Chapter Text
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As if in oblivion, Optimus walked slowly along the observation platform, one of those that girdled the Citadel several levels below. The sun had long since disappeared over the horizon, plunging Iacon into the darkness of the night... driven away by thousands and even millions of city lights.
Shame ... The Autobot leader felt as if a beacon flashed over him so that everyone could understand what he had just done. Megatron... Optimus waited so long for this moment, emotions that they both suppressed for such a long time... The red and blue mech hoped that the former nemesis, who had revised his views on life, will now be ready to accept him... But he was so cruelly wrong.
“Go away, I beg you...”
“Megatron, please...”
“Leave...”
And there was nothing to do but to leave the new Matrix bearer’s quarters, leaving behind only a feeling of fear... Optimus hadn’t seen the Decepticon leader in such a state for a long time. For a very, very long time. Even at the trial... Megatron was scared even then, but this...
“Old Tarnian traditions: only with the sparkmate.”
Optimus knew about this, Megatron told him about the culture of his people even before the war, and even still being Captain Orion Pax, he hoped that when the Senate corrected the classification error... Shockwave promised... He and Megatron would be together...
“Forgive me…” Optimus whispered, barely audible. He stopped at the edge of the platform and leaned against the railing. He wanted so much to turn around to the Citadel... The Prime realized where he was, knew that the windows of Megatron’s quarters overlook the same side, and if the Decepticon suddenly looked out, and the Prime turned around, they would see each other, and then Megatron would disappear from sight again. From this thought alone, it seemed to Optimus that all the energon circulating through his lines had suddenly been replaced by refrigerant, frame seemed heavy, pedes seemed to be rooted to the floor, servos didn’t obey, dull gaze drilled the railing, the ruler of Cybertron barely held back the washer. “Forgive me, I shouldn't have…” He heavily ex-vented and repeated resignedly: “I shouldn't have.”
“Optimus?” He heard the familiar always polite voice of a white-orange psychotherapist behind him. Quickly putting on an imperturbable look, the Prime turned around and saw the short, relatively fragile civilian in the same large pale blue glasses. Rung held an unfinished cube of mid-grade energon in his right servo. “What a surprise. It seems that I’mnot the only one who decided to take a stroll.”
“The night is quiet today,” the Prime responded in a neutral voice, “I couldn’t sit in my quarters.”
“Yes, the night is good y.” Rung approached him, with the left servo he took out another full cube of energon from the subspace and handed it to the leader of the Autobots: “You look upset, you need it.”
Optimus wanted to say no, but his left servo took the cube from Rung by itself:
“Thanks.”
They stood side by side, silently finishing their energon. From here, from above, the night city looks so alive... The process of the planet’s restoration is not going as fast as they would like, but, nevertheless, slow improvements are much better than nothing. From the outside it might seem that Rung was just enjoying the view, but he carefully watched the red-blue mech standing next to him. Attempts to suppress emotions were immediately noticed by the psychiatrist, and he also noticed a nervous twitching of the Autobot leader's servos.
“So… The briefing is tomorrow at nine, right?” Rung asked as if casually, putting the empty cube back into his subspace. Strike up a conversation on a neutral topic, and then imperceptibly push the interlocutor to the essence of the problem that torments him. This tactic has often worked.
“Yes.” Optimus finished his energon and did the same.
“Are we leaving in a new line-up?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Rung nodded. This conversation didn’t go well, apparently something serious had happened, just as he felt. But Optimus is in no hurry to leave, which means... it’s still possible to try to do something. Help him somehow. “How did Megatron take the news?”
“He thanked me.”
