CHAPTER 81
" …Here it is. "
Karan looked up at the item Chop Shop held between his four arms while Filch, by his side, gazed at the artifact with curiosity and admiration, as if she was dying to appropriate it.
It was obvious in her optics. The Cyclops stifled a sigh. Despite the tense situation that weighed on the three of them, despite the context of the war, despite the unhealthy and dangerous atmosphere that the Sanctuary emitted, she still managed to be disturbed by the mere sight of an artefact.
The Crown of Solomus… Even if they already had three others, it did not alleviate his stupor, her wonder and her fear of the dangerousness of such an item.
"… It burns when you lie," said Chop Shop softly.
"Shiny!"
Karan looked at him, not hiding her disbelief.
"Really?" she squeaked.
Chop Shop held it out to Karan. The Cyclops received it, feeling only a faint warm touch. She felt herself get startled in spite of herself.
She stared at Chop Shop, who kept his four optics riveted to the ground.
So he was not lying ... What good was it? What was there to hide anyway? Although, coming from him, it would no longer surprise her if he were to lie again. She turned on her heel, opening her armor to place the Crown inside her frame.
Once it was done, she closed it. Without emotion, she addressed to him:
"... I'm going, then. Send me a ground-bridge back to where I was."
"Very well."
Chop Shop led her straight to the ground-bridge room and started entering the coordinates. Filch did not detach her optics off Karan, as if she expected her to give her the Crown of Solomus as a gift, like a jewel.
The Cyclops did not camouflage her rejection and simply waited for the appearance of the bridge so that she could leave to join her comrades. As he performed coordinates, Chop Shop looked up at her.
"Karan ... Again ... I'm sorry."
"I don't care" she retorted coldly. "But really, you can't know how much."
His throat tight, Chop Shop paused.
Then, one word slowly after another, he articulated.
"Even if ... Airachnid sent us ... well, sent me to retrieve the artifacts ... that doesn't take away from the fact that I think you're someone good, Karan. You are someone authentic, fun and..."
Stop, Karan thought, feeling her arms shake.
"We ... I ... have a lot of affection for you, Karan. I ... really developed feelings for you, anyway."
The most unexpected thing was that Karan's response was immediate.
"Me too," she growled. "The worst part is that you do this to someone you dare pretend to have feelings for."
"I had no choice…"
"We always have the choice. But I no longer trust you, Chop Shop. You do what you want with your life, I don't care."
She wanted to come back to Cybertron ... at the Crystal Cities ... No matter the place, she needed to be with her family ...
She needed to be away from him.
"I'm not lying, Karan ..."
What? Did he expect her to leap for joy because the Crown was not burning? Karan only spoke to him in cold silence.
After a while it seemed like forever ... the ground-bridge finally opened up on Jasper. No other word, no "goodbye" or any other formula ... Karan contented herself with crossing the ground- bridge, her shoulderplates stiff, the Crown within her.
Behind her, she heard Filch addressing Chop Shop in a small voice.
"… Filch would like to leave too."
"I know" Chop Shop simply replied.
Outrigger ... She had to at least join her mentor. But perhaps he had already returned to the base? Maybe they were all back at the base already?
As soon as the Jasper Desert reappeared, Karan put her servo on her antenna, immediately contacting Ratchet.
"Ratchet! It's Karan! I'm here ! Open a ground-bridge for me. I have the crown –"
But Karan never finished her sentence.
A violent pain in his back prevented her from shouting these last words. She screeched as she found herself paralyzed.
A blade had suddenly pierced her armor from behind. But the blade had not only reached its armor. Karan felt it.
She had stabbed her back, sinking deep into her spine.
"It looks like Tarantulas would have upgraded it, had he lived longer," whispered the spider's voice in her audio.
The smell of energon poured into her senses ... and Karan couldn't even turn around. Her body no longer even obeyed her.
She only felt herself tilting forward, the simple gesture tugging on her deeply injured part of her back.
