On Another Love
Arcee sat with her legs dipped in the water on the shoreline. "What was your world like?" She asked. "Where there's no planetary war or planet-wide extinction."
Leon sat beside her, watching the sun rise on the horizon; peeking out at them as if to taunt him with the new day. "It was peaceful. Although there was a pandemic in my timeline and people went into a state of panic like buying all the toilet paper, before that things were peaceful," he sighed happily, "You would have loved it. Barbecue on Fridays. My sisters would be playing in Sephie's garden. Mom would be making desserts."
"I think, I could imagine it," Arcee smiled softly. "I envy you. You humans live a peaceful life, I envy that about you."
"It's not that peaceful, in case you were wondering."
"Peaceful nonetheless."
"Soon, I'm sure soon peace will finally find you guys," Leon reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Soon, you'll get to have peace. I'm sure Sephie will help you guys, she's a big fan of the Autobots."
"Us," Arcee placed her hand over his, "You're one of us now, you'll have peace too."
The onyx cybertronian smiled. It was nice to have a friend—borderline sister—in this world. "Any news about Mikaela?" Leon asked.
Arcee shook her head. "Not that I know of."
The serene silence was broken when the sirens wailed throughout the base. Leon and Arcee's head snapped to the direction of HQ, seeing soldiers running and going to their designated areas.
:Calling all Autobots to the hanger. I repeat. Calling all Autobots:
Optimus's comm rang clear in Leon's audios, making him stand up immediately. "We have to go," He said to the pink femme as looked at her.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Arcee replied as she transformed into a pink and white Mercedes Benz c200 model.
Leon transformed into his alt mode, a black Ferrari Enzo before the two of them sped off. His engine roared as he drove throughout base, barely missing a soldier or an employee as he zoomed.
Once they arrived at the hanger, Sideswipe, Bumblebee, the twins, and Jolt arrived at the same time as them. Optimus stood near the catwalk, rubbing his temple. Ironhide and Ratchet stood with him.
"–really hard to do that, but we can't!" A blonde woman, Leon recognized her as Maggie from the first movie, said as if she was explaining to a child why they can't buy that toy for Christmas. "We tried several times and tried different ways, but we can't do that Optimus."
"There has to be a way," Optimus decided, almost begging as he spoke, "There has to be. They have the Allspark, and once they're able to utilize it, then they can create armies once they manage to make her work with them."
"—What's going on?—" Bumblebee asked through the radio, beeping curiously.
"Megatron managed to get a hold of one of our signals and sent a message," Ironhide huffed. "The Deceptiscum had the nerve to send it."
"It's a message, asking to negotiate with us," Ratchet explained before gesturing to Epps to play the video they had captured.
"Prime," Megatron smiles sinisterly as a greeting, his background that of snow as he spoke, "I wish to make a deal. How about you give me some of your energon resources, in exchange, I'll give you her," The tyrant pulls up a human and for a second Leon held his breath.
Persephone?
"Go fuck yourself! Let me go!" Mikaela hollered, thrashing in the warlord's grasp.
Bumblebee whined worriedly, taking a step forward at the monitor.
"A feisty femme. No wonder your scout is fond of her," Megatron snickered, "Meet us at these coordinates," the warlord gives them coordinates, somewhere held in California for some reason, "Then I shall hand over the girl. Be sure to bring only your fellow Autobots. You bring the humans, the human insect is dead, understood? Do not disappoint me or else."
The video cuts at that and Sideswipe says. "They got 'Kaela?"
Bumble whined sadly, worried for the human girl.
"So, that means, the incident in her house wasn't human-made." Arcee realized as she stepped forward. "All this time, the Decepticons were behind it."
"And they did a fantastic job in doing that," Chromia says as she arrives, walking into the hanger. "No wonder we can't find traces of cybertronian evidence. The only reason he could send a negotiation letter would be because Soundwave must be with him."
"How would you know that?" Leon asked, confused and amazed at how Chromia deduced that from a single video.
Chromia laughs humorlessly. "The only cybertronian who can find an Autobot frequency to send messages or to eavesdrop on them is Soundwave. There's a reason why he has a high position in the Decepticon ranks."
"Lieutenant and Communications Commander and Warrior," Leon corrected, growing flustered at the eyes that turned to him. "I'm... a big fan of him. He's... he's... cool."