Then a bitter grin followed, but not at the Decepticon. No-no, this message of frustration wasn’t directed at Megatron at all. In his practice, Rung many times had to deal with mechs who were denied, or felt a sense of unrequited... affection. Optimus told him before about his crush on Megatron back when that mech was a miner and the leader of the Autobots was the captain Orion Pax. And if suddenly he confessed, not even wanting to, then he could well get a refusal. No surprising. The silver mech generally cannot think of anything like that now, he is tormented by guilt for his entire faction, as well as annoyance that all the sins of both opposing sides were blamed on him alone. Megatron is emotionally broken, he no longer sees the point in trying to shout to those who simply refuse to hear and listen. Society is a funny thing indeed, by its attitude alone it’s capable to turn a quiet, non-conflict personality into a cruel monster. Real or far-fetched - it doesn't matter. Under a group’s pressure any individual will sooner or later change.
...the only question is how.
“He is my successor, Rung...” the Prime admitted unexpectedly for himself. The red-blue transformer turned to the city below them and didn’t notice the understanding nod from the therapist. The orange-white bot was waiting for the explanations to follow, but Optimus was stubbornly silent and looked somewhere into the distance. So he had to ask a leading question to get him talking:
“What do you mean?” Rung's voice sounded soft and a little hesitant. Just so that the leader of the Autobots himself would want to give an answer.
“Just what I said.” Optimus turned to Rung, his optics completely serious. “Megatron is the new chosen one of the Matrix of Leadership.”He took a deep ex-vent and pronounced the last part of the phrase as neutral as possible: “The next Prime of our people. The last hope…”
Who he could have become a long time ago, if he had realized everything earlier... If only you had remained yourself, if personal enmity hadn’t erupted between you... Orion Pax... It seemed to Optimus that Rung's pale blue optics were shining through his frame even through large opaque eyepieces. Not surprising, Megatron was uncomfortable being alone with this bot in his office. However, Prime has more experience of communicating with him, and such an attentive look, which many might consider mistrust or doubt about the interlocutor’s adequacy, didn’t frighten him at all. Rung will not judge, Rung will understand.
“Does Megatron know about this?" finally asked the therapist, slightly shifting the weight to the right leg and putting the right servo on the hip.
“No, not yet. Optimus shook his helm, being mentally glad that the orange- white bot didn't ask... any questions at all. “But the Matrix is already inside his frame.” And then he told Rung everything, from how the artifact was handed over to tonight, of course, keeping silent about the conversation he had just had with Megatron.
Rung listened in silence, deciding to leave all possible questions for later. Vorns he spent among ordinary Cybertronians, bore fruit, he began to understand them better, knew when to object, and when to play along. His antipode, perhaps, would like manipulation more, but HE never sought to obey others. Only understanding, only fair judgment.
“When are you going to tell him about it?”
“Not until you return.” Optimus sighed heavily and lowered his helm, digits gripping the railing. “I cannot do this now... Megatron will either refuse, or...” the leader of the Autobots didn’t dare to say this aloud, but even now Rung didn’t interrogate him, only asked:
“And which option seems to you more feasible?”
“I don’t know…” the red-blue mech shook his helm and turned to the Citadel, to those windows up above, behind which Megatron's quarters. were. The light is on everywhere, which means that the new Prime is still online. What is he doing? When Optimus left, Megatron sat huddled up, shaking with fear. I am such a fool, the current ruler of Cybertron reproached himself, this was not necessary... How will he react at my presence now? How to fix this?.. Still looking in the direction of the Decepticon leader’s windows, Optimus admitted with a bitter grin: “I have long ceased to understand him.”
“And have you ever tried?”
The Prime shuddered. Fragments of memories began to appear by themselves. Has Optimus tried? Yes, many times. He tried to convince the opposing side that the Autobots were right and the Decepticons were wrong, he threatened, struck blow after blow, killed...
...but no, stubborn Megatron stood his ground, for some reason deciding that it was their path that was correct. Why? He was a pacifist... he wrote such inspiring things... And then...
“Megatron, everything you say... Do you understand this?.. All your words are saturated with hatred.”
“Ha! I've learned to hate in jail cells like this one. Thanks to the Autobots and their high-ranking friends who taught me everything about violence and its use. Now I live to hate. And it keeps me going...”
“Optimus?”
“I tried,” he finally admitted reluctantly. “Or rather, I thought I was trying. He still didn't listen to me.”
