Hey all! I'm back with chapter three! Thanks to everyone new who followed this story. Welcome my new readers. I hope to hear from you guys and your thoughts/theories.
Thanks for your review Knockout Starscream! A lot of Knockout in this chapter ;)
LoLMuMz
Soulofdragonfire
noor12xx
Jade gazed at the unfamiliar dark tunnels before her. She was perched atop Sideswipe's shoulder, since Sunstreaker had ignored her when she asked for a ride.
Purple light coursed through the narrow bridge like structure they were all standing on, like an ominous heartbeat. The air here made Jade feel lightheaded, causing shadows to dance across her vision.
"Is this Unicron?" She asked warily.
"His insides," Sideswipe replied with a little shiver, casting a dark glare at their surroundings.
"Do you feel dizzy?" Jade asked the red mech. He shot her a nervous glance.
"Do you?" He replied.
"Hey chatter bots, keep up," Sunstreaker growled from ahead of them. Jade sent her guardian a quick glare.
She had thought that since their drive, she and the golden twin were on a decent path, but when she saw him the next morning he was back to his usual old grumpy self and seemed to want nothing to do with her again.
"What's your brother's deal?" Jade whispered to Sideswipe out of the corner of her mouth.
"No deal, that's just Sunny," the red twin replied. Jade raised her eyebrows to herself, but she wasn't entirely convinced. She had seen Sunstreaker be reassuring, gentle even.
And everyone had 'a deal'.
A sudden noise akin to hundreds of flapping wings suddenly grabbed her attention.
It was hundreds of flapping wings, with strange mechanical creatures attached, and they were heading straight for Team Prime and Megatron.
Sideswipe ran to a side of the bridge that was clear and set her down. Optimus was depositing Harper on the ground next to her a moment later.
"Can't I help?!" Jade called up at the autobot leader, but he was already charging away into battle.
"Jade Sanchester, you will stay right here," Harper demanded, grabbing hold of her wrist. Jade felt a flare of frustration, one that always came when Harper told her what to do, but upon seeing the worried look in her step aunts eye she backed down.
She wasn't sure where the frustration came from. She and Harper were actually the closest before the earthquake. Icelyn had loved Harper too, sure. But to Jade, Harper had been her hero.
But everything changed.
A flying creature suddenly landed in front of them, sparking.
Jade looked up to see Optimus and Megatron blazing an arc through the attackers like a well oiled machine. They seemed to read each other's minds, diving and weaving between each other like they were one in the same.
"That's interesting," Harper said quietly. Jade spared her aunt a glance, but didn't know what to make of the two leaders. She was just glad that they were able to work together when it counted.
Jade glanced over at Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, to find that they were dancing between each other better than Optimus and Megatron did. Then again, they were actually one in the same.
Sunstreaker growled and bared his teeth at one that got too close to Sideswipe, before slicing it in two even halves with his blade.
Then Sideswipe transformed and sped towards Jade and Harper. Jade froze as he changed back into his bipedal mode, launching himself over their heads and tackled a creature away from them.
"Hide!" He instructed, before transforming and driving away.
Jade and Harper ran closer to the circular door that was blocking their escape, and desperately looked for a corner to dive into.
Before they could however, Optimus and Megatron ran up to the door.
Jade listened to them debate how to open the door and then Megatron said something about tricking Unicron before he stood with his chest close to the door. His insignia glowed purple and the door opened with a hiss.
"What about the others?" Jade asked as she and Harper stepped towards the two leaders.
"The Autobots will hold the line while we defeat Unicron," Optimus explained.
"But –" Jade started to argue but Harper put a hand on her shoulder.
"The sooner you and Optimus stop Unicron, the sooner everyone will be safe," she said calmly. Optimus nodded in agreement. Jade shot a worried looked over her shoulder at the warring mechs.
Sunstreaker was cutting through the creatures viciously, but even he was beginning to look overwhelmed. However, the thought of Icelyn being controlled by this monster was enough to get her moving.
"Okay," she agreed, and the four of them charged deeper into the tunnel.
