ORIGINAL CHAPTER TODAY!
Also, can I just put it out there that I love Whoopi Goldburg and Ellen DeGeneres?
REVIEW REPLIES!
AlphaTrion3145: I just remembered something… When Talida tried to commit suicide in 'Rising Darkness'… Was that, Tox-En that she injected herself with?
The Mandarin: Master, What else could it have been?
Yeah you're right… Or I'm right… Help me out here!
Basically, what Talida tried to kill herself with was Decepticon attempts to recreate the ToxEn since the pure substance was thought to have been lost during the War for Cybertron. The stuff Bulkhead found was the pure substance that they would later refine.
Awesomo3000: (1) Wow, you're updating very quickly now. But who's complaining? :D
Poor Miko and Talida. This episode will always make me cry at the end.
What can I say? I'm simply using the school holidays to my advantage. ;) Yeah. I'm always close to tears at the end of that episode.
(2) Also, when are you planning on having Malita come in?
Patience is a virtue. I'm just gonna say that every time someone asks, I'm delaying her return.
tfp-fan: *sniffs* Poor Miko and Talida… And poor Bulkhead…
Yes. Poor Bulkhead.
devildog452: So when do we get to see Malita? I wanna see how shocking everyone will see her. Especially Knockout he and Malita deserves to be together again.
Her return just got delayed. Everytime someone asks, the longer it'll be delayed. At this rate, she won't return until next story.
lancepm: wow you're on a roll.
Thanks!
haloangel21: I…NEED…more tissues. Next episode, Bulkhead doing the Yoga stuff. :D
Hold your horses there, halo! First of all, that doesn't happen until Smokescreen joins the series. Second of all, original chapter today.
C.L.U: No but my point is, if Optimus can't recreate the Omega Keys, how can Smokescreen(Or Talida, just saying) create that AND the Omega Lock with the Forge if he becomes a Prime?
You know, if you keep on questioning everything that happens in the show and the unseen logic of it, you're gonna end up destroying the series for yourself.
Ninjabot01: ok first thing good story 2nd thing bulkhead has a mace/wrecking ball and 3rd can the u do an in between story like the bots discussing who got wt relics and such 4th look forward to the next story GO AUTOBOTS
First: thanks for the complement. Second: didn't know what it's name was. Thanks! Third: I'll see what I can do. Fourth: it'll be up in a few months.
Autobot Shadowstalker: I swear if the 'Bots and 'Cons were real I would've went with Miko and Wheeljack.
I would have recognized that Bulkhead needed me more and stayed with him.
Transformers: Prime rightfully belongs to Hasbro and The Hub.
© Talida Prime and other OCs rightfully belong to me unless I say otherwise.
The Messenger rightfully belongs to Linkin Park and Warner Bros. Records.
The reason I chose The Messenger is it's one of my favourite songs from A Thousand Suns and one of my favourite songs by Linkin Park in general. Personally, I love how Chester sings it. I love how his voice is so raw and real. I love how he's stated that it's like a letter he's written for his kids. The message in it is so powerful. And honestly, whenever I listen to it, I'm nearly reduced to tears because of how beautiful it is. I swear if I ever go to one of their concerts and they play that song, I'm just gonna lose it and make a fool of myself.
OK. Well, I'm just gonna go and get this chapter underway before I end up being reduced to tears so bad that I can't write the chapter because I can't see and I'm a blubbering, fumbling, bumbling mess.
ENJOY!
It's been a few days since the Autobots were divided for the hunt of the four relics. Only Arcee, Jack, Talida, Miko and Bumblebee came back successful when they obtained the phase shifter from Knock Out and the Insecticon accompanying him. Optimus battled Dreadwing for the Apex Armor but both of them ended up losing the armor to Starscream.
With Ratchet, Optimus ordered him to team up with Wheeljack and battle Soundwave for the Resonance Blaster. Their mission was a successful failure. Sure. They had failed to obtain the Resonance Blaster from Soundwave. However, they still managed to enjoy success with Ratchet's devious scheme. During the battle in the air, Wheeljack's missiles shot down Laserbeak. After being shot down as well, they found Laserbeak in the woods injured and realized something. They could upload a virus into Laserbeak's circuitry and when Soundwave resumed work on the Iacon Database, the virus would hack into the Decepticon mainframe and upload the Iacon Database into their own mainframe.
However, their missions brought back sadness as well.
Bulkhead suffered the worst of them all. In fact, he is still suffering from his relic hunt. He travelled to the Equator for his relic. When he arrived, he discovered that the relic he was retrieving was ToxEn, a form of Energon highly fatal to any Cybertronian. In a brave sacrifice, Bulkhead decided to carry the ToxEn to the volcano and lob it into the lava, effectively destroying it. However, he also had to contend with Hardshell, one of the fiercest Insecticons to exist. Eventually, Bulkhead succeeded in lobbing both the ToxEn and Hardshell into the volcano.
