~O~
Isa
The sight of the massive transport ship made Hot Shot's jaw drop. Shockwave pushed it back up.
"Do not do that when you meet Jhiaxus." he said, his stoic vocals dripping with dismay, "He is worthy only of respect, not foolishness."
Hot Shot moved his hand like a talking mouth, mocking him.
They were welcomed by the sight of a blue and white femme stepping out of the ship. Shockwave knew this was Eros; Jhiaxus' bondmate. She was as young as he envisioned, but probably a few cycles older than Red Alert. She smiled happily when she saw him.
"Shockwave!" she greeted, "It's nice to see you! Jhiaxus is working in the ship. Come in!"
Hot Shot smiled. "She seems nice." he told Shockwave.
They were led into a crowded workstation filled with various items - a collection of data plates, tools and weapons from the past. Kneeling over a table was a gray, tall, highly decorated mech with a horned helm, reddish optics and sharp digits.
Hot Shot had never seen Jhiaxus in person before. As far as he could see, the bot looked like Unicron from his stories he had read as a youngling.
"Shockwave, is that my pupil come to pay me a visit?" Jhiaxus was wearing a magnifying glass over his left optic and removed it.
Shockwave shook his head. "No. I'm afraid not." he said. "I was exiled."
Jhiaxus' smile disappeared. He looked at Eros. They exchanged concerned looks before he spoke.
"Why in the name of science were you exiled?" Jhiaxus demanded, setting his tools down. He rounded the table and approached him. "What happened?"
Hot Shot explained it all before Shockwave could, even including the part where he stayed with him for Red Alert's sake.
Eros smiled. "It sounds like you've found a femme who cares for you."
"But no one believes them!" Hot Shot said. "He thought you could help."
Jhiaxus pursed his lips. "I don't know. Something must be done about this." he said, "It is a pity that such views blind them to the truth. I will help them see."
Eros looked at him. "What do you want to do?"
"I think it's time we paid a visit to Ultra Magnus, don't you?" he said, smiling at her.
"Yes. Father has not spoken to me in some time."
Jhiaxus smiled at his guests. "How about a drink and some rations?" he suggested. "We can catch up then."
O
Jhiaxus and Shockwave stood together outside that evening. Eros was performing some combat tactics with Hot Shot and beat him down every single time.
"It's been some time," Jhiaxus said.
"Yes." Shockwave replied.
Jhiaxus took a sip of his Energon. "It is a shame what they have done to you," he said, "I am troubled by this greatly. I would have hoped things would have become easier for you."
Eros flipped Hot Shot with ease. "Come on!" she taunted. "I can't be that difficult for you."
Jhiaxus smiled with pride, watching as she chased a yelping Hot Shot down a hill. "Eros, my dearest. You are in top form today."
She smiled at him and dove down the hill. The two other bots listened to Hot Shot cry out in pain and protest.
"Aww, come on!" he cried, out of sight.
Jhiaxus looked at Shockwave. "When you were young, I remember how furious the little things would make you," he told him.
"Yes, you have said so."
"You could drop a beaker and curse about it for hours. I taught you to control your emotions, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel at all."
Shockwave looked at him briefly, but did not respond.
"I will take us to Cybertron," Jhiaxus told him. "When we arrive, we will be certain your name is cleared. And you can reunite with Red Alert once more."
O
Jhiaxus and Hot Shot spent some time alone and the younger bot inquired about Shockwave - who had spent the night by himself in his former quarters.
"So what's Cyclops' story anyway?" he asked.
Jhiaxus was cleaning a beaker and set it down. "Why do you do that?" he asked, staring at him sternly.
"Do what?"
"Call him names. Run him down all the time."
Hot Shot glanced over his shoulder briefly, as if looking for any signs of Shockwave before speaking weakly. "Well, it's just..."
