Transformers2005 - Friday, August 22, 1997, 10:41 PM ---------------------------------------------------- Audience Hall Obvious exits: North leads to North Perimeter Hallway. South leads to Reception Room. ================================ In Your Area ========================== Rodimus Prime [A] Swoop [A] Rewind [A] Snarl [A] Sludge [A] Blurr [A] Kup [A] Whiz [A] Daniel [T] Spike [T] Arcee [A] Red Alert [A] Elita One [A] Eject [A] Ultra Magnus [A] Bumblebee [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rodimus Prime says, "Hold off going IC till I can get stuff straightened out..." Rodimus Prime Rodimus Prime stands fairly tall, roughly 28 feet, but without any of the sheer bulk that usually goes with such stature. If anything, his build looks even more lean than Hot Rod's was. His armor is chiefly red and orange, making any attempt at stealth a highly improbable pursuit. A yellow V-shaped spoiler is mounted on his back, and three silver-trimmed laser ports run down the length of both his forearms. An Autobot insignia is displayed prominently in the center of a stylized flame design on his chestplate. His optics are almost unnaturally bright, still brimming with the exhuberance of a battle won, and... something else not so easily pinned down. He carries himself with a certain dynamic vigour, not quite able to hold still as though he has a bit more excess energy than he knows what to do with. Definitely Hot Rod... though obviously *something* happened during the battle with Unicron that he hasn't divulged yet. Rodimus Prime fixes his desc Rodimus Prime says, "Okay, here's some groundwork, since there was confusion before as to who knew what and how:" Rodimus Prime says, "Timeframe: The movie JUST ended and I just got down off the dias after giving my lovely 2-line speech. Background: the movie took place over the course of about a week, by my estimation. This makes it a few days since Optimus died. This fact is common knowledge. Most though not necessarily all people probably know who Galv & Co. are, too, since they did raid AC and we've been talking to the Junkions. " Rodimus Prime says, "NO ONE knows for sure what exactly happened to Rod or how/why Unicron exploded, though you're welcome to make IC guesses. ;) Those who were actually inside Uni at the time probably have a better chance of figuring it out, but do NOT consider the knowledge that I have the Matrix to be a given fact. At best you have suspicions, but no confirmed proof. That kinda threw me off the first time we tried this, since I was really expecting some, "Who, YOU? HA!" resistance to the idea of me being leader." Rodimus Prime thinks that's all. Any other questions before we get this thing rolling? Whiz says, "Where are we coming from, Elita?" Elita One hmms, we got caught underground at the start, and had to make our way from CC, doing some reapirs or something, to explain why we are late, Whi? :) Whiz says, "Uhm, how could we *not* have gfigured it out in 2 days?" Whiz says, "Too busy fighting to put you under the scalpel?" Rodimus Prime says, "It's a few days since Optimus died, not since Unicron blew up. Uni exploded maybe an hour ago. :)" Whiz says, "AAAAAAAH" Whiz says, "Leaves - Elita, follow me, we'll work up an excuse." Whiz leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Elita One leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Red Alert leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Bumblebee rocks back and forth slightly, standing right next to Spike and looking around at the gathering, his face mirrorowing the shock at the fact that he is back on Cybertron. Daniel is far at the back of the crowd, and trying to push his way forward...with a bit of difficulty. Arcee stands up near the front, looking on incredulously. Spike looks around for Daniel and is calling his name Swoop walks over to Spike and Daniel and kneels down, "Hewwo" Sludge stands far behind the people on the podium, looking around at all of the Cybertronians amassed, almost in awe, though his face doesn't show it. He grins and looks at Snarl and Swoop next to him, Us dinos do good stuff.. beat big Horn man.." Daniel pushes his way through, weaving between bodies with a carelessness only the very young can manage. You can hear his voice calling out small pardons and apologies as he goes. Snarl lumbers around looking at the mass destruction being very quiet. Daniel calls out, fairly nearby his father. "...Dad?" Swoop says, "Oooooo! You right Sludge! Dinos do Goooooood!" Spike shouts , "Daniel" Ultra Magnus stands near Kup, close to Rodimus, cheering with the others as the enigmatic new leader finishes his speech. Daniel says a few final 'excuse me's to the mechs he weaves between, at last emerging between the bodies, and heading towards his father in an eager jog. He pants out a greeting, flashing a smile up to Spike. "Hi Dad...Sorry...got caught in the back..." Snarl nods, "Us doo gud Kick butt." Rodimus Prime exhales carefully and steps back, studying the floor as though he's afraid it'll suddenly start moving on him. Eject leans over to Rewind, "Hey, can you see what's going on? What's with Roddy?" Sludge grins slightly, "Yeah, we show Un-I-Kron who boss 'round here. Make him go boom and no never come back." Kup's optics are currently riveted on Rodimus, watching his every move, every subtlety. His optics NEVER break, maintaining that piercing gaze as the new Prime draws close. Spike kneels down to Daniel, "Don't get lost on me." Blurr is standing by Kup, more or less still. Arcee is just staring, not saying much of anything. She kinda sinks back into the crowd, looking extremely unsure and wondering where Springer vanished off to. Daniel blinks quietly, eye-level with his father, and offers a somewhat uneasy smile. "I won't, I promise. I just wanted to see...", his voice trails off, eyes shifting towards Rodimus as he descends, and he finishes, "...I wanted to see Hot Rod." Snarl says, "Me agree no more Un-i-kron man." Bumblebee grins at Daniel, "Hey, Daniel, nice work!" He compliments him glancing over at Spike. Rewind stands near Eject, slightly appluading the speech by the leader with his two tiny hands. He calls over, "Excellent speech! Precisely 25 words, two variant punctuation marks, and one comma!" he then looks over to Eject, shrugging. "I haven't the slightest. Hard to see through everyone's knees." Kup's voice suddenly breaks the murmering, his gravelly voice projecting itself across the area. "Lad... come here." Rodimus Prime has a rather vague grin on his face, but his expression is somewhat anxious at the same time. Shifting a quick glance in Kup's direction, he catches his scrutiny and tries to sidle away -- too late. Elita One enters from the Reception Room to the south. Red Alert enters from the Reception Room to the south. Whiz enters from the Reception Room to the south. Ultra Magnus stops clapping and crosses his arms across his torso. As the cheers quiet, he becomes silent. Swoop looks down at the Humans he is by, "Me Swoop want know how see from dere" Whiz follows a bit cautiously behind Elita, her optics betraying her curiosity. Daniel pulls himself up a little taller, flashing his boyish smile to Bumblebee. "Thanks, Bumblebee! Not bad for my first war, huh?" Red Alert follows Elira in from the Reception room and looks around, concerned. "Thank Primus..." Rodimus Prime looks over sheepishly at Kup. "Err... what?" Bumblebee 's smile drops a bit, "Your first and last war, let's hope." Whiz nudges Elita. She mutters to Elita One, "Hey,... guy?" Rewind looks over the rest of the group, rubbing his chin. "Perhaps if we were to stand on one another's shoulders, we could see..." Spike now with his son at his side peers at the large Autobot, who is now, there leader. He wonders about who this Autobot is and where he came from. Many questions race through his mind. Elita One enters the area with Whiz and Red. All three of them look like they have neen through the wrecker, and exhausted. "Apparently, we have arrived at a celebration of some sort.." she surmises, and looks down at Whiz, "Looks sort of like Hot Rod.. perhaps he is standing on a pedestal? Do you see Optimus anywhere?" Snarl walks around trying to get a better view and nudges in close to Sludge and Swoop looking at Rodimus. "Who Dat Agin? He look Kinna fimilar butt diffrant..Who dat Sludge?" Eject nods to Rewind, "Yeah, bro, cool speech alright, but is that really Hot Rod?" Eject cups his hands together. "Alright, bro, alley- oop" Kup raises a hand, with a faint gesture, calls Rodimus closer. As he arrives, he slowly speaks again. "Is it... what I think, lad?" With gaze unbreaking, you get the idea he's not expecting any sort of joke. Swoop says, "Dat uhhhhhh........uhhhhhh......dat lil ugly car guy" Whiz huh. "Yeah, who'd want to copy those flames..." Daniel's smile wanes just a bit, mirroring the loss he knows has been felt...but holding some sliver of optimism for the future. "Yeah, I hope so. Bumblebee--have you seen Hot Rod? I thought I saw him up on the stand, but...?" Rewind nods. He moves a foot up onto Eject's hands, and waits to be boosted upwards. Swoop says, "Dat one dat got beat up while Kup trying to tell Story to Dinobots." Noticing the tardy entrance of Elita One and Whiz, Ultra Magnus gives a wave of his arm in their direction. His optics remain dim, and an unusually cold look seems emblazened onto his face. Eject hoists up Rewind and then steadies himself with Rewind on his shoulders. Elita One smiles faintly. She mutters to Whiz, "... go join... shall..." She scans the crowd, catching Magnus' glance, and starts her way over. Snarl continues to look at Rodimus but turns his head to Sludge and swoop and to Kup. "Mee Konfuzed..uhh." Bumblebee grins at Daniel, "Hot Rod, oh he's probably fooling around!" He tries to get the boy to smile a bit, "I'll see if I can get you over to him if you'd like>" He bends down slightly, pretty much offering Daniel a ride on his shoulders. Swoop nudges Spike with his foot Daniel brightens, trying to climb onto Bumblebee's shoulders without too much damage to either of them. It seems like years since he's been carried, but has it been? Perhaps only few weeks. Daniel says, "Yeah! Let's go!" Arcee moves over closer to Kup, making her way through the crowd silently. Red Alert continues to move through the crowd towards Ultra Magnus. Spike offers to help Daniel up on Bumblebee's shoulder Rodimus Prime shifts uneasily, not really wanting to meet Kup's optics but unable to break his gaze for the moment. He starts to hedge, then reconsiders with a visible shift of his expression. "...yeah," he says finally. Eject says, "How's the view up there, Rewind? Do we need a better position?" Blurr is still by Kup, vibrating expectantly. Rewind stands on Eject's shoulders, guessing that Eject is holding onto his feet. He puts his hand over the top of his visor, trying to appear like a set of binoculars. He calls down to Eject, "He has partially the same coloration as Hot Rod, I believe...albiet a lot bigger." Daniel manages the climb with a little help from his Dad, resting his small hands at Bumblebee's 'horns'. Bumblebee grins and with Daniel up on his shoulders, starts through the crowd, waiting a minute for Spike to help him up, "Just leave it to me, Daniel!" Daniel smiles brightly, craning his neck up a bit, trying to see above all the shoulders and heads. Not much, yet, but he can see a few flashes of the familiar orange-and-red at the forefront of the gathering. His smile grows a bit wider. Red Alert shouts and waves to Ultra Magnus as he pushes through the crowd up to the AC commander, "Magnus." Spike looks out into the expanse as thousands of Autobots chant. Swoop leans down to spike, He mutters to Spike, "... better..." Bumblebee although rather short and small, uses this to his advantage, jinking through it and around the large Autobots, and making his way for where Rodimus last was. Elita One smiles faintly. She mutters to Whiz, "... wish to... go... Whiz. I... shortly." She scans the crowd, catching Magnus' glance, and starts her way over. Spike nods to Swoop. Daniel leans down a bit for balance. "I think I see him, Bumblebee!" Ultra Magnus nods his head grimly toward Red Alert, but continues to scan the crowd in hopes to catch another glipse of Elita One and Whiz. Whiz heads over toward Ultra Magnus behind Elita, wanting to figure out what's going on. Rewind continues to stand on top of Eject's shoulders, trying to get a look over the