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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 2:36:12 GMT
Characters Appearing: Hot Rod, Megatron. Location (s): Training room. Timeline: October 15th Plot Summary: After several years Hot Rod finally works up the courage to confront Megatron on the event that changed Hot Rod's life.
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 2:40:18 GMT
It had been several months since Hot Rod had returned to the Autobots since the war ended.
During that whole time Hot Rod had avoided a certain thing like the plague. The reason he went traveling and the reason he couldn't bring himself to return to the Autobots for years until the birth of the Terrans...
Hot Rod walked through G.H.O.S.T. HQ silently. He didn't say a word. He had to keep himself composed.
He stepped into the training room.
Time to get it over with.
He only said one word.
"MEGATRON!!!!!" Hot Rod shouted.
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 3:17:38 GMT
"You'll cease and desist now, D-16!"
The words would forever ring in his audio receptors. Megatron had taken some free time to download some of his most memorable moments in his processor, compiling them into simulations he could personally use when he felt his processor wandering to those memories, to those battles that made him who he was. This one however was always at the forefront of his thoughts, the day he truly took a life for the first time. Naturally, the scenarios were altered in a way of what could have been, and how different they might be with the skills he had now or the knowledge he had. But here he was, the simulation deep into a hologram of Kaon's mines before the war, finding himself face to face with the guard he had beaten in a rage.
A low growl rumbled from Megatron's chest as the ex-warlord ignored the order as he did that day, moving swiftly for his size to knock the baton from the guard who was taken aback but the simulated mech seemed to quickly recover. Though brief, there was an exchange of punches and kicks, Megatron's altered frame from back then easily taking the strikes before he caught the guard's head in his hands and brought it down hard to a raised knee, knocking the guard into a dazed state and cracking his visor before roughly shoving the guard back to fall flat on his back. This time, Megatron was in a clear state of mind, moving over to stand over the mech, raising his fusion cannon as it hummed to life, "I'll never cease the fight." He growled to no one.
But his concentration was broke at the sudden shout of someone familiar, an annoying racer Megatron didn't exactly get along with even after thirty years. "Hmph, end D16-01 simulation." Megatron grunted towards the AI that gave an "Acknowledged" response before the simulation flickered away and his cannon died down. It was only then did Megatron really turn to acknowledge the flashy Hot Rod, "Thirty years, and you're still annoying as ever, Hot Rod." The older mech grumbled softly, moving over towards the control panel and retrieving a disk of which he stowed away in a compartment in his arm. "To what do I owe the displeasure of hearing the non-sense to spout from your smartarse mouth today?"
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 3:28:26 GMT
Hot Rod growled.
"Did you ever know the reason I joined the Autobots?"
His expression sharpened. His eyes had a look of determination.
"It was because of something that happened long ago. An event that changed Cybertron's history and the course of our stupid war."
Hot Rod's glare turned cold. A rarity given how good-natured he could be.
"I just wanna know one thing."
"Why did you destroy Praxus?"
Hot Rod remembered that day. The day he'd been having fun; having the time of his life and winning a race only to find out that across the planet thousands of innocents were dead.
He joined the Autobots that day. So he could make a difference.
When Megatron had been forgiven at the end of the war it offended Hot Rod. He couldn't stand the Decepticon leader was getting a free pass. Did no one remember what happened that day?
And now it was time to confront these feelings head on.
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 3:48:29 GMT
"I never have particularly cared." Megatron answered coldly towards Hot Rod regarding his reasons for joining the Autobots. Honestly, the only thing he had ever found memorable about the little spitfire of a mech was his guts, determination, and willingness to go against the odds, traits he could respect. Perhaps the only redeeming qualities he felt the young mech had. And perhaps being his old friend's protege at times it seemed. "Everyone had their reasons for rallying behind one faction or the other Hot Rod, if that's all you're here for don't waste your energon."
Initially Megatron was cold and dismissive, approaching the doorway with a cold hard glare of his own. If he had to push the mech aside he would. But, it seemed it wasn't something smartass or without reason for once, but rather an event that happened early in the war.
