Chapter One: The Stranger

985 years have past since Flameshield became dependent on echolocation. His life hadn't been easy, and living in Iacon was his worse nightmare. He couldn't travel with anyone other then Shadow Wisher, who would read signs, because of the stupid Decepticon rule. Everyday he held back from attacking the Decepticons, which he was able to identify because of a different pulse evil seems to have, and Shadow saying that it is one of the forsaken units.

Now the brothers try to have some fun by hanging out near the abandon memorial and playing around. Two sports cars speed into the memorial. Shadow chased Flameshield, both laughing gently at Shadow's joke. Laughter was something one didn't hear often on Cybertron, but to hear it brought small hope to the youth.

"Here I come!" Shadow said, transforming and going to tackle Flameshield. The other car quickly changed form, planting his feet into the ground as he slid, and catching his brother while he was in flight. The main purpose was to help Flameshield renew his instincts and reaction time, but at the same time it was fun that was rarely found.

"Ever think of not announcing your attack?" Flameshield asked, flinging his brother into the air.

"Thought, yes, attempted, no." Shadow replied before landing in the rubble.

Flameshield stared into the direction he threw his brother, having thought he saw sound that wasn't his brother causing rubble to fall to the ground. Stepping around the rubble carefully, he continues to stare in the direction. Shadow knew his brother was watching something, and remained as still as he could be. One advantage to sharing the spark, one could figure out the other's thoughts.

Flameshield saw the foreign sound again, and slowly walked to it. Shadow carefully pulled himself out of the rubble and followed his brother, wondering what it was he was watching. Stopping not far from a broken wall, Flameshield stood up a little taller.

"Who's there?" he called softly.

"I was wondering when you would find me." A wise voice replied, "I've been watching you two for a while."

"You've been quiet." Shadow replied, standing behind his brother, a common thing to keep out of sight so few people knew of his exsitence.

"Yes, I've had enough time to practice stealth." The voice responded. From behind the ruin wall approached a mech, which Flameshield scanned the spark waves.

"You're rather old." The flame mech commented.

"Many eons under my belt, I agree." The mech said, walking over, "you, on the other hand, have many years yet to put under that belt."

"I do not follow."

"You will understand one day." The mech said, walking away. Flameshield was surprise to see how little sound the mech made while he walked, "for now, we have a visit need to be made in Iacon, I wish to see just how strong those Decepticons are."

"Are you crazy!" Shadow said, stopping the retreating mech, "We'd be killed!"

"Perhaps, but you both seem to have a second transformation few know of." The mech said, "The sword and shield, am I mistaken."

"What about the ground troops?"

"Do you think of me as a simple old mech?" the robot said, turning to face Shadow, his dim blue eyes shining fiercely, "These Decepticons are not like those I've faced before this madness."

Shadow took a step back, surprised by the mech's words. Flameshield did not move, simply stared blankly ahead of him, past the mech.

"This rule has been in place for at least 25 million years." Flameshield reasoned softly, "Are you really that old?"

"Age is nothing without experience." The mech said, walking over and placing a hand on Flameshield's shoulders, "Experience cannot be gained without risks."

"Bro, don't be considering this." Shadow whispered. "We have no combat skills."

"Nor did I when I was forced into the battle front." The mech said, stepping away, "Yet I'm still alive."

" 'Shield was hoping to become a medic, not a fighter."

"Shadow, I can't do much in the medical field as I am." Flameshield finally spoke, "It wouldn't take long to learn combat, either." With a sigh, he looked where the mech's eyes would be, though he couldn't be certain, "I'll go with you to Iacon, but no guarantees they'll fight us if Shadow remains hidden."

"The threesome rule isn't the only rule they charge." The mech said, "Just wave a gun and they come running."

"Brother, you will be the death of me someday." Shadow said.

"I don't know about that." Flameshield said, " but we might have a chance."

Flameshield followed the mysterious mech toward Iacon, his brother hiding in his shadow walking behind him. If he survived this, he knew it would only be the start of many more battles, yet he oddly trusted the mech, having no name to call him by, nor any understanding about him. On thing that did seem fair to judge about him was that he was ancient, perhaps he knew more about the battle that killed off the Autobot race.

As they entered the city, Flameshield looked about. Many citizens looked at them in wonder. Flamehsield didn't blame them that much, as Shadow had whispered that the mech made no intention to hide his gun. Soon he spotted the first Decepticon signal, followed by at least a dozen other.

"Fuck." He said.

"What's wrong?" the older mech asked.

"I don't know his name, but the man holding the Decepticon leadership is in town."

"Interesting." He muttered, then he stopped. Flameshild could only figure that the Decepticons had arrived.

"You must have a death wish." A deep, ignorant voice spoke. Flameshield was very familiar with it, having heard the voice many times.

"Perhaps." The older mech said. Flameshield looked about, wondering if he could walk away. Deciding against walking away, he moved his hand behind him, and he heard his brother sigh.

To everyone, it appeared as if he pulled the long sword out of subspace. Holding the long blade with two hands, he watches his ally and his opponents. The mech that had approached them, the Decepticon leader, laughed, then motioned for his troops to attack.

It was all quick pace, the Decepticons knowing no stealth and going headlong into the attack. Overwhelmed by all the sounds, Flameshield just swung at random at the approaching enemy, hoping his blind attacks proved useful. Slightly discouraged, he jumped upward to break free from the commotion and straighten out his line of sight. Two Decepticon jets followed him, and he cursed aloud again. Fear built up as he watched the jets grow closer, then they suddenly fell. Flameshield, even more startled, looked downward to see the strange mech putting up a good fight without much thought. His spark rate was normal, which surprised him even more.

"Who can remain calm in the midst of a fight?" he wondered aloud, before instincts strangely took hold, causing him to swing the sword around and clip the wings of a passing jet. "Shadow, was that you?"

"Someone has to keep an eye out for you." Came a muffled response.

"Thanks." He said, landing next to the stranger that caused the fight in the first place.

"You're the first to be able to hold of a dismantle team." The Decepticon mech said, walking over to them to get a better look. "But another will come in more force if you show that gun again."

"If these are the so called Decepticons, you have a long way to go to match the original ones." The stranger warned, before walking off. Flameshield slowly followed him, putting the sword into his shadow as it slowly transformed back into Shadow Wisher and silently following his brother. Shadow looked back and saw the look of confusion written all over the mech's face.

"How can you say that so causally?" Shadow asked when they were in the safety of Flameshield's apartment.

"It's the truth." He said, looking out at the fine view Flameshield had, "and a warning, if he picked up on it."

"Warning?" Flameshield inquired, looking at his mysterious ally.

"No matter what troops face me, I'll wipe them out without a second thought." He said, "they are weak, unlike the original Decepticons."

Flameshield continued to study the spark of the stranger, wondering what secrets he held from them. He didn't want to push him, but hoped that he would get his answers one day. Shutting down his echo visor, he prepares to go to sleep, many questions roaming his head.


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