Wow. So many people took the news that Vos wanted to come and meet as such a negative thing. I was a bit surprised.
Chapter Seventeen: Diplomatic Relations
It was almost a lunar cycle before final details for the Vosian delegation's arrival were complete. News of Vos's sudden desire for contact had spread like wildfire through the Council and Senate, everyone stunned by Vos's request for diplomatic talks. Not since before the Great War had any seeker made an appearance on the Council floor. By morning the day after Vos sent its message, word had leaked out and it was all the news-feeds were talking about. Before midday, there wasn't a single bot on Cybertron or any of its surrounding satellites that still didn't know the Vosians were planning to venture outside of their city.
Over the lunar cycle that followed, Optimus felt like he had talked to every active senator and council-member. As Prime, it was unofficially expected that he would lead negotiations with the seekers - whatever those negotiations might be. As could be expected, many were dubious of Vos's interest in renewing inter-city relations. Memories of the Great War were still fresh in many people's minds, as were memories of the seekers' role in Megatron's quest for first global- then universal-conquest. The politicians were nervous and expressed such feelings to Optimus in no uncertain terms. What were the Vosians hoping to gain by regaining the Council? What did they want? It was now common knowledge that Optimus's adopted son was a seeker. Did whatever they want have something to do with Starfall?
While Optimus offered nothing in the way of explanation to the throngs of nervous senators (he had just as much information as they did) the thought was on his mind as well. He was sure the seekers' interest in renewing relations with Iacon was somehow connected to Starfall. But whether their interest was for good or bad, Optimus still didn't know. Over that lunar cycle of preparations, that uncertainty was a constant presence in the back of his processor and gripped at his fuel tank every time he thought of his son and what the Vosians might want from him. Would they somehow try to claim Starfall as their own? Would they try and use Starfall as a pawn in some sort of scheme?
Optimus didn't know. But what he did know was that if the Vosians tried to do anything against Starfall or try and take him away from Optimus and Ironhide, they had better be ready to go to war for him. Optimus would not idly stand by as someone tried to steal his sparkling or use his son for their own purpose.
As Optimus stood on the rooftop of the Iaconian Senate tower with a group of other high-ranking politicians waiting for the Vosian delegation to arrive, those thoughts once again crept into Optimus's head. Today was the orn the seekers were to arrive for preliminary talks. As Prime, it went without saying that he would be amongst the group of politicians that came out to greet the Vosians. At least a dozen senators and council-members waited on the roof with him. While the arrival of Vosians to Iacon was still viewed with some suspicion and doubt, there were few if any politicians who did not see this as an opportunity to gain power and advance their careers. If the Vosians were serious about rejoining Cybertron's High Council, untold benefits could be gained from political ties with the seeker delegates. Optimus was not too surprised to find himself waiting for the seeker representatives that morning with Senator Scion by his side.
"I hope the weather holds until the Vosians arrive," Scion said with a glance towards the sky. "I would hate to have to meet the Emirate's representative in the middle of a downpour."
Optimus followed his gaze upwards. All morning the sky had been overcast with ominous looking green-tinged clouds. A storm was brewing. The news-feeds that morning had said an acid rain front was moving in. It was expected to hit sometime later in the orn. Optimus wasn't one to believe in superstitions or premonitions, but the hope nonetheless crossed his mind that the coming storm wasn't a sign of how his meeting with the Vosians was fated to play out.
"I do not think we have to worry too much, Senator," he said. "I am sure the Vosians will arrive before the storm hits."
Scion glanced at Optimus. "Do you still intend to meet with the Vosian representative alone?"
"I do. That was one of the requests of their visit and I intend to honor it. I would like to know what kind of relationship they wish to rebuild with the rest of Cybertron's city-states. It has long been my dream that all those of our race someday become one again."
Scion frowned. "I believe it goes without saying that the Vosians have at least some amount of interest in your son."
"I am not naïve to think that they do not. But how much of an interest they have in Starfall still remains to be seen," Optimus tightly replied.
"That reminds me. I have not heard anything back from you or Consort Ironhide about getting our sons together for a play date. Aftershock was asking me just last night about when he could spend some time with Starfall outside of the academy."
"I will have to check with my sparkmate about that. Ironhide's taken to overseeing a lot of Star's after-school schedule and would know more about when Star was available than I do. With me being so busy with council matters lately, I have not been able to spend as much time with my family as I'd want to. There have been several times in the last few deca-cycles when I've arrived home and Star was already asleep."
Scion's disappointment was palpable. "I see. Well, please pass on my continued desire to find a mutually convenient time for our sons to get together to Consort Ironhide."
