Eve of War Part 1: The Librarian and the Gladiator
The gladiatorial pits of Kaon were always rife with activity. There was barely a time where nothing was happening in them. You'd get only the briefest of quiet moments as the next match was prepared and then shortly after, the pits would be filled again with the clashing of swords, the throwing of punches and the cheers of the crowds. There was a match happening now at this very moment, and this one was attracting a large audience with loud screams of exhilaration all around.
It was the semi-finals of the gladiatorial championships and the winner of this match would progress to the final. There was already one warrior that had qualified and the winner of this would challenge that warrior for the championship crown. The crowd erupted into tumultuous applause as the combatants exchanged blows with each other. The sound of metal fists on metal bodies was enough for the crowd to not only hear the blows, but feel them two. And the fact these combatants were enormous, even for Cybertronians, made the blows even heavier and more powerful to witness. One of the combatants was a bulky, solid looking machine with a mostly blue colour scheme, a silver head and a red face with yellow eyes. His shoulders were spiked and his arms were so huge that he looked as if he could snap solid metal poles in two with his bare hands. His name was Breakdown. He had started off as an underdog, new to the tournament and never seen before. He had progressed almost flawlessly, smashing opponents left and right with barely any effort. His final opponent was the first time he had found himself up against somebody equal to him.
Said opponent was head and shoulders above Breakdown in height and looked even more fearsome than the rookie did. He had five prongs in certain areas of his head that made him look as if he was wearing a crown, a symbol of his status as a reigning champion. His shoulders were spiked, though his pointed outwards rather than inwards, and his colours were mostly grey with purple linings in places. He had a huge cannon, which he dubbed his "Fusion Cannon" on his right arm and underneath said cannon, a sword was extended out and he was now using this to fight. He had blue eyes that somehow failed to make him look any less fierce despite the peaceful association of the colour. He was originally named "Megatronus", naming himself after one of the 13 Primes that ran Cybertron. But to avoid confusion with Megatronus Prime, he had decided to shorten his name. So now, to the audience and his opponents, he was known simply as Megatron.
Megatron was the reigning gladiator champion of Kaon, winning the previous two tournaments with ease and having opponents that barely held a candle to him. Not even his last opponents, the twins Dreadwing and Skyquake, had been able to defeat him and they had both teamed up to take him down. Nobody knew why Megatron had chosen to be a gladiator or why he participated in these fights. Only he knew the reason. He was hoping to get noticed and took part in these tournaments to gain popularity. He hoped that he would be noticed by the Primes and maybe made a part of them. And now with a third championship win close within his grasp, he was bound to get some attention.
Sparks leapt into the air as Megatron backhanded Breakdown across the face. It was like being hit by a solid metal wall to the bulky machine and he grunted as he fell down onto his back. The crowd went wild, they had enjoyed watching that blow. Megatron charged towards Breakdown, raising his sword and preparing to slice him up. It was against the rules to kill anybody in these matches but Megatron could get away with at least chopping off a limb or two. Breakdown picked himself up and aimed a shoulder-mounted missile launcher he was equipped with at his opponent. He fired, hitting Megatron squarely in the abdomen and throwing him across the arena. The audience gasped, surprised that the champion had taken such a heavy hit. But they soon let out a chorus of surprised gasps as the champion stood up, looking as if the shot had barely hurt him. He even smirked as if the missile had tickled him.
"A valiant effort Breakdown. But it'll take more to bring down the mighty Champion of Kaon!" Megatron roared, arrogance flaring in every word he said.
He took aim with his Fusion Cannon and fired a single shot. The huge plasma blast punched Breakdown squarely in the chest, almost knocking him out and slamming him into the wall. He hit the wall so hard that it cracked. Anybody sitting close to that particular wall had been tempted to leave their seats in fear of being hit. Breakdown pulled himself free from the wall and roared with anger. He couldn't lose, not while he was so close to the final! He lowered his upper body and began pounding towards Breakdown like a wildebeest in a stampede. The floor shook with every thundering step he took. He threw a punch at Megatron, nearly hitting him, but the champion had weaved out of the way and landed a powerful punch in the centre of Breakdown's back. He had been hit so hard he thought his lateral-flexor had snapped. Growling savagely, the blue gladiator swung around with a roundhouse punch to the face on Megatron, the sharp rivets on his knuckles leaving scratches and chipping bits of his face with the impact. Megatron retaliated with a roundhouse punch of his own, nearly tearing Breakdown's head off. Breakdown swung his keen up into Megatron's abdomen, his sharp kneepad nearly penetrating his armour. It was the most painful blow he'd managed to land on his opponent for the entire match. Megatron didn't seem too fazed and responded by grabbing Breakdown by the head with both hands. He wrestled with his opponent and then suddenly, began to pull him to one side and swing him around! Breakdown screamed as he was taken off his feet and the world become a whirl of colours and blurs just ahead of him as he was spun around.
