Arko
- Arko is a human from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Arko is a human from the realm of Menonia, the daughter of Elder Arnak of Valerift. Arko often participates in resistance efforts against oppressors holding power over her realm, but she doesn't always agree with the methods or timing of her compatriots. This leads to Arko going off alone to handle things her way, which usually means faster, harder, and with expert local knowledge. Arko's not afraid of pain nor allying herself with more powerful beings if she thinks this will further her goals.
Arko's a terrible student, and probably not a very good teacher, but if she can learn to forgive herself her mistakes and see the strength in teamwork then she may just have what it takes to lead.
Fiction
Transformers: King Grimlock
Arko was one who put more value in personal power than prayer or gods, initially proud that her father Arnak had summoned an Autobot to aid the Menonians' resistance against the Golden One. She showed disappointment when Arnak begged Lord Grimlock for help, and received admonished her for her pride. As Arnak continued his entreaties to the Dinobot, Arko interrupted to say they didn't have time for talk. If Grimlock would not help their cause, they would have to fight for themselves. Arnak dismissed Arko's sentiment as disrespect and continued his entreaties to Grimlock. But Grimlock ultimately declined to join their cause, even knowing it would mean he was trapped in Menonia. This dampened the morale of the Menonians, and Arko seemed to have some change of heart. She saw Grimlock's physical strength as a desirable power. She had no time for weakness. Rather than fight without Grimlock, or suffer begging, she would find a way to MAKE Grimlock help them. So, Arko ran off alone after Grimlock. Grimlock the Rebel
Arko found Grimlock in the intestinal cave of a ridge worm being attacked by its tentacular tongues and rows of internal teeth. She sprang into action with her sword to slash the tentacles. Grimlock recognized her as Angry Arko and insisted he had things under control, but was willing to listen when she demonstrated her local knowledge. Arko explained that one could not simply get out of a ridge worm the way they got in, and she and Grimlock then gorily cut their way out of the mountainous body of the worm. After their encounter, Arko and Grimlock took a moment to discuss gods: The Menonians were fighting because they refused to worship the Golden One as Soltron's chosen, but Grimlock did not know this Soltron. In Menonia, the Autobot brand Grimlock wore was known as the face of Soltron. Grimlock did not look for any god in the sky, but to the battlefield, where the Necrobot would come to chronicle death. And death was not something Grimlock feared, so he hadn't really needed Arko's help. But Arko countered that Grimlock's strength was nothing without her wisdom based in local knowledge and he probably couldn't even last a day without her. Arko stood firm when Grimlock brandished his blade and insisted she had just saved his life. If he were not able to appreciate that, then he was more a beast than a warrior. Those were fighting words, but Grimlock did not move to attack. When Arko continued venting her frustrations about her father and the Golden One, saying she also was unafraid to die, and even struck Grimlock with her sword, he still did not fight back. Because, he said, he would crush her. Arko was insulted to not be seen as a warrior deserving the honor of combat. Then, perhaps desperate, Arko proposed a deal. If Grimlock would teach her strength, she would teach him of Menonia. Grimlock questioned whether Arko might quit or complain but ultimately agreed. And they would start that day.
Coming down from the mountainous wooded area, Arko and Grimlock came to a river where they saw the village of Angloria burning. Arko's initial reaction was to find it pitiful that the Anglorians could not defend themselves. They would survive and be stronger for it, or fall to this attack from the Red Wizard. Grimlock did not disagree with Arko, exactly, but he was interested in the wood-bots they saw attacking and how in some ways they seemed like him. Not wanting to seem scared to confront the wood-bots Arko agreed to follow Grimlock. They charged into battle, Arko riding upon Grimlock, fighting with sword and flamebreath, destroying many wood-bots. Grimlock tried using battlefield banter to learn why the stronger wood-bots would attack weaker Anglorians, but they were unable to answer. In the din of battle, Arko managed to explain these were mindless troops raised by necromancy. After the battle, Arko questioned why Grimlock did not celebrate the liberation of Angloria. He voiced some heavy existentialist concerns regarding the wood-bots created nature and lack of sparks and how the Red Wizard made them do bad. Arko became angered, again, disappointed Grimlock now seem set on confronting the Red Wizard and had still not agreed to fight the Golden One. He was willing to join the Anglorians, but had denied her people from Valerift? Arko decided Grimlock had nothing to teach her and she ran off alone, again. Grimlock the Defender
Alone on her quest for strength, Arko crafted armor from the wooden plate and sinuous innards of fallen wood-bots. She cursed Grimlock as she worked, disgusted by the weakness she perceived in the Dinobot and her fellow Menonians and...maybe herself. In a moment of reflection, Arko recalled a time when she had wanted to save fellow warriors whose ships were burning and sinking under an assault of dragon's breath. But her father, Arnak, had made their escape his priority so that some part of their people might live on. Arko started to think that amid so many weak beings there might be one...who had true power. Arko traveled to the seat of the Golden One, where she was welcomed. But, Soltron, who had chosen the Golden One, was not a weak being who would forgive. Arko would have to pay for her past resistance. Grimlock the Avenger
In the castle, Arko was given a new, golden set of armor, The Golden One then also burned the face of Soltron (Autobot brand) into her right forearm, so Arko may know Soltron was always watching her. The Golden One continued to be pleased Arko had forsaken the resistance path of the Anti-Sun and seen the light of the blood of Soltron, but reminded her she had agreed to pay a price. Arko's sacrifice, she said, would be Grimlock.