“But why?” continued Rung, trying to push the Prime to the answer, lying on the surface.
“I can't imagine...” the ruler of Cybertron shook his helm. “He was once so… so…” the Prime clenched his fists in regret. “So pure, kind, blameless… he was… an idealist. His writings... made me think... Megatron was right in many ways. But then he decided to play a tough game, because not everyone accepted his point of view.”
“Is it because of this?” Rung asked emotionlessly.
“What are you talking about?” The Autobot leader asked, puzzled.
The therapist smiled sadly. He didn’t want this, given Optimus Prime’s physical condition, but there is no other choice: only one admitted his wrongs, but not the other. Things are still out of balance. The new Matrix bearer will be away from Cybertron for a long time, and the one who is now still called the ruler of the planet need to convince the ruling elite to reconsider their views. People will have to accept their new Prime, and he, in turn, will be obliged to serve his people.
“Who were the Decepticons from the beginning? It all started with the discontent of the lower strata of society, it was all before Megatron, but he... being a Point One Percenter... felt and saw the suffering of. And he couldn’t be silent.
“Senator Shockwave had made every effort to get Megatron into the Ultra Magnus’s care. The Senate did what was necessary to correct the misclassification…”Optimus shook his head. “In theory, Megatron had the opportunity to speak for the oppressed... However, he...”
“In theory?” Rung specified with a clear hint. “Practice and theory are completely different things. And you, as a former police officer, a servant of the law, should understand this. And if Megatron had those opportunities, as you say, he wouldn’t have escaped.”
“He was impatient.” Optimus chuckled mirthlessly. “Sometimes the sense of justice, desire to achieve it here and now, drowned out his common sense. He fought for equal rights for all, dreamed of changing Cybertron for the better. I wanted it myself. Just like Ultra Magnus... and Senator Shockwave too.”
“But your views on a better future for the planet were different.”
The Prime shook his helm, involuntarily remembering the day Megatron decided to speak to the Senate. And Optimus, still being Orion Pax, warned him about the consequences of this choice.
“Megatron, this is getting out of control. Think about it, this is not what we all wanted. Many innocent people can suffer and die.”
“Any death is a tragedy, Orion. However, there is no other way: we must adapt to the current situation if we want to achieve our goal. You're right, I didn't want it to come to this. But they left us no choice.”
“… and only later, when you became Optimus Prime… Have you ever tried to listen to them?” Rung's voice suddenly chased away the sudden memory. “Or were you just trying to impose your point of view? How can you, the one who has always stood a few steps higher, say that you understood them when you didn’t even try to listen. Let them talk, not just listen to your calls to surrender... so that for them everything will be the same again or even worse.” The therapist exhaled sympathetically: “Which is what actually happens now.”
The Autobot leader froze, shocked by the sudden discovery. He had never thought about how the Decepticons perceived his words. Megatron didn’t believe the Autobots’ sincerity, because they didn’t give any reason to trust them. Temporary cooperation doesn't mean anything yet. The Prime still tried to put pressure on Megatron, forcing him to conclude a peace... which would exist on the terms of the Autobots, where justice would reign, as the Autobots understood it... And Megatron was afraid of this, and now he is afraid for those who still sincerely believe in their common cause... Freedom, equality and equal opportunities for all... All this has already been forgotten, and it has been replaced by resentment, hatred, anger...
In theory, peace was possible a long time ago. They could at least for some time try to exist together, try at least to agree on something... But the Autobots have long considered the Decepticons evil, and those knew that even if they somehow magically decided to stop fighting, then the faction of the Red sign would simply destroy them... And the last six months are a direct confirmation of this.
“I’m not judging you in any way, Optimus.” Finally, Rung spoke, interrupting the flow of his thoughts. The therapist's voice returned to a soft, calm tone, and the Autobot leader felt a strange relief that something invisible that had just threatened to crush his already unstable spark had suddenly disappeared. “You were right… in your own way. And Megatron was right on his part too. However inability... or unwillingness to stop early has jeopardized the very existence of our race. And he realized it before you did.”