Megatron spun around for a whole ten seconds before finally releasing Breakdown. The heavyweight Cybertronian rocketed into the air like a robotic cannonball. The crowd broke into fits of applause and laughter as they watched him hurl into the air. He came down like a meteor, hitting the ground so hard that parts of his armour cracked and tiny pieces chipped off. He rolled to a stop, a tangle of limbs as he lay by the wall. He groaned a sickly, defeated groan as he lay, unable to stand. He had sustained too much damage to continue anymore. He tried to stand up, still refusing to be defeated so easily. He instead ceded to his injuries, remaining where he was. The match was over. Megatron had emerged victorious once again! The gladiatorial champion threw his arms up in triumph, drinking in the applause that exploded around him. Everybody was ecstatic, overjoyed to see their beloved champion victorious once more. They had paid to see a good fight, and they had got their money's worth. They would be keen to see the final tomorrow with Megatron now one step-away from a third championship win. Would he make it third-time-lucky? Would he be defeated? Tomorrow would tell, and the crowd couldn't wait. Megatron clearly shared their excitement for he announced:
"Let this be a message to all who challenge me! You step into the arena at your own peril. All you will receive from a fight with me are mangled gears, crushed pistons and missing limbs! I am the Gladiator Supreme! I am Kaon's Undefeated Champion! I. AM. MEGATRON!"
The tumultuous applause that followed went on for several minutes, feeling like a whole eternity to the victorious gladiator...
"I presume you come to the Hall of Records with news of another win Megatron?"
"Absolutely old friend. I just sent my latest opponent, Breakdown, out of the arena as a pile of scrap, just like my other opponents! I am now in the finals for a third championship running! I can almost taste that third championship victory now!"
"Who will be facing you in the final?"
"One of the rookies, and a surprising one too. She progressed much further than anyone could have anticipated. I believe her name is "Arcee". Not that names matter in the Pits of Kaon."
The librarian Megatron was talking to nodded understandingly. He would never be caught dead in a gladiator arena, but he knew well enough how the rules worked in there and how savage the Pits of Kaon could get. After all, he had read files about these championships in this very library. Cybertron's history, data and files were all stored here in this place known as the Hall of Records. If anybody wanted information, something to read or a tranquil sanctuary to retreat to, the Hall of Records was the place to be. It was very popular with the citizens of Iacon for they appreciated the quiet atmosphere and historians loved to study their favourite subjects when they visited. Megatron was a friend of one of the librarians working here. Later in life, he would be known by a different name and a different rank. For now, he was known as Orion Pax. It seemed an unlikely friendship, the savage gladiator and the quiet librarian. But the two didn't mind each other's company and they certainly didn't care what anybody thought of them. It just showed that anybody can have a friend, no matter who you are.
Orion Pax was red and blue, the colours standing out from Megatron's grey and purple colours. His head design made him look as if he wore a blue helmet with silver antennae on either side. His appearance made him look sturdy and strong, looking more like somebody who should be in the army than in the library, But despite this, Orion Pax was known to be unbelievably friendly and welcoming. His smooth, gentle voice resonated with wisdom and kindness every time he spoke. It was why he found it easy to make friends, because he himself was easy to make friends with. He and Megatron had first met when the gladiator had wanted to research on Kaon's history and the two had become close friends. They even considered themselves "brothers".
"I'll have to update the entry log for this year's Gladiatorial Championships with today's results." Orion acknowledged, pulling out a file on a shelf so he could make the edits, "You and Arcee will fight in the finals tomorrow and we'll see if you win for a third time or if Kaon has a new champion."
"I've watched the female fight and despite her diminutive size, she has a ferocity quite unlike what one would expect from a hover-cycle." Megatron murmured, "She'll be an interesting opponent."
"I wish you luck as usual my friend." Orion said supportively, walking over to a computer so he could plug the file in and access the data, "Though I would recommend not being so...brutal in your takedowns. You're not in a battle to the death Megatron."
"A battle to the death, it may not be, but I like to rile up the audience with a show of spectacle." Megatron said, "The crowd comes to watch Energon being spilled and armour to be dented! I understand your distaste in violence Orion, I really do. But do understand that in the Pits of Kaon, these people don't want mercy. They want Energon! And I must make them a show to remember so that they appreciate what they've come to witness."
The librarian nodded grimly. He didn't see the need for these horrible championships to take place but it wasn't his place to protest. He wasn't in a position of power and his status as a citizen of Iacon made him unable to dabble in Kaon affairs. The two cities had different policies and neither one was allowed to interfere. It was a way of keeping the peace on Cybertron, something even the 13 Primes knew well. Orion still hoped that sometime soon, Megatron might consider a more peaceful career, one that doesn't involve breaking as many exoskeletons as possible. He remained silent for a moment as he tapped away on the keyboard, updating the Kaon Gladiator Championships file with today's results. Anybody studying on these championships now would have some new information to process.
"How has your training with Sentinel Prime been going?" Megatron asked curiously.
Orion was rather surprised to hear Megatron ask about that. He didn't usually pry on his personal life too much. He didn't see any harm in answering.
"My mentor has been teaching me new skills that I may one day use for the good of the people." the Iacon resident answered, "He is most pleased with how I have been progressing. He believes I may even be on the levels of a Prime one day."
"Maybe you should sign up for the next Kaon Championship and prove your mettle in the arena Orion." the Kaon gladiator suggested.
"My place is here, not within the Gladiator Pits Megatron. That and I wouldn't want to have to fight you. I...couldn't bring myself to throw a punch at you." Orion said sullenly. He hoped his answer wouldn't upset his close friend.
