[ti]Ep 3[/ti]A Simple Errand [Jack]

[Optimus Prime]

Episode 3 | Week 2 | Day 5

'Go for a drive' tended to be something others suggested to try to drain off stress. Attempt to forget what had gone wrong, focus upon the road and what lay on either side of it. It was something Optimus himself may even tell others to try, it truly an effective means to aid even if it was only a little bit. Every inch of distraction could mean the world however, though getting the first few steps out the door to forcibly try to SEEK such reprieve was another thing altogether.

There was a sort of sick irony to be had given the timing of it all. Optimus had just spoken to Bumblebee about the lingering effects of regret and grief the other day, trying to assist him with the remorse he felt after his attack when under Cruor's effects. The words he said to the Scout almost echoed in his own processor. 'There is no simple fix or cure', 'Accept what is done is done', 'Time will numb the ache. New memories will overshadow the old'... They were true pieces of advice. Things Optimus knew as law, yet Bumblebee already had months to settle into the situation, while Optimus was only three days past the incident, the metaphorical goring rip into his side still fresh.

This made getting the will to leave base difficult, yet when push came to shove when others were occupied or their alt-modes were invalid to the task, Optimus had little choice in the matter. Jack was going to be stranded at the school unable to get to base or home, and without Autobot aid he would need to wait for June to get off from work, which... more likely than not meant a bit of a wait in front of the school that could be hours as far as he was aware. As such, Optimus left the outpost begrudgingly for the first time since the incident with Ratchet, Nevada's hot air biting at plating as the recycled stuffy confines of Omega bled way to the open road.

Jasper was not a particularly far drive from Omega, even if it was a fair bit off from the city. Once hitting that edge of civilization, it was an even shorter drive in to where the school was settled, though it was a bit awkward for a vehicle of his design to make itself seen in such parts. Most were smaller civilian types, SUVs, hatchbacks, pickup trucks... in some instances a moving truck would use the road before the school as a means to get to their destination, yet the school itself was never really an objective unless desks or supplies were being swapped out. For a semi-truck that was 'built' to haul bulk cargo to warehouses and other larger tasks? Well, it was odd, and Optimus knew he stood out aggressively so even before his bright cobalt, red, and chrome paint was taken into account. He sat awkwardly before the school as multiple children were waiting for their guardians.

Optimus did not really pay others heed, parking across the two lane street at the shoulder out of the way so that families could easily swoop in and out at the end of the school day unobstructed. Within the drivers seat a simple Holoform sat, the individual not particularly notable or remarkable in any way. The human projection was the epitome of generic for the region, almost a default setting with minimal if any alterations that others seemed happy to play with for their own. Brown hair and eyes, average build, lighter skin with a simple t-shirt and jeans... Perhaps the most 'unique' part was a leather coat that was a dulled muted red that Miko had badgered him to use in an attempt to not look abnormally plain.

This Holoform sat inertly, hands off the wheel to rest upon its lap, staring straight ahead down the road with an intense detached look while he thought in silence.

[Deleted]

Art and History should never go together...

Jack moved through the relatively empty halls of Jasper High, having to stay late to do make up work with his Art History teacher. Arcee was apparently on a long day scouting mission, and the tire on his old trusty ten speed bicycle had gone flat from having access to Arcee all the time. Hopefully Raf and Miko had told someone at the base of his predicament and someone was waiting outside, or he’d have to call and look like an idiot on the front steps...

Things had been tense with Team Prime since what had happened with Ratchet. Everyone was walking on eggshells around the top members, especially Optimus. Prime had never really opened up about his relationship with Ratchet, but Jack had picked up on a few things, like how Prime seemed to call him “old friend” which indicated they had a long history before the war.

Jack came out of the doors, looking around to see if he recognized any of the vehicles. His eyes went over the red semi before doing a double take. He had not expected this, figuring someone else would be detached to come and pick him up, maybe Bumblebee or Bulkhead. But apparently Optimus had come himself instead of delegating it to another Autobot on Team Prime.

He crossed the street to where Optimus was parked, seeing the holoform staring ahead sitting in the driver’s seat. He looked deep in thought, but Jack figured the big guy had a lot on his mind. Jack walked over to the passenger’s side and popped the door open, climbing up into the cab on the passenger's side while sliding his backpack to the floor and closing the door behind him.

“Hey...thanks for waiting for me Optimus...never thought I’d end up staying late like Miko...”

