A/N: After Christmas, I'm moving this story to the Yu-Yu Hakusho category. Because
from after this chapter, it's going to be mostly Yu-Yu related. I also want to catch
a wider audience, including more Yu-Yu fans. I will move it back to the Transformers
category for the end. But this episode is going to be mostly devoted to Transformers.
You guys will also find out... well, I'll let you guys find out for yourself.
Memories of the Dead, Souls of the Living
Scavenger wiped his hands on a cloth as he stood back to look at his handiwork. He's
been working for the past three weeks on making a passage route they can use to get
the ship (which Optimus titled the Autobot Axalon). The main gate will take them
underneath the lake.
"How's that welding coming along, Red Alert?" Scavenger asked Red Alert, who was
just finishing welding the door hinges into proper allignment.
"Almost done," Red Alert reported. He spent one more minute on it before loweirng
himself vie his cable. "There, the gate is finished."
Optimus came up to them. The Autobot leader looked worn and tired. He pounded on the
door to tested its durability. He turned to Scavenger and Red Alert. "Good job, men.
Just how do we protect the ship from the sudden water pressure though?" Scavenger and
Red Alert shared a look. That was one thing they hadn't counted on.
Red Alert answered, "If we build filters in the walls, we can gradually fill the chamber
up which could release the pressure."
"Get on it, I don't want anything happen to this ship until we get to Cybertron."
Scavenger and Red Alert saluted (although since Red Alert was using his gun arm, it looked
like he was trying to kill himself). Optimus saluted back and walked out.
AS he was walking through the hallway, Sideswipe came up to him. "Excuse me, Optimus, sir."
"Yes, Sideswipe, what is it?"
"I've been trying to establish a communication link with Cybertron and so far, I've been
able to get a few messages. They're a little weak, but it sounds like the Autobot forces
are being overrun by Decepticons. Also, our outpost at Vega Thalon has been destroyed, no
word yet on the cause or casualties."
"Understood. Keep monitoring the communication channels and inform me of any changes good or
bad."
"Yes, sir."
Optimus came to the control room where Jet Fire, Blurr, and Smokescreen were on watch. Optimus
went up to Smokescreen. "Why don't you take a rest, Smokescreen, I'll fill in for you."
Smokescreen turned towards his leader with a surprised look. "But Optimus, you already took
three shifts in a row. Surely, your power cells must be running low."
"I still have over 25% power left plus my reserves are fully charged. I'll be fine."
"Nevertheless, Optimus, it's not healthy for you to work so much. Go take a break, we can handle
things from here," Jet Fire assured his leader.
"I'm fine, Jet Fire."
Jet Fire sighed. "I hate to do this, Optimus, but I'm exercising clause 84-5."
"What's Clause 84-5?" Sideswipe, who had caught the tail end of Jet Fire's conversation as he
came in, asked Blurr.
"A Second-In-Command can remove a leader from active duty if he feels that the leader is unable to
continue duty," Blurr explained. "As far as I know, it's never been exercised like this until
now."
"Blurr, please escort Optimus Prime to his quarters," Jet Fire requested.
"That won't be necessary," Optimus said. He could tell when Jet Fire meant business and he was
ready to start a mutiny just to make sure Optimus could get some rest. "I'll go by myself."
True to his word, Optimus went into his quarters. Sparkplug was there, talking with some of the
other Minicons. The Minicons, seeing that Optimus needed his privacy, left but Sparkplug stayed.
"What, Sparkplug," Optimus began. "What good am I as a leader if I can't even protect one human?"
Sparkplug beeped a protest, saying that Optimus was a great leader and pointed out the many
campaigns he lead.
"A leader is more than just someone who gives orders. He must take care of his troops. Rad was
one of my troops, Sparkplug! He may have been a human, but he was still one of the Autobots.
And I failed him."
Sparkplug was relentless in trying to convince his leader that Rad's death was Megatron's fault,
not his own. Optimus reached into his chest and took out a strange object. It was a blue crystal
in a yellow orbital casing and connected by two handles. It was his matrix.
