Chapter Text
Soundwave's 1st P.O.V.
This meeting needed to go well. The other solar, I left Pandimala on our first solar back because Exsive, an old contact of mine, reached out to me. While he had been working his way up the middle caste when I last saw him, the mech was trying to get in with one of the more important higher-caste houses. From the meeting I had with him the other solar, Exsive had more than accomplished that. He had protection from the High Caste House of Eldranna. While the femme was ancient, some rumors said that she was almost as old as Alpha Trion, the femme controlled the electric conduit trade that Cybertron relied on heavily. With so much technology a part of our every solar existences, having a say in the conduits was a very powerful corner.
Somehow, Exsive was able to earn his way into her house.
What was more, he was able to arrange a meeting between me and Eldranna herself. He must have made quite a designation for himself if he was able to arrange this meeting. If I could earn Eldranna's favor, then our efforts would have substantial backing behind them—every word needed to be used just right if I was going to earn her favor.
'Hey, boss, Pandimala's getting ready for her meeting with Galestrom.' Rumble's vocals held a worry in them that I knew meant Pandimala was overthinking things.
So, it would be best if I intervened sooner rather than later. 'Pandimala, everything will work out fine.'
There was silence from her side of the connection for a few nanos before irritation leaked through. 'Rumble snitched on me, didn't he?'
'He is just concerned, as any symbiote would be.' Over the time I shared this connection to Pandimala, I learned that she did not share her concerns easily. Even with the trust that we held in each other, there was always a part of her that hesitated. That same part would also hold back her worries if she thought that they would get in the way of what we were doing.
That included the panic she had almost put herself in after Megatron and I had left the apartment the other solar. I knew that she was shouldering a lot of responsibility, even with what we were doing for this alliance, but I was hoping to help her see that leaning on others was alright. But that conversation would have to wait. I was almost to the entrance to Eldrana's fortress, and I would have to focus soon.
'I know,' Pandimala's response sounded reluctant. 'Everything will be fine. You should focus now, though. I still have a couple cycles before my meeting starts, and you seem to be close to Eldrana's fortress. I'll talk to you and Megatron later about your meetings.' Then, before I could say anything else, she allowed our connection to drop. I didn't even get another word in.
'Now you know how we feel,' Laserbeak teased me as Eldrana's fortress came into sight.
Instead of retorting to my symbiote, I simply focused as I moved forward. Before long, I was going through the security screenings and scans. While I knew that high-caste bots took their security seriously, Eldrana's seemed to be on a higher level than that. If I were being honest, I would expect this sort of security around the Prime, not a high-caste leader such as Eldrana.
"Soundwave, Eldrana will meet with you now." Glancing up, I saw that Exsive was standing before me, a nervous look on his faceplate.
"Thank you." While I trusted Pandimala and Megatron well enough to speak in front of them, I would not allow myself to be so exposed to anybot else.
"One more thing," I paused and glanced up toward the mech, waiting for him to speak. "Eldrana has helped me a lot. If you try anything against her, I will make you regret it."
While I had no plans to go against the femme, I was surprised at how direct Exsive was being. Usually, being that direct with a threat earned bots more trouble than they knew how to deal with. He must respect Eldrana immensely to make such a threat so verbally. Even the other guards around him seemed nervous.
However, I respected the mech for his openness. "I will take that into consideration." I couldn't promise what would happen, but I would at least acknowledge the mech's words.
Exsive's servo hesitated above the handle for a click before he opened the door, leading me inside.
Once I was inside the reception room, I took a chance to glance around. The room was large and, surprisingly, empty. Many other high-caste rooms I had heard about were usually littered with different art and collection pieces. Instead, the room seemed to resonate with each step I took, with every shift of plating that the guards made as they tensed, watching me move forward.
And, sitting on a seat level with us, was the femme who I was sure was Eldrana. Her armor seemed to trick the optic between her tan chassis and the many ice blue accents that even went into her wings. At least, I assumed that they did. However, both her wings and her faceplate were hard to discern before the femme had them covered with ketzales, thin, sheer coverings made with precious tilunium alloy, only available from the traders of Tirantial IV. It was strange that such a high-ranking member of society would have their faceplate and wings covered.
'Like you're one to talk, boss bot.' Frenzy's tone was much too smug for the situation we were in right now.
"Soundwave, I have heard much about you." Eldrana's vocals held a slight trace of static as she spoke. It was easiest to hear when she spoke my designation. "That is including your fight against the razorhowlers. Most impressive." She then seemed to focus on me even more intently. "Tell me, what was your goal in visiting me this solar? I am not the most impressive high-caste household, though we do well enough. There are plenty of others that I am sure are vying for your attention. What has made my house stand out to such accomplished gladiators as yourselves?"
