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Chapter Text

Optimus sighed and lent back against the comfortable medical berth as he considered his reason for being here this time. It was only the second time he had visited Lux’s medical bay with the first being to obtain his baselines, which Medic Stent was currently looking up.

He only had minor dents and several scrapes and while two were deep enough to warrant a small patch and sealant, everything was well within normal self repair levels, let alone his, which was boosted by the Matrix.

That was admittedly part of the reason he was here though and connected to so many monitors. Everything previously known about Primes was ancient, though fully intact within both Lux’s and the minicons memory cores.

Lux was completely up to date with all known medical advancements, unlike Tenebris, though Optimus understood that things like that made up no small part of the metrotitans current sharing. But that only made the contrast of knowledge on Primes more stark, since that had had no chance to be updated.

His training partner and the cause for the current state of his finish, was motionless connected to another terminal. Tremor was uploading the technical memories of the lesson, vectors, strengths and length of contact time that made up each individual mar. It was a comparison when taking the material that caused the mar into account, that would tell of the strength and resilience of his own plating. It would also give some indicator for the exact extent of each, assisting with the calculations for how Optimus’ auto repair prioritised injury and its speed of repair.

Honestly it was all far more fuss than Optimus was comfortable with, his own current calm and patience was mostly due to Primus, who was mostly amused and in no way upset. He was pointing out that he had ‘crater marks’ in his own plating, their species had armour for a reason.

Fixit had been by, but had delegated the task of treating the Prime to one of his senior medics. While the Prime was of course always awarded the best care, that did not mean that the rest of the med bay was to be left in chaos. And his condition did not warrant the presence of the CMO, even if Fixit could easily have made it so. In all honesty the CMO preferred for his entire team to be familiar with treating the Prime, he couldn’t run around on the Prime’s heels all orn every orn after all, not if the ship was to have a functioning med bay at all!

Optimus watched Stent nod to himself as he disconnected.

“We aren't going to do a full scan again, but confirm the basics to ensure your baseline is accurate. If that is alright with you, my Lord Prime.”

“It’s fine, Medic Stent,” Optimus sighed internally but accepted it with grace.

“It ain’t so bad,” Tremor spoke up, voice a little dreamy, though it almost always had that quality about it, “and it will be a good thing if you do end up here with something serious.”

The medbay doors opened and Axe walked in, handing a datapad to an aid with an order to bring it to the supply officer.

“Lord Prime, Knight Tremor,” he said, somewhat amused, “how do you two feel?”

“Knight Axe,” Stent greeted between two tests, flicking a wing in greeting and absent inquiry.

Optimus felt himself relax further, calmed by the presence of the huge black Knight, to which the Matrix sent its approval.

“I am well, minor scrapes and dents. It does feel odd to be in medbay when I don’t need medical attention, nor time for maintenance,” Optimus glanced at Stent when he made a soft curious sound and jotted a note. He might have noticed the relaxing, Optimus thought with some amusement.

“I’m fine, Master Axe,” Tremor waved slowly.

Axe snorted at the knight and shook his head, “yes I see that, Tremor, and it is Axe only, as you well know!”

He turned his attention to the young Prime instead, smile softening.

“I know, but we do take our health seriously here. Only those in peak condition can show their true potential. And the Prime most certainly needs to be in good health, or the healers might haunt the rest of us,” this last was said with a definite twinkle in blue optics.

“Mmm, I see your point. We certainly do not want to upset our medics,” Optimus agreed, serious apart from his field which flicked out playfully.

Stent’s grin was a little wicked, though he never took his attention from his work, “Yes, you know about irate Medics from experience, don’t you Axe?”

“Thank you, medic Stent, for that reminder,” Axe answered with dry, and tired, amusement, “Dai and I have learned our lesson just fine.”

Tremor gave a giggling noise that, normally, would have spelled overcharged, but in this case it was simply the deep link with the medical computer and so no one commented.

“Oh?” Optimus made a questioning sound, but did not push more than that, despite his curiosity. Absently he moved as Stent directed. Optics focused on watching Axe.

“We know, that was clear after you both agreed to having inhibitors installed. Speaking of, I think they are due for a functionality check soon. I am sure you give them quite the workout,” Stent smirked unrepentantly. Other than his status as senior medic, Axe out ranked him, but Stent showed no fear.

“Why thank you, Medic, I shall remind Dai,” Axe managed to sound sincere and put upon at the same time.

“Don’t worry, Optimus,” he said to the Prime in a voice that showed his humour at the situation, “it is simply that we are never allowed to forget how Wing happened.”

Optimus chuckled, “Unexpected, I take it… Oh!” Optimus glanced down at his own chest.

“I think Primus thinks you make good creators,” Optimus gave in explanation, looking back up at Axe again. The Matrix was pulsing with the Gods' amusement and approval.

“Ah, well, thank you,” Axe was surprised and pleased, but vowed to tell this news to his mate in private. Dai was not much for public displays of deep feelings and Wing… was a deep feeling. A good one, but also a big one.

“I came to ask if you wished to spend a bit of time with Wing and I?”

“Gladly, when Medic Stent releases me,” Optimus replied with true pleasure. He very much enjoyed the company of both mech.

“It's all looking good so far. Once this one is finished you may go. And don’t forget to wax and polish before and after recharge and you should have no issues,” Stent grinned to himself, all told their Prime was a good patient and in excellent health.

“Of course,” Axe said and waited patiently for the last few things to come in green. Once that was over he said his goodbyes to the still prone Tremor, little less out of it now, and the medic before leading the younger mech out.

“Wing wanted to show you another fueling tradition, so I hope you have room?”

“Considering that I last refuelled before sparring. I have room,” Optimus grinned, eager to see what they had for him this time. Wing and Axe had seemingly taken it upon themselves to ensure he knew the common traditions and customs of their kind lost amongst the Autobots.

“Good!” Axe led the way to their private quarters, though they could have gone to one of the common areas, their family had come to value their alone time. Ah well, their alone time and their time with the Prime. Dai would sigh very heavily if he knew that Axe was beginning to include the other as family… not that he didn’t want to. Axe knew his mate, but they had no idea if the Prime had family of his own. Hm, perhaps it was time to ask, it might be a good idea to bring them to safety sooner rather than later… though they would be fairly safe if they were on one of the estranged colony worlds.

Optimus moved with confidence into the living area where Wing already waited.

“Wing,” Optimus smiled and greeted the white jet with a hug.

“Optimus,” Wing was an enthusiastic recipient and clearly bouncy about what was going to happen. Axe shook his helm at them and went to fetch the cool energon they would need for this.

“How did training go, you don’t look too bad,” the white jet teased.

“Tremor went easy on me, it was more testing to see what I know and what I will have to unlearn,” Optimus grimaced playfully and shook his helm, “Then the medics wanted to check me over again, mostly to double check to ensure they had the baselines right.”

“Of course they did,” Wing huffed in amusement, “but there’s easy and easy, Optimus, and he didn’t pull his blows that much, I can see the scrapes and dents!”

“No one learns by being coddled,” Optimus chuckled, shrugging he gave a sly look, “And I did surprise him with a few hits myself. Apparently my form is terrible, but I am very adaptable.”

“Now that is a compliment if I ever heard one,” Wing smiled, “but for something else, remember how I told you about frozen energon?”

“And here is the energon, so…” Axe settled, he had given the two younger mechs a bit of a longer time alone than he strictly needed to fetch the energon, lifting an optical ridge at his creation. This was Wing’s show after all.

“Yes, I do recall,” Optimus nodded, settling properly himself and greeting Axe’s return with an affectionate brush of his fields. He looked at Wing expectantly.

"I am going to show you a magic trick!" Wing ignored Axe groan and grabbed the pouring cube to put energon in a bowl, then added a few flavouring additives and then, with a deliberately silly flourish, a pale powder that made his concoction smoke. He stirred it with a spoon and then held the bowl and spoon out to the Prime with his field full of anticipation.

Optimus accepted the bowl and inspected the contents for a moment before lifting the spoon and put a small sample into his mouth.

Immediately Optimus was glad that it was a small sample, but then the flavour and texture processed and his optics brightened.

“Wow,” was all Optimus managed before digging the spoon in again for another sample.

"I know!" Wing bounced, then dutifully, and with less theatrics, made his Sire a bowl before he did up his own.

"This isn't the only way to make iced energon," he said around a spoonful, neatness taking a second place to his eagerness, "but it's the fastest and most showy. The best way though… I'll have to bother Irradiation for that. Though if he knows a share will go to the Prime…"

Axe snorted a laugh, then gently admonished, "Wing, you are an adult by many a vorn now, eat neatly!"

