Rubs hands with glee Here it is~ Here it is!~ Hope you all enjoy! I know I had a blast finally writing this chapter when I did!


Orichiono Residence

Frenzy and Mikaela were barely out of Bumblebee and Barricade respectively before they transformed.

Barricade strode ahead to Megatronus. "Sir, we came as fast as we could." He stated.

Megatronus looked over to where Frenzy was just, staring up at his Sire, the youngling seemingly only now processing the fact that his surviving family were all there. "Thank you Barricade…"

Bumblebee had taken Mikaela up into his servo and had walked over to Optimus. "Are they okay?" He asked tentatively.

Optimus took in a vent, and shook his helm. "Derrick is with them at the moment, as well as Ratchet and Kia, they're monitoring them for any sign they will wake up."

It was quiet for a moment, before Frenzy spoke. "Dad… I… I need a hug…" The youngling muttered out, shuffling nervously.

The mech was careful as he kneeled, scooping up his son and hugging him to his spark.

The rest of his creations all began to climb up him, wanting to physically reunite with their long separated brother.

The reunion was long overdue, and tinged with a bitterness that lingered.

Much had to be discussed, but now wasn't the time.

Now, they all needed what comfort they could get from each other.

Optimus looked at Mikaela and Bumblebee. "Let us go upstairs to talk." He suggested.

Both nodded, and soon they were reconvening in the dining hall, the doors to the living room closed.

"Ironhide didn't explain much past there being a fight and the Twins going down, what happened?" Mikaela asked as Bumblbee's holoform took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Unfortunately all I can give you is a second hand retelling, we were still on the Falcon when this all occurred…" He explained. "But it would seem that Ira's emotional state… manifested, and the Twins frame took the full force of it… but, if we can take one positive at all from this, that manifestation seems to have made the relic inside of them, inert."

Bumblebee nodded. "Okay, cool, follow up question, how is Soundwave… Here?! I saw him get blasted into little tiny pieces back in Helex!"

He hummed. "It has been revealed that he was… transported to the Harpies Earth, where he lived as a human… meeting and falling in love with… Ira… This revelation is what pushed her into that state of emotional turmoil…"

Mikaela and Bumblbee's expressions were filled with surprise, Mikaela sucking in a sharp breath. "Oh my god…"

"Soundwave was her fiance?!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"...Bee?!" A new voice spoke up.

Heads all turned to see Red Alert standing there, jaw hanging open in shock as he looked at his talking little brother.

Bumblebee stood there for a moment, before offering his older brother a weak smile. "Sorry Red… I wanted the surprise to be… you know… under lighter circumstances…"

Red Alert stepped into the dining area fully then, looking at his younger brother like he'd almost seen a ghost. "H… how? Carrier was so worried you'd never be able to speak again… but… you're speaking! Is this something the holoform lets you do?! Primus I hadn't even considered it!" He exclaimed, before rushing forwards and taking his brothers cheeks and smooshing them. "You can talk! My little brother can talk!" He cheered, before promptly hefting the slightly taller holoform up into a crushing bear hug.

Bumblebee squirmed, but ended up croaking out a laugh. "Red! Put me down!"

Red just laughed with him, spinning about. "Inferno! Inferno! Get in here!" He called.

Inferno popped his head in, watching in awe at what he was seeing, he'd already felt his mate's joy and processed what had been discovered, but to actually see it? He let out a laugh of his own and joined in the small celebration, though kept relatively quiet.

Optimus gently nudged Mikaela back, who watched on intently.

She'd admit, sometimes she forgot that Ratchet was one of Bee's guardians, he acted much more like a mentor who worried about their ward.

But Red Alert?

There was no doubt in her mind they were brothers as Bumblebee managed to wriggle free and get Red Alert in a head lock, the older mech squawking as he was noogied. "Bee! Stop that!" He laughed.

Finally Bumblebee let Red Alert go, and he got back upright, smiled wide, and pulled his little brother into another tight hug. "Oh Bee…"

Bumblebee squeezed back just as tight. "I missed you…" He mumbled.

Red Alert tucked Bumblebee's head into his shoulder. "I know… I missed you too little brother…"

They separated and Red Alert brushed off the shoulders of his yellow jacket, then looked to Mikaela. "So, this is her?" He asked, flashing his brother a winning grin.

Mikaela offered her hand out. "I'm Mikaela, it's nice to finally put a face to Bee's excited rambles about you."

Red Alert managed to beam wider, gripping her hand back firmly, and then directed it for a moment to his brother, who rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Awww, well he didn't do you justice in all his ramblings to me about just how pretty you are~"

Her cheeks went red and Inferno chuckled. "Red~" He called, gently tugging the shorter man into a hug. "No need to embarrass your brother further~" He reminded.

