Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Part I Update:
This is Part I's Allegiances.
The overall story is told in an episodic fashion with the title of a chapter (ie, 'STAR') indicating the perspective/main focus of that chapter, STAR = Starscream. This isn't always the case, however, as sometimes a 'CLOUD' chapter may jump between Cloud Breeze or Cloud Stream. 
Part I details early childhood life with Ulchtar (Star) with Cryak. Part I focuses heavily on the political environment of Cybertron regarding the move away from the Golden Era into the Functionalist Era. Part I is 290K words in total (1012 pages). Caution is to be taken when reading over chapters: STAR: Alone, STAR: Goodbye, CLOUD: Lament, and STAR: Recovery. Triggers include, but are not limited to: body horror and child abuse/neglect. 
Aside from this, Part I sees Ulchtar removed from Cryak's care and exploring Vos and learning how to fly, as well as his being unable to feel properly at home as he struggles to find his family. There are some spiritual and religious meanings and symbolisms in some of the chapters, including, but not limited to: SUN: Dream, CLOUD: Lament, STAR: Grief, STORM: Prince, STAR: Piece, STAR: Prelude, STAR: Spark, STAR: Cosmic, and WIND: Name. 
There is minor shipping in Part I as it focuses more on backstory, lore of Vos, current politics of Cybertron and generally helps give the idea of what sort of world this is all taking place in. While heavily influenced from other Continuities, specifically the IDWVerse 2005/19, this is an AU fic (or a 'continuity soup') just with a little more extra detail put into things to help modernise or humanise Cybertron by giving its inhabitants religious beliefs that will in turn, either spark the main conflict or drabble down into later, spin-off, stories. Part I mostly consists of child Starscream's perspective, but has other chapters regarding Thundercracker and Skywarp's early life, where they work and reunite, as well as some of the people they'll meet. Part I introduces Skyfire, Silverbolt, Slipstream and Metalhawk - all of whom will play a large role throughout Starscream's life, as well as a few notable OCs to remember for later, Orange Blast and Cloud Stream. More characters will appear in later Parts. (See below)
As of writing this, Part I is completely finished and is currently waiting to be drafted/edited in the future. It is 30 chapters long and was completed within nine months of writing; Decemeber 2024 - August 2025. 

Part II Update:
For Part II, etc, go to the chapter drop-down menu and scroll to ALLEGIANCES: Part II, etc to find those allegiances.
These are character lists that will remain at the beginning of each Part to help identify what to expect in that part of the story. Allegiances may change regularly before the next Part comes out, as the author keeps track of which characters are where and with whom. Please don't feel alarmed if a character or section suddenly goes missing; it's likely due to it being placed in the next Part of the story, so it doesn't clog up one Part's chapter, as those characters will be seen later in that respective Part of the story.
These parts do not become 'outdated' as time goes on (more of the story is drafted and released), because these allegiances help readers identify where a character may start from, and it is vital to read beforehand so you can grasp an understanding of who and where that character is before reading the next Part. They will be updated in the next Part of the story.
Parts are going to be divided by 1000 pages, so every 1000 pages of this story will be divided into its own section, or per every 25-30 chapters of the overall fic. As of the current update, this chapter, the overall story is beginning its second stage (next Part II). The updated Allegiances will feature some canon names and Star joining the Seekers, as for Part II, elsewhere, will see Senator Shockwave's absence being taken by Termagax, Skywarp and Thunder joining the Praxus Police Force and D-16 noticeably missing from Termagax's name. Part II will also see an updated version of the Ancient Seekers as time-travelling arcs will begin. These are set to only three chapter arcs under the title 'MOON' and will take place in Ancient Vos. Part II will also see Star getting his canon name and exploring more dynamics with other Seeker characters, as well as beginning a relationship. More information about each Part will be written and placed above the Allegiances of that chapter (similar to this structure), when those chapters/Parts are released.

I shall update this space when Part II is completed and Part III is being drafted. 

Key:
Deceased
Alive
TITLE/RANK
Alignment/Existence
Faction

*Cybertron's Many Terms used for a young bot: 
Kaon - Child
Vos - Spawn, Apprentice (child, apprentice)
Rodion - Apprentice
Tarn - ward (child, property [to protect])
Carpessa/Iacon - Mentee (Apprentice, child) 
Crystal City - Bodyguard (sacrificial lamb)
Praxus - Apprentice, Mentee (someone who learns from you)

[On Cybertron the term 'Apprentice' is the most widely acceptable term used when addressing a younger bot who is often seen accompanying an older one. Although they are treated differently across locations and cultures, young bots are no rare sight in the Golden Age. For example, in Tarn, children are often referred to as 'wards'; more akin to property to be watched over rather than to actually teach so Tarnbots will call children their 'ward', meanwhile in Iacon they are referred to as Mentees/Apprentices because they were forged to learn from their elders and to also take after them.] This is NOT canon to the official Transformers franchise! Usurpers will be explained in later chapters alongside city-wide cultures ranging from different locations on Cybertron. For now, I am using a Shattered Glass map of Cybertron, although I am trying to create my own as I go in my head for this story. Mentors are official, though rare in the IDW comics. Cultures aren't exactly my strong suit within Transformers, but I am open to advice and criticism as to where to add to things as we go. 

The Cybertronian High Guard
KING:
Cloud Breeze
[OC]
Spawn; Skyfire
[Canon]

SHAMAN:
Cyber Song
[OC]
Apprentice; Soundwave
[Canon]

SHAMAN'S AID:
Icestorm
[OC]

CHIEF MEDIC:
Orange Blast
[OC]

MEDICAL ASSISTANTS:
Meteor Shine
[OC]
Apprentice; Dapol
[OC]

SEEKER LIEUTENANTS:
Sky Lynx
[Canon]

Mercystrike
[OC]
Spawn; Comet
[Semi]

Motorthrust
[OC]

Breeze Tail
[OC]
Apprentice; Wind
[OC]

Storm Wing
[OC]

Wing Dagger
[Canon]
Apprentice; Knockdown
[Canon]

STORM PATROL:
Darkstorm
[OC]

Sonic Wing
[OC]

Turbo Blitz
[OC]
Spawn; Blitzwing
[Canon]

Hawk Wing
[OC]
Spawn; Metalhawk
[Canon]

Nova Storm
[Canon]

Ion Storm
[Canon]

Acid Storm
[Canon]

Blackstorm
[OC]

Stormsea/"Steve"
[Semi]
Apprentice; Wing
[Canon]

Uplink
[Canon]

Whirl
[Canon]
Apprentice; Alpha Bravo
[Canon]

COMBAT UNIT:
Vesper Song
[Semi]

Aero Raid
[Canon]
Spawn; Air Raid
[Canon]

Skyhammer
[Canon]
Apprentice; Evac
[Canon]

Brainwash
[OC]
Apprentice; Dirge
[Canon]

Discord
[OC]
Apprentice; Ramjet
[Canon]

Treachery
[OC]
Apprentice; Thrust
[Canon]

Dogfight
[Canon]

MINING OVERSEERS:
Flight Song
[OC]
Apprentice; Freeflight
[Canon]

Dustburner
[OC]
Apprentice; Silver
[Canon]

Widowfog
[OC]
Spawn; Night
[Canon]

Guyhawk
[Canon]

Springer
[Canon]

SCIENCE DIVISION & EXPLORATION TEAMS:
Meteorfire
[Canon]
Spawn; Cosmos
[Canon]

Spacewarp
[Canon]

DIPLOMATS:
Low Swoop
[OC]
Spawn; Fearswoop
[Canon]

Cloud Stream
[OC]
Spawn; Slip
[Canon]


SENIOR SEEKERS:
Jet Wing
[OC]

Katastrophus
[Canon]

Stratosphere
[Canon]

Sun Breeze
[OC]

Falcon
[Canon]

Jumpbarrel
[Canon]
Apprentice; Genvo
[Canon]

GRADUATES:
Powerglide
[Canon]

Contrail
[Canon]

Lookout
[Canon]

Breakaway
[Canon]

Dreadwing
[Canon]
Apprentice; Red
[Canon]

Skyquake
[Canon]
Apprentice; Skydive
[Canon]

Darkwing
[Canon]
Apprentice; Sling
[Canon]

ACTIVE DUTY:
Sky High
[Canon]
Apprentice; Crossblades
[Canon]

Blue Bacchus
[Canon]

Bomb-Burst
[Canon]
Apprentice; Bugly
[Canon]

Airwave
[Canon]
Apprentice; Nightstalker
[OC]

Powerdive
[Canon]

Steel Whip
[Canon]


TRACKERS:
Questor
[OC]

Vixen
[OC]

Redoisa
[OC]

Silverata
[OC]


RESERVE DUTY:
Blackout
[Canon]

Wheezing Arrow
[Canon]

Skystalk
[Canon]


RETIRED FORCES:
Skyblast
[Canon]

Thunder Shine
[OC]

Space Leap
[OC]

Dun Kaze
[OC]

Athel
[OC]


OTHER:
Andromeda/"Andy"
[Canon]

Lander
[Canon]

Wheelfire
[Canon]

Grindcore
[Canon]

Nosecone
[Canon]

Wisp
[OC]

Total : Too Many (97)

The Senate
NOVA CRONUM SENATOR:
Proteus
[Canon]

VOS SENATOR:
Sky Shadow
[Semi]
Spawn; Black Shadow
[Canon]

ALTIHEX SENATOR:
Crosscut
[Canon]
Usurper; Clutch
[Canon]

KAON SENATOR:
Decimus
[Canon]


TESARUS SENATOR:
Drivetrain
[Canon]

ULTIREX SENATOR:
Halogen
[Canon]


HELEX SENATOR:
Momus
[Canon]
Usurper; Crucible
[Canon]


TETRAHEX SENATOR:
Nightstrike
[Canon]
Usurper; Airachnid
[Canon]

PETREX SENATOR:
Sherma
[Canon]

TARN SENATOR:
Shockwave
[Canon]
Ward; Sky
[Canon]

POLYHEX SENATOR:
Straxxus
[Canon]

RODION SENATOR:
Tomaandi
[Canon]
Apprentice; Dion
[Canon]

MONOPLEX SENATOR:
Traachon
[Canon]

IACON SENATOR:
Xaaron
[Canon]
Usurper; Aurora Lux
[OC]


CRYSTAL CITY SENATOR:
Augur Flos
[OC]


STAND-IN PRAXUS SENATOR:
Codexa
[Canon]
Mentee; Orion Pax
[Canon]


TRIAX SENATOR:
Rotorstorm
[Canon]


Total : 24

The Primal Vanguard
PRIME:
Sentinel Prime
[Canon]

SECOND IN COMMAND:
Zeta Primon
[Canon]

PRIMARY ADVISOR:
Primon
[Canon]


CHIEF OF SECURITY:
Onslaught
[Canon]
Apprentice; Warpath
[Canon]


CHIEF OF MEDICINE:
Wrench
[OC]
Apprentice; Ratchet
[Canon]

Perceptor
[Canon]


CHIEF OF SCIENCE:
Spring Jack
[OC]
Apprentice; Wheels
[Canon]

SECURITY OFFICERS:
Cog
[Canon]

Ravenus
[Canon]
Apprentice; Twirl
[Canon]

Prowl
[Canon]

Bluestreak
[Canon]

Barricade
[Canon]

Thunder
[Canon]

Arcee/RC 1-4
[Canon]

Chase
[Canon]

Heatwave
[Canon]

Dropforge
[Canon]

Inferno
[Canon]

Firestar
[Canon]

Chromia
[Canon]

Jazz
[Canon]

Dino
[Canon]
Apprentice; Mirage
[Canon]

Shutter Song
[Canon]

Beam Rider
[Canon]

Red Alert
[Canon]

Convoy
[Canon]

Greytail
[OC]

Blurr
[Canon]

Swift
[Canon]

Strafe
[Canon]


Total : 35

Other
TRANSFORMERS:
Alpha Trion
[Canon]

Beta
[Canon]

Jhiaxus
[Canon]

Cryak
[Canon]
Ward; Ulchtar
[Canon]

Lightbright
[Canon]

Hot Shot
[Canon]

Tonitru
[OC]

Cryotek
[Canon]

Deathsaurus
[Canon]

Owl's Song
[OC]

F-133/"Flames"
[Canon]

S-72
[Canon]

Backslash
[Canon]

Cy-Kill
[Canon]

D-15
[OC]

Vector Prime
[Canon]

Solus Prime
[Canon]

Megatronus Prime/"The Fallen"
[Canon]

Prima
[Canon]

Total : 20

CYBERTRONIAN TERMINOLOGY

Because I keep referring to it, here's something to help you out with the time units. As for body parts, I did have a fic here that I was reading with a good dictionary, but I don't wanna rip 'em off or overcomplicate things, so if you see something new pop up in the story, please come back and check over this so you can find what it means. 

Some of these definitions/words were taken from various canon and fan-made materials; however, a small amount were made up by the Author(s). Canary-X does not take credit for any of the words used across other media, as they do not belong to or originate from her. If you have any questions as to what phase in particular caught your eye and wanted to know where it may have originated from, please reach out and ask! The ‘Units of Time’ table was morphed from the official Transformers Wiki page and has helped immensely. Most of the Basic Biology deviates from fan-made material, but no NSFW is involved in this wiki or ever mentioned throughout the writing. ‘Languages’ are mostly made up; however, some slang terms are borrowed from real-life sayings and very real Languages (ie. Japanese). Please be respectful of other people's cultures and keep in mind that fiction is not the same as reality. If a phrase or definition deeply disturbs you, please reach out and let us know so that we may brainstorm and form a new word/saying together that appears more accurate/respectful. Some pronunciations may be inaccurate or missing entirely - for a fictional word or setting, this would normally be fine. However, for a term borrowed from real life, please refer to your nearest educational outlet or the local tongue for further aid if wanting to accurately produce these words. Since these words will be used in an entirely fictional realm, these words will not mimic or reflect their real-life counterparts differently with conflicting pronunciation unless given the context (ie. accents). But feedback and educational insight are always appreciated and taken on board alongside their respective cultures!

CYBERTRONIAN TERMINOLOGY

Because I keep referring to it, here's something to help you out with the time units. As for body parts, I did have a fic here that I was reading with a good dictionary, but I don't wanna rip 'em off or overcomplicate things, so if you see something new pop up in the story, please come back and check over this so you can find what it means.

UNITS OF TIME

Ano-cycle
Noun
< “a-no-sai-kl” >
Definition;
The Universal Cybertronian term for a considerably long year.



Kilocycle
Noun
< “ki-lo-sai-kl” >
Definition;
A term used to describe a thousand years.



Stellar-Cycle
Noun
< “s-tel-a-sai-kl” >
Definition;
The Universal Cybertronian term used to describe the length of a year.

Meta-Cycle
Noun
< “meh-tar-sai-kl” >
Definition;
A period of time equivalent to ~13 months.



Orbital Cycle
Noun
< “or-bee-tal-sai-kl” >
Definition;
A period of time equivalent to one Earth month.



Paracycle
Noun
< “par-ra-sai-kl” >
Definition;
An outdated Vosian term used to describe the length of a decade.



Decivorn
Noun
< “de-see-vor-n” >
Definition;
A period of time estimated to be 8.3 years. The modern equivalent to a Cybertronian decade.



Vorn
Noun
< “vor-n” >
Definition;
A period of time estimated to be around 83 years.



Deca-cycle
Noun
< “de-ka-sai-kl” >
Definition;
Estimated the Universal time on Cybertron that's equivalent to our saying 'fortnight' (just a little under ten days).



Cyber-week
Noun
< “sai-bur-whea-k” >
Definition;
Mostly an Iaconian term used to describe a week, but otherwise Universal Cybertronian.



Chord
Noun
< “k-or-d” >
Definition;
A Vosian term used to describe a week.



Solar-cycle
Noun
< “sol-lar-sai-kl” >
Definition;
The universal Cybertronian term used to describe the length of time that passes for a day.



Deca-phase
Noun
< “de-ka-fh-a-ze” >
Definition;
A term used to describe something that's happened in the last eight or so hours.



Mega-cycle
Noun
< “meh-ga-sai-kl” >
Definition;
The Universal Cybertronian term used to measure the length of one hour on Cybertron.



Groon
Noun
< “g-roo-n” >
Definition;
The Vosian terminology used to describe an hour.



Joor
Noun
North Vosian = < “y-or” > / South-Eastern Vosian = < “j-or” >
Definition;
The Tarnished terminology used to describe the length of an hour. Derives from Ancient Vosian.



Breem
Noun
< “b-ree-m” >
Definition;
The Universal Cybertronian terminology used for lengthened minutes (ie. a group of five minutes or longer).



Arc
Noun
< “ar-k” >
Definition;
An uncommon Vosian term used for minutes.



Astro-minute/Astro-cycle
Noun
< “ass-tro-mi-n-it” >
Definition;
Often used as a slang term to describe a short/hot minute (usually just kept to sayings like 'I'll be back in a minute.')



Klik
Noun
< “kl-i-k” >
Definition;
A Universal Cybertronian term used in cooperation with air distance travel. Usually how fast an airborne Cybertronian can reach you. (ie. Kliks per minute = 70 km/h)



Astro-second/Astrosecond
Noun
< “ass-tro-sek-nd” >
Definition;
A Northern Cybertronian term used to measure the length of a second.



Nano-cycle
Noun
< “naa-no-sai-kl” >
Definition;
A Southern Cybertronian term used to measure the length of a second.



Nano-Klik
Noun
< “naa-no-kl-i-k” >
Definition;
The Vosian Term used to describe a second.



Quiet Season
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian equivalent of 'Winter'. The Quiet Season is named this, mostly in Northern Cybertron, as it is a period of time estimated around eight months where no storms are naturally taking place on Cybertron. The Sea of Rust naturally falls silent during this Season, hence the name. In Iacon, after blizzards, the Quiet Season often consists of tranquil, snow-covered, picturesque scenes further North while in the city, they work hard to keep the roads clean and clear of any obstacles. It should be noted that North Cybertron tends to slow down as the threat of collisions are expected to rise following black ice smothering the roads. For South Cybertron, they notice a drop in temperature and some colonies hibernate while others make prepartions for the Dry Season. 



Wet Season
Noun
Definition;
Usually happens in Hydrax and Insecticon territory, South Cybertron, this time of year sees heavy rain - half of it mostly acidic. While for Hydrax it may drive off business, for the Insecticons it is very cultural to them. The acid naturally replenishes the land and happens three weeks before the Mating Season. Functioning on this internal clock, the Insecticons can gather and prepare for another year. Usually happens after the Quiet Season. It is often ill-advised for ships or flying Cybertronians to land at Hydrax during this time.



Mating/Cuddle Season
Noun
Definition;
Usually known in South Cybertron, the "Mating" Season happens inside Insecticon borders, usually before the Dry Season. Because Insecticons are not hermaphrodite, usually Queens or Princess Wasps will scout looking for a potential colony to build. In Ancient times, there were many other types of Insecticons, but now the variety has only been reduced to fifteen species. The Mating Season was rather big during Ancient times as many Dragonfly-like Insecticons did and still, patrol their nesting grounds, guard their mates and rear their young in small colonies. Sophisticated and intelligent Cybertronians refers to this time of year as the "Cuddle Season" after studying Insecticons cuddling one another, but only specific types. The Cuddle Season sounded rather cute and less intimdating than the Mating Season did, so it has been adopted fully across Cybertron and celebrated as a time of year to cherish a loved one. Although brief and short, it usually lasts a week in Iacon and results with Conjunx spending time together or gifting one another rare and valuable items as a token of their relationship progressing another year. While there isn't usually a specific time of year, nor is there ever an urge for Bipedal Cybertronians to reproduce, in Ancient times, some Bipedal Cybertronians would delay having spawn in order to reduce the likelihood of their children being hunted by the hungry Predacons and Insecticons. Their "Mating" Season happened during the Quiet Season when Cybertron fell quiet and allowed for them to raise their young and simultaneously scavenge for resources while their predators hibernated. The Cuddle Season is still seen as a romantic time of year where most couples would go touring Cybertron before the Functionalist Powers took over the empire. 



Dry Season
Noun
Definition;
The Dry Season is Cybertron's equivalent to 'Summer' and lasts almost three-fourteen months depending on where you are on Cybertron. During the Dry Season, most of Cybertron becomes dry and exceedingly very hot and humid while little to no cooling temperatures. The Dry Season often predates the Quiet Season. Seeing as their are multiple biomes on Cybertron, these are the two universal seasons outside of the Tribes and Colonies. Often, the Dry Season will end in an impressive display of electrical, rust and even snow storms.  

LANGUAGES

Fem
Exclamation
< “fh-eh-m” >
Definition;
The Seeker term used for the unspoken act of saying 'Hello' to someone. Often used only as a formal, first-time introduction when meeting someone. The act of a Vosian introducing themselves by holding out their hand flatly so the palm is presented to the other person in an act of non-violent intent as a means to show approachability.



Ki
Noun
< “k-ee” >
Definition;
The Vosian digitised/written word for 'yes'.



Nes
Noun
< “n-eh-z” >
Definition;
The Vosian digitised/written word for ‘no’. Can sometimes be spoken/clicked, however, during times of high stress.



Haksuru
Verb
< “hah-k-su-ruu” >
Definition;
Often the whispered order to assassins or a Vosian armada informing them to annihilate or destroy a target without any interruptions. An order to kill.



Vos
Noun
< "v-os" >
Definition;
The Vosian term for 'sky'. Also a city-state belonging to North Cybertron that is currently a Kingdom.



Gath
Noun
< "g-a-th" >
Definition;
The Vosian term for 'fire', usually a suffix when it comes to being used as a name/designation.



Auvr
Noun
< "au-v-er" >
Definition;
The Vosian term used for 'star'. Usually acts as a prefix for a name/designation, but can also be used as a suffix.



Skrii
Verb/Noun
< "ss-k-rii" >
Definition;
The Vosian term used to describe a loud yell, shout or scream. Can often be found as a suffix in names/designations.



Terra
Verb/Noun
Definition;
In Vosian, this command is usually given to a group of escorts or bomber Seekers and generally translates to 'dive'. It can also be used in naming as a suffix and a prefix. 



Carath
Verb/Noun
< "ka-ah-rath" >
Definition;
A Vosian name, often used as a suffix more than a prefix, that translates similarly to 'raid' or 'bomber'. Used to describe someone's excellence in battle, but can often be associated with the command to raid or bomb a certain area as well. 



Teloth
Verb/Noun
< "tel-oth" >
Definition;
The Vosian term used to describe the action of 'teleporting'. In Ancient times, Vosians would refer to 'warping' as their way across the universe before the invention of Space Bridges. Warp and teleport mean the same thing in Vos, so have been merged under the same name. 'Teloth' is also a suffix used when taking a name in reference to one's abilities.



Gyn'ro
Noun
< "gin-ro" >
Definition;
Ancient Vosian term used for describing something that shimmers in a silver light. Often associated with names. 



O'chiru (O'chiruyut)
Noun/Verb
< "o-chi-ruu" / "o-chi-ruu-yah-t" >
Definition;
The Ancient Vosian term used to describe someone that has fallen from a high place of grace or position of power. Often used when it comes to naming (ie. Falling/Fallen)



Firuyu
Noun/Verb
< "fi-ruu-yuu" >
Definition;
An Ancient Vosian term used to describe falling snow or rain, but is mostl commonly referred to as a girl's name.



Tonitruitus
Verb/Noun
Definition;
An Ancient term used to describe the sound of something getting louder and closer, often associated with the sound of a rumbling thunderstorm. It translates to 'thundering', both as a descriptive and as a prefix when it comes to naming. This name means something powerful, looming, brave and graceful by nature.



Ekyo
Verb/Noun
< "eh-k-o" >
Definition;
Mostly used when it comes to naming. A Vosian term equivalent to the term 'echo', meaning to produce sound the travels continously unseen until it is unheard or sound that is replicated through natural means. Can be used as a suffix and prefix for names.



Tessatessu
Noun
< "tess-ah-tess-u" >
Definition;
The Southern Cybertron term used for 'waves', in the ocean sense. Predominatnly used in cultrual naming and artwork as oceans of water where waves are produced are located only on Southern Cybertron. Can be used as a suffix and a prefix.



Shrak
Noun
< "shh-rah-k" >
Definition;
The Tarnished/Ancient Vosian term used to describe shadows or darkness that is not natural. Often used in modern terms for naming and can be used as either a suffix or prefix.



Nocht
Noun
< "noh-chh-t" >
Definition;
The Ancient Vosian term used to describe nightfall or a night sky, however, it is mostly used for naming and isn't used for describing the time of day.



Owl
Noun
< "ow-ll" >
Definition;
The Ancient Vosian term used to describe something that is bird-like and flying. 



Voc
Verb
< "v-occ" >
Definition;
When it comes to training young Vosians, the term 'Voc' is often described as a release or safe word to demand that all training must stop so medical staff can assess the injured Seeker. It is often described as a sharp and authoritive, loud click.



Ptru
Noun
< "pit-truu" >
Definition;
The sound of a soft, low and short whistle that Vosians will emit when asking for help among their kind or trusted outsiders who understand their language. While it does directly translate to 'help', it is not a sound that warrants urgency or danger. It is a soft sound that indicates asking for assistance often accompanied by appropriate body language.



Rikucht
Verb
< "ri-ku-cht" >
Definition;
The Vosian command for Seekers to remain grounded because it is too dangerous to fly. Often used as a lockdown command during harsh weather conditions.



Kabush
Exclamation
< “ka-boo-sh” >
Definition;
The Kaon term used for greeting someone. 



(Seeker) Clicks
Verb
< “kl-i-k-ss” >
Definition;
The tonal whistling or clicking sound Cyberjets/Seekers may create while in the air, this is their main form of communication during an attack or routine patrol.



Vesha
Noun
< “veh-shh-a” >
Definition;
An outdated term to address the ruler of Vos. Often used intimately to signify respect and admiration.



(Seeker) Onsen
Noun
< "o'n-sen" >
Definition;
A natural spa house/hangar often found in the Vosian Darkhills. A place where Seekers, mostly narrows, visit to relax and gossip.



Sento
Noun
< "sen-tow" >
Definition;
An artificial hot spring found on Caminus that mimics the Seeker Onsen hangars.



(Seeker-) Shinai
Noun
< "she-nigh" >
Definition;
Usually a small, living area where flying Cybertronians/Camiens reside.



Befaron
Noun
< "beh-far-ron" >
Definition;
Used traditionally across Northern Cybertron, described as a morning meal/consumption time that entails a brief social gathering before one sets about their day. 'Befaron' can mean 'breakfast' or 'morning'.

Afteren
Noun
< "arf-ter-en" >
Definition;
Accurate translation means, "after En", which means to convene and discuss after one's day. This time period is known across Cybertron as the 'afternoon' for most young bots, however, for most political seniors, it can also mean 'evening' (well after dusk but before midnight). Most bots will gather once more after their day to feed and have social interactions with each other, though Afteren isn't as popular as Befaron due to differing time schedules.

Juxibo
Noun
< "jux-e-bow" >
Definition;
The equivalent of an acoustic guitar on Cybertron. A common instrument used across many oral and instrumental songs, most oral artists (singers) on Cybertron will use one to enhance their tunes or even just for fun.



Hanak
Noun
< "haan-ak" >
Definition;
The Ancient Camien word for 'flower', often used when it comes to naming something beautiful and delicate. 



Akarui
Noun
< "akaa-roo-e" >
Definition;
The Ancient Camien word used to describe someone who is bright or gifted and kind. Often used for naming girls.

SLANG TERMS

Tarnished
Noun
< “tar-ni-shh-d” >
Definition;
The appropriate way to address someone who hails from Tarn. Ex. “They are Tarnished.”



Tarnbot
Noun
< “tar-n-b-ot” >
Definition;
Usually used as a slur to describe someone from Tarn.



Groundbot/Grounder
Noun
< “gr-ow-nd-b-ot” >
Definition;
Usually a slur to describe someone who is confined to the ground in vehicle mode and cannot fly.



Iaconian
Noun
< “i-a-ko-nee-ann” >
Definition;
The appropriate way to address someone who hails from Iacon.



High Gridbot
Noun
< “hi-gr-rid-b-ot” >
Definition;
A slur used among the classes to describe the Royal/Ruling class of Cybertron.



Tetrahexian
Noun
< “tet-ra-hex-e-an” >
Definition;
The appropriate way to address someone who hails from Tetrahex.



Beastbot
Noun
< “bee-sst-b-ot” >
Definition;
An outdated slur used to describe Maximals, Predacons and those that hail from the Sovereign State of Tetrahex and don't resemble their modern-day counterparts in robot mode.



Arachnabot
Noun
Definition;
A group of Insecticons who hail from this class often take upon the look of arachnids, most notably spiders and wasps. Though, throughout history there have been some scorpion ones, too. 



Northerners
Noun
< “n-or-th-en-ers” >
Definition;
A slang term used to describe those that hail from Northern Cybertron; The Kingdom of Iacon, Centurion, Protihex, The Independent Territory of Uraya, The Ten States of Tyrest, Altihex, Polyhex, The Democratic Republic of Nova Cronum, Rodion, The New City of Nyon, The Kingdom of Vos, Praxus, The Independent State of Tarn, The Independent State of Tesarus, The Territory of Tyger Pax, The Independent State of Axiom Nexus, and The Sovereign State of Hexima.



Southerners
Noun
< “s-outh-en-ers” >
Definition;
A slang term used to describe those that hail from Southern Cybertron; Toraxxians, The Independent State of Petrex, Bitrex, The Twin Cities of Gygax and Plurex, The New State of Dodecahex, The Crystaic Empire, The Independent State of Tetrahex, The Sovereign State Triax, The Kingdom of Helex, The Empire of Kaon, The Kingdom of Peptex, The Tribe of Harmonex, The Recognised Independent State of Carpessa, The Proxy State of Iacon - Teledonia, The Fields of Nuon, The Republic of Hyperious, The Kingdom of Corumkan, and Essleron Heights.



Hydraxian
Noun
< “hi-drax-e-an” >
Definition;
Someone who hails from the Hydrax Plateau: Yuss, Stanix, and The Independent Representative of the Hydrax Plateau - Hydrax City. 



Damaxian
Noun
< “da-ma-zi-en” >
Definition;
The inappropriate way to address someone who either works, lives or is imprisoned on Damaxus.



Sparky
Noun
Definition;
A slang term used on Cybertron that has the equivalent meaning of 'baby'. Not used or appropriate when addressing a lover or significant other as it is often frowned upon in the Ruling Classes to use such jargon.  



Seeker
Noun
< “see-k-er” >
Definition;
A term used to describe the militarised group of flying Cybertronians that hail from Vos. Also known as the Cybertronian High Guard.



Hunters
Noun
< “Hun-t-ers” >
Definition;
The outdated but official name of the Cybertronian ground forces. Also known as the Primal Vanguard of Iacon.



Trackers
Noun
< “trr-ack-ers” >
Definition;
The official group name/ranking of those who find Forges and bookkeep the births and deaths of Cybertronians across the planet. A group of unique Cybertronians that feel connected to the Forges.



Usurper
Noun
< “u-ser-per” >
Definition;
Someone who usurps their Mentor's position/job. Often, a political apprentice who inherits their Usurpee’s role and duties as Senator.



Usurpee
Noun
< “u-ser-pee” >
Definition;
Someone who has an Usurper. A politician who is inclined to either retire or deactivate soon and will leave their seat to the next in line, often their Usurper.



Apprentice
Noun
< “app-ren-tis” >
Definition;
The appropriate Universal Cybertronian term used for 'children' or younger bots who learn from their elders. This title is often used among Iaconian, Rodion, and Carpessian children. In Vos and Praxus, this term is often used to describe someone that learns from their elders, often those who aren’t related. All across Cybertron, using the term ‘apprentice’ is widely accepted when a young bot is often seen accompanying an older one when being unfamiliar with the dynamic behind the individuals.



Mentee
Noun
< “m-en-ti” >
Definition;
The Iaconian, Carpessian, Praxian, and Rodionese terms used to describe a young bot that is a direct descendant of your CNA.



Ward
Noun
< “wh-ord” >
Definition;
The Tarnished term used for children or charges, regardless of whether they are related or not to their Mentors.



Spawn
Noun
< “s-paw-n” >
Definition;
The Vosian term used for children who are Kin of/related to their Mentor. 



Forglings
Noun
Defintion;
The Camien term used to describe children.



Seed
Noun
< “see-d” >
Definition;
An outdated Ancient Vosian term used for a Mentor.



Bud
Noun
< “b-uh-d” >
Definition;
An outdated Ancient Vosian term used for a spawn.



Mentor
Noun
< “meh-n-tor” >
Definition;
The widely accepted and appropriate Universal Cybertronian term used for 'parent' or 'teacher'. There were no substitute words for ‘father’ or ‘mother’ prior to contact with organic creatures given that most Cybertronian families were single-parent across the planet with the exception of the Royal Family of Iacon. Under the rare circumstance, such as in Vos, where two parents helped raise a family, both parents - regardless of gender - would be addressed by either their designation/name or ‘Mentor’.



Amica Endura/Endurae
Noun
Definition;
On Caminus, this is a tradition that is often highly regarded and must be undertaken before a Camien turns ten Camien years old. This is the act of pledging one’s spark to another, non-romantically. A similar tradition still upholds today in Vos that is more commonly known as Trine Bonding. On Caminus, however, since there isn’t enough energon to divert into making Trines, Camiens must Bond manually with somebot they consider a brother, sister, sibling, or best friend. Amica Endurae is heavily encouraged on Caminus to prevent young bots toddling off and getting hurt or lost with no one knowing where they are. With age, this Bond may be broken or replaced, but one must always rule out being Conjunx Endurae with their desirable Amica Endurae beforehand. It is heavily shunned if a bot refuses to become Amica Endurae from an early age.



Conjunx Endura/Endurae
Noun
Definition;
The updated and more modern term used to describe when two or more robots are formerly ‘married’ to each other. A Conjunx Endurae is often used when referring to one’s wife/husband/partner or when telling someone your romantic status.



Spark-mate
Noun
Definition;
The outdated but still widely used and accepted term used when describing one’s relationship status with another. Also used when referring to one’s wife/husband/partner. The informal use of the term to describe a serious relationship between two or more Cybertronians.



Thruster-Biter
Noun
< “phf-rus-ter-bi-ter” >
Definition;
A playful Vosian term used to describe a newly Forged bot. A flying Cybertronian with the moral responsibility of a toddler.



Protoform
Noun
< “pro-to-f-or-m” >
Definition;
An Iaconian and Praxian term used to describe a newly Forged bot. Any Cybertronian that may be referred to as ‘Newborn’.



Forged
Verb
< “f-or-j-d” >
Definition;
The Cybertronian term equivalent to ‘born’ or ‘birthed’. The term used to describe someone who hails from the Forges of Cybertron.



Cold-Constructed/Manufactured
Verb
Definition;
Someone who was built/created manually and came online.


Narrow/Femme
Noun
Definition;
A robot that identifies as female or sounds female. ‘Narrow’ is a Vosian term used to describe a robot with a narrow frame. Most of the time Narrows will have a higher-pitched voice box but may identify as any gender regardless. 'Femme' is an Iaconian/Universal term used to describe a female Cybertronian who hails outside of Vos. 



Solisite
Noun
< "sol-us-ite" >
Defintion;
Named after Solus Prime as her most devoted acolytes, these are the so-called ‘female’ Transformers of Caminus.



Bulk/Mech
Noun
Definition;
A robot that identifies as male or sounds male. ‘Bulk’ is a Vosian term used to describe a robot with a bulky/large/boxy frame. Most of the time Bulks may have larger voice boxes and deeper vocals, however, they may identify as any gender regardless. 'Mech' is an Iaconian/Universal term used to describe a male Cybertronian who hails outside of Vos.



Megats
Noun
< "meg-ann-s" >
Definition;
The Camien equivalent of a male Transformer on Caminus. Named after Megatronus Prime.



Null
Noun
< “n-ul-l” >
Definition;
A robot that identifies as non-binary, agender, or non-conforming gender. ‘Null’ is a Vosian term used upon Forging as an identifier whenever an unknown frame bot arrives. These bots will have normal-pitched voice boxes and a narrow frame with bulk traits. They may choose their gender at any time later on or choose to stay as a Null throughout their lifespan. Many bots can choose to be Null later on in their life, thanks to cosmetic surgery/frame-altering.



Nexoids
Noun
Definition;
The Camien term used to describe someone who identifies as 'non-binary/agender'. A devout follower of Nexus Prime.



Multi-Trine
Noun
< “m-ul-ti-tr-i-n” >
Definition;
A multi-gendered group of Seekers/Hunters that were Forged together. One in five Trines are Forged as Multi-Trines. Most Trines are default Forged under one gender, however, a Multi-Trine may consist of Nulls, Narrows and Bulks emerging at once.



Somebot/Anybot/Everybot
Noun
Definition;
A substitute often used on Cybertron to replace the terms everyone/anyone/someone. 



Angels
Noun
< “ain-j-els” >
Definition;
A mythical term used to describe Ancient Seekers or compliment old Vosian warlords.



Lieutenants
Noun
< “lu-ten-ants” >
Definition;
The appropriate title given to the six Seeker Overlords of Vos. Often used when addressing the Seeker Overlords of Vos in their respective roles, ie. Lieutenant of Mining Operations.



Overlords
Noun
< “o-ver-lor-d-s” >
Definition;
The Ruling Class title that oversees the government duties of a City-State on Cybertron.



House Monarchs
Noun
Definition;
In Ancient Times, mostly found in Vos, a House Monarch was somebot who heralded a group of their kin or other likewise individuals. They were often the most intelligent, fastest and strongest of their group and would often defend their title from would-be Usurpers. A House Monarch acts as the leader of their group but is still expected to fall in line with the deities or Rulers that the group worships. They collect their group's concerns and help raise them in important meetings or herd the group into a safer area for more resources or unite the group for combat against a common foe. House Monarchs would usually die in the Trial of Combat when a new Monarch would rise and establish themselves as the next leader. Their role is to create more of their group, protect them and teach them their ways. A House Monarch would usually live long enough to see their grandchildren before being challenged. A House Monarch cannot deny a challenger unless there is an active turmoil plaguing the land. While tradition usually states that only a House Monarch can challenge another, anybot who falls under the same House can challenge their own Monarch for that title. It is often seen as disrespectful if another Vosian from a different House who is not a Monarch challenges a Monarch from another House. House Monarchs are usually taught to be respectful of others' traditions and cultures and usually only patrol their territory. They do not go looking for a fight as their role is more of a Sheperd. 



Starian
Noun
Definition;
Someone who hails from House Star, lives in or has joined the group.



Shadian
Noun
Definition;
Someone who hails from House Shadow, lives in or has joined their group. Not to be confused with Tunnelers as they are able to fly.



Skyan
Noun
Definition;
Someone who hails from House Sky, lives in or has joined the group. A Skyan can refer to those who have the ability to fly or not as many of their young start out as either Tunnelers, explorers or messengers. 



Feirans
Noun
Definition;
Someone who hails from House Fire, lives in or has joined the group. Not to be confused with 'Ex-feir', as they have left the group. 



Nebulians
Noun
Definition;
Someone who hails from House Nebulon, lives in or has joined the group. Not to be confused with 'Nebulons'.



Ex-feir
Noun
Definition;
Those who have left House Fire, or been exiled from the group.



Nebulons/Celestials
Noun
Definition;
A group of Celestial Cybertronians who seek out constellations across the universe and document their existence. They do not have a physical form but can still shapeshift. They often look like beings made completely from starlight. 



Tunneler
Noun
Definition;
In Ancient times, mostly found on the outskirts of Vos, this group of Cybertronians were known as 'Tunnelers'. They lived within the confines of House Shadow and were not gifted with the ability to fly. They instead, however, learn how to to tunnel and burrow through the ground like an Insecticon. In those tunnels, their kin make small nests or bunkers where they hide and rear their young. While Tunnelers are seen as important to House Shadow, many other flying Cybertronians think of them as very weak and dull. 



Elder
Noun
Definition;
A Cybertronian that has lived for a very long time, to the point that their transformation cog has long since stopped working. While some may refuse to go immersant, they instead linger to pass down tradition and certain stories. They live on to watch their kin learn from them with pride. When it is finally time to go, most will have their brain module sync with their spark and ultimately, but quietly, shut down in their sleep. It is a peaceful way to perish but it takes a very long time (~ 500 million years). 



Cyberjet
Noun
Definition;
A Cybertronian jet-like frame/class that are mostly used for air combat roles. The fastest flying Cybertronians to date and the most modern.



Tetrajet
Noun
Definition;
An outdated Cybertronian jet-like frame/class that was mostly used for air combat roles throughout their youth/early days of Cybertronian civilisation. 



Shuttle (Class)
Noun
Definition;
Similar to the Cyberjets, Shuttle classes/frames are slightly larger flying Cybertronians, naturally built for space travel rather than combat. They’re slower but have more armour and less fuel usage than a jet.



Bomber
Noun
Definition;
A role within the Seekers that sees larger and slower jets taking up the duty of delivering, transporting or deploying bombs/bombing raids. Usually filled with Shuttle classes. Because they are often the slowest in their ranking, they are often protected by escort Seekers.



Escort (Seeker)
Noun
Definition;
Not to be confused with the ideal of prostitution, these Seekers are usually very small, nimble and extremely fast. Their communication methods are often very difficult to crack. Their role within the Seeker military is to escort a bomber to and from a bombing location. They are often the first line of defence and offence for the military, too. They usually spot anti-aircraft artillery or help take out targets that may threaten the bomber. They are often the most flexible and creative while maneuvering in the air. 



Spotter (Seeker)
Noun
Definition;
The 'lead' Seeker in a bombing raid, this Seeker's role is to fly ahead into the danger and locate (ping) any targets to alert the escorts. They will often identify anti-aircraft artillery or tactically locate any enemy flyers. The spotter, or Point, should always be the fastest Seeker in the military, as well as the most aware one. It's this Seeker's job and responsibility to ping every enemy target so the raid can happen successfully with as little injury as possible, so they carry a lot of expectations and trust with them. After pinging the targets, the spotter can usually double back to help clear the airspace, direct movement, or give further instructions. However, some are also allowed to leave if another location is also being attacked. They are a 'recon' flyer and never usually attack the first time they fly over a location, as they are merely scoping out the future battlefield and relaying information back to the others. It is not frowned upon if they usually leave after a battle has commenced, but it is heavily discouraged for them to deliberately allow one of their own to get injured if they purposefully missed a target.



Bruiser
Noun
Definition;
A term used to describe heavy hitters that are mostly Ground vehicles. Usually protected by a thick layer of armour, a lot of these classes were cold constructed towards the Exodus days as a way of warding off invading forces. Their alt-modes are usually trucks or tanks.



(Primus/Primon’s) Song
Noun
Definition;
One of the six, original spirits that Primon created using the shards of the broken Star Saber during his grief. One of the six spirits that actively travel through time to fix the errors of the universe. They often carry bird-like symbolism and represent spiritual meaning.



Primon Advisor
Noun
Definition;
A term used to describe someone who is close to the current or future Prime that advises them on behalf of Cybertron’s citizens. They often step up to act as a Prime in the absence of their leader during times of stress. Though they are never fully given the powers of a Prime until the previous/current Prime either steps down to retire or perishes. A new Advisor may be elected by the current Prime if he sees it fit, however, this action must be approved by the Council. If the current Advisor is elected to stay, he will stay as an Advisor until he perishes. Named after Primon when he chose to stand down as Prime and instead became the first and most recognised Advisor to the Prime on Cybertron. The second most powerful robot in all of Cybertron right beneath the current Matrix Bearer or elected Prime.



Immersant
Verb
Definition;
The act of a Cybertronian dying. They usually will inform kin of where they are headed before they leave. Once they find a peaceful and safe place, this Cybertronian will burrow half of their body into the earth and sync their systems to preserve energon. Some elderly Cybertronians who have suffered too much damage to continue functioning normally will often go immersant to prolong their life. While a relatively painless process, it takes around ~1000 years before this Cybertronian fully dies as their systems work to flush out all their internal energon and organs to be taken back to Primus beneath Cybertron and into the core. Their spark and brain module is usually the last to go. 


Star-Touched
Noun
Definition;
Someone who receives prophecies and communes with the deceased. A being capable of witnessing events unfold in the future and seeks guidance from their ancestors.



Moon-flying/Driving dark
Verb
Definition;
A term used to describe when someone is sleepwalking.



Sparkburner
Noun
Definition;
Someone who breaks the connection between split sparks inhumanely by burning off the familiar shards at the bottom of the spark. Someone who works underground to sever the connection between split sparks and Trine Bonds. An illegal and outdated practice.



A Fallen
Noun
Definition;
Someone of great importance who did something bad and has been disowned by worshippers/Cybertron. Someone who follows in Megatronus the Twelfth Prime’s footsteps into darkness. A worshipper of Megatronus. A disgraced Prime.



Scribe Moth
Noun
Definition;
Originally created by Alpha Trion and Vector Prime as large, sentient insect-like robotic creatures. Only a handful were ever made to help explore and collect history of the universe. Generally peaceful creatures that dwarf the Titans of Cybertron but do not transform. Instead, they have an avatar to represent themselves. Their language is similar to Vosians in whistling and chirping. It is believed that they are extinct. 



Quintesson
Noun
Definition;
An alien race originally created by Quintus Prime after he defected from Ancient Cybertron with his wife, Quintessa. Quintessons are an amalgamation of organic and robotic bodies, naturally hostile yet inquisitive to all life forms. 



Primavosyian
Noun
Definition;
A term used to describe the first Seekers on Cybertron as being Ancient and the children of Prima. 



(Predacon) Prince
Noun
Definition;
A class of Ancient Predacon that usually ruled through strength and cunning. Prince Predacons were often created by Predaking as a way to control his dominion. For example, a Prince would reign over the skies and help raise En from its slumber to start the cycle. Prince Predacons wouldn't usually challenge one another for their title, however, once grown strong enough, they would challenge Predaking for his. Most would not be successful. 



Copperhelm
Noun
Definition;
A junkie/drug addict. Someone who often abuses illicit substances, such as shooting up copper, to get a rush or a high.



Large-frame
Noun
Definition;
A Seeker, usually a narrow, that was Forged with a large, bulky/curvy frame. An insult used among Vosians to describe someone as ‘overweight’.



Meek-frame
Noun
Definition;
An insult used to describe someone who might be a bit skittish.



A Thin
Noun
Definition;
An insult often used on Caminus to describe how frail and 'thin' one looks.



MTO
Noun
Definition;
Simply translates to ‘Made to order’. Cold constructed, nameless, bots that were used as cannon fodder during the Great War.



Afterburner
Noun
Definition;
A Vosian term used to describe one's backside. An asshole.



Afthelm
Noun
Definition;
A curse word that translates to ‘asshat’.



Afthole
Noun
Definition;
A curse word that translates to ‘asshole’.



Tailpipe
Noun
Definition;
An Iaconian curse word, often used to quieten someone (ie. 'shut your tailpipe!')



Glitch
Noun
Definition;
A curse word, often meaning 'bitch' or 'bastard'.



Fragger/Fracker
Noun
Definition;
A curse word that translates to ‘fucker’.



Hotwires
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term often used to describe illicit substances, ie. drugs.



Copper
Noun
Definition;
Either refers to a stint of refined, electrical copper or a pebble-sized natural ore of copper, often used as an opioid.



Meta
Adjective
Definition;
A slang term used among young bots whenever they refer to something that’s cool and new/foreign.



Retro
Adjective
Definition;
A slang term used among young bots to refer to something that is considered outdated or ‘old school’ that still falls under the concept of being cool or fun.



Proxy Flying/Flight
Noun
Definition;
Remote controlling a drone or someone else by piloting their systems.



Oil House
Noun
Definition;
A community-favoured bar or a social place where groups often hang out peacefully to celebrate events.



Berth
Noun
Definition;
A Cybertronian term that simply translates to ‘bed’. A place of rest for Cybertronians. 



(Stasis) Pod
Noun
Definition;
A place of rest for a Cybertronian, however, used mostly for long-distance travel or for less advanced outposts. Stasis pods also help with easing a patient into stasis.



Stasis
Noun
Definition;
A Cybertronian term that simply translates to ‘coma’. Can happen after the frame receives a tremendous shock or sustained heavy damage, or can be medically induced.



Recharge
Noun
Definition;
A Cybertronian term that simply translates to ‘sleep’.

Power down
Noun
Definition;
A popular, modern term used for a 'nap' across Cybertron.



Update
Noun
Definition;
An obscure term across regions, however, in Vos it usually means 'memo'. (ie. 'Did you get the latest update?')



Airspace
Noun
Definition;
A Vosian term used to define one's personal space.



Flying in the storm
Verb/Adjective
Definition;
A Vosian saying equivalent to ‘running with the wrong crowd/desperate to prove oneself through reckless action’.



Designation
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian equivalent of one’s name. Often referred to as their official name when being searched on a database. A designation is required by the law for every Cybertronian visiting or living on Cybertron. A designation is often followed by one’s origin - either Forged or Cold Constructed, ie. ‘Megatron of Tarn’, ‘Athel of the Sky’ (SkyForge #1 of Vos), ‘Star of Thundering Sky Questor’ (Star was Forged in a thundering storm and tracked to the Forge by Questor of Vos), or where one was first registered onto the database if they have no memory of their origin, ie. ‘Skywarp of Praxus’. Designations can be changed over time, most often when a bot is promoted to the Senate or graduates from their home region to establish a proper title for themselves. Designations do not affect given nicknames, however, anybot can take on a name but when it comes to stating one’s designation, you must give the info of your designation listed in the database and where you were first registered, ie ‘Thunder of Tarn’ is registered in the database, however, ‘Thundercracker’ was never registered, despite that being his callsign throughout most of the Great War.



Directive
Noun
Definition;
Often one’s purpose. An outdated way to live life on Cybertron, especially post-war. But during the reign of the Quintessons and throughout the war, a directive was the reason MTOs were made - either to serve and protect the Ruling class or to state a reason why a Cybertronian had ventured out of their city-state of origin’s borders. Directives are still around for military working bots, though most tourists are welcome all over Cybertronian, as long as they carry the appropriate and official papers.



Dalsan
Noun
< "dell-saan" >
Definition;
The third moon belonging to Cybertron before the Functionalist Powers renamed it to 'Luna-3'. A terrible science experiment gone wrong has rendered the place inhospitable toward all life forms and is strictly off-limits to space travellers for exploring. Despite this, it still holds a great cultural significance in the South Lands who rebelled when it was pushed out of Cybertron's orbit.



Luna Ich
Noun
< "loo-na-e-ch" >
Definition;
Cybertron's closest and smallest moon before the Functionalist Powers renamed it to 'Luna-1'. It was the first moon to be named by the Ancient Knights of Cybertron.



Mullene-Ni
Noun
< "mull-enn-e" >
Definition;
The name of Cybertron's largest moon before the Functionalist Powers renamed it to 'Luna-2'. It was the second moon to be named by the Ancient Knights of Cybertron. Mullene Ni holds great cultural significance in the Northern Lands. 



En
Noun
< "e-nn" >
Definition;
The name of the sole sun that inhabits Cybertron's solar system.



Cosmic Cats
Noun
Definition;
A race of harmless, glowing felines that live on a planet outside of Cybertron's solar system. Suspected to be made of some completely harmless, organic slime-like substance. These creatures feed off of sunlight and emotion, mostly positive emotions. There are too many species to constantly keep track of, but the most common are 'Sun' Cosmic Cats, which appear in a yellow, orange or gold colour. Males will have thick tails and small, round ears. They often always have large, glimmering eyes and enjoy another life form's company regardless of how they are treated. Cybertronians pay quite a good price to keep these organics as pets, even though they only have a life span of ten Cybertronian years. After which, they'll slowly shrink and leave slime everywhere before they are reduced to a mere blob of colour. It is unknown how they are produced. 



Eurakis
Noun
Definition;
Often described as the 'jungle' planet within Cybertron's solar system. Eurakis is the most distant planet from En and houses Predacon, Maximal and Terrorcon lifeforms. They are not too fond of Cybertronians due to the lack of a Cybertronian's "beastly" alt-mode, which is preferred on Eurakis. The planet is most notably green and full of organic flora.



Sibara
Noun
Definition;
The sole moon belonging to Eurakis. While tensions remain high between Cybertron and Eurakis, the Eurakian natives have allowed Cybertronians to establish an outpost on the moon in case of an emergency ship failures or evacuations, because Sibara is the most distant destination within Cybertron's immediate reach. The moon is often described as 'peaceful'. It takes forty-one days travelling at light speed to reach Earth from Sibara.



Antilla
Noun
Definition;
Antilla is Cybertron's closest sister planet within the solar system. On Antilla, it is frowned upon if one can transform. As a result, not many Cybertronians visit or choose to live there due to their staggering cultural differences. Antillians survived a brutal war during Ancient times, and as a result, their sole moon exploded, leaving their planet to rely heavily on Cybertron's gravitational pull. Antillians are older robotic lifeforms that are not produced with the ability to transform. Though they are not at war with Cybertron, they don't find themselves being friendly enough to communicate with them unless it is a catastrophe. 



Caminus
Noun
Definition;
One of the last surviving colony worlds that's remarkably stayed in contact with Cybertron, Caminus is a far-off, distant moon inhabited by evolved Cybertronians who call themselves 'Camiens'. They are deeply religious but do not frown upon Cybertronian customs and traditions, much like their neighbours do. Because they heavily rely upon Cybertron for resources, Camiens must be polite to their guests. Though thankfully, not many Cybertronians have made the move across the universe to call the moon their new home. This is because Caminus is almost always shrouded in darkness, and there is little there compared to Cybertron. It takes thirty-eight days travelling at light speed to reach Camien airspace. 



Velocitron
Noun
Definition;
One of the former Cybertronian colonies that split away during the Rust Plague. The natives of this world pride themselves on being flashy and fast. They often look down on Cybertronians that don't have all-terrain wheels or simply cannot keep up with them. They enjoy racing and often hold ceremonial contests.



Junkion
Noun
Definition;
Another former Cybertronian colony that split away during the Rust Plague. While relations were tense during the time when Cybertron was in contact with this planet, it's rumoured that the Senate was more than happy to abandon Junkion due to the fears of Junkions being cannibals. Junkions worship Prima, being the first legion she took across the cosmos for Pax Cybertronia. After she was slain in combat against Megatronus, they decided to stay on Junkion, consuming metal and each other in gladiatorial pits and rival tribes. Though generally very friendly toward offworlders, it is strictly advised not to fight one. They have adapted to live with the Plague quite well, and the planet remains off-limits to all other robotic life forms.



Quintessa
Noun
Definition;
The distant homeworld of the Quintessons, it was Quintessa's refuge after she divorced Quintus Prime and went into hiding following the First Cybertronian Civil War between the Primes. She now resides there as their Queen and sole robotic life form. It is described to be a large, red planet with green, acidic rivers.



Ground Bridges
Noun
Definition;
A form of mass, immediate transportation across the parameters of one planet. A large, warp-like gate that splits time and space open to allow passage anywhere on the planet.



Space Bridge
Noun
Definition;
The upgraded version of a Ground Bridge that transports anything and anyone from one end of the universe to the other. During the Reign of the Fourteen Primes, a colony of Space Bridges was constructed over the skies of Rodion and Nyon to transport warships across space for invasive battles.

BODY PARTS

Helm
Noun
Definition;
The helmet that protects a Cybertronian’s processor.



Processor
Noun
Definition;
The general area of a Cybertronian’s brain. Sometimes used synonymously with ‘mind’. ‘Processing power’ can translate to brain power or mind space/room.



Databanks/Data Files
Noun
Definition;
The internal memory sticks embedded into a Cybertronian’s processor that records their name/designation, date of Forging (birth), their directive, personal details (height, body joints, etc) and any personal information about their spark partner. The subconscious mind.



Hard Drive/Memory Files
Noun
Definition;
A device implanted inside a Cybertronian’s processor that records everything and stores it for later use, is often found to be synced with their frame. A place where a Cybertronian’s memories are stored. The conscious mind.



Brain Module
Noun
Definition;
The component that keeps the Cybertronian conscious and operating. The brain module seems to work itself into overtime quite a lot as it is the core center of navigating and controlling a Cybertronian’s senses and overall systems. Humans refer to this as a ‘brain’, however, a Cybertronian’s brain module is no larger than a disc - the reason for this is simply because the brain module’s purpose is to keep the entire system of a Cybertronian running without any flaws. Other components found inside the processor will either store useful information or conduct other uses. The brain module directs the instinctual drives and directs the energon and oil flow. It is not the Cybertronian’s mind but rather a cog in their machine. It is often prone to being overheated during times of stress.



Projection
Noun
Definition;
Often used to describe how one dreams or a daydreams. The processor may project an image or video while a bot is in recharge.



Neurons
Noun
Definition;
The system of delicate nerves that the brain module controls and monitors. These nerves help the frame feel pressure as well as move and direct energon throughout the frame. Having healthy neurons is ideal for a Cybertronian as it alerts them to any potential injuries. An experienced Cybertronian may be able to override their brain module and numb or cut these neurons off mid-battle to gain a short-term advantage of not feeling pain.



Callipers
Noun
Definition;
Often found at the end of a neuron cord, the callipers are the tiny, sensitive pins found between the soft metallic body of a Cybertronian and their armour. The callipers help pull or shift the armour into place to protect the internal frame. Disabling the callipers can be dangerous since they help the armour take blows, but does not affect a Cybertronian’s ability to transform. Callipers are often disabled during surgical procedures so the armour can be pulled off for modifications or examinations. With time, callipers can rust or fall off; it's highly advised that they are kept up to date to avoid any weak spots in the armour plating.



Conversion/Transformation (T–) Cog
Noun
Definition;
The organ found in the midsection of the internal frame that helps a Cybertronian to transform. The more complex (amount of modules) a Cog houses, the more alternative modes a Cybertronian can shift into. Most Cybertronians are Forged or Cold Constructed with a basic T-Cog that allows two modes; vehicle (transportation) and bipedal (true) forms. However, Triplechangers and Beastformers may have differing modes or primal cogs.



Face-plates
Noun
Definition;
The thin and often shiny plating that forms a Cybertronian’s face. 



Lip-plating
Noun
Definition;
The thin or thick, darker or lighter plating found on the lower half of a Cybertronian’s face that forms their lips. Prone to cracking and falling off with rust or age if not well-maintained. 



Glossa
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term for a physical tongue. This device does not help the Cybertronian speak but rather helps them taste. It is a fairly new evolutionary upgrade and was designed to help Cybertronians remain more alert due to contaminated energon supplies or sources of energy that may be harmful to their systems. The glossa is short and does not exit the intake.



Intake
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term used for a physical and metaphorical mouth. Some Cybertronians may be born with mouth guards or no mouths at all. The intake is only seen on those that resemble having a mouth, another device such as a ‘speaker’ is used for Cybertronians that don’t have physical mouths.



Denta/Dentae (plural)
Noun
Definition;
The hard metal ridges inside a Cybertronian’s intake that resemble teeth. It is unclear why Cybertronians possess teeth, at least the more recent evolutionary versions. Beastformers having teeth is quite natural since they hunt each other out in the wild. For the modern-day Cybertronian that ingests energon and oil, however, these teeth are rendered obsolete. It is unclear if the denta is meant to portray a certain dominant perspective of primal fear and threat among modern-day Cybertronians, though biting somebot isn’t recommended unless absolutely necessary. Denta may be fragile given a force of anything upward PSI  of 23,000, and will break upon being ripped out or coming into direct contact with a greater force of impact. Various experiments have shown that denta remarkably grows back with time, however and is as neat and strong as it was previously.



Audio Receptors
Noun
Definition;
The outer armour/pieces that are erected on either side of the helm to help catch certain frequencies or protect the audials. Not all Cybertronians may have audio receptors, but most will likely have audials.



Audials
Noun
Definition;
These are the internal Cybertronian’s ears. Through millennia of war, modern-day Cybertronians have evolved to have internal “ears” so they can be better protected from any outward physical attacks. But due to their “ears” being internal instead, Cybertronians are more prone to hearing loss with age if the audials are not well-maintained. They are also susceptible to high sonar frequencies and sounds that humans can’t always hear.



Brow-Ridge
Noun
Definition;
The brow-ridges are a Cybertronian term for ‘eyebrows’, often used to portray emotion.



Optical-Ridges
Noun
Definition;
What humans may consider being the ‘eyelids’. The optical ridges don’t function the same as eyelids, however. Optical-ridges are used mostly to protect the optics from dust, rust, wind or any other kind of similar substance. Some optical ridges have even been converted into visors to better protect the sensitive machinery beneath. Optical-ridges don’t close; they erect a protective layer of advanced glass when the optics may be prone to danger.



Optics
Noun
Definition;
The optics or optical sensors are what humans would refer to as “eyes”. The sensors help absorb light and convert it into imagery for the brain module to process. Meanwhile, the optics can offline (close) or online (open) at any time a bot may wish. Since Cybertronians lack eyelids, their optics simply deactivate or reactivate whenever they need to see something. Most Cybertronians don’t ‘blink’ but will make a show of turning their helm away when their optics are briefly offlined to portray unimpressed or hesitant emotion.



Nasal Unit
Noun
Definition;
The main exterior of a Cybertronian’s face that draws in scent, what humans would refer to as a ‘nose’. The Nasal Unit often protects the internal olfactory sensors and is extended on the face plates to help a Cybertronian properly track a scent. 



Olfactory Sensors
Noun
Definition;
The internal, microscopic sensors housed deep within the nasal unit that help a Cybertronian to smell. These sensors may grow dull and fade with time unless they are well-maintained. 



In-venting
Verb
Definition;
What humans may refer to as ‘breathing in’ or 'gasping'. In-venting is where a Cybertronian draws in breath to either regulate their systems or briefly halt them to allow proper airflow to proceed. In-venting can help with hiccuping, shock, or sobbing.



Hiccuping
Verb
Definition;
A Cybertronian’s frame may twitch or spasm when there is either too much air in their systems or there is stress on the spark, causing the energon to lurch through their cables. Hiccuping is sometimes referred to as ‘crying’ among humans. Cybertronians can cry, but not always is ‘hiccuping’ a sign of sadness, hence why it is called ‘hiccuping’. If too much air gets in the frame, a Cybertronian will begin to hiccup in hopes of regulating their airflow. A Cybertronian can also draw in too much air to purposely cause their systems to hiccup, this is often called ‘sniffing’ or ‘sobbing’.



Voicebox
Noun
Definition;
The large, box-like component stationed just above a Cybertronian’s spark chamber in the chassis area where sound is created. This sound travels up the vocals and exits the intake, so the Cybertronian can ‘speak’. Growls are emitted here as well; however, huffs and hisses are made when the frame is releasing air or deflating. Seething is considerably silent among Cybertronians and does not emit a sound.



Vocals/Pipes
Noun
Definition;
The thin, or thick, tubes that connect the voicebox to the glossa. Noise travels up these tubes and creates audible sound. If a Cybertronian ‘groans’ it means that air has left their voice box. If a strained groan is heard, it means that a Cybertronian has damaged their vocals. 



Neck Cables
Noun
Definition;
The cables that pump energon throughout the frame can be found mostly on the neck in most modern-day Cybertronians.



Fuel Lines
Noun
Definition;
Similar to the neck cables, the fuel lines direct energon flow throughout the rest of the frame.



Fuel Tanks
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term equivalent to one’s stomach.



Chassis
Noun
Definition;
The main, large piece of armour that forms a Cybertronian’s chest area. This should be the largest and thickest plating of armour found on the Cybertronian’s frame since its main purpose is to protect the spark chamber and other internal organs lying underneath.



Thorax Cavern
Noun
Definition;
The cavity found beneath the chassis and just above the spark chamber. A thin layer of metal where various neurons can be found. This remains the Cybertronian’s first line of defence against any spark chamber-related wounds or attempts. Flying Cybertronians often will not have this cavity, but instead will have a cockpit that acts similarly.



Canopy
Noun
Definition;
The outer layer of armour that surrounds and protects the cockpit. This piece of armour often protrudes from the chassis and acts as a housing unit or subspace (pocket) and can usually be found on flying Cybertronians.



Cockpit
Noun
Definition;
The internal cavity located beneath the canopy where humans may hide while inside a Cybertronian. The cockpit’s original purpose is to protect and guard the spark chamber. If the glass lining a cockpit ever cracks or is damaged, the spark chamber will close and seal itself off to prevent further damage reaching the spark. This can be overridden, however, with the use of an external virus or damage being directed to another sensitive area. Beneath the cockpit is the spark chamber. Cockpits can usually be found on flying Cybertronians.



Spark Chamber
Noun
Definition;
The protective shell inside a Cybertronian’s chassis that houses the spark. If the spark chamber is pierced, the frame will prioritise a retreat to safety until the chamber can be restored or safely replaced.



Spark
Noun
Definition;
The term used for a Cybertronian’s heart or soul, or sometimes both. The spark is the main life force behind one’s function and is rather resilient. A fusion bolt fired from a cannon could be enough to incinerate a spark entirely, same with a very sharp blade. The spark is the main spirit of a Cybertronian, the frame is mostly made up of armour to protect that spark while it drifts through its function. The spark communicates with the processor and can override any directive if it is strong enough to deviate from programming. While in the AllSpark, sparks may group together with others that are familiar with its CNA; this results in either twins or Trines being Forged. While being summoned from the Forge, a twin or Trine spark can shed pieces into a group of shards that float away to connect with the shards of another spark; this results in being naturally bonded to one’s siblings. A sparkburner may be able to remove these shards, or a more safe and acceptable medical procedure would be for a doctor to pluck these shards from a spark to break the Bond. The plucking procedure is not painful if the patient is in stasis. Bond breaking is usually frowned upon in most societies across Cybertron, however. If one’s twin, Trine-mates or spark-mate were to pass away, the remaining spark may become “weak-sparked” and more susceptible to what humans may call ‘heart attacks’. Sparks don’t die, they drift away to the AllSpark where they remain in waiting until they are called upon once more. A spark can still be pierced and incinerated, however, and they will take longer to reform. A half-spark is usually the result of a Cybertronian dying without any damage to their spark. Half sparks are used to power machines or give life to a newer, stronger, younger bot. This bot, however, may feel a ghastly presence within them or have a spiritual connection to the spark’s previous owner. The Harmonexians believe that music or singing is able to calm any spark. On Cybertron, descendants of Zeda Prime may be able to rally the sparks or their comrades or calm the sparks of their foes upon command.



Backstrut
Noun
Definition;
A thin layer of metal that protects the spinal core of a Cybertronian. On most flying or winged Cybertronians, this backstrut is often exposed and prone to being vulnerable. The backstrut is more flexible and easily able to move a Cybertronian’s wings, winglets, doors, or rotor blades.



Spinal Core
Noun
Definition;
The spinal core is the device in the back of a Cybertronian that extends itself to protect the frame’s posture. It can be medically removed, taken out, experimented on and put back in. The spinal core is relatively flexible, though it is highly ill-advised that a Cybertronian becomes a contortionist due to the rest of their frame having bulky armour. The spinal core is meant to bend and transform with the rest of the frame, and even on the rare occasion, it might split in two.



Back Plating
Noun
Definition;
The external armour that protects a Cybertronian’s back strut; it's mostly found on Bruiser types and Ground vehicles.



Budding
Verb/Noun
Definition;
Usually seen throughout Ancient times and was used as a method of reproduction of Cybertron before the Forges reignited. 'Budding' is a process similar to pregnancy. It begins when a spark fragment first flickers inside the Parent Chamber (Mentor's spark chamber). The Mentor would then grow thick armour around their chassis and midsection. This would often result in them becoming slow and heavier, often struggling to move at times. While there are no modern records of how long the budding process can last, some have theorised that it actually takes quite a few months, almost an entire season. After the Mentor has grown this armour, the spark fragment may move downward and attach itself before the Cybertronian would contract its inner frame and begin to 'duplicate' itself. This happens similarly to how mammals on earth give birth. After the "Bud" has split from their parent, the Mentor is often left with weakened armour for two seasons, this often results in them losing their outer plating or having scars or pieces missing for quite some time. Not much is known about the gestation process overall since it happened so long ago. Budding is still a relevant way of reproduction, however, there are some concerns regarding the much narrow and smaller canals in modern-day Cybertronians being unable to support this process fully. 



Ovipositor
Noun
Definition;
Often found on female Insecticons, this organ works both as a stinger and as an egg-laying mechanism. Though it depends on the species, as not all Insecticons use this organ to sting and paralyse prey or defend themselves. This main organ is found under the third or second segment/bulb and usually lays soft, small egg sacs that have already been fertilised. It varies depending on which species to estimate the time of pupa hatching.



Modesty Panel
Noun
Definition;
The piece of armour often responsible for protecting a Cybertronian's valve/port or spike/plug. If the panel has been damaged or snapped off entirely, Cybertronians may fall suspectible to rust infections or other diseases which can cause discomfort or even death. However, the panel is often dangerous as it has been known to castrate any mistaken or purposeful intruders unless the neurons have been neutralised. It is often found below the torso and hipstruts and in between the tibulens. 



Camber
Noun
Definition;
The convexity of the curve on a flying Cybertronian’s wing. The camber is the top/inward flap of a flying Cybertronian’s wing. The camber is usually narrowed down to aid a slipstream for the aircraft. If the camber is ever lifted upward, it details that the aircraft is trying to slow down or halt (ie, brakes).



Wingstrut
Noun
Definition;
The top, mid-section of a Cybertronian’s wing that’s attached to their backstrut. This limb is the most flexible in the entire wing as it helps move the wings up and down while in robot mode. Spiked or high wingstruts pose as a defensive tactic to make one look bigger. Wingstruts may be pulled downward or tightened to make the flying Cybertronian appear smaller - this is known as the ‘submissive’ position and often helps to de-escalate a situation. If one’s wingstruts are ever lowered, it is usually on purpose to appear less threatening. If wingstruts are spiked or high, this could be due to emotional circumstances. If a wingstrut or its corresponding backstrut is ever damaged, a flying Cybertronian may experience excruciating pain. However, as time goes on and if the damage received to the wingstrut is constant, it has been proven that the neurons lining that limb will render the area obsolete for repairs and not return - resulting in the numbing of the limb altogether. Damaging a Cyberjet’s wingstruts can prove fatal because of these two circumstances. To restore a wingstrut, the entire wing must be replaced along with its corresponding backstrut.



Downwings
Noun
Definition;
While rare, these 'wings' are often attached to the hip of a female Transformer, giving them a 'dress'-like appearance. Downwings don't ever harm the Cybertronian, but they are very much unlike their usual counterparts. Less flexible and more prone to being damaged if the bot in question is not careful. They act similarly to help balance the robot, but instead protrude from behind the hips and out from the lower back. They only move up the backstrut when the bot transforms into vehicle mode. Downwings are lined with fewer neurons than normal Wing panels, making them less sensitive.



Doorwings
Noun
Definition;
Often found on a Grounded Transformer, Doorwings do not aid in any flight modes. Doorwings are instead a left over gene from Ancient Vosians that have travelled all over Cybertron and colonised other areas. Doorwings can be just as sensitive as Wingstruts, but are very useful for helping a bot to keep balance as well as display emotion.



Winglets
Noun
Definition;
The result of evolution. The genetic code for flight has nearly left the Grounded Cybertronian, and as a result, what little remained of their ancestor's wings has been reduced to mere winglets that do very little. Some emotional responses have been studied in Cybertronians with winglets. However, it is worth noting that Winglets are the smallest wing panel of the family, yet the most highly sensitive, considering how closely packed the neurons are. Some bots either remove Winglets for combat reasons or actively seek them out as a fashion accessory.



Wingtips
Noun
Definition;
The wing tips are naturally the tips of the wings on a flying Cybertronian, usually a Cyberjet. The wingtips are the thinnest part of this frame and are usually adorned with symbols, colours, cultural paintings or decals to help identify somebot. Wingtips have the lowest amount of neurons, therefore leaving them prone to minor scrapes and minimal damages. 



Flaps
Noun
Definition;
Found on the outside/bottom of the wing, flaps are tiny mobile panels that help direct air flow and ‘steer’ a Cyberjet. If the camber is narrowed, but the flaps are up, the Cyberjet is in cruise mode and most likely patrolling the area. If both the camber and flaps are down, then the Cyberjet is going as fast as they can. If both the camber and the flaps are up, the Cyberjet is most likely in hover mode and is diverting wind away to keep it in place. If the camber is up, but the flaps are down, then the Cyberjet is coming in for a landing.



Fuselage
Noun
Definition;
Located above/behind the cockpit on the chassis, the fuselage is a Cyberjet’s personal subspace where small items may be stored or transported on a shuttle class.



Rudder
Noun
Definition;
The rounded device found at the end of a canopy that helps to maintain a balance while flying through the air. Without this device, most flying Cybertronians will have a difficult time flying or navigating.



Ariels/Ariel Panels/Wing Panel
Noun
Definition;
The large sheet of metal that creates the ‘wing’ part of the wingstrut, is typically found on a flying Cybertronian. Neurons are thinned out beneath the metal; the metal sheet itself is very thin but durable. Ariel panels are more susceptible to wind speed and direction, helping the Cyberjet to navigate their surroundings and feel the earth rushing up to them. If an Ariel panel ever gets damaged, the neurons will bleed energon and attract natural predators. Ariel panels can also grow numb if too much damage has been received.



Propeller
Noun
Definition;
Often found on helicopters throughout Cybertron and sometimes rarely found on Cyberjets or Aquatic modes. The propeller can be internalised with frame alterations to make one appear slimmer/narrow. However, the propeller is naturally external to the frame and provides two uses; in bipedal form, it is defense. In vehicle form, it is used for transport. The set of blades that act either as a lifting mechanism or a turbine.



Frame
Noun
Definition;
The ‘frame’ is a term used often to describe a Cybertronian’s body, often in bipedal mode. The external frame is what most people will see when a Cybertronian transforms to stand and is often adorned with their colourful or camouflaged armour. The internal frame lies beneath the armour and, through the callipers, is attached to the outer frame. Frames come in many different shapes and sizes, but can be altered at any time for cosmetic modifications.



Bitarlueus
Noun
Definition;
The soft part of the frame that connects the shoulderstrut to the armstrut. The limb piece found above the elbow and below the shoulder is often flexible and prone to attacks since it diverts energon down to the limb.



Shoulderstrut/Shoulder-pad
Noun
Definition;
The decorative and useful armour piece found mounted onto the shoulder of a Cybertronian. Often adorned in two colours, the top panel being colourful while the commonly used secondary colour lying underneath may be black.



Armstrut/Arm-Guard
Noun
Definition;
The forearm armour pieces that protect the frame beneath the elbow. Often adorned by mounted rifles or cannons. Easily flexible and shifts constantly when the limb transforms the servo away to form another modification, ie. scalpel, cannon, etc.



Servo-Guard/Gauntlets
Noun
Definition;
The detachable firm yet small piece of armour that guards the soft metal of the servo beneath. Often found at the wrist joint below the armstrut. Most Cybertronians, including Vosians, will often modify this piece to form religious or decorative decals and tapestries to pay tribute to their ancestors.



Servo
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term used for ‘hand’. Also the designation of High Tide’s “dog”.



Digits
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian term used to refer to one’s fingers, talons, claws or nails. The very small group of joints that can be found on the servo/paw that form a set of finger-like appendages. A lot of neurons can be found lining the inside of these digits to help with navigation.



