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 Eight

The next morn came too quickly but nonetheless, Orion was somewhat happy. He still felt bad for what happened the day before. He had put Ariel and Prowl in danger and he wanted to make up for it. He was going to seek out his new friend in the medbay, with a cube of energon and some rust bars.

Entering the medbay, Orion found Ratchet first. He saw the mech working on something at a desk before he noticed the young prince. "Hi, Ratchet!"

"Young master Orion Pax, what a surprise. What can I you?" The lime green medic asked before looking him over with concern. "You are not in need of repairs, are you? Did you scrape your knee joints again?"

Orion laughed sheepishly, remembering that one time. He had been showing off to Ariel and some her femme friends by trying to walk along a very thin pole. He remembered slipping and barely catching onto the pole but had scraped himself up pretty good until Streamline had been passing by. The Captain of the Honor Guard had been frantic to see his young future Prime dangling off the side of a palace wall and had went to rescue him. He had recieved quite a lecture for it by the mech as it was.

Shaking the thoughts out of his processor, Orion held up the energon. "Uh, no. Not this time. I actually came to see Prowl. I brought him something to eat. Can he have visitors?" He asked smiling.

Smiling back, Ratchet nodded as he pointed down a line of private rooms. "He is in the last one, Young Orion Pax." He told him.

"Thanks!" Orion said before hurrying down the hall with his load. He found where Ratchet sad he would be in, sitting on a berth, looking at a data pad with a miserable look on his face plates.

Now that he was here, Orion did feel horrible again he eyed a repair patch on Prowl's head where there had been a large dent from that jerk, Soundwave's assault. He knew that injury was his fault.

Clearing his vocoder, Orion stepped into the room, catching Prowl's room, cringing when the youngling gave him a blank look before looking away again. "Um...hi, Prowl. How are you feeling?" He asked shifting uneasily.

Prowl didn't answer but stared away from him.

Orion sighed softly before stepping closer and setting his load down right next to Prowl. "Um...Prowl, I want to apologize for what happened yesterday. You were right. It was stupid to go to Kaon and it's my fault you were hurt. I am so sorry. I was...I was hoping to make it all right between us. Can...can we be friends now? I brought you rust bars?" He sad trying to sound light sparked.

Prowl still did not say anything but kept his optics focused away from the young Prince. It was obvious he was upset.

Sighing, Orion's shoulders slumped beforenhe turned and started to leave.

"I have never had friends before. Do friends like to share their rust bars?" Prowl suddenly asked.

Blinking in surprise, Orion turned back and perked up to see that the young apprentice had picked up bar and was holding one out to him while already chewing on on. The young prince grinned and walked back to the berth. "Sometimes. Does that mean we can be friends?" He asked hopefully.

Prowl studied him before he offered a light smile for the first time since the two met. "You were really brave yesterday, Orion Pax. I would like us to be friends." He said smiling.

Grinning, Orion pulled himself up on the berth and took the offered rust bar. "You were really brave too! The way you stabbed that jerk's foot! That was cool!" He said grinning.

"Heh, I thought it was cool how you sliced open that Barricade guy's face with the spear." Prowl said lightly.

"We made a pretty good team, huh?" Orion asked giving his new friend a nudge.

Prowl nodded as he consumed his rust bar before his face fell. He lowered his head, turning slightly away. "I...I might have to leave Iacon." He looked back at Orion when he choked in surprise. "Ratchet said I have a glitch now. My information processing unit was damaged. So I won't be able to process anything that doesn't make sense or understand. Alchemist already told me because I have a glitch, I cannot be his apprentice any more." He said glumly.

Orion looked at him with sympathy but then he smiled and shrugged. "That's okay! Alchemist is an inventor anyway! He doesn't know everything. You're still gonna be my advisor!" He told him cheerfully.

Prowl looked at him in surprise. "But I have a glitch. And I should have been responcible by not letting you and Ariel talking me into going to Kaon."