Praxus of all places, a bloody battle, a major hit to the Autobots that turned out to be a loss anyhow. Thousands of lives had been lost those few days, and many had turned to the Autobots with perhaps a handful coming under his own banner. "Has Prime taught you nothing of war little mech? Given the times, there were many reasons I targeted Praxus." Megatron's coldness eased somewhat, sighing softly as he decided to indulge Hot Rod's inquiry, "I destroyed it because it was a major influence, a beacon of Cybertron's cultures and advancements, of its caste system. It represented everything I was fighting for, from politics to the high class to the imbalance in our planet's society. Like it or not Hot Rod, Praxus wasn't the shining utopia you thought it was." As usual, Megatron was not one to mince words, meeting Hot Rod's cold, determined optics with his own cold gaze.
Surely the mech wasn't that dense? "Perhaps if you took your head out of your aft once in a while, really looked at what was happening around you, you would have seen that. I did what I thought was best at the time, for a cause I thought was worth fighting for." Granted, he knew by that time his views had become twisted. "But I acknowledge what I did was...excessive and brutal, unspeakable. The mech I had hoped to be lost to the hunger of power." Megatron admitted, scowling to himself since this was another demon he had to wrestle. "I don't pretend what I did to Praxus among other places was beyond forgiveness, but neither will I not acknowledge that they were perfect either."
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 3:58:08 GMT
Hot Rod couldn't believe the bullcrap Megatron was feeding him.
Sounded like he didn't regret it all.
"I know Praxus wasn't a Utopia idiot!" Hot Rod shouted. "You think I don't care about the cause you fought about!?"
"You think every bot there was a part of the caste system? That everyone there deserved to be killed? There were innocent Cybertronians there. Thousands of them."
"And you killed them. You didn't discriminate, you didn't target only the ones who supported that dumb caste system. You killed everyone you could in that city!!"
"You know a bot named Bluestreak? Has a motor mouth? He was one of the survivors. He never got over it. He never got over seeing his friends killed by your Decepticons!"
He shoved his finger in Megatron's face as he said that last thing.
"And if all you can say after that is you might have gone too far?"
"Then you haven't learned anything.".
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 4:13:11 GMT
"It was war you egotistical flashy idiot!" Megatron's still volatile temper quickly flared at the young mech's own accusations and words. The former warlord's ruby red optics lit out from his anger, voice raising enough to echo through the room and gripping the mech roughly by the shoulder to slam him against the nearest wall. "Casualties happen! Being indiscriminate will happen regardless is someone is guilty or innocent, there is no such lines in a bloody war!" He snarled.
Did Hot Rod never listen?! Did he only ever hear what he wanted to hear? "I forever regret what I did you prejudiced waste of scrap! Not a day goes by I don't torture myself over what I became in my quest for change." Megatron snapped, his grip tightening just enough to leave the smallest dents. He didn't needs those like Hot Rod constantly saying what he already knew, what he already felt he would never atone for, not fully.
But so too was Megatron aware that old beast within was clawing internally, telling him show the punk Autobot exactly what he was still capable of. Yet, the bigger influences in his life, the ones that gave voice to his conscience quickly won over.
With a final glare, Megatron released his hold letting Hot Rod drop to his feet as he stepped back, "Open your fragging audios punk, because I never said "might", I know I went too far. What I did is unforgivable, and I know I'll never atone for my sins, but neither would I exactly say you Autobots are entirely innocent either. Even if I didn't do anything, Praxus would have imploded on itself." The former gladiator told the red and yellow mech bluntly. "If you're not that damn dense, then you already know one way or another Praxus was a lost cause."
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 4:22:45 GMT
Hot Rod picked himself back up after Megatron let him go.
He took a moment to glare at Megatron. No words but his expression said all.
"No. You're wrong. We're the good guys. You're the monsters who murdered innocent people."
"Even if what you say is true Praxus's downfall would have been it's own doing. Not because a genocidal maniac decided what was best for everyone.".
He started pacing around the former con. His voice was calm. Hot Rod was hardly ever calm. You could hear the venom in his voice.
"...I don't know why Optimus forgave you. I don't know why he's letting you go like this. You don't deserve it."