"I have lost troops before," Optimus lamented. "I've even lost good friends to Decepticon fire.
So why is Rad's death affecting me more? Is it because the two of us had gotten so close, that it
was him who picked up that Minicon panel and first brought the Autobots to Earth. It was because
of Rad that we all became friends? It was him who convinced the Minicons to unite to form the
Requiem Blaster that first time."
Optimus threw the matrix against the wall. The casing was extremely strong so all it did was bounce
off and land on the floor. Sparkplug picked it up and held it up for him to take. But Optimus
laid on his recharging bed and drifted into a dreamless sleep. Robot's don't dream, they have
flashbacks, but no dreams. If they did dream, Optimus' sleep would've been plagued with nightmares
of seeing Megatron kill Rad.
Out in the control room, Jet Fire asked, "Hey, has anyone seen Hot Shot?"
"He finished his work early so he decided to go for a drive," informed Sideswipe.
"Hot Shot, finishing work early? I think Megatron must've replaced Hot Shot with a clone in the last
battle." Smokescreen was commended for trying to cheer all of them up, but the circumstances were
just too strong.
Hot Shot drove on canyon road. This was near where they first discovered Jolt and Longarm. Their
first battle with the kids along. Hot Shot didn't know why he chose this particular area. Perhaps
it was just instinct. Hot Shot didn't know and didn't care. Once again, he had a chance to save a
friend, and once again, he failed. Hot Shot reflected on the time he tried to save Wheeljack but
couldn't. It was because of his reluctance that Wheeljack was now a Decepticon. And it was because
of his reluctance that he was unable to save Rad.
Jolt, who was attached to Hot Shot's trunk, assured Hot Shot that it wasn't his fault, he wasn't even
at the battle scene when it happened. Unlike Optimus, Hot Shot took a little comfort in knowing that
he won't have the same problems he did with Wheeljack.
Hot Shot transformed and stared out into the horizon. He allowed his nose to intake the Earth's oxygen.
If the Decepticons took over Cybertron, it wouldn't be long before they set their sights on Earth. And
with the Autobots stretched as far as they are, Hot Shot didn'tbelieve they could survive a full frontal
assault.
"Aww, look at the little Autobot, all alone without a friend in the world," came a mocking tone. Thrust
stood on a higher cliff edge than Hot Shot.
"Leave me alone, Thrust, I'm in no mood to deal with you right now."
"What's wrong, Autobot? You look like you just lost your best friend... oh wait, you DID!" Thrust broke
into a mocking laughter.
It took all of Hot Shot's self control to not go up there and belt him one.
But Thrust continued his mocking. "Now see what happens when you get too emotionally attached to these
lesser lifeforms, you start acting like them, acting all wheepy and depressed. At least your comrade
Smokescreen was able to recover."
Starscream came down to Earth to try and find Thrust. He found him, but he didn't like what he was
seeing.
"...otions have clouded your judgement, Autobot," Starscream heard as he walked up to them. "In this
universe, the strong survive and the weak perish. And that human pet of yours was probably weaker than
anyone I have ever met."
"Thrust," Starscream called out. Both Thrust and Hot Shot turned and saw him.
~Great,~ Hot Shot thought. ~Here comes Starscream to join in on the 'fun.'~
"You're needed back at base," Starscream said seriously.
"Hey Starscream, why don't you join in on the fun. Teasing Autobots is so enjoyable, it should be a new
Decepticon pasttime."
"Thrust, return to base."
"Come on, Starscream, look at him, whining over his lost pet human like a rust slug. He's so pathetic, he
doesn't even deserve to call himself a Cybertronian."
Starscream got up close in Thrust's face and scowled at him. In a low menacing voice, the Decepticon seeker
said, "Just because we're allies doesn't mean I like you."
Thrust could tell that Starscream meant it so he cleared his throat and said, "Well, I think I made my point
across, time to get back to work." And he took off back to Decepticon base.
Starscream and Hot Shot stared each other down. Then Starscream said, "I'm sorry for your lost, Hot Shot."
And then he turned and walked away.
