Never Will Be

Disclaimer: I was astounded by how much love Never Was had received on deviantart, as evidenced by the artwork done by Lecidre; two pieces of work entitled Dream of a Bright Tomorrow and Farewell. I'll admit, I had a sequel planned for the longest time, but never had a chance to actually write it. But because so many asked me for it, I was persuaded to do so. LOL. Also, listen to the song, "Love the Way You Lie Part 2" by Rihanna and Eminem after reading this. You'll see how it ties well.

"The strongest have their moments of fatigue"

-Friedrich Nietzsche

"I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies."

-Pietro Aretino

By: VampireQueenAkasha

"Having one eye makes you see the world in unusual ways, Shockwave..."

-Overlord, Last Stand of the Wreckers

The Devil's Vanity

New Lucifer

Red Alert woke to the strange alien sun shining through the prism glass of the room.

She felt light, strangely warm and satisfied in a way that she hadn't been in so long. Primus knew she couldn't remember when the last time was that she had awoken to a feeling like this, but it made her feel sated and happy.

Red Alert looked down and noticed that Shockwave was still sleeping. She could see his chest lightly rising and falling with his gentle cycles of breath. She smiled and tenderly rubbed the sides of his helm with one hand. Shockwave's talons twitched at the sides of his head and there was a brief pause in his cycles of breath, but he remained asleep, despite her touches. She giggled quietly; why did someone so powerful and stoic look so peaceful and content after...

Then, when Red Alert shifted a little, Shockwave awoke with a dull snort. His single optic brightened and he glanced around briefly before looking up at her. She smiled down at him and lightly ran a hand down his chest plates.

"Good morning," she said.

"Hello," he murmured, his voice sounded smooth and content.

"How do you feel?" Red Alert asked.

Shockwave grunted slightly and brushed a talon across her cheek. The gesture was sweet, even considering its source. "Unusual, but quite pleased." he replied.

"Unusual?" Red Alert questioned, with a teasing smile.

"Yes. Given what transpired last night, I thought you would feel the same way as well."

Red Alert snuggled closer to him. "Not at all."

"Hm. You're a strange Autobot." Shockwave murmured, though his voice carried no coldness or contempt.

"Maybe."

They laid there together, chest to chest. Red Alert sighed. "I wish we didn't have to get up."

Shockwave tilted his head at her. "Why?"

"Because I don't want this to end."

Shockwave made a sound, but didn't reply to that. He truly felt strange about his coupling with the Autobot, but it seemed that the more he thought about it, the less it felt logical to question it. Instead, he just held her. There was a warmth between him that he found pleasing, somewhat soothing. It was peculiar for him to feel this way, but he truly felt content holding her.

"I'll confess something, Red Alert," he told her, "This does feel somewhat illogical to-"

She chuckled and looked at him, turning to sit up. "Do you want to know what's illogical?" she asked.

"What?"

"You're logic."

He paused, thinking of that as she straightened. "That makes no sense." he argued, "For logic to be illogical, there would have to be-"

She stood up out of the berth and chuckled with amusement. "Don't you know that logic cannot explain everything?"

"It does quite a job of explaining most things."

When she turned to gather the tools from the floor that Shockwave had dropped, she heard him utter a soft, surprised sound. "What's wrong?" she asked, looking back at him, "I'm just picking up these tools for you, that's all."

He gestured with one claw. "Your back."

Red Alert frowned and turned, attempting to look at her back, but she couldn't get a good enough view to see what the problem was. Instead of continuing to try and look that way, she walked to a mirror across the room and stared at herself. She was surprised to see several claw marks and scratches on her shoulders, around her back struts and down her lower back, no doubt from Shockwave's claws during the moment. She chuckled, not angry by the sight in the least and looked over at him.

"Hm, it's odd; I never noticed that when I woke up," she said, "I'm still rather numb in most places."

Shockwave straightened before standing. "I was too rough with you."

She smiled up at him. "It's okay. It was good what we did."

"You forgive me too easily, Red Alert." Shockwave said, "Perhaps we should get those buffed out. Would you enjoy explaining them to that little menace Hot Shot considering that he cannot keep a secret otherwise?"