"At the very least, I would hope that we may fight alongside each other one day. You and me, fighting together to keep the peace on Cybertron. Isn't that an image worth bringing to life Orion?" Megatron replied, an evident tone of wonder and excitement in his voice.
"It would be the most honourable moment of my life." Orion agreed, liking the idea of he and his friend fighting against any threats to their people. How proud Sentinel would be to watch his student fight for peace and prosperity with the Gladiator Champion.
"With my unrivaled strength and my current status as a fighting champion beloved by many, do you still think that there might be a chance that I could become a Prime?" Megatron asked.
Orion considered for a moment. Megatron did indeed have the strength and battle prowess to make a great Prime. There was no debate to be had about that. But would the Primes accept him on mere fighting strength and championship status? He had a feeling in his spark that told him he wouldn't. Sentinel had taught him much about the Primes and Orion had come to learn there was more about being a Prime than just being strong and powerful. Megatron lacked a lot of qualities the Primes had such as diplomatic skills, a sense of honour, nobility and wisdom. He knew Megatron wasn't a terrible person and he did have his good points. He still remembered hearing how he'd befriended a communications expert named Soundwave after he'd been treated like a freak by the others, proving he did have a sense of empathy. He also never tried to kill his opponents in the arena, thus meaning he had enough restraint to follow the rules and showing he lacked a killer instinct. And Megatron was far from stupid too. But military strength and intelligence could only get you so far, and the Kaon citizen seemed more in it for the glory and power of being a Prime than for the actual reason the Primes banded together...a desire to keep world peace. He doubted Megatron would ever be worthy, but he chose his next words carefully so as not to offend or upset him.
"I'm sure if you continue proving your worth while also learning a little more about the political nature of our world, you will be more than worthy." he said, hoping that would be satisfying enough.
"I welcome your support and honesty Orion." Megatron said, sounding genuinely satisfied with what he'd heard, "Hopefully one day, I shall stand by the 13 Primes and even get to fight alongside my idol; the great Megatronus Prime! His favour is the one I hope to gain the most out of the 13."
"I know you may not like what I'm about to say, but do you think Megatronus is a good example to follow?" the Iacon resident asked, concern in his voice, "I do not condemn him in anyway, but I do not feel he's one to idolize Megatron. He always gives me an...uncomfortable feeling. His status as the Warrior of Darkness doesn't ease the tensions either. Sentinel tells me that he also seems rather headstrong and opinionated too. The council are apparently doubting if he should still be considered a Prime."
"Megatronus commands authority and power. His very presence demands respect. That is the kind of example I wish to follow. You're not going to consider me improper with that in mind are you?" Megatron asked, his voice soft but dangerous.
Orion recoiled, fearing he'd accidentally pushed the wrong button. Despite their friendship, he knew Megatron to be ill-tempered and that he could explode violently if riled. He thought carefully as he delivered his response.
"No my friend. I apologize, I was just...offering my opinions." he said meekly.
"No offence taken." Megatron said understandingly, "I assume you must be quit busy now so I'll leave you to your work. Will you join me and some friends of mine for a celebratory get-together at the Kaon Bar later?"
"Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline. I have another lesson with Sentinel tonight." Orion said politely.
"Suit yourself. I'll see you whenever I can." the gladiator said casually, "I do hope you'll be in the audience to watch the final tomorrow Orion. You wouldn't want to miss your friend claim another championship trophy would you?"
He turned and walked away, leaving Orion to continue his duties. The librarian watched him leave the building, transform into his alternate mode and fly away. In vehicle mode, Megatron was a Cybertronian jet with bladed wing tips, curved sections with some points reaching out behind the vehicle and fold out treads that he could deploy for ground assaults. His Fusion cannon sat on-top of the jet in this mode. In seconds, Megatron had disappeared, swallowed up by the clouds in the twilight sky. Orion detached the file from the computer he'd been working on and put it back on the shelf he'd gotten it from, the data updated for now. He'd be getting it out again to detail who tomorrow's winner of the tournament was. Of course, he would be there to see it. He made sure never to miss Megatron's championship battles when he reached the final. He'd been there when he'd claimed his first and second victories. He had a feeling history would be repeating itself once more.
He still couldn't shake off a bad feeling about his friend. He meant well and was clearly a decent Cybertronian at spark but was Megatronus really the right guy to be looking up to? Would he start rubbing off a bad influence onto Megatron? Would his friend be corrupted? He recalled one time where the great historian, Alpha Trion, had warned the Primes to watch out for Megatronus. He suspected more than any that he wasn't what he seemed. And yet his mentor, Sentinel, had said the Primes didn't seem concerned. Were they making a mistake? Hopefully it wouldn't be their own undoing.
Orion decided he'd talk with Sentinel about this again when he saw him tonight, see what was going on with the Primes now. He put the thought aside for now as he focused his attention back on his work.
