Kneeling to the Sword

by Gatekat

Knights of Light. Dai Atlas/Axe. When General Dai Atlas and his SIC decide to retire from Nova Prime's army, they know it could cost them dearly and plan accordingly.

1. Convergent Paths

Fandom: Transformers G1
Author: gatekat, ultrarodimus on LJ
Pairing: Axe/Dai Atlas, Wing/Atl
Rating: NC-17
Codes: Slash, Historical Setting, Knights of Light, Sticky
Summary: When General Dai Atlas and his SIC decide to retire from Nova Prime's army, they know it could cost them dearly and plan accordingly.
Disclaimer: The authors are only playing with their own twisted muses. Transformers belong to Hasbro. Fandom-side, check the inspirations page (gatekat-fics .livejournal 290 .html). We draw from a ton of amazing stories and authors you should read.
Notes:
nanoklik = 1/8 second;
klik = 496 nanokliks/62 seconds;
breem = 8 kliks/8.27 minutes;
groon = 9 breem/1.24 hours;
joor = 6 groon/7.44 hours;
orn = 42 joor/13.02 days;
decaorn = 32 orns/1.14 years;
metacycle = 8 decaorn/9.22 years;
vorn = 9 metacycles/72 decaorn/83 years;
::text:: comm chatter
~text~ hardline/bond chatter

Kneeling to the Sword 01: Convergent Paths
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

General Dai Atlas checked himself in a 360 globe mirror room, being even more meticulous than he'd been in ages. This was not an orn to be anything less than flawless. The Lord Prime was not known for his tolerance for faults, and what he and Axe were about to do was an invitation for trouble at best. Officers of their rank simply did not retire, resign or anything of the sort. Not under this Prime. Under Guardian Prime it would have been nothing to fear. They had their fee saved up three times over, just in case.

Axe waited for him, fidgeting uneasily. The black mech's finish was immaculate, his gold trim gleaming. Blue optics glittering with worry met his larger mate's.

As two of the highest-ranked mechs in Nova Prime's forces, Axe and his mate had seen and committed all manner of atrocities, and they knew very well how the Prime reacted to those he perceived to be traitors or threats. What Dai Atlas and Axe were about to do was not going to be taken well.

They gave each other a final once over and left their quarters in silence.

~Are you ready for this?~ Dai Atlas reached across their bond. ~For what it means if he does not let us go?~

Nervousness and determination flowed back along the bond, the black mech steeling himself. Armor plates fluffed and resettled. ~I'm ready,~ was the soft reply.

Understanding and determination wrapped around Axe's spark as they made their way to the Prime's grand office where official business was held and waited to be announced to the mech who had pushed Cybertron's empire to envelope much of known space.

Axe shifted his weight restlessly from pede to pede, trying to keep his fidgeting to a minimum. He was not looking forward to this meeting, but he was sick of the fighting and the fuelshed and genocide against alien races.

They were escorted into the grand office that's back space was dominated by a holo map of the empire and front by the owner of the space, and the empire on display.

The aide hurriedly made himself scarce as the general and his bonded SIC faced their commander.

"What is it that required my attention?" Nova Prima regarded the pair, already suspecting something he wouldn't like.

"We have come to pay our fees, Lord Prime," Dai Atlas spoke smoothly, calmly, respectfully.

"Your fees," the Prime repeated, staring at the pair without comprehension for a long moment. "Officers do not have a fee."

Somehow Axe managed to restrain another fidget. The plating on his back, out of Nova Prime's sight, quivered. Taking strength from the presence of his mate, the black mech held still, watching the Prime warily.

Dai Atlas was without response for a lingering moment. "Lord Prime, the fees are still on the datagrid."

"Officers do not have a fee," he repeated. "You will return to your unit. Now."

Axe shifted ever so slightly. "We are here to pay our fees, Lord Prime," he stated, managing to keep his nervousness out of his voice. "We will not be returning to our unit."

Dai Atlas made a confirming sound, causing the Prime's optics to narrow.

"This is your final statement?" Nova Prime demanded.

"Yes, Lord Prime," Dai Atlas said firmly. "We will pay our fees and leave free mecha."

Harsh optics landed on Axe.

Black plating clamped tighter to Axe's frame, but the black mech straightened his back, meeting Nova Prime's optics. He was not going to back down.

The door to the office opened to eight large M.E.s.

"Take them to the brig," Nova Prime ordered. "Charge is desertion and refusing orders."

~Infernal Pits!~ Dai Atlas cursed privately as he scrambled for a way out. Externally he was utterly calm and collected.

Axe edged closer to his mate, blue optics flicking over the eight mechs. Every muscle cable in his frame was tense, ready to move if he had to.

~Transform and fly!~ Dai Atlas commanded, drawing his mate's attention to the window that wasn't really big enough for their alts even as the larger triple changer leapt into the air and powered up his weapons.

Axe didn't bother replying, leaping into the air and transforming to his flight mode. Hot exhaust blasted from his turbines, sending one of the MEs flinching back from the heat.

"Stop them!" Prime roared in outrage as Dai Atlas launched two missiles into the wall, blasting a hole large enough for even his large frame. He was out first, Axe on his exhaust and the MEs who could fly right behind them.

Axe tracked on the MEs behind them, firing a missile of his own. It clipped the wing of one of the leading MEs, sending the other mech spiraling groundward trailing black smoke.

Under and around them the palace erupted in an alert, scrambling every combat-trained airframe and all the anti-aerial weapons.

~Seekers,~ Dai Atlas warned as they were opened fire on from every direction. If they hadn't spent half their existences in such conditions it would have been terrifying.

Axe dodged madly, swearing. He was used to dodging and ducking anti-aerial fire, but that didn't make it any less annoying.

~We'll have to fight them off, and hide from them if we can,~ the black triple changer replied, managing to wing one of the seekers and getting a shouted profanity in response.

~Agreed,~ Dai Atlas replied, focusing on synching them through their bond into the combat team that had proven devastating to enemies and challengers alike. He opened fire on the right position of a trine of Seekers, sending the scientifically minded tetrajet down and his leader transforming to dive after him while the third was still in the action but distracted.

A quick burst from Axe brought down the third seeker, the black triple changer quickly scanning for the next attackers. He flipped up on a wingtip to avoid another eruption of anti-aerial fire, not wanting to be taken down himself. Awareness had narrowed to an extent, focusing on survival.

Three more trines were closing in on them, as well as larger fliers and combat aerials.

~There!~ Dai Atlas commanded across the bond, more a sense of coordinates than a true word as he bolted for an opening in the forming grid of death around them.

Axe was on his mate's tailfins in moments, close enough that the exhaust from his mate's turbines scorched along his plating. Ignoring the discomfort, Axe followed Dai Atlas through the hole, bolting away from the palace as fast as their engines could take them. Seekers and faster Aerials were after them, but despite the greater speed and maneuverability of the pursuers, each of the old pair had more experience than all of them combined.

Axe saw the crevasse first, large enough for them to enter, and if they transformed the moment they were out of sight they could hide where the small, fast jets wouldn't or couldn't look.

Habit had Axe pressing himself against the side of the crevasse, hearing the engines of their pursuers roaring past. Without taking his optics away from the mouth of their hiding place, the black mech's hand slid out to catch his mate's, holding it tightly.