Her smile disappeared and she sighed. "Oh. You have a point..."

"That can be taken care of in town," Shockwave told her, "I can take you."

She nodded before looking up at him. Her expression changed. "Hey."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about what happened at the prison." she told him.

Shockwave looked down at her. "Don't be. I suppose given your reaction and what I had done previously; in a way, you were justified." he replied, "Had you not been honest and truthful, I think there would be a cause for concern."

"Well, maybe you deserve a little honesty on your part." she replied.

He murmured thoughtfully in response.

"I should get myself cleaned up before we go," Red Alert said, turning, "Is there a washing station around here that I can use?"

Shockwave pointed at a door. "Through there."

"Thank you. I won't be long."

As she disappeared inside and tested the facilities, she eventually made out the sound of a soldering tool buzzing outside the door. That was Shockwave; always straight to business. She found herself feeling sad for his continued intent to return to Megatron. But she couldn't hold him down if it was really something that he did not want.

O

He was annoyed.

The Autobot vendor-simply named Scrap-refused to sell him the part that he needed for the transmitter. "What part of 'I do not possess valid funds are you not processing?" Shockwave snapped.

Scrap glared at him. "Look, if you don't have reasonable trading funds, I can't give the part to you. I don't care how badly you need it!"

Shockwave sighed impatiently. "Surely we can come to some kind of agreement!"

"I'm afraid if you got nothing, then no go!"

After a moment, Shockwave sensed something watching him and he stared down, noticing a small youngling standing there. It had red optics and tiny wings and was smiling cheerfully up at him. He attempted to ignore the youngling before looking down at it.

"What are you staring at?" he snapped.

The youngling turned to Scrap. "I got Energon sticks!" It was a female youngling.

Scrap laughed gently. "You're going to pay for him, Thunder Blast?" he asked.

"My spark mother always says it's nice to help mechs in need!" the youngling-Thunder Blast-said, grinning. She held up the Energon sticks to Shockwave and waved them wildly through the air. "Is this enough, Mister Shockwave sir?"

Shockwave reluctantly took them. "Yes, uh, thank you little one."

Scrap handed Shockwave the part and took the Energon sticks. He turned to go and Thunder Blast followed at his side. Shockwave attempted to ignore the inquisitive youngling for a few moments before he stopped and watched as she stopped as well.

"What?" he snapped.

Thunder Blast smiled brightly up at him. "If you and Miss Red Alert have younglings, can I be friends with them?" she asked.

Shockwave didn't have a face, but he did do an excellent job of sounding shocked. "What?" he exclaimed, "Where did you hear that?"

"Miss Red Alert had interface scratches when she went to see Iron Core," Thunder Blast said, "I saw them when she walked by our house."

Shockwave snorted. "Aren't you a little young to know about interfacing?"

"Not at all. My spark mother says I'm a curious bot!" Thunder Blast told him, with a grin of pride; no doubt Decepticon arrogance blossoming at a young age regardless of how she had been raised, "I know a whole lot of stuff!"

"Do you know what it means to go away?" Shockwave snapped, "I have delicate work to perform, so stop following me. You're worse than Hot Shot."

"Am not!" Thunder Blast protested, letting her arms hang at her sides, "He's weird! He talks too much and always runs through potholes in the streets!"

Shockwave actually sounded amused. "Perhaps all is not lost with you yet, little one."

Meanwhile, Red Alert was lying on her front while the Autobot medic Iron Core approached her with a buffer in his hands.

"So, I take it you and the tall, skinny one hit it off pretty well?" he said, chuckling.

Red Alert blushed somewhat. "Yes."

"Hey, no need to be ashamed," Iron Core teased, starting up the buffer; it whirred loudly in the medical hall, "At least you found someone who loves you back. I never had that chance given my...well...my appearance and everything."

Red Alert didn't want to stare at Iron Core. His face was horribly scarred and his body mismatched in so many different places, it was hard to tell just what it was that he transformed into if he did at all.

"I don't know what he thinks sometimes," Red Alert said, with a sad sigh.

