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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 23, 2008 16:01:30 GMT -5
"Ah, but I am withholding resources, Shockwave, and I've already made it quite clear why," Rodimus answers as he walks alongside the sigiless Decepticon. "I will not lose my own base by over-committing to the destruction of your enemies."
He turns his head just slightly towards Shockwave, far enough to make it clear that he can see the other out of the edge of his field of vision, but not far enough to seem like he's actually facing Shockwave. "I will tell you what, of our forces and capabilities, you need to know," he lies convincingly, tone only slightly condescending. Granted, if a betrayal is to occur, Rodimus will not be telling Shockwave of that, any more than Shockwave has told him of the... little surprises left in Duskwing. To expect true honesty between such as these is absurd.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 23, 2008 17:41:35 GMT -5
Shockwave shrugs, "A perfectly understandable tactic. Likewise, we will not leave our own base unguarded during our joint endeavor. This is an alliance built of convenience, not trust." After all returning victorious from that mission to find their base lost to betrayal would be...suboptimal.
"What we need to know or what you desire us to know? I have danced this dance enough times to recognize the steps, Prime. Do not be patronizing."
Shockwave pauses in his step to examine one of the broken storefronts, and the few books still scattered within. All electronic storage had, of course, been scavenged long ago. He looks up and catches the Prime's reflection in a bit of glass, and another tiny, unbidden and irrational flare of anger shoots through him. "I am not an emotional mechanism Prime. So tell me why your presence activates that buried programming within me."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 23, 2008 18:09:57 GMT -5
"If you know the steps," Rodimus murmurs, voice now leaning towards irritation, "then we both know that you won't trust any answer I give, any more than I'll trust any you provide." In other words? Rodimus is quite certain Shockwave and the Decepticons are withholding significant information from the Autobots, and wouldn't believe it if Shockwave claimed otherwise. Why should Shockwave believe the same from Rodimus?
The Prime's irritation turns to faint but apparent satisfaction, sufficient to pull up the corners of his lips in a slight smile, when Shockwave admits, even in a round-about way, that his presence has an effect. "I am Chosen of our creator and the bearer of the Matrix, portion of his sacred life-force. All Transformers, regardless of home reality, also carry the barest flicker of that life-force, and are tied to it, to the Matrix." That hint of a smile becomes more apparent, and Rodimus half-lids his optics. "Through that connection, in my presence, you are remolded into something closer to what you are intended to be." The smile widens and he looks directly at Shockwave.
"That programming is not meant to be buried, Shockwave."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 23, 2008 20:54:01 GMT -5
Shockwave studies the Prime, thoughts over alliances and information given or withheld fading to the background as he considers Rodimus' words. The words...they are familiar, in sentiment if not in meaning.
Shockwave has only ever sought to bring his people into their full potential.
But this...this is not acceptable. This does not improve the race but devolves it, if the only emotions enhanced are violent ones.
"Meant to be? Perhaps not. But neither are we meant to be creatures of chaos ruled by base thoughts of rage and destruction. And that seems to be what your presence sows, Prime, based on observation." Shockwave's optic flickers and his headfins tilt back further, "You are no Chosen of my creator and the Matrix you bear has no relation to me. And so I find your explanation...lacking at the moment."
For it does not make sense, what the Prime says, that such would apply to all, not just of different realities, but universes. The implications of such are boggling.
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 23, 2008 21:12:40 GMT -5
"What observations would that be, Shockwave? I'm quite capable of channeling the chaos." He lifts his right hand, palm up, fingers relaxed in a somewhat casual gesture. "Have you yet to hear any reports of my troops threatening the truce?" He grins. "I'd say not. I may sow chaos, and yet my control is more complete."
At Shockwave's proclamation that the Matrix he bears has no relation, Rodimus Prime laughs. "What makes you so certain of that?" he asks, then shrugs. "Whether you care for my explanation or not, it is the one I offer, for it's the only one I have."
"Optimus... Sentinel... Prime Nova... Prima... all of them, able to access a measure of the power of the Matrix. But only I am the reflection of the Creator. Only I have been made and then remade in his image. And I am still young in my power." Rodimus brings his hand to him and examines his fingertips as though they've grown immensely fascinating. "Beings such as Primus... do you really think they are as divided by reality as the rest?"