The sound of swords clanging was loud in the room the two combatants occupied. But this wasn't two gladiators in the Pits of Kaon once more. This was a training room stationed in Prime Tower, the tallest building in Iacon and the home of the 13 Primes. Orion Pax came here after work every evening to train with his mentor, who was one of the 13. Sentinel Prime was second-in-command, making him the second most powerful Cybertronian in the world. Only Prima, the leader of the Primes, succeeded him. Sentinel was an ex member of the Elite Guards, his career ending the moment he became a Prime. He was benevolent and wise, two important traits for the Primes to carry, and Orion enjoyed being his student. He even saw the Prime as a sort-of father figure. Sentinel in turn seemed to see Orion Pax as the son he never had.
Sentinel's status as a prime was obvious enough without him needing to announce it. His very appearance radiated power and majesty. He was mostly red in colour with gold accents and trimmings all over his body, a bunch of wires around his chin that made him look as if he had a beard, intelligent blue optics and the physique of a powerful warrior. He had two long draping pieces of metal that made it look as if he had wings of some kind, though they more acted as a cape that added to his royal appearance.
Sentinel drew his sword, which was actually double-bladed, back and lunged at Orion. The librarian dodged, avoiding the sharp weapon and lashed out with his own weapon, which was only a single-bladed sword. Sentinel parried, deflecting the sword, and bumped his shield into Orion, making him stumble backwards. The red and blue Cybertronian recovered and swung his sword at his mentor, hitting the shield hard but not enough to disarm Sentinel. That was the challenge for tonight's lesson, to try and knock the shield out of his hand. Sentinel pointed his blade at Orion.
"Not good enough!" he barked, "Harder!"
"I am trying Sentinel." Orion said.
"We do not "try" in battle Orion. We DO. Now hit me again!" Sentinel ordered.
The librarian obliged and lashed out at his master again, his sword almost slicing his arm. Sentinel just managed to dodge and knocked Orion's arm aside with a swing of his own weapon. Angling his sword for an upwards slice, Sentinel swung it upwards, moving at surprising speeds. His old age didn't slow him down at all. Orion cried out as the tip of Sentinel's blade nicked his mouthplate. It left a scratch, but only a cosmetic one. It could be buffed over later. Sentinel then spun around, driving his elbow into Orion's abdomen and making him double over. He then slammed his shield down on his back just between his shoulder joints, throwing him onto the floor. Orion had been taught how to recover from such a move and showed his master this as he rolled aside, avoiding a stab from the Prime. He jumped up and roundhouse kicked his mentor, sending him reeling to one side and almost causing him to drop his weapons. Sentinel raised his shield as Orion charged at him again. He drew his sword back and once again, slammed it against Sentinel's shield. This time, he actually knocked it out of his hand. The shield hit the floor with a loud, heavy clang and Sentinel was at a moment, too surprised to say or do anything. He looked genuinely amazed his student had pulled it off. Orion then held his blade up to Sentinel's throat, making it clear he could cleave his head off in one quick move.
"Was that hard enough for you Sentinel?" Orion crowed, smirking behind his mouthplate.
"Well done Orion. But you haven't quite won yet..." Sentinel said grimly.
He then gestured with his optics for Orion to look down. He did so and saw that Sentinel had the tip of his own sword pressing against his abdomen plating. He could run the librarian through like sticking a hot knife through butter, thus meaning they were in a deadlock. Neither opponent could make a move without getting killed. Orion nodded.
"I still haven't grasped "surprise attacks" yet." he admitted, taking his weapon away from Sentinel.
"In battle Orion, you can never be prepared for everything." the ex-Elite Guard said softly, "You have to act fast and fight hard, thus meaning you don't always think about what you're going to do. Whenever you have the chance to finish an opponent, don't stall and don't think about how you'll do it. Just do it and the opponent won't have a chance to catch you off-guard."
"I will try to remember that Sentinel." Orion vowed, "Your teachings have been very insightful to me over the years."
"As I taught you my son, there is a lot more to combat than just throwing punches. It could almost be considered science in some way." Sentinel explained, "There's a lot of complicated formulas and calculations to be made to perfect the art of combat, just as it is when concocting a science experiment. If you stick to your teachings, you will become as great a warrior as all 13 of the Primes Orion."
The librarian nodded. He had wanted dearly to become the warrior his mentor was, hence why he always attended these lessons. And yet he felt like there might be more to this than met the eye.
"Why do you pass on your wisdom to me in particular Sentinel?" he inquired.
"You came to me with a request to be educated on combat. I complied to that request." Sentinel said, as if the answer was as simple as that.
"Yes, but you seem keen to make me as powerful as the Primes themselves master. Is there, a reason behind this motive?"
The old Cybertronian pondered the question for a moment. It had been a good question to ask and he wondered if Orion would ever ask it. Now it was time for him to answer the question he had wondered would ever get asked. He placed a hand on Orion's shoulder. Side-by-side, he was head-and-shoulders above Orion in terms of height.
"I'm glad you asked. You maybe honoured to hear this Orion." Sentinel began, "Orion Pax, I am not only teaching you to fulfil your request. I am teaching you because I see much potential in you. Potential that should be used, not ignored. I see a future for you Orion, one far greater than being a simple librarian."
"You do?"
"Oh yes. Much indeed. You've shown yourself to be very selfless, caring and possessing great wisdom of your own. They are some of the most important traits of being a Prime."
Orion was stunned to hear this. Sentinel wasn't implying what he thought he was implying...was he?