When Grimlock arrived at the Golden One's seat of power, Arko stood at the right hand of the Golden One, who also had advisor and overseeer Clatta with him. The Golden One was pleased Arko's recently delivered intelligence on the Dinobot was proving accurate. Arko continued to portray Grimlock in negative terms: where others might have seen honor, she described a false facade, weakness, and desperation. Clatta, expressed little appreciation for Arko's wisdom and left to lead a force of the Golden One's troops to welcome Grimlock. Arko looked on from the balcony above as Grimlock made short work of the Golden One's sycophantic lackey and was not sorry to see Clatta go. As they watched Grimlock pummel minions, Arko then advised this could be a distraction. This was proven true as a darkness covered the sun and Arko witnessed the Golden One show weakness for the first time, as he admitted the eclipse could weaken his link to Soltron. The Golden One commanded Arko to watch from inside the castle, though she protested she would not shy from this battle with Grimlock. The Golden One then shifted shape into a great golden dragon and flew to attack Grimlock.
Though she had protested, Arko did watch the epic big monster fight between dragon and T-Rex from the balcony. During the course of the battle, Grimlock revealed his own wisdom about the blood of Soltron being tainted energon and the Golden One merely the poisoned puppet of Soltron. Gradually the Soltron entity revealed themself, speaking in a new voice from within the Golden One's body and proclaiming themself a god.The Golden One made a final attempt to resist Soltron, but died in the process, thanking Lord Grimlock with his last breath. Arko, hearing this from above, expressed confusion.
As below Grimlock pondered the fate of the fallen Golden One, Arko heard the disembodied voice of Soltron. Her initial reaction was revulsion: she did not want want to be poisoned, infected...or weak. Soltron preyed on this fear of weakness and offered Arko POWER! Grimlock and the Sorcerer
Arko fell under the sway of Soltron. As Grimlock battled Soltron, who was inhabiting Arko's body, Arko's voice and personality were suppressed, but she would later seem at least aware that Grimlock had undergone a risk for her. Grimlock had changed tack during the battle and ceased physical attacks against Arko's body to taunt Soltron and offer a deal. Soltron had then left Arko's body and gone into Grimlock. Sometime during the epic battle within Grimlock's spark, Arko must have regained her own senses. When Grimlock then returned to normal function, Arko was right there, reaching out to lend him a hand and calling him Lord Grimlock, again.
Arko was surprised and maybe even elated when Grimlock confirmed that Soltron was gone, but she quickly regained her composure. Arko questioned why Grimlock had risked so much for her. As they walked, Grimlock confessed that he may have not been the best teacher. Arko and Grimlock had both, in the past, been against fighting others' fights for them, hoping others could grow strong for themselves, but now, Grimlock indicated that was the coward's path, and it was better to fight with others. As they rejoined the surviving Menonians, Grimlock pointed out how the people of Angloria and Valerift had come together. Grimlock also told Arko, what the Golden One had earlier hinted at, that it was magic that had caused the eclipse. Magic wielded by Arnak.
Arko rushed to her father's side, where Elder Nerea of Angloria praised Arnak. He had held the spell as long as possible and it had literally shaved a few years off his life, yet he had no regrets about paying the price to see his daughter again. Arnak had bad news as well, with the sorcerous fuel used in the spell and Soltron gone, they had no ability to send Grimlock home. Arnak was too weak yet to be a leader and suggested Grimlock could be the one. Grimlock considered being King, but ultimately told the gathered Menonians that they did not need him. The victory was as much theirs as his. Grimlock thought Arko should lead. Arko immediately expressed shock and regret. She had run off alone so many times thinking only of her own strength. But Grimlock had faith that Arko had the strength to conquer her past and the future. Arko agreed to lead...if the Menonians would have her.
Sometime later, Queen Arko, in a new dark suit of armor and blue cape, was able to open a portal for Grimlock using some portion of his spark or energon as fuel. It was presumably a one-way trip, which Grimlock thought Arko should be glad of, since she would have less competition. But, she quickly countered that Grimlock knew she would welcome competition from him. Arko thanked Grimlock, acknowledging that she'd been a terrible student. Terrible was the best kind of student, Grimlock said, as the visage of Optimus Prime could be seen on the other side of the portal. Grimlock the Triumphant