Did Hot Shot hear him correctly? Did Starscream just say he was sorry for his lost, sorry that Rad is gone?
Hot Shot came to one conclusion: Starscream is one robot he would never be able to figure out.
Sideways watched this drama unfold from afar. ~Hmmm, this might make my job a lot easier.~
Cyclonus was staring oddly at the Requiem Blaster when Thrust came into the throne room.
"Cyclonus, get away from that," Thrust snapped.
Cyclonus took one step back from the Requiem Blaster. "Sorry, Thrust, I was just cleaning some water from
it."
"What are you talking about, there are no sources of water on the moon," Thrust schided.
"I'm serious, Thrust, look." Cyclonus pointed to a small (by Transformer standards) puddle of water that
had accumulated just below the gun's handle.
"Fine, I'll clean it up," Thrust said quickly. "You go help Tidal Wave and Demolisher insert the hyper
drive."
"Fine, fine." But as Cyclonus left, he cast one more look at the Requiem Blaster. It was strange, it was
almost like the Requiem Blaster was... crying.
Carlos came over to Alexis' house to check to see how she was doing. The two of them hadn't talked since
Rad's demise. He knocked on the door and to his surprise, Highwire let him in.
"Highwire, what are you doing out in the open?" Carlos asked.
Highwire tilted his head and beeped an answer. Carlos didn't understand what he was saying, but he got the
idea. Alexis' parents must be gone so Alexis allowed Highwire and Sureshock to run free.
"Hey, Highwire, where's Alexis?" The Minicon lead him up to Alexis' room. For some reason, she was sitting
on her bed staring at the floor. Carlos sat next to her and began mimicing her. This went on for about a
minute before Carlos asked, "Just what are we looking at anyway?"
Alexis screamed and fell off her bed. "Carlos, you scared me!"
"My fifth grade math teacher says the same thing."
"Well... what are you doing here anyway?" She asked as she stood up and dusted herself off.
"I came to see how you were doing."
"Oh, me? I'm fine, never been better."
"Come on, Alexis, Scavenger made a better actor than you."
"Seriously, Carlos, I'm fine, I'm... over him... it. At least I don't have to worry about him ooging that
hologram girl."
"Uh... excuse me, but I was the one oogling the hologram girl."
"Oh come on, I... I know you boys are all the same, gazing at anything with pretty... legs." To Carlos, that
sounded like the verbal equivalent of ripping a band aid off of a still healing bruise.
"Alexis, sit down." Carlos patted the spot on the bed where Alexis sat before being startled off.
"Wh... why should I?"
"Alexis, sit down before I make Highwire and Sureshock sit you down." Alexis slowly sat on the bed next to
Carlos. "Rad isn't here, so I guess I should be the one to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
Carlos took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Rad used to have a sister."
That caught Alexis by surprise. "A sister?"
Carlos nodded. "Her name was Marcy. Were she alive today, she would've been around your age?"
"What do you mean 'were she alive today?'"
"Marcy died almost ten years ago. She was the victim of a hit and run. Rad witnessed it."
"That's why Rad's attitude changed the moment 'crash' was mentioned!" Alexis realized. "And I bet she looked
like that hologram girl too!" Again, Carlos nodded. Alexis then asked, "Were they... close?"
"The three of us used to play together all the time. I thought she was a tag-a-long but Rad seemed to enjoy
having her around."
Alexis lowered her head. "And all this time, I thought he was just like any other boy..." Her voice cracked.
"But in fact, he was the most caring individual I have ever met. I guess..." A sob escaped her. "That's why
I... I... love him."
Carlos gave her a friendly smile. He knew that the two had grown real close since they first met the Autobots.
Heck, they've all grown closer since they met the Autobots. But he observed those two get especially close.
That revelation didn't surprise him in the least.
Carlos then noticed something. "Alexis, your face..." Alexis looked at herself in a mirror. Her cheeks were
stained with tears. She looked at Carlos and was actually smiling. "I don't believe it... I'm crying! I was
afraid that I had no more tears to shed."
