A Riddle's Price
Chapter 22
Kate laid in the bed, bandages covering her wrists and legs along with a gray medical blanket. Kira had recently checked on her making sure the ritual Prime performed with her didn't have any consequences. Anton almost succeeded in what he needed to do. If Prime and her were a minute too late, Kate would have been killed.
Megatron's human holoform sat in the chair next to the bed. He wouldn't leave her side, guilt plastered across his face. It surprised Kira for what she learned from Optimus; the Decepticon Warlord was capable of many things but compassion was never one of them. It made the elder woman wonder what happened between Kate and Prime for such a distance to happen that the young woman ended up with Megatron and what brought the change to the Decepticon Warlord.
Kira walked out of the room, sighing deeply. She slowly closed the door only to stop. Optimus Prime stood within the hallway, his human holoform staring into the space Kira had exit, his body leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. She saw the emotions plain and simple upon the Autobot leader's face. She wasn't sure what was going through his mind, but something caused him to check upon Kate, too.
"You love her, don't you?" asked Kira as she stopped by the Prime's side, her eyes staring straight as she looked outside a window.
Optimus shook his head, a deep sigh escaping his lips, "I thought I did, but I realize I only have a sense of protection towards this woman." His sapphire eyes dropped to the elder woman before he returned his stare into the room. "I am a Prime, a Cybertronian. Any attachments will only cause problems, something that I must avoid at all cost."
Kira sighed, "You are only fighting the inevitable. I have a feeling, though, that you will not realize it till it is too late."
Kira didn't remain or see the look the Autobot commander cast in her direction. She turned and walked away from the small room. It was a complicated mess, more than she predicted for two Cybertronians and one lone female. Unfortunately for Kira, she knew it was too late for another pair of ears heard the Prime's response.
.%.
Kate's eyes moved under her eyelids. The scenes from the triangle visions flashing before her eyes. The bright light finally dimming away. The answer to the riddle finally concluding. Kate slowly opened her eyes, a few words outside the hallway drifting to her.
"You love her, don't you?" asked Kira, her voice quiet as it slipped into the room.
Kate swallowed hard as she waited for whoever was on the other side. It was Optimus. "I thought I did, but I realize I only have a sense of protection towards this woman." Kate closed her eyes, tears burning within them as she listen to what else he had to say. "I am a Prime, a Cybertronian. Any attachments will only cause problems, something that I must avoid at all cost."
Kate rolled her head away, ignoring everything outside of the room. Her heart broke even more than she thought was possible. She knew the answer for the riddle. She knew what she needed to do.
.%.
A week went by before Kate finally left the small room. Megatron had returned to his bipedal form, waiting for something that no one seemed to understand. Kate had only one destination in mind. She walked out of the hangar and made a straight path towards the Autobot's hangar.
Ironhide stood outside yelling commands towards the younger Bots. Optimus stood at the side watching the training, his eyes flickering to the Decepticon warlord every once in a while. Kate continued walking, her feet coming to a stop before the two towering metallic giants.
"Optimus, can I speak with you, alone."
Kate watched as Prime narrowed his eyes before nodding. Kate turned from the hangar and made her way towards one of them that was currently not in use. It was filled with crates and vehicles, the dim yellow lights reflecting across the stacked items.
Kate stopped before an open crate. Tarp-like material spilled upon it and over the edge before dragging upon the ground. She leaned her body against it, her arms crossing over her chest. She watched as Prime walked in before he bent down to one knee, his metal arm resting over the bent leg.
"What did you need?" He asked. His voice made Kate nervous upon her question, but she recalled when she laid within that medical room and the response he gave to Kira, the answer that shattered her heart and made her finally come to this decision.
Kate's eyes trailed to the outside. She watched as storm clouds began to roll in, the wind picking up speed. It would be some time before the storm hit. The sun reflected against the clouds, shadows playing across the ground.
"I will use my blood to help your planet," said Kate, her voice holding a calm, level tone, "but I am asking for one request."
Optimus narrowed his eyes. "What are you wanting?"
"You," she stated, plain and simple, her eyes flickering up to his before returning to the scene outside the hangar. "I want you to interface with me."
"What?" Prime demanded quickly, a certain tone lacing the word.
