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 Eleven

It was a full cycle before the scorpion gave up from trying to get the younglings and left. Orion and Prowl waited a little longer before finally coming out to see if it was safe or not.

When they didn't see any more danger, the two sank down, trying to think of what to do now. They knew they couldn't go back to Iacon. But they also couldn't stay out it the wilderness. They needed to find a small town or village to seclude their selves in for the rest of their lives.

"What are we going to do?" Orion asked miserably as he sat next to Prowl.

Prowl sighed, running a hand over his helm. He knew he needed to get Orion back into civilization soon. The young prince had never stepped foot out of Iacon before Kaon. He didn't know how to survive like the common Cybertronians did. "We just need to walk on until we find somewhere. We have no energon, nothing. Judging from where I think we are, there should be a small town called Tranquility a few cycles away. We can go there." He told him.

Orion sighed but made to stand. "Then I guess we should get going. We need medical assistance for your arm and we probably won't want to be out here when that scorpion comes back." He said.

Nodding, Prowl climbed to his feet but not without wincing in pain. He knew he would need some medical assistance soon. He could calculate that it would only be cycles from then before the real problems began.

And thus, the two younglings began their trek.

Orion and Prowl walked on for orns before settling near a cluster of boulders. They jumped at the slightest sounds in the wilderness and barely could recharge without worrying that something was going to get them.

The journey went on for a few cycles by the time they were completely exhausted from going on. They were tired, hungry and full of so much despair that they wondered if they were going to die out there. They also had a lot to think about while walking.

Orion wondered how things just fell apart like this. His life in Iacon...it had been perfect. He had parental units that he loved so much. He had friends. He had food and somewhere to recharge. He had had a good life.

And now...it was all gone. Because of his foolishness, right?

Where had it all gone wrong?

Tired of thinking about it, Orion spent time asking questions about Prowl's life. He learned that Prowl had never liked his own criminal father, Outlaw. He had been taken by the Praxian state when his father had been arrested for criminal activities. He had lost his carrier, his mother when he was sparked. He hadn't had the great life that Orion had but he had been quite content in the Praxus Institute of Education, learning how to live and survive and how to make his life right. He had always wanted to be a Security Detail, however, but somehow got stuck being some technical advisor apprentice.

Orion had smiled as he listened to Prowl drone on about what he had wanted out of his life and agreed with him. He could have seen Prowl as a Security Officer of the Law. He was sire brave enough for it. And he did have the smarts for it.

Another dreary cycle past and it was near dusk when something happened that none of the two would ever believe would happen to them.

Their duo number was about to become a trio.

It was the end of the cycle and both were so exhausted and so terribly hungry. Their tanks had been grinding and growling at them that they felt so weak from walking on.

Orion was lying on his back, staring up at the stars when he heard the sounds of whimpers from in the distance. He was sitting up immediately, looking around. He thought for a moment it had been Prowl who was crying. But he spotted his weakening friend sitting up, looking directly at him in the same manner.

"You hear that?" Orion asked.

Prowl nodded as he pushed himself unsteadily to his feet, wobbling weakly. "I hear it. Stay here. I will go see what it is." He said before grimacing as his legs threatened to give out from under him.

Shaking his head, Orion stood up, waving at Prowl to sit back down. "No, you're hurt and weak right now, Prowl. I will go. Just get some rest." He told him.

Prowl wanted to argue but after seeing his warning systems kicking in for the thirtieth time, he nodded. "Be careful. If it is dangerous, do not make any noise and come right back." He told him, almost breathlessly.

Orion nodded and crept out into the darkness towards the noise. He didn't have to go very far from Prowl at all before he found it.

And what he found stunned him.

Beyond clusters of steelweed bushes, there was a very small form curled into a tight ball. It was much smaller than Orion but not by much. It was a small red youngling probably not much younger than Orion.

Orion couldn't help but gaze at the youngling, stunned to even see it. He couldn't help but wonder where it had come from. He glanced around, thinking that he might see lights of a city or town but there was nothing but darkness.

Looking back at the small youngling, the young prince studied it, wondering what it might be, a mech or a femme. It sure had a high pitched vocoder, judging by the noise it was making. So it could have been a femme. But...judging from its frame, it kind of looked like a mech.

And then Orion saw the small stubs on its back. He blinked several times, trying to figure out what they were before it dawned on him.

"Wings? It's a Seeker." Orion murmured, not realizing he said it out loud.

A high pitched shriek emitted from the small Seeker before it scampered across the ground, whirling around to look at Orion with shock and fear. Big bright red optics stared right back out at him. "Wh-who are you?! What d-do you want?!" The smaller youngling demanded in a high pitched squeak.

Orion quickly raised his hands to show the Seeker that he didn't have any form of weapon to hurt him with. "It's okay! I won't hurt you. I heard sounds from over here and found you. What are you doing out here? Who are you?" He asked carefully but calmly.

The small Seeker narrowed frightened optics at him, trembling but it was trying to look brave. "I asked you first!" It squeaked.

Orion shrugged with a friendly smile. "Okay. I'm..." he paused thinking it might not be smart to keep using his name. He was responsible for his father's death after all. So it would be better to come up with something different. "I am Optimus." He finally said, coming up with a name he remembered seeing the name in one of his study pads once.

The Seeker paused before fidgeting nervously. It seemed to be debating on introducing itself. But then it sighed and stepped closer. "I'm Starscream."

'That's a mech name. So he's a mech.' Orion thought before nodding with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Starscream. What are you doing out here by yourself? Where is your parental units?" He asked.

Starscream flinched as if he had been struck then he turned away. "They...um...they left me. I...am lost. I mean...I ran away! And I am not going back!" He said trying to lie.