"Oh but that's my entire job as his big brother, isn't it not?"

Optimus had slipped out at some point during the fiasco, wanting to check on Ira.

He was surprised to find Prowl, Annie and Raf in the living room instead. "Where is Ironhide and Ira?" He asked quietly.

Annie looked over, Raf was curled up in her lap, reading a book on coding, his grip on the book white knuckled. "Upstairs, poor thing is emotionally exhausted."

He nodded and made his leave for upstairs, he wanted to be sure she wasn't spiralling too much.

He trusted Ironhide to take good care of her, but he would always worry about these sorts of things.

He found them up in the twins room, Ira was curled up under the covers, just the top of her head visible.

Ironhide was also on the bed, sitting on top of the covers, reading a magazine, his shoes off out of respect.

The weapons specialist looked up when the door had creaked when Optimus pressed against it.

Ira also seemed to twitch under the covers.

"Do you want me to get either of you something?" He asked quietly.

Ironhide glanced to his side, and gently cupped Ira's covered shoulder. "Kid?"

"... No…" She answered after a bit, a sniffle coming from her. "... Don't feel thirsty…"

Ironhide sighed. "Kid, come here." He grumbled, leaning over and bodily hefting up the covered ball of holoform, depositing her into his now crossed legs to hug.

He stepped in and sat on the edge of the bed.

He spotted one of her iridescent eyes, partially hidden by her tattered bangs. "'M sorry…" She mumbled.

His expression was soft. "Ira… talk to us? How are you feeling?"

She was quite for a bit, before she snorted. "Ah… Ah don' know? Mah hea' feels li'e ah horne's nes'." She spat out. "I' all happen' so fas'... Ah… Ah was so an'ry… an' they wan'ed tah han'le i'... An' ah… ah snappe'..." She mumbled bitterly.

"You're going through a lot of emotional stress right now… I'm sure once the Twins wake up, they'll tell you it's okay."

He saw her pupil shrink. "They… they're s'ill ou' ah i'?"

Ironhide shot him a look.

That evidently hadn't reached Ira yet.

He gulped. "Yes, but they're just resting, Ratchet and Kia have made sure of that."

Primus as his witness, he knew he was a terrible liar.

Ira glared at him. "Ou'. All of yah…"

"Ira…" Ironhide started.

"GET OUT!" She screeched right in his ear, forcing him to let go as she got free of his hold, shoving at him. "OUT OUT OUT OUT!" She yelled until they'd both been pushed out of the room, the door slammed in their faces.

They heard the lock click and Ironhide hit the door. "KID! You need help!"

No response came.

Optimus tried to lock, no luck.

Ironhide looked to him. "What do we do?!"

He had no idea.

Ironhide didn't need a response to know that, and stormed to the next room, going in.

He followed after him after a moment, struck dumb when he realised his weapons specialist had opened the window and was trying to climb out. "Ironhide! What are you doing?!"

"Door may be locked, but I know the windows on the second floor don't have locks."

"Is this not a bit of an overreaction?"

"Prime. Now is not the time for Ira to be alone."

"Or this is when she needs to be alone to process this all?"

The look Ironhide gave him left him no room to argue, conceding, he headed back to the locked door to listen.

Soon enough, he heard Ironhide get in, and start looking around. "Ira! Ira! C'mon, don't hide!"

Less than a minute of rushed searching later, he unlocked the door and flung it open. "She's gone!"

He nodded, thinking. "Wait… isn't her actual form still in the-"

"Garden!" Ironhide exclaimed, sprinting past the Prime and down the corridor.

They found a very worried Derrick outside, the smaller Harpy looking up at the sky in alarm.

"She's heading East…" He mumbled.

Ironhide looked up at him. "Why didn't you try and stop her?"

His neck pulled back a bit. "I um… I froze up?"

He growled, then turned to Optimus. "I'm getting Kia."

Optimus stayed with Derrick, looking up at the Harpy. "Derrick… talk to me, please?"

He saw him look away. "I… not now… it doesn't matter." He mumbled, turning and heading for the garage to go back down into the bunker.

Leaving the Prime to stand alone, pondering.


The Matrix

They were led through many corridors and grand halls, each a blinding glimmer that made them thankful they still had their visor to deal with the worst of it.

Solus walked slightly ahead of them, seeming to temper her gait so that they could keep up.

Finally they were led through a side door in one corridor that seemed to lead into some sort of lounge room, though it wasn't seated inside, more like those reclining beds that you would see in paintings of Roman feasts.

Solus gestured for them to take one, as she took another that was facing them. "I wish to again, apologise for my brother's actions."

Wren hummed. "We are taking it from that fight you all had, this isn't the first time he has been so… aggressive?"