“What can I do now?..” the Prime asked quietly, again squeezing the railing with his digits. There was not a single hint of hope in his voice to fix something right here and now.
“In this situation, specifically for Megatron - nothing,” these words sounded like a bolt from the blue. Optimus froze, feeling as if all his systems were starting to fail, and the observation deck under his pedes was about to disappear, and he would fly away into the unknown. “But you can do something for the people of Cybertron,” Rung added more confidently, and explained: “We need to work on a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Mechs must learn the truth: not immediately, gradually; it is necessary to stop anti-Decepticon propaganda and tell how it all began, what Megatron and his people wanted... and how they were rejected by high society. The warring factions will have to understand and accept that they are one people, and the Decepticons have the same right to live on Cybertron as the Autobots have. Live without hostility and constant fear of expecting a blow in the back. Only then will there be a chance for peace you have always dreamed of.”
Optimus slightly bowed his helm, looking at the fragile psychotherapist with some doubt, and at the same time with the realization that he was right. They came to nowhere: the new Senate is almost like the same as the previous one, and he himself hardly differs recently from those Primes, whose decisions led to riots among the lower strata of the population, which later resulted in a revolution led by a former pacifist. A Point One Percenter, who denied his true ‘self’.
“It’s impossible, Rung,” the Autobot leader concluded bitterly, comparing the facts, “the new Senate...”
“That obeys you and listens to you,” the white-orange bot suggested sympathetically, which again puzzled Optimus. “If Megatron is the new Prime, they will have to accept this fact... just as he will have to. And, since the deed has already been done, you both cannot escape this conversation one way or another.”
“So... what’s next?” The Prime rubbed wearily his faceplate again. “The further we go, the worse it becomes. Decisions I make no longer seem right to me. Every time it feels… ” he looked up at the clear night sky, “that I'm only making it worse. I don’t know what to do. Who I am now... what’s left of me... is not the Optimus Prime who was considered a hero, not the Orion Pax, who once stood guard over the law. I have failed us all, Rung...” For a moment, the Prime looked again at the upper floors of the Citadel, where Megatron's apartments were located. The light is still on. “I faild him.” At the last sentence, the Autobot leader's voice broke, and the red-blue mech hastily turned away, brushing a thin trickle of washer from his left cheek.
Failed him... They won't be together, won’t be any spark bonding, Megatron won’t be carrying his sparklings... Everything that Orion Pax secretly dreamed of for a very long time. When it turned out who Megatron was, and that was supposed to be in the Intellectual, and not the Manual class, he was placed under the care of Ultra Magnus... Then Orion thought that here it is, the opportunity... And he missed it anyway.
“It’s not over yet, Optimus,” the Prime shuddered in surprise, feeling a servo on his left shoulder. He turned slowly and met the gaze of the slightly sad smiling therapist. Pleasant warmth radiated from the the white-orange bot’s palm throughout the frame in waves. With just a single touch, Rung was able to instantly banish emotional and even physical pain. Who is he? The leader of the Autobots asked himself this question many times, but he didn’t dare to ask Rung, realizing that he won’t hear the truth. “You are very tired mentally and physically, you have been entrusted with such a burden of responsibility that few would cope with, Cybertron's mechs still believe in you and follow you. And if you give up, there will be no hope for us.”
The Prime looked at him blankly, he didn’t move, didn’t say a word... But Rung felt and understood that the interlocutor heard and perceived his words. The darkness didn’t recede. He’s biding his time. Disagreements haven’t disappeared. The war is not over. And Megatron is not yet ready to accept himself in a new role.
“Give them all time to adjust," Rung walked around the Autobot leader and stood in front of him, "let us complete the mission, do what you can to influence the propaganda... in a different way. But do not lose your vigilance, not everyone, even among the Autobots, benefits from the war ending.”
