Chapter 61: The Touch Part 21
Orion followed Megatron and saw that his friend was quieter than usual, as if he was choosing the words he would use. The climb up the stairs to the terrace seemed more tense than it should have been because of the uncomfortable silence between them.
"D, ... why did you call me here?" Orion couldn't help but ask.
Megatron took a few steps forward, seeing the city of Kaon and the hundreds of thousands of bots surrounding his statue, which replicated his pose from the first day he was freed. "Orion, I want you to look at these bots, what do you see?"
Orion's eyes focused on the same sight his friend saw as he approached the parapet. "Our people."
The simple words made Megatron smile. "Our people have cried out for freedom for too long, and I am ready to fight for it. For the first time in a long time, the door to our true freedom is within our grasp, and we hold the key."
Orion remained silent, waiting to hear what his friend would say next. He felt a strange aura around his friend, as if he was surrounded by heavy burdens that consumed him.
"I won't lie to you, Orion. You know that I consider you my younger brother, someone I can trust completely. I know you won't like my next words, but the fact is that we must prepare for an inevitable war." Megatron said darkly, his voice sounding imposing. He knew that Orion's silence was because he was waiting for him to finish his logic. "However, I will do everything in my power to prevent this war, but I must be ready to draw my sword when the time comes." He said, seeing Orion's disappointed and frightened look, it was obvious that he had already figured out why he was interested in old warplanes, as he was arming himself for the coming war.
Orion closed his eyes for a few seconds, meditating on his brother's words, trying to figure out how to put them into words. "I have only one question, brother. Against whom will you raise your weapon?"
Megatron was unable to hide his surprise at Orion's words, figuring he would be asked about the military aircraft he was interested in using in his army. He realized, however, that there was a secret intention in Orion's words, seeking an answer that could not be given casually. "My blade will be raised before those who are not worthy of a new Cybertron."
"Who are those who are not worthy?" Orion asked again, not hiding his concern.
Megatron looked at Orion, his eyes seeming to examine him, but that did not make him hesitate to reveal his intentions. "Those who do not have the power to change Cybertron are nothing more than parasites like the High Council, and those who trust, depend on, or are deceived by the government are nothing more than pests to be destroyed. Ignorant fools who pretend nothing is happening can rot as they should."
"D, the moment someone pulls the trigger on their gun, it can change a person forever if they have blood on their hands. Whether they're innocent or not, crossing that line always leaves room for someone to get hurt again." Orion placed his hand on the railing and looked at his brother, then at the city. "I understand what you want to accomplish, but... how many will die for it?"
"Every revolution has its side effects, Orion. I'm no fool, but the High Council will be even more foolish if they dare to reject my proposal." Megatron said, trying to convince Orion with his words. "Wars are not won without sacrifice."
"This doesn't have to be a war, don't treat it like a battle in the arenas, you have everything you need to overthrow the High Council without throwing a stone at their window, just the support of the population is more than enough, but you have to lead them so that an unforeseen side effect doesn't occur." Orion explained, fearing that some bots might use his friend's revolutionary idea for negative purposes. "All great power must be used wisely, regardless of its form, whether as a weapon or as political influence."
Megatron understood what Orion was saying, but his naivety was beginning to irritate him. The High Council would not hesitate to burn down countless cities in order to maintain its power and influence. "I must make my message clear: Anyone who dares to stand in my way will be considered a traitor to Cybertron. That's why I'm going to make sure that I'm prepared when the High Council attacks, so that the number of casualties will be as low as possible. That's what I call wisdom: it's being prepared for the worst of our enemies."
"I'm not just worried about the side effects on innocent lives or what the damage might be, but how many people might use your ideology to do the same thing as the High Council." Orion noticed D's surprise and decided to continue. "D, I'm afraid that even if you can bring down the High Council and have them arrested, all your fighting will be in vain. There will be no point in fighting something with the same methods that you reject."
Megatron sighed and tried to calm his emotions. He knew that Orion was afraid, it was natural due to his pacifist nature, but the real world is not a fantasy that everything can be handled with faith and hope for a better world, but rather determined by individual actions of the strong against the weak. "Do not worry, when I overthrow the High Council, I will see to it that these problems are resolved. No one will be above me or take advantage of my results, I will see to that." He said the last sentence seriously.
"I just want everything to be okay, I don't want everything you've sacrificed or lost to be in vain because of freeloading idiots or people who want drastic changes." Orion looked up at the sky, looking at the stars for a moment. "I, like you, want our world to shine like the stars, a brighter shine than any of them. But... D, don't use the opportunity you have to justify that people should be hurt because of the current government, those who have done harm should be punished through the law, not through violence."
Megatron decided to look in the same direction as Orion, also looking at the stars, knowing that the universe was vast and virtually unexplored, reminding him of his naive dream of flying aimlessly through the stars, exploring every planet in sight, searching for something new. "Orion, I am determined to give my life to achieve this goal, my honor as a warrior and a Cybertronian is at stake, I do not intend to fail. Do you remember what the most important oath of the Knights of Cybertron was? The oath that even a Prime was bound to honor."
"That oath?" Orion looked into Megatron's eyes and understood how seriously he took this mission to save Cybertron, comparing it to one of the most important oaths the Knights of Cybertron took when their honor was challenged by another adversary.
"One shall stand, one shall fall." Megatron said, crossing his arms and looking earnestly at the horizon. "This revolution against the High Council will end with only one result. They or I will fall." He said seriously, his eyes glowing red for a moment, but he composed himself immediately. "I will do everything in my power to keep the peace, but I cannot control all the collateral damage caused by some of my overly enthusiastic followers, but when I become ruler of Cybertron, I will see that these bots are properly punished."
Megatron put his hands behind his back and entered the building, his mind echoing Orion's words about his warning about some bots who would dare to use his revolution as a springboard to take advantage, something he would not allow.
"Where are you going?" Orion asked as he watched D leave without saying goodbye.
"You gave me an idea, but I need time to implement it." Megatron looked at Orion, understanding that he could not have his support for what he was planning. Unfortunately, the reality was more obvious to him, it is not possible to make a big change in the world by playing by the rules of your enemies, so it was necessary to play dirty.
"An idea?" Orion was confused. "What are you thinking?"
"Don't worry, I'll just make sure certain pesky roots don't grow, see you later, old friend."