crowd. Unfortunately, this only manages to make them seem as big as a minibot. Red Alert sighs, his optics focusing on Magnus, "Sir, what is going on?" Whiz grumbles, "I'll bet he just wants me to do more repairs." Swoop picks Spike up and hoists him onto his shoulders, easily pointing him in a place to see. Bumblebee looks around slowly, so as not to jerk his horns from Daniel's hand, "Where, I'm having a problem trying to see." He tries to stand more on the tips of his feet, his own vision constantly blocked. Elita One makes her way through the crowd, her presence still almost regal still, even in her exhausted condition. She stops in front of Magnus, and offers a slight smile, cupping one of his hands with her own. "Greetings, old friend. What do we have here?" Kup's un-nerving gaze slowly shifts, as in a moment that seems a lifetime, he examines Rodimus. As his optics lift back to the new leader, he speaks softly yet again. "Lad... by Primus, this had better not be..." He then cuts himself off, adding, "It is... IT, yes...?" He seems to seek reassurance. Daniel points towards the flashes of hot-pink and orange visible between the shifting legs. "See! Over there--you can't miss him." Spike tries to talk over the noise to Swoop, "Who is that?" He indicates toward Rodimus. Arcee attempts to get closer to Rodimus, walking up right behind Kup and offering him a smile, a bit of an embarassed one. A solider yelps unexpectedly as Whiz steps on his foot. She smiles sheepishly and says, "Excuse me," and then makes it the rest of the way over toward Magnus. Blurr takes the opportunity to open the floodgates, assaulting Rodimus with a barrage of words, "Hey Hot Rod nice speech yeah real nice and inspirational but wh'd you give it huh I mean shouldn't Magnus do that and stuff or what's up huh?" Swoop says, "Huh!?!? Wheres a bat?!?!" Eject cocks his head to the side, "Hunh? What, a new uniform with the same colors?" Rodimus Prime drops his tone to an uncharacteristically deeper register. "Why would I make something like that up, Kup?" Bumblebee says, "Oh, I see him now..." He ducks and starts in the direction Daniel has pointed, "Hold on, I've been wanting to get a closer look myself, it's absolutely amazing!" Daniel's boyish face shifts slightly, shadowing vaguely as they draw nearer, and more and more flashes of the tall Autobot become visible to him. Familiar, yes...but somehow different. He hesitates, "Bumblebee...something's..." But his voice trails off, waiting until they approach. Spike shouts, "No Swoop. I mean who is that?" He agains points in Rodimus's direction. Ultra Magnus takes a few steps forward. An obviously forced smile comes across his face as he states a greeting. His blue optics dim, seeming to lose some of their shimmering brilliance as he says, He mutters to Elita One, "... taxing battles...I am... the supreme..." Arcee glances at Kup, then up at Rodimus, well, first her gaze hits his chest since she's not accustomed to looking up at him. Rodimus Prime turns and flashes a grin at Blurr. "Well, c'mon, doesn't the hero get some kind of credit here?" Kup shakes his head slowly, finally offering, "You... would not... Hot..." he then breaks his sentance, yet again. "No... that's not it anymore, is it?" Swoop looks up to see where Spike is pointing. Bumblebee moves around to Rodimus... Red Alert shoots Ultra Magnus a concerned look, "Sir who all have we lost?" Whiz leans closer, trying to hear the details. Bumblebee looks upwards at Rodimus, unsure what to yell, the paint job belonging to Hot Rod, "Hot Rod, hey Hot Rod,... down here!" Swoop says, "uh? Oh.......I dat is dat lil 'nnoying car......Him want be fighter like Dinobots!" Elita One frowns, She mutters to Ultra Magnus, "... crew... unfortunatley we were... the..." she looks up at Magnus, almost sensing something is wrong, as she innocently asks, "Where is Optimus?" Daniel's face turns up, expecting to see the familiar and youthful face of his friend. His brow furrows a little, however, at the sight which greets him. He asks aloud, though in a voice too low for any but Bumblebee to hear him. "...Hot Rod?" Rewind nods to Eject. "Apparently, that would seem to be the case. Color composition would be about 90.5 percent exactness to Hot Rod..but he's even larger than before. I'd wager by at least 50 percent." Sludge quietly watches all the commotion, looking a little lost without the presence of his leader, Grimlock. His optics roam from one face to the next, some familiar to him, some unfamiliar. His gaze stops on Rodimus as he tries to figure out why he can't recognize this person, yet knows vaguely who he is. Ultra Magnus stops talking for a moment to give Red Alert a perplexed look. He shakes his head toward the security director and motions him away. He mutters to Elita One, "... Elita, but... killed... attacked... City. We... everything... damages... were too..." Arcee stands quietly, glancing down at Daniel and Bumblee for a brief moment, but not venturing to say anything. Spike shouts to Daniel, "Hey" He smiles and waves. Whiz says, "What's goin' on? I'm lost." Kup slowly turns, facing Elita squarely. He begins to choke out the words, "Optimus is no..." His optics narrow, his mouth pinching shut as he is unable to continue. You say, "It's, uh..." he breaks off hearing his name called, apparently relieved for the interruption. Looking around wildly for a moment, he finally catches Bumblebee in his line of sight and tosses off a wave. "What's up?" Daniel's head turns, recognizing his father atop the other mech, and flashes him a brief, if uncertain smile. He looks back up towards Rodimus, expression somewhat troubled...confused. Rewind looks down to Eject. "Can you get closer? Or maybe jump? All I can see is to his waistline.." Whiz understands the import of Kup's words and blinks in shock, her optics immedately turning to Elita in concern. Blurr is bursting with excitement, but for the moment seems to have the tact to just shut up. Bumblebee grins, "Well, Daniel is." He motions to him sitting on his shoulders, which should actually be obvious. Eject says, "Hunh? You don't put on that kinda mass working on the gym... I don't get it. I caught a glimpse of him before the shuttles left Autobot City, he didn't seem that much bigger." Daniel raises a hand from atop Bumblebee's shoulders. "Hey..." The greeting trails off as he tries to make something of it. Arcee glances toward Elita and Whiz, looking to be shocked into complete silence. Rodimus Prime's smile fades very slightly. "Hey, what's with the face, Danno?" Swoop says, "Look like him got new paint job......still not as good as Dinobot's paint jobs doh" Red Alert steps back away from Ultra Magnus, shaking his head. "Optimus....no...it can't be." Snarl says, "What he say name waz 'gain?" Swoop leans to talk to Snarl, "Hot Bob or sometin." Elita One's hands crush suddenly around Magnus' as the news is relay. She takes a small step back, as if it hit by an invisible force, "...Optimus.." she murmurs slightly, her optics suddenly dropping down towards the floor. Her hands drop away from Magnus, and she says, "Please tell me you are wrong, Magnus.." Kup returns his attentions to Rodimus. "Well the... what... would you go by, then... Prime?" Daniel's dark eyes peer up at him, searching the new features, testing the new maturity in his voice. He asks again, hopeful. "...Hot Rod? Is that -you-? You look...-different-..." Eject steadies himself, with Rewind on his shoulders, and jumps straight up. Spike says, "Swoop what did you say I can't here you." Whiz puts her hand silently on Elita's arm, in the only kind of support she can offer. Red Alert keeps looking at the floor, shaking his head. "Primus, why..." Rodimus Prime's shoulders stiffen at Kup's comment, a slight wince crossing his face. "Well, uh, actually..." Swoop shouts out loud enough to get most of the rooms attention, "I SAID I THINK HIS NAME IS HOT BOB OR SOMETIN!!" Bumblebee hmms, for the first time getting a REAL look at Rodimus now, and moving so that Daniel can see him better. Rewind nods to Eject. "I know. Extremely particular. In cases of expanded musculature in the terms of use in a gym, the level to which he has gained in stature would require more than that. Or at least would be impossible without the use of some kind of stere-- Ach!" he then is lifted up with Eject, adjusting his optics. He calls out, a bit loudly, "I saw his chestplate!" Spike says, "Swoop, can you move closer to Him?" Rodimus Prime tries to focus on Daniel instead. "Same old me, Dan'l. Don't worry." Red Alert looks over at Swoop, to see if there is a problem, but then returns his gaze back to the floor. "Prime..." Kup's optics meet Rodimus' head on, unwavering as he awaits a response. He seems at the verge of something, as if something is building inside him, and cannot be released. Arcee finally makes a comment, "Let's hope not." She grins up at Rodimus, seeking some sort of retort. Whiz's fleeting attention swerves to Swoop, then back to Elita, to Magnus, to Swoop again, and finally to what little glimpse she can get of Rod. Daniel's gaze trails up and down his form, taking him in through the momentary distraction. He asks up to him, sounding more troubled about this inquirythan his previous one, "...We still friends?" Blurr whirls, leaving a motion trail, to stare at Swoop. "What what what do you mean you silly dino it's Hot Rod yeah yeah yeah it sure is cantcha tell?" Elita One looks over at Whiz with hollowed optics. "He can't be gone.. I would have felt it.. something, anything." she seems to try to convince herself, but it is settling in. Swoop says, "Huh!?!? Oh , I guess!!!" Ultra Magnus shakes his head. Twisting his head to look for moment a Rodimus, he pauses before continuing. He mutters to Elita One, "... afraid... watched... last... Matrix... his... hand." Spike says, "Swoop where is Optimus?" Whiz looks at Elita, pained. "I'm sorry, Elita..." she says lamely. Kup speaks abruptly, as Rodimus finishes with Daniel. "Not... the same. More..." Red Alert sighs at hearing Magnus' statment, and continues to shake his head. Rodimus Prime frowns slightly, giving Arcee a hurt look. "Well, I can't help what my name is," he blurts somewhat defensively. Snarl wanders away from the group and looks at everyone while he sits on the ground and spins his sword around on the ground. Swoop says, "Opteemus hurt real bad, I tink!" Arcee doesn't reply, shaking her head and moving backwards into the crowd, looking around for Springer. Swoop says, "Him got hurt on earth.....not hear much else bout him!" Elita One nods ever so slightly at Whiz, and then turns towards Magnus again. She mutters to Ultra Magnus, "Then..... Matrix?... it... on... don't..." Daniel shifts a bit atop Bumblebee's shoulders, trying to get a look at him. Whiz looks at Ultra Magnus. "I don't understand. How could... how could such a thing happen?" Whiz doesn't look quiiiiiiiite as personally broken up by this as you might expect. Swoop begins to make his way close to Hot Bob Red Alert walks over to the nearest window and beings looking over Cybertron. Rewind, composing an idea, jumps up himself while Eject is jump-ed, propelling himself higher into the air. He calls down to Eject, "I got a lot at his face! It would appear to be in the same general configurataaaaaaa!" he then flies forward a bit from his jump, lannding on the back of Swoop's back. "Uh." Bumblebee frowns a moment, "... what happened to you?" Kup's optics flash at the mention of something, a sudden realization crossing his face. He addresses Rodimus bluntly. "It is... intact, then?" Kup nods slowly, murrmering to himself. "Of course... it is." Eject gets knocked off-kilter and crashes to the ground as Rewind jumps off his shoulders . Spike grabs hold of Swoop trying not to fall off, "HHHEEEEYY!" Rodimus Prime draws himself up a bit indignantly before he catches himself. "Of course it is." Eject says, "Cool hang time, and a slam dunk on the dino-bird's back!" Daniel squirms a bit, frowning. "...What's he doing, Bumblebee?" Arcee shakes her head and moves off to the north. Ultra Magnus's optics fall to the ground. He begins to speak in a very faint whisper. He mutters to Elita One, "... Matrix to... but I...I...lost... Somve very... Decepticons managed..." Red Alert stares out across the vastness of Cybertron. Rewind begins to climb up Swoop, pulling himself over Swoop's shoulder. "I highly doubt you'd consider this humorous?" Bumblebee shrugs, attempting his best to keep the