"Optimus, all this aside I wish to broach a somewhat serious subject with you?"

“Sure. What is it?” Optimus agreed and asked, turning to give Axe his full attention.

“Ah well,” Axe hesitated on his words, uncharacteristic of him, enough so that Wing looked at him with a frown. But this was something that had only just occurred to him and it could be a very delicate subject indeed.

“We are not aware that the Magnus and council of Cybertron know that you, specifically, are onboard Lux… But we were fired upon when we left Cybertron. What I am trying to ask… is there anyone important to you that will need protection?”

“Hmm. As long as Brick did not tell anyone other than Dion about seeing me when I was heading to the core, my friends amongst the Iacon dock workers should be fine. Otherwise there is no one on Cybertron I was that close with,” Optimus replied with some consideration, mulling over the news that Lux had been fired upon.

"That is good to know but I was thinking a bit more," Axe hated that he had difficulty with asking this, because he knew it was his own personal feelings about the young Prime interfering with common sense, "family related. What colony world are they on? Do we need to collect them?"

Wing opened his mouth to comment, sensing his Sire's unease, when the door to the command quarters was pinged with an emergency code that made it swoosh open allowing a harshly venting grounder framed knight to skid to an ungraceful halt halfway into the recreation room.

"Master Axe!" His yellow optics widened when he took in the company, "my Lord Prime," he added in a squeak, "we have met a ship, its weapons are online! Lord Dai Atlas wants you on the bridge, sirs!"

“Right… We will finish this discussion later,” Optimus promised Axe, not even thinking about what he was promising.

“Do we know the race? Or how are they identifying themselves?” Optimus asked, immediately on the heels of his comment to Axe, as he put his bowl aside and moved to follow the knight.

“No, my Lord Prime,” the knight said, though he clearly was more interested in getting his superiors to the bridge and fast.

Axe did not dawdle and Wing waved him off when he hesitated for a split second. Clean up could be left to his Creation.

Optimus was actually somewhat aware of Lux moving with them to bring them to the Bridge as fast as he could. It was smooth, clearly well practised, but with them running and Lux moving, it was near impossible to hide how sections shifted and aligned themselves ahead of them.

Once at the Bridge Optimus let Axe, who had gotten ahead due to longer legs, request for information. He simply got himself situated where he could see the monitors.

“Axe, my Lord Prime,” Dai Atlas greeted, a small quirk on his derma, though his optics were on the screen, displaying an oddly fluid looking ship, “the Lord Protector is speaking to the ship currently.”

Before either could talk the comms officer opened a window displaying two faceplates. Or rather a faceplate and a… face.

“Optimus,” Megatron rumbled, pleasure in his voice, “this is Attaciska, commander of the Dragonian scout called Starflow.”

“Megatron,” Optimus greeted with equal pleasure and relief before tipping his helm to the Dragonian commander. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance commander Attaciska. I am Optimus Prime, with me are Knight Master Dai Atlas and Master knight Axe.” There was no way Optimus was not going to state Axe’s rank to a Dragonian, a known warrior race.

The reptilian alien looked the mech there over with bright interest, nodding at each before speaking.

“An honour I dare sssay, the Lord Megatron isss known to the Dragonian empire, and he hasss requesssted that we call on Sssisnatica. It isss done.”

“Hmm, yes, there certainly has been some developments amongst Cybertronians, post the Galactic trade meet, that Warlord Sisnaticka would need to be appraised of,” Optimus nodded, glancing at Megatron with amusement in his optics. The Dragonian warlord had been quite a supporter of himself at the trade meet, it would be interesting to have his opinion of current events.

“Ssso it isss,” the alien turned her head, looking at something and Axe shifted, curious, and then gasped when her second head came into the screen, “there hasss been a resssponsss. The Warlord will arrive in a half cycle… that isss… four joor?”

Optimus pulled up the long list of conversion notes he had been given when arriving at the Trade meet and nodded when he found the Dragonian/Cybertronian conversion, “Yes, it is there abouts. So how do we wish to spend that time?” Optimus left the question open to all parties.

Megatron spoke before anyone else, handily preventing a minor diplomatic misstep.

“If you would be so good Commander, the Nemesis crew could use some shaking up, perhaps a mock battle? I trust that you have the usual battle simulators on board?”

“Of corssssse!” the sibilant accent of the Dragonian commander became further pronounced, her second head coming into the screen and her eyes wide with a milky set of eyelids rapidly blinking over them.

“The ssssysssstemssss are well able to sssuport multiple vectorsss, doessss all want to partisssipate?” there was no mistaking the hopefulness in that request.

Axe shifted again, only discipline keeping him from boggling at the being on the screen. His mate was keeping his private amusement well under wraps and looked stoically to their Prime for a response.

Before anyone could answer a third screen opened and a feral grinning Galvatron stared out at them all, “Tenebris would like to test us against you, challenge accepted Commander Attaciska of Starflow.”

“And this is Galvatron, Herald of Unicron. The Knights of light would also gladly participate,” Optimus did not even have to ask to know the answer there. He was also very grateful to Megatron for stepping in as he had, he had been floundering. But this was manageable now.

The whole thing was set up surprisingly quickly, the Metrotitans could easily alter systems to interface with the Nemesis that in turn could easily work as the hub computer for the ‘game’. Groups of knights, Galvatron’s troops and Megatron’s Decepticons were put together and pitched against each other and the Dragonians. It was not just one game though, but several, some small, some space bound, some planet bound. The small scout vessel had a crew of twenty and five were on active duty at all times, but that left fifteen to training and recharge… plenty to make the exercise worth it.

Four joor really was not a terribly long time all in all…

Chapter Text

For Optimus it was a thing of beauty. He had seen the Knights training in formations, but this. It put it all together and he made sure to either be a viewer or participant when he managed to convince Dai Atlas to participate. He had not managed to get more information, and had not yet found time to ask Dai for a game, but this was even better, to see the mech in command.

To spice things up for the last game, Optimus suggested a game of ‘protect the Prime’, He wanted to see just how the knights reacted to that. The end point was either the arrival of Sisnaticka, his capture by ‘enemy hands’ or defeat. He had not anticipated the Warlord to join in. But thinking about it later he really should have.

In respect for another culture the Dragonian commander suggested it be capture the Prime, not kill the Prime. Well, partly respect, partly it just made the simulation harder. Neither side was allowed to harm the Prime nor to cause extreme destruction.

Dragonians might love battle, but battle was skills, not wanton destruction and senseless killing. It was the wise conqueror who left the conquered standing, and the stupid who cut them down.

Sisnaticka was indeed pleased with what the scout team had been able to do on their own, but he happily tossed them additional troops.

The game quickly got a lot harder when the additional troops arrived and Optimus realised what must have happened. Well he supposed that a good battle sim was a sufficient welcome for a Dragonian, even their Warlord. But it was not by any means the end of the game. Restrictions or not there was a lot left in that scope and three quite different sets of knowledge base left Optimus quite a secure position.

What it did do was force Herald Galvatron, Lord Protector Megatron and Dai Atlas to work closely together to fully coordinate efforts.

Chapter Text

“And there my prize is! Hello, little one,” Sisnaticka walked in, arms wide and vestigial wings spread in a prideful but not lording gesture.

“I claim victory for the house of Nassisticka,” he grinned, stopping a ways from the Prime. Some of the knights looked puzzled at the distance, but for any Dragonian respecting the person they talked to it made perfect sense. The ‘little one’ was no enemy and Sisnaticka had no wish to loom threateningly.

“And I, Optimus Prime, cede victory to you, Warlord Sisnaticka, may the Star Dragon reign eternal,” Optimus grinned in return, not upset by the results, he did step closer, his own arms out in greeting. The Sim now over, this was greeting a friend.

“It is good to see you in good health,” Sisnaticka bared his sharp teeth at the unexpected greeting from the Prime, “I can understand that much has happened since the Trade summit. Much indeed it seems, the Nerila would be pleased to see you I think, little one.”

He looked up to grin ferally at a rather nonplussed looking Megatron, “and you also, Warlord, they have spoken well of your ships patrolling their borders! But who is this?” and his eyes landed on the purple mech standing more or less pauldron to pauldron with Megatron.

“And I to see them. Allow me to introduce Galvatron, Herald of Unicron, and Megatron has gained a new title as well, Lord High Protector,” Optimus’ expression softened into a smile as he moved over to his Triad. “And yes, a lot has happened in a short time.”

“I see that much is an understatement,” Sisnaticka rumbled, then turned one head to look down at the Prime, his other eyes staying on the Herald and the Lord Protector.

“Where have you learned that greeting?” the question was curious, and perhaps a bit too toneless compared to his usual expressive vocal range.

