Killswitch pt 6
Major AU
"Come on, that's weird for Optimus right? A Decepticon prisoner? I've been stationed on earth for two years, you guys longer, when's the last time he kept a Decepticon locked away in here?" Smokescreen asked as he followed the other Autobot through the hanger. It was quite a bit more spacious than the silo they were used to.
-Normally he wouldn't- Bee's broken voice communicated in beeps, chirrs and whirrs of varying pitches and tones. Smokescreen learned quickly how to dechiper the other scout's words and he made a point of not laughing at the other anymore. Bee had outsmarted and out maneuvered him so many times on the field that he didn't dare crack those kinds of jokes. He'd schooled him good. -It's because of -who- he is. And as of right now he's considered an esteemed guest. Not a prisoner-
"He's a Decepticon, who cares who he is." Smokescreen huffed. "Did we capture Soundwave or Shockwave? Or even Starscream? No. -Those- guys are big threats." The junior scout said as he followed Bee onto a mechanical lift. It juttered under their combined weight as it began to follow a pulley cable system that swung the left down several levels.
-Considering how old he is and what he knows about Optimus, he could be pretty threatening- Bee said patiently as he worked the lift.
"I saw him. He's not that tough." Smokescreen said.
-You saw him?- The lift quivered as Bee nearly forgot to keep pressing the down arrow on the panel.
-We were under strict orders to stay out of his way, Smokey-
"Aw come on. It was just a peek. Besides, he didn't see me. Got some stealth lessons from Mirage." Smokescreen puffed his chassis out, a proud gesture.
-You've got to watch out for the senior team, Smokescreen- He said, his other hand tracing Smokescreen's jaw and pulling him forward. He pressed a kiss on the other's mouth, the gesture very tender. -They're into hazing rituals and they prank a little hard-
"Oh?" Smokescreen asked and leaned in for another kiss. "They don't bother me."
-That's becuase they learned the hard way not to mess with -me- but they'll trip you up if you give them reason to. Just be careful around them, ok?- He said.
They walked out of the lift and deeper into the bunker. It was of impressive size and before the humans vacated the area, the cement floors with its painted laneways acted as guidelines for personnel getting from one area of the plant to another on motorized vehicles. Ugh, humans were adorable.
"So who's at the meeting?" Smokescreen asked as he followed Bee closely.
-All the Autobots stationed on earth. You know who that means?-
Smokescreen made a face. "Hot Rod. Hate that guy. Ever since he got named the next Prime he acts like everyone should take orders from him."
-Not everyone.- Bee grinned as he held up a garage door for Smokescreen. -Just you-
"Thanks for reminding me." Smokescreen said with a roll of his optics. "I still say that was a jank test. We totally need a rematch."
Bee laughed. -You know, you were very close to winning until you pulled that pleasure-bot nonsense-
"Hey, come on. That was an honest mistake. He kept talking about 'becoming one with his spark' and all that, I thought he was coming onto me."
-Are you kidding me right now? Optimus Prime, hitting on a green recruit like that? I still have yet to hear a good reason why you think 'join sparks with me' means 'open your panels.'-
"If Optimus Prime asked you to join sparks with him, wouldn't you pop your panels too?"
Bee let out a sigh as he entered a meeting room just packed with Autobots.
When the Autobots were situated in their seats, Optimus thanked them for arriving on such short notice, and got right down to brass tacks. While Optimus was excellent at reading other's moods, it was also his Autobots who could tell when Optimus was extremely concerned about something; and that was usually when he was quick with the pleasantries.
"At 22:00 hours, earth time, my team and I were investigating Decepticon activity on this continent. Megatron, and his two recruits Dreadwing and Skyquake were attempting to commandeer human technology. We intercepted their activities, only to be alerted that the their true intent was at this location, here, some several hundred miles away."
The 3d holograph morphed from one earth terrain grid to another. "We located another energon mine as the Decepticons suffered some technical setback. We were unable to determine their exact reason for the distraction. Due to interference from their new seekers, we were also unable to get closer to the mine. This turned out to be beneficial to us as were not close enough when Megatron gave the order to destroy the mine, thereby covering his escape."
There was a derisive snort from one of the Wreckers at the table, and a slight chuckle from the rest of them.
