Disclaimer: I only own my OCs. Vox Belongs to a friend.

Pandimala: Wow, it is a nice feeling to be updated.

Authoress: *looks guilty* Sure. Enjoy that 'Mala. *goes off*

Pandimala: *worried* What's wrong with Authoress?

Vox: It can't be good, whatever it is.

Ch. 10: Ghosts of the Past

Pandimala's 1st P.O.V.

Flashback:

I laughed as the four of us ran around the park. We were playing a round of tag and, while I was the biggest, I was making sure that I wouldn't get caught. Tana and I had a non-tagging agreement between the two of us, so I just had to go after the mechs. I wasn't sure if they had made an agreement between the two of them, but I wanted to avoid being tagged. Zar was it and he was too good at sneaking up on me.

It had been two stellars since I had come to live with Joint and Blockade at their house and I was so glad that Ultra Magnus had brought me to them. They took care of me and the other younglings here were so much fun to play with. We played pranks together and they didn't mind that I was the only one out of us four that had wings. They were the best friends that a youngling could have!

"Hey you!" I turned and saw that Zarron was on the ground and there were two bigger bots…well, bigger than Zar, standing in front of him. "Why don't you watch were you are going? Little mech like you could get hurt."

That wasn't fair odds! Usually, I would let Vox or Tana step in since they were usually the closest. But, I didn't see either of them in sight and so that meant that I was going to teach these two bots a lesson. So, I walked up to the three of them as Zarron was starting to get up. The bigger bot, who was gold with black markings, pushed Zarron back down before he laughed at Zarron.

Bam!

I didn't hold back as I punched the gold bot with black markings in his faceplate. How dare he shove Zarron when the bot was trying to get up. "That wasn't very nice to push Zar! Say your sorry now!" I demanded as I stood between Zarron and the two other bots.

The green and silver mech, who was a little smaller than the gold mech, glanced at the gold mech with a nervous look before the gold one spoke. "Who do you think you are weirdo?"

"My name is Pandimala and Zarron is my friend. Say you're sorry!" I answered him before I demanded that they say sorry again.

Then, the gold mech spoke. "What kind of Autobot are you? Autobots don't have wings. You're a freak!"

In that instant, my spark froze, and I felt a pressure behind my optics. Was I…was I a freak? I knew I was different…did that make me not an Autobot? I then remembered that Ultra Magnus had saved me and had assured me that I could be an Autobot if I fought for it. This was my first battle on that road…and I would not lose! "I'm an Autobot. I fight to protect bots who need help. You're just a bully!" I then felt anger as I clenched both of my servos into fists. "You want to get in my way? Then step right up meanie!"

In response, the green and silver mech looked nervous. "Astrolight…I'm not sure about this." So, the gold bully was called Astrolight. Must mean that he was a housing bot in another house. Well, I didn't care right now. I was hoping that they would stand down. I didn't like fighting, but I would to protect Zarron. Plus, if Tana and Vox got into this, then this could be a playground brawl.

Astrolight looked at the green mech before shaking his helm. "If you aren't going to help me Retrostrike then back off. I'm not going to be scared off by some freak femme." So Retrostrike must be a housing bot too. He didn't seem so bad.

I let out a growl at that but, before I could launch at the mech like I wanted to, I felt a servo on my shoulder. Looking next to me, I relaxed a little when I saw Vox, who had placed his servo on my shoulder, and Tana. "Pandimala, are you okay?" Vox asked me, looking worried.

Nodding, I motioned to Astrolight before saying, "He was picking on Zar. He needs to apologize." I then sent a glare at Astrolight.

Tana nodded at that and looked at Astrolight. "So, you going to say sorry or are we going to have to fight?"

Astrolight looked between the four of us and made a weird sound before he said, "Sorry." He then turned and ran.

Retrostrike glanced between the four of us before he smiled. "Thanks for that. Astrolight pretty much runs the housing unit we live in with the other two younglings we are with and it was nice to see him stopped. I'm Retrostrike."

