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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 27, 2008 23:20:32 GMT -5
Day 13, meaning it's the day before the rust monster run-in, Botanica's encounter with Starscream-3, and a lot of other stuff. I'll get the timeline updated tomorrow. Please ask before posting into this thread.
The repairs are still underway, and Rodimus has been pulling shifts alongside the medics, but even Primes need a break, and there's something he's been meaning to do, anyway. He's had partial repairs done on his head, but at the moment his left optic is covered with a patch to keep dirt and such out - an actual optic lens will have to wait.
An underground intersection with several offshoot tunnels has been serving as the center of camp. One of these offshoots is the area that's been used for repairs, but Rodimus is now currently closer to the area that those with less immediate repairs have been using to defragment in.
"Optimus?" he calls, as loud as he dare in the hopes of not disturbing anyone actually off-line. "You around here?"
There's a few things the young Prime needs to know, and Rodimus is taking it upon himself to try and explain them.
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 28, 2008 16:19:35 GMT -5
Rodimus is lucky, because Optimus Prime has indeed been wandering around the area, hoping to check up on some of the other Autobots that were offline. When Rodimus calls out, Optimus quietly pads towards Rodimus as quickly as he can without knocking over anyone.
"I'm right here, Rodimus."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 28, 2008 19:48:00 GMT -5
Rodimus gives one quick nod. "Ah, good. There's something you and I need to talk about. Come on." With a gesture of his hand, Rodimus leads them a bit further up the tunnel, then takes a left down a side tunnel. Still not far from the base, but they can speak in relative privacy without disturbing anyone resting.
Rodimus then slumps against the wall of the tunnel, and then slides down to sit against it. "Feel free to pull up a piece of floor," Rodimus smiles, gesturing. He pauses a moment, collecting his thoughts, then, whether Optimus sits down or not, continues. "This... might be easier if I knew a bit more about your reality. I'm told that you... lead a maintenance crew, right?" He frowns and studies the other Prime a bit more, then asks, "Does 'Prime' mean anything in particular in your universe?" So far, in most the universes others have spoken of, there's been a confirmed connection between the Matrix and the position of Prime, the big exception being the Bumblebee reality. Rodimus is fairly certain, though, that if this young Optimus were carrying a Matrix, he'd know. But if it's not that, what does Prime mean?
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 29, 2008 5:37:56 GMT -5
Optimus follows the other Prime down the corridor. It's not that he doesn't trust Rodimus, but he does get the feeling that something is definitely up.
When Rodimus extends the offer for Optimus to sit, he turns to the wall and regards it, attempting to rest his arm on it and prop himself up, before promptly and awkwardly straightening himself, failing to find a way to do so comfortably.
Optimus isn't sure how to answer this question without sounding patronizing it's kind of like asking another Transformer how they see when they transform. "Prime? It's an officer rank. It exists both within and outside of the Academy and Elite Guard." Optimus goes into some more detail about exactly where it fits in the typical rank structure but since his player only knows the lower rank of 'Minor' then a casual glossing over of these facts will have to suffice.
"Why, does it mean something else where you're from?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 29, 2008 12:55:45 GMT -5
Rodimus chuckles lightly and rubs his forehead, the bit just below his helm, and mutters, "Boy, does it."
"Where I'm from, the Prime Autobot is a singular position - only one Transformer holds it at a time, and I'm only the fifth ever. Sixth if you count Primus himself as one. We have an... artifact called the Matrix, passed to the first Prime, Prima, by our creator, Primus. It's... basically a large piece of Primus's life-force. In my reality, it's believed that every Transformer has some small sliver of Primus's life-force, their soul, if you will, and one of the primary functions of the Matrix is to bring new Transformers into being. It also serves as a... a container for the knowledge of the past Primes, the 'Wisdom of the Ancients,' as it's called, among other things."
Rodimus shrugs. "Those are only a couple of many abilities, but even those of us with an affinity for it don't know the full extent. For now, it's enough to say that the Matrix is an extremely powerful device, and in my own reality, the title of 'Prime' goes to a Transformer who both has an affinity for the Matrix and is its current bearer. Even some realities without a Primus, like Kup's, seem to have something similar going on.
