Imagine being a reincarnated war general in the Transformers animated universe.
(Author's note: I had this on my mind since that ask. So, I decided to make this. I decided to put this in the Animated universe.)
Warnings: mentions of the corrupt senate, caste system, your life during the war, trouble always finding you, animated Starscream is a warning himself, some violence, you getting called old, Ratchet being himself, Optimus being your fan, some allspark lore, and you being grumpy.
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- Before being reborn into this alien world called Cybertron, you were a war general fighting a war on Earth. In the last days of the war, a bullet went through your heart, and despite the medic’s efforts to save you, you succumbed to your injuries and thus fell in the line of duty.
- You didn’t really feel sad while you were still conscious. You actually felt quite relieved. The war had gone on for so long that you were more than ready to fall into eternal rest. The only thing that made you feel slightly sad was leaving your loyal troops, who would have been more than eager to celebrate the victory with you.
- Oh well. Stuff happens.
- But instead of finding yourself at the steps of heaven or in the flames of hell, you found yourself reborn as some kind of robot in this new world called Cybertron with your past life memories still intact.
- You were not really shocked about it or your new body. After sating your initial curiosity about your new home world, you decided to take the opportunity to have your retirement and live a quiet life.
- Despite the possibilities your new life could have offered, you chose a quiet existence as a farmer, finding honest work far more fulfilling.
- Your new life was decent, despite the caste system, a corrupt senate, and absurd taxes. Your community was kind, and you made many good friends and neighbors. Working in the fields brought you joy you hadn't felt in a long time. You felt contented. No more playing soldier in someone else's war.
- Then the war broke out.
- Due to Cybertron’s problematic system, you tried to stay out of it and be neutral. Both sides had valid causes, but they also had their faults. Neither could be classified as more innocent or right.
- But then neutral bots started getting targeted, and the Cons began dragging innocent worlds into a war they had no business being part of in the first place. That’s when you decided they had gone too far with their cause.
- You didn’t like the Autobots, but you’d rather side with those who, at the very least, didn’t purposely involve innocent worlds in their war.
- Getting through Autobot boot camp was a bit of a challenge. Your drill sergeant didn’t particularly like you. You completed your training exercises with a few issues, but you often questioned their tactics and refused to adopt a new designation. He might have punished you unnecessarily more than once, which didn’t earn you the best reputation among your teammates.
- Still, you pulled through, learning new skills and retraining your body for combat. You become one of the best Autobot soldiers.
- On your first combat mission, you followed orders as best you could, but your former drill sergeant—now your team leader—was incompetent in his job. He led you all into danger and nearly got you and your teammates killed more than once. And when things got particularly bad, he abandoned the team to save himself, leaving you all to survive on your own.
- In that desperate moment, you took command of the team, led them through the mission, and accomplished it while keeping your teammates alive.
- It allowed you to gain the respect of your team and the attention of the higher command.
- You then formally had your former superior demoted for abandonment and incompetence—which, unsurprisingly, didn’t make him happy. At your team’s insistence, you were promoted to their new leader.
- Throughout the war, you led your team and completed many missions with minimal losses. This allowed you to rise through the ranks, and by applying your past battle tactics and methods, you secured victory in numerous battles. Eventually, you gained command of an entire fleet.
- You earned the name Man’o’War for your strength and brilliant control over the battlefield.
- You might have had a small hand in it when your troops wanted to give you a nickname, and you humored them. You never expected it to become serious, or something that would inspire fear among your enemies.
- After one of your most famous space battles, where you and a handful of bots stayed behind to control a crumbling vessel, flying it into the Decepticon warship to buy time for Autobot supply ships to escape. After escaping captivity with your team, you were given the rank of general.
- Your unique mentality earned you fear even among the Cons. Your troops respected you deeply and were fiercely loyal, never hesitating to come to your aid. Their support helped you out of tight spots more than once, especially when jealous bots in high command tried to sabotage you.
- Your new reputation even allowed you a few encounters with the Decepticon leader himself, who regarded you as one of his most dangerous enemies.
- The Autobot leader, Ultra Magnus, held you in high regard and placed great trust in you. It was thanks to you that the Decepticons were held off long enough for the creation of the Omega Sentinel and ultimately winning the war.
- After the war was finally won and rebuilding could happen, you were offered a seat in the newly built council. However, you declined. You had enough of wars and politics, as it was the main reason the war happened in the first place. Instead, you decided to resign and finally have your retirement, putting a trusted bot in charge of your fleet.
- However, you kinda had enough of Cybertron itself, so you decided to take a ship and find a new home somewhere else. You did not trust the High Council not to pull some scrap to get you back into action.
- During your travels through space, you eventually stumbled upon Earth. After seeing how much your previous world had changed—and even discovering some old historical records about yourself—you decided to settle there.
-Using some of the tech given to you before you left, you created a holoform to disguise yourself as a human and became a farmer once again. At last, you could enjoy peace and quiet, occasionally interacting with your neighbors and their children.
- But of course, peace never lasts with you.
- You honestly start to believe some kind of cosmic order has it out for you because some years later, after years of peacefully living as a human farmer, your alien kind found its way to your planet.
- A group of new Autobots showed up.
- You had been aware of them when the news first spoke about them. You had followed their progress as the city’s heroes, and you would be lying if you said you weren’t impressed. Unlike most Autobots, who would grovel at the sight of organics, they helped people with their occasional problems and kept them safe from dangerous individuals.
-They showed great promise.
- Then an old neighbor of yours, Isaac Sumdac—whom you hadn’t seen since his sudden breakthrough in technological inventions and rise to head of Detroit’s tech industry—sent you an invitation. He was rather insistent over the phone and wanted to give his “old friend” a tour.
- You weren’t entirely sure the two of you were friends. Maybe it was just because you were one of the few who listened and didn’t judge him for his enthusiasm for inventing. He was considered an oddball in the neighborhood. Even though he was odd, he had a good head on his shoulder and never invented things for foul purposes.
- And, being too polite to refuse, you accepted the invitation and made your way to Detroit.
- After arriving in the city and at the Sumdac tower, you met your old neighbour, who then introduced you to his daughter and the Autobots.
- You had an odd feeling about his daughter. You’d never heard that he had gotten married or adopted, and given his public profile, something like that should’ve made the news. Sari herself left you bothered… There was something about her that didn't quite sit right with you.
- You exchanged polite greetings with the Autobots, expressing your respect for their dedication to helping Detroit’s citizens with their everyday problems.
-You were almost surprised by Optimus’s humility. He claimed it was simply part of their duty for being allowed to treat Detroit as their temporary home. His answer made you feel rather pleased. That kind of quality would have made a promising leader.
-You recognized Ratchet, whom you’d met during the war. He looked at you in a way like he recognized you, but when you asked about it, he just shrugged and said you reminded him of someone. Apparently, your disguise was convincing enough to slip past even his sharp optics.
-Then, strangely, Sari's odd-looking key began emitting energy in your presence. You nearly froze because you recognized that energy, but you stayed quiet as the bots suspected something was happening in the city and went out on patrol.
- After the bots left, Isaac gave you a tour around the city, proudly highlighting his accomplishments—many of which had significantly improved the quality of life for Detroit’s citizens. You nodded along, mildly impressed, though some of the tech looked suspiciously similar to Cybertronian technology.
- He then invited you to a press event to unveil a new drone invention. Since you had time to spare, you accepted.
- At the event, however, you had a strange feeling. You felt like you were being watched and that something bad was about to happen. It was an old instinct you retained through your rebirth and war.
- Partway through the presentation, something hijacked the system of Isaac’s latest invention. The drone went rogue and began attacking civilians. Fortunately, the Autobots were present to respond, while you helped Isaac and Sari evacuate the crowd.
- You left the bots to deal with the malfunctioning drone. It took some time, but they managed to shut down the drone.
-When you saw Sari's key in action, you finally decided to ask about it and learned about the Allspark.
- Just when things seemed under control, Starscream, a Decepticon you knew all too well, appeared, intending to cause trouble.
- At first, you allowed the Autobots to take the lead in the fight. But then Starscream caused collateral damage, endangering human lives in two separate locations. With the bots stretched too thin to manage all three problems, you decided to act.
- You summoned your true body, causing your “car” to move on its own. Sari was confused when it arrived for you, but she climbed inside anyway as you raced off to deal with the second threat. She had clearly started to suspect something, but once you reached the site, the two of you worked together to get the people to safety.
- But, of course, Starscream had to escalate things. He fired toward you and Sari, intending to blast the Autobot’s ‘pets’. Luckily, you managed to push yourself and Sari out of direct line, but the blast destroyed the ground beneath you, causing you and Sari to fall from the building.
- With the Autobots too far to reach you in time, you summoned your body and disabled your holoform, causing you to disappear. You then transformed and caught Sari before she could hit the ground.
- No one saw exactly what had happened at first, but then you fired one of your old weapons and shot Starscream out of the sky. When the dust finally settled, there you stood in your robot form and the Autobot insignia on your chest. Sari stared up at you in awe, resting safely in your servo.
- “Still up to your cowardly tricks, Starscream?” you called out, fixing your gaze on him.
- It took him a nanoklik to recognize you. His optics widened, and he shouted your nickname before turning tail and flying off in panic.
- With the danger gone, the Autobots turned their attention to you as you gently set Sari down. They looked at you in awe as they had never seen Starscream flee with his tail between his legs before.
- “Who are you?” Optimus asked, stepping forward.
- Ratchet stared at you, then muttered your old war nickname in disbelief.
- “Wait—this old geezer?” Bumblebee blurted out.
- Ratchet promptly smacked him on the helm. “Show some respect,” he grumbled, then turned back to the others. “You’re looking at one of the most famous generals in Cybertronian history.”
- The whole team then looked at you with shock when they realized you were the war legend ‘Man’o’War’. Isaac was shocked that his old neighbor had been an alien robot.
- Ratchet asked what you were doing on Earth, noting that you had simply vanished from Cybertron after retiring. You explained that Earth had been your home for the past decades.
- Then, growing frustrated, you began ranting—angrily questioning why they were fighting Decepticons alone and whether Cybertron’s High Council had been informed. After all, there hadn’t been any major Decepticon sightings since the war ended.
- You then learn the whole deal about the Allspark and that they were stranded on Earth with no communication.
- The mention of the Allspark left you in silent dread. You had a history with it—one you didn’t care to revisit. Still, you softened and offered them a few old communication devices stored aboard your ship.
- They accepted the offer, and after retrieving the devices, you paid a visit to their current home base.
- The youngsters looked at you with silent admiration, eagerly asking question after question. Bumblebee, in particular, was rather brash and blunt with his curiosity, earning more than a few smacks to the helm from Ratchet. You honestly didn’t mind.
- Optimus seemed to hold you in deep respect. He told you how he had read about your many accomplishments and battles.
- You told him how impressed you were with his leadership and questioned why someone like him had been assigned to a simple Spacebridge maintenance crew. That’s when you learned about his expulsion from the Elite Guard Academy due to an incident in his past.
- You offered him some reassurance, telling him that mistakes happen, and what truly matters is learning from them. You had seen the trust his team has in him, which would be considered rare among the big shots in the Elite Guard.
- The youngster looked like he was about to have a spark attack, like he just got an autograph from his biggest idol.
- Then, you revealed the truth about your connection to the Allspark and why Sari's key acted weird in your presence.
-During the war, the Allspark was entrusted to your protection. But after a brutal and costly battle, you made the decision to send it through a Spacebridge to keep it out of Decepticon hands.
- It earned you scorn from the other Autobots, and you never imagined it would be found again.
- To your surprise, the team didn’t respond with anger or blame. They showed supportive understanding since your decision allowed Cybertron’s most sacred relic to stay out of Decepticon hands.
- When they asked if you would join to help them defend Earth from the Decepticon attack, you refused, having no interest in going back into action. Since there were only a handful of Decepticons, it was not something that required your involvement.
- They seemed a little disheartened, so you promised to step in if things got particularly bad, and that they could use your ship since you had no real use for it, and offer tactical consultation if needed.
- Ratchet and Optimus understood and respected your decision.
- You then returned to your human form, ready to go back to your farm. Sari whined a little, wanting to learn more stuff about you. You gave them your address since you preferred to live in seclusion and avoid unnecessary drama.
- They’ll be free to visit when needed; otherwise, they should not bother you.
- After bidding farewell, you drove out of Detroit. Oddly enough, you still felt like you were being watched, but this time, it felt different. It was as if... an old foe was watching you from the shadows.
Summary: In the Halls of Mandos, Feanor has a chance encounter with a departed mortal woman, and slowly realises the true cost of the oath he had laid upon his sons.
Warnings: Feanor not acknowledging the wrongs of his actions, mentions of having passed away (you are an old lady in this), you talking fondly about your lover, and a lot of angst.
Within the halls of Mandos, where the souls of the departed Eldar rested and healed from the wounds of their former lives until they were ready to re-embody and return to the world of the living. It was a privilege exclusive to them, except to one.
In the secluded corners of Mandos' halls lingered Fëanor, a soul who had spent more time in the halls than anyone. Isolated from other souls, as some still bore him ill will for his actions in Alqualondë, and for the events that followed.
The fire of Fëanor's soul still burned greatly and restlessly, barely contained by time and silence that filled the hall around him. He had expected to be thrown into the void, but instead his soul had come back to the halls of the Valar’s Doomsman, sentenced to remain there until the end of the world and the arrival of the final battle.
According to others, he had not yet acknowledged the wrongs in his actions, nor accepted that his quest to reclaim what was his had been unjust. Fëanor did not understand this, or why others claimed his quest to reclaim what was rightfully his and avenge his father’s death had been so wrong. To him, the violence that followed was necessary. The Valar refused to take action against their fallen kin and then demanded that he give up the one creation he had poured himself into. What he and his sons did was inevitable.
May he remain there as long as they live, but even through time, he will never claim that what he did was not justified.
“Excuse me?”
A voice startled him.
Fëanor turned to see a woman standing a short distance away from the stone seat where he sat. For a moment, he forgot his thoughts as the woman before him looked nothing like an Eldar. She was short, shorter than average Eldar women. Her hair was gray, nearly white, which was not ordinary. Her skin had lines and wrinkles like the trees that were nearing the end of their life cycles. What caught his attention the most were her round ears.
An Edain?
He had heard little about the Edains when he was alive and heard passing rumors from the departed Eldar souls, who had the chance to know the awakened secondborns. Despite the great deeds he had heard the Edains achieve, he had also heard how their lives were limited and would eventually pass from old age if they managed to live long enough to meet such an end. It only reinforced how insignificant they appeared to him.
But this time, he was curious as to why an Edain soul was in the parts of the halls where the souls of the Eldar lingered. Their fates were different, so this mortal soul was where it should not be.
“I am so sorry to trouble you, good sir,” you said apologetically. “I was meant to go where the souls of Men depart, but I seem to have taken a wrong turn and gotten myself lost,” you chuckled softly. “It appears my weakened senses chose to be a nuisance even after death.”
You smiled at him, gentle and unafraid.
“Would you be so kind as to show me the way back?”
For a moment, Fëanor only studied you. Then, silently, he stood up from his seat and inclined his head, prompting you to follow.
“Thank you,” you said warmly, falling into step beside him. “You are very kind. It’s rather embarrassing, getting lost the moment one arrives in these halls. I do hope the lord of these halls will not be too displeased.”
As you walked, Fëanor spoke at last.
“You’re… one of the Edain, are you?” he asked.
You glanced at him. “If you mean if I’m one of the race of men. You are correct, good sir. Have you never met one, like me, when you were still alive?” you asked curiously.
“I didn’t live long enough to have a chance to,” Fëanor replied.
“Oh, that’s a pity. What happened, if I may ask?” you asked. “Did you fall in battle by chance? With the dark lord ruling the north, there was a lot of fighting.”
“Something like that…” Fëanor uttered.
“I was lucky enough to pass away from old age, even though you could probably tell by my very old appearance,” you chuckled.
Fëanor looked at you. “Does it not… bother you?” he asked. “Does it not anger you—to grow slow, tired, dulled? That your life was so brief?”
You laughed quietly and waved a hand. “Those things are quite normal when one reaches old age. Bothersome, yes—but nothing to be angry over. "
Fëanor observed you like an enigma. You were calm and unbothered, as if your life hadn't ended recently. He found it difficult to understand how someone would not even feel angry for having their life end due to limited time.
"And though my lifetime might seem nothing compared to your elves’, it was full. I experienced fulfilling adventures, laughter, heartbreak, and tragedy.” You smiled, reflective. “Even if it was just one lifetime, I could tell you many stories about it.”
After a pause, your voice then softened. “I even found love. Though it was a love not meant to last.”
Fëanor glanced at you curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I loved someone I could not have,” you replied, meeting his gaze with a fond smile. “He was an elf.”
“Our lives were different, but the time we shared was the best I ever known. He was the best thing that ever happened to me,” you spoke without bitterness.
You began to reminisce as you walked.
“I was the daughter of a horse-master. My family raised the finest horses in the land, and we kept an inn where travelers could rest. It was there I met him, passing through with his people. I had always been fascinated by elves, but he carried a kind of gloom about him. Others did not seem to see it, but it was very noticeable to me. As a host, I was determined he would leave well-rested and lighter of spirit," you said.
“He was quite deep in his melancholy. But despite my failed attempts, I did not back down,” you continued.
