Guess who's back...
I'm trying not to overdo it with the word count (I normally go for the 3000 to 3500 mark), so let's get into the story!
Enjoy!
"Breaking someone's trust is like crumpling up a perfect piece of paper. You can smooth it over, but it's never going to be the same again."
- Pinterest analogies.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Deal
"What have you learned, Prime?" Agent Fowler marched out of the door to the elevator, "And you better not blow smoke up my-oh," He stopped at seeing who else was there, quickly taking on a nicer tone, "Mrs Darby. What a...nice surprise."
She smiled back, "Special Agent Fowler."
I was right about being worried for her and Raf. Everyone was relieved that Bee had managed to reach them in time. But I hadn't found the right time to tell them about hearing what I guessed was Megatron's voice. It wasn't exactly something to casually mention mid-conversation.
"We have learned this," Ratchet began, bringing up the current data on everything so far, "As with the magma residing in the volcano, these earthquakes have originated far below the Earth's crust. From the very center of the Earth's core, in fact."
Fowler wasn't buying it, "Quakes don't start there...do they?"
Ratchet added, "Tiny tremors rising and falling in a consistent pattern. Almost like..."
He trailed off, believing the statement was too outrageous to be true.
"Audio files," I stepped forward from the back of the group.
The senior MO glanced in doubt, "Are you sure?"
I nodded with reluctance, walking over to the computer, "If you convert these date points into audio files..."
Typing something into the keyboard, different filed were brought up. I found one in particular. Hesitance was clear in my movement before eventually clicking on it.
There it was again.
"What? What is it?" Fowler demanded.
"Listen," Ratchet murmured.
The room grew quiet. No one dared speak until they heard what it was they were searching for. It soon became obvious to the others. Two beats, then a rest. Two beats, then a rest. It was the same rhythmic sound I'd heard earlier and neglected to tell the others about.
It felt even louder in my helm.
Stop, Soundwave! Turn it off...
I clenched my servos into fists as my purple optics forced themselves shut.
I can still hear it pounding in my processor!
It was bringing him...pain?
A servo on my shoulder made me open them again. Ratchet looked at me in concern, but I shook my helm to act like I was fine.
"A Cybertronian heartbeat?" Jack guessed.
"How is that possible?" Mrs Darby asked, "A heart pumps blood. There's nothing inside the Earth to pump except-"
"Blood of Unicron," Raf realised.
There it was. My optics remained open, but I felt the sound of the world around me fade. Nothing except darkness remained.
Then I heard him. A voice I'd never heard in my life, but for some reason recognised.
I awaken.
"Unicron..." I murmured.
He must've been able to hear me. Two huge purple optics shone from the dark in front of me. I felt myself shudder at recalling a similar scene with Airachnid. His optics narrowed at me.
Who are you?
I stood there, mouth hung open. Was this a result of dark Energon?
Do not stand there like a fool! Speak!
I wanted to say something, but was so shocked by being brought here that I physically couldn't.
If you refuse to obey the words of a superior life force, then be gone from my prescence!
A strange twist appeared in my spark as the darkness around me seemed to melt away. I was back in the HQ. Still standing, as it seemed. The others continued to talk.
Optimus was nearing the end of the creation story we were all told from childhood. The legend of creation versus destruction.
"Primus became one with the very core of our planet," Optimus explained to the humans, "And Unicron was cast out, never to be heard from again. Until now."
Fowler was quick to offer a solution, "Maybe we can find the hole this Uber-Con left when he dug himself down there and fill it full of explosives."
"Agent Fowler," The Prime began, "I do not believe that Earth became Unicron's home. But rather that with time and gravitational force, debris collected around the slumbering titan."
"Forming your Earth," Ratchet added.
If that was true, things just became a lot more complicated than simply destroying Unicron.
"And he's only awakening now due to the magnetic pull created by the planetary alignment," Arcee realised.
Jack wasn't as eager, "Okay, well what happens when he wakes up from his billion-year nap?"
"Yeah, does he just stretch and KA-POW!" Miko made a wide gesturing motion, "Earth poofs to dust?"
Optimus didn't answer her. None of us did. How could any of us know the potency of a being we'd only read about in myths and stories? After all, we'd only just recognised Unicron's connection to the Earth.
