Chapter 14
Dark Revelations
Songbird wasn't kidding…
There really wasn't a scent she couldn't track…
Although she did express extreme caution when she was certain that she had reached the outskirts of the Autobot base. Thankfully night had just fallen and in her gryphon form Song's movements were almost completely silent as she slowly began creeping closer and closer to the well-lit area. To be honest she wasn't entirely sure what she was going to do, all she knew was what she had to do… and that was to get the two sparklings to come with her back to the Nemesis and reunite them Knockout. However a ways away the hangar door to the MedBay was slightly ajar and out stepped none other than little Paradox.
Just as the twins predicted, after returning from their little adventure to see the aurora borealis the two had promptly been grounded for wandering off and scaring the sparks out of Bulkhead and Ratchet. The grounding had consisted of a stern lecture from Optimus, double chores for both of them as well as earlier bedtimes for two weeks. But thankfully this night was the final night that the younglings would be grounded and even though it was technically time for Paradox to be going to bed she had asked her grandpa if she could just have five more minutes… of course Ratchet had said yes, and with these five extra minutes Paradox had stepped outside into the crisp night air, her gaze drifting upwards and finally settling on the crescent moon that hung in the sky. Silently the young femme closed her optics and whispered the same prayer that she recited every night to the moon spirit, wishing with all of her spark that someday she might meet her Carrier and Sire. After a few moments she opened her optics and sighed loudly… but just before she turned around to go back inside a strange sound caught her attention. Paradox looked around a little confused before she took notice of something shining just a little ways away, near one of the other hangers. Without giving it much more thought Paradox began walking over to get a better look whatever it was, as she got closer to it she began to realize that it looked like some sort of a blade that was blue and black in color… And just when she went to touch it the blade moved; revealing that it was none other than the scythe-like blade that was at the end of Songbird's tail… The gryphonformer slowly turned around, as she had wisely been using her tail as a lure to get Paradox to come over to her. It was preferable to the option of her directly approaching the youngling and frightening her off, or worse screaming and alerting all of the Autobot's to her presence.
"Hello again, little one." Songbird said very gently as Paradox immediately gasped and fell backwards and began scooting backwards as Song quickly transformed and reached down to help her up.
"H-H-H-H-Hello…?" Paradox squeaked as her frightened gaze locked onto the massive Predacon femme in front of her. She was undoubtedly scared, but she did not scream… after all Paradox could clearly remember how the gryphon femme had saved her when she fell off the cliff. Not to mention that she just did not give off the air of someone who meant her harm, not back then and not now. Slowly she staggered to her feet although she did backup a great deal. "Um… w-why are you here?"
"I'm here looking for you and your brother sweetspark." Song explained, careful to keep her voice very soft and she smiled warmly at the little sparkling in front of her. Nonetheless this conversation was starting to get a little scary for Paradox to hear and she nervously looked back at the main hangar where everybody else was… Inwardly wondering that if she ran as fast as she possibly could, would she be able to get there and warn the others before this Predacon caught her. "I'm looking for you two because your Carrier wants to meet you."
Song just said the magic words…
"My… My Carrier? They're alive? Really?! Really really?!" Paradox exclaimed, seeming to immeadietly forget her fear and was unable to conceal even in the slightest her excitement and joy at this revelation. After all she'd only been dreaming and wishing about this her whole life! Songbirds smile broadened as she watched the youngling's reaction and could only hope that her brother would react the same way as well. But her thoughts were pulled away from this as a sudden and loud shriek of "Paradox!" Tore through the air like an assassin's blade. Looking over at the owner of this voice, Songbird inwardly groaned when she saw that it belonged to the Autobot's medic… Who also looked like he was about to have the Cybertronian equivalent of an aneurism! And of course Ratchets loud and obviously panicked voice successfully drew the attention of the rest of the Autobot's and their three human cohorts… and in under ten seconds Song had every single member looking like they wanted to rush and attack her which is exactly what she had tried to avoid in the first place... So as a precaution she quickly picked up little Paradox and gently held her. Hoping that this would at least prevent anyone from shooting at her…
"Put the sparkling down!" Optimus demanded advancing forward to stand in front of Ratchet, (Who was barely being held back by Smokescreen and Bumblebee…) Songbird just rolled her large sapphire optics.
"You know this really doesn't concern any of you." She stated flatly. "I'm not here to cause any trouble I just want the two sparklings."
"What do you want us for?" Tripwire asked, making his presence known to all of the adults, and thus he was quickly picked up by Bulkhead and held protectively in one of his arms while he continued to point his blaster at his target. There was no way in the Pit this Predacon was gonna take Paradox and Tripwire! He'd make damn sure of that!
