A/N It's been a rough few months, but I can't tell you how much it means to me you folk who are still reading and commenting. You all make my day. Thank you
Visor flickering erratically, Jazz groaned and pushed himself to sitting. His memory cache was fragmented. He had no recollection of what happened after he was placed in Shockwave's tender care and that concerned him deeply. One thing was certain though, he was no longer on Earth. The dark grey metallic enclosure told him that much.
He grimaced as he crawled to the nearest wall, coming to rest against it with a weary groan. The injuries he'd suffered at the hands of Megatron were beginning to take their toll. He couldn't quite recall the last time he'd been tended to by a proper medic. His thoughts kept drifting to First Aid and that last panicked glance back as he was led away by Soundwave. There was no point in dwelling on what he should have done now, or what could have happened, all Jazz could think about was getting his aft out of wherever Shockwave had brought him.
Pulling himself up, his legs sluggish and slow to respond, he peered out of a small aperture. It cast a faint light onto the cell; it had to be a way out. His visor brightened as he was greeted by a strangely familiar sight. Yet it looked so different, it couldn't be. He strained to see more, not believing his own optics, before his foot slipped and he crashed to the ground in a heap. Too weak to stand again, he leant against the wall in defeat. It was no wonder the bond was drawn so taut and his spark ached. He was on Cybertron. Any hope he had of escaping dwindled as he sat there, his audios picking up the faint sounds of tormented 'bots and anguished cries for mercy.
Off lining his visor he sat, silent, alone. Not even bothering to register for how long he simply sat and waited. A soft scraping noise and Jazz jolted out of light recharge. There was someone approaching. It was a mech, his frame tarnished and almost grey, he was alive but something was definitely off about him. The drone – like mech was holding another, gripping him tightly. Coming to a stop at Jazz's cell, the door was opened. Jazz cursed silently, if he had been capable of moving, he would have rushed the 'bot and made a run for it. He tensed when a familiar frame was thrown bodily into the cell. Barely able to contain his surprise, Jazz reached for the new prisoner. Crawling his way over to the trembling frame, he gathered the 'bot into his arms, holding him close while cooing to him softly.
The Praxian clutched Jazz tightly, pale blue optics staring up at him in disbelief. "It's you, it's really you… I thought…I…"
Jazz managed a soft smile and gave Bluestreak a squeeze. "None other, mech."
"I fought them… after they took you… I couldn't let Shockwave take you, Prowl would never forgive me if I hadn't tried."
"Aw, Blue… Prowl would 'a never blamed ya. Ya shouldn't have tried t' come here."
Arms wrapped around Jazz tightly, a low keen escaping the young 'bot's vocaliser as he buried his face against his plating. "I had no choice… Shockwave wanted a Praxian… his experiments… Jazz they have something to do with Prowl but I can't figure it out… that's why he ordered me to be brought here too." His voice trailed off into a terrified murmur. "I've seen the things he does….I can't… don't let me end up like that, Jazz. Promise me you'll shoot me if you have to."
"Blue…I…"
The 'bot caught his gaze with earnest bright optics. "Promise me, Jazz… I don't want to end up like… like ithem/i I know you'll not let me go like that… you'll stop it, right?"
Jazz stared, his spark twisting in his chest. They all cared for Bluestreak like creators, not just Prowl or himself, they all did. He was the only survivor from the horror that was Praxus, he had grown so much, it tore Jazz apart to see him like this. He nodded meekly, his voice catching as he whispered his promise. "I promise, Blue… I'll stop them… I'll not let you go…not like that." He held the mech close, staring with grim realisation at their eerie guard; his visor was met with the gaze of cold, dead optics. There was no life in the 'bot that stood at the entrance to their cell. Noticing the 'con symbol on the mech's arm, Jazz inhaled slowly, unconsciously holding Bluestreak tighter, repeating his vow with more venom. "I'll not let go."
Cybertron
Sky Lynx immediately transformed once leaving the ruined palace, the small group filed on board. Acid Storm took point and took to the skies first, he was small and fast and would help Sky Lynx find a route through the attacking drones. They looked out from the jet's small narrow windows as a barrage of plasma fire unleashed from the palace last standing turrets.
