Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Key:
Deceased
Alive
TITLE/RANK
Alignment/Existence
Faction
*Not official in the story until the end
Apprentice/Usurper

The Senate

NOVA CRONUM SENATOR:
Proteus
[ Canon ]

VOS SENATOR:
Cloud Breeze
[OC]
Apprentice; Skyfire
[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 ]
Apprentice; Sky
[ Canon ]

POLYHEX SENATOR:
Straxus
[ 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]
Apprentice; Fleece
[OC]


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


TRIAX SENATOR:
Rotorstorm
[Canon]


Total : 25

The Primal Vanguard

LEADER:
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]
Apprentice; Sapphire
[Semi]

Bluestreak
[Canon]
Apprentice; Silverpool
[OC]

Barricade
[Canon]

Thundercracker
[Canon]

Arcee
[Canon]

Chase
[Canon]

Heatwave
[Canon]

Dropforge
[Canon]

Inferno
[Canon]

Firestar
[Canon]

Chromia
[Canon]

Dino
[Canon]
Apprentice; Mirage
[Canon]

Shutter Song
[Canon]
Apprentice; B-127/"B"
[Canon]

Beam Rider
[Canon]

Red Alert
[Canon]

Convoy
[Canon]

Greytail
[OC]
Apprentice; Topal
[OC]

Blurr
[Canon]

Swift
[Canon]


Total : 37

Iacon GEMs/Elite Guard

MEMBERS:
Ashpipe
[ OC ]

Okenite
[ OC ]

Quartz
[ OC ]

Gold Wing
[ OC ]

Black Pearl
[ OC ]
Apprentice; Jet
[ OC ]

Wildstorm
[ OC ]

Garnet
[ OC ]

Black Horn
[ OC ]

Pebble-Glaze
[ OC ]

Rubystrike
[ OC ]

Amberblaze
[ OC ]

Squirrel Track
[OC]

Tiger Eye
[OC]

Agate
[OC]


Total : 15

Constructibots

LEADER:
Dirt Boss
[Canon]


MEMBERS:
Hook
[Canon]

Bulkhead
[Canon]

Grapple
[Canon]

Hoist
[Canon]

Scrapper
[Canon]

Bonecrusher
[Canon]

Scavenger
[Canon]

Motormix
[Canon]

Long Haul
[Canon]

Gravedigger
[Canon]

Hauler
[Canon]

Erector
[Canon]

Hightower
[Canon]

Buckethead
[Canon]

Quickmix
[Canon]

Wideload
[Canon]

Steam Hammer
[Canon]


Total : 18

Other

TRANSFORMERS:
Alpha Trion
[ Canon ]

Beta
[ Canon ]

Mistress of Flame
[ Canon ]

Termagax
[ Canon ]
Apprentice; D-16
[ Canon ]

Shooting Star
[ OC ]

Moon Dance
[ OC ]

Jhiaxus
[ Canon ]


Windcharger
[ Canon ]

Glitch
[ Canon ]

Cryak
[ Canon ]
Apprentice; Ulchtar
[ Canon ]

Ironhide
[ Canon ]

Yoketron
[ Canon ]

Total : 22

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
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.

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.



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.

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.



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.



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.



Megans
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.



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.



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.



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.


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. 



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 Anicent 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
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.



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

The Firstforge, Iacon - Underground
Late Golden Age

A small red and blue bot crawled from the forge's light, his optics were still closed and he was moving very stiffly. Only when he'd dragged himself a couple of steps away from the forge did one of the onlookers approach. With the Sage's approval, she was allowed to approach. The newly forged bot heard her before he saw her. 

"Hi!" She beamed in an energy-filled and uplifting voice. "Welcome to Cybertron! You can't see it if your optics are closed." 

The bot then frowned, giving a small grumble in response to her words, however, his grumble was short-lived as he soon heard another voice. 

"Aurora," it sounded like a matured version of the first speaker's vocaliser. "Be patient! He will open his optics when he's ready to." 

Yes, the new bot nodded in response. I will open them when I want to. 

"Aw, Mentor," the first voice pouted. "That's not fair! I want to meet him now! There's so much I have to show him!" 

"There will be plenty of time to show him everything, young Aurora." There was another voice, this time it sounded even more elderly. "You should never rush a newly formed Cybertronian, it could leave them with a chronic stress virus permanently attached to their very spark." 

After hearing that, Aurora seemed to scutter away slightly. He felt her stress and fear spike nearby through his HUD before she'd moved away and only when she was gone did he finally open his optics to search for her, wondering where she had gone and why. 

Did I leave them closed for too long? The young bot asked himself as a look of shock plastered itself onto his face plates. Only when his optics were open did he see what was awaiting him on 'Cybertron'. They seemed to be in an ancient, underground chamber with aged art and tapestry lining the walls. There was the soft, beige glow of radiant light hidden behind the walls and a few platforms in front of him which were accessible by the dark staircase just ahead. 

When he had opened his optics, the young bot had seen five figures waiting for him. At least four were on the platform, and two were nearby. The two closest looked similar in a way and he felt his spark swell with positive reassurance as his optics landed on the pair. 

"Blue!" The bot who sounded like Aurora beamed, had a red and green colour scheme, similar to his, although her optics were yellow. "His optics are blue! Aw, they're so cute!" 

The youngest of the onlookers was practically bursting with hopeful energy and he could see that she was doing everything in her power to hold back and contain herself. The new bot wondered just who exactly she was. The one beside her gave a soft chuckle and walked forward, a green and almost pale grey colour scheme, yet she had his optics in colour. As the green bot calmly advanced toward him, the newly forged felt more at ease and the pull between them grew stronger. 

"I am Codexa," she halted just in front of him, towering over him slightly with a gentle smile. "I will be your Mentor throughout your life." 

The bot blinked up at her in awe, taken aback by how graceful she was. 

"What..." He began to speak his first-ever words. "What am I?" He tilted his blue helm to the side with a troubled look. 

"Can I tell him!?" Aurora jumped up and down excitedly, her optics on Codexa who nodded and stepped out of the way, watching the two very carefully. 
"Your name is Orion Pax!" Aurora pointed at him with a glimmering smile. "And I'm your big sister, Aurora Lux." 

"Sister?" Orion Pax raised a brow ridge at her, the word totally foreign to him. 

"Mhm," Aurora Lux nodded. "I was Codexa's previous Apprentice, she mentored me as well. Don't worry, she's an awesome Mentor, you're going to love her!" 

Orion Pax finally offered a small, albeit awkward grin, back at his sister. She seemed to chuckle which earned him a warm smile from Codexa. 

Once Aurora Lux began speaking, she didn't seem to stop. "I have so much to tell you about Cybertron! Technically, I'm done with my apprenticeship but I'm allowed to stick around for your experience as well. I want to see how you go through everything that I did and get some experience for myself in case I want to be a Mentor someday!" 

Orion Pax thought that she wouldn't make a great Mentor, though he kept that thought to himself for now - not wanting to upset the bright-sparked bot. He did notice Codexa turn away from them, however, and soon tried to stand once she left them. 

"Oh," Aurora Lux stepped back and narrowed her yellow optics down at him in thought. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do." 

Upon hearing the struggle, Codexa swiftly returned and crouched to help Orion Pax to his peds. He felt a strange and unwelcomed warmth flood his frame and face plates as her gentle servos held his small and shaky ones. 

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Orion," Codexa's soft voice soothed him back to reality. "Each and every one of us here had to learn all the little steps before we knew the big ones." 

"L-like h-how to walk?" Orion Pax asked gingerly as he felt his frame stand up, his servos tightly gripping the shoulders of Codexa for balance. 

Codexa gave a slow nod as her spark emitted a calming aura to help soothe the newborn Cybertron while he stood tall on his little peds for the time being. Only when she made sure that he could stand on his own did Codexa gently remove his servos from her shoulder struts and rise to her full height. She towered over the young bots with ease, though her tender and loving face reassured Orion Pax that she would never bring them any harm. 

"Walk with me, Orion." Codexa's smooth voice softened his anxiety. They watched as Aurora Lux skittered back up to the platform beside an elderly green and white bot. 

"O-ok," Orion Pax nodded, albeit a little nervous as he stared down at his peds, willing them to move. One of his servos tightly clenched Codexa's for balance as he moved his legs to line up with her slow steps. By the time they had reached the bottom platform, Orion glanced up to see only three bots. He wondered where the other two had disappeared off to, or who they were. 

Aurora Lux, the green bot and another who had a blue and white colour scheme with an amber face were all watching him very closely. 

"Alpha Trion insists that you bring him to the medical ward for a checkup," the green bot spoke, even though her voice sounded frail, her tone still carried an air of authority that no doubt had seen battle many times. 

"I'm sure he's fine." Codexa shook her helm as she turned to hold both of Orion's servos in her own. He was tiny compared to her but that was nothing new, he'd grow with age, just as they all did. "He's only a few nano-cycles old, Beta." 

"Still," the amber-faced femme spoke up, her voice sounding harsh with a slight gruff in the undertone. "Just to be safe, Codexa, go get him checked out. He's slow and his optics weren't open when he emerged. There could be something wrong." 

Orion glanced at his Mentor when he felt a bristle of hostile energy flicker beneath her frame. His naive face stared up at her, wondering how to make her feel better, however, she soon handled the quiet outburst and gave in with a heavy vent. 

"Alright," she said. "Alright, I will take him to see Wrench." She gave the amber-faced robot a weary look and now it was the other's turn to vent. 

"I shouldn't have said anything," she narrowed her glowing, amber optics down at them. "You're worried." 

"But you could be right, Termagax." Codexa shifted on her peds nervously, now refusing to take her gaze off Orion. "I haven't known many protoforms to be so weak in their birth." 

"There have been a few," Beta nodded, trying to calm the Mentor. "But each one has lived a strong life. Weakness at birth should not define a character. It could be a sign that their death was quite... Brutal." 

"My death?" Orion stared up at the elderly femme with wide and scared optics. 

Aurora Lux nodded. "A lot of people theorise that newborn Cybertronians are reincarnated from old ones. You're probably still recovering from whatever killed you before, or you're just really tired and will probably turn out grumpy like Termagax all the time." 

Despite the amber-faced robot's growling, Aurora Lux chuckled. 

"There is nothing too wrong with Orion," Codexa firmly spoke. "Termagax and I will take him to see Doctor Wrench." She then turned her harsh blue gaze on her previous Apprentice. "You will go meditate with Beta for the rest of the day. Your energy is all over the place and once you're done, you will go see if Xaaron needs any help, understood?" 

Aurora Lux frowned but nodded quietly with a pout on her face. "Sorry, Mentor." 

"She's still allowed to call you that?" Termagax whispered once she climbed down the platform and joined Codexa's side. The green femme only vented through her nasal, her optics shifting off to the side as Beta turned to leave with Aurora in tow. 

"Forgive me, Beta, if she troubles you," Codexa confessed. 

"Oh," the elderly Cybertronian straightened up and waved her off. "Your children will never be a trouble to me, Codexa. You forget that at their age, you were once just like them." Beta chuckled in amusement before she glanced at Aurora. "Now let's go see what trouble this old bot can get us into, eh?" 

Aurora's face seemed to brighten a little at that as she giggled and eagerly followed the other out of the chamber, leaving Codexa, Orion and Termagax who turned to narrow her optics down at the infant. 

"Do you think you can walk?" 

Orion shrank back slightly, unsure of Termagax's intentions towards him. Her frame was littered with hostility and spiked, giving her white highlights a dark grey shadow. 

"He'll be alright, Termagax." Codexa turned her helm to look at her. "I won't have him transform so soon. We'll walk together, it's been a while since we've had a talk." 

Termagax then straightened up, glaring off to the side a little as she vented yet again. "It has." 

Codexa smiled, her servo still tightly holding Orion's as she offered her free one to the other femme. "Don't stress over Orion eavesdropping, please? He's just a protoform, there's no need to worry about him getting the better of you." Codexa smirked. 

Termagax glared at her slightly and Orion felt himself becoming slightly protective as he stood by his Mentor's side. 

"True," the bigger femme nodded as she turned and soon took up the lead. "But I genuinely believe that you underestimate him, dear Codexa. He's your spawn, after all. If anybot is going to raise him right, it's you. And if anybot knows me better than I know myself, it's you." 

"Enough conspiracy about my newborn," Codexa chuckled as she waved her off. "I wish to gossip about you, and only you." 

"Then why did you invite me to watch the birth of Orion Pax?" Termagax halted as they came to a corner in a dark corridor. Her amber optics had softened with a familiarity that Orion longed to feel. 

Codexa stared at her friend with a warm smile, though Orion could feel her own embarrassment rising beneath her frame. "Because I missed you, old friend. It's been too long since we've walked and had a chat here or there. It pains me to know that you've been hiding away in some city running politics behind the scenes." 

"Pfft," Termagax scoffed as they turned the corner and made sure that they were going at a slow enough pace for Orion to stay by his Mentor's side. "Shockwave is a Conservative idiot." Termagax began to rant. "He's done nothing productive for Tarn! He's too blinded by paranoia concerning Cloud Breeze's forces to come visit Iacon's representatives." 

Codexa nodded. "Well, I did hear that Cloud Breeze was offering a small peace treaty between Tran and Vos regarding their next Trine. Shockwave's supposed to be getting an Apprentice soon, isn't he? Perhaps this will change his outlook on things? Make him more willing to listen to others?" 
Codexa leaned forward to speak seductively in Termagax's audial with a smirk. 

The other shuddered and quickened her pace to put distance between them before she halted at the end of the hallway, turned and glared at them. 

"That won't work, you know what Cloud Breeze is like, he's ancient! Handing over an entire Trine like that to Vos' greatest enemy? He's out of his processor! Shockwave will be lucky enough to receive one flying Cybertronian, let alone an entire Trine that Cloud Breeze could've put to good use. Besides," Termagax huffed once Codexa and Orion had reached her again. "No Groundbot can raise a Flier, it goes against nature." 

"You who breaks rules and traditions to pave the way for the uncertain future now gives in to religious tradition?" Codexa raised an amused brow ridge at her friend. "I wouldn't take you for a Functionalist, Termagax." 

"I'm not," her friend swiftly replied in a warning tone. "Trust me, I despise Sentinel Prime. But this is insanity, this is asking for something to go wrong. I-if Cloud Breeze gives a Seeker Trine to Shockwave and Tarn that just spells bad news." 

"Perhaps Cloud Breeze is taking a page out of your book?" Codexa tilted her helm with fondness. "Perhaps he's had a change of spark after all these stellar cycles and just wishes for peace along the border? Giving this Trine to their enemy could be a sign of mending the bridge between them." 

"It's wrong, Codexa." Termagax shook her helm and folded her arms across her chassis. "Something doesn't feel right. And it's Cloud Breeze, we all know who that is. He's practically a Prime himself now, old as slag and as stubborn as one too!" 