Solus took in then let out a long suffering sigh. "He decided such aggression was necessary when it came to our first… chosen… you know of them, Solarstorm and Nebularburst…"

The twins nodded along, but glared. "So… you're the ones who have been royally fucking with ourselves and everyone else's lives?" Aria asked, her tone held no small amount of accusation.

Solid nodded. "Yes… we are… believe me, we are not happy with this situation either… but it must be done…"

They scowled and Wren spoke. "We enjoy being cryptic about things as much as the next lot of individuals with screws loose in their heads. But quite frankly we are not in the mood. So spit it out. What's all this bullshit about?"

"We need you to terminate Unicron."

There was a long drag of silence that followed that little revelation.

They made a face as Aria spoke. "You're serious, aren't you? … Fuck. And why exactly are we the ones you chose? Can't Primus just reanimate you and have you lot do it?"

"That is not how these things work. We are unable to offline him."

They scowled. "So you want us to do the dirty work for you? Hardly seems fair."

"I understand your frustration, but do hear me out, please?"

"Do we even have a choice? We're stuck here until we hear you out, that's how this is, right?"

Solus' lip quirked. "Swift as a whip you two, hardly a surprise."

Wren was losing patience. "Enough of that. Why do we need to do this and not you."

"I see that Grim and Lucifer have not told you everything about how God's work."

"We collectively didn't see the need, once our lives were over, we'd have eternity to learn all we needed. But that's not going to happen now, is it?"

Souls nodded. "You bear the Matrix of Leadership. Your duty is to protect it, and use it when necessary."

"You mean the relic that has been giving us semi-regular internal haemorrhaging?" Wren snapped.

Solus seemed to be taken aback by that. "It has been doing, what?!"

They scowled. "Ever since we made the mistake of touching it a second time, it's been stabbing our internal energon lines, you know, the vital ones around our hearts?" Aria responded.

The Prime paled for a moment, before rage built up. "Prima is not going to get away with pulling that… he had no right to harm you. You haven't done anything to earn ire such as this."

"That statement implies there are times when he would be allowed to get away with such punishment?"

"Not now. Not anymore."

"We won't be holding our breath on that." Wren stated bluntly.

"My brother's actions will have consequences. I assure you of that… May I explain now?"

They hummed, shifting to lean back a bit, they might as well hear Solus out, they likely weren't going to be allowed out of here until they humoured her. "Very well. Explain."

"Thank you… As you may remember… we were made by Primus, to aid him in the banishing of his twin brother, Unicron… the story starts quite a bit before that honestly…" She paused, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "You know how God's work correct? They are the physical accumulations of universal laws and processes. Made sentient, and in control of all they they are made of."

"We are aware, yes, Grim is the manifestation of the law of Death. Her sister, our estranged aunt, is the manifestation of the law of Life. Lucifer is the manifestation of the bad end, the law of Damnation, and his brother Nirverous is the manifestation of the good end, the law of Bliss… Nirverous…"

"Was murdered." Solus interrupted.

They paused, their attention snapping fully to her. "What? We were told he ceased because our Earth was his origin, and the drop in faith after the sickness spread, was so potent and sudden, it caused him to destabilise and collapse. That's why the good end collapsed… and until Lucifer collapses the good end won't be able to reform elsewhere?"

"That is mostly the truth… but you weren't aware of some… key details…"

They frowned. "Such as?"

"Unicron, murdered Nirverous, in cold blood. The sickness your home Earth is suffering from… is the contamination from Unicron's core."

Everything seemed to freeze for a moment as they tried to process that information.

Solus continued, deciding it was best to just get on with it. "Primus and Unicron are ancient now. Their essence has been weakening for millenia, they have each used so much of their strength, that it is departing them, and beginning to amass in another reality, one that is in dire need of both of their abilities."

They blinked for a moment. "And what does that mean, for all of us?"

"You are, combined, acolytes of Death and Damnation, two forces that combined, have the potency required, to snuff the essence of Destruction, with the support that Primus can provide, via the Matrix."

Their scowl persisted. "That's it? That's the qualifier? Why were we chosen?! What right does Primus have to rip us away?!"

Solus let out a small sigh. "It is an ancient right… one that has been held since the gods of the origin were formed."

They froze up. "The origin? The start of it all…?"

Solus nodded. "They told you about the origin then? When nothing became everything. The absence of everything forced existence into being. With such force it forged the Originals in its hellish inferno."

"The instance of creation is probably underserved by calling it a 'hellish inferno'." Aria commented. "Considering that the heat was so great that even atoms could not form."

