Below the cut is a story involving Nexobyte a fansparkling between my wavewave ng Polyphony and @pastelpaperplanes megablitz kiddo Panzer.
Summery: Nex call’s his uncle Override for a favor in order to keep Nex’s biggest secret secured. Nex would do anything to keep up the believe that he was perfect even making sure that his own family doesn’t know there is something severely wrong with him. Nex doesn’t have a choice, he has to be perfect.
Nexobyte was considered a perfect Decepticon. He was loyal, powerful, and there seemed to be nothing that could actually stop him or take him down in the field. He was everything most his Grandcreator’s wanted, he was labeled one of the many things his cause needed more of.
But “perfection” was unachievable, no one was perfect but Nex had to be. He had no choice to be anything else and nothing torn the bot apart more than those standards. Nex didn’t mind it to much, in his mind it was his duty to be his best self, he took pride in his accomplishments and how it earned respect and pride from his family. But it also left him feeling terribly isolated because a lot of it was built on top of a lie. Everyone thought Nex was perfect because he made sure there was no evidence that he wasn’t.
Which lead him to having to rope in another person in on his lie. Since he was young Nex only ever allowed himself to be seen over by one specific medic. He refused to let anyone overlook him or treat him. His family and faction believed it was due to the two being friends and just how long Nex had known the medic but that wasn’t entirely the truth. Nex only saw that medic because as his friend she promised to hide his condition under patient confidentiality, not even Lord Megatron could try and interfere with that, and to make sure his condition was private it was never put in his public medical records. So it appeared he was in perfect condition for his frame type.
Now all warframe’s have thinner metal in their ventilation systems, its what allowed them to cool off more efficiently, and Nex was no exception. But his condition was far more sever than other realized. While his outer vents had the usual alloy density as any other frame of his class, the protective layers around his spark chamber’s metal only had 1/3 the alloys they should have. His previous medic had deduced it was caused by him having too many growth spurts in such a short amount of time that his frame build up his outer shell just fine, but his inners fell behind in development. Meaning if any attack managed to piece through his durable armor into his inner workings it would do far more catastrophic damage. But dived just how durable everything was compared to even other warframe’s there wasn’t any real threat unless someone managed to get a missile lodged into his core ventilation systems located on his belly. so it was easy to keep under wraps. At least until his regular medic was killed in action.
Then panic began to set in for Nex after his latest check up, even though he begged an pleaded with this medic to keep his condition under confidentiality the bot refused stating that he would put in in Nex’s records and there was absolutely no hiding this worrying condition. The next time a general, higher up, or even his creators looked over his records they would surely see it and Nex couldn’t have that. He couldn’t run the risk of them seeing he, just like his siblings had a developmental issue. His creator’s already had to worry themselves sick over Panoply’s very poor health, Nex didn’t need to worry them with his own. So while Nex knew the medic physically wouldn’t say anything to anyone about his condition he knew the jig was up when it came to his records. And there was only thing to do. He had to speak with his uncle, a reclusive bot he hadn’t spoken to in decades.
Nex stormed his way into the communications room and ordered everyone to leave as he had to make a private confidential call. The other bot’s swiftly left respecting his rank, as he knew they would an only after they were gone did he make sure his message would be encrypted so no one would listen in. With a heavy vent he opened the commlink to a number he was surprised he still remembered. The line was silent until the screen lit up showing the a single blue optic studying the mech with its scrutinizing unamused gaze.
“Nexobyte. To what does a little ol’ half-code like me owe the call of Lord Megatron’s most esteemed heir?“ He said with a voice layered with a bit of anger. Nexobyte had clearly caught him at a bad time and he knew the distain was more so aimed at his grand-creator and not at himself.
”Uncle!” Nexobyte said with a clearly forced smile as he swallowed his nerves, ”You are still able to access and edit private and public records correct, even encrypted ones?”