Everybot introduced themselves to him before I said, "Why do you not say anything to your housing bots?"

Retrostrike shook his helm. "They are gone at work most of the time. We don't want to bother them when they get back because they are usually really tired." He then glanced to where Astrolight ran off to. "Why did you stand up against Astrolight? He's a big mech…though not as big as you, but he is really scary when he is mad."

I let out a nice laugh before I answered him. "Zar is my family. I'll always fight to protect them…no matter what."

End of flashback.

I wasn't sure why that memory came to mind as I worked on waxing my wings. It had been hundreds of stellars since that solar but, whenever something big was about to happen, that memory always came back to me. And something big was happening this solar; I was becoming a Prime. Over these past fifty stellars since that first solar of boot camp…this was what I had been trying to reach for. That almost impossible goal and, now, it was so close to my reach. I could practically feel it brushing against my digits. It was so close, and I wanted it so bad!

Finally, I finished applying the wax and looked in the mirror in front of me. Perfect. Not too much to make me gaudy but not too little to be considered a waste of time. Glancing at my internal clock, I saw that I had a little over a cycle until the ceremony began. It wasn't going to be a big ceremony. The Council was to be there with Ultra Magnus, who would be preforming the ceremony. Also, I had invited all the bots who had been in that first boot camp with me. They were a part of the start of my climb to this ceremony…to be a Prime.

Finally, there would be a mech called Switchcreek in attendance. He was an investigator with the ICD and he and I were friends. He has been the lead investigator in my cases of 'live ammo' accidents. Since he was trying to find out why equipment kept malfunctioning around me, then I felt that he should be there for this. It was in part due to his efforts that I was here and not offline.

Well, I had better get to Fortress Maximus. That was where the Council held their meetings and it would now be the pivot point to a new step in my existence. So, I left my apartment and made my way toward the Fortress.

However, I barely moved two steps before I heard my name. "Pandimala! Wait up!"

I turned and saw Slapjack running up to me. What was he doing out here right now? "Slap! What can I do for you?" I asked the barkeeper.

Once he was up to me, the mech smiled, "I was told to let you know that, once this is done, Hinge wants to have a word with you. Something about Tana."

Nodding, I realized what Hinge was wanting to talk about. "Thanks Slap. We still good for tomorrow?"

In return, Slap nodded. "Yes femme. I'll have the entire bar reserved for you and all your friends. It'll be a party to remember." He then turned to leave. However, before he went too far, Slap turned back to me. "Oh, and congrats on the nomination to be a Prime. Once you're a Prime, I'll have to spruce up my bar to match my clientele."

I snapped my helm to look at the mech. "You better not Slap! I'll come after you if you do!"

He laughed at that. "Good. Don't let being a Prime get to your helm. I must get back to the bar now. Good luck!" He then walked off. Once he was out of sight, I continued my trek to Fortress Maximus. However, I now had something to think about.

Hinge was probably wanting to talk to me about my plans with Tana after this solar. I knew that he knew of my plans. I wanted Tana on my team along with Vox, Balm, Zarron, and Remcy. However, Tana was a Guardian and, up till now, none had ever been borrowed out to another team. Hinge had servo-picked every one of the bots that served as a Guardian and I knew that this was asking for a big leap for the Guardians. It was a rule of theirs that they were independent of the chain of command, which allowed the group to take on high risk missions without worry of being stopped by the political side of a fight.

However, I was going to make sure to inform Hinge that Tana would only answer to me when we were away from Cybertron. She would have full reign on how she followed orders and, if Hinge and the Guardians were in dire need of her, she could travel to them by spacebridge. I was hoping that would be enough to convince Hinge to allow her on my team. I needed her on my team. Ever since we were little, that was all we had talked about. The four of us making a team together. Now, of course, that number was six. But Tana had to be on it.

When I arrived at Fortress Maximus, I glanced up at the tall building. A structure that showed strength and elegance at the same time. It was a pinnacle point of Autobot power and it would stand strong if the Autobot cause stayed true. There would be no preventing it.

