The Human Prime

Chapter 7: Only By Blood

Mira watched Soundwave's screen. The scene playing over and over gave her great pleasure. From where she was perched on his shoulder, she could tell that the scene brought much joy to her master as well. A girl accompanied by a large bot taking her beast, A.K.A "Ransig," into the confines of their base.

"I am pleased that my ticker toy could be of so much use to you, my lord." She felt a chuckle rumble through his body which made her smirk. Soundwave stopped playing the recording her took of the event and extended a hand towards her to remove herself from his master's shoulder. She complied and jumped into his palm then turning towards Megatron.

"Who knew it would be so easy to fool that girl." He turned and went back to his position in front of the room.

"I am sure that the message has been sent by now. My sister is most likely out looking for me right now." She saw him turn his head towards her voice in acknowledgement. "Alone."

"Don't be so sure. While your sister might be as dimwitted to wonder out looking for you unaccompanied, Optimus is not one to abandon a defenseless creature of any source. If she is not followed by an Autobot knowingly then he would be on her tail in secret." He turned back to his screens, giving them his fool attention.

"My sister is without a temper, but I am not sure how the Matrix shared has affected her judgment. Perhaps I am wrong, maybe she will not stray, but even so, I am sure I can make her too unknowingly." Mira assured her master right as the door opened and another bot walked in.

Mira POV

I was new on the ship, so I didn't know many Decepticons aboard. Many looked the same and were nothing more than mere lackeys. This one stood out from the others in many ways. For one, his bold red color was an obvious cry to be center of attention. Next was wheels, he had a set. Decepticons were one to choose flight over driving.

"Dirt kisser." I growled underneath my breath to get it out of mu system. Though, despite his poor choice of limitation, he seemed striking. I suppose it was one thing he accomplished in his life, he looked great.

"Lord Megatron, you summoned me?" His optics drifted to me standing near Soundwave then back at Megatron's back. "Did you want me to take care of this…infestation?"

"You better watch it wheel grinder, MY bite is worse than my bark." I responded to his lack of disrespect.

"Why you little-"

"Knockout." My master said abruptly which made us all snap into attention. "You will examine our friend's…condition. You are not to harm her in any way, is that clear?"

"Wha- but…yes my lord." He looked at me again and I could tell he was enraged. Oh, it would be fun toying with him.

"You're the physician? No wonder Decepticons are sturdy built, you can't afford to break."

Autobot Base

Sam rubbed her head, saying goodbye to Wheeljack for the night. Miko, Jack, and Rafael saying there good byes as well so that they could return home and get some sleep. Artemis watched while sitting on the stairs, June lecturing her and feeling sorry for her all at the same time. Though, she was almost completely ignoring her.

"Are you sure you don't want to come home with me?" June folded her arms loosely, looking a little worried.

"I'll be fine here June, thank you for your help. I'll try and be more careful." Artemis said, but was focusing most of her attention on Sam.

"Alright, come on Jack, let's go home." June walked down the stairs and to her car. Artemis was extremely worried about Sam. The last time a situation like this one occurred, Sam had isolated herself.

"Artemis, are you going to go looking for your sister?" Sam said almost depressingly. Artemis gave a pause for thought before answering.

"Going after my sister would be senseless without gathering more Intel. If I know my sister, she'll show herself sooner or later anyway." She rubbed her shoulder of her wounded arm; serious strain had made it very sore. "Why don't you go to bed? I'm going to stay up for a while."

"Good Night." She said plainly and went to the elevator to sleep. Artemis waited until the door closed to let out a long heavy sigh followed by a sharp intake of breath.

"Are you in pain?" Optimus seemed to come out of nowhere, it was obvious that her head wasn't in the right place. She shook her head and tried standing, but moved to fast.

"I'll be fine, just dizzy, I'll be better tomorrow." Leaning against the railing, she made her way down to ground floor where Optimus picked her up gently. "I'm just trying to figure out where she could find the materials to build a complex creature like this one. I mean some of this stuff you can't find in a simple junkyard."

"I have a grave suspicion." He placed her on top of the computers. Ratchet was going over the listed blueprints of the beast.

"These listed parts here." Ratchet pointed at a group of parts. "Are parts that only existed on Cybertron."

"So if she didn't get them from us, then- scrap." Artemis covered her face. "My sister is aligned with the Decepticons."

Dreaming

I sat on Primus' shoulder thinking and sulking. Primus sensed this and decided to wait on his lesson. He brought his servo over and nudged my shoulder which made me jump. I smiled a little then frowned again.