Carlos embraced her the best he could. Right now, she needed what all humans need when they get sad, a shoulder
to cry on. And to tell the truth... so did he.
from after this chapter, it's going to be mostly Yu-Yu related. I also want to catch
a wider audience, including more Yu-Yu fans. I will move it back to the Transformers
category for the end. But this episode is going to be mostly devoted to Transformers.
You guys will also find out... well, I'll let you guys find out for yourself.
Memories of the Dead, Souls of the Living
Scavenger wiped his hands on a cloth as he stood back to look at his handiwork. He's
been working for the past three weeks on making a passage route they can use to get
the ship (which Optimus titled the Autobot Axalon). The main gate will take them
underneath the lake.
"How's that welding coming along, Red Alert?" Scavenger asked Red Alert, who was
just finishing welding the door hinges into proper allignment.
"Almost done," Red Alert reported. He spent one more minute on it before loweirng
himself vie his cable. "There, the gate is finished."
Optimus came up to them. The Autobot leader looked worn and tired. He pounded on the
door to tested its durability. He turned to Scavenger and Red Alert. "Good job, men.
Just how do we protect the ship from the sudden water pressure though?" Scavenger and
Red Alert shared a look. That was one thing they hadn't counted on.
Red Alert answered, "If we build filters in the walls, we can gradually fill the chamber
up which could release the pressure."
"Get on it, I don't want anything happen to this ship until we get to Cybertron."
Scavenger and Red Alert saluted (although since Red Alert was using his gun arm, it looked
like he was trying to kill himself). Optimus saluted back and walked out.
AS he was walking through the hallway, Sideswipe came up to him. "Excuse me, Optimus, sir."
"Yes, Sideswipe, what is it?"
"I've been trying to establish a communication link with Cybertron and so far, I've been
able to get a few messages. They're a little weak, but it sounds like the Autobot forces
are being overrun by Decepticons. Also, our outpost at Vega Thalon has been destroyed, no
word yet on the cause or casualties."
"Understood. Keep monitoring the communication channels and inform me of any changes good or
bad."
"Yes, sir."
Optimus came to the control room where Jet Fire, Blurr, and Smokescreen were on watch. Optimus
went up to Smokescreen. "Why don't you take a rest, Smokescreen, I'll fill in for you."
Smokescreen turned towards his leader with a surprised look. "But Optimus, you already took
three shifts in a row. Surely, your power cells must be running low."
"I still have over 25% power left plus my reserves are fully charged. I'll be fine."
"Nevertheless, Optimus, it's not healthy for you to work so much. Go take a break, we can handle
things from here," Jet Fire assured his leader.
"I'm fine, Jet Fire."
Jet Fire sighed. "I hate to do this, Optimus, but I'm exercising clause 84-5."
"What's Clause 84-5?" Sideswipe, who had caught the tail end of Jet Fire's conversation as he
came in, asked Blurr.
"A Second-In-Command can remove a leader from active duty if he feels that the leader is unable to
continue duty," Blurr explained. "As far as I know, it's never been exercised like this until
now."
"Blurr, please escort Optimus Prime to his quarters," Jet Fire requested.
"That won't be necessary," Optimus said. He could tell when Jet Fire meant business and he was
ready to start a mutiny just to make sure Optimus could get some rest. "I'll go by myself."
True to his word, Optimus went into his quarters. Sparkplug was there, talking with some of the
other Minicons. The Minicons, seeing that Optimus needed his privacy, left but Sparkplug stayed.
"What, Sparkplug," Optimus began. "What good am I as a leader if I can't even protect one human?"
Sparkplug beeped a protest, saying that Optimus was a great leader and pointed out the many
campaigns he lead.
"A leader is more than just someone who gives orders. He must take care of his troops. Rad was
one of my troops, Sparkplug! He may have been a human, but he was still one of the Autobots.
And I failed him."
Sparkplug was relentless in trying to convince his leader that Rad's death was Megatron's fault,
not his own. Optimus reached into his chest and took out a strange object. It was a blue crystal
in a yellow orbital casing and connected by two handles. It was his matrix.
"I have lost troops before," Optimus lamented. "I've even lost good friends to Decepticon fire.
