Primevein @primevein - Tumblr Blog

Not enough Transformers Prime fanworks, so be the change you want to be.

Timeframe will probably be a post-war on Earth AU.

Have a feverish love for the Jack Darby / Arcee romance.

On AO3, obviously.

#transformers #prime

I apparently forgot that I made Predacons solar-powered.

#prime #the prime of his youth #twinstrike

Fantastic commission by @lorelai4590

Art Station Link

Sometimes scrappers with slag for brains just need to punch up before they can respect you.

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #jack darby #japheth prime #impactor

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch43: Ratio (FINAL)

Predaking made a pass, with a single, powerful attack erupting against Trypticon before flying by. Megatronus made a strafing run before Predaking flew by again. This time he transformed into a landing in front of Trypticon's right leg. Raiden combined into a landing and grabbed Trypticon's left. This slowed him to a crawl.

"All stations, this is Romeo-One-Sunray." Axel stated, "Orbital support at Line Zero, danger close."

Raiden pushed to the side and transformed to fly away. Predaking did the same to the other side. Trypticon, now free, wanted to rush forward only for an array of orbital blaster cannons to fall in front of him. He stopped, and this allowed Megatronus to land on his shoulder.

"You would disobey me, Trypticon?" Megatronus asked.

Trypticon turned his head slighly to look at Him out of the corner of his right eye, "Everyone disobeys you. You arrive not only without army, but at the behest of another's army."

Megatronus drew His great blade, "Do you think I will allow you to live? Together we would conquer Cybertron. Alone, you will be a Sparkless husk."

Another volley of orbtial cannonfire fell in front of him.

"Where is your Spark, Megatron?" Trypticon asked, "It used to shine so brightly." He turned his head up to see a great fireball. Megatronus arrogantly looked at it. Trypticon was struck by another blast from Ratite's great cannons. This distracted them long enough that when they looked back at it, the fireball had burnt off, leaving Victoria holding onto Japheth Prime. Japheth pushed off, using both hands to hang from his sword overhead as Victoria came barrelling down towards Trypticon.

"You now face the Wrath of Japheth Prime." Megatronus stated.

"Hm?" Trypticon asked, "I think your angles are not quite right."

"WHAT?" Megatronus ferociously asked, only for Victoria's gravity shield to strike Him with full force. He was nearly crushed from the force, but was knocked off of Trypticon's shoulder, crashing heavily into the ground.

Japheth floated down as Victoria pushed off of Trypticon's shoulders, jumping far out of range. Trypticon turned towards her, only to find himself struck by Ratite's great cannons. He turned his head and unleashed his breath towards them, but once again they had scattered before his attack landed.

Megatronus struggled to His feet, on to find the barrel of Japheth's transformed left hand placed against His torso. "Is that it?" Megatronus asked, "That was you big play. You press your blaster against my chest, and I'm supposed to shake from fear?" He drew his great blade again, "Well, do it, shoot, and the moment you do, my sword will take off your head?"

A great plume of molten metal shot through Megatronus' torso. Energon started to flow from the gaping wounds as He collapsed to the ground. "Tell me, Megatronus?" Japheth asked, "What is your choice? Die with pride, or beg for your life from one that has already spared it?!"

The light dimmed in Megatronus' eyes.

"You don't have much time!" Japheth shouted, "For once in your life, think before you act! Cybertron needs you!"

"And... you make... it even worse..." Megatronus groaned, as his Energon painted the soil. "Fine, I yield. You are the better."

Japheth turned towards the sky, "I - SUMMON - MY - WRATH!"

Another orbital barrage landed on the far side of Trypticon as Victoria landed beside them. "Protect Him at all costs," Japheth stated, "and have Sandstorm bring in as much Energon as he can. But before that?" He asked, and turned to look up at Trypticon, "Uppies."

He turned back to Victoria. He stepped into her combined hands, and she launched Him up towards Trypticon. Her gravity umbrella followed Him as he used his own gravity to control the flight.

Victoria broke apart, and Pyra Magna raised her right hand to her right ear, to call in aid.

Japheth landed on Trypticon's right shoulder.

"You finally arrive, O lost Prime."

"I was watching." Japheth simply stated.

"You proved that Megatronus is no master for me, but that does not make you worthy."

"Who says I want to control you?" Japheth asked. He turned to see Sandstorm being flanked by Miko and Royce flying towards them. He then looked back to Trypticon.

"Then, what do you want?"

"For you to let go of hatred." Japheth.

"Hatred?" Trypticon asked, "Is that what you think this is?"

"Then why are you trying to destroy Cybertron?" Japheth asked, and Trypticon paused, "Everyone is simply here to contain you if you went on a rampage. The only one that threatened you was Megatronus, that now has His eyes growing dim. So, I'll ask you again, why are you trying to destroy Cybertron?"

Trypticon thought, but no answer was forthcoming.

"You were a scientist." Japheth stated. "You could be one again, if you let go of hatred."

"My hatred is what gives me strength." Trypticon bellowed.

"Strength - to do what?" Japheth asked. "No one here wants to fight you."

"You brought an army - to welcome me into your arms?" Trypticon dismissively replied.

"I brought an army in case you fell back on your old ways." Japheth stated. Another barrage fell from orbit. "That's Line Zero. The bombardment is to hold you back, because if you pass it, we will have to switch to lethal force."

This finally brought Trypticon pause. He slowly turned around. He saw Roxana and Sea Spray tending to Megatronus, desparate to save His life, a life Japheth nearly ended. Whatever the attack was, it was not Energon. Trypticon remembered. It was so long ago. A lifetime ago. He was floating about Cybertron, running research. It was only the Dark Spark that corrupted him. A Spark he no longer felt, as Megatronus had been purified. That's what happened to Him. That's why his Spark felt so bare. It no longer bore the darkness from before.

"You think I could be at peace?" he asked.

"That's why I let Aurea rebuild you." Japheth simply uttered. Trypticon's head lowered. "I'll tell everyone to stand down."

"But, I have yet to say?.." Trypticon asked.

"Your Spark is at peace." Japheth stated. He jumped off a Trypticon, using his gravity to slow his fall. When He landed, He walked, non-chalantly away from Trypticon. He raised His right hand to His ear. "This is Juliette. All combat stations - stand down."

Trypticon could see the remaining Wreckers come out of the furroughs in the ground just passed Line Zero. All transformed and rolled away. Raiden and Predaking landed together onto an escarpment to the right.

"Romeo-One, on me." apheth stated. "November, take care of Alpha."

* * *

Nebulous appeared in a cloud next to Aurea, and She just sighed.

"I - am not - a child." she stated.

"Uh-huh?" Nebulous non-chalantly asked.

"I don't need you to take care of me!" she fumed.

"I need to make sure you don't tell anyone else to - be yourself."

Aurea glared at Him, but silently aquiesced.

"The Cloud Knights are so quiet without you." he non-chalantly continued.

Aurea fumed for a moment, "You like it that way." she uttered.

"True." He quickly replied.

* * *

"Victor, report." Japheth said over the comm. link.

"It's taking a lot of Energon," Victoria replied, "but we're giving Him more Energon than He is losing."

"Excellent." Japheth stated.

* * *

The five World War II tanks drove up to Him, and transformed. They gathered together into a line, with Axel in front of them. He saluted Japheth, and Japheth saluted back. "I would tell you that you did an excellent job, but..."

"But?" Bugaboo asked.

"That would be an understatement." Japheth stated, "I cannot say how highly I think of you." He paused a moment, "It's literally secret. To learn the secret, you have to quest. The most I can do is show you the starting line, and maybe lend you one of my scouts."

"Is that an order?" Axel asked, and Japheth gave them a wicked smile.

"You wouldn't know how ironic that statement is until you get there." Japheth simply stated. He then paused a moment, and then developed a more neutral look, "You all studied history. Military history. Your minds can comprehend things no other Cybertronian can. Cybertron needs you. Will you do it?"

He could feel all of their Sparks move to alignment. He saluted, and they saluted in return. They did not know what it meant until they had finished it. Japheth turned away, raising His right hand to his ear, "Royce, get me an encrypted line to Nebulous."

"In progress." Royce replied, "Connection established."

"When's the last time we did this?" Nebulous asked.

"Exactly." Japheth simply stated.

"Alright..." He voiced.

A cloud appeared beside Japheth, and out walked a black bot with gold trim, "I am Broken Crown." he stated, and looked to the Tankbots in ranks, "I will be your guide."

"Hey, Juliette?" Nebulous asked.

"Yes, November?" Japheth replied.

"You want to come join the group hug?" he asked.

* * *

"We don't need a group hug." Aurea shot at Nebulous.

"You sure?" Nebulous asked, and Aurea forced a harsh look.

"I'll be right there." Japheth stated.

Aurea let out a great sigh.

* * *

Japheth and Arcee drove up. They transformed and walked up to Aurea's floating platform.

* * *

The group hug between Japheth, Arcee, Nebulous, Sierra, Ilia, and Aurea broke apart. Japheth looked at Aurea, "We did it."

She glowered at Him, "You did."

"And now you need to get him into a high orbit." Japheth stated, and Aurea's eyes grew wide. "Orion and Victoria can help."

Scalar Prime appeared beside them, "And I, as well."

* * *

Trypticon collapsed into a rocket-like shell, with plumes of flame beneath him visible from orbit. With the combined gravitational assistance, he quickly blasted off and flew into the sky.

* * *

Trypticon transformed into a space station, much as he originally looked.

-----

Embers: 8

Prima Prime - Japheth Prime (Jack Darby)

Solus Prime - Aurea Prime (Golden Hind)

Liege Maximo - Nebulous Prime (Smokescreen)

Megatronus Prime - Megatronus Prime (Megatron)

Vector Prime - Scalar Prime (Shockwave)

Onxy Prime - Leonideius Prime (Lothar)

Micronus Prime - Draconidus Prime (Zuo)

Nexus Prime - Ratio Prime (Ratite: Axel, Bugaboo, Haresight, Tigerstripe, Moody)

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch42: What Would Japheth Do?

Nebulous saw something and disappeared in puff of fog.

* * *

A cloud appeared next to a Combiner, whom dutifully stopped and waited for Nebulous to step out. Nebulous looked up at him, "So, you must be the fourth combiner?" he asked. He stepped forward, holding out His hand. The Combiner accepted and shook His hand. "Nebulous." He stated.

"Ratite." the Combiner replied, "And aren't you forgetting a little something from your name?"

"Uh-huh?" Nebulous non-chalantly asked. "Honestly, the last thing I want is to be treated like a Prime."

The Combiner broke apart into five piece, each bearing kibble with heavy armour. A mid-sized one offered his hand, "Axel." he stated as they shook. He then pointed to the far right, "That's Bugaboo, Tigerstripe." he said, and then looked to the left side, "And that's Haresight and Moody."

All four moved in to shake hands, which Nebulous did with alarming alacrity. He then turned back to Axel, "So, who recruited you?"

"Rumours of Japheth Prime's return." Axel stated.

"An independant?" Nebulous asked, "The I'll give you the quick rundown. Aurea is going to reactivate Trypticon."

"Reactivate?" Tigerstripe asked.

"Acting like it's so simple." Haresight uttered.

"The reconstruction is one thing..." Moody uttered.

"Sparks are something only Prima and Solus understand." Nebulous stated. "Solus how to make them, Prima how to read them." He paused a moment, "With Her forge and foundry, She can build Titans." He paused another moment, "And rebuild them." He paused again, looking between everyone's faces, "The plan is to try and NOT kill Trypticon." He looked between the faces again.

"Wait until He sees our alt. form while combined." Haresight uttered.

"I'm not expecting Trypticon to instantly be converted to the path of puppies and sunshine, so we're trying to slow him down until, I don't know, Japheth can talk some sense to him?"

"A question?" Moody asked.

"My kind of plan." Bugaboo added.

"Whatever the plan, we can provide more long-range firepower." Haresight neutrally added.

"The long of the short of is," Axel stated, "is that Terra has had wars greater than we could possibly imagine. The biggest was World War II."

"So, you're historians?" Nebulous aksed.

"We studied war." Tigerstripe stated, "in case war ever came back to Cybertron."

"Close enough." Moody stated.

"Fan out is pretty simple." Nebulous stated, "You guys are on your own. Raiden will be showing up, also on his own. Warmachine is with the Wreckers, while Victoria is waiting for an orbital drop with Japheth." He then looked around, "The Elite Guard have supply and medical stations around, and Rodimus has the militia holding a perimeter. If anything happens, don't be afraid call for help." He then looked up at the Seekers flying overhead, before looking back to Axel, "And air superiority."

"And a Titan in overwatch." Axel stated. He paused a moment, "Any chance you could hook me up as a foward observer?"

"Talk to the big guy yourself." Nebulous stated. He looked to the side as if He heard something and once again disappeared into a cloud.

* * *

Japheth cuddled with Victoria floating above Cybertron. He opened his comm. link and felt something deep down in His Spark. "Who am I speaking with?"

"This is Axel." he stated.

"Leader of - Combiners?" Japheth asked.

"Our reputation preceeds us?" Axel asked, and Japheth paused in reply.

"I'll need to talk to you when this is over."

"We'd be honoured." Axel stated.

"So, what did you need?" Japheth asked.

"I was wondering if you could hook me up as a forward observer for Orion."

"Yes." Japheth instantly stated, leaving Axel stunned.

"Uh, thank you. Axel out."

* * *

"What's a few warcrimes?" Megatronus asked. Nebulous reappeared in an burst of mist.

"Just so you know, Megabutt, I'm always tapped into her comms."

Megatronus gave Aurea a wicked look, "Spying isn't exactly a great way to build trust."

Aurea gave Megatronus a dismissive wave.

"Yeah, she agreed." Nebulous stated. "I was worried about her, and if we left her alone, she might spend a decade in her underground foundry."

Megatronus looked between them, deep in thought, "Does that mean He heard your confession?"

"Yeah..." Nebulous dismissively stated, "No accounting for taste."

"That's it?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"You're not MY Sparkmate." Nebulous dismissed, "And if She sees good in you, maybe there is?"

"Or, at the very least, She sees fit to not throw me out with the slag." Megatronus said with glee.

"Her - and Japheth." Nebulous stated. "So, we doing this?"

"I'm ready, if you two are done puffing out your chests." Aurea stated.

At this, Nebulous puffed his chest out even more. "Ehn, this might take a while, might as well start right now."

