#tf:p

"Move aside, Prime!" Starscream shrieked, wings hiked up to his shoulders. A mad grin split his faceplate, and the Autobots stepped back involuntarily.

The retreat wasn't so much fear for Starscream, per se, as one would believe, but rather for the relic he held in his servo. A violent and terrible relic that fed on the malevolence of the one wielding it. A relic straight from the times of Primus and Unicron.

"Starscream." Optimus raised his servos gently, submissively, inching forward every moment Starscream's gaze darted away. "It doesn't have to be this way."

"Oh, spare me the speech, Prime." Starscream rolled his optics. The relic pulsed mockingly in accordance. "We all know it doesn't apply to me. The moment I let go of this relic, all pretenses will drop, and you--All of you--will have nothing to stop you from ripping me to pieces!"

Ratchet scoffed. "It may be hard to believe, Starscream, but we are not dishonorable like you."

"It's war!" Starscream shrieked, and the tone grew to piercing. The artifact pulsed in his servo, "There is no honor in war! You all act as if you haven't damned sparklings to die alone on the field, you all act as if you are all so holy, well? Well what, Prime?! What is it now?! You think you all are the only ones with friends that died?! My brothers are dead because of you!" Starscream pointed the relic at the Autobots, faceplate screwed up in rage. "My trine is dead because of you!"

The Autobots jumped away. The ground exploded, raining a shower of debris around them. The air was now clouded with dust.

"Starscream had brothers?!" Smokescreen yelled.

Arcee scowled. "Seekers are so terrible they're born in threes!" she informed, yelling as well. Starscream had taken to his own shrieks from a height above them, blasting the relic wherever he desired.

"Starscream!" Optimus yelled. The relic in Starscream's servo started emitting a malevolent purple light that spread up the Seeker's arm. Soon, Optimus realized grimly, soon it would reach Starscream's spark, and then everything would be over. "Starscream!"

"Oh, shut up, Prime!" Starscream hissed, aiming the relic towards him.

"That relic is going to eat you alive, Starscream." Optimus growled, afraid and unflinching alike, even in the face of his certain demise. Starscream faltered. "You know it. You feel it. Stop this now." Optimus's faceplates softened into something fragile. "I am sorry for your brothers. For the war that has perpetuated this long. I am... sorry."

Starscream choked in rage. (Pain?)

"I could not save them," Optimus continued on. "But I can save you." he reached out a servo. "Please. Let go of the relic." Let me save you.

Starscream stared at the servo blankly, and then smiled bitterly. "Ever with the savior complex, eh Prime?"

There was no question about it.

Starscream dropped the relic, but he did not take the servo.

As Optimus his eyebrows sit right above the eyes. It makes him look older and more serious.

Even when he’s smiling his eyebrows are low and focused.

But as Orion, there is a significant space between his brows and his eyes. And he raises them even further to emote.

Even when his eyes are cycled to their widest you can see the difference in the brows.

Optimus (left) vs Orion (right)

You can see that when animating Optimus, they’ve made sure to never raise his eyebrows. He doesn’t really make sad or confused faces. Even when his eyes are wide open, the start of his eyebrows still touch his eyes. But as Orion, his brows go in the opposite direction. They pout.

Silas: "Enjoying the view? Ironically, your would-be rescuers may be in more pieces than you right now." Breakdown: [growls] "Decepticons don't break that easy!" Silas: "Who said they were Decepticons?" Breakdown: "That doesn't make sense. Autobots wouldn't come to rescue me." [Metal impact sound in the distance]

I miiiiight just have to do this as a short story I hope that's okay! Got my Wrecker boys Wheeljack, Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus.

Dust was still settling as you realized the threat was over, the collection of vehicons having scattered long before the cave had finished it's partial collapse and leaving you under the gathered team of bots who'd come together to shield you from falling debris. Rubbing off the powdered rocks covering your face, as well as coughing up the taste of dirt, you took a moment to gather yourself as your new giant allies did the same. It wasn't worth thinking about what would have happened if they hadn't come along when they had... In your defense, that ambush had come out of nowhere.

"You okay there?" A deep voice above you rumbled with concern, encouraging you to tilt your head upwards at the big green bot looking down at you. His optics were friendly, and despite his absolutely massive size and hands that transformed into wrecking balls, you immediately trusted him.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks to you guys." You said gratefully, looking to each of the gathered team as they brushed the dust off themselves.

"Protecting organic life is the primary responsibility of Autobots, think nothing of it." The largest of them said, somewhat gruff as he meticulously picked off the worst of the rubble that had showered down upon them. Immediately, you knew he was the one in charge. Towering above the others and with shoulder pauldrons thicker than two of you, he gave off the energy of someone who took no nonsense and had the firepower to back up his authority, yet his gaze was mostly just annoyed as he looked down to you again. "Our second responsibility, however, is remaining hidden from the denizens of this planet. Saving you required us to break cover."

"Give the kid a break, sir. They managed to escape a whole squadron by themselves before running into us. I think we can cut them some slack." A far gruffer voice said, cutting in as the battle scarred mech in question took a protective step your way. Quite immediately the colors on his unique build were familiar to you, but you decided to stay quiet on that fact, reaching for the cellphone thankfully still secure in your pocket. While you hadn't found what you'd been looking for in this mine, at least you had something far more interesting to report.

The big blue bot looked to the other with an impressive frown, unintentionally cementing your thesis as to the scarred mech's identity. The back and forth continued more or less without an acknowledgement of your presence. "They've been seen in our company, Wheeljack. By the procedure Optimus established, we must now secure their wellbeing, and that will be quite the undertaking."

