The Sky's the limit

Prologue

A/N: So this is a requested fic that I was meant to get out earlier but I've been a little pre-occupied. This is just kind of setting the scene a little and I promise to have the proper first chappie up very soon. This fic was requested by SuperSentai199 and all OCs belong to them along with the idea. Hope I don't disappoint. Please follow if you want to see more and review. Thanks.

"I don't remember much about my creators, it's mostly a blur. Sometimes I can make out the images and piece them together. Like one time I remember playing with Orion Pax as he spoke about his beliefs in a peaceful and majestic Cybertron. I remember my carrier tickling me after I started crying and Orion soothing me into recharge with his words. But the thing that will always haunt my processor is when I was suddenly awoke by my sire and hidden and the last memories I had of both of my creators where their screams and pleas. They saved my life that day and so did Optimus. He found me and took me in, raised me as his own. He became my sire as the autobots in his team became family. Everyone has supported me through the times I have wanted to make Megatron pay for what he did not just to me but our home, our beloved planet. My names Shade, daughter of Optimus Prime and I will see this war through"

Before Cybertron died

"I don't get it Arcee, it's been cycles and Optimus still hasn't given the order to infiltrate Helix. He knows that's where Megatron is based and that captive autobots are being taken there, including Elita-One" Shade spoke through her comm link

Arcee had been assigned by the Prime to a separate mission while others went out with Optimus on the scouting mission upon Helix. Since Optimus Prime had found the young femmebot alone in her home he had taken it upon himself to look after her. He became her sire, caring for her and teaching her all that she needed to know and particularly protecting her against the war that begun. Since having watched the death of her creators she has had the fighting ability to battle against the decepticons hoping that one day she may make the warlord pay for killing her creators.

Shade had significant memories of that day. It was the day that her family was torn apart and when she gained a new, much bigger one. She grew up knowing of Orion Pax and was awestruck when she learned he had become a Prime. The purple and pink femme although was enraged by the horrific memories of her creators deaths was actually honoured to have been taken in and taught by Optimus and since then they had grown very close as a father and daughter would. "We all feel the same way Shade. Optimus is doing what is best for us, for all we know the place it a ticking time bomb and we could walk right in to it. It's better that we get all the information we can before storming Helix" Shade sighed as she knew that Arcee was right, as usual. The blue femme had gone on a scouting mission leaving Shade and her two friends behind in the base with Ratchet. A small clicking on her comm unit alerted the three femmes to the end of the conversation Shade and Arcee were having.

"Elita-One was taken from Optimus and brought to Helix, you really think that he doesn't feel the same way Shade? He's just taking precautions – for everyone sake" Nightblade spoke up. She was stood by Shades monitor with Skylight as they watched their best friend pacing back and forth in thought.

As Shade paced the two femmes set their optics on a small trinket that was the young bot never took off from around her neck. It shined in the light the colours of blue and purple which signified Arcee and Shades close friendship, their sisterhood. "Why would he leave us here?"

"To protect you. All Optimus ever does is for you Shade" Skylight was sure she knew where this was going anyway.

"And all I ever do is for him and my family" Shade looked to the both of them, determination in her optics "I'm going in"

Skylight and Nightblade exchanged looks before nodding to one another, coming to a silent agreement between the two. "Then we are with you" they spoke in unison. Immediately they crept out of the room being as silent as they could, knowing that Ratchet –being the stubborn uncle he was to Shade- would stop them from leaving if he knew what they were up to. Shade made small hands signals to the femmes behind her which they understood quickly as Nightblade took a small ring from under her torso and threw it at the far corner of the room. The silence that filled the large hanger seized as a loud ringing came and distracted the medic from his duties at the main monitor. It was then that they took the opportunity to sneak around the back and out of the base transforming quickly to put some distance between the grumpy bot and them.

Since Shade had made a habit of sneaking out without permission before when she was younger which meant that Optimus had taken extra precautions when setting up autobots to watch over the perimeter of the base just in case decepticons decided to attack. Informing them that should they see Shade leaving the base without him then they should escort her back inside immediately however, extra bots on patrol wouldn't stop Shade and her friends from getting past. They were quick and quiet, able to move swiftly between the small blind spots of the over watching mechs. Coming up to a small corner Shade signalled to for them to stop until it was clear. Her helm carefully peered round the corner and kept her optics on the mech that was stood atop a pillar, looking left from right as if he was going to cross a road. It was a slow moment before he was no longer looking in their direction and Shade quickly moved with Nightblade and Skylight behind her until they were stood silently right under him. The three then had to wait for the next mech opposite to look away before moving again.