Airachnid stood behind her. Karan's body got paralyzed, she could barely return her gaze.
She'd believed ... she'd believed she had it ... she'd believed that ...
"Pity. I can dig, you know" replied Airachnid, as if she had guessed her thoughts.
Karan coughed. On the ground, a puddle of energon was drawn on the ground.
The spider's pincers rose, piercing the blue sky.
"You're boring me ... I'm going to rip your limbs out one by one."
Karan growled ... and the pliers fell on her.
"Shiny!" shouted a voice from behind her.
A purple and blue shadow passed near Karan ... and Airachnid was violently struck on the side.
In her audios, the cries of the crow increased in volume while, in her bird form, she flew in circles in the sky, before melting in a right spiral on the spider.
Airachnid roared and easily blocked the talons of the crow with her forearms while her other legs were raised for the offensive, like spears and swords.
"You! The mentally ill, you dare come?" spat the spider.
"Shiny!" replied Filch.
She said nothing else. Filch blocked, but she had no opening to reply back. However, despite the simultaneous and massive attacks by the spider, Karan hoped that Filch could hold out until she contacted reinforcements.
On the verge of uneasiness, she did violence so as not to let the pain take over her completely. Karan hardly reached for her antenna.
"Ratchet…"
The connection was barely established. Karan cried out in impatience and anguish, begging that the medic get it as soon as possible.
A cry froze her. Karan felt her spark beat at full speed, to the point that she thought it was going to get out of her chassis.
One of the spider's legs suddenly disappeared to pierce Filch's hip. As the breathing became jerky, the crow transformed and knelt, placing her servos on the wound which was bleeding profusely.
"Filch!" Karan called, reaching out for her.
"Wondering how I was able to welcome you to my Sanctuary" chuckled Airachnid.
Get up ... get her away from Filch ...
But Karan couldn't even straighten up. When she summoned Filch to take off and leave, Airachnid was violently grabbed from behind.
"Get away from Filch!"
The voice of the red Insecticon sounded. Chop Shop raised Airachnid above his head before tossing her away. Airachnid managed to stop her fall and got up, giving him a hateful look. Chop Shop was standing in front of Filch, blocking the spider from approaching her.
As Airachnid and Chop Shop launched into each other, resuming their struggle, Karan caught her breath.
Everything was getting dark around her. She had to get help ... she had very little time ... Karan realized that communication had been established.
Panting in pain, Karan seized the opportunity and contacted Ratchet.
"Ratchet ! We need backup! Please! Call someone!"
"Karan! Where are you?"
"Please! I am at these coordinates! Send someone! Anybody ! There are wounded and -"
Chop Shop fell next to her. Karan stiffened. As Ratchet screamed in her audios, she saw Airachnid cross the desert to approach the red Insecticon on the ground.
"As if I was going to let a poor thief be better than me ..."
Karan looked up.
The spider stood a few inches from Chop Shop.
"I thought I would wait to torture you and execute you in public to then humiliate your corpse, but I don't think I would have the patience in the end."
Ratchet ... asked her to give her coordinates...
A few seconds ... a few seconds and help would arrive.
She still had time to enter her coordinates.
Filch laid on the ground, screaming in agony. Karan clenched her fists. But she wasn't able to get to her. As Airachnid threw herself on Chop Shop, Karan stretched out her arms to grab her ankles, trying to knock her down.
It barely worked. Immediately, Airachnid turned to her, anger burning in her purple optics. Karan coughed, never letting go of her ankle.
"Karan!"
Airachnid laughed.
A deep laugh ... freezing ... that paralyzed Karan.
"…My coordinates are…"
"In the end" cut Airachnid. "I think I know how to further torture Chop Shop."
The next moment, Karan twisted in pain, her body bending in half due to the deep gash, deep enough to pierce the armor from the front and let her chassis appear, at the mercy of the Insecticon.
Her chassis… the spark…
That was the intention of the spider.
Next time ... The spider's pliers plunged into it.
But Karan felt nothing.