"Looks like someone haz a crush on the weirdo," Mudflap snickered as he elbowed Skids.
Leon rolled his eyes, flipping them off. "Oh, go fuck yourselves you two-piece cybertronian shits." He activated his weapon, pointing it at Mudflap.
"Oh yeah? You think we was scared of 'ya, you cybertronian wannabe?" Skids activated his weapon pointing it at Leon.
"I'll fucking kill you," Leon growled, pouncing at them. He was mid air when someone caught him, pulling him back.
"Easy, boy. Don't let them get to you," Ironhide says. "Let them go and I'll let you go."
Leon glared at him and saw Bumblebee pick up the twins before smashing their heads together. "They called me a cybertronian wannabe," He whined, looking at Ironhide helplessly.
Ironhide sighed. "In life, plenty of people will test you. You're letting them win when you let them get to you."
"That's enough! Both of you behave yourselves!" Optimus scolded, pointing a finger at them. "This is a serious matter. Our friend has been captured. We must get her to safety."
"What about my sister?" Leon asked.
Optimus looks like he's in deep thought for a moment and said, "Rest assured we will get her back. First, we must ensure that Megatron does not escape with her—we cannot make rash decisions."
The afternoon of tomorrow, it had been decided that Leon, Arcee, Optimus, Bumblebee and Ironhide would set out to meet the Decepticons. Ratchet would stay behind, preparing the med bay in case of casualties that might arise.
That's how he found himself speeding down the streets to California, avoiding cars as he followed Optimus Prime with the rest of his companions. Apparently, the coordinates lead to a desert—may out of human sight.
:Stay alert. It might be an ambush:
Optimus warned as Leon felt the sand make way beneath his wheels.
:Leon to Optimus, copy that, sir:
As they made their stop, they all transformed and Leon got to watch the Peterbilt truck transform in all its glory. He had to resist the urge to fanboy. Leon witnessed two jets fly lower and lower as a car in the distance crested smoke from its tires.
:Decepticon inbound:
:Copy that. Weapons systems engaged:
Ironhide replies to Optimus through the comm, as they all activated their weapons except for Optimus. As the car got near, Leon noticed the Mercedes-Benz logo on the vehicle.
His spark hums in his chest the moment the car transformed, paying no mind to the two jets that landed making the ground shake. Soundwave stood in all his glory, raising his arm as a vulture-like robot perches on his arms.
Holy shit, it's Soundwave.
Leon could see the little details, the way his armor moved with every walk of his legs, and his waist dear god! Dear god, his waist. He wanted nothing more than to put his hands on Soundwave's waist–
"Focus! Stop gawking!" Arcee hissed after elbowing him in the ribs.
"Sorry." Leon grins sheepishly, before refocusing his attention to the warlord. "It's not everyday you see a handsome mech."
"He's literally the enemy," Soundwave whispered at him.
"Okay, and?" He replied, his gaze flickering to the Decepticon Communications Officer every now and then.
And then he looks at Megatron.
If Persephone liked Megatron, she might as well be scared now because good god he's a behemoth. Optimus Prime is a behemoth. God knows he's tall and big as fuck, but Megatron? He's a behemoth.
But knowing Persephone, she'd be head over heels for him. He's very tall.
Optimus, carrying the two-months-worth crate of energon, approaches the warlord. Megatron was taller than Optimus by a few centimetres.
"Prime," Megatron sneered, "It seems you've kept your promise."
"Return the human unharmed, Megatron." Optimus demanded. "I have fulfilled my part of the agreement."
Megatron grins before gesturing to Starscream to do as he is told. Starscream steps forward, his chassis opening as he plucks a dark haired woman from the inside of his sparkling chamber—sparkling chamber, Leon remembered Ratchet's training—as he stepped forward.
Leon could've sworn he saw Starscream wink at Mikaela but that could've been just because of the bright sun, before he placed the girl down on the ground.
Mikaela immediately ran towards the Autobots before she collapsed.
Oddly enough, when the exchange was done, the Decepticons left.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me," Mikaela reassured with a smile.
"Standard protocol procedures everyone should abide by, including you," Ratchet huffs as he continues to examine her. "Besides, you just woke up from stasis for Primus sake."
