Title: The Prime
Genre: Action/Drama, Friendship/Romance
Rating: T for mild transformer swearing, some violence, and crude language
Short Summary:
When a young mech destined to be the next Prime is exiled by his evil uncle, he must learn what it means to become a great leader.

Chapter Four

The morning star was a glorious sight to his gentle blue gaze and he felt peace washing through his brilliant red and night blue frame as he watched its glorious light being blocked out by the moon, with only a lovely silver ring surrounding the edge.

The stellar eclipse was complete.

And all he could do as smile before looking happily up at his proud creator standing right next to him. He was happy that he got to see the one event that wouldn't happen again for probably ten vorns. He couldn't wait till the next time it happened.

"Sire, can we walk among the city now? Like you promised?" The youngling asked his brilliant red creator.

Smiling down at his son, Sentinel Prime nodded before placing his hand on Orion Pax's shoulder plate and steered him towards the stair ways, leading to the palace's courtyard. He loved taking such walks with Orion. It was the time he could teach him about their people, by showing him them.

Of course as they approached the gates of the Iacon Palace, it was then their Royal Guards approached, knowing it was time for their Leader's walk with his son.

Smiling at The Prime and the Prince, Streamline bowed in respect to them. "Good morning, sires." He said in his proud voice.

Orion waved happily to see his creator's greatest friend, and the guard chuckled along with The Prime.

"Good morn, Streamline. I believe we are ready for our walk through the city." Sentinel Prime said, his back straight and stature proud.

Again, Streamline chuckled as he spared a glance at Orion before nodding and turning towards the gates. He swiped his palm against the locks and allowed it to roll open. Then he lead the two outside into their great city.

The streets were still somewhat empty for early morning but there were few out. And when they saw their Great Leader and their Prince, they waved their greetings enthusiastically, which excited them when the noble prince returned them.

"Everything you see around you, Orion Pax, from this mighty building to the shining streets are a part of us. Built in hard work by our great people. They have worked hard to make our wonderful city a beautiful piece of our lives." Sentinel spoke to his son, who was looking around with wonder. "But what you must remember, the people of Iacon maybe not of nobility like ourselves but they share the same blood as us. They are just like us, built of the same metal. We are the same and we are one."

Orion slowly nodded before he frowned and looked up at his creator. "Father, I heard something of interest. Something about castes. Aren't castes something that separates us from them? Like, we are royal but they aren't. So doesn't that mean we are better than them?" He asked curiously.

Sentinel and Streamline glanced at one another before The Prime looked back, shaking his head. "No. The subject of castes is only a word, Orion Pax. A title that the Cybertronian Council has created. But it means nothing. You must remember what I say. We are the same, nothing more. You are from great Energon but if you were to cut the hand of that mech," he pointed towards a Cybertronian that was walking across the street. "And then cut your own, you will see that our Energon is the same color. A gentle sunset pink. The subject of castes are meant to separate us, but you must never think you are better than that mech. Like I said, we are a part of each other in the same. A great circle of life, I suppose you can say.

"One day, that mech will deactivate and his lifeless shell shall be returned to the Well of Sparks to prepare for a new being of life. A new spark will emit from the Well of Sparks, creating new life to be sparked. Just like you were sparked from your carrier and mother. And once again, the process of life will continue on. Do you understand?"

Orion nodded as he took in all of the information. He frowned again as a new thought came to him. "Father, I heard someone saying something about a place called Kaon. Can we go that place...?" He was asking.

Sentinel looked sharply at Orion but was already shaking his head. "No, Orion. That place is forbidden. You must never go there. Not until you are older. And even then." He told him firmly.

Orion frowned up at him, looking curious. "But I thought we could go anywhere we wanted to go. Why can't we...?" He was saying again.

"There are some places better left off being left alone, son. Not until you are big enough to take care of yourself." Sentinel told him firmly.

Orion tilted his head, thoughtfully. It was perking up his attention now. He wanted to know what was there that he couldn't see. There had to be something interesting. "What about the...?" He was asking.

"Good morning, Great Prime!" An aristocratic voice called out breaking his sentence.

All three heads turned to see a tall light blue and white mech approaching with a younger mechling who was only a little than Orion. The sight of him, however made the youngling grimace. He was not happy to see his soon to be advisor, that everyone kept telling him that would be his second hand.

Now, there was nothing wrong with this particular mechling. He was very intelligent and he had been handpicked by The Prime to become Orion's closest friend. But in truth, the youngling wasn't sure he wanted this one to be his friend.