I wasn't as naïve as I was when I was younger…when I ran to live with the Autobots. Both sides of the war had their reasons for fighting. I just felt that this had gone on long enough…the fighting. And, my loyalties were with the Autobots. I felt that, once my team was allowed out on the battlefield, we could turn the tides and end this war once and for all. Of course, if Remcy's teasing was to be believed at all, I could end the war as soon as I got the opportunity to be alone with Megatron in a locked room.

…Of course, the odds of that happening were about a billion credits to a half. Wasn't putting my hopes and dreams on the side for that wager.

As I walked closer and closer to the doors of the fortress, I felt my wings shiver. Something big was about to happen and I knew that it was going to change everything. My future was waiting for me, right through those doors, and there would be absolutely nothing that was going to stop my future from unfolding. Ultra Magnus used to always tell me something when I was little and felt like my dreams might be out of reach. 'For every one step that you fall back, you need to run and gain four more.'

My stumble back had been suffering through all the injuries and 'live ammo' incidents. They had been pushing against me and causing me that one step back. Now, my ceremony to Prime was just twenty clicks away and that would be my run for four steps of accomplishment. I would be a Prime after this solar.

Those four steps were within my grasp.

Vox's 1st P.O.V.

"Stop fidgeting Remcy."

I turned to Tana as she said that and noticed that the CIA mech was sitting on the edge and was sitting next to Tana. He looked very uncomfortable. Of course, the mech had shined up his armor and all his weapons were deactivated. It was making me uncomfortable as well…the no weapon's part. As a regular member of diplomatic entourages, I was used to keeping my armor shined up.

However, it was common practice that, if a bot was to attend an event like this in Fortress Maximus, that their weapons be disabled. Even Balm's medical equipment was inaccessible for her. Pandimala, who was the bot of honor at this ceremony, had her weapons disabled and, in the case of her swords, sealed with a special adhesive that was removeable by water. There would be no weapons out during this ceremony except for the Magnus Hammer, which Ultra Magnus would use when he initiated Pandimala into the rank of Prime.

Which, if my internal clock was still correct, would be starting in five clicks.

With myself being the first among our group of six to achieve our goals, the rest of us have come leaps and bounds from where we were during boot camp. I was a well respected member of the CBI, Remcy was a top bot in the CIA and was often asked for his advice, Zarron was often a part of off-world negotiation teams as a highly established scout…having graduated from the Academy with his classmates Mirage and Hound with the highest marks that the Academy has seen yet, Tana was the newest member of the Guardians…the most exclusive group of warriors on the Autobot side known for having the most elite members, and Balm, already making strides as a medic with a reputation of handling high stress operation situations with a calm that makes most trained medics look insecure.

Yes, five out of the six of us had accomplished our dreams and were now using them to improve life here on Cybertron. But, we knew that our goals were much higher than that. The five of us were just waiting for the moment that was about to happen. We were waiting for Pandimala to become a Prime. For her to become a leader that we could follow into battle against the Decepticons and make this fragging war end already. We knew that we could be those pillars, and Pandimala was our chosen leader.

Five bots, some of the best in our fields, being led by a sharp processor like Pandimala's…the Decepticons would be in trouble after this.

Back to the present however…

"Tana, you have enough room to scoot over slightly. You do have Remcy pushed against the edge of the seats." I pointed out to the warrior femme.

In return, Tana shuttered her optics briefly and looked next to her before giving Remcy some more room. "Thanks Vox," Remcy started. "I wasn't sure how long my systems could take that sort of pressure."

That caused Tana to have a reaction. "What was that Rem? I don't think I heard you?" Tana's vocals were slightly tightened as she tried to whisper. She wasn't that good at it.

"Will both of you relax?" Zarron requested of the two of them as he sat cross-legged in his seat. He seemed to be the most relaxed out of the five of us.

