Maxima had woken up earlier than usual, much to her dismay.

The bot’s frame was aching from what the doctors said ‘growing pains’. Something about her growing into her true frame. Elita had always said that she would end up being a tall bot by the time the pains stopped. Sentinel even joked about her being taller than Ultra Magnus once she was ready. Her father, Optimus, started keeping cold compression patches for her once he heard about how much pain she was feeling.

Her rough morning smoothed out after getting in some early sparring practices and watching some old war documentaries while she refueled.

It was the same as most mornings trying to prepare for her entrance exams for the Academy.

Nothing was out of place.

Her father soon woke up an hour later followed by Elita and lastly her Uncle Sentinel. Each doing their own morning routines in silence, only breaking it with soft ‘good mornings’ and the occasional side hug.

Everything was good… until her father mentioned that she would be spending some time with ‘Grandpa Kup’.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Maxima asked with a crestfallen look on her face.

Optimus looked a bit guilty. Good, maybe he could feel bad enough to actually take her on a grown-up adventure like he promised.

“Sweetspark, you know I won’t be gone for good.” He said gently, bringing her into a hug.

Maxima huffed but leaned into the hug. Her father’s hugs were always the best ones.

“I know, but you promised you would take me.” She whined.

Optimus chuckled a bit before lowering himself a bit to her height.

“And I promised you that we would all go once you were older. You still have a lot of growing to do.”

Maxima let go of the hug and puffed her chassis, attempting to make herself look taller.

“I’m taller than before!” she said while trying to add a bit more height by standing on her pedes a bit higher.

Optimus raised an optic before shaking his head. “Maxima, you know what the final answer is.”

Maxima dropped the act as her arms fell slump against her sides. The floor seemed much more interesting to look at than her father right now.

“I know, I know.” She grumbled as a new servo ruffled the top of her helm.

“Don’t be like that squirt, I’ll make sure to bring you a souvenir once we come back.” Sentinel chuckled.

Maxima swatted his servo away before she was suddenly picked up from behind. She giggled as Elita practically smushed herself against her back.

“We’ll be back before you know it kid.”

Her smile of reassurance helped with Maxima’s mood a lot.

“Okay, but you all better come back safe or I’ll hve to hijack a spaceship and get you guys myself.” Maxima stated firmly as she was passed to her father’s arms.

He nodded at Elita and Sentinel as they all started walking over to Kup’s quarters.

“Now you be good to Kup while we’re away.” Optimus said as his daughter had half of her face buried on the side of his neckcables. Some habits stayed with some bots well past sparklinghood he guessed.

Maxima gave a cheeky chuckle.

“No promises!”

The older bots laughed at her comment.

Today was going to be a good day.

Optimus found Maxima as a sparkling in a crate outside the Academy.

Sparkling’s were extremely rare, especially those that didn’t need molds.

He didn’t have the spark to leave the bean outside.

The sparkling looked dull and in desperate need of cleansing and fuel.

He figured that he could sneak the little thing just for the night and go find a proper sparkling center the next day.

He was almost immediately found by Elita and Sentinel.

