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 Twelve
It wasn't until the ground exploded as something burst out of it did Optimus and Prowl began running as hard as they could. The younger of the two had scooped up a startled Starscream before running.
Right behind them, the scorpion from cycles ago began its chase, hissing and snapping its claws.
Starscream took one look at the scorpion and gave a high pitched shriek of terror, making Optimus flinch and nearly stumble from the noise. The shriek echoed out into the wilderness, even making Prowl and the scorpion cringe at the sound.
"Starscream! Please! Don't scream...!" Optimus yelled over the unpleasant noise the younger was doing before he miss-stepped and went crashing down. He managed to turn his frame so he took the blunt of the fall and not crush Starscream.
Prowl skidded to a halt, turning with wide optics. He held his air when he saw the scorpion scuttling ever closer before snapping its tail to strike the two younglings. "Optimus! No!" He yelped before flinching and waiting to hear that fatal sound.
Optimus barely had time to glance up when he saw the scorpion striking out and cringe with a whimper of fear. He turned his frame to cover Starscream and protect him from the most likely fatal attack coming at them. He knew this was it. He was going to die. He was going to be struck by that tail and he was going to die. He could only close his optic shutters, waiting for the sharp pain to take him.
And then suddenly, there came a thunderous boom that practically rattled all three younglings as a blinding flash of light sped past them and slammed into the scorpion's tail.
The scorpion shrieked in pain and alarm as it was sent scuttling back from the impact. It looked around frantically for what had hit it before there was a flash of silver and engines rumbling loudly as something came at it.
Optimus, Prowl and Starscream looked up with wide optics as a sleek, silver Cybertronian car sped past them before it kicked off the ground and made a swift transformation. It was a rather short but much larger mech and he landed hard on top of the startled scorpion's back.
Feeling something on its back, the scorpion began to buck and thrash to get the mech off.
With a big grin, the mech held on tight and raised one hand into the air. "Yee-haaaaa! Ride 'em cowmech!" He bellowed cheerfully.
Optimus, Prowl and Starscream could only stare with wide optics, stunned of what they were seeing. They honestly couldn't believe this crazy mech. He was actually riding the scorpion.
Just then, there came a loud rev of a powerful engine and the three jumped when something big and black came speeding past them. "Move! Get off that thing, you idiot! " A powerful, deep voice roared before the huge black Cybertronian truck slammed into the scorpion's side.
Bit not before, the silver mech kicked off the animalistic mech's back, flipping and twisting in the air and landing hard on the ground.
There was a loud crack as metal slammed into metal and the scorpion went flying through the air and crashing down onto the ground. It shrieked and hissed before turning and diving into the ground, fleeing for its miserable life.
The large truck let out a bark of laughter before it began twisting and shifting into a big, brawny mech. He turned to look at his companion, who was grinning and offering a fist to him. The large mech complied with slamming his fist against the silver one's. "That'll teach him before he decides to come back again!" He boomed.
The silver one cackled before he turned and looked at the three gaping younglings with a blue glowing visor. "Huh?" He muttered before he reached up and lift his visor to get a better look. "Well, what do we have here?" He asked as his blue optics took in the three.
The large black mech turned and stared in surprise. "Younglings? Out in the middle of the Badlands?" He asked surprised.
Optimus and Starscream scampered to their feet and stood with Prowl, who was cringing back right with them. They didn't know who these mechs were or if they were friendly. The silver one seemed to be but they weren't so sure about the big black one. He actually was quite intimidating.
The silver mech stepped closer but stopped when all three younglings cringed back. He began to realize all he was doing was scaring them. He raised his hands, smiling faintly. "Easy, kids. I ain't gonna hurt ya." He said gently.
"Who're you? What are you doing out here?" The big black one gruffed.
Neither three spoke but glanced at each other before looking back uneasily. Optimus gulped before stepping forward a little, even with Prowl scrambling to catch his arm. "We...we are lost. That thing attacked us while we were trying to find our way." He explained nervously.
The silver mech tsked before shaking his head. "That's too bad. You're lucky that old Scorponok hates me an' Ol Hide. We had our run ins with him too. But he's scared of him so we don't have too many problems with him What's your names, kids? Where were you headed?" He asked, looking them over.
"Why should we tell you? You could be bandits." Prowl sad fiercely, ending up getting elbowed by Optimus.
Both mechs chuckled as they glanced at each other then back. The silver mech folded his arms across his chassis. "If we were bandits, don'cha think we wouldn't be asking you what your names are but kicking your aftpipes for trespassing on our turf? The name's Jazz, by the way. This is Ironhide." He said giving the big black mech a light hit in the chest.