But, I knew better. He was deep in thought about something and I wanted to know. "So Zarron, what's on your processor?"

Zarron glanced at me for a nano before he shrugged. "I'm not sure honestly. I think I'm just nervous for 'Mala. With everything that goes wrong around her…how do we know this won't be different? And are we prepared to react in case something does go wrong?"

That caused the others to look at Zarron. Honestly, I had been so excited for Pandimala that I didn't think of something going wrong. However, 'Mala did have a habit of causing live ammo to be used whenever she was in an area that was specifically set up to prevent live ammo from being used. Would her luck go so far as to infiltrate the Council room?

Thankfully for my sanity on that question, Balm answered Zarron. "I don't think we have to worry about that bots." Balm never stuttered around the five of us anymore, including Pandimala in that, and I was glad that she had gotten over that hurdle. It let me get to know her that much better after boot camp started. She was a best friend that I was lucky to have.

"Why not Balm?" Tana asked the medic femme. "Pandimala isn't called 'War Trap' for nothing." That was true. Even though I still didn't like the sound of the nickname at times, it did suit Pandimala and Pandimala had told us that she found the nickname funny.

To answer Tana, Balm motioned to the other side of the aisle. "Switchcreek has thoroughly checked this room. There is no way that Pandimala's normal luck can follow her."

Over there on the other side of the aisle sat Optimus Major, Elita-One Major, and a mech called Switchcreek. He was the lead investigator for Pandimala's cases of 'live ammo' incidents and he was a friend to all of us. Optimus and Elita were here because they had been a part of our original boot camp and Pandimala had invited everybot from that camp to come. She had even invited Anvil, Boombox, and Kup. However, all three of them had plans and had declined. That did leave Sentinel Major though. He had accepted Pandimala's invitation to come to this ceremony, but he wasn't here yet. And, if my calculations were correct, then the ceremony was starting,

A door to the side of the Council seats opened and we all stood as the Council filed into the room. Once they were all in, Ultra Magnus came into the room. He was polished up and he held the Magnus Hammer in his right servo. I felt chills go through my system as I saw him stand in front of the Council. Now, we just had to wait for Pandimala to walk through the door.

Not even two nanos after I thought that, the doors behind us opened and I turned and smiled. There she was; Pandimala, the soon-to-be leader of our team. She was cleaned up and polished and that just amplified her stature as she walked down the aisle. Her helm was held high and she looked like nothing could get in her way. This was going to be the leader of our team and, honestly, I couldn't be prouder. It was hard to believe that this femme was, many stellars ago, the same youngling around my own age who had hidden from Tana's greeting hug. That nervous femme seemed like she didn't exist compared to the confident triple changer walking down the aisle. But, I knew better. Without the first…the nervous femme who I had to coax out from under the table to meet us, then this Pandimala would not exist.

I focused on the front as Ultra Magnus began to speak. "This solar is a very special solar. This solar, the Autobot Pandimala Major," I saw Pandimala flinch slightly at that and smirked lightly. She hated actually being called by a title but, to have her own team with bots as good as the rest of us, she had to be a Prime. That meant the title was a part of the package. "will accept the vows that will allow her to become a Prime." He then turned to Pandimala. "For every question that I am going to ask, the response will be; I do." He then began. "Pandimala, do you swear to uphold the title of Autobot everywhere you go and to any bot you will encounter?"

"I do." Pandimala responded reverently.

Ultra Magnus smiled softly at that and I could see the pride in his optics. While we were all close to Ultra Magnus, the rest of us knew that Pandimala and Ultra Magnus always had a special relationship. In a sense, it seemed like Ultra Magnus would always look to Pandimala as his own creation, and Pandimala had once confided in us that she saw Ultra Magnus as a sire-figure. There couldn't be a better moment for the two of them than this one. "Do you accept the mantle of Prime?" Ultra Magnus questioned Pandimala.

In return, Pandimala nodded. "I do."

Ultra Magnus continued. "And all of its challenges and responsibilities?"

"I do." She again responded.