* * *

"Bringing him out of stasis." Aurea stated.

Nebulous looked on with concern while Megatronus looked on with wicked glee. The great Robot-form began to move. First, the tiniest movements, at least relative to his titanic frame. But then his head started to move about with purpose. First just in recognition that he was awake, and capable of moving. He then started to look around, to figure out where he was.

"I sense great Sparks around me." Trypticon's great voice bellowed.

"You don't recognize your master?" Megatronus asked him.

"I - do not." Trypticon's great voice replied.

"Trypticon!" Megatronus screamed.

"Your Spark is - brighter - but more contained." Trypticon added. He slowly started to sit up. The ground shook for kilochords around. Megatronus tried to run towards him.

"Nope." Nebulous stated, "Hold it right there."

"You suddenly think yourself my equal?" Megatronus asked.

"I think myself your opposite." Nebulous replied.

"Do you think you can stop me?" Megatronus asked.

"I think I don't have to." Nebulous stated.

"Megatronus." Aurea admonished, and this stopped Him in his tracks.

Trypticon turned to try and look back at them, "Hm?" his great voice travelled for a kilochord. "What happened to the tyrant that commanded absolute control with his iron fist?"

"Everyone get on the platform." Aurea stated. Megatronus turned back and moved towards it. Nebulous disappeared in a cloud, reappearing in a new one on the platform. Megatronus quickly transformed and flew to the platform before transforming into a landing. The platform started to float into the air and flew around in front of Trypticon.

"I lost the Great War, was enslaved by Unicron, saved by my greatest enemy, and redeemed by Primus." Megatronus said with a sincerity that Nebulous thought He lacked.

"Redeemed?" Nebulous asked.

"I was chosen - by Primus?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"That sounds more like Him." Nebulous uttered, and looked Trypticon. "He still tries to do what he can get away with."

"And, you deign to call yourself my master?" Trypticon asked Megatronus.

"Make no mistake!" Megatronus shouted. He threw his right arm out, and his great blade extended, "I am even stronger than I was, before!"

Trypticon simply watched as Megatronus did not move, "That is what I thought." He paused a moment, "If you won't be my master?" he asked, "Who would be?" He then looked at Aurea that did not even look up from her console, and then Nebulous.

"I don't want a titan as a slave." Nebulous stated, and paused a moment, "And neither does Japheth."

"He already has Orion." Aurea said dismissively, and then finally looked up, "He honestly doesn't consider himself a slave."

"If He is the Prime of Primes, then what would he want me to do?" Trypticon asked her.

"Be yourself?" Aurea asked, and Nebulous smacked her upside the head.

Trypticon then transformed, looking about at the massive army that surrounded him.

"Can you think about what you do - for like a second?" Nebulous asked.

"Uh-huh?" Aurea dismissed, "Because that is what you do, isn't it?"

"That's why I'm here." Megatronus said, and jumped into a transformation.

Nebulous sighed, "And that's why Japheth is in orbit." He then looked at Aurea.

"Redeeming Sparks is not exactly my strong suit." Aurea simply stated. "There's a reason I asked for everyone's help."

"For the record, don't tell a giant rampaging Kaiju to be himself!" Nebulous exclaimed, and dispeared into a cloud that disappeared just as quickly afterwards.

Megatronus made a strafing run at Trypticon's head. He flew around the right before quickly banking left. Trypticon turned to look at Him before letting out an incredibly plume of corrupted Energon. Megatronus pulled into a climb beforehand to escape it.

* * *

Nebulous appeared beside Scalar and the Tankbots. "So?" Axel asked.

"Oh, nothing." Nebulous simply stated, "Aurea just told him to be himself."

"Well, that's a sticky wicket." Moody non-chalantly added.

"What do we do?" Tigerstripe asked.

Nebulous thought for a moment, "I'll play the fool to distract him. You guys can try to contain him. If he moves too far out, the Wreckers will encircle him." He thought for a moment before looking to Scalar, "Could you tell Predaking?"

Scalar simply stood there like an unmoving pillar.

"Scalar?" He asked.

"I apologize, but Predaking and I have never truly mended our relationship."

Nebulous sighed, "Yeah, genocide does kind of do that to people." He then turned back to Trypticon, before raising His right hand to His ear.

* * *

"Japheth's house wife." Arcee stated.

"How about the Lady of Orion?" Nebulous playfully asked. He could hear her rolling her eyes in reply. "Alright, here is, can you ask Predaking to CONTAIN Trypticon. Move in, frustrate his movements, move out. Never stay too long. We don't want him to get hurt."

A pregnant silence followed, "And, he knows what this is?"

Another pregnant silence happened as Nebulous thought this over. "Alright, how does Japheth do this?"

Ominous silence followed.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Nebulous said with a sigh.

"I'll talk to him." Arcee stated, "Not making any promises."

"Stay safe." Nebulous stated, and then appeared in front of Trypticon. He raised his Path Blaster at Trypticon's head and shot him. The great head turned towards Him, and Nebulous simply watched. Trypticon opened his great mouth as Nebulous disappeared in a cloud. The corrupted Energon shot through the cloud.

"He really has the gall to say that." Arcee huffed as she drove off.

Ratite, in his Landkreuzer form short his tremendous cannons at Trypticon, and then quickly broke apart and scattered. Trypticon's great breath hit where they had been moments ago.

-----

Ratite: Combined form of the Tankbots.

Combined Transformation: Landkreuzer Ratte

Each of his components has completely different battle strategies, and Ratite can switch between them several times in a second.

---

Tigerstripe: King Tiger/Right Leg

Trans: Cannon, Forearm Blades

Vehicle Armaments: Heavy Cannon, Autoblaster

Victory is a matter of armour, firepower, and mobility. When you have that, all you have to do is fight through the enemy. Injury prone, despite his heavy frame and armour.

Moody: Churchill AVRE/Left Leg

Armaments: Various Explosives (stored internally and in kibble)

Trans: Multipurpose Tool, Blaster

Vehicle Armaments: Heavy Carronade, Autoblaster

Victory is a matter of careful planning, deligence, and ball bearings made of titanium. His heavy hull maintains a wide variety of explosives that he can use in Robot mode. Or his allies can reach into his side hatches to use. He is an engineer, both in the military sense, and the civil sense.

Axel: Sherman V RMASG/Torso

Trans: Cannon, Seax

Vehicle Armaments: Cannon, Autoblaster

Victory is a matter of universal training and adaptability. When a situation produces itself, you can exploit it fully.

Commander/Forward Observer (vehicle mode only)

Bugaboo: T34/Right Arm

Armaments: Axe

Trans: Triple Blaster, Knuckle Dusters

Vehicle Armaments: Cannon, Autoblaster

Victory is sometimes a matter of planning and precicion, but other times through mass conscription, and crude pieces of barely functional iron. Quantity has a quality of it's own. Prefers rapid, close-quarters attacks.

Ratite can transform his right hand into Triple Cannons.

Haresight: StuH 42/Left Arm

Armaments: Sniper Rifle (carried in 2 pieces in his bag), Blaster Pistol

Trans: Heavy Longshot Blaster, Arm Blades

Vehicle Armaments: Heavy Multipurpose Blaster Carronade

The sniper of the group. The heavy cannon provides incredible firepower, but his low profile and lack of turret make it much more useful for him to setup in ambush, or aim his gun howitzer while hiding in defilead.

Ratite can transform his left hand into his Gun Howitzer.

-----

Embers: 7

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch41: 4/5

Aurea worked in her grand foundry. She paused, to look up and see spiders on her walls. One was black, while the other pink and white. "If the Spiders have come to check-up on me, their master cannot be far behind."

Charon jumped off the wall and transformed, using her silk line to rappel down. She bounced down the great wall of the great foundry until she reached the ground, and then sashayed over to Aurea. "You do know he can drop from orbit, don't you?"

A great dark form moved out of the shadows. Royce and Charon immediately stopped. Charon fearfully moving a few steps back. Megatronus' great form strode from the shadows.

"So that is his plan, huh?" his great, bellowing voice asked.

"A tiny fraction of it." Royce stated. "I'm curious how much was shared with you?"

"I am afraid -" he wickedly replied, "I have not had my briefing."

Silence reigned for a moment, the fear palpable in the Spiders.

"Alright, Megadick." Aurea interjected, "Stop intimidating the Spiders."

"I was just...." Megatronus tried to say.

"I know what you were trying to do." Aurea stated, "The only thing it will accomplish is Japheth ripping out your Spark, and I don't want to see you die."

"You're so sure?" Megatronus asked.

Aurea dropped her head to her right hand, and audibly sighed, "Can you stop being the charismatic destroyer for a microcycle, and think for a second."

"Oh?" Megatronus wicked asked, "What am I thinking of?"

"The force discrepancy." Aurea replied. Megatronus did not seem disuaded at all, "I know you got to where you were by not worring about such things, but the difference this time is that they are on to you." He still did not seem to be getting the message, "You have no combiners, He has four. He has the Wreckers, stronger and more motivated than they have ever been."

"I've always liked the Wreckers." Megatronus wickedly stated, "They had the courage to do what Optimus did not."

"They work - with Japheth - because of respect." Aurea stated, "He can read Sparks, and the moment He decides you cannot be talked into joining Him, He kills them."

"That is why I'm the only Black Widow left." Charon stated.

"Oh?" Megatronus wicked asked, "I was curious about that."

"I was the only one willing to play ball." Charon replied.

"And that's it, He threatened to kill you?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"He gave me a home, protection, love, intimacy..." Charon voiced.

"To be fair, if I knew you were so weak, I never would have made you a Black Widow." Megatronus simply stated.

"Weak!" Charon said with fire and determination, "You think Him WEAK?!"

Megatronus just dismissively shrugged.

"Predaking," Aurea continued, "Headmasters, Humans."

"Humans?" Megatronus asked. "Those tiny pets the Autobots kept in their base?"

Aurea let out a heavy sigh, "You know how dangerous they can be."

"Do I?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"A single bolt can cause bleeding. He has around a thousand Rangers, each armed with a boltgun." Aurea stated.

"Will you stop giving away our master's secrets?!" Charon exclaimed, and Aurea paused to give her a shocked look. She then gave Megatronus a piercing gaze.

"Are you really surprised?" Megatronus asked.

Aurea sighed, "I shouldn't be." She paused a moment, "Anyways, Predacons, Elite Guard, Starscream, and a TITAN!"

"Hm?" Megatronus asked, looking at the nearly restored body of Trypticon, "A Titan..."

"Don't get any ideas." She said to Him.

A cloud appeared off to the side, with Nebulous quickly walking out. "That's the whole reason He's here."

"And to do me a favour." Aurea dismissively added, looking back to her work.

"What, no hug?" Nebulous asked.

Aurea tried to keep working, periodically looking over at Him. "It's just... let me... finish..."

"Yeah..." an annoyed Nebulous replied, "it's just that, when you finish, we might be a little busy."

"That depends if I can talk him out of it." Megatronus said with pride.

"Yeah, that doesn't exactly fill me with confidence." Nebulous stated.

"Hm?" Megatronus proudly asked, "Then why am I here?"

"As a favour to Aurea," Nebulous quickly replied, before slowing down to a normal pace, "and because Japheth trusts you more than I do."

"He trusts me?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"He trusts you to be Megatronus." Aurea stated. "For times like these, we really need to define - trust."

She then walked over to Nebulous, allowing herself to quickly get pulled into a powerful hug. When He let her go, She turned to Megatronus.

"You'll have to wait until after." She said, and quickly walked back to Her console. She looked back up at Nebulous. "Is everyone in place?"

Nebulous looked up at Royce.

"What?" she asked, "I'm in charge of the group hugs and singing circle?"

"The facts, please." Aurea quickly stated without looking up at her.

Royce let out a great sigh. She communicated over the comms. for a few moments before looking back down at the Femme Prime, "Ready." She then started to skitter up the wall into darkness.

"Get down here." Aurea firmly said, without looking up at her. Royce stopped, but did not comply.

"Probably because the elevator, or something, is going to smack her." Nebulous shouted up at her.

Royce transformed, and used her silk line to rappel down the wall.

"I'm not telling you these things for my benefit." Aurea stated. She then looked up at Royce, "That said, Japheth would be sad if something happened to you."

Royce stopped on the wall, completely shaken.

"The walls are actually safe." Aurea stated, and titanic bunker doors opened above them. They seemed to slowly retract, but that just belied how colossal they were. When they finally stopped, the ground started to shake beneath them. Nearly the whole floor started to rise, and as it did, the light started to cover more of the floor, and more of the Titan slumbering there. As they got close to the top, the great lift was flooded with the pseudo-daylight that clad Cybertron. Nebulous disappeared in a cloud. Royce jumped over onto a great pillar that was rising with the platform. Megatronus simply loomed over the main console. He looked up to see an armada of seekers flying above them, and briefly the wings of Predaking. As they approached the top, they could hear the sound of helicopters flying about. Royce transformed and flew out to join them.

"So?" Megatronus asked, as the lift reached it's pinnacle. Great groans could be heard from below them as the platform was anchored and reinforced, "Who do you think is stronger, every Cybertronian? Or me?"

"Individually, you." Aurea flatly stated, "But quantity has a quality of it's own. But then there is Japheth." She paused a moment. Megatronus stood even more proudly, "Humans have a Fallen of their own."

"Oh?" Megatronus wickedly asked.

"He was the brightest star in the heavens." Aurea stated, and paused a moment, "The lesson is that pride comes before the fall."

"I'm going to fall, am I?" Megatronus asked.

"I'm the only one trying to stop you." Aurea stated. "Not you, not Nebulous. Not even Soundwave."

"And - Japheth?" Megatronus asked.

Aurea sighed, "You still don't get it." She paused to think it over, "If you fought, you would fight to beat him. He would fight because the future of Cybertron would require you to lose your Spark. This isn't Optimus we are talking about. This is not - any of the ones that have challenged you."

Megatronus' prideful smile finally fell.

"You know it, deep in your Spark, what would happen if you fought?" Aurea stated. "There would be no warm-ups. No playful banter. No great speeches."

"No, there wouldn't be..." Megatronus whistfully stated.

"His Wrath would fall from heaven. Her gravity would pin you to the ground as his sword carved out your Sparkchambre. And if you prepared for that, he has several armies that would instantly use lethal force on you. The Minicons and Humans would not be seen before their bolts strike. Windblade would fly in out of nowhere and take off your head. His Wreckers will plant enough explosives at your feet to scar Cybertron."

