Chapter 37: Dream A Bit Of You Part 1

(Alternative Title: To Your Heart's Content)

The organic planet they were on was strange, but certainly not the weirdest one they came across. Starscream kept his guard up all the same, because while Overcast was content that there weren't any hostile lifeforms, he was not going to be so careless with the shuttle's safety. Still…the seeker glanced at Overcast, where the mech was knelt on the ground and taking notes about the flora. A smile graced Starscream's lips. "Found something interesting, have you?"

Overcast chuckled. "Everything we've found so far has been interesting, Star."

The seeker's spark gave a warm pulse. He hated being called that, but when Overcast said it, he found no trace of mockery or condescension. Overcast likely didn't have any ill intent anywhere in his spark, and that had drawn Starscream in when he'd taken the job as the scientist's guard. "Then what's the most fascinating thing so far?"

"Truthfully?" Overcast smiled as he stood up. "You."

Starscream jerked back, and blinked in surprise. "Me?" His spark pulsed even hotter in his chest. The seeker then smirked. "After all these sols, you've only just now discovered this?"

Overcast laughed, gentle and kind. "I've been so absorbed in my work that I never noticed all that you've done for me." He made his way over to the seeker, and didn't seem to mind the blue butterfly which landed on his shoulder. Starscream stiffened as Overcast grasped his servos, holding them in his firm grip. "You protect me on these travels, and your dedication is admirable. I wish I'd told you sooner, how being with you makes my spark race. I don't ever want us to be apart."

Starscream squeezed the servos, his faceplate flushed while he thought his spark was going to explode out of his chest. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear…" he trailed off, and his frame tensed. His optics narrowed, scrutinizing the butterfly. That…wasn't one of the fauna species here. It…came from Earth and this wasn't-

The seeker broke their grasp, and stepped back. Starscream shook his helm. "No, no, no!" he snapped. "This is all wrong. You never even knew about my feelings! What trickery is this?"

The butterfly flapped its wings, and Starscream woke up. The seeker stared up the ceiling of his quarters, familiar as he tried to calm his racing spark. It didn't work. He scowled as he sat up, and slammed his servo against his berth. "Frag!"

Skywarp kicked a plate of metal. He glared as the chunk of scrap floated in the air. He'd came all the way to this cruddy moon and for what? Just for Starscream to try and boss him around, or being used a bargaining chip to keep his cousin in line? Why'd Scavenger go traitor? Why'd he abandon him?! They had a good thing going, just travelling around the galaxy and not getting caught up in any one division for too long. But noooo, Scavenger just had to turn tail-pipe and become a goody-good Autobot.

"Skywarp?"

The black and purple seeker froze, then whirled around and raised his cannon at the familiar green and purple mech. "Scavenger! You got a lot of nerve to come back."

The older mech didn't so much as seem fazed by the blaster pointed at his chest. "I know," he said calmly, "and I wanted to apologize."

Skywarp narrowed his optics, but he didn't lower his blaster. "You do?" he asked suspiciously.

Scavenger nodded. "I know my actions have hurt the cause, but that I've hurt you most of all."

"Yeah, well, you did!" Skywarp snapped petulantly, but his blaster faltered. "You left me! You knew how I felt about you and you left me here!"

Scavenger had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry." Slowly, he opened his arms. "And I want to make it all up to you. We can leave, here and now-it'll just be the two of us again. No Decepticons or Autobots-I promise."

"Lotta good your promises were before." Still, Skywarp's arm shook. His resolve lasted a few seconds longer, until he let out a cry and lunged for Scavenger. The older mech caught him in his arms, hugging him tightly as the seeker held onto him. "Y-You better fragging keep it this time!"

Scavenger leaned down and rested his cheek against the seeker's helm, servos gently stroking his wing joints. "I promise. Nothing will ever separate us again."

As Skywarp buried his face into Scavenger's chest, he didn't notice the blue butterfly which landed on his shoulder. It lazily flapped its wings.

It was a long walk from the mines to the oil house near the docks. Still, these trips were always worth it to make. His friends teased him about going so far for a mech, but Megatron doubted they'd ever been in a committed relationship. The door clanked shut behind him, the crowd less rowdy than usual as he scanned the room. His optics locked onto the red and blue form situated near the back.