"Do you swear to follow the command of the Council and the Magnus if the command is within the beliefs of the Autobots?" That was an important question for Ultra Magnus to ask. This would be Pandimala placing herself fully at the service of the Autobot leadership and she would be prepared to fight for them no matter the odds as long as it stayed within the beliefs of the Autobots.

Of course, Pandimala didn't hesitate. "I do." Pandimala was one of the most loyal Autobots that I had ever met. She was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for the Autobot cause, and she was as unwavering a bot as I had ever met.

Ultra Magnus smiled at her direct answer before he went to continue. "And do you,"

"Wait!" Everybot flinched at the sound of Sentinel's vocals and I turned to see that he was at the door that the Council and Ultra Magnus had entered through, looking like he had just ran across the planet to get here. Why was he stopping, "She doesn't deserve to be Prime!" What did that idiot just say? Pandimala didn't deserve to be a Prime? She would give her very spark for the Autobot cause and yet he was saying that she didn't deserve to be a Prime? I noticed a data pad in his servos and doubted that it held some secret that would stop her from being a Prime.

"What evidence can you provide to back up your claim against Pandimala?" Ultra Magnus asked. I had expected him to be almost annoyed with Sentinel's interruption. However, with my training, I had seen a quick flash of worry go across Ultra Magnus' optics. Was there something in Pandimala's past that would cause her to not be eligible to become a Prime?

Sentinel placed the data pad he had been gripping in front of Councilmech Dragstrip, who was the speaker of the Council right now, before saying, "She shouldn't even be on this planet!" It was weird. Sentinel almost looked scared of Pandimala as he kept his optics locked on her. What the frag was, "She is the creation of two Decepticons!"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop to unbearably cold temperatures when he said that. Pandimala was the creation of two Decepticons? For a nano, that was all my processor could think on. But, then I allowed everything that she had done for us to come back in and I realized that Pandimala's family didn't matter. She had proven time and time again that she was worthy of being a top Autobot!

"What say you Pandimala?" Councilfemme Setback demanded of Pandimala. "Do you reject what Sentinel Major is accusing you of…or is it true?"

The only sign that Pandimala gave that she was upset by this was a quick twitch of her wings before she held her gaze at the Council. "It is true." While a small part of my processor was hurt that Pandimala hadn't shared this information with us before, I was more worried about the Council. That question almost made it sound like they would offline Pandimala right now if the answer she gave was the one she did. "I am the creation of two Decepticons. However, I left them in hopes,"

"Silence traitor!" Councilmech Dragstrip interrupted her.

A growl almost slipped my vocals at that and I was about to give the Council a piece of my processor. But, a thin servo against my shoulder caused me to glance to my side and I saw that Zarron was stopping me. What was he doing? He had known her for as long as I had and he knew that she wasn't a traitor! Dragstrip was making 'Mala sound like a monster and Zarron was stopping me from defending her!

"Everybot, stand down. Look at Pandimala. She is our de facto team leader. She has made no move to become violent with the Council. As much as we wish to do so, we must emulate the attitude that Pandimala has taken. Until she makes a move…if she makes a move, then we should not make a move.-Zarron" That private message came from Zarron and, as much as I wanted to rip the Council apart for even thinking that Pandimala was a traitor, I knew that Zar was right. So, I settled down back into my seat and Zarron removed his servo from my shoulder.

I must have missed the Council debating what to do because, suddenly, all of the Council members stood before Councilmech Dragstrip spoke. "By greatest vote, though not a unanimous vote," Right, because he had to say how voting went…but what were they voting on? Not giving Pandimala her rank as Prime? "the Council has come to a decision concerning the femme Pandimala." He then sent a glare down at Pandimala. She, though, stayed standing tall and took the glare. "Pandimala Major, the Council has decided to deny you the position of Prime." No! They couldn't do that.

