Disclaimer: Hello my lovely readers! Shadow here with an update that is LOOONNNNGGGGGG overdue. (Blame life, school, random emotional breakdowns, not being able to focus, no will to write, etc.) I won't make this disclaimer long because I intend to write while I still have the will and motivation to write. So ON WITH THE CHAPTER!
QuickSilver smiled and giggled as I held her close to my spark. I lightly kissed her forehead before sitting her down on my lap. Currently, we were on the roof of the base. I wanted to introduce QuickSilver to her first sunset.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" I smiled, looking down at my daughter. I was met with a pair of royal blue optics, the optics of her father. The optics I fell in love with. I couldn't help but comment, "Shame you didn't get my optics. Though they're not really mine anymore, are they?"
QuickSilver tilted her helm even though she had no idea what I was saying. Thank Primus for that. I'd rather not live with my daughter knowing her mother is currently a half demon while she is still so young. I wanted her to remain innocent and pure, untainted by this horrible war. Which is the very reason I declined going on a mission to investigate a Decepticon escape pod just so I could spend time with her. Speaking of that, they should be back by now. I reached out to my sparkmate through the bond.
"Location, love?" I asked.
"Main room. I think you will love what you're about to see." Optimus replied and it sounded like he was smiling.
"Me and 'Silver are on our way." I told him.
"Let's go see what your highly dysfunctional family has brought back with them." I grunted as I picked my daughter up and walked over to the elevator.
I pressed the appropriate button and the elevator took me down to the main floor. I stepped in to the hallway and made my way to the main room. But just as I was about to round the corner, I heard a voice that made me stop dead in my tracks.
"Still got trust issues, huh?" A male voice spoke.
Tears welled in my optics as I slowly made my way into the room and saw somebody who I thought died at the Battle of Praxus. My spark dropped then did a couple of cartwheels. I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing, but it was right in front of me. Or rather, he was right in front of me.
"Smokey?" I choked out.
Smokey, whose real name is Smokescreen, stopped dead in whatever story he was about to launch in to and faced me slowly. His optics were the size of saucers. "Shads?" Another of the many nicknames I seemed to have.
A tear filled grin worked its way on to my face as I slowly gave Jazz his goddaughter and launched myself in to Smokescreen's awaiting arms. I laughed with joy even though I was well aware of the tears in my red and blue optics. "Smokey! You're alive!" My baby brother was alive. Not biologically of course, Primus knows the family tree is fragged up enough with Megatron being in there.
I was pretty sure I was receiving a lot of "What the actual frag" looks but in all honestly, we all know I receive those on a daily basis. I mean, I'm SHADOWSTALKER!
"Primus." Smokescreen breathed as we broke apart. "You're here. In front of me. And you have a kid. Slag, it's been a while. I thought I lost you at..."
"The Battle of Praxus." I finished as I wiped the tears from my optics.
"So who's the lucky mech?" Smokescreen grinned, looking around the main room ecstatically.
"I believe you met him already Smokey." I gestured to Optimus with a smirk.
I truly believed Smokescreen was on the verge of glitching. "You're bonded to... oh scrap." His optics went from me to Optimus then back to me. He then frowned. "Wait, why are your optics red and blue? And why do you have fangs? And where the slag did you get the scary looking sword?"
Just as I was about to respond to all those questions, Ratchet coughed not so subtlety. "As heartwarming as this reunion is, I do believe Smokescreen was informing us of how he ended up traveling in a Decepticon escape pod."
I raised an optic ridge and turned to Smokescreen. "What exactly did you get yourself in to this time?"
"Oh right." Smokescreen smiled sheepishly. "Where was I? Oh right! So the main thrust of combat operations was at least 20 kliks from the Hall of Records. Things had been pretty quiet. But the situation went downhill fast. The 'Cons launched a massive surge that wiped out the last line of defenses surrounding Iacon. I was the only thing left to hold 'em back. And let me tell ya, I was pumped. I mean, this was my chance to see real action for the first time, to prove myself." Smokescreen suddenly had a dark look on his face. "Until everything went black. 'Cons took me prisoner and dumped me on to a transport ship. But I managed to give a guard the slip and hopped in an escape pod. Apparently, it was a long distance pod because it knocked me into stasis. Next thing I knew I was hitting solid ground. Hard."