“Primus. I now carry with me the Matrix. That is what the Nerila sensed, a Prime potential. Through the Matrix, Primus is talking with me all the time. He misses the Star Dragon too, not just his mate Unicron,” Optimus explained gently, a hand coming up to rest over his spark, like usual when talking of Primus.

“Ah, your world,” the Dragonian nodded thoughtfully with his one head, “I have not heard the Star Dragon’s name outside of my own people in… ever. And you tell me that it truly exists?”

It meant something of course, but Sisnaticka was still more bemused at the idea that the god being was real than feeling terror or awe. Dragonians were not ones to feel ashamed of their past, and in them, deep in their racial memory, lay the knowledge of their Creator, the knowledge that it was very much real.

“Is that a long lost egg brother of yours, Megatron?” he shifted pace, mock snapping his jaws at the former warlord, “he looks to be of the same family line. I greet you, Galvatron, Voice of Unicron!”

Optimus nodded along with Sisnaticka’s words, giving only a soft, “Yes.” Before turning his attention to Megatron and Galvatron, curious to see their reaction to the comment.

“I cannot claim that, Sisnaticka, though we may have much in common,” Megatron rumbled back, grinning though Galvatron was a rather touchy subject. In a way. Especially since Optimus had had words with them!

“My unfurling happened on a world a long way from here, under the optics of Unicron,” Galvatron spoke, carefully respectful, though the Dragonian was unknown to him, “and some time before the unfurling of either Megatron or Optimus themselves.”

Technically Unicron hadn’t been watching him, but Galvatron figured that was semantics and the point of it was to underscore that he was the ‘voice’ of Unicron.

“I am by far the youngest of us three, unfurling after the Autobot/Decepticon war, on a colony world,” Optimus offered, he was curious to note Galvatron’s age, though he did have the feeling of ‘experience’ around him.

Sisnaticka had heard Optimus' answer, of course, but had also dismissed the subject until he could meditate on it. It had touched deep memories, memories that needed to be brought into his conscious thoughts before he could decide what to do with it.

“Only Megatron hatched on your home world? Curious indeed, I myself hatched on a colony world, but the family lines of House Nassisticka are firmly rooted on the home world itself. But what is the reason for you skirting the edge of Dragonian core space, have there been reports of Quintesson activity?”

“This is best left to you, my Prime, I think,” Galvatron rumbled low, “I believe I will join Dai Atlas and Axe in breaking down the simulation to find out what we need to work on first. Perhaps you will join us, Megatron?” the two were still slightly edgy when talking, but it was civil enough and the question honest.

“I will be there soon, and so I believe will Sisnaticka, hmm?” Megatron’s answer was just as civil and underscored by a rough chuckle from the Dragonian who nodded. A simulation was only as good as what you took from it after all!

“Short answer, no, it is not due to Quintison activity. Long answer: That has its roots in the beginning of the universe and I don’t know the full story yet. We are on our way to join up with Unicron, who is finally making his way back to Primus,” Optimus explained as if he was not talking about Deities and mythology.

“Let me see if I understand this,” Sisnaticka rumbled thoughtfully, “you are going to meet the World Eater, who is returning to your world who is also your Creator?”

Of course things were complicated when deities were involved, the Nerila were living proof of that, but someone named the World Eater seemed to be… a bad destination?

“Said that way it does sound bad,” Megatron chuckled, “but things are not that simple and history needs to be updated.”

“He eats dead worlds and despite what might be currently said, he will never consider eating Cybertron. Unicron is also our co-creator. But otherwise, pretty much yes,” Optimus chuckled and shrugged. Primus was both amused and offended by what current generations said and thought of his mate.

“I pass no judgement, believe me,” Sisnaticka actually laughed loudly at that, “I simply try and understand this. I will need to think on it before deciding on a personal opinion.”

If nothing else then because Megatron had always been a good sport and his words deserved true consideration. And so did the words of the little one, who was true of heart and brave of mind, he had grown indeed.

“That is fair. Now do you have anything else you wish to know about before we introduce you to the Knight master and his mate?” Optimus inquired, he did wonder how Axe would cope considering his personal interest. But Optimus knew that the Dragonian warlord was very non judgmental and might help set the mech at ease.

“No, little one, I am satisfied. Though you did not owe me much in the way of an explanation,” the dragonian was serious as he said that, “you were not violating our space and you were polite and genteel to our scout. I am glad I was near enough to respond quickly. I am satisfied that I shall be witness to historical events as they happen. Such memories will be treasured to my family line!”

“I was thinking more for events yet to come and the strength of our alliance, considering what may be asked of you and your people. I am being completely serious about the connection to the beginning of our universe. But I think for that we shall keep in contact so we can inform you when we know more for certain ourselves,” Optimus shook his helm to clear the foreboding thoughts.

“For now I feel that I should warn you that Axe is rather curious about alien species, but is also very focused on duty and decorum, so unless given allowance he is unlikely to ask anything outright.”

“And Axe is?” Sisnaticka asked, back to being fully bemused. The rest of it belonged under ‘need thinking about’ and he did not need to repeat himself. Or at least that was his view of it.

“Perhaps we should simply go now,” Megatron carefully inserted himself in the conversation, “then you can meet Master Knight Axe instead of hearing of him. He is very curious though, and I would say not prepared for this actual meeting.”

“Yes, we should,” Optimus agreed then paused as he was about to speak to Lux, “ah, I should probably also mention that Lux and Tenebris are both Metrotitans. That is really big mech who transform into cities and in their case also ships. Lux if you please, the way to Dai and Axe.”

“Interesting,” Sisnaticka looked curiously around, “that is a tactical advantage I imagen. Why was it not used in the simulation?”

He walked when the other two began walking, noting faint vibrations in the warm metal under his clawed feet. A living ship did not phase him, as several species employed different sorts of ships and a good number were sentient and even sapient in one form or another.

“I am not sure, then again I stayed out of most of the tactics, Megatron, Galvatron and Dai Atlas were the main tactitins,” Optimus shrugged, not sure either.

“And here we are,” Optimus gave Dai and Axe a quick ping for their attention for the moment, as they were both connected in to review the simulations.

“It was deemed an unfair advantage as your scouts and then you had not been made aware of it. And it was viewed as a good exercise for our troops to attempt working together. We cannot always rely on the Metrotitans to be available to us,” Megatron spoke measured, but not annoyed. It was necessary to know they could all do their work without the Metrotitans as a factor.

“My Lords,” Dai Atlas broke away from the holo table that a larger group was assembled about, obviously, and loudly, dissecting the simulation.

“Honoured guest,” he ignored the intense curiosity from his mate, willing to indulge him but only after formalities were over with.

“My title is Warlord,” Sisnaticka answered the greeting with polite curiosity.

“Knight Master Dai Atlas is the leader of the knights of Light, who works directly under the Tirad, that is Prime, Protector and Herald. Please meet Warlord Sisnaticka, leader of the Dragonian race and long standing ally of the Decepticons. Would Axe like to be introduced as well?” Optimus was a little surprised that only Dai Atlas had broken away from the examination of the simulation, but took it in stride.

“Greetings Warlord, and may I compliment your Scout Commander and yourself on the simulation victory,” Dai Atlas gave a respectful bow and then relaxed a little.

“Yes, he would,” he kept the relief from his tone, relief at Optimus’ understanding, not at having things over with, “Knight Axe,” he called out and his mate came over at a sensible pace. Well, Axe might be bubbling over inside, but he knew when to keep it on the inside.

“Warlord, Protector, Prime,” Axe greeted, warned by his mate, optics bright with bottled up curiosity.

“Master knight, Axe, mate of Dai Atlas, please meet Dragonian Warlord Sisnaticka,” Optimus introduced the two, he hoped that Axe recalled that conversation during his tour, offering to spar would be a great way for the two to interact and for Axe to safely vent some of that curiosity.

“I hope you will stay for a while, Warlord Sisnaticka of the Dragonians. Our Prime has spoken well of you and talked of the prowess of the Dragonian race, it would benefit the knights of Light to contest with another race in real practice instead of only simulations,” Axe spoke, carefully making the request on behalf of the knights as a whole.

“I shall follow along as you are within Dragonian claimed space, and it would be good indeed to spar and battle with a new ally,” Sisnaticka was a lot less concerned with hiding his glee.

Optimus smiled, pleased with how the introduction had gone, turning to Dai Atlas he asked, “Would you show me how the break down of the sim is done?” he was curious, Autobots did not do this even when he could see obvious benefit. That was something Optimus was glad for now, their folly was his benefit now.

“Of course, my Lord Prime. Lord High Protector? If you would follow me to join the Lord Herald,” he turned to walk back to the group of concentratedly talking mecha.

