You ever get that nasty feelng of dread in anticipation?
The kind where you know something's coming, and you don't want it to?
Maybe it's a test, maybe it's a nasty relative, maybe it's a presentation, maybe it's a deadline...
Knowing I was going to die months before it happened, it weighed down on me.
I thanked God every day that I was a good liar, even though I shouldn't have.
I never cared much for prayer before I realized that I didn't know what came next.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Optimus faced his fellow Autobots, the Predabots, and the two human techno-organics in the ruins of Kaon.
"We have endured bitter hardship and countless battles, but at long last, our home planet has been restored," the last of the Primes began, unable to contain his pride. "We would not be standing on Cybertronian soil were it not for the valiant efforts of both those assembled here and our absent comrades: Ratchet, who remains on Earth to safeguard our human friends; Omega Supreme, Wreck-Gar, Grimlock, Swoop, Snarl, Jazz, and even Scrapper, who enjoy their haven in Detroit; and Prowl and Cliffjumper, who made the ultimate sacrifice...
On this day, at the dawn of a new era, we gather to bestow a special honor: one earned by Bumblebee, through his bravery and devotion to the cause of peace, even before he rid this universe of the scourge of the Decepticon warmonger." Bumblebee kneeled, bowing his helm. "In the company of your fellow Autobots, in the presence of our creator—Primus—who is the living core of our planet, and in the authority invested in me by the Matrix of Leadership..." Optimus held the Star Saber up in the air before tapping it on each of the young scout's rotator-cups. "Bumblebee, arise a warrior."
Bumblebee stood up, and the others quickly moved to congratulate him.
Sari seemed the most proud.
"Good job, 'Bee," the techno-organic beamed, walking over and crossing her arms. "I knew you could do it."
Bumblebee looked down at her, grinning. "I know you did... That's how I was able to do it."
"Lupa, Leona, Elita-1, Sari Sumdac, and Jenna Darby..." Optimus continued, to their surprise. "Step forward." All of them obeyed, and the Predabots transformed into femme-mode. Optimus turned his optics to them, first. "The both of you have defied your origins and proven yourselves worthy Autobots, and worthy friends. I would like to formally welcome you to Team Prime, and to assure you that—in our new Cybertron—you will be forever welcomed and valued."
"Thank you, sir." Lupa beamed, bouncing a little on her peds.
Leona smiled, crossing her arms. "Yeah. Thanks, boss."
"Elita-1." Optimus looked at his sparkmate. "For a long time, you were lost in shadow—and it was my fault... but now, I see not BlackArachnia standing before me, but Elita-1." Elita-1 looked down, smiling sheepishly. "Kind, forgiving, and—admittedly—a bit too reckless for comfort... I formally restore your Autobot status and your rank, and I welcome you home."
"Thank you, Optimus," Elita-1 grinned, looking up at him, then she smirked. "And let me just say... 'bout time."
Optimus sighed, shaking his helm but smiling fondly, then he turned his optics to the next member of the lineup.
"Sari," he spoke, and she stood up straight. "When we first arrived on Earth, there were many things that we did not understand. You went out of your way to help us, and you have sacrificed much in this war." Sari remained silent. "You have devoted your life to our cause, and your quick-thinking and intuition have saved us time and time again... I would like to thank you, I would like to formally welcome you to the Autobot ranks as a scout, and I would like to ask you to continue your work in seeking and training new techno-organics." Optimus looked at Bumblebee, then back at Sari. "Once Cybertron has been restored, I believe I know just the warrior escort to assign to you for this most-important mission."
"... I'm in!" Sari told the Prime, elated, and Bumblebee beamed. "This is awesome! I'm getting a real mission, I get to be the boss, I get to work with my best friend-"
"Boyfriend," Jenna coughed into her fist, and Wheeljack snickered.
Sari rolled her optics.
"And I get to find other techno-organics!" She continued, then she looked at Optimus. "... Thanks, big guy."
Optimus nodded, smiling, then he looked at Jenna.
"Jenna." The Prime crossed his arms, and the techno-organic in blue cringed. "You intervened in a battle and defeated a Decepticon to save Bumblebee, you came to a battle against the undead unauthorized in order to safeguard Ratchet and myself, you placed yourself at risk multiple times during the fake Wheeljack's infiltration in our base,
you nearly got yourself killed during a Decepticon kidnapping attempt in which you refused any and all compliance despite the risk, you went to outer-space while fully aware of the danger, you engaged in several battles against Dreadwing and in Wheeljack's act of revenge against Hardshell for a near-fatal attack against Bulkhead,
you were nearly killed during Starscream's interrogation at Darkmount because you refused to surrender any information that could have proved detrimental to our cause, you were instrumental in the battle for the new Omega Lock, you did battle with Predaking, Shockwave, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Dreadwing, a brainwashed Wheeljack, and Megatron himself. And..." Jenna cringed again, and Optimus smiled. "... You too have earned a formal induction."
"Huh?" Jenna looked up, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Miss Darby," Ultra Magnus spoke, and Jenna looked up at him. The commander gazed down at her for a long moment, then he smiled. "Jenna... There are no scouts in the Wreckers. So, I suppose... the title of warrior will have to do."
"Sari Sumdac will be the first human techno-organic formally brought into the Autobot ranks and the first to achieve the rank of scout, but Jenna Darby will be the first human techno-organic Wrecker and warrior," Optimus announced proudly. "Both of you will lead your people in the new age of Cybertron, and you will never be forgotten."
Sari was smiling brightly, and Jenna's jaw had dropped. The techno-organic in blue seemed unable to process what had just happened.
"... Alright, kid!" Wheeljack laughed, scooping Jenna up and looking down at her fondly. "You're a warrior! We're the same rank, now!"