"Even in realities without a Matrix, like Bumblebee's and Jazz's, 'Prime' seems to suggest some very high rank. Mine actually seems a bit odd, because 'Prime' didn't start meaning 'leader of the Autobot military' until the beginning of the war, and it didn't start meaning 'leader of all the Autobots' until not long before I got the job. For most of these guys, 'Prime' and 'Autobot boss' are pretty much assumed to mean the same thing."
Rodimus leans further against the tunnel, wrists resting lightly on his knees, sighs, and looks up at Optimus. "My predecessor was my reality's Optimus Prime. He looked... very similar to you, although mine was a bit taller." Rodimus holds his hand flat to suggest someone not much shorter than he is, although, because he's sitting and Optimus is standing, right now that hand is being held lower over the ground than the top of Optimus's head. "There are going to be a lot of people here, both Autobot and Decepticon, who, when they see you or hear your name, are going to assume either that you're carrying a Matrix, you're the leader of your reality's Autobots, or both, and this is something you need to know about."
He shakes his head, looking now at the floor. "I'm afraid you're wearing a target, Optimus."
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 3:10:34 GMT -5
Optimus' expression goes from extreme embarrassment--he was treating Rodimus as a comrade on equal footing, when in reality that could not be further from the truth--to intrigue and curiosity as he learns about the Matrix and further similarities to the All Spark and the relevance of Prime to other worlds. By the end of the conversation, Optimus' jaw is left hanging wide open.
"I... I... There's someone who..."
Optimus has no idea what to think. In another place and time, a version of himself was not just a Cybertronian warrior, he was their leader. And some kind of chosen one, to boot. In Optimus' wildest dreams, he had never considered the possibility of rising up the ranks that far...
"Rodimus, uh, sir!... I'm sorry, I... I don't know what to say."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 8:01:35 GMT -5
It's now Rodimus's turn to look embarrassed, but only slightly so. He lifts his right hand in a placating gesture and chuckles, "Well, first, you can calm down a bit. I've never really been one for formality - I just needed you to know what sort of situation you were dealing with."
Then Rodimus sobers. "And I'm really sorry that you do have to deal with this, Optimus. It's not fair, and it's not right, but sometimes that's just how it happens. Now that you know what you're likely to be up against, you can prepare yourself mentally. And you've got help."
"I... do have some experience with being thrust into the lime-light rather suddenly." The flame-clad robot smiles a bit sheepishly now. "The Matrix, erm, doesn't always choose a bearer you'd expect. Kup's also a good one to go to for help, and you'll be working for him in Main-Security, anyway. My own reality's Kup, he was... well, he was my mentor, my friend, and, after we lost Magnus, my second-in-command. This Kup's apparently helped two Primes get settled into their position, in a reality that defines 'Prime' about like mine does. So if you need any help from either of us, or even just... need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to ask."
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 14:59:53 GMT -5
Optimus knows all about being dealt a raw deal. He's not been one to just accept it, however. Once the overwhelmed feeling of what Rodimus has said finally leaves him, he lets these emotions leave him as he stands alert, his face firm with resolution. "Rodimus, if that is what it takes to serve as an Autobot against the Decepticons, then it is a price I accept. If people are going to expect an Autobot leader from me, then I'm just going to have to fight like one."
And then, after a moment, his curiosity gets the better of him. "But this other Optimus... I have to ask. What was he like?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 21:15:51 GMT -5
"But not all Autobot leaders fight the same," Rodimus answers, a bit of a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "When I first became Prime, I sometimes found myself wishing I could be the leader Optimus was, wanting to live up the legend that he left behind. Then I realized... well, I had realized it already, but I came to accept that I couldn't, because I have to be the leader I am. Look at the leaders around you, good and bad, think about how they influence you, learn from them, but... use that to become your best self, the Autobot leader you can grow to be, not the Autobot leader anyone else expects someone with your name to be."
Then he stops and leans against the tunnel, expression thoughtful now, and more serious. "As for what he was like... my world's Optimus... very noble. Honorable. Compassionate, and inspirational. He was a legend while still alive, and more-so after he died, but if you're looking for the term that best sums him up, that tem would be 'self-sacrificing.'" Rodimus's tone is admiring, respectful... but there's an undertone that implies not complete agreement with his predecessor.
