30: Silverstar's Journey

Chapter 30 - The Matrix

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

Author Note: All fixed, now my stupid nerves can chill :D

—

(Reader's POV) (~1 Hour Later since Chapter 29~)

"That's strange..."

"What is it boy?"

"The cons cloaking system is still down, and they haven't moved in a while. Give me a sec." Raf typed at his keyboard before confirming his suspicions. "The cons Warship is on the ground...for some reason."

"The explosion." Jack remembered.

"And Silverstar crashed the systems." Miko pointed out.

"So the ship crashed? The Omega Lock must be damaged too." Raf speculated.

"This is the perfect time to strike!"

"Miko, you need to stop with that. We don't have a plan, we can't defeat them alone, and we have one bot left. One bot who is not emotionally ready for another fight." Jack argued.

"Well I'm worried about the others!"

"So are we, but we can't rush in blindly." Agent Fowler told Miko in a calm tone.

"So what do we do? Sit in tight and see what happens?"

"The cons will get the Warship running again and destroy Earth if we do nothing." Raf nervously said.

"Raf, hack into the Decepticon network, see if there's anything about the damages. Maybe give us a time stamp of how long we got. Then we can make a plan."

"Look at you Jack, getting all smart." Miko teased him.

"You would be a perfect Agent." Fowler smiled, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.

Silverstar, who quietly sat in the same place for the past hour, finally got up shakily.

"Make a plan, fill me in. I'll be outside." She told them, her voice sounding as dead as her whole persona as of right now.

"Ok, shout if you need us." Miko said softly, smiling faintly as the femme left the Hangar.

(Silverstar's POV)

Getting outside and sitting against the exterior wall, I looked up at the setting sky. It was beautiful...but not enjoyable.

I tried turning into a human, just so I could take a stroll through the Military Base. But I couldn't. Quickly looking down at my chassis at the still open wound, I somewhat looked through it before throwing my helm back frustrated.

"Of course, just what I need. A missing crystal and..." I started choking up again, feeling the second wave of emotions.

"I've got nothing from either of them, and they're both gone." I went back to curling into a ball, letting myself become an absolute mess.

Back in the Hangar, half an hour ago...I did something embarrassing. I threw the Matrix out of rage because of my inner thoughts. Looking back, I wasn't sure how taking my sadness out on the Matrix would do anything. I can't even remember why I threw it in the first place. Oh right, I wanted the Matrix to go away, it reminded me too much of him.

But it came back, whispering to me about something. I ignored it, and apparently the others couldn't hear it. Maybe all this death and loss is finally making me go crazy.

"Mind having a little company?" Miko's quiet voice asked. I looked down at her before nodding. She sat beside me quietly, staring up at the same sky.

"We're gonna get them back, I promise." She said after a moment of silence.

"But it's impossible, Miko. The cons...they have a Warship, a-an army. They'll be expecting us...Besides, we don't have a...a leader."

"Ratchet said the same thing you know." Miko and I looked towards the Hangar entrance, seeing the doors wide open as light poured out. And there stood Raf, Jack, and Fowler.

"Raf, that was different. We were all scattered." I pointed out.

"And we were alone, but we didn't lose hope. We found each other and took down Darkmount. Remember, it was a huge fortress. So if we could do that, then we can take a downed Warship and get our friends back." Jack encouraged with maybe one of his best speeches yet.

It might have given me hope...2 hours ago before everything went to scrap.

"I'm sorry guys...I don't want to make a fool of myself."

"Silverstar, you won't. We'll be right here, helping you with the entire thing." Miko tried assuring me. I saw she had her hand on my side, but I couldn't feel it.

"Like I said before...make a plan and fill me in...if you won't, then I have something in mind."

They all looked at me expectantly. I sighed, closing my optics so I wouldn't have to see their pained or shocked looks. "I'll turn myself in. I don't know if you guys will be safe but you'll definitely be left alone for the remaining time on Earth you do have."

"WHAT?!"
"NU UH!"
"YOU CAN'T"
"What happened to saving Earth?!"

My optics flashed opened and I snapped. "You guys! They are looking for me! And they won't stop until they have their ship ready! I'm making it easier for everyone here! But unless you have a plan, that's what I'm going with!"

Miko started tearing up, which made me instantly regret everything I just said. "You...You don't mean that Silver. That's just the grief talking. There's still a chance to win, even if it's small."

"Come on Miko, give her some space." Jack sighed, tugging Miko to give her the hint. Everyone went back inside after that, leaving me alone in the now dark night.