Jenna blinked, then she gave a nervous grin. "We're the same rank?"
"You're still the junior partner," Wheeljack assured her, and she rolled her optics. "... But I'm still proud of you, kid." He took his free servo and held up a detonator, smirking. "Let's get this party started." With the press of a button, the statue of Megatron standing over Kaon exploded in bright colors before crumbling to pieces. "... Okay, I admit that the colors were a nice touch."
"What's that, senior partner?" Jenna raised a hand to her ear, feigning innocence. Bumblebee and Smokescreen were talking about Primes or something in the background, but she was focused on tormenting her best friend. "Did I hear that correctly?"
Wheeljack rolled his optics, still smiling. "Stop."
"I, the junior partner, was-? Was right?"
"Kid..."
"How could that be?!" Jenna gasped, resting the back of her hand on her forehead and acting as though she was about to swoon. "Compared to you, the wise and all-knowing senior partner, I am but-!"
"I am sorry to interrupt your celebration," Optimus cut into... everything.
Arcee sighed. "Here it comes."
"Primes never party," Bulkhead agreed.
"Or maybe he's just an introvert who prefers quiet places with few people and little attention being paid to him," Jenna offered, and the two blinked before looking down at her. "What? Introverts can be badasses, and the dude was a librarian. War and all of your Prime pressure wouldn't exactly make things any easier on him."
Optimus actually seemed a little appreciative of what Jenna said, all seriousness aside.
"And it looks like he has something important to tell us," Sari pressed, then she looked at Optimus. "What's on your mind, Optimus?"'
"I must take my leave of you."
"May I ask why?" Ultra Magnus asked, stepping forward to face his leader.
"While Cybertron is once again able to support life, our planet is currently incapable of generating new lives," Optimus informed them. "Not until I retrieve the wellspring from which all life on Cybertron is born and ultimately returns." Jenna could practically feel the color draining from her face. "The Allspark."
"You mean, it isn't here?" Smokescreen questioned the Prime, confused.
"Nor has it been, Smokescreen, not for thousands of years," Optimus explained. "As the war for Cybertron reached a tipping point and the Decepticon army appeared to be unstoppable, I opted to safeguard the Allspark from Megatron by covertly sending it to a distant sector of the galaxy. The Matrix of Leadership will enable me to guide us to its present location."
"What are we waiting for?" Bumblebee stepped forward, his optics narrowed in determination. "Let's take the warship and bring it back."
"These remain dangerous times, Bumblebee," Optimus reminded the new warrior. "We cannot leave Cybertron unsecured, not with Starscream and Shockwave unaccounted for."
"Not to mention our stray Predacon," Ultra Magnus added.
"Ultra Magnus," Optimus addressed the commander. "You will supervise patrols to find and capture the future Decepticons."
"I would be honored." Ultra Magnus nodded, then he looked at Jenna. "And I will need air-support, someone who can out-fly Starscream and the Predacon."
Jenna blinked, then she gave a small smirk, folding her hands behind her back to hide how they shook. "Now, you're speaking my language."
"Bulkhead," Optimus went on, and the green Wrecker looked at him. "You will lead the reconstruction effort. Begin by building a landing field to welcome returning refugees."
"We can help with that," Lupa said, giving a devious grin.
Leona punched one palm with the opposite fist. "Intimidating some Vehicons would be a genuine delight."
"Wheeljack, I will require your extensive experience navigating deep space," Optimus concluded.
The white Wrecker set Jenna down before he rested his fists on his hips, smirking. "When do we leave?"
Jenna glanced at her partner, a small frown on her face, then she looked away.
As Optimus boarded Ultra Magnus's ship, Sari flew up to face him.
"You can do this," she assured him. "For Prowl."
Optimus blinked, then he smiled and nodded. "For all of us... and I will."
"I know." Sari grinned, then she turned and flew off to join the others at a distance. They had all already said their goodbyes to the Prime, so Optimus vanished into the ship.
Still, one last goodbye had to be said.
"A holoform?" Jenna raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What's the occasion?"
"Just having it ready in case my little junior partner wants a 'goodbye' hug." Wheeljack chuckled, and Jenna rolled her optics. "Yeah, yeah. Screw you, too." He grew serious. "You gonna be alright while I'm gone?"
"Yeah, 'Jackie." The techno-organic in blue nodded, giving a small smile. "You just be careful out there... Wheel-jackass."
Wheeljack produced a light grin. "You too, Snow Queen."
"No promises." Jenna crossed her arms.
The white Wrecker sighed, shaking his helm. "Reckless little punk."
He turned away, only to hear rapid footsteps behind him. Wheeljack made his holoform turn back just in time to be tackled in a tight hug. A mass of wild brown and blue hair tickled his face as his techno-organic rested her forehead on his shoulder, holding on like she never wanted to let go.
"... Kid?" Wheeljack asked, confused. "I was -uh- kinda kiddin' about the hug." Jenna was silent, and she closed her optics and hugged him a little tighter. "Hey, I know you miss space—but you'll be able to come along with me next time, okay?"
"Yeah," Jenna replied quietly as she opened her optics, lowering her arms as the holoform dissolved and forcing a small grin as Wheeljack transformed. He stepped onto the platform, and when he smiled and waved, Jenna smiled and waved back... until he could no longer see her. Then, Jenna's face and hand fell as she sighed, her shoulders slumping as she watched the ship take off and fly away. "... Next time, 'Jackie."
/\
Bulkhead, Lupa, and Leona took a half-dozen Vehicons to begin building that landing field.
Bumblebee, Sari, and Elita-1 remained on the Nemesis to keep an eye on the remaining prisoners and scan for anything approaching from the atmosphere or moving on the planet's surface.