"You mean...you believe that I could be worthy of becoming...a Prime?" he said, speaking the words as if he didn't think he'd ever put them together like that.
"I wouldn't have accepted your request to be educated by myself personally if I hadn't thought you had potential." Sentinel said, his voice warm and kind, "I've seen much in you Orion, and I firmly believe that with my teachings and your devotion to your cause, you could easily join the council and become the 14th Prime. I've even spoken to the council themselves and they think my beliefs aren't unjustified. Though not all of them thought that..." he muttered, sounding annoyed to admit that.
"I do not believe I could ever become a Prime. I'm just a simple librarian. What could I offer to the council?" Orion asked doubtfully.
"What you have offered me in all the times we have spent together." Sentinel replied, "Courage, honour and a determination to use your gifts for enhancing lives. The Primes would be fortunate to have you among them."
Orion took all of this in, still looking doubtful. How could somebody like him ever be worthy of being a Prime? Just the very thought seemed ridiculous to him! How would the Primes take it, a librarian among the council? Sentinel had said that some of the Primes agreed with his beliefs but Orion felt that if he walked into that room, the Primes would take one look at him and laugh. But Sentinel clearly had faith in him and he knew better than to question his master's judgement. Sentinel was a Prime himself, and famed for being very wise. He obviously believed more in Orion than he did in himself. The librarian mulled over this for a moment before replying.
"What about Megatron? Do you think he could become a Prime?" he asked.
Sentinel looked taken aback at the answer. He wanted to ask what brought it up but felt it was better not to. He was aware of the friendship between the librarian and gladiator so it wasn't too unusual for Orion to ask about him. The old Prime shook his head grimly.
"He desires to be a Prime, that much I know. But he takes too much from Megatronus Prime. He's too violent, too much of a glory-bot." he said gravely, "I know it'll hurt you to hear this Orion, but I do not think Megatron has the same potential to become a Prime as you."
Orion looked down at his feet, not sure how to reply. He too had had similar feelings about the idea of Megatron being a Prime so he couldn't say he disagreed. He looked back at Sentinel.
"I wouldn't want him to know you said that. I fear it could put a strain on our friendship." he said.
"You don't have to tell him anything you don't want to." Sentinel reassured, his tone sympathetic, "It would be a boon to both of us if I created a rift between you two. And despite what I've said, it is possible that Megatron could be worthy of the title like I believe you are. Maybe you could tame the beast within him and mold him into a better person my son."
"It's a thought I relish, but one I fear will not be easy to bring to fruition." Orion said doubtfully. He knew that getting people to change was easier said than done.
"Nevertheless, we must still hold onto that thought and not give up on your friend. Many of us have changed for the better in life, it's possible Megatron could too." Sentinel suggested.
Orion nodded. He agreed much with that statement. He made a mental note to talk with Megatron after his fight tomorrow. Maybe he could pass on some of his new-gained knowledge to him and see how he reacted. For now, he picked up his sword and held it up high, ready to fight again.
"May we continue training?" he asked.
"Of course. Now, you disarmed me of my shield, let us see if you can repeat that with my sword." the Prime said, holding up his own.
The conversation that had taken place was briefly forgotten by both master and student as they began the next exercise, the room ringing with the clashing of swords once again.
The Pits of Kaon had once again, gathered a large crowd. This was an event that nobody wanted to miss. This was it, the Championship Finals. Today would now tell who would be the winner of this year's championship and who would be going home in a pile of scrap. Today's fight was going to be big. There were the two finalists, the reigning champion Megatron and the rookie known as Arcee. Arcee had been unknown, the audiences looking at her with curious intrigue when she had first stepped into the arena. She had quickly become a favourite after showing herself to be an incredible fighter. She had taken out many big-name contestants, including last year's runner up, and had beaten them all. Now the scrawny fem-bot was here, the only opponent now standing in Megatron's way for the third championship win of his career. Megatron was the favourite to win, but Arcee had just as much support. The audiences clearly weren't going to care who won, as long as they were entertained.
As promised, Orion Pax had come to attend the final. He was in the audience with his friend Ratchet, the two of them glancing over from Megatron to Arcee. They were surprised to see that a small Cybertronian like her had made it this far.
"I wouldn't have expected Megatron's final opponent to be a fem-bot." Ratchet admitted, "This "Arcee" person must be tougher than she looks."
"Considering her last opponent is still receiving repairs, it is clear Megatron would be unwise to underestimate her." Orion said thoughtfully, "I hope Megatron takes defeat gracefully if he loses."
On the other-side of the audience, there were two Cybertronians sitting at the front row and cheering for Megatron. One of them was Soundwave, who was recording the match even as he sat there in total silence while the crowd erupted into applause. The other was an ex-gladiator and one of Megatron's opponents from the last tournament. He was a flying Cybertronian with an alternate form resembling a jet. He had a silver and red colour scheme with traces of blue, a slender appearance and huge wings on his back. He even had a jetpack mounted there that could allow him flight in robot mode. His name was Starscream, and he was here to see if his friend would make it third-time-lucky. Not many would believe that he had actually been in the arena with Megatron in the last tournament and been defeated by him. Starscream certainly didn't act like somebody who had once been defeated by Megatron. He was even applauding for him right now.