"Of course," Optimus nodded. He already knew what his sparkmate would say, though. Ironhide had made it no secret to Optimus what he thought about the blue and gold senator or his son. Starfall in recent deca-cycles had also become close friends with another sparkling his own age and spent most of his free time with him. Optimus was overjoyed that Starfall had finally found a friend. Convoy was a polite and well-behaved, if not extremely shy, sparkling. Optimus had immediately thought Convoy a good friend for Starfall when he'd come home one orn to find the two of them playing in Starfall's room. Optimus was also starting to get the impression that Ironhide had found a new friend himself in Convoy's father, Burnout. While Optimus had yet to meet Convoy's sire, the way Ironhide talked about him made him feel like he would like the mech as well.
While Ironhide was not necessarily antisocial, he rarely went out of his way to interact with other bots on a friendly basis. Perhaps it was Optimus's position as Prime that made it difficult and tiring to find other bots to be social with on an informal basis, but Ironhide and he usually were more content to spend their free time alone together at the end of the orn than with others. Except for several bots who'd been officers under Optimus during the Great War like Jazz, Prowl, Ratchet and a few others, there weren't many other bots they considered more than just friendly acquaintances. Everyone that approached them always seemed to have some ulterior motive for wanting to spend time with the Prime and Consort. Optimus assumed that was why Ironhide was always so suspicious of meeting new people. He hated the idea of him or Optimus being exploited for someone else's personal gain. Burnout, however, seemed to have earned his way past Ironhide's natural distrust of new acquaintances. Optimus was glad. He'd often felt that he and Ironhide needed to expand their personal network of friends. He looked forward to someday meeting Convoy's father.
Optimus was broken out of his thoughts by an aide running up to his side and announcing, "The Vosians just radioed. They've just crossed Iacon's outer perimeter and are heading for the tower. E.T.A.: five klicks."
"Thank you," Optimus nodded as the aide turned and scurried away back into the crowd of waiting politicians and press.
Everyone began scanning the skies. Before too long a shape appeared on the horizon and quickly materialized into a sleek transport shuttle. An audible hush fell over the crowd of dignitaries and press gathered. A flurry of camera flashes exploded as the shuttle slowed and angled itself down over the roof. Slowly, it dipped low and came to rest in an open area of space on the far side of the roof they'd cordoned off for the seekers' landing. Whoever was piloting the transport expertly landed it so the shuttle's door was perfectly lined up with the length of red cloth the Council had rolled out for their arrival. While the Vosians' visit was still held in much suspicious that didn't mean that all proper protocols for visiting dignitaries weren't going to be observed.
The shuttle doors opened and four seekers descended. Three of the four seekers were coneheads. Their paintjobs were a uniform blue and silver - obviously members of some kind of high-ranking Vosian security force. They flanked the fourth of their party, a brightly painted red, white and gold seeker whose bearings and poise seemed to ooze regal dignity. Optimus immediately knew who of the four mechs he would be dealing with. Behind the representative appeared another trine of seekers. Unlike the security detail, they sported brighter paint jobs and hung back from the main party closer to the door of the shuttle. Optimus figured they were some kind of administrative aides. He stepped forward to met the red and gold mech as the representative strode down the clothed walkway with his security detail following close behind. Cameras flashed and reporters jockeyed for better positions to take pictures.
"Optimus Prime," the Vosian delegate smiled as though greeting a lifelong friend he hadn't seen in ages. He dipped his helm and performed one of the most elaborate formal bows Optimus had ever seen. Delicately kicking one foot behind him, the mech bent forward with his arms outstretched to the sides so that his wings swooped gracefully out behind him. "My name is Cloudbreaker, representative of the Vosian Emirate. It is such an honor to finally meet you."
"It is an honor to meet you as well, Cloudbreaker," Optimus said. He held his hand out to Cloudbreaker, which the seeker eagerly accepted. Returning Optimus's handshake with one hand, Cloudbreaker elaborated the gesture by wrapping his other hand overtop their joined servos. Cloudbreaker was shorter than Optimus, his helm barely coming to Optimus's chin. Handsome and sleek he cut a fine profile next to Optimus. Behind Optimus, the press cameras flashed crazily. Optimus and Cloudbreaker remained joined by the hands to give the press the time to capture the moment.
"Welcome to Iacon. I hope your trip was not too strenuous."
"Not at all. I am just glad to arrive before this storm hit. Acid rain is not something my paintjob likes."
"I must admit, I was rather surprised to see you arrive in a shuttlecraft."
Cloudbreaker chuckled, the living embodiment of political charm. "My security detail and I could have flown here ourselves from the edge of the city, but it was ultimately decided that the people of this city might not react well to seeing seekers flying overhead so quickly after Vos just ended its isolation. We thought it prudent to arrive like any non-flying representative would to help stave off panic and popular suspicion. We do not want people thinking we are somehow trying to invade your city by flying in."
The flash of cameras seemed to be dying down. Optimus and Cloudbreaker finished their handshake and broke apart. Optimus gestured to the crowd of waiting politicians. "This way, please." Together he and Cloudbreaker moved towards the line of dignitaries. Cloudbreaker's security detail of coneheads followed a pace behind.
