Bird-Dog Returns

[Dinobot]

"No, the Grimlock from my universe is a mighty Autobot warrior from before the Great Upgrade. Though there are rumors he is still alive in a Maximal shell. As to legends, perhaps history would be a better term, though the line between the two is often fuzzy. Surely there was or is a Great War in your reality, Optimus Prime? Are you not a great leader of your people?" Dinobot has no idea that Optimus is probably sick of having this conversation by now.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus sighs and looks embarrassed. "I'm really going to have to update that database..."

He straightens up. "I'm not that Optimus Prime, any more than you're one of the.. okay well you named yourself after them. But Prime doesn't mean the same thing where I come from. It's just a rank. I'm... not a soldier."

[Dinobot]

Dinobot's expression hovers somewhere between confusion, disappointment, and disgust when Optimus admits he isn't a soldier. "If not a warrior, then what are you?" Next thing you know there'll be loyal Starscreams and competent Waspinators running around.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus' tone is resolute as he responds, "Someone who is trying his best to be a soldier, and is greatful for this second chance to prove himself."

He relaxes a bit. "So what about yourself? Can you tell me about you, where you come from?"

[Dinobot]

"This place offers us all a second chance," Dinobot replies cryptically. "As to myself, there is not much to tell. I came online as a Predacon, but now ally myself with the Maximal cause. Before being drawn here I fought a war on prehistoric Earth alongside Silverbolt and Rattrap."

He could say more, but he's saving his angst for soliloquies and possibly the rat.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus nods at the remark about cryptic chances. Dinobot has a chance to get his, and Optimus wishes him a fresher start than the one he has been having. "Prehistoric? Aren't you meant to be successors of the other Autobots, or something?" Time Travel has not been something that exists as far as this young autobot is concerned.

[Dinobot]

"Hnn. Megatron (not the one you're thinking of) stole a valuable artifact and used a transwarp ship to flee through time. The Maximal vessel Axalon pursued, and both crews were stranded on prehistoric Earth. That is the short version," Dinobot rasps.

"What is your origin?," he asks, finally. That's the polite response, right?

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus is going to assume that Dinobot is one of the people chasing Megatron and his artifact!

Optimus pauses to consider the best way to answer this. "My crew and I found the Allspark. If you don't have one where you come from, it's the source of all life on my planet. We were then found by Megatron, who pursued us, and we were stranded on, earth, only without any time travel. I just thought that was the stuff of fiction from holofeeds!

[Dinobot]

Dinobot isn't going to disabuse Optimus of that notion unless he asks directly. He already said he used to be a Predacon, after all.

One of his hands clenches into a fist as he says "Again and again our race is drawn to Earth, across different realities. Perhaps our great battles are simply fated to occur there." The raptor prefers not to have a discussion about time travel. It's kind of a pet peeve of his.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus spends a moment reflecting on Dinobots words. He's already defeated the deadliest, most despicable Decepticon, even if it was with a little help and a lot of luck. What else was meant to happen on earth to trump that?

Finally, he shrugs. "Well there's also no saying Time Travel doesn't exist either, I mean... here we all are. It makes you wonder what else exists that we just don't know about." Besides planet-eating planets, sparkless Cybertronians and the fact that every other incarnation of you is a great leader, leaving you the runt of the multiversal litter

[Dinobot]

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Optimus, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Dinobot responds. "I believe we are here for a purpose, and that our purpose will reveal itself in due time."

[Optimus Prime]

"A purpose? You mean like destiny" Optimus snorts. "If there's such a thing as destiny... then someone; whether they're on heaven, earth, Cybertron or the Benzuli expanse... has a sick sense of humour."

[Dinobot]

"Hmn. That may be so. But if we are not here for any purpose, if this all some great cosmic accident, would that not be even worse?" Dinobot asks.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus considers this, and finally simply sighs with defeat. "I don't know, Dinobot. I just don't know."

[Dinobot]

Optimus seems to be suffering from existential angst. Dinobot is contagious! Don't worry, Optimus, you get used to it. Read some Shakespeare, it helps.

"You say you faced your Megatron in battle?"