Ultra Magnus shot Elita a faint grin as their back up laid waste to the first drone to reach the palace. Sky Lynx soared and weaved through the sky, avoiding laser fire, receiving a few scorching licks against his hull as he tried to follow the sleek green 'con.
Springer huffed from the other side of Sky Lynx's interior prompting the others to look at him questioningly. "I still don't trust him." He glowered out of the window, sharp optics following the trail of the smaller jet. "He's still a 'con."
Ultra Magnus sighed and shook his helm. "Springer I think the war here has less to do with faction symbols and a whole lot more to do with survival, don't you?"
"He could be leading us into a trap. Be leading us straight to Shockwave!" The 'copter blurted out, intakes hitching.
"He was near to off lining when we found him, Springer." Chromia interjected. "He was escaping from Shockwave, why would he betray us now?"
"Aw come on! You can't all be that naïve!" Springer paced, his irritation growing. "He's suddenly found when we're making headway in defending ourselves, when Shockwave can't track us and now suddenly he's able to find us wherever we hide?"
Ultra frowned, meeting Elita's worried gaze. "He does have a point." The mech murmured. "Shockwave has gotten more adept at tracking us recently."
Pursing her lip components, Elita shook her helm. "No, we're not turning on each other now. He's stuck with us and fought with us, Ultra he saved your life… we stick together, I don't care what faction he used to be."
"You can't be serious; he's a fraggin' 'con!"
"Those are my orders, mech! Do I make myself clear?"
Springer stopped in his tracks, mouth open in protest at the femme's fierce tone. Looking to Ultra Magnus, to Blurr, to anyone for support he found none and his mouth clamped shut. Glaring at Elita with sullen optics he folded his arms his reply curt and laced with reluctance. "Crystal."
The atmosphere was stifling while nobody spoke; all were watching Elita and Springer stand off from one another. Tensions were heightened, tempers finally fraying as they headed to what was most likely a kamikaze mission. Sky Lynx jolted sharply, shaking them from their silence, his rich voice filling the cabin. "We're going down, hang on!"
The white jet bucked and dived to avoid the electrified grid defence surrounding Darkmount. Engines whining painfully, he managed to level out before his nose crumpled into the ground. Flying beneath the deadly defence net, Sky Lynx let out a low growl as he had the added difficulty of trying to manoeuvre his larger frame through the sentinels trying to stamp on him. No matter what happened, one thought was clear in the mech's processor. This was a one way trip.
Earth
"Do we know how he's taking prisoners to Cybertron?" The black and white had not wasted time in getting back down to business. Setting up a makeshift base at the abandoned warehouse where Mirage and Bumblebee had been holding up, he immediately started to draw up plans for hitting the Decepticons where it hurt the most. They had to be subtle, not cause too much injury, they had to wait for when a large convoy of 'bots were being shipped, rescue as many as possible and reclaim the space bridge. Otherwise they were risking the Decepticons hurting or even killing the rest of the prisoners out of malice for their boldness.
"Spacebridge." Bumblebee chimed in, trying to follow Prowl's crudely drawn out plans and tactical scenarios. "It's only manned by a small contingent though, considering it's probably their strongest asset."
Nodding, optics still fixed intently on his plans, Prowl hummed in agreement. "We can use this information. It means they do not consider us a threat and they must, by now know there is at the very least two of us still not captured."
"That will still leave us with a problem, Prowl." Mirage stepped up from the wall he was leaning against. "There are still only three of us, against who knows how many Decepticons."
"Be that as it may." Prowl replied softly. "We must take control of the space bridge."
Cybertron
There wasn't much time for them to land and find cover. Sky Lynx, being the largest had transformed and headed straight for the space bridge. There were surprisingly few actual Decepticons lurking about the fortified base, he had assured them he would hold the bridge until they got there.
Splitting into two teams, Elita ordered Ultra Magnus and his small team to head for the main generators of the base. They had enough explosive with them, to blow Darkmount off the face of Cybertron. Elita was heading for the space bridge controls, it was her team's job to set the coordinates for Earth and rig the bridge to blow to prevent anyone following them.
