This is an AU. What was Prime before he was Prime? Who was Jazz before the war? How did Ratchet come to be one of the best medics in the universe? Was Sideswipe always a fun-loving prankster? This fic takes us back, beginning just before the war. G1/War for Cybertron influences
This fic is not recreating the history of G1 or WFC. It is it's own universe in it of itself, but there will be many similar events in accordance to canon. I hope you all enjoy! :D
Optronix: 1
"Whatever you are, be a good one."
~Abraham Lincoln
"Congrats on the promotion Orion!"
Optronix looked up from his suddenly larger stack of datapads in his new office, only to see one of his brother grinning with just his optics in the doorway, looking very foolish. He snorted at his masked companion.
"Please leave me be Ultra Magnus." Optronix moaned, but the other would not hear it.
He glared as the pure white mech approached his side.
"Disengage your battle mask, it's not necessary." Optronix snorted with disapproval.
"Are you sure about that?" The other teased, but reluctantly pulled back his blue mask, only to reveal a face plate that eerily resembled Optronix's own; though his possessed a wicked smirk.
"Cut it out Ultra Magnus, I'm busy." Optronix continued sorting through his new heavier work load.
"Oh come on Orion, don't start getting uptight on me now. Responsibility doesn't mean you have to turn into a prick." Ultra Magnus's deep yellow optics seemed to glow in amusement.
Optronix studied his brother momentarily, wondering just how serious he was. His foolish grin only widened, accentuating the blue glowing lines cutting across the bridge of his nose and lower jaw. His own face plate had similar markings, only his were red. Many found it to be an attractive and rare trait, normally found in bots of 'higher pedigrees' but Optronix thought little of it.
"You're giving me that, 'holy crap we look the same', look again." Ultra Magnus frowned and swiftly pinched the bridge of his sibling's nose.
"Stop that." Optronix pulled back.
"You're stressing right now aren't ya?"
Optronix made no comment but to sit down in his new chair and set his head in his servos. Ultra Magnus only chuckled with a shake of his head.
"Don't let Prowl find out, he'll find some reason to demote ya again so he can take over."
"And why would he wish to be Second in Command? I thought he was pleased as Sub-Commander?" Optronix lifted his optics to meet his brother's.
"Prowl? Pleased? About anything?" Ultra Magnus blinked stupidly. "Are we talking about the same mech here?"
This finally got a small chuckle out of Optronix, and Ultra Magnus finally seemed to tone down in his sheer silliness, if only for a moment.
"Come on my brother, we're going out to celebrate." Before Optronix could protest, he continued, "that work can wait 'til morning, I'll even help some if ya get hung-over."
"Ultra Magnus, I am not getting myself wasted on my first day as SIC." The red and blue mech stated flatly.
"So be it, but you're coming with me, even if I have to drag you out by your pedes." The mech threatened.
I don't think I can win this one. Optronix blew out a sigh of defeat, his intakes catching slightly to resemble a grumble.
He got to his feet, and the two large mechs plodded out into the halls, passing a few bots that offered some form of congratulations to Optronix. Ultra Magnus gave him a playful nudge at all his popularity.
"I still don't know why Sentinel chose you. You're just a grunt." Ultra Magnus laughed, rewarding himself with another glare from his brother.
"If I'm a grunt, you must be the rust beneath my pede." Optronix suddenly smirked at his own comeback.
"Ha-ha, good one." His sibling replied sarcastically.
They made it outside the base and into the bright light of day. They were located near the center of Iacon, with many booming businesses and busy transformers going about their daily lives, completely oblivious to the two new mechs on the streets.
The Autobot HQ was relatively new compared to most of the buildings surrounding them, as well was the faction, but so far it had been well accepted, especially since they lowered the crime rate and gang population. Recently a new gang had sprung up, but they were an elusive bunch, keeping both their names and goals a secret, as well as preferring to remain in Kaon on the opposite side of Cybertron. Optronix knew it was only a matter of time before someone was dispatched there to better assess the situation.
"Hello, Cybertron to Optronix, come in Optronix, we need you." Ultra Magnus waved his hand in front of his brother's blue optics.
"Hey," he started.
"You do that too much." Ultra Magnus groaned.