"Optimus wait!" Paradox yelled, surprising everyone with how unafraid she seemed. "It's okay! She's here because of our Carrier! Our Carrier is alive and wants to see us!" A cold disbelieving silence fell over everyone present like a death shroud.
"That can't-" Arcee stuttered. "That can't be! If they were still alive after all this time they would have made themselves known to us!"
"The two sparklings were stolen from their Carrier's arms by that Cyclops of a mech and he thought them dead for all these years. I recognized their scent being similar to his when I encountered them… Look, the only reason that I'm here is to bring the two back to their Carrier… He really has missed them terribly."
"She's lying!" Ratchet snapped, not trusting Songbird and he desperately wanted to retrieve Paradox from her grasp! It was not fair that this Predacon was using the one thing that he knew Paradox wanted more than anything else to try and steal her! Optimus held up a servo silencing ratchet as he immediately began to consider the gryphon femmes words.
"If what you say is true, can you reveal the identities of their creators?" Optimus inquired. "As well as answer whether or not they are still being held captive aboard the Nemesis?"
"They were never the captives of the Decepticons, because they are Decepticons." Songbird paused allowing this new information to sink into the Autobot's minds before she continued on. "Their Carrier is Knockout, the Decepticon medic."
"Please tell me you're joking." Miko exclaimed disbelievingly, just as a chill suddenly ran up her spine. "I mean, Knockout?! That's impossible! Having sparklings would've messed with his precious paint job!"
"Yes, Knockout…" Songbird growled in a warning tone, as she did not like how this human girl was mocking someone who had suffered alone and for so many years. Not to mention that she also recognized her from back when her cave had just been blown up… in short Miko was definitely not helping the situation. "As for their Sire, I never had the privilege of meeting him… while he was alive… Since he has been dead for quite some time now. But from my understanding his name was Breakdown." Immediately Bulkhead went ramrod straight in his optics widened in utter horror and he accidently dropped Tripwire.
"No… No that can't be…" He whispered, not believing a word of it and he turned to look at Tripwire who suddenly had become very confused and nervous, as he had heard of Breakdown from Bulkhead… naturally none of these stories had painted him in a very good light…
For just one moment as Bulkhead stared at Tripwire's face and all he saw was the face of his dead rival staring back at him…
How? How could he have not seen this sooner? Bulkhead immediately went into denial; unable to accept that Tripwire, his sweet adventurous Tripwire had any biological tie at all with his dead and rusting rival! That was all that Bulkhead could think and his optics clearly reflected it … and Tripwire saw it, making the young mechs spark feel like it was about to break in half! But this new information tore through everyone, not just Bulkhead… But it was Magnus who just growled and started to advance forward until he stood alongside Optimus Prime. Anger and loathe seeming to radiate off of his frame.
"Regardless of that, do you really think we are just going to let you take them?! You're a Predacon for Primus's sake! You'll probably eat them as soon as you clear the area!" He seethed, it was no secret that Ultra Magnus despised both of the Predacons just as much as he despised the Decepticons themselves and this was clearly being shone at this moment.
"I would never!" She snarled, extremely insulted that he would even begin to insinuate such a thing! In fact the only thing that prevented her from lashing out at him for that insult was the fact that she still held Paradox in her servos.
"Magnus, stand down! That is an order!" The Prime said in a warning tone to the veteran warrior, his cold gaze not leaving his friend until he backed off and begrudgingly took a step backwards. Optimus then returned his attention to Song. "Even if what you say is true, surely you can understand that bringing the sparklings aboard the Nemesis is extremely dangerous."
"Just look what happened the last time! They got strapped to a bomb!" Smokescreen interrupted. "Megatron would kill them without a second thought whether or not they are Knockouts! He's a monster!"
"Funny… because that is the exact same word that the Decepticons use to describe you Autobots." Songbird replied coldly as she narrowed her optics at the young warrior. "And from where I stand, I'm more inclined to believe them than you. Due to witnessing several incidents which paint pictures of an individual's true character… such as attacking an unarmed individual who had done nothing to deserve it." She gave Arcee a particularly frigid glare upon mentioning this. But then she just sighed and shook her head. "As for the potential danger, I am already well aware of the risks… that is why I would simply take them straight to Knockout, no one else would even know that they're on the warship."
"Still I am unwilling too-" Optimus went to continue but found himself interrupted by none other than Paradox.