Her face plates lit up with shock as she realised what she'd just said and glanced down at Orion who was quietly listening in to all of this. Codexa glanced down at him and held up a single digit. 

"'Slag' is a bad word, Orion." She informed in a stern yet gentle voice. "Older 'bots are allowed to say it but seeing how you are my Apprentice, I don't ever wish to hear it being repeated from you, do we understand?" 

Orion nodded. "Uh... Yes, M-Mentor?" 

"That's good!" Codexa praised. "And when we talk about the Primes, old Cybertronians and politicians such as Shockwave and Cloud Breeze, you're also not to repeat it, alright dear? Because somebot could hurt you if they found out that we don't like them." 

"Welcome to the world of politics, kid." Termagax huffed. 

"O-ok?" Orion nodded again, still tightly holding Codexa's servo in his tiny one. Though unsure of what exactly was being said between them, he assumed the general gist of it was not to repeat whatever it was that he was hearing. 

Codexa then straightened up with her servos on her hips, optics closed and chassis puffed out. "See? Now after having one, I'm totally going to ace this the second time around." 

"Ok now you're just showing off," Termagax gave her an unimpressed look as she opened the door to the medibay using her bracelet. 

"Well?" Codexa shrugged. "It's never too late to settle down and try to get your own. I would like to see that actually, Termagax. You with your own mini version of yourself." 

"Nobot wants to see that," the other femme grunted awkwardly. "Not when we now have three versions of you running around." 

"You're such a tease," Codexa smirked, amusement glittering in her optics. From their interactions alone, Orion began to understand the relationship between these two. While Termagax initially came off as hostile, Codexa seemed to enjoy it, which was strange to him. 

As they walked, Codexa and Orion both took note of how empty the medibay was; clean too. 

"I'm actually..." Termagax slowed as they neared Wrench's office and her voice softened to a near whisper as the two friends walked side by side. "Considering it." 

"Really?" Codexa turned her helm, her face stunned as shock danced up and down her frame. "Actually?" 

"Yes," Termagax's hostility seemed to disappear as she nodded. "I'm considering becoming a Mentor. O-only because of how easy you make it look." She glanced away with an awkward chuckle. 

Codexa smiled with some pride as she looked at her friend. "It's not easy, my friend. But trust in me and rest assured knowing that I will do everything in my power to help you. How soon can I expect the invitation?" 

"This is my invitation," Termagax stated as they halted right outside the door. "Next week, in Tarn. I'm going down there to sort out a few things and pick him up. He's not ready yet, but they're making a few new factory bots - all young sparks harvested from Cybertron's core. I'm considering taking one in as my... Well, you know." 

"Not a slave though, right?" Codexa raised a brow ridge. "He cannot run around and be your little office helper, no." She shook her helm. "Your Apprentice is special to you and only you Termagax. Like with Orion here, right now," she glanced down at him and smiled to reassure the little bot. "He trusts that we will take him to see Doctor Wrench. He trusts that I will never harm him and that anything I tell him will be the truth. Yes, while you are allowed to shape them into your image, you are not allowed to exploit them." 

"I know," Termagax huffed, a look of conflict flickering behind her optics. "I know that." 

"I am aware that that may not be your intentions exactly, though observing Spring Jack and his Apprentice leads me to believe that old habits will only die hard," Codexa said.

"Spring Jack is a good Mentor," Termagax tried to defend. "He's just... Too linear." 

"I wouldn't expect someone like you to ever defend someone like him." Codexa looked shocked for a moment. 

"Look, are you coming or not?" Termagax pressed, despising all the conflicting emotions she was beginning to feel. "Aside from Spring Jack, you're my only other close, good friend. I do appreciate you bringing me here today to watch Orion, and I will consider your offer for help. So?" 

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Codexa's face plates brightened with a smile. "I'll be there, at Tarn next week. I promise." 

"I know," Termagax vented in relief as she rolled her optics. "No matter what I say you'll still show up just to tell everyone who's better at their job." 

"Hey I don't like Sentinel Prime either," Codexa huffed. 

"No, but you do love proving to everyone how great of a Mentor you are," Termagax smirked as she jabbed back. 

"Well," Codexa quickly became flustered as she looked away. "Aurora Lux seems to be quite happy and well-behaved, wouldn't you agree?" 

"Yes," Termagax nodded as the door finally opened. "That's the only reason why I agree with you on anything - you're right some of the time." 

Chapter Text

The Tarnforge, Tarn - Underground
Late Golden Age

ONLINE . . . | 

The young, grey bot soon opened his optics as his system came online. He groaned as he felt how stiff his joints were and rotated them slightly to ease the discomfort. His amber optics scanned his surroundings as he heard voices nearby. He stopped looking once he found the huddled crowd standing on the stairs not too far away from him. What stood out to him the most was a Mentor bot smiling lovingly down at her two children; one who was red and green and the other who was blue and red. He watched them tug each other's helm audial piece and squeal with happiness as the other chased the instigator around their Mentor. 

"Hush now," Codexa's voice was soft but stern as she warned Orion Pax and Aurora Lux. "He's coming online and he doesn't need to hear your racket." 

The grey bot was fascinated by the sound they were making; she had called it 'racket' yet his data informer told him that they were laughing. Joy. Pure joy in the most peaceful sense put his spark at ease as he watched the two play. 

"Hello," the young bot flinched as another soft voice erupted, a little closer to him then he realised before he glanced up and saw an amber-faced femme smiling down at him. "My name is Termagax, I was created here just like you." She then held out her servo to him and closed it so it made a fist. "I will be your Mentor." 

The young bot glanced down at the fist before he lifted his own servo, closed it and held out his fist to greet hers. "Hi." 

Termagax's face seemed to brighten as he responded quite well to her greeting. A sign of intelligence that she could not wait to explore with him. "Your designation is D-16," Termagax lowered her fist to point a digit at his chest plates where the number was written. "But I suppose that later on, if you would like, we can always choose a different name for you." 

D-16 glanced down at his chassis with wide, amber optics. Optics that he got from Termagax's genetic CNA coding specifically before he came online. She was quite happy to know that Senator Shockwave had offered her a chance to have her own ward. The technology to allow them to create their own kind was superiorly advanced in today's age. 

"Who are they?" D-16 asked as he peered around Termagax to catch a glimpse of Codexa's wards. 

"Oh, that is Codexa and her own children; Aurora Lux and Orion Pax." Termagax turned to gesture to each figure as she introduced them. "Don't feel so intimidated, Orion's only a few cycles older than you and Codexa is my... Close friend." The femme didn't know yet how to say 'best' because she didn't know if they were at that stage yet. 

"Can I go say hi?" D-16 smiled up at his Mentor with hope, tightly gripping her servo in his. He seemed quite eager to get the basics of his function down so she nodded and carefully helped him to walk over to the other young bots who were watching them with wide optics. 

Termagax couldn't help but chuckle softly as D-16 eagerly stumbled forward, tightly holding onto her servos for support yet torn between wanting to run off and chase Orion who was staring at him expectantly. 

"Aurora, play nice," Codexa warned as D-16 neared. Only when Termagax let go did he launch himself at Orion. The blue and red bot shrieked in fear as the other laughed and easily toppled him. 

"Me play nice?" Aurora huffed as she glanced at Codexa. "D's basically a warrior, look at him!" 

Orion was begging at the top of his vocals and clawing his way out from under the grey bot who laughed, sitting on him. Codexa only shook her helm and left the kids to converse with Termagax. 

"I think you aced the 'how to walk' part," Codexa greeted her friend with a small face nuzzle; gently brushing her face plates against Termagax's. 

The other grumbled softly and leaned away, however, her servos soon found Codexa's and held them tightly. "Thanks. He was so eager that I thought for a moment he was going to pull away and fall flat on his face." 

Behind them, they could Aurora shriek as D-16 leapt off Orion and began to chase her around. 

Codexa only smiled. "He is rather a little lively, isn't he?" She chuckled. 

Termagax nodded with a low hum, trouble pooling in her optics. "He might hurt himself... Or somebot else." She stated as they watched D-16 trip and go tumbling off the platform. 

Orion paused, watching carefully by the edge as the grey bot grunted, picked himself back up and leapt back onto the platform with ease. Orion screeched and took off as he laughed hysterically when the other gave chase again. 

"I'm sure with an intelligent and brave Mentor such as yourself that he's going to be just fine." Codexa spared a glance up at her friend. "And you know that if there's any ever trouble, I'll always help you out." 

"I know," Termagax watched as D-16 came to a halt and watched Aurora tip-toe along the edge of the platform on the other side of the Forge. There was a primal look in his optic as he stood, calculating the right moment to give chase. "I just... I was so happy to finally get my own Mentee and now I'm just worried about either regretting it or if I made the wrong choice." 

"You won't," Codexa glanced over to watch as Orion pounced on D-16; the grey bot yelping as they went down together and her youngest laughed in victory. "He'll have friends and family watching over him." 

Chapter Text

The Senate Building, Nova Cronum - Cybertron
Late Golden Age

"You're going to love it!" Aurora Lux's words weren't so much a threat but more so a promise as her yellow optics sparkled with hope while she dragged poor Orion Pax down the hallway. A quiet D-16 was following them, his own amber-coloured optics scanning the hallway's walls to briefly admire all the portraits of elderly and ancient bots - those that had come before them. 

"Do we have to go?" Orion whined, struggling against his sister's persistent grip. "I was having a nice projection in recharge!" 

"Is there ever a time when you're not projecting, Pax?" D-16 turned his helm to scoff playfully at the other. It earned him a huff, which he chuckled at, however, Orion's attention was soon drawn back to Aurora as they reached a large, golden doorway. 

"Now you have to be super quiet or we'll get kicked out!" She instructed, leaning over them as she held up a slender digit. 

D-16 leaned back on his peds, grinning with mischief as he watched her place a servo on the door. Only when she began to lean against it with a small grunt of effort did he tilt his helm back and scream. 

"AHHH! SOMEBOT HELP! HELP!" D-16 was waving his arms frantically about as he shouted. "There's Antroids crawling on me!" 

"Shh!" Aurora quickly turned back around to scold him as Orion laughed. "Shut up! I can't lose my job, Mentor will be very mad at me!" 

She huffed and shook her helm as the Factory-made Tarnbot jumped around, scratching at invisible, tiny, antroids that weren't there. 

"We sh-should be doing something more fun! Haha," Orion stuttered out in between laughs as he watched D-16, still holding his older sister's servo. 

D-16 soon went silent and froze as the door opened and frowned slightly at the amber face that peered past Aurora to squint at him. "Uh oh." 

"What are you two doing!?" Termagax hissed as she opened the door. "The meeting's about to start, we can't have wards running around making noise!" 

"I know," Aurora began to plead, standing protectively in front of the younger bots. "And I'm so sorry, I told them to be quiet, and -"

The older femme's amber optics narrowed harshly on Aurora's face plates as she seethed. "All of you be quiet! This meeting is very important to Codexa, now get inside and stay where I can see you, and don't make any noise!"

"And don't let them see you," D-16 huffed quietly, rolling his optics when Termagax had her backstrut turned to them. 

Orion Pax seemed to share in his downtrodden nature, but the two followed Aurora Lux behind closely regardless. Termagax reached out to place a firm yet gentle grip on D-16's shoulderstrut and dragged him and Orion into the darkness to be seated in the Archivists' Assembly. D-16 glanced up at her, raising a brow ridge in confusion. 

Termagax shook her helm. "Aurora must be seated with Xaaron, this is also her job too." 

D-16 vented heavily, robust arms folded across his thick chassis as he leaned back in the massive chair, glaring at Proteus as he entered. Orion Pax shuffled up beside him, and with sparkling, baby blue optics, he grinned at him. 

"What?" D-16's optics shifted slightly to glare at him. 

"Can I sit with you?" Orion pouted, gesturing to the massive chairs. "I can't reach mine." 

"Find something to step on," D-16 shrugged and shook his helm. "Give yourself a leg up."

"I don't have a good seat!" The red and blue bot huffed in D-16's face. "I can't see the Senate behind your big aft helm!" 

D-16 raised a brow ridge at him but couldn't hide the smirk forming on his face plates. "Wow, look at you go. You do listen to me." 

"Only when you say something interesting," Orion Pax shrugged as he glanced over at Proteus, watching for a brief moment as he introduced the Council. "So can I share or not?" 

Termagax turned to glare down at them and they shrunk back from her angry look. 

"Uh, fine," D-16 nodded and quickly shuffled to the side to give Orion enough room - which there was plenty enough. He glared at the Iaconian as he clambered up and excitedly leaned forward to make out the silhouettes of the Senators stationed above and all around them. 

D-16 then leaned over so he could whisper into Orion's audial. "See that white and gold bot over there? The one with the blue optics like yours?" 

Orion nodded as D-16 pointed in their direction. 

"That's Senator Shockwave, of Tarn." D-16's optics brightened with a little pride. 

"Cool!" Orion whispered as he leaned forward to get a good look at the young Senator. 

However, he didn't have to because he soon stood, rising with a few others to address the Council. D-16's optics flickered warily up to Termagax, making sure that her attention wasn't on them before he turned and nudged Orion to look in the direction of a tall, red, and dark grey bot with bright, green optics. 

"And that's Sentinel Prime," D-16 smiled, having remembered him from the images that Termagax had made him study on the subtrain ride here. 

"Cybertron's leader?" Orion's face plates were full of awe. 

D-16 shrugged. "Eh, kinda? I haven't finished studying him yet, I just know who he is an' what he looks like." 

"Shh!" The two flinched and quickly looked up to see Termagax glaring down at them.

"'Sorry," D-16 mumbled as he glanced down. 

"We're sorry!" Orion Pax whispered loudly.

Termagax only vented and briefly offlined her optics for a moment before she turned her attention back to the Council. D-16's optics slid over to a large, white shadow before one of the overhang spotlights slid across and landed on him. D-16 then leaned forward to hold onto one of Termagax's shoulders as he asked softly in her audial. 

"Mentor, who's that?" He nodded in the white Senator's direction. 

"That's Cloud Breeze," Termagax sounded neutral as she explained, her back still turned to him. "He's the Senator of Vos. Remember? That big, white Seeker we saw earlier?" 

D-16 slid back with a nod. "Oh."

The spotlights then landed on quite an odd pair of bots and Orion frowned at their physique as he asked a little louder, being the furthest away from Termagax. "Who are they?" 

"Senator Nightstrike of Tetrahex," Termagax narrowed her optics in annoyance at how loud he was. "And his Usurper, Airachnid." 

"Why do they look different?" Orion tilted his helm at her and one of the nearby Archivists who overheard chuckled, glancing in their direction. D-16 then lifted his helm to look up at the Tetrahex Senators and noticed the odd and bizarre forms they inhabited. 

