Universe: Primeish (has G1 characters as well).
Warning: mention of physical and psychological abuse.
Plot: hunger forces a young mech to steal not to starve. This decision will change his life.
Other: written with juiceboxandexpresso , based on our roleplay. Look at her one-shots book as well! This will be published on hers too in a while.

The start of the war had been a terrible catastrophe, and after a good number of years from the start, a couple of years after Optimus became the new Prime, the situation of the planet was critical. Bots outside of the factions starved. Iacon was full of poor, homeless people. One of them, a large, teal blue mech was truly desperate, to the point of sneaking inside the most important Autobot base of Cybertron, just outside Iacon. The mech seemed young, in his mid twenties if he was human. And was horribly thin, scars covering most of his frame. His pale blue optics went back and forth, as he nervously walked looking for the rec room. He hated stealing, but had no other choice.
As the young mech snuck down the halls, it was shown to be surprisingly easy. Although several Autobot soldiers were in the halls, they didn't seem to notice him as the Autobot base was filled with hundreds of Autobots. Security was truly difficult to control as soldiers were more in need due to hundreds of losses each day. Continuing down the long halls, a sign ahead had cybertronian writing pointing toward the rec room where many Autobots refueled and relaxed until their shifts, training, or other activites. The young mech followed the signs, ignoring the pain in his abdomen and veins from lack of energon.  He felt really like he should collapse, and pushed himself forward with the last forces. When he arrived inside he went toward the cubes, his idea was to hide while drinking it among the bots in there, sitting quietly without making himself be noticed. There were so many bots after all. Was there even a possibility an officer could tell them apart? Probably, like Sentinel's army, they were simple numbers.

There was cubes stacked and a line to get the cubes. Once he reached the front, his digits wrapped around the familiar cool light blue of mid-grade energon. He carried it to a table and sat where there wasn't any Autobots. He took a seat and began to drink it, his systems awakening as soon as the energon hit his mouth. As he enjoyed himself to a cube, a few tables away hardly hidden was a large blue and red bot sharing a cube with a friend. The kind commander almost everyone on the planet knew.

Optimus Prime.

The mech was discussing the recent loss of a great Prime known as Zeta. He was closest to the second in command, Prowl. They spoke about the strategies Zeta had planned but unfortunately could not carry out no longer.

It was hard to miss the two as the mech towered over the black and white Praxian though it was made much easier to see them when a bell had rung for soldiers to leave their break and go to their duties. As several Autobots got up and left, the young tealed blue mech could see hiding in a crowd would no longer prove to be easy.
The young mech trembled realizing he was probably about to be busted by the Prime. Why had it to sound right after he sat? The mech pondered his options as the time went thin.
He could run, and try to flee as much as he could without even finishing his energon. He felt better, true, but was still weak. He would be taken down in so little time.
Or he could finish his energon and wait to be caught. In a normal situation he would have refused it instantly, but now he was just tired. And if he had to be thrown in a cell, at least he would be full fed. For once.
So he remained still, drinking quietly, watching the two out of the corner of his vision.

The two commanders continued talking without much thought until Optimus Prime glanced over seeing a bot he didn't recognize. Although there were about a thousand Autobots although with different bases, he never saw that mech in this base before. He tilted his helm as he studied him. He didn't see any recruit markings on him and he saw no Autobot insignia.

Prowl glanced over as well when his commander went silent. "What is it sir?" He asked, his voice quiet and filled with respect.

Optimus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That young mech there," he began, thinking. "Have you recruited him yet?" He asked.

Prowl looked at Optimus with an odd look. "I don't know sir, I recruit up to thirty bots a day. I couldn't say." He informed him with confusion laced in his words. "Why? Does he seem threating? A spy perhaps?"

Optimus hummed softly. "No, not a spy. Although he is clearly making an effort not to be seen, a spy isn't that deprieved of energon. Look how dim his energon veins are."
Optimus frowned then as he explained his theory to his friend. "He is no soldier. He is merely an Iacon citizen." He told him as he studied him more. He then stood, his gears and metal joints whirring and clicking. "I will go speak to him. Remain here, Prowl." He said calmly then strode to the table. Prowl blinked but remained still and silent, observing.

The large mech stiffened seeing him get closer. He looked truly terrified for a moment, as he placed the empty cube down and studied him. He went to stand up, wanting to leave if the commander let him. As he stood he knew Optimus could see the deep scars all over his frame. The young mech was terribly scared, and even knowing that mech wasn't Sentinel Prime, his former trainer and constant nighmare just the leader standing over him was terrifying.

