CHAPTER 78

"... You have had enough."

Karan had opened her chassis, absorbing the rest of the high-grade. Since she had no facial appearance, it was the only way for the Cyclops to fill their reserves. She was on the verge of refilling when Chop Shop stopped her in her gesture. Surprised, Karan turned in his direction.

Chop Shop gave her a stern look, leaving no room for negotiation.

"What? It's only a cube, Karan protested without conviction."

"Exactly. And it's already too much for you. I don't want you to abuse it" sighed Chop Shop.

"How cute. You watch over me."

Karan came closer to hug him in a warm embrace. Chop Shop pushed it back slightly, not making the joke.

He looked in a bad mood today. Karan broke away from him. If she could have expressed her emotions, she would have pouted.

"Oh, I'm alright. What's wrong with you today?"

"That's why I don't want you to take more high-grade. And know that there will be nothing as long as you will be in this state."

"It's good. I'm just tipsy."

Even if despite everything, she appreciated his attitude. Whenever she went out to the Crystal Cities or Cybertron, many of the mechs she had encountered had always tried to take advantage in high-consumption, high-grade scenarios. Of course, she had never let it go and that often ended in a cube which she crushed right in the middle of the individual's forehead, knocking him out "without doing it on purpose".

It was refreshing to meet someone like Chop Shop who was not taking advantage of it. But now that they knew each other better, she trusted him not to fall as low. Karan put her head on the shoulderplate of the thoughtful Insecticon.

"A real gentlemech."

"Not to the point of one of my friends. He is truly one."

"I would like to meet your friends one day. And you, mine. It would be nice. Anyway, what was I talking about?"

"About this Heavenlight. Isn't that the reason you asked us to meet up for drinking and talking?"

Oh yes. Karan took the helmet between her servos. In the past few days, the atmosphere within the base had changed significantly. Particularly between the members of the Circle of Light.

She hadn't understood what had happened, but Wing was mostly alone or just with Gasket or Father John, while Outrigger never went out any longer. He didn't talk to Wing, Dai Atlas, or Star Saber, and he sent her to graze when she approached him. He didn't even have the instinct to remind her that she had a training to continue, which was not at all a good sign.

As for Dai Atlas and Star Saber, they remained locked in the meeting room with Ultra Magnus, developing the strategies to adopt against their enemies.

Anyway, she hadn't spoken to them and just seeing Star Saber's disdainful masked head made her go out of her hinges. In the end, along with Wing's permission, Father John had explained the reason to her.

It wasn't against her, or the other Autobots, far from it.

No ... it was that girl in the drawing that Outrigger had found when he'd found the Wing's brooch offered by Drift.

Heavenlight.

"Wing had a daughter," Karan said simply, her tone detached. "Outrigger learned that he could have had a sister. Within the Circle of Light."

"I see."

"It got heavy" said the Cyclops. "Basically. The atmosphere. Father John told me the main points..."

She paused.

"… I am sad for them. For Wing, for Outrigger ... Especially now, Outrigger is furious with Dai Atlas. He blames him for what happened."

"He thought he made the right decision," suggested Chop Shop.

"That's what I think too. But Outrigger is stubborn and not objective enough."

She groaned.

"He annoys me. He's supposed to be more mature than me and he acts like an idiot. I try to talk to him, I try to force him out… But he closes like an oyster."

"Maybe he needs comfort?" chuckled Chop Shop.

"Yeah, a little he needs it" Karan sighed. "Can't you ask Filch to come talk to him? I'm sure he would listen to her!"

Still, she felt a hint of annoyance at the thought. Chop Shop just shrugged.

"It's not an easy situation to live with. But if you think Filch can find the words, it won't take much for me to convince her to come and talk to him. She likes him."

"Oh yes. Very much, even" giggled Karan.

"But nothing prevents you from helping them too. To support them."

"And how can I do it? I was not there. I am not a member of the Circle of Light."

"That doesn't stop anything. You can very well be present, without playing the psychologist."

"It would be more the role of Rung."

Chop Shop smiled slightly. Karan felt a slight warmth embalm the spark. She shifted to look at the Insecticon.

"... You really are a breath of fresh air."

"Let's not exaggerate anything. I'm just giving you advice."

"Still. For me it's already a lot. And frankly ... without entering the cliché romantic comedy..."

She hesitated over the words. She took a breath, before completing.

In other words, what she had on spark.

"Frankly ... It is because you are here with me that I do not regret having embedded myself in this mission. Especially such a difficult one... I am not of much use."

