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 Six

The first thing that Orion saw was an arm sitting right of him, energon pooling from the joint that would have been connected to a shoulder. The sight churned his tanks and made him want to purge.

The second thing he saw a pair of thick red legs standing directly over his body frame.

Trailing up with his optics, Orion would have been glad to see that his was his father. Except he had never seen a fierce look like that on his father's face plates before.

Sentinel Prime looked pissed.

There were two more crashes and two more grunts or yelps, forcing the youngling to look to see that Ariel had been freed from the one optic mech's grip by her own father. And the other one called Soundwave was flat on his back with a large nasty serrated blade aimed right against his vocodor being held by his uncle, Megatron, who was growling viciously as he glared down at him. Standing around them were royal guards, all glaring at mechs that suddenly appeared from the arena entrance ways. But none attacked because Soundwave held up a servo to keep them at bay.

Barricade had stumbled back, shrieking in pain as he held his empty shoulder socket, energon pouring down his side. He only stopped when Sentinel shoved him ground, raising his only servos in protection and surrender. "Okay, okay, okay! I am sorry! I'll stop!" He yelped with a hint of fear.

Sentinel just growled at him, his furious blue glare narrowing on him. "How dare you attack my son!" He snarled.

Barricade shuddered under the power of his voice but turned a glare back onto him. "If he is your son, Prime, then what the frag is he doing here?! You know the rules! You and your lot stay out of our city, we stay out of yours! He came here on his own willing! And he scarred my face!" He snapped as he jabbed a servo towards the gash.

Narrowing his blue glare at him, Sentinel showed no sympathy but he did send a glare towards his son when he started looking proud of himself. But seeing the glare aimed at him, Orion cringed. He knew he was in deep trouble.

"I do not know why he was here, when I told him not to come here!" Sentinel raised his voice and Orion cringed, hisnhead lowering. "But I will punish him my way. Now, we will leave peacefully. Try and stop us and I will have my guards destroy you. Now will you allow us to leave with our younglings willingly or will you force my hand?" He growled.

Barricade growled and started to open his mouth to deny it his request but someone beat him to it.

"Request: accepted." It was Soundwave who interrupted. He shot a dark look when Barricade hiffed angrily. "Access situation: Sentinel Prime and Royal Guards have more weapons and more skill. Suggestion: Shut your trap." He warned his fellow mech.

And Barricade kept quiet.

Sentinel nodded sharply and looked tomthe rest of his guards. Megatron was lifting Prowl up into his powerful arms, who looked motionless.

"Prowl!" Orion yelped, hurryingnover but stopped when his father gave him another sharp look. Hengulped and lowered his head again. He figured it was best not to say anything.

Turning back to his older brother, Sentinel walked over, looking the young apprentice over. He noted a large dent in his helm and it worried him. Especially when the youngling's optics were dark. "Megatron?" He asked calmly.

Megatron looked Prowl over but shook his head. "He's alive. He will need to see Ratchet immediately when we get back though. He has taken a good blow to the helm. He may have damage in his processor." He said looking back at Sentinel.

Sighing heavily, Sentinel looked over at Streamline, who was holding his daughter close. She was sobbing into his chassis, clearly terrified of what just happened and what could have happened. "Streamline, is Ariel hurt?" He asked in concern.

Streamline looked gravely at his Prime but shook his head. "She is unharmed. Just shakened." He told him.

Sentinel nodded before motioning everyone to go. He waited till everyone was out of the arena before he walked after, keeping Orion directly in front of him.

"Father, I..." Orion started to speak.

Shooting him a warning look, Sentinel shook his head. "Do not speak until we get home, Orion. I do not want to hear a word!" He growled.

Orion flinched but bowed his head and trudged on in frontnof his father. He saw Ariel glancing over her father's shoulder at him, symapathetically but then Streamline shifted her so she couldn't see him any more.

The ride back to Iacon was dreadfully quiet. No one was saying a word as they rode the railway. Orion kept his optics adverted from all though he did glance up once to see Megatron watching him with a hard look. He did not pleased either.

Prowl was still offline by the time they returned. He woke for only a moment to groan before he fell into recharge again.