Termagax turned her helm to glare at Orion slightly. "All bots on Cybertron look different, Pax." She hissed, "you and D-16 don't look the same." 

The two glanced between themselves and took notice of the fine details that separated them. D-16 was bulkier, strongly built, and had much larger servos and legstruts than Orion did. His optics were larger, and rounder and his helm was thicker too. He bore the signature amber-coloured optics that most Tarnished had - prime for seeing in the dark or underground. D-16 had thick, black treads already lined with dust. Meanwhile, Orion Pax had a much sleeker frame, though still bulky, but nowhere near as enhanced as D-16 was. Orion's optics were smaller and a clean, clear signature Iaconian blue. His helm resembled that of a Knight's rather than being one suited for practical work. Orion’s hover wheels were brand new and had barely touched the ground; an advanced form of transportation. Orion looked like he stepped out of a picture while D-16 looked like a typical mining bot. 

Orion frowned as he noticed this. 

"But we don't have extra limbs or wing panels," D-16 muttered softly, his ego hurt but he favoured changing the topic to steer it away from him and Orion. 

"True," Termagax nodded, not knowing the damage her previous words had dealt. She shrugged as she glanced at the Tetrahexians. "Call it evolution, then." 

That didn't leave Orion satisfied as he frowned hard at her turned backstrut. He glanced over at D-16 with concerned optics but the other shrugged it off and returned to watching the Senate unfold. Orion frowned at the mimicry he found D-16 following with Termagax. 

Proteus then called the Senate into Recess and the crowd diverged to split off into its usual cliques. Orion Pax straightened up beside D-16 to peer over the crowd to spot the helms of his sister or Mentor. His optics brightened as he watched Codexa approach them from the darkness, wearing her usual warm and friendly smile. 

"So," Termagax addressed her first as she leaned back in her chair. "Sentinel's here?" 

The green femme nodded. "Yes, I was rather surprised just the same as everybot else." 

She then hummed and carefully stepped behind Termagax's chair to scoop D-16 and Orion Pax into her embrace. "Were you two behaving for Termagax?" She asked, hiding her smirk behind their shoulders. 

"Yes," D-16 huffed while Orion eagerly nodded. 

"Where's Aurora?" The red and blue bot asked as he strained to see her in the crowd. 

"She's chosen to converse with Xaaron and Sentinel at this time." Codexa leaned back to look down at them, her gentle servos still holding either one's arm. "She stated that at this Senate's conclusion, she'll be coming to Iacon with us to see off Zeta Primon." 

Codexa then paused as she frowned over at Termagax. "If you're... Allowing D-16 and yourself to join us?" 

The dull, grey bot glanced over expectantly at his Mentor. Termagax vented but gave in with a nod. "Yes, fine. I trust that you have space for us to recharge for the evening?" 

"Of course!" Codexa eagerly straightened up as she turned to address her friend; she seemed more excited than the Mentees were about hanging out this evening. "I'll always have room for you. Both of you."

Termagax shook her helm and rolled her optics. "Why must you always be so positive? Nay, so forward?" 

Codexa grinned as her friend chuckled. "Well, I do have some exciting news to share with you. Perhaps it can be saved over a high-grade cube of Iacon's finest energon?" 

Termagax raised her brow ridge with a smirk. "That does sound rather nice. I'll consider it if this meeting goes well," she turned her helm to squint down at the cliques assembling below. "It seems rather cold in there today. Will you be speaking?" 

Codexa shook her helm. "I have already addressed all who I need to." She began. "I shall not be speaking unless Sentinel calls me forward." 

"They're discussing the global idea of a fully Functionalist Cybertron," Termagax hummed in disapproval as she glanced over at the High-grid bots converging at the Centre. "No good can come out of this." 

"Well, at least Senator Shockwave seems to be sharing that same mindset?" Codexa offered a friendly smile. 

Termagax nodded, her gaze straying from Sentinel, Xaaron and Aurora to peer above where Shockwave would've been seated. "Strange... He's not sitting there with Momus or Drivetrain." 

"I did hear that he had some rather confronting news to share with Senator Cloud Breeze," Codexa grunted as she lifted up the two Mentees and swung them slightly so she could sit in their massive chair. They giggled as she rested both of them in her lap. "Hopefully it's good news." 

Termagax shook her helm. "Nothing good is happening in Tarn right now." 

Codexa studied her friend's face plates for a moment as she bit her lower lip plate before she leaned forward and whispered. "Senator Shockwave's offering a trade deal to Iacon. If all goes well, he'll need a representative." 

Termagax turned her helm to raise a brow ridge at her and scoffed. "You want me watching trains?" 

Codexa shrugged and sheepishly looked away. "Well, not exactly... It's an excuse, rather! An excuse for you to spend more time with us." 

Termagax stared at Codexa's face plates before she blinked and glanced down at D-16 who was squirming in Codexa's grip quite fiercely; trying to get a closer look at one of the High-grid Senators. 

Termagax softly vented. "He should be raised in Tarn." 

Codexa frowned at hearing how sad she was. "I..." But there were no words to express her guilt of overstepping her boundaries. Even if she talked up the schools there were in Iacon, it wouldn't be the same. Termagax was a proud patriot at spark, she'd want her ward to experience and be raised as a Tarnished, just like her. The green femme bowed her helm in apology and looked away. 

"I could offer you a voice?" Codexa raised her helm a few moments later with the usual twinkle in her baby, blue optics. "You keep saying that somebot should challenge the Senate's views. If watching trains in Iacon is a start, why not take it?" 

"It's a ped in the door," Termagax shrugged as she gazed out over the Council. "A start, I suppose."

Codexa eagerly nodded. "Everybot in Iacon has deeply admired your theories and your lectures are still being studied thoroughly. You have people who'll listen to you. That's your support. With Senator Shockwave on your side, you could gain more of a following and a higher seat of power." 

Codexa tilted her helm to smirk at Termagax, though it was D-16 who was watching the green Iaconian quite closely with wide, curious optics. 

"But what would happen to Shockwave?" The amber-faced Tarnished huffed. "He's a good bot, I don't want to see another like us go to waste." 

"Party representatives are stronger when they're united towards a common goal," Codexa stated. "You two could become quite the powerhouse on the Tarnished political front. Maybe even challenge Sentinel helm on?" 

"Whoa," Termagax turned and smiled at her friend. "Slow your engines there, 'Dex. No sane bot wants to challenge Sentinel, especially helm on. He's a bolt case. I mean even if we had a large enough following, one of us could still end up 'missing'." 

Termagax then squinted down at D-16. 

"Turn off your audials." She instructed coldly.

"Why?" The dull, grey bot raised a brow ridge at her. 

"You're eavesdropping." 

With a dissatisfied huff, D-16 turned his helm away but obliged by reaching up to turn the dial down on his inner helm so he could block out all the surrounding noises the Council had to offer. 

Recess was nearing its end and Codexa pouted at Termagax. "So are you coming to Iacon tonight?" Her voice was so soft and tender, it sparked something in Termagax that she did not want ignited; not here, not now. 

So she brushed her friend off and vented as she nodded her helm. "Yes, yes, I'll be there. Now go before they notice your absence." 

She gently pushed Codexa out of the chair, catching Orion as he tripped and swiftly placed him in his Mentor's spot. Termagax then turned and carefully adjusted D-16's audial dial before she glanced over her shoulderstrut, worriedly to witness Codexa disappearing back into the crowd. 

"I saw Primon!" Orion Pax eagerly stated as he looked at Termagax. "I can't believe he's here too!" 

Termagax hushed him before she returned to her seat and vividly watched the Council unfold. The discussion of a Cybertron-wide Functionalist narrative was then approved, much to her distaste, with the exception of Tetrahex and Vos. Then, the topic of Shockwave offering a trade deal with Iacon came up next, and Termagax leaned forward to catch as much as possible what was being said.

"Tarn wishes to propose a trade deal with Iacon, Senator Xaaron." Senator Shockwave began, clasping his servos in front of him. "Do I have your confirmation of this proposal?" 

"You do now," Xaaron chuckled as he tilted his helm, somewhat caught off guard by the sudden news. The Iaconian Senator then turned to Sentinel Prime for confirmation of the proposal. But before he could nod in agreement, Proteus' voice echoed throughout the chamber and Termagax's spark flickered for a moment. 

"Senator of Vos wishes to address the Council in full."

"I have some news regarding Senator Shockwave as an individual." Cloud Breeze rose to his peds to survey the Council as his voice boomed. "This matter does not concern the representative of Tarn, nor its citizens."

Termagax's amber optics narrowed at the Seeker with suspicion. 

Sentinel Prime turned his helm to narrow his optics at the Vosian Senator and began to interrupt when Cloud Breeze stared him down. 

"No, this isn't some petty, personal matter, Prime." The white Seeker spat. "This is a matter in regards to Senator Shockwave's decline in his brain module, in regards to his mental health."

Silence swept over the Council as all optics were on Cloud Breeze. 

"Senator Shockwave is grieving due to the loss of his recent Apprentice, Sky. A Vosian forged member which we offered him in peace. Except, however, Senator Shockwave has clearly abused and mistreated this kind gesture which led to the death of not only one but two Vosian, young lives, both of whom were entrusted into his care!"

D-16 stared up at the Vosian Senator in shock. Then ever so slowly he turned his helm and stared at Senator Shockwave, the representative of Tarn - one of his kin. The small, dull-grey bot couldn't believe Shockwave to be capable of such a thing. His amber optics then landed on Termagax's backstrut and he wondered as the circulation hiccuped in his vents, if she was maybe capable of hurting him too. 

"No..." Orion Pax's face plates softened with sadness. "They were just like us. Kids."

D-16 then frowned angrily at Shockwave. "How could he do this!?" He seethed quietly, optics burning with anger. 

"I suggest," Cloud Breeze held a servo to his chassis as he gave a sly smirk. "That for his punishment, Senator Shockwave must undergo Empurata." 

The Council erupted into a chorus of outcry. Chaos swarmed the shadows as the other Councillors either leapt to Shockwave's defence or jumped on the sub track to demonise him further. Termagax quickly rose to put herself between the wards and the Council. Her large servos quickly came to cover Orion's audials as she hissed at D-16. 

"Stay still." She instructed, panic swimming behind her amber optics. "Stay still, keep your helm down and don't ever draw attention to yourself when the Senate is like this!"

"Why?" D-16 leaned forward, whispering. He muffled his audials with his servos to indicate that he wasn't listening to any whispering conspiracies. 

"Because if they even think that you're plotting against them in any way, you might get dragged off too!" termagax hissed as she leaned over them, wrapping herself around the young bots. Her spark felt heavy with dread as she watched the Senate unfold. 

She watched Shockwave cry out as the guards swooped in on him and dragged him off into the darkness. The last thing she saw of her Senator and friend was the utter look of hurt and betrayal as his optics became watery. She bowed her helm and once the Senate was over, Codexa had to coax her to release the wards.

Aurora looked exhausted and wide-optic as she joined her Mentor's side. They reunited and turned to leave the Senate. D-16 glanced over his shoulderstrut, narrowing his gaze as he noticed Sentinel Prime approaching Primon by the Head of the Senate.

Trion Plaza, Iacon - Above Ground
Early Functionalist Era

Orion Pax's face was shining with excitement as his little digits tightly grasped Termagax's servo. It was rare that he ever got the opportunity to hold her servo; however, when she was around, he always acted in his best manner. Codexa often asked her to hold him while she held D-16's servo in exchange. A new difference but one that neither party minded. Just up ahead, D-16's armour was spiked as he marched beside Codexa, his optics wide and scanning everything that was in their vicinity. Codexa walked beside him rather gracefully, her helm high and her movements fluid. On Codexa's other side, Aurora Lux was walking quickly, helm down as she hummed, studying the latest news updates on her HUD. Orion smiled as he watched how protective D-16 was with his Mentor, it was nice and felt reassuring to know that his best friend cared about his family. He then turned his helm and stared up at Termagax. He knew better than to bug her with questions; however, he tightened his grip a little, and that was enough to get her attention. She squinted her optics down at him. "Yes?" 

"Have you been to Iacon before?" He stared doe-eyed up at her. 

Termagax offlined her optics, nodded and reopened them to look down at him as she spoke. "Yes, plenty of times." She jerked his servo softly with a tender smile. "I was even here when you were Forged, remember?"

"Oh," Orion looked away to think, then he frowned out of embarrassment. "Right." 

Termagax's circuits whirred as she chuckled. "You'll have to come visit me and D-16 in Tarn someday." 

That quickly captured Orion's attention once more as he stared up at her. "Really?!" 

"Of course, when your Mentor is alright with it." Termagax slid her optics warily to stare at Codexa's backstrut. 

The emerald femme straightened up as she halted and pointed a slender digit at one of the ships parked out on the fields that surrounded the plaza. 

"That one is the Unitrex-1," she beamed. "It's the original, bigger ship of the two. Fully equipped with quantum engines and its own self-functioning oil reservoir."

"That's so cool," D-16's frame lessened as his mind was briefly distracted by the amazing sight. The large ship was painted in pale golden hues and sat the furthest away from the shipyard, out in the open. 

"It hasn't been used in centuries since we've developed Space Bridge technology." Codexa sounded sad, but she continued to smile. "Today, it's used as a historical and educational piece of the past that still lingers." 

"Nova Prime's ship?" Termagax asked as she halted beside her friend to stare out over the fields. 

Codexa shook her helm. "The Ark-1 is stationed behind the Iaconian Palace. However, its twin, Ark-2 should be here." She hummed as she turned around to look for it. "They're almost identical." 

"Nova Prime had the Ark-1 built shortly after The Catalyst," Termagax began. "With Prima's absence, Alpha Prime named Nova as her successor. Nova Prime then designed and built the ship, his plan was to expand trade routes throughout the universe." 

"To our colonies?" Orion asked as he stared at her with wide optics.

"Probably." Termagax eyed Codexa. 

"Our colony Titans left a few centuries after The Catalyst and settled many lightyears afterward," Aurora commented just as Codexa exclaimed and pointed in the opposite direction. 

"Ah, there she is! D, look!" She became very excited as she crouched and gently turned the little bot's helm in the direction of a large, majestic, golden ship. "That's the Ark-2! Second largest ship ever built in Iacon!" 

"She's beautiful," Termagax nodded in agreement. 

"Wow!" Orion brightened as he followed his Mentor's gaze and saw the massive, regal ship sitting upright with its hull pointed to the stars. The sky was beginning to darken as dusk settled in and the stars were illuminated by the setting sun. The Mentors walked with their Mentees along the plaza until they reached the catwalk leading over to the platform by one of the ships known as the Titan, a recently developed ship used for transporting Royals. Aurora was the first to perk up as she recognised a gold and midnight blue mech standing tall by the ship's port. 

"Zeta!" D-16 startled as Aurora Lux swiped her HUD away and ran as fast as her sleek legs would carry her. 