"Don't devalue yourself, Karan."

Chop Shop straightened, before getting up.

The message was clear. It was time to leave.

"... You'd be better off with your people. It's obvious that it bothers you. Don't stay like that" simply said the Insecticon.

"…Thank you for being understanding."

He held out his servo which Karan grabbed for a second without hesitation, before coming closer to hug him again.

It felt so good ... so good to feel in the arms of an individual who listened to her and respected her.

"… Chop Shop?" she asked him, when she still hadn't let go.

"Yes?"

"… We will continue to see each other… at least, will we stay in touch when I return to Cybertron?"

"…You know…"

She felt him hesitate. She looked up at him, waiting for the rest of his sentence.

"…No. Nothing."

"Go ahead, say."

"... You could stay. On Earth."

She guessed the end of his sentence. With me.

Internally, she smiled.

"... I would have loved it. But there is Outrigger. There is Night… and of course…"

"There's your sister. I understand. But you could ask her to come."

"… I have to take my independence too, Chop Shop."

It was not negotiable. But ... she would have loved it. She would really have loved it.

Chop Shop bowed his head. Without a word, Karan reached for his cheek to tenderly caress his face.

"... Come back home well" he told her.

"... You too" she replied as a ground-bridge opened behind her, ending the embrace she wanted to last longer.


When she returned to base, she did not hesitate twice and went in search of Outrigger.

As she wandered the halls to find him, she met Rung, sitting on the steps of the stairs, a Pad on his lap, seeming to be writing on it.

"... Hey, Rung," she called him.

Rung paused and lifted his chin towards her. Karan was facing him, arms crossed.

"… How much does a therapy session with you cost?" she asked him.

"... Do you need to speak with someone?" he replied, a soft smile on his face.

Karan hesitated. Finally, she shook her helm.

"No. It's not about me. But ... Wing and Outrigger ... I think they would need it. Dai Atlas too. I am ready to pay, if that allows them to vent out."

"It's nice of you" Rung smiled. "But you know. If they need it, they will not hesitate to come and see me. It's up to them."

"I know ... It was just an idea."

Even though she firmly believed that there was nothing good in keeping our feelings hidden. Karan bowed and was ready to move on to continue her research when she stopped again.

"… Rung. Outrigger said you lost your memory, right?"

Rung gave him a puzzled frown.

"What is your point?"

"I'm just saying that Wing has recovered his memory thanks to the program contained in the USB key that Father John brought back. You can also use it if you want."

This left the brown and white bot speechless.

"… I'm not sure I want to know what my memories contain."

"And living in the interrogation all the time?" Karan reminded him, an amused tone in her voice. "Don't you want to know inner peace?"

"Looks like Outrigger rubs off on you" Rung giggled.

"Unfortunately for me" sighed Karan, not ready to admit that she had become addicted to the training led by her mentor.

Because it wasn't at all the case. She wasn't at all addicted.

"But seriously ... if it helps, the USB stick will not leave the base."

Rung sneered and invited her to go ahead. Karan bowed once more before obeying and walking away.

As she reached Outrigger's room, she stopped dead. Her mentor was in the middle of a discussion with Wing. Not daring to disturb them, she stayed against the wall, waiting for them to finish.

She had trouble hearing them clearly. Until Outrigger's tone increased.

Resentment and bitterness filled his voice.

"... I'm not going to forgive him."

"Outrigger…" replied Wing gently, melancholy tone. "There is no point in holding it against him indefinitely."

"But he hurt you! You suffered because ... because without him, Heavenlight ..."

"What's done is done, Outrigger. I forgave him. You can also try to do the same."

Outrigger was quite spiteful. But Wing was right. Dai Atlas had made a decision, neither good nor bad from Karan's point of view. But he had tried to arrange things his way.

And Outrigger couldn't blame his leader forever. Without him, Outrigger would likely have died under the bombing today. It was obvious that he had learned from his mistakes with Heavenlight because otherwise, Dai Atlas would never have let the brown bot come to the Circle of Light.

"... I would have had a sister" said Outrigger.

"You had one. And I'm sure you two would have gotten along" said Wing, his tone softened.

"Even ... you ... do you regret having raised me? Now that you've recovered your memory?"

Karan understood. He was scared. He was afraid that Wing or Axe would reject him. That the fact of having raised him while Heavenlight could have joined them made them suffer.

But Wing's response remained immediate. He grabbed Outrigger in his arms, hugging him tightly.