Slowly, everyone wandered through palace gates but it was Sentinel who stopped and grabbed Orion's shoulder to stop hi as well. Everyone looked back at him but he just nodded for them go on. "Everyone leave us. Megatron, take Prowl to Ratchet. And later, I will deal with you." He growled.

Orion frowned as he glanced between his father and uncle. He wondered what happened to make Megtron be in trouble butnhe wsn't going to ask.

Megatron narrowed his optics at his younger brother but went on, carrying Prowl. Streamline had given the young prince a serious frown before carrying his recharging daughter off.

Soon, it was just Sentienl Prime and Orion Pax in the court yard.

For a long time, there was only silence. Orion kept glancing up at his father, who stared hard at him and looking back at the ground. He knew he was in it deep.

"Orion Pax," Sentinel Prime growled, making his son cringe. "What were you thinking?! You could have been killed! And what's worse?! You put Ariel and Prowl in danger! They could have been killed right with you! I told you to stay away from Kaon! But you deliberately disobeyed me!"

Orion sighed, keeping his head lowered. "I am sorry. I just wanted to see what Kaon was like. And I heard about the gladiators. I just..." he was saying.

Sentinel shook his head, frowning sternly. "Son, gladiators are dangerous! Even for a full grown mech like me! And picking a fight with one is suicide! They are trained killers! They kill for entertainment! Especially the one called Barricade! He has killed a lot of mechs in the arena and outside! He is a part of a dangerous gang in Kaon and he is not one you should even anger!" He groeled down at him.

"But they started it! They caught us and threatened us! I thought you said that if we were in danger,we could defend ourselves!" Orion argued.

"Not when you are nine vorns old, Orion! You are still a sparkling by age! You had no business in Kaon! It doesn't matter if they attacked first! You should have not been there!" Sentinel snapped, his optics blazing.

His head bowed, Orion looked and felt ashamed. He knew his father was right. He had put his best friend and Prowl in danger because he wanted to see some action. "I am sorry, father. I just wanted to be brave like you. I wanted to prove that I am worth being your son." He said miserably.

For a moment, Sentinel didn't speak before he sighed and bent down to one knee, placing a hand on Orion's shoulder. "Being brave is not about putting yourself in danger, Orion. Or putting your friends in danger. You have to be wise about it as well. Use your head as well as your spark. And you are worthy of being my son. You are still too young to be putting yourself in danger like that." He told him.

Orion looked up at him still miserable. "But you're not scared of anything, father. I just wanted to be like you." He said with a sigh.

Sentinel finally softened before he lift Orion up into his arms, still kneeling down. "That is not always true, Orion. I was terrified today when I found out where you went. And seeing you being threatened by Barricade." He told him softly.

"You were scared?" Orion asked surprised.

Smiling softly, Sentinel stood up with Orion still in his arms and moved over to a wall to sit on. He set his son down next to him. "Of course I was. I was terrified of losing you. If I did not come in time, I would have. That is my greatest fear, Orion. You and your mother being hurt." He told him gently.

Orion glanced away from him thoughtfully then looked back at him. "So...even Primes can get scared?" He asked curiously.

Sentinel nodded again, arm around his son. "Even Primes are scared of something. We don't always show it but every day we live through something terrifying. I live each day afraid of the thought of you doing something foolish like you did today. If anything were to happen to you, it would destroy me, Orion Pax. You are my son." He said gently.

"I am sorry, father. I swear I won't do it again. I don't think I will ever go back to Kaon after meeting those jerks." Orion said before snickering at a thought. "Though I thought it was funny to see the looks on their faces when you showed up. That Barricade guy looked like he was about to lubercate himself."

Chuckling Sentinel shook his head with a sly smile. "That's because no one messes with my son without facing my wrath." He said before scooping Orion up and holding him close, even as the youngling laughed with him.

Orion rest his arms against Sentinel's chest before tiltingnhis head to the side. "Father, will we always be together like this? Just me and you and mother?"

Frowning slightly, Sentinel looked away before looking up at the stars high above them. "Orion, one day I will not be there for you. But no matter what, I will be watching. Do you remember the stories of Primus, that I told you about?" He asked softly.