"May I introduce you to Senator Scion," Optimus said. "He is head of a number of different Council committees including Inter-city Trade, Colonial Relations and Intergalactic Commerce."
"A pleasure," Cloudbreaker smiled as he dipped once more into an elaborate bow.
Scion bowed his head as well. "The pleasure is mine. I hope to have the opportunity to speak with you soon. I am sure Vos and Iacon would mutually benefit from renewed trade with each other. Before the Great War, Vos was one of the richest cities on Cybertron."
"Vos still is," Cloudbreaker proudly smiled. "One of the Emirate's greatest desires is to reestablish relations with other cities. I look forward to speaking with you more on the matter soon."
Scion beamed with anticipation as he stepped aside to let the next senator approach. Proceeding in this fashion, Optimus introduced Cloudbreaker one-by-one to the crowd of delegates who had come out to greet him. The entire time cameras flashed and vid-cams rolled as reporters detailed everything for that evening's news-feeds.
Optimus finished introducing Cloudbreaker to the last senator just as the first few drops of rain began to hit the rooftop. "Shall we continue this inside?" Optimus suggested, motioning towards the door.
"That would be a good idea," Cloudbreaker agreed with a gracious smile.
"This way then." As Optimus led Cloudbreaker inside the tower, the crowd of senators, council-members and press began to break up and head for the door as well - the photo-opt complete. The wind was beginning to pick up. Within a deca-klick Optimus was certain the storm would begin in earnest. "Would you like some time to settle in and rest before we begin political talks? I can have an aide show you to your quarters. The tower has a floor of habitation suites set aside for visiting dignitaries like yourself."
"Thank you, that is very kind," Cloudbreaker smiled. "But if it's all the same to you I would like to have the opportunity to speak with you in private before more public proceedings begin. There are several things the Emirate wished me to speak to you about as soon as possible. The sooner these matters are cleared up, the faster I can begin talks with the rest of the Council."
A sour knot of dread tightened the lining of Optimus's fuel tank. While Cloudbreaker was the perfect dignitary - his smile beaming and his demeanor the epitome of politeness - Optimus read the implications between his words. Cloudbreaker had been sent there by the Vosian Emirate with a very specific purpose in mind and no negotiations of any sort were going to begin until he spoke with Optimus in private. Optimus had a sinking suspicion what Cloudbreaker's true purpose for being there included.
"Of course," Optimus nodded. He hid his misgivings behind a diplomatic mask. "I will show you to my private office."
Cloudbreaker nodded with a smile. "Thank you." He glanced backwards over his shoulder vent to the trine of guards following them. "Vaportrail?"
"Yes, sir?" the middle-most conehead said.
"Help Windsurfer and his trine bring our supplies in from the shuttle and take them to our habitation suites. Once we are unpacked, have Windsurfer prepare my talking points for my Council address tomorrow. Also see to it that the gifts we brought are distributed to all the senators and Council-members I just met."
"Yes, sir," Vaportrail nodded. The seeker guards did a smart about-face and disappeared back outside onto the rooftop.
Cloudbreaker turned back to Optimus with a handsome smile. "Shall we?"
Optimus nodded. "This way." He led Cloudbreaker to a bank of lifts and ushered him inside one. They rode down several floors and stepped off into a hallway lined with private office suites. "Senator Phalanx has seen to it that besides your habitation suite you will have a private office to work out of while you are here in Iacon. If Vos rejoins the Council as a permanent member those offices and residence will become yours or whoever else comes in your place to Iacon as Vos's representative."
"Your hospitality is beyond words. Despite the Council's quick response to the Emirate's request to meet, many in Vos were doubtful the Council would welcome any seekers back into Cybertronian politics. Many on this planet still blame us for much of the damage caused over the course of the war. We did not think we would be received as warmly as we have."
"The Great War happened a long time ago. While some wounds can never be forgotten, my greatest wish is to someday see all those of our race united again. Anything I can do to help bring all makes and models together, I will."
"That makes me so glad to hear," Cloudbreaker smiled. "While I'm sure it is the same here in Iacon as it is in Vos, those who lead political careers are often wary of accepting such passionate pledges of solidarity and reconciliation at face value. Rarely are such promises actually carried out. But I feel confident in saying that I believe you when you say you want to see all the city-states working in cooperation again. It was your own initiative that made the Emirate become hopeful that Vos would be welcomed back to the Council. Actions speak louder than words, as they say."