Prowl stood and went to close the door, seeing the mech was about to try and flee. Standing in front of the door and crossing his arms sternly. The young bot wasn't going through there. And this made his light optics widen, starting shaking violently as he realized to be trapped.
Optimus studied him quietly, seeing he was tense. He stepped back then. The very few soldiers in the room went dead silent, staring at the situation. A maroon red muscular bot stood, glaring. He held scars over his frame and face. "Need me to hold him still, Prime?" The rough deep voice asked as his fist hit his palm for emphasis.

Optimus held up a calm servo. "No, Ironhide. That is unnecessary." He said gently then looked back at the young mech. "What is your name?"
The blue mech had already raised his fists in defense at Ironhide's words, going instinctively in a typical melee combat stance, one pede a bit forward, the leg back straight and the leg forward slightly bent to support his weight and prepare an eventual kick.
The mech felt grateful for the military training for the first time ever.
But at Optimus' words he relaxed slightly and muttered softly:"Ultra Magnus. I am leaving, just let me go please. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Optimus tilted his helm, more curious at Ultra Magnus's stance. "You have experience in military training." He stated, blinking with interest. "Yet you bare no..." he paused as his optics then noticed the Elite Gaurd insignia now that he was closer. He sighed softly, realization kicking in. "Ultra Magnus, you haven't hurt anyone and you are alright to have some energon." He said gently. "You could have even asked." He smiled warmly. "There is no harm done. Do not be intimidated by Ironhide or any of us. I would like to help you if you give me the chance." He spoke calmly.
Ultra Magnus blinked in shock. His expression just showed sheer confusion for a long moment.
'You want to help a mech you don't know? " he asked quietly. Though he completely dropped the fighting stance.

Ironhide too looked shocked and shook his helm.
" Prime!' he argued "he came to steal from us! We already haven't so much energon. '
He stepped forward more and the bots in there seemed to agree, but Prowl gave a scary glare to stop them from acting.
Optimus glanced at them frowning. "Ironhide, control your temper." He ordered sternly then looked back at Ultra Magnus. He sighed softly and placed his servos on his hip, assuming a thoughtful pose rather than an authoritative one. "I am willing to help anyone. Until they give me a reason not to." He said gently. "You came inside wanting energon. You didn't want any intention on hurting anyone. I don't see how this cannot work itself out." He smiled a bit. "Are you still hungry?"

'I... yes. " Ultra Magnus mumbled looking at the leader hesitantly. His expression unreadable. Looking still uneasy.
Ironhide grumbled stepping back and glared at the newcomer fiercely.
Prowl was watching quietly and opened the door again, Ultra Magnus evidently relaxing with that. He seemed like a wild animal in some of his looks and stances. Optimus nodded and grabbed a cube from the table and handed it to him. "Here, relax and drink your cube." He said and sat at the same table he put the cube down at. "Take a seat."
Ultra Magnus sat down and started drinking quietly, relieved. He looked up at Optimus with a gratitude he could not express at words, finally his abdomen wasn't hurting like before, and his optics weren't clouding. When he finished, he whispered:"How can I thank you sir? I didn't deserve any of this."

"That's right youngling." Ironhide muttered getting a sharp glare from Prowl, who seemed calmer but a bit dubious as he glanced at Optimus.
::Sir:: the SiC's voice sounded in his leader's helm through the comm ::what are we going to do with him? If he leaves, and I know these types of homeless bots, he will be back stealing in a few days top. ::

"Like I said before, I don't mind helping." Optimus rubbed his chin for a moment, knowing Prowl was correct. He then sat back against his chair.
"Ultra Magnus, you have experience in being trained. You can stay here if you'd like. Become an Autobot under my command. Drink as much energon as you'd like." Optimus offered with a kind smile as his facemask retracted which it rarely did. He ignored Ironhide as the mech growled but the old mech wisely remained silent.