squirming kid on his shoulders and not hitting the ground. Spike begins to slip off Swoop's shoulder, "Help!" Whiz begins to look a tad bit frustrated as this conversation is kept under the level of her hearing. Daniel lets out a sort of impatient sigh, and begins looking around again. He raises his small voice, hands releasing Bumblebee's 'horns' to cup around his mouth. "Dad?" Arcee leaves to the North Perimeter Hallway to the north. Bumblebee tries to stand completely still. Eject runs along behind Swoop, following in the wake of his mass. Spike shouts, "Somebody help!" Red Alert seems to pull himself back together mentally, and turns and pushes his way back over close to Ultra Magnus. Snarl looks up at Spike's cries for help and stands up again walking over to Swoop and Spike. Daniel taps Bumblbee atop his head, pointing towards his flailing father. "Dad!" Snarl says, "Mee. SNarl Help Yoo Spike Wittywickie." Rodimus Prime breaks Kup's gaze again defiantly and starts to turn back to Dan 'n' Bee, seeking some kind of anchor point, then sighs and looks away when he sees them headed across toward Spike. Snarl says, "Yoo no play nice swoop no play at all. Me Snarl sayz so." Daniel resumes his squriming, knowing full well that it's difficult to ignore a restless child. "...Bumblebee--can I get down, please?" Daniel says, "...I wanna go see Rod..." Red Alert tries to get Ultra Magnus' attention, but gives up, and walks closer to where Rod is standing. Rodimus Prime scoots off to one side and tries to make himself scarce. Whiz stamps her foot in irritation and stalks off in the direction of the red helmet that appears to be at the center of all this mass hysteria. Bumblebee is still standing very close to Rodimus, Daniel on his shoulders and a look of interest over his silvery faceplate. Whiz catches sight of Rod as he tries to get out of the center of the mass, and finally gets a direct look at him. Red Alert sees what he believes to be Hot Rod and follows the young Autobot. "Hot Rod, wait..." Daniel tries to climb down, himself, a tangle of still-gangly arms and legs. He grunts softly as his feet hit the ground. Snarl gets Spike and sets him down on the stage and gives a slight grin out to him ,"Yoo kan git hurt.. Now.. Yoo safe 'ere. 'member.. Snarl save yoo." Rodimus Prime sighs, realizing this isn't going to be over for a loooong time. He tosses a glance back over his shoulder. "What is it, Red?" Bumblebee bends down slightly so Daniel doesn't go down nearly as far. Spike tries to climb back on Swoop Red Alert sighs, "You look different, what happened?" Whiz blinks, then shouts at Rod, "HEY! What've you DONE to yourself? I *told* you that those height implants were a bad idea, they just make you look stretched out!" Daniel gathers himself as he hits the ground, and is immediately taking off through the crowd again--winding and weaving between bodies, and offering hurried apologies where necessary. Rodimus Prime says, "It's a l--" he breaks off, staring at Whiz. "WHAT?" he responds in halfway-bemused disbelief, unable to formulate anything else. Red Alert turns and gives Whiz a puzzled look. Whiz puts her hands on her hips, moving closer and inspecting him closely. "You heard me. I know it's you, I'd recognize that tacky paint job anywhere, but for Primus' sake, what'd you add the implants for?" Snarl shakes his head at Spike and sits off to the side again, "WaaWaamess Prime? Dat 'is name?" Snarl rubs his head, "Whatamess Prime?" Rodimus Prime raises his hands in a futile shushing gesture. "I didn't add anything. Do you have to be so loud?" Spike says, "Swoop help me down." Red Alert stares at what he believes to be Hot Rod, "But you are different Hot Rod." Whiz says, "Didn't know you wanted your shortness complex to remain a secret. And besides, the height change is kinda obvious - but how did you manage to bulk up like that? Don't tell me you were off improving your look while a war was going on..." Rewind continues to lie for a moment, half-slung over Swoop's shoulder, after he climbed up part way. He then finishes climbing, and making it to Swoop's shoulder. He looks around. "Absolutely marvelous view you have up here." he then turns around, looking down to see Eject following. "I got a good look at him, from up here.." Rodimus Prime frowns. "It's, uh.. a little more complicated than that..." Red Alert sighs and shakes his head, still staring at Rod, "And...." Whiz says, "So, explain. Ultra Magnus there doesn't seem to want to share the info." Daniel is weaving his way through the crowd, still... Bumblebee glances around, looking for someone else he might know, but still reamining somewhat near Daniel just in case someone won't be watching where they're going. Swoop grumbles, "Dat was not nice, You almost hurt Him Spike" Whiz moves over behind Rod, peering at his back to see if thats' changed too. Red Alert nods, "Yes Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus seems rather upset, please explain what happened." You say, "Aaand... uh, nothing." He shrugs cheerfully, trying to blow it off. "I blew up Unicron. You guys oughtta be happy." Ultra Magnus stands off to the side, muttering privately with Elita One..both of whom seem extremely upset. Rewind looks to Swoop's head. "So, my trajectory was a tad off. I knew I shouldn't have used the flight pattern from the spruce goose." Red Alert steps back shocked, "You blew up Unicron, how?" Whiz pfffts. "You? You'd blow up your own arm if you tried to plant a bomb." Whiz snickers at Snarl. "Whatamess?" Rodimus Prime grumps slightly, glancing back at Kup and recalling his reaction. "I did. Isn't that enough?" Blurr is delighted. "Really Hot Rod how'djadoit huh huh huh how'djadoit?" Spike says, "Swoop" Red Alert shakes his head and looks at the floor, "The entire Cybertronian race couldn't even slow Unicron down....how?" Daniel weaves in between the bodies, until at last he reaches the front of the group. He halts, turning his face up at Rodimus again, mouth somewhat agape and wonderous. Eject weaves along behind Spike, making sure he doesn't get stamped going between legs. "Hey bro, will ya quit giving the instant replay, and just give us the play-by-plays?" Whiz says, "Quit joking around, I've been busting my aft down here in the wake of that Unicron-planet thing. What really happened?" Snarl nods at Whiz, "Datz 'em Ober dare on dah platefrom. Red Alert nods in agreement to Whiz, "Yes things have been a real mess down here." Daniel walks slowly around in front of Rodimus, still looking at his face, with his face still upturned and awing. His feet shuffle lightly, and he pays no attention to what might be in his way. Ultra Magnus looks over toward Whiz. He seems pretty agitated and blurts out, "Yes, I lost the Matrix! I couldn't fight off the seven Decepticons who had their sights set on destroying me along with the Matrix. It's gone..." Spike starts to try to climb down off Swoop Rodimus Prime spies Daniel and drops to one knee with a look of relief. "C'mere before one of these nuts steps on you, Danno... look, guys, I did--- whuh-oh." Whiz turns and just gapes at Ultra Magnus. "Whoa. You lost the... er... oh boy..." Daniel steps nearer to Rodimus, affection and relief entering the brown eyes. "...You remember me. You really -are- the same guy..." Rewind nods to Eject. "Ah. Most sorry." he then turns around to look to Rodimus, still standing on Swoop's shoulder. "He looks like Hot Rod. And my estimates were correct. He /is/ 50 percent bigger. And he has the same paint-job. Albiet now he looks....well. Aged." Whiz looks down at the ground, embarrassed and rubs the back of her neck for lack of any appropriate reaction. Red Alert steps back and stares at Ultra Magnus. "Who were these decepticons?" Rodimus Prime keeps his optics uneasily on Magnus but responds to Daniel in a low tone, "Of course I am..." Daniel curls his small hand around two of Rodimus' larger fingers, peering up into the optics and searching for familiarity. To his relief, he sees it written there, only half-concealed by his new facade. Spike hits the ground hard, but is unhurt. He moves torward the Crowd near the Red Autobot. Daniel follows his gaze to Ultra Magnus, then back to Rodimus. "...How come you changed?" Ultra Magnus shrugs toward Red Alert, "I had never seen them before...they had unimaginable power. It was only the efforts of our new friends the Junkions that brought me back." His optics darken noticable as he says, "I wish we had them around to help Optimus." Spike shouts, "Daniel!" Rodimus Prime tightens his jaw, then offers Daniel his arm as a stepladder. "Hop aboard, I think I may need you to protect me here..." he mutters. Red Alert looks puzzled, "Junkions...." Daniel says nothing, though a look of agreement briefly touches his features. He climbs eagerly onto Hot Rod's offered arm in his rough-and- tumble way. Rewind looks down to Eject again. "Do you think we should get in closer?" Rodimus Prime mutters to Daniel. You whisper "It's a long story. I'll tell you everything later, okay?" to Daniel. Snarl says, "Junky-runons? What ard day? Me no 'ear ov dem before?" Whiz straightens up, hurt and confusion in her optics. "I'm just trying to understand..." Daniel watches his face for a moment, then nods, leaning near enough to his audio receptors to murmur, "Okay, that's cool. I'll keep a lookout for you from up here, OK?" Spike moves into the crowd, and stares up at the large TF's Eject knocks on Swoop's leg, "Hey, gimme a hand up? I'm looking to get box seats." Red Alert looks around. "More powerful Decepticons....." Rodimus Prime tears his gaze from Ultra Magnus back down at Whiz, uncertainly. "Look, I'm not sure exactly what's going on, either, okay?" Daniel's legs dangle from Rodimus' shoulder, hands rested on either side of him as he peers at the gathering. Not a bad view, at all. He points suddenly, brightening. "There's my Dad!" Whiz snaps, "You're playing halloween dressup and we've lost the Matrix." Red Alert looks back at Hot Rod, "Yes where is the Matrix?" You say, "Oh, we have NOT." Daniel smiles brightly. He's beginning to catch on, but he waits, listening to Rodimus, to be sure. Whiz says slowly and sarcastically, "Oh, and I suppose *you* have it?" Red Alert stares at Hot Rod. Swoop leans down and picks up Eject. Snarl says, "Mah-trix? Dat flashy dang?" Rewind turns sideways, now standing next to Swoop's head. "I don't suppose I could interest you in the history of prehistoric reptilian birds from the jurassic period?" Rodimus Prime bites back further snide commentary, cursing inwardly. His optics dimming slightly in reluctance, he ventures, "Well... yeah." Elita One blinks, taking a few steps back. She looks at Magnus, "What is /going/ on?" she tries vainly to ask, her optics filled with sadness and confusion as she tries to find something to grip onto and deal with. She shifts her attention to Whiz as she blurts out again, and stares, trying to figure out what is occuring. Whiz's jaw drops. Snarl says, "Gone? Where loose it? Snarl find it. Snarl's Mat-trix!"" Daniel leans close to Rodimus' audio receptors again. Suspicions confirmed, apparently, he is emboldened. Rewind grabs onto Swoop's head as he leans down to pick up Eject. Daniel whispers, "Show 'em, Hot Rod..." Spike says, "Where is Prime then?" Blurr blinks at what must be the speed of light. Swoop says, "Histry? Dat one of dem tings where I have to learn....right?" Red Alert shouts, "You have the Matrix Hot Rod?" Eject takes Swoop's hand-up, and climbs onto his other shoulder, opposite Rewind. "Bro, now ain't the time for history class." Rodimus Prime winces, frantically trying to hush Red Alert. "Not so LOUD!" he hisses. Wreck-Gar has arrived. Blurr says, "What what what you have the Matrix good good good now we can give it back to Magnus and all will be well yeah yeah yeah it'll all be better" Ultra Magnus thumbs toward Wreck-Gar as he nods toward Red Alert, "Yeah...the Junkions." Elita One's jaw copies Whiz, going faintly slack, as she looks back to Magnus for some form of confirmation. "How..?" she rasps. "How?" Spike does not mean to sound rude, but he is worried about his friend. Whiz says, "You're... you... HUH?" Daniel, though not oblivious to the expression of sudden disbelief and grief passing across the faces below, wears a slight expression of pride upon his own features. Wreck-Gar strides up behind Ultra Magnus, clapping him on the back in an overly-familiar manner. "Come on down! Heeeere's Wreck-Gar! Hurry, hurry, hurry, offer