"Is that all?" Megatronus asked.

"Aside from the Predacon, and the Insecticons He has recruited, Gis own Titan, several worlds full of warriors that would die for Him." She paused a moment, "Without Vehicons, you will never have an army even a thousandst the size of His, and even if you DID, He could recuit a million more." She paused again, "And the worst part of it is that, at the end of the day, He will be in the comfort of his beloved concubines, while you will be too paranoid to even power down."

"Why - would I power down?" Megatronus asked.

Aurea sighed, "Half of the problem is that you would never even consider it."

"I don't see what I would gain?" Megatronus earnestly asked.

"No - you don't." Aurea replied, "No - you can't. After everything you have done, everything you have suffered, everything you have struggled for - you cannot possibly conceive of the opposite, of peace."

Megatronus was deep in thought for a moment, "And, you want peace?" He genuinely asked.

"I want to create." She said, and paused a moment, "That's easier when we aren't fighting. That's how He recruited Shockwave, afterall."

This seemed to wound Him deep to his Spark. Shockwave was one of the few Megatronus never even considered losing.

"You always think you are going to win." Aurea stated. Megatronus once again developed his smug look, "Japheth doesn't." She paused a moment. "That means he doesn't - stop."

"And I do?" Megatronus asked, "Because, this Terran concept of War Crimes intruiges me. I have certainly done more than my share, and would love to try the others."

"You constantly walk the line between confidence and overconfidence." Aurea said to Him, and the look on His face showed how strongly this affected Him. "To be fair, until now, it has always worked."

Megatronus did not say anything. He did not preen. He did not develop a smug look. All He did was be lost in thought, which spoke more than his words could.

His eyes grew wide as something occured to Him, "Did you want to be my Sparkmate?" He asked with shock.

"I am not opposed." Aurea stated, "Solus loved the progenitor of your time and clade. Nothing in my Spark tells me I could not love you."

A cloud erupted revealing Nebulous. "Get a room!" He exclaimed.

On the other space, space wrapped into itself. When it relaxed it revealed Scalar.

"It is illogical, but I am finally starting to understand the necessity of things other than logic."

-----

Embers: 7

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch40: Jack of All Trades

Japheth stood on the podium of the Great Mall, with all of His Cybertronian combatants around Him. "We are en-route for Cybertron!" Japheth exclaimed.

"So, you're done keeping us in the dark?" Wheeljack called out.

"No." Japheth said with a bright smile.

"Don't slagging ruin this for us." Jumpstream stated.

"The fact that He never explains the plan is the best part." Dust Up stated.

"Well, I wouldn't say that." Jumpstream uttered.

"I could take it or leave it." Seaspray stated, "But He has to tell us, eventually."

"What cog-brained plan has He come up with this time?" Sandstorm asked.

"What makes you think it was my plan?" Japheth asked, "I'm just trying to help Her out."

"Her who?" Impactor asked.

"Arcee?" Miko asked.

"What?" Arcee asked, "I'm trying to be a housewife." she sardonically replied, "It's honestly a LOT more work than I was expecting. Not complaining."

Bulkhead turned to Miko, "It wasn't you, was it?"

"Uh-huh?" Miko asked, "Like we would spend so much time talking about it ahead of time."

"Good point." Wheeljack said to her.

"What of His spiders?" Rector asked.

"We've been on best behevious." he heard from beside him, but when he looked she had disappeared.

"Windblade?" Seaspray asked her.

"Mayhap we should ask our Prime?" Windblade asked.

Japheth looked about, making sure they were done speculation. A cloud appeared beside Him, revealing Nebulous.

"The answer is Aurea." Nebulous stated, and silence reigned.

"What slag-for-brains idea did she come up with?" Wheeljack asked.

"Resurrecting Trypticon." Japheth stated, and it felt as if all air was sucked out of the massive concourse. He then turned to Nebulous, "Why don't you tell them how big the army was that won the great war?"

Nebulous thought for a moment, "Do I include you and Miko?"

"No." Japheth stated.

"Bullscrap." Miko pouted.

"Optimus, Ratchet, Arcee, Bumblebee, me, Wheeljack, Bulkhead, and Ultra-Magnus." Nebulous uttered.

"Two Forged, two Elder Insecticons, three Transtectors, four Combiners, four Cloud Knights, five Primes, Starscream with an armada of Seekers, and Predaking." Japheth stated. "We had far less when we fought Unicron, but it was really the Matrix of Leadership that did it."

"What am I, chopped live?" Arcee asked from just below the dias.

"You'll be leading the rescue efforts." Japheth said to her.

"Uh-huh?" Arcee asked, "Women's work!"

"Could you, you know?," Miko asked, "not be so excited by that."

"Could you , yow know, not have a big brother crush on my husband?" Arcee asked.

Wheeljack gave Miko a powerful clap on the back, "You earned that one, firecracker."

"Slag off." Miko stated.

"What happened to all of your colourful Terran insults?"

"She's too embarassed to do it in front of Japheth." Arcee added.

Miko gave her a crossed look, "You know what?" she asked, "That was pretty cool."

"Thank you." Arcee replied.

"It only took a decade married to Jack to give you a sense of humour." Miko replied.

"To be fair, I have one," Arcee stated, "just not a good one."

"Sandstorm, and Roxie are obvious. Seaspray I want in the rescue team. Phantom Rider on the outside.

The light in Phantom Rider's eyes narrowed at Japheth.

"Because you are too busy thinking about everyone else's safety." Japheth stated.

Sudden realization appeared on Phantom Rider's face. He looked around until he found Moonracer.

"Exactly." Japheth stated.

"I am, you know, a sniper?" Moonracer asked.

"In overwatch." Japheth stated. "Which you do to keep everyone safe, not to assassinate someone."

"Honestly?" Moonracer asked, "True."

Japheth turned to Windblade, "Don't kill him." Japheth stated.

Windblade simply glared at Him, "You act as if I will have a choice?" Windblade asked.

"You are the only one that has a choice." Japheth stated, "If he dies from injuries, it's one thing, but we don't need anyone going for the throat." Japheth then looked to Rector, and the Seven Minicons, "Rector?"

"Understood." Rector replied.

"Understood, what?" Impactor asked.

"We try not to kill." Gaylord stated. "We're kitted for lethal combat, but the rules are a bit different for a Titan."

Japheth looked to Pyra Magna, and then the other Rust Maidens, "Victoria and I will hold station in orbit."

"The Wrath of the Prime will fall heavy on the Titan's head."

"Orion will be in overwatch." Japheth stated. "Ion and Rodan will be on the ground, with the Skyfall waiting in orbit."

"It sounds like we're really doing this." Sandstorm stated.

"What the scrap did you think we were doing?" Wheeljack asked him, "Holding hands."

"There's a huge difference," Phantom Rider stated, "between being told you are going to fight a Titan, and actually facing one." He paused a moment, "Titanic, even."

"For the record," Japheth stated, "I'm not saying we're going to actually fight him."

"You're just getting an army ready." Wheeljack sardonically replied.

"Not exactly the kind of thing you want to learn about after the fact." Seaspray uttered.

"Look," Bulkhead stated, "this is Jack we're talking about. He pulled out tailpipes of the smelter a few times, and He did it without fighting."

"Keep telling yourself that." Impactor replied.

"You do realize we were actually there." Wheeljack replied. "I'll admit, when I got there, I didn't think that much of the tiny little ball of sunshine."

"Lies." Japheth stated.

"That I didn't think much of you?" Wheeljack asked,

"That I'm a ball of sunshine." Japheth said with a smile.

"Anyways," Wheeljack harshly said to Japheth, and turned to Impactor, "Bulkhead did. And Bulk's opinion on you means more than anything else. I mean, seriously, he loves me, which means there has to be something good to love."

"I did recruit you." Japheth said, with narrowed eyes.

"Are you regretting it, yet?" Wheeljack asked.

"Not for a moment." Japheth stated.

"I must be losing my touch." Wheeljack sardonically replied.

"And the Cloud Knights?" Pyra Magna asked Nebulous.

"My Cloud Knights are knights." Nebulous replied, "Like the Wreckers, they don't need to be told what to do."

"There will be a lot going on," Japheth continued, "so Arcelia will be monitoring everyone's vitals, and trying to keep everyone coordinated."

"Don't tell me that Siren is going to?.." Arcee asked.

"Eye in the sky." Japheth stated. "Obviously, she will not be getting close enough to actually get involved."

"And what of your shadows?" Boo asked.

"Skittering in the shadows" Japheth simply replied. "You don't have to trust them, but trust me. They are my most loyal warriors."

"Seriously?" Miko asked.

"You are prone to running off on your own." Arcee admonished.

"Hey!" Miko replied, "I usually take Bulkhead with me."

Arcee looked at Japheth, "Wait, what about me?"

"Housewife?" Japheth asked.

"I can live with that." Arcee replied.

"And?" Stormburst asked.

"Us?" Skyclash added.

"You have something to live for, other than me." Japheth replied.

"Barely." Rust Dust stated.

"Wait?" Bulkhead asked, "Math is not exactly my strong suit, but I can still count to five. Doesn't five Primes mean?.."

"You have got to be out of your slagging mind!" Wheeljack shouted.

"I'm not the one that made him a Prime." Japheth stated.

"I know you've got Starscream by the warm crankshaft, but MEGATRONUS?!" Wheeljack asked.

"There is a very good chance that he will stab someone in the back." Japheth stated, "Maybe literally. I'll have Predaking fight beside Him."

"You really think Predaking can stop Him?" Miko asked.

"No." Japheth stated, and silence reigned, "But he can slow him down enough that we can shift to stopping Megatronus."

"What if he corrupts Trypticon?" Seaspray asked, "I mean, he already did that, once?"

"He has the liar's tongue." Japheth stated, "I have the angel's spark. Optimus couldn't stop him, but Primus created each of the Primes for different reason."

"You're saying you can?" Wheeljack asked.

"I'm saying I don't have to." Japheth stated, "Trypticon will. All you have to do is buy me enough time so I can convince him."

"And you just gave me a chill down to my Sparkchambre." Wheeljack uttered.

"Are you regretting it, yet?" Japheth asked.

"Not on your life, Jack." Wheeljack proudly replied.

"And, the Council?" Arcee asked.

"Ultra-Magnus will hold the perimeter," Japheth stated, "while Rodimus will lead the irregular forces. But, let's face it, if Trypticon gets passed us, there's not much anyone else can do." He paused a moment, "Ultra-Magnus will have medical tents and supply caches, though." Japheth stated. "If you get low on Energon, don't for a second think you need to stay in the fight. Get out, get fixed, and get back in. We can't exactly stop a Titan by pulling on his ankles."

"What about the Dinobots?" Miko asked.

"They are the one thing that could potentially could stop Trypticon." Japheth stated, "If we fail. Not saying it's a good option, but it's better than letting Trypticon break Cybertron. By now, Chromia's messager will have reached them."

"You sure they'll help?" Wheeljack asked.

"Two things to know about the Dinobots," Nebulous stated, "They like to fight, and they like Jack."

"Carron also worship Him." Royce added, "No relation."

-----

Embers: 7

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch39: Unity

Japheth walked up to the round table. Lothar waited for Him to sit before joining Him. Bluestreak, Sunstrider, Stormrage, Downburst, Pyra Magna, and Seaspray were already seated, along with Zuo in his Transtector.

"His Eminence rejoins us." Lothar stated.

Pyra Magna gave Him a curious look. Japheth nodded His head to Sundance whom was approaching from behind.

Japheth stood up and gestured to the empty chair next to Him. Sundance sat down, "This is Sundance, former chaplain aboard the Orion, and the Ion before Him." He paused for a moment, making sure everyone heard Him, "Until now, I've been opposed to worship, or even veneration. Being a Prime is new to me. I am always afraid I am making a mistake. But, the Humans want to worship me. The Way of Flame on Caminus already worshipped the Primes, and I certainly have not done anything to disabuse them of it. I spoke with the Mistress of Flame, and she had me work out my morality into a form that could be taught, and now they wish to teach it." He paused a moment, "You don't have to accept her, you don't have to listen to her, you don't even have to support her. She can stay in my home, here, beneath Pride Rock, and needs minimal Energon. But if I find out anyone has been cruel to her, you will face my vengeance."

Sundance shuttered at that phrase. It was more than she had ever dreamed of. She was so lost to the joy that she could not speak.

Japheth then gestured to Lothar. Lothar stood up as Japheth sat down. "And now for why our lord has returned to us. He hast placed a great burden upon my shoulders."

Japheth went to speak, but Lothar's harsh look stopped Him.

"He was going to say that either I placed the burden on my own shoulders, or Primus did." Lothar's great voice uttered. "I will not for a second deny that I have long sought what was best for all Beastformers on Jett. The world gifted to us by Onyx Prime himself. The world saved for us by Japheth Prime himself." He paused to find the words. "It am loathe to accept this, but I must. I must abandon our world, at least for a time. I must go on a quest, and seek what few others have sought. But, before I go, I must set Jett upon her path, at least until I return." He paused, looking about the table.

"Is that why I am here?" Downburst asked, fearing the answer.

"You can stride across Jett unlike any other, apart from our Micromaster kin." Lothar stated, and then looked at Sunstrider, "He has great fire, and great wisdom, but has not tempered it." Lothar stated. He then looked to Stormrage, "He is calm as the eye of a storm, but lacks the rage his name implies." Lothar then looked to Karasen, "His skill will be essential."

"So, what exactly will I be?" Downburst asked, "Your Seneschal? Your Steward?"

"My regent." Lothar replied, "Sunstrider, I will need your aid on my quest."

"Of course, my king." Sunstrider replied.

"The Insecticons wished to join, and I will glad to have them." Lothar continued. He then turned to Zuo.

"My time here has passed." Zuo uttered, and his Transtector stood from the table.

"I will need your wisdom, if you will offer it." Lothar entreated.

Zuo strongly looked in his eyes and steeled himself to answer, "I would be honoured."

Japheth waited a poignant moment before gesturing to the empty seat next to Sundance. A cloud burst and as it dispersed, Nebulous could be seen here. Japheth then sighed.

"Oh, come on, it can't be that bad." Nebulous chided.

Japheth rolled his eyes before standing up, "Aurea wants to do something that... can only be done with all of the living Primes." He let out a heady sigh that echoed across the great stone table. He then looked to Seaspray, "Wreckers will be recalled." He then looked at Nebulous.