Anklets
Noun
Definition;
Often found on flying Cybertronians, the anklets are the winged pieces found on the outside of a ped when in bipedal mode. These help with hovering in the air or with flight when in transportation mode. These can be modified to be removed or placed onto a frame where needed.



Ped
Noun
Definition;
The Cybertronian equivalent of one’s foot. Sometimes the ped is modified or replaced with a wheel or tread.



Stabilisers
Noun
Definition;
The gravitational devices found on one's peds, these are mostly modifications that have been put into the frame to help with gravitational force.



Thrusters
Noun
Definition;
Mostly found on flying Cybertronians, these devices help enable flight, mostly for taking off or acceleration. They can be found beneath the peds, attached to the heel of the ped or attached/hooked up to the backstrut to enable 360 maneuvers.



Thruster Panel
Noun
Definition;
The tiny flaps that expand when the thruster is in use, helps to ease the pressure of the energy being used. These flaps push in when the thruster is deactivated and closed, so one can stand without crushing the panels. If a panel or more is broken, this can cause great pain to the heel or ped and must be fixed soon. Panels can rust with time, but hardly ever fall off unless damaged or pulled off. The panels protect the entry of the thruster so nothing clogs the outlet. Thruster panels may be installed to help a flying Cybertronian with direction of flight.



Ventilation System (Vents)
Noun
Definition;
The internal system that manages the air flow through a Cybertronian’s frame. While Cybertronians don’t need air to breathe, their cooling systems do help with overheating. These systems must always remain clear of any objects and regularly maintained to avoid system failure or system-timed hiccups. Vents will often ‘huff’ or ‘hiss’ when the frame deflates to compress or release air.



Pistons
Noun/Adjective
Definition;
Often used as a saying when referring to one’s ‘muscles’, since Cybertronians don’t have muscle tissue like organics, Cybertronians instead have strain strength which acts similar. With more exercise, a Cybertronian can become physically stronger, however, they don’t have visible muscles when passively just standing around. Physical attraction comes from watching one show off to use this strength or speed.



Tibulen
Noun
Definition;
The soft metal found between the midsection of a frame and knee joint that forms one’s thigh section. On most Cyberjets this part is exposed due to the narrow outer frame being unable to protect all sections of the internal frame.



Kneestrut
Noun
Definition;
The armour that can be found protecting the vulnerable knee joint beneath. This armour can often be sharpened, blunt or weaponised to account for personal/close combat.



Crown
Noun
Definition;
The decorative headpiece that signifies a bot's importance is often found on those that are part of the Senate, the Royal Class of Iacon, or the physical helm piece that is found on Ancient Vosians.



Alt-mode
Noun
Definition;
Short for the ‘alternative’ mode that a Cybertronian takes. Since there are many forms that a Cybertronian can take the ‘alt-mode’ is the default use of the term ‘transportation mode’ which is what a Cybertronian will shift into when needing to travel somewhere.



Cycling
Verb
Definition;
When an MTO may be processing a new update or downloading mandatory information from the Iacon database. Post Great War on Cybertron, this act has since been classed as illegal, and all surviving MTOs have been granted the rights of their freedom. Downloading or installing an update must be written in consent and medically practised to reduce ideals of slavery.



Offline
Adjective
Definition;
The term used to describe when a Cybertronian is unconscious.



Online
Adjective
Definition;
The term used to describe when a Cybertronian is ‘awake’ and alert, conscious.



Deactivated
Adjective
Definition;
The term used to describe when a Cybertronian has passed on but their frame remains behind, ie ‘dead’. The term used to impart vital information to somebot else about somebot that may have been killed in combat.



Activated
Adjective
Definition;
The simple term to use when imparting vital information to somebot when somebot else is still alive. The act of bringing a Cybertronian to life for the first time.



Coolant
Noun
Definition;
Sometimes a medical practice or a built-in system used to cool a Cybertronian’s internal ventilation systems. Often takes the form of an icy cold gas that’s harmful to organics but does not affect the performance of a Cybertronian.



Lubricant
Noun
Definition;
When there is an abundance of energon overflowing the system, leftovers may cause a leakage from either the optics or the waste vein. The frame may encourage crying or waste usage if there is too much energon in the system. Crying is common when there has been a long dry period of little or no energon in the frame. This act prevents the frame’s systems being overwhelmed and flooded by the sudden intake of energon and is generally harmless.



Condensation
Noun
Definition;
Acting similar to the lubricant, the condensation forms on the soft metal beneath the outer frame due to an overwhelming amount of energon. Though it is often rare for a Cybertronian to ‘sweat’, it can happen during times of excessive exposure to heat or strain. The condensation is the first line of cooling the inner frame while the external frame functions to cool the internal systems to prevent them from overheating. Overheating can lead to spark failure or engine stall.



Hipstruts
Noun
Definition;
The outer armour along the midsection of the frame that helps protect the internal organs beneath. In some city-states, it is heavily advised that the hipstruts become sharpened or at least weaponised to protect narrow frames from foreign flora or larger frames constricting them. If the hipstruts are ever cracked or broken, it is imperative that they are fixed or replaced due to the possibility of the overall frame being compromised and falling susceptible to breaking in half, which can lead to a painful and slow deactivation process. Hipstruts, when used outside of combat, can often be adorned in colour and ritualistic/tribal tapestries, similar to the wing panels, servo-guards and chassis.



Aft
Noun
Definition;
Mostly used as a saying, although this area would be the back of the hipstruts where a Cybertronian may land after stumbling back or falling.



Energon
Noun
Definition;
The main source of fuel and life force behind a Cybertronian’s system. This energon is converted into power and energy to help the Cybertronian move, function, perform stunts, fight, etc. There is little leftover to be converted into waste, although if a frame has consumed too much energon, it may be dispersed in other ways, such as sweating to cool the frame or crying to exert the pressure.

If there's anything else you'd wish for me to add or anything I've missed, please let me know! This will also be updated as we go! 

Chapter Text

“I think it’s a good idea to write a little - about two lines, not more, or three lines - about any person you wish.”
- V.S. Pritchett

The High Council, Iacon City - Iacon, Above Ground.
Late Golden Age .

Cloud Breeze glared from across the large, empty space beneath them as he caught Shockwave's blue optics flaring up at him. 

"Not all of Cybertron's flying population needs to inhabit Vos!" The Tarn Senator seethed, Cloud Breeze only smirked in response as the other continued to rant. "And why is Cybertron suddenly birthing so many soldiers? Both flying and Groundbots?" Shockwave gestured in general as he glanced over at Xaaron, who was seated at the head of the Senate. On either side of Xaaron were Primon and Alpha Trion - Sentinel could not attend the meeting for unknown reasons. 

Though the meeting itself hadn't really been too important - at least in Cloud Breeze's opinion, anyway - he'd shown up, got berated for showing up alone and late, and had to endure another petty rant from Decimus about how the Energon Miners in Kaon weren't producing as much for their city anymore and now his boredom had finally struck a nerve when he'd asked how Tarn was doing. 

"Maybe Cybertron is preparing for something?" Cloud Breeze answered back, he despised how they'd been seated directly across from each other - always having to stare at Shockwave's unattractive face plates. "Could be the end times?" The large, white Seeker shrugged. 

"Or perhaps it is you who are preparing for war!" Shockwave pointed a thick digit at him as he stood up, his vocals ringing out loudly in the quiet chamber. "Answer the question, Senator Breeze, why do you need so many fliers?!" 

"First of all," Cloud Breeze smugly leaned back in his chair, holding up one digit of his own. "It's Senator Cloud Breeze, Shockwave, get it right this time, please. Secondly, are flying Cybertronians not under my jurisdiction?" He glanced over at Alpha Trion, who gave a nod. "And there you have it. Ever since the Catalyst, flying Cybertronians have always been issued under my rule and absorbed into our culture. For a reason, Senator Shockwave. Because the Primes chose us to watch over our descendants." 

Shockwave grumbled, it was rather an entertaining thing to watch his most heated rival become all flustered. It's why Cloud Breeze jumped at the chance when Sky Shadow retired to become Vos' Senator and Iacon Representative, despite how little time he had for the role; knowing that he was the only one who could get Shockwave going was what kept Cloud Breeze online every cycle. 

"I'm not saying that I'm preparing for war, Senator." Cloud Breeze decided that enough was enough once Xaaron excused himself and decided to leave; he was followed shortly by Alpha Trion, yet Primon remained. Cloud Breeze figured that perhaps the old 'bot just found listening to them drone on and on was somehow entertaining to him. 

"Illogical!" Shockwave seethed darkly from the other side of the room. "Vos and Tarn have been at each other's throats since the dawn of time! We've been at each other's throats ever since I came to the Senate!" 

"And you would change that for all of what? Two stellar cycles of peace?" Cloud Breeze scoffed. "Yes, our territories have been at war here and there, skirmishes and what have you. But brother, Shockwave, hasn't it made our kind stronger? What is this really about?" 

"To get me to open up about Tarn's current state is futile and foolish thinking, Cloud Breeze." Senator Shockwave hissed lowly as he glared at the Seeker. "I am aware of Tarn's greatest strength being Vos' greatest weakness, so when I dare ask you next meeting, 'How are things in Vos?' you best not throw a fit!”

"Are you preparing something, Senator Shockwave?" Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge at him and leaned forward. 

"Not yet," Shockwave slowly shook his helm. "But perhaps I should warn you that Senator Cloud Breeze is old, and he has not chosen a Usurper since the death of his last one!" Shockwave turned to announce to the rest of the Council, who were also beginning to grow weary. 

That reminder, however, seemed to bring them back to life as they inched forward in their seats and grinned down at the Seeker with amusement. 

"I'm not old," Cloud Breeze scoffed, trying to hide his embarrassment as heat rose beneath his frame. "And I would've still had Black Shadow had he not been shot down during that border skirmish!" The Seeker whirled around to glare his own harsh-yellow optics back at his rival. 

"A skirmish that you started, need I remind you?" Shockwave looked coy as he smirked, a servo on his hipstrut. "Who in their right processor attacks a convoy?" As Shockwave smugly stated, a chorus of laughter rang out through the Senate. 

Cloud Breeze seethed. "My Usurper had every right to confront that convoy! He was doing his job, protecting his people and our way of life!" 

"Yet he must've been a terrible Seeker because my sources indicate that he landed and began combat after tussling with at least four guards!" Shockwave read out from his tablet. Cloud Breeze knew that the information wasn't what Shockwave was looking at, but it ground his gears hearing the others howl in laughter. "Honestly, Cloud Breeze, what good is a Seeker if you can't keep it in the sky?!" 

Cloud Breeze glared at Shockwave as the Senate erupted into laughter; all except Primon and Cloud Breeze were laughing. Only when it quietened down did Cloud Breeze speak once more, a dark smirk on his face plates. "I take your advice to spark, Senator Shockwave. Perhaps Black Shadow's approach to the situation overall was a bit... Misfortunate. Instead of respectfully confronting your people, he should've just taken the risk and blown whatever the frag was inside up."

"That would've put a nice dent in those tall walls of yours," Shockwave sneered. "And what did your sister, Cyber Song, say when you broke the news to Sky Shadow over the loss of her sole Spawn?" 

"I'm unsure," Cloud Breeze shrugged casually. "Perhaps I'll let you know once we're all together in the AfterSpark so she can kick your skidplate herself." 
When Shockwave huffed and didn't hit him with another comeback, Cloud Breeze replied. "As old as I may be, Senator Shockwave, I'm still quite swift and witty, you'd do well to remember that, won't you now, old friend?" Cloud Breeze smiled with a hum as he tilted his helm to the side coyly. "Now, about that new batch of Trines. You dare suggest going against Sentinel Prime's order? To eradicate the Nominus Edict and put a stop to the Functionalist society that we now have?" 

The Senate suddenly fell quiet as Cloud Breeze stated that, now standing up with his servos placed on his desk and giant, quad-wings stretching out behind him. His wings were a reminder of who he was - what he was - and as the Senate had its optics on him, Cloud Breeze smugly challenged the younger members. 

"Being old is a gift, to have survived so much and seen so much take place on Cybertron - why would I wish to change any of that? Because my people are dying? Nay, they're not dying, dear Shockwave, they are evolving! They are becoming faster, stronger and more intelligent than previous generations. If I allow even just one Seeker to be denied his or her destiny, then what am I really committing myself to? I will forever forsake that Cybertronian spark to a life without tradition, values, family and honour. A flying Cybertronian cannot be raised by a Groundbot - just as a Groundbot has no right - given, or divine - to be raised by a flying one. Functionalism works, and it builds us as a better society, a stronger society! While I do agree that our skirmishes may be petty, Shockwave, they are a boring reminder that Vos' true enemy has not yet returned. Cybertron's true enemy has not returned. And until the cycle arrives where a Quintesson warship invades Cybertron's airspace, I will forever keep preparing for its arrival, and then I shall pick a Usurper and retire fully from my duty." 

Silence hung in the air for a moment before movement caught their optics, and everybot was looking at Primon as he finally stood. 

"I fear that day may come sooner than we all realise, Cloud Breeze," the ancient Advisor spoke softly, though everybot could hear him from where he stood. "Cybertron will face many threats that do not derive from Quintesson interference." 

"What have you seen, Primon?" Momus rose to ask the elder in a soft tone. 

"Destruction beyond reasoning," Primon turned his blind gaze to face the direction from which he heard Momus' voice. "Not from Quintessons," he shook his red and white helm. "But brothers." 

"Do you mean us?" Cloud Breeze's attention was on his fellow elder without any hesitation. 

They watched Primon narrow his faint optics, turn, and slowly walk out of the chamber. With a collective vent, Decimus ordered. "Meeting's over. Everybot go home and embrace your Apprentices." 

"Tell them that you love them," Sherma grinned from where she sat. 

"You should throw yourself out of a window," Shockwave seethed as he met Cloud Breeze by the entrance. 

The large, white Seeker beamed as he looked at the Tarn Senator. "You know that wouldn't work on me, I could just transform and fly off." 

"I'm surprised you can even still transform," Shockwave groaned as he turned to walk away. "I should rip your conversion cog out." 

"You could if you'd like, but then I wouldn't give you this super amazing, totally not suspicious present that I have in mind." Cloud Breeze followed the younger with an excited look. 

Shockwave halted suddenly, and Cloud Breeze stepped out of the way to avoid Decimus walking right into him. Instead, the Kaon Senator walked right into Shockwave with a grunt but quickly headed off when Shockwave snarled at him. "What present?" His rival glared at him. 

"So about all those Trines suddenly being made all across Cybertron," Cloud Breeze tediously tried to walk around their very obvious argument from earlier. 

"Go on," Shockwave allowed him to for now. 

"Well, I realised that I can't exactly be everywhere at once, and sometimes I just have to miss out," Cloud Breeze snapped his digits. "That's where you come in! You see, if you show me, truly show me Shockwave, that a Groundbot - nay, a Tarnbot- like yourself can raise a non-Seeker who's still combatively capable; I will forever respect you." 

"You want me to raise one of your descendants as my own?" Shockwave became troubled. "After everything you just said in there?" 

"Look, Primon's warning is going to leave us all rattled for the next few stellar cycles." Cloud Breeze clasped his servos together as he addressed Shockwave. "So let's try and not let it get to us, alright? I don't think Cybertron needs a civil war at this time, especially not between us. Tarn is an amazing city, but not one that I can lead. And Vos still has many responsibilities regarding any alien threat or invasion. So think of this as my peace offering, alright? Think about it, no really, have a good long sit and think really hard! C'mon, I know you can do it. If the answer's yes, I'll give you the first Trine that Questor finds - he's one of my best Trackers. And if the answer is no, how about a six-stellar-cycle peace treaty between Tarn and Vos? That'll give you some time to prepare for another air bombing, right?" 

"Ugh," Shockwave groaned and carefully slipped past the other, waving him off. "If it's a 'No', I will be sending assassins to your quarters." 

"Ooh, fun!" Cloud Breeze beamed. "I'll be sure to let Mercystrike have at them!" He called as he watched Shockwave walk down the hallway before he turned and ascended to the balcony. There, he paused by a glass sculpture of Prima and only then did his cocky smirk fade into a sorrowful frown. 

"What troubles you, Cloud Breeze?" He heard Primon's voice before he even realised that the other was there. Nonetheless, it didn't unnerve him in the slightest. 

Cloud Breeze turned as he vented. "Prima, she's not with us." 

"And do you need her?" Primon raised a brow ridge at the younger warrior. 

"I... Suppose not." Cloud Breeze looked away, although he did so hesitantly. "It's just... Something's been feeling off lately. Skyblast, Thunder Shine and Dunkaze have all retired; Sky Shadow and Black Shadow are gone." 

"But Cyber Song and the others are still with you?" Primon asked. 

"Yes," Cloud Breeze was quick to reassure him. "They're still in Vos but... Ah, maybe I am just getting old." 

Primon chuckled softly as he came to stand beside Cloud Breeze. "Age can slow us down, but only death can truly stop us. You're troubled by something, a need for purpose perhaps?" 

"If Cybertron falls to a threat faced from within, how will my kind ever combat against it?" Cloud Breeze asked as he stared at Prima's sculpted face. "Or is there something more waiting for us out in the stars?" 

"Everything you need and have is waiting here for you, on Cybertron," Primon stated. "I, too, am suffering the loss of the other Seekers, the former Angels. I know that I cannot see them, but you are the last of your kind, Cloud Breeze. At this stage in your life, Arche and An-Gel would've granted you your Six Wings, and you would've soared high above the clouds with great pride." 

"But Prima is no longer with us." Cloud Breeze repeated. "And by definition, we are unable to receive her boon. It's forbidden in the eyes of the other Primes. So I ask you, Primon. If my siblings and I are the last Angels of Cybertron, is Cybertron going to be safe? Where are we supposed to go or even do if it no longer needs us? If we can no longer grow to become stronger." 

"You are so blinded by your need for strength," Primon shook his helm, though he was wearing a smile. "Just like her, I suppose." They both stared up at the Prima statue before Primon continued with a light vent. "Need not worry for Cybertron; like all things, we die and we are reborn. As for you, Cloud Breeze, if you are waiting for something more, I advise that you take those who are lost like you and go searching among the stars. When Cybertron becomes the brightest star in the sky, you shall return and receive your gift from Prima." 

"Leave Cybertron?" Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge at the statue. "Now?" 

"No, not now," Primon quickly explained himself. "Leave when brothers can no longer see optic-to-optic. Leave when the brightest star has come to take your place. Leave Cybertron with no worry carried in your spark, for knowing that your children will be safe and will see you return someday." 

"You're lucky I was raised in the same time period as you," Cloud Breeze turned his helm to smile down at the Prime. "To anyone else, this probably just sounds like a cryptic protoform's bedtime rhyme." 

Primon scoffed in good nature. "For someone so old, you do have a way of sounding so young and arrogant." 

"Guilty as charged," Cloud Breeze began to carefully back away as he playfully put his servos in the air in mock surrender, even though he knew Primon couldn't see him. 

"Safe travels back to Vos! Please tell Cyber Song that I said 'Hello'." Primon called, though he did not turn around to see him off. 

"Will do!" Cloud Breeze saluted before he turned and transformed into his alt-mode - an Ancient, two-winged Cybertronian jet. "Take care." 

With only a nod in response, Cloud Breeze took off from the balcony and shot out into the sunset skies. He then received a ping on his HUD, knowing all too well what was going to be followed next. 

"C O M E ,   N E W   T R I N E .   V O S ."

Cloud Breeze pinged back to his former Apprentice that he was already on his way as the sun began to sink lower and lower, bathing most of Iacon's streets in darkness already as he flew overhead.  He savoured the peacefulness of the skies, allowing the clouds to tug at his wings here and there before he narrowed his flaps, pushed his thrusters and shot downward through the thick, white haze. A few moments later, he burst through the clouds and raced down towards the surface of his homeworld, right by the Skyforge where most of his kin hailed from. 

The Skyforge was one of the tallest towers in all of Vos, maybe even all of Cybertron, now that he thought about it. The reason why it was so high was due to the paranoia of his ancestors regarding the Groundbots stealing sparks from the Vosians. Sparks, which at the time had been rare. Sparks that hailed from Vos carried with them the genetic code for flight, dating back to Prima herself when she first discovered this place. The Sky Tower had weathered even the most brutal invasions and enemy attacks, yet the Forge itself remained intact. The tower had been rebuilt more times than even he could count. The tower itself was tall, slender and dark, built in a square shape that twisted slowly the higher it went. Inside the tower were armed forces constantly patrolling and keeping an optic out for any trouble, though less than what there had been during the time of the Predacons. With so many soldiers now, Cloud Breeze was quite amused by the thought of someone breaking in to steal a spark or two. 

The tower itself was home to the Seeker Apprentice Academy, where most of their young rested whenever the older warriors were out and about. The other towers that surrounded it had different functions. At the bottom of the tower was where the Medical Chief and the retired Elders lived. Cloud Breeze's ancestors had figured that a community packed on top of each other was a good morale boost and helped them to grow closer with their Trine mates or Bonded Sparks. At the top of the tower was a platform that faced the dying sun-lit sky, nothing more than a frail railing on the outer circle to allow for Groundbot safety, should they ever be invited to such a thing in the first place. The platform was adorned with countless, named stars that reflected the skies over Vos - the constellations of their ancestors and honouring their fallen comrades. Cloud Breeze's name was yet to be engraved on the platform, though he and the rest of his Trine had already picked out their stars. 

At the centre of the platform was the Forge itself. Cloud Breeze could see it now as it twinkled at him just out of his reach as he flew closer. The Forge was a pool of warm, metal liquid and glowing light that was surrounded by a small army of stairs - in the event that the beings who emerged from it were not built for flight. Rare, but it did happen. The Forge had been constructed to appear as a glowing star from above, and Cloud Breeze always felt happy whenever he flew overhead just to catch a glimpse of its beauty. 

When he transformed and finally landed on the platform, not minding the stiffness of his legs, he turned to scan the waiting crowd. He had already contacted the Mentors, trustworthy allies and family members who'd taken on countless Apprentices in their time and just as expected, they were all here, as well as a few others. 

Meteor Shine stood close by with her newly Forged Apprentice, Dapol, naught but twelve solar cycles old. Meteor Shine was their standby medic for this ceremony and had allowed Dapol to watch alongside her. On the other side of the platform stood one of Cloud Breeze's sisters, Mercystrike. Beside her stood a smaller version, which was adorned in grey colours with green highlights - her current Apprentice, Comet. Cloud Breeze also noticed Dustburner standing not too far away and nodded at him with a small smile. 

In front of him, waiting on the platform were the chosen Mentors for the new Trine, as well as his designated Tracker - Vixen. 
"How many are we expecting this time?" Cloud Breeze raised his voice to be heard over the wind as he approached her. 

"Cybertron is preparing for war," she squinted back at him, her data tablet still in servo. "All our new Trines have a common number of three. Aside from Skyfire, but he's nearly nine stellar cycles old." 

Cloud Breeze blinked down at her in worry. "That's... Fine." 

Vixen frowned at him before she turned the data tablet around for him to read. A Classic Trine usually consisted of having only three Forged members arrive. Three was the default and most common number amongst Vosian forge reproduction. Seeing how Cybertron had birthed the last five Trines in numbers of three, everybot was beginning to grow on edge as this was seen as a telltale omen of war - when Cybertron reverted back to its default method of creating three MTO Seekers to use as nothing more than cannon fodder. 

"The Silverata Trine had a group of three, the Rediosa Trine had three, the Conehead and the Dappled Trine all had three." Vixen gave him a warning look. "Good times are not ahead. What did you discuss with the Senate today?" 

Cloud Breeze frowned at her, but the Forge behind them soon rumbled, catching everybot's attention. 

"Don't worry about it," Cloud Breeze placed a gentle servo on her thin, tawny-brown shoulder. "Maybe the time for being superstitious has come to an end." He smiled, petted her shoulder, then turned and walked over to the Forge to stand beside his chosen Mentors. 

Cloud Stream gave him a weary look. "This will be Widowfog's first Apprentice." Cloud Breeze's third son informed him as he gave a nod over to the sleek black and smoky grey jet. "Are you sure you didn't want to choose someone else?" 

"Widowfog is a strong fighter, she'll make a perfect Mentor!" Cloud Breeze proudly stated as the wind roared at them, causing the Forge to groan and splash liquid fragments into the air. "Unless she wants to back out?" He turned to squint over at her. 

"No, Sir!" Widowfog shook her helm, her servos clasped behind her backstrut. "I'm ready!" 

Cloud Breeze then looked at his two sons, Breeze Tail and Cloud Stream. "Then what about you?" 

The white, sleek Seeker with dark blue optics was the first to respond. "I'm ready." Much like Widowfog, this was also Cloud Stream's first Apprentice. 

Beside him, a beige-coloured Seeker with black tiger stripes nodded wearily. "I'm right." This would be Breeze Tail's third Apprentice, though Cloud Breeze began to worry if his eldest was perhaps growing tired. 

"Alright then," Cloud Breeze straightened up as he heard the telltale scream of Cybertronian jets just ahead of them. "Any nano-cycle now." He muttered to himself; despite everything, this was Cloud Breeze's favourite part - watching all the new, young Cybertronians emerge from the Skyforge in a blaze of glory. 

Vixen was standing close to them, a little away from the ferocious Forge as it spat out two figures. Cloud Breeze watched as a dark purple jet with cyan-coloured highlights sprang forward and shot up into the air. Behind it was a pure black jet of a similar size. 

"Girls?" Cloud Stream asked. 

"Seems that way," Cloud Breeze gave a nod. He seemed content with two femmes for now until the Forge gurgled and a third flying jet was thrown forth. They watched as it spiralled aimlessly into the skies above; it was blue with black highlights. 

They watched as the newly Forged Trine spun and twirled in the air before they transformed and landed gracefully on the platform in front of them. 

"Not yet," Cloud Breeze softly informed Cloud Stream. "Their cores haven't been activated yet. Wait for them to open their optics." 

Cloud Stream nodded, though they could feel just how excited he was to finally meet his new Apprentice through their EMF and shared Bond. Cloud Breeze blinked and watched as Vixen waltzed up to the three sisters and checked each one over before writing something down. 

"Purple is the leader," Vixen muttered. "The first to come forth and by far the strongest flier in the group. Blue over there might need a little help with the winds later on." 

"Wind," as Vixen informed Cloud Breeze and the Mentors, the blue and black jet squeaked out as she heard that funny, little word and decided to repeat it. Her red optics stared at Vixen thoughtfully. 

"Breeze Tail," Cloud Breeze instructed. "You heard Vixen; Wind will be your Apprentice. Teach her how to be safe and master the air." 

Breeze Tail gave a nod before he turned and slowly approached 'Wind', the black and blue jet. She stared up at him with a blank expression, her sisters watching just as intently. Breeze Tail, being the most experienced out of the three chosen Mentors, smiled warmly down at the newborn as he held up his servo with his palm facing flat. 

"I am Breeze Tail," he introduced himself to her. "I will be your Mentor until you Graduate. Is 'Wind' the name you would like to choose for now?" 

The newborn Cybertronian gazed between his servo and his face plates before she eagerly nodded with joy, opening up her EMF to allow him to feel her emotions. "Yes!" 

"Right, then it is very nice to meet you, Wind Vixen." Breeze Tail was struggling to calm her slightly, but once she knew what to do, Wind eagerly placed her servo against his and held it there firmly as they then stepped away from the forge to join the others on the platform. 

"Purple is their leader?" Cloud Breeze asked as he seized her in his optics next. 

"Mhm," Vixen nodded. 

"Cloud Stream, she's all yours." Beside him, Cloud Breeze could feel the hesitance of his spawn, but without any encouragement, Cloud Stream walked forward with a stoic and brave face. 

He approached the default 'leader' of the Trine and copied his brother accordingly by holding out his servo to face her. With a look of snarky confidence, the purple and cyan-coloured jet proudly stepped forward to meet him; however, she yelped as she slipped and began to fall. 

"Whoa!" Cloud Stream was swift as he knelt and caught the newborn before she hit the ground. He chuckled nervously, giving a glance back over at his leader, who watched on quietly as Cloud Stream fixed her back up. "Easy there, thruster-biter! You slipped and nearly crashed back into the Forge!" 

"Slip!" The purple jet eagerly nodded as she held Cloud Stream's servos in her own, seemingly unbothered by the whole ordeal. "I'm Slip!" 

"No, you slipped," Cloud Stream corrected. 

"Cloud Stream!" Vixen lifted her helm as she tried to whisper to him. "They know how to talk, she's telling you her name!" 

"Oh," Cloud Stream frowned in embarrassment before he gently held his servo up to hers. "Uh, sorry... My name is Cloud Stream. It's nice to meet you, Slip. I'll be your-" 

"Mentor!" Slip grinned up at him. 

"Er, right," Cloud Stream stared at her before glancing back at Cloud Breeze, who gave an encouraging nod as the two left to join Wind and Breeze Tail. Lastly was the black jet. 

"Widowfog," Cloud Breeze smirked as he seized the last jet in his optics and called the next Mentor up. 

Beside him, Widowfog nodded and carefully picked her way over to the last remaining jet. "Hi," she smiled once she reached the newborn. "I'm Widowfog, I'm going to be your Mentor until you graduate. But even then, you'll always be able to come to me for anything you need, alright?" 

"Night." The jet was staring up at the sky, watching with awe as the stars soon revealed themselves and glimmered down at them. "Stars and night." 

"That's right!" Widowfog nodded as she held up her servo. "Those are all our ancestors watching over us! You three came at a good time!" 

"Good time," the black jet smiled back down at her new Mentor as she held her servo up. "Good times are not ahead." 

Cloud Breeze tried his best not to allow panic to be detected across his EMF as the others turned to look at him. He knew what they were thinking, but he chuckled as he tried to play it off. "A rumbling Forge can hear all. She probably just picked that up from Vixen." 

As Night and Widowfog connected and made their way back over to the platform, Cloud Breeze did consider calling in Cyber Song to check if Night was Star-Touched. 

"Be careful, it's still wet here," but as he watched Widowfog, his spark swelled with agony. They were getting along so nicely, and he couldn't take this from Widowfog - a trusted ally and friend among his ranks; she'd worked too hard for this. He knew that she would be a great Mentor, and if Night was Star-Touched, he knew that Widowfog would still look out for the young bot. 

"Alright," he turned to face the new Trine standing beside their Mentors as the onlookers began to leave. "Now comes your first lesson! Teaching someone how to fly." 

Cloud Stream's dark blue optics were glued to Slip's frame and filled with worry as he nervously shifted from one ped to another. Beside him, Breeze Tail was feeling more confident by the second as Wind glanced up at the sky. Widowfog and Night seemed to be paying attention quite closely as Cloud Breeze began the lesson. 

Chapter Text

The Starforge - Vos, Above Ground.
Three chords later.

"About three chords ago Vixen recruited that new Trine you were so worried about," Cloud Breeze smugly smiled down at Shockwave as they entered past the city's gates. Being on the ground was quite foreign for him yet he didn't mind it for now. Instead, the leader of Cybertron's High Guard took this opportunity to gloat directly into the Tarn Senator's face plates. "I would've given them over to you, however, they came from the Skyforge and forgive me Senator Shockwave if I'm ever overstepping my boundaries here, but personal safety is at the top of my list when it comes to Groundbots here." 

Shockwave only grumbled with an annoyed look. He was trying his best to hide his obvious fear - being brought directly into his enemy's territory wasn't exactly a stress-free scenario. But aside from that, he couldn't help but gawk up at the massive, tall, spiral buildings that glimmered in the afternoon light. Made of marble, pearl, and gold, he could've sworn that the clouds and stars themselves shaped the very city itself. It was quite an alien sight from what he was used to in Tarn - very bright and with towers that ruled the skies. He'd forever feel uneasy in this place as he walked side by side with his sworn arch-rival. 

"That's... Fine, Cloud Breeze." Shockwave grumbled, trying his best not to flinch as a formation of jets flew overhead. He only paused to spare a worried glance at the white Seeker when he had stopped and tilted his helm up at the sky. 

"They're just coming back from patrol," Cloud Breeze offered to explain; already sensing the other's concern. "I've cleared the airspace all around Vos tonight, only after the Starforge goes quiet will my patrols carry on once more. Tarn should be pleased to see no Seekers about for a few groons." 

Shockwave only glared at Cloud Breeze when the other offered him a cheery smile. Shockwave shook his helm with a scoff and glanced back up at the sky to watch the patrol of at least several jets wind in and out of the towers before they disappeared out of sight. "It's a wonder how any of you never crash into these towers." 

"Well," Cloud Breeze tilted his helm coyly as they continued their walk. "We do teach our young how to fly, Shockwave. And we also teach them to keep their senses sharp while they're in the air. Though we've had only two fatal crashes in the time before Sky Shadow's rule, I think that's an improvement. The towers are large, yes, but they don't get in our way. Every floor is equipped with a balcony primed for taking off and landing. Think of our city as an Insecticon's nest - we know where we're going because we live here." 

"I'm surprised you know what an Insecticon is," Shockwave rolled his optics. "Let alone how they function." 

"You have your assassins," Cloud Breeze held his helm high. "I have my spies." 

Shockwave glared at the other but said nothing as they walked. True, while Shockwave had been a little curious here and there regarding the other life forms that inhabited Cybertron, he didn't believe that Cloud Breeze was even capable of thinking of another species besides their own. Or his own, rather. 

Cloud Breeze didn't allow Shockwave's glare to hinder him as he smiled and soon pointed towards the centre of the city. "This is our Starforge," he began to explain. 

"So Vos has two Forges?" Shockwave asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. 

"We have nine," Cloud Breeze stated almost proudly. "Though only eight are accessible, and a further seventeen of Cybertron's Forges have been discovered in the air. Though buildings have not yet been constructed to reach them, we are keeping a close optic on them should they ever activate." 

"More soldiers?" Shockwave asked with a raised brow ridge. 

"Safety." Cloud Breeze answered swiftly and with seemingly no attitude behind his stoic answer. "You must understand, Shockwave, not every bot who emerges from a Forge may be capable of flight. I have my Guardians and Trackers keeping an optic on the sky ones because we don't want to risk watching some poor bot falling to their death." 

"How noble of you," Shockwave scoffed, not believing him. 
No, when Shockwave glanced around the streets of Vos, he began to understand just how minimal the population of Groundbots was. 

Cloud Breeze came to a halt. "Things have changed much since the old days," his voice was soft. "Vos isn't an exclusive city anymore, we've built accessibility for our Groundbots and visitors. No longer do we shun those born without wings. True, we may bully them a little for choosing to live without ever knowing the fun in flying, but we don't go around purging them anymore." 

"Your population is so little," Shockwave stated. 

"And that was a dark time in history for us and an even darker stain on Vos." Cloud Breeze murmured as his bright optics dimmed. "We're trying to do things right this time around and make a change for the better. See, Senator Shockwave? I can be progressive, though things may be slow, at least they're moving again. Vos is home to those born here and to those who wish to live here. Flying or Groundbot. Our Seeker military forces aren't just a central hub for our battle strategists, we're a family built on honour and tradition. Three hundred million stellar cycles of pushing for change have given us a new second chance. And this? This is just yet another attempt to make up for our past wrongdoings." Cloud Breeze smiled as he gestured to the Forge just up ahead. "I hope someday that you can invite me to Tarn in honour of this great day." 

"Don't get so ahead of yourself," Shockwave snubbed him off with a quiet snarl. "The day that a Seeker sets ped peacefully in the streets of Tarn is the day I'll retire from my office." 

Cloud Breeze chuckled and petted him on the backstrut. "Sounds like a good day." 

As they neared the city's centre, Shockwave could understand why it was called the 'Star'forge. The Forge itself was shaped into an Ancient Star with eight points sharply spanning out in all directions. Surrounding the Forge were tall, glimmering walls of Cybertanium forged metal that had dents and scratches lined against it. When they neared, Shockwave realised that all those tiny, little dents were actually stars engraved into the metal and beneath every star was a Vosian name carved into the metal. 

"Cybertanium... From Tarn?" Shockwave asked as he was awed by the magnificent structure. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "The Starforge was the first thing to be created in Vos. Prima's earliest forces gathered Cybertanium and built this wall to protect any new life forms from the Quintessons and Predacons alike." 

"Huh," Shockwave studied the wall carefully. "And these names?" 

"Our fallen comrades, brothers and sisters who are no longer with us." Cloud Breeze sadly brushed a servo along the wall. "Sky Shadow and Black Shadow's names are here." 

"Is this where I'll come to visit you when you're gone?" Shockwave smirked. 

"No," Cloud Breeze chuckled, turning to face him. "I and my sisters derive from the Skyforge, you'll find us there." 

Shockwave was slightly taken aback by the casualness of Cloud Breeze's demeanour. "You prepare yourselves for death?" 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "It's tradition, old friend. We have many and still keep quite a few lying around." 

"This is incredible," Shockwave breathed as he let his servo trail against the wall. They walked further and further along it until the walls grew higher and higher with the ramp leading away into stairs. Shockwave soon became on edge as he could no longer see anything around him. "Senator Cloud Breeze?" 

"I'm ahead," he heard the Seeker's voice somewhere in front of him. "Keep going forward, you'll be alright." 

"If you're planning some kind of ambush," Shockwave grumbled as he hesitantly continued forward. "Just know that I won't be impressed..." 

He trailed off as the pathway opened back up and now he was right at the mouth of the Starforge. It's burning, bright light assaulted his optics, so he brought a servo up to shield them as he squinted against the light. Cloud Breeze gently pulled him aside onto the small platform where the onlookers were standing. The stairs trickled down to the Forge where the metallic liquid lapped waves at the edges of the sand. The walls narrowed above them and gave out to the sky where the stars were beginning to blossom as dusk approached. 

"Do all Forgings happen at dusk?" Shockwave asked. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "Rare is it that a Trine erupts when the stars cannot be seen. It's part of our religion. The Forge rumbles all solar-cycle, and when the sun goes down and the stars come out, that's when the Trine often emerges. We believe it religious due to the fact that when a Seeker dies-"

"He joins the stars," Shockwave finished with a small, annoyed groan - he'd heard the phrase a million times. 

Cloud Breeze smiled. "Aw, look at you - you think you're so smart because you're standing in a city you want to know more about before destroying it," the white shuttle jet clapped. "Good job, Shockwave." 

Shockwave was about to turn and glare at him again when he winced as a sharp, shrill click echoed throughout the chamber. "Ah!" 

It swiftly caught Cloud Breeze's attention as he glanced over at his sister, Mercystrike. Shockwave recognised her thanks to the nasty scar on the left side of her faceplates. It cut down her yellow optic but didn't seem to disturb the organ at all, which led Shockwave to believe that perhaps she kept the scar around as an accessory. 

Cloud Breeze narrowed his own yellow optics at her as he heard clicking echo down the hallway from which they had just emerged. "It's alright, there's no need for cryptic analog. Senator Shockwave is our guest, please speak in Common Cybertronian so that he may join us in on this wonderful experience." 

Shockwave watched as Mercystrike turned to a robust yet lithe dark brown jet with tiger stripes and stared for a moment. The tiger-brown jet stared back at her before glancing over at their leader. 

"We were asking about their mentors." His deep voice softly soothed the rampaging waves of the Forge for a moment.

"It's listening," Shockwave's blue optics went wide as he closely watched the Forge. 

"They should've been right behind the Senator," Cloud Breeze turned to narrow his optics at the mouth of the tunnel before a burly magenta-coloured Tarnbot emerged and gazed around with wide, amber optics. After her came a large, white mech with yellow highlights. Cloud Breeze felt slight disapproval pulling at his fuel tanks, but decided to hide it with a smile as he greeted the fellow Tarnbots. "Ah, there they are!" 

Shockwave turned and began to introduce the others who had been quietly following them - quietly as Cloud Breeze believed that perhaps they'd been too stunned by the bright sights to even speak until now. "These are my most trustworthy associates, Cryak and Jhiaxus." 

As Shockwave introduced them, Cloud Breeze lost his shining smile as his worst fears were confirmed. However, Mercystrike soon beat him to it as another shrill, panicked series of clicks sounded throughout the chamber. 

"O L D,  N O V A   P R I M E ' S-" 

Cloud Breeze quickly threw up a servo to silence her as Jhiaxus' turned his green-coloured gaze onto the Second in Command. . : He can hear us : . The white Seeker tried to warn her through their Trine Bond. He despised using it, but it was only ever used as a last resort of secret communication. 

Mercystrike went quiet as she felt the fear blossom in her spark. Cyber Song - who was not present with them - began to feel it as well and she soon responded back through their bond. . : Who is it? : .

. : Jhiaxus : . Mercystrike narrowed her optics on the bot in particular as they secretly conversed. 

. : Don't draw attention to yourself, Cyber Song. : . Cloud Breeze frowned, also narrowing his optics at the Ancient strategist who'd just walked right into his city. . : Stay where you are, and get Storm Wing to sit with you. : . 

. : I'll be alright : . She responded with kindness and warmth, and began to fade when she suddenly sprang back to life in his spark to tell him. . : Skyfire is panicking, he feels that something is wrong. : .

Cloud Breeze and I are fine, Mercystrike focused on trying to be reassuring through her bond - hoping with her spark that her own Apprentices couldn't feel an ounce of her own fear. . : We're at the Starforge. Jhiaxus is here, though seemingly on peaceful grounds. : . 

. : I thought he was dead. : . Cyber Song commented before she soon faded from their grasp. 

Cloud Breeze turned his helm to glance at Mercystrike before he spoke. . : No clicking, he knows our language. Speak through me, I can reach everyone. : .

Mercystrike gave a slow nod but said nothing more. Her fear was tightly gripping his spark, but Cloud Breeze was strong enough to ignore it as he cleared his vocals and addressed the Tarnbots. 

"Shockwave," the white Seeker smiled. "You did not inform me that a former Seeker would be joining us! Let alone your own Mentor?" 

As the Guardian Trine had secretly communicated amongst themselves, Dustburner had glared at the Tarnbots - keeping a close optic on them as Cryak and Shockwave timidly glanced at one another. Only Jhiaxus seemed quite content as he wore a smug smirk, his optics never straying from Cloud Breeze's face plates. 

Shockwave stepped forward with a nod. "I figured that if anyone should be given a Starforged, it should be someone with experience, and most importantly, someone I can trust." 

"And someone who can fly," Cloud Breeze jabbed as he rivalled Jhiaxus' smirk with his own, hoping to throw the other off guard for a moment. 

"That... Too, I suppose," Shockwave glanced down with a troubled look. 

"So what do you know?" Dustburner, the brown tiger-striped jet, finally spoke in a sly tone. "A Seeker can raise a Groundbot." 

"And a pretty intelligent one at that," Mercystrike joined in with a servo placed on her hipstrut. "Now it makes sense why Shockwave hates Cloud Breeze so much." 

It finally dawned on the white Seeker that all his ramblings and conservative ways of how to raise their young - and how others should stay in their own lanes - had struck quite a close nerve to Shockwave. He did feel slightly bad for assuming Shockwave's upbringing, yet if he had ever known the bot behind it, he would've never dared to look at Shockwave ever again. Jhiaxus was an old bot, one of the first to graduate from their Seeker forces during the days of Prima's rule. He'd left to go pursue a career in science in his retirement after the Catalyst, and none of Vos had heard from him since. 

"The city has changed quite a bit, Cloud Breeze." Jhiaxus finally spoke, his servos clasped together behind his backstrut. "Sky Shadow and Umbratron would be quite proud." 

"Yes, well," Cloud Breeze muttered. "Someone had to pick up the pieces in their absence. Which leads me to ask you, old friend, why take in a Groundbot as your Apprentice?" 

"Former Apprentice," Jhiaxus confidently corrected. "Shockwave here has an insatiable processor for unbound knowledge, which I see mimicked in my own reflection. I couldn't resist taking on such a fine Mentee. And now that he has graduated with brilliant marks of honour to his name, as well as invited me to repeat the process in his trust, I cannot help but feel honoured as I stand here and feel the warmth of my former home." 

Cloud Breeze noticed Mercystrike's frame bristle slightly with tension just in his peripheral vision; however, she said nothing as they continued to glare at the monstrous Seeker. 

"Well," Cloud Breeze glanced over at the Starforge as it rumbled quietly, Questor - an old purple and white bot - was seated by its edge, watching them with greatly amused interest. "If it's such an honour to you, old friend, then I hope you'll be able to remind the others how to expertly raise these-"

"They're not going to be Seekers, Cloud Breeze." Jhiaxus held his helm high as he interrupted. "They're going to be Tarnbots. Citizens of my new base of operations. They'll live in the ground like us, and pursue careers in mining and metal. They'll be forged under our ways and traditions. That is what you suggested, is it not, old friend?" 

Cloud Breeze stood his ground as he sized the other up. "Yes," was all he said. 

"Very well," Jhiaxus glanced over to Questor. "Let's get this underway then." 

"Our Healers haven't arrived yet," Cloud Breeze bluffed. "Orange Blast was supposed to be here with us in the chamber." 

"Oh?" Jhiaxus glanced back at the dark hallway's entrance. "Shall we wait then?" 

"There's no need," overhelm they heard the noise of a jet as a being lowered himself over the walls and floated down into the chamber. "Sorry, I'm late, Cloud Breeze. Motorthrust was complaining about stiff joints again." 

Orange Blast was a deep blue being with orange highlights and bright, amber optics. Cloud Breeze was a little annoyed to hear that as he kept his gaze on the Tarnbots and gestured towards the Forge where Questor was waiting for them. 

"Motorthrust is getting old?" Jhiaxus scoffed as he chose to walk beside Cloud Breeze, who was noticeably smaller than him by a minor margin. "I suppose who isn't these days?" 

"Are you suggesting that just because one of my Lieutenants has a joint problem that the rest of my armada is incapable of kicking your skidplate?" Cloud Breeze hissed quietly. "Because I assure you, Jhiaxus - Vos hasn't forgotten the atrocities you helped commit against them." 

"My days of slaying Groundbots are over, Cloud Breeze," Jhiaxus vented as they came to a halt on the nearest platform to the Forge. "I've had a change of spark in my old age. I'm waiting to hear that one day, hopefully, you'll be the same." 

"People can say what they like about me," Cloud Breeze turned his glare away as he watched Questor walk around the Forge, peering expectantly down into it. "I serve comfortably knowing that I will never rule as a tyrant." 

"And like I said earlier," Jhiaxus whispered into the other's audial. "I'm sure Umbratron would be so proud of you." 

Cloud Breeze scowled, flinching away as he stormed off to confront Questor. "How many are we expecting?" 

"Just the usual," the elderly Tracker glanced up at him with sparkling, pale blue optics. "Three." 

"Anything else?" Cloud Breeze growled quietly. 

"Well, by Vixen's predictions, this one's going to be a Multi-Trine." 

Mult-Trines happened every five Forgings and were the result of a mixed-gendered Trine being born. At least the former was a theory for now. Most of Vos' Trines were born under one gender, either bulk or narrow - mech or femme - male or female. Vixen's Trine had been all narrows, girls, the previous two Trines before that had been bulks, boys. Upon hearing that they were to receive a Multi-Trine of unknown genders, Cloud Breeze hummed in disapproval as he glanced back at the Tarnbots. 

"Do you know-" 

"We'll just have to wait and see," Questor interrupted him. "I know you're worried, but everything will be fine." 

"We shouldn't be giving them over to Shockwave." Mercystrike hissed as she stalked close to her brother's side. "We haven't had a Multi-Trine since Soundwave and Nightstalker. That was almost twelve stellar cycles ago now."

"A Multi-Trine will be slightly more difficult for them to raise," Cloud Breeze agreed as he stared down into the Forge. "But they've come all this way, if we refuse them now, it'll just divide us even more." 

They quietened as the Starforge rumbled again and inched back as the liquid metal sprayed up into the air. Overhelm, the dark skies grumbled with thunder and fear made Cloud Breeze's spark squeeze tightly as he noticed the threat of looming clouds. He transformed and shot into the air to fly out over the city. A moment later, Questor joined him. 

"Is this an omen?" The white Seeker asked, looking around at the army of dark clouds descending upon the city with wide optics. 

"Perhaps," Questor dipped his helm in thought. "Did Cyber Song say anything? What of Primon?" 

Cloud Breeze was quiet for a moment as he watched the storm brewing in the distance. He then glanced down at the glowing star beneath him and thought of Primon's words from earlier. 
"We must hand them over, Questor." Cloud Breeze ordered. "If we don't give the Tarnbots this Trine, that storm will only be the beginning of our worries." 

"What did Primon say?" 

"Something about bright stars and fighting brothers," Cloud Breeze mumbled. "I have a feeling that if I reject Shockwave, he's going to start a war." 

Questor was quiet for a moment before he nodded, and they floated back down to the earth where the walls of the Forge were waiting. Mercystrike narrowed her yellow optics at her brother but nothing was said between them as Cloud Breeze strolled forward with newfound confidence and addressed Shockwave. "There will be a storm waiting for you outside. Hopefully, it blows over by the time this is done. If not, all of you are more than welcome to stay here until it leaves." 

"Are you delaying this ceremony, Senator?" Shockwave squinted at him as the Forge roared to life, and thunder made the walls around them tremble. Behind him, Cloud Breeze noticed Jhiaxus' worried look. 

"Most of our Trines are born in good weather, I fear that there may be a few injuries tonight." Cloud Breeze confessed. 

"Uplink did not inform you of this weather?" Jhiaxus asked as he squinted up at the disappearing night sky. 

"Is this a sign of something bad about to happen?" Cryak asked from where she stood beside Shockwave, staring up as well. 

"Nothing bad is going to happen," Cloud Breeze glared at them defensively as Jhiaxus continued to smirk. "The Trine will consist of three members, all of whom will fly up from the Forge and come back down to land. Once they've been activated, they will forget how to fly, and who they are, and that's where your Mentors will come in to introduce themselves in your customs. Seeing as most of you are Groundbots, however, I doubt that you'll get far on ped in this weather. We don't normally allow our young to transform right off the bat, especially to fly, until they're comfortable enough to hover in the air in bipedal form. Stressing their Transformation-Conversion cogs will in turn put more stress on their sparks. They should at least be three chords old before you begin to try." 

"Then it's no different from a Tarnbot," Jhiaxus commented as he nodded. "Tarnbots are given four chords, though we don't normally need to transform unless it is for long-distance travel." 

"Likewise," Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics at him next. "Then we can agree on something." 

The Forge rumbled loudly as thunder roared overhelm and soon all their attention was back on the Starforge as the liquid burned brightly. The waves along the surface lapped at the sand before Cloud Breeze could hear the familiar shriek of jet engines screaming up from Cybertron's core, travelling through the Forge as their forms hardened around their sparks. 

"Jets." He heard Dustburner squeak in anticipation behind him. "Sometimes we get helicopters."

"And even Beastformers on the ultra-rare occasion." Mercystrike's voice could be heard over the roar as she chided in. "Sometimes Groundbots too." 

Cloud Breeze didn't allow his gaze to stray from the Starforge as his underlings dropped tidbits of information to their guests. He supposed that their excitement in sharing this moment with the visitors could help ease tensions. 

The white Seeker leaned back and quickly glanced over his large shoulder strut to make sure that no one else was lingering near the Forge's edge. He noted that Dustburner and Mercystrike were guarding Shockwave from the edge, and Cryak was standing beside Questor. Jhiaxus was watching a little further away as Orange Blast stood beside him, watching with careful intent. 
Once satisfied that everybot was at a safe distance away, Cloud Breeze turned his attention back to the Starforge as the jets became louder and louder. A flash of lightning danced in the heavy sky, and another burst of thunder vibrated their frames. The first jet to burst forth was a strong, bulky blue and black one. 

One mech. Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics as he watched it soar into the air and begin to twirl as it danced with radiant joy, the life flowing strongly through its circuitry. It was soon followed by a sleek, lithe white and dark gold jet that shot up from the Forge and quickly chased after it. Femme. Cloud Breeze nodded as he kept tabs. The two jets soon slowed to meet in the air as they flew side by side, circling each other as they spiralled upward. A lot quicker than anticipated, the third jet sprang forth - barely escaping a large gush of liquid metal that erupted behind it. Cloud Breeze squinted hard at the third jet, trying to get as much information as possible from looks alone. It was a sleek purple and black jet. Once the third jet joined its kin in the skies, they watched as the newly forged Trine twisted effortlessly around each other. 

"They're so synced." Mercystrike breathed in awe as she came to stand beside her brother, watching the jets in the sky. "They fly as one... Are you certain that we should hand over such a talented group?" 

Cloud Breeze nodded, unable to trust himself to speak. He would've killed to have this Trine under his command, seeing how effortlessly they flew in the raging storm above. Rare was it that a Trine was born already capable of Bond formations. He vented and stepped back as the three jets formed physically and began to turn their noses back down to the city. They hovered in the air for a nano-klik before their thrusters gave out, and they began to fall. Once the walls of the Starforge rushed up to greet them, that was when the Trine re-engaged their hover abilities and transformed to land elegantly along the Forge's edge into their bipedal forms. 

Once they landed, Cloud Breeze glanced over and nodded at Questor. The old bot hobbled over to meet the black and blue jet first with his datapad. Cloud Breeze then turned to inform Senator Shockwave. "They will be registered as names and times in our databases. They'll always have a home here in Vos. Once their cores have been activated, I will inspect them for myself and assign each of you to one of them." 

"I thought we were choosing our own?" Shockwave raised a brow ridge.

"This isn't a pet, Shockwave," Cloud Breeze grumbled. "This Trine is expertly talented to fly, and please understand that it thoroughly annoys me that you will be receiving them; to take them away from their rightful home and birthright. But still," Cloud Breeze vented. "Nonetheless, you will receive your Apprentices in due time, please be patient." 

Shockwave only gave a nod in response once Cloud Breeze turned and stepped up to meet Questor who was done inspecting the newly Forged Cybertronians. 

"Thunder across Starry Sky," Questor announced, and the blue and black jet took a step forward. "The eldest." 
Cloud Breeze seized Thunder in his optics with a slight frown. 

"Star of Thundering Sky," Questor pointed to the sleek white and dark gold jet next. "The only narrow of this Trine." 

Dustburner turned to Shockwave. "'Narrows' are femmes in Vos, 'bulks' are mechs." 
Though that was the true translation, Cloud Breeze knew that at a later stage in their life, any of Vos' citizens could receive frame-altering surgery to transition from narrow to bulk or even to Null - which was somewhere either in between or out of the gender textbook altogether. Vos was quite a futuristic city and had many privileges that other places on Cybertron only dreamt of. 

"And lastly, Sky Full of Stars and Thunder," Questor announced as he pointed over at the purple and black jet. "A Null." 

"Null?" Shockwave asked. 

"Undetermined gender," Mercystrike whispered softly. "They may look like a narrow but could choose to be something else." 

Cloud Breeze felt a tight squeeze in his fuel tanks as he looked over the Trine. 

"A Mult-Trine?" Jhiaxus asked, sending a chill down the white Seeker's backstrut. "How fascinating." 

"Who's the leader?" Cloud Breeze looked at Questor. 

"I'd dare say that it's probably Thunder, though I believe our Mentors have something else in mind. So I assume that there will be no need for a leader." 

"What?" Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge at the elderly Tracker before turning to look at the Tarnbots after he gestured towards them. 

"They won't be raised as Seekers, Cloud Breeze." Shockwave huffed, hating to repeat himself. "They'll be raised as Tarnbots, and most of our kin are raised one on one, or 'alone' as you call it." 

"That will... Inhibit their abilities to grow attached to others," Mercystrike looked baffled. "They'll become anti-social creatures; unable to properly express themselves." 

"A Trine this connected to one another, Shockwave," Cloud Breeze carefully informed. "Even if you raise them separately, they'll always have that Bond between them and that isolation can cause agony." 

Jhiaxus soon waved him off. "You talk as if that Bond cannot be broken, Cloud Breeze. Bonds are made and broken throughout your culture. We can break theirs." 

Cloud Breeze frowned as Jhiaxus said 'your' and not 'our' culture. It conflicted him to theorise that Jhiaxus was no longer one of them. It was tense in the room for a moment before Cloud Breeze forced his frame to lessen slightly, trying his best to relax and ease the tension. "It's fine. If this is how the citizens of Tarn are raised, then it's only fair that someday, we'll have their best among our own forces." 

"So now we owe you something?" Cryak scoffed but quickly silenced herself after Shockwave nudged her. 

"Jhiaxus," Cloud Breeze raised his helm. "You'll be Mentoring Thunder across Starry Sky. Go introduce yourself to him." 

"It's been a while," the former Seeker grinned with a smooth, dark voice. "How should I introduce myself? The Vosian or the Tarnished way?" 

"Pick whatever you like," Cloud Breeze muttered with a glare. "It doesn't matter to me. Cryak!" He called her next. "You'll be Mentoring Star of Thundering Sky." 

Cryak nodded and quickly stepped forward to go meet with her new Apprentice as Cloud Breeze stared at Shockwave. 

"Sky Full of Stars and Thunder will be yours," the white Seeker grumbled. "And I expect them to be online and well when we next meet at the Senate, old friend." 

Shockwave grinned as he waved him off. "Please, Senator, you worry too much over me. I'm not a homicidal manic, I'm a scientist!" 

And that's what worries me, Cloud Breeze kept to himself as he stood in the shadows, watching the Tarnbots introduce themselves.

"Thunder's a good, strong name." Jhiaxus smiled as he approached the blue and black jet. "Unless you have something better in mind?" 

Thunder shook his helm as he straightened up and held out his servo. "No." 

"Perfect," Jhiaxus hummed as he greeted his Apprentice the Vosian way - opened palms against each other. Thunder felt hesitant as he stared up at Jhiaxus with a sad look before he opened his EMF and quickly became overwhelmed by a wide variety of emotions he couldn't decipher. Thunder gasped and quickly drew his servo away, flinching back slightly from the overload. Jhiaxus narrowed his green optics down at the other but said nothing. 

As she watched this, Star of Thundering Sky noticed the pink Tarnbot hurriedly approaching her. The white and gold jet smiled as she held up her servo in the Vosian way, however, she was only met with disdain and some slight disgust as Cryak quickly withdrew her EMF. 

"Uh, hi," the pink femme frowned, and Star frowned as she quickly lowered her servo. 

"Hi." Her voice was so soft and fluttery that it unnerved Cryak. 

"Er, what should I call you?" Cryak asked, but Star only shrugged. 

"We shorten their names upon birth," Questor called out from where he was writing something down. "Their long names are used to identify them from other citizens. Simply shorten the name if you wish to address them." 

"Oh, ok." Cryak nodded. "Well, I guess it can be 'Star' for now." 

Star smiled brightly as she nodded in eager agreement. "I like that name!" 

"I'm Sky!" The purple and black jet behind them pointed to themself with a confident and snazzy smirk. "I'm a mech!" 

"Oh," Shockwave looked perplexed as he approached the youngest jet. "I guess that... Settles things then. Alright, well, it is quite nice to meet you, Sky." 
Shockwave closed his fist and held it out to Sky who in turn enveloped Shockwave's servo into his - closing his digits around it. "Uh... I suppose there's always time to work out the details later. Nevermind." 

Shockwave gently shook off the other's grip before he turned and looked at Cloud Breeze. "We'll take our leave then." 

Cloud Breeze only gave a solemn nod as the group began to pile out of the Forge pair by pair. Star anxiously trotted after Cryak, not wanting to linger around Jhiaxus, who was behind them. 

"This was a mistake," Dustburner mumbled once Cloud Breeze had left to escort the Tarnbots out of the city. Orange Blast, Mercystrike and Questor had left with them. But soon enough he felt a wave of reassurance soothe his anxious spark. 

. : Come to my quarters : . He felt the calming voice of his mate calling him. . : The storm looks beautiful up here, and I'm lonely. : .  

Dustburner narrowed his amber optics in thought before he brought a servo up to his chassis and asked. . : Is Skyfire alright? : . 

. : He's fine, a little rattled from earlier, but the Apprentices have all gone into stasis. : . Dustburner vented and slowly began to walk out of the Forge, following the dark walls.

The Vixens' Shared Quarters, The Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Same time.

In the Cloud Tower, Cloud Stream stood at the entrance to his spawn's stasis room. A fairly large enough room with a grand window view of the entire city below and three stasis pods all lined up neatly against one wall. The three occupants were all wide awake for a second time that night, and only after being hassled by Widowfog did Cloud Stream find the patience to deal with the young Seekers. 

"What's that noise?!" Cloud Stream's stern, dark blue optics slid to observe his Apprentice, Slip. Her frame was spiked with fear, her own blue optics coloured in worry as she stared up at the ceiling, her servos clasped tightly together in front of her chassis where her spark chamber was hidden beneath. Her wings were back and down in the submissive position, though she paid her Mentor little attention as a worried chorus of her sisters erupted. 

"It's coming from the sky!" Night, a smoky-black femme who was rather curvy and housing her own, steel-blue optics, exclaimed as her own wings were outstretched and sticking out in a straight line. Her face plates reflected fear and determination at the same time - Cloud Stream was rather impressed by her calm attitude and quick thinking, even though she was only chords old, she already showed promise as a warrior. 

And lastly was Wind, pressed up against the glass of the massive window and her red optics glowing in its reflection to portray her excited smile as she eagerly watched the skies outside. She was half standing on the stasis pod as her wings helped to balance her lithe frame. 

"It's thunder," Cloud Stream's monotone voice cut through the room from where he stood, though he was somewhat annoyed that his voice alone couldn't yet draw their attention to him. "Don't worry, it's harmless." 

The room was suddenly lit up with a bright, white light that lasted no longer than a nano-klik, and he frowned harder as he heard Wind gasp in awe, Night flinch in terror and Slip press against him with a small whimper. 

"That's lightning," he sounded like he had a bit more personality that time. "That is harmful." 

"What's going on?" Night frowned up at him as she pleaded. "Who's doing all of this?" 

"Primus," Cloud Stream stared her down with a blank expression; he was still getting used to being a Mentor. "It's the weather, Night. It's uncontrollable and happens sometimes, kinda like life in a way." 

"I love it!" Wind finally turned her helm to grin over at him as her servos pressed against the glass to help support her weight. "It's totally unpredictable!" 

Cloud Stream stared at her for a moment, watching carefully as she turned back around to stare outside as Slip spoke next. 

"Primus is tearing apart the sky?" 

"No," Cloud Stream shook his helm, and there was a brief flash of a smile on his face plates before it was gone, and he re-evaluated his words to properly explain to them. "This is a storm, you'll learn more about them when you get older - including how to properly fly in one should you ever need to. Of course, Cloud Breeze doesn't like sending his warriors out in weather like this, it can be dangerous." 

Another flash of lightning lit up the room, and his optics quickly snapped back over to Wind. "Really!?" 

"Yes," he blinked. "Wind, dear, step down from the window, you could fall through and I've already had my energon bath today, I even got polished so I don't really enjoy the idea of flying out there in the rain to catch you if that window breaks and you go falling through it, ok?" 

He grinned as he tilted his helm to the side and tried to plead with her. 

"Ok," Wind turned to smile over her shoulderstrut at him before she leaned back from the window and balanced on her peds before she jumped down from her stasis pod and walked around it to stare through the window at a safe distance away. 
Maybe I should have Dustburner make a new room for them, Cloud Stream thought to himself, a safer one, at least. Maybe one with less... Windows.

He frowned as he watched Night tottle over to look out of the window beside her sister. 

"Wait," Slip briefly straightened up to frown at her Mentor. "You got polished?" 

"Yes," Cloud Stream stared at the window, trying to deflect the embarrassment he felt swirling at the bottom of his spark. 

"Why?" Slip raised a brow ridge up at him as she scoffed. 

Cloud Stream vented and glanced over at their stasis pods. "Alright, get back into your pods, it's time for stasis! Again... For the second time, please." 

"We might," Night smirked over at him with amusement glittering in her steel-blue optics. "If you tell us who you got so clean for." 

Cloud Stream glared at her slightly. "Absolutely not." Anger was making his frame bristle slightly, though he tried reassuring himself that he was just thoroughly tired and annoyed from such a big day of preparation. 

"Aww, c'mon!" Slip pouted in a loud tone from where she stood, still holding his leg in her tiny servos as she stared up at him. "Tell us why you got so fancy!"

"Yeah," Wind frowned as her own frame spiked with annoyance. "You never tell us anything fun!" 

"Maybe he's meeting up with someone in secret," Night chuckled darkly to herself at the thought. "Maybe it's someone romantic!" 

"Enough," Cloud Stream huffed, glaring at all three of them. "Stasis. Now. Or else you won't get to go on patrol with me tomorrow. You can stay here and help Skyfire clean out the rain from our construction buildings." 

A collective groan of annoyance sounded between the Trine before they huffed, and argued, but eventually made their way to their respective stasis pods. Cloud Stream watched as Wind's face turned to keep an optic on the storm as it rolled by outside, her pod was closest to the window. 

"Wind," he sternly but calmly addressed her. "Stasis, you'll be tired in the morning, and tired Seekers don't fare very well on patrols." 

"So you're taking us?" Slip excitedly glanced at him with a hopeful look. 

Cloud Stream narrowed his optics down at her for a moment in thought. "Maybe." He stated in a quiet voice before he turned and gently tapped in the room's code so no one aside from their Mentors and the Guardians could enter their room. "Goodnight Seekers." 

"Goodnight, Cloud Stream," Slip mumbled as she began to yawn and snuggle down into her cot. 

"'Night Mentor!" Wind eagerly bid in farewell, her frame still crackling with energy as she eagerly watched him go. 

"Tell 'em I said hi!" Night chuckled with sassy satisfaction from where she lay in her pod, a dark smirk strewn across her lips as she heard the annoyed huff from their teacher. 

Without saying anything more, Cloud Stream soon left and closed the automatic locked door behind him. He turned and walked down the hallway towards his quarters where his spark-mate would no doubt be expecting him. 

"Y'know," Night was the first to break the silence once he was gone. She stared to her left where Slip's pod was, the closest one to the door. "I like the name Rain." 

"Yeah!" Slip nodded eagerly in agreement. 

Night clasped her servos together as her optics fluttered closed dreamily, and she smiled. "When I grow up, I'm having a spawn. And I'm going to name one after the rain." 

"That sounds nice, Night." Wind muttered on her other side. "But you have to invite me to watch their Forging, so I make sure they look just as cool as you do." 

"Can I have one as an Apprentice?" Slip asked. 

And they kept talking until they all collectively passed out once the storm had subsided and silence cloaked the room. 

Chapter Text

*Flashback/memory

Cryak's Shelter, Nova Point - Tarn, Above Ground.
Six chords later.

Star awoke with a gasp as fear gripped her spark tightly. Her entire frame shuddered as her processor tried its best to comprehend where they were. 
Home, Star quickly told herself. I'm at home. 

She had been left alone for the past six solar cycles and had accidentally fallen into stasis waiting for her Mentor to come back. During her stasis nap, Star had relived her horrid nightmares of Bond Breaking. Now that she was online, she decided to reflect on that memory - trying to understand what parts of it had been real and which parts had been only a horrific dream. 

She remembered following her big brother, Thunder, down into the basement of the underground lab. She couldn't remember the large, white Seeker's name, but he had yellow highlights and green optics. His jagged denta had unnerved her, and she retreated back to hide behind Cryak. 

"I'm scared!" She heard her voice echo inside her processor. "I don't wanna go up there." 

Star blinked as she recounted Cryak shoving her forward with a hiss and ordering her onto the platform. Star glanced over at a purple and black bot who looked like her, they were unconscious and lying on the ground, not too far away from the platform. Nearby, a large red and blue bot was kneeling beside them, checking their vitals. As Star neared the platform, her movements became shaky as her amber optics widened in fear. 

"It's ok," Thunder tried to reassure her from where he stood, hooked up to some terrible amalgamation of wires and computers. "We won't remember that it happened afterwards." 

But she did remember. 
And as she sat there on the edge of her large, stasis pod, Star began to realise that maybe she would never forget the ordeal. 

The white Seeker had shoved her into the capsule, ripped her open and burned her spark. Star remembered screaming in agony as a bright light surrounded her, then she'd passed out and woken up here. This was Cryak's shelter, where she had been living for the past few orbital cycles. 

Cryak wasn't home at the time when Star awoke troubled from her nightmare. She carefully leaned over the edge of the stasis pod and allowed herself to fall to the ground with a small but painful thud. She decided that she didn't want to be in stasis anymore if her Mentor wasn't anywhere nearby to watch over her, despite the endless groons it had taken her to climb her way up there. Star wasn't too small but she was still small enough to be tossed around by the other, and she didn't know exactly how a stasis pod functioned. She only lied down in there to feel closer to Cryak because she was scared and tired of feeling alone. She could smell the other strongly inside the pod, and it had brought her some comfort. 

As Star began to wander around the rest of the shelter, she thought back to her brother, Thunder. She was unsure if he was still alive after all this time, or where he even was. She was sure that the purple jet had died and it pained her to know that she had already forgotten her sibling. Thunder, however, she clung desperately to his memory in hopes that maybe one day she'd see him again. She didn't know what it was, but her only memory of Thunder had been a comforting one and she deluded herself into thinking that maybe he had been a kind bot - at least to her. 

Star knew Cryak's shelter inside and out by this point after having aimlessly wandered about for groons with nothing to do. Unfortunately, their pink energon storages had run out much sooner than expected, so Star had to deal with consuming the normal, raw energon that the older bots consumed. It tasted bitter and clogged her throat cables whenever she was desperate enough to drink it. Thankfully, she wasn't in the mood for energon now, so she passed their shared storage and continued on down the hallway. 

Cryak had told her that living above ground would do them good seeing as Star's ancestors came from the sky, and beneath the ground was no place for a bot like her. She couldn't understand why at first but she had come to slowly accept this as a fact. She knew no bot else aside from Cryak and had never spoken to or seen anybot aside from the pink femme. Star blinked as she halted by the edge of the shelter - it sat on a cliff overlooking the barren wastelands that separated them from neighbouring Vos. The shelter had walls and windows and doors and floors, even a tunnel leading down into the air raid shelter that Cryak had informed her to retreat to should there ever be a need for hiding. Star felt worried as she reflected on that possibility and wished in her spark that Cryak was home. 

There was nothing in her spark. 
No warmth, love, validation or relief ever found its way into Star's spark. There was only emptiness and longing.

She then sat on the sunlit rocks outside and squinted in the distance, trying to see if she could see the far-off specks flying in the direction she'd been told was the city-state of Vos. She'd been told many things of the place - that it was home to the Seeker Overlords, a special group of Cybertronians who could fly. The Seekers were vicious and stuck-up people who relentlessly bombed and attacked Tarn whenever they got the chance, hence why Star had been instructed to hide beneath the ground should an attack ever occur. Vos and Tarn had allegedly been sworn enemies for a very long time and on some mornings, you could see patrols flying in and out of the city from the cliffs that jutted out over The Barrens. 
The Barrens weren't exactly the Sea of Rust, though that was close by. The Barrens were an empty stretch of nothing but barren wasteland and dust where Vosian and Tarnished often met in bloody skirmishes. 

Star frowned as she caught the distant city's silhouette against the polluted sky, wondering if maybe Cryak was deactivated and no one would be coming home. What if the Seekers had killed her? 
Cryak had always enjoyed sneaking out, though Star had grown tired of being yelled at whenever she heard the other getting ready to leave and naively asked where she was going. Cryak had always become irritated and brushed her off, claiming to go out looking for resources and how dangerous it was for Star to leave the safety of their home. Cryak had promised to take her one solar cycle, but this solar cycle, it seemed, was not such a luxury. 

Star lifted her helm as she heard the sound of something screaming. Curiosity flooded her circuits before fear gripped her spark as the noise grew louder and louder by the nano-klik. She finally stood, fear tingling throughout her entire frame as the sound consumed every other sense and she stared ahead with wide optics, waiting for the pain of death to sweep her up. When only the wind blew at her, Star flinched but scurried back as a large, dark shadow shot overhelm in the sky. Now hiding beneath the outcrop of the cliff's upper face, she watched as the large, dark grey jet streamed overhelm. Not even a moment later, two more jets shrieked past and followed the first jet as quickly as they could. One was a dark blue and the other was the colour of wet dirt.

Star panted in fear as the adrenaline rushed through her circuits, watching in fear and awe as the jets continued in a straight line, beelining right towards Vos and its hidden city. They became nothing more than specks on the horizon and soon disappeared completely from sight altogether. 

"Seekers?" She whispered to herself, now no longer in harm's way, she took a moment to admire them. How fast and sleek they'd been and how organised they were flying in their formation as well. While the terror of how fast they were was a very real thought to consider, Star had never heard them fly this close before. She frowned as she wondered what could've possibly been going through their processors. 

When Cybertron's sun had set, that's when Star dragged herself back inside. No other jets had flown as closely as the three from earlier had, but it had been enough to catch her interest and entertain her for the rest of the day. She had seen sizable silhouettes on the horizon of a pair of jets just beyond the dust clouds, but other than that, she'd had quite a peaceful day. 

Now with night approaching, Star quickly retreated back into the safety of Cryak's shelter. While she knew that reaching the cliff face would be quite a difficult task, the stories of Beastformers had been burned into her processor. Ruthless creatures that came out at night and dragged protoforms off into the darkness to feast upon them. She took her chances waiting for Cryak inside. 

As the groons ticked by, and Star's amber optics became heavy, she thought of climbing back into Cryak's stasis pod but decided against it when she heard something outside. She bolted right up and listened with wide optics to the pedsteps approaching the door. With a groan, the metal gave way with a hiss and two, easily recognisable, amber optics stared back at her as she came rushing to see who it was. 

"Cryak!" Star exclaimed, quite happy to run forward and envelop the other into her arms. 

Cryak vented and sagged slightly as she allowed the young bot to hug her before she gently shook her off and turned to secure the door behind her. "Hello, Star." 

"You're back!" Star smiled with relief. This had only been the fourth time that Cryak had left her on her own, but the absence always dragged on much longer than usual. "I was so worried." 

Cryak turned and raised a brow ridge at Star in confusion. "Why?" 

"I thought maybe you'd..." Star glanced down out of shame. "I saw Seekers today, patrolling the border. They flew really close and I thought..." 

Cryak bent so her servos were gently holding Star's shoulderstruts. "I'm fine, Star. But thank you for thinking of me. I didn't see any Seekers today, and if I did, I would've shot them out of the sky!” 

Star nodded and stepped to the side as Cryak brushed past her and headed off to their storage room. 

"We still have enough energon?" Cryak asked back over her shoulderstrut before she muttered to herself. "Or have you consumed it all?" 

"Yes! We still have some." Star nodded as she eagerly followed Cryak like a lost cyberpuppy. 

Once in the storage room, Star got to work kneeling and buffing out the dents and dirt lining Cryak's peds as the other rested back with a contented vent and energon cube in her servo. 

"So," Cryak began. "Seekers, hey? Did you talk to any of them?" 

Star shook her helm. "No, I didn't get the chance to. They were flying overhelm, like right over the cliff. It was so loud! I thought I was going to die! They seemed to be headed straight for Vos, though. Weird, why would they be all the way out here?" 

"Well," Cryak huffed as she tilted her cube in her servo. "Senator Shockwave and Cloud Breeze are trying to make amends for so many stellar cycles of senseless violence. Perhaps you saw one of them? A Seeker Lieutenant? I hear they're the most powerful in Cloud Breeze's entire armada!" 

Star nodded as she cleaned and listened. True, while she was scared of the Seekers, like all of the creatures that inhabited Cybertron, Cryak's stories always painted them in a legendary light. 

"Have you ever met a Lieutenant?" Star asked as she polished the scuffed paint on Cryak's frame. 

