A cheer ran through the crowd as another gladiator slammed against a wall. The victor raised his arms and let out a loud triumphantic yell. He'd won yet another match and loved how the crowd was reacting. They liked to see mecha fluid flow and they got it. For the gladiator the fights meant he had a chance to prove his worth to his master. Because if a gladiator did well then they'd be awarded with high grade energon and a proper berth to sleep in. If they lost they would be punished severely.

In the crowd there were several mech's, counting five in total, who weren't cheering. They sat stiffly in their seats, wings held firmly still above their heads, signaling they were alert and had their guards up. Four of the mechs were heavily armored with lethal looking claws, instead of proper digits, on their servo's. Several spikes jutted out of their shoulder plating and ran along their back struts. There wasn't a single spot on their frames that was armor free. On some placed the armor was thinner and more flexible, to allow better movement. The armor was thicker and more durable around the vital area's, such as the head, back and chassis. But the arms and legs were also covered and thicker more durable armor. Each one wore a battle mask and a visor, varying in different colors. Two of them had dull black colored armor with red tribal patterns painted over their entire armor.

The other two also had dull black colored armor but they had blue tribal patterns painted on their armor. But all four of them had a single golden chevron on their chassis, right above their spark chambers. It was a simple chevron, that clearly spelled to all who could see it they they weren't there for pleasure. They were there to guard the fifth and final mech, sitting in their midst. They each sat one one side of the mech. In front, behind, on the left and on the right. The guard on the left had a dark orange colored visor, while the guard on the right had a dark yellow visor. The guard behind the fifth mech had a dark green visor, the guard in front wore a dark purple visor.

This fifth mech, their lord and master, was just as armored as they were, with every inch of his frame covered in dull black armor with a dark green hue. Unlike the guards he didn't have a bulky frame, but a light frame, build for speed and agility. Just like the guards he too had spikes jutting out of his shoulders and back struts. His servo's rested on his lap, the razor sharp claws tracing the seams on his arms. His wings were bigger and thinner than the wings of his guards. Sharp spikes jutted out of the wings, on the top and on the bottom, were they came out of his back. The larger wings made it clear that he wasn't a Praxian, like his guards were, but a seeker. As seekers were well known for having lithe build frames and large wings. But just like the guards he too was heavily armed with all sorts of weapons.

Each mech wore an energon sword on their back and had four energon battle pistols, several thermo mines, a few dozen EMP grenades, a few dozen energon grenades, two small hand blasters, four small hand held plasma casters, four fussion pistols a few dozen large sharp shurikens, several exploding disks, a few random explosives stored in their sub- space pockets. Their left arm could be transformed into a fussion cannon and their right arm could turn into a nullray cannon. Their right shoulder contained a mechanism which, when activated, allowed a small scatter blaster to come out. Their left shoulder had a similar mechanism, but instead of a scatter blaster a small nucleon shock cannon came out. Each guard also had a neutron assault riffle slung over their shoulder, the riffle resting on their abdomen. But while the guards had a sword on their back, their leader had a black sheath on his back, were an ancient saber was sheathed. The saber was like an energon blade, except twice as sharp and deadly.

Very few knew he had the blade as it was classified information that he had the star saber of Prima Prime. But anyone who had access to personal files would know that he was the only survivor of the army that went to Sol 5 with all ten Primes to hunt down the Fallen Prime. His file clearly stated that he was a well educated, war hardened mech whom not only served under Prima Prime as a warrior but also studied under the ten Primes.

His name was Sozimo Prime, not that anyone knew that he was a Prime. He kept that bit of information well hidden. There wasn't any where on file that he was a Prime, but there were other things on file. On his file would now also be the information that he had four guards, whom were former elite guards of a member of the senate, who had recently off-lined under strange circumstances.

Sozimo sat in between his four new guards, observing the gladiator standing in the middle of the arena. The mech was venting harshly, looked scraped and beat up and was warily looking at his downed opponent. The gladiator tensed when his owner entered the arena, head held high, a grin on his face plates. Sozimo, disliked the owner instantly. The gladiator owner walked over to the noble warrior and held up the bulky mech's left arm. "The winner and champion of today's gladiator matches is... RagingBlade!" Mech's and femmes jumped to their pedes and cheered for the gladiator.

