In Between -- Cybertronian Council

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Date Posted: 19:37:40 01/30/02 Wed
Author: Batbot
Subject: In Between
In reply to: Perceptor 's message, ""Azdak!! Azdak!! Can you hear me Chief Justice? Come in!"" on 20:26:26 01/28/02 Mon

Batbot was in-between.

One second, he had been standing in Ia, looking about the chamber that had hosted his first confrontation with the Decepticon known as FawnDoo, a visitor in what had once been an opposing school of thought. Ia�s teachings of peace greatly deferred from his former allegiance�s ways. The Paleguard had taught Chaos, worshiping it and embracing it as one would the last thread of life.

The next second, he witnessed every physical fiber around him blink out of existence. He had heard Azdak, his companion in Ia, making a desperate plea for help, probably to the Cybertronian Council. And then he felt nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing. It was as if reality had ceased to exist anymore�

And then he felt the familiar tug of a portal, trying to grab onto him and bring him back. In the distance, he could see Azdak, beginning to fade in the grip of a portal too. Whatever had happened to reality, he would apparently survive it.

Something went wrong.

The grip of the portal began to fade in and out, alternating between having him, and losing him. With every loss of grip, he seemed to move closer to Azdak, who was apparently experiencing the same thing. His mind was awash with questions, concerns, and fears. He feared he and Azdak would both be lost in this void, forever existing where nothing existed anymore, in a reality that was no more.

But Batbot�s mind was struck with understanding in the next second. He understood what was happening, what had happened�and what would happen. His mind opened up to understanding, to total knowledge, to that which millions before him had strove for, and failed to achieve. He knew what he had to do.

He reached out without hesitation, grabbing on to Azdak�s shoulder. Azdak turned to face him, his face showing not even the faintest trace of fear, or worry, or any of other thousands of emotions that could have cursed another being in such a situation. But Azdak did understand what would happen, and that his eyes did betray. He shook his head, and spoke without speaking to Batbot, telling him no, telling him not to let go.

Azdak spoke in vain, which his eyes also betrayed.

Batbot latched on to both of Azdak�s shoulders now, pulling him closer to him. Speaking without speaking, Azdak was told to tell Perceptor and the others what had happened, and that they would not be forgotten. He was told in return he would do so little but to relay the message.

Batbot quickly pushed himself away from Azdak, with such a force that he was propelled into the non-existent void so rapidly that the portal could not trace him. While in the Council room, Perceptor was perplexed as to Batbot�s declining life signs, the portal, disappointed in losing its target, completely focused on Azdak, determined to bring at least something home with it. With only one person to pull out of nowhere, and its grip completely reinforced now, it delivered Azdak to the Council. When he disappeared from sight, it was almost as quick as when Reality had disappeared moments before.

Batbot was alone now. His body drifted through a void that was not a void, the only real object in an unreal environment. Yet he was content. With Azdak saved, he turned his attention to his mind, his self-awareness. He was ready for the Universe to open up to him, and he met it with open arms, open mind, and an open heart.

He saw his life stretch out in paths before him. He saw his days as a regular Science officer before receiving Purge�s offer to join the Paleguard. He saw himself receive his Gauntlet, pledging undying loyalty to Chaos. He saw the WR@ who had attacked in the guise of a midget, the @lphaPuck. He watched himself flee to the safety of his personal cave, where he had lost himself once in the depths of a portal. He witnessed himself returning to Ia, just in time to save his colleagues from the being called Shaper.

Returning to the Stone Temple, where he had truly began his search for his soul, his purpose. Following the one known as FawnDoo to a dark, barren land, where the chains of Chaos were shattered, and the bonds of friendship forged.

He saw his arrival at the Cybertronian Council, where he learned a great many things about his world. Meeting seven of the eight souls striving to save their world, and their future. He had not met the eighth and final addition to the Council, but he now knew of him, saw him with Orbital, saw him understand in the same way he had once began to understand himself

Batbot witnessed his affliction with the LEGOvirus that had infected his systems, the same as he witnessed his dismay at learning of FawnDoo�s past.

All this, and more, Batbot was privy to. He saw great and terrible things high on the peaks of the Swarm Homeworld, and knew what was set to transpire on Cybertron. He saw Purge parting ways with a seer, an addition to the Paleguard Batbot had never known personally. He saw Manches, and wizards, Fairy Queens and lands that stretched as far as the eye could see, covered with sands and dunes thought impossible. From Starbase Rugby to Starbase Bastion, from Manar to the Homeworld of the Dracan race, from the Four Corners of the Universe to the head of Unicron, Batbot took in everything.

The same as he saw the past, he saw the future. He knew what time would do to his friends, knew what difficulties still lay ahead of them. He knew their joys and victories the same as he knew their hardships and losses.

What Batbot did not see, however, was his own internal demons. A beast still lurked in his spark somewhere, and he could not see any trace of it. Nowhere was it laid out as the rest of his life had been. Another, darker understanding came to Batbot now�

Just as Reality can, Un-Reality had a nasty bite of its own. Batbot�s mind was suddenly wracked with pain that was not pain. He felt something rising up from the depths of his mind, his spark, his very soul. As the Un-Pain grew in intensity, Batbot�s eyes clenched tightly shut, his body doubled up on itself�

As quickly as it had started, the Un-Pain was gone, and Batbot could once more open his eyes. He understood what had happened. His demon was no longer a part of him. His spark was once more pure, yet troubled. If his own spark housed his demon no longer, what, then, had become of it?

If Sparkstalker was no longer a part of him, then where was he?

***

Time would elapse, as time has a habit of doing. It wouldn�t matter to him. In-Between, Time would hold no sway over anything. It would pass, but would touch nothing in passing. He would live the rest of his time living through seconds that would equal forever, through minutes that would equal eternity.

But Batbot was at peace.

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