Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime or its canon characters. I do however own my OCs: Darkstorm and Skybreak.
Theme Song: Reborn by the Chaos Agent
Darkstorm lay there on a medical berth, her spark hammering within her chassis. Optimus was still not back from scouting the area where seismic activity was last recorded, and she was worried.
She jumped slightly at the sudden sound of a comm link being transmitted to the base's main computer but relaxed as she felt her brother's servo on her shoulder plating. She smiled gratefully at him before listening in. It was Optimus.
"Optimus, what is going on?" Ratchet inquired.
"Unicron," Optimus stated. Darkstorm's optics widened slightly as she heard the sound of cannon fire.
Oh, how she wished she could help instead of lying here helpless on this berth...
"Hold on, Optimus. I'll send backup immediately."
"No. As Prime, Unicron desires to face me and me alone. I will not place the rest of you in danger. Stay at base until I order otherwise." And so the comm link transmission was ended.
"We can't just leave him out there! He needs our help," Bumblebee insisted.
"I agree with 'Bee on this. Optimus needs our help and whether he likes it or not, we will help him," Arcee said as she crossed her arms over her chassis.
"Optimus gave a direct order. We are to-" Ratchet attempted to protest.
"Optimus would do the same for anyone of us," Darkstorm spoke up softy, "We need to help him, Ratchet. Please. You know as well as I do that without him we would be lost."
Ratchet considered this before venting and nodding his helm. "Very well." He zeroed in on Optimus' location and opened up a groundbridge portal. Arcee and Bulkhead prepared to move out while Bumblebee walked towards Darkstorm's medical berth.
"Be safe, my scout," Darkstorm whispered.
"Don't worry, 'Storm. I'll be back, you'll see." Bumblebee held her servo reassuringly before he too moved towards the groundbridge.
Skybreak vented sharply and began to turn away before the sound of his sister's voice stopped him dead in his tracks. "Go with them, Sky."
He looked at her in disbelief. "Sister, I am no Autobot. I thought I made myself clear. Besides, I am here to protect you."
"I already have a capable medic here with me, Brother. And this base is safe from the Decepticons. My well-being is not the sole issue here; the well-being of my team is. You are strong and you can aide them while I cannot." Darkstorm gazed at her brother pleadingly. "I just need to know that they will be safe."
Skybreak grit his dentals together frustratedly. Just the thought of fighting alongside them made his energon boil, but he made on oath. An oath that he planned on keeping. "Anything for you, Sister," he said resignedly as he moved through the groundbridge portal.
"You all should not have come," Optimus said, his frame slightly worn from the previous battle.
"We weren't about to just stand back and watch you be offlined. Unicron may be after you but we'll help in any way we can," Arcee replied.
Optimus smiled slightly and silently accepted this but his guard rose again as another stone golem approached the team. Dark Energon ran like rivers through the rock's various pores and the warrior's weapons consisted of sharp spikes that seemed to take the place of its servos.
"Unicron is power incarnate and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish," the golem growled.
Skybreak's optics widened and he immediately drew his ion cannon while the Autobots activated their weapon systems and fired at the enemy.
"Optimus, you need to get back to base. If you stay out here any longer-" Arcee began.
"Because of the Matrix in my spark, there is nowhere I can go where Unicron cannot find me. It would be futile for me to leave," Optimus adamantly argued.
Skybreak gasped and dodged a stray stone spike. The dangerous weapon landed beside him, scratching the paint on his left shoulder plating in the process.
Oh, frag it.
Skybreak transformed and flew up to the monster. He skillfully dodged more attacks while firing at the golem. Little by little, the warrior began to fall. The F-16 reeled back however as the monster's head exploded and chunks of rock flew like shrapnel. The Seeker grimaced as a stone clipped one of his wings but steadily descended until he reached solid ground once more.
Skybreak panted and transformed back into his bipedal mode, rubbing his sore wing. "That's odd. Not even my cannons could have caused that."
When the dust cleared, Skybreak received the answer to his unstated question, though he wished that he hadn't. A large silver mech walked towards them, his fusion cannon still smoking. The very same fusion cannon that so terribly injured his sister. Skybreak's servos clenched. Megatron.