"Please Optimus!" The youngling pleaded desperately. "I… I want to meet my Carrier so badly! I promise that I'd be careful! Please?!" Undeniably Optimus was a very soft-sparked mech and to hear the little femme pleading with him began to make his conviction waver. Song took notice of this and decided to help it along…
"I will also personally make sure that nothing happens to the little ones. After all I have two daughters of my own and I will not tolerate anyone hurting them."
"You have sparklings?" Optimus question a bit surprised.
"Two human girls, they may be adopted but I love them as though they are my own."
"And… they've survived being on board the Nemesis?" He inquired further.
"Surprising isn't it? But that doesn't really matter now, all that matters to me is reuniting these two with their Carrier. However, I'm not about to force either of them to come with me if they do not want to. The choice is theirs and theirs alone. Even you Prime do not have the right to intervene in this matter… This is about family."
"And we're their family as well!" Ratchet growled. "We raised them and we love them! So don't you dare think we're not part of their family!"
Songs optics softened a bit at the old medic's words. "Then you should know what I'm talking about. I know better than anyone that one doesn't need a biological connection to be family, however can you really deny a Carrier who believed that his offspring were dead for all these years?" All optics fell on Optimus, for one way or another it would be the Prime's word that would be the final ruling on the situation. He remained quiet for what felt like an eternity before finally looking at Songbird with a somewhat solemn expression on his face.
"Every sparkling… should have the privilege of knowing their creators." He said calmly. "Do you give your word that Paradox and Tripwire will not come to any harm?"
"I assure you that nothing will happen to them on my watch." Songbird said with a slight nod.
"Then… I will allow them to go with you." His decision was not entirely unexpected, but that didn't make it any easier for some of his fellow Autobots to accept.
"You can't be serious Optimus!" Ratchet hissed angrily. "It isn't safe!"
"I know Ratchet… but in good conscience I cannot deny Tripwire and Paradox the opportunity to meet their Carrier, even if it is Knockout. But it will be their choice whether they choose to go or not."
"Don't worry grandpa, everything will be all right I promise! But please understand… I just… I have to do this!" The little femme said smiling broadly at her upset grandfather figure. It hurt her to know that he wasn't happy with this situation, but she could feel in the depths of her spark that everything was going to work out in the end. She knew it with a ferocity that surprised her. "Come on Tripwire!"
"I'm… I'm not going." The young mech said in a low voice that was barely louder than a whisper. This visibly surprised everyone since it was well known amongst the Autobots that Tripwire and Paradox both wished to someday meet their creators. Hearing Tripwire say he didn't want to go with his sister was very odd indeed.
"Why not? It's our Carrier! Come on Trip and stop joking."
"I'm not joking! I'm not going!" He growled angrily at his sister as tears suddenly began to well in his optics.
"Are you sure young one?" Songbird asked gently, as she said earlier she wasn't going to force either of the twins to come if they didn't want to. However she could not help but wonder why he did not wish to come along.
"I… I…" Tripwire stuttered, as those tears suddenly began to cascade down his face. But then he looked up at Bulkhead and Wheeljack with a look of such sorrow and remorse that it was virtually immeasurable and before either of the Wreckers could react Tripwire bolted. Running as fast as he could away from the hangar, away from the base entirely!
With the revelation that his Sire was a Decepticon, let alone Breakdown, he felt that going with Songbird would be betraying Bulkhead and Wheeljack…
And above anything else he didn't want that…
Songbird watched little mech run off with sorrow in pity shining clearly in her optics but that emotion quickly changed as she glared at Bulkhead, not that he took any notice of it since as soon as Tripwire had started to run off he and Wheeljack had gone off after him. She inwardly sighed, raising sparklings was never easy but she certainly hoped that those two would at least put Tripwire's mind at ease about this mess… Since it was now clear that Tripwire would not be coming with them to go see Knockout; but Songbird had a strong feeling that he would yet get the chance to meet his Carrier even if not at this particular point in time... Still, Song gently tossed Paradox into the air and quickly transformed into her gryphon beast mode and little Paradox proceeded to land comfortably on her back. "I'm going to be leaving now… and no, I'm not going to tell Megatron where your base is located." She explained and took note of the surprise visible in the Primes optics.
"You would make a fine Autobot." He commented. But Songbird just shook her head.
"I'm not an Autobot and I'm not a Decepticon… I'm just trying to help the people I consider to be my friends, especially since I'm planning on returning to my normal life after this. You will not encounter me on the battlefield anymore."
"You're leaving?" Smokescreen chirped. "So you Predacon's are going to fight against us anymore?"
