Author's Note: Hahaha…well! I can imagine what one might say. I think you'll be much more interested in reading first and then listening to me sap at the bottom. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers.

Chapter 18: Descendant pt. 2

The mech that had taken Starscream away and placed him in the tiny room had disappeared long ago. The youngling was exhausted, tanks aching in their hunger, yet even as Starscream tried to reach his cousin or Barricade, nothing responded. He feared that Unicron had possibly killed them as well—but a small string of hope was denying such thoughts. He simply hoped, above all else, that Optimus would not try to rescue him—after all, he was like his father, a leader. People needed their leaders, and one youngling among a thousand soldiers was nothing.

Yet, somehow, his selfish spark still wished he was here.

"Rise," the deep rumble of Unicron demanded, seeming to come from everywhere.

Legs trembling, the sparkling got to his feet, not bothering to shake off the substance that was caked to the lower half of his body. Instead, he tried his best to harden his spark to prepare himself for what Unicron had in store for him. Someway, somehow, he had to figure out, if it was at all possible, if he had the strength, to get himself and everyone else out of this mess. He was the only one capable of these powers, and he had an obligation. At least, the past twenty minutes had given him the courage to believe so.

Tentacles lashed out, making Starscream yelp as he jerked into the middle of the room, being squeezed until a vice-like grip held him.

"You know, youngling," Unicron murmured, "the time you spent walking and fell into Prime's arms, you were a Decepticon. Second to Megatron, you created nothing but havoc and hatred amongst both your faction and your enemies. Everyone hated you and you only cared for yourself."

Starscream trembled, optics wide as he felt his spark clench in its casing. "Y-you're lying! That's all you do!"

"I'm not lying," Unicron returned, voice slithery.

A single tentacle suddenly appeared before the sparkling's face, the seeker bending backwards to face away from it. However, the things holding him were unmovable, and suddenly the separate limb connected to the center of Starscream's forehead. Electrical pulses made the youngling scream in surprise, images flashing before his optics of another lifetime. Emotions, desires, hopes, dreams, nightmares, horror, abandonment, panic, anguish…

"And if I were leader…!"

"Yes, oh wise and glorious leader?"

"You filthy Autobot scum!"

"You slagging pathetic excuse of a leader!"

"NO!" Starscream cried, breaking he connection with the snap of his head. Those memories didn't belong to him…they couldn't have! He was still a child! A mere sparkling! There was no way that such a monster could be him. He lived with Optimus, a hero full of truth and courage, and was teaching him to be the same.

"No matter how much you try to deny it, it's the truth," murmured Unicron's voice right next to Starscream's audio receptor, "and sometimes, the truth hurts."

"It isn't possible…I'm a sparkling!" cried the youngling, tears already pouring over his optics.

"My power made you a sparkling!" snarled the Chaos Bringer, "I made you forget…and I can make you remember!"

Tentacles shot up from beneath Starscream's legs, electricity arching between them as they took hold of his tiny limbs. They fastened around him like vices, giving him the feeling that something terrible was drawing closer. "No, no, no!" screamed the sparkling, more memories of his past self revealing before his optics. "NO!"

"I demand you respect me as the Second in Command and future leader of the Decepticons!"

"Megatron recognizes my abilities as a supreme warrior and strategist, and that is why I am second and you are his disposable pawns!"

"With this amount of energon, I can finally complete the weapon that will destroy Megatron and the Autobot army! Neither Megatron nor Optimus will be able to stand in my way for taking back Cybertron and soon this whole damned universe! At long last, no-one will look down upon me or dare to insult me!"

Starscream shook himself from the memories that were pouring in his processor, spark broken at the sight at who he once was. The selfish and violent Decepticon returned, but the sparkling within him still didn't allow him to reign. Optimus' fatherly love kept the beasts within him at bay, and the hope that he would still come for him. Starscream knew that if Optimus hadn't took him in, he would've very well gone ahead to destroy the planet that had brought nothing but pain into his life. The leader of the Autobots, whom the past Starscream in him wanted to destroy for his own caustic reasons.