Arcee, Ultra Magnus, and Smokescreen patrolled from the ground while Jenna flew above to cover them. The techno-organic in blue's optics narrowed as she saw Arcee split off and drive away.
"Talk to me, Ultra Magnus," she spoke, activating her helmet and turning her commlink on. "Why's Arcee going solo?"
:I've sent her back to report the signs of scavenging we've uncovered at the former Decepticon outposts,: Ultra Magnus explained. :We are having some trouble getting a long-distance signal out, within these ruins.:
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Should we be worried about that?"
:I am honestly not sure,: Ultra Magnus confessed. :Have you noticed anything peculiar from up there?:
"No." Jenna shook her head. "Nothing. It's pretty hard to not get lost in thought, in all the quiet."
:You're telling me,: Smokescreen cut in. :I guess we just have to think about how important it is that we find these three. I mean, think of what they've done.:
Jenna blinked, then her optics narrow. "I... really try not to."
:Right.: Smokescreen sounded like he was cringing. :Sorry, kiddo.:
"Chronologically, I might be a 'kiddo', but I actually think that Sari and I are pretty close to you biologically," Jenna noted. "When we upgraded, she turned into an eighteen year-old and I was already pretty much eighteen... Probably eighteen already 'cause -hello- adopted, no idea of real 'birthday' but got adopted when I was already three... And you losers seem to be twenty-one at most."
:What makes you say that?:
"You give off dumb college junior vibes."
:Hey!:
Jenna chuckled. "It's all affectionate, Smoke."
:Whatever.: Smokescreen huffed. :What would everyone else's human ages be?:
"Hm." Jenna looked up thoughtfully. "If I put you and Bumblebee, the youngest, at twenty-one... I think that Arcee would be somewhere between twenty-three and twenty-five, and Elita-1 would be around thirty. Lupa and Leona are sorta somewhere around you and Bumblebee's age, which is kinda weird since they were only just 'born'." She crossed her arms. "I would put Ultra Magnus at thirty-seven (my mom's age, which is pretty wild), and Optimus would be thirty-six—I don't know why, Prime just seems a little younger for one reason or another." She uncrossed her arms and looked down. "Bulkhead would probably be somewhere between thirty-five and forty (even though he is still one of Optimus's disaster children), and I'd guess that Ratchet is somewhere around fifty to fifty-five."
:What about Wheeljack?:
"Wheeljack is... tricky," Jenna admitted. "I think he tries to act older than he is, maybe because of the Wreckers—but there are some things that indicate that he's actually on the young side. Bulkhead respects and trusts him, but he still kinda treats 'Jackie like a kid he has to look after when things get tense; he thinks that 'Jackie shouldn't be allowed to get too worked-up, stressed, or reckless—things that are bad for a kid.
Wheeljack can be a bit childish, and while he's Mr. Authority Song with Ultra Magnus because he's had time to get used to him one-on-one, he needed time to get used to Ratchet and Optimus and he still kinda freezes up whenever he's being directly scolded by someone like Arcee. He hates authority but still recognizes it...
His holoform is also a dude in his early twenties..." Jenna blinked. "And when we were caught by MECH, Wheeljack admitted that he was 'somewhere in the two-billions' and 'on the young side'. He's probably somewhere in the mid-twenties, then—around Arcee's age, maybe older or maybe younger. He really would have been just a kid when this war started, since he said the war's been going on for half of his life... Like I said, it's hard to tell."
:Whoa, really?: Smokescreen asked, surprised. :I never would've guessed. I guess that's the difference between being asked to look after Iacon and being on the front lines like Wheeljack, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, and Arcee were. I would've thought they were way older, and even Bumblebee... You really think we're around the same age?:
"Yeah, I do."
:Pit... And Sari kinda acts a bit older than you, doesn't she?:
"Yeah, even though—chronologically—I'm probably older... I guess there is a difference." Jenna's optics continued to scan the ground below. "Experience... Though, to be honest, I don't really feel eighteen. I feel older, more tired... You guys are all really strong, fighting this war for as long as you have."
:We needed help to win it,: Ultra Magnus reminded her. :Do not downplay the role you took on when you entered this conflict, Miss Darby. You may not have been a part of this for long but you were still one of the most-important parts.:
"... Thank you, sir," Jenna said softly, then she deactivated her commlink and helmet, sighing. "Give it another twenty-four hours, boss... You'll see exactly what kind of role I'm here to play."
Jenna opened her commlink again as she flew over a city, Ultra Magnus and Smokescreen still driving beneath her.
:Well, someone may want to think about renaming the Sea of Rust,: Smokescreen noted. :Just sayin'. Though I was hoping more of us would be rushing back here to see it. Y'know, now that it's all bright and shiny.:
:Cybertron will populate in time, kid,: Ultra Magnus assured the young Elite Guardsman, and Jenna found herself smiling at the exasperated fondness in the commander's voice. Ultra Magnus had really grown on her. :You have to remember: refugees could be returning from lightyears away.: He paused. :Movement. Two contacts at .84.: He and Smokescreen transformed and readied their weapons. :Approach with caution.:
"Roger-roger," Jenna commented, flitting over to a building near the point and landing. She lowered her voice. "I'll take a look. Get ready to close in."
:Be careful.:
"You do know who I am right?" Jenna raised an eyebrow, smirking under her helmet, then she crept over to the edge of the roof and looked down into the alleyway. "Uh, boss? Does a yellow glow always mean what I think it means?"
"What?" Ultra Magnus and Smokescreen had arrived at the entrance to the alleyway, and Ultra Magnus lowered his servo from his commlink as the two figures looked back at him. "My name is Ultra Magnus. Are you Autobot or Decepticon?"
