Chapter 5 The Greatest Gift
Author's note: Hello everyone, sorry for the unexpected hiatus. Many have asked me if the stories are dead. Rest assured they are not. I will try to upload at least once a month. Life threw me for a ride the last couple of months. I was laid off and had to take jobs with crazy hours. Ultimately I love writing this stories and I will continue to do so. So without further ado, please enjoy!
Alpha Trion was grateful for the panic in the streets. It seemed that Megatronus was not alone. Already, he had minions and they were trashing the once proud streets of Iacon. Citizens were running for cover as the buildings went up in flames. Many were wearing cloaks and Solus fit right in with the rest. She ran ahead of him, her cloak pulled in tight to hide her precious cargo. They ducked around shadows, ignoring screams, and hiding their faces from passing police bots.
They made their way to the edge of the buildings, where it all gave away to the openness of the round plaza. A beautiful, though now broken, fountain spouted energon and it was beginning to pool. Many bots dashed across the plaza, afraid to be out in the open. Energon noisefully splashing as it was traversed. Solus and Alpha Trion looked at each other. Their optics agreeing to run for it. They steeled themselves and were about to join the crowds when a wretched laugh broke the air and one of Megatronus's minions fired into the crowd.
Alpha Trion watched in horror as citizens fell with splashes of energon and families were forced to leave their loved ones or risk being shot. He watched as a mech, red and gold, was struck at the neck and he fell into the pool of before he hit the ground.
"Steelfuse!" screamed another mech,this one silver and blue, turning back when he realized his partner was hit. He dropped himself to his knees, energon splashing around him, as he picked his bonded mate up from the energon. Bots continued to fall around him, but to Alpha Trion, only they existed in this moment in time. Only the spark-broken blue mech cradling his loved one's lifeless body and crying to the heavens above.
This can't be no!
And all too abruptly, Alpha Trion was reminded just how real this was. A blast hit the energon directly, igniting the flammable liquid. In a second, the plaza was ablaze. The blue mech was overtaken by the flames at once, his frame had been coated in the leaking energon, both the plaza's fountain and his bonded's. He screamed but continued to cling to his mate and stayed in place. Alpha Trion closed his optics and looked away from the Unicronian image. The screaming stopped and Alpha Trion knew that blue and red were now one with the allspark. Whole once more.
Solus moved then, running back into the safety of the buildings and Alpha Trion let go of a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He got up from where he was crouching and joined Solus, trying and failing for the most part, to block out the screams that continued in the plaza.
It was a small blessing that Optimus continued to sleep, and Alpha Trion wondered if the child was deaf.
"What do we do, Alpha!" Solus cried. "Take out the Covenant." She pleaded. Alpha Trion felt his spark grow impossibly colder; remembering what Primus had revealed to him.
"No," Alpha Trion shook his head. "We have to keep moving,"
"Moving? Where? Through the lake of fire? Toward the Hall of Records where Megatronus is?" Solus hissed. "If it were just me, I'd take on the lake of fire, but Optimus won't survive the heat!"
"We can go around the perimeter," Alpha Trion began, Solus hissed and pushed Alpha Trion down as more of Megatronus minions rushed past.
"Look, Alpha," Solus said as she looked up to check if anyone was near. "Either you take the Covenant out or I'll coax it out."
Alpha Trion relented, knowing that all Solus would have to do is will the book to her. He solemnly took the book out and traded it for the sparkling. Solus opened the book, hopeful for a path to safety to be revealed. A weapon or tool, perhaps, that she could forge. But the Covenant opened to reveal the will of Primus and Alpha Trion looked down at the sleeping mech in his arms. He didn't want to see Solus when she realized that there was no way out.
Primus had different plans for the three Primes huddled against the wall, hiding in the shadows while the center plaza burned. Primus envisioned a future where the Primes faded in the minds of Cybertronians as real leaders and became part of creation myths. One where Alpha Trion became a regular citizen in the mind of the living and took on a new appearance. And a future where Optimus was raised by him.
Alpha Trion rejected the future promised in the prophecy. He wasn't ready to lose the last bit of family he had. He wasn't ready to raise a sparkling. He wasn't ready to be alone. He finally looked up when Solus said nothing. She was sitting with the book on her lap and her optics locked on the sleeping figure in his arms.
Optimus was a strange child, Alpha Trion thought. The sparkling slept through most of the ordeal. He had chirped plenty when they strolled in the cool darkness of the tunnels of inner Cybertron. Solus had cried the whole time, laughing, cuddling, and feeding the tiny being. He had promptly gone to sleep as soon as the sparkling-grade energon was gone. And had rarely opened his optics since. Alpha Trion doubted his optics had seen the Cybertronian moon yet. Dawn was quickly approaching and condensation was beginning to form.