Slowly Orion nodded. "The God that Primes are named after, right?" He asked.

"Yes. One day, I will return to the Matrix realm, where Primus rules over all. Like all mechs and femmes, we die some day. But we will always be. The night sky, thenstars, itnis saidnthat each star was once a Prime, returned tonthe matrix, yet remaining watch over us all." Sentinel told him. "One day, I will become a star to watch over you."

"But that won't be any time soon, will it?" Orion asked with some worry.

Sentinel smiled but shook his head. "No. It won't be soon. I plan on seeing you grow and becoming the next Prime first. We still have orns together, my son." He then stood up. "Come. It's high time we go settle your motther. She has been worried about you. I must warn you, however. She is not happy. Nor is Firestar. You may find that Streamline and Firestar will not allow Ariel to continue being your friend after today."

Orion's spark gave a jolt as he looked worried up at him. "They...they can't do that. Ariel is my best friend." He said, horrorified.

Sentinel gave his son a pointed look. "She is your best friend, who is their daughter and you put her in danger, Orion. They are not happy about that. And I will respect them for it and so will you. If they want you to stay away from her, you will. They need to calm down and learn to trust you again. This little adventure of yours nearly cost their daughter's life. As it is, it may have cost Prowl's career as well. If he had a glitch in his processor because of what those gladiators did, he won't be accepted as your advisor any more." He said firmly.

Shaking his head, Orion looked pained to hear that. He felt horrible now. "But that isn't fair. Prowl didn't even want to go. He tried to talk Ariel and me out of going. But I wouldn't listen. And I made him go." He said miserably.

Raising an optic ridge, Sentinel did look surprised. "I thought you didn't like Prowl." He said with amusement.

Orion shrugged half heartedly. "He is all right. He's too serious but I like him now. And not just because of what happened today. He...he seems more...I don't know. There is more to Prowl than meets the optic. I kind of want to know him now. I want to see what he really is like without all of the rules weighing down on him. I know what we did was just putting us all in danger but..." he grimaced at what he was thinking. "But it was kind of fun."

Ssentinel chuckled as he shook his head. He understood what Orionnwas trying to say. He knew in away, his son was now looking for a friend out of Prowl. "I will see what I can do to keeping him here, son. But it might not work. I cannot force Alchemist or any of the advisors to want take him as an apprentice." He told him.

"Why wouldn't they take him? He's really smart, he knows all of the rules a lot better than I do, he works hard." Orion said frowning.

"The large dent he recieved from the gladiators. If he has a glitch in his processor, not many will think he will be able to process information or be able to handle being advisor." Sentinel explained. "Glitches in the processor is not highly looked upon by many. Not even myself. It means there is a handicap in one. And the handicapped is not..."

Orion frowned and folded his arms as he pouted up at his creator. "That isn't fair." His words surprised his father. "Just because he might have a glitch doesn't mean he can't have a chance to prove himself. So what if he has a glitch? It doesn't mean he isn't worthy. I want him as my advisor. I will give him the benefit when no one will. He deserves a chance to try. Glitch or no glitch." stubbornly.

It couldn't be helped. Sentinel had to grin down at his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Orion Pax, that was very grown up of you to say. I am proud of you." He told him. Orion had to grin, feeling mighty proud of himself for once, winning an arguement with his father. "Come on, son. It is getting late and there is still a lot to do." The Prime said before leading his son towards the palace.

It was getting late and there was somewhere he needed to be. But he knew that he couldn't leave until he was sure that everyone was in recharge.

However, Megatron knew that his brother was still awake and probably going over the days events.

Not to mention, Sentinel had told him that he would be dealing with him later once things settled down. And if that meant anything, it was well known that The Prime always delivered what he said.

So knowing that Sentinel would be coming to seek him out, Megatron stayed in the library, pretending to be looking for a good data pad to read.

And when Sentinel appeared in the door way, he knew his fake sense of peace was over.

Pretending innocent red met furious, hard blue as they looked at each other; one smiling in greeting while the other frowned in stern reprimend. This was going to get, one knew. And the other thought it was time to put an end to this backstabbing.

