TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED
Grey Matter - Silver Lining
At the same time as Megatron reawakening, a girl falls to earth and Sari manages to convince her Father to let the new girl - Emma - become her nanny. Emma doesn't talk much, and she's ESPECIALLY not saying she's from a different world! But, when the All-Spark is shattered, her origins are questioned, and her importance becomes key to the tides of the war...PxOCxJ
CHAPTER TEN
Everything Changes
Megatron had been silently waiting in Isaac's lab, quietly biding his time until the moment when his body was found.
When it was, it was pulled out of a river, and looked terrible - Megatron couldn't believe what had become of his once proud and glorious body!
It was becoming harder and harder for him to keep his temper, as well, and ended up yelling at Professor Sumdac. He corrected this mistake instantly, and hinted that any day now the Decepticons would probably attack earth.
He had managed to convince Isaac that he was an Autobot, and that he was ashamed of how he looked, therefore he did not want Isaac to tell the (real) Autobots.
Isaac understood. This was a man's pride here.
Megatron could see that Isaac was understanding of all of this but, just then, a video link was put up between the lab room and the reception area.
Sari appeared, looking sheepish, as the robot receptionist crackled with electricity behind her. "Hi Dad!" Sari chirped. "I, umm...tried to use my key...to get the generator back up..." There was an explosion from somewhere nearby. "But...I think it made things worse..."
Emma suddenly appeared beside Sari, grabbing the key from the little girl. With her hands on her hips, and a pair of silver and white ice-skates hanging from around her neck, she exclaimed: "Sari, what have we told you about - oh no, it's got a flamethrower!" She grabbed Sari and together the two girls ducked, as a wave of fire arced over their heads. When they straightened up, the receptionist was charred, and both girls looked stunned.
Isaac sighed. "I'll be right there." He walked towards the door of his lab, saying something about cutting the power to all non-essential areas of the tower.
Megatron was quietly furious at all this. "Will these infernal setbacks never end?" Then, he realised: "The child's key contains the power I need to make my triumphant return..."
But, how to obtain it? Also, there was a slight issue...Sari's Nanny had disappeared off the radar for a few weeks, and then Megatron learned that she'd been in some kind of an accident, due to an encounter with some Decepticons...
He wondered then if Lugnut was still online...
Emma and Sari were at the Autobot's base later that day.
"Why aren't you training today?" Sari wanted to know, as she and Bumblebee played with some remote-controlled airplanes.
"She and her...uh...friend, went away for a few days." Emma replied, from where she was watching them. "So, I'm stuck with you guys..." She followed them into the main room, where they learned that everybody was a little bit on edge, what with the impending Decepticon invasion immanent and all.
"Hey, maybe the Dino-Bots could help us?" Bulkhead suggested.
Emma and Prowl exchanged a look.
Bulkhead then realised that Prowl and Emma hadn't told Optimus yet. That, they had taken the Dino-Bots (that had destroyed half of the city) to the island in the middle of Lake Eyrie.
The cyber-ninja carefully explained the situation to Optimus.
Optimus was positively furious, although he agreed to let Prowl and Bulkhead go and ask the Dino-Bots for their help, on the condition that he went with them. He said that they couldn't afford any mistakes, not with no much at stake!
He then dropped the bombshell - they were taking Sari's key away from her!
To say that Sari was shocked would be an understatement.
"That's no fair! It's mine! The All-Spark chose me!" Sari protested.
"Sari, the reason we moved the All-Spark out of our base and back to our ship was to protect it and everybody else." Optimus said firmly. "For the same reason that we need to take back the key!"
"So? I've done a pretty good job of protecting it so far!" Sari sounded slightly desperate. She yanked the key out of the model airplane and hid the key behind her back.
Optimus looked at Ratchet, and then ordered the medic to take the key.
Ratchet, reluctantly, did so, using his electro-magnetic powers.
Sari started crying. "Why don't you trust me?!" She cried. "I trusted you! And you," she pointed at Emma. "You could have at least said something!" She turned and ran from the base, still sobbing.
Emma remained silent.
Bumblebee had a go at Optimus, stating that Sari had done nothing but help them since they'd gotten here. The two of them traded stinging remarks about each others contribution to the team, and then Bumblebee stormed out to find Sari.
"Bumblebee, get back here!" Optimus ordered angrily.
After a moment's hesitation, Emma gritted her teeth, and then cried: "Hey, Bee, wait up!" She ran after him.
"Emma, get back here!" Optimus couldn't believe it. "We still don't know why the Decepticons were after her...what did I do to deserve all of this?!"