Zeta Primon smiled as he watched her run up the catwalk and tightly wrap her arms around him. He crouched as she made contact so when she embraced him, he wrapped his own arms around her and lifted her high into the air to twirl her around. The pair laughed before he carefully set her back down and kissed the top of her helm. 

He then turned and smiled as Codexa's group approached him. He held out his arms expectantly with a charming grin, embracing Codexa and kissing her on the cheek. "There are my beautiful femmes!" 

D-16 shuffled back to hide behind Codexa as he warily examined the bigger mech, though he still bravely held the emerald femme's servo. Orion Pax stared at Zeta inquisitively before he reached up with his servos out. Zeta obliged and stepped forward to gently embrace him. "And my gorgeous mech!" 

Zeta then straightened up and grinned at Termagax. "Professor Termagax." 

"Zeta Primon," the Tarnished bowed her helm curtly. 

Zeta then squinted past Codexa to smirk at D-16. "And who's this? Why, I don't believe that we've quite met yet, young mech!" Zeta smiled as he held out his giant servo to the little bot. "I'm-"

"You're Zeta Primon!" D-16's optics were wide as he hugged Codexa's side, his circuits vibrating with raw excitement. "By Primus! Y-you're Sentinel Prime's brother!" 

"I sure am!" Zeta nodded. 

Termagax hissed and gently nudged her ward out from behind Codexa. "Don't be rude." 

"O-oh," D-16 flinched and quickly stepped out of Codexa's shadow. "Right, er, sorry, Sir. I-I'm D-16, f-from Tarn! I-I'm Termagax's ward." 

"Oh nice!" Zeta chuckled, noticing the electrifying energy the little bot was trying his best to contain as they shook servos. "Well it is quite the honour to meet you too, D-16." 

"He's our other Mentor!" Aurora pointed at him eagerly. "Codexa's Conjunx Endurae." 

D-16 noticed the awkward tension between Zeta, Codexa and Termagax, though nothing was ever spoken, he assumed that whatever was keeping them quiet couldn't have been good. Orion and Aurora on the other servo were ecstatic to see him. 

"We just arrived back from Nova Cronum," Termagax informed rather bluntly. "Sentinel was there." 

Zeta looked down, turmoil swimming in his golden optics. "I see." 

"Everything will be alright," Codexa stepped forward to gently cup her partner's face. "Please don't worry yourself about us." 

Zeta smiled sadly at her as he brought his servos up to gently clasp hers. "You know I'll worry." He glanced past Codexa to look at Termagax as he said, "but I won't worry so much with your friend here. Is she staying long?" 

Codexa turned expectantly. 

"Only for the evening," the amber-faced femme informed. "We don't wish to trouble you while you're away." 

"Nonsense!" Zeta Primon straightened up, chassis puffed out defensively. "In fact, you would do me some good if you stayed during my absence. I am aware that my wife tends to worry. Perhaps having a friend around will ease her processor a bit?" 

The adults looked at each other, but nothing was said. Zeta then turned to Aurora Lux. "Take care of your Mentor and Orion for me, alright?" 

The green and blue femme nodded. "Yes." 

"Where are you going?" D-16 asked. 

"To Caminus!" Zeta beamed as he clasped his servos together. "I am leaving to strengthen ties between our homeworld and their colony. I will be going through their traditions and experiencing their culture. While I am there, I am also going to commune with Solus Prime and the Mistress of Flame's Council in regards to our Energon trades." 

"Energon?" Orion tilted his helm up at him as he asked. 

Zeta nodded. "Caminus isn't like Cybertron, their energon supply is limited. They rely on us for most of their imports." 

"Long past has the time come when we shipped energon off," Termagax began. "Why aren't we putting this through the Space Bridges?" 

Zeta huffed, not quite happy to inform them. "See that blue ship over by the plaza? The one with the silver and white hull?" 

The three Mentees collectively turned their helms to squint at said ship. "Yeah."

"That's the Camien Star," Zeta informed them, servos on his hipstruts. "It's been out of operation for sixteen stellar cycles. We've recently received word from Junkion about a scientist there getting a case of the Rust Plague." 

Termagax's helm swiftly turned so she was staring at Zeta. "The Rust Plague?" 

Zeta nodded, his golden face plates grim. "Yes. We've shut down all Space Bridges coming in and out of Junkion. We're unsure where exactly that science team went but we're keeping a close optic everywhere else. Hence why I am heading to Caminus by ship to lessen the chances of infection among my crew. I must travel there to inform and advise them as well as update their security." 

"Safe travels," Codexa smiled sadly, lubricant shimmering in her optics as Zeta's bodyguards marched down the ramp and stood on either side of him. 

"So are you going to repair the Camien Star and put her back into use?" Termagax asked. "For how long?" 

"Until we find a cure for the rust infection," Zeta spoke. "Until then, it's my priority as Primon Advisor to address and raise any security concerns regarding the citizens of any Cybertronian-related planet." 

"Sir," a blue femme stepped forward and nodded at him. She was no taller than Aurora but her stance alone told D-16 that she was a warrior. "It's time." 

"Ship's rigged and ready for take off, Sir." A red, sleek mech stood on his other side. 

Zeta smiled and gestured to them. "Codexa, you already recognise and trust my top warriors, gifted to me by our lovely Camien cousins. Kids, please meet noble and experienced comrades, Chromia and Dino. Siblings like you, they were raised by one, an extremely fierce and intelligent lieutenant back on Caminus." 

Orion and D-16 stared in awe at the warriors who smiled and gave a small wave. 

"It'll be good to go back and finally see home again," Chromia placed her servos on her hipstruts. 

"True, I love Cybertron but I do miss Magrada." Dino nodded in agreement. 

The group's attention was then caught by the sound of screaming Cyberjet engines as a pair of Seekers streaked overhelm. 

"Sir," Chromia looked to Zeta. "It's time." 

The Primon squinted his optics to catch the identity of his ship's escorts. "Ah, this should be good. It's Aero Raid." 

"The usual," Dino shrugged with a grin before he and his sister turned to march back up the ramp. They waited by the port for their charge to follow. 

Zeta glanced at Codexa, concern lining his EMF. "Was Cloud Breeze at the Senate?" 

Termagax nodded. "Yes." 

"He wasn't in quite a friendly mood," Codexa murmured, not looking at him. 

Zeta frowned as he pressed a digit to his commsunit. "Zeta to Iacon Air Tower. Have you spotted anything unusual?" 

A moment later static crackled through. "No Sir. Only three active Vosians are situated in Iacon. all near your location, ready for takeoff." 

Zeta's frown darkened. "I only see two." 

D-16 glanced over as he saw a small bot standing by the plaza, completely on his own. His wide, blue optics staring up at the sky, wing tips perked and servos tightly gripping the rail in anticipation. He looked no older than Orion. 

"Never mind," Zeta quickly called off the security concerns. "I have a visual, it's a spawn. He's on the ground." 

"Yep," the static cackled again. "That lines up with our intel. Safe travels." 

"Thank you," Zeta turned as he disconnected from the communications and gently kissed Codexa's cheek once more. "Please smile more, it makes me smile." 

Codexa tried her best, despite the darkness threatening to pull her down. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "Just come home." 

They pulled away and Zeta kissed the helms of his two Mentees before he nodded his helm curtly in farewell to Termagax and D-16. "Well, it was nice to meet you, D."

Zeta grinned as he gave a salute, D-16 beamed and eagerly tried to copy it. "Yes, Sir!" 

"I want to go to Caminus," Aurora whined. 

"Maybe one day," Zeta glanced at her. "When it's safer." 

"Can you bring us back something!?" Orion beamed and his father nodded. 

"Of course, but only if you behave and take care of your Mentor." 

With the goodbyes finally completed, Zeta turned and marched up the ramp as the jets streamed overhelm again. D-16 tilted his helm back to squint up at the sky. 

"You should watch this," Aurora was glowing with excitement. "It's always fun to see the ships take off!" 

Once inside the Titan, Zeta made sure the airlocks were secure before he strode into the center console of command. Just as he went to announce himself, Aero Raid's voice crackled over the PA. 

"Welcome to Aero Raid's airways, we're very happy to be flying with you today. As you can see, there's beautiful skies over Iacon with the dusk coming in from the North-East. Wind speed is currently measured at 82 kilometers per mega-cycle, so this should be a breeze. Not a cloud in the sky, Iacon's anti-aircraft artillery has been disabled for the next 40 arcs, ensuring a safe travel to Cybertron's upper atmosphere given by yours truly. With all that being said, can I please get center control command to relax and sit back while I fly us out? No touchy touchy on those pesky controls while I'm leading, thank you very much. If this is your first time aboard the ship, hello my designation is Aero Raid and I will be proxy flying you to the stars, please say Fem to Zeta Primon if you see him on board for me. No need to panic if the lights suddenly go out, that'll just be me connecting and disconnecting from the Titan's mainframe. Standard procedure should follow as normal in the case of an emergency, secure Zeta and escort him out of the danger zone, please stay away from any exposed air lock areas and flail your arms about should you need help; Vos' military will reach you within about 22 astroseconds. And that's it for today, safe travels to Caminus, remember to follow what your captain says and don't hug any aliens! This has been Aero Raid's airways, thank you for listening and please come home in one piece." 

Zeta shook his helm and chuckled. In almost every takeoff he'd ever had, Aero Raid had always been the one to connect to his ship and guide them out. He was familiar with the Seeker despite not yet having the opportunity to meet him in person. He felt more at ease as his flight staff relaxed back and joked, laughing with each other as they allowed the controls to idle once the thrusters had been engaged. 

'Welcome aboard the Titan.' An automated voice boomed next. A massive screen flickered to life in front of them, confirming everything that Aero Raid had just stated about the wind speed and air temperature. A number of statistics were off to one side, letting them know their altitude. Not far off the ground but high enough for the Seekers to circle overhelm and connect to the Titan's mainframe for proxy flight successfully. 

"You should get him a medal," Chromia huffed, but there was a smirk on her face plates. 

"I'm thinking of it," Zeta smiled. "I'm sure he'd enjoy that." 

"Ah, we'd never hear the end of it." Dino chuckled. 

There were a few gasps as the lights in the ship went out, though Zeta suspected that they were the rookies and first-time fliers on board. Most of his crew remained calm and mainly conversed as the proxy flight commenced. 

Outside, standing at a safe distance, the group watched as the duo of Seekers circled over the Titan. 

"What are they doing?" Orion squinted. 

"One of them is connecting to the Titan." Termagax offered to explain and Codexa allowed her to. "See the one that's stopped just above the ship? He's connecting to its mainframe, so it can be attached to him. Then he'll turn and pilot the ship into orbit. He flies the ship as if he were flying. The other one's purpose is to notify and alert the proxy of any incoming projectiles or attacks. He acts as the optics for the proxy, since they won't be able to see everything. The second Seeker usually patrols the ship during entry point to ensure that no airlocks are open or the hull doesn't break." 

"That's... Complicated." D-16 frowned, watching the Titan closely.

Codexa nodded. "For us to understand, it is. But to a Seeker, especially ones experienced like they are, this is merely like piloting a large drone."

"They've done this numerous times," Termagax tried to reassure her ward. 

"There's usually more of them in Ancient times when Cybertron's atmosphere was littered with hostile, alien life forms and prying invaders," Aurora murmured as she watched. "But nowadays, Cybertron's become a massive intergalactic empire, there's little need for such overkill. The standard procedure requires a minimum of two experienced Seeker pilots." 

On the ground, the group watched as the Titan engaged its thrusters, hull pointed to the early evening stars lining Cybertron's skies. The black and gold Seeker above turned in tune with the massive ship and activated his own thrusters. Soon they flew together, as if attached by an invisible tether. The purple and white Seeker continued to circle the ship as his partner led it out of the City's airspace and into the upper atmosphere. 

The Titan was heavy, but a ship that Aero Raid was quite used to piloting. His grid vision was sprawled out before his third optic and he couldn't be happier to see clear skies. To the far right was the silhouette of Trypticon Station piloting over Vos and the South East of Iacon. Higher up in Cybertron's orbit were more advanced and newer stations. Aero Raid guided the Titan out through the clear stream of stars and eventually departed from it. He pulled from the mainframe, cleanly cutting the connection and returned to his own HUD. In the upper atmosphere he transformed into robot mode, hovering beside Jumpbarrel as they waved the ship off. 

"I never tire of this job," the black Seeker grinned. 

"The ship's lookin' good." Jumpbarrel nodded. "Safe exit and hopefully just as safe re-entry in a few orbital cycles." 

The two then flipped in the air, transformed back into Cyberjets and shot back down into Cybertron's sky. Aero Raid tilted his flaps, pinging his spawn for location. Air Raid eventually responded, telling them that he was standing on the Plaza. 

D-16 watched as the small Cyberjet flexed his thin wings up. He suddenly ran back from the rail and held his arms up in the air with an excited look. His wingtips twitched with unrestrained energy. The dull grey bot then glanced, watching as the two Seekers broke through the sound barrier, turned and flew right at the group. He felt Codexa's servo gently pull him closer to her as they approached but there was no fear in her movements. D-16 watched as one of the jets transformed, flying in robot mode and a second later he scooped up the spawn standing near them on the Plaza; plucking him up as if he barely weighed a thing. D-16's optics widened in surprise as the young Seeker squealed before he was thrown into the air. They watched as he transformed into a smaller version of the black and gold jet and flew above his Mentor's canopy, leaving behind a strong gust of wind. 

"Did you see that!?" Orion Pax beamed, looking at him. 

The three jets then shot higher and higher into the sky where the evening clouds hid them from view as the sounds of their engines faded. 

"That was awesome!" D-16 nodded. 

4th Floor of the Observatory, Iacon - Above Ground
Early Functionalist Era

"Thank you, Beta." Codexa hummed sweetly into her comms unit, situated in her left arm panel, just a few inches beneath her emerald armour where the midnight blue screen reflected her voice module. "We won't be out for too long." 

"That's alright, sweetspark." Codexa's Mentor's vocals cracked through the near crisp, clean static rather tiredly yet happily. "You spend as much time as you need with that friend of yours. Don't worry for the children." 

Termagax watched intently as Codexa nodded, farewelled her former Mentor and dialled the commsunit off before her delicate and slender, pale silver digits carefully slid the armour back over the panel. Codexa's gorgeous, blue optics then reunited with her amber face plates and a soft, warm smile greeted her. 

"You're staring," she purred. Termagax scoffed and quickly looked away, shame rising quickly beneath her armour. Her actions only served to amuse Codexa as the other femme chuckled. "I didn't say it was a bad thing~" 

Termagax narrowed her amber optics at the wall, trying to ignore every notification popping up on her HUD to inform her that her companion was creeping closer. Whereas any other bot, those notifications would've been warnings and Termagax would've flipped into her defenses without a second thought. But not for Codexa. She didn't understand when exactly it had begun, or why this particular femme had her wrapped around those pretty digits of hers, but Termagax felt relaxed and calm in the other's presence. She hated to even think of that word, but she couldn't deny that if this was what 'love' truly felt like, then it only burned her spark to know that she couldn't have her. 