expires soon, no CODs!" Swoop looks up, "Uh? Whats dat bout May Trix? Rodimus Prime puts up both hands, trying to placate Red and Whiz. "Look... calm down... I can explain." Daniel falls quiet himself, shifting calmly from atop Rodimus' shoulder. Sludge slowly makes his way over towards Rodimus through the crowd of people around him. Leaning down,, though not so much as he used to, he asks questioningly, "What happen to Hot Rod?" Sky Lynx says, "This is Sky Lynx sending out an emergeny one broadcast to any and all Autobots who can pick this up. If you recieve this, PLEASE respond. THe Moonbases are gone ... I am on my return flight from my query mission to Flagron - 9, Cybertron looks ... what HAPPENED?." Whiz stares. "But you're.. it's only temporary, right...?" Ultra Magnus looks toward Rodimus in suprise. "You mean....?" A look of exasperation and relief washes over him. "The Matrix wasn't destroyed by that...what was his name...Galvatron?" Spike looks for answers, but decides to put a side his numerous questions, he looks around not quite understanding. Wreck-Gar quotes cheerfully, "Methinks the lady doth protest too much! GI Joe's a real American Hero! He's the man of the hour, the tower of power, the one who looks out for his brother man! Can you dig it? Yooooo Joe!" Snarl mutters to Sludge, "HE now... Prime.... Bout Mah-Trix... up... he..." Rodimus Prime tries to pick out one voice in the multitude of questions and flashes a slightly uncertain grin in Ultra Magnus' direction. "No, he just stole it. So I beat him up and stole it back." Daniel asks Rodimus, trying to make his voice clear from out the chaos. "...You've got it, don't you. Inside, I mean." Red Alert looks lost for a second while staring at the Junkion, then turns his attention back to Hot Rod. Whiz observes, "I suppose if it took six of them to beat Ultra Magnus, you could have handled one of them." Wreck-Gar twirls his moustaches in a vaguely Snidely Whiplash-type way and observes the strange behavior of these Autobots. Rodimus Prime's voice catches slightly, but he manages a subdued, "...yeah." Spike looks at daniel, atop Rodimus. His Worries are somehow put aside for the moment. Blurr spouts, "Whiz you don't get it no you don't Galvatron was worse thatn Megatron yeah yeah yeah much worse and with a bigger gun too." Daniel falls quiet, himself, digesting the depth of this. Pride, and also a resurfacing sense of loss are balanced on his shoulders for a long moment. Rewind grumbles faintly at his brother, then looking back to Rodimus. He then points his tiny finger at him. "See!" Whiz sighs with relief. "Well, it's safe. So just give it back to Ultra Magnus and everything will be as close to back to normal as it's going to get." Spike waves his arms to see if someone will offer to pick him up. Eject calls out, "Maybe now isn't the right time, but could one of the coaches please fill the team in on the play by play of the 9th inning? It was 2 strikes, 2 outs, and no one on base, how did we win the game?" Blurr bends down and hoists Spike. Red Alert nods in agreement with Whiz. Swoop looks down at Spike, "Who you wave at?" Ultra Magnus shakes his hand vehemently. "NO," he says sternly. "I think I have shown I cannot protect the Matrix. I'm ... not worthy of its legacy." Blurr brings the human up quickly, leaving a motion trail. Rewind nods. "Yes! Please explain. We were almost as bad off as the allies were at Normandy when they started." Spike says, "Thanks Blurr." Wreck-Gar mutters to himself in a Shatneresque voice, "Captain's Log, Stardate 2005 - I am surrounded by... strange life forms. They don't appear... hostile. Continuing... observation. Make it so." Red Alert pats Ultra Magnus' lower arm, "Yes you are..." Rodimus Prime looks torn by conflicting emotions, guilt rising foremost. "Well... come on, Magnus, anyone can have an off day..." Ramhorn enters from the Reception Room to the south. Sky Lynx says, "I am unawares as to the status of Cybertron, and will remain in orbit for the next 10 minutes, if there are any Autobots on Cybertron PLEASE respond, I'm a sitting duck out here but considering the condition of the planet I'd wager that I'm the least of the Decepticons' problems." Rewind taps his foot on Swoop's shoulder, awaiting an answer. Ultra Magnus shakes off Red Alert and takes a step toward Rodimus. "An off day?" he bursts. "I was blown to pieces trying to use the Matrix. It obviously didn't care about lighting my darkest hour...or Prime's." Rodimus Prime tilts his head slightly, catching Sky Lynx's broadband. "Hey.. someone want to answer him?" Sludge looks to Snarl and nods before looking back at Rodimus, staring at him, "Why Hot Rod so diff'rent from before? You.. taller. Why?" Ultra Magnus snaps, "I'll respond." Swoop slaps Rewind's foot, irritated. Red Alert looks at Ultra Magnus, with some pain in his optics. Eject looks to Rewind, "Uhm, bro, did Rod just give an order?" Ramhorn snorts as he enters... Ramhorn looks around. Ultra Magnus's voice is heard above a cacophonous din of conversations. "Both moons have been destroyed by the power of Unicron. It's a long story, but we're here in Autobot Headquarters with our new leader..." Whiz stammers almost incoherently, "Yeah, we don't want.. I mean, not that you couldn't, but... who would want to... if you keep it, that is... wouldn't you be... you know....?" Red Alert shoots Ultra Magnus a puzzled look "New leader?" Rodimus Prime cringes suddenly under the onslaught. "Geez-- and it did SO care," he adds defensively, unable to hold it in. "It wasn't about Prime's darkest hour, it was about ALL of us! And Unicron would've killed all of us if.. uhh..." he trails off, noticing everyone staring at him again, and blurts in a rush, "if I hadn't opened it." Sky Lynx says, "There's a rather large intimidating looking head out here in orb ....... new leader?" Daniel pipes up, addressing Whiz, apparently, "Rod'll make a -great- leader...won'thca?" This last comes with a glance aside. Ultra Magnus says calmly, "It...it...opened for you?" Snarl looks at Sludge and shrugs, "Mee Not know why he do.. he just doo maybe.. Mah-Trix do dis to 'em. He say blow up Uni-Kron wid it. maybe it change 'em lots? Me Want know too.. too too.." Snarl looks up and stands on his tippy toes and waves his hands, "Whatamess.. Why yoo taller now den Hot Rod waz?" Whiz barks in nervous laughter. "You're... the....?" Rodimus Prime tightens his fists. "Yeah, so?" Rewind erks as Swoop slaps his foot, and, unfortunately, due to the design of Rewind's foot, it ends up sending him flying forward. He not so gracefully precedes to slam into a wall, next to Whiz, and he begins to slowly fall down it. He responds to Eject, "Ow." A look of revelation seems to wash over Ultra Magnus. "How selfish and narrow-minded of me...I apologize to you all..." Whiz sees visions of a thousand teenage shenanigans crash and burn before her inward eyes, and cringes. "But...." Ultra Magnus says, "It may be best for you to descend to the planet's surface." Sky Lynx says, "I'll be landing shortly ..." Swoop walks over to Rewind and looks down at him. Sludge looks over at Snarl, "Me think he no lissen to Dinobots, even tho WE made Uni-Kron go boom.. we ones dat destroy big planet-thingy." Rodimus Prime is too wrapped up in glaring upsettedly at Magnus to notice anything else at the moment. Whiz finally finds the words and protests, "But you're my best *friend*, not some Matrix-wielding Chosen One hero leader type!" Rewind looks a little dizzy for a moment as he peels himself from the wall, absently moving his hand to the side of his head, trying to shake out anything odd he sees. Snarl grunts, "We gave 'em h-e-doubble hockey sticks and mad 'em go boom.. Me wish leedar Grimlock waz here he lissen to us." Swoop picks him up by his feet and places him in his old place, walking over to his bros Rodimus Prime gives Whiz a hurt look. "I didn't do it on *purpose*..." Wreck-Gar says with a dramatic wave of his hand, "Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound..." Rodimus Prime mumbles, "Stop it." Eject says, "Uhm, new head coach? Hot Rod? What an unexpected sneak-play by the good guys!" Sludge nods to Snarl, "Yup. We good Dinos today.. make Optimus proud of us too. We save Cybertron from big danger. No one do better dan dinobots!" Ramhorn hears Eject through the crowd...he looks around for the fellow tape. Whiz swallows a retort. "Um... but..." Whiz seems half-panicked. "You don't have to *stay* that way, do you?" Red Alert fades into the background. Ultra Magnus turns around to look at the other Autobots, looking quite embarrased. "I thought Optimus Prime had given the mantle to me...that was his dying wish." He takes a step toward Rodimus. "It was never Optimus' decision, was it?" he asks. Swoop nudhes Snarl, "me Swoop say we ask what gonna be done to congradgulate us" Wreck-Gar nods solemnly. "Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." Ramhorn sees Eject and Rewind, and grunts in their direction. "Yo." Snarl smiles, "We a'ways doo gud when Dino's work togther. Me no 'prized if he giz us metals for our Bravory." Daniel begins looking around for his father, careful not to lean too far forward on Rodimus' shoulder. Elita One finds this too much too fast, and just looks at Magnus. After a moment, she makes sure Whiz is alright, then follows a similar pink form outside. Elita One leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Rodimus Prime swallows uncertainly, not sure he likes this change of topic. "It..was...." he sighs and drops his head, looking almost guiltily at the floor, then finds some measure of confidence from another source and meets Magnus' optics levelly. "No one's choice," he whispers, looking like someone had just run over his puppy. Rewind shakes his head again, his hand still on it, optical sensors blinking. He waves over to Eject again, then looking around. "Hmm...now where did these gaseous stellar objects composed of hydrogen appear from?" Sludge nods, looking around, "Say.. where Optimus anyways..? Sludge want git medal." Swoop says, "Opteemus would....dont tink Him Hot Bob do doh.....him tink better dan us" Daniel's slim brows come together, and he rests his palm on Rodimus' audial receptor, mirroring his expression. He asks, just quiet enough to be heard by his friend. "...I don't understand...aren't you supposed to be happy?" Rodimus Prime mutters to Daniel, "... thought I... but everyone's.. *looking*..." You whisper "I thought I was, but everyone's.. *looking* at me like I did something wrong." to Daniel. Swoop says, "Me Swoop tink Hot Bob need give May Trix to him Grimlock!" Snarl says, "You no 'ear? Optimuss iz ded. He die 'member? When He krushand skoosh Magatron to bits and peices. Me 'tinks he ded.. Me no see 'em 'ere." Daniel mutters to Rodimus Prime, "... just don't... let... to... all... time..." Daniel whispers "Aw, don't worry...they just don't want to let you grow up. My Dad does the same thing to me all the time..." Daniel mutters to Rodimus Prime, "...But... learn." Daniel whispers "...But they'll learn." Springer enters from the Reception Room to the south. Eject looks at Rewind, "You've been sacked a bit too hard this time, bro." Eject grabs onto Swoop's head, swings around to the other side, grabs Rewind around the waist with his free hand, and drops down to the ground. Spike sits on Blurr's shoulder, looking at the Autobots reaction to Rodimus. He is not sure about his opinion of the New autobot leader. Ultra Magnus stammers, "W-What happened, exactly?" to Rodimus. Snarl takes a look around just to make shure, "'ep he no 'ere. Me miss OptimussPrime." Ramhorn jumps back as the tapes drop to the ground. "Ey! Watch it!" Sludge looks down at Snarl and just blinks, "Optimus dead..? Oh.. yeah, dat right." He frowns slightly, "Umm.. who give Dinobots medals now?" Blurr looks really...well....Blurr. Swoop says, "Hot Bob?" Springer suddenly announces, "Hey, everyone, this base is trashed. I just had a tunnel cave in on me and a few others, barely made it through." He walks towards the main group, looking around. Rewind erks, and looks at Eject, apparently looking a tad annoyed. He then waits for Eject to drop him, using a free hand to wave to Ramhorn. Daniel brightens, cupping his hands around his mouth to call out to Springer--though, over the overwhelming din of voices, it seems a lost cause. "Hey Springer! Over here!" Ramhorn grunts a response. Swoop says, "Me Swoop say Snarl ask if we get Metal" Rewind