"Guys, I don't like this." Jenna's optics narrowed as she raised her hands and shifted them into her gauntlets, her body tensing as one of the figures let out a raspy chuckle. "And I really don't like that."
"Neither," one of the mechs responded, and they both suddenly transformed into massive griffin-like creatures: one with fangs and one with a beak.
"Predacons," Ultra Magnus realized, and he and Smokescreen both raised their weapons as the beasts roared and charged. The Predacons seemed impervious to the blasts, and the beaked one grabbed Smokescreen and started throwing him around while the fanged one knocked Ultra Magnus aside.
Choosing quickly, Jenna flew down and landed next to the beaked Predacon, raising her gauntlets. "Hey, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe called! They want their final-battle fodder-creature back!"
Jenna started firing, and the beaked Predacon spat Smokescreen out onto the pavement to turn and snarl at her. Jenna collapsed her wings into her back and rolled aside when the creature pounced, allowing it to slide across the metal with a deafening screech.
"Whoo!" Smokescreen stood up, his optics wide, then he glanced at Jenna. "Thanks, kiddo."
"Looks like Ultra Magnus got in over his head," Jenna noted, cringing as she glanced up. The fanged Predacon flew through the air with Ultra Magnus clinging to it, punching and shooting and trying to make it crash. "Think you can hold this one for a little bit while I try and deal with that?"
"Yeah, he needs help." Smokescreen nodded as Ultra Magnus and the Predacon crashed into a building and fell to the ground in a pile of rubble. "Go!"
Jenna nodded, but as soon as she turned away and spread her wings, the beaked Predacon knocked Smokescreen several hundred yards away and into a building. Smokescreen fell down onto a ledge, heavy rubble falling to pin him, and the beaked Predacon ran over and snarled as it started trying to climb up to get the rookie. Its mouth glowed orange, prepared to spew fire.
"No!" Jenna shouted, her gauntlets shifting back into hands as she reached out, but it was too late. The Predacon breathed fire, and when it ended, Smokescreen was gone. "No..."
"Miss Darby, look out!" Ultra Magnus shouted, and Jenna looked back to see the fanged Predacon lunging. Her optics widened as the beast's forepaws caught her wings and she was suddenly pinned to the ground beneath the Predacon, and panic suddenly took hold and she was unable to think straight.
She did not want to lose her wings.
She did not want to die.
Jenna closed her optics and screamed, raising her hands to shield her face as the creature prepared to spit fire. Suddenly, the Predacon was knocked away, and Jenna opened her optics and looked up as a battered figure stepped between her and the fanged creature.
"Ultra Magnus?" Jenna managed as she sat up, stunned. Ultra Magnus raised his cannons, his optics narrowed in anger as the beast looked at him and snarled. "I-I'm sorry, I-!"
"It is alright." Ultra Magnus looked back at her, frowning, then he looked forward again as the beaked Predacon charged, firing at it with all he had. Every blast made contact, but the Predacon kept coming and it snatched Ultra Magnus in its jaws and threw him through a wall.
"Ultra Magnus!" Jenna cried, leaping up and flying over to the fallen mech. He groaned, his optics closed, barely conscious and obviously in pain... Jenna looked at the fanged Predacon with narrowed optics as it stalked towards them, collapsing her wings again and shifting her hands back into her gauntlets. "You'll pay for that!"
Smokescreen, who had survived the fire with his phase shifter, drove past with the beaked Predacon on his tail as Jenna slammed her gauntlets together to make her cannon and fired, knocking the fanged Predacon back and into a wall.
The girl's optics were glowing so brightly that they were almost white as she stood up, energy seeming to rise from the metal ground at her feet in little blue-white lightning-bolts that connected with her body as she took several deep breaths, her gauntlets shifting back into hands and clenching into fists.
"Bumblebee, I need an emergency ground-bridge—STAT!" Smokescreen shouted into his commlink as the beaked Predacon stopped chasing him and ran at Jenna. "Kiddo, look out!"
Jenna grabbed a massive fragment of the wall Ultra Magnus had crashed into and leapt up so that she could slam it down onto the beaked Predacon's helm. When it collapsed, dazed, she grabbed it by its wing and spun around rapidly to build up momentum before releasing it and sending the beaked Predacon flying into the fanged Predacon when it charged up to try and re-enter the fray.
"Heh." Jenna gave a small smirk, then her expression grew serious again as the two creatures forced themselves to their peds again and roared at her. "I thought I made myself clear!"
The techno-organic spread her wings and flew towards the Predacons, grabbing each of them by a wing. The two creatures screeched in surprise and what may have been fright as the girl dragged them up into the air and started spinning them both around until all Smokescreen could make out of any of them was a spinning blur of color.
The young Elite Guardsman had made it to Ultra Magnus's side, and he rested a servo on the injured commander's rotator-cup to bring him into a different 'phase' for his own safety.
"Leave us ALONE!" Jenna snapped, suddenly releasing the Predacons, and they were both sent flying up into the air and out of the city limits. Jenna's shoulders shook with her breaths as she slowly lowered to the ground, her fists clenched again; her optics were still glowing near-white, and energy still rose from the ground to enter her body in visible bolts.
"Kiddo!" Smokescreen shouted, and Jenna blinked and looked back. Her optics returned to normal and energy stopped rising from the ground when she noticed the ground-bridge opening next to the two mechs. "Let's get Ultra Magnus out of here!"
"Right!" Jenna nodded, running over. She grabbed one of Ultra Magnus's servos and pulled, helping Smokescreen drag the wounded and unconscious commander through the portal and to safety.
/\
Ratchet was bridged in from Earth to tend to Ultra Magnus after Smokescreen and Jenna gave their report of what had happened. Smokescreen kept sending glances Jenna's way when he talked about how she drove the Predacons off, but she just sat quietly and let him tell that part.
