29: Silverstar's Journey
Chapter 29 - Synthesis & Deadlock
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers Prime or the franchise. All characters (except Riley/Silverstar) belong to Hasbro.
::Hello:: - Bumblebee Talking
"Hello" - Normal Talking
'Hello' - Thoughts
*Hello* - Cybertronian Talking
=Hello= - Over the phone or Comm
/Hello/ - Bond
(Sorry this isn't a long chapter (ʋ• ◡•))
—
(Riley/Silverstar's POV) (~Dreamland~)
"Special Delivery, that way right?"
I nodded to Smokescreen before shooting my blaster a few more times at the Vehicons and Starscream. Bee and Arcee didn't even expect him but the trick is to expect the unexpected.
Smokey activated the Phase Shifter before running past them and to where the Omega Lock was. The place we were trying to go.
Starscream and his forces were barely a hassle now however. Bee and Arcee were able to push past them, opening the door into the massive space.
The Omega Lock sat below, showing off the atmosphere of Earth. All around us, lining the back edges, were tanks filling with energon.
As we tried pushing further, we noticed Smokescreen get shot backwards and into the wall. The Star Saber he carried earlier, his 'special delivery', flew out of his servo. His shoulder had a smoking hole in it as he sat weakly against one of the tanks.
I ran to him immediately, asking if he was ok. Everyone else was focused on the idle Star Saber.
Starscream pushed a couple of Vehicons on Bumblebee before running after it. Arcee ran after screamer while Bee easily got the con troops off and joined in. It was a race for the Saber.
Shockwave, who I didn't know was on the other side holding Ratchet against a tank, started running after it as well.
"Are you ok Smokescreen?" I asked him, trying to help him up.
"I'm fine, go help the others get the Star Saber."
"But-"
"Go!" He pushed me has hard as his left arm could.
I nodded before joining after. Right now, Starscream was down with a Vehicon troop on top. Arcee already went to keep him distracted.
Shockwave tried shooting at Bumblebee, who was able to dodge the blaster fire.
In a blur, Bumblebee got to the sword, threw it in the air, punched Shockwave's eye, then jumped to catch the falling Saber.
For a weapon that was 2x the size of him, he could actually hold it without a problem. I say it's a rush of adrenaline, he'll have to prove it to me back at base.
He started heading down to Optimus and Megatron, who I didn't even know were having one of their classic battles.
More Decepticon troops started flooding in, surrounding us by the second.
"Optimus!" I called out. He looked up at me for a second, so I pointed to Bumblebee, who was carrying the Saber down.
Bumblebee jumped off a ledge, heading directly towards the two. Megatron shot 3 times, and in that moment, Bee was hit.
All 3 shots landed on his chassis, the force of the blasts stopping his momentum in the air as he started dropping down.
The Star Saber landed fine on the Omega Lock frame, but Bee landed in the pool of energon.
His optics offlined, his chassis was blown open...
Everyone watched in either horror, sorrow, or joy, as Bee disappeared under the pool. I couldn't believe it, this couldn't be real. Bee wasn't dead.
I heard a blaster charging right behind my helm but I didn't care...this wasn't happening. I could feel the lubricant going down my cheeks and dropping on the ground.
My sire was in full rage, beating Megatron to a pulp. But just as he was about to shoot and finish him off, Megatron got his Dark Star Saber and slashed him off the edge!
"SIRE!"
I was about to leap down there but I forgot about the Vehicon troops behind me. They grabbed me but I had only one priority. To not lose another family member.
Megatron raised his blade up, planning to swing down. My sire must've grabbed the ledge, he's still ok...But not for long!
"MEGATRON!"
All of the fighting stopped, everyone stood and looked at the scene in front of us.
Megatron had been stabbed through the spark by the Star Saber. When we looked who landed the killing blow, it was Bumblebee!
"You took my voice, you will never rob anyone of anything ever again."
Megatron dropped the Dark Star Saber, dropping to his knees. His optics flashed and he struggled to stay online.
"Lord Megatron, No!" Starscream shouted, sounding actually genuine.
