Raising A Hero

By: Sinead

Chapter Two:

Rodimus’ Gate . . . Trinity City . . . Northwest Quadrant . . . Cybertron

The shuttle touched down on the general landing pad. Kenrei was rattling off sights to Yukitaka as quickly as his voice would let him, describing the building excitement from the crowd to the height of the building and skyscrapers, to even how the pad was shaped. She smiled, silent, listening to the awe and complete happiness in his voice. They were truly home, this time.

“Grandma’s there, waving like she’s seventeen and fit to jump over this blasted shuttle. Grandpa’s beside her, holding her elbow and making sure she doesn’t.”

“Typically like my Mam,” Arashi said, laughing, helping the twins get down off of their seat. She took Sora’s hand, while Tekk took Tochi’s, and Karasu waited for Kenrei to guide Yuki off of the shuttle. She held onto her older brother’s hand as he brought her down the ramp and over to their Maximal grandparents, who immediately swooped them up in embraces and didn’t let go as they embraced the other siblings. Here, finally, they fit in.

“So what’s with you and your brother’s name?” one of the trainees asked as he sparred with Kenrei in the arena. He was a boy from the neighborhood, and wasn’t at all preoccupied with factions and other things that he called useless. He was the youngest in a family of four, one sister the other two brothers, and was aspiring to be as like their ancestor, Optimus Prime, as he could without losing his own individuality.

“Which one?” Kenrei asked, blocking a thrust and parrying.

“Tekkoh . . . Tekk-whatever.”

“Tekkoutsume?”

“That one.”

They paused, each needing a break after the half-hour-long battle, and Kenrei replied, “Japanese. Means Steel-Fang.”

“With the mouth he sports, I can see why.”

“How so?”

Graius shrugged, resting his practice sword against the wall. “He just isn’t all that nice sometimes.”

“Brat. I’ll have a talk with him about that.”

“You? You’re his sixteen-year-old brother, not his father.”

“Neither of my brothers listen to Dad.”

The slightly-younger boy grinned. “Oh, I know how that is. Optimus, the second-born in our family, doesn’t listen to anyone but Lumius, our eldest brother. And Lum knocks Op flat when he doesn’t listen to something that he should listen to.”

“I’ve met Optimus twice,” Kenrei said, thoughtful. “He’s the sport with the twin swords?”

“Yeah. Nasty as all Pit with them. You end up in a Chamber with him?”

Ken snorted, grinned. “A Pool, actually. The first time. The second time I made him pay for the move he used on me.”

“Good. When was that?”

“Last week.”

“He’ll challenge you again.”

“Not before the exhibition, he won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure. And don’t give him so much damage that he won’t be able to preform.”

They took their swords up again, but wandered out of the arena so another dueling pair could practice. Tekk joined up with them, spouting slag as fast as his nine-year-old mouth would let him. Scowling, Kenrei cuffed his brother slightly, just as Graius waved and yelled, “Lum! Over here!”

Tekk immediately stopped cursing the moment he saw how sheerly large Graius’ brother was. Lumius blinked at the young boy, nodded respectfully to Kenrei, then asked his own brother, “Where’s Op?”

Ken was astounded at the calm demeanor this Maximal had. There was nothing to say that he was anything other than one that would end up to be a peaceful philosopher, but he also felt an underlying protectiveness for those whom he was related to as well as friends.

Graius frowned. “I thought he was with you.”

“Blasted . . .” Lumius grumbled a few choice words.

Tekkoutsume grinned. “Cool! A new one!”

Glaring further at his brother, Kenrei gave him another buffet on his shoulder. “If I hear you repeat it, I’ll knock you into next year! Stop picking up swears!”

“But it’s fun!”

“Oh, it’ll be fun all right. Fun when Dad find out the vocabulary you’ve picked up. I’ll enjoy watching the chewing-out he’ll be doing to you.”

Lumius chuckled. “So you’re Kenrei, I take it. I’ve heard you’ve had you hands full with your siblings.”

“Brothers, mainly,” Kenrei replied. He turned to Tekk. “Go and get the twins.”