"... How did you do that?" Smokescreen finally asked, looking down at the techno-organic in blue. Jenna just looked down at her hands in silence.
A moment passed, then Sari's face fell. "You don't know, do you?"
"I didn't lose control," Jenna said quickly, looking up at her mentor. "It-... It was like when I fought Megatron in the desert, even after I lost all of that blood and Energon. Only... stronger." Jenna clenched her fists before letting them fall open. "Something else started fueling me, giving me power. I need to try and figure out what it is..."
Jenna closed her optics and focused, and all optics widened as her spark-chamber turned white and power briefly radiated from her body, moving her hair. Jenna opened her optics, and they were glowing white as well before they and her spark both turned blue again and the girl fell to her hands and knees, her optics wide as she stared at the floor.
"Whoa." Sari kneeled next to Jenna, stunned. "I don't necessarily think you're getting stronger. It's almost like... you've accessed the Allspark on a spiritual level, like Prowl could, and it's fueling an advanced sort of Processor-Over-Matter... but you aren't even a trainee, let alone a master Cyber-Ninja—and the Allspark is far, far away."
"Could something else fuel me and let me do Processor-Over-Matter, download the knowledge into me and give me an instinct for it?"
"Um... Like what?"
"... Sari, I've heard you mention it from time to time, but you've never said-... How did Prowl die?" Jenna asked quietly. Sari blinked, then she looked down.
"Miss Darby," Ratchet spoke, and Jenna looked at him. "Optimus's story about the fate of the Allspark left out a few details." Jenna blinked, surprised. "You do remember Omega Supreme, our goliath ally on the island?"
"Yeah?"
"Well... techno-organics are not the only surprises to arise from protoforms during the war."
...
A black and gold mech stood at the top of a dilapidated tower on a nearly-ruined Cybertron, silently watching as Omega Supreme battled three enormous mechs in Decepticon colors while Optimus handled Megatron and the others took on the Decepticon army.
A moment passed, then the mech looked back, his sunglasses-like optics finding Jazz standing beside a massive, glowing reliquary.
"We're out of options... We have to try."
...
Ratchet closed his optics.
"You see, for a time, the Allspark was actually kept in its container and safeguarded by our team. It was only sent into deep space a few years ago... after tragedy," the medic stated quietly. "Clones of Omega Supreme, built by Megatron through the use of protoforms, were being used to further eradicate areas such as the Iacon Hall of Records in the hopes of finding the reliquary. You see, Megatron was unaware that we had actually taken the Allspark with us to Earth...
We managed to make our way to Cybertron with the aid of a space bridge constructed by Sari's father, which was later found and destroyed by Megatron, and—upon the realization that we truly could not protect the reliquary forever in the face of Megatron's military might—Optimus tried to prepare the Allspark for transport."
"You can clone folks with protoforms?" Jenna asked, surprised. "Neat." Ratchet looked up and raised an optic-brow. "Right, right. Story time."
"... Optimus eventually had to leave the reliquary in the protection of his top Cyber-Ninjas, Prowl and Jazz, so that he could join us in the battle against the Decepticons," Ratchet told her. "We could have all been eradicated that day, but Prowl and Jazz acted in order to prevent a tragedy of that scale."
...
Prowl and Jazz sat in meditative positions, their helms bowed and their optics closed. Beams shot out from the reliquary, killing Vehicons and damaging the Omega Supreme clones, but it was not enough.
A few moments passed, then Prowl raised his helm.
"I understand," he spoke quietly. "There's no other way... I accept."
Jazz looked up, confused, and he saw a white light beginning to surround his partner. "Prowl?"
...
Ratchet shook his helm.
"There was a time where we thought Prowl to be a selfish loner... but not on that day, nor any day since."
...
Jazz gasped as Powl rose into the air to face the reliquary, his expression filled with disbelief.
"Prowl, no!" The younger Cyber-Ninja shouted, raising a servo. "We'll find another way!"
The older Cyber-Ninja looked back, giving a small, sad smile... just before the reliquary opened and Prowl was consumed by light.
...
Ratchet closed his optics again.
"Prowl took the Allspark into his body. Using its power, he intervened in the battle and saved our lives."
...
Omega Supreme laid on the ground, wounded and defeated.
Optimus shouted in pain as he was knocked to the ground, then he grunted as a silver ped pinned him. Megatron smirked, raising his blade over his foe as three massive Decepticons all aimed cannons at him just in case.
Suddenly, a beam of bright white light blasted straight through the arms and torsos of the giant mechs, destroying all of their sparks and killing them in less than two seconds. Megatron looked back, his optics wide as the Omega Supreme clones fell, then he yelled in outrage and went to bring his sword down on Optimus's helm.
A powerful blast of white light knocked the warlord aside, and Optimus sat up and looked on in surprise, seeing the glowing figure standing just a little way's away.
"Prowl?"
"... It has been an honor, Optimus Prime," Prowl said softly, still giving that same small, sad smile. "I leave the rest to you... Good luck."
With that, Prowl was taken up in a beam of white light again and carried back to where Jazz waited with an empty reliquary. The energy went back into the reliquary, joined by a black, silver, and gold ball of light...
And Jazz caught Prowl's shell when it dropped into his arms.
...
Ratchet looked up, barely managing to keep himself composed.
"But, a-as a result-..."
...
As the dust cleared, slow and heavy footsteps rang out.
Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Sari looked back with wide optics as Jazz approached, his head bowed.
In his arms, the Cyber-Ninja cradled Prowl's lifeless body.
...
Silence fell as the medic took a step back, crossing his arms as his optics' gaze went to the floor.