"I met a few," her Mentor nodded. "I even met Cloud Breeze and his ruthless sister, Mercystrike. I saw them the cycle I got you from Primus." 

Cryak smiled down as she placed a tender servo on Star's helm. Star smiled back up at her with shining, amber optics. "Were they big and scary?" 

Cryak chuckled as she gave a nod. "Yes! They were huge and terrifying! Best to keep little Stars inside the shelter, hey?" 

Star frowned slightly at that but quickly hid it with a smile as she brushed off Cryak's clean peds and turned to hide her face plates as doubt began to fill her spark. She carefully placed the buffer back on its respective shelf and hung the scrubbing cloth to dry on its rack right beside it before she turned and stared back up at her Mentor. 

"I had another nightmare last night," she confessed, hoping that Cryak would soothe her troubled processor and tonight they could sleep peacefully. "It... It was about Thunder again." 

"Thunder?" Cryak asked as she raised a brow ridge and stared down at her ward thoughtfully. 

Star nodded. "My... Brother, right? That's who my brother was, and this other one, he was... Well, he wasn't moving. What happened to them, Cryak? How come I can't go see them? Make sure they're alright?" 

"No," Cryak shook her helm. "They're not real, Ulchtar. They're just silly dreams that you've been having again. You were born alone remember? That's why the Seekers didn't want you. You couldn't fit into their society, they didn't have room for someone to take you in so they threw you out. Don't you remember that?" Cryak asked as she tilted her helm coyly to the side. 

Star was staring at the ground, holding her frame tightly as she tried really hard to remember any of what Cryak was suggesting to see - to feel - if it was true. "I... I remember the night that we left the Forge... It was dark and scary, and cold." 

Cryak nodded. "That's right. Cloud Breeze threw you out because a storm came when you arrived from the Forge. And if a storm happens when a Vosian is born, that's usually a bad omen." 

"Right," Star hesitantly agreed even though she felt as if something wasn't quite adding up. "Wait..."

Cryak hummed as she sipped from her cube and turned her amber optics back down on the youngling. 

"What did you just call me?" Star frowned as she glanced up at her Mentor with a broken look. "Ulch... Tar?" 

"Ulchtar," Cryak nodded with some happiness. "That's your name. You don't remember it?" 

Star slowly shook her helm. 

"Ulchtar is your Tarn name, little one. Vos threw you out because they didn't love you, they didn't need you. We, Tarn, took you in. So you have a Tarn name now, like me." Cryak smiled as she gestured to herself. 

"Like you?" Star's optics widened a little in hope and admiration as she looked up at her Mentor. 

Cryak nodded and carefully set the remains of her energon cube down and opened her arms out to invite her ward in for a hug. "I've been thinking," the older femme began as she gently hugged her ward. "You've been such a good femme since we arrived in Tarn. You've stayed here all on your own and grown up so fast. It's time that you got a proper name, like me and a proper home, like Tarn. Tarn will always be your home now, Ulchtar, remember that." 

"What does it mean?" Ulchtar smiled as she hugged her Mentor. "Ulch-tar?" 

"Uh," Cryak glanced away as she quickly tried to come up with a meaning on the spot, but found that if she did tell Ulchtar the truth then she'd only risk angering the younger. "Well, it doesn't quite have one yet. But that's alright because you can always choose to be whatever you want it to be, Ulchtar. It's a strong name, a warrior's name, it fits you perfectly." 

Ulchtar felt off as she was told this, but decided that whatever Cryak said was the truth and shouldn't be questioned, so she nodded eagerly. "Ok!" 

"That's my good, little, bot!" Cryak then stood up, gently rubbing Ulchtar's cheek before she turned and narrowed her optics down at their energon storage. "I'll have to go into the mines tomorrow and get us some more." She vented with her servos on her hipstruts.

Ulchtar frowned in worry. "Will you be alright?" 

"Oh," Cryak turned and waved her off with a smile. "Of course! The mines are much safer than The Barrens, kiddo. Less Seekers down there, if any..." She mumbled that last part, not too sure of herself if there was a Seeker crazy enough to fly in the mines. She hoped there wasn't.

Ulchtar smiled again as she held out her arms and made a grabbing motion with her servos. "Can we snuggle tonight? I missed you and I'm tired." 

Cryak narrowed her optics at Ulchtar before she gave a disapproving hum and slowly shook her helm. "No. You're a big femme now, Ulchtar. You need to rest in your own stasis pod." 

Ulchtar frowned as she watched Cryak get up and soon leave the storage room. "You're... Leaving?" She was afraid to ask for help when it came to getting into her own stasis pod that was located closer to the cliff's edge outside. She didn't want to see that scornful look that Cryak would give her whenever she asked for the other's help with such a mundane and simple task. 

Cryak paused, glanced back at her with a blank look and shook her helm. "What? No, no, I'm not leaving until morning. I deserve some rest after such a big adventure. You can stay up if you like but please be quiet, Ulchtar. Mentor needs her rest, alright?" 

Ulchtar nodded quietly in response. 

"That's a good femme," Cryak smiled. "Goodnight." 

"Goodnight Cryak," Ulchtar mumbled quietly, watching her walk down the hallway. The white and amber jet huffed as she stared at the floor. She did think of staying up, though she could use one of the slabs as a resting place but then her joints would be stiff in the morning. She vented and walked towards her small room, it was bare and had no windows and only a small stasis pod in the corner. Ulchtar glanced up at it before she gritted her denta and began the awful task of climbing up to reach her pod. 

Cryak's Shelter, Nova Point - Tarn, Above Ground.
Eight groons later .

As soon as she heard her Mentor groan and rise from her stasis pod, Ulchtar was up and flung herself out of her stasis pod as fast as she could with little regard for her own well-being; if any. She fell to the floor with a grunt as pain surged through her meek frame. But once her limbs were awake, Ulchtar quickly rotated them to pick herself up so she could hurry out to catch up with the bigger femme. She tottled down the hallway and hurried to Cryak's side, once she reached her Mentor, Ulchtar clung tightly to her leg. 

"Can I come with you!?" Ulchtar's amber optics were wide with excited hope, ignoring the warning message popping up on her HUD, telling her that her back right wing had been damaged and clipped into her backstrut. She didn't allow herself to feel the pain now, she could worry about that later. "Please!?" 

Cryak halted as she felt tiny servos viciously grip her leg. She gasped in surprise, but then grumbled and harshly shook off her ward. "No!" She barked in a loud, stern voice, which caused the little amber and white jet to flinch back from her. 

Cryak vented as she noticed the hurt look on Ulchtar's face and softened her tense frame slightly. "What I meant to say was 'no'. You can't come with me, Ulchtar, because it's too dangerous for someone your size. There are a lot of miner bots down there, and I won't be able to find you if you get underped and become accidentally crushed." Cryak allowed a moment for the gravity of her words to sink in before she continued. "That's why you must stay here, where it's safe until you grow big and strong, like me." 

She tilted her helm to the side with a hopeful yet toothy grin. Ulchtar didn't meet her optics but gave a slow nod in understanding. "Ok." 

Cryak puffed in self-pride as for once, she didn't have to argue with her ward. "Great! Just remember to stay here and I'll come back with more energon, ok?" 

Ulchtar gave another nod but remained silent, watching as her Mentor geared herself up, and only when she was by the entrance to their shelter did the little jet speak up once more. "Can you... Bring me back something?" 

Cryak narrowed her amber optics down at Ulchtar coldly, but as the sparkling shrank back, she vented through her nasal. "Of course," she relented. "But only if you're a good femme, alright?" 

Ulchtar brightened slightly and gave one last, eager nod before her Mentor waved and left. Only moments after she was gone did Ulchtar sink to the ground and softly began to sulk - wallowing in her loneliness. 

When her fuel tanks groaned with the strain of hunger did she weakly rise to her peds once more and turned to make her way to the energon storage. 

I hate this stuff, Ulchtar thought to herself as she frowned at the large, blue energon cubes. But it was the only substance she had access to and if she did not consume any, she would go offline from starvation. With a screwed-up face, she carefully reached out for one of the cubes stacked closest to the ground and began to lick it. The bitterness of its raw energy assaulted her glossa and burned her inner throat. Soon enough, she coughed as the raw energon became too much for her newly forged systems to handle and she spat some out. She set aside the barely consumed cube and sadly stared at it for a moment. She'd have to somehow find an easier way to digest it without troubling Cryak. Her fuel tanks still grumbled in their emptiness, yet her throat was searing from the energy burn she'd given herself. 

She sat staring at the cube until she heard distant shrieking. Her wings perked up as the noise found its way to her audials and rapidly drew closer. "Seekers!" Excitement overruled her fear as she shot up and quickly ran outside to catch a glimpse of the jets. Every rule that Cryak had told her about them was suddenly thrown aside as her spark leapt with joy to hear the jet engines loudly screeching overhelm yet again. 

Racing outside, Ulchtar came to a halt as a fairly large group of colourful, Cybertronian jets shot over the cliff's edge and beelined straight for Vos. They turned swiftly in an angle towards the North, however, and disappeared from sight. Ulchtar grunted as she climbed up her stack of rocks to see where they had gone as her optics squinted against the sunlight. 

She stiffened as she heard the sound of a transformation cog being used and the soft thud of something landing nearby. She turned to glance rapidly in all directions as she heard soft, gentle clicks accompanying the pedsteps as the unseen visitor neared their shelter. The clicks became shrill sounds and low snarls as the duo neared, but only when Ulchtar was engulfed in their shadows did she turn around to stare fearfully up at them. 

One of the Seekers was a yellow and silver colour with blue highlights, his pale blue optics narrowed down at the younger with suspicion. Beside him stood a neon yellow and black jet with a green visor. Ulchtar shrank back from the pair as they carefully studied her, a series of confused and rapid clicks bouncing to her audials. She halted when she felt the swift landing of another Seeker behind her. Her spark seized in fear, and her amber optics widened as she turned to see a final, red and black jet towering behind her. 

"What is it?" The neon-coloured jet began as he stared at Ulchtar. "How come it's not talking to us?" 

"Maybe it can't understand us?" The red and black jet tilted his helm to the side with curious intent as he reached out and poked the small narrow. 

"But it has wings!" The neon-coloured jet huffed. "Like us!" 

The yellow and blue jet narrowed his optics at the newfound challenge presented to them before he walked forward and opened his EMF to calm the strange, winged-Cybertronian. "Maybe it speaks Tarnished." 

Ulchtar flinched back as the blue jet neared, her optics wide with fear as she shook her helm. When the blue jet was standing right in front of her, he smiled and held out his flat servo in greeting. "Hi." 

Ulchtar stared up in shock as the blue jet spoke. He sounded no older than she did, yet he was nearly twice her size. 

"I'm Metalhawk," he tilted his helm to the side and blinked playfully. "These are my friends, Fearswoop and Skydive." 

Ulchtar blinked as Metalhawk's EMF synced with hers and brought her to slow at his pace in a calm rhythm. "Uh, hi..." 

"What's your name?" Behind her, Skydive smiled as he asked. 

"Uh..." 

"I think her name is 'Uh', guys." Fearswoop snickered from where he stood, grinning at his brothers. 

"No, it's not," Metalhawk huffed as he turned to glare irritably at him. "I bet she has a cool name! A fearsome one, like us!" 

"Right," Fearswoop folded his arms over his narrow chassis. 

"Uh-huh," Skydive nodded. 

Ulchtar blinked before she spoke. "Ulchtar." 

"What?" All three of the young Seekers turned to stare at her dumbfoundedly. 

"Ul-Ulchtar," she stammered with some slight worry. "My name is Ulchtar." 

"That's a weird name," Fearswoop scoffed. 

"What does it mean?" Skydive inquired as he leaned over her shoulder to smile at her. 

"Uh," Ulchtar felt heat rise to her face plates when Skydive leaned over her so closely, invading her personal bubble. She sidestepped away to put some space between them before she straightened up and gave an answer. "It doesn't have one yet." 

"That's a shame," Metalhawk muttered from where he stood beside Fearswoop, his optics never straying from Ulchtar's frame. She couldn't read his intent, but he didn't seem like a threat - neither of them did. 

"Well," Ulchtar stammered with a determined and defiant look sketched onto her face. "It doesn't have one yet, I said. It's my name, so I'm going to decide what it means." 

Fearswoop threw his helm back and laughed. Metalhawk chuckled with amusement. 

"A-alright," he stuttered in between his chuckles. "Calm down, we were just joking. I hope it comes to mean something AWESOME one day!" 

Ulchtar perked up with a bright smile as she heard that. She couldn't exactly tell what it meant to her yet, but she knew that whatever it was, it meant a lot to her. "Thanks." 

"So can you fly?" Skydive asked once his friends had ceased their giggles. "You have wings, like us." 

"But we've never seen you before," Fearswoop added. "Where did you come from?" 

"You look to be a few orbital cycles old," Metalhawk huffed as he leaned in to examine her. "No older than Silver, probably." 

"Who's Silver?" Ulchtar tilted her black helm to the side as she asked, wonder sparkling in her optics. 

"He's one of the new kids who can't fly," Metalhawk grinned. "Because he's scared of heights." 

Fearswoop chuckled darkly behind him, and Metalhawk glanced with a slag-eating grin. "Seriously, though, who's born with wings and doesn't use them?" 

"Who's born with the ability to fly and is terrified of it?" Fearswoop added. "Primus wasted his time on that one." 

Skydive said nothing but also gave a nod. Ulchtar felt her spark tighten in worry as she recalled her damaged backstrut. "Heh, y-yeah..." 

"Have you flown before?" Metalhawk asked in a gentle voice, his attention soon returning to her. "We can help if you haven't!" 

"Uh," Ulchtar blinked and shrank back from the group, fearful if they could truly help her or not. They seemed to be no older or bigger than her, yet their confidence seemed to flow almost entirely unchecked.

"I'm guessing that's a 'no'," Fearswoop smirked. "Otherwise you'd be showing off by now." 

"Showing off?" Ulchtar raised a brow ridge at him. 

"Yeah!" Fearswoop nodded eagerly, staying where he was as Metalhawk ran off the cliff and threw himself into the air. The group turned to watch as he transformed and shot straight up into the sky. Ulchtar gasped in awe, watching as the blue and gold jet twisted this way and that, spiralling higher and higher into the sky until they could no longer see him. Ulchtar began to worry until he came streaming back down from the sky and transformed to land right in front of her with an exhilarating smile. 

"See? It's fun, right?" He breathed, adrenaline rolling off him in waves. 

Ulchtar hummed in worry as she sized him up and down, but seeing how their EMFs were closely interacting with each other, she soon smiled and gave a nod. "Yeah!" 
His excitement and happiness soon influenced her emotions, and she was eager enough to try. 

"Ok, stand with your arms out." Metalhawk gently guided her over to the edge of the cliff and stood in front of her with his own arms out. By the edge, the wind roared at their frames fiercely, and Ulchtar frowned with hesitance as she stared at the ground far below - it almost seemed to stretch out in front of her. 

"Hey," Metalhawk gently grabbed one of her wrists with a kind and understanding look in his optics. "Rule Number One when it comes to flying; don't ever look down." 

"Unless you're getting shot at," Skydive chirped from where he stood beside Fearswoop, watching them. 

"Heh," Ulchtar smiled nervously as fear gripped her frame. 

"Yeah, well," Metalhawk huffed as he glared at his counterparts. "There's no turrets or weapons out there. Who's going to shoot us down? Dumb Tarnbots with nothing better to do?" 

As he said that, Ulchtar's optics flickered to The Barrens gaping below them with an icky feel in her systems. What if Cryak, or someone else, shot them out of the sky by accident? This was a mistake. 

"No!" Ulchtar shrieked and shrank back from the cliff edge, tightly hugging herself to protect her spark. "No, I can't do it!" She shook her helm as her wings spiked in fear. 

"Of course you can!" Metalhawk turned his attention back onto her, still gently holding her arm as he softened his face plates. "There's nothing to be scared of, Ulchtar. If you fall, I'll catch you." 

"He’s really strong and fast." Skydive proudly stated, puffing out his frame as his own blue optics glimmered with pride. "He's the best flyer I know." 

Fearswoop scoffed and muttered something under his breath, but didn't seem to say anything else as the pair watched Metalhawk carefully coax Ulchtar back over to the edge. 

Ulchtar's breathing became rapid as she stared at the ground below, her grip tightening on Metalhawk's servo as they held hands. 

"Remember what I said?" Metalhawk leaned in slightly so he could be heard over the wind. "Don't look down." 

Ulchtar gasped as she held her helm high to stare ahead at the silhouette of Vos in the distance, and for a glimmering moment, her spark was eased by the mysterious wonder the distant city held over her. 

"We'll go together," Metalhawk smiled at her. "Ready? On three, you can hold onto me, and when we jump, we'll let go and transform. Then you can hover beside me in the air!" 

"I don't know how to transform," Ulchtar sniffed in between her confession. 

"Oh," the expressive happiness seemed to vanish from Metalhawk's face as he looked away. For a moment, Ulchtar felt ashamed of herself for not knowing; was he no longer her friend if she couldn't fly like he could? She wasn't familiar with the fear in her spark as she stared at him. The anxiety swelled inside it as her optics saw only him. Why was she suddenly so scared of him pulling away or leaving her? She'd only just met this other jet! Still, it was the closest thing she had to a friend, and her servos began to shake at the thought of Metalhawk and the others leaving her behind. 

"That's ok," Metalhawk shrugged as his grip tightened on her servo in response, his dazzling smile soon returning to his face plates. "We'll teach you." 

"Us?" Fearswoop frowned as he heard that. "We're not her Mentor!" 

"If she has one," Skydive muttered blankly. 

"No," Metalhawk leaned to the side as he agreed. "But, if we teach her how to transform and fly, maybe they'll give us Apprentices at our graduation ceremony like Dreadwing and Skyquake!" 

"Dreadwing and Skyquake are fourteen stellar-cycles older than us," Fearswoop huffed with clear envy in his optics. "We'll never be half as cool as they are." 

"You won't with that attitude," Metalhawk smirked. 

They watched as the cogs in Fearswoop's processor began to turn, and eventually, he bore a dark smirk on his face plates at the idea of flying back with a new Seeker. 

"Yeah," he said. "Y'know what? I bet it would be really cool to graduate early. Cloud Stream could use another kid." 

"Exactly," Metalhawk added. "There's plenty of young bots in Vos just waiting to meet another new, awesome friend." He smiled at Ulchtar, which in turn seemed to ease her worries a bit. "So if we bring her back, I bet we'll get rewarded somehow." 

"And if we teach her how to fly, Cloud Breeze might give us Apprentices in the future!" Skydive excitedly concluded as he bounced on the spot; raw and sheer delight electrifying his entire frame. 

Ulchtar glanced over at the shelter as she continued to hold Metalhawk's servo in hers. She frowned as she began to worry about Cryak. "Well... Maybe I can go with you tomorrow? Cryak will be home tonight-" would she? "And she might get upset if I'm not home." Does she even care? 

Ulchtar frowned as a little voice in her processor began to second-guess her words. The three young Seekers all tilted their helms in unison at Ulchtar's words. Metalhawk huffed as his red wing tips bobbed up in the air with unrestrained, conflicted emotion. Behind him, Skydive glanced over at Fearswoop, who nervously shuffled on his peds. 

"Well," Metalhawk shrugged. "We can come back tomorrow. There's always tomorrow to look forward to." He gave a warm smile to the amber and white jet before a large shadow fell over the group, and they stiffened. 

Ulchtar felt her fuel tanks drop as she noticed the fearful looks on the older spawns' face-plates. Their optics stared up at something that stood behind her. 

"Sneaking out Metalhawk?" Huffed a deep and rather unimpressed voice. "Here I thought that we had moved past such sparkling behaviour." 

"Heh," Metalhawk's frame drooped slightly with embarrassment as Skydive whimpered and shrank back behind Fearswoop. Ulchtar's helm straightened up as she heard the ting of another Seeker landing behind her. She swiftly turned on her heel to stare up at the pair with wide, amber, optics; wondering how the largest of their group ever snuck up on them in the first place. He was far too massive to sneak around, yet they hadn't noticed his presence until he was standing right over them. His red-coloured helm was bowed slightly so the optics hidden behind his visor were no doubt narrowed upon the ground. 

"We were just!..." Fearswoop perked up for a moment, his green optics searching the ground desperately for a plausible enough excuse. 

"Trying to help Ulchtar." Skydive peeked out as he spoke in a soft and hesitant voice - his own servos tightly clutching Fearswoop's shoulders for support. 

Ulchtar's good wing drooped slightly as she frowned up at the adult warrior. Worry stricken on her face plates as the Seeker stared her down. Behind him, she could just make out a grey and white jet that appeared to be just a little younger in the face plates than Metalhawk. 

As Ulchtar was peering around to get a good look at the new grey and white jet, the lead Seeker straightened up and spoke once more. 

"No," his voice was stern as he frowned. "Ulchtar is a Tarnbot. She remains here, Metalhawk, where she was Forged." 

"But she's like us!" Skydive pointed out Ulchtar's wings. 

"Yeah, last I checked, Tarnbots don't have wings, and those don't look surgically put there either." Fearswoop folded his arms across his chassis with a huff. 

Ulchtar shrank back as the adult Seeker's optics narrowed on her tiny frame. He seemed to size her up, analysing her biology from looks alone. Once he seemed dissatisfied with whatever it was that he saw, he straightened up and gave a disapproving frown. 

"Say goodbye, spawns. We're leaving," there was a collective groan from the group as the adult walked around them to stand by the cliff's edge as he placed his servos on his winged hips. "Now." 

"Bye Ulchtar," Skydive offered a small smile and a cute wave before he hurried over to join the adult's side. 

"See ya 'round, Uh." Fearswoop chuckled as he hovered in the air before swooping over to join the others, dancing just over the edge of the cliff in the air. 

"Er, goodbye." The red, white and dark grey jet nodded his helm awkwardly as he walked past. 

"Bye," Ulchtar squeaked, turning to watch her new friends gather by the edge of the cliff. 

"Can we at least come visit?" Skydive pleaded up at the adult who shook their helm. 

"No," he said in a stern voice. "Tarn is too dangerous for young Seekers. You shouldn't be flying here, we don't have air clearance anyway." 

"Damn war," Ulchtar turned her helm so she was looking at Metalhawk as he cursed under his vocals. He had a rather annoyed look on his faceplates that made her chuckle. Hearing that, his soft blue optics widened as he gazed at her. "Uhh... You weren't supposed to hear that." 

"Goodbye, Metalhawk," Ulchtar smiled sadly at him as the wind threatened to pull them further away from each other. 

Metalhawk then held out his dark blue servos to gently meet her golden ones. "Goodbye Ulchtar. I hope that when - not if - we next meet, you'd better know how to fly." 

Ulchtar gave a nervous chuckle, but she nodded in determination. She raised a brow ridge down at his servos holding flatly against hers in confusion. She remembered this, yet she couldn't remember where from. 

"It's how we say 'goodbye' in Vos." Metalhawk squeaked as he informed her. She felt cold and empty as he pulled away and stared after him with wide optics. 

She stood, hugging her chassis and watching as the young Seekers soon took to the air, a dazzle of frenzied clicks erupting among them as they flew higher and higher. Only the adult remained now with his large backstrut turned to her. 

"Ulchtar?" He turned ever so slightly to look at her once more, and she nodded. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he vented. "Take care of yourself." 

With that, Ulchtar watched as the large Seeker fell from the cliff and transformed before shooting up into the sky to be welcomed by the spawn waiting for him. She stood watching the tiny dots become smaller and eventually disappear from sight as they neared the distant mountains where the city of Vos was said to lie. 

She vented and glanced down at the ground.

Cryak's Shelter, Nova Point - Tarn, Above Ground.
Ten groons later .

When Cryak eventually returned, Ulchtar was lying on the floor near the entrance to their shelter. Her Mentor scolded and kicked her, but when the little jet didn't skitter away, the Tarnbot's attitude changed entirely. 

"Ulchtar?" Cryak knelt down and placed a timid servo along the jet's backstrut. Her amber optics were wide with worry. "Oh no..." 

Ulchtar's amber optics soon flickered back on as her systems whirred to life. She grunted as she pushed her torso up and clasped her helm in one, tiny servo. "I'm ok! I was just... In recharge." 

"Why were you recharging on the floor!?" Cryak hissed in anger. "I could've stepped on you!" 

"Heh," Ulchtar looked away, slightly embarrassed as she held herself. "I was... Tired." 

Cryak growled and shook her helm as she stood back up. "Silly ward, come now, get up. Dust yourself off." 

"Uh, my," Ulchtar hesitated as she awkwardly rose to her peds, not looking at her Mentor as she spoke. "My wing hurts." 

Cryak huffed and set down the energon she was carrying to lean over and tenderly grasp the jet's wings between her digits. Ulchtar frowned at the awkward and uncomfortable position she was in, but didn't seem to complain verbally. 

"I can't see anything wrong," Cryak narrowed her gaze at the seemingly useless appendages. "They still move?"

"Mhm," Ulchtar nodded as she folded her wings down and then fanned them out again. Cryak quickly stepped back before her optic got poked. She vented and opened her subspace compartment. 

"I got you something," she smiled as she knelt down and held out a perfectly round, maroon-coloured rock no bigger than her optic. 

Ulchtar's optics widened in disbelief as she stared at the rock. "It's mine!?" 

"Uh, who else lives here besides you?" Cryak huffed, but quickly followed with, "And me?" 

She stayed still, watching with a smile as Ulchtar's little servos eagerly reached out for the pebble. "Oh, thank you! Thank you, Cryak!" The little gold and white jet ran forward to tightly envelop her Mentor in a genuine embrace. 

Cryak laughed awkwardly as she tried to wriggle out of it before she stiffened and put on a stoic face. "Now hopefully this'll be the first of many, Ulchtar. I want you to take good care of this rock; it's very special. And every time I leave, if the rock is still shiny, I'll come back with a new one." 

"I wanna go find rocks!" Ulchtar beamed. "I wanna help! I wanna go out and explore with you!" 

"Heh," Cryak's face plates darkened with worry as she glanced away, one arm resting on her knee. "Maybe when you're older." 

Chapter Text

Rust Bucket Bar, Tarn - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Four stellar-cycles after Forging.

"Alright, kiddo," Thunder lifted his helm as the Tarn officer approached him with a kind smile and datapad in servo. "You're going to Praxus!" 

"Praxus?" Thunder asked as he tilted his helm and raised a brow ridge in confusion. He'd never heard of that place before. 

The guard nodded as he offered the young bot the tablet. "Yeah, Praxus. It's a city-state not too far from Iacon and newly built around 27 stellar-cycles ago. The city currently operates on Autobot military help, but Sentinel wants to incorporate more local representatives to create a planetary police force." 

"Oh," Thunder stared straight ahead as he digested the information given to him. 

"You graduated from the Tarnforce Academy with quite high results, kid." The officer was practically beaming with pride. "Your ancestors be damned if they ain't proud, at least I am." 

"Thanks," Thunder smiled as he straightened up. Although he was still quite young, he'd been ushered into the Tarn local police force and given upgrades to buff up his armour. It wasn't so much the bossing others around that gave him satisfaction but rather a sense of duty to uphold. He couldn't yet determine why, only that he wanted to do something with his life ever since he woke up one day and his Mentor was no longer around. He had tried to stick it out in the mines like everyone else but quickly found that he despised the suffocation of the earth all around him. With his newfound fear of claustrophobia, Thunder longed to spend the remainder of his days outside. He had pondered the idea of politics but quickly found himself usurped by an unseen anxiety of having knives at his backstrut. He didn't particularly enjoy the idea of having to be cunning and deceitful, so he took the next best option; bodyguard work, and so far it had worked out quite alright for him. He'd gotten paid quite a lot to escort political officials to and fro within the city. He even got bribed to look the other way or even get his own servos dirty from time to time. Yet the rush of beating another mech had quickly faded one day and left him feeling empty with remorse. 

In short, Thunder didn't know who he was, or what he was even capable of. 
He was so used to taking orders from someone else that he'd forgotten all about his origins in favour of pursuing something that gave him a proper purpose that sat right within his spark. He loved Tarn, but he feared that in his time spent here something was missing. He knew how to successfully transform and fly yet he never felt any rush or satisfaction whenever he flew over the streets just to get somewhere. He felt alone up in the skies above and had grown to despise his wings to some extent - no matter how many times countless potential mates had cooed and swooned over his impressive frame, begging in soft whispers to touch them. 

He hated them. 
He wished that he either had tracks or wheels instead so he could've made friends with a few of the miner bots who were less fortunate to pay for his services. The mines were by far the worst place to make friends, yet everyone his age was down there. 

"Everything alright?" The guard's voice cut through Thunder's overworking processor as he frowned and quickly nodded. 

"Y-yeah, I'm... I'm alright." He couldn't lie to save his life but he was also very tired and not exactly thrilled at the idea of flying across The Barrens anytime soon. Seekers be damned, he didn't want to come across any, either. 

"Alright, well," the guard seemed to hesitate for a moment as he shifted on his black and white striped peds. "Just don't overwork that processor of yours, ok? You got a good spark in you, kid, I'd hate to see it go to waste. If you need anything while you're over there, just remember, Tarn will always be your home." 

"I got it," Thunder smiled as he was given a shoulder pat. He nodded in farewell, watching the senior officers whom he'd grown close to over the short stellar-cycles of his life, those who had come to celebrate his achievements, turn and leave his small apartment. 

He frowned and then stared down at the datapad in his servo as he read through it. 

'Candidates from around Cybertron! Sentinel Prime needs you! 
In the wake of our new and beautiful city here in Praxus, the cultural and trading international capital of our lovely planet, we are looking for more capable warriors and former militants to help usher in a new age of security forces! If you are receiving this message, it's because you've been hand picked by our honourable Zeta Primon as a new recruit to be welcomed into our ever-growing family! 

Welcome Thunder across Starry Sky to your new future! 

Signed. Cod3xa.'

Thunder's amber optics stared at the word 'family' for a few moments, allowing a small smile to blossom onto his face plates. He hoped that this would be a brand new start for him and that finally, that empty feeling in his spark would be fulfilled.

Thunder's Apartment, Blue Rock Apartments - Tarn, Above Ground.
Two solar-cycles later.

"Are you sure that you have everything?" Tonitru, one of Thunder's oldest friends from his childhood, approached him as he asked in a soft tone. Tonitru was a miner bot and quite burly too with his gold-green and blue colour scheme with white underlights. 

Thunder turned and finally cracked a smile as he nodded. "Yep! All I need is myself and a few reminders of home." 

"And your communications?" His friend soon raised a brow ridge and folded his arms across his robust chassis. "Do you even have enough energon to make it to Praxus?" 

"Of course I do!" Thunder huffed, giving his partner an annoyed look. 

"I'm just asking!" Tonitru held up his servos and leaned back, trying his best not to agitate the other. "I wanted to make sure that you would reach the Flats at least, in good condition." 

"Yeah," Thunder pouted as he turned and double-checked the drawers for anything important he may have forgotten. He had very little, because he wasn't a bot who usually spent any of his Shanix on anything aside from Engex and upgrades. "My only problem is those stupid Seekers." He muttered as he glanced back at his counterpart. "I'm not as fast as they are, I know it, I can feel it." 

"Well, in about twenty cycles you're going to have to be faster than they are." Tonitru gave him a half-hopeful smile. "Otherwise, they may want to drag you to somewhere dark and shadowy for an interrogation." 

"Ha!" Thunder's wings perked as he barked a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "They can try, at least I won't go down without a fight!" 

"That's my Thunder," Tonitru smiled as he watched his best friend and partner sweep aside their drawers peacefully, farewell their cybercat Nixo and then he finally turned to address him. 

"I'll miss you," Thunder began in a sad but happy tone - he didn't want to worry the other. "We'll keep in touch, right?" 

"Of course," Tonitru smiled and held out his fist. "And if you meet any pretty 'bots over there, tell 'em I said hi." 

"You're not going to get jealous?" Thunder raised a brow ridge as he fist bumped his partner in farewell - a Tarn-related tradition he'd grown accustomed to. 

"Pfft, highly unlikely, Thunder." Tonitru shook his helm. "I have all I could possibly want right here. But maybe I'll go back to Iacon one day." 

"You have to show me around the place, it sounds beautiful." A sombre sadness flashed in Thunder's optics as he said that, fear gripping his spark as he thought of a reality without him. 

Tonitru seemed to somehow sense it as he pulled the blue jet close, a servo on either hipstrut and tilted his helm to kiss him. "It'll be even more picturesque with you flying over the Golden City." 

"Yeah," Thunder chuckled sadly, though he didn't break away from the other's embrace, he looked away as he continued to hold onto him. 

"Hey," Tonitru smirked as he cupped the mech's face and forced him to look into his green visor. "You're going to have so much fun up in the North. You won't even have time to think about me!" 

"It's just," Thunder stammered with a grunt as he pulled away. "I'm not good with goodbyes." 

"Likewise," Tonitru shrugged as he placed a servo back on his own hipstrut. "But you'll get used to it, Thunder. I wish only the best in life for you." 

Thunder wanted to ask something, but pain swelled heavy in his spark, and he refused to meet the other's face as he nodded. "Same." He didn't trust himself enough to speak, so he soon kissed Nixo's head and turned to leave. 

A few cycles later, Thunder had transformed and was flying over Tarn's city streets. Its citizens had grown accustomed to hearing the shriek of jet engines, although many still despised that sound. Thunder flew higher and higher to muffle his engine with the low-hanging clouds that plagued the city. Once the dark, metal walls of the city disappeared into soft, fluffy clouds, did Thunder allow himself to zone out and think. Up here, there was no one else for him to be bothered by. He could think with his helm in the clouds, quite literally, because the chance of running into someone was quite low. Although he despised flying alone, he had to admit that it did give him a chance to reflect and put his processor at ease. 

In the air, Thunder began to reflect on his life in Tarn. A large, white Seeker by the name Jhiaxus had taught him how to fly, and although Thunder was thankful, the Seeker had soon disappeared from all radars. Thunder had gone in search of him until he'd got threatened with being shot out of the sky by Tarn's rival forces; the Vosian Seekers. With that memory ingrained into his processor, Thunder had steered clear of flying over The Barrens ever since. Though, today, he had no choice. There were no Service Trains running in and out of Tarn so transport was purely based on one's alt-mode until they reached the Lithium Flats - a stretch of flat bed rock adorned with gleaming, crystal-like towers that sat on the border to Praxus. The Flats looked gorgeous and were a large stretch of metallic earth that mimicked the sun's rays, causing blindness if endured for too long. Many hot springs and natural geysers flourished over the Flats with a few shrubs and wildlife here and there. He briefly thought of hooking a wide berth to travel over the Tarn Valley but ultimately decided against it due to his energon reserves. Thunder was paranoid that he'd run out, so he risked making a beeline for Praxus' border instead, which would put him in the line of sight against a Seeker Lieutenant or patrol flying over the border. 

Even more reason to be paranoid. 

No, instead, Thunder would fly directly over Thunderhead Pass and reach The Assembly by nightfall - if he was lucky. If he was unlucky, a Seeker patrol would chase him down and leave him stranded out in the wilds. He tried not to think about that as fear shivered throughout his frame. 

After a few breems, Thunder began to daydream as the skies became clearer and the air was calm. 
He wondered whatever did happen to Jhiaxus and if he had any family outside of the elderly Seeker. It was a thought that constantly troubled Thunder's processor. Where did he come from? Was he the only one? 
He'd heard of the lone Seeker phenomenon but strongly refused to believe that he was a Seeker to begin with. He had settled on the theory that perhaps Jhiaxus had just built him in his lab one night using a strand of his CNA and then left for unknown reasons. Thunder had no idea if there were even any other fliers inhabiting Tarn because he'd been too blinded by the threat that Vos posed as their neighbour and arch-nemesis to even care or distinguish ally from foe. 

Perhaps Thunder had just been created alone, and that lonesome feeling at the bottom of his spark was just that - a feeling and nothing more. His processor was completely blank whenever he tried to think about the night he was created; nothing came to mind. 

By dusk, Thunder had reached the Praxus-Lithio border and transformed to land for a short break. He grunted as his stiff joints shifted and moved about painfully, but otherwise landed with ease. He checked his reserves, noting that his systems were functioning at 27% energon capacity. 

I should down a quick-cube, Thunder hummed in disapproval to himself before he petted around his arm and slid back the panel to retrieve a small, blue energon cube. He plopped it into his intake and slid the panel shut once again. It clicked its lock back into place as he stared down at the map ingrained onto his other arm's panel, a GPS that functioned as a radar. Although there were no enemies nearby, no EMFs to detect or energy signatures, Thunder couldn't shake the unnerving feelings that if he turned around, he might see something. 

Instead, he decided to do his stretches, checking and pricking his wings as they stretched out behind him, flicked upward and stood out straight behind him with no trouble. He was never the most expressive bot when it came to his emotions, though he knew how to move his wingstruts in a circular motion to ease the energon flow back into his frame. If he had neglected himself any longer, his central systems and backstrut could've gone numb and then he really would've been screwed by having no feeling in his frame to transform properly; let alone land. His peds felt foreign as he walked for a few steps and took lunges to exercise his thighs and bent and twisted to relieve the stress in his hipstruts. Lastly, he stretched his arms and flailed them about before he cracked his neck and rolled his helm. Then he jumped up into the air, transformed and took once more in the direction of Praxus.

By sunrise, Thunder had reached the Assembly. He flew high above the city to ensure that he wouldn’t harm or scare the citizens below - he wasn’t too sure how exactly they would yet take the presence of a flying Cybertronian. He circled the Assembly a few times just out of awe as the early sunlight struck the blue, transparent metal and made it shine. It was like a glittering diamond in a sea of blueprints. Most of the city was blue - either with futuristic technology or vast streams of energon. Coming from a small mining grid such as Tarn, Thunder had never seen such a structure or richness. The new state was certainly an impressive sight. 

He swooped down low on the city’s outskirts and transformed to swiftly land before glancing around. This was his usual way of getting to the ground without bringing any grief to anyone. The last thing he needed was to be verbally assaulted or embarrassed on his first day - which could lead to a termination. He vented and turned to walk 28 miles back into the city to reach the Assembly. 

He had only himself to keep company until he reached about seventeen miles and was halted by two police guards. 

“Designation and origin?” One asked, a silver-faced white and black one with a red helm piece. 

“Thunder,” the blue and black jet answered plainly. “I’m from Tarn.”

“Tarn?” His counterpart, a silver and black Groundbot with red undertones, raised a brow ridge at him. “I thought Seekers were from Vos.”

“Seekers?” Thunder stared questionably back at the silver and red bot, somewhat offended by that statement.

His colleague huffed and turned to frown at him. “Bluestreak, not all fliers are Seekers. Even fewer are from Vos.”

“Oh,” Bluestreak seemed crestfallen all of a sudden. “Sorry, I was getting my hopes up thinking maybe Cloud Breeze had finally sent somebot.”

“Cloud Breeze?” Thunder asked, he’d only heard of the Seeker Overlord a few times but it wasn’t enough to garner any opinion from him. If anything, everybot made him sound like a jerk. 

“He would never do that,” the black and white Groundbot frowned as he furiously scribbled something onto his datapad. “Praxus isn’t in his jurisdiction. As long as we stay on this side of the Flats, Seekers shouldn’t be a bother to us.”

“Ok,” Bluestreak nodded before he turned his sparkling blue optics eagerly back onto Thunder. “So you’re from Tarn? How did you get here in one piece?”

Thunder narrowed his optics, however, remained stern. “I flew… Quickly.”

“He probably needs a recharge then. Bluestreak, why don’t you alert Barricade? He’s nearby; he could show the rookie around.” The Officer turned to glare slightly at his colleague once he was done on the datapad. 

“Wait,” Thunder glanced at him now. “How did you know I was..?”

“Thunder from Tarn,” the Officer raised his voice as he held his helm high. “Welcome to Praxus, we’ve been expecting you. I am Officer Prowl, one of the supervisors here during the academic course of your training. My colleague, Barricade, will be here shortly to escort you to our headquarters, where you’ll be staying for the duration of your studies. Now, was there anything you needed before I send you on your way?”

Prowl leaned forward slightly with his servos on his silver hipstruts.

”Uh, n-no.” Thunder stammered, taken aback by the sheer intensity of the other’s authority. He stepped back and shook his helm to put some space between them. Coming from Tarn, he wasn’t exactly used to another bot being in his alloy bed. 

“Good, now back to the investigation. Rattle can’t be too far.” As Prowl leaned back and muttered to Bluestreak, Thunder felt disjointed as he had to keep reminding himself that he wasn’t in Tarn anymore and things were different. 

Chapter Text

Shockwave’s Laboratory - Tarn, Underground.
Three stellar-cycles after Forging.

Senator Shockwave had retreated to his lab after a long solar cycle of reviewing and approving construction plans that involved a large portion of Tarn's minerals being shipped to Iacon. The stress had caused his joints to stiffen as well as his brow to darken - he predicted the consequences of his actions and he was dreading the outcome. But Tarn was rich with Cybertronian alloys, they could afford to trade with just one more city-state. Tarn itself already had more than enough, he wasn't worried about their reserves. He was worried about Vos' reaction to this new deal. 

Before Shockwave's time, Tarn and Vos had shared very few peace treaties. One that stood against the test of time, however, was Tarn's trade dealings with the city of Angels. Vos was very low in minerals - even lower in mining bots. The Seekers weren't suited to the mines, despite inhabiting mountains full of natural resources. Tarn had plenty of ex-mining bots and after the war with Umbratron, they didn't have anywhere to go, nor any jobs. In Tarns' earliest days, Vos had offered to pay them for mining the resources from within their mountains. In exchange for Shanix, Tarnbots were permitted to mine within Vos' borders. Tarn usually gave whatever they found inside Vos to the Vosian government. However, Tarn was littered with old energon adits and other outcrops leading down into the darkness. Known before Shockwave's time as the 'Outskirts' most of The Barrens had been empty mining fields. Those mining fields had now been transformed into an industrial city - one that fell under his jurisdiction. Their deals with Vos had remained unchanged throughout the last three hundred million years and Shockwave sought to keep it that way as best as he could. As for Iacon, he wasn't exactly too sure what they were planning, but the extra money was good for Tarn's economy nonetheless. Despite their dealings with Vos, their neighbours were often swift and unpredictable, such were the ways of a Seeker, he thought. They'd attacked them many times, often leaving Tarn to rebuild and its citizens to become dependent on the Vosian coin. With Iacon, however, Shockwave could strengthen its people and build up a higher resistance against any threat posed by Vos. 

He had to tread carefully, though, Cloud Breeze wasn't exactly the war-hungry type, but he was far more experienced at politics than Shockwave could ever dream of. It plagued him how he could not fathom an Ancient such as Cloud Breeze having survived this game for so long. Then there was the thought of his sister, Mercystrike. She'd be quick to jump to conclusions regarding Tarn's political views. Was he preparing for war? Well in Shockwave's optics, it seemed inevitable. 

Opening the trade deal with Iacon was a safety precaution. Praxus didn't have much to offer other than more security, which could be something Shockwave would've considered had Praxus given them the blueprints to their latest anti-aircraft weaponry. Unfortunately, he hadn't been too successful there, either. Tyger Pax had been willing to exchange weapons for Tarn-made ammunition - a strange quote from a trigger-happy fellow who told him no bullet stung worse than the alloy carved by a Tarnished's servo. He wasn't too sure how exactly he felt about that yet. Then, of course, there was the political empire of neighbouring Tesarus. Tarn lived in its shadow and Drivetrain was aware of this. Though the Triplechangers were heavy and blunt brutes, they were merciful and often always the first to provide aid after an aerial bombing. Shockwave had to keep in mind their generosity and not challenge them head-on. If he were ever to make a move, it had to be cunning and deceptive - he couldn't afford to risk Tarn getting into a two-front battle. For now, he has kept his suspicions targeted at Vos. 

Which reminded him - he heard a ting erupt from behind and vented quietly before he straightened up and turned to glance over his shoulder strut. A chorus of soft giggling greeted him and he couldn't help but smile as the childish purple and black jet pranced around. Sky had been a welcome temporary relief from all the hustle and bustle of Shockwave's chaotic, political life. He often allowed the jet to accompany him in the labs, hoping that he would learn to adopt his love for science. Unfortunately, not much progress had been made on that front, however, Shockwave did note that Sky was an easy test subject to use. The jet never seemed to complain in the slightest and was, at times, even excited to learn about the experiments. 

Sky was hastily chasing after one of Shockwave's arachna drones, a small purple, quadruped drone that had been originally designed for tunnel mapping. Shockwave had been very innovative during his youth and had risen to fame within Tarn thanks to his ingenious ideas of safety being used throughout the endless mines of Tarn. The arachna drone could crawl on almost any surface, any angle and had built-in headlights with a mapping system that could direct live feedback to a portable monitor. Many used these drones as a way of navigating the tunnels - mostly to see if it was safe or not to enter. The drones were cheap and easy to make, a few going missing or getting damaged here or there didn't hurt the economy in the slightest. Shockwave had since moved on from them and created more inventions, but the Tarnbots had grown affectionate of them and were adamant that they did a good job of navigating. Shockwave was currently fiddling around with a few to test whether or not he could diffuse a bomb - whether he had to program the instructions into the drone or manually control it from a safe distance, were his current two options on the table. 

Sky giggled as he chased the drone around the lab, Shockwave pausing to calculate the current speed it was going at - quite an improvement from his first batch which had been awfully slow. Two miles in eight hours had now evolved into 7 miles in 42 minutes. It was quite impressive. 

Sky was keeping his distance but soon crashed into one of Shockwave's metal tables and went down with a simple huff of pain. The Senator flinched and stepped forward to put an end to the other's shenanigans. The drone lived to operate another day. 

Sky glared after it until Shockwave's shadow fell over him and he glanced up with innocent intrigue. His Mentor smiled down at him before gesturing with his helm over towards a massive contraption. "Would you like to help me with something today? Something new?" 

"What is it?" Sky's amber optics widened slightly as he rose to his peds and stared at the large, circular portal stationed at the back of the room. There was no active, swirling vortex at its centre, it lay dormant and remained in shadows. 

"It's a Ground Bridge," Shockwave explained. "Like a Space Bridge but designed for shorter, more local planetary travel. The blueprints are ancient so the circuitry is incomplete at this time. I've powered it up a total of five numerous times but to no avail, have I ever known if it has truly ever worked. I've only sent objects through. Today, I shall be sending a bot - somebot who can talk to me on the other side and somebot that I can trust." 

Shockwave ended with a warm smile as he held Sky's shoulderstrut and slowly walked him over to the small ramp that led up to the platform lying beneath the circular, metal arch that formed the outer skin of the portal's gate. Sky excitedly stood in the centre of the platform, servos clenched to his chassis, optics wide and sparkling with an ecstatic smile upon his face plates. 

"Yes! I get to go outside!? To somewhere new!?" 

"Just remember to come back!" Shockwave was quick to remind him with a worried look. "Once you step through the other side, contact me using your comms unit, remember the device that I installed into your audials?" Shockwave asked as he tapped the side of his own helm with a small grin to jolt Sky's memory.

The purple and black sleek jet eagerly nodded. "Yeah?" 

"Tap that once you're out and let me know your vitals. After I've confirmed everything, step back through the portal and come home to me. That's an order, Sky full of Stars and Thunder." 

Rare was it that Shockwave ever called his adopted ward under his full designation - though it was vastly common during their scientific exploits. Despite using him as a lab rat, Shockwave had to stand firm and ensure Sky's safety as his second priority. If it weren't for the fear of Cloud Breeze's wrath, Sky may have never grown on him like this. Shockwave had had him for a few stellar cycles and already it felt as if he'd had him around forever. 

"Ok," Sky nodded with a slightly more serious look this time. 

"Do you promise?" Shockwave knelt in front of him to look him in the optic to make sure that he got the message. 

"I promise." Sky grinned and nodded, almost bouncing at the uncontainable excitement. "I'll come home."

"Good," satisfied that the order had been received and properly noted, Shockwave then rose to his peds once more and turned to walk back down to the controls. "You may feel fuzzy after the travel, so stay still for a moment. You'll be fine." 

Sky nodded, gesturing to himself with confidence. "Don't worry, Mentor, I'm a scientist." 

"Heh," Shockwave barked a soft laugh as he fiddled with the Ground Bridge's controls. "Junior scientist, for now." 

Shockwave turned his attention to the controls and flipped the switch once all the triggers had been set and let off. The monitors flicked to life and lights were on as the Ground Bridge vortex began swirling to life. It started out small, around the size of Sky's servo until it grew, swirling violently as electricity cackled from it wildly. Sky stood right before the swirling, green vortex with surprised optics, watching as it grew larger and larger by the nano-cycle. 

Shockwave frowned as a few warnings popped up on the monitors and a small feeling of unease settled in his fuel tanks. He risked a glance over at Sky and narrowed his blue optics. "The coordinates have you coming out at Praxus, right by the Assembly." 

He gave the coordinates to Sky, just in case that worried feeling in his fuel tanks proved to be true. The young jet nodded and threw up a thumbs up to tell his Mentor that he'd be alright. "Ok!"

He shouted to be heard over the groaning of the machinery that continued to grow. Soon enough the vortex swallowed Sky whole and Shockwave's attention was glued to the control panel. He counted a few moments to allow Sky to travel safely through the Bridge before he thought about contacting him. Unfortunately, smoke began to rise from one of the cables near the portal just out of the corner of Shockwave's vision. He sharply in-vented as he turned and in an instant, the portal blew up. Pieces of machinery were twisted and flung everywhere all over the lab. A massive burst of light temporarily blinded him and sent the Senator flying back to hit something against his backstrut sharply. He tried rising to his peds but the pain in his spinal panel felt awkward. He groaned and rested for a breem before he pushed himself up and stumbled over to the completely destroyed control panel. He let out a shrill shriek through his denta as he punched and fiddled with multiple controls, all of which were either broken or no longer worked. A large piece of metal had struck the controls, leaving a deep wound in its centre. Only half the arch remained as the entire left side of the platform was reduced to debris. Shockwave tapped his comms unit and screamed. 

"SKY! SKY!" He panicked as he heard the door above him slide open and peds ran down to him. Fearful shouts of his staff engulfed his audials as he grumbled and pushed their concerned touches away. "Sky! Come in!"

"What happened Senator?" One of his Chiefs stared at him. "Was it assassins?"

"No!" Shockwave yelled, tossing endless amounts of datapads and debris away so he could get to work repairing the Ground Bridge. "No! It wasn't assassins!"

"Do you need help?" One of the doctors crouched over him now as she tried to calm him with her soft voice. He bluntly pushed her aside. 

"NO! I need my ward back! My son! He-he went through the fracking portal! I need to know if he's still functioning!"

Many of them nodded and scrambled to assemble rescue teams to clear the lab and trace any coordinates that the Ground Bridge could've accidentally caught onto. 

But it was useless. Sky had disappeared through one side of the Ground Bridge and disappeared. The radios were silent. 

Chapter Text

“No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them - in order that the reader may see what they are made of.”
- Kingsley Amis

Cryak's Shelter, Nova Point - Tarn, Above Ground.
Four stellar-cycles after Forging. 

The small dent in her right wing had long since passed. Sure, the mark was still there but the pain had faded. Still, to this day, Ulchtar had not flown. For most of her youth, she'd sat outside, watching the distant Seekers fly over The Barrens. Until Cryak had come home following an accident that resulted in her being unable to walk for some time. Ulchtar had insisted on going down into the mines to fetch her Mentor some energon, but Cryak refused. Instead, Ulchtar stood watch over her and tried her best to comfort and take care of the Groundbot. Cryak did eventually get better, but following their low supply of energon, she finally caved in and decided to bring Ulchtar out with her. 

The first time, the jet had stuck closely by Cryak's side as they wandered through the streets of Tarn, travelling long distances from the Nova Point Energon Mine all the way South to the Tarn Cyberfactory. Seeing how Ulchtar didn't yet know how to transform, Cryak had begrudgingly walked side by side with her ward for the first few trips. When Ulchtar slightly became more confident and began to wander off to satisfy her curiosity, Cryak would normally double back in vehicle mode to check on her. Ulchtar preferred this because she could walk off and go examine things while Cryak was busy speaking to other Tarnbots and making trade deals. In Ulchtar's optics, Cryak was a low-lying business bot. Cryak would exchange information for energon or coordinates to suppliers. Not once did Ulchtar question her knowledge. But the gold and white jet did interject once and asked why one of Cryak's clients had given them a filthy glare. Cryak was quick to explain that it was only because she usually saw that client alone - having Ulchtar around probably unnerved them. So Ulchtar kept to herself for the most part during these business deals. 

When they didn't need to go out for energon, Cryak instead took them a little further beyond Tarn's borders. Ulchtar was worried at first, the very real fear of being ambushed by a Seeker patrol while stranded out in The Barrens plagued her processor. But it seemed to her that Cryak despised staying in one place, let alone being surrounded by walls. Eventually, Ulchtar came around and wanted to see The Flats to the North. Cryak did warn her that due to her inability to transform, Ulchtar would have to walk the entire way. She was fine with this, she didn't mind going slow and taking in the scenery. However, it seemed to frustrate Cryak that Ulchtar wouldn't transform. She hadn't tried at all. 

Ulchtar stood out on the cliff edge, frowning. She stared down at The Barrens below while Cryak was getting ready inside. 

‘Don't look down,’ she hadn't heard his voice in numerous ano-cycles. Her frown darkened as she pictured Metalhawk's face plates in her processor. She lifted her optics to squint at the distant city and wondered - if he was still online - what he was doing right now, or where he had been all this time. Perhaps he'd forgotten about her and she wouldn't blame him. Her spark ached at that thought, so with a soft vent she turned and headed back inside. 

"You didn't even try," Cryak huffed as she rummaged about in their storage room, having heard Ulchtar's pedsteps against the smooth metal. "I bet you just stood there and stared at the mountains again. Didn't you?" 

"Can't blame me," Ulchtar shrugged with a slight smirk. "Hey, can we go to Vos one cycle?" 

Her smirk disappeared as she heard a heavy vent erupt from her Mentor. "Alright, let's play this game. Why do you want to go over there, Ulchtar?" 

The gold and white jet turned so she was facing a wall as she searched her processor for an answer that didn't sound pathetic. "Well... They're our neighbours and..." Her optics shifted across the wall warily in thought. "You've always liked learning about our history and culture, right?" 

"Define 'our'," Cryak commanded from the other room in a stern voice - a warning for her ward to tread carefully. 

"Cybertron," Ulchtar muttered with a blank look. "All of us. I wanna go see Vos because they're our neighbours, and I wanna see Iacon too, and Praxus! There's word that it looks gorgeous at dawn when Mullene Ni's light hits the assembly!"

"Who said that?" Cryak questioned, turning her helm with a dark frown and swiftly cutting her off. 

"Uh," Ulchtar stammered for a moment under the pressure. "Just... The townsfolk, a-at the mine!" 

"Figures," Cryak scoffed. "They waste all their processing power on hopes and fantasies. You know? I might actually take you to Praxus and prove to you that Mullene Ni's light won't even reach it." 

"At dawn," Ulchtar nodded eagerly. "Only at dawn when the moons are setting." 

Cryak vented but gave a nod, her backstrut still turned to the jet. "Yes, but you'd have to do a lot of walking. Praxus is pretty far, even for an alt-mode. We'd have to take a lot of energon with us and be constantly alert to any patrols or raids." 

Ulchtar frowned at the dangers surrounding the excursion and was beginning to second doubt her capabilities when Cryak smiled. 

"Hey don't let it get you down, if you can reach The Flats on ped, you can go anywhere. And maybe, we'll even practice getting you to transform on the way?" 

Ulchtar's fuel tanks swam with uncertainty but she nodded. She had a shot at seeing something new - and perhaps even beautiful - so she did not want to mess this up and throw away a chance at proving herself. 

Cryak huffed as she turned, checked her energon reserves and then addressed Ulchtar fully. "Right, you have enough cubes?" 

"Yep," the jet eagerly nodded. 

"To The Flats and back, that's it. This'll be a four solar-cycle trip - if we're lucky enough not to run into anybot out there." Cryak frowned as she glanced outside. This was the first time she was taking her ward out of Tarn, out into the open. Out into danger. She really wished that Ulchtar had learned how to transform and fly by now but seeing how Cryak was a Groundbot, she couldn't even dream of teaching the Cyberjet how to fly. 

"Maybe its something to do with the programming," Cryak muttered quietly to herself as she watched Ulchtar double-check everything before she stood waiting by the door. Cryak wasn't very good at opening another bot's processor and rewiring them, let alone knowing which nodes to connect the instinctual drive to. If anything, she'd probably terminate the brain module and that was a terrifying reality, so she pushed it out of her helm and pressed on. 

Ulchtar seemed too excited to notice her Mentor's sudden withdrawal and happily but carefully trod down the cliff face in the direction of The Barrens with Cryak lingering behind her also on ped.

The Torque Flats, The Lithium Flats - Northern Cybertron, Above Ground.
Several groons later.

"And over there is Nova Cronum," Cryak pointed proudly, her posture tall and stance regal as she smiled in the direction of the city state's borders, squinting against the harsh sunlight. Seated by her peds was a rather tired but still in awe Ulchtar. They'd made a short pitstop at the Torque Flats - a wild and plainly flat area that reflected the harsh sunlight. Ulchtar kept her intake open to help relieve her frame of the piercing heat that travelled up from the ground and wisped through her circuitry. Ulchtar was rather surprised to find that Cryak was affected minimally by the heat, and then she reminded herself that perhaps her Mentor had made this trip numerous times. 

"The Sen... Ate building?" Ulchtar panted as she glanced over in the direction that Cryak was pointing. "Can we go there?" 

"Mm," Cryak placed her servos on her hips and squinted down at her ward. "Maybe when you can make this trip without any struggle. It's still quite a ways to go." 
She then spun on her heel to point South-West. "Just before Vos, which is back that way, in the direction is the city of Nyon. In Nova Cronum there's a fun amusement park for all the High Grid city bots to explore known as the Six Lasers Over Cybertron. It's quite fun, I used to sneak in all the time with a few friends." 

Ulchtar raised a brow at that drop of information but seeing how happy her Mentor looked, she stayed quiet in hopes that Cryak would tell her more. 

"Rodion is past Nyon, more to the West. They share quite the good history with Iacon." 

"But that's further North?" Ulchtar squinted up at Cryak. 

The Groundbot nodded. "Long ago there weren't as many city-states, especially during the Ages of the Primes. Rodion was one of the first city-states, given complete autonomy by Prima herself. In exchange for her first son, Primon, to travel peacefully from Iacon to Rodion, the seat of Vector Prime." 

"What about Vos?" 

"Vos was much later, during the First Cybertronian Civil War. As a result of killing his ex-lover, Megatronus was exiled and founded the mines littering Tarn."

"But then they got abandoned?" Ulchtar asked, trying to piece the timeline together in her processor as she hugged one of her kneestruts to her chassis and looked around. 

"We're standing right in the middle of a lot of history, Ulchtar." Cryak proudly stated. "Yes, Megatronus, now known as the Fallen Prime, left Tarn before it received its name. He eventually left Cybertron altogether. Just South of Vos is the Sea of Rust. It's said that that is where he made his last stand against Prima before she too vanished." 

"Vanished..." Ulchtar echoed, deep in thought. 

Cryak nodded. "The Tarnished don't recognise Prima's divine right as a Pantheon. As a result, a lot of history surrounding her was removed. Especially since Tarn's sworn enemy, the Vosians worship her." 

Ulchtar blinked and panted for a few moments before craning her helm to stare back in the direction of Rodion. "What happened to the others?" 

"Vector Prime vanished too. I believe he may have been overcome with grief during the First Civil War and simply threw himself into the ripples of time, never to be seen again. Primon stays at Iacon now, being an advisor to the newer, younger generations of Primes." Cryak explained little by little her happiness began to fade as she recounted Cybertron's dark history. 

"What makes a Prime so special?" Ulchtar raised a brow ridge, watching as Cryak crouched beside her. "We never chose them to lead us." 

"It's more of a Dynasty," Cryak tilted her helm to one side. "Only Iacon has access to the Intergalactic Council and as a result, they elect multiple spokespersons to speak on behalf of all Cybertronians. We shouldn't bother ourselves with politics." She huffed and looked down, checking her energon reserves. "You low?" 

Ulchtar shook her helm. "No." 

Cryak nodded and closed her panel. She wasn't too low and at the pace they were going she could afford to stop and refuel later. 

"So you only become a Prime if you were created one?" Ulchtar questioned. 

"Yes," Cryak huffed, clearly irritated by the topic. "They don't allow anybot else to take command. It's the same for all city-states and territories on Cybertron. If you're an outsider, they don't like you." 

"But Vos and Praxus have multiple welcoming propaganda and political steps moving forward," Ulchtar smiled. "They're progressive." 

"Yes, but they would never allow an outsider to be a political figurehead. Sure, most of Cybertron today allows bots like us to move freely about, but it won't help if you're trying to win over a crowd." 

"So only the Primes can command the entirety of Cybertron's military forces?" 

"If there's a collective threat in regards to our homeworld, yes." Cryak stood. "But a threat like that hasn't been seen since the Catalyst. Nowadays, Cybertron is fighting itself." There was a certain hint of sadness to her tone as she jumped down from the ledge that she'd been standing on. A small resting place for Ulchtar to shrink against in futile attempts to escape the heat. 

"Cybertron is stupid," Ulchtar huffed with a look of annoyance. 

"No," Cryak shook her helm with an amused smirk. "Politics is stupid. Cybertron is beautiful. When you're able to freely explore our homeworld, you'll understand." 

"Who took you out to see all these places?" Ulchtar glanced up at the sky. "Who taught you all this?" 

Cryak went quiet, her backstrut turned to the jet before she glanced up at the sky. "That doesn't matter now. Just be thankful that you have a mentor, not many bots out there do..." 

Ulchtar blinked at that realisation and frowned. Within a matter of breems they were up and moving again much to the protest of Ulchtar's tired legs. Despite this, she kept herself going by glancing around and taking in every detail that she saw so she could commit this spot to memory and travel here again later. 

"Let's try something!" Cryak halted suddenly and clasped her servos together. She turned around with a wide grin on her face plates and dark optics. 

"O-ok?" Ulchtar frowned, feeling a little unnerved by the sudden switch in attitude and shrank back slightly. 

"Let's practice getting you to transform! I haven't seen your alt-mode yet, so maybe we can find a way?" Cryak leaned forward slightly with her servos on her hips. "It'll be fun, we can race each other back home over the Flats!" 

"Huh," Ulchtar glanced behind her at the smooth Flats before she nodded. "Th-the sun's really hot, but... Y-yeah I could try it?" 

Cryak then stepped back, put her arms out and folded in on herself. Not even a moment later she was in her vehicle mode - a burly, pink four-wheeler with massive and rugged tyres. Suited more to the mines than they were to a race track. 

Ulchtar tilted her helm in confusion, not knowing the first step of what to do or where to even start. 

"Put your arms out," Cryak ordered before she transformed back into her bipedal mode and helped Ulchtar place her arms out and keep balance. 

Ulchtar did as was requested but when the disapproving hum came from Cryak, she felt slightly ashamed of herself. 

"Your frame's more lithe than mine and most Tarnished," Cryak shrugged with a slight huff, a few digits cupping her chin as she examined and began to theorise which components went where. "You have wings and a cockpit so I'm assuming, going off by memory, that that's your mid-piece." She then squinted at Ulchtar's helm. "So your helm is going to have to come down somehow and your chassis, where your cockpit is, is going to have to come up." 

Ulchtar craned her neck so she was examining the parts that Cryak was referring to. "My helm? A-are you sure?" 

"It's not going to come off," Cryak waved her ward's concerns away. "And even if it did, you'd be fine. Remember, as long as your spark is still online, you won't die." 

Ulchtar's face plates went slack with shock at the idea. "But... It would still hurt, right?" 

"Transforming doesn't usually hurt," Cryak shrugged, folding her arms across her chassis. "In fact, some Copperhelms burn through their cogs too quickly because it feels so nice." 

"Ok..." Ulchtar frowned, still unsure of this plan. "Wait, what's a Copperhelm?" 

"I'll tell you when you're older, now - helm inside the chassis, underneath the cockpit. Cockpit slides back and wings fold over." 

"What do I do with my legs?" Ulchtar gestured to one of them as she stood on the other, fear clearly evident in her amber optics. 

"Leave those for now, if the first few steps are taken, naturally the rest of the frame follows," Cryak explained, adding a bit more care to her words. "Remember to relax and just let your programming take over. Your entire frame is supposed to flip, switch, break apart and collect itself back together in a new shape." 

Cryak stood to place a reassuring servo on one of Ulchtar's shoulderstruts. The jet huffed and gave one final nod before she stepped back and closed her optics. The sound of the cog started up and Ulchtar felt a whoosh of hot air blow past her face plates before darkness greeted her. She felt her peds suddenly being drawn together, but just as Cryak had stated - despite the sudden urge of fear she felt - Ulchtar remained calm and allowed her frame to fold in on itself. Next, she felt her chassis sliding open and then above her helm. Things were going smoothly until her wings had to flip over and the pain of the childhood dent made itself known once more. 

Ulchtar hissed in pain, wincing inwardly at the scraping of slow metal against her components. Cryak did hear the odd anomaly, but seeing how Ulchtar wasn't hesitating to go through with the full transformation, she didn't stop her. After all, she'd never seen a jet transform up close - for all she knew these sounds might've been completely normal. 

A few grunts of pain later, Ulchtar found herself in a strange, dark grid. Everything around her was replaced by imagery and even Cryak was pixelated in a strange, sixth sense that was completely foreign to Ulchtar's navigation systems. 

"Oh," at least Cryak's vocals still sounded the same. "A jet." 

"Is that..." Ulchtar paused as she listened to her own voice for a moment. To her, it sounded glitchy and muffled. She had to input her thoughts into text that popped up on her HUD and then give an all-clear to emit the sound with confirmation. It was something that was definitely going to slow her down, especially since the HUD felt so foreign. The Tarnished tongue was taking forever to be replicated in her systems. "A problem?" 

Cryak hummed in thought as she circled the gold and white, sleek jet. "Not exactly, but I was hoping for something with... Wheels." She frowned as she glanced down at the wing flaps and large, advanced thruster where Ulchtar's peds had previously been. 

"I don't have wheels?" Ulchtar confirmed the question but regretted it immediately upon hearing the stiffness in Cryak's voice. 

"No, you came from Vos, remember?" She pulled past her gritted denta. 

"Yeah but..." Ulchtar hesitated for a moment. "I thought I was like you." She almost sounded sparkbroken in that statement. 

Cryak vented and pinched the bridge of her nasal. "That's not... You were manufactured to fly, I was manufactured to mine. We're different." 

Ulchtar remained quiet, quite neatly snugged into her alt-mode. It was rather comforting to hide the hurt and confused look on her face plates for a moment. 

"But now we know what you can do, try engaging your thrusters. Using your peds but not walking, flying." Cryak placed her servos on her hipstruts and puffed out her chassis. "You got this." 

Ulchtar, while appreciating the encouragement, was hesitant. She could barely navigate the HUD that appeared in her vision, let alone control how to engage and properly use her thrusters. She in-vented sharply and tried her best nonetheless. 

. : E N G A G E   T H R U S T E R S ? : . 

> KI   |   NES ? 

'Ki, nes?' Ulchtar frowned. She had never seen nor even heard these words before. She navigated her will to 'Ki' and screwed herself tight to brace for impact. She suddenly felt the energy drain from her entire frame and be converted towards where her peds were - her thrusters now, she supposed. A lot of energy was gathering, building up and getting ready to be emitted. Then a warning popped up on Ulchtar's HUD. 

. : L O W   E N E R G O N   R E S E R V E S ,   C O N T I N U E ? : . 

> KI   |   NES ? 

WARNING: CRASH IMMINENT. 
NO FLIGHT POWER. 

"No flight power," Ulchtar repeated so Cryak could know why she wasn't trying to move. "It's saying that I don't have enough energon for take off?" Ulchtar's vocals rose a pitch higher in disbelief. 

Cryak tsked and shook her helm. "I asked you if you were low." 

"It says that I must have 70% as the lowest and 78% to convert power to my thrusters..."

"Sounds like a Seeker, alright." Cryak huffed, a little bitterness seeping into her tone as she glanced downward. Ulchtar frowned mentally at that. 

"I... I'm not a Seeker? Right? Seekers are a military force. Made up mostly of flying Cybertronians." 

"I know what a Seeker is!" Cryak snapped, glaring at the sleek jet still grounded. "I meant that you, your class, consumes a lot of energon." She huffed somewhat irritably and rolled her optics a little. 

Her tune silenced Ulchtar for the moment. The jet threw her consciousness through navigating her new HUD but everything was labelled in a language she'd never seen before. 

"I..." It was some time before Ulchtar found her vocals again. "Can't fly." 

"Just transform back," Cryak ordered with a dark hiss, not looking at her ward. "It was useless to try in the first place."

"I have quick cubes?" Ulchtar did want to learn how to fly at some point; that race with her Mentor sounded like fun.

"It's no use," Cryak shook her helm. "We need them to make the journey back to Nova Point." 

Ulchtar nodded inwardly before she slowly unfolded her frame and transformed each component back. It was slightly easier this time, however, Cryak did notice the slight wince of pain as Ulchtar stood in her bipedal mode. 

"What's wrong?" The Groundbot narrowed her optics in suspicion. 

"M-my wing," Ulchtar glanced away with a shameful expression. "Remember when I damaged it?" 

"No?" Cryak grew frustrated, how could this have slipped her processor? "When did you do that? What were you doing?"

Ulchtar flinched back from the interrogation slightly and raised a protective servo to put some distance between her and her hostile Mentor. "I... When I was smaller, a few cycles ago. I... I was trying to learn how to fly and I fell."

Cryak stared coldly at Ulchtar for a moment and the jet's spark seized in fear. 

"Cr... Cryak?" Ulchtar whimpered, shying away from the intense glare. 

"You're an idiot," Cryak spat with much venom, her harsh glowing optics narrowing to slits. Her entire frame stood rigid and cold. "You shouldn't have been Forged as a jet."

Ulchtar's helm lowered with a crestfallen look. "I know."

"How am I supposed to teach you to be a Cybertronian?" Cryak jabbed, unveiling her folded arms out to make her point while Ulchtar refused to meet her gaze. "No, a Tarnbot? You're nothing like me!"

Ulchtar winced back with a hurt look, staring at the ground. I don't have anybot else... But she feared saying that out loud; feared angering her Mentor further. 

Cryak vented heavily and pinched the bridge of her nasal as she closed her optics to think for a moment. "I'm sorry," her voicebox had reset so her tone sounded much softer now. "I know... I know you never got a choice." 

Ulchtar bravely flicked her optics up to examine Cryak's frame - it was still tall and rigid, her mining armour spiked with annoyance but no longer did her energon pump so aggressively through her systems. She was calming down slightly and that was a good thing. 

"Like you?" Ulchtar asked in a small, barely audible voice. 

Cryak nodded with a small huff. "Like me." 

Silence ticked on between them, Cybertron's sun long having set by the time Cryak re-onlined her optics and examined Ulchtar's frame. 

"So you're hurt? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" 

Ulchtar nodded before she explained, still somewhat curled up defensively and standing a little ways away to give Cryak her space to calm down. "It... Happened a while ago. The pain went away and I must've forgotten... My wings flipped, against my body, so it reminded me again." 

"And it's been there since when? Sparkling or thrust-biter?" 

"Thrust-biter," Ulchtar felt a little more at ease the more casual their conversation continued and unwound her frame a bit. "I think it happened the day I met those Seeker wards." 

"Seeker wards?" Cryak raised a brow ridge. Ulchtar nodded. "How many secrets are you keeping from me?" 

Ulchtar's spark sank in guilt as she frowned. "I... I'm sorry."

"You should be," Cryak frowned angrily, her servos on her hipstruts now. "Tell me what happened."

"I can't remember, but I haven't seen them since."

"Did they hurt you?"

"Maybe? I'm not sure..." Ulchtar looked away, holding herself. 

"Mm," Cryak narrowed her optics at Ulchtar's wings before she stepped forward and pulled out an energon slicer from her inner wrist port. 

Ulchtar panicked. "What are you doing!?" 

Cryak halted and looked Ulchtar in the optic. "Tonight you make a choice. No more keeping secrets from me. We can either head back to Nova Point on ped and pay somebot to get you fixed, or we can head to Nyon and get you a new frame. You can have wheels like me? It's closer than Tarn, too. Less time will be wasted." 

Ulchtar's optics slowly slid over to the energon slicer glowing in the dark as it hummed with power. "Like you?"

Cryak nodded. "You wanna prove that you're not one of them? Let's get rid of those things weighing you down." 

Ulchtar hesitated, glancing at her wings as she thought for a moment. 

"You've never used them Ulchtar, they're nothing but a useless piece of decoration." Cryak scoffed. 

Ulchtar frowned, not because she liked her wings, but because Cryak was right. Slowly, she turned her helm back to face her Mentor. "Will it hurt?" Her vocals sounded small.

Cryak nodded. "Yes, but remember, it takes pain to build a strong bot." 
It was an old Tarn saying; one that Ulchtar had heard many times before. 

"I trust you," she nodded.

Dried Springs, North of The Barrens - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Same time.

Cloud Breeze smiled as he watched Storm Wing and Dustburner kick up some dust while they were chatting. The two seemed to be getting along just fine, despite what his son had reported earlier. Everybot just needed a good stretch of their wings, that was all. Nearby, Dapol was excitedly telling Comet something about a new medical procedure they had finally aced on their test that day. It didn't seem to thrill their Trine-mate all that much but nonetheless, it was good to see the two spending some time together after the intense training over the last few days. 

On his other side, his sister was on the outskirts, her yellow optics turned upward to the starry skies above. 

"Mentor!" Cloud Breeze's attention snapped to Skyfire as he heard the younger shuttle's shrill voice excitedly echo across the dead creek. "Can I take this home?"

Cloud Breeze blinked before he hummed and carefully made his way over to whatever it was that the young bot was holding up. Skyfire's pale blue optics sparkled with curiosity as he held up a dried band of reed. He was kneeling by one of the few puddles of water that remained. Water was rare on Cybertron and usually fell during the storms, though not the rust ones. He'd brought Skyfire with him because he figured the youngling could use some time out of Skyblast's lab. 

"It's organic!" Skyfire told him as Cloud Breeze kneeled before him and dipped his helm to squint down at the tiny thing. Despite being a shuttle class, Skyfire was only a third of Cloud Breeze's size - even in his mortal, avatar forme. 

"I know," amusement glittered in Cloud Breeze's yellow optics, he leaned back to examine Skyfire's youthful, silver face plates. "Yes, you may bring it back. Keep it sealed, though, and make sure you ask Skyblast before you go rummaging through his things, alright?"

"Ok," Skyfire quickly looked away to hide his pout as he reached into his thigh subspace to retrieve a sealed container. 

"Hey," Cloud Breeze leaned forward to catch his spawn's attention once more. "I'm very pleased to know that your processor is constantly intrigued by everything. But don't ever let that cloud your judgment or blind your morals, Skyfire. You're a good bot, I want you to be like Skyblast, if that's what you still want, when you graduate. You just need to learn to take things easy and go at your partner's pace."

"Skyblast says that when he retires fully he's giving the lab over to me!" Skyfire beamed up at his Mentor. 

"And Orange Blast is alright with that?" Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge.

