Chapter 1: Enter Sideswipe
"To Cybertron!" Orion Eclipse and his family and their guests said as they raised their glass of Energon for a toast. They sipped their drinks and then they proceeded to eat their meal.
Altair Comet, meanwhile, was thinking of her father, Optimus Prime as she barely touched her food. Orion Eclipse seemed to notice this as he looked at his conjunx-endure and asked her, "What's wrong Altair?" He asked. Altair Comet looked to her husband and replied, "Nothing, dear." She spoke. "You hardly touched your food," Elita-One said to her daughter. Altair Comet sighed as she admitted to her mother and her conjunx-endura of what's making her feel unhappy. "I miss my father. I only wished he was here with us." Altair truthfully said in a sad tone. "I miss him too, Altair. But there is hope. Your father did promise that he would return from the Allspark one day so that he could be together with us again." Elita-One told her daughter.
"But when will he come back, mother? It's been 4 years since he departed from us." Altair Comet said. "We know, honey." Orion Eclipse replied to his conjunx-endura as he placed his arm around Altair to comfort her. "We all miss him, Altair Comet. We may not know when your father will return from the Allspark," Megatron told his daughter-in-law, "But hopefully, when Primus will allow your father to return...then maybe this time, Optimus will be reunited with his family." he promised.
Altair smiled at her father-in-law. "Thank you." she then looked to her husband, "Orion? May I talk with you outside...in private?" the purple fembot requested. Orion Eclipse nodded at his sparkmate. "Yes, Altair." The Decepticon leader looked to his father, "Um, dad? Could you take over as the host of this banquet while I take my wife outside the dining room?" Orion asked Megatron. "Of course, Orion." the silver mech replied. "Take care," Novastar told her son. "Let us know when you return to the banquet," Elita-One told her son-in-law. Orion Eclipse nodded at her mother-in-law. "Yes, ma'am," he said.
At Orion Eclipse and Altair Comet's quarters, the leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons were having a private conversation with each other. Orion assumed that his wife wanted him to comfort her and help her cope with the absence of her father, Optimus Prime, but that's not what Altair wanted. Instead, she wanted something else.
"Honey? What is it you wanna talk to me about in private? Did you want me to console you?" Orion Eclipse asked his conjunx-endura. Altair nodded. "No, Orion. I wanted to talk to you about something..." The fembot paused before she told her spouse, "I want to have a sparkling." She spoke. "What?" Orion Eclipse asked. "I want to have a baby with you." Altair Comet spoke louder as she told her husband. Orion was speechless. "Really?" He asked. "Well, yes. You know, since you and I are together and that we've been sparkmates for 5 years now...I was thinking about extending the family tree just so that, maybe one day...our future children would carry on our legacy...and maybe even carry out the legacy of their grandfather, Optimus Prime." Altair Comet explained.
"I...I'm...I'm not sure if I-I wanna become a father yet." Orion Eclipse replied anxiously. "I mean, parenthood is a huge responsibility and for Cybertronains to have children...they would have to go over to Vector Sigma and ask them to receive the Boon of Life so that we could be reformatted to finish the reproduction on our own...through unprotected sex." The adult mech said to his beloved.
Altair smiled at Orion, and she cupped his face before she told him, "If you don't want to be a sire yet, that's okay. We can wait and maybe learn about parenting before we can decide on wanting to have sparklings together or not." She told her conjunx-endura. Orion Eclipse smiled back at his beloved. "Okay. Thank you, honey." He said before he kissed Altair Comet. The next day, Orion Eclipse was patrolling when Wildbreak came to visit him. "Uh, hey Orion." Wildbreak greeted. "Hey there, Wildbreak. How's it going?" Orion said to his childhood friend. "Um, is it alright if I spend time with you, maybe even talk to you about something?" The Stunticon asked. "Sure." Orion accepted. The Decepticon leader and the young bot got to spend quality time together with each other before they sat down and Wildbreak began to ask Orion about something.
"Hey, Orion? Do you mind if I ask you about something?" Wildbreak asked. Orion nodded, "Why yes, Wildbreak. What's on your mind?" He asked. "Well...do you remember back in the day when we were sparklings and out fathers were at a gathering during the Great War?" Wildbreak asked. Orion Eclipse paused as he tried to remember. "To be honest...it's been over a millennium since we were kids. I remember that you were my friend when Knock Out and Breakdown introduced you to me from when you were a baby sparkling and I was a toddler. Why do you ask?" Orion said. "Well...when we were young, we were out playing near an Energon cave when we decided to explore inside of that cave and we were looking at the crystals when we found...a cube," Wildbreak told his friend. Orion Eclipse became curious. "A cube?" He asked. "It looked like a small Energon cube, except it was different. It was floating and it was small enough for you to hold it until it shined like a bright star as it illuminated the entire cave. We decided to name it the Star Cube as we were both amazed by its wonders as it showed us a bright blue galaxy. But then, the next thing we knew...it suddenly disappeared when it entered inside of your spark chamber if I remember correctly." Wildbreak explained.
