Date Posted:02:21:44 12/19/01 Wed Author: Senator Decius Subject: Shall we be going, Embyr?
Decius listened to Betacron's announcement with mild, detached interest. When faced with the possibilities of further collaboration with Embyr, a meeting with other Senators supremely failed to capture his interest. He saw an opportunity to speak to the disaffected elements of Cybertronian society, give them something to believe in. That, coupled with the encrypted message he had received, all conspired to make Decius wish he was facing the controls of a fast Transwarp Cruiser, not a meeting in the Senate Chamber.
When he thought about it, everything had seemed simpler in the old days. Then, he had lived life as everyone else had - on the ragged edge. All he needed then was a weapon, his wits and some energon. As Minister for Health he knew that the Great War had brought Transformers to the brink of extinction, but as a Decepticon he couldn't help but yearn for the days of simple warfare, with a glorious goal at the end of the road and a spiteful, pernicious enemy to root out and destroy.
Now I have to deal with beings I would have gladly killed a few short centuries ago. It is true that the war had to end, but at what cost? The complete loss of our way of life? Subjugation? Surrender?
As he looked across at Embyr, he perceived his fellow Senator with something approaching reverence. This was a being held together in the main by her refusal to die - in many ways, she was the Decepticon experience embodied. Once strong, enfeebled by time and brought low, but still there. Existing. Planning. Finding a way back.
He thought back again to the artifacts in the hallways of the Senate. To the benevolent despotism instituted by the Autobots after the war to always give seniority to them and their descendants, while still salving their conscience by giving token posts to Decepticons. To the state of their planet, population and ridiculous imperial and diplomatic commitments. Autobots, he had once commented, may be very familiar with concepts like compassion and fairness, but they apparently never heard of strategic overstretch..........
Enough. Time to get things done. I need to find him.........he knows what I need, knows what Embyr needs too, I suspect. For the first time in centuries I have a lead - I cannot waste time.
"Shall we proceed to the meeting hall, Embyr? Best to get this business done with first before we discuss any further personal projects."
As he awaited his fellow Senator's response, Decius' mind again turned to the pieces of history dotted around the halls of the Senate. His people, their shared history, did not deserve to be killed with kindness like this......and as long as there was power in his systems, he swore to follow Embyr's example and never give up trying to find a way back.