Optimus did not respond except to stiffly nod in acknowledgement of Cloudbreaker's words. He did not want to discuss this while they were still in the halls where any set of prying audio receptors could listen in on their conversation. "Here is my office," Optimus said as he led Cloudbreaker to a set of doors at the end of the hall. He keyed the doors open and gestured Cloudbreaker inside as the lights snapped on. The first thing one noticed when one walked inside Optimus's office was the giant set of windows that dominated two sides of the room. Despite the dark storm clouds rolling in over the city and the streaks of acid rain running down the glass, the panoramic view of Iacon the windows afforded was breathtaking. A giant desk was set in front of the windows, stacked with piles of data pads and reports. In front of the desk was a set of chairs. Optimus gestured for Cloudbreaker to sit, which the seeker delegate did with a gracious smile. Optimus walked around the desk and sat in his own chair. For a long moment of silence he stared at Cloudbreaker, studying the seeker's face and wondering how to broach the real reasons for Vos's interest in coming to Iacon. He was saved the effort by Cloudbreaker announcing it himself.
"I suppose you know why the Emirate really sent me here to Iacon," he said in an off-handed way. Cloudbreaker leaned back in his chair and crossed one pede across his knee joint, regarding Optimus coolly.
"I believe I do," Optimus just as coolly replied. The time for political charades was done.
"While Vos has not had any official relations with the Council or any other planetary politics since before the Great War, the Emirate has kept a network of informants operating across the planet to keep Vos informed of the latest going-ons of other city-states. Oh, don't look so surprised, Prime. We know you have your spies too. Several lunar cycles ago, word reached Vos from one of our informants that said that you and your sparkmate, Consort Ironhide, had adopted a young seeker as your child."
"We've made no secret of this," Optimus replied. "We adopted Starfall from a local hatching facility. While Ironhide and I did not make a formal announcement of our adoption, we did not take any measures to keep such information secret either. We openly acknowledge Starfall as our son."
Cloudbreaker leaned towards Optimus and stared into the Matrix-bearer's optics. Only now did Optimus notice the deep gold hue of Cloudbreaker's optic lens. "The Emirate took notice of your choice in offspring. When news reached Vos of your adoption, many saw it as an invitation for Vos to renew relationships with other cities."
"That was not my original intent when I adopted Starfall. Starfall was lonely and in need of a good home. My sparkmate and I were without children and wanted a sparkling to call our own. Those were the only considerations I had when I chose Starfall to be our son. We did not adopt him to make some kind of political statement."
Cloudbreaker leaned back in his seat and gazed at Optimus with suddenly scrutinizing optics. "Perhaps you did not adopt Starfall for political reasons, but many in Vos were still surprised to hear that you came across a seeker sparkling outside of Vos. Tell me, how did this happen? It is my general impression that the rest of Cybertron is not fans of those with wings. When did Iaconian hatchling facilities start programming their sparklings as seekers?"
Optimus's gut reaction was to suspect Cloudbreaker somehow knew Starfall's real identity - that he was the reincarnated spark of Starscream. Such information in the hands of a city-state as powerful as Vos could spell untold dangers. How could such information be used against the Council, Optimus or Starfall himself? Would Vos try to use that information to blackmail or manipulate Optimus to their own advantage? Optimus had been involved in politics long enough now to know that any kind of sensitive information could be used to exploit another person.
As Optimus stared into Cloudbreaker's optics, however, he slowly began to realize that what he had initially taken for suspicion on Cloudbreaker's part was genuine curiosity. Unless Cloudbreaker was an exceptionally good actor, he truly did not understand how a seeker had come online outside of Vos. If the Vosians didn't know about his son's true origin then Optimus was determined to keep it a mystery.
"As far as I know, Starfall is the only sparkling of his kind outside of Vos. The administrator of the facility expressed just as much confusion for Starfall's make when Ironhide and I discovered him. Her only explanation was what she has led me to believe was some kind of one-in-a-billion-chance error in Starfall's programming code. Short of calling it a work of Primus, no one has any explanation for how this happened."
"How odd," Cloudbreaker murmured, his optics narrowed thoughtfully. "Still - and please forgive me for pressing this topic so much, but those I represent back in Vos are desperate to understand this - how did you come to adopt your son at such an age? Our information leads us to believe he is of early school age, yet all information says that you adopted him less than four lunar cycles ago."
Optimus calmly regarded Cloudbreaker across the width of his desk. "The information you have is correct. We haven't had Starfall for long, but he started at one of Iacon's best academies a few lunar cycles ago. When my sparkmate and I discovered Starfall at the hatchling facility, he had been there for a number of batches. Despite Iacon's high demand for sparklings, Starfall's unique model made other couples… uncomfortable about adopting him."
"I see," Cloudbreaker tightly said. He regarded Optimus for a moment of thoughtful silence. "Do you happen to have a photograph of your son? I am curious to see what Starfall looks like."
Optimus hesitated, the diodes along his back struts tingling with suspicion.
"Please," Cloudbreaker insisted as though sensing Optimus's protective protocols kicking in. "I only wish to know what your son looks like. He has remained such a mystery to us despite your openness about his adoption. Those I represent see him as a possible catalyst to bring our estranged city-states back together. Surely you can understand our curiosity."