Everyone couldn't believe their optics! Bumblebee was standing in front of us all, living and talking! Megatron was dying, bleeding Dark Energon!
Eventually, the mech offlined, sliding off the blade and down below to Earth's surface in a fiery ball.
Shockwave had to grab Starscream in order to escape. The troops followed close behind. It was just us now.
Did we...win?
"Is it over?" I asked, finally being able to stand up.
"I think it is." Arcee said still in moderate shock.
Sire and Bee came climbing up the side to join us. When they did, the first thing everyone noticed was Bumblebee's voice.
He wondered what we were talking about until he heard himself. His mouth guard went down, revealing the biggest smile.
"Ratchet, I got my pipes back!" Bee squealed like an excited child, hugging the injured medic.
Ratchet stifled a laugh, cringing from the sudden embrace.
We found out how it was possible and what to do now. The plan, was to go to Cybertron, revive it and bring life back. The war couldn't go on without a leader for the cons, so we had claimed a victory.
(~Reality~) (A Few Days After Last Chapter)
"Maybe that will happen."
"I don't think so, it seems far fetched."
"Remember you had dream about your dad and Megatron fighting to the death! That came true. It's like a future dream vision."
"It was a coincidence." Riley kept denying to Miko.
::I got my voice back?!:: Bee suddenly exclaimed, scaring Riley off the couch. Miko bursted out laughing as Bee quickly apologized.
"Yes, you did. But you died first. That's in my dream at least." Riley said, sitting back down on the couch.
"And we actually won?" Arcee asked.
"Yeah...we did. But I don't need a dream to predict us winning, I know we are."
"That's my kinda spirit!" Smokescreen held his servo up for a high five, which my tiny human hand gave him.
"GUYS!" Raf shouted excitedly.
"What is it Raf?" Jack asked laughing.
"Wheeljack and I did it! Chip is done!"
"Good work you two." Arcee commended.
"Boss, the drone is done. Believe it's time we get our doc back." Wheeljack informed Optimus.
The Prime nodded and told the Autobot's to meet outside the Hangar.
"Riley, a word with you?" Optimus addressed her afterwards.
She started panicking, thinking she did something wrong or somebody snitched on her for something. But she couldn't remember doing anything bad, she's been on her best behaviour since the base blew up.
Optimus smiled a tad before offering his servo out to her. As everyone left, Optimus and Riley went outside and to the back of the structure.
"Riley, I know I have not been around as of late, as you already know with the increased Decepticon activity."
"I know, and I'm not holding anything against ya. You're busy, missions and our survival comes first. No need to sweat it."
"But I am planning to change that. Our team...family, should come first. We should be living rather than surviving. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Riley nodded her head. "I get it."
Optimus continued. "I wish to start that change with you. When we bring Ratchet back and possibly destroy the theorized Omega Lock, when there is little to no Deception activity, would you like a day to ourselves? We can do whatever you like-"
"We. We can do whatever we like." Riley corrected with a smile.
"Of course." Optimus' gaze suddenly fell, thinking about something.
"Everything ok dad?"
"There's a feeling in my spark, and I'm not sure why."
"What kind of feeling?"
"I do not know, I just feel something."
"Is it bad? Because I'm not letting anything bad happen, especially to you. Or maybe something is coming?"
"It is...unexplainable."
"Well then...I guess we should get going. Take your mind off that and don't worry too much. Now you better hold your end of the deal, Optimus Prime." Riley mocked the name but with no ill intent of course.
Optimus shook his helm amused while putting his daughter down.
"I love you sweetspark."
"I love you too dad, now break a leg out there. And try not to get hurt."
Optimus was immediately confused. "But-"
"Break a leg means good luck." Riley giggled.
The pair walked to where everyone else was just as Raf said they had Optimus to track Chip down.
"But won't they see you coming big guy?" Miko asked Optimus.
"Not until it's too late." Bulkhead answered for him.
"We'll be prepared for immediate mobilization upon your command, sir." Ultra Magnus said.
"Good luck Optimus." Smokescreen had said with a smile.
"Be safe." Arcee told him.