"Orion Pax." He called, and the mech in question looked up.

A smile graced his faceplate. "Megatron." The miner ordered his oil before sitting next to Orion. "How was your day?"

Megatron huffed. "Same as always. Mining for energon does not change much."

The other mech rested his hand over Megatron's. "Well, boring if predictable beats orders getting mixed up and shipments not arriving on time."

"Sounds like you had quite the sol." Megatron replied, and took a sip of his oil when it arrived. "Will you be up for Scavenger's next training session?"

"I'm not that tired." The other mech chuckled, and slyly added, "Or what we use that excess energy for afterwards when we're alone."

Megatron grinned. He was certain he'd have the energy for it. He was about to lean over to Orion, but narrowed his optics when a blue butterfly flitted across through the room. "What-" he stopped, and straightened up when from the corner of his optics he caught sight of something that made his energon boil.

A blue-colored organic, with long blue hair tied up on her head, and wearing the same-colored clothing. She stood at the back of the room with them, some feet away while no one else even seemed bothered by her presence.

Though she bothered him quite a great deal. "You!" Megatron shot to his pedes, snarling as he glared at her. It was infuriating how she only stared down her nose at him. "Where did you take the mini-con, organic filth!"

"Megatron," Orion's voice called back to him, and he glanced down the red and blue mech, meeting his confused optics, "what's gotten into you? Who are you talking to?"

Megatron closed his optics briefly, and he pulled his servo out of the mech's grasp. It all came back to him; Earth, the mini-cons, Optimus Prime. He looked up, but the girl was gone. Megatron vented slowly and noticed the butterfly once more, nestled on the edge of his oil cup. Megatron scowled, and swiped at it.

His servo caught air, his quarters filled with moon-ridden debris and scrap metal. Megatron sat up, and glared at the wall. He was back in the ship, back to reality than whatever that creature tried to trick him with. He gripped the edge of his berth. Why did it leave him so hollow then?

Triumph soared in Demolishor's spark, holding the mini-con panel as the prone, smoking forms of the Autobots were at his pedes. He'd waited so long to finally get a panel and defeat the Autobots. His fellow Decepticons were standing off to the side. Cyclonus was just about asleep on his pedes, while Starscream looked jealous and irritated. As he should, now it Demolishor's time to shine. His spark thrummed even harder in his chest when he looked at his leader, standing tall and proud against the sun shining behind him.

His leader smiled at him. "Good work, Demolishor. You've done better than I ever could have imagined, surpassed all my expectations."

Demolishor flushed, grinning in giddy excitement. "Thank you, sir! I've only ever wanted to please you. For you to…notice how much it means to me. How much…you mean to me."

Megatron's smile widened as he walked up to the tan mech. He reached out and grasped the other mech's servos, and Demolishor's flush deepened. "Don't think I haven't taken notice. You are my most loyal soldier, far better than Starscream could ever be. And even more devoted than Tidal Wave."

"I've waited so long to hear you say that, sir!" Demolishor said.

"Yes, I know." Megatron slowly leaned in. "I could not ask for a better mech than you."

"S-sir!" Demolishor flushed when he realized what Megatron was about to do. He closed his optics and pursed his lips as Megatron pulled him closer.

He missed the blue butterfly fluttering by him.

Humming, Sideways held his blaster steady while he marched upon Decal's prone figure. The mech was likely glaring daggers at him under that visor, mouth in a tight line. Sideways tilted his head, and knelt down in front of Decal, pressing the muzzle of the blaster against his chest. "So, after all this time, here we are."

Decal sneered at him. "You must love this." He growled.

Sideways chuckled, low and dark. "Oh, you have no idea how much this pleases me." He paused, then lowered his blaster. "If this were even real."

"What are you talking about?" Decal asked irritably.

"If this were real, there's no way you'd just lay there and let me kill you." Sideways replied. He reached out and gripped the side of Decal's helm, forcing their gazes to meet. "You've chased me so long, and you're just going to roll over and take it?" he shook his head. "No, the real Decal would never let me touch him without a fight." Sideways stood up and looked around. "Which of these cards are you?"

A blue butterfly flitted across his vision, before he was staring at the glow of the console screen. He chuckled darkly as he sat straighter in his chair. Oh, this was going to be interesting.