Eldrana was even more direct than I had heard. If I answered her wrong, then I could ruin this chance. I wasn't accustomed to attending meetings like this with so little information. However, I didn't want the opportunity to get an in with a high-caste house this early in our journey to pass me by. It had been a calculated risk, but now I was suffering the consequences. This answer…it had to be the correct one.
"Eldrana asked you a question!" My focus snapped toward a dark grey flyer with deep, violet highlights along his wingtips and optic ridges. I could see his digits fidgeting, preemptively ready to block an attack that I may be planning.
To my surprise, Eldrana held up a servo. "Valerious, that is enough. I have not asked our guest an easy question, and I would have been sorely disappointed if he had answered me quickly." She then moved her helm to face me. "Take whatever time you need, Soundwave. I've stayed online this long, a few more clicks won't offline me yet."
While Eldrana seemed like she would give me the time I needed to think on her question in detail, her guards didn't seem so accommodating. While she had influence, that wasn't enough to draw our focus. We had been asked to meet with the Senators, and although we would eventually have to meet with them, we knew that our first meetings would carry significant weight. We had to make the correct choices here. And Eldrana, I had remembered reading through conspiracy pages about her origins.
Supposedly, she was once a pioneer, venturing into previously unexplored space to create new colonies for Cybertron. Femmes, back then, were even rarer than they were these solars, and many had rebuked her choice to join the missions. That was even more so when she volunteered to go on the colonizing trip to Icandran. A harsh planet that was soon classified as uninhabitable, no being knows what happened on the planet. However, upon her return, Eldrana was wearing the tilunium ketzales that she wore to this solar.
Many suspicions surrounded her, and on the surface, it seemed like a poor choice to meet with her so soon. However, her reputation was impeccable, even among the lower caste. While she wasn't out much, work done on her designation had helped many bots who were struggling under the repressive rule we were all under. In her own way, Eldrana was fighting the same fight that we were, and it would be foolish not to become allies.
However, I couldn't outright say that. There were audios everywhere that were waiting to tear bots down, and Eldrana had her own assortment of enemies. Her house held enough influence that her alliance with us would not be taken lightly, should it happen. I wasn't sure how secure this room was, and it would hurt both her and us if I were too direct with how well we would work together.
I trust you, Soundwave.
Pandimala's words from when I was in her thoughts echoed unbidden as I stared forward. She trusted me: Pandimala and Megatron both trusted me to make decisions that would benefit our cause. I could do this.
"Our goal for my visit this solar was the chance at an alliance with your house." With those words, I began to show images of all the castes. No one was safe from the toxic environment we were in right now. "Cybertron has been stunted by the mistreatment of each other simply by class and appearance. We wish to change that and see you as an ally in this fight."
Shuffling plating echoed around the room as the clips were taken in. While we weren't telling most potential allies this goal, my instincts were all but screaming at me to inform her of even more. However, I had to hold back. Until we could ascertain the willingness of those around us, more information was dangerous. This information would be too much for most.
After a few nanos, Eldrana finally spoke. "I see. You have taken a great risk in informing me of this much. I have existed long enough to know that." The room seemed to grow heavy as the femme continued. "I have existed through the rise and fall of many Primes, yet I feared that Cybertron was truly to be lost as of late." Her smile returned as she seemed to focus on me. "You have given me new hope for a better tomorrow. I hear your words and your truth, and I agree. However," My chassis tensed as she said that. Did I do something wrong? "It is not right that you have placed such trust in my house, without similar trust in return. If we are going to move forward as allies, you need assurances that I will be as willing to fight for this new future."
While I wasn't sure what she could mean by that, her guards must have deduced something. "We do not know him, my lady. You can't allow him to,"
"Valerious enough," Eldrana's vocals held no room for debate. "He does not know us, and yet he has taken the first step and has placed his trust in us. It would be quite the insult if I were not to follow suit. Would you want me to disgrace myself so?"
Valerious looked hesitant at her words, glancing between the two of us before he seemed to deflate. "No, my lady."
Eldrana smiled at that before she turned back to me. I wasn't sure what was happening, but from that interaction alone, I was being trusted with a secret of Eldrana's house. This alone told me that, regardless of how the rest of the solar went, I had secured the House of Eldrana as our ally. "Soundwave, I am sure you noticed that my reception hall is not as…decorated as other great house halls are."
"I did." While I had been curious about that, I wasn't sure how that was connected to her secret.