Councilfemme Setback then took over. "Furthermore," Wait…what else was going on? "you will be stripped of your status as an Autobot effective immediately. You have one cycle to pack anything that you wish to take with you. At the end of that cycle, you are to report to the docking station to board a ship that will be provided for you that will be stocked with half a stellar cycle worth of supplies. You are to leave Cybertron, never to return."

My servo shook as the Council made its decision final. They all then left as two guards came and escorted Pandimala out of the room. As she walked by us, Pandimala sent us a quick apologetic glance before she was led out of the room. Soon, it was just the five of us in the room. How…how could they do this? This wasn't…this wasn't… "This isn't right!" I yelled as I slammed my servo against the seat next to me.

Tana nodded and I noticed that she looked just as angry as I was. "After all the dedication that Pandimala has put into being an Autobot. After all the sacrifices she had to make. It shouldn't matter that she happens to be the creation of two loyal Decepticons!" She then let out a growl to amplify her point.

Remcy finally put in his input. I hadn't seen his reaction during this and, now, I could tell that he was angry. "'Mala has proven her worth to the Autobots so many times that I have lost count. There are probably hundreds of Autobots who owe Pandimala a huge debt of gratitude for how many times she has covered for somebot."

Zarron nodded but I could see that he wasn't showing his anger like we were. "I agree with all of you, and more so in some ways. However, I meant what I said in that message. Pandimala has always led us by example. Even though she is one of the youngest among us, sans Balm, Pandimala has always been a figure that we have all looked up to. She is not fighting this violently…and so we shouldn't either."

"Then how are we supposed to fight this!?" Tana yelled at the scout.

It was quiet among all of us for a nano as Tana asked Zarron that. How were we going to fight this? Primus be slagged I wasn't going to be sitting back while my family was being attacked like this. I had to do something! There had to be something…anything that I could do!

"Why d…don't we do something about it?"

All of us turned to Balm as she said that. While the rest of us had responded vocally upset about this, I had figured that Balm would be more sad than angry about this. I wouldn't think she would be thinking of something to do to go against something as big as this so brazenly. She would support us…I didn't doubt her loyalty to Pandimala, but this was so different.

"Balm," I started, "what can we do that Pandimala would approve of?" I then motioned to the empty Council seats. "We can't overturn the Council's decision on this and I doubt we are going to convince the ones that voted against Pandimala otherwise."

The medic shook her helm. "No, I wouldn't do anything that 'Mala wouldn't approve of. I…" She then paused and I could tell she was barely keeping herself together right now. "I respect her too much to do that." She then looked up at us and I saw a confidence in her optics that I had rarely seen before. "But, being an apprentice to Ratchet had quite a few perks. One is that he speaks his processor about whatever he wants. And with my idea, we can fight the Council and they can't do a thing to stop us."

As the rest of us gathered around Balm to hear this plan, I felt that I was still shaking with anger. The Council would regret this solar. The five of us would make them regret it!

Vox: No! What happened? This isn't right!

Authoress: *cries* I didn't mean to do it! I didn't!

Tana: *paces* We just need to figure out how to destroy Sentinel for destroying Pandimala's dream.

Balm: *shakes helm* No. W...we need to figure out how to h...help Pandimala. And I know how to.

AN: And that is the next exciting chapter! If you read the original, you probably saw that coming. However, there are some slight things that I changed that may or may not affect the story. Things are changing and we have to make sure we keep up with the changes. XD

Next chapter is going to have our group of friends enacting this plan that Balm has thought of. What could it be? It seems like this will be a drastic measure that will surely change their lives forever. Maybe take them away from everything that they knew? I've start work on the next chapter and it will be a long one. But, we are patient...right?

I've decided to start giving you all the titles of the next chapters here at the end. So, without further ado, here are the next chapters.

Chapter 11: When a Door Is Slammed Shut...

Chapter 12: Eine Neue Welt

Chapter 13:...? (find out next time)

Well, that's all for now. Please drop a review, even to say hi, so I know that you all are alive out there! Well, that's all for now. Until next time, TTYL! *watches navy cops chase down suspects*