"As is tradition here at our organization..." The owner started loudly, making the crowd quiet down. "Anyone from the public is allowed to challenge the champion for the title of Gladiator King!" The crowd roared in agreement and stamped with their pedes, clapping their servos loudly. Everyone looked around, some talking to another, debating whether to challenge or not. Sozimo rose to his pedes and shook his helm. "We are leaving." His guards quickly got their pedes and nodded. "As you wish master." The yellow visor-ed mech, spoke calmly, voice filled with obedience and respect. He and his brothers had taken to calling Sozimo master, whether the seeker liked it or not.

The mechs and femmes around them quieted down and looked at them. "You mechas don't like the matches?"A femme asked curiously, tilting her head to the left as she did so. She was seated next to a Praxian male with a bulky frame and a stoic expression. It was clear that she was a noble and the mech was her guard. Sozimo turned swiftly to face her and gave her a polite, respectful bow. "The matches were interesting Noble Lady. I simply do not enjoy the way the gladiators are treated. It reminds me far to much of the time I was stranded in a small village, filled with gladiators. They were all treated poorly, like one would treat something worth less than an insect." He shook his head. "I was forced to fight for survival there for half a meta cycle. It was horrible, the living conditions were atrocious and far from suited for warriors. Because they were warriors, even though they were called gladiators."

The femme held her left servo in front of her mouth. "Oh my, that sounds terrible. How did you get out?" Sozimo glanced away and let out a sigh. "As I said I had to fight for survival. I was captured, enslaved and became a gladiator myself. My experience in battle allowed me to defeat any gladiator I was forced to fight with. Eventually I managed to buy my own freedom." He looked at the femme and offered her a calm look. "Do not judge me poorly because of this noble lady, but I made sure that the gladiator owner conveniently disappeared shortly after, ensuring that all his gladiators and slaves were free to do as they wished. I remained with them to help them start a new life for themselves, now it is a thriving warrior's village."

The femme was silent before bowing her head. "That was a kind and courageous act my lord." She looked up, startled, when Sozimo snorted. "I am far from a lord. The senate refuses to acknowledge that one of my former teachers awarded me with a Noble status for saving his spark in battle. Just as they refuse my title as honored warrior and bearer of the star-saber." The femme shook her head. "They have no right to do so, who were your teachers, noble warrior?" Sozimo glanced around and lowered his head in mourning. "Prima prime, Alpha Trion Prime, Vector Prime, Nexus Prime, Solus Prime, Liege Maximo Prime, Alchemist Prime, Amalgamous Prime, Nova Prime and Miniscu Prime. They helped raise me during war against the Fallen Megatronus Prime. My carrier went into labor in mid battle and the Primes fended of any threat to him and myself."

"Oh my." The femme gasped out, in shock and away, her servo's quickly going to her mouth. "You personally knew the great Primes?" Sozimo nodded in reply. "I knew them quite well, I was their student and served under them in battle. Their final order was for me to take the star-saber along with a treasured item and leave Sol 5. I was to travel to Cybertron, with a small group of guards to protect the items. We traveled for a long time before I was rendered in stasis due to a lack of energon. I onlined in a hospital, in Praxus, a quartex later. I was told that the guards and I were attacked, they were off-lined, their sparks guttered out before the enforcers could do anything to safe them."

"Oh my, that must have been horrible. You're all alone are you not? The last of the great army of the Great Primes?" The noble lady asked, optics filled with sympathy and worry. Sozimo offered a grave nod and vented out. "I am, there is no one left safe for myself. As I separated from my carrier on Sol 5, I also knew no one on Cybertron. It was difficult to build up a live here, but I have managed so far."

"How long have you been on Cybertron?" The femme asked curiously. "Two meta cycles noble lady. I have traveled the planet for that long, I was in Vos for a meta cycle, until recently. I have gained a few acquaintances, however I do not uphold the contact. They will manage without me quite well, they do not need me around." Sozimo answered honestly, before looking at the arena. His frame quietly rattled and his fuel alarm silently pinged him. He blinked and then offered the femme an apologetic look. "As much as I enjoy your company I must take my leave. I have not fueled in half a Deca Cycle and must really get some energon. I am running on mere fumes, I must bid you a good Orbital Cycle now."