Mrs Darby looked up to Optimus with knowing eyes, "You don't know. Do you?"
He thought for a moment, "My guess is that his form has transcended physical form as we know it. Nonetheless, we must find a way to ensure that this force of nature never fully awakens. The fate of your planet depends upon it."
The team all nodded before the meeting ended. The humans, Arcee, Bee and Bulkhead all gathered around to see if there were any new developments on the news. I stood with Optimus and Ratchet, examining the data points of the currently known locations.
I knew I had to tell them about what I'd seen and heard. Like he said, it was the fate of the Earth we were talking about here.
"H-Hey, guys?" I began to my mentor and leader.
They both looked at me. I took a sharp intake of breath before explaining all that I'd seen. I don't need to bore you with exactly what I said. But for the first time since Red Alert, I was upfront and honest. About the sparkbeat. About hearing Megatron. About the encounter with Unicron. Everything.
By the time I was done, Ratchet's optics had widened. Optimus maintained his stoic gaze, but I could tell he was struggling with what to do next.
"And you're sure these voices haven't been your own?" Ratchet double-checked.
I shrugged, "Pretty sure."
"You were right to inform us," Optimus stated, "I fear that the dark Energon in your veins may be starting to form connections between both Megatron and Unicron. Similar to how Megatron controlled his undead army by his own will."
I hadn't been around for that battle, but according to Miko it was 'pretty wicked'.
"So...what happens now?" I asked, slightly scared to hear his answer, "Should I just wait for this to pass?"
Optimus paused, "The dark substance will not last forever, much like regular energon. And given that we are all still standing, I believe that you may be deflected from his reach. However, we have yet to see Unicron's true strength. I do ask that you proceed this with caution."
I sighed but nodded seriously, "I will."
Meanwhile . . .
Megatron recognised that his reliance on Unicron to see reason was doubtful. He soared high above the Earth below. Unicron barely cared about the potential of the planet he constituted. He was too focused on rising to conquer the galaxy.
And no doubt was his emergence destroy the planet the Decepticon leader had worked so ruthlessly to attain...
"Forgive me, Lord Megatron," Airachnid interrupted his train of thought, "But I must ask when you'll be back from your...audience with Unicron. The troops are growing suspicious."
The 'Con growled, "I will return, Airachnid, when I am ready to return."
Arrogant as always.
He hung up the call and carried on flying. There was distraction though as a familiar energy appeared on his radar, similar to that of dark Energon, and yet different.
The location was a few hundred miles away, not far for a Cybertronian jet to travel. Too intrigued to simply ignore it, he changed his flightpath from the warship to the signal.
Little was he aware of the chaos that awaited him.
The Autobot base . . .
Everyone was now caught up to speed on the recent developments. I could tell Arcee and Bee were trying to keep a close optic on me. We were just awaiting word from Optimus about the terrain he was exploring. He'd insisted on being the only one to go, for some reason.
"Ratchet," Optimus finally communicated with us over the comlink, "This area is consistent with the findings of the others. It is rich in metal ore."
"What does that tell us?" Agent Fowler asked.
Ratchet examined the screen, "It tells us that the natural metals in your Earth may be extensions of Unicron. His 'limbs' if you will."
"So he did have his morning stretch," June realised, "Which is why these quakes happened."
We all became alert as the monitor ahead began to flash red near Optimus' signal. A tightness grew in my spark. It seemed more faint than last time, but still there.
"Optimus," Ratchet began warningly, "Proceed wih caution. I'm detecting a swell in Unicron's spark activity."
"Rest assured, Ratchet, I will proceed with vigilance."
He logged of off the communications link. I felt a headache begin to pound within my processor as the others continued to wait for news. Acting fine, I slipped away from the group and into the hallway.
The headache only got worse. I buried my face in my servos and leaned back against the wall. Sinking to the floor, I tried to listen out for the two who might've been present.
Do you know me, Unicron hissed, presumeably at Optimus, Disciple of Primus?
I nearly screamed at feeling a servo on my shoulder. My optics shot open as an involuntary charge of energy warned off the culprit.
Guilt soon hit me when I saw who it was.