~Where should we go from here?~ he wondered, his blue gaze flicking over to meet Dai Atlas' red.

~You told me once about a place that trained warriors who did not fight,~ Dai Atlas struggled to remember while still in a combat high.

~It's out in the plains, what most consider the middle of nowhere,~ Axe agreed, tilting his helm in the direction of the distant monastery. ~I know approximately where it should be; might take a bit of flying around to find it. But first we have to get out of the city without being spotted.~

~I know how to get out down here,~ Dai Atlas said, giving his mate a quick databurst of the map. ~It's old, but it should be passable.~

~Lead the way, my love,~ the black triple changer replied, trusting in his mate.

S=================== S

~There it is,~ Axe murmured, changing his flightpath toward the complex rising from the barren plains off to their left.

It had taken nearly a full decaorn of flying in a rough spiral to locate the place, flying low to avoid any possible sensor sweeps or being spotted from space. The pair had been carrying emergency rations in their subspace, but those rations had run out four orns before. The two big mechs were tired and hungry, hoping they had finally found a safe place where they could rest and hide.

Groaning softly, Axe descended toward the main gates, transforming and landing heavily. He wobbled briefly on his pedes, turning to watch Dai Atlas descend. Once his bonded was on the ground, Axe turned his attention to the gates as they opened to reveal a black Seeker with swirling highlights of deep purple, light blue and green.

"Who goes there?" the femme's voice held a ritual cadence, but her white optics were hard on the pair.

The black mech inclined his helm. "I am Axe, and this is my bonded, Dai Atlas. We are seeking shelter and energon."

"Do you swear on your spark that you have committed no violence against a Knight of Light or bearer of a Great Sword of Cybertron?" She demanded smoothly, the gem of the great blade on her back glittering at them.

"We swear on our sparks," Dai Atlas said, though even he wasn't completely sure. It was still a worthy risk. He knew he didn't remember anyone with such a weapon among his opponents.

Her gaze shifted to Axe.

"I also swear on my spark," Axe replied. He'd never seen a blade like that in any of the battles he had participated in, and a weapon like that he would remember.

She flicked her wings in acceptance. "Surrender any weapons you have. Speak of any you value as your spark."

The black mech nodded, depositing a laser rifle and several smaller guns in a neat pile. Bringing out his battleax, he showed it to the femme. "This is the only weapon I value. It has served me well for a very long time."

She took possession of it personally while others began to gather the more modern weapons.

Dai Atlas also shed his weapons, keeping none of them. He stepped around the pile, closer to his mate. "I have no weapons I value."

"I am Master Aurora of the Knights of Light," she finally introduced herself. "Welcome to the Citadel of Light. Come. Our medic will disable your integrated weapons while you refuel."

Dai Atlas nearly sagged in relief against his mate. Though he'd made no complaint, he'd been flying on fumes for orns now.

~That makes two of us,~ Axe murmured, feeling his mate's exhaustion. Sliding one arm around the larger mech, he followed the femme inside, looking around curiously. He'd heard of this place, but no one he'd ever talked to had seen the inside.

The complex was all elegance and open air, nearly a match for the great Seeker city of Vos for its appeal to the flier. Many of those walking about, who gave them the gauging looks of well-trained warriors, had swords similar to Master Aurora's on their backs.

She allowed the exchanged looks to pass between them as they entered one of the larger secondary towers and stepped onto a lift large enough for Dai Atlas to lay flat twice over.

"Master Hardwing, Knight Redline!" Aurora's bellow said much of her experience with raw rebellious recruits to the mechs who shared that background.

Two helms popped up at the femme's bellow. One was an older mech, white with red and black markings, the other a younger but noticeably large red and white. The pair approached, looking at the two newcomers. The gold optics of the younger skipped over scorched, dented and dulled plating, narrowing.

Axe turned his attention from taking in the complex as the pair approached, returning their curious looks. ~Must be the medical staff.~

~Definitely,~ Dai Atlas agreed.

"Berths. Now." The older one jabbed a finger towards the far wall and the line of half a dozen circular medical berths. "Redline."

"Getting the energon," the younger of the pair, a flier nearly as large as Axe, darted off while Dai Atlas and Axe complied with their orders.

"You don't need to hover," Hardwing groused at Aurora.

"I'm not hovering. They are my responsibility for now," the dark Seeker huffed at him almost playfully.

He huffed back and walked between his new patients. "Beyond critical energon and fuel levels and the obvious minor damage, what should I expect?"

Dai Atlas tried to form a response, only to feel himself shutting down.

Axe heaved a massive sigh as he settled onto the berth. "I feel like I could recharge for a decaorn." He blinked at the older of the pair of medics. "Disabling our integrated weapons, she said. Otherwise, we're exhausted and starving."

"This should help with the last part," the younger medic, Redline, handed him a half-strength jet grade cube of energon. "You can gulp this one," he added with a soft grin as Hardwing set Dai Atlas up with a line infusion. "Keep you from gulping down the concentrated one."

Axe accepted the cube, gulping it down in a couple of swallows and venting in relief as the energon hit his energy-deprived systems. The big mech's plating, flattened against his frame, cautiously relaxed. Turning his helm, he watched with sharp optics as Hardwing tended to his mate. Once he was satisfied by what he saw, he turned his attention back to Aurora.

Redline pushed the concentrated cube of medical high grade into his hand. "Drink while you talk."

"What brings you to us?" she asked.

"We'd had enough of Nova Prime's war," Axe replied after taking a mouthful of energon. "Enough of the senseless fighting and fuelshed and the genocide. But Nova Prime did not want to let us go. If we go back, or anywhere he controls, he'll have us executed for desertion."

"Who are you to him that he would not allow you to buy your freedom?" She asked, both curious and wary.

Axe tilted his helm toward the other berth. "The love of my existence, the other half of my spark, over on the other berth was one of Nova Prime's greatest Generals, if not the greatest. I was his second in command. Officers of our rank the Prime would not allow to retire or resign or buy their freedom. He is determined that all such mecha extinguish in his service."

She grunted and flicked her wings in a blatant insult to the Prime. "What can you do here, to earn your keep? We have no need of Generals or more warriors, no matter your skill."

The black triple changer blinked, considering the question. "I'm not sure. We've spent most of our existence on the battlefield."

He watched her pause while he finished the medical grade energon, the low buzz of a secured comm audible to his receiver.

"The Sovereign of the Light has agreed to allow you to work as a Supplicant to the Order would for your keep for now," she told him. "I hope you are not too good for the hard and dirty labor that maintains the Citadel."

Axe inclined his helm in acknowledgement. "We're not afraid of getting our hands dirty. To earn a place where we won't have to be constantly looking over our shoulders for the Prime's enforcers, we will do whatever we have to."

"Good," she flicked her wings in acceptance of his statement and glanced over at Hardwing.

"He's just been flying on fumes for too long," the chief medic shrugged. "He'll be fine in a joor or so."

She turned her attention back to Axe. "What skills do you have, other than fighting?"

"We were sparked for battle, so we never really had a chance to find out," Axe admitted. "It might take some time to figure that out. Dai is a natural leader and good at writing readable histories, but I'm not sure either counts."