Leon watched as the doctor made sure Mikaela was okay. Jolt was on recharge so he filled his place for the time being and needless to say, it was fun. The three of them could Bumblebee whining and whirring worriedly outside the med bay.
It took days before they came back to Diego Garcia with Mikaela to make sure she's safe. Leon was sure the girl would be in danger if she'd go back to her civilian house, so hopefully she'd stay here with the Autobots.
"Listen, just out of curiosity, how would you treat someone if they're blood suddenly turned into energon?" Mikaela asked, blowing a stray hair out of her face.
"That would be impossible seeing as energon is toxic towards humans. You would die in an hour or so if you made contact with one, if not properly separated from your fleshy armor," Ratchet informed, glancing at her.
"What if they're losing blood and the blood just happened to be energon. Hypothetical, of course."
"Then I suppose you must distribute energon towards them, given if they are alive and had somehow adapted to said energon."
"What if she's–Ow! I mean, what if the person is in a critical state and needs energon instead? Is it possible for them to live?"
"Based on your words, no. Not for long, at least."
Ratchet looked at her suspiciously and asked, "What made you ask that?"
Mikaela pulls out a crumpled piece of paper from her chest and hands it to Leon. "Just curious." She said, her smile strained.
Carefully, Leon unfolded the paper and read the contents of... a letter?
As someone who hopes to be an ally, please destroy the watch on Mikaela's wrist. Soundwave is listening.
—Persephone
Leon immediately turned to Ratchet. "Get rid of the watch. Now!"
Without a moment of hesitation, Ratchet worked on removing the watch as Mikaela shrieked in pain. Leon held her down as she thrashed, the watch tightening its grip on her as the medic struggled to get rid of the device.
When Ratchet finally got rid of the watch, it transformed into an insect-like worm with a horrid face; two red dots glaring at them. The medic crushed it in-between his digits. "How did you know it was a Decepticon bug?" Ratchet asked.
Leon grins as he holds up the piece of paper in his fingers. "From this little note."
"Oh thank God," Mikaela sighed. "Okay, I need your help. Tell Optimus and everyone to get in here now since it's best if everyone hears it."
"Hear what?" Ratchet asked.
"A message from my friend who got left behind," She answered, pulling out a phone from her boobs and held it up. "She recorded it on her phone."
Leon gently took the phone examining it. How strange. It looks like a... Samsung Note 20 Ultra...
"Where did you get this?" Leon asked the blue eyed woman.
"My friend gave it to me, told me to show every Autobot the message. Especially Optimus."
"That's my sister's phone."
Ratchet wasted no time in sending a comm to the others.
That had to be it, because why else would Leon find himself standing in the Autobot meeting room with the rest of the Autobots.
Soldiers, both cybertronian and human, stood within the room as Leon help set up the device from the phone's memory card to the hologram projector. It took some time, but it was successful.
Mikaela was the one who played the video, she looks like someone who had been using the phone for a while now.
A woman with sunken features appeared, her eyes were purple as veins showed themselves on her skin. Her nose was red and her hair looked a little disheveled... but Leon recognized the mole on each side if the woman's face.
She looked like she had been crying.
"Hello, my name is Persephone Villamora. I'm not from this universe, I came from a universe where every single one if you is a work of fiction. So, I don't know how you know me, but I know about you," Persephone says, the tiredness could be heard from her voice. "I know that Ratchet ran into the power lines from when Sam was looking for the glasses; I know that Ironhide was mistaken for the tooth fairy; I know that Optimus stepped on the fountain and many more. Look, I need your help. I want to get away from the Decepticons. I'm in... putang ina, ano nga ulit yun? Gago teka sorry, di ko alam kung paano ko sabihin sa english. Shit. Nakalimutan ko yung sasabihin ko... ayun! I'm somewhere in North Dakota, but I don't know exactly where. It was a mistake on working with him, but it was a good idea at the time and–"
Persephone turned as Starscream appeared in the view. "Hurry! Lord Megatron will be arriving soon!" He whispered to the young woman recording as he looked at his surroundings, as if to watch out for any incoming danger.
She nods her head and turns back to the camera.
"Listen, I need your help. Please. I'm an ally of the Autobots, but I can't help you if Megatron uses me against you. Please."
