Freedom
Chapter 29: Present, History
Time passed.
Magnus' Rebellion would continue to be a threat for at least three stellar-cycles. However, with Starscream's new defense measures, the Autobots were unable to get what they needed in order to fight. Armies were never able to march far with empty fuel-tanks and energon reserves. And they couldn't fight if they didn't get ammunition for their weapons. They couldn't even get their servos on regular Decepticon weaponry or materials to make their own, let alone new weapon proto-types.
Megatron was pleased. Every attack Starscream planned thinned Magnus' ranks a little every time. Soon, the greatest threat to Megatron's Decepticon Empire would be eliminated. Even better, the warlord's soldiers were much more content and loyal thanks to his 2IC's time off idea. Things only seemed to be getting better and better for the Decepticon Lord.
He had no idea how truly discontent some of his troops really were.
Shockwave looked out over the city once known as the Autobot Capital. Now Iacon was nothing but a large mass of Decepticon bases. He remembered how Iacon was before. Just because it had been an Autobot city, didn't mean it hadn't been just fine the way it was. There were no more shopping centers or restaurants.
Now there were only places for soldiers to recharge and buildings that designed weapons, battle plans, and defensive measures against Autobots. There were also prisons for Autobot rebels and pins where auctioneers sold weapons or slaves and pets. And of course dozens of Decepticon bases.
Normal everyday Cybertronians no longer walked the streets with their mates or took their sparklings to the parks that once littered the city. Now only home sick warriors and weapon and slave traders roamed. There was constant security and everyone was armed.
Shockwave hated it.
He remembered what Megatron had first promised when the shape-shifter joined his army. The warlord had given his word to return Cybertron to its Golden Age. This, what he had done instead, was far from his promise.
This wasn't the Golden Age…it was the Dark Age.
An age where Megatron ruled over everything and everyone.
Shockwave sighed and returned to his desk. If he didn't finish these new plans and run them by Starscream, he'd never hear the end of it from his leader. He paused and looked at three pictures on his desk before continuing his work.
One was of his bondmate. Bumblebee was five months into the carrying process in the picture and he was wearing Shockwave's favorite maternity outfit. It was a baby-blue long-sleeved blouse with frilly trim on the cuffs of the sleeves and neckline and bottom edges. He had on regular white pants and he was smiling beautifully in the picture.
Shockwave would've smiled if he were able.
His optic traveled to the second picture. This one was of his daughter, Violet, a few days after she was born. She was recharging when the picture was taken and she was wearing adorable, yellow pajamas.
Violet was like a femme clone of her carrier. She looked exactly like Bumblebee, right down to the horns on her helm. Her coloring was different however. It matched her father's instead of Bumblebee's. One of the things Shockwave loved the most about his little Violet was that she had Bumblebee's beautiful baby-blue optics.
The last picture was a family portrait with him and Bumblebee standing side-by-side. Shockwave had his arm wrapped around his mate's shoulders and Bumblebee was leaning into the shape-shifter's side with his servo resting over Shockwave's chest. And Shockwave was cradling Violet in a one arm hold; the tiny femme had the most adorable smile on her face.
Shockwave sighed.
Violet and Bumblebee meant more to him than anything else in the entire universe…He remembered when he first brought the young Autobot home.
The mini-bot had cried. He cried because his freedom was lost. He cried because he was separated from his friends and had no idea what had happened to them; where they were; or even if they were alright. He cried because the war was lost. And he cried because he was forever bound to whatever fate Shockwave had in store for him.
Shockwave didn't take Bumblebee to be his slave or his pet. He wanted him because he wanted a companion and during their time together in the academy, he had developed strong feelings for Bumblebee. Something that was strange and new to the logical mech at the time. He had wanted to protect the young bot and be with him. He eventually found himself falling in love with him. The mini-bot eventually learned to trust and return Shockwave's feelings…
But Shockwave could never rid himself of the guilt he felt for causing all those tears Bumblebee had shed.
He picked the picture of him and his family up and just looked at it for several long moments. He finally put it down and got back to work.
He would return home tomorrow. He would return to his little Bumblebee and his Violet and allow them to ease his troubled processor…
The Dark Age would eventually come to an end.
How and when, Shockwave didn't know.
But he knew this darkness wouldn't last forever.
XXX
"Starscream?"
Optimus and the Seeker were lying outside their home, not doing much of anything besides watching the sky and enjoying each other's company. The masked Seeker turned his head toward his lover and answered, "Yes, Optimus?"