The tunnels inside Unicorn were a maze, but Megatron would close his eyes from time to time and then choose a new tunnel with confidence. In minutes there were approaching a large chamber.
Jade's eyes widened at the enormous glowing ball of energy before them. It was crackling with purple life, and it thrummed like a heartbeat.
Unicron's spark.
"How do we destroy it?" Jade asked.
"We must empty to power of the matrix into it," Optimus explained gently.
"How do I do that?" Jade asked, looking up worriedly into his layered blue eyes. She had been so focused on the present, she didn't even think about the fact that she had no idea how to release the power that accidentally got inside her.
"The matrix is an ancient energy, and it is made of the wisdom of the Primes. It carries a strange sentience. Look within yourself, and focus on your mission. The matrix will know what to do," Optimus assured her, and held out a hand for her to climb onto. Jade wasn't sure what to do with the instructions he just gave her, but it wasn't like there was another option.
Optimus turned to Harper.
"You too Miss Sanchester," he said in a sincere tone. Harper climbed on board his hand.
"What will happen to us when the power of the matrix leaves?" Jade asked in a small voice.
"Hurry! He will discover our presence," Megatron demanded.
Optimus only shot her a worried glance.
"You will be fine. Of that I am certain. The matrix is not so engrained in your life force," he said, before rising to his full height, which was considerable, and turned towards his enemies spark.
Jade watched as he opened his chest cavity to reveal the small golden device that contained his spark and the power of the matrix.
There was a tug in her chest and she felt that same power that had enveloped her body back at base. It felt like taking a breath after being underwater for too long.
It coursed through her like it was cleansing every terrible feeling she ever had and filled her soul with meaning and purpose.
Her vision was tinted with that luminous light blue and she saw Harper looking at her in worry.
But her aunt only reached out a hand, which Jade took gratefully.
"You can do this," Harper told her, and for a moment it was like Jade was seeing her hero again.
Jade turned to the spark and imagined that cleansing energy leaving her heart and coursing through the evil spark before her instead.
Behind her, a massive beam of light hit the spark and she assumed Optimus was doing his work. The energy then began to leave her, driving into Unicron's spark.
It was a strange feeling. As the magic left, she was simply, herself again. But herself was a far cry from the power of the matrix. She almost didn't want to let go of the wonderful feeling it gave her.
She felt the pain of losing her parents settle back into her heart like rot, and the dull ache for home and the fear for her sister's fate. It all came seeping back into her mind as the wisdom of the Prime's left her body.
Then suddenly Unicron's spark exploded into stardust, and vanished, leaving the sound of his screams echoing around the now dark and empty cavern.
Jade collapsed, feeling nothing but Harper's arms around her. The last thing she heard was,
"Where are we, Megatronus?" From a familiar baritone voice.
Then her mind turned to darkness.
When Icelyn opened her eyes her first thought was confusion. The last thing she remembered was that she was trapping the mad god inside her mind in stasis. She honestly thought she wasn't ever going to wake up again.
She blinked blearily and a shiver went down her spine at the cold from stasis.
"Wakey wakey," a smug voice said. She looked up towards it to see bright red paint hovering above her head.
"Sideswipe?" She asked groggily. Her heart gave a slight flutter of appreciation for her mech, but it was crushed a moment later.
"Try again," the voice said, and she found deep red optics and a sadistic grin leering down at her.
"Who are you?" She asked, taking a step back.
"Your new physician sweetspark. But most mechs call me Knockout," he said, with a mocking bow.
"I'm still on the ship," she said quietly, her eyes widening in fear.
She had assumed that Megatron and Optimus working together meant that if she was freed from Unicron, Optimus would have bargained for her safety.
"I do hope you enjoy your stay. It's permanent," Knockout said, before reaching down a clawed servo to pick her up.
"What!" She cried, trying to pry his sleek fingers off of her to no avail. Knockout deposited her into a cage on one of his science lab tables.
"Why? I'm of no use to you. I'm just human," she pointed out in panic.
"Just human! You have the power of Dark Energon flowing through your veins. You are a miracle of science femme, and Lord Megatron plans to study you," Knockout said with delight.