"... There was nothing to be done," Ratchet announced quietly. Bumblebee and Bulkhead had hung their helms. "We simply completed our mission and saved the Allspark... Jazz departed as soon as we returned to Earth. It wasn't long after that when we were assigned to Autobot Outpost Omega One, where we met Arcee and Cliffjumper."
Jenna stared at Ratchet, stunned. "He-..? He was gone, just like that?"
"Just like that," Ratchet confirmed, and Jenna looked down. "But Miss Darby, you must keep in mind that he actually merged himself with the Allspark. You seem to have simply accessed it without contacting it, so you likely have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah." Jenna nodded shakily. "Nothing..."
While the others spoke about what to do with the Predacons, Jenna stepped out into a hallway. After walking for a few yards, the girl stopped in place and took a deep breath...
Then, she bared gritted teeth, turned, and slammed her fist into one of the walls with enough force to create a large dent. "DAMN IT!"
"I guess that's all the proof I need," a voice spoke quietly, and Jenna blinked before looking back. Sari stood there, a frown on her face. "You're hiding something—something big, and... bad."
Jenna was silent for a moment, then she turned to face her fellow techno-organic. "I need you to trust me." Her voice was soft. "Can you do that?"
"Huh?" Sari blinked, then she nodded. "Yeah, of course."
"Good." Jenna turned away. "There's something I have to do. Don't let anyone come after me."
"What?" Sari's optics narrowed as Jenna started walking. "Where are you going?"
The techno-organic in blue clenched her fists. "To set the record straight."
/\
Jenna left the Nemesis and flew to the Well of Allsparks for the second time. This time, however, there was less grieving acceptance and more rage in the young techno-organic.
When she landed and approached the edge of the pit, her optics were narrowed and her fists were clenched. It was time to finally get some real answers out of this would-be deity.
"How do you expect me to do this?!" Jenna snapped, her optics tearing up as she glared down into the Well. "If it killed Prowl that quickly, how do you expect me to make it long enough to save my friends from an entire army AND deliver it to the center of this planet?! ARE YOU LYING TO ME, AGAIN?!" Jenna approached the spark, her wings flaring behind her. "TELL ME!"
...
Everything went white so suddenly, it threw Jenna off-balance. She stumbled and fell back into a seated position, cringing, then she looked up with wide optics.
"I-I..."
"Miss Darby." A mech stood before her, his arms crossed. He was black, gold, and silver, and his optics were merged into one and shaped in such a way that it looked like he was wearing sunglasses. He was her size, but Jenna knew he was meant to be larger...
"Prowl," the techno-organic managed, stunned.
The mech seemed perturbed. "You know me?"
"No, I-... I've only heard stories," Jenna admitted, frowning. She thought that was better than telling him that she had seen his spark in a vision of her death. "I'm supposed to finish what you started." Prowl nodded, sitting down in medatative position before her. Jenna slowly copied his position. "... Can you answer my questions?"
"I can try," Prowl told her, frowning. "It is my belief that your theories are correct: Primus is indeed fueling your ability to access the energy of this planet and the very universe."
"But... why?" Jenna asked quietly.
Prowl sighed, shaking his helm. "I think that he is strengthening you for your task, keeping up his end of the deal by loaning you his own might."
"... I will be able to save my friends," Jenna realized, then she looked down. "I'm sorry."
Prowl gave a small, forlorn smile. "What are you apologizing for? You are young, and with what are you are about to face, you are being quite rational." Prowl's face fell. "Anger is expected in the face of death."
"You weren't angry," Jenna protested, and Prowl looked at her again. "Or scared... They said you were sad, but you still smiled. You were brave."
"... I was terrified," Prowl confessed, and Jenna's optics widened. "Dying, especially through making that sort of sacrifice, is the hardest thing one can do. As I prepared to give up my spark, I was thinking of Jazz, Sari, the team... I did not want to leave them, to hurt them—but I also knew I was the only one who can save them."
"So... that's how you managed to be brave," Jenna said quietly. "It hurt you, thinking of them... but they were your world. If they died, there would have been no point to anything. You had to go... It was the only way." Prowl nodded, and Jenna bit her lower lip before hanging her head. "Why can't he make me strong enough to survive?"
"Primus is powerful, but he is not omnipotent as the gods of the Earth's faiths oftentimes are. The Allspark is composed of sparks, and since you must take it into your own spark-chamber in order to place it into storage and then expel it through the same pathway, separating your spark from the masses is likely impossible."
"Why can't someone besides Optimus or a human techno-organic do it?"
"The average Cybertronian has only a spark—the life-force that stores who and what we truly are, at our core," Prowl began, frowning. "I only had my spark to try and contain the Allspark, which was why I was consumed near-instantly. It was only thanks to my advanced cyber-ninja training that I lasted long enough to make a difference, that day... Meanwhile, Optimus possesses a spark and the Matrix of Leadership—a canister of knowledge stored as pure energy, which can serve as extra 'storage space' for something like the Allsparks."
"Okay..." Jenna seemed to understand. "And human techno-organics have somethng like that, too? What-?" Jenna blinked, surprised. "The mod sub-storage space. The 'bigger on the inside' bit... Our mods are stored energy until we deploy them, aren't they? Just like Optimus's wisdom and Prime-powers!"
"Well done, Miss Darby." Prowl seemed somewhat proud. "You see, the protoforms which fell to Earth and became human techno-organics were different than most; they were highly-weaponized experiments, crafted for the war but never used."
"Why not?"
"Alpha Trion insisted that it would be wrong to create life for the sole sake of war. Optimus agreed with him, so the experimental protoforms were locked away in the Iacon Hall of Records and eventually sent to Earth with the rest of the relics the master archivist was able to save," Prowl informed her. "Alpha Trion hoped that, by sending you away from the war and to a place where life was much more fragile and peaceful, even the most-dangerous of these new Cybertronians could learn kindness, compassion, and mercy long before Optimus found them there."