I deserve being alone, I just pushed them away. What was I thinking...what are any of us supposed to do. That left me feeling conflicted all night.

(~The Next Day~)

"So we have 1 and a half weeks to come up with something?" Fowler asked Raf.

"2 weeks at most. The Omega Lock apparently sustained most of the damage when the ship crashed. The Nemesis itself is still rebooting its systems and cloaking, plus it sustained damages that immobilizes it from the sky." Raf explained.

"Now, we know where they are and how long we possibly have..." Jack kept rambling on, throwing out suggestions to see what sticks. I tuned him out, staring at the golden and shiny Matrix.

The blue crystal inside it pulsed every time I got close, and the whispering returned too. What it was saying was eating away at me, but I couldn't give in, I was stronger than that. But it couldn't hurt to hold it, just in case cons come crashing in. Ok...maybe I am giving in and want to know what's up with the relic, but who wouldn't?

I slowly got up from the dark corner I now called my home, and walked towards the relic resting on the crates. The pulsing and whispers began, growing stronger the closer I got. Finally reaching it, I picked it up then slowly started backing away into the corner once more. The others haven't bothered me since I patched myself up late last night, which gave me room to breathe and think. I sat down cross legged and stared at the thing in my servos.

"Hello...?" I whispered, tilting my helm slightly.

Everything around me started turning black, the Matrix hovering above me now. I got up startled, now standing in an endless void. The Matrix started going higher and higher into the air until it shone bright enough to light up the surrounding area.

"What is happening?" I questioned allowed, looking around but finding nothing. Until some sort hologram screen fizzled in, which freaked me out more.

I stared at the blank screen until it showed something familiar but from an outside perspective. It was me and Bumblebee sitting down next to Arcee.

"Arcee, are you ok?" Arcee looked up spooked but her face changed from fright to annoyance. "Yeah, everything's fine."

It was the day Bee wanted to go outside after being cooped up in base, the one on Cybertron. The conversation carried out the same, us getting Arcee to open up, talking about the loss of Tailgate, before we headed inside to have energon. That was a good day, remembering back on it was nice.

The screen switched to another moment on Cybertron. It was something I never dreamed about either, but I remembered it like it was yesterday. I was stuck with Ratchet, again, and he was busy patching bots up. I took it upon myself to talk to all the injured troops and soldiers. Each of them enjoyed my company, laughing and saying how lucky I was to still be young and have nothing to worry about. Back then I didn't understand their words, but now I do...and I wish I could go back to then and relive it all.

"Why are you showing my memories?" I asked, shouting at the Matrix.

Nothing answered, only multiple moments showing on the screen one at a time. It showed me on Cybertron, on Earth as my younger self, my friends in Buffalo, Raina especially, the battle that put me where I am now. All of the events leading up to the present, were shown to me. Then the screen went dark, reflecting my current self right now.

"You may be staring at the next of the legacy." A voice finally spoke, in the most cliche way.

"Staring, wha...? What do you mean?" If it was about to mention-

"After Optimus Prime's passing, I found someone who may be worthy. Someone who not only proved to be worthy, but someone who protected the Matrix from the war monger, Megatron." How did I know, no really, how did I know?

"If your referring to me, I am beyond not worthy, I'm just a kid. I can't face my own issues, I can't lead, I've been told I joke at the wrong time. How does any of that define worthy?"

"It's not your flaws that define you, it's your strengths. Your actions of the past, which you have seen, lead you here and made you who you are today. For that, I brought you here to see what I see."

"Why don't you teleport yourself to someone else, what about one of the bots aboard the Nemesis? You know, the ones that are captured! I'm pretty sure if Smokescreen got it, they could free themselves and get out of there. Isn't he also worthy?"

"In the moment when the last Prime was dying, only he was available to take on the role. But when myself is presented to those who may be it, the amount of light and darkness is shown within them, granting me a foresight of who they truly are. I saw someone who could take the role, but not maintain it. I saw someone who would use the role as an advantage to themselves more than others, even if it did not seem like it."

"So he was worthy at the time but not for the long run? Wait till he hears that." But the realization I couldn't just go and tell him, started bringing the weight of the situation back. I had been so distracted, I forgot...

The Matrix got the ball rolling again. "The situation you face right now...you're taking it well." I nearly laughed at that.

"Taking it well? Did you miss my outburst on the others? Or when I threw you across the room? Sorry about that, by the way."

"They are natural responses to grief, you wouldn't really do such things not under its influence. Most wouldn't even tell others of their plan of giving up, instead executing it right away or not saying a word. You did, because you wanted them to stop you. You don't really want to, because even if you tell yourself there's no hope, you still believe there is."

