8 – Renewal

Darkness …

My mind is blank. I cannot think about anything other than darkness.

Why was I given this element?

Because you are the only one strong enough to wield it …

I am?

A memory surfaced in Optimus's blank mind. The day, he got his powers … and the fate of his doom …

"Take the Cloak of Darkness, for I see in you remarkable strength to wield such a catastrophic force as this."

I took the cloak, not knowing why it was so dangerous.

"Why do you give out the cloaks? What's the purpose of giving those who come by extra power?"

The creature, no less than the height of a human and highly advanced in technology, looked up at me. Like most of the elementals there, he had control of all of the elements currently known, but in little power. He used the psychic part of him to levitate to my face and said to me, "Because, only you Cybertronians are strong enough to contain such elements. If these elements are not contained by someone or something, in due time they will run rampant, and bestow their power in lesser mortals. One by one, they will become like us – partially infected by every element there is."

I stared at the black cloak in the cabinet, and the white one next to it. Such a small thing, it seemed … how could it cause so much destruction to the universe.

"Take the Cloak." The creature repeated. "It is your destiny to wield the powers of shadows and darkness. Use it not to your advantage, but to what you think is right. In time, you will know why you were chosen to wield it …"

When will that day come?

***

"I still can't believe it," Starscream said, walking along the corridor with Thundercracker and Electrica. "Optimus Prime is back again. I thought he just died or something after the battle with Unicron."

"Nah, from what I heard he merely flew away from Cybertron to try and regain some peace of mind." Thundercracker answered. "Poor guy … can you imagine what kind of effect it must've had to see *Galvatron die like that?"

"It would've hurt for sure …" Electrica mused. "But he left his own kind – and his brother – with no clue! Surely-" She was cut off by Starscream.

"If Optimus wanted us to know where he had gone, he would've told us." He said sternly. "No one knows where he went after all these years, but I'm guessing we'll get some explanations when he wakes up."

They stopped outside the training room.

"Oh no, Starscream!" Electrica turned to face the smug seeker, "You didn't!"

"You still need training," He said pointedly, "and I'm having lots of fun seeing you strain yourself."

Electrica growled and Thundercracker stifled a laugh with his fist.

"Yeah," He said with a chuckle, "I can see why Scavenger set you up to train her, Starscream!"

"What's that?" He turned to his brother with an annoyed look.

"Hehe! Oh primus your dense sometimes." He cast his brother a knowing look and started walking away, saying "I'm going to see what Prime's condition is. I'll be back!"

He left.

Starscream shook his head and said, "That guy is annoying when he knows something I don't."

***

The old crew sat around the table where Optimus lay. They didn't know where he had been, but they wanted him to wake up and get better before they asked questions. It was unnerving to see the great Autobot leader go evil like he did, but explanations would have to come later.

"Do you think he will wake Jetfire?" Hotshot asked quietly.

"I don't know." Jetfire's normal carefree demeanour had faded a bit from the V.C's face. His optics seemed dimmer than usual, and everyone knew why. Jetfire had been one of Optimus's closest friends, and he had missed him greatly during the 500 years they had been apart. And to see him finally - but like this – hurt him more than words could say.

"I hope he wakes up soon." Hoist said looking at Optimus with sad optics. For everyone's sake.

Just then, the door opened and Magnus entered. He was wearing his cloak again.

He sighed and said, "Still the same?"

"Yeah, no thanks to you!" Hotshot said angrily. He had never met Magnus before, but he didn't like the way he had treated Optimus at all.

Magnus turned to him with narrowed optics, "don't even go there." He warned.

"Why not?!" Hotshot was on his feat, and ignored the warnings the others gave him.

Magnus, already annoyed from what Hotshot had said before, had had enough. His optics glowed indigo and he flung his arm up to meet his attacker.

Hotshot stopped dead, and started glowing indigo as well. The others watched in fascination and horror as Hotshot was lifted off his feed and hurled across the room. He landed with a thunk against the opposite wall and slid to a stop at the floor. Magnus watched, as did the others as Hotshot stood up and glared at his attacker, but didn't say anything. It seemed as if he had learnt his lesson.