"Do what?" he raised an optic ridge in confusion.
"Drift off in thought, it's like you're not all there half the time."
Optronix had no reply to that, so simply kept walking. Ultra Magnus saw that he wasn't going to get any farther, so changed the subject.
"If we transform we'll get there faster."
Optronix nodded, liking the idea of a faster pace to keep him focused on the task at hand, even if it was just a pleasurable outing.
"You're lucky I'm off duty early this evening." Optronix stated as they zoomed along, identical alt modes save their colors.
"I know I'm lucky, that's why I'm the one that didn't get promoted." Ultra Magnus rubbed in the fact that neither of them liked leading others, even in a small organization such as the Autobots.
"Well, as long as the lucky one is paying, I suppose I can live with that." Optronix laughed and accelerated quickly.
"Hey!" his brother shouted in protest, swiftly speeding after him despite his bulk.
The large mechs swerved through traffic, getting many honks and distasteful yells. However they did not once falter, having skills and maneuverability far beyond the average mech, thanks to both training and natural 'born' talent. A few bipedal bots on the side of the street could only watch in disbelief as two mechs far too large for such agility weaved through traffic effortlessly.
"Here it is." Ultra Magnus suddenly informed via com link.
Optronix did not slow down like his brother however, heading straight for the club and a few alarmed bots. They scattered as his treads contacted the metallic sidewalk. With a graceful flip Optronix launched his alt into the air and flipped, transforming back into his tall bipedal form and landing easily on his pedes. He only had to skid slightly, but didn't even scuff the ground beneath him.
"Show off." Ultra Magnus transformed in a more conventional manner and glared.
"How else will I have my fun?" The red and blue mech smiled innocently.
"Oh clamp it you big lug." Ultra Magnus rolled his optics before striding over and swinging an affectionate arm over Optronix's heavily plated shoulders.
"Big?" they strode inside, only to be greeted by pulsing music and flamboyant femmes.
"We're of equal size."
Ultra Magnus just laughed at him, and quickly took off to the bar, ordering high grade for the both of them. Optronix opticed the femmes dancing out on the floor, many paired up with mechs but just as many dancing with each other. These ones worried him. A few caught notice of him standing alone and cast flirty waves, but Optronix quickly steered his way over to Ultra Magnus, who had been watching him smugly the entire time.
"Stop that." Optronix snatched his offered fuel, slightly flinching at its potency as he took a swig.
"I can't believe you don't like the attention." Ultra Magnus rolled his own yellow optics.
"You don't either." He combated.
"Correction; I don't like the attention of co-workers ranked beneath me. They stress the frack out of me. But a femme…that's a different story." As he said this he managed to catch one particularly flattering femme's attention. She returned a small smile, a bit more nervous than her companions around her who were suddenly giggling and whispering to her.
"Do you really have to do that?" Optronix demanded.
"Hey, just because you've settled for one gal already doesn't mean I have to. You my lucky bastard managed to find your femme without even looking. I don't seem to have that supernatural skill." Ultra Magnus shrugged, still throwing smirks and winks at the shy femme.
"So you admit you're tired of dropping femmes like hot irons?" Optronix narrowed his optics suspiciously.
"Don't be putting words in my mouth Orion." He suddenly stood up and made his way over to the femme, Optronix shaking his head after him the entire time.
Great, now I'm all alone.
"Excuse me Sir, but I think I may be lost. I was supposed to meet my friend here, but I can't find him. Have you seen a large red and blue bot with red glowing marks on his faceplate?" A feminine voice suddenly spoke up at his side.
Optronix turned in surprise, only to find a pink femme grinning up at him happily. Her blue optics glowed with amusement.
"Elita!" He stumbled back in slight surprise.
She giggled at his reaction, only to quickly wrap her arm around his far larger one. This caused a small smile to tug up on Optronix's lip plates without realizing it.
"I take it Ultra Magnus didn't inform you I'd be here?" She tilted her head, searching the dancing crowd for the said white mech.
"No, it appears that fact slipped his mind." Optronix grumbled, trying to find his brother as well.
"That seems to becoming a problem with clones nowadays." She frowned and shook her head like she was truly disappointed.