What would he think of the sparkling now? Would he look down upon him for who he once was? No, he wouldn't. Because Optimus wasn't like that, and so neither would Starscream. "I don't want to be cruel or mean! I want to be like opi…like Optimus!"

The last high note of the sentence shook the chamber that Starscream was held in, making Starscream's spark jump in its casing. Normally it took so much more to bring his power out of him, but that word alone had brightened the environment with shinning energy, which quickly dissipated. Unicron's features did not reveal if he was surprised or not, but he certainly didn't expect it. Only when the gruesome smile shifted his features did the youngling shiver in fear.

"Well, now," laughed the Chaos Bringer, appearing before the sparkling with that devilish smile, "that was quite the response. Do it again."

"No!" cried Starscream, which once again triggered another tremor.

Unicron, although the youngling couldn't see all of his face, noted that the mech seemed to be observing something, before that evil grin once again took over his appearance. "It seems like my brother couldn't resist coming into the game after all…" he murmured, glancing down at the sparkling before kneeling and saying, "he changed your power triggers. Now defiance outweighs the fear. How interesting."

"What are you talking about?" said Starscream, making his tone as rigid as possible.

"Your 'Big Mech' has decided to be the back-stabber…while I made your powers become strongest when you were in fear and pain, he went behind the scenes and changed them so that your courage and strength made them most powerful. Funny how he tells me I'm the deceiver," chuckled Unicron, patting the youngling on the head before rising once more. "Well, no matter. It will all turn out the same in the end. You will destroy everything your voice will come in contact with."

"You can't make me sing!" cried the sparkling.

The Planet-Eater smirked. "No, but I can make you scream."

"Sir, the object Unicron is only five million kliks away. What are your orders?" asked an uneasy drone, objective in appearance, but his tone drenched in fear. "Since Megatron—"

"We are going to wait," Shockwave cut through, "as per Megatron's orders. He will arrive soon enough, and he has required us to be patient. And we will be patient."

The Decepticon drone did not take his response well, however, Shockwave's commands were absolute, just as Megatron's were. There was nothing the planet could do but wait for their leader to return—and they hoped soon, because it seemed as though Unicron was gathering power. It wouldn't be long before the Planet-Eater would decide to attack. How long would the underlings stand the Decepticon's orders without bursting into chaos? Their "patience" wouldn't sustain for long.

"Guardian! An unmarked spacecraft is landing on the pad! Should we disarm them—?"

"No! That's Megatron, open all access points!"

The two main doors suddenly slammed open to the control room, flying across the floor from the sheer force and surprising all the occupants within. What more were the silver figure and the red and blue form that walked in together, not bothering to waste time with formalities or explanations. Shockwave nearly boasted a spark attack at the sight of his leader, but quickly bowed in respect. "Lord Megatron! We are—"

"Notify all troops to gather up what they can and report back to their bases. We need all the weaponry and forces we can get! Prime, use your access codes into our computer to do the same. After that, we'll send a unified signal telling everyone to come together as one power! Quickly, Shockwave!" cried the powerhouse, offering a point to where Jazz and Prowl could use their computers.

"Y-yes, my lord!" responded the guardian, not even saluting before he turned and dashed towards the computer boards.

All at once, the room was in a complete frenzy, both Decepticons and Autobots moving as fast as possible to ensure that Megatron's orders were completed. The silver leader glanced at Optimus, whom was speaking to Sunstreaker, before asking, "What does the sparkling say?"

Prime silenced his conversation, stepping back to face his brother while Skywarp was completely engross at looking at the live feed of Unicron that was plastered on the main screen. "He says that Starscream is in a great deal of pain, and I have a feeling that Unicron's going to amplify Starscream's voice to destroy everything in his path, and we're his first target."