"I didn't know it was going to be this difficult." I finally said which made Primus understand.

"Destinies usually are unexpected." He said with a slight grin. "But it is how you deal with it that makes you ready."

"I don't feel ready. Primus, my own sister tried to kill me twice. She's aligned with the Decepticons; I think when we finally get face to face, Megatron will have her head so twisted it'll be on backwards."

"Artemis, what makes you think that Megatron will say anything to her? Megatron is the newest variable in the equation. What was the excuse before?" Primus could be truly cold sometimes, but he was right. At the point there was no excuse, she was already twisted beyond compare.

"I'm torn because I know when the time comes…I'm going to have to kill my sister." My tears were welling up.

"When you're ready, I know you'll be able to do what is right." He wiped my tears kindly, knowing to well the feeling of fighting someone you have a close bond to. I gathered myself and looked back at the never setting sun.

"I shouldn't be ignorant just because I don't want to accept the circumstances. The fact remains, my sister is poisoned and she's twisted to the point of breaking. I just hope it is not too late to save her." I stayed silence for a long moment, just staring at the scenery. "Please, continue with your lesson Primus."

Rafael's Home

Rafael began packing his laptop into his backpack ready to spend his whole day with Bumblebee. Usually, he'd spend Saturday mornings with his mom, but since she was out on rare weekend business, he would get the chance to spend his time with his friend. When he went out to wait for Bumblebee on the sidewalk, he immediately felt uncomfortable.

The air felt dense and charged, as if he were standing in a sea of people rather than by himself. Rafael could feel eyes on him which caused him to look around nervously. Again he felt that tense feeling in the air then, which scared him deeply, something brushing against his neck which made him jump and turn.

Someone in dark black, grey, and purple armor was kneeling at his height behind him. Rafael noticed the Decepticon emblem etched in the center of the armor which made him almost scream. The person immediately smacked their claw-like, gauntlet-covered, hand around his mouth, holding it extremely tight.

"Hush, don't want to alarm the whole neighborhood, now do we?" The voice was female, but seemed almost irritated. She brought him closer and began to take off his backpack. Rafael tried desperately to get her to loosen her grip on his mouth, clawing at her hand with his fingernails. "Don't bother kid."

"Mira, we have to hurry. Bumblebee is on his way." Knockout drove up to them, opening his door. The girl, Mira, smirked at him as she pinned something on Raf's backpack.

"Despite your constant cowardice, I'm starting to like you K.O." She tossed Rafael into the passenger seat which Knockout tied him down nice and tight. Mira got in on the driver's side and leaned back in her seat. "Right, let's get moving." Knockout hit full gas and drove off with a screech.

Bumblebee came a few minutes later and noticed right away that something was wrong. He picked up Raf's backpack and buzzed sadly. He transformed putting the backpack in the back seat and screeched off to the base thinking maybe Optimus would have a plan.

Autobot Base

Artemis and Ratchet went over a map trying to pinpoint where her sister could be. Though, predicting the Decepticon's movements was as useless as Sam's attempt to beat Miko at video games. Optimus watched Artemis stand with maturity, arms crossed, head tall, and mind filled with realistic goals, in a way it worried him that someone so young was involved in such situations.

"No, Megatron wouldn't go to a place so highly populated." Ratchet pointed to another point on the map.

"Mira is physically challenges, she wouldn't go anywhere with such a high attitude." Artemis shook her head and pointed again. Sam tossed the controller on the table and groaned.

"This is impossible." She wiped her forehead as Miko handed the controller to jack and began a new game. "Hey Bumblebee!" She waved at him, but he looked like he was in a rush. Bumblebee buzzed and beeped in a panic, transforming and holding Rafael's backpack.

"What do you mean Rafael's been kidnapped?" Artemis turned with a serious expression; she saw Raf's backpack and felt anger rush through her quickly. "Bumblebee let me see that."

Bumblebee handed over the backpack. Jack, Miko, and Sam ran across the connecting hall over the where Artemis stood and began asking Bumblebee questions. Artemis was silent though. She unpinned a white mini envelope from the pack and set it down gently. Then, she leaned up against the table and opened the envelope.

The letter inside was lined in red. She panicked slightly, but then could smell the toxic sent of permanent marker. She could feel the paper was moist. Artemis thought of how twisted her sister had become. To actually drench the paper with the red magic marker so that it looked as if it were written in blood.

"What does it say?" Everyone turned to her, noticing the paper in her hand.

"'Red X marks the spot, right sis?'" Artemis read off the paper and tossed it on the ground. Everyone began bickering about what it meant, but she already knew. "Ratchet, lock onto these coordinates."