He looked over at the Prime’s holoform as he said it, watching for any reaction.

[Optimus Prime]

While Jack approached the semi-truck, the Holoform within did not seem to react in any discernible way. He did not look down to the young human, did not shift his weight or move to relax further into the chair to ready to drive their way out to wherever they needed to go. It simply continued to stare right ahead in a sort of inert state. While he did not appear to notice Jack in any way, it wasn't truly the case, Optimus' unseen gaze shifting over and keeping an eye on him, unlocking the side door to let him climb up.

Once the human settled into place and deposited his bag, Optimus' Holoform seemed to finally move and break from its frozen state. A slow close of the eyes, a subtle shift to attempt to relax so he did not come off aggressive... His gaze flicked across the road ahead, as if only then becoming aware of it as his consciousness shifted slightly from his true state to the projection. As Jack spoke, his head would turn over some so he could respond and address him accordingly.

"Plans can often change with little warning."

A neutral tone of voice, Optimus easily folding into the comfortable monotone that did not betray much emotion if any. It muddled over the sadness and frustration that plagued him, knowing well it was not Jack's fault in any way. He was merely a bystander caught up in an alliance within a War he never planned upon, a shift of his life that was never meant to have happen. They couldn't just abandon him now however and let him try to 'forget' any of it occurred... couldn't throw him out to try to flow back into an 'average' life when Decepticons knew he had closer ties with them.

Turning back to look at the road ahead, Optimus' engines would transition from a low idle to a more active state, ready to drive unless Jack had forgotten anything.

"Do you wish to go to Omega One, or home?"

More flat words, uncertain if the unexpected delay at school made it so that plans had shifted away from the normal flow.

[Deleted]

Optimus definitely seemed more...well...

He was attempting to be more emotionless than usual it seemed. Well, that was not surprising considering that Ratchet basically died. Jack had not really experienced anything quite on that level yet, and...it was gut twisting not knowing if the old medic would recover. It reminded him of that first week with the Autobots when Arcee came back wounded from blowing up the Decepticon space bridge.

“Yeah...no kidding...”

Damn...what did one say in a situation like this? Jack couldn’t think of anything to say that Optimus probably had not heard before. Hell, Optimus had been fighting a war before Jackson Darby was even a thought in anyone’s mind, even before human life had begun. He had undoubtedly experienced tragedies before...but nothing probably came this close to home. Jack did understand one thing though, how it felt to have MECH take someone he loved. Yet Optimus seemed to not lose his cool over this, and he respected the big guy for that.

The question about where to go gave Jack a little pause as he considered where to go. Well, other than having to stay late for Art History...he honestly did not have anything to do this afternoon and evening. Pathetic...Optimus would always have something to do, even before the war right? He’s Optimus Fricking Prime.

“I guess Omega Base...I don't have to work tonight...and Mom is working late at the hospital...plus...well...no social plans...”

He sighed at that last part and leaned his arm on the passenger side door of Optimus’ cab, chin in his right hand as he stared out the window and shrugged. Before all this, he would have headed home on a night like this. Like all teenagers, he wished he could have those big plans, maybe even the girl to hang out with each night...Sierra seemed to like him, but would she be caught dead with a guy like him?

[Optimus Prime]

"Very well."

With confirmation on just where they were going to go, the human projection looked fully ahead, his hands moving away from resting just above his knees to then grasp onto the wheel to mirror the necessary look. That was about the extent of effort however that Optimus was willing to put in this day. Some got into the idea of playing human, truly pushed their consciousness over... tried to replicate breathing and subtle shifts, mimicking truly human actions even if it made no sense to do so... Here however, Optimus did not need to put on such a 'show', not fully anyway.

Jack knew what he was, knew the Holoform was simply an illusion... He knew the cab could be entirely empty and it would change nothing in regards to Optimus being able to maneuver and drive where he needed to go other than ending up spotted. So, no attempts were put in to try to make him believe the shape was truly real. Add in the fact that the cab was so high off the ground? And the fact there was nobody even remotely around that could see in from their own vantage point? And well, the Holoform didn't even reach over to shift out of park.

The semitruck's internals moved 'on their own', the gear shift snapping into a new position, a hiss of the breaks letting off... With care, making sure an individual had not snuck into a blind spot, Optimus would pull out onto the modest road before the school, heading towards the main streets where he would blend in far more effectively.