Optimus studied the Vosian representative for a moment before slowly reaching out to a digital photo frame displayed on the corner of his desk. The picture he had the frame set on was one of Starfall he'd taken the day they had gone to the Crystal Gardens. Starfall was posed in front of a large blue crystal formation. He was smiling at the camera, his turquoise optics and snowy white plating contrasting beautifully with the colors of the crystals behind him. If one looked carefully, Starfall's souvenir crystal could be seen proudly clutched in one hand. It was one of Optimus favorite pictures of Starfall.
With a lingering note of hesitation, Optimus offered Cloudbreaker the digital frame. Cloudbreaker took it and stared at the display for several klicks of thoughtful silence. As he studied Starfall's picture a noticeable frown appeared on Cloudbreaker's face and his optics narrowed with quiet displeasure.
Optimus was instantly alarmed. "Is there a problem?"
"No," Cloudbreaker stiffly said as he handed Optimus the frame back and leaned back in his seat. "I am just disappointed by this city's lack of refined taste."
"Excuse me?"
"Your son is an exceptionally handsome construct," Cloudbreaker explained. "If he had come online in Vos, he would not have remained in a hatchling facility for as long as you say he did. There would have been bidding wars on him the moment he came online. The elite of Vos would never have let him go unclaimed. He would never have been left to rust in a hatchling facility like he was some kind of piece of trash. It breaks my spark to think how many grounders were unable to recognize such aerodynamic perfection when they saw it. I have no doubt your son will one orn grow into a strikingly beautiful mech."
Optimus at first was taken aback, then saddened by Cloudbreaker's observation. "I assure you, both I and Ironhide recognize and appreciate Starfall for everything he is and everything he represents. It broke my spark when I found out how long Starfall was in that facility. If I had found out about him earlier I would have immediately taken him in. There isn't an orn that goes by that I do not wish I had found Starfall when he was still a newspark."
"I have a son as well. His name is Cloudburst," Cloudbreaker abruptly announced. "He is about the same age as Starfall. Cloudburst is not quite as handsome as yours, but still very well constructed, if that's not too bold of me to say."
Optimus found that hard to believe. Cloudbreaker was an extremely handsome mech. If his offspring had been conceived through a sparkbond and not constructed in a hatchling facility there was no way he was not a good-looking sparkling. But then again, all seekers were attractive in Optimus's opinion. Seekers were undeniably one of the most eye-catching models of their race.
Cloudbreaker leaned forward in his seat. "Forgive me if I seem forward, Prime, but I wish to propose an arranged sparkbond between our sons. Vos and Iacon would make powerful allies. What better way to bring our lines together than through a bond when they come of age? There is also the possibility that, after some time, Cloudburst and Starfall will come to truly love each other and someday choose to become trine mates as well."
Optimus sat there for a moment of stunned silence, digesting the seeker's proposal. While Cloudbreaker's proposal had been unexpected, Optimus was really not that surprised by it. He'd been suspicious when Vos first expressed interest in coming to Iacon. He'd suspected they had some kind of interest in Starfall. He just hadn't necessarily been prepared to deal with the idea of an arranged sparkbond for his son just yet - especially when Starfall was still so young. He thought he'd at least have until Starfall was a pre-upgrade before he had to deal with such proposals from politicians looking for power-alliances through their children.
Optimus feigned regret. "I am sorry, Cloudbreaker, but I am going to have to decline your offer. I am honored by your interest in my son, and I'm sure Cloudburst would make a fine match for Starfall, but my sparkmate and I agreed when we became bonded ourselves that we would never force any children of ours into a political bond for any reason. We agreed we would let them choose their own mates for love."
Cloudbreaker's disappointment was physically palpable. He did his best to hide it, but Optimus could still sense the seeker's defeat. He seemed to take it in stride, however. Cloudbreaker offered Optimus a thin smile as though to show he was being a good sport about it. "That's very admirable of you, if not slightly naïve to give up such a powerful bargaining tool," he said. "Especially for a Prime. Those in our line of work are rarely afforded the luxury of choice. Our lives are lives led by obligation and duty. Barely an orn after my son came online I was already fielding offers for him from several Vosian families who wished to connect their lines with mine. Perhaps it is different here in Iacon than it is in Vos. But those from powerful families rarely choose their own mates. They are chosen for them. That is how politics is done in Vos. Powerful spark-lines bond their children with the children of other powerful spark-lines."
"Arranged bonds are not unheard of here in Iacon or in other city-states, but they are not exactly common either," Optimus said. "Nonetheless, my sparkmate and I have already agreed we will never bond Starfall to anyone he does not choose for himself."
Cloudbreaker regarded Optimus with a look of renewed consideration. A wry smile pulled at his lips. "The Emirate warned me you were a bot of strong convictions. I just didn't completely believe those warnings until now."
Optimus quirked his head at Cloudbreaker, amused. "I hope that's a compliment," he joked.