"We recovered a Decepticon after the attack. The Archivist, Orion Pax." There was a hush over the board room, then, each Autobot no doubt waiting to hear why that was significant.
Optimus was solemn for a while as he prepared to give his speech. "Some of you do not understand the significance of this occurence, but to understand, you must know that many millenia ago, before the great war and before Cyberton's Golden Age, the Senators were responsible for voting in candidates to be a Bearer of the Matrix. As you know, it was considered a great and humbling honour. The Matrix is a very real connection to Primus, and all Primes that have gone before me are able to make their wisdom known to me. The process by which a candidate was chosen and the merging of the Matrix to the Bearer was kept in great secret until my inception.
"It is more accurate to say that... the process is the other way around. The Bearer is merged to the Matrix. That is... " Optimus had to pause as memories, not entirely his own, rolled to the surface with unpleasant accuracy. "Through invasive techniques, an Autobot's frame is pulled open along the central conduit, so that the spark chamber and spark can be exposed. And then the Autobot's spark and innermost energon is actually fed to the Matrix. When the first procedure is complete, the second procedure begins. The previous mech's frame is melted down, neural connectors, energon lines and hydraulics and all, and wired into a new frame that's best suited for the new Matrix Bearer. It was not a simple transformation as we all once thought it had been." Optimus didn't meet the optics of those at the table.
What he was describing was horrific. The very worst thing an Autobot, a Cybertronian could endure. And yet... Optimus was standing there in front of everyone saying... it had happened to him. Horror mounted in every spark at the table. Hot Rod couldn't help but ask. "They cut you open, dig out your insides, then melt your frame?" His voice shook. He couldn't even joke about this atrocity.
"That's a blunt way of putting it, but yes."
"Were you... awake when they did this?" Hot Rod queried. Optimus noticed the tilt in Ultra Magnus' shoulder, and guessed he must have been holding Hot Rod's arm for support.
"I was." Optimus said, and let the gravity of that statement set in. "For obvious reasons, the procedure was kept a secret. And it was my understanding that until very recently... " Optimus' optics settled on Hot Rod, who looked justifiably petrified, "there were no alternate methods of successfully completing the procedure. But such things change. However, I've gathered you all here today to explain the history of the Decepticon currently being held at this time.
"Orion Pax, the Archivist, worked in the Iacon Hall of Records. He became acquainted with Megatron, then called Megatronus before the dissent into war. Together they got as far as the Councillors with their political agenda, but the Hall of Records was attacked on the eve of their hearing. Orion Pax was taken underground and made a Bearer of the Matrix. Usually, such a violent procedure damages a mech to the point where personality protocols have to be rewritten, usually by the Matrix itself. But during the procedure, Megatronus retaliated and rescued Orion Pax before his spark could be siphoned out by the Matrix. It was a decision I made a long time ago when trying to negotiate peace treaties with Megatron, but at the time I had offered him my own inner-most energon to save Orion Pax. I had not seen or heard of him since. We thought he was dead."
"By Primus..." Prowl, who had been sitting here mostly quietly during the talk, practically vibrated with fury. Jazz was beside him, trying to restrain him, but the strategist promptly shook off the visored Autobot. "Split sparks. The botched procedure created a split spark!" He shouted. "You're trying to tell us that Orion Pax, a Decepticon, a Kaon sympathiser and one of Megatron's whores, shares a spark with OUR most sacred Autobot?!"
Just as Optimus feared, that statement pretty much indicated why this was such a delicate matter.
The meeting had gone to hell in a hand-basket, as Optimus had once heard Fowler say. Optimus recessed the meeting, leaving Ratchet and Jazz to calm the fury and insult that was Prowl and Mirage and everyone else of high nobility. It was always a high risk strategy to reveal his past. He knew certain Autobots looked at him as if he were a god, and he'd worked hard trying to prove that he was just a soldier, no matter what trinket he carried inside him. Still... a small part of him didn't want to lose the unwavering respect and general faith they had in him. He'd maintained the illusion that it was based on his personality, and not the relic fastened into his chassis. Yet finding out what he was and what Orion Pax was ... that could all change.