She felt no shock, no blade piercing the spark ... she saw no glow ... no spark.
A shield was placed in front of her.
A shield…
Red in color…
Karan didn't realize it immediately. She looked up slowly, her gaze plunging into Chop Shop's, almost lying on top of her, hugging her close.
Chop Shop…
His lips moved ... no sound emanated from his mouth ...
Contact them ...
The energon flowed from his lips ...
No…
I am sorry.
Little by little, horror won her over.
Then ... the next moment, Chop Shop's head slid onto his right shoulderplate before falling to the floor next to her.
Karan was screaming.
She was screaming but ... no sound ...
Only ... hissing. As if she had lost her hearing ... no more sound ... neither the voice of Airachnid, nor the voice of Ratchet, nor the sound of the wind ...
It was as if she had become a spectator ...
Stop… stop… she said.
But Airachnid did not stop ...
Her pincers rose again and the right arm separated from the body ...
One after the other ... each part fell ...
Chop Shop… she begged.
Chop Shop !
No ... no ...
Karan refused. She grabbed the body of Chop Shop against her, as if trying to protect it from Airachnid's attacks anyway.
It was too late ... it was too late ... But she didn't want to admit it.
Chop Shop ... Chop Shop was dead, but she acted like he was still alive and she needed to protect him ... someone to protect him.
Behind her, a light.
A greenish glow ... and finally, hearing returned.
The sound of a drawing sword.
Karan knew who it was ... It was him. Him.
But Karan kept the body of Chop Shop against her ... refusing to let go of him as she heard her own screams strangling her throat.
However, it stopped Airachnid. Above her, the spider had straightened, her jaw clenched.
Then Outrigger appeared in her field of vision.
"… Shouldn't you be with your army, Airachnid?" taunted the brown bot, his sword and katana crossed over his frame.
"… A member of the Circle of Light…"
Airachnid stepped back ... she was afraid ... she was scared ... she was scared by Outrigger.
But Karan didn't care. She didn't care to see Airachnid behaving like a coward. The body temperature of Chop Shop was starting to drop ... and the pain hit Karan hard as her shoulderplates went up and down, shaken by tears.
"… What kind of Queen would abandon her army in the middle of the battlefield?" asked Outrigger.
"They can all die that I won't care!" replied Airachnid snaringly.
A jet was heard ... She had sent a canvas. But Outrigger had already avoided it.
Karan heard Airachnid jump ... before transforming again.
In the air, floated a helicopter mode. Her alt-mode, apparently…
Outrigger did not seek to pursue her as Airachnid rose higher and higher, before fleeing and disappearing on the horizon.
Everything disappeared around her.
Karan had probably passed out for a few seconds ... the shock, the panic, the terror, the anguish... all of which had got the better of her.
When she regained consciousness, she was in Ratchet's arms. The latter lifted her to transport her towards the ground-bridge they had opened.
" …No… " Karan's voice trembled.
Blindly, Karan searched for Chop Shop.
She looked for the Red Insecticon ...
I am sorry.
But there was nothing ...
"No…no… "
"Karan… calm down" whispered Ratchet.
"No ... no ..." she repeated.
Don't ask me to calm down ... don't ask me to calm down ...
Behind them, Outrigger supported Filch by the shoulderplate, the crow keeping her servo pressed on her hip.
Tears ran down the cheeks of the crow. She was sobbing… and not only because of her injury…
They were like brother and sister, Karan remembered painfully.
"Karan…" Outrigger called her.
She must have been happy to see him… she knew it…
But instead, when she finally had the strength to speak, to talk... she only gave him a brief comment marked by sobs in her own voice.
"... You should have come earlier."
Outrigger's face fell.
Through her foggy sight, Karan noticed something moving from the corner of the globe. The Cyclops barely moved his head…
And noticed a red spot go away.
Her spark almost stopped.
"Chop Shop?" she called him, in a burst of hope.
The task turned around.
But it was not Chop Shop ... The task turned around and she could only see yellow optics contemplating her.