"And by Lord Megatron, I mean me. So let's see, what's the best way to open you up," he hissed gleefully. Icelyn's brain was going a mile a minute. She needed to stop him, and obviously it was not going to be with brute strength. Wits was all she had.
"How do you know I'm any use to you dead," she said quickly.
Knockout paused, and Icelyn took that as her cue to continue.
"If you kill me, how do you know you'll learn anything from my body. Energon is an energy source. Something tells me a dead human body isn't going to be a great host for an energy source," she pointed out.
"Scientifically you might be right, but Lord Megatron's orders were to open you up," Knockout growled.
"You're obviously a scientist. Are you really going to kill me before running any experiments while I'm alive? You can still follow your masters orders and kill me once you have the data," Icelyn pointed out.
"What exactly is your angle in that plan," Knockout demanded.
"More time," she said, giving the red mech the most pathetic look she could muster. More time to think of an escape. She thought to herself, but she needed Knockout to underestimate her so she didn't say that.
Knockout studied her for a long moment.
"Alright human, but if I spare you for now you have to do something for me," he said crossing his arms.
"What?" Icelyn asked cautiously.
Suddenly, Knockout transformed into a sleek red car.
"I want to go to one of those human car wash places. The ones with the full wash and wax option but obviously I can't without human credit and a human driver," Knockout was talking quickly, and his voice was demanding, but Icelyn couldn't help but smile.
"Deal," she agreed, trying to hide her smile. I suppose even Decepticons need spa days. She thought to herself.
"And you can't – tell," he said in a quieter voice.
"Tell?" She asked as he transformed back into his bipedal mode and stepped towards her cage.
"If you tell anyone, I will turn you into a science experiment faster than you can say Autobot," he hissed.
Ah. Tell.
Right.
Icelyn swallowed her fear and held out a hand.
"What are you doing?" Knockout asked, eyeing her hand dubiously.
"It's a handshake, it's how humans make deals. It means neither of us can go back on our word," she explained. Knockout raised an eyebrow.
"Not a habit of Decepticons, honoring our words," he pointed out.
"Well, you can trust me if I can trust you," Icelyn said with certainty. Knockout looked, if possible, more perplexed than before but he held out a slender digit and they 'shook' on it.
As far as Decepticons went, Knockout wasn't nearly as bad as she had pictured. He certainly wasn't Optimus Prime, but he wasn't the bloodthirsty monster that she had expected. Well, he did try to dissect her – but he was willing to spare her for a car wash so he couldn't be that bad.
Knockout adjusted his review mirror to again sneak a glimpse at the human sitting patiently in the drivers seat. He had taken her through a ground bridge to a city called Los Angelos, which she recommended.
She was gazing out his windows with a sorrowful expression as they drove towards what she claimed was a fancy car wash.
He wondered briefly if she had taken them to the city the Autobots were in, in hopes they would rescue her, but Knockout dismissed the idea as quickly as it had come. She seemed intelligent, and she wouldn't give him the location of the Autobots base of operations – even if it meant freedom. The risk was too great.
"Turn left up ahead," she said quietly, not pulling her gaze away from the window.
Knockout turned his attention to the streets. Many of the buildings and sidewalks were under construction. It looked as though the city had maybe seen some fighting of it's own.
He was going to ignore the construction, as human cities and history shouldn't have mattered to him – but the tiny EM field Icelyn was giving out contained a level of sadness that made curiosity get the better of him.
"Why is this city trashed? Was there a fight?" He asked as they cruised down the next road.
"Not exactly," she said quietly, and gave him another street direction. She was solemnly silent for a long stretch and Knockout gave a little shiver of discomfort at the waves of emotion coming from the human femme.
All sentient beings had an EM field. A small aura that projected their emotions and feelings into the surrounding area. However, Cybertronians were one of the few species that could detect an EM field, and as such many Cybertronians learned to reign it in from a young age.
Humans clearly did not have this skill and Knockout wasn't used to dealing with someone else's emotions being thrown in his face. He wondered how the Autobots put up with it.