The one problem with Prowl, the 12 vorn old apprentice of his creator's own advisor, Alchemist, was he just was too serious for a youngling. He was originally from Praxus, a city only a city away from Iacon. He was a great follower of the rules and refused to participate in anything fun. Orion always thought he must have had a Cybertronian law book shoved into his head because he had never even seen hi smile or anything.

Seeing the young prince looking at him, Prowl bowed respectfully, never once bending his back. It was like there was a strong rod in his back plates that kept him ramrod straight.

And this was suppose to be his future advisor?

Orion Pax wasn't excited about that. He didn't get along with Prowl as it was. He was just too serious. He didn't think the guy knew the definition of fun.

Scratch that, he did. He just didn't participate in friendly fun activities like Orion's best friend, Ariel, who was actually Streamline's daughter. She had been sparked a vorn after Orion had.

"Alchemist, Youngling Prowl, good morning." Sentinel greeted his advisor. "What brings you out here?"

"I was looking for you, Sire, in the palace but Lady Beta told me you went out with Master Orion Pax. It is time for the morning report." The aristocratic bot said, digging into an inner compartment for his data pad.

"Father." Orion Pax said with a little disappointment. He had been hoping to spend the day with his creator without any interruptions.

Sentinel Prime looked down at him with a raised optic ridge. He knew he had promised his son the day but duties could not be put on hold. "Orion, this will only take a moment. Duty calls and you know very well that as Prime, I need to know what's going in the city and surrounding cities and towns. Just be patient." He said calmly. He almost chuckled at the put out look on Orion's face plates before waving over to Prowl. "Why don't you spend more time talking with Prowl? You two should get to know each other since he will be your advisor when you are Prime."

'Cause I don't want to get to know him. He's boring.' Orion thought to himself but moved over to his future advisor. He swore to himself that when he became Prime, he was choosing someone else.

"So..." the young prince said as he looked at the stick in the aftpipe advisor apprentice, who looked blankly at him. "How is it going, Prowl? Having fun learning from Alchemist?"

Prowl just dipped his head into a nod. "I am learning a great deal from my mentor. He has shown me an exhilarating list of the laws of Cybertronian. I find them quite suitable, of course. I am also learning the laws of old that I think should be brought back to the days of present. Like the..." and he drew on, never seeming to notice Orion slumped miserably while listening to him.

No one noticed a royal guard approaching Streamline, who frowned at the urgent look in his optics. He could only wonder what made someone like Huffer look so worried.

That is until the young guard murmured what news he brought to him. Only then did Streamline stiffen and his optics widened.

Whirling away from Huffer, the Captain of the Guard looked hurriedly at Sentinel. "Sentinel Prime, sir! Trouble!" He immediately cut Alchemist off, who scowled at him. He hated being interrupted. But nonetheless, he stepped back while Sentinel looked seriously at his guard. "There was an attack on Vos! Reports say it was our own droids!"

Everyone stiffened at the news. Sentinel actually looked out raged as he took swift steps towards Streamline. "What?! Our own droids?! Come with me, Streamline! Tell me on the way to see the Council!" He ordered urgently.

Orion perked up and was quick to follow, though he stopped when his creator noticed. "Father, can I come?" He asked a little excited that he might get to see some action for once.

Sentinel frowned at him but shook his head. He waved his son away back to Alchemist and Prowl, as well as Huffer. "No, Orion! This is no time for you to get mixed up in something this important. Huffer, escort my son, Alchemist and Prowl back to the palace!" He ordered as he turned and started to hurry away with Streamline.

"But you promised...!" Orion tried to argue as he started to hurry after.

Sentinel spun his head around and waved to Huffer, who caught Orion by the shoulder, holding him back. "Not now, Orion Pax! Go home! I do not have time to argue with you!" He said sternly before he was hurrying away with Streamline.

Orion watched him go before he slumped, head bowed in disappointment. He couldn't believe this was happening. His day to spend with his creator was all but ruined by some stupid report about an attack. He wanted to know what happened. To hear something this exciting, he wanted to know. But once again, he was rebuked for being too young.

"No worries, Master Orion Pax. Your creator will sort this all out." Alchemist said as he laid his hand on Orion's shoulder and began helping Huffer take him back to the palace.

Prowl nodded as he looked blankly forward. "There is no greater leader than Sentinel Prime." He added.

Orion just huffed, not wanting to say anything to Prowl. He just wanted to go with his creator and find out what was going on. But with a royal guard next to him, there was no sneaking off like he was itching to do. He would not get very far and then he would really be in trouble.

