Hi folks!

Glad my last chapter had such happy reviewers and I hope you all like this next one!

Chapter 21: Important Memories

Shockwave was surprisingly complacent for a war criminal who knew being captured would only lead to the worst punishment imaginable. Then again, Elita One knew for a fact that the scientist had a very high tolerance for pain. It would be hard to get him to talk and explain where he had been hiding all this time and why he had finally emerged.

As the large Decepticon was carefully locked away on the Nemesis's brig, Elita One headed towards the bridge, where Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Bulkhead all gathered. Smokescreen and Rodimus were to remain down in the brig to keep sharp optics on their very important prisoner during the flight back to the city.

"Ultra Magnus," Elita greeted first, as he was one of the highest ranking officers on the ship. The mech nodded politely in return.

"We are most gratified to see you are unharmed," he stated cordially, "Predacons can be quite the savage beasts," he added, remorsefully lifting his claw like replacement for the hand he had lost in a battle with the Predacon monsters not long ago. Elita nodded understandingly.

"Indeed, and yet, this one cme off the attack when I least expected it to retreat," Elita commented.

"You can thank me for that actually," Wheeljack informed, "I ordered Shockwave to tell the beast to cease it's attack after we apprehended him."

That made much sense, though Elita still wondered, had Optimus been able to sense that? Had he somehow known that the beast was going to turn away, and so had advised Elita in her spark to desist accordingly? It was something she would be pondering on for a while. For now, she had some other questions to ask the group.

"Shockwave is in league with these predacons? I thought they had gone extinct many a millennia ago," she said.

"Shockwave has used the DNA of predacon bones to replicate clones," Bumblebee supplied, "None that dwell on this planet are Cybertron born.. That we know of."

"Commander Elita One," now interceded Paladin carefully from where he and the other younglings stood on the far end of the bridge, "I saw you hesitate when the beast came at you. You could have drawn your weapons in time, but you didn't. It was almost like you knew the monster was going to stop."

All optics turned to Elita One now.

"Is that true?" Bumblebee asked curiously.

"It is," Elita supplied.

"Wait, you knew the predacon wasn't going to attack you?" Bulkhead questioned, dumbfounded.

"In a way, I did," Elita replied, to everyone's astonishment.

"I have something I need to tell all of you. It is very important, and up until this point, I have not felt at liberty to bring it up. But now, I believe you are all ready to hear what it is I have to say, and as soon as we return to Prime Central, I shall call a meeting and we will discuss it," she stated.

Curiosity, and a small glimmer of anxiety sparkled in the optics of those around her. It was clear none of them wanted to wait, but all were professional enough to refrain from asking for more details.

"In the meantime, you've attained a few deep scuffs in your battle," Bumblebee pointed out, "If you are willing, Knock Out would be happy to attend those for you," the warrior offered. Elita looked down at herself, having hardly noticed her physical state. She was not in pain, but now that she took in her appearance, she did indeed see she had recieved many scratches and dents from her scuffle with the predacon.

"I shall visit the medic presently," Elita replied. The Autobots all nodded, and Elita left the room, leaving Firestar standing beside Paladin and the other sparklings.

...

"Oh my dear Elita One, it is a pleasure and an honor to be serving you!" Knock Out beamed upon Elita's entrance to the medical room. Bumblebee had most likely pinged the medic to be prepared before her arrival. The red mech had sent his students away for this appointment and so it was only them in the room.

"I appreciate that," Elita One replied graciously, taking a seat on the medical berth and allowing Knock Out to survey her scratches and dents, and begin grabbing what equipment was necessary.

"I got the download from the bridge about your little predacon powow," Knock Out stated with a grin, "Quite impressive!" he complimented in his suave, charming way. Elita responded with just a nod and sat back on the berth. So many thoughts were swirling in her mind, but Optimus Prime's voice was primarily what she was replaying over and over again in her memory.

How had she heard him? She thought she only had access to him when her spark was quiet and in the state of stasis? Had she only imagined it? No, it had been too outstanding for her processor to make up on its own!

"You just relax right there for a bit and I'll have you fixed up in no time!" Knock Out assured brightly.

Elita smiled lightly and heard the activation of the heat torch on Knock Out's arm as he began softening the damaged metal on her legs to begin with. The process of removing dents could sometimes be painful, as Elita had had many an uncomfortable procedure, but Knock Out was definitely skilled in what he did. She hardly felt any pain whatsoever, and was even so comfortable that she was able to close her optics and be at peace.

Shortly after she felt her body was fully relaxed with the treatments of her scratches and dents, Elita was hit with a sudden memory. In a flash, her mind's eye and traveled to one of her early visions, and she was once again inside a library with Optimus Prime, had he held in his hands a book...

()()()

"Have you ever wondered what would happen should a bot still living, become one with the Allspark?" Optimus Prime inquired. Elita could safely say she had never thought of that.
"Well... no. It's impossible," she replied. But with one look at Optimus's curious expression, she suddenly wasn't so sure.
"Isn't it?" she amended, less certainly.
"It's improbable, but not impossible," he replied steadily. Elita felt a shiver tingle through her systems. He spoke as if he knew... first hand.