The Autobot picked at his fingers for a moment. There were many things about the war that plagued his processor. He would occasionally ask Starscream about these things, and the Seeker usually gave him an answer. However, sometimes he didn't.
There was something Optimus wanted to know now that concerned Megatron's victory, but he wasn't sure if Starscream would provide an explanation.
'Never know if you don't try,' Optimus stated within his processor. Knowing this to be true, he gathered his nerve and asked, "Megatron used the All Spark to win the war, right?" That was a dumb question. He was there when Megatron threatened to destroy Earth with it. It was the Earth Autobots' surrender that saved the humans. That and the fact that Megatron didn't believe Earth was worth his time.
Nonetheless, Starscream answered, "Correct."
"…How did he re-forge it?" It was a question that came to his processor after he and his team surrendered.
Starscream looked away from Optimus as memories of the All Spark's rebirth flooded his processor. A day he would remember for as long as he lived.
A day where Megatron betrayed his most loyal follower.
Starscream sighed, "He had Lockdown come to Earth and use that Processor Over Matter ninja trick." He looked at Optimus and continued, "Lockdown summoned all the pieces of the All Spark, but it was still incomplete."
"Incomplete?" Starscream nodded.
Optimus thought on how the All Spark could be incomplete. All the shards were on Earth and Megatron removed the fragment in Starscream's forehelm…Unless… "The Earth born Cybertronians?"
Starscream nodded again. "Yep. The Earth born Cybertronians like Wreck-Gar, Mix, and Scrapper had absorbed the All Spark fragments that touched them. So, they couldn't be summoned, no matter what Lockdown did."
"So…how did Megatron complete the All Spark?"
Starscream sighed. "Megatron was desperate. He demanded Lockdown to do something to complete the All Spark. But he couldn't do anything…Then he got an idea. Lockdown made the suggestion that perhaps a piece of Cybertronian life could fill in the missing pieces…Maybe a living spark could complete the All Spark."
Optimus trembled. "You mean…someone there had to sacrifice themselves?"
Starscream nodded slowly. "Yes…I watched as Megatron turned on his most loyal and faithful subject…I watched him as he betrayed someone willing to walk through the Pit at his command." Optimus' optics widened as the Seeker's met them…The scarlet orbs became cold and distant as he continued, "I watched Megatron murdered Lugnut."
Optimus felt he would be sick. But Starscream didn't stop there. "He tore Lugnut's spark chamber from his chest and handed it to Lockdown…I think that's the only time I've seen that bounty hunter look so…horrified…He completed the All Spark…You should've seen Blitzwing when he finally had a moment alone…I found him in his room sobbing like a sparkling because his friend had been killed…I comforted him and we became close friends…Everything else you know…"
Optimus shuddered. The sick feeling did not leave his tanks. In fact, it intensified. "How could he do that?" he asked in an unbelieving tone. "Lugnut trusted Megatron! How could he betray him like that?"
Starscream off-lined his optics and stated, "Megatron didn't care about Lugnut…He doesn't care about any of his subordinates. All he wants from them is their loyalty. He was so desperate to get what he wanted and Lugnut was standing a little too close to him. He would've done the same thing if Blitzwing or I were standing in Lugnut's place."
Optimus looked back up at the sky. He couldn't believe his audios. How could anyone care so little for those who follow him? "How can anyone be so sparkless?" he asked aloud.
Starscream on-lined his optics then took Optimus' servo in his. "Don't dwell on it Optimus. There's not much we can do to change the past."
The Autobot looked at his Seeker and asked, "If you could change what happened, would you?"
Starscream thought about Optimus' question before answering. "I admit to never liking Lugnut. He was annoying, an idiot, and he was clumsy and a bit of a bumbler."
Optimus' features saddened at Starscream's answer.
"But…" He looked up as the Seeker continued. "No mech, no matter how annoying, deserves to die the way he did."
Optimus smiled at his lover and squeezed his clawed servo. Starscream smiled as his Autobot moved closer to him and rested his helm on his shoulder.
"I love you," Optimus whispered as he caressed a few scars on the Seeker's arm.
Starscream nuzzled his helm and returned, "I love you too, my angel."
Hey guys. Just so you know, the next few chapters are going to be pretty short, but they'll get longer after about Chapter 33 I think. But because they're so short, I'll be updating more often. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