You chuckled softly. “I was a stubborn girl in those days.”
“It was when I learned that he had a gift with horses that I had an idea and convinced him to have a race with me through the woods. That race ended up with both of us falling into a river, but that was the moment I heard him laugh truly. ”
You smiled at the memory.
“He returned often after that. I served him as a good host would, and he would share news and stories around the world. As he was one of his people’s best riders, he was determined to beat me in the race we left off. But just like him, I was a very good rider too.” You leaned toward Feanor with a grin. “He never managed to beat me.”
Fëanor listened in silence.
You smiled at the memory, your gaze drifting somewhere far beyond the halls.
“He had another talent,” you continued softly, “one that involved music. With the shadow growing in the north and his own melancholy, he rarely allowed himself the time to create anything new. But apparently…” You chuckled under your breath. “I helped him find that spark again, and he found peace when he was with me.”
Your eyes brightened, alight with fond remembrance.
“I can still see him seated at one of the tables in our inn,” you murmured.
“The way he would press the tip of his quill to his lips when he was thinking, staring at the page as though the words might reveal themselves if he waited long enough. And then, when they finally did, the room would fill with the soft sound of scratching parchment, as if nothing else in the world existed.”
You laughed quietly.
“He used to mumble lines to himself as he wrote, testing the sound of them beneath his breath. Sometimes I would pretend not to hear. Other times, I would tease him for it, just to see the way his ears would twitch and turn red.”
Your smile widened. “Oh, how I couldn't help but tease him a lot. The way his ears would turn red when he was either flustered or embarrassed. It was something I simply couldn't resist."
Fëanor felt a chill settle around him. There was an odd familiarity in those small habits. He could easily think of someone who matched those descriptions, but a voice in his mind told him it could be anyone.
“And whenever he truly lost himself in his work,” you went on, warmth threading your voice, “his foot would begin to tap, restless and unthinking, as though his body could not remain still while his mind raced ahead.”
You shook your head fondly.
“For that, I called him my little thumper. He pretended to hate it,” you said with a soft laugh, “but he never once asked me to stop.”
Fëanor felt something fracture within him.
He had seen that habit a thousand times — the restless tapping when song overtook thought, when creation demanded motion. He had scolded it once, long ago, and been met with an apologetic smile that had stayed far longer than he liked to admit.
This was no stranger’s lover.
This was his son.
“Eventually, I caught feelings for him,” you said quietly. “And to my blessing, he felt the same.”
“We courted for a time. A happiest time of my life,” you murmured. “But it eventually came to an end, and we separated.”
Fëanor glanced at you. Though he already knew the answer, there was a small part of him that wished he were mistaken. That perhaps… this was a different elf.
“What… separated you if I may ask?” he asked.
“Family loyalty,” you replied with a small smile, though your eyes held quiet sadness. “A long time ago, he swore a promise to his fallen father—to reclaim a stolen heirloom from the great evil.”
The words struck Fëanor like a blow from an arrow.
“I knew where his path would lead,” you continued. “Still, I could not stop loving him. Even my father told me to forget about him and find someone I could actually spend my life with. But, even after years passed, I never loved another. My heart remained his.”
You thought about it. “Perhaps… the only thing I wished with my life was to have just a little more time with him.”
You and Fëanor eventually arrived at the place where the souls of Men should go.
“Oh,” you said gently. “I believe this is it.”
You took a few steps forward before turning back toward him. “Thank you kindly for walking me back.”
You then looked at him curiously. “Though I do not know if you know him… could you perhaps pass a message along for me should you ever come across each other?”
Fëanor drew a slow breath. “Of course.”
You smiled, relieved. “Thank you. Tell him that no matter where his path led, or what became of him—I never regretted loving him.”
The words lingered in Fëanor’s mind like a curse. He took a deep breath. “I’ll make sure to pass it on,” he said.
“Thank you,” you replied. “Though I do not know your name, it was a pleasure to meet you.”
With that, you walked through the doors that led to where the souls of Men should go, passing beyond the halls, to the fate of Men.
Only then did the silence close in.
Fëanor stood alone, unmoving, the echo of your words lingering in your mind. Tears soon fell down his face, and he did not stop them.
He had… believed the oath he laid upon his sons was just. Necessary. He hadn't thought of what it might take from them—the lives they could have had. That one of them had known love, yet could not keep it.
Even if his son had loved a mortal, it was true. He himself had known what true love was like, and no soul who had not felt love would speak so fondly of a lover after such a separation. You had truly loved his son like his son had likely loved you, yet your time together wasn't cut short because of your mortality, but because of his oath.
Fëanor allowed his tears to fall in silence. He now understood the full weight of his actions. How he had blindly bound his sons to something that could never be reversed, and how it would continue to rob them of the very things he had once hoped they would have, long before any of the events that followed.
Before, time had passed around him without notice, but now every second dragged like an hour, and the knowledge of what he and his oath had taken from his son served as his punishment.
Summary: With Isaac missing, you became more involved with Team Prime and Sari. You meet interesting people, discover the truth about Sari's missing documents, and then end up being pulled into action when an old nemesis of yours decides that your presence is useful to his schemes.
Warnings: Isaac is missing, reader being a mentor figure, Sentinel, reader hating on Sentinel, mentions of injuries, a few lies, Sari getting an identity crisis, angst, some fluff, reader getting kidnapped, Megatron, character sacrifice, and reader being tired of action.
-With Isaac missing, you started calling Sari occasionally to check she was doing okay, and sometimes brought her necessities from your farm. It also gave you a reason to check on the young team, since Ultra Magnus entrusted them with the mission of finding the Allspark fragments and capturing any Decepticons.
-You helped Sari out with your holoform whenever she needed a human adult, and helped her navigate through society since she lived a pretty sheltered life with her father. You also guided the team on how to care for a human child.
-You might have grown fond of the child. Though you were technically her ‘godparent’, your old parenting instinct kicked in. It’s been a while since your adoptive kids on Cybertron grew up and learned to live on their own.
-Many interesting things have happened since you started visiting the city more often.
- For instance, you learned that some humans actually formed a league of villains. You only met a couple of them, and since they didn’t cause serious harm, you mostly found their antics amusing.
-You met a human called Henry Masterson, with whom the young team had a few confrontations. Apparently, he had a tech called a Headmaster unit that could hijack a robotic body. Bulkhead had an unpleasant experience with him, so you knew to be cautious around Masterson, especially when he was now under Powell’s employment.
-You met the Dinobots, who were rescued by Prowl after he saw they possessed life. An interesting bunch. Though you had to teach Grimlock a thing or two about discipline and self-control, so he wouldn’t end up destroying everything in his path.
-And as you expected, you met bots who were brought to life by the Allspark.
-You had warned the young team about the Allspark fragments bringing things to life. So you had a chance encounter with newborn transformers like Wreck-Gar and the two Constructibots, Mixmaster and Scrapper.
- Despite them being rather odd by cybertronian standards, you weren't fazed and took them to the side to educate them about everything they needed to know.
-You taught them about their lives as transformers, how they came to be, Cybertron, Autobots, Decepticons, and Earth. With Wreck-Gar, you had to adjust your wording since he took things literally. And the only time you had to use force was to teach the Constructibots some manners, since they behaved like drunken construction workers, which technically made sense, since their alt-modes were based on construction vehicles.
-You also reminded the young team about respecting life, especially Ratchet, since their previous encounters with the newborn bots were rather poor.
-You then let the newborns decide what to do with their lives, though giving them some really strict rules on what not to do.
-Whenever you happened to be in the city when the Elite Guard was visiting, you would enjoy spending time with Jetfire and Jetstorm, your grandsparklings, and have a good conversation with Jazz, conversing about Earth and its culture. You found the bot’s fascination with Earth pleasing. Cybertron could use more bots with an open mind.
-Unfortunately, during those visits, you had to deal with Sentinel.
-Though your first meeting was not impressive, you tried to have an open mind toward Optimus’s former classmate. That, despite the size of his ego and prejudice against organics, this mech could be educated. However, he tossed those hopes outside the window.
-The young mech showed clear disgust toward organics, did not bother to learn any of Earth’s rules, and constantly threw insults toward Optimus and his team, despite the “lowly repair crew” having done more than Sentinel in his entire career.
-And it was clear the big-chinned mech was trying to impress you whenever you happened to be around. But his disregard for Optimus's input and cowardly behaviour made your opinion of him become less favourable.
-And, worst of all, he boasted about how he was Ultra Magnus’s second in command and likely to take charge as a new Magnus if Ultra Magnus ever retired or kicked the bucket.
-Honestly speaking, if Sentinel were ever allowed to take charge, he would likely end up doing something that would put Cybertron and everyone in danger.
-If you ever pulled out of retirement, it would likely be because of him, though you had faith that Strikeline and the fleet would handle the situation and punish him accordingly if that scenario ever came to pass.
-You made sure to let Sentinel know that you were not pleased with him, especially after he made an idiotic decision and endangered someone.
-After the incident, you forcibly pulled him to the side and yelled at him, disciplining him hard about his actions and behaviour. You pointed out his flaws and how he was the worst candidate for a leader. You also let him know that if he never gets himself straight and continues with his actions, you might actually come back from retirement just to ensure a scumbag like him never becomes a Magnus.
-You possibly scared him big time because after that, he never really left the Elite Guard’s flagship whenever they came to Earth. Even when he did come outside, he made minimal effort to avoid breaking the traffic laws. Though he still avoided contact with humans.
-Though he somewhat bettered his act, using avoidance as a solution instead of owning up to his flaws made him appear even more pathetic to you.
-The youngsters said seeing Sentinel getting yelled at and humbled was the best day of their lives. You told them to never tolerate this kind of behaviour because it was exactly what created incompetent, corrupt leaders.
-You explained everything to Ultra Magnus when he contacted you about the incident. You stood firm on your action and reminded him to have better discipline over his people, unless he actually plans to pass the leadership to idiots like Sentinel.
-Ultra Magnus didn't fight you on it, and life continued as it was.
- Though you tried to figure out the reason for Sari’s missing documents.
- It would resurface when Sari did something risky and injured her foot. Though it looked like a simple sprain, you didn’t want to risk broken bones, so you brought her to a nearby hospital for a check-up.
-You asked quickly about her diet, allergies, and other possible conditions since she didn’t have health records. You tried to recall everything you knew about Isaac's state of health, though he was healthy for a human, and any of them passing to Sari.
-Sari couldn’t really answer any of the questions, also because this was her first time visiting an actual hospital.
- You arrived at the hospital and waited stupidly long before a doctor was finally available. You handled the paperwork while a doctor took a look at Sari’s injured foot.
- You were then invited in by the doctor and told that Sari would be okay. It was a simple sprain. However, there was something strange about her scan pictures.
-The doctor then showed you the pictures. Your eyes widened when you saw familiar cybertronian metallic circuitry mixed with Sari’s bone and organic structure. It actually took you a moment to get back your composure and analyse the situation.
- So, that’s why Sari doesn’t have documentation.
- When the doctor asked about it, you came up with a quick lie that your godchild had an accident when she was young, and her father— your friend— invented an advanced prosthetic that grew up with her. It had been so long that you must have forgotten about it.
-The doctor was convinced, though he expressed interest in talking to your friend about the prosthetic. You claimed your friend was dead, so learning how to make the prosthetic was impossible.
- You convinced the doctor to give you the pictures and keep quiet about it from Sari. You claimed she was at an age where teenagers hated machines, so you wouldn’t want her to hurt herself because of the prosthetic.
-The doctor agreed, gave you the pictures, and after getting a cast for the sprain, you left the hospital with Sari.
-Sari noticed that you were behaving strangely and asked what you had talked about with the doctor. You assured it was an adult thing and that her ankle would heal over time, adding that there were some problems with paperwork since she didn’t have documentation. Thankfully, she bought it.
-You didn’t want to lie to her, but you wanted to check with Ratchet first about the pictures.
-You brought her back to the base. The team was worried, and you both assured them that it was just a sprained ankle. Sari would be fine.
-However, you brought Optimus and Ratchet for a private talk. Optimus asked if there was something wrong.
-” I now know why Isaac never documented his daughter’s existence,” you began, and then revealed the scan pictures to them.
-They were first confused, but when Ratchet took a closer look, his optics widened when he recognized cybertronian circuitry in Sari’s bone structure.
-You shared that you suspected Sari might be a techno-organic — a mix of cybertronian and organic. How she came to be was a mystery, but it explained why the Allspark reacted to her uniquely because it knew what she was.
-Optimus questioned if Sari knew about it.
- You believed she should hear the truth from Isaac himself, but with such a secret, she should know why she is different compared to others.
- And sooner she knew, the better.
-You returned to others with Optimus and Ratchet. You called Sari over, saying you had something to tell her. You first apologized, revealing you hadn’t been honest about the hospital visit and that you now knew why her father had no documentation of her existence.
- Sari was curious and asked what it was.
-You first wanted to conduct a test as a final confirmation. You kneeled before her and held your servos up, instructing her to push her hand in the middle. Confused, but doing what you asked, Sari put her hand between your servos. You then manipulated your EM field around her hand and told her to describe what she felt.
-She described what she felt and giggled when she felt your EM field, calling it ticklish.
- The bots were surprised as they knew what you were doing, and you concluded it was what you suspected. Sari asked what it was.
- “That, my dear, was an EM field. Something humans shouldn’t be able to sense,” you explained.
-You then told her about the pictures and that she might be half cybertronian, which is why she didn’t have documentation. You didn’t know the rest, but it might also be why the Allspark reacted to her.
-Sari was in denial, as expected. But with the proof at hand, she couldn’t deny the truth and ran off, overwhelmed by her emotions. Bumblebee wanted to go after, but you instructed him to give her time to process. Even by your standard, a secret like this can be overwhelming, especially since her father was missing too.
-The rest of the team was then informed about the findings.
-They questioned how, why, and when. You couldn’t answer those, as Isaac was the only one with the answers, but you didn’t think he meant anything nefarious about it. Isaac wasn’t evil by heart, even if you paid him to try.
-As time passed, you went to check on Sari in her room, where she had spent the time crying and processing the news. You brought her some water, as crying can leave a human dehydrated, and asked how she was holding up.
-Sari was angry. She questioned why her father never told her, and now she knew why she never had a normal childhood. It was because she was never a normal child to begin with. She expressed how she felt unnatural, and like something that shouldn't exist.
-You comforted her and told her that, half robot or not, it will not change how you and the team see her. That they still care for her and that she was a vital part of their team. Despite the secret, she was still the same Sari.
-Sari slowly calmed down by your words and agreed to drink some water. She thanked you for telling her and complimented how good you were with words.
- You softly reminded her that you were a parent yourself. You had practice.
-You then told her not to hate her father. Though Isaac’s reason for hiding this truth is unknown, you don’t think he had bad intentions. From what you have seen, he loved her like a true father, and perhaps his protectiveness was what got the best of him. Sometimes parents end up making bad choices to protect their children.
-You knew that because even you had made mistakes while raising your kids.
-But despite the mistakes and flaws, a true parent’s love for their kids can never be denied.
-Sari dried her tears, comforted by the words. She thanked you for the words of wisdom, saying she now understood why her father concealed the truth, but she's still going to get every answer from him once she finds him.
-You smiled and patted her back. “Atta girl. Now that's the spirit.”
- Though it took a while, Sari adjusted to the truth and then tried to discover the machine side of her. Her relationship with the team didn’t change much, though they tried to help her figure it out, too. Guess they were closer in a way.
-With the team stretched on various tasks in protecting Detroit, you decided to stick around and lend a hand in finding Isaac.
-Though Captain Fanzone had many capable investigators at his call, you doubt they could handle saving Isaac from Megatron’s hands, if the man was a prisoner to the Decepticon Warlord, like you suspected. Since Isaac disappeared after Megatron was defeated, and the Allspark was shattered.
-You had a neighbour look after your farm and then brought some stuff from your ship, doing an old trick that often helped you find Decepticons and other things during the war.
-The signals led you outside Detroit and near some woods. You began thinking about where you would hide with the least chance of detection. You then searched for local mines in Detroit through the human media.
-You fell into deep thought. Lately, you have heard that Blitzwing and Lugnut have been stealing building materials. It was odd because the sensors no longer picked up their energy signatures. What could they be building?
-Suddenly, you sensed an energy signature coming toward you, fast. You listened to the wind and heard a distant sound of an engine.
-You waited patiently as the signature got closer, and quickly extended your servo, grabbing the speedster, stopping him on his tracks, and pushing him against the ground.
-When you saw the Elite Guard logo on his chest, you let him go and scolded him about appearing out of nowhere. He introduced himself as Blurr and began talking in fast space, which you had to tell him to slow down. He revealed his purpose on Earth, and then warned that he managed to catch a transmission with Megatron about capturing you.
-You weren’t startled by the news. Though why Megatron wanted to capture you eluded you, as there were several reasons. It offered a chance to locate him.
-You told Blurr to warn the team and deliver the news to meet you, claiming you were outside com range.
-When he left, you took out a tracker, but while you were optimizing it, you were suddenly ambushed by Lugnut and Blitzwing. You were startled as you didn’t detect their energy signatures, and slowly realized they must have done something to hide them.
-Lugnut demanded that you go with them.
-Though you had a plan in mind, you decided to stall a bit and fight back when they attempted to capture you.
-But before you even knew it, Blitzwing managed to get behind you and snap a stasis cuff over your wrist.
