Editing The Lopsided Triangle

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=47
|prev=Animals
|next=Speak, Memory: Part 1
|image=MTMTE47_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Lopsided Triangle"
|caption=''Why don't you go away, Getaway'' <br> ''Stay away Getaway'' <br> ''Get away Getaway'' <br> ''You're hopelessly hopeless'' 
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 25]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=November 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Brendan Cahill]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Cyclonus is faced with a difficult choice as Getaway's intentions with Tailgate finally become clear.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|Cool motive, still murder!]]
In the deserted [["Visages"]], [[Getaway]] teaches [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] [[chirolinguistics]], but soon digresses long enough to recount the story of his birth during the [[Corcapsia Incursion]], and how he earned his name by shamefully running from the battle. After using [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s [[Nautica's wrench|wrench]] to uncover [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] drinking nearby, Getaway invites Tailgate to return to his quarters with him so he can give him a present, which turns out to be a set of clip-on [[mnemosurgery]] needles. Tailgate is a little confused, as he cannot ever remember claiming to want a set for himself the way Getaway claims he did, but Getaway soon changes the subject with a surprising revelation: he has, in actuality, been secretly walking Tailgate through the [[Conjunx Endura|Conjunx Ritus]], the four ceremonial acts which will make them [[Conjunx Endura]]. The "Act of Intimacy" was their holding hands as he taught him chirolinguistics; the "Act of Disclosure" was his tale of his birth; the "Act of Profference" was the giving of the needles as a gift; and now all he needs is for Tailgate to carry out the "Act of Devotion" by performing a spectacular demonstration of his love...

Elsewhere, [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] awakes in his and Tailgate's shared hab-suite to see that his room-mate is not on his recharge slab. He silently heads to "[[Swerve's]]"—observing [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] holding hands as he goes—where Swerve offers him an [[Old Corroder]] as thanks for saving him during the "[[Swearth]]" debacle. Cyclonus takes the drink to "steel his nerves", then strides from the bar... but rather than go looking for Tailgate, he instead heads to [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'s quarters. He expresses his concerns about Tailgate and Getaway to the one-eyed watchmaker, fearing that the escapologist does not have his little friend's best interests at heart, but Whirl simply laughs in his face and tells Cyclonus that Tailgate will be better off with Getaway than he would be with him. Whirl asks why Cyclonus has even bothered to come to him with his problems, and Cyclonus responds that Whirl is the only one he could rely on to tell him the painful truth, because he knows he doesn't care about his feelings.

[[File:GetawaypressuresTailgate TheLopsidedTriangle.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|'''Getaway''' makes sure the readers ''really'' hate him.]]
A few minutes later, an attack of conscience has Whirl call Getaway and [[Atomizer]] to his room. This pair, it turns out, were the ones who conspired with Whirl in the recent past to bait [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] into a fight in hopes of disgracing the ex-Decepticon and forcing him out. That remains their goal, and is the reason that Getaway has been "grooming" Tailgate all this time; he has no feelings of love for the minibot and has simply manipulated him into the "Act of Devotion", requesting that Tailgate prove himself by using the mnemo-needles to reprogram the sleeping Megatron's mind. Or rather, that's what Tailgate ''thinks'' he is going to do—the needles are only fakes, but when the mnemophobic Megatron awakes, Getaway expects him to murder Tailgate on the spot, resulting in Megatron either being killed by the ship's security or shipped back to Cybertron for imprisonment or execution. But Whirl isn't willing to go through with the plan anymore—not at the cost of Tailgate's life. Unfortunately, it's too late; Tailgate is already on his way to Megatron's quarters, and Getaway promptly has Atomizer shoot Whirl with his old [[nudge gun]], wiping his memories of their plan. As his memories slip away, the drowsy Whirl manages to project his [[holomatter]] avatar to various locations around the ship, eventually appearing outside the window of Cyclonus and Tailgate's room. Realizing something is wrong, the startled Cyclonus sprints to Whirl's room, but by the time he has arrived, Getaway and Atomizer are gone and Whirl has forgotten everything. Cyclonus is confused, but then spots a clue Whirl managed to leave before Atomizer pulled the trigger: he has set all the chronometers in his room to "113", Megatron's hab-suite number.