Iron Core paused and looked mildly sympathetic. "Ah, I see." he murmured, "Well, just hold still. I'll have these out in a moment."

O

Hot Shot was waiting by the edge of the colony when he saw the two of them arrive many groons later.

"Primus, where the slag have you two been?" he asked, "Jhiaxus is preparing to scout the planet!"

Red Alert smiled. "We were in town and-"

"Ah, never mind!" Hot Shot interrupted, "Let's go!"

The three transformed and began their ride toward the outside of the colony where Jhiaxus was waiting for them. Once they arrived, they resumed their robot forms and watched as he cast his suspicious optics toward a towering peak.

"He's here," he told them, "I do not doubt that he will arrive soon."

"How do you know?" Red Alert asked.

"I sense it."

Hot Shot laughed and glanced at the other two. "This guy can read anyone's expressions!" he said, "And there's probably over hundreds of 'em that you can't get passed him." He looked at Shockwave. "You can only make two expressions with your face, Cyclops." He grinned now at Shockwave's impassive silence. "Are you happy or are you sad?"

"Gradually growing annoyed, actually." Shockwave snapped.

Red Alert couldn't resist a laugh and glanced sidelong at Shockwave. "Sometime you can be surprised, Hot Shot," she told the smaller bot.

Hot Shot missed the reverence in her words. "Ah, no. Not really."

Then, a soft sound filled the air. The sound of cruel laughter that gradually increased in volume. The group looked up and Beta appeared over the towering peak, clutching two long chains in his massive hands.

"Oy! Look at this!" he bellowed, "Fresh kills for my pets!"

Suddenly, two massive metallic shapes darted at his side, snarling and gnashing their metal fangs together. They were both black armored with yellow, almost golden optics and had long, jagged claws. They looked like the felines of Earth and roared hungrily, tugging at their restraints.

"Oh look at that!" Hot Shot sneered, preparing his torches, "Big guy's got himself kitty cats!"

Beta let out an raucous laugh. "I'm taking ova this planet!"

Jhiaxus turned with a scowl on his face. "I cannot allow that."

Beta snarled and released his grip on the chains. "Feedin' time!" he thundered.

The creatures surged down the hills and raced into the colony at great speeds. Jhiaxus' optics widened in horror. "NO!" he shouted, turning and racing after the massive metal beasts. "No, you will not harm them!"

The colony was alive with screams of fright and carnage as several of the felines attacked helpless inhabitants. Red Alert turned and looked back before she pursued Jhiaxus in an effort to offer assistance. Hot Shot glanced up at Shockwave.

"Looks like it's just you and me, Cyclops!" he told him.

"No. Go with Red Alert and cover Jhiaxus!" Shockwave ordered. "I can handle Beta."

Hot Shot scowled. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"Now!"

Hot Shot gave him a bizarre look before he started to consider that it may have been the best option. He quickly turned and rushed into the colony, leaving Shockwave alone with the Decepticon crime lord boss. Beta laughed wickedly.

"'ey! You think ye got what it takes ta beat me?" Beta snarled.

Shockwave stood strong. "Even without weapons, you are not worth the fight, Beta," he said, calmly, "You either surrender to my authority or you will fall."

Beta let out a loud laugh once again. "Ratha brave for a skinnay lit'le thing!"

"Just one question, Beta." Shockwave said.

"What?"

"How would you like to have your circuits displayed?"

Beta let out a bellowing roar of fury at the insult and jumped off of the peak, sliding down the dirt and colliding into Shockwave's body, sending the Decepticon flying through a makeshift building wall. Shockwave grunted sharply from the impact and rubble rained down onto him. Beta trudged through the rubble, his cruel laughter rumbling out of him before he grabbed Shockwave's leg and dragged him out, tossing him into the streets.

"Mouthy lit'le thing. I think I'll cut out ye voice box and make ye watch!" he spat.

Shockwave raised his hands to catch Beta's wrist blades as they came down. "We are on the same side, you fool!" he snarled with effort.