"Terma," Codexa teased softly as her servos gently cupped her face plates and turned her helm so the Tarnbot was staring into her concerned optics. "Are you alright?" 

Termagax leaned back, out of the Iaconian's reach and vented heavily. "A lot has happened today." 

Codexa didn't look hurt as she slithered back, giving her friend some space. She was rather used to this behaviour by now and felt it best to let her companion settle and come to her - furthering her advances would only cause an unwanted fight and she despised lengthening that divide between them. 

"I'm here," Codexa kept her servos to herself for now, using them to hug her frame as she sat on the floor, waiting patiently for her friend to vent as her soft voice calmed her. "You can tell me."

Termagax's face plates twisted into an expression of anger and frustration. "I don't understand how you can sit there and not be stressed about all of this!"

The two of them were sitting on the pristine, marbled floor of the Iacon Observatory. After hours, the location had been closed, but as the Conjunx Endurae of the current Primon Advisor, Codexa had many privileges. One such was a private screening between her and her closest friend. They'd brought a few cubes of soft, pink high grade energon and even a luxury, wooled blanket from another planet to cushion the floor beneath them. It was romantic in Codexa's optics, and she'd hoped that the setting would help Termagax destress, but she frowned as she feared that maybe it was sending the wrong message. Was she too comfortable? Was she merely flaunting her wealth and power to somebot less fortunate than her? 
She hadn't meant to. Surely Termagax knew that. The Observatory's roof was open so they could gaze up at Cybertron's stars, hours after Zeta had already departed from their atmosphere. 

Codexa tilted her helm, averting her gaze to appear less threatening as she pondered her choice of words carefully. But her companion continued on before she could open her intake. 

"Ushering in the very reason for your oppression! Enforcing it across all of Cybertron! How could you stand by and simply just let that happen?!" 

Codexa bowed her helm and did not answer. 

"'Everyone's shape serves a purpose.' Alright, Ex, so what does yours serve?" Termagax's glare intensified as she gestured toward her. "Being Zeta Primon's glitch?" 

Codexa offlined her optics, her systems hiccuping as the question stung her spark. She did not react or retaliate, she did not want to fight. 

"No," Termagax softened before she gave another barrage. "You're Sentinel's glitch. Both of you are!" 

"Please stop." Codexa found her voice but she chose to beg. Her non-confrontational nature has been a core part of her manufacturing for a long time. If she ever removed it, she would not feel like herself. A double-edged sword, but she was fine with the way she'd been programmed. She could understand and feel her friend's pain, but she did not wish for that pain to be inflicted upon her through accusation. She closed her EMF, hoping that Termagax would reign hers in. 

"Please," her trembling voice was a whisper, her optics still offline as she held herself tightly. 

Termagax saw her through the red in her vision and softened slightly as remorse set in. She turned her helm down to stare at the cubes and vented heavily. "I know I should apologise." She began hesitantly. "But, is it not true? You're afraid of him, aren't you?" 

Codexa wasn't brave enough to use her words, fearful of who may have been listening. So she simply nodded her helm. A betrayal to the Overlord that puppeteered her life. 

Termagax then scooped up one of the cubes, tilting it to watch the contaminated energon glisten. "You can't be afraid anymore, Ex." Termagax sounded as broken as Codexa looked. "Now is the time to take action against him. Now is the time to resist, to stop this madness! You have me, you have so many others that'll stand with you! But you're too high in your luxurious towers made of gold to see the absolute waste you're drowning in!" 

Codexa shook her helm. "You..." She sobbed quietly. "You saw what... What - ugh- happened to... Sh-Shockwave today." Her frame was trembling. "I can't... Even if he isn't the only one, there's so many out there who'd-!" 

She broke down in tears and held her face in her servos. Termagax frowned, watching her crying and wondering if she should've done something. But true to her stern and cold nature, the Tarnbot only stared and patiently waited for the Iaconian to gather herself once more. 

"Sh-Shockwave," Codexa repeated as she wiped her face plates, not looking in Termagax's direction. "He didn't deserve that!" 

"No bot does," Termagax murmured softly. "And if we don't do something, one day that could be our Mentees!" 

Codexa sharply in-vented, flinching back as if Termagax had suddenly stabbed her; though her choice of weapon was her glossa. The lubricant streamed from her pretty optics and stained her face plates as she curled in on herself tighter. "N-not my boys... Please Primus... Not them!" 

Termagax's spark twisted at the sight. "You still have faith?" 

"It's all I have left!" Codexa choked, each hiccup in her system struggling to ease her systems back into regularity. "I must pray." 

"And who's going to listen!?" Termagax hissed. "What's Primus going to do, Ex? You're just going to sit there and hope that something will happen?" 

Termagax scoffed as she glared down at the cube. A long silence followed between them as Codexa tried to calm herself once more. Termagax frowned and vented heavily as her sobs quietened down. 

"Shockwave is gone," the amber-faced femme murmured sadly. "But that only leaves an absence. I must step forward, I must protect Tarn from this injustice... And if I must stand alone then so be it." 

"No!" Codexa in-vented, her servos working furiously to freshen and clear her optics as she shook her helm. "No... No, I won't let you walk alone." 

"Even after I just said all of that?" Termagax scoffed. "Even after insulting you? Making you weep?" 

"I didn't come here to argue!" Codexa allowed her servos to fall away as she finally took a bold stance and glared back at her friend. "I came here to enjoy your company and to be peaceful tonight. Won't you at least allow me to have that? Before you go marching into some civil war?" 

Termagax stared at the emerald femme before she vented with a nod. "Fine." Her voice sounded weak. 

But Codexa continued. "You, who threatened the future of our Mentees? You wh-who insult me, i-interrogate me, disrespect me! In my own Kingdom... No. No, I will not let you walk out of here and face these battles alone. I love you too much for you to throw your life away so recklessly!" 

Termagax couldn't help the small smile that birthed itself on her lip plating. She watched in surprise as Codexa hiccuped again and leaned forward to snatch the cube from her. 

"Now," Codexa's servo was shaky as she held the cube, though her blue optics burned into her friend's. "You will have a fine drink with me, a-and we shall have a good night. Primus knows when I'll see you again, a-and don't say 'if'! I know Primus is kind, my Mentors and my ancestors are kind! They won't let my spark suffer. All this suffering!" She gestured around the Observatory, gesturing to all of Cybertron. "This would have not been for naught!" 

"So you're going to make a stand against Sentinel?" Termagax asked, though she knew that it was a tall order, perhaps one that loomed too steep for Codexa to fulfill. Her spark sank when she shook her helm. 

"No," she wiped some lubricant from her optics. "I cannot and do not have the power to challenge him. H-however," she nodded as she collected herself. "I will work to sow dissent among his Council. As the sole child of Alpha Trion, they will listen to me." 

"Surely Alpha Trion won't stand by and allow this to happen?" Termagax agreed. 

Codexa shook her helm, she bowed it and brought the cube to her lips as she muttered. "Sentinel is urging in a new era. I am fearful that my Tribe may be expelled." 

Rage boiled in Termagax's systems as she clenched her servos. "That's barbaric! You're kin to Sentinel! He can't merely just throw the Ancients out!" 

Codexa hummed, her systems whirring with delight as the high grade infiltrated them. "He's planning multiple assassinations." 

Termagax's amber optics widened, her world stopping as she heard this. She watched the high grade tickle down Codexa's chin, followed the stream that was outlined against her delicate and thin neck cables before it pooled on her breast plate. 

"That's..." A lot of things came to her processor, but one theory finally clicked. "Why you're being so reckless." 

Codexa allowed the cube to fall away once she had finished it, giving her companion a tired and drained look. "If we do not stand with him, we are against him." She never sounded so lifeless until now. 

Termagax carefully crawled on her kneestruts and shuffled to envelop Codexa in her thick arms. "You are stressed." 

"My children," Codexa murmured, though she relaxed upon feeling the strength of Termagax's frame swarming to protect hers. "Ours..."

"They'll be alright," worry began to override Termagax's senses. "We... You can come live with me in Tarn! We'll be safe there! We can live underground, no bot will know where you are!" 

Codexa laughed and shook her helm. "Like glitch-mice?" She echoed. She noticed Termagax becoming flustered so she waved it off and continued. "It's... A nice gesture. But I'm afraid that Sentinel would be absolutely livid if I were to ever go missing." 

"We could fake your deactivation?" Termagax seemed hopeful as she gently tilted Codexa's chin so the emerald femme was looking into her optics. "Yours and the Mentees? You'd never have to live your function being afraid ever again." 

Codexa's optics narrowed as she dreamed of that. "That sounds nice... Not being afraid anymore." 

"Then come with me!" Termagax quietly pleaded. "I and D-16 will keep you safe. You said it yourself, he's going to grow up to be a big bot some day, hopefully a powerful one." 

"You'd want him to turn to a life of violence?" Codexa's optics brightened as she raised a brow ridge. 

"Not my first choice," Termagax huffed as she looked away. "But if my servo was ever forced, we must stand and fight for what is right. Even if the rest of the world thinks it's wrong." 

"I don't think it's wrong~" Codexa purred despite her systems still hiccuping from her earlier sobs. She carefully leaned back into the amber-faced femme, one gentle servo coming up behind her to cup the other's face. 

"I don't think you'd know what 'wrong' was if it fell from the sky and scratched that pretty paintjob of yours." Termagax chuckled as she dipped her helm to kiss along Codexa's crown. 

"So, you do think I'm pretty?" Codexa smirked as she sat up and wriggled back into her lover's embrace. 

Termagax rolled her optics, though she didn't pull away as she leaned forward to snatch a cube for herself. "I never said that you were anything less." 

Codexa's gentle servo then reached out and softly held Termagax's in place, preventing the cube from being brought any closer to them. Termagax did not resist, but rather watched in surprise as Codexa shuffled to sit up on her kneestruts, turned and leaned over her slightly. The scent of high grade assaulted the Tarnished's nasal unit, but she didn't lean as the other leaned into her tight EMF and whispered. "If you wanted some, all you could've done was ask." 

"What?" Confusion clouded Termagax's processor so she couldn't see the notifications popping up on her HUD telling her that Codexa was moving closer to her yet again. 

"You'd know I'd always share with you," Codexa hummed seductively as she pressed her cool, wet lip plating gently pressed against Termagax's warm ones. 

The amber-faced femme's optics widened, though this wasn't their first kiss, she was still surprised to find Codexa throwing herself out like this nonetheless. Perhaps the high grade had been a bit too strong, or perhaps Codexa's brain module was flung into overdrive due to the stress and very real threat of losing her life. Termagax hesitated to set the cube down in place for grabbing her Codexa's hipstruts and moving forward to deepen the kiss. She actively welcomed Codexa's impatient mouth as her glossa slid out and happily licked up any traces of the high grade that her partner had left behind. 

When Codexa broke away to settle her systems, being annoyed by the constant hiccuping, Termagax bowed her helm to lick up the stream that had pooled on the other's breast plate. 

"Primus forgive me," Codexa offlined her optics as she tilted her helm towards the open sky, the stars staring down at them as her servos moved to caress Termagax's sides. 

"Don't invite him to watch," Termagax huffed, narrowing a sideways glare up at the stars. "He's not going to help us." 

Codexa bowed her helm and nuzzled the neck cables of her lover. "If Zeta knew..." 

"He wouldn't be upset." Termagax kissed along Codexa's neck and shoulders as she held her. "Trust me, he wouldn't."

Chapter Text

The Underground Senate Chamber, South of The Great Dome of Iacon - North Cybertron, Underground.
Four deca-cycles since the removal of Senator Shockwave.

Sentinel Prime sat at the head of the Council, his seat always reserved for the Prime of Cybertron - or in Ancient times, their leader. It mattered not which building they found themselves seated in; the chair overlooking the Council floor, often forged from pure gold, belonged to him. Always him. 

Others already made the assumption that he was just greedy, like his predecessors. But his brother held the closest figment of truth; Sentinel was paranoid. Always has been, always will be. 

He admired the seat where he could simply turn his helm, and he'd have the entire room within his sights. Even the smallest flinch of a shadow never went unnoticed by him. The shadows always flinched. 

It made his frame prickle with anxiety to see them dancing just out of his reach. They were always dancing. Always luring him forward but never truly accepting him. 

Always a distraction, never the solution. 

"Senator of Tarn wishes to address the Council." 

Sentinel's face-plates remained stoic as he heard Senator Xaaron address the Council on her behalf before she stepped into the light. Only then did Sentinel's blue optics slide away from the seductive shadows to size up the new Senator. 

He should've recognised her, had she been prim and proper, clean and almost damn near sparkling like she always was whenever she came to visit his niece and nephew. Always hiding something, she was. Always pretending to be something she wasn't. 

On any other day, it would've amused Sentinel Prime to see her being escorted around his Palace, in his city, with his family. But today it did not amuse him, because her frame was lightly dusted with dirt and her optics, once always hiding from his face-plates, now stared fiercely up at him. 

"Senator Termagax." Sentinel straightened up in his seat to address her as she stepped forth into the speaking chamber. "Please allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your recent promotion!"

He wore a grin, always did. 'Smile at the people, Sentinel. They'll always love you, always.' 

His smile never faltered as Termagax's optics narrowed on him. She looked upset, always judging them. Hypocritical to think that one of those lowly, so-called 'scholars of Tarn' could ever judge him of all bots! 

Go on, say it. Sentinel hissed inside his processor as he watched Termagax hesitate for a brief moment. Tell me that I'm not the first Iaconian to congratulate you.

He had a suspicion, was always suspicious. Termagax liked hanging around his kin too much. He wouldn't have felt threatened if only she had stayed a worthy scholar. This crusade against the Senate, this act of vengeance in Shockwave's name, it would die. He had to make sure it would. 

"Thank you, Prime." It scorned him deeply when she thanked him and bowed her helm respectfully, even her servos were knitted together in a polite fashion. He despised how well she had assimilated into a society she wasn't Forged from. "You being the first to congratulate me brings me great honour."

Sentinel swallowed back his scoff and settled for narrowing his optics on her ugly, amber face. Her frame was grotesquely large and round. He would sooner deactivate himself than stumble across a Tarnished that did not take proper care of themselves like Termagax did. While he may have found her utterly unattractive, he did have to give her credit for all the times she was freshly waxed and the way her thick armour shone beneath the Senate chamber's lights. 

Termagax then turned to address the Senate. "I wish to state that first and foremost, I do not want to oppose the 20th Council of Cybertron in any way, nor any before or after this one."