Solus chuckled. "The iconography will suffice. The ancient right I speak of, is the right to cease. As I said, the powers of Creation and Destruction are trying to forge new gods, in a reality far removed from present. Primus has accepted the end of their run, but Unicron refuses. He has pulled a trick that has dragged out our fathers passing." She paused for a moment before continuing, steadying herself. "I understand your own creators were… despised… but please… understand, it is an agony to us to watch him suffer… the war was supposed to weaken him enough that he could fade out, taking Unicron with him… but Unicron has refused a quiet passing… And so, the ancient right to cease, had to be called upon. The right to die for gods is less about their demise, but about them being able to move on, to start the cycle anew, to forge new things in a life with clean slates."

They brought their wing up to rub their lower faceplates, cumbersome as ever, but the old human habit never faded. "And if we're right about our recollection… if one of two linked gods refuses to die… and it is decided that this can no longer stand… something must be made to end the god who is denying the natural progress?" Wren remarked. "A… 'God Killer'... you wish for us to forge a weapon capable of slaying a God?!" She exclaimed, tone laden with incredulity.

Solus hummed. "Sadly, no weapon forged by mortal servos, is strong enough to kill a god… trust me, I tried… no… the 'God Killer', is not a weapon… it is an individual… two in your case."

Their jaw hung down, before Aria started to talk. "No, no, no, no, no. No. We are not… god killers. Thank you very much for having such… faith in us, but, No."

Solus nodded along. "Oh, you aren't now… you need to go through further forging process. You are sharp, you are a vicious blade, but you have not yet been hardened."

"Are you comparing us to a sword?"

"No. To a Scythe. That was the weapon you wielded when you were on the clock for your Aunt, no?"

"That's why you need it to be us… I'm the only acolyte Grim has…" Aria mumbled. "And you need Wren to seal his soul away in Damnation so that the force of Destruction can be free to forge a new god alongside Creation?"

Solid nodded. "Exactly."

"There's… no way of getting out of this, is there?"

She shook her helm. "Sadly, no. This must be done. But be assured, you are not the first to be hesitant. Primus has had this plan in motion since long before the War… in fact, it was his wish, that his own children be the ones to weaken his physical form, so that his soul, spark, either or, would be able to pass more easily. This decision was made, after he took counsel from Jyurna the God of Time, you have heard of Jyurna?"

Wren nodded. "Briefly… Jyurna, told Primus something of the future… that he is trying to prevent? By speeding up the process as much as he could?"

"I mentioned before, that Unicron had… pulled a trick… that has dragged out their existence… well, as you know, only one force can exist full time within one reality, gods can flit between now and again, but to avoid too much disruption to the multiversal web, gods really need to stay predominantly in their own universes. The only two who are exempt, are your Aunt Grim, and her sister Joy. They are as you know, universally needed, and so are spread across all evenly."

Solus fell quiet for a time, letting them process that info dump.

Wren started after a minute. "Uncle Lucifer is the god of Damnation… Nirverous… was the current god of Eternum, ever peace… ever suffering… but with Nirverous murdered, Lucifer is straining under the fact that now all those not yet reincarnated by Yhiun and Valra respectively… they're having to work at twice their normal efficiency just to keep Hell relatively under control… but that means that there's currently a massive influx in the amount of 'good' being sent to Yhiun… that's going to trigger further imbalance… and for Unicron to have even been able to kill Nirverous… he jumped reality… didn't he?"

Solus nodded. "He did… and for a long, long time, he stayed hidden… to do so, he left his body behind, and took only his soul… and infested the core of your home Earth. Earth as you know, is a Nexus point, the forces that-be cross over there at much higher rates than the vast majority of other planets."

"Which is why so many gods choose it as their domain when they first get reincarnated in their new reality… " Aria remarked. "It's one of the primary connection points between realities, makes cross reality support much easier!" Wren exclaimed, then paused. "Wait… if Unicron has been hiding inside our core… why did no one notice?!"

"To be honest… we… lost track of where his body had floated off too after we banished him from Cybertron…"

They blinked at her.

"How…"
"DO YOU LOSE THE GOD OF DESTRUCTION?!" Aria exclaimed, interrupting her twin.

"We were offline. You try keeping tabs on a corpse. When you're a corpse. We can't all do that I'm afraid." Solus stated flatly.

"Oh."

"Yeah that would make it difficult." Wren relented.

Solus chuckled. "It's quite alright… so… you probably have questions about what you saw in that… pond?"

"We were trying to ignore that honestly… that was on purpose… seeing… being them? It's obvious they were important in this giant scheme."

"Oh, quite important. Would you like to see more?"

"Are we allowed to leave before we see more?"

Solus just offered them a sympathetic look.

"Oh well that's just perfect… let's get this over with then." Aria griped, not at all keen on the idea of being vulnerable like that again in the proximity of Prima.

Solus seemed to pick up on the reason. "I promise, we will stand guard while you learn. It will help you understand why they did what they had to do, and in turn, help you understand what you must do…"

They rose back up at that, tucking their wings up against their chassis, almost an attempt to hug themselves. "Lead the way."