"B-Bee?" I breathed in disbelief.
The mech had immediately retracted his servo, attempting to wave off the pain, "Primus, Sil. It's just me."
I glanced away in shame, "I'm...I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Hey, don't be. I shouldn't have snuck up on you," He comforted, sitting down beside me but at a noticeably safe distance, "Mind telling me what's got you so on edge?"
"Think we both know the answer to that, Bee," I answered hintingly.
"Right. Sorry."
There was a moment of silence. I was ready to embrace it, but apparently he didn't want to.
"Are you scared?" He asked.
I looked over to him, "Well, yeah. Always."
He refused to meet my gaze, "What about?"
"More than I used to be, if you can believe it," I half-smiled, "Centuries ago, I only worried about one person: Arcee. Now I have her, you, the team, the kids. And the prophecy that could potentially end the Earth."
"We're a team. It's not your responsibility to save all of us from the 'Cons."
I gently took his servo in both of mine and turned it over. Like I thought, a scorch mark was there. Small, but still visible.
"It's not the Decepticons I'm worried about," I told him.
He withdrew his servo from mine to examine it for himself, "It's not that bad."
I shook my helm, "I'm making the same mistakes I've been doing for orns: seeing futures I never wanted to see, losing consciousness without realising it. And now this." I sighed, "I thought I was getting better."
"Well, getting better means making mistakes, right?" He reasoned, "Anyone who knows about you knows that you want to use your powers for the right reasons. Primus, I saw that the first time we talked - well...kinda talked."
I glanced up at the mech to see him smirking at that last part and couldn't help doing the same. It'd been months since then. I would've given anything to be in that moment again. Or any other moment before all this happened.
On the rooftop watching the sunrise, driving through the desert to Jasper, even back at the academy. Just someplace where things were simpler. Looking into Bee's optics, I could tell he was thinking the same thing.
He didn't hesitate to reach over to me and hold my servo in his. We would've stayed there talking for a while longer.
But the moment couldn't last forever. The two of us instictively snapped back to reality at the sound of Ratchet shouting from the main room. I followed Bumblebee as we both sprinted back to the others.
"Are you seriously saying you think Optimus can take him on by himself?" Arcee snapped.
"I'm aware of the odds, Arcee, but he was clear in his orders," Ratchet said sternly, "He wants to face Unicron alone."
Bulkhead stepped in, "Ratch, we gotta help him. We're a team."
"Guys, what's going on?"
Ratchet turned to us, "Further signs of Unicron's emergence show that Optimus may be in danger."
"Which is why we can't just sit around and do nothing," Arcee folded her arms.
My mentor ignored her, "He has given direct orders..."
I didn't hear the rest over another voice.
Hear this. I am this world's past and its future.
Ignoring whatever it was the team were saying, I found myself pushing past them to the ground bridge controls. Ratchet was shouting at me. He might have been asking what I thought I was doing.
And as of this moment...
I activated the ground bridge. Turning to Arcee, I gave her a nod. She knew what I meant.
All Primes are merely past.
The team burst through the ground bridge. I watched as they each went through, aside from Ratchet and the humans. He marched over to me and gestured to the portal.
"What was that?" He demanded.
I didn't apologise, "Optimus would be offline if we'd spent any more time arguing."
It was easy to tell that Ratchet was annoyed at me. But I stood by what I said.
Not long after . . .
None of of could believe what we were hearing. After everything he'd done, Megatron actually expected us to be willing to trust him?
"Ha! Absurd!" Ratchet was quick to turn down the offer, "Unicron is evil incarnate. If Megatron were to take any side, why would it be ours?"
"Because Megatron's pride would not allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet," Optimus stated.
Megatron agreed slyly with the statement, "You know me all to well, Optimus."
"You lead an army of 'Cons," Bulkhead interjected, "Why come to us?"
"Because this particular endeavour requires something beyond the realm of my command," The warlord answered, "The power of a Prime."
"Heh, then I guess we don't need you," The Wrecker scoffed.
I could picture Megatron's knowing grin in respond to Bulk's statement, "On the contrary. Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements."
"Are you forgetting what you did to my sister?" Arcee spoke through gritted teeth.