"…No. It hurts, it's true ... but I will never regret having taken you in, Outrigger."

Even at this distance, Karan guessed the relief in his mentor's being rise.

It must have reassured him to hear these words from one of his guardians. Karan strode to the common room to prepare a standard cube of energon, which she brought to Outrigger after Wing whispered more encouraging words before leaving the room.

When Outrigger turned to her, Karan showed him the tray on which the energon cube was placed.

"... Thank you" Outrigger said before rubbing his optics.

"Come here, I'm giving you a hug."

Outrigger jumped at this statement. He didn't have time to react as Karan pounced on him to hug him.

"ARG! Let go of me! you're not going to do it too!"

"Yes I will. That's what friends do when one is demoralized. They hug each other!"

"Sheesh. Do I have a cuddly head?"

"Yeah."

Support them ... she could do that.

Outrigger sighed before grabbing her and hugging her back, albeit reluctantly.


Aboard the ship floating between the clouds, just above human-sized cities, the parameter triggering its invisibility being activated, Glowstrike gently lowered her helm, her optics closed, enjoying a slight moment of calm.

It wouldn't last ... She knew it wouldn't last. She was outside the Sanctuary. There was no Airachnid. There was no Hardshell.

There was only her ... she alone, aboard this ship, with a few Insecticons under her command.

It was almost perfect ... Only something was missing.

Or rather ... someone.

If Saberhorn were there, she would feel at home. In her element. At home. Glowstrike felt her wrist flinch. She took control, paying no further attention to her crew.

To say that before, she had always considered the Sanctuary as her home. But would it still be her house if it weren't for the pirate by her side?

She knew the answer. Deep down, she was angry with herself for thinking differently now. It was not love. It couldn't be love because she was incapable of feeling emotions, even more when they were positive for the individual.

Yet ... she really felt like it. She really felt like she was feeling when she was with him.

It was strange ... she had always believed that she would never find a Conjunx. She hadn't allowed herself to look for a lasting relationship since the day she started to understand certain terms.

Binding, Conjunx, children, sparkling ... All this had been inaccessible to her for so long.

But now ... she couldn't help herself. She had access to it. Even without an emotional box. And that was what was strange.

Glowstrike reopened her optics.

She shouldn't be thinking about that. She should not start to assume assumptions when nothing was certain. Especially not when she had a goal to accomplish.

An irritated expression appeared on her face, thinking back to the last moments she had spent at the Sanctuary, before taking command of the ship.

"Four taken artifacts. Vertebreak, Tarantulas, Scorponok… They have all fallen now. All of them, as well as a powerful army of Insecticons. My mighty army"

Sitting on her throne, Airachnid's fists tightened tightly, her claws violently entering her palm. A Toolbox passed by her to bring her an energon cube ... And the next moment, she ripped his head off.

Then she raised the corpse to her lips, beginning to drink the resulting energon. This time Saberhorn paled and immediately turned his head away. Glowstrike herself could not repress nausea at the abominable sight.

But the message was clear. It was a warning. For the person who was facing the throne.

"... Glowstrike, darling. Explain to me why your thief hasn't brought my artifacts back to the Sanctuary yet."

Chop Shop failed to speak. But his rage was apparent in all four of his optics. Glowstrike should at least recognize that.

"... find yourself someone else," the four-armed Insect growled.

"Chop Shop!" Saberhorn intervened.

The firefly clenched her jaw. What an idiot. What an imbecile.

"Excuse me?" cried Airachnid, who straightened up, servos clasped on the arms of his throne. "Do you forget who you are talking to?"

"We won't! We give up! We agreed with our comrades. You can execute us if you wish so."

"Chop Shop… come on, it's madness!"

Saberhorn took a step, ready to intervene, but Glowstrike caught him by the arm. Her processor was running at full speed to defuse the situation, but she couldn't think clearly if the pirate was also putting himself in danger in defending Chop Shop.

"…Are you serious?" Airachnid replied, her optics not coming off the Chop Shop.

"We are a thief, my Queen. A simple neighborhood thief" said Chop Shop, his optics almost insolent. "You'd better call in a professional."

"... You told me he was professional, Glowstrike!" growled Airachnid.

Glowstrike ignored him and spoke.

"He lost his mind. That would explain his insane words, my Queen."

"A word of advice, Your Majesty," continued Chop Shop for the spider. "When you will execute us ... keep in mind that it might be difficult without Tarantulas. Avoid breaking your claw there."

