Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Transformers characters in the TFP series, nor do I claim ownership of any kind towards anything trademarked. This story is just for fun, and isn't connected towards the true lore behind the franchise. The only things I own are the OCs.
Update Note: This is part 3 of Keys, and I am aware of how short this chapter is. This was actually supposed to be combined with part 2, but I decided to break it up, just so my chapters won't exceed a certain amount of words.
Also, I've been very busy... very busy playing Destiny... yeah... not the best of games to be playing all the time, but I've got no idea why I like it so much... and it's one of the primary reasons why I didn't post this chapter earlier... yeah I apologize on that part, and just so you know, if I take forever to update... feel free to go to the Dreaming City, and slap my Hunter... you can normally find me in the Blind Well...
(O-o) save me from my addiction to video games... cuz Netflix removed season 2-3 of TFP...
Chapter 21: Keys {Part 3}
Jack, Raf, and Miko, sat quietly as Optimus explained, in detail, what happened a few days ago. A story, that he had already told his fellow Autobots, when they found him, that fateful afternoon. A stream of tears, rained down all of their faces, even Agent Fowler, who was sitting with June, shed some tears, over this disappointing news.
"I can't believe that he's gone…", Raf mumbled.
"Yeah, and he just got here…", Jack sighed, looking down at the concrete floor.
With a slight sneer, "What are we doing, just sitting around here for?!", Miko exclaimed, "Starscream has done nothing, but screw us over, and that isn't cool!", she yelled, catching Fowler's attention.
"Prime, I'd hate to admit it, but Miko is right.", he implied, "Starscream has been a thorn on your backside, since who knows how long, and I'd say that instead of living with it, you should just suck it up, and end it.", Fowler remarked.
"Yeah, once and for all!", Miko yelled, crossing her arms.
"I too hate to admit it… but they're right.", Arcee's voice spoke up, "Not only has that glitch, deactivated Cliffjumper, but he had the nerve to deactivate Smokescreen… and if I didn't know better, he probably knew what happened to Bulkhead. By the way I see, Starscream has already proven to be our priority target.", she sneered, balling her servos into tight fists, to the point the popping sounds were made, from the stressed pistons.
"Optimus…", Ratchet sighed, "I don't want to bury anymore friends… I'm with them on this one…", he stated.
*Bweee zeee dooo…*, Bumblebee buzzed, his optics dimmed.
Closing his optics, "Revenge isn't always the right thing to do, but I cannot dismiss the past events, leading to this moment…", the Prime vented, "As of now, Starscream is …shoot to kill…", he sighed, walking away towards his private quarters.
{The Harbinger}
"I had it!", a growling voice, echoed throughout the dark halls of the Harbinger, "I had the blasted key!", Starscream sneered, as he tipped over crates, and threw scrap metal.
{How many times, are you going to complain about this? It's been nearly 3 solar cycles…}, Thundercracker sighed, as he watched his master rant.
Kicking over a berth, "But those accursed Autobots, tricked me, and I dropped it!", the silver seeker yelled.
Crossing his arms, {I'm pretty sure, you did that yourself…}, Thundercracker sighed.
"Not to mention, that the Decepticons showed up… and that new Autobot probably ran off with the key, after I put the Resonance Blaster on Death Charge...", Starscream grumbled.
Walking over towards the angered seeker, "I don't think you don't have worry about, that new recruit anymore, my master.", the blue clone atoned.
"Oh? And how are you, sure of that?", Starscream questioned.
"I was able to hack, back into the Nemesis' logs, and obtained information regarding, your previous mission.", Thundercracker informed, "And, I've stumbled upon, some fascinating data.", he implied, pulling out a datapad, and presenting his findings.
Grinning, "Well, well, well.", the silver seeker chimed, "I might have lost the key, but I took out another one, of Prime's forces!", he chuckled.
"However, after decoding the encrypted data, within the Nemesis' data-banks, I've stumbled upon more incriminating data, that may further your interests, my lord.", the blue clone implied.
"How so?", Starscream questioned, raising an optic ridge.