So why is Rad's death affecting me more? Is it because the two of us had gotten so close, that it
was him who picked up that Minicon panel and first brought the Autobots to Earth. It was because
of Rad that we all became friends? It was him who convinced the Minicons to unite to form the
Requiem Blaster that first time."
Optimus threw the matrix against the wall. The casing was extremely strong so all it did was bounce
off and land on the floor. Sparkplug picked it up and held it up for him to take. But Optimus
laid on his recharging bed and drifted into a dreamless sleep. Robot's don't dream, they have
flashbacks, but no dreams. If they did dream, Optimus' sleep would've been plagued with nightmares
of seeing Megatron kill Rad.
Out in the control room, Jet Fire asked, "Hey, has anyone seen Hot Shot?"
"He finished his work early so he decided to go for a drive," informed Sideswipe.
"Hot Shot, finishing work early? I think Megatron must've replaced Hot Shot with a clone in the last
battle." Smokescreen was commended for trying to cheer all of them up, but the circumstances were
just too strong.
Hot Shot drove on canyon road. This was near where they first discovered Jolt and Longarm. Their
first battle with the kids along. Hot Shot didn't know why he chose this particular area. Perhaps
it was just instinct. Hot Shot didn't know and didn't care. Once again, he had a chance to save a
friend, and once again, he failed. Hot Shot reflected on the time he tried to save Wheeljack but
couldn't. It was because of his reluctance that Wheeljack was now a Decepticon. And it was because
of his reluctance that he was unable to save Rad.
Jolt, who was attached to Hot Shot's trunk, assured Hot Shot that it wasn't his fault, he wasn't even
at the battle scene when it happened. Unlike Optimus, Hot Shot took a little comfort in knowing that
he won't have the same problems he did with Wheeljack.
Hot Shot transformed and stared out into the horizon. He allowed his nose to intake the Earth's oxygen.
If the Decepticons took over Cybertron, it wouldn't be long before they set their sights on Earth. And
with the Autobots stretched as far as they are, Hot Shot didn'tbelieve they could survive a full frontal
assault.
"Aww, look at the little Autobot, all alone without a friend in the world," came a mocking tone. Thrust
stood on a higher cliff edge than Hot Shot.
"Leave me alone, Thrust, I'm in no mood to deal with you right now."
"What's wrong, Autobot? You look like you just lost your best friend... oh wait, you DID!" Thrust broke
into a mocking laughter.
It took all of Hot Shot's self control to not go up there and belt him one.
But Thrust continued his mocking. "Now see what happens when you get too emotionally attached to these
lesser lifeforms, you start acting like them, acting all wheepy and depressed. At least your comrade
Smokescreen was able to recover."
Starscream came down to Earth to try and find Thrust. He found him, but he didn't like what he was
seeing.
"...otions have clouded your judgement, Autobot," Starscream heard as he walked up to them. "In this
universe, the strong survive and the weak perish. And that human pet of yours was probably weaker than
anyone I have ever met."
"Thrust," Starscream called out. Both Thrust and Hot Shot turned and saw him.
~Great,~ Hot Shot thought. ~Here comes Starscream to join in on the 'fun.'~
"You're needed back at base," Starscream said seriously.
"Hey Starscream, why don't you join in on the fun. Teasing Autobots is so enjoyable, it should be a new
Decepticon pasttime."
"Thrust, return to base."
"Come on, Starscream, look at him, whining over his lost pet human like a rust slug. He's so pathetic, he
doesn't even deserve to call himself a Cybertronian."
Starscream got up close in Thrust's face and scowled at him. In a low menacing voice, the Decepticon seeker
said, "Just because we're allies doesn't mean I like you."
Thrust could tell that Starscream meant it so he cleared his throat and said, "Well, I think I made my point
across, time to get back to work." And he took off back to Decepticon base.
Starscream and Hot Shot stared each other down. Then Starscream said, "I'm sorry for your lost, Hot Shot."
And then he turned and walked away.
Did Hot Shot hear him correctly? Did Starscream just say he was sorry for his lost, sorry that Rad is gone?