Solus must have been thinking along the same lines as she hummed and took Optimus Prime back into her arms.
"I wonder if this is Primus's doing." she mused. "I am grateful in that case. If Optimus dreams and doesn't hear the screams and feels the heat of the fires or sees the fear in our optics. Then all the better."
She looked up at Alpha Trion then. "It's OK, you know." Coolant spilled over his optics then. She reached over and wiped the tears away. "Oh Alpha. I'm so sorry." She reached over and gave him a one armed hug. She held him there a moment. Alpha Trion closed his optics and allowed himself to be lulled by the soft short breaths of his cousin and warmth of Solus Prime's spark.
"You've been so brave, young one. You do Prima proud." At the mention of his father, Alpha Trion pulled away thinking how Solus and his father would do anything to protect their children but Primus wasn't.
"I'm so angry with Primus! Why does he do this to his children! Why is he letting us die?"
"Shhhhh" Solus whispered and grabbed his hand.
" Solus," Alpha Trion started. But Solus took the Quill and signed the Covenant.
"Alpha, the Primes aren't Primus's only children. All those sparks dying out there because of my brother's greed, they are Primus children too. We were just special because we are the first, charged with caring for all our siblings. You and Optimus and their children, you are the next generations. You are our direct children. "
Solus took a pause looking down at her sleeping child and then looked up at Alpha Trion with glistening optics.
"This." She said giving Optimus a small shake."This is Primus's greatest gift. The gift of seeing you and my child live. The opportunity for you to live full lives and not have the burden of being a Prime on you. The gift of knowing that you and Optimus will have each other. I know it's asking a lot from you, to take care of your cousin. I know it's a lot losing all of us, and I know it's a lot to take in. But Alpha, you have always been the wisest, and if anyone can raise Optimus, it's Prima's child."
Optimus opened his optics then. The deep cerulean bright as he chirped up at Alpha Trion and Solus. Coolant dropped from Solus's optics then. She smiled and lifted the sparkling up to her face. She nuzzled her sparkling and he chirped back happily. Kissing the sparkling's helm finals, she stood up straight to her full height, Alpha Trion was at a loss for words.
He understood that a parent would do anything for his child. He had seen it in the behavior of their citizens. He had read about it. He had experienced it, when Prima had traveled nonstop from lightyears away just to make it on time to see the dawning light of his 100th sparkday with him. He knew she was right, Primus greatest gift was preserving the children, and the more time he took hesitating the more children were lost.
Trembling, he took the Quill up and signed his designation right by Solus. The Covenant glowed then and the glow traveled up Alpha Trion's arms. He felt warm as he felt the power of Primus move through him. And just as when Primus had placed his hand on him, Alpha Trion felt re-energized and at peace.
His colors changed from the aqua green and gold to red and gold. His face grew a beard and his helm's crest was even more pronounced. Solus smiled at him and put a hand up to his face.
Primus, he looks so much more like Prima, now. Solus opened her mouth to say something when a small glow coming from her sparkling caught her attention. On a small area on the helm of her child was a new symbol and the same symbol glowed on Alpha Trion's helm. Prime it read.
" Since our language is now dead, this is our new distinguisher." Alpha Trion said sadly tracing his own etching.
"Don't teach Optimus our language, please?" Solus said removing her cloak and tucking it around Optimus. " It's safer for him, and better that he live unaware of what has happened today."
Solus cradled her sparkling one last time before sighing and handing her treasure over to Alpha Trion. Alpha Trion took his new charge into his arms and nodded once at Solus. Silently, promising to take care of the child. She smiled and then with one last wave, she ran out to the plaza.
The plaza was still engulfed in flames and poor sparks were still risking a fiery death by crossing. She looked up at Megatronus's minions. As soon as the night gave away to his bride the day, the moon would set on the last day everyone remembered who they were but these fools needed reminding on who she was now.
With a hiss, Solus summoned her choice weapon. The Star Saber. Solus focused on the sword willing it from Prima's dwelling. All things she forged, had a piece of her spark and were extensions of her. Imbuing them with their fantastic powers. The sword landed in her outstretched hands just as the minions took notice of her.
Narrowing her optics, Solus held the glowing blade out in front of her it's sharp tip pointed toward the spark chamber of her enemy. The sword was missing it's matrix of leadership as that had to be buried, out Primus knows where, because of her brother. Her brother! Letting fresh anger flood her, she rushed to meet her brother's minions.
Alpha Trion looked down at his cousin. No, he couldn't keep thinking that his cousin was his cousin. He was his-grandson. The older he passed himself as, the longer he could maintain the farce until the sun set. He scanned the alleys and began to walk toward the Hall of Records. He would be safe there. They would be safe there.