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 23, 2008 23:12:59 GMT -5
"Your troops are yours, and they are more used to such influence, I'd wager. Though still they felt the need to wreck mindless destruction. Or will you tell me now that the seaside town somehow attacked your group? And your influence was noted at our first meeting."
Shockwave does not remind Rodimus of Scourge's outburst. The Prime has most certainly not forgotten it, anymore than Shockwave himself has. And Shockwave is not certain that every Matrix is not connected. In truth, the probability is higher that they are, in the same way that reflections of reflections are connected. Why did he voice such an opinion?
"Perhaps I miss-spoke." No perhaps, he did, an emotional denial of an upsetting idea. The fingers of his hand clench and unclench a few times. "If Primus is as presented by our Ancients he would most certainly not be constrained by the boundaries of reality. But you and yours do not represent simply another timestream, another reality. You represent an entirely different metagame, a mirror image."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 24, 2008 8:01:20 GMT -5
The Prime idly shrugs a single shoulder. "Part of controlling such chaos, such rage, is realizing that it must have an outlet from time to time. I picked that city, both to provide that outlet and to learn more about this new reality by seeing what moths would be drawn to the flames." Rodimus's red optics glimmer as he smiles. "The results have been most enlightening."
Rodimus ceases in examining his fingertips to wave off Shockwave's last arguement before lowering his hand to the side. "A mirror? Because Autobots are the aggressors and Decepticons, not? Except in my reality, we're really just one species, anyway. Such divisions are artificial - political constructs. Meanwhile, if you were to ask Kup, he'd tell you that his species was divided from the beginning, the creation of the Quintessons with no Primus involved, though they still, somehow, have a Matrix. Of course, he would also claim that the Decepticons are the foul aggressors, to be kept under lock and key until they see themselves for the monsters they are and obey willingly." He snorts faintly in amusement at such flawed beliefs.
"That you even know of both a Primus and the Matrix brings your reality more in line with mine than several of the others I had already encountered." Rodimus smiles. "But then, objects in the mirror are often closer than they appear, anyway."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 25, 2008 8:51:54 GMT -5
"No, not just for that reason," Shockwave replies, but he does not elaborate.
Shockwave leans back against the side of a building, outwardly relaxing. The tension running through him is slight, finely drawn as one of Needlenose's circuits, but this Shockwave has a force of will matched by few others.
"There were no Decepticons before Megatron's rise," he says, " We were one before and are again." He crosses his arms across his chest, thumb rubbing over his fingers. And idle gesture uncommon in the gun-former.
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 25, 2008 9:44:31 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime grins, and it is horrible.
"So are we," he answers, and his expression, his tone, his stance, all speak of conviction. So far as he is concerned, he speaks the truth - Cybertron was his, the Americas, soon all of Earth. A small scattering of a few human rebels with fewer still Decepticons left on the Terran continents did not concern him.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 25, 2008 17:51:32 GMT -5
Long moments pass, as Shockwave watches Rodimus Prime. They are committed to this, committed due to Starscream's ambition, and Shockwave is already regretting his part in this. So much better for all it would be, to slay this Prime and lock his poisoned Matrix and it's influence away where it can do no harm. Destroying it would not be possible, most likely, and studying it...could prove too dangerous.
Studying the Prime once he was relieved of it however...Shockwave's optic flickers again at the thought of such a one laid open to his scrutiny. Even if Rodimus reverted, the data that could be gleaned....
Shockwave's thoughts are dark indeed at the moment.
"Fire and force are fine tools for conquest, Prime. But they do not a unified race make. There is more to us than war."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 25, 2008 18:55:54 GMT -5
Rodimus snorts and part way turns away, though it's obvious that he's still keeping Shockwave in view. "For your reality, perhaps," he sneers, and makes it sound an insult. "We have achieved the purpose for which we were created. I have achieved it. There is no purpose for my Cybertron save for that which I choose to give it."