"The Decepticon warship must have picked up the pod's beacon and guided it to Earth." Que realized.
"Which would explain Smokescreen's welcoming committee." Elita crossed her arms with a frown.
"HA! Bet those 'Cons were disappointed not to find one of their own inside." Chromia smirked wickedly.
"Smokescreen, do you know of Alpha Trion's fate after the Fall of Iacon?" Optimus asked. I sensed the feeling of desperation through the bond. I stared at my sparkmate with sympathy. Alpha Trion practically raised him. Not knowing what had become of him when we left Cybertron must have tore Optimus apart.
"I wish I did." Smokescreen dropped his helm. "But that was the last I ever saw of him."
It was quick but a flash of pain seeped through the bond. I sent waves of comfort back which was met with gratitude from Optimus.
"That's it." Smokescreen suddenly said with a smile. "My life story. Not exactly the glory I envisioned for myself. Until now." He suddenly became hyper. "Being here with Optimus Prime?! I knew I was envisioned for great things. I mean, now that you have help, how hard could it be to end this war?"
Pained grunts came from the entrance of base. I looked up to see Bulkhead limping in. It was clear to me from the gritted denta to the creaking limbs that it took great effort just for him to walk.
"Take a good look newbie." Bulk snapped. "This is how hard."
"Smokey." I pulled his shocked stare away from Bulkhead and on to me. "How about you get adjusted to your new surroundings? A tour of the base should start you off nicely, don't you think?" I smiled.
"Sure thing!" Miko chirped excitedly before noticing her dejected guardian. She sobered up before smiling at Smokescreen. "I mean, Jack and Terra offer a very informative tour."
"It's settled." I gestured to the hallway where Jack and Terra were heading to lead the way. "The sooner you begin, the sooner I can give you an update on the war so far Smokey."
"Aye, aye Mrs. Prime." Smokescreen winked before following my charge and her boyfriend down the hall. I blushed and blushed even harder when I felt Optimus's smugness coming through the bond.
"Stick it in a can Prime!" I snapped.
A chuckle. "Feisty, my Shadow."
Primus forbid anybody ever finds out the slag we say through the bond.
As soon as Smokescreen and Jack were out of earshot, Bulkhead scowled. "If you wanted to replace me, you should've called Wheeljack! I could've lived with that." He grumbled the last sentence.
Ironhide rolled his optics. "No one is replacing you Bulk. The kid's too green in my opinion."
"Well Bulk's as green as they get." Miko didn't quite understand the use of the term 'green'.
"What Ironhide means is that Smokescreen still has a great deal to learn." Star elaborated.
"And once you've got him trained? Then what? Huh? He's in and I'm a door stop." Bulkhead snapped.
"Bulkhead, your place with us is not in jeopardy." Optimus reassured him. "But it is no dispute that we have long required additional firepower. It is essential that our team learns to work with our new recruit, not against him."
"Better hope the hotshot's blasters are as big as his mouth." Bulkhead retorted before repeating Smokescreen's earlier words. "How hard can it be?" The sarcasm was obvious.
"Smokey is young." I reminded him. "Younger than me and 'Bee and we're the youngest 'Bots in here other than QuickSilver of course. But he's about to get a taste of the real war, not just guard duty. Maturity is bound to come along at some point. He just needs time."
"Hey everyone!" Raf called out, drawing all attention to him. "Check this out." An image appeared on one of the monitors.
"Don't tell me it's another Bumblebee sighting." Ratchet groaned before he saw what was really on the screen. His optics widened to the size of saucers. "Oh my..."
"Red energon." Optimus confirmed.
"Here? On EARTH?!" Que gaped in disbelief.
"What's red energon?" Raf questioned.
"An extremely rare and volatile form of energon." Ratchet explained. "Refined into fuel, it provides the power of hyper speed."
"Fowler needs to clear the dig site of all human presence." I narrowed my optics. "Just in case we're not the only ones who've discovered where the red energon is located."
"Now you're talking!" All eyes and optics went to Smokescreen who apparently had finished his tour of base. "Let's scramble up some 'Con circuits!"
"Given your limited field experience, I believe further training is required before you are battle ready." Optimus shut down any hopes Smokey had of going in the field.