Magnus evaporated his cloak with a wave of his arm and walked over to his brother, the optics of the group around him following his every footstep.

He looks just like him! Hotshot said as he walked back over to the group.

"Of course I look like him!" Magnus said, agitated.

Hotshot stoped dead and said, "You can read minds?!"

"I wield the Psychic Cloak of Power, what do you think?!" He snapped, and then turned to the group. "For those who don't know, I'm Optimus's brother, Magnus. I am also the leader of this base, but Scavenger here takes my place when I'm not around."

He nodded to the silent robot.

Magnus sat on the bench opposite everyone else and said, "If you want me to help him," he gestured to the prone form of Optimus, "Then leave."

Scavenger unfolded his arms and said, "He needs the solitude. Lets go."

The crew left, some had not said a word, like Sideswipe. He had known about Magnus before, and had not been surprised at his outburst on Hotshot. Magnus was not the type to be messed with, and it said so in his tech specs.

With the others gone, Magnus now turned to Optimus. His brother's optics were closed and his body seemed lifeless, but Magnus could still feel his brother's life essence in him.

Why …The question plagued Magnus's mind again as he stared at his brother. Remorse, and anger and infinite sadness clouded his mind so much. He had missed him, and terribly.

"Optimus …" He whispered, falling to his knees next to the table, and resting his head on his crossed arms. The tears threatened to fall, but he held them back.

"I've had so many of them Optimus …" He whispered, turning his head to look at his brothers head, "and … and you weren't there to make them go!" He thumped his fist on the table and screamed, "The nightmares wont leave me alone!"

He tried to calm himself, and eventually settled down enough to sit up a bit. One of his hands clasped his brothers unconsciously, and he thought about how to maybe help …

"I'm coming to get you." He announced to the silent room.

He then placed a hand over his brothers blue forehead, and the golden plate started to glow, as did his own.

If he doesn't respond from an outside source, Magnus thought as he closed his optics, as his mind entered his brothers, there's no hope for him.

***

Indeed, Iseno was the type to gloat over success, but this was far from it in his optics. The Rebels had destroyed more than 70 of his people, and he was not happy about it.

He clenched his fist. This Optimus character had destroyed their plans on more than one occasion. What was it he wanted?!

"Incoming message sir!" One of the underlings said. At the moment, he was in the command centre for a change rather than his office. Being the high command here meant he had to tend to tedious matters as well as important ones.

"Who's it from?" he asked.

"The high lord himself!"

Iseno sat bolt upright in his chair. The high one was the ruler of their home world!

"Well, what are you waiting for?!" He demanded, "Let him though!"

The screen then shifted to a scene of a figure cloaked in shadow, the high lord never showed his face to his underlings either.

"My lord." Iseno said, bowing.

"Did you get the Orb yet?" His deep voice sounded though the room like a bass drum. Although he spoke quietly, his voice made the walls shake and made Iseno shiver.

"N – not yet sir," He said timidly, "But it is only a matter of ti-"

"Time?" The lord's voice thundered over Iseno's own deep one. "Time is against us, Iseno. Make your men work faster about securing the Orb or you will be sent back here."

That threat would have made anyone faint. To be sent home without the Orb would certainly mean death. Iseno cowered, and whimpered, "They are fighting us my lord! They are much stronger than anticipated!"

The lord remained silent, which was unusual for any commander. Usually they didn't want to listen to excuses, but the lord seemed interested.

"They are fighting you?" He echoed, his voice tinged with interest.

"Yes, my lord!" Iseno seemed to regain is posture at his lord's sudden show of interest.

"Hmm …" From what he could see of his leader, he had put his hand up to his chin in a thinking pose. "Can you use the cannon yet?"

"It is an hour away from completion sir." Iseno responded.

"Very well." The high lord said. "I will also send you another weapon to help out … interruptions."