"There seems to be an accumulative amount of data, referring to that of a seeker, known as Knightwave. However, after further findings, I've discovered that he was reported as deactivated, eons ago.", Thundercracker informed.
"Knightwave...Knightwave… why does that name sound familiar?", the silver seeker pondered, "Oh that's right, I do recall overhearing such a name…", he tapped his strut.
"Knighwave was the younger sibling to Soundwave, and was deactivated due to him aiding Autobot prisoners, escape from a high security prison.", the blue clone remarked.
Tilting his helm, "How do you, know all of that?", Starscream asked.
"This half of the Harbinger, has multiple files, regarding the incident, and other eons old data logs.", the clone informed, "It seems, that before this ship was sent here, to engage the Autobots, its primary task, was to collect past and recent archive information, as a way of recording history.", he informed.
"After we took Iacon by storm, I'd expected much. We lost all of our past history, thus recording new events, gave us the opportunity to start fresh… but what we didn't expect, was Cybertron's fall.", Starscream mused.
"Nobody expected Cyberton's fall, that also means, nobody expected the possibility of reviving it.", Thundercracker smirked, "When Skywarp confessed, he told you that this relic could revive Cybertron, but that's all he knew, however I managed to decode a series of files, that happen to be recent entries.", the blue clone informed, walking over towards a monitor screen, plugging in the datapad, and displaying his findings.
Optics opening wide, "There are four Iacon coordinates… wait the final entry… it cannot be!", the silver seeker gasped, "Blast it all! I not only lost one key, but two!", he yelled.
"You're missing the point my liege, the Decepticons have no idea, what the keys do, and without all four, they have no chance, of reviving Cybertron.", Thundercracker remarked.
Sneering, "But without any keys, we are not even close, to our home's revival.", Starscream scowled.
Smirking, "That is where you fail to comprehend, we do have a chance to revive Cybertron, without the keys, all we need is Knightwave.", the clone implied, typing in a few codes, and suddenly the screen changed, and displayed ancient Cybertronian text.
Unblinking, "What is this?", Starscream asked.
"Research, my lord.", the clone smirked, "Recall that encrypted file, I found aboard this ship? Well, after I decoded the data, I discovered that it held similar properties to that of another file, that you had previously downloaded, from the other half of the Harbinger.", he began to type in codes, "After further analysis, I discovered that this research is more than it seems, rather it is a piece to a larger 'image'. In addition, once both were combined, a secret letter was formed, a letter meant for Knightwave.", Thundercracker informed, pulling up the letter, on the monitor.
Scowling, "Tell me, what will it take, for us to capture this Knightwave?", Starscream questioned, as he read the letter.
"Simple, we obtain the 2 keys, the Autobots have, and make a deal with the Decepticons, you did want to rejoin them, didn't you?", the blue clone implied.
"Easier said than done, now that we are down to our last dose of Red Energon, no thanks to Skywarp, wasting it for his own personal agenda…", the silver seeker mumbled, "And not to mention, Megatron has replaced me, with that nuisance Dreadwing… who I'm certain won't appreciate our company.", he sneered.
Grinning, "But my liege, I have a plan.", Thundercracker stated, "All we need is to cause a bit of chaos, the Autobots will come to the rescue, and once they open their ground bridge, you slip in, and snatch those keys.", he schemed, "And this Dreadwing-"
"-I won't allow him, to lay a single servo on you, my liege.", a grunting voice, came from a doorway, "And as for Knightwave, I know how to blackmail him, in helping us… without question."
Aiming his glare, over towards the darkened hallway, a single glowing red optic, could be seen in the darkness, "Then it's a plan.", Starscream smirked.
{Meanwhile- The Nemesis}
The subtle glow of a single light, casted a purple hue inside the hidden room, of the med bay. Laying down on a propped up berth, was what appeared to be an Eradicon, however it had features of a helicopter alt mode. The Eradicon was in a deep power down, while the monitor next to the berth, did a scan of his systems.
Just then, the wall in front of the Eradicon collapsed, as a purple seeker walked in, {I've been meaning to ask you this, but what's the deal, with his temporary frame? I haven't seen a Vehicon like that, before.}, Tap-Out's voice echoed.
