Fandom: Transformers G1
Author: gatekat, flybystardancer

There's Always Someone Stronger 14: Ending Early
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::Prowl, Saltem, come to my office,:: Dai Atlas' comm message was calm and brief, giving no hint of what it was about to the two mecha who had been working on small-army incursion tactics.

Saltem gave Prowl a curious look before standing up, having no idea what their commanding officer wanted. It wasn't normal for him to comm them in the middle of lessons. The twitch of Prowl's sensor wings spoke volumes of how unusual the Praxian found it as well. He said nothing as they quickly shut down the tactical table before walking to the General's office.

Both of them tensed at the set of Dai Atlas' wings as he motioned them in. "Axe and I must return to Cybertron. We are unlikely to return soon. Ultra Magus, you are fit to be a warrior, even if you have not finished training to become an officer. I have put the certifications through so that the General that will temporarily take over this unit can not abuse your status."

Saltem-Ultra Magnus stared at him in confusion, as if he hasn't understood a word the General had said. "What?"

"You are no longer a slave," Dai Atlas repeated firmly but gently, understanding just how strongly he was blindsiding his slaves. He saw the fear building in Prowl only from long familiarity with the Praxian's frame language. "Prowl, Titanium has agreed to finish your education. I trust him."

"Yes sir," Prowl struggled not to tremble in stress and relief. He wasn't ready to socialize without protection yet.

"But... I'm not ready," Ultra Magnus replied, beginning to tremble.

"You have been ready for vorns," Dai Atlas told him with his full authority. "I had hoped to finish your officer training, but there is no need for you to be a slave for the rest of it. You can control your temper and how to socialize well enough to get along."

"Not well enough!" Visions of his first lover's corpse flashed across his processor.

"Yes well enough," Dai Atlas challenged the assertion sharply. "Nothing stops the death of a loved one. We are military. Sparked to die. Either pull yourself together or tear your spark out. Wallowing in grief is not our way."

"I can't do all the socializing that's expected," Ultra Magnus replied.

Dai Atlas considered his subordinate evenly, critically. "Do you genuinely believe another century under my command will change that? You have not made progress on that front since you were sparked."

Ultra Magnus remained silent. He couldn't think of anything that could move him on that stance, no matter how abnormal for a military mech it was.

He still didn't feel he was ready.

"You are as ready as I can make you," Dai Atlas said far more gently. "If things become unbearable, ask for a transfer to Titanium's unit. He'll take you in, demand your transfer. If you ask him, he'll make it happen. Understood?"

Ultra Magnus nodded, his gaze dropping down. "Yes, sir."

"Good. General Shockdrop will be arriving within the decaorn. Axe and I leave on that ship." His focus shifted to Prowl. "Titanium should meet up with us within three decaorn. Until then, you are still my ADC."

"Yes sir," Prowl inclined his helm. He was still trying not to shake. He was just beginning to feel like he was really making progress. He'd ... maybe ... begun to make a friend in Saltem. Something he'd reached out for, even after being rebuffed.

"Then you are dismissed," the General told them, watching as the pair left and not allowing his wings to sag dejectedly until the door closed.

He hated leaving a job undone. But this, he simply had to.

SxSxSxSxSxSxSxSx S===================S SxSxSxSxSxSxSxS

Ultra Magnus was settled in his quarters with a datapad for reading, avoiding the outside world for the moment. It had only been two decaorn since Dai Atlas had released him, and another decaorn since the General had left for Cybertron. During that time he had spent much with Prowl, continuing the lessons for both even though it was no longer required of them. It was a comforting familiarity that they both needed. The rest of his free time was spent with his few lovers in the group, or in his quarters.

While mechs no longer could use his rank as a slave as an excuse to try to have their way with him, he no longer had the protection of the highest rank mech in the group to stop them when they tried to simply overpower him. He was leery of putting himself in a position where he'd be forced to defend himself. Even though he was reasonably sure that both Springer and Prowl had quietly claimed him, offering some protection, it was unreliable at best.

Their new General was a very large mech, a black tank-former that preferred quiet violence and saw the world in a cold, logical way that was an instant draw for Prowl. It was an odd combination, but Ultra Magnus had watched the Praxian flourish in the few orns since their new leader had arrived.

A pounding, half-panicked knocking relented in a command override that opened the door to Ultra Magnus' quarters before the big mech could even get up. Prowl nearly fell inside, emotions truly showing for the first time in Ultra Magnus' memory.

That emotion was fear-laced horror. Something strong enough to drive Prowl to actually seek out the one mecha he thought of as a friend.

"What is it?" Ultra Magnus asked instantly, quickly rising to pull the smaller mech close in response to his obvious distress. He was quickly moved from the doorway, allowing the door to close behind him and give them some privacy. Prowl trembled against him, his field flaring wildly with the distress and his efforts to control it.

"The Generals ... they've been labeled traitors. Gone AWOL. Fired on the Prime." Prowl struggled not to keen as he pressed into the offered comfort.

"What?" Ultra Magnus asked, stunned. That... made no sense. How could that have happened? He held Prowl close, almost painfully so. "That can't be right. Are you sure that's what happened?"

"It's the official report, in the orders that gave Shockdrop permanent command of the unit," Prowl trembled, not complaining in the least at being all but enveloped by the relative giant. "Truth, I don't believe, but it's the political truth. The official truth. You know they were acting, talking wrong in those last orns. They knew something was going to happen."

"It's why they had that meeting with us," Ultra Magnus replied. They had known they wouldn't be able to protect the two of them, and wanted to prepare Prowl and himself for it. He knelt down so he could rest his helm against Prowl's as he continued to hold him close.

"Yes," Prowl shivered but began to relax, his emotional reserves spent and settling him into the numb neutrality he was far more used to. Except that he still welcomed the touch and field surrounding him. He'd delivered his news, shared his shock and disbelief with another who understood, and now it was time to begin adapting to the new reality they were facing. Or perhaps tomorrow. It felt good to be held.

Ultra Magnus began to rumble softly, soothingly, as he held Prowl close. One hand rubbed the smaller mech's lower back, the motion as much to soothe himself as to provide comfort.

"Do ... you expect company tonight?" Prowl asked, pressing lightly into the contact. Though it surprised him, he didn't care at the moment. Like being held, it felt good, and he was craving that sensation for the moment.

"Nothing planned," he replied, continuing the motion.

"May I stay?" Prowl shivered faintly as a tendril of pleasure wound its way to his processors.

"Of course." Ultra Magnus hesitated a moment, then carefully covered Prowl's mouth with his own, kissing him gently. He moaned softly as the smaller mech returned the pressure, allowing the kiss to deepen as they continued to offer comfort to one another.