The only one who had not yet spoken, a smaller but solidly built blue bot who seemed the youngest of the group, chose that moment to jump in with a quip. "Doubt docbot will be too happy about another human in the bunker."

"He's all talk. Ratchet wants these little guys as safe as the big guy does, he won't put up a fight." The gruff one, who you were starting to like more by the moment, said with an amused but reassuring smile in your direction. Unable to help smiling back, you suddenly felt that this turn of events might have been more than you could have ever hoped for. If only you could get a word in edgewise...

"You're purposefully missing the point, soldier. We-"

"If it's gonna be such a hassle for you, I'll take 'em myself."

"Jackie..." Once more, the gentle green giant spoke up, looking quite concerned at his friend's purposeful egging on of the bot in charge. You got the sense that this kind of thing happened often by his tone, but personally, you were getting a little tired of being ignored. None of what they were discussing was necessary, and if anyone would have bothered to ask you they'd know that? Finally fed up, you took a breath and raised your arms to draw attention to your tiny self.

"Um, hello? Excuse me!" You shouted, mercifully ending the bickering and securing four pairs of optics on yourself. Relieved for the silence, you pulled out your phone and held it up, projecting your voice to ensure you were heard. The shocked expressions didn't cease when you started to explain, but you didn't let that stop you. Sorting this out would make everything easier for everyone. "I think there's a bit more going on than any of you know. Let me call my dad really quick, he'll set this straight."

The first to reply was the one you knew had to be the rookie of the group, who awkwardly cleared his vents and broke the silence only hesitantly. "Uh, bringing more humans into this really isn't our goal-"

"Who said anything about him being human?" You cut in, grinning from ear to ear at the looks they all gave you. Now that you had their unbroken attention, it was only a matter of summoning your dad and waiting for him to arrive. Dialing his frequency into your phone, you prepared to share just as much information as it took to get him here fastest, wanting to see the look on his face when he arrived and saw who you'd found. This was going to be fun...

----------------------------------------------------

The roar of a familiar engine had thankfully silenced the second round of bickering to break out amongst the two argumentative bots, who had gone back and forth between listening to you and calling for their superior. It had been entertaining at first, but by the time that roar had echoed down the tunnel you'd been relieved to hear it, and had hopped to your feet from your seat on a convenient rock. The bots had reflexively drawn their weapons, but there hadn't even been any need for you to stop them. A worn red paint job skidding around the corner had made them all hold fire.

In a rush, you'd run out to greet the massive off road vehicle just as it began to transform, and in moments had been embracing the offered hand of a hulking bot who kneeled before you with an expression of happy relief.

"Ironhide!"

"Wheeljack!" Your adopted dad cried out in absolute joy, letting you move safely to the side before approaching the bot who's identity you'd properly guessed. Ironhide had told you so many stories about the Wrecker, it made sense that you'd been able to tell who he was by appearance and mannerisms despite having never met. The two bots greeted one another with an earth trembling chest bump, after which your beaming father turned to the green bot with just as much enthusiasm, shaking hands and crashing their fists together with overwhelming power. "Bulkhead too? Where have you guys been?"

"We might ask you the same thing, soldier." The big blue bot said, cutting in with the same serious look that appeared to be his only expression. On a closer inspection, however, you could see a certain light in his optics. He wasn't altogether displeased to see a new arrival. Standing somewhat awkwardly to the side, the young blue bot appeared delighted if not quite confused.

"Uh, long story, Ultra Magnus sir. I've been on this planet for some time. Found this little troublemaker when they were half their current size, and I've been raising 'em to help with our cause." Ironhide said affectionately, stepping back and dropping to one knee to be more on your level. Before you could puff up proudly at the praise, a single digit tussled your hair as he often did to tease, and you sputtered before playfully pushing him away and undoing the damage. Chuckling, he turned back to his comrades. "Never figured I'd bump into you all here! Jackie, Bulk, and uh..."

The attention turned to the young bot, who only smiled with a wave and a not offended clarification on his name.

"Smokescreen."

Wheeljack gave your dad a playful punch, still buzzing at seeing his old friend alive. The friendship you'd so frequently heard about was clear as day before you. "Glad to see you in one piece, old Rusthide."

"We've been here for years, Ironhide. How come we didn't detect you?" Bulkhead said, looking just as happy but burdened by the question at hand. Ironhide tapped his audial with a somewhat glum smile.

"Communicator's been busted for ages, all I've got is an earth link for cellphones." He said, recalling an injury he'd endured long before meeting you. The line he'd built relied on earth technology, and you still remembered how many tries it had taken to get it right. It was impossible to imagine a whole other team of beings like himself had been out there the whole time... Yet he didn't look at all regretful as he glanced down at you. "If I'd known I wasn't alone, I would have introduced myself and the kid ages ago. Looks like we've got my little one to thank for bringing us together."

You pouted and crossed your arms at the comment. "I'm not little anymore, dad."

"They did alright in a scrap, but how about we get you two back to base? I'm sure the other's will want to hear the story." Wheeljack said, easing your damaged pride with the compliment. You had indeed evaded those Vehicons for a good long while before being rescued... speaking of which, you could use a bit of rest somewhere secure.

Once more, Ultra Magnus stepped in to halt the festivities. "First; I shall communicate with Optimus and let him know what has transpired. He will likely want to meet you in person before we make any rash decisions."

"Seriously? Come on, Mags! Let's get this bot in an actual base!" Wheeljack replied in a huff, bringing back the arguing from before as if it had never stopped. Looking quite amused, Ironhide merely chuckled and offered you his hand, allowing you to get a lift onto his shoulders as was your custom. Clearly not phased by what he was seeing, the only parent you'd ever known let you get comfortable before following the group out of the partially collapsed cave. Who could have thought your simple little scouting mission would end like this?