***

Magnus's spirit floated though the void of darkness that resided in his brother's mind. He looked and looked though the void, guided by the essence of his brother's existence. He could feel that Optimus was close, but he couldn't see where he was.

Suddenly, a window of a memory materialised into being next to his. Magnus spun around to face it, and saw … himself. But this was from Optimus's viewpoint. He looked younger. Much younger.

"Hey Oppie!" Magnus heard himself say in a kiddy voice.

Okay, he was VERY young. He hadn't called his brother 'Oppie' in a millennia, let alone more than a few centuries ago. He recognised the scene too. They were at their home with some of the other children, although now it seemed they were on their own.

"What's up Magnus?" He heard Optimus ask.

"What's it like out there?" The little Magnus in the memory pointed outside the window, at the city of Polyhex. Their home.

"Many things." Magnus knew that Optimus had just got up from sitting on his recharge bed. He remembered this day too, as clear as this memory showed it.

"Are there bad people out there?" The little Magnus looked fearful.

"Yes I think so." Optimus sat on the windowsill like his brother. "I don't know much else about out there than you do." Magnus saw himself look at Optimus, and he knew his big brother was smiling at him from under that faceplate he always wore.

"Well, lets make a promise!" The little Magnus looked suddenly alight with youthful excitement.

"What's that?"

"That no matter what happens, we will always stick together. Okay?" He saw himself held out his fist.

"Hehe," Optimus chuckled, "You got it little bro." He thumped his fist against Magnus's.

The memory faded from sight. Magnus had never seen anything from Optimus's viewpoint before, and he had heard and felt his emotions as if they were his own. Optimus had always been a bit wiser than Magnus from the beginning, and Magnus used to look up to him with awe. But he had always remained some stupid little kid. Is that what Optimus thought of him?

As if to answer his question, another memory window appeared on Magnus's other side. He spun around to meet it, and saw himself.

Or saw the top of his head.

He knew this memory too; it was the same night that Optimus and himself had found out about their creator being killed by the growing war. Magnus was currently huddled up against his brother, crying while his brother sat against the head of his recharge bed. They shared a room together, and Magnus was happy usually. Now, however, Magnus was very upset about the loss. He had known their creator, Alpha Trion very well, and he had been slayed by the Decepticons for reasons unknown to them.

"Shh …" Magnus heard his brother hush, and almost felt him hug him again. He felt the emotion from his brother, even if it was a memory. His fuel pump almost stopped when he realised how much his brother really did care for him.

So, why did he leave? He continued to watch the memory.

"It will be okay …"

"How can it be?" Magnus chocked out. "He's gone … gone for good …"

"But that doesn't mean we can't avenge him." Optimus said.

Magnus saw himself look up in surprise.

"We can join the Autobots. We can destroy the Decepticons!"

Magnus then rested his head against his brother's chest and replied, "I don't know …"

"Don't you remember what we promised each other?"

"Yes … how could I forget that?"

"Then what's the harm in going for it?"

Magnus sighed and said, "I don't know. Just stay with me, please?"

Magnus waited. He just knew he would hear inside his head 'what a bothersome brother.' or something like it.

But it didn't come. Magnus still felt the love his brother had for him, and he almost felt his brother tighten his hold on him, in an act of comfort.

"I'm here."

The memory faded. Magnus realised there were tears of energon on his face and he brushed them away angrily. His brother loved him then, but he obviously doesn't now. If he did, he wouldn't have broken his promise …

Another memory, different this time, materialised in front of him, and Magnus turned to face it. This one, he felt the emotions bound to it.

Sorrow, Regret, Anger and a feeling of being broken.

"As I did."

This was from in the cave! Magnus watched it though Optimus's viewpoint as his other self became enraged. He felt his brother's self defence drop deliberately. He wanted pain?!

"Magnus … "

"You are a bastard for making me wait so long."

Magnus saw himself forward and punched his brother in the side of the head. I deserve this pain. I broke the promise I swore I would keep …and I will never get it back. But I hope he realises how much I regret doing this to him …

Optimus's thoughts echoed around the darkness.  

