Transformers: Deception

Episode Three: Orientation

The next day, Orion Pax was already on the shuttle to the Autobot Training Facility in Tyger Pax. The shuttle was cramped, with room only for him, the pilot, and a rather beefy robot named Ironhide. They rode in silence as the shuttle zipped across the surface of Cybertron until Ironhide finally spoke.

"Nothing like a war to liven up the place," he greeted.

"You're actually excited for this?" Orion responded.

"Hell yeah, I've been waiting to get some use outta the ol' guns!" the larger orange robot cheered with a chuckle. "I used t'be an arms dealer back in Polyhex, ya know," he added. After a short silence, he challenged, "Don't tell me yer scared!"

In fact, Orion Pax was nervous. He'd never done anything this harrowing before, other than get a little tipsy with Megatron at Maccadam's Oil House every so often. He always enjoyed the peace and quiet, as well as the beautiful scenery that the Iacon Library gave him. Within a quartex, he'd be facing the front lines, with destruction all about him as mortars and cannons sounded near his audio receptors. How he longed to be home...

"I'm not," he responded, feigning nonchalance. He looked the other way, staring out the window, watching the technological landscape whoosh past.


The shuttle arrived at the Training Facility a mere four cycles later. The hatch on the side opened and Ironhide and Orion Pax stepped out into a clearing full of robots standing at attention, waiting for training to begin. Orion looked around for his place and caught a glimpse of two very familiar silver shapes.

Both Megatron and Sideswipe had been drafted for the war, and they couldn't help but look over with a smirk as Orion Pax took his place beside them. At least I'll be training with friends, he thought.

"ALL RIGHT, SCRAPLETS, LISTEN UP!" A large, bellowing voice sounded from above, making all the new recruits raise their sights to a balcony overlooking the clearing. On the balcony stood a rather cocky-looking robot, arms akimbo. Once he had everyone's attention, which, frankly, didn't take long, he spoke again, moving his arms behind his back.

"I am Emirate Xaaron, your senior drill instructor. From now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be 'Sir.' Do I make myself clear?!"

"Sir, yes, sir!" the crowd shouted.

Emirate Xaaron stood akimbo yet again. "My, I'm impressed by your enthusiasm." He then jumped over the railing and into the clearing, standing at attention without missing a beat. He traveled up the aisles of trainees, looking over each one. He stopped at a rather portly green trainee.

"What's your name, private?" he asked.

"Bulkhead!" the trainee responded.

In an instant, Bulkhead was lying flat on the ground. Emirate Xaaron had backhanded him so hard, his components were surely rattled. He groaned, trying to get up.

"Don't you ever disrespect me or any other officer ever AGAIN, private!" Xaaron yowled into Bulkhead's audio receptors. He smacked him again for good measure. "Do I make myself clear, slagheap?!"

"Sir, yes, sir," Bulkhead groaned weakly.

"SLAGGIT, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Xaaron shouted.

"Sir, yes, sir!" the trainee yelled.

Emirate Xaaron hauled Bulkhead up. "On your feet, scraplet!" He gave him a good shove and moved on.

Xaaron moved agonizingly slowly across the isles, inspecting every trainee. Everyone was on edge after Bulkhead's mishap, especially Orion Pax. Oh, Primus, I'm next!

Emirate Xaaron stood square in front of Orion Pax.

"What's your name, private?" he asked, with the exact same tone with which he asked Bulkhead.

"Sir, Orion Pax, sir!" he shouted.

"Holy Primus! Drafted into the army and your name is Orion Pax?! You some kind of pacifistic weak slagheap who somehow shuffled his aft into my Corps?!"

"Sir, no, sir!" Orion yelled again.

"From now on, private, I'm calling you Optimus! Maybe it'll give you a little motivation, scraplet! Do you like that name?!"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"Well, that'll be the only thing you'll like here as long as I'm around! Do you understand me, slagheap?!"

"Sir, yes, sir!"


As soon as the orientation was over, Orion- Optimus now, got to settle in the barracks with the rest of the trainees. He was sitting on his bunk when Sideswipe and Megatron came over to greet him.

"If it isn't Optimus!" Sideswipe greeted, eager to use Orion's new nickname.

"What, you're not jealous, are you?" Optimus couldn't help but smirk.

"Hell no! Getting singled out like that on your first day! You know as well as I do that that means trouble!"

Megatron stepped in. "Sideswipe, maybe he just sees a lot of potential in old Orion here."

Sideswipe looked over at him. "You might be right... but I still don't trust him."

A guard stepped into the doorway of the barracks. "Lights out!" he called.

Sideswipe got up on the bunk above Optimus, while Megatron took the one to his left. Optimus stared at the bottom of the top bunk, imagining what brand of hell he'd go through in the next few days. Finally, he powered down for the night.