//001//

[sword_redemption]

[There was Theophany, and fighting the Galactic Council troops. And then he heard Rodimus say something over comm, and there was a blinding flash. And now he was here, alone, standing in what looked like a courtyard, still half braced for combat. But Cyclonus wasn't next to him. No one was. Even the snow itself seemed undisturbed, a thick blanket of white, crunching under his feet. ]

[He reached for his communicube, stowing one of his twin blades, coming up instead with...a book? He'd seen them on Earth, of course, but, well, not on Theophany. And not in his own storage.]

[He flips through it, talking to himself.]

...must be the Metrotitan. All the old stories say they could teleport. Maybe he went after the others. To find the Knights of Cybertron.


But....[He looks up around the walls of the Cair rising around the courtyard.] Where is everyone else?

Comments

[whistles_the_blues]

I don't know if this will make you feel better' But when you return, it'll be at the very moment you left. I don't have any proof of this, but it's what I've heard.

[sword_redemption]

So others have left.

[Robot: one track mind.]

[whistles_the_blues]

IT's not a permanent stay. There's just no way of knowing how long you'll be here. It could be a long time, or very brief.

[sword_redemption]

So it just snatched me, just me, out of all of us.

[He shakes his head.] I'm not special.

[whistles_the_blues]

[He shrugs.]

I didn't think I was either, but for some reason it wanted us.

[sword_redemption]

Why? Want us for what?

[whistles_the_blues]

Your guess is as good as mine on that one.

[sword_redemption]

[That's....reassuring.]

Maybe we just need to not give it what it wants and it'll let us go.

[whistles_the_blues]

It already takes "something" from you when you arrive.

I'm still new here myself, still trying to get the basics down.

[sword_redemption]

[He's realized this. His Great Sword. He's trying not to flip out about it. Probably not well.]

And does it give that back?

[It fraggin' better.]

[whistles_the_blues]

When it sends you back.

[sword_redemption]

[He realizes he's throwing a lot on this person who's only trying to help, who doesn't know much more than he does.]

Sorry. I'm sorry. It's...I don't like this. Any of it.

I'm Drift. [Fresh start?]

[whistles_the_blues]

[Fresh start.]

Break.

If this wasn't better than the alternative, I'm sure I'd feel the same way. I hope you make it home sooner than later.

[sword_redemption]

Break. [A nod. ] Wish it was under better circumstances.

So, any advice? Since I'm stuck here?

[whistles_the_blues]

Well first off, that book you're holding can be used to communicate with any of the "visitors" here. You can set up filters too so only certain people can see them. Also you're given your own room in the castle, I can help you find it, if you'd like?

[sword_redemption]

Room. [Wow this evil kidnappy place thought of everything.]

Yes. If you don't mind. I'll owe you one.

[whistles_the_blues]

Don't worry about it, It's the least I can do.

[He starts walking toward the castle.]

[sword_redemption]

I appreciate it anyway.

[He moves to follow, feet crunching in the snow, looking up at the rising walls.] How old is this place?

[whistles_the_blues]

I'm not sure exactly, I can imagine finding out may be a bit hard with how people tend to come and go. You may want to see if any of the older residents here know the answer to that one.

[sword_redemption]

So how long have you been here? Has anything bad happened?

[whistles_the_blues]

Thirty one days so far. Some of the other residents had been trapped in some mirror world for a few days, but that's about it.

[He was also in a fight with a few other robots, but he doesn't want to talk about that right now.]

[sword_redemption]

Trapped. Because of this place or just like, an accident or something?

[This is almost a break from Theophany. Nothing quite like slightly malevolent castle compared to the wrath of the entire Galactic Council.]

[whistles_the_blues]

I'd say a bit of both. The castle put it there, but the people had to go through it themselves.

[sword_redemption]

Why do I think it wasn't as simple as that?

[Oh right, four million years of war and deception.]

But nobody's died or anything?

[whistles_the_blues]

It's possible, I never saw it to know really.

Not since I arrived.