He quickly ran through the monotone halls. His metal feet clashing with the metal floors echoed through the silent passages as he screeched around a corner, and sped down it.

"Slaggit, I'm late!" He swore to himself. The mech was what one would call lanky; his primary colors were burgundy blended in with silver, with few accents of yellow and black. He had a single, yellow visor over his left, cobalt optic, giving it a green tint.

He rocketed around another corner, and was stopped by a pair of large, black hands holding him in place. "'Ey, Speedfreak, take it easy, why don'cha?" The mech asked with a crooked grin. In terms of build, he was the opposite of the mech called Speedfreak. He was of average height, but covered in extreme bulk. Black was his dominant color, with indigo as his backup colors.

"Eheh… Sorry, 'Breaker." Speedfreak apologized. "I just didn't wanna be late is all…"

'Breaker', or more aptly named, Groundbreaker, merely smirked. "Well guess what, kid? Ya ain't late. Prime ain't gotta do the handshake thing for another two mega-cycles."

"Really?" Speedfreak blinked. "Well… I guess I rushed outta my apartment for no reason, then."

"We call ya 'Speedy' for a reason." The hulking mech joked. "C'mon, we gotta get prettied up for the big ceremony."

"Yeah…" Speedy sighed, as he and Groundbreaker started heading towards their destination. "Have we really been doing this Peace Celebration thing for four hundred years?"

"Yep." Groundbreaker replied flatly. "It feels like forever for me, too."

"I mean, I know it's the anniversary of Great War Two's end, and that's a great thing… But must we celebrate it in such a… dull way?"

"'Ey kid, only the ceremony's the boring part." The Cobalt and black mech replied. "Ya know how it goes. It's never changed. First we got the opening air show, followed by speeches from Captain Prowl and General Soundwave. Then Prime and Megatron get up on the big alter, shake hands, and pose for the cameras. Then it's fireworks, and off to the pubs for Primus knows how long." He gave Speedfreak a slap on the back. "It's all of four mega-cylces, if that. We can give that much for peace, don'cha think?"

The scarlet and silver mech's subtle grin was enough to please Groundbreaker.

The two stopped in front of a door in the middle of the hallway. Beside the frame resided a black screen, with a green grid atop it. Speedfreak placed his hand near the touch screen, before a small panel slid open in his palm; he then pressed it against the digital grid, and his hand was scanned.
"Scan accepted. Welcome Speedfreak and guest." Groundbreaker grumbled at his codename of 'Guest', but disregarded it as he and his friend entered the room through the newly opened door.

As the entry closed behind them, the two took in their familiar surroundings. The blue touch screens, the mechs working said screens, and two femmes to greet the new arrivals.

"Welcome, sirs." One femme stated.

"Are you ready for the big ceremony?" The other asked.

"More or less." Speedfreak joked.

"I can think of a few other things I'd rather be doing…" Groundbreaker said in a wondering tone. "But sadly, that ain't gonna happen. So let's get our badges put on, and meet up with Prime."

The two femmes nodded to each other, as they turned around and proceeded towards the back of the room, at which resided five display stands, chest high. On each of the stands resided a red badge. It was looked upon as the symbol of safety and peace. It was the symbol of faith, loyalty, and tradition. It was the symbol of the Autobot.

Speedfreak and Groundbreaker stepped forward towards the red badges awaiting them. The two carefully lifted up the Autobot insignias, as if they were a newborn child. 'Speedy' placed his carefully on his right shoulder, while 'Breaker rested his on his left. Giving them a quick buffing with the wrist, Groundbreaker looked towards Speedfreak.

"Well, kiddo, best get going." He said.

"Eh?" The younger mech paused. "But you said the handshake isn't for another two mega-cycles."

"I know." The cobalt and blue mech replied. "But it's better to be early than late, right?" He gave Speedfreak a little nudge with his elbow.

The younger mech stifled a snicker. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

The Capital City, Iacon…

The main ceremony hall. In this large room held only the most special of occasions. The Great Matrix Passing, The Harmonic Handshake… All of which were events rarely seen by the public's present eye. The most they could get was a live, televised presentation. Outside of said ceremony hall resided thousands of Autobots and Decepticons crowding the streets, all putting their daily lives on hold to watch the massive, holographic screens held high above their heads.