Artemis POV

The Red X marks the spot, right sis? The worlds were like poison on a page. I stared at my home, burnt into rubble and forgotten. I bet no one even comes up here anymore. It was hard to stare at the charred formation without breaking down, but I managed.

"Artemis?" I could hear Sam whispering to me in the background, but I didn't turn to look at her in fear I'd cry. I made my way through the rubble of my home, hearing the crunching of burnt furniture underneath me. I stopped when I heard glass shatter underneath my boot. I stepped back and saw our family photo cracked and charred, but still recognizable.

"What's that sound?" I said all of a sudden which made the others snap out of there locked gaze on me and begin looking around for the source of the sound I heard. It was a subtle sound, if everyone wasn't dead silent you wouldn't have heard it. It was the sound of snapping like dogs do when you dangle food in front of their noses.

"It's coming from over there." Arcee pointed towards the woods. It was the way to the crater. I could hear the snapping continue and I knew Mira would be there waiting there for me. I took off without a warning, I could hear Optimus calling after me telling me to wait, but I went anyways. I went even though it was against his better judgment and my own.

Crater

Mira stood at the far end of the crater, holding Rafael by a rope just above her new pack of Ransig clones that snapped at him from below. Even though Rafael's mouth was taped shut, she could still hear him whimper and cry as he brought his feet up from the beast's teeth. She was just about to get comfortable when Artemis emerged from the forest's cover.

"Artemis, my dear sister, you've finally made it! I thought I'd grow old just waiting for you to show up." Mira pulled up Rafael and plopped him on the side of the crater. The Ransig pack climbed up onto the ledge and sat by him, watching him.

"Mira, scaring a little boy is low, even for you." The Autobots finally caught up with Artemis, peering over at the masked figured on the other side of the large crater.

"I don't think it's that bad. I mean I did kill our parents…in cold blood." Mira held up her up her hands. "Let's not forget, your blood was on my hands at one point as well. I see you made sure not to make the same mistake twice." Artemis brushed her gauntlet covered hands over her chest plate; she could almost feel the pain of the knife cutting through her chest.

"Perhaps with you, taking appropriate precautions is necessary." She jumped into the crater, remembering it to be significantly shallower than when she was a child. The Autobots began to attempt following her, but Mira cocked her blasters and pointed it at Rafael.

"Ah, ah, ah, this is a family affair goody two shoes. Stay out of it or Spike-head here is lunch meat." Mira snapped her fingers, drawing the packs attention to begin snarling at the terrified boy at their feet. Artemis nodded at them signifying that it was okay then began walking towards her sister.

"Mira, listen. We are sisters, family. Come with me, I can help you. We can be a family again." Artemis extended her hand towards her sister as a final plea to her.

"You are right about one thing my sister." Mira watched her sister lower her hand cautiously. "We are sisters." She cut into her own hand and extended it towards Artemis. "But…Only by blood."

"Mira I-" Before Artemis could even finish, Mira began gunning at her. Sending round after around at Artemis without rest. Artemis covered her face as she came under blaster fire, bring her face mask as far up as she could bring it.

"You talk a lot of scrap my DEAR sister, let me show you what are bond is really." Mira jumped down into the crater, never stopping her offense as she advanced towards Artemis. With the blasting becoming more intense as she got closer and closer, Artemis brought out her blade and began deflecting the blasts.

Autobot POV

Optimus watched the girls beginning a heated battle against each other. Arcee was beginning to twitch in anger. Bulkhead began to blow off steam, yelling how Mira had backed them into a corner. Bumblebee, he was angrier then the set put together, was actually standing with worry watching the beasts nip at Rafael.

"Arcee, follow me." Optimus began to walk towards the woods. "The rest of you remain here."

"What are we supposed to do? Just sit back and watch while that twisted girl tries to punch holes into Artemis and intimidate Raf too!" Bulkhead snapped, but then tried to calm down.

"Arcee and I will recover Rafael." He finally said before the woods had completely concealed him.

"Bulkhead, Mira can't look up here and find us all gone. I'm sorry." Arcee ran after Optimus and Bumblebee buzzed angrily, really wishing to have gone with them.

"I know Bumblebee, but I think it actually is for the best. Bulkhead isn't very light on his feet and you're emotionally involved. At least we're here for Artemis if she needs us." Sam said almost sadly, wishing to have gone with as well.

"Ratchet, do you come in?" Bulkhead checked in with base while he waited knowing Optimus wouldn't try something that risky.