Sentinel's brow ridges flattened as he noticed the tense air swooping over the Senate. If Termagax was opening her proposal with the promise of not offending the Council, or any of its relatives, then what exactly was she going to propose? 
Would it upset the Council? 

Sentinel frowned harder at that. His optics slid over to where Codexa would normally hide in the shadows, right beneath him. Always beneath him, but never... 

He vented and leaned back in his chair, watching silently as the Senate went underway. He wasn't paying much attention; he rarely did. Always projected with his optics on another's frame. 

Always alone. 

He'd been quite happy for his brother at his and Codexa's union. Sentinel was always happy for his brother, always loved him. That was the one truth that he had, the only consistency throughout his function. If Zeta ever disappeared, Sentinel didn't know what he was going to do. He might've been the stronger, more confident brother, but Sentinel couldn't linger on without the one spark he'd been Forged with. Always had. 

It haunted Sentinel's dreams to think of a reality without his one anchor. Without his brother. Sentinel was only ever selfless when it came to Zeta Primon. He'd share his energon with him, his Befarons with him, let him in on all the political gossip. But when it came to femmes, Zeta didn't share with him. 

Sentinel understood why. He, at the time, had seen nothing special about Codexa. 
She came from an Ancient lineage, just as they had. She wasn't special!

But she was beautiful, both inside and out, even for a hard-wired, programmed MTO machine. 

Sentinel blamed his loneliness for his sudden longing. He'd never perverted his sister-in-law before. He always lied to himself, always told everybot that he wouldn't take an escort. 

"What of Ashpipe?"

Sentinel would stiffen as if it were a command. "What of her?"

"You spend a lot of time together."

Sentinel wasn't the one to create her - build her. That had been his predecessor. 

Ashpipe had been built to serve him, not sexually, but in other ways. Always other ways. 

He got quite the kick out of just thinking about it. He didn't understand why, never understood himself. But when the small assassin held an innocent bot to her blade, Sentinel got drunk off the power. He always had the power. 

She made sure of it. 

No other creature in this universe was perfect. 

But he could not unify with her. Could not submit himself to Conjunx. 

She was an assassin, kept to the shadows. Always unseen but never far. 

She was a nobody in his world, but a wicked force in others. He shuddered as he thought of her above him. Always above him. Never beneath him. That was not her place. He might've yearned for her cruelty, but she would not yearn for him. 

No bot did.

He knew that. He was an abomination. A freak. Something that shouldn't have existed, yet here he was. Always here, never there. 

People didn't know that, never knew that. His brother was an abomination, too. But he worked hard to make sure that they. Loved. Zeta. In order to achieve this, he had to make sure that they. Hated. Him. Two shards of the same spark. 

His brother had been there a few times. Always happy and always loved wherever he went. 

Sentinel didn't have to worry about anything. They were the darlings of Iacon. Their death would cause an outcry, an uproar. They'd dare leave dear Aurora Lux and Orion Pax without their Sire? 

No bot would mourn Sentinel. And he was always fine with that. Maybe that's the reason he kept to himself in the long run. Never attached, always vigilant and paranoid. As a Prime should be, he was taught. 

"Sentinel?" He twitched as he heard Senator Xaaron's soft voice. "Do you view the subject differently?"

The golden-faced Prime narrowed his optics down at the Senate. He huffed through his nasal unit as he spoke. "Forgive me, Senator Termagax, but your proposal either must've been too boring to recall or your vocals are too horrid to listen to."

He would've smirked in satisfaction upon hearing the Senate's cruel snickers. Always cruel. 

He stared coldly back down at the Tarnished, who stared blankly back up at him. And Sentinel found himself asking if she were Conjunct. If she wasn't, he could spontaneously force her to unify with him, and then his strange little family would be happy. Codexa would have her friend and that little runt... What was its awful name? D-11?

Sentinel frowned. "Well?"

He noticed Senator Xaaron's frame slump in embarrassment and straightened up before he addressed his niece. "Aurora!" 

The Council fell silent as his voice boomed. Some shrank back, others watched with wide optics. He remained calm as he watched her timidly rise from her seat, stationed behind the absent one that belonged to Senator Xaaron.

"Y-yes, Sentinel Prime?" It was a shame that she never addressed him as 'uncle'. Always 'Sir's and 'Prime's. Always so formal around him. So scared. She was kin! She should've felt safe with him! They were family; it was his job to keep them safe. Always his job.

"As my kin," he began and slowly placed his servos down on his desk. "I always expect you to be up to date on the latest in politics. So please remind me, formally, and make sure that you go back over every refined detail of Senator Termagax's proposal to the Senate."

Aurora Lux's green helm glinted beneath the light as she nodded. Standing tall, poised with her servos cupped together below her midsection as she kept her Sire's golden optics trained on the Prime as she spoke. Sentinel always loved seeing the purity and richness of the golden optics. He admired the blue, but it was everywhere, and it never reminded him of Zeta; only the gold did. 

"Senator Termagax of Tarn has peacefully requested an inquiry into the Functionalist narrative that this current Council and collective government of modern-cycle era Cybertron currently requests under the approval of Sentinel Prime. She asks that not only the Council, but also that Sentinel Prime, give a statement into how this will benefit Cybertron as a whole, including the colonies. Senator Termagax fears that the employment rate and well-being of not only her people, but all Cybertronians will decline. She requests to understand why the Senate and Sentinel Prime are so insistent on enacting this new Age."

Sentinel nodded his helm to tell her that he was following, so she in-vented before she went on. 

"The Senate has explained that the current employment rate rests far beneath the desired statistic. Implementing this new Age will help boost benefit schemes as well as deliver more work experience to rural areas such as Tarn. There are current plans to implement sending Tarnished and Vosian miners into Kaon and Helex. Senator Termagax responds by stating that Kaon and Helex are unbefitting of health and safety regulations when it comes to mining. Senator Helex's Usurper, Crucible, has argued on behalf of Senator Momus."

"His response?"

"Usurper Crucible has argued that with more workers and united welfare, Helex will have enough GPD to upgrade their mines to regular health and safety standards, but they do need time and money to implement these changes before the Functionalist Act is fully rolled out. There simply aren't enough Constructibots across Cybertron willing to build anything in the South. Senator Termagax agrees and has offered to help research on that front into how we can..." She hesitated. "Forgive me for the lack of a better term, but 'construct' these Constructibots to increase their numbers."

A few chuckles echoed around the chamber, but Sentinel ignored them. "Increase numbers?"

Aurora nodded. "Yes, Sir."

"Aurora, are you aware of the current climate of Cybertron?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Then please remind the Council on my behalf."

"Yes, Sir." Aurora bowed before she turned to address the Council. "Cybertron's population is a staggering forty-three billion - at least those that we are aware of and are currently listed within the Cybertronian mainframe. This is a gross negligence total of at least five billion too high. There are not enough resources across the colonies to sustain the numbers here on Cybertron, and only Cybertron. Sentinel Prime is concerned about the colonies breaking away, or worse. We cannot afford more Forgings or rebuilds. Those that we do have must abide by the Functionalist Council in order to survive."

"Thank you, Aurora," Sentinel called before he glanced at Termagax. "So what you're proposing is that we build more bots to construct more facilities?"

"Perhaps not." Termagax stared up at him defiantly. "Forgive me, Sentinel, I have not caught up with everything after usurping Shockwave's role."

"You are forgiven," Sentinel silenced the snickering before it began. "While it may not look that way in Tarn, I assure you that Cybertron is heavily overpopulated. To boost employment rates, we have decided to implement the Age of Functionality. Yes, while I can understand poor Shockwave's terror at the idea. 'Your alt-mode dictates your function.' I must argue that it sounds entirely absurd! There is no such thing as dictating anybot's function! If there is one bot on this planet who is forced into a position to serve somebot, then it is only I! I have never gone against the will of my predecessors, and I have dared not question the Primes in my faith. And I have, I assure you, functioned just fine without any trouble. This will not last forever, my friends. Only until we can sustain ourselves as a functioning and safe society! Crime rates are already dropping across Northern Cybertron. This is working! There's nothing that proves that to be false."

The threat of revolution was warming the streets of Praxus, but he still never let it bother him. He had faith in his law enforcers to handle any outbursts. Acts of violence were held far away from his family. 

"Change is never welcomed here. But if we were Forged without transformation cogs, then I would stand by those who've hollered that change is wrong! We Cybertronians can change shape, change form! It is time for Cybertron to change. To embrace it. Instead of executing our own civilians, we should be giving them a chance to find their place in this world. This is an act of mercy. I am saving us from damnation."

"Do you mean to say that Primus has damned Cybertron?" 

Sentinel frowned hard as he heard that voice erupt from beneath him. Beneath him sat the Elders of the Council - Primon, chief among them. He was currently the eldest member of the Senate, if not, all of Cybertron. While it wasn't written into law, his word was Holy above all else. A living memory of Primus and times long since passed. 

"Stand up, would you kindly, please, Primon?" Sentinel asked. "I cannot see you down there, squabbling in darkness." 

There was a brief pause before the Fourteenth Prime slowly rose to his peds, grunting as each joint heaved under the strain. He was carefully guided forward onto the Senate floor and turned to face where Sentinel was seated. He straightened up once he began speaking. 

"Primus has not forsaken His people, Sentinel." He hated to admit it, but there was something that deeply unnerved him about how blank and lost Primon's amber optics looked. Almost as bright as every other Cybertronian's, as if they had captured the light of Prima that had blinded him so long ago. "He is with us, always."

"Tell me this, old friend," Sentinel mumbled, resting his chin on his servos as he leaned over slightly to look down at him. "If Primus is here with us, then dare I ask what He thinks of all this?"

He would've smirked in satisfaction when the other hesitated, and an eerie silence settled over the chamber. He watched Primon's optics squint thoughtfully before he spoke. "Primus, like all the other Holy spirits of our people, does not bother Himself with mere politics."

"Is that permission on His behalf?" 

"Where is the Matrix, Sentinel?" Primon carefully tilted his helm, daring to show an ounce of attitude toward his superior. "You'd know the answer if you confided in its unique powers."

Sentinel huffed, twitching irritably as he argued. "I told you, it's broken. It will not respond to me."

"But you are chosen," Primon raised his brow ridges. "Are you not?"

Heat flared beneath Sentinel's armour. "I am..." He gazed out over the Senate to see a cluster of starlight staring back at him. "The son of Nominus Prime. I have taken in my brother's stead to do His bidding as leader and representative of this world. I understand that my position only holds power in theory. If Primus insults me with theatrics, waiting for something to happen, then He can continue to wait."

He lifted his helm to address the Council. "For how can something happen if we continue to delay it? To distract ourselves from it? To let it fester like a wound until it gnaws at the very iron flesh of our frames? We must usher in this new era. We must be the ones to do something or perish and fade like memories of the past! We cannot sit idly by and fade to nothing! If we must take a stand, then let it be here, at home! Let us fight peacefully for it."

Tanzhou Toshi (Forge City), Caminus - Above Ground.
Same time.

Zeta Primon grinned as he stepped forth from the ramp leading off his ship. Forge City, what the Cybertronians had called it, was glistening with millions of tiny wisp candles. All gleaming like sun spots across the entire city. Due to Caminus, the moon, being so far away from this solar system's sun, the Camiens had to make do with what little light they could afford on their homeworld. The biggest source of light hailed from Okiin, the neighbouring but uninhabited gas giant. The distant sunlight reflected off its ethereal surface and helped provide a very short-lived day cycle for the native Camiens. Only a sliver of the moon was bathed in sunlight at any time; the rest of it was condemned to darkness. 

Solus Prime had brought them here through spirit once, insisting that they embrace the darkness and hide from all eyes of the galaxies. Where one could've interpreted the Camien people as being cunning and deceptive, living a life of constant shadow, this was not the case. 

The Camiens were rather inept at fighting, to the point where only less than two per cent of their population could fend for themselves - a stark contrast compared to Cybertron's thirty-eight per cent. While wars had always raged across any state of Cybertron in the past, their Camien cousins were completely naive to the idea of independence and thought it was perverted to stray from the law. 

Zeta would've liked that for Cybertron: a safe and friendly society for his Mentees. But he knew that it would never be a reality. Unlike Caminus, Cybertron still naturally produced bots bred for war. He'd learnt on his third trip to the lonely moon that Camien Forges only birthed neutral sparks. One uprising had been extinguished long ago, to the point that Cyberjets had almost gone extinct on the colony world. 

He was glad that this was not the case. While few in number, the Cyberjets of Caminus still remained. It had only taken them seventy million years to be welcomed back into Tanzhou Toshi after swearing an oath of loyalty to the Forgefire Parliament. But as a result, no Cyberjet was to take to being a warrior throughout their entire function, lest they choose to leave Caminus for good. 

For such a few and rare people, they too held quite a lot of history, and Zeta Primon was happy to be welcomed back as a Guest of Honour. He would've taken these trips more regularly if the threat of war, plague and his family didn't exist. He had more responsibilities with each passing century. 

His visit here was to help strengthen Cybertronian relations and deliver a good portion of Cybertron's energon stores to the colony world. Caminus didn't produce a third of what Cybertron could, and as a result, the Camiens were noticeably thinner and weaker than their ancestors. They had evolved long ago to adapt to living here. Zeta knew to take nothing on this planet for granted. So he eagerly bowed when one of the Mistress's Forglings eagerly strutted forward to present him with some kind of jewellery. 

"Zeta Primon," the young femme - they were called Solisites here - held her helm high with a warm smile. "The people of Caminus welcome you."

"Thank you!" Zeta had taken it upon himself to learn some of their language and keep himself entertained during the long trips. But the Forgling was quite impressive when she flexed her Cybertronian - Iaconian, no less - glossa at him. "Your speech is very impressive!"

He could see Aurora Lux in her place someday and only grew prouder at the image in his helm. He carefully took the item and examined it. It was a twine of obsidian black material. Camiens were quite good at forging such items, and he always found each gem and jewel to be priceless - especially when it was a gift. The twine interlaced around some polished, pure moon stones that glittered in the faint sunlight. It was no bigger than his servo, and he smiled as he recalled his request when he had visited last. 

"I strongly believe that my Solisite Forgling will love this, thank you." It was meant as a bracelet for Aurora Lux. He'd asked Orion Pax if he'd wanted any souvenirs, and his son had stated only a crisp space rock. Same for D-16, they weren't bothered with beauty. But he'd have to find similarly sized rocks so he could rest assured that they wouldn't fight and claim favouritism. 

He chuckled as he watched the small, red Forgling beam, flutter her wings before she turned and quickly scampered back down the gangway. The Mistress of Flame was approaching the bridge leading to the gangway and turned her helm to watch the Forgling run back inside the Palace. Zeta smirked and straightened up when he watched her shake her helm, no doubt grumbling something about 'childish behaviour'. He would've assumed the Forgling to be no less than three stellar-cycles old. 

