CHAPTER TWO
--The Lost Light--
"Feeling better?"
Dion rubbed his head as he laid on the slab near Rung's chair. "Define 'better.'"
"Are you composed enough to endure this session?"
"Yeah. In that case, yeah. I'm fine."
Rung reached down and produced a datapad, crossing his legs as he sat back. "I must admit, I was more than a little surprised when you asked me for an appointment. For the past few days, you had seemed more or less level-headed."
"The more crazy or troubled someone is, the better they are at hiding it." Dion sighed as he started up at the ceiling. "Skids told you everything, right? About my time-traveling... shenanigans and how I was someone else completely for a time."
"Yes, he did. I can see how all that could take its toll on someone."
"For a time, it did," Dion said. "But I was able to find help on Earth and, after over a hundred years, it was no longer an issue for me. I had found a new home, a new life, on Earth."
"And then you were given the mission."
"Yeah." Dion revved slightly. "I had already learned that Optronix had become Megatron long beforehand, so I was already over it... somewhat. The fact that I wasn't being sent to kill him made it easier for me to accept the task. Otherwise...."
Rung jotted down a few notes on his datapad. "How long did you know Optronix before the... incident?"
Dion was silent for a moment, not once so much as glancing at Rung. Finally, he said, "I first met him at the academy ten years before my 'abduction.' I had already heard of him beforehand, since he had already made quite the name for himself by the time I came online. From day one, I had always been... I had always idolized him."
"How did your meeting with him go? What did he say to you?"
"He told me he was impressed by my skills and that I was a shoo-in for the Elite Guard. A few months later, he was proven right." Dion thought for a moment. "I wonder if he had pulled some strings."
"Optronix had certainly become the Elite Guard's poster bot by then," Rung murmured. "So how did you come to fall under his command?"
Dion shrugged. "It just kind of happened. My previous commanders sort of came and went and before I knew it, I was working with him."
"You never requested to work with him?"
"No," Dion said quietly. "Well, maybe once, but... I don't know. Not sure if I remember. Those days have started to become a blur."
"I see." Rung was silent for a moment as he wrote down on his datapad again. He then looked back at Dion, adjusting his glasses. "Now, I'm going to ask a very personal question... please keep in mind that I maintain a duty of care towards my patients. Anything you say to me will be between us."
Dion turned his head to the psychiatrist. "You're scaring me, Doc. Just go ahead and get it over with."
"I trust you to give me an honest, truthful answer."
"Yeah, sure. Shoot."
"Did you ever have feelings for Optronix?"
Dion blinked. "Pardon?"
"Did you ever feel a... stronger connection between the two of you?"
The orange and blue bot slowly sat up. "Why... how is this relevant?"
Rung sighed. "I'm simply trying to understand your relationship with him. Then I'll know how to proceed."
Dion frowned. "I don't think that's anything I'd be willing to divulge."
"You realize that, by avoiding the question, you're simultaneously answering it. If you had no feelings, you wouldn't be acting this way."
Dion said nothing at first, continuing to stare at Rung. Then he said, "Let's say I said yes. Yes, I did have feelings for him. What would you ask next?"
"I would then ask if you still had feelings."
"And if I said yes?"
"Then that would be the end of today's session, since we're out of time." Uncrossing his legs, Rung rose from his seat. "If you wish to continue this, just let me know. My door is open to all. Just try not to consume too much engex before arriving... or at the very least, activate your fuel intake moderation chip."
"Right. Sure." Standing up as well, Dion turned to leave only to stop as he reached the door. Looking over his shoulder, he said, "I just have one question--"
"Our session is over, Dion," Rung said. "Save it for--"
"It doesn't concern me. I was just wondering... Skids told me that WALL-E and EVE had a hand in Megatron's creation."
"Yes...?"
"Is that true or was he just pulling my leg?"
Rung hesitated for a brief moment. "There is some truth to it, yes. You can ask him to elaborate for you."
"And... does he know? Does Megatron...?"
"No. No, he does not."
Dion nodded. "All right. Thanks."
Rung raised an eyebrow. "You're not planning on telling him yourself, are you?"
Dion chuckled. "No. Of course not. Don't be ridiculous." With that, he walked out the door, leaving behind an unconvinced Rung.
* * *
"I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?"
"I want to go back to Necroworld," Nightbeat said.
Rodimus nodded, still carving into his desk. "Uh-huh. That's what I thought you said. I was thinking maybe you said we need to go back to Necroworld, like it was important or something, but no, it's just you wanting to go back there."
"Well, it is important."
"How?" Rodimus asked, looking up at the detective. "We've already been there and there was nothing there of importance. Why would you want to go back there?"
"I need to find out more about the Thirteen."
"The Thirteen?" Rodimus retracted his knife back into his arm. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but last time I checked, we were searching for the Knights of Cybertron."
"We are," Nightbeat said. "But after them, the Thirteen are the oldest known generation of Cybertronians. The more we learn about them, the closer we get to the Knights."
"And you think we'd find something on Necroworld?"
"I believe Censere -- the Necrobot -- is from the same period as the Thirteen. He has a database of every Transformer in existence. The myth that he's spawned has been retold for many millennia. He's clearly as old as the stars."
Rodimus mulled over this for a moment. "You raise a fair point," he said. "When we first met, I did consider asking him a few things, but... with all of the stuff that was happening at the time..."
Nightbeat nodded. "Right. Understandable. But now that we're back on track...."
Rodimus sighed. "I don't know, Nightbeat. We've been making a lot of pointless detours as of late. If we make another, Ultra Magnus will probably give me another one of his lectures."
"This won't be pointless, Rodimus. I swear it. Even if Censere isn't willing to open up, I'll find a way to get him talking."
"That sounds... ominous."
"I'm a detective, Rodimus. I have my ways."
"Right." Rodimus considered the proposition for a minute before finally nodding. "All right. Necroworld it is. I just hope you're hunch is right."
Nightbeat grinned. "Of course it is. I wouldn't be a good detective if--"
"All right, all right, I get it," Rodimus muttered, rising from his desk. "Sheesh, no wonder Hardhead decided to stay behind...."
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