One In A Billion | Transformers Prime [1]

𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟏

┌─── ∘°❉°∘ ───┐

Ember

└─── °∘❉∘° ───┘

Woah, what have I missed.

"Ultra Magnus," Optimus welcomed, "it has been quite some time."

"I can tell it has, sir," The blue bot called Ultra Magnus replied.

Leaning from the rails, I was able to get a good look at him. Ultra Magnus was a mostly blue bot with hints of red and silver, and a robust build, similar to Optimus' build, except Optimus was a little taller, and there were tons of things that set the two apart. Not to mention that Magnus looked a lot like the type who took almost everything seriously. 

His unbending expression didn't intimidate me at all, seeing that I had seen and been through the coldest of people, but this—this seemed to put the entire base on edge. 

Bulkhead cleared his throat. "Welcome back, Commander Magnus," he said. "Sir," he quickly added. I noticed the other bots were at the position of attention, or at ease but still in formation. Miko, Jack, and Raf, who were reclining behind me, either averted the new bot's gaze or stared at the ground. Miko in particular, her figure slouching against the couch, had her arms crossed over her chest and stared daggers at the wall. Then I noticed Wheeljack leaning against a wall, visibly fuming. I asked Ratchet why Wheeljack was mad, but only got a sigh in response. Nobody moved; in fact, the air in the room was starting to feel suffocating. 

I raised my brow; there was something these people weren't telling me. Why wasn't anybody saying anything? Was this guy a general or something? Some deviant of Optimus? It also sounded like everybody knew him. So he wasn't a newcomer, he's been here before. 

"Ultra Magnus, I would like you to meet our newest member of Team Prime," Optimus guided a servo to where I was. The blue bot followed Prime's hand, until his gaze landed on my figure, piercing through me.

I straightened my body on instinct, pulling my arms to my sides, leveling the blue giant with the same stoic expression. "I feel it fortune to meet you, sir," I nodded. 

Ultra Magnus stared at me for a little while, probably processing something. His optics barely moved as he studied me. I didn't pay attention to whatever he was doing, just stared straight ahead and didn't dare move. Back then, when I was trained under my sleeper agent program, I had to get used to the violence and demand. Generals were all up in my face day and night, scrutinizing me for every minor mistake, every fraction of an inconvenience. I was used to the staring down, the glaring, the intimidating evil eye; now none of it phased me. Standing stock still in front of everyone while Ultra Magnus stared me down just pushed me to hold my bearings. 

One everlasting later, Magnus finally blinked, something threatening to form on his lips but I could've been hallucinating. "Likewise, soldier," Ultra Magnus nodded slightly, then turned to Ratchet who was standing on the other side of Optimus, "perhaps some humans can indeed display maturity," he said, his tone neutral but with a hint of approval.

Optimus nodded in agreement, glancing at me before speaking. "Ember has proven herself to be a valuable addition to our team. She possesses a maturity beyond her years and has already made significant contributions,"

Internally, I was beaming. I knew I had been gaining trust, and I needed to keep at it. I now had a new target to add to the Autobots Intelligence file, so nothing like snaking my way into Magnus' life and taking one for the team, right? 

I was wrong. So off-the-charts wrong. 

"What have you to report from your journey, Commander?" Optimus inquired.