Ratchet was too busy defending Optimus' honour, in typical sparkmate fashion. Prowl was beside himself with insult, saying he should have consulted first. He was excellent at stringing together theories and perfectly thought out situations where Optimus Prime's -other half- (and how Ratchet resented that phrase,) could be used against the Autobots. Prowl was thorough and efficient that way. Optimus suspected it was more Prowl's fury that such an important bit of information hadn't been entrusted to him first of all. But it was Prowl's style to keep secrets and this was something Optimus couldn't afford to keep to himself or even Ratchet. To keep them all safe, Optimus had to do away with his discomfort and fill them all in.
Mirage, clever little noble that he was, hadn't made things any better when he mentioned the percentage of split sparks who were able to communicate over vast distances, even hyper space and deep space. Prowl had been quick to point out that the liklihood of Optimus being able to manage that kind of communication would likely draw power and attention from the single dedicated channel that was always open for the Matrix. 'Unless youv'e got something else to share with the group, Optimus!' He'd snapped.
Hot Rod had to be excused and Optimus could tell Magnus longed to follow him out. Hot Rod wasn't the type who did well by himself. Not knowing how to react, Springer took Hot Rod's leaving as a chance to excuse himself. Optimus didn't miss the threatening look given to him by Magnus. The other Wreckers for the most part discussed the matter by themselves. Optimus only caught bits and pieces of the conversation. They were debating the religious significance of a manufactured Prime, and then decided that they still answered to Optimus Prime, and it didn't matter to them how he was made. Touching, in their own way.
Bee and Smokescreen exchanged frantic messages via private comms. More than once, Smokescreen looked as if he appeared to stand up, say something, try to unify the crowd. Bee silenced him with stern looks. Probably something reasonable like don't get in the way of a religious debate.
Bulkhead and Wheeljack too had their own conversation going. Optimus wasn't entirely surprised at the ferocity of their reactions, but it bothered him to no end. He preferred to forget about his rank and simply -be- with his Autobots, but at times like this, when his godhood was called forward... he had to endure it. He had to sit here and the head of the crowd and be bombarded by religious fervor.
Finally, he'd had enough and excused himself. The shouting at his back crescendoed.
Optimus Prime was alone in the bunker, loaned to the Autobots by Fowler, who allowed him to use the area provided they 'keep the party down.' He hadn't asked what Fowler meant, and upon having Ratchet investigate wall thickness and the how loud their voices had to be, he knew that the nearest human settlement wouldnt' hear their individual voices. So the Autobots were free to shout at each other in relative privacy.
The Prime was a wreck at the moment. On one hand he felt as though he'd let his Autobots down, but on the other hand, this event was somethign that had been done -to- him, and to Orion Pax, and to Megatron as well. Whoever the Senators were to make such a decision and concoct such a procedure... ah, but the ancient texts always warned that to be a Bearer of the Matrix was to invite grievous pain. And to think there was no way out of that ... He must have scared poor Hot Rod something terrible.
"They're quieter now, if you want to come back." It was Kup who'd come looking for him.
"What did you do to them?" Optimus asked, very much looking forward to Kup's answer.
"Told them they could roll with the 'Cons if they didn't settle down." Kup cracked his knuckle joints in a very obvious display of power. "Prowl's just mad he wasn't told about it first, I bet. And Mirage is just bein' a snob."
Optimus felt himself smile.
"I'm kinda surprised to hear you talkin' so honestly about your experience. Sounds like torture."
"It was. But no one knows anything else about the procedure. Either the Priests help and that's what happens, or the Matrix does it itself and it's messier. I don't exactly know if there's another way." Optimus said sadly, then felt hands on his.
"I'm sorry you went through that alone." Kup said, popping out the cy-gar he always held in his mouth. "Does it still hurt you?"
Optimus glanced down at his chassis. "Sometimes."
"You don't have to bear something like that alone. You never did." Kup said, resting his other hand on Optimus' chassis. He understood what Kup was offering and shook his head, but placed a hand over Kup's.
"I couldn't. Trust me, you don't want to know. But I appreciate the offer. Another time, my friend but not now." Optimus said gently.
"The offer's there if you ever want it." Kup said, and clapped Optimus' arm. "They're ready for you now, if you've got more to say."
Optimus was ever so grateful for this Wrecker's involvement just then. "One more thing. And then we can disperse for the night.
"It's a big deal, Optimus." Kup said. "You havin' a spark twin? That's like Megatron havin' offspring, or Starscream being philanthropist. They won't look at you the same again."
