No chance to say goodbye...

[stormbunny]

"I find myself in a difficult situation. Given the nature of this place... it can't be completely unique."

"I lost someone I cared about, because access to his universe is gone. It was always a possibility, and yet... it was completely unexpected when it happened. For some time, I've kept surveillance in place in case the portal returned..."

"When you lose someone, there's a point when you have to accept they are not coming back. It's expected to mourn the loss... but... How does one mourn for someone, when you know they're not dead? And... he was an alternate, so there is a counterpart in my own world. How can I make it less awkward if I have to work with him?"

Comments

[random_xtras]

"Your question is similar to one that I still ask myself," says Galvatron quietly from where he's come to this quieter Nexus to baby dance his sparklet. "Only I have to learn how to interact with the alternates of people that I killed."

[stormbunny]

Harpuia thinks of that, and nods. "A situation I haven't faced, yet... but I can see where it would be just as awkward, if not more so."

Seeing someone and knowing that everything they accomplished... they didn't in your world because of you. Yes, she can see that as awkward. And the actions she and her siblings had been forced into by Weil meant that their hands were certainly not clean of innocent blood... even if they had the excuse of being brainwashed at the time.

[random_xtras]

"It can be spark breaking," he says, still quiet. Then he looks down at the face of the blanket wrapped bitty in his arms.

[stormbunny]

Harpuia isn't too confused by the term, what with passing familiarity with the Stardroids. She can understand it would be... even if it's almost the opposite of what she potentially faced, in some ways.

"The person from my own world isn't the same one I... was close to. So far I have requested not to work with him for personal reasons. However, some of the situations at home require at least seeing him on occasion, even if I avoid speaking to him."

"Everything that might be the same will only remind me of who he isn't... and I do not want to hold that against him. But... as you said, I am finding it difficult not to find his presence painful."

[random_xtras]

Galvatron nods and looks back to her, his expression serious and his eyes darkened with memories.

"I've found that the only thing that helps to ease the pain and confusion is the..." He presses his lips together to keep them from going wibbly. "Love and support of my creator and family."

He glances back to the sparklet as she squeaks, his mouth quirking wryly. "They watch out for me. I tried burying myself in work, but said creator and family wouldn't let me."

[stormbunny]

That gets a trace of a wry smile out of Harpuia. "I've been accused of 'burying myself in my work' for years," she says. "Far too long for it to be an aspect of grieving, and my family understands that." Her devotion to duty elicited gentle teasing, but little more than that.

"Unfortunately, it's my work that would bring me into contact with my world's Forte."

[random_xtras]

Another nod. "It's my paying job that brings me into contact with large numbers of alternates."

[stormbunny]

And yet they're willingly doing it, despite alternates making them uncomfortable. Harpuia doesn't see the logic in it. After all, a paying job is something one just does for money. Hers is another matter...

"If it were a matter of income, I'd find another job. I am one of the four Guardians of Arcadia. It is my duties in that regard, and in particular in the containment and destruction of a hazardous energy-based entity, that would bring me into contact with my world's Forte. As uncomfortable as it might be, I must do what my duty requires of me."

And, unfortunately, Schilt as well... although it's actually less uncomfortable to be around the ex-Judge with an annoying crush than it is to be around... someone who isn't who she keeps wishing they were instead.

[random_xtras]

"I don't have a choice of other jobs," says Galvatron simply. "And we need the money to rebuild the worlds that I destroyed when I belonged to the world eater. Too many people know who Galvatron is, and what he's done in my and other realities."

[stormbunny]

Harpuia tenses... not at the name Galvatron, which she's never heard, but just before that at the mention of a 'world eater'. It could be coincidence, but the tension doesn't fade. Because she is talking to one of those Cybertronians, or at least he looks like one. And that was the species the Stardroids insisted were their alternate-universe equivalents. And it had been the Stardroids to first give that strange history to the Force Energy encountered in Giga City.

"I see," she says, tone crisp as if she was on duty. But, where it's concerned, she is always on duty. "Then we are both doing what we must."

[random_xtras]

He notices the stiffening, and the sudden crispness, and his expression changes to concern as he quickly runs over options in his mind for politely taking leave of the girl before she starts denouncing him as a murdering madman and wakes the sparklet up. His reaction is assumption, but he's had people respond that way so often, and it's so hard to stop Optimus from crying once she's started that he might not be able to help it at this point.