And inside of the ceremony hall resided exactly ninety-nine Autobots. On the glorious stage, accompanied by seven seats and a podium, were three Autobots – Captain Prowl, Field Commander Jazz, and General Ironhide - each with one seat separating them from the next. The other ninety-six Autobots were on the right side of the ceremony hall and the red carpet, before the stage. The front half of the Autobots were the soldiers, and the back half were special guests. In several assorted spots were television crews, to film the legendary ceremony.

There was not a single Decepticon in the vicinity.

"Hey, uhh… Groundbreaker?" Speedfreak asked, nudging the mech beside him.

"Yeah?" He replied. Groundbreaker and Speedfreak, along with the rest of their squad, were in the first row of the small army of Autobots.

"Call me paranoid… But why aren't there any Decepticons?" He asked.

"Y'know, I'm not entirely sure." 'Breaker replied. "The 'Cons are usually late, but not this late."

"Ya think Prime knows about it?" Speedfreak asked.

"Probably not. But hey, if Megs is a no-show, then that just means we get out earlier." The blue and black mech joked.

"Heh, yeah…" Speedy sighed. This whole situation stank more than six deca-cycle old Energon. And that was pretty stinky. "Man, I feel naked without my gun…" He uttered.

"Me too." Groundbreaker replied. "But this is a peace ceremony. No weapons allowed."

"Femmes and mechs," The PA announced over the intercom. "Please welcome, the Commander-In-Chief of the Autobots…"

"Alright, he's here!" The larger Autobot exclaimed quietly.

"Macht Prime!"

All of the Autobots present stood up. A thunderous applause sounded, as the Autobot soldiers all raised their right hands to their heads in a respectful salute.

From behind the red, velvet curtains stepped perhaps the most iconic figure in Cybertronian history. He was bigger than the average mech, and looked as if he could tear a wall in half effortlessly. Blue and white were his predominant colors, with small parts of silver and red detailing him. A cape adorning the Autobot symbol proudly rested on his shoulders, and a proud smile resided under his blue optics.

He stepped up to the podium, and returned the salute to the soldiers. Returning to his idle pose, the troops did the same.

"Thank you." Macht Prime's deep voice replied as the applause slowly died down. "It's an honor and a privilege to be returning here for the four-hundredth time for the annual Harmonic Handshake." The leader slowly looked around, as if he just noticed the left, empty side of the room. "I'm not entirely sure where our Decepticon allies are…" He said in a pondering tone. "But I'm certain they will arrive, soon."

Speedfreak blinked as he watched Macht Prime continue to speak. "Is it just me, or does Prime seem more dull every stellar-cycle?"

Groundbreaker blinked. "Whaddya mean?"

"I mean, the whole ceremony thing. It was spectacular and amazing the first few times. But after a while, it just seems to get more and more routine."

"I hear ya." 'Breaker replied. "But hang in there, kiddo. We just gotta do this, and then we're home-free."

On the opposite end of the stage, the two large doors granting entrance to the ceremony hall slowly opened. All heads turned towards the entry, expecting to see Megatron, followed by his expected amount of ninety-nine Decepticons. What they got, however, was very different.

A lone Decepticon casually walked in. Murmurs began to spread through the crowd of Autobots as he made his way down the red carpet. A deep shade of purple, almost blue, covered the mech's entire body. His head was a strange, angular shape with twin antenna on both sides of his head. A backpack made of tank treads resided on his back, and a single, golden optic was all that was on his face.

Macht Prime blinked a few times, before addressing the Decepticon. "Shockwave." He began. "I welcome you to the Peace Ceremony. But where is Megatron, and the other Decepticons?"

Shockwave remained silent, as he slowed to a stop half way on the carpeting, and looked at the ground before him. "Macht Prime." He stated. "Megatron regretfully could not attend this day. But I was sent to you with a message from him."

"Oh?" The Commander-In-Chief asked. "What is it?" It was at that moment that Macht Prime noticed the slain bodies of the twin guards lying in a small pool of mech fluids on the opposing side of the doors. He hesitated. "... Why are you here, Shockwave?"

Shockwave slowly looked up at the Autobot leader with his eternally emotionless face. In the next instant, he leaped into the air, flipping several times, and landing behind Macht Prime. His left arm straightened, as a hole opened up in his palm, followed by a large barrel shooting out of said hole. His fingers slid back onto his hand, wrapping tightly around the barrel; The Decepticon took his newly transformed cannon, and threw it against Macht Prime's back. In the bellows of the weapon glowed a purple light.

"Die."

And all over Cybertron, thousands of optics viewed-- through the live, televised event-- the assassination of Macht Prime, and the beginning of Great War Three.

To Be Continued…