Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Heaven and Hell

The mist drew her in, comforting in its silence. Raptor walked on, not knowing where she was, but for some reason this didn't bother her. It seemed like eons that she walked through that mist, ghostly shapes passing her, some walking in the same direction, others the opposite.

As she continued, she ended up falling in with a larger and larger group of shapes, all flowing in the same direction. Suddenly, the mist cleared as she walked out of its grasp. The crowd of formless shapes she had flowed in with slowed, as if each shape was contemplating what lay in their path.

Before them lay two medieval stone walls, with large heavily ornamented gates; these walls faced each other across the expansive courtyard which she and her fellow shapes now gathered.

One set was in brilliant gold and beautiful rays of light seemed to emanate from behind its tall stone walls. On either side of its brilliant gate, were the most beautiful human beings she had ever laid optics on. These humans had eagle wings, their feathers glowing in a rainbow of colors, setting off the beautiful hues of their robes. Each of them held a flaming sword, which they kept crossed over the entrance, blocking many of the ghostly shapes from entering – yet, allowing entrance to others.

The other set was made of Obsidian, its black surface ominously matching the darkness that came from within it. On either side of its jeweled black gate, were living gargoyles. Their red eyes gleaming as they scanned the ghostly shapes, they held bullwhips, for whichever ghostly shapes were denied entrance to the gold gates, they forced them into the gaping black hole between them. The shapes wailing in agonized torment as they were forced through.

Going with the flow, Raptor found herself standing before the two iridescent Angels. They put their swords together, blocking her way and denying her entrance. The terrible understanding flowed through her soul, but before she entered hell, she just had to ask them one question. "Please tell me great angels, is my husband and children within your gates?"

The beautiful angels looked at each other, and then looked with pity upon her soul. "Since you did not ask of your own soul, but for the souls of others, we will answer your question." The one with golden hair decided; touched that her soul's biggest fear, was not for itself – but for others. "Yes, your family is within, and all are blessed with eternal happiness."

She bowed in respect to him. "Thank you great angel, my soul is now at peace;" With that, she turned with acceptance of her fate, and fell in line to go through the gates of hell.

Soon she stood in front of the Gargoyles, her soul screaming in terror but fully accepting her fate. As she calmly stepped to enter the blackness, the Gargoyles shifted and blocked her way. She looked in their red eyes in shock. "Why?" she stammered, for if she wasn't allowed in heaven, surely her place was in hell!

The Gargoyles stared at her. "Because you are no longer fully a human soul, so you do not belong."

She backed up in shock, and then looked down at her hands; they were the hands of Raptor the Decepticon, not her human hands! Looking back up at the demons, she stammered. "Where do I go?"

One pointed his clawed finger toward the mists beyond the sets of gates. "Beyond those mists are the realms of the other species' afterworlds."

She nodded in submission; then looked pleadingly at the demon. "Please, sir, tell me; Is this why I was not allowed in heaven either?"

He simply nodded.

She stumbled off, alone, into the mists; her soul still in shock that she was no longer human.

Ocean of Serenity

It seemed like eons that she stumbled through the mists, the loneliness and emptiness seeking to overwhelm her soul. She had sought release from her torment! She had simply wanted to return to what she should've been, a human soul returned to the embrace of her family. But even that, had been stolen from her by the Transformers! In so many ways, they had truly cursed her! Taken her family before their time, taking her physical humanity away – and now, taken the last piece of her humanity from her!

Despair filled her soul. The agony of her existence becoming too much to bear. She sat down, put her head on her knees and screamed her agony out to the silent mists. For eons she did this, not caring about the passage of time, her soul wrought with the sheer torture of the truth of its existence.

Then she felt a metal hand on her wing, looking up, her optics met the sapphire blue optics of the Transformer standing over her. He had the white body of an ambulance, Autobot insignias gleamed on his shoulders. A look of pity and understanding crossed his face, as he gently wiped the energon tears of despair from her cheeks. "It's Ok, come with me;" he said in a gentle, warm voice.

Slowly she stood, using his offered hand. "I'm Raptor.."

"I know.." His smile was warm. "I'm Ratchet."

A shocked look passed quickly across her face, for she recognized the name of First Aid's predecessor. He had died before she had become one of them, but stories about his abilities and caring personality still coursed through the ranks. "First Aid speaks highly of you."

"That's good," he simply said, then grabbed her hand and led her through the mists.

The mists cleared into the scene of an expansive beach, the gentle waves of the ocean caressing its shores. Many souls came to meet her, both Autobot and Decepticon. Within their optics she saw understanding, and even though this wasn't the afterlife her soul should've gone to, she began to accept the fact that she would reside here.

A large, golden Transformer strolled towards them. Diffuse light seemingly emanating from his very armor. A broadsword strapped across his back; His optics boring into hers as he stopped in front of her and looked her over.

Instinctively, she understood that this was the Transformer's Angel of Death – the Commander residing over this realm. Falling to her knee, she bowed in reverence to him.

She felt his fingers under her chin, then he forced her to stand, to look into his wondrous orbs. "You do not belong with the dead of my realm," he stated flatly.

Her soul again shook to its very core! Without this place, she truly had no where to go! Looking into his orbs she pleaded. "The human afterlife's will not accept me, will you too – not accept me?"

"I cannot, for you do not belong."

"Please great angel, tell me where I belong?" the torture within her soul, resonated through her plea.

A look of pity crossed his façade. "You are neither fully human nor transformer, therefore you belong in neither afterlife. For you are like me, you are a Soul Flyer, who will travel between the planes of existence as I do. You will never know the peace of death."

She fell into his arms, the real truth of her existence too much for her to bear. He put his arms around her, understanding her emotions, for once, eons ago; he too had felt the same way.

The Light

The light shone brightly, beckoning her, not allowing her to refuse. She followed that light, her soul straining to reach it.

Suddenly she found herself in agony, every inch of her fuselage ripped and torn, and the glaring lights of the repair bay shooting pain into her optics. She felt the hands within her, felt the burn of the welders as they worked on her. Her voice processors not functioning, so her agonized screams went unheard.

Then, First Aide's gentle blue optics met hers. Tenderly he touched the only undamaged side of her face, smiling with relief. "It's Ok, you'll be Ok."

Barely conscious, Raptor faintly heard Hook's voice yelling to the Commanders that she was going to pull through.

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