[stormbunny]

"The energy parasite has been said to be the remains of some sort of 'world eater'."

[random_xtras]

One brow quirks very slightly as he pauses and looks at her again. He's only heard of two world eaters thus far in his life, though a few more world destroyers.

"Was that world eater named Unicron?"

[stormbunny]

"According to some sources, yes."

[random_xtras]

Uncertainty fades from his expression, and his eyes brighten and lighten slightly with anger. "He's attacking your people?"

[stormbunny]

"It's complicated. There have been attacks, but currently things are more in a state of... decontamination. The creature I know of is an energy-based parasite. Some have claimed it to be the remains of our universe's version of a creature called Unicron."

"It was first noticed because it could claim hosts, providing certain increases in power," and she remembers that Forte - the one she misses - was one of those once. So was her world's Forte, but he'd lost it much sooner, thanks to Duo. "Later, because some fools decided to experiment with it, causing a disaster in a place called Giga City."

"As it feeds, and the concentration increases, it develops more of its own motivations, overriding anyone it has taken as a host. Its last host was destroyed in an orbital space station, and the debris scattered across parts of our universe's Earth. The debris still constitutes a risk of contamination."

[random_xtras]

Galvatron draws in a shaky bust of air through the vents on his helmet, his lips pressing together against that stirring anger. "Do your people require assistance?"

[stormbunny]

Harpuia shakes her head. "The areas are under quarantine and decontamination procedures are in place. To bring someone in who is unfamiliar with current protocols could cause more harm than good."

[random_xtras]

He's disappointed, but he knows she's right. "Understood."

[stormbunny]

"If it were an active outbreak, it might be another matter, though I would still be reluctant to place someone else at risk."

[random_xtras]

A quick head shake. "There would be no risk to myself." And then the youth once more shows as he swiftly adds, "This isn't an argument in favour of accepting my assistance. Only a statement of fact."

[stormbunny]

"There is always a risk," Harpuia replies. "My family was once supposed incompatible with the force energy, yet my siblings and I were made into hosts for a time." It's a very unpleasant memory for her. "It shouldn't be underestimated. Only its opposing energy seems to provide any real protection."

[random_xtras]

He smiles slightly, and then settles down to sit on the floor/ground as he rocks his baby. "I possess that opposing energy. I'm a Matrix bearing Prime." The smile fades away to concern then as he remembers his own time of belonging to Unicron. "May I ask... Where there any lasting ill effects from your exposure to Unicron's power?"

[stormbunny]

Harpuia hesitates at that uncomfortable subject. "None that could not also be the result of psychological trauma. Although that isn't the case with everyone who was affected during the Giga City and Arcadia outbreaks."

[random_xtras]

"And is there enough help for those?" he asks quietly and gruffly.

[stormbunny]

"The issues with the Judges and some of the inhabitants of Giga City is... unclear at best. They were activated with the force energy as part of their systems. While the infestation has been eradicated, it's difficult to make any real judgements about their mental condition. Some of them also retain unusual abilities that were thought to be caused by the force energy, although the extent of those abilities tends to be diminished in most cases."

[random_xtras]

Galvatron winces. "I myself- this body was created with Unicron's energy, and I too still show abilities that are not normal, despite my now belonging to Primus. Mental stability, and trustworthiness are possible, though emotional scarring shows in some of my teammates, who were also subject to Unicron's meddling."

[stormbunny]

"Some of those in Giga City were created in the labs there, by researchers who continued to experiment with the 'force energy' even after they realized it caused insanity. I've very little contact with most of them, with the exceptions of encountering the Cadre at various diplomatic meetings." The Judges are another matter, but one she prefers not to think about. It takes effort to avoid Schilt.

[random_xtras]

His eyes flash. "After they realized...!"

Then he's wincing and rubbing the back of the sparklet in his arms as she lets out a thin, tired wail of protest at his raised voice and angry sounding systems. "Shhhh. Shhh, Optimus. It's alright. Shhhh."

[stormbunny]

"Given the various situations at the time, I doubt they cared." Harpuia says. It's a hard reminder of just why the last war was fought. "For what it matters, none of them survived the resulting disaster."

[random_xtras]

Galvatron sighs quietly through his intakes. "Thank God for His mercy. At least you no longer have to worry about them."

The first words are spoken softly, as though he doesn't realize he said them. They'll be easy to overlook.