Transformers Dawn
A new era
A year has passed and the reconstruction of Cybertron had progressed well for the Autobots.
They had completed a quarter of the repairs that needed to be done, thanks to the help of the newly activated Cybertronians.
With the oppressive caste system abolished and no one to enforce it, a new system could take its place. A well balanced, but fair system that would give the new generation of Cybertronians the freedom to have the role in society of their choice, yet designate the minimum amount of workers to areas of need, to prevent surplus numbers of Cybertronians in the same occupation.
As the new generation of Cybertronians completed their primary programming. The number of Cybertron's students grew. With the war over and Cybertron a safe haven, former students that had fled during the war and young Cybertronians were now able to complete and begin their path towards their future occupation.
Three such bots, new pupils in the Autobot boot camp, but distinguished enough to be trusted with important duties were walking around Cybertron one day, entrusted in bringing equipment and weapons back to the Autobot boot camp from a distant storage facility.
Weapons that in the hand of rookies were unlikely to cause a serious accident if something unfortunate was to occur. Weapons such as grenades that couldn't cause damage, unless the pin was deliberately pulled and blasters with safety locks for obvious reasons.
As the three young bots walked side by side towards their destination, they chatted enthusiastically to pass the time.
"Woah! Check out the barrel of that blaster. I bet it could pack some serious punch." A purple femme remarked, clearly impressed by the new weapons they had been ordered to deliver.
The femme was carelessly holding a crate of blasters under one arm and inspecting a blaster with the other.
"Hey! Can I see that?" A blue mech pushed a burgundy mech in the middle of the group aside to reach out for the blaster the femme was holding, who was walking on opposite side.
"Hey watch it! It's not like we're carrying dangerous weapons or anything." The burgundy mech reproached his friend that had pushed him aside.
"You worry too much Rodimus, relax." The femme told him flippantly.
With friends like you two I can't, Rodimus thought grimly.
"Hey Skram, he's doing that face again." The femme called out to her blue companion, as she noticed Rodimus' serious face.
"You've been looking serious all day! You should enjoy this break while it lasts!" The femme pointed out.
"Yeah whatever…" Rodimus muttered. Despite being one of the top students in the Autobot boot camp, Rodimus was always little too hard on himself and doubting his abilities.
The three bots continued to talk amongst themselves, walking past bots strolling through the busy streets.
As they walked, two bots were getting closer to the three young students. It was Bulkhead and Arcee on their break, enjoying a walk through the streets.
"I heard that Smokescreen's been giving the new recruits at the boot camp a really hard time." Arcee said.
"I would too, if I was in charge of the place!" Bulkhead admitted.
"Bulkhead!" Arcee exclaimed surprised by her friend's remark.
"What?!" Bulkhead defended himself innocently.
CLICK
Arcee and Bulkhead heard a clicking sound and some angry voices shouting close by.
"What was that?"
"Did you just pull the pin?!"
"It was an accident!"
"Get rid of it! Quick!"
"No! Don't throw it over there!"
"Look out!"
Quite foolishly, in her haste to dispose of an activated grenade, the purple femme Quickslinger had thrown the grenade towards Arcee and Bulkhead. It landed at their feet.
Without thinking Rodimus raced towards Arcee and Bulkhead and dove towards the fallen grenade before they could pick it up. Shielding them from the grenade with his body.
Bulkhead and Arcee's eyes widened. What was he doing?! Was he crazy? They thought to themselves.
Bulkhead pushed Rodimus away and quickly picked up the grenade and lobbed it as far away as he could with the tremendous strength in his arm.
Rodimus watched the grenade explode safely out of harm's way.
"Keep that up kid and you'll be joining the Well of All Sparks in no time!" Bulkhead joked and helped Rodimus to his feet.
Rodimus remained silent and had a stolid look on his face, upon seeing this Bulkhead's smile faltered.
No sense of humour then. Poor kid. Bulkhead sympathised with his would be saviour.
Skram and Quickslinger then came rushing in to see if their friend was alright.
Seeing their presence Arcee took this opportunity to scold the young bots. "Be more careful you three, OK?"
"OK!" Quickslinger and Skram replied in unison and continued walking towards the boot camp.
Rodimus lingered for a short time and Arcee placed a hand on Rodimus' shoulder and said, "Take it easy, OK?"
"OK." Rodimus replied quietly and smiled at Arcee Rodimus then joined the others.
Although naturally chatty, for the rest of the journey Quickslinger and Skram talked quietly amongst themselves out of respect for Rodimus, while he said nothing and dwelled on his thoughts.
You scraphead! Rodimus berated himself in his head. Instead of feeling shocked after his ordeal, Rodimus felt anger instead. Rodimus had felt such a strong affinity towards the strangers, particularly the blue femme. He felt very angry and embarrassed with himself, for acting so foolish in front of them by sacrificing himself.
He just couldn't help it. It was in his nature to be selfless. Some day he hoped, he would meet those two strangers again under better circumstances, when he wasn't throwing himself on top of a grenade.
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Up next Rodimus meets a familiar red and blue Autobot...
Disclaimer: Quickslinger, Skram and Rodimus jumping on top of the grenade belong to the Transformers Animated All-Spark Almanac.