I've Done It Again

Optimus missed when nobody knew who he was. Now when he walked through the building, conversations stopped and mecha parted ways to give him a wide berth. Nobody spoke to him anymore either, so he really had no chance of gathering their honest thoughts and opinions about the state of Cybertron or the city-state Starscream and Shockwave were trying to build.

Unlike before, Starscream was avoiding him now. Optimus figured it had something to do with protecting his image. Starscream wanted to look strong and powerful, which wasn't what he'd been projecting lately. Shockwave wasn't around either, because he was constantly working in his lab/office with the other smart mecha. Optimus didn't want to bother him, especially since Shockwave was leading the operation to locate the matrix.

They left him with little to do. Optimus found himself sitting on the edge of the flight deck, staring down the ravine below them. He could at least consider Starscream's request for approval. The Autobots had their own government now, so officially, Optimus's word wasn't worth much, but they'd definitely give the idea of handing Vos's ruins to Starscream more consideration. With their spatial issues, it was important that Starscream got their permission to start building as soon as possible.

So far, Optimus only saw more and more reasons to encourage Starscream to pursue his goal in Vos with the Decepticons. The next logical step would be for Optimus to return to the Autobots for a long enough period of time to ensure the future of the matrix, whatever that might be, and then set the path for Starscream. Despite Megatron's bold accusations and Primus's odd decision to revive them, Optimus still had no intention to change his earlier plans for post-war activities.

It would be unfair for Optimus to stay on Cybertron.

There was only one loose end left to deal with. Despite their many arguments, Optimus never figured out what Megatron wanted out of all of this. It wouldn't do any good to leave his Autobots unprepared for any angry ex-warlord. Before his death, Optimus had hoped Megatron could rise above himself and join the Autobots in their quest for a better world, but that possibility seemed to grow further and further away the more Optimus worked with him.

Their latest altercation had been the worst so far. Optimus had allowed himself to get too emotional and that led to him crossing a boundary that he should have known better than to cross. It was a mistake and now it was time to make up for it and clear the air. Optimus had avoided confronting him about it before, but now avoidance seemed impossible.

Optimus sighed and activated his comms. Currently, he only had two frequencies saved and Megatron was one of them.

"Megatron?" Optimus asked.

"What?" the ex-warlord snapped almost immediately. "If you plan on lecturing me, I'll return to ensure your helm is rem—"

"I'm not," Optimus interrupted before Megatron could incriminate himself further. "We need to have a talk."

"Why should I listen to anything you have to say?" Megatron demanded.

Optimus rubbed his face. "I understand that you did nothing wrong. I am the one who took it too far and you had every right to defend yourself. I've been informed that you've left, but I need to speak with you. I need information and I... I ask that you grant me one last kindness despite my actions."

Megatron was quiet, leaving Optimus to wonder if he'd worded the appeal to sound as apologetic as he intended. Perhaps Megatron thought it was bogus: pretty words from a mech whose actions spoke far louder.

There was nothing from Megatron's end for a while, so Optimus continued to sit at the edge of the flight deck, staring off into the distance and listening to the sounds of mecha moving about behind him. One of the many sky-builds behind him landed, but the sound of the engine was familiar. The heavy, but solid landing, and the pede steps as they made their way closer. Not at a run or jog that would have once sent Optimus's battle protocols into overdrive, but a slow stride that ended with a large shadow covering Optimus's right side.