It wasn't just one pond, it was many, each the same glittering hue.

"These are the seers, we use them normally to keep track on things… but now, we have them all tuned to memories from their past… take your pick… maybe the one over there? It's the next one of importance." Solus suggested, gesturing to one only a few strides from them.

They scowled for a moment before striding over, helm held high, their protrusions flicking about.

The other Primes were already standing around it, watching their approach.

Each armed, but no Prima.

They looked back to Solus. "Make sure he doesn't become like his brother."

Solus flinched at their comment for a moment. "We will do what we can…"

They just let out a low hum, moving to try and perch on the ledge of the pond, watching how the silver sheen of the surface reflected their faceplates right back at them.

At least their visor remained impassive.

They kept staring at their own reflection, waiting for something to happen.

"You… have to put your helm in the pond for it to work. Or you could just… slip right in?" Solus offered.

They sent her a scowl and extended a wing out. "We can't swim with these."

Solus hummed. "Then shed them, we know you can. Go on, give yourselves the arms you've missed for so long."

They froze for a single moment as a lance of panic went between them.

"We are well versed in what you two are capable off… you've limited your own abilities to avoid being discovered… Kia doesn't believe the ramblings of her own brother… but she believes in her own optics… Ira has always had a hunch that there was something… unnatural about you two… you really think we wouldn't know?" She asked. "And before you worry, take my word, whatever you do here, your actual body won't do. Your conscience isn't exactly… physically attached to the rest of you right now."

That earned her a look of abject horror from the two Harpies.

"Completely safe, thanks to the Matrix, which is where you currently are. Now, go on. The longer you delay, the longer you stay."

They took in a sharp vent, before looking to the wing they'd extended. "... Fine…"

The wings rippled, their mass shifting, and the thousands of feathers all fell away, revealing the inner components, the scythes.

A black mass practically ozzed from their chassis, sliding down onto the mechanisms.

There was no sound as they shrank, twisted and warped.

Only a faint grimace told of any discomfort, it had been so long since they'd allowed themselves this.

This metamorphosis.

It was only partial.

They wouldn't leave themselves so vulnerable in the presence of Primes.

Not now, not ever.

It took less than a minute, the void mass taking over the wings structure, the process silent as they held in the small noises of pain as the metal within was reshaped, moulded and contorted, the scythes being reduced, the mechanisms for flight being consumed.
Then, the blackness sloughed off them, splashing across the pristine floor.

They pulled their limbs in front of them to look, they were staring at solid black talons, each point glinting in the light, they waved them about, just to get a feel of them, there wasn't any visible joints, it seemed to be covered with a coating that hid everything inside, for a moment they mused it's similarities to thick latex, very sharp latex looking metal.

From the talons there were white plated palms, black plating covering the backs, and then following up each limb, the grey protoform underneath looking more like musculature than cables where it could be spotted.

They looked up, then to the pool, tentatively bracing the palm of their servo on the metal rim. "Just our head?" Aria asked, then a thought struck them. "Wait! How do these things work?"

Solus flashed them a smile. "It's quite simple really, they allow you to be completely merged with memories, yours specifically. Even ones from past lives."

They didn't even get a chance to ponder just how many ramifications her words meant.

Before they could even pull in a vent, before their optics were done going wide… she'd shoved them in, their frame crashing into the silver pool.


Iacon 138 million years ago, 1,662,650 vorns ago

Stormsurge couldn't take his faceplates off the window, his optics darting wherever he spotted something new and shiny.

Nebularburst wasn't faring much better, though she was at least not pressing her faceplates to the window.

Solarstorm just looked at Trailforce. "So, are you going to take us to where this survey is taking place?"

He nodded. "Why yes, I am, but no further than the front doors, I'll pass on your records and debt to the Medical Centre, they'll take good care of you, I promise." He assured.

His ever quiet companion just nodded, reading a datapad with a solid back on it.

Solarstorm hummed. "I see… you haven't specified what tests we'll be undergoing."

"Because I don't know either, my job is to seek out you oh so rare split sparks, that is all." He remarked, still smiling away, that same smile.

Solarstorm was really starting to hate that smile, it was making her plating crawl.

But, until they reached the Medical Centre, he owned them.

Which wasn't helping her mood in the slightest.

"So, I am curious, how did you two lovely femmes end up in such a large amount of debt? For Kaonites that is."

Nebularburst pulled her attention away from the view so fast Trailforce actually flinched back a bit.

"Sore subject?" He tried to joke, attempting to break the sudden tension in the room.

Solarstorm scowled. "Private. We aren't telling you something like that."

He raised his servos in surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. Very sensitive subject."

