Gravity
Disclaimer: Good day ladies and nonladies-and whatever the hell category fans fall under-lol. Here is a sequel to the fic "Mnemonic" for your reading pleasure-at least I hope for your reading pleasure anyway-that will take place a little bit after season one-and an AU fic again! Am I abusing the AU? LOL. Maybe.
"The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches."
-Unknown Quote
"A sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier times."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"Now, there's nothing louder to me than the silence."
-Arcee, Transformers Prime
When the Light Fades
For the longest time, no one had made a move. Arcee had her weapons trained on the drones surrounding them and Barricade seemed surprisingly calm, optics flickering around him to survey the situation. Megatron appeared to be thinking as well, watching the smaller Decepticon with tightly-pursed lips.
"I'm waiting for an explanation, Barricade," he growled.
"To what, my Liege?" Barricade asked calmly.
Megatron uttered an impatient hiss, his glare intensifying. "To what?" he repeated. He gestured to Arcee with a flick of his head. "To the reasoning why you have been fragging this Autobot glitch behind my back!"
Barricade glanced briefly back at Arcee, reading the alarm in her gaze. Then, his optics fell on Soundwave. "I presume you told him?"
"No," Megatron responded, "I had the utmost pleasure of hearing it from Knock Out." He took a step forward. "Enlighten me, Barricade while you still have the chance to spare yourself from the punishment I will without a doubt inflict upon you for this treachery."
"There is no such treachery, Megatron," Barricade argued, "I wanted the Autobot for my own, so I saw fit to claim her as well within my right."
Dreadwing scowled furiously. "You DARE address your leader in such a-"
Megatron raised a hand to silence him and Dreadwing frowned with surprise, not sure why Megatron was acting so...passive about this. He just smiled at Barricade and tilted his head to one side. "Pray tell Barricade; what caused one of my most fiercest warriors to fall prey to the lies this Autobot has no doubt put into your mind? Never have I had to question your loyalty up until this point when you failed to mention that you were lost on Cybertron with her."
Barricade tensed where he stood. Once again, he was being called to speak his emotions when it was something he always struggled to do. "Because, my Liege, I..." he began, "I was...I mean-"
A cruel grin touched Megatron's lips. He suddenly let out a horrible, dry laugh. "This is quite precious!" he sneered, "Could it be that my dear interrogator has developed feelings of affection for the Autobot?"
Around him, the drones were softly chuckling, all but Dreadwing and Soundwave. Arcee glared at the mocking laughter, but Barricade looked annoyed and mildly embarrassed. She knew that he hated being laughed at above all insults.
"There have been times, I'll admit, where it's occurred to me that perhaps I should take a mate for my own and create a legacy," Megatron said, shaking his head with disgust, "But seeing the two of you here has ultimately destroyed any of those ideas."
"And what of Soundwave then?" Barricade snapped, "He had a lover. I suppose those lesser than your higher command are not permitted if-"
"Soundwave and his mate were loyal Decepticons!" Megatron thundered, "Neither one of them had the level of insanity as you have mingling with the likes of one of them!"
Barricade tensed, bristling where he stood.
"Come now, enough of this foolishness, Barricade," Megatron continued, in a much calmer tone, "If it is a choice you are making, you had better make the right one. Choose me, or her. Whatever you decide there will be consequences."
Barricade looked back at Arcee and she stared at him desperately, silently mouthing "don't do it". Barricade gave her a small smile of reassurance and looked up at Megatron.
"Her." he replied.
Megatron blinked once. Twice. "Excuse me?"
"Her. I choose her," Barricade told him, content with his decision and it clearly sounded so in his vocals.
For the moment, Megatron looked surprised, but it quickly passed and his features twisted in fury. He clenched his fists tight. "So be it."
O
The drones maintained a circle around them, watching as Megatron stood in a fighting stance. Barricade looked at each one, obviously contemplating what he could do, but Megatron easily read that in his gaze.
"What are you doing, my Liege?" he asked, though he knew the answer.
"You are right, Barricade," Megatron told him, "There will always be consequences to the choices we make in our lives and now, you will stand and enforce your decision."