Ultra Magnus blinked slowly and hesitated. He actually had been thinking about joining a faction in reality, and hadn't chosen yet. He had been hiding for a long time so he wasn't so informed. But Optimus seemed to care about his bots and even about the ones who weren't anything to him. After a moment of silence, during which he could acutely feel Ironhide glare at him suspicious, nodded.
"thank you, it is a generous offer." he said quietly, "I accept. '
Optimus could hear gratitude in his gruff voice. He smiled more then, his antennas flickering for a moment. "I'm glad." He said gently and glanced at Prowl who began approaching. "This is my Second in Command, Prowl. He can help get you started and recruited." He informed him as Prowl reached into his subspace and handed him a datapad.

"Here you will fill in all the blanks. You will be provided with a room once your are on file both in our database and in the medical wing. You will head there once I review your datapad. While I do so, Jazz, who is our Third in Command, will come and give you a small orientation of the base so you grow familar where washracks, berthrooms, the medical wing, and the training room is." Prowl began as his wings went rigid, comming Jazz that moment.
The new recruit sat and started filling in the form. In which he actually confirmed he was a former Elite Guard trainee, and that he had the typical weapons those soldiers had. A set of twin blasters and long blades. Everything was filled in with precision, his expression unreadable as he wrote.

::Hey Prowl! :: a strongly accented voice replied laughing as the Third in Command was always in a good mood ::can I help ya?::
The room was silent as Ultra Magnus filled the datapad out and Prowl turned to the side to speak to the mech. ::We have another recruit and I need you to give the orientation. We are positioned in the rec room at the moment.:: The Second in Command informed.

::Ah'll be 'here in ah jiff, Prowler.:: Jazz promised with a cheerful tone and Prowl ended the comm with a small grunt. He looked then to Optimus. "Jazz will be here momentarily." He said calmly and the commander nodded. He seemed to have gotten a comm himself the way his optics dimmed for a moment.

"I trust you will take care of him until Jazz gets here. I have been commed in from Red Alert." Optimus told him as he stood. He placed a kind servo on Ultra Magnus's servo. "Welcome again. It is good to have you with us." He smiled and began taking his leave.

Ultra Magnus gave Optimus that small, almost invisible smile he managed to do. His training with Sentinel had choked down every feeling he had, making him unable to express them.
He then gave the form to Prowl. He expected that Jazz to be like Prowl, serious and stern, and when he saw that small mech get inside, humming a song and smirking happily waving he just looked confused. He then glanced at Prowl blinking at him like to ask if this was normal.
"With all due respect sir, Is... He under the influence?" he asked quietly, really thinking he had to be drunk.
Prowl took the form calmly and subspaced it to review later. "Unfortunately, no. There is nothing to explain his behavior." He grunted though his tone seemed lighthearted.
Jazz gawked.

"Aw, Prowler, don' be dat way! Ah can be ah happy go luck-ay fellah without havin' ta be under da influence." Jazz scoffed playfully as he approached, seeming to have heard comments like Ultra Magnus's before the way he brushed it off. His visor glimmered as the rec rooms lights shined off it. "Ahm Jazz, ya must be da newbie." He smirked. "Ready for da best tour in da history?"

Prowl grunted and began grabbing his cube to take his leave next. "For the millionth time Jazz, it's an orientation. Not a tour." He spoke firmly.

"Have him at my office in an hour." Prowl ordered leaving no room for a smart comment from Jazz as he closed the door behind him. Jazz let out a low whistle.
"He definitely is in ah mood."
Ultra Magnus watched them like Jazz was some sort of dangerous animal. All that energy and good mood was absurd to him during a war.
"I am Ultra Magnus, sir." he said respectful, his expression unreadable. "and the Second in Command only seems professional to me. '
He followed the officer calmly, only raising an optic ridge in confusion at his behavior. A silence was constant, as he looked around quietly. But he did seem interested. Just didn't seem the talkative type.
Jazz hummed softly and nodded. After a while of noticing he wouldn't talk much, went fairly silent unless he was talking about the place they were at. The walks to each place were long. The berthrooms was the biggest. Jazz had explained Ultra Magnus most likely would be bunking with someone due to the amount of soldiers they had and the limited space they had as well.

"I have no problem with it sir." Ultra Magnus said calmly, really not being picky at all. He lived on the streets. A berth was already a huge improvement. His blue optics narrowed then seeing younger bots chatting and chasing each other often. If they were in his old base they would have beaten up almost to death. He gave a long look at the training room watching his new comrades spar. The commander could see him stiffen, like he was remembering something.

He laid on the ground, weak and trembling as he looked up at his leader, before pain shot into him as a pede collided with his flank.
"Get up!" Sentinel snarled "don't waste my time. You are weak! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

The young recruit returned to his senses with a shudder and shook his helm slightly trying to forget it.