Stormsurge looked between his two guardians, taking Nebularburst' servo and giving it a small squeeze, regaining her attention and earning him a small appreciative smile.

Solarstorm glanced at the two of them, the corner of her lip pulling up just a little, before she was putting her full attention back on Trailforce.

He went to say something, but the locomotive mech's voice boomed loud through the speakers of the carriage. "We are now arriving in Iacon Proper, all off."

Stormsurge kept holding Nebularburst's servo as they stepped out onto a glittering platform.

Solarstorm looked down and scowled. "They inlaid the floor with crystal dust?"

Trailforce beamed. "Well of course! It makes the tiles nice and shiny."

Solarstorm scowled. "And highly uneven once the top coating wears off. Easiest way to wear down your treads. Walk on crystal dust, that slag gets into everything."

He deflated a bit at that. "Alright, alright, enough critiquing the decor, let's get you all to the Medical Centre…" He grumbled, shepherding them out of the grand station.

The Medical Centre was only a few streets away, but it felt like an eternity.

It was like the Iaconians could tell they didn't belong here.

Gazes followed them, riddled with disdain and aversion.

Most were vibrantly coloured, wearing shawls and other such fabrics, inlaid with precious metals, their helms decorated by jewels that the miners of Kaon would never be allowed to keep.

This wasn't the first time Trailforce had brought bots who didn't belong along this path, he seemed to be completely unphased by the looks his temporary property earned.

A mech strode out of a building just ahead of them, flanked by four heavily built mechs in glinting plate armour, he was on his com-link talking about something or other, he paused, having caught them in his periphery, he turned and the visage he no doubt carefully crafted to show off his looks, became a truly ugly scowl. "Gah… more gutter trash Trailforce? Surely by now the Prime has gotten enough of these wastes of energon?" He remarked.

Stormsurge felt Nebularburst tug him behind her just a bit, his wide optics looking up at this towering gilded mech.

Trailforce laughed. "Oh no! There's still much surveying to do Senator Omicron!" He remarked, taking the time to perform a deep bow to the mech.

The three felt their sparks drop, this was a Senator?! The elite of the elite, second only to the Prime himself?!

Senator Omicron huffed. "I expect a report on the progress… our grand Prime wants results." He stated, before snapping his digits and his heavily armed guards began to move on with him.

Once he was out of sight, Trailforce sagged a bit. "Pits he's a right slagger…" He grumbled to himself, before flashing the three of them a reassuring smile. "Lucky for you, he's not actually involved in this survey, he's the treasurer."

Solarstorm scowled. "That would certainly explain a few things." She remarked.

He chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, well, on we go, come on, you will actually be under the watch of Senator Varon. Much nicer mech in my opinion. He's the head supervisor of all medics."

"They take these things seriously then, the heirs of a Prime?" Nebularburst asked.

"Well of course, there's never been an heir that hasn't at least become a high ranking official, some aspire for the Millitary, but most end up becoming Senators. Senator Varon is the grand creation of the Prime before our current one. Dominion Prime. Dominion Prime, I've only met him once, he's a very devoted sire you know? Those two sparklings have become his whole Universe."

"Lucky sparklings then." Nebularburst commented.

"Ah, sore subject?"

"Very."

He chuckled awkwardly again. "Well, that's where we'll have to drop that little conversation anyway, welcome, to Iacon Medical Centre!" He announced, as they came up to the high entrance of a walled off complex.

It was massive, story after story of floors, at the other end of a vibrant garden, dotted with bots reclining with loved ones or being helped around by staff.

"This is where all the greatest advances in Medicine have been made, come, come, it's time to check you all in."

The receptionist didn't even look at them, just accepted the data pads Trailforce handed her. "Floor thirty seven. The CMO is waiting for you."

Trailforce led them to the lift. "Alright, this is where I leave you, good luck with the survey! And good luck with your new lives in Iacon! Maybe I'll see you around? … Though it is a big city…"

"The CMO is waiting for them." The receptionist spoke up, sending Trailforce a glare that had him making a hasty retreat, waving over his shoulder to them before he was out of the front doors.

Nebularburst' grip on Stormsurge's servo tightened a bit as Solarstorm summoned the lift, the doors opening almost instantly, practically soundless, making the three jump a bit.

They let Stormsurge press the button for floor 37.

Before they knew it, they were being greeted by an entire medical unit, lead by the CMO of the Centre.

"This way." He stated, the symbol of the Medic on his shoulders, but it was more detailed than any symbol they'd seen before.

Not that they'd really seen many at all.

This unit of fifteen more than doubled that number in one go.

They followed after him, Stormsurge kept between them as the medics all walked around them, boxing them in.

Solarstorm took Stormsurge's other servo, neither twin was liking this now.