The femme led them through narrow, dark corridors, climbing through the levels of the base. She'd only ever been in Darkmount once, before the war. Optimus had not long since been ordained as Prime and the new space bridges were only being tested at that point. Shockwave had been there, hovering in the shadowy corners, Elita could only remember that single red orb focusing on their small group, distinctly flickering whenever Prowl had explained the process. He'd sent shivers through her spark then, now he downright terrified her.
Undeterred from the mission, she pressed on, firing on the occasional guard without any mercy. There was too much at stake to be lenient. Acid storm was leading the way, constantly checking over his shoulder to make sure they were still following. Chromia came up beside the other femme a frown clear on her faceplates. "'Lita there's something really wrong with these guards."
"I know I've seen it too."
"And some are 'cons and others are 'bots… they don't even fight."
Elita shook her helm. "We can't take that chance, whoever, whatever they were… we're probably doing them a favour. Aim for the spark."
No more words were spoken as the green jet ushered them inside a darkened, empty room. Pulling out a laser welder, he went to work on a ventilation entrance and tore the panel away after weakening it. Waving them inside, he pointed up the shaft. "We go up. Shockwave won't expect this."
"I think we know a different Shockwave." Elita muttered her tone grim, worried.
"Are we going to run into the mech himself?" Chromia asked quietly.
Acid storm gave a small shrug. "It is possible; he maintains the space bridge quite religiously."
A dark grin spread across the femme's face. "Good, I've been wanting to give him a piece of my mind."
Ultra Magnus led his team quietly through the underbelly of the base. They were to blow the main energon generators which siphoned energy direct from the planet's core. Once destroyed, Shockwave would be without energy, without power and with any luck; caught in the blast, while they made their escape through the space bridge.
The lower levels of Darkmount, lived up to their name. There was no natural light down in the depths of the base, only their headlights lit up their way. The quiet was unnerving, tense, stifling and Ultra Magnus only felt weighed down by the explosives stored in his subspace, the sooner this mission was done the better.
"How far into this slag heap do we have to go, Ultra?" Springer griped, clutching his weapon close.
The larger mech, glanced over at the green triple changer. "As far as we have to." His reply was short, sombre, they had a little more way to go yet and Ultra knew all too well how Springer was feeling. This place was creepy, beyond creepy; it was surreal and sent a chill straight to the spark.
They passed countless cells as they traversed the maze like tunnel network, every single one had traces of 'bots that had been held there, but no longer. They were all empty. The small group dreaded to think what had become of such unfortunate sparks. A soft noise caught them off guard and they froze where they were.
"What... the frag... was that?" Springer hissed through clenched denta.
Raising a hand to quiet his disgruntled team, Ultra took a few steps towards the dark corner and peered cautiously around it's edge. "There's someone still in a cell..." He murmured. "I'll check it out, wait here."
"Ultra... Ultra!" Springer began to protest but the mech had already disappeared into the black corridor, his headlights fading in the perpetual darkness. "Fragger."
Not knowing what he was going to find, Ultra maintained a heightened awareness, his headlights dimmed as to not give him away and he crept closer to the pitch black cell. That soft noise reached his audio once more and he halted, gripping his weapon. It was whimpering, coming from the cell directly ahead. Peering into the darkness, Ultra's sharp optics picked up the faint outline of a 'bot curled up in the corner of the cell. Pulling back he fired his weapon on the lowest setting and forced the door open. Taking a step inside, the noise stopped and Ultra brightened his headlights.
His optics widened at what he saw and he didn't get chance to holler before the sickeningly grey mech rushed him.
"AAAAAaaahh!"
The scream sliced through the silence and Springer was running. Blur got ahead with ease, his weapon raised and aiming at the struggling shapes in front of them. "ULTRA?" Springer yelled urgently, his weapon also raised and poised to fire.
The larger of the shapes dropped to the floor suddenly, exposing a strange grey mech who snarled viciously at the oncoming mechs.
"SHOOT IT!" Ultra shouted from the floor.
The two 'bots wasted no time in squeezing their triggers. Pulse rifles burnt two holes into the assailant's chest, it let out a sharp grunt, falling to its knees, collapsing on its front and lying still. Springer motioned towards it, still on edge, his foot catching it underneath and turning the 'bot over. "Frag... he was an autobot."