“Aww, do I–”

Ken turned the obstinate boy around, shoved him in the direction the twins were training in, then watched him until he turned the corner. “And you have no idea how slagging annoying they can get.”

Lumius chuckled, his deep voice knowing. “Oh, I know. I have Optimus and Graius to deal with. Tanarius isn’t a problem in the least.”

“Your sister?”

“Yes. Ah. Here’s the brat.” He drew in a good draft of air, and bellowed, “Optimus! Get your tailpipe over here! We’re late!”

Kenrei blinked. “Oh. So that was your bellow I’ve been hearing these last three months.”

The dejected younger brother walked over, while Lumius nodded, and spoke quietly. “And for those who have been here longer, they know me as ‘Lummox’ for the ways that I’ve simply plowed through people to drag this one back home.” His voice rose again to the conversational level. “It’s been a pleasure to finally meet you, Kenrei.”

Kenrei inclined his head. “The honor was mine.”

“Optimus, pick your feet up and move. We have to get to the station to meet Tana in three cycles!”

Smiling, the swords’-bots nodded their good-byes, and each went their separate ways.

“If you’re sixteen, how old is Lumius and the others?”

“Tana is nineteen, Op is twenty-one and acts like he’s thirteen, and Lumius is twenty-seven.” They were sitting, waiting their turn to perform at the exhibition. Graius looked at his companion. “What about your siblings?”

“Yuki is thirteen, Tekk is nine, and the twins are six.”

“Yuki? I haven’t heard much about her. Does she keep a low profile here?”

Kenrei sighed, smiling sadly. “She doesn’t spar. She listens sometimes, and can correct someone’s stance by simply listening and sensing where the person is standing.”

Graius whispered, “She’s blind?”

“Since she was seven. Virus.” Kenrei smirked. “And despite that, she’s always been able to follow along with sword-practices with me. She knows how to fight, and doesn’t rely upon sight to do so.”

“She must be amazing.”

“My little sister is indeed something else . . .”

After a brief silence, Graius asked, “Is she here?”

“First row, right in the center. I asked the arena-manager if she could have that spot.”

“And he let you? That’s the seat of honor! And we have three Elders attending today!”

“Primus, you don’t know?!” Kenrei asked. He laughed. “Of course you don’t. He wouldn’t tell people something like that.”

“Like what.”

“Razz is my father.”

“You said your father’s name was Karasu.”

“He renamed himself when he lived on Earth, but took up his old name with the people here.”

Graius shook his head in complete wonder. “And your sister sits and watches the exhibition in her own way.” He looked at his partner. “Lum would love to meet her.”

“Only Lum? I think that she’d have some effect upon Op.”

Graius sprang to his feet, pacing slightly, then gripped Kenrei’s shoulder. “You’re a genius! That’s the perfect thing to do! How does she fight?”

“Dirty. She is female after all.”

“No, no; what kind of weapon?”

“Give her an hour with a weapon and with me, and she’ll know anything.”

“Double swords?”

“She’s been using a katana and wakizashi since she was eight. Said she needed something to do with the spare time she had.”

“What’re they?”

“Traditional Japanese weaponry. Katana blade is about two-and-a-half feet long, wakizashi is about one-and-a-half.”

“Uneven sizes? Odd.” Graius sat again.

“Useful in their own ways. The shorter one blocks while the longer slashes with a better reach. It’s the sword-pairing I’ve grown up with.”

“But I’ve seen you with almost every sword this facility offers, and you’re good at them all.”

“You haven’t seen me with those ones yet. You’re not up to that skill level. I compete with my father with them, and I’m nearly ready to train others with them he said recently.”

Graius grinned, seeing Kenrei grin in return. “Then can I watch you and your father practice sometime?”

“Today. He’s part of the exhibition as well.”

“Sweet gears. I’ll be paying close attention.”

“That so.”

“’Cause I want to beat you while you’re with your best weapon, and when I’m with mine.”

“You’re on.”

They shook on it, and were called out.