Optimus' sigh was long and pained. "It had to be done, Kup. Especially now since now that we know that Orion Pax is alive. One day they will understand."
The meeting room in the bunker was indeed quieter. All Autobots were in their seats and there were cups of energon in each hand. Whoever thought to stock this missile bunker with low-grade perhaps should be thanked, as long as the Autobots were quieter now. Optimus took his place at the front of the meeting room. Now was the time to speak plainly.
"I am sorry for the commotion, and for not advising my closest lieutenants that this was a possibility. For millennia we had not seen or heard of any proof that Orion Pax was alive until now. As such, he is with us now and as always, we Autobots require information. Pax is most likely able to provide this information, but as he is not warrior class, our methods of extraction must reflect this."
"Interrogation." Jazz clarified.
"Perhaps softer than that." Mirage added. "Conversation. We're going to sweet-talk Orion Pax? That will never go anywhere, Optimus."
Optimus held up his hand in a request for silence. "You are both correct. Considering Orion's condition when we first brought him here, he was grievously injured. Our first order of business is to treat our guest's injuries and nurse him back to health. I want to make it clear; he is not warrior class and we do not know the extent of his involvement with the war. For all we know, he may have been held prisoner by Megatron just as surely as he is now being held by us."
"You must have missed the tabloids of the day, Optimus. Orion was -not- Megatron's prisoner." Prowl said, before Jazz elbowed him sharply.
Optimus' optics settled on his strategist's faceplate, narrowed in quiet fury. "Make your point, Prowl."
"You two were lovers. Isn't that why you two stormed the Senate? Cross-faction coupling was the purview of Councillors and Senators of the day, you and 'then Megatronus' would have never been allowed to form a bond."
Optimus was a patient mech when it came to dealing with crowds, but every once in a while, an Autobot hit him where it stung. "Are you calling my loyatly into question?"
"Not your loyalty. Just your sympathies."
"Hey." Ironhide snapped, getting up from his seat. His cup of low-grade went clattering to the ground. "In case you've forgotten, you're talking to our Prime like that, and he don't appreciate the accusations none too much. Him choosing not to -torture- an unarmed, civilian Decepticon is based on the fact that this guy doesn't have a fair shot, and he didn't even have a fair shot when he was aboard the Nemesis.
-That's- the point Optimus is making. So don't call into question his 'loyalty' or his 'sympathy.' You got a problem with the way he's actin,' just remember he's actin' like a Prime. OUR Prime, and when we 'conversate' with Orion Pax we're probably gonna see how it's different from 'Cons."
"I agree." Ratchet said, immediately backing Ironhide. "For all we know, Orion might thank us for intercepting. If he's been near to Megatron for the entirety of the war, he's a wealth of information. He may not have a lot of information on Megatron, but by now he would know the Nemesis' layout intimately, maybe even battle formations."
"Those are all valid reasons." Optimus said, but his optics were still wary as they were on Prowl's face. His strategist maintained optic-contact with him, the stare down heavy with emotion. "Or do you have another suggestion, Prowl?"
Prowl quirked an optic ridge. "Well I wouldn't want to insult your sympathies."
"Prowl!" Kup roared, slamming his hand on the table. "You petulant sparkling, just spit it out."
"Kill him."
Shocked silence fell over the Autobots.
Optimus' anger boiled over. "Are you mad?"
"Kill him, Optimus. Kill him before this brilliant, senior level Archivist sends a stress beacon out to Megatron, who's surely looking for him. It doesn't matter what information he might contain, if we're not going -extract- the information from him then he's of no use to us. And us keeping him here can only bring us harm if Megatron finds out. He's a Warlord, but only to the strong, mean Decepticons. His forces made entirely of grunt units follow Orion Pax's direction with utmost fervor."
"Prowl." Optimus said.
"By their sheer numbers they can compel Megatron into action if he doesn't feel it's necessary to retrieve his Archivist. Megatron likes having a lot of Decepticons to lead, he can be persuaded into action."
"You are dismissed." Optimus growled.
"So if we're not going to retrieve information from your spark-twin we should put him out of his misery and kill him. Gently if you must but kill him nonetheless." Prowl shot in.
"DISMISSED!"