"And I'll collect my Cloud Knights." Nebulous stated, "But," he added, and gestured across the table to an empty chair. A cloud burst with a great, red Cybertronian appeared, "I am Elknight." He then looked to Lothar, "I am the guide Nebulous promised you."

"It would be my honour." Lothar replied, "To fight alongside one chosen by a Prime."

"Eehhnn." Elknight uttered, "You and Zuo were also chosen by Japheth." He paused a moment, "We'll be brothers."

"Then brothers we will be." Lothar firmly stated.

"Before we take off, is there anything you guys need?" Japheth asked, and silenced reigned.

"And he forgets that they do not know what we can provide." Pyra Magna stated.

"But, He could not be ungracious." Lothar stated.

Pyra Magna stood up. "Unless He needs to unleash His Wrath." She paused, letting it sink in for all those present, "The moment He understands someone cannot be saved, they must be stopped with all alacrity."

"Humans have a phrase," Seaspray stated, "It's like herding cats. You mind if I take off? We'll meet you at the lake."

"Go." Japheth uttered, and gestured for him to depart. Seaspray jumped out of his chair and was transformed before he hit the ground. "It's been real."

"It has been an honour." Lothar stated.

"Honour?" Seaspray asked, as his fan began to spin up, "is that what this feeling is? Who knew it wasn't just for the Elite Guard." He started to float away, quickly accelerating. "Oh, just remember, big guy, you might need to punch Sandstorm a few times."

"I've figured that much out, already." Japheth stated. He then looked to Pyra Magna, "Pyra, why don't you and the girls head to the lake?"

Pyra Magna jumped to her feet, "I was hoping you were going to say that."

* * *

Japheth drove with Charon in his wake, driving the black earth of Jett.

* * *

Japheth transformed as he approached the great river. He walked up a bluff, looking over at the lake beyond. "Up for a swim?"

"Is something giant going to come up and swallow us?" Charon asked as she skittered up, leering over the edge of the cliff.

"Abyss Wolf and Penumbra are protecting the river." Japheth stated.

"You trust them." Charon replied, "I trust you." She paused a moment, "But if we get eaten, I reserve the right to complain for all eternity in The Matrix."

"I doubt the complaints would last a Human lifetime." Japheth said warmly.

"I said the RIGHT to complain. Not that I..." she tried to say, and found his arm wrapped around her. "I swear this is some kind of abuse." Charon argued, trying to hide her joy.

"Cuddling?" Japheth asked.

"Making me love you." Charon replied.

Japheth withdrew his arm and stepped towards the edge of the cliff, "I did not make you love me, you did."

"Oh, slag this scrap." Charon uttered. "You played my Spark like a fiddle."

"I got you to trust me." Japheth said, and jumped off the cliff, "You did the rest." his comm. signal added.

Charon skittered off of the cliff after him.

* * *

Japheth and Charon, in their robot forms, swam across the water. A great dark shadow, and a minor, cloaked one flowed below them.

* * *

Japheth pulled himself out of the water up a cliff face. He reached his arm back into the water, and Charon pondered whether to take it. She leapt passed Him, and transformed to cling to the cliff, skittering up it. This minor form of defiance the most she could muster to prove her freedom. As much as she worried over it, she never found herself missing it.

* * *

Japheth approached the lake, and saw a pink spider skitter out from under the platform.

* * *

Japheth stepped onto the stairs that spiralled up and downward as Charon used her web to climb right up.

* * *

Japheth climbed the last step, standing atop the platform. A few Sirens were flying about, but most seemed to be absent.

Royce walked up to Him and found herself being pulled in for a hug and a kiss. He then let her go, and she stumbled back. "Everyone else is underground?" He asked.

Royce made to answer, but then found herself being hugged by Charon. She was so surprised, she froze up. Even worse, Charon did not immediately let her got.

"HE asked you a question." Charon taunted.

"Of course they're underground." Royce harshly replied, and Charon let her go. She then looked at Japheth.

"Want me to get everyone?" Charon asked.

Japheth nodded at her.

"And what about me?" Royce asked.

"Cuddle." Japheth said firmly.

"But?.." Royce asked.

Japheth looked up at the Sirens that spiraled inward and then outward again.

"Fine." Royce stated.

* * *

Japheth stood up and turned around. The Rust Maidens and Seven Minicons were both there, along with all of the Wreckers. He then gave Impactor a curious look.

"What?" Impactor asked.

"What did you blow up?" Japheth asked.

"What makes you think?.." Impactor asked.

"The door was stuck." Sandstorm stated.

"Hey!" Impactor shouted.

Japheth just gave them a wicked smile. He then looked at Miko, who looked about nervously.

"I mean?.." Miko tried to say. She felt Japheth's gaze boring into her. Her Sparkchambre started to ache. "Moonracer surprised me!" Miko shouted.

"What?" Moonracer asked, "Don't throw me under the bus."

"Moonracer?" Japheth directly asked.

Moonracer slowly turned her head towards Him, giving Him a fearful look.

"If that's the worst the Wreckers caused - I can live with it."

"The powerered door, won't." Bulkhead stated. Japheth gave him a curious look, "It turns out I'm as strong as I look."

"Free time until the Skyfall shows up." Japheth stated, "Make sure you don't leave direct comm. range. We don't have any boosters, yet."

"Uh?.." Rector asked.

"I underestimated you?" Japheth asked, "I'm losing track of time appreciation." he whistfully added. He then looked between everyone present, "Play time."

* * *

Japheth sat with Royce under his right arm and Charon under his left. He heard skittering behind him. He stood up and turned around to look at Pyrrha. She reverted to Robot form and bowed deeply.

"You have no idea what you mean you me. What you've done for me."

She said with it with such power, that anyone but Japheth would have been speechless.

"Unfortunatley, I do." Japheth said with a smile. "I am truly blessed."

"Or just that good." Charon said from behind Him.

-----

Embers: 7

I'm not going to write the story, but the story would be The Prime of His Youth: Gaiden VII: The Lion's Pride and Serpent's Wisdom.

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch38: Home Sweet Home

The doors to the house opened up. June looked over and saw Japheth stepping in.

Mom, I'm home." He chided.

"Do you even have a home?" she warmly asked, walking towards Him.

He slowed and stopped as he thought it over. June walked up the great steps in the centre and pulled Him in for a great hug. A hug He was eager to return.

"Among the stars?" He asked.

"You always have a home here." June said, "And New Kalis. And Orion. And on Jett. And Primus knows that Maximus would love to have you." She let him go and looked at him, "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need to spend time on Caminus." Japheth replied, "I love this house."

"You did have it built for you." June stated. "With a lot of privacy..."

"That's a good point." Japheth stated, "When Arcelia gets here, I'll have her re-key the top floor for you."

"You're too sweet to your mother." June chided, and He just nervously looked away. He steeled himself and looked back at her, "Up for a movie tonight?"

She thought for a moment, "How about Up?"

Japheth sighed, "Because you want to see if Cybertronians can cry. Alright. Miko won't be too disappointed she missed it. I have a lot of phonecalls to make."

"Anything I could do to help?" June asked.

"Contact the Forged on Caminus and tell them about Jett?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed.

* * *

Orion came out of the warpgate in the Sol system, turning to make a pass at Terra.

* * *

There was a knock on the door. Fowler hobbled down the stairs and made his way to the door. His Vehicon seemed suspiciously giddy and excited. He looked passed her to the door as he slowly approached it. His Vehicon looked at him nervously, "I can help you." she admonished.

"I'm not dead - yet." Fowler replied, hobbling to the door. He finally reached it and opened it. He peered through seeing black legs. He leaned out, seeing a great, purple form above him. "Well, what are you doing down here?"

Japheth smiled at him and leaned down.

"Cut the crap, and get to it."

"Very well." Japheth said, His smile never dimming. "But you are the one that taught me to use a gun."

"Uh-huh?" Fowler asked, "And if that was true, you wouldn't be calling them guns."

Japheth rolled his eyes, "For some strange reason, my perspective has changed on it."

"Yeah, yeah, I guess every firearm you can use with your giant robot hands counts as a gun. So, what you doing slumming in my neck of the wood. Not a lot of headroom."

"We're back at Terra."

"Uh-huh?" Fowler dismissively asked.

Japheth rolled his eyes again, "With the way things are going, this might be the last time..."

"Do you think I don't know that?!" the elderly Fowler shouted, "Of course I know that. I'm the one that taught you time appreciation."

"Uh-huh?" Japheth dismissed, "Want to come up to the Command Center, one last time?"

Fowler dismissively waved his hand, "That place just reminds me of paperwork."

"How about a trip to the range?"

Fowler thought about this for a moment, "Help me set it up in a rig, and I'd love to." He then turned back into the house, "Just give me a few minutes. I'm not as young as I used to be." The door then slammed shut.

"I've got all of the time in the world!" Japheth bellowed.

He heard grumbling from the other side of the door.

* * *

Orion received a radio signal, "Unknown ship, this is the U.S.S. Enterprise. Identify yourself."

"I am Orion, bearer of Japheth Prime." Orion's great voice replied.

"Welcome back to Terra, Bearer of Japheth Prime."

"Thank you." Orion stated. "I am detecting more ships, are they all yours?"

"Correct, Orion, they are the Columbia, Adventure, and Apollo." Enterprise replied.

"I fear your progress is greater than that of Cybertron." Orion replied.

"We don't have the luxury of waiting." Enterprise replied.

* * *

Japheth drove up to his old house outside of Jasper. He came to a stop, opening his doors and flaps. Arcee, Arcelia, and Sirenia all stepped out. He reverted to Robot form as a couple of Caminoan Femmes walked out with brilliant smiles on their faces. One of them, by her dress, was an archivist. The other someone more active.

"Come without your cortege?" the archivist asked.

"The Rust Maidens want to explore with Enterprise." Japheth said with a smile.

"I knew..." Arcee uttered, having trouble looking at the Femmes. She found His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in beside Him.

"They've been caring for our house." Japheth stated, "It's not made out of waut."

"I know..." Arcee uttered. She stepped out of His grasp, and bowed her head, "Thank you." she said with sincerity. She looked up at them, "This place means a lot to me. This was the first place that Jack and I had on our own."

"It is our honour." the other Femme added.

Arcee sent the signal to get the garage doors to open, and they started to slide upwards. "Let's head inside."

"We wil leave you with privacy in the master bedroom." the other Femme stated.

Japheth looked to the archivist, "Arcelia?" he asked, as he walked to follow Arcee inside, Sirenia eagerly following them.

"The summary," Arcelia stated, "is that we need to contact every Forged on Terra." She paused a moment, "And it's great to see you, again."

"You really did it, didn't you?" the archivist asked, looking back as Japheth walked into the house. She looked back to Arcelia, "Before He was even a Prime?"

Arcelia thought for a moment. "It depends on how you define Prime." She then looked at Japheth, "And His existence challenges our very definitions of it."

"You're saying He was a Prime before He as chosen?"

"He was chosen by Optimus." Arcelia stated, "At the mere suggestion He seek Vector Sigma, He seemed compelled. He was drawn to it. He seemed to hear the Spark of Primus himself." She paused to let the archivist consider it, "Would you classify that as a Prime?"

The archivist thought for a few moments, "Would Megatron be a Prime before be became Megatronus?"

"He was not chosen by a Prime." Arcelia stated, and paused a moment, "If He was chosen, it was by Aurea. I suppose by the same logic, at that time He was a Prime, even if He did not know it, yet."

"And Aurea?" the archivist asked.

"She was chosen by Smokescreen, whom was chosen by Japheth, under the same circumstances that He was chosen, Himself."

"And his spiders?" the archivist asked.

Arcelia closed her eyes for a moment to steel her mettle. She opened them again, "Those are two catastrophically long stories."

"Will we have time?" the archivist asked.

"We have - all the time - in the world." Arcelia whistfully stated, and sashayed to the house.

"You've really come out of your shell." the archivist stated.

Arcelia turned back just enough to flash a brilliant smile, "His love will do that to a Femme." she said, and turned back. "But that is part of the story."

* * *

Japheth leaned back on His bed. Arcee and Sirenia were standing off to the side.

"No Arcelia tonight?" Sirenia asked.

"She's having the time of her life." Arcee sardonically replied.

"She really is." Sirenia eagerly added. She then looked to Japheth, "This just brings back memories."

Arcee looked at Japheth, "Back when He honestly did not think I'd let him sleep with someone else."

"I was young and naïve." Japheth uttered. "Anyways, for old time's sake..." He paused a moment and they looked at Him eagerly, "Let's power down together."

"You really know how to get me revved up." Arcee sarcastically stated as she walked towards the bed, Sirenia eagerly following her. "I guess we can visit Raf tomorrow."

* * *

Orion flew through the Warp Gate with Cybertron in view. Japheth walked up to the Great Mall as the space distorted. Scalar and Aurea appeared before him.

"Prime of Primes," Scalar stated, "Alpha Trion has told me of times when you will accomplish great things. This is one of those times."

"Thank you." Aurea replied.

"It was only - logical." Scalar stated, and then disappeared.

Japheth gave Aurea a curious look, "So?" he earnestly asked.

Aurea took a moment to collect herself before replying, "I want to revive Trypticon."

Japheth's eyes grew wide with shock and horror. His mind raced, and He refused to speak until He would say something other than insults. He finally collected himself, "Not without my Wreckers."

* * *

The Skyfall landed on Jett. The ramp lowered, Japheth walked down. A cloud appeared and disappeared, leaving Nebulous, Sierra, and Ilia behind.

"So?" Nebulous asked, and Japheth sighed.

"I should not be surprised." He stated.

"So?" Nebulous eagerly repeated.

"I have to talk to the Lion and Serpent." Japheth simply stated.

"And then?" Nebulous eagerly asked.

"Aurea wants to resurrect Trypticon."

"And all she needed was a little push to step out of my shadow." Nebulous stated. The cloud reappeared, and when it dissipated, He was gone.

Arcee stepped down the ramp, "It's hard to cast a shadow when He always disappears like that."

Roxana raced towards the ship. She hit the ramp and transformed, being caught and cradled by Japheth.

-----

Embers: 5

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

nnalyart

Chillax by Nnalyart

#mlp #fim #rainbow dash #girls #drawings #queue

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch37: Statuary

The Ion and Skyfall descended towards Caminus, while the Rodan descended towards Yvonnia.