Optimus was coming out of the private cleaning station in his room with a newly washed and fed sparkling. …Just as Elita and sentinel entered. Elita: “…” Sentinel: “…” Optimus: “…” The sparkling chirps happily. Optimus pulls the bean closer. Optimus: “…Hi—” Elita shuts the door immediately and locks it. Sentinel: “Optimus that’s not what I think it is right?” Optimus: “Listen—” Elita: “Oh, we’re listening!” Optimus: “I found her dirty and with almost no fuel in her system right outside the Academy. You two and I know how rare sparklings are. Do you think I was going to let her stay out there.” Sentinel: “Why not drop her off at one of those sparkling centers? It solves this problem.” Elita slaps Sentinel in the back of the helm as Optimus unconsciously brings the babbling sparkling closer to him frowning. Optimus: “It’s just for one night.” Elita turns and smiles at the sparkling. Carefully waving a couple digits in her direction, smiling wider at the heartfelt giggles. Elita: “Oh no, she is staying.” Optimus: “She is just staying for a night Elita.” Elita: “Sure. I bet 20 shanix that you fail before the morning.” Sentinel: “Elita please.” Optimus: “Thank you—” Sentinel: “I give it in the morning.” Optimus: “How am I friends with either of you?” Later that night… Optimus is on his side, one of his digits being curled around one of the sparkling’s servos. She was sleeping soundly with a peaceful look on her faceplate. Like she knew she was safe. … What if her new family didn’t make her feel safe? What if she was in danger there? What if they didn’t clean her well? What if Maxima cried if he left her? Wait… Maxima? Optimus sighs gently as the sparkling started rolling over until she was tucked under his chin. Optimus: “…Guess I owe Elita that shanix huh, Maxima?”

Given that little Maxima wasn’t supposed to be on Academy grounds, it was up to Elita, Optimus and Sentinel to make sure that she was hidden.

There were careful scheduling rotations in place during the first few years.

But once Maxima got old enough to understand instructions, she was left in small amounts of time alone.

Optimus didn’t like leaving her alone in the habsuite, but there was only so much he could do without seeming suspicious.

Optimus provided Maxima with fueling, a safe place to rest, plenty of old data pads with safe material to read, little moments to teach her how to read and of course, spending time with her.

Maxima and Optimus just finished reading a story for bedtime. Maxima: “Another one!” Optimus: “Maxi, you know it’s time for recharge.” She tried to run, but the Prime was quicker and easily caught her. Maxima pouts as he tucks her in her smaller makeshift berth. Maxima: “Just you wait! Soon I’ll be even bigger than you and then I can recharge whenever I want!” Optimus chuckles a bit, lovingly patting her helm as her optics slowly closed. Optimus: “That’ll be the day. Night Maxi.” Maxima yawned. Maxima: “Night Dad.” Optimus ‘I am not crying you are’ Prime: “Good night.”

So, as you might see, Optimus was running off of fumes.

In enter Uncle Sentinel and Auntie Elita.

Sentinel took it on himself to make sure his honorary niece had a backstrut and confidence her father needed to build.

In a way, this would work a bit too well.

Especially after finding out, he and her father had a bit of a friendly competition between them.

Maxima: “Uncle Sentinel, I want another story!” Sentinel: “Sorry kiddo that’s a no.” Maxima: “But—” Sentinel: “No.” Maxima: “… Dad reads more stories than you do.” Sentinel’s optic twitches. Sentinel: “…How many more stories you have?” Maxima was already pulling out 15 extra data pads from her sub space. Maxima: “Lots!”

Elita took almost as big a parental role as Optimus had.

Out of the three of them, she had the most knowledge on sparkling care and did most of the delivery runs during the first few years.

Since she wasn’t going for the Prime status, Elita had a bit more time on her hands to babysit Maxima.

It is also important to know that Optimus did not want to start training Maxima until she was of age.

Elita took this as a suggestion and instead started teaching her niece how to fight from an early age.

Maxima kept the secret because it was her fun time with her aunt.

Optimus was not happy hearing what was happening.

Sentinel just watching this from afar.

Optimus: “Elita you crossed the line! You know I don’t want her fighting yet.” Elita: “She’s going to need to learn how to fight Optimus, I’m just making sure she has a better time when she has to enter into the Academy.” Optimus: “You don’t even know if she’s going to be a part of the Academy.” Sentinel: “Umm guys…” Elita: “Look at her Optimus, she’s practically lived in the walls for years. I would be surprised if she didn’t join.” Sentinel: “Guys—” Optimus: “Maxima is not—” Sentinel: “Guys!” Elita and Optimus: “What!?” Sentinel: “Where is Maxima?” Elita, Optimus and Sentinel look around and quickly realize that the little one was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile… Magnus is sitting in his office watching this little youngling reenact some of the battles he had fought, using spare cubes and dubbing them as Decepticons.