“I know…” Optimus was forced to admit. He understood that he must do the same as Megatron - to call on the Autobots to stop oppressing the opposing side. But does he have enough spirit? Without the Matrix, Autobots leader is no longer the same, nothing holds back his emotions, or gives strength and confidence. He relied on it for so long that now feels like part of the very essence of Optimus Prime has simply disappeared. Having deeply ex-vented, the red-blue mech ran both servos over his faceplates and quietly admitted: “I'm afraid ... I'm so afraid, Rung. Without the Matrix I am not the same person anymore... my spark is extinguished, I am not capable of anything.”
“You’re wrong, Orion Pax… Optimus Prime,” although the therapist’s voice sounded rather quiet, it still was full of confidence. Rung turned to face the city and pointed his right servo in its direction. “Look what you've achieved! What a progress in such a short time. Iacon is alive, and other cities will be reborn after it. And this is thanks to you. You are the leader, you know how to unite a scattered people... The Decepticons are Cybertronians, like everyone else, they have the right to live on Cybertron, like the Autobots, and Neutrals... Only together you and Megatron will be able to finally put an end to the Time of Darkness...
Optimus flinched. He and Megatron together.
“Now you are the link between the Autobots and Decepticons. If everything works out, if you manage to become a bridge of friendship for them, you will be glad that you didn’t give up.”
He is right, Optimus admitted bitterly, neither Megatron nor the ruling new Cybertron elite are ready to know out the truth. The secret transfer of the Matrix of Leadership to a former nemesis, to the one whom the Autobot sosiety considers guilty of all the troubles of Cybertron, thanks to propaganda. Is he the only one to blame? No, of course it can’t be so. And if Optimus directly declares his grave condition, then real outrage can begin. Someone like Starscream would certainly use the opportunity to remove the current ruler of the planet, and without the Matrix, there’s little Optimus can do to stop that. As a result, the leader of the Autobots won’t save Megatron and the entire Cybertron people, but will only make things worse.
“Will he ever forgive me?”
Rung frowned as he considered his answer. Free will is something that no one can influence. One can only direct a being in the right direction, but not force them. Need the right moment, you need to slowly and confidently lead them to this decision, then everything will work out.
“And you... Can you forgive him?"
This question came as a surprise to Optimus, although... It is Rung: sees the situation from all sides, doesn’t forget about the interlocutor’s feelings, even when they are discussing someone outsider.
“Too many contradictions, grievances, mutual pain...”
Mutual. Megatron said this for a reason. The Autobot leader felt that the silver mech wanted the same thing as he did. They could be together now, tonight, if Megatron only let his feelings to take over him... even despite traditions of the mechs of his city. If they both forgave each other...
“I hope so,” Optimus said after a moment's silence. Rung nodded understandingly and, placing his right servo on Optimus's same left shoulder, wisely said:
“So you answered your own question yourself.”
They stood a little longer at the railing and silently contemplated the night Iacon. During this time, Optimus looked back several times at the Citadel, but the light in Megatron's quarters windows didn’t go out. The lamps burned all night and turned off by themselves only in the morning, when the first rays of the Cybertronian sun fell on the city.
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Even after the Prime left, Megatron kept sitting on the floor, staring at the space in front of him. There were no thoughts at all in his head, he felt only fatigue... fatigue and despair. What will happen now? Will the winner Prime get angry? Will he change his mind and won't let him on board? Megatron almost succumbed... and what can happen to him nest? How low I have fallen... I’m doomed, but... others...
I lost the war when I first gave the order to attack... It didn’t have to be this way... I didn't want it. I dreamed of a better future for everyone, not just for the new elite from the enemy faction. History repeats itself... Faces and events from the past involuntarily appeared in his mind. Scraps, no chronological order, although memory archives are intact. Impactor once said that inequality is the norm, that his and Terminus’s venture will unlikely lead to anything good. But then everything was relatively harmless: publications about the reverse side of the medal of the Golden Age. ‘You’ve been deceived’ - this is how the Decepticon movement began, they wanted the Senate and the Prime to hear them, so that they would somehow change the current situation for the better. Then no revolution would be needed.