A great fireball in the sky fell towards the paramount of Caminus. It turned out to be Victoria craddling Japheth Prime. The Mistress of Flame watched them slow to a gentle landing. Victoria put Japheth down upon the ground.

"Certainly a way to make an entrace." the Mistress of Flame said, trying to hide her smile.

"I wanted to avoid the crowds." Japheth stated.

"For the record, a giant fireball tends to draw more attention than, say, a ship." the Mistress of Flame tried to neutrally state.

Japheth looked into the Temple of the Primes, "We need to talk." he said, and started walking towards it. The Mistress of Flame moved her staff foward and walked to catch up to Him. Victoria broke apart and walked to follow them. Without looking back, Japheth raised His right hand and spoke to them, "Don't - touch - anything!"

Pyra Magna stopped as the others walked passed her. She developed a dour look as she watched them.

"No touching." Dust Up stated.

"Got it." Jumpstream added.

"Do you think the Mistress of Flame wants to be touched?" Rust Up added, and Pyra Magna grabbed her by her kibble as she tried to walk passed.

The Mistress of Flame turned around, looking the Rust Maidens in the eyes, "I would be honoured."

"Nope." Japheth stated, and slowed down, turned around without breaking stride, and walked backwards into the temple, "No offence, but I have MORE than enough concubines." He then thought for a moment, "And it would be a conflict of interest for Caminus." He then turned back around.

"That was my assumption." the Mistress of Flame stated.

* * *

The stone doors closed into a solid wall as the Rust Maidens quickly spread out to the furthest reaches of the temple. "DO - NOT - TOUCH - ANYTHING!" Japheth's great voice echoed about the halls.

The Mistress of Flame smiled as they almost ran off before turning to Japheth.

"The Humans want to worship me." Japheth stated.

"And, for we on Caminus, you simply told us not to?" the Mistress of Flame asked.

"Did it work?" Japheth rhetorically asked, "Of course it didn't. You were going to worship me, but at least I could mitigate it. Caminus already had traditions..."

"Ah." the Mistress of Flame affirmed, "The Humans do not. You do not want to encourage them, do not want to deny them, but if you do not provide at least a guide, you do not know what form it will take?"

Japheth sighed, and the Mistress took this as confirmation.

"With us, you said you wanted veneration instead of worship." the Mistress of Flame replied, "So a focus on your deeds and history?"

"Frame veneration of me as a study of the past?" Japheth asked.

"Lest you wish to define your morals into a catechism for followers to emulate?" the Mistress of Flame asked.

"My morals?" Japheth asked, and sighed. "Everything I do is... finding the best path through grey and complex circumstances."

"Then, a teacher?" the Mistress of Flame asked.

Japheth thought this over.

"My morals are for survival, forgiveness, redemption, and the condemnation of those that would destroy society if they refuse to change."

The Mistress of Flame developed a wicked smile that disturbed Japheth. She then kneeled before Him. "We can now venerate you appropriately. We can now spread your word to the stars, to Orion, and Terra, and all other places."

Japheth sighed, "This is exactly what I thought would happen."

"And yet you still came here?" the Mistress of Flame asked.

"It's a destiny I cannot avoid." Japheth uttered. "There are no coincidences with Primes."

She developed a look of absolute awe and devotion as He said this.

"Oh, and a gift." Japheth stated, "Stand." He commanded, and she quickly stood. He then looked up into the air to shout, "Girls, get over here!"

The sound of the Rust Maidens rushing towards them could be heard from all quarters. "We didn't touch anything." Jumpsteam said as she rushed in.

"She touched herself." Dust Up replied.

"Slag off." Jumpstream replied, before snapping her head over to looking at the Mistress of Flame. "Uh?.."

"Prime outranks the Mistress." Rust Up said as she walked in.

Japheth simply smiled, looking between all of them. The Twins appeared out of nowhere flanking Him. Pyra Magna was the last, sauntering in. Japheth looked between all of them again, "This does NOT leave the temple." he stated.

"Because we are so well known for our self-restraint." Rust Dust stated.

"There is one that can get us to hold our tongue." Pyra Magna said with a bright smile.

"HE is showing us..." Skyburst stated.

"HIS favour." Stormclash added.

Japheth paused to find his mettle, "I am a descendant of Prima. Scalar is of Vector. Aurea is of Solus. Megatron is of Megatronus." He paused, knowing how hard the next thing would be to say, "Nebulous is of Liege - Maximo."

He swore the air was sucked out of the room, even if none of them actually breathed.

* * *

Japheth walked down the great ramps, surrounded by the Rust Maidens.

"So, uh?" Dust Up asked.

"Can't talk about it." Japheth stated.

"I mean, it's a fucking BIG deal." Dust Up continued.

"It's as much of a deal as we want to make it." Japheth added.

"but, He?!.." Jumpsteam asked, and Japheth turned to glare at her.

"For the rest of this conversation," he stated, "We're talking about the Thirteen, not their descendants."

"Alright?" Dust Up asked, "Liege Maximo betrayed the others!"

"So did Megatronus." Japheth replied.

"The first one, or?.." Jumpstream asked.

"Even Megatronus has his place." Japheth stated, "Without Megatronus, we could never have defeated Unicron."

"Okay, yeah, but, He did, you know?.." Dust Up asked.

"Solus Prime forgave Him." Japheth stated, "Which most Femmes from Caminus think is romantic."

"Yeah," Jumpsteam replied, "and how often did we spend time on Caminus?"

"Usually because I'm here." Japheth stated, and a pregnant silence followed.

"True." Rust Dust stated.

"Where are we headed?" Jumpstream asked, and Japheth turned to look at the statue of Royce at the city's paramount.

Japheth then looked at Jumpstream, "Want to tour the new statues?"

"Wait, does that mean WE GET ONE?!" Dust Up asked.

"We did pose with Him." Pyra Magna replied.

"We will..." Skyburst stated.

"...need a local..." Stormclash added.

"...to guide us." Skyburst added.

"How long have we been living on Caminus?" Rust Dust asked.

"I think it only really counts if we actually spend time here." Dust Up replied.

"I sure half of the Femmes from Caminus would drop to their knees and thank me for the priviledge." Japheth uttered, "Anyone have an idea of one that won't?"

"Wasn't there one you met on your first time here?" Pyra Magna asked.

"What, Zebrastripe?" Japheth asked. "Did I tell you about Zebrastripe?"

"She talked about you." Pyra Magna said with a smile. "I'll give her a call."

* * *

Zebrastripe drove up and transformed, "You think I'll just come when you call?"

"Thank you." Japheth simply said, and she was stunned, trying to play it off. "I was hoping you could show us the new statues?"

Zebrastripe nervously looked at Pyra Magna, "Yeah, sorry, yours is not done yet."

"Japheth will just have to save another colony." Pyra Magna said with a smile.

Zebrastripe thought for a moment, "So, where did you want to start? Your sparkmate? Your mother?"

"Let's start with my mother." Japheth replied.

"Not Arcee?" Pyra Magna asked.

"Because I plan to harass her over it." Japheth said with a smile.

* * *

The statue of was Cybertronian June wearing her old nursing scrubs from Terra, and in the bed below her was a scaled up Jack Darby.

"Mother of Primes..." Japheth uttered, but even he did not know what he meant by it. "I hate the fact that this is so apropos."

* * *

The Statue of Arcee was overlooking the main entrance, welcoming those coming to the city.

"I am so taking a picture of this." Japheth stated.

* * *

Arcee opened the comm. link, "Miss you." she said with a smile.

"Whereas I have you to watch over me." Japheth said, and turned the camera to the statue, trying his best to not snicker over it.

"Very funny." Arcee sardonically replied.

"The first thing visitors see is your smiling face." Pyra Magna chided.

Arcee looked at the scowl on the statue, and it reminded her too much of herself. "I swear Miko taught me the Human word for this?" Arcee thought, "Resting Bitch Face."

"You are beautiful." Japheth stated.

"Me, or the statue?" Arcee asked.

"Both?" Japheth replied.

"Uh-huh?"

"What, I'm thrilled you will be the first thing visitors see."

"Alright, fine, I'll come down when the Skyfall makes it's next shuttle run, so we can take a picture under the statue."

* * *

Seaspray was flying through the lower basin, when he turned and angled his fan to bring him to a halt. Something dark and treacherous lurked in the shadows. He transformed, harpoon gun at the ready in his right hand. He stepped closer, and it turned out to be a statue of Charon.

"Honestly. Yeah."

"Thank you." he heard echo about, and then quickly looked around to find the source of the skittering.

* * *

June walked up to her son's house. The first sight she saw was her son, with his hand on Victoria's ass, as she loomed over him, her incredible sword angled to protect Him. The worst part is that she knew it was the idea of the half-dozen daughters-in-law to have His hand there. Het eyes caught movement, and turned to see a wolf rushing up to her. The wolf rubbed against her leg before reverted into Vera. "You've returned!"

June pulled Vera into a powerful hug. "And I think I'll be staying." she said, letting Vera go. "The trouble is how to I tell my son?" she distantly asked.

Vera thought this over deeply, but quickly. Soon her eyes locked on June, "By trusting Him. He adores you dearly..."

"And you." June smiled, and Vera looked shocked, "He counts on you to protect me." she stated, and Vera quickly thought this over. "That said, we found a planet of the Beastformers, if you wanted to..."

"I want to spend my life guarding you." Vera quickly stated. Vera then looked at the house, "Or your house."

"Then you will always have a place here." June said with a smile. "How have things gone?"

"I was used to living in the Dark, having no thoughts, no control." Vera simply replied, before looking up at the beautiful night sky. She then looked back to June, "With the statue of The Prime himself, and His Wrath, thousands of Sparks and hundreds of thousands of souls have come to glimpse Him."

"And what did you do?" June asked.

"Let them." Vera replied. She then looked up at the house, and the shimmering field around it. She looked back to June, "The forcefield is there for obvious reasons. Anyone that does not respect it must face the Battle Sisters of Caminus. They - do not take kindly to disrespect to The Prime."

"Why do you keep?.." June tried to ask.

"Because they do." Vera soundly replied, "He has shown unconditional love and care for Caminus. Without Him, Caminus would never have reached it's potential."

She looked over to Yvonnia that was nearing it's peak, before looking over to Illyria, or at least the bare platform that would become her. She then looked back to June, "Caminus is more vibrant than it has ever been before. Love flows like wine through it's basins."

-----

Embers: 5

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

Book VI is complete, with 43 chapters.

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #the spark of animus

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch36: Godspeed

The Skyfall approached Orion as the great docking bay opened up.

"We're really doing it, aren't we?" Arcee asked, and Japheth gave her a brilliant smile, "How is this NOT abandoning them?"

"Oh?" Japheth asked, his smile not breaking, "We are."

"Which was the plan." Siren said, as she sat on the couch beside Arcee.

"We did the same thing on Master, did we not?" Arcelia asked.

"Yeah, but we..." Arcee said, and looked back to Japheth, "He - is not finished yet."

"I putting slack into the puppet strings before I cut them."

Arcee gave him a blank expression, and then looked at Sirenia.

"He is talking about a traditional Terran form of entertainment, in which you have little dolls on strings." Arcelia stated, "The strings let you manipulate the dolls into a simulacrum of life."

"So, he's - puppeting them?" Arcee asked, "That's the word?"

"I'm trying not to." he lovingly replied.

"OOOoooh!" Arcee exclaimed. "You are giving them time away to do things on their own, but promise to come back, so they they're not afraid of isolation."

"Guilty." Japheth replied.

"And you're sure you don't want to sit down?" Arcee asked.

He turned to give her a weak smile, "If I sit down, I'm not going to want to stand back up."

"So?" Arcee asked, "It's not like we have any place to be?"

Japheth let out a heavy sigh.

"Ah, Prime stuff." Arcee voiced, and paused, "Does that include housewife work?"

"Probably." an exascerbated Japheth replied.

"Scrap." Arcee voiced, and Sirenia leaned into her move fully. "Thanks, Siren."

* * *

Japheth stood in the Command Centre, looking down at a Magnus Alfred with 10x the grey hair he had when He left. "How has the Orion been in my absence?"

"Food production now greatly exceeds capacity. Scalar Prime gave us stasis units to preserve food for... esssentially ever. Time still passes within them, but extremely slowly. I have been studying the technology, and seems to work off of relativity. Socially, an Esprit de Corps has formed around the Great Pursuit of the Great Prime. The years we've spent here to aid you have almost become a religious fervour."

"Almost?" Japheth asked.

Magnus let out a great sigh, "I promised to speak with you about those that wanted to worship you."

"You - KNEW - it was going to happen." Royce wickedly said from the ceiling, and Japheth sighed as He looked up at her. He then looked back to Magnus.

"I can't run from it anymore." He said, and paused a moment, "I'll need to speak with the Mistress of Flame."

"So, we make for Caminus?" Magnus asked.

"And then Terra." Japheth replied.

"And before you settle in, Baron Lyman would like you to inspect the troops."

"Assuming there is a hall I can do so." Japheth stated.

"The Grand Mall, of course." Magnus replied. In reply, Japheth simply looked annoyed, "You had hoped it would be for public use."

"Yes?.." Japheth asked.

"And this is what they decided on." Magnus said with a wide smile. "Every - single - man - woman - child - and Cybertronian on this ship is here because of you. You would rather I phrase it another way, but they worship you. Or, at the very least, the upmost respect for the one who brought them paradise."

Japheth thought for a moment, "Caminus built the paradise."

"Caminus is a paradise for Men because of you." Magnus retorted.

And Japheth paused and thought, afraid it was true.

"The Caminoans kept their world beautitful, but were stagnant." Magnus replied. "It's not that they didn't want to change, but could not even conceive of what this might be. Nevermind the obvious love Micromasters have for you, and it shant be long before the Beastformers worship you, as well."

Japheth looked distant, as he thought it over. It was moments or minutes before he looked back to Magnus.

"You should have Pyra Magna attend the inspection."

Japheth silently, distantly nodded.

* * *

Japheth walked the Medicaeron and up to a colossal desk, manned by the secretary he had first met in the Medicaeron in Caminus. He gave her a questioning look.

"Here to kidnap your mother again?"

Japheth just stared at her, "Yes, actually."

Her brilliant smile raised His mood as she moved her hand to the comm. unit.

