great-warnovel Chapter 195 Speech Restrictions
Chapter 195 Speech Restrictions
Optimus Prime looked at her, his optical glasses calm, as if he was prepared to accept whatever she was about to say.
"I'm listening."
Seeing him like this, the vector's brain module started throbbing again.
She would rather he defend himself, even if he was as stubborn as Megatron.
But Optimus Prime is always like this, taking the initiative to do everything, letting others finish speaking, and putting himself last. He always does this.
"Let's make this clear first." Vector pulled up a new document. "The Autobots and Decepticons had different responsibilities in the Civil War."
"The Autobots are more often there to stop the spread of violence and protect cities, citizens, and neutral zones."
Optimus Prime said in a low voice, "That's what we should do."
"Hey, stop! I knew you were going to say that."
Vector raised his hand to interrupt, "I'll cut out the second half of your sentence for you."
Optimus Prime stopped.
Vector continued, "The Autobots performed very well in the Battle of Aquitron. Their encirclement, rescue, coordination, and evacuation were crucial; many Cybertronian citizens survived thanks to your efforts."
She spoke in a serious tone as she said this.
"But participation in a civil war inherently carries liability. You also fired shots in the war, and civilians don't care which faction's insignia is on the shells."
Optimus Prime's optical mirror dimmed slightly: "I understand."
"Alright, there's something else. Don't always take on everything as your own responsibility."
Megatron watched him coldly from the side.
Optimus Prime didn't answer immediately; he just stood there quietly.
The vector control closed the responsibility file, and this time, instead of displaying any data, it stood in front of him and began to pour out its contents:
"Your biggest problem is that you are too responsible."
"You always feel that you are the leader, so you have to be more composed, correct, and able to withstand more than anyone else."
"You can't lose your composure, you can't be afraid or tired, and you can't make mistakes. You have to comfort others and give them hope."
She sighed, feeling exhausted just talking.
In some ways, she felt that Optimus Prime was more difficult to deal with than Megatron.
This guy looks gentle and polite, with the perfect leadership qualities, but he's incredibly stubborn inside. Not to mention, he seems to have been through so much, as if no one can sway him.
"You've made yourself into a perfect sculpture, but a sculpture is dead, while Orion is alive and needs rest."
Optimus Prime's optical mirrors have finally undergone a significant change.
Megatron's gaze also darkened.
Orion Parkers, a name that hasn't been mentioned in a long time.
The vector didn't stop, he said with a stern face.
"You have a tendency toward self-sacrifice and a very serious tendency toward didactic leadership."
Optimus Prime: "..."
Megatron's lips seemed to twitch slightly, and when the vector stared intently at him, Megatron immediately tensed up.
Optimus Prime said in a low voice, "I didn't mean to lecture you."
Yin Vector rubbed his head: "So it's even more troublesome."
Optimus Prime fell silent.
"You habitually turn every victory, loss, and pain into a reason for everyone to keep moving forward."
"That works, but everyone has just come down from the battlefield. Where do they get the strength to instantly elevate everything they want?"
Optimus Prime was stunned for a moment.
Judging from his reaction, the vector could tell what he had remembered.
-
After the planetary support mission to Aquitron ended, all the machines were extremely busy.
The wounded were transferred, the lists were checked, and the ships returned to port. The Retribution and the Ark were each crammed with exhausted, damaged, short-circuited machines that smelled of seawater.
Vector first went to the Nascent Soul, dealt with the Decepticon wounded and damaged records, and then went to the Ark.
When she arrived, a bunch of Autobots were gathered on the bridge of the Ark.
Ambulance, Arcee, Alita, Jazz, Cliffhanger, Jack, Block, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Hot Rod, Smokescreen... Ultra Magnus stood aside, trying to keep everyone in line.
Optimus Prime is standing in front and speaking, and what he is saying is actually correct.
How did the Battle of Aquitron stop the Quintessons from spreading further? How did Leviathan gain its freedom? Cybertron once again escaped deeper disaster from the shadows. Sacrifice and courage were rewarded, and the future still needs their joint protection.
