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[Deckerd has been restlessly prowling the ship since he'd last messaged Starscream and Gunmax. He's been rotating options as to why and how both Shadowmaru and Kagerou would have fallen out of all contact, and as a member of security he has plenty of access to files that encourage all of his most fear driven theories]

[Maybe, Shadowmaru hasn't gone home at all. Maybe he'd just been taken somewhere else, where he has been prevented from being found or responding. And maybe the same thing had now befallen his brother]

[The antlered Megatron is close to the ship, and has made contact with someone he has manipulated in the past. It is not an unreasonable assumption to make that he could have taken advantage of both Braves and simply decided not to advertise this fact. So Deckerd finally wedges himself into a corner of the ship he rarely frequents and powers up his datapad]

Antlers. I know you are within close enough range to receive and respond to this. There are crew members aboard the ship who have fallen out of all contact. You, meanwhile, have precedent for harming and manipulating AI. Where are you.

[ It would not be till several more days before a response is given]

Off course, no thanks to some of your teleporters. Why should it matter, I have not been aboard and unable to physically alter anything on that ship myself. I am after all no longer on target. Hmph, too bad for you. But lucky for them, I suppose. It wasn't I. It could simply be they've gone home.

[Deckerd doesn't respond to this whatsoever, aside from punching the wall. Obviously Antlers' word couldn't be trusted. But he had an idea of how to get the answers he wanted face to face]

[Abruptly shoving himself to his feet, Deckerd stalked in the opposite direction of the brigade labs and Starscream and Gunmax, and headed instead towards the shuttle bay, and the Cybertronian known as Astrotrain]

Excuse me, I need to intercept the antlered M-

Edited 2024-07-28 15:39 (UTC)

[uninterested in being interrupted, or even bothering himself to go after megatron himself if this guy apparently has some idea of where he is, astrotrain immediately grabs deckerd and fires out a portal based on a quick scan of his person.]

Have fun.

[and deckerd is thrown into the portal. astrotrain has been called many things over the years, but inefficient isn't one of them.]

[ There now stands a frantic mech pushing buttons and pull a wheel around to fix his off coursed adventure. Grumbling in disgust at the actions of that Skywarp.

How dare he.]

When I get my hands on him... Oh there will be consequences!!!

[Deckerd took a few seconds to recover from the disorientation of the trip before he lifted up his chin and glared at the back of the much taller Cybertronian. His fuel pump kept turning over with the tangle of emotions in his chest, but he ignored it. He couldn't be denied this time]

When you are finished throwing a tantrum, Antlers, I would like a word.

[ His hands slow to a steady stop, and with all this time alone. This Megatron has learned and honed a skill he used on Thrust before his unfortunate departure from life.

But now this time instead of turning his back calmly away. He turns calm like the eye of a storm to the little AI intruder.]

A guest. At this hour, how kind of you to deliver yourself to me but I have no time for petty little Braves today, Deckerd.

[Deckerd's optics grow brighter and brighter]

You are going to make time. I don't care if this ship is so off course that it is pointed straight at the heart of a star.

[He grit his teeth hard enough that his jaw ached, and at his side his hand twitched once then twice towards his service pistol. But he would not. Not even for this]

It would be violating every rule I live my life by to try to rip vengeance out of you for what you've done to Quickman and the others. So I will have to be satisfied by asking again: where are they.

Are you still prattling on about that. I told you, I haven't the foggiest clue. [ He then motions with to fingers walking off in the air]

Perhaps they traveled to get away from the ship specifically. Maybe they killed themselves. Maybe they killed eachother. I'm not the keeper of AI as much as I wish to be.

[ He starts walking forward. the triumphing echo of his pedes hitting metal on metal. ]

Just because I am guilty in one way does not make me the automatic villain in another. And you do well to learn your place before me.

[Deckerd stepped right towards Antlers as well. Every bit of fear and anger and guilt over what had happened and was still happening shoved away everything else until he was snarling up into Antlers' face from just a few feet away]

I don't believe you. Your file in security says that you are well known for manipulation and lying. I didn't want you to have the opportunity the attempt to weasel your way out where I couldn't see your face. They didn't leave. He wouldn't have left us behind. Neither would. So say it again, this time without lying.

You mean you want your reality to be the one that exists. [ He reaches his hand down and snatches Deckard's face squeezing gently but firm. Thumbing his helmet and the Unicronic Rot festers in his eyes. ]

Everything you believe of me is true. I could of stole them, I don't even know their names and I could of stolen them. And ate them.

I might of tore off their arms and made them dance like aimless puppets.

Or wait. What else could I have done... I wonder. Could I maybe of opened their chests to experiment on what's in side?

There's no evil I won't bend to right? Isn't that the common belief?

[For the first time, alarm flashes through Deckerd and he makes a choked off note of surprise. He reflexively starts to struggle for just a moment before he makes himself go still and look at Antlers with dignity. Whatever happened, at least that much was true]

I told you before that every day you make a decision as to who you want to be.

[Deckerd struggles to vent in and out from this angle, and his HUD flashed the first warnings as he grasps onto Megatron's hand with both of his own]

I have chosen to be less than they believe or want me to be, in order to find them. What about you? You have someone who cares about you. Who believes you can be better. How much lesser are you making yourself, now?

[ That calm smug melts into uncertainty, his hand loosens then tightens as his face turns to scowl. Pulling Deckerd closer and then tossing him aside. ]

You are pathetic, stooping to my level and still pretend this is about your companions.

No this is about your ego, boyscout.

[Deckerd tumbles away like a discarded toy, fetching up hard against the far wall with a bang. Even as he bites back a pained noise, Deckerd finally allows himself to smile for the first time since coming aboard the ship, humorless as it is. This may not have gone precisely the way he'd expected so far, but close enough]

Maybe it is. Maybe it always was.

[Deckerd braces himself on one arm and turns that smile up at Antlers]

I came here in the first place because words can lie and deceive and twist the truth. Written or spoken. I needed to see your face when I spoke to you. Because that right there? [A short laugh, as Deckerd pushes himself back to his feet] I believe you. You didn't do it.

Edited 2024-08-01 00:16 (UTC)

Shut up, Shut Up. I don't want to hear how you know better or how my face gave it away. I don't want to hear about you finding something to trust in me.

[ He steps back stumbled and turns away back to his control panel. ]

You are a fool to be here, I could steal you now. There's no where for you to hide or go. No one to hear you scream...

Don't pretend now you didn't accuse me of actions moments ago I didn't care to commit.

I will not, then.

[Deckerd isn't looking at Antlers, either as the laughter he hasn't really felt to begin with is starting to die in his throat. He now knows the truth as far as this theory goes, but he is still right back at square one all over again]

...I know. And I am sorry. I came here with an idea of what to do, but it got lost. Whatever else you are or think you are, I think-

[A sigh]

At least that much is true.

[for whatever reason astrotrain changes his mind, a purple portal appears behind deckerd and he sticks his head and arm through it.]

Hey. I found you really easily by the way.

[he says to megatron, then grabs deckerd and pulls him back.

on the other side, he drops the brave in a heap and seems ojce again disinterested in communication.]

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Text, UN: Patokiichi

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cw horror and megatron being megatron

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