Orion shook his head, still smiling. "I don't care if you have a glitch. You are my friend and I want you to be my future advisor. My father already said it was okay. He said that if I wanted you as my future advisor, then I can. Glitch or no glitch." He told him.

For a long moment, Prowl stared at him but then he let out a resigned sigh and nodded with a smile. "Thank you, my Future Prime." He told him gratefully.

"And none of that, Prowl. You are my friend now. So just call me Orion." The young Prince told him firmly.

Smiling, Prowl nodded again. "All right...Orion." he said to his friend.

Just then someone appeared in the room's door way, making both look up to see a serious looking Streamline. They both cringed, wondering if he was still angry. But then the Honor Guard softened some. "My young master Orion Pax, your father calls for you to be at his side. There is an announcement he wishes to make to all of Iacon. It's about something that happened yesterday." He told them and then shook his head when Orion grimaced. "It is not about what happened with you, Ariel and Prowl. That, my young Prime, will remain only between few."

Orion nodded as he slid off the berth, pausing to glance at Prowl. "Um, can Prowl come too? He is suppose to be my future advisor so shouldn't he be there?" He asked.

Streamline smiled and nodded. "I have already cleared him with Ratchet. He can leave when he feels up to it." He simply told him.

Orion looked at his new friend, who smiled as he was already climbing off the berth. He grinned at him as they followed Streamline out, waving at Ratchet, who smiled and returned the wave.

For a little while, the three walked in silence. Orion couldn't help but glance up at Streamline rather anxious. He wondered if the Honor Guard was still...

"Young Orion Pax," Streamline spoke up, making Orion cringe as if he had been lashed out at. He sighed and smiled down at the young Prince. "I understand that you made a grave mistake dealing with my daughter. But I will forgive you for it and I will allow you to remain her friend. All I ask is you do not endanger her again." He told him.

Orion blinked a few times before smiling and nodding. "I won't. I promise. If anything, I will protect her more than ever." He swore.

Smiling, Streamline patted Orion on the head and then lead straight on.

The calling of all of Iacon was on the large palace balcony, which did have nearly everyone there. Sentinel Prime, his mate and the young prince was at the edge, looking down at all of the city. Streamline stood with Firestar and Ariel to the side. Prowl was standing close to Orion, standing firm and tall. There was a hint of sadness and uncertainty in the air. Orion wasn't sure what it was but he didn't like it. His father was looking gravely serious about whatever he was about to address.

Finally the moment came.

Sentinel gave his mate and son a sad smile before walking closer so all could see him. Everyone below went quiet to respect their Prime. "All of my people of Iacon, I come to you to announce a horrible event that took place yesterday morn." There were a few murmurs in the crowd and Orion shared a glance with Prowl, who looked equally confused. "Yesterday morn, in the eighth orn, I recieved terrible news of the destruction of Vos, the Seeker city. There was a confusion of reports dealing with Vos that led to the attack. A scout was sent to investigate but he found no good news. All of Vos was destroyed. Along with all of its Seeker race."

This time the murmurs broke out louder. Even Orion was horrified to hear of that.

"That includes adults and Sparklings. No Seeker was spared. The anniliation of Vos will not be over looked. Investigations are being taken seriously and..." Sentinel was saying.

"That won't be nessessary any more, dear brother."

Everyone on the balcony turned surprused and the three younglings cringed in horror to see who was with Megatron. None of them had wanted to see that black and white mech again. But there he was, smirking arrogantly directly at Prowl, who cringed back as if he was being threatened.

Sentinel stiffened before he started to growl at the sight of Barricade. His hand immediately strayed to Orion, pushing him behind him for protection. "Megatron, what is he doing here?!" He demanded. He didn't even tell Streamline down for suddenly whirling out his blaster cannon.

Megatron held up his servos and stepped to the side in between Barricade and Streamline. "Hold fire, Streamline. He is here to make a statement about a certain someone." He looked at Sentinel, serious to a fault. "Sentinel, we have a problem. I discovered who framed me. And you're not going to like it." He stated.