- “Oh, slag,” you uttered as you then got zapped by the cuffs and fell motionless.
-Helpless, Blitzwing grabbed you, and the two cons took you with them. You ended up dropping the tracker, which wasn’t part of your plan. Now you can only hope it will hint the team and narrow down their search for the Decepticons' lair.
-You were then taken to their lair, which was a mine. You were brought inside and came face to face with one con you hadn’t seen since the Great War.
-” Megs… It’s been a while,” you said, then looked him up and down. “Did you finally grow a bit bigger?” you asked with a grin.
-Lugnut, of course, called you out for your insolence, and then he said something about Megatron needing you for a plan. You glanced around the lair, seeing Isaac and what seemed to be a space bridge under construction. It immediately clicked in your mind. Oh, so that’s what they’re building.
-You immediately explained that they planned to build their own space bridge to bridge themselves to Cybertron, so they could strike from within, while keeping the Autobot forces thinned around the galaxy so Cybertron would be left defenseless.
-And the reason for your kidnapping is to have leverage over your fleet, which has grown greater since the war, and is a bigger threat to them than the Elite Guard, playing on your fleet’s loyalty toward you, even if you were retired.
- Blitzwing’s Icy personality switched, and he commented on how it was impressive that you figured out the plan under ten nanokliks. Honestly, you figured it out because that’s what you would have likely done as well.
-Megatron confirmed your intuition. Your fleet was a greater threat to them than the Elite Guard; they could easily banish the cons back, but they do still hold great loyalty toward you. So, you would likely be the only one keeping them from attacking, their former general and the founder of the fleet.
-You told him that he might be right about that. However, he should not underestimate them since you did train them. Just because you are no longer in charge doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be able to operate without your guidance.
-Megatron then said you shall see and then you were rather rudely set down.
- Though you couldn’t move due to the stasis cuffs. You were able to talk to Isaac, asking about his well-being and how he ended up as Megatron’s captive. Isaac panickly explained that he wasn’t doing it of his own free will. You assured Isaac that you didn’t doubt him and told him that Sari was alright. This comforted the man.
-You then subtly asked him about Sari’s condition. Isaac seemed confused until he finally realized that you knew about Sari’s techno-organic side. He subtly explained how it happened, and you pieced it together. He could tell the rest once the bots figured out your location and rescued you.
-Your time in the lair would be rather boring in a way. You would likely be annoying, and talking just enough not to make them give you a mouth clamp.
-You casually refused to tell Megatron anything about Optimus and his team. If he wanted to know about it, he should investigate himself. Though he made a snarky remark about you hiding on a primitive planet, you countered that you like a planet where there isn’t constant tomfoolery and variety.
-You were polite with Mixmaster and Scrapper, who had decided to join the Decepticons and became known as Constructicons. They apologized and said it was nothing against you. You were honestly the only decent Autobot they knew. You assured them that you didn’t mind and wished them good luck in their life as Cons.
-At least they bothered to give you a seat or adjust the cuffs so that you were able to move your feet a little.
- The conversations between you and Megatron would get interesting. You two talked about the war and battles. Megatron likely offers you a chance to join his side, which he had done the first time you met.
-You remind him of your differences and that you still don’t support his ideals. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you are free from new management. Challenging his philosophy, and whether he was truly better than the Autobots.
-He claimed it was a matter of time. That once the Elite Guard and your fleet were defeated and Cybertron was under his rule, you would see things his way.
-” Ah, but there is a distinct difference between my fleet and the Elite Guard”, you said. “They trained soldiers. I trained leaders.”
-During your time there, you learned about Megatron’s double agent, Shockwave, whom you had met during the war. And that they needed a space bridge expert to finish their space bridge, which surprisingly turned out to be Bulkhead.
-Blitzwing and Lugnut then brought Bulkhead, whom Megatron then coerced into helping by threatening to use the Headmaster unit to remove his helm and use his body to harm Isaac.
-Bulkhead yielded and apologized to you.
-You assured Bulkhead that it was all right and encouraged him to do what he must. He then worked with Isaac on Megatron’s space bridge.
-You would watch, rather amused as the two tried to figure out how to sabotage the bridge and stall time, though you reminded Bulkhead that Isaac was a prisoner too.
-When Bulkhead and Isaac finished with the space bridge, Optimus and his team finally arrived with Blurr.
- A fight broke out, and Bulkhead released you from your bonds.
-But then, like out of some comedic timing, Starscream blasted through the mine ceiling with several clones. He declared Megatron’s destruction and attacked.
- “Okay. I usually give points for resilience, but Starscream’s obsession with you is starting to get ridiculous,” you remarked to Megatron.
-With numbers, Starscream managed to overwhelm Megatron. He was about to give the Warlord a finishing blow until Isaac used the headmaster unit to hijack Starscream’s body and attempt to fight Megatron. Which, of course, led to a loss. A good attempt, but a futile one.
-During the fight, you ended up trapped in cement when Mixmaster returned with Blitzwing and Lugnut, the two having been cuffed by the team when they got there.
-Starscream, now a head, complained when his clones betrayed him and joined Megatron.
-” Starscream. You backstabbed Megatron and have been trying to overthrow him as the new leader of the Decepticons ever since. If you weren’t loyal in the first place, what were the chances of your clones being loyal to you?” you asked.
-Starscream froze and stayed quiet, like the question made him discover something new about himself.
-” Granbot, I think you broke his brain module,” Bumblebee remarked.
-” Well, of course, it's challenging to comprehend reality when you actually think for the first time in your life,” you stated.
-With you, Blurr, and the team trapped in cement. Megatron activated his space bridge and prepared to throw Optimus there.
-Prowl managed to get free by using mind over processor and threw his shuriken at Optimus’s bonds, allowing Optimus to use his hooks and drag himself out.
-Then, you guess, Bulkhead and Isaac managed to do something to sabotage Megatron’s space bridge because soon it became unstable and began to overload.
-The young team’s ship, or Omega Supreme, then arrived, throwing out Ratchet and Sari, as the giant sentinel then used himself to absorb the space bridge energy before being dragged in. Closing the space bridge vortex.
-With the cavern collapsing, you all fled, alive.
-Ratchet was saddened by his friend's sacrifice. You gave honor to Omega Supreme and assured that even if Omega Supreme wasn’t built as a war weapon, he would have likely done it anyway.
-Sari was reunited with her father. She was also happy to see you, as she felt pretty distressed when you got kidnapped. Isaac then finally revealed how she came to be. Having already learned the truth, Sari took it better this time.
-After returning Isaac and Sari to the tower, making sure everything was alright, you turned back into your holoform and returned to your farm.
-You thanked your neighbour for looking after your animals since you weren't gone for too long. Did the rest of the chores and relaxed the rest of the day with your animals.
- Hopefully, you can continue your retirement in peace this time.
Your retirement had been eventful since meeting Team Prime, but after discovering the Allspark had been shattered and that the Elite Guard plan to lie about the existence of the Decepticon, you knew it was time to step in—especially for Sari’s sake.
(Author's note: Don't really know how to say it. Wanted to say thanks to @29odisea12estelar2008 for the general's design. It gave me a boost. Also, shout out to @montelna even if I didn't respond. I really enjoyed your comments ☺)
Warnings: Sentinel being an idiot, near-unintentional adoption, Sari being homeless, angst to comfort, you ripping on Ultra Magnus, the Starscream incident, mentions of Megatron, and your considered safety.
- Your life had become more eventful since meeting the young Autobot team. Most of the time, things were peaceful, and they managed to handle most of the situations on their own. But occasionally, they call you for advice or pull you into the oddest situations, not to mention the other strange shenanigans you get caught up in whenever you visit the city.
- Sometimes, they even show up at your farm just to hang out and ask questions, even when you were hoping to have some peace and quiet.
- You didn’t think poorly of them. On the contrary, their ability to adapt to an environment filled with organics—and to learn without being condescending, which was usual with most bots on Cybertron—was refreshing. Back in your day, they would’ve made a fine addition to your fleet, especially with how well they worked together.
- They had told you how they first stumbled upon the Allspark and how Megatron came after them. After escaping through an overloaded spacebridge and arriving at Earth, they managed to send Megatron hurtling into Earth’s atmosphere—where he burned alive.
- You nearly felt pity for your old enemy, for that had to be one of the most unpleasant ways to go offline.
- But with Megatron gone, you were confident the youngsters could handle the remaining Decepticons, especially now that they were without a leader. If Megatron had still been online, well... that would’ve been a very different story.
- However, this week went differently.
- It was a normal winter day. After a long day of hard work on your farm, you decided to enjoy a peaceful afternoon. The youngsters had been quiet, so you assumed everything was alright in the city.
-Then, suddenly, the sky lit up, and you saw what looked like shooting stars streaking across the sky. You sensed a familiar energy in the air and began to suspect that something serious had happened to the Allspark.
- You turned on your radio and heard there had been a recent robot battle in the city. Through the news anchor’s description, you recognized Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Starscream. However, there was mention of another robot whose description eerily matched Megatron. It left you with a bad feeling because he would almost certainly go after the Allspark. And knowing the young bots, they must have done something to prevent him from getting his servos on it.
- Your suspicions were confirmed the next day when you discovered what appeared to be a fragment of the Allspark embedded in your barn's wall. Curious and concerned, you searched your farm and the surrounding woods for more. You managed to find four Allspark fragments before finally deciding it was time to head to Detroit.
- However, when you arrived, you were surprised to find the Elite Guard’s flagship parked in Detroit's Central Park.
- While Optimus was talking with Ultra Magnus, his team filled you in on the recent event—particularly the battle with Megatron. The mention of Megatron being online nearly made your energon run cold, and that poor Isaac had unknowingly helped one of your greatest enemies to return.
- You had known Isaac long enough to be certain he wouldn’t have done it with foul intentions. Megatron had likely manipulated him, taking advantage of his kind and trusting nature.
-And now he was missing too.
- To prevent Megatron from getting his hands on the Allspark, Optimus had used Sari’s key to destroy it—explaining both the shooting stars and the fragments you'd found on your farm.
- Then, the bots asked if you’d be willing to take Sari in and let her live with you.
- What?
- They explained they had been ordered to return to Cybertron due to the growing Decepticon uprising. Additionally, Sari had been kicked out of her home after her father’s disappearance, leaving her with nowhere to live.
- You told them you were willing to help when necesary—but becoming a foster parent wasn’t exactly on your list.
- However, they pleaded with you, arguing that you were the only bot well-versed in Earth’s customs and even had your own human disguise. Along with Captain Fanzone, you were one of the only people they trusted to take care of Sari.
- When you asked why none of Sari’s relatives could take her in, they told you something troubling. Sari had no records of her birth or her life—no pictures, no birth certificate, not even adoption papers. Legally, she didn’t exist.
- That made you suspicious.
- While you knew Isaac could be clumsy with personal paperwork, you were certain he wasn’t so careless that he’d forget to document the existence of his own daughter.
- Sari wasn’t even aware she had any relatives. You knew Isaac had a strained relationship with his family, and introducing her to them without any official records could… cause some complications.
- Given the whole situation—and your own soft spot for children—you agreed to take her in. You had known Isaac long enough that you could be considered as her godparent.
- The bots expressed their gratitude, then left reluctantly to answer a call from the Elite Guard ship.
- You took Sari to another public park to discuss her living arrangements in peace. She was a bit insistent about staying up late, having a phone, and receiving a high allowance. You laid out the basic rules, especially since you didn’t live in the city.
- It didn’t take long to see that she was putting on an act. You realized the team's upcoming departure was affecting her deeply, so you gently coached her into talking about it. Though she tried to act strong and change the subject, your steady approach got through. She broke down in tears, admitting she didn’t want them to leave—not after losing her father and the only home she knew. On top of it all, she had found out she didn’t legally exist, which did not help her case.
- You allowed her to hug you and cry as much as she needed—having experienced similar meltdowns with your adopted sparklings. You comforted her and reassured her that things would work out.
- She then told you that the Elite Guard didn’t believe Earth had any Decepticons because their scanners had found nothing. It was one of the main reasons the team was being forced to leave Earth. They even went so far as to claim there had never been a Decepticon threat—asking Optimus to lie about it.
- You could hardly believe what you were hearing. There were many ways to hide an energy signature from scanners, even without advanced tech. You had used such tricks yourself during the war and taught them to your fleet and fellow Elite Guard members. Apparently, those teachings hadn’t stuck.
-And to claim the Decepticons had never been on Earth? You could literally ask the people of Detroit to hand over several video footages of the cons causing trouble whenever they appeared.
-In that moment, you knew you had to get involved. It was one thing for them to leave in order to fight Decepticons elsewhere, but lying and abandoning Earth when Megatron and his forces were possibly still active was an unacceptable reason to force Team Prime off-world, especially when they were clearly reluctant to go.
- You told Sari to get in the car and put on her seatbelt. You were gonna make a visit to the Elite Guard.
- When you arrived at the Elite Guard’s flagship, you were first stopped by a white-and-black bot. You demanded to speak with Ultra Magnus. He apologized and said that organics weren’t permitted to enter the ship. In response, you transformed into your Cybertronian form with Sari sitting on your servo and asked, “How about now, soldier?”
- He recognized you immediately and allowed you entry.
- Inside the ship, you marched into the main bridge. You called out to Ultra Magnus and asked if he liked the silent peace so much that he would rather act demented than admit the possibility of Megatron having returned.
- The team was a bit surprised by your appearance. The blue bot with orange stripes and a ridiculously large chin instantly became defensive, accusing you of disrespecting Ultra Magnus and the Elite Guard.
- “Who are you to insult Ultra Magnus?!” the big-chinned fool exclaimed, pointing at you.
- “Sentinel, that’s…” Optimus tried to say.
- “Quiet, Optimus. I don’t need you telling me how to handle a nobody who thinks they can simply march into the Elite Guard ship and insult Ultra Magnus," he snapped, then turned to you. "I suggest you and that little organic leave before I have you arrested,” he said.
- “There will be no arrests, Sentinel,” Ultra Magnus interrupted, his tone stern. “And I suggest you watch how you speak to one of Cybertron’s most highly regarded generals.”
- “This bot’s a general? Who—exactly?” Sentinel scoffed smugly.
- Sentinel laughed. “Ha! This old geezer is Man’o’War? Yeah, right.”
- The room went quiet, and the serious looks on everyone’s faces made it clear that they weren’t joking. Slowly, the realization dawned on Sentinel, and his smug grin faded into stunned disbelief.
- You called him out on his stupidity and warned him to watch his tongue when speaking to you and Sari, whom you regarded as your goddaughter. Any disrespect toward her is disrespect toward you.
- Sentinel quickly backed off, visibly flinching from your commanding presence.
- Then, you spoke with Ultra Magnus about the rumors surrounding the Decepticons. You had been involved enough to support the team’s claims regarding Lugnut’s and Blitzwing’s presence on Earth, along with Starscream, though he had been relatively inactive for some time. And if there was even a chance that Megatron had returned, there was a high probability he was still on the planet.
- Ultra Magnus then claimed that their scanners had not detected any Decepticon energy signatures. You countered easily, explaining that Earth is rich in mineral deposits that can naturally interfere with scanner readings, making it easy to mask an individual’s energy signature.
-You also pointed out that Earth has countless underground locations that would serve as excellent hiding spots. It was a tactic you had used many times during the war to evade Decepticon detection.
- Just because they don’t appear on the scanners, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
- Ultra Magnus would then relent in scanning the planet more thoroughly, especially when Jazz found sense in your words.
- Sentinel was still convinced there weren’t any Decepticons.
- You also strongly criticized the idea of keeping the possible Decepticon threat a secret from Cybertron’s public. The truth always finds a way to come to light, and if that were to happen, the public’s trust in the Elite Guard would be severely damaged.
-Informing the public of a potential threat might cause some panic, but it would also allow them to prepare in case the Decepticons ever reached Cybertron.
- Ultra Magnus tried to convince you otherwise, but you countered by asking whether he wanted the public to see the Elite Guard as a responsible military force that takes precautionary measures in the face of possible danger, or as an organization that couldn't be trusted due to secrecy and negligence. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time the Elite Guard had kept secrets from the public.
- That might have finally gotten through to Ultra Magnus. Sentinel tried to accuse you of slandering the Elite Guard, but Ultra Magnus silenced him. He then stated that he would authorize a thorough search of the planet, and if a Decepticon turned up, he would follow your recommendation.
- Then the whole incident with Starscream happened. You helped behind the scenes while Team Prime handled most of the action.
- As Starscream’s fall from the sky was rather sudden, you looked up at the sky. Even though nothing was visible, you felt that same unsettling sensation you always got when Megatron was near. That alone told you he was still online.
- After that, Ultra Magnus and his crew were finally convinced of the Decepticons’ presence on Earth. They granted Team Prime permission to remain—both to protect the planet and to continue searching for the remaining Allspark fragments.
- Now believing in the possibility of Megatron having returned, Ultra Magnus suggested you would return to Cybertron for safety reasons. You declined the offer, being confident enough to handle yourself and take safety precautions.
- You then pointed out that their tacky-on transmitter was missing.
- After they left, Optimus and his team thanked you for standing up for them. You praised their willingness to stick with the truth and do what is right. The Elite Guard bots should follow their example more often.
- Then you remembered the Allspark fragments in your subspace. You had been so caught up in the whole thing that you forgot your original purpose in the city.