"No surprise there, Megatron isn't very fond of Helicopter vehicle modes. However, during the final days of the war, these types of Eradicons were used as battlefield sweepers, and sniper drones… and it so happens, his ship has a plenty of parts, for this exact model.", Knightwave explained.
{But wouldn't Megatron be questioning, why there's a helicopter Eradicon? I mean, since he's the only one aboard this ship}, she implied.
Smirking, "You should pay more attention.", he remarked, "I gave him the ability to triple change, not to mention the ability to change his base mode, so he blends in as a regular Vehicon.", the purple seeker explained.
{I see, well that's very commendable, just don't tell my brother… not that he'd be interested in such a procedure, rather he'd be even more of a pest, regarding Breakdown still being… well you know.}, Tap-Out sighed.
Taking a deep vent, "Don't you worry, once we obtain more research fragments, I'll be able to bring back his Conjunx. Until then, we just have to tolerate his behavior…", Knightwave sighed.
{And by 'behavior', you mean his constant sarcasm, and his constant bickering…}, she grumbled.
"Yeah, lets just put that aside for now, and focus our attention on this, shall we.", Knightwave remarked, typing in some commands, on the monitor.
{Time to wake up, you next project?}, Tap-Out's voice echoed.
Rolling his violet optics, "He's not my 'project', he's my patient.", the purple seeker implied.
{Says the scientist, who can bring back the dead. Have you ever read that Earthling literature, I requested for you to analyze?}, the red femme questioned.
"I should say I haven't gotten around to it, but yes, I have… and it was quiet... compelling, to say the least.", he nodded, walking over behind the berth, and unplugging a cord.
{What was your favorite part?}, she insisted.
"This part.", Knightwave smirked, as he reconnected the bipedalism cord, to the Eradicon's chassis, causing the power downed mech, to convulse, and snap into reality.
The Eradicon's visor suddenly flashed a deep red, as his entire frame flinches, while energon flowed throughout the mech. Confusion was the first innate feeling, for the mech felt as if he was waking from a dream, while also being in a dream. Looking around, he immediately laid sights on Knightwave, who was standing to his right, typing on the monitor.
"H-how long was… I out for?", Smokescreen mumbled, trying his best to regain awareness.
Looking over at the semi-conscience mech, "Roughly 3 solar cycles, I ran into a few inconveniences, and had to adjust them, before I connected your bipedalism cord, to your temporary frame.", the purple seeker explained, as he deactivated the energon cuffs, that held the confused mech, to the berth.
Lifting his new appendages, "This is so… weird…", he uttered, inspecting his temporary frame, which to him felt as if he was normal, but at the same time, he felt odd.
"Do try to, not overthink this.", Knightwave implied, "The more you think, the more deranged you become.", he advised.
"R-right… and besides once you're done repairing my original frame, I'll back to being myself again!", Smoke internally grinned.
{He recovered quick… faster than Dreadwing… well mainly because he's original frame, isn't a pile of scrap metal.}, Tap-Out sighed.
Watching the purple seeker type, "So, are you always this talkative? I'm not complaining, but… why am I a seeker?", Smokescreen persisted, inspecting what seemed to be helicopter blades, that hung off his back, kind of like a cape.
With a sigh, "Are those the only questions, you're going to ask me?", Knightwave questioned.
Shaking his helm, "Are you kidding me? No! I was just trying to be polite, because I'm here! I mean I'm aboard Megatron's boat!", the young mech outstretched his new arms, "I'm in another body, not to mention, I'm in a Decepticon body! And you! The seeker who has been trading information with Optimus! I'm here with you!", he exclaimed.
{At this point, I'm wondering how the Autobots dealt with him… he's more chatty than I figured.}, Tap-Out pointed out, as Knightwave just stood there, listening to this mech describe everything.
{Meanwhile- Autobots}
The Autobots base was still, no human, no bot, made a single sound. After Optimus had announced, that Starscream was a kill priority, no one dared to mention anything, or tried to lighten the mood. After a while, June decided that they spent enough time, at the base, and just before the group of humans were about to leave, the alarm system went off.