"Optimus, with all due respect..." Smokescreen started.
"Furthermore, we Autobots live on this planet as robots in disguise." Optimus cut him off. "You will need to obtain an Earth based vehicle mode."
"In order to maintain a low profile." Arcee added. "If that's possible for you."
"If you're talking wheels," A smirk grew on Smokey's face. "Bring 'em on!"
"Jack, Terra, how about you two help Smokey here find a vehicle form?" I suggested. "I'm sure there's a few rocks around here that are high enough off the ground where you can see the highway without you being, you know, seen."
Terra smirked. "He's in good hands. Not so sure about Jack's taste though. He spotted Arcee so it shouldn't be too bad."
"HEY!" Jack yelled indignantly, causing me and my charge to laugh.
A message from Fowler popped up on the monitor. Sideswipes glanced at it and turned to Optimus. "Red energon secured, boss bot."
"Shadow, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Ironhide, we will go and retrieve the red energon." Optimus decided. "Ratchet, prepare the ground bridge."
A few minutes later, the five of us were were jumping out of the bridge and in to what looked like an industrial site. The red energon sat in a crate. The only problem? The crate was hanging off a crane above us.
"Fowler couldn't have a crane operator lower the thing?" I groaned.
"The humans must have been preparing to transport the meteor to a cargo ship upon hearing Fowler's evacuation order." Optimus guessed.
It was at that very moment where I had a voice that I absolutely despised.
"Run along home Autobots." Starscream stepped into the light. "That red energon has my name all over it."
He pulled out a small, silver object and slapped it to his chest. Metal armor began surrounding his body. My optics widened when I recognized exactly what just happened. The armor completed its formation and Starscream smirked at us. "And I am more than willing to fight for it."
"HOW DID STARSCREAM OF ALL PEOPLE GET THE APEX ARMOR?!" I screamed to the sky as if it held the answers I wanted.
I felt embarrassment come through the bond and I realized this must have been one of the relics we weren't able to recover during the time the team had split up. Or should I say, Optimus and the Terror Twins didn't recover during their expedition to the slagging Arctic.
"Secure the energon and have Ratchet bridge it to base." I gripped Dark Saber. "Me and Optimus can handle 'Screamer here."
"No injuries or Ratchet will have your helm on a silver platter." Ironhide smirked before him, Arcee, and Bumblebee ran off towards the crate. His way of saying good luck, I suppose. This was 'Hide after all.
"Let's dance, shall we?" I hissed before unsheathing Dark Saber and swinging it, letting a wide arc of red energy fly towards Starscream.
I scowled as 'Scream only grunted as he was knocked back a few steps. Once he realized he was still very much intact, he smirked. "Is that all you've got? The niece of Megatron didn't inherit much of her uncle's strength I see."
'Scream thought he could get at me with my relation to my oh so wonderful uncle. However, I'd already made peace with the fact I was related to a calculating, yet psychotic warlord. I only smiled darkly, showing off my fangs. "Are taunts all you have? The apex armor can only defend you for so long."
With that being said, both me and Optimus unleashed a volley of blasters shots at Starscream. We both then rushed him from opposite sides. It seems we both underestimated the durability of the Apex Armor because Starscream swatted us aside as if we were mere pests. Being the headstrong 16 year old femme I am, I charged at him as soon as I was back on my feet. Let me tell you. Being swatted away from a fist surrounded by armor hurts. Being hit with a roundhouse kick by a pede enveloped in the strongest armor known to the Cybertronian race is just the universe being cruel. I felt my body soar through the air before I landed hard on my back.
And of course my winglets.
I held in the shriek of pain that wanted to escape my lips as my winglets bent at an angle that was just wrong. Pain flooded my sensors, reminding me of just how sensitive my winglets are. I laid there on the ground barely aware of the world around me.
"Well, I'm not getting up anytime soon." I grumbled, watching static cloud my vision due to the pain. I hissed as I tried to at least roll over on my stomach so my weight wouldn't crush my winglets. Nope. I am most definitely down for the moment.
I took deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain. The static slowly, but surely, left my vision. If I couldn't fight, I at least wanted to SEE what was going on around me. I huffed at the thought before I turned towards the fight.