Orion Eclipse then got a flash of memory of when he was a sparkling with Wildbreak and he suddenly remembered the day he found the Star Cube with him from when they were young. He grunted in pain and Wildbreak asked his friend if he was alright to which he responded, "Sorry, my head hurt for a sec. Did you say the cube entered inside of my spark chamber?" He asked. "Yes. When our parents called us, we decided to tell them what we discovered, but they didn't believe us as they were assuming that you and I were only playing make-believe. But that Star Cube was real, and I believe that it may have been something that came from the Allspark like as if it were a tiny piece of it." Wildbreak told Orion Eclipse.
Suddenly, Orion Eclipse got a few flashbacks to when he got into the escape pod before he nearly died in the explosion in space during a Decepticon evacuation from when they were fighting the Autobots before the Exodus of Cybertron, to when Orion got separated from his family and was presumed dead by his father, Megatron and the Decepticons after the explosion gave him a near-death experience and robbed him of his memories before he got sucked into a vortex while he was unconscious within the escape pod that took him far away from Cybertron, to which Orion Eclipse crash-landed on Earth in his escape where he got out and then kept himself hidden from the humans when they feared and despised him, to a thousand years later when Orion was hungry and he took a bite out of a chunk of Dark Energon before he heard a voice that echoed in his brain, telling him not to eat the Blood of Unicron as it would corrupt him and have him connected to The Chaos Bringer and his Anti-Spark. It was then that Orion Eclipse concluded that the Star Cube was the piece of the Allspark and a gift from the life-giver Primus himself that saved his life.
"Orion? Are you okay?" Wildbreak asked, concerned for his friend. Orion shook his head. "I'm fine." He said before he concluded as he remembered, "I-I remember now. I think I know why the Star Cube went inside me. I think that it was indeed a piece of the Allspark that was sent to me by Primus...He chose me. Primus chose me to one day unite the Autobots and Decepticons to stop their war with each other and to bring peace between both sides to spark a new Golden Age on Cybertron." Orion Eclipse said before he continued, "The Star Cube had been given to me when we were young and I believe it was long before I got separated from my father and the Decepticons when I was presumed dead due to the explosion in space that not only knocked me unconscious while I was in the escape pod...but it also made me suffer from amnesia before I landed on Earth where I became a stranded Cybertronain." Orion recalled. "It not only saved my life after I suffered from amnesia due to the explosion incident that I was in when the 'Cons were evacuating and repeating from the Autobots when they destroyed Kolkular but the Star Cube and its power also helped me fight off the Dark Energon that made my optics turn purple when I took a bite out of it on Earth."
"You believe that it's true? Was it truly the piece of the Allspark that miraculously saved your spark after you disappeared, and we all thought you were a goner because of the explosion that nearly destroyed you during our fight with the Autobots all those stellar cycles ago?" Wildbreak asked with a surprised expression on his faceplate. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it's true or not. It might have been pure luck that saved me. Whatever that Cube was, it sure was a lot different than the Tesseract from The Marvel Cinematic Universe." Orion Eclipse said while making a pop culture reference. "The what?" Wildbreak asked. "The Tesseract. You know...From the Marvel superhero movies from the Planet Earth?" Orion Eclipse told his friend. "Oh, I haven't seen those movies yet," Wildbreak said.
One day in Cybertron, everyone was moving around in places to jobs, schools, and transporting goods.
A red cybertronian car drove past an unloading truck at high speed "HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING, PUNK!" the angry truck shouted as he transformed "Sorry, having a joy ride, here" the red car laughed as he continues driving fast. The red car transformed into robot mode: he had blue optics, a helm that is shaped like spikey hair, and had an Autobot insignia on his chest, he went into the alley to hide from the Autobot Police "Where did he go?" the police officer asked "I don't know the last time I saw him was passing the truck bot unloading over the speed limit" the other replied "Well, it's not easy, he always avoids the police and they failed to catch him because he always outsmarts us" the first one explained "Well, as much as I want to see the delinquent behind bars, we have other things to do" the other said as they transformed into vehicle modes and left.
Sideswipe watches them leave as a cocky smile is made on his face "You guys will never catch me, I'll always lose guys in the chase and avoid being spotted" Sideswipe said as he is known for breaking the laws and causing trouble while avoiding the police, he never gets caught by them as he transforms into vehicle mode and drives off. But little does he know that Primus has other plans for him.