Everyone stiffened but Semtinel frowned deeply. "Who was it, Megatron?" He asked very seriously.

Sighimg heavily, Megatron pointed at someone on the balcony. Everyone looked at who it was he was pointing at before stiffening with shock and alarm. No one could believe it at all.

Prowl frowned when he saw the large mech pointing towards him and he turned to see who was nehind him. He only stiffened when no one was there. He turned with a jerk, optics wide and he pointed at himself. "Me?!" He yelped.

Orion felt his breath catch in his vents and he slowly shook his head. He didn't believe it. It couldn't have been his new friend. Prowl was good! He just couldn't be the one responcible. He just didn't believe it!

And neither did Sentinel Prime.

Slowly shaking his head, The Prime narrowed his optics at Megatron. "A youngling? Are you out of your processor, Megatron?! How could a youngling be the one who framed you?! How could he be responcible for the total destruction of Vos?! Is it him?!" He demanded glaring at Barricade, who once again raised his servos in his own defense. "Is he somehow forcing you to blame Prowl?!"

Megatron shook his head, almost sypathetically. He sighed heavily before getting into an inner compartment and pulling out a data chip. "I could not believe it myself, brother. But it is true. The youngling is the perfect spy and sabatage bot. No one would have ever expected him." He told him.

Optics narrowing, Sentinel snatched the data chip and marched over to the nearest computer consol. He was fully aware of everyone following him as he shoved the chip into the I/O port and loading the information.

Orion was at Prowl's side immediately, whose optics were starting to twitch and his helm started smoking. He knew it had to be his glitch that was getting to him. "Don't worry, Prowl! My father will fix this! I know you never do something..." he suddenly cut himself off with a shocked look when a security recording was being played.

It was of Prowl in the Hall of Government Records, a place he had no business in whatsoever. Especially alone.

There were series of gasps from all around the balcony, one being Prowl. His helm was now emitting a lot of smoke before it let off a loud pop and he fell backwards onto his back, completely offline.

"Prowl!" Orion yelped ducking down next to his friend. "Dad! Prowl is hurt! We need Ratchet!"

But Sentinel did not move. He jut stared at the computer screen, staring in surprise. He could not believe his optics. There had to be some mistake. He turned to look at Megatron, who carefully. "I do not understand, Megatron." He said breathlessly.

Megatron and Barricade both shook their heads, looking pitifully at The Prime. "I know. I didn't understand why Prowl would do this either. But then he contacted me early this morn and told me he knew the youngling. The evidence is against him, my brother. I don't want to believe it but it is all true. Barricade can explain." He said glumly.

All eyes turned onto the mech as he stepped forward, leering at the fallen youngling. He seemed amused by the mechhling's new situation. "Prowl is the offspring of Outlaw, a gangster and terrorist in Praxus. I know because that is my cousin. So your little youngling there is the son of a criminal, who is serving time in prison. I didn't recognize the brat until later. I never even met him until yesterday. I know for a fact that it was Vos's doing for Outlaw being in prison in the first place. As it is, Praxians hate Seekers." He explained in his most serious voice. So it is likely they sent him to infiltrate your city and send some report in about anniliating Vos."

"This is absurd!" It was Beta who came to Prowl's defense as she knelt down to help Orion rouse Prowl out of forced recharge. She looked pretty furious about the whole deal. "Prowl is just twelve vorns old! He is still a youngling! Too young to do something like this!"

"Perhaps." Megatron stated firmly. "Or perhaps he is the right age for such a task. No one would suspect him. He is for his age. Too grown up. And he is a criminal's son. You would actually allow such a person be near your son? I certainly would not."

Sentinel had quite the hard look on his face plates. He could this happened right under his optics and he never saw it. He could see Megatron's point of how Prowl was used against Iacon and Vos. He would never had suspected him, a youngling. He couldn't look away from this. Especially with the fact that Prowl was the son of a criminal. Now that he thought about it, he didn't about the youngling. He had never asked. He had only seen from a report that he was highly intelligent, well behaved, and was around his son's age. But he never had looked into his background. That was most disconcerting. He knew he had to take action now that it was out in the open.