::You got this, Optimus.::
The Prime looked down at Raf with a soft smile. "Whatever the outcome, know that Ratchet would be most proud of your contribution." Raf was a bit shocked to hear that but still smiled from the kind words.
Wheeljack crouched down and told Raf to get the mini creation running. With the flick of the switch on his controller, Raf sent Chip flying up into the air and on Autopilot. Just so he didn't have to control it 24/7 without knowing where he was turning it.
Optimus quickly followed suit and blasted off, following Chip to find the Nemesis.
The others went back inside and awaited the command. Ultra Magnus made sure everyone was ready and knew what to do once the call came in.
Nobody could start anything, only being ready was the activity this early morning.
After a whole 3 hours, Fowler commed in to OP.
"Prime, haven't heard from you in a while, everything alright up there?"
=So far, Agent Fowler.= He reported back.
"What happens when the cons ID Lazerbeak's signal?" Jack asked.
"We're counting on Optimus making visual contact with the Warship before its radar can detect Chip." Raf replied.
"The boss will be fine." Wheeljack assured.
"It's not Optimus I'm worried about." Arcee said, thinking about Ratchet and his condition.
"Ratchet will be ok, he's old but he's also tough." Riley pointed out.
"But that's the problem, he's old!" Miko joked to lighten the mood. "Are we sure we want the grumpy old man back?"
A couple more hours later, and Optimus called the base back.
=Optimus to base, come in.=
"Commander, have you determined the Warship's location?" Ultra Magnus asked as we all sat on edge.
=No, Ultra Magnus. The transponder has been destroyed. We are no closer to finding Ratchet then when we began.=
"Poor Chip, he was so young." Miko said with fake sadness. She even placed her hand over her heart.
Everyone else started getting upset, being so close yet so far from finding the medic they cared deeply about.
And just as everyone started think it was hopeless, a certain mech brought the light back. =Autobot base, do you read? This is Ratchet, can anyone hear me?=
=Loud and clear, old friend.= Optimus responded incredibly happy.
The room cheered for a second before Ratchet commed back. =Listen to me, Megatron has managed to rebuild the Omega Lock on board his Warship. I've deactivated the Decepticon shielding system, you should be able to get a fix on my coordinates.=
There was sudden blaster fire in the background fire. =Optimus, you must hurry! Megatron is preparing to Cyberform Earth, as we speak!= Then the line completely cut off.
=Ratchet? Autobots, lock on those coordinates and prepare to storm the Warship.=
"You heard our leader, we're going in and we're going in heavy. Gear up!" Ultra Magnus commanded the Team.
The humans watched as every Autobot grabbed weapons and got ready to leave.
At least this time, storming the Decepticon Warship was on the activities list.
Arcee grabbed her mini blaster, Bee grabbed his gun and shield, Bulkhead grabbed his super big gun, Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus grabbed theirs, Smokescreen had a bow like weapon, and Silverstar stuck with her tool Perry.
"They can't leave without saying goodbye." Miko started choking up.
"No time for that and no need, they'll be back." Fowler assured her.
Raf opened the groundbridge and everyone started walking towards it. The humans watched their friends depart, hoping they would be safe, that they would return, and that they would succeed.
"Members of Team Prime, Autobot and human, it is been my honour to lead you. On this day, the fates of two worlds hang in the balance, and the battle to come may very well be our last. But for Earth, for Cybertron, for our comrade Ratchet, we must take the Decepticon Warship."
The bots were bridged directly on the run way to the ship. Vehicons were already there, shooting them down.
=The Omega Lock's control station is located on the lower deck. I am making my way there now.= Ratchet commed in.
The battle got heated quickly, troops of cons in the air and on the ground.
=Copy Ratchet, we will rendezvous at the object. Arcee, lead stealth team to the Omega Lock. Ultra Magnus, you and the wreckers storm the bridge. Prevent the Decepticons from targeting the device if stealth team is delayed.=
Ultra Magnus and the wreckers split up from the rest as everyone still attempted to get in.
Arcee ducked into nearby cover with Bee, Smokey, and Silver as the wreckers cleared the path.