"What's going on?", Arcee snapped, her optics scanning the green monitor.
"Decepticons?", Miko asked, running back up the stairs to get a better look, with Raf, Jack, June, and Agent Fowler, following behind.
"That's odd, the Nemesis' location, hasn't moved from its orbit in over 2 solar cycles…", Ratchet mumbled, trying to find out why the alarms went off.
Just then, the monitor pinged, displaying the location of the anomaly. Walking passed the others, Agent Fowler's eyes were wide with fear, "That's the location of, our nearest military base!", he exclaimed.
"I wasn't aware, that there was a military compound near by.", the old doctor mentioned, looking down at the agent.
Adjusting his grey tie, "That's because it's one of our most top secret bases.", Fowler implied.
"Area 51?", the teens questioned, only for the agent to shake his head.
"No this base is more of a secret 'secret'…", the agent tried not to spill, any classified information.
"Well it isn't a secret anymore, since I am picking up a Cybertronian reading from that location.", Ratchet remarked, as Optimus walked into the room.
"What seems to be the issue?", the Prime asked.
"Starscream is attacking a secret military base.", Arcee assumed, her optics glaring at the life signal, as it moved across the screen.
Optimus looked over at Ratchet, "She may be correct, Agent Fowler just informed us about the secrecy of the base, thus we must assume that Starscream, might have an interest in such a location.", he nodded.
"Agent Fowler, would you mind informing us, to why Starscream might have taken an interest in this base?", the Prime asked.
Rubbing the back of his head, "They will have to leave first.", Fowler beckoned at June, and the teens.
Nodding, "Don't worry Bill, I'll take it from here.", June smiled, "Come on guys, time to go.", she exclaimed, leading the teens down the stairs, towards her car.
"Awe man! But I want to help, beat the scrap out of Screamer!", Miko complained, as she was forced into the back seat.
Once June had driven off, Agent Fowler took a deep breath, before he began his explanation, "The base is apart of an, aerospace development program.", he began, "A branch that is apart of… Sector 7…", he explained.
"Sector 7?", Ratchet queried, his optics flashing.
Taking a deep breath, "It's a top secret branch of the military, devoted in the advancement of Earth Technology. This base, that's being attacked, is developing a highly advanced aircraft, so state of the art, it won't make its debut for the next 30 years.", Fowler informed.
The Autobots just started at the man, all optics flashing with fear, except for Optimus', for he was now determined to stop the attack. The Prime knew that if Starscream got a hold on this technology, then he'd be more of a threat.
"Ratchet, open the groundbridge, to the bases coordinates.", The Prime implied.
"Prime, I've just received word, that they have called a full evacuation of the base, you are free to engage… just don't make too much of a mess.", Fowler remarked, before making a phone call.
"Autobots.", Optimus announced, while Ratchet activated the ground bridge, "Roll out!"
{Any nano-klik now, the Autobots will appear…}, Skywarp thought, only to lay sights, on a green vortex, that opened up into reality, {Right on que.}, he smirked.
Then, as just when the Autobots stepped out, a red flash zoomed right passed them, vanishing into the ground bridge, and time came to a screeching halt. Time itself seemed to have slowed down for just a moment, however just as that moment came to pass, it was suddenly slapped back to life, as that same red flash, zoomed by.
The Autobots were at a loss, it was as if their very spark felt the disturbance, *Bweee zooo weee!*, Bumblebee buzzed, looking around with distraught, as the ground bridge closed.
"I don't know Bee, but I didn't like the feeling.", Arcee responded.
"Autobots be on guard.", Optimus implied, looking around at the wrecked base.
Looking at the Prime, "Whatever happened here, looks as if they hit and ran.", the blue femme inspected.
Scanning the area, "I don't believe we are alone.", Optimus cautioned.
Just then, "Nothing can get passed you, Prime!", a hissing voice echoed from above.
The Autobots optics grew wide, as they glared at a familiar, yet strange looking Skywarp, for his alt-mode was something none of them, had ever seen before. The body of the aircraft resembled Cybertronian design, with the classic seeker look, however the body was blended, giving it a more earthly appearance. Overall, this aircraft looked far more advanced than anything they've seen, hinting that this aircraft, was the top secret prototype, this base was dedicated to work on.