"Ah, yes, her," He remembered, "It has taken me quite some time to get used to dark energon, and its rather...unnatural effects. I hardly doubt that she has so easily adapted."
He was right. I'd even admitted that the thoughts I'd begun to have were too much.
Megatron continued, "Optimus, our past alliances - Autobot, Decepticon - no longer matter, not while Unicron lives."
Ratchet slammed his fist down on the keyboard, "The past ALWAYS matters!"
I'd never seen him this angry before.
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon," Optimus considered, "How long do you expect us to believe that will last."
"Only as long as is mutually beneficial," Megatron responded.
"And when our proposed shared mission is complete?"
"I will conquer this planet. My way." Megatron stated confidently.
At least he wasn't shy about it. I didn't know what to think of the situation, but Ratchet had a pretty clear opinion.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil!" He yelled.
The warlord laughed, "Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those soldiers were a mere taste. He still has yet to fully awaken. And when he does, chaos and devastation shall befall this planet."
Arcee spoke up once again, "Even if we did agree for you to help us, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?"
Optimus already knew the answer to that question, "With the Matrix of Leadership."
Back in Prax Academy, we learnt a little about the relics of Cybertron. Most were considered stories, and so was the Matrix before Optimus managed to retrieve it.
A tightness grew once again in my core as a rumbling sound came from the other end of the line. I guessed Unicron's foot soldier was rising again.
"Ah, and so he returns," Megatron remarked.
"Ratchet, bridge us back," Optimus ordered.
The doctor immediately walked over to the controls, opening a bridge at their coordinates. It was a little risky to open up a portal directly into base with Megatron standing right there.
Bulkhead couldn't help asking once more, "He's seriously gonna risk his own spark to save us?"
"Hardly my nature!" Once again, Megatron laughed, "Consider my offer, Optimus. I shall keep him distracted."
What followed was the sound of transforming, along with a jet engine.
I looked back to the portal to see the team walk through, one after the other. Each had a serious look donning their face. You know, the kind of look you have when an evil lord of destruction who happened to have waged a war that destroyed your home wants to be frenemies.
Ratchet looked to Optimus as the bridge closed behind them, "Please tell me you aren't actually considering this."
The Prime nodded, "I am afraid Megatron may be correct. We do require his assitance in stopping Unicron."
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures," Ratchet began, "but bringing Megatron here?"
June was quick to weigh in, "How can you even think of letting that monster near these children?"
"He will be closely monitored," Optimus stated, "And only allowed to linger long enough to provide coordinates into Unicron's spark. We can ground bridge there."
"Absolutely not!" Ratchet intervened, "Bridging into space, or on a moving train is difficult enough! But a blind jump into the Earth's core-"
"Is yet another reason why we need his help in this rare scenario," Our leader interrupted the medic, "He will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates as long as he is bridged here."
"Optimus," Jack began, "What's going to happen to you when all this Matrix energy is released?"
Everyone knew the story of Orion Pax. It's what made me respect Optimus so much. He found it because he was looking for a cure to save our planet, like a true leader would.
Optimus contemplated for a moment, "The power of the Matrix has not previously been utilised in this manner."
"But you have an idea, don't you?" I asked, though it came out as more of a statement.
He stayed silent for a second before adressing all of us, "Autobots, if humankind I to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed. But you do."
Bulkhead sighed, "Well, I don't know about all humankind. But I'm willing to do it. For Miko."
"For Jack," Arcee added.
"For Raf," Bee agreed.
Optimus looked at me.
I shrugged, "Isn't life the basic right of all sentient beings?"
Humans were flawed, but so was everything else in the universe, including Cybertronians. Including even Optimus.
We all turned back to watch as Ratchet reluctantly opened a line communication to the Decepticon leader. I really couldn't believe we were about to let the second most evil being on Earth into our base. And yet there we were.
"Megatron," Optimus began, "We are sending transport."
Transport for the person who'd (mere hours ago) corrupted me by stabbing my spark with the blood of the very entity we now sought to fight.
This was gonna be fun, I thought sarcastically.
Here we go. We're in the Endgame now. Props to anyone who got that reference. I'll say no more, and goodnight.'Til All Are One,GreyroseLegacy