It's so Optimus Prime-like, it's like I've stumbled into a memorial plaza.
The problem was that the ambulance's toolbox wasn't closed yet, Arcee's shoulder armor had just been temporarily fixed, Flying Mountain's arm was dripping with water, Jack's head was emitting a little abnormal smoke, and Bumblebee's voice was half hoarseer than usual.
They respected Optimus Prime, but some things were more somber and exhausting to say when they had just left the deep-sea battlefield.
After listening for a few minutes, Yin Vector finally couldn't resist and went inside.
Optimus Prime had just said, "We will continue to shoulder this responsibility..."
Snapped.
A slap from the vector struck Optimus Prime's side, silencing him abruptly, and the entire bridge fell silent.
The jack's optical lens lit up instantly; Jazz turned his head to look to the side very naturally, as if nothing had happened; the ambulance driver breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Optimus Prime looked down and saw it was her. He wasn't angry, and even the surprise quickly dissipated.
"A vector?"
"That concludes the leader's remarks."
She said expressionlessly, "You've just come back from the ocean floor, and your aircraft may still be filled with Aquitron's dirty water. There's no rush to visit the memorial."
Bumblebee was desperately trying to suppress his laughter. Ultra Magnus opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to remind everyone that a post-battle debriefing was still necessary, but then remembered something and held it back.
Vector continued, "First, check the wounds, replenish energy, and confirm the return list. Anyone who dares to claim they're a perpetual motion machine, I'll send them to the ambulance for an extra number."
The ambulance driver immediately said, "I agree."
Jack raised his hand: "I agree, especially Optimus Prime."
Optimus Prime looked down at her, his optical glasses revealing no displeasure, only a fleeting hint of emotion, as if he had finally been calmed down by someone after exhaustion.
He stopped speaking and said in a gentle voice, "You're right."
Vector glared at him and said, "Of course I'm right."
-
Now, on the outer platform of the lair, Optimus Prime recalled that scene and remained silent for a long time.
Vector: "You see! You know yourself that you sometimes do that."
Optimus Prime pondered for a moment: "I thought that would let them know that this battle was meaningful."
The vector didn't explain much, but it pulled him to look at the lights under the judicial center and the Cybertronians frolicking in the streets:
"But sometimes, it's not better to say the meaning as soon as possible."
Optimus Prime gazed silently in the direction she was pointing.
"Everyone needs to rest first, swear a bit, and feel the pulse of life."
She turned to look at him. "You too."
This time, Optimus Prime didn't say "I'll be fine," he just remained silent.
Megatron stood to the side, his face remaining cold.
He certainly didn't like to hear that Vector was so concerned about Optimus Prime, but he was also annoyed that Optimus Prime kept everything bottled up inside, so he kept quiet for the time being.
"The same goes for the source of the fire," the vector continued.
Optimus Prime's optical mirror trembled slightly.
"Sending out the spark was a last resort, and no one will blame you."
Optimus Prime said in a low voice, "But it left Cybertron."
"It also avoided being contested."
This time, Optimus Prime didn't continue blaming himself; Graviton immediately seized the opportunity to add:
"The search for the source of the fire will be listed as a high-priority task by the judicial center."
Optimus Prime's optical lens brightened slightly.
The vector turned to look at Megatron.
Megatron: ...He knew it wouldn't be anything good.
The vector raises an eyebrow.
Megatron then coldly replied, "The Decepticons will provide star maps, voyage records, and energy route information."
"Remember, no empty promises."
Megatron was even more annoyed.
The gravitational vector redirected back to Optimus Prime.
"Also, Optimus Prime and Orion Pax are not two separate machines."
His optical lens flickered slightly.
"The leadership module did not kill Orion."
"Don't act like you have two personalities, as if Orion is just a previous version that should be sealed in the archives and never appear again."
"He is you."
Optimus Prime looked at her, his innermost being touched and caressed by her words.
The vector's gaze was also fixed on his optical lens.
"You can take on more, be Optimus Prime, but don't let Orion disappear."