As always, the Mistress of Flame was adorned in a lush, Ancient robe that shrouded her amber outer framing, but the distant sunlight illuminated her white under armour quite nicely as she approached him. She used her Badge of Office, a large staff-like hammer, as a walking stick, though she was no older than Zeta. Her crowned helm bowed, and a soft smile sprawled onto her pink lip plating once she reached him. 

"Zeta Primon, brother of Sentinel Prime. It is an honour for Caminus and myself to receive you safely once more." She spoke with her helm held high.

"Always prideful," his brother would often scowl. 

But not Zeta. He found comfort in her harsh yet soft and commanding voice. In his optics, she was a just and perfect Ruler of the colony world. 

"Mistress," Zeta bowed his helm before he turned to gesture to his bodyguards joining him on either side. "I have arrived safely, returning with a few of your most esteemed warriors. Shall it be my honour to welcome them back home?"

"Of course," she nodded. 

Zeta then turned and smiled down at the siblings. Raised not together, but by the same Mentor. "Thank you both deeply for your escort. I momentarily relieve you from your duties for the duration of my trip."

Chromia bowed her helm as Dino spoke. "It has been an honour serving you, Zeta Primon. We shall rejoin you at the departure."

Once they bid their greetings and farewells to the Mistress, they soon took their leave and disappeared inside the Palace. Once they were gone, Zeta straightened up with his servos held behind his backstrut. "I trust that things are going well on Caminus?"

"There's been no sign of any infected," the Mistress shook her helm. "No murmurs of revolution. Our energon supply has grown steadily thanks to your continued generosity, we have not taken it for granted. Only peace shall conquer this planet."

"That is good to hear." They discussed a few things while she led him inside the Palace. 

While only a third of the size of the Blue Palace back in Iacon, the Ember Flame - Caminus' Royal Palace - was quite tall and magnificent to behold. The Ember Flame could be seen from the lower atmosphere, bright and blazing in its bronze and copper structure. Gold lining every inch of the place. He knew not where it came from, only that it was rumoured to have been forged entirely out of fire once upon a time. And he believed that. The very Palace itself looked as if it were set ablaze every dawn. Strong and powerful, graceful, much like its ruler. The floors were a hard, smooth red - he knew not of what - the inner walls were white, speckled with gold fragments. Marble pillars held up the tall ceilings, almost managing to house a Titan. 

"Please," Zeta hummed as they walked inside the ancient building. "Do tell me the story of this place."

"Have you already forgotten it?" The Mistress of Flame halted to grin at him, a flicker of youth dancing across her silvery face-plates and making her yellow optics shine with amusement. 

Zeta chuckled and glanced around. "My love for Caminus never falters. It is very rare that I ever get to hear the tales directly from its inhabitants."

"Very well," the Mistress then turned and continued on. "I shall part with a few stories over Afteren. We shall greet and clean you while you stay here, first and foremost. You must've had quite the long trip."

"My crew is weary but strong." Zeta followed her but couldn't help but glance at a few portraits of Ancient Camiens that were hung up on the walls. "They could use the rest. But please spare no energon for us, we have enough."

"Understood."

Fifth floor of the Ember Flame Palace, Forge City - Caminus, Above Ground.
Three mega-cycles later.

Once they had gotten themselves cleaned up and dined with a few of the local Royals, Zeta eagerly joined the Mistress of Flame on the balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Solar wisps captured in golden lamps littered almost every wall in and out of the Palace. As the last light was fading, they'd come to collect together in the courtyard to watch the welcome ceremony begin. 

"Now," Zeta leaned over to hum. "About that story you promised me?"

He figured now was a good time while they were waiting for the Flame Dancers to set everything up. He'd purposefully chosen to skip his consumption just to squeeze in a little extra time. 

The Mistress of Flame nodded. "Very well. Long ago, back when Caminus the Titan had first discovered this barren rock, we'd have all but a home here. Our ancestors originally set out to find the grieving soul of Solus Prime, not realising that she had other intentions. She wanted a Queendom all to herself, much like Prima had back on Cybertron. But because she no longer walked with the Ancients, she had to enact her will through the spirit of a Star-Touched. And back then, their kind only existed in Vos."

Zeta nodded, choosing to ignore the distasteful hiss she emitted when mentioning the Seekers. 

"She struck a deal with Primon, child of Prima. 'Send me your finest explorer. A soldier second, but kin first.' Primon was honoured to help his fallen kin. He sent word to the Primavosyians, though they were consumed by war when Caminus had departed from Cybertron. When we arrived, there was nothing on this cold rock, and we only had our faith. In due time, we were told to look to the skies."

One Dancer stepped forward, bowed before them as their staff lit up with twin flames. Zeta watched as they began to carefully spin the staff so the flames at either end were twirling to create a circle of fire. 

"Through him, Solus spoke to us. Enacting a great ball of fire over the skies that was birthed from Okiin. It grew larger and larger the closer it neared this rock, and we began to wonder if Solus Prime had either brought us here to die, or we had been followed by a Great Deciever who looked to harm us in vengeance."

As she spoke, a few other Dancers soon joined the first, and the wisps were covered to shroud the courtyard in darkness. The staffs were spun simultaneously until one end caught the other two, and a small ball of fire began to glow over the helms of the Dancers. 

"With a loud shriek that made the very stars tremble in fear, the Vengeful One came screaming down across our home. We could not tell at the time if it were anger or pain."

A bright, red flash flew across the courtyard and hovered above the growing ball of flame. It was in the shape of a bird-like creature. Black shards adorned its wingtips as it took on the form of some lens, and the ball of fire began to merge with the creature.

"Fearing that the end was nigh, we prayed to Solus for forgiveness. To die alone and stranded on a rock must've been our ultimate doom. We knew not what this creature was capable of, or why it was here. But we knew that it hailed from Vos. It screamed like one, flew and fought like one. And it was not alone."

Behind the three front Dancers, a few others began to step forward and twirl their staffs while their frames moved slowly, slithering in the darkness before suddenly jerking back to their original stances, and the dance would repeat itself. Their staffs shone like sticks of starlight, twinkling in the light and creating the backdrop of the entire universe. 

"What we thought were stars came to be known as fifteen sparks. Fifteen pairs of thrusters that came screeching down from the Heavens."

Zeta eagerly watched as fifteen pairs of burning, white lights suddenly hung down from the sticks of starlight and dangled dangerously close to the ball of fire. 

"'Are these newcomers going to declare war?' We asked. When we thought that it was going to be all over, we held each other tightly in prayer. Then-"

The red bird-like creature shrieked loudly, and the ball of fire was thrust forward. It exploded into a massive firewall in the courtyard that illuminated the front Dancers. 

"The fire of the Vengeful One consumed and burned everything it could reach on Caminus. But it did not burn to destroy. Combined with the power of Solus Prime, who reached through the Song of Life and Innocence, they managed to create our home. A marvel of empyreal fashion merging together with pain. On the first dawn of Caminus we rose to find the Queendom of Solus beckoning us forth to claim our titles as Camiens."

The fire inevitably lessened in its ferocity as the red creature perished in a cloud of smoke. The fifteen pairs of lights descended downward onto the newly built Caminus, and ever so slowly, more lights began to shine - signifying the return of the Camien sparks and the lighting of their Forges. 

"You always tell it the best way." Zeta turned to smile at her as he held the railing with one servo. "No bot else could ever do it any justice."

The Mistress smiled. "It's a piece of our history. It will always be an honour to tell any of our stories." 

Zeta went to say something when he stiffened and narrowed his optics at the shadows behind her. She tensed as she noticed this and swiftly turned to confront their guest. The Mistress visibly relaxed with a strained vent as she saw two, small blue optics staring frightfully up at her. 

"And who is this?" Zeta purred. "I don't believe that I caught her designation before. She one of yours?"

The Mistress grumbled but stepped forward to raise the small, red jet into her arms. "Not exactly. I found her wandering the Star-Shinai a few ano-cycles ago, alone and starving. She is one of my many acts of kindness."

Zeta raised a brow ridge. "A child of Solus? Alone?"

Mistress frowned as she covered where the little Cyberjet's audials were. "The Seekers of Caminus aren't exactly 'friendly'. They probably casted her out for being too soft. I couldn't sit by and watch her slowly deactivate."

Zeta cooed as he offered one of his large digits for the Forgling to hold. Her tiny, black talons gently latched on and began to inspect it. 

"I've chosen to call her 'Windblade'." The Mistress lifted her helm high. "She's a surrogate."

Zeta nodded. "Under your guidance, I hope she makes quite the fine Camien some cycle."

Windblade flinched back as a bright flash of light burst in the sky. A BOOM shook the courtyard, but the Cybertronian guests cheered. 

Zeta switched to his Camien glossa upon seeing how frightened the Forgling was. "Those are called 'fireworks'. They're harmless, brightly coloured flashes of light meant to celebrate something."

Windblade stared back at him with wide, wary optics before she quickly turned and gazed up as another one was let off. 

The Mistress smirked at him. "Your Camien is coming along nicely."

Zeta bowed his helm. "Thank you, I do try to keep updated on the long flight here. It's rather a unique language. As if it were lost to time."

The Mistress nodded as she watched the fireworks explode in the sky. Dazzling the night sky in a whirlwind of bright colours. "I see that some of your crew likes to keep to tradition?"

Zeta chuckled in embarrassment as he leaned away. "Yes, I may have let them sneak a few on board. But don't lie to me, dear, for I know that you enjoy them just as much as I do!" He had to nearly yell to be heard over the noise. 

The two shared a laugh as the Flame Dancers took to their next performance. The bright flash of the fireworks above their helms did very little to distract them from their mission. It illuminated their frames, moving their shadows and made the fire surge to become more vibrant. It was quite a colourful evening. 

Chapter Text

The Iacon Hall of Records, North Iacon - Cybertron, Underground.
Twelve solar-cycles before Zeta's return. 

He rarely came down here. 

It wasn't that he hated the place; it was just that it had never quite caught his interest until twenty-three astro-cycles ago. 

Sentinel, the current Prime and true Ruler to the throne of Northern Cybertron - leader of the largest state in all of Cybertron and Central Commander to its massive military forces. The alleged eldest son of Nominus Prime had been sitting alone in his berthroom that Afteren. 

Right on time, he twitched as he heard somebot creep through his window. A timid glance just to confirm that it was her made his circuits ease. 

He was sprawled, sitting on his aft on the edge of his soft, massive berth. His optics completely seeing beyond the walls of his room. He'd had another stressful cycle of taking on his brother's duties, as well as his own. A moment of peace was found in the darkness of his berthroom on the third floor of the Iaconian Palace. 

A moment of peace that her presence had disturbed, but he did not feel offended by it. 

He allowed very few bots into his quarters unannounced, and Ashpipe was one of them. 

The thin-framed assassin who had shadowed his peds since his Forging. His one, wicked guardian angel. 
She stood no taller than his knee joint. Her frame was completely dressed in ashen, light grey with darker shades along her underarmour. Her icy, pale blue optics cut through any lie he'd tried to feed her. She was a bot completely forged from the blade; every movement and look was sharp. The barely noticed wheels on her ankles, he didn't hear until he was a teenager, when she'd caught him drunk atop a roof one evening. Completely unaware that his 'friend' had tried to push him off and make it look like an accident or suicide attempt. 

She'd come barreling in to harshly push him back, and when he lay optics on his would-be killer, he was covered in his energon. 

As fast as the wind, as silent as the night. His guardian had come to warn him once more. 

He watched as she narrowed her optics at him, perched on his windowsill. She was debating coming over to get a better look at him. To see him staring blankly at the wall must've aroused some suspicion, so he fluttered his aerial panels invitingly and straightened up, turning his helm away to stare at the wall once more. 

There was a soft thud as she hopped down from the window. He'd try every time to hear the sound of her peds whenever she approached, but he could never truly tell. The only sense he had whenever she was nearby was this icy feel of somebot staring at him from the shadows. He knew a lot of stares, but hers felt different. It felt wicked. Like one cycle, that look of hers would be weaponised, and her blade would turn on him. He'd entertain himself with the possibility of that happening and how everybot else would react. But what intrigued him the most was wondering what had finally made the three-wheeled femme snap and decide to purge him from existence. 

"Termagax was spotted in the Iacon Hall of Records." Ashpipe's voice never ceased to make him wince. A shiver was crawling so agonisingly slow up his backstrut that he had to force himself to sit still and endure it. It wasn't that she had a horrible voice. It was that it felt too smooth to belong to a criminal, too blunt to belong to a politician. Too stoic to ever belong to a femme. "She was conversing with Primon."

She nearly hissed as she rounded the berth to squint down at him. Her hipstruts were bent slightly, almost toward him in a cool way that dared him to look at her. He knew not to. 
Whether Ashpipe believed it or not, a young Sentinel had been very infatuated by her. But a young Sentinel had long since faded, refined into the lonesome leader seated before her. 

One of her servos clung to the pillar holding the cherry-coloured curtains above his berth. Her other rested against her muscular tibulen, digits no doubt brushing against a small blade she'd hidden there. 

"Why are you stalking her?" Sentinel finally asked after a moment, his optics sliding in her direction. He sounded genuinely amused by her efforts. 

For somebot like Ashpipe to go out of her way to stalk a bot like Termagax was quite laughable. While Termagax's sheer size alone would be enough to send a Minibot packing, the Senator put reason above violent nature. Sentinel would know, he'd spend all orbital-cycle trying desperately to get beneath her thick, Tarnished armour. But in the end, he only discovered that she found him a tolerable nuisance. 

But then another thought came to mind. 

"I do not stalk a friend of the Royal Family." Ashpipe dared to hiss as she leaned down to snarl in his face-plates. "I watch over those who'd dare oppose you."

Sentinel raised a brow-ridge. "You mean the Senate?"

And that sent her reeling back with a disgusted look. "You'd let those scum take credit for all your hard work?"

"Ashpipe, please." Sentinel dropped his servos to his lap and leaned back with a grin. "I hardly came up with the idea of a Functionalist Council. If anything, I'm all too eager to please."

"You're naive," his smile disappeared as she left and began to pick her way around the other side of the berth. "If tomorrow the Council were to elect your brother for Prime over you, what do you think would happen?"

The blue Prime fell silent. On one servo, he couldn't deny that he'd be absolutely ecstatic about that. He'd get to step down, peacefully and respectfully. His brother would be in charge. He'd still hold his seat of power, but he could take a break. Maybe even find somebot to settle down with, or not. With Aurora Lux and Orion Pax's existence, there was no need for him to provide an heir. He could well and truly fade into the background. 

But he knew that that wasn't the right answer to give to her. If he'd dare utter how pleasurable retirement sounded, he'd be met with a blade to his neck cables. 

He straightened up, resetting his voicebox to swallow back a vent as he answered. "I don't know."

"You're gullible." She turned her helm to hiss at him, having found a place on the other side of the massive berth to seat herself. Her smooth backstrut was facing him, but her optics were narrowed and full of a rage he did not intend to ignite. 