Kate stepped away from the crate, her head angling back as she stared into Prime's blue eyes. "You heard me, and I know you know what that means. Just this one last time, no ritual attached."
Optimus stepped back to stand at his full height, his eyes darkening as he stared at the woman. "I thought you humans valued interfacing as something quite passionate. Were you not complaining about the attachments caused by it, trying to convince me not to do the rituals with you because of it?"
Kate turned her attention once more to the different shades of gray and yellow as the sun shifted between the clouds. "At first yes, but I have come to realize that my life isn't my own. Navian controls me." Kate turned to look up at the Autobot commander. "I am sure you have learned by now that I had feelings for you, but I know they will never be returned. Give me this one request. That is all I am asking. After that, you won't hear from me ever again. I will heal your planet and disappear from your sight."
Kate watched as Prime closed his eyes, his vents cycling deeply, before stepping back and transforming into the Western Star. She heard as the driver's side door opened and his human holoform stepped out. He was dressed in a single blood red dressed shirt, the buttons completely undone exposing his tone chest. The dark jeans were held against his narrow waist only by the single snap, the gray belt already undone. Even his feet were bare as he closed the door behind him.
Optimus approached Kate, his arm wrapping around her small form and pulling her towards him. She looked up into his eyes and saw a mix of emotions within them. "I will honor your request. You know my reasons why this cannot continued, though. However, I need to know something first." His eyes narrowed as he stared at Kate. "What did Megatron do to you? Why is he acting so different?"
Kate's eyes widen as she pushed away and took a few steps backwards, Prime's arm dropping to his side. "It shouldn't matter. I am safe and back here at base just like you wanted."
"It matters." He rumbled. "Megatron sought destruction. He caused our planet, my home, to be destroyed." Optimus approached her slowly. Kate backed away, her eyes remaining wide as she stared at the Autobot commander. "He twisted Sentinel forcing the humans to turn against us. I almost lost all of my friends, my family, my own life. I lost my sparkmate because of him." He growled deeply.
"Prime, nothing happened," cried out Kate. She looked over her shoulder, her body crashing against the crates. She heard as his alternate mode roared, a hissing sound escaping from the Western Star.
"You lie," barked Prime as he stopped before her, his arms rising to pin her against the box. "Megatron watches you. He stays near this base expecting something. What? Tell me."
Kate looked everywhere but at Optimus. "It shouldn't matter," she replied once more, hoping to stop the conversation.
Optimus leaned forward, his bright blue eyes staring into her own. "It matters," he hissed. "What happened? What did you do?"
Kate swallowed hard before reverting her eyes from him to the opening of the hangar. The storm slowly approached showing the lightening in the distance as it flashed within the dark clouds. Returning her look, she breathed deeply. "He began to care for me, worry about me. He wanted to protect me."
"I was protecting you," sneered Prime, his hands forming a fist beside her head. "I helped you with your fragging rituals. I was taking you to Kira."
"Kira wasn't at the mansion. I thought you lied to me," pushed Kate, trying to do anything to end the conversation.
Optimus slammed his fist against the crate causing Kate to gasp, "Primes don't lie. She found me when I returned to base explaining that Anton was back. If it wasn't for her, we would not have found you in time."
Kate rolled her eyes before pushing hard against Prime's bare chest forcing him to take a step back, "It doesn't matter," she yelled, her eyes flashing with a bit of anger. "You do not care about me, not in the way Megatron does. I told you that the ritual forces me to have attachments. I should have never got involved with you."
"So, you decided to frag Megatron instead?" snapped Prime. "How is that any different?"
Kate closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "Because he was willing to forget the attachments. He wanted me for me."
"Megatron always has a plan. He was only using you."
"Like you were?" Kate pointed out darkly.
"What?" snarled Prime, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "I never used you."
"Are you sure?" retorted Kate, her voice bled irritation into each word as she spoke. "Each night you had sex with me, wasn't that an easy escape from the burden you carry? To use me to forget the pain, even if you were helping me? Be honest, Prime. You were using me just as much as I need you."
Optimus approached her once again, his hands within a tight fist. He used one of his hands to pull Kate towards him before dragging his fingers through her hair, gripping her head tightly and forcing her to look him straight into his eyes. His voice was deep, deeper than she has ever heard it. "You have no idea what you are saying."