Megatron's optical mirror turned a dark red for a moment.
D-16.
Orion.
The two old names stand quietly side by side on this platform. Neither of them has truly died; they have simply been worn down beyond recognition by the long war.
The vector was pointing towards Optimus Prime's chest.
"I'm happy for you that the leadership module has approved of you."
Optimus Prime was stunned.
"But it is not a shackle."
Optimus Prime raised his hand, almost touching her fingers.
"It's about inheritance and support, not about making you a vessel for life."
"You owning it doesn't mean you want to be owned by it."
Optimus Prime remained silent for a long time.
The construction team in the distance has stopped working much.
BICk0 is holding a data board with the optical lens clearly glued to it, and is pretending to be checking the status of the nest.
The shockwave remained still, but the brightness of the single eye continued to change.
Megatron wasn't in the mood to pay attention to that; all he knew was that he was extremely unhappy.
Optimus Prime slowly lowered his center of gravity, touched the ground with one knee, and the outer armor on his chest opened layer by layer.
A bright, ancient light shone from near his fire chamber.
The leadership module hangs there quietly.
The vector was stunned: "Why are you suddenly showing me this?"
Optimus Prime didn't answer. He gently and slowly covered the back of her hand with his own, guiding her hand towards the light.
The vector instinctively tried to pull back, but stopped when it saw his optical mirror.
There was Orion in it, weary yet solemn, with a hint of vulnerability that he finally dared to reveal.
The vector only knew that this was important, so she followed his hand, her fingertips gently landing on the edge of the leadership module.
The light shone up her knuckles, which were very close to his embers, and she could almost feel the vibrations deep within them.
Optimus Prime's voice has a slight tremor when he speaks:
"I will try to get Oriando to talk."
The vector's fingers stroked along the edge of the leadership module, with a soothing and tolerant tone.
"Take it slow. Don't expect everything to be resolved in one conversation. If everything were that efficient, ambulances would be out of a job long ago."
A faint smile appeared in Optimus Prime's optical mirror.
"I will be careful."
He paused for a moment, "If I ever again speak of responsibility as if it were an order... please interrupt me."
The vector remained silent for a second, then patted its chest with one hand.
"Don't worry, I'm a pro at interrupting."
Optimus Prime smiled and said, "I've already seen it."
The pressure around Megatron was so low that BICk0 was quietly contacting security, using all his strength to remain silent.
In the distance, several construction workers sat on boxes of materials that were supposed to be transported, watching with great interest alongside their companions.
The giant monsters were watching very closely.
The largest individual glanced at the hand of the gravitational vector, then looked at the light on Optimus Prime's chest, and suddenly stood up as if interpreting this as a way of getting close, immediately moving closer to try and get a free ride.
As soon as he moved, the others followed suit.
Without turning his head, he said, "You're not allowed to learn this."
The giant monsters stopped and whimpered in grievance.
Optimus Prime finally closed his chest armor and slowly stood up, no longer appearing as a leader just moments before.
The vector gently patted his outer armor and pulled up the last document.
"I'll send you the terms regarding the Autobots' post-war compensation and reconstruction assistance right away."
Optimus Prime nodded, and was about to say that he would reply as soon as possible, when he heard Vector say...
"Moreover, this is a collective decision-making process among the Autobots; all machines must participate, and you are not allowed to finish writing it all by yourself."
Optimus Prime paused.
"And, the speech has a time limit."
Optimus Prime froze, watching her slowly blink, looking unusually naive.
"From now on, I will interrupt if it takes more than three minutes."
Someone in the distance couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Optimus Prime's own voice also carried a gentle smile.
"I will remember."
Megatron sneered coldly from the side:
"Even the length of a great Autobot leader's speech is controlled."
Optimus Prime looked at him with a smile.
"At least I don't have to read complaint letters."
Megatron: "..."
The vector slowly turned its head, but didn't move its body: "Do you two want to complain about each other now?"
Both leaders remained silent.
Yes, nothing is more important than the Chief Justice in this situation.