"We're brothers." Optronix snarled, touchy about the subject of actually having a clone and not a true twin. It had to do with the spark being artificially separated immediately after creation, and not split through natural processes.
"Oh don't get so defensive. You're both different mechs, I know that better than anyone." She assured, giving him a gentle squeeze.
"You know that's not it." Optronix sighed, wincing as he took another gulp of high-grade.
"I don't care who the clone is." Her dazzling smile faded into absolute seriousness. "And besides, we're here to be having fun."
"So Ultra Magnus invited you?"
Elita rolled her optics. "No, I told Ultra Magnus to get your aft out of that forsaken Autobot building and live for a bit again. Promotion be slagged." Elita sneered, never having liked Optronix's new job.
"It keeps the credits coming and tank full." Optronix countered.
Elita snatched the high-grade from his servo and gulped down the remainder far faster than Optronix thought possible. An obvious buzz lit up her features, but she shoved it aside, however fluttering her optics like she wasn't adjusting to the lighting.
"I just want you to be happy Orion." She frowned, but saw her argument was getting her no where. The large SIC was just too stubborn.
"Oh, let's just go dance or something." She finally sighed.
Optronix nodded and escorted her out, a few interested mechs and femmes watching, both interested in the pair. They were both attractive by transformers standards, so twinges of jealousy and lust hung through the single members of the crowd. Optronix tried to pay them little mind as he danced with Elita, who was suddenly having a blast. He smiled at her, twisting her around easily thanks to his strength and size.
The music increased in volume, and Optronix finally noticed Ultra Magnus dancing not far away, finally having won over the shy femme from earlier. He seemed to be showing off while at the same time teaching her a few tricks, making her laugh though Optronix couldn't hear it.
"Optronix report." A cold voice suddenly rang through his com.
"Prowl? What's wrong?" He stiffened, catching Elita's attention.
"We have a situation downtown, and you are nearest to the scene. We need you and Ultra Magnus to keep the situation under control until backup can arrive." Prowl spoke flatly.
"Erm…right. Just what is the situation?" To Optronix it felt awkward having to be Prowl's superior, when he was so used to taking orders from him without question.
"We cannot confirm at this time, but our best estimate is the new gang from Kaon." When Prowl said 'our', Optronix knew he actually meant 'my', and Prowl was seldom wrong.
"Okay, I understand. Ultra Magnus and I will set out immediately. Can you confirm the exact location?" Elita frowned up at Optronix, knowing their fun had ended.
"It shouldn't be far from your current position, simply head due south for five klicks." Prowl instructed.
How does he know where I am? Optronix wondered privately.
"Heading out now." Optronix disconnected, only to meet the optics of one sad femme. "Sorry Elita, duty calls."
"More gang nonsense?" She sneered.
"Unfortunately." Optronix nodded, and then contacted his brother and informed him of the situation via com. His deflated reaction was hard not to miss.
"We'll see each other another time Elita, I promise." Optronix reassured.
"Yeah, yeah ya big bot, just go; save some lives or something." Elita shooed.
He grinned and gave her a gentle kiss on her brow plate, catching her off guard. Then quickly he headed for the door, followed by Ultra Magnus shortly.
"Of all the times for a gang attack, it has to be NOW!" Ultra Magnus was furious, and Optronix almost feared for the lives of the criminals they were about to intercept.
"Calm yourself, we've vorns to make up for just one night." Optronix reassured.
Ultra Magnus threw him an unconvinced glare and then transformed, forcing the red and blue mech to do the same. They sped along easily, having far less traffic on the roads than earlier. In fact, they were almost empty save themselves.
The Enforcers must have already informed the public of impending danger. Optronix increased his speed, feeling confident he wouldn't accidentally pummel a bystander.
"See anything yet?" Ultra Magnus had somehow fallen behind and was struggling to keep up.
"No, no sign of any…" A ground shaking boom literally made Optronix's treads leave the ground, and if it weren't for his greater weight would have been blown back by a fierce gale.
Transforming he looked up just in time to see a building topple in on itself, sending up dust and debris everywhere and blinding him.
"Argh!" Optronix stepped back as if it would help clear his vision.
"What in the pit?" Ultra Magnus gasped from somewhere behind. "Are you okay?"
