Episode 21: Alpha, Omega
Shadow Storm POV
My father held the Star Saber in front of him and remained in a trance like state even when Ratchet asked him what Alpha Trion was telling him. After a while my father drops to his knees.
"Dad!?" Ratchet and I rushed over to his side and help him back on his feet and over to a medical gurney.
"Easy Optimus" it took him a moment before he got back on his feet again the entire team was curious as to what Alpha Trion had to say to their leader.
"So, did Alpha Trion ask about me?" my mate asked my dad of which I sent him a glare of which he received as well as a punch in the abdominal plating by Bulk.
"What was the message?"
"It is paramount that we recover the final four Iacon relics, the omega keys"
"Keys?" Arcee questioned
"To what?" Ratchet asked
"To the regeneration of our home planet." I couldn't believe what my audio receptors were hearing a way to return our home back to the way it was.
"Pack your gear; we're going back to Cybertron."
~We've been here so long I can't believe it~
"Well believe it now Bumblebee, civilization at last"
"But we just got here."
"Remember oil baths, first thing I'm going to do planet side is soak for an entire solar cycle."
"I can't wait to tell Miko"
"And Jack"
"And Raf" the teammates we're immediately sadden when they thought of their human allies, and though Smokie and I have only been on this planet for a few cycles I could slightly feel their pain.
Smokescreen POV
"Optimus, keys open doors can they really revive an entire planet?"
"While I am unfamiliar with the lore of these omega keys, Alpha Trion knew many secrets and the ancients possessed technology that is long been lost to was what we consider modern science. Whatever their function this much is certain, we cannot revive Cybertron without all four Omega Keys in our possession ."
"Which means we can't afford to lose a single one to the Megatron."
"Four sets of coordinates from Alpha Trion remain encrypted, it is logical to assume that each corresponds to the location of one of the Omega Keys. I must not waver until I decode them all." Optimus was very committed. "The future of our home world depends on it." He was very intent on doing his best to decode the final four relics. Even though Gail and I had only been a part of Team Prime for a short while I couldn't wait until we returned home and the war was finally over. Gail and I would then be able to settle down and have a family.
After a while the room settled down and we younger bot's, me among them, gathered in a corner while Optimus decoded the final Iacon coordinates and Ratchet worked on something of which when Optimus looked over he explained.
"You'll require a practical means of carrying such a blade"
"I feel funny saying this, but I'm not sure I want to go back." Arcee sheepishly says
"Who knew we'd get so used to our new home." even though Bulk was a big guy he had a huge heart to match.
~It's going to be really hard for me to leave, Raf~
"Yeah, I don't think I'd ever want to leave Miko."
"We've made friends here . . . family." I agreed with Arcee I just met my father-in-bot and I have yet had the chance to really get to know him.
"I kind of like it here though so far I haven't seen much, but this world holds its own since of beauty."
"We could always text them" Ratchet didn't even care what we were going through.
"Besides, I've been fighting for so long I don't think I could do anything else."
"You could go back into construction. The power of the ancients may breathe life back into Cybertrons core, but our war ravished cities will surely require rebuilding." Ratchet always the helpful medic.
"I wouldn't make any travel plans just yet. We still have to locate these keys and secure them before the cons do." Arcee reminds us what we needed to focus on in this moment.
"Yeah like that will be a problem. Optimus has the Star Saber now Megatron's ends is in sight."
"It gives us the advantage to us for now, but Megatron will find a way to even the playing field as soon as he can." Gail was right Megatron wasn't one to give up so easily. At that moment a signal popped up on Optimus's screen.
"Autobots, I have decoded the first set if the final coordinates. Divide into teams in the event that I am able to decode another, before the first team returns."
"I'm on team one, who's with me"
"I'll go" I kissed Gail before heading out with Arcee, the two of us arrived on one of Earth's much dessert.
"First ones here"
"No locator beacon which means the relic is still buried. Right about there." we walked toward a pyramid and into the tunnels underneath it. The tunnels were super small forcing the both of us to bend down in order to fit.
"Sure nice of the human's to pile these rocks on top of our relic, huh?" towards the end of the tunnel we stopped as our locator beeped continuous and we could see an image of what we were looking for. We grabbed it and made our way back out toward the entrance where we found someone there waiting for us.
"Megatron"
Shadow Storm POV
It had been awhile since Smokie and Arcee left the base to receive the first Omega Key. When Arcee's scared voice came over the com channel.
"Ratchet, Ground Bridge now!" Ratchet did as he was asked, but moments before the ground bridge open Smokie signal no longer recognized on Ratchets medical equipment.
"Smokie no please no" I couldn't believe it until Arcee came through the bridge without him I couldn't be sure, but I just collapsed, but my Dad caught me and allowed me to cry in his arms.
"Dad, he can't be dead he just can't" I wanted to deny it for as long as I could, but soon Arcee walked through the bridge and the bridge closed behind her.
"Arcee" I turned toward hoping for some glimmer of hope.
"I'm so sorry Storm." I turned back into my father's chest and continued to cry.
"Megatron had me in his sights, but he spared me to deliver a message to Optimus. It was that if you want the key you must claim it yourself."
"Tell us what happened" my father wanted to know what happened
"We had the key, but once we got out of the tomb Megatron was there waiting for us Smokescreen was positive that the two of us could take him that was until we saw his sword glowing a sickly purple. He hit us with a wave of energy forcing us to release hold on the key. Both of us were a little disorientated, Smokescreen was the first one to get up I was quick to follow Megatron blocked all of our shots. Then Megatron sent a wave of energy towards Smokescreen" Arcee stopped for a moment in shock of what had happened, but she continued knowing that I needed to know what happened. "And then Smokescreen was just gone like he turned to dust."