Barricade shook his head. "My desire is not to fight you, Lord Megatron."
"That's unfortunate," Megatron said, "Because I will not allow you to simply walk away. If you want to keep your precious Autobot glitch, then you will fight for her."
Arcee shook her head rapidly. "He doesn't have to fight you, you fragging-" she spat, but was seized tightly by Dreadwing and her arms forced behind her back.
"When I am finished with this traitor," Megatron warned, glaring at her and his vocals were laced with a threat that was nowhere near empty, "I assure you, Arcee, you will have my complete and undivided attention." His attention turned to Barricade, who stood defensively now. "The sentence for insubordination is death. You are a traitor, Barricade and I will make you regret the day you ever met this little glitch."
Arcee's optics widened in horror as the two began pacing around in the circle of drones; Barricade had his fists raised in a defensive posture and Megatron casually rolled his shoulders, cracking the joints in his neck before lunging at Barricade. The smaller Decepticon swung his fist, but Megatron ducked and delivered a wicked punch to Barricade's jaw, sending him staggering. Barricade grunted with pain and attempted to recover, but Megatron didn't give him the chance and swung his leg up, catching his midsection.
"Barricade, surely you can fight better than that!" Megatron spat, "Do you truly want the Autobot or don't you?!"
Barricade held the spot where Megatron had kicked him before licking his lip of the Energon now leaking from it. He charged at Megatron now, making every attempt to gain an advantage over the larger mech with speed, but but it seemed that every action that he threw at him was countered by his quick acting and superior physical strength. Soundwave watched the scene emptily and Dreadwing continued to hold Arcee tightly to prevent her escape. The drones around them said nothing and kept their weapons aimed and ready to shoot if necessary.
"Optimus, please hurry..." Arcee whispered.
Barricade threw fist after fist at Megatron, who blocked each blow, smiling cruelly. The smaller mech managed to twist his arms free and kick Megatron directly in the chin, sending the Decepticon leader staggering back a few paces and wiping his lower mouth. It was that slight pause in his fighting that allowed Barricade the chance at another swift punch to his face. Megatron grunted furiously and recovered, grabbing Barricade's arm and sending him flipping to the ground.
Barricade struggled to rise, but Megatron's mammoth foot came down onto his head, pinning him to the ground.
"Now, Barricade..." Megatron hissed, "Are you so similar to Starscream? Will you plead for mercy like that miserable coward?"
Arcee struggled in Dreadwing's grip. "No! It was me, Megatron!" she spat, "Come and face me!"
"Don't listen to her, she's fragging insane..." Barricade groaned, under the weight of the foot on him.
"Barricade, shut up!"
Megatron smirked at the interaction between them. "Perhaps I will simply kill you both right here and now." He unsheathed his wrist sword and brought it up. "Now then, Barricade... Consider this your dishonorable discharge."
Suddenly, a shot rang out and struck Megatron in the chest, sending him tumbling from Barricade with a roar. The Decepticons looked up in time to see the Autobots charging into the fray, shooting at every 'con they could see. Dreadwing was forced to release his grip on Arcee and she quickly went to Barricade's side, helping him stand. He smirked at her and she rolled her optics at his "didn't I tell you so" look.
"I told you I'd be fine," he said.
It was chaos as lasers fired, weapons clashed and drones began to fall dead. Barricade grabbed a drone who attempted to shoot down Arcee and blew a gaping hole in his chest. He smiled at Arcee in the distance who looked surprised by his move. She just chuckled and shook her head.
Behind Barricade, Megatron was charging through the smoke with his sword raised. Arcee's smile faded and her optics widened in horror. It all seemed to go in slow motion as Barricade read the look in her gaze and frowned. He didn't react in time as Megatron's sword plunged right through his chest. No noise emerged from his lips and the look of shock that touched his face was soon replaced by a limp and pained look.
"Barricade, no!" Barricade could hardly hear Arcee's scream through the roar of pain in his audios and the sounds of laser fire.
Optimus could see the Decepticon crumbling to the ground and his own optics went wide. Megatron towered over Barricade who collapsed onto his back, gripping his leaking chest in one hand. "Now then...time to die!"
