Shame on me for having the audacity to not post for a year and then come back with this. I've been focusing a little too much on the Silver Sun story, but a recent review on this one reminded me that people probably want to know what happens next.
BTW, there is a twist appearing in this chapter, so I advise that you proceed with caution because I've been planning this for a year and a bit.
So here it is. It only took 348 days. Apologies for any unseen spelling mistakes.
Enjoy :-)
Chapter Five : Clean-up don't cut it
Wrecker Base . . . Eleven orns ago . . .
It had almost been three months since Bulkhead had left the Wreckers for the mission to Earth. But Haley still hadn't given up the hope of his promise to her. He said he'd come back, so that meant he must be coming back, right?
Unfortunately, it didn't help the in-fighting among the team. Namely, Seaspray and Rotor-Storm versus the others. It had pretty much become routine for the young Autobot to leave the room and shut her berthroom door anytime she heard arguing.
And that was what she was doing in that moment, sat on her berth, messing around with a black and white bow she'd taken from Impactor's weapons arsenal. She pulled back the string connecting each end on the weapon and imagined there was an arrow there.
"I got optics on the target," She whispered imagining another person at the other end of a line, "Nightbreak here, requesting back-up to storm the base."
"Wreckers don't call for back-up," A voice from her door caused her to jump, "They call for clean-up."
She swiftly hid the bow behind her back, like whoever was there couldn't have seen it yet. Her bright optics turned to see Wheeljack stood at the door. He raised one optic ridge at her.
"Been going through Impactor's stuff again, huh?" He asked, walking over to the femme and holding his servo out, "Gimme."
Reluctantly, the kid handed over the bow. She guiltily stared at the floor.
"I was gonna put it back," She murmured.
He rolled his optics, smirking at the femme, "Sure you were, Haley. But you shouldn't have really taken it in the first place." He held it up, "See this? This is 'danger'."
Haley nodded, "I know, I know."
"I'm not kidding, Halo. Life isn't all 'playing soldier'," Wheeljack didn't change his serious tone, "We're all going out for a bit. Just a mining op over in Akalai, nothin' major."
"Ok," She shrugged, "I guess I'll see you then."
The way she said it was like it was an everyday occurrence - and in a manner of speaking, it was. The Wreckers barely took care of her anymore, just assuming that she could look after herself.
Noticing the youngling's less energetic demeanour, Wheeljack chose to speak up again, "Hey. How 'bout when I get back I teach you how to use this thing?" He gestured to the bow, "You're gonna need your own weapon if you want to be a real Wrecker."
Halo brightened up a little, "Thanks, Wheeljack."
He smiled, "No problem, kid." He began heading for the door, "Stay in the base and remember to have your energon today, okay?"
Present Day . . .
Halo really wished the Autobots weren't undercover - that way she wouldn't have had to wait until she got back to base to stretch after her 'totally-safe', 'non-dune-bashing' ride through the desert with Miko.
She transformed as she entered the base, brushing off stray grains of sand that clung to her armour.
"Next time, Bulkhead's on 'Miko duty'," She smirked.
"Bulkhead's...out at the minute," Ratchet explained, slight hesitation in his voice, "As are the others."
"Oh," Halo responded simply, "On a mission?"
Ratchet nodded, "Yes. He...thought it best not to inform you quite yet."
She tilted her helm in suspicion "Why not? Bulk of all 'bots knows I can defend myself."
The doctor shrugged reluctantly, "Again yes, but-"
"Ratchet, we require a Ground Bridge," Optimus' voice came from over the speaker, "Wheeljack is injured."
The Wrecker's spark momentarily pause as he said that. No, she couldn't have heard right. It couldn't have been him...could it?
"Wh-wheeljack?" She breathed, "He...he's here?"
"Yes," Ratchet confirmed, pulling the lever to activate the bridge "He made quite the entrance."
Behind her, the emerald-green portal glowed to life. She stepped back, for a moment considering driving out of base. The Wrecker didn't get a chance to decide as five figures came through the Ground Bridge. Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead and of course Wheeljack.
The white, red and green mech was the last through, clutching his arm as he looked around the familiar base. His optics finally fell on the gold and silver femme before him. Halo shifted nervously at sensing her old friend there, more worried than relieved.
