The Prime

"That's a particular situation. One that does not sit entirely well with me." - Optimus Prime

oOoOo

This city, Autobot Grand City, was vast both in size and brilliance. It was the future -from technology of defense and security to that of war. There were many Cybertronians here that their position was of far greater importance and significance. Brilliant minds of science, engineering, strategy. . .leadership.

Everything in-between. With every great thing there were drawbacks to accompany it.

In the past, Grand had been targeted from either terrorist attacks or Decepticon's themeselves. Both were rare and highly unlikely to occur in this day and time. Terrorist attacks more so. Nothing was guaranteed however. Still, this city wasn't called 'Grand' just because; it really was so. Now that threats from the Decepticon's was far lessf than they had ever been, Grand and even its brother cities were safe and secure as Fort Knox in the metaphorical sense.

What was so significant about finding traces of obvious espionage? Okay, it was a significant finding, there was no telling what information had been stolen, or more correctly: copied. If it hadn't been for such a sloppy job that had been left behind it could have been days before it had been found out of what had transpired.

Artificer looked out over parts of the city that he now called home with a contemplating solemn gaze. He'd been coming to this balcony for a while now. His days here were still short compared to other's. Even with his short time here under his nonexistent belt, stuff was already happening. Putting his forehead on his arms that were crossed over the balcony bar he thought; at least it's not anything 'bad'.

But, for whatever reason, he couldn't be happy about the unintentional 'good deed' he'd done. He'd didn't want to seem to be full of himself, he couldn't do that if he tried but just a little sounded good right now. He couldn't, not even a little bit. Looking back over the city, Art frowned. Holding out one of his hands in front of him and watched as it shook slightly.

Not many grunts, expandable bots like him could say they'd met The Prime. Not under these same circumstances at least.

Art let his head fall against the railing again, this time with greater, intentional force, making it clang.

oOoOo

Optimus Prime had been just as impressive as he'd imagined and them some. Even seating down behind the large black table, the embodiment of collected control, he didn't loose any of his awe.

Artificer couldn't believe he was in the presence of the Prime, that he had spooken to him. But the young bot was humbled and joyed that he got to chance. He'd met his idol, his inspiration, what young 'destined to be Autobot' kid didn't look up to him and see an idle. Like one of those superheros on those kid's shows.

What Art didn't know was that when he walked into the conference room, the Prime saw a young mech with great potential. With a great future ahead of him. It was young mech's just like Artificer that were the future after all. It was their future. It belonged to them.

oOoOo

Because, at the time, of convenience, Art was summoned to another 'war room' on another part of A.G.C.. Another that he was unfamiliar with. Much like before, only with Jazz this time, he was escorted to it. The black and white mech with a cheery swagger in his step had a calming presence on Art whose nerves were still shot and getting worse.

This conference/briefing room was much like the other Art had been in before. The only difference was that instead of a wall on one side, it was nothing but large ceiling to floor light adjusting glass windows. The large, again, black table was turned difference as well. The end's pointed to either of the walls. At one of those ends was a mech that Art couldn't mix up with anyone else. It just wasn't possible.

Art came to a stop just behind Jazz's left, whatever he'd planned to say suddenly was un-accounted for in his throat.

"Here he is as you requested, Optimus."

There was another mech on the other side of the table a seat down from the Prime, Art briefly took note of. He looked up at the sound of Jazz's voice. His frame was mostly a gold tented color with bits of pale mostly gold-yellow and red tented plating enhanced by the sun coming out the windows behind him. Art found it strange that the mech was wearing a pair of half-moon shaped glasses on his olfactory. His pale blue optics seemed to piercing and that's what caught Art's attention about the mech.

Jazz stepped away so the Prime could now get a better view of the young mech. For the first few moments neither said nothing to one another leaving the large room vacant of sound.

No one could see it but Optimus smiled behind his mask which reflected in his blue optics.

Cocking his blue helm to one side slightly. "Don't be so overwhelmed. Relax. I wont bite. I just want to have a friendly conversation with you."

On some other occasion with some other mech, while he wouldn't have voiced it, Art would had found the mech's words irritating. Optimus spoke to him in a fashion that one would to a child, but for whatever reason Artificer found himself not annoyed of the least by it. . .he couldn't pen-point what he felt from it though. He knew he should know it, but it escaped him at the moment.

Art flushed, bowing his head. "S-sorry. It's an honour to meet you, sir."

Optimus gave a small chuckle. "As to you, Artificer." Gesturing to the chair closes to him. "Please. Have a seat."

At some point in time, Jazz had already take a seat, making himself comfortable quickly, Art noticed he pulled out one of the onyx chairs back and taking a seat. Prime took some of the data-pads seating in front of him and straightening them before turning back to give his attention to the newcomer.

