempt to approach him until his fears have been pacified, unless you wanna get bit. As usual, here's a journal entry.
_______
I am absolutely devastated. I am unsure if I can even properly describe all the emotions tumbling in my spark at the news I received this cycle. Megatronus and I were so diligent in filing all the appropriate forms to ensure I got the time off we needed for our trip to Kaon. All the slagging hoops they made us jump throughβ¦
I should have expected this. Every single step was nothing but spark wrenching setback after setback. It wasnβt enough for us to prove our bond personally, we had to fill out forms and documents that end up not accepting our cultural rites and refusing to acknowledge a bond forged in secrecy for fear of persecution.
Our bond was forged before these fragging forms were even written!! He and I were united in spark and frame millennia before most of those glitches were even forged! Why do they have so much power over which rites are deemed acceptable and which are not? They do not even have an appropriate option for the cultural rites of Vos!!
I was appalled when they tried to offer me forms to have an Iaconian rite performed for us. Our rites are SACRED. They cannot simply be overwritten by the new Iaconian standards and I know I was probably more emotional than required when I expressed my disgust at the notion. But I was then reassured that if I only wrote a letter to the board of registrations explaining our situation and reasons for refusing a new rite, that we would be able to register our bond this way. Another setback, as that was refused with no reasons given, although I suspect the reasoning was simply seeing βMegatron of Kaonβ as one of the parties involved. Filing or registering anything with his designation attached is difficult.
After that I spoke with upper archival staff to see what I should do, and they suggested reaching out to Senator Blueflow personally, as he is the one who approves connubial leave requests. I had, thus far, known Blueflow to be a somewhat reasonable mech, so I was hopeful that that would be fruitful. But he merely directed me to the file the connubial request forms even though I had already explained to him that Megatronus and I were currently unregistered.
Rejected. Another letter sent. This time with many archivists writing testimonials affirming that our bond is obvious, active and healthy. Only to be rejected again. I do not qualify as our bond, despite being millennia strong, does not meet the requirements. I should have expected it. I should have known. But it hurts.
I have worked so hardβ¦ I never took a cycle off. I came in when I was not required when asked. I performed beyond my designated shifts in the hopes that this one request would be granted; so that Megatronus and I may go home and reforge our rites in the very place we forged them originally. It is sacred to usβ¦ Why canβt they understand that?? Why do they not see the obvious pain in my spark at being denied the right to properly reforge an old and yearning bond?
Itβs not fair. I understand that they hate him, but why is that enough to deny us the same benefits and rights that all the others are entitled to?