"Not at this point," she told him. "Is he much of an orator?"

"It's a skill he's pretty much had to develop," the black mech replied. "He's quite good at it when he has to be."

With a glare at Aurora, Hardwing focused a look at Axe. "Follow your mate's example and recharge. You need it more than she needs trivia."

The black triple changer nodded at the order, laying back on the berth. As exhausted as he was, Axe was cycling down into recharge almost immediately.

S=================== S

"Knight Dart," Aurora's voice rumbled through the great courtyard where several mecha without Great Swords or any Knight of Light markings were scrubbing and polishing the space and its benches and decorations to a warm shine.

A small red and white Knight turned to her with a warm smile and padded over with a relaxed gait. "Are these my new charges?" he asked with a nod towards Dai Atlas and Axe.

"Yes," she nodded. "The big one's Dai Atlas. The black's Axe. Triple changers, both of them. Former Generals of the Prime."

He hummed easily and nodded to her. Without a word she lifted off and transformed, angling towards one of the large towers.

"Don't let her temper get to you," Dart said easily and waved them to follow. "She's grouchy because her first creation is on his walkabout."

Axe studied the cycle mech curiously as he and his mate fell into step behind the mech called Dart. "Walkabout?"

It felt weird to both the large mechs not to be carrying weapons; adjusting would take a while. It would also take them some time to learn their way around the Citadel.

"After one earns a Great Sword and the title of Knight, they go out into the world for a few centuries. You pick up a couple crafts, meet a lot of outsiders and generally make sure that you really want to be in the Order before you come back to finish training and are allowed to train an Initiate."

"Makes sense," Axe noted, turning that over in his processor. "Makes sure Knights have a working knowledge of the outside and brings news back to the Order, besides."

Dai Atlas made a humming sound, taking in the other mechs around them, watching what they were doing. It was very much reminiscent of punishment details, and the majority of mecha seemed no more thrilled than those he'd handed such duties out to.

"Has she shown you the barracks?" Dart asked.

"Most of our time has been spent in the medical bay," Dai Atlas answered. "We arrived damaged and flying on fumes."

Dart nodded. "Zephyr," he called out to a passing Knight. "Would you watch my crew for a few breems while I show the new Supplicants around?"

"Sure," the elegant Praxian Combat Aerial smiled. "They're big ones," she checked them out curiously. "Seems to be a trend lately."

"Only because you like the big ones," Dart teased her.

~I hope that look doesn't come with the authority to take,~ Dai Atlas said silently as they followed Dart towards a low three story building.

Black plating bristled. ~I certainly hope not. I'm not much for sharing.~ Axe gave the femme a wary look.

"Knights do not take what is not willingly offered," Dart said quietly.

The black mech relaxed at that, his plating settling with a series of clicks and scrapes. "It's going to take some time to get used to the lifestyle and culture here. It's... very different from anything we're used to."

"I'm sure," Dart nodded. "You will find that most here understand, with varying levels of tolerance."

He palmed a door open, revealing a room tall enough for the triple changers and filled with simple benches, tables and a few groupings of chairs, but no vid screen or the like.

"This is the Supplicants' common room. You'll be expected to spend at least two joors an orn socializing here," Dart explained.

Both of the larger mechs nodded. Axe looked around, taking in the room. He was a bit curious about the lack of a vidscreen, but said nothing on the subject.

~It would encourage discussion and games of skill, rather than watching vids,~ Dai Atlas pointed out. "We will do our best to stay out of trouble while we adapt," he rumbled, flicking a wing absently as he made sure the ceiling was high enough to accommodate his massive frame, helm crest, and alt mode kibble. He was more than a bit surprised to find that everything cleared with room to spare.

"The dining hall and storage is on the second floor, while washracks and berths are on the third," Dart explained as he walked to the wide stairs. "I understand you are mates?"

"We have been bonded for a long time," Axe confirmed. He nudged Dai Atlas slightly. "After the courting display this mech put on, there was no way I was going to refuse the proposal."

"It was meant to impress," the larger mech rumbled, sneaking a hand over to stroke down Axe's backstrut.

Dart grinned at them over his shoulder at them. "I'll try to arrange a little private time for you then, though I can't promise how often. I'll show you the spots to sneak off to when you get your chores done early."

"You succeeded," Axe purred at his mate, then nodded to Dart. "For that I thank you."

"You're welcome," Dart said as he showed them the three simple long tables with bench seating, one for each frame size. "I'm afraid you're a bit on the large size for the table, but there are only three of you right now."

"We'll manage," Axe replied. "We're used to not quite fitting. Especially Dai here." He poked his mate, who sighed. Dai Atlas' massive size and difficulty finding furnishings to fit him was a running joke between the two.

"Who is the third our size?" Dai Atlas asked, mildly curious as they continued the tour of the simple building.

"Her designation is Skjöldur," Dart said easily. "Not much on talking, but a hard worker and focuses well on whatever she's set to do."

Axe tilted his helm ever so slightly. "It will be interesting to meet her."

"You will for the evening meal," Dart said before heading up the stairs for the third floor. "Did you receive the briefing file?"

"I think." Axe checked his files. "Yes, I have. I have yet to go through it fully, though." He databurst the file to his mate, in case Dai Atlas hadn't gotten it yet.

"I recommend doing so before second meal," Dart suggested as they stepped onto the third floor and into a large room lined with berths. The smaller ones were stacked two deep, bringing them as deep into the room as the single ones for large frames. "I'm afraid you'll be recharging apart, unless you work out how to get two berths to merge. The last two in line are for you."

"We'll do that." The black triple changer nodded. He eyed the sleeping arrangements thoughtfully. "And we'll figure something out."

Dai Atlas snickered privately and sent Axe a few very suggestive memories of sharing a single berth.

"I'm sure you will," Dart grinned. "The wash racks are in here," he drew their attention to the other third of the floor. "It is supplied with the basics, which is all you'll have as a Supplicant. Any special requests, such as detailing paints, go through me. You are expected to be clean for both meals and social time. Most shower when they get up and after chores."

The black mech winked at his mate, responding with a few memories of his own and a few ideas of what they could do with this arrangement, before returning his attention to Dart. "Keeping ourselves clean won't be a problem. That we're used to. With our former rank, it was pretty much expected of us to be clean and presentable at all times... Though how anyone could be expected to look 'clean and presentable' when just coming off a battlefield is beyond me."

"That's weird," Dart agreed. "You had to keep yourselves clean?" he asked curiously as he motioned them back down.

"For the most part, we helped each other," Dai Atlas answered, brushing a wingtip against black plating as the couple followed the small mech back downstairs.

"I guess I'm surprised you didn't have help, given your rank," Dart admitted. "What I've heard indicated that most command officers don't do much for themselves."

The former General snorted. "There were many potential perks of rank I chose not to indulge in. Why would I want anyone else to assist me when I had my own bonded mate with me? I was the odd one out in the command ranks that way."

"Baffled most of the other high-ranking officers to no end," Axe added with a chuckle.

Neither missed the flash of approval in large golden optics. "That will make adapting to this existence much easier. Most of us trade back and wing-scrubbing favors, but it's just that; favors. No one, not even the Sovereign, has a servant."

