Note: Here's the next chapter for you! First, I'd like to say thank you to my lovely reviewers. As far as I see, it's really only one person and a few randoms, but it still warms my spark! Second, I'd like to address the chapter title. Just think of all the jokes that could be made once they get to Earth. Third, I DON'T OWN TRANSFORMERS PRIME, so I'm not making money. Oh well. Fourth, here's my time table:

Timetable

Klik: 2 seconds: 10 nanokliks

Breem: 8 minutes: 240 kliks

Joor: 6 hours: 45 breems

Orn: 13 days: 52 joors

Cycle: 22 weeks: 11 orns

Megacycle: 30 months: 5 cycles

Vorn: 80 years: 32 megacycles

It's Cybertronian term, Earth time/what it means, and how many Cyber terms fit into each one. Ex. One cycle equals 22 weeks. Each cycle has 11 orns in it. I did the math for this. I always wondered how the time fit together.

Fifth, here's my age 'translations':

Ages

Newspark: 0 - 3: (0 - 1)

Sparkling: 3 - 50: (1 - 5)

Youngling: 50 - 200: (5 - 13)

Mechling: 200 - 1,000: (13 - 21)

Adult: 1,000: (21)

It's Cybertronian term, vorns, human equivalent. So Bee is the equivalent of a three year old and I'm making him kill at 5. It sounds crazy, but if a human 3 year old can learn basic gymnastics, a Cybertronian 32 vorn old can figure out the correct stance for fighting and write basic paragraphs.

Okay, this was long, enjoy the chapter!


The others, surprisingly, took very well to the news of Megatron's spontaneous trip to Iacon. Even Shockwave agreed on the terms that Bumblebee should "describe at least three landmarks and their history, if possible." Bee was too excited to care that Shockwave wanted him to write about going places. He was going places!

The ride to Iacon on the public transit shuttle was uneventful. As Bumblebee had predicted, anyone and everyone who saw Megaton's "mean face" made sure to steer clear of the large gladiator and the little yellow sparkling on his shoulder.

The shuttle dropped them off at Iacon Grand. Central, just a few blocks away from Maccadam's. Megatron made sure to remind Bumblebee of Shockwave's assignment when they passed the Energon Fountains, Lake Oleum, and, to Megaton's displeasure, the Prime's Palace. He saw Sentinel Prick waving lazily at his subjects from a balcony as thousands of mechs and femmes cheered his name. He only let Bumblebee take a few pictures of the Palace before ushering him towards Maccadam's.

In doing so, they both missed Sentinel's look of shock and contempt at the sight of them.

The famous tavern didn't look like much from the outside, but it was filled with all kinds of mechs, femmes, and beastly Cybertronians rich and poor alike. Holoscreens filled one wall, each displaying a different program and the code to hear the audio. Booths lined the wall, tables and chairs surrounded a glowing dance floor, and high chairs stood in vigilant rows in front of the bar. A friendly orange and gray mech with lenses attached to his optics was absentmindedly cleaning a glass when he noticed the pair walk in.

"Ah! The famous gladiator finally graces my humble bar! Maccadam at your service, but you can call me Mac for short" the mech behind the counter said. His voice was slightly gruff, but he sounded jovial and kind-sparked.

"I'm meeting a mech here at mid orn-"

The orange mech cut in. "Orion is waiting for you in the corner booth. I'll bring drinks for you two."

Megatron hid his surprise. "The sparkling-"

"Needs fortified low grade. I can tell. Don't worry, you came to the right bar." Maccadam pointed them towards the booth before turning around to prepare their drinks.

Megatron saw a blue and red mech sipping on Visco while reading a datapad in the corner booth. He walked over with Bee and sat down opposite him. Bee sat upright, snuggled into his chassis. He was a little nervous at all the new Cybertronians, but he wanted to seem tough for his caretaker.

The red and blue mech looked up at the movement. "Oh! You're here!"