"He says it's fine," Meteor Shine shrugged from across the creek, she was overhearing as usual again and smirked when she caught Cloud Breeze's playful side glare. "You forget, Cloud Breeze, he's got the entire 51st floor of the Sky Tower all to himself when I and Dapol are out." 

"Which isn't very often," Dapol huffed and looked down. 

"Yeah," Comet huffed. "How's Dapol ever going to be a good medic if he can't catch us in the air?" 

Cloud Breeze straightened up after he barked a sharp laugh and went to explain when he caught the sight of Mercystrike stiffening just in his peripheral. His helm snapped immediately towards her. The Senior Seekers with them also noticed the odd behaviour and soon all their optics were on the Lieutenant. 

Skyfire frowned, shrinking back with worry as he carefully monitored Cloud Breeze's face. He remained silent, however, aware that the older Seekers may have been listening to something that they couldn't yet pick up. 

"What is it?" Cloud Breeze called softly over to his sister, watching as her wing tips slowly rose. He could see her backstrut heighten; a sign that she was about to take off. 

"I hear something," she whispered. Her helm turned ever so slightly, a sign of hesitance. She was aware of her spawn's, Comet's, green optics on her - carefully studying her. 

"Are we in danger?" Skyfire whispered, leaning into Cloud Breeze's frame for comfort. 

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics at Mercystrike, waiting for more information. 

"I hear it," Storm Wing's gruff voice could now be heard throughout the quiet group from where he stood the furthest away from them. 

"I do too," Meteor Shine whispered, her optics going wide with horror. 

"Screaming," Dapol had his helm tilted, optics open but unseeing. "Somebot's screaming." 

"That's bizarre," Comet scoffed but was quickly silenced by Mercystrike. 

Cloud Breeze carefully leaned away from Skyfire before he stood to his full height and glanced around The Barrens for any lights or dust being disturbed. 

"Do we call it?" Dustburner's optics were glued to the stars as he listened. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "Seekers," his voice was low but everybot heard him. "To the sky." 

All around him, there was a collective noise of jets transforming and engines whirring as they all shot up into the sky. Skyfire had sealed away his strand of reed before he shot straight upward. He hovered in the air beside his brother, Storm Wing. Below them were Mercystrike, Dustburner and Cloud Breeze. All of the Seekers hovered in the air. 

"It's in pain," Dapol stated what they could hear faintly. 

"I wanna go home," Comet clicked fearfully, swaying between Storm Wing and Meteor Shine. 

"But they're in pain!" Skyfire protested. 

"Be quiet," Mercystrike ordered in a gruff but soft voice. 

"Storm Wing, you stay here and keep the spawns safe." Cloud Breeze ordered. "Keep flying overhelm. Mercystrike, Meteor Shine and Dustburner, you're with me. We'll fly low and see what's going on."

With that, the older Seekers took off and dipped back below the cloud range, their thrusters ignited with powerful fire as they streaked over The Barrens. Mullene Ni and Luna Ich's light twinkled off their metallic bodies as they flew.

"Alright kids," Storm Wing hovered in the air with the remaining, much younger Seekers. "Stay very close to me and stay hidden. Remember, the air is your safe zone."

"That's not what Silver says," Comet huffed worriedly.

"And does Silver have 400 million years of air combat experience or ever flown casually in a hurricane?" Storm Wing reminded them. "No? Didn't think so. Don't be scared, you got me." 

"Storm Wing's the best Seeker I know!" Skyfire flew up to fly beside the dark blue and silver jet with pride ringing in his tone. "He wouldn't let anything bad happen to us."

"If you say so," Dapol frowned inwardly before they took off in a Digit Tip-4 formation with Storm Wing in the lead and followed the elder Seekers, staying unseen in the clouds above. 

Down below, racing overwhelm in The Barrens, Cloud Breeze followed Mercystrike while Dustburner and Meteor Shine flanked them - a precautious formation known as the Trapezium. They were on edge but not looking to attack, yet. First, they had to find the source of the distress signal that had reached them, and then assess the situation. 

"There," Mercystrike tonal whistled as she dipped her right side down to fly by the scene sharply. "I see it." 

"I recognise them," Cloud Breeze followed suit and their Trapezium collapsed into a tight Trail. "That's Cryak of Tarn and Star of Thundering Sky Questor." 

"I'm picking up a massive energon breach," Dustburner commented. "One of them's hurt." 

"Seekers land!" Cloud Breeze instructed across their entire patrol. "Do not engage, Crescent Mullene Ni. Storm Wing and Dustburner, keep the kids in the back with you." 

There was a collective sound of shrill clicking before all of the Seekers split off to land on the ground.

The Torque Flats, The Lithium Flats - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Same time. 

Ulchtar sniffed as she held her trembling frame. Her backstrut was slick with hot energon and her optical sensors had gone blurry thanks to the lubricant she'd been leaking. Cryak thought that after a few breems, she'd be strong enough to stand again - she'd been wrong. Standing up was proving to be difficult as shock took over and locked Ulchtar's legs into place. Taking a step forward was near impossible as she shuddered under the weight of the pain. 

Removing Ulchtar's wings should've made her lighter, given her less weight to deal with. However, removing them had proven the exact opposite reaction. Ulchtar was struggling to stand, let alone walk. She locked her kneestruts up in fear of falling back down again and being yelled at for doing so. She glanced over at Cryak with a low wail. Her Mentor had her backstrut turned to her, squinting at something in the distance. 

On the ground just behind them, left completely abandoned, were Ulchtar's wings. Messily cut and removed from her spinal plating and a vivid trail of energon leaking its way back to them. 

"You need to hurry up," Cryak's voice was soft but urgent as she glanced back at her ward. "You could've attracted something by making all that noise."

"I'm sorry!" Ulchtar cried, still quite in shock but doing her best to fight against the pain that was seizing and threatening to paralyse her entire frame. 

Cryak only frowned at her before she heard something that Ulchtar didn't and quickly turned back around with her helm up to the stars. Ulchtar hadn't realised that the shrieking of jets had sounded, or the sharp breeze had threatened to push her down, or the sounds of multiple conversion cogs working, until there was a massive thud and the ground trembled. When it did, she whimpered and fell back on her aft. She winced and offlined her optics to cry again, pulling her locked knees up to protect her chassis. She didn't want to online her optics and see what was happening; she was too scared. 

I'm going to die.

Meanwhile, Cryak's harsh features faded as not one, or two, but an entire squadron of Seekers suddenly fell out of the sky and surrounded them. Frag, she thought to herself, risking a glance behind her where Ulchtar's wings lay. Maybe she could talk her way out of this?
But once the final, massive Seeker landed, all hope vanished from her spark upon staring up at the stoic face plates of Cloud Breeze. 

"Oh..." Cryak stood as still as she could, her optics wide with evident fear and her frame seized up too. 

"Cryak," Cloud Breeze narrowed his yellow optics on the Tarnbot. His once usually soft and welcoming voice box now cold and blunt. Behind Storm Wing and Dustburner, he watched as Skyfire dipped his helm to try and catch a glimpse of what was going on. On either side of the white Seeker stood Meteor Shine - whose face plates remained as guarded as ever despite the gruesome scene before them. On his other side was Mercystrike, her own yellow optics vibrant with the fire of fury. Her wings stood spiked and upward, ready to flay the Tarnished before them. 

"How unfortunate it is to catch you at a time like this." All of the adult Seekers stood at least twice Cryak's size, save for Cloud Breeze who stood the tallest. His entire frame was being forced to relax, Cryak knew because she could see the callipers pulling his armour back. The moons shone darkly down upon them, the dust having settled with the lack of a passing breeze. Behind Cryak stood Storm Wing who looked quite unhappy and Dustburner's whose face plates betrayed shock and pity. 

"Uh, Cl-Cloud Breeze," Cryak chuckled nervously, stepping back a little so she was between the Seeker King and her ward. Any other Seeker, she hissed in her processor and darkened her frown. Any others but them! She not only had Cloud Breeze's clear wrath to endure but the notorious Mercystrike's and the bastard Storm Wing's wraths as well. She'd known them to be quite the trigger-happy air raiders that bombed Tarn relentlessly during their worst times. To have all three standing before her, here, now, was beyond a nightmare come to life. 

Cryak tried to find courage in her voice but it trembled. "How... Uh, how, wonderful it is to see you again."

Cloud Breeze remained silent, his gaze glued to Cryak's face plates as he allowed his patrol to survey the sight before them. Cryak's armour spiked with fear as she noticed their optics scanning between Ulchtar, the energon trail, her wings and Cryak. 

"What happened?" Cloud Breeze lessened his harshness for a moment as he looked away, glancing at the energon trail. "Were you attacked?" 

It seemed like an insult, and it triggered Cryak somehow as she huffed rather defensively. "No." Then she should've kept her intake shut. "If we had been, we wouldn't need your help! Not in a million years!"

Cloud Breeze's optics snapped back to her face. They stood in tense silence, staring at each other before Ulchtar's optics came back online. 

"It's awake!" Meteor Shine in-vented with relief. "Thank Prima and the Angels!"

Cloud Breeze eased back, watching as Cryak turned to check if what his medic had stated was true. 

"Ulchtar!" Cryak hissed quietly as she slowly crept over to her ward. The fear was clear in her rigid movements, her optics dancing frantically between all of them. "Ulchtar."

"Mentor?" The mangled, young jet sniffed as she looked up at the Groundbot. "Wh-what's going on? Who is that?" She tried to peer around Cryak to look over at Cloud Breeze.

His spark swelled when he saw the pained and fearful look on the younger's face plates. His frowns were rare but when they happened, they were genuine. As for Ulchtar, her face plates went slack with shock, then fear danced behind her sad, amber optics and she shrank behind Cryak with a whimper. Cloud Breeze's pitiful look vanished as he narrowed his optics and remained stoic.  

The Seeker King then stepped forward, holding his helm as he stood tall to address the Tarnbots. "Cryak, you already know who I am, though not what I may be capable of." He then glanced over at Ulchtar as he addressed next. "My name is Cloud Breeze, designation - King of Vos, General of the Seeker Overlords and the High Guard. You are injured and in need of repairs," Cloud Breeze stepped forward again. "Tell me who did this to you." 

He noticed that Mercystrike had stiffened with how close he was to the Tarnbots, putting himself at risk yet again. He also noticed how intimidated Cryak appeared to be as her frame seized up and there was a wild look in her optic. Cloud Breeze stared down at her, right into her optics, hoping to catch a glimmer of her spark and ponder if he could trust her. But as Ulchtar limped slightly toward him, still visibly upset and in pain, the massive, white Seeker's brow snapped downward and he took a step back swiftly. 

"This is my ward, Ulchtar." Cryak muttered quietly, fanning out an arm to protect the mangled jet from the Seeker King. There was a defensive look in her amber optics, telling him to back down. Cloud Breeze entertained the thought but he didn't cave. Instead, he leaned back on one of his peds and did what he did best. 

"I'm aware, Cryak." He began softly. "I recognise this jet, no matter how many scars you may put on her. I will always know each and every single one of my beloved citizens, no matter how far they stray from Cybertron's stars, or what paths they may wander, they're still mine at the end of the day." Cloud Breeze flicked a glance at Ulchtar cautiously before he continued; noting the fear and confusion written on the younger's face plates. 

"Her designation is Star of Thundering Sky, Forged from the Starforge near - hmm, what was it? Three, four stellar cycles ago? Questor tracked the Trine, three sparks erupted from it. You and two others were welcomed as their honourary Mentors, shall I keep going? I could stand here all night and recall everything that happened, but alas," he tilted his helm to the side with a slight smirk and glimmer in his optics. "Your ward is leaking energon fast, and getting it everywhere. Within due time, maybe just before dawn, raiders or Beastbots will find you and make an easy killing." 

Cryak reset her voice box but only anger was written on her face. "Four stellar cycles and twelve solar cycles to the day, Senator." She spat. "And her name is Ulchtar now, she's Tarnished. She doesn't belong to you, you threw her out." 

Cryak held her helm a little high wearing her own smirk. Cloud Breeze leaned away from her but didn't seem to lose his either. "'Ulchtar' has no meaning. If anything, the closest translation accurately represents waste." He paused for a moment to allow his words to hit home as he glanced yet again at Ulchtar and noticed that she was staring at the ground, hugging herself. He pressed on, clearly distraught by the sight. "And I would never disregard any former citizen of mine. Star of Thundering Sky may have been given you as a Mentor, but clear as it is the moons in tonight's sky that you are inexperienced for such an honour!" 

Cloud Breeze huffed to stop himself from roaring at the tinier Groundbot. He was furious now and he had to ground himself from lashing out. Mercystrike had lessened her glaring to cautiously glance at him, wondering if he needed her to reach out and remind him that there were many optics watching - some quite young and untainted by war. 

Cloud Breeze stared hard at Cryak, when she didn't bite, he continued. "Why hack her wings off?"

"The things were useless," she shrugged. "We didn't need them in the first place, she can't fly and even if she could, what good use would that be in the mines?"

"Jets aren't built for the mines!" Cloud Breeze counterargued.

"And who forgot to inform Shockwave of that?" Cryak huffed, folding her arms across her chassis. 

"I shall," Cloud Breeze growled, gritting his denta. "When I get my servos on him..."

"Is that a threat?" Cryak scoffed. "Are you declaring war, Cloud Breeze?"

"Enough!" Meteor Shine clenched her servos with a pleading look at her superior. "Standing around arguing isn't going to help anybot! Clearly, Ulchtar is injured and the more we stay here, the more energon she'll lose!"

Cloud Breeze hesitantly shifted his gaze from his medic over to the injured, young bot and stared for a moment. Cryak was swiftly by Ulchtar's side once more. She scoffed and gestured to the mangled spinal panel. "Take it." 

Ulchtar's optics widened as Cryak said that. 

"Take it," Cryak repeated nonchalantly. "This bot is utterly useless to me and has been nothing but an absolute pain to work with. It doesn't fit in anywhere, doesn't contribute in any way to Tarn and probably won't even survive the next few groons." 

Ulchtar's fearful optics were now plastered to Cryak's face plates. The shock of her words had a devastating impact on the young bot as she watched her only guardian belittle her in front of their most feared enemy. 

Shock could also be slightly seen in Cloud Breeze's optics as he stared at Cryak's face silently. He blinked before he slowly glanced over at Ulchtar. His gaze drifted from her hurt face plates to the sliver of white hiding behind Dustburner - hunched in the shadows, optics wide with unfathomable emotion. Darkness fell around Cloud Breeze as everything faded and all he could see was Skyfire's small form shrinking from him in fear and hurt. He couldn't imagine his son hearing him say that, or having to grow up alone and unloved. 

"Breeze?" He was snapped back to the situation at hand by a soft touch on one of his shoulderstruts. He glanced down and saw the wary look of his sister greeting him. He stared at her for a moment before he swivelled his helm around and stared dead at Cryak. 

She was already putting distance between herself and Ulchtar, who seemed frozen in place - intake agape, frame weak. 

"I never wanted it in the first place," Cryak glared at Cloud Breeze with a dark hiss. "I didn't need it." 

Cloud Breeze stared at Cryak, his own intake firmly shut now. He scanned her optics once again and gave a firm nod. He remained stiff, his frame having spiked with a roller coaster of emotions - mostly hatred - that kept him locked in place. However, he was able to ground himself and allowed for Cryak to leave the Crescent formation that they had created around her. He looked at each individual warrior of his group, a warning that they would not engage a loner tonight. 

Ulchtar watched with fearful optics as Cryak turned her backstrut on her and headed towards the darkness of The Flats. "Mentor?" 

Cloud Breeze then lifted his helm and clicked to his Seekers. "Go home, take everybot home." 

Storm Wing and Dustburner nodded, turning so the younger Seekers couldn't bear witness to the gruesome scene that they had been shielded from this entire time. Mercystrike lingered for a moment. 

"Will you be alright?" Her vocals were soft, her optics shifty. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "Stay over us." He ordered and she soon took to the air. 

Meteor Shine sized up Ulchtar, she stepped forward to begin her examination, however, the now abandoned ward shrank back with a weak cry. Her servos quickly came up to shield herself from the complete stranger. 

"Meteor Shine," Cloud Breeze ordered. "Not now." 

"But," the maroon-coloured jet huffed. "The energon! She might deactivate due to the leakage!"

"I'll take care of it," Cloud Breeze mumbled as he stared at Ulchtar. "Just head home."

Meteor Shine lingered defiantly for a moment, but even she knew better than to test the King's patience and eventually joined the others in the skies above. 

"Is he going to be alright?" Skyfire flew beneath Storm Wing, a sad and heavy feeling in his spark. 

"He's been through worse." Storm Wing stated plainly. "Things'll be ok, just head back to Vos, it's late." 

Back on the ground, Ulchtar stared fearfully at Cloud Breeze - now the two were alone. 

"What are you going to do to me?" Ulchtar whimpered in broken Tarnished. Thankfully, Cloud Breeze was more than an expert at the language to comprehend what was being communicated in his direction. 

He stared at the mangled, young jet for a moment before he huffed and eased the tension in his frame. "I'm not going to give up on you."

Ulchtar sniffed and blinked so her fearful expression became a confused one. "What?... Why?"

Cloud Breeze took a cautious step forward with his servos out to show that he didn't mean any harm towards the little one. And little she quite was, he now noticed, perhaps even energon deprived. It served to annoy him the more he began to take notice of these little details and all the neglect Ulchtar had lived under for so long. 

"You were just abandoned by the one bot you know, perhaps the one bot you may have even trusted, and called a 'mentor'." Cloud Breeze began softly, standing tall before the other. "You've been left with who you may assume to be the enemy, which I do not blame you nor your upbringing for, but my words were true. You were Forged in Vos, you were one of my citizens, and you were given away, foolishly." He hissed at himself. "No omen is worth the abuse of one bot, forgive me, Star of Thundering Sky - perhaps I should've been braver in my moments that night. Perhaps I should've challenged the Tarnished helm on, maybe even the Primes."

He turned so he was facing Mullene Ni, the larger of Cybertron's two moons, as it shone down over them in The Flats. He dipped his helm in shame, however, which caught Ulchtar's intrigue. 

"Star?" She repeated. "I..."

"It was your official, Vosian name." Cloud Breeze explained. 

"I remember that..." She sniffed. "Official? You... You gave me a name?" 

"We give everybot a name," Cloud Breeze murmured softly. "Every star in the sky, in the universe, has a story. Everybot must have a name, a place from which they hail, and a purpose that propels them forward. You were Forged in Vos, you hail from Ancient Heroes, it deeply wounds me to see one of my descendants treated this way." 

Ulchtar glanced at the ground to collect her swirling thoughts for a moment. "Then... Why... Why did you throw me out?"

"We did not," Cloud Breeze turned slowly to look at Ulchtar with a soft yet sorrowful look. "You and your Trine were meant to be well taken care of - a means of a peace treaty between Vos and Tarn, two great nations that have been at war since they were created. Clearly, that treaty has now failed." 

"My Trine?" Ulchtar breathed, some hope filling her defeated spark. "Are they-?"

"Gone." Cloud Breeze didn't look at her. "They disappeared into Tarn alongside you. I have not heard of them in stellar cycles."

Ulchtar held herself as she endured the blow. Her processor told her that she'd been expecting that answer somewhat, yet it still blindsided her for a moment. "What... Ca-can you tell me their names?" 

"Thunder across Starry Sky, the eldest and your brother." Cloud Breeze reset his voice box to tell her. "And Sky full of Stars and Thunder, your younger sibling. We called you 'Thunder, Star and Sky' for short." 

"Thunder and Sky," Ulchtar sniffed but a small smile blossomed on her face plates as she hugged herself. Finally, her spark eased at some of the closure, she had the names of the ghosts that had plagued her memory files as a sparkling. 

"Maybe they're still out there," Cloud Breeze lifted his helm to stare up at the stars. "Though, I do not wish for you to carry false hope in your spark. Tonight was a test of my strength and will." He clenched one of his servos. "I do not ever wish to see you be crushed like that again." 

Ulchtar stared at Cloud Breeze for a moment before she glanced around at the cold and empty Flats. 

"I will walk with you," Cloud Breeze turned fully to stare at Ulchtar. 

"Where?" The mangled jet squeaked, fear soon returning to her tear-stained face plates. She looked so hurt and alone.

"To Vos," he gestured with his helm in the direction of the city. "I will walk with you. Every step of the way. I will not leave your side, I shall keep you safe, rest when you rest, stop or go when you do."

"Why?" Ulchtar shrank back, not knowing how to feel about the new reality she found herself in. 

Cloud Breeze thought for a moment, but he chuckled softly. His spark-mate had always been the better with words, not him. Ulchtar tilted her helm at him so he answered before she became more unnerved. "Because the stars sent for me tonight, they told me that one of their Angels had fallen and that as the King of our kind, it falls upon me to fulfil my duty and protect everybot." 

"A guardian?" 

He nodded. "If you'll give me a chance. A proper one. I will never hurt you, Little Star. I will never bring myself to be lowered to such pettiness. If you trust me, I will stand in the doorway of a world that was made for you and teach you all that I know." 

Ulchtar stared up at him for a moment. There were no words that could describe the question that she wanted to ask. But Cloud Breeze seemed to understand anyhow. 

He smiled. "I think you'll like what I have to offer. Walk with me and hold your helm high, strength comes from healing."

The Barrens - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Twenty arcs later.

Ulchtar limped beside Cloud Breeze and every time she lingered for a moment too long she risked a wary glance up at the mighty warrior. But Cloud Breeze always spoke softly and walked at her pace. He never once yelled at her or huffed or seemed to get annoyed by the littlest thing. He was patient, kind and watched over her constantly. He never left her side. 

Still, Ulchtar paused under the blanket of the dark night and glanced over her shoulderstrut back at the large, shallow pools of energon she'd left behind. Cloud Breeze had ordered Dustburner and Meteor Shine to carry the damaged wings back to Vos for inspection. 

"You may never be able to fly ever again," Cloud Breeze eyed her warily. 

"That's fine," she shrugged, optics still wet with lubricant. "I never knew what it felt like anyway." She mumbled, her spark's happiness fading alongside the image of Metalhawk's happy smile on that sunny day by the cliff in Nova Point. 

Cloud Breeze paused to look at her closely. "No," he shook his helm, he was still gentle but more firm with his words now. "You will fly someday, Star. I won't rest until you learn your rightful place among the stars with us. Then, you can make your choice." 

They shared a smile but Ulchtar allowed Cloud Breeze to walk a few steps ahead before she turned and squinted at the darkness behind them back in the direction of Tarn. 

"What is it?" The Seeker asked, halting to make sure that she was alright. 

"Nothing," Ulchtar shook her helm, legs feeling a little weak but otherwise capable. "I just... I was just saying goodbye." 

Tarn faded into the darkness behind them, out of sight and out of reach as they headed towards Vos. 

Chapter Text

The Emergency Medical Ward, 51st Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Two and a half solar-cycles later.

Once they'd gotten Ulchtar settled onto the berth, Meteor Shine had immediately placed her into a medically induced power down. Then she turned her sights onto their leader. 

"You're an idiot!" She hissed bravely, despite the fearful looks of Orange Blast and Dapol, her colleagues. "An absolute idiot!"

Cloud Breeze stood tall, though with a somewhat bored expression on his face plates. He knew that he was going to get a grilling for this yet he reminded himself that having pulled rank over her earlier, it was only fair that she do this now, in the privacy of her work environment - a place where she did have power. 

"You should've carried her back!" Meteor Shine continued her rant. "Making her walk could've caused far more injury than already need be!" 

"We were building trust." Cloud Breeze straightened up slightly as he looked at her with a blank and coy stare. "What? You want me to drag a traumatised spawn back and force them under the scalpel?" He scoffed and shook his helm. "Never."

"We could've saved more time and energon if you had!" The medic hissed. "Primus, the one time you could've chosen to abuse your power, to save a life!"

"I did save a life," Cloud Breeze tried his best not to look offended. "I made Ulchtar trust us, that's the first step to recovery." 

"Perhaps in the mind of healing," Meteor Shine huffed under her breath. "But not when a leakage this bad could've harmed somebot."

"I trust in my most prized medics to take good care of her." Cloud Breeze turned slightly to indicate that he was going to leave. He glanced at Orange Blast and Dapol who looked anxious. He flashed them a warm smile. "And I'll never abuse the power that I have over you, we all know that."

"Ugh!" Meteor Shine threw her servos up and clawed the air. "Get out! Just go! So we can do our work!" 

Cloud Breeze chuckled as she physically pushed him out of the ward and locked the door behind him. He vented heavily and headed down the hallway, keeping to one side as a few medics hurried about here and there to keep their patients online and comfortable. He then sent a ping to Orange Blast. 

" I   W A N T   T O   B E   N O T I F I E D   W H E N   U L C H T A R   A W A K E N S . "

Not even a moment later his most experienced medical officer responded back with: 

" W I L L   D O . "

Cloud Breeze smiled but it was short-lived as he was soon met with his sisters at the end of the hallway. Mercystrike had her arms folded across her battle-scarred chassis while Cyber Song had her servos clasped together before her and a pleasant yet warm smile on her face plates. 

"Sisters," Cloud Breeze dipped his helm respectfully with a heavy vent. 

"I heard that Vos got a new citizen last night?" Cyber Song's voice was soft and she continued to smile. Her blue optics were ever bright and warm whenever she spoke. A stark contrast from Mercystrike who stared at him with a cold and bored attitude. 

"Yes, we did." He nodded, glancing at Mercystrike before he looked at their Shaman. "Did you know anything of this?" 

Cyber Song's blue optics strayed for a moment as he asked that. 

She knows something. Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics at her with a frown, trying to peer inside her processor. But Cyber Song was as secretive as they came. 

"I think you should head to the Council," her voice was sweet. "Shockwave will be there." 

"You're wasting your time," Mercystrike spoke once they were outside and separated from their third and final Trine-mate. "We should be raiding those Tarnbots and demanding higher stores of their energon supply." 

Cloud Breeze stood on the street of Vos' inner city, taking a moment to observe everything around them. Things were peaceful, though alive. Vos hardly ever slept and during the day, such as now, it was quite a busy yet welcoming city. 

"A lot has changed," he said out loud. 

Mercystrike blinked at him. "Cloud." 

"I heard you," he huffed, not looking at her and taking another moment to think before he turned to respond to her. "I cannot just throw everything away over one incident, Mercystrike." He tried to think carefully about his next words but his emotions were racing too vividly for him to comprehend them. "Yes, what happened was horrible, but it was an isolated incident. There's no need to start a war and kill everybot over it. Trust me, I shall deal with Shockwave in another way."

She huffed and rolled her optics as she released her arms and turned away. "You haven't heard."

"No sister," Cloud Breeze glanced around nonchalantly. "I haven't. If you noticed, I was busy with something." 

"When is your ego and pride not ever going to be the front that you'll fight on?" The grey jet turned to give him a look. "Seriously? You know Meteor Shine was right, you should've just picked her up and brought her here. Instead, you wasted more time taking a stroll which, would've no doubt, been far more painful for poor Ulchtar to endure. But no, Cloud Breeze has to go and play the hero, he has to be the shoulderstrut that everybot cries on until they feel better about themselves." 

Mercystrike huffed, trying her best to relax her armour back while others were passing by. She hid her face plates in slight shame by turning away meanwhile Cloud Breeze acknowledged them with a nod and a friendly smile. "That's how we ended up in this mess in the first place." 

Cloud Breeze frowned as he stared up at the Cloud Tower situated right across from the Sky Tower, neighbours that stood side by side. "You do realise that that same shoulderstrut is also here for you?" 

"I don't need it." She hissed. 

Silence stood between them before Cloud Breeze nodded. "I understand that you're upset. But see? This is the difference between them and me." He waited for a moment, his voice box struggling to brave the next words as he lowered his volume so only she could hear. "Everybot felt so distant and unsure around Sky Shadow. And we know what happened with Umbratron. The day that I allow myself to lose sight and become the monster that they were," he shook his helm. "No. Sky Shadow chose me because I was somebot the people could trust, and Vos needed that. They still do. If I cannot settle things peacefully with words between borders then my blade is forced and for a moment I become the thing that..." He blinked as he found himself unable to break through the grief. 

"The thing that took Jet Wing from us?" Mercystrike's voice was soft but he noticed that it too trembled. 

He nodded, restraining the lubricant that threatened to fall from his optics. "I will never allow anybot to feel the pain that I have felt. I never want to become like him. So," he raised his helm a little lighter and clasped his servos together as he forced a smile on his face. "Criticise me all you want, because you can do that now. And unlike Sky Shadow, I do take to others' advice. It's why I named you as my first Lieutenant after all, isn't it?" 

He turned to smile adoringly at his sister. 

"The ruthless Mercystrike, feared warrior all across Cybertron and beyond." 

She scoffed and shook her helm playfully. "I hate you." 

"Yes, but without you, I wouldn't be online today, and I thank you for that. Genuinely, sister, you two don't realise just how much I appreciate you both." He glanced up at the sky as a patrol streaked overhelm.

"We love you too, Cloud." She turned to smile at him. "We just don't want you to do stupid things."

"I'm prone to that." Cloud Breeze smirked. 

"We know," Mercystrike smirked back at him. "So, the Council?" 

"I guess I have to put up with them once again today." Cloud Breeze vented heavily. 

"Maybe it's time for a Usurper?" 

"No," he shook his helm. "There's not a bot online that I trust enough to put up with these after-burners."

Mercystrike laughed and stepped away from him. "Fair enough, safe travels." 

"I'll try to return swiftly," Cloud Breeze pinged Airwave as he farewelled his sister to clear the airway around the Sky Tower for his ground-to-air takeoff. He was soon given the all-clear for a thirteen-nano-cycle window. 

"Oh, please don’t." she shrugged slyly. "Vos isn't in any rush to start a war yet." 

Cloud Breeze transformed and shot straight up into the air with a loud BOOM that trembled the windows of the nearby Towers. Mercystrike watched him rise until he veered sharply and took off in the direction of Iacon.

The Senate Building, Nova Cronum - North Cybertron, Underground. 
Six joors later .

Hushed murmurs circled around him and softened his audial receptors when he entered the dark lobby. It sat high above the parliament, also adorned in darkness. 

"After the horrors of the Catalyst," his optics shifted as he heard Codexa's voicebox nearby. "All government buildings in Nova Cronum were moved underground. To avoid further damage to important documents, and people." 

"The cowards," he heard Termagax scoff. "Living underground like glitch-mice." 

There was a pause behind him as he assumed that Codexa had turned to glare at her colleague. 

"What?" Termagax sounded as if she were raising a brow ridge. "Every time the Seekers raid Tarn, we always rebuild! We don't let fear drive us."

"That's right!" Today, Cloud Breeze lifted his helm as he heard a new voice. He turned with surprise painted in his optics as he saw the small, bulky, dull-grey mining bot accompanying Termagax. He gave a rather determined and fearless smirk at his mentor. "Tarnished don't fear anyone!"

"Not even the Mighty Megatronus?" Cloud Breeze couldn't help himself as he tilted his helm to the side and smirked down at the tiny bots accompanying the two femmes. 

The grey bot stiffened and stared up at him with wonder. On Termagax's other side, the Seeker King recognised Aurora Lux, though there was an even smaller blue and red bot standing in between her and Codexa. 

Termagax seemed a little on edge as she bowed her helm and took a precautionary step back, muttering something to her ward that Cloud Breeze couldn't catch. 

"You mean The Fallen?" Aurora Lux asked, her blue optics searching Cloud Breeze's face plates for any signs of ill intent. 

"Do they call him that in Tarn?" His gaze slid to Termagax's amber face. "I'm genuinely curious." 

"No," the bulky professor shook her helm, though her gaze never met his, she spoke in a rather respectful tone. "He's known as Megatronus Prime, Sir." 

"There's no need for formalities, Termagax." Cloud Breeze muttered plainly as his optics narrowed on her frame. "This is neutral ground. Though I'm sure you've probably been asked a thousand times already, why did you bring the wards with you? What are their names?" 

Termagax huffed with a slight glare but turned and gently nudged the grey bot's shoulderstrut. 

"This one's mine," she stated with a blunt but prideful tone. "Designation D-16. He's new, and I'm showing him around the Senate today." 

D-16's amber optics mimicked Termagax's almost perfectly, but when Cloud Breeze stared down into them he was reminded briefly of Ulchtar and how she was struggling for her life back at home. D-16 was smiling but it faded when he noticed that Cloud Breeze wasn't smiling back. 

"And this is Orion Pax," Codexa quickly stepped between them with a gorgeous smile of her own to help relieve some of the tension. "He's my second spawn. You already met Aurora Lux." 

"And it is good to see them both," Cloud Breeze nodded his helm at them before he sharply in-vented and addressed Termagax. "There's been a few rumours regarding Tarn as of late?" 

She soon stiffened her frame and glared at him. "Yes, but don't think us so 'friendly' that I'd dare tell you anything in regards to my home city-state, Senator." 

Cloud Breeze flatly stared at her before glancing down at D-16. "I'm not fond of Tarnished names. Why D-16?" 

"That's the grid I was manufactured in!" The young grey bot excitedly answered, taking a bold step forward. "That means that I have other brothers and sisters out there!"

"Others?" Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge at him. 

"Yeah," D-16’s face plates darkened with a smirk. "They're gonna kick your skid plate!"

"Whoa, ok!" Codexa hurriedly moved to shield D-16 behind her protectively as she gave a nervous chuckle in Cloud Breeze's direction. "That's enough, uh, socialising... Lux, why don't you take them down to see the artefacts?" 

The green and red femme quickly nodded as she grabbed the younger two wards and swiftly headed off downstairs to the public museum that lay beneath the Senate Building. Once they were gone Cloud Breeze turned his helm back to the two mentors. 

"I hold no grudges," he was swift to ease their anxiety. "I'm rather impressed, Termagax. He'll make a fine bot someday. You planning on warrior?" 

"Not exactly," she huffed and looked down. "He's... He gets like this sometimes."

"I find it very admirable," Codexa soothed her, standing as gracefully as ever beside her friend. 

Cloud Breeze blinked before he tried again. "So, the rumours regarding Tarn?" 

"What's your intention?" Termagax raised a brow ridge at him, crossing her large arms. 

"Last night I stumbled across a gruesome sight North of The Barrens," Cloud Breeze began low so only they could hear. "Tell me, do you know anything of Cryak? Or at least, why would my sister suddenly be so on edge?" 

Termagax risked a glance at Codexa but it seemed clear that the Iaconian wasn't aware of what was going on. 

She vented. "All I know is that Shockwave plans to propose something here today to Iacon. Sentinel's back in Iacon seeing off his brother."

Cloud Breeze nodded. "Zeta Primon is heading for Caminus. I have my best fliers to lead him out tonight." He glanced at Codexa. 

"They're not attending so I and Primon have come to stand in their place." She explained. 

"All I've heard about Cryak is that she's a bot who works better off alone," Termagax answered Cloud Breeze's other question. "Why she fell in with Shockwave a couple of stellar cycles back, I don't know. I keep out of the streets, Cloud Breeze. I'm a professor now, not a miner." 

The large, white Seeker nodded. "Thank you for your insight."

"Was anybot hurt?" Codexa frowned, catching him as he turned to leave with a worried look. 

He hesitated for a moment, narrowing his optics down at her. "Yes," he muttered quietly. "A spawn recently turned four. One of theirs. A patrol of mine arrived on the scene, it seemed to be... Friendly fire." 

Termagax's brow furrowed in confusion as her face plates darkened. The two groups then split off and Cloud Breeze found himself alone yet again. He stood in one dark corner, casually leaning against the wall with his arms folded as he stared at Shockwave who was deep in conversation with Drivetrain. 

"For once, we're all not waiting on you!" Yellow optics landed on Decimus as the other strutted up to the large Seeker with a bright smile and outstretched servos. Beside him stood Momus; Senators of Kaon and Helex respectfully. "By Primus, it must be a miracle!"

Momus chuckled before Cloud Breeze glared slightly at him.

"Where's Crucible?" The Seeker King asked in a cold tone. Before they could respond, however, he straightened up coolly and flattened his gaze upon them. "You should've brought him. It seems like Termagax thinks this is a Sparkcare of some sort." 

Decimus snorted with a chuckle but Momus only frowned quietly. "He's unwell," the Helex Senator mumbled in a short reply. 

Cloud Breeze only hummed before Decimus went on. "We were wondering if we could catch you before or after the meeting ~" he smirked his jagged, white denta and the Seeker frowned in slight disgust at the sleazy sight. "We all know about the infamous Cloud Breeze. You don't send patrols through the Sonic Canyons anymore. How come?"

The Kaon Senator pouted and Cloud Breeze only responded by narrowing his optics at him. 

"It's a shame, they're truly a sight to behold after a wet storm." Decimus turned away and pretended to examine his digits as he continued his proposal. 
"It'd be a lot of fun if you brought that sister of yours too, Mercystrike was it? Tsk, so you wouldn't have to worry about a thing." 

"I feel as if you genuinely have forgotten my responsibilities as a King of Vos, dear Decimus." Cloud Breeze leaned over him slightly. "I simply don't have time for parties, and the Canyons are far too beyond our borders to be wasting any patrols on." 

"Ah that's right," Decimus leaned away with a grin. "You've got your servos full with Tarn now, don't you?" He shook his helm. "You preparing for war? You're going to need allies at some point." 

Cloud Breeze slid his gaze over to Shockwave's backstrut and frowned. "Maybe."

"That's what I wanted to hear!" Decimus whispered happily as he clasped his servos together. "You know, Peptex is looking to gain its Independence from us, and I really don't want that to happen. How fortunate it is that you're simply across the way, no?"

"Peptex?" That caught his attention and soon his optics were back on the cunning Senator. "That's former Predacon territory." He huffed. 

"Former," Decimus held up a single, long, slender, black digit. "There haven't been any confirmed sightings in quite a while, nearly, what? Two thousand kilo cycles and a good half of one? All we have are bored younglings breaking in with nothing better to do." 

"The natives do, however, deserve their right to a sovereign state." Cloud Breeze frowned - he didn't exactly like the way Decimus treated his citizens, and he could understand why the territory of Peptex wanted to break away independently. 

"Mm," Decimus turned his helm away as he hummed. "And there would go your allies to flank Tarn's Southern borders..."

"Tarn's Southern borders are far more heavily guarded than its North-Western one that we share with them. More Tarnbots live in the South thanks to the factory. And remind me if I'm wrong, Decimus, but your military ranks aren't exactly up to date with the latest technology. Yes, you have numbers and useful tech for navigating across the Sea, but you're no match for a livid Tarnished." Cloud Breeze stared him down with a dark look. 

"Look at it this way," Decimus shrugged and gestured to Momus. "All you'd have to do is show up to a few of our parties, then word would spread like rust - you rubbing wing tips with Industrial Giants! Shockwave would think twice before double-crossing you." 

"You may have a point," Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge and feigned a small smile. "Vos could use more minerals. If we damn ourselves to constantly rely on Tarn, we might continue this vicious cycle between us." 

"And what a vicious cycle it is," Momus nodded, keeping his voice low. "Everybot despises hearing, seeing, even knowing about it."

"At some point," Decimus held up a digit. "One of you is going to have to cease to exist. And call me biased for having an opinion but I'd much rather Tarn be wiped from the history books. More minerals and miners for us, and we get to keep Cybertron's High Guard watching over us like the Angels you are ~" 

Decimus purred as he let his digit tips dance along Cloud Breeze's jaw. The Seeker thought for a nano cycle about the audacity of this Groundbot to dare touch him before he smiled, and leaned into the touch so he was looking directly into Decimus' optics. 

"I'd sooner flatten all of Kaon back into the Pit than allow our Tarnished brothers and sisters to become enslaved by the likes of you." Cloud Breeze darkly muttered before he swiftly ripped himself out of Decimus' space and turned to walk further away from the crowd to distance himself for a moment. His systems were heated with embarrassment and anger, so he closed his optics once he had his backstrut turned and reached out to his sisters for a moment of temporary comfort. 

Mercystrike was out with her spawn, teaching him how to fly through their much smaller canyons back home, but Cyber Song was beneath the Celestial Spires and gladly scooped his lonesome spark up into hers. Her warm and loving embrace set him back at ease. Her calm signal was like a river that carried him soothingly down a cavern of memories as he was met with Jet Wing's face plates and shining, blue optics, sparkling back at him from the depths of his processor. 

He reopened his optics when he heard the doors to the lobby open and a few gasps littered his surroundings. He turned and swiftly cut the connection with his sister off, servo itching to reach for his Cloud Saber - he figured that a quick trip to the Senate Building wasn't exactly enough concern to warrant casually carrying around the Star Saber so he instead had opted to carry the blade wielded by his direct ancestor - to not cause any outcry or raise any suspicion should he ever actually need to wield a weapon in the first place. 

Thankfully, however, his frame eased when he caught sight of the regal, Sentinel Prime standing in the underground tunnel that led outside. Confusion then plagued his thoughts as his servo fell away from his sheath. 

"Sentinel," Halogen struggled to find the right words. "You're... Here?" 

"Yes, I am." The prideful red and dark grey Prime huffed as he strode in, holding his helm high. "My brother doesn't depart from Cybertron until dusk. So we have all day to say goodbye. In the meantime, I recall that I failed to show up for the last meeting?"

"That," Straxxus hesitated for a moment before he narrowed his yellow optics in the Prime's direction. "Sounds pretty accurate, for you..."

Sentinel seemed to brush it off as he stepped into the lobby. Cloud Breeze watched his smile widen as Sentinel took in the sight of having almost every Senator present. All except his brother, Zeta. The Seeker stiffened slightly as Sentinel's green optics landed on him and then they passed by after a small moment. Cloud Breeze forced himself to relax, taking a few casual glances at the other politicians in the lobby - there were quite a few. 

"Well, are we waiting for the welcoming committee?" Sentinel strode forward, sarcasm dripping from his tone and optics narrowed in judgment. "Let's get in there! You've all been here before, you know where your seats are! You don't need me to hold your servos."

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics in annoyance as the doors to the lower parliament opened and soon enough the smaller bots began to stream in. He turned and walked down the golden stairs alongside Drivetrain, muttering quietly to him. "What did you converse with Senator Shockwave?"

"He's in mourning," the Triplechanger murmured with a wary glance. "If you could..." He risked a glance back behind them where Sentinel remained at the top of the stairs where he stood speaking with Codexa in Iaconian. "Please," Drivetrain pleaded quietly. "Don't make a scene. Not in front of Sentinel."

The frown on Cloud Breeze's pale silver face plates only darkened. "You know, I prefer showing up late to these things." He stepped away as Drivetrain shook his helm and vented heavily. 

It was true, however, that ever since he'd shown up, a lot of bots were telling him what to do rather than what useful information he could've charmed out of them. He huffed to himself and allowed his armour to spike in the darkness as he took his seat beside Traachon. 

"Hey," the Military Elder leaned over with a wary look. "Are you alright?"

"You're not very smiley today," behind him, Sherma leaned forward to whisper down to them. 

Cloud Breeze continued to frown as his frame went rigid with annoyance. "I'm not in the mood to be here for theatrics." His tone was low and dangerously quiet. 

Augur Flos, to his left, turned his helm and squinted his light green optics at him. "If Prime's here then hopefully it's something good."

Sherma nodded. "Just try to distract yourself with their pettiness, whatever it is that's bugging your air space, forget about it. It's not good to start a fight, not here, not now." 

Cloud Breeze relaxed into his chair, optics piercing through Shockwave's armour as the younger sat right across from him. "I only have one request for the Council," his tone sounded a little lighter so he wouldn't have to worry them any longer as he put on a brave face. "It can wait." 

They nodded and his closest colleagues relaxed back into their own chairs, preparing for a long meeting. 

"Did you bring it?" Traachon leaned over and whispered to him while he kept his yellow optics on the opposition. 

"The Saber?" Cloud Breeze tilted his helm slightly and watched as Traachon nodded. "No. I wouldn't dare harbour a weapon like that in this place. I'm a leader, Traachon, not a mad bot." 

"Everybot can tell something's up." Traachon continued as Primon blessed them and introduced the Senate to the Archivists. "First, you show up early and barely speak to anybot, let alone smile."

"Am I scaring you, old friend?" Cloud Breeze smirked, nodding as Primon mentioned his designation. 

"Maybe," Traachon huffed and leaned back. "Forgive me for being on edge, I walk among Titans. You, Sentinel, Primon, Drivetrain, Nightstrike, and the likes." 

"You have just as much respect for your name, too." Cloud Breeze went quiet as he watched Proteus enter the parliament chamber and clasped his servos together. 

"Friends! Great friends and fiends alike!" The bot's voice box boomed loudly throughout the quiet chamber. "It is an absolute honour to welcome all of you to the 2657th Senate Gathering. Thank you deeply to Advisor Primon for introducing everybot. Now, we'll raise the most pressing concerns first and make our way around the chamber afterwards. This is the 19th time this Assembly has fully Gathered and we are very thankful for that. Clearly, something has happened to warrant all of you to be here - whether interest in your territories or elsewhere, thank you for coming."

There was a collective murmur of bowed helms as they all thanked Proteus and the city-state of Nova Cronum for hosting. Cloud Breeze's optics twitched as he caught sight of Termagax in the lower corner opening a door. He couldn't help but smirk as she stood over the three younglings from earlier, her armour spiked in annoyance before she quietly dragged them into the jury stands where they could bear witness to the Senate. 

"All rise for Sentinel," Proteus continued on without acknowledging. 

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics but kept his annoyance to himself as he stood with the crowd. Sentinel Prime then stepped down from his seat at the head of the Senate so he stood in the centre with Proteus. He turned, waving and smiling as the overhelm spotlights followed him and that was the cue for them to be seated once more.

"I deeply thank all of you for showing up today, I know that the distance can often be quite the hassle sometimes." He paused to spare a glance over at Decimus, Halogen, Momus, Nightstrike and Airachnid, Sherma, Augur Flos, and Rotorstorm. The Senators of mostly the Southern Hemisphere, as Nova Cronum was located in the North; Kaon, Ultirex, Helex, Tetrahex, Petrex, Crystal City, and Triax respectively. "But I'm told that there is no worry as you can all stay here overnight and there'll be lovely weather to travel home with. Now, onto the important things at servo. We've already placed Functionalist Trials throughout the entire state of Iacon, Monoplex and Rodion and so far, it has proven the desired results. Bots are no longer wandering the streets, looking for something to do. Crime is down 68% across all these Northern city-states and employment rates have skyrocketed. The Functionalist Theory seems to be proving true to its course. So I, as the baring leader of this entire planet, propose a deal, to you, the rest of the ruling body - that we indoctrinate and adopt this new system all across Cybertron."

He finished with his servos out splayed to the Council and a gleaming smile on his golden face plates. 

Cloud Breeze looked across as hushed but panicked murmuring rose from the Senate stands. He could see the worry in a few of his colleague's optics. They were panicking, if not, they were uncomfortable and unsure. 

He glanced down at Sentinel who stood tall with his servos clasped behind his backstrut and helm bowed slightly to speak with Proteus. 

"Proteus!" Sentinel's voice rang out to recapture the crowd. "Has already pledged his allegiance to Iacon and has begun preparations for rolling out this new system that we've planned together. Make no mistake, brothers and sisters, but I do intend on this becoming a worldwide trend. However," his optics widened with mischief as he hung the crowd on the edge of their seats. "This won't need to be rolled out immediately. You have up to twelve stellar cycles in the lower regions to think but only nine in the cities that surround Iacon. We, the North, are as stern and stubborn as ever to change from our ways but we welcome you, the South to join us as one to build and nurture a stronger Cybertron tomorrow." 

Cloud Breeze blinked, for him, this was an easy task. Most of his citizens already adopted their functions as their entire lives. It was what Vosians were built on - tradition. But he was well aware that nine or twelve stellar cycles wouldn't be enough to initiate a proxy dictatorship - today it was your job, tomorrow it could be your faith. He frowned at that, he wasn't particularly a fan of whatever it was that Sentinel was planning. 

Bravely, from the stands across from him, Momus and Drivetrain stood to oppose. Soon the Tarnished, Shockwave and Termagax also joined them. 

Sentinel turned to address them. "Senators of Tarn, Kaon, and Helex, speak."

An Archivist hurriedly scribbled that down. 

Shockwave was the first to open his intake as he gestured to himself. "I was Forged as a mining operator." He began softly, though his steely gaze remained stern on Sentinel. "From the depths of the mines, I rose. Thanks to somebot that did not believe in the former Quintesson theory. Thanks to him, I strode forward and made Tarn a self, independent city-state. True, most of us today are still miners, but we have been given more freedom! Are you to suggest that all Tarnished just simply revert back to their shackles and lose their self-identity? Do you mean this for all city-states someday?" 

A few helms nodded with a collective agreement. 

"Functionalism can work, Sentinel," Shockwave continued. "But it mustn't be forced in large amounts. Look at what Vos is doing!" Cloud Breeze's mood sunk further down. "The first twelve stellar cycles of activation are devoted to intense training in preparation for hazardous combat. Afterwards, you are given the exclusive opportunity to adopt and repeat this cycle throughout a further four stellar cycle period known as 'Active Duty' personnel. But once those less than twenty stellar cycles are up, Vosians are free to choose their own path, even explore off-world! Things are functioning just fine in Vos. And in Tarn, we are aiming to adopt a similar philosophy, though less restricted." 

"I find it difficult that the Senator of Tarn can somewhat speak on behalf of the Senator of Vos," Sentinel huffed with a dark smirk before he turned and the spotlights soon landed on Cloud Breeze. "Do you back Senator Shockwave's proposal, Senator Cloud Breeze? And while I have addressed you now, may I say that it is quite the sight to see you here so early. It's very appreciated." 

Sentinel smiled as he placed a servo over his chassis where his spark lay beneath. Pure silence filled the chamber as Cloud Breeze stared down at the Prime despite the bright lights assaulting his optical sensors. His arms were folded against his large, white chassis to front the cold wall he'd brought with him. 

"Do I back the proposal?" Cloud Breeze echoed in a stern voice - playing coy as if he hadn't heard everything that had just been spoken. 

Sentinel nodded with a light chuckle. "We may need to get your audi-"

"No." Silence cut through the room like an assassin and stole their smiles. Cloud Breeze continued. "Vos functions this way because we have been outcasted and ostracized from society. My kind were sent into political exile following the Catalyst, which - must I always be the one to remind everybot of our collective history? Was not caused by Seekers." A dark frown came over him as he hissed. "We fought against the Quintessons for Cybertron's freedom, and as a result of being descendants from the sly Liege Maximo, we were blamed for conspiring with the enemy. This is untrue and an insult to the heritage of Vos! The bastards cut us down and terminated our leaders right in front of us! We were brave enough to fight back but it came at a cost, one that I seek to pay."

The room was tense before Sentinel moved fluidly and smiled again as he tried to calm the raging storm in the corner. "That's well and all Senator, but may I respectfully ask what any of this has to do with Senator Shockwave's proposal?" 

"Senator Shockwave may have done his research but he is not one of us." Cloud Breeze leaned forward, a fire behind his optics. "Vosians cannot afford to lose again, nor can Cybertron. My Seekers all have a homing beacon, a hivemind. They return when the threat has arrived and their oaths are made of Cybertanium. These are not jobs or a way of life, this is a sacrifice. We are functionalist not because of some trend, but because Cybertron's survival depends on it." 

"And only you?" Cloud Breeze's glare soon caught sight of Termagax - beside her Codexa looked fearfully up at her friend. 

The white Seeker narrowed his optics in thought before he eased back and replied. "No. The Vanguard is quite an impressive force. But they are restricted to the ground. They are Cybertron's last line of defence. Unlike Vos, however, those who fight in the Vanguard chose to do so. An admirable and honourable choice, there's not a doubt in my spark about that. The military is essential. What Senator Shockwave proposes is not. While I have always advocated for the right of sentient beings to forge their own path, I remain firmly helmstrong in the district of reason. Cybertron functions because we do. Miners are parasites to our planet, however, they would have more freedom to choose if the Matrix chose to work." 

A conflicted look danced behind Sentinel's optics as he clenched one servo to restrain himself from snarling up at the Vosian. He huffed and turned away to address the entire Council. "Fear not, the Matrix of Leadership works... Perhaps by turning to functionalism, we'll in turn restore Cybertron's senses and perhaps energon will return more naturally." 

"Senators of Tetrahex wish to speak after Senators of Kaon and Helex," Proteus announced to the Prime from where he stood in the lower chamber. 

Sentinel glanced over at him with a nod before he looked up at the other standing Senators to wrap up the topic. "Then let them speak!" He chuckled as he outstretched his servos toward them. 

"Casting the Shockwave feud aside, we as a collective nation are simply timid to the whole 'enforcing Functionalism' across all of Cybertron," Decimus tilted his helm with a coy smirk. "Do you mean this future for all of us or simply just a small group? A lesser, fortunate group, than ourselves?" 

The Archivists' helms rose to stare at Sentinel as silence took the room. Cloud Breeze stared down unimpressed, thinking what a fool Sentinel was for allowing even the most naive journalist to be attending this meeting. 

"We should've set this to private," he heard Traachon mutter. 

"Of course not," Sentinel took a few steps forward, placing his servo over his chassis. "No, no. Why are you all acting like this is going to be the end of our world? No! This is just temporary. A blueprint that we must follow in order to restore Cybertron's systems and deal with the massive population influx that we currently have! A way to help those newly Forged that've come from nowhere with no name!"

Cloud Breeze's optics shifted warily; that was news to him. Bots emerging from the Forges with no designations? That was standard for Vosians but for anybot elsewhere on this planet? 

"A sign of war." He heard Sherma lean forward and tell them what they were all thinking.

"Yes!" Sentinel nodded up at her. "Exactly! To avoid war we must take every precaution necessary. We cannot allow bored citizens to run the streets rampant and cause trouble! Everybot must have a purpose and a function to remain on this planet! Everybot must pitch in to help where they can or suffer the losses of being closed off from society! Senator of Vos, Advisor Primon, please remind the Council why Vosian Military Training exists, and where it came from?" 

Cloud Breeze vented heavily through his nasal but relaxed a little as Primon stood to speak. 

"The Quintesson Army of old was easily able to overpower and defeat the Ancient Seekers due to a fractured society and government," Primon's voice was frail but he continued holding his helm high despite the pain Cloud Breeze knew he was going through to recount that day. "The Primes of old believed that it was individuality that led to the downfall of the first Cybertronian High Guard. Some did not wish to fight in the coming war, some were ranked lower than their brothers which caused infighting. Others abandoned their outposts and when the dust settled, there weren't many left."

"Except traitors, enslavers and murderers." Sentinel huffed, eyeing Cloud Breeze with a taunting smirk. "But look at how far their society has come! Being exiled from the rest of Cybertron has seen them grow into an even stronger and more unified force! Clearly, something happened right! Functionalism shouldn't be feared, it should be rejoiced! Our entire planet will only continue to grow stronger as a result of us being unified as a single force against the entire universe!"

Primon's unseeing optics then narrowed on Sentinel. "I advise that you rethink those words, Sentinel. Elaborate as to why you think it best to challenge the universe?"

"I'm not particularly declaring war on anyone, Primon." Sentinel turned coolly to face him but his words were too swift for him not to be panicked. "I am... Merely preparing for the inevitable! There are forces out there that would seek to destroy a weak link - a weak and vulnerable planet such as ours! Who's to say that the Quintessons ever truly left? What if they're still here? Among us? Watching us? What if they're not the only ones?"

"Sentinel Prime is right!" Senator Crosscut leaned forward to frown. "There could be a million threats waiting out there for us! I suggest that we adopt this new world order immediately!"

"Tetrahex Senators, respond?" Proteus raised a brow ridge at Sentinel. 

"Allowed," he nodded. 

"Senator Nightstrike, your concern?" Proteus addressed him as the others took their seats, save for Sentinel who stood alert, remaining in the centre. 

The tall, pale, Predacon rose to his peds as his stark blue optics swept over the crowd. "Most Tetrahexians have... Unique, physiology. Each and every one of us were created with a unique CNA code that allows us to stray from your kind in alt-mode."

"And what are you suggesting, Senator?" Sentinel stepped forward to squint up at him. 

Standing behind Nightstrike was the dark shadow of his Usurper, Airachnid. "Our alt-modes don't have a linear function. We are neither Flier nor Groundbot, miner or military. So we ask you, Sentinel Prime, if we were to adopt your Functionalist role, what would you have in mind for us?" 

Sentinel's optics shifted away as he thought for a moment. "This is rather a unique outlier. Perhaps the Council could disperse while we theorise?" He turned to glance over at the Advisors. 

Primon nodded. "Council dismissed for a debrief. Five breems." 

"Do you need anything?" Cloud Breeze leaned back in his chair, optics offlined and digits pinching the bridge of his nasal when he felt Sherma's digits brush gently against his shoulderstrut. 

He onlined his optics to see her looking between him and Traachon. 

"No," Traachon shook his helm. "I'm fine, thank you."

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics at Shockwave from across the room, watching as the young Senator rose and turned to speak to Decimus. "Five breems with Senator Shockwave," he huffed. 

Sherma leaned back on her heels with a disapproving hum. "Not within my capabilities but-"

"We'll try our best," Augur Flos volunteered as he got up and quickly strode off into the shadows. Sherma followed him. 

Traachon stared at Cloud Breeze with an unreadable expression. He then glanced down over at the Iaconians and leaned forward. "I'm going to converse with Xaaron and Tomaandi. Be back in a few breems." 

The Seeker nodded. "Take care," he mumbled as he watched the elderly bot skitter off into the shadows and re-emerge from below in the Inner Chamber where most of the High Grid bots sat close to the Announcer. 

Yellow optics slid to the left as he heard quick and timid pedsteps approaching, he tensed as she touched his shoulderstrut. "Shockwave's waiting for you," Sherma whispered in his audial. 

He didn't fully relax but he did give a nod. He waited for Sherma to safely be out of his wing space before he rose to his peds and turned to walk over to the shadows shrouding the lobby's doorway. He ascended and briefly reunited with Crystal City's Senator as he strode past, speaking in his native tongue quietly to Halogen - who paid Cloud Breeze no mind. 

The white Seeker then advanced toward the lobby where a Servant-bot closed the door after him. He turned his helm and sized up Tarn's Senator. "You're looking particularly shiny today," Cloud Breeze flattened his gaze. 

The white and gold bot vented and looked away as he stepped close to engage in discussion. "I wanted to inform you of something before this began but forgive me, it seemed as if Senators Momus and Decimus had you previously occupied." 

Cloud Breeze frowned. "Do not let your optics deceive you, Shockwave. I have little intention of entertaining their ideals." 

Shockwave nodded his helm curtly. "Or anybot's for that matter. You're awfully cold today, less talkative..."

"Sentinel Prime's presence alone commands his respect for silence," Cloud Breeze admitted. Though it was mostly his first go-to excuse for his arguably distant behaviour towards the others.  "We should think ourselves it an honour to listen to him here today." 

"Cut the scrap," Shockwave hissed as he stepped forward, his brow ridges furrowing in annoyance. "I know you, and I've seen you outside the parallels of whatever emotion that currently plagues you. Have you heard?" 

Cloud Breeze raised a brow ridge down at him, keeping a cool and distant attitude. "Perhaps. But then again, everybot assumes that I haven't. So do tell and enlighten me, dear Senator. What have I not yet heard?" 

Shockwave allowed his helm to fall downward slightly with a heavy vent. "I... I lost one of the Trine members." 

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics harshly on the other's frame, waiting for him to continue so the silence would not suffocate them both. "Go on."

"Questor's Trine, do you remember?" The Seeker nodded. "Good. Because I lost the one you referred to as Sky full of Stars and Thunder." 

Cloud Breeze stepped back and frowned hard at the wall behind Shockwave. "Sky?"

"Yes," the gold and white bot nodded. "He... There was an accident in my laboratory. He passed through an unstable GroundBridge and I was unable to locate him among the wreckage. He's since been unaccounted for." Cloud Breeze remained stoic, keeping his thoughts to himself as he processed the news. Shockwave began to panic. "I-I'm sorry! If there was anything to be done, I-I-I-I would've done it by now!" 

Cloud Breeze finally muttered to lessen his colleague's stress. "That's two of them." 

"What?" The Tarn Senator was taken aback as shock overloaded his circuitry. "What do you mean 'two'?" 

Cloud Breeze blinked, vented and then turned his helm to stare down at Shockwave. "Sky and Star have both been through traumatic experiences at such an early and vital stage of their lives. We found Star mangled and left for dead at our borders," untrue, but Senator Shockwave wasn't privy enough to be told that. "We couldn't restore or save her. And now you tell me that Sky has also suffered a similar fate? Perhaps I was a fool." He muttered sadly as he shook his helm. 

In his spark, Cloud Breeze wasn't so sure if manipulating a grieving bot was the right way to go, but he needed Shockwave in a vulnerable state. He needed to make the other feel what Ulchtar had felt. It was justified in his optics to pass that pain unto somebot else so they would experience the horror inflicted onto the innocent, caused by them, no less. Putting Shockwave in a state of shock and leaving them speechless was going to help give the Seeker the upper servo inside the Court - he could manipulate Shockwave to work with him or against somebot else and he hid his smirk well while the other looked down, defeat consuming his frame. 

"No..." Shockwave's voice was a whisper as he shook his helm. "How... It shouldn't have gone this way."

"Whether it was Cryak's doing or not remains in question," Cloud Breeze tilted his helm as he continued his soft interrogation. "Should we be worried that this is a sign of war?"

"No!" Shockwave straightened up, his fear spiking to a new level as anger fronted the fight to keep himself protected. "No, Senator Cloud Breeze! We are not trying to start a war with you!"

"That's a relief," the Seeker vented, his servos finding a resting perch on his hipstruts once more. "But this day, I suppose, still carries with it the weight of tragedy."

Shockwave offlined his blue optics to endure the emotional pain that was overwhelming him for a moment. "You were right," he croaked out. "A Groundbot has no place to raise a Flier. We failed." 

Cloud Breeze allowed a moment to bathe in the victory of hearing Shockwave admit that before he swiftly continued, distracting the other so he wouldn't catch onto the gaslighting tactic and circle back around to his beliefs to form a strong foundation for an argument. "'We failed'? Does this detail that Cryak was innocent somehow?"

"I'm not sure," Shockwave grunted as he shook his helm, the threads of a helmache starting to spin more and more uncontrollably. "I haven't spoken with her in kilocycles, I wasn't even aware that she still functioned." 

"Should I have reason to be concerned for her wellbeing?" Cloud Breeze asked. "Surely a grieving Mentor must be worried sick about her spawn?" 

But it seemed that Shockwave was able to catch him there and throw the cube back out of the court. "No, no. Don't worry, I'll handle it." 

"Are you sure, old friend?" Cloud Breeze smirked as he stung the young Senator with his pet name. "It is in my duty of care to ensure that citizens are well taken care of, Tarnished or Vosian." 

"I thank you for your concern, Cloud Breeze." Shockwave onlined his optics as he straightened up, a more determined look on his face plates now. "But both Star and Cryak were citizens of Tarn. I shall speak with her and lay the wards to rest." 

"You don't have their remains?" The white Seeker shrugged. 

"Perhaps not, but I'll reach out and comfort her to the best of my abilities, nonetheless." 

Cloud Breeze nodded at Shockwave's gesture before he turned and huffed, staring at the lobby doors. "Well then, perhaps it is time to head back inside?" 

"There's also another thing," Shockwave hesitated as he lingered behind, not making optic-contact. "Cloud Breeze I must address this to you. You and I may have had our squabbles but I sincerely trust you enough to be the better bot here." 

Cloud Breeze's top right wing twitched in anticipation as his optics studied the doors. His silence urged Shockwave to continue whatever proposal it was that he had in mind. 

"I am going to propose a trade deal with Iacon." 

Cloud Breeze blinked. His frame was relaxed as he remained still, though his processor was running wild as he tried to find a coherent thought to process into a sentence. "And?" He needed more information. 

"In exchange for energon, they've agreed to give us more materials and Shanix." Shockwave was careful as he took a few steps closer. "They're looking for more of Cybertron's raw materials. We can work together! Together, we can build up our cities and ensure each other's survival. If you let us trade with them, both Vos and Tarn will have more than enough energon to survive a dark period. Our defences will be fully operational within several kilocycles."

Cloud Breeze remained with his backstrut turned to the young Senator. He thought for a moment as all the racing theories in his helm came to a halt and one, dark, outcome remained at the forefront of his processor. He lifted his helm, feigned a friendly smile and turned to catch Shockwave in his vision. "That sounds wonderful, Senator." 

Shockwave stood a little taller upon hearing the other's approval. Cloud Breeze was speaking in a very tender yet positive tone, so he heard no reason to worry or assume otherwise. "Really? You're on board with this?" 

Cloud Breeze remained smiling as he nodded. "After all, I'm not the ruler of Tarn. I don't make the rules for your district. But if you are genuinely asking for my advice, then dearest Shockwave, by all means." Cloud Breeze turned and gestured to the Assembly inside. "I'd be delighted to see a strong and proud city-state one day."

"Oh, thank you!" Shockwave eased with a huff, his frame lessening a little. "Thank you for understanding, especially at such a bad time." 

"Of course," Cloud Breeze lingered in the lobby, glaring daggers after the young Senator who headed back inside first. "Anything for a friend." 

Back inside the Council, Cloud Breeze stalked over to his chair with a dark look. He noticed both Sherma and Traachon shrinking back from him. Augur Flos noticed the dark and icy mood emitting from the Vosian Senator when he eventually returned right before the Recess was called to an end. 

"What happened?" He squinted at the Seeker. 

He only shrugged and shook his helm. "Oh, you'll see." 

With that ominous warning, the elderly Groundbot soon took his seat beside Cloud Breeze and turned his attention back to the Council. 

"Advisors have undergone a theory that should be put into practice," Sentinel wasted little time in returning to the key discussion at hand. "Tetrahexians will not abide by Cybertron's new Functionalism existence." 

How grand for them, Cloud Breeze blinked, though his glare remained solely on Shockwave who sat across from him, whispering something to Drivetrain. 

"But for the rest of you," Sentinel held out his servos to point at the multiple Senators hiding in the wings. "The deadline still stands. Let us know if this new society will flourish! And really, try to give it a go. We could restore an organised and peaceful Cybertron." 

"Or start a war," Sherma huffed quietly as she leaned forward. 

"Senator Shockwave of Tarn requests to speak to Senator Xaaron of Iacon," Proteus announced once Sentinel had left the Centre. 

Cloud Breeze lessened his glare, but only to turn his helm and squint over at the elderly bot. He noticed his Usurper, Aurora Lux, start with surprise and glance up at him. From where he was seated, Cloud Breeze could see the young Archivist mutter something to her Usurpee, but Xaaron only shook his helm and gracefully rose to his peds. He strode to the edge of his wing and squinted in Shockwave's direction. "Yes?" 

Time seemed to slow for Cloud Breeze as he tapped his digits against his arm. He narrowed his optics at Xaaron, wondering if he should allow the trade deal to be even brought up. His helm then turned to seize Termagax sitting in the crowd, two little bots behind her - one which hailed from Iacon, sharing a seat with one that hailed from Tarn. For a moment, Cloud Breeze could see something through the mist of anger as he stared at them. 

Friends? Brothers? Family even? 

He felt the world slipping away as the guilt washed over him. Then he heard the slow, beeping of the machines that Ulchtar was hooked up to back in Vos. How his medics were working tirelessly to just stablise the young bot. And his anger soon returned. 

"Tarn wishes to propose a trade deal with Iacon, Senator Xaaron." Shockwave held his helm high in the air, confident that this was going to be easy. Xaaron might've been the last to be notified by it, however, he already had every bot's approval and backing. "I was just wishing to confirm this?" 

Xaaron stared at Shockwave before he turned to glance at Sentinel who shrugged. 

Xaaron then nodded. "It is confirmed, Senator. Will that be all?" 

"Yes," Shockwave eagerly nodded and sat back down. 

"Senator of Vos wishes to address the Council in full." 

And like a sledgehammer, the tranquillity of the Council shattered as all optics slid over to the white Seeker. Some, he noticed, held appropriate boredom - most of it coming from those who only knew him to be quite the chatty bot. Many, however, held fear. He didn't particularly enjoy this, but he had made a promise and he intended to keep it. 

"I have some news regarding Senator Shockwave as an individual." Cloud Breeze rose to his peds, leaning over the barrister slightly so the entire Council could see and hear him clearly. "This matter does not concern the representative of Tarn, nor its citizens." 

"A personal matter?" Sentinel lifted his helm up to squint at him as he scoffed. "This couldn't wait until outside?" 

"No," Cloud Breeze stared back down at him, and that's when those below in the Centre noticed how pissed he truly looked. "Many apologies in advance, Sentinel. But this is too alarming to ignore. Given the situation at present, I request that Senator Shockwave undergo immediate Empurata support." 

During a storm, there is a phase simply known as 'The Eye'. The Eye is quite calm, neutral and quiet with no outside winds to drag you away. The rainbands form a swirling wall that's constantly moving inside the cyclone. The Eye of the Storm also refers to a tense moment before the brewing conflict gives way to a grander scheme where no bot is safe. 
The Council was so quiet, that Cloud Breeze genuinely believed that he could hear the spark beats of those closest to him. The air had been sucked out, optics wide and fearful as the storm came tumbling down upon them and a moment later, it broke. 

"What!?" Sherma's voice was the first coherent word that he heard, of course, she was seated above him. 

"This is preposterous!" He heard Traachon off somewhere to his right. 

"You're insane!" Momus cried directly across from him. Fear navigating the hysteria through his frame. 

All these voices were shouting at once, some agreeing with him, most arguing. All unable to fathom why Cloud Breeze would request such a thing in the first place. But his optics locked with Shockwave's and he wouldn't let the younger go - trapped in an intense stare right across from each other. He could hear Sentinel's thundering voice demanding quiet and no doubt Proteus' servo on the hammer for peace down by the helm of the Centre to direct everybot's attention back. 

Chaos. Cloud Breeze did not revel or bask in it. He wanted a controlled environment, he wanted them to know what he was going to say. The crushed look on Senator Shockwave's face only spurred him on. 

"Why?" Xaaron turned his attention back to Cloud Breeze once the Senate had been regained. "Do you suggest such a thing?" 

Cloud Breeze straightened up and tore his gaze away from Shockwave to address the Iaconian. "Senator Shockwave has been polluting the processors of young individuals. Just a few breems ago he confessed to me the unfortunate termination of Sky, his ward. A young bot whom I entrusted his care and survival to. Sky had a bright future ahead of him, and Senator Shockwave stole that. Though not just one but two bots have been terminated under Senator Shockwave's care to further his own exploits in the scientific field. He's been experimenting the use of an unauthorised GroundBridge. Now he collaborates with Iacon to strengthen Tarn's defences? Is this not an act of war, Senator? Tell me that you're not collaborating with our neighbours to launch an attack on Vos?" 

Xaaron looked away, his frame lessening in defeat. Cloud Breeze watched as his Usurper leaned forward, worry written on her face as she no doubt asked the bot she looked up to if it were true. His optics then slid over to Codexa but she stared off into the void, perhaps overcome with fear. His gaze then landed back down on Sentinel; silently demanding an answer. The Prime then stood in the Centre, clasped his servos together and spoke. "Though we are not looking to start a war anywhere, with anyone, is it not in Tarn's best interests to look out for itself?" 

"Is it not in Iacon's best interest to keep Vos in fighting shape?" Cloud Breeze hissed down at him. "If Iacon collaborates with Tarn in an assault against Vos, all of Cybertron loses either way. Either we raid Iacon in an act of self-defence or you purge Cyberton's only Air Force from existence." 

Sentinel barked a sharp laugh but it was clear from the stressful look on his face plates that he'd walked right into an impasse. Lose Iacon, or lose Vos. Losing any was a bad turn for Cybertron either way. Without Iacon to hold a collective Government and Intergalactic Council, Cybertron would tear itself apart with war. But to lose Vos and its skilled Seekers was to leave Cybertron open and vulnerable to any outside invaders - many of which they could have had given Cybertron's dark history of colonisation. 

 "As I stated firstly," Cloud Breeze straightened up, still keeping his optics on the Prime and not daring to be smug with the power that he now held, he repeated himself. "It's Shockwave that I hold a personal grudge against, not Tarn, and certainly not Iacon or Zeta Primon." 

He saw the fear register in Sentinel's optics before it flickered away. Vos was supposed to guard Cybertron's air space, and if Zeta was leaving tonight, all Cloud Breeze had to do was commlink the order and they'd shoot down that ship. 

"What do you bargain for the life of Sentinel Prime's brother?" Cloud Breeze's brow ridge raised in surprise as he heard Codexa's voice. He squinted down at her, shocked by the sheer anger she wore. Though her voice remained soft, her optics did not as a wall hardened around her spark. 

"Empurata." Cloud Breeze plainly said. "Given the mental capacity that Shockwave is currently in, he's unfit to be Senator for Tarn. He's made the right decisions going about protecting his city, that I can agree with. But who are to pay for it? He's gotten sidetracked from his duties as of late, placing more time and effort into his illegal science experiments - which have caused harm. I am requesting that Senator Shockwave step down and take care of himself. Undergo a psychiatric test and that the results be made public, in honour of those two Vosian sparks that now no longer flicker with life." 

Murmur erupted among the Council around them and the sound of it reminded Cloud Breeze of rain. 

Codexa shrank back a little and risked a pleading glare over to Sentinel. The Prime huffed before he turned to the guards situated on either side of Proteus and nodded. 

"I too agree that Shockwave be placed in a better processing state," Sentinel confessed. "If not for the benefits and wellbeing of others, especially those around him, then the utmost priority of his own." 

"No, please!" Shockwave shrank away from the guards now looming behind him as his servos tightly clasped the edge of his barrister as he looked down at the Prime. "I-I'm fine! I-I swear!"

Sentinel only turned away with a 'tsk' and shook his helm. "Empurata may have its side effects but this is for your own good, Shockwave. Until, at least, you start feeling better." 

Shockwave then glanced across the Senate to look at Cloud Breeze but he found no warmth or comradery there. The look the white Seeker wore was nothing short of absolute contempt. The cogs in Shockwave's processor began to turn as he realised why his counterpart was doing this. Those two wards died, on his watch and Cloud Breeze wanted to make him feel their misery. 

"NO!" Shockwave screamed in protest as the guards began to drag his flailing frame away. Decimus, who was always the closest to sit beside him, trembled slightly in fear at the sight, his optics wide. Drivetrain sat motionlessly, staring with an open intake at where Shockwave had been seated. Momus was huddled above, tightly squeezing himself into a ball as Halogen only stared down at the empty seat in solace. 

Cloud Breeze didn't dare turn around to face his side of the Senate. They may have been friendly with each other but no bot here was his acquaintance. Once the air flowed back into the room and the screaming faded, Sentinel dismissed the Council. But the white Seeker had already slipped out. 

"That was quite a show," Airachnid smirked as she leaned against the lobby doors. The guards had been temporarily busy dragging a terrified Shockwave downstairs. "Must've been a hard choice to swallow ~"

She started forward, sauntering her way towards him as her glossa teased her upper lip plate. Cloud Breeze halted, glaring at her as she advanced. He allowed her to get dangerously close before she lashed out, intending to strike his spark chamber but missing as he dodged to the right, pulled out his Sabre and grabbed one of her loose wrists in his servo. He then threw her against the wall, blade to her neck cables. 

"I'm not in the mood," he huffed down at her - his usual cheery mood having been stripped away from him for the rest of the cycle.  