He slowly approached her, "Haley?"
She wanted to smile, but was too in shock, "I...I have to go..."
No one had the chance to stop her as she transformed and zoomed off down the hallway, most likely to her room.
"NO DRIVING INDOORS!" Ratchet yelled after the femme.
But she'd already disappeared.
There was an awkward silence that loomed after.
"Well," Bulkhead began, "Wasn't expecting that..."
Wheeljack sighed, "I was."
--
Halo didn't go back to her room straight away. She still had to do some minor adjustments on her ship, The Angel. It was mostly intact, but still had a breech in the fuel line after being shot down upon her arrival.
As she entered the large bunker room they were using as a garage, she sensed a familiar presence: Wheeljack's ship, The Jackhammer. Fowler's men must've brought it into the base. A slight smile came across her face as she remembered the different times she'd managed to sneak aboard the ship.
She slowly walked over to it. The door was open, so she figured Jackie wouldn't mind if she looked around a little.
The inside was what could be expected of a Wrecker's ship: Littered with empty cubes and reeking of refined energon. But it wasn't a bad smell.
Her helm lifted slightly as she heard footsteps approach.
"Halo," Wheeljack said solemnly, "Are...Are you-"
"I'm fine, Jackie," She interrupted, turning back to face him.
Even though she couldn't see his face, she could tell that he was worried.
He sighed, "You haven't told them yet. Have you?"
It seemed more like a statement than a question.
Halo shook her helm, "No. And they don't need to find out, especially Bulkhead."
The Wrecker scowled, "He needs to know more than anyone. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have gone missing."
"Wheeljack," She said warningly.
"Fine. I won't say anything," He grumbled, "It was difficult after you were gone, Haley. For all of us."
She scoffed, "Even Seaspray? Wish I could see him again, just to show how wrong he was about me."
The older Wrecker's shoulders fell slightly, "Right."
"How many of the old crew are still 'Con-crushing?" She asked eagerly.
"Far as I know? Just the three Wreckers on this marble," He responded bitterly.
It was difficult for Halo knowing that most of the people who raised her were now scattered to the galaxies...or worse. But it was war. There wasn't much she could do about it.
"I probably should've asked this before instead of running away," She began, "But, what brought you back to Earth?"
He sighed, "Well..."
As he was finding a way to explain, a transmission broke through the Jackhammer's mainframe. Both Wreckers turned to the origin of the noise as an unfamiliar voice began speaking.
"Wheeljack, I know you can hear me," The voice said confidently, anger lacing his tone, "You and I have unfinished business. Meet me at these coordinates and we'll settle this...if you have the spark, that is."
Halo tilted her helm. Who was this guy? Obviously some enemy of Wheeljack's but she strangely recognised the voice.
"Dreadwing..." The mech sneered, pressing the reciever button, "I'll meet you there, 'Con. Just to watch you fry."
Wheeljack cut off the com-link and downloaded the coordinates. All the while, Halo stood there in confusion.
"Um, who was that?" She demanded, "And why are you meeting him?"
The mech barely turned to her as he prepared the ship for launch, "You don't need to worry about him. He ain't gonna be around for much longer. You may wanna clearout of here before take-off."
"Or, I may wanna go with," She stated, placing her hands on her hips, "I'm guessing that guy's a 'Con. And you're nuts if you think I'm letting you go in there alone."
"Haley, this isn't a game," He warned her, "Dreadwing's dangerous-"
"I'm dangerous."
Wheeljack turned back tot her, wanted to order her off of his ship and to stay at base, where it was safe. But that hadn't worked all those orns ago.
He folded his arms and straightened his back, "Halo Jyn, I'm ordering you as a Wrecker to get off of my ship. Right now."
The femme Autobot stood in shock for a second, but her expression quickly morphed into something of silent anger. She balled her servos into fists and marched back in the direction she'd come from.
"If you're not back in two hours, I'm telling Optimus," She threatened.
"Make it three," Wheeljack bargained.
She briefly turned at the door, "One and a half."
--
The sombre navy-blue Decepticon waited patiently in the darkened forest. He was almost sure that the Wrecker was far too prideful to turn down his offer of a rematch.
Eventually, heavy footsteps came from behindhim. Surely enough, Dreadwing turned back to see Wheeljack standing there, barely showing any sign of his earlier wounds.