greets Ramhorn, "Greetings, esteemed Rhinocerotidae brother." Blurr mutters to Spike, "... yeah... he... can you... it... suffering..." Eject helps rewind stand up, "Hiya Rammy." Springer looks around. "Daniel? Hey, squirt, where are you?" he yells out, shuffling past the Dinobots. He mutters, "Scuze me guys," as he passes through. Sludge brings up a ahnd to scratch his head, "Umm.. why Hot Rod give us the medels, Swoop?" Rodimus Prime rubs the back of his head uneasily and goes back to giving Magnus shifting glances. "Uhm, well..." Ultra Magnus looks toward Rodimus. "W-what happened, exactly? Galvatron must have taken the Matrix from me..." Snarl rubs his chest around his autobot symbol and looks at Rodimus again slowly making his way over there and standing off to the side, "Mee Got 'question when got chance Whatamess Rod foo yoo." Swoop says, "Dey say him get May Trix.....opteemus give metals when him have it......Me Swoop tink dats what it for" Daniel braces his hands on Rodimus' shoulder, rising carefully to his feet. Fearlessly he raises his hands, waving them back in a flagging gesture. "Over here, Springer! With Hot Rod!" Sky Lynx enters from the Reception Room to the south. Spike 's eyes widen at the confirmation of his suspicions, he looks around a shocked look on his face. Rodimus Prime grabs onto the reference point and tries to go from that. "Yeah, he did. I think he thought he was gonna take out Unicron with it." Swoop says, "Me Swoop tink dat widdle may trix thing makes metals......if it doesnt do dat.....what does it do?" Blurr looks at Spike sympathetically. "Gee I'm sorry Spike I thought you knew I really did I'm sorry and whoa boy can you believe that HOT ROD is replacing Optimus yes he is he is he is! Sky Lynx pokes his head in then quietly steps into the large conglomeration of Autobots, his optics are wide with confusion and curiousity, as an air of shock seems to permeate him. Sludge looks down at Springer as he squirms past. His hand grips one of Springer's shoulders, pulling him back as he asks someone who might know, "Umm.. you know who s'posed give medels to Dinobots?" Rewind stands upright, nodding a bit tersely to Eject. "/Thank you/." he replies, then folding his arms across his chestplate. He then looks over to the larger Autobots, then his jaw gaping under his faceplate when Sky Lynx walks into the area. "...Oh dear. Mayhaps we should relocate." Wreck-Gar quotes in a false British accent, "Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony." You say, "But we flew the ship inside Unicron, right? Uhh.. HEY, Springer, help me out here.." Daniel smiles, perching on the edge of his shoulder again--the seat of honor. Snarl says, "Me.. Wana kno' Who give metal to Dinobots for blowing up Uni-Kron!" Springer starts to move towards Rodimus, then gets yanked back by Sludge. He turns to glance up at Sludge, smirking at him. "You got medals? All I ended up with was a few dents," he says. Rodimus Prime grumbles, "You're not helping, Wreck-Gar." Swoop says, "Yeah! Me too!" Ultra Magnus, standing in front of Rodimus, seems oblivious to the surrounding commotion. "We got mixed up in the ensuing confusion. You didn't seem to end up in the same group as us..." Wreck-Gar hrms, scratching his chin. You say, "Uhh, no, I.. didn't." Spike hides his head in his hands, he remembers his friend and lets a small tear run down his cheek, He mourns for his friend. Springer grins, commenting, "I think we should thank Roddy, for giving that guy indigestion." Sky Lynx most likely towers over everyone in the room unless by some chance Omega Supreme is here but since he isn't will assume he's the biggest bot here, he swings his multi-faceted optic band around the room and sits on his haunches with a loud *thump*. You say, "But I ran into Galvatron, and, uh.." he finishes in a rush, "He attacked me and I threw him out into space and opened the Matrix and Unicron blew up." A pause. "Okay?" Rewind looks about, then slightly moving himself a bit back. As Sky Lynx sits down, Rewind jumps a bit, then landing back on his feet. Spike says, "Sorry all I felt like I needed that. and Optimus deserved it" Eject doesn't notice what Rewind is talking about, as he's trying to follow what Rodimus is saying. "Hush, bro, we're getting the play-by- play finally." Swoop says, "Dinobots real hero! Rodeemus not do nutting but stand dere and complain" Blurr watches Hot Rod in awe. "Wow you really did that Hot Rod huh didja didja didja???" Wreck-Gar puts a finger up in the air and pronounces, "What a singular destiny has been that of this remarkable man!--To be regarded in his own age as a classic!" Rodimus Prime tightens his jaw uncomfortably, "And my name is Rodimus Prime." Daniel looks aside to Rodimus, awed, and he asks, "...How do you know it changed, too?" Blurr looks a bit startled, having missed that in the bustle. Ultra Magnus nods. "Fine," he says quietly. He spins around with a sour look on his face. Ultra Magnus saunters away from Rodimus, pushing aside several Autobots who step toward him. "...only one Prime..." he is heard murmering as he ways away. Sludge shakes his head at Springer, "No, we s'posed get medels for blow up Uni-Kron or something.. but who going to give them to Dinobots?" Wreck-Gar says, "I hear that Rodimus Prime is one bad mutha--" his voice projects into falsetto as he adds, "Watch yo' mouth!" Blurr dashes after Magnus. Rodimus Prime's face falls. "Ultra Magnus?" Swoop looks up to Rodimus, "How come he get all da applauding? Him just open May Trix......Me Swoop could do dat......He not even finght good" Whiz's lips twitch slightly and a look of amusement enters her blue eyes. "Rodimus?" she repeats. Sky Lynx pauses for a long time, looking around at all of the commotion not sure who to ask what he inally blurts out, "Would somebody like to enlighten me as to the state of affairs." Spike grasps Blurr, "BBBLLLUUURRR.. remmmemmber meee?" Swoop says, "And Me Swoop tink he should not name himself after Opteemus.....Should still be Hot Bob or Rodimus.....no Rodeemus Prime" Blurr stops, putting his hands to Spike. Swoop says, "Him not good as Opteemus" Rodimus Prime says defensively, but with a slight glance over at Daniel in acknowledgement of his question, "That's what Optimus said." Blurr blinks, "Oh sorry Spike I forgot you were there whoa boy sorrry I didn't mean to oh boy sorry sorry sorry!" Ultra Magnus looks toward Sky Lynx, about to say something. However, he shakes his head to himself and continues walking toward the base. Daniel wows quietly, his voice soft, greatly impressed by this. Snarl says, "He new no don't know iff hee gud or not yet..mee wait to find out.. if me get metal,, me happy." Spike climbs back on Blurr, and shakes his head. Swoop says, "Hot......Rodeemus! Dinobots get metals?" Spike notes that he has almost fallen twice. Eject leans forward, and says, surprised "Rodimus Prime?" He leans over to Rewind, "Jeese, well, he was gonna need a new team jersey for the softball game anyway... he's a couple sizes larger now... so we'll put the new name on the new jersey. I'll get this softball game going soon, trust me..." Blurr holds onto Spike and dashes after Magnus, leaving a motion trail behind. Rodimus Prime glances over at the Dinobots in distraction. "Later, guys, okay?" Daniel looks after the blue blur that is...well, Blurr, wondering what will become of his father at such a breakneck speed. Swoop ooooooos, "Dinobots get metals!" Swoop says, "Me Swoop say Rodeemus good leader!" Snarl says, "We git Metal Laters! YAy!" Sludge turns to look at Rodimus, "Did Optimus tell Hot Rod when s'posed give medels to Dinobots?" Springer starts heading towards Rodimus again, saying, "About the medals, ask someone else, Sludge." He starts clanking towards Rodimus again. "Hey, Daniel, comfortable up there?" He glances at Rodimus, looking him over. Swoop says, "Me Swoop say him......ummmmm, what dose hoomans say? Oh.......Him a hip, hip, Ray.......whatever that is." Ultra Magnus pushes through the crowded plaza, glancing back at Rodimus with a lot of discomfort. He ducks into the corridor hurriedly. Daniel smiles to Springer. "Uh-huh. I'm helping to protecting Ho...Rodimus." Snarl says, "Me Want hear story now." Ultra Magnus leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Blurr leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Spike leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Snarl listens to Rodimus, "Tell Story!" Rodimus Prime sighs. He mutters to Daniel, "... I *need*..." Daniel senses "Rodimus Prime sighs. "I think I *need* a bodyguard.."" Springer grins. "Hot Rodimus? Nah... So Rod, looks like you went through a major growth spurt there..." Rewind nods slightly to Eject. "Rodimus..most interesting. Obiviously an attempt to somehow remember Optimus' name, possibly in reverence. Such things aren't too uncommon, mostly with Terrans and their children." Sky Lynx growls as Ultra Magnus doesn't tell him what's going on, he starts to look impatient and taps his foot looking around the room, deciding to excersize his rank a bit he taps the nearest Autobot he trusts to give him a straight answer on the should: who just happens to be Rodimus, "Hot Rod would you PLEASE tell em what happened here?" Daniel glances over Rodimus' shoulder, and 'woah's as Sky Lynx's head looms over him. "-Hi-, Sky Lynx..." Rodimus Prime cowers back a step and grins uncertainly. "Uhm... this giant... robot who turned into a planet tried to eat Cybertron and I blew him up?" Snarl says, "Kittybird quiet.. Hot Rod is Whatamess Prime he tell story! Me tying to listen fore my metal later! You lissen too if want with Snarl!" Swoop says, "Hey! Not blow up Uni Corn by self Rodeemus" Sky Lynx examines Rodimus with a good bit of scrutiny, then turns his head to Snarl, flashing an annoyed expression, then looks back at Rodimus and scratches the back of his head, not quite sure what to make of anything he's heard. Swoop hmphs, rejectively, "You big bagger.....not like Dinobots" Daniel lifts a hand, rubbing one eye with the heel of his hand as he lets out a yawn. Rodimus Prime scowls. "Look. If you guys don't want to believe me, fine. You asked me what happened and I told you." Swoop says, "You maybe do part of Bloated upping, but Dinobots do lots too!" Daniel blinks a bit, and begins looking around for his father, again. Spike seems to have vanished amongst the myriad of multicolored bodies, and he finally gives up the search. You say, "Sure, guys. You did a bang-up job." Springer grins. "Hey, I believe you, buddy. Giant monster planet munchers don't just explode for no reason, right?" Daniel turns towards Rodimus again, tapping his fingertips to the top of his helmet, carefully. "...Hey Rodimus," he asks, smoothing the name out much more clearly, this time. He catches on quick, for a kid. Snarl says, "We all helped make it go boom." Blurr enters from the Reception Room to the south. Spike enters from the Reception Room to the south. Rodimus Prime tilts his head slightly enough to regard Daniel without dislodging him. "Yeah?" Blurr moves over by Rodimus so Spike and Daniel can talk. Daniel says, "Are you gonna be OK if I go and find my Dad?" Rodimus Prime blinks. "Uh.. yeah, sure. Sorry." Daniel's eyelids blink a little heavier over the soft brown eyes, suggesting weariness. Spike looks at the images moving very fast and feels sick Rodimus Prime drops quickly to his knee and offers Daniel his hand down. Daniel smiles to him, catching Blurr's motion from the corner of his eye, and brightening. "Hey, there he is--Dad--over here!" He pauses, taking the offered hand as he lowers himself to the ground. He makes a daring little jump down, into a rough-and-tumble landing. Yep. All boy. Daniel turns a glance back up to Rodimus. "...Still friends, right?" Springer glances over at Blurr and Spike, spotting the fast motion. He says, "Easy with him, Blurr, you're not a roller coaster ride." He smirks a little. Rodimus Prime smiles. "Always." Daniel's smile pulls a little wider, relief clear in his gaze. "Cool," he reaffirms, then turns, jogging towards Blurr. "Hey Dad! Guess -what-!" Rewind looks to Eject a moment, then back to the crowd, rubbing the back of his head. He shifts a bit, then shaking his head. "What happened? Think I was continuing to observe the gaseous stellar objects.." Spike looks at the numerous figures in the Room and spots what looks like Daniel, "Daniel!" Daniel slows his jog as he nears Blurr and Spike. "Wow, you got to go with