Subi: Posting spree! >D ... Yes, I'm in one of 'those moods'. Muahahahaha!

13. Gliximaxiin Academy

I happily bounded up the walkway to the auditorium of Gliximaxiin Academy, wondering what my senior year was going to be like, since the counselor had said my scores were high enough to be a senior in the next semester. I quickly slipped in through one of the closed doors and into the dimly lit academy, and found myself in the midst of a semi-full audience stands with mechs and femmes standing in groups of their friends talking. My light blue optics took in the scene in one sweep, and I slowly started down one of the stair aisles, looking for an empty seat I could get into easily. I brushed against a mostly white and red bot, with some black accents, and we turned to face each other.

"I'm sorry," The two of us said at the same time. The other mech smiled while a green and black bot behind him laughed slightly.

"I'm Perceptor, this is Hound. You?"

"Optronix," I introduced myself with a faint nod. "What level are you?"

"Sophomore," Perceptor answered.

"Senior," I said. Hound added in, "I'm a Junior here."

"I haven't seen you here before, you new?" Perceptor asked.

"I just transferred from Oceania Academy in Atlantis."

"Oh, I heard they were real into mathematics and stuff," Hound noted.

"Actually, I know more about history than they knew what to do with, but essentially, they press on calculations and data entry. Atlantis was a huge trading port for off-planet trade," I told them.

" 'Was'?"

"I'd rather not talk about it," I said, turning away. Perceptor caught the hint. "Alright, I guess we'll see you around, Optronix."

" 'Til all are one," I answered, quoting one of the historic sayings. Perceptor laughed and echoed, " 'Til all are one," as he climbed the steps after Hound. I turned and resumed my 'quest' to find a empty seat. A younger voice caught my attention as I neared the lowest row of seats, and I glanced up to see a mostly blue and red mech arguing with a taller, black and red femme.

"Those are my datapads! Can't you go get your own?" The smaller mech whined, trying to get his datapads back. The femme slowly shook her head.

"No, they're my datapads," She said, with a perfect, sad smile, her light green optics glowing faintly.

"No they aren't! My father gave them to me before he died- will you please give them back?.!" He tried to get them again, but she merely pulled them further out of reach. I noticed a black and gold femme further away watching, giggling. I looked back at the other two, and understood what was happening. I took a few steps over, and gently took the datapads out of the femme's hands. She whirled around to face me, with an alarmed look on her face.

"I don't think these are yours," I said mildly, staring into her green optics as she drew back. She hissed slightly, spun around, and stalked over to her black and gold friend. I watched her go before turning to the small mech and held the datapads out to him. "You might want to keep those in your pockets if you aren't using them," I advised. His white face lifted somewhat to look at me, and his semi-dark blue optics gazed up at me wonderingly.

"You're... You're not going to try to keep them?" He asked, looking somewhat astonished.

"They aren't mine," I said, shrugging. "And I don't think they were hers either." He shook his head.

"They're mine. My dad really did give them to me before he got killed. My name is Ultra Magnus," He added, sitting down on one of the chairs in the front row. I noticed there was an empty seat next to him.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" I asked. He glanced at me and shook his head, "Go ahead." I noticed he stashed his datapads in his subspace pocket as he said this, and I sat down next to him just as the academy principal, Gliximaxiin himself, walked onto the stage and picked up the microphone off of the ground.

"If you all would kindly take a seat, we'll get started listing off first-class homerooms, who will give you your schedules for the rest of the schoolday for the next semester," the old, dull-brown and green mech began, and the other students in the hall began to find their seats again...

"Neat! Isn't this great?" Magnus chirped next to me as we walked to our next class together. I couldn't help but laugh, "I guess, if you consider getting a class together 'great'."

"Aww, where's your sense of humor?" He snickered.

"I think I lost it half a year ago," I muttered. Magnus didn't hear me. "I wonder who else has Driving Education with us, anyone you think you'll know?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I just transferred from another city's Academy. I'm new here."

"Oh. Then maybe you can make new friends in this class so you won't be so alone," Magnus suggested, his voice softening near the end. I noted that the word 'alone' was almost a whisper, and frowned slightly.

"Are you alone?"

"What?" He looked up at me sharply, something flickering in his optics.

"Are you alone?" I repeated. He looked away and didn't say anything. I somehow understood he wasn't going to answer, and I turned my gaze back to look for our classroom. He is alone... I can feel it from him... Oh Magnus, we are so much more alike than we realize... I thought silently, before locating the door to the Driving Education class. "There's the classroom," I said, changing the subject. Magnus looked up and found the door as well, and we both entered the room...

Subi: (cackles) Complications! Muahahaha! ... Is there even anyone reading this story? Oo