The sparkling in his arms chirped blissfully unaware and Alpha Trion was glad that no one had seen Optimus. If the child's chirp caught the attention of anyone they wouldn't see anything more than a sparkling.
Don't move, Alpha Trion Prime.
Alpha Trion froze. He rarely was called his full name and the voice. His grandfather's voice had filled his head and his spark pulsed nervously wondering what he was about to rencounter. He tightened his arms around Optimus. Quietly sushing the child as he strained his audials to hear. He glanced around, spotting other mechs huddled in the shadows of the alley ways and darting around. He realized he was walking back home with very little concern compared to his fellow citizens.
Then he heard it. A pop so faint that if he wasn't straining to hear, he would have missed it. His uncle materialized in front of him and citizens around him yelped in fear and dropped down on one knee to greet the Prime. Alpha Trion upon seeing the others kneel realized that he should too, he was no longer a Prime as far as anyone was concerned. But it was a fraction too late, as he was the last one to make contact with the ground.
"You there!" Megatronous pointed at him. Alpha Trion shook and his spark plused impossibly fast. Slowly he raised his face and tried his best to avert his optics from the very mangled hand Megatronous now sported, courtesy of the Forge.
"What's your command, my Prime." Alpha Trion answered,casually readjusting his child, so his face remained hidden against his chest. But Megatronous was a season warrier, trained to notice details, and his optics narrowed and focused on the bundle the mech was trying to hide.
"What is your relationship to that child?" Megatronous demanded. He wouldn't discard the idea that his lovely sister would hide the child. He cursed his bad timing. If he hadn't wasted so much time fighting Prima, he would have made it a day earlier and would have finished his sister and ended the spark before it had emerged.
Alpha Trion cleared his throat and as evenly as he could replied. "My grandson,"
Megatronus sneered. "Where's the mother?"
"My daughter died. " Alpha Trion flinched as Megatronous reached out and yanked the cloak to reveal the sparkling's face. Alpha Trion thanked his grandfather that the cloak had remained over the Optimus's delicate finials. Megatronous would certainly recognize the family trait. Optimus looked up, innocence clashing with malevolence. Optimus chirped, a little hand breaking free of the cloak and reaching up.
"This is a new spark! When did the mother perish?!" Megatronous roared. This citizen had to be lying. This child may be the one he was looking for. Maybe he should just kill the sparkling and his supposed grandfather now.
A few citizens screamed and coward afraid to be caught up in the anger of the Prime gone mad. Alpha Trion jerked his sparkling back into the safety of his chest as Optimus began to cry. Anger welled up in his chest and his spark calmed with a fire that Alpha Trion had never known before. Standing up straighter, he answered back angrily. " She tried to run across the lake of fire your minions created!"
Megatronous was taken back, but only for a moment. He put his face right up to Alpha Trion who refused to back away.
"What is the child's name?" Megatronus had been semi close to his sister. She had proudly sworn up and down that if she had a little mech his name would be Optimus. Of course the citizen could lie, but if he did, he could trace him down. If Solus didn't have her child, he would rip the information from her processor.
"Answer!"
Alpha Trion clutched the child to his spark, his mind going damningly blank.
"O-" he stopped. Dear Primus! He had been so close to revealing his nephew but there was no taking the syllable back. Megatronous had heard the sound and jerked his head toward him in interest. He knew. He knew Solus had named her son Optimus.
"Spit it out or I will crush both of your sparks, here and now!" Megatronous thundered moving forward menacingly.
Think Alpha Trion, think!
Alpha Trion could feel panic begin to seep into his field and pulled it in tighter.
Wait!
Megatronus began to reach for them.
Trion. Replace the T sound for O and…
"Orion!" Alpha Trion shouted. " Orion Pax" He added remembering the peaceful feeling he had received when he Solus had told him her happy news, and hopefully making it more credible to Megatronous.
With a sneer, Megatrnous lost interest as his sister commed her location. He would find the child any way. And with a pop he was gone.
Solus didn't have to wait long. She felt her brother's sick, evil, and excited feild wash over her as she looked around her from her perch on top of a high building. Less damage to city could be done if they battled higher than most of the buildings skylines.
He materialized in front of her, smirking as he sized her up. His sister wasn't in any special armor and the only weapon she had now was the Star Saber. A sword. He chuckled.
"Not very prepared, sister, feeling confident? Where's my new nephew?"
Solus laughed. She extended her sword toward him.
"If I could do that to your hand unarmed, imagine what I can do armed?"
But Megatronous wasn't that easily distracted.
" Tell me Solus," He drawled surveying the damage done to his hand. "Does the little bundle cry a lot? I would hate to have to deal with that racket. A least Alpha Trion went out quietly. Proud like his stupid father!"