Hot Shot came to one conclusion: Starscream is one robot he would never be able to figure out.
Sideways watched this drama unfold from afar. ~Hmmm, this might make my job a lot easier.~
Cyclonus was staring oddly at the Requiem Blaster when Thrust came into the throne room.
"Cyclonus, get away from that," Thrust snapped.
Cyclonus took one step back from the Requiem Blaster. "Sorry, Thrust, I was just cleaning some water from
it."
"What are you talking about, there are no sources of water on the moon," Thrust schided.
"I'm serious, Thrust, look." Cyclonus pointed to a small (by Transformer standards) puddle of water that
had accumulated just below the gun's handle.
"Fine, I'll clean it up," Thrust said quickly. "You go help Tidal Wave and Demolisher insert the hyper
drive."
"Fine, fine." But as Cyclonus left, he cast one more look at the Requiem Blaster. It was strange, it was
almost like the Requiem Blaster was... crying.
Carlos came over to Alexis' house to check to see how she was doing. The two of them hadn't talked since
Rad's demise. He knocked on the door and to his surprise, Highwire let him in.
"Highwire, what are you doing out in the open?" Carlos asked.
Highwire tilted his head and beeped an answer. Carlos didn't understand what he was saying, but he got the
idea. Alexis' parents must be gone so Alexis allowed Highwire and Sureshock to run free.
"Hey, Highwire, where's Alexis?" The Minicon lead him up to Alexis' room. For some reason, she was sitting
on her bed staring at the floor. Carlos sat next to her and began mimicing her. This went on for about a
minute before Carlos asked, "Just what are we looking at anyway?"
Alexis screamed and fell off her bed. "Carlos, you scared me!"
"My fifth grade math teacher says the same thing."
"Well... what are you doing here anyway?" She asked as she stood up and dusted herself off.
"I came to see how you were doing."
"Oh, me? I'm fine, never been better."
"Come on, Alexis, Scavenger made a better actor than you."
"Seriously, Carlos, I'm fine, I'm... over him... it. At least I don't have to worry about him ooging that
hologram girl."
"Uh... excuse me, but I was the one oogling the hologram girl."
"Oh come on, I... I know you boys are all the same, gazing at anything with pretty... legs." To Carlos, that
sounded like the verbal equivalent of ripping a band aid off of a still healing bruise.
"Alexis, sit down." Carlos patted the spot on the bed where Alexis sat before being startled off.
"Wh... why should I?"
"Alexis, sit down before I make Highwire and Sureshock sit you down." Alexis slowly sat on the bed next to
Carlos. "Rad isn't here, so I guess I should be the one to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
Carlos took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Rad used to have a sister."
That caught Alexis by surprise. "A sister?"
Carlos nodded. "Her name was Marcy. Were she alive today, she would've been around your age?"
"What do you mean 'were she alive today?'"
"Marcy died almost ten years ago. She was the victim of a hit and run. Rad witnessed it."
"That's why Rad's attitude changed the moment 'crash' was mentioned!" Alexis realized. "And I bet she looked
like that hologram girl too!" Again, Carlos nodded. Alexis then asked, "Were they... close?"
"The three of us used to play together all the time. I thought she was a tag-a-long but Rad seemed to enjoy
having her around."
Alexis lowered her head. "And all this time, I thought he was just like any other boy..." Her voice cracked.
"But in fact, he was the most caring individual I have ever met. I guess..." A sob escaped her. "That's why
I... I... love him."
Carlos gave her a friendly smile. He knew that the two had grown real close since they first met the Autobots.
Heck, they've all grown closer since they met the Autobots. But he observed those two get especially close.
That revelation didn't surprise him in the least.
Carlos then noticed something. "Alexis, your face..." Alexis looked at herself in a mirror. Her cheeks were
stained with tears. She looked at Carlos and was actually smiling. "I don't believe it... I'm crying! I was
afraid that I had no more tears to shed."
Carlos embraced her the best he could. Right now, she needed what all humans need when they get sad, a shoulder
to cry on. And to tell the truth... so did he.