Something was… off.

They were led into an empty room.

The click of the lock was when they both pulled out their hidden knives. "Alright, what the frag is going on here?!" Nebularburst snapped, optics darting around.

None of the medics seemed surprised they were armed.

Stormsurge was just as scared, trying to pull both of his guardians in closer.

"Quite simple really." The CMO spoke up, tone flat. "We need test subjects… Ones that no one will miss."

That was a cue.

Before either could think, a shot was fired from behind.

There was a single moment where everything froze around them as they waited for the pain to register.

But it didn't..

Stormsurge's grip on them went slack after a moment of tension.

Everything stayed slowed down, their optics going wide as their helms swung down to their little brother.

That moment of dawning horror and alarm was all that was needed.

Needles plunged into exposed neck cables, and something was pumped into them both.

They didn't even process it, they both dropped to catch him as his pedes gave out.

The back of his helm smouldered, but there wasn't an entrance wound.

Solarstorm's helm swung around to the culprit.

They were holding a gun, but not one they'd ever seen.

Of course they hadn't, this was Iacon for sparks sake.

She lunged up with a murderous scream, flashing sharp denta as she swung for the throat.

The medic merely took a step back.

That was all the distance that was needed.

Numbness swept through her frame, carried by the rush of energon.

Her frame stopped responding, and she crashed to the ground.

Nebularburst cried out in alarm, still clutching Stormsurge to her.

The CMO… chuckled. "There's always a fighter…" He mused, before snapping his digits.

Two medics lunged forwards, one grabbing Nebular by the torso, and the other grabbed Stormsurge.

She snarled, flashing her own razor sharp denta, trying to kick them away, the dagger forgotten. "NO! NO! STOP! STOP!" She screamed, pleading to uncaring audios.

The surge of energon was all that was needed.

The numbness consumed her, and she watched in horror as her limbs became useless, and her little brother was pulled from her arms without resistance.

Her cries died as her vocaliser stalled out.

Together, they realised with only higher horror what the medics had done.

They were… paralysed.

Nebularburst reached across the bond first, latching onto Solarstorm, desperate for some form of comfort.

Solarstorm embraced her twin as best she could across just the bond, trying to soothe her as much as possible.

She couldn't even glare with the hatred she now harboured, her faceplates simply couldn't move.

The CMO moved to stand over Solarstorm, holding a scanner over her and humming, then hovering it over Nebularburst. "Their sparks are holding strong, and the bond is within the workable parameters. Get them to surgery."

Surgery?

They were bodily hefted up, four medics each, the rest surrounding them as they were led into the very next room.

Stormsurge was left behind, having been dropped like a pile of scrap to the floor.

They wanted to cry out for him, to kick, scream, fight, do anything.

But they couldn't.

They couldn't do anything.

They were put on two berths, facing each other.

A massive device filled the room, looming over both of them.

The CMO strode to the console on it in the middle. "Congratulations, you have been chosen to take part in a revolutionary program." He announced as the machine powered up, its sides opening to reveal dozens of arms, each equipped with its own tool.

Their optics still moved, allowing them to watch as the other medics strapped their limbs and helm down.

"If you survive. You will be true marvels of science."

The medics did something, plugging a device into the medical ports on each of their wrists.

Alarm was their shared response as their chassis plating unlatched, exposing their sparks.

Each were a soft green, and pulsing wildly, the bond between them visible as they clung onto each other in terror.

"And if you don't? Well, we always need more internal system donors for patients in need."

Solarstorm tried to scream, to call that blasted mech every curse she'd ever heard, to damn him to the slowest melting smelting pit of Kaon.

But she couldn't even squeak.

"Don't worry about your frames. You won't have to worry about them for long."

With that, he pressed a big, red, button.

The scream that echoed across their bond was one riddled with agony as all those limbs attacked their spark chambers.

Lines were clamped before micron sharp scalpels sliced through them.

Their consciousness faltered, both of them struggling to stay alert.

Then the direct line to their processor was cut, and they knew no more.

Their sparks, it was just their sparks.

They did all they could to cling to one another as they felt themselves being moved.

Taken into the machine by unfeeling servos.

They couldn't hear anything.

They couldn't see.

Taste.

Smell.

But they could feel it.

They felt something close around them both.

Pressing into their Corona, containing them.

"Sol! Sol! What are they doing?! Why are they doing this?!" Nebularburst cried out, suddenly remembering that despite everything, she could still communicate with her twin, their sparks still linked.

"I… I don't know…"

There was nothing she could say to soothe her panicked twin as the pressure built higher.

They were being compressed…

Solarstorm would have snarled if she could, reaching across the bond, she gripped onto her twin as tight as she could. "HOLD ON!"

Nebularburst did, with as tight a grip as her spark could muster.