"It is," Cloudbreaker smiled. "If you and your sparkmate ever change your minds about arranging a bond for Starfall, though, please keep my son in consideration. I still say we could establish a powerful tie between our cities through them."
"I will keep that in mind," Optimus agreed with a chuckle. A sudden thought occurred to him. "Before, when you were talking about Cloudburst and Starfall being bonded, you mentioned them also someday becoming trine mates. Is not a sparkbond more important than being trine mates?"
Cloudbreaker seemed surprised by Optimus's question. "No," he shook his helm. "Sparkbonds can be political, but trine bonds are sacred amongst my people. Trine mates have to trust and rely on each other in ways sparkbonded couples do not. You cannot just be told to fly with someone else. When you are flying at high speeds hundred of meters above the ground your trine mates are your guides and lifelines. So many things can go wrong when flying, especially when flying in tight formations. That's why one's trine mates must be like an extension of oneself. You must be able to trust them wholly. A seeker flying by himself is just a flier. But a seeker with a trine is a force to be reckoned with. Those of one's trine are often considered closer than anyone from that bot's own family - even closer than sparkmates sometimes. Trine bonds among seekers are not something that are to be taken lightly. Trine bonds go beyond anything a sparkbond represents in our culture because they can only be chosen, never dictated."
Optimus mulled Cloudbreaker's explanation over carefully. Only now did he realize how little he really knew about seekers. Seekers were so mysterious. While Optimus wished to raise Starfall to be proud of his frame-type, Optimus understood his limitations to do so. How could he teach Starfall to be proud of who he was when he knew so little about them himself? He knew some fliers - Skyfire, Silverbolt and the other Aerialbots - but none of them were seekers and wouldn't be able to offer Starfall much more advice and guidance than Optimus was. Seekers were unique in their culture and flying combinations. Only a seeker could give another seeker such insight.
"I see you were not expecting this explanation," Cloudbreaker observed.
"I admit I was not. I am only now beginning to understand how little I know about seeker culture."
"You are a Prime. Shouldn't you know about the people you say you represent in Primus's name?"
"Yes. But in my defense, except for a few encounters with seekers on the battlefield during the Great War I have not had many opportunities to get to know a lot of seekers personally. When Vos became an isolated city, you seekers became even more reclusive than before. You remain a bit of a mystery to the rest of the planet. I know very little of seekers except for stereotypes and hearsay which we both know are mostly made up or exaggerated."
"And yet you hope to raise a seeker sparkling - you who admittedly know so little about seeker culture?" Cloudbreaker observed.
Optimus felt stung. Before he could form a response, Cloudbreaker beat him to the punch.
"Forgive me. I was rude. I did not mean to imply you are incapable of raising a seeker child. I suspect you are a very capable creator. As you said, we seekers are a reclusive frame-type. So many prejudices exist against us it is safer to remain closeted amongst our own kind. You cannot be blamed for not knowing certain things about us." Cloudbreaker leaned towards Optimus across the desk. "Before I left Vos, the Emirate bid me to extend an invitation to you and your family to come and visit Vos if I thought there was hope of Vos opening up relations with the rest of Cybertron again. I do not think it too preemptive of me to think there exists such a hope. Even though you declined my offer for an arranged sparkbond, I believe our cities could still forge an alliance through Starfall. Bring Starfall to Vos. Let him have the opportunity to meet others of his frame-type and learn more about his frame-culture. Let him meet my son and the children of other members of royal line. The Emirate is interested in renewing relations with the rest of Cybertron's city-states. Vos is ready to end its isolationism. It would be my honor to host you, Consort Ironhide and Starfall in my city and show you firsthand what Vos has to offer the rest of Cybertron."
Optimus sensed Cloudbreaker was still holding out hope of somehow crafting some sort of friendship between his son and Starfall, but the offer sounded legitimate enough. Optimus had expected such an invitation would be made for him to go to Vos before the seeker delegation even arrived. The formation of new alliances usually involved diplomatic visits between sovereignties.
"It would be my pleasure to visit Vos with my family," Optimus said. "I know Starfall will certainly enjoy meeting others of his same frame-type, especially if they are the same age as him."
Cloudbreaker gave a dazzling smile, his entire demeanor radiating victory. "Excellent. I will begin making preparations as soon as I return to Vos after my time here in Iacon. The Emirate will be overjoyed to hear you've accepted my offer. This is certainly the beginning of a new age. I am sure of it. With Vos a member of the Council again, together we can help usher in a new Golden Age."
"I hope for that with all my spark," Optimus replied. He held his hand out to Cloudbreaker across the desk which the seeker eagerly took.
"To a new Golden Age, Prime," Cloudbreaker grinned.
"To a new Golden Age," Optimus agreed.