Chapter Text

The simulation breakdown took the rest of the orn, with Sisnaticka leaving at some point for his own ship to arrange things.

The next orn Optimus found the training rooms mostly booked out, much to his amusement. He was also amused but not at all surprised to find Axe and Sisnaticka occupying one of the training rooms. So he decided to join them as a spectator.

“So the axe is your preferred weapon or?” Sisnaticka eyed the mech before him, and the sword on his back and the heavy training war axe the mech was trying out. Like most of the weapons worn by the knights in full view, the sword sported a big crystal that winked in the light.

He himself was weighing a semitar sparring weapon, finding no fault with the balance of weight.

“Yes, I prefer axes, and I might have ended up with one as Great Weapon, but they don’t take preference into account that way when they choose their wielder. You should ask my Creation about that one!”

“Creation?” Sisnaticka perked up, he had never seen Cybertronian young though he knew they had eggs. Egg usually.

Optimus chuckled as he walked in, the conversation topic was typical for Axe.

“Wing. Very friendly mech, though you would not pick him as their creation if you did not already know. We can ask if he is free to drop by?” Optimus offered and explained as he settled himself into the spectator area.

“I would be honoured to meet the offspring of such a capable pairing,” Sisnaticka nodded to the Prime with one head, acknowledging his presence and suggestion without stopping his observation of his soon to be sparring partner.

“My Lord Prime?” Axe said curiously, questioning note more as to how formal this was meant to be than his presence.

“At ease Axe, you know I don’t stand for formalities any more than you do under most circumstances,” Optimus sighed, he understood, but that did not mean he would ever like the constant use of his title.

“And a moment, I will comm. him and see.” With that said he focused internally for his coms, letting Axe focus on the sparring match.

“As I do not, you may call me Sis’ if you wish,” the Warlord said with an amused rumble.

“And Axe is fine by me,” Axe nodded, finally looking up from choosing a training axe, “is it polite to ask if you have offspring?”

It was asked carefully because he only knew very little of Dragonians but he knew that some spices did not like to discuss breeding in any aspect. Better safe than sorry, though the lumbering creatures didn’t seem quick to temper.

The comm. did not take long since Optimus immediately got an enthusiastic ‘I will be there!’

“Wing, is on his way,” Optimus grinned, watching the pair on the training floor curiously.

“It depends on the manner you ask, and of whom you ask it. I am a male of my species and it is acceptable to ask me of my personal lineage because I am of high rank. But generally if you ask a Dragonian it is better to ask if the lineage or family is doing well than if an individual has any offspring,” Sisnaticka hissed an amused chuckle, “and my lineage is doing very well thank you, both my personal one, my family and those that I have been honoured to sire for in my travels.”

“What of your lineage, Optimus? Now that we are discussing such things, I am curious as to how Cybertronian families work,” Sisnaticka asked frankly, figuring that they would tell him if his questions were unacceptable to them.

“Ah… Well,” Optimus sighed, finials laying back. “My family are in the Well of Allsparks, have been since before I made my way to Cybertron initially,” he admitted. It was not something Optimus had spoken about in a long time. “So I am not really one to ask about typical families.”

Sisnaticka hissed, a dismayed sound of sympathy and pain. But Axe’s reaction was somewhat stronger, helm coming up from his perusal of the Dragonian and turning to look at the Prime with optics being a little too bright for normal.

“I sssee,” Sisnaticka said softly, “it is indeed sad to find oneself alone.”

That was a bit of an understatement, though Sisnaticka knew that Cybertronians didn’t have families the way his kind had. A lone Dragonian was either a result of being rejected, rarely occurring, or some form of catastrophe and he could not well imagen what might destroy all but one of a line.

“I might no longer have a spark bonded family, but I am building strong connections here, and both Megatron and Galvatron are courting me,” Optimus tried to ease the sad air, it was not something he wanted to dwell on.

“Connections to what,” Wing skitted to a halt, just in time to hear the last bit and view the expression on his Creator’s faceplates, “did you ask him to sparkmerge or something?”

That seemed a bit far out, but his Creators were… interesting when it came to berth play. Though of course it might have nothing to do with play at all, given the situation.

“I did not, there is a courtship happening!” Axe was only faking being offended, and mostly to recover, or requpe, from his first reaction. He definitely needed to try and reign it in… though given how his Creation was looking at him he might be up against a lost cause already.

“What is that, this sparkmerging?” Sisnaticka asked, heads turning to follow the different players in this suddenly very significant conversation, “and hello Wing, offspring of Dai Atlas and Axe.”

“Uh, hi, right, Optimus said you wanted to meet me?” Wing managed to tear his optics from his Creator and… didn’t know what to focus on, on the strange being. He’d seen a few of the others but had not managed to have a conversation with one yet. And it was just really disconcerting that it, he?, seemed able to look at multiple things at once. As for the question… he wasn’t feilding it!

“No… we were discussing families, and by connections I meant friendships and such that I have been building since meeting the knights,” Optimus half explained, not really wanting to say where his spark family was again.

“Wing, this is Warlord Sisanticka, the Dragonian leader. Wing is a fully mature knight, we don’t currently have any eggs, sparklings or younglings with us,” Optimus explained the last to Sisnaticka. “Sparkmerging is exactly as it sounds like, it is also the most intimate non interface… ah, sexual?, act two Cybertronians can do with each other,” He added not really sure what else to say.

“...” Wing hesitated, though he did bow to the alien warlord. And luckily for him his Sire jumped in to save the situation.

“Actually spark merging is much more than simply an act of interfacing, sexual intercorse?” Axe said, giving his Creation a somewhat chastising look.

“It is the most intimate of acts to our kind, but there are many different kinds of bonds and many different types of merges. I have a mate bond with Dai Atlas, naturally, but I also have a Creation bond with Wing, though Atlas’ bond to him is stronger. I have made shallow merges with Lux, the Metrotitan that is our ship.”

“Interesting, but what precisely is a spark?” Sisnaticka asked with patient amusement, “functions of the body is not often discussed at the Trade summents and while I have sparred with Cybertronians it has not been accompanied with a lesson in sexual intercourse or familiar relations.”

“Our Spark is the very core of our being. It is the part that Primus nurtures before we have our frame, and the part Unicron collects when we die. Without it we would be indistinguishable from highly advanced robots. Physically our spark resides in the centre of our chest and is what powers our frames,” Optimus tried as an explanation, wading through Primus’s explanations.

“...” Sisnaticka blinked the milky white eyelids over his eyes like the commander had done when she was excited and shifted his stance as his mind completely left the sparring match behind, “you have actually measurable souls? That it is a real measurable thing?”

“What’s a soul?” Wing asked, absolutely fascinated but also mostly missing the significance of everything happening. Then again he had missed most of the conversation start.

Axe flounded, not actually knowing what a soul was either but, “yes? Our sparks can be monitored and measured, but… I do not know if that is the equivalent of a soul?”

Optimus moved down to stand by Wing, “Yes, a soul is the organic equivalent of a spark. At least according to Primus. But we can’t help with determining anything about other races sparks or souls. We are created and guided by our gods, as you are by yours. So there are differences there.” Optimus nodded to Sisnaticka.

“Ah, the Star Dragon… I have not had time to meditate,” Sisnaticka nodded, not precisely disappointed and yet.

“The Nerila have often hinted at a measurable soul too, but not in a manner that made it possible to ask about it. But this is a side note, did I understand true that you as a Creator, Axe, feel Wing in your soul? And he you… what then does it mean when one loses a progenitor?”

The Dragonian was not asking to hurt, but in genuine confusion and wish to help if he could. The pain of losing someone of a line, especially someone who had not managed to pass on his or her memories were great indeed. Each such loss was a loss of wisdom. Those unable to breed gave on knowledge by teaching, and while their loss was not as profound, it was still sad to see one go without the chance to teach the next generation.

Wing looked more and more perplexed, and a little nervous too. Feeling like he’d stepped into something that was turning out to be a trap.

“Yes I feel Wing, and he I,” Axe said slowly, halting on answering the second part because, well, who was he to speak of another’s pain?

Optimus sighed looking away as he replied, voice quiet as he tried to once again hold back the pain, “I felt the moment of their passing. Bonds can be wonderful but their breaking always means pain.”

“It is a great sadness, and a great pain,” Sisnaticka stated as he measured the reaction of the small being in front of him. Cybertronians were very alien, but not so much so that one could not read them if one but knew how to see. And this was a pain, clearly a deep one.

“Um,” Wing felt it, but he was not going to stop his Sire, though the offer was a potentially dangerous one.