"He wanted them to learn what it was like to be human," Jenna decided. "And... to teach the Autobots."
Prowl nodded. "Yes, and I believe you've more-than succeeded."
"'Jackie gets most of my references," Jenna joked. "And he's into classic rock." Her expression softened. "And he learned that he doesn't have to be cool all the time. He can be vulnerable, and so can I... Huh." She gave a small smile. "I'm really proud of him."
"Hm." Prowl smiled at the girl. "This is exactly what Alpha Trion wanted. He knew that the beings that would rise from Earth would be different, but they would also be new and ready to bring about a new Cybertron after they helped Optimus finish what he started."
"We kicked ass."
"Yes, you did." Prowl snorted, then he got back on-task. "Think of your mods' dwellings as 'storage space' that can be used by the Allspark, which is why you would be able to last even longer than I did with or without cyber-ninja training. There's more space, in you—more to burn, so that the flame of life does not go out so quickly."
"So... basically, only a techno-organic or Optimus has enough 'gigabytes' to store the Cybertronian 'soul database', which is gonna burn me, my mods, and itself up unless I deal with the army and then book it to the Well to take a swan-dive," Jenna figured, looking up. "That kinda drains my hopes of sticking the Allspark into Starscream, making him blast the baddies, and chucking him into the Well... Why does it have to be this way? Why does someone have to die? Is there really no other way to both defeat Unicron and restore the Allspark?"
"I'm afraid it does not appear to be possible, Miss Darby," Prowl told her, then he stood and turned away. "And I'm afraid that's all I-"
"Wait." Jenna stood and grabbed his wrist. "Do-..? Do you know what happens to me, after?"
Prowl hesitated, then he sighed and looked back at her. "... Does it matter?"
"Huh?" Jenna blinked, then she slowly released his wrist. "... No." She found herself saying it. "No, it doesn't... I'm going to do this to save my friends, to save Cybertron, to begin a rebirth cycle, and to give the team their home back. What happens after, it doesn't matter because this isn't about me."
"... You're ready." Prowl gave a small smile.
Jenna produced a weak grin. "Maybe... Hey, Prowl?"
"Yes?"
"... I know why Primus let us talk," Jenna told him, and Prowl blinked. "Our friends were your world, just as much as they are mine. Primus had us talk because he wanted you to give me the will to do what has to be done, and so that I could tell you that you won't be alone much longer... You were a part of the deal."
"What?"
"You were a part of the deal," Jenna told him, her optics tearing up. "And meeting you... I think it'll help." She smiled, nodding. "I know that everyone they ever lost will come home... everyone besides me, but still: that makes it all worth it... I can make everything else okay again."
"Miss Darby." Prowl turned to her, stunned. "You-... Why-?"
"They miss you, Prowl," Jenna told him, and the white light around them began to shine brighter. "And now... you can make it so they don't miss me. You can tell them I went to the Allspark, that I'll be okay." Prowl stared at her. "Take care of them, for me... I want them to be happy."
"Miss Darby-"
"Thanks, for saving them for me," Jenna said, and the cyber-ninja tensed. "It's my turn, now... Goodbye."
"Jenna!"
...
Jenna opened her optics, feeling the tears racing down her face. She was standing at the edge of the Well, and she had done the right thing...
But she was on her own.
-0-0-0-0-0-
I think you know what comes next.
It's not like I've been being subtle or secretive about it.
You knew what you were getting into the moment you decided that you wanted to know my story...
It's not too late for you.
You can still turn back.
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I'm the worst.
But hey, look at that: we got PROWL! XD
Yeah, yeah-I know, I'm still an awful creature with no right to be considered a human being.
Wheeljack's sendoff? Bad.
The protective-then-hurt Ultra Magnus stuff? Bad.
Making Ratchet cry with Prowl and Jazz's story in this alternate universe? Bad.
The confrontation with Sari? Bad.
The Prowl stuff in general? Bad.
Stressing out my poor techno-organic in blue with all this bullshit? Bad.
The next chapter? WORSE! XD
I gave you one chapter of mainly-fluff. Now, suffer for it!
I only own my OCs. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks!
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Comments Hall of Fame!
I'm Just Here For The Memories
"OMG I CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT TO COMMENT ON THE LAST CHAPTER I'm so sorry!"
(Oh, my God. It's fine. XD
I was wondering what you thought of it, though. That one was... interesting.)
"This is beautiful! I love how they dance together, and still snark the entire time."
(What can I say? They're dorks!
I honestly went back and forth on that scene a lot. I almost took it out, but I decided that the final line of the song I chose—"We're bound to break and my hands are tied"—with the Well and Wheeljack right there...
Yeah, I'm mean. I did that for my own evil purposes.)
"I loved the answer to my question last chapter lmao Ultra Magnus just deadpan "Bulkhead and I will hold him down" I was DECEASED"
(Developing the relationship between Ultra Magnus and Jenna like I did the relationship between Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack was something I didn't know I needed. It's been great!
Too bad I fully intend to use it to torture people even worse than I did in this chapter. XD )
"Speaking of questions... I have one. For Wheeljack."
(Uh-oh.)
"Please note that I'm just asking this because I want to know how he'd react. I love the pace of this story!"
(UH-OH.
Just messing with you. XD
Pacing's been something I've really been working on, especially since this story seems to be heading down a Strangers - Partners - Friends - [REDACTED] route. )
"And a question for EVERYBODY!"
(Oh, no. XD )
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Ask a Character!
I'm Just Here For The Memories: "Wheeljack. Are you ever gonna get the bearings, or are you just gonna admit that Bumblebee has more brass than you?"