* * *

"Ja..." June stated, and paused mid-phrase. Even after all of this time, he was still her son, still her Jack, "Japheth?"

He rushed forward and scooped her up into a hug. He put her down, and she rested her head on His shoulder.

"I missed you, so much." she uttered.

"I missed you, too, mom." Japheth replied. He let her go, and the two stepped apart. "So, how is life on Orion?"

June thought this over for a moment, "Academic?" she asked, "Sorry, the same thing happened on Caminus, I just got caught up in work. We worked out preliminary textbooks for Human and Cybertronian Biology. We have Humans training to do doctorates in Cybertronian Biology, and a couple Femmes from Caminus are Medical Doctors."

"That - is - amazing!" Japheth replied, "It's going even better than I had expected." He paused for a moment, "Are you up for a movie night later?"

"Of course!" she eagerly replied.

* * *

Japheth felt fear, a palpable, haunting unlike anything He had felt since becoming a Prime. It gnawed deep in His Spark. He steeled Himself, and turned just enough to see Pyra Magna behind Him. She smiled a brilliant, loving, supporting smile. She gave Him the courage to continue. The door opened in front of Him, and the vastness of Orion's interior was before him. If it were a city on terra firma, it could easily house a million Humans. Far less, with the space for Cybertronians, but still, it daunted Him. He had never realized how large it was. He paused as He thought of what Humans must think of it. It had been so long since He had been Cyberrized, since He had become the Prime of Primes, that He scarely remembered what it was like to be Human. He struggled to remember what it was like, being a small, unarmed Human, walking among titanic monsters that would kill Him before He could breathe, if they felt the urge to. Much of their surival was simply being overlooked.

This is what his Rangers were facing. This is what his Rangers were training to face, to end Sparks and save lives. Despite his warm demeanour, He was alike the very monsters He had once faced. He remembered looking into Megatron's eyes, and choosing to save him.

And all His Rangers wanted was simple recognition. He hated the doting and deference, and most of all the worship... but all they were asking, after literal Terran years, was a single moment of recognition. He raised his right hand to his ear, and connected to the command centre.

"My Prime." Magnus replied.

"The Rangers that served on Jett need a medal." Japheth stated.

"We have a few ready." Magnus replied, "We were going to talk to you about it after you settled in."

"Well..." he uttered, "I'll stop by the command centre after the ceremony. Japheth out." He lowered his hand.

"What about the Wreckers?" Pyra Magna asked.

"I would probably get punched." Japheth uttered.

"By who?" Pyra Magna asked with a brilliant smile.

"That part I'm still trying to figure out." Japheth replied.

"But being punched you have no doubt about?" Pyra Magna chided. He turned to look her deeply, soulfully in her eyes.

"And what about you?" Japheth asked, and turned towards her. His arms brought up to craddle her face.

"Well," she bashfully replied, "on one hand, you did declare us the Wrath of Japheth Prime. On the other, you give us something more more sacred." She ran her hands up and town His torso. He kissed her passionately.

* * *

Japheth drove towards the Great Mall, Pyra Magna seated inside Him. He stopped beyond a pair of motorcycle Vehicons that were blocking the road. He opened his right flap and then door, and Pyra Magna stepped out. He then transformed and walked between the Vehicons, towards the ranks of soldiers. The Rangers up front, followed by the Militia behind them. Each row was three ranks deep, and at least thirty abreast. 6 of Rangers, and another 12 of Militia, with various Knights in front of the individual groups. He walked up to the dais, on which stood Fowler, held up by a cane. Beside him was Lyman, more salt than pepper, but otherwise upright. And beside him stood... his son? Japheth looked down at him.

"Knight George Lyman." the man said, and he saluted. Japheth stood up and returned the salute. Fowler braced the cane under his left armpit, stood up as straight as he could, and saluted. Every knight joined the salute, and every soldier thereafter.

Japheth turned back to the soldiers. Pyra Magna walked up beside Him.

"You are Rangers." Japheth said, looking at the first block of ranks. "You are here for one simple reason, to face those infinitely your better in every way, except morality. I hope you were taught this, but if not, it will need to be added to the training. Cybertron is as developed as the Earliest Human cities. Ur, Uruk, Akkad, Ashur, Babylon, Nimrud, and Nineveh. Our lifespans are in aeons, and we can spend Aeons in statis-lock, only to be revived. How do you beat a being such as this?" He paused for a moment, "By having skill and discipline greater than Cybertron could ever imagine. Humanity has had to fight, every step of the way, simply to survive. Survival is far from guaranteed. Food, water, a sudden change in temperture. Humans have to struggle for survival to not slip through their fingers, and not just you, or your children, for their children, and the children beyond them. If the chain is broken, the light of Human civilization will simply - go out. The Rangers and the Militia train to fight them, not just to struggle, but to win. Because the Human light will not simply be snuffed out. It is difficult to describe just how proud you should be to be standing here, to be risking everything to help bear the torch of civilization. The Rangers that went down to Jett, returned! Every - single - one."

* * *

Japheth stepped into the Command Centre, when He got a comm. signal. He raised his right hand to his ear, "Fowler?" Japheth asked.

"That was one hell of a speech." Fowler replied, "And I hate to do this, but..."

"Your resignation?" Japheth asked.

"I think that salute was the last one I had." Fowler replied.

"You've certainly earned your retirement, old friend." Japheth stated.

"And to think, I wanted you to be a Ranger." Fowler added.

"And you were surprised I wanted to return the favour?" Japheth asked.

"I need to thank you, son." Fowler stated, "You have helped me accomplish more than I thought I ever could."

"In return, you did give me Rangers." Japheth simply replied, "So I think we can call it even."

"Yeah, well, I'm retired now." Fowler replied, "I think we've both had enough of this formal b.s. for a lifetime. Unfortunately for you, your lifetime is going to be a lot longer than mine."

"I could still?.." Japheth asked.

"Last time it was paperwork, but now, I've done too much. I think it's time to rest these old bones on my laurels, and leave some things for the younger generations."

"George has grown up incredibly." Japheth replied.

"Well, we have you to thank as much as anyone else." Fowler replied, "You gave them something to fight for."

"All of this love..." Japheth stated.

"You're still the shy boy that stood up when he had to." Fowler replied, "It's been an honour, sir."

"It's been an honour." Japheth replied, "Are you going to stay on board?"

"It might take me a while to walk back to my cabin with this cane of mine." Fowler stated. "I started my golden years here. I might as well finish them."

"Godspeed." Japheth stated.

"And that means something, coming from you." Fowler replied.

-----

Embers: 5

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch35: Sundering

Lothar walked into Pride Rock.

* * *

Lothar, less his kibble, stepped out of the landed starship titan behind him, with several others following.

* * *

Bluestreak ran towards the ship, as dozens of Transformers moved about.

* * *

Bluestreak ran up to Lothar. "Report." Lothar said to him.

"Life is primitive here." Bluestreak replied.

"How - primitive?" Lothar asked.

"Not single-cell, but still nothing we can use. Most of the complex ones don't even move."

"Then why in Primus' name did Onyx choose this place?" Lothar asked.

"Wasn't it Alpha Trion?" Bluestreak asked, and Lothar simply looked distant, trying to think of what they could do.

* * *

Lothar watched primitive arthropods skitter about the shallows. It had been an aeon to get to this point, and it would be aeons more until they turned to beasts. What were they, Insecticons?

* * *

A tripod a microchord tall strode from the waters. Lothar looked on with vague interest, while Downburst looked enraptured.

* * *

The striders towered above the trees, walking over mountains and through the great shallows. The air had been growing bitterly cold over the last millenium. The striders claimed all territory, as the Transformers tried to build. Another millenium, and conflict would erupt, as they needed territory before theirs was lost in snow.

* * *

The war was not going well, if you could call it a war. The Sodden Ones had fled, and they had no weapons that could work on striders. They could strike the ankles of the tripods with their tails and beastclaws. They could strike them with stones, either in hand, or thrown. This is when Karasen had reappeared, body shrouded in black feathers. The last millenium, he had been mining and forging. He brought weapons that allowed us to wield magic. I cloaked myself in a forcefield while Sunstrider detonated massive fireballs and Stormrage struck them with lightning. Bluestreak could strike with the force of a storm.

* * *

The war was being won. The striders were being pushed back, as we managed to push our way out of the frozen wasteland. The Maiden chose to stay. She wanted to stay with Abominus, who's form had not moved for aeons. He was buried beneath the black earth of Jett. Honestly, this was the last time we saw her. She disappeared into the white snow, and we did not see her until Japheth rediscovered it.

And that was when the Predacon appeared. He had been on Jett since our arrival, but we had a tacit peace. His wings could take him anywhere on Jett, and we did not leave our continent until it started to become locked in snow. If only it were so pure.

* * *

The Sodden Ones had killed the Predacon, and clad themselves in his bones. As you expect, they became the Bog Wraiths. They threw off the shackles of civilization, and became headhunters and cannibals. But, they did not kill the Predacon in response, it was their attacks that aroused his ire. They had picked the fight with him, and his wrath made us almost lose the war.

* * *

The scorched earth still burned as the glacier formed behind us. While a Predacon might be a being of pure wrath, this was worse. This was people we thought we knew. They might not have friends, but we WERE comrades. Until we found the bones cast off from their feast. Shale had been our friend, and he was no more.

And WHAT was I to do? Let my pride pull me into rage?! Would that satisfy our anger? Even if I COULD unleash it upon them. They disappeared back into the swamps. Even if we pursued them, it would take aeons, and cost us how many lives? What - was I - to do? Give into my pride? Turn it into wrath and vengeance?

"Humans have an equivalent of The Fallen," Arcelia simply stated, "he was once the paragon of their angels. He grew prideful, and that is why he fell."

"You had to break through them?" Arcee asked.

I used my pride to shield my friends.

* * *

Bluesteak flew over the terrain in every fashion.

* * *

The white and gold lion lead the group. The orange and gold bird with short wings and powerful legs followed him, with a great red hart behind them in the woods. Lightning crackled as a pegasus flew passed them, dancing across the canopy.

* * *

The pegasus flew up to the Strider, striking his head with his hooves in passing. Sunstrider struck a knee with his talons, gripping the knee as he pulled the beast over. The Strider started to list. Sunstrider let go as a great bolt of lightning struck through the Strider.

* * *

The lion lead a giant wolf, lemming, and brontothere.

* * *

The lion lead a giant cheetah, a dragon-horse, and a giant flying ray.

* * *

The bodies of the Striders riddled the ground, as the Beastformers fought the world's vapid masters.

* * *

The Striders have become subsumed by the forest, their bones now appearing as mounds.

* * *

The lion and orange bird walked up to the pegasus, throat slit, bled of Energon. They would protect the body until Downburst could come to retrieve him.

* * *

Bluestreak put down a net full of Energon cubes before landing on the ground.

* * *

We had enough Energon for Aeons. It seemed like it could last forever. It lasted just long enough, until the Bearer of the Matrix came to save us.

Arcee looked behind her, at Sirenia trying to not say something.

"Say it." Arcee sardonically said to her.

"There are no coincidences with Primes."

Arcee looked back at Lothar, "It's getting harder and harder to not believe it."

"It's His will made manifest." Lothar stated, and a pregnant paused followed.

"Primus or Japheth?" Arcelia asked.

"That - is the question." Lothar uttered. "But, I have regaled you long enough. Now, I must go and meet my destiny."

* * *

The lion, in beastform, crept up to the round table, afraid of what was to come. A white and rose spider dropped down beside him, "Do not mock me for my retiscence."

"Oh, I quite enjoy it." Royce wickedly stated. "It reminds me of when Jack wasn't quite the bot he is now."

"You knew Him before He became a Prime?" Lothar asked.

"I knew Him when he was Human." Royce wickedly added, and Lothar instantly stopped. The gears were turning inside his head as they started to fit together.

"Anything is possible with Primes." Lothar stated.

"Anything is possible with Primus." Royce wickedly asked. When he turned to look at her, she had disappeared.

* * *

Lothar transformed to walk the last distance to the table, the weight of his pride and future weighing down his shoulders. Japheth was there, waiting for him. Along with Wind Blade and Pyra Magna. Colossus was near, lingering, seemingly as afraid as he was. A cloud appeared, and out walked Smokescreen and his pair of Femmes. Karasen landed as he approached his seat. Sunstrider and Stormrage were already there. Zuo as a Headmaster had his Transtector sit down.

A red ant climbed into a chair, and transformed into Pyrrha.

Lothar looked at Japheth as he sat down, "Still with your secrets."

"Secrets implies I am hiding them from you." Japheth said with a brilliant smile.

Lothar thought for a moment, "Either you are not hiding them, or not hiding them from me?"

Japheth smiled brilliantly and leaned over the table, "Oh, I like you."

"You are grooming him for royalty." Wind Blade firmly stated.

"There's a difference between trusting my instincts, and having them confirmed." Japheth simply replied. He then turned to Lothar. "Ask your question."

"What - will I find at the end of my quest?" Lothar asked.

"Yourself; your future; your past." Japheth stated and paused, leaving nought more than the sound of the wind. "That question is not for me to answer."

Another pregnant silence followed, before Lothar dared to speak, "Then who will answer it?"

"You?" Japheth asked, "That is what you will find at the end of your quest." Another pause followed, "And if you do not complete it, you will never complete yourself."

"Are you buying this?!" Sunstrider asked, and again, silence reigned.

"He knows it to be true." Japheth stated, "He knows it deep down in his Spark."

Lothar's head somberly lowered.

"Ask me a question I can answer."

Lothar slowly raised his head, and looked about the table. He focused on Colossus back away from the table.

"He wants to stay on Jett." Japheth stated, and Colossus' head quickly snapped towards him. Japheth simply smiled at him. "You are afraid I would judge you." Japheth stated, "But I agree with you. I wasn't sure how to bring it up." He gestured to the nearest chair. Colossus lumbered over, and sat down, eyes never leaving Japheth. "You have done more for me than I thought possible."

"I used space on the ship for my own hobby?" Colossus uncertainly asked.

"A hobby that brought everyone together, and even created my sword." Japheth said with a bright smile.

Colossus simply stared into nothing for a moment before his eyes focused again.

"You will be missed, but your Spark wishes to be here, and this is where you can do the most good." Japheth stated.

"Assuming Lothar wants him to stay." Sunstrider said, looking at Colossus, and then to Lothar. Colossus followed his gaze.