- Optimus thanked you again but also apologized for failing to protect the Allspark and causing its destruction. You reassured him that the Allspark is not something that can truly be destroyed—it may lose its original form, but it always finds a way to survive, this time by fragmenting.
- You also advised them to stay alert, warning that some objects might spontaneously come to life. The Allspark is a relic of creation, after all. In its fragmented form, it could easily embed itself into certain objects and bring them to life.
- You transformed back into your holoform and sighed, ready to return to your farm. Sari jokingly said it was a pity that she no longer needed to live with you. You teased back, claiming it would probably be a nightmare to live with her.
- Then you gave her your comlink number, which confused her a bit.
- “If you ever need your godparent’s help, just give me a call and I’ll be there,” you said.
- She then hugged you, thanking you for helping her friends stay. You patted her back and told her, despite the joke, she wasn’t a bad kid.
-Optimus asked if you were certain you’d be safe on your farm.
- You and Megatron had quite a history, so there was no telling what he might do to get back at you. Since Megatron had been behind the many strange events that happened, you suspected he already knew you were on the planet, but figured he might be too busy plotting something else.
- You assured Prime that you had ways to hide your energy signature and that your address wasn’t exactly public, so you should be safe.
- After parting ways, you returned to your farm, ready to take a nap after what had been one of your most eventful days.
The youngsters were curious to know about your first encounter with the Decepticon warlord.
Warnings: some violence, crashing a ship, mentions of torture, you getting dropped two times, you being a bit sassy, maybe a bit of manipulation? mentions of warfare, contemplations, and Bumblebee messing with the wrong kind of animal.
"Hey, (Name), what was your first ever encounter with Megatron?"
You glanced at Sari, the young child looking at you while waiting for your answer. You were seated on a rocking chair, petting your barn cat, Missy, while Sari sat at the steps, eating some treats you had made for her.
She and the young bots had come for a visit as Bulkhead wanted to try painting some of your animals. You didn’t mind the idea, as it was good for the youngsters to have hobbies while acting as heroes of Detroit. Though Bumblebee provoking one of your ill-tempered geese didn’t make Bulkhead’s art session easy. Prowl was feeding and observing your animals, finding it calming. Optimus came along to make sure his team didn’t cause trouble on your farm and even made a security check for you in case of Decepticons finding your home. It was a nice gesture, though unnecessary. You weren’t that old that you needed the youngster to check your own defenses for you. It made you feel like a grandparent whose relatives came to visit without invitation.
"Hm? Why the sudden interest?" you replied.
"The guys say that you used to fight him a lot during the Great War, but they don't really know how you met Megatron in the first place," Sari explained.
"The first time I met the Decepticon warlord was after the battle over Argonax. I was tasked to ensure the safety of a supply road. We were ambushed by a Decepticon fleet, and we were quite outnumbered,” you answered.
“I remember reading about that battle. It was after that battle that you became a general,” Optimus spoke, interested in the conversation.
“My promotion happened much later. When I escaped the Cons after they had me captured,” you clarified.
“You were captured?” Sari asked, curiosity in her eyes.
“Yeah. An old rival was ready to finish me up, but apparently, after what I did in that battle, I became interesting enough for the Big Con himself to order me to be brought before him, and that’s how I met Megatron for the first time,” you continued.
"Oooh— what did you do? Please? Can you tell more?” Sari asked excitedly.
"I don’t know. I’m not sure if I remember it all clearly," you muttered.
“I would be interested in hearing it from you, too, if you don’t mind,” Optimus added.
"Pretty please..." Sari said, while pleading with her eyes.
You stared at them before releasing a sigh. "Alright. Fine..."
"During the battle over Argonax, after dealing with two Decepticon cruisers, our ship was greatly damaged. To ensure the success of the mission. I decided to do something crazy..." you started as you went back to that battle, a pivotal moment of your rise to general, and a battle that allowed you to meet the Decepticon warlord for the first time.
Blasts echoed outside the ship. Your ship rumbled as alarms set off in every system. Your ship was falling apart. The last Decepticon cruiser loomed ahead, firing at you, while floating through the debris of the two other cruisers you and your crew had managed to destroy. The supply ships hovered behind yours, unable to leave as the last Decepticon ship was still a threat.
There was another rumble, causing you and your crew to stumble on your feet. It was a clear indication that your ship wouldn’t last any longer.
"Commander! Weapon systems are offline!"
"Shielding is down!"
"Commander! More Decepticon vessels are headed this way!”
You turned toward your second in command, Strikeline. "What is the status of the remaining shuttles in the dock bay?" you asked.
"The repairs have been done, but I'm afraid we won't be able to fight with them since most of the ammunition has been used up," Strikeline quickly answered.
"But they can fly?" you asked.
Strikeline nodded. "I think so. However, without ammunition and limited fuel, I’m afraid we don’t stand a chance against the Cons if we continue the fight.”
"We're not, “ you said, turning toward the controls. “Strikeline. Gather the crew and use the shuttles to board the supply ships," you instructed, inputting the commands on the ships and letting the shuttle ships know your plan.
"What are you gonna do?" Strikeline asked.
"I can buy you the time to escape if I use the last of the power to crash this vessel into the Con’s cruiser,” you revealed.
“What?” Strikeline exclaimed.
Your crew and soldiers stopped after hearing that.
"But… Commander, that's suicide!"
“Don’t do it!”
“Let us do it in your stead!”
“Listen up! Men!” you yelled, silencing them all. “As your commander, it is my duty to ensure you will live to fight another day. So, when it comes to executing a plan as insane as this, it is up to me to see it through. I will not have any of you die on me for something like this. ”
“More Decepticons are coming. If we argue about this, none of us is gonna leave here alive. And I need you all to ensure the supply ships reach Cybertron and the mission is a success,” you continued.
“Have I made myself clear, men?!”
“Yes, sir!” they said in unison.
“Good…” you nodded. “I am a one bot. But you all are our people’s main line of defence. You all will be needed to fight this war for another day,” you continued.
"And if I do not make it through this, I want you all to know that it has been my honor to fight alongside you,” you said.
"I think I'll stay, “ one of your pilots spoke. “You need someone to handle the engine."
One of your other pilots sat down. "With all due respect, Commander. You have the piloting skills of a flying space rubble. You won’t probably reach the cruiser before they blow up the bridge," he said, earning a chuckle from you.
“Very well. Now rest of you, go to the shuttles and evacuate!” you commanded before all of them decided to stay with you.
You turned toward Strikeline.
“You are insane and impossible to convince when you set your mind to something,” Strikeline stated, holding up his servo.
You smiled, grabbing his servo and pulling him into a short hug. “It was a good run, brother. You are the finest second in command any commander could ask for. Look after our soldiers,” you said.
Strikeline nodded.
“Even… if there is a slim chance you survive this. If you do, you'd better come back in one piece,” he said.
You smiled. “No promises. But, if I do, I’ll promise to show you even more insane stuff. ”
“I’ll hold onto you on that,” he nodded.
You then became serious. “Now get going. The Decepticons will be here any minute.”
Strikeline then did as you commanded, evacuating the crew as you focused on the last Decepticon cruiser. When the last of the shuttles left the docking bay, leaving only you and your pilots as the last bots on the ship.
"Alright. Let’s do this. All power to the engines. Straightforward!" you commanded.
Using whatever power your ship had left, the thrusters blasted, moving your ship toward the Decepticon cruiser. The Cons began shooting at you.
“Release the extra weight!” You ordered. Parts of your ship were then released, allowing speed and momentum.
"Shielding to the forth!"
With whatever shielding left, the bridge was covered under the shield, leaving everything else exposed. The Cons kept shooting, probably panicking as your ship got closer and closer.
A thrilled smirk dressed your face as you prepared to meet death once more.
“Brace for impact!”
You all yelled as your ship rammed into the Decepticon cruiser, causing a large explosion and the cruiser to be ripped in half. Through the bridge view, you saw the supply ships with your crew escape. You smiled in victory. The mission was a success.
"You rammed your ship into the Decepticon cruiser!" Sari yelled, shock in her face. "How did you even survive?"
"I had all the shielding protect the bridge, which was miraculously enough to keep us in one piece, save for one casualty," you explained. "Now. The fun part was to escape our predicament."
"We managed to hide as stowaways on one of the Con’s ships that arrived after until we found a moment to steal one of their shuttles. I secured the escape of my surviving men by leaving myself captured," you continued.
"There was this con, Dreadmark, I think his name was. I had many run-ins with him in my captain days. And each time he lost to me, so he wasn’t particularly happy to see me," you said, remembering the Decepticon.
"He was going to finish me up, until we heard the Big Con himself had heard what had happened and ordered me to be brought before him. Back then, the Cons were used to Autobot commanders running away when things got rough. So, a commander staying behind instead of abandoning their men was something new to them,” you explained.
"I was dragged out of my cell and came face-to-face with the big boss himself," you said, recalling that moment.
After being dragged in bounds and brought to a large room, your captor then dropped you onto the floor. You groaned slightly from the impact, landing on your side before picking yourself up to kneel.
“So… “ a deep voice echoed through the room. ”... this is the Autobot who managed to destroy your entire fleet?”
You looked up to see a large, grey mech sitting on a throne. His optics were red, and he had many pointy ends on his frame. There was a large cannon on his left arm. You did not need to take many details, as you have seen his image in the Autobot database many times. Neither did you need to ask questions to know that he was Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons.
Next to him was a large Decepticon you recognized as Lugnut, and there were some other cons in the room, standing on the side while watching.
Megatron’s crimson optics were locked onto you, studying you with what you can tell was interest. Something that was usually dangerous when it came to foes like him. However, you looked back at him, not backing down nor quivering before him.
Dreadmark scoffed above you. "This one has actually been a nuisance on my side for a long time,” he stated, then picked you up by the scruff of your back. You mildly groaned, slightly annoyed at being picked up like a baby animal. “Please, my lord. Allow me to take care of this pest. I can assure you that this one is more trouble alive than dead," Dreadmark said.
"And why should I trust you with anything when you can't deal with one little Autobot?" Megatron questioned.
You sighed loudly, gaining their attention. "Little this. Little that. I really recommend that you don't underestimate your enemies based on their size," you spoke.
"Yes. I am small compared to you all, but that hasn't stopped me from beating you in battle," you stated.
"Silence! You're talking to Megatron, the Lord of All Decepticons!" Lugnut yelled.
You glanced at the giant cyclop, annoyed. "I know who I’m talking to. I think the throne and the air of superiority were obvious hints enough," you said, then turned your attention back to Megatron. "And I must say --- you are not what I expected, which is kind of disappointing."
"And what did you expect, Autobot?" Megatron asked with a raised brow.
"Well, I definitely expected you to be... bigger," you replied, tilting your helm.
"Such insolence!" Lugnut yelled. "How dare you mock master's great size?!"
You shrugged your shoulders. "He started it by calling me little."
“Now… “ Megatron started. “What should we do with you?”
“An Autobot commander who stayed behind instead of running away. I admit that I’m impressed with what you did in the recent battle, but you have given us quite a golden opportunity to gain intel on everything your Autobots are planning, which was rather foolish of you. ”
“You are not the first one to tell me that,” you replied.
You then nodded. “And I do know quite a lot of things— tactics, routes, dark secrets you could use to blackmail the Autobot high command. But will you spare me after getting what you want from me? Or should I keep my intake shut and keep myself valuable enough for you to keep me online?” you questioned.
“Hm… I think I’m gonna do the second option. I still have things to do in this life before entering the Well of Allspark,” you stated.
“Smart. But what makes you sure we won’t simply torture you, or open your processor and take all the knowledge you possess?” Megatron questioned. “Before snuffing out your miserable Autobot spark,” he added, gripping his servo in a crushing motion.
“Oh, don’t threaten me with good time,” you replied with a calm tone. “And when it comes to death… it's not something I’m particularly afraid of,” you said, thinking of your death in your previous life.
“Honestly, you would probably be doing me a favor. Dealing with this war can be pretty exhausting, especially with incompetent high command,” you muttered.
A low murmur spread among the gathered Decepticons.
Megatron leaned back against his throne. “Well, aren’t you a peculiar little Autobot?” he commented.
“Are you gonna keep calling me a little autobot?” you questioned with a deadpanned expression.
“You know, there are certain advantages to being small,” you began. “Especially with Cons who are too high on their ego to notice what’s happening beneath their feet.”
"I mean, I could have been lucky. But Dreadmark here isn't really one of your brightest captains. He is big and strong, but I’m afraid he really didn’t make the cut in the intellect departments,” you motioned toward Dreadmark.
"I'm gonna pulverize you!" Dreadmark pushed his blaster to your face. The heat from the barrel made you wince uncomfortably.
“That will be enough,” Megatron spoke, not raising his voice. “You are not to execute this one without my orders.”
Dreadmark hesitated, but retracted his blaster and dropped you back to the floor.
You yelped as you hit the floor again, a bit harder this time. “Ow. For spark’s sake…” You uttered as you pushed yourself to stand this time.
Megatron rose from his throne. You watched as he walked closer. Dreadmark stepped back before his master, who circled you like he was inspecting you. His shadow nearly covered you as the size difference between you was noticeable. Your helm barely reached above his groin.
“You intrigue me, Autobot,” Megatron said. “Not only do you not show fear like most Autobots would. You have records of winning battles with unusual tactics and taking down my soldiers with unpredictability no other Autobots have shown,” he spoke.
“Tell me, Autobot… was today’s outcome strategy, or desperation?”
"Oh no. I just crash my ships into enemy cruisers on a daily basis, and then get myself captured so I could throw witty remarks at warlords,” you replied with a sarcastic tone and without missing a beat.
Megatron released a silent hum, which sounded like amusement. The other Cons glanced at each other, looking surprised. Maybe they expected their leader to strike you after making such a comment.
"What is your designation?" Megatron asked.
"Little Autobot, apparently," you replied dryly.
“Careful, “ Megatron warned. “Though I find amusement in your comebacks, my tolerance is not infinite.”
“As far as I’m aware, names are shared among people who want to be acquainted with each other. So, unless you plan to be acquainted with me on a long term, I think I will be keeping my name anonymous for now,” you responded.
“So, feel free to call me a little autobot for now,” you added.
“Very well then— Little Autobot— I have a proposition,” Megatron stated.
“Whoa… That must have been scary,” Sari commented.
"Not really. It wasn't my first time being a hostage,” you said, thinking about your other hostage moments.
“What was Megatron’s proposition?” Sari asked.
“Something that would have changed the outcome of the war if I had said yes, “ you answered, going back to that moment.
You raised a brow at the con after he told you about his proposition. “You are offering me a place in your faction?” you asked.
Some of the cons started whispering to each other.
“You had gained my interest enough to look into your records. Not anyone can gain such interest out of me,” Megatron said. “And I find your unpredictability and tactics impressive. You are perhaps the first Autobot commander who was chosen by skill and competence.”
“And I can see that you understand war, unlike most cybertronians I have met,” he added.
“Who knows, perhaps I lived through a war once,” you remarked.
“Whatever the case, you have survived this long for a reason. Someone like you is wasted among the Autobots,” Megatron continued.
“And what makes you think I would join your side?” you questioned.
“You have been captive for some time now. Your Autobots most likely believe you are dead. Even if they did know you were alive, they have made no attempts to rescue you. Perhaps you have already been forgotten and replaced,” Megatron answered, making you see an obvious manipulation tactic.
“Not likely, knowing my men. Those boltheads would likely try rescuing me if they knew I was alive, so I shall hope that will last than wait for them to do something stupid like trying to rescue one bot,” you replied.
“As for the other Autobots, that’s something they will likely do, so I’m not bothered.”
“So, my predicament here is my concern only,” you said sternly. “So… you can keep those manipulation tactics to yourself.”
“Maybe try asking nicely, and I might feel tempted to accept?” you asked with a mildly playful tone.
Megatron regarded you with quiet amusement. ”Very well.”
He took a slow step closer, optics fixed on yours. “Join me.”
“A mind like yours should not be wasted on the Autobots. Stand at my side, and I will give you the command, the resources… the authority to end this war on your terms. No more restraint. No more answering to fools.”
A faint smirk touched his face.
“Only results.”
You thought about it for a moment before chuckling. "That is a tempting offer, I admit. But, unfortunately, I have to decline," you answered.
A ripple of disbelief moved through the room. Lugnut stepped forward slightly, as if ready to strike.
“And why is that?” Megatron asked.
"I do not agree with certain aspects of your cause," you replied, your smile vanishing.
“I had followed the progress of your cause before the beginning of the war. It started as something meaningful. But the more this war progressed, it became more about domination, inflicting fear, and more about fulfilling a singular desire— your desire,” you said as you looked at him.
“That is not a cause that aligns with me,” you stated.
“You think the Autobot cause is superior?” Megatron asked.
You scoffed with a dry chuckle. “Oh, not at all,” you replied, shaking your helm.
Megatron’s optics regarded you with mild surprise as you continued.
“They preach morality, goodness, freedom, and yet bend those very principles whenever it suits them. They hide their darker actions behind the mask of righteousness, and then claim it was done out of the greater good, then allow those who were sacrificed for those acts to be forgotten,” you spoke.
“The hypocrisy is honestly impressive,” you added without missing a beat.
Your gaze sharpened as you locked your optics with the warlord’s. “However. I do find value in life and believe in allowing people to choose for themselves,” you continued.
