Redemption is a butterfly
By Princess Thil Galel
I DO NOT OWN
Thank you
Please enjoy
R&R!
Past and future
I'm thinking about making an AU TFA ProwlxOC fanfic, give me some feedback if you think I should. You're all so wonderful for reading!
Jetstorm sank into the solvent up to his chin, his brother gave his foot a playful jerk, causing him to slip under the cool liquid for a brief moment before he came up sputtering and threw his cleaning rag in Jetfire's face. The orange twin laughed and scrubbed the soot and grime out of his brother's thrusters as the blue twin did the same to his own feet, the two always helped clean each other's thrusters on the soles of their feet since they would have trouble reaching everything by themselves. Jetfire paused in his scrubbing "Brother?" he asked, his tone sounded almost timid.
The blue twin moved his brother's foot to one side to look at the goggle-wearing mech "What is it Brother?" he inquired "What is being on your prossesor?"
"What do you think of Lady Monarus?" he asked "What does she be making you feel about her?" the blue mech went back to scrubbing as he pondered the question, what did he think of her?
"Well, it is being like when we're together but is being different somehow." he said after a moment "It is like...It is hard to explain, but is like being warm and safe but free and...Well, I don't know what else." The orange twin nodded, he understood what his brother meant, it was something very hard to explain but pleasant none the less. Jetstorm exchanged his brother's cleaned foot for the dirty one "Why bringing this up Brother?" asked Jetstorm.
Jetfire vented softly "Lady Monarus has been spending much time with us since we be coming back from Earth." he replied "You think this is being like what having a sister is like?"
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Shockwave leaned back in his chair with a hand covering his optic, he vented "What am I going to do Blurr?" he asked before straightening and slamming his fists down in frustration "I'm the head of Cybertron Intelligence for Primus sake, and I didn't even know Ultra Magnus had a daughter! Now I find that my savior and his sparkling are one in the same. What am I suppose to tell her now knowing what I know?"
Blurr simply sipped on his energon and waited for the mech to finish his rant. When he paused for a long drink, the speedster finally saw an opportunity to speak, "Well, to answer your first question: Ultra Magnus doesn't talk about his daughter in public to keep her safe, he talks about her less so, even with close friends, after his son was killed during a Decepticon attack. She was still in her first frame-and yes, before you even ask, I'll tell you what I know about his son too." he said, taking a quick drink he continued "His son, Protocast, was leading Monarus to a safe bunker and they ran straight into the Decepticons. Monarus was knocked into stasis just as help, in the form of Sentinel Prime, arrived, he defeated the Cons. But not before Protocast was offlined and his shell stolen, never to be recovered. The second one is up to you, but if I were you, I'd flat out tell her. You've got nothing to lose"
Finishing his drink, Shockwave came to his feet "I'm afraid I must turn in for the night, my friend." he said "Though I hate to drink and run, I do have things to do back at base and a report or two at the office." The blue mech waved him off and continued to drain his cube.
A short time later, back in his office Shockwave accessed the Autobot personel files and seached the name Monarus. When several firewalls blocked his progress, he simply hacked his way through until he found what he was looking for. An identification picture, personal status reports, rank, and history records. He let out a statisfied chuckle, copying the information Shockwave quickly transfered the data to his personal computer back at base and shut the system down. He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head, "Well, my little femme," he spoke quietly " It looks like I've finally found you."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Monarus had just reached her father's office when Sentinel came around the corner, "Hello, my dear," he said, reaching into his subspace he held out an energon cube as if he were offering her precious gems "Your lunch, as requested. Shall we walk and dine?" Seeing no way around it, Monarus reluctently tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. He lead her down the hall with a goofy grin on his face, she rolled her optics knowing what that smile would lead to. "So, tell me," he said "What have you been up to, haven't seen you in a couple of weeks."
"I've been working on the routine for the memorial celebration," she said, then with a smile she added "And practicing with the JetTwins."