"Quite direct, I do like your style, Soundwave." Eldrana then moved toward her ketzales that covered her wings. With one motion, she carefully pulled them off, revealing the state of what lay underneath. Her wings, which must have held much beauty in her prime, were brittle, with many holes, cracks, and sharp edges from stellars of damage. "I shall share in that directness. I'm sure you have heard of my last exploration trip to Icandran. The reports we were given said that the planet should have been safe, if desolate. Perfect for starting a colony without angering local organic worlds. However, our arrival showed us that we were wrong. The planet was a mix of subzero temperatures on the warm solars and rust so severe that most were infected with cosmic rust within our first seven solars on the planet. When the rescue ships came two stellars after our distress call went out, I was the only survivor left, and I was left with many scars. However, my wings were not the only part of my chassis affected by the harsh environment of Icandran."
While it seemed rude to jump in, I could hear a struggle in Eldrana's vocals. "Your faceplate?"
While her guards did not look too happy at my interruption, Eldrana let out a laugh. "Not quite." She then slowly lifted her servos toward her faceplate, before almost ceremoniously removing the ketzale covering her faceplate. Staring back at me were bright white optics. Every mechano being knew what that meant. "Between the temperatures and the rust, my optical sensors couldn't keep up with the constant damage. I was made completely blind. Between my wings and my optics, I'm not sure how I survived the last stellar before my rescue arrived. Thankfully, the ancestors of those around me were the members of that recovery team, and swore themselves to me. Those ancestors procured these ketzales to keep my weakness away from those who would use them against me. In the early solars, there were not many who would do so. However, in this age, I have found myself in almost constant isolation." She suddenly let out a sharp, amused laugh. "It is not all grim, though. I find myself able to listen to all of the drama those around me talk about. That is how I heard of you three and your efforts."
This was more trust than I expected from a high-caste house. This meeting had gone much better than I had anticipated. "Thank you, Eldrana."
"You are welcome, Soundwave." She then smiled before she returned her ketzales to their places. "Now, I believe we have some planning to do. Changing the status quo doesn't happen overnight after all, and you will have all of my resources at your disposal."
Pandimala's 1st P.O.V.
"It is nice to meet you, Pandimala. I have heard a great deal from my contemporaries about your journey. Quite fascinating." I smiled as Galestrom, a high-caste house head from Vos, greeted me. "Before that, though, how have you settled in your new apartment?"
The two of us sat before I answered him. "Just fine. The balcony is great for morning flights without disturbing the rest of the complex. It's more than I could have hoped for."
I ended up with the room across from the energon storage, which gave me some privacy when I had to think about my plans for the future. And, I wasn't lying to Galestrom. It was far more than I had hoped for. While our importance had been made very clear, it was still strange to see how much leeway bots were willing to give. Honestly, this meeting was an example of that. Most bots, from what I understood, had to wait dozens of solars, at the very least, before getting a meeting with a mech of this importance.
Yet here I was, just a servo-full of solars later, meeting with a mech who was known to have Lord Skyscream's audios. "Good, good, very good. I'm glad that Vos has been treating you well." Galestrom then motioned to the energon on the table in front of us. "Please, help yourself."
"Thank you." I reached and picked up a cube, along with the silver powder that was there. It didn't seem as if gold powder was popular here either. But I would survive with just the silver powder.
Once the mech had his cube, in which he mixed manganese flakes, the flyer's focus seemed to harden slightly. "Now, I am curious as to why you have come to me, when I know that Ambassador Rassic is quite the fan of yours. Most would think you would want to work through him."
The political games were about to begin. While we knew that Ambassador Rassic appreciated me, at least, we knew that he would not be the best option to work an alliance through. Since he was an Ambassador to the Council, he may use what we were doing to his advantage if need be. We couldn't risk our plans for the future on him, despite the support he had shown us so far. "It is usually best to make as many allies as one bot can, especially these solars." I hope that was enough to answer what he wanted without giving too much away. While Vos was not controlled by the Council, we all knew how devoted those in Vos were to Primus and his appointed ruler, the Prime. While this specific Prime was getting under many platings, according to rumors, we needed to approach this alliance with Vos cautiously.
"I see." I grew worried at the neutral tone in his vocals. While that in itself wouldn't be worrying, the fact that he had seemed so approachable before I answered made me think I had done something wrong. I had to get this right. They were depending on me. "And why would three bots fresh off a miraculous win in the pits need to worry about making allies so soon?" His optics seemed almost predatory as they focused on me. "To make such big waves so soon might tell bots that you all are planning to make changes to what we have known for stellars."
Panic threatened to fill my lines as I focused on the mech. He was right. Our quick movements would show bots that the three of us were going to make changes. I just didn't think it would be picked up on this soon. Slag!
'Hey, calm down, 'Mala. You don't need to panic right now.' Rumble's vocals cut through the panic that was starting to overwhelm me. 'Think about this. If the Ambassador has already guessed what we are doing, then that could mean that Vos has been thinking along those lines as well. This might be a good time to place some doubt in the system in the audios of a mech who reports to Lord Skyscream.'