Don't add any more, Glowstrike thought. Even if she had to admit that seeing the crestfallen Airachnid mine was rather a memorable image to remember. But she saw Saberhorn flinching more and Glowstrike began to think again and again in the hope of finding a solution.

"… I am still able to fight" retorted Airachnid coldly as she left her throne to get dangerously close to Chop Shop. "I was a mercenary under Megatron."

She lifted the clip over her head, ready to skewer the Chop Shop.

"But believe me ... I'm not going to let you say final words!"

"My Queen," Glowstrike said. "He knows the base of our enemies."

Might as well go there by lying. Chop Shop and Airachnid turned to her.

The face of Chop Shop broke down.

"Is it true?" replied Airachnid.

"No… no…"

"Yes, you know it," replied Glowstrike. "Tell me, Chop Shop ... aren't you in contact with a Decepticon who can take us there?"

The horror was drawn on the features of Chop Shop, painfully realizing where she was coming from.

Glowstrike crossed her arms.

"Or should I say… a she-Decepticon?"

"No… we refuse."

"You'll contact her and force her to take us there."

"Leave her out of this!" cried Chop Shop, enraged. "She has nothing to do with this!"

Saberhorn bit his lip. But his relief was apparent when Airachnid lowered her clamp.

"Please! Please! Leave her out of it!" begged Chop Shop.

"Looks like our friend Chop Shop has a crush on someone" sneered Airachnid. "In this case, he will lead us to her. I would love to meet her."

"No ! We refuse ! We refuse !"

"Accept it, Chop Shop," Saberhorn advised him in a somber tone.

"No ! No!"

Chop Shop was about to throw himself on the knees, but Airachnid stopped him and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him to his height.

"You will contact her. Now. And you're going to force her to lead us to them. It is out of the question that these artifacts fall into the hands of Autobots."

Unexpectedly, Hardshell stepped in.

"My Queen… there is Dai Atlas with the Autobots. The leader of the Circle of Light. They are at the base."

Airachnid stiffened.

She was not the only one.

Dai Atlas ... of course, Glowstrike thought. The Queen will never want to face him. And her doubts were confirmed when Airachnid took a step back, fright in her purple optics.

"... No way that I risk my carcass there."

"We need a leader to lead the troops, my Queen," said Glowstrike, playing the game to take advantage of her weakness. "Otherwise, the Insecticons will not follow you."

"They will follow me! I'm staying at the Sanctuary."

Glowstrike noticed the reflection behind the red door.

The camera. The journalists were filming. They were filming everything.

The Queen would no longer have any credibility. Glowstrike straightened up too.

"... In this case, I will lead the troops."

As well enjoy. She could just give herself the right role.

"… I will protect them. I will protect the Sanctuary from the Warriors of the Circle of Light."

I'll protect those you were supposed to protect, Glowstrike thought with all her spark.

It was the duty of a Queen.

Of course… Airachnid had changed its mind afterwards. She finally decided to act like a Queen spoof, but the damage was done. Right now, information, exchange was already circulating among the inhabitants of the Sanctuary.

Airachnid was a pathetic Queen. A coward, a dishonourable one. Glowstrike ... Glowstrike protected them. And she kept her word.

Unfortunately for Chop Shop, he couldn't save his own life and this Decepticon at the same time. But at least he would have a delay. That was all Glowstrike could have done, anyway.

Saberhorn had been unable to accompany her on the ship. They needed him elsewhere. But they promised to meet again afterwards.

Glowstrike was not afraid. She hoped both of them would survive.

The ship arrived over Crown City. She searched for the target point. The headquarters of the American army of humans ... they might as well start there.

Glowstrike took a while, waiting to be sure that all the forces were now in place.

Then her voice rose, giving the order.

"…Fire."


Wing looked down. With his arms outstretched, Gasket presented him with a brand new blade. A whole new handle. A whole new katana.

The white bot frowned, not understanding. His mentor took a step towards him, clearly outlining his intentions.

Then Wing understood.

"… It had been destroyed. I thought ... you'd like to have a new one."

"… you made it?" Wing asked him gently.

"No. I ordered it from a blacksmith at the Crystal Cities."

Wing gave a sad smile. But as Gasket tried to give it to him, Wing pushed him away slightly.

"Wing…"

"You need it more than I do."

"I am no longer a member of the Circle of Light."

That didn't stop him from needing a weapon. Wing blinked, a gloomy expression on his face.

