Ch 14: No Turning Back

-Several Joors Later-

Something ticking on my window gradually beings me out of recharge and I look over. Sitting up I hear it again followed by another five nanoklicks later. Walking over I open the window and get pegged with a small piece of metal. Startled I stumble backwards before glaring out the window. "What is your deal?" I hiss down at Optimus who chuckles. "Sunrise isn't for another joor and the door ringer works perfectly fine!"

He motions me down and I reluctantly climb out my window and jump down to below the ledge where he was standing. "Sorry, it's a human custom that I thought was kind of cute. Besides, I can't imagine tossing something at anyone else's window." I frown at him and he scratches his faceplate. "But now I'm thinking it was a bad idea."

"Maybe, maybe not. What does this particular custom mean?"

"Well, someone who wants to see someone else badly enough tosses small rocks at their windows. Why they don't use the door is because they don't want to disturb anyone. It's sort of a romantic custom." He starts turning away and I frown again, grabbing his arm and towing him back in.

"Well, you wanted me for a reason, what was it?" I ask, not loosening my grip and holding his arm tight against my frame.

"Well I wanted to watch the sunrise with you. Since we're going to be stuck together I was hoping I could get to know you better outside of the office." This time the blush hit me hard, swamping my faceplates and the front section of my neck cables. Abruptly I turn away but accidentally ended up smacking him with a wing.

"Ah, sorry!" I say quickly as he rubs his arm. Gently he caresses the edge of the wing that had hit him to make sure I hadn't done any damage. "I'm fine!" I snap, yelling in a whisper. He puts up his servos in defense and chuckles. "Sorry, again."

"It's alright. So do you want me to leave?"

"No!" I say quickly. "Uh, that is, I'd like to watch the sunrise with you. Primus I'm horrible at this." I place my faceplates into my servos with a sigh. A tug on my arm makes me look up then follow him as he walks away. Eventually we ended up on a roof, sitting on the edge and looking to the horizon.

We talk for awhile and eventually the sky begins to lighten. During our talk Optimus had slipped his servo over mine, squeezing my didgets gently. Just as the sun was about to break I tug him down and tap on his face mask. "Lose it." I whisper.

"I don't think that's such a good idea." He says, shying away. Sighing in exasperation I remove my servo from his and tug him down.

"Do you think I care what you look like under that mask? It's not your paint job I find attractive it's your personality." And finally as the first rays of the sun rise his face mask retracts and I pull him down for a kiss. Gently I move my lip components against his, gently prodding with my glossa. My systems did a flip when he opened his mouth and I entwined my glossa with his.

Pulling away I caress his face, gently brushing over two wide scars that had been previously covered. His optics look away from mine and I pat his cheek plate. "Wanna know something about seekers? Most of us find scars a turn on. To us scars signify the bot's ability to live, to survive against harsh odds. It means they can protect others, something highly desirable in a mate." His optics move back to mine as I speak. "Even with the scars you're handsome." I whisper as an afterthought before pulling him back down for another kiss.

-Skyseam's POV-

'Perhaps I did not think this through. You will come to me immediately.' It wasn't a request, it was an order. But I wasn't going to do it. 'Resistance is futile Seekress.' My legs move of their own accord as well as my arms. My entire frame was in motion without me controlling myself at all. 'Yes bend to my will.'

After I enter the main room I manage to dig my feet into the floor, refusing to move. Onlining one optic I try for a smile but then my left shoulder plate and neck cables erupt into pain. Clamping my mouth shut I hold in my scream, it was still early and I didn't want to wake anyone. 'You will move or I will continue.' Releasing my control I stumble forward and continue to move. I make it out the door and as soon as I do I realize I can move my legs by myself. 'I am giving a bit of control right now; try to return and the next place I target will be more painful.' I do as he says, walking farther from the guest house. Two figures appear farther down the path and I duck into an ally.

"I was thinking on maybe taking a trip to earth sometime, Skyseam would probably like to come with." My own servos close over my mouth at Starscream's voice, preventing me from crying out.

"Hold on, it's Ratchet." Optimus says and they come to a halt at the mouth of the ally. I was thankful for the trash I was hiding behind. There was silence for a short klick. "WHAT?" Optimus yells. "That's impossible, Megatron is dead." My spark squeezes and twists. "Starscream, you need to get Skyseam now." Feeling panic take over my processor I creep backwards, ducking behind several objects. I was in trouble and I had no clue what they would do to me. Turning at the last point I break into a frantic run, manipulating my wings so they tilted behind me and wouldn't block the air. I couldn't risk flying; I'd be spotted for sure. But where could I go?

'Head to Chaon. I will meet you there.' Megatron commands in my head. I knew what he was talking about. Chaon, the previous Decepticon capital was close to Vos but the area was now home to the scum of Cybertron being reserved as it's underground central. Coming up to the palace district gates I notice a bot standing guard, whistling a tune. My body freezes up on me, Megatron resuming control.

As I walked forward Jazz turns to me with a smile. My own lip components curl upwards. The only things I seemed to be able to control were my optics and I tried desperately to warn him away. "Hey Seam, come to visit me?"

"Not exactly." I hear my voice purr. "But consequently you're in my way." I watch in horror as my servo plunges through his shoulder, ripping out wiring. My other servo rammed into his helm. Energon dripped from my servo as Jazz crumpled before me and I feel my optics spill over. Primus, I had just watched myself kill one of my best friends. 'How fun, I forgot what it feels like to kill an Autobot. Refreshing.' My body turns away and transforms, halfway across the city I regain control. If I listened close enough I could hear alarms blaring across the city. I could never come back.

-Optimus POV-

I watch Starscream bolt back out the door, the other seekers following. "She's not here!" He complains, optics frantic with panic.

"Maybe Ratchet would know something." We head to the med bay and walk through the doors to find Ratchet waiting.

"I thought you might come. Is she not with you?" He asks as the rest of the seekers pile in.

"No, I think she ran." Starscream says.

"When you picked her up from that challenge did anything seem off?" Ratchet asks, leading us down the hall to a meeting room. Inside was a screen displaying data.

"That's a little bit of an understatement. She seemed drawn in, didn't say what was wrong, became violent and defensive. Also, her optics were off." At Starscream's last sentence Ratchet whips around.

"Off? Off how?"

"They were a different color from usual." I reply for him. Ratchet moves to a computer and starts punching in information.

"I have good news, bad news, and ugly news. What do you want to hear first?"

"Good." Starscream and I both respond.

"She's not infected with a virus. Her firewalls are too strong and the only ones that would probably take affect would have to be put in through the processor. Bad news is what you described to me was a spark bond version of rape. The ugly news is Megatron committed the deed and with a mind like Skyseam he can control her easily." Everyone drops into silence and I spare a glance at Starscream. He was staring at the table in the middle of the room blankly, servos fisting themselves.

The silence was broken by a maroon and grey bot running into the meeting room. "What's wrong Pistons?" Ratchet asks as the bot in question turns his fans on to cool his systems.

"Ratchet we need you down in E.R. A bot named Jazz was just emitted and he's in horrible shape."