"Megtron," Sentinel began, his tone hard.

"The mechling does in deed have glitch from his injuires. But he is fine." Megatron interrupted as he shrugged lightly. "The medic said something along the lines that his processing unit has been damaged so it will be harder for the youngling to process anything too straining without glitching out and perhaps fainting. But he said that the youngling will be able to process most of what he comes across." He saw Sentinel's optics narrow in confusion. "You did come here to as about the youngling, Prowl's condition, did you not?"

Sentinel frowned but shook his head. "Not entirely. I was going to ask Ratchet about Prowl's condition, not you. But it does save me some time from doing so." He stated.

"Glad to be of service then." Megatron said a little too fondly as he stood up and started towards the door with the data pad tucked under his arm. "I suppose you will need to go to recharge so you can begin looking for a new replacement for Orion Pax's advisor then. So I will just bid you good..."

He almost made it out the door.

But before the door would slide open to allow the large rusty silver Cybertronian out, Sentinel merely placed a palm on the anti-opening switch, keeping it from sliding open so that Megatron could leave.

"Prowl is staying right where he is, Megatron." The Prime said in a deep, stern voice. "He will continue being Orion's closest ally, friend and advisor. I will not accept his forced resignation." He then met his older brother's surprised look. "But that is not what I came to speak to you about!" He said, his vocodor starting to raise.

Megatron frowned before tilting his head to the side. "I am afraid I do not..." he was saying.

"I told you time and time again that Vos was not in any way a part of the so called Decepticon fraction terrorists, Megatron! I told you to leave it alone and not continue looking into it about the Seekers! They had nothing to do with the Decepticons! And still, you went behind my back and ordered the disposal of a non existent threat!"

"Ah. This is about that, is it?" Megatron asked skeptically, his tone hardened. "I told you what I felt, Sentinel. I know that Vos had something to do with the Decepticon fraction's beginnings. Silverbolt is hiding something and I know that if we just continue..." he was saying.

Sentinel growled before he pulled back his hand from the control panel and slammed it against the door. "Silverbolt is dead, Megatron! As is all of Vos!" He snarled.

There was a deafening silence as Megatron looked wide optic at Sentinel. It was like he could not believe that at all. And looking deep into his brother's optics, Sentinel could see genuine confusion and horror inside of them. It struck a twinge of uncertainty inside of the Prime when he saw that look.

"What?" Megatron asked almost breathlessly. "What do you mean that Silverbolt is dead? And all of Vos?"

Frowning at him, Sentinel shool his head before lowering his fist. "So you are unaware that because of your accusations against Vos, the High Council took your request of destroying Vos with Strike droids to avoid further deception and terror attacks against Iacon and Autobot alligned cities and towns?" He asked, trying to keep his tone steady.

Megatron turned away from him and walked back to the table. He looked stunned by the news as he stared hard at the ground. "No...I mean, yes. I was unaware of that. I did not request the immediate destruction of Vos and its Seekers." He tirned back with a jerk, a deep growl in his vocoder. "When did this happen?!" He demanded.

Sentinel frowned at the demand but shook his head as he walked closer to his older brother. "I recieved the report of the ordered attack this morn. As it was happening. I sent our fastest scouts to investigate while I went to deal with the council." He reached inside of his compartments and brought out a holo pad.

Activating it, holo images erupted from the screen to show the destruction of Vos. In the images, the entire aerial city, built into the cliffs on the other side if the Black Silver Badlands was all in flames and smoke. Bodies of Seekers littered the ground as another taken image appeared. Most were adult Seekers and some were of younglings and seekerlets. The known title of Seeker sparklings. There were hundreds of them, if not thousands.

A deep hiss escaped Megatron as he glared at the images. "All of those Seekers! Even the young ones!" He sharply looked at Sentinel. "Were there no survivors?!" He demanded.

"You know what happens with attack droids, Megatron. Once they are given orders, they are thoroughly taken out." Sentinel said gravely. "Our scout searched the entire city and found no living Seeker." He pressed another button on the pad and two seperate images appeared.