Megatron thought briefly, staring at the youngling as his bright, sky-blue optics stared off into the distance. Such power within such a tiny creature seemed to never be possible—let alone one such as Skywarp. But it was nonetheless, and he knew that the tiny ebony flier would do anything to bring back Starscream.

"Then we, too, must amplify his powers," the Decepticon leader at last stated, walking up to the three. Skywarp glanced at the larger, as though he was awaiting his commands as well. "What will it take to increase your powers, Skywarp?"

The youngling remained silent for a moment, then murmured in an almost unnatural way, "You hear a voice…you watch a dance."

"Well I know that," grouched the silver one.

"But if Unicron is using a microphone…" Optimus whispered, the light switching on for him instantly, "then we need…!"

"Mirrors," filled in Sunstreaker, "and a slag ton of them. We can spread them across a flat area if we do it fast. We need all the speedies together."

The two brothers were on it immediately, Prime shouting, "Jazz, Mirage, I need you!"

If only I had Barricade here…Megatron muttered, barking out Blackout and Thundercracker's names. No use wishing.

"Seriously, you need to stop crying. I've grown sick of it and it's getting us nowhere," snapped the black Ford, scowling at his counterpart. "If anything, we need a find a way out of here."

Bumblebee seemed to do all but listen; the Autobot felt as if he failed to protect his charge, but he certainly wasn't making up for it by acting in such a manner. As a matter of fact, it just made Barricade feel like crap, too, and that was the least thing he needed. He knew by this time, Megatron had arrived on Cybertron and was conducting his own attempt at a counterattack, and the Decepticon wanted to desperately do the same, however, the golden Autobrat was less than enthused. If Barricade could punch him in the face to snap him from his emotional trance, he would, but unfortunately they were back-to-back and therefore would have to coax him out of it with words.

"Bumblebee," urged the aggressive one as he tried to making his tone as gentle as possible. "What would Starscream or Optimus think of you if they saw you? They need you right now (like I do), so get the slag out of your little whiney mode and get back into the warrior that I know and respect."

"I'm not a warrior…I'm a failure. I could've—"

"Yes, but things didn't turn out that way, did they? Now all we have is to do things now, which is why I need you to use your wings to cut us loose. Otherwise, I'll use my flails and that won't be very pleasant for either of us, will it?"

Bumblebee thought for a few brief moments, his spark in more torment than ever, before he attempted to fall into the same mind that Barricade was. It was hard, though—the youngling wanted nothing more than to cry and just simply forget it, but he knew that he couldn't. In a strange, frantic moment, Bumblebee wished that he was a cold-hearted Decepticon, then his fleeting emotions wouldn't have gotten in the way and they'd still be together. There's no point in wishing, he growled to himself.

With one breath, Bumblebee released his wings, singeing the metal binds millimeters away from Barricade's frame. Within a second their arms were free, and the Decepticon pounced a few feet away, glad to be away from touching the Autobot. Having to work with his worst enemy was awkward enough; being in such a vulnerable position with the brat was enough to make his mind fray. Standing, he eyed Bumblebee as the golden scout clipped his wings back, his expression hard and focused.

We might be able to get somewhere finally, grumbled the male.

"First things first," muttered Bumblebee, glancing at the Decepticon, "get Starscream."

"We have to contact Megatron and Prime to see where they're at," Barricade stated, attempting at the comm. Link and finding it to be null.

"Starscream takes presidence," countered the Autobot as he captured the other's gaze, making the Decepticon twitch when he noticed one optic was blue and the other reflected red. "If he starts the amplifier and we're anywhere near civilization, they're screwed!"

The dark one took a moment, constructing his response carefully. Something in Bumblebee was being drawn out, and Barricade knew exactly what it was. After all, he'd gone through the same thing so many million years ago when the term "justice" and "righteousness" didn't mean the same thing anymore. It appeared that Bumblebee might be following down the same path soon.