Jazz rose an optic ridge hearing him call him sir. He really wasn't used to that. No one really called him anything but Jazz. He watched him as he shuddered and frowned. He could see the scars and the stare of a victim. He sighed softly and looked inside through the window. "Ironhide is da Weapons Specialist. He runs da trainin' with Kup. They work well. Ironhide seems rough but he is truly just protective. He is da weapons specialist, trainer, an' Optimus's bodyguard at times when he travels ta see da council." Jazz explained. "He truly is ah softie and will get better with you once he sees ya as no threat."
Ultra Magnus listened to his words about Ironhide and honestly doubted it. He nodded as he continued following, his expression neutral. He would not express his opinion on that. When they arrived back to Prowl's office he dipped his helm to Jazz respectfully.
'Thank you for the orientation sir.' he said quietly, his optics looking down at the mech calmly. He could not help calling him sir, he had it drilled in his processor.
Jazz nodded awkwardly. "Hey, ya, no problem. Just...ya don't gotta call meh sir. Ah ain't all dat into dat kinda stuff." He admitted, brushing it off. He then knocked on Prowls door. "He here!" He called. There was a muffled, 'enter!', so Jazz opened the door for him. "Good luck." He snorted.

Inside the office it was fairly dark except the light shining from a lamp on Prowls desk. He had datapad stacks near him and a cabniet against the wall with locks. There was two chairs that were empty in front of his desk and the Praxian looked up. "Take a seat."
Ultra Magnus gave him an odd look, confused by both the comments, and looking deeply concerned because of those words.
He then turned getting inside, looking around discreetly while obeying. His digits and antennas twitched nervously as he did so, his expression unreadable. The light shone making his blue armor gleam dimly, and making his scars even more evident. He covered the most terrible with his arm frowning hoping the commander didn't see them.  The door swished shut behind Ultra Magnus when he walked inside. Prowl watched him sit slowly, frowning. "Does Sentinel Prime know you are here?" He asked firmly.
"No." Ultra Magnus said firmly but he had immediately a defensive posture, crossing his arms over his chassis more tightly.
He paused before speaking again:"I would greatly appreciate you not telling him. Even though I heard he fled somewhere at the start of the war."
He was not sure about the reliability of that information. His blue optics were a bit narrowed.

Prowl hummed softly and looked down at the datapad with the information. "I see." He mummured. "Did you bring anything from the Elite Gaurd here? Weapons?" He asked then as he looked up at him calmly, staring him down.
"only the ones I carried on me." Ultra Magnus replied quietly unsheathing first his blasters, after a moment his twin blades. His servos returned normal and he murmured:"As I wrote in my form."
He didn't seem to be lying, his optics calm as he stared.
Prowl nodded and checked things off on the datapad. He was silent for a long moment, enough to make him uncomfortable. "Alright, you're in. You will have a schedule tonight before you go to your berth. I will find you." He said and put the datapad away. "If you remember where the medbay is then you should head there. Ratchet is waiting."
Ultra Magnus had been shifting uncomfortably and nodded slowly as Prowl finally spoke. Relieved.
"Thank you sir, I am going." the large mech replied standing up, "I will see you later."

The mech got out and started going there, thinking to himself as he went. This was odd. All this situation was absurd. He arrived in a couple of hours from being homeless and starving to be admitted into an army. He still could not believe it.
When he arrived to the med bay though he felt concern creep in his spark. Whoever this "Ratchet" was, he would have surely seen all  his terrible scars and healing wounds. He didn't know how he would have reacted and just hoped that he was more easy going like that Jazz than stern and serious like Prowl. He got in, looking around slowly and frowning.

As Ultra Magnus opened the door he instantly had to duck and move out of the way as a bot ran out. Inside the medbay it smelled of cleaner fluids, showing it was cleaned often. A medic near a patient was growling and glaring at the door. "Gears! Get your aft back in here and let me finish these slagging repairs! Then you can clean up your mess in here!" The medic shouted, storming to the door with a wrench in servo. He shoved Ultra Magnus out of the way and peered down the hall where the shiny red slim speedster was making his escape. Ratchet narrowed his optics and threw the wrench at him, directly hitting the back of his helm and watching his slump on the ground. Satisfied, the mech went after his prey and dragged him back into the medbay by his scruff, sputtering curses at him. He grabbed Ultra Magnus along the way, shoving both into berths as he went to his kit, cursing and mumbling under his breath.
The poor recruit was under shock and resisted a little, looking at the old medic with huge optics.
"Are you crazy?" he sputtered "you could have killed him! Is he even alive?"
Ultra Magnus went to touch the red mech, wanting to see if he was even awake. His other servo becoming a blade again as he was more than willing to fight back if that crazed medic was going to hurt either of them. As the red youngling didn't react, he growled angrily standing up, both of his swords out now. Ready to attack.