"I wasn't certain you'd come," Dreadwing glared.
Wheeljack simply shrugged, "I don't like unfinished business."
The blue mech scowled, "Neither do I. And neither did my family."
"You still angry about that?" Wheeljack asked, not breaking his focus, "I'll tell you what I told your brother: It wasn't me."
"And I will tell you what even Prime knows: You cannot trust the word of a Wrecker."
The two stood there for a split second. The way they glared at one another seemed to replicate a duel stand-off, like from Earth cowboy movies. The Decepticon was the first to act, throwing a star-like grenade at the Autobot, who in turn lobbed his.
Both grenades collided halfway, causing a cloud of fire and smoke between them. Recognising his window, Wheeljack ran through the flames, drawing both swords. Dreadwing managed to dodge the mech just before he hit.
When the Wrecker looked back up, the 'Con had already began to run. His mask slid over his face as he began to run after the coward.
"You ain't getting away that easy, 'Con!" He yelled after him.
Not far away, Dreadwing grinned to himself, drawing a detonator as he ran. Multiple red lights began to flash ahead. And the Wrecker was too focused on fighting to see them.
Just as planned.
--
"And then he has the bearings to tell me to get off his ship!" Halo complained, "Like I'd be a burden if I got involved in the fight."
The two were currently stood in the energon supply room, Halo leaning against the wall as she vented to Bee. The each held a cube of energon, but only drank it between pauses in the conversation.
Bee shrugged, "The Wreckers were protective of you, right? I get why he wouldn't let you go."
She scoffed, "You're taking his side?"
"No, no," Bee quickly clarified, "I just...I think you..." He finally gave up, "Look, people in your life just don't want you to get hurt, okay?"
The archer turned away, "I didn't train for all these orns just for Wheeljack to come back and think I couldn't handle a simple mission."
Bumblebee stopped, looking over to her, "Hey, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But I gotta ask, did something happen with you two?"
She ignored the question, instead continuing to drink her energon. The scout knew there was something she wasn't telling him - what else was new?
Halo paused as something interrupted her thoughts. A message. Specifically a message from Wheeljack. She placed on digit to the side of her helm to access the voice recording.
"Hey, kid. Turns out back-up might've not been such a bad idea after all. You probably won't find me before this thing goes sky-high, so I guess this is goodbye. I'll see ya on the other side - just not too soon, okay?"
Halo's mouth hung open as she contemplated what Jackie had just said. No way could he of all 'bots be in trouble. This was Wheeljack, after all. But he also wasn't the type to joke around. Whoever this Dreadwing guy was, he must've somehow been able to capture him.
"I gotta go," She said, dropping her cube of energon and sprinting for the door.
Of course Bumblebee followed after her, having overheard the message. He followed her into the hangar.
"Wait! What did he mean?" Bee asked.
"No time to explain," She replied, sealing up the outer parts of the Angel that needed fixing.
She could feel the welding work would be rough, but there was no time to spend cautiously fixing it. Bee ran up to her, still concerned.
"That was Wheeljack, right?" She nodded, "Did he go to face Dreadwing alone?" Again, she nodded, "That's it, I'm telling Optimus.""No!" Halo said, quickly grabbing onto the mech's shoulder before he could leave, "First of all, there isn't enough time to get Optimus and round up the team. Jackie was talking about a bomb."
She cut off mid-point and ran onto the ship. Once again, Bee sighed and followed her on. Halo frantically turned on the ship's locator, scanning for the direction the Jackhammer went in.
The scout tilted his helm, "How are you finding his ship? I thought it was sheilded."She shrugged, "I put a tracking device on it earlier unique to the Angel's locator system. It installs the coordinates and supplies them to me. And it sounds like he's not too far."
"Uh, that's in Oregon. As in a whole different state," He corrected.
"With this ship, I can get there in seven minutes - ten max," She sat down in the captain's seat and activated the engine, then turning to him, "If you're not coming, you might want to go before take-off."
"And let you go in there alone?" Bee questioned, taking the passenger seat beside her, "You helped me get back my alt mode. I'm helping you get back Wheeljack."She smiled, "Okay then. Buckle up." He did, "Preparing to go in three...two..."
