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Protector Rodimus Prime — Description

“Cybertron needs a Prime… but I’m no Optimus.”
-Faction: Protector
-Rank: Leader
-Alternate Mode: Cybertronian Truck
The bot once known as Hot Rod was a brash, hotheaded daredevil during the war, taking on the most dangerous assignments and upsetting his superiors to no end. But as the fighting continued, he began to understand how his headstrong attitude was hurting the cause more than harming it, and became a much calmer and more collected bot. This saw him become one of Optimus Prime’s most trusted troops, which helped Hot Rod develop a far greater respect for his leader than before. He played a key role in the final days of the war, forging an alliance with Soundwave’s splinter group of Decepticons in order to battle Galvatron and Unicron. He led the unified factions against the dark god’s horde of Sweeps, buying time for Optimus to sacrifice himself by unleashing the Matrix within Unicron’s body. Recovering the relic, the Autobots chose to name Hot Rod as their new leader, and he reluctantly accepted to become Rodimus Prime. His first years in the role were fruitful, seeing him establish the Cybertronian Alliance between Autobots and former Decepticons and reestablishing contact with worlds once thought lost to time. Slowly but surely, Cybertron began to resemble its prewar self, and with new life being birthed, the future looked promising. Rodimus even found companionship in Soundwave, and began a secret relationship with his former foe. However, the pressure of leadership soon began to rub off on the leader, leading to a strong sense of self-doubt. He believed that he could never live up to the legacy of Optimus Prime, and that the past leader would have helped Cybertron far more than Rodimus ever could have. Reaching a breaking point, Rodimus decided on a course of action that would forever alter Cybertron’s leadership. Using some of the life energy stored within the Matrix, he ordered the creation of a hundred clones of the former Prime, believing that they could all make a far better impact on the Alliance. With the aid of scientists such as Mainframe, Perceptor, and Longarm, the clones were all built with distinct tasks in mind, with the first four being designated as the Primus Vanguard and meant to act as the Alliance’s new leaders. But just as the clones were finishing production, Rodimus suffered an attack of conscience, realizing that he had disrespected Optimus by negating his sacrifice and creating a legion of duplicates that had no freedom of choice or path. This, along with the stress accumulated over years, finally pushed Rodimus over the edge. With no fanfare and without letting anyone know, he disappeared from the known galaxy, exiling himself to atone for his mistakes. In his stead, a new leader was named, and Rodimus felt comfortable thinking that Cybertron would be in better hands than his. Taking up a new identity as cargo pilot Nitro, he lives a life of blissful ignorance in the far reaches of the galaxy, unaware that he will be forced to face the consequences of his actions sooner than he thinks.
Formerly an impetuous young punk, Rodimus matured over time into a talented leader and skilled fighter, preferring to deal with issues head-on. He was always ready with a dry quip and a plan in a tough spot, making him a role model for many younger Protectors. He was kind and heroic, if a little sarcastic and jaded from years of stress. His combat abilities saw him conquer early threats to the Protectors, with the Matrix granting him increased power and strength. His flamethrowers could burn through anything, and at times he wielded the Star Sword of Primus in battle. His driving skills were almost unmatched, and he could outrun most foes with ease. These qualities made many Autobots see him as an ideal candidate for leadership, even above bots such as Springer, Ultra Magnus, and Grimlock. However, his biggest flaw was his self-doubt, unsure of his ability to live up to Optimus Prime’s legendary legacy, which ultimately led to his downfall.