At the streets of Kaon...
Prowl and Strongarm were in pursuit when they receive a call from someone disturbing the peace at the Kaon Plaza, they transformed into robot mode and they pull out their handguns "Get it in gear, Cadet" Prowl said "Yes, Prowl sir" Strongarm said as they race towards the plaza being excited being on a pursuit with the veteran of the Great War "You serve in the Great War and leader of the Protectobots" she explained as they stopped and hid behind a wall "Yes, but what made you join the police in the first place?" Prowl asked.
"Well...you know how my dad is and he thought what is best for me, so he taught me what it means to protect and serve the Autobots. That's what gave me the idea to join the police force because they are to protect and serve, so...you get the idea" she explained, Prowl sighed as he peeks his head from the wall and sees Sideswipe driving around the statues "That's gotta be our disturbance" Prowl said as he and Strongarm walked on the bridge that is in between the statues.
Sideswipe stopped when he saw them as he blinked one of his headlights then he did donuts in front of one of the statues "In front of the Optimus statue" the infuriated Strongarm said as Prowl glanced at the statue of Optimus Prime. Strongarm had her gun pointing at Sideswipe "That punk is going down" she said as Prowl holstered his gun and turned his attention at Strongarm "That punk is Sideswipe as mad and exciting as it gets, he's not dangerous" Prowl replied as he lowered Strongarm's gun away from Sideswipe.
"I'll talk him out of this, while you-" Prowl was cut off when he received a com call "Hello?" Prowl said as he answered his commlink. Strongarm watches Prowl talking to his caller as she glances at Sideswipe "That's okay, sir. You just keep talking to the caller, I'll handle the perp" she said as she left the bridge to handle Sideswipe.
When she was on Sideswipe's path, she pointed her gun at Sideswipe racing towards her "Stop or I'll-Woah!" Strongarm dived to the side "Hahaha, eat my exhaust, woooh!" Sideswipe retorted cockily. Strongarm groaned frustrated as she pulls out her side-handle baton and runs off to finish the job "I'll be on my way, once when Cadet Strongarm and I apprehend that delinquent who is disturbing the peace at the Kaon Plaza, Prowl out" Prowl said as he deactivated his commlink "Okay, Cadet Strongarm as I was saying I'll talk Sideswipe out of this, while you make sure he doesn't do anything-" Prowl paused when he realized Strongarm's not by his side anymore "stupid?" he finished when he saw Strongarm spinning her baton heading towards Sideswipe "Strongarm wait!" he exclaimed but it was too late.
"Pull over!" she shouted as she tossed her baton causing Sideswipe to drive over it as Strongarm kicked him causing Sideswipe to fly backward and transformed into his robot mode as he crashes the Optimus statue. Strongarm lands back on the ground and approaches Sideswipe and cuffs him to her. "Wha-what?" the confused Sideswipe exclaimed as he got up on his feet "Are you crazy?" he said as a rumble is heard it was coming from the Optimus Prime statue it was falling towards Prowl "Prowl, look out!" Strongarm shouted as Prowl rushed out of the way as the statue collapsed.
"Prowl, are you okay, sir?" Strongarm asked as she rushed towards Prowl dragging Sideswipe in the process "I'm fine" Prowl answered as Strongarm turns her attention at Sideswipe "You are under arrest for disturbing the peace and destroying public property" Strongarm declared as Sideswipe scoffs "Me? You're the one who made me break it!" Sideswipe protested "Well, maybe you shouldn't think about driving around the statues at the plaza causing a disturbance" Strongarm retorted "A guy has his ways to keep him entertained out of boredom" Sideswipe replied as the duo began to argue until Prowl breaks it up "Enough!" he shouted as they complied and turned their attention to the Autobot cop "Strongarm, you apprehended Sideswipe on your own without my permission and Sideswipe, seriously? Can you do anything else to get yourself out of boredom than just causing attention to the Autobot Police Force and getting into trouble?" he explained.
"Do you two realize how embarrassing this is for me? I'm a cop, not a sparklingsitter" he said. Sideswipe and Strongarm remained silent and ashamed for their actions against Prowl. "Anyway, I got a call from Orion Eclipse, he told me to meet him at the Autobot training academy to train some recruits" Prowl explained "Orion Eclipse?" Strongarm replied with astonishment "The son of Megatron and one of Cybertron's heroes?" Sideswipe retorted "Orion is having us to train recruits? I'm so, so, so in!" Strongarm exclaimed excitedly "Wrong, you're out. Orion summoned me to be at the academy" Prowl said "I have plans for Sideswipe in the meantime, I have to go on my own there and you take Sideswipe to the station" Prowl explained as he transformed into his vehicle mode and drove off.