“The Autobots has its faults, there’s no denying that. So, I do what I can to carve even the smallest space for my soldiers to live, and not be seen as something expendable, even when I have to break the rules, or get my servos dirty. ”
“I won’t be proud of it, but I’ll do it if I have to,” you added.
“Therefore. It would make no sense for me to join something I do not agree with,” you said.
“Especially when ruling with fear seems to be your style,” you stated.
“Fear is a good motivator for followers to be loyal,” Megatron said.
“No. Fear is a good motivator for people to be obedient. Loyalty is something that is earned and given with free will,” you said back.
There was then a moment of silence between you. Megatron looked at you intensely, which you returned without fear. Those crimson optics evaluated you while yours remained calm, prepared for whatever comes next.
A smirk appeared on the warlord’s face. “You shall be kept alive.”
The tension in the room tightened.
“But Lord Megatron… “ Dreadmark hesitated.
“Do not question me,” Megatron said, then looked at you. “Even if you do not join me now, killing you would be like wasting an opportunity. Minds like yours are rare… especially among Autobots.”
He began to circle you again, slowly.
You noticed the room fall into uneasy silence. Several Decepticons exchanged glances, their confusion barely concealed.
Lugnut’s optics flickered, his stance stiffening at the unexpected praise.
“You think beyond the Autobots’ doctrine. That alone will eventually make you a threat to them. They do not like having their system changed by outliers. And should you prove to be someone they cannot control, they will turn you and betray you,” Megatron explained.
You hummed, a small, amused smirk forming. “I do not doubt that possibility, but for now, I will take my chances.”
“We shall see about that,” Megatron said as Dreadmark took you away.
"After that, they kept me captive for a while," you said to Sari and Optimus. “I was pretty much driving Dreadmark mad because I got bored when my time there stretched.”
"Eventually, Strikeline and my crew did set off a rescue attempt when they heard I was still online. Though it was stupid, it allowed me to escape my cell and bonds. I commed them that I was free and my plan of escape, so they would retreat after I stole an escape pod,” you explained.
"I escaped to this Decepticon-ruled planet. I was trapped behind enemy lines, and, with whatever materials I had at hand, I began a silent guerrilla war while sharing intel with my men on the front lines. I trained an organic alien bird to deliver my messages to them, allowing it to go undetected by the cons’s trackers. Organic beings do not produce energy signals, and who could guess local wildlife acting as a messenger?” you explained, and chuckled. “The Cons never figured it out.”
“I then proceeded to attack one of the Con’s outposts while Strikeline and our men attacked another, keeping the Decepticon lines thinned. I eventually managed to take over the outpost and rescue the Autobot prisoner there,” you continued.
“Whoa… by yourself? You are a one-bot army,” Sari remarked, her eyes full of amazement.
“It was no easy task. I was low on energon reserves, so I had to do a lot of improvisation,” you said. “I covered my frame in mud and other organic materials to allow me to blend in with my surroundings. And I made a makeshift bow and arrows from scrap metals, strong enough to pierce cybertronian metal,” you explained.
“I really put all my skills and knowledge to the test,” you stated, not revealing that those were tactics you learned from your human life.
“But it all led to a well-earned victory, a reunion with my men, and my glorious return to the Autobots,” you said. “It was after that I was given the title of a general and given a fleet.”
"Whoa..."
You laughed when you remembered something. “You should have seen Ultra Magnus’s face when I walked into the Council Hall covered in mud. I’m fairly certain he considered declaring me a biohazard on the spot."
“Some of the most organicphobic bots stayed clear of me for an entire week after seeing me in that state, even when I was long washed up,” you added. “Most peaceful week of my entire career, if I’m being honest.”
“I earned the nickname Man’o’War, and eventually became a threat big enough for Megatron himself to engage with me whenever I showed up,” you said.
“Whoa… I know you have achieved much in the records. But hearing it from you felt like hearing a completely different story,” Optimus mused.
“Yeah. Those records were likely written by my crew. They are a little exaggerated in my opinion, so don’t take everything there as a fact,” you stated.
“But take this as a reminder. Never doubt your capabilities because you are smaller than your opponents. There are certain advantages in being small, especially with enemies whose egos do not allow them to learn their lesson," you said, making Sari giggle.
“I keep that in mind, general,” Optimuse nodded with a smile.
“Please, just call me (Name). I am retired after all,” you said, brushing your hand.
"Hey, (Name). Did Megatron ever learn what your name was, or call you by it?” Sari asked.
You thought about it. “He did address me by my nickname whenever we engaged in a battle. But I’m not sure if I had ever heard him call me by my actual name,” you said.
“He had this habit of not bothering to remember people’s names,” you clarified.
"I’m not sure if he ever bothered to learn what it was, even though it was public knowledge," you muttered. "If he did... well... that would be the first time I would be surprised."
“Anyway. That was an awesome story. I’m glad you decided to remain an Autobot,” Sari said.
“Yeah. The war would have likely ended differently if you had chosen to become a Decepticon,” Optimus agreed.
“Though the Autobots were not better than the cons, they allowed me more space to build something meaningful,” you said.
“Indeed. You built one of the most powerful fleets in cybertronian history. Even when you long retired, General Strikeline, followed the principles you built together, and the fleet had grown greater than it has ever been.” Optimus explained. “It was also thanks to your efforts that Cybertron’s society is constantly advancing to a better future. Flourishing even.”
“I honestly considered joining the fleet instead of the Elite Guard during my time in the Autobot academy,” Optimus shared.
“Well, I can assure you. Someone like you would have been accepted immediately. The most important aspects to have if you want to join the fleet are humility, loyalty toward your comrades, and respect for all life in the galaxy,” you said, glancing at the young bot.
“Now. Enough with the war stories. I think Bumblebee could use your help,” you said as you all looked toward the yellow bot as he was chased by one of your geese.
“AAHH! GET THIS PSYCHO CHICKEN AWAY FROM ME!” he yelled as your goose, Larry, chased after the bot. The bird flapped its wings and honked aggressively.
Bumblebee accidentally kicked one of the paint buckets, causing it to splash over Bulkhead’s art project.
“Hey!” Bulkhead yelled after his friend.
Sari giggles. “I'll go help him,” she said, leaving the porch. Optimus shook his helm. “I am so sorry for this.”
“Don’t worry about it. Seeing silly things like this is much preferable than seeing another battlefield. Makes me more glad the war is over,” you mused.
“There should be some treats in the chicken coop. That should calm down my psycho chicken,” you instructed with a humored smile.
“Very well. I’ll go assist my team.” Optimus walked over.
Watching Sari and the youngsters trying to help their friend from your angry goose made a smile appear on your face. Missy purred as you continued petting her.
Your gaze drifted toward the horizon, thoughts returning to your first meeting with the warlord… and his offer.
Sometimes, you wondered what would have happened if you had said yes to his offer and joined the Decepticon. How you could have crushed Ultra Magnus and his high command with Megatron’s forces and eventually given the warlord what he most desired during the war. How Strikeline and your men would have looked at you with betrayal and barely heed your call to switch sides. How differently things would have turned out.
You shook your head. In your previous life, you had ignored the same injustice you had seen before the Great War. You made a promise that you would not ignore another injustice again, and despite what the Decepticons claimed, they had twisted that same injustice into something far worse
And even if you had joined the Decepticons, it wouldn’t have been because they were right, but because a line was crossed by your own.
It was a miraculously sunny day at your farm. You decided to enjoy it as much as possible since Earth’s weather could be unpredictable with the ongoing climate change. The young motorcycle bot, Prowl, came to your farm for a visit along with Bumblebee and Sari. Usually, you don’t mind their presence, as Prowl was genuinely curious about your farm and lifestyle. However, you were convinced Bumblebee and Sari just came to loiter around and bug your audio receptors with random questions.
You became annoyed enough to ask them to help out with the chores. Since they were there, they might as well make themselves useful. That nearly turned into a mistake when you asked Bumblebee to move a couple of haypiles into your cows' pasture.
“Be careful! They're heavy, so don't try to carry them all at once," you said, dropping water into the cow's water trough.
“Nah. Relax, Granbot. I got this,” Bumblebee said, picking up a couple of the haypiles, then picking up more.
“Uhm… Bee, I don’t think the cows need that much hay,” Sari stated with an uncertain tone.
You turned to look at him. “What did I just say?!” you yelled when you saw him carrying five haypiles.
“Relax! I got it!” Bumblebee said, even though the weight of the haypiles was clearly making his knee joints shake. He yelled when the weight became too much for him and he started moving backward toward your chicken coop.
“Watch out!” you yelled in panic.
Your geese and chickens quickly fled as Bumblebee crashed into the chicken coop. Your barn cat, Missy, who was sleeping on top of the coop, got launched into the air,
You quickly transformed, catching your cat and any bird that got launched as well.
Prowl acted quickly, catching the flying hay piles before they could land on any of your animals or cause damage to the fences. He set them down and even gently placed a few chickens that landed on his hand down to the ground.
You and Sari sighed in relief. Crisis averted.
You placed your barn cat and birds on the ground. Missy hissed at Bumblebee before bolting off.
Bumblebee groaned while still sitting in your now destroyed chicken coop. “Oops,” he said cheekily while rubbing his head. One of your geese angrily honked at him before waddling away.
“Thank you, Prowl. Great reflexes,” you said as he nodded in response.
“Say… those moves look rather familiar. Can I ask where you learned them?” you asked.
“I learned in the Ninja Corps under Master Yoketron,” Prowl answered.
“Yoketron?” you questioned, recognizing the name. “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. He… perished in an attack on the Ninja Corps, didn’t he?”
“Did you know him by chance?” Prowl asked curiously.
“We met a few times during the war. Sometimes I dropped by to exchange news and have a drink. You could say he knew things about me that no one else did,” you answered.
"There are things no one knows about you?" Sari asked with intrigue. "Like what?"
"And that's when I say, 'It's a private matter.' Besides…" You chuckle with a shrug. "You probably wouldn't believe it, even if I told you."
Sari whined. "Come on. Tell us!"
"Yeah! It would be so cool to know things about you no one else does!" Bumblebee agreed after pulling himself out of the destroyed chicken coop.
You narrowed your optics at him. "With your blabber mouth, it would not stay a secret for long."
Bumblebee moaned. "Come on! I can keep secrets!"
Prowl stepped forward. "I am curious about your past relationship with Master Yoketron. Could you perhaps share more about your encounters with him, general?" he asked.
"Yeah! Sure!" you shrugged. "The last time I saw him happened a long time ago, but I guess I could tell you how we met, " you said, thinking about how you met the ninja bot.
The first meeting happened when you had only recently become a commander. It was one of those rare, peaceful days. With your troops taking a well-deserved rest, you decided to warm up and practice your former martial arts. With your past memories intact and a brand new war to fight, you might as well retain some of your old combat skills.
Your practice caught the attention of a passing student from the Ninja Corps, who was fascinated by your movements. They introduced themselves and asked about your martial arts—they had never seen a style like yours before.
You explained, even giving a brief demonstration. The student grew excited and asked if you’d be willing to meet Master Yoketron of the Ninja Corps. You had heard of both the bot and the Corps, but never had the time to satisfy your curiosity. With free time to spare, you agreed and followed the student to their dojo.
The meeting was… peculiar.
As you entered the hall, you looked around with quiet curiosity. Then your gaze settled on a bot clad in black and white armor, lined with subtle traces of gold.
The young student bowed respectfully. “Master Yoketron, this is the bot I spoke of.”
You gave a short bow. “Pleasure to meet you, Master Yoketron. I am Commander (Name) of the Seventh Fleet,” you introduced yourself.
Yoketron nodded. “I have heard of you, Commander. Your accomplishments are well known throughout Cybertron. Your tactical mind and control over battles are considered most unique.”
“Just trying to do my part in this war. Sometimes thinking outside the box, instead of following typical protocols, can help you move forward—even from the tightest spots,” you said.
Yoketron nodded again. “And now I hear you know martial arts unknown to us—an art that makes you move like wind through iron.”
You chuckled. “I’ve been many things in many battles. Now I try to move forward.”
Yoketron’s gaze lingered. “I can see that you carry a weight most would be crushed by,” he said quietly. “Your spark… it echoes, as if it has walked this path before.”
You said nothing at first. Then, with a faint smile, you replied, “Perhaps it has.”
The conversation continued—measured, respectful, and strange in a way you couldn’t quite define. You took the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity about the Ninja Corps while demonstrating your martial arts to them. Your style, though somewhat familiar to them, was clearly distinct, and most of the students watched with interest.
You shared a carefully edited version of your origins, explaining that your martial arts style was common in your hometown on Cybertron—not, as in truth, derived from your old army’s combat techniques fused with another discipline you had encountered in your previous life.
Things grew even more unusual when the student quietly excused themselves, leaving you alone with Master Yoketron.
“Commander… not only do you know techniques that are not known to us, but I sense you haven’t been entirely truthful about your origins,” Yoketron said, voice calm but probing.
“I don’t know what you mean,” you replied, keeping your tone neutral.
Yoketron’s gaze sharpened. “You move like someone trained in silence… but not silence born from Cybertronian tradition. There’s something different in your form. And your spark—it hums with something ancient.”
You glanced toward the exit. “I think I should get back to my fleet. This war’s not going to win itself by sitting around,” you said, preparing to leave.
But Yoketron moved.
He struck out with a sudden kick—fast and precise. You blocked it on reflex, raising your arm just in time.
A second kick came almost instantly. You parried it again, the force pushing you a step back.
He circled you slowly. “Your blocks… are fluid. Adaptive. That’s not standard Autobot technique. Your stance shifts between two distinct disciplines. One is direct, designed for combat. The other—graceful, deceptive, and centered.”
You kept pace with him, exchanging light blows. “Well… in truth, it's a mix,” you admitted between movements.
“The first is a combat art developed by an army I once served—a style meant to win fights quickly or disarm opponents. The second… I learned from another group of people, during a time I was lost. It focuses on calm, deceptive movement, joint locks, and flow. Together, they have helped me survive more than once,” you explained as you managed to keep up with him.
Yoketron paused mid-step, observing you with growing curiosity.
“And your spark…” he said slowly, “It does not feel like one born recently. It carries echoes… as if it's lived more than once.”
You lowered your stance slightly, your tone softening. “Well… if you really want to know, I can tell you. It’s a long story, so how about we sit down and maybe share some oil?” you offered with a small smile.
Yoketron gave a faint nod. “Very well.”
You met his gaze, this time without deflecting. “But first things first… do you believe in the possibility of rebirth?”
After Yoketron had his student bring some lightweight oil, the two of you sat down in quiet contemplation. Slowly, you began to tell him about your rebirth that brought you to Cybertron after dying in another life.
“So, you are indeed a soul living a second life,” Yoketron said, more observation than question.
“It sounds a bit bogus, but that is, in fact, the truth. I actually used to be an organic in my previous life,” you said with a faint smile. “After I died, instead of facing some kind of purgatory or afterlife, I woke up as a newborn Cybertronian with all my past memories intact.”
Yoketron’s optics narrowed, thoughtful. “Fascinating. And you retained your former skills from that life?”
“I did,” you said with a nod. “In that life, I was a war general. After one battle, I was presumed dead—left behind and wounded. I wandered until I found a temple hidden deep in the mountains. Monks took me in and taught me their ways—the second martial art I use now.”
You paused with a sigh. “I died in the final days of the war—took a bullet to the chest.”
“I sincerely hope the same doesn’t happen in this war. That would be a really ridiculous déjà vu,” you added with a dry chuckle.
“If I may ask, why was there a war in your previous life?” Yoketron asked.
“The usual reasons. Corrupt politics. One group thinking they’re better than the other,” you answered.
“So when I woke up as a newborn Cybertronian, I figured I’d use this second chance to finally get the retirement I missed last time around.”
You looked down into your cup of oil, swirling it slightly. “But then the war happened—and it got bad enough that I needed to pick a side.”
Yoketron remained silent, his expression unreadable.
“I tried to stay out of this war,” you admitted. "I already fought one war in my previous one, so I didn't feel like fighting another,"
“But as the war progressed and neutrals started getting targeted, I figured I’d at least choose the side that was less bad.”
“You consider the Autobots the lesser evil?” Yoketron asked calmly.
“The Autobots weren’t exactly the good guys before the war started. The old Senate was corrupt—rotten to the core. Imagine being born, and your worth is determined solely by what you can transform into. If your alt-mode wasn’t useful, you were considered a waste of space,” you said.
Yoketron said nothing, simply listening.
“Even now, the Autobots still struggle to accept bots who are different, preferring to stay in their comfort zone of traditional values,” you continued.
“And the Decepticons… well, their original cause had some merit. They wanted equality and to stop a system that judged a bot by function or form. That is something I do believe should have been a basic right,”
You exhaled slowly.
“But once the war started, they began dragging innocent worlds into their conquest for power and colonization. That’s my real issue with them.”
“Not to mention their narrow-minded views toward organics. Even if some organics are primitive or act purely on instinct, that doesn’t automatically make them inferior to you. It seems they’ve forgotten they were once seen as inferior by their own kind,” you said.
“The universe is vast—there’s space for all life to thrive.”
“So I sided with the Autobots—not because I believe they’re better than the Decepticons, but because at least they don’t purposely drag innocent worlds into a war that was never theirs to begin with.”