The femme gasped and then rose to her feet. "Oh please my lord. I bid you, accept my invitation, join me for energon." She looked at him expectantly, her entire field showing how much she wanted him to accept the offer. He bowed politely and nodded. "Of course, how can I refuse the company of such a beautiful lady as yourself." He held out his right arm. "Please allow me to escort you out of the arena." She giggled and took his offered arm, minding his claws as she didn't want to get damaged. He led her out of the arena, both of them surrounded by his guards and her single guard.

She directed him to an expensive looking establishment were, by the looks of it, only nobles and well paid citizens went to. Sozimo easily picked out several nobles and even a few Enforces and warriors, all separated by class, rank and status. "Lady Moonshine, how delightful to see you." A tall mech, a Praxian walked up to her and bowed. "How are you my lady? Well I hope?"He asked, throwing her a charming smile. Sozimo released the femme's arm and took a step back, not comfortable with the current situation. "Oh Gyros how wonderful to see you. I am so glad to see you. I am absolutely fine, how are you?" She purred out, running her left servo over his arm.

'Lucky her, lucky him. I'll never be able to run my servo down anyone's arm like that.' Sozimo thought bitterly, his digits were claws, they weren't meant to touch gently. "I am fine Lady Moonshine. Who is this?" Gyros had finally spotted Sozimo, standing one step behind Moonshine. Four bulky guards behind him, each one looking out of place and uncomfortable were they were. Their optics took in the room, noted the exits, escape routes, potential weapons, potential threats. Sozimo did the same but he didn't have to take so long.

"Oh forgive my manners. Gyros dear this is Sozimo a honored warrior." Sozimo offered a polite nod. "I am pleased to be acquainted with you." Gyros looked him over, taking note of the heavy armor, the spikes and the claws. "Likewise." He replied coldly, it was clear he didn't take to well to the seekers presence. "Lady Moonshine, may I ask why you brought them with you?"

Moonshine smiled and gestured to Sozimo. "We met at the gladiator match. He seemed so apologetic that he had to leave me that I had to invite him to drink energon with me." Gyron hummed. "I see, he and his companions do not seem to comfortable here." Someone rudely coughed and muttered. "Maybe they're to poor to afford being here. They're obviously low class mechs."

Sozimo's fuel alarm pinged again and he shifted on his pedes. "Lady Moonshine, perhaps it is best if my guards and myself were to leave. We are clearly out of place here, I would not wish your reputation to be tarnished by our presence. I can fuel elsewhere." The femme shook her head. "Nonsense, you have not fueled in half a Deca Cycle. You are delightful company, you must enjoy a meal and a drink with me, I insist." Sozimo offered a polite bow. "If you insist then I will gladly join you." She beamed at him and then looked at Gyros. "Do you have a table for seven, Gyros dear?"The mech nodded and shot Sozimo a look of distaste.

At that moment the doors slammed open and a tall, lithe framed seeker stepped inside. He headed straight to Sozimo, who had swirled around, wings flared up in aggression. He stood in front of Lady Moonshine, his guards close by him. "At ease mechs, sorry for the fright." The seeker spoke, field filed with apology. His optics zeroed in on Sozimo. "Are you Sozimo?" At the other seeker's nod the mech vented out in relief. "Thank Primus I found you. Winglord NightScreamer send me to find you and invite you over to his palace for an urgent meeting." Sozimo blinked, he had met the Winglord when he first arrived in Vos, they had gotten on well instantly and became friends. The mech had even invited him over to drink and dine with him in the palace. The mechs sparkling, Starscream, had spend that night staring at him and playing with his food.

"How long ago did you depart from Vos?" He questioned calmly. "Half a Deca Cycle. I traveled as fast as I could. We must depart for Vos at once, the Winglord is expecting you as soon as possible." The tall seeker replied, nervously looking around. Sozimo nodded and turned to Moonshine. "I apologize but an urgent matter has come to my attention. I fear I can not join you for a meal today." The femme looked disappointed but then looked at the other seeker. "It must be really important then." The mech nodded. "It is a matter of great importance. We must depart at once." Sozimo's wings twitched as he nodded and held out his right arm. "Take my arm, I will warp us there at once." The other seeker looked surprised but nodded, placing his servo on Sozimo's arm.

The four guards did the same, grunting as they did so. Then they vanished with a soft pop.