“You could choose new connections like them,” Axe spoke very, very softly, gentle as was his field as it reached out in offering, “a new family. Not to replace, but to fill the void and to honour them by your happiness.”

“I…” Optimus choked, looking at Axe with wide, bright optics, he was ashamed that it was Primus’s intervention that stopped him from rejecting the suggestion… or was it an offer?, out of hand.

Hesitantly, tentatively he reached out with his fields, though he had no control over what they currently told. He was unable to speak though.

The much older knight crooned softly, words for a moment lost in the deeply rooted need to nurture and heal. A knight Axe might be, a warrior, that did not prevent him from being a nurturer by spark too and he could not stand pain in those he liked.

And to feel the Prime in pain, the mech was so young to carry so much. So strong, but there was no need for him to have that void in the fabric of his being.

“It’s true you know,” Wing sidled closer, though he opticked the silent alien that seemed satisfied with observing them all for now.

“Everyone deserves a stable base, love, family…”

Optimus was facing absolute inner turmoil, he wanted to go to Axe, wanted to cling and be held, but there was another part of the equation to consider. Dai Atlas had not yet given his opinion.

Primus was not letting him push the pain back again, desperately he reached out for Wing, needing something, someone to ground him. Optimus felt the brush of mind and support coming from the Forge. They were right, he did not have to face this pain alone.

Wing did not hesitate in hugging the other, looking over his shoulder pauldron at his Sire in mute, confused appeal. Usually mechs would throw themselves at Axe if he got to them in a state, though admittedly those mechs were knights, a good many having known Axe for most, if not all, of their lives.

For his part the older mech wasn’t sure how to interpret the way the Prime was acting though he could easily teek that it was no rejection. It seemed more like fear, of what he had no clue.

Sisnaticka watched, fairly certain that voicing an opinion, or walking away, would be a bad move at this point. Private as the pain might be, he was witnessing something frail, something that might just shatter in the wrong way if he moved.

With a slight nudge from Primus, Optimus looked up at Axe.

“If the offer is real, I need… need to know where Dai stands,” Optimus managed, battling to find the right path to healing, and it was a battle despite Primus’s loving nudges towards a particular path.

“You need only ask,” Axe did not jump, but Wing sort of did, or his wings at least, and Sisnaticka certainly moved fast to face the potential threat. Dai was just as capable of moving soundless as any of them, and with Lux to help it was no feat at all.

“And the answer is that I always stand with my mate, Optimus, he would not offer otherwise,” the huge triple changer’s voice softened considerably as he moved to physically stand by his mate, one arm going around Axe’s shoulders and the other reaching out in offering.

There seemed to be no need to reaffirm that in any other way than reaching out too and Axe did so, with field and hands.

Optimus froze the moment Dai Atlas spoke, following him with slightly over bright optics. With a slight nuzzle of subconscious affection for Wing, Optimus let go of him and instead launched himself at the pair. To have an actual family again… Inside his chest the Matrix and through it to Primus, Optimus felt loving approval as Primus finally backed off, letting his spark deal with the pain as it wanted now.

“Shh, youngling,” Axe murmured though no one was actually making much in the way of any sounds. It was the tone more than the words that mattered, and yet fact was that the mech he and his mate held right now was a distressed youngling, not a young Prime. In pain and needing an anchor.

“Just let it out,” Dai’s voice rumbled softly, almost more felt than heard.

Wing moved around them to stand closer to the still warlord, wondering what the being thought of all of this, and if he should politely escort him out or not. As for Sisnaticka himself, well, he was learning a lot more about Cybertronians, and these new ones, than he had expected to given that he was supposed to be sparring.

Optimus relaxed into their hold, the pain finally loosening enough for him to let first one then many quiet sobs out, a grieving he had not truly had a chance for before now. The pain was old though, and ready to come out, sobs soon turned into words, telling what he recalled of his creators. They had prepared for the risk, considering their work, he had been quickly taken in by a good orphanage, one who used the credits his creators had left, for his benefit, including his adult frame upgrades, the best they could get him. But still he had been a last stage youngling at the time.

It was like leeching poison, if Cybertronians actually experienced something like that. For Sisnaticka it was a valid comparison, old pain festered and could turn into a form of poison if it was not allowed out eventually. The Prime would live far longer than he, and if he had understood right about his role… getting the pain out, having a stable family. It was not only important for the young mech, but for all of Cybertron.

Perhaps for all of them, given the few hints he had so far received.

“Should we leave,” he muttered to the small white winged mech.

“Uh… no, I don’t think so,” Wing managed, giving the alien a slightly confused sideways glance, “there’s ah the Primal guards outside and I don’t think anyone else really needs to see this right now.”

He was rather glad that he’d thought of that. Not that this was embarrassing, just… private.

Dai and Axe murmured reassurances and encouragements, demanding nothing more than the young mech was willing to give.

It lasted a long while, everytime embarrassment started to show either Primus or the Forge would push that back, it did mean that by the time he was done Optimus was emotionally exhausted, but under the exhaustion he felt far better, he felt comfortable right where he was. Because he was not even attempting to control his fields they told the full story of his changing state.

“I think it is time for some fuel,” Dai spoke up, though his voice was soft still, tagging on “in private,” before any discomfort could manifest itself in either involved mecha.

Axe broke away though he made a reassuring noise to Optimus as he did so. Turning to his sparkling and the stranger who’d unintentionally become a part of something very intimate, “Wing, can you arrange something, and Sisnaticka, I fear our sparring may be a bit postponed. What sort of refreshments can we offer instead?”

“Sure,” Wing chirped agreeably, glad to finally have something to do. He did dart in to hug and reassure both Axe, Dai and Optimus before pelting for the door, the bright bounce back in his pede steps, after all pain or not he had just gained a brother!

“Is it appropriate for me to stay?” Sisnaticka asked in a low rumble, knowing that among his people extraordinary events would have to happen for him to be allowed to watch such a profound and intimate moment, and something universe shaking for him to be allowed to stay after it had played out. But these beings were not Dragonian…

When Axe moved Optimus simply shifted to a more comfortable position, not ready to give up physical contact, though he did lift his helm to watch what was going on.

At Sisnaticka’s question Optimus managed a smile and a quiet, “You are welcome by me.”

Axe spread his hands in a gesture of welcome, a tired smile on his derma, “I don’t think it would be appropriate to throw you out. And you showed great respect and kindness in the face of something that was unexpected and profound, making you leave would be seen as deeply disrespectful to you. And personally I don’t want you to, for none of the above reasons really. You were there for Optimus before we even met him, you helped start the change that led to this…”

“I believe that is a ‘welcome, Amica of the family’,” Dai said with some humour though he too had an edge of tiredness to his tone, and he not so much as twitched a wing tip.

“Sorry about the sparring match,” Optimus added, he knew that everyone had been looking forward to it.

“Don’t be,” Sisnaticka managed to say it before Axe, both heads turning to look at the young mech, the Prime, “accident or not I am honoured that you would lower your guard thus when I was here. It could not easily have been brought back up, pain is to be dealt with so as not to fester and ruin. And very honoured to be… amica, though I am not sure what this is?”

“Never apologise for needing to heal,” Axe said seriously, since the warlord had said all else needed to, that statement really!

“An Amica is an enduring friend. Someone that stands at your side whenever need be. We have a formal version, Amica Endura… the only bond that is more lasting ceremonially speaking is the one between Axe and I, Conjunx Endura,” Dai chuckled tiredly, “and you, my Prime and Creation, you must stop thinking of yourself as an inconvenience!”

Optimus ducked his helm but he was still smiling as he nuzzled against warm plating again.

With a deep invent to cool his systems Optimus moved back to a more publicly acceptable closeness. “I think we are ready to move now?”

“We can stay here just fine, Optimus,” Dai Atlas said with a smile as he looked down.

“Wing will be back with something to fuel on… and eat?” Axe nodded, smiling at the Dragonian who seemed to consider the explanation of Amica very carefully. Perhaps such a bond was against whatever honour codex his species held. He was just about to explain that as long as the ceremony hadn’t taken place it was nothing more than a fancy label for a trusted friend when the big being spoke.

“I am indeed honoured then, what does the formal acceptance of this title entail?” Sisnaticka was not unaware of the peril of taking on responsibilities such as this. But purely political sense told him that he would not be putting his foot down wrong by being close to Cybertronian leadership. Leadership that was recognized by most other species thanks to the Nerila’s spectacular announcement at the Trade summit. On a more personal level he had liked the young Prime from the start, perhaps he was a bit softer than most Dragonians but that was not necessarily bad, especially not with the Prime’s two potential mates. There had to be nurturers to balance out the warriors…

“We should still settle to be more comfortable,” Optimus returned the smile and pressed back in close again anyway. He did relax somewhat though, enough to look around and pay proper attention to what was going on.