"And we've never kept servants, either," Axe replied. "Both of us were pretty self-sufficient before we bonded, and afterward it was natural to help each other. With everything from paint touch-ups, maintenance, and washing to paperwork."

Dart hummed and nodded, leading them back to the central courtyard. "Since you're military, I'm sure you understand what clean and polished means," he said seriously. "Grab a bucket and some clothes and get to work."

The two big mechs exchanged a quick glance, then Axe nodded in answer before the pair moved out into the courtyard. They'd done those chores as punishment detail many times on their way up through the ranks; it was nothing new to them, though they were considerably out of practice.

S=================== S

Wing was nearly vibrating with excitement as he settled into a ready stance against one of his best friends, a mech who was his opposite in so many ways yet shared a matching spark. Atl was big while he was small. He had heavy armor while Wing's was light. A grounder vs. a stunt jet. Calm and centered vs. excitable and emotional. Yet they both shared a fascination and need to help, all but adopt, those with a good spark that were in trouble.

Slender wings were doing their best to flutter out of their tight tuck as the white jet brought up his swords. Bright optics watched the larger mech he was facing, ready for whatever Atl would spring on him. They'd sparred together many times over the course of their training and since being Knighted, so they knew each other's moves nearly as well as they knew their own.

"You really need to learn to control those," Atl chuckled as he made his first attack, a light lunge to test his friend's manner after so long apart while they had wandered Cybertron and occasionally beyond as Knights, learning trades and about the universe before returning to take up the much more controlled existence that was the monastery.

"Easier said than done," Wing retorted, parrying the lunge neatly. He grinned at Atl, enjoying being back in his friend's company. It had been too long since he'd seen the other mech.

"How many trades did you pick up?" Atl asked, coming around with another swing, using his greater strength, mass and height to his advantage.

"I've got advanced construction and architecture, surveying, as well as a bit of engineering," Wing replied, blocking one stroke and delivering one of his own. "What did you get?"

"Sparkling care and law, specialized in defense, and medicine," the big red mech answered with an easy block that pushed Wing back a step.

The white jet skittered back, then came in low, aiming at red legs. A good trick for a small mech to learn was going for a larger opponent's legs, making them an easier target. "Interesting selections."

"As are yours," Atl blocked the move, long used to Wing's favored tricks. "I would have thought you would have been more socially active in your job."

"Call it a hunch. And it was quite interesting." Wing sidestepped, attacking from a different direction.

"Have you met any of the Supplicants yet?" Atl asked, using his greater reach to slash out at Wing's chest.

"Not yet." Wing dropped under the stroke, bouncing up to try and get inside Atl's guard. "Perhaps we could go and meet them later? Both of us are almost ready to take on Initiates of our own."

"True," he agreed before driving the fist-enclosed hilt of his second practice sword into Wing's chest. "We should be looking to take on an Initiate within a few vorns or they'll wonder about making us Senior Knights."

Wing oofed, taking a step backward before launching himself at his friend, his blades moving with lightning quickness. "So, later then?"

"Definitely," Atl grinned and launched himself forward, nearly as quick as his friend and just as skilled.

Wing managed a hit on Atl's leg, leaving a long line of gold on red and white armor. He ducked to avoid the resulting strike, dancing out of the way while trying to get another line of attack. "Hear anything interesting while you were traveling?"

"Too many disturbing stories of Nova Prime's ruthlessness and expansion," Atl admitted, shifting to give a little more focus to scoring a few hits on the lightning fast flier. "I've seen a few examples, though most of his aggression is directed at other races. It will hurt us one orn."

Wing nodded, gold optics narrowing as he watched the larger mech. "Definitely going to come back to bite us at some point." He dodged a strike, trying to close for another hit of his own. "I did hear that one of Nova's generals dropped out of the military, taking one of the other officers with him."

"Dai Atlas and Axe," Atl confirmed. "It caused quite the uproar in the capitol. Prime did not take it well, but it seems they are both as good at disappearing as they are at fighting. If they're caught, he'll probably execute them both as publicly as he can."

Wing shuddered at the thought. "I had the misfortune to see the results of one of Nova's executions... I certainly hope he never catches them. Though I do have to wonder why they chose to vanish like they did."

Atl took advantage of the reaction to dive forward, both swords slashing lighting to leave blue lines across white chest plates. "Perhaps it is the only way they could escape his madness? The military is not known to letting ranking officers go, even if they pay their fee."

"True enough." Wing darted in, leaving a stripe of yellow across Atl's arm. "Can't blame them for wanting out. I wouldn't want to work for that madmech either."

"You've known better. I'm impressed anyone who's known nothing else would think of trying," Atl grinned and used the opening Wing's attack gave him to mar the lovely white face with a line of blue.

Wing glared at him, aiming his swords at Atl's torso. "You get to help me clean this stuff off later."

"You say it like it's a chore to avoid," Atl laughed and blocked with one practice sword while the other got Wing's arm.

The white jet twisted, ducking under another blow. Wing managed a direct hit on Atl's interface hatch, giving the taller mech a triumphant look before falling back into a guard stance.

"Well, somebody's going to have fun cleaning that," Atl smirked and launched a flurry of attacks that left several blue lines along Wing's frame. "Did you experience anything you'll miss?"

Wing's retaliation left several lines of yellow across Atl's frame, though there was more blue visible on the jet. "There's some very good food out there."

"That there is," Atl grinned as the timed match reached the two-thirds mark. "Dance clubs and more varieties of interfacing than I ever imagined possible."

Wing purred. "Oh, I agree with that. And some of the music is amazing." He eyed Atl for a moment, gauging where he could strike next.

"So many types of grounders too," Atl rumbled one of his favorite parts of it all and launched another lighting-fast series of attacks. "It was a little strange to be a common alt type."

"Easier for fliers to get here than groundframes. It was odd to be surrounded by grounders, I do admit." Wing dodged or parried most of the attacks, but some of them still got through. Darting around the bigger mech, the white jet left a streak of yellow right across Atl's aft.

"I'm sensing a pattern here," Atl smirked. "Has Wing been feeling neglected?"

"Easy target," Wing retorted. One wing fluttered out of its tuck before folding back to his spine again.

With the last klik of the match closing in, Atl grinned and slashed out to leave a line of blue pointing down Wing's abdominals to his interface hatch.

Hearing the chime that meant the match was over, Wing backed away, lowering his blades. Looking himself over, he made a face at the amount of blue on his frame, then mock-scowled at Atl. "You win. This time."

"We'll just have to give you another try next orn," Atl chuckled as they put their practice blades away. "Want to watch the next match, or hit the washracks and check out the Supplicants?"

"Let's hit the washracks, then go see the new Supplicants who've come in," Wing replied. He flicked a wing, scowling at blue paint.

Atl nodded easily and walked with his friend to the communal wash racks in the training area where the solvent was designed to take the training paint off easily without stripping what was supported to be on your frame.

Wing handed Atl a brush, grabbing another for himself. The pair helped each other get the paint from all the hard-to-reach places, the cleanser turning blue and yellow and green around their pedes as the colors mixed. They both intentionally left the more sensitive areas for last.