Yes, Magnus did end up finding out about Maxima.

Now, under normal circumstances, he might have had the sparkling sent to a center and expelled those involved.

But Maxima surprised him with her vast knowledge of the Autobot codes, battles and executing beginner battle moves with extreme precision.

This here was a Prime in the making.

Maxima just wanted to show someone else what she could do, and who else than one of her greatest heroes!

Optimus, Sentinel and Elita were soon called down to Magnus’s office, paling at the sight of little Maxima in his arms happily telling him how many evil Cons she would bring to justice when she was older.

Optimus never felt so much tension leaving his frame the second Magnus told him that Maxima was allowed to stay, even giving some formal education.

However, at the price that she would continue to fight for the Elita Guard.

It didn’t take long for most of the Academy to get the news of a youngling staying.

While there were some bots that utterly distained the fact there was a sparkling running around, most bots found the energetic cutie to be nice.

Some even came up and offered to help with watching her while the others took special classes and exams.

They of course had to go through a three bot check list before any watching would start, but those trusted were an often go to during these times.

For the next couple of years, everything seemed good.

Maxima would be starting her official Academy try outs in a few years and she would be doing it with her family watching with Ultra Magnus himself.

It was the perfect plan.

The came the day of Archa 7.

Maxima remembered that day.

She had hugged her father, Aunt and uncle goodbye as she was left in the care of ‘Grandpa’ Kup.

Maxima didn’t think to ask too many questions at the time, she just thought they needed some time to do something fun after those heavy exams.

Besides, what was she worried about?

Those three bots were some of the smartest and strongest bots she knew.

Plus, Kup had the best war stories!

She should have known something had gone wrong the moment their ship had arrived 5 minutes late.

Her father was always punctual, this was unsettling.

Even more so when she heard that the ship had arrived and none of them came to get her.

Maxima was with Kup when the door opened. It was Sentinel. Maxima: “Sentinel!” She ran up and hugged him tightly. Something was wrong. He wasn’t hugging back and looked… destroyed. Maxima looked at him worried. Maxima: “Uncle? Where’s dad and auntie.” He visibly flinched that their names. Kup carefully placed a servo on her shoulder. Kup: “Maxima—” She spotted a familiar red and blue paintjob through the crack of the door. It was her father. Maxima: “Dad!” She ran out of the room and straight into her father. Arms tightly grasping his waist. Maxima: “Thank the Allspark your—Dad?” Maxima had never seen such a look of devastation on her father’s face. The fact that he wasn’t hugging either just made matters worse. Maxima: “Dad, what happened to Sentinel? And where’s Elita?” No response. Maxima: “Dad? Dad your scaring me. What happened?” Suddenly several pairs of servo grabbed her back and arms, quite literally ripping her from her father. Maxima: “Hey! Let me go! Dad! Dad help!” Optimus didn’t even look at her and continued walking away. Maxima: “Dad! Dad!? Dad! DAD! WHAT’S GOING ON! DAD!” A familiar set of arms quickly wrapped her in a tight hug. Maxima just cried out of fear and confusion into her uncle’s chassis.

As Optimus had taken the responsibility of going to the organic planet, not only was he kicked out of the Academy, but he was no longer allowed to make any sort of contact with maxima.

The Prime, as much as it hurt, felt like this was the punishment he deserved.

But he still regretted not hugging Maxima on that day.

Every part of him wanted to run back the moment Maxima started screaming.

It wouldn’t be until later that Sentinel would sit down and tell the story of how her father was responsible for her Aunt getting killed.

Maxima couldn’t believe it.

Not her father.

Not Optimus.

No, this had to be some sort of mistake, a misunderstanding!

She even begged Magnus to reopen the case, but it fell to deaf audials.