Kate pushed up onto her toes, her nose pushing against his own, "As I said before, I should never have gotten involved with you. I should have harden my heart, and you should have stayed away." Kate pushed hard against him, forcing him to drop his arms and back away. She glared at him and responded bitterly, "So, fuck you, Prime."
"Not this time," he whispered darkly as he reached for the woman. "Do you want your request or not." Prime asked sharply as he pulled Kate's body against him.
Kate stared into the ocean blue eyes of the Autobot commander. There was no turning back, not when she knew the answer to the riddle, not when Navian controlled her, and Anton still existed. Leaning back from Optimus, Kate grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head before dropping it upon the ground.
With her eyes focused on Prime, she whispered deeply and bitterly, "Yes."
.%.
Kira watched as the weather continued to swiftly change. Autobots ran around helping the human soldiers. If only things were simple. Kira followed the hangars to an open spot within the base. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Kate approached the Autobot's hangar.
A few of the younger Bots that were not helping with the human soldiers were training before Ironhide and Optimus Prime. Kira watched as the young woman approached. She stood before Prime, her mouth moving. Kira could only assume that she was asking or speaking with Prime.
Kira received her answer as Kate walked away with Prime following. She watched as both disappeared into a hangar that wasn't used before spotting the Decepticon Warlord sitting against a metal wall, his eyes trained upon the young woman, a certain look within his eyes that Kira knew all too well.
"You love her, don't you," Kira asked the same exact words she used upon the Autobot commander.
Megatron responded differently, surprising the elder woman. "I wasn't sure at the beginning, but Kate has slowly started to heal me. So, yes I have fallen for the young femme."
Kira unfortunately said nothing as she walked away from the Decepticon leader. Kira knew that Kate's heart doesn't belong to the Decepticon Warlord but to the Prime of Cybertron. Unfortunately for Kate, Optimus doesn't return the feelings because of who he is.
.%.
Her mouth opened in a sharp gasp as he moved within her, each thrust deeper than the last. He held her against the crate, his mouth sucking against the living pulse of her neck. She breathed deeply, her mouth echoing out his name as he continued to move.
Prime's hands gripped the crate tightly, his body flushed against Kate's. Her legs were wrapped tightly around his waist, their thoughts a mixture of lust, desire, and frustration. He wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her down upon the ground. He leaned over her and continued to drive deeply within her.
Kate arched against him, his mouth dropping to her breast. Her hands clasped against his shoulder's, her nails digging into the skin. His speed and strength picked up, her eyes closing as she enjoyed the feeling.
Kate screamed the Autobot commander's name as her release road through her body. She arched against him, clenching him tightly. He thrusted deeply once more before roaring out his overload. Optimus collapsed against the woman before rolling to the side, his arms flaying out to his side.
Both the young woman and the Autobot commander breathed deeply, sweat clinging to their body, the cool air drying their skin. Kate turned her head, her eyes catching deep blue. She wanted to smile at him, say something to him. Her eyes trailed along the floor to the small package hidden behind the idling Western Star, her decision long ago made when the riddle was finally solved.
Her hazel eyes drifted to Prime's once more. He had turned away, his breathing even. Once again, it surprised her how human he acted when using the human holoform. Kate rolled to the side, dragging some of the white tarp over her body. Curling into the material, Kate closed her eyes, tears slowly cascading down her face as she succumbed to sleep.
.%.
The wind had picked up, hallowing harshly through empty tubes, and blowing against the trees. Lightening flickered across the sky along with loud booms of thunder. Kate slowly opened her eyes, her magic boiling against her, her determination ever strong.
Kate pushed to her arms and looked over her shoulder. Prime's human holoform was no longer beside her, but the Western Star had remained, idling quietly within the hangar. Pulling her clothing on quickly, Kate walked around the edge of the hangar towards her black bag and the long brown package.
Swallowing hard, she glanced over at the Western Star, her heart pounding strongly against her chest before she walked out. Her eyes trailed the long tarmac towards the other hangars. Her heart went to Kira, thanking her for everything she did, for being there when she needed someone the most.