"Skybreak. So this is where you've been hiding," Megatron smirked. His now purple optics glowed with an eerie light.
"What the slag do you want?" Skybreak spat.
Megatron studied Skybreak, smirking wider when he noticed that he still bore the Decepticon insignia on his chassis and wings. "I see you haven't joined them else you would already bear their mark. So, why associate with them? I remember you clearly swearing that you despised all Autobots."
"I still do," Skybreak chuckled humorlessly, "I suppose I should be thanking you. When you shot down Darkstorm, you finally opened my optics to what I had become." He glared. "The only reason I'm here with them is for my sister. Nothing more."
"You still care for her. How touching."
"What is your business here, Megatron?" Optimus demanded, his optics slightly narrowed.
"I simply came here to propose... a temporary truce. Allow me to join you to defeat our shared enemy: Unicron the Chaos Bringer."
"You have an army of 'Cons. Why come to us?" Bulkhead asked incredulously.
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond my realm of command," Megatron gestured to Optimus, "The power of a Prime."
"Well, I guess we don't need you then," Skybreak countered.
"On the contrary, Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's life blood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements." Megatron turned to Optimus once more. "Optimus, our past alliances: Autobot, Decepticon...They no longer matter, not while Unicron lives."
Optimus studied his nemesis guardedly. "A truce between Autobots and Decepticons. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?"
"Only as long as is mutually beneficial," Megatron smirked.
"And when our proposed truce is at an end?"
"I will conquer this Earth. My way."
"Wow. Brutal honesty coming from a 'Con?" Arcee said sarcastically.
Megatron glared at the femme. "You think you have witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken. What we have witnessed now has been a prelude to the utter devastation his rising could wreak upon this world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron?" Arcee bit back.
"Make no mistake, this time there will be a planet left for me to rule!" Skybreak stared at his former master in shock. His sister was right... His sister was right all along.
"Even if we agree, Unicron is miles underground. How are we supposed to get there? Drive?" Bulkhead asked.
"A groundbridge," Optimus answered. "Megatron, can you provide Unicron's exact coordinates?"
"Of course."
Arcee still didn't seem convinced about the effectiveness of the plan. "But Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?"
"The Matrix of Leadership," he answered solemnly.
"It was the combined power of the Primes that destroyed Unicron so long ago, and it is the very reason he seeks to destroy you now," Megatron added.
"If I combine the Matrix with Unicron's spark... It is possible that I can return him to stasis."
Their conversation was interrupted however as the boulders around them began to glow anew with dark energy and, much to the bots' surprise, they began to reassemble.
"Ratchet, requesting a groundbridge," Optimus commed the base. A groundbridge immediately opened.
"Wait, we're opening a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?!" Arcee protested. Bumblebee couldn't help but silently agree. In truth, he was still angry, though angry was a light way of putting it. If Megatron harmed Darkstorm again, he doubted if he could control himself.
"And we're supposed to expect him to risk his own spark to save us?" Bulkhead added with a scoff.
Megatron began to chuckle. "Hardly my nature." He smirked and transformed. "Consider my offer, Prime. I shall keep it busy."
Whilst Megatron was keeping the regenerating stone golem at bay, Skybreak, Optimus, and the rest of the team Prime moved out through the groundbridge. When they arrived at base, Darkstorm looked up weakly from her medical berth but her facial plating was still lit with a smile.
"You're all safe," she whispered.
"As promised, Sister," Skybreak smiled.
It was then that Prime noticed the humans in the base's main room. Agent Fowler he expected but with mild surprise he also beheld June, Jack, Miko, and Raf. "I thought I told you three to remain at home with your families where you were safe."
"W-We wanted to see how 'Storm was doing," Raf admitted.
"And hopefully kick some 'Con tailpipe!" Miko added exuberantly.
"It was nigh impossible to dissuade them from coming, Optimus," Darkstorm chuckled lightly. "They wished to help however they could and I saw no harm. Our base is safe enough."
"Not entirely," Bumblebee whirred, still slightly angry from the exchange.
Darkstorm stared at Bumblebee in concern, observing his upset countenance. "What? What has happened?"