Ratchet looked at him with a glare. "Put those weapons away now before I disarm them for you." He ordered firmly. "I didn't hit him anywhere hurtful. It only put him unconscious." The mech spoke firmly as he worked on Optimus by his side, the commander really quiet.
Ultra Magnus frowned deeply and sheathed them honestly fearing him. He looked at Optimus like asking him what was going on, shocked. He sat down slowly in the meantime, though keeping a defensive stance, truly afraid.
"You aren't going to hit me anywhere with that. ' he said to the old medic, frowning as he eyed the wrenches.

"I won't have to if you remain still." Ratchet said calmly. He finished his scan over Optimus then went to Ultra Magnus. "What is your name?" He asked as he started a new file on a clear datapad. Optimus was silent with an amused smile when he saw the young mech look his way. He laid down, listening.
"Ultra Magnus." the young mech murmured, remaining completely still. He looked truly afraid, as he was not liking how the old medic behaved. He expected a even more terrible reaction after he got a scan of him and saw his physical conditions. He gave Optimus a look that screamed "help me".
Optimus did nothing, watching them quietly. Ratchet scanned the mech quietly and began writing few things down. "Lay down. I need to start repairs on you. Whoever did it before did an awful job."

Ultra Magnus obeyed and closed his blue optics as he let him. Every inch of his huge body ached and was bruised, wounded, bleeding. His expression twisting in pain a little. He was also really thin, and every time the old medic touched his abdomen the recruit would wince painfully. Though scared at any movement he would get a wrench on his helm. Didn't want to be knocked out like that poor youngling.
Ratchet was silent as he started his repairs, working well. He started on his wounds and bleeding. He then rubbed a cooling substance over his bruises to help them heal. "Relax. I won't hit you unless you give me a reason to."

The mech slowly relaxed and closed his blue optics. Though he didn't trust it enough to fall asleep yet. After a good hour he was feeling much better and started opening his optics to look at Ratchet grateful, his optics softer. He had never anyone take care of his health since he was a sparkling. This was different. Nice.
Ratchet looked at him from where he was towering over him, adjusting things on the datapad, writing things down. "How are you feeling?" He asked gently, seeming more calm than before. The red youngling was on the berth, resting awake.
Ultra Magnus looked surprised at him and tilted his helm slowly. Why was he now so kind?
'Better... " he murmured softly, sounding tired but also really grateful " thank you doctor. "
The mech just hoped the medic hadn't found out something he would rather no one to know. After leaving the army he had a period when he drank a lot, even too much for his own well being. He had wasted all his money because of it. It wasn't going to happen again.
Ratchet gave a small nod and glanced at the door as Prowl arrived. "Ratchet? Is he finished?" He asked quietly. The medic gave a silent nod and began leaving him. Prowl gave a nod in acknowledgment and looked to Ultra Magnus. "Come with me." He said firmly and began heading to the hallway to wait.

The blue mech stood and followed. His frame reacting much better as he sighed in relief. When they arrived in the hall he looked down at Prowl waiting for his schedule. He seemed a bit more relaxed right then.
Prowl arrived to a door quietly, giving him a datapad that he was carrying. "Here is your schedule for the month. You will get another later." He told him calmly. "You will be expected to show up for each of these activites ten minutes early." He said then looked at the door. "This is where you will sleep. Sometimes you might have a roommate. Depends on the causalities in battles." He then sighed. "Goodnight. I suggest getting a good night rest." He informed and began leaving swiftly.

The large soldier murmured a "yes sir", then walked inside and shut his door, slumping on the berth after checking what was his first activity the next day. Training. Ultra Magnus shuddered a bit, worried about what would expect him, but decided he would think about it the next morning.
And, as he quickly let himself fall in a heavy recharge, he felt finally safe.
His last thought was that, maybe, he had finally found a place to call home.