Chapter Text
Iacon was as busy as it usually was, bots coming in and out and everyone scrambling to get to work, school, or Swerve’s. Cars and trucks driving around, honking and talking amongst each other while the skies remained an empty void. Neon lights rimmed the dark buildings and a deep blue light gently coated the planet. The sky was clear for all to see, the stars and galaxies around their planet shone brightly as they normally did in the mornings here.
Or so Shockwave has heard…
The Decepticon stood at the train station, looking over his new frame again and again. It felt almost disorienting to see his once purple frame now turquoise and grey with no antenna, no tiny waist or seams, and no claws. Instead, he had a chubby frame with a normal face, normal hands, and a mouthguard. The handle of his wheeled traveling bag was held tightly in his hand.
It’s strange but I’ll manage, he thought. He looked over his datapads, again and again, trying to learn as much as he could about how to act like a normal Autobot. The usual polite greetings and the right words to use to speak to others were nothing new to him-- he’d be fine there at least.
His audials kept trying to pull his mouthguard apart to perk up and observe all his surroundings best they could. All around him buzzed with life, bots saying goodbye to others, excited chatter of “new lives”, “new sights”, and “new cities”.
For him, it was all a new mission, but he’d be lying if he said the idea of actually being able to walk in Iacon, as if he were a citizen, didn’t make his spark feel warm and fuzzy with excitement. He put his datapads back in his bag just in time as right after, a loud beeping noise alerted him to the fact his train arrived.
With a deep breath, Shockwave boarded the train in front of him.
Most of the glass train was rimmed with metal painted a golden yellow and dark blue stripes. When he stepped in, he saw the interior was an almost pastel yellow.
The shine of the unpainted metal rims was very apparent as he sat on one of the chairs. Ignoring the other passengers, he gently wheeled his bag in front of him and looked around. Screens were littered throughout the train, some just on the side of the chairs, most likely for announcements, or maybe to play music? Shockwave didn’t know which. What kind of train even had screens?
He crossed his legs, sighing and thinking, maybe that’s just normal here. A deeply uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach as he looked around. Autobot symbols were all around him, yet it felt weird that no one seemed to pay much attention to him. Shaking his head, Shockwave reminded himself of his new form and frame.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about him for now.
The doors seemed to just be closing, offering Shockwave relief, as no one had sat by him. The sudden screeching of tires made his audials flinch. Turning around to look at what had happened, he paused seeing a yellow Autobot run over and sit by his side, an Energon treat poking out of his mouth. He stared as the tiny bot shoved the fuel down his intake-- making a mess on his face in the process-- and then panted heavily.
Right after he’d sat down, the train started and the buildings around them blurred and became smaller and smaller shapes in the distance. Talk about a close call...
The Autobot was small. His frame was coated a bright yellow with black racing stripes, and his helm had two round horns on them. His optics were wide and a bright blue. He was obviously a car, with two little door wings, two of his tires on his heels and the other two as his shoulders.
His chest had a large glass window on it, though it was tinted so Shockwave couldn’t see if he was storing anything in it.
Finally, the yellow bot caught his breath and their gazes met.
“Hello!” the Autobot said. His optics lit up and he put on a casual smile as if he hadn't just attempted to swallow a piece of Energon whole.
“Hello… looks like some bot was hungry…” Shockwave stated, unsure of what to say. He didn’t mean to sound so monotone, but the Autobot didn’t even seem to notice as he chuckled, “Pshhh, yeah, I was in a bit of a rush because I got up late and had to pack all my things, and then I had to drink my Energon, but I also wanted an Energon treat so I went down to Tasmos and bought one, and then I panicked thinking I’d miss the train, but luckily for me, I’m the fastest Autobot ever! So, I made it just in time and pulled off, like, the coolest last minute entering ever! Did you see it? It was super cool!”
Shockwave just nodded. Honestly, he had never heard such a talkative bot. Not to mention he made the coolest entrance, not entering. Simple grammar but he butchered it right there. He didn’t even give him a name before telling Shockwave his story.