Everybody present was wise enough not to answer him...
Emma was wandering around downtown after that, having been unable to find Bumblebee or Sari, but knowing that a certain spider-bot had caught up to the latter.
"Today's the day a massive battle takes place..." Emma shivered, rubbing her arms. "The All-Spark's going to be shattered...what else is going to happen?" She looked up suddenly, as Blitzwing landed in front of her. "I just had to ask..." She whispered.
Random-Blitzwing looked down at her, and cackled: "Now that I see you this close up, I do recognize you!" As Emma stared at him in shock, he switched to Hotheaded-Blitzwing. "What are you doing in that cursed organic mode?!" He switched to Icy-Blitzwing. "Come with us quietly - you know that we are not going to hurt you."
Emma clung to Blitzwing's hand, holding the key to close to her chest and comforted by its presence. Although, knowing what their destination was, she was a little bit worried. Oh, and the fact that she was flying with a potentially psychotic alien robot...yeah, that too...
Blitzwing landed, and Lugnut transformed before landing, flying in through the hole that had been blasted into the wall of Sumdac Tower.
Megatron turned out to be looking a little bit worse for wear but, nonetheless, Lugnut bowed deeply, and claimed that he was no worthy.
"What happened to your body?" Lugnut added.
"Long story." Megatron replied. He had a deep voice, one that sent chills down Emma's spine as she clung to Blitzwing's hand.
"I swore that I would not fail you, oh great one!" Lugnut said. "Victory is at hand! Now is the time to crush the Autobots into oblivion!"
"No!" Emma gasped, struggling against Blitzwing but to no avail.
"What are you talking about?!" Isaac hurried up to them, looking shocked to see his daughter's Nanny in the hand of an unfamiliar alien robot.
Lugnut forced Isaac to bow by pressing down on his back. "On your knees, human scum! And, bow before the great and glorious Megatron! Supreme leader, of all Decepticons!"
Isaac quickly realised his mistake, and bowed his head, fear finally kicking in. "What...have I done?"
Emma hated seeing her employer like this. "Isaac, it's not your fault!" She called, her melodic voice ringing out through the room. "They don't call these guys 'Decepticons' for nothing!"
Megatron seemed to notice Emma for the first time. "Ah, yes, and then there is this...I have been...watching you, for quite some time. It seems that I am not the only one that has...changed my appearance..."
Emma gulped, and looked at his red optics. They were like fire. It was terrifying. "Wh-what are you talking about? Why am I here?"
"Hmm...most intriguing..." Icy-Blitzwing said thoughtfully, using his other hand to tap the Autobot symbol around Emma's neck. "It would appear that she does not remember us..."
Megatron stared hard at the golden-eyed girl in Blitzwing's hand, and realised at once that the Triple-Changer spoke the truth. "Doesn't remember us? This is...a minor setback, but one that can be overcome. For now, I wish to have my rightful body back. Blitzwing, bring Angel to me..."
"Yes, Lord Megatron." Icy-Blitzwing responded, carrying Emma over to where Megatron was.
"Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Emma held up her hands, one of which had the key within it. "What are you talking about? What's this...Angel?"
"That's you." Icy-Blitzwing told her. Random-Blitzwing added: "And, we've really missed you!"
Emma just stared at him, before shaking her head vehemently. "No, you've got it all wrong! I'm not this Angel, whomever she is, because my name is Emma! Em-ma! You got it?!" She sounded a lot more brave than she felt!
Blitzwing and Lugnut exchanged a glance.
"Blitzwing!" Megatron's deep, commanding voice resounded. "Do what you have to do!"
Blitzwing nodded, and grabbed the hand in which Emma held the All-Spark key. He brought it over to Megatron and, despite Emma's best attempts to prevent it, the key was pushed into the slot on the Decepticon leader's head and, at once, a bright blue light filled the room.
Emma was suddenly wrenched from Blitzwing's hand, and was suspended in mid-air as Megatron's body was reformed.
Something very painful was happening in Emma's mind right then, and she closed her eyes, wishing for the images to stop...
A beautiful castle, coloured red and blue like blocks of technology...
A huge winged-creature, one with burning red eyes and fangs as sharp as razors...
A pair of kind, blue optics, and a hand that wiped the tears away so many times...
A figure shrouded in darkness, one that both annoyed her and made her body feel all tingly and warm...
A solar storm, streaking across the pinkish-red sky, as she sat on a rooftop over-looking a huge city...
A pair of kinder, red optics, that held nothing but devotion to her...