So for now, he would go back to the palace. He figured he knew that someone else would tell him about the place called Kaon. He really wanted to know what was there that made his creator so stern about. Of course there was only one he could think of.

No words were spoken between the four until they got back to the palace, only then did Orion dash off. No one stopped him, since he was in the safety of the palace.

Hurrying through the palace, and pausing to ask a few of the worker mechs and femmes in the halls, Orion finally found where his uncle was hiding out at. He wasn't exactly hard to miss, after all, he had a massive frame. He was in the library facility, looking at data pads to read. He didn't seem impressed with some because he just shoved them back in their slots.

"Hey, Uncle Megs!"

The very sound of that name made a light growl escape from the massive Cybertronian, more than hearing that voice. But nonetheless, Megatron turned in time to catch his nephew as the youngling threw himself up into his arms. He forced a smile as he looked down at Orion. "Good morn, Orion Pax. How are you this morning?" He asked in his rumbling voice as he carried him to a table and set him down.

Orion merely smiled up at Megatron as he sat down, swinging his feet as he watched his uncle go find a data pad then return to a chair. "I am great! Father and I watched the stellar eclipse this morning and then we walked out to see the city! I can't wait to be Prime! I am going to rule the whole world like father! I think I will get rid of the idea of castes too. That isn't fair that someone has to be subjected into groups when we are all equal." He said making a face.

Megatron stopped scrolling through the data pad just to stare at Orion for a long time. Then he snorted and looked back at his pad. "Oh, the Council will love hearing that one." He chuckled mostly to himself.

Orion didn't hear what he said though. He just frowned at a thought before looking up at Megatron. "Hey, Uncle Megs." He missed the cringe and growl that Megatron did at that name again. "When I am Prime, what will you be?" He asked curiously.

"A retrorat's uncle." Megatron immediately answered without even looking at him.

Orion laughed as he looked up at is uncle, not getting the point that Megatron was trying to point something out. He just shook his head, still laughing. "You are so odd, Uncle Megatron." He snickered.

Megatron looked up again, this time a coy smirk on his face plates as he leaned forward. "Orion Pax, my young mech, you have no idea how odd I am." He remarked slyly before he cleared his throat and stood up again, obviously not impressed with the data pad he had picked out. "So, your creator told about Kaon yet?"

His head dropping and a sour look formed on his face plates, Orion shook his head. "No. I asked him if we could go there but he said I am too little." He said miserably.

"And he is right, Orion. You are too little. Kaon is no place for your size. There are giants there that could crush you under foot without realizing they had until they are picking your pieces out of their feet." Megatron said with a dark chuckle. He placed a data pad back and picked out another.

"I am not that small! I am actually big for my age!" Orion said with a pout.

Megatron chuckled again, this time half sparked as he went back to pat his nephew on the helm. "I know, my youngling. You are a big mechling. And you will be as big as your creator when you are fully developed. But nonetheless, Kaon is full of gladiators that would not hesit...oops!" He yelped as he realized what he had just said.

But the damage was done.

Orion's optics lit up as he sat up straighter. "Gladiators! You mean like fighters and all?!" He asked excitedly as he pushed himself off the table and landed on his feet. "Cool!"

Megatron quickly caught him by the arm and held him from running off. "Orion, don't even think about going to that dreadful place. It is no place for you. You are not to take the substation there or set foot in one of the arenas." He warned him sternly.

"But..." Orion was saying.

But Megatron shook his head frowning firmly at him. "Promise me you won't set foot in one of those arenas, Orion." He said sternly.

For a moment, Orion paused to think about it but then he nodded with a smile. "I promise." He told him.

Satisfied, Megatron nodded with his own smile. He released his nephew and gave him a light push towards the door. "Good. Now run along and go play with your little friend, Ariel. And remember, this has to be our little secret. Your creator will be very angry with me if he knows I told you about the gladiators." He said with a pointed look.

Orion nodded as he walked towards the door, very calmly. "I promise I won't tell him." He swore before he walked out. He took a few steps down the hall before he dashed away from the library, wanting to find Ariel as fast as he could. He knew she would love to hear about the gladiators.

For a moment, Megatron listened to his nephew run away from the library before a wide sinister gin spread out on his face. His plan wasn't going exactly how he had planned it but it would.

Opening his secure channel, the rusty silver Cybertronian contacted Him. "Be prepared. The little Prince is coming your way." He simply told his contact before closing it again.