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[sparkwhisperer]

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[sparkwhisperer]

Riptide and I have been destined to be enemies the minute that I boarded the Moira. As a Decepticon, it is my civic duty to kill Autobots. As has been the way for millions of years.

It did not help his case that ever since he and I met-- almost two months ago now-- he has attempted to lie and make a fool of me at every opportunity.

He knows who I am, and what I do for the Decepticons, and yet he still pushed.

At that point I realized that he must truly have a death wish. So, I simply relieved him of his burden of being alive.

[He makes it sound so simple and matter of fact.]

[t65]

[And so today was the day Luke rolled his eyes at a convicted murderer.]

How did he make a fool of you? From what I saw, he just didn't want to be in the same room as you. Considering what you did to him, I can't blame him! [Okay, getting a little angry at the end there. He takes a few breaths, and pinches the bridge of his nose for a second.] So how did he embarrass you so much that you had to murder him?

[sparkwhisperer]

[ It wasn't so much embarrassment as it was insecurity that got to Tarn. He doesn't want to go into the real reason behind it. It's not something that he's talked about with anyone.

But, his abandonment issues run deep. Deeper than Luke, or anyone really, would ever expect. Really, Riptide just said exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time

Tarn won't give that information. Instead, he shuts down, glaring at Luke.]

This conversation is over. It's none of your business, human.

[t65]

It is my business! I brought you back, Tarn. I'm partly responsible for everything you do from that point onward.

Or- [An idea strikes him. ] Or can you not stand up to one little conversation with a human?

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn knows what Luke is playing at. Reverse psychology is the oldest trick in the book. There's no manipulating a master manipulator.

He tries to steer the conversation in a different direction. Tarn isn't going to budge on that subject.]

Do you really desire that sort of responsibility?

[t65]

[Luke is, all told, pretty new at this. Still,] Taking responsibility for your actions and what they can cause is part of being a Jedi. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[sparkwhisperer]

And yet you still don't regret your actions? You're a fool, Luke Skywalker.

[Deep down, in Tarn's heart of hearts, he has his very first Feeling in a very long time.

He quickly ends it, burying it away from the light of day. ]



[This conversation is beginning to make him anxious.]

[t65]

[Luke smiles brightly.]

Who's more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn is silent for a moment.]

It appears that you have me there.

But, know this-- I'm not going to suddenly change just because you have some misguided sense of responsibility towards me. If you want to bind yourself to a sinking ship then there isn't much that I can say to stop you, nor do I particularly care.

Just so long as you stay out of my way.

[t65]

It's not misguided. Our fates are tied together, now. What you do is a reflection on me, and... what I do is a reflection on you.

But, I'm curious. Why are you a sinking ship?

[sparkwhisperer]

Let me make this very clear to you, Luke Skywalker.

I will not think twice to make a repeat performance of what I did to Riptide if any of our crew-mates make the mistake of crossing me. I have been trained extremely thoroughly to represent the Decepticon Cause and I will continue to do so even on this ship. Should anyone prove to be a insolent or even, as ridiculous as this sounds, a threat,
they will be taken out.

Even if it results in my ultimate demise, I will not turn my back on my duties.

[t65]

You can just call me Luke, you know.

If you kill every insolent person on the ship, you'll never have any time to do anything else. And you won't have anyone to talk to. [Because Luke will be dead.] Was Riptide threatening something?

[sparkwhisperer]

Luke, then. [It's a strange name, Tarn thinks. Skywalker at least sounds familiar enough to a Cybertronian.]

There is a level of insolence that I can tolerate, but Riptide's simply didn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

[t65]

Thanks, Tarn.

You really think it's worth your time to kill someone for talking too much?

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn gives Luke a sort of flat look.]

Yes. How do dangerous ideas and habits start, if not with talk?

[t65]

[Luke wants to point out that Tarn hasn't tried to kill all the people who disagree with him on the ship, but that could give him... ideas.]

[He lets it drop for now.]

[Anyway, there's another point that Tarn's brought up. Luke's look isn't flat; he looks like he's nursing a headache.]

More dangerous than murder?

[sparkwhisperer]

It's different.

What do you want me to say? I've been fighting for millions of years. Do you expect me to suddenly change my tune because a few organics and Autobots get upset about my tactics?

[t65]

Even I'm not that impatient. I know your species is incredibly long-lived. If you change at all, it probably won't be at a pace I recognize.

Maybe I just like talking to you?

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn squints, peering at Luke through the MID.]

Why?

[Not that Tarn doesn't have a high opinion of himself and his ideals, but he isn't quite sure why this human would be so interested. It seems suspicious.]

[t65]

[Luke considers his options for an answer, all equally true. Somehow he doesn't think because we're friends will fly.]

If you have a hard time believing that... I'm a Jedi. Part of that is being able to understand different races and cultures, no matter how different.

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn is quiet for a long moment, Staring off screen. It isn't as if he has much else to do while trapped in solitary confinement than indulge in Luke.

Although, it might interrupt his busy schedule of staring blankly at the wall of his cell.]

Ah, so I'm a learning experience for you, am I? I don't suppose that anyone has told you about why I have such a distaste for Organic life?

[t65]

You're more than just a learning experience. I wasn't lying when I said I liked talking to you.

[He sighs.]

I can probably make an informed guess, but why don't you tell me?

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn still doesn't understand. Instead, he shakes his head with a quiet scoff.]

When Cybertron began it's war, it became immediately clear that the senate were not the only ones aiming to keep Cybertronian's firmly under it's heel. An age long discrimination and hatred that spanned over thousands of organic races became quickly apparent. A racism that began long before Megatron began his uprising of the manual classes and before any sort of violence began to leak from our world.

We were thought to be lesser because we are a mechanical race-- less alive somehow. Calling us "Robots", or "AI", or "Droids". [He casts a glance at Luke]

This was millions of years ago. You may be under the impression that this situation has ebbed-- that we've moved on from this blantent disregard for the legitimacy of our species. But, in some ways it's gotten worse.

[t65]

[Luke nods, expression placidly serious.] I'll be the first to admit I didn't understand your people at first. I made assumptions, and it's something I'm trying to overcome. I assume you don't want my apology, but you can have it anyway.

[He sighs.] It's another reason I'm trying to learn more about your culture and history. If I know more, I can help prevent future bloodshed. If I'd known more... [He sighs.] We might be having a very different conversation.

[sparkwhisperer]

You're correct, apologies are useless. [Tarn surprisingly doesn't seem excessively angry. Sure he was in the past, but he has more important issues to worry about than Luke's previous racism.]

But, even if it hadn't been you, I would have found myself exactly where I am now. Someone else would have done something equally as ridiculous.