Atl gave a gentle tug on one blue-speckled wing and began cleaning it with long, slow strokes. Wing leaned into the touch, spreading the wing. A purr escaped his vocalizer at the gentle strokes. The white jet turned slightly, running his own brush teasingly over the stripe he'd left across Atl's interface hatch.

The big grounder hummed low and deep, managing to keep the cover closed until it, and both slender wings, were clean. He made no secret of the desire his friend was rousing as they worked, or that he welcomed it.

By the time Atl finished with Wing's wings, the white jet was purring and almost melting into the touches. He brushed away the last of the yellow paint on the larger mech's interface hatch, feathering the bristles along the edge of the panel. His field pulsed against Atl's, alive with arousal.

"Nice to know that some things haven't changed," Atl rumbled as he wrapped his arms around the smaller mech and lifted him up into a kiss. His spike cover slid open, allowing his spike to slide free and pressurize in anticipation.

"Not in the least," Wing purred in response, wrapping both legs around the bigger mech's waist and clinging to Atl's frame. The white jet's valve cover slid open, lubricant leaking out between the platelets around the entrance.

With a shudder Atl leaned forward, pinning Wing between himself and the wall as he rolled his hips upward, spearing Wing smoothly, filling and spreading him with the ease of long familiarity dating back to their early orns as mechlings just learning about pleasure.

Wing braced himself against the wall, wings spread and pinions quivering, his golden optics meeting Atl's dimming golden ones, both of them willingly losing themselves in the pleasure. A soft moan escaped the jet as he rolled his hips into Atl's, taking the grounder's thick, long spike in deeper, shivering as it rubbed over the sensor nodes lining his valve.

"So tight," Atl moaned, low and deep as his frame trembled in his effort to hold back and savor the moment and not simply pound into his friend for the quick release they both enjoyed.

"Ohh, I missed this," Wing purred, leaning his helm back to expose his throat. His chestplates scraped lightly against the red mech's as the jet squirmed teasingly, hooking his fingers into an armor seam.

"I missed people who understand what it means to be a Knight," Atl shuddered, his thrusts coming faster as the tight, slick heat undid his control. "You feel so good," he moaned before claiming Wing's mouth, his glossa seeking entrance.

"I missed people who know just where to hit and how to touch the way I like." Wing trilled into the kiss, rippling his valve calipers against Atl's spike, shifting his legs to change the angle slightly. He was rewarded with a needy groan and shudder and harder thrust.

"You just didn't want to teach again," Atl broke the kiss as his armor fluffed, trying to vent heat as wisps of electricity began to dance along his frame, jumping to Wing and the wall.

Wing laughed, leaning his helm down to nip and nuzzle at Atl's shoulder. Red-trimmed white armor was beginning to flare out, hot air shimmering around plating and vents. A gasp and then a moan escaped, accompanying a full-body shiver as the charge nipped at the jet's systems.

"So hot," Atl growled and curled inward a bit. His hands moved to grip Wing's hips and aft as he shifted to thrust harder, right on the edge of overload and intent on chasing his pleasure.

Wing's fingers slid teasingly along an armor seam, slipping inside to brush over the circuitry, finding and tracing a support strut. His hips rolled into each thrust, soft moans escaping his throat, the jet turning his helm to nip at Atl's cheek armor.

The grounder's golden optics powered down completely before he grunted, his first shot of transfluid exploding into Wing's valve, thick, hot and full of energy.

Wing keened into Atl's shoulder, hooking his fingers into the seams of the red mech's back armor. Atl's overload triggered his own, his valve clutching tightly at the larger mech's spike, drawing every burst of transfluid deeper into himself and drawing their bliss out longer. Only when Atl stiffened completely, his motor relays frozen and muscle cables tight by the riot of energy cascading through him did the thrusting stop.

Wing clung to Atl's frame, venting heavily, trusting the red mech and the wall to keep him from collapsing. The jet rubbed his cheek against Atl's, letting out a soft purr.

"Good to have you back," Atl murmured as he gasped for cooling air before thinking of turning the shower temperature down enough to speed the processes.

"Good to be back," the jet crooned in response, shifting in Atl's grasp, flaring his wings and armor into the cooling spray. The hot air venting from under his armor caused beads of condensation to form before washing away.

Gradually they both relaxed, basking in the pleasant tingling of post-overload. Atl was the first to pick up that they weren't alone; as far away as they could manage, a Master of Light was helping her mechling Initiate clean up and pointedly ignoring them. He depressurized his spike and retracted it into its housing before he shifted to set Wing on his pedes.

Wing wobbled slightly on his pedes before getting his balance. The jet glanced over at the two femmes, flipping his wings in a casual shrug before tilting his helm up, letting the cooling spray run over his faceplate.

They both remained under the spray for a long klik, steadying themselves and cooling enough to check each other out and scrub the chromite transfers off before leaving Marwir to deal with her riled student.

S=================== S

Wing hummed to himself as he headed down to the main courtyard with Atl. The two Senior Knights were on their way to meet the Supplicants, who were busy with the orn's chores, some in the main courtyard and some in the storage silos. Wing and Atl had decided to meet all of them before choosing their trainees-to-be.

"Anyone catch your optic?" Atl asked as they scanned those in the courtyard.

Dart caught their optics, then nodded his acceptance of their interruption of his charges' duties.

Wing looked over the group of Supplicants visible in the courtyard. "Not yet... Anyone interest you? Or shall we go find the rest of them before making any judgments?"

"Let's take a look before chatting," Atl suggested. "Who knows, we might get lucky and find love at first sight."

Wing laughed, grinning at the bigger mech before walking out into the courtyard, skirting around a couple of Supplicants as he made his way toward the storage areas. Approaching one of the silos, used for storing grease and heavy oil, he could hear someone muttering a curse from inside.

"Someone's being verbal this orn," Atl chuckled lightly, though he found no fault with it. It was a horrible job.

"Can you blame them?" Wing replied. "I never came out of there without being covered in slime."

"Ready to risk your finish to meet them?" the larger red and white mech grinned at him, his hand hovering over the access panel.

"I'm ready," the white jet replied, riffling his wings slightly and stepping toward the access hatch. He tilted his helm as a second voice answered the first, grinning at the tone of the grumble.

The hatch slid open to the muck of an oil tank emptied for cleaning with only two very large mecha inside, their plating a sticky, oozing black to match the walls and floors. The larger of the pair looked up, took in the Great Swords of the pair and canted long, wide wings in a polite greeting. The smaller one, though he was still a giant, inclined his helm in a respectful greeting as well.

Wing inclined his helm in a greeting, stepping into the tank and looking up at the two. He'd seen big mechs before, though these two were two of the biggest he'd ever been around. "We couldn't help but overhear your commentary from outside," the white jet commented, tilting his helm to one side, optics glittering. "I have yet to find anyone who actually likes this job."

"If you do, they need a psych eval," the larger of the pair chuckled before working the wide shovel in his hands to push more sludge down the center drain. "It's not right to like something like this."

"No doubt," Atl agreed, ignoring the muck at his pedes to get close enough to brush fields with Axe.