"No, I am the one who is leaving… Predaking's going to remain fighting for Megatron. And then eventually all of the Predacon race will be restored… and… he will be a fine king. I'm just not going to be in that picture, it's not my place." Song's voice was actually very sad as she explained this… She'd been planning this for a while now, ever since she first realized that she was beginning to develop feelings for the strong, proud, honorable, and kind dragonformer… He deserved to be the king of Predacon's and she knew that he would be a good king. And when their species would be fully restored he could find someone…
He could do so much better than her…
Song finally managed to pull herself out of her thoughts and was just getting ready to take off when she felt a strong tug on her wing and she looked down to see that Bumblebee and Smokescreen had not been able to keep their grip on Ratchet and he was now looking up and glaring daggers into Songbird's optics.
"If anything happens to her I will personally make you wish that Unicron himself was after you!" He threatened.
"Nothing will happen to her." She reiterated, although she did know that there were no words that could ever really reassure a frightened family member but she was trying.
"Don't worry grandpa, I promise I'll be back soon!" Paradox said smiling at the worrywart of a medic.
"Just… just be careful sweetspark."
"I will… and remember that I love you grandpa!" No sooner did these words leave Paradox's mouth did Song spread her wings and take to the air getting a surprised yelp from the little femme on her back and immediately she clung to the Predacon's neck for dear life. But after a few minutes of getting used to flying she relaxed and began looking down at the world below her in awe, but eventually her optics settled on the crescent moon still shining brightly in the nights sky and she smiled at it.
"Thank you!" Paradox said addressing the moon spirit that had apparently heard her wish.
…and the light of the moon continued to shine down almost in a sad sort of manner…
…almost as though it knew that this night would end in tears…
"Weaver, just what the hell are we doing? I mean I'm all for bending the rules every now and again but I'm not suicidal and what we're doing right now is definitely suicidal!" That was all that Freefall could ask as the trio were doing probably the dumbest thing any of them had ever done in all of their combined years of life…
Since they had snuck into Shockwave's lab that was aboard the Nemesis and Weaver was currently searching through all of the work on his private computer terminal…
"I know! I know! But I need to check something, it's vitally important!" Weaver hissed lowly as her long slender fingers were typing furiously on the keyboard and line after line of data in a language that neither of the human girls could read was scrolling down on the terminals monitor at a rapid rate. And judging by the movements of Orb Weavers head and optics she was apparently managing to keep up with reading all of it.
"Weaver what's wrong? You're scaring me…" Moonrise muttered as she fidgeted nervously in every now and again she looked over her shoulder almost as though she expected the Cyclops to just appear behind them and try to kill them all.
"Seriously what's going on?" Freefall demanded crossing her arms, but she watched as the data suddenly cleared from the screen and an entirely different set of information displayed itself and judging by the look that crossed Weavers face whatever this information really was wasn't good.
"Oh frag…" Weaver whispered in a voice that was barely audible as her optics went wide. "Shockwave is planning to kill Songbird and Predaking on Megatron's orders and then he is planning on killing him too!"
"WHAT?!" Moony and Freefall shrieked in unison and in horror. But the horror of this new information paled in comparison to the complete terror that befell all three of them when the door to Shockwave's lab slid open and the cycloptic mech walked inside and fixed his red optic upon the information on the computer terminals screen and then on them.
"This is a most unfortunate development but ultimately... inevitable." He commented emotionlessly as Weaver got in front of Freefall and Moony and began to frantically look around for some sort of way to make a hasty exit. But thankfully she was able to notice the subtle glow coming from the cannon mounted to his left arm and in a second she whirled around, grabbed the two humans and ducked out of the way of the oncoming blast which successfully blew a hole in the wall right where her head had just been! Moving as fast as she possibly could Weaver ducked and dodged several other blasts as she made a beeline for the door but alas, her speed was simply not enough and one of the blasts collided heavily with her chest, only narrowly missing her spark chamber... this caused her to screech and drop the girls as she slammed hard to the floor energon immediately pouring out of the gaping wound. Shockwave approached her, his cannon charging for what would undoubtedly be the final shot. However the logical mech failed to factor in Freefall, and as soon as she hit the ground the young girl rolled to her feet unsheathed her spear from its position on her back and with all of her might she hurled it at the scientist. Unfortunately her mark was off and rather than her spear fly into his optic it whizzed past his head, missing him entirely. But in her attempt to help Weaver was not in vain, for Shockwave's attention was taken away from the injured techno-organic and drawn onto the two human girls and in a movement faster than one would expect from a creature like him he managed to grab up both girls in a single swift movement of his arm.