Starscream made his way through the hallway, glancing around for any hiding spots. "Swindle, where are you? I have no time for this." He was still reeling from that dream-more like nightmare-and his thoughts were a mess. He was sure he got his feelings for Overcast under control. Why now? Why now? He entered the mess hall, but the only one inside was Demolishor. And he was lying against the table, with his mini-con beeping and shaking the mech's arm.

A sharp remark was on his glossa, but Starscream decided against it. It was hypocritical to quip about lack of recharge when he'd just gone through it. He shook his helm and grabbed his ration. "If you're going to sleep, Demolishor, at least go back to your berth."

The mini-con, Blackout, beeped and continued trying to shake the mech's arm. Starscream vented, and made his way out the mess hall. He sipped his energon, but stopped when he came across Skywarp's quarters. Snoring almost as loud as Cyclonus' came through. 'Not you too.' He thought and marched into the mech's room. "Skywarp!"

His cousin was lying on his berth, sprawled out and muttering in his sleep. Starscream vented and shook the other seeker's shoulder. Skywarp didn't stir even as shifted. Starscream frowned. :Skywarp, wake up!: Again, nothing. What the frag was going on? "Fine, be that way."

Starscream drank another sip of energon, and continued to the main room. Cyclonus was lying on a chair, pedes propped up on the console. "Wake up!" he snapped. To his surprise, the helicopter jerked, optics blinking open. "Well, at least someone got enough rest."

Cyclonus narrowed his optics. "What's the big idea?"

"Both Demolishor and Skywarp are still recharging. I have no idea what's going on. The last mini-con hunt wasn't even that taxing." Starscream said. Obviously, no thanks in small part to Starscream's excellent swordsmanship.

Cyclonus huffed. "So what if they wanted to sleep more? It's no big deal."

"It is if Megatron finds out-which he will when he undoubtedly sees they aren't here." Starscream said. He glanced down, but Cyclonus had gone back to sleep. Shaking his helm, Starscream took another sip. He noticed the console blinking, but almost choked when he saw where the new signal was. 'One of those cards is here?!'

The cube dropped from his servo, and he quickly checked the readings for the time when it first appeared and how long. 'Scrap, scrap, scrap!' his thoughts raced a mile per klik. The energy readings had been the strongest during the last few cycles-when everyone was asleep. Starscream vented, and his servos clenched. 'Frag, is this the work of those strange organics?' Jumping to conclusions was one thing, but when there was magic involved, nothing could be discounted.

Starscream checked himself into the comm. system of the ship. "Attention; this is an emergency. All of those who are still able, report to the command center."

It was not long before the mini-cons trickled into the room, confused, but when the firmer steps descended-they scattered as Megatron's furious faceplate was the first thing Starscream saw.

"You! What is the meaning of this?"

Starscream vented slowly. Megatron and Cyclonus were the only officers who were still awake. "One of those organics was here. I've calculated the signal is on Earth now, but it was strongest here just a few cycles ago. Skywarp and Demolishor aren't waking up, and I presume Sideways is the same."

Megatron's expression pinched, optics gaining a dark gleam. He scowled, and his gaze flickered to the side. "Do not overstep your boundaries again. And find that blasted organic."

"Sir…" Starscream trailed off, unease filling in his spark, but it needed to be said, "how are we supposed to get the organic to cooperate if we do find it? None of us can control these things."

The scowl deepened on Megatron's face, but his voice remained surprisingly even. "Do you think that's going to be a problem for us? We'll get this spirit, and then we'll get her to undo this mess she caused."

Starscream frowned. "There's no guarantee of that. We can't even talk to these things without them causing trouble."

"Just do it!" Megatron snapped, and turned on his heel to march back out of the room.

Starscream was left with a gaggle of mini-cons staring up at him, and a useless Cyclonus snoring in his chair. 'Of course I'm stuck being the one doing all the work.'

Looking out over Iacon, Optimus could just see bots strolling the sidewalk, while vehicles drove along the road. It was a beautiful sol, and he vented slowly in contentment. This was how he'd always wanted Cybertron; flourishing, mechs and femmes happy and able to live their lives without fear and uncertainty. It took so long, but peace was here and it was here to stay.

"Optimus?"