But Primus knows what I saw almost made me blow a gasket.
Smokescreen, in all of his race car glory, sped out of the ground bridge and skidded to a stop a few feet from Starscreen. Ironhide scowled and yelled,"Does NOBODY understand what low profile means anymore?!"
"So," Starscream drawled. "The Autobots have a new recruit." He walked slowly towards Smokescreen, trying to give off a menacing air. Unfortunately, we all knew Starscream, as unpredictable and cunning as he may be, tended to be more a chicken than anything.
"You must be Starscream." Smokescreen responded. "I figured you'd be taller."
I sighed. Of course he would say something like that. And if I were to guess, judging by the scowl on Starscream's face, he did not like those words one bit.
"Smokescreen! Fall back!" Optimus ordered. "You are not match for Starscream's apex armor!"
Smokescreen merely stared at Starscream. I couldn't help the smirk that curled on my lips. If I know Smokey as good as I think I do, he's got something up his sleeve that nobody will see coming.
"Any last words, Smokescreen?" Starscream asked.
"Just four." Smokescreen bent down into a running stance. "Kiss your armor goodbye." With that being said, Smokescreen rushed at 'Screamer. It was only after I saw the device wrapped around his wrist that I realized what his intentions were.
"You clever son of a glitch." I shook my helm.
Smokescreen jumped up to perform a roundhouse kick and phased through the armor. The only thing is he brought Starscream out with him. 'Scream, well, screamed as he was knocked back from Smokey's kick and Smokey landed on the ground looking quite proud of himself.
"The phase shifter?" Starscream asked in pure disbelief.
"Now that was a plan!" Smokescreen grinned. Behind him, the armor dropped to the ground with a CLANG! and we all sighed in unison.
Starscream suddenly got this look in his optics. "You are not the only one with a fancy wrist mounted device." He held up the arm which held his missal and... oh. Oh. "Think fast!" He fired at the crane where Arcee, Ironhide, 'Bee, and Optimus were.
"NO!" I screamed as I tried to get up but I let out a very undignified shriek as I fell back to the ground after my winglets reminded me just how much pain they were in. "Ow."
The missal connected and the crate that previously held the red energon fell to the ground, preventing Smokescreen from reaching Starscream. Knowing 'Scream, he's got the energon and he's long gone. The smoke cleared out and I glanced at Smokey fearfully. He only smiled and pointed up. I looked up and all four members of Team Prime were alive and accounted for.
"Oh thank Primus." I let myself fall back to the ground.
"Didn't I tell you NOT to get injured?" Ironhide glared at me.
"Stick it in a can, 'Hide!" were the words that left my mouth before I passed out from pain.
I groaned as I felt my systems online again. I remember fading in and out of consciousness when I was passing through the ground bridge and then...
The old man put me in stasis. Slag it Ratchet!
"Nice to see you awake." The voice of Smokescreen flooded my audio receptors as I finally opened my optics.
I blinked a few times as they adjusted to the light before turning the Smokey, who was sitting to my right. "How long have you been there?"
"Right after Optimus gave me an unofficial welcome to the team, as he called it, Ratchet needed someone to watch you so I volunteered." Smokey shrugged.
"How thoughtful." I smirked and then I grunted as I slowly sat up, relieved when I didn't feel any pain from my back or winglets. "Doc never fails to amaze me when he manages to keep me in one piece."
"Still the trouble maker you were on Cybertron, I take it?" Smokescreen gave me his trademark grin.
"Seems like it." I chuckled.
"You've grown up a lot though, haven't you?" Smokescreen's grin faded slightly.
So did mine as I repeated, "Seems like it."
Smokey and I spent the rest of the night catching up. And in turn, I filled him in on our situation with 'Cons and our position in the war. I don't know how long we stayed up talking, but it felt...nice.
Having Smokescreen around would change things around base, that's for sure.
And that is the end of this very overdue chapter. I want to say that I will update more during this wonderful Christmas break, but honestly I'm not about to get anyone's hopes up. My life's just been whack and the fact that I was able to write this proves that I seem to have a very strong will. That or I'm just stubborn. Doesn't matter. But just so you know I still WANT to write, I just don't seem to have much motivation right now. But it will return, I promise you. So Shadow out! *waves*