Solus snarled and started to circle her former brother. He was lying. Trying to get a rise out of her. She know Alpha Trion lived and she knew her son's cries will never reach the audials of Megatronus.
"Once you were at least half the mech Alpha Trion was and now you don't even reach his ankles. You are a disgrace to the name Prime!"
He attacked her then, shooting at her while she dodged and deflected.
" You and all of them. Always thinking you were better than me! You the good in the universe and I, the evil in it to balance it!"
"You know it was not like that! You know we understood and even respected your role. But how could you?! How could you turn into Unicron's incarnate and killed us all!"
"Not all, Solus, not yet!" he flashed her a wicked grin. " I will hunt down Optimus and then Solus, then I will have killed you all!"
"I will never find him" Solus gasped, staggering back a few steps. "I will take his location to the grave!"
"Oh my dear sister, I don't think you understand." Megatronus took a few menacing steps toward his quickly tiring brethren. "Death cannot stop me from getting what I want. You see, whether you tell me or not, doesn't change a thing. It's easier and faster for you to just tell me, but I can and I will harvest that information from your dead processor!"
Solus felt dread, cold and heavy, enter her Spark. She hadn't realized her mind wasn't safe, the only way to make her mind useless…
She looked down at her sword. It was unique across the universe. She had forged it from the core of a star. Not just any star. The star of a solar system with no life. The first sun they had harvested successfully. The remaining heat served as her forge. It would be a present for Prima. To congratulated him on his new post-war found leadership. She had even designed a grip at the hilt for Prima to stow the Matrix of Leadership. She had embalmed it with her Energon, just like every other tool she had made. The sword was obedient to her but also usable only to a Prime. And now she would use this to her advantage.
Standing up straight to her full height. She gave her brother a gracious smile. He tilted his head confused at the sudden change in her demeanor. She extended her sword out in the old salute Prima used to give them. Megatronous snarled in anger, taking the salute as an insult. He began to power up the Requiem Blaster. Solus despised the weapon. She had designed it for her brother Megatronous, but even she it's creator couldn't will the weapon to her. It was too overpowered. Sometimes, Solus imagined that its power came from Megatrnous himself.
Solus quickly calculated and aiming correctly she threw the sword over Megatrnous shoulder with all her might.
"Missed." Megatronous laughed. But Solus wasn't aiming for him. Closing her eyes, she quickly sent a plea to her father Primus. Keep them safe. She raised her hand and willed her creation to her. The sword obeyed and swiftly returned to its creator, turning at her will, and sinking to the hilt in her head, destroying her processor.
The momentum sent Solus over the edge of the building's edge and her body fell into the hard surface below. Megatronous watched; cold, hard anger flowing through his energy lines. Solus had taken her secret to the grave. There was no way to get the information from her processor now.
Screams, and gasps filled the street as civilians began to circle around her. Some looked up and found him.
"He did it! "
"He killed his own sister!"
"You have fallen from grace! You're no Prime!"
Megatronous stepped away from the edge. Yes, like always, he had fallen from grace. But one day, he will come back. To destroy Optimus and Alpha who he had not been able to locate either. Only a Prime could harm him, because only a Prime, could wield Solus's weapons, the only ones that can harm him.
"From now on, you will address me as The Fallen!" He roared. And with that he phased into the next dimension. He would wait. Optimus could not hide forever, and one day, he would be the most powerful in the universe.
Alpha Trion was immersed in his own thoughts when the piercing cry rose from the bundle in his arms. He gasped as he felt the hollowness his sister left and he knew that Optimus was feeling it too. Optimus only had his mother's bond and now he had none. A terrible pain no Sparkling should have to feel on it's first day on Cybertron.
He rocked and cooed at the child trying to comfort him, but it was no use. What if? Alpha Trion wondered. He tentatively opened his chest plates enough for his Spark to reach. Alpha Trion willed his spark to reach out for the new one. A tendril of light reached out, curling, caressing, until a new light reached out. And then there was a flash. And the two became one. A parental bond was formed and Alpha Trion was assaulted with the sensation.
Suddenly, he was connected to a new life. The child was all light, all pureness, and all wonder. He was hungry and sleepy. Alpha Trion sent a pulse of reassurance, of love, toward the new spark; over powering the empty feeling, the pain, that Solus's passing had caused.
Peace. Peace is what he received from Optimus.
No. Alpha Trion thought as the first rays of sunlight began to break through the cold mist and catch on Optimus's finials.
Peace is what Orion brings. He corrected himself as he brought the child up higher to tuck Orion's face in the nook of his neck, away from the sun, as he continued to walk towards the Iconian Hall of Records.
As a new dawn broke over Cybertron, as it burned with it the memories of the Primes, and as it signaled a new beginning, Alpha Trion swore to protect and educate his new son.
Orion Pax.