Sentinel spat the energon out of his mouth in surprise," What?" he coughed, wiping the pink-purple trail off his large chin "You mean to tell me that THOSE TWO glitch-heads are in your routine?" Monarus blinked up at him, as if to say 'Well, duh!' and nodded while sipping her cube as Sentinel glared ahead. In all honesty, she hadn't meant to tell him about the Twins being part of her performance, knowing he'd react the way he was now. Her wings weren't meant for real flying, she could only reach a height of sixty feet, reach speeds of fifty mph, and remain airborn for a little over half an hour. But the Twins, they could out fly even the best of Decepticons on a good day, and they were the only flying Autobots. Therefore, she'd asked them to be part of her routine-an aerial acrobatics display, with the Twins being her air support and dual partners in the mid-air, free fall, ballet in the sky. It would be the dance of a lifetime.
"I don't want them in the act." he said suddenly, turning his stern gaze on her Sentinel forced her to stop and face him, "Cut them out of your routine, or I will. I don't trust those Decepticon-coded, slagging, malfunctional, fly-bots and I certainly don't trust them around you up in the air where no one else can reach you if, and when, something goes wrong."
Monarus stared silently into his optics for a long moment before turning and walking away "I'm sorry Sentinel, but I won't." she said "The Twins are my friends, I'd even go as far as to call them family, and I trust them with my very life, I can't toss them aside just because you say so. When you say 'jump' I'm not going to ask 'how high'."
A hand shot out and snatched up on her upper arm, hard. A soft crack could be heard by keen audios, but went unnoticed by Sentinel as he wrenched Monarus's arm and kept a tight grip on her even as she struggled to get free of the crushing force. "You will do as I say, I am the SIC of the Elite Guard and the next Magnus after your father." he hissed, his hand gave a sharp twist, causing Monarus to yelp in pain "Cut them from the routine!"
Tears of pain and fear rolled down her white faceplate "Se-Sentinel!" she gasped "My arm-You're hurting me!" His scowl turned to a look of shock, he released her like she'd become hot iron and stumbled back, panic and fear painted his features. Monarus nursed her throbbing arm and shoulder as she fought back more tears, she turned her leaking optics on Sentinel with a look that spoke the unasked question of betrayal, 'How could you?'.
"Mo-Monarus, I'm so sorry!" he pled, taking a step closer he reached out to her, she drew away from him and folded her wings around herself slightly to act as a shield. The action hit his Spark hard, they might have had a history together since he was in the Academy and she in her first frame, but she had never closed her wings to him before. They couldn't provide any protection, they were as delicate as the Earth fabric called 'gossamer', but she would hide behind them as a sense of emotional protection instead of physical.
Looking away from his hurt expression, Monarus straightened her wings, alining them perfectly on her back "I-I have to go," she murmured "Excuse me." Without waiting for him to reply she dashed away.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Jetstorm swung a leg up over the back of the couch, his optics skimming over the datapad in his hand in a lazy fashion as his brother snuggled into the couch's arm on the other end reading his own datapad. The blue jet glanced at his internal clock again, the numbers hadn't even changed since the last time he looked. Jetfire cast his brother a puzzling look "What being wrong, Brother?" he asked "You is looking frustrated."
Letting out a cycle of air with a huff, Jetstorm dropped his head back and let his arms flop down "We has already had stasis nap, and been reading for hours." he complained "I is to be wishing Lady Monarus was here now." The orange jet smiled innocently at his brother's anxiety and reached to pat him on the knee in an attempt to bring him a little comfort, he too wished Monarus was there. The two had never known their creators and after the accident it had been Monarus who came to see them every day during their recovery. They had been shy and nervous at first, but after a short time they had opened up to her like flowers to the sun and she had become the light in the dark uncertainty of their lives.
"She is to be getting here soon," he reassured his twin "I is knowing it!" Jetstorm smiled at his brother fondly, as he was about to reply a knock at the door made them pause. Casting each other a glance they both jumped up and ran for the door. Jetfire reached it first and pressed the button to open it, the door slid open to reveal Monarus. She managed a strained smile as the Twins greeted her happily and ushered the femme inside.
They lead her back to the couch and flopped down on either side of her, Monarus folded her wings and they disappeared into her back as she sat down. Jetfire leaned his head againsted her arm, she let out a hiss that made the young mech jump away "Lady Monarus?" he asked, the concern clear in his voice, "Are you being okay?"
