o14 ★ PHILOSOPHIZING

[electrowhipit]

It's amazing how, one day everyone can be going on about... uh... female... body parts... and one day people can be talking about morals and choices, and going home.

Whatever happens, I just hope there's a way for everyone to get what they want- whether it's a way home, or a life here. There's no reason why we have to fight each other in order for that to happen, right? I know I don't want this to become a battle. I've got one of those waiting for me at home already.

[ FILTERED TO OLIVIER ]

Olivier? I have those nails you asked for. Did you want to meet somewhere?

Comments

Action

[thenorthernwall]

I've lived this long because I plan. I'm a front-line General, too. Then again... Some of my men do things by the seat of their pants, too. We all have our own way. My adjutant is more like I am. One of my Captains, though, is--was just lucky to make it through on sheer guts.

[She takes it and slips it into a purse she's carrying JUST FOR THIS.] I'll invite you to see it when I'm done.

Action

[electrowhipit]

And I suppose I've lived this long because I don't. [ he smiles a little ] But you're right. There's only a few of us back home, and the way we approach things is very, very different.

I'll hold you to that. [ a pause, and he leans back on the bench, trying to appear casual ] So I hear you've been talking with Sideswipe.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

A real army works on the combined strength of its men, no matter what style they choose. As long as they fight their hardest and follow my orders, I have no problem with the details. [Glances at him.]

Yes, I've spoken with Sideswipe. It was one of the less productive conversations I've ever had. How did you know?

Action

[electrowhipit]

[ He's sort of wondering how Olivier would get along with the others- Prime and Major Lennox especially. ]

He told me. It didn't sound like it was an enjoyable conversation for either party.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[She relaxes a bit, staring off at the sky. She really misses the mountains, at this point. And for every soldier she speaks to, she misses her men a little more. She'd been forcibly parted from them and sent to Central for quite a while, but it didn't stop her from missing them when she needed them. And now? She could really use their combined strengths.]

Does he always talk in circles, or was that a special performance just for me?

Action

[electrowhipit]

Ah, that's just Sideswipe. [ frown ] He didn't have some very nice things to stay about you.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

He wasn't even listening, in the end. [She looks away, trying to keep the annoyance balanced.] So, what did he say? You seem to be leading up to a question or an interrogation.

Action

[electrowhipit]

I just wanna know what you talked about.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[She crosses one leg over the other, ankle to knee, and sits like a man. This is serious mode.] We discussed the potentials of leaving here. And what I would personally do if anyone tried to threaten the efforts.

Action

[electrowhipit]

What would you do?

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[She resists the urge to roll her eyes. Really, more ideology arguments?] I wouldn't hesitate to stop someone who stood in the way of everyone going home. I cannot stay in this place, or ignore the lies it tells. If they don't wish to leave, they can stay out of the way, away from harm, like good civilians. But I am a soldier, and I will fight.

Action

[electrowhipit]

... That's all I wanted to know.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

And I assume you're going to judge me based upon that. What did he tell you we discussed?

Action

[electrowhipit]

[ sigh ] Look, I trust Sideswipe with my life, but I'll be the first to admit he can get kind of... dramatic. He made you out to be some kind of lunatic, but I had my reservations.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[She laughs. It's like the way someone's mom laughs before she gives you grandma's meatloaf recipe that she won't even eat.] I've been called much worse things for much better reasons.

Action

[electrowhipit]

[ The laughing throws him. Sideswipe did liken her to a Decepticon, but he supposes that word doesn't carry as much weight for her as it does him. ]

Look, all I know is I'd rather work with you than against you.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[If she doesn't know the word, she won't get offended. Here, let's offend her!]

Well, what's your own assessment? And... [She thinks back...] Who is this "Megatron" he was talking about? And "Optimus" for that matter?

You and he could both be valuable in this fight, and I'd rather have you both unequivocally on my side.

Action

[electrowhipit]

... That's a loaded question. I don't suppose Sideswipe mentioned that we're not... usually... human?

Action

[thenorthernwall]

He did. That's why I think you'll both be valuable: He said you were built as soldiers.

Action

[electrowhipit]

We were. Built as soldiers in a millenia-long war. Optimus- Optimus Prime- is our leader. Megatron leads the opposing faction. I don't know what Megatron's deal is, but he's willing to destroy entire planets, entire races without a second thought in order to get what he wants.

Optimus... well, he's willing to do whatever it takes to see that Megatron and his Decepticons don't destroy another life. Even at the cost of his own. The rest of us just follow him as best we can.

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[Well, then.] I take it the thing he wants isn't candy and flowers.

Your friend has it completely wrong. You get that, don't you? My men are just the same as both of you.

Action

[electrowhipit]

No. I'm thinking he wants to take over the universe.

Trust me, I don't share Sideswipe's flare for the dramatic. If someone wants to get in your way, you'll remove them. If someone wants to fight you, you'll fight them. I get that. It's stupid to try and hold you to our ideals, especially when... [ he goes quiet, and he frowns slightly ]

Action

[thenorthernwall]

I just want to depose a tyrant who is trying to kill millions of people so that he and his kind can live forever. I actually think I was killed at the moment I was pulled here.

[She looks at him pointedly.] But I still want to go back.

...Are you going to finish that thought?

Action

[electrowhipit]

... Sounds like our wars have a lot in common.

[ he leans back again, looking at the sky ] We came to earth to fight Megatron- because our war was endangering your species. We fight off the Decepticons, sure, but... sometimes, to some people, it seems like we do more harm than good. And... well, humans fight and kill each other all the time. And we don't do anything to stop it. We have the means- sure, we can't be everywhere at once, but we could at least try. But we don't.

If push comes to shove, and you have to fight your way out of here, who am I to stop you?

Action

[thenorthernwall]

[She scoffs.] I won't pretend to be a pacifist, by any means. I want my country to live peacefully, but if we're attacked, we should defend ourselves. Your kind isn't going to save us any time soon.

You sound like a noble bunch. Maybe a little naive, too, but at least you don't go butting into wars you have no business being in. Humans have a lot of pride, you know. We don't want to be dealt with like we're inferior.

[But she follows his gaze up to the sky.] You wouldn't stop me. Sideswipe likes to act like he will, but in the end, right now, aren't you just humans yourselves?