"A Fracture in Time" by Ryley Breen AKA Shadow Master
email : rybreen@theberries.ns.ca
Resistance Cell Phoenix, Outside the former site of Boston, 05:00 hours
Quarters of Lt. Nightshade
Personal Log Entry
Date : March 30, 1997 :Year 13 of Decepticon Occupation[ The energon raid went as planned and we managed to secure 30 cubes of energon in total which at the current rate of consumption should last us about three weeks, maybe four. All in all the mission was a big success but in addition to the big picture things don't look so good. I noticed during the mission that a few 'bots were taking unnecessary risks and others seemed only to be fighting because they were told to. That isn't a good thing. It means that the Phoenix Resistance cell is beginning to die, not of energon depletion or injuries but of loss of hope. I suppose that isn't too much of a surprise, the Autobots were already losing to the Decepticons before they came to Earth and with the resources present here its even worse. In the past six months we've lost three resistance cells down in what used to be Texas and it seems like there will be one dropping every two months after from here on in. The Resistance is falling and with it the last hope for freedom, not just for Earth but for everyone both human and Autobot alike.
I don't like to mention this outside of my quarters, not with morale in such a state, but if we don't achieve a major victory soon we might as well slag ourselves and save the Decepticons the trouble. With every comrade lost and every mission failed the flame of hope that has kept us alive for the past decade will slowly go out. I'll go off line fighting though, I hate the Decepticons too much to give them the satisfaction of my committing suicide or surrendering. It is thanks to them that the only datatracs I have of peace are so blurred and because of them that I have so drastically changed from what I was. Do I regret what I decided? Do I wish I had chosen differently? No, I did what I had to do for the sake of my planet and my people and would do it the exact same way if given the chance. In a way I guess you could say I was lucky, I got the cream of the crop while the others had to make do with whatever was left over. I still see Talon occasionally but like me he's changed from what he once was, yet another reason to hate the Decepticons.]
Just then the comm button on her desk began to blink red indicating that she was in for a meeting with her superiors, probably to talk about her little skirmish with Devastator. Sighing as transformers all do she returned to typing her log entry, hoping to quickly finish it.
[Well duty calls! Time to get my skid plate chewed out by the brass for insubordination, reckless endangerment and other breaches in protocol. C U Later!]
(Personal Log entry ends. Terminate)
Turning off her log recorder she reached over and pressed the blinking button to activate her comm system and see who exactly would be lecturing her today. She almost dropped her jaw when she saw who was on her screen but fortunately managed to hold her composure in place. Few people had seen him outside of Resistance cell Prime and even fewer had talked to him even over a secure comm channel. For the past decade he had been the mainstay leader of the Autobots and thus the Resistance movement which caused him to be respected immediately in both name and body. To find that he was contacting her, from her quarters, meant that either she was going to get a major slagging or she was getting a major promotion. Either way she was in no state of mind to ask which it was so she just sat there looking at him on the screen with her mouth slightly open and nothing coming out.
"Close yoh mouth Lieutenant, y'all catch cyber-flies that way." , Commander Ironhide said good naturedly as a small smile seemed to form, "Report to the conference room immediately for your new assignment."
At a loss to come up with a witty rejoinder she said the first thing that came to mind "Right away sir!!"
On the screen Ironhide's arm could be seen leaning over to press the button to terminate the connection but he stopped just as he was about to press down and said "Nice job with Devastator darlin', nice job indeed."
With that the connection was terminated and Nightshade was left staring almost dumbfoundedly with both awe and confusion at what had just occurred. Ironhide was *HERE* at the base!! He wanted to see *HER* about a new assignment in the conference room where only those above the rank of Captain could go without authorization!!! Without wasting another moment she shut off her computer and after checking her particle blasters energy level she left her quarters and began walking at a swift walk in the direction of the conference room. Her mind was spinning at what this could mean, of what it meant for her future and whether or not she had one. She knew that she had been pushing the container lid a bit more than usual in the past few missions but she seriously hadn't thought she had done enough to warrant this kind of attention. She knew it couldn't possibly be for a promotion since they generally didn't promote people who disobeyed orders or seemed to have a suicidal streak a parsec long. No they reserved promotions for those who followed orders and managed to attain great victories and not rocking the ship.
Just keep it calm girl! Don't let 'em see you fidget! she thought to herself as she turned the corner and saw the entrance to her destination.
Walking up to the guard outside she said "Lieutenant Nightshade reporting as ordered."
"Go on in. They've been expecting you." the 'bot said as he opened the door by pressing his hand to the energy signature ID plate.