“There will be a ceremony, but the size of that is dependent on all involved wishes,” Optimus answered part of Sisnaticka’s question.

“Hmm,” was all Dai said as he closed his arms around the smaller mech again. It was a sound of contentment, and the same feeling was mirrored in the tilt of his wings and his stance.

“If you had a spark you would bare it to us as we bared ours to you,” Axe hummed thoughtfully, looking around the room a little to see what they could do about comfort.

“I suppose it will be us baring our sparks and us all speaking the words? I do not know how it works with non mecha, but there must be references in the library. I can have one of the archivists pull up knowledge.”

“Mmm, perhaps the best equivalent would be me standing without armour,” Sisnaticka shuddered a little at the thought of being armourless. There were few times in a Dragonian male's life that he took off his armour, but for this he would accept it. It was about mutual trust and also might easily become a symbol of interspecies trust.

“We can have only those that need to be there then, and everyone who wants to come can be part of the celebration after,” Optimus suggested to help put the Dragonian at ease with the idea.

“Given what is to happen it is not an event to have too many strangers at,” Sisnaticka hissed a laugh, “but for the value of what it will represent there must be witnesses, preferably from my kind too.”

“That makes sense though I will stress that the offer is not made out of a wish for political gain,” Dai Atlas still sounded a tad dreamy but there was nothing dreamy about the content of his words.

“Strangers, no, we can introduce each other to the one or ones we want as witnesses before the ceremony so none are total strangers, and I don’t think I need to mention but they must be explicitly trusted,” Optimus chucked, the sound a touch tired.

“You are exhausted,” Dai Atlas observed before he picked up the smaller mech and looked around to find his mate making a… picnic area of sorts. He did not question it, but instead walked over to settle on the stacked training mats with the smaller mech securely in his lap.

Axe shook his helm and shrugged at their guest, the Dragonian made a rumbling laugh and said, “I am not surprised, such things cost even when you wish they did not.”

If he had been about to say more they never heard it because Wing arrived, carefully carrying an armload of boxes in, putting them down and turning right back around to get more.

Optimus did not resist at all, simply cuddling up, engine purring contentedly at the comfort and warmth. He did have to admit that he was tired, now that the emotions had been purged.

Wing and Axe set up the fuel, quietly asking Sisnaticka about handling the food that the younger knight had obtained from a very bemused Dragonian he almost managed to bowl over on his way to forage at the nearest rec room.

Once ready Dai urged Optimus to fuel, but none of them expected much in the way of participation from him and fell to discussing whatever seemed most interesting. In a way they had done this all a tad reverse, save for the Prime at least, declaring Amica long before getting to know each other. But in these times things just happened differently, and Sisnaticka was certainly of compatible interests!

Optimus tried to keep up with the conversation and did manage to fuel, he knew very well how important proper fueling was.

With fresh fuel in his tanks, cuddled in comfort and warmth and surrounded by friendly fields and faces, it did not take long before Optimus started drifting off into recharge.

Eventually they had to move out, Sisnaticka couldn’t keep stalling his tasks, and neither could Dai though he was loath to give up his burden of sleeping Prime. At least Axe and Wing were there to take over and bring the young mech to their own hab suit. That helped a little on things.

Chapter Text

Optimus woke in unfamiliar surroundings, enveloped in a familiar field, Axe. Purring his engine Optimus rolled over to cuddle in closer while his processors were still finishing booting up.

Axe made a soft noise when the smaller mech moved, glancing down from the datapad he’d been reading. When it was obvious that Optimus wasn’t entirely awake yet he returned to it, one hand moving to gently pet the other’s side.

On the couch Wing had lifted his helm at the noise, but went back to carefully folding the thin sheets of metal he was working on when nothing more happened. He had promised his Carrier to stay with his Sire until the Prime woke.

Optimus woke slowly, but it still was not that long before he lifted his helm to look around, though he currently was not willing to move further than that. Looking around a little he easily spotted Wing and smiled at him.

“Hi there, did you rest well?” Wing smiled back once he saw the other young mech look at him. It was a bit weird to get his processor around the Prime being just like him, sort of, but on the other hand he had always wanted siblings so…

Axe rumbled softly to acknowledge that Optimus was awake but kept on reading, he did need to get through the pile of reports somehow. Not too much later than now… he huffed softly.

“Mmm, yes I did,” Optimus replied, still very much content to remain as he was.

“Did you enjoy getting to meet Sisnaticka?”

“Yeah, he’s really interesting, did you know that all Dragonians are required to know how to use at least two different bladed weapons? They don’t live quite as long as us, that’s going to be weird…” Wing trailed off consideringly.

Axe grunted a distracted laugh, still petting the warm plating under his hand.

“Yes to the second, no to the first, did Sis’ say how many he knows? They do live very long for organics though,” Optimus chuckled, feeling quite pleased.

“No, I didn’t think to ask him but Sire’s got a new match set up, so…” Wing’s tone and expression got a bit shy when he said that, testing the waters so to speak. He wasn’t sure how Optimus might react, being included like that already.

Axe too wondered, though he didn’t tense up or let it into his field. They were going to move at whatever pace Optimus decided.

“Well that is good. I am simply glad that Sis’ was not upset that the match got postponed,” Optimus nodded, the implications of Wing’s words going right over his helm.

“Mm, no he seemed mostly bemused by everything. He sort of said the same, and explained some of the differences between us. I… didn’t much like the whole egg thing, though I mean I can understand the whole thing what with his explanations. He said you reacted the same more or less,” Wing relaxed again, fingers nimbly folding the last of the thin metal.

“Well then, I can imagine how you reacted. It is odd, but they do have a sound reason for their ways,” Optimus grinned, recalling when he had learnt of those Dragonian customs.

“He took the whole ‘Amica’ thing very well.”

“Surprisingly so,” Wing laughed even as his Sire rumbled good naturedly and put the report pad away, “but honestly for such a war like species he is really mellow?”

“Are any of you hungry?” Axe spoke gently, though he did not move quite yet.

“I could use a little,” Optimus shifted a little in order to get room to stretch. “War like does not mean war hungry though.”

Axe nodded and turned to leave with a look at this coded creation. Wing seemed oblivious so he shrugged and went to find a snack for all of them.

“Mmhm,” Wing nodded, looking curiously at the other young mech, “that was not what I meant either. I think… I expected him to have a temper, sort of?”

“That doesn’t really make a lot of sense though, for a warlike species having a temper could be very dangerous. Less allies, more fighting with other races and themselves. They are an ancient species, one of the Star Dragons first creations. An unreasoned temper could destroy their race if others of their own kind don’t temper it,” Optimus frowned, half speaking his own thoughts and half Primus’s opinion on the matter.

“What is the Star Dragon?” Wing asked, fascinated and also just wanting the other to continue talking for a bit. Once Axe came back… and as soon as his Carrier could, Dai would be here too. There would be ‘bigger’ things to discuss.

“Their creator god, very much like the Heart is to the Nerila and Primus and Unicron are to us. Primus tells me that there are others too,” Optimus shrugged not sure how else to explain it.

“Ah, that makes sense, I guess,” Wing accepted that easily enough, after all he had lived all his life believing in Primus. Unicron was a recent addition, but he didn’t mind having two Creators in that manner too. However…

“These Nerila people have been mentioned alot?”

“They are quite an interesting race, everyone of them is connected to their creator. They are a hive race, and don’t have individuals the same way as we do,” Optimus nodded, eager to share about those who had made such a large impact on his life. If not for them he doubted he would be here right now.

“So they are all this Heart or,” Wing stopped, thought about it and then shook his helm, “you say not like we do, but what does that really mean?”

“They know they are individual parts of the hive, but when you speak with one you address them as ‘the Nerila’, I don’t think they even have or use names. They are also in some ways the opposite of the Dragonians, they are pacifists for the most part,” Optimus hummed and turned his helm to stare at the ceiling as he considered what he actually knew of the Nerila.

“I wonder what that is like… do you think that is what bonding is like?” Wing asked, thoughts on his Sire and Carrier and the way they could move together and converse over the bond they shared…

“Snacks, and what bond?” Axe returned with a tray in time to overhear the last bit. He did not want to jump to conclusions.

“According to Primus, partly. It is… very complex. The connection the Nerila share is in some ways deeper than the deepest bonds our kind can make. I can’t make much sense of the explanation Primus is giving me,” Optimus looked back over and gave a brief dip of his helm in acknowledgment to Axe.