'He's right,' Ratbat agreed. 'And with you trusting Vos this early on, they would be more than likely to side with us over that Prime anyway.'
They were right. I just had to trust that Primus was leading me down the right path and showing me that Vos could be my allies. 'Thanks, mechs,' I thanked my symbiotes before I refocused on Galestrom. "Galestrom, I am going to be honest with you. I struggle with political misdirection. If there's something I need to say, then I will say it. And what needs to be said now is that change needs to happen. And that change needs to start with the caste system. Before that fight in the arena, I was considered the lowest class of bot that exists. I wasn't worth looking at, let alone meeting with important figures such as Ambassador Rassic and yourself. Yet, here I am. And I am not the only one. Both Megatron and Soundwave are highly competent mechs with the logic and skills to help Cybertron move toward a new golden age."
Galestrom's optics widened at my words. "A new golden age?"
Nodding, I continued. "Yes. I have seen that, even in this age, other planets can prosper. Vestium Major seems to be plentiful in many aspects of existence, including energon and technology. And that didn't come from isolating their subjects into different 'social' castes. All bots are given equal opportunity to move forward, able to praise Primus with renewed vigor and hope. Texts say that, in the beginning, Primus forged the thirteen Primes, and together, they were able to defeat Unicron. That was even with the betrayal of the Fallen. The cooperation between them happened despite how they were forged to move about. There were a variety of alt modes present among the thirteen, yet they were able to work together as one, without the dividing line that Cybertron now sees plaguing its surface. That is what we want. And, to gain what we want, we will need allies."
Silence filled the room after my declaration.
As the silence continued, I felt my sparkbeat start to quicken. Slag, did I just frag up? I wasn't sure what I was hoping for, but I needed Galestrom to say something, anything! That was especially since his faceplate wasn't giving away his thoughts. Why did I jump in like that? Maybe I should have kept it simple? Now, the fate of our alliance with Vos was hanging on the outburst that I just dumped onto the mech in front of me.
'Now he knows how we feel.'
'Not now, Rumble,' I hissed at my symbiote. I was already nervous enough without the comments from the peanut gallery.
My chassis jolted when a laugh suddenly broke through the air. It took me a nano to focus on Galestrom as he continued to laugh. It seemed to reverberate through the air, and oddly, I found it comforting. Maybe I didn't screw up as much as I thought?
"You are not as pretentious as we feared you were."
…Say what now?
"Pretentious?" I had been called a lot of things in my existence, but pretentious was never one of those. Ever. It sounded weird being called it here on Cybertron, of all fragging places. That was especially so since I had recently come from the lower caste into the high caste.
Galestrom nodded and set down his empty cube. "Yes. Given how you arrived from Vestium Major, many in Vos feared you had become self-absorbed. The way you refused to look at any-being was taken as being above them. Of course, we knew that it might not be the only excuse for your actions, so Lord Skyscream encouraged me to meet with you."
Slag, I had screwed up on our arrival. And we all thought I had done so well, too. That just went to show how complicated politics could turn out. At least I was learning of this now, and not in some sticky situation later on. "I am sorry that it was taken that way. That was not my intention. I just wanted to show that I would not be swayed by anything that was not a part of our goals."
Again, a laugh escaped from Galestrom. It took him a few clicks to settle down this time. "My apologies. It is just that Ambassador Rassic brought up that very theory, though not many believed him. They did not believe you were already thinking so far ahead." A calm look then came to his optics. "The three of you have prepared for this far longer than even we have suspected."
Since we wanted Vos to be a major ally, I felt it was safe to respond accordingly. "Honestly, we have separately been working toward similar goals before we decided to work together." What he wouldn't learn until we had a more solid alliance with Vos was just how long my planning had been. "I am also glad to hear that Ambassador Rassic has been able to learn so much about me in so little time." I found myself smiling now, enjoying the way this conversation was going.
'Told you it would be fine,'
'Still not a good time, Rumble.' How did Soundwave get anything done with all five of them in his helm before?
"Ambassador Rassic became a fan of yours fairly quickly," I was surprised that Galestrom was letting that bit of information go. He had to know that I could use that later on, yet he didn't seem to mind my knowing. "Of course, he was witness to your fight. It was after that disaster that the Ambassador began promoting you." He then clapped his servos together. "Now, how do you wish to move forward?"
Feeling more confident than I had in a long time, true confidence, I smiled before leaning toward the mech. "Well, there is one thing we can start with."
Lord Skyscream's 1st P.O.V.
"Pandimala was very different from what I thought she would be."