For a moment he was content to simply drive in silence. Optimus could happily go the entire way back to Omega without saying a single word, though logic told him it was not exactly comfortable to many others. Yet, he did not wish to start idle hollow conversation... forced statements, pretending things were normal when they were so very far from that. Hollow pleasantries with no purpose other than to fill a gap of silence. Yet, despite the human's protests on the topic, Jack was still a kid, and to just full tilt shun him for things so very far outside of his world and control was hardly fair.

Yet could he be bothered?

"How was your day."

Stilted words, an awkward attempt to simply show any semblance of normality despite the fact that this entire salutation was far from normal. Even ignoring current events, Optimus really wasn't the one who typically came out here to pick up any of the children. He did such a thing before, yet it didn't exactly go remotely as smooth as this brief encounter already had. Despite this, despite asking a question, the Holoform's attention remained ahead, brown eyes flicking in an idle scan of the area before turning right onto a main road.

[Deleted]

Jack was always a bit surprised when the internals on a Cybertronian vehicle mode moved on their own.

Being around Arcee, there was not much that moved on it’s own considering a motorcycle. Especially since Jack usually did the motions to avoid letting onto the secret. Boy that had taken a bit of getting used to, in order to avoid causing Arcee any discomfort if he moved the throttle too hard.

He leaned back in the seat, making sure his seatbelt was buckled around him securely. Though he figured he had little to no reason to worry of getting into an accident where the seatbelt would do anything short of another semi-truck hitting them dead on, he figured Optimus would prefer it if the safety belt was secured. It always amazed Jack that the Prime could have so much responsibility on his shoulders yet he was always intent on ensuring the safety of those who could be considered bugs compared to them.

The question brought him out of his thoughts.

“Well...school was okay. Nothing really happened other than staying late...”

He paused, as he was about to ask Optimus how his day was. Stupid question, especially with what had been happening with Ratchet. Plus Jack had heard a bit about some of the new arrivals, especially two new members of the command staff. Some strategist named Prowl who supposedly was cold hearted and unfeeling, and a commander named Avalanche that talked rough and played rougher. No wonder Prime would be stressed.

“Uh...how’s...Ratchet doing...?”

[Optimus Prime]

And there was the question.

Optimus did not doubt this topic would be brought up, for why wouldn’t it? It was the most recent troubling disturbance around Omega, and many if not all were likely hoping for a turnaround or good news every day. Holding onto hope that things could get back to normal... or... as normal as that was for the outpost. Yet, just because he knew this would be asked, essentially predicting the phrasing all together in some way or another, it did not mean it was an easy topic to speak of since there was no good news. He couldn't offer a sort of awkward smile and claim Ratchet made progress, or that they had a good lead on a way to help. There was nothing.

"As well as can be."

Turning onto the main road, Optimus knew he could easily drop the topic right then and there. His tired and tense words possibly slicing through further questions with how abrupt it was. He could push for a subject change, yet... his own irritations about it all could change nothing, and taking it out on Jack was worthless and counterproductive. Because of this, he tried to reel himself a bit further back, grounding down, before he continued to speak.

"Physically he is recovered-"

Surface damages were so easy to fix...

"-yet he continues to not recall his life."

Reset. Pulled back. From what he understood it was as if the processor had been swept completely clean to a fresh boot. This was reinforced by what Ratchet's message said, the last bit of real communication that Optimus had watched many times over at this point. Seeking a clue, seeking some implication that process could fail, and if not? How to recover any data or restore should he be pulled out of MECH's grasp. Was a backup even viable? Was a thing even around? Not all were capable of such a process, and it had never been a topic brought up as this sort of outcome had not been a real concern. For the Decepticons, there would be no point to claw and root through his mind for medical and technological gain... yet for MECH it meant everything.

Another turn after a red light... the semi truck continued on to head towards the outskirt road that would start to lead back towards the secret entrance. Optimus' Holoform continued to remain inert, offering nothing when it came to expressions or other clues to his emotions beyond a neutrally monotone voice.

"I am certain Patch is working diligently."

Optimus would not blame her if nothing could be done, though he hoped there were some stones that still needed to be turned.

[Deleted]

What was more horrible? Dying and being dissected, or forgeting millions of years worth of memories. Granted in Ratchet’s case, many of those memories were most likely terrible memories of war, but there were certainly some things that Ratchet would have wanted to remember.