Blurr? *Turbo*! Can I ride, next time?" Blurr grins. "Sure can Daniel anytime you want and I mean it really anytime anytime anytime!" Rodimus Prime rises slowly to his feet again, shaking his head slightly at the perspective shift. Spike shakes his head at Daniel very quickly and visably, as to say Nooooooo! Whiz says, "Wait, let me get this straight." Blurr adds, winking "But you gotta wear a seatbelt ok ok ok?" Daniel grins up at Blurr, looking faintly disappointed by Spike's negative gesture. "Awww, -Dad-..." Whiz says, "You got separated in Unicron. You beat up some new guy named Galvawhatzis. You took the Matrix. And then you heard a dead guy tell you to call yourself a dumb name?" Daniel nods agreeably to this. "Yeah, sure! It'll be cool..." Whiz says, "Uhm, maybe I should see you in the repair bay..." Snarl laughs, "Galvawhatzis!!!" Rodimus Prime bristles. "It's NOT dumb." Daniel reaches out with both hands, carefully trying to still his father's head. "Hey Dad, you OK? You're looking about as green as Springer..." Spike watches the room spin around the 4 Daniels. Whiz says, "What kind of name is Rodimus? It doesn't even mean anything." Spike reachs for one of the Daniels, others see Spike swing at air Jetfire has arrived. Rodimus Prime scowls at Whiz. "It's MY name and I didn't pick it, so let it drop." Swoop hrms and looks at Spike and Daniel, "What wrong wid him?" Spike says, "I'm finnnnee Dannny, I just doooon't feeel good" Blurr says, "Motion sickness I think I think I think" Daniel takes a cautious step back from his father, not wishing to get caught in the middle of whatever might happen to project out of him. Spike nods up and down vigorously Daniel says, "Uhhh...maybe you should sit down, Dad..." Swoop pokes Spike in the gut, "You need go see some unhurter people Daniel looks up to Blurr. "...How do -you- keep from getting sick?" Blurr grins. "ThefasteritisthebetterIlikeit!" Spike gets knocked on his aft by Swoops touch Whiz says, "I'll drop the Hot, but I dunno about calling you Rodimus Prime." Whiz seems amused, more than doubtful. Swoop winces Daniel muses this smilingly, blinking as Spike drops back. He has to laugh, crouching down beside his father. "...Y'okay Dad?" Rewind shakes his head, then rubbing it. "This situation is getting most...um. Confusing. Now..what's precisely going on, again?" Swoop picks Spike up gently, "You 'k?" Springer says, "Hey, at least the 'prime' part makes sense." Spike shakes his head, "I need some asprin" Rodimus Prime seizes on Springer's comment desperately. "There, see, HE agrees with me." Whiz says, "But it just doesn't *mean* anything." Whiz siezes on trivia to keep from dealing with the wider picture. Blurr drops to the ground, "Oh Spike I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry speak to me speak to me speak to me!" Spike thinks he is still sick and begins to feel sicker as Blurr moves rapidly in front of him Rewind rubs his head again. He looks to his brothers, then to Whiz, then to Rodimus. "Um...Sirs? Madames? Might I ask what the proper course of action will be now?" Daniel half-turns to watch Blurr, blinking rapidly as his image doubles...triples--just how many Blurrs -are- there? You say, "So? does Daniel's name mean anything?" Swoop says, "Swoop no have Assprint." Spike closes his eyes for a bit Jetfire says, "Swoop, I believe it is 'Asprin,' a painkiller." Daniel rests a hand on his Dad's shoulder, at least keeping him from weaving. He asks suddenly, "Hey Dad, where's Mom?" Rewind looks to Rodimus. "In actuality, Daniel means a book of narratives, visions, and prophecies in canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture. Also known as a hero of the Book of Daniel, who, the hero of the story, Daniel, was an exile in Babylon, interprets dreams, apocalptic visions, and is divinely delivered from a den of lions." Rewind folds his arms across his chestplate. You say, "Yeah? Well.. Rodimus blew up a planet-killer." Swoop says, "Ummmmmmmm, oh" Jetfire chuckles. "You, or the Matrix?" Spike begins to feel better, "Uh I thought she was with you on earth last I heard? " Spike says, "Oh my, What happened to her?" Daniel frowns, vaguely troubled by this, though his expression clears. "...I bet she's fine. Boy, is she gonna be surprised..." Rewind hrmphs. "However, I will note that, Rodimus, when compared to Daniel, doesn't precisely mean anything to one." Rodimus Prime shoots a startled glance back at Jetfire, his expression turning sheepish. "Well.. it did.. but I had to open it." Daniel looks to Rewind, protesting. "It means plenty to -me-!" Snarl listens to Rodimus's story, "Mee Like." Jetfire looks at Rodimus. "Well, Prime, not to belittle what you did, I mean, if you HADN'T opened it, then, well... Cybertron would be lunchmeat." Spike tries to stand, he sways back and forth, but manages to make it to his feet. Rodimus Prime smirks at Rewind, the more familiar cocky air seeping into his stance. "Well, I'll have to make it mean something, then." Blurr drops to the ground, "Oh Spike I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry speak to me speak to me speak to me!" Daniel steadies his hands at his father's middle, trying to hold him in place. Spike rest a hand on Daniel's shoulder, "Blurr its OK." Daniel smiles reassuringly to Blurr. "Hhhhe'll be OK, Blurr. He'll just take the train from now on, n'stead." Spike still feeling a little dazed smiles at Daniel, and rubs his head messing up his hair. Blurr says, "Oh well that's good yup that's good that's good" Daniel squints his eyes shut at the mussing, cracking them open again to peer up at his Dad with a smile. Daniel yawns again, trying to hide it behind the back of one hand. Whiz smiles, a little relieved as she sees the old attitude rear its head again. Blurr grins. "Sleepy huh Daniel areya areya areya?" Spike looks at Daniel, and then at blurr, "What time is it?" Daniel catches his breath a little, dropping his hands to his sides again, in denial. "Who me? Nope, I'm good..." Daniel sighs, rolling his eyes up at his father. "Daa-aad..." Swoop says, "It 14,000 o'clock!" Blurr says, "It's 2:16 at night yup yup yup it is" Spike looks at Daniel, "Aren't you tired? You have had a Very long day." Snarl says, "Mee.. Snarl..Go now Whatamess Prime me see yoo leightter 'bouth our metal... Me tired now need Energon tired after taking on Uni- Kron." Daniel shakes his head at his father again. "Nope, I'm wide awake. See?" He makes a show of opening his eyes wide, though the upper lids are obviously growing heavy. Whiz relaxes a bit. "So, finally let the Responsibility Police get their claws into you, huh?" Swoop corrects Snarl, "I tink it Uni-Corn" Spike looks at Daniel, "Bed time Mr." Whiz says, "You know what this is gonna lead to. Paperwork. Meetings. Briefings. The works." Snarl says, "Whatevere he gone now no more." Jetfire looks thoughtful. Daniel lets out a somewhat disappointed sigh. "...But Dad...I want to stay and listen to Rodimus..." Rodimus Prime shifts uncertainly. "Well, no..." Blurr grins. "I'll take him to bed Spike if you want sure sure sure I will I will I will..." He seems to want to do SOMETHING to make up. Spike feels the effects of the dizziness wear off. Daniel seems to brighten at this, looking towards Blurr. "Wow--!" You say, "It was kind of spur of the moment, you know? Do this now or die." Swoop leans down, He mutters to Daniel, "... Swoop... be able... fun,... do..." Snarl stumbles away toward a recharging station. Daniel looks again to his father. "Can I go with Blurr, Dad?" Eject says, "Hey, Rodimus sacked the enemy lineman big time. Rodimus Prime, you've just won the world series, what are you going to do now?" Rewind nods. "Yes. As per what I've been wondering most of this cycle." Spike shakes his head, "No Blurr..." He calms, "I'll Take him." Daniel awwws again in disappointment. Insult to injury. Blurr nods, leaving a motion trail. "Well, g'night then Daniel seeya later sure sure sure..." Swoop says, "You go back ta earth now?" Spike picks up Daniel Jetfire laughs. He starts to say, "Prime..." but trails off. He rolls the name 'Prime' around in his mind for a while, Optimus' memory still fresh in his mind... His optic flashes a bright red for a moment, then fades to its usual color. Rodimus Prime looks down uncertainly at Eject. "Well, I... guess I'm the leader now, right?" Daniel goes willingly along with his father, some of the disappoitment evaporating from his face. He raises a hand to wave to the Autobots. "G'night guys!" Ultra Magnus enters from the Reception Room to the south. Elita One enters from the Reception Room to the south. Spike takes Daniel south and offers to Daniel one last Good-bye to Rodimus. Rodimus Prime barely has the words out of his mouth when he hears footsteps behind him, his expression falling quickly to one of uncertain dread. Jetfire looks down at his feet, gazing at their black-with-red-stripes. Eject nods up at Rodimus Prime, "So, coach, do you have any ideas about what the first play you're gonna call is?" Daniel shrugs vaguely to his father. "It's Okay, Dad. He's busy. We'll catch him tomorrow." Rewind nods slightly. "As we can assume, as the Matrix has seemingly 'choosen' you, as it has the former Primes. Prima, Prime Nova, and Sentinel Prime, if my data tracks are accurate." Ultra Magnus and Elita One appear from the corridor to the south. Ultra Magnus seems much more relaxed that earlier, with less anguish in his blue optics. He looks across the crowd for Rodimus, and upon spotting him, begins to walk toward him. Spike leaves with Daniel. Daniel leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Spike leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Elita One stays in perfect step with Ultra Magnus. Her face bears the burden of her sorrow, though she carries it with a soldier's grace as she strides towards Rodimus herself. Jetfire finds a window and gazes through it out at the stars. "So beautiful, they are..." Whiz looks over Rodimus again, her optics appraising. "So, what exactly did it *do* to you? Was it just 'poof', you're a new man, or was it kinda a slow expanding of your systems, I mean, do you transform into a bigger car now, or..." A piece of burning Unicron shrapnel *thuds* to the ground outside the window as if on cue with Jetfire's comment. Ultra Magnus nears Rodimus. He motions toward him and says, "Rodimus, may I say something?" Jetfire jumps, his optic flaring. "... devil..." Elita One remains quiet, and glances towards Magnus, supporting what he decides to say fully. Jetfire looks out at the once more serene sky. He cranes his neck as he sees a chunk of Unicron flare across the night sky, a shooting star...? Rodimus Prime runs a hand over the back of his helmet. "It was kinda muddled. I'm not sure... uhm.. what?" he looks over at Magnus uneasily, his optics shifting away repeatedly, off-balance with looking *at* him instead of up. Ultra Magnus pauses for a moment. He glances toward Elita One, nodding his head once before looking back to Rodimus Prime. After several more moments, he begins, "I attempted to do what I could with the mantle of leadership. In a lack of foresight as well as through other less-than- supreme actions, I have only confirmed that which I have always known...I never have and never will compare to Optimus Prime. The Autobot Matrix of Leadership has chosen you to lead our valient cause into the next era of Cybertron." Rodimus Prime shifts his weight nervously. "Well, you don't have to be so formal about it..." Rewind looks to Eject, then back to Rodimus, hrmphing. He then pauses himself, flickering his optics, and beginning to intake what Magnus says. He is, of course, on record. Jetfire twitches visibly at the mention of Optimus. He gazes vacantly out of the sky, as if he were looking at the dust of Optimus. Elita One turns her attention back to Rodimus, looking slightly upward to look at him with sorrowful optics, but carries the weight of leadership, as she adds, "And with that, Ultra Magnus and I both offer our services to you in our same duties that we have had while under.." she trails off for a moment, but recovers, "Optimus' command. I still do not fully understand what occured, but if what I have heard is true, then there must be some spark of leadership within you." Whiz stares at Rodimus, the words sinking in, along with the knowledge that her best friend is about to become her leader. Ultra Magnus continues, "I have stood by the side of Optimus Prime through eons of strife on this