Then Filch's voice rose.
"… No Chop Shop… Righty…"
"Righty...?" repeated Karan.
Again, Karan felt lost. Filch wiped her optics, trying to keep more tears from falling.
"… Chop Shop no Cybertronian like us… Chop Shop is an assembly of Minicons… and they are all dead. Apart ... apart Righty."
Apart from Righty…
Chop Shop… had been a Deployer?
Karan's gaze lingered on Righty. The latter only lowered his head before turning on his heel to move away from the scene.
If Karan had been able, she would have smiled bitterly.
One more lie…
But ... at least Chop Shop had never existed. And that being ... no matter who it was, still lived. In a way.
But it hurt ... She was trying to reason with herself but ... it was as if a hole had pierced her spark.
She no longer felt the sharp pain that gradually subsided ... instead, there was nothing but emptiness.
"... Let's go, you have to take care of yourself" said Ratchet sadly.
"... I want my mommy" Filch articulated.
She too ... Karan also needed her mom. Her family.
Karan said no more and let herself be carried away.
She had to be put to sleep...
She had to stop her ... she had to stop them all ... before they put in a new strike.
Ignoring the pain left by Glowstrike, having burned her entire cheek, Arcee threw another blow at an Insecticon before lifting her leg in the air to hit him head-on in the jaw.
She was in pain ... she was in pain ... But at least she had to stop her ...
Glowstrike was in control again. On the screen, Arcee noticed that they were moving further and further away from the battlefield ... and the blue femme did not understand why.
She could shoot her comrades ... but instead, the ship was moving away.
What did she have in mind?
She punched another Insecticon that had grabbed her, before ending with a kick. Immediately, she rushed towards Glowstrike.
The latter did not wait for her to reach her to turn around and sent her another energy attack, which Arcee had difficulty dodging.
But Glowstrike didn't stop there and sent more, simultaneously ... and Arcee screamed when she found herself against the wall, having received the attack in full frame. She groaned in pain as the firefly gazed up at her.
"... Since you care so much about these humans ... there are still so many of their cities to destroy..." the firefly whispered.
Arcee roared.
She wouldn't ... let her do it ...
Enduring, she got up and aimed at Glowstrike. The firefly recoiled but the shot still managed to reach her in the shoulderplate. The firefly emitted a slight grimace caused by the pain.
She wasn't so invulnerable… Arcee jumped up and raised her fist to hit Glowstrike in the cheek.
Again, the firefly's servo lit up. Arcee left the ground and was sent to the dashboard, her body writhing in pain from the violent electric shocks.
Screaming until she lost her voice, she felt the cold metal of a cannon leaning against her forehead.
Glowstrike ... had recovered one of the laser-guns. She was about to pull the trigger when Arcee grabbed her arm to push the barrel away from her head.
The two struggled to gain control. But the shock had deeply weakened Arcee. The next moment, Glowstrike trapped Arcee's two servos in hers, plating the barrel again on her head.
"Who ... Who are you?" shouted Arcee.
Glowstrike gave her a slight grin.
Then Glowstrike pulled the trigger ... But the shot never came.
A violent jolt struck the entire ship and Glowstrike suddenly lost her balance. Arcee tried to straighten up but she could only fall from the dashboard, collapsing on the floor.
The ship ... was shaking. Arcee focused on the screen, trying to figure out where it could come from.
Another shock ... it came from the hull of the ship this time ... As if something had fallen on it...
Arcee looked back at the screen ... and a blue, red and white air mode appeared on the screen, firing at the ship.
Dai Atlas ... Arcee smiled as Glowstrike jumped up to take control.
The ship disappeared ... and again Dai Atlas landed on the roof of the ship.
Several blows were heard ... It was as if ... Dai Atlas was trying to get inside the ship by drilling a hole inside.
It was his intention ...
A violent siren was heard ... Red lights lit the control room while the screen showed that the ship was damaged.