"Thank you, Arcee"
"Poor kid"
"Arcee, do not blame yourself, it could've just have easily been . . ." Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed their weapons
"I say we go and claim a piece of Megatron's miserable metal hide." At that moment I was way past being sad not even angry I was furious, not at Arcee, but at the scumbag who took my love away from me.
"You'll need to get in line behind me Bulk; I have first shot at him."
"No, we have already lost another one of our own today, I will not risk more lives."
"But, Dad?"
"I know you want to kill the monster who took Smokescreen away from you, you are no match for him." I knew what my father was saying was true, but I still wanted Megatron dead. I retreated back to the corridor where all the rooms were at. I was just about to enter my room when I went across the hall and entered Smokescreen's room in an undead like state I climbed into his berth and went into a restless power down.
Optimus Prime POV
Storm retreated to the rooms, I didn't know how to handle her emotion right now, but I knew that I had to retrieve the Omega key from Megatron. I was angry too at Megatron for taking away my daughter's spark mate.
"Given what Arcee witnessed it stands to reason that Megatron now possesses might to equal the Star Saber. Which means only I have a chance of recovering the Omega Key."
"The fate of Cybertron rests on its retrieval."
"Weather Megatron knows it or not" Ratchet fired up the ground bridge and I entered it knowing full well what was waiting for me on the other side.
"Claim your prize Optimus if you can." Megatron was mocking me, but I didn't need to be drawn into this battle. Looking at him I noticed a familiar hand on his corrupted form.
"By the allspark Megatron, what have you done?!"
"This?" he casually looked at his arm "I find that it affords me certain advantages, such as the use of Solus Prime." he revealed his sword and it was just like what Arcee had described. "My first creation fashioned by the very blood of Unicron I call it the Dark Star Saber, slayer of primes if you will." After that he wasted no time in charging at me. I unsheathed my sword and together we fought energy waves flying everywhere and when our swords clashed an opposing energy field surrounded us.
"At last we take our rightful places Optimus as gods wielding the power of the cosmos"
"I am but a soldier Megatron and you are a prisoner of your own twisted delusions." I got out of his grip and continued my attack. Both of us throwing our best energy wave at the other. Within moments he was able to give me a rather deep cut on my arm.
"My Dark Star Saber has already tasted one spark tonight it still yearns for that of a Prime." The battle continued until Megatron's sword destroyed mine. I knelt in submission as there was nothing that I could do. I felt his sword against my neck
"And so it ends just as I envisioned it with your head besides my new trophy."
"Oh you mean this?" I looked up and see Smokescreen alive and holding the first Omega key. "Finders keepers"
Smokescreen POV
I think my return shocked the both of them, but Optimus used the surprise to gain the upper hand. I ran towards them hoping to help in some way
"Smokescreen, fall back!" I barely dodged energy wave from Megatron's sword. Megatron punched Prime in the face and made Optimus stumble backwards quickly finding his balance, but before he did Megatron released another dark energy wave at him one that Optimus wouldn't be able to dodge in time. So I activated my phase shifter and was able to get me doorwings touching Optimus allowing the wave to pass through us.
"Ratchet, Ground Bridge!"
"No!"
"Missed us" the bridge opened behind us and we ran toward it hearing the hum of another dark energy wave we were able to make it into the portal and have it close behind us. Safely in our base Optimus was taken away by Ratchet so he could take a look at Optimus's wound. When everyone could see me, but the person I wanted to see wasn't there.
"Smokescreen"
"And Omega Key number one"
"But, how I saw you?"
"I uh decide to borrow the phase shifter."
"Again?"
"I'll tell you what happened later; right now I need to see Gail"
"Dad was you able to get the Omega Key" at the entrance to the hall leaning against the doorway was my very beautiful wife.
"He did and a whole lot more Gail."
"Smokescreen" she didn't take a moment before running to me and jumping into my arms.
Shadow Storm POV
I didn't want to do it, but I had to know if Smokescreen's sacrifice was in vain or not so I stayed near the entrance to the hallway
"Dad, were you able to get the Omega Key"
"He did and a whole lot more Gail."
"Smokescreen" I ran to him and jumped into his arms he twirled me around and I didn't want to let go. He held me in a tight.
"But how?"
"That's what we'd all like to know"
"Ok, well as I was saying it was a good thing I borrowed the phase shifter, because that wave from the blast hit me like a wrecking ball. The impact must have activated the shifter. I'm not sure how long I was out, but when I went outside Optimus and Megatron were in an epic throw down. I waited for the right moment to make my move."
"You're learning" my spark mate turned toward the medic who had just finished healing my father's scars.
"So can I keep it? I mean it is really working out for me."
"Fine, fine"
"Yes! Signature weapon" but he soon catches a glimpse of my father's sword of which I quickly notice that more than two thirds of the blade is gone.
"You got yours, Optimus lost his."
"The balance of power shifted again."
"While he may have wielded the power of the ancients for only a day Optimus does not require it to be the mightiest of warriors." The entire team looks at their leader my father and see him already back at the screen working on decoding more coordinates. Our grouchy medic was right my father didn't need a sword. As long as the team and I know that he is alive and well that's all that matters. I would rather have my father than a powerful sword any day.