Chapter 35: Years Go By
"Turn left just a little. No, sorry, your other left."
"That would be my right Tawny." Megatron laughed.
Three whole years had gone by since they all received the news that Megatron would be blind in his left optic. Tawny and Blackcrescent had worked tirelessly to help him around the base. They quickly learnt how to tell the different between their left and right to help Megatron when it came to moving.
"That's why I said your other left." Tawny laughed. She pounced around the corner and smashed into Optimus' leg. "Ouch!" She cried.
Megatron turned the corner slowly and smiled at his younger brother. "Now that will teach you to look before you leap, now won't it?" He laughed.
Tawny mewed pitifully as she rubbed her nose with her paw. Optimus sighed as he bent down and picked the lioness up. She squirmed a little, mostly because her tail was stuck in an uncomfortable position against the Autobot leader's chest. Optimus laughed and looked up at his older brother.
Megatron's left optic was now covered by the milky-white substance. Ratchet wasn't entirely sure what it was but he knew that he couldn't operate on it to remove the substance. It was now fused with the glass that made up Megatron's optic and he down-right refused to have his optic removed, stating that he would rather have a blind optic and know that it is still there, than have it removed and not feel it there and having only a hole. No one really blamed him but Serenity teased him that he was just being vain.
Optimus, Megatron and Ironhide's age was starting to catch up with them. Ironhide was having even more trouble with his hip and Megatron and Optimus started to look older. None let up on their daily lives though. If they were going to die, they were going to die being useful and nothing less.
"Megatron?" Blackcrescent asked as he came around the corner.
"What is wrong Crescent?" Megatron asked as he turned towards the child.
"Mom wants to see you in the Command Center. Something about a Sideways." Blackcrescent stated.
Megatron stiffened and nodded. He smiled as he picked the small mech up. Blackcrescent smiled back and helped Megatron walk back to the Command center. When they entered Serenity was leaning against the desk staring at a screen. She turned her head towards them and made a beckoning signal. Megatron walked over and looked at the screen.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Sideways has been spotted near Tranquility. Sam's asking us for some back up just in case. Barricade and Bumblebee are already heading there. Starscream is going too, just incase they need air support." Serenity replied.
"You seem to have taken to leadership quite easily." Megatron stated, looking at her with his one good optic.
"I'm not in charge. Starscream is. I just relay the messages." Serenity replied.
Megatron nodded and looked at the screen. He placed Blackcrescent on the ground and started to type in some coordinates. Starscream's F-22 form appeared on the screen.
"Starscream, statis report." Megatron ordered over the com-link.
"So far there is nothing. Not even a dust trail from any of those Unicron worshipers." Starscream replied.
"That's good news for us. Tell us the instant you see any of them. It's high time we sent them to the Pit." Serenity stated.
Starscream laughed before he cut out the connection. Serenity sighed as she rubbed the back of her head. Sideways made her jumpy when he was mentioned because she feared what he would do to Tawny and Blackcrescent if he found them. Blackcrescent looked up at her with his blood red optics. He looked more and more like his father as the years went by.
"Who is Sideways mother?" Blackcrescent asked.
"Sideways is the name of the leader of Decepticon that worship the God of Chaos, Unicron. Emerald came from this group but she holds none of their ideals." Serenity replied.
"Oh." Blackcrescent said.
"Blackcrescent! That's where you went!" A femme's voice called.
Serenity smiled as she turned and saw Moonray walk into the room. Her rose coloured optics sparkled. Serenity tried not to start laughing as Blackcrescent pulled himself up a little higher. Blackcrescent and Moonray liked each other a lot, just as Tawny and Goldenmane liked each other and much older Dreamweaver and Emerald were in love. Primus often stated that it was a beautiful sight to see his grandchildren living and learning how to love and receive love.
"Come on! Dreamweaver and Emerald were going to give us rides remember?" Moonray said excitedly.
"Is that ok mother?" Blackcrescent asked.
"Of course. Just tell Dreamweaver to be careful." Serenity stated.
"I will!" Blackcrescent cried. "Let's go!" He added to Moonray.
The pair ran off to find Dreamweaver and Emerald as Serenity shook her head. Megatron laughed softly at his niece's children. Serenity was almost that bad at that age, but she was in training most of the time so she didn't have all the time to annoy the Decepticons out of their minds.
"Was I that bad?" She asked.
"Almost as bad." Megatron replied.
"Attention all Decepticons and Autobots! This is Starscream! We require assistance at the Tranquility Mall." Starscream's voice shouted over the Communication link.
"Give us a couple of minutes Starscream! We'll be right there!" Serenity replied.
"I don't know if we'll last that long Serenity." Barricade stated.
Serenity pressed the button on the desk and spoke clearly into the intercom. "Everyone we have a problem. Barricade, Bumblebee and Starscream have encountered the Unicron followers. They need assistance immediately. All able bodies are to report to the Tranquility Mall to assist." She stated.
"I'll stay here and look after the young ones." Megatron stated.
Serenity nodded. She raced out of the command center and out of the base. She transformed into her jet mode. She sped towards Tranquility at a supersonic speed, hoping to get there before it was too late. She saw an F-14 Tomcat having a dog-fight with another jet. She fired off a round at the other jet and watched as it went spiraling towards the ground, a scream following it down.