Airachnid hissed at him as she tried to kick out with her bipedal legs, seeing as her beast ones were flattened against the wall and straining against her backstrut. "So? You're going to wipe out two Council members today?" She grunted, trying to wriggle free of the massive blade against her throat. 

"No." Cloud Breeze then stepped back and sheathed his blade. His optics were hard and watching her every move. "Return to Nightstrike and I shall forget that this attempt ever took place." 

Airachnid chuckled and raised a brow ridge at him. "Se-see you at Decimus' party then~?" 

"I'm flattered," Cloud Breeze scoffed before he turned and made his way to the outside doors. "But you're not my type." 

Chapter Text

The Assembly, Praxus - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Early Functionalist Era/Several years after Forging.

"10-19s, requesting Officer support, 10-8b."

Thunder ran alongside his partner and teacher, Barricade as alarms were set off on their devices - small proximity energon detectors and social transmitters that kept them updated on their criminal database and the police airwaves. 

"Suspect is now leaving the Helix Gardens by air-"

A female automated voice spoke through the static. Barricade looked over at Thunder. "To the air!"

The blue jet nodded but was already planning on leaping up as he transformed flawlessly and shot out of the building. Barricade tapped the side of his helm where his comlink was. 

"Don't wait for me, I'll catch up."

"Bring reinforcements?" Thunder asked as he streaked as fast as he could through the air. 

"Denied, we know this one." Barricade then transformed, his sirens echoing off the walls as he sped down the hallways of the Assembly, warning the citizens to keep clear out of his way. "Typical troublemaker. He's caused several incidents in the past but he's never been caught." He then switched his communications over to Blaster. "10-31, we're in pursuit of 10-19s."

"Well," Thunder smirked in his alt-mode as he engaged his thrusters to reach the Gardens. "Today's his unlucky day." 

"Generally harmless, Thunder, but," Barricade sped out of the building and was thankful that Blaster had already alerted and cleared the streets for him outside to safely eject onto. "Don't underestimate him."

"I won't." The blue and black jet reassured his partner, tilting his flaps to veer sharply to the left and make a beeline towards the last known location as he kept his sensors peeled for any signs of a purple and black aircraft. "Authorising the use of non-lethal force?"

"Granted." Barricade huffed as he sped down the highway, exiting out of the Assembly range and racing towards the Helix Garden district. Prowl had his servos full with an investigation and Bluestreak was out of town, they could handle a simple misfit on their own. After all, it gave Thunder something to do and the more training the better in Barricade's optics. 

"Is our 10-19s a purple and black Seeker jet?" Thunder asked as he saw the jet narrowly miss one of the buildings. It shot up into the air and dipped hard to the right to fly beneath him. 

"Negative," Barricade spoke over his comms. "No known affiliation. Not Seeker class." 

"Right," Thunder huffed to himself for his poor judgment and after taking a closer look at the other jet's paint job along the wingstrut, he did notice the lack of any insignia lining the usual spot for a badge - especially since Thunder had that spot occupied with the Praxus Police Academy symbol on his own wing. "But confirmed on the colours?"

"That's our troublemaker." Barricade confirmed and Thunder swooped in. 

Thunder armed one of his null rays beneath his wing and dipped his left wing so he could aim it down at one of the suspect's back wing panels. He wasn't carrying any lethal ammunition, only darts and EMPs. Darts were used to ward off any potential threats with dull pings or sedation, while EMPs were set to fully neutralise any threat. Most of the Praxus police force were trialing non-lethal ammunition for the time being. 

Thunder fired a shot intended for the other jet's right wing. He had been quite useful to the force as being one of the very few members who could fly. He was also given exclusive training on how to apprehend targets in the air. But the suspect veered sharply to the right just as Thunder fired and managed to outmanoeuvre the dart. The blue, bulkier jet hissed in frustration at the missed shot and followed the jet, shooting again and again. All three shots missed and Thunder pouted as he heard the suspect giggling. 

The jet then shot straight upward and transformed midair. The suspect stuck his glossa out, blue optics wide as electricity crackled around his frame. "See ya, punk!"

And then he was gone.

Thunder screeched to the side and swooped around to lessen his thrusters as he came to a halt. He hovered above the streets in the air for a moment as he tried to comprehend what happened. "What?"

"Thunder do you have a visual on our 10-19s?" Barricade's voice asked over their comms. 

"N... No." Thunder sounded as confused as he was. "He's... He just disappeared midair!"

Thunder's spark sunk a little as he heard Barricade vent. "Same song and dance... Land, we need to talk back at the station."

"But the suspect!" Thunder protested.

"Is gone," Barricade's tyres screeched to a halt. "Don't worry, this happens every time."

Praxus Police Station - North Cybertron, Underground.
Four mega-cycles later.

Thunder held his helm in one servo as he reread the datapad in the other. His frown only deepened as he stared at the words inscribed into the data file. 

"Suspect 147; 'Disappearing Jet' - listed as a narrow, dark purple jet with black stripes and silver face plates. Optic colour has been known to change from lucid amber to electric blue right before disappearing. First appeared fourteen quartexes ago in Praxus territory, found lingering around the Inner City subtrain station. When asked for identification, the suspect attempted to flee on ped. He was apprehended for two breems before suddenly vanishing into thin air. There's speculation that he may not be working alone. So far, the suspect has not stolen anything or harmed anybot while here. But has been known to cause mischief and is an all-around general public nuisance on our streets. Praxus Police Academy is tasked with apprehending and bringing in the suspect to gain more information for as long as he remains in our state. We've reached out to Vos regarding this particular jet but there has been no communication from their end as of yet."

"Damned Vosians," Thunder hissed, an angry scowl on his face plates as he finished researching all he could on the data file. 

"Whoa," a few desks away, a black helm looked up to greet him with a warm smile. "What's with the self damage, T?" 

Thunder shrank back as his superior caught his curse. Embarrassment quickly flared up beneath his armour as he leaned back in his seat and huffed, not looking at his colleague while he apologised. "Sorry Jazz, I didn't... Didn't mean for you to hear that."

Jazz leaned back in his chair, lips pursed together as he stared at the jet from beneath his visor. "Your file says that you're from Tarn. That true?" 

"Yeah?" Thunder lifted his helm to squint over at him in confusion. 

"Were you ever," Jazz hesitated as he tried to find the right words. "Politically motivated?" 

Thunder's optics widened in shock before he quickly looked away. "No... No, no." He shook his helm with a tsk. "Don't be silly, Lieutenant. I never went out dogfighting."

Jazz shrugged, his own servos occupied with a datapad. "Then why the sudden hate for Vosians?" 

"I just," Thunder shrugged but held himself back as he searched for an appropriate answer. "Wish that they would cooperate more with outside sources." He felt uncomfortable talking about it so he turned his attention back to the datapads on his desk. 

Jazz nodded with a knowing smirk. "Yeah, I hear you T. They can be so up themselves at times. That's why everybot calls them the Cybertronian High Guard." They shared a laugh. "They can't seem to get off their high towers and come down to talk to us regular bots." 

"Yeah, well," Thunder risked a glance over at his colleague. "At least I hope I'm not like that, Sir."

Jazz shook his helm, frame always so completely cool and at ease. "Ah it's cool, T. You're nothin' like that, don't worry."

Thunder nodded and returned his attention to the research at hand when Jazz leaned forward to place himself back into his own paperwork. "But if you could, Rookie."

Thunder glanced up as Jazz addressed him once more. 

"Drop the 'Sir', aight? Sounds too formal for my kinda tune." 

"Roger that, Lieutenant." Thunder nodded. "Jazz," he smiled and felt a bit of happiness swell in his spark to see Jazz smiling behind his monitor as well. 

They went back to their work in respective silence, with most of their other colleagues out on vacation, investigating, or patrolling. The blue jet lifted his helm as he saw somebot enter the room and stared up at Barricade who looked particularly flustered. 

"Everything alright?" Thunder softly asked. 

The Groundbot's light amber optics soon landed on him. "I'm fine." He huffed and tilted his helm. "What are you still doing here? Your shift ended groons ago. Go, get out."

He started forward and packed up the datapads on Thunder's desk before his partner could even protest. "What, hey!" The blue jet hissed and tried to wrestle the pads out of Barricade's grip. "Be careful with those! They're Prowl's!"

"Did he say you could have them?" 

"Yes!" Thunder nodded as he stood. "They're out of the archives, I'm doing research on our disappearing jet."

They heard Jazz chuckle from behind them. "Good luck."

Barricade huffed as Thunder blinked. "Go home."

"I can't." The jet argued.

"Why?" Barricade raised a brow ridge, his anger fading for a brief moment to be replaced by concern. 

"I," Thunder shrugged and looked away. "I don't have anything to do."

The mood in the room sobered a little as Thunder admitted that. 

"I'm bored."

Barricade vented heavily as he pinched the bridge to his nasal unit and placed the datapad smack in the middle of Thunder's chassis. "For the love of Primus go and make some friends."

"But-" 

"Preferably not the type you see every cycle at work!" Barricade moved past him as he shouted over his shoulderstrut and began to organise his own desk. 

Thunder vented as he glanced over at Jazz who was silently smirking at him. Thunder waved him off and turned to exit the office area. He clocked out after restoring the evidence and the data files he'd saved to his memory files. Once he was outside of the building, Thunder just stood on the side of the street and stared into space - giving himself a moment to decompress after such an eventful day. He glanced in the direction of the Helix Gardens, wondering if he could do an off-duty patrol there and calm himself by taking in the beautiful sights. Though his intel could probably be more useful down by The Markets where Barricade told him that conbots and gangs usually ran rampant. He then glanced up at The Assembly, watching as the afternoon sunlight shone off its futuristic panels. 

"Hmm," Thunder frowned up at the massive building. He could just crash at his apartment and recharge for a few groons, but even that seemed beyond boring to him. He despised doing nothing, despised not socialising. But going to a bar meant that he'd inevitably cross paths with somebot - either his colleagues out for a drink or somebot looking to seduce him. He huffed and turned in the direction of the Gardens. He decided to walk, catch his processor and slow it down for a moment. He could do with a few, calm moments to himself for a while and the Gardens were the most gorgeous sight in the entire city-state.

The Helix Gardens, Praxus - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Forty-five arcs later.

Thunder found a quiet spot by a patch of toxic, clear blue water. It was an artificial pond, created as a science project by the local amateurs by infusing metallic water and raw, liquid energon. It may have been toxic but it was a magnificent sight to see. The bridge he was standing on was adorned by crystal structures that hailed from Crystal City in the South - combined in their sculpted form with the aid of flawless Cybertanium. A strong and graceful bridge that hung low to the water. Natural, silky, dark grass lined its edges and sprouting from the ground came tall, elegant crystals. Many much smaller shards floated in the air, hanging from the invisible branches that sprouted from the larger crystals. The so-called 'leaves' glowed smoothly every now and then, catching his optic and soothing his processor to watch almost hypnotically. 

If there was one place on Cybertron that Thunder wanted no evil to set ped, it was here. He had never known such a peaceful and gorgeous place to exist until Bluestreak, Barricade, Chase and Prowl had brought him during his city tour. It had been beautiful then, and it was still breathtaking now - especially under Mullene Ni's light. The giant moon hung low in their atmosphere and nearly kissed The Assembly before it vanished every dawn. Thunder loved Praxus for how gorgeous it was, but he began to question himself - wondering if he only found love out of materialistic value. He had sworn an oath, and worked tirelessly, but why hadn't he grown to fully embrace this state as his home? 

He stared at one of the smaller shards that glowed softly at him and his processor began to drift. The shards danced together in the soothing breeze, causing a few to chime - though not horridly or suddenly. It was alluring and enticing as it threatened to pull Thunder into recharge. 

But he remained firm and strong, staring at the shards as he navigated his memory files. 

A face soon came to him, though one he hadn't expected to see. He stared back at it nonetheless. He wasn't confused by what she looked like but rather why it had been so long since he'd seen her face. 

"I'm scared!" 

He offlined his optics and reset his voicebox as he heard her young voice crying out in protest. Once his optics were shielded from the reality swimming around him, Thunder was thrown back into the past - back to her. 

Her face was small, smoky-grey with a coal-black helm. Dark amber optics, almost red, stuck out to him. He had to recall every detail about her, everything and anything that could help him to identify her. Why?

She was his sister.

He knew it in his spark. She may have been smaller than him, but he was sure of it. She looked just like him, he felt this strange connection to her. A connection that he hadn't felt to anybot then or since, or to anything else. 
Her frame was mostly golden, though it looked amber in the dark. White highlights. Small, grey servos with talons. He had talons, though now they were blunt. He'd filed his down since moving to Praxus, a security protocol to ensure the safety of their apprehended. 

She was scared of something and he frowned as he tried his best to remember why. 

The crystals chimed again and he felt a deep, seemingly endless void in his spark. For a brief moment, something flickered online and shot a weak signal out at him. Something close by. He frowned and brought his optics back online. He stared across the water, at three of the crystals that hung in the air alone. One glowed, followed by the second and then the third. It repeated itself until Thunder felt that foreign beat in his spark again and then the three crystals glowed together in unison - like a trio of stars. 

He tilted his helm and frowned. "Star."

The Assembly, Praxus - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Two mega-cycles later.

After struggling to find anything of use floating about in his memory files concerning his sister, Thunder made his way back to The Assembly on ped and climbed the stairs to head back inside the building he and Barricade had been patrolling earlier. He had to admit that the long walk offered him some peace; it helped clear his processor a little. But now it was flooded with vibrant questions and lingering confusion. He soon found himself obsessed with the face that faded in and out of his reach. He knew that this would only serve to distract him from his work but his spark beat strongly the more he thought about it. He was searching for something - somebot? He shook his helm with a scowl; he had to find her. He didn't know why but an unseen, icy grip clawed at the edges of his wing tips and threatened to leave him with a cold and lonely feeling. He felt on an instinctual level that something was wrong and that somehow, he'd failed to keep his family safe. 

Family? 

He halted and tilted his helm. He'd never had family outside of Jhiaxus. The old warrior had disappeared one evening and left Thunder to fend for himself. Jhiaxus had been a secretive and guarded bot, only teaching Thunder how to fly and survive in the air, nothing more. Had Jhiaxus known about her? Had he set out to find her too? Thunder was unsure of how he felt about that, there was a sinking feeling in his fuel tanks and a lump in his neck cables. For the first time since they'd split, Thunder wasn't too sure if he could even trust Jhiaxus. 

"Officer Thunder!" He was brought out of his whirling thoughts by a rather surprised call. He glanced down the shadowy hallway before him and narrowed his red optics at the bot he'd returned for. 

"I didn't know you were on after-hours duty," Professor Perceptor smiled at him as he stepped closer, tightly holding quite a few too many datapads to his chassis. "Did you catch that runaway culprit?" 

The Professor's voicebox was soft, as were his cyan-coloured optics, one of which was hidden behind a monocule. The blue jet shook his helm and stepped back so the red bot could unlock the entry to his personal office. 

"No, unfortunately," Thunder muttered. "But rest assured, Professor that the Academy is doing everything in its power to bring this general nuisance to justice." 

"I have no worries for bored Seekers." Perceptor chuckled as he turned and gestured to his desk, inviting the officer inside. "I am, however, surprised to find you lingering outside my office. Is there perhaps something that I may be able to assist you in?" 

"Uh," Thunder hesitated as he looked down, unsure if maybe he was overstepping his boundaries as a recruit here. "It's for a... Personal investigation, Professor." 

"Oh," Perceptor nodded as he hummed, circling behind his desk to gently place the datapads down with a slight huff before he glanced up and pressed a button so the door to his office slid shut behind Thunder with a hiss. "Then by all means, please, make yourself comfortable." 

Thunder's optics widened in surprise at the kind gesture. "Thank you," he wouldn't soon take advantage of Perceptor taking time out of his busy schedule to consult him. "It's about the Helix Gardens." 

Thunder began as he sat and stared at the Professor. 

"The Gardens?" The red bot paused to look at him with slight worry. "Why? Was anything damaged?" 

Thunder shook his helm. "Er, no. No, I reported there after my shift and everything seemed to be in order. There were no sightings of our culprit returning to the scene."

"Oh," Perceptor vented, placing a servo on his chassis where his spark chamber lay beneath. "That's a relief."

Thunder nodded. "No, I came to ask about the crystals in particular, Professor. Where are they from? Er, what exactly are they?" 

Perceptor finally took his seat as he addressed Thunder. "Most of the crystals hail from Crystal City in the South, but not all of them. We're quite lucky that Praxus is the trade Capital of Cybertron, one might find relics all across the universe right here. The bigger crystals, the ones that mimic trees in structure and behaviour, are from the territories of Crystal City and its neighbours. Seedlings that were delivered here in Ancient times and nurtured in the underground vaults of Iacon to be reprogrammed into a docile state. The crystals have mystic origin in regards that they were transformed by Alchemist Prime. For what purpose, we have not yet discovered."

Thunder carefully leaned forward to hold up a digit to respectfully interrupt Perceptor. "Alchemist Prime. There was something about him, about how... He rambles?" He tilted his helm in confusion. 

Perceptor nodded. "Correct, the rambling. Though often seen as a sign of a lost or ageing processor, Alchemist was the Prime of the Lens - a mystical device that could see things our usual optics cannot fathom. Some say that he could reach out and touch stars from across the universes, while there's also multiple theories suggesting that Alchemist could see through time itself." 

"But I thought time was Vector Prime's thing?" Thunder leaned back as he raised a brow ridge. 

"Time travel," Perceptor corrected. "Yes, Vector Prime was the Time traveller, but his brother, Alchemist was the one who could see across galaxies and produce raw materials to help Solus Prime forge weapons."

"So Alchemist made the crystals?" Thunder asked, not wanting to get lost in the sea of theories Perceptor was all too excited to share. 

"It's speculation." Perceptor nodded, keeping his composure calm and completely relaxed. "The crystals were said to originate from that region in the South of Cybertron. Naturally, crystals are formed in combustion with oxygen and other elements. The South is more organic than our Northern Hemisphere. However, one would also need the volcanoes of Kaon, the most Northern city-state in the South, to decompress that oxygen and create precipitation which would naturally form the crystals."

"Talking about their mystical properties," Thunder proposed after digesting the information. "Is there somehow a connection between those same crystals and a Cybertronian's spark?"

Perceptor narrowed his optics at Thunder and went still for a moment. The jet frowned, wondering if maybe he'd somehow accidentally offended the Professor and opened his intake to quickly apologise when Perceptor leaned back in his chair with a small smile. "Huh, I believe that I've never really thought of that before. Why do you ask?" 

Thunder stared at him for a moment before he gestured to himself. "There are rumours regarding how a Vosian spark is formed. Like twins, but different?" 

"Yes, but you are not Vosian, correct?" 

Thunder stared at him for a moment before looking down at himself. 

"Thunder?" 

The blue jet frowned at his servos. "I... I don't know. I can't seem to remember, Professor but..."

"While true there is the whole sentiment regarding a Trine, they're not exclusive to Vos." Perceptor straightened up once more. "Trines are quite common on Cybertron - MTO soldiers that are carbon copied from warriors of old. There's generally a large influx of them right before a war breaks out. It's as if Cybertron knows what's going to happen even before we do. So, naturally, it builds up its defence system and relies upon canon fodder. These 'Seekers' are a hivemind, well at least they were before Prima granted them their independence some few hundred million years ago." Perceptor waved it off. "Most Cyberjets on Cybertron hail from some sort of natural connection towards other jets of their kind. What separates them from Insecticons however is their primitive evolution. In the processor a Seeker stands out as an individual, in the frame though, they are naturally inclined to be slower and weaker in combat. At least alone. When together, however, Seekers can become quite the force to be reckoned with. That's why most of Vos is a military city rather than a social hangout. They stand as Cybertron's first and only air force against any outside threats. Because the Insecticons keep to themselves out in the wilds. We're very fortunate to have the Seekers on our side." 

"So..." Thunder blinked as he tried to process all the information. "All Cyberjets are connected to each other?" 

"Though that connection may be fading with time," Perceptor nodded. "With so many jets flying around it's impossible to keep track of them all. Cybertron doesn't produce an army, it's a living organism much like us, Thunder. It builds up an immunity. One at a time, these Trines are created. Three is an odd number, but an easy failsafe for a system to program when it's going into stasis. Having four rules out individuality, having five is a lot of effort to create. Having six is a small battalion. Having two is a dual antibiotic, and having one is futile. But three are easy to make. There's a balance between personality and military. With three comes an antivirus prepared at any angle." 

"So Seekers are like Cybertron's immune system." Thunder huffed. "A shame about not being able to get rid of them." 

"I'm not particularly following?" Perceptor raised a brow ridge.

Thunder leaned forward and quickly waved it off. "Uh, it's not important. What does learning about Seekers have to do with their sparks? Aren't all Cybertronians the same?" 

"Long ago there were Seekers who came in the form of ground mobility. They're not as mass-produced today but they were known as Hunters. They too shared a similar connection among themselves. This Trine Bond isn't exclusive to airborne Seekers at all. As you've already pointed out, twins hail from a split spark. There are many ways for a spark to bond but only through birth is a spark truly unique. The ancestors of the Seekers all hail from a split spark, the children of Prima and Liege Maximo - Arche and An-Gel. From there, they created their armada using the stars of Prima's wounds that she had received from Unicron. Things were different back then. But your question still remains, perhaps you are not Vosian, but you are a naturally made Cyberjet nonetheless. Your question now is; did you emerge from the Forge alone?"

"N-no," Thunder shook his helm. "At least... I don't think so?" 

Perceptor tilted his helm and blinked at him, waiting for him to continue. 

Thunder stood up. "I remembered something today, because of those crystals. I saw a face that looked similar to mine buried within my memory files. I don't know if I'm malfunctioning, Professor, but I feel it in my spark that I was Forged with another." 

"Let's take a look at your spark, shall we?" Perceptor then stood and walked around his desk. "Things can never go wrong if we have solid evidence?" 

Thunder took a step back and looked at him. 

"This is an investigation, is it not, Officer?" Perceptor raised a brow ridge as he smirked, one servo on his thin hipstrut. "We'll play by your rules to find the answer; gathering evidence and clues to solve the mystery." 

"This isn't a game, Professor." Thunder frowned. "I need to know why I'm feeling this way." 

Perceptor nodded. "There is no need to feel so alarmed, I do have a medical background. We'll merely take a look at your spark and see for ourselves what's happened. As I've told you, most Cyberjets are connected to one another." 

"Are you saying that I should have a Trine?" Thunder raised a brow ridge, not wanting to get his hopes up as the metal plating to his chassis slid open with a hiss and his inner frame unlocked so his spark chamber could open up. 

"I'm asking why you don't remember or feel them," Perceptor stated as he leaned down and with gentle servos reached into Thunder's spark chamber. "This might feel strange but don't be alarmed, I have steady servos." 

"What are you looking for?" Thunder frowned, trying to see what he was doing but to also stay as still as he could so neither of them would get injured. 

"Like spark-mates or Conjunx Endura as the kids are calling it nowadays," Perceptor huffed. "Your spark should have tiny, foreign shards that hail from the other sparks of your Trine. These are given to you before your metallic frames are even created before you even emerge from a Forge. The way a Cybertronian is created and programmed is fascinating. Your spark hails from the AllSpark and is reborn again into a new frame. While in the AllSpark, there is speculation that one might've drifted and grown alongside other sparks that are ready to be reincarnated as well. This seems to be a common occurrence among Seekers, however, they are very social creatures, even in death."

Thunder grunted at the discomfort of feeling Perceptor's thin digits carefully grasp the lower half of his spark and shift it ever so gently upward. 

"These shards connect to your spark as pieces of your spark leave to connect to theirs. This in turn programs you to already recognise your Trine as your equals. A targeting system that should work in unison..." He trailed off. 

"Professor?" Thunder asked after the silence in the room became too much for him to handle. 

"Thunder," Perceptor was using a tone he'd never heard before - it sounded on edge yet totally calm. "Have you ever been to a spark burner before?"

"A what?" Thunder blinked in utter confusion. 

"I'll take that as a 'no'." Perceptor vented before he leaned back. "Stay still." 

Thunder nodded and stiffened his frame. He hissed when he felt Perceptor's digits brush over something sore at the bottom of his spark. 

"Very well," the Professor made sure to settle Thunder's spark right side up and leave it nestled in its proper place before he leaned away and dusted his servos off with a cloth. "It's over, you may close yourself up."

"What's wrong?" Thunder felt concerned as he quickly sealed his spark chamber up and his armour slid back into place. 

Perceptor tapped the side of his helm and soon projected a holographic image for Thunder to see. 

"This is your spark," the red bot began to explain his findings. "Normally, a spark does look blue and small. Though not all of them. What concerns me the most about yours, however, is the underside. The place where your Trine shards should be?"

Thunder nodded, showing that he was keeping track of everything the Professor had been dumping on him. 

"Those shards are gone. Though, they weren't plucked like normal procedure when a Bond Breakage occurs. No, your spark was burned, Thunder." His optics widened as Perceptor looked at him seriously. "The entire bottom of your spark has been utterly compromised. A few microscopic pieces of a pink shard remains but otherwise, the rest of it has purely been burnt away."

"How... Can somebot even do that?" Thunder spoke softly, completely in shock at the reality of what somebot had done to him. 

Perceptor carefully guided Thunder to sit back down while he processed the news. He removed his monocule to rub his optics. "Yes. Though it's completely barbaric and illegal, especially to a sparkling."

"Wait," Thunder panicked. "I was..? I was just a kid!?" 

Perceptor nodded sadly, his optics offlined, unable to meet his. "The damage is severe though minor in size now. Your spark has simply grown to avoid that area since. It's a miracle you even survived the process at all."

Thunder blinked, thinking for a moment. "I survived?"

"Most sparklings don't," Perceptor added. 

Thunder glanced away, one servo tightened in anger. "My sister." 

"I may need to take a further analysis of this," Perceptor glanced down at a datapad where he had imprinted the photo. "I've seen a few cases of this before, none have ever been a satisfying task." He vented.

"Let me take a look at it," Thunder's attention soon returned to the Professor. "It's my spark, I should help!"

Perceptor glanced up at him, blinked and then nodded solemnly. "I shall allow you to provide assistance where it may be needed, as well as keep you in the know. But don't be so pessimistic, Thunder. If you saw your sister's face in your memory files, then perhaps there's still some hope yet that we can bring the bot who did this to you to justice?" 

Thunder leaned back, a dark frown on his face plates. "I think I already know who did this." 

"You do?" Perceptor raised a brow ridge at him and he nodded. 

"But he's not my priority right now," Thunder muttered darkly. "I need to find where she is. I need to know if she's ok, or... Or where they dumped her." 

Praxus Subtrain Station-2, Praxus - North Cybertron, Underground.
Six solar-cycles later.

Thunder had gotten four groons of recharge the previous night but he stood tall and firm to not show it. They were in the subtrain station - subtrains were an automated train system that ran beneath the ground. 'Subtrain' was short for subterranean train network. There were a total of five stations in Praxus, three in the populated East where all the trading and tourist attractions were and two in the West for the residential areas. Praxus had no above-ground train stations due to security concerns regarding Tyger Pax's anti-aircraft weaponry tests. Though Praxus had supplied them with the blueprints to create such tech, they wanted no part in it. Thunder could tell that war was coming, and Praxus wanted to keep its servos clean in order to become the trading monopoly it was renowned for. Tyger Pax on the other servo was rumoured to begin secret trade deals with neighbouring Tesarus and Tarn. As a result, the people of Praxus were worried about the unspoken alliance between the Eastern states. 

Security was said to ramp up regarding all Eastbound subtrains, whether they were leaving or coming to Praxus, most bots had to be inspected for identification first. Thunder had been given a clear warning to remain alert in the skies. Though he seemed like an unlikely target, a stray missile could easily take him down if he wasn't careful. 

Beside him stood Barricade, looking as jaded and guarded as ever as they watched bots entering the platform, newly arriving from Iacon. Heximans had been protesting for their Independence recently which only added more chaos to the plate. 

"Keep your optics online," Barricade gruffly instructed him, servos on his hipstruts and a blazing glare beneath his own vibrant amber optics. "Approach anybot that looks suspicious." 

"We prepared for subterranean bombings?" Thunder tiled his helm so he could whisper to his partner. 

Barricade shook his helm. "Not yet. As soon as Prowl gets done with this investigation, I will be informing him of my leads." 

"Yes, but is he going to listen and actually do something about it is the true question." The blue jet huffed before he leaned away.

"He'll do somethin'," Barricade smirked. "He'll have no choice but to authorise more security." 

Thunder wasn't too sure if he should feel a certain way when Barricade chuckled about that - the notion of hurting others to prompt action only made him frown in response. True, Cybertronians were stubborn in nature to change their ways, but then again, it was Thunder's job to keep them safe, even from themselves. 

His optics caught a flash of dark purple and he narrowed his sights on it. "Strange..." He frowned, watching a dark purple Cyberjet fade in and out of the crowd. 

"What?" Barricade leaned over to try and follow his gaze. "What is it?" 

Thunder shook his helm, blinked and tried to analyse the parts of the citizen he could see. He had to make sure that it was the same one before he called it in. He stiffened as he felt a foreign beat in his spark and the jet turned, shining amber optics glinted mischievously up at him. Thunder shouted into his radio. 

"10-19s spotted at SubT-2, we're in pursuit!" He then launched from the top of the stairs where they had been surveying the crowd and ran helm first into the mass. He heard Barricade shouting behind him but Thunder only pressed forward to continue on his pursuit. 

"10-8b, Thunder and Barricade, this is Central Command P1, do you have a confirmed sighting of 10-19s?" Blaster's voice crackled over the airwaves. 

Barricade answered for him. "Confirmed sighting, moving to apprehend now!"

"Lose priority if there's an attack." Blaster reminded them that a nuisance was nothing compared to a terrorist. 

Thunder ignored most of the radio chatter as he followed that faint signal in his spark and raced forward. 
It's gotta be her! He told himself as he made bounds and leaps over luggage and gaps in the platform to catch up to the purple Cyberjet. She's alive! She's alive and she's right here!

"Stop!" He called out as he ran after the purple jet, now hot on his treads as the crowd cleared and began to thin out towards one of the exits. "Stop them!" 

Thunder called to the guards standing at the top of the stairs. They glanced at each other in confusion before they moved to block the purple Cyberjet's way. The jet ran straight at the wall, grunted and pushed using their peds to propel themselves over Thunder in an impressive backflip. Thunder stopped, watching in awe as the Cyberjet transformed midflip and shot off back the way they came. 

"Frag!" He shouted and turned swiftly on his heel to race back to his partner. "Barricade! It's coming your way!" He shouted into his device. 

"I see 'em!" Barricade responded before Thunder heard the sound of his partner grunting and up ahead a nasty CLANG of metal collided. The crowd gasped and moved back out of the way as the Cyberjet crashed onto the platform. Only when the jet transformed back into bipedal mode and groaned in pain did the crowd reswarm and a few bots lingered with curious gazes. 

By the time Thunder arrived there on ped, out of breath as his systems heaved from the strain of running, Barricade already had their suspect in stasis cuffs. 

"I decided to upgrade from our last encounter," his partner smirked at him. 

"How'd you catch 'em?" Thunder asked as he moved to disperse the crowd gathering around them; using his wings as shields while he glanced over at the purple jet. 

"Jumped on 'em," Barricade shrugged before he turned and shooed away the onlookers. "Alright, nothin' to see here, keep movin'."

Thunder frowned at this information and turned to carefully kneel down beside the purple Cyberjet and check their vitals. 

"They're fine, T." Barricade huffed and waved him off. "Just caught him by surprise, that's all."

Praxus Police Station - Praxus, Underground.
Two breems later.

Thunder yanked the stasis cuffs off their detainee once they finally set him down in one of the interrogation rooms. He was still somewhat a little on edge, wondering if their disappearing jet would simply vanish on them again but Jazz insisted that they indeed remove the cuffs so they could commune with their suspect. That and so far, the kid had a right to sit comfortably and speak freely to them. After all, he'd been charged with no crime, he was just detained for now, so they could find out who he was and why he was here. 

The purple Cyberjet's optics soon flickered online as he groaned and reached a servo up to cup his helm, frowning as a splitting helmache began to form. 

"10-19s in custody, set date," Thunder squinted down at the detainee as Barricade began the recording. Barricade was already seated across from the jet. He reset his voicebox, servos neatly together as he addressed him. "What is your name?"

The purple jet only groaned, frowning down at the table. His optics didn't meet Barricade's, so he tried again. "Your designation?"

The purple bot then lifted his helm and squinted at Barricade before he glanced up and sized Thunder's bulky frame. "Which one of you is playing the bad cop?" 

Thunder's face plates darkened with a frown but his partner answered for him. 

"We're not here to play games, bot." The cop huffed. "Give us something that we can call you."

"Aside from a number," Thunder sneered. "It gets boring and uncreative after a while." 

Amber optics narrowed upon him for a tense moment before their suspect responded. "Sky. You can call me 'Sky'. It's listed in my data banks." He shrugged.

"Alright, how about we call you 'Skywarp', huh?" Barricade leaned forward, datapad in servo. "Because that seems to be what you're quite good at; warping in and out all over the place." 

Sky giggled, wing tips flaring up in unrestrained emotion. "It's a lotta fun."

"Yeah, I'll bet." Barricade rolled his optics before he continued. "Tell us how you can do it, an' why you're here." 

"I don't know," Sky shrugged again and kicked his peds under the table. "I woke up here."

"What do you mean you woke up here?" Thunder asked in a stern voice as he tilted his helm to the side. 

Sky glared at him again, though this time he seemed to take a good look at Thunder's face plates. Thunder didn't catch it until he asked; "Why do you look like me?" 

The blue jet's optics widened, seemingly taken aback by that observation. Barricade, however, growled as he slammed the datapad down on the table. "I said we aren't here to play games! Now tell us what you know! Why are you here?"

"I already told you," Sky huffed, giving him a half-aft answer. 

Thunder then leaned forward and gently but firmly gripped Sky's shoulderstrut and turned him so he was staring directly at Sky's face plates. 

"Uh, up close and personal much, Chief?" Sky raised a brow ridge but Thunder waved him off.

It wasn't particularly the smokey grey and black helm with dark amber optics he'd seen swimming around in his memory files a few cycles ago. But it was clear as day that he was staring at a reflection of himself. Sky's frame may have been smaller and more lithe than his but a good look at the other jet revealed to Thunder that they had more in common than he previously thought. Sky's helm was the same shape, the wingstruts were of the same pattern of stripes and design. The cockpits' placement and design were the same. The arms, the chassis and peds, were the same length and design. The nasal bridge was smaller, and the optics were a different colour but everything else seemed to line up almost perfectly. It couldn't be coincidental. 

Thunder blinked and stepped back - shocked by what he was seeing. "There's no way..." He mumbled to himself. 

Barricade glanced over at him, raising a brow ridge in confusion. "What? What is it? Talk to me T, you seen him before?" 

"I..." Thunder quickly gathered himself and gestured to the viewing room just outside. "Outside, we need to talk." He then turned and frowned as he pointed a harsh digit at Sky. "Don't you dare go anywhere."

"Pfft," Sky rolled his optics. "Ok, I won't." 

Thunder exited the room without taking his optics off their detainee. 

"I won't!" Sky wailed in protest, clearly annoyed by the lack of trust that his doppelganger had in him. 

Once in the viewing room, Jazz glanced between the two partners. "What's going on?"

"T?" Barricade looked at Thunder, a hint of concern in his tone. 

Thunder shook his helm. "This can't be a coincidence. He looks exactly like me!"

Barricade shrugged. "Could be a... Jet thing?" 

Jazz shook his helm. "Not likely, only known 'twin' phenomenon among Cyberjets are Trine-mates. They're designed to look like each other. Everybot just looks different."

Thunder frowned hard at the floor for a moment. "He said his name was 'Sky', and that it was listed in his data banks. Is there any way we can look through them?"

"Not without a Cortical Psychic patch or a Telepath or a Cityspeaker of the sort." Jazz shook his helm and shrugged. 

"Frack," Thunder turned and glared at the glass. He could see Sky boredly scratching at the table with one, black talon, but their detainee had no clue what was going on just beyond his four walls. 

"While we don't have any of those things within our reach," Barricade began. "We could beat it outta him." He then looked over at Jazz. "If somebot keeps his intake shut." 

Thunder's wingtips bobbed up for a moment at the thought of that. His processor refused to compute a fantasy image of the event because it disturbed him so deeply. "No!"

He turned, panic clear across all of his systems. "No," he repeated himself a lot quieter, resetting his voicebox to ground himself and shook his helm. "Sky still has indigenous rights. We cannot abuse our power to find out the truth."

"We could get him medically examined, though," Jazz offered, throwing a wary look over at Barricade. "I'll bet that they could find some answers."

Thunder nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yeah, that's... That's a good start. We'll start there."

Barricade raised a brow ridge at him but his partner had already headed back inside the room. 

Thunder reset his voice box and stood a little taller. "We're taking you to see a doctor."

"Why?" Sky sat up, confusion and disgust littering his face plates. "I feel fine. I'm great, actually!"

Thunder stepped forward and gently grabbed one of Sky's wrists to keep a hold of him. "We're just... Worried that you might've damaged yourself in the fall. At the station, remember?"

"Huh," Sky tilted his helm to the side and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I went down pretty hard." 

Barricade frowned as he stood in the doorway.

The Assembly, Praxus - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Three mega-cycles later.

Thunder frowned hard at the datapad he was holding, straining his optics to triple-check that what he was looking at was in fact, real. 

"Well," Sky huffed as he puffed up his chassis. "That was an experience."

"Your spark isn't pink." Thunder cut him off. "It's blue, like mine."

"And?" Sky turned to raise a brow ridge at him as the stars shone over the city. "What were you expecting?"

"A pink spark," Thunder answered. "I - and you - both have pink spark shards at the bottom of our sparks where we got burned."

"So are we brothers or not?" Sky huffed, blinking at him. 

Thunder nodded. "Yes, but... Ugh!"

"Give me a look," Sky swiped the datapad from him and Thunder didn't protest. "So what you're saying is that we got our pink shards from somebot else?" 

"It seems that way," Thunder mumbled. "Which only deepens my questions. How many of us are there?" 

"Do you think we're all as dull and as boring as you?" Sky smirked but Thunder didn't seem to take the bait. 

"She's still out there," he glanced down, wings lowering a little in slight shame that today had been another waste. 

Sky frowned at the sobre sight and glanced down at the datapad once more to examine the photo, struggling to find the right words. "Well... I don't remember anything, but... I guess, I'm glad... What do we do now?" 

He turned his helm, optics looking lost as he studied the blue jet. Thunder glanced up at the stars and vented. "Now we register you into Praxus' database and get you identification papers."

"Oh that sounds fun," Sky rolled his optics. "But hey," he soon grinned as he walked down the steps and glanced back at Thunder. "Can I suggest something?"

"Sure," the blue jet shrugged as he followed him down, shaking his helm. 

"Can my designation be 'Skywarp'?" He asked. 

Thunder frowned in confusion, halting to turn and look at his brother. "Are you serious? You want the nickname my colleague gave you?"

Sky eagerly nodded. 

Thunder vented and pinched the bridge of his nasal unit. "Sure. Why not?"

Chapter Text

Ulchtar's Private Medical Ward, 51st Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Seven stellar-cycles since Forging.

Ulchtar groaned as the heavy feeling finally lifted from her frame and her brain module began the procedure of defogging her systems. She didn't know what was going on; only that she had been in recharge for quite some time. Her optics flickered online and stared up at a ceiling she didn't recognise. Her processor still felt slow and heavy as it tried to reawaken from its forced stasis. She naturally brought her servos up - something felt wrong. She huffed as she held her servos high above her helm, blinking away the fuzziness of her optics to squint at them. She examined them closely and her gaze widened in surprise. 

These... Aren't mine! Panic slowly lurched beneath the surface of her exhaustion as she turned the servos around to properly examine every inch of them. Her servos were no longer golden with black talons - they were blue and large. All the way down to her elbow was a blue, foreign circuitry. She turned her helm to glance at her shoulder joints, they were dull, pale grey. She panicked and glanced down at her chassis. Instead of amber, it was a bright red with a stunning gold, canopy in place of an advanced cockpit. She tried to sit up to look down at her legs but the straps keeping her in place pulled tightly against her new, bulkier frame and she let out a screech of fear. 

She paused as her optical sensors seized movement from the shadows of her ward - a sterile, medical environment that was blanketed in dark, Afteren light. Two, bright orange optics soon landed on her as the tall shadow turned to stare back at her. Ulchtar began to weep as fear and confusion clouded what remained of her conscious processor. The shadow with spiked edges soon advanced toward her and she cried harder, trying to shrink back from their touch as she shook her helm. 

"No," her voicebox still sounded the same, though it was slow and struggling to make noise - indicating that it hadn't been used in quite some time. "Please..."

"Everything will be alright." A soft, soothing voice caressed her audials as a black, sleek servo came to gently push her down back onto the berth. "You're safe now." 

"Wh-who are you?" Ulchtar tried to wipe away the large amounts of lubricant blinding her optics to get a good look at him. 

He didn't speak again until he made sure that she was comfortable. He smiled as he sat himself beside her berth, looking down at her. He leaned over and gently cleaned her face plates free of lubricant as he introduced himself. "My designation is Orange Blast. I will be your private medical officer until you've fully recovered." 

Ulchtar frowned at him; still teetering on the edge of suspicion as her frail voice sparked her thoughts. "Orange... Because of your... Optics?" 

He leaned back with an amused chuckle and nodded. His optics were a very vibrant orange which stood out against the rest of his dark, navy blue frame. "Yes, I get that quite a lot, actually." 

His smile seemed genuine as he looked down at her. His EMF calmly set her spark at ease, relaxing her frame back. Her optics felt heavy as the threat of recharge loomed at the edges of her processor. 

Orange Blast tilted his helm to examine her face plates, noticing her exhaustion and lack of vibrancy. "You're tired. Some recharge should do you some good."

"Where are my... Servos?" Ulchtar resisted for a little while longer, her spark flaring in fear as she needed answers. "What... Happened?"

"I'll tell you when you're in a more..." Orange Blast hesitated as he surveyed her frame. "Stable processing state."

Ulchtar groaned softly as her optics struggled to stay online. Orange Blast carefully leaned over and placed a servo upon her coal-black helm. "Sleep," he said. "You need to gather your strength back." 

"Will you," Ulchtar's optics blazed to life at his touch, though she remained still, wondering what his intentions were. "Stay?"

Orange Blast nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "It is in my duty of care. Cloud Breeze has entrusted me with your medical responsibilities. Don't worry," he grinned. "You're in good servos." 

Ulchtar stared at him for a while before she gave a tired smile back at him and offlined her optics. She was willing to trust him, for now. 

Ulchtar's Private Medical Ward, 51st Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
One ano-cycle later. 

Ulchtar's optics came back online as she heard hushed voices in her room. The lights were on, giving her a clear view of the entire room. It was very white, very clean and had very little personal detail to it. She gazed around, her systems feeling much stronger now, she noticed. Her processor was no longer heavy or foggy. Her optics soon caught sight of Cloud Breeze - his tall, gigantic, white frame nearly blended in with the rest of the scenery. He had his backstrut turned to her, and that's when Ulchtar caught sight of an abnormality. 

So far the only Seekers Ulchtar had ever seen had two, jet-like wings protruding either from their shoulderstruts or directly connected to their backstruts. Cloud Breeze had four sets of wings, two flattened against his shoulder blade panels and two lying directly down along his backstrut - leaving it exposed. The wings themselves were also different. The places where they should've had flaps to direct airflow were instead jagged and made to look like the blades of a Predacon's wing. Ulchtar stared at Cloud Breeze's quadwings in wonder; unable to create an answer in her processor. 

As if feeling her burning gaze on him, Cloud Breeze turned and glanced over in Ulchtar's direction. His pale, silver face plates softened into a warm smile as he gestured to her berth. "You're awake! That's good."

Standing behind Cloud Breeze, obscured from Ulchtar's view, was Orange Blast. He was noticeably dwarfed by the Seeker King but didn't seem to stand in fear at all. This expression didn't go unnoticed by Ulchtar as she peered around Cloud Breeze's frame to try and catch a glimpse of her guardian medic. 

"Have you met Orange Blast?" Cloud Breeze stepped out of the way and gestured to the smaller, more evolved Cyberjet standing behind him. "He's informed me that your recovery is going quite well." 

Ulchtar straightened up, noticing the lack of the straps binding her to the berth as she nodded. "Mhm." She remembered him.

Orange Blast smiled at the acknowledgement, yet another win in his books as he stood on the other side of her berth, quietly scanning her vitals as they conversed. 

"My frame," Ulchtar's optics shifted downward as she began her own assessment of herself. Her memory files were beginning to come back as she examined everything. "It isn't mine."

Cloud Breeze stared down at her with a pitiful look which only served to heighten the fear in her spark. 

"Will I be ok?" Ulchtar's voicebox wavered as her optics became glassy. 

"Yes," Orange Blast snagged their attention as he nodded. He checked his wrist panel to make sure that the data he was receiving from her spark matched the one on the machine that she was currently hooked up to. "This frame is a lot stronger than your previous one. Your inner systems were transferred over successfully."

"Transferred?" Ulchtar frowned as panic began to seep into her face plates. She bowed her helm, optics wide as she noted that, once again - although it sounded like her voice - it sounded slightly deeper, more... Mature? "How long have I been out?"

"A few ano-cycles," Orange Blast turned slowly to look at her. His blank expression was one of calm and expectancy; knowing inevitably that he'd have to tell her the truth sooner or later. 

"Ulchtar," Cloud Breeze addressed her next from where he stood on the opposite side of her berth. "We didn't have a choice. Your old frame has been compromised and broken beyond repair. The damage received from your wingstruts caused you to be in a permanent state of shock. You wouldn't come out of it, no matter what we tried."

Orange Blast then took over. "Your energon levels were too low for us to shock you back out of it. Doing so would've caused more harm than good and thrown you into a world of pain. So... We had to nullify its effects and... Remove your spark."

"My spark!?" Ulchtar stared in horror at him.

"Temporarily." Cloud Breeze reassured her with an outstretched servo. "We cut your old frame up to carefully remove your spark, memory files, brain module and other important things that could be salvaged. You were put into stasis until we could find you a new frame." 

They paused as they waited for her reaction. She glanced down at the bulky frame she now inhabited. 

"It... Feels Outdated." She murmured as she struggled to fully close her servos. "It doesn't feel or look like my old one."

Orange Blast shrugged and glanced over at Cloud Breeze, with a nod the medic continued. "You're inhabiting the frame of a once great and noble warrior of old. One of the first Cyberjets to appear here on Cybertron. It's in good condition and fits you perfectly. We didn't have much lying around. We're quite lucky that the biology was almost... Symmetrical."

"We put you back together," Cloud Breeze spoke in a low, soft tone. "This frame may be 'old', however, it’s easily adaptable. The era from which it was Forged in was littered with new-age technology and advanced sciences. Modifications can be made more easily with a design like yours."

"And repairing it is a breeze," Orange Blast smiled. "Even self-repairs are sparkling's play with this design." 

"We managed to insert your brain module, optical sensors, nasal unit, face plates, audials, we thickened your helm, and your spark chamber was the easiest to insert because this frame had so much room." Cloud Breeze paused to examine her face. "You're still you, Ulchtar. Just bigger and stronger now." 

"My old frame," she frowned. "Where is it?"

"It's safe in storage." Orange Blast told her. "Perhaps one cycle, with the right technology, we'll be able to restore it. But the lack of energon over the ano-cycles has made it far too small for you to continue inhabiting it. I'm sorry, but... I did all I could." 

"You did your best, old friend." Cloud Breeze glanced over to reassure the young medic. "Ulchtar, you're a growing bot. You'll need to learn how to move forward, how to adapt and survive and get stronger. Clinging onto the past won't do you any good." 

Ulchtar opened the subspace in her chassis and frowned at the clear absence of something. "My rock..."

Orange Blast leaned back and with a smile as he presented to her a dark blue, almost perfectly carved pebble. "We kept it. Just in case." 

Ulchtar stared at it in wonder before she smiled up at him. "Thank you." He then handed it over to her and glanced at Cloud Breeze. 

"How are her energon levels?" The white, large Seeker asked. 

"They're doing alright," Orange Blast turned to squint at the monitor. "She's taking impressively well to the new chemicals, but it'll be some time before she's able to be battle-ready."

"She needs to learn how to navigate her frame before she tries transforming and flying around." Cloud Breeze stared at the monitor too. "I'm not willing to throw her into any skirmishes yet."

Meanwhile, Ulchtar was staring down at her new frame and frowned. "I'm not the same," sadness began to sweep over her emotional components as a distant look clouded behind her optics. 

The two stared at her for a moment before Orange Blast glanced at Cloud Breeze. The Seeker King vented. "No, you do look different than before. But that's fine, everybot goes through some changes. You'll be alright." 

"I don't know who I am," Ulchtar stared at her red chassis and blue servos. 

Cloud Breeze then gave a look at Orange Blast who shook his helm. "There weren't any traces of him when I examined and prepped the frame for usage. He was decapitated, sparkal remains were removed and placed in the respective areas. Only Ulchtar inhabits the frame now."

Cloud Breeze frowned at him before Ulchtar spoke again. "Who was he?" 

Orange Blast looked to Cloud Breeze but the eldest in the ward only shook his helm. "That's not important right now. How about you get some rest and we can begin your exercises tomorrow?" 

"Ok," Ulchtar lowered her servos down on either side of the berth and stared up at the ceiling. 

When Cloud Breeze's pedsteps eventually faded, she turned her helm to squint at Orange Blast. 

"I don't feel like Ulchtar anymore." She whispered. 

Orange Blast turned to glance down at her. "Why not?"

"It's a Tarn name," she narrowed her optics at the horrid memory and wounds inflicted upon her by her previous Mentor. "And... I don't want to be like her anymore." 

"Ulchtar?" Confused, Orange Blast raised a brow ridge as he began setting up the procedure for a neural scan. 

Ulchtar shook her helm. "Cryak." 

"Mm," Orange Blast looked down as he tried to remember where he heard that designation before. 

"She's a monster," fear shimmered behind Ulchtar's optics as the memories repeated themselves in her processor. 

"You do have a Vosian name," the dark blue jet offered. Ulchtar's optics slid up to his pale, cyan-coloured face plates. "It's Star of Thundering Sky. Or 'Star' for short." 

"I like that name," the red and grey jet nodded. "It's a pretty name." 

"A pretty name for a pretty bot?" Orange Blast tilted his helm as he smiled, trying to lift his patient's spirits. 

Star shook their helm and blinked as they sadly replied. "I don't feel pretty anymore." 

59th Floor of the Sky Tower, Vos - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Five chords later. 

Star grunted as they struggled to move one of their peds, most of their frame was using Orange Blast as a support. It had been a few chords since Star had awakened in their new frame, and little by little, some progress was being made. Though not at Star's preferred speed. They were limping behind for too long, and despite what Orange Blast had told them, Star was itching to get back to where they'd previously been. 

"At least walking!" Star protested. "I can't even do that!"

Orange Blast nodded as he helped them walk down the cleared hallway. The best thing he could do was be there for Star in their vulnerable state. Pushing them would be no use because he had learnt that he had to go at Star's pace until they hurt themselves, and only then was he inclined to step in and exercise his authority over the situation. But he wouldn't do that to them in otherwise normal circumstances, such as now. He stood by and watched Star continue to prove themself. Whatever progress they made, it meant something, at least to them it did. 

Orange Blast figured that the absence of others on the fifty-ninth floor had meant that they'd be exercising there today and brushed off the eerie feeling that came with the absence of noise. The silence was loud, so he was thankful for Star's heaving as they continued to angrily limp down the hallway with a dark scowl on their face plates. 

"You're doing good!" Orange Blast grunted from where he was holding them up, encouragement was the second best medicine - right after laughter. "You're pushing on, you're determined. That’s a good sign that you've got a strong spark." 

"Mhm," Star grunted, gritting their denta through the pain as they carried on. A determined frown creased their smokey-grey face plates. 

"Just to the end of the hallway and back," Orange Blast huffed, his own frame straining under the effort of holding them up. He wasn't normally fit for combat since it wasn't his division, and although he could carry a bot off a battlefield, that was mostly thanks to him dragging them off. He had to slow himself down and go at Star's pace - which was agonising. 

"I know!" Star hissed in annoyance but didn't stray their attention from the damn wall that slowly drew closer with every passing arc. "I know." They huffed, face plates lessening in apology.

Orange Blast laughed despite the lack of strength he had. "Don't slow down for me! If you wanna run, go for it!"

"I can't!" Star screeched. "I'll fall over!" 

"Ah," Orange Blast shrugged and lifted his helm to squint at their goal; the opposing wall at the end of the hallway. "Well, maybe not today then. But hopefully soon."

Star nodded in agreement. "Soon." 

They reached the end of the hallway in under an joor and huffed as they both slid down and sat back against the wall to cool their heated engines. Their systems whirred from the excessive strain, and they panted with their optics looking back at the other end of the hall. 

"I'm already dreading this." Star vented which made Orange Blast laugh. 

"Same." 

Star huffed, glaring at the other wall which was a few good yards away before their amber optics slid down to glare at their blue and grey peds. They turned one over to rotate it and Orange Blast took note. 

"Feeling any pain?" He asked with bright, orange optics scanning their movements. 

Star shook their helm. "Not particularly. I still feel heavy and slow, but the joints aren't stinging today." 

"That's some good news," Orange Blast hummed as he rested his helm back against the wall to gather himself for a moment. 

Star leaned forward, tilting their helm to listen. "I thought we were the only ones on this floor?" They frowned, glancing at Orange Blast.

The dark blue jet frowned up at the tall ceiling as they heard hushed voices nearby. The voices were beginning to grow louder in volume. An argument. He turned to glance in the direction of the noise before he pushed himself up. "Stay here," he pointed at Star.

They huffed and rolled their optics. "You say that like I can go anywhere." 

"I mean it," orange optics full of worry soon landed on them. "Stay."

"Ok," Star shrugged, somewhat unnerved by the sudden change in attitude. "Wait, where are you going? What if I get attacked?" 

"By who?" Orange Blast frowned as his helm popped around the corner to frown at them. "No bot attacks anybot here." 

"That's what you think," Star muttered, but dropped it so the medic could go investigate. They pouted and hugged their heavy, arguably useless, kneestruts to their chassis and rested their chin on them to glare at the wall. 

Orange Blast quietly crept around the corner with a frown of confusion as he neared the elevator lobby. The voices had grown more clear and he could recognise a few almost straight away. 

"Are you crazy!?" Mercystrike's was the first he'd heard. Her tone prompted him to stick to the shadows as he slithered around the pillars to narrow his optics on the sight. 

"Exiling Shockwave from the Council is going to have massive repercussions!" The elite warrior hissed. 

"None of which will have a lasting impact on us!" Cloud Stream's voice cut through the tension. "Vosians will react with surprise, but this is a Tarn problem, not ours!”

"And here comes Cloud Stream to assume everything," Storm Wing's was the next to rise above the crowd. "Tell me, do you let your spawn think for themselves when you're not around?"

"Leave them out of this," the white Seeker rounded on his brother with a dark hiss. "Keep this a professional meeting, Storm Wing."

"Prima forbid I ever speak my processor to you!" The blue and silver jet huffed and shook his helm. 

Cloud Breeze stood at the helm of the crowd, quietly watching as the argument broke out across his inner circle. He seemed distant as he watched, not addressing anybot in particular, or looking in any defined direction. 

"What if Tarn retaliates?" Mercystrike cried out, more angry than fearful. "The first person they'll lay blame to is you. And you're our leader, Cloud Breeze! So how does that look on us? All of us?" 

That caught Motorthrust's attention as he turned and glared at her. "You're awfully quick to undermine our leader, Mercystrike. Is there perhaps something you'd wish to confess?"

Cloud Breeze's optics slid ever so slightly to examine his Trine-mate's face plates. He portrayed a suspicious look at her. 

"Are you daring to suggest that Mercystrike, our own sister, is plotting against Cloud Breeze?" Cyber Song's soft voice was littered with disgust as horror painted itself on her face plates. 

"I'm just saying that she hasn't been very loyal as of late," the old, grey jet huffed in response, wanting to direct the tension off of him as soon as he could divert it. 

"And blind loyalty gets us nowhere!" Cloud Stream raised his helm to yell over the crowd. 

This, in turn, prompted Storm Wing to bite at him again. "You'd know a thing about that now, wouldn't you, ‘Stream?" 

The brothers then went back to snarling at each other; throwing obscenities among other statements. 

"My point still stands," Mercystrike yelled above the crowd. "Not only is Cloud Breeze now in more danger than before, but so are the rest of us!"

"That's one Pit of a stretch, Mercystrike." Low Swoop then joined in. "To say that you're not plotting an assassination against your brother, but to also confess that if a future attack does take place, that you orchestrated the entire thing to make yourself look innocent."

"Lieutenant Mercystrike would never harm her own brother!" Flight Song declared loudly. "What would she gain from it? An entire city she already rules?" 

"Perhaps we should broaden our sights?" Wing Dagger puffed his chassis out, servos on his hipstruts as he looked up at the Guardian Trine. "If we are expecting retaliation, it is no doubt going to hail directly from Tarn." 

"Or Iacon!" Storm Wing yelled, turning his sights on the Lieutenant next while his armour flared in anger. "The traitorous bastards! Since when should we ever trust them?" 

"Storm Wing is right," Breeze Tail nodded from where he stood on the outskirts of the crowd. "They casted us out, they're not to be trusted." 

"Only time they ever wanted to speak with us was because they wanted something in return!" Flight Song nodded her helm in agreement. 

Orange Blast flinched as he felt somebot crawl up beside him. He soon relaxed as he noticed Star's miscoloured frame. "You shouldn't be here," he leaned down to whisper into their audial. "You shouldn't be seeing this." 

"Neither should you," Star turned their helm slightly to scoff at him. "From the sounds of it." 

Orange Blast frowned, rather embarrassed that Star was a witness to such disorganization. "Something must've happened at the Council."

"Who's that?" Star nodded down at Wing Dagger. 

"That's Wing Dagger," Orange Blast informed them. "He's one of Cloud Breeze's most trusted Lieutenants. He's seen quite a few battles."

"Do you trust him?" Star murmured softly as they hid in the shadows. 

Orange Blast stiffened in shock, wondering why Star would suddenly ask that. "O-of... Course? I trust all of them." 

"You shouldn't," Star frowned, glaring hard at the red and blue Seeker Overlord. 

"Why?" Orange Blast frowned down at them. "Have you... Did you see him somewhere before?"

Star nodded. "Back in Tarn. Don't know what he was doing there, but-"

The two stiffened as Cloud Breeze suddenly turned his helm so he was staring right at them. Orange Blast had his intake agape in fear of the consequences of his prying. He hurriedly dragged Star back behind the pillar they were hiding behind and stared back down at his leader. Cloud Breeze's squinted his optics at the medic in confusion, but Orange Blast only blinked. 

"What is it?" Mercystrike moved to unsheathe her Sabre. "Assassins?" 

"No," Cyber Song shook her helm, speaking for their brother. "Curious onlookers. Harmless." 

Cloud Breeze then straightened up, quickly teared his gaze away from Orange Blast so he wouldn't get made. He addressed his inner circle with a booming voice. "Seniors, please! Trusted and loyal allies, family and friends, direct your attention onto me and calm yourselves!" 

The Seeker King's optics strayed for a brief moment to make sure that Orange Blast wasn't lingering, and thankfully, he wasn't, which put his spark at ease. "There is no reason to be alarmed by this outcome. Senator Shockwave made a good representative of Tarn, unfortunately, these things happen. Poor Shockwave did not survive the dangers of the political environment that he found himself in. No bot is truly to blame for this." 

As Cloud Breeze was distracting the crowd, Orange Blast directed Star to crawl back into the hallway where they had been exercising. 

"I don't understand why we're not allowed to stay and watch them rip each other apart?" They huffed as they pulled themselves forward with their servos, the rest of their frame nothing but dead weight. 

"Because," Orange Blast huffed as he waited for Star to hurry back in front of him. "If we were meant to see that meeting, Cloud Breeze would've called for us to be there. He didn't so, this argument does not concern us." 

"What?" Star leaned around slightly to squint at the medic. "Is he going to sic his Overlords onto us?" 

"No," Orange Blast shook his helm. "No. We just would've gotten our after-burners chewed out, that's all." 

Star rolled their optics. "I could've dealt with that." 

"No," Orange Blast chuckled nervously. "Trust me, you don't want that. Especially if it's Mercystrike. I feel sorry for ol' Breeze." 

Star huffed as they dragged themselves to sit up against the wall for support while they cooled their systems for a moment. "Is it always so crazy here?" 

Orange Blast sat beside them with a shrug. "Well, it is when you're involved with politics." 

Star scoffed and looked away. "Politics is stupid."

Orange Blast nodded his helm in agreement. "Tell me about it." 

Star's Private Medical Ward, 51st Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
One deca-cycle later. 

"You're up and walking?" Cloud Breeze smiled as he announced his presence, finally entering Star's ward and keeping his optics glued to their frame. "Almost without any assistance as well! That's good!"

He nodded, pausing by the empty berth with his servos on his hipstruts as he stood and watched the exercise continue. Star seized him in their optics, narrowing them into a subtle glare. Their servos were hesitantly grasping Orange Blast's shoulders for support. 

"Yes," Orange Blast nodded though his attention remained fully on his patient. "We're only going over our daily exercises now, but Star is able to walk short distances on their own." 

"Very good news." Cloud Breeze stated proudly. 

"Soon enough I'll be able to run short distances," Star muttered quietly, glaring past Orange Blast. "All on my own." 

The medic chuckled. "Short distances, then we can work on stamina, and afterwards, I believe that you'll be learning how to use those wings of yours." 

"You gave me wings?" Star halted in pushing against Orange Blast to turn and squint at their shoulders. Sure enough, there were two, large, flat-edged, jet-like wings that were pale grey with a singular, red stripe going down them. 

"Yes?" Orange Blast paused in his assault as well to raise a brow ridge at them. "You had wings before so I naturally restored them. Besides," he stood fully to examine them with a simple glance as he stated. "Your inner spine panels suggest flexibility movement - you were Forged with wings and we still have your old ones in storage too. I could fully operate to remove that ability? You'd need to go back into stasis and learn how to walk again, though, because I'd be fully disabling your thrusters." 

Orange Blast looked down and gently kicked one of Star's ankles with the tip of his ped. They turned and frowned down at their thrusters as a dark look came over them. 

"The choice is purely yours, but one that'll probably have to wait until you feel better." Orange Blast was patient and kind with his words, noticing the hesitance written on Star's face plates. 

Star shook their helm. "I don't know how to fly, and I've never flown." They then squinted at the dark blue jet. "Why would I miss something that I've never experienced?" 

"You have yet to experience it," Orange Blast glanced away as he gave a shrug. 

Cloud Breeze then stepped forward, his servos held behind his backstrut as he approached. "I should hope, Star of Thundering Sky, that you at least give it a chance before you do come to a decision. Though the process of restoring and removing one's ability to fly is quite practical and common among our medical procedures here, I have always been a firm believer that everybot should experience the joy of flight over our lovely planet at the twilight of dawn at least once in their lifetime." 

Star frowned as they reached out to tightly grasp Orange Blast's servos and apply pressure so he could measure their progress. "That... Does sound nice." 

"It's beautiful out there." Orange Blast smiled at them, keeping a close optic on the pressure meter spiking in his HUD. "And just because you've never flown before doesn't mean that you won't be a natural at it. By the Primes, Wind is your age, and she's already showing great promise!"

"Or the other way around," Cloud Breeze smirked. "Orange Blast here doesn't do much flying, though he retreats to the skies above whenever he needs to think. Call it an instinct if you must place a label where one may be needed." 

"And Cloud Breeze only flies when he needs to go somewhere," the medic huffed quietly with a mischief smirk so only Star heard him. They chuckled and nodded before pulling away once Orange Blast had measured their strength. "PSI is looking much better than it was four chords ago." The medic commented as he documented the data before turning to address Cloud Breeze. "Is there a particular reason why you've come to visit us today?" 

Cloud Breeze's yellow optics slid from Star to Orange Blast. "Well, if they are feeling up to the task, there are a few people that I'd like Star to meet." 

Orange Blast glanced at Star, examining them with their medical lenses that were installed behind their bright, orange optics. "Hmm, there's no signs of any pressure points, EMF's in a relaxed state. Where are you going?" They glanced back over at the white Seeker.

"Just around the Tower," Cloud Breeze gestured to the building they were in. "This one."

Orange Blast then looked at Star expectantly as he whispered. "I do have the power to kick him out?" 

Star chuckled and shook their helm, quick to wave the offer off. "No, no, it'll be fine. I do, if you don't mind, want to go out and explore for a brief moment?" 

"By all means," Orange Blast shrugged and stepped out of the way. "Just don't push yourself too hard and don't get lost."

"Do we have a curfew?" Cloud Breeze grinned. 

Orange Blast smirked at him but shook his helm. "What do I look like? A strict medic? No. Star's in great condition, and if you're only planning on a stroll, then there's no cause for alarm on my behalf." 

Once Star had been cleared from the ward, Orange Blast was the first to leave as he muttered something about checking up on Motorthrust before going to grab some energon for himself. 

"Don't take much offence to it," Cloud Breeze chuckled as he looked down at Star, watching as Orange Blast hurried off down the hall. "He's a very busy bot." 

Star nodded. "I'm not too worried, I think he needs a break more than I do." 

"Oh," Cloud Breeze turned and started down the opposite hallway. "I didn't take you being the difficult type." 

Star shrugged and soon followed after him. "I like to think I'm not. But groon in and cycle out, we're the only two who interact with each other most of the time. I was almost getting bored." 

"So," Cloud Breeze smirked. "You'd be the type to sneak out?" 

"If I could," Star laughed a little nervously. "But I doubt I'd get far." 

The large, white Seeker nodded, a more serious tone now overcoming him. "There are too many Seekers in Vos for you to pass by completely unnoticed. And I wouldn't advise getting on our medical unit's bad side. They're swamped enough with work as is." 

Star nodded, keeping a mental record of all of this. "My spark goes out to them." 

"Speaking of sparks," Cloud Breeze's helm raised a little as they walked side by side down the hallway. "There are quite a few bots I would love for you to meet, though, for today, we'll take things easy and go at your pace." 

Star glanced at him as they got into the elevator, worry sparking behind their amber optics. "How... How many people am I supposed to be meeting?" 

"Oh," Cloud Breeze vented as he pretended to count inside his processor. "Just the entire city."

"What!?" Star screeched and watched helplessly as the elevator doors closed in their faceplates and soon enough the contraption began to sink downward. 

The large, white Seeker chuckled and shook his helm. "Eventually. Not all in one go, of course, and definitely not today." 

Star offlined their optics for a moment to ground themselves before the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open. The elevator itself was gorgeous inside, covered in golden and faded copper runes. The engineering ran smoothly, almost without a hiccup, save for the landing. The doors were quite thick but moved out of the way with ease as they stepped out. 

"No," Cloud Breeze turned to keep Star in his line of sight at all times as they exited the elevator and made their way down the hall. "I think just one or two might do it for today." 

"Well," Star hesitantly followed after him, giving timid glances back at the elevator they had just emerged from. "Who do you need to see?" 

"Everybot," Cloud Breeze shrugged as he tilted his helm, one servo wrapped neatly around the entry to a door. "Usually. But I believe that making you meet these two will be paramount in your recovery here at Vos." 

"Speaking of," Star came to a halt as they looked up at the King. "Once I'm... I'm fine, what happens afterward?" Their optics widened and looked lost, almost as if dreading the answer. "Are you... Making me stay or kicking me out?" 

Cloud Breeze frowned down at them, standing tall in the now-open doorway. "I'm not going to ever make you do something, Star. Not unless it's a small favour to ask in the future. Whether you choose to stay or leave is purely up to you. Though, I advise that you remain here until you've at least learned how to fly and defend yourself." 

He turned and strode down the hallway with the red and grey jet in tow. 

"If you do choose to stay, Vos and I will become your home. You will be raised here as one of our own, adopt our ways, our culture, and hopefully our values. You'll learn many things and grow to become a respected warrior in your field. But, if you do choose to leave, go knowing that Vos and I will never hold a grudge against you. After all, I must confess that I've seen you leave once, on my watch, hence the feeling of 'abandonment' that no doubt plagues you." 

Star narrowed their optics on Cloud Breeze's backstrut as they continued on in brief silence. Star lifted their helm, squinting at the darkness that swam at the edges of the walls and thrived in every corner. There were no signs of life anywhere on this floor, and every piece of furniture or decor had been covered in a thin sheet of an unknown fabric. 

"What... Floor are we on?" Star shrank back from Cloud Breeze in slight fear as they glanced around. 

"This is the forty ninth floor," Cloud Breeze paused to explain. "Our former science division before the Celestial Towers were fully restored. It belonged to an Ancient Seeker known as Skyblast during Vos' Civil War with Umbratron. Skyblast has since retired and given full access to my youngest spawn, Skyfire." 

"So there's literally no bot else on this floor?" Star raised a brow ridge up at him. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "It's been renovated recently and some things may still be lying around but I assure you, Star, that there's no need to worry about anything. It's safe here." 

"Safe," Star echoed with a frown as they walked in the King's shadow. 

"Some bots come and go every now and then but Skyfire is the most consistent visitor." Cloud Breeze paused by the doorway of a dark room as he turned and squinted down curiously at Star. "We'll need to talk later about what happened at the Flats." His voice was soft and quiet, gaining Star's attention once more. "But I promise you that you are not in any danger here." 

Star stared up at him before Cloud Breeze leaned away, swiped a metallic card that had popped out of his wrist panel and watched as the lab door slid open with a hiss after a green light came on. Star tried peering around the large Seeker to squint inside and get a good look at the room. However, from what they could already see, it was massive. 

"This is usually where we keep our organic samples. Flora, not fauna." Cloud Breeze shook his helm as he stepped inside. "The possession of organics in fauna format is forbidden across most of Cybertron - not to mention how dangerous some of them may come across as. However, I do allow the study of tissue samples and the growth of floral organisms. Since most of those are harmless and kept in this sealed room, away from our ventilation systems." 

Star walked in beside Cloud Breeze, glancing in awe around the dark, massive room. The sheer size of the room alone made them wonder just how big the overall Tower was. The only lighting inside this room was emitted from floor lights that sat close to the inner greenhouse circle where most organic plants were stationed in a cot of fresh, wet dirt. Natural water flowed from around the room's outer skirting board and trickled away into unseen pipes protected by the thick, concrete walls. The water then came overhelm above the flowerbeds in gentle, tiny sprinklers. Quite a variety of metallic desks and tables were sewn together in the middle with a lampshade or three sitting and watching tirelessly over what appeared to be dozens of datapads. Hunched by one of the tables, already standing, was a miniature version of Cloud Breeze. A large, white, winged, Cybertronian with his backstrut turned to them. 

"Skyfire!" Cloud Breeze raised his helm to call him over. "Come introduce yourself, if you could spare us a moment, please?" 

Skyfire then straightened up as he acknowledged the instruction, though he was hesitant to place the datapad down and tear his gaze away from it. He was still muttering equations to himself before he turned around, and his optics caught sight of the pair. "Oh."

Star blinked as they squinted against the darkness to get a good look at Skyfire. He had a cute, youthfulness to his silver faceplates that matched rather handsomely well with their pale, sparkling, baby-blue optics. A subtle, round, white helm pulled the face together nicely with an almost mythical glow. The white shuttle was nowhere near as tall as Cloud Breeze, though he was already towering over Star by a good torso. Skyfire remained where he was, awkwardly glancing between a staring Star and an expectant Cloud Breeze who soon beckoned him over with a gesture of his servo. 

“Come over, don’t be shy.” Cloud Breeze called out with an amused look. 

Skyfire tilted his helm, scowling something to himself that Star couldn’t hear before he straightened up and strode over. He blinked down at the red and grey jet before glancing up at his Mentor as he reset his voice box and reunited his gaze with Star. “Hi.” 

The abruptness of his greeting trailing off made Star squint at him. Skyfire seemed to shy away from their intense gaze, but couldn’t fully pry his optics from the other’s frame either. 

In Skyfire’s optics, Star was quite small though somewhat healthy. The red paint along their chassis and wings wasn’t as vibrant, though he kept telling himself it was because they were just standing in this dark room. No, what caught Skyfire’s attention was the dim light behind Star’s amber optics. They seemed tired. The lack of energon stood out to him almost right away - Star’s figure was small, and their spark was too faint to be detected as an energy signature. Their optics looked dark and near lifeless. Skyfire was growing more worried the longer he stared. 

“Skyfire?” He snapped his attention to his Mentor and eased his frame back. “Introduce yourself, please.”

The shuttle eagerly nodded before he turned his gaze back to Star and opened his intake. He in-vented sharply, cooling his systems before he responded. “Hi. I-I’m Skyfire, the youngest of Cloud Breeze’s s-spawn.”

Star narrowed their optics at him before they turned their helm to gaze about the room. “You’re studying organics?” 

Skyfire’s optics brightened as Star said that. “Yes!” He seemed quite relieved that finally somebot had noticed what he was up to and hoped that Star had a similar interest that they could share. “I’ve altered the conditions of this room to provide a perfect breeding ground for a small colony of Galax that I’ve been able to rescue from extinction.”

Skyfire stated proudly before glancing up at Cloud Breeze warily. “Er, S-Storm Wing got me a few samples from Parvus before the electrical fire storms wiped them all out. On top of a disease that spreads incredibly fast, I’ve had to isolate them here for their protection.”

Skyfire watched as Star carefully strode over to examine the flower beds and peered down at the alien lifeforms as the shuttle explained. “I’m taking tissue samples and experimenting on them to come up with an antivirus. I’m hoping to build them up an immunity of some sort.” 

“Most flowers aren’t quite like the Galax, even for alien fauna.” Cloud Breeze tagged along. “Your work here is something to be proud of, Skyfire.” 

The shuttle swooned under the praise before the two white Seekers glanced over at Star. They were frowning down at one specimen, it had a long, thin, dark green stem for a body, one green leaf while another was brown and frail, barely holding on. Its petals were a dark magenta and clenched tightly together to hide its face. 

“Is this one ill?” Star glanced over their shoulderstrut back at Skyfire to ask. 

The young shuttle nodded as he approached to squint down at the label. “Subject J#342. He’s not infected, but he’s not been able to keep any nutrients down. I fear that he’s grown too old and has begun to wither. I’ve separated him from the others to keep them safe.” 

“That seems cruel,” Star muttered softly as they glanced over at the much healthier looking flowers staring at J#342 from behind a glass dome wall. “He should be with his family.”

Skyfire frowned down at Star before timidly looking back at Cloud Breeze, but his face plates were cold and unreadable. Thankfully, however, his Mentor soon snapped out of it and beckoned for the two to follow him. “That’s enough flower gazing for one morning, you two. Skyfire, is the lab secured?” 

He nodded. “Yes, I was expecting you, so I cleaned up earlier. Was just going over a few reports.” 

“Good, well, if it’s alright with you, I believe that we should go introduce Star to your brothers, no?” 

“All of them?” Skyfire frowned, looking somewhat frightened for a moment. 

“Perhaps not,” Cloud Breeze shook his helm, narrowing his yellow optics at Star’s backstrut - they were still examining the flowers. “But I do believe that perhaps getting well acquainted with Cloud Stream and Breeze Tail would do them some good. Just for when I'm not around."