"You're a monster. And I know what's going through your head. Deep down. There's a part of you that wishes you won. Even after you've 'atoned' you still think that. Why else would you be running through simulations of your past battles? To 'get it right this time'?"
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 4:37:38 GMT
Megatron clenched his fists, unable to believe what he was hearing. As Hot Rod circled him, Megatron only watched, once more finding himself dumbfounded by the young mech. "You're more dense than Impactor." Megatron didn't often name drop one of the more infamous of the Wreckors, their very leader for missions no normal Autobot would take. He had known the mech once, they had been friends much like he had been friends with Soundwave, days long gone. "What Optimus sees in you I'll never know." The former warlord countered in kind.
"Tell me Hot Rod, you really think the Autobots were never capable of atrocities of their own? That did worse crimes than some of my Decepticons?" Megatron pressed, wondering how delusional the young warrior really was. He really couldn't have had his head in the sand the entirety he fought. Or, did he truly not see the battlefield half as much as others? "Need I remind you of the type of missions those such as the Wreckers took, what they had to do? Or perhaps one of your more famous lieutenants, Ultra Magnus. I doubt by-the-book Magnus is not devoid of having innocent blood on his hands." Megatron's optics narrowed as Hot Rod took another pass, "Then there were times you Autobots left your own behind; there were a handful of Decepticons that were former Autobots, so where do they lie in your optics, hm?"
Megatron could admit he had his demons, and still fought every day to keep them under control, but he would be damned if he wasn't going to start pressing the status quo for those like Hot Rod.
"You really are delusional Hot Rod, you mistake my actions for what ifs just because you can't let go of your prejudices. I can admit my own demons, attempt to face and come to terms with them, my ways of coping and thinking of what I could have done differently if I wasn't that monster." Megatron crossed his arms then, glaring down at the smaller mech. "I'm trying to do better even knowing I will never atone for the sins I committed. But I don't see you doing that. Remind me again of how you're making a difference? Where have you been until recently? I sure as the Pit haven't seen you do much beyond racing about and getting cozy with one of our young medics from the latest gossip around base."
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 4:59:03 GMT
Hot Rod didn't know what to say.
Megatron clearly didn't get it.
"For the record. One of those Wreckers -Springer- Is one of my best friends. He's one of the most hardworking, heroic and dedicated Autobots there is! He'd never let an innocent get hurt if he could help it and he'd turn himself in for War Crimes even if he wasn't the one who did it!"
But the monster wanted to know about former Autobots who became Decepticons. Easy.
"They're monsters too." Hot Rod said plainly.
When Megatron launched into his tirade about his demons and what Hot Rod had been doing since coming back he got embarrassed.
"I've been waiting for an assignment!" he said. It was the truth but he was still a bit flustered. "In case you haven't noticed Decepticon activity's been quiet. But it'll come. Eventually! I have a score to settle with Starscream!"
But Hot Rod couldn't resist the chance to get his own licks in.
"I wonder how Dot would react if she knew the real you. The one I saw. How about the Terrans?" Hot Rod asked. "You still think they'll look up to you knowing about all the innocent lives you snuffed out? The bots you personally executed!? I saw what you did to Gizmo!"
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 5:13:21 GMT
"Yes, I am quite aware of this." Megatron rolled his optics at Hot Rod's little hissy fit regarding his best friend, "But the Wreckers as a whole are not devoid of spilling innocent blood, many Autobots aren't innocent and good. You may follow what Optimus preaches, but not all of them did." Why were so many Autobots so dense? Why did so many of them not see beyond the veil of factions? This is the thing Megatron had tried to warn his old friend about, that some things would never change. It was why Megatron had begun to try to do things his way, a more peaceful way, but nevertheless GHOST wasn't of much help.
But the more Hot Rod spoke the more irritated Megatron found himself becoming. Decepticon activity! Was that all they would ever speak of? "As the humans say Hot Rod, kindly go fuck yourself, you and the rest of your Autobot and human allies blinded by the past. The lot of you say "Decepticon this", "Decepticon that", but I don't see any of you getting your own affairs and faction in order, hardly at best. Optimus is at least trying, but I don't see a lot of you exactly trying to change things for the better. You just want to blame the Decepticons for everything going wrong, but sure, lets not acknowledge those like that Mandroid causing problems for us all." He was wasting energy just trying to make his point, Hot Rod and those like him would never budge.