But that didn't stop Glowstrike ... Far from it. She pulled on the controls with both servos ... and a new shake nailed Arcee to the ground.
The ship bowed ... and on the screen, the blue femme saw the ground approaching dangerously.
She… did she intend to crash it ?
No! Arcee stood up and rushed back to Glowstrike to hit her with a shoulderplate. Glowstrike glared at her and Arcee slapped her servo, which was still in control, before grabbing her wrists.
"Do you want to kill us all?" spat Arcee.
Glowstrike gave her another mocking smile.
"No. Only you."
And again, the struggle resumed.
"Star Saber ! Shouted Dai Atlas as he continued to strike the ship's cockpit, using his katana to punch a hole in the hull.
Star Saber did not answer ... Down, the fight still resumed. And if they did nothing, they would soon be wiped out.
"Star Saber! Repeated Dai Atlas. "I need you !"
The voice of the red airman rose through the call.
"I have my sights on the ship. I just need to get closer. "
Dai Atlas froze, stopping in his efforts.
"What are you talking about?"
"We are not going to let these damn heretics win!"
Immediately, Dai Atlas looked for Star Saber.
He finally saw him... far away from the battlefield.
In his servos, a rocket launcher. Dai Atlas immediately realized with horror what he wanted to do.
"Star Saber ! Do not do that! Don't shoot!"
"If the ship falls, they will no longer have support! We are not going to let them win."
"Star Saber! Arcee is inside! You are going to kill them all!"
They couldn't shoot the ship ... It would only cause deaths ... and even if it would eliminate their main support, it would also eliminate one of their allies!
"Don't shoot!"
"Why? That's what you should do!"
"We are not going to eliminate our comrades, even to arrest enemies!"
"They are Autobots! They are not our comrades!"
Star Saber paused.
"... It's not our problem if they die."
"This is out of the question ! The Circle of Light prohibits killing! You know it very well!"
He was not going to shoot ... Star Saber hadn't fallen as low ...
Dai Atlas' optics widened at this falling sentence, like a death penalty.
"… However, you have already killed."
In the distance, the rocket launcher lit up.
Dai Atlas stiffened… And as the distant sound of the shot reached his audios, Dai Atlas could do nothing but transform to get away from the ship as quickly as possible.
"Arcee!"
But Arcee didn't hear it ... Dai Atlas tried not to turn around.
No sooner had he landed on the ground than the ship exploded above him, in a cloud of fire, light and ashes.
"Arcee!"
No one around him moved.
A single word to his lips ... to the lips of his comrades, terror animating them at the sight of the flaming vessel ...
Wing nearly transformed to join the ship, but Gasket stopped him with a gesture. Silently, he pulled him back and the two started running.
"Arcee!"
In the sky, a long black and gray trail accompanied the falling vessel.
It was both so fast ... and so long at the same time ...
Soon, the shock caused by the fall of the ship pushed them to the ground. Beside him, Gasket hugged Wing, keeping him protected against him.
It lasted for long minutes ... Wing kept the optics riveted to the ground, trying not to raise his head until the tremor hit the ground at their pedes.
Then, little by little, it stopped, even if Gasket kept Wing in his arms ...
A smell of smoke struck his nostrils. Once the shaking ended, Wing did not straighten up immediately.
As if something ... inside of him made it impossible to look.
"Arcee!"
But his comrade's voice called out to him. In turn, Wing got up to join Cliffjumper. The red bot would run towards the ship lying in the distance, hidden by the fiery flames and the dark smoke.
From this distance, they saw nothing ...
"Cliffjumper ... Cliffjumper!" Gasket called him as he ran after him. "Don't come near!"
But Cliffjumper ignored him. He continued to desperately call Arcee's name.
Soon, Bumblebee joined them and together, they stooped down and began to lift the debris, clearing a passage to try to find their comrade.
"Glowstrike!"
Wing turned. Saberhorn had taken the same direction as them, using his wings to be faster. He also shared their panicked expression and he rushed over to the wreckage of the ship to clear the obstacles.