And with that, the video stops.
Mearing scoffs. "Does she expect us to believe her when she says she's not from here? I mean, a person from a different reality? That's absurd!"
Epps replied, "Believe us ma'am, it's not that far fetched."
"As I've said before it's absurd, how are any of you sure she didn't learn that information from the Decepticons?"
"I would know because she's my sister." The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
"What?"
"Ma'am, I am not originally from here, believe it or not. I am from a different world where all of you are a work of fiction and none of you are real," Leon stated as a matter of fact. "I would know that Cemetery Wind would hunt down Decepticons... and Autobots."
"Stop calling me 'ma'am', enough with the 'ma'am'." She snapped, before she spoke calmly again, "How do you know about Cemetery Wind? A different person is handling that as we speak, they're hunting down Decepticons and Decepticons only."
Leon laughed "For now."
Lennox spoke, "Ma'am, it's true that he's her sister, they share the same family background and story."
"I will not let innocent men retrieve a failed science experiment. And that's not me being a bitch, I'm saying this for the better outcome of our men," Mearing looks at Optimus with a frown, "Are you willing to let this soldiers life go to waste just to retrieve a specimen that suddenly reaches out for help? Who knows, she might be a spy."
"She is not," Optimus growled, stepping closer to her, "My mate will do no such thing."
Mearing paused. "Excuse me, what did you say?"
"I thought you said you wouldn't let human officials know until then?" Leon asked, exchanging a look with Arcee.
"I don't care! If letting them know means that she is delivered here where she is safe, then so be it!" The Prime snarled, successfully snapping Leon shut, "Persephone bears the Mark of the Prime and she embodies the Allspark. If the Decepticons were able to make her bend to their will, humankind is doomed. I must protect her. So, either you help us or we will find her by force."
Mearing pursed her lips. "Major, why didn't you report that information to me?"
"Sorry, ma'am, it's a little personal for him. It wasn't my place," Lennox answered, "Let's just say Persephone is the equivalent of a wife for Prime. Since Primes are leaders on their planet, then she's pretty much valuable."
Mearing sighs, rubbing her temples. "After what we had all been through, the least all of you could have done was tell me," She sighed. "I'll help you find your wife, especially if she's this important, but on the condition that Cemetery Wind handles this."
"I will not let them touch my sister. What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Leon bellowed, stomping towards her. "Didn't you hear what I just said?!"
"I heard you loud and clear, don't worry." She sighed. "Trust me, they'll bring her home safe. I'll personally bring her here."
"But Cemetery Wind–"
"I know you don't trust them," Mearing interrupts him, "But trust me when I say this is the safest option. The public is still hostile towards Transformers—majority of them. If Cemetery Wind retrieves your sister, then N.E.S.T won't go under fire. It will continue to operate."
Leon's lip turns into a line.
For a moment, he forgot that he wasn't in the first film. He's literally in the bridge towards the fourth film, where shit hits the fan.
He sighed.
"Okay," Leon said, "I trust you, but if they hurt her–"
"I'll personally deal with them myself," Mearing stated. "She's still human, after all."
Leon hoped she was right.
"I have missed you."
"Did you now?"
Persephone turned her head to where the warlord stood, laying on her bed with a blanket. It had been weeks since Mikaela left–or rather been traded for energon supplies. Of course, they didn't really need them, they just needed a reason to drop her off to spy on the Autobots.
And judging from Megatron's frustration during those days, the Autobots found her letter and crushed the watch.
Good.
"Why of course, how can I not miss my darling pet," Megatron coos as he caresses her cheek with the tip of his sharp finger.
The coldness from him was a relief to her overheating body. The last time Shockwave took her temperature was around forty degrees Celsius, which should be dangerous given the situation, but Persephone wanted nothing more but to just rest.
She only hummed at his reply and closed her eyes, enjoying the cold sensation of his touch.
"Are you perhaps... still angry?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
And Persephone could've sworn she heard him whine or something like that. Her eyes weakly opened, her vision adjusting until she could see the giant beside her.
Megatron said, "I have already told you, have I not? I don't love you, but I can make you feel as if you are loved–"
"Don't you have anything else to say?" Persephone snapped, grimacing at the throbbing of her head. "I'm sick, and that's the last thing I need to hear."