"Pull in here," Icelyn said with an even voice. Knockout was surprised again. Despite the immense pain rolling off the femme, she physically looked perfectly fine. Not an ounce of sadness was evident in her expression.
Perhaps humans learned to control their emotions in other ways.
Knockout pulled into the small lot Icelyn had pointed to. It said Octo's Wash in cartoonish letters, and there was a tunnel ahead of them.
"Pull up to the tunnel," Icelyn said. Knockout obliged.
Knockout rolled down his window so Icelyn could speak to the human operator outside the tunnel.
"Five dollars for a regular wash, ten for the deluxe," he said in a dull voice.
Icelyn handed him a piece of paper.
"We'll take the deluxe," she said. The operator raised an eyebrow and glanced at the empty passenger seat.
"Right. Well pull up and put your car in neutral," the guy said.
Icelyn placed her hands on Knockout's wheel and he pulled towards the dark tunnel. He threw his gears into neutral as they got close and a conveyor belt started moving him along.
"This machine is gonna have a lot of mechanisms, but nothing should hurt, just don't drive on the conveyor belt okay," she said in a reassuring voice.
Knockout had to admit, the dark tunnel was extremely ominous, but if human cars went through this thing he certainly could. Cybertronian alloy was substantially stronger.
He almost transformed on reflex when he was suddenly barraged from the side by a spray of pink soap.
Enormous fluffy sponges, spinning on mechanized arms were next. He had to admit, the feeling of them scrubbing off the dirt from his doors was relieving.
He gave a small sigh of content.
The next thing to hit him were long thick strips of fabric, that reminded him of those human creatures, octopus's he thought they were called.
The octopus arms slid over his windshield, taking all the dirt and grime with them.
Next was water, and the spray was thorough in getting all the soap off of him.
Then air, which dried him quickly so that there wouldn't be water marks. Then the tunnel was over, and it deposited him back onto the concrete where he put himself back in drive.
"Pull into that spot there," Icelyn said, pointing. Knockout, feeling pleased with the wash, did as she asked happily.
Icelyn hopped out of the drivers side door and grabbed some equipment from the wall they had parked next to. She approached with the equipment and was going to start doing something, but Knockout spoke up.
"You sure you know what you're doing?" He asked. She nodded firmly.
"My sister and I used to wax a ton of cars on the weekends," she explained.
"For credits?" Knockout asked.
"Mhm," she hummed and got to work. She was quick and confident in her motions so Knockout relaxed.
Being so close, Knockout could still feel her intense EM field. It was still thick with sadness, but there was also another feeling mixed in with it. He tried to focus on it, because it was so strange to him.
It seemed to be linked with the passage of time. She wished for the past, longed for it even to the point where it hurt. But the thought of past also made her happy.
Cybertronians didn't really long for the past. Their lives were so long and often millions of year ago felt like 'the other day' as humans would put it. Knockout couldn't imagine longing for what seemed like last year for Icelyn.
"You didn't answer my question from before," he said suddenly. He wasn't sure why he was bringing this up again, but when he asked Icelyn about what happened to the city, she had only denied that the destruction was due to fighting.
Icelyn looked at his drivers seat in confusion.
"What's that?" She asked.
"Why is this city destroyed?" He pressed.
Icelyn looked away quickly and stared intently at the ground.
"A month ago, there was an earthquake. The tectonic plates of our planet shifted around and destroyed everything – took everything," she explained in a quiet voice.
"A month ago? When Unicorn first awoke?" Knockout asked.
"What?" She said, looking up in confusion.
"I listen to the radio. There were these natural disasters as you humans put it, all over the globe when Unicron awoke from his slumber. After all, he is the core of this planet," Knockout explained.
"So that demon in my head. My whole life being taken away – it's all his fault?" She demanded, and her EM field spiked in hot anger. Knockout was about to address that but another thing she said caught his attention.
"You're life. Do you – live here?" He asked. The sadness was quick to overtake Icelyn again.
"I did," she muttered.