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Cafeteria, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Fourteen arcs later. 

The forty-second floor of the Sky Tower was home to the Seeker Apprentice Academy's cafeteria. The entire floor was rather spacious and housed many booths for Trines or friends to sit and socialise during their consumption times. For now, it was mostly empty, save for Cloud Stream who stood tall beside his spawn. The narrows were mingling rather happily amongst themselves with theories running wild about why they'd been brought here and who they were going to meet. 

"I bet he's tall!" Night beamed as she clasped her servos tightly; her pale blue optics shining. "And handsome!"

"Taller than Cloud Stream, for sure." Wind scoffed as she offlined her optics and held her arms tightly across her chassis. 

Slip rolled her optics from where she stood closest to their Mentor's frame. She'd stopped holding his larger servo only out of worry for her self-image when it eventually came to meet this new Seeker. "Hopefully it's another narrow," she huffed, some venom laced in her words. "We could use another girl around here." 

That muttering caught Cloud Stream's attention, and he turned his helm to narrow his blue optics down at her in thought before he asked. "Is something bothering you, Slip?" 

The purple and cyan jet stiffened with a nervous chuckle and fiddled her digits; unable to meet his gaze. "Uh, n-no... No, there's nothing bothering me, Cloud Stream." 

His gaze softened, and he went to gently urge her to speak when the doors to the elevator opened and out stepped Cloud Breeze. Cloud Stream straightened up, returning to his stoicism as his Mentor and leader strode into the room. Standing beside Night was Dustburner and Breeze Tail. The elder warriors remained quiet, their gazes pinned on the Ancient Seeker. Behind him, Cloud Breeze was flanked by Skyfire, and a dull grey and crimson red bulk. Cloud Stream heard Slip vent but paid her little mind. 

"Cloud Breeze," Cloud Stream tilted his helm in respect as their King neared. "I apologise on behalf of Storm Wing and Widowfog's absences, they're out on patrol." 

"There's no need." Cloud Breeze smiled at him before he turned and gazed at the Vixen Trine. "Vixens," he nodded in greeting. "How's training going?" 

"It's going great!" Wind was the first to speak as she fist-pumped the air with a huge grin on her faceplates. "Breeze Tail flew me through my first tornado yesterday! A level one, but it was still pretty awesome!" 

Cloud Stream felt embarrassed and did not meet his Mentor's gaze. Cloud Breeze chuckled in response to the younger's excited retelling. "That's good! I am very pleased to hear that you actively enjoyed the experience. From here on it gives me faith knowing that you will become a strong flyer in no time." 

"Mentor took me out over The Barrens yesterday," Slip quietly muttered, copying Cloud Stream in bowing her helm so she didn't meet her King's gaze, but it was in vain because her pride stubbornly made her say something to be noticed and praised for her efforts. "Target practice." 

"That's very good as well, Slip!" Cloud Breeze turned to address her next. "You keep learning from Cloud Stream, and you'll grow up to be just as fierce a warrior as he is!”

Cloud Stream shifted his optics to catch the small smile on his spawn's lip platin,g but his own face plates betrayed no emotion. 

"What about you, Night?" Cloud Breeze stared down at her next. She flinched at the direct question and leaned back as she tried to think of what she had recently achieved. 

"Uh," she chuckled nervously and refused to meet his gaze. "I, uh..." 

"She helped me with some construction work this chord." Dustburner swooped to her rescue. "I was very, pleasantly surprised." 

Cloud Stream couldn't help but smirk at the tone used for 'pleasantly'; indicating a stern tone meant that something else had happened - which Cloud Stream did know about but they weren't going to discuss that mishap now. 

A look of amusement came over Cloud Breeze, but he didn't say anything until he nodded back in Night's direction. "Well, I am still hopeful and glad that you learned something as well." 

"What about you, Skyfire?" Breeze Tail spoke softly as he lifted his helm to address his youngest brother. "You've been quite secretive all chord, what are you working on?" 

"Vaccines," the white, small shuttle blankly stated. "I'm studying the flowers Storm Wing brought back." 

"So you've been cooped up in the labs all chord?" Dustburner's amber optics caught Skyfire's anxious frame. 

Skyfire didn't say anything, but Cloud Breeze stood in between them before he reset his voicebox and turned to gesture towards the dull grey and red jet standing on his other side. "This is Star. My seniors here would probably recognise them in another form; yes, this is the same Star of Thundering Sky that was Forged three solar cycles after the Vixens." 

Cloud Stream lifted his helm and then glanced over to squint at Dustburner. 

"During the storm?" The tiger brown jet asked. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "Yes."

"Where are the others?" Breeze Tail was the next to inquire. 

Cloud Breeze glanced at the Vixens who were peering excitedly around him to catch a glimpse of Star. "They're gone." Was all he answered and it was enough for the older Seekers to understand. 

Cloud Stream stared at Star before he muttered in a soft voice. "Is this wise?" 

Skyfire and Slip then turned to stare up at him blankly. Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics at him before he softly vented and stood to the side. "Vixens, why don't you take Star for a tour? Take Skyfire with you too, he could use some exercise." 

Skyfire felt a rush of hot embarrassment and flashed a glare at his Mentor. Cloud Stream quickly shook his helm at him with a silent look. A look of pain and conflict danced behind Skyfire's pale, blue optics, but Cloud Stream was firm. 

 . : You're not ready to hear this. : . 

 . : I'm not- : . 

'. : You ARE still a kid. : .  Cloud Stream's frown darkened. . : Just follow them around and make sure they don't get into any trouble. I'll come talk with you later, alright? : . 

Breeze Tail glanced at the two brothers, also feeling that connection between them but didn't seem to intrude upon their private conversation. Cloud Breeze felt it too and only spared a glance at them. 

Skyfire vented heavily, his frame deflating in defeat as he eventually gave in. 

During this, Wind was the first to excitedly approach Star. The light blue and black narrow grinned as she boldly approached and held out one servo to them. 

"Hi!" Her high-pitched vocals squeaked in their audials. "I'm Wind of the Vixen Trine! I was Forged here in Vos, my training Mentor is Breeze Tail." She spared a brief moment to turn and gesture toward the beige coloured Cyberjet with black stripes and green optics. "And my spawn Mentor is Cloud Stream." She then gestured toward the sleek, white Cyberjet with dark blue optics. "My Trine-mates are Slip and Night." 

As she spoke their designations, she pointed at them as they walked over to introduce themselves. 

Slip was the first to speak, her helm down and a bored look in her purple optics. "Hi, I'm Slip. My training Mentor is Cloud Stream." 

Night was the last, a smoky black narrow with well-rounded, large wings and the same colour blue optics that Skyfire had. "And I'm Night! My training Mentor is Widowfog but she's not here right now. You'll get to meet her eventually though!" 

"It's nice to meet you, Star of Thundering Sky!" Wind beamed. 

"That is a pretty name," Slip muttered, though mostly kept to herself. 

Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people alone, Star only stared back at them. Skyfire noticed this and straightened up as he turned and faced the group. "Right, well. Who wants to be our tour guide?" 

"Oh, I wanna be!" Night beamed as her servo shot straight into the air. "I know every way in and out of this place!" 

Star's optics flickered to Skyfire's face plates for help, but they were soon dragged off by Wind and Night as the narrows giggled and fussed over their new frame. Slip and Skyfire eventually followed, leaving the seniors alone to converse.  

Slip stalked at the back of their group as Star was dragged at the front by her sisters. They eventually came to a halt over by a large window overlooking the city. 

"Have you been outside yet?" Wind asked, her crimson coloured optics searching Star's hesitant face plates for an answer. 

"N-no," they shook their helm, staring straight down at the dark and busy streets below. 

"That's a shame," Night remarked. "There's a lot of fun things to do outside."

"Yeah!" Wind nodded. "Like going to the Cloud Tower to play some games, visit Andy."

"Or the Star Tower for training!" Night added. 

"And when I'm big enough, I'm gonna give Seeker Surfing a try!" Wind grinned. 

"Seeker Surfing?" Star raised a brow ridge at her. 

"Yeah," Slip huffed and rolled her optics. "It's this weird thing people do where they strap wingless bots onto your backstrut in jet mode and you fly around the city with them." 

"It sounds wicked!" Wind seemed excited to try it out. 

"But anybot that lets a flightless bot ride them is just begging for the humiliation." Slip jabbed. 

Night turned to frown at her. "That's what Dirge said." 

"Who's Dirge?" Skyfire's interest was caught as Star asked. 

"He's an aft." Slip huffed, feeling somewhat angry about having to be reminded of his existence. "Both him and Thrust." 

"Did..." Skyfire was hesitant to approach and talk to the Vixens; he'd rarely interacted with them outside of formal introductions. Still, he felt that he had a responsibility, not only as their elder but also as their kin to report back to Cloud Stream about this. "Did something happen with them?" 

Slip waved him off and turned her backstrut to him. Night frowned with a nod, and Wind seethed. "He called us weaklings!" The blue jet hissed. 

"He said that we were too little to be warriors." Night pouted. "And that our helms were up our afterburners if we ever thought that we'd be good enough to replace our Mentors." 

"Why would you replace them?" Star asked after a tense silence had settled between them. 

"We're not replacing anybot." Slip growled. "And we're just as good as they are!"

Skyfire quickly retracted from the narrow's wrath and sheepishly glanced at her sisters for validation, but it seemed that they didn't share in her confidence. 

"No offence Skyfire, but bulks suck," Wind vented. 

"None taken," the shuttle shrugged. "I get it, Metalhawk used to bully me when I was your age." 

Star snapped their helm stare at him as he stated that. "Metalhawk?"

"Yeah," Skyfire chuckled and shook his helm. "He used to have this hero complex. Thought that he was better than the rest of us. He grew out of it, hopefully..."

"I don't think there's any hope for Discord's spawn if I'm being brutally honest." Slip frowned at him. 

"I like Skyfire," Night beamed with a friendly smile. "We don't get to see you much but you seem nice." 

"Yeah," a smile soon returned to Wind's face plates. "I like you too, you're cool." 

A light seemed to shine as Skyfire straightened up at the compliments. "Oh... Thanks." 

"I wish we had a brother." Slip pouted as she turned and stared at her reflection in the window. "Maybe those afthelms would finally leave us alone." 

"Skyfire's not much of a fighter, though." Wind smirked at his lack of self-confidence, though he would be the first to admit that. 

Star frowned at Slip's sad face plates, staring at her lonesome and dark form by the window. They couldn't tell what it was, but it hurt their spark to see the sad look on her faceplates. 

"I'll be your brother." They spoke without thinking. 

"Really!?" Wind beamed. "No way, that's so awesome! We've never had a brother before!" 

Skyfire nodded. "Star here lost their Trine." He seemed to realise his words and quickly retracted as he gave the red and grey jet an apologetic look. "I mean, I, uh..."

"I was Forged without one," Star muttered. "Like Skyfire." 

Night shook her helm. "Naw, I don't believe you. You have that same sad look Slip has when she's grounded." 

"Grounded?" Star tilted their helm. 

Wind nodded. "When we're separated from each other. Slip doesn't always admit it, but she loves us. She'd be totally lost without us." 

Star looked past Slip's face plates to stare at their reflection. 

"You're lost too, aren't you?" Slip slowly turned her helm so her purple optics were looking at them. "I can feel it."

Star looked down in shame, though the Vixens didn't seem to belittle them. 

"If you want, Star," Night gave a warm smile. "You can be part of our Trine? We're almost the same age."

"I trust you," Slip shrugged.

"I can teach you so many cool things when you learn how to fly!" Wind grinned as her wingtips perked. "It's going to be so much fun!" 

Star's amber optics then flickered up to Skyfire's face plates. "What about you? You're alone too, right?" 

Skyfire's optics slid away as he thought about his older brothers. "I'm... Alright. I wouldn't mind helping any of you out, however. Maybe I do need some friends." 

"Yeah, you do," Wind smirked. "You loner, you'll rust in that lab otherwise." 

Skyfire chuckled, a little embarrassed and hurt by that statement. "Tr-true..." 

Star seemed to brighten a little. "So... I have friends?" 

"Wherever you came from, Star, you sure are a weird Seeker." Slip smirked as she stuck up her nasal unit at them. 

Star was flustered by that comment. "Wait, I-I'm not..." Am I? They frowned down at the floor. Was he a Seeker now? 

Skyfire frowned, wondering if perhaps this overall encounter had just been a bit too stressful for them. 

"Of course you are!" Night quickly jumped in. "And we'll promise to make you look super cool! Trust me, a clean, fresh makeover is exactly what you need to make everybot here love you." 

"And once you become popular, you can bully Dirge!" Wind clenched her fist in triumph. 

"But above all else, Star," Slip tilted her helm at him and smiled. "We'll watch each other's backs. That's what family does." 

Star felt his smile fading away as his thoughts became consumed by somebot else. Skyfire noticed this and soon urged the group to move on with their tour.  

104th Floor of the Sky Tower, Vos - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Four joors later. 

Star frowned as he leaned over the edge of the building. Cloud Breeze had dragged him up here for a chat late in the afternoon and as Cybertron's sole sun began to dip lower in the sky, the young bot narrowed his amber optics down at the darkening streets below. 

"How are you finding Vos so far?" The massive, white-winged warrior turned his helm with a glimmer in his yellow optics to smirk at him. 

Star bit his lower lip plating before leaning back over the safety rail and glanced up at him. "It's... Big." He shrugged. 

Cloud Breeze's smirk disappeared and was replaced with concern. "Yes. Not as vast as Iacon, though we're an ancient people, our towers have stood the test of time." 

"I'm not talking about the towers," Star snapped quietly, his grip tightening on the rail. "There's... Just too many people here. Everybot knows everybot, they all want to know about me, but I don't want them to." 

He huffed and gazed out over the city. He'd had enough of his circuits being pried open today. 

Cloud Breeze studied him carefully before he vented and eased his well-presented frame. "I'm sorry." 

Star frowned but allowed silence to surround them in hopes that it would bring comfort instead of shame. He continued to stare at the bright sunset as Cloud Breeze shifted uncomfortably. 

"I made a mistake," the older muttered in a coarse voice. This caught his attention, and Star's optics soon shifted back in his direction. 

"A mistake?" He hissed. "Somebot like you makes mistakes?"

Cloud Breeze chuckled in response as he nodded. "Yes, even at my age you're still going to make quite a few." 

"And what mistake did you make this time?" Star sized him up, wondering what the elderly Seeker was going to drone on about next. 

Cloud Breeze straightened up and frowned at the sunset. "I was never going to be the right leader for our people. A diplomat? Yes," he scoffed at himself. "That was easy. But taking on the burden of leadership? Having things thrown at you unexpectedly? It tends to toughen you up, you hide behind walls 'til no bot recognises you." 

Star tilted his helm in the King's direction, curious for more. 

Cloud Breeze continued to monologue. "When Jet Wing... Passed. There were no instructions when it came to raising my spawn. I made mistakes then, and I find myself repeating a few now. I should've never let you and your Trine fall into such disrepair." 

Star tensed his frame at that, narrowing his optics slightly to glare at Cloud Breeze. "You keep feeling sorry for yourself," he hissed lowly. "You're beginning to sound like a broken disk on repeat. You, who're so wrapped up in your own selfish mistake, of being misguided, cannot even fathom how I begin to feel about it." 

Cloud Breeze turned his helm so his optics rested on Star. "How... Do you feel, Star?" 

Star huffed, keeping his frame tight and limbs close. Limbs that weren't his. "You only saw a fraction of what happened to me. And because of that you assume that I despise her."

Cloud Breeze was silent as he searched Star's face plates. 

"I don't," the younger quietly but quickly choked out, not meeting his gaze. "I don't hate Cryak. It was my fault. I wanted so badly to be like her. To have treads instead of wings, to follow in her pedsteps, to... Shadow her wherever she went."

Star paused as he tried to think. 

"But in the end it didn't seem that's what Primus intended for us now, is it?" 

Cloud Breeze's face plates were full of pity, but he didn't stop the younger from venting. 

"All I wanted was for her to be happy, be safe. If I couldn't follow her everywhere with my wings then I'd rather leave them behind." Star shook his helm as lubricant began to form in his optics. "But that was before... She..."

"She cut them off?" Cloud Breeze gently urged, and Star sprang back to life as he shook his helm. 

"No!" He jumped to her defence as he sharply in-vented and sobbed, a servo coming up to quickly wipe his face plates clean. "N-no! Not that... It was... Before sh-she left me." 

Star trembled as a violent sob came over him. Cloud Breeze remained where he was, allowing Star a moment to recover and gather his thoughts once more. 

"I... I didn't think that she, of all people, would leave me behind - for dead..." Star frowned as the sun finally kissed the horizon. "I knew in my spark that I troubled her, gave her more hard times than she deserved, b-but I didn't think she hated me. O-or at least didn't want me around anymore."

Star in-vented sharply again, but the tears had lessened now as hatred smoothed out his hiccups. "I didn't think her a coward back then."

Cloud Breeze glanced down to find the right words before he spoke them. "To a child, their Mentor is Primus, their entire world. Perhaps she was just... Unready for you."

"Or perhaps there was something wrong with us both." Star huffed as he hugged himself. 

Cloud Breeze shook his helm. "There is nothing wrong with you, Star." 

"Yes," he nodded as he sternly interrupted. "There is. I can't feel my Trine, I can't fly, transform. I was a bad ward. And I wanted to be like her of all bots," he scoffed, angry at himself. "And now a-after realising that..." His voicebox was soft and trembling before he reset it and shook his helm, gripping the railing tighter. "There's a part of me that believes that one day, I may end up exactly like her. A monster that throws his spawn to the wilds to fend for themselves! Or worse..."

Cloud Breeze stared at him for a moment as Cybertron's horizon enveloped half of the setting sun. "You're not going to be like her." He started in a soft voice as he took a cautious step forward. "I will make sure of it. If you stay here, in Vos, you'll learn to grow. You can have a new family. I know that I might never be able to replace her, or what she meant to you, nor do I ever wish to do so. But I will try to help you grow, Star, if you just give me the chance. I will not take anything from you; instead, I'm going to give you my entire world, and then you can decide for yourself where you truly belong and who you are with." 

"A new family?" Star croaked, not looking at him as he held himself. "No... No, you can't... Thunder is gone." 

Cloud Breeze watched as the red and grey jet shook his helm. "He might be, but that's out of your control now. Maybe one day you will reunite with them, but not today. Hopefully not soon, either." 

He carefully watched, waiting for Star's reaction before the younger gave it to him. "I... I do like it here." The red jet nodded, his wings down a little as he held himself. "But I'm just worried that i-if I-I'm... If I'm too broken." 

Cloud Breeze smiled as Star looked up at him with a tear-stained, soft face. "Even if you are, you'd not be the first." He then tenderly reached out for a hug. "Trust me when I say, I know what it feels like to be broken." 

Chapter Text

Star's Private Medical Ward, 51st Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
One orbital-cycle later.

"I hear you're finally leaving me?" Orange Blast smiled as Star came online that morning. He was standing at the berth's edge, reviewing Star's final medical reports. A look of hesitation danced behind his amber optics as the blue jet said that, however, the orange-optic medic soon laughed. 

"Don't look so worried! Patients leaving my care still functioning is a good thing! A very good thing! Now I'll have more time to take care of somebot else." He muttered as he examined the datapad. 

Star vented to ease his frame. "That... Is a good thing." 

"Exactly," Orange Blast nodded in agreement. "But please, don't ever feel as if I'm kicking you out. You're more than welcome back at any time, whether you need repairs or just for a chat." 

Star smiled and went to rise from the berth when a notification popped up on his HUD. "Update complete?" 

"Oh right!" Orange Blast eagerly nodded but still unable to tear his gaze away from the pad. "I installed multiple updates on your hard drive while you were recovering, it's how you've been able to communicate with everybot. I installed multiple languages, modern Vos, Ancient Vos, modern Tarnished, old Tarnished, common Vos, and Common Cybertronian, which is the updated data of modern Iaconian." 

"Oh," Star sat, quite surprised that Orange Blast had arranged all these updates for him. "Thank you..." 

"Don't stress it," he waved him off. "You've also got fly data installed into your frame to help you get started, so warnings may pop up when you're about to collide with a hard surface or another Seeker. I've installed a basic defence module onto your hard drive as well as a deep recharge app to help ease your spark into stasis should you find yourself struggling to rest." 

"No bot's ever done something like that for me before." Star's gaze softened as he watched Orange Blast turn and begin to unhook the machines from his berth.

"I just figured that you could use a good teaching tool to help you get started." Orange Blast shrugged. 

"And I can come and visit you whenever?" 

"Yep!" Orange Blast nodded once again. "And if I'm not here, I'm probably out, but one of the other medics will be around, so just either leave a message or so. Oh, and I've also given you my personal ping info, you can emergency contact me to send your location at any time. It's also very discreet." He finally raised his helm to smile at him. "So which floor are you headed?" 

"Apparently Skyfire has offered to bunk with me," Star stood, wondering if this new living arrangement he was being forced into was maybe too complicated for him. "He's on floor forty-three." 

Orange Blast hummed. "Floors thirty-two to forty-seven in the Sky Tower are prime stomping grounds for Seeker Apprentices, you'll make lots of friends there."

"Speaking of 'friends'," Star swayed his helm in contemplation before he continued. "Do you know any bots that I should perhaps keep my distance from?" 

"Uhh," Orange Blast looked over a file on the datapad before he carefully responded. "I'd advise to stay away from Mercystrike when she's upset. It's best to talk to her after you've graduated, she's usually busy. Fearswoop and Contrail are deceptive little brats. Dirge, Thrust, Discord, Treachery and Brainwash don't seem too friendly, either. Guyhawk, Dark Wing and Sling seem to be having their own competition of who can be the bigger afterburner. Oh, and Whirl is a psychopath." 

Star blinked as he tried to remember all the designations. 

Orange Blast chuckled nervously as he gazed at the other's expression. "You know what? Forget that I said anything, you're going to love it here." 

Why are there so many different personalities? Star frowned in thought. 

"Just stay close to Skyfire," Orange Blast switched the datapad off and put it away. "He's not going to let any harm befall you, he's a good Seeker." 

Star nodded and did his morning exercises of stretching and flattening his wings before he straightened up, checked that his blue rock was still in his subspace before he turned and eventually separated from his medical guardian. 

Cloud Breeze was busy that morning but had found some time to escort Star to Skyfire's chambers. Once they arrived, they too split. Then it was just Skyfire and him. 

"Good morning, Star of Thundering Sky." Skyfire's bright smile greeted him as he emerged from the doorway. "Would you like to come in and look around? I spent all night trying to clean everything up and make some room for you. The room is large enough to have up to five berths but since it's just the two of us, there'll be plenty of room to have our own stuff lying about." 

"I... Don't have anything." Star frowned, squinting past the shuttle to peer into the room. He could only catch a glimpse of stacked datapads in one corner. 

"Oh," Skyfire frowned before he leaned back and shrugged. "Well, that's alright. We have plenty of time to get you some things later on." 

"Where are the Vixens?" Star tilted his helm curiously. 

"They're out on patrol with Cloud Stream." Skyfire smiled before he gently breezed past the smaller jet. "And we've got our own work to do." 

"We do?" Star frowned at him before he turned to follow as the door closed. 

"We sure do," the shuttle nodded, smirking as Star quickly caught up to walk beside him. "We're heading to floor forty-two for flight lessons!"

Star frowned warily as he looked away. 

"Don't worry, we're not going to be alone." Skyfire halted to reassure him. "I and Metalhawk have decided to teach you the basics today, alongside Silver. He's younger than you but he still hasn't fully flown yet." 

Those names sound familiar, Star frowned hard in thought. "Metalhawk?" 

"Yeah," Skyfire straightened up with a nod. "He hasn't graduated yet, but he's already trying to show his Mentorship skills. I tell you, he's come a long way since we were forged." 

Star kept his helm bowed as he replayed that memory of when he first met Metalhawk in his processor, as he timidly asked. "What was he like?" 

Skyfire hummed as he tilted his helm in thought. "Well... I take it that he was flying in the storm. He was always so desperate to prove himself and be the hero in everybot's lives. I guess he grew out of that phase when Hawk Wing got shot flying him over The Barrens one night." 

Star halted, amber optics wide with horror. "What?"

Skyfire turned to glance at him. "Getting shot is just natural, an inevitability when it comes to our lives as soldiers. Hawk Wing's alright, it just scared Metalhawk, his spawn, really badly. I guess you could say that he got wiser from there on and learned to give some bots their space. He means well, he just doesn't always know how to show it." 

"And he's going to be helping me to fly?" Star frowned. His fuel tanks churned at that thought as he peered down at himself. He didn't look anything like when he first met the golden and blue warrior. What if Metalhawk recognised him? What if he no longer felt that closeness between them? Would Metalhawk belittle him? Hate him? What if there was nothing left but the memories that Star had? Maybe it had just been a fantasy, a mere memory that played itself on repeat to keep a thruster biter entertained while their Mentor was away. 

"Star?" Skyfire's soft voice soothed his whirling thoughts and brought him back to the now. 

Star's frame was no longer sleek and white with ancient scripts sprawled in gold. He was bulky, miscoloured and dull. He frowned sadly at Skyfire. As if feeling his internal conflict, the young shuttle straightened up with a pitiful look. 

"You'll be alright." He said. "I know that the last few solar cycles have been a little hectic for you, moving around, meeting all these new people and what have you. But I promise you, Metalhawk is a good bot. And you're going to love Silver, he's shy - like you! You don't have to transform and soar into the skies today, if you hover just one inch off the floor, that's a success in my books." 

"You know," Star chuckled, hysteria entering his systems. "When you talk like that you start to sound like Cloud Breeze a little."

Skyfire barked a sharp laugh but quickly turned and continued down the hallway as his wings perked upward sharply. That observation made him uncomfortable, and now Star felt even worse. 

I should've kept my intake closed. He pouted before following after him. 

"I'm," Star began hesitantly but didn't meet the other's gaze as he forced the words out. "I'm really sorry that I said that. I knew I shouldn't have, I just thought that it would be funny..." 

Skyfire halted once they reached the elevator and barked a chuckle before he glanced down at the miscoloured jet. "Don't worry, I found it mildly amusing too." 

Relief flooded back into his optics as Star joined him in the elevator. The two stood in silence, which set him at ease before the doors opened and out they stepped onto the forty second floor of the Sky Tower. Star cautiously peered around every corner to find any signs of life, though he'd seen the same floor yesterday, it still unnerved him that there was hardly anybot inhabiting it. 

"Consumption times are usually early morning or late nights, typically on days that celebrate things." Skyfire smiled down at his curious companion as he offered to explain. "In Vos, there are quite a few areas where one can refuel, though the prime time for socialisation is early mornings. Most Trines come to feed here during their off duty times, usually after training and patrols where they hang out." 

"Huh," Star frowned as he scanned the entire floor. 

"Silver's Trine-mates are Comet, Mercystrike's spawn, and Dapol, Meteor Shine's apprentice. They're both usually very busy and can often be seen with their mentors." Skyfire stated as he strode across the empty cafeteria. "Have you refuelled today?" 

The shuttle turned to lean against a counter coolly and smirk at Star. Though his demeanour changed when the jet shook his helm. 

"I'm not empty," he said without even acknowledging Skyfire's direction. 

Skyfire narrowed his pale, blue optics on him before he hummed in disapproval. "If you wish to be like one of us, Star, you're going to have to start acting like it." 

Seemingly offended by that statement, Star halted and scoffed. "And what does that mean?" 

Skyfire carefully pushed himself up off the counter and strode over to grab a cube. Most were just lying about in the coolest corner of the room, seemingly without any security or supervision, which baffled the red and grey jet. 

"It means that you always have to have more than fifty percent of energon pumping through your cables to start off with." Skyfire then held out the cube to him. "Seekers use a lot of energon quite quickly, especially when flying. The more energy we exert, the quicker we run out of our internal fuel supply. Hence why we have to make sure that we're properly stocked up before we head out." 

Star then raised a brow ridge at him. "You said that we weren't going anywhere." 

"I did," Skyfire nodded, still holding the cube out. "But I have also noticed that lack of vibrance in your optics. Your movements aren't fluid, nor do you seem enthusiastic about what we're going to be doing today." 

"I'm not," Star snapped bitterly but when he saw the hurt look on Skyfire's silver face plates, he vented and quickly snatched up the cube. He stared down into it for a moment as his processor became overwhelmed with a flood of unwanted memories. "I just... I've never flown before. I don't particularly have any good memories about it." 

"We can always make some new ones," the shuttle shrugged, trying to stay positive and uplifting. "You think that I ever let one bad cycle keep me down for the rest of my function?" 

The shuttle scoffed and leaned back against the wall as he reached for Star's cube. "Let me show you something interesting that Seekers are known for." 

Star frowned in confusion but allowed Skyfire to have the energon cube. He stood watching as the shuttle smirked and brought it to his lip plating before he took a few sips and straightened up. He then held the cube back out over to Star. 

"What..." Star's brain module could not compute what was happening as he stared down at the cube. It still had more than enough energon in it for him to consume, but he could not understand what was happening. "Are you... Sh-sharing with me?" 

Skyfire's smile remained as he nodded. "Yep! It's a custom as old as Cybertron itself! Seekers usually share cubes with friends, spark-mates, Conjux Endurae, and their kin during times of consumption and socialising. Rare will it be that you ever see two Seekers with two cubes."

"Wh-... Why?" 

Skyfire shrugged, glancing away as he tried to come up with a reasonable conclusion. "It's a gesture of good will, of closeness. You offer your cube to your partner who's just come back from training or patrol, and they do the same for you when you return. It gives us an excuse to socialise. The act of sharing a cube isn't frowned upon here, nor is it seen as something serious. It's merely the norm. We share to express our bonds with each other, our trust and reliance. You can be vulnerable here, Star. Besides, I'm not sharing with you, you're sharing with me!" 

Skyfire chuckled, watching as Star tried piecing the puzzle together. "I am?" 

"Yes," he nodded again. "You could have refused to give me the cube, you could've snarled and downed it all by yourself but you allowed me the power to show you what I had intended to do. And now you know!" 

Star then carefully took the cube once more and stared down into it. 

"So if at any time you see me in here, come over and say hi! I'll gladly share a cube with you any cycle." Skyfire's words felt warm and inviting. 

Yet despite this, Star frowned. "In... Tarn, we didn't... There wasn't much to go around between myself and my Mentor. I wouldn't consume any because I knew she'd be back out there again to work. To keep... To keep us safe." 

Skyfire's face plates became pitiful as he searched Star's. "You won't ever have to worry about that here. In a city full of Seekers, Motorthrust ensures that we always have enough to go around for everybot. Like I said," his voice deviated from its softness to return to its usual, cheery self. "You could consume your own energon in the corner. But it's nice to chat and mingle with friends." 

"It is," ever so slowly, a tiny smile crept onto Star's face plates as he brought the cube up and tenderly took a few sips from it. Skyfire beamed, happy to see his friend finally getting some clean energon into his systems. Star then held out the cube to Skyfire once more, a little more relaxed and happier now that he knew what was going on. "Am I... Doing this correctly?" 

The shuttle chuckled as he leaned forward and took the cube again. "Yes! Though the groups are usually seated and deep in conversation. You don't normally have to ask to share energon if it's your group, though offering is always a nice gesture. Others may feel compelled not to drink from you since you're new around here. When the Vixens return, we should socialise with them and you can see it for yourself in action. Though, again, don't always confine yourself to one group, having many friends here is a good thing."

"What about Dirge?" Star asked as he retook the cube once Skyfire had wet his throat with a few sips. "The ones that I should worry about?" 

Skyfire shook his helm. "Seeing as we have so much energon, it's extremely rare for anybot to steal or demand from you. If somebot is demanding, it's usually a grumpy lover." He chuckled. "Probably because they've just come back from patrol and you haven't offered." 

"I get it," Star nodded after sipping the last of the energon. "So always be considerate to offer but stay in your group." 

"If there's hostility, it's not too extreme here. Most will snarl and warn you to go away but not many here fight." Star narrowed his optics as he noticed Skyfire's face plates become riddled with anxiety. He wondered what the bigger Seeker was keeping from him, but seeing how they'd finished their cube, Skyfire turned and flattened the empty cube out to leave on an opposing shelf. "Guard Patrol usually comes around and cleans these guys up. They get taken back to the mines to be recycled." 

Star nodded, rather impressed with the overall system that they had going on here. 

"How are your systems?" Skyfire asked as he led them across the empty cafeteria toward the balcony. 

"They're at seventy-eight percent," Star answered, quickly following after him. "Are you sure that that's going to be enough?" 

"Yep!" The shuttle nodded in determination with a happy smile. "At least to hover for now. Who knows? Maybe after you transform, Metalhawk can teach you how to preserve more energy. He's a long distance flyer, been over The Barrens more times than anybot can count!" 

Star frowned at Skyfire's backstrut in thought, wondering why Metalhawk had done that. 

As they neared the balcony, situated at the back of the cafeteria, Star's helm lifted as they heard voices whispering up ahead. Skyfire paused, halting the smaller jet behind him as he listened before he stepped forward around the corner and smiled as he presented himself. 

"Metalhawk?" His voice was soft and cheerful as he greeted. "I and Star are here." 

Star in-vented sharply as he turned the corner and came face to face with Metalhawk. His amber optics widened in awe at the impressive sight before him. The once small and fumbling, gold and blue jet from Star's memory files now stood stoic and cool. The morning light dawning over Vos shone off his shiny, golden armour. Pale, silver face-plates softening into a friendly smile that made Star's spark freeze momentarily. His red wing tips had grown nearly three times the size since Star had seen him. His baby blue optics shimmered with kind courage, and the more Star stared into them, the more he realised how similar they looked to Skyfire's. At the thought of the young shuttle standing beside him, Star quickly tore his gaze away from Metalhawk to stare up at Skyfire with worry. 

"He's shy," Metalhawk smirked, puffing out his chassis as he kept his servos on his hips. 

Star then looked down, trying to hide in Skyfire's shadow as shame washed over him. 

Skyfire narrowed his optics at this behaviour and took a step to boldly put himself in between Star and Metalhawk. "He's still getting used to... Everything." The shuttle shrugged. 

Metalhawk's face plates then cracked into a grin as he waved it off. "Whoa, easy there Little Jet. I was just makin' an observation." 

Star still refused to remove himself from behind Skyfire, energon pumping in his audials as thoughts of Metalhawk having even the slightest recognition of him whirled around in his processor. 

"Silver's shy too, look!" Metalhawk turned so the pair could see a small, white bot with dark golden highlights cowering behind him. 

Star frowned. "He's not silver." 

That seemed to grab the other bot's attention as he briefly straightened up with a frown. "Yes I am!" 

"No you're not," Star scoffed. "You're white and gold. How'd you get your designation?" 

Conflicted, Silver huffed and looked up at Metalhawk for an answer. 

"Silver was named after the Tracker that found his Trine," Skyfire turned so Star could be seen, separating them slightly as he eased back. "Silverata. He's young but he's tracked a lot of Forged. Silver, would you like to introduce yourself to Star?" 

The small Seeker looked flustered, but with a glance over in Star's direction, he seemed to relax slightly at the sight of how similar they were in size compared to the older bulks. "Oh... U-uh, sure..." 

Star narrowed his optics, watching as Silver reluctantly left the safety of Metalhawk's side to venture forth and halted halfway to extend his servo out to him. "Erm... Hi." 

Star frowned but quickly strode forward with his nasal unit in the air. He raised a brow ridge down at the servo offered to him but didn't take it as he listened to what the other Apprentice had to say.

"I'm Silver, of Silverata's fourth Trine, late Golden Era, Skyforge eight, Vos. My Trine mates are Dapol and Comet. My training Mentor is Dustburner." Silver frowned blankly at Star. 

The red and grey jet squinted down at his servo before he gently took it. He noticed Silver stiffened and his frown darkened. 

"Star," Skyfire leaned over him slightly with a warm smile and an amused glint in his optics. "You're not supposed to hold his servo. You're supposed to hold yours out flatly to meet his, like this." 

Star craned his neck so he could squint over his shoulder to see what was going on. 

"C'mere, Sky." Metalhawk brightened up as he strode over. "You can't say Fem to yourself, it doesn't work that way." 

"'Fem'?" Star swirled his helm around to frown at him next. 

Metalhawk nodded as he held out his servo flatly before Skyfire. The white shuttle smiled as he held his servo out flatly and pressed it to Metalhawk's. 

"It's how we say 'hello'," Metalhawk offered to explain. "Most Vosians don't speak with words. We use our actions, or our clicks, to communicate to one another. 'Fem' is just a universal word that we use when we have to express a word." 

"Huh," was the only sound Star could emit as he stared at Metalhawk's and Skyfire's servos flatly pressed against each other. Something stirred within his memory files, but he was soon interrupted by Silver reaching for his servo again. The red jet flinched and Silver instinctively pulled back. 

"Maybe we should hold off on the greetings." Metalhawk stared between them, unable to compute the reaction Star had. 

Skyfire then broke away and placed a gentle servo on Star's shoulderstrut. "You alright?" 

"Y-yeah," Star blinked and stepped back to put some space between him and the others. Skyfire vented before he turned and glanced over at Silver and Metalhawk. 

"So where is Dustburner anyway?" 

"Do you even have to ask?" Silver huffed, closing himself off as he hugged himself with a frustrated look. "He's out with Widowfog and her spawn. 'When you get your gears into action and fly, then I'll take you out.' Hmph." 

Star frowned, a pitiful look dancing behind his optics as he related to Silver on that emotional level. 

Metalhawk then clasped his servos together with a determined smile. "And that's why I offered to help today!" Skyfire gave him a flat, unimpressed look. "What? I'm serious! If I can help Silver learn how to fly, I can help Dustburner too!" 

"Right," Skyfire vented heavily. "Well, nonetheless, I'd really appreciate it if you would lend a wingstrut and help me out with Star." 

"No problem!" Metalhawk winked as he gave a thumbs up. Star froze as the gold and blue jet turned his gaze fully onto him. 

Is he going to remember? Star's optics widened in fear. How is he going to react if he does? But what if he doesn't? It didn't seem like a flicker of recognition swam behind Metalhawk's optics. 

"He's small but," Metalhawk hummed as he leaned forward, examining Star very carefully with his gaze. "Compact. The frame's a little outdated... How old are you?" 

"Uh..." Star's helm fell in shame as he looked away. To know that he felt relieved that Metalhawk did not recognise him only passed temporarily. Next came the overwhelming sea of sadness that his earliest friend didn't recognise him, hurt. Star couldn't bring himself to look up at Metalhawk. It seemed that the only one who held onto those memories now was Star. 

"Star was in a terrible accident when they found him." Skyfire swooped in monotonously. "Most of his frame had to be cut away and replaced by whatever they had in storage." 

Star's breathing became sharp as Skyfire dumped the reality on them without his consent. Pitiful looks were thrown his way, and all the miscoloured jet wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow him whole. 

Silver took a step forward, a tender and concerned look on his face plates as he went to comfort the small jet, however, a slight tink of metal stopped him as a gentle servo placed itself on his chassis and held him back. Silver glanced up at Metalhawk who shook his helm silently at him. The golden and blue warrior then studied Star intensely and eased his frame to give him a warm smile. 

"It looks good." 

Star blinked, wanting to scoff, wanting to scream, cry, run away, yell, anything but hear his former crush compliment the horrid state he was in. 

"No r-really, it does," Metalhawk explained himself as Skyfire glared at him. "Star's frame is absolutely perfect for half the stunts I want to be teaching them. The small, compact, yet easily agile frame is ideal for weaving in and out of mountain ranges. The communications we have around are still able to connect to his modules. And, bonus edition, it's an easily upgradable frame! Any improvements you want? Just slap 'em in!" 

"Metalhawk," Skyfire warned. "Stop talking." 

"Right," Metalhawk awkwardly tilted his head. "Well, er..." 

"I like the colour," Silver shrugged with a whisper once the older Apprentices planned out their first few exercises. Star slowly lifted his helm to squint at him, wondering if somehow, Silver was belittling him. But as he searched the other's face, there was nothing but genuine concern. "I-I mean... The blue clashes with the red, but the red looks nice. E-even if you... You painted it black and red. I heard that red makes you go faster." 

Star tilted his helm down at himself and pondered on the other's words for a moment before he asked. "Why do you mention your Trine-mates when you introduce yourself?" 

Silver straightened up with a happy look, calm and relaxed as somebot spoke to him like a person. "Because I'm proud of them. Here in Vos we tell everybot who we're kin of. We're supposed to be very close with them.... Where's yours?" 

Star's smokey grey face plates twisted as the painful reminder struck again. "I... I don't have any." 

"Oh," Silver glanced away. "That sucks." 

"Yeah." 

"You still didn't introduce yourself to me, though." Silver tilted his white, angelic helm at him with a curious look. 

Star vented heavily. "My designation is Star. It's supposed to be short for 'Star of Thundering Sky'. I was Forged in Vos." 

"That's a pretty name," Silver nodded eagerly. "I like it, and it suits you." 

"It does?" Star couldn't help but smile at the compliment. Half of him scoffed because he didn't want to believe the cheap lie. The other half smiled because it felt nice hearing it and somewhere in his spark, he wanted to believe it. 

"Yep," Silver pointed at him. "Star of Thundering Sky. You shine no matter how dark and scary the world around you is. You survived, didn't you?" 

"Yeah?" Star raised a brow ridge. 

"You survived whatever happened to you, so that means you're strong. If you're strong, maybe one day that'll make you a great warrior." Silver beamed with a hopeful look in his pale, amber optics. "You're a survivor, Star. You should be proud of that." 

"Thanks..." Was all he could say, unable to fathom how he felt about the overall statement. "Y'know, you're pretty smart for a bot who can't fly." He smirked. 

Silver huffed, looking flustered. "Well... Neither can you!" 

Star chuckled and leaned over to whisper carefully into the other's audial. "I think all the smart Seekers don't fly. It's the stupid ones that wanna show off." 

Silver giggled with him and Star felt his spark beaming a little at how easy it was to communicate and befriend another jet around his age. It felt nice. 

"What are you two scheming?" Skyfire huffed, servos on his hipstruts as he looked down at the duo. "Not planning to run off are we?" 

"Maybe," Silver reset his voicebox as he shrank back a little. 

Star peered around the shuttle to catch a glimpse of what Metalhawk was doing. The balcony that they were situated in resembled a large, open hangar forty-two stories above ground level. Outside, the late morning Cybertronian sunrise had slowed to a standstill above the city, painting the clouds and the other Towers in a golden glow. Below, the streets were beginning to brighten as the shadows were chased away. Inside the hangar, there were large, empty crates stacked to the corner and numerous charging pods installed into the walls opposing the side to the hallway that led off to the cafeteria. The interior was painted in a dark, golden hue and there were no windows aside from the very open and large platform before them that stretched out a few yards before it dropped. 

"Alright Silver," Skyfire turned as he gestured over to Metalhawk. "Since Star's new here, why don't you go first and teach him how to hover?" 

With a wary glance thrown in his direction, Star watched anxiously as Silver slunk off to brave the fierce winds outside on the platform alongside Metalhawk. 

"Wind speed is clocked at forty-two nano-kliks." Skyfire read off his wrist panel. "That's usually alright for beginners. I'll let you watch how Silver handles it first, though." 

Star nodded as he stood beside the shuttle and watched the other two out on the platform. The wind seemed to barely touch Metalhawk as it roared in Star's audials. He frowned, squinting to get a good look as Silver held onto Metalhawk's servos and activated his ped thrusters. Star watched as Silver hovered a few inches off the platform, rising to be optic-level with Metalhawk as they talked. Silver's attention was on the distance between his peds and the platform, his grip tight as fear flooded him. Metalhawk nodded and Silver switched his thrusters off, plopping back onto the platform with a thud and released his grip on the blue and gold warrior's servos with a nervous chuckle. 

The two then glanced over in Star and Skyfire's directions. 

"You joining us?" Metalhawk squinted at them. "Or you just gonna... Stand there all day and admire the view?" 

Star's face plates flooded with an intense warmth as that suggestion was thrown his way; however, Skyfire huffed and quickly marched forward, with a tight and firm grip on Star's arm. "Whoa, hey!"

Star tried to protest to lessen the strong grip but stopped struggling once he noticed how close to the edge they were. With wide and fearful optics, he carefully peered over it. 

"Star," Metalhawk caught his attention. "Rule number one when it comes to flying; don't look down." 

Star narrowed his optics at him and nodded. He went to brag that he already knew that lesson from last time, but his spark malfunctioned for a brief moment in fear so he tightened his grip on Skyfire's servos. 

"Alright Silver, what's rule number two?" Metalhawk grinned down at him. 

Silver vented, giving the space between the buildings a wary look. "Rule number two, keep your nose to the sky." 

"That's rule number five," Skyfire smirked as he shook his helm. "That's after you transform." 

"Sorry," Silver offlined his optics as he scolded himself in embarrassment. 

Star bit his lower lip plating as he tried to guess. "Don't fly through clouds?" 

A flicker of amusement danced behind Metalhawk's optics as he shook his helm and laughed. "Cute, but no. Rule number one-" 

"Don't look down," Skyfire answered. 

"Rule number two?" Metalhawk raised a brow ridge at him expectantly. 

"Trust your instincts, not your instruments." 

"Rule number three?" 

"Remember who's around you." 

Metalhawk nodded as he straightened up to address the younger two. "See, when it comes to flying, you are the instrument, that's rule number two. It may be reversed whenever you're flying a ship or piloting a drone, it's always convenient to trust your HUD and warning notifications." 

"But when you yourself are flying, even spatial disorientation can throw you off balance despite these warnings," Skyfire added. 

"So trust the wind, feel it moving through you and against you. Never, ever turn your back to the sky." Metalhawk concluded. "You'll learn more as you go, but for now, we want you to hover and glide across these two platforms." 

"Which leads us to rule number three," Skyfire smiled. "Remember who's around you." 

"If I could count the amount of times I've nearly crashed into my Trine-mates or patrol group on one servo, I'd tell you that I'd be a damn, lucky flyer." Metalhawk laughed. 

Skyfire shook his helm. "It's incredibly common, hence why it's imperative that we teach new and young Seekers to think about the team and to always put them first. Be cautious of your surroundings." 

"Yeah, don't fly straight up into somebot or barrel roll into your brother. It's not only painful but they'll never let you live it down." Metalhawk shook his helm, servos on his hipstruts. 

Star and Silver shared a nervous look. 

"But don't worry!" Skyfire held out his servos to reassure them. 

"We're here to keep an optic on you." Metalhawk puffed his chassis out. "If you fall? You won't," he shrugged. "We'll catch you." 

"And if you crash? You won't," Skyfire chuckled. "We'll stop you." 

The younglings shared a brief moment of silence before Star peered around his colleague and squinted at the gap that dropped forty-two stories onto the dark street below. The platform led to the Cloud Tower, the neighbouring tower of the Sky one. That platform seemed to lead to a storage room as there were a few crates lining the outer walls. 

Star then straightened up and looked between Skyfire and Metalhawk. "I wanna go first." 

"You got Voin apes eating your neurons?!" Silver shrieked. "That's a forty-two story drop! We'll never make it! The wind'll blow us off course and we'll DIE!" 

Star frowned hard at the older Apprentices, determination growing in the pit of his fuel tanks. "I don't care. I wanna fly." 

"That's the spirit!" Metalhawk grinned. "I'm so glad that finally somebot is excited to get this underway!" 

Silver whined as Skyfire scoffed. 

"Well," the shuttle began quietly. "You'll still need to learn how to hover first. In case you do 'fall', you'll need to slow your descent and hovering can help." 

"Most Seeker class type protoforms have built-in thrusters." Metalhawk began to explain as he lifted a ped and tapped the back of it. "These bad boys'll help get you into the air and keep you floating during a speech. Most Seekers choose to hover if they can spare the energon instead of standing, unless they're the heavier type. No offence, Sky." 

"None taken," the shuttle shrugged and smiled. "I remember that I used to hover all the time. It's an effort now but seeing you two, I think the biggest you'll get is probably around Metalhawk's size." He gestured to the golden warrior with a nod of his helm. "He's almost an adult." 

Star frowned, giving a good, long, hard look over Metalhawk. He hoped that he would get bigger and stronger, though he wasn't too sure if that was the case seeing how neglected he'd been and the new frame his inner systems had been forced into. 

"Right, I'll get him to hover in no time, you try working some of your charm on Silver," Metalhawk muttered in good nature to Skyfire. The shuttle nodded and the two then split off to complete their tasks. 

Star followed Metalhawk as they walked a little closer back into the room that the platform of their tower led into. Star glanced over his shoulder to seize Silver in his sights for a moment, watching as Skyfire's calm EMF surrounded the smaller jet. 

"They'll be alright," Metalhawk reassured Star as he stood, his servos out and flat. "As for you, have you ever tried to use your thrusters before?" 

Star turned his helm and stared blankly up at the older bulk. Metalhawk then gave a nervous chuckle and looked askance. "Uh, right... Your old frame got... You know what? Never mind! Today's a new day and we're going to start fresh! Now grab my servos and focus your fuel down, a notification should pop up asking you to divert energy into your thrusters, select 'yes'." 

Star looked down at Metalhawk's servos and frowned. In his processor, Metalhawk was smaller, he was smaller. In his processor, they were standing on a cliff in Nova Point back in Tarn, just outside Cryak's shelter. The wind had been sharper then, lonelier too. The sounds of the other Seeker kids' laughing glittered in the background as Star slowly took Metalhawk's servos. They were larger now, though Star's hadn't changed all that much, they seemed still so small in his. 

"Hey," Metalhawk noticed his hesitance and bowed his helm to reassure him. "You'll be ok." 

"I know," Star replied quickly, not looking at him. "I just... Was remembering something." 

"Oh, what was it?" Metahawk brightened up, his obliviousness adding more insult to Star's sad, amber optics. 

Should I? But Star believed that Metalhawk would never accept him. Not now, not when he'd been reduced to this - to nothing of his former self. And he still couldn't fly. But somewhere deep in his spark lied the fear that if Star didn't tell him now, would he ever? He warily examined the other's calm and steady face plates, wondering if the longer he'd keep this secret, the more upset the other would become as a result. 

But he doesn't care about you. The voice seethed from the depths of his processor. He doesn't even remember you! You're a freak! You're nothing like him and he will never accept you for being an outsider. 

Star's lip plating twisted into a frown as he took Metalhawk's servos tightly. I may be an outsider, but one day, he nodded, his helm full of determination. One day, I'm going to be just like him. 

Star diverted all his strength to his thrusters once the notification popped up, he clicked; "Ki." Star stated firmly. 

He felt an odd but good burning sensation in his ankles and the floor tremored beneath him slightly. His optics widened as his wingstruts flexed and a moment later, he was separated from the ground. He in-vented, caught off guard as the floor beneath his peds disappeared and he kicked out, trying to find it. 

"Whoa!" Metalhawk leaned back to avoid the kicking but sensing the panic, he activated his thrusters and floated up to be level with Star. "Take it easy, soldier! You're nearly through the ceiling!"

"Help me get down!" Star began to panic, this feeling was utterly new to him and he didn't like it. Where's the floor!? "I don't wanna be up here! I don't wanna do this anymore!"

"Hey it's alright!" Metalhawk's servos tightly grasped his, grounding him mentally for a moment as blue optics surged to meet wild amber. "You're doing great! And you do wanna be up here, there's nothing to worry about. Just chill on the afterburner a little, you used a bit too much energy to float; you nearly took off." 

Star panted, looking at him before glancing down at his peds. When he realised what was happening, his thrusters faltered a bit and dropped a notch or two. The energy lessened and the adrenaline faded out of his system. His wings flexed back and flattened downward, brow ridges raised as he stared at his thrusters. "I'm... I'm in the air!" 

Metalhawk nodded as he laughed. 

"I'm flying!" Star felt a surge of pride overwhelm his circuitry as he laughed too. "This is awesome!" 

"See?" Skyfire called from where he was standing beside Silver on the outer platform. "I told you you'd like it!" 

Star squealed and kicked his peds happily before he in-vented and grasped at Metalhawk's servos as he felt the world move out from under him for a brief nano-klik. "Whoa!" 

"Stay steady," Metalhawk leaned forward and gently kicked Star's strongest ped. "If you move your peds while in flight, your thrusters engage in that same direction. When hovering, you're usually just standing in the air. We'll teach you how to walk or run in the air soon enough, but standing is a start." 

"Heh," fear lined Star's face plates as he cringed, not wanting to move or let go of Metalhawk. "S-so how do I get down?" 

"Oh that's the easy part!" Metalhawk grinned. "You just disengage your thrusters." 

"And fall?" Star's vocals rose a pitch in disbelief. 

"No, not exactly." Metalhawk shook his helm. "You slowly, little by little, cut the energy from your thrusters as you descend. It's tricky the first few times because you've got to find the right pressure, but once you've found it and done it a couple of times, it should be as natural as flying. Hence why most Seekers prefer to land in hover form." 

Star cautiously leaned forward to peer down past his peds and narrow his gaze at the floor. They weren't too high up, perhaps a few meters or so. Metalhawk wasn't kidding when he stated that Star had nearly gone through the ceiling and into the floor above. He winced as he glanced up, noticing just how close the ceiling was. 

"You're ok," Metalhawk coaxed him as he began to descend. "Just slowly come back down." 

Star nodded, still tightly holding onto Metalhawk's servos as the other began to lower a little. Star re-engaged his thrusters, found the pressure he was exerting and began to slowly lower it. His systems hiccuped from the earlier excitement and he slid the pressure completely downward which caused his thrusters to go out and he landed awkwardly with an 'oof' as the last few inches rushed up to greet him. He stood on the floor, twisting his wingstruts and hipstruts slightly as he tried to adjust with the level he was on before he straightened up and glanced at Metalhawk. 

"That was pretty good for your first time," the golden and blue warrior nodded. "But like I said, just take it easy. No bot here's in any rush or danger. A bit up and a bit down, that's all we need to do to get you more familiar with your HUD layout." 

They spent the next few breems just learning how to activate Star's thrusters, applying and cutting the pressure of energy used and getting familiar with the HUD's settings of latitude and longitude. Once he'd gotten used to his flight decals, Star gently tugged Metalhawk's servo and pointed with his other over to the outer platform where Silver and Skyfire were operating. 

"I wanna try gliding!" The young Cyberjet's optics were shining. "I think I'm ready."

Metalhawk nodded as he led them over to the platform, as he explained. "Gliding is different from hovering. We're teaching you to glide in case you find yourself in an engine failure."

"An engine failure?" Star frowned, worry soon settling in his fuel tanks. 

Metalhawk paused and looked grim. "It happens from time to time, sometimes if you're not feeling well, you won't be allowed out on patrol. Engine failures can happen at any time of your function, caused by anything. In the case of an engine failure, your energon won't be able to be diverted toward your thrusters. Your energy instead freezes and locks your limbs into place. You can, if you're not flying completely cold, tilt your wing flaps and expand your anklets out and try using the wind to carry you safely back down for a clean landing."

"That sounds scary," Star pouted as he glanced over at the looming gap. He was beginning to have doubts about flying. 

"It'll be alright." Metalhawk gently placed a reassuring servo on Star's shoulderstrut. "Look on the bright side, I haven't suffered an engine failure yet. From what I hear? Most are caused by stress on the spark, so make sure that Skyfire takes you to where the Onsen floors are. They really take the heat off after a long day." 

The golden Seeker seemed to groan as he stretched his wings and looked quite content at just the mention of such a place, so Star nodded. He'd make a mental note to ask Skyfire later what an 'Onsen' was. 

"When you get older," Metalhawk paused them by the edge of the platform as he continued. "Just keep in mind that heat and too much strict flying can also cause an engine failure to occur." 

Star nodded, standing beside Metalhawk as they cautiously peered over the edge into the dark street below. 

"You're breaking the rules," Skyfire stood tall on the platform, servos on his hipstruts and chassis out as he watched them with a smirk. "And you're putting doubts in his helm." 

"Not doubts," Metalhawk huffed, turning to give his colleague an offended look. "I'm just keeping him aware of all the possible dangers when it comes to flying!"

Skyfire rolled his optics. "Which they'll learn as they go! There's no need to overwhelm them with everything right now." His voice was calm, blue optics soft and pleading but still hopeful. 

Metalhawk shrugged before he turned and narrowed his optics at the opposing platform. "Over there is your target. Silver reached it once when I glided beside him. Now you two have to reach it side by side alone. Do you think you can do that?" 

Metalhawk looked down at the two. 

"Absolutely!" Star nodded, optics burning bright with determination. 

"No!" Silver began to panic. "I can't worry about him and myself!" 

Star narrowed a glare at Silver but didn't say anything. 

Metalhawk raised a brow ridge down at the young Seeker, placing his servos firmly on his thin hipstruts. "Silver. What's the third rule of flying?"

"Be careful of who's around you?" Naivety returned to Silver's face plates. 

Metalhawk nodded as he leaned over them. "Yes, but to also protect and engage those around you should they ever require your assistance. Remember, Vos builds itself around the idea of a community. Whoever helps you, you in turn must help them and fulfil your debt owed. We're stronger when we fight or fly together. You mightn't even have to save Star, he could save you if you were the one in trouble instead. Just building that close friendship between you and your wingman can help you out in the long run." 

"Loyalty?" Star scoffed, glaring daggers up at Metalhawk. "And where does that get anybot?" 

The trio stared down at him in surprise before Skyfire spoke. "It... I... It's a good thing, Star. Being loyal, having friends who'll fight for you, to always have your back and not abandon you." 

"Yeah," Metalhawk frowned, a little upset by that statement. "There's also the whole concept of being loyal to Vos too? This is our city, our home and we must fight together to keep it safe, just as we'll all fight for Cybertron some day." 

"For what?" Star raised a brow ridge. "What's wrong with Cybertron?" 

The two older Apprentices glanced at each other but Silver was the one who answered in a whisper. "The Quintessons." 

Star frowned at him. "Who are they?" 

"Bad alien race from a time long ago," Skyfire answered. "They're not here anymore and hopefully they'll never come back." 

"But even if they do," Metalhawk flexed his wings out as he clenched one of his servos heroically. "They'll regret soon coming 'round here twice!"

Skyfire gave him a flat look before Star walked back over to the edge of the platform and glanced down. He scoffed, "I'd rather fly by myself. Nothin' against you, Silver," he glanced back at the anxious spawn. "I just... I wanna do it alone." 

"You can't do everything alone, Star!" Skyfire huffed as he crossed his arms across his chassis. 

"Let him be," Metalhawk murmured softly. "You can't force a bot to be like us, Sky." 

Star frowned as he heard that, his backstrut turned to the trio. His wing tips flared upward in annoyance as his frown darkened, remembering Cryak's words; “They'd never trust an outsider, let alone listen to one.” 

Star stared down at the dark street below. Did he even remember how to transform? This was a completely new frame that he inhabited now. He tilted his helm toward the hot sky above and offlined his optics. He slowly in-vented to cool and regulate his systems as he felt the easy wind brush against his new wings. His processor was taken back to a more primal state, in a time that he did not remember. Slowly, a notification popped up on his HUD. 

"Are you going to stand there all day and sun bathe or are you going to fly?" Metalhawk called out with a chuckle but grunted as he was elbowed by Skyfire. 

Star brought his optics back online, narrowed them at the opposing gap to the other platform and calculated the distance vs the wind speed. If he glided he'd be thrown off course by about three inches. He frowned as he diverted soft power to his thrusters. He flexed his wings downward, felt them shift down his backstrut, they then flipped over and he felt his helm being enveloped into the rest of his frame. It folded in over itself, his thrusters coming up as his legs disappeared and soon that grid view was back. With his thrusters activated, Star didn't bother to echolcate his surroundings as he shot forward with a small burst of energy. It managed to carry him forward, bracing him against the wind as it pierced against his nosecone. 

He kept praying in his processor that he would just make it. The first time, he'd be fine the first time and nothing would happen, he'd be ok. But the length of time was beginning to weigh in on his frame. He felt the wind suddenly rush up from the street below him, tipping him nose down for a brief moment. Panic sparked across his frame as he unintentionally sent out a few distressed pings to locate where he was and he found himself suddenly flying down into the street. He screeched and furiously tilted his flaps in multiple directions, trying to steer himself back up. 

' H E L P   M E ! ' 

Star pinged, wondering if they could even hear him from all the way down here. He started to sob inside his alt-mode, already regretting having not listened to them about gliding alongside Silver. But then a streak of white shot across his vision and dying hope was lit aflame in his spark. 

' T R A N S F O R M ! ' He heard Skyfire command and although he was scared, Star obliged and split himself open. He felt the security of his confined wings leave him and the wind whistled louder in his audials. He flailed in the air for a moment before he yelped as he felt a massive frame engulf him. First arms hooking around his hipstruts and chassis. Then he felt Skyfire's thighs beneath his peds as his thrusters died and Skyfire's chassis pressed against his backstrut, uncomfortably flattening his wings against his frame. Despite the awkward position they were in, Star was rather thankful that Skyfire had reached him in time and was keeping a firm grip on him as they hovered back up to the platform. 

As Skyfire carefully set him down, Star noticed that he was trembling and lubricant littered his optics. He turned his helm gingerly to narrow his gaze at Silver who stood beside Metalhawk with a fearful look. Star heavily vented to regulate his systems and still his quivering. Beside him, Skyfire landed back on the platform and straightened up before he turned and placed a gentle servo on the miscoloured jet's shoulderstrut.

"Do you want to know the best piece of advice I ever received?" 

Star frowned shamefully up at him before he gave a nod. "Y-yeah."

A small smile etched itself onto Skyfire's face plates as he looked Star in the optics and said. "You can't do everything alone. Whether it comes to grieving, flying, moving on or fighting, being alone is always a tactical disadvantage set up against you. Now being afraid? You can't do that alone, either. You can't let one set back change who you are."

Star glanced down as Skyfire pointed at his canopy. 

"One flight scare is going to be one of many to come. But one bad experience should never define who you are. Get back up in the sky, push through the clouds and strive to reach the stars. Failures are just a mistake that an apprentice makes. Mistakes can be redeemed, they're just an attempt at something. The more you push yourself, the less mistakes you'll make. The true failure is giving up, Star. Don't ever give up, keep trying, because one day, I know it in my spark, you'll reach those stars." 

Skyfire stepped back to glance up at the sky above. Star followed his gaze, wingtips perking up slightly with hope though they couldn't exactly see the stars, they knew that they were still out there, watching over them. 

"And if you do allow your fear to get the better of you, you'll end up like Silver." Skyfire quietly mentioned as he gestured to the pair. "It can takes ano-cycles for a Seeker to recover mentally from such an experience, and I don't want that outcome for you. Not when I can see such a strong spark in you." 

Star raised a brow ridge at him. "You can see how strong my spark is?" He then peered down at himself, wondering if his chamber was somehow exposed. 

Skyfire chuckled and shook his helm. "No, not really. But I can feel it and I know that everybot else knows it too. You've survived so much already, Star. You can't come this far and give up now." 

The miscoloured jet pouted but nodded in agreement. "Yeah... You're right." 

"So," Skyfire straightened up. "Are we going to get back out there?" 

Star worriedly glanced over his shoulderstrut back at the looming gap. It seemed to widen since the last time he noticed it. "Uh, yeah... S-sure." He nodded, straightening up as he buried that nauseous feeling in his fuel tanks. 

"Awesome!" Skyfire gave him a thumbs up. "Just remember to keep Silver in your radar, he's your wingman." 

Star nodded. Slowly, he calmed his systems and returned to a neutral processing state. He stood by the edge of the platform, waiting for Silver to muster up the courage to join him. He squinted over the edge and into the dark street below, despite hearing Skyfire's warning echoing inside his processor. Silver pouted as he strode over to stand beside Star. 

"That was a fluid first transformation, Star," Silver muttered, averting his gaze from any direction below him. 

Star raised a brow ridge at him in surprise. "How did... How could you tell it was my first?" 

"The sounds," Silver shrugged as he stared at the opposing platform. "Your frame was groaning quite loudly, either it was your first transformation or that frame hasn't transformed in a while." 

"Huh," Star looked down at himself in thought. 

"But like I said, it was pretty fluid. If it really is that old, it wouldn't have been such an easy stunt for you to pull off." Silver stated as a matter of factly. "Most usually get stuck or spooked during their first transformations." 

Star frowned at the other platform in thought. Had his limbs really been groaning that loudly? How old was the frame he inhabited? 

Silver straightened up, cracked his neck and then transformed. He hovered in jet mode in the air beside Star who soon followed. Once in alt-mode, Silver invited Star to his grid flight. Star accepted the invitation and felt Silver beside him a lot more firmly. He was quite relaxed as he actively saw Silver tilting his wing flaps and rotating his thruster downward. A moment later, Silver cut his engine and began to glide across the platform. Star frowned, trying to mimic what the other had done. He tilted his thruster down, shut his engines off and cut the energy. He found himself beginning to fall again and fear spiked across his systems. Silver was the first to notice as he directed Star's vision to his wing flaps and silently told him to do the same. 
Star copied the position Silver was in and lagged just a few nano-kliks behind him. Star focused on the wind fighting against Silver's wings. Star tried his best to glide after Silver in the direction of the platform, but huffed, annoyance fighting against his anxiety as he found himself dipping below Silver's thrusters and soon he was falling again. 

'This sucks,' he thought to himself. A streak of gold and blue shot beneath him and he in-vented as he felt a gust of wind suddenly push him upward. 

' D I R E C T   U P . ' Metalhawk's ping flashed across his HUD. Star did what he was instructed and tilted his flaps upward, he found the wind pushing him higher and higher before Metalhawk told him to re-engage his thrusters. Star did so and a moment later, he found himself soaring over the opposing platform slightly. He transformed and flailed in the air for a moment as his ped thrusters urged him forward. Silver flinched back, already waiting in bot mode. Metalhawk transformed, caught Star and set them carefully down on the platform. 

"Great job!" Metalhawk beamed. 

On the original platform, Skyfire transformed and shot across the gap with ease before he transformed back and landed to give them a smile. "You flew! That was amazing." 

Skyfire looked between Star and Silver with a nod of approval. 

"A great job indeed, I dare say job well done!" Metalhawk grinned, servos on his hipstruts. 

Star huffed, wing tips slumping slightly. "I almost fell again." 

"You just gotta get the distance right," Skyfire reassured him. 

Metalhawk nodded. "Yeah, Silver and I practice this every morning. This is pretty standard for him. But you'll get the hang of it, just keep practising. In the meantime, Silver, do you wanna loop a Tower with me?" 

Silver whimpered and shook his helm as he backed away. "No! That's going away from the platforms!" 

Metalhawk scoffed playfully. "One of these days, I'll get you to fly with me, and I mean an actual flight. You owe me, kid." 

Silver scowled in annoyance as Star joined Skyfire by the edge to try again.

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Gliding Practice Main Hangar Four, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Three and a half joors later.

Star laughed as he hopped on his peds in the air, his thrusters keeping him afloat as he pranced between the platforms with nothing but the gaping drop beneath him. Silver had a wary look on his faceplates as he sat watching on the original platform. Meanwhile, Skyfire was standing ever so vigilantly on the opposing platform, keeping his optics trained on the two younger apprentices. Metalhawk had left for his patrol, and Skyfire's HUD pinged with an alert, telling him that his older brother, Cloud Stream, had returned to Vos with the Vixens in tow. 

"Alright," he lifted his helm and called over to Star. "That's enough." 

Star pouted, but he skipped across the open air and landed happily beside Silver, who looked up at him. "I was having fun!" 

Skyfire nodded. "I know, but your sisters are back and it's time to refuel." He then slid his blue optics across to address Silver. "What about you? What are you doing for the rest of the cycle?" 

Silver straightened up, wings flattening out behind him. "I'm helping Dapol with some stupid study. Comet's out with Mercystrike all day doin' Cityspeaker stuff." 

Star frowned down at him, servos on his hipstruts. "What's a Cityspeaker?"

Silver glanced up at him and shrugged. "Dunno, they're like telepaths or something. They talk to 'slumbering giants'." He then frowned and looked over at Skyfire. "I thought Cityspeakers only hailed from Caminus?" 

"Most do," Skyfire raised his vocals to be heard over the wind. "Not all of them, we still have a few Titans here." 

Silver shrugged and pushed himself to stand up. Skyfire watched as he turned and briefly spoke to Star. He felt a glimmer of hope in his spark as the two hugged each other farewell, and Silver hurried off. Star turned to look at him, and Skyfire skipped across the gap to rejoin him. 

"So," once they headed inside Skyfire inquired. "How did you find today's lesson?" 

"It was awesome!" Star grinned, servos clenched in excitement. "I can't wait to do it again! Hovering is so much fun! It's like walking on air, but I don't feel a thing!" 

The shuttle nodded in agreement. "Wait 'til you're strong enough to fly, it's even better. Especially in the Sonic Canyons!" He huffed, looking a little deflated. "Cloud Breeze doesn't take us there anymore because it's too far away." 

Star's amber optics searched the other's face plates before he turned his helm as he heard a quiet murmur of a crowd gathering in the cafeteria. "I'm sorry." 

"It's not your fault," Skyfire scoffed and shook his helm. "What did you think of Silver and Metalhawk? Your honest opinion." 

Star frowned in confusion before he looked away, shrugging it off. "I like 'em. Silver seems sad, which makes me sad, but Metalhawk is..." 

"Too much?" Skyfire paused just in the hallway, turning to examine Star's reaction. 

Star shook his helm. "No, he's... He seems alright. They're both very kind to me. I'll keep them in my spark for the future." 

"That's good!" Skyfire beamed. "You're getting better at this!"

Star nodded as a smile brightened across his features. "I... I was worried that... If no bot was ever going to be there for me, why should I help?" 

Skyfire nodded but allowed the other to continue. 

"So," the miscoloured jet shrugged again. "I wasn't too keen on getting attached in case I couldn't trust them. But I do. I'm glad that I met them." 

"That's a good thing, that means that we can practice some more with them when they've got time!" The white shuttle stepped around the corner first and narrowed his blue optics on the sight that greeted him. 

At least three groups and a pair of Seekers were seated in the cafeteria, murmuring amongst themselves quietly with cubes spread out across them. Skyfire strode over to the energon and plucked two cubes, he glanced down at Star and gestured with his helm toward the pile. "Grab one, chances are everybot's low." 

Star nodded and stepped forward to carefully scoop a cube up into his servos. He held it close to his chassis and looked around for his sisters. 

"Hey Sky," one purple narrow with sunset golden highlights smiled with a small wave as they passed by their booth. 

"Oh, hey Nova." Skyfire smiled, pausing briefly to address her. "What's the weather out there?" 

"It's pretty good," Nova Storm nodded as she lounged back in the booth beside her brother, Ion Storm. "Nice and clear for cycles to come. Who's your friend?" 

"This is Star," Skyfire turned to smile down at him. "He's new around here." 

"It's nice to meet you," Nova Storm leaned forward, placing her chin in her dainty servos as her wings slumped downward to relax. "I'm Nova Storm of the Storm Patrol. My Trine-mates are Ion, Acid and Black Storm. We're Darkstorm's spawn."

"We're old," the blue jet sitting beside her chuckled in embarrassment. 

"We're not old!" Acid Storm hissed at him from across the table. "Just because you're embarrassed to sit here and refuel."

"I'm not!" Ion Storm's vocals rose a pitch as he looked offended. "I just-!"

"It's ok," Nova Storm turned her helm to calm her Trine-mates. "It's fine! You heard Darkstorm, we're allowed to come here and rest, no matter how old we get." 

"If it's worth anything," Skyfire offered as he juggled one of the cubes in his servos. "You guys are probably the same age difference between me and Star. I remember your graduations."

"They were pretty cool," Blackstorm smirked. 

Nova Storm agreed. "The entire city of Iacon never saw so much wet rain." 

"Wet rain?" Star whispered as he raised a brow ridge up at Skyfire once they had left the booth. 

"Water that falls from the sky," Skyfire explained. "It's generally harmless. Since we get so many different types of storms here, harmless water is called 'wet' for short. Like a wet storm or wet rain." 

"Huh," Star thought about it and opened his intake to ask something else when he stiffened as he heard a squeal and saw a streak of blue shoot towards him. 

"Star!" Wind squealed as she wrapped her arms around him. 

Star grunted in discomfort, flicking a wary look up at Skyfire who chuckled and bent slightly to kiss Night on her cheek as she came to greet them next. Finally, Slip sauntered her way over to them, carrying two of her own cubes. "Hey."

"Hey!" Skyfire grinned as he straightened up. "How was patrol?" 

"Ugh," Slip rolled her optics, shaking her helm. "I need a drink before we start this." 

Her Trine-mates giggled and followed her as they walked beside the bulks. Star glanced over in the direction of a dark red and grey jet, frowning as he noticed them glaring daggers at him. He stared for a moment before he felt his wings droop slightly and quickly hurried after Skyfire, which made the unfriendly jet scoff. 

The five then found a large booth and settled in as Slip and Skyfire passed the cubes around for them to share. 

"I think five's a bit much," Slip huffed in defeat as she stared at how many cubes they had. 

Skyfire waved her off. "You three just came back from a patrol across The Barrens. We spent all morning learning how to hover across the Towers. I don't think the Seniors would mind if they let us refuel to the max." 

"Why?" Night raised a brow ridge. "Are you heading back out?" 

"I am," Skyfire huffed as he looked down at his cube. "Got some training with Cloud Stream and Storm Wing after this." 

"Oh boy," Slip looked surprised. "That'll be interesting."

"Yeah," Skyfire pouted. "At least Mentor'll be there, so I'm hoping that it won't get too out of servo." 

Star sat beside Wind, across from Slip and Skyfire. He stared between them before he carefully pushed his cube down to Night, who was seated between them 

"Oh, thanks!" Night beamed at him, eagerly taking the first sip. "Patrol was a nightmare! Our first time across The Barrens! So stressful!" 

Wind leaned back and rolled her optics. "You say that, but there wasn't a lick of any artillery out there." 

Slip gently pushed a cube forward for Wind and Star to share. "Still, we had to keep our optics on the ground more than we did on the sky. That was nauseating."

Skyfire nodded. "It can be stressful out there, but if you've got a big enough group, you shouldn't worry as much. Even if one of you gets hit, the rest'll cover and help you. But the less you travel with," 

"The more likely an attack." Night finished for him. 

Star stared down at the cube, watching as Wind gently nudged it in his direction. "How was flight lessons?" 

Star nodded with a small smile and bowed his helm to take a few sips while Skyfire explained. 

"It was really good! Star managed to activate his thrusters the first go, he nearly went through the ceiling!" A chorus of laughter echoed around the booth before the shuttle stuttered, struggling to continue. "B-but he did really well! We haven't found the right angle to glide yet, but Star can hover, skip, transform and fly across gaps now." 

"That's good news!" Slip exclaimed as she lifted her helm and passed the cube to Skyfire. "I remember our first time trying to glide across, this one thought she could get away with gliding all the way down into the street!"

Slip chuckled as she pointed a slender talon at Wind, who scoffed. "Hey, if you're good at something, why stop it?" 

The group continued to discuss their morning before Skyfire finished half of a cube and had to leave. By the time Star had fully refuelled, the Vixens had polished off their cubes. He figured that flying that long distance had taken a lot of energy. 

Slip then stood, gathering the empty cubes as her sisters gossiped among themselves. Star quickly rose to his peds, gathered the empty cubes closest to him and watched Slip flatten hers. He frowned as he tried to copy how she did it and felt a hot flush flood his faceplates as she chuckled at his poor attempt. 