Glancing down at Prowl as he had reawakened, The Prime frowned before walking over to tower over him, Orion and Beta, making all of them look up in surprise. "Prowl, be honest. What is your creator's name?" He asked sternly.

Orion blinkednseveral times before his breath caught. "Father..." he was saying.

"Orion Pax, do not interupt." The Prime said sternly to him before looking at Prowl. "What is the designation of your creator?"

Prowl stared up at him before glancing towards a smug looking Barricade. Only then did he sigh and lowered his head. He pulled himself to his feet and tried to look tall. "His name is Outlaw. I suppose Barricade, my cousin did tell you that." He said somewht crestfallen.

There were a few murmurs and worried glances. Orion looked worried from his father to his friend. He knew what this would come to. He could see it in his father's optics. "Dad, no. Please. He...he wouldn't do that. He is good. He's my friend." He said almost pleadingly.

Sentinel heaved a heavy sigh before he turned slightly away, looking at Megatron. He met his brother's serious gaze before shaking his head. "Not any more he is not. By ruling of The Prime, and evidence pointed against the young Praxian, Prowl, hereby give immediate judgement and punishment."

"Dad! No!" Orion pleaded.

"Exile. Prowl, you are banished from Iacon City. You will be returned to Praxus, with request of your own Government that certain punishments are taken place." Sentinel said heavily.

Orion and Prowl both flinched as if they had been struck. They did not like to hear that at all. "But...father, please! Prowl wouldn't...!" He was saying.

Sentinel frowned at Orion but not without a soft look. "I am sorry, Orion. But I have spoken and it shall be done. I cannot allow the son of a criminal be amongst our faculty. The High Council would never allow it." He told him as softly as he could.

"But that isn't fair! I want Prowl as my..." Orion was saying.

"That is too bad, Orion Pax. Now hush. Streamline, I will have you escort Prowl to the substation and see him leave Iacon City. If he ever returns here again, we will see immediate action and possibly put him in a small prison." Sentinel said. "And I hope you can live with youself to know that you are the cause of total destruction of Vos. Because of you, a whole race was destroyed."

Prowl's head snapped up and he looked at the Prime with surprise. "Wh-what?! No, wait! I didn't...!" He started to say but Streamline grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away.

"Wait!" Orion said stunned. He was torn in between going to Prowl's aid or trying to talk his father into giving his friend a chance. "Dad, please! Don't do this!"

"This discussion is over." Sentinel said firmly before looking at Megatron, optics rather hard. "Brother, this is not over. I do not want him," he looked at Barricade sharply. "In Iacon any longer. Arrange a guard escort for him to leave. Get him out of this city now!"

"Hmph. Some thanks I get." Barricade grumbled but willingly went with guards to leave.

"Dad!" Orion complained as he watched helplessly as Streamline was taking a crestfallen Prowl with him. He shook his head before hurrying over to Sentinel. "Dad, this isn't..."

Sentinel sighed heavily as he looked at Orion. "Life is not always fair, Orion. Your so called friend used us to do something terrible. And I am not going to allow him to stay." He then touched Orion's shoulder when he lowered his head down in pain and sorrow. "I will fix this." He said more quietly before he turned away and started walking out.

Orion stared after him in surprise but there was some hope in his spark.

Megatron frowned as he barely caught what was said. He did not like this. "Brother, where are you going?" He pried.

Sentinel, looking determined, just kept walking, throwing the door open. "I am going to Alpha Trion! He will know what really happened!" He snapped over his shoulder plates.

Megatron held in a hiss. He had forgotten about that meddling old mech. The one mech that could bring everything crashing down on their heads. He shot a glance towards Barricade as he was going down the stairs, having heard that from The Prime. The black and white mech deeply before he nodded.

It would be taken care of.