“There have been times I had to act against protocols just to keep myself and my troops alive. Some in high command have a troubling belief that bots are expendable, but I don’t believe in such a thing,” you said.
Yoketron tilted his head slightly. “If you don’t fully believe in the Autobot cause… what do you believe in?”
You looked him in the optics.
“I believe in doing what’s right.” You answered without hesitation. “I made a lot of mistakes in my past life, so I don’t intend to repeat them.”
“Maybe if the Senate hadn’t been so corrupt, none of this would’ve happened. But here we are.”
“War can bring out the worst in everyone. You’ll see awful things from both sides—things no one wants to admit.”
“One side is not more righteous than the other. Both have truths. Both have blood on their hands. At the end of the day, we’re all Cybertronians—and we’re all going to the same place when we die.”
Yoketron nodded slowly. “You have respectable values, Commander.”
You smiled faintly. “I hope I can hold onto them. Like I said. War can bring out the worst in people. "
“But… if there’s one thing I want to change in this life, it’s that no one in my fleet is expendable. And no one should ever have to fear being different. Maybe I can knock some sense into those bots in high command so they’ll accept the real values of life.”
“Perhaps those values are what make your fleet more unique than other Autobot fleets—not just because of your tactical mind, but because of the loyalty your soldiers hold toward you. I’ve heard of no other fleets whose soldiers show such loyalty to their commanders,” Yoketron said.
You chuckled. “All I did was show them the decency a commander should. I don’t know if such a thing should surprise anyone,” you said.
You sighed. “Well… I think that’s enough philosophy for today. Thank you, Master Yoketron. Talking about it actually eased some weight off my chest.”
“You’re actually the first bot to learn about me having a past life,” you said with another chuckle.
Yoketron nodded. “Fate can work in mysterious ways,” he said.
“Well… I feel like fate is purposely sabotaging my chances of having a retirement,” you chuckled. “Imagine dying in war and being reborn into another. Some higher power could be having a real laugh right now,” you added.
You rose to your feet with a faint smile. “Well… I think that’s enough chitchat for today. Unfortunately, I don’t get many days off,” you said.
“But I might drop by again. And since I’ve got a second chance at life, do you think you could share a few tricks with this old soul?” You offered a small bow, the gesture carrying genuine respect.
Yoketron inclined his head in return, his expression unreadable but his tone warm. “As would I, Commander. May fortune follow you in the days ahead—and in your war efforts.”
You looked at the youngsters. “After that, I sometimes visited, exchanged news, and learned a few tricks—until the war took up most of my time. So I never really had the chance to see him again,” you said. “It’s a real pity what happened to him. I would have liked to share one last drink with him.”
Prowl, Bumblebee, and Sari looked at you with fascination.
Prowl nodded thoughtfully. “Master Yoketron mentioned you quite a bit during my training. He spoke highly of your skills—and the influence you had on him.”
You smiled faintly. “I guess we both learned from each other, then.”
“Wait! What was the thing he knew about you?” Bumblebee asked. “You never mentioned that in your story.”
You grinned. "And may that be something only he knew,"
Bumblebee and Sari groaned.
“Can you at least show me your martial art?” Sari asked.
You shrugged. “I see no reason why not. How about it, Prowl? Ready for a short spar with this old bot?”
Prowl smirked and agreed. The two of you engaged in a brief sparring match—close and challenging, but in the end, you came out on top.
Breathing heavily, Prowl said, “You’re really talented, General. Maybe you could teach me a few things.”
You patted Prowl on the back as he stood up. “I’m not sure what this old rust bucket of bolts can teach you, but I’ll say this: having known your master and seen you do good things, I believe—you might just be one of his best students yet,” you said.
“Thank you, General,” Prowl nodded respectfully.
“Now then…” you turned to Bumblebee with a grin. “You, little maggot, you’re going to help me rebuild my chicken coop.”
Bumblebee groaned dramatically. “Aw, come on! Do I really have to?”
You laughed. “Yes, you do. You broke it, you fix it. Now get to it!” you said strictly.
The rest of the day passed with you telling stories while poor Bumblebee worked on fixing your chicken coop.
You recall how you met the young Aerialbot team and what you did to make sure their futures would not be decided by others.
Warnings: some action, some prejudice against the aerialbots, mentions of Fireflight's injury, some made up stuff, the council being a huge b and trying to turn the aerialbots into test subjects, and the general having none of it.
“How come Autobots don’t fly?” Sari asked, tilting her head curiously.
Jazz chuckled softly. “Well, back in the day, it just worked out that way. Autobots were mostly grounders, while the ’Cons had their Seekers. There was even a city called Vos—home to most of Cybertron’s fliers. But when the war broke out, a whole lotta ’em signed up with Megatron.”
“There were some who didn’t side with the ’Cons,” Jazz went on, nodding. “But even if they supported the Autobots, they had to live under a cloud of suspicion. If folks saw wings, they thought ‘Decepticon.’ That’s how the whole stigma of ‘Autobots don’t fly’ got started. Not exactly fair, but… war ain’t ever fair.”
He leaned back, a more thoughtful tone creeping in. “But there was one bot who helped change that image—by introducing a squad called the Aerialbots.”
Sari’s eyes widened. “Aerialbots?”
Jazz chuckled. “One of the best-known teams in Big G’s fleet,” he said with a grin, jerking a thumb your way. “Led by Silverbolt—one of the most honorable bots I ever met.”
“He’s actually one of the most trusted fleet commanders now,” Jazz added.
You couldn’t help but smile. “Heh. So he finally rose through the ranks. It’s been a while since I’ve heard of them. How are those brats doin’ these days?” You looked toward Jazz.
“Word is Silverbolt started a program,” Jazz replied. “Trainin’ up a new generation of Aerialbots. Times are changin’, and folks are a lot more open about fliers nowadays.”
“That’s good to hear,” you said, settling back with a small nod.
“Who are the other Aerialbots?” Sari asked.
“There’s Air Raid, who was a bit of a hothead; Skydive, who had an excellent talent for strategy; Slingshot, who had a sharp tongue from the moment he came online; and then there’s Fireflight, whose helm was often in the clouds," you answered.
Ratched hummed. "I remember him having suffered a severe injury to his wings that required emergency surgery. "
"Yeah. It was during the battle against Overlord. The scrapheap caught Fireflight midair and tore his wings clean off. To most fliers, such an injury could be lethal. Luckily, we managed to stabilize him in time. But since we didn’t possess enough knowledge about restoring wings back then, we couldn't save his wings. So, with Fireflight's consent, he was modified into a grounder," you explained.
"After that, he decided to become a permanent member of the Rescue Bots, a specialized division of the Autobots focused on emergency response,” you added.
“I read they had a solid record of rescue missions during the Great War,” Optimus stated. “That’s how people’s views on fliers started to change.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Once they’d gained some experience, I let them take on combat missions and even a bit of espionage,” you said.
“They were honestly kinda like you lot,” you added with a chuckle.
“Can you tell us about them?” Sari asked eagerly.
“I guess I can share how I first stumbled upon them. The first time we met was right after they came online—straight from their protoforms,” you recalled, letting the memory surface.
It was a mission in Vos. You had gained some intel on a Decepticon operation in the ruins of the city. Your mission was to infiltrate quietly and download information on their activities — quiet espionage. However, halfway through your mission, one of your young, reckless-headed soldiers set off the alarm, forcing your team into a hasty retreat through Decepticon-infested territory.
With your original escape route compromised, you improvised and led the team toward Vos’s abandoned tunnel system. Of course, the cons gave chase.
Running across the tunnel with a rain of bullets coming behind you, you followed your team’s navigator as he guided you through the maze of tunnels.
“General, over here!” he shouted, ducking into a side chamber. You and the others piled in, sealing the doors long enough to catch your breath. The cons outside began banging on the doors.
“This room should give us some cover,” your navigator spoke.
“We need to get out quickly before the cons box us in,” your heavy gunner stated.
“I don’t see another way out,” Hotcut, your young, hotheaded soldier, spoke.
You tried to focus, but something in the chamber caught your attention. There were five pods in the middle of the chamber and what seemed to be an empty pool. You looked around, having an odd feeling of familiarity, like you had seen it somewhere.
“General, come take a look,” your navigator called.
You stepped beside him and peered into the row of pods. Five protoforms, their frames unmistakably those of fliers, their liquid metal still fresh. At their cores, active spark chambers pulsed faintly with life.
The realization finally hit you, and you knew why the chamber looked familiar. You had stumbled into a spark infirmary, a place where Cybertronians open their optics for the first time.
“What’s a spark infirmary?” Sari asked.
“You could call it the birthplace of Cybertronians,” you explained. “It’s where sparks emerge from a hotspot and are fused with protoforms, giving life to a new cybertronian.”
You let out a somber breath. “It’s a rather tender process. Most hotspots vanished during the war, which was why newborn transformers became rare back then. The protoforms we found must have been forgotten there when Vos fell.”
“What did you do then?” Sari asked.
“Finding the infirmary and the protoforms put a big change in the plan, “ you said. “With Cybertron’s future already fragile. I made the call to take the protoforms with us.”
While trying to figure out a plan, you had your field medic check on the protoforms. The Decepticons continued banging against the door echoed in the chamber.
“They’re in relatively good condition,” the medic reported. “The stasis pods’ energy has kept their sparks active, but they’re already running on emergency power. Any longer, and the chambers won’t be able to support them.”
“G, I know that look,” your heavy gunner said. “What do you want us to do with these protoforms?”
“What? Why should we do anything about them?” Hotcut objected. “Shouldn’t we be focusing on getting out of here?”
You glanced up at the ceiling, then at the thick columns supporting the chamber. You turned toward your heavy gunner. “Magnaback, do you think these columns could hold if the ceiling were to suffer a collapse?” you asked, pointing at the columns.
“I used to work construction,” Magnaback replied, “Spark infirmaries are designed to withstand heavy damage when they’ve got power. But with the power gone… yeah, I’d say the columns would still hold even if the ceiling gave out.”
“Good.” You opened your comms. “Strikeline, can you pinpoint our location? We’re inside a spark infirmary, about ten kliks from our last known position before entering the tunnels.”
“Hold on…” Strikeline’s voice crackled through the line. You waited. “Your energy signatures are faint, but I think I’ve got a rough estimate of your position.”
“Good. Comet, do the pods have enough power to start an infusion sequence?” you asked your medic.
“It’ll drain the remaining emergency reserves,” Comet nodded, “but yes.”
“Excellent. Strikeline, change of plans: bomb the ceiling above our location and prep two dropships for pickup. We’ll be bringing civilians.”
“Wait—what?” Hotcut barked. “We’re bringing them with us? Why? Why not let the cons deal with their own kind?”
You turned on him sharply. “These protoforms are not Decepticons. They are newborn cybertronians who don’t even know what a Decepticon is. Would you rather leave them here to be taken, molded into Decepticons, and one day sent to fight against us?”
Hotcut fell silent.
“Comet, start the infusion sequence. We’ll escort them out of here as bots,” you ordered.
Comet hurried to the controls. “When I give the signal, each of you activate a pod at the same time,” he instructed.
You and your teammates moved into position beside the pods. At Comet’s mark, you initiated the sequence. A brilliant light flared across the chamber as the sparks fused with their protoforms.
As the bright light faded, five newborn cybertronians lay in place of the protoforms, their optics glowing—some curious blue, others golden. They sat up slowly, clearly confused by their surroundings. Your team watched them with a mix of skepticism and awe; most of them had probably never witnessed a cybertronian’s birth before.
The tallest of the newborns looked at you, his voice unsteady. “Who… who are you?”
You softened your expression. “Welcome to your new lives. I wish I could explain everything now, but there isn’t much time. There are dangerous bots outside who will hurt us—and you—if we stay. There’s a war going on. Come with us, we’ll take you somewhere safe.”
The newborns exchanged uncertain glances, but after a moment, they nodded, trusting your word.
Once they were secured under cover, you opened comms. “Fire in the hole!” you ordered.
At that moment, the Decepticons forced their way into the chamber—only for Strikeline’s bombardment to hit. The ceiling groaned and collapsed, burying the cons beneath tons of rubble. You and your team braced under the reinforced support columns, which held against the impact.
When the dust cleared, Strikeline’s ships appeared overhead, lowering ropes through the breach.
“Go, go, go!” you barked.
Your teammates helped the newborns onto the lines, hauling them up to safety. You personally steadied the tallest one before climbing last, blaster fire echoing below as more cons pushed in. At last, all of you reached the dropships. Engines roared, and the squad lifted clear of Vos, newborns secured.
Back in the safety of the skies, you allowed yourself a breath. The mission wasn’t what you had planned, but it was done.
“After that, we returned to our command ship,” you recounted. “Despite the setbacks… the mission was a success.”
“And then you introduced the newborns as the Aerialbots!” Sari said brightly.
“Not yet,” you corrected. “Back then, there was still a lot of stigma against fliers. Even among my own crew.”
After returning to your command ship, you filed your report. You detailed the intel you had gathered on the Decepticon and their operations. Only then did you add that you had also recovered five newborn cybertronians, leaving out the fact that they were fliers because you knew how High Command would likely react to you having such frames under your custody.
Strikeline crossed his arms after you finished with the report. “So… what do we do with these newborns?”
“For now?” You stood up from the chair and stretched your back. “We take care of them. They are newborns who know nothing about the war — or about life itself. Since we currently have no teachers available, we might as well fill in on that,” you said as you headed toward the exit of the bridge with Strikeline following behind.
Strikeline spoke as you walked down the corridors. “I don’t know how High Command will react once they learn these young bots are fliers. Most of the Vos citizens joined Megatron once it fell, and most neutrals do not support Autobots, so… the number of Autobot fliers is nearly nonexistent,”
“We also have very little knowledge about flier autonomy or any basic knowledge,” he added.
“Then we’ll just have to learn and improvise when necessary,” you replied as you both arrived at the medical bay.
Inside, the newborns were seated on the medical berths, and your medical officer appeared just finishing up, turning toward you. “I’ve completed the medical inspection and treated all the bruises. They’re in good health,” they said.
“Thank you. I’ll take it from here,” you replied, turning toward the young bots.
“Now that we’re finally off the battlefield and out of harm’s way, I can properly introduce myself. My name is (Name) (Lastname). I am the General of this fleet,” you introduced yourself, then motioned toward Strikeline. “ This is my second-in-command, Strikeline. We are Autobots, currently fighting a war against the Decepticons—the ones you saw during our escape from the chamber.”
One of the newborns raised its servos.
“Yes?” You gave them your attention.
“Why are you fighting a war?” one of them asked.
“It’s a bit complicated to explain briefly. So, how about I start from the beginning?” you said, before beginning your explanation of the war.
The newborns listened intently as you described how the war began, the ideologies of both factions, and the current state of the conflict that has so far devastated your homeworld. You answered their questions patiently, and little by little, they began piecing together an understanding of the world they had just entered.
“So… are the Autobots kind of like the good guys?” the tallest asked.
You gave a small shake of your head. “I wouldn’t put it that way. We oppose the Decepticons’ idea of conquering inhabited worlds and treating other species as inferior. However, even though the Autobots fight to protect freedom, we are not without flaws of our own. For example, before the war, the Autobots supported a broken system, which was the very cause of the conflict. A lot has changed since then, and we no longer uphold that system, but even today, some bots still cling to the traditions of the old world,” you explained.
“Do you support those traditions?” one of them asked.
You shook your head. “No. I don’t. In this fleet, we believe in letting each bot choose for themselves and not judging their worth based on their alt-mode.”
“Does this technically mean the Decepticons are justified in their war?”
“Of course not,” Hotcut, who had been observing, sneered. “Do you think they’re justified in the war crimes they’ve committed?”
You raised your hand to silence him.
“From what I’ve read about their cause, their original goal was to oppose the broken system that existed before. In that sense, I believe they were justified at the beginning. However, as the war went on, they turned toward more brutal and extreme methods, even dragging other worlds into our conflict. Their cause soon became more about domination and control over Cybertron. In my opinion, they’ve long since forgotten what they originally stood for.”
You paused, then added, “War can bring out the worst in everyone. So, in truth, neither side is wholly better—or worse.”
“What’s… this Megatron like?” the smallest one asked.
“I can only speak from my own encounters with him,” you said, “He’s the leader of the Decepticons. He can be ruthless and uncompromising. To him, failure is not an option. He isn’t afraid to use deception, cruelty, or manipulation to achieve his goals. He often twists the truth, telling just enough of it to sound convincing. His enemies’ greatest mistake is to underestimate his cunning and ruthlessness. “
“So, trust me when I say this: never think you can be smarter than him.”
The young bots looked slightly startled.
“Despite his tyrannical ways, he is an effective leader. His people hold great loyalty to him, and he allows no nonsense under his leadership. Those are perhaps the only respectful qualities I find in him, “ you said. “Despite one of his qualities being that he never really bothers to remember other people’s names,”
You then clapped your servos together. “Now, that should be all about our current war. It is unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Do you have any other questions?”
One of the newborns raised their servo. “So… do we have to pick a side now?
You looked at them gently. “You’ve only just been born, so I don’t expect you to make any decisions right now. It’s a choice you’ll have to make for yourself.”
“If you decide to join the Autobots, we’ll help you adjust and welcome you as brothers-in-arms. If you choose the Decepticons, we’ll respect that,” you said.
“What!” Hotcut stared at you in bewilderment.