He could tell it was rough for Optimus to talk about, that he probably did not want to talk about it. No doubt the Prime was grieving in his own way. That was one fact that he knew, despite whatever front that the Prime was putting up things got to him too. It was part of the reason that made Jack respect Optimus Prime more and more as he got to know him. Despite whatever Optimus was feeling, he put it aside for others.

“I’m sure she is. Have you thought about asking Raf for help?”

He honestly doubted Raf would be able to help restore Ratchet’s memories, but the kid knew more about technology and computers than anyone else Jack knew of. Despite Cybertronians being living machines, shouldn’t there still be a few similarities that Raf would be able to exploit? There was another question, unspoken by Jack up until this point.

“How has this affected everyone else? Are they...wanting revenge against MECH?”

Honestly, Jack wouldn’t blame them, or blame Optimus for wanting Silas’s head at that moment. MECH had done some pretty terrible things, but this one really hit close to home for a lot of people. Despite not being in the field, Ratchet had quite the effect on people.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus did not know how he felt about Jack's question regarding Rafael. The Prime was not an elitist in any way, he did not see Cybertronian as superior or beyond comprehension of other species due to their advancement in technology and mechanical 'biological' frames. MECH had made it abundantly clear they could learn fast and apply such things against them in only a short few years. That said, despite Rafael picking up on computer systems and their language, as well as hearing Basic and deciphering it... he was still so profoundly removed from their actual biology. He didn't have a team of scientists working in tandem to pull them apart. There was a faint flicker of frustration that Jack momentarily looked down upon them as mere computers a novice could re-program and restore.

It was ignorance, a want to help. He knew that. Perhaps there somehow was an idea Rafael could offer Patch that would be beneficial. Optimus would not bar the human from giving it a thought, would not turn his back upon such a slim chance if it meant restoring Ratchet to who he was... yet that ever so faint feeling of indignation simmered, a feeling he smothered down and snuffed out under the blanketing neutrality he pushed himself into.

"An option to be explored."

There was no extra tension brought into the words. He knew Jack was trying to help, and given his reaction to Cliffjumper so many months ago, he was likely still adapting to the idea of living mechanics. To look down upon him in the process of learning was not fair, when only a year or so back computers were nothing more than computers.

At Jack's follow-up question, Optimus paused once again a moment. His gaze flicked across the road, watching as others drove along, going about their own lives completely ignorant to what lay beyond their world. He looked over at bus stops they passed, stores they collected within...

"Animosity is to be expected."

Wariness eked its way into his voice at this. As of yet, no one has approached him directly with snarled cries for vengeance. No one has pulled out a blade and declared a want to slice them down. Prowl had his own plans, yet he didn't count, his goals always on their own level. He at least approached such things with protocol and respectful means however. Even if things got heated it was always controlled... unlike the insubordination and fearless rebellion of others around the base that cut loose with such flippant disregard.

Thankfully they have kept quiet in front of him to this point.

"We must act with controlled motions to not incur more loss."

[Deleted]

He could sense that his question had not been expected.

Jack waited apprehensively while it seemed Optimus considered the question, seeming to choose his words carefully. Now that he thought about it, that question might have crossed some sort of line. Something about the way that Optimus’ holoform flickered suggested that the Prime was biting back some words before speaking.

When he responded so...positively, it surprised Jack a little. He had not meant to insinuate that the Autobots were nothing more than computers, but Raf was one of the smartest humans he knew. Maybe he would know something, because he had surprised them on many occasions.

The next response was also measured as well, but Jack could sense the hesitation in the back of his voice. Optimus was probably concerned at being able to corral his people and keep them in line. It might have been easier back in the day, when MECH had first made their appearance and there were just four other bots besides Prime. Now, Jack was starting to lose count at the number making their way to Earth.

And all of this started over not having enough Energon...?

Jack remained silent for a few moments, then looked over towards Optimus.

“Hey...Optimus? When we met, you said that the war was over the supply of Energon on the planet right? But wouldn’t such an event have driven your people together to find a solution?”

[Optimus Prime]

"The War was over more than fuel."

Far more.

"Our world was ruled by the belief one's frame dictated their role and placement. Aspiration and desire meant nothing."

Optimus chose his words with care. He was not certain he wished to go into details about the fact he and Megatron used to work side by side. A broad more encompassing concept was for the best. Should Jack inquire further, should he specifically bring up one of them in the flow of conversation? Optimus would delve into it. He did not plan to truly hide and lock it away as if it were something to be shameful of even if there were some regrets along the way.