"Did you come just to insult me?" He grumbled, giving her an equally challenging look. "I was enjoying my Afteren."

Ashpipe scoffed before her dainty lip-plating pinched up into a smirk. "I thought you'd want to know about Primon's involvement."

Sentinel stiffened, watching as she checked over her tiny talons. 

"That no matter how angry or happy you'd be, Primon's opinion on anything is what you care about most, no?"

Sentinel clicked his glossa against his denta as he hissed. "His opinion on what?"

"Termagax has plans to push a new bill through the Senate." Ashpipe hummed as she hugged one knee to her small, curvy chassis. "My understanding is that Shockwave was the one who drafted it."

"What's it say?" Sentinel had to play her game to get more information out of her. He hated begging like a puppy, but when she was upset, and he was too, they often played this little game so he could process whatever news it was that she conceived. 

He was rewarded with information. "It proposes a quarter function-cycle Functionalist narrative for all corresponding species and tribes across Cybertron."

Sentinel knitted his brow-ridges together in quiet fury. It reeked of Shockwave.

"After a set amount of time, say fifty stellar-cycles for a healthy bot living here in the North, they get to go and choose their own careers or jobs. The bill also proposes an increased minimum wage for lower castes and enforces the idea of lower castes working together with higher ones to further close the gap between the working class and the higher class. The bill would bring the poor and homeless up to the lowest rank of the working class-"

"And would bring political nutcases closer to harming those that we care about." He cut her off as he put her piece of concern toward the puzzle. 

It was bad enough that Codexa had made friends in Tarn of all places, but he would not allow his future heirs to be harmed in opposition. If Codexa was stupid enough to walk right into a protest and get harmed, that was on her. Though he couldn't imagine her doing so, if she ever brought her mentees with her, then Sentinel had to act now. 

He swiftly rose from his berth with a grunt and gritted his dentae together. "This morbid fascination with the outsiders ends now."

Ashpipe raised a brow-ridge at him from where she lay on his berth, twirling one of her smallest blades in her digits. Her other servo was propping her helm up to look at him. One tibulen lay over the other, leaving her torso and midsection exposed. She looked tempting, being so relaxed in his berth of all places. But she knew that he had to answer the demand she'd given him; she knew that he couldn't join her, so she took it upon herself to keep his berth warm for his return. 

That only served to further sour his mood; he couldn't lie next to her and just be. 

He huffed as he glowered down at her. She averted her gaze to stare out the moonlit window. "I didn't say anything regarding that."

"You were thinking it." He narrowed his optics at her silver, smooth face-plates. 

"Your duties lie here in Iacon," she began lightly. "You shouldn't go chasing ghosts."

Sentinel flicked one of his aerial panels before he turned and stormed over to the doorway. "Yet here I am chasing madness in my own Palace."

And twenty astro-cycles later, he was walking down into the Hall. His soured face-plates had never lifted on his journey, having opted to take the tunnels instead of being harassed by the commonfolk on the streets. He was being shadowed, no doubt, by a few of his other less desirable bodyguards. When it came to taste, Sentinel preferred the wicked, or the sentimental. 

As he crept down into the Hall of Records, the moonlight elongating his silhouette, he paused briefly to listen for any sounds that would tell him that Termagax was still lingering about. When he was certain that he couldn't hear her, or smell her - not that she had a horrid smell to begin with. But Sentinel had grown accustomed to her scent. It was faint, but he could detect coal and sometimes dirt. He was convinced that she carried half the mine with her beneath her armour. Just as he probably smelled of snow or cold wind for living in Iacon. 

His optics scanned the eerie darkness, too poised in hostility to warrant any concern about any other assassins following him. He'd be rather surprised if one dared to ambush him here of all places. 

The Hall was a massive hub, half underground and half above the surface, carved in the remains of an old Scribe Moth. He couldn't remember its exact name, just that it had given its life to protect Iacon's data from the invasive Quintessons. As a result, Primon had elected its massive corpse to be the new Hall of Records. One would think that the carcass of a dead, robotic insect would smell of rot and decay, and that it would start falling apart sooner or later. However, he remembered the story of Alpha Prime's creations and what they were meant to represent. 

All across the universe, twelve Scribe Moths inhabited this realm. Massive, bug-like creatures with a thickened shell and mostly docile attitude. They were represented by avatars, bots resembling Iaconians to speak for them. But when the Scribe Moth deactivated, its avatar had also disappeared. It had gone into a cocoon-like phase and hardened its armour after receiving wounds too great to be healed from battle. It had burrowed half its body beneath the surface and propped the rest of it up to form a shelter for the inhabitants of Iacon. When its spark gave out, it remained crystallised and had formed one of the very first buildings of the Golden Age. A place intended to store and guard information regarding not only Iacon, but some of Cybertron and its colonies as well. 

Since the death of Nominus Prime, the Senate had to part ways with a few ancient artefacts, much to their displeasure. He believed that this was the reason why some city-states were at war. To try and grasp those powerful pieces of history as a divine right to rule. 

But there was only one right to rule over Cybertron in its entirety. He could feel it humming beneath the floor he stood on and frowned. 

He headed further down into the depths of the Hall and paused by the Shallow Chamber. A place that Primon had specifically requested be carved out and built for him. It had been linked to the Scribe Moth's spark chamber, and a most appropriate chamber to house the Matrix of Leadership while communing with it. The Matrix would temporarily inhabit the spark chamber and float in the air, giving off an ethereal blue glow that lit up the chamber. Primon only ever used this room to either meditate or commune with their ancestors. 

With that in processor, Sentinel timidly entered, locking the chamber behind him. "Primon?"

He could see the Fourteenth Prime with his backstrut turned to him. One of his guiders was standing over in the darkest corner of the room, her servos poised together in front of her midsection. Sentinel only spared her a glance as he strode over to the former Prime. 

"He's communing," she spoke quietly with worried optics. 

Sentinel brushed her off and gently tapped the Elder's shoulderstrut. "Primon."

With an electric snap, the chamber fell dark, and the Matrix vanished back to its vault hidden deep beneath the Iaconian Palace - where it rightfully belonged. 

Primon vented heavily before he slowly turned to face the younger. "Sentinel Prime."

The blue and gold Prime narrowed his optics at him. "What were you saying?"

Primon shook his helm and carefully brushed past him. "Come walk with me for a moment."

Sentinel glanced over at the guider once more. 

"Istellar," Primon addressed her. "Give us some privacy, will you? I intend for this to be a long walk." 

Sentinel straightened up with a flutter of his wingstruts and held his arm out for the elderly Prime to take. Istellar then bowed and quickly left them, leaving the chamber's door open in her hurried steps. 

"You've seen something?" Sentinel asked in a soft voice. The rumbling of his powerful vocals vibrated inside his chassis as Primon blindly reached for him but eased when he found the armstrut already extended in his direction. 

He tried to ease his frame once he had a grasp on the younger Prime, but it was clear that something had rattled him. "Yes, but I do not intend for others to hear it yet. We must step outside."

Sentinel nodded and carefully guided him outside the chamber and in the direction leading toward one of the balconies. He had no doubt that Primon could navigate this place all on his own, but the ever constant feeling of having somebot walk beside him must've comforted the ailing deity. Even if it was Sentinel guiding him. 

"I remember when you were but a mere child," Primon smirked as a fond memory came to his brain module. "You were so awkward the very first time that we met."

Sentinel barked a sad laugh as he squinted down at the floor. "I thought you were so old that anything I did would turn you into dust."

Primon chuckled with him. "I miss your Sire, sometimes. Nominus was a good fellow."

Sentinel frowned as he glanced at the other's face-plates. They were slowly shuffling their way out of the Shallow Chamber and heading back out to the library. 

"Why," Sentinel hesitated as he cocked his helm to one side. "Are you speaking like this?"

Primon fell quiet. 

When they reached the first stair leading to the upper floors, he chose to speak again. "I fear that you mistook my stern judgment for hatred." 

Sentinel listened, waiting for the other to elaborate. 

The red and white mech shook his helm. "I do not hate you. I hate what you think of yourself."

Sentinel turned to squint over his shoulderstrut to see if there was anybot else in the Hall. It seemed like only Istellar and the receptionist were watching them with timid optics and apprehensive looks. Sentinel opened his transmission frequency to reach out to Ashpipe. 

"You are so wrought with grief, fear and anger." Primon went on as they ascended the stairway, shaking his helm as if he were almost pleading. "You, who does not understand why, does not even ask."

"Why should I go begging?" Sentinel hissed, his grip tightening on the frail armour. "I called to them once, and they never answered. The Matrix is broken, and that's that. It won't work for anybot. How long do you think I can keep this a secret?"

"You're fearful," Primon hummed. "But it is soothing to know that it's not just for your own spark."

Sentinel shook his helm and opened the nearest door once they were at the top of the staircase. He gently urged Primon through, and blocked the way back in with his robust frame. He turned to squint down at the two femmes and found them lying face-plates down on the floor, their energon already beginning to stain the carpet. He turned and swiftly headed after the elderly Prime. 

"So you can understand my paranoia?" Sentinel hissed once they were outside, and the wind threatened to carry away his words. 

Primon stood with his backstrut facing him. His servos rested against the railing as he stared up at the stars. 

"You could cure it if you told me what you saw." Sentinel crept closer until he was looming over the red and white mech. "Maybe then I wouldn't have to be so ruthless in the Senate. This Functionalist Council is to make certain that everybot has a role that they must follow. This is what they wanted."

Primon's helm fell from the stars as he frowned. "I despise that you chose them over us, Sentinel..."

The young Prime scoffed as he began to pace, shaking his helm and timidly glancing up at the stars. "Tell me what you saw." He warned again. 

Primon's silence went on for a few moments, and right when Sentinel was about to pull out his blade to demand, the older spoke. 

"I saw death." Sentinel stiffened. Primon spoke in a weak, almost terrified and lost voice. "I saw a chaos that spread like a disease ravaging our planet. I saw a fire consuming all hope. And at the centre I saw two stars. One was blue, the colour of grief, yet calm. The other was red. The colour of a passionate wrath that could not be contained."

Sentinel fell quiet as he thought. 

Primon went on. "I saw everything, but I cannot tell you everything. I saw what you've done to poor Istellar and Lady Happerjack downstairs just now. I saw it happen a while ago."

"Tell me what you saw of Termagax." Sentinel urged. 

Primon shook his helm as tears began to glisten in his unseeing optics. "I will not let you harm her. She has done nothing wrong, as long as your sister continues to function."

Sentinel tried to ease his frame, but the mere mention of something happening to Codexa frightened him. First, he was informed that Termagax would do something stupid. Then, Zeta would be wrought with grief, as would their children. And it would be Sentinel's fault. 

"Is Codexa in danger?" He tensed.

Primon lifted his gaze back to the stars in thought. "A cloud shrouds what cannot be seen, but does not hide what can be felt."

"And what of the Matrix and the Council?" Sentinel seethed. "Do you oppose me? Seek to overthrow me?"

Primon turned his helm, as if to squint at him. "I cannot oppose you, Sentinel. I've seen how this ends."

Sentinel muffled a screech of frustration as he glared at the other. "You can change it. We can change it!"

"You're looking for something I cannot give you," Primon stated calmly, looking as stoic as ever. "I knew that the Matrix had corrupted you with its touch. I vowed never to touch it again. I communed with it to wonder if we had truly lost all hope on Cybertron."

Sentinel stared at him with wide optics. Have we?

Primon gave a small smile as he shook his helm. "The drylands yearn for prosperity and rain, but first they must endure the storm. Cybertron must endure the chaos and wrath of war before we can see the light again."

"Millions will die." Sentinel's optics widened. "Billions."

"And like me, you will die with them!" Primon hissed. 

He made no move to physically attack Sentinel, but the sound alone was enough to make the younger twitch. He reached for his double-edged sword and plunged it deep into the other's spark chamber. Primon grunted as he felt the sharp blade pierce through him, making his energon rush up into his intake, where he began to choke on it. His servos blindly flailed about, searching for his assailant with fearful and wide optics. His small wheezes were drowned out by Sentinel shrieking after he realised what he'd done. The Prime quickly withdrew his sword, leaving a nasty, sliver of pain embedded in other's chassis. 

"Moram mors!" Sentinel shouted as he held one servo over the wound, and his optics began to glow their signature Iacon blue. 

Primon grunted as Sentinel wielded what little power he held over the Matrix through him and used it to heal the outer wound. Sentinel could not bring Primon back to life; he could get help. But Primon knew he wouldn't.

Amber optics finally saw Sentinel's frantic face-plates as he tried to carefully help him up. "What are you doing?"

Primon knew he was going to die, and that Sentinel was the one to wield the blade. But he didn't know how exactly this encounter ended and allowed the next one to begin. He didn't know Sentinel's plan. 

The blue and gold Prime grunted as he shifted the elderly bot into place and stood back to examine the scene. Inside Primon's spark chamber, the wound still remained. Threads of ancient energon and coding hung in the puncture. His spark beat slowed as it struggled to comprehend the splitting of his inner life force. His frame locked up, becoming paralysed. His optics were forced to stare at the stars shining down on him. 

"I will keep you here," Sentinel began quietly. "In this place that you love so dearly. So you can see what's going to happen to this precious world of yours."

He sneered right in Primon's audial and the other grew fearful when he realised that he couldn't pull himself away. Some sort of dread was telling him to remain still. The stars and moons weren't moving. En was still setting to his left. This wasn't Cybertron. 

"Forgive me, Primon." Sentinel huffed as he stood back. "For acting impulsive and selfish. I didn't want to strike; you frightened me. That seems to be all you're good at."

"Sentinel," Primon pleaded as the other departed from him and turned to open the door behind them. "No..."

Once the door was closed behind him and the dimension was sealed, Sentinel vented to himself as he stood in the Hall of Records. The receptionist and guider's frames were gone, so was their energon. He nodded to himself in some satisfaction that at least he didn't have to take care of that problem. 

He glanced down at his right servo and frowned as he noticed Primon's energon staining it. 

"You killed him?" He heard Ashpipe inquire from the shadows. He turned and narrowed his optics on the pinpricked blue orbs watching him. 

"No." Sentinel straightened up, hiding his servo behind his backstrut. "I've placed him where no bot will ever find him." 

She studied him for a moment, as if assessing the new threat in front of her. "What did you do?"

He could trust her. She was very good at keeping a secret, so he strode over to her and gently lifted her chin with his bloodied servo. "I delayed his deactivation and placed him inside a pocket dimension. That's where he'll stay until he either decides to blow himself up or I've had enough of him."

"The Matrix?" Ashpipe raised a brow-ridge. 

Sentinel grinned down at her, so tempted to take what was rightfully his but settled for thumbing her lip-plating with Primon's energon. "That and more."