The pressure hit a critical point.

Agony lanced through them both, their screams silent to all but each other as the cores of their very sparks buckled under the pressure.

And yet, that wasn't enough for those crazed medics.

No, a second kind of pain rushed through them then.

Electricity.

They were being electrocuted.

They clung onto each other as the pain persisted.

It didn't stop.

It wouldn't stop.

Until it did.

The machine released them into something.

It wrapped around them, connected to them.

They couldn't focus, their very beings barely hanging onto each other still.

But they managed, they managed to hold on.

Their other senses started to come back then.

"A success! Their sparks survived!"

That was the CMO, but he was excited now.

"Take them to their ward, I want them on complete watch."

They were on rolling berths now.

They could feel a light breeze as they were taken away from the room and that horrid machine.

They felt the prick of needles, and that was it.

Everything went black.


The Matrix

They gasped, clawing their way back up to the edge of the pool, talons carving into the stone like soft butter as they hacked and coughed, silver fluid splattering out.

Solus grabbed them by the collar, dragging them back out onto the floor. "Vent, vent, easy… oh Primus…" She cut herself off as the two rolled onto their knees and hacked up more of the silver fluid. "Did you swallow that?"

They gasped and heaved some more, before their helm snapped around, snarl on their silver coated lips. "No. We inhaled it." Wren snapped, glaring at the Prime.

"They are still partially organic, those lungs of theirs have their downsides." Alchemist Prime remarked.

They staggered upright, glaring at Solus. "You. Pushed. Us." Aria growled out.

Solus shrugged. "You were taking too long. Like I said, time is very much of the essence. So, what did you think?"

They thought for a long few moments before responding. "That they were tricked into being in a high risk medical procedure… that's how they became Pilot frames, wasn't it?"

Solus nodded. "Indeed, it was a program created out of greed, but ended up becoming one of desperate necessity."

They continued to scowl. "And we need to see the rest? They lived for millenia! How are we supposed to do this quickly?!"

Solus took a step back, feeling a bit weary. "Easy you two, easy. This isn't going to be every memory, just the key ones…"

"Then how about you explain what the horse shit you said about lost memories before you shoved us into that!? Do you realise how much that fucking hurt!? It felt like we were the ones having our little brother ripped away! That our sparks were being CRUSHED!" Wren screeched into Solus' faceplates, her normal calm tossed aside from all the emotions that had crashed through them without any warning.

Vector Prime stepped forward then. "That's because those are your memories. Ones held by the spark, but not the processor you both share… You are each one of the fragments of them, that we were able to save."

They took a few moments to process that, before staggering back. "W-what…?" Aria rasped out.

Vector Prime gently took their shoulder pauldron, his grip reassuring. "Come with me, I can explain more. Before you go through any more of the Ponds…" He looked over his shoulder at Solus. "You said you would explain everything to them."

She floundered. "Hey, it's not easy remembering to cover everything!"

He just hummed and gently coaxed them away. "Please, humour forgiving Solus, she has good intentions, but she is still, at spark, brash and a bit socially… inept."

Wren snarled. "Enough with all this bullshit. What the hell do you mean we're fragments of THEM?! DO YOU REALISE THE IMPLICATIONS?! WHAT THAT DOES TO EVERYONE IF THEY FOUND OUT?!"

Vector Prime offered them both a sombre look. "You will not need to keep that secret burdened for long… the other pieces, you will meet soon."

They faltered in their steps.

He offered them a small smile. "We may not have saved their frames… but their sparks… their minds… and their passions… we saved those." He observed them for a moment. "You, are their sparks, we placed you in that singular organic form because of how frail you both were… separate, you would have guttered out before you were even born… And we tied Megatronus' stassis locked spark to yours so that he may protect you once more. He did a good job I would say."

Answers.

Vector Prime, had given them answers.

Answers that changed everything.

Their pedes buckled, dropping to their knees, their arms limp at their sides as it all washed over them.

"We… you… you won't ever be done with us… you've…"

He knelt before them, gently cupping their cheek. "You are more than tools Aria, Wren, you have a strength of will and determination far above yours peers, a protective loyalty that burns as bright as a neutron star… and you are the ones we intrust the spark of our youngest brother to entirely."

Their jaw dropped a little as they tried to process his meaning.

He cupped their other cheek too. "His spark has been yours for milenia, it has been crying out for you since the cycle you met him all those aeons ago… when you saved his spark from the Senate's corruption."

It was all too much.

They felt something give way inside of them, and felt Vector Prime gently catch them as everything faded to black.


Grinning like a complete fool

The joy of finally getting to share this chapter! It's been five years in the making, sweet mercy of macedonia it's been so long I've been planning this... bloody fuck.

Welp, until next time!

Moon.