TWO: AMONG THE CHOSEN
--The past--
"Ah, Orion! I'm glad you could make it. Please, come in."
Orion tentatively stepped into the office of Zeta Prime. The whole room was in disarray, with datapads littering the floor, statues laying against the wall, holo-murals switched off... it was rather unbecoming of a place resided by someone who called himself Prime.
"Don't mind the mess," Zeta said, seated at his desk as he studied a set of holograms. "I'm in the middle of renovations."
Renovations? At a time like this? Keeping his comments to himself, Orion carefully made his way over to Zeta's desk. The silver and gold bot did not once lift his gaze from the holograms.
Orion cleared his throat. "You, ah, asked to see me, sir?"
"Yes, I did. I heard you had returned from Chaar recently. How was it?"
"How... was it?" Orion blinked. "Well, I mean... we were victorious."
"Yet you seem troubled." Zeta Prime lifted his optics to meet Orion's. "Did you suffer many losses?"
"No, sir. Except...." Orion hesitated, unsure of how open he should be with the Prime. "I did lose a good friend of mine."
"Shame. What was his name?"
"Roller. I used to serve with him in the Security Force."
"Yes, I am familiar with that name. He was friends with Optronix as well." Zeta glanced at him. "Sorry to open up old wounds."
"No, no. It's fine. Sir." Orion shifted uncomfortably. Surely the Prime hadn't called him here to talk about Chaar. That had been nearly a month ago. "Was there something you needed from me, sir?"
"Not from you, no, but of you." Switching off the holograms, Zeta Prime rose from his seat. "I've heard you've returned to the Security Forces."
"That is correct, sir."
"But why? Why would you return to something so... mundane?"
Orion tilted his head. "Pardon?"
"You come from a prestigious lineage, Orion Pax. Your progenitor Magnum helped Sentinel Prime establish the Elite Guard. The namesake of your city, Tyger Pax, served as one of Guardian Prime's closest confidants. Even Nova Prime himself is said to have once been a Pax."
Orion raised an optic, picking up the theme in Zeta's words. "It sounds like the Paxes have always been closely connected to the Primes."
Zeta smiled. "Exactly. Your name has a great heritage to it, Orion. You'd be remiss to not take advantage of it."
"What would you have me do then? Did you have something in mind?"
Zeta placed a hand on his shoulders. "Your brother now leads our sworn enemies. A great stain on your house's name. I can help you remove that stain."
"How?" Orion asked.
"Become what Megatron has for the Decepticons: a face to rally behind. A name to swear under. A beacon of hope."
Orion frowned. "You want me to be your poster bot?"
"Ah, I would not use such... understated terms. But yes, that is what I am suggesting." Zeta Prime flashed him a grin. "Think about it, Orion; with you at my side, we can erase the Decepticon stain and clear your name. You would be a hero, Pax. You would be the greatest Autobot in the world."
--Now--
Optimus Prime snapped back to reality to find himself being hurled into the air. Below him, the dragon was unleashing fire from both of its mouths, ready to scorch him upon descent.
Thinking fast, Optimus twisted his body so that he would land behind the dragon. Before the beast could react, he raised the end of his axe and slammed it into the back of its heads, knocking it to the ground.
"That was good!" the Twinferno head said as the dragon rose back up. "But you're supposed to kill me. Kind of blew your chance here."
"I don't want to kill you," Optimus said. "I don't even want to fight."
"Too bad," the Doublecross head growled, turning back around. "The choice is out of your hands."
"Also, you were looking pretty eager before," said Twinferno. "Up until we threw you in the air."
"What are you talking about? I never--"
His sentence went unfinished as he dodged to avoid the advancing dragon. Taking flight on its wings, the beast lunged at the Prime, tackling him to the ground. Optimus' axe fell out of his hand and it was knocked out of his reach.
"Too easy," Doublecross chuckled. "I don't know why, but you seem to be a weaker fighter when you have blue optics."
Optimus grunted under the strain of the dragon's weight on top of him. "Blue... optics?"
"Yeah, he didn't get those until you kicked him." Twinferno glared at his twin. "You always ruin everything."
"Shut up. No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I--"
Taking advantage of the dragon's distraction, Optimus mustered the strength to kick the beast off of him. Scrambling to his feet, he retrieved his axe and struck both of the dragon's faces with its end.
Staggering back, the beast rubbed either of its noses. "He's getting good again," Twinferno muttered. "Guess he doesn't need the purple eyes."
"Yup," Doublecross said. "Think one of us should take control?"
"That would probably be wise. You can have this one."
"Thanks, bro."
With that, the dragon began to change shape. Its tail split and unfurled to form feet and legs. Both of its necks stretched out to make arms, its heads becoming hands. As its chestplate slid down, a single white head emerged to take the beast heads' place. From its back, the newly-formed robot pulled out a pair of guns.
A savage grin twisted on Doublecross' face. "Bet you wish you hadn't come with an axe, don't you?"
"I don't even know why I have an axe," Optimus said, wishing this nightmare would end.
"No worries. I'll make this quick."
Doublecross then raised his guns at Optimus... before spreading his arms and pointing them at the arena's audience.
"Show's over, meatbags!"
He let out a cackle as he unloaded his guns. The crowd of organics screamed in terror as they scrambled to avoid their certain deaths.
"Stop it!" Optimus cried out. "Don't hurt them!"
"Why not?" Doublecross asked, not letting up. "They're the ones who subjected us to this barbaric fate."
"It doesn't matter! They don't deserve this! Just find a way to get us out of here!"
"Isn't that what I'm already doing? I don't know what else you want me to shoot at."
Optimus frowned behind his mouthplate as he racked his brain. "You can fly, can't you?"
"Yeah."
"Blast an opening and fly us out of here."
Doublecross finally ceased his onslaught and he lowered his arms. "Fly us... both?"
"Yes. I can ride on top of you."
"On top of...? Buddy, do I look like a load-bearer? Do you really think I can carry you?"
"You would only need to take me straight up, through the ceiling. I'll then dismount and get onto the roof and... we'll figure things out from there."
Doublecross was silent as he mulled over this. He looked around the arena, ignoring the fleeing crowd. He then smiled as he looked back at Optimus.
"You can turn into a truck, can't you?"
"Uh, yes?"
Doublecross grinned. "I have a better idea."
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