The red and blue mech turned around, and Red Alert strolled onto the balcony. His two servos were held in front of him, and in that grasp was a small red and blue sparkling with helm fins and bright red optics. Warmth spread through Optimus' spark as he moved to embrace his family. "Is something, Red Alert?"

The medic chuckled softly, leaning his helm against Optimus' shoulder. "Does something have to be wrong to come and see you?"

"No, I don't suppose so, not when it's a pleasant surprise." Optimus replied, and stroked a digit over the sparkling's helm, who cheeped and nuzzled into the touch. "And how are you, my little one?" The sparkling chirped and wrapped their small arms around his. "Such a strong grip!"

Red Alert smiled. "No doubt he's going to take after you."

"Or he could have a strong character, like you." The Prime said.

The medic shook his helm. "I think that's still you. Not everyone could have gotten us to achieve this peace as you did."

Optimus nuzzled his forehead against Red Alert's, but beyond him noticed the looming figure of green and purple. "Megatron."

"Prime." The other mech grunted, his optics looking over them. No trace of jealously or anger remained. Optimus simply had his best friend back. "I need to speak with you about Kaon. Those blasted children want to install a, what was it? Ah, a 'amusement park' or some such nonsense."

Red Alert vented and stepped away, but there was a resigned if gentle smile on his lips. "A Prime's work is never done."

"No, but I will see you later tonight." Optimus cupped the medic's cheek, then patted the sparkling's helm. "Both of you."

Behind him, a butterfly the color of the sky rested on the balcony rail, its wings fluttering.

Groaning, Hot Shot shook his head. What hit him? His vision slowly focused, and his optics widened as oil slicked the floor while a white figure was pinned beneath a steel beam. "W-Wheeljack!" he winced as his side protested, the plating singed and scarred.

His protégé's optics flickered, and he let out a low chuckle. "I…guess it's been…one wild time." He wheezed, vents letting out harsh puff of air.

Hot Shot shook his helm as he dragged himself towards the mech. "No, I'm not leaving you here."

"It's too…late for me." Wheeljack's gaze drifted towards the oil, where a cable was dangerous close to it. "One wrong move…this place goes up in flames."

"I'm not leaving you!" Hot Shot repeated. He wasn't abandoning his friend and student. Not after everything they've been through. "So you'd better stop talking like that!"

Wheeljack stared at him through unfocused optics, before he let out another pained chuckle. "I should have known…you're too fragging stubborn."

"You got that right." Hot Shot managed to grin despite the ache, and dragged himself up to Wheeljack's side. "Now, on three, we both push. Got it?" Wheeljack wheezed, but nodded. "One, two-three!" Hot Shot's arms screeched as the metal creaked under the combined weight of the two mechs pushing the steel beam.

It landed with a loud clank against the floor. Hot Shot vented, and forced himself onto his pedes. The yellow mech lifted Wheeljack under his arms despite his back protesting the strain. Wheeljack groaned as one leg dangled uselessly and the other was bent at a worrying angle. Hot Shot glanced at the cable sparking, and his spark thrummed hot in his chest as he began to drag the white mech from the building.

A slow, agonizing crawl felt like it took hours. Hot Shot didn't know or care about the actual time, only that his form nearly dropped in relief when they were safely out of the building. And not a moment later, it burst into flames.

Wheeljack groaned as the medics rushed them, his optics focusing on Hot Shot. "You…just saved me."

Hot Shot let out a painful, incredulous laugh. "O-of course! I'd never leave you behind." He reached out and gingerly grasped the white mech's servo. "It's you and me, buddy."

"Hot Shot…" Wheeljack trailed off, and his optics finally powered down as the strain finally got to him.

The yellow mech vented, and squeezed his friend's servo. A deliriously happy grin spread across Hot Shot's lips. He'd finally saved his friend from-

His optics widened. He stared, mounting horror filling his spark as a blue butterfly rested on Wheeljack's chest. 'This….this…isn't…right!' A fantasy could never replace what happened.

Hot Shot gasped, his optics snapping open. He stared at the ceiling, no longer on Cybertron. Where was he again? Right, Earth, the mini-con. His spark ached. 'And Wheeljack's still gone.' He sat up on his berth, and rubbed a servo down his faceplate.