Stepping inside she almost lost her composure like she did in front of Ironhide on the vid-screen but managed to maintain it as well as keep her mouth shut. In front of her on the opposite side of the long rectangular table were the leaders of every major resistance cell in North America and on vid-screens behind them were those on the European continent and Asia. This was a one of a kind meeting, ever since the meeting of 1990 there was never such an en masse meeting held for fear of the Decepticons could decimate the command structure. Yet here in front of her they were and she had been asked to attend a meeting with them about a new assignment. From left to right they were right in front of her; Skyfire, Kup, Ironhide, Ultra Magnus and Mirage with all of them looking to the door in notice of her arrival. On the screens were the Autobots Wreck-Gar, Prowl, Elita One and Perceptor who were attending this meeting
via a new form of sub-space transmission or at least that was her guess judging by who was there. This only served to heighten her unease as she continued to wonder what this meeting meant for her.
"Sit down Lieutenant, we were just about to get this meetin' underway." stated Ironhide as he gestured to a seat to the left of him on the other side of the table.
Following the instructions she sat down in the seat indicated and waited for someone, anyone, to start talking and let her in on what this was all about. Unfortunately from the moment Ironhide told her to sit down to the moment that she did they all seemed to be looking at her with an unusual mount of intensity. She could read no malice in their optics and since this room was shielded from sub-space they certainly couldn't slag her even if they wanted to. Still that did not mean however that they couldn't still scrap her by numbers alone so she was left with two options. Either wait for them to make the first move or do it for them in which case she would look like her central core had crashed completely. So sitting still was all she could do as she waited for them to make their intentions known so she could relax enough to concentrate on what they had to say later. Finally they looked to each other and gave an almost imperceptible nod to each other as if coming into agreement about something. With that done Ironhide brought up her service record, highlighted the last mission report which Jazz had submitted a few hours ago and sent a copy to each of the resistance leaders' screens.
"Now Lt. befoh we discuss the reasons for yoh joining this meetin' I'd like to go over yoh most recent mission." , Ironhide stated as he looked down for a moment to read the beginnings of the report, "Now, yoh mission was to lead yoh team into the energon refinery and acquire twenty-five cubes of energon. Correct?"
"Yes sir." Nightshade replied as she kept an optic on each of the 'bots present.
"You managed to enter the facility with little difficulty, acquired the energon and were making yoh escape when the Constructicons arrived." , Ironhide stated as he raised his optics from the screen built into the table, "Would care to tell us what happened afterwards?"
This seemed to clinch it for her, she had snubbed one too many commanding officers and now they were preparing to take her off active duty permanently. She could try and fight it and explain her actions but too many other 'bots were present at the mission and aside from Jazz and Angelfire she couldn't bet on any of them to back her up on her methods. Thus all she could do was come clean, tell it like it happened and hope that the fact that there were no fatalities would make them lenient.
"After the Contructicons made their appearance they immediately merged to form Devastator. Knowing an attack was forth coming I sent my team ahead while Angelfire and I attempted to distract Devastator long enough for them to get away with the energon." , she replied as she built the info into a report like format, "Once the energon was halfway to the rendezvous site I ordered Angelfire to withdraw with me since our delaying tactic had worked. I had managed to make it clear of the refinery entrance but Angelfire was still inside when Devastator began to fire his plasma cannon which caused a massive explosion."
"What happened next?" asked the aged Autobot Kup.
"I had lost contact with Angelfire and could not raise her on the comm system at all. I then turned around and took to the air in order to do a search of the refinery in order to make visual contact with her." she replied and saw that this was one of the topics they wanted to discuss by the way that they looked at her.
"According to Jazz's report you twice disobeyed a direct order to withdraw" , Ironhide asked as he and the rest of them looked at her, "Is this true?"
"Yes sir." she replied.
"Why?" Elita One asked over the vid-channel.
"Because I would have left a comrade behind" , Nightshade replied as she met their stares, "and that is something that I will always refuse to do."
"You know full well that there was a far greater probability that you would have been destroyed along with her, don't you?" asked Perceptor with a ponderous look on his metallic face.
"Yes sir but I believed that she was worth the risk because with matters such as they are and we need every 'bot we can get." she replied with as much confidence as she could muster in such authoritative presence.
"Oh and why is that, my pretty?" asked Wreck-Gar with a challenging glint in his optics.
"Permission to speak frankly sir?" Nightshade asked Ironhide professionally.
He nodded and she said firmly "The Resistance is slowly dying and lost our last chance at victory a long time ago. In the past few months we've lost three other resistance cells and those are only the ones I've heard about. The situation is growing desperate and the deaths of comrades are only making things worse for us and better for the Decepticons. In my opinion, if things continue to proceed as they have been, the Resistance will be dead in three years."