"The earthquake took my parents, and destroyed our apartment building. My sister and I live with our step-aunt now and we had to move – somewhere cheaper. Then we ran into the Autobots, and then I was possessed by the god who apparently destroyed everything in the first place and now I'm stuck with you and the Decepticons who might kill me at any minute and I have no idea if I'm going to see my sister ever again!" She was seething now and Knockout had half a mind to drive away and leave the temperamental human there.
But Megatron would kill him if he did that. Not to mention – well something in him just wouldn't let him drive away.
"That's, quite the story," he managed. Icelyn didn't say anything. She just returned to her waxing, which was coming along nicely for somebody so upset.
Knockout was trying to figure out what to say to her. The silence was horrible considering he could feel her every emotion while she pretended like she was fine.
Before he could even stop himself he blurted out the first thing related to her story.
"Velocitron fell in a single day!"
What the frag is wrong with me.
She looked up with confusion written on her face.
"Veloci-what?" She asked.
"My home world. It was a colony world of Cybertron. Home of racers and speedsters, where I'm from," he explained. He was silent, not sure why he brought it up or if he should even keep talking.
"What happened to it?" She asked. Knockout adjusted his mirror to see she was focused on waxing and maybe that casual feigned disinterest was what allowed him to speak.
"We never thought the war would reach Velocitron, but it did and – well speed wasn't really a match for warship Ion cannons. In one cycle, every Velocitronian was forced to pick a side," he said, his processor pulling up footage from that day which he ignored.
"And you picked the Decepticons?" She asked with a hint of judgement in her voice.
"I – Primus if Soundwave heard this," he muttered.
"I never cared about the sides. The war was over Cybertronian governement, which I never much cared for. My partner did though. Breakdown. Megatron's message was about equality and Breakdown was a slow mech on a speed planet. You're smart – I'm sure you can grasp why my partner was so enchanted by the Decepticon movement."
"Megatron was after equality?" Icelyn asked in confusion.
"Typical of the Autobots to wash out the story," Knockout muttered.
"Well the Autobots also don't try to dissect humans for science," she shot back quickly. Knockout grumbled to himself, but continued his story.
"I never cared about sides. I was content on Velocitron, but I loved Breakdown. I knew the moment he came home claiming he wanted to join the Decepticons that I was going to follow him. Staying with my partner was the most important thing."
"I guess I understand that," Icelyn admitted and Knockout couldn't contain the surprise that radiated through his field – though Icelyn couldn't feel it.
"You do?"
"Sure. If my twin was going to join a political cause I would follow her if just to keep her safe. But I also would try to advise her against staying if the movement became something like the Decepticons," she explained.
"It's more complicated than that. You can't just quit the Decepticons," Knockout said, and a shudder ran through his body.
"What do you mean?" Icelyn asked.
"Megatron has a Justice Division dedicated to finding and executing deserters, and Breakdown certainly doesn't want to join the Autobots. They will always represent a group that is based in discrimination," Knockout said.
"The Decepticons evolved. Is it too hard to believe that maybe the Autobots have too?" Icelyn asked.
Before Knockout had a chance to really think about that, Megatron commend him.
"Knockout! Where are you?" His leader growled in his ear.
"Scouting my Liege," Knockout lied quickly.
"You owe me a report on your human experiment," his leader demanded.
"I'll be back before you can say Decepticon," he tried keeping his tone light but Megatron was having none of it.
"Return to base," he seethed.
"Time to wrap it up prisoner," Knockout demanded.
"Well lucky for you I just finished," Icelyn said, dropping the materials and hopping into the front seat.
Soundwave opened a bridge beneath the little car wash roof they were under and Knockout drove through quickly to avoid being spotted.
"Are you going to kill me?" Icelyn asked nervously as they drove through the green vortex.
"Can you do something interesting, alive?" He asked, but he was being entirely serious. He remembered shaking hands with Icelyn and it felt like slag to go back on their deal.
"I'll try," she said with a shrug.
They arrived on the other side of the bridge and Icelyn hopped out while Knockout transformed.
"The human is still alive!" Megatron screamed through grit denta.
Knockout stepped to the side.