"Do not miss a single moment Soundwave!" he barked, enthusiasm evident in his raspy, slithering voice, "We'll want to witness every moment of Megatron's victory today! I sure hope he scraps that insignificant little female! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Soundwave just continued recording, giving no response to the one sitting next to him. The contestants in the arena took their places, gazing at each other as they prepared to make the first strike. Megatron deployed his sword and Arcee drew out a pair of katanas. The crowd fell silent as they waited for the match to begin. Nobody moved as the seconds ticked by. Megatron's face curled into a confident smirk.
"Do fight well little one. I wouldn't want to claim my third trophy without much of a fight." he crowed.
"Be careful what you wish for." Arcee retorted, a dry smile on her metallic lips, "You might just regret it."
The two Cybertronians adopted battle ready stances, waiting for the cue to fight. Both stood on their spots, knees bent, feet apart and centre of gravity balanced. A brief moment of silence as the world seemed to catch its breath. And then...
"FIGHT!"
That was the cue. Megatron reacted first, bellowing savagely as he stampeded towards his opponent. He was so huge that it took him four steps to reach Arcee and swing his sword. The rookie would've been cut in half if she hadn't reacted fast enough. She jumped straight over the sword and briefly landed on top of Megatron's arm. She then sprang off his arm and landed behind him. The audience oohed in amazement, surprised she had been able to move so fast. Arcee then spun on the balls of her feet, cleaving large gashes across Megatron's back with her katanas. The gashes were only superficial and didn't go deep enough to cause interior damage so Megatron didn't feel much pain. He swung his own sword, missing again as Arcee ducked. He couldn't believe what was happening. TWO swings already and he'd missed both times! It seemed his puny opponent was going to be more challenging than he thought. But Megatron knew that it wasn't just battle prowess that won a fight. He smirked as a plan formed in his head.
He ran towards Arcee, claws open and aimed for a powerful slash across the chest. Arcee jumped back...realizing too late that she'd been tricked. The moment she was airborne, Megatron aimed his fusion cannon and fired. The plasma blast slammed straight into Arcee, almost blowing her in two. Chunks of her abdomen plating were torn away and she hit the ground heavily, wisps of smoke drifting up from where she'd been hit. She grimaced, unable to move as pain flared through her circuits. Megatron laughed, pleased his plan had worked, and he ran towards his downed foe. He picked Arcee up, his hands so huge to her that he actually managed to wrap one entirely around her body, and tossed her into the air like a rag doll. Orion watched with concern as Arcee was sent flying into the air, screaming in terror. Was Megatron beginning to get TOO far into the game and was being too brutal? He and Ratchet watched, optics open wide as the fem-bot began to plummet back to earth. Megatron smirked confidently and took aim with his fusion cannon, aiming to shoot her before she landed.
But then the contestant pulled off a move that many would consider to be miraculous. As Arcee came back down, she pulled out what looked like a hi-tech crossbow weapon with a laser-generated arrow loaded into it. The moment Megatron fired another fusion blast, Arcee took aim herself and fired, the two shots cancelling each other out as they hit. The crowd gasped, unable to believe what they had witnessed. Starscream in particular was so taken aback that he nearly fell out of his seat. Soundwave didn't react, staying still and still recording the fight. Arcee landed down safely on both feet, looking casual as if what she'd done wasn't really that amazing. Megatron rolled both shoulders, pretending not to be impressed. Deep down, he had been as amazed as the audience upon seeing that move.
"You have incredible reflexes. I see now why you're the one challenging me in this final." Megatron purred.
"I always did prefer speed over strength." Arcee said dryly.
She took aim with her crossbow and fired another shot, hoping to hit Megatron in the eyes. The champion had expected the move and quickly weaved to one side to avoid being hit. He retaliated with a shot of his own, another plasma blast rocketing out of his fusion cannon towards his opponent. Arcee reacted fast, transforming into vehicle mode and moving out of the way. She sped towards Megatron, her engine whirring loudly as she picked up speed. Megatron fired several times, hoping to hit her, but he missed every shot as Arcee dodged them. The she-bot then transformed back into robot mode and sprang straight into Megatron's mid-section. She had hit the champion with surprising force, taking him clean off his feet and throwing him pretty far. The audience was amazed the small bot had managed to pull it off. Megatron landed on his back with Arcee on top of him. The rookie then began clawing at Megatron's face, hoping to damage his optics so that he wouldn't be able to see. But her opponent had closed them to protect them from her sharp fingers. He grabbed hold of Arcee's arm and tossed her aside, sending her sprawling across the floor.
Both contestants stood and Megatron made the first move, aiming his shoulder and charging towards Arcee. It was like standing on the tracks and watching an oncoming train hurtle towards you. Arcee was hit and carried across the arena by Megatron. She screamed as she was slammed against the wall by the champion. Parts of her armour cracked and a couple of wires inside her had snapped and were now sparking. The slam had been so hard that anybody in the front row had felt the floor shudder beneath them from impact. Megatron stood back, allowing his opponent to peel away from the wall and collapse onto the floor. Arcee grunted, trying to fight away the pain so she could stand again. Megatron smirked, ready to finish the fight and claim his third championship victory in a row. But then something happened that looked as if it would change the whole outcome of the fight. Arcee suddenly deployed one of her arm cannons, took aim and shot Megatron in the face! The blast had hit Megatron between the eyes, making him howl in anguish and stagger backwards. His face had been singed from where he'd been hit.