"A wish to change this normality resulted in the Councils fall. Yet, different paths to obtain said goal resulted in the divide."

The Prime wondered if Orion had not helped Megatronus if his words would ever spread far enough to get the traction it had. Orion had worked hard, delving into means to spread the Gladiator's ideas across the world, while looking up means to try to protect him in the process by making every rally, every announcement, as legal as possible so a law could not strike him down before he ever got real footing. Without this... maybe the mass brutal murder of so much of their kind, and the decimation of their world would not have happened. The Council still around, but change being worked on through more peaceful means.

"Legality and change through the system, versus more immediate results at any cost."

A moment of silence followed then, thinking over his next words with care.

"Now, the divide between Decepticons and Autobots is far too broad."

Somber.

Optimus wished there could be compromise. He wished there was means to unify so they could all work on restoring their world. However, such a thing would have needed to be done back so very long ago... back when individuals would listen to both sides and try to carve out their thoughts. A stronger case to denounce outright violence may have done much if it was empowered by other changes to prove progress could be made peacefully, though it may just be speculation. Now however, things were too far gone. Demonizing the opposite side, watering them down to abstract representations... They were only the darkest outlines of who they once represented to the opposite side, Decepticons ruthless monsters tearing through others like rabid dogs for victory, while Autobots were Council slaves that still tried to hold individuals back and shackle them down from seeking change.

"Fuel is merely means to empower one side over another, yet detonation of an entire mine system out of spite is not unheard of."

Starscream had done so not even four years ago on this world. A highly lucrative mine system, still full of already mined ores ready to be transported to processing, being cast to the wayside to try to blow up his team in the process. Either by flame, shockwave, or collapsing rubble... it appeared the Seeker deemed it better to attempt such slaughter despite the profound loss of something so incredibly valuable. That system may have been one of the largest on this world, if not the largest, an expansive reserve lost in an instant.

"Many see the war as an all or none mentality."

[Deleted]

As the Prime spoke, Jack paid close attention. He had heard a few whispers here and there when bots were talking, but so far most of this information was quite new.

“What’s the council and why did they stick with a system that obviously made everyone unhappy?”

Jack understood that things would have worked differently back on Cybertron, just like how things work differently between different countries here on Earth. But having seen a few examples of a Cybertronian going all out in a fight, he could hardly believe that there had not been a revolt of some kind earlier that told the ‘council’ that something was wrong. Surely someone would have said something...

“So Megatron wanted more immediate change, and you wanted to do things by the book?”

Jack had never seen Megatron face to face, but Arcee and some of the other bots back at base had told him a few things. What he had gathered was that Megatron was a sort of despotic dictator, not the sort to fight a revolution for any purpose besides putting himself in charge. Certainly not fighting a revolution to improve living conditions for everyone.

“I...always heard he never cared for anyone but himself...”

He could hear the regret in the Prime’s voice as he continued on, but Jack could understand that. No doubt the war that had lasted centuries took its toll on everyone. It almost seemed like when his mom came home from working a double shift at the hospital on a busy day and just wanting to collapse on the couch. It had been really hard when his dad had left them and moved off to who knows where.

He suddenly felt a bit self conscious, and turned back to look over at Optimus’ holoform.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry or anything.”

[Optimus Prime]

"The Council of Thirteen ruled our world, their judgement and wills shaping all beneath them."

The ultimate figureheads. The ultimate decision-making platform. Their actions strengthened everything their world had become, padding out their own lives and those of their peers to one of luxury and prestige.

"They enforced The Grand Cybertron Taxonomy, forcing others into their respective roles."

A book of sparkless emotionless decisions. A list that spat out roles with no thought or care into an individual's temperament, potential mental skills and talents, as well as the most important factor... their wills. There was no doubt in Optimus' mind that they have lost out on some of the world's most brilliant minds just because they turned into an excavator or other such manual labor form. Potential rotting away and hazed over in a world that did not care for who they were in their core.

"-why did they stick with a system that obviously made everyone unhappy?"

"When individuals are gifted a free pass to a better life, a willingness to change said system is uncommon. An expansive structure kept others suppressed, often with less than ethical mutilations or random disappearances to instill fear."