"My lord, our human experiement has far more to offer us alive than dead," Knockout lied and prayed to Primus that they could come up with something.
"Oh? And pray tell Knockout, what might that be?" The dark lord demanded.
Before Knockout delivered a poorly thought out lie, a purple streak flew past his head and promptly melted the far wall of the warship. All heads turned to Icelyn.
"Because I have Unicron's magic in me, and if you kill me, you'll lose it," Icelyn spoke up bravely.
"Dark Energon has the power to awaken the dead. I should kill you now and twist your reanimated body and powers to my very will," Megatron pointed out, staring the tiny human down. Her EM field coursed with fear but she didn't even flinch. Not an ounce of fear even showed in her eyes.
"Maybe, or maybe I'll die and the magic with me. I'm human. You have no idea what will happen. You really want to take that risk?" Icelyn asked. They had an intense standoff where wintery blue eyes met red ones with ferocity.
"Continue your experiments," Megatron said to Knockout, not taking his gaze off the tiny blonde. He still had that look on his face of being almost impressed.
Knockout felt a small wave of relief wash over him and he nodded before scooping up Icelyn in his servo and walking as calmly as he could back to his lab.
"You're either very brave," Knockout started.
"Or very stupid, I know. Usually my sister is the impulsive one," she said quietly. Knockout could feel that she missed her twin. He almost sympathized, considering the one time he was separated from Breakdown he felt the same way. But he shook it off.
He knew Jade was on this ship, along with the amnesiac Optimus Prime and another older red-haired human. If he wasn't careful around this sorrowful blonde, he might let something slip.
Then Megatron would surely kill them both.
Sunstreaker stood entirely still while Sideswipe paced the ground in front of him.
"We don't actually know what Optimus would do because he's not here!" Bulkhead was shouting.
Sunstreaker could've been a statue. He hadn't said a word and he didn't plan to.
After everything that he and his brother had been through, life had seemed like a joke lately. They went from being frontline soldiers to getting into strange and mystical predicaments on a backwater planet with the likes of humans, and Optimus who was the one reason he stayed with the Autobots, had lost all his memory.
We should leave this planet. He shot at Sides.
Sideswipe looked up at him with that annoyingly stubborn expression.
We can't leave. His twin thought back sharply.
We absolutely could. All we need is a ship and then we can make our way in the galaxy like we did back on Cybertron. Sunstreaker pointed out.
The urge to run had never been stronger for him. Every time slag hit the fan it became very difficult for him to remember why he was still fighting this four million year long war.
And what, go back to fighting to the death for a scrappy handful of credits just so we can refuel, and being abused by terrible handlers who take most of our earnings? Sideswipe argued.
It would be different this time. Sunstreaker thought, but it was halfhearted as memories spilled through his head.
He was fiercely independent, and he knew that he and his twin could make it on their own if they wanted to. Sideswipe piped up in the bond again at that.
We could make it on our own, but that's not the kind of mech I want to be anymore. I want to be better, like we said when we joined up. I want to rescue Icelyn – I
You what. Sunstreaker spat. You wanna be the hero. He drawled.
Maybe I do. Sideswipe said angrily. Is that so terrible.
Sunstreaker thought to the many times bots had looked down on him, sneered at him, flinched away from him, or avoided him.
It's foolish is what it is. We'll never be heroes to the Autobots and the moment Icelyn learns of your past she'll think of you the same way. You think humans are any different than bots? If anything they'll understand even less being so young and naïve. Sunstreaker hissed angrily.
Optimus doesn't think of us like that. He believed we could be better.
Well, Optimus is gone.
Sideswipe shot him a glare and turned to the conversation where Jack was holding up a key card of some kind.
"You should have this," he was saying and handing towards Ratchet.
"Jack, Optimus entrusted you with the keycard. You must be the one to travel to Cybertron and restore his memories. Ah. Vector Sigma. He thought.
Sunstreaker withheld a scoff. It was clear that Optimus was becoming foolish. Entrusting a human with a job one of the bots would be much better suited for. Vector Sigma would restore their Prime, but he seriously doubted Jack could pull it off.