With the spark flying, the white bot lowered to look for Arcee among the rubble.
The following minutes were hellish… At every moment, they were afraid of finding their dead, buried comrade…
Again, this memory… the memory of their apartment in Kaon. Wing gritted his dentas and continued searching.
"Arcee!"
It was Cliffjumper who found her. His comrades helped him and together they managed to extract Arcee out of the rubble.
As soon as she was laid on the ground, Cliffjumper lifted her and supported her head against his knee while Ultra Magnus contacted Ratchet.
"Ratchet!" We need care! We have a wounded comrade!"
Wing turned his attention back to Arcee.
Even though she was unconscious, she was breathing. Slightly, but she was alive.
Wing breathed a sigh of relief before turning to Saberhorn, who continued to search relentlessly for the person he was looking for.
Wing did not hesitate. And despite Dai Atlas' protests, Wing rushed to assist him. Saberhorn barely glanced at him, but Wing was relieved that he wouldn't refuse his help. He wouldn't find her in this state of mind ...
Wing lifted the rubble, cleared a passage. Little by little, corpses of Insecticons appeared in front of him. His spark clenched at the sight and the white bot could do little more than turn his head.
Finally, he found a servo... and without hesitation, Wing grabbed it to pull it out of the ship.
An Insecticon appeared.
And Wing's spark stopped.
"Glowstrike!" shouted Saberhorn, hurrying to join Wing.
Wing did not react. Mouth open, optics wide in shock and disbelief, he stared as Saberhorn hugged Glowstrike against him.
"Come on, come on ... My Dear. Do not do this to me. Don't do this to me ... wake up."
The firefly began to cough. Despite everything, she didn't open the optics.
It was ... it was impossible ... It was really…
Wing felt tears run down his cheeks.
Saberhorn carried her in his arms, turning to the nearby Insecticons.
"We're opening a ground-bridge! We're leaving now!"
"What?"
Hardshell pushed two Insecticons to cut through a passage. Immediately, he stood in front of Saberhorn, fangs in front.
"You're kidding? We are not going back! We continue to fight!"
"Look around, damn it!" Saberhorn yelled back. "You really believe that we can continue under these conditions?"
"I am the one in command ! I'm the commander of war!"
"False! It's the Queen! And in her absence, the Second takes command. And she is injured!"
The Second…
Wing raised his trembling arms, taking a step towards Saberhorn.
"The Queen will not be -" began Hardshell.
"Quiet!" Saberhorn cut him violently, genuinely angry. "I do not care!"
"The weak only have to die!"
He did not control himself.
Wing burst behind Saberhorn and his fist went alone in Hardshell's face. Hardshell was thrown to the ground.
Around them, the Insecticons straightened up, ready to attack again.
Saberhorn nodded to them, silently telling them not to continue. With the firefly in his arms, Saberhorn contacted an interlocutor to open a ground-bridge.
The next moment, the ground-bridge appeared while the one leading to the Autobot base was drawn on the other side, at a reasonable distance so that the two did not merge.
One after the other, each joined his camp. The Autobots transported Arcee to their base while the Insecticons moved towards theirs.
But when Saberhorn was about to disappear, Wing followed him.
"What are you doing?" hissed the beetle.
"Please ... you have to let me come" said Wing, his voice trembling.
"I cannot…"
Saberhorn didn't even ask him why. In his optics, he already seemed to know it.
"... You can't come to the Sanctuary."
"Please…"
"You risk dying there, my dear. And now is not the time."
Saberhorn raised the firefly to support her head on his shoulderplate. In a somber tone, Saberhorn addressed him:
"…Go home."
"Saberhorn ... please ..."
"… We need to treat Glowstrike. That's all that matters to me right now."
Wing shook his head.
Before he could cross the bridge, Wing called out to him.
"Saberhorn…"
"Yes?"
"... Glowstrike isn't her name."
Tears fell to the ground.
"... Her name is Heavenlight. And she's my daughter."
