"You did what!?"

Megatron sat on the berth, sipping on his energon and not speaking a word. Whitefell was doing all of the talking, sharing everything that had happened on their trek out into the jungle; the conversation about scaring the Exatoms away, the attack, the pride the telensi had felt actually fighting back even when he'd been terrified.

The High Gatewatcher was listening closely, nodding slowly and solemnly. Even with all of his experience in war meetings, Megatron found himself unable to tell what exactly the elderly leader was thinking about what he heard.

Stonerook, on the other hand, was easier to read than a simple diagram.

"You went on the offensive!? Have you lost your wits!?" Stonerook's coattails were fluttering behind him as he began to pace back and forth, "Did you even think of what might happen now that they know we might fight back?"

"Is that not what the soldiers did a few days ago?" Megatron asked.

"That was a defensive move! To keep them from getting any further into the city."

Whitefell's tail lashed back and forth, "I tried hiding as instructed and it failed this time! What was I supposed to do? Let it take me and pull my insides out like they did their other captives?"

"I do not know! But not that!"
Stonerook looked to their visitor, his optics blazing. "You, you're the one who started this!"

Megatron hummed, "I did..."

"Enough."
The High Gatewatcher frowned, getting up from his seat. "I think we all knew that this day would come... The Exatoms have plagued us since before our guest arrived here... Sitting here and letting them attack and hunt at their leisure is not going to bring the peace we need."

"Fine. If the Ancient loves war so much, let him take it to the Exatoms, on his own."

That wasn't a bad idea, the old warrior supposed. The Exatoms might not be able to end him, but they certainly wouldn't be kind to him or show him any mercy. He deserved that anyway, endless suffering and pain. "...I-"

"Do not even think of agreeing to that."
The High Gatewatcher's tone and expression was stern, "Regardless of how anyone here feels about you, I am not going to let you throw your life away." He pointed at Megatron's frame with narrowed optics, "Don't think I can't see those gears turning... You want a way out. You, for some reason, can't stand being treated with honor and respect."

Megatron shook his helm, "If you truly knew what I've done-"

Clang!

Megatron stopped, blinking as he looked down at where the elderly bot had smacked him in the chest with his cane. It hadn't even left the slightest of scrapes on his metal, but it still rested on his chest just the same, the other end held by a shaking hand.

"...Hit me back." The old bot remarked with a sly grin, "Come on! I struck first! Go ahead and hit me, as hard as you can."

Stonerook's optics were wide and he took a step towards the elder. "Your highness, you can't be serious!"

Megatron raised an amused brow, "...You would no doubt be smashed to pieces."

"And if you are as dark and irredeemable as you say, why would that bother you?"

Megatron blinked, but did not answer.

"Ha! See? Not so evil and starless as you think..."
The bot hobbled back to his chair with a cackle, "We have a saying: 'Do not wear your dirty blanket to the festival!' Remember that!" He then pointed his cane to a nearby curtain, "Spearen! You have something to say!"

The group looked as Spearen entered the room from the hall, "Erm... My deepest apologies for interrupting, but-"

"What is it, Spearen?"

"It's Windy... He... He wishes to ask for your permission to undergo the trial."

The elder's expression flattened and he rolled his optics, "By the ancestors... Windy's barely old enough to choose his hide and he wants to undergo the trial?"

"I tried to inform him that this is hardly the time for that, but-"

"Yes, yes... Tell him that once the current crisis is resolved, we will come back to this trial business, hmm?"

"Yes, your Highness..."
The guard left the room once more, and the elder scrubbed his optics with a hand.

"What kind of trial are we discussing?"

"Young telensi wanting to prove themselves as my worthy successor..." He looked up, "You would know of that, yes? Others believing they can lead your people better than you?"

Megatron huffed as he shook his head, "One in particular... Tried to end me dishonorably multiple times."

"And you kept him around?" Whitefell asked, "Why?"

"Someone had to keep an optic on him. If I left him out of my sight, then he would have found ways to sabotage everything I'd built. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer..."