"He will not be a burden." Lothar stated, "He - will - build. I want us to be a society again, even if a bit rough around the edges."

"I..." Colossus stated, "will endeavour - to be - rough around the edges."

"Is that the best he can do?" Sunstrider asked.

"That is." Stormrage stated, and then looked over at Pyrrha.

"She wants to join Lothar on his quest." Japheth simply stated, and Lothar looked distant and absent. "You will need their aid. Only the Elders are sapient. The reason for their conflict is access to Energon."

"With Energon," Pyrrha stated, "we do not need to fight, but we can grow complacent."

"You can talk to them all, individually."

"How - many?.." Lothar asked.

"Four want to stay." Japheth stated, "One of which can see glimpses of the future."

Lothar thought about this deeply, before turning to Zuo.

"I am forbidden from remaining on Jett." Zuo stated, "My two choices are to return to Master, or join you on your quest. If you would have me."

Lothar looked to Nebulous Prime.

"I just want to see what's going on." Nebulous Prime stated. He paused a beat, "I won't join you on your quest, but I will send one of my Cloud Knights."

"And what of Jett, in your absence?!" Sunstrider harshly asked.

"Perhaps a mix of fire and wisdom?" Stormrage asked.

It took Sunstrider a moment to catch on. "Wait, US?!"

"Any part of Jett will have to survive my absence..." Lothar distantly stated. He paused for a moment before turning to Japheth,

"Humans do not live for Aeons. Orion will have to travel to Caminus and Terra. But afterwards, I would love to help."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Pyra Magna uttered, "It's a Human expression."

-----

Embers: 5

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch34: Sojourn

Japheth walked through the experimental cloaking device, and momentarily looked up at the Skyfall. He then looked passed it to the entrance carved into the base of Pride Rock. It was framed with beautifully carved stone. Passed the entrance He saw Humans and Micromasters walking briskly, to and fro. They stopped, one after the other, once they saw Him standing there. He waved at them. One was brave enough to wave back. Japheth walked in, Arcee following behind Him. He walked up to the entrance, and waved the brave one over. He ran over and saluted.

Japheth tried to return the salute, "Name?"

"Lancer Arthur Higgins."

"Lancer, you just earned a promotion. Now, I was hoping you might have a hole away from home for me."

"Sir?!" he shouted, "It is still in progress, Sir."

"Excavation or finishing?" Japheth asked.

"Finishing, Sir!" he exclaimed.

"Then we'll take a brief sojourn." Japheth replied.

"Define - brief, Sir!" he replied.

"No." Japheth stated.

"Understood." he replied. "Am I dismissed, Sir?"

"Yes." Japheth said. Vanguard Higgins saluted, and He returned the salute. The soldier ran off. Japheth leaned up against the wall just inside the door and sat down. Arcee sat down to cuddle into him.

* * *

Vanguard Higgins marched up to Japheth and saluted. He returned the salute from his seat, "The room will be clear in about 20 minutes, sir."

"Thank you." Japheth stated. "Dismissed."

* * *

The great chambre was ones of raw stone, but large enough for them to relax in. There were a couple of temporary Energon lamps that gave it a soft and subtle glow. He had grown accustomed to the dim, blue light that it lightened His Spark. He leaned against a wall and sat down. Arcee moved to join Him, but He held up His hand and she paused. "Could you get our girls?"

Arcee rolled her eyes before giving a snarky reply, "All of them?" she asked, and then looked around the bare stone chambre. It was big enough to fit them all.

"Yes." He said with a smile, "Please."

"Ffiinnee..." she uttered, and transformed to drive out of the chambre.

* * * Arcee drove in and transformed, sashaying over to Japheth before cuddling up to Him. The next was Charon, skittering across the ceiling. This was followed by Jumpstream and Dust Up racing in. This was followed by Pyra Magna and Rust Dust. Next came Roxana and Arcelia. The twins then walked in with Sirenia behind them, Royce skittering above them.

"Royce, thank you."

"I don't know what you are thanking me for."

"Yes, you do," He stated, "and thank you." He said with full sincerity.

She let go of the ceiling and transformed into a landing, giving Him an uncertain look. Her Spark ached in her chest. The love she had for Him was beyond comprehension, and she worried that nothing she could do would be worthy of it. He saw the look at on her, and waved her over. She nervously stepped over, and He waved her over again until she slipped in next to Him.

"Speech!" Arcelia shouted, and He rolled his eyes at her.

"Well, I was planning to say something." Japheth voiced, and looked around between all of His Femmes. "Mission accomplished."

"Oh, come on." Arcee sardonically replied, and He pulled her even tighter, letting out a bright smile.

"Excuse me while I ramble."

"That is LITERALLY why we are here!" Dust Up shouted.

"And, you know, the other thing..." Jumpstream added.

"Alright, everyone but Charon get comfortable." Japheth stated.

"She needs more rest than the rest of us." Roxana said with concern.

"But, if Royce is here, there is no way Charon would relax." Arcee uttered.

The spider attached to the ceiling off side of the main entrance turned to look at them, "True." She turned back to the open entrance.

"Do I want to be a king?" Japheth asked, and silence reigned.

"No." Pyra Magna's contralto echoed about the large chambre.

"How about a God-King?" Japheth asked.

"Being worshipped is what He's afraid of most." Arcee replied.

"Second?" Japheth replied, looking all of the Femmes in the eyes about the room.

"You don't exactly protest that much." Dust Up voiced.

"Because I understand it." Japheth said, and all noise stopped in the room as the Femmes all stood stunned. He slipped His way out of the cuddle and stood up. He turned, and moved Arcee and Royce together, until the two cuddled each other before looking back at the other Femmes. "A demi-god shows up, and solves all of your problems. He reads your Spark, and leads you to a great destiny."

He paused, looking among the contemplative Femmes.

"So, I have to disappear just as quickly."

"He has to make the changes He trusts Himself to make." Pyra Magna added, "And then disappear before they ask Him to make more."

"We swoop in." Skyburst stated.

"And then out." Stormclash added.

"Just a quick reminder," Jumpstream interjected, "we REALLY like not having a plan, and flying by the seat of our pants."

"Flying." Stormclash giggled.

"Pants." Skyburst giggled.

"Riding?" Jumpsteram asked.

"Riding." Rust Dust giggled.

"Yes too all it." Japheth stated.

* * *

Charon's forelegs twitched in a way she only did when seeing something in the darkness.

Japheth stood up and walked up, holding his arm up towards her, "Down here, please."

Charon twitched her forelegs for a moment before letting go. She transformed into a landing, and under his right arm.

"Come." Japheth said into the darkness.

More legs twitched and skittered towards Him, until his Insecticons came into view. Pyrrha used her mandibles to push Coccinelia towards Him.

"I didn't..." she tried to say.

"I'm listening." He said with a smile.

"It's just..." Coccinelia uttered, and Arcee walked up to Japheth's left.

"You should know by now that you can talk to Him."

"It's just..." Coccinelia tried to repeat.

"Scrap." Arcee said accusingly, "Just say it."

"It's just... I feel..."

"She saw." Bee Wolf stated.

Japheth smiled again, and looked Coccinelia deep in her eyes, "Your visions told you to find another path?"

The ladybug's head weakly nodded.

"Does that path keep you on Jett?" He asked, and again the Ladybug weakly nodded. "You would be working with Lothar."

"She will." Bee Wolf stated, and Japheth gave her a questioning look. "I figure stabbing people might ruin all of the hand-holding and songs."

Japheth stared at her for a moment.

"And we need it?" Arcee asked.

Bee Wolf reverted and looked Arcee deep in her eyes, "He's - too - nice."

Arcee weakly nodded, while Japheth looked about nervously.

"That's why He has us." Charon said with finality.

"You go with Him." Bee Wolf simply stated. "Someone has to protect Orion."

"I do, you know, have Rangers." Japheth nervously uttered.

"If only someone had not designed the Orion to allow Insecticons to swarm invaders." Centikanzer stated.

"So, who's going to stay on Jett?" Japheth asked.

"To be entirely honest, you have more than enough people to blow things up for you." Petard stated, and Japheth nodded at him. He then looked among the others.

"Someone has to protect her." Pyrrha firmly stated, and Japheth nodded at her.

"I could stretch my wings." Lunedancer soulfully stated, and Japheth nodded at her.

"Someone has to protect your ship." Centikanzer stated, in his full centipede mode.

"I'll speak with Lothar when he is done his brooding." Japheth replied. "For now, if you wanted to guard my keep, my dear Charon could finally relax."

"Ffiinnee." Charon uttered, trying to pretend she had not fully yielded.

* * *

Japheth heard the skittering outside their hollow, knowing what it meant. He stepped away from Rust Dust and Sirenia and walked out into the dim, blue light of the ante-chambre. There He saw Zuo atop his Transtector. "You cannot stay." He said to him, and the light dimmed in his eyes.

"I just..."

"Your intensions are pure." Japheth continued, "You wish to share your wisdom, but you forget." He paused for a moment, "They are not Micromasters, nor Femmes, nor Bots, nor Cons. They do not wish for the safety of Maximus nor the peace of Caminus. They are BEASTS. Their Energon roils in their veins. Conflict is in their Spark." He paused a moment, "You cannot stay because they would value your opinion too highly."

Zuo thought this over, and over, and over, until his face showed acceptance.

"But, you can follow your destiny, and accompany the Lion on his quest." Japheth said with full sincerity.

* * *

Japheth stepped back into their home away from home away from home.

"Funs over?" Arcee sardonically asked.

"The Lion is almost done his brooding." Japheth simply stated.

* * *

Arcee stepped into the vault in Pride Rock and looked at Karasen. "So, I've been wondering. What exactly WAS the sundering?"

-----

Embers: 5

#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch33: The Shackles of Worship

Skytalon in bird mode placed the Vehicle Mode Japheth on the ground and flew off as Downburst strode by. Japheth opened his left flap and door, but Roxana simply sat there.

"Would you mind?" Roxana asked.

Japheth started to close His door, but Charon slipped in before it could close, wrapping her four right spiderlegs around Roxana.

"Aren't you feeling affectionate?" Roxana asked as Japheth closed His flap and started to drive off.

"Yes, well, I've been seduced by kindness." Charon replied.

"Among other things." Roxana said with glee.

"Where's Royce?" Japheth asked, "Should I be worried?"

"She'll be on her best behaviour." Charon said with a smile, and silence was her reply. "No, seriously. She's a good girl, now."

"She is trying her best." Japheth uttered.

"No." Charon replied, "She has succeeded."

A pregnant pause followed.

"So have you." Roxana warmly said to spider so wrapped around her.

"The only time you've picked a fight is when your opponents had agreed." Japheth stated, "But you have gotten a little too close a few times."

"You don't understand." Charon uttered, and paused, wracked by her thoughts, "I - WANT - to." she stated. "I - WANT - to be on my best behaviour. I - WANT - to be praised, I - WANT - to be loved. I want to be cuddle, and coddled, and I - CRAVE - to be told I am a good girl. You have destroyed everything I ever was, and... I don't regret it."

A pause followed, "I do understand." Japheth stated, "I have seen how hard you have worked, and how much my praise means to you. And I made a decision to give it honestly. If I had lied, what would it have meant?"

"But?.." Charon barely asked after a pause.

"I love you." Japheth said.

The lights almost went out in Charon's eyes as het Spark screamed in her chest. The lights returned as she felt Roxana cuddling her even tighter, before kissing her on the cheek.

Japheth opened his comm. link, "Royce, relay a message to Pride Rock."

"Do you understand what stealth means?" she replied over the comm. link. And a pause followed, where she could feel the look on his face, (if he had one at the moment). "Unless I am a target that is easy to see and hard to track, and if they attack me, my big, shiny Primarch will come and rescue me?" she asked in a faux coquette tone.

A pause followed, "I... understand everything but the Primarch part."

"Yeah..." Royce uttered, "you're not one to join in the fun and games." She paused a moment, "I'm not even sure which one you are." A pause followed. "What's the message?"

"I want to meet my Rust Maidens at Pride Rock, and maybe the Humans and Micromasters could start digging me a bunker away from home?"

"Of course, my Primarch." she chided.

"And you're coming in for cuddles, too." Japheth stated.

* * *

Japheth opened His side flaps and doors, as a burning orb fell from the sky.

"This is where we get off." Charon uttered, and was instantly standing beside Him. Roxana climbed out and stepped back. Japheth transformed, looking up.

"Step back." Japheth said. Charon started to shoo Roxana. "Both of you." He said, and Charon was dumbstruck. Roxana grabbed her hand and pulled her backwards. Japheth leapt out as the fire burnt out, revealing Victoria. He caught her like a princess, and they both used their gravity manipulation to ease their fall. He kissed her passionately before letting her go, and she broke into her individual Femmes. "Let's head back to Pride Rock."

Charon looked at Him distantly.

"Shocked that He wanted to protect you?" Roxana asked.

"Is that what happened?" Charon distantly asked.

"You are one of his Femmes." Roxana said gleefully.

"Does that mean I get a pretty dress?" Charon deflected.

"Did you want one?" Roxana eagerly asked her.

"Maybe sultry?" Charon asked, and transformed. Roxana smiled as she transformed as well.

* * *

Japheth drove with His Rust Maidens flanking Him. Charon and Roxana were taking up the rear as the Twins flew above Him.

"Did you have fun in space?" Japheth asked.

"We missed out..." Stormclash stated.

"On all of the fun." Skyburst added.

"Didn't know you were so blood thirsty." Japheth joked.

"We are archeologists." Rust Dust stated.

"He couldn't." Pyra Magna uttered.

"I know." Rust Dust stated.

"What?" Jumpstream asked.

"He was stepping back." Dust Up replied.

"Would Master's government work on Caminus?" Japheth asked.

"Absolutely not!" Roxana exclaimed.

"Would Caminus' system work on Master?" Japheth continued.

"I dare say not." Pyra Magna replied, "I doubt the denizens of Maximus would tarry so, even if they could."

"Really?" Charon asked, "Tarry."

"We don't know what kind of system Jett needs." Japheth stated.

"Then who does?" Charon asked.

"Jett." Japheth replied.

"They need to decide on their own." Pyra Magna stated.

"It seems a monarchy is most likely." Japheth stated, "The most I could do is introduce Magna Carta."

"Who?" Dust Up asked.

"The rose among reeds." Pyra Magna stated, "Bear in mind, Terran generations last 20 years. So, when I say it lasted for 800 years, that is 40 generations. Until recently, it was rare for 4 to exist at the same time."