Sheepishly, Optimus rubbed the back of his neck joints and figured why not. "I am Optimus. This is Prowl and this is Starscream. We...we were trying to find Tranquility." He said unsure if telling them was wise.
Nonetheless, Jazz and Ironhide gaped at the three younglings.
"Dude, trust me on this. You three don't want to be going to Tranquility at a time like this. Unless ya got family units there." Jazz said, his optics wide.
All three glanced at each other but shook their heads. Optimus hung his head a little. "No. Not really. We...all three of us were hoping to find a home there. We don't have anywhere else to go. So...why shouldn't we go to Tranquility?"
Staring for a long moment, Jazz turned to Ironhide, shaking his head. "Hide, we're keeping them. We ain't sending them off to Tranquility to be butchered by those fragging Cons!" He piped up.
"What?!" Yelped the big black mech and three alarmed younglings.
"Jazz, are you kidding me?!"
"What do you mean you're keeping us?!" Prowl demanded as he grabbed Optimus and Starscream, pulling them back as if he was about to start running with them for safety. "Are you trying to kidnap us?!"
Jazz raised his hands in his own defense. "Hey, hey. Let me say something, peeps." He pointed at Ironhide. "You, don't talk. We are keeping them and that's final. You," he pointed at the three younglings. "You need a place to stay, right? Well, you do not want to stay in Tranquility. There is this new group called the Decepticons there and they are a mean lot. From what we have been seeing, they are using the people there as slaves. They are forcing the good mechs and femmes there to work for them. You go there, you might as well be signing up your freedom. Cause you will be beaten ad forced to work. Stay with us and then you have that. You'll have non c'e' problema."
"Ah. Geen zorgan." Ironhide rumbled as if pleased to hear those very strange words.
Optimus, Prowl and Starscream stared with wide optics, completely confused. It did not help when the oldest of the three younglings began to twitch before there was a loud pop and he fell to the ground, off lined.
"Prowl!" Optimus yelped and dove down for his friend.
"Whoa. What's wrong with him?" Jazz asked staring in surprise and confusion, along with Ironhide.
Optimus shook his head as he was carefully trying to rouse his friend. "He has a glitch in his information processing unit. He can't process anything strange. Every time he does, he off lines." He then frowned up at Jazz. "What does those words mean?" He asked.
Jazz grinned again. "Ah, non c'e' problema." He stated again.
"Geen zorgan." Ironhide said the words again. He shared a grin with his companion.
"Zadne starosti." Jazz added right with him grinning.
"Nao se preocupe." Ironhide chuckled.
"And our personal favorite," Jazz said with a laugh.
"Hakuna matata." Both mechs said at the same time before breaking into booming laughter.
Optimus and Starscream stared at them with alarm, not understanding at all. Even as Prowl groaned as he came back on line. "What?" The youngest squeaked. "What does those words mean?"
"They mean no worries." Jazz said grinning.
Ironhide nodded with his own grin. "It's just a saying me and Jazz live by. Hakuna matata is definitely our favorite definition for it. Jazz even made up some catchy song we like to bellow out once in a while. He always does that. But anywho, it's our motto around here." He told them.
Prowl's helm stated smoking again. "Wh-what's a motto?" He asked quickly before he could off line again.
"Nothing's a motto with us! What's a motto with you?" Jazz asked before he burst into laughter with Ironhide.
It couldn't be helped as Optimus and Starscream joined in while Prowl just twitched, threatening to off line again. They figured out it was a joke. "So...no worries? Then...how do you live by? What do you do for living?" Optimus asked.
Jazz shook his head, grinning down at him. "We don't do anything. We just live, survive, harvest energon for ourselves in some energon pool near our spot. We don't have to work too hard and we don't get bothered by anyone. No one knows who we are, where we are, and they don't coming looking for us. No worries, no responsibilities, peace and quiet, no fights. Nothing bad ever happens. Sure, me and Hide gets into arguments once in awhile. But nothing too major. We get left alone in peace and that's how we like it. But you lot are welcome to stay with us. As long as you don't bring problems to us." He told them.
The three looked at one another before smiling and nodding.
"It sounds just right for us. We could use no problems. We already had enough of that." Optimus said.
Jazz then grinned as he clicked his fingers and nodded for them to come with him and Ironhide, who shifted into his truck form. "Then you are welcome to stay with us as long as you want. Come on. You, kids, looked exhausted and starved. We can wrestle up some energon for you." He told them.
Optimus nodded as he glanced at Prowl and Starscream. They started to walk but then Jazz plucked the smallest of the three up and set him down in Ironhide's bed. The small Seeker squeaked in surprise but all it did was make Jazz chuckle while the other two looked at him warily.