~Don't say your designation unless they ask,~ Dai Atlas told his mate. ~I'm not sure if it's good for them to connect us with anything yet.~

Wing laughed, stepping closer to the larger of the pair, extending his field to brush against Dai Atlas'. "I think everyone in the Citadel would agree with you there," he replied, grinning up at the much larger mech. Despite the friendly approach, the giant was wary, almost standoffish, though he didn't outright reject the contact.

Axe sent agreement through the bond, his field cautiously reaching out to return the touch, curious about this red Knight that was a grounder notably larger than his jet-frame companion. Friendly curiosity was returned, along with a warmth that drew Axe to him much as the energon had when he'd first arrived. Friendly and undemanding wasn't something he was used to, and he was quickly finding he craved having that attention from more than just his mate.

"You've got an advantage over us little mecha," Wing teased, testing the giant's mood. "Much bigger tools."

"And a lot more places to get this muck wedged into," Dai Atlas responded, flicking a wing to try and get some of the gunk off, making a face as he felt cold slime working its way into the wing joint. "I think we're going to end up wearing as much as we end up shoveling out."

Wing made a face in sympathetic reaction. "Just hope the others don't make you walk backwards to the washracks, cleaning up your own dirty pedeprints as you go. That happened to me once."

"Who'd you annoy?" Axe asked as be turned to get back to work on scraping the walls down.

"That was a bad orn ... I think I annoyed two or three of the masters at once," Wing replied after a moment. "And I was beyond filthy when I got out of here."

"Ouch," Dai Atlas twitched his wings in sympathy.

"Don't let him play it up too much," Atl gave his friend an unrepentant grin. "Wing all but exists to cause trouble."

Wing only grinned back, making no attempt to deny it. "Though I almost never get in trouble for the same thing twice. Or at least I try not to."

"Smart and playful," Dai Atlas chuckled, never breaking from his work. He went suddenly serious. "Never lose that and you'll enjoy a long existence."

Wing chirred his agreement, watching the bigger mech. ::I like these two,:: he commed to Atl. ::What do you think?::

::I like the bigger one,:: he responded. ::He's going to need a careful hand. The scars run deep in his spark. We haven't met any of the others, either.::

::I can be careful,:: Wing pointed out. ::When I have to be.:: He watched the larger pair for a moment. ::Let's go meet the others, then.. Though I still like these two.::

::Works for me,:: Atl nodded.

~Interesting pair,~ Axe noted, making a face as black slime dropped off the wall and landed right on him, adding another layer to his already glop-caked armor.

~Yes. Wing is a mecha I'd make a scout and courier as fast as I could,~ Dai Atlas chuckled. ~He's never going to take to close quarters authority or rank and file discipline.~

~Not up to us, not anymore and not here, though,~ Axe replied. ~I agree, though.~

Wing riffled his wings. "We have other mecha to meet; we have to get moving. Perhaps we'll see the two of you again later, though hopefully under less messy conditions." He nodded to both of the larger mechs.

"Yes, I definitely hope to be cleaner next time we meet," Dai Atlas agreed to Axe's amused trill and hum goodbye to the pair.

Atl waited until they were decently out of audio range. "What's got you about Dai Atlas?"

Wing hummed softly as he considered the question. "Call it a feeling. He'd make a fine Knight once trained." He tilted his helm at Atl. "You don't think I can handle him?"

The slightly younger and much more mellow Knight considered his friend for a lingering moment. "I believe you can train him to be a fine Knight. I am not so sure it is the best thing for him, or for you. The hurt and darkness in him is much closer to the surface and far less well managed than it is in Axe."

Wing blinked, shifting his wings. His body language and field clearly read "stubborn". "I at least want to try. It might turn out to be good for him."

"You will help him, I'm sure of that," Atl said, leaving it unsaid that there might be others who could help the old soldier more. "Do you think he might be a good mate?"

Wing shook his helm. "For me, no. If that is Dai Atlas, rumor was he was already bonded. But a good friend, yes."

Atl hummed as they spotted a well-built Praxian Aerial, white with splashes of color here and there and deep pink optics, working at welding a repair in place two stories up.

S=================== S

Dai Atlas groaned softly to himself as he left the washracks, finally having gotten all of the sludge out of his armor seams, joints, and from around his kibble. It had been a long time since he'd had to perform that much manual labor, and most of his frame ached.

"We haven't been that dirty in ages," Axe groaned with him. Between them, and four other sets of helping hands, it had still taken the better part of a joor to set themselves enough to rights to be presentable for social time and dinner. All either of them wanted to do was to go to Dai Atlas' berth, snuggled close and shut down for as long as they were allowed.

"I had sludge in places I'd completely forgotten I had," Dai Atlas grumped softly, flicking a wing to settle it. "There seemed to have been quite a few Knights around..."

"True," Axe agreed, shifting and settling his frame as they headed downstairs for dinner. "Probably just checking out the newcomers."

The big blue mech glanced around the dining hall as they entered, making their way to the section for the larger frametypes. There were quite a few other mecha already there, some of them glancing up as the two big mechs walked in. The table for their framesize was inhabited by only one mecha, a pale dusty rose femme of bomber/transport design. She nodded to them politely and motioned to the other side of the table.

"Skjöldur," she introduced herself, her voice low, gruff and echoing of a long, hard existence with many losses she had finally had too much of.

"Dai Atlas," the blue mech responded, inclining his helm and moving his wings out of the way so he could sit down. "And my bonded mate, Axe."

"I know," she nodded curtly. "You are very well known outside this compound. Prime must be furious."

"He is," Dai Atlas agreed. "If we show ourselves outside of this Citadel and he catches us, he will have us executed. Nova Prime is not well known for letting officers just walk away from him."

"Or forgiveness," she agreed, giving a glance down the other tables. "Whippoorwill, Tetris and Talon, then we can refuel. Don't expect the quality you are used to."

Dai Atlas followed her gaze, then nodded in response to her last comment. Red optics slid to his mate, a long wing extending to brush black plating.

~I'm beginning to wonder how many ex-military are here,~ Axe thought quietly. ~Everyone seems quite convinced we're spoiled, soft and will pitch a fit about the quality of what we'll get.~

~They know about us, but they don't know us,~ Dai Atlas replied. ~It's starting to look like quite a few former military mecha ended up here, and quite a few of them must have been the rank-spoiled type we did our best to avoid becoming.~

Axe glanced at the entrance as a pair of mechs, a mostly white Praxian Aerial and a black Rotor with a constant stream of interconnecting squares of color forming and disappearing along his frame in a display that must have taken a true master programmer and designer to accomplish. Mobile paint was a real rarity for its cost.

~Or those that served under them,~ Axe added quietly. ~I'm amazed I've never heard of the Rotor. That finish is amazing.~

~I can only think of a handful of mechs I've ever seen who had mobile paint.~ The larger mech blinked at the pair. ~Hopefully everyone will get past those "spoiled officer" stereotypes once we've been here for a while. They are going to get old real fast.~

~If today didn't get the 'won't do real work' part over and done with, nothing will,~ Axe grumbled.

"That's Tetris," Skjöldur supplied. "The Praxian is Talon. I'm hoping Wing picks him up. Mech needs to lighten up. A lot."

~You've got a point there,~ Dai Atlas agreed with a purely internal snort. He looked at Skjöldur curiously. "Picks him?"