Seven to ten minutes later . . .
Wheeljack refused to glance up at the new Decepticon, instead staring down at the floor. His arms were chained to the metal shipment container behind him and a complicated maze of a bomb was strapped to his chassis.
The blue Cybertronian only glared at the situation, "I hope you've said your goodbyes to your Wrecker friend."
"Friends," Wheeljack muttered.
"What?" Dreadwing demanded, "Speak up so I can hear your final words."
Jackie shrugged, "It's a plural."
"More than one?" He scowled, "You Autobots continue to multiply by the day. Praytell, what is the name of this one?"
The white Autobot kept his mouth shut, knowing the risk of Dreadwing targeting Halo in future battles. Realising the Wrecker wouldn't talk, the blue mech just shrugged.
"Very well. I'll simply find them on the system files once I dispose of you. Speaking of which..."
Dreadwing, growing weary of their conversation, retrieved the detonator. A momentary wave of fear crossed Jackie's face before he realised the mech was too proud to die with an Autobot. Instead, he changed the timer on the detonator from twenty minutes to ten.
As the Decepticon continued to reset the detonator, Jackie looked past him to see a strangely familiar streak of gold. His optics widened upon realising who was there.
"You Autobots will stand no chance against Lord Megatron's army," Dreadwing growled, "Even this new ally of yours will know his wrath."
Wheeljack couldn't help smirking through the fear, "Yeah, the 'Bot I'm talking about ain't exactly on the record."
Dreadwing glanced up at him suspiciously, "Is he a soldier?"
"Well, firstly," Wheeljack began, "She was raised by us Wreckers so of course she's a warrior. Second, she cares about her family, even though sometimes she don't admit it."
"And her name?" The blue mech demanded, leaning in closer threateningly.
Jackie smirked, "That's after the third thing ya should probably know about her."
"Which is what, exactly?"
Dreadwing tensed at feeling a tap on his shoulder. Turning back, he was surprised to see a gold femme standing there, one he half-recognised. She smirked, aiming an arrow directly at his face.
"Third," She snapped, "If you mess with my family, you're going straight to Pit."
The blue mech turned to run, but was surprised by yet another Autobot pointing a gun at him: The black and yellow scout that he knew had killed his brother.
"Well, Autobots," He grinned knowingly, "I hope you all enjoy the Allspark."
Dreadwing transformed into his alt-mode, one identical to that of his twin's. Knowing their chance of stopping the bomb would be lost if he left, Halo was quick to react. She dropped her weapon and leapt onto the aircraft as he took off directly upwards.
"Halo!" Bee yelled after her.
"Hey, Bumblebee, right?" Wheeljack called to the scout, who turned back at hearing his name, "Mind getting me out of this so I can shut this thing down?"
Bee nodded, rushing over to the Wrecker to untangle him from the chains. Jackie knew he had to get Halo out of there as soon as possible to avoid something she'd been sheilded from for millennia...
Meanwhile in the sky, Halo hung on for her life as the Decepticon soared higher. Even more so as he began spinning and accelerating in an attempt to shake her off.
"Let go!" He ordered.
She continued to hold on as the air resistance clashed against her frame, "Didn't plan on dying today!"
"Then you shouldn't have come to rescue your friend," Dreadwing said, finally turning back around.
They flew back to the shipment yard, though the landing was a little tougher on Halo as Dreadwing transformed. It sent her crashing against a nearby container.
Halo struggled to stand, finally able to breathe, "That's what you do when you have family. More important, when you don't want your family to die."
Dreadwing also stood up, "I know, child. Family is the very reason why I remain with the Decepticons. How old are you?"
"Twenty-one orns," She responded.
"Then you weren't there for the Wreckers' crime against my brethren," He scowled, "They slaughtered my parents. Neutrals. Whose only crime was for my brother and I to be their sons. My carrier was expecting another child at the time. How might you condone three innocent deaths at the servos of the Autobots?"
Halo shook her helm in sympathy, "I can't."
How could the Wreckers have done such a horrible thing? Neutrals were safe - that was the rule for all Autobots. Killing those who had no part in the war was the Decepticons' way, not theirs. He must've been lying.