"I want to kill you, and believe me; when this is all over I will!" Magnus heard himself snarl. Then that memory too faded back into the void.

Magnus looked down with a little bit of shame. He shouldn't have acted so badly to the situation, he knew that now. But it still didn't stop the hurt that he had felt throughout the 500 years without him by his side, and he had taken it out on him as soon as he saw him.

Suddenly, realisation hit Magnus like a truck. He shouldn't be looking at memories! He should be trying to locate his brother so he could snap out of the trance he was in because of the darkness!

He continued to search. It seemed pointless to search in a black void, but – maybe it was just him – but it seemed to be lifting slightly. Then, Magnus spotted him. Optimus's spirit was lying in the darkness, seemingly unconscious.

"Optimus!" Magnus called, and floated next to his brother.

He didn't respond.

"Oh come on, snap out of it!" Magnus said angrily, grasping his shoulders and shaking him.

He groaned, and slowly opened his golden optics. Looking at Magnus's angry face, he said, "How?"

"Primus damn you!" Magnus shouted, "Can't you focus on the situation at hand here?! You – are – trapped – in – a – dark – ness – void!"

Optimus seemed not to hear him, and Magnus hit him. That seemed to jolt him out of it.

"The light …" He said suddenly.

Magnus paused, listening. If he meant what he thought he meant …

Suddenly, Magnus was blinded by light. He felt himself get ripped out of Optimus's mind and thrown back into his own. The force of it sent Magnus skidding across the floor a decent distance.

"Damn you!" He muttered as he sat up, and glared at his brother's prone form. "I was trying to help you, and you throw me out of your mind because … someone now wields the Light Cloak of Power!"

Optimus mumbled something, but Magnus didn't take heed to it. He got up and walked over to his brother, taking in the way his mind was now fully back to normal, and the darkness was contained. He was now in a light sleep.

"Stupid light," Magnus muttered as he left. The situation would have been funny for anyone who had have watched. "Stupid *Duel elements. Stupid me for trying to help! Stupid, stupid, stupid…" He muttered all the way back to the command centre.

***

"Grrrrrrr!" Electrica growled and slashed her sword at the speedy seeker.

"You're losing your focus again!" Starscream noted as he avoided the swing.

She continued to slash at him, but at least she had won once during the training session. Starscream even admitted she was getting better.

"Okay, that's enough for today." He said, blocking her final swing with his own sword.

She collapsed on the ground in relief and said, "Thank god …"

"God?" He questioned. He had heard that phrase on earth, but nowhere else. "How do you know that phrase?"

"Dunno …" She said, suddenly aware of what she said.

"Oh well," He shrugged and heard an excited shout go off in the command centre (it isn't too far away from the training room.) "Let's see what that was."

***

"Wheeljack!" Hotshot cried and hugged his very surprised and highly embarrassed brother. "It's been ages since I saw you!"

"Hotshot! Get off me man!" His brother complained and tried to tug his brother off. He let go and said, "Sorry, I'm just glad to see you."

"You too" Wheeljack smiled and turned as Red Alert called him over.

"So, why are you here so suddenly Wheeljack?" Red Alert inquired. "I've certainly seen some video's with you in it on the New One's side."

"Well, I was over with the New ones for awhile, but I was spying on them for the Rebels." Wheeljack explained as a crowd formed around him, Hotshot and Red Alert. "So when that last attack happened, I came as soon as I could to give you some new information. It hasn't been easy to get out of there."

"Wow, that's a daring maynover." Jetfire commented.

"So you have some new info for us?" Scavenger asked pointedly.

"Yeah, well I found out why the New Ones are here – sort of." Wheeljack stated. "They're after this Orb that apparently is somewhere on Cybertron, but they don't know where it is, and neither do we. Also, these guys came from the planet Stormus, where they build their people to be a more advanced race than the planet they wish to overtake. That way, they can concur planets more efficiently than ever before. I don't know why they want this Orb though, or what it is."

"Hmm …" The crowd was deep in thought.

"Also, I have some bad news." Wheeljack continued with a tinge on unease. "Tidalwave has been killed, along with Demolisher."