planet. His loss is indeed a tragic one, but if the matrix, as well as Optimus, have no doubts about your leadership, then neither do I." Ultra Magnus holds out an open hand toward Rodimus. "I will follow your command diligently, and stand beside you in any situation which comes to surface. You have much to do, but I am confident that you will live up to the task which you have before you. I welcome your leadership, Rodimus Prime." Jetfire says, "Optimus... needs a burial... the others that died. We must honor their memory!" Jetfire's optics flare with passion at this. Blurr applauds Magnus, leaving motion trails. Rodimus Prime's expression twitches. "Uh, guys, really, this isn't all necessary..." Blurr turns to Jetfire. "Hey hey hey yeah you're right you're right!" Rodimus Prime hedges now, the immense weight of the whole thing starting to become evident. Ultra Magnus smiles toward Rodimus, "We're here to back you in any way needed, Rodimus. You may not feel it is neccessary...but I do." Elita One adds quietly, "As do I.." she does not say more, her optics looking across to Whiz. Swoop says, "So who gonna lead Audobots now?" Whiz feels a sudden sense of distance, and an accompanying sense of loss. She takes a step back from Rodimus, approaching Elita instead, her optics reaching out to the Femme leader. Jetfire places his hand on the cool glass of the window. "We all support you, Rodimus..." He almost mutters. "But we will miss Optimus, no one is denying that. You needn't be him, merely be a leader." Blurr dashes to Magnus's side. "Yeah yeah yeah Magnus is right sure yeah he is I think you'll be a great leader Rodimus sure you will" You say, "But couldn't I--" he breaks off, his face turning solemn for a moment as he considers something inwardly. He shakes his head, angry at himself for a fleeting moment, then meets Magnus's optics again unhappily. "I guess so." Elita One gives Whiz a symapthetic look as she approaches, and places her hand on Whiz's shoulder, trying to convey some sense of comfort to her. She keeps her optics focused on Whiz's trying to keep her feelings in check. Jetfire allows his antennae to droop down, sliding down, leaning on his back. His hand twitches on the glass of the window slightly. He seems to feel an added weight, and his hand slides down the pane of glass... Whiz stands beside Elita uncomfortably, shifting her weight between her two feet, wanting to take refuge in humor but unable to shake the solemn feel of the occasion. Rodimus Prime adds uncertainly, "You're sure it's.. okay.. with everyone?" Rewind idly watches this, and he actually seems somewhat proud. He puts his hands to his sides, looking upwards at everyone. For once, he's recording history in the making, instead of reading about it. Jetfire looks down again, just hesitating. He clenches his fist suddenly. "Rodimus Prime. PRIME. You're the leader. It's accepted..." Ultra Magnus nods toward Rodimus. He turns his head to look toward the other Autobots looking for some affirmation. Swoop mumbles, "Long as Dinobots get MEtals" Elita One shifts her emotions out for a moment, and leans down to quietly mutter to Whiz, trying to discern her condition. She mutters to Whiz, "How are... Is... this?" Whiz mutters to Elita One. Rodimus Prime looks like the bottom just dropped out of his equilibrium. "But... I didn't do anything on purpose," he mumbles, unable to come up with a better excuse. Ultra Magnus says calmly, "Nonetheless, you are the one who has been chosen to lead us to our future." Elita One gives Whiz's shoulder a gentle squeeze, and offers a smile. She mutters to Whiz, "I... deal with... in due time... bit of... with... him, but... we... help Hot... adjust to..." Jetfire places both hands on the glass, refusing to look at anyone, avoiding glances. When he catches a look of the others in the mirror's reflection he slides his glance down. Elita One looks up at Rodimus, "What do you mean by that, Hot Rod.. I mean, Rodimus." Rodimus Prime grumbles. "Nothing." Whiz nods, a bit numbly. Swoop shrugs, "So what we do now?" Jetfire glances up at the reflection and starts, for a moment he thought he saw Optimus standing next to Rodimus, with his hand on Rodimus' shoulder. He jumps, but then, as his optic focuses Optimus is gone, leaving a ghostly impression in his mind. He mutters, barely audible, Optimus' name... He holds still, then turns around, to look at Rodimus. You say, "Well... if I'm the leader then... well, you have to listen to me, right? Uh, right. So... no one's allowed to call me sir. Ever." Ultra Magnus looks to Swoop, "Well, I presume Autobot City would be a good place to start. We have severe damages to repair there. There are countless areas which need attention here on Cybertron as well...although I have more concern for the former..." Swoop says, "ME Swoop not ask what you do......Me Swoop ask what we do" Swoop says, "Swoop not cleaner" Rodimus Prime rubs his head. "Uhm, yeah, sure..." Whiz can't resist a little smirk. "Yessir." Rewind absently twiddles his thumbs now, merely listening and recording intently. Ultra Magnus vanishes out of reality. Jetfire leans back against the glass, looking at Rodimus' face. After a moment, he looks away, choosing instead to look at a corner, watching some organic mold-like creature grow... Elita One says, "Where do you want my unit.." she looks at Rodimus evenly, and does not use sir, but the even more formal term of, "Commander." Rodimus Prime makes a face at Whiz. "Hey, be careful or I'll promote you too... uhm," he winces, "Can't I have some time to get used to this?" Whiz looks at him sympathetically. "Guess not." Jetfire forces himself to look at Prime. "The cons are in disarray. What better chance to get used to it?" Blurr says helpfully, "Hey yeah yeah yeah we could hold some games or something to let everyone wind down and relax and I'll win the race and it'll be great yeah yeah!" Rewind shifts back to using his lesser-grade recording tape after the speeches are through, now folding his arms across his chestplate. He looks to Eject. "Well...ah. Would you have a suggestion as to what to do now?" Jetfire tears his gaze away, turning around and looking back out at the stars. Elita One nods in agreement, "I concur. Commander, we need time to step back and repair after what has occured. I suggest you use this time wisely. In the meantime, I will keep my unit on the same duty we have been on, repairs near Crystal City." Eject shrugs to Rewind, "I don't know, go to disney planet?" Rodimus Prime sighs heavily, optics dimming briefly as he tries to gather something intelligent to say. "Uh.. yeah, that sounds good." Rewind ponders. "Disney planet. Near Pluto? Or is that the version near Houston on Earth?" Rodimus Prime tries to catch Whiz's optics without Elita noticing, probably without much success as he mouths the word, "*Commander*?" Jetfire sighs deeply. "Rest... something odd... for us." Rewind awaits the response from Eject to clarify, then pausing to look upwards to the giants again. Eject looks at Rewind and just shakes his head. Elita One gives a faint, barely smile at Rodimus, and turns, "Just something for you to consider during this time." She quietly strides out of the hall, keeping her presence known. Elita One vanishes out of reality. Whiz is even more lost than usual, I suppose. Rodimus Prime stares after her back, working his hands like he's not quite sure what to do with them. Whiz watches Elita go, seeming to want to follow, but hanging back anyway. ================================ In Your Area ========================== Rodimus Prime [A] Swoop [A] Rewind [A] Sludge [A] Eject [A] Blurr [A] Whiz [A] Jetfire [A] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blurr pays Elita no heed, save a snappy salute. Rodimus Prime sidles backward until he bumps into the wall, sliding slowly to the floor. Blurr zips over to Rodimus. Whiz looks ar Rod in concern. "Ummm... you okay?" Blurr says, "Rodimus Rodimus are you ok huh huh huh areya?" Rodimus Prime says quietly, suddenly feeling very small, "Yeah, I'm fine." Whiz moves over to Rodimus, somewhat tentatively. Rewind shrugs at Eject, then looking around at everyone. "I believe I'm beginning to feel how the lillputians felt. Ah well. Must be something for use to do..." Blurr looks at Rodimus with concern in his optics. Eject nods to Rewind, "Well, we're in fairly decent condition, and we can get into small spaces... my best guess is that we start looking for survivors. Get anyone who hasn't been permenantly benched to a doc." Whiz says, "Uhm... are you hurt? I mean, I don't know if that thing could repair you, or if you got hurt, or what...."" Whiz looks sheepish, squatting down beside Rodimus with an unsure look on her face. Rodimus Prime says a bit sourly, "Never felt better." Blurr kneels by Rodimus. Blurr says, "Hey you can't lie to me no way no way no way..." Whiz snaps, "Well, excuse me for asking." Rodimus Prime startles. "What? What'd I say?" Whiz grumps, "I mean, I thought maybe ou could use a friend to care about you, silly me." Blurr looks awkward and, for once, is speechless. Rodimus Prime's expression melts fretfully. "I'm sorry, Whiz, I just don't know how to take any of this." Whiz smiles ruefully. "I suppose that's understandable. If it's hard for me, it must be worse for you." Eject grabs Rewind by the arm, and drags him off to go scouting. Rewind blinks, looking to Eject. He then waves off to the others. "Um....bye!" Rodimus Prime looks rather blankly after the tapes. "Bye.." Whiz says, "How does it feel to get your wish? You always did want to be a hero, after all..." Eject nods to Rewind, "Well, we're in fairly decent condition, and we can get into small spaces... my best guess is that we start looking for survivors. Get anyone who hasn't been permenantly benched to a doc." Eject stops, and looks to Rodimus, "If that's okay with you that is, Coach." You say, "Uhm... yeah. Sure." Rewind nods. "A most intelligent decision, dear brother. Much like how people send saint bernards out to find the wounded..." Rodimus Prime shoots a *look* at Whiz, then tries to puff himself up again. "Yeah, well, did what I had to..." Whiz chuckles. "Better you than me, I suppose." Jetfire gazes out the window still. He is deathly silent. Whiz releases her squatting position and leans exhaustedly against the wall. Swoop stands there.....loking more dumber than usual Eject leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Rewind leaves to the Reception Room to the south. Rodimus Prime says dully, "What're *you* tired about? I'm the one who had to fight Galvatron." Whiz glares. "Well, excuse me for not moving any planets or anything, but I was out there digging people out of the rubble for the past day or so. There's a lot going on down here, too." You say, "Sorry." Whiz says, "At least you got some real excitment out of the whole thing. You even got a Matrix." Jetfire leans back against the window. Then, after a moments hesitation slides down the wall into a sitting position. Swoop says, "And ME Swoop not cheat by using dumb Matrix!" Rodimus Prime rubs his chestplate vaguely. "Don't remind me." Whiz says, "Can't be a BAD thing, can it?" Rodimus Prime pauses. "Well... no... I meant it when I said I never felt better. But it's all the strings attached." Whiz says, "The humans say that there's no such thing as a free lunch."" Rodimus Prime sighs, looking around the battered leftovers of the celebration. "I thought I wanted this. But everyone's being so.. serious." Jetfire says, "Prime, being the leader is... serious, 'm afraid." Whiz says, "Maybe once we've all had a chance to react, then things will lighten up." Rodimus Prime grumps. "Well, *I'm* not. I'm not gonna let them turn me into their figurehead." Whiz says, "Yeah, lead us into a new era of fun for all." Whiz smirks. You say, "Well, if I'm leader I'm going to do things my way." Whiz sighs disappointedly. "Yeah, you say that now. But you'll just turn into one of them in the end." Blurr frowns. You say, "I will NOT. C'mon, Whiz, you know me better than that." Blurr says, "Hey Whiz c'mon be fair be fair be fair this is Rodimus he's a real nice guy he is he is" Whiz smirks, "Nah, I always thought he was a real dork." Whiz punches Rodimus in the arm playfully. Rodimus Prime grrs and swipes back as usual, hitting a little harder than he meant to. Whiz rubs her arm in surprise. "Ow!" Rodimus Prime blinks, drawing back quickly. "Sorry," he stammers uncertainly. Jetfire looks concernedly at the