And then he began to crush them…
Moony and Freefall both screamed in anguish as they could both literally hear their bones beginning to crack and break in Shockwaves grip. Blood was just beginning to seep out of Freefall's mouth and nose when the older girl realized much to her complete horror that she could see several of the Moony's bones beginning to protrude from sections of her partially exposed arms. But the ever cold and calculating Shockwave didn't kill them right then and there… he dropped them onto the surface of a nearby table and began typing something into the terminal that Weaver had been using only mere minutes prior.
He clicked a few more keys before the whirring sound of a groundbridge humming to life echoed through the lab…
Naturally Shockwave had his own personal groundbridge which he used to secretly travel to several of his laboratories that were concealed on earth, but he wasn't taking the now grievously injured girls to a laboratory… he had something far worse in mind…
"No!" Orb Weaver screeched as she desperately tried to gather her strength and get to Songs daughters but her movements were weak and in that one instance it was too late… Shockwave picked up Moonrise and Freefall and through them through the portal which closed immediately after they went through it.
He sent the two girls to Antarctica in the midst of a terrible Arctic storm…
...in a twisted way Moonrise and Freefall were right back where they started…
...freezing to death in subzero temperatures…
"And now for you…" The scientist said coldly, turning to face the downed teenager. Weaver just glared defiantly at him and prayed to whatever deity was listening that what she was planning to do might just work. Somehow finding the strength to roll onto her side Weaver shot webs from her palms and the sticky webbing hit its target, Shockwaves optic. Immediately he cried out in frustration and shot a blast to where the girl had been only he missed and Orb Weaver sprang up changing her body to her spiderlike alt mode and bolted out of the door. Moving as fast as she could with a near-crippling injury to her chest… A single thought raced through her processor over and over again
…she needed to find and warn Predaking and Songbird…
…even if it turned out to be the last thing she ever did…
But while this horror was taking place, Songbird had returned to the Nemesis with Paradox in tow…
And she was as every bit as careful as she had told the Autobot's she would be. Since she knew exactly which hallways to take in order to avoid running into anyone… Whether they be Megatron, Predaking or even the Vehicons, she tactfully avoided everyone as she made her way to Knockouts berthroom. Thankfully Paradox was very quiet, probably out of her nervousness in anticipation for finally meeting her Carrier. Song finally reached the medic's door and slipped inside.
Ever since Songbird had revealed to him that his sparklings were still alive he returned to his berthroom and had been nervously pacing the entire time. But when the door slid open and the gryphon femme entered the room he stopped dead in his tracks as his large red ringed optics settled on the tiny form holding onto Songs neck. Within a moment she had transformed and Paradox had shifted from being on her back to being in her arms to which Songbird proceeded to gently place her down on the floor and the youngling looked up at Knockout, her gold optics immediately going wide as she realized she was now looking at her only living biological parent. For a few long minutes no one spoke, there was just silence. Finally knockout took a step forward and knelt down to get a better look at his long-lost daughter.
'Primus… she has Breakdowns optics.' He found himself thinking just as tears began to form in the corners of his own optics. Paradox then took a tentative step towards him, looking at his face… Taking note of how his optics were so similar to her brothers. "Bluefire?" He managed to whisper, calling her by the name he had given her when she had been born. Although this stopped Paradox's movement and she shook her head.
"Paradox…" She corrected pretty much able to guess that he didn't know her by the name the Autobots had given her. Knockout grimaced slightly, not really caring for the Autobot's dreadful choice in a name for his daughter... but he would learn to deal with it.
There was another pause…
Right before Paradox ran full speed into Knockout and wrapped her arms around him in a hug and he immediately picked her up and held her close…
Songbird watched the two, a small smile slowly appearing on her features. Knockout immediately began to pepper his daughter's little face with kisses and he determined that he would never ever let her go again. But then he realized something and look at Song questioningly.
"My son?" He asked, wondering where his little Bloodbolt, or whatever Primus-awful name he had been given, was. Song smile faded at this…
"He chose not to come… I'm sorry…" She explained quietly. This earned her a grim nod from Knockout, he could understand his son's decision even if he wasn't happy about it and his grip on his daughter suddenly tightened. Song remained quiet and watched them for a moment longer before she silently backed out of the room leaving the two alone…
And she went to go find her daughters…
Yes that's it for this chapter! In case it's not obvious the ships really going to start hitting the fan in the next chapter Mwahahaha! Right, anyways as always please remember to Read and Review!