"So far," Optronix coughed dust from his intakes, but it didn't seem to help. A medic would surely have to suck the thick material out once this situation had been dealt with.
A shadowy figure approached cautiously, making Optronix tense. He expelled a relieved sigh upon seeing it was just his brother. More coughing was followed by his gesture, and he barely caught a look of concern from Ultra Magnus.
"That slag can't be good on the intakes."
"No kidding." Optronix spat out what he could in disgust.
"Now how did a gang get an entire building to collapse? And why topple an abandoned one at that?" Ultra Magnus returned his attention to the situation at hand.
"I'm just glad it was unoccupied." The SIC retorted.
"Weird, I can't detect any mechs at all nearby. Do you think they're jamming their signal?" Ultra Magnus waved floating dust from his faceplate as he tried to peer through it.
"This seems awfully advanced for a gang." Optronix clicked his battle mask into place, as did his brother.
Then another boom rang out and a different abandoned building fell, sending even more dust into the air. Optronix and Ultra Magnus ran blindly in the direction of the destruction, but couldn't see anything through the thick unsettled dust.
Optronix watched as his brother preformed a scan, but he came up empty.
"You don't think they're just playing with us; do you?" Ultra Magnus wondered aloud.
"I don't care what they're doing, it needs to be stopped before someone gets hurt." Optronix started to stalk forward, estimating where the next abandoned building was.
"Yes well, I've got a feeling that we're the only ones who are going to get slagged here." His white clone voiced as he followed closely to Optronix's chassis.
"Not scared are you?" Optronix dared a smirk behind his mask.
"Terrified," Ultra Magnus smirked back with only his optics.
Optronix turned to glare back at his brother's yellow optics when another shudder caused both sure footed mechs to fall to the ground. The new wave of dust was so thick Optronix couldn't make out his sibling's glowing optics, and could only identify him by the sounds of his coughing. Optronix's own intakes rejected the increased volume of dust entering them, and took several precious klicks clearing them.
"Ack, that one was a doozy." Ultra Magnus managed between coughs. "You all right?"
"Never better." Optronix straightened back up and tried to peer through the thick floating debris. He didn't have much luck.
"These guys are really starting to get on my last neural line. The cowards won't even show themselves." Ultra Magnus snarled furiously.
"Calm yourself, we might walk into a trap if we aren't careful."
"Trap, trap! How could this random terrorist attack be a trap? They had no idea who'd come in to investigate the situation." The white mech fumed.
"Most don't care about that. Prowl's crashed many times because of their illogical movements and motives…erm, ignore that last part." Optronix realized his slip up in top secret information. No one but Prowl's superiors and special exceptions were supposed to know of his logic circuit glitch, and he had blabbed it to his brother without a second thought.
"Already forgotten." Ultra Magnus's voice was hard.
It was the one thing Optronix could always depend on. No matter what the two told each other, they could always trust the other to keep it a secret. Even if the secret was bad enough to get one of them arrested, they'd never speak of it.
Another loud boom tore through the silence, shaking the ground out from beneath both large mechs yet again. Optronix gritted his dental plates in annoyance, tired of falling on his aft.
What if these are just radio controlled bombs? Optronix widened his blue optics in wonder.
"Okay, this dust is really starting to annoy." Ultra Magnus coughed in frustration.
"Magnus, do you think we can patch through to Prowl?" Optronix stood up once again and tried to see his sibling through the heavy particles in the air.
"Well, there's no harm in trying."
Optronix immediately opened up his link, hoping Prowl would pick it up on the other end. Finally through heavy static the connection was made.
"Optronix? What is…sit…tion out th…?" Prowl asked.
"It's difficult to say. A series of bombs have gone off in the abandoned buildings and there have been no signs of life, hostile or bystander. Is there any way you can verify what is going on?" Optronix coughed a few more times as he spoke.
"We sent…Powerglide to observe…stand by." Prowl responded and then fizzled out.
"So?" his white clone approached his side, somehow having found him in the dark coat of dust.
"Powerglide's making an aerial sweep." Optronix replied.
"Ah, I've always liked that little show off." Ultra Magnus snickered.
Optronix just shook his head and waited for a response from somebot. His reply came sooner than expected.