This was incredibly creepy, it's like it could see right through me...it makes sense though, the Matrix is older than Earth, than my...dad. Gotta shake my helm from that or I'll be a sputtery mess in front of it.

"B-But how? I know it's possible and I want to save everyone. I just can't feel to do it, I may have hope but not enough to motivate me...I just want him back. He would know what to do, he always did."

"I am unable to provide answers. But if you accept the role, you may find exactly what you are looking for."

I thought it over for a moment before shaking my helm. "I don't know, I'm still not in the right mind to be making decisions...Can I go back now?" I asked, trying to keep myself composed.

The Matrix said no more, as it lowered down and back into my servos. In a flash, I was back in the Hangar, still sitting on the ground. The Matrix stopped glowing and the whispers ceased to exist. And based off the reflection of my armour, my optics had been glowing too and stopped.

I got up, keeping the Matrix in my arms. "Hey guys, I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" Agent Fowler asked.

"Home, but only for an hour. Raf, can you set coordinates for Jasper? More specifically the base?" Raf nodded, typing on his keyboard before the swirling vortex appeared.

"Don't worry, I'm not doing what you guys are thinking. I was never planning on it." I gave a small smile, seeing them relived made me...happy. If I didn't think about anything, I could keep being happy. But things needed to get done.

Going through the bridge, I stepped out and on to the rubble of the former base. I walked around, trying to figure out where exactly I was standing. Until I saw the symbol, covered in dust and debris. I put the Matrix down before cleaning it up. Now I could happily stare at the symbol I'm most proud to wear. Looking around the base, it was almost if it wasn't destroyed. It's like I could see the walls, the light fixtures, the groundbridge frame and runway, even the human area.

An average day at base, it had been a while ago but I could recite everything. The guardian trio would come in, the kids would hang out with each other or with their bots. Ratchet would be working and complaining. Optimus...he'd be doing work at the monitor or in his room. I could've spent time with him, help him even. But I guess I was too busy with my own life to even bother. You don't realize the time you could've spent with someone, what memories you could've made, until it's all taken away. Things like that, it can be there one second, and gone the next.

Opening my subspace, I took out something I've been hiding from everyone. The Synthen jar from way back I snuck out of Ratchet's cabinet. It was...tempting to use right now. I mean, Ratchet was unstoppable. The mindset he and I had, it was just an ego thing. It would go away after its run it's course. I could drink this, numb the feelings, storm the ship, free the others, then get back at the fragging glitch Megatron. Day would be saved, Earth would be safe, and this temptation of using this stuff won't exist anymore. Unless I get addicted like Ratchet had before facing consequences.

Not yet however, I wanted to go to my room first.

I walked the same course as I would any other day back then. Even though the walls were crumbled now and I could simply walk over it all. Once I reached my destination, it was just piles of rock. I began moving it all, which took forever, but was worth it when I saw some of my stuff scattered amongst the remaining rubble. There was just two things I was looking for...ah ha! There's one of them!

Picking it up and brushing the dirt off, I stared at it with nostalgia hitting like bus. The old, OG, Autobots standing outside Outpost Omega 1. Now for the final thing, which I hoped was here and not on him.

Pacing over to his old room, I moved more rubble, hoping it was there. And it was. I grabbed it without looking further and went back to the once main part of base. There, I looked back down at the Synthen.

"Now, this stuff won't last forever and I don't quite have the tools to replicate it..." The Matrix started pulsing again, side tracking my out loud thinking.

It said if I accepted...No, I couldn't do it. It doesn't feel right, but neither does taking the Cybertronian equivalent of drugs, something he never wanted me doing again. I couldn't betray him like that. But would he want me taking the Matrix? After all, he tried shielding me away from all this conflict for majority of my life, and now I can really get into it all without a chance of turning back.

All my life, it's been shaped by the word 'Prime'. As long as the word was near me, I couldn't truly be myself. I never want to be defined as his daughter. I never want to take on a similar role, putting my future friends and family at risk. I never want to give away my chance of being...me. Only he could truly fit the role, not his family or friends who were present. Even so, the danger you carry around, it's risky to be close to anyone. That isn't what I want.

Looking down at the two photos in my servo, more specifically the one of myself, sire, and carrier, I came to an answer.

"Raf, I'm ready for that bridge now." I commed, putting the pictures and Synthen in my subspace, then picking up the Matrix.