"C'mon," she waved him over as she exited the booth. "You can help me put them away." 

Star huffed in annoyance but gave her the empty cubes as they walked. 

"I'm glad that you're deciding to stay," Slip began once they were alone. "It's nice to have a new face around here." 

Star nodded, though unsure of how exactly to respond. The two set the empty cubes down in the recycling shelves and turned to leave when Slip gasped and a moment later, she found herself pinned against the wall. Star watched, wings perked in alarm as the red and dark grey jet from earlier loomed over his friend. Star's optics widened in fear as the other apprentice sneered at her struggling. Another jet then loomed over Star with dark, orange optics. 

"Slip," his vocals purred in a dark tone. "You're guzzling an awful lot of energon there, aren't you?" 

The pair snickered at the younger apprentices. Star took a step back, fully examining the new faces. One was dark grey and blue while the jet from earlier grit his denta and pushed Slip further into the wall. Her groan of pain caught Star's attention as he tried to intervene, but little to no avail. 

"And who's this?" The grey and blue jet turned his helm to narrow his optics at him. "Another intake to feed." 

"Le-leave him alone!" Slip huffed, her armour spiking as anger radiated off her frame. "You bullies!"

The duo chuckled before a large shadow swept over them, and Star shrank back. 

"Dirge," Nova Storm's voice was low, a thundering growl behind her tone. "Thrust. Back off." 

The pair started in surprise before they turned, and little by little, Thrust's grip on Slip lessened. His servo slid down her frame, and she kicked out at him, quickly pushing him off before she pressed herself into Star with a venomous look at the duo. 

"N-Nova!" Dirge stiffened. "We weren't!... It's none of your business anyway!" He frowned.

The purple and golden Seeker frowned, servos on her hipstruts. Behind her, her entire Trine stood at the ready, though calm and relaxed, but Star noticed the air of command they held over the younglings. The atmosphere was tense, but the older Trine seemed to be more calm. 

"Walk away, and it won't have to be my business." Nova Storm hissed, her armour was spiked, wings flared as she loomed over the pair. 

Dirge and Thrust eventually slunk off into the shadows with cautious looks thrown back over their shoulderstruts. Nova Storm huffed as she watched them go before she turned to address Slip and Star. "Are you hurt?" 

"See?" Ion Storm perked up with a huff. "I told you that refuelling here was a good idea. I mean, what would've happened if we hadn't been here just now?"

Acid Storm silenced him with a look. 

Star looked down at Slip's shoulder in worry. Her systems hiccuped from the shock as she rubbed the pressure off her metal and shook her helm. "No." 

Nova Storm relaxed a little as she stated. "Good. Remember, if anybot gives you any trouble, just ping, alright?" Her gaze then shifted to address Star. "Somebot's bound to come to your rescue. Always ping for help, never retaliate. You'll only end up getting into trouble too." 

They quietly thanked the older Trine and made their way back to the booth. Dirge and Thrust's group was nowhere to be seen by the time they returned, nor was Night. 

"Where's Night?" Slip asked as she sat down. Star carefully sat across from her, his optics kept looking at her shoulder. She waved him off, giving a small smile to reassure him as Wind pulled herself from a datapad and looked between them. 

"Huh? Oh... Mm, she said that she was goin' to go do somethin'," the blue narrow shrugged. "Don't worry about it." 

Slip heavily vented before she glanced at Star. "Well, we haven't got any plans, what about you?" 

Star shook his helm, still shaken from earlier. 

Slip shrugged before she stood and looked between them. "Alright, who wants to go exploring?" 

"Ooh, me! Me me me!" Wind's servo shot straight into the air as she stuffed the datapad into her subspace. 

Star smiled and nodded, soon following the remaining Vixens out. He flinched as he heard rumbling in the walls beside them. He halted and turned to stare down at the vent which was suddenly kicked open, and a smoky, black helm popped out to stare up at him with steel-blue optics. 

"Hey, if Widowfog is looking for me, tell her that I'm not in this building," Night stared at them with wide and wild optics. "I'm er, I'm hanging out with Thunder Shine or something." 

"Ok," Wind muttered as she stared down at her sister. 

"Who's Thunder Shine?" Star raised a brow ridge at her. 

"Oh, that's right, you haven't met the Elders yet!" Slip beamed as she looked at him. "You've got to meet them, they're pretty cool." 

"Breeze Tail technically counts as an Elder, so..." Wind glanced at Slip as she leaned away. "I think I'll sit this one out." 

"Hey," Night frowned at them. "The walls are my hiding spot, go find somewhere else." 

"Whatever, large-frame." Wind smirked down at her. "Maybe I will, and while I'm at it, I'll go tell Widowfog which building you're hiding out in." 

"Hey!" Night glared at her sister from where she was half on the floor and half in the wall. "Ok, maybe I'll just go and tell Breeze Tail that you called him old." 

"Go ahead," Wind scoffed with an amused glint in her optics. "He already knows that he's old."

Star turned his helm to raise a brow at Slip for any context. Wind scoffed as she looked between them and turned to leave down the hallway. "I'm going to go hang out with Alpha Bravo, you two enjoy." She called over her shoulder. 

"Alright, well," Slip looked down at Night's helm in the wall. "What about you, Night?" 

"Mm, hang out with really old people and have to repeat yourself at least twenty times before you get a response? Let me think about it..." Her optics shifted as she hummed in thought. "Nah." 

"Huh," Slip huffed, giving a wary look at Star. "It's up to you. We could either go see the Elders or we could do something else?" She frowned, as she looked askance. "Something more exciting?" 

Star shook his helm with a small smile. "No, I'd like to go meet them." 

"Ok," Slip brightened a little. 

"Enjoy," Night muttered with a bored expression before she clambered back into the walls and disappeared. 

Star looked at Slip for an answer. 

"I don't have one," she vented. 

Chapter Text

3rd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Two breems later.

Slip hummed a cheery tune as she led Star down the hallway, freshly stepping out of the elevator with confidence. Her nasal unit in the air as she walked and straightened her wings out behind her. Star followed her quite happily, not a care or thought in the world as he trailed after the narrow. He halted, however, when they paused just outside a large, golden door. 

Slip smiled at him. "They mostly lounge around in here. You can find Retired Forces on floors two to thirteen at most. They tend to lounge about, completely harmless." 

Star tilted his helm to the side. "Cloud Breeze just... Let's them?" 

"Yeah!" Slip nodded, a hint of confusion laced in her tone. "These warriors fought for or alongside him. They've already survived so much!"

With a grunt, her wings flexed, and she pushed against the door to open it. She continued, "Not many Seekers get to live to such an old age like they do. In fact, it's quite revered if one lives beyond a million stellar-cycles at all!" 

Star looked askance as he followed her in. "In Tarn, Cryak told me that when a bot gets too old and can't work anymore, they break down. They go somewhere if they can't get fixed and just disappear." 

"That sounds scary," Slip paused to frown at him, placing a gentle servo on his shoulderstrut. "I'm glad you're here with us now."

"Yeah," Star didn't meet her gaze.

"Who's Cryak?" 

"She..." Star frowned, clenching one of his servos, unsure if he should've mentioned her by designation at all. "She was my original Mentor. I haven't seen her in stellar-cycles." 

That last part was a lie, at least in truth. In practice, he'd been in stasis for a few stellar-cycles, but in his processor it still felt like yesterday. 

Slip's face plates held pity. "I'm sorry... I'm... I'm sure that she's proud of you." 

Star scoffed. It stung to hear that, thinking that Slip had just verbally slapped him in the face, but her kind look didn't go unnoticed as she pulled away and turned. "Athel? Thunder Shine?" She called out.

Star lifted his gaze, surveying the tall and empty chamber they were in. A few old pieces of furniture and art littered the dusty corners. At the centre was a massive, dusty, golden desk that sat in the dull glow of the afternoon sunlight. Above their helms, the shadows parted as a large, Predacon-like wing extended and hung in the air for a moment. Star widened his optics as a face peered from the dark corner to squint down at them. Amber optics seized them, and a large beak-like mouthpiece moved as words rumbled off the bare walls. 

"Slip of Cloud Stream," a low, gravelly voice vibrated their frames. The face was as large as the desk. "We welcome you." 

In another corner, a pair of white wings with black specks unfolded, and another face peered out. Her helm piece resembled a crown of feathers, her optics were a pretty teal colour. "Who is your friend?" She asked in an elderly, coarse voice. 

Slip beamed a little as she turned, gesturing to Star. "This is Star of Thundering Sky! He's my adopted kin. I brought him here to introduce you." 

For a brief moment, the air left Star's systems as he stood, watching as the giant beast expanded itself and with a soft grunt, carefully clambered down from the corner. She landed on the floor not too far away and straightened up. Her massive, bird-like wings parted to reveal two, strong, bipedal-like legs. Her hipstruts were long and fell around where her anklets should be. Star tried to catch a glimpse of where her servos were, but couldn't find them. She stood almost as tall as the Tower itself, but that didn't make sense. Star tilted his helm back up at the ceiling. He'd never seen something so large!

Slip giggled as she watched his reaction. "They're big, aren't they?" He nodded. "They lost their avatar forms. Ancient Seekers are almost as big as the original Thirteen Primes."

"That's incredible," Star murmured, completely awestruck. 

"We welcome you," the Ancient Seeker spoke. "Star of Thundering Sky." She fanned her feathers back, and a servo soon formed as she held it out to him, though she kept her distance. "I am Athel. Daughter of the Sky." 

Star's processor clicked, and he quickly straightened up, offering his tiny servo out to her in exchange. "Hi!" 

A deep voice chuckled from behind him, and he couldn't help but swivel his helm to glance back up at the dark, beak-like face watching him. "He's cute." He brought one of his wings up, and again the feathers fanned back with a peaceful chime to form a servo. "I am Thunder Shine, son of Thundering Moon."

"Where are the others?" Slip stepped forward to ask him as Star turned his servo to Thunder Shine next. "I thought that they'd be here." 

"Space Leap is out with Skyblast," Athel's deep but soft voice soothed their frames. "But Dun Kaze is here," she gestured to another room further back. "Resting."

Slip then flattened her wings along her backstrut and bowed. "Then we should not disturb him, please apologise on my behalf if we do." 

"He'd take no angst against it," Thunder Shine purred. 

Star stared up at the Ancients in awe, completely speechless, much to their amusement. "Are there more of you?"

"Sadly," Athel shook her crested helm slowly. "I, Thunder Shine, Dun Kaze and Cloud Breeze are the last of a species. After us came our much smaller kin, Storm Wing and the others."

"Then finally you," Thunder Shine huffed as he offlined his optics. "Small but quick little things." 

Star turned to pout at his wings, ashamed that they weren't as large and beautiful as theirs. Slip seemed quite content with how she was forged, however. "We came to converse with you." 

"Then please," Athel stood elegantly as she gestured to the room. "Make yourselves comfortable." 

Around them the room hummed as it began to glow. Star noticed the ancient, golden tapestries were the cause, and soon the room moved to warp in on itself, it folded and soon the dust disappeared into a breeze that travelled upward to light the candles lining the walls. From the floor out popped massive chairs with soft, red fabric lining them and massive arm rests. Slip chuckled as she watched Star's mixed reactions to the environment changing all around them. 

"I love it here!" She beamed as she plopped herself back into the couch. "I come here to think a lot." 

"What do you think about?" Star raised a brow ridge at her as he struggled to sit up. 

Slip pointed up at the ceiling. "Them," Star followed her gaze and stared in awe at the ancient art lining the ceiling. "They're Ancient warriors fighting the Quintessons, exploring the universe, establishing a sisterhood on Caminus, fighting alongside the Primes." 

Slip hummed as she recounted all the stories the pieces of art depicted. "Which one do you want to learn about?" 

Star shook his helm as he saw a fiery red warrior, katanas in servo as they led a small group across the stars. "Whatever one's your favourite." He grinned at her. 

Slip huffed but straightened up as she glanced over at Thunder Shine. "Caminus. I love that one. She falls in love with him, but they can't be together." 

"Why?" Star asked. 

"Love is confined to the physical realm," Athel murmured, her voice echoing as her large body moved without any noise, so she was in front of them. Star wondered if maybe they were on a platform and she had just spun them around to face her instead. "The Cardinal Song," she began her story. "Like the rest of his kin, cannot be in two timelines at once." 

Skyfire and Star's Chamber, 43rd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Five joors later.

"Hey!" Star flinched as he heard Skyfire's voice soon followed by the sound of the door sliding shut behind him. "Everything alright? How'd you go today?" 

It was a few groons after Slip had brought him to the Elders and they'd inquired a lot about the story of Cardinal and Caminus. It had been playing a lot on Star's processor. He was currently sitting on one of the empty berths, locked tightly as he hugged himself, wings flattened downward in the submissive, distant position. He must've looked quite lost and in thought when Skyfire entered because the shuttle hurried over to him and placed a gentle servo on his arm. 

Star snapped out of it, fixing his gaze on Skyfire's face plates. The angelic, blue glow of the other's optics helped to ease his spark a little as his systems eased for regulation. "I'm ok," he tried to reassure the other. 

It was early into the evening, and Skyfire had refuelled again. He'd offered to go back out and get Star a cube, however the miscoloured jet denied it by stating that he didn't want to have an active or upset fuel tank going into his recharge. The shuttle instead vented as he sat on his berth, positioned right beside Star's and looked at him. 

"I... Look I know it can be a little confronting at first." Skyfire tried to gauge Star's processing state. "And if you need a room to yourself, that's fine! It's ok, we've got plenty of rooms! O-or if you want, I'm sure the Vixens wouldn't mind-"

"No," Star shook his helm, not looking at him as he muttered. "No, I like this one." 

He did. It was clean and spacious. The little items that belonged to Skyfire felt homely. The datapads stacked on the desk, the model Iacon Shuttle IV that guarded them, the window that overlooked most of the inner city. The room connected to a waste and personal wash area that was quite roomy for Star, but he didn't mind it. Everything was clean except for Skyfire's portion of belongings, and it comforted him to see those things sitting there. 

"A-are you sure?" Skyfire frowned warily at him. "Because I don't mind! Heh, I'm... I know what it feels like to be alone." 

Star nodded. 

"It's not... Great," Skyfire looked down. 

"Mhm," Star hummed in agreement. 

"Are you sure that you're going to be ok tonight?" The shuttle looked at him once he exited the wash area, Star still hadn't moved to unfold himself out of the tight position he was sitting in. 

Star nodded again, his optics blank. 

"Ok," Skyfire found it difficult to stray his optics from the miscoloured jet as he clambered onto his berth. "Goodnight." 

"Goodnight," Star echoed mindlessly. 

"If you need anything, just wake me up." Skyfire turned off the lights. "I'm right here, there's no need to panic." 

"I know." Star barely reacted as the lights went out. 

A moment later, his wing tips twitched as he heard the quiet murmur of Skyfire's systems powering down. Within moments, his room-mate was deep in recharge. Star finally slid his optics across the room to stare at his sleeping form. He waited a few moments longer before he initiated a reset of his cooling systems and allowed lubricant to form in his optics. The first time since he could remember, his frame had more energon than he knew what to do with. So much that his systems had actively yearned for him to cry just to release some. He muffled his voicebox, switching to a mute mode and watched Skyfire sleep as he wept. He didn't hate the other. Star thought that Skyfire looked rather peaceful and happy in his recharge. The blue, glowing lights indicating his vitals were reassurance enough to tell the little jet that his companion was ok, despite the frame looking as lifeless as ever. 

Star hiccuped slightly as he finally unfolded from himself and opened his subspace. With careful servos, he took the blue rock out and stared down at it as he continued to cry. He sharply in-vented and tightly held the rock. He offlined his optics, wings sparse and flat as he thought of his real brother, Thunder. His strong, blue frame standing confidently before him, never mind the machines threatening to take him away yet again. 

Star tightly held the rock as his memory files became overwhelmed with images of Thunder. Star didn't want to let him go, but he knew that he had to. Perhaps Thunder was deactivated too. Perhaps he hadn't been so fortunate enough to survive. If he had made it to Vos, surely Cloud Breeze would've reunited them by now? 

Star's face plates were warm and hot as fresh energon pooled down his cheeks. As he held the blue rock, he pictured Thunder in his mind and tried to reach out to him through his spark. His frame spasmed as a sharp pain shot through him, and he cried harder, feeling like a failure. His Bond was cut, there was no way of contacting his Trine. 

"I'm sorry," Star whimpered quietly to himself, forcing his optics back online as his servos trembled, still holding the blue rock as he sobbed. "I'm so sorry... I-if you can..." He hiccuped as he tried to force the prayer out. "If you can hear me, brother... I love you. I love you so much a-and I'm so... Sorry! I'll never f-forget you." 

Star carefully wiped the lubricant from his optics but continued to cry as he stared at the rock Cryak had given him. Blue like his brother. 

Chapter Text

Skyfire and Star's Chambers, 43rd floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground. 
The next Befaron. 

Star groaned as he felt something soft nudge him. He huffed, slowly unfolding himself as he was nudged a third time. Slowly, his systems came online. 

"Star?" He was greeted to the day by Skyfire's soft and worried tone. "Are you alright?" 

Star huffed, optics flickering online as he lifted his helm and examined the shuttle's face plates. He nodded as he swirled his glossa; it was still heavy since he hadn't properly settled in for recharge last night. "Yeah." 

"You had me worried when I reactivated this morning," Skyfire huffed, seating himself carefully on the edge of Star's berth - it was massive. "I thought you'd gone into stasis or the like." 

Star looked away as he mumbled. "No. I'm fine." 

Skyfire nodded. "Right. Well, I'm free this morning again, so if you're feeling up to it, we can practice our gliding?" 

Star turned his helm to narrow his gaze at the other's face plates slightly. He thought for a moment, trying to peer through his vision and the low energy he had. "Your face looks pretty." 

Skyfire became flustered as he heard that. Star noticed his thin wingtips perk up slightly. His EMF was suddenly reined back in, out of the miscoloured jet's airspace. Star smirked to himself as he saw the reaction. 

"You didn't let me finish." Star reset his systems as he rubbed one of his optics. 

Skyfire tilted his helm with a curious yet happy look. "Oh?"

"Your face plates look pretty bright in the mornings. What polish do you use?" 

"Oh," Skyfire frowned, unsure of how to feel about that. He shrugged, "Just the.. The one that Cloud Stream gives me, I don't... I don't fuss over it much." He looked down to fiddle with his digits. 

"Why did you polish?" Star raised a brow ridge at him. 

Skyfire's brow ridges snapped into a frown as he quickly stood, not looking at him. "It doesn't matter, c'mon, we're going to be late." He walked off, scowling to himself. 

Star tilted his helm with a curious, almost innocent look. But inside, he was giggling his aft off. He'd have to personally thank Slip later for that piece of advice and notify her that Skyfire did, in fact, use the same polish as Cloud Stream.

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Gliding Practice Main Hangar Four, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Fourteen arcs later. 

Star excitedly broke from Skyfire's side to run forward. He shrieked as he reached Silver and tightly wrapped his arms around the slightly smaller apprentice, who flinched away and covered his audials. 

"Star!" Silver scolded, trying to wriggle out of his grip. "You scared the frag outta me!" 

Star chuckled darkly before he released his friend, wings spiked high in the air and a mischievous glimmer in his optic. "I'm super excited today! I can't wait to reach the other platform." 

Silver huffed; his optics looked a little dull, but Star had just downed two and a half cubes. He was practically bouncing off the walls with so much energy in his system. "I'm not. I hate being so close to the wind." 

The two glanced up and frowned as they noticed a group of clouds lingering at the edge of the city. 

Metalhawk hummed as he strode forward, politely bowing his helm in greeting to Skyfire. "Good morning." 

"Morning," Skyfire huffed. "I thought you weren't cussing around him?" He gestured with a nod at Silver. 

Metalhawk rolled his optics, his servo coming to rest casually on his hipstrut. "And I thought you were the chill, passive brother." 

Skyfire frowned and turned away. 

"What happened?" Metalhawk looked worried as he leaned in so the younger two couldn't hear. "How'd it go last night?" 

Skyfire shook his helm, wings easing back as he forced his frame to relax. "I found him in shutdown mode, almost no recharge in his data banks. On top of that, he tried to give me some sass this morning." 

Metalhawk leaned back with an amused laugh. "Oh, Prima!" 

Skyfire smiled as he remembered the earlier conversation and couldn't help but be a little impressed by the other's deception. "It was pretty funny, though."

"I can imagine," Metalhawk nodded. "Do you want me to take over for him today?" 

Skyfire hummed and tilted his helm. "Maybe. Just to start us off with? I'm not mad at him, I just wasn't expecting it." 

Metalhawk winked at him. "It's those Vixens, I guarantee you. No bulk is ever smart enough to pull that kind of stunt off, especially on their own. I'll talk to him." 

"Thank you," Skyfire bowed his helm in gratitude before he turned and made a sweeping motion with his servos as he addressed Silver. "Let's do some exercises first to warm up." 

Metalhawk then made his way over to the edge where Star was staring at the opposing platform. He stood beside the smaller jet, servos on his hipstruts as he slowly began. "So. I heard that you stirred somebot's energon this morning?"

"What?" Star frowned up at him in confusion. 

Metalhawk smirked, raising a brow ridge back down at him. "You and Skyfire?" 

Star glanced back at the shuttle before he looked at Metalhawk. "He did seem quiet during our refuelling." 

The golden warrior nodded. "Yeah. He wasn't particularly too happy about what you said to him this morning. Y'know, asking somebot why they polish or complimenting them without any meaning behind it can send the wrong message." 

Star huffed and looked away. 

"I know you thought that maybe it was funny to get a reaction out of him," Metalhawk continued in a calm voice. "But, stirring him up isn't the right way to go about it. He's not mad, he just doesn't want you to do it again. Are we clear?" 

Star frowned at the opposing platform before his frame sagged in guilt. "Yes." 

"And I noticed you with Silver just now." Metalhawk turned to gesture towards him with a nod. "I know you're excited, Star, but just keep in mind that pushing somebot's boundaries will make you end up like Dirge and Thrust." 

"You... Heard about that?" Star slowly looked up at him with sad optics. 

Metalhawk nodded. "Word travels fast around here. That, and I know that who you're hanging out with aren't exactly the right friends I'd have, but..." He shrugged and looked across the platform. "They're not bad, either. You just have to be patient. There's no need to apologise right away. Skyfire and Silver knew that you meant well. Again, it's more about 'treating others how you want to be treated.' You wouldn't want somebot to say one thing to get a rise outta you, right?" 

Star shook his helm. 

"Or to cramp your wings and hog your airspace?"

Star shook his helm again. 

"Right," Metalhawk smiled down at him. "So just remember, always be respectful and take things at the other bird's pace. You don't have to be sinister or loud or demanding. Just be yourself. Be the person you want to become, and one day, you might be." 

"Did Hawk Wing have this talk with you?" Star huffed. 

Metalhawk went silent, and for a moment, fear spiked in Star's spark, wondering if he'd just upset him too. But Metalhawk slowly drew out his words. "Yes, he did." 

A moment of silence lingered before Metalhawk in-vented and continued, his face plates grim. "I pushed some bots' boundaries a lot when I was younger. I drove a wedge between me and Fearswoop. I made Skyfire hate me for most of our youth when I didn't mean to. I was always the one who wanted to jump first without looking." He scoffed. "And doing that will get you into more trouble than it's worth. But one day, Hawk Wing sat me down, and we had this talk. I didn't listen to him then; I thought it was folly. 'Treat others how I wanted to be treated? Pfft.' It didn't seem like it was worth the hassle. I was so used to being reactive that I never stopped to consider how those bots around me felt. Then Hawk Wing got wounded one day and..." He trailed off, some hesitance behind his words as he recounted that dark moment in his life. "I was scared. I was scared that I was going to lose my Mentor and that no bot else was ever going to be there for me anymore. No bot was going to listen to me, going to help me, going to stand up and get me out of trouble. I wanted to hide away and spend every nano-cycle I could just by his side, praying to the Primes that he would make it out ok." 

"Did he?" Star whispered with concern. 

A small smile formed on Metalhawk's face plates as he nodded. "He did. Hawk Wing eventually got stronger, and together, we got him back into shape. We learned a lot from each other, and I was just happy to have him back. Heh, I made a promise to him that night in his ward that no matter what, I'd listen to him. If he told me that I was out of line, I'd promised him that I'd get right back in it. He laughed at that. He told me how proud he was and promised that one day, I'd make it through my Graduation and someday I would be the valiant warrior I wanted everybot to see me as."

Metalhawk sounded fond as he recalled those memories, and Star felt a little more at ease hearing them. The miscoloured jet looked down at himself, and the guilt came back. "You're right. I should apologise to them."

"There's no need." Metalhawk placed a servo on his shoulderstrut. "They're aware that you didn't mean harm." 

Star shrugged and looked askance. "But Skyfire's face plates did look pretty this morning." 

Metalhawk chuckled. "It's best to keep that to yourself. I know he's quite the handsome shuttle, but he doesn't take too well to knowing it." 

That caught Star's attention as he looked up at the other. "You... You think he's handsome too?" 

Metalhawk shrugged. "Yeah. Almost everybot here has something goin' for them." 

Star quickly looked away and stared at the platform. If he wasn't satisfied with how he looked, maybe he could impress Metalhawk with his flying? A determined smile soon etched itself onto his face plates. 

"I can do this!" He clenched a servo and went to transform but stiffened as he heard Skyfire. 

"I was going to say," Skyfire called over to them, his voice being heard over the wind. "You didn't do your stretches." 

"Heh," Star glanced back sheepishly before he stared up at Metalhawk.

"Right, well. Let's get them underway then." 

Star flattened his wings out, grunting as he had to move them against the breeze on his own and follow the positions that Metalhawk was instructing him to do. Once he'd done all eight positions, he vented as he straightened up, relieved that moving his wings felt a little easier along his backstrut now. Metalhawk winked at him. 

"Remember, always, always stretch before flying. It does a number on you." He held a thumbs up and grinned. "Did you ask Sky about those Onsens?" 

"N-no," Star shrank back slightly. "He was busy after refuelling, s-so I didn't get the chance to." 

"Ah, that's alright," Metalhawk waved him off. "Maybe after today, the four of us could go?" 

Star shrugged as he glanced over between the gap. He shivered as a gust of wind threatened to pull him off the edge and clung tightly to Metalhawk's frame for support. The golden warrior frowned, glancing back in the direction of the clouds and narrowed his optics. 

"Do you think Storm Patrol's gonna call it?" He heard Silver ask Skyfire, who shrugged and shook his helm. 

"Even so," Metalhawk raised his voice to be heard over the wind. "Breeze is clocked at sixty-five nano-kliks per joor. This'll be good practice for flying over The Barrens."

"You want us to fly in a storm!?" Silver shrieked, and Skyfire flinched. 

Metalhawk seized him in his sights and shook his helm. "No. I want you two to get some practice in today before it's called. This weather is fine, we'll keep an optic on you. Look, you won't have to do much. Just glide to that platform and fly back, and that's it for the cycle!" 

Silver straightened up, squinting at the opposing platform that was a few yards away. "You promise?" 

"I promise," Metalhawk nodded, a servo placed on his canopy. "'Swear it on my spark." 

Silver pouted but made his way to stand beside Star. The two glanced at the platform before Star turned his helm and mouthed 'sorry' to him. Silver frowned in confusion, but Metalhawk ordered them to transform, so they did. 

"Remember you're gliding, so don't engage your thrusters." The golden warrior reminded them, standing on the edge of the platform to watch them carefully. 

Star clicked across his HUD to let Silver know that he was leading and the miscoloured jet would follow. Silver clicked back for approval and thanks before he tilted his flaps up and allowed the next draft of wind to carry him forward. Star engaged his thrusters to keep him hovered in place before he disengaged them, tilted his flaps up and caught the next updraft. He warily drifted in the air a few meters behind Silver, watching him in his grid. Silver transformed and landed with ease on the opposing platform. He turned to watch as Star soared over the platform and soon transformed to join him. 

"You made it!" Silver beamed. 

Star panted once he reached the other platform. A little excited but mostly stressed. "I did!" 

Silver then nodded to the older apprentices waiting on the original platform. "We gotta make it back." 

"Do it together?" Star asked, searching the other bulk's face plates. 

Silver hesitated as he looked down. "Why did you apologise?" 

Star's wing twitched as he looked away. "Because I disturbed you and screamed in your audial?" 

"Heh," Silver giggled. "Star scream, yeah, I can still hear my audio receptors ringing." He groaned as he rubbed one of them. 

Star looked apologetic. "I'm sorry." 

Silver shook his helm. "Nah, don't stress it. You did scare me, and I do appreciate you apologising," he turned to smile at the other. "But for a moment, it felt nice. Like I had a brother again." 

Star frowned, wondering what he meant by that. "Wh... What do you mean?" 

Silver shrugged and looked up at Skyfire and Metalhawk. "Comet doesn't really hang out with me anymore, nor does Dapol. They're both so busy. I figured... I thought that if I could learn to overcome my fear of flying, I could be of more use to them and help them out with some stuff." 

Star glanced up at the shrinking blue skies above. "You will. You'll get stronger and better at this, and you'll be able to help them. I know you will." 

They shared a smile before they flipped and transformed back into jet mode. Silver clicked, asking Star to take the lead. Star located the platform for them and diverted energy to his thrusters. Silver followed Star's visual, and for a moment, while they were forty-two stories high in the air over a dark and bustling street, Star could've sworn that he felt Silver's wingtip brush against his. A few moments later, they transformed and landed beside the older apprentices on the platform. 

"Yeah, alright!" Metalhawk fist-pumped the air as he turned to Silver. 

"You did it!" Skyfire grinned at Star. 

"We sure did!" Star smiled with pride, trying to peer around the shuttle to catch Silver's reaction. "And it couldn't have been better."

"It was awesome!" Silver beamed. "I wanna go again!" 

A distant boom of thunder alerted the quad as they turned to examine the looming clouds. Star noticed that at the centre, the clouds appeared a little darker than before. 

"Is it going to come this way?" Silver fretted as he looked up at the others. 

Metalhawk looked grim. "Maybe we should head inside?" He turned to check with Skyfire. 

The shuttle nodded. "Yeah, better to be safe than sorry." 

No warnings or alerts had popped up on their HUDs, but the last thing Skyfire needed was for a blue bolt to strike one of them and cause injury. He turned and directed Star inside as Metalhawk and Silver followed.

Storm Patrol Hangar Five, 59th Floor of the Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Two breems later .

"Alright, Storm Patrol!" Storm Wing's voice called out over the hustle and bustle of the Seekers preparing themselves. He walked calmly amid the chaos swirling around him, carefully reading the live time updates that he was receiving on his HUD. "Looks like we've got a wet storm just Northeast of the city. It’s moved in from Praxus, forming after the humid weather over the Flats. So what does humid weather mean?" 

Ion Storm halted in his anklet exercises to answer brightly. "Humid weather stands at least a forty-eight per cent chance of acid rain, Sir!"

"That's very good." Storm Wing turned away from him, squeezing something in his spare servo. "With that in mind, I'm going to be sending out the Rainmaker Trine first. Nova, how's Acid Storm's armour plating?" 

"It's looking good, Storm Wing!" Nova Storm happily called out over her sibling's shoulderstrut as she fixed it into place and double-checked the density. "Acid Storm here is ready to be back out in the field!"

"That's good. Blackstorm." Storm Wing then turned to face him, still analysing the info. "I'm gonna need you to stay here, flank my patrol in case there's any emergencies." He turned back to face Nova Storm. "Skyfire was generous enough to give us a second prototype for the Stormcaller-X. Please don't break my little brother's invention. What do we do if it gets struck by lightning?"

Acid Storm shot their servo into the air. "Ooh! We catch it before it hits the ground?"

The dark, navy blue jet pointed at them. "Yes, thank you, Acid Storm. Now," he turned to address the other members of the Storm Patrol. "This cloud could be very deceiving. I need everybot to be on top of their game out there, that means tanks full to the brim with energon - none of that new stuff until everybot here’s completed their training. Take the regular stuff, it's safer. I need all patrols reporting back directly to me and giving an update to Airwave and Andy when requested. Don’t fly alone; keep your wing buddies in your three-sixty. Are we all clear on that?”

Finally, the dark blue Cyberjet raised his view from the live updates on his HUD to examine the face plates of his crew. Almost all of them were paying attention as they responded with a loud and clear, “Sir, yes, Sir!”

Satisfied, Storm Wing straightened up and flexed his massive wings out behind him. “Alright, let’s punch it in!”

He raised a closed servo as he stood in the centre of the chaos. A swell of pride as they followed in his gesture and only released their servos after giving a battle cry.

“May the Angels fly with you,” Storm Wing uttered a prayer, bowing his helm as he stood beneath the overhang. He watched as Acid Storm made sure that Skyfire’s device was secured to their frame before the Rainmakers jumped into the air, transformed and took off. They twirled as they soared higher and higher into the dark clouds above. 

At the sound of beating rotators, Storm Wing turned his helm and stepped back as a fluorescent green and white helicopter transformed and landed on the platform in front of him. 

"Uplink," the Lieutenant began. "What's the weather status up there?" 

Uplink's optics came online as his helm separated from his chassis. He examined Storm Wing's silver plates before he began. "Rain is going to fall at eighty-two millilitres. Wind is coming in at a sharp low from the Northeast at around seventy kilometres per klik and climbing."

Storm Wing's lip plates twitched into a frown as he heard that. "That's a lot of water." 

Uplink nodded. 

Storm Wing turned and tapped his commsunit. "Cloud Breeze, it's Storm Wing. I'm requesting a shutdown of the Upper Eclipse dam. Uplink," he tilted his helm to seize him in his visor. "Which way is the wind going to travel? Is it gonna hit the mines?"

Uplink gave a grim nod. Storm Wing's left lower wing twitched at the news. "Cloud Breeze, I'm also requesting a temporary shutdown of the mines in the Darkhills." 

Dispatch Room, 78th floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Same time.

Cloud Breeze stood in the middle of the room, arms folded across his chassis as he carefully studied all the monitors displayed before them on the walls. The room was dark, though it was very much alive. Cloud Breeze couldn't remember a time when this room hadn't been silent or still since its creation. The Dispatch Floor acted as Vos' central command for air traffic control. Whenever there wasn't a storm approaching the cliffs, this room was busy directing incoming and outgoing Seeker forces.

This room was also used for weather emergencies and meteorology updates to inform the citizens of what was coming. 

As of right now, Andromeda and Airwave had their servos full with live updates on the incoming Seeker patrols. 

"Storm is moving in from the Northeast, wind is clocked at eighty-two kilometres per klik. You have a window of four nano-kliks to land on platform eighty-four of the Sky Tower!" Airwave ordered into his mic. 

"Copy that," Aero Raid's voice cracked through the static of Airwave's station. "Slowing down and landing now. Jumpbarrel and Air Raid all accounted for. Disconnecting." 

"Window for landing has just opened for nine nano-kliks on platform fifty-one of the Sky Tower, Meteor Shine. You're clear to land," Andromeda informed nonchalantly. 

"Coming in hot with a patient from the mines. Thanks for clearing the airspace, Andy!" The medic's voice cracked before she too disconnected. 

And onto the next call. Cloud Breeze's wingtips perked as he received an incoming transmission from his son. He'd been expecting a call from Storm Wing to inform him of the incoming storm. "Cloud Breeze." He answered once he tapped his commsunit. 

"Cloud Breeze, it's Storm Wing. I'm requesting a shutdown of the Upper Eclipse dam." The white Seeker overlord narrowed his yellow optics in thought. "I'm also requesting a temporary shutdown of the mines in the Darkhills." 

Cloud Breeze vented softly through his nasal unit before he responded, digits twitching with anxiety. "Update Motorthrust on the situation and give me an update on what he says. I'll have Airwave close the dam and put the Lower Eclipse on notice. There's no need to call for an evac at this time." 

He heard Storm Wing's hesitance as he replied. "Sure." 

When they disconnected, Cloud Breeze frowned as he stared at the incoming storm on the monitor. He knew that his son meant well, but the last thing they needed was for the city to panic. For now, it was just a wet storm.

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Cafeteria, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Same time.

Star peered out the window overlooking the streets below. Both of his servos were carefully pressed against the glass as the dark clouds rolled in and dominated the skies. He quickly glanced up as a few shadows streamed past and watched in awe as they twisted and twirled, soaring higher into the sky. 

"That's the Storm Patrol!" Metalhawk barked happily from where he stood a few meters behind them, arms folded across his chassis. "Look! That's Nova out leading in front, an' behind her are her brother Ion Storm and Acid Storm."

"Blackstorm must've been called back," Skyfire murmured as he, too, observed the patrol. "Oh hey, look!" Excitement made his face plates glow as he pointed at the green jet. "That's the Stormcaller-X! That's one of my prototypes! They're using it!"

"Oh yeah!" Metalhawk nodded before he glanced at him. "What happened to the last one?" 

"Uh, well, it, um..." Skyfire glanced away with a shrug. "Exploded when acid leaked into its circuitry, heh." 

"Oof," Metalhawk winced.

"Yeah, lightning and electrical components don't go too well with acid," Skyfire informed. 

"Then why is it attached to Acid Storm?" Star asked as he watched the jets disappear into the clouds. 

The shuttle gave a shrug. "They're more experienced with the tech. Besides, I trust them. If anything, having either Acid Storm or Storm Wing navigate it will help me collect more data." 

Silver stood beside Star as they observed the city lights flickering on as the storm chased away the mid-morning sunlight. The dark cafeteria was suddenly blinded by white light as a beacon of it rained down from the clouds. Not even a nano-klik later, and Star gasped as he felt his entire frame tremble with the audial shattering boom that ensued. Silver was the first to react as he shrieked and flinched away from the window, hurriedly moving away from the danger. Star, on the other servo, had never experienced something like that before and remained in shock with his wingstruts high in the air and optics wide. 

"Uh, you know what?" He heard Metalhawk's voice call across the room. "Maybe it's not such a good idea to stand right by the window." 

"You think?" Skyfire hissed lowly. 

"Yeah. Star, uh, co-come away from the window, buddy." 

The miscoloured jet tried to speak but found his systems locked into place. Another boom of thunder, but this time it was muffled and noticeably less louder than the previous one. He turned to glance timidly back at the other Cyberjets as his peds twitched, trying to move. 

"It's alright." Skyfire hurried to his side after witnessing the fearful state he was in and gently dragged the young bot away from the window. Star eased back into Skyfire's embrace, though he still kept his wary optics on the window. "It's called thunder." He began. "Thunder is the result of atoms clashing in the air, mostly caused by the clouds. Atoms are mostly harmless; we can't see, feel or hear them, but during storms like these, when wind speeds are fast and humidity tends to heat the water, that's when a storm gets dangerous." 

Metalhawk turned to face the younger bots with his servos on his hipstruts. "My tip for thundering? Watch the lightning. The lightning is your true enemy, it can fry your circuits if you're not storm-built like Nova's team. One strike of lightning and your entire system can shut down. But sometimes, lightning isn't all that bad. Remember, when lightning strikes, thunder follows. There's this game we used to play when we were younger and had nothing better to do during a storm. We'd watch which Tower the lightning would strike and count the kliks it took 'til we heard the thunder follow." 

Skyfire nodded his helm. "Lightning strikes the Towers more than it ever will strike a Seeker in Vos. The Towers provide many uses, and one of them is protection, naturally. Thunder isn't something to always be feared if it hails from nature; it's generally harmless and can often be a way of alerting us when a storm may be approaching." 

Star stared silently at the window as lightning continued to dance from one top of a Tower to the other. He felt Silver stiffen beside him as they watched a bolt of lightning strike the Cloud Tower, and the lights briefly disappeared inside. For a nano-klik, the entire Tower was dark. Then it glowed to life once more with an eerie, blue atmosphere. 

"It's storing the electricity." Metalhawk pointed as he explained what they were seeing. "The Cloud Tower's been updated and outfitted with so much new tech that lightning is meant to be drawn to its top. Once a bolt strikes, it absorbs that energy and turns off the energon inside the building. Once the flammables have been safely deactivated, the entire Tower runs on pure electricity. Pretty neat, right?" 

Silver looked up at him. "But the Sky Tower?"

"Most Towers have this same tech," Skyfire offered. "It's just that the Cloud Tower is often prone to lightning strikes..." He stared forward as he trailed off, Metalhawk giving him a smirk, but he didn't seem to notice or respond. 

"It's cuz Storm Wing once struck that Tower when he was our age," Metalhawk said, which caught their attention. 

"Mhm," Skyfire nodded, but didn't seem too keen on the story. 

"When Storm Wing was first Forged, it was rumoured that a massive storm suddenly appeared out of nowhere and caused the Upper Eclipse to flood." Metalhawk decided that telling Star and Silver a story would help calm their nerves a little, so they listened while Skyfire remained watching what was happening outside. 

Storm Patrol Hangar Five, 59th Floor of the Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Same time .

The winds were beginning to pick up as Storm Wing narrowed his yellow optics beneath his visor after he ended the transmission with Cloud Breeze. He turned to study Uplink, noticing the helicopter's low energon ratings. 

"Get yourself inside and patched up." He gestured with his helm to the pods lining the hangar. "We might need you for alert and evac later." 

Uplink nodded before he turned and stepped inside. Whirl then approached the blue Lieutenant. 

"Good, you're here." 

"Where else would I be?" The dark teal helicopter huffed. "Mercystrike put me here because me an’ Dark Wing were 'too explosive.'" 

"Ah, well," Storm Wing smiled as he scrolled through his HUD to keep track of the storm raging around them. "Here on this Patrol Unit, that's something that I just tend to like." He shrugged before he turned and pointed at the Lower Eclipse. "I need you to be out there and be my optics on that sector. Report immediately if there's anything wrong." 

Whirl gave a nod. "Aye aye, Captain." 

"Do be safe." Storm Wing raised a brow ridge at him, though the other couldn't see it. "Last thing I need is another unit down in the hospital." 

Whirl brightened as he gave the Lieutenant a thumbs up. "Don't worry, you can count on me! I'm fully prepared with this new chassis. A little lightning's not gonna keep me down for very long." 

"That's the spirit!" Storm Wing waved him off, watching as the helicopter leapt into the air, transformed and sped off.

Once he was gone, Storm Wing tapped his commsunit and patched himself through to Motorthrust. "Hey, it's Storm. Give me the status down there."

Above Vos - Cybertron.
A breem later.

Nova Storm led the patrol higher and higher into the dark skies. Their armour smooth and strong as the rain battered down on their frames. Once she was a few stories above the Sky Tower, she transformed, and her brother, Ion Storm, soon followed to hover beside her in the air. They watched Acid Storm circle around them, Skyfire's white, orb-shaped drone attached to their frame and floating behind them. 

Nova Storm tapped her commsunit as she stared below at the city. "Storm Wing, it's Nova. We've reached the peak. Air up here isn't cold." 

"Give it to me," Storm Wing ordered as he connected to her frequency. "I just got off with Cloud Breeze, I'm about to inform Motorthrust to shut down the mines." 

Nova Storm gave her brother a wary look. "Humid air above the city, the rain up here is still liquid but warm. Non-corrosive as of yet, the storm's about to break." 

"So," Storm Wing sounded annoyed. "We're expecting acid rain?" 

"Maybe." Nova Storm's wing twitched as she looked away. "Could just be a sun shower." 

"I doubt it." They could just hear Storm Wing's voice as thunder growled from the sky, vibrating their frames. 

"Go higher!" Nova Storm pointed upward as Acid Storm circled them again. 

Acid Storm clicked in confirmation before they tilted their panels and dipped upward to soar above their siblings. The green jet rose higher and higher to break through the dull grey clouds and puncture the black clouds. Lighting flashed upon entry, and for a moment, fear prickled in their spark as they tried to feel the drone's tether. It was still attached, so they engaged their thrusters to the max and flew higher. 

There was a hissing sound, and Acid Storm realised that the rain had become corrosive. It was eating through the tether attaching Acid Storm to Skyfire's drone. They quickly transformed, allowing gravity to pull them back as they fell past the drone and caught it in their servos once the tethered had given away with a snap. They tilted their frame to stand and re-engaged their thrusters to keep heading higher. Another boom of thunder and they could feel it in their spark. They could've giggled had it not been for the acid rain bearing down on them. They glanced down at the drone tucked safely to their chassis and vented in relief when they realised that the drone had the same reinforced Cybertanium armour as their frame. 

With a grunt, Acid Storm threw it up into the air and hovered, watching as it sprang to life with a little light and fanned out its instruments to begin measuring the storm. Lightning danced close by once the device had been deployed, and Acid Storm's wings twitched in nervous tension. The orb spun as it read and recorded the data before relaying it back to their HUD. 

They patched through their communit to fill in their Trine. "Winds have exceeded five hundred and two nano-kliks per joor. The drone's detecting early traces of rust forming in the Core. Wind is being swept up from the flanking line, causing the humidity to rise in the updraught. In the Core, there's heavy acid."

"How's the lightning up there?" Ion Storm's voice cracked over the frequency. 

Acid Storm turned and narrowed their red optics as a bolt flickered not too far away. "It's passive up here. It's not reaching the Core, I must be directly below the Optic. There's a cloud shift barrier, though. Heavy with low visibility and lightning."

"Let's land and get the info back on the ground," Nova Storm ordered. "They'll want the data to justify a cause of action. Is the drone still operational?"

Acid Storm nodded before they corrected themselves. "Uh, y-yeah, it's still..." They drifted forward through the swirling vortex to clutch the drone back into their chassis. "The acid's eaten through the tether, though. I'll have to manually fly it down." 

"We'll come up to you." Nova Storm told them before the frequency went silent. 

Energon Mine-7, The Darkhills - Vos, Above Ground.
Two breems ago.

Motorthrust stood outside the mouth of the cave where he'd been patrolling as soon as the miners began chattering about hearing thunder booming in the distance. He'd stood watching the clouds form all morning before they moved over the Lower Eclipse, coming in swiftly off the hot Flatbed just outside of Praxus. No bot disturbed him and gave him a wide berth with cautious glances as they maneuvered their carts out of the way. It wasn't that the old Lieutenant was feared among his troops; it was rather waiting for his next instructions. Motorthrust was quite old, but with such an age came immense experience at his disposal. He'd thought the storm would break over Vos long before he got the transmission from Storm Wing.

"Motorthrust," he answered briefly as the notification popped up on his HUD. 

"Storm Wing," his fellow Lieutenant greeted before he began. "That's a level three wet storm. There's fears that it could rise to be an acid one. How are your bots?"

The blue Seeker paused to give the Mining General time to actively check everybot's clock-in and clock-out times. He hummed as he frowned at the number. "Three hundred and seventy-two."

"Are those just the ones mining where you are?"

Motorthrust turned his helm to narrow his optics at the train tracks. "Plus six Seekers, excluding myself."

"So three hundred and seventy-nine sparks." Storm Wing answered, watching the silver bulk nod on his transmission feed. 

"Are you callin' for an evac?" 

"Cloud Breeze wants me to put everybot on notice as of now." Storm Wing sounded slightly bitter as he relayed the King's instructions. "He wants to know your thoughts."

Motorthrust narrowed his optics in thought. And he couldn't be bothered asking me himself? The other scoffed quietly. "What's the wind speed an' direction?"

"I have Storm Patrol-2 up there now measurin' it." Storm Wing informed him. "Wind direction is set to come directly over you, it's headin' South."

"Going out to the Sea?" Motorthrust raised a brow ridge. 

Storm Wing nodded gravely. "Yup."

It didn't take a genius to understand that once it swept up over the Darkhills, the rust from the Sea would only intensify its sheer velocity and increase in damage. With this swimming in his processor, Motorthrust turned to face the mouth of the cave. "I'm callin' an evac."

Storm Wing nodded once more. "Should I put through anythin' else?"

Motorthrust narrowed his optics down at a young mining bot. "I'll be lockin' down the main mining entrances an' sendin' out Flight Song as my SIC."

"Copy that. Stay safe, buddy."

"You too," Motorthrust mumbled as the transmission ended. 

Now, with his backstrut turned to face the dark storm behind him, the Seeker Lieutenant raised his helm and gave a sharp, shrill click. It was followed by two low, tonal whistles and followed by a final, quick click. The sounds echoed off the walls of the mining tunnel, but he knew that his group had heard him. This was standard procedure by now. 

A moment after he'd made those sounds, the dark helm and magenta coloured visor of Dark Wing popped up to look up at him from the mouth. "Evac?"

Motorthrust nodded. "I want whatever crates they have to be left behind or loaded onto the train if they're past E4. I'm puttin' Flight Song in charge while I remain here. I need you to step up and help her out today by escortin' the younger bots first."

Dark Wing nodded. "Right."

A few moments later, a group of stunned, young mining bots emerged from the tunnel and glanced around with wide optics. They were all carrying crates filled with raw, unrefined energon. Motorthrust turned and flicked his wingstruts up as he heard the whir of a train coming in to dock. It hissed as it halted on the tracks just outside of the mine and lifted its doors up. No bots were inside. 

"Load those crates onto the back of the train!" Motorthrust raised his vocals to be heard over the wind that was starting to pick up. He pointed at the back of the train, where the storage carts and open platforms were located. "After, load yourselves into the carriage bays. This is not a drill; do NOT go back INTO the mines!"

A few bots nodded at him with a murmur of 'Yes, Sir's as they quickly scrambled to do just as instructed. 

Inside the Energon-7 mine, Dark Wing huffed as he shuffled through the mining bots sheepishly walking forward with wide and scared optics. "Keep going," he urged them, trying to hide the frustration in his voice. "Entrance is just up ahead."

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Copper-2 mine, Flight Song was also conducting her own evacuation. "C'mon, everybot out!" She waved the older bots up through the tunnel leading to the outside world.

The mines were a mess of either well-lit or pitch black warrens buried deep beneath the surface of Cybertron. Most of their mining bots were MTOs hailing from Tarn. Though they were often treated fairly, during such times like now, they were herded like cattle through the coming chaos. 

Sling trotted after Dark Wing and observed him carefully securing the Energon-7 mine by first escorting the bots off the first four levels and bringing them in groups back to the surface. There, they would load their crates and any other cargo onto the back of the train before they clambered inside the carriage carts. Then, Dark Wing would return to the mine and venture deeper, going down into the next few levels to inform the bots there. They were much older and more experienced than the previous groups. They, too, had heard Motorthrust's sharp clicks and low whistling - a sound that some of them had heard many times before. Half of these bots had designations that weren't numbers and were somewhat more respected than their younger counterparts. 

The young Seeker watched as Dark Wing tilted his helm at them. "Motorthrust is callin' an evac." He began. "All bots below E4 must leave their cargo behind and board the trains immediately."

Sling could clearly detect the hint of respect Dark Wing had in his tone as the older bots stepped forward, sized him up, nodded and turned to translate for those who hadn't learned Vosian. Most were already citizens of Vos, having opted to move here to be closer to their work and for a better lifestyle. They knew the standard protocol off spark. 

None of them argued or put up much protest to leaving their things behind. They single filed behind Sling and quietly journeyed back up to the mouth of the mine. The young Seeker frowned as he began to notice just how tired his peds were beginning to feel. He squeaked and turned suddenly in fear when he felt digits that did not belong to Dark Wing brush against his shoulderstrut. 

"I can lead," a Tarnbot narrow smiled at him. She appeared to be older than Dark Wing, but perhaps that was just due to her functionality of being a mining bot. Sling had heard that Tarnbots aged quite rapidly. "If you'd like?"

Sling tried to peer past her and her group to see if Dark Wing could see him. He couldn't pick out his training Mentor's visor from the crowd, so he quickly shook his helm. Without permission from Dark Wing, Sling could get in trouble if he wasn't following orders perfectly. So he sucked up his pain and hurried on uphill. He quickly reached the mouth of the mine and sprung forward with a heavy in-vent. He wasn't quite a fan of being too far deep into the mines. The air was tighter down there, and the walls felt more claustrophobic. With a cautious glance at Motorthrust, Sling wondered how the Lieutenant could even admire being so close to the ground almost constantly. 

For Flight Song, she had already made it to E17 of the Copper-2 mine. She hadn't been leading her bots out, but she had gone down every tunnel and screeched loudly in a firm command for the miners to drop everything and evacuate. Her spawn, Freeflight, was waiting at the top of the mine for her to come out. He was supposed to be keeping track of the number of bots exiting the mine but flinched as a loud crack of thunder startled him. A few of the older Tarnbots chuckled at his reaction. This caused him to hiss at them as shame pooled hotly beneath his armour. After a heavy vent, he contacted his mentor over their private commsunit. 

"I lost count." 

His frown deepened when he heard his mentor on the other end vent heavily in response. She responded a moment later. "Don't worry, I'll go back and double-check the tunnels."

Freeflight paced as he glanced behind back in the city's direction, and saw as the storm enveloped its walls around the Towers. 

Dispatch Room, 78th floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Several arcs later.

Cloud Stream surveyed the room as he entered with one servo clenched. His wings high in the air as he caught sight of his former Mentor and approached while the operators tried their best to navigate through the chaos. 

"Cloud Breeze," the younger white Seeker began softly as he stood just out of his personal range to address him. He paused and narrowed his blue optics in a glare, however, as his King brushed him off, and he heard his brother's voice emit from his transmitter. 

"Storm Patrol-2 has returned to hangar six for recharge," Storm Wing reported. "Sending myself out along with Storm Patrol Unit 3 here in a nano-klik."

"Has Lieutenant Motorthrust been notified?" Cloud Breeze asked.

Storm Wing nodded on his HUD projector. "He's locking down the mines after evacuation. It's going to sweep up over him and carry out towards the Sea."

"I'll try to direct extra trains over to the 'Hills then." Cloud Breeze then swiped across his HUD, and the transmission ended before he turned to address his younger son. "I need you to head out to Tarn and warn them about the storm."

Cloud Stream stared silently at his leader for a moment to digest the order given to him. Cloud Breeze stared back at him just as blankly, allowing him to digest and compute a response. 

"I... We just..." Cloud Stream appeared conflicted as he bowed his helm and took a few steps back. "Yes, Sir. Just myself?" 

Cloud Breeze narrowed his optics in thought. "Somebot might slow you down. I'd rather send one high-priority target alone to appear less... Hostile."

Embarrassment flared up hotly beneath the younger's armour. He quickly turned and marched out of the dispatch room. He brought up Slip's transmission but halted in the hallway just outside as he stared at her details in his contacts. 

I'll be fine. He told himself while he reset his voicebox. There's no need to alarm her. 

They'd just gotten back from another training exercise over The Barrens. He had to end the training early due to the storm and wanted to get all three of his narrows back safely to Vos. He and Slip had gotten into a brief argument because of this and the last he'd seen of her was her storming off to their quarters. Cloud Stream reset his optics and swiped his HUD away before he reached the platform, transformed and twirled in the air before he maximised the energy in his thrusters. He took off in the direction of Tarn, going back across The Barrens that were littered with hundreds of miniature tornadoes now.

Storm Patrol Hangar Six, 60th Floor of the Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Same time .

Once Nova Storm and her Trine returned to the Cloud Tower, below them, Storm Wing took off alongside the Storm Patrol Unit-3. The dark blue jet shot forward first, barrel rolling in the air to lose momentum as his two patrollers behind him gained speed and eventually caught up. Blackstorm was on one side while Darkstorm, his first former apprentice, was on his other. Acid Storm clicked a 'Good luck' to them as Nova Storm relayed the Stormcaller-X's information. 

With affirmation, the Rainmakers transformed and eagerly climbed into their storm stasis pods for refuelling and recharge. The advanced pods were outfitted with self-cleaning technology, which soon got to work once the doors were sealed. Nova Storm eased back into her confined pod with a happy vent and relaxed her wings back to be cleaned. Acid Storm carefully set the drone down before they eagerly jumped into their pod. Ion Storm was the first to shut down while fuel lines inserted themselves into his systems and got to work on pumping refined energon across his entire frame. 

Back in the Dispatch Room, Cloud Breeze noticed a large swirl of rust looming just above the Lower Eclipse and tapped his commsunit. "Storm Wing." 

His spawn answered a moment later, and Cloud Breeze winced as he heard the wind roaring on the other end. "Yeah?"

"I'm issuing a city-state-wide lockdown. I'll start with the Lower Eclipse." 

"Copy that." Storm Wing confirmed that he had heard. The sound of a jet engine shrieked as he barrel-rolled again in the air to release some nervous tension dancing across his frame. "I'll inform Whirl and Uplink now."

"Thank you," Cloud Breeze nodded as he disconnected from Storm Wing and turned his helm to address Airwave. "Initiate lockdown protocols across the entire city. All Seekers must land."

"What about the Storm Patrols?" Airwave called over his shoulderstrut. 

"They'll remain," he brushed it off as he glanced away. "They've done this numerous times, they know what they're doing." 

"All Seekers?" Airwave inquired once more. 

Cloud Breeze nodded. "All Seekers in Vos must land and get to shelter inside the Towers immediately. Storm Patrol is allowed to carry on as usual. My Lieutenants will direct air traffic in the meantime."

"Initiating lockdown." Airwave tapped frantically away at his monitor. 

A moment later, the word 'R I K U C H T' flashed to life across their HUDs in a red colour to appear as a warning. Cloud Breeze affirmed the warning, and once it invaded his frame to disable his thrusters, ensuring that his stabilisers and peds were indeed on the ground, the warning flickered away. Airwave and Andromeda also answered the warning, and once it checked their frames, it left them. 

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Cafeteria, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Fourteen breems later. 

Star was seated at the dormant bar on one of the tall, plush seats. Beside him was Silver, and they both were staring out the large window overlooking the city with cautious glances. In front of them, Metalhawk was humming as he chased up two fuzzy, pink energon, soft-grade cubes in the bar. The golden warrior leaned against the counter, one servo on his hipstrut as he waited patiently for the cubes to warm to the acceptable temperature before the warming device chimed to tell him that the cubes were done. He carefully carried them over to the counter where the two younger bulks were seated and smiled as he set them down. 

"Th-thanks, Metalhawk." Silver stuttered as he hesitantly turned his gaze away from the window. 

Star turned fluidly, too, as he frowned down at the cube presented to him. "What is it?"

"Warm-grade." Skyfire smiled at him from the other end of the bar. "It's pink, soft-grade energon that's been distilled to make it taste fuzzy. Those same chemicals, when heated up at the right temperature, help put a bot's spark at ease. Apprentices around our age drink it all the time in cold weather."

Metalhawk nodded at him. "Yep! The perfect beverage to have while telling stories!"

Star hesitantly brought the cube closer for him to inhale before he leaned back and squinted at Skyfire's white energon cube. "What's that?"

"This is a little stronger." Skyfire lifted it up for them to see. "It's similar to your warm-grade, but the fuzzy-tasting chemicals remain because the energon's been cooled down. Think normal energon but with a sweeter and fuzzier taste."

"Sounds horrible," Silver screwed his face plates up before he took a sip of his warm-grade. "I like this one better."

Metalhawk chuckled. "Now, which story do you wanna hear next?"

Silver's wings shot high into the air as his optics widened in excitement. "Megatronus!"

A loud boom of thunder crashed overhelm just outside the Tower, and the two younger Seekers flinched back as their gazes were caught by the swirling storm outside. 

"Uh," Silver's lip plating trembled as he shrank back. "M-maybe not..."

Star narrowed his optics in confusion as the word 'R I K U C H T' popped up on his HUD. It flashed red and took up most of his vision as he glanced over at Skyfire for an answer. 

"Click 'Ki,'" the shuttle instructed, so he did. 

Star shivered as the notification invaded his systems and took hold of his entire frame. He felt the unseen outsider moving down to his peds and disabling his thrusters. After that, the warning disappeared. He turned to glare daggers at his friend. 

"It's a safety notification." Metalhawk waved it off to lessen the tension. "Nothin' to worry about."

"What does it mean?" Silver frowned.

Star hissed. "Why'd it touch me!?"

Skyfire chuckled as he straightened up. "In Vos, the emergency mainframe issues the order 'Rikucht', which means 'land now, there's danger in the air.' It tells us that landing is safer than flying and generally happens whenever a rust or acid storm is about to break over our airways."

They all turned to glance outside the window from a safe distance back. 

"It forcefully enters your systems and disables your thrusters if you're already on the ground," Metalhawk explained. "Its job is to give you a heads up about what's comin' and keep you isolated in a safe area. But because we're already inside and aren't out flying, it's nothing to worry about."

"What if you were flying?" Star turned to glance back at Skyfire. 

The shuttle shrugged. "It would direct you to the nearest landing zone. Accidents and crashes can happen in this area, but most of the time, the technology runs on a hive mind-like consciousness. Whoever's closest lands first while the others'll circle around and wait their turn."

"Acid rain can eat through most armour," Skyfire offered to add. "And rust is horrible to fly through."

Metalhawk nodded at him. "That's why only a select few warriors ever make the journey across the Sea of Rust."

"But the Storm Patrol are gonna be fine, right?" Silver turned his helm to look up at them. 

The golden warrior shrugged. "Of course! Trust me, they've been doing this since they were Forged. No storm's gonna stop them."

"No," a new voice joined the group as she pouted. She huffed as her little wings flared up behind her, hugging herself with her armstruts as she stormed over to join them at the bar. "But apparently, it's enough to stop me from flight practice."

"Hey, Wind," Skyfire smiled down at her and offered his white, fuzzy cube. "Training got cut short, huh?"

She scolded as she glared daggers at the wall. The older apprentices frowned as they noticed her shivering, and Metalhawk left to fetch a towel. "Stupid weather."

Skyfire studied the rain droplets on her wings, careful to note that they didn't appear to be causing her any harm. "Mhm, sure is. But it's safer inside now. That's why we're all hanging out here!"

"It's hella fun." Metalhawk smiled as he enveloped the thin, narrow in a large, warm towel. "Would you like some warm or fuzzy grade?" He asked as he gently wrapped her tightly up in the fabric so her systems could begin to heat up again. 

She straightened up and narrowed her optics at Skyfire. "Fuzzy." And she gently pushed his cube back to him and shook her helm. 

The shuttle nodded and went back to drinking his cube. A sign that she didn't wish to take any from him. 

Metalhawk nodded as he went around the bar once again and tended to it.

"Where's the others?" Star asked as he looked at her. 

Wind scoffed as she shook her helm, shivering. "Slip got into a fight with Mentor. I didn't wanna stay in the room, so I an' Night snuck out after they left."

"And you flew over here?" Metalhawk raised a brow ridge down at her. "That's kinda dangerous."

Wind rolled her optics. "We didn't fly, we walked. Night let me use the tunnels, and we popped up outside just as the warning disabled my thrusters."

The older bulks nodded before they went back to their mundane tasks, but a nervous feeling began to swirl in Star's fuel tanks as he looked outside.

Energon Mine-7, The Darkhills - Vos, Above Ground.
Thirteen arcs after calling evac.

Dark Wing paused outside the mines as he watched the second train slide into the platform. Its doors hissed as they opened, the brakes clamping onto the tracks. He could feel the wind roaring in his audio receptors now and threatening to sweep him off his stabilisers. Above him, the dark clouds loomed dangerously close for comfort. His attention was quickly snagged, however, when the warning to 'R I K U C H T' flashed across his HUD and disabled his ability to fly. 

"Next train's arriving in two point twenty-four arcs." Motorthrust stood beside him, frowning down at his wrist panel that tracked the nearby train routes. "Storm's gonna hit in five point O-two arcs."

"We've got time," Flight Song stood on Motorthrust's other side and nodded her peach-coloured helm in determination. 

"We'll be safer underground!" One Tarnbot cried out as thunder boomed across The Barrens. "It's too windy to go outside!"

Motorthrust vented as he turned around to narrow his optics at her. "Being trapped down in the mines could take chords to locate and rescue you!"

Dark Wing stood back as he watched the Lieutenant flare his armour to life. His EMF read calm, however, telling those around him that he wasn't angry. Motorthrust was stepping in to exercise his authority over them now, though he seemed slightly tired by such events, he wasn't about to risk letting the life of one bot stand foolishly in the way of his plans. 

"Once that storm hits, the rust'll clog the cave entrances. The tunnels will collapse on you, the acid might flood them. You'll burn alive down there. Even if the acid doesn't get you, your signals will be lost beneath the surface, and your communits will be scrambled. You won't have any way of reaching the surface." He stepped forward to tower over the frightened miners. "Go on the trains, now! You'll be safer there; we've dealt with scrap like this before!"

Some of the younger and inexperienced Tarnbots shrunk back from his gaze and cowered in fear. However, sensing the hesitance, the more experienced and older bots stepped forward and gently urged the younger ones to do as the Seeker Overlord said. The herd was beginning to pile onto the train once more as the older bots secured the cargo. 

Motorthrust turned to address Flight Song and Dark Wing. "Board that train, take your spawns with you." 

Dark Wing scoffed but gave a quick nod as he raced toward the mouth of the energon mine and bellowed. "Sling! C'mon, hurry up! We're leaving!"

A moment later, an orange face plate popped out and hurriedly scrambled to join the older Seeker's side as they boarded one carriage towards the front of the train. Some of the older miners hung back with Motorthrust as they urged the younger ones onto the train first. 

Flight Song hurried over to the mouth of the copper mine and yelled. "Freeflight! Come on, sweetspark, we have to go!" 

A moment later, a yellow and white helm popped up and hurried forward alongside a group of dirty miners. "I'm coming!" 

He raced forward to meet his mentor at the open carriage of the train, further towards the back near the cargo platforms. 

The Seekers on the train halted just inside the doors and turned to watch them close while Motorthrust stood at the entrance watching them go. Once that train had sped off, the Lieutenant turned to face his remaining miners. 

"Everybot out?"

One shook their helm. "About fifty-seven miners down deep in sublevel fifty-six, Sir. They're reporting to fall back further down and ride this one out."

Motorthrust growled to himself as he glanced away. He stood in a tense silence as he thought. This wasn't the worst situation he'd been in, but it was by far his best moment. "Alright. The next train will be here in five arcs. Grab as much cargo on the upper levels as you can, bring everybot out, but tell the bots down in the sublevels to reinforce the walls. I'll come down there and sit with them."

"Roger that, Lieutenant." The Tarnished bowed his helm before he scurried back to relay the instructions. 

Motorthrust turned to squint at the distant Cloud Tower that was being shrouded in the clouds. "Cloud Breeze," he waited, unsure if the silence he was met with on the other end meant that the other was listening or not. "If you can hear me, I'm falling back to bunker down in the mines. We'll be at sublevel seventy-three of the Energon-7 and Copper-2 mines at the connection tunnel two. Entrances may be clogged by the time emergency crews arrive, but we'll be fine."

He went to disconnect until he heard his leader's voice softly murmur on the other end. "Stay safe." 

Nova Point Energon Mine, Tarn - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Twenty arcs after departing from Vos.

Cloud Stream put his thrusters to the maximum as hail pelted down on his canopy and threatened to crack his cockpit open. The hail was coming from Iacon, without a doubt in his processor. But hail meant that there was no need to worry about the acid. He'd much rather have hail than acid. Unlike his older brother, Cloud Stream's frame was more suited for speed rather than weather surveillance or combat. His armour was thinner to allow him to move more freely and flexibly in the air. But he didn't quite appreciate being his mentor's messenger bot. 

The journey back across The Barrens would've been tiring if Cloud Stream wasn't as experienced with the terrain. The golden city of Vos disappeared beneath him, then the mountains, then the eartly, flat Barrens until finally he reached Northern Tarn. He had multiple warnings spiked on his HUD of the possible dangers of anti-aircraft artillery being identified in the area. He vented as he barrel rolled and flew upside down to conduct a loop around the largest energon mine in Northern Tarn. The citizens outside paused as they looked up in awe at the dancing Angel before he flipped multiple times rapidly and spiralled toward the earth. What appeared to be an out-of-control jet was actually the correct maneuver to avoid being locked on by a turrent. The more Cloud Stream spun in the air and spiralled downward, the more confused his assailants would be. Some probably thought that he'd already been shot down and were just waiting to see where he landed. 

But to the trained optic of Seeker Dances, a certain scholar frowned as she watched the white jet twirl in a spiral before he shot overhelm and transformed to land gracefully behind her. Once he landed, multiple blasters were trained on him, but Cloud Stream stood still and as unbothered as ever, despite the situation he'd landed himself in. 

Tarn's previous contact with Vos had been when Senator Shockwave was accused of mentee neglect and dragged away for an unlawful empurata. The Tarnished had admired the bright, young scientist deeply. When they heard of Senator and King of Vos, Cloud Breeze, accuse their Senator of such things and get away with it, of course, they'd be upset. 

Cloud Stream remained still but slowly lowered his wings down and flat in a submissive position with his servos in the air to show them that he didn't mean any harm. 

A few breems later, their replacement Senator, Termagax was summoned from the crowd and boldly approached the surrounded Seeker. She squinted at him first, judging his frame size and wing shape. She didn't recognise him too well, but he knew that she thought he resembled a certain somebot. 

"Designation and directive?" She asked. 

"Cloud Stream." The white Seeker began in an equally sharp tone. "Fourth spawn of Cloud Breeze. My superiors summoned me here to inform you of the coming storm. Humidity will exceed limits of seventy-two percent in acid temperatures, and wind speeds are clocked at five hundred and eight nano-kliks per groon."

He tried translating as best as he could the information Nova Storm had given him before he'd left. 

The amber-faced femme squinted at him. "Cloud Breeze's spawn?" She hissed. 

Cloud Stream nodded. "Ki." He clicked, though it was soft as to not harm their audials. 

Termagax tilted her helm slightly, raising a brow ridge as she noticed that and lifted one servo to address the guardsmen holding their weapons. She ordered them in Tarnish to lower and back off, but not fully stand down before she turned yet again to face him. "You're here to inform us of that storm?"

Cloud Stream nodded without turning around to look at it. 

Termagax frowned as she set her sights on the storm. "A seventy-two percent chance of acidic rain?"

Cloud Stream nodded again. "I endured heated hail on my way over here that suggests only Central and Southern Tarn will receive acid. The hail will melt on its way down. It's heading out to the Sea of Rust." 

"Directly over the Darkhills," Termagax muttered as she looked down. Cloud Stream narrowed his optics at her suddenly withdrawn EMF, telling him that she was worried about something. 

"Fliers from the Storm Patrol are working to disperse it as we speak." He tried to reassure her, but his faceplates remained stern. "I suggest taking immediate action to lock down and evacuate the mines."

The newly elected Tarn Senator's armour flared as she took a step back and sized him up. She seemed slightly offended by his words, but couldn't deny that it was the appropriate course of action to take. She tilted her helm up to catch one glimpse of the sky. "You could be deceiving us."

The white Seeker scoffed. "Cloud Breeze would run the risk of sending one of his spawn over here, alone, to confront you? We aren't planning an immediate attack on Tarn, Senator. No, he sent me to inform and alert you to take any further course of action that will result in the safety of your people."

"Like we'd need your help!" One bystander hollered, but they were quickly silenced.

Cloud Stream's icy blue optics bore into Termagax's fiery amber ones before she vented and gave a nod, muttering an order in Tarnish as she turned to address her Overlords. They swiftly moved out to secure and lock down the mines just as suggested. 

She turned to face Cloud Stream. "I didn't expect Senator Cloud Breeze to send one of his own spawn into such dangerous waters," she huffed before she sharply in-vented. "But my sole mentee is currently mining over in your Darkhills, so... I guess it's only fair for a mentor to put their spawn at risk if it means a gesture of goodwill." She shrugged.

Cloud Stream's optics widened as he tried to search the database for any known mining bots that had any current affiliations with the Tarn Senator. But his HUD warped with the command 'R I K U C H T', and he grunted in pain as it glitched across his systems. He tried to fight the command, but it sunk its invisible denta into his thrusters and ripped the controls out of his reach. 

Termagax seemed hesitant as she noticed his pain and cautiously stepped forward to examine him. "What's wrong, Seeker?"

Cloud Stream huffed as he pulled out of his systems and numbed the fried neurons. "Grounded." He spat. "Looks like I'm stuck here in Tarn until the storm passes." 

Termagax glanced up as a boom of thunder rolled off the clouds above their helms. "Looks like you are."

Storm Patrol Hangar Six, 60th Floor of the Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Two joors later .

Nova Storm was the first to wake from stasis once her pod was done recharging her systems. She frowned as she glanced at her wings, noticing how shiny they were. 

"Time to head back out," Acid Storm grumbled as they stepped out of their pod and made a beeline for Skyfire's drone. 

Ion Storm stumbled out of his pod with a groan before he straightened up and flicked his wings into place. Nova Storm headed for the platform and checked that her Trine-mates were on either side of her and ready. Acid Storm had attached a much more durable tether to the drone, and once they clipped it onto their frame, they nodded. All three then transformed and shot straight up as Whirl, Blackstorm, Darkstorm, and Storm Wing returned to the hangar below. A moment later, Uplink flew out to head back over the Upper Eclipse dam to report on the situation there. 

As Storm Wing landed on the platform, he instructed Blackstorm, Darkstorm and Whirl to rest inside the temporary stasis pods. They went without question, all of their frames slick with acid rain. The Lieutenant then turned to watch the Rainmakers spiral upward into the dark skies, continuing to batter the city. 

Uplink then reported to him once he reached the dam. "Water level's risen by thirty-two percent. Still seven percent below the evacuation line. Dam's been closed since midday, no signs of sulfuric or acidic chemicals found in the water." 

Strom Wing tapped his communit. "Report to Airwave; he'll update Cloud Breeze." He paused as he took into consideration. "I'm updating Nova's unit." 

"Copy that. Shall I head back inside?" Uplink asked. 

Storm Wing frowned. "If the wind gets too much for you. We seem to be dealing with the updraughts now; most of the lightning was moved further South." 

"Copy that." Uplink ended the transmission. 

Exhaustion loomed at the edges of Storm Wing's processor, but he remained on the platform. He'd spent the last two joors diverting the electricty in the air to strike The Barrens and away from any evacuating Seekers. The thunder was still ringing in his audials, but he wouldn't have any other directive. He loved storms more than anything, but even he couldn't deny his old age now. It was starting to catch up to him, and as much as he feared that, he wasn't going to admit it to himself anytime soon. And especially not to anybot else, that was for sure. 

He remained on the platform, wings spiked high in the air so he could be at the ready if Nova Storm's team needed him. The Optic of the storm was beginning to approach over their Towers now. Sooner or later, that would cause trouble for one of the units he had out. Most Seekers were grounded across Vos, The Barrens and Tarn and had sought shelter joors ago. The Storm Patrol had full range across the skies. 

Down at the Lower Eclipse suburbs, Nova Storm's patrol unit danced and twirled in the air. Acid Storm had flown high into the air to retake the measurements while Ion and Nova Storm twisted and twirled in the air below them. 

Nova Storm's frame cackled with hot, amber electricity. A loud rumble of thunder boomed in their audials before a lightning bolt struck the purple narrow. Her systems faltered for a moment to absorb the energy before she housed it in her frame and quickly spiralled upward to disperse the energy safely far from the suburbs. 

Ion Storm caught the next bolt as his frame crackled with blue electricity. He too soared after his sister, spiralled and released the energy safely away. They were acting as lightning rods while the dome shields were activated to catch most of the acidic rain so it didn't eat through the buildings. 

Acid Storm's green frame sparked with tiny red bolts as thunder boomed, and a lightning bolt soon struck them. They huffed and shot up above the drone to disperse the energy before they hovered back down to grab it. Nova Storm twirled as she transformed and hovered beside them. 

"Wind's picking up." Nova Storm squinted at them as she raised her voice. "I can feel the rust between my joints a lot quicker than last time!"