When he went to walk away and return home, Hardshell shot him in the back. The very same way that a coward would do when they stab someone in the back. Ratchet barely managed to stabilize him but was unable to perform any kind of surgery until Bulkhead regains some of his strength. Despite Bulkhead suffering from massive trauma to his central neural conduit, a system-wide shutdown and being forced into an induced stasis, Ratchet had made it clear that he would survive. However, there was also the chance that he may be never fully functional again.
After the destruction of Hardshell in a quest for revenge, Talida and Miko did what Wheeljack couldn't. They decided to stay with Bulkhead by his berthside. Wheeljack left after making sure Talida and Miko returned to base safe and sound, saying that he couldn't stand seeing his best friend and almost brother-in-law lying there like this. The girls couldn't bear seeing their friend and partner in this state either. But they stayed with him and would until he fully recovered.
"These things take time," Ratchet sighed, "But Bulkhead will recover."
"You ended the induced stasis twelve hours ago and he still hasn't woken up. What if he never does, Ratchet? What then?" Talida demanded.
"We will deal with that situation when the time comes, sweetspark. Not before," Optimus answered on Ratchet's behalf as he stepped forward from behind the shadows.
"Well, what's taking him so long to wake up?" Miko demanded impatiently.
"Miko, these things take time," Arcee chided, "But…there may be a reason…"
"Rayna?" Ratchet guessed, quick to catch on to what Arcee was hinting at.
"Bulkhead loved her very much. When she died…he was never the same until Tally was born," Arcee recalled, "He had never been happier when he learned that not only was Talida Rayna's incarnate, but he was also to be named her godfather. Bulkhead truly changed that day. He became more determined. He was devoted to protect her. To make sure what happened to Rayna didn't happen to her. Then Miko came along and completed the circle. She's very much like the daughter Bulkhead never had."
Talida and Miko smiled at that. With Talida, she knew Bulkhead loved her very much. He had told her so multiple times as she grew into the young woman she is today. However, she never knew the full extent of his love until Arcee's small speech. With Miko, she and Bulkhead were always close. But she never knew the extent of his love for her very much like Talida didn't.
"He needs something to bring him back," Talida whispered, "To know that he's needed here."
"If there's one thing Bulkhead loved, it's hearing Talida sing and Miko play," Ratchet mused.
"I have an idea," Miko suddenly said as she stood up.
Jack was playing video games with Raf up in the living area when Miko walked by and 'burrowed' his acoustic guitar that he had brought in to cheer them up. When he noticed his beloved instrument was missing, he went to protest. Then, he saw Miko walk back to Bulkhead's lifeless husk and Talida's worried, exhausted body. It was when he realized what they were planning to do.
"Hey, Raf. You may wanna see this," Jack said as they shut down the game.
"Do you think this is going to work?" Bumblebee bleeped.
"It's better than standing around not trying anything," Arcee shrugged.
"This is a song that both Miko and I love and it's one of our favourites off the album," Talida began.
"Bulkhead really loved this song too. So we thought it'd be perfect for him," Miko finished as she tuned the final string in the guitar and strummed them all to make sure they were tuned.
She then slipped the capo onto the 7th fret, something that would be considered optional for the guitar players. Then she began strumming. First a G major chord, then a D major chord, transitioning to an E minor 7 and changing to a Cadd2. At first, none of them knew the song. Then Talida began singing the familiar lyrics. And they instantly recognized it.
Talida: When you feel you're alone,
Cut off from this cruel world,
Your instincts telling you to run…
Listen to your heart…
Those angel voices…
They'll sing to you.
They'll be your guide…
Back home…
When life… leaves us blind…
Love… keeps us kind…
It keeps us kind…
Ratchet gasped in amazement and happiness as he took note of something. Bulkhead's vitals were beginning to pick up. Talida's and Miko's idea appeared to be working. All that was left for Bulkhead to do was physical wake up. However, the pickup in his vitals gave them a reason to hope for the best.
Talida: When you've suffered enough,
And your spirit is breaking,
You're growing desperate from the fight…
Remember you're loved…
And always will be…
This melody will bring you right…
Back home…
When life… leaves us blind…
Love… keeps us kind…
"Hey, Jack!" Raf gasped excitedly as he pointed to Bulkhead.
Jack glanced down at the former Wrecker and saw why Raf was so excited. Bulkhead's optics were flickering as they slowly came to life and regained that spark he was so renowned for. Talida and Miko singing and playing (respectively) worked its magic. Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Ratchet noticed this as well. They wanted to tell the girls. But they were afraid that if they stopped, they would be back to square one.