Dreadwing began making his way towards her. She backed up, only then realising she'd dropped her weapon back at the other side of the facility. Not knowing what else to do, she balled her servos into fists and hoped for the best.
As he grew dangerously close, she threw a strong punch. The 'Con easily caught it mid-way. He used it to lift her from the ground, watching emotionlessly as she struggled in his grasp.
"The Autobots have slain the people I cared for with no way for them to defend themselves," He snarled, drawing a blade as his weapon of choice, "Now, I will return the..."
The blue 'Con's gaze lowered to the shining pendant around her neck. His red optics flickered, as if unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
He lowered her down to the ground, still holding onto her wrist. Confused, Halo tried to back away.
"The necklace," He said in a severe tone, "Where did you get it?"
"I-I was found with it," She told him, unsure as to why he was asking.
"You said you are presently twenty-one orns old," Dreadwing began to put together the puzzle pieces set out before him, "The ordeal I described happened around that time ago. Were you found in Prax? As a newborn? Little to no recollection of your parents?"
"How do you know all that?" She said, more demanding in her tone.
He released her arm, "Feel the inside of the necklace."
Too curious and scared to do anything else, she did. Her digits ran along the inner side of the ring necklace. It was an engraving. She'd never known it was there before, but could vaguely pick out what it read.
"Jyn, I am now and forever yours. Love, Duros." She murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.
"Jyn was my Carrier and Duros my Sire," Dreadwing informed her, "What you wear as a necklace was his bonding gift to her."
Halo's mouth hung open. She tried to step backwards, but there was no where to go. Her entire frame began to shake with fear and confusion as tears began to stir within her helm. She hadn't wanted to cry for orns. Not since Tyger Pax.
She sank to the floor, not knowing what else she could do.
Meanwhile, not far away . . .
Bumblebee tried to hold Wheeljack back as he moved towards the docks. The attempts to deactivate the bomb had proved unsuccessful and the Wrecker knew he couldn't endanger the lives around him. Still, the scout latched onto his arm in protest.
"Bumblebee, let me go," Wheeljack ordered, "The blast range'll be reduced in the water."
"Not for you," Bee stated.
Jackie rolled his optics and continued to drag himself towards the bay, "Why do you care what happens to me? You should be helping Halo."
"I'm helping Halo by not standing by while you sacrifice yourself," The yellow scout told him, "She doesn't forgive herself for letting the people she cares about get hurt. So, I'm not letting you get hurt."
Wheeljack finally stopped, sighing, "Look, there's a lot she doesn't know. And if she finds it out...it'll be better off that I'm not here."
Bumblebee stood in front of the Wrecker, arms folded, "She isn't a little kid anymore. Whatever it is you haven't told her, she can take."
"Don't be too sure about that, Bee."
The both looked to the direction they'd just come from to see the gold femme there, marching over to them. She'd managed to retrieve her staff.
"Haley, back up," Wheeljack warned, "I don't want you to get caught in all this."
It's a little late for that, She thought but didn't say.
She stopped a little way away from him, "Green wire."
Bumblebee tilted his helm at her, "What does that mean?"
"It means cut the green wire in the next thirty seconds and we can all get out of here alive," She told him in an emotionless voice.
"You sure?" Jackie asked.
"Pretty sure," She stated.
Trusting her word, the mech reluctantly pulled out the green wire. He shut his optics tightly as he did so. No bomb-sound came. Just the beeping to alert them that the detonation had been deactivated.
"Thank Primus," Bee exhaled, being the first and only one to celebrate.
Wheeljack stared at Haley in concern, noticing her silence, "You okay, Halo Jyn?"
She shook her helm, turning around and walking back towards where she'd left the Angel, "We can talk about it at base. Might have to call Agent Fowler for clean-up."
Bumblebee gladly followed after her, relieved that nothing had blown up. Wheeljack, however, wasn't as oblivious to the tone Halo had used.
Something told him clean-up wouldn't cut it this time around.
To be continued in the next chapter!
Thanks if you've stuck around for this long. Sorry if you hate me for putting off this chapter. I just had major writer's block for this one story and didn't know how to alter it to meet the TFP continuity.
Also thanks to all the comments who encouraged me to continue with this thing.
Hope ya enjoyed this chapter! It might be complete scrap, but the important thing is that I tried.
'Til All Are One
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