“Ah, another alien species,” Axe rumbled a laugh and placed the tray down on the low table. It was good to see Wing and Optimus talking so easily, good to see and feel that Wing accepted, even welcomed, what had happened. It was not like they had actually discussed it after all.

“Yes, I asked about the Nerila,” Wing sat up to peer at the offered snack and shrugged lightly, “I don’t think I quite understand it all.”

“Well you are about on par with the rest of the universe, the Nerila are considered quite mysterious,” Optimus chuckled as he finally got up, moving over to investigate the snacks for himself. He did reach out his fields to Axe, in affection and greeting.

Axe responded with an open meshing of their fields, far more intimate than he had ever done with the Prime before. It was what he did with Wing, and even deeper and longer with Dai when they had the rare snatched moment in public.

Wing looked up from perusing and then moved a little closer to lean into the contact too. A bit more shy than his Sire, but not by much. The jet was rarely really shy after all.

Optimus glanced up at Axe before matching the meshing of their fields, it simply felt good and right to do so. He was smiling as he picked out his first snacks.

Axe quietly got both younger mechs to sit with him on the couch after they had chosen their fuel. Enjoying the closeness even as he knew that the coming conversation was going to be emotional in some way.

“Optimus,” he began seriously, “Dai and I meant our offer, but I do not want you to doubt that it is your decision in the end. I also want you to know for sure that it is something that Wing is good with. There would be no dissent in our family for your place in it.”

The first thing Optimus felt was a strong wave of joy emanating from the Matrix. That made Primus’s opinion abundantly clear. His own emotions were a much more confused mix and Optimus froze for a moment as he processed that. But Axe had managed to make the meaning very clear.

All that simply left Optimus’ own opinion on the matter. His memory banks brought up how good it had felt to be held. A strong desire for that again had him moving, even before conscious thought, climbing up onto Axe’s lap.

Wing giggled even as he moved to make sure there was room for Axe to cuddle O… his brother. No, he certainly did not mind this! Though it would be odd to think of the Prime as family, but then it wouldn’t have mattered who took the spot, it would have been weird anyway!

Axe just cuddled the other, silently accepting the chaotic emotions as he had expected them.

“My spark already fully accepts, I think that is why Primus has been pushing for this,” Optimus muttered as he nuzzled in, allowing the peace in his spark to soothe his processors and smooth out his fields.

“He has?” Axe asked, voice gentle and inquisitive. Again he did not want to press, but he felt that it perhaps needed talking about too.

“Sire’s right, I am happy to have a sibling,” Wing finally spoke, “and sort of relieved I didn’t have to wait for him to get big, this first time around.”

Axe made a noise that was half laughter, half admonishment at the mischievous admission.

Optimus laughed and teased, “Do you want many siblings then?”

Sobering a little but still smiling, Optimus nodded, “Yes, from the first Primus was pleased with yourself and Dai, and encouraged building a strong relationship. It was not specifically family to start off with. I am uncertain when that change happened. But it was always in line with my own wishes. Unless truly important Primus will not push for something I am against.”

“I see,” and he did, though perhaps not all of it given that it was their god pushing for it. But Axe knew the importance of having a secure personal space. Not just a physical space, but a metaphysical one too. And he knew very well how Dai and Wing made the supports of his metaphysical space, along with his friends and the knights at large. Losing anyone of them would push at the stability of it, but the others would help it regain equilibrium. So yes, he did see.

“You can not have any stronger relationship than those of a bonded family. Creation bond, mate bond,” Axe added.

“I want loads of them, but I have heard such stories of my Carrier and Sire while carrying and the whole brooding, ugh, I tell you!” Wing made a dramatic noise.

“Exactly. Primus wants me to have strong bonds, not only for my sake but for himself too. Primus knows each spark, but connects to the living through me. So he needs me to be strong and stable, and connected. I also need the connections to keep in touch with reality, especially when Primus fully awakens,” Optimus explained, realising that the bond with Primus was not at full strength yet. “I never had even the chance to have siblings before.”

“Well, that will change now!” Wing chirped happily, and then added, “and maybe we can then weather the horror of our Creators brooding over a new egg together!”

Now that was far more palatable than facing it alone.

“Making plans without asking us if we are even going to give you more siblings?” Axe said with amused weariness, “it makes sense, Optimus, and speaking of… I suppose we should wait on Dai, but still. What do you want for the event? A ceremony or something less massive?”

“It might happen, but after we have survived the coming events,” Optimus grinned at Wing and held a hand out to him.

“I am not sure… not too big, but allow the knights to celebrate too if they wish?” Optimus suggested as he considered.

Wing took the offer and shifted to snuggle up to Optimus.

“Mm, and who should witness?” Axe asked. They technically had already asked Sisnaticka, but they would need three more at least.

“If you are fine with it, I think at least Megatron, if not Galvatron too, should witness,” Optimus suggested, purring his engine with pleasure. The closeness felt good. His creators had only wanted what was best for him, and this was undeniably a very good thing for all involved. He was sure they would be proud.

“They would be acceptable, though you may consider if they will be a distraction… it is a bonding of a sort after all,” Axe mused, thinking it over carefully.

Wing purred back, relishing the closeness, surprised to know he’d wanted it for longer than he had realised.

“In that case they might insist on being there to ensure nothing untoward happens in the moment of vulnerability,” Optimus remarked, fairly certain that Megatron would at least.

“But would you be able to concentrate on making it a Creation bond with them watching you?” Axe questioned very seriously. Bonding required some conscious direction, and a desire for it. But the process took its cue from feelings and if amorous the Creation bond might fail or become something else. Either could be devastating as it could not be undone.

Wing made a face, “but won’t that danger be mitigated if I am there to create a sibling bond at the same time?”

“Primus will be able to help focus and guide the bond formation,” Optimus explained Primus’s reply, relaxing as he realised there was no risk on his side of things. “The biggest thing is if each of you will be able to handle being that close to Primus while the bond is forged.”

“Hmm,” Axe nodded slowly and then softly said, “we are more than willing to try. Understand? We would not have offered if we were not, and this changes nothing of that.”

“In that case I am confident things will go well,” Optimus would simply have a chat with Primus beforehand, so He would not be overwhelming.

That made Axe chuckle, a light happy sound, though he was not so sure it would be so easy. A lot of things could block a bond and even with the help of a God… well, the block would not be from their end of things.

Wing swatted at his sire, and hummed low in his vocalizer. It was playful, not angry and he nuzzled Optimus’ shoulder while doing it so he couldn’t even see if he hit anything.

“So who else is in the running to stand witness?” Optimus inquired after a relaxed moment, humour and affection echoing in his tone and fields.

“Sisnaticka, he already said yes,” Wing mumbled, he was honestly getting a bit sleepy now that everything seemed to be sorted out, more or less.

“And the last can be pretty much anyone, perhaps a knight? Or Lux’s Voice?” Axe offered thoughtfully.

“I think Bladecut is a good idea. Does Dai have any other suggestions? And Sisnaticka is certainly making the most out of the given opportunities,” Optimus chuckled at the last, not opposed in the least.

“He is as much a politician as a warrior, though I think he might be insulted if one pointed that out to him,” Axe chuckled, shaking his helm even as he touched his mate to hear if there were any suggestions from his end.

“Maybe Yevok?” Wing spoke up, “to represent the Knights as a whole?”

“If he agrees, I would not be opposed, but no more witnesses than that,” Optimus hummed in consideration, thinking through all who would be, or might be present. “Also Sisnaticka might be more comfortable with the term ‘word weapons wielder’.”

“Dai agrees on Yevok,” Axe said calmly, and nodded with a smile at the last bit, “yes, he might at that.”

“What about a party?” Wing laughed, “even just a small one?”

“If they each agree, then it is settled,” Optimus purred contentedly. Adding, with a grin, “I think I would like a celebration. It is something to celebrate after all.”

Axe huffed with amusement, “that is for you two to plan then, and decide on size. I only plan Creation orn parties!”

“Aww, that’s evil Sire,” Wing pouted, “no one will believe me if I ask them to make goodies and such!”

“Perhaps I could be the one to ask then?” Optimus stated with amusement as he pinged Axe with his creation orn date. It was not in his Autobot files, so they would not have been able to find it. He had only ever told a select few as it was a strong reminder of his creators.

Axe let warmth ripple through his fields at the ‘gift’, but only hummed aloud in response to his Creations banter. Hmm, that felt good, the plural… Dai sent the equivalent of a purr through the bond and made Axe smile at the feeling of agreement and hmm, some diffuse amorous intent.

“Maybe? I suppose no one will say no to the Prime,” Wing said it like he hadn’t considered it before, and well, he had not in this context. So there!

“Which is why I won’t abuse it, only for major events,” Optimus stated seriously, before softening, “So who should we ask for what?”

