[IC] Inbox for cyberformed

[hashtaggayrobots]

UN: #@$#+@ g
[BEEP]

This is Hashtag! Sorry you missed me. Drop me a line--[There's a soft giggle there and whispered "I can't believe I got to say that..."]--and I'll get back to you.

Ciao!

[BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP]


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Comments

[hashtaggayrobots]

[Hashtag nodded into his windshield, not caring about the light squeaky it causes.]

It was this machine. He found it under GHOST. Like the secret tunnels. It just--it let out this huge light from it. I saw it, but I couldn't--There wasn't any time! And then I was just--Gone.

We're all gone and we can't go home and Nightshade is gone and went back but there's nothing to go back to.

[emojibot]

[it was under GHOST the entire time. their own base, and optimus was too naive and short-sighted to see that and croft's corruption happening in front of his face until it was too late. this feels like a stab in the spark, but he doesn't show it for hashtag's sake. he'll tell megatron later. she shouldn't have to worry about that.]

We're still here. [he says, grateful she can't see up far enough to see his dim optics, while he tries to process it all.] He hasn't won if we are still here.

[but what can he even say for the ones that aren't?]

[hashtaggayrobots]

But we can't change anything from here!

[Her voice breaks at the end.]

We can't save anyone or stop the machine or bring anyone back! [Not yet. Not yet. She hasn't figured out the key to hacking the space bridge yet.]

That's why I can't tell Twitch. She'll be so upset if she knows and can't go back to help. She'll never let it go. She'll never be happy again. I-I can't do that to her. She can't find out!

[Not until after Hashtag manages to get the space bridge to do what she wants. Because then it won't matter and everyone will be safe.]

[emojibot]

[he's quiet for a moment. as much as he would like to assure her they'll work something out, it also feels like it would be cruelty to give her such false hope, even if she does need some hope. even optimus is struggling to see the bright side on this one, chief.]

It's something we can work on, [optimus settles on, surprised that he's able to feel even more disappointed with himself for the lacklustre answer.] many here have their own experiences with different dimensions, which gives us access to knowledge we could never have had back home.

[twitch, though... and any of the terrans that might come through the bridge in the future. what if nightshade returns, unaware of their future? what of ranger malto, alex and their children?]

...I will discuss this with Megatron. [they will have to tell twitch, this he knows. it wouldn't be right to keep from her, but hashtag isn't wrong about the harm it would do her. optimus wonders if maybe he should tell her. if his choices broke their family apart, then she should at least still know she can trust in megatron; optimus has already been the face of so much bad news for them.] Telling me does not mean things have to change before you're ready-- I will not say anything to Twitch.

[twitch should know, yes, but he can't discount the effect her knowing will have on hashtag.]

[hashtaggayrobots]

[She feels better, finally getting it all out, instead of having to keep it all to herself. Not as cathartic as it felt to cry on Soundwave that first time when it all really hit her, but somehow soothing like a release valve had been opened letting the pressure building up inside her out.]

Maybe...maybe you're right. I want to do something so bad. If we can fix it, we have to try. We can't just--We can't accept that's how things end, can we? It's not fair.

[emojibot]

[he keeps hold of her anyway, because he really can't do anything else. this isn't a burden she should've ever had to bear-- has it been since she disappeared, all those months ago? it's the least he can do to stay with her as long as she wants him to.]

That's natural-- and you aren't wrong for feeling so strongly. We will do everything we can while we're here. But for now, I think it might help to rest a bit. [admitting this and coping with it all must have been unbelievably exhausting for her, and it concerns him greatly.]