"For training as a Knight," she cocked her helm slightly, her deep red visor flashing curiously. "The Senior Knights without an Initiate looking to them were out again, checking everyone out."

"So that's why there were so many Knights out in the courtyard where we were working today," Dai Atlas mused. "How does that work, exactly?"

"A Knight that's cleared to train, that's the Seniors, Masters and Sovereign, will ask if you wish to be a Knight of Light. Assuming you want to, they'll offer to train you. There's probably some paperwork or such, but that's how it was explained to me," she said easily as a femme flier on the small end of the medium frame range walked in, her golden and silver armor gleaming with obvious extreme care that went well beyond the presentable level expected here.

Dai Atlas digested that, glancing over at Axe. It might be something to discuss later; neither had given much thought to what they would do beyond finding a place where they would be safe from the wrath of the Prime.

Catching movement from the corner of his optic, the big mech glanced over toward the door as a golden and silver femme entered. Her armor was so well-polished that he absently wondered if she occasionally blinded mechs with it.

"She's an entertainer by trade," Skjöldur supplied. "No clue why she's here, but it probably has to do with Archon Dart. They like each other."

That would explain the bright polish, Dai Atlas thought. He looked at the femme, tilting his helm slightly. "You do not approve?"

The big femme's features briefly twisted into a mute snarl before she settled, in no small part due to the energon cubes being brought out by a couple medium framed mecha of indeterminate origin. "No. I understand I'm different. They are entirely too blatant about it."

Dai Atlas eyed her for a moment before shrugging to himself. Accepting an energon cube, he took a sip, watching the other mecha in the room. It wasn't hard to pick out the newcomers, those who still weren't completely sure of their place here, from those who were comfortable and excited by the interest the Knights had paid them, from those who had likely been here too long or had no intention of trying to become a Knight of Light and didn't find anything of use in the chatter about the Knights.

~Better than I was expecting,~ Axe commented after he took his own first drink. ~We lived on far worse in the field regularly enough.~

Red optics swept over the clumps of mecha in the room, Dai Atlas shifting a long wing to a more comfortable position. ~Not bad at all,~ he agreed.

S=================== S

Wing was almost bouncing as he made his way towards where the Supplicants were working this orn. He'd checked with Dart to be sure Dai Atlas and Axe wouldn't be up to their wings in oil sludge this time; the white jet had meticulously cleaned himself for this occasion.

Riffling his wings against his back, Wing stepped out of the tower, nodding to a couple of other mecha as he went in search of his quarry.

The giant triple changer wasn't difficult to find. After a decaorn of doing chores together, Dai Atlas and Axe had been separated to see how they handled that stress. So currently Dai Atlas was working without his partner in the main training hall with a half dozen others, giving the place its once-a-metacycle deep cleaning. Like when he cleaned the oil sludge, he was working effectively and efficiently, though without grumbling out loud this time. It was clear to those watching that while the giant hadn't done this work in a while, he didn't feel it was beneath him either.

Wing paused briefly to settle himself, his armor flaring and resettling. Dart grinned at him and nodded the go ahead, though he still gazed at the giant blue mech for a moment, then approached at a more sedate walk. "Dai Atlas?"

"Yes sir?" Dai Atlas displayed another aspect of how he was settling in with the reappearance of his relaxed used of 'sir' towards the Knights. He paused to look at Wing, giving the Senior Knight his full attention for a moment.

Wing walked over to stand in front of the much bigger mech, tilting his helm to look up into red optics. One wing twitched against his back. "In the time you've been here, have you ever given thought to becoming a Knight of Light?"

"Yes sir," he nodded. "There is appeal, it suits my natural talents and training. However, we came here to escape the endless war and death. I would know more about the Knights and what they do with their combat training before I agree to anything."

"The Knights of Light are not affiliated with any warring force or with the Prime," Wing told him. "We only fight to defend the Citadel and those within its walls. A defensive force only." He tilted his helm. "Our history is available for anyone to view in the library, and any Knight would be willing to explain as much as we are permitted to tell a non-Initiate."

"I have read much of what is available," Dai Atlas said, judging the small, compact flier before him for honesty on pure reflex. "I learned long ago not to completely trust records. They are a political tool. I would rather listen to those who were there."

Wing smiled, his field brushing against Dai Atlas' in a friendly manner. "I just made Senior Knight rank; there are Masters and the Sovereign who know more than I. If you would like, I could see about arranging a meeting with them for you."

"You have not seen combat?" Dai Atlas regarded the jet curiously.

"We're so isolated not many know about us, and even fewer can be bothered to make the journey," Wing replied. "Only once have I seen any of what could be termed fighting, and that was a minor action to keep a roaming pack of raiders away from our walls. None of them were slain; we held them off until they gave up."

Dai Atlas hummed. "Who commanded that?" he asked, curious.

"Senior Knight Lightstrike, who's now a Master, led that group of Knights," the white jet answered. "I was a Junior Knight at the time. It happened quite some time ago. There is the possibility that there has been action since, but I was on walkabout, so I wasn't here to know."

"Have you ever had to kill a mech?" Dai Atlas asked, trying to wrap his processors around such highly trained warriors not fighting.

Wing shook his helm. "No, I haven't. We don't kill unless there is no other choice."

Red optics cycled, not so much in surprise as incomprehension. "You don't kill..."

"Only if there is absolutely no other way would we take another mech's life." The gold optics that met red were very serious. "That is something we take very seriously."

Dai Atlas actually stilled completely for a moment as he processed this and reached out to share what was happening with his mate. "How do you judge whether there is no other way?"

"Once we have exhausted all other options and our lives are in immediate danger," the jet replied.

Axe paused in his own chores, sending curiosity along the bond. He too had read what was available in the library, and this was all interesting news to him.

"You are prepared to train an old killer when not to kill in a fight?" Dai Atlas asked evenly, not ashamed of what he had been created and trained to be, even though he was tired of killing. "I've never been in a fight where the point wasn't to extinguish."

Wing raised his helm, his slender wings flaring out. "I am. If you wish to learn." He tilted his helm to one side, golden optics gazing steadily into red.

Dai Atlas regarded him steadily, the offer mulling through his processors once more. "I do."

The white jet's smile was sun-bright, his optics glowing warmly. One dark hand brushed against Dai Atlas'. The close contact allowed him to get a full read on the giant's field. Respect, guarded hope, determination all came across clearly. "There are forms involved when a Knight takes on an Initiate."

"What of my mate, while I am in training, and afterwards?" Dai Atlas stopped Wing from stepping back.

Wing blinked for a moment. "For the moment he still holds Supplicant status, though another Knight may yet choose him as an Initiate. Initiates are housed separately from the Supplicants, but I can talk to the masters and see if he can share your quarters even though he's not an Initiate himself."

"I would appreciate that," Dai Atlas said, and though it went unsaid, it was also clear that keeping them separate for the centuries it typically took to train to Knight status was not in the compound's best interests.

Wing's almost blinding smile returned. He tugged lightly on Dai Atlas' arm. "I'll get the forms done first, then talk to the masters about housing... Then we'll have to make sure there are training blades large enough for you. You're bigger than most of us."

With a bemused look the giant accepted being tugged along, though he shot a look at Dart to make sure this was good with the Archon.