"You haven't been here at Grand long, correct?" Prime started with some small talk. "How are you liking it so far?"

Art answered more to his hands than to the mech he was suppose to be answering too. "I like it thus far. It's real calm and organized here. It's a vast improvement that my previous. . .jobs."

Nodding his head. "Prowl's told me some about that. I hope you don't mind." Art shook his head. "That's a particular situation. One that does not sit entirely well with me."

It seemed to be that way with everyone here or at least two mech's, Artificer thought. Even though he'd heard it said already it still made him feel. . .happy was the only word he could think of, that, yes it was wrong. He'd grown use to his lifestyle a long time ago. With his lack of true information or news of the 'outside world' that other's were more openly allowed, let alone time, it had taken Art sometime to realize that child labor was, indeed, wrong.

While he was no longer a child, Art still had a lot of growing to do. The fact that many people still looked at him as a one didn't help sometimes.

"On to the reason I asked for you here." Prime began again demeanour turning slightly more serious. "I'd like to thank you for finding what you did. Teletran," gesturing with a nod of his head to the mech seated across from Art, "has informed me that whom ever hacked into the other conference room's terminals did, in fact, copy valuable and sensitive information."

"Luckily, it was found in time."

The one mech that hadn't spoken until now explained. Teletran's voice was peculiar, Art thought. It wasn't over confidence in himself that was in his voice or how he held himself. . .what it was Artificer wasn't sure what it was.

"And it's you we have to think for that, Artificer."

He couldn't hide the small smile that bubbled up. "It was nothing, sir."

oOoOo

They talked some more afterward, more small talk and idle chat. He'd gotten more acquainted and comfortable with three older mech's, particularly Teletran. Who, he found out, was a slightly odd character, but seemed alright. But speaking to Optimus Prime, not for punishment or to be given order's he could care less about was an odd feeling, to say the least.

Art never would have imagined he'd ever speak to a commanders, most certainly not the Prime in such a casual way. He wasn't complaining though, you wouldn't hear any of that from him.

"Artificer?"

Turning around were he sat, Art looked up behind him before a large smile crossed his face. Standing there his ivory armor standing out against the darkening evening sky was a familiar face.

"Current!"

Holding a hand out, Art paused in getting up. "Eh, don't get up for me. I'll sit."

Sinking back down, "How did you find me?"

Current chuckled, "The grape vine my friend." Nudging the younger mech with his elbow.

"Grape vine?"

"Heh, sorry. Human expression," smiling. "There's been talk about a newb' who found out that apparently Grand had been hacked. Or something like that." Current leaned toward Art who leaned away at his space being invaded. "Was it really you?"

Opening his mouth to speak only to close without speaking a word. Current leaned back smile disappearing as he watched his smaller friend look away.

"They're over hyping it," Art muttered. "The console had been tampered with. Someone would have been sent to fix it shortly."

DC Frowned leaning back toward Artificer. "But it was you. Not that 'somebody else'," DC said seriously. "Life is lived by nothin' but chances. It was your chance and you got it. You wouldn't hear me complain' 'bout it."

Artificer turned away from the Praxian crossing his arms back over the railing. Current didn't understand from where Art was coming from, he didn't suspect the bigger mech to understand, really. His hesitation came from years of getting it drilled into his head. Attention had never been a good thing for him in the past. Unless you were in charge, having other's know your name wasn't something you wanted either.

Besides it made Artificer uncomfortable with the sudden attention. Limelight wasn't his thing.

But. . .

"Something else is botherin' you, isn't there."

Glancing over at Current, Art pulled out a data-pad from his sud-space and handed it to him. As DC read through it he explained the synopsis of it.

"I spoke with the Prime. He said in thanks he'd. . .get me a better position rather than being a maintenance bot."

"You spoke to the Prime?" DC gaped.

"I'm still stuck with maintenance still, but not solely, I guess. I. . .actually have a job now," smiling faintly at the idea of it.

"Say's here," tapping the data-pad's screen. "You might be working with. . .Red Alert."

Artificer gave his friend a curious look. "Yeah. . .maybe."

Deadpanning. "He's suppose to be a schitzophrenic or something."

Art frowned deadpanning himself. "It's just simple schitzophrenic paranoia, Current."

"Whatever," handing the data-pad back to his friend.

oOoOo

A/N:

Sorry for the slow deterioration of this chapter, but I'm tired of working on it, but I'm also satisfied for now. I'll return to it on the future and polish the ending of it.

Comments loved but not forced upon you. Constructive crit. welcomed. NO flames/snobbish, please.

Self beta'ed so some mistakes are possible/likely but I try my best.

Transformers & all related char(s) belong to HasTak and associated co.

The Artificer, Current, and plot/story are mine.

Names of/and char(s) are entirely coincidental