two. Blurr frows "hey hey hey no fighting that's bad bad bad!" You say, "We weren't fighting..." Whiz grins. "Yeah we were, but at least that's getting back to normal." Rodimus Prime rubs his hand thoughtfully. "I guess I should let Perceptor look at me," he mumbles, not sounding like he enjoys the prospect. Blurr says, "Yeahyeahyeahyoushouldsoyoudon'tgetmesseduporhurtwewouldn'twantthatatall nowaynowaynoway!" You say, "I'm *not* hurt." Blurr says, "Iknowbutwe'reyourfriendsandweworryyaknowwellwedododo!" Rodimus Prime insists, "I'm NOT hurt." He brushes away at the phantom fingers at his throat and clasps his hands together again, tightly. Whiz says, "Uhm, if you say so. Still..." Whiz peers at Rodimus in much the same way a kid looks at an interesting project. Rodimus Prime eyes Whiz and scoots away. Whiz says, "Rod... you know, you probably should be sure that the Matrix there isn't doing anything that might maladapt your systems. You know, start buring energon too fast or something..." Whiz says, "Only way to tell is an examination." Rodimus Prime says with a sudden measure of confidence, "It wouldn't hurt me." Blurr says, "Yeahyeahyeahyoushouldjusttobesuresowedont'thaftaworryyaknowyaknowyaknow ?" Whiz barely restrains her hands from rubbing together evilly by lacing her fingers together. "Yeah, but... aren't you the slightest bit curious about what happened to you?" Rodimus Prime says cautiously, "No." Whiz thinks fast. Whiz says, "Well, we have to have your new blueprints on file for when we have to do repairs." You say, "It can't be that different." Whiz says, "Can't tell until we look, can we?" Blurr says, "Wellyou'rebiggernstrongerntallernbesidesyoucantrustWhizcantcha?" Whiz grins widely. "Yeah, you can trust me." You say, "I don't want a bunch of people staring at me, okay?" Rodimus Prime lurches to his feet, using his height to his advantage so he can look down at Whiz, folding his arms defiantly over his chest as he slides back along the wall. Whiz gets to her feet, trying to shrug off the height difference. "Don't you start giving me looks. I'm just looking out for you. Honestly, you just can't help some people." You say, "Strapping me down on a table isn't helping. If you want to help you'll figure out some way out of this." Whiz vanishes out of reality. You move south to the Reception Room... Reception Room Contents: Rewind, Perceptor Obvious exits: Stairway Down leads to Communications Center. East leads to Training Room. West leads to Off-Duty Lounge. North leads to Audience Hall. South leads to Central Courtyard and Landing Area. Perceptor looks up. "Hello!" Blurr enters from the Audience Hall to the north. Rodimus Prime mutters something under his breath about medics. "Hi." Rewind rubs the back of his head, looking up to Perceptor with a slight wave. Rodimus Prime keeps his arms folded over his chest and tries to squeak past. Perceptor is now back in time (tm). He looks up at the shining vigor and youth of the new Rodimus Prime. "Hello, Rodimus. Do you mind if I call you Rodimus? I must say that the new look is becoming of you." Rodimus Prime mumbles, "Better than 'Commander.'" Perceptor smiles. "You had best get used to it. I have a feeling that you will be called that name for many years, and through some new dark times ahead, as well as some shining victories." Rodimus Prime shifts uncomfortably. "Look, I just did what I had to, okay? I don't think I can handle this commander thing." Perceptor smiles his reassuring smile. "Maybe not now. No one truly ever is ready for a task of leadership, but you will grow into it. You'll see." Blurr says, "HeysureyoucanreallyIknowyoucancauseOptimusmusthavethoughtsoyotrusthimdo n'tchadon'tcha?" Rodimus Prime mutters, "Pretty slagging confident for the guy who was always on Kup's discipline list." Perceptor nods and still smiles. "And for the same one who remembered the proper greeting and made a bond with our new friends, the Junkions." Rewind shrugs. "I'm fairly sure Abraham Lincon didn't start out self- confident, either." You say, "Oh, come on. I'm always the one in trouble, not the other way around. Then I have to open some dumb Matrix to save my life and suddenly everyone trusts me?" Blurr says, "HeyIalwaystrustedyadidn'tIhuhhuhdidn'tI?" Rodimus Prime winces very slightly and shifts his weight as though still trying to get used to it. Perceptor looks away for a second as an odd idea strikes him. "You're right. You need to give the Matrix of Leadership back to Galvatron right now." Rodimus Prime blinks. "Huh?" Blurr says, "WhatNonononononono!" Perceptor has an odd smile. "You heard." You say, "You're crazy." Blurr says, "That'simpossibleimpossibleimpossible!" Perceptor cocks his head. "But why? Unless that desire and ability to lead actually IS coming of age. What do you think?" Blurr says, "BesidesGalvatron'sdeadhe'sdeadhe'sreallydead..." You say, "Or maybe I don't want to hand it over to a Decepticon who's probably dead now anyway." Blurr says, "Yeahyeahyeahthat'srighthe'sright" Perceptor makes a mockery of scratching his chin. "I might be mistaken, but I thought I just heard deductive reasoning there, as well as a concern for the well-being of all your fellow teammates. Logic says that it appears you are ready to grow into the role." Rodimus Prime scowls. "Cut it out. No one's *that* dumb." You say, "As if it takes any big amount of logic to figure out giving the Matrix to a Decepticon is a bad thing." Perceptor just smiles and shakes his head. Blurr says, "Logicnowaynowaynowaybutcommonsenseyesyesyes!" Rewind shrugs slightly. "Well. Do you want to become of us what happened to the Roman Empire? They had two great leaders in their time periods. Juilis and Agustus Caesar. They made their empire great. But, when they left, it slowly crumbled to pieces, because of greed, and jealousy. Do you want the Matrix to pass on to someone who can't open it and lead us down the road to destruction, or keep it, as you /are/ the choosen one, and one day take us to greatness?" Blurr says, "Heyyeahthat'sagoodpointIthinksoyeahuhhuhsowhydon'tyoulistentotheman?" You say, "So what if I am? So I opened it. So big deal. It's over. Why do I have to get stuck with *leading* now?" You say, "Aah, I was probably just in the wrong place at the right time anyway." Perceptor takes a second. "So why didn't the Matrix open for anyone else, INCLUDING Ultra Magnus, who, as all hands agree, is a wonderful leader. Blurr suddenly looks down to the ground, and turns, walking slowly away, and looking somewhat crushed. You say, "Because the time wasn't right." Rodimus Prime blinks. "Blurr?" Rewind looks up and down Rodimus. "Well. Let me try and say it like this. If you won't lead us...who will?" You say, "What's wrong with Magnus?" Perceptor looks at Rodimus witha simple looks and a smile. "Uh-huh." Rewind smacks his hand to his forehead. Rodimus Prime flinches, looking away, his arms tightening briefly over his chest. Blurr vibrates slightly. Rewind sighs slightly, looking to Rodimus. "Listen. Ultra Magnus and Elita One have said that they are fully willing to support you. You blew up Unicron. You're a hero. People will be disappointed if you don't do this. And after all the staggering looses we took down in Autobot City, I don't think that that decision will effect morale positively." Blurr goes to a window and leans against it. Rodimus Prime ticks that over in his head. "Yeah, but... hero or not... that's a lot different than... this... I can't just jump in all the sudden." Blurr sort of sags against the window. Rewind nods. "Well. Take it one step at a time. I know of several liberies that have information on leaders of the past. Draw from them, perhaps. Y'know?" Rodimus Prime mutters darkly, "Don't need libraries for that." Rewind tilts his head to one angle, nodding. "Ah. I take it you've gone over the texts already, then? Very interesting facts in them. Lincoln, The Caesars, the various Chinese Emperors...er." Rodimus Prime's mouth twitches to one side. "That's not what I meant." Rewind blinks in obliviousness for several moments, then asking, "Ah...what do you mean, then?" Rodimus Prime says vaguely, "You know where all the leaders of the past go when they die." Rewind tilts his head to one side. "In which mythology/theology? There are several, for leaders, the good, the wicked, common people..." sighs, observing the floor for several moments, then shakes it off suddenly, defiantly. "Hey. I'm a hero, right?" he tries to rationalize. "I saved the whole planet. That's all I ever wanted." Rodimus Prime stares at Rewind like he's gone goofy. "In real life." You say, "The same dead guys who gave me my... dumb," he smiles slightly, "name." Rodimus Prime sighs, observing the floor for several moments, then shakes it off suddenly, defiantly. "Hey. I'm a hero, right?" he tries to rationalize. "I saved the whole planet. That's all I ever wanted." Blurr turns and sinks to the floor. Rewind rubs his chin for a moment, not really understanding Rodimus' 'real life' statement. "Um...well now. Cybertronian theology, then? That would be...The Matrix itself?" Rodimus Prime blinks, coming back down to earth. "Yeah." Blurr looks around, getting to his feet. Blurr gives Rodimus a hurt/baffled look, and turns to leave. Rodimus Prime considers. "I guess I should talk to Ultra Magnus about it... doing things my way is a nice idea but I don't think I trust myself with it." he pauses, then curses silently at himself. "Getting to me already." Rodimus Prime raises his voice, "Blurr, what's the problem?" Blurr stops, looking almost surprised, then lets it all out in a torrent. Rewind nods. "You saved the planet, yes. And possibly many others, if Unicron was allowed to continue his orgy of destruction....hmmm. He was almost like Shiva, from the human Hindu theology, I suppose...but, besides the point. Yes, you destroyed him, with the Matrix. Let's see now. Also in a sense, you hae been reborn, as well. Been given a new name, which you don't protest to go by...reincarnated, if you will. So this, in essense, is your new life. You may not be comfortable with it yet, but give it time. Matrix wouldn't open up for any shmuck who came along, I mean." Rodimus Prime eyes Rewind uncertainly. "I just don't see why *me*..." Rewind shrugs again. "Maybe the Matrix knows something about you that you yourself don't even know yet?" Blurr says, "WellyouseethethingiswellthatItrustyouMagnustrustsyouElitatrustsyouandwe llIkindofbelieveinyousoIdon'tunderstandwhyyoucan'tgiveyourselfachanceats uccessbecauseit'ssoimportanttoeveryoneandImeanifOptimuschoseyouhowcanwen otrespectthatitjustseemslikeyouneedtogiveyourselfachanceyesyoushoulduhhu huhhuhuhhuh..." Blurr looks down self-consciously. Rodimus Prime throws up his hands to block the torrent, cracking a smile despite himself. "Okay, okay. I'll give it a shot. I'm not all that hot on the idea of giving it up, anyway." Blurr smiles, apparently reassured. Blurr says, "AndbesidesIstillgottaraceyawhenyouhavethetrailerjusttoseeifyoureallyare gettingold." Blurr grins mischeviously. Rodimus Prime wipes a hand across his face, fingers trailing a faint moment over the unfamiliar lines. "HEY, if you think a trailer's going to slow me down--" he threatens. Rodimus Prime grins. "Cut it out. I'm trying to feel sorry for myself." Blurr grins. "Heyheynowthat'smorelikeitniceandbraveinthefaceofcertaindoom." You say, "Oh yeah, certain doom faced me and turned tail and ran." Blurr literally runs circles around Rodimus, leaving a motion trail actually wrapping around the new leader. Rodimus Prime observes, "All I have to do is stick my foot out." Blurr says, "Yeahyeahyeahgoaheadandtry!" Rodimus Prime chuckles thoughtfully. "I'm gonna try to hit a rest cycle.. maybe this'll straighten itself out. If I can sleep. This is all just... unreal." Rewind rubs his chin. "Y'know...the more I think about it, the more this /does/ remind me of that book I read on Hinduism. Siva, being the god of regeneration and destruction....Unicron tried to destroy Cybertron...almost did...but you stopped him, and, in the end, where re- created into a new form. That's almost...what's the terran word...Spooky." Blurr skids to a stop and waves. "I'm gonna do a couple laps around Iacon and then recharge too!" Rodimus Prime pauses, considering that. "No, I wouldn't call it spooky... Unicron was really big on destiny, though, so maybe that's it." He shrugs. "I don't know. I need to let this all sit for a while." You say, "G'night, guys. Thanks for putting up with me."