"Apparently so," Megatron replied. "Why did you want to talk with me?"

"Well, my name is Orion Pax. I'm a data clerk for the Hall of Records in Iacon. In my caste, I listen and I index, but I am not allowed to analyze."

"But how do you know where to index if you don't analyze?" Megatron asked.

"I try not to think about questions I can't answer," Orion muttered.

"Who said you're not allowed to question your place? I was once a miner who yearned for a better place, yet ended up as another slave to an ignorant master. Now I am Megatron. I fight for equality rather than my life and lead others along the same path."

"Who are you fighting?"

"Those who think they can tell me, like they tell you, that we must stay in our castes. That we cannot determine our own fate."

"I think I can assist you with spreading your message."

Megatron was taken aback by the offer. "Why should I accept your assistance. I lead a resistance with hundreds of mechs and femmes behind me. What makes you different? Other than your background, of course."

"You'll need to tailor your message so that it resonates beyond the mechs and femmes that die in the mines and pits. They won't understand your views otherwise."

"Perhaps they should learn to, then. Even now you do not understand my views entirely, and yet you consider yourself to be one of us."

"Then show me what I do not understand," Orion said. He looked so sincere when he said that, Megatron knew he genuinely believed in freedom from the caste system.

"And so I shall. But first, we should get to know each other. If we are to work closely together, then we should be close."

At that moment, Maccadam finally showed up with their drinks. "My apologies. Fortified low grade is hard to brew in a pinch, but it's got all the minerals he needs to grow up strong." He set the drinks down before them and playfully rubbed Bee's helm, who giggled sweetly.

Orion smiled at the cheerful sound. "Maybe you can protect introduce me to your little companion."

"My name is Bumblebee, I'm 32 vorns old, and my sparkorn is next megacycle." Bee held out his servo like Scythe taught him. "But you can call me Bee. What's your name?" He shifted a little and added, "I already know it, but I'm just being polite because Scythe says I should be a gentlemech."

Orion took his small servo in his larger one and chuckled, "Scythe is correct. My name is Orion Pax. But you can call me Orion."

Bee struggled to say his name. Apparently, back-to-back vowels weren't his strong suit. "Or... Ori...Oree... Oreo. Hi, Oreo!"

"Well, I suppose you can call me 'Oreo' too." Orion laughed. Even Megatron chuckled as he moved Bee into his lap. The cheerful sparkling took the small cube low grade and carefully sipped from it.

"Mmm! This tastes good!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"Don't get too used to it, little one. You still have to drink Hook's low grade everyday."

"I know, Meggy."

Megatron's face tinted just the slightest shade of blue. "And for the record, please don't use my nickname in public," he mumbled as Orion stifled his laughs behind his servo.

The three talked a bit more about everyday life. Megatron told Orion he was welcome in the Pits of Kaon anytime. Orion offered Megatron and Bumblebee a place in Iacon if they ever wanted to visit. Bee could even stay with Alpha Trion for a day since he knew the aged mech loved sparklings. 'Oreo' was a great help with Bumblebee's assignment, which he almost conveniently forgot about again.

While the mechling was occupied, Megatron leaned in and whispered, "I'd much appreciate it if you could do something else for me as well."

"What do you need?" Orion asked.

"Bumblebee's sire killed his carrier and wants him dead too. Problem is, we don't know who his sire is. Or his carrier."

"I have access to many records at my job. If I can't find anything, my friend is an investigator. Can he help?"

"Is he trustworthy?"

"We've been friends for centuries."

"Then ask him too." Megatron handed Orion a datapad under the table. "This is all the information we have so far."

"Don't worry about Bee. He's too bright for the world to put out," Orion said.

Megatron looked at the sparkling next to him. "Don't I know it."


Note: There are a few lines from Transformers Exodus by Alex Irvine and I tried to write off of that too. But not too closely. This is AU after all. Some action next chapter! Till then!P.S.: Shout out to the first person who can tell me who Orion's investigator friend is.