A cool, deep voice, that she likened to immediately...
A pair of claws grabbing her, and a pair of those razor-sharp fangs at her neck...a deep, polite voice...the feeling within her body as she knew what she had to do...the feeling of her heart...no, of her spark...pounding madly as it raced towards its last beat...
That feeling...no...no...
The entire Sumdac Tower was glowing red, as Optimus; Prowl and Bulkhead stood there staring at it. Bumblebee and Starscream were watching, too.
"NOOOOOO!" A female voice suddenly screamed, a long and anguished cry of inner pain, but one that was beautiful nonetheless.
Prowl gasped. He knew that scream! "Emma!" He cried, just as a figure burst through the roof the Sumdac Tower.
Everybody was shocked at what they saw next, but none more so than Optimus, as they realised that the figure was Megatron, with a new body and a cold, evil smile on his face.
Megatron floated down to where they were standing, and everybody was stunned. How was this possible? Megatron online...? No!
Bulkhead was the first to attack Megatron, but was quickly dispatched by a slice from Megatron's cyber-sword.
As Optimus helped some human children that were in the wrong place at the wrong time, Megatron quickly rendered Prowl immobile, and stomped down on his chest-plate, preparing to strike at the cyber-ninja with his sword.
Optimus suddenly sent his axe flying, which not only knocked away Megatron's sword, allowed Optimus to attack him, but Megatron was too powerful.
Optimus wasn't giving up, though!
From atop Sumdac Tower, Blitzwing and Lugnut watched. Lugnut warned Blitzwing not to interfere, and then they had a new mission objective - stop Isaac Sumdac from escaping!
Meanwhile, Starscream was having a dilemma. Help the Autobots take down Megatron, or wait for a better opportunity?
Or...
Emma had regained consciousness, and crawled to the hold in the wall of the Sumdac Tower. She gripped the side of the wall, and looked down, her hazel eyes wide with disbelief.
Starscream stared at her, and she finally looked at him. Hazel eyes met red optics.
Angel... Starscream thought, tossing Bumblebee aside like a rag doll. At last...I can finally see you again...
Just then, Megatron called the Decepticons to his side, and they complied. Blitzwing brought Emma with him, much to her disbelief.
Megatron, however, wreaked his revenge on Starscream for betraying him all those years ago, and then ordered the Decepticons to follow the All-Spark's energy signal. With Emma in the cockpit of Megatron's alt mode (a battle helicopter) the Decepticons (minus Starscream) set out for lake Eyrie.
Isaac had to tell the Autobots that he was responsible for all of this. They were all upset with him, but none more so than Prowl.
"And you believed him?" The cyber-ninja exclaimed. "Now he's gone and taken Emma, as well!" He placed his head in her hand. He still couldn't get the sound of Emma's scream out of his mind. "There's no telling what they could do to her...if anything happens to her..." He clenched his fists. "I'll never forgive myself..."
"So," Megatron said suddenly, startling Emma. "Angel..."
"Why in Primus' name do you keep calling me that?!" Emma wanted to know, not sure why she was smart-mouthing him in this current situation. Or, why she wasn't stuttering or having her throat constrict the way it usually did when she met up with strangers. "What makes you think I'm this Angel, anyways? She was obviously a Transformers, and I am a human!"
"I can see that." Megatron said flatly. "Your physical appearance may have changed quite a fair amount, but...I still recognize you, even if you don't recognize yourself..."
"Look, I'll tell you, I don't even know how I ended up here, I was born in a different world!" Emma told him, clenching her fists. "The All-Spark brought me here, that's all I know!"
"Yes, I'm quite aware of the unique bond you have to the All-Spark." Megatron told her. "Which is, of course, partially the reason we are heading to its location now..."
Emma didn't say anything for a moment, and then she asked: "Okay, so let's just say...I am this...Angel...if that's true, then was I an Autobot? Or, was I...one of...you guys?" She gulped. Her heart began to beat wildly. "Was I a Decepticon?!"
She watched as they fired at the Autobots' ship, which was now flying, with most of those that she cared about and loved inside of it.
"Wait, what if the All-Spark's damaged as well?!" Emma asked Megatron, gripping the dashboard.
"You of all beings should know that it would take a lot more than this to destroy the All-Spark." Megatron replied.
"Okay, what about my friends?!" Emma cried, as the ship crash landed into Dino-Bot Island. "I know you don't care about them, but..."
"I have every right to wish nothing but their utter demise!" Megatron informed her. "They are the ones that did this to me, everything I have encountered over the stellar-cycles was all their doing!"
