Fit the Second, Part II

Once inside, the Lost Light crew marvel at the intergalactic art that Magnificus had procured over the cycles, adorning the alabaster hall.

Tailgate drew his attention to two statues. They appeared to be brother and sister Decepticons.
“Who’s that?”

Kup stood behind Tailgate. He took a puff of his cygar and decided to lighten up towards the
diminutive mech. “Don’t know. They look familiar…”

“A gift from Overlord before he abandoned the cause for his own endeavors. A sculpture of his offspring, the twins Giga and Mega.” Magnificus turns and continues to marvel at his own collection.

“Hey, uhhhh, Tailgate is it?” Kup puts his hand behind his head.

Tailgate salutes, “Yes sir!”

“Just wondering, who was your drill commander in boot camp?”

“I can’t remember… Had a spare tire and a red beret? Always swaggers around all important and such, ya know?” Tailgate puffs out his chest and flexes his arms down, strutting around like a fool. “Like that.”

Kup takes another puff, then coughs. “Hound… I know that description anywhere. You know why we called him that?”

“Why???” Tailgate turns his head to Kup.

“I remember him… You know why I gave him that name? Always a femme’s mech. Always at Maccadam’s when he was off duty trying to pick up those bartenders… Plus he’d always stick his nose in business where it shouldn’t be…”

“Ya learn something every day, ya know?” Tailgate smiles from behind his faceplate.

“Fascinating." Sandstorm marvels at the visage of the model Decepticon soldier Spinister. "I'm gonna fly like him one day, maaan. I swear."

There were sculptures of specimens from all walks of life in the galaxy; a large statue of a Kremzeek loomed over the hall.

Magnificus approached Rodimus with an obvious smile through his faceplate. "You know anything about clones, Rodimus?"

"Not really. Not much of a mech of science. Used to watch the old datavids of Scattershot the Science Bot when I was just a few cycles older than a protoform like lil' Tailgate over there. Learned a thing or two."

"I'll tell you something." He comes closer to Rodimus' audio receptor. "I'm a clone myself."

"You look like Perceptor, but it never really crossed my mind. You seem older, though."

"Clones tend to age quicker than their progenitor. Think of the Reflector drones. Clones of Clones of Clones. I'm at a point where some of their sparks burn out after 3 days. It's a shame."

“Interesting. There are plenty of them though.”

“Clones tend to form their own personalities, too. Helps to tell them apart. I for one, while still a brilliant mind (not to honk my own horn), had more of an interest in politics. And evidently the arts. That’s why I became the representative of this planet in the Decepticon senate… We should get going. I already have my drones on hand repairing your ship. It's evident that the tractor beam was a bit too strong. Some of your instruments were damaged from the burn up in the atmosphere."

"Well, I'm quite grateful. A friend of Kup is a friend of mine." Rodimus shaked the hand of the aging Decepticon who grew kind in his later years.