That last sentence seemed to startle them significantly and she wondered if she hadn't spoken a little too frankly in appraising the complete tactical picture. If they were on the edge of court martialling her before she had just made their decision for them right now. Cautiously she waited for the audio overload that was to come when one or all of them decided to reprimand her for such a bold statement. For five minutes straight all they did was whisper to each other quietly, throwing a few glances her way but mostly keeping their looks to each other. Eventually though they calmed down and all optics were back on her much to her dislike and she knew that the thermal Nuclear bomb had been dropped and was going to blow up right now in front of her face.
"Yoh right." , Ironhide said somberly as he looked at her with elder eyes, "In truth we've lost ten times that many Resistance cells in the past six months."
That almost floored her at she took into account the fact that in total there were roughly fifty resistance cells on Earth alone and in the grand total there was roughly seventy-seven cells. That meant that as of now there were only forty-seven Resistance cells left still in one piece and for that to happen in only six months meant they were dropping like flies. She almost couldn't believe it, she had known it was bad but she
had never thought that almost a third of the cells had been wiped out. For almost ten seconds she tried to think of how Megatron could be obliterating so many cells in such a brief period of time. Then she stopped herself as such deduction was useless, the fact was that it was happening and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Perhaps that was what this meeting was about, maybe they have a lead and they want her to go on a team to deal with the threat.
Or maybe they think I'm a leak! she thought and almost immediately stood up to defend herself against such allegations but was stopped by a gesture from Ironhide.
"Don't worry darlin', yoh not bein' accused of being a spy." , he stated and then smiled, "'Sides we already went over yoh quarters with a fine spectrographic analyser without picking up so much as a blip."
Her emotions were a mix of relief and anger at those before her but given the situation she could not question their motives for searching her quarters. So instead of telling them to eat slag and storming out of her she simply frowned and waited for them to continue.
"The reason yoh here is because you have been selected as a candidate for a mission that could very well mean supreme victory for the Resistance." Ironhide declared.
"Excuse me sir? Did you say 'supreme victory'?" she asked and this time she was unable to contain her confusion and small dosage of hope.
"Yes I did Lieutenant, as hard as it is to believe that after what you've just heard." , Ironhide replied with a smile as he watched with amusement at her changing expression, "Tell me, what do you know about the arrival of the Ark on Earth and a commander by the name of Optimus Prime?"
Her curiosity being aroused she answered "Well about four million years ago you and a group of Cybertron's greatest Autobot warriors led by Optimus Prime left your home world in search of new sources of energon to finish the war with the Decepticons. Unfortunately the Ark and it's occupants were followed and attacked by a Decepticon battle cruiser named the Nemesis carrying their greatest warriors led by Megatron. The ensuing battle caused both ships to crash land here on Earth where all involved fell into emergency stasis until the year 1984 by the human's calendar. The Autobots unfortunately awoke to find their leader Optimus Prime dead, apparently destroyed in the crash, and without him the creation Matrix dissipated."
"Correct, glad to see some 'bots takin' an interest in history." , Ironhide stated as he activated a holographic display in the middle of the table, "What you don't know however is that Optimus did not in fact die due to the crash."
"What!?" she asked in surprise since this information was contrary to what she had learned.
"According to the autopsy done by Ratchet soon after our first battle with the Decepticons in 1984 Optimus' injuries were caused by a plasma weapon of unknown type." , stated Ironhide as the technical schematic was displayed holographically, "I had always meant to pursue an investigation into this but with the Autobots in desperate need of a leader I had better things to do. Besides most 'bots considered it an open and shut case since the facts were too few to lead to anything important."
"Four months ago however we stumbled upon something that has led to new developments in the matter. Look at these two energy signatures." , Ultra Magnus stated as he pressed a button bringing up the two wavey energy readings, "What do you make of this?"
Not quite getting what they intended to show her she examined the two energy signatures before her and immediately began to see a similarity. The one on top which was shown to be the one that had killed Optimus Prime was remarkably efficient while the one on the bottom had to have been an antique prototype. There was a definite similarity but there was also a difference which probably meant that she was looking at the beginning and the end of a weapons development program. That of course led her to ask the leaders assembled here her next question which she hoped would clear a few things up.
"It looks like the beginning and the end of a plasma weapon's development, their energy signatures are similar but one is obviously the more efficient of the two" , she replied as she prepared to ask her next question, "So what does this mean? The 'Cons have some secret weapon that they're planning to use sometime soon?"
"If it is then they won't be using it for well over hundred years." , answered Perceptor with a note of frustration present, "The less efficient energy signature you see there was found during a raid on a Decepticon weapons research base. They are apparently experimenting with a new form of plasma charge much different from anything we've come across before."