You continued, “—though know that it would likely put us on opposite sides of the battlefield. And if you choose neither, and instead remain neutral, I’ll see that you’re transported to a neutral colony where you can begin your lives in peace.”
Hotcut scoffed and rolled his optics.
“For now, we will help you learn the basics of being a cybertronian – like finding an alt-mode,” you said. “Magnaback here will help you with that.” You gestured toward your heavy gunner.
“Come on, kids,” Magnaback said. “Let’s see if we’ve got some ship modes we can fit you with,” he said, and the newborns began following him.
After they left out of sight, you turned sharply toward Hotcut. “Hotcut. Come here.”
He hesitated, but then approached you.
“What is your issue with our newcomers?” you asked, arms folded.
“I just… don’t get it. If you’re not gonna make them Autobots. Why keep them here? We might as well hand them back to the Decepticons,” he questioned.
“And why should we do that?” you asked.
“Because…! “ Hotcut stumbled on his words. “They’re fliers! All Decepticons are fliers! We might as well hand them back to their own kind instead of taking care of them for them. They’re gonna join them anyway because that’s where they belong,”
Strikeline looked at him, appalled. “Hotcut. You are really out of line. These young bots were literally born five hours ago,“ he spoke in a disapproving tone. “Since when have you become such a judgmental bleep!”
You raised a hand to stop Strikeline. “I’ve got this.”
“Tell me, Hotcut. Have they destroyed something?” you asked.
“Uhm… no,” Hotcut answered uncertainly.
“Have they caused harm to you or anyone you cared about?” you asked.
“…No.”
“Have they even shown a condescending attitude toward you?”
“No.”
“Then what exactly is the issue?” you demanded.
“You…I…” Hotcut stammered. “What is the point of these questions?! Decepticons have always been fliers! That’s how it's always been!”
“Hotcut. Not all of them are fliers. Many of them actually have a ground vehicle mode,” Strikeline shook his head.
“And to answer your question,” you said, “I’m asking to see if you have a valid reason for your hostility toward these newborns. So far, they’ve done nothing against you, and your expectation for them to be Decepticons is solely based on the fact that they are fliers.”
“Now, tell me: if Decepticons were to find a protoform with a grounder frame, do you think they would treat the newborn unfairly because they think they’re gonna be an Autobot?” you asked.
“How… should I know?” Hotcut stammered. “You are making me sound like I’m the bad guy here!”
“That depends on you alone,” you said. “By Autobot tradition, I should have you plowing energon fields—because that’s where your alt-mode would be most useful.”
“You wouldn’t…” Hotcut muttered with widened optics.
“Maybe I wouldn’t,” you admitted. “But the previous Senate would have. They didn’t care about what you wanted, your dreams, or—damn—not even your very existence. Only your alt-mode mattered.”
“You’re very lucky to have come online after the old Senate was broken down. If it still existed, your life would have been decided solely based on your alt-mode,” you continued. “And I thought we had moved past that way of thinking.”
Hotcut was silent.
“After you were kicked out of the Elite Guard, I chose you for this fleet because I saw potential in you. I don’t care what you transform into—you’re excellent fire support on the field, despite your reckless need to prove yourself and disregard for orders. But I didn’t bring you here so you could act like your previous handlers and judge others by the alt-modes they were born with.”
Your voice hardened. “And right now, I’m very disappointed in how you’re acting.”
“I’m not being like them…” Hotcut protested quietly.
“Are you not?” you pressed. “Did you not judge those newborns as Decepticons simply because they were fliers—even though they were freshly born and knew nothing of the war?”
“I…” Hotcut stumbled, unable to answer.
“The Elite Guard would have left you behind for your mistakes,” you continued. “Despite your error in tripping the alarm, I did not leave you behind—because I don’t believe in the concept that people are expendable. Mistakes happen even when you try your hardest to avoid them, but they provide chances to learn and grow.”
“So ask yourself: are you wrong for judging these newborns based on their alt-modes?”
Hotcut lowered his gaze, reflecting. “…I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“I’m not the one who needs your apology. “ You said, straightening your back. “The ones who need an apology are the ones you scorned.”
“What I need from you is a sight that you can be better, better than your previous handlers, better than those who think someone is evil just because they happened to have a different alt mode. Do you understand?” you asked.
“Yes, General,” Hotcut said quietly and left the medical bay.
“You are ruthless…” Strikeline said with a smile.
“Sometimes you have to be,” you said. Then Strikeline’s comms pinged.
He answered, face darkening. “Understood. I’ll pass it on.” He turned to you. “We have a situation. High Command wants to speak with you—about the newborns. They’ve learned they’re fliers.”
You cursed under your breath.
Turning toward Sari and the others, you explained, “Some of my crew back then had skepticism toward the youngsters, but I managed to straighten them out before they could judge the newborn bots for the wrong reasons. ”
Sari tilted her head. “That doesn’t sound like too big of an issue.”
You gave a dry chuckle. “No. The ones who gave me real scrap about it were Ultra Magnus and the rest of High Command.”
After receiving the summons, you stood before Ultra Magnus inside the council chambers.
“So,” Magnus began, his tone heavy, “from your report, you claimed to have rescued five civilians—yet you failed to mention they were Vosian fliers.”
“They are civilians,” you replied evenly. “I don’t see why that should be an issue.”
“I don’t recall you ever compromising a mission in order to rescue strays,” Magnus said.
“It’s only a compromise if the mission fails—which it did not, despite setbacks. And I will not apologize for saving future members of Cybertron’s next generation. Have we not agreed that any newborn sparks discovered are to be considered high-value targets and rescued immediately?” you asked.
Magnus’s optics narrowed. “Fliers are… a different matter. Have you already sworn them into the Autobot cause?”
“They were freshly born,” you said, nearly rolling your optics. “I’ve briefed them about the war and assigned someone to help them discover their alt-modes. I intend to let them adjust before asking if they want to join a side.”
At that, Wheeljack leaned forward. “Now that we have access to fliers, it gives an excellent opportunity to conduct research. Their aerial capabilities could prove… enlightening. Endurance trials, maneuver testing, and combat simulation. With approval, we could study them properly.”
Your optics sharpened. “So. You’ve already made some plans behind my back.”
“In war, General, we must consider taking any advantage,” Magnus rumbled.
You scoffed with a dry laugh. “Advantage! Don’t insult me! Do you really think I don’t know what your ‘research’ is truly like? “
“Let me remind you that they are under my protective custody. What makes you think I would ever agree to such treatment?”
Alpha Trion, carefully measured: “General, you speak of ideals. But we speak of survival. Knowledge is power, and fliers—especially Vosian stock—are… a rare asset. It would be shortsighted not to… assess their potential.”
You slightly glared at the old bot. “Assess their potential? Is that how you justify it? Tell me, will you ‘assess’ them the way you treat the bots in the stockade? Or perhaps like your policy of mandatory conscription for Cybertron’s citizens?”
“Tell me, how many bots have you sent to the stockade for refusing to join the war this week?” you asked, crossing your arms.
“General. “ Ultra Magnus said strictly. “I do not think you are fully understanding the possibilities you are refusing by not handing these fliers for research.”
“The real possibilities will be born if we allow them to join the Autobots out of their own free will. That’s literally one of our written principles: ‘Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.’” You intoned, then looked at your supreme commander sharply. “ Or does that only apply to offworld races—and not to Cybertronians unfortunate enough to be born with wings?”
Magnus’s face hardened. “You must reconsider, General. Unless we must reconsider your position in the fleet,” he said.
You returned the gaze. “You and I both know that you will do no such thing. It would cost too much time and effort to find a competent replacement, and you never will, because by the time you find someone who possesses even half my skillset, countless lives will have been lost, and you’ll be back at square one. “
“There’s only one bot like me,” you said, then turned away.
“You’ll have my answer… soon enough,” you said as you left the chamber.
“Back then…” you said quietly, recalling that moment, “the Autobots’ methods of study were… crude.”
Optimus frowned. “I never knew about this.”
“War brings out the worst in us,” you replied. “And tell me—do you really think the victors would ever admit to the questionable things they’ve done?”
Sari leaned forward. “So… what did you do then?”
After leaving the council chamber, you returned to your command ship to check on the youngsters. By the time you arrived, they were no longer protoforms but fully formed bots with alt-modes. You noticed Hotcut interacting more warmly with them, which filled you with pride—you were glad he was able to recognize his mistake.
“Hey, old bot! When can we try these out?” one of them asked eagerly.
“In good time,” you replied with a soft smile. “How about you practice transforming first before we start teaching you how to fly?”
Strikeline and Hotcut exchanged a glance, then walked over to you.
“I know that look,” Strikeline said. “I’m guessing High Command told you something… unpleasant.”
“They ordered me to hand the young bots over for ‘study,’” you revealed.
“What? They want them as test subjects?” Hotcut asked in bewilderment. “That’s not fair. They’re real people. Not some quinepigs,” he snapped.
“I know. But if I refuse to agree to the research, they might find a way to force the issue—one way or another,” you uttered.
“What should we do?” Strikeline asked.
You glanced at the youngsters. They were buzzing with excitement, like teenagers discovering the world for the first time. It reminded you of the fresh recruits you’d seen in your previous life and how the war had crushed that kind of innocence. One of your few regrets was not protecting them from the worst. You could already imagine what High Command’s “study” would do to these youngsters.
You checked the datapad and saw a message from the lead scientist responsible for the study—already assuming you’d approve it. They had even assigned new names for the youngsters. Their designations were nothing but numbers—cold, impersonal, like test subjects or stockade prisoners. Rage stirred within you.
You had seen some disregard of autonomy in your previous life, but you would be damned if you allowed it in this one—especially toward young bots who were innocent.
Fuck this.
You tossed the datapad into the disposal chute.
“Listen up!” you called. The youngsters turned their attention toward you. “Before we go any further, there’s something important you need to do—choose your designations. Names that represent who you are. Names we will address you as for the rest of your lives until you decide otherwise,”
“How do we know what we want to be called?” one asked nervously.
“Look inside your spark,” you explained. “The name that feels right will come to you.”
The tallest one raised his hand slightly. “I’ve actually been thinking about it. I like to be called… Silverbolt.”
“Silverbolt, not bad,” you nodded approvingly.
Another spoke up. “Sky Dive feels right to me.”
“I want to be Air Raid,” another grinned.
“Slingshot,” one declared proudly.
The shortest one hesitated. “I’m not sure yet… but I feel like I want something that starts with ‘Fire.’ It just… gives me a warm feeling.”
“Like… Fireflight?” you asked.
His optics brightened. “Oh, I like it!”
“Then it’s settled,” you said firmly. “Silverbolt, Skydive, Air Raid, Slingshot, and Fireflight. From this day forward, those are your names.”
The newly named Aerialbots stood a little taller at that.
“Now,” you continued with a small smile, “How about we help you learn how to fly?”
After that day, you got to work. One advantage of having loyal subordinates is that you can use them to subtly twist things in your favor. You reported that you had agreed to High Command’s study; they appeared surprised but pleased, having no idea that you secretly reassigned the research team to your fleet’s personal scientists. This allowed the Aerialbots to participate the research voluntarily and gave you the freedom to train them properly—teaching them flight, survival skills, and everything they would need in life.
It was a bit challenging since you had no flying Autobots in your fleet, but you managed to improvise and hired help from the neutrals.
Meanwhile, the original research team was kept busy with other tasks: repairing broken equipment, creatures, and other findings on the battlefield, and so on. You sent your own reports to High Command, written in the original team’s name. They were satisfied with the results, unaware of what was actually happening.
Strikeline and most of your crew quickly caught on to your plan and fully supported it.
Over time, your fleet grew accustomed to the fliers. Hotcut, once skeptical and brash, became good friends with them. Eventually, the young fliers voluntarily chose to serve in your fleet, motivated after witnessing Decepticon cruelty and wanting to help right wrongs.
This opened another opportunity. One of the most respected Autobot divisions was the Rescue Bots – those who saved neutrals and other sentient species from disasters and other crises. Though the Elite Guard had sometimes given them scrap for not wanting to join the war, the public held them in high regard. Your fleet had good relations with the Rescue Bots, so when you proposed having the Aerialbots assist with rescues, the chief agreed readily. Some situations were urgent, and every capable bot was needed.
The young team agreed to start by gaining experience, eager to prove themselves.
Then, with most of the study completed, you secretly made it public as the young Aerialbots gained approval from the other Rescue Bot platoons. This allowed most of the citizens to become familiar with them and even develop medical knowledge, helping medics learn how to treat those with flier frames.
Soon enough, they became famous enough for High Command to notice that something was off—and that the original research team had never actually handled your Aerialbot team.
“You sabotaged the whole research!” one of them exclaimed.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” you said indifferently at your desk, checking other reports while the council members’ faces appeared on the screen.
“You never delivered the test subjects! I thought you had agreed to the plan,” the bot in charge of the original team accused.
“I did follow the plan,” you answered innocently. “But since you appeared rather busy with other projects, I concluded it appropriate to allow my own research team to handle it in your stead.”
“We conducted all the appropriate testing on the young team, who voluntarily participated, by the way. And after teaching them all the necessary skills they would need in life, they decided to join my fleet,” you added.
“You forged the reports, claiming it was done by my team!” the bot whined.
“Oh, that! Since you are one of Cybertron’s most effective research teams, we thought we’d ease your burden by taking the workload off your hands and claiming the reports in your name. Consider it a gesture of appreciation for your hard work,” you said with a smile.
“This is unacceptable! I insist we take the Aerialbots into custody at once. They’re not even proper citizens. By our records, they do not exist!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” you replied. “At the start of our research and training, since they had no traditional education or caretaker units to register them as citizens, I took it upon myself to be their primary caregiver and ensure proper registration. I had some help from a few former kindergarten teachers. If you check the people registry now, they have proper registrations and, in fact, officially exist.”
“So… your suggestion to take one of the most respected Rescue Bot teams into custody, especially without any charges, would look inappropriate and certainly raise questions among the public. You would still need to consult Chief Beacon before making any kind of false arrest. He doesn’t like his bots being taken unjustly, even if your rationale is clever,” you added.
The researcher looked furious. “This can’t be acceptable!”
“Technically speaking, the General has provided the results of the research,” Perceptor said.
“Not to mention that the number of successful rescues has risen significantly during the Aerialbots’ time in the Rescue Bots,” Wheeljack added. “I say we leave these Aerialbots be.”
“And what has been done has already been done. No reason to mope about it,” you said.
The transmission ended, leaving the researcher and Ultra Magnus on screen.
“This will not be over, General,” the researcher muttered before leaving.
Ultra Magnus looked at you tiredly. “You really had to go this far to get your way, General. I must say, I am impressed.”
“I did say that real possibilities will be born if you allow them to choose,” you replied. “And hey—just making sure we actually stand for something. Otherwise, we might as well call the Autobot principles mere guidelines. We are many things in the Decepticons’ eyes; let’s not add total hypocrites to the list.”
“You really believe in this Aerialbot team?” he asked.
“I don’t just believe; I know they can make a difference to our society,” you said. “New possibilities are born when you give up old traditions and accept change. Only then can you truly be ahead of your adversaries.”
“Very well. I shall see their progress, then,” Ultra Magnus said, ending the transmission.
You smirked, quietly satisfied with your work. Despite bending a few rules here and there, you had accomplished exactly what High Command expected—while making sure the youngsters could choose for themselves. And you knew there was nothing they could do to interfere, and nothing they could do to you.
“And after a fair share of rescue missions, I let them participate in operations connected to the war effort,” you said.
“Eventually, the public’s view of the Aerialbots began to shift,” you continued. “They came to be regarded as one of the fleet’s most important teams.”
“Woah… what a story!” Sari exclaimed.
The team laughed, quickly diving into a discussion of other Autobot teams and their exploits.
“I know the High Command back then wouldn’t have given up test subjects so easily,” Ratchet said, arms crossed. “You must have pulled some strings to make it happen your way.”
“It’s only manipulation if it’s done with evil intent,” you replied. “All I did was ensure the newborn Aerialbots retained the right to choose for themselves. After all, freedom is the right of all sentient beings. If we don’t uphold that, how are we any better than the Decepticons?”
Ratchet’s optics softened slightly. “With you, that sentence actually means something,” he said.
After a long day, you returned to your ship and activated long-range communications. A familiar face appeared.
“General! It’s been a while,” Silverbolt beamed respectfully. “What do I owe the call?”
“Just wanted to congratulate you on becoming a commander and check on how the rest of your brothers are doing,” you asked.
“Thank you. Everyone is doing well. Air Raid is in charge of strategies, while Skydive and Slingshot train new recruits—though I do feel a bit sorry for the newcomers, as they’re not going easy on them,” Silverbolt said with a chuckle. “Oh, Fireflight and his partner are expecting a new member to join the family,” he added with a smile.
“Oh, how nice. I guess the twins are going to be big brothers soon,” you replied warmly.
“Yeah. I think they would really like it if you came for a visit,” Silverbolt said.
“Give me a call when the new spark is born, I'll clean my schedule,” you said, shrugging lightly.
“By the way…” Silverbolt hesitated for a moment. “I found the old records from when we first came into being.”
You waited for him to continue.
“Even if that was a long time ago… I just want to say thank you for everything you did for us. I don’t think we’d be here if it wasn’t for you,” he said, genuine gratitude shining in his optics.