I slightly raised an optic ridge as Galestrom began his report on his meeting with the newest triple-changer to be found on Cybertron. While I had met the femme before, the mental state she had been in was one where I could not trust my observations. Now that it had been just over a stellar since I had seen her, and she had a chance to recover, the information I was receiving from both Ambassador Rassic and Galestrom would be crucial. Pandimala had a chance to heal, and she, along with her allies, had started her navigation of Cybertron's high-caste politics.
The fact that Pandimala had surprised Galestrom as much as he was implying was something I did not expect from her.
However, it seemed that the Ambassador was not so hindered. "I believe this is the correct moment for an 'I told you so.'"
To my surprise, the mech had been a staunch supporter of the femme, even before she had started her healing. It was a confidence that had only been shared with one other bot: my bondmate, Firecracker. Both had borne witness to Pandimala's fight in the arena, with her allies, against the two Razorhowlers, and the subsequent attack against her. An attack that would have caused most others to be disabled for the rest of their existence, if not offlined, due to the sheer wave of emotions and information she would have taken through her newly popped wings.
I was made aware of the situation the moment Pandimala's wings had been revealed. The surprise and anger that had immediately filled my bondmate's side of our bond had been sharp and ravaging. It had caused me to outwardly gasp, despite the meeting I had been in with my advisors.
"That would be your first response," Galestrom shot back at the Ambassador. "Though now that I have met with Pandimala, I do understand what you saw in the arena."
Speaking of that, it seemed the right time to discover just what Rassic saw to make him so supportive of the femme, despite the state she ended up in after that fight. "Rassic, why have you put so much faith in this femme? Just what did you see in the arena?" Rassic was well known for being indifferent to those not from Vos, even those blessed by Primus to be triple-changers. His avid support of this femme from that point still confused me.
Rassic glanced between the two of us before he seemed to focus on his thoughts. Clicks passed before he finally spoke. "It wasn't what I saw. At least…not at first." There was hesitation in his vocals that I wasn't used to hearing. "She had a presence about her. When Pandimala walked out, I would swear that I felt the Creator's presence with her. While I wasn't sure why Primus would impart his blessings on somebot who seemed like a random femme from the lower caste, I couldn't move my sight from her. As Pandimala and her allies fought the beasts, that feeling grew stronger."
"You felt Primus's presence with her?" Galestrom's vocals held the same doubt that I felt at this click. Of course, I had yet to convince my bondmate to share her experience at the fight. Perhaps now that I was gaining Rassic's side of events, my bondmate would be more forthcoming with the information. "While I admit Pandimala was a shock to meet, I'm not sure if I would go that far."
At the interruption, Rassic shot a disapproving look. "The presence of our Creator is not always felt in a being. We have already all but confirmed that he rests his favor with Councilmech Alpha Trion. I felt the same presence that solar in the arena. It moved with her, guiding her movements against the monsters that were set upon the three of them. We all felt the shockwaves that came from Primus as the femme fell into the panic her wings popping sent her into. I theorize that, if we gather information on Pandimala's time here on Cybertron, we would find other major events that line up with the times those sensitive to our Creator felt that same energy."
"Something to investigate. Once we finish here, see to it, Rassic." I remembered the different times over the past two stellars that Primus's energies had been felt by those sensitive to them. My bondmate was especially sensitive to those energies, which may explain her reluctance to share her observations of the arena fight. "Continue, Rassic, when you are ready."
The Ambassador gave a nod. "Yes, my Lord. Once the femme had been attacked, I felt drawn to find her owner and his ally. Additionally, I felt that I would gather more information there than in the stands, simply as an observer. I am glad that I listened to both my instincts and that pull. While there, I witnessed a sight I thought was impossible in this current political field."
While Rassic had given me a basic report about the event, I was curious about what he had witnessed. Nothing from his report said what he had been suspicious of, and, given the political storm that Pandimala had left in her departure to Vestium Major, I had not had time before now to ask about it. "And what would that be?"
"Fear and uncertainty in our current Prime."
Both of my optic ridges shot up in shock at his words. While there was no way for us to prove our suspicions, the fact that Primus's energies did not dance around Sentinel Prime or his predecessor, Nominus, as my sire said they had for Zeta Prime, made us suspect that neither of them was a true Prime. Somehow, they had circumvented our Creator's will and stolen the mantle of Prime. However, without proof, we could not challenge the Prime.
Now, Sentinel Prime was showing weakness as, according to Rassic, a new chosen of Primus was among us. "Sentinel Prime showed those emotions?"
At my question, Rassic focused on me. "He did. The fact that Pandimala, who I believe is touched by our Creator, is a new triple-changer with very few ties allowing her to be swayed, which means that she brings something to the political fields of the high-castes that could challenge his power."
"A new view, with the status and power to go against him and his current status quo." Galestrom now looked more convinced than he had been before. "With how my meeting with the femme went this solar, along with what you have brought forward, that may hold more sway than you think."