"What!? If this weapon is still in the development phase and isn't finished then how could it have killed Prime?" Nightshade asked as the ramifications and most likely answers fell into place.
"Our current theory is time travel, that somehow and for some reason a Decepticon came back in time to a point where we were all in stasis aboard the Ark and killed Optimus while we slept." , replied Skyfire with hope in his voice that was all but extinct in other 'bots, "It is theoretically possible since our last contact with Cybertron did note that experimentation was being conducted on creating a transwarp drive
engine for starships."
"Still that doesn't explain *why* a Decepticon would go back in time to kill Optimus. After all as Ironhide just stated, the Resistance is all but dead so what would cause such a risky gambit?" Nightshade asked as she tried to fit the various pieces of the puzzle together.
"A Decepticon would take such a risk if he believed that his faction was all but dead" replied Ironhide in a way that was more a statement of fact then anything else.
"What?" Nightshade said for what seemed like the sixth time.
"The only explanation that we can come up with is that this timeline shouldn't exist." , Kup replied in a somber tone, "Somewhere back to just after the Ark crashed the timeline split off from what should have happened because of a Decepticon time traveler. Apparently in the other timeline something happens that forces Megatron to send an assassin back in time to kill Optimus in order for him to claim victory which in this timeline he has."
"What about the paradox theory? Isn't that supposed to make altering the past impossible?" she asked as she tried to remember all she could about time travel.
"Theoretically yes but apparently Megatron found some way around that.", Ironhide replied as he pressed another button on the table, "Fortunately so have we and that is where you and the remaining five members of a special task force come in."
As soon as the Commander pressed the button the display of the two energy signatures disappeared and a video feed from what appeared to be a laboratory came up. All throughout the room Autobots and humans were walking about working on a large metallic arch that stood in the middle of the room. Wires and other pieces of metal jutted out of it making it look like a frayed piece of cable but obviously it was important judging by the number of people and 'bots working on it. Looking back to the leaders present she hoped to find some indication of what all these stray bits of info meant.
"About two weeks ago a secret project called 'Gate Keeper' reached a monumental breakthrough that has led to some massive changes in battle strategy." Ironhide stated as he indicated that she should keep watching the display.
Looking back she noticed that all of the scientists had moved away from the arch itself and were in the process of powering it up. For a moment nothing seemed to be happening but then a bright vortex opened in the arch's center, expanding until only a foot separated the energy from the metal. It looked like someone had taken the Aurora Borealis and twisted it into a glowing disk, rotating clockwise like a windmill. For the next few moments after that Nightshade said and did nothing, only watched the spinning vortex and all it could mean. Then she saw two of the Autobots walk up to the arch and jump into the vortex, disappearing right then and there. Looking back to Ironhide for some explanation to the transformers' fate she saw him meet her gaze with one of his own.
"The two Autobots reappeared exactly when the Gate was supposed to send them, two days into the future on Cybertron." , Ironhide stated as he closed down the display and shut off the hologram, "With the success of that test ah have authorized a mission to restore the altered timeline, we are going to undo Optimus' death."
It was all so unbelievable but if they were telling her the truth then it was also a great honor, that she out off all the 'bots in the Resistance, that she would be chosen to change things for the better. All the pain and suffering she had experienced, all the destruction and devastation would be gone along with the Decepticons. Fortified by the news she looked directly at each of the leaders with sweeping stare and made the only decision she could.
"Commander Ironhide, I would be honored to be a part of this mission." she said in sharp military tone.
"Ah thought you might but ah had to bring you before the entire Resistance Council in order to gain their approval of your assignment to this mission" , Ironhide said in agreement as he looked at the other leaders, "which I assume I have?"
There were nods all around the room and with each one the profound nature of this mission grew until she found that she was truly going to be making history with this mission. Once the decision was made unanimous by each member of the council Ironhide returned his gaze to her with a bit of satisfaction in his optics. In a way she knew how he felt because with her assignment to this mission apparently the final overview of the task force was finished. That did not mean that it was a done deal by any means, between now and departure anything could happen, which meant that until she stepped through the vortex and disappeared things would remain tense.
"Good. Lieutenant Nightshade, at twenty-two hundred hours tonight you are to report to the south entrance of the base where you will join an apparent Decepticon maintenance convoy." , Ironhide explained, "That will be your cover until you reach the site of the project so as to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Right now though I want you to go to med bay to undergo some alterations for the mission, we're on the clock and every second counts. Dismissed."
"Aye, sir!" Nightshade said and professionally got up, turned around and left the room.
Before she left though Ultra Magnus said "Nightshade, the information you've been given here is not to leave this room. Don't talk to anyone about this. Anyone! Understand?"