"Optimus, if we fail to secure the lock before it's ready to deploy, do we destroy it?" Arcee asked.
=I do not intend to squander a second chance to restore Cybertron.= He replied, much different to his answer when Ratchet had asked the same thing. Except now the Omega Lock was built and ready.
The group finally managed to get inside as they split up for good, going down two different halls.
"Wreckers!" Magnus called, getting the two to follow.
"Bee, Smokescreen, Silver, with me!" Arcee kept running as Smokescreen hesitated for a second.
Silver looked behind her and stopped as well, going up to him to wonder why. The two saw Megatron come up an elevator with the Dark Star Saber on his back, but never saw what happened afterwards as Arcee called their names out.
The four bots transformed and rode down the halls, with Arcee in the lead. Silver didn't know where this place was, since she had rarely been on the lower deck. So bridging there wasn't an option.
Smokescreen suddenly transformed, telling them to go on without him because he had something to do. The three stopped in their tracks but couldn't convince him as phased through the wall.
Arcee looked at Bee and Silver, annoyed by Smokey but continued on without him.
It was a smooth journey until they reached the hallway leading to the Omega Lock. Starscream and his seekers were there and when they saw the three bots, they began immediate heavy fire.
Bee, Arcee, and Silver kept fighting them off but it felt like every one they took down, another showed up somehow. It wasn't the case but the seekers were much harder to defeat.
Silver suddenly received a call from Miko. =Hey Silverstar~ guess who's in the Apex Armour and just sent Soundwave to the Shadowzone!=
"Miko! Your on the Nemesis?!" Silver asked, finally shooting a con down without looking.
=In the...Jack what's it called again?= Miko's voice became faint when addressing the boy.
"Jack is with you too?!"
=In the Bridge, yeah.= Silver couldn't believe it.
"Ok well, be safe. Gotta go. Kinda in the middle of a fight." She hung up without giving Miko a chance to speak as she thought up a plan.
Taking Perry out, she activated a bridge from her location to right behind the con forces. At the same time she came out the other side, Smokescreen phased through the wall with the Star Saber in hand.
"Special delivery, that way right?"
'My dream...' Silver thought. 'Is it coming true?'
Smokescreen phased through Starscream before going past the door. Silver opened it up just as Starscream noticed her.
Since she had distracted the seekers now, Arcee and Bee managed to take them down. Starscream shot his missile at Silver, who ducked into the Omega Lock room to avoid it. The second in command growled from frustration before chasing after her.
Bee and Arcee were just behind them as the scene folded out.
Smokescreen still got shot in the shoulder by Shockwave, the mad mech on the other side of the room.
Silver rushed to him, not because of wanting events to turn out the same, but because Smokey was her friend and needed assistance.
Everyone still had optics for the Star Saber that lied on the ground. More con troops came in, which Starscream shoved into the Autobot's before making a break.
Smokescreen urged Silver to go help the others retrieve the Star Saber, like dream him did before.
She nodded, getting up to see the fight. But it was different.
Arcee was already fighting Starscream one on one, and Bee was fighting con troops. Shockwave had eyes, or eye, for the Star Saber.
Silver was about to run when Bee suddenly bolted from the cons and after the Saber. So instead, she shot the Vehicons down so the scout wouldn't have to worry about them.
She watched as he did the same thing. He got to the Saber first and threw it up in the air. Pulling his fist back, he cracked Shockwave's optic with a punch, and used him as leverage to jump up.
But this time, Shockwave grabbed Bumblebee's ped, making the scout fall forward.
"That wasn't supposed to happen..." Silver muttered to herself. She didn't pay any to mind to it, remembering it was just a dream.
Grabbing Perry, she activated a groundbridge above her and below the Star Saber. The plan worked out, as one shiny sword fell in front of her. Turning the bridge off, she lugged the heavy weapon on her shoulder, and put some distance between the fighting and herself.
Looking down, Optimus and Megatron were indeed in the midst of a fight.
She knew she couldn't jump, or Megatron would shoot her down.
"But Bee came back cause of the stuff...I can't risk it." She shook her helm before getting Perry out again and getting a bridge for down below, right near the fight.