“...worthy? Tell me your doubts...”
Suddenly everything around was plunged into impenetrable darkness. Terrified, Megatron jumped to his pedes and looked around, but saw absolutely nothing. His spark was overwhelmed by a wave of emotional pain, which made him fall to his knees again, trembling with fear of the unknown... which suddenly clears up, and right in front of him, like a movie, the events of the past begun to flash: Messatin, Terminus, a shootout in Iacon, where Megatron heroically rushes to help innocent... Central Iaconian Hospital, Orion, Ratchet, Senator Shockwave... First meeting with Ultra Magnus. Followers, transition to decisive action... Megatron goes to the Citadel to speak with the Senate... Enforcers do nothing...
“No!!!” Megatron screams in horror, pulls servos forward, trying to attract the attention of himself from the past. “Don’t go there! Come back!” But everything is useless. And then the silver mech draws attention to the inactive guardians of the law: “Orion! Orion, help! Don't let me leave!!! I beg you...”
Massive doors close behind him, and the surrounding reality drowns in an all-consuming flame, symbolizing only revenge... With a desperate cry, Megatron grabbed his helm. Point of no return... And Pax just watched...
“We are one now… And yet, you are not the one who is capable of leading the people of Cybertron. Not yet. Tell me your doubts... Admit to yourself.”
His own voice... Megatron raised his helm and saw again that very soft pure blue light, in which a barely visible dark figure walking towards him, in the outlines of the frame very similar to...
“Terminus?..”
“Tell me your doubts... Admit to yourself.”
A dark silhouette holds out the right servo towards him, Megatron in response puts forward the left one... A flash of light...
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…And here Megatron is again on the same balcony where he was before the vision of the past overtook him. The whole frame was shaking shallowly, the silvery mech couldn’t understand if it was all for real, or just in his head. It probably seemed, but the images were so true, as if...
“Good morning.”
Megatron flinched at this voice and recoiled sharply when he saw Ultra Magnus sitting next to him. What the... When did he get here? Came to me... so close? I didn't hear, didn't notice... Megatron shook his helm. Did he accidentally start a recharge cycle right here on the floor, on the balcony? That means all this was not real... And only now he noticed that it was already light behind the power barriers.
“Is it morning already?” he stated doubtfully. Magnus nodded, calmness on his faceplate, a subtle smile on his lips. Embarrassed Megatron looked guiltily at his knees. “Well, yes… morning.” So he sat like that all night, and those mental images were nothing more than echoes of the past in recharge mode.
Magnus was silent, continuing to sit next to him, but his presence didn’t make the Decepticon want to run away, as in the case of Optimus. Once these two had a close relationship, Minimus Ambus, also known as the Ultra Magnus, acted as Megatron's guardian, when it turned out how special is that mech was, whom everyone considered a simple miner...
“What?..” Megatron frowned, seeing the Magnus scrutinizing him closely.
“No, nothing...” the big blue-white bot shook his helm. “Just recalled how we first met. Do you remember? They brought you to my house, escorted you to your new room... And when I entered to say hello, I saw you sitting in the corner... not paying attention to anything or anyone...”
“I saw you and others... and heard...” Megatron straightened up a little and looked up, fully leaning his back and the back of his helm against the wall, “but could not say anything... because...| with a sigh, he turned his helm to the Ultra Magnus: “Because I didn’t know what would happen to me... I didn't know what to do.”
“And I didn't know how to behave. How to establish contact between us... You didn’t react to my attempts to speak to you...”
“Then you just sat down next to me, and we were silent for a long time...” Megatron added a little embarrassedly, mentally reliving that moment again. The attack happened unexpectedly, the miner didn’t even know who it was. And then he came to his senses in a place like... an operating room. Chained to the slab, completely immobilized, he saw only the bright light of the lamps on the ceiling, the voice of that mnemosurgeon... Digits with needles...
...and then the order came. The mnemosurgeon objected, saying that they had almost started, but retreated. Megatron was freed and handed over to a group of enforcers who came for him, who took him to the Ambus estate, where the frightened miner already met his guardian.