With only a slightly dimmed expression Nightshade replied "I understand sir."
Once the doors slid shut the Resistance leaders present turned to face the ones on the view screens. All had looks that were both troubled and yet satisfied that despite what they had just done it would all work out for the best.
"So thats it then, tomorrow everything changes." Kup said with fatigue that he normally hid from others lower on in rank.
"Were we right not to tell her the rest?" Elita One asked in a worried tone of voice.
"Better that she stays focused on the mission at hand and not worry about the details." , Ultra Magnus stated with a note of regret, "We know what would happen if we did fill her in on the details and right now that is something we can't permit."
"Agreed." , Ironhide stated as he began to get out of his seat, "You'd better terminate the connection before the Decepticons crack the encryption algorythem."
All Resistance members on the screen nodded and one by one the images on the screen blinked out of existence leaving nothing but the blackness of the monitor itself. One by one each of the present members of the Council left until only Kup and Ironhide were left in the room together. Despite his agreement with Ultra Magnus he still had a look of guilt on his face that spoke silently of his thoughts. Kup noticed this and walked over to give his leader one last bit of encouragement, knowing that nobody could wipe it away the gloom completely.
"Don't worry! Nightshade is smart and resourceful which is exactly why she was picked for this mission." , Kup said as he placed a hand on Ironhide's shoulder, "It won't happen again, I promise you that."
With that Kup left the room and the only one still present in the conference room was the Autobot who had taken over for one of the greatest 'bots he had ever known. The problem was he just might have sent yet another 'bot to termination just now that might outshine them all in what she was about to do. Pressing a few buttons on the table and a list of reports scrolled down numbering twenty one in total. Ironhide opened one and after a few moments of reading it he suddenly sagged, his arms supporting him on the table. However it was not fatigue that robbed him of his strength and not an injury either but instead a weight on his spark that had just gotten one 'bot heavier.
Only time would tell if any of them would be lifted.
*************************************************************
Resistance Cell Phoenix, Sub-level 5, Mess hall, 12:00 hoursWhat in the name of the Inferno have I gotten myself into here! Nightshade thought to herself as she drank a bit more of her cube of energon.
It had been a little over an hour since Rachet had finished his modifications to her body and ordered her to the mess hall to refuel on energon to regain her strength. Looking back on the meeting she had to have had a few bugs in her system accepting the mission right off the bat. She'd have never have thought that the Resistance council would play the distract and drive routine on her and she certainly wouldn't have
thought she of all 'bots would have fallen for it. Now that she had time to think through the ramifications of what she had been told in the conference room she had more than a few questions left unanswered. For one thing they had been awfully vague as to why she had been chosen for this mission and had managed to hide that from her by flattery. Another was that they hadn't told her any specifics concerning the mission, like how they planned to save Optimus Prime from being scrapped. There were an awful lot of loopholes in their explanation and if there was one thing that she didn't like it was unknowns. On the battlefield unknowns could get you killed in a cycle which was why she always tried to do a little research before every mission. Advance intelligence on a target always helped the mission go smoother and allowed her to adapt to any changes in the scenario.
Unfortunately it looks like I'll be flying by the metal of my skidplate on this one. she thought to herself ruefully as she began pondering the possibilities mission wise.
However before she could get very far some 'bot slapped her on the back nearly causing her to spill some energon on the table. Turning to give the tailpipe for a processor what she thought of him she was surprised to see that it was Angelfire. Her 'sis' still looked a little beat up from the raid on the refinery but her legs looked more or less fully functional. Unfortunately she had that flicker in her optics that foretold
of imminent badgering and interrogation about something. There were of course a few normal possibilities but there was only one that could have gotten her sister this worked up.
"So 'sis', what did all the big 'bots want to talk to you about?" , Angelfire asked as she sat down next to her, "Did they vape ya for shining Jazz at the refinery?"
This wasn't going to be easy at all, she had orders not to discuss the mission with anyone but Angelfire and her had been friends almost since the beginning. They had never intentionally hidden anything from each other and even when ordered to keep their audio circuits in check they had given each other hints as to what the mission was about. This mission however was different, it was probably the most important one she had ever been in since the beginning and with unnatural success the Decepticons had been having lately could she really take the chance? No. Best to keep her sister out of trouble and her mouth shut so things would stay manageable.
"Sorry sis but the B.B's said the info was for my optics only and to keep a lid on it." , Nightshade replied reluctantly, "All I can say is that I'll be leaving for the new assignment at 22:00 hours and I probably won't be back anytime soon."