"Ask your glorious leader," Skybreak glared at the Prime.
After Optimus had explained the temporary truce with Megatron, a cloud of tension lay over the base. Darkstorm couldn't help but feel slightly afraid. She knew that Skybreak and Bumblebee would protect her at all costs, but Megatron... the object of her pain and her nightmares. He was coming to her home and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"I know desperate times call for desperate measures, but bringing Megatron here?!" Ratchet asked in disbelief.
"How could you even think of letting that monster near these children?" June added.
"He will be closely monitored and will stay only long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more," Optimus said.
"But what's to stop Megatron from sending in an air strike if he knows where you live?" Agent Fowler asked.
"By groundbridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates."
Jack hesitantly spoke up and asked the one question that was in everyone's minds. "Optimus... what will happen to you once the energy from the Matrix has been released?"
Optimus seemed disarmed before hesitantly replying, "The energy from the Matrix has never before been utilized in this particular matter."
"But, you have an idea. Don't you?" Jack frowned. Why was Optimus hiding something?
Optimus remained silent for a few moments before saying, "Autobots, in order to protect human kind, I have no choice to proceed. But you do."
"Well... I don't know about human kind, but I'll do it. For Miko," Bulkhead said.
"For Jack," Arcee added.
"For Raf," Bumblebee finished. The humans smiled up at their guardians and silently made vows of their own. If their guardians were willing to give their very lives for them, then they would do the same.
"Megatron, we are sending transport."
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus," Megatron said smugly.
Megatron continued to dodge Unicron's foot soldiers until he spotted an emerging groundbridge. He swooped down and entered the groundbridge after taking out yet another soldier with his ion cannon. Just as Ratchet was ushering the last human out of harm's way, Megatron could be seen coming into the base. The Autobots and Skybreak immediately drew their weapons.
"So this is where the magic happens," Megatron mused as he observed his surroundings, "Quaint."
Darkstorm and Bumblebee watched in dismay as Raf emerged from his hiding place with a determined glare. "You-!" he yelled as the other humans ran to hold him back. Bumblebee immediately stood in front of his young charge, glaring fiercely at the leader of the Decepticons.
"Lay a digit on him and I'll offline you where you stand."
Megatron chuckled amusedly. "Ah, the fierce scout. Don't worry. If I wanted to harm your pet, I would have done so already. I can't say the same however for your traitorous femme." Team Prime's tempers flared but none more than Skybreak and Bumblebee. Darkstorm meanwhile shivered slightly in fear, silently praying that Megatron would not come near her.
Optimus, though he too held anger at the cause of Darkstorm's injuries, wanted to prevent anything rash from occurring. "Skybreak, Bumblebee, you will do more help by monitoring Darkstorm in the med bay. Go there until we are ready to depart."
"Frag you, you monster," Skybreak spat at Megatron before he entered the med bay. Bumblebee too joined Skybreak's lead.
Megatron smirked before turning to Jack. "And you. I never forget a face, even one of a human." Jack clenched his fists but said nothing to him.
"If you double cross anyone, mine is the face you'll never forget! Never!" Miko snarled and pounced forward before Agent Fowler held her back.
"Ratchet, kindly take the groundbridge coordinates from our guest," Optimus said tensely. Megatron turned away from the humans and gave the coordinates to Ratchet. A groundbridge was soon prepared.
"You first," Arcee said as the rest of team Prime and Skybreak assembled around the portal.
"As you wish," Megatron smirked and bowed mockingly before entering the groundbridge.
Skybreak stood in awe as they all came into a vast underground cavern with rivers of Dark Energon running through the various rock formations.
"So, how long until Unicron knows we're here?" Arcee asked.
"Mark my words... he already knows," Megatron replied.
A/N: One more chapter until the season finale and that means one more chapter until this lovely story ends and the sequel begins. XD So when you're done with this, make sure you check out blondie-moyashi and my various sequels on my profile. We do hope you'll enjoy them.
Thanks again to all the lovely ladies and gents who've reviewed, favorited, or followed my story. Y'all are the best!
To Bluefeather4299: Thank you for the lovely review and I shall most certainly try!
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross." Colossians 2:13-15
Until next time, Dream'sRealm