The announcer declared the final part of the exhibition, which would be Razz, or Karasu, and his son in a duel with human traditional swords. They walked out together, swords already bare and glinting in the lighting, then squared off, taking up position. For five long seconds, they waited until both were ready. Then, in a flash, Karasu thrust at his son with the katana, reaching up with the wakizashi as Kenrei leapt up over his father’s head, blocking that swipe with his own wakizashi, parrying with the katana, which was also blocked. Landing, he backed a pace off, watching for any signs that his father would attack again. Upon seeing one, he attacked first, both swords coming at his father from separate angles.

Karasu was impressed. His son was fighting at the absolute top of his ability, pushing at the berserker border that the father knew all three of his sons possessed. They had gotten it from him, he knew, and hoped that they would never have to ever cross the line. But here Ken was, toeing the boundary, controlling himself easily. His optics were alight with the fierce spirit he possessed, but not one mite of madness or unstable anger were in them.

They drew apart from their trading slashed and blows, and Kenrei saw his father’s optics shine with approval. Neither had landed a strike, and neither one was too tired. It was time to end the duel honorably, with no casualties or hurts. Bowing to his father, Ken battled with his mind and pulled it back from where it was standing upon an unsafe line, sighing as he relaxed slightly. The two bowed also to the audience, who cheered and roared, the Elders along with the rest. Ken settled his gaze instead upon his sister, who beamed.

Back behind the stage, however, he collapsed into a chair, panting. Karasu laughed, resting his hand upon Kenrei’s head, regardless of who might be around and watching. “That was wonderful, son. You’ve rightly done me proud.”

Kenrei smiled up at his father, replied through his semi-labored breathing, “I’m glad . . . that I’ve had . . . the chance to . . . stand beside you on . . . a stage.”

“And you’ll have more. But don’t push yourself too hard. There are lines that shouldn’t be toed, and never stood upon. You know what I’m talking about. You’re nearly done growing, and it might take you a while to attain a few sharp edges, but don’t try to get there too soon. Wakarimasu ka?”

“Hai, OtÇsan. Wakarimasu.”

Graius was about to walk over to them, but a small figure, lead by one of the two he knew as Kenrei’s twin siblings, ran over to the arena-manager and his son, embracing first the father, then gripping the hands of her brother, saying something quietly. The families of those who had preformed were also coming back behind the stage, and Lumius, Optimus, and Tanarius joined with Graius, who, at this time, was bantering with Tochi and Sora, trying to win an argument with them. Tanarius laughed, catching Yuki’s attention. Her face lit up. “You have a wonderful laugh!”

Tana smiled and held her hand out. “Oh! Thank you! I’m Tanarius, Graius’ sister.”

“Yukitaka, Kenrei’s sister.”

Kenrei guided her hand to Tana’s, who saw then that the younger femme was blind. She disregarded it completely, saying, “I’ve heard of him, but not you. Apparently he likes to keep secrets.”

“What, again? Rei!”

“What?! Graius never asked about if I had any other siblings!”

Lumius chuckled, and took Yuki’s hand in his large ones. She was shocked for a moment as she felt the size of the Maximal’s hands, but her face slowly pulled up into a smile. “For a big guy, you’re really very gentle. What are you studying as?”

“Dual Medic and Technician. I graduate next year.”

“You have the Spark for it, and congratulations in advance. What’s your name?”

Lumius was instantly taken with the thirteen-year-old. “Lumius, Graius’ eldest brother.”

“Yes, he’s the youngest. And his next-eldest brother is Optimus. Where’s that rascal?”

Optimus walked over, taking her free hand. “Here.”

“You sound sullen. What’s wrong?”

Tana walked over with Graius to Kenrei. “She’ll straighten that heathen brother of ours out. She acts like she’s your age, and you act like you’re older then you really are.”

Kenrei smiled. “We’ve all been through some rough times where we grew up. Always a minority, never really fitting in. She’s had it rougher than most.”

“Grai told me about your plan. Can she really fight?”

“Watch.” He picked a scabbard up, and lightly tossed it at his sister’s back.

She whirled, catching it and throwing it back, only harder. “Rei, stop teasing me.”

Catching it and settling it back where it came from, he replied, “They wanted to know if your reflexes were as good as I boast about.”

“Hah! I’ll fight you, how about that?”