"That bad huh? They shipping you out to some remote place where you won't be able to mess things up, huh?" , Angelfire replied humorously as she smiled, "Don't worry! Once Jazz debugs his systems directory he'll see how good you are and have you back here before Blurr can finish a sentence."
"Maybe." Nightshade muttered as she tried to figure out the exact consequences of the mission if it succeeded.
"Sheesh! You sound more depressed than Jazz usually gets when another of his classic Cybertron Top 50 discs get scrapped." , Angelfire said in an attempt to lighten her sister's spark, "C'mon! Let's head down to the training level and blast some battle drones. That always cheers me up!"
"Sorry 'Fire but this lovely femme 'bot has other arrangements!" said a voice that Nightshade knew instantly but only served to make matters worse.
Getting up from the table she turned to confront the owner of the voice and said "Nice to see you too Hot Rod, when did you get back in?"
When she had gotten back into the base after the run on the energon refinery she had briefly gone in search of him to gloat about how she had taken down Devastator only to find him gone. It was almost a weekly thing between the two of them, each trying to show how one was superior to the other by pulling of stunts both real and imaginary. It wasn't really what *some* 'bots might call a serious relationship but it had become a trend during the past year. She attributed it to the fact that his usual femme friend Arcee wasn't paying enough attention to his regalias of past battles which he claimed to have won for them. He on the other hand simply said that there was too much friction being stirred up between them and that it would be better for both if they spent some time apart. That did not however stop Arcee from giving her the occasional cold glare when the femme 'bot spotted Hot Rod speaking with her. She had tried several times to talk to the pink and white femme but every time she did one or the other would walk away grinding their gears big time. So the result was the occasional loud argument which caused a few of the observers to place bets on who was going to scrap who first. She hoped it would not come to that but if it did she wouldn't be the one with a hole in her torso plate.
"Just a few clics ago and heard you were here." , Hot Rod replied as they walked out of the mess hall, "Want to go someplace and talk?"
Nightshade didn't really feel like talking but she knew that once Hot Rod saw that she was acting like a maintenance 'bot he would keep bugging her until he got at least a smile from her. So she nodded and followed him, deciding it was probably better that he choose the spot for a little chit-chat. It would give her more time to think about the assignment she had just accepted rather eagerly and hopefully be able to figure out the details on her own. So far she knew that they'd be traveling back to some point in time to prevent the great Optimus Prime from being scrapped while he was in emergency stasis. She also knew that she would be member number six in a task force that would be charged with that duty in the hopes that it would change the past into something brighter than what it was. The culprit of the crime is most likely armed with precision centered advanced plasma weaponry and was probably a new Decepticreep entirely. That she could tell from the pics of Optimus' dead shell, only the head had been hit and most 'Con weapons made a much bigger mess then that. Looking for any scrap of info that might shed some more light on the subject she determined that there weren't any more real specifics, just theories. That wasn't good in her mind, specifics meant safety and if the top Brass wanted this job done right they would need to give the team more than this. Just then she felt a hand being waved in front of her optics and noticed that Hot Rod was trying to get her attention.
"Wha..? What did you say?" she asked while the mech fluid beneath her face plate heated up a bit.
"I said 'Here we are!' but it looked like you were in one of those matrix trances." , Hot Rod replied with a sly grin, "Whats got you so bogged down in processing?"
Slag!! Nightshade thought to herself as she tried to devise an excuse for her steel wool gathering.
"I was just thinking about I totally scrapped Devastator this morning on the refinery run!" , she replied sarcastically as she gloated, "Knocked that big tin can flat on his back! Let's see you top that one next time you get assigned to an energon run!"
"Yeah, well just you wait! Before the month is out I'll have slagged a 'con twice as big!" , Hot Rod retorted halfheartedly as he once again took a serious tone, "Now seriously, no dodging, whats bothering you?"
"It's nothing, just my new assignment." , Nightshade replied in a non-chalant manner, "They're giving me guard duty at some new installation for a while since I shined Jazz big time back at the refinery."
"I told you that one of these cycles you were going to get your chassis busted for doing things your own way!" Hot Rod said jokingly.
"Yeah? Well the Inferno will freeze over before I put rules and regulations over my personal code!" she replied crossing her arms across her chest.
"Same old Nightshade, hahahahahaha! Never giving an inch and never afraid of anything!" Hot Rod laughed as he shaked his head.
"Better than kissing the skidplates of superior officers and getting the jeggies every time one of those gestalt Decepticreeps show up!" Nightshade stated somewhat less solidly than she had wanted to.