There went the chance of getting any more recharge.

Going over his report, Red Alert tilted his helm up as over the din of the crowded room, Optimus' voice rose to be heard, "Autobots, I have something important to announce." The medic placed down his datapad, and stood with the rest of the crowd. Optimus' golden optics met his, and a warm thrum passed over his spark. "I know I have never been one for casual interaction, but I find I cannot in good conscience keep this to myself. It is not fair to either of us."

That warm flush spread through the rest of Red Alert. 'Is he really…really going too…?"

"What are you saying, sir?" A red and white shuttle asked.

Optimus tilted his helm in the mech's direction. "Jetfire, you know how we are compatible in combining?" The flyer nodded, and Optimus' optics brightened. "What I have is so much better than that." The Prime's gaze found the medic's again, and he held out his servo, who tentatively reached and grasped it. "Red Alert, you have been faithful to me for vorns, and I returned that unwavering devotion with secrecy and lies.

"No more! I know I shouldn't have insisted we keep our relationship a secret, but I am asking if you can find it in yourself to forgive me, and if you would do me the honor of spark-bonding with me?"

Murmurings broke out around them, but Red Alert only had optics for Optimus. His spark pulsed strong enough he worried about combustion. "I never thought you'd ask-of course I will." He was pulled against the other mech into a tight hug. 'It's really happening. This is per…fect…'

Dread coiled tight in Red Alert's tank, and his optic band dimmed. 'It is perfect.' He repeated, and pulled back to gaze into Optimus' optics. The taller mech cradled his cheek in his servo, and Red Alert resisted leaning into it. "Sir, what about the Decepticons?"

Optimus blinked slowly. "What about them?"

Red Alert's spark thrummed again, this time with sorrow as he stepped away. Coldness settled over him, and his fists clenched. He flinched. He had both servos again. 'It's not real.' He thought. A butterfly flitted past his gaze, and the mess hall became the familiar white walls of his quarters.

Red Alert glanced down, where only one servo remained. It wasn't real. His spark ached with anguish.

Rad leaned back against a tree, High Wire in recharge in bicycle mode while his friends and their mini-cons were also just enjoy the summer breeze. Summer vacation hadn't come soon enough. So much had went on that it was a bit dizzying to really think about. Especially the…well, never mind that. His friends though forgave him and everything was back to normal-that was what mattered.

"Are you sure?"

Rad jerked up, his optics locking with those familiar pink ones. "You!" He hopped to his feet and scowled up at Sideways. "What are you doing here, creep?"

"Harsh, I thought we really had something." The mech replied. Rad scowled, and the mech's optics narrowed. "Then again, I already got what I wanted from you. Not much use to anyone, are you? Especially like that."

Rad's eyes widened, as at his feet, his shadow was no longer his own. His gasp was more guttural, and he stared down in horror at his clawed white hand and the other made from Sword. "No, no, no!" he shouted, and dropped to his knees. "NO!"

The blond pounded his fist against the ground, but gasped again when he didn't feel a thing. The entire area changed. No longer the park, no longer with his friends. He was in space, with its inky void and twinkling distance stars and galaxies. And yet the only thing which remained was Sideways. Rad scowled at him. "You're not real!"

"Oh really?" Sideways asked, glancing at his servo. "Maybe I am, or maybe I'm not. I guess you'll just have to find out." He chuckled darkly, his form dissolving into a cloud of smoke and nanites.

Rad jerked back to avoid the dust as it breezed away. A different sense enveloped him, that same ancient feeling from a dream so long ago. He slowly looked up, and his eyes widened. A dark orb floated above him in the distance, and two yellow optics appeared in that darkness.

And it was staring back at him. "You…"

A shiver ran up Rad's spine, a hatred so potent that it wrenched a choked gasp from him. It saw him, and it hated him.

A blue butterfly appeared in Rad's vision, and he shakily lifted a hand to let it land on his finger. His stomach churned, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back in his room. High Wire slept at his feet, while Kero in his drawer.

'It was just a dream.' Rad thought, but knew he wasn't going to be sleeping anymore that night.