"Skywarp.", Arcee sneered, "Didn't we teach you a lesson, the last time?!", she remarked, reminding him of their last encounter.
Chuckling, "How could I forget, but I'm not here to fight you.", the purple clone teased, "I'm just here to… give you a warning.", he implied.
Glaring at the seeker, "What are Starscream's goals? What are you planning to do?", Optimus questioned, optics flashing.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk.", Skywarp jeered, "You Autobots think you can just ask questions? No, I'm just the messenger this time, and the message is… You're the one who has been warned.", he laughed, only for his new alt-mode to glow a violent yellow, and within an instant he was gone, leaving behind a thunderous boom.
After a moment, to recover from the sonic boom, the Autobots put away their weapons, "What was that all about?", Arcee asked, hitting the side of her helm, so her audio receptors could stop ringing.
*Bweee zoo dididid dooo deee wooo.*, Bee buzzed, shaking his helm, for his audios were also ringing.
Activating his coms, "Ratchet, we are in need of a groundbridge, and inform Agent Fowler, that Skywarp has scanned the aircraft.", Optimus informed, only to get no answer, "Ratchet are you there?", he asked.
"Optimus, what's wrong?", Arcee asked.
"I cannot establish contact, with the base.", the Prime explained.
Activating her link, "Ratchet, are you there? Hello? Is anyone there, do you read?", she tried, but yet again, no answer, "Our coms must've been damaged, after that sonic boom.", she commented.
*Bweee ziii zooo.*, the yellow scout buzzed.
"How are you're coms working, and ours aren't?", Arcee asked.
*Bweee zoooo diiidooo weeeiii dididooo.*, Bumblebee explained.
"Bumblebee, informed Raphael to remote activate the ground bridge.", Optimus remarked.
{Meanwhile- Med Bay}
Knightwave stood patiently, as he watched Smokescreen practice, his new transformation abilities. For the most part, he was able to get used to his triple change ability, changing from the standard Eradicon vehicle mode, to the strange helicopter mode, with ease. However, what seemed to be most difficult, was changing his frame shape, for the two body types were completely different.
Venting, "Hey Doc, why can't I get this? Shouldn't this be easy?", the young mech asked, obviously exhausted, and in need of energon.
"You'd figure, changing base forms would be the easiest thing to perform, but it's the trickiest, and requires more concentration.", Knightwave implied, "It would be best, if you take is easy for now, let yourself settle down, until the next session.", he remarked, handing Smoke an energon cube.
Just then, Knightwave's monitor went off, flashing red as an alert tone rang, "What is it? Megatron looking for you?", Smokescreen asked.
Violet optics growing wide, "No, it's… it's a message from Starscream...", the purple seeker uttered.
Immediately, Knightwave rushed out of the hidden room, leaving a questionable Smokescreen behind, who took a sneak peak at the message. Upon looking at the message, the young mech ran out, trying his best to change his form, only for him to bump into Knock-Out.
"Hey! Watch the paint!", the red doctor yelled, only for Smokescreen to continue to rush past him, completely transformed into an Eradicon.
"Knightwave and his blasted pests!", Knock-Out exclaimed, brushing his shoulder.
Knightwave dashed down the halls of the Nemesis, and just as he reached the bridge, he slowed his pace down to a jog. Taking a deep vent, he was just about to active the door's sensor, when he heard the pedes of Smokescreen run up to him. Without a word, both mechs walk into the bridge, only to lay sights on Megatron standing in the middle of the center walkway, with Starscream on the opposite end, sassily leaning on the center console.
"Just the two mechs, I was looking for.", Starscream chuckled, causing Megatron to rotate his helm towards Knightwave.
"What is your business here?", Megatron growled, clenching his servos.
Snickering, "I'm just here, to make a planet reviving deal.", the silver seeker chuckled, revealing the two Iacon keys.
End of Chapter notes:
Thanks for Reading! I'm gonna go play Destiny now...