Monarus opened her mouth to reassure them, but when she seen the look on their faces she couldn't go through with the white lie "I...I've hurt my arm, it's sore." she stated "I think I've broken something-a joint maybe, or perhaps wrenched a gear out of place."
Jetstorm frowned "Why have you not gone to a medic?" he asked "If you is hurting badly, you should see somebot, no?"
She swallowed hard, she couldn't go to a public medic, she'd have to tell them what Sentinel had done. But she couldn't tell the Twins that either, so out of desperation she blurted out "It's too late, there aren't any clinics open this time of night." It was an utter lie, and a bad one at that, but the Twins believed anything she said and didn't give the statement a second thought.
They paused for a moment, thinking hard, then double grins spread across their faceplates "The Hatchet!" they exclaimed together.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Optimus had just returned to base after a long discussion with Ultra Magnus, he had a lot to tell the others tonight. But first he wanted nothing more than a warm cube of energon and his office chair. He had just set foot inside the base when the JetTwins followed at his heels, towing a reluctant looking femme between them. "Uh, what are you mechs," he cast the third member of their party a glance "And femme, doing here? Especially at this time of night."
"We is taking Lady Monarus to see the Hatchet." said Jetfire, the orange mech frowned concerningly up at the blue femme, she was gingering cradling her left arm and staring at the floor, like she expected it to suddenly open up and swallow her. He stepped out of their way and gestured them towards the medbay. Optimus frowned in confusion, had he seen that femme somewhere before? She definetly looked familiar, that much he was sure of.
Jetstorm quickened his pace to open the doors for his brother and Monarus, Ratchet looked up from his medical tools to see the young mechs pratically dragging a reluctant femme "What are you two doing here this time of night?" he asked gruffly "If you're looking for Bumblebee he not back yet-"
"We not be looking for Bumblebee," Jetstorm cut in, he tugged the femme forward by her arm as his brother pushed her from behind "Lady Monarus's arm is hurting, you can be taking a look, yes?" The red and white medic studied her for a moment, she clearly didn't feel comfortable in the medbay and yet she was in a bit of pain. Ratchet waved a hand at the medical berth before turning to collect the tools he'd need to give her a check-up, the Twins wisely backed out of the room after giving Monarus a pair of reassuring smiles and left her alone with the old CMO.
"Alright, tell me what's wrong." said Ratchet, his voice unusually gentle. Though he would never tell anyone, the medic had a soft spot for younglings, especially femmes, and she was nervous, therefore he wanted to make her feel safe. She slowly held out her left arm without a word, the limb shaking like a leaf. Frowning, Ratchet glanced up at her optics and realized they were shut tight. Carefully taking hold of her hand, he felt her jump slightly "I'm not going to hurt you little one," he said softly "But you need to tell me where your hurt at, otherwise I can't help you."
He watched as her optics slowly peeked open, his own widened at the sight of the multi-colored swirls staring back at him "My upper arm," she explained "It hurt's real bad, I think I broke something."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Shockwave walked into the base only to be greeted by the sight of the JetTwins standing in front of the medbay with worried expressions, he spotted Optimus sipped energon as he read a datapad and decided to inquire what was going on. "Why are they here?" he asked when he joined the Prime "Since they're standing around the medbay I'm guessing someone's been injured."
Optimus nodded "Yeah, the two brought a femme in to see Ratchet," he explained "I think something was wrong with her arm, but I don't know why they brought her here, instead of a public medical bay." Shockwave folded his arms across his chassis, he cocked his head slightly to one side as he stroked his chin in puzzlement.
Monarus flinched as Ratchet heated a dented energon line in her arm with a blowtorch and popped it back into it's proper shape, the pressure from the constricted pipe lessened all at once and she sighed in relief. Ratchet reattatched the armour and straightened her arm, when she didn't react he released his hold on her, but he didn't let her down "How long have your optics been like that?" he asked, his pale blue gaze bearing down on twin rainbows, when she didn't answer he continued "You're color-blind, aren't you?"