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 21:51:11 GMT -5
All Optimus meant was that if they were expecting a battle, he wasn't going to shy away from it. But Rodimus' speech (and the implication that he could one day be an Autobot leader) is humbling. "I will."
As Rodimus describes his own Optimus, the Optimus in front of him nods seriously. Honourable? Compassionate? Self-Sacrificing? "Then, to share the name and likeness.. to be compared to someone like that? Is a true honour." One that the young Autobot will do his best not to let down.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 22:39:44 GMT -5
"Of course," Rodimus's smile now turns a bit self-depreciating, "there's such a thing as too much of some of these qualities." Rodimus's own sense of compassion torments him daily - he is a living contradiction, dedicated to defend all life, but forced to kill to do it. And as far as self-sacrificing goes? Well, that's all well and good, but sacrificing oneself over video game characters counts as taking it just a little too far.
And then there's honor. "Me, I try to fight dirty as much as possible," Rodimus admits, and he doesn't even sound ashamed. "I'm not saying there aren't any lines I won't cross, because there certainly are, but if I can come up with an underhanded advantage that isn't going to endanger an innocent, you can bet I'm going to use it."
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jun 30, 2008 22:59:37 GMT -5
Optimus frowns. He's not fond of dirty fighting, and because he's so honest he doesn't really hide his disapproval. But, it doesn't last for long as he realizes this is a point of similarity between himself and the Optimus that Rodimus knows.
"It's a valid tactic... but one I try to avoid myself." Optimus just leaves it at that. He's not a by the book type, but when he breaks the rules, at least he's up-front about it.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 1, 2008 10:22:15 GMT -5
'One he tries to avoid'? Didn't Rodimus recall hearing that this Optimus has fought one Decepticon? Once? Still, a faint smile brushes across the flame-clad Prime's expression, and is gone. It's not as if the tone of the answer is entirely unexpected. Autobots as a whole don't like fighting dirty, and an Optimus Prime? Even a young one? Of course, it's not as if Rodimus enjoys it himself.
He shrugs, left hand lifting somewhat to emphasize the motion. "Suit yourself. But as I see it, in a truly fair fight, where all things are equal, you've got a fifty-fifty chance of losing." He turns his head to look, no longer at the other Prime, but at some indefinite spot on the floor. "After awhile, you get to the point where no matter what you choose, you're going to end up with a result that shakes you out of defrag at night, will continue to for years to come. I decided long ago that anytime my choice came down to memories of the Decepticon I defeated, even killed, through some underhanded stunt or memories of the comrades or worse, bystanders, who died because I didn't, it's the underhanded stunt I'd rather have on my conscious.
"I'm not okay with this. You never become okay with these things, or if you do, well... that's the worst path of them all. But I'm less not-okay with that choice than the alternate."
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Optimus Prime
Minor
Oh yeah? Well I don't know what that means!
Posts: 383
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jul 1, 2008 17:00:47 GMT -5
Well, discounting the hours of combat training with less scrupulous individuals? There are more opponents in the world than Decepticons. Optimus nods. "I understand." He realizes that it's entirely possible that his ideals are not going to survive for long in practical application, but doesn't see that as a reason to toss them aside before he realizes he has to. "It seemed as if more than a few people know the name Optimus, though. The Bumblebee that's here, for one." Man, Optimus isn't even going to start on the differences between the Bumblebees. "Who else can I talk to about their Optimus Primes?
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 1, 2008 17:54:38 GMT -5
Rodimus shakes his head and chuckles lightly, once more lifting his head. "All of them." Then he tilts his head to reconsider what he just said. "Well, okay, not quite, but it's easier to list the ones who don't know or know of an Optimus than to list the ones who do. Swerve, once he returns, didn't know about the Optimus in his reality, but Override seems to. Long Haul and Skyfire are pulled from before their Optimus became prominent. Rattrap, Airazor, and Botanica knew an Optimus Primal, although they have an Optimus Prime as a historic figure.
"Finally, there's Holi, who's from the only reality where we haven't been able to establish the existence of an Optimus Prime at all. He mentioned a Rodimus Convoy, and even an Ultra Magnus, but no Optimus, Prime, Primal, Convoy, or... anything else. But except for those people, you can ask anyone."
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