Protege of Magnus (Transformers Animated)

Chapter 2

She remembered the crowd. The cheers, the chanting. Colourful lights filled the air as Aura, though in this case was ORA-3578 stood on stage, single file in a line with other mechs and femmes standing at attention, though proud smiles and smirks showed on their lips as they looked onto the crowd. Their graduation ceremony.

The headmaster of the famous academy stationed on Lunar-1 gave a speech to the crowd. He was a tall and thin Cybertronian with crimson paint along their build with golden racing stripes along his torso and lower legs, the wheels of his alt mode disguised as his heels. He loves to use those to skate around the walls. He prefers that compared to walking, even his own alt mode. A sort of strange one. We called him StarSweeper.

Before he was headmaster of this school, he was once a famous racer, considered one of the best. He had always said as much as he enjoyed racing he considered it a hobby, a favourite past time. Teaching was considered his primary career path. He outlined their schools achievements and highlights and made sure to praise each member of their graduating class.

"Now, I think our graduates have waited long enough," he spoke out to the crowd.

The femme's helm snapped back to attention as the headmaster waved over to an associate of his. A femme came up on stage carrying a box. Opening the lid, inside contained ten identical copies of an insignia. The same red insignia Aura had seen on Ultra Magnus' chest, as well as his guards and the medibots, and plastered on the wing of his ship.

The Autobot insignia.

"I am pleased to officially recognize these young Cybertronians achievements and welcome them with open arms into the Autobot ranks," The headmaster proclaimed.

Aura watched as one by one her fellow students went up front to be presented their Autobot badge, their right of passage. She could feel her spark pounding inside her chest, lifting her servo over her torso to feel its vibrations. She had been training for this moment for almost all her life. Of all the times to be nervous, why now?

The brand placed along their chests, neck plates, and shoulders, they were also all given a designation. An official name they'd be assigned to permanently.

Influx, Wildbeam, Dynamo, Volley, Cascade, Ember, Trident, Comet, and Melody.

The closer down the line they went, the harder her spark pounded. It was as if the sounds around her were fading out and the pounding of her spark took over her audio receptors.

"Last but certainly not least, ORA-3578,"

Hearing her ID number seemed to steer away the fear that coursed through her nerves, at least for the moment. She slowly began her walk towards the front centre of the stage towards StarSweeper, glancing over to the silent smiles and cheers of her peers. ORA stood before the headmaster, saluting him in greeting. "Sir,"

"Please kneel," he commanded. The femme knelt down to one knee, pulling her neck back to star up her teacher. "ORA-3578, I am so proud of what you have become. One of the top students in your class, you've set a fine example for future generations. I now present you with your well deserved Autobot brand, and new designation,"

The femme watched with sparkling optics as his associate stepped closer, extending the box towards him. Taking the last badge out of the box, he pulled it over and held it in front of his chestplate. He slowly extended it towards her neck.

"From this day forth, you shall be known as--"

The surface below them shook. Everyone on stage wobbled as ORA nearly toppled over. The Autobot badge fell out of StarSweepers grasp and onto the stage floor. A crackle like sound caught her audio receptors, a loud one at that. She whipped around and looked off into the distance. It was as if her pedes locked in place, no, her entire frame.