Thunder crashed over the sky. The wind blew dust across the dry land. Kate looked towards the Western Star hidden within the shadows of the hangar once more before sadly smiling. Kate didn't regret anything that happen between her and the Autobot commander. She only regretted that things couldn't go a different way. With her eyes dropping to the ground, she let a few tears roll down her cheek before she turned towards the exit of the tarmac and began her long walk.
Kate didn't have to travel far. Anton stood upon a small hill; his arms crossed over his chest. The black cloak blew in different directions uncovering the twisted, purple blade that sat attached to his hip. His laugh chilled her to the bone as she stopped only a short distance before the man.
"This ends now, Anton," yelled out Kate over the sounds of the storm, her long hair blowing over her shoulder. "Unicron will not harm Earth, and you will never receive Navian's power."
Anton continued to laugh, his dark hand dropping to the hilt of the sword. He pulled it out and pointed the weapon towards the young woman. "And you believe you have the strength to stop me."
"I know I do."
Kate dropped her bag upon the ground. She quickly reached in for the single, silver dagger. She turned the blade to her left wrist, dragging the blade against it. Blue blood pools and spills. Kate ran her right hand over it before reaching for the metallic Cybertronian Staff.
The blue blood dripped upon the object, the symbols glowing blue. She felt a power surge through her before the staff jerked from her hands. It planted itself into the ground before a bright blue light shined from the tip straight to the metallic planet.
Kate stepped back and watched as Cybertron slowly healed itself, the blood of Navian returning Cybertron back to its original ways with Energon plenty and life to return for the race of the Cybertronians. Kate smiled. She kept her word on helping Optimus return life to his planet. Now, she only had one other matter to deal with.
Kate heard as Anton screamed. She jumped back just as the man lunged at her with the purple blade. Kate used her magic, pulling the Twisted Dagger. She fired the daggers towards him, but he slapped them away and charged once more, the purple blade glowing with a dark and dangerous power.
Kate looked towards the staff and then towards Cybertron. Her heart pounded strongly against her chest as she thought of the Autobot commander. She moved back, avoiding another lunge from the man, the point of the sword catching her on the arm, red blood running down her arm.
"You are still weak," growled Anton. His eyes glowed a dark purple color as he pointed the blade towards her.
Kate shrugged as she glanced to her arm, "Not anymore! I know how to destroy Navian and you!"
Speaking quickly and quietly, Kate dragged her hands within the blue blood that still flowed from her left wrist. She traced it across her body. Her hand inscribed the symbols upon her arms as her mouth spoke the words. Eventually, her eyes closed quickly as white light surrounded her. When the light died down, Kate stood holding a single thin blade of glass, a pearl hilt clasped tightly within her hand.
Anton bellowed and ran towards her, the swords clashing together. Kate spun away, bringing the sword down. It was enough to push him away before she took the chance to lunge against him. His feet moved away, his blade turning around in a circle. She ducked and brought her own, the sound clashing as thunder echoed.
Anton's speed continued to increase. Kate rolled, her legs taking him out. Anton jumped back, the blade coming down upon Kate. She raised her own, stopping his own attack. Eventually, Kate realized what she needed to do. To stop Anton, to stop Unicron, she had to have Illuminate absorb the power.
Kate heard as Anton hollered as he ran at full power at her. Kate stood, the blade resting before her. She watched as he ran before bringing the blade back and pushing forward with a quick movement. Anton coughed, bluish-purple blood escaping his lips. His dark purple eyes looked down to his chest where Illuminate stood. Kate felt the powers of Unicron slowly disappearing into the blade. When Anton's eyes slowly darken before closing, Kate pulled the blade free, Anton's body slowly dissolving and disappearing into the air.
The storm continued raging on. The lightening flashed constantly, small flames of fire burning around the surrounding area before the wind blew them out. Kate stared at the blade, the remaining innocent light flickering within the blade of glass. She knew it was only a matter of time. The riddle had one straight answer. It showed how Illuminate was created by sealing Navian, by giving her life, but it also explained how Illuminate would be used to destroy Navian, to prevent the corruption from destroying everything that life offered.
Kate raised her eyes to the dark clouded sky. A wry smile danced across her face before she glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the military base. Kate mouthed only one small sentence before finally answering Navian's Riddle.
"I'm sorry."
.%.