Barricade struggled to squirm away from the coming attack, but Optimus came at him first and knocked Megatron clear off of his feet. Arcee was already at Barricade's side while Optimus and Megatron fought, her hands struggling to pull back his claws as he held tightly to the wound.
"Barricade, look at me!" she begged, "Look at me!"
He uttered a thick, weak groan that sounded like he was choking on his own fluids. His breathing was strained and his optics seemed far away. "Arcee..." he gasped, "Where's Arcee?"
"I'm here!" Arcee forced him to look at her. "I'm right here. Stay with me!" She lifted her head and desperately screamed out Ratchet's name.
O
Slowly, the Decepticons began to retreat upon Megatron's command. All but Soundwave. He watched the sight of Arcee kneeling over Barricade and Ratchet rushing through the ground-bridge. Soon, the other Autobots began to surround the scene. Soundwave did nothing for the moment and simply...watched. Eventually, after he had enough of the sight, he transformed and took to the skies, out of sight with the others.
Ratchet was working to stop the flow to Barricade's chest. He pursed his lips and said nothing as he scanned Barricade.
"He's leaking too much fluids," he said, "Megatron's sword sliced the Energon lines connecting to his spark chamber and I don't have the proper tooks to repair this kind of damage."
Arcee looked rigid and her optics brimmed. "What the frag does that mean?"
Ratchet looked at her calmly. "It means he doesn't have long."
"W-Well can't we just take him to the base and-?" Arcee demanded frantically, "We..."
Ratchet put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head, a silent indication that there was nothing he could do. Arcee's features crumbled before Barricade's gentle whisper of her name caused her to look down at him. His optics were barely open and his vocals breathed out of him like a soft wind.
"Arcee..." he whispered, reaching up with Energon-soaked fingers and lightly touching her face, streaking her cheek with his fluids, "I'm...I'm sorry..."
She smiled sorrowfully. "For what?"
"For lying to you..." Barricade continued, "It looks like... I'm not going to be okay after...all."
"No!" Arcee gritted her dental plating, "You're going to be fine! I'll just take you to base and-"
Barricade winced slightly, but just chuckled, or at least tried to. "Perhaps it's better this way... One less Decepticon...right?"
The other Autobots said nothing but looked at each other. Optimus watched the Decepticon with pain in his gaze. Neither one of them could bear to correct him now in his moment of certain death. Not even Bulkhead.
"Don't talk like that!" Arcee chided, leaning down to him and lightly stroking his headcrest. "It's my fault. If I would have left well enough alone, this would have happened!"
Barricade shook his head. "No. Don't think that, Arcee," he whispered, "Don't ever think that I am not grateful for the chance to have felt joy...with you."
She shook her head with a groan, trying to be strong.
"Arcee..." Barricade said, smiling weakly, gently stroking her cheek with light fingers, "My...my mind is going...I can feel it... I..." He looked up at her, searching for something and his optic ridges formed a line. "I...I remember your face... Arcee..." He slowly smiled, but his optics looked far away, as if he wasn't even looking at her anymore. His grin looked brilliant, despite the fluids now trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I know your face...I know... I remember it..."
"Barricade?" Arcee stammered, clutching his hand, "Barricade, I'm still here! Look at me!"
His smile was continuous and he seemed to be chuckling weakly. "I should have told you, Arcee... I should have said it before..." He sounded as if he was in a trance now. "I should have told you that I loved you. I should have...But I was...a fool..."
"Barricade, keep looking at me!" Arcee pleaded, giving him a shake, "Please!"
He smiled up at her. "I see now... It'll be okay...I..." His optic ridges relaxed and his hold on her cheek. "...It doesn't even hurt anymore..."
Slowly, his entire body relaxed and the final intake of breath cycled out of him. Slowly, his optics closed and his head rolled to one side. Arcee watched as his internals whined down and couldn't move. She shook and frantic, horrified noises emerged from her intakes. She tried to hold in her tears for as long as she could, but could no longer. She fell against his chest and started weeping bitterly while the others watched silently.
It was a sombre evening with only the sounds of her sobs to be heard.
O
Note- One more chapter to go. Now I am sad.