That evening found Optimus walking down the hallway to his domicile from the lifts. He was tired and his back struts were sore from sitting so long. Dusk had fallen joors ago but he'd only managed to leave the Senate tower a few deca-klicks before. Cloudbreaker's arrival had dominated all Council meetings that day, which had lasted long into the evening. The Vosians wished to reestablish trade routes with other city-states as well as regain their old seat on the Council. With Cloudbreaker's arrival also came a mountain of paperwork, legal proceedings and negotiations. While Optimus was glad that Vos wished to rejoin Cybertronian politics, he couldn't help but feel he'd opened up some sort of flood gates. The amount of diplomatic work that lay ahead of him was daunting. It would be lunar-cycles before life quieted down again. Optimus was also not looking forward to having to tell Ironhide he'd accepted Cloudbreaker's offer to visit Vos. Ironhide usually accepted his duty to appear in public at diplomatic events as the Prime's sparkmate without too much complaint. But this was Vos - the city-state of the seekers. Ironhide might have come to accept Starfall's place in their family, but there was no saying how he would react to the news he was going to visit the home city of his former enemies.
Optimus vented a sigh. He could only hope his sparkmate realized how important this trip was for Vosian-Council relations. If he could establish a peaceful relationship with the Vosian Emirate on this trip then-
Optimus abruptly froze in the middle of the hallway. The door to his and Ironhide's domicile stood at the end of the hall, several paces ahead. For a moment Optimus wasn't sure if he'd heard what he thought he just did. Then it came again - a sharp shriek from inside his and Ironhide's domicile that sent a cold rush of fear running down Optimus's back struts. It was a sparkling voice and it sounded like it was frightened or in pain.
Optimus ran the last little bit of the hallway to the apartment and frantically keyed open the door. That was unmistakably Starfall's voice. But what was wrong? A thousand worries immediately filled Optimus's head. Was he hurt? Were he and Ironhide fighting? He thought they'd finally started to come together as creator and child. Ironhide and Starfall had been getting along so well these last few deca-cycles. Had something happened? Had-?
The door swooshed aside. Optimus surged inside and immediately froze in the threshold. What he saw was not the scene he'd been expecting.
Ironhide and Starfall were in the main living area of the domicile wrestling on the floor. The lounge table had been pushed to the side to give them more room. Neither seemed to notice Optimus's entrance they were so engrossed in their play. As Optimus watched in stunned silence, Starfall - shrieking with laughter - launched himself at Ironhide who caught him in a bear hug, spun him over his knee and gently pinned him to the ground underneath one leg. Starfall squealed with laughter as he struggled underneath Ironhide's knee, his arms, legs and wings helplessly squirming against the floor.
"Gottcha!" Ironhide crowed in victory. The old mech's systems were running a bit hard Optimus noticed. They must have been wrestling for some time. "Ah win."
"Nuh uh!" Starfall laughed, still tightly pinned on his back under Ironhide's leg. "I win!"
"How yeh figure that, bitlet? Ah'm the one that's got yeh down fer the count. Ah get ta choose the next show we watch."
"But we've been watching news-feeds for joors!" Starfall complained. "I'm bored! I wanna watch a sparkling show."
Ironhide sighed. "Alright, fine. Ah'll let yeh watch yer show this time, but next time yer gonna hafta beat me fer it."
Optimus delicately cleared his throat line.
Starfall glanced up and only then seemed to notice Optimus standing there. "Dad!" he cried happily. Ironhide lifted his leg to let Starfall up. The miniature seeker scrambled to his pedes and ran to Optimus, smiling from one side of his face to the other. "Dad, you're home!"
"Hello, Star," Optimus smiled as he bent to meet Starfall with open arms. He caught Starfall in a hug and scooped him into his arms. He retracted the sides of his mask as he squeezed Starfall's smaller frame against his. It was so good to be home after such a long day like today. With Starfall's arms wrapped around his neck, Optimus glanced at his sparkmate with a surprised, but amused smile. He hadn't expected to come home and find his sparkmate and son playing like that. Ironhide returned the smile with his as he awkwardly tried to get up off the floor. Optimus heard his gears protesting the movement all the way across the room.
"Welcome home," Ironhide said.
"It's good to be home," Optimus agree, hugging his son's small body to his chest. "I thought the meetings would never end."
"Did you see the other seekers today, dad?" Starfall demanded. "Were there lots of them?" Since hearing that other seekers were planning to come to Iacon, Optimus's meeting with the Vosian representative was all Starfall had been able to talk about. Every orn for the last lunar cycle the first thing Starfall always asked him when he got home was if the Vosians had finally arrived. His interest in those of his own frame-type was understandable.
"I did meet some," Optimus nodded. "There were seven of them total, but only one was an actual representative. I was able to speak with him personally for awhile. His name is Cloudbreaker."
"What was he like? Does he look like me?"
"He looks just like you, wings and all, only bigger."
"Can I meet him?" Starfall asked, his optics wide and pleading. "I want to see another seeker."
Optimus glanced at Ironhide over Starfall's head. The weapons specialist's facial places were set in a stiff expression. His optics gleamed with a look Optimus couldn't exactly name. Ironhide had been extremely touchy about the subject of seekers ever since Vos sent word that they wanted to meet.