The ship began tilting to one side, then the other, before leveling out again. "That was probably Miko and Jack." She guessed before running through her groundbridge.
Once down there, she closed the bridge and shouted Optimus' name. Both fighting mechs turned to her, with one being incredibly frustrated.
With no warning, Megatron grabbed Optimus from behind and held his blade to the Prime's throat. Even kicking the back of his legs so Optimus was even more trapped in the situation.
"Drop the Star Saber girl, or energon will be spilt."
The fighting above the three stopped, as everyone watched on the edge with curiosity.
Silver was panicking, unsure what to do. But the choice was obvious to her, whether it was stupid or not.
"Let him go first, then I'll drop it." She demanded, mustering up all the courage she could conjure.
Optimus grew upset, and she knew why. He wanted himself to be sacrificed rather than the battle and their chances of seizing the Lock. But this was her call to make, and she didn't waste any time choosing.
Megatron didn't reply, only staring her down. She did the same back, not dropping her bravery for a second.
"Now." She growled.
The warlord kept staring until he slowly brought his blade back, even putting it away, before tossing Optimus to the side. The Prime landed on his back as Megatron kept his blaster aimed on him.
If Optimus attempted to get up, Megatron could blast a hole in his chassis faster than anyone could react.
Silver held up her end of the deal, letting the blade of the Saber slide off her shoulder. Then she let go of the handle, the weapon roughly landing on the ground.
"Now I can face you without a weapon." Megatron grinned.
In a second, Megatron's blade extended back out and pierced right through Optimus' armour.
Silverstar's face filled with horror. "SIRE!"
Megatron dug his blade deeper, taking in Optimus' pained groan. The Prime wanted to scream out but didn't, not wanting to give Megatron such satisfaction.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Silver screamed before football tackling Megatron and quickly getting back up to kick at his face.
Now stunned, the war lord was knocked off the edge of the Omega Lock frame, giving Silver enough time to try and save Optimus.
She ran to him and got on her knees, placing her servos over his wound.
"Have to stop the leaking." She tried applying pressure, which pained Optimus even more.
No one had notice the great deal of Decepticon Vehicons and seekers pouring in by the minute.
The bots above were taken by surprise and quickly overwhelmed. Silver could only watch from below, trying to keep her father from dying.
She shut her optics closed, looking away from the painful scene. Then she looked back at her dad, ignoring the shouts of the others resisting. "Stay with me, ok? I'm gonna try and move you, get you out of here."
"No...escape now..." Optimus barley whispered.
"I'm not leaving you, we're a team." Silver began trying to move him, but struggled emotionally as he groaned out in pain.
She placed his servos over his wound, telling him to use his strength to apply pressure. Then she got Perry out and opened a groundbridge leading directly to base.
Her plan was to escape, like Optimus wanted, but with him. The others were already captured, and there were too many cons to take on all at once. She would make a plan to get them back, like they did with Ratchet.
She got her arms underneath Optimus' and began pulling. But upon looking down at his flickering optics, she put him down immediately and went back to putting pressure.
"Don't you dare start leaving me." She snapped while lubricant slowly began to escape her optics.
"Go..." he strained out.
"For the last time, I'm not leaving you!"
He tried to respond but his strength dwindled away faster than expected. His optics flickered slower now, more off than on.
"Please, don't go. I need you. I can't lose you too." She removed one servo and began shaking him, but he remained unresponsive.
"Daddy, don't go. I...I love you, you can't leave me."
Megatron had flown back up after awakening from his dazed state, landing back down near the scene. "Isn't this a sight." He chuckled darkly.
Silver ignored him, which he didn't like and pried her away from Optimus.
"NO! Let me go! Sire! Dad!" She weakly fought against him as Optimus' optics finally went dark.
"And now, I think I should finish this tiny, pathetic, family off for good."
Silver felt a snap within her, finding sudden strength to push away from Megatron. Just as she did, his claw managed to penetrate her chassis and just barley miss her spark.
Now she started bleeding out, but not as bad as her father did. Using Perry, she entered a new set of coordinates and fired the bridge, closing the old one.