Jack was the oldest of the children they interacted with, and as such Optimus wanted to guess he was old enough to handle some of the darker truths when he may have been a tad more selective with Rafael. All of the humans that walked Omega however, there was a decent chance they have witnessed such horrors first hand, perhaps not even realizing the significance of it. Rain's different helm and hands, the fact she had what was effectively a security camera for a head... To a human they may associate it with a simple robotic alteration or differentiation, just as some had three fingers and a thumb while others hand a set of four, or the clash between plantigrade or digitigrade limbs. Their frames varied far more than a human's own, and the true horrors may not be realized.

"Attempting a unified revolt was a potential death sentence that not many were willing to risk."

A lower mutter of words, Optimus' thoughts drifting back as he said this. He could recall more than a few riots and events that had been seen in the news before he got involved. A momentary blip of rebellious 'crazed' mechanics or laborers that had a bit too much to drink or whatever other excuse was used to suppress its importance and devalue it. Those were only the ones that were too big to be ignored however, and the Prime knew well how many were likely quietly cleaned up with an order for the smelters to put their heads down and dispose of things.

At Jack's mention of Megatron's seemingly self-centered mindset that cared naught for others, Optimus' holoform would shift its gaze over, watching the other male.

"Megatronus was a miner, experiencing a life of expendability. He wanted better for others. However, I do not know if he intended to seize total control from the onset, or if his goals adapted once gaining a taste of power."

Power and control given to one that had potentially never experienced it before... It could corrupt the best of souls, which is why the Caste System was as reinforced and strong as it was.

"Do not apologize for a want to learn, Jack. You have every right to understand the world you have been introduced to."

The buildings they were passing grew a bit scarcer and more spaced out as time progressed, nearing the outskirts of the city itself.

[Deleted]

As Optimus spoke Jack continued to meet the holoform’s eyes. He still couldn’t fully wrap his head around the science behind it all, but from what he understood it basically became a physical representation of Optimus while he was driving, and allowed him to interact with as if he were another human.

As Optimus talked, Jack thought back to when he first met Team Prime. At how surprised he, Miko, and Raf had been when they began to realize what they had gotten themselves involved in. That experience combined with future experiences had taught him that the Autobots were just like him, with feelings, emotions and flaws. Sometimes he thought about what those people on the science channel said about meeting aliens, how much they could teach humanity and how advanced they could be.

Well they were right about that. In a different sort of way. He wondered what Prime had meant by less than ethical mutilations, then his mind went right to Rain. Something about the way she was, with the head and the claws didn’t seem right, like they weren’t originally apart of her.

He suddenly blinked and stared intently at the holoform.

“Wait, you just said Megatronus. He changed his name? Why? And what do you mean by he was a miner? He wasn’t always a warlord?”

He half noticed that they were on the outskirts of Jasper now, his attention fully focused on what Optimus Prime had just said.

[Optimus Prime]

As to not betray his atypical nature to anyone who may somehow see his Holoform despite the sparse traffic and higher position within the truck cab, the projection's head would turn back to peer forward at the road. It had an absent gaze to it, seeming to look out across other vehicles, signs, and lights as they progressed, yet it almost seemed as if he was looking past them in a way. There was something a bit off about it overall, the Uncanny Valley creating a divide that would take practice to shed off. While his attention moved away from looking at Jack directly for longer stretches, he would still cast an occasional glance over, to not appear as though he were snubbing him.

A low sound of thought was made at Jack's question, thinking over it a moment.

"One does not step into this world a Warlord, such things grow over time."

A debatable statement. There was no doubt that individuals were brought online or birthed pre-destined for a specific leadership role of some kind. Groomed and trained, put up on a pedestal where such a goal was their life mission to take up the mantel from their predecessor. However, it could be argued even then one did not simply step forth into the role the day they saw light, said training leading and building one up. It was all semantics however, reading between the lines, when the general idea behind his words would more likely than not suffice for the moment at hand.

"Megatron has altered his name twice-"

That he was aware of.

"-Marking milestones that separated him from his past life."

This was something Optimus himself was familiar with, having changed his own name upon his transition to power. He could have easily used the term Prime as a title alone, calling himself Orion Prime, yet he wanted to honor past leaders who changed their names, as well as separate himself from who he once was as well. There was a decent chance that many in this war have done the same to pin their own pinnacles or 'rebirths', perhaps some even in their team as of current not using their original labels. Though, this was not something casually brought up, nor on a need-to-know basis, so Optimus had no clue other than those like Bumblebee that adapted and took a sidestep on Earth given the translation of his original name.