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-sparkspasm.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
Tailgate, meanwhile, has managed to screw up enough courage to sneak into Megatron's quarters, sweeping the room with Nautica's wrench to search for the lurking Ravage. Unfortunately, Getaway has deliberately disabled that function of the wrench, so Ravage goes undetected, and it is his cry that alerts Megatron as Tailgate is about to begin his task. Awakening in panic and rage, Megatron seizes Tailgate, but before he can do anything, Cyclonus's [[Great Sword]] comes flying through the doorway and sinks into Megatron's chest. Cyclonus runs in and bludgeons Megatron into unconsciousness with a chunk of recharge slab, then grabs Tailgate and makes a run for an escape pod, knowing that his actions could well have sealed both their fates. As they run, the pair realize that Getaway set Tailgate up... but more importantly, as Tailgate's mind runs back over his relationship with Cyclonus, he realizes that when he was on his deathbed, they unknowingly performed the Four Acts themselves—Tailgate held Cyclonus's hand, confessed his fear of death, and gave him the gift of a replacement horn, while Cyclonus proved his devotion by sharing the energy of his [[spark]] to save Tailgate's life. Just before they make it to the escape pod, however, the ship's security team catches up to them, and when Cyclonus reaches for his sword, they open fire. Cyclonus shields Tailgate from the barrage of firepower with his body, and, grievously wounded, bids the little 'bot farewell before collapsing in front of him. The horrified Tailgate's eyes flare with light the way they always do when he panics... but this time, the glow builds and builds, until his whole body radiates a pulsewave of blinding rainbow-light that surges throughout the entire ship...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br>
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Getaway]] (1)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (2)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (10)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
*[[Atomizer]] (13)
*[[Grotusque]] (14)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Powerflash]] (17)
*[[Aquafend]] (18)
*[[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] (19)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (20)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (21)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (3)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (4)
*[[Ten]] (5)

}}

==Quotes==

"Sorry about the mess."<br>
"What mess?"<br>
"No, but that's what people '''say''' in these situations, isn't it? "Come in, come in, sorry about the mess." "How was your trip?" "What brings you here at this hour?" I don't know! I've never '''entertained''' before. How am I doing so far?"
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Cyclonus'''



"Coming Soon: '''Cyclonus of Trixylix''' in ''"My Friend's Got a New Friend."'' '''HA!''' You '''devil!''' I thought this was '''life-and-death''', not sad-face boo-hoo '''relationship problems.''' Here you go. Have a '''reality check''', free of charge. By sheer '''happenstance''', you and '''Panic Button''' ended up being roomies. What makes you think there's '''any''' connection beyond that? The only thing you've got in common is a '''front door'''...<br>
"I saved his life."<br>
"And? So what? He '''owes''' you? You own him? He's not allowed to make other friends?"<br>
"I... care about him."<br>
"Again: so what? Here's a thought: maybe he just likes Getaway more he likes than you. Would '''anyone''' find that surprising? What can you offer him apart from your '''guaranteed disapproval''' and a '''face like a funeral'''? All you do is '''stare out the window'''! My advice to you? '''Get over it''' —because he's clearly over you. And let's face it... he's better off with the other guy."
:—'''Whirl''' gives '''Cyclonus''' the painful truth.



"There's no shame in surrendering to your '''limitations'''. Even the best of us '''fail'''. If you really don't feel brave enough to do this, just say "I'm not the 'bot you thought I was," and we'll forget this whole conversation."<br>
"'''All''' of it...?"<br>
"Well, I mean, we'd have to start the '''Four Acts''' again—if we still wanted to do that. And if we did, I'm sure there are other ways you could demonstrate your devotion... although none that would impress Cyclonus as much as saving the entire crew from Megatron."
:—'''Getaway''' is a manipulative asshole and '''Tailgate''' can't see it



"I don't '''like''' sending him into the '''devil's den''', but then I don't like a filthy fascist scumbag murderer getting an '''Autobot badge''' and a pat on the back from high command."
:—'''Getaway'''