"No we ain't!" Beta bellowed, with a nasty grin on his horrible face, "That waste of scrap metal Megatron left me to rot. I ain't nobody's patsy! I'm the boss 'ere and ye gonna listen to me or I think I'll take that lit'le female o' yours and fold her five ways and make her muy lit'le fun slave! Ah! What'd ya say to that, skinnay bot?"

Shockwave's single optic flashed. "I think that was the greatest mistake you've ever made."

He grabbed Beta by his lower jaw in one hand and his arm in the other before throwing the Decepticon boss with all his might through the buildings. Beta yelled loudly the entire time, blasting through the walls as if they were nothing. Shockwave glowered in the direction the crime boss had flown with a sound of effort emerging from his vocals.

"Oy! Skinnay bot!" Beta's voice emerged from the smoke, "Was 'at supposed ta hurt?"

Emerging from the smoke was Beta's alternate mode, an enormous reptilian beast that resembled a dragon. Shockwave's optic narrowed.

O

Jhiaxus, Red Alert and Hot Shot attempted to fend off the massive feline machines.

The two metal cats circled them, snarling with fury and hunger. Hot Shot had his torches raised, ready to burn them. Red Alert was crouched in an attack position with the only weapon she had on her; her cutting tool used for surgical operations. It would definitely require that she end up close enough to them in a way that she didn't want, but she had no other choice. Jhiaxus was wielding two dual blades now.

"Here kitty kitty!" Hot Shot taunted.

The metal cats snarled and one charged for Jhiaxus. He slammed his weight into it, grabbing the creature's arms and holding it back. It roared and thrashed, attempting to be free, but Jhiaxus swung his swords up, cutting through the softer protoform beneath the creature's neck. The other cat shrieked in fury and dove for his back, but Red Alert moved just as swiftly, leaping onto its back and stabbing her cutting took into its throat.

"Aww slag, Red Alert!" Hot Shot groaned.

The creature she had jumped on shrieked and thrashed wildly, attempting to buck her off. Jhiaxus was busy handling the other when he noticed that Red Alert was being thrown wildly about. He gritted his teeth and drew his blades up the length of the feline's body, sending a horrible spray of Energon everywhere and drawing a piercing, mortal scream from the monstrous creature's jaws. It collapsed and thrashed about in the throes of mortal agony before going still.

Red Alert was brutally flung from the metallic cat and its jaws sank into her left arm. She gave a shriek of pain and Hot Shot moved quick before it could maul her. He raised his torches and sent a searing hot blast of flame at the creature. It released Red Alert and howled in pain before whirling and charging at Hot Shot. It's attempts were thwarted by Jhiaxus who raised his hooked blades and drove them into the creature's mouth, ripping its helm clean in half in a sickening twist.

The body of the metal cat collapsed in a pile of broken machinery and fluids.

"Whoa!" Hot Shot exclaimed.

Jhiaxus moved to Red Alert's side and helped her stand. She clutched her shoulder to prevent the Energon from leaking.

"I'm fine," she told him, her voice tight with pain, "We need to stop Beta."

Meanwhile, Beta was furiously attempting to take down Shockwave who moved much faster than the mech in his alternate form. Shockwave easily avoided his Energon cannon attacks. "'old still, skinnay bot!" he bellowed, "I need to crush you!"

Shockwave made a bored sound. "If this is all the trouble you are going to give me, Beta; I'm disappointed."

Beta roared and transformed back to his robot form and that was when Shockwave took his chance. When Beta surged with his blade, Shockwave ducked to avoid the swing and grabbed the weapon, twisting enough to snap it clean off. Beta bellowed in fury and shock and swung with his other arm, but Shockwave moved faster. He took the broken blade and drove it deep into Beta's hand, pinning him to the ground.

Beta let out a scream of pain. "Ahh! My hand!" he shouted, "You little-"

Shockwave watched as Beta attempted to yank his hand free, but the weapon had been shoved so deep, it only served to cut deeper into his circuits and draw a pool of Energon around it. Shockwave leaned forward.

"Who else went through the space bridge with you?" he demanded.

Beta gritted his teeth and grinned cruelly. "Suck my tailpipe, skinnay bot!"