Dart only smiled and nodded to them, then turned his attention back to the others. Wing all but bounced as he led Dai Atlas into the main complex, toward where the higher-ranked Knights had their offices.

"What rank does one of us need before Axe's ax will be released?" Dai Atlas asked, bemused by this bundle of happy energy that was latched onto him with no concern for safety.

Wing chirred thoughtfully for a moment. "When one of you reaches full Knight status, then they'll release his ax, I think. You'd have to ask one of the older Knights to be certain."

"You don't have to know all the rules before you're allowed to train the next generation?" Dai Atlas asked with a touch of surprise.

"Even at the senior level there are still things to learn," Wing replied. "We Knights never stop learning. And you'll be my first Initiate, so it's not a situation I came across before. I didn't bring any blade or weapon I was particularly attached to when I arrived."

"What were you, before you came here?" Dai Atlas asked smoothly, watching and taking in everything as they walked.

"I was sparked a stunt flier, but I never really fit in," the white jet replied. Slender wings fluttered against his back. "I didn't think I'd find anywhere I really fit in until I came across the Citadel. I'm still energetic and playful... But I'm a lot more disciplined than I was, believe it or not."

"If what I have seen is disciplined for you, the other stunt fliers and coordinators must have hated you," Dai Atlas observed evenly. "They're second only to crack military units for discipline in my experience."

The compact jet looked over his shoulder to give Dai Atlas a bright grin. "Let's just say they weren't at all sorry to see me leave."

Jogging to match the larger mech's long stride, Wing led the way into the corridor where the offices were located. "Some of these offices belong to the master Knights, the Citadel quartermaster, and the office of the Sovereign is on this level as well."

Dai Atlas nodded, matching what he was seeing to the map he had received on arrival. "Who trained you?"

"Master Knight Marwir trained me," Wing answered. "She's another of my frametype, and therefore is quite capable of chasing me down when she has to." His tone implied there had been quite a bit of chasing for the first few centuries of the white jet's training.

A low rumble of a chuckle escaped Dai Atlas. "Speed and agility aren't always what wins."

"Nope," Wing agreed cheerfully as he led the way to the office of Master Knight Aurora, who oversaw the pairings of Knights and Initiates, as well as the training. "It's skill more than anything."

"That's one way to phrase it," Dai Atlas smirked, only to wipe the expression off his features when the door opened to an officer's office like so many he'd seen in his long existence, until one began to take in the details. While the desk, shelves and artwork seemed standard, everywhere were the knickknacks and tools of an exploratory scientist.

"So, found one you like already?" Aurora chuckled. "Does Marwir know yet?"

"Not yet," Wing answered, walking over to stand in front of the desk. "This is Dai Atlas, and he has agreed to begin Knight training. I'll be training him." One white wing flared out, the tip tapping lightly against the larger mech's plating before the appendage folded again.

The black Seeker with swirling highlights of deep purple, light blue and green hummed, her wings flicking in acceptance before she focused Dai Atlas with the stunning white optics of a full priest. "Very well. Wing, wait outside."

A momentary flicker of confusion crossed the white jet before he complied, leaving Aurora and Dai Atlas alone.

"Has Wing, or anyone, implied that you must train to remain here?" She settled back in her chair and watched him carefully, well aware of the vulnerable situation the triple changer and his mate were in.

"No sir," Dai Atlas shook his helm. "Until just now, no one has said that either of us would be trained, or ever be anything other than basic labor."

"So you know, Wing is not the only Knight who has expressed interest in training you," she focused on him. "It is your right to select among them, by any means you care to use. You do not need to accept Wing simply because he was first."

"Who are the others?" Dai Atlas asked, keenly interested in who else had voiced an opinion.

"Atl, Thorn and Vanguard have all spoken of training you," she said, noting the sharp flare of his wings at the last designation. "Yes, the Sovereign of the Light has expressed an interest in you. He will not penalize you or whoever you choose."

"What of Atl and Thorn, sir?" he said, internally uneasy at the position he was in. Wing had come to him first; the others had had time, so the likely internal politics said Wing was the correct choice, yet to turn down being trained by the leader of the Order for the youngest of the four?

"Atl and Wing are close. If Wing came to you, it's because they agreed to it. Much the same with Wing and Thorn, though their relationship is more lovers than friends. None of them are going to be an issue," she promised, watching carefully and fairly sure of what the large mech was thinking.

Dai Atlas took the time he was given to reach out to Axe with all this.

Axe had paused in his chores to listen in on Dai Atlas and Wing's conversation, much to the puzzlement of the other Supplicants he was working with. Though they recognized the unfocused gaze and staring-off-into-the-distance look as that of a mech communicating with another mech and left him to the conversation.

The black mech pondered the dilemma. He had met two of the named Knights, and had seen Vanguard but hadn't really spoken to him. Wing had approached Dai Atlas first, and Axe rather liked the young jet. It would be interesting to see how Wing and Dai Atlas' personalities would interact.

~It would be foolish to select a new Senior Knight over the Sovereign of the Light, and yet, if the Sovereign of the Light truly wanted me, Wing would not be so foolish ... yes he would be.~ Dai Atlas groaned to himself. ~Yes, Wing would try to steal an Initiate from the Sovereign.~

~I am rather surprised the Sovereign did not approach you if he wished to train you,~ Axe commented. ~And yes, Wing would. I admire his spunk. Though I would expect he would back down if he had to, as well. You and Wing would make an interesting match. I wonder if all that energy is contagious...~

~I remember when I had energy like that. It was a bad thing, my dear. Overcharged has nothing on youth,~ Dai Atlas grumbled, then focused once more on Aurora. "If any disagree, they can challenge Wing over it."

"Very well," she smiled slightly, pleased with his choice and hinting that he had given the correct answer. "Do you have any questions?"

Dai Atlas thought for a moment. "Wing mentioned asking if my mate could share my quarters even though he still holds Supplicant status."

"No," she said simply. "If he wishes to surrender Supplicant status to be your dependent, he may. Otherwise, you must wait until he is also an Initiate."

Blue armor flared at that, slowly resettling. Dai Atlas did not like the thought of being separated from his mate; he didn't know how long it would take before Axe would be chosen. He shifted his weight, asking Axe what he thought.

~We've been separated by far greater distances for far longer, love of mine,~ Axe reminded him. ~We'll both still be in the compound. It will only be schedules that keep us separated. If it becomes intolerable, I will become a dependent.~

Long wings fluttered briefly, then Dai Atlas nodded, somewhat stiffly, to Aurora. "He will remain as a Supplicant."

"Very well," she accepted the statement and the silent indication that he had no other questions for her. The door slid open for Wing and closed when he entered. "Now despite Wing's control over most of your existence until you are knighted, he is not entitled to punish you for refusing to interface."

Wing gave the femme Knight an odd look, then turned the look on Dai Atlas. Considering the size of the blue mech, he wasn't certain it would work anyway. The white jet preferred his lovers willing. "Why would I do that?"

She gave a small smile. "Required reminder of the rules in front of you both. Now, is there anything before we get the forms out of the way?"

"Not that I can think of." Wing shook his helm. One white wing twitched against his back as he stepped closer to the desk.