"Goodbye, little one."
:—'''Cyclonus''', breaking everyone's hearts

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*We first heard of Corcapsia back in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]], in which Getaway revealed he was created during the "Corcapsia Incursion".
*The full meaning of the term "constructed cold" is revealed at last through Getaway's flashback to his birth. The reference to a spark being "defrosted" made in issue #31 was not euphemistic: the mass-produced [[spark]]s were actually ''frozen'', in which state they were inserted into pre-fab bodies to thaw out. Frozen sparks are here noted to be stored in [[photonic crystal]]s—the same type of crystal that makes up the core of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], as we learned in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''. 
*Getaway refers to how "everything they'd decided [he] needed to know" took shape in his mind at the moment of his awakening. While the truthfulness of his account is, of course, questionable—given how ''many'' lies we know he's been telling—this would certainly seem to contradict the account given of M.T.O.'s early lives in issue #31, which explained that they had to undergo a multi-step training program of exams that required extensive revision, before being released into the world. If Getaway is considered to be telling the truth, this would suggest he was one of the later M.T.O.'s, who only had to go through the three-step program that didn't even last an hour, which this issue would imply was a pre-programmed thing that didn't require any conscious effort on his part.
*"Visages" is deserted because, in addition to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] tricking Megatron into reciting poetry there in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]], [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] isn't even on board the ship to run the joint any more, having left in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue #43]].
*Chirolinguistics was introduced in issue #31.
*Tailgate notes that Cyclonus was going to teach him how to sing in Old Cybertronian; he first gave him a lesson in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
*Getaway had Brainstorm add the Ravage-detecting torch to [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s wrench in [[The Sensuous Frame|issue #41]].
*"Old Corroder" was previously mentioned in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]].
*Getaway claims he found the mnemo-needles he gives Tailgate in [[Fortuna]], where the ''Lost Light'' docked in issue #40.
*While Getaway had started grooming Tailgate earlier, it was in [[Twenty Plus One|#31]] that Getaway saw that Tailgate would definitely risk confronting Megatron. 
*At last, it is revealed that the unseen co-conspirators with whom Whirl conversed in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], who had him attempt to coerce Megatron into a captaincy-ruining fight, were Atomizer and Getaway. Remember that back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]], Getaway discussed Megatron and how to properly hate him ("that's the problem: the greater the crime, the harder it is to process a response"). Getting rid of Megatron is not their endgame, however: Atomizer has shown interest in manipulating the ranks of the ''Lost Light'' before there was any indication Megatron would be coming on board in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]], when he gave Rodimus a faked list of crewmembers who wanted to vote him out.
*Tailgate mentions [[Scalp]], an old friend of his who he brought up before in [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']]. Turns out he was a mnemosurgeon. This fits with the head-themed naming convention for all other mnemosurgeons in that very same issue. 
*Megatron's fear of mnemosurgery was originally displayed in issue #28. We learned the story behind his phobia in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]].
*We've only ever seen Skids's nudge gun before, but we learned that Getaway had one of his own back in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]], in which it was explained that [[Solomus|Tyrest]] confiscated it when he captured him and used it to develop the "Weapon of Mass Suggestion" he employed to immobilize the ''Lost Light''ers. Getaway notes it took him ages to find it again.
*Tailgate's deathbed experience occurred back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]. Two of the four acts—Cyclonus holding his hand, and Tailgate confessing how terrified of dying he was—happened off-panel, the first taking place before we joined the scene, and the second occurring when Cyclonus left the medibay in response to a summons from [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]].
*Powerflash and Aquafend have previously appeared as members of the ''Lost Light'' security team in several previous issues, but this is the first time Strafe, Dogfight, or Boss have been shown to be part of the group.
*Strafe was previously established to have stayed aboard the ''Lost Light'' after its second departure from Cybertron in the letters page of ''[[The Transformers: Redemption|Redemption]]''.

===Real-life references===
*This issue concludes with a quote from the 1962 French film, ''{{w|Jules and Jim|Jules et Jim}}'': "We played with life and lost".
*Whirl mocks the heartbroken Cyclonus as being from "Trixylix" - Tixylix is a brand of infant cough medicine in the UK, usually given to crying children.

===Errors===
*On page 12, Getaway's speech bubble about his nudge gun is coming from Atomizer. This is fixed in the trade.
*Back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], the inside of Megatron's body was established to be filled with [[space bridge]] portals, to Whirl's loss (of hand). Shouldn't Cyclonus's Great Sword have been similarly truncated?
*Dogfight's looking a little off-color, with grey parts instead of pale blue, and entirely grey head, instead of his usual, more distinctive blue helmet and red face.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4 Wuthering Heights]" by {{w|Kate Bush}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/666359429332344835 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Jb2Qeeuks Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken]" by {{w|Lloyd Cole and the Commotions}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/666359812775649280 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryZ3dGzPFNQ Water From the Same Source]" by {{w|Rachel's}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/666361757175308288 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6dGAZTj8xA&ab_channel=AphexTwin-Topic Avril 14th]" by Aphex Twin<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/669983631729926145 James Roberts on Twitter] — "This is #47's aftermath song. Press play and... (INT Lost Light. Slow pan over deserted corridors...)"</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1325561978841161728 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tailgate is quite literally torn between Cyclonus and Getaway, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Whirl's holo-avatar, adrift in space, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Verity Carlo]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]], and [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]], by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]; part of November's series of ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' incentive covers.
*'''Merrymac Games and Comics exclusive cover:''' ''[[Transformers: Generations#Combiner Wars (2015–2016)|Combiner Wars]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime]] in package, by [[Craig Rousseau]]; available exclusively from [https://www.facebook.com/Merrymacgamesandcomics Merrymac Games and Comics].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE47 regcvr.jpg|Uh guys, you did a very bad thing!
File:MTMTE47 subcvr.jpg|Nice one, Whirl!
File:MTMTE47 cvrRI.jpg|Wreck'N'Rule!
File:MTMTE47 cvrRE.jpg|MISB
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #48
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|#47]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 10|#10]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
*''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]''
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' <small>([[May 4]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631406159 / ISBN 978-1631406157</small>
:*Contains issues #45 to #49.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' <small>([[December 25]], [[2019]])</small>
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43 to #49.
:* Bonus content includes a one-page article about the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10]]''''' <small>([[January 1]], [[2020]]) ISBN 1684055849 / ISBN 978-1684055845</small>
:* Contains [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[The Transgressors|#44]] to [[The Nothing Man|#45]], ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45 to #49, [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' vol. 2]] issues [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|#6]] to [[The Will of the Few|#7]], the ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' miniseries, the ''[[An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters]]'' one-shot and "[[Choose Me]]" and "[[The Thirteenth Day of Christmas]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]''.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol9.jpg|'''Volume 9'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory'''''; cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V10.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 10'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/26888-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-47.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopsided Triangle}}