It took a few kliks before they could finally get past the extra security and they were clear, although it meant that they had to keep aware of any decepticons that might ambush them as they sped through the war ravished cities.

"Shade, I'm picking up an approaching energy signature on our six" the mirrors on their two wheeled vehicular modes shifted so that they had a clear view of behind them. Unfortunately the bogey was far from their sight so they couldn't tell if it was friend or foe. Thinking quickly Shade knew that it would be dangerous to carry on as they were without identifying the approaching signal, it could be a bad mistake and having learned from Optimus about battle strategies and tactics she made a quick decision. "Nightblade, Skylight separate in Praxus and rendezvous on the far side before we enter Helix. Keep in constant communication" she commanded as Optimus did to everyone else.

"Right" they shouted in unison before splitting left and right from Shade as they entered the city known as Praxus. Now that she was alone Shade began to swivel in and out of ruined structures to confuse whoever had been following them. She made sure to use different streets to get through the small city and not return back to her original pathway. With her sleek form and fast speed however she was quickly able to shift around obstacles and get to the other side of the city. Skidding to a stop she waited patiently for her two friends to join her.

"Well, well well look what the Prime left behind" the voice that came from nowhere was all too familiar to Shade. Its tone was one that showed that he was trying to seduce her but he would have to try harder in order to succeed and perhaps not get himself killed. "Little thing like you shouldn't be alone" Knock Out came out of the shadows that he was hidden in. He must have been the one following them seeing as he could have been the only one that caught up with them so quickly. Prancing over to her Shade was getting frustrated that he wouldn't stop flirting with her.

She watched his proximity to her and when he was close enough she transformed extremely quickly, her blades shining in the light on her arms, swiping at him. She was left in a crouching position where she smirked at the long mark she had left along his body. His face was that of annoyance and horror, his finish had just been ruined. "I just buffed that!"

"Aw well it looks like you missed a bit" she pointed to her mark. At that point Knock Out transformed his servos into his saws and was about to go for her but was kicked on to his aft by Skylight and then shot at by Nightblade as she kept to the high ground. "Well, well well look what Megatron let out of the med bay" Shade made fun of the con on the ground. She brought out her blade and put it up to Knock Outs helm slowly moving it along his face. He screamed as he felt the scratch mark appear on his cheek plate.

Once she was done with her little fun they were quickly on their way again, there was some satisfaction from hearing the yells of the decepticon medic that was left behind in all his agony of having his paint job ruined.

As they drew closer to the city their sparks pulsed harder at the nervousness of going into decepticon territory. Shade in particularly was nervous, this was the first time she was going to literally put herself in harms way along with her friends. To go into a hostile environment with no Optimus to back them up should they be outnumbered and overpowered. The thought made Shade rethink what she was going to do – to put her best friends in the line of fire, Arcee was right they had no idea if the whole Helix rumour was true, if captive autobots were taken there for whatever purpose.

Just as they were about to enter into the city and find the main complex of the decepticons operation shade pulled over stopping her friends behind her. "Shade!? What's wrong?" Nightblade was worried as her friend stopped quickly. Transforming the purple and pink femme looked over to the silent and creepy city. "I'm sorry guys but I can't let you go in there, the others are right Helix could be a huge decepticon plot to kill us all and I don't want you getting hurt or killed because of me"

"I hope you don't think of just Arcee as your sister because we're with you no matter what" the words made the young femme smile, it warmed her spark to know that they would stand by her even in this war and when they had agreed together to go in to the lion's den. Nodding to them they began to make their way inside. They activated their weapons; Shade sticking with her deadly blades along with Nightblade while skylight allowed her blasters to power up ready for any attack that may come their way.

The air was still and eerie. The silence was distrustful something which put each of them on edge. They took up their positions to cover each other should something happen while they moved to the centre of the city. Just as they were coming closing in Shade stopped all of her senses alerting her to a presence nearby, something she could not identify as either autobot or decepticon. Her first thought was to find cover to get out of the line of sight that way they could surprise attack their enemy. Searching her surroundings she spotted a small ruined building that they could hide in. "In there!" she pointed out to the others. Immediately they dashed in, remaining quiet as they waited for their assailants to approach.

