EDITED 7/2/2019 Replaced Ironworks with Ironclad
MADE OF IRON
A Regenerated Short Story
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Cybertron, Cycle 5816
Night had fallen and work had begun.
It was a strange routine -- Ironhide didn't mind it, but it made things difficult when the rest of the planet was in shutdown. He would have to wait until he awoke from recharge to see if his friend in Iacon had gotten his message.
Still, he didn't let it bother him. Despite having only been online for two stellar cycles, he had already grown accustomed it. Besides, he still had plenty of bots to talk to in Thetacon; so long as they kept working, the chief was tolerant of socializing.
Tonight had started off as any other; upon awakening, he had lined up with the rest of his team and given their orders by the chief. The task had been the same as it always had been for the past two years: build a fortress to be placed in Iacon to defend it from the Decepticon threat.
Progress on the fortress had been slow going however. Part of it (or most of it perhaps) was because the chief did not see the Decepticons as big of a threat as they had been made out to be and saw the project as a waste of resources.
"Did Iacon need a fortress when Nominus Prime was assassinated?" Ox would always say. "Or when the Maladroids invaded Simfur? Or when the Destrongers tried to abduct Guardian Prime?"
It was Ox's belief that the Decepticons would be dealt with in good time and that Sentinel Prime was overcompensating with a fortress. Ironhide wasn't sure how well that would go over with Delta Magnus when he visited for his routine inspection next solar cycle, but that wasn't Ironhide's concern. He was simply here to work and nothing else.
He only wished others had that same mindset.
"Come on, Ironbuster," he called over to his fellow Thetacon, who was sat upon the stack of beams he was supposed to be carrying. "Get your aft moving. This fortress ain't gonna build itself."
"All right, all right!" the blue and red mech said, getting up and lifting his burden. "Just taking a breather."
"Yeah, your fifth in as many minutes," Ironhide grunted. "What's holding you up anyway?"
"Ironclad was telling me stories of the Primal Vanguard last night," Ironbuster replied. "Did you know it was Sentinel EnN who defeated Cannibaron during the Destron Wars?"
"Who and who?"
"Well, see, Cannibaron had gotten his hands on the Sphere of Doradus, so--"
"Kid, I don't really care. Just do you work--"
"Hey, who are you calling 'kid?' You're only a year older than me!"
"It's short for 'skidplate,' 'cos you're acting like one," said a heavily built red femme with a gold chest, coming up alongside the two mechs. "Besides, I'm sure Ironclad's just pulling your leg. She wouldn't have been there during the Destron Wars."
"Why not? I mean, she's the only one of us who was forged, so she could've--"
"Hold it." Ironhide brought the group to a stop, raising a hand to his optics as he looked up to the star-lit sky. "Are my optics playing tricks or is that a flier up there?"
The other two looked up to see a jet circling over the worksite. At that moment, the three Thetacons heard the rumble of an engine and looked to see a large tank rolling into the settlement.
"Aw, scrap," Ironbuster said, dropping his load as he raised his hands. "I knew this day would come!"
"Do not panic, people of Thetacon!" Descending from above, the jet transformed and landed before them, revealing a red and black robot form. "We come in peace."
Ironbuster's mouth fell open in shock. "Councilor Ulchtar?"
Ironhide frowned. "Who?"
"Vos' representative on the High Council," Irontread explained. "What are you doing here in Thetacon, Councilor? Especially at this hour?"
Ulchtar smiled. "Just thought I'd stop by. I'm due for a meeting in Tesarus tomorrow, so I thought I'd see how progress on the fortress was going."
Ironhide gestured to the tank behind Ulchtar. "And him?"
"Hm? Oh, yes." Ulchtar turned to the tank. "Do you mind showing yourself?"
The tank transformed, assuming the shape of a large mech with tall shoulders and a horned helmet. Irontread and Ironbuster both stepped back in shock while Ironhide simply looked on curiously. Ulchtar turned back to them with a smile.
"My friends, this is Trannis."
"I know who he is," Irontread murmured. "He's the one who killed Guardian Prime--"
"Ah, let's not start off on erroneous information," Trannis said, smiling. "The assassination of Guardian Prime was a tragic event and, while it was admittedly performed by a self-proclaimed Decepticon, it was not at my command."