Optimus had turned another page in the holobook which he held and continued to read the text. Elita remembered her gaze traveling from the book back up at him with wide, questioning optics.
"Optimus?" she prompted.
She recalled there had been a long pause, as the Prime stroked his large hand thoughtfully over the page he was reading. Finally he spoke.
"Being joined with the Allspark without having tasted death is a strange and mysterious thing. It leaves the bot with a connection to the physical world, as well as establishing a new one with the untouchable. He becomes a doorway between the two, able to operate in both forms. In short, he becomes one with Primus... with Cybertron itself,"
Elita's processor, once having struggled to comprehend the things Optimus was speaking about, suddenly now was enlightened!

"It is time to be awakened Elita. Remember what I have told you. Promise me," Optimus ordered, just as seriously as before.
"Alright, I promise," Elita had said, still at the time failing to grasp the fullness of what he was saying. Optimus had nodded in satisfaction.

()()()

Eye's snapping open from her memory, Elita's spark hammered in her chest. Up until this moment, she had broken that promise to Optimus. She had completely forgotten his words over the course of her stay. But now... they made so much sense!

Optimus... he was somehow one with the Alspark, and in being so, he could witness the happenings of all that happened upon the planet's surface! But there was still one question unanswered...

How had he spoken to her while she'd been fully awake? It was a question which Elita had a feeling that only the book would be able to tell her about. The book Optimus Prime had told her to search for. It was imperative that she had to continue her mission to find it!

...

It was not long before Elita's repairs were completed, and she thanked Knock Out heartily for his excellent and attentive work. She felt brand new, and not long after she was back in perfect order, the Nemesis had landed and docked. When she stepped down to the main level of the ship, all upon it were disembarking. The sparklings were the first to be ordered off the vessel, followed by the higher officers.

The rescued femme, Firestar, mow moved forward to cling to Elita One's leg nervously, letting the other sparklings go on ahead of her.

"What will it be like? What am I to do?" Firestar inquired nervously.

"Stay with me," Elita encouraged, setting a hand on the young femme's shoulder. It was clear to Elita that Firestar was very delicate and needed another femme's guidance above anything else right now. They walked together off the ship.

Firestar took in the surroundings of her new home with wide eyed fascination.

"What a beautiful place!" Firestar breathed out.

"It is still under much construction by Bulkhead and his building teams, but it is coming along splendidly," Elita One replied softly with a smile. Firestar nodded enthusiastically. It was then that Arcee came forward to meet them at the landing dock with several other sparklings. Firestar huddled closer to Elita as the unfamiliar blue femme approached.

"How did it go?" Arcee asked in concern, "Is everyone alright?"

"It went as good as it could go Cee," Bumblebee replied with a smile, "Shockwave is locked safely away in the brig, and there have been only minor injuries," he reported. Arcee blinked widely in shock.

"I... I almost can't believe it," she said. Bumblebee smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I know, but it's all over. Finally. With Megatron reformed, Soundwave trapped in the shadowzone, Shockwave in our custody, and Starscream most likely offlined, the Decepticons will be no more," Bumblebee said happily.

Arcee frowned in doubt.

"We don't know for sure that Starscream is offlined... he could be easily hiding, just like Shockwave had been up until today. And Soundwave, if he figures out how we put him in that shadowzone, it won't be long before he finds his way back out," she countered.

Bumblebee just sighed.

"And if those problems arise, we'll take care of them. But for now, is it so wrong that we allow ourselves to celebrate?" Bumblebee asked optimistically. Arcee quieted in thought.

"Indeed, Bumblebee is right. We have won a great victory today," Elita now spoke up, politely interrupting, "And we should rejoice in it while we can."

Arcee looked to Elita and nodded respectfully, managing a small smile. Elita could appreciate that Arcee was always on her guard, and never deceived herself into thinking they wouldn't have any more trouble. She was too smart and too experienced to expect all danger would cease from now on, and she was right to think that way.

Danger came at unexpected times, and it was always best to be prepared for it. However, if one never took a moment to relax, and let their sparks be at peace with the world around them, then the whole business of remaining alert for trouble could become very daunting as well as depressing.

Arcee and the others all deserved a time to relax and rejoice in the victories they'd achieved and the bright future ahead of them.

"Elita One has requested that we assemble together in the meeting place. She has something to share with us," Bumblebee said to Arcee, "As soon as the class hours are completed and the sparklings settled, we shall assemble."

Arcee blinked, looking at Elita in curiosity.

"Of course," she said.

In the next moment, Ultra Magnus walked down the ramp with Wheeljack and they both paused beside the group.

"It is imperative that we keep Shockwave under the highest of security and decide his fate according to the proper traditions of our judicial system as speedily as possible to prevent him from any possible means of escape from his punishment," Ultra Magnus stated.

"Agreed. When shall we hold the sentencing?" Elita inquired.

"Let us make the arrangements for it to be held on the morrow," Ultra Magnus replied steadily. Elita nodded her agreement.

"And where is our war criminal to be kept until then?" Bumblebee asked.

"He shall remain where he is inside the Nemesis's brig. We do not yet have any other proper jailing facilities, and the one aboard the ship is adequate enough to hold him," Magnus responded, "Rodimus and Smokescreen shall remain on guard until the end of the mega-cycle, and shall switch shifts with Wheeljack and Bumblebee then."

Bumblebee saluted his acceptance of the orders, and Wheeljack just grinned wickedly, clearly pleased with whatever plots his mind was concocting for Shockwave that evening.

Firestar pressed a bit closer to Elita's leg, getting the larger femme's attention.

"Come," Elita told the little femme, "I will show you the city."

(There you go guys! Hope you liked it! XD Leave some reviews for me!)