Shade was skilled as she felt the ground vibrate at the approaching footsteps. Skylight and Nightblade kept an eye out but awaited for Shades signal. The femmes servo was raised in a fist so that they knew to stay still and quiet but as they waited a bit longer she withdrew her servo and three of them leapt out in front of the unidentified Cybertonians ready to fight.

"Shade?" The young femmes thought they could surprise their enemy but it seemed as though it was them that was surprised to see Optimus and the rest of the team. "Shade, what are you doing here?" the Prime demanded answers to why his daughter had left the base without permission. His spark pulsed with worry at the danger she was putting herself in considering that Megatron had kidnapped her once before to lure Optimus out.

"I'm sorry but you took the entire team and left us just for a recon mission and we know that Helix is the headquarters for decepticon operations, I couldn't just stand by anymore and wait for some other bot to get snatched"

Optimus listened to her words. Of course he completely understood her reasoning, in raising her himself he had given her his need to help those in need, to fight the good fight. "I understand Shade. You're right we do know what is happening here but this is not recon" now the three femmes were confused.

"The mission was to infiltrate and shut Helix down" Bulkhead stepped forward informing them of the true intentions. "We learned that autobots have been taken here for torture and to try and take control of the planet using a structural weakness under the ground"

"…But why keep this from me" Shade looked to her sire

He sighed knowing it was something he probably should have told her beforehand and knew she wouldn't like it. "We have information that your carrier is being kept here, she is alive"

Shade stepped back from the new information that was overloading her processor "no. She died, I watched it myself" Optimus shook his head.

"She was hurt badly and taken to Helix while your sire was offlined. You never saw their bodies, I kept you from that pain when I found you"

The young femme was silent as she went over each piece of information bit by bit in her processor. She couldn't help but feel distrusted for not being told this sooner especially by her sire. The others kept quiet to give her some space considering they all knew except for Nightblade and Skylight. "I didn't want to say anything because I knew that you could emotionally compromise the mission and that could destroy any chance of taking down Helix and saving everyone inside" Optimus was confident that he had done the right thing although it didn't stop him from feeling guilty about keeping it all a secret from his daughter.

"I understand why you didn't tell me about the mission but you should have told me my carrier was alive, even if you never told me where she was" she pointed directly at Optimus knowing he was the responsible one for all of this.

"I'm sorry Shade, perhaps I should have told you but I did it to protect you" he opened his arms up to her to show he did it for her best intentions.

"I'm still going in there" she pointed to a large building which was the main complex to the system. She was certain, there was no way now that she was going to be restricted to staying outside because it was too dangerous. She had been on dangerous missions before such as infiltrating decepticon bases and taking out targets but this she was going to make sure she wouldn't be denied this.

Optimus nodded knowing there was no stopping her now and he owed her that much now. Just as she was about turn around and head for the complex the ground around them all began to shake and ruins all over the place crumbled to pieces. Shade was about to fall over but Optimus quickly made his way over to her and caught her, holding her close to his chest for protection. "Optimus!" his grasp tightened around her as they dodged falling metal. It was becoming more dangerous now and the others had begun to shoot metal rubble to stop it falling on them. As they did the ground beneath them all shook even more violently and torn down the middle of them. The force of it made them lose their grip on one another and fall to the floor. It was as if the planet was tearing itself apart as the floor shifted. Optimus quickly regained his strength and tried to make it to the femme but it was too far for him jump.

"Shade!" in her own effort reached out her servo to his trying to make it look as if they could reach each other. "Shade, the planet is dying you must go!" the purple bot shook her helm, refusing to leave him.

She had lost one sire, she was not going to lose another. "Go Shade! NOW!" her optics filled with lubricant at the thought of just leaving – being properly separated from him. "I will find you, no matter what it takes!"

Taking in her words she turned and ran looking for protection anywhere but there was little room with all the crashed ships and ruins around that were tumbling in front of her. She was alone now which meant that she had to get to safety quickly although it didn't make it any easier manoeuvring through the wreckage. Her processor was racing, not knowing where to go or what to do. The best idea she could come up with was finding a fully functional escape pod in one of the ships but even that was unlikely.

In all of Shades life she never thought that she would ever witness the death of her planet, her home and be succumbed to it taking her with it.