"How about you go wash up, Star, and we'll talk about it over our evening fuel," Optimus suggested as he lowered Starfall back to the ground. "I will tell you all about Cloudbreaker and the other seekers then."
"Okay!" Starfall said and scurried away down the hallway to the wash rack.
Optimus didn't have to wait for Ironhide to begin his interrogation.
"So, wha' happened? Wha' do they want?" Suspicion radiated off every bolt and nut of the old mech.
Optimus motioned for Ironhide to follow him into the kitchenette. He did and they both sat at the table. Optimus delicately clearly his throat line. "We were right. The Vosian Emirate does have a strong interest in Star."
Ironhide growled. "Ah knew it. Ah knew the only reason them seekers wanted ta come ta Iacon was ta find out 'bout Star."
Optimus held a hand up to stall Ironhide's accusations. "While Cloudbreaker made no secret that the Emirate is interested in Star, the Vosians do genuinely seem to want to rejoin the Council and open their city to trade and inter-city relations again. They seem to have taken us adopting Star as some sort of sign that we wanted to renew relations with Vos."
Ironhide cast a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure Starfall hadn't returned yet. "Do they have any idea 'bout Star's… past history?" he asked in a hushed voice. "Cause if they do that might explain 'em wantin' ta get closer ta him."
Optimus shook his head. "No. I truly got no impression from Cloudbreaker that the Vosians have any idea about Starfall's previous format. Cloudbreaker did, however, press the point that the Vosians were very suspicious about how a seeker sparkling came online in Iacon."
"Wha'd yeh tell him?"
"That Starfall's creation was a complete mystery. That nothing except an act of Primus explains how he came online as a seeker, which, in all reality, is not that far from the truth. Besides Primus's intervention or a very unlikely series of coincidences, there's no logical explanation for Starscream being reborn as a seeker in an Iaconian hatchling facility."
Ironhide seemed to accept this. A little of the tension seemed to dissipate from his shoulders. "That's fine. Just as long as they never get wind 'a the truth, Star should be safe. Ah just don't want any high an' mighty seeker takin' too much of an interest in him, 's all."
"Well," Optimus hesitated, "Cloudbreaker did happen to propose arranging a sparkbond between Star and his son to me. He seems to think the two of them would help cement Vos and Iacon together as ally cities."
"Wha?!" Ironhide hissed. The look he speared Optimus with could have smelted metal. "Ah thought we agreed we'd never force our kids inta any arranged sparkbonds. That was one of yer biggest stickin' points when we started talking 'bout havin kids! Yeh said yeh never wanted ta use any kids we had fer politics! Just 'cause Star's adopted don't mean he's exempt from that rule. Ah ain't gonna let yeh sell our son off ta some Vosians just fer some sort of alliance!"
Optimus was at first taken aback by Ironhide's vehemence, before his spark swelled with warmth. This was the first time he'd ever heard Ironhide so openly declare Starfall his or make such a show of protecting him. Smiling soothingly, Optimus reached across the table and took both of Ironhide's hands into his. "I'm not going to sell Star off to the Vosians or anyone else, 'Hide," he promised. "As we agreed, no children of ours will ever been used for political gain. Star will choose who he wants as his mate himself, whoever that might be. I made sure I made this very clear to Cloudbreaker when I declined his offer."
Ironhide seemed to deflate a bit. He suddenly looked sheepish and stared at the tabletop. "Better not," he grumbled under his breath. "Star's too young ta be talking 'bout him gettin' bonded anyway…"
Optimus smiled. "Cloudbreaker did, however, invite all of us to Vos to meet the Emirate, which I did accept."
Ironhide met Optimus's optics again, his mouth plates compressed in a thin line of displeasure.
Optimus cut him off before he could say anything. "I know what qualms you might have about us making such a visit, 'Hide, but this is something that is expected of us - for me as Prime, you as my sparkmate, and Star as our son. The Vosians want to rejoin Cybertron and they see Starfall as the key to helping facilitate such an alliance. I feel Cloudbreaker's visit was the first step in reuniting all the people of our race together again. A visit of our own might just solidify peaceful relations and start a new age."
"Til all are one, right?" Ironhide grumbled, his tone unconvinced.
Optimus nodded, smiling gently. "Yes."
Ironhide sighed in defeat. "Fine. So when we gonna take this lil vacation ta Vos?"
"We're going to Vos?" a third voice asked from the hallway.
Optimus and Ironhide both looked up to find Starfall standing in the doorway. His wings were hitched about his shoulder, his optics gleaming with ill-contained excitement.
"Are we gonna go meet other seekers?"
Optimus smiled. "Yes, Star. We're all going to go to Vos and meet some seekers."
Starfall's squeal of excitement drowned out anything else Optimus might have tried to say.
to be continued