The Missing
One day, in the Autobot base, Optimus Prime paced in the main room, waiting for the diagnosis on the newest member's overall health. He was briefly distracted by a yellow Camaro driving into the base. He watched as it transformed and approached him.
"Optimus, you've got to calm down. I'm sure she is clean of disease. She's been here for four days and no one has shown any signs of illness." Bumblebee said, assuring his commanding officer.
"I know, Bee. I can't help it, though. She is the first new member we've had since this war began." Optimus said, looking toward the medical area.
"Technically she isn't one of us. She hasn't proven her worth yet." Bee mumbled under his breath.
Before Optimus could comment on what Bumblebee said, Ratchet walked toward the worried Prime with Swiftica just behind him. He gave her the all clear to go and train with Arcee and Bulkhead in the combat training room. Once she was gone, Ratchet looked Optimus with serious optics.
"I have some information you want to know." Ratchet's voice was stern but not solemn.
Optimus nodded and looked at the Camaro. Bumblebee nodded and left the room.
"Swiftica is in perfect health but she was with the Decepticons for a long time, most likely as a prisoner. I asked her what her earliest memory was and she said that the last thing she remembered was when she woke up on the Decepticon ship, in a lab of all places. I fear the Decepticons are messing with mind transference." Ratchet said, walking to the main console.
"Mind Transference?" Optimus questioned. "If they are swimming in such dangerous waters like transferring a human mind into a robotic shell then who is inhabiting Swiftica's body?"
"That is what I asked until I remembered something I saw." Ratchet said, bringing up a news paper clipping on the monitor. It was for a girl who had gone missing six months ago.
"How can we be sure this girl was, or is, Swiftica's mind?" Optimus asked.
"I'm sure because Swiftica woke in that lab the day after this girl went missing." Ratchet said, directing Optimus's attention to the day the girl disappeared. "I did some research on this girl. Her name was Jessica Swifless. A few months before her disappearance, she spoke to a very specific group online. They called themselves 'The Mischievous'. This group had spoken to a bunch of other humans whom, a few months after talking to the group, had also disappeared."
"Swiftica is not the only subject of mind transference..." Optimus said, solemnly.
On the Decepticon ship, two tall mechs, of similar make, walked down a hall together, heading for the bridge of the vessel. One was slightly shorter and bore a silver finish with purple accents. The other was a noticeable violet with green accents.
"I still can't believe I am a robot. This is so cool! I am so happy you chose me to be planted inside your twin brother, Megatron." The violet mech said, excitedly.
"Well you were the first test subject, Dyoxys. We only had my brother's body in storage." Megatron said, laughing softly.
"Thank you again for liberating me from that weak, fleshy body. What happened to my original body anyway?" Dyoxys asked.
"I had Cyclonus destroy Crystal's body. You are no longer Crystal, Dyoxys. You are my brother, now." Megatron replied.
Dyoxys smiled widely and hugged Megatron tightly, receiving a soft purr and a hug in return. Soon, a short mech approached the brothers and smiled at them.
"I was wondering where you two were." He asked.
Dyoxys smiled at the young mech before lifting him up and placing a soft kiss on his lips. The young mech returned the kiss as he was set down.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Mysterious. I was thanking Megatron again." Dyoxys said, holding the smaller mech's servos.
"It's alright. I am just happy that you two didn't leave the ship without me." Mysterious purred and held Dyoxys's servo in return.
"You two are adorable. You two should go spend some time together. Take the whole day off. I got work to do anyway." Megatron said. He walked away from the pair and sauntered into the bridge, approaching the control panel. He monitored the ships current trajectory carefully and made adjustments in altitude as he saw fit. He stopped all actions when he hear the sound of approaching ped falls. The owner of those ped falls cleared his throat to gain Megatron's attention.
"Lord Megatron, Soundwave has detected an energon signal." He mech said.
Megatron turned and looked at the mech whom had spoken. It was a slim seeker for whom had lowered his wings when the silver leader turned to look at him.
"Thank you, StarScream, for this information." Megatron said stepping aside to allow StarScream to input the coordinates.
At the Autobot base, Ratchet had detected the same signal. Optimus and his team had headed out right away to retrieve the energon first. They arrived before the Decepticons and what they saw made everyone excited. It was an untapped Energon vein. There excitement was short lived, though, as the Decepticon war ship soon loomed over them. Swiftica hissed loudly at the vessel before she ran forward and transformed, taking off toward the ship. She let loose her rockets at the nose of the ship. The ship, in return, released aerial troops at her while a ground bridge brought forth ground troops at the other Autobots.
Optimus looked up at Swiftica, about to command her to return to the group, until he saw how she flew. She flew as though she had rehearsed this battle. Though that would be impossible considering the fact that she was a prisoner of the Decepticons since she woke in their lab. Optimus shook the questions from his mind and returned his focus to the battle.
Soon, Optimus called a full retreat. Ratchet opened a ground bridge near the team and they fled inside. Optimus stayed behind to make sure Swiftica made it to the bridge. Swiftica flew straight up before transforming and free falling down, taking out aerial forces as she fell. She activated her heel thrusters and blazed into the ground bridge. Optimus followed suit and the bridge closed.
Once everyone was in the base, Optimus looked at Swiftica sternly. "Where did you learn to fly like that?" He asked.
"I actually have no clue, Optimus. I guess it comes with the wings." He said.
"Swiftica, is there any chance that you remember anything of your past, before you woke in the Decepticon lab?" Optimus asked.
"No. I don't recall anything before I became conscious in that lab." She replied, her tone did not waver.
Ratchet looked to Optimus. He was holding something in his servos. Optimus thought about whether Swiftica was worthy, yet. He soon looked at her and smiled. "Swiftica, if you truly wish to help up fight against the Decepticons, you will need your own set of badges." He said, taking what Ratchet offered him and holding it out to Swiftica. It was two Autobot insignias, one for each wing.
Swiftica smiled wide and calmly took them. "Thank you, Optimus. This is a great honour." She said, leaving the room to put them on. "Hopefully this is was a good idea, Optimus." Arcee said.
"I am sure it was, Arcee." Optimus assured her.