With her opponent now blinded, Arcee sprang back on her feet, seemingly full of new strength. She began to cut loose, unleashing a volley of fisticuffs on her opponent. Megatron felt every punch as Arcee threw them upwards, downwards and sideways to make sure Megatron felt it from every angle. His opponent could clearly punch hard for a cycle-former, feeling more as if he was being punched by Breakdown again instead of Arcee. Arcee roared savagely as she spun on one foot and drove the heel of her other foot directly into Megatron's cheek. The champion was sent staggering, almost falling over. Arcee made sure he did fall over as she roundhouse kicked him in the ankles, tripping him up and bringing him down heavily. Megatron picked himself up and rubbed his eyes, his vision clearing as the effects of the blast finally wore off. He only just had time to register a glint of light reflecting on a shiny surface before a blur of movement filled his field of vision and he was once again clutching his face in pain. He could feel heavy scratches across his face and two chunks of metal fell away from the sides of his head. A trickle of Energon snaked down from the cuts and to his chin.
Arcee had drawn her katanas out and slashed Megatron before he could recover. Now he was stunned again, Arcee decided to finish this off as quickly as possible. She took aim and sliced down with one of her swords. Megatron howled as one of his hands detached itself from his wrist and fell onto the floor. He bellowed again as Arcee plunged one of the katanas directly into his leg. She didn't take it back out, leaving it driven in there to further hinder his movements. With her other katana, she swung it and drew a large gash across Megatron's chest. And then finally, she stabbed her opponent in the shoulder and pulled on the katana, trying to wrench his arm clean off by using the sword to force it off. Megatron cried out, pain flaring through his body. The audience began to cheer and gasp, unable to believe that the rookie was actually winning. But the books very quickly turned into Megatron's favour as the Kaon Gladiator slammed the arm that had lost a hand directly on top of Arcee's head.
The blow disoriented her enough for her to let go of the katana and stagger backwards. Megatron then punched her with his right arm, the arm that still had a hand, the blow so hard that Arcee ended up spitting out drops of Energon. Then seizing her by the head, Megatron picked Arcee up off the floor and began slamming her against the floor, swinging her effortlessly and with no visible straining like she was a bag of feathers to him. Every slam caused Arcee to lose more chunks of armour and more cracks to spread on her body. Then Megatron threw her onto the floor and stomped down hard on Arcee's back, nearly snapping her lateral flexor in half. The fem-bot screamed, her cries carrying all the pain and anguish in the world. Orion cringed and turned away, unable to watch anymore. Then to finish off, Megatron kicked Arcee into the air, aimed his fusion cannon and fired a single shot. The blast hit Arcee, tearing her almost in half as more pieces of her armour were destroyed. Parts of her exoskeleton were even exposed due to how damaged she was. She lay on the floor, a sorry wreck of a machine that was unable to do anything but lay in a puddle of her own Energon. Megatron stood over her, making sure she was officially defeated. The fem-bot took one last look at her opponent before her optics closed. She had mercifully passed out, signifying her defeat.
There was a brief silence as the audience took this in. The silence was very quickly broken as applause exploded all around the arena. History had been made today. For the first time in Kaon City's history, a gladiator champion had won the title for the third year in a row. The champion had done it again! Megatron rose his arms in triumph, basking in the glory of what had just happened. He had done it! He had won another championship! Starscream whopped with joy while Soundwave remained still. Of course, he was delighted his friend had won but he didn't show it.
"All hail Megatron!" Starscream screeched with excitement.
The crowd began to chant in unison, all crying out over and over:
"MEG-A-TRON! MEG-A-TRON! MEG-A-TRON!"
Megatron himself couldn't keep himself from smiling, enjoying every minute of his success. He wondered how many would dare take him on when next year's tournaments began. He punched the air, sharing the audience's excitement.
"Kaon still has its champion my followers!" he cheered, "I have become your champion for the third time! I have protected my title, and I shall do it again! All for the glory of Kaon! Say my name!" he encouraged.
"MEG-A-TRON!" the audience bellowed.
"SAY MY NAME!" Megatron roared, louder.
"MEG-A-TRON!" the audience repeated.
"SAY MY NAAAAAAAAAAAAAME!" Megatron roared, the loudest he could possibly roar.
"MEG-A-TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!"
The noise that erupted was deafening, thousands of voices all screaming at once as if trying to top one another to show their support for their champion. Orion and Ratchet were the only ones that weren't cheering. Orion was happy that Megatron had won of course, but he hadn't liked watching him nearly dismantle that poor fem-bot just to do it. He gazed over at Arcee's mangled body as the drone bots came into the arena to take her away. He felt sorry for her, feeling the damage she'd received had been too much and how the crowd was basically ignoring her now. She deserved some credit for coming close to winning at least! He decided he would help her recover. He turned to Ratchet.
"Go to the medical staff and request if Arcee can be put in your care." Orion said, "I believe she would be better off with your expertise if she's to recover."
"Why?" Ratchet asked curiously.
