~O~

Pravda

Rampage was amused.

It was silly, but Sentinel Prime's desire for conquest was just too amusing to him. He had delivered the formula that he desired and his people would never starve, but something puzzled him. Once Sentinel was in command, surely he would attempt to back stab him. After all, he had already betrayed his people. Why stop there?

The sight of a ship roaring overhead intrigued him. He squinted at it suspiciously before smiling. That was definitely Jhiaxus' ship. Things were going to get interesting.

Once the ship landed outside Iacon, Jhiaxus turned his attention to the others.

"Eros, perhaps you can gather your father and call for another trial," he suggested. "I'm going to find Sentinel Prime. I have a feeling I know where he is. Shockwave? Hot Shot? I want you to find Red Alert. Tell her that there will be another trial."

Hot Shot nodded. "You got it, old bot!"

The two left the ship, leaving Jhiaxus and Eros alone. He pulled her into his arms and left a gentle kiss on her lips. He smiled down at her.

"Best of luck, love." he said.

She winked at him. "Who needs luck when I have you?"

He laughed at that.

Meanwhile, Red Alert, Chromia and Moonracer discussed what had happened with Perceptor the other day at the Iacon Central fountain.

"...so that's how you two went your separate ways?" Chromia asked.

Moonracer sighed sadly. "Yeah. I said horrible things to him. It's probably why he purged his emotions. I don't blame him for it either."

Red Alert was reminded of herself and Shockwave when hearing the story. Only this time, Perceptor was barely without them while Shockwave was ashamed to show them. It was strange and so similar, it frightened her. She did not want to feel the same pain as Moonracer did.

"We will fix this," she told her friend.

Moonracer sighed. "It can't be fixed. What he's done is irreversable."

The other two femmes looked at each other. Sadness touched their features and Moonracer sought to change the subject. She stood up and looked at Red Alert.

"This is about you right now," she said, "Don't worry about my problems. We need to figure out how - Oh, my sweet Primus."

Red Alert and Chromia looked over their shoulders when Moonracer had uttered those last words. Her optics were wide in disbelief when she saw Shockwave and Hot Shot riding toward them in vehicle form. They transformed and Red Alert quickly rushed over to embrace Shockwave.

"How did you get back?" she exclaimed. "I thought-"

"Jhiaxus brought us back." Shockwave told her. "We don't have long. Eros will be calling her father, persuading him to open another trial."

Chromia looked around warily. "We better hurry. If someone sees us, none of it won't matter."

Someone did spot them from down the road. "Hey! It's Shockwave!"

Chromia groaned. "Frag."

O

Ultra Magnus wasn't pleased.

Yes, he was happy to see his child again, but she had pressed for another for Shockwave and that angered him. It meant that Rodimus had deliberately sent him to Jhiaxus knowing this would happen. He called for the younger bot while the new trial was established.

"We will deal with your actions later," Ultra Magnus promised.

Rodimus smiled sarcastically. "Looking forward to it."

Rhea embraced her daughter while Ultra Magnus gathered the council members to their appropriate places in the chamber.

"I'm happy to see you, sweetspark." she told her daughter.

"Me too, mother." Eros said, smiling.

Rhea looked around briefly before leaning forward. "I'll be sure to be with you when you tell your father the great news. I'm happy for you, my dear."

Eros laughed. "Thank you."

"Are you ready for this responsibility?"

"I am. I had you to teach me."

Shockwave and the others were brought into the council chamber. Red Alert looked down at Hot Shot and whispered anxiously to him.

"Where's Jhiaxus?" she hissed.

Hot Shot shrugged. "He said he was looking for Sentinel!"

"Why?"

"Sentinel set up Shockwave."

"WHAT?!"

Red Alert shouted it so loud, it echoed throughout the chamber. It gathered the attention of those around them and they stared down with frowns on their faces. Ultra Magnus scowled down at the group and Red Alert seemed to have difficulty understanding what she heard.

"Are you kidding me?" she whispered, down at Hot Shot.

"I wish I was."

Ultra Magnus addressed them now. "Shockwave. It seems you feel yourself above our laws," he said, sternly. "But my daughter claims you have proof of your innocence. If such proof exists, produce it now before I sentence a greater judgment for your return from exile."

"Here is all the proof you need!"

Everyone turned at the sound of Jhiaxus' voice and he stepped into the chamber, gripping Sentinel Prime around the neck with one arm. The mech squirmed and struggled, gagging against the claws at his throat and his facial features were battered, evidence of a beating he no doubt received from the larger bot.

Jhiaxus shoved him to his knees and held a hand at his shoulder. He leered down at Sentinel.

"Now then, young one." he said, sternly, "Tell them exactly what you told me."

Sentinel glared up at him. When he did not respond fast enough, Jhiaxus' claws pierced through his shoulder, sending a gush of Energon down his chest. He let out a whimper of pain.

"All right! I'll speak!" he groaned.

Ultra Magnus looked troubled, but remained silent.

"It was an easy plan," Sentinel mumbled, "The formula was all they needed. They promised me they'd make me ruler if I gave them the formula and a way into the city."

Jhiaxus glared down at him, but smiled and nodded his head.

"And to Pit with everyone else, correct?" he said.

Sentinel groaned and shook his head, so Jhiaxus dug deeper into his shoulder and he let out a low shriek of pain before speaking further.

"Yes! That was the plan!" he moaned.

Just then, Rampage entered the chamber with several other Thetacons behind him. He made an impressed whistle and those of the council reacted with horror and dismay.

"Why are they here?" Alpha Trion exclaimed.