She tried to firm herself up, hide what was really going on inside of her, before he could detect that anything was amiss. After all it was foolish what she was feeling right now, it had to be a bug in her systems directory or her voice actuator that was causing her to get soft. Turning away she looked out of the nearby window and gazed at the tall walls of the Phoenix Cell's base, laser turrets on top every hundred yards. She ran diagnostic after diagnostic on her circuitry and they all came back saying that there was nothing the matter with her. She then noticed Hot Rod standing beside her, a look of concern in his eyes and a crease of worry in his face plate's forehead. She knew that the game was up, that he knew that something more was bothering her, but some stubborn part of her spark refused to give in. She refused to give him the satisfaction that he would get in seeing her normal carefree determined warrior facade
break down. Slowly her gaze rose and she realized that she had given no signal to her servos to do so causing her to realize that it was Hot Rod who was causing her to look him in the face. For a moment she tried to look away but she could not because she knew she needed to talk about this even if she didn't want to.
"What's wrong?" Hot Rod asked as gently as possible.
"The assignment is more than what I said it was but the top brass want it kept quiet.", Nightshade replied as she tried to keep her voice from fluctuating, "The basic idea is that I probably won't be coming back here, not with things the way they are now. When it's all over everything will be different, you probably won't even recognize me at all."
"Sure I will! There is no way in the galaxy that I could forget the way you smile every time you scrap a 'Con on a mission!" , Hot Rod replied but in the perimeter of his voice there was worry, "No matter what happens I will always be able to pick you out of a crowd."
Hearing those words sparked something deep within her that she had thought was gone forever, something that she had lost. So lost was she in the feeling that she didn't even know she was hugging him tightly while drops of mech fluid dripped down her face. There was an angry voice in her telling her to get her hands off of him and show some dignity, to stop being so soft. It was the warrior in her, the part of her that gave her enemy no quarter and believed that thinking about the past was a waste of time. After all nothing could change really, even with her mission in mind, so it was better to block such thoughts out and focus on the task at hand. However the part of her that was in control at the moment told the others to go straight to the Inferno and roast because she needed this moment of release more than they knew.
She was gratified that Hot Rod didn't say anything and didn't shove her away in rejection, he just held her and let her cry herself out. This was definitely not the way that she pictured this scenario, after all it was a lover that was required for these tender moments and she had only known Hot Rod for a year tops. Not exactly a well established relationship that one could use as a sounding board for all her deepest thoughts and emotions. Yet for ten minutes straight she cried, releasing all the grief she had kept stored away in her data tracs, venting the sadness coming from the thoughts of what she had lost. When eventually she had finished she stepped back and wiped away the fluid staining her face plate. Regaining her composure she looked at her spur of the moment confidant and saw that while it was obvious he was still in a bit of a shock he was happy that he had helped her.
"Thanks." Nightshade said neutrally as she put back on her warrior's face.
"Anytime." replied Hot Rod with a slight smile on his face.
Feeling slightly embarrassed at her outburst she did an about face and walked away down the corridor towards the mess hall. Maybe she could still catch Angelfire and she could take her sister up on the offer of a round of bash and blast. If she had looked in the right direction though she would have seen a pair of aqua blue optics glowing with rage in the shadows before they vanished.
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South Entrance of Phoenix Cell HQ, 21:40 hoursWell this is it, no backing out now! Nightshade thought as she walked out into the open air heading towards the south entrance.
She had been a mess of misfiring circuits for the past few hours and it had only gotten worse once it started. Still despite it all she was determined to continue with the mission as planned, after all if it succeeded everything would be changed for the better right? Besides its wasn't like she would be completely alone in this, she would have five other 'bots from her time to keep her company and keep her mind off the more depressing things. Looking at the others who were waiting at the gate she smiled slightly as she recognized a few of them. Blurr was there pacing back and forth at an amazing speed which was no doubt annoying the others to no end while next to him was the former commander of Alpha team Jazz. He looked up and when he saw her approaching he gave her a grin that told her that he wasn't still mad at her for disobeying his orders back at the refinery. Not that she was unduly concerned about what he thought of her but it was still a good thing not to have a 'bot watching her back that didn't like her. Next apparently on the team was the duo of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, both of which looked uncomfortable in their Decepticon paint jobs.
Glad I didn't have to go through that much reworking! she thought to herself as she looked down at her own body.
All that had been required in terms of paint was to cover up her Resistance insignia with a Decepticon one which could be removed easily once she was through with it. Rachet had seemed unusually somber while he was doing the job, this was odd because usually he went out of his way to make her smile at least once when she came into med-bay. When she had asked him about it he just made up some slaggin' excuse about being tired and needing some serious shut down time. She hadn't been at all satisfied with the reply but with all the things they had on each others plates she decided not to push the subject any further. Now that she had been given time to ponder it she knew that there was something more to this case then what the higher ups were telling her. Unfortunately it would take nothing short of the creations matrix itself to get them to tell her everything.