"I would like to give her some comfort and reassurance. It would probably help her recover from this brutal defeat." Orion said.
Ratchet nodded. He didn't see anything wrong with Orion's demands. Plus, the staff at the Pits of Kaon were easy to bribe. All you had to do was pay them enough and they would do as you said. He and Orion left their seats to make their request, leaving Megatron in the arena to soak in his glory.
"Ungh…wh…where am…I?"
Arcee had no idea how long she'd been out. She also had no idea what had happened. One minute she'd passed out after being defeated by Megatron and the next, she was suddenly waking up in a hospital with wires attached to her body. She was lying on a medical bench, a monitor beside her that was showing the doctors what her condition was. The fem-bot cringed, still feeling the pain of her injuries. But she noticed that parts of her body had been welded and some of her wounds had patched up. Whoever had taken her in had clearly been a skilled medic. She had expected to feel much worse than she already did.
Arcee looked around for any signs of a doctor. She seemed to be alone. But then two Cybertronians walked into the room. One of them clearly looked like a doctor, the white and red colours being an obvious indicator. But the other looked more like he should be in a fighting ring than a hospital. She hadn't seen any of them before. The doctor appeared to be talking to the other Cybertronian.
"She's just over here Orion. Her vital signs are stable and as calculated, she should be awake any moment…"
The doctor stopped as he saw that Arcee was already awake and looking at him.
"…now." he finished.
"It is good to see she is doing well Ratchet." Orion said brightly.
He approached the bed bound fem-bot, smiling warmly at her. Arcee was puzzled. Why was this stranger so happy to see her? Had they met before? She didn't know him but he seemed glad to see her awake as if she and he were somehow friends.
"Who…who are you?" Arcee asked weakly.
"My name is Orion Pax. I was there when you and Megatron fought in the finals a few weeks ago." the librarian introduced.
Weeks?! It had been WEEKS ago?! Arcee could hardly believe her audio receptors.
"I've been…out for weeks?!" she exclaimed, "Ugh…ungh…Megatron must have…scrapped me more than I thought!"
"He did indeed give you quite a beating." Orion said grimly, "I told him that he didn't need to be so brutal in these fights but he was adamant, insisting that it was for the spectacle of the show to entertain the audience."
"Why those savages would EVER be entertained by such a blood sport, I'll NEVER know!" Ratchet spat venomously.
"Why…why did you…bring me here? Where…am I anyway?" Arcee asked.
"You are in Iacon City, and this is the Solus Medical Centre." Orion answered, "This hospital is the best place to receive medical attention, especially since the patients are placed in the capable hands of my good friend, Ratchet, here." he said, motioning to the medic bot.
"You don't have to oversell me Orion, I'm just a medic who likes to repair the wounded." Ratchet said modestly.
Arcee began to feel touched. How kind of these two to bring her to a place like this. She knew full well the Solus Medical Centre was the best place she could end up in. It was well known for is top-rated medical treatment and hiring some of the best medics on Cybertron.
"Why…are you doing this…for me?" Arcee asked curiously, "You…shouldn't even care…about me…"
She paused as she coughed a few times before continuing.
"I lost…the damn fight. I'm…not worthy of…such luxury. You…should've…just left me to be tossed…aside and…forgotten." the fem-bot muttered, "I only…joined that slagging contest…to get noticed and…get some money for myself. Now I lost…nobody will…ever give a scrap about me."
Orion was surprised to hear this. Arcee had joined the tournament to get some money? He had expected the reason to be for sport just like any other contestant.
"You are poor I presume?" he asked.
"I was…just a vagabond. I had nowhere…to go, nowhere to call home." Arcee explained, "I just…wandered the planet…while hunting turbo-foxes for sport. I had no one, not even…my sister Flamewar. She never…liked me much."
"Why did you become a drifter?" Ratchet asked curiously.
"I…don't wanna talk about it…" the patient said coldly.
"You do not have to if you do not wish to." Orion said softly, "If you wish to have a place to stay and somebody to talk to, then I would be happy to offer you a place at my side. I am a librarian working in the Hall of Records and it would be most helpful to have an assistant by my side. Me and Ratchet will take good care of you and I could even train you to be a better warrior."
Arcee couldn't believe what she was hearing. She almost wanted to cry with how touched she was by the kind offer.
"You…you really…want to take me in? Give me…a place to stay…and train me to be a better fighter?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It would be my pleasure. Nobody deserves to wander the planet alone, or be without a home." Orion said, "And do not worry about being a burden Arcee. I'd be happy to take you in."
Without thinking about what she was doing, Arcee sat up on the bench and pulled Orion into a grateful hug. Ratchet stared, almost incredulous at what was happening. Orion just returned the hug, grateful to receive such a response.
"Orion…how can I EVER repay you?" Arcee whispered, a tear of lubricant trickling down her cheek.
"No payment is necessary. I'm just happy to help out Arcee." Orion replied.
Once Arcee had recovered, he would take her to the Hall of Records for her first day as assistant librarian. He would also teach her what he had been taught by Sentinel Prime. He would make sure this fem-bot's life turned for the better and she wouldn't be a lonely outcast anymore. Little would he realize that there was a big future ahead for his future assistant. A future almost as big for her as for himself…