We had just been repaired! I will not fight against you so soon. [ He needs to figure this out. ]
I need to keep my strength in case of problems. I have dealt with too much up to this point to deal with this. I have died twice in one week, and then I had to beat you down? Because you think I'm weak and tried to overthrow me?
This is why I can't waste my time on you! I made a mistake, I admit that. I'm not falling for it again.
But if you think for one second I'm not trying to keep myself together in a strange plane of existence. When I don't know if my HOME. MY SOLDIERS are even still alive!?
This is all I have right now, Grimlock! My life and to figure out how to keep this ship from going topside. I'm just lucky there are dimensional hoppers already here with more experience than I!
Now I will say it again. I will not waste my precious time fighting you!
[ Optimus takes a moment to collect his thoughts so he could explain throughly. ]
There is an ex Autobot aboard this ship whom I have taken under my protection. His Autobots from his verse had turned on him, with no trial, no one listened. No one cared. They branded him a traitor with no way for him to defend himself.
He was beaten, tortured. He may not have been mine, but the Autobots failed that child, Grimlock.
[ He will not touch the topic that he has only some trust in Longarm. But the way Wasp reacted. It is hard to tell. ]
This isn't me telling you to be untrusting of our fellow mechs. This is me telling you, the world is not simple.
[Grimlock had often heard Red Alert rant about possible traitors back in the Ark. There were many things that the security chief had defined as "treason," but Grimlock had a narrower definition of the word. Overthrowing a weak leader didn't count as treason. Neither did abandoning the Autobots when they failed to care for the Dinobots' well-being. The only thing he really took offense to was helping the Decepticons.]
They say he traitor. They have proof? What he do?
[Grimlock isn't completely stupid. He'll reserve his judgement until he knows more about Wasp's circumstances. Nevertheless, he feels a pang of sympathy when Prime calls Wasp a child.]
[Grimlock knew was something enemies did to each other. It was like scouting, only sneakier. If an Autobot traitor spied, he must have been helping the Decepticons.]
Traitors get punished.
[His tone is cold, ruthless, even. Traitors were punished, subordinates who defied his authority were punished. This was just another fact of leadership for him. Refusal to punish those who needed to be punished was weakness.]
But me suspicious. Me go talk to Wasp. Find out more.
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Me Grimlock fight with full strength. You fight with full strength! Use trailer!
[He fumes. To think that anyone would go easy on him, leader of the Dinobots!]
Last fight no count. Me challenge again!
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I need to keep my strength in case of problems. I have dealt with too much up to this point to deal with this. I have died twice in one week, and then I had to beat you down? Because you think I'm weak and tried to overthrow me?
I will not play this game.
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[If Optimus is frustrated, Grimlock is outright enraged.]
You no know Decepticon never make good truce? They trick Autobots! They hurt Autobots! This no game!
[The video feed shakes as Grimlock roars out his complaints.]
If there good truce, why you die twice?
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But if you think for one second I'm not trying to keep myself together in a strange plane of existence. When I don't know if my HOME. MY SOLDIERS are even still alive!?
This is all I have right now, Grimlock! My life and to figure out how to keep this ship from going topside. I'm just lucky there are dimensional hoppers already here with more experience than I!
Now I will say it again. I will not waste my precious time fighting you!
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[Grimlock slams a fist into the closest wall, making a dent. His optics light up, almost blazing with sparks]
Grimlock friends already dead! Grimlock no let Decepticons hurt Autobots again! If Baby Prime Leader, be leader! Be proud leader, for men at home!
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Now it's your turn. Not every Decepticon here is a force of evil, not every Autobot can be trusted either.
You need to learn to pace yourself. Rushing will only get those you want to protect killed.
[ Optimus doesn't flinch but his shoulders do start to relax. ]
We're all scared. We're all impulsive. We're all either over guarded or too quick to let our guard down.
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[He protests immediately. Yet, he does stop to think.]
What you mean...not all Autobots...trusted?
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There is an ex Autobot aboard this ship whom I have taken under my protection. His Autobots from his verse had turned on him, with no trial, no one listened. No one cared. They branded him a traitor with no way for him to defend himself.
He was beaten, tortured. He may not have been mine, but the Autobots failed that child, Grimlock.
[ He will not touch the topic that he has only some trust in Longarm. But the way Wasp reacted. It is hard to tell. ]
This isn't me telling you to be untrusting of our fellow mechs. This is me telling you, the world is not simple.
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[Grimlock had often heard Red Alert rant about possible traitors back in the Ark. There were many things that the security chief had defined as "treason," but Grimlock had a narrower definition of the word. Overthrowing a weak leader didn't count as treason. Neither did abandoning the Autobots when they failed to care for the Dinobots' well-being. The only thing he really took offense to was helping the Decepticons.]
They say he traitor. They have proof? What he do?
[Grimlock isn't completely stupid. He'll reserve his judgement until he knows more about Wasp's circumstances. Nevertheless, he feels a pang of sympathy when Prime calls Wasp a child.]
He no Autobot anymore...but you protect?
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Whether or not he is a traitor matters very little to me. The point being is they turned on him and destroyed his mind. [ Optimus' voice gets soft. ]
No one should suffer like that. No one deserves to be tortured.
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Traitors get punished.
[His tone is cold, ruthless, even. Traitors were punished, subordinates who defied his authority were punished. This was just another fact of leadership for him. Refusal to punish those who needed to be punished was weakness.]
But me suspicious. Me go talk to Wasp. Find out more.
[He realizes something else.]
Wasp no be Decepticon? Yes?
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[ Optimus feels panic well up in his chest. This is bad. He might need to find ways to wrangle in Grimlock's ill-advised behavior. ]
He's not a Decepticon! He's neutral!
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Me Grimlock no hurt! Just ask questions!
[Wasp is not a Decepticon, which makes "Baby" Prime's story a little more believable. If he really was a traitor, he would be a Decepticon already.]
And me Grimlock still think you soft! Welcome challenge!
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