You hummed, smiling. “I just did what any real Autobot would do: make sure the future generations have a real future ahead of them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings after all.”
“Freedom is the right of all sentient beings,” Silverbolt repeated, smiling.
You recall one of your hardest battles and the fate of one of the most sadistic Decepticons.
(Author's note: I took some creative liberties in adding the Aerialbots into this fic. I might make a fic for them later.)
Warnings: mentions of the great war, injured, casualties, the Autobot high command making an unreasonable decision, a lot of angst, sabotage, and causing death of a prisoner (might have gone a little lazy at the ending).
The day had been an ordinary one. While visiting the young team, you ended up tagging along—standing quietly in the background with Ratchet, just listening. Jazz had decided to take a day off from the Elite Guard to explore Earth. Eventually, he started telling Sari about your war accomplishments and why you were such a big deal on Cybertron.
You didn’t mind. You had done many things during the war—some that didn’t bother you when mentioned. At the very least, it gave the youngsters something entertaining to hear.
That was until Jazz brought up the one battle you'd rather forget.
“But that’s nothing compared to Big G’s greatest accomplishment—capturing the Decepticon Overlord,” Jazz said.
You instinctively gripped your arm at the mention of that name.
“Who’s Overlord?” Sari asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
“One of the most violent and sadistic Decepticons to have ever existed,” Ratchet answered grimly. “He took over a major colony and ruled it with such brutality that he made Megatron look like a saint.”
“He did whatever he pleased—torture, destruction—all with a twisted sense of joy,” Jazz added. “That is, until Big G here showed up.” He nodded toward you. “They came to the colony, defeated him and his Decepticon forces, captured him, and finally put an end to his madness."
“Yeah…” you said, nodding slowly. “One of the hardest battles I ever fought. We lost nearly half the fleet that day.”
“What happened then?” Sari asked.
“We were ordered to bring him to Cybertron to answer for his crimes, but there was a... malfunction,” you said.
“We thought we could move him aboard one of our ships, but we underestimated how much damage it had taken during the battle. The ship’s power core overloaded and caused a massive explosion. Overlord was right next to the blast, so there was nothing we could’ve done during the evacuation. The ship exploded, and he perished in the blast,” you explained.
“Well— good riddance,” Jazz stated. “Who knows what horrors he would’ve unleashed if he’d stayed online?”
“Yeah… I heard even the Decepticons were afraid of him,” Optimus added.
“Indeed. It was said he was so dangerous that even Megatron tried—discreetly—to destroy him,” Jazz said.
“Yeah…” you muttered. A weight settled in your spark at the thought of the sadistic Decepticon. There was one thing no one knew about the incident: it hadn’t been a mere power core failure, but a deliberate one.
It was right after you’d won the battle and secured Overlord within your ship’s power core chamber. Most of the containment cells had been destroyed in the fight, leaving you with few safe options. The power core chamber, however, allowed you to manipulate the heat to keep him weakened and disoriented. Despite Cybertronians’ physical resilience to natural elements, even they weren’t immune to the strain caused by constant heat. It was the last and safest precaution you could think of to keep him contained.
You had reported the outcome of the battle to High Command and were prepared to receive the order to execute Overlord for his countless war crimes, then bring your troops and the rescued Autobot prisoners back home. But the response you received was something you never expected.
You stared at the transmission screen, your expression frozen in disbelief.
“You can’t be serious?”
“We are quite serious in our decision,” Perceptor replied calmly. Onscreen, the faces of Ultra Magnus and other top scientists nodded in agreement.
“We want you to deliver the prisoner—Overlord—to Cybertron, where we can study his coding.”
Your optics narrowed. “So, in other words... you want to dissect him and see if you can replicate his enhancements to use against the Decepticons?”
“It sounds crude when you put it like that. It’s a possible opportunity to gain the upper hand,” Wheeljack chimed in, far too casually for your liking.
“He literally poses a danger to everyone he comes across—even to his own blasted faction,” you said sharply.
“I thought we agreed beforehand that he was to be executed for his crimes.”
“Plans change,” Wheeljack interjected, his tone still irritatingly nonchalant. “And since you and your fleet managed to capture him alive—”
“And what if he escapes?!” you slammed your hand against the terminal, cutting him off. “All the sacrifices, all the troopers who died to bring him down would have been for nothing!”
“I’ve seen you come up with absurd orders before, but this has to be the most absurd one yet!”
“The decision has been made,” Ultra Magnus said, his voice steely. “Strict security protocols will be enforced.”
“Are you even listening?!” Your voice rose with anger. “We deemed him dangerous enough to remove his limbs just to keep him contained!”
You stepped closer to the screen, optics narrowed. “He literally has a history of prison breaks—every one ending in disaster. That alone should be proof he’s a force that will escape if given the chance. He’s too dangerous to be kept alive.”
“If even Cybertron’s top prisons couldn’t hold him… what makes you think you can?” you demanded.
Ultra Magnus held your gaze. “The decision is final.”
“General, I am aware this battle did not go according to plan, and that you’ve sustained heavy losses. Your fallen troops’ efforts will be honored. But now, we must look to the future—so we don’t lose more than we have to. Do you understand, General?” he asked.
You were quiet. They weren’t listening. “…Understood,” you muttered through clenched denta.
“Good. We will await your arrival on Cybertron,” Ultra Magnus said before ending the transmission.
Silence hung heavy on the bridge after the transmission ended. Your crew muttered among themselves, their voices hushed but laced with disbelief and dread—just loud enough to reach your audio receptors.
“They want him alive? After everything we went through?”
“What are they thinking?”
“What if the ‘Cons break him out? What if he breaks out?”
You gripped the edge of the terminal, metal creaking under your servos. Even the higher-ups from your previous life weren’t this ignorant. Your processor swirled with memories—the battlefield, the smoke, the cries of your soldiers being torn apart by bomb shells. And him. That sadistic gleam in his optics. You had faced horrors before, but Overlord was unlike any other.
“General?” a voice cut through your spiraling thoughts.
You turned slightly. Strikeline, your second-in-command, stood at attention. His armor was worn, and exhaustion clouded his optics—but despite it all, he remained ready to carry out your orders.
“What are your orders?” he asked.
You exhaled through your vents. “Assess the wounded and the damage to the ships. Begin the necessary repairs. We will depart once the wounded and the ships are good for transport.”
Without another word, you turned and walked off the bridge, your spark heavy from the orders you were given.
You walked the corridor near the medbay, where the overflow of wounded bots stretched beyond the doors. There were so many wounded that even with all your fleet’s medics combined, it was impossible to treat them all at once.
Some of your soldiers leaned against the walls, others lay on the floor, their frames broken and energon pooling beneath them. Some were missing limbs, and some looked like they would be crippled for life. Low grunts of pain, groans, whispered reassurances filled the corridor like a haunting chorus.
You had seen scenes like this before, but this... this was harder than most.
You stopped at the entrance of the medbay and saw them—your Aerialbot team, the first Autobots ever born to fly.
You could remember the day you found them like it was yesterday— newly emerged from their protoforms, blinking into a world already torn apart by war. You did everything you could to protect them and their right to choose who they wanted to be. Otherwise, their future would have been decided by traditionalist Autobots, who saw them as tools, or by Decepticons, who would have used their flight capabilities for their own gain.
They were practically a bunch of teenagers, their sparks full of youth and reckless hope.
They chose to join your fleet, becoming your first team of flying Autobots. Their wings barely tested, their optics still wide with the belief that they could make a difference.
Before the battle, they had pleaded to be part of the assault—eager to help rescue the Autobot prisoners held in Overlord’s clutches. You had forbidden it, suspecting the mission would be your most brutal engagement yet. You didn’t want to risk their lives as they had their entire futures ahead of them.
But they disobeyed and joined the fight anyway.
Now, they stood—or slumped—before you.
Silverbolt’s leg was mangled. Air Raid had barely any plating left on his arms. Skydive was missing an optic. But Fireflight… Fireflight had taken the worst of it. Overlord had caught him mid-air and torn his wings clean off—a wound few Seekers could survive, and fewer could recover from. There was a chance he might never fly again.
Air Raid and Slingshot had tried to save him, enraged by what they saw. You arrived just in time to prevent them from being ripped apart by Overlord in turn.
They now stood vigil around Fireflight, who was hooked up to life support — exhausted and silent. No bickering. No complaints. Even Slingshot, whose sharp tongue never seemed to rest, said nothing.
It felt suffocating to you. They were young. Too young for this war.
You felt the weight of failure settle in your spark. You had carefully planned every step of the operation. The assault had been precise, and you expected to succeed with minimal losses—until Overlord appeared and turned it into a slaughter.
You had underestimated Overlord’s depravity and cunning. Despite the powerful assault you launched against him and his Decepticon forces, he was able to improvise with ruthless efficiency, causing devastating losses and nearly capturing you. It was only through your own quick thinking and adaptability that you managed to take him down.
Leaving the medbay behind, you walked outside your ship and stared into what was once a brutal battlefield.
The battlefield stretched far beyond the horizon, littered with the silent frames of your fallen troops. There were so many. An ocean of the dead, their armor scorched and twisted, weapons still clutched in cold servos. The silence was only broken by the wind brushing over the wreckage, a mournful dirge for those who gave everything.
A young soldier approached and saluted, his voice tight with restrained grief.
“General… we’ve finished the tally.”
You turned your helm slowly. “How many?”
He hesitated. “Fifty-four percent of the fleet… gone. Killed in action. Thirty-six percent are severely wounded—many with life-threatening injuries. The Autobot prisoners didn’t fare any better. Nearly seventy-three percent were executed during the battle.”
Your fist clenched at your side. You had fought countless battles, but never, not even once, had you lost more than half a fleet. And it was all accomplished by one Decepticon.
Overlord.
Another soldier—one of your repair bots—suddenly stepped forward. “General, most of the major damage to the ship has been patched. The power core was hit during the skirmish, but we’ve managed to stabilize it. It’ll last the trip back to Cybertron. However, the cooling systems were compromised. We’ll need to keep power levels at a minimum—anything near even the normal thresholds could cause overheating and trigger a meltdown.”
“But, we are ready to depart at your orders,” he added.
You nodded grimly, your optics never leaving the sea of corpses. Despite the desperate turn of the battle, your soldiers gave their everything to stop Overlord. And now—because of some half-sparked decision by High Command—the monster was to be preserved. Studied. Given a second chance to live.
Ultra Magnus said their efforts would be honored. But what honor would their sacrifice hold if the monster were given the chance to escape—never to be captured again?
No. You will not let their sacrifice be in vain.
“Send out the order,” you said at last. “I want the most functional soldiers transferred to the prison ship. Move all the wounded and the rescued prisoners to the other vessels.”
The soldiers obeyed without hesitation, unaware of the silent plan you had formed—to ensure the monster locked within your ship’s power core would never make it to Cybertron.
When you departed the planet, all the wounded and the rescued prisoners were transferred to the other vessels and sent ahead. You remained behind, traveling aboard the slower, heavily damaged ship that carried Overlord.
You left the bridge in Strikeline’s capable hands and made your way down the corridor, deep into the heart of the ship.
Past damaged walls and flickering lights, you reached the reinforced chamber that housed the power core—now converted into an improvised cell. The two soldiers guarding the door straightened at attention.
“General,” one greeted.
“I plan to have a word with the prisoner,” you said calmly, “Give us some privacy.”
Without hesitation, they nodded and stepped away.
You exhaled, then keyed the door open. Heat hit you like a wave as you stepped inside. The core chamber pulsed dimly, bathing the room in a crimson glow.
And there he was.
Stripped of his limbs and bound to the wall by reinforced steel, his massive frame still exuded menace. Despite his condition, he grinned at the sight of you, optics glowing with twisted amusement.
“Well, well… the great General finally graces me with a visit,” Overlord drawled. “To what do I owe the honor?”
You didn’t answer right away. You approached the control console beside the power core, fingers brushing over the levers and monitors.
“Apparently,” you began, voice steady, “plans have changed. The High Command wants you delivered to Cybertron to be studied. They think you might be… useful.”
Overlord laughed, a deep, mocking sound that echoed through the chamber.
“Oh, how rich. After everything I’ve done, they still want a piece of me. And you… You must be furious. All that effort to capture me, and now they deny you the kill. I almost feel sorry for you, General.”
You turned toward the power core’s main control lever. The system had been running at minimum power flow to avoid instability. Even in the normal threshold would cause the core to overheat and trigger a meltdown.
Slowly, you gripped the handle.
“Well,” you said, your tone dropping. You looked Overlord in the optics with cold indifference. “Unfortunately… you’re never going to make it there.”
Overlord’s optics widened.
You shoved the lever upward, just one notch to breach the mid-level safety threshold. The core's hum intensified. The temperature in the chamber began to grow, the heat becoming more than uncomfortable.
Overlord began laughing maniacally as you turned your back on the monster and walked out. The door sealed shut behind you with a hiss.
It didn’t take more than a few minutes before a deep tremor rocked the ship. Alarm lights flared across the corridors as explosions erupted throughout the vessel.
“Alert! Alert! The power core chamber has gone into meltdown! I repeat, the power core chamber has gone into meltdown! Fires reported across multiple sectors!” blared the emergency comms.
“General!” one of the bots rushed to your side just as another tremor shook the floor beneath you, knocking you slightly off balance.
Strikeline quickly contacted you through the comms. “General… the power core’s gone into full meltdown. It’s out of control. They can’t reach the prisoner.”
You exhaled sharply. “Looks like the damage was more severe than we thought.”
You steadied yourself and issued the next command. “Signal the other ships to hold position. We need to evacuate.”
“What about the prisoner?” Strikeline asked.
“Leave him. If he’s become unreachable, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
You turned toward the bots beside you. “Start the evacuation.”
After issuing the evacuation order, you and the remaining crew evacuated the ship just in time before the core exploded, obliterating the vessel. With only a handful of battle-capable bots on board, no one was left behind or severely injured.
Once the flames died down and the wreckage cooled, you returned to investigate the ruins.
There, amidst twisted metal and melted plating, you found Overlord. Still bound to the wall, or what remained of it. His corpse was scorched and warped, his once-monstrous frame reduced to slag and ash. Lifeless.
You stared at him in silence. No words. No emotions. Just a cold, indifferent gaze. He was offline. Dead.
Thus ended the life of one of the most psychotic Decepticons to ever exist.
After returning to Cybertron, you formally reported the incident and the fate of your prisoner to Ultra Magnus after they heard what happened.
“So… the prisoner perished during the collapse?” Ultra Magnus asked, his tone unreadable.
“Correct,” you replied. “It seems the ship had sustained far more internal damage than we initially believed. The power core gave out during transit.”
“And you were unable to evacuate the prisoner?” he pressed.
“He was held in the chamber near the power core. He took the full brunt of the meltdown. The fires had spread so severely that he became unretrievable. After the explosion, there was nothing left to recover—just a melted shell,” you explained.
Ultra Magnus was silent for a moment. Then he finally said, “Very well. There is nothing more to be done about such an incident. You are dismissed, General.”
You nodded, turned, and left the council chamber without another word.
While walking down the hallway, you passed Strikeline, who had also been summoned by the council.
“General,” your second-in-command said, causing you to stop.
“I know the reports claim it was a power core malfunction, but I took a deeper look,” he began. “The repair bots reported that the core was stable as long as it ran at minimum power flow, and they set it accordingly… but when we investigated the wreckage, we found the control level which had been pushed one notch up—to normal power flow—which was enough to cause the meltdown.”
“I also know that you were the last bot to see Overlord, and the collapse began shortly after you left the power core chamber,” he added.
“This incident was deliberate, wasn’t it?” Strikeline asked.
You were silent for a moment.
Oh, Strikeline. Your ever-sharp second-in-command.
“If you intend to arrest me, you better do it now,” you replied.
Strikeline looked at you for a long second. Then shook his head.
“I don’t think I will,” he replied. “Because you were right about one thing—Overlord was too dangerous to be left alive.”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he dryly chuckled. “I bet even the Decepticons would say you did them a huge favor.”
You hummed, thinking of the possibility.
“Sometimes. Instead of following orders, you have to make a choice that will actually promise a better future,” you said.
“There’s a difference between sparing a soldier… and sparing a monster who lives only for the pleasure of violence.”
“I understand,” Strikeline said quietly.
Then, with a short exhale, he added, “For all we know… it was just an unfortunate power core failure.”
And with that, the two of you parted ways.
“(Name),” Sari’s voice pulled you back to the present. “Are you okay?” she asked gently.
You blinked, then gave her a faint, reassuring smile. “I’m alright, young one. Just… remembering old ghosts.”
She hesitated, then asked, “Was Overlord really as terrifying as they say?”
You exhaled slowly, gaze distant. “Terrifying doesn’t even begin to cover it. But perhaps we shouldn’t dwell too much on monsters long gone.”
“Maybe you youngsters could fill this old bot in on what’s happening on Cybertron these days. I heard they’re thinking about rebuilding Crystal City,” you said.
“Oh, absolutely,” Jazz replied with a grin.
“What’s Crystal City? Is it like… a city made of crystals?” Sari asked.
“Oh, it was one of Cybertron’s most beautiful cities—quite historical as well.” You smiled.
“Big G’s right,” Jazz said, launching into a story about Crystal City, with Sari and the team listening closely.
You chuckled as the conversation went to safer, warmer ground—far from the shadows of Overlord, and the decisions that still lay buried in them.