The last member of the team other than her was Blaster and at the moment was leaning up against the wall shaking his head back and forth, presumably listening to some oldies songs. She had never really gotten to know him while he was around on the base but from all accounts he was a good 'bot and a solid fighter when he was needed. All together they were a great task force with a wide variety of talents and skills that could probably handle anything that was thrown at them. Unfortunately that statement was just a puff of smoke in reality, she had no idea what they would be facing once the mission actually got underway. Hopefully though things would go relatively smoothly, after all they only had to get to the past and sneak aboard the Ark. Then once it crashed and they were awakened from emergency stasis and be charged with keeping Optimus Prime in one piece for a few million years.
I wonder what we'll do for fun during that time? she thought as she took her place among the others and began to do a internal systems check.
Just then the door to the base opened and Angelfire appeared with something in her hands but at her current distance she couldn't figure out what it was. Nightshade frowned in puzzlement as she tried to make out what her sister was carrying and hoping it wasn't some sort of sentimental gift. She was having enough trouble keeping her feelings in check without Angelfire making her all weepy and rusty. As her sister got closer though Nightshade could see that it was a small steel box that Angelfire was carrying and the expression on the golden girl's face didn't look like she was preparing for a crying jag. Waiting patiently she looked at the results of her systems check which read all systems as operating at peak efficiency including the stasis inhibiter. Once Angelfire was within a few feet Nightshade put on her best 'tude and tough girl face before stepping forward to meet her.
"Don't tell me you're goin' all sentimental on me are you?" Nightshade asked jokingly as she tried to guess what might be in the box.
"Hardly, I just though you might need this where ever they're sending you!" retorted Angelfire as she opened the box and took out what was inside.
For a moment Nightshade was confused as to what her sister was holding, it appeared to be an old rectangular isolinear chip used in the bases computer core. The only difference was that it didn't have the chase-interface module that would allow it to be compatible with human technology. Looking back at her sister she prayed that Angelfire would be forth coming with an explanation or she would be at a loss as to how to react to the gift.
"It's a piece of the Ark gal! I been carrying it around inside me ever since the Autobots were forced to vacate it a few years back." , Angelfire said as she passed the chip to her, "Now I'm not one to believe in human superstition but I believe that this little things is what has been keeping online all these years by giving me good luck."
"Yeah, it would have to be something like this that keeps pulling your can out of the smelter every time you go on a mission!" Nightshade replied as she placed the chip into a storage compartment on her left forearm.
"Hey that was skill sis, not luck!" Angelfire replied as she punched her sis in the shoulder.
Suddenly Nightshade noticed the silence that had suddenly permeated the immediate vicinity and when she looked about to find the cause she saw that Commander Ironhide was standing by the entrance to the base. She couldn't help but feel a bit of relief at the fact that the other 'bots were acting much the same way she had when she had seen him. After all when he had called her in her quarters she had been a complete wreck and had acted like a first week recruit but now all the others were acting the same way. Watching to see what he would do she saw him look at Jazz and motion for him to go over there with him. Watching with rapt attention Nightshade watched as the Autobot went over to his commander and both 'bots as they temporarily entered the base. It was only three cycles later when Jazz emerged but she could tell that something was different about him, something that made him seem greater than he actually was. Problem was that she couldn't pick out what was making him different which caused her to discount the feeling she had as being pre-mission jitters.
"All right team lets transform and roll out!" commanded Jazz and in accordance with the order the other members of the team went into vehicle mode with Blaster jumping into Sideswipe's front seat.
"Well I guess you better get going before Jazz scraps you for disobeying another order." , Angelfire said a bit uneasily as she was no doubt trying to decide what was appropriate for the occasion, "See you later alright?"
"Sure." Nightshade replied as she shifted into vehicle mode and took up the rear of the convoy.
Yet despite the fact that she hated long goodbyes she couldn't help but keep one of her external cameras focused on the south entrance as she sped away. For almost ten minutes she kept looking back at her sister, her friend, her home and everything that had made up who she was for the past decade. Now she was moving into the future and she had no idea what to expect or what would be around the next bend. Would it be the path to salvation or would it lead to her imminent destruction? The answer was no where in sight and that left her with the only thought that helped her keep things together as the distance blurred out any particular part of the base.
I'm doing it all for them! So that they will have a better future to live in and not have to suffer any longer! she thought to herself as she shut down her rear external camera.
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There.
The convoy was away and so was the target without any deviation from what had been projected to happen. Now all that was left was to follow them and do what was required to ensure the plan happens accordingly. Nightshade was not going to get away that easily.
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