Along the way no one specifically explained what would happen to him, they only said that he was special, and now a completely different life awaits him. And his new guardian, the one who sits now near him, turned out to be kind, patient and understanding... very different from most of the nobles of his house. And at another time, Megatron would have been glad of this opportunity, but... he considered it unfair, why him? If he hadn’t rushed to help of Orion and his group back then, he wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital where Ratchet worked... Orion's friend, a doctor with centuries of experience, and others. So his anomalous spark became known to the Senate...
“We did this quite often in the past,” Magnus recalled and smiled a little to himself, “the first time it seemed strange to me: just sit next to someone and be silent. And wait until you decide to speak up yourself, since all my attempts to strike up a conversation have been useless.”
“But then I asked what would happen next.” Megatron nodded, feeling a little foolish. How he would like to return to the days when nothing had happened yet. But with the knowledge of the future.
“And I replied that from now on everything would be alright and…” Ultra Magnus suddenly fell silent, rubbed his nose bridge with two digits of his right manipulator servo and turned away.
He wasn’t happy with the idea of the need to take a charge, he already had enough responsibilities. Some members of the Ambus House were especially opposed that now they were forced to take in ‘some idiot from a lower class. However, the head of the house reacted positively: a Point One Percenter with similar views... even if it’s a former miner, probably doesn’t have good manners, but this can be corrected over time. In any case, it was Prime's order, the unanimous decision of the Senate, and also Shockwave's words: "I can't trust anyone else with this." Minimus Ambus had no idea what plans they had back then for this large, timid mech. He agreed to be Megatron’s mentor because it was an order from above, and he also felt that it was right, it was necessary.
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Now the same Megatron was in front of him. Yes, he looked a little different, but the spark is the same, voice, face features and look are the same, the same essence. At the moment, the Matrix hasn't changed him at all, at least at first glance.
“I’m very sorry…” the head of the Cybertron troops finally said.
“For what?” Megatron was sincerely amazed. Magnus's sudden announcement knocked him out of his already precarious balance a little. What is Ultra Magnus apologizing for now? They both have done things in the past, and have already talked about it, or rather tried... when Megatron hadn’t yet resigned from the post of head of the Purple Sign faction. If only... Cold fear gripped him hand and foot. Unless Prime changes his mind and Magnus is here to take him to the Sentence chamber...
“I have let you down a lot in the past...”
“No,” Megatron immediately objected, “it is I who let you down, Minimus... You were a great friend and a wonderful mentor to me... I couldn't even dream of a better one. Thank you for being in my life.” Megatron humbly lowered his helm, waiting for the order to follow him to where it all ends...
“Why do you speak in the past tense?” Ultra Magnus was genuinely surprised. “I’m here, and you can still try to regain my trust.”
Megatron's optics wide in surprise. The meaning of the words spoken by the large blue and white bot didn’t immediately reach his CPU. Still here... can still try to regain trust... So there won't be execution right now? Even after what happened between him and Optimus yesterday?
“What do you mean…”
“We are on the same side again.” The Magnus smiled faintly and stood up. “Time to go, the pre-flight briefing will begin soon.”
Briefing? Megatron felt a strange relief: it means that nothing has changed, he, nevertheless, is going to fly with them. Magnus is unlikely knows what happened that night between Megatron and Optimus Prime. No, Prime won’t tell everything as it is, doesn’t have enought enough courage. Briefing. Space expedition. Think about the goal, about the Decepticons. The silver mech also slowly got up and, together with Magnus, set off from his time quarters to where the briefing would take place.
The past has passed and won’t return,
The future now is all that means,
Accept the fact and move along,
Do not repeat your bygone sins.
They walked to the elevators, went forty-eight levels down, then passed several more corridors, and then, when they reached a covered walkway in the form of a large glass tube with a magnetic monorail, where a special covered transport was waiting for them and four guards stood next to it, literally from nowhere nearby appeared Rodimus.