Maxima lost two of the most important figures that day.

Her dear Auntie Elita and her Father.

Sentinel soon enough had taken Maxima under his care and made sure that she did good.

Maxima would soon be drilled with the same sentence that would echo throughout the rest of her Academy years.

Give a better name for the Prime’s than what Optimus did to tarnish it.

Maxima had not only passed her entrance exams with flying colors, but even placed in high rankings that would have taken her years to get to.

Sentinel was proud of his niece for making such a big name for herself.

Sentinel and Maxima are walking down the line of bootcamp recruiters. The recruits were just surprised to see a much bigger bot following Sentinel. Sentinel: Attention recruits!” The recruits straighten up. Sentinel: “Today accompanying me is a prime example of what putting in work and grind can get you. A couple years from now she will be the youngest bot to be accepted into the rank of Prime’s.” Maxima just looks over the looks of awe and admiration. Maxima: “it is a pleasure to meet you all and hope to be working with you all in the future.” She notices the small yellow bot and the larger green bot that she had seen earlier getting picked on. Maxima: “Some words of wisdom.” The recruits give their attention to her. Maxima: “We are all great in our own fields. You may not seem like Prime material now, but I have no doubt that each and every one of you are more than meets the eye.” Maxima straightens up a bit, even giving a bit of a smile to the yellow and green bot. Maxima: “Good luck, you’ll be needing it.”

It was times like these were Sentinel hated and loved that part of her father shown.

The bot sure did have a way with words of encouragement and reading.

And true to the Prime’s word, Maxima was on the way to becoming a Prime.

All she needed to do was serve under her uncle’s command a little while longer and then it would be a matter of time before the Prime title would be up for grabs.

As much as Maxima loved her uncle, she hated how entitled he act towards others.

Half of the time she found herself becoming a translator for what harsh things he was yelling.

Being placed in Sentinel’s team wasn’t the worst thing though.

She got along quite well with Jazz and Blurr.

Both giving a bit of room to show her more expressive side.

The Jettwins were like some little brothers she never knew.

It also helped that she had the energy to keep up with them, on the ground at least.

Maxima, herself, had made it her position to be the team’s strength.

Being the tallest, biggest and strongest got you into that position.

Maxima was in her seat as the ship descended. She looked over at Sentinel and Ultra Magnus. This was one of the weirder and suspicious missions that she had gone on. Not only was she left with little information about the planet and whatever repair crew needed saving, but she was also given explicit instructions by Sentinel not to leave the ship. Maxima: “Jazz, what do you think is outside? You really think the whole Allspark and Decepticon thing is real?” Jazz: “Don’t know Maxi. I’m just hoping that whatever SP said about the acid organics isn’t true.” Maxima shudders a bit. Maxima: “Yeah, let’s hope so… Did you try your alt mode yet? I found one that looks more of my style.” Jazz: “Absolutely, show me!”

Oh you are mistaken.

Megatron will have his vengeance!

...

...

Be the better dad!!!

What better way to humiliate his nemesis than to make his estranged daughter care about him more!

Plus he has way more practice at this.

Having more than 5 kids can do that.

Yeah the father monologue that Megs is doing doesn't reach Optimus's audials because all he is looking at is his daughter strapped to the enemy and how she is starting to cry.

Optimus doesn't think.

He up and leaps straight at Megatron and is aiming for the straps.

He is GOING to get his baby back!

Mega needs to rethink things when the power of an enrage father starts becoming a bit too much.

Silver Aid is watching this from the background.

She knows what was going to happen when the kids snitched on their dad.

He is not prepared for any of this.

Most importantly, he is not prepared to see how small Maxima is as a sparkling.

Nor how loud the sparkling gets when she is scared and mad.

Silver Aid to the rescue!

All the kids are cooking and playing with the sparkling.

If Megatron feels extra petty, he is going to put Maxima on a sling across his chassis and show Prime just how much a better father he is.