Orion, or Optimus as he was trying to go by saw through the lie, however. He felt his spark fall, knowing exactly where this youngling came from. "You were from Vos, weren't you?" He asked in a saddened voice.

Again, Starscream flinched but looked away with energon filled optics. "You...you know about Vos?" He asked with a whimper.

Optimus nodded with sad optics. "I think everyone does now. Were you...were you there?" He asked carefully. "When it...when it...?"

Starscream burst into sobs, his small servos covering his face plate and he fell down onto his aft. "Yes! It...it wa-was horrible! My...my creator...Daddy! And mother...!" He sobbed.

Optimus carefully stepped forward before slowly sinking down and putting an arm around the trembling Seeker, who had stiffened at his touch. "I just...I just lost mine too. I know how you feel." He said quietly.

Looking up at him with energon filled optics, Starscream did look surprised. He stared at the older youngling for a moment before he leaned against him, feeling somewhat comforted. "So you're...you're alone too?" He asked between sniffles.

Optimus shook his head, looking back the way he came. "Not quite. I have a friend with me over there. But he is really weak right now. He was hurt by a sparkpanther and we haven't eaten energon for days. We are looking for a new home together because we cannot go back to where we came from." He told him.

Starscream stared at him for a long moment before he looked to where he had been lying down. He seemed to debate with himself before pulling away from Optimus and dragged out a small metal packing box. "I...I think I can help with that." He turned to face Optimus, holding the box close to him. "If...if I let you use my medkit...will...can I come with you?"

Optimus blinked in surprise but then he softened with a smile and nodded. "Even if you didn't let us use it, you could come. It's not good to be alone out here." He said before standing up and offering his hand to Starscream. "Come on."

Starscream faintly smiled and took his hand, standing up with his help. He hugged the box close to him while trailing after Optimus, looking anxious.

Returning to Prowl, Optimus felt the small Seeker press closer to behind him and he smiled slightly. He knew how frightened Starscream was. He had it worse to be honest. He had seen the massacre of Vos, his entire race. It was sad to think that he might have been the last Seeker on Cybertron.

Prowl was looking curiously at his friend as he approached but had not yet noticed the extra pair of feet right behind him. "What was it?" He asked.

Optimus shrugged lightly before stepping to the side, looking at Starscream, who cowered under the new pair of optics. "Well...I found him."

His optics lighting up, Prowl sat up straight, taking in Starscream's frame and he frowned slightly. "A Seeker? But I thought they were all killed." He said in confusion.

Starscream whimpered a little and glared at Prowl. "Not all of them, obviously!" He squeaked angrily. He flinched a little when Optimus placed his hand on his shoulder.

"He is the last, Prowl. He was at Vos when it happened. His name is Starscream."

Prowl drew back in surprise but then relented. He sighed heavily before nodding in understanding. He looked back at Starscream and gave him a small smile. "Hello, Starscream. I am Prowl." He told him before wincing as his injured arm throbbed with pain.

Starscream eyed it for a moment before carefully and slowly walked forward, while opening his box, pulling out a medkit. "Optimus said you were hurt. Here. Before I left home, I found a few things. Daddy always told me it was better to be safe no matter what then sorry." He said.

Prowl frowned for a moment at the name that Starscream before looking at Optimus. He saw his friend shaking his head and then offering a shrug as an explanation. It wasn't exactly needed however. Prowl understood why he had changed his name. It wasn't a bad idea. He just didn't know why he hadn't thought of it.

Using Starscream's medkit, Prowl managed to clean the gashes in his arm and used a patch to cover them. He thanked the little Seeker gratefully.

Starscream only nodded before he surprised the two again by showing them he had rationed energon with him as well. He didn't have much but they were grateful he was even sharing with them in first place.

"So we are headed to Tranquility, hoping they won't mind us staying there." Optimus said as he finished explaining only part of their story. He had left out the part that he was The Prime's son and was nobility. He didn't want anyone but Prowl to know as it was. It was just until he figured things out.

Starscream listened before slowly nodding. "I have heard of Tranquility. My creator mentioned it once." He squeaked, grimacing at the sound of his voice. "It is a junk city. The mechs and femmes there are more mechanics and repair bots there. There are some scrap artists there too. And they don't like strangers. And Seekers either." He sounded worried.

Sighing Optimus shrugged. "It isn't like we have much a choice. It is the only place we can think of right now." He told them.

Prowl nodded as he looked at Starscream. "It will be okay, Starscream. We won't let anyone bother you." He promised.

Starscream made a face but shrugged. "I can take care of myself. But...I do not want to be alone." He told them with a whimper.

Optimus smiled faintly and placed an encouraging hand on the small Seeker. He knew that he was frightened. Pits, they all were. "You won't be alone. Prowl and I will be with you. We can stick together no matter what. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you again." He swore.

Starscream looked grateful for that.

They rested for the entire cycle before they were moving on. But this time as three and not two. It was not an easy task on Starscream, however. He didn't have the same endurance as the two older younglings did. So he wore out faster than Optimus and Prowl did. And when that happened, Optimus would offer to carry him on his back, seeing Prowl was still repairing.

For a whole cycle, it seemed too long for the three younglings and they were completely exhausted by the end of it. They tried to conserve Starscream's energon rations s much as they could, not knowing when they would reach Tranquility and even then.

It was another cycle before they realized they were going in long wide circles and it aggravated them. They were lost. They knew that now. And matters sure did improve when the ground started to shake and rumble, making all of them freeze in surprise. And when they heard a familiar hiss, the older two groaned, knowing that they were about to see an old face they thought they had gotten rid of.