I was now curious to know how Galestrom's meeting went. However, I needed to first amend a mistake I allowed to happen."My apologies, Galestrom, we grew distracted. You had started to tell us about your meeting earlier."
In return, the mech waved my apology off. "There is no need to apologize, my Lord. Now that I have heard Rassic's report, it makes my meeting with the femme even more impactful. It also increases the urgency we need to take in deciding what Vos should do regarding her." What did he mean by that? "At the start of our meeting, it was clear to see that the femme was nervous. She was vague with her responses to me, even with my more mundane observations, while flattering me and my hospitality. I thought she was being pretentious, as we feared she had turned when she exited her transport ship from Vestium Major. When I asked her why she came to me, when it is obvious that the fanbot next to me is a greater supporter of her than I was, she was vague, mentioning that a bot should always have more allies."
"I am not a fanbot!"
"I'm pretty sure your story just proved others." Galestrom then shook his helm, a smirk pulling on his faceplate. "I think spending so much time with the other Cybertronians has dulled your processor if you can't see that."
While the responding growl that came from Rassic wasn't backed by anger, I realized it may be better to cut in before it grew worse. "Enough, both of you." We needed this meeting to move forward as amicably as we could, and that would not be helped by them teasing each other. "Galestrom, continue."
Galestrom and Rassic immediately bowed toward me. "Of course, Lord Skyscream." Galestrom's vocals were steady as he continued. "I used that response, however, to ask her why the three of them would need allies so soon after their miraculous win in the arena. I also hinted that doing so suggested that they were making plans to change what we have all known for millions of stellars."
To my surprise, Rassic growled at the mech. "You knew the sort of damage she suffered due to her wings being forced out as they were, and yet you put that sort of internal pressure on her so soon."
"I did, and I will not regret doing so." Galestrom's vocals did not waver as he rebuffed Rassic's argument. "While she seemed to panic for a few clicks, my confrontation gave the femme an opening to change my opinion of her. Rassic, you will be glad to hear that she did not disappoint." His wings then twitched, a sight I rarely saw from the mech. Combining that with the joy that was on his faceplate meant that Pandimala's reaction had done more than 'not disappoint' him. "In all of my time dealing with politics, both our own and the Council's, I have never been confronted with such blunt honesty. She started by admitting she is not great with political misdirection before she explained their main objective."
"And what would that be?" I now found myself feeling hope, though I was not sure why.
"They wish to eradicate the caste system and, simultaneously, launch us forward into a new golden age. Pandimala gave examples both from logic and Primus's teachings to prove her statements that we were all created equal. That is why Rassic's report is so impactful to my meeting. If she is truly blessed by Primus, which I am now more inclined to believe, then it seems as if Primus' influence is returning to Cybertron, and he is allowing us the opportunity to be a part of his plans through her."
He was right. They both were. If Pandimala was truly blessed by Primus, then we needed to support her as soon as possible. However, we had to act cautiously. If the Prime caught wind of her status with our Creator, then he could make her his primary target. We had to protect the femme. Despite my wish to do otherwise, our alliance with her had to be made cautiously, and with enough outside influence to not draw Sentinel Prime's gaze. "We must proceed with caution. With our current theory, we must not draw the Prime's gaze to Pandimala while, at the same time, solidifying our connections with the femme. Thankfully, both of your encounters with the femme seem to have been positive. I suggest that we start by giving the femme a more positive light within our own politics. Pandimala's exit from the transport ship did not earn her favors."
"Ah, speaking of that," I was surprised at Galestrom's interruption. "Pandimala did give me her reasoning behind her exit, which makes sense now that I know her better." To my surprise, he then grew a reluctant look before he glanced at Rassic. "It seems as if Rassic's faith in the femme's motivations was correct. According to her, she was showing those gathered that she would not be swayed by ideals that did not align with her own."
Rassic did not hesitate in smirking at the admission. "Oh, am I hearing this right? That sounded like I was right and you weren't."
When did my advisors turn into rambunctious younglings? "Enough. I need time to think about all that you have brought me. For now, continue your connections to Pandimala. If we are to create an alliance with her, then we need to start now so we may do so naturally."
"Yes, my Lord," Both responded to me before leaving the room.
Once the door was closed, I allowed a vent to escape me before laying my helm against my servo. All of these different events, which changed the atmosphere of Cybertron's politics in such a short time, seemed impossible. How did the fate of Vos…no, the fate of Cybertron, become so chaotic in such a short amount of time?
"It is Primus, working through a vessel worthy of him."
Glancing sideways past my servo, I watched as my bondmate walked up next to me. "How much of that meeting did you hear?"