The Prime does not turn his head back, but he crosses his arms, looks into his reflection in the building by which they had been standing, and, through reflection, views the world at large. "And I choose fire and force, war and conquest. All are one, under me." He pauses. "Or so it was in my reality, and so it will be." Another pause. "In the reality into which I was drawn."
No, he doesn't plan to betray the Decepticons and take all here as well. Whatever would give Shockwave that idea?
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 26, 2008 0:25:28 GMT -5
"Your purpose? Your choice?"
Shockwave does not move from his position against the building. His optic does not follow the Prime, though Shockwave is acutely aware of the Prime's position. There is a flatness to his tone now, his accent barely present, and his words are clipped.
"What you have done or not done in your world is inconsequential in the now. The place to which you have been brought is not the same." Is Shockwave talking about this Gillanan III, or the Prime's? "You are so arrogant, to think reality will bend to your will just because of who and what you are. You are but a Prime, bearing a Matrix, and you are as a childing in your power."
"Have a care, Prime. Play too often in the fire and you are likely to get burned."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 26, 2008 10:52:08 GMT -5
The Prime barks out a laugh. "One reality did, Shockwave." He does not say 'others will follow.' Not out loud, anyway. Shockwave is a fine one to speak of deeds in the home reality being inconsequential here, for as many times as he's spoken of how he united his Cybertron! Ah, if only he had made such boasts before the Prime...
"You are right about one thing, however," Rodimus grins, optics again glimmering in the sunlight. "I am young in my power. Just wait until I'm grown." He tilts his head to look more fully at Shockwave. "The Matrix is connected to the lifeforce of all Transformers. The day will come when distance is no longer a factor."
"If you are suggesting I should be concerned with the Prime you already have here, however," Rodimus snorts, and cuts the sentence off. "Those who would be defenders are prone to shackling themselves and their power. "He won't be able to wield it as I wield mine. I look forward to the confrontation with my alternate, my opposite but unequal."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Mar 26, 2008 11:41:39 GMT -5
"Did it?" Shockwave asks at the Prime's assertion, "And there are none who stand opposed? Your grip on the whole of your home reality is so sure, then, that your absence has not cost you your prize?"
He is poking now, despite the warnings ringing through his mind. Growing stronger than Shockwave's caution is his ire. Ire at the young Prime's attitude, his surety, at the effect of his very presence. One annoyance feeds on another, and Shockwave knows that if he does not remove himself from this situation there will be consequences. He is not entirely sure he cares, at the moment.
Shockwave does not address the comments about the other Prime. If this Rodimus Prime wishes to dismiss his alternate so, then so be it, and perhaps he is right in doing so. But then again, perhaps not. It will remain to be seen.
Shockwave does, however, look up at the Prime, soft yellow meeting glittering red. He speaks, and his voice is flat and clipped no longer, but soft, so very deadly soft, and the edge of true emotion that colours it so faint that most would dismiss it as hallucination.
"You will likely die before your power comes to fruition. Ambition is as much a part of our base programming as violence, and the odds are against you, 'Chosen One' or no. If your successor has half a processor he will have you smelted down before the fuel has cooled in your lines."
"And I, for one, would gladly watch you burn."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Mar 26, 2008 14:59:47 GMT -5
The Boy Prime throws back his head and laughs raucously at Shockwave's questions and comments, laughs at having gotten beneath Shockwave's armor sufficiently to elicit such an admission from Shockwave, to obtain even that hint of emotion.
When he's finished, he drops his arms to his side, turns full body to face the gunformer, and advises, "I wouldn't shut down my air-coolant waiting, Shockwave."
Rodimus lifts his head, his optics briefly flaring brighter, and seems to look at nothing at all - in fact, he seems to be staring rather intently at nothing at all, all trace of amusement momentarily gone from his expression.
And then it returns, and he returns for the now, although now the right corner of his lips is curled up only slightly. "So. We have established that you dislike me and are disturbed by my power. Fair enough. Now, since it seems we won't be discussing strategy, after all, I have something to attend to. If you do have questions about the battle plan, they can be taken up later." Smirk widens a bit. "You can even address me over the radio about the matter, if you can't deal with my direct presence."
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