"I am simply saying that–"
"And I'm telling you to change the subject. Please."
God, she just wanted everything to stop.
If he was going to talk about that then she didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to be reminded of where she stood in his life. A plaything, that she can take but to have her feelings be toyed with? No. No, she cannot withstand that knowing he might like someone else already.
There was a flash and when she opened her eyes, she almost choked on her own spit at how close Megatron's holoform is. "You remind me of the ocean," He says to her, "So vast and yet so dark."
She stares at him for a moment. "Are you saying that because of my skin? You do know that's not gonna end well for you, right?"
"No, it is not because of that I assure you," He tells her, "I think it is because of how light reflects from you. You are a vast being with knowledge this world cannot fathom and that darkness inside you... we are the same."
"Flattering, but no, I don't think I'm as dark as you make me out to be," Persephone scoffed. "Besides, it's not like I committed mass genocide."
"Perhaps," Megatron chuckled, "but you do not need to take someone's life in order to express the darkness within you. I have seen it before from you, Persephone."
"Oh, do tell."
"Now where's the fun in that?"
She pays him no mind until he holds her hand. When she looks down at them, Persephone can't help but feel small.
Smaller.
She could basically see the bone protruding from her wrist. The blood—well, at this point, energon—transfusion didn't do much. If anything, it just made things complicated.
Shockwave said she'd be fine, that he knew what he was doing. Persephone wanted to trust him. She really did. But...
She was dying.
Persephone didn't want to die. Not like this. Not when she's oh so weak and sick. No. No, she wanted to go out with a huge bang.
But then again, it's not like she has a choice now.
"You humans are so fragile," Megatron hums, placing a gentle kiss at the tips of her fingers. He looks at her and for a moment Persephone almost believes the look of adoration in his eyes. "I wish to... protect you from your mortality."
She gave him a melancholic smile, "You can't stop anyone from getting sick or dying."
"I could try... for you, I would."
"Of course you would."
Persephone laughs before a cough tore through her mouth, threatening to rip her throat to shreds. She groaned after, the discomfort immeasurable.
She sighs, letting her fingers wrap around his finger. God, she wanted nothing more but to go with the Autobots after what he did to her, but...
But she loved Megatron.
Not only that, she was sick and tied to the berth so she literally had no choice but to stay. It didn't sound as bad as someone might think.
It's not like she'd get out of this place alive, not when she's sick.
Megatron still doesn't know, but Persephone could feel him starting to get a hunch at her situation. The warlord had been berating Shockwave more than usual. Starscream was smart to get out of his way and Barricade didn't do anything stupid either; and Soundwave was being deathly silent in his corner near the fire and oh god please don't let him know I foiled their plans by telling the Autobots to get rid of the watch.
Megatron wasn't stupid. It wasn't long before he found out she's dying.
And the thought itself terrified her.
What would he do if he finds out she's dying? Would he throw her away? Cast her aside and find a new amusement, maybe?
All these possibilities weigh at her heart.
"I think I'll miss you forever," Persephone says, "Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky."
Perhaps, that's what she would be, a star; while Megatron is her sun. He wouldn't be able to see her. Not anymore when she's dead. If ghosts are real, then only a handful of people could see her, like how humans see the sun when the stars couldn't and yet they're there.
Always present.
Maybe haunting Megatron wouldn't be so bad.
"Why? Where would you go?" And the lost expression on his face stabs her heart because what is it with him and his charms?!
"It's from a song called Summertime Sadness," She answered with a smile. "I loved that quote, it reminds me of the two of us."
"How so?"
She only smiles at him.
Persephone pushed herself to sit up before she wrapped her arms around his neck, placing her lips onto his. It didn't take Megatron long to kiss her back, holding her waist close to him as her head swims from the coldness of his touch.
She was angry at him. Oh, so angry. But there was no point in being a bitch about it for so long when she was dying, and if this was how she gets his love before her time runs out, Persephone decided why not indulge in the matter.
If equal affection cannot be obtained, then Persephone decided that she would be the one who will be more loving. More sincere.
More hurtful when she finally leaves
She loved him, after all.
Persephone pulled away, breathless from the kiss and utters in a soft whisper.
"I've missed you too, Lord Megatron."
End if Chapter XVIII