"A Femme?" Jumpstream asked, and a moment of silence followed.

"I'll let Arcelia explain it to you." Japheth stated.

"What did I do?!" a panicked Jumpstream asked.

"It's a strange contrast..." Japheth uttered.

"What is?" Dust Up asked.

"You are the most wizened Femmes I know." He chided.

* * *

The noise harkened to the horizon. At first the thunder of the rotary wings, and then the roar of the engines and rumbling of the ground as the troop of Cybertronians drove up. The purple livery of the central truck made it obvious who they were. Two helicopters, and many motorcycles.

Royce dropped down beside Arcee who stood upon Pride Rock, nearly shaking out of her kibble as Royce wrapped her arms and spiderlegs around her. Arcee then simply sighed, and Royce kissed her on the cheek.

* * *

Japheth transformed as He approached the Round Table, the others transforming with Him. They walked passed the table towards Pride Rock. Bluestreak fell like a meteor. As the dust settled, he kneeled before Japheth that stopped, staring uncertainly as the others dispersed, walking passed Him. "Did I ask you to kneel?" Japheth asked, with as much diplomacy as He could muster. Even if Caminus treated him like a god-king, maybe even the Primarch that Royce spoke of. Something He would have have to look up later, but even still, He balked at the worship. In His mind, He was still Jack. Still stumbling around in the dark as He tried to help when He could.

"But, you are?.." Bluestreak asked.

"Just passing through." Japheth curtly replied. "Even with Abominus, or even BECAUSE of Abominus - Jett has to learn to survive on it's own.

"Survive?" Bluestreak asked, "Every single moment has been a struggle to survive, fighting impossible odds over scraps of Energon. We do not know peace, we can barely imagine it. If you leave right now..."

"You don't need me." Japheth replied, "You need something to live for. Cybertronian lifespans last Aeons. Now that you no longer need to struggle for the most basic necessities, you have to find a way to make the universe better for having you."

Bluestreak stared into His eyes, unable to move, unable to stand. "How does your advice sound harder than anything we have done before?"

"Because it's something you will have to do on your own." Japheth stated. He looked about, "This world was chosen by Onyx Prime, and I can see why." He turned to look Bluesteak in his eyes, "So, why don't you stand, and strive to see why?"

Bluestreak slowly, uncertainly stood.

* * *

Japheth scooped up Arcee into a princess carry and kissed her passionately. When He pulled His face back, He just stared into her eyes.

"So, how'd it go?" Arcee asked.

"We found Abominus and saved the Maiden of Snow White."

"Who was?.." Arcee asked.

"The Leader of the Sirens. Solus and Onyx wanted a group of Femmes to work with the Beastformers, and so allowed them to take on Beastforms. The Beastformers can be..."

"Worse than the Rust Maidens?" Arcee asked, and Japheth put her down.

"The Rust Maidens are angels." Japheth replied.

"Oh?" Arcee asked, only to find herself picked up by Pyra Magna.

"I forgot how little you know about Terran mythology." Pyra Magna said to her.

"Uh-huh?" Arcee said with a smile.

"Angels can be quite wrathful, if God wants them to be." Pyra Magna continued.

"Well, that actually explains a lot." Arcee simply replied, and Pyra Magna kissed her deeply before putting her down.

Arcee blew Pyra Magna a kiss before looking to Japheth, "How about the Wreckers?"

"The Wreckers actually love working together." Japheth simply stated.

"Uh-huh?" Arcee sardonically asked.

"They don't like orders." Japheth added.

"That sounds more like them." Arcee uttered.

Roxana walked up and hugged her, "The Beastformers have a strong independent streak."

"Independent, meaning?.." Arcee asked.

Royce landed beside her, "Fighting all of the time."

"Like brothers." Japheth stated.

Arcee sighed, "Which means what?"

"They rarely try to actually injure each other." Japheth replied.

"With... explosions?" Arcee asked.

"Someone has never spent time with Humans." Royce uttered.

Arcee was vexed that this was true.

-----

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#transformers #prime #the prime of his youth #darcee #jack darby #arcee

The Prime of His Youth: Book VI: Spark of Animus: Ch32: Excelsior

The snow-white Femme's eyes opened. The light was dim, but built up as the world came into focus. She found Ratchet looking down at her. "I am a medic from Cybertron." he stated. She focused on him for a moment before looking at all of those gathered around her. Her gaze fell on Japheth, staring at him.

"Don't mind me." He warmly said, "Don't you have something more important to do?"

She tried to jump to her feet, and found herself faltering. Ratchet caught her hand, "Easy!" he exclaimed. When it seemed like she was pausing, he turned to stare at Japheth.

Japheth shrugged, "What she is doing is as important as she thinks it is."

"Surely it can wait until she has had a time to fully recover?" Ratchet asked him.

Japheth gave him a neutral look, "I'm not the one you need to convince." It took Ratchet a moment to realize what he meant and looked back to the Maiden.

She gently held her hand to him, and Ratchet let out an audible sigh. He gripped her hand and helped her to her feet, "Just be careful." Ratchet insisted. She stood on her feet, and found her balance. She slipped her hand from his, before giving him a bright smile and a nod. She stood up, and looked around again. She saw her Sirens, many Beastforms, Micromasters that had not been seen since before Abominus took flight. Her gaze focused on Lothar, standing proudly, but worried for her. She smiled at him, and looked around again. She moved around the base of her coffin and ducked down. The coffin started to pull into the black earth. The sound of it descending continued until it seemed to stop. Lights turned on, showing stairs spiraling into the darkness. Japheth looked up and about, "Spiders?" He asked.

They landed in front of Him, before transforming and skittering down into the darkness. The Maiden gave Him a curious, concerned look, "My scouts." He simply stated. He then gestured to Lothar. Her smile grew bright. She quickly walked towards the stairs, Lothar following behind her, with more strength but less enthusiasm.

* * *

Lothar and the Maiden walked down the great spiral staircase, "Even after working with them, I still have trouble trusting them."

The Maiden gave him a curious, concerned look.

"The spiders." he simply stated, "I just - that - Jack - cares about what He is doing. His spiders are a different story."

The Maiden stopped and turned to look him in the eyes.

"Yes," he replied, "that is why He keeps them."

The Maiden's look turned to one of love.

"Yes, they care for Him deeply. That is the only reason I trust them." Lothar stated.

She gave him a curious look, "I would rather take defeat and exile than serve under those I could not trust."

She gave him another curious look.

Lothar's eyes grew wide, staring off into the distance, "The implication is that I am serving Him."

She gave him another curious look, and he focused on her.

"Why do I say it like that?" he asked, "You'll find out when we return to the surface." He paused, "At the moment, I am so elated to have you here." he said earnestly.

She gave him an entreating look.

"Of course I care for you. What I am having trouble with is believing it has finally come to pass. After aeons. After the Sundering. The time living as wild beasts has come to an end, and now we must learn to act civilized."

She grabbed his hand, and turned to quickly march down the staircase.

* * *

The whole island started to raise. The small spiral staircase from the platform was left in place as the elevator lifted and rotated. All of the Sirens and Doctors and Wreckers and Beastforms and Headmasters looked between each other, and before anything could be decided on, Japheth spoke up, "Everyone wait right here."

"You're finally going to come clean?!" Sunstrider shouted, leaning towards Him. Japheth just smiled in reply. Royce and Charon, in spider form, climbed up from beneath the platform. Royce transformed into flight as Charon walked over beside Japheth, leaning her head onto his shoulder.

"You take me far too seriously." Japheth chided.

"TOO! - SERIOUSLY?!" Sunstrider asked.

"He shouts." Karasen snidely stated.

Sunstrider looked at him furiously, but knew that anything he said would only prove the crow's point.

"I am curious how we can take it too seriously?" Wind Runner asked.

"Just wait." Japheth said with a bright smile. The Maiden climbed the last steps atop the platform, with Lothar's great form proudly lording behind her. He gave Japheth a powerful, demanding glare. Japheth gave him a warm smile in reply. He stepped out, towards the stairway, but stopping a good distance away. Charon hid in his shadow, and then transformed, clambering over the platform's edge. Japheth tried to breathe in deeply, but failed, and paused a moment to think how long it had been since he had breathed. "Hey." he said, and paused, everyone waiting on bated breath, if they actually breathed. "I am Japheth Prime. Inheritor of Prima, and bearer of the Matrix of Leadership." He snapped his fingers to the side, and fog cloud exploded between Him and Lothar with the Maiden. The cloud dissipated and Nebulous appeared with his Femmes. "This is Nebulous Prime."

"Hey." Smokescreen quickly said, waving his hand.

"And who does he inherit?" Karasen sternly asked, Sunstrider leaning towards Nebulous to glare.

"You don't want to know." Nebulous earnestly replied.

"Hm?" an unconvinced Karasen asked.

"And, if I do?" Sunstrider asked.

"Nothing good will come from it." Nebulous said dismissively.

Sunstrider firmly gripped his glaive in front of him, only to find Lothar's great form between, greatsword at the ready, his shield alternating between physical and energy. Sunstrider knew the look in his eyes. He knew that Lothar would not back down, and this close the ion had every advantage. Sunstrider placed the glaive across the small of his back, and it's sheath transformed around both ends.

Lothar turned, planting the greatsword into the ground, both hands upon it's hilt as he looked at Nebulous.

"You're going to trust Him?" Sunstrider asked.

"How long are you planning to stay?" Lothar firmly asked Him.

"I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome." Nebulous warmly said. "If you need my help, just send a message."

"And?" Stormrage asked, "How would I do that?"

"Leave a message with Pride Rock?" Nebulous earnestly asked, "Or, I'm sure Jack would set something up." He looked over to Japheth.

"I'm sure." Japheth said with a smile. "We also have the successor to Vector, Aurea, the successor to Solus, and Megatronus."

"No points for guessing who he's inheriting." Charon said from beneath the platform, hiding in the darkness.

"But, we need a successor to Onyx." Japheth continued, and only the Maiden seemed to recognize was this meant. It wasn't until she turned to Lothar that the impossbility dawned on him.

"You cannot?.." Lothar tried to say.

"I cannot can or cannot." Japheth said with a smile, leaving a pregnant pause.

"Care to translate?" Knock Out asked.

Charon climbed over the edge, transforming upside down into what was effectively a cartwheel next to Japheth, "It's not His choice."

Karasen and Stormrage had intruiged looks. Sunstrider looked his usual irate. Ratchet, Seaspray, and Roxana their usual crumpy, breezy, and adoration. Gella looked intruiged, as the Headmasters looked contemplative. The Sirens had taken to flying around the platform. Japheth looked about the plaform for an open space.

"Oh?" Nebulous asked, "That's my cue." A cloud appeared, and when it had disappeared Scalar Prime and Izzie were in their place.

Japheth turned to Lothar, "Your quest is not finished. It is just beginning."

Lothar simply stared at Him.

"All of us have to make the journey on our own. The only thing I can do is to help you start it, and give you a guide."

Lothar thought this over for a few minutes. "You mean your spiders?"

"They can speak to Insecticons, so you won't have to kill them." Japheth said, and a few more minutes passed, "I can read Sparks. That is my gift. Like Nebulous' clouds and Scalar's gravity. I could tell the Bog Wraiths could never be redeemed." He paused a few moments, "And I could tell that you were meant for greatness."

Lothar thought this over for a few minutes before turning back to Him, "I thought I was to be a king, not a Prime." He paused a moment, "What of my kingdom?"

Japheth gave him a bright smile, "You forget how long we live." He paused a moment before continuing, "To be fair, I'm still getting used to it, myself."

"Oh?" an intruiged Karasen asked.

"This is something we must hear." Stormrage gently added.

"Oh?" Charon asked, "He used to be a Human. I've seen the pictures, and he was adorable."

A great pause followed, before Lothar spoke to Him, "Those creatures that you brought?"

"Guilty." Japheth warmly said, and gently shrugged his shoulders.

"You have!.." Sunstrider tried to say.

"I'll leave archivists." Japheth quickly replied, "From Caminus. The planet of the Femmes. Once they've had a chance to give you the full story, I will tell a more interesting one."

A pause followed.

"He does not want us constantly interupting the story." Stormrage stated. "Ergo, he will let them tell the wrote story, while he tells the excited one."

"Oh, don't worry, they'll be excited." Seaspray said with a smile. "Boss, I'm going to go out on a limb, and assume you want to move a bunch of your little guys here?"

Japheth nodded his head. "But, more miners than Rangers. Fowler will handle the deployment."

Seaspray quickly saluted, and even more quickly transformed and flew off the edge of the platform onto and over the lake. Sandstorm transformed and flew to join him, as Royce broke orbit to fly ahead of him. The Seven Minicons could be seen walking down the stairs. They combined as soon as they could, and took them with great strides.

"And - us?" Wind Runner asked.

"Close-area protection." Japheth firmly replied, and their eyes grew wide. "And cover the crossing."

Sky Talon's head transformed into a robot as the body transformed into a giant eagle, with the Micromaster climbing into the cockpit before it closed. Wind Runner did the same thing as an eight-legged horse, before both quickly flew away.

Japheth looked at Lothar, "Royce will get Downburst to help with the crossing." He left a pause, "You will have to choose your party."

Lothar looked between those present, before looking back to Japheth, "And Jett in my absence?"

"You also have to pick it." Charon added.

Lothar transformed, "I will need time to ponder this." he said, and jumped into the lake. The Maiden transformed into a snow-white crane and took wing to follow him.

A pregnant pause followed, "So?" Gella asked, "What do we do now?"

Japheth glared at her.

"I have been clear that I need direction." Gella firmly replied, though not quite as confident as she hoped.

Japheth glared at her. Roxana walked up to her, "What he's trying to say is that you are the expert in Cybertronian biology."

"And?.." Gella asked, "If I want to study some other form of biology?"

Japheth just gave her a brilliant smile that quickly daunted her.

"That means?.."

"Your choice." Charon wickedly stated.

"I was afraid you would say that." a perturbed Gella replied.

"Why don't you talk with the Sirens?" Japheth firmly asked, "I'm sure it will be enlightening."

Gella thought this over, largely agreeing but having misgivings, "Could I request the aid of someone to ensure I do not come across too overbearing? My demeanour is often misread by Femmes."

"I'd love to help." Roxana giddily replied.

-----

Embers: 5

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