Jigsaw burst into the laboratory. "What is it? What's wrong I came running as soon as I got your message but-"
Cerebrius silenced him with a servo, pausing in his hasty packing. Jigsaw snapped his jaw closed abruptly, still a good solider who would follow almost any order issued. He looked at the unit, destroyed beyond recognition from its usual orderly fashion.
"Cerebrius what are you doing?" he asked instead, stepping towards the jet who quickly put datapads into his subspace before holding a weaponized arm up and opening fire on the computer. The mech didn't look at his sparkmate, swiveling around and firing another round to the far wall- destroying the weapon prototypes he spent the stellar cycle working on.
Jigsaw jumped, slamming a servo on the button to manually close the door to the lab. "What the Pit- Cerebrius what is WRONG with you? Why-"
"Jigsaw." he rumbled, modulator humming in an ironically comforting hum. Cerebrius shifted his gun back into a servo, approaching the Elite Guard cadet in a calm manner. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." he answered quickly, still confused to what was happening. "You just destroyed all your research, everything, the prototypes- they were supposed to help bots."
Cerebrius ran a servo over JS's faceplates, expression unreadable even with his battle mask down. "While I believed my designs were to be used for defense against Unicron...it seems I have been enlightened." he stepped away, moving throughout the space with purpose. He either broke items or stored them away, continuing. "Are you familiar with the uprising happening in the lower castes?"
"Yes- I am." Jigsaw answered, closing the distance between him and the genius, hating the unnecessary space. "It's being led by that ex-miner, gladiator correct? Megatron?"
"Yes Jigsaw, that's who the Autobot Regime is using my weapons against."
Jigsaw blanched, optics focused on his mate's wingspan. "Well, they're traitors to their own government, I believe-"
"No!" Cerebrius yelled, throwing a trinket against the wall. "No. I am here to protect my people, not enslave them. These weapon designs," he tapped his chassis, referring to the designs in his subspace. "Are powerful enough to destroy beings like Unicron. It is not right that we're using WOMD's on our own people!"
Jigsaw looked conflicted, years at The Academy had conditioned him to believe traitors were susceptible to deactivation. The High Command had to have their reasons for using the scientist's designs against the Decepticons. There was a logical answer, Cerebrius was just overreacting. "Please do not raise your voice at me." Jigsaw said quietly. "I understand your concern, but talk like this- it can get you in trouble."
The jet searched the other mech's face before scoffing, dismissal clear and throat cutting through their bond. "Love, you are much smarter than that. The Decepticons uprising has been long due to obvious unfair treatment on their part. We live in luxury while they die from low energy rations. How can we deny our own basic rights such as refuel?"
" It's always been that way."
"It doesn't have to be!" Cerebrius insisted, taking a breath before calming himself. "It shouldn't be."
Jigsaw was confused, and a bit angry he was put into this position. He didn't know if he could abandon everything he knew to accept this almost traitorous way of thinking Cerebrius was spewing. His servos flexed, restless that he wasn't touching the scientist. His entire frame sang out to the other, but quite frankly, he didn't want it to. He was angry with the other, for doing this.
"So what now, sir." Jigsaw asked, referring to the superior officer.
The white bot sighed. "Jigsaw please don't do that-"
"So what now?" he asked again, anger finally spiking in his voice. He looked around the lab, confused. "You're leaving? To where?"
"I am going to join the Decepticons." Cerebrius said smoothly, as if it was obvious. "You have to recognize there are too many things wrong here." he motioned around, insistent. "I have oaths. And this? I can't do this anymore."
Jigsaw backed up as if his pedes were working on their own accord. "What about me? You're just going to leave me?"
"Come with me. The Decepticons are fighting for something right."
"You're not a traitor, you're just not thinking right." Jigsaw cried out, servos covering his faceplates. He was too young for this, they had such a good thing going here, with the Autobots. Sure there were some things wrong, legislation was sometimes unfair and unjust, but there were ways to be heard. Ways to change things without desertion. "You could've been Prime, you could've waited a few stellar cycles, I've heard talk."
Cerebrius shook his adorned helm, still beautiful in a reserved way. "They'd never put me up there on the throne. You do realize they need a puppet? I would decline if they put me on the candidate roster."
Jigsaw opened his intake to respond, and then the walls exploded.
