I've been working on my own Transformers iteration for a little while now and came to a realization about Optimus. One of his most common backstories is being a data clerk in Iacon, a job that wouldn't require much driving (if any) and wouldn't need him to move heavy things often. Yet his alt-mode is always at least adjacent to a semi a vehicle that is made to travel long distances with heavy objects. He is quite literally built for travel yet is unable to do so freely. It got me thinking about how pre-war Optimus and Megatron may have more in common than they thought. So I decided to lean into that in my iteration.
Functionalism is still a thing but it's less based on your alt-mode and more based on the unique advantages your frame has. Data Collectors have naturally strong processors that are able to store and recall information faster than other frame types so they are kept indoors to record events that they get from other sources. War-frames are known as the lowest of the low so they are sent out to do menial tasks such as helping in the mines after an accident, being temporary guards, and so on. Their most common "job" however is being a gladiator in the gladiator pits.
Below the cut is how my Orion Pax and D-16's first conversation goes
Orion walked up to the the large silver War-frame without a hint of fear as his optics shined brighter than they had in lunar cycles. "Woah! That fight was incredible! I've never seen moves like that before and I've watched a ton of the ancient holovids on fighting," Orion exclaimed practically bouncing with barely contained excitement.
D-16 stared down at the red and blue mech. He appeared to be about the same age as him though he only came up to around the middle of his chassis. D-16 let a smirk take over his faceplate as he said "Thank you. You must be a Cultural Surveyor right? It's not often we see frames of your type around the gladiator pits. What brings you here to watch us hm?"
Truthfully D-16 was slightly worried. Cultural Surveyors hardly bothered with coming to the gladiator pits unless Sentinel Prime was there and they never visited the gladiators personally. That was unless they were spying on them. He had to stop himself from stiffening at that thought. Countless War-frames had made the mistake of venting their frustrations at the conditions they found themselves in around a Cultural Surveyor and were never seen again. He wondered distantly if word had somehow gotten out about his plans but before his thoughts could fester any more the smaller mech spoke.
"You’re welcome, but I'm not a Cultural Surveyor I'm just a simple Data Collector. Heh. Truth is I'm technically not even supposed to be here right now," Orion said as he rubbed the back of his helm with a nervous chuckle. He had barely managed to convince Jazz to cover for him while he snuck out, only being able to do so by promising the mech he would be able to play whatever music he wanted in their shared living quarters for the next few solar cycles. It was definitely worth it though.
This peaked D-16's interest. He had never met a mere Data Collector before though now that he looked at the mech he could see the slight differences between him and Cultural Surveyors. He seemed to have less bulk and was slightly smaller than any Cultural Surveyor he had ever seen. His optics, though still bright, lacked the typical sheen that indicated if they were recording something. D-16 let himself relax. This mech was simply a fan of fighting and had no ill intentions. His plan to liberate all War-frames was still safe so he decided to indulge the mech in some playful banter.
"You still haven't answered my question on what brings you here, Data Collector?"
Orion jumped slightly at the question and began to curl in on himself as he answered, "W-Well you see I just, uh, n-needed to get out of the Hall of Records. I spend so much t-time in there and well transforming isn't exactly allowed within the Hall, like at all. But I really needed to j-just get out and, you know, drive and I just c-couldn't wait until my next scheduled solar cycle off as it's not for another lunar cycle or two so I convinced Ja-a friend of mine to cover for me and once I started d-driving I just couldn't stop and then I-I ended up here so..."
D-16 felt his spark twist as the mech rambled on. The mech who seemingly had no fear as he walked up to the War-frame was now as skittish as a cyber-mouse and looked as if he might bolt if D-16 did so much as vent wrong. The more he talked the more dread started to pool in his tanks. 'He wasn't allowed to transform for lunar cycles on end?! That has to be terrible.' D-16 had heard the horror stories of Seekers going crazy if being kept from transforming and flying for too long and had always wondered if something like that existed for grounders as well. He had never been able to find out as War-frames needed to be able to transform constantly otherwise they wouldn't be able to bring out their weapons. 'Maybe he just has an alt that isn't well suited for driving.' Yeah that had to be it. After all War-frames were treated as the worst of the worst and yet they still kept their ability to transform at any moment.
"If you don't mind me asking what exactly is your alt-mode," D-16 asked making sure that it sounded as casual as possible. His question seemed to snap the smaller mech out of his spiral as he froze before turning his helm towards D-16.
"Uh I g-guess I could just, uh, s-show you it," Orion said before taking a step back to leave room for his transformation. He exvented harshly to try and stop his shaking before letting his instincts take control as he turned into his alt-mode.
'Oh Primus of all the alt-modes to have...' It was worse than D-16 could have imagined. The mech before him had an alt-mode D-16 had seen countless of. Any bot he had seen with this alt he heard talk relentlessly about how much they adored being able to drive freely carrying tons of things behind them from city to city rarely staying in one place too long unless they were with their family. He could hear it so vividly how they said that their family was the only thing that kept them from going insane from being in one place for so long. D-16's spark broke for the mech just before a thought struck him.
'If this is how they treat their spies how do they treat everyone else.' That sobered him up quick. He had never bothered to think about how any of the other frame types could have been abused under the Council's heel. How could he have when all he ever heard was how good they had it and how him and his frame type were the scum of Cybertron, but now? Looking at the mech in front of him was all the proof he needed. The Council needed to go and not just for his fellow War-frames but for all Cybertronians. They all needed to rise up together.
As Orion transformed back into root mode a arm was suddenly swung around him pulling him off the ground and close to the silver mech who said, "Tell you what how about you and me go have some energon and drive around the Gladiator pits some before you head back yeah? And if you manage to beat me I'll tell you a few secrets, but you have to swear you won't record anything or else I'm kicking you out got it?"
Orion looked at the mech with wide optics as a blush started to make its way across his faceplate. One of, if not the, greatest gladiators (definitely hottest) of all time was offering to get a drink and race with him, and he took him seriously! Oh Primus please don't let this be a dream! 'Sorry Jazz gonna be a lot later than I thought!'
"Uh y-yeah! Sure! I-I'd love-I mean like to! Um, what's your name by the way?"
A soft smile cracked through the taller mech's cool facade as he began walking off with Orion still held close, "You can call me Dee."
I'm having trouble deciding what I should finish/post next. So help me decide! Info about all under the cut.
(Tf:YS is shorthand for my Transformers iteration Young Sparks)
Masterpost for context
Which story?
Tf:YS Incorrect Quotes (Pre-War)
Tf:YS Jazz and Orion Oneshot
Tf:YS B-127 and Arcee First Meeting
Tf:YS Beginning of the End
Voting ended onFeb 17, 2025
Incorrect Quotes - pretty self-explanatory. Incorrect quotes featuring Orion, D-16, Ratchet, Jazz, Prowl, and Shockwave from before the war. Their group is called the Inner Circle.
Jazz and Orion Oneshot - Takes place after D-16 and Orion's first meeting. Shows off Jazz and Orion’s friendship with little snippets of D-16 and Orion’s date thrown in. Mostly fluff with a smidgen of angst due to Orion’s treatment and past. Mostly Orion’s pov but with a few paragraphs of Jazz's.
B-127 and Arcee meeting - Shows how they first met when they were still younglings. B is a bundle of angst while Arcee is chaos incarnate. From Arcee's pov.
Beginning of the End - Is about the day the war truly began. From D-16's pov. Megop.
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