Talida: When life… leaves us blind…
Love… keeps us kind…
Bulkhead's optics fully opened for the first time since that fateful relic hunt. When his audio processors were able to process the sounds surrounding him, the first sounds he heard were the sounds of a perfectly tuned guitar and an angelic voice. Immediately, he knew that Miko and Talida were playing and singing for him.
Talida: Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh…
Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh…
Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh-ohhhh…
Arcee smiled and lent into Optimus' embrace in relief. Optimus let out a small smile – both at the progress Bulkhead's recovery was making and the way Arcee nuzzled nose plates with Cayden and the sounds of his giggles echoing around the base. Bumblebee almost did a dance of joy. Ratchet let out a sigh of relief. Jack and Raf exchanged small smiles.
Talida: Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh…
Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh…
Oh-ohhhhhhhh-ohhhh-ohhhh…
When Miko finished strumming the final chord, they got the surprise of their lives. And that surprise was Bulkhead sitting upright despite his injuries and singing the last notes of the song.
"I LOVE THAT SONG!" Bulkhead crowed, "I LOVE LINKIN PARK IN GENERAL!"
"Bulkhead!" Talida and Miko cried in joy as Bulkhead held them close to his spark and allowed them to hug him.
"OK, girls. I love you. But my back," Bulkhead winced.
"Well, lay back down, you big lug!" Miko and Talida chided, breaking into laughter and tears of joy.
"It is good to see you awake, Bulkhead," Optimus smiled as Bulkhead laid back down.
"It's great to be back, boss," Bulkhead smirked cheekily before making the moment serious by asking Ratchet, "What's the damage? How long was I out?"
"You were out for a few days, Bulkhead. The damage was severe," Ratchet sighed. With a slight hesitation, Ratchet continued, "The exposure to ToxEn and the…'sucker punched' you received from Hardshell caused massive trauma to your central neural conduit and a system-wide shutdown at a submichronic level. I had to delay the operations you had to undergo until you regained some strength back because honestly, I wasn't sure that you were going to survive. While the series of operations were successful albeit some minor complications, there is the chance that you will never be able to return to full function."
"Keep in mind, Bulkhead, that even if you suffer from a disability as a result of your injuries, you will always have a home here," Optimus reassured him.
"Most of all, we're all just glad to see you're OK," Arcee smiled, before laughing slightly at the way Cayden was reaching out to Bulkhead, "And I know someone else is too."
Bulkhead smiled as Arcee brought Cayden down to his level. Using his strength, he raised the hand that wasn't cradling his favourite girls to his chassis to rub his head, earning clicks and purrs in happiness. Just like he loved his goddaughter and charge more than anything, he loved his godson more than anything. Especially since he will never be able to have children of his own due to Rayna's demise.
"Wait. What happened to Hardshell?" Bulkhead asked, causing everyone's eyes to go on Miko and Talida.
"You don't have to worry about him anymore," Talida vowed.
"The two of us and Wheeljack made sure of that," Miko promised.
"Well, now that Bulkhead is awake and well on the path to recovery, I believe that everything now can resume as normal," Ratchet proclaimed.
"Can't believe I'm saying this. But old grouch bot's got a point," Talida grumbled playfully.
"Amen to that, baby girl!" Bulkhead crowed as he removed his hand from Cayden's head and rested it back behind him…accidentally hitting one of Ratchet's scalpels, "Whoops."
"Uh-oh," Miko cringed.
"BULKHEAD, I NEEDED THAT!"
If that wasn't a sign that everything would be returning to normal, they didn't know what would.
I thought that considering the seriousness of the chapter, we needed a good laugh to finish it off.
Hey. Maybe I should be doing these kinds of chapters more often. I know that I've got a few more under my belt. But for now…
PROMO TIME!
Next episode: Out of the Past…
Cliffjumper: Arcee… Been a while.
Next time on Talida Prime: Rising Storms…
Starscream: Now is the time to strike!
Cliffjumper is back!
Cliffjumper: We may be in a little more trouble than we thought…
Show Shockwave pushing Arcee back to the edge of the floor
Show Cliffjumper shooting
Show Cliffjumper and Shockwave battling in front of the Space Bridge
Show Arcee racing to attack
Show Vehicons approaching them
Show Arcee unfolding her arm blades
Cliffjumper: GIVE HIM EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!
Starscream: DESTROY THEM!
Show Cliffjumper touching the screen
Talida Prime: Rising Storms…
More to come soon…
Only on FanFiction…
OK. Check out the episodes that are to come after Out of the Past:
1. New Recruit
2. The Human Factor
3. Legacy
4. Alpha/Omega
5. Hard Knocks
6. Inside Job
7. Patch
8. Regeneration
9. Darkest Hour
Now if you excuse me… YOU GOTTA CUT LOOSE! FOOTLOOSE! KICK OFF YOUR SUNDAY SHOES! I just had to do that.
BYE!