"I asked them to come." Jhiaxus said. "My reasons are this; I was appalled when I saw the conditions they lived in."

He raised his hand and produced a holographic image of the Thetacon campsite. There were several younglings crying for nourishment and others were attempting to stave off rust infections. The sight greatly disturbed the council members.

"I...had no idea." Alpha Trion exclaimed. "We were never told."

Sentinel Prime cringed back and that reaction told the council that he had willingly kept this from them. Jhiaxus could surely see that now.

"The Thetacons seek freedom and equal rights that you so eagerly brush aside as an act of treason and war. And you judge so openly and willingly of those who are different." he continued. "But can you point that perception at yourselves and judge what makes you? Could you truly look and see what part of you is so flawed? I truly do fear for Cybertron if this behavior persists."

Ultra Magnus regarded Sentinel Prime for the longest time. A friend he had since his own youth. It hurt him deeply that it had come to this.

"Take this traitor out of my sight," he ordered. "Sentence him to Kaon and have him locked away for the remainder of his existence."

Sentinel was dragged away, cursing and spitting. Rampage watched him go and waved his fingers.

"Bye-bye!" he sneered.

"Rampage!" Ultra Magnus spoke harshly, drawing the attention of the Thetacons. "I do not approve of your harsh, barbarian methods. However, I do not turn a blind optic to the suffering and anguish of others. I will see to it that your people receive proper care and nourishment."

Rampage blinked once. "Hm. I will hold you to that, Ultra Magnus." he said.

"As for you, Shockwave..." Ultra Magnus turned to the scientist. "It seems we owe you much more than a simple apology for our actions. You will be reinstated as Head of the Ministry of Science and I will see to it you are compensated for your grief and suffering."

Red Alert smiled, pleased with this. Shockwave merely acknowledged with a tilt of his head.

"It seems we still have much to learn," Alpha Trion said, sadly. "It is a shame that this is what it took for us to see that. But there will be changes made, that much is certain."

Ultra Magnus rose, weary. "This trial is over." he told them all.

O

The Thetacons were visited by doctors and scientists. Several of their homes were rebuilt and tended to as well. Ultra Magnus spent the time talking with Rampage about future developments.

"They are happy," Rampage told him. "That is all that matters to me."

Ultra Magnus glanced at him. "Had I known..."

"Sentinel was an imbecile." Rampage muttered, waving it off. "I only sided with him to get the formula. Bots in desperation do stupid things."

The other bot sighed and looked over at Shockwave and Red Alert. They were assisting with the younglings. He closed his optics wearily.

"That's true."

Jhiaxus walked through the crowds and spotted Rodimus. He smiled and approached him.

"Hail the conquering hero." he remarked.

Rodimus shook his head. "What are you talking about?" He played dumb.

"You willingly put in those coordinates to help Shockwave, didn't you?"

Rodimus sighed impatiently. "I didn't do it for him. I did it for her."

"Yes. I understand you love her. Sometimes love means standing aside for the sake of the other's happiness." Jhiaxus told him. "All things considering, you have done a good thing. You should feel proud."

He patted Rodimus' shoulder.

Shortly afterwards, Red Alert and Shockwave left the area for a little while to be alone. They walked down the streets, talking.

"So do you believe things are really going to change?" she asked.

"Bots work in a cycle," Shockwave replied. "I hold no real hope for such things."

Red Alert turned and looked up at him with a smile. "But you hoped somehow, right?" she asked. "When you first spoke with me?"

Shockwave's antenna flicked. "Perhaps..."

Red Alert made an amused sound. She took his hand in hers and they walked away together.

O

Moonracer stood at the entrance to the Ministry of Science. She took a deep inhale when Perceptor stepped out. When he noticed her, he did nothing but stare. They were both silent and she felt herself tense.

"MOONRACER." he acknowledged.

She smiled weakly. "Do you remember when we first met?" she asked. "It was right in this tower. You were brewing some volatile chemicals."

Perceptor spoke to Moonracer via video on her wrist. He smiled and waved at her, speaking in his thick, accented vocals.

"I'll meet you soon, Moonracer!" he said. "I'm almost done here."

Moonracer watched him warily as she walked down the street. "Perceptor, please be careful."

"Not to worry, my dear. These chemicals are completely compatible." Perceptor told her, pouring a few chemicals into a large beaker. "There's no chance that anything could go wrong! My calculations were precise!"

Suddenly, the entire lab erupted in an explosion of colorful green and blue. Moonracer's optics widened in shock and when the smoke cleared, Perceptor was standing there, covered in splotches of it. He coughed and a puff of smoke escaped his mouth.

"Good news!" he announced, painfully. "That didn't hurt as much as it looked!"

Moonracer giggled. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. As soon as I slip into stasis."

He fell to the floor, out of sight.

Perceptor stood there, emotionless to her story.

"I'm sorry for the things I said to you," she said, sadly. "I am sorry for being a glitch when you needed me most. I'm sorry I'm not the most perfect femme in the universe. But if you give me another chance, I can be. For both of us."

Perceptor started walking away and she stood there, tears threatening to burst.

Instead, he returned and placed something into her servos. She looked down and noticed that it was a rusted, and quite old plague that he had been given by her for the "BEST AND CRAZIEST SCIENTIST IN THE WHOLE OF CYBERTRON". She laughed in disbelief and looked back at him.

He was still walking away.

So there was still hope after all.

She followed him.

O

Note - Pravda is Russian for "Truth". Since I've had a habit of making Rodimus super douchey, I thought I'd change it up a bit. LOL.

Well, there you have it. Not as long as my usual fics, but I hope you liked it anyway. That last part was for you, Lecidre. XD