The katana almost shone in Gasket's servos. Wing stretched out his, digits lightly touching the metal, before grasping it at arm's length, making an arc in the air.

The weight was perfect.

"... Thank you, Gasket. I ... I will pay for the work."

"Wing…"

"I'll pay you one. A new weapon, Gasket."

"It's not necessary."

Wing and Gasket looked at each other. Gasket gave him a half-delighted, half-collapsed smile.

"…This pleases me. Sincerely."

"What about you?"

"... Let's say it's the advantage of being homeless. We learn to defend ourselves, to fight without a weapon."

Wing forced himself to smile back.

Then Gasket looked down. And when Wing got closer, he saw the tears clouding his optics.

Wing felt his spark tighten. He understood what it meant. Gently, he reached out to caress Gasket's face, tenderly wiping a tear off the green bot's cheek.

Gasket looked up at Wing, who moved closer to him.

Without adding a word, Gasket grabbed him by the shoulderplates to draw him against him, while their lips brushed against each other, before Wing deepened the contact.

It would not be easy to forget ... they would never forget ... unless Dai Atlas erased their memories.

"... I love you, Wing" Gasket confessed.

Wing gave him a sad smile before bringing his face closer to his, initiating another of their kisses. Gasket stroked Wing's helm in their kiss, his lips breaking through to touch his former student's.

Wing didn't suppress a moan and parted his lips to let Gasket enter. Their glossas brushed against each other, before caressing each other.

"… Hmm…"

"Haah ..."

Their chassis touched. Wing grabbed Gasket's face, tilting his head to the side as he tasted his mentor.

They quickly ran out of breath and Wing cut the kiss to catch his breath. He didn't give Gasket time to express that he licked his lips once more.

"Gasket ... Haah ..." Wing let escape.

He couldn't suppress a thrill when Gasket made him sit on their berth. Wing closed his optics, never ceasing to kiss him.

It's been so long since he ...

I love you too, Wing wanted to say it out with all his spark. Wing wrapped his arms around Gasket's shoulderplates as his mentor spread his legs and began to open himself.

"Haah..."

Someone knocked at the door.

Immediately Wing and Gasket stopped, turning abruptly. The door never opened, but that didn't stop Outrigger's voice from rising.

Then news fell.

The base of the American army ...

Wing almost collapsed. Immediately, Wing and Gasket stood up and rushed towards the door, Wing placing his katana in the old one's sheath.

Father John… Mary…

They rushed out of the base at the same time the meeting room's doors opened.

Dai Atlas, Ultra Magnus and Star Saber stared at them, taken aback.

"What…?"

"Humans ... Humans ..." tried to articulate Wing.

But he didn't need to say more.

Dai Atlas closed his optics, taking a serious expression.

Unexpectedly, he replied.

"… Let's go, then."

Let's go…

Wing transformed.

Father John… Mary…

Please, be alright! prayed Wing.


She didn't want to believe it.

In her two-wheeler mode, Karan set off for Crown City, accelerating even faster as Outrigger told her the news through communication.

"... The US military base has been ..."

No ! It was a joke…

" …I'm joining you!" exclaimed Karan, not caring much about the tremors in her own voice coming from anxiety and panic.

"No, Karan! I don't want you to come! go back to the base!"

"I'm not going to sit there without acting while you—"

She heard it.

It was a faint sound ... but she managed to hear it.

Suddenly, Karan shifted to the side, and a spider web hit the wind in her place.

Immediately after, she transformed again.

"Karan! What is happening?"

Karan did not answer.

Without a word, she turned around.

On the road, Chop Shop stood in front of her. From the distance between them, she couldn't discern his expression.

Karan almost called him ... when she noticed that he was not alone.

He was accompanied by another Insecticon.

A spider ... that stood upright, her eight legs in the air, ready to fall on it.

Karan felt an icy shiver run through her body.

"... Chop Shop ..."

When the latter approached, she noticed in horror the weapon pointed at her ...

The weapon ... a laser gun ... in his servo ... in Chop Shop's servo...

Karan wanted to run away ... but it felt like her own body no longer obeyed her.

She trusted him ...

"... take us to the artifacts," Chop Shop told her coldly.

After the horror ... it was a much more painful feeling that finished her off.

It hurt her so much that Karan was unable to say a word.

Decepticons stabbed each other in the back ... she was told once.

It wasn't Chop Shop… it couldn't be Chop Shop.

For the first time in her life ... Karan felt betrayed.