"Jack is not going to Cybertron, not when one of you can," June Darby argued fiercely from her spot on the catwalk.
Sunstreaker tuned out the ensuing conversation. They would go around in a few circles before deciding Jack could go. They had similar debates like this before.
"What about Jade?" Miko piped up suddenly.
To his dismay, Sunstreaker automatically tuned back in. Whatever. If Jade was involved it meant he might need to participate in something. That was the only reason he started paying attention.
"What about her?" Ratchet asked.
"Didn't some of the matrix power go into her? Can't she just restore Optimus's memories?" Miko asked.
Sunstreaker felt his heart give a small flutter of worry, because the opposite was likely true. Ratchet seemed to think the same thing.
"By the allspark. I hadn't considered," he muttered to himself.
"Wait, does that mean I'm right? Jack doesn't have to go to Cybertron? Cause that would be totally unfair if he got to go and I didn't," Miko pointed out, to which Jack shot her a look.
"No. The matrix absorbs knowledge. All of Jade's memories were likely being intertwined with the matrix energy inside her, which was then deposited into Unicron's spark and lost along with Optimus's. She is probably also suffering memory loss," Ratchet explained.
"Well, no biggie right?" Jack said. "I can just use this keycard to restore her memories too, right?" He asked.
"No Jack, I fear the memories Jade is missing cannot be separated from the entirety of the knowledge held within the matrix, Optimus will likely receive the wisdom Jade passed down during her short time with the matrix," Ratchet explained.
"What wisdom? Optimus is just going to have a impulsive side effect from now on," Sunstreaker growled. But his processor was elsewhere.
It was back at the night he had driven Jade home and told her about Praxus. She wouldn't remember any of it. He felt both relief and disappointment at that prospect.
What was he saying?
He just felt relief. Complete relief that his little slip-up had been amended.
In a moment of weakness, Jade had reminded him of Sideswipe and he had shared personal information that some random human femme had no right knowing.
He was glad that was fixed.
"Well, we can just fill her in on those days right? She'll still remember everyone," Raf said hesitantly.
"Yes Rafael, she will still remember everyone. Optimus forgot a great deal more because he received the matrix four million years ago. Jade will only be missing a couple of days," Ratchet assured the young boy.
"Well we're all forgettin' one key detail," Jazz said, bringing reason to the conversation.
"We ain't got a means 'o reaching Cybertron."
"The cons were rebuilding one, but we have no way to locate it," Sideswipe agreed.
"Uh if it's a space bridge," Miko started, and Sunstreaker braced for something stupid.
"Isn't it, you know," she pointed up. Ratchet about blew a gasket at that theory.
"The term space bridge refers to it's travel ability not it's physcial location!" He said with extreme exasperation.
Before the punk girl and the ornery medic could get into it, a computer notification interrupted everyone.
"A high frequency signal, with an imbedded message," Ratchet groaned and everyone followed suit. Since Starscream went rouge he had not left them the frag alone.
"Just open a bridge. I've been waiting to tear that seeker's wings off in a round of jet judo," Sunstreaker growled.
"Ep ep ep, Starscream may have information we require," Ratchet said sternly. Sunstreaker seethed but went back to standing still.
"Bulkhead, Sideswipe, accompany me," Ratchet ordered.
"Jazz and Arcee, prepare for Cybertron. If Starscream gives us it's location, you two and Jack will leave immediately. Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, be ready. You'll be helping us storm the spacebridge," Ratchet ordered.
"Who cares if Prime is gone, you've got everything under control Hatchet," Sunstreaker shot out angrily. His bad mood was really beginning to set in.
"Sunstreaker," Ratchet warned. Sunstreaker would've argued, but an angry Ratchet was not a fun Ratchet so he shut his mouth and watched his twin leave with the other two to confront Starscream.
Jazz and Arcee began speaking with Jack about Cybertron, and Bumblebee speak to Raf and Miko, so Sunstreaker slunk into base.