Her smirk told me more than enough. "All of it. When your politics are crossing through the work of Primus so deeply, I can't help but be drawn to it." She then paused. "Rassic is right, though he couldn't fathom the sheer presence of our Creator around the femme. When Pandimala's wings were forced out, our Creator's presence created a shield around her. If the link the one called Soundwave created with Pandimala had been done with ill intent, then it would not have reached her helm. The magnitude of his power, condensed around her, was enough to keep her safe during that traumatic experience." Firecracker then paused. "Primus is working through that femme to create the best possible future for us. We must help her."
"And we will," Both from the meeting I just had and Firecracker's assertions, my path forward was clear. "Pandimala will receive our full support and protection."
"Good. I was afraid I would have to work against you, my spark."
My optic ridge raised at her declaration. "Work against me?"
In return, she nodded. "The will of Primus is strong right now. Even our creations have felt the coming change."
They had? "They…all three are sensitive?" I had not realized that they were sensing the presence of Primus.
Firecracker's expression softened. "All three have been sensitive to Primus's workings with the femme for over a stellar. While we have only just allowed them to enter the political field since their introduction to society, I believe that they should interact with the femme as soon as naturally possible. She will need their support."
It was common for the creations of the Vosnian leader to be kept secret until they entered their youngling stellars. While they weren't physically hidden away, we made sure only their guard and the families who fostered them during that time knew who they were on sight and kept their designations hidden just as fiercely. It was a Vosnian tradition that allowed our future leaders to learn about the subjects and city-state that they were destined to rule over. It also avoided bots currying favor with them from a young age. The leader of Vos would have an unbiased view of those around them and not be blinded by empty promises and platitudes.
With the recent atmosphere of Cybertron's politics, we had decided to extend that time to when they were presented to the Vosnian court as adults. We ensured that they understood Primus's teachings and their influence over the planet to this solar. As we hoped it would, it had allowed Starscream to recognize first among the three of them that Sentinel Prime was not as blessed by Primus as said Prime would want Cybertron to believe he was. It was that realization that made Starscream my heir instead of the elder of the triplets, Thundercracker.
"In time," I responded to my bondmates wish. "For now, we must build our relationship with Pandimala as naturally as we can. It would be too suspicious if we allowed her to meet with our creations so quickly after her first official meetings with Vos."
My response drew an annoyed vent from my bondmate. "Very well."
While I knew she was upset, we had to move forward cautiously. Too much was riding on Pandimala to risk rushing forward, possibly throwing her into more danger than necessary. Vos would be a strong ally to the one blessed by Primus, and I would see that goal through.
Orion Pax's 1st P.O.V.
I was surprised at how well that meeting went. When Megatron first mentioned wanting to meet with Senator Beatdrop of Polyhex, I was nervous. Unlike most Senators, Beatdrop was very laidback and lackadaisical about most things. That was especially true of the inner political movements on Cybertron. As long as Polyhex remained untouched and the Prime wasn't inspecting him, then everything was secondary to him.
But Megatron had gone in and was able to draw Beatdrop's interest in their goals. Given how few bots from Polyhex rose to the higher echelons, even within their own caste, it was easy to see how eager the Senator was to be involved with Megatron's movement.
One point that had almost caused an issue was the tension that was bound to rise. While Megatron and his allies had been smart and working with the outlier high caste houses, sooner or later, they would have to navigate those that had more to lose if they cooperated…or more to gain if they turned against him.
"Orion, you are deep in thought."
I jumped when Megatron's vocals cut through my thoughts. I needed to break my habit of staying in my own thoughts. "My apologies, Megatron. Your plans are moving so quickly now, it seems surreal to see the high caste in this much motion."
To my surprise, a troubled look came over his faceplate at that. "Perhaps too quickly. I fear that Pandimala's triple-changer status has been boosting our presence in the high caste. That may be to our detriment."
I felt confused when he said that. Didn't they want influence in the high caste? "Wouldn't having a high presence in the high caste be good for your goals? If high-ranking members see your presence, they can offer support and allow you to rise before others can cut you down." Megatron's hesitation didn't make sense to me. Hopefully, the mech would clarify his thoughts for me.
After a few clicks of silence, Megatron finally answered me. "If we move too high too quickly, we will garner the attention of bots who we are not ready to face. Given what I know of what happened during our final challenge, we have unfortunately caught the optic of our Prime. The only saving grace we may have in that situation, and it isn't much of one, is that he may only be focused on Pandimala and the influence she carries as a triple-changer. If Sentinel focuses only on her, Soundwave and I may be able to work in her shadow and garner more support against him and the caste system."
While what Megatron said made sense, something still felt wrong about it in my spark. Pandimala was their ally, and he was essentially suggesting that they throw her to the scraplets if the situation with Sentinel Prime grew more dangerous. "That would be placing Pandimala in a tough position. She's new to Cybertron, and Sentinel Prime is no fool. He will use any weakness he can against her if he chooses to."