Kira woke with a sharp start. She quickly threw the blanket off and dragged her shoes on before running out of the small room. It was early in the morning, the storm clouds slowly braking apart. Kira watched as Megatron walked upon the tarmac, his eyes facing towards the exit. Optimus was soon seen walking and standing outside the hangar he disappeared into the previous night with Kate, his eyes wide as he looked around the military base. Both knew something was wrong.
Kira gasped sharply, a hand raising to her mouth before she started running. She heard as Colonel Lennox started to follow, his voice calling out towards the elder woman as both the Decepticon Warlord and Autobot Commander started following.
Kira wasn't sure how far she had run till she stopped at the top of a small hill. Her eyes misted over as tears pooled within. The land was barren of grass, the dark earth charred. Kira heard as both Megatron and Prime stopped near her along with the Colonel.
"What happened here?" asked the Colonel, his voice cautious as he looked at the destroyed land.
Optimus looked around the area before something caught his eye. Glancing up, he saw Cybertron sitting within Earth's atmosphere fully healed. Even Megatron was staring at it before he locked eyes with Prime, a curious question on how it all happened. Optimus watches as Kira slowly walked down the hill. It was there that everyone saw what the elder woman had noticed.
The Autobot commander and the Decepticon Warlord both transformed allowing their human holoforms to step out of their alternate forms. Prime and Megatron along with the Colonel all follow the elder woman down the small hill, stopping shortly behind her.
Lennox gasped sharply, his hand raising to his mouth, while Kira dropped to her knees, gentle sobs leaving the elder woman's lips, her voice echoing one word: "Illuminate."
The glass blade, Illuminate, jutted out, its pearl handle reflecting the different shades of the morning sun. Blood no longer bright blue but a dark crimson red pooled near the left wrist while the rest, coated the clear blade halfway as the other end was deep within the chest of its fallen victim. The victim's eyes were closed as if the person was only sleeping, a beautiful appearance of peace.
Optimus stood behind the elder woman, his eyes trailing to a healed Cybertron before following the horizon to the Cybertronian staff standing a short distance away, the blue etchings brightly contrast against the gray metal. He stared at the object before dropping his gaze to the still form, his legs finally giving as he dropped to the harsh ground, his hands digging into the soil. His mind recalled the riddle and he slowly whispered it, finally understanding what the answer entitled:
A sword once made
To seal a power
Chaos between dark and light
A blade of glass, a staff of metal
Both to awaken, a life once still
Pure of purpose, free of fear
To stop all corruption
Voluntary through one's choice near.
To stop Unicron, to save Cybertron, to fulfil the destiny in destroying Navian once and for all, the riddle had but one answer and a costly one at that.
The riddle's price was Kate's life.
END
A Riddle's Price
A Transformers (AU POST-TLK) Fanfiction Story
Written by:
Musical Medli
a/n: This is probably going to be my longest author's note, but I believe all my readers deserved an explanation on why Kate's story ended how it ended.
Kate's story is based on my current book that I am writing: The Blade of Glass. This book tells Kate's story but without the Transformers involvement. The rituals are the same in the story with some with more graphic details than other. Plus, it gives a better understanding how Navian came into existence and why Kate is so important.
Kate's story was never supposed to have a happy ending. Now, there is more to Kate within the book, but I will not leave any spoilers here. If you are interested, please, contact me somehow and I might share some of the book.
Regarding the relationships, there was never supposed to be any. I thought about having Kate end up with Optimus, but their lives are so different. He would outlive her, and it was something I couldn't put him through not when he had the burden of everything else. Megatron was originally going to be the antagonist along with Anton, but Megatron's life is similar to Kate's. I never wanted her to fall for Megatron, but I wanted Megatron to see something different, to notice Kate was misunderstood just like him.
Overall, I hope everyone enjoyed the story. In my fiction writing, I write dark dystopian fantasy. This is as close as I will write to what my book has. While I can write angst and darkness, it isn't something that I wanted to bring to the Transformers fandom. I want to bring happiness instead.
This is a warning: A Riddle's Price will remain here for ONE MONTH. I will remove it at the end, archive it, and upload it to my writing site: .org
Please look out for my new stories which should have a happier note to them. Thank you for the support from the reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. especially with my first full length story within this fandom.
Musical Medli