He stormed angrily down the tunnel, but he didn't make it very far before a small yelp caught his attention. He looked down to the ground and found he had nearly stepped on Kristofer.
"What are you doing," Sunstreaker demanded at the small boy. "I could've stepped on you."
"I need to talk to you," Kris said. Sunstreaker wanted to just stomp past the tiny child, bit his big brown eyes caused an impressive amount of guilt.
Sunstreaker glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was nearby before bending down and scooping up the boy.
Kris was never afraid of the mechs, and was completely used to being carried around. It was humans he flinched at, which Sunstreaker had always wondered about.
Sunstreaker carried Kris to his and Sideswipe's quarter.
"What?" He asked gruffly, setting Kris down on the desk.
"Jade didn't get rid of all the matrix energy," Kris said in a quiet tone. Sunstreaker felt his spark flip flop in his chassis, but he bit back an outburst for Kris.
Woah, you okay? Sideswipe immediately asked.
I'm fine. Tell you later. Sunstreaker thought back.
"What are you talking about Kris?" He asked as calmly as he could.
"The voice in my head told me," Kris said earnestly.
"The what?" Sunstreaker demanded, emotions leaking out of his field at this point.
Sunny? You're worrying me. Sides again.
Trying to focus here. Sunstreaker snapped.
"There's a voice in my head that tells me things. It says things that are true. It told me everyone would survive the trip to Unicron," Kris explained. Sunstreaker was trying very hard to reign in his 'freak out' response.
"Did this voice say who they were?" Sunstreaker asked the tiny boy.
"Um, I can ask," Kris said.
"Will you do that for me?" Sunstreaker agreed. Kris nodded and then closed his eyes. An uncomfortable moment of silence passed.
"Hi. Who are you?" Kris said suddenly. Sunstreaker leaned back in worry.
"Uhuh. Yeah. I know. Uhuh." Kris continued the strange conversation and Sunstreaker could see his eyes moving back and forth beneath his lids. He shivered. When Kris opened his eyes again, Sunstreaker tried to look as neutral as possible.
"What did it say?" He asked.
"He says his name is Metroplex. He says he's connected to the matrix too because he's a Titan, and he can sense where it's power is. That's how he knows it's still in Jade," Kris explained.
"How did know everyone would survive Unicron?" Sunstreaker asked.
"There was a prophecy about it," Kris said.
"Right. Obviously. And this prophecy handily said 'none of the Autobots or their human partners will die'?" Sunstreaker asked a little sarcastically.
"No. It said those who face the chaos bringer during the alignment shall be rewarded with life but lose themselves," Kris recited.
"Normally that would be very cryptic," Sunstreaker began.
"But it makes perfect sense now," Kris finished with a nod.
"Is it bad that Jade still has some of the power of the matrix then?" Sunstreaker asked.
"It's not bad for Jade, but the matrix is power of Primus. It's equal and opposite to the power of Unicron. If Jade still has some in her," Kris slowed down.
"Then some small part of Unicron's power is still out there," Sunstreaker realized, his spark fluttering in worry.
Seriously bro, what's going on? Sideswipe demanded.
Sideswipe, get back to base.
Sunstreaker scooped Kris up and walked into the main hanger just as the others were arriving through the ground bridge. Everyone looked at him and Jazz threw a protective look at Kris.
"Unicron is still alive," Sunstreaker said solemnly. He shot a regretful look at his twin.
"Some small part of him – is probably still possessing Icelyn."
Okay. Bit of a shorter chapter, but this feels like the right place to end. Please please leave some feedback, or just say hi! I love hearing from my readers. Hope you guys liked the chapter. And also, for future reference, after this whole Unicron/Icelyn, Primus/Jade arc, the story will probably take a bit of a domestic turn for the bots and humans to bond.
There's still a lot you guys don't know about the characters that i plan to reveal throughout the story. Also, what do we think about Optimus/Harper? Do we want more of them? Do we want to see more Jazz/Kris? You'll definitely get more backstory on everybody, but I'd love to know which human pairing you're most excited to read about so I know how much to include them.
Anyway,
Keep Writing Keep Reading, Nova Out ;)