Hot Shot liked his soaps, but he could only take so many re-runs, agitated as he was right now. What was with that dream? Did he really hate himself that much? He vented slowly, and made his way out the room. Despite his assurance he was okay when helping Rad turn back into a human, Red Alert still gave him an exam once the boy was safe back in his apartment. Optimus hadn't been anymore pleased to learn about the mysterious blonde magic wielder, especially if she was the one who caused Swoop's corruption as well. 'She's a Wisp, so are there more or is it just her?'

It was not a thought Hot Shot wanted to entertain, and he stepped into the command room. "Maya?" he called, and the girl appeared on the console. "There wouldn't be, like, any new mini-con signal I could check out? Please tell me there is."

Sadly, the girl shook her head. "No, one hasn't appeared since last time." She hesitated, and her features became stern. "Though, I have picked up a troubling energy reading. I tried to triangulate it's location, but it disappeared just as swiftly."

Hot Shot stiffened. Another card, so soon? "Were you able to pinpoint where it was last?"

"…it was in the base." Maya whispered.

Hot Shot gapped. "What? You mean another one got in?" He glanced around, as if that would cause him to see an anomaly. "Did it show up on the feed? Why didn't you tell us?"

Maya pulled herself upright, staring down her nose at him despite the height discrepancy. "The reading wasn't here for very long, and from every camera I checked there was no sign of a Sakura Card. And I was going to tell you all once I finished my scans."

Hot Shot vented. "Right, sorry. I'm just…kind of on edge. These cards keep finding their way in here and it's getting really annoying."

Maya did not respond, tilting her head in that way they did during internal communication. Slowly, a frown crossed her lips. "That's odd. Optimus isn't responding to my call." Her brow furrowed this time. "And neither is Smokescreen. And-oh, hello, Red Alert." A trace of relief crept into her tone. "I have news about a new card signature which was here recently. No sign of it appeared on the feed, but I can't reach Optimus or Smokescreen. Ah, yes, Hot Shot is here. I see." She nodded, and glanced up at Hot Shot. "Red Alert is on his way. Will you go see how Smokescreen and Optimus are? He believes it might be another case of Erase."

Hot Shot grimaced. That had not been fun, and there was no Create here now to help him. "Got it." He hurried to his friend's quarters first, and found the orange mech lying on his berth, arm hanging over the side. "Hey, Smokescreen. Get up!" His friend didn't stir. Hot Shot frowned, and physically shook the mech's shoulder. It didn't do a thing. 'Scrap, what's going on?'

"What are you yammering on about, Rookie?" Scavenger's grating voice called.

Hot Shot grimaced. 'Why couldn't you have still been asleep?' he thought, and turned to find the green and purple mech standing next to the doorway, yawning. "I came to see what happened. A Sakura Card was here and Maya couldn't find it on the feed."

"Maybe your friend just wants to sleep in." Scavenger scratched his neck. "Not a bad idea, actually."

Hot Shot wished he could roll his optics. He knew the mech was important to Optimus, but Scavenger hadn't exactly endeared himself to the crew in the time he'd been around. Honestly, it was as if the only thing which changed was the faction symbol Scavenger now sported. "Whatever, go take another nap and let the young bots figure things out." He huffed.

Scavenger snorted. "Cocky, aren't you? And you don't even have magic to help you now."

Hot Shot was about ready to burst. "I can handle myself just fine without magic! I-" he stopped himself, because there was something more important going on right now. Hot Shot muscled past Scavenger and made his way to Optimus' quarters.

He'd never seen anything more person of his leader's than his office on Cybertron, but Optimus' room was much like that. Clean, sparse, and organized. Hot Shot was a little ashamed that his own quarters had junk strewn about the floor. Optimus himself was lying prone, optics closed and battle mask still firmly in place. The yellow mech's optics caught a glimpse of a hologram which fizzled on the stand next to his leader's berth. He stiffened, surprise flooding into his spark. The fuzzy image was of Red Alert, gazing at a datapad and seemed to be in deep thought. 'Okay, I definitely wasn't supposed to see this.' Hot Shot was sure no one was supposed to.

The yellow mech carefully shook Optimus' shoulder. No response. "Sir?" Again, Optimus didn't stir. Not even directly trying to communicate with the red and blue mech got him to so much as twitch. A tenseness came over Hot Shot, and he knew even before the thought formed that this was bad. 'Just what kind of Sakura Card are we dealing with?'