"I see... Do you believe he is now continuing that sabotage and manipulation in your absence?"

"I would not be surprised..."
Megatron tiled his helm, "Have many taken the Trial?"

"Oh, yes... Even some in which I have seen potential, have failed to convince the Council of Spirits that they are worthy of my title. I have hopes that whenever someone is chosen, I am still strong enough to guide them for a time before they step up."
The High Gatewatcher sat up straight, "But, we are not discussing that at the moment. We are trying to determine a course of action against the Exatoms. You are right, Ancient, their threat will not go away unless we make a statement."

"Taking them on will only lead to death and destruction, your highness." Stonerook insisted, "Surely you don't condone loss of your people."

"We will lose some to them even if we do nothing, we already have. Mothers still mourn their lost ones from those first few attacks, and every few times, someone does not come out unscathed... We are peaceful and seek not to engage in war and conquest, but it is unfair not to be willing to defend ourselves properly from this threat."

He stood up from his seat, "Stonerook, get a message to Brokenspoke and have him and his apprentice come to the palace. We will have a... Thought session. Whitefell, you are free to return home." He then looked to Megatron, "As for you... Come with me."

Whitefell transformed and left the room, Stonerook gave the High Gatewatcher a look and then left the room, and Megatron rose from his seat. He followed the elder telensi past a curtain, leading to a flight of steps illuminated by glowing lanterns along the walls. There were places the old warlord had to duck from low clearance, but then the tunnel widened, and opened up into a large cavern.

Tiny, glowing fragments of color peeked through the stone, like stars hidden underground. Was it energon? Was their supply hidden in plain sight?

"I know you are concerned about what is being proposed... Tell me, what results do you see from this conflict?"

Megatron sighed, looking upwards to the ceiling of the cavern. "...The initial offensive attack could be successful in driving them away, or... It could fail, and only lead to more intense attacks from them on the population. A victory might embolden the people, so that even if it does not send them away completely, they will not fear to fight... Or they may be crushed when their new pride proves too heavy a burden."

"Hmm... Wise words from a seasoned warrior..."

"I led my people to ruin once, I do not think it best for me to lead this campaign if we should move forward with it."

"You have learned from those choices, however... I have faith that you will not fall into the same patterns."

"You put a lot of trust in me that I do not deserve."

Clang!

The elder smacked Megatron's armor with his cane once more, "Get it into that stiff, stubborn helm of yours. You do not go by your old name, so do not see yourself as the bot who owned that name."
He walked a few paces away, "We are not all warriors by nature, but that is why I am summoning Brokenspoke... He is our weaponsmaster, one of the few Telensi to still bear the skills to access our magics... Aside from you."

Megatron looked to his fusion cannon, feeling the pulsing energy that remained stable and dormant for the moment.

"Many of us do not possess it, but a few do, and they may be the key to proving our worth in the upcoming battle. If our ancestors came from a mighty race that can rise up to protect our home, then we should follow in their stead."

"Why bring me down to this chamber to speak of this...?"

"Because-" The elder gave a sly grin, "-This is one of the few places in the palace Stonerook is not allowed- nor can he eavesdrop from the top of the stairs. He does not like you."

"Oh, you are only noticing this now, are you?"

The telensi grinned, "No, no, it's not easy to miss his disdain for you... I have a feeling it has to do with Scribe's intrigue with you. She is a curious and fearless sort, and I believe that Stonerook fears that if she grows too close to you, she will follow you to harm. He would prefer she remain on her task as a records keeper, never taking up a blade."

Megatron sighed, "I had a friend in my youth who worked in records... In my own pride, I made him my enemy, and he was forced to take up arms against me. I can't help but wonder if he would have remained at his post if not for me."

"We may never know, but the past has passed. We must move on... The Exatoms are fierce, and they have numbers, but they are also used to us not being direct. Your actions a short time ago and Whitefell's actions today are but the beginning." The elder tapped the floor with his cane, "You can only prod someone so many times before they will retaliate. We must make these engagements count, Ancient."

"Yes... We must."