"Because they want to stop you from taking over Cybertron?" Emma exclaimed. "Because you've led multiple armies against them?! Would you stop firing at them already!" She could scarcely stand to watch what was happening. She watched as Bulkhead leapt at Lugnut, and took him down. There was a huge explosion.
Ratchet and Bumblebee disrupted Blitzwing's electro-magnetic system, which meant...
"I'm falling!" Random-Blitzwing screamed, as he went down.
Megatron made a move to get to the ship, but Optimus wrapped the metal rope around Megatron, and moved in for the kill.
Megatron, however, shot Optimus down.
He said: "You, Autobot, are merely a distraction, as are your pathetic friends!" He then projected a solid holoform within his cockpit.
Emma stared up at the older man. He had black hair and black facial hair, and those same burning red eyes. He wore black and grey, and carried about him a much more frightening aura than his robot form did (in Emma's opinion).
Megatron's holoform grabbed her, and jumped with her onto the ship, disappearing as his vehicle form transformed.
Sari gasped, as Emma landed beside her, and then Optimus and Megatron crashed into the ship, near to where the All-Spark was.
"Our struggle ends where it began, Autobot!" Megatron said fiercely. "Aboard this ship! Only, this time, what is rightfully mine shall be mine!" He kicked Optimus away from him, and advanced on the All-Spark, and the two girls guarding it.
"Sari, get back..." Emma pushed Sari aside, not looking away from Megatron. This is bad...why do I feel like I should do something around about now? What's this weird feeling inside of me...like the time I prayed to the All-Spark to help Scuz-Bag...
Megatron grabbed Emma, and held her up close to the orange box, which opened up to reveal the pulsating blue orb that was...
"The All-Spark..." Emma breathed, her eyes wide as the steady glow got stronger and brighter. "But how...why...?" Her mind was hurting again, throwing images at her that didn't make sense. "Aurgh! No! None of this makes sense!" She cried, as Megatron grabbed the All-Spark, and held both of them in his servos.
"It will all make perfect sense!" Megatron assured her. "Cybertron and the Autobots will suffer for everything they have done!" He held Emma and the All-Spark closer to his chest-plate, which opened to reveal his spark.
"What? No!" Emma cried, realising that, if Megatron got what he wanted, then the entire universe was doomed! "Optimus!"
"Emma!" Optimus shouted, from somewhere to her right. He was suddenly there, and grabbed her in his hand, wrenching her away from Megatron. "Megatron, if you want power, then have your fill!" And, he punched Megatron straight in the chest-plate, hitting the All-Spark as well.
Everybody watched in horror as the All-Spark shattered, and consumed Megatron with its fiery blue wrath. Sari opened a hatch, and Optimus pushed Megatron outside, where the All-Spark's energy exploded, sending a massive blue energy beam into the sky.
Everybody watched in complete disbelief. Did Optimus...destroy...the All-Spark?
"Emma!"
Emma turned at the sound of her name being called, to see Prowl (in his holoform) running towards her. She was about to respond to him, when he grabbed her tightly in his arms, pressing her up against his chest, much to her disbelief.
"P-Prowl!" Emma stammered, looking up at him.
"Don't you ever, EVER put me through anything like that again, understood?" Prowl said fiercely, his grip tightening around her shoulders. "If anything were to happen to you, then I would..."
"Yes?" Emma asked, breathing in deeply.
Prowl looked at her for a moment, as the sun set behind them.
"Well...I would..."
Emma blinked. Prowl was much too close, by this stage...was he going to...?
Sari suddenly popped up out of nowhere. "Come on, Prowl, I need to heal you - get back into robot-mode!" She dragged him off, winking at Emma over her shoulder as she did so.
Emma bit her lip and stared after them, before turning back around and, as she did, she saw something in the snow glittering. Jumping down and into a small ditch, Emma gasped, as a beautiful blue fragment, like glass, appeared to be sticking out of the snow.
"An All-Spark Fragment!" Emma realised, reaching down to pick it up. She was just about to call out to somebody but, as soon as her hand closed around the piece of the energy, it disappeared, being absorbed into her hand in a slow, warm movement. Emma gasped, as her entire hand turned blue, and then it was over, and the Fragment was nowhere to be seen.
Emma closed her eyes, and saw an image of Megatron in her mind. "Angel...I truly am sorry...I will make sure that...they all pay, for what you've been through..."
Emma opened her eyes, unaccustomed tears forming in them. Something had just happened, and something was just beginning, but what exactly those things were...Emma, or whomever she was...had no idea...