The portal appeared just as I turned around. "If everything goes good, you're going back to the well. There are better bots or cons than myself. I'm not him and never could I step foot in his path."

I walked through the bridge, with everyone asking if I was ok.

"Yeah, it's fine. I need some time alone, if you guys don't mind." I went back to my corner, and started thinking of a plan to get everyone back. I knew the ship and the materials we had at hand, the backup I needed was already here.

"Don't think about it and you'll be fine, you've done this before, you can keep the ball rolling for a little longer." I told myself. Time to just...wing it. I don't need Synthen or a relic to save my family. I am more than capable of doing it on my own.

(~1 Week Later~)

"This is getting difficult, and its testing my nerves." Fowler slammed his fist against the table for the fourth time this hour.

"Mine too, but we have to keep our heads in the game." Jack said determined while also holding on to the last of his patience.

"Every plan we've made up, it's been extremely flawed. We're getting nowhere, it's useless. My brain has never felt this fried, even back in Tokyo when I actually did my school work." Miko whined, slowly sliding out of her chair.

"Maybe everyone could use a donut break?" June suggested, holding the box up for everyone. Oh how I would kill for a donut right about now, but I didn't need to eat, and I was still plotting in my corner like some evil mastermind.

"How is she?" June asked, trying to whisper but she was terrible at it.

"We're not sure, she's mostly been there." Fowler responded, also terrible at whispering.

"Her one worded responses don't say much either." Miko added. Is everyone just bad at whispering around here?

"I can hear you, you know!" I shouted.

"Sorry, we're just worried." June shouted back. I sighed, getting up and feeling my cramped legs unstretch. Such an amazing feeling, might I add.

I walked over to the gang, holding my extra limb like it was a laptop underneath my arm. By extra limb, I meant the Matrix, it's never left my side since coming back to base. If I had a cup of coffee with a mug saying 'Orphan of the year', my look would be complete. Why am I keeping the Matrix close? For starters, cons. And knowing how important this was to him, I couldn't just let it go unsupervised.

"There's no need to be worrying, I've been feeling fine."

Everyone looked at each other weirdly. "You do?" Raf asked.

"Oh yeah, just apart of my process. This is my eighth time after all, seventh if we exclude pets, maybe the number will increase after storming the Nemesis, who knows."

"I will never understand you, kid." Fowler said right before taking a bite of his donut.

"How can you joke like this? Your dad just-" I put my digit over Miko's mouth before she could say the next words.

"Shush shush shush, alllll apart of the process. I am known for joking at bad times, because it takes my mind off things I rather not deal with or just cause of the opportunity. Let me have this."

"Well, we won't even get to the Nemesis because we don't have a plan." Jack pointed out frustrated.

"You know we're screwed when Jack can't even think of a plan. Hey, what about your friends?" Miko asked like she came up with a wonderful solution.

"Out of the question, things went overboard last time. Bunch of crazy people...But I have an idea and a plan, one that has been brewing since coming back from Jasper. I've runned through it millions of times and fixed it all up. Now I have all the solutions to the problems we may or may not encounter. Whether that be simple guards or Unicron being onboard."

"And you didn't tell us?" Fowler asked bewildered.

"Things get messy and complicated when others try working on the same project." I put simply, hinting at their frustration and attempts to kill each other days before. But I understood where they're coming from.

"So what's the plan?" Jack asked.

"For starters, we-" Before I could even start explaining, there was a massive thump outside. The ground beneath me shook a little too. "Stay there." I warned the others before taking my blaster out.

I swung one of the Hangar doors open and aimed directly outside. Except I was pointing my gun at something. Or rather, someone.

"Things just got a whole lot more interesting..." Miko said jaw dropped. "They most certainly did." I agreed.

This was re-edited. I feel much better knowing I took the story in the direction I wanted.

If I'm being honest, and this may be the case in the future, who knows, she was going to receive the key to Vector Sigma instead. The plan was for her to go to Cybertron, find Vector Sigma, find another and secret Spark Extractor, then learn all about Cybertron's past. But that sounded stupid out loud, and too much for no reason, so I ditched it. Especially when remembering the Matrix existed. That scrap flew out the window, and I went with this instead.

And this is an example of why you should never write at like, 2-4 am. You'll ignore any plan you made and just rush, taking the lazy route instead. That will hopefully never be happening again.

One more thing. Anytime she says "him' or "he", it's usually referencing Optimus. I thought it would be better if she refused to say and think his name, only going by pronouns.

Please leave a review so I can improve the story!

IG: x_adventures . of . little . riley_x

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