Ultra rested a hand on his shoulder. "Whoever he was, he hadn't been an Autobot in a long time."
A small shuffle and all three mechs were ready to attack once more. Raising his hands, Bluestreak crept out of the shadows. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you." He whispered shakily.
"Nevermind glad, how the frag did you get here?" Springer demanded, weapon still aiming at Bluestreak in suspicion.
"Space bridge, I'm a prisoner, just like Jazz."
"Jazz is here?" Ultra made his way over, lowering Bluestreak's arms. "Where is he, Blue?"
The young Praxian bowed his helm, his frame shaking slightly. "Shockwave took him..."
"How much further do we have to climb 'con?" Chromia griped, forcing her aching limbs to keep reaching for the next rung of the metal ladder.
"Not too far. We're almost at the control centre in the upper levels."
They continued the rest of the climb in silence, Elita's comm bleeping startled them. Acid storm growled from above them. "Turn it off! Shockwave has trackers everywhere!"
The femme acted hastily, killing the comm without answering and turning it off. "I take it we're close then?"
"Better." The green jet smirked. "We're here. Follow me. Be silent if you want to live."
Glancing down at Elita, Chromia pulled a face. "Quite the charmer ain't he?"
The jet led them through a small square exit, there were noises below them as they crawled through the shaft over the floor below. There were the odd 'bot mindlessly toiling over some sort of equipment that was thrumming away. The power emanating from whatever it was rippled through their frames, they could feel the energy deep in their protoforms, spark energy and lots of it.
"What is that freak doing up here?" Chromia growled, watching the zombie like mechs and femmes.
Acid storm sighed softly. "Experiments... on the spark, on the processor, on anything he thinks will help him gain the upper hand."
The femmes glanced at the former 'con curious at his bitter tone. "Upper hand over whom?"
The jet let out a short bitter laugh. "Megatron of course. You Autobots are so gullible you still don't know who your real enemy is. Megatron is just a puppet... Shockwave wants ultimate power over every Cybertronian. No matter what state he puts them in."
Elita frowned. "Is this why you defected?"
"I lost everyone I cared about to his experiments. We were loyal to him and he betrayed us. He will pay."
The venom in his voice told the femmes not to continue the discussion further. Everyone had their reasons for fighting in this neverending war and they all had their reasons for which side they fought for too.
"Let's go. He'll know we're here."
"What?" Chromia grabbed the jet roughly. "Are you leading us into a trap, does he scare you that much?"
Acid storm's red optics bored into her helm. "Trust me, femme. This was the only way to get you here." Shoving her off him, he kicked off a vent and leapt down onto the floor below. The femmes stared down at him in disbelief. "Get your afts down here, or everything will have been for nothing!"
Not having much choice, they followed him and sprinted through the greying mechs, still impossibly walking around, completing meaningless tasks. Acid storm went ahead, shooting any that got in his way and it wasn't long before alarms sounded throughout the base. "Come oon!" He hollered, quickly directing them into a control room, locking it behind them. "There." He pointed. "Space bridge, all of it controlled here. Do what you have to, you don't have long. He's coming!"
Something hard slammed against the door, causing Acid storm to jump back, weapon held ready. More and more hard bangs rained upon the door's metal surface. Harder and harder. Then someone fired up a rifle and shots began firing.
"Hurry!"
"We've planted them, timer is set for 100 decakliks. We've got to go now!" Elita turned as the pulse rifles burnt a hole in the door and a snarling deranged mech shoved his arm and helm through, tearing away plating from his face as he did so."
"Holy Primus!" Chromia fired without further hesitation. "What the frag is wrong with them?"
"They're not really alive anymore. They're his." Acid storm spun round and fired both his rockets at the reinforced glass window overlooking Shockwave's main experiments. "Let's get out of here!" Grabbing the femmes he leapt out of the window and flew down to the floor, their combined weight making him unable to fly for more than a few kliks.
Landing heavily, they scrambled to their feet and made a run for it. Behind them barriers began to close each section. They ran as fast as they could. Chromia suddenly halted and changed direction.