“Mmm, I’ll make a list,” Wing nodded, grinning cheekily, “and I never suggested you would…”

His tone spoke of mischief in the making though and Axe rumbled a laugh.

Optimus chuckled and reached for his forgotten snack again, “Good, wouldn’t want you to be causing trouble now.”

“Speaking of trouble,” Axe spoke calmly, “Galvatron and Megatron?” his tone carried the question, though really, it was something they needed to talk of. As advisors to Optimus, and now also as his Creators. Now was that not a thought? Crystals and mechainsect talk would hopefully not be needed. Wing had been mercifully quick and bright on that score even if Dai did not fully agree with him on that.

“Already, Sire?” Wing groaned and dramatically thunked his helm against Optimus’ armour.

“They are not causing trouble, are they?” Optimus asked wearily. They had been behaving since he had given them his ultimatum. Admittedly mainly by staying in their respective ships. But they had managed to work well together in the battle sims. He had not kept track after though and had no real idea what they might be up to currently. He was a little confused by Wing’s groan.

“No they are not, not in any specific manner at least,” Axe said warily, “I meant in relation to you. You haven’t physically seen them in a few orn. Dai meant to speak with you about it, and well… this seems a good time?”

“That is mainly up to them, I gave them an ultimatum, and time, they are to work on improving their relationship with each other. I do not want them fighting over me. They were not happy when I told them it was both or neither,” Optimus huffed, it was actually Primus who had gotten sick of their posturing first!

“Ah, I suppose I should have considered the Matrix having told you of the nature of the ruling Triad,” Axe was honestly relieved, he did not enjoy having the ‘Talk’ with young mechs. And certainly not with his own Creations!

“I am personally interested, not just for the sake of the Triad. I was interested in Megatron since long before I met him,” Optimus grinned, thinking back to his first reaction to hearing clips of his voice.

Wing sniggered as his Sire heaved a huff that seemed to come from his very spark chamber.

“I will say this, as a Creator I really do not need to know the details of what you find attractive. As your advisor… I ask that you only tell me, if you really believe it necessary,” Axe said with a somewhat warily pleading tone of voice.

“Ah, but I did think that you needed to know it is more than just for duty,” Optimus stated teasingly, though he was not planning on saying more than that.

“I need to know you are happy,” Axe said with dry humour, “a list of kinks is not needed.”

Wing dissolved into helpless mirthful, spluttering.

“Mmm, might be an idea to give Megatron and Galvatron that list though,” Optimus laughed as he got the words out, though he was now seriously considering doing just that. It would be interesting to see how his courtmates responded to that.

“If you do, I am not proofreading it,” Axe continued on with dry humour. Though he was glad that Optimus looked at this from such a place of ease. Some mech he knew might have baulked just at the idea of two mates.

Wing seemed to be lost in peals of laughter.

“If any one, I will give it to Blacaracknia to proofread. She worked on the Iaconian docks with me. Joined the Autobots too, until an accident left her as she is. I thought her offline until I saw her with Megatron’s crew,” Optimus sobered up with that. He had not yet found the time or opportunity to talk with her.

“She meant something to you,” it was not a question, but it was an invitation. Axe had always been one to listen and help when he could, and this had the teek of a wound of some sort.

Optimus nodded, “I am planning on talking with her, at some point. She was one of my closest friends.”

“Ah mechling, we have your files remember… was she Elita One?” Axe vaguely recalled the young Prime reacting to the femme when they met Megatron, but at the time there had been so much else going on…

“And before that she was Arial,” Optimus smiled a little and snuggled in, he reached out to pet Wing now that he was calming down from his laughter. In some ways she was better off now. She would hate what Sentinel had become after losing her.

“There were never any attempts to find her after the accident,” Axe said slowly, thinking over what he had read in Optimus’ files and those related to it, “the trial also seemed… biased from what I read. It was odd, wasn’t it…”

A lot of things were odd really, but now that he thought about it. There had been a bias from the start, as if discrediting the young Prime had been its sole purpose, rather than finding any truth or reason for the accident. Even when evidence clearly showed that Sentinel and Elita were to blame it was twisted to pin more blame on Optimus.

“It was very biased, though I did not see it at the time. My own sense of guilt prevented that,” Optimus sighed, letting the Matrix and Primus at the niggling sense of guilt, not truly surprised when Primus pushed it away, showing his own disappointment with how Sentinel and Elita, but mostly Sentinel, had acted.

“Survivor's guilt,” Axe said matter of factly, but his field was full of sympathy, “I have been there, I understand.”

Wing kept quiet, he knew how his Creators had met, but he himself had not experienced anything like it. He could be there and offer support, but not with words.

Optimus nodded, accepting it for what it was, finally. Softly he asked, “How did you deal with it?” It was not asking for detail of what had happened, but for a means to cope.

“Hmm,” Axe smiled softly, “I had Dai, he had gone through it before me and I was… I was lucky enough that he saw something in me that I didn’t see. That it took vorn for me to see.”

Wing nuzzled his sire with a low purr.

“That might have something to do with his Sigma ability, all I can understand from Primus is that it has to do with sparks,” Optimus murmured, accepting. Time, friends and in his case talking with Black Arachnia, would help ease the feeling.

“Hmm? Dai doesn't have a sigma ability,” Axe said softly, curious rather than dismissive, “at least not as far as we know?”

“He does,” Optimus confirmed gently, trusting Primus’s word on the matter, “Primus says it is something related to his designation. Dai Atlas. I might have to go into a Matrix trance to learn more.”

“Not now,” Axe said gently, “I think it best you talk to him before doing something like that on his behalf. As for his name, we know it is Primal Vernacular, but he’s never bothered to get it translated?”

“I wasn’t meaning now,” Optimus chuffed a small laugh. That sort of thing was personal, of course they should talk with Dai about it first. “Fair enough. Might be a reason to translate it now though.”

“You may well be right in that,” Axe agreed, wiggling a wing edge on his offspring when Wing snerked softly at the downplaying.

“How long until he is off duty?” Optimus asked, wondering if waiting was the best option right now or finding something else to pass the time.

“It shouldn’t be long now unless there’s something holding him up,” Axe zoned out a moment and then smiled, “yeah, there’s nothing, he’s on his way.”

Optimus smiled and settled himself more comfortably. He did wonder how many others had Sigma abilities without knowing about it. Idly he pet Wing, enjoying the contact.

Chapter Text

Dai had been quite impatient to get his work done, the shifting feelings of Axe and to a lesser degree Wing teasing him for a while now. He knew of course that they were with Optimus, but not precisely what was happening and after the talk about adopting… well, he needed to be with them, but he could not shirk his duties even for that.

Optimus looked over and smiled when Dai entered, fields reaching out as soon as he was within range. Both the Matrix and the Forge were purring in contentment.

“Ahh, back to the safety of my ever growing family,” Dai dropped himself, carefully, at the vacant end of the couch, leaving his field open.

“Ever growing? So you agree with Wing about giving us more siblings once it is safe?” Optimus teased, though he knew that he too would enjoy that.

Axe laughed with Wing as Dai groaned softly, putting a hand over his optics.

“Already? And I thought one Creation begging cutely was bad…”

“It is more that you gave a perfect set up,” Optimus laughed, though not unkindly. “Primus tells me that he was rather bemused that you did not sense Wing’s spark earlier though.” That Optimus felt was a good lead into discussing the Sigma ability.

“Ooh, harsh,” Wing singsonged from his safeplace,

“Why was he amused by that?” Dai asked curiously, opticking Wing with an amused ‘I’ll get you for that’ expression.

“Our new Creation comes with a lot of information,” Axe said, his own amusement at the antics easily bleeding into his fields and voice.

“Apparently you have a Sigma ability that should allow you to sense even an early stage newspark,” Optimus explained, ignoring the antics, though his fields too were rife with good natured amusement.

“I have a Sigma ability?” Dai looked from face plate to face plate with some incredulity.

“Care to explain that?” it wasn’t that he did not trust it, but it was rather a big thing to be told all of a sudden.

Wing sniggered and Axe shushed him.

“All I can understand without going deep into the Matrix, is that it is something to do with sparks, and there is a hint in relation to your name,” Optimus shrugged apologetically, he did not know, or understand more than that.

“Hmm, perhaps later,” Dai nodded and then grinned at Optimus, “how about we all watch a holo or something like that, just relax together. One has to take a bit of time for that too, right Axe?”

Axe made a face at him but then nodded, “a holo would be cosy, wouldn’t it? Wing, you can go get some more snacks, and perhaps some regular fuel also?”

“Sounds good,” Optimus smiled in return, still not moving from his place on Axe’s lap.