"Really?" Ironbuster frowned. "Because only a month prior, you held that rally at Nova Point."
"I am a powerful speaker. Some may have taken my words to an extreme I had not intended."
"Still, the damage has been done," Ironhide murmured.
Trannis shifted his gaze to him. "What's your name, lad?"
"Ironhide. And don't call me 'lad.'"
"My apologies. It was rude of me to assume your age."
"Actually, he's only been online for two years," Irontread said. "He acts like he's a thousand though. He even treats me like a protoform, and I have fifty years on him!"
Trannis smiled. "Is that so? So tell me, Ironhide, what do you do for a living?"
"I build stuff."
"And are you content with that?"
Ironhide shrugged. "I guess? I mean, it's life."
"Yes... life as dictated by the system. Have you ever dreamed of being something more?"
"I...." Ironhide glanced at Ulchtar. "Councilor, what's--"
"Answer his question," Ulchtar replied curtly.
Iornhide rubbed his head. "No. No, I can't say I have."
"Understandable. You haven't lived long enough yet to come to question the system." Trannis looked to Irontread. "And you? You've lived longer than he has. Have you had aspirations outside your caste?"
Irontread shifted her feet. "I... I have, actually. I've always wanted to be in the Primal Vanguard. I wouldn't even need to change alt modes; I could just repurpose my smokestacks into barrels and I'd be set. But alas, I can't."
"You can," Trannis said. "Or at least, you can if you join us."
Irontread blinked. "What?"
"Don't even think about it, Irontread!" Ironbuster said. "These guys are monsters! They killed Guardian Prime!"
Trannis sighed. "Again, a completely unsanctioned act--"
"I don't care! If violence is what your speeches inspire, then I want no part in it. Sure, functionism is restrictive, but I prefer it over anarchy!"
"That's too bad. I'm sorry you feel that way." Trannis returned his gaze to Ironhide. "And you, Ironhide? Are you still undecided?"
"I... I don't know." Ironhide shook his head. "I don't really pay much attention to what happens outside Thetacon. I just do my duty and worry about little else."
"Well, at the very least, I admire your work ethic." Trannis nodded to the unfinished fortress. "It definitely shows."
"Indeed," Ulchtar said. "Perhaps we should let them resume their work. We've already preoccupied them for long enough."
"Of course." Trannis waved a hand to the three Thetacons. "It has been a pleasure meeting you all. And Ironhide, do try to read up a little more on the world you live in."
"Uh, right," Ironhide said, watching as Trannis and Ulchtar transformed and took off into the night.
* * *
The next night, he received his message from Kup and learned that the Kudon Act had been passed, allowing manual class as himself liable to enroll at the Autobot Academy.
The next week, construction of the Fortress Maximus was completed, owed to Delta Magnus playing a little intimidation game with Ox.
The next month, Ironhide and his friends attended the Autobot Academy in Iacon. It had been the first time Ironhide had ever left Thetacon.
The next year, Irontread mysteriously vanished. Ironhide didn't need to guess where she had gone.
The next decade, Ironhide defended Thetacon from the Decepticons. Irontread was among the invaders, bearing their insignia. She never once acknowledged him.
The next century, Ironbuster was accepted into the Primal Vanguard. Ironhide was turned down for the 84th time.
The next millennium, Ironhide met Kup face-to-face for the first time. They drank together at Maccadam's for a good ten hours. On that same day, the Decepticons unveiled Trypticon Fortress, based on the same schematics as Fortress Maximus. Ironhide never made the connection to that day he first met Trannis.
The next and last time he saw Trannis, it was on the day after the Battle of Iacon, nearly two thousand years after that day. Ironhide stood guard as Trannis was escorted to sign the Tyrest Accord. As he passed by, Trannis had stopped and met Ironhide's eyes. The Decepticon leader's optics had then shifted to the Autobot badge on his shoulder and he sneered.
"You didn't do as I asked."
Ironhide said nothing as Trannis was pushed on towards the meeting room. Once he was gone, Ironhide allowed himself a smirk. Standing next to him, Kup had noticed and raised an optic.
"What's so funny, lad?"
"Joke's on him," Ironhide said. "I can't read."
FIN
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