The statement had a profound effect, her lower lip trembled as tears welled up in her optics "Please don't tell." she begged quietly, as if fearing to speak of it, "It happened when I was a first framer, I got hit during a Decepticon and banged my helm against a wall. Perceptor himself couldn't fix them, he said the prism chambers were shattered beyond repair. I haven't seen colors since, but I don't want anyone else to know-It's bad enough my father does." She quickly looked away and tried to muffle her sobs with her hands, Ratchet's Spark went out to the poor thing, there was nothing he or anyone could do to fix a bot's optics. They were unique and couldn't be replaced, much like a prossesor or a Spark-once they were gone, that was it. The femme was lucky to be able to see at all, a bot's optics rarely survive if the prism chamber breaks, let alone shatters.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, it was instantly covered by her own with a gentle squeeze, she flashed him a shaky smile behind tear covered cheekplates. "Thank you for fixing my arm, Mr. Ratchet." she said "May I go now?"
Shaking his head with a chuckle, Ratchet jerked a thumb towards the doors "Go on Kid, get out of here before those Twins break the doors down and then I'll have to break them." he said "And you can just call me 'Ratchet'." She smiled brightly as she brushed the remaining tears away and hopped off the berth.
The moment Monarus stepped out of the medbay the Twins practically jumped her, asking questions and voicing their concerns. As she attempted to calm them and lay their worries to rest she happened to glance up, from across the room a single red optic met glittering swirls of color. At first neither moved, both becoming stock still as they gazed fixedly at the other. Monarus slowly moved around the Twins, while Shockwave gently brushed Optimus aside, they met halfway and simply studied one another.
"Shockwave Prime," she breathed "I had heard...but I never thought..."
Shifting into his Longarm persona, Shockwave took hold of her hand and placed a kiss on her fingers before bowing low at the waist. Monarus felt her cheekplates heat with a blush, no one had ever kissed her-even on her hand-and sure the Elite Guard saluted her if they knew who she was, but they hadn't bowed. He shifted again, her hand now encircled by his claw-like fingers with their gentle hold. His single optic met her's again as he straightened "Tis' good to see you again, my dear." he said, her Spark did a strange flutter in it's chamber at the sound of his cultured accent, "Although it is long overdue, I must thank you. Without your kindness that day, I may have spent the rest of my life blinded by my own pointless hate and anger, and I would never have had the opportunity to meet someone like you."
She blushed even more fiercely, a girlish smile breaking out on her lips "Th-thank you, and your welcome. I'm just glad that I could help you, Shockwave Prime, sir." she said, as she studied him even more at the close proximity, an idea formed in her prossesor. A truly crazy, insane idea, but a good one none the less. Glancing around she quickly realized they had an audience "Is there possibly a place we might speak in private for a few moments, if you don't mind humoring me. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
Shockwave cast Optimus a questioning look, when the Prime nodded his consent he turned back to the femme "In the back there's a rec room, will that do?" he asked, when she nodded he lead her into the hall as he continued to hold her hand. When they reached the room he released her hand and took a slight step back to allow her some personal space, "Now, my dear," he said "What did you wish to discuss?"
Monarus nervously scatched the back of her neck "W-well," she began, not believing she was actually going to do this "You know the memorial celebration is tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, of course." he said "As a Prime it's my duty to attend."
"So...then you'll be going?"
He chuckled lightly "I really don't have a choice in the matter, I'm going whether I want to or not."
"Are you...maybe," Monarus blushed bright red, her gaze meeting anything that wasn't the mech before her "Going with someone already?"
Shockwave's optic widened slightly as he caught on to what she was leading up to "No, I'm not actually." he said, a gleam of child-like mirth in his optic, "Why do you ask?"
She absently kicked at the floor and shifted her weight, "Well, if you were going, and going alone. I was just thinking that, maybe, you know..." she rambled, her optics finally looked up at him "I was wondering if you and I...If we could go together, you know, like a...date?"
Oh, cliffhanger! What's he gonna say? I can't wait to find out-oh, wait. I already do! lol Any way, tell me what you think and I'll tell you what'll happen in the next chapter. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it, and goodnight!