”Of course!” he scoffed as if offended the other would think he couldn’t ”why?”
”Uncle....I need a favor but you have to promise not to tell anyone, not even my creators. Can you alter medical records-?” Nex sighed with a defeated tone.
“I am not altering Panoply’s records!” He barked, “What is it with you boys trying to make me do something as stupid as trick the cause into letting your brother into the field in his condition. You of all bot’s should know better! I’ll make sure to send a message to your carrier about you two trying this agai-“
“It’s MY records I need altered!“ Nex interrupted with a bark of his own, and action that earned a look of genuine confusion and what looked like concern from Override.
“Your records? Nexobyte what happened?“ Override said raising his single brow and eyeing the onyx bot up and down, “Why is it that you, the perfect bot, need a record edit.“
“Please uncle I just need one thing stripped from the record.“ Nexobyte sighed as he heard the fury of typing through the commlink, he watched the singlular optic that made up his uncles face with more focus than he ever had in his life. He watched it go from annoyance to concern within a nano-click as Override’s gave went from his monitor to the video feed, looking his nephew up and down again.
“DOES YOUR CARRIER KNOW ABOUT THIS?“ Override barked gesturing to the entirety of Nex’s body, “This is very serious Nex! Why would they let you on the field with this condition without reworking your spark chamber?!“
“Because me and Firmware hid it this entire time! No one knows and no one can know! My stupid new medic put it on my public records when Firmware and I kept it hidden. No one can know uncle!“ Nex exclaimed
“YOUR CREATORS DON’T EVEN KNOW?!“ Override exclaimed in a mix of fury and surprise, “You know how your carrier is after what happened with your brother! And you are keeping this behind their back?!“
“That is exactly WHY I've hidden it uncle please!“
“Give me a good reason not why I shouldn’t call your carrier right now!“
“BECAUSE MY FAMILY CAN’T HAVE ANOTHER FAILURE!!“ Nex screamed loud enough to shake the room which honestly made Override flinch.
“What?“
“I can’t afford to not be perfect uncle! After everything with my sire, and panoply, and even the issues with Ziel and Tanzy....I...I can’t be anything but perfect.“
“What in the name of creation are you talking about?!“ Override exclaimed.
“So long as everyone think’s i am perfect the cons wont go after my sire for his choices. So long as I am perfect my siblings are safe and cared for, so long as I am perfect my grandcreator’s are content and happy, so long as I am perfect my family doesn't have to bear the weight of other peoples mistakes, but only if I am perfect! I cant not be perfect uncle or they are gonna take it out on my family.“ Nex said between sobs as he broke down to his knees infront of his uncle.
Override was taken aback by this display, he had never seen Nex like this, he’d never seen Nex ever try and make himself look smaller. It then came to Override’s realization the weight of Megatrons expectations and what it’s done to Nexobyte. Override’s spark ached to see that his nephew was barely holding himself together under that weight and it was a very real and justified fear he had should he fail. Override knew just how....high those expectations were and what could happen should they not be met. He placed his servo on his own scars that were reminders of when he didn’t meet his creators expectations.
“Pull yourself together Nex.....I’m not gonna rat you out.“ Override sighed as he began to edit Nex’s records.
“You aren’t?“ he asked wiping his faceplates
“No. It’s not your fault things are like this. Its not even your siblings or creators fault they have defects too. Its what they did to Your carrier and I’s carrier that’s responsible. and I understand your fear. I will keep your record clean. But you should tell your carrier. Because I don’t want to be held responsible should anything happen.“
“........I will....Think of a way to bring it up to my creators that wont cause any issues. But thank you uncle I appreciate it.“ Nex said. Override gave him a nod and then the communication was cut as Override hung up on his end.
Nex was thankful his uncle understood. And the young mech steeled himself of any emotion or sign of weakness and with a sign left the come room. At least for now he was still Megan’s perfect warrior, even if he didn’t really want to be.