"Chromia what are you doing!"
"There's someone trapped here, I heard them shouting."
Acid storm growled and ran after her. "It'll be a trap, it's a trick!" He slid to a halt as he entered another small room, opening up onto a large expanse below them. Hanging in suspended in the centre of the giant sphere was a large pulsing orb, swirling dark and ominous. His optics widened in shock as he drew up to Chromia's side.
"Please tell me that's not what I think it is..." She murmured.
"I think it used to be..." Acid storm replied, his mouth parted in shock.
"Oh my." Elita cried out as she skidded to a halt. "Is that?"
"Yeah... you found Vector Sigma." The new voice took them by surprise, each one turning slowly to address the mech, currently strapped to a vertical berth against the wall. "Would someone mind lettin' me down?" Jazz quirked them a humourless grin.
Stood in shock the three stared at him, disbelief clear on their faces. That was until an all too familiar voice reached their audio, giving commands to seal off the exits.
"Shockwave!" Acid storm, pushed the femmes towards Jazz. "Get him, get out... I'll distract Shockwave." With that he was gone.
The femmes acted quickly, releasing a severely weakened Jazz from his bonds, supporting him between them as they made their escape. Elita glanced at the timer on the detonator, it's digital read out counting down, klik by klik. There was no sign of Acid storm as they made their way to the only elevator. Releasing hold of Jazz, Elita handed Chromia the detonator.
"'Lita what are you doing?" Chromia made a grab for the other femme but fell just out of reach.
"I have to help him, I can't leave him in the hands of Shockwave. Blow it when you're at the bottom."
"Elita, nooo!" The elevator descended into the blackness, dragging her away from her leader, her friend. Jazz tugged her close, knowing that Elita was doing what every true leader felt the need to do.
"She's tough, Chromia, she'll get out."
Firing wildly at the attacking drone like 'bots, Springer was on his last nerve. "Frag it, Ultra have you laid the charges yet?"
"Almost there, Blur ran into some trouble."
"Fraggin' move it! We can't hold them off much longer, they're like fraggin' deranged or something."
Bluestreak fired rapidly, his keen optics picking off 'bots, hitting with deadly accuracy. He was putting all of his sniper training to the test as the 'bots just kept rushing them. Another mech joined the fray and Springer shot a wry grin at his leader. "About fraggin' time, mech."
"We all here?" Bluestreak asked, his voice strangely calm despite the situation.
"Yes can we please go now?" Blur butted in his intakes heaving from rushing around the generators.
"Yes, let's. Everyone move it!" Springer waited until the rest started to make their escape and threw in an explosive charge before sprinting away from the subsequent explosion.
They ran back the way they came, firing at any deranged attacker that crossed their path. Being on the lower levels, they were closer to the surface and once their it was only a short run to the space bridge.
Ultra turned and pressed the first detonator, blowing the generators. "Come on 'Lita... get out of there." He murmured before following his team to the space bridge where Sky Lynx was waiting.
Acid storm had run straight into Shockwave who was more than enraged at losing his prisoner, his base. The jet shuddered as the scientist tore into him, roaring in anger. He fought, scrabbled for the upper hand but Shockwave was too strong, too angry. In his spark, Acid storm didn't mind that this was going to be his last fight. At least he could take Shockwave with him.
He landed on the floor with a thud, Shockwave reaching for his chest. With a smug smirk, Acid storm scrambled out of the way and pulled out one of the charges and armed it. It's digital readout counted down 10, 9, 8, 7...
Shockwave laughed, a hollow sound. "Do you think your toys can stop me?"
"Even you aren't impervious to explosives Shockwave. You're coming to the pit, whether you like it or not!"
"You are a traitor." The single optic bore into Acid storm's very spark as he backed up from the approaching purple mech.
Shockwave lifted his arm, revealing a control panel there and pressed a few buttons. Acid storm gasped as a pulse of electricity shot through him and he collapsed to the floor. His spark sank as the charge fell dead onto the floor, nothing more than a lump of harmless matter.
"Nooo, you! You're the traitor... you experiment on your own kind, on Decepticons... Megatron will stop you."