Images of a silver and blue Seeker coated in dried energon from several gashes in his chassis as well half of his helm blown to pieces. And images of a Seeker femme slumped against a cliffside road wall with no head at all and a nasty gash in her midsection.

Megatron hissed at the sight. He knew those body frames just as well as Sentinel did. "Silverbolt and Sunblaze?! They were both..."

"Utterly destroyed. As was the rest of the Seeker race." Sentinel said gravely. "I just recieved these reports an orn ago, right before we went to Kaon for my son, Streamline's daughter and the young apprentice. I was told by the High Council that you were the one who made the request of the termination of the Seekers." He said, tone hard.

Megatron snarled but not at Sentinel. His servos were clenched tightly from rage. "I did no such thing! I would never do such a thing like that! Not to all of those Seekerlets! They had their uses!" He then caught himself, meeting Sentinel's narrowed blue gaze. "I requested an investigation into the matter! Not termination! Someone is trying to set me up to take the blame and when I find out who it is, I will rip out their spark chamber!"

Quickly, Sentinel placed a hand onto Megatron's shoulder only to have it thrown right back off. He was startled bu the motion. "Megatron..." he was saying.

But Megatron cut him off by jabbing a servo right into his face, stopping only inches from touching him. "And you believed it, did you not?! You believed that I would stoop so low to order the total destruction of the Seeker race?! Do you really think I am such a monster, Sentinel Prime?! Even after I came to you, telling you I knew where Orion Pax was with his greasy little friends?! After I ran with your fragging guards to save them from their own destruction?! You believed the High Council over me, your own fragging brother?!" He snarled into Sentinel's face.

Sentinel, for once in his life as Prime, flinched from the rage. He did not blame Megatron for being so angry. He would too if the positions were reversed. "Megatron, I am sorry for not belieiving..." he was saying.

"Sorry is not fragging good enough, Sentinel!" Megatron snapped before he spun away and stormed towards the door.

"Megatron, where are you going?" Sentinel asked worriedly.

Snarling, Megatron glared directly at the door ready to smash through if it didn't open fast enough. "To find out who set me up! And destroy them!" He snapped and was out of the library, stomps going all the way down the corridors as he went.

Sentinel was left stading there, stunned but hurt nonetheless. He just could not believe this. He couldn't believe he couldn't have just gone to his older brotjer instead of blowing it right out of the aft like he had.

Sighing, The Prime set his faceplates into the palm of his hand. He was ashamed of himself. And it was more than likely he had pushed Megatron further away with his accusation.

Still, something didn't feel right. He wasn't sure what it was.

"My Prime." Sentinel looked up when he heard a familiar voice. He smiled faintly to see Streamline coming in, looking concerned. "Is everything all right? I could hear shouting from down the hall. And then I seen Megatron storming away."

Slowly shaking his head, The Prime sighed wearily. He did look pretty tired. "I told him of Vos and the idea that it was him who may have been responcible for its destruction." He told him down. "He was not happy."

Streamline frowned as he glanced over his shoulder before shaking his head. "I bet he wasn't." He murmured before looking back at Sentinel. "Would you like me to try and speak to him?" He asked woriedly.

Shaking his head, Sentinel pushed himself off the table he had been leaning against. "I do not he will not appreciate that, Streamline. He has never been fond of you." He told him before waving his most trusted friend away. "Why don't you take the night off? You have a daughter who has been through a lot today."

Nodding with a smile, Streamline turned to leave to do that.

"Streamline." Sentinel spoke up as another thought hit him, making the Captain of the Guard look back at him. "Today...was horrible. Both of our younglings could have been killed because of a silly sense of curiousity. Orion feels terrible that he put Ariel through that kind of danger." The Prime looked almost pleadingly at his friend. "Please consider his apology and allow Ariel to remain his friend. She is the only one he has. All of the other younglings are intimidated by his stature as the Prince." He told him.

For a moment, Streamline only frowned,noptics narrowing thoughtfully before he softened and nodded. "Ariel would never forgive me if I forbade her from her best friend, sire. I never was considering taking that friendship away." He told his Prime softly.

Sentinel smiled back and nodded his approval and then dismissed Streamline again.