"Thanks Serenity." Backkick called.
Serenity flew up beside him. "What happened?" She asked.
"The Unicron followers turned up and started to attack us. There was very little we could do about it." Backkick replied.
Serenity angled herself towards the ground. She landed and dodged an energy blast from a cannon. She looked up and saw that it had come from a yellow seeker. She whipped out her cannon and fired. The seeker fell backwards, a smoking hole in its chest and a scream leaving its lips. Serenity stood up and looked for Starscream. She saw him fighting off at least four different Transformers and ran to help him. She fired off another round and blasted two of Starscream's attackers away. Starscream blasted the others through the chest compartment and turned towards her.
"I owe you one." He stated.
"You taught me everything I know." She replied.
"True."
"Is Sideways here?" She asked.
"Aww, how sweet. You missed me." Sideways' voice drifted over to them.
Serenity turned towards him and lifted her cannons level with his face. His visor was down and the spiky device on his arm was poised ready to strike.
"I hope you didn't think that you could win?" Sideways stated.
"I can and I will." Serenity snarled.
"I'd…." Sideways started to stay, but Serenity lifted her hand and threw it out beside her.
Sideways was thrown against the wall of mall. He groaned as Serenity stepped forward, her cannons charging. She looked down at him and smiled cruelly.
"Good bye. I hope that Primus has mercy on you, because I won't." She stated.
Sideways lifted his head and stared into her optics before she fired her cannon. A huge smoldering hole was left where Sideways' spark used to be. She snorted and turned away. The others were slowly collecting the bodies of the Unicron's followers and getting them ready to dump them into the Laurentian Trench.
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50 years after the death of all of Unicron's followers, Ironhide was on his deathbed. His whole body was starting to malfunction on a massive scale. He could barely talk to them anymore without going into a major coughing fit. Emerald was with him constantly, telling him that he was going to get better. Ironhide would only shake his head and say that he was dying and even Ratchet knew it.
Everyone was gathered in the med bay around Ironhide just to stay with him for company. He seemed fine as Ratchet checked over him.
"Everything seems to be functioning just fine." Ratchet stated to the weapons specialist.
"Yah." Ironhide rasped.
"Come on Ironhide. You'll get better." Emerald stated.
Ironhide looked hard into her red eyes and smiled. He lay down and chuckled. They all watched in surprise as the laugh faded away. Emerald screamed as she watched Ironhide's armor turn from his usual jet black to the dull black that signifies death. Everyone was taken back. They didn't know what to say, especially to the suddenly pain stricken Emerald. Dreamweaver walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort his mate. They had finalized their decisions about 6 years before, back when Ironhide could still walk around.
"How could he just leave like that?" She demanded.
"Emerald, Ironhide's been saying that he was going to die for awhile now. Look on the bright side; at least he died happy with all his friends around him." Serenity said gently.
Emerald looked up at her and nodded. At least she had allowed him one final laugh before he left.
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Another 50 years went by before both Megatron and Optimus Prime were both dying.
Serenity was holding Megatron's hand, fighting hard to hold back her tears. Blackcrescent and Tawny were curled up against Megatron, their combined bodies holding Megatron steady between them. Dreamweaver was standing beside Megatron's bed and had his arms crossed. Starscream had a death grip on his father's other hand and looked ready to break down in tears.
"Dad, please, you've got to fight this!" Starscream begged.
Megatron laughed softly. "You can't fight Primus' will. If he wants me than he will call for me. I have a feeling it will be very soon." He stated.
"But, we can't do anything without you or Optimus!" Starscream stated.
"You and Serenity can handle everything just fine without us. You two have been doing just fine for the past 100 years." Optimus stated from where he was lying.
"But…." Starscream started to say.
"Starscream, listen to me. You are the leader of the Decepticons and Autobots now. Serenity can only help you if you are willing to lead. You don't need me or Optimus anymore to baby you. You are leading now. Good luck." Megatron stated. He turned towards his brother and smiled. "Are you ready little brother?"
"Whenever you are brother." Optimus replied.
They both lay down on their beds and smiled. Then their optics went out and their bodies turned the dull black of death. Starscream started to shake and tears started to leak out of his optics. He may have argued with his father often and even tried to overthrow him, but during the peace they had rekindled something that both thought was dead.
Starscream collapsed beside the bed and broke down in tears. Tawny and Blackcrescent started yelling and pushing Megatron gently, hoping that he was just sleeping. Dreamweaver's wings drooped to his sides as he looked at Megatron. Serenity was crying so hard it was hard for her to see what was happening.
"Tawny, Blackcrescent, stop. Let him be. He is in a better place now. He can see again and he doesn't have any pain running through his circuits. He'll be fine." Serenity stated.
Tawny and Blackcrescent stopped and looked at each other. Tears were streaming down their faces. They were going to miss the brothers a lot but at least they would be with old friends again.
"I hope that they are happy." Blackcrescent stated.
"With lots of friends to talk to." Tawny added.
"And that they always think about us." They said together.
Author's note: Ok things happened fast. But I'm planning on ending the story in the next chapter so I had to kill off the characters to signify something. Tell me what you think.