As we continued to walk to the transport hub that would take us to Iacon, silence fell between us. "We know." We? Megatron must have seen my confusion at his statement. "While we haven't talked about this problem in depth, Pandimala, Soundwave, and I have talked about the different troubles each of us could bring. It is why we are moving among the high caste as we are."
Now I was utterly lost. What did he mean? From what I could tell, they were all just moving around to different bots who would hear them out for now. "I don't understand. Won't you all face the same backlash since you are from the lower caste?"
"Yes," I could hear a weight in his vocals as he answered me. "However, there will be unique problems that each of us will have to face alone. My problems will arise from the fact that I originated from the lower caste. It will be harder for me to make connections with the most respected houses on my own at first. Soundwave and Pandimala, given their histories, won't encounter that problem nearly as often."
I think I was starting to see where he was coming from. While they all would share different trials, there would be times when they would have to stand alone. If I was correct in this, then I knew how Soundwave would be challenged. "Given that Soundwave used to be middle caste, he is going to have more bots who will have personal grudges against him, and who may know more of his secrets."
"Correct." Megatron's focus then hardened before he continued. "Pandimala, surprisingly, will have more personal challenges than all of us. For one, her status as a triple-changer, and one who is not bound by allegiances, is a threat to many in the higher castes. They will be scrambling to either ally with her or silence her. The alliances she makes now will be her defense moving forward."
"Is that why you had her working with Vos?" I had wondered why they had the femme, who didn't have much standing on Cybertron, work with the only power not bound to the Council or the Prime. Before Megatron could answer me, we arrived at the transport hub. It would not be wise to talk about these topics with so many audios around who could hear us.
The trip to Iacon allowed me to think about how I could help. While I wasn't officially a part of their plans, I believed in their cause and wanted to help destroy the caste system. But I was just an archivist. I couldn't defend myself like the three of them could. And, I wasn't very brave. They had stood against two Razorhowlers, creatures that were bred with the sole purpose of killing mechano beings. That took determination and courage that I could only read about in the datapads at the Hall of Records.
….Wait, that was it!
I had to put my revelation in the back of my processor as the transport stopped. Once Megaton and I exited, he waited until we were halfway to the hall before he picked up our conversation again. "Vos's ability to help Pandimala in her future trials was only part of why we had her working with them. Ever since the Challenge, Vos has taken a particular interest in her. So, we all felt it wise to build on that interest while we still could. However, Pandimala's greatest challenge is going to be her past."
Wait, how? "Her past? But, as far as I have heard, no bot knows much about her past. Frag, even she doesn't know what planet she was raised on, from what the rumors say."
"That's precisely the problem," Megatron pointed out. "With her past being the mystery it is, our allies and enemies alike will be doing whatever they can to find out anything about her. She will be under intense scrutiny that neither Soundwave nor I will have to face." The air around us seemed to grow heavy as Megatron paused. "And that has already come to include Sentinel Prime. It is much too soon for our common goal for us to interact with the Prime, so Pandimala is going to have to face that on her own." However, even as he said that, I could see hesitation in his optics. "I'm not sure what she will be able to do, though, to combat whatever tactics the Prime will use against her."
While he wanted to avoid conflict with the Prime, it would eventually become an inevitability. Now seemed like a good time to offer the help I could. "Why don't the three of you visit the Hall of Records here in Iacon?" The surprise in his optics was refreshing to see. "Alpha Trion has given all of us archivists the leeway to invite guests into the deeper records as long as nothing leaves the hall. I'm not sure what you will find, but perhaps the ancients hold answers you may need."
Megatron's optics softened. "Thank you, Orion. We will take you up on your offer. Once I have a chance to compare schedules with Pandimala and Soundwave, I'll contact you with a few solars that we all have free. Hopefully, at least one of those will match with your own."
Once we stopped in front of the Hall, I smiled. "I'll be on the alert for your message. Thank you, Megatron."
"You are welcome, Orion. And again, thank you for setting up that meeting with Senator Beatdrop for me. It was a very productive meeting." I then watched as Megatron jumped into the air and transformed before flying off toward Vos.
As he disappeared, I felt a sense of nervousness. This would be the first time I was meeting Pandimala, the third bot in his coalition. Soundwave, the few times I had met him, had been a mystery. He didn't use his own vocals to talk, instead pulling from a collection of recordings he must have made or accessed to string sentences together. What sort of femme would Pandimala be? To be a gladiator strong enough to fight alongside Megatron as an equal meant that she would be a force to be reckoned with. I was taking a chance, allowing her to come to the Hall without truly knowing her. However, I trusted Megatron. If he had faith in the femme, then I would, too.