"Very well." Shockwave said, calmly. He grabbed a jagged piece of pipe that had come loose from their fight and shoved it into Beta's other hand, pinning him to the ground. Beta screamed this time in agony, thrashing about and tearing his hand even more.

"Oh. Did that hurt?" Shockwave hissed. "Let us hope so."

Jhiaxus stepped into the destroyed home and looked at Shockwave. "That's enough, Shockwave," he told him gently, "I'll take it from here."

Shockwave stepped aside and Jhiaxus knelt down to Beta who was whimpering in pain. "Silence!" he spat, in a voice that chilled the circuits in the Autobot's bodies; Beta looked up at him with unease, "Do you see these?" Jhiaxus hissed with pain and fury, holding up what looked to be discarded metal remains of fallen Cybertronians. He threw each and every piece at Beta's face to which the Decepticon boss recoiled from. "Each one of these pieces is a life that because of your childish arrogance and wicked vanity, are now extinguished!"

"Ye don't need ta kill me, old bot!" Beta hissed, his optics defiant, yet glittering with fear, "Ye gotta have mercy right? That's what you prissies preach, eh?"

Jhiaxus stood up and spoke his words calmly, yet there was a black fury that could easily be recognized. "You will know what pain is in the next life." He gestured to the others. "Come..."

They turned and started to leave with Beta screaming after them.

"I'm gonna kill all ye!" he bellowed maniacally, tugging at the Energon-soaked restraints in his hands, "I'll erase ye from the universe! Get back 'ere and fight me, cowards!"

Jhiaxus paused at the opening of the home before a cannon slid out from his wrist. He looked over his shoulder and spoke his words quietly, passively and filled with no signs of malice. "Have a nice afterlife, my friend."

Beta's optics widened when he realized what Jhiaxus was going to do. "No! No, don't! Wait!" he shouted, "Primus damn you! No!"

Jhiaxus turned and raised his cannon, firing a powerful shot that shredded through Beta's helm and completely obliterated his upper body into nothing but tattered circuits and Energon-soaked metal. Hot Shot and Red Alert watched in shock as his lifeless body collapsed and Jhiaxus lowered the smoking barrel of his cannon.

O

Red Alert sighed impatiently as Jhiaxus tended to her wounds.

"This isn't necessary," she protested, "I know how to care for my own wounds. I'm a medic. I need to tend to the wounded myself."

Jhiaxus smiled chidingly at her. "Now, now, stop fussing," he scolded, "You have taken quite an injury for the sake of protecting me. I feel that it would only be prudent to take care of your damages myself."

Red Alert still sounded displeased, but in respect for Jhiaxus, she remained silent.

Shockwave watched her and folded his arms across his chest. "You need to take better care of yourself," he said, "You could have had your entire arm torn off had it not been for this ridiculous fool here." He gestured to Hot Shot with a brief twitch of his head.

"I regret nothing!" Hot Shot remarked, with a goofy grin.

Red Alert made a face before she looked at Jhiaxus. "Do you think the danger's passed for your planet?" she asked.

Jhiaxus sighed. "It's never passed, only receded for the time being."

"We can stay and help you if you need it." she offered.

Shockwave shook his head. "Lord Megatron has already contacted me for pickup, Red Alert," he told her, "We cannot stay for any more than half a cycle."

Hot Shot looked surprised by his words, but the one who appeared to be the most shocked was Red Alert. Jhiaxus caught her look and sensed something troubling about her reactions. He sighed and looked back at Shockwave.

"I see you've made your decision then," he replied, his voice carrying slight disappointment more than anything else, "When he arrives, you will have him meet you outside of the colony. His presence will no doubt make the citizens nervous."

Shockwave nodded. "Very well."

"Good. If you'll excuse me, I have cleaning to do in the courtyards," Jhiaxus said, "I must go."

Red Alert stood up and started to follow. "I'll help you."

"No. You need to keep your arm steady until it heals. I can handle the damages."

Red Alert gave Shockwave a pained look before she reluctantly turned and disappeared from the medical bay. Hot Shot heaved a small sigh. "Wow, it just exceptionally awkward in here, so I'm going to go and find something to do-not here."

They left, leaving Shockwave alone with his thoughts.