"Like I said, you look exhausted. And judging by Prowlie's hurt arm, you guys probably shouldn't walk back to the sanctuary." The silver mech said, eyeing the said's injured arm. "I can take care of that when we get back. I ain't no medic but I know enough to clean an injury better than you did."
"Thanks, Jazz." Optimus said gratefully as he was lifted up and set into Ironhide's bed.
Prowl huffed in indignification at Jazz, however. "It's Prowl. Not Prowlie." He said with irritation.
Jazz just grinned as he carefully put the youngling in Ironhide's bed next to the other two. "Whatev'a you say, Prowlers." He teased, earning an irritated glare. He barked out a laugh and nudged a chuckling black truck. "Oh-hoo. This one is going to be fun to pick on, Hide."
Prowl folded his arms and looked as if he was pouting. Optimus laughed and Starscream giggled as they watched him. Ironhide just chuckled, causing his entire frame to shake a little.
"So...this whole no worries thing works, right?" Optimus asked as Jazz transformed and was driving along with Ironhide.
"Yuppers! It has been working for Hide and me for the past couple of vorns. Take Ironhide for example. Before I met him, he used to be a comedian by the name Armorhide. Problem was," Jazz paused.
"I couldn't tell a funny joke to save my life." Ironhide gruffed with irritation.
"That was how I met him. He was at a show in Polyhex, trying to make them laugh and all, but he was sorely failing. They all started laughing all right. But they were making fun of him and all. One mech even called him Uglyhide, cause let's face it. He ain't the prettiest mech in the world. And then he gets slagged off and starts shooting the place up and beating the scrap out of who called him ugly. Would'a gone to Darkhelm prison if I didn't step in and save his aftpipe. I was a Security Officer back then." He stated.
Optimus saw Prowl perk right up, his helm jerking to look right at Jazz. He had to smile, remembering that was what his friend really wanted to be when he grew up into his full form. He wondered if there was any way that Jazz could give Prowl some tips about being a Security Officer.
Ironhide would have nodded if he could. "I will admit it. I ain't the prettiest mech in Cybertron." He said.
"Dude, mech. I already said that! Don't repeat my words, Hide. It gets irritating." Jazz huffed from beside him.
Ironhide ignored him and went on. "Not the most prettiest, being bad tempered, and the worst comedian ever, I changed my name to Ironhide and all. Sure made it hard to find some femme to inter..." he was saying.
"Ironhide!" Jazz yelped, slamming on his brakes and squealing his tires. "Not in front of the kids!"
"Oops. Sorry."
Optimus, Prowl and Starscream raised their optic ridges, wondering what Ironhide had been about to say but they decided they didn't want to know.
"Anyway, no worries has been heaven to us. We got tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, got tired of castes systems, got sick of having responsibilities being forced on us, so Hide and me wandered off into the Badlands and...well..." Jazz paused as they finally came what looked like walls of cliffs. He transformed and helped the younglings out before leading them though a nice sized crack in the wall. "We found this little oasis."
Beyond the cliff walls they came to a completely beautiful sight. It was some kind of forest with a lovely pool of energon spilling out from the pool like a geyser. Strange steel pillars stood everywhere with unusually green scales on them. There were soft spikes sticking out of the ground as well as colorful looking artistic objects.
"Whoa!" Optimus and Starscream vented while Prowl just looked astonished. "What is all of this?" The latter asked.
Jazz shrugged as he smiled fondly all around them. "Don't rightly know. But all of it are some kind of organic matters. The big long ones with the green scales I figured out are called trees. The small green spikes is grass. The colorful things I guess are called flowers. Somehow, I think it was the energon here that brought this stuff to life. It's purified energon swishing out from deep within Cybertron. Something is keeping this stuff alive. But it's nice. We don't got no sun here on Cybertron but...I think it might actually be the moon that what they need to survive. There's something about its light that makes these things grow. The moon's rays or something of the sort." He told them.
Slowly, the younglings nodded as they looked everything over. They had to admit it but it was beautiful here. These organics, the whole place, the pool of energon. It was absolutely gorgeous.
Optimus smiled faintly, feeling peace and security falling over him. He felt as if he could live here. With Prowl and Starscream. With Jazz and Ironhide. This was a place that he could forget everything that happened. He found himself not thinking too much about what had happened to his father. Ad what he had done.
"This place is perfect." The young prince...no, young mech said. He would forget that he was a prince. He was no longer that. He was someone completely different. He would no longer be royalty or nobility. He just didn't deserve it. He would just be Optimus.
Orion Pax, The Prime's son was gone. And he was never coming back.