“No, fight Optimus. He looks like he needs a challenge,” Ken replied off-handedly, apparently returning to his conversation with the other two siblings as his parents walked over.

“That a good idea?” Karasu asked.

“You know she’s my equal.”

Arashi saw how she was dealing with Optimus, who suddenly yelped, “No way I’m going to duel with some blind girl!”

“Then you’re scared!” Yuki said, louder. “Wuss! Coward! Fine. Don’t answer the challenge I asked my brother to forward to you. Back off of something legit. You’re nothing but a sissy!”

Graius grinned. “Yep. She knows how to deal with him.”

“I am not a coward! Or a sissy!”

“Then why won’t you accept my challenge?!”

“You can’t see!”

“Makes no difference! I can tell you right now that I know each fault that you had on-stage, and I will tell you right now that three of them could be fatal!”

They continued to argue, with Lumius covering his grin in an attempt to be presiding over the bickering with a solemn demeanor. Kenrei and those around him grinned openly. Tekk, however, roared at Optimus, “You are a wuss! What’s more, I could beat you upside-down and backwards with one arm tied behind my back! Yuki, don’t waste your time with that lowlife! He’s bakarashii kisama!”

Kenrei glanced at his father, who had his back turned from the fight. The grown Predacon was grinning something fierce, but he schooled his features to a stern glare at Tekk. “Watch your language, Tekkoutsume! And Yuki, if he won’t accept your challenge, maybe he’s afraid that he’s just not up to your level. That’s normal for novice fighters. After all, you do train with Rei and myself daily.”

“Fine!” Optimus said. At this point, a large crowd had gathered to watch the argument, and he didn’t want to lose face. Especially because his parents, both of them Elders, were now watching. “I’ll accept the challenge. But on my terms!”

“No, on the arena’s. There will be a judge watching. That judge will be Kenrei, for you’ve also insulted not only Yukitaka’s honor by not accepting the challenge right away, but you insulted his own, as he was the one who taught her. And thus my own honor, as they are both my children, and I trained both in what they cannot learn from one another. Do you understand?”

Optimus nodded sullenly, then said, “One week from today.”

“Done. First thing at opening, arena three.”

“Done.” He stormed off.

Lumius looked over his shoulder at his parents, who smiled and walked over to meet Yuki. Both seemed shocked at her sightlessness, but like their daughter and two of their sons, paid no heed to that, taking her hand and introducing themselves before walking over with them to Arashi and Karasu. The father, Timius, held his hand out. “Razz, we meet again.”

“Blast it, but you’ve gotten to be an Elder without my help, as I always knew that you would!”

“That’s a rather roundabout way of saying, ‘I told you so,’ Razz.” Timius bowed over Arashi’s hand, saying, “And Aria, you’ve never aged a day and have grown more beautiful over the years.”

Razz good-naturedly took his wife into his arms, watching Timius with a glare. “You never had the guts to ask her out, and I was lucky enough that she asked me. Stop trying to steal my wife from me, blast you, you already have one!”

Lumius blinked at his parents. “I didn’t know that you knew Karasu.”

“Why else would I have signed Optimus up for this arena, and not the one closer to us?” Timius asked. “I knew that Razz would be coming home soon enough, even after seventeen years, and he would be able to somehow help us with Optimus.”

Arashi shook her head. “No, leave him up to Yuki and Ken to handle.”

“Really?” Farvi, Graius’ mother, asked. “Why them, may I ask?”

“Because they’re not the typically-behaved youth of Cybertron. They were raised in a rough suburb of Osaka, and won’t give into his temper-flares, as you saw Yuki demonstrate.” Arashi rested her hand upon her eldest daughter’s head while she hefted Sora up onto one hip with her other. “She gives just as good as she gets, and if Optimus had tried to lay a hand on her, he’d be measuring his length upon the floor, and would still be there at this moment. She’s done so to Tekk more than once.”

Yuki took the praise silently, but felt Rei’s Spark come closer to hers as he stood beside her, backing her up in silent reassurance.

Timius nodded, seeing the family stick together. They’ve learned how to in the last years, and it did them well.

“Then I’ll leave him in your hands. Thank you.”

Click here for chapter 3