Wheeljack: "Excuse me?"
Bulkhead: "Oh, no."
Wheeljack: "Did you miss Christmas?! I solo-ed King 'Con long before Stripes over there put a sword in 'im, and I didn't even have a Prime soften him up first!"
Bulkhead: *blinks, sighs. "... 'Jackie, no."
Wheeljack: "What?"
Bulkhead: "That's not what they're asking."
Wheeljack: *confused* "What are they askin', then?"
Everyone: ...
Miko: *shrug* "Screw it. This isn't canon, anyway. I'm gonna tell him."
Jack: *steering Jenna out of the room* "We'll just be watching Marvel movies until you're done."
Miko: *looks at Wheeljack* "Now, how do I put this delicately..?"
Wheeljack: *raises an optic-brow*
Miko: *deep breath* "... When are you gonna 'bot-up and admit you've totally got a thing for a certain artist in blue?"
Wheeljack: *blinks* "... Huh?"
*the next room over*
Jenna: "I'm just saying, if Strange had just used one of his portals to slice Thanos's hand off-"
Wheeljack's Voice: "WHAT?!"
Jenna: "Whoa!" *falls out of her seat* "The Hell?! Was that 'Jackie?!"
Jack: *sips Coke* "... Yep."
*back in the question room*
Wheeljack: *frozen and staring straight forward*
Miko: "Uh... Maybe there was a reason we kept him in the dark after all."
Sari: "Ya think?"
Bumblebee: *smirks* "Oh, well. I guess I've just out-brassed the rogue Wrecker."
Smokescreen: *catching on* "Washed-up in his two-billions? So sad."
Wheeljack: *blinks, growls* "Why, you little-!"
Bumblebee: "Girl. Brass bearings. When?"
Wheeljack: *freezes, then deadpans* "I don't- Look, unlike the rest of you, I don't have my processor in the clouds. I don't think about that stuff, and I wouldn't want to—it makes things too complicated when they don't have to be. The kid is my friend, one of the best I've ever had... and I've lost too many."
Everyone: 0_0
Wheeljack: "Now, does that satisfy you, Mr. Brass Bearings?"
Bumblebee: *quietly* "Yep."
Miko: *on the phone* "Jack? Get Jenna back in here. Wheeljack needs a hug, and she's probably the only one who won't get stabbed."
I'm Just Here For The Memories: "EVERYBODY. How long are you willing to watch them dance around each other before you can't take it anymore? Have you placed bets yet? … can I join the betting pool if the answer is 'yes'?"
*in a corner of the room*
Jenna: *standing on Wheeljack's rotator-cup and patting his helm, grinning* "There, there. You're safe, here. The mean askers can't hurt you anymore, 'Jackie."
*with the others*
Lupa: "Dance around? Honestly, I do not mind. They are quite excellent dancers, and-"
Bulkhead: "Not this, again. We're being asked how long it'll take before we intervene and try to get 'Jackie and the kid together, and if we've taken bets on when or how it'll happen."
Elita-1: "My bet is still on a billion years from now. They'll be sitting in the Jackhammer, hanging out, then Wheeljack will suddenly sit up with enough force to send that poor girl flying off of his rotator-cup and shout 'WE FORGOT TO GET BONDED'."
Bumblebee: *chuckling* "Nice. I still think that it's only gonna take a few years, and that Wheeljack will do something dumb like ask about a venue for the wedding they'll have to hold for the humans. Jenna will just look at him, confused, and he'll freeze before he just quietly says 'I knew there was something I forgot to do yesterday'."
Bulkhead: "That's just mean."
Sari: *crossing her arms* "You all think that Wheeljack's gonna do something dumb, but my money's on Jenna. Girl's an awkward mess and terrible with communicating, but she's also impatient."
June: *hums* "I asked Jack's father out on our first date, but he didn't even know it was a date until we hit the restaurant. That was a bit humiliating..."
Fowler: *blinks* "Was he stupid or something?"
Miko: "As far as interfering goes, you know where I stand. I'm trying to be subtle, but effective." *gestures* "Which means I've had to run interference with other parties."
Smokescreen: "Hey! It was a legitimate strategy!"
Jack: *annoyed* "Locking them onto Ultra Magnus's ship to 'see what happens' is not a legitimate strategy!"
Arcee: *shakes her helm* "I've had to run interference of my own since we hit Cybertron. Smokescreen thought it would be a good idea to try using some Disney songs instead of the one that ended up playing on its own from The Greatest Showman. Subtlety would've been out the window."
Raf: "What was he gonna play?"
Arcee: *rolling her optics* "The titles mean nothing to me, but he went with I Won't Say I'm in Love, Fixer-Upper, and Kiss the Girl."
Jack: "My sister would have actually committed murder."
Miko: "Or, if the middle one played, just turned it against everyone else in a display of musical vengeance while Wheeljack just watched with a dumb grin. That's also a possibility."
Ratchet: "Unfortunately, since so many of you seem so invested in this, it doesn't matter anyway."
Leona: "Why not?"
Ultra Magnus: "We are out of time."
Optimus: *blinks, then his face falls* "Oh, no."
*in the corner*
Jenna: *sighs, shakes her head, sits down on Wheeljack's rotator-cup* "This next part of the story is the worst... and I'm gonna miss you, 'Jackie."
Wheeljack: *nods solemnly* "I'm gonna miss you too, kid."
Jenna: *smiles awkwardly* "I'll always be available for 'asks'. Just try not to crush my bones with a hug every time you see me, okay?"
Wheeljack: *deadpans, flicks her off of his rotator-cup* "Punk."
Jenna: *flies back up and sits down again* "Wheel-jackass."
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Thanks, for reading! See ya! :)