"Easier?" Jhiaxus finished for him. He began to wipe the beaker with a little more force. "Believe me, young one. I know what easier represents on Cybertron. They speak so cruel of him, rarely giving him the opportunity to be heard. Because they don't understand. Such is the way of the ignorant. Such is the way of the cowardly."
Hot Shot scowled. "Hey! I'm not a coward!"
"See? It isn't so comforting for you to be called names, is it?"
Hot Shot sighed and closed his optics. "I get what you're saying..."
"Eros and I met during her deliveries." Jhiaxus said, smiling a little now. "I was twice her age, but I learned that love has no such stipulations. If you truly care for someone, your optics are finally opened to the truth. Light seems brighter. Colors are much more vibrant; everything you knew becomes amplified. You truly learn to see."
Hot Shot frowned thoughtfully. "That's pretty deep."
Jhiaxus made an amused sound.
"So...what is his story anyway?" Hot Shot asked again.
Jhiaxus' smile disappeared and he glanced up briefly, staring ahead. His optics were filled with the intensity of memory and thought.
"Shockwave was born to two high-class Cybertronians," he began. "His mother had experienced the utmost pain of his birth; she saw him as a flaw, a defect. With the image of perfection always spoken on the lips of all on Cybertron, she knew he would be destroyed without a doubt. So she sent him to me to care for. I had known the family in the past - Oh yes, his father was a fellow warrior. Yet a coward all the same."
Is that a cruel thing to say? They were terrified they could not protect their son, so I was willing to take up the privilege. Most attempted to threaten him - Yes, grown bots wanted to threaten a youngling. Is that hard to believe in this day and age? - So I sought to make examples of them. No one challenged me from then on out."
Shockwave had quite a problem with his anger. He hated most things in life, especially those who mocked him outside of his classes. So I knew he would have to learn to maintain such emotion; to be above those who sought to bring him down. I taught the way I was taught - by the Sons of Shadows. Their manner of warfare and prowess was unmatched by all, and I passed down such knowledge to him."
Hot Shot looked amazed by this new knowledge. "The Sons of Shadows..." he said, "I've heard of them. They say they're immortal."
Jhiaxus chuckled. "That is a stretch, my friend. Immortality can come in many forms."
Hot Shot was silent for a moment. Well now he just felt like an aft.
"So he never knew his parents?"
"No. He claims to have some memory of his mother's voice, but that's all."
"Now I feel like a piece of slag." Hot Shot muttered.
Jhiaxus shook his head. "It is the first step." he assured him. "But I don't think you would have come with him if you didn't care of his fate."
"I told Red I'd watch out for him."
"She is a friend, I assume."
"She's been my friend since we were young."
"And she is ONLY a friend?"
"What? Oh yeah! I don't like her that way. It's always just been about friendship with us. Rodimus, though... He still cares about her."
Jhiaxus sighed. "From what you've told me, he's got good intentions, but a poor central processor."
"Yeah. That's Rodimus, all right."
"However," Jhiaxus mused. "Shockwave's coordinates were programmed by him, correct? Then that means there is still hope for him. Perhaps he sees it as his former lover should be happy, regardless of how he feels."
"Maybe."
Jhiaxus turned and set a beaker down onto a counter.
"So, you're kind of Shockwave's father now?" Hot Shot asked.
A small smile lit the older mech's lips. "I am." he said. "It doesn't matter how we are born or how we are raised. It's the one you are with you can hope to call your son."
Hot Shot thought about this.
"Sounds to me like a lot can learn from you." he replied.
Jhiaxus shook his head. "No. They must first learn about themselves."
He turned to go. "When we arrive on Cybertron...I intend to deal with this matter. One way or another."
"I don't doubt this is going to get a little crazy."
Jhiaxus laughed. "Possibly."
O
Note - Isa is Finnish for "Father". Also, the little snippet I had with Moonracer and Perceptor was actually for Lecidre and her love of the pairing. I forgot to mention it earlier. LOL.