She was about to leave when Optimus' chassis opened up, shining brightly.
"The Matrix!" Megatron exclaimed.
Silver knew he couldn't have it and with quick thinking, grabbed it and ran.
Appearing in the Bridge room, Miko and Jack turned to see Silver run through. She deactivated the vortex, putting Perry back and holding the precious relic tightly to her chassis.
"This isn't happening..." she muttered, wiping her tear stained faceplates.
"Hey Silver." Jack greeted relieved.
"Finally, someone who can properly fly this ship." Miko scoffed, not having any fun with Jack flying.
There was a sudden explosion echoing in the halls, the ship shaking alongside it.
"What was that?!" Jack asked panicked.
Miko however didn't mind the explosion, only paying attention to Silverstar rushing towards them.
"What going on?" She asked.
Silver couldn't respond, stuck repeating "this isn't happening" over and over again.
"Silver? Silverstar! Snap out of it!" Miko shouted.
The femme looked down at her with a dead and saddened look. Miko suddenly felt bad, asking what was wrong. Silver shook her helm to any question Miko asked, only going to the monitor and crashing the ship's entire system.
Activating one last groundbridge, she got Miko to grab Jack and then dragged her through the swirling vortex back to base.
"What happened?! Did something go wrong? We've been trying to contact you guys!" Fowler ranted, stomping up to the railings.
"Raf, contact the wreckers." Silver requested quietly, dropping the Matrix and staring at her servos.
"Already tried, nothing." Raf replied, shaking his head.
"I still need an explanation!" Fowler demanded.
"We don't know Fowler, she just came in and got us out." Jack replied for her.
Agent Fowler turned to Silver and snapped. "What happened?! And you better tell me or so help-"
"He's gone..." She whispered.
Everyone looked at each other confused. "What?" Miko asked.
"He's gone...and it's all my fault." She managed to actually speak.
She continued to stare at her energon covered servos. A mixture of her own and her father's blood, reminding her of what she lost.
Blinking a couple of times, she finally got the ability to stare at the humans.
"The others are captured...there were too many. We...lost."
"WHAT?!" Everyone in unison shouted.
She picked up the Matrix, slowly backing into the wall.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered. "I failed everyone."
Silverstar slid down slowly, clinging to the soft glowing Matrix as she sobbed her spark out.
"We're gonna free them, get them all out. Then take on the Decepticons again!"
"Are you crazy Miko? Do she look like she can? Does it look like we can?!" Jack asked her hysterically.
"I...I don't know you guys...we l-lost. There's nothing we can d-do. Just...sit and wait for them to finish us all off." Silver said aloud, leaning her helm back on the wall to weakly stare at them.
"That's no way to talk, and you know it." Fowler told her.
"My dad is dead, the bots are probably being tortured as we speak, if not dead, and the cons have the Omega Lock. It's impossible..."
Everyone realized what she had said, suddenly upset as well. But none could relate to the pain she had.
Fowler took a deep breath in, sucking back his emotions. "Nothing is impossible kid. We can do this, just gotta have faith. Now patch yourself up, deal with that glowey thing, and get yourself together. The team needs you."
Silver looked at her wound, then the Matrix that pulsed, before shaking her helm.
"I already failed the team, and I lost my dad...the only parent I had till now...I have...
...No one left."
—
The somewhat plot twist I've been planning for a super duper long time has finally happened!
You know, if a character like Riley is involved with a preexisting story, not everything is gonna turn out the same.
Also, I did purposely make Silver say human terms for dad since she experienced sudden emotions and she really prefers human terms than Cybertronian ones. She only uses them out of respect and cause she thinks it's only right. But now she'll give two shits about that. The word 'sire' may never be seen or heard again...
Plus I only made it that way so at times you knew whether she was human or Cybertronian but I think her name and terminology alone can suffice.
Anyhow, ON TO THE ENDGAME :D
Yes, I was being literal in the sense this chapter was Infinity War. Because (Spoiler) if you have seen the movie, then you know it ends off on a whole lotta death and no hope.