“So, can I have your name?” Shockwave asked and the other bot paused clearly not realizing he hadn't introduced himself. “Oops! I’m B- 127!” He took Shockwave’s hand and shook it with an energy Shockwave had never seen in anything as simple as a handshake.
“Oh, you don’t have a name?” Shockwave asked, though he just suspected whatever name B-127 did have had slipped his mind.
“Nope! I was born in a batch like most minibots. In the place I was at, you’d be really lucky if you got a name before going to boot camp.” B-127 said with a smile as if what he had said didn’t sound super horrifying. Shockwave’s face must’ve expressed his shock as B-127 seemed pretty startled by his reaction.
“I mean, I wasn’t even born in that batch, I belonged to another, but my mother abandoned me, so they just kinda threw me where they could. I guess they didn’t want to name me because that responsibility usually goes to the mother and that’d be awkward I can understand me keeping my serial code. I mean. I wasn’t their kid and they weren’t really my mom, so it makes sense.” B-127 paused looking back to Shockwave. He forced himself to blink and shook his helm.
“I’m sorry I’ve just never heard of anything like that before… I’m new in town…” he said with a shrug.
“Oh, I guess you probably don't have a name either do ya? What if I call you…” B-127 scanned Shockwave's body with his optics before they caught sight of his arms “Streeeeetchhhh…..”
Shockwave blinked, then chuckled. It was childish, but he supposed he could get used to it, and the Autobot’s smile showed he was proud of it, so no point arguing.
“Alright, I’ll just call you B then,” Shockwave said, smiling. Just then, the train stopped and up on the screen to the left, it called for those heading to Quartex.
“Oh, this is my stop!” B spoke up. Shockwave paused. He extended his arm and grabbed the paper shoved in the pocket of his traveling bag. What? That can’t be right. It read Quartex. Shockwave got up grabbing his bag as he saw B and all the other bots quickly leaving, with B just outright running. He ran over to B’s side and B slowed to a walk. His blue optics widened as he turned to Shockwave.
“Woah, did I leave something in there?” Without waiting for a reply B searched himself and his items making sure he had it all until Shockwave gently grabbed his hand. “No, no. I just saw we were both heading for Quartex.”
“Woah, really? Cool!”
Shockwave blinked. “Cool” was not the word he’d use to describe it; an “unlikely phenomenon” seemed more fitting to him, but B seemed happy about it, so perhaps it didn’t matter.
B suddenly grabbed his hand. “Well come on! No point being there on time when we can be there early!” Shockwave grabbed his bag just seconds before B broke into a run again. Shockwave struggled to keep up. How could such a small frame hold so much energy? he thought as he was practically dragged towards their destination.
Shockwave also had no idea how such a small processor could hold so many thoughts. B’s chatter must’ve gone on for mega-cycles as Shockwave narrowed down exactly where he-- or they-- were going. Finally, he stopped in front of a long, walled off, set of buildings.
The boot camp….
Shockwave turned around to see that B had finally silenced himself. His optics searched the buildings as he pulled a piece of paper similar to Shockwave’s out of his chest. No way… Shockwave thought. As B’s optics widened, he knew exactly what he had realized, even before B shoved the paper in his face.
It was the same address. Shockwave didn’t even have to check. He recognized it instantly!
“That’s super cool!” B exclaimed, and before Shockwave could get a word in, he dashed towards the largest building of the bunch.
Shockwave just stood there, half stuck in shock over the fact he was finally here and half that he now officially knew a bot he was going to be going to boot camp with before he even walked in.
“Hey! You coming?” B called about halfway to the largest of the grey buildings. Shockwave assumed that would be where they’d recharge.
He nodded to B and began to chase after him. Of course, B quickly started even more giddy rambling and Shockwave huffed. Oh well. Best get used to it.
It seemed they’d be spending a lot of time together.