"WHAT?!" Jetfire yelled. Wheeljack, prepared for the outburst, covered his audio receptors and continued, "They were destroyed after the New Ones found out about their spy work. They helped me escape so I could report it, but unfortunately that jerk Cyclonus ratted us out."

Jetfire seemed greatly disturbed to find out his rival was gone, especially after he had tried so hard to be a good guy. Curse Cyclonus! He would destroy him if it were the last thing he did.

Magnus walked in at that moment, along with Starscream and Electrica, who seemed to be fighting.

"… You know I won! Stop being so arrogant!"

"Is that your favourite word or something?"

"No, but it's my favourite thing to call you!"

"Because you're so dumb you can't think of anything else to say?"

"NO!"

"Well it seems that way!"

"Yaaaaaaa!"

Electrica had tackled – or more like – tried to tackle her teacher, but all she ended up doing was landing in his outstretched arms and get slung on his back like a sack of potatoes.

"STARSCREAM!" She yelled as all that were in the room – including Magnus and Scavenger – started laughing at her predicament.

"Oh, but you wanted to be picked up didn't you?" He mocked, "You even ran up to me and jumped on me! Lucky I'm strong enough to pick up your massive bulk."

"ALRIGHT THAT'S IT!" Electrica scream and zapped her captor with a million volts of lightning. Starscream didn't even flinch.

"Poor, poor femme Electrica." He mocked her as he put her down, "You will never beat me."

She remained silent, but suddenly looked up with a devilish smirk.

"Oh I know one way."

He didn't have time to react as she viciously kissed him, pushing him down on his back. He was so surprised that he couldn't find anyway to defend himself when she suddenly let him go, and he found himself on his back with her on top of him; the point of her sword at his throat.

"I win." She said, but did he hear some breathlessness behind her words?

"Fine." He said, smirking. "You win."

"Yeah!!" she yelled and the room broke into applause, and Magnus smirked as he felt both Starscream's and Electrica's slight attraction to each other. He caught Thundercracker's optic and they both smirked.

"If this is the way this base runs, I think I'll stay in my quarters from now on." Wheeljack said to Hotshot as the happy crowd dispersed to their jobs.

"Oh come on!" Hotshot said and clamped a hand down on his brother's shoulder. "What's a base without a little fun?"

Red Alert shook his head. There were some things that never changed, but he was one that did. If it weren't for him, Electrica, Medivo and Razorshot wouldn't be here today …

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* '…Galvatron die like that?' Yes, Galvy does die also. I wont tell you how, but lets just say Optimus is more than disturbed by it.

* '… Duel elements' Two elements that cannot exist without the other. Eg. Light and Dark, Fire and Water. Will be explained more in later chapters.

Ah another one complete! Hope you enjoyed the humour bit at the end. It was hard to keep Wheeljack IC because I haven't watched many eps with him in it. My bad, but I hope I did okay.

YAY! REVIEWS! Thanks especially to Pivot, who reviewed three chapters for me! *Gives Pivot a cookie*

Wicked Woman asked me why all my chapters start with the letter 'R'. There is a simple reason; I've always wanted to write a story where all my chapters started with the same letter and also were one word to describe it. Since I have all of my chapters for this story planned out, it was easier than most stories to figure out a way to do it. So yeah, no real reason :p

And CodeRed 73, you have just given me a burst of inspiration when I read your review. Thanks to you, I've figured out how to do a certain part for future chapters, AND put your favourite TF in some limelight! Sorry about the lack of dialogue in this chap, but thanks to you, you can be sure to see more of him! (For a hint, look at the last line)

So, what's gonna happen to the team now? This was more of a filler chapter for the story, but it was necessary none the less, so I hope you liked it.

As always, a preview for the next chapter:

9 – Revival

With Optimus now awake, the approaching New Ones don't stand a chance now that the Light Cloak has been found. But what they don't expect is the New Ones have a weapon of their own…

This marks the halfway point of my story! As always, Review's are muchly appreciated!

ST