Prowl arrived at the academy and transformed into robot mode as he meets Orion Eclipse and Altair Comet "I'm here, Orion" Prowl said "That's good Prowl because with Starscream and the New Decepticons at large, we need an amount of Autobots and Decepticons in case if he tries anything that might be a threat" Orion explained "Orion had Strika, Obsidian, and Barricade to train the Decepticons, we need you to help Kup and Ultra Magnus to train the recruits" Altair added. "Okay, where are they?" Prowl asked "They're at the training room with the recruits and they're waiting for you" Orion answered "On it" Prowl replied as he walked his way there.
After he arrived at the training room, Kup and Magnus were just in time to start the training, "Looks like just in time" Prowl said "Indeed, Prowl" Magnus replied as he and Kup turned their attention to the recruits "Recruits, this is Prowl, commander, leader of the Protectobots, and advisor during the Great War and he'll be training with us" Kup said as they began training the recruits.
Kup is having the recruits exercise "Get moving, recruits! Autobots always have to fight the enemy in good shape!" Kup barked. Ultra Magnus is teaching the recruits about rules and protocols as Prowl is teaching them about strategy "Okay, recruits when your opponent seems too strong to defeat him or her, you must find his or her weakness and use it against him or her" Prowl said "Any questions?" he asked one of the recruits raised his servo as he was about to ask a question until a familiar voice interrupted "Prowl" Prowl turned around and saw Strongarm and Sideswipe there "Please, take me to jail. This is so much worse!" Sideswipe complained as Strongarm looked at Sideswipe annoyed then turned her at Prowl.
"Strongarm, what are you doing here? I told you to take Sideswipe to the police station" Prowl exclaimed, "Sir, law number 4673 states that I will be by your side at all times" Strongarm stated, "I don't care what the rules said, I gave you an order and disobey it" Prowl said, "Look sir I just want to do the right thing and-" Strongarm paused when she saw her father, Ultra Magnus there as he walks next to Prowl as he glares at her with disappointment "Strongarm" he said sternly as Strongarm smiles nervously "Hi" she said in a nervous tone and Sideswipe smiled nervously too "Hello...sir" he replied nervously as well.
"Awkward" recruit #1 said as they and Kup stared at them in embarrassed silence until Prowl broke it "Magnus, sir may I have a word with you...alone?" Prowl asked "Yes" Magnus answered as they left the training room to talk in the hallway. "Your daughter explained that you wanted what is best for her and taught her what it means to protect and serve the Autobots, but have you ever thought about teaching her to obey orders?" Prowl stated.
"Yes, I did but she takes it after her mother to protect anyone at all-cause," Ultra Magnus explained, "But when you told me before you came to the academy, you said you have plans for Sideswipe, and what are your plans for him anyway?" Magnus asked "To have Sideswipe be an Autobot soldier and be a better person" Prowl answered "What? He's a delinquent, a troublemaker, and a rebel" Magnus explained "I know you didn't have a good encounter with him because of the accident" Prowl said as Magnus knows what he's talking about "He might be rebellious, but I see some good in him and from what Drift and Grimlock said that he has a good spark and a lot of spirits. He just needs some guidance" Prowl explained.
Magnus slowly thinks about it and then realized how Optimus told him and all the other Autobots that anyone can change and be better people "Okay" he replied "All right and by the way" Prowl said "What?" Magnus asked "Maybe have your daughter be trained here at this academy as extra credit to what it means to be an Autobot" Prowl stated "Okay" Magnus agreed as they entered back at the training room "Sideswipe, I did have plans for you and it was for you to be trained at the Autobot Academy," Prowl told Sideswipe "WHAT!?" Sideswipe and Strongarm shouted in unison "And Strongarm? Prowl and I decided that you should be trained at the Autobot academy" Ultra Magnus said "WHAT!?" They shouted in unison again as Prowl uncuffed Sideswipe and Strongarm from each other "Well, what are you punks standing there?! Get back to training!" Kup bellowed "Yes, sir!" the recruits replied as they resumed back to their training.
Prowl looked at the duo who are glaring then turned their attention at Prowl "You said you want to learn more about being an Autobot? Be careful what you wish for" Prowl said to Strongarm as Prowl looks at Sideswipe "And this will make you a better person and have a better life" Prowl said "And maybe you two can be good partners together, which I could be right or wrong" Prowl stated as they stared at each other "Sideswipe, you're with me at strategy lessons. Strongarm, you're with Kup on exercise" Prowl exclaimed as the two went to their respective lessons.
This was the beginning of Sideswipe's life and the start of a relationship between him and Strongarm.