"Bulkhead, what is it? How's Rafael?" Ratchet responded almost immediately. Bulkhead could hear Miko yelling in the background asking something about putting the hurt on Mira.

"Ratchet, I think you better prepare sick bay."

Artemis POV

I was on my toes the entire time. I couldn't take breath, rest my feet, or lower my guard for a second. Mira pounded away with me with attack after attack after attack. I phrased dear Primus for my armor as she brought her blade across my chest several times leaving deep scratches.

I ducked under her swing hitting her behind her shoulder. My blows were innocent compared to hers. While she came at me with killer's intent, I returned with weak blows. Apart of me could not get past the simple fact that she is my sister, despite her 'only by blood' speech.

"Stop playing around with me!" Mira screamed at me angrily as if I were restraining myself to toy with her. As she screamed, she brought her right hand and lashed out at me. I instinctively let loose with my left hand, making our fists collide with each other. Mira and I watched as the energy of our gifts collided against each other visibly.

"Uh, oh." The energy created a backlash which sent us both flying backwards and soon after a small implosion causing a crater within the crater; what irony. I landed roughly and skidded across the hard ground. I used the momentum to roll myself back to my feet. Gripping my head tightly, I realized my visor had fallen off; I located it quite a distance behind me.

I didn't have time to retrieve it before I found Mira emerge from the smoke and charge at me, her helmet blown off as well.

Bulkhead, Sam, and Bumblebee

Sam's jaw dropped as Mira emerged from the smoke, the similarities were uncanny yet there were noticeable differences. Mira's eyes glowed red with an anger and insanity that she couldn't believe even existed.

Bulkhead thought about contacting Optimus, but then saw him across the crater, stripping a beast of its spine.

Optimus POV

When the blast from the colliding energy distracted the beast, Arcee and I took the opportunity to silence them for good. It was delicate work for we had to keep a watchful eye on both Rafael and Mira, but I managed to do so effectively.

In the back of my mind, I was keeping an eye on Artemis. Her position wasn't easy. To be fighting against a sibling in order to save a child from a danger she is not fully familiar with; it is something that no human should have to experience and yet it is her destiny to. As she put it, there were some dangers he could not protect her from. I knew now that this is what she meant.

We had little conversations about how she would have lessons with Primus and how he would talk to her about the battle between him and Unicron. I didn't realize it then, but she was secretly trying to tell me that that was what she was destined for. That she had to fight her sister over and over as long as it took in order to cast out the evil that consumed her. I think she knew as I do now, that someday that might mean taking her life. It was something that I knew; this was nothing a human girl should have to deal with.

Artemis POV

I held out my blaster as a defensive measure, but Mira had other plans. We fired at the same time causing us to fly backwards again, but this time it was a relief. I could hear Sam screaming in the distance, but I already knew what she was saying. I could see Optimus running on the side of the crater, Arcee behind him cradling Rafael in her servos.

I turned tail and ran towards Sam and the others; the ground bridge was already waiting for us. Mira was dumbstruck, looking back at her destroyed Ransig pack then at Optimus then at me. Before I knew it, she was chasing me down. I picked up my visor as I ran, but it slowed my down just enough for her to catch up.

It went by so fast; I didn't even register what I did until after. She lunged at me high, it seemed like her body towered over me. I lashed out at her out of reflex, the blade of my gauntlet tearing though her face like butter. She fell clutching her face, the blood was so thick I wasn't completely sure how deep I cut her. My rational brain caused me to ignore her grunting and growling and continue running.

My ears were ringing as she screamed loudly while I grabbed Sam's hand to help me up the crater. Before getting into the ground bridge, I looked back at her one last time. Seeing her face wasn't badly damaged, but her eyes showed obvious hatred for me. I left before she got up.

Autobot Base

Rafael hugged Miko and Jack hysterically when they got back to base before hugging Bumblebee long and hard. His face wet with tears as he tried to express his horrible experience. Sam cuddled the small boy's head and as tears dropped into his hair.

"I am glad you're back Rafael." Optimus exclaimed simply which everyone nodded in agreement.

"A big round of applause for Artemis, who-" Sam didn't finish when she saw Artemis wasn't celebrating. She was just staring at her blood stained fingers shocked as if the image had shot a bullet in her brain.

"Artemis, are you-" Rafael began, but she looked up at him and smiled. Removing her gauntlets, she brushed her hand through his hair expressing her joy that he was okay.

"It's late; you better get home before your parents worry." With that, she walked away up the stairs and into the elevator. The others just stared as the elevator doors closed on her sorrowful face.