Scoffing as the mech became flustered and tried to make a last ditch effort to look like the "good guy", Megatron was about fed up with the young punk. "Settle your score with Starscream, it'd be one less nuisance on my end." Once more Megatron rolled his eyes, "While you've been "Waiting for an assignment" as you put it, Dot and the Terrans are fully aware of where I came from, Dot was the one that personally put me in my place and made me see the monster I was you bolt for brains. I've been forthcoming with the Terrans, told them both sides of the war so they don't make the same fragging mistakes smart bot, maybe get all your facts straight before you go trying to boast about slag you obviously don't know."
Ugh, this conversation was getting them no where..."I executed many Autobots, just I'm sure you executed several Decepticons. You're telling me you remember all their designations? You'll always remember your first kill Hot Rod, but rarely do you remember all the following deaths because they blur together." Megatron finally turned away from the mech, "This conversation is getting us no where, and I got better things to do than argue your twisted view of the moral high ground."
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 5:25:01 GMT
Hot Rod sighed.
"Enough I..." he trailed off.
"I think I've heard enough..."
He composed himself. He might as well end this maturely. He liked to think he had some decency.
"I just had to hear your side. I had to hear it from the voice of the guy who did the worst War Crime ever."
Hot Rod turned around about ready to leave.
"You could have been a great Autobot Megatron. You had noble goals. But you lost your way."
He turned his back to the monster.
"And we all paid the price for it."
"In another life, you could have been my Co Captain."
"But you're never gonna stop being the guy who murdered innocent people. I can never forgive you for that."
He was about to leave but...something in him...
He couldn't believe he was about to say this next thing.
He turned around again facing Megatron.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't be like Optimus." His voice was full of pain and sorrow. The immature rage was gone. "I'm sorry I can't forgive you. I lost a lot of friends Megatron. I saw a lot of atrocities. But I can't just...I can't just forget them. I can't just ignore the fact you caused them."
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Post by Megatron on Nov 7, 2023 5:37:59 GMT
"Maybe in another life we could have been friends Hot Rod, but you've made your thoughts known. Many have, and nothing will ever change." Megatron vented deeply, allowing his anger to finally pass finding there was no point for further expending the energy. What was said was said, and nothing was going to seemingly change between them, not in this moment. "And I don't expect anyone to ever fully forgive what I've done, I don't even forgive myself to be honest." Megatron spoke his words true and genuine, for whatever it was worth to the young Autobot before him.
But their conflicting views were still quite evident.
The silver and black mech merely shook his head, "You don't get it do you? I don't expect you to be like Optimus, I don't expect anyone to be. I expect you to find a way to not repeat our mistakes and make a better future, just as I expect for the Terrans." Megatron corrected, his tone still cold. "I will never claim to be a saint Hot Rod, and as I said i forever beat myself up for becoming the monster you and others know when I know I was better than that. I'm forever paying the price, I don't need you and others spitting it in my face at every turn." Briefly Megatron's tone became sharp, driving home the point was well known and Hot Rod was not the first to push the matter. "I don't hold my words, I never have, so maybe you should try thinking before you speak and know what you're talking about, because you don't."
"When those like you learn to set aside differences for a better future, you let me know. There are other matters that are more important than your personal vendetta, the faster you learn that the easier this will be." Megatron growled softly, letting the young mech know he wasn't about to be too cordial, but also dismissive to indicate he was done talking. Giving a final sharp glare, the former warlord made his own leave finding to further words were needed.
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Post by Hot Rod on Nov 7, 2023 5:43:58 GMT
For a moment there was nothing but silence.
"...Thanks." Hot Rod said, "For helping me get some closure.".
He started walking away. He didn't know if he'd be able to let it go quite yet but Hot Rod felt he could finally start leaving Praxus in the past.
He didn't want to outwardly admit it, but Megatron was right. They did have to set their differences aside to make a better future.
Maybe one day he'd tell Megatron that. Maybe he'd tell him he was ready to let go of the anger he had toward him. Maybe they could become friends.
For now without another word Hot Rod turned and left.
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