Lifting the mech off the ground, Shockwave revealed a long spike protruding from his arm in place of his hand. "Megatron will be the first to fall." He gloated piercing the jet's chest without hesitation, relishing the jet's scream of agony. "And by the way, I have also deactivated your explosives up there... you have failed." Dropping him to the floor, Shockwave wasted no more time, he had his work to collect and get through the space bridge before it was too late. He stepped over the struggling mech on the floor and sprinted towards what once was Vector Sigma.
Elita raced back. Her spark twisting when she heard an unearthly scream. She ran, avoiding incoming assailants, firing angrily. Where was he? He couldn't have gotten far.
A large rumble of an explosion rocked the base and Elita found herself slipping a pool of energon on the ground. Quickly picking herself up, she ran back to the control tower, hoping that Acid storm had managed somehow to survive an encounter with Shockwave. He'd saved their lives by leading him away, allowing them to rescue Jazz and escape, she couldn't leave him behind, she owed him that much.
Reaching the ruined control centre, she let out a half cry of despair. The space bridge controls had been shorted out as had the charges and Acid storm's greyed out frame laid sprawled over the console.
"Oh no... no no..." She tried to tug him away, only to find him linked to the console with cabling hooked directly into his chest. He'd used whatever spark energy he'd had left to power the space bridge destination console. Whatever had shorted out the rest he'd managed to salvage their destination and reprogram it, keeping it online before succumbing to his injuries.
"You won't go in vain." Elita reset the charges and sat her weapon clutched into her lap to guard them. The detonator wouldn't work now, she'd have to detonate manually. Watching the viewer located at the space bridge, she smiled as she watched her friends gather and nodded as Jazz and Chromia reached their location, following the rest through the space bridge, but where was Ultra? She couldn't blow it until they all got through and he would have made sure he was the last to make the jump. Her spark sank and her finger hovered over the manual detonator.
Ultra raced towards Chromia and Jazz. "Where is she? Why hasn't the base blown?"
"She went back, to help 'Storm... Ultra I..."
"It's alright, get him to the space bridge, don't wait for me!" He ran back towards the base, weapons fire reaching his audio. A shot caught him, melting through his plating and he cried out and stumbled.
"Quick grab him, let's go!" A new voice, prompted him to peer up, his optics greeted by a familiar red.
"Hot Rod?"
"The same, mech." The young 'bot grinned. "Need a lift to the bridge?"
"The others?" Ultra got to his feet, managing to smile warmly at Moonracer and Hot Rod.
The two 'bots shook their helms forlornly, no words needing to be spoken. Ultra nodded and slapped Hot Rod's shoulder. "'Lita's still in there..."
Hot Rod glanced at Darkmount and turned back to Ultra. "You sure about this?"
"I can't leave her... not after everything...Go..."
Ultra didn't wait for a response and headed for the elevator to take him to the top levels. His optics met theirs as he began his ascent and he gave them a small reassuring nod.
Elita slammed her fist down onto the console. "Frag it! Ultra where are you!" She let out a despairing sob. "I can't blow it until I know you're safe. Pleaase."
"Thought war wasn't the place for sentiment."
Elita spun round and almost fell to her knees. "You're supposed to escape..."
Rushing to the femme, he gathered her up in his strong arms. "Couldn't leave you behind."
"Ultra you don't understand, the detonator needs to be done manually... I can't leave."
Movement of pale teal and Red flashed across the screen on the console as Hot Rod and Moonracer leapt through the event horizon. Switching it off, he took hold of the detonator from Elita's tight, shaking grip and held her close, tilting her helm up to gaze in her optics.
"It's okay now...we leave together." He smiled and pressed the detonator switch, dropping it to the floor. His held her tightly as he dipped his helm low to claim her mouth in a sweet tender kiss, which she returned fervently.
Cupping her cheek, their lips and glossa entwined in a slow sensuous dance, he shielded her from the initial force of the blast as the blazing white light of white hot fire engulfed them both.
The shimmering pool of the event horizon flickered and stuttered. The purple mech took one last look back at what had been his home. Clutching a large black box to his chest he slipped across the temporal vortex before it too was engulfed in a wave of fire. /lj-cut