"Powerglide to Optronix, ya read?" Powerglide's voice came in through Optronix's com.
"Loud and clear, report."
"It's pretty crazy up here. The bombs are making the buildings topple in a pattern. It almost looks like its supposed to be an insignia or faction of some sort!" Powerglide's voice rose in enthusiasm and quickly gave Optronix a processor ache.
"Calm down Powerglide. Can you predict where they'll strike next?" Optronix hoped to reason with the enthusiastic red aerial bot.
"Well…try five klicks ahead of you and make a sharp right. Three more klicks and the building should collapse on top of you." Powerglide estimated quickly.
"All right, Optronix out." The red and blue bot cut off connection and nodded to his brother, who he could just barely see now.
"Stay on my tail, and don't get ahead of yourself. Powerglide said they're making a pattern, and we're in the middle of it."
Ultra Magnus nodded quietly, having no intention of disobeying his brother in their dangerous situation. They both transformed and drove along at a cautious pace, opticing the buildings they passed warily. Just because Powerglide thought he knew which building would fall next, didn't mean he was right.
Strange how quiet it is between explosions. Optronix couldn't help but marvel.
"Hurry it up…sir…the explosions seem to be timed with one another." Powerglide channeled back in.
Optronix increased his speed, with Ultra Magnus close behind. They skidded to a halt at the building Powerglide far above was circling, though keeping a healthy berth incase of its sudden collapse.
"Powerglide, can you see any signs of forced entry?" Optronix asked.
"There's a broken window up here, but its not very large. The bot would have to be smaller than a mini to get through." Powerglide shouted back instead of using his communicator.
Optronix narrowed his optics suspiciously and looked back at his brother. His clone shrugged, unable to wrap his processing unit around it.
"Well the bomb couldn't have been thrown through a random window if they're creating a pattern. It may very well be a minibot." Optronix murmured more to himself.
"It sure would help with stealth." Ultra Magnus agreed, studying the structure looming before them. "But I'm thinking that these are all timed events now, and there's no real bots here. We're just running in circles with all these explosions."
"They're creating a chaotic situation while leaving a mark from the safety of their homes. This goes beyond gang violence." Optronix switched his com link to contact Prowl.
"Optronix to Prowl."
"What is your status?" Prowl wasn't coming in any clearer, but Optronix could manage.
"These bombs have all been set and timed to explode in sequence of one another. Powerglide reports they're forming a pattern of some sort. These are no random acts of violence by a gang. They're sending us a message." Optronix explained to his subordinate.
"You're cert…n of this?" Prowl asked skeptically.
"I will be in less than a nanoclick." Optronix reported, watching the building before him warily.
With a sudden burst of sound and light, the building toppled in on itself right before the three Transformer's optics before dust flew up and blinded them all. Powerglide whizzed up higher to escape it, hollering about the manner of the explosion.
This confirms it then, Optronix thought, these are all timed.
"Prowl, there is no doubt in my processor that this is all a well devised plan."
The Sub-Commander did not respond, but Optronix knew he was probably springing out of his dull office and rushing off to their superior Sentinel Prime. He sighed, but suddenly started hacking once again, the dust already lodged inside his intakes ruffling his filters and rendering them useless.
"Powerglide, any sign of where the next explosion is gonna be?" Ultra Magnus shouted up to the aerial.
The proud red bot hesitated, and doubled back through the air several times. Optronix raised a brow plate, the only physical sign of his impatience.
"Oh Primus! Move, move, move! The building behind ya is going down next!" Powerglide shouted in earnest.
He shout came too late, and another bright boom echoed out behind both mechs. Ultra Magnus and Optronix spun to see the great abandoned building tilting forward, and suddenly come crashing down, straight at them. Optronix shifted into battle mode and quickly shove his sibling to the side, hard enough that he fell and rolled the rest of the way to safety. Chunks of metal slammed against Optronix's shoulders and tripped up his pedes, making him crash to the ground before he could also escape. Then his vision was cut off as blocks of metal and wire piled up over top of him.
Why do we have so many slagging abandoned buildings? Optronix couldn't help but wonder as his head took a blow, and he slowly started fading out.
I hate my job. Optronix coughed feebly under the collapsed building's great weight, and then completely offlined.