Acid Storm nodded before Ion Storm joined them. "Let's go up!" The blue jet shouted. "We can hover in the Optic!"

Acid Storm glanced back down at the domes that were holding fast and strong against the storm. "We might not have enough energon!"

The trio hovered in the air, exchanging cautious glances. Their reserves would run out quickly the higher they went and the longer they remained there. But the Optic was the only safe spot in the entire storm for them to recover. They'd taken a few heavy hits, but the wind was threatening to pull them out either across The Barrens or the Sea of Rust. 

"We'll go up together." Nova Storm looked up as she held Acid Storm's servo in hers before she offered her other one to their brother. "If we go slowly and stay together, we'll be a larger mass."

Ion Storm nodded as he tilted his cambers to flare outward and adjusted more energy to be diverted down to his thrusters. "Sounds good."

Acid Storm glanced down at the drone. "Hopefully, it won't be too long."

"We'll use less energy if we go slowly." Nova Storm reassured them before they hovered together higher in the sky until they broke through the downdraught and broke through the Optic. 

The winds were almost nonexistent up here. The clouds expanded to swirl around them in a wide radius. The colour of those same clouds seemed a shade or two lighter as well now that the sun could somewhat be seen above their helms. They glanced down to see the rainfall beneath their peds that swirled in the vortex where they'd just come from. The thunder was still evident, but it sounded distant and muffled, and the thin streaks of lightning danced in the grey clouds swarming around them. 

"We'll be safe up here." Nova Storm vented as she hovered in between her Trine-mates. "We'll be ok."

"I hope so." Ion Storm nodded. 

The Darkhills Train Line, The Darkhills - Vos, Above Ground.
Five breems since departure.

The trains were travelling smoothly since leaving the mines. D-16 found that strange as he frowned, watching as the mountains whipped past the windows. He wondered who built these tracks and how the autonomous trains could even navigate them without a driver. He turned to glance up at a pretty peach and white-coloured Seeker femme as she strode past. D-16 liked her because her voicebox was soft when she checked in on the miners, and it reminded him of Codexa. He'd only recently started working in Vos for extra Shanix and experience on the side. He'd even made a few friends here, but he'd travelled alone today because one of his more older buddies had wanted to show him some of the cool ore that they found on sublevel 32, just past Entrance 5. D-16 had been called for an evacuation, though and knowing how Termagax would respond if he didn't take his mortality seriously, he had been among the first to board a train. The last thing he needed was Termagax crashing out on him, and the last thing he wanted was for her to grieve over him if something did happen. 

D-16's grip on the overhelm holding strap tightened as he noticed the train beginning to slow down. He frowned as he craned his neck to peer outside. We're back already?

His optics widened in worry as he noticed that they were still in the Hills, just about to enter across the south of The Barrens. Most who were in the same age group as D-16 began to panic, confused as to what was going on. He turned and gently reached out to grab the armstrut of a small, young, orange-faced Seeker as they passed by him. 

"Hey," the Tarnished began softly in hopes of not alarming him. "Do you know-"

"Get your dirty servos off of me, Miner!" The white and orange Seeker yelled at him before ripping himself away from D-16 and storming off down the corridor. 

D-16 sat baffled in his booth after the ordeal and was directed by an older Tarnished to open his stasis pod. 

Meanwhile, Flight Song had witnessed the exchange and swiftly stepped in front of the young Seeker at the end of the corridor with an angry scowl upon her pretty features. "Sling." She began sternly. "I don't know where you learnt to talk like that, but you do NOT treat others that way."

"He touched me!" Sling's frame flared up in protest. "He's filthy and covered in dirt!"

"All of us are covered in dirt!" Flight Song yelled back at him. She felt embarrassed as she noticed a few of the miners watching her with intrigue now as they clicked and screeched in Vosian. She huffed and looked back down at the apprentice. "Look, it's been a long cycle, everybot's stressed out. Why don't you go rest in my stasis pod, alright? We will talk with Aero Raid and Jumpbarrel when we get back to Vos."

Sling huffed but gave a nod before he walked off to go secure himself in her plush, soft stasis pod. She turned and humbly bowed her helm to the nearest Tarnbot, clicking in soft tones to indicate her apologetic attitude. The Tarnished miners aboard the carriage eased back but didn't hold any malice against her. 

"He's go' an intake o' 'im, hasn't he?" One grinned as she passed by. He was a rather bulky, blue mech with an icy-blue visor. 

Flight Song paused to bow her helm at him. "Indeed. I'll have to speak with Breeze Tail about Dark Wing's... Influence." 

She carried on down the corridor before she reached the mining bot that Sling had yelled at and gently helped secure him in his stasis pod. He was no older than Sling himself, which made Flight Song's spark ache. "I'm really sorry about him." Her optics flickered down to his chestplate. "D-16."

"My friends call me 'D. '" He mumbled, though he seemed annoyed and snatched the straps out of her servos. "I can do it myself." 

Flight Song nodded before she turned to help secure the other younger bots. The lights on the track soon went out as the systems whirred down. D-16 panicked as his helm shot up, and he looked around with wide, uncertain, amber optics.

Flight Song tapped her communit, listened carefully before she turned to survey the cart she was stationed in. "We're in lockdown." She called out to the older bots seated at the front. "Don't know how long, but after some recharge, we should wake up back in the Lower Eclipse."

"Lockdown?" D-16's soft voice was hesitant as he looked up at her.

The peach-coloured Seeker nodded down at him, and he noticed the chipped scars along her camber. "The trains slow to a stop when they sense dangerously high wind speeds. Once they're stopped, they clamp down onto the tracks that they run on and cut all power above the fuel lines. The stasis pods are set for the estimated time of lockdown. You'll be alright if you stay inside. Don't feel scared; your ancestors helped build this train, and it has stood the test of time. One of the strongest and durable shelters in... Perhaps all of Cybertron," she shrugged as she looked askance. "The train's not coming off the tracks. The lockdown is to ensure that the train stays in one place so everybot on board is safe."

"Look outside!" An amber coloured and white Seeker apprentice ran to point out at the window. "Look, Flight Song, it's massive!"

She turned and perked up her wings as she squinted outside. Her optics widened as she stared directly into an oncoming massive tornado. "Dear Primus..." 

Everybot who was still online craned their helms to peer outside, and a few cries of fear sounded as they saw the massive tornado barreling towards them. Flight Song swiftly turned and grabbed her apprentice by the shoulderstruts. 

"Get into your pod, now!" Freeflight nodded as he flinched back at the authority in her voice before he took off running down the corridor to the front of the carriage where the Seeker pods were located. Flight Song gave the enormous tornado one last glance before she turned and hurried over to secure D-16 inside his pod. 

"You'll be safe in here." She muttered before she pulled back and pressed a button. 

"Wait-!" D-16 tried to ask if she was going to be ok, but stasis quickly took him as his systems whirred, and he powered down. 

Flight Song then raced toward the front of the carriage, meeting up with Guyhawk once his carriage had been secured. 

"Have you heard from Motorthrust?" He panted.

Flight Song shook her helm. "NO! Have you fraggin' looked outside!?" She gestured, and he brushed past her to take a glance. "We're about to get smashed!"

"We'll be fine!" He called back to reassure her. "We're not out over The Barrens yet, it'll blow over us."

Panic gripped Flight Song's spark tightly as rust and stones battered loudly against the sides of the train. Guyhawk quickly walked over and grabbed her by her servo-guards to drag her into his stasis pod. A fear-stricken look was drawn onto her white face plates before he secured her in and pressed the button. Once she was in stasis, he tapped his comms to see if Dark Wing had made it to his pod. When only static greeted him, confirming that the other was already in stasis, he ran down the rest of the train to double-check that everybot was secured tightly into their pods. 

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Cafeteria, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Two arcs since the tornado hit. 

The power had come back on inside the Sky Tower, and Star was making every arc of it. He was currently seated on the floor, playing an old board game with Silver, Skyfire and Air Raid, who'd come to join them after being left by Aero Raid and Jumpbarrel who had gone to get cleaned up. The adult Seekers seemed more concerned about Air Raid's stranded Trine-mates down in the mines than him being safe in the Tower's cafeteria. Behind them, Wind was watching a film while Metalhawk was doing his best to keep the newcomer apprentices entertained by telling them stories and making them drinks. Things seemed peaceful despite the dark chaos swirling outside. And Star was completely oblivious to it all. 

"Hey," that voice made him perk up, however and widen his optics to search for the owner as she hesitantly walked in. "Has anybot seen Cloud Stream?"

It was Slip. She was holding her servos together, wings flat along her backstrut and optics wide with uncertainty. Wind jumped to her peds before Star did and turned to squint at her.

"No," she huffed. "Why? You lookin' for round two?"

Slip glared at her for a moment as her wings shot back up in defense. "No! I'm just... I'm worried, ok? He hasn't come back, and I can't find him anywhere in the Cloud Tower."

"I'm guessin' you walked your crazy aft here too?" Metalhawk chuckled as he poured Skydive a drink. 

Slip frowned at him. "How else was I supposed to get here? They disabled our thrusters!"

"You could've been sucked up and blown fifty nano-kliks away!" Skyfire scowled at her from where he was lying on the floor. "We were ordered to remain inside, that means indoors, until the storm is over."

Slip huffed, rolled her optics and turned to leave. Star quickly made it to her side and frowned at her tear-stained face plates. "You ok?" 

"No," she hiccuped and shook her helm, hugging herself. "N-not really."

Star reached forward to tenderly put a servo on her shoulderstrut when Wind suddenly shrieked, and everybot turned to watch her point out the window. 

"Look!" She said. "It's Nova's patrol! They're up there!"

Before Skyfire could remind everybot that standing near the window was a bad idea, more than half the Seeker apprentices were already gathered by the window with their helms tilted upward. Sure enough, the three Storm Patrol Seekers appeared to be standing in the air as stilly as possible as if the angry storm swirling around them wasn't even there. They all had blank looks upon their face plates, though, and acid streaming down their chassis.

"What are they doing?" Silver asked. 

"They're... Stuck." Metalhawk frowned as he, too, ventured near the window to take a look. 

Upon hearing that, Skyfire pushed himself up and hurried over to take a peek. "They're in the Optic," he explained. "They're alright. 'Til they run out of energon..."

"Then what happens?" Air Raid swivelled his helm around to stare up at the older apprentices. 

Metalhawk already knew the answer as his frown darkened, but Skyfire answered anyway. "Then they'll run out of power and either fall or be swept up." 

"They'll deactivate?" Slip's voice sounded fragile. 

Skyfire turned to look at the group solemnly.  

Vos City - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Four joors later.

After four long and gruelling joors, the storm finally blew over and picked up momentum as it clashed with the Sea of Rust. As soon as the afternoon skies could be seen, Storm Wing flew up to escort Nova Storm's team down onto the platforms for much needed recharge. Uplink and Whirl worked together to maintain traffic flow around the Upper Eclipse dam. 

From inside the Dispatch Room, Cloud Breeze lifted the Rikucht protocol and sent out an alert for the Seekers to reinstall and take to the skies for their duties once more. He also called Cloud Stream back from Tarn. 

Meanwhile, in Tarn, Cloud Stream had bunkered down with Termagax in her underground laboratory. The two hadn't been too friendly, though Cloud Stream was rather surprised by her all-around behaviour when it came to being a mentor. 

"You have any apprentices of your own, yet?" She asked him as she sipped on a cube of soft, Highgrade. 

Cloud Stream was hesitant to answer her as he listened to the hail bearing down over Tarn just outside. "Yes," he quipped before he slowly turned his optics to look at her. "I have three femmes. Slip is the one I'm currently training."

"Is she your favourite?" Termagax asked as she received a notification on her HUD informing her that the Tarnished miners had reached the Nova Point train station. Among them were D-16, alive and well.

"No," Cloud Stream scoffed as he folded his armstruts across his chassis and received the protocol lift informing him that it was time to come home. "I don't have favourites."

"But do you love them?" Termagax raised a brow ridge at him as she took another sip. 

The white Seeker stared at her idly for a moment before he huffed and glanced away again. "We got into a fight today, just before I was sent here. I know she means well and how badly she wants to prove herself..." 

He trailed off as he listened to the afterrain outside. 

"Sounds a lot like my ward." Termagax chuckled softly as she shook her helm. "Always rushing in without a plan."

Cloud Stream smirked. "Yeah, well, it'll catch up to them one cycle." 

Termagax nodded in quiet agreement before she finished off her cube and escorted him outside. They stood overlooking one of the cliffs. 

"You're a lot nicer than your Mentor." The amber-faced femme began as they watched the storm move off toward the South. "Cloud Breeze. He's an aft."

Cloud Stream nodded, and in a neutral tone, he said. "I know. I'm told that I often get my mannerisms from Jet Wing." 

Termagax looked down out of respect, avoiding her optics. Though she had never met or known the deceased warrior, she had heard plenty about him in regard to Cloud Breeze's loss. Jet Wing had been his spark-mate, back before a thing such as Conjunx Endura had ever existed globally across Cybertron. Back before even Shockwave and Termagax's time. A vicious civil war had torn Vos in two; among the casualties was Jet Wing - who had fought on the side of freedom for the slaves that would one day become the Tarnished. 

"May his spark find eternal peace." It was all she could say. For not knowing who he truly was but also appreciating his ultimate sacrifice. 

Cloud Stream turned to glance at her again, and she realised that his blue optics must've been the same colour as Jet Wing's. "Goodbye, Senator. And thank you for housing me."

Termagax shrugged. "Cloud Breeze would've done the same."

That made Cloud Stream smirk before he stepped away, transformed and shot off into the cloudy skies across The Barrens. 

Down at the train station, D-16 hesitantly stepped off the platform as he surveyed the area. They were just South of the Vosian city. The train had been utterly smashed and was streaked with lines of rust and hammered with stones from the mountains. Still, it stood and functioned in one piece despite how filthy it looked. He winced as jets came screaming overhelm, and he watched as much smaller Seekers transformed and happily squealed as they embraced the peach and white-coloured Seeker. They kicked their peds happily as she embraced them back. Another red-coloured Seeker was embraced by a golden and blue warrior before they were joined by a large, Predacon-like brown Seeker with black spots. The red Seeker didn't seem too fond of the younger one embracing him, but he endured as the family reunited. 

Finally, D-16 turned and was beckoned forth by a magenta-coloured femme as she transformed and led his group across the streets to make a pitstop at the Lower Eclipse suburbs for the evening before they would head back to Tarn in the morning and assess the damage done there. 

Back at the Sky Tower, Cloud Stream landed on the platform of the cafeteria alongside his brother, Storm Wing and eased his frame back as he saw his spawn rush to tightly embrace him, all three of them. He vented and bowed his helm to kiss the tops of their helms gently. Storm Wing walked forward and glanced around, despite the exhaustion, as he grinned once he caught sight of Skyfire. 

"How'd I know you'd either be here or at the labs?" 

The shuttle chuckled nervously in embarrassment before they tightly embraced. Skyfire pulled away to examine his older brother, noticing the heat radiating off of him. "Uh, are you... Ok?"

Storm Wing nodded and petted his shoulderstrut. "Yep! I'm all cool, bud. Listen, your Stormcaller thing came in real handy today, so I was wondering if you'd picked out a career path yet?"

"Oh." Skyfire quickly looked away and fiddled with his servos. "Uh... N-no, not really. Er, why?"

"Oh, you could join the Storm Patrol?" Storm Wing beamed. 

"I wanna join the Storm Patrol!" Wind popped out of her family's embrace to trot forward and happily smiled up at Storm Wing. "It looks like so much fun up there!"

"It is!" Storm Wing winked at her. "But where's Metalhawk? He was interested a while ago, and he's showing the best promise by far."

"He's down at the station with Hawk Wing." Air Raid huffed as he sat on the floor, having lost his fifth game to Star in a row. "Checking in on Guyhawk." 

Star cautiously stepped forward, sniffed Storm Wing and frowned. "Do you need... To be strong to join?" 

"Well," Storm Wing tilted his helm in thought. "You gotta be fast, that's for sure."

"I'm really fast!" Wind chuckled with an eager nod as she clapped her servos. "And really strong! I wanna go out flying in a storm just like this when I'm bigger!"

Slip pouted from where she remained pressed into her Mentor's side. "I never want to see another storm ever again, quite frankly."

"Don't worry," Skyfire smirked at her. "Storms like that usually only happen once every several stellar-cycles or so. The more common ones are usually harmless."

"Prima, it's gonna be a mess with the clean-up crew." Storm Wing huffed as he looked down. 

Cloud Stream stretched and flexed his wings out behind him. "Better get started on it, then. Don't want to keep Cloud Breeze waiting." He hissed.  

Chapter Text

Skyfire and Star's Chambers, 43rd floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground. 
A solar-cycle after the storm. 

Star's optics switched online as he heard the faint but noticeable tapping of pedsteps outside in the hallway. Slowly, he groaned in protest as he leaned out of his pod and glanced around their shared quarters. In the empty darkness of the early Befaron light, he noticed the absence of Skyfire. He turned and narrowed his optics at every corner of the room before he flinched as the door to their room slid open. Out in the hallway, dawn light was bathing the walls in a bright gold. A large, sharp silhouette stood at the entrance before turning their helm to face them. Stark, yellow optics stood out easily from the darkness, and Star felt his frame easing back as he recognised Cloud Breeze.

"Oh, lovely." The King chirped rather cheerily. "You're online. I thought that I'd have to come wake you."

Star huffed as the other entered the room, the door sliding shut noiselessly behind him as the room's lights slowly came to life. Star squinted at them before his own optics adjusted to the light, and he frowned as he watched the large Seeker lean against the wall. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Star pouted before he squeezed out of his pod and gave his wings a stretch. 

"Well, we can't have that." There was a hint of amusement to his tone that made the younger pause slightly to give him a funny look. "I suppose that I should give you some rest."

Cloud Breeze continued as he carefully pushed himself off the wall and strutted over to the roomview window overlooking the city as the shutters effortlessly slid away to reveal the sunlight. 

"But I'm afraid that my servos are going to be quite full today, and I might need some assistance." The King muttered as he gazed out over the streets toward the Upper Eclipse dam. 

Star was immediately upon his peds and eagerly by the King's side as he too gazed out over the city slowly coming to life with the golden light painting it in an ethereal glow. A soft field of pastel, pink-coloured clouds lay in the distance, smothering The Barrens and hiding away with it, Tarn. Only the mountains speckled in their organic green and lined with their angry, rust-coloured dirt remained outside of the golden city, whose Towers pointed like spears into the Heavens.  

Star memorised every dark crack of the streets and every golden gleam of the Towers before he turned to frown up at the King. "The city looks fine."

"From up here, maybe." Cloud Breeze agreed bluntly but swiftly continued. "But a Seeker with good optics can see as clear as day the extent of the storm's damage from here."

He then turned and nodded toward a small dip in the mountains, some strange, circular valley that sloped downward to the North-East, leading towards Nova Point or The Flats. 

"That's the Eclipse," he began to explain. "In Ancient Times, that used to be nothing more than a brilliant lake. It was severed by my kin, cutting the Upper Eclipse into a pristine dam, while the Lower Eclipse became the residential area for those that could not fly."

Star eagerly peered around the larger jet as he stepped back, a twinkle in his yellow optics as he watched the little miscoloured jet stare in awe at the distant location. 

"That dam is no doubt overflowing with water, whether corrosive or not. Skyfire has already left with his expedition team to go investigate. We'll leave that task to them." Cloud Breeze lifted his helm as he addressed their other issues. "Next will be the Celestial Spires, where my sister, Cyber Song, resides. I have no doubts that she's doing just fine, so we can leave that area 'til last. It's on the very cusp of the Sea of Rust, beyond the Darkhills and into the Treacherous Mountains. That's no place for a young bot such as yourself to be flying alone."

They sounded scary. To Star, anything South of the mines sounded terrifying.   

"My most pressing concern will be the 'hills themselves," Cloud Breeze gazed past the Cloud Tower to the direct South of Vos, where the colony hills were said to lie. "Those hills are rigid mountains filled with an abundance of minerals. They've been here longer than the Thirteen Primes. We use them for shelter and mining operations. One of my Lieutenants is trapped down there with a quarter of his workforce. I don't fear for any casualties, but I do fear for time and production. Motorthrust is ageing far quicker than I would've liked to see him, he's an old friend of mine, and the quicker we can establish any sort of potential aid routes, the better."

"Wait," Star fearfully glanced up at him. "We're going into the mines?"

"Not yet," Cloud Breeze shook his helm. "Not until you can fly there. Skyfire's informed me of your potential, so today I shall be seeing it through for myself. Basic flight training should take no longer than three joors at the most. For you, it's been quite a few solar-cycles."

Star vented as Cloud Breeze looked down at him. 

"But rest assured," the King spoke softly. "No matter how long the learning process takes, if there is still progress being made, then it's progress nonetheless."

When Star didn't lift his helm or answer him, Cloud Breeze leaned down slightly to look him in the optic. 

"Remember when I stated that you would get to meet every bot in my city?"

Star's optics blazed adamantly in terror. 

Cloud Breeze leaned away with a chuckle. "Go clean yourself up, and we'll be heading off soon. There are quite a few folk I would like you to meet."

The Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
A few arcs later.

In his altmode, Star hovered directly below Cloud Breeze as the stale winds drifted by them. The two were flying from the top of the Sky Tower to the neighbouring Cloud Tower. As they transformed upon the platform, Star grunted as his knees bent, but quickly flicked his wings up for support and glanced over at his stand-in Mentor. 

"Very good!" Cloud Breeze praised as he hovered in the air for a moment before he too transformed. Star watched in awe as the pristine, white armour splintered away. Piece by piece, the sharpened metal split from its smoothness to create jagged limbs that pierced and sliced through the air. Legs were the first to form before a torso and arms sprang forth, and finally, an angelic, white helm rotated so the optics flashing narrowed in on his face plates.

"These Towers are a symbolic gesture of our people," Cloud Breeze told him once they found themselves standing on the edge of the platform. He pointed a round digit to the Sky Tower, from where they had departed. 

"The Sky Tower was built to justify the rule of Sky Shadow, Vos' Second Queen and Ruler before me. Each and every past or present Ruler of Vos has a Tower erected in their name. In their death, they leave behind a legacy. Sky Shadow wanted her Tower to nurture and educate the future generations of Vos, or to preserve the history of our kin."

Star nodded as Cloud Breeze turned to point at a silvery, sharp Tower that stood a little further away from them. Not too far, but far enough that skipping to it was more like a leap of faith and hoping for the best. 

"That is the Star Tower, built in Shooting Star and Falling Star's honour. While never King or Queen themselves, they ruled temporarily in the face of war. As a result, their Tower has become the ultimate training ground for warriors. Ninety-three stories are purely dedicated to the craft of swordsbotship. We were enlightened enough to get the odd foreign warrior every now and then to study such history."

Star's wings rose slowly as he peered out over the Star Tower, wondering what kind of practice battles were taking place in there. 

"The Cloud Tower is, of course, named after yours truly." Cloud Breeze turned to smile at him. "The Towers, when the ruler is alive, should house them and their kin. Though most of the time I tend to house important meetings and mandatory services, such as the communications hub and central expedition planning. And when I eventually pass on, I want all of my kin to have a place they call home in this Tower."

"Nothing else?" Star tilted his helm in question.

Cloud Breeze shrugged. "I haven't really thought of it yet. Outside of political preparations, perhaps when I'm gone, maybe they'll restore some education regarding politics and science."

"You hope so?" Star pondered. "What happened to them?"

Cloud Breeze halted with his backstrut facing Star as he softly vented. "A long time ago, this place was not very fond of the work of science and free political education. Once somebot wanted to rule only through what he thought was right. Vos was so close to achieving the Iaconian standard of advanced technology, so close to the point that we were perceived as a threat by our allies. We have not dared to venture down that path again."

Star remained silent as he tried to fill in the gaps. It seemed that no matter what path Vos took, war was inevitable for their people. 

When the tricoloured jet raised his helm next, he frowned as he saw a number of small and odd buildings clustering around the base of some Towers. "What are they?"

"Those, at the edge of the Lower Eclipse, coming to the base of the Star Tower, are the Seeker-Shinai." Cloud Breeze straightened up. 

The Seeker-Shinai looked to be inhabiting a canyon of sorts. Though it was mostly built on the ground, it was protruding from the earth and stabbing into the low sky. A number of flying Vosians could be seen easily coming and going, like a beehive. 

"That's where most Vosians choose to stay, those that can fly but have no desire for any city-based lifestyle. They live on the outskirts, being closer to nature and the ground. It's often quite busy over there, but we could fly by and take a look if you'd like"

Star frowned as he noticed just how fast the jets were going, even if they appeared to be small specks from all the way here. "Maybe later."

Cloud Breeze frowned at the young jet's hesitance but allowed it to subside for now. "Very well. Perhaps after we spare a drop in at the Communications Tower, we could visit the Celestial Spires?"

"Isn't that over the Treacherous Mountains, though?" Star shied away from him. 

"Yes," Cloud Breeze tilted his helm to the side. "But that is why I specifically am going to teach you how to fly. The winds would've ushered that storm far away from our lands, and the Sea would've swallowed them all whole. There's nothing to fear in such calm weather and on a pleasant day such as this."

Star timidly glanced up at him before squinting across the city to the Towers that guarded the streets. It did seem like good weather for flying, and with the King of all Seekers at his expense, this was perhaps the best way for him to learn. 

"Can we just fly around the city?" Star asked in a vulnerable voice. "Where there's not many bots?"

Cloud Breeze nodded his helm. "If you can do a few laps on your own, I'll be happy."

Chapter Text

105th Floor of the Sky Tower, Vos - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Two solar-cycles after the storm. 

"Why are we here?" Star yawned as he carefully rubbed his optics. He was stumbling half blindly behind Skyfire and Cloud Stream. Both the brothers had woken Star up earlier from recharge than he would've liked, but upon hearing the groans of the Vixens outside their shared quarters, Star had hurriedly cleaned himself and eagerly left to go meet up with them. They had been grumpy from being disturbed at such an early hour, but seeing that Star had also suffered the same treatment, the four of them had plotted quietly together in the elevator that if this wasn't worth their time, then they were going to riot the rest of the day away until they passed out. 

Cloud Stream had heard the entire conversation and seemed stoic, though underneath, he'd been amused by their deviance. Skyfire, on the other servo, was panicking as he tried to keep them calm and not give too much away about what was happening. The brothers stepped out onto the upper platform of the Sky Tower's peak, glancing around to make sure the platform was secure before Cloud Stream turned and gestured with his helm for the younger Seekers to follow. Skyfire lingered at the back, helm bowed and optics tired. 

Once they reached a small stage, Star perked up as he heard a familiar click, his optics zeroed in on Silver's wingtips, and he beamed as the other Cyberjet hurried over. "Silver!"

"Star!" The white jet with golden highlights beamed. "I'm so glad you're here," he huffed his confession, and Star noticed how stressed he looked. "I don't like being up so high."

Star nodded before he craned his neck to squint at Slip. "Slip!" He called out. "This is Silver. Come say hi!"

Slip trotted over with a blank look before she bowed her helm respectfully, and Silver mimicked her movements. "Hi."

"Hi," Silver echoed and looked conflicted as he glanced between the two of them. "You should come meet Comet and Dapol. It seems like everybot is up here."

Star frowned and disappeared into the crowd to follow the worried Cyberjet. He was a bit far away from his group when he stood in Mercystrike's shadow. He paused as he meekly looked up at the battle-scarred warrior and flattened his wings back in fear. The yellow-optic Lieutenant raised a brow ridge down at him, servos on her hipstruts. 

"Silver, who is this?" She nodded down at the miscoloured jet. 

Beside her, a tiger-brown jet's wings perked up. "That's Star of Thundering Sky, Skyfire's friend."

"Oh," Mercystrike's features softened slightly. "I see."

"Hey Star," a much larger version of Night smiled at him. "I'm Widowfog, Night's Mentor. Did you have a good recharge last night?"

Star stiffly nodded at her, unsure of how to hold himself around the older Seekers. 

"Comet!" Silver barked, and behind Mercystrike, a green and dark grey jet poked his helm around the warrior to squint at them. 

"What?"

Silver threw his helm in Star's direction. "This is Star! He's my friend."

"And?" Comet huffed behind his mouth guard. He soon yelped as Mercystrike kicked him, however and straightened up. "Uh, I mean... Hi." 

Star watched as Comet timidly walked around his Mentor to greet him with an outsplayed servo. Star smiled as he held his servo out to the other Cyberjet's in greeting. After the tense few moments of silence, Comet then allowed his servo to fall away as he turned and went back to conversing with a silver dappled jet. 

"That's Dapol." Silver nodded at them. "My other Trine-mate."

Star nodded before they went over to introduce him. 

Mercystrike tilted her helm upward as a strong gust of wind rattled the scaffolding above their helms. 

"It'll hold," she heard Dustburner beside her mutter nonchalantly.

The battle-scarred Seeker Lieutenant frowned. "It better. Half the city is up here."

Widowfog nodded. "Yes, but why?"

"Graduation day," Mercystrike huffed under her words as her optics scanned the crowd. "Cloud Breeze is taking Soundwave, Nightstalker and Blitzwing to Iacon for their test."

"And the reason why we're up here is because Blitzwing hasn't picked a new mentor." Dustburner hummed, his optics offline. "We're also here to see them off in support and teach the youngin's what to expect when it’s their turn.”

Once Dustburner had finished his sentence, the sound of distant engines screaming grew closer and caught their attention as they glanced upward. 

"Wind," Cloud Stream's voice called out. "Stay away from the edge, please!"

Mercystrike then swivelled her helm to glare at the Seekers on either side of her. "Cloud Stream sounds like he could use a wing." Her voice was low, which made Widowfog shrink away from her with a timid chuckle. Dustburner rolled his optics but soon disappeared into the crowd as well.

Finally, with a moment of peace to herself, the Lieutenant tilted her helm up toward the sky and listened to the strong engine of her brother's frame screech closer and closer until it faltered as he hovered in the air. She heard his armour shift as he transformed and felt him land on the stage behind her before a few more thuds followed. The Seekers turned to stare up at the newcomers on the platform, and a mighty cheer rang out amongst the Seniors as they greeted the newcomers. 

Star flinched back from the energy and hurried back over to Skyfire, who was standing to the side with Metalhawk and Fearswoop seated on the edge of a few crates. 

"Hey, Star!" Metalhawk beamed as he watched the younger come into view. "'Was wonderin' if Sky dragged you out here this morning."

"This is a waste of time," Fearswoop muttered as he watched the stage. "The real party starts when they get back, not at the crack of dawn."

Skyfire flatly hushed them before he turned and pulled Star into his frame to secure a gentle grip on him. He bowed his helm as best as he could, given the growing size difference, to whisper to the miscoloured jet. "This is important, so pay attention for later."

The red and grey jet nodded as he hugged one of Skyfire's armstruts and watched with curious optics as Cloud Breeze addressed the crowd before them. 

"Apprentices and Mentors of Vos' Seeker Apprentice Academy, today is a very special day!" Cloud Breeze was illuminated by the rising sun's light, outlining his frame in a bright, golden glow. His yellow optics were bright despite the darkness of his face plates as he stood and smiled. "Today we will be putting the true strength, loyalty and honour of these three young bots to the test. Today, once the sun has risen high over Cybertron, Soundwave, Nightstalker, and Blitzwing will travel alongside myself and their Mentors to the North; in Iacon. There, they will undergo their final test. A test as old as this city and one designed to prove their worth as true Seekers of Vos and true guardians of Cybertron. Wish them luck in their efforts, and please wish them strength in their journey."

A solemn murmur swept through the crowd, a prayer in a tongue Star wasn't quite yet familiar with. He tilted his helm up to watch Metalhawk and Fearswoop murmuring the prayer with bowed helms. 

"But there is one very important thing that I must address before we depart." Cloud Breeze continued once silence returned. "Today is also the anniversary of Turbo Blitz and Sonic Wing's passing. Today, one ano-cycle ago, we lost two amazing warriors of Vos, Sonic Wing of the Storm Patrol and his brother, Turbo Blitz, who was the original Mentor to Blitzwing."

As Cloud Breeze said his name, he gestured with one servo to the beige and purple Cyberjet, who stepped forward with a guarded expression.

"Both warriors served Vos brilliantly and to the bitter end. They leave by imparting the memory of their achievements and, most importantly, their legacy to Blitzwing, who today has requested his stand-in mentor to join him on his journey through Iacon. Though we will never forget Sonic Wing and Turbo Blitz, we hope that they are with our ancestors today, shining down on Blitzwing and giving him the strength and courage to return to Vos every bit a noble warrior as those before him."

"For Turbo Blitz!" One Seeker cried out in the crowd. They were similar beige coloured to Blitzwing and seemed around similar age. "For Blitzwing!"

"For Sonic Wing!" Ion Storm cried out as he punched the air before being silenced by Acid Storm.

Cloud Breeze nodded before he stepped back and glanced down at Blitzwing. The young jet stood tall as he reset his voicebox and spoke. "I... I re-request that, uh... S-Storm Wing of the Storm Patrol be my assessor today."

Star watched as a large, blue Cyberjet emerged from the crowd and stood by the bottom of the stage. His lip plating moved, but whatever was being said was too soft for Star to catch at this distance. He watched as Blitzwing nodded, and soon Storm Wing joined by his side on the stage. 

"I am deeply honoured to be chosen today as Blitzwing's assessor." The Lieutenant began as he clasped his servos together. "To finish the high calling that Turbo Blitz set out to answer, but to also carry with me the bravery and memory of Sonic Wing as well."

He turned and smiled at Blitzwing before he stepped back to line himself up beside two other larger Seekers who were standing behind Nightstalker and Soundwave. Star figured that they were the mentors of the other two apprentices. 

Once all the apprentices were settled and had their mentors lined up behind them, Cloud Breeze took centre stage and turned to face them. "Seekers, to the sky."

He ordered and stood back as the three apprentices lurched themselves forward, transformed and shot straight up into the dark skies above. They were soon followed by Cloud Breeze, and lastly, their mentors streamed behind. All around Star the platform erupted with hopeful energy as the remaining Seekers clapped and cried out prayers of good luck. 

It was a few moments before Skyfire released him once the crowd had begun to thin out, and Cloud Stream emerged from the stream of bots in front of them. "Good, you're together. Thought I might've lost one of you," he huffed. 

Skyfire shook his helm. "Nope, Star stayed here the whole time." 

Cloud Stream nodded before he narrowed his optics at Metalhawk and Fearswoop. "Get off those crates, this is a construction site."

Metalhawk slid down off the crates, wearing an oblivious smile while his brother rolled his optics with a groan. Behind Cloud Stream, Star noticed the Vixens mingling with Widowfog and Dustburner. 

"If you're tired, you may go back to recharge, Fearswoop." Cloud Stream looked at him coldly before he walked off, his spawn following soon after. 

Star yawned again, frame deflating slightly. "How long do we have to wait for them to come back?" He asked. 

"They usually return at dusk," Skyfire answered with a slight shrug. "Longer if there's been an accident."

"An accident?!" Star straightened up with a worried look. 

Metalhawk waved him off. "Dude, it's Soundwave, Blitzwing and Nightstalker. They'll be fine! Soundwave is such a good spotter, and Blitzwing's Trine-mates have already graduated. There's not gonna be any problems."

Star frowned at him. "What's a spotter?"

"It's somebot who flies ahead of the battalion to ping any notable threats on the ground," Fearswoop explained as he folded his arms across his chassis. "Stuff like anti-aircraft turrents or heavy artillery. Soundwave is a telepath, so his communication is pretty top-notch, especially when it comes to his sister, Nightstalker."

"Who were those other bots on the stage?" Star turned his full attention toward the older apprentices, completely intrigued about the entire ordeal. "Does that always happen whenever somebot goes to graduate?"

"Usually, yes." Skyfire nodded down at him. "Those were Soundwave and Nighstalker's mentors, Airwave and my aunt, Cyber Song. They're headed to Iacon to carry out the assessment today, but hopefully some day you'll undergo the same thing too." 

"Not before we do, though, right, Sky?" Metalhawk grinned as he stuck a digit at himself. "I can't wait to graduate!"

The shuttle flatly looked at him as Star asked a more sombre question. "What happened to Sonic Wing and Turbo Blitz?"

Fearswoop was the one who answered as he looked down at the miscoloured jet. "They were conducting a routine border patrol across The Barrens one night. They got shot down by Hunters."

Star stared at him as he tried to envision that scene. 

"Glitch Hunters," Metalhawk hissed with a dark look on his face plates. "Lowly scum bots who shoot us down and strip us for spare parts! They treat it like a sport!" 

Skyfire looked at him as he quietly muttered to Star. "Hawk Wing was shot down by a Hunter. Metalhawk nearly got both of them killed."

As if hearing that suddenly made him remember just how close he came to losing somebot he cared about, fear crept back into Metalhawk's frame. "Y-yeah..."

Fearswoop shook his helm. "That's why you don't go flying alone."

"It doesn't matter!" Skyfire huffed. "Sonic Wing and Turbo Blitz weren't alone when they got shot down! And they still died!"

"Yeah, but Blitzwing managed to get that distress signal out of their static zone and called for help," Metalhawk reminded him with a soft look. "If he hadn't, Cloud Breeze wouldn't have been able to reach them in time to recover their frames..."

"And the last thing we need is more Groundbots salvaging our corpses to upgrade their tech with." Fearswoop hissed. 

The reality of their dire circumstances made Star look down as he thought about the very real threats bordering Vos. For such a gorgeous city that prided itself on military might, they really had no other way of protecting themselves. He understood now why they considered their tall towers and the unpredictable skies to be their safe haven.

The Vixens' Shared Quarters, The Cloud Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
A few breems later.

Star frowned as he stood in the doorway, watching Slip and her sisters throwing quite literally the most petty tantrum he'd ever seen. 

Wind was jumping up and down on her fluffy berth, wings out and armour spiked as she screeched. Night was sprawled out on the floor, mumbling about how she wasn't going to get back into her stasis pod to recharge. Meanwhile, Slip was quite literally trying to pry her Mentor to pieces by tightly gripping the edges of his armour and pulling as she argued with him. The argument was far too intense for Star to get a hold of, but seeing how Skyfire had glided across the Towers with him to meet with Cloud Stream and the narrows, it was a safe bet that the shuttle was now regretting his decision of bringing him here. 

"Star, help me!" Slip growled as she caught sight of him; one of her tiny servos had slipped loose, and she quickly scrambled to secure a tight hold on Cloud Stream's armour again.

"Don't." The tall Seeker turned to squint at the newcomers with a warning look while he held the purple and cyan coloured jet close to his chassis. "Or I'll ground you both."

An annoyed, low grunt left Slip as she continued to wrestle her Mentor in vain. 

"Where's-" Skyfire began hesitantly as he stood beside Star. "Breeze Tail and Widowfog?"

"Breeze Tail is getting some extra recharge in," Cloud Stream grunted as he swiftly moved his helm to avoid a punch thrown at him courtesy of Slip. "And Widowfog is out getting treats."

"Treats!?" Night shot up off the floor to look at him. 

It even made Wind halt in her bouncing as she huffed. "Energon cookies?"

"Nah, I want energon chips!" Slip turned to squint at her Trine-mate. "Or the fuzzy drops!"

"Neither of you will be getting anything if you keep this behaviour up." Cloud Stream huffed before he carefully set Slip down and gave her a stern look. "Especially you! You do not hit or punch your Mentor, no matter how angry or tired you may feel!"

Slip glared daggers up at him but remained silent. 

The white warrior glared back down at her before he turned his sights on Skyfire and Star. "Shouldn't he be recharging, too?"

The young shuttle flinched before he turned, half reaching for Star and half hesitating to acknowledge his existence. "I, well, I, uh, we..."

Star tilted his helm up at him, raising a brow ridge before he turned to glance blankly at Cloud Stream. "I wanted to hang out with them," he pouted softly and gestured to the troublesome narrows.

Cloud Stream narrowed his optics on the miscoloured jet before he eased his frame back with a heavy vent. "Well, they're tired. They need their rest. I'm planning to go somewhere tonight, and the last thing I need is for any of them to get in trouble." He hissed as he glanced over his shoulderstrut. 

"Star can stay here," Skyfire offered. "There's extra pods, it'll be fine. They can all bunk together this evening, and I or, uh... Um." He looked askance as he tried to think of who else Cloud Stream would trust to watch over them. "Widowfog? Dustburner? Yeah, we could, um, come by and check in on them?"

"You mean like a sleepover!?" Night squealed as she rolled over onto her chassis and kicked her peds out in the air behind her. 

Cloud Stream nodded his helm curtly without fully looking at her. "Yes. But like I said, I won't be in Vos tonight. I can't be there to save you if you get into a fight or cause mischief."

"Where are you going?" Wind interrupted him as her optics widened. 

"Are you coming back?" Slip's wings lowered slightly. Star noticed a fearful look on her faceplates, and seeing that expression in turn made him feel worried. 

"Maybe." Cloud Stream gave her a sharp look, quipping his answer before he lessened his armour and raised his voice a little higher as he spoke to all three of them. "I will be heading to Helex tonight, fffor a meeting... There's no need for panic, I shall be travelling with Storm Wing when he gets back." 

"How come we can't go with you?" Wind pouted, and that began a chorus of protesting whines. 

Cloud Stream straightened up, narrowing his tired gaze at the wall. "Because. The Kingdom of Helex lies beyond the Sea of Rust. It's in South Cybertron and would take me solar-cycles, maybe even chords if I travelled with you. It's dangerous, and you're not ready for a journey like that. If you behave while I'm gone, I promise that one day, when you're strong enough, I'll take you to Harmonex and the Sonic Canyons. We can even go to the Esserlon Heights too."

"Those places sound cool!" Night cooed. 

Wind nodded in agreement, but Slip still didn't seem entirely sold on the whole idea. "Do you promise?"

Cloud Stream directed his icy blue gaze down at her and gave a firm nod. "I promise."

She then peered past him to squint at Skyfire. "What about you? Have you been down anywhere South? Is what he saying true?"

Skyfire shied away for a moment before he reset his voicebox and sharply in-vented. "Uh, well... I haven't been anywhere too South, only to the edge of the Rust Sea and back. B-but I-I've seen pictures of those places, and the Mithric Sea does look nice." 

"I'll even take Skyfire and Star with us if all of you go into recharge right now." Cloud Stream muttered. 

All three of the narrows swooned at the idea and hurried into their stasis pods, except for Slip, who continued to front her glare at Cloud Stream. "You better be coming back, Mentor." 

Cloud Stream scoffed down at her. "Don't give anybot any attitude tonight. They don't need it, Slip."

She shook her helm with a coy smirk on her face plates. "Is Star staying with us?"

Before he could step forward and answer for himself, Cloud Stream straightened up. "Yes," his tone was littered with authority. "Tonight, Slip, he's your responsibility, alright? Take care of your little brother because he needs you." He then glanced over at Wind and Night. "He needs all of you. This will be his first graduation party, so make sure that nothing bad happens to him. Remember, stick with the older bots, they won't be drinking tonight. Don't start or get involved in any fights. Just keep to yourselves, watch a film or something. When you're tired, rest here where it's safe. When I get back, the first thing that I'll do is drop by here and check on you."

"Ok," Slip pouted, but finally surrendered her fight as she nodded. "I promise that we won't get into any trouble as long as you come back."

Satisfied with himself for earning that answer, Cloud Stream bent to kiss the top of her helm. "Good. Now get into your pods while I set Star up."

"Good... Cycle, Mentor?" Wind frowned as she stuck her helm out to farewell him after he activated the extra pods along the adjacent wall. He turned and beckoned Star over, who nervously approached. 

"Goodnight Wind." The white Seeker vented softly as he settled Star in and waved each of them off before he left with Skyfire. 

Star felt his systems cooling as the whirs throughout his frame slowed, and soon enough, his optics flickered offline along with all his other senses.

The Seeker Apprentice Academy Cafeteria, 42nd Floor of the Sky Tower - Vos, Above Ground.
Eight joors later. 

"C'mon, we're missing the party!" Wind whined loudly as she dragged Night by her servo-guards out of the elevator. The smoky-black narrow only retorted with a yawn while waving her sister's excitement off. 

Behind them, Slip laughed as she strode out, dragging a dazed Star behind her. Being half-dragged and half-led after the Vixens, Star's amber optics widened as he took in the sights around them. The entire cafeteria floor had been redecorated with glowing paint, and the overhelm lighting had been changed to a low blacklight to give off the disco-like vibe of the entire floor. The sun was beginning to sink over the Western horizon, and the crowd cheered as three jets streamed past the Tower; the echo of their engines booming from the platform where Star and Silver had been practising their gliding just the solar-cycle before. 

As the group set ped into the cafeteria, Star halted with slight fear upon seeing just how crowded it was. There were Seekers everywhere! Most were standing by the counters with cubes of energon resting within reach, some were off playing on strange machines and cheering each other on, some were even making out in a booth not too far away, and others were huddled away in a room, watching a screen as they lazed about on the floor. At the front of the room overlooking the streets of Vos was a booth with advanced technology playing on it and a large, colourful, spacious floor displayed in front of the booth.

"Ok, this was so worth recharging the entire cycle away for!" Star could barely hear Slip's voice as her sisters squealed. The music was booming and vibrated the metal of Star's frame. 

Wind was the first to turn to the group, crimson optics wide with excitement as she said something that Star couldn't quite hear before she grabbed Night, and the two rushed off. He turned to glance at Slip for reassurance, but she didn't seem to notice. She instead leaned over, pointing at the bar as she yelled in his audio receptor. 

"I'm going to get us some drinks! See if Skyfire's here." And she strolled off with confidence. 

Star stood at the centre of the large, bustling cafeteria for a moment, frowning ahead with a blank look as he tried to decipher his first course of action. His optics narrowed as he caught a flash of gold, and his peds moved to chase after it without him realising. When he eventually caught up to the bulk and tapped him on the shoulder, he flinched back as they turned and huffed at him. 

"What now?" The young Seeker groaned, energon cube in hand.

"Oh," Star frowned at the stranger, unsure of how to handle his sudden embarrassment; he’d mistaken this Seeker for Metalhawk. "Uh... S-sorry. I-I'm new he-here..."

The golden Cyberjet with purple highlights leaned forward and hummed disapprovingly. "Clearly. I haven't met a nosy bot like you. Who are you?"

Star winced and took a few steps back, glancing around to find any excuse to get out of this situation as he hesitantly answered. "I'm, uh, I-I'm Star."

"Star, eh?" The bot grinned beneath his visor as he held out his energon cube. "That's a nice name. My designation is Genvo. Nice to meet ya!"

Genvo didn't hold out his servo, but Star offered his anyway, and the bulky Seeker laughed. They greeted one another respectfully before Star eyed the cube offered to him with caution. 

"Don't worry," Genvo waved his fears off. "It's just normal, bubbled energon."

"Bubbled?" Star raised a brow ridge.

"Yeah," the golden Seeker nodded. "Those lamebots over by the counter won't give us smaller jets any of the hard, fancy stuff. Not at this age. All our drinks aren't laced; they're fizzy or bubbled for fun, or you can have normal energon- your choice." He shrugged.

Star peered down into the cube after taking it. "Ok..." He'd never had bubbled energon before, and the curiosity was gnawing at him now. "I'll try it."

"Atta bulk!" Genvo cheered as he stood back and watched. 

Star braced himself as he brought the cube up to his intake and took a few, small sips. His face plates twisted as he felt the bubbling sting of the energon invade his intake and froth down his fuel lines. "Ughk!"

Genvo laughed. "N-not a fan?"

Star shook his helm, wiping his intake with one armstrut as he held the cube out with his free servo. "Primus, no! Who enjoys that?"

"Bots with taste." Genvo shrugged before he sauntered off, disappearing into the crowd with a smirk. 

Star shook his helm, trying to get the salty taste off his glossa before he turned and tried scanning the crowd for any familiar faces. He huffed in defeat and was going to go find a quiet booth to sit in when a slender, midnight blue narrow loomed over him. He stared up at her with wide and fearful optics before she chuckled, and her form melted away to mirror his frame. Star stared in awe as he saw a near perfect replication of himself standing right in front of him. The shapeshifting narrow chuckled again before her frame folded over itself piece by piece, and she returned to her sleek form once more. 

"Hey there." Her voice sounded so nice and calm. "I'm Nightstalker. Nice to meet you." 

She slowly held out her servo, and Star eagerly connected his to greet her with a small smile. "That was awesome! How did you do that?!"

Behind Nightstalker, a blue helm popped up as a red visor flashed at him. "Soundwave superior. Star clueless."

The twins giggled before Soundwave stepped forward to greet Star while Nightstalker explained. 

"We're from Tetrahex." She began. "This is my brother, Soundwave. We were Forged with unique abilities and brought here to help hone our powers. The Vosians have been very kind to us, they're family."

"Wow," Star glanced between them. He couldn't believe that they hailed from the Forges of the Beastlands; they looked so similar to the other Seekers in here. "Oh, uh, congratulations on your assessment!" The miscoloured jet squeaked. 

"Thank you," Nightstalker bowed her helm curtly. 

"Soundwave acknowledges and appreciates your observation, Star." Soundwave's vocals sounded alien, a little creepy, but his friendly nature made Star curious to know more about the pair. 

“Where’s Blitzwing?” Star asked as he peered around the siblings. 

“Oh, he’s celebrating with his Trine-mates over at the Celestial Spires!” Nightstalker nodded with a warm smile. “He wanted to spend this night with his family.”

"So, are you going back to Tetrahex now that your training is completed?" The red and grey Cyberjet asked. 

Soundwave shook his helm as Nightstalker spoke. "Not yet. We've still got another three stellar-cycles to complete before we can even begin planning our trip. We've decided that we'll go when it's safe, and we know what we're going to do once we're down there. Probably explore some of the caves, reunite with our ancestors. It'll be nice."

She smiled and clasped her servos together as she looked at her brother. "Soundwave is looking forward to it."

"Why does he talk like that?" Star pointed at him as he looked up at Nightstalker. 

"Oh." Nightstalker placed a gentle servo on her brother's shoulderstrut. "Soundwave's a telepath. He can hear and feel a lot of things that most of us can't. It's the whole reason why we're in Vos, actually. When we first emerged from the Forges, Soundwave was in so much pain because he could hear and feel everything across the galaxy!"

Star stared in awe. "No way..."

Nightstalker nodded. "Yep! Poor thing had me so worried when he couldn't stop screaming. The Guardians brought him here and helped him to reign in his abilities. Lots of ano-cycles spent training tirelessly with Cyber Song has helped him to connect with Primus, and through his spark, Soundwave can control what he hears and feels now."

Soundwave nodded, but he didn't mind that his sister was speaking on his behalf as he studied Star's face plates.

"While we still don't know the full extent behind Soundwave's abilities and have no hope of ever fully controlling them, I've been blessed to have such a close bond with my brother. I often speak for the both of us, but he's come out of his shell a bit, which has been really good! Hopefully, now they'll start treating us like real Seekers."

Star frowned as she said that and watched her lovingly nudge her brother. 

Soundwave's helm snapped towards him, as if sensing Star's inner concerns about himself and his own origins. Soundwave then tenderly held Star's servo in his, and the Cyberjet's optics widened as he saw a projection of a gorgeous dawn sky playing in his processor. "Whoa..."

Nightstalker giggled and tapped her brother's armstrut. "C'mon, stop messing around in there. You know the others don't like it when you do that."

Soundwave's frame slumped slightly as he huffed. "Star was sad. I... Was showing him something happy." When Soundwave said 'I' it sounded like he was struggling to form the words and soon let go of Star's servo. 

"You mean something that makes you happy?" Nightstalker raised a brow ridge at him, her servos on her hipstruts.

Soundwave shrugged. "If it works, it works."

"True," she turned back to Star and waved him off. "Have a good time tonight, ok? I and Soundwave are on duty, so if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask! You know already that whatever the problem may be, Soundwave'll fix it for you."

"Thanks!" Star farewelled them, feeling a lot lighter and happier than he'd been just a few moments ago. He was confused by his sudden shift in attitude but pinned it down to Soundwave's doing and frowned in confusion as he tried to fathom what exactly a telepath was truly capable of. Well, if Cloud Breeze trusts them being here, then so should I. He muttered inside his helm before he lifted his gaze to scan once again for any signs of his friends. 

The miscoloured jet hesitantly made his way over to the bar he and his friends had been seated at naught but a few days ago and glanced around. One large bulk adorned in shiny green colours swiftly turned his helm to glare at him as Star approached. Star shrank back under the burning, red glow of his optics and flattened his wings to appear small.

"Skyquake," a gold and blue almost identical Seeker bulk chuckled as he gestured in Star's direction. "We're not here to scare them."

"I wasn't," Skyquake huffed before he turned his harsh gaze onto his twin. "I've never seen them before."

"Oh," a familiar helm popped up from behind the bar as the golden and blue warrior grinned. "That's Star! He's new around here." 

Metalhawk sprang up from under the bar, a few empty Trine cups in servo as he continued. "Hey Star, this is Dreadwing, Skyquake, and back there is Dark Wing. These guys are pretty cool. They graduated just before you came to Vos." 

Star glanced between the twins as they were introduced before he turned to glance at the third member of their Trine, who was manning the main entrance to the Cafeteria. He had his red optics hidden beneath a purple visor, and from the way he was standing with his armour flared out and his armstruts folded across his chassis, Star thought that he didn't appear to be very friendly. 

"Uh," he hesitated as he turned around to face the twins and bowed his helm respectfully. "It's, uhm, it's nice to uh, m-meet you?" 

"Aww, he's a shy little thing," Dreadwing purred as he poured a drink. "Where'd you find him?"

Metalhawk shook his helm as he shrugged. "No idea. He usually hangs around Skyfire. Cloud Breeze doesn't want us askin' questions about him."

"Strange," Skyquake frowned, watching as the miscoloured jet shrank from their view and disappeared into the crowd. 

Once at a safe distance and hidden among the dancers, Star straightened up to stand on the tips of his peds as he surveyed the general area of the cafeteria around him. He couldn't find Skyfire's shape or colours anywhere beneath the bright, dizzy, disco lights. 

"Skyfire?" He meekly called out as he spun on his peds to catch a glimpse of his friend. "Sky?" His vocals rose. 

He narrowed his optics as he spotted Night and Wind excitedly gossiping with a group of helicopters around an older bulk who he didn't recognise. He huffed as his frame deflated in defeat. He tried to muster up the courage to approach the entrance Dark Wing was guarding to go back up the elevator and sit in his room for the rest of the evening when he felt small talons carefully brush along his servo. He in-vented and turned swiftly before he smiled at a familiar faceplate smirking back at him. 

"I knew you'd get lost." Slip teased as she grabbed a hold of his servo and began leading him out towards the hangar. Star happily allowed her to pull him in that direction with little to no protest. 

"Heh," he appeared nervous as he risked a few glances up at the older bots. "I don't think... Parties are going to be something ever enjoyable f-for me."

"Oh, scrap," Slip waved him off as she rolled her optics. "You're just not used to them." 

Star didn't bite back; he knew better, so he carried on following her out onto the platform. He turned to examine a few pairs of Seekers much more mature than them, having friendly conversations as they either shared a cube of energon or were talking about the light show. At the mention of that, Star turned his helm to face Slip and raised a brow ridge. Before he could ask, she halted and pointed a slender digit up at the stars twinkling in the Vosian sky. 

"Look!" Her wings perked up with excitement. "These Finderscope Lights are activated during parties or celebrations so our ancestors can be with us while we celebrate!"

As she explained, two massive, white lights erupted from beneath the Towers. Their beams swam over the skies, illuminating the Towers before they passed by the stars above and carried on. However, when their light shone upon the stars, the stars briefly disappeared for a moment before the light passed, and when it did, Star couldn't believe what he was seeing. Slip chuckled as she studied his face plates, eagerly awaiting his reaction. The stars had blazed to life ten times stronger and appeared like distant optics watching over Vos. Many were different colours of blue, white, red, orange, yellow, and even pink. 

"The Finderscopes inserted into the floodlights enhance the glow of the lights. That glow is then reflected in the skies above and, in turn, enhances the starlight over the city." Slip smiled as she sat down by the edge of the platform and hugged one kneestrut to her chassis while the other dangled over the edge without a care. "Cloud Stream told me that every star in the sky represents at least one of our ancestors." 

Star was in awe as he carefully sat down along the edge beside her, though the night sky above had his full attention. 

"Some are distant planets, either former colonies or unexplored worlds." Slip leaned over slightly to point at one blue star just above his shoulderstrut. "That's Caminus. It doesn't shine as bright as the others because it's so far away. The only time we can see it are when these lights are on." 

Star squinted as best as he could to try and see if he could make anything out on the distant planet, but it was no use. The distant colony world remained simply as a blue orb, far out of his reach. "It's beautiful." He murmured. 

Slip nodded. "Caminus, the Titan, settled on a distant moon in the uninhabited region of the universe. After sacrificing himself to give life to their world, the Camiens worshipped him dearly."

"Do you think," Star tilted his helm as they both stared up at the distant, bright moon. "That Cardinal an' the others are still all the way over there?"

Slip chuckled and kicked her peds. "Maybe. It's been a few hundred million years, but hey! If Cloud Breeze is still flyin' around, then maybe they are too!"

Star smiled as he nodded. His gaze soon drifted from the moon, but his attention was still kept within its grasp as Slip vented and carefully pressed into him to rest her helm on his shoulderstrut. 

"I wanna go there someday." She murmured, almost completely entranced by the moon's beauty. "I want to know if they ever made that mural of Solus where she sets Cardinal free so he can find his lover among the stars." 

Star kicked his peds over the edge of the platform. A million stars glittered in their optics as they stared up at the sky together. To Star, he was beginning to see the connections made between the distant stars and his ancestors. How the stars glinted like distant thrusters fully activated, a token of the exploration units searching far and wide across the galaxy for their lost history of Prima's conquest. Or a vast sea of untamed and untouched sparks that glowed in unison, yet to join them here on Cybertron. And how the distant moon world of Caminus sparkled just out of their reach, like a portal to another time and another world - it held the answers to their questions. 

Star carefully rested his helm atop of Slip's as they spent the rest of the evening admiring the stars above.  

Chapter Text

278th floor of the Cloud Tower, Vos - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Two solar-cycles after the storm.

With Star and the Vixens tucked safely away into their recharging berths, Skyfire accompanied Cloud Stream down the hallway. They rode the elevator in silence as it ascended to take them up to Cloud Breeze's floor. Once the doors opened with a soft 'ding', Skyfire hesitantly raised his helm to glance around. Cloud Stream was the first to step out of the elevator, striding forward with his nasal unit high in the air and his wings flared out behind him. Skyfire hurriedly followed but kept his helm bowed and his wings back. 

On this floor, the hallways were mostly dim and lined with portraits of Sky Shadow, Black Shadow, Mercystrike, Cyber Song, Jet Wing and Cloud Breeze himself. Portraits of the previous Dynasty and the current ruling one. Skyfire was never relaxed whenever he'd visit this floor because most of his memories had been corrupted by the confrontational nature of his older brothers. No, he preferred his lab or his shared quarters with Star. 

That wasn't to say that the floor itself wasn't unpleasant. Very few bots had access to these floors, and even fewer had the privilege of roaming them freely. Cloud Breeze's spawn held that privilege by being his direct descendants. 

The carpet was an exotic, red fabric with golden hues laced into it. The walls were stoic, tall and adorned in gold. The ceiling was a clean-cut marble slab that sheltered them from the floors and rooms above. The portraits were lined in an order that went from the ancient depictions of Arche and An-Gel all the way down to Skyfire himself just outside the golden doors of Cloud Breeze's chambers. The shuttle couldn't meet the portrait's optics because he felt as if he didn't deserve the recognition. He wasn't some brave and noble warrior like his brothers, he was still only an apprentice and more interested in the arts of science than he was in the art of combat - against any foe. 

Once Cloud Stream pushed the doors open with a grunt, their audials were greeted by the sound of running water. A few streams littered the interior of the room, and from them came forth alien flora. Skyfire raised his helm to examine the plants as they walked past. Most of the species housed in this chamber were harmless. Though he noted the recent addition of brightly coloured frogs with large, red optics. The frogs themselves appeared organic, which struck Skyfire as odd. He paused to watch one leap from a lily pad onto a rock. A dark shadow swiftly flew overhelm, making the shuttle flinch before they heard a shriek. Cloud Stream halted to glance in that direction and watched as a small, two-winged Predacon snatched the frog from its rock and disappeared into the thick branches of a dark green tree. 

Skyfire stood in horror and had to be gently urged on by Cloud Stream, who acted indifferently. "That's just a clear example of nature." He said. 

But Skyfire already wanted to turn around and leave. He was only obligated to keep going because Cloud Stream kept walking ahead, turning around to glance at him expectantly before he repeated himself. The last thing the shuttle wanted was to be left in here alone with the bizarre creatures. 

Though the golden walls did stand out brightly against the dark undergrowth, Skyfire's wings shot up as he heard a low growling nearby. He soon hurried out of the chamber as Cloud Stream held open the exit. They turned to squint at the pretty falls one last time before the doors sealed shut. 

Skyfire released an in-vent he hadn't realised he'd been holding in this entire time. 

"That's the assassin room." Cloud Stream tilted his helm to the side and clicked. "Mercystrike usually lounges about in there."

"That room is terrifying!" Skyfire whispered with a cautious glance up at his older brother. 

Cloud Stream hummed. "It's where Storm Wing drops off most of the organics he finds." 

Skyfire shook his helm, and they descended several floors before the door opened yet again, only this time they appeared to be travelling through an underground tunnel. The tunnel's walls were clear and visible as Skyfire glanced up, squinting at the 'water' substances that were on the other side of the glass. 

"This is the aquatic room." Cloud Stream informed him as he continued forward without a care. "It's been abandoned, but here's where the backup power generators are located."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Skyfire whimpered as he cowered behind him. 

The older Seeker paused as he clenched his servos and stared at the dark tunnel ahead of them. "In case there's an emergency, you know where everything is." 

"Why would there be an emergency?" Skyfire looked frightened. 

Cloud Stream did not comfort him as they continued on their way. "You saw the full extent of what that storm was capable of two cycles ago," he gestured with a servo in the shuttle's direction. "Should anything befall Vos and Cloud Breeze himself is unable to combat against it, you'll be the last line of defence to navigate this Tower." 

"And restore the generators?"

Cloud Stream shook his helm. "Not just that."

They paused outside a ruby-red door, and the older brother pointed at its centre to reveal a sigil of Prima embedded into the door that was lined with rust. 

"This is the Sabre room." He explained. "When the Primes went mad, we hid the sabres down here. This floor is an illusion of your entire processor. You think you're underground, but you're not. You're nearly three hundred stories in the air, trapped in a pocket dimension that only Cloud Breeze can pull you out of."

Skyfire's optics widened as he began to panic, but Cloud Stream raised a servo as he continued. "That doesn't mean that you're trapped here forever or that there's no other way of getting in and out. You're a Cloud-Dynasty spawn. When you Bonded with Cloud Breeze, a piece of your spark made its way to what lies behind this door." 

The two turned, and with a brush from Cloud Stream's servo, the red-ruby door opened. It released back with a loud groan and slowly held itself away to reveal its contents inside. The room was dark, albeit very tall. The walls were made of ten-inch-thick lead and constructed in a hexagon shape. Six sigils sat atop six golden podiums. Encased in the glass should’ve been six sabres. Skyfire stared around in awe as they headed inside. Beside him, Cloud Stream air locked the room, and the door groaned shut behind them. The floors were traced with an ancient tapestry of the Thirteen Original Primes fighting the Quintessons. 

Cloud Stream straightened up as he approached the first sabre that was closest to them. Above the podium was a lightning-blue sigil that depicted the shape of some foreign creature that Skyfire had never seen before. He frowned at the sigil as he joined his older brother's side and tried to decipher it. 

"This is Lieutenant Storm Wing's sabre." Cloud Stream raised his servo to place it against the glass. The glass shimmered with an electric-blue light before it faded away, and the sabre's handle extended out towards them. "The Storm Sabre."

"It's huge!" Skyfire whispered in awe. 

"Before Micronus fled with his Minicons to another dimension following the Catalyst fallout, he sent six Minicons to Vos." Cloud Stream began. "With their help, Falling Star and the other First Lieutenants were able to construct their own versions of the sabres to fight back against the Quintessons."

"But all the First Lieutenants deactivated." Skyfire glanced up at him. "Except for..."

"Umbratron." Cloud Stream glared at the Storm Sabre just out of his reach. His EMF crackled dangerously as hot electricity danced up and down his frame. 

Skyfire turned his helm away to ask about something else so his brother's mood wouldn't sour at the mention of the Disgraced Ruler. "So the sabres?"

Cloud Stream vented and eased his frame back with a nod. "After the Vosian Civil War, Sky Shadow had these sabres sealed away. The last thing she needed was for another mad Seeker to go on a rampage. When the time came for Cloud Breeze to usurp her, she brought him here and explained to him what I'm going to explain to you."

Skyfire stared up at his brother's face plates as he listened intently. 

"Once Cloud Breeze came into power, he chose six lieutenants to guard Vos and watch over it in his absence. You may already know a few of them. Like Storm Wing."

Skyfire nodded. "Leader of the Storm Patrol. He keeps Vos safe from natural disasters." 

Cloud Stream nodded at his words as they stepped away from the podium, and the glass flickered back into existence. "He keeps Vos safe from most threats. He's the Lieutenant of the Sky. The Storm Sabre was gifted to him to help hone his unique abilities, as well as a fitting weapon to carry in battle. These sabres became a badge of office among Cloud Breeze's inner circle."

He turned and soon led the young shuttle over to a pale yellow light that emanated from another podium. Skyfire tilted his helm back to squint up at the sigil. It appeared similar, but he still couldn't place his digit on it. Cloud Stream noticed his little brother's inquisitive attitude and answered. 

"You've heard the stories about Primon's Songs, right?" He asked in a gentle voice.

Skyfire nodded. "Yeah, from Athel and Thunder Shine. The six Primon Songs are six shards that hail from the original Star Sabre that was gifted to Prima from Solus. It broke in battle against Unicron and Primon, after losing the Matrix of Leadership, gathered those six shards that were scattered across the universe to forge life into them."

"That's right." Cloud Stream urged him on.

"Then they became six spirits known as the 'Songs'. I... I don't know why he did that." Skyfire turned to frown at his brother. 

Cloud Stream straightened up as he stared up at the winged creature. "Primon was grieving after the brutal attack. In his grief, he created the six Songs so they would watch over Cybertron. But because they could not actively exist in unison with each other, a typical political power struggle, he sent them through time after Vector Prime. Through the ripples of time, the six Songs were said to smooth over any timeline errors or correct anything that had catastrophic consequences."

Skyfire nodded a little more eagerly. "Yeah, because they can't exist in two timelines at once!"

Cloud Stream turned and pointed at the sigil above the podiums. "The six spirits were given aliases to protect them from malevolent forces. The Dove's Song, the spirit of life and innocence. Motorthrust's current badge of office is the Cloud Sabre, which can track and identify any nearby buried energon. It was meant to be used offworld, but since Sentinel Prime lost the Matrix, energon has stopped flowing naturally on our world." 

Skyfire looked at the pale blue sigil that was adorned in white and pale grey. Its podium was empty, indicating that Lieutenant Motorthrust was perhaps currently carrying the Sabre with him. 

"Then the Raven's Song, a spirit of intelligence and adaptability. This sabre is currently Wing Dagger's Badge of Office, and he only carries it with him while he's out on a diplomatic mission in hostile regions. It's called the Moon Sabre, and its ability is to create a beacon of blinding, white, icy light so that Seekers across the stars would know when it was time to return home."

Skyfire nodded as they went around the room and studied each sabre. 

"Storm Wing's Sabre helps control and disperse lightning. It once belonged to Jay's Song - the spirit of empathy." Cloud Stream huffed that last part while he rolled his optics, as if he didn't truly believe such a thing existed, let alone choose Storm Wing as its guiding servo. 

"The Sky Sabre hails from Hawk's Song and is in the current possession of Breeze Tail until it calls out to its next owner." Cloud Stream halted by the fiery amber podium as the Sabre hung weightlessly in the air behind the glass. "The Sky Sabre is rumoured to have a cut that sears pain deep into your frame, like lava consuming you."

Skyfire shivered. 

"It's meant to represent justice, truth and wisdom. So that's why Breeze Tail is taking care of it for now." 

Cloud Stream walked them over to a pair of empty podiums that were adorned with a brown sigil of an owl and a striking red one of a bird-like creature. "Owl's Song is the spirit of knowledge and mystery. We don't know much about them because they've never been seen across the timeline yet. Remember, just because they hailed from Cybertron doesn't always mean that those same spirits still inhabit this region of the universe. Some could've left with the Primes. The Night Sabre's ability is unknown, although it has been known to be wielded by the revered Nova Prime once under the name 'The Omni Sabre'. It was lost to the cosmos along with his ship and its crew. Only one survivor returned to Cybertron. The Owl's Song represents strength through hardship. Like in Vos, one must always set their needs aside to make sacrifices for the greater good."

Skyfire frowned, absorbing all the information before he turned and stared at the blazing red bird. "Who's that? Where is their Sabre?" 

Cloud Stream turned. "That's the Cardinal's Song, the pure embodiment of Primon's wrath. A blazing red warrior who is said to be summoned right before a storm to come forth and protect Vos from any threat within it. Their sabre was an exact copy of the Star Sabre. Rumoured to be too powerful and too unstable for the other Songs; however, Cardinal was outcasted, and the Star Sabre - Prima's former weapon - was locked down here." He paused as he, too, stared up at the sigil in thought. "Rage can be deadly, but sometimes anger like that is necessary to protect those that you care about the most." 

He turned his helm to look at Skyfire. 

"The Cardinal's Song," he continued. "Has been known to show up throughout multiple events of our history. After their disappearance, however, not much has been made known to the public optic. Cloud Breeze often carries the Star Sabre with him now to ensure that its power is never abused."

"But-" Skyfire lingered as he stared up at the red sigil. "Cardinal's Song is supposed to be a messenger of death, right? I thought that would fall more under Raven."

Cloud Stream shook his helm as they turned to leave. "Like I said. All six Songs have been scattered throughout time and across the universe. Not much is known about them if they remain hidden."

"Why are we even down here?" The shuttle scoffed. "If we know where all the sabres are and if they're safe, what's the point of all this?"

Cloud Stream narrowed his optics as they stood in the tunnel, now back outside the room. "Cloud Breeze believes that one of the Songs has just been Forged here in Vos. If one of them is here, there must be a reason why. He doesn't know exactly who it is yet, but still, we can't let paranoia cloud our judgment. We have to trust that the Primes spinning the fabric of time behind the scenes know what they're doing."

"But what if Vos falls into another civil war?" Skyfire pleaded. "What if we can't trust everybot?"

Cloud Stream gave a mere shrug. "I don't think it'll be limited to just Vos this time."

278th floor of the Cloud Tower, Vos - North Cybertron, Above Ground.
Two arcs later.

When they stepped out of the elevator and onto the lavish golden and blue carpet, Skyfire eased back his frame as he first caught sight of his Mentor standing on the open platform of his balcony with his backstrut turned to them. Next, he caught sight of Breeze Tail lounging about on a golden sofa with his wings laid down and optics offline. Storm Wing was humming a tune to himself as he fiddled with one of his cambers that had received minimal damage from the storm. Upon hearing the 'ding' of the elevator doors sliding open, the blue Lieutenant lifted his gaze and smiled at them. 

"I thought you'd be flyin' in?" His jovial voice caught their audio receptors as he gestured with his helm over at their King. "Mentor's been waitin' for ya."

Cloud Stream gave him a flat look as they entered the massive berthroom adorned in strips of gold laced with royal blue or marbled, white walls. The berth itself was massive and luxurious. However, it looked as if it hadn't been used in a while. Skyfire frowned at this and turned his sights to his mentor standing on the balcony. The two younger brothers joined him on either side and stared out over the city below. 

"The mountains always look nice up here." Cloud Breeze murmured softly once his sons had joined him.

"I just finished taking Skyfire down into the Sabre room." Cloud Stream reported with a blank expression. 

Cloud Breeze nodded and vented softly before he turned and spoke in a quiet voice so as not to disturb his eldest, as he beckoned Storm Wing over onto the balcony with them. They were large and heavy, but the balcony, as well as the entire Tower itself, was heavily reinforced with the latest infrastructure. The wind and distance to the ground didn't frighten any of them. Because they were so high above the mountains, it felt like a kingdom in the sky - their home.

"I have been formally requested to attend Senator of Kaon Decimus' party this evening." Cloud Breeze began once Storm Wing had joined them. "If any of you know me, which I know you do, you'll understand that I absolutely despise non-Vosian parties."

"Especially in South Cybertron." Cloud Stream muttered quietly as he looked away.

The King nodded solemnly. "I have my servos full with these graduations over in Iacon today. Breeze Tail and Skyfire will remain behind with Mercystrike. Storm Wing, I want you to attend the party on my behalf."

"Oho, sweet!" The blue-striped Seeker fist pumped the air with a grin. 

Cloud Stream rolled his optics. 

"Cloud Stream, I want you attending as Storm Wing's plus one. You're his guard for this evening, and I don't need him getting into any sort of trouble." Cloud Breeze squinted at his spawn as if silently awaiting his challenge. 

Cloud Stream glared daggers at him while Storm Wing walked further out along the balcony. His backstrut turned to them, and EMF reigned in to be more neutral. The last thing he wanted was to attend this party with his little brother, and the last thing he needed was to attend said party with his little brother utterly pissed off. Removing himself from close proximity was a gesture of removing himself from a confrontational situation where Cloud Stream may have felt threatened by him. 

Skyfire frowned as he glanced between the two white Seekers. 

Cloud Stream held his former mentor's stare for a brief moment before he lowered his wings, vented and decided to back down yet again. "Yes, Sir." He bowed his helm respectfully to apologise for even thinking of challenging his leader.

Cloud Breeze's wings perked up happily in the air as he smiled. "Good! I expect you both back here in the city late tonight."

"Do we have a general directive?" Storm Wing turned around to call out to them. 

Cloud Breeze turned his helm so he had everybot in his peripheral as he addressed them. "Yes. Your number one priority is to return to Vos just before dawn without incident or injury. Number two is you're going to be attending some kind of party in Kaon that Decimus and Momus will be throwing. I won't expect you to attend the full ceremony that's going to be happening over the next few solar-cycles, and I don't want you two down there for that long. Just attend for the evening, congratulate him and attend the unveiling ceremony. Cloud Stream, please stay with Storm Wing all night and keep him safe. Storm Wing, please front for my absence and maintain public opinion." 

"Copy that, Cloud!" Storm Wing gave him a casual salute. 

Cloud Stream frowned at their King. "We're not attending the full ceremony?" 

"No." Cloud Breeze shook his helm as he studied whatever just popped up on his HUD. 

Cloud Stream had already heard the answer because their mentor didn't want them so far from home, far from his reach, that if something were to happen, the brothers would be on their own. But there was a more pressing matter to be asked. 

"That... Journey across the Sea of Rust." Cloud Stream frowned as he thought. "It..." He was clearly worried about the distance and the weather itself. 

Storm Wing could probably make a journey like that, no problem. But Cloud Stream wasn't as experienced as his older brother, nor was he as capable of long-distance travel like the others. The farthest Cloud Stream had ever flown in a cycle was to the North of Iacon and back. His anxiety was clear across his glitchy EMF.