Black Holes Form
Prologue
Just Keep Breathing
"The beginning is just another end, it's not too late to start again, when hope gets all too hard to hold, just take a breathe and let it go"
"Everyone, this is my twin. Lightningstrike."
Six words. Six words that undeniably changed her life. Whether it was for better or worse remained to be seen.
The first thing Lightningstrike learned was that all the horror stories she had heard from other Decepticons since she was young about Ratchet were all completely, horrifyingly true. Even the ones about the wrenches. She shuddered at the thought of the shiny new dented helm the Prime was sporting (Ratchet had hit him through the whole crowd of Autobots and it she didn't know better, she'd have thought he was a master marksman).
That had been her first surprise, the ease and familiarity with which the Autobots regarded their leader. Megatron would have never allowed it. But then, Optimus Prime wasn't really Megatron and that was kind of the point.
Optimus wasn't Megatron and Autobots had different policies than Decepticons and Lightningstrike wasn't sure which one she agreed with. Did she have to agree?
She was an important asset to both sides, she knew, but neither side really knew how important. Truthfully, she didn't either. Soundwave had kept her and her sister apart for a reason, a reason, she assumed, that had served its purpose. They were together again now and Lightning knew they wouldn't be if Soundwave still had a use for them being separate.
Her optics, hidden behind the visor she refused to take off, slid to her sister strapped to a berth and in stasis. The thing was huge and higher off the ground than a normal sized mech needed it. Probably the Prime's. She could feel the femme through their bond in a muted sort of way; the bond wasn't completely open and she wasn't really sure what to do abut it. Her sister was thinking dark thoughts, she knew. Brooding, Lightning used to say and her sister would always call them circle thoughts.
Good memories of better days. Days when they were just them.
They were only sort of together, but she would take that.
It was better than more vorns alone and empty.
0o0
Strikezone wasn't sure if she was elated or if her pumps were working out some unwanted gasses, but she was somewhere in that area. Humans said they had butterflies in their stomachs. She would have called them fierce hunting hawks, if she were human.
Her sister (twin. Maybe now she could feel like she had a whole, healthy spark. Maybe now she could be content) was back and her family hated her. Of course, life couldn't be easy and her twin had to be one of the most hated Decepticons behind the commanding officers. Striker was so looking forward to dealing with Ironhide. Where was a turbo charged ion blaster when you needed it?
She didn't want to do this.
One pede in front of the other, she thought. Just breathe.
One deep intake later and she was onlining her optics.
0o0
"Well Lunar, you always did say you would run away and join the traveling entertainers. This is almost as good."
The black femme laughed and sat up slowly, glaring at her creaking joints. "Yeah. They are and interesting bunch, aren't they? And call me Striker. Lunarstar doesn't really feel right anymore."
"Then call me Lightning because I'm not really Starfall anymore, either," she said quietly. She watched her sister for a moment before it occurred to her to ask, "Why are you chained to the berth, anyway?"
"Precaution. I'm a terrible patient. But…" she trailed off, digging around in her subspace and producing a shiny new lock pick, "the Doc Bot doesn't know about this."
Lightning watched her sister expertly pick the locks on her shackles with calculating optics; she had done this before, and often. "You really are a different type of crazy for going against them like this," she said, trying hard not to think of the punishments garnered for insubordination like this at the Decepticon base. She had seen brutal things that had nothing to do with war.
"Not crazy, just… you know what? I'll take the crazy. And Ratchet isn't that bad, as long as you remember that his anger is love. In a really violent form. Now, are you coming or no, sister mine?" Striker said. She apparently intended to boldly walk out of the front door of the med-bay.
"That door is locked."
"Is that really supposed to stop me?" Striker was right, very little stopped her when she was determined.
"No. Just thought you would like to know." Strikezone didn't answer her, just leaned against the door and looked. It was an unsettling kind of look, but only because Lightning had never dreamed of seeing it on her sister's face. It was a steady sort of look, one that told you without a doubt that those optics were looking into your mind. Strikezone stared into Lightning's visor until she started fidgeting. "What?" she snapped.
"Nothing. Just...be careful. I trust you, but they don't. You're here on my good word, sad as that is, so watch yourself. Autobots aren't the same bleeding sparks they used to be," then she slipped out of the doors, leaving Lightning to her own circle thoughts.
Brooding. Unacceptable.
Inhale. Not alone, she thought, I'm not alone anymore. They may have broken every single one of their promises, but Decepticons lie and she was stronger for it. I'm not alone.
Exhale. I need a place that feels like home but what I think of as home isn't what I need, she told herself. Even the her own twin didn't quite feel like home.
Inhale. I can start over here and make a completely new life.
Exhale. I just need to let it go.
Lightningstrike hopped off her berth and followed Striker out the door.
Hello and welcome to the first chapter of the sequel to When Stars Collide. Hopefully, I can keep to the same Monday update schedule. Hopefully. Enjoy.