“I came in time!” He said happily, imposingly approaching the two tall mechs. “Good morning Magnus, Megatron. How are you both doing this fine morning?
“Good morning, Rodimus," Ultra Magnus greeted neutrally. Megatron only nodded almost imperceptibly and turned away, hoping that such a greeting would be enough, but he was mistaken:
“Very impolite, co-captain,” the red-yellow Autobot chided him back. “I treat him, you know, with all kindness, but what in return? Although am I saying...” Rodimus pointedly scratched the top of his helm and waved him off, “forgot who I’m dealing with.”
But I remember, Megatron objected to himself. And this is what I’ll have to endure every day in space. Something tells me, this is just the beginning. For some reason, he remembered the two pre-flight conditions set by Optimus: Fool’s energon and mandatory psychotherapeutic sessions with Rung once a week. To tolerate Rodimus is probably the third condition. Although... it’s not an actual condition, it’s just… as it is.
“Enough,” the Magnus interrupted Rodimus, who further continued to voice some verbal nonsense, “it's time to go.” He pointed behind his back: “Get into the transport everyone.”
“I'm the captain, Mags!” the red-yellow Autobot immediately resentful indignant and waved a servo towards the armored vehicle on the monorail: “So, everyone, get into the transport.” And the first leisurely walked through the open doors.
“Just ignore him,” Megatron advised to Magnus, who stood frozen in amazement. He didn’t answer. Formally, Optimus's protégé hasn’t violated anything, no rules or instructions, and so far he has nothing to even comment on. Perhaps, indeed, it is better to ignore him and don’t pay attention that Rodimus so desperately tries to get from them with his behavior.
“Come on,” and Magnus took the first step towards the transport.
It was light and spacious inside, even a mech as large as Ultra Magnus could stand there in full height. Seats in a row at the wall opposite from the front door, large windows, even a holographic screen was above the front door. When all seven mechs were inside, the doors closed with a subtle hiss, and the vehicle began to move, gradually accelerating. Through the glass ceiling of the monorail tube, the high-rise buildings of Iacon, as well as the almost cloudless sky, could be observed behind the windows. No worsening of weather conditions were predicted in the next decade.
“You guys mind if I turn it on?” Rodimus stood up from his seat and walked over to the flat holographic screen. No agreement or objection followed from any of those present, which was perceived by the red-orange bot as: ‘No’. So he pressed some button on the side and returned to his seat.
Only when he was in the transport, Megatron remembered that he hadn’t yet refueled today. Well, never mind. Fool’s energon... no saturation effect, and unless you check the HUD, you may not notice the difference at all. Sensations are the same. For now the energy level shows 87%, and this despite the fact that he didn’t recharge at night. Or... Anyway. he’s used to energy starvation, his spark is strong, nothing will happen.
He was much more worried about the upcoming meeting: how it would be held and who would conduct it. Prime? For sure. Nothing happends without him. Don't think about what will happened. Optimus won’t talk about this in front of everyone, the main thing is not to stay alone with him anywhere. Hold out for another day, and then - departure. Soon I'll be far away from here... Soon everything will happen.
Soundtracks (with chapter episodes):
1) Wonder Woman 1984 OST - Lost and Found [Bonus Track]; (Optimus's thoughts and unexpected meeting with Rung)
2) Mass Effect 2 OST - Humans Are Disappearing; (Megatron's memories)
3) Pearl Harbor OST - ... And Then I Kissed Him; (Megatron and Magnus)
4) Transformers: Prime OST - Optimus Prime Returns (Megatron and Magnus: earn trust)
P.S. Past MiniMegs is a bit similar to Silver_setting_sun's story 'We Hail From Golden Chains' that I really love. But with my own changes of course. There will be flashbacks and even a chance for Megatron to return in time. He couldn't stay there however, because his real frame was still in the present time and the Matrix tried to pull him back. I don't actually follow the canon story either, I'm a BioWare games fan and... well, in the next chapter (the last of the Prologue) will tell you about their mission more.