"Listen to me, Bumblebee," Barricade started slowly, "if Starscream was right and we are in Unicron, how are we going to find him? Unicron is the largest Transformer in the universe. We can't possibly narrow down his location in time to find him before something serious happens. Our comm. links don't work!"

"I told you," growled the Autobot, walking up to the Decepticon in a dangerous stride, "I don't need a comm. link. My spark is connected to Starscream and Prime."

"Great! Find out where Prime is. We can't do this by ourselves, Bumblebee. We're going to need backup. After we know we've got that extra—"

Two hands suddenly grabbed Barricade's chassis, raising him into the air before tossing him to the side, his body landing heavily on the supple floor. Barricade growled as he felt pain echo through is frame, but was more shocked at the fact that Bumblebee had done that at all. Within a moment, the Decepticon was back on his feet, ready for a fight and snarled when he saw the Autobot stalking away. He was ready to crush the excuse for a warrior before he forced himself to huff a breath, thinking before he did something that would only make the situation worse.

I can't get caught up in the moment. Not now.

Chasing down the golden scout, he caught the other's shoulder before whipping around, Bumblebee snapping at him before Barricade caught both his wrists and slammed him again the wall. He might be small, perhaps weaker than his counterpart, but he certainly didn't lack in willpower. Growling, the Decepticon gripped the Autobot and barked, "Listen to me! Bumblebee, you're making a mistake! We're supposed to be helping each other!"

"I don't need your help! And since when have we ever worked well with each other? We didn't when we were companions and we certainly won't now! Besides, Starscream is going die without my help…you're just slowing me down! If I need to remove of your presence, I will!" cried the Autobot as he attempted to roll the other, Barricade taking the motions with his own body, not releasing the golden one from his hold.

"I know that! You think I'm enjoying this? I understand that you need to find Starscream, but we have to think clearly about this. I need your help right now! What am I supposed to do without you? I have Primus within me! If we can somehow find Unicron's core, we can shut it down from within! Prime can come save Starscream…then no-one has to die! I hate this, I hate this situation beyond anything I've hated before, but just like you, I don't want to die, I want to get the slag out of this! Beyond that, if we do find Starscream, Unicron is just going to kick our asses again and probably just kill us! What good will we be then?" asked Barricade, staring at the other straight in his optics after his long rant.

Bumblebee stared right back, the red flicks that had glimmered there fading back into their cool blue depths. For a moment, it looked as though the Autobot would break down again when he shook his head, gazing down at the floor as he shuttered his optics. A moment passed and the yellow scout glanced up again, this time bringing his hands down and offering his counterpart a determined expression. "I'm sorry…my spark nearly consumed me. Yes, I'll contact Prime. Find the core, Barricade and we'll do this together," responded the other softly.

Nodding, the Decepticon stepped back, glad that he wasn't forced in having to use desperate measures, before sealing his own optics closed, looking deep within his own spark to search for the presence he didn't understand.

I know you're there.

Bumblebee grabbed Barricade's hand and started to lead him off in the opposite direction from where he'd been walking. The Autobot burst out into a sprint and with optics still closed, the dark one continued to call upon their creator.

Answer, dammit! We need your help!

Just follow me.

A sensation blossomed in the Saleen's spark, the same one that always did when the great one appeared in his frame. Forcing himself to relax, Barricade attempted to let go of his physical worries, the fear of something so powerful consuming him. In response, energy poured into his limbs, a soft growl escaping his mouth as he bolted past Bumblebee, then tugging the Autobot along as he weaved in and out of the caverns. Something took hold of his body, guiding him, offering a passage through the maze that he could get lost in for millions of years.

Primus was here.

Bumblebee gasped, snapping out his battling gun and destroying something akin to a bat that nearly swallowed them whole. It appeared that Unicron sensed that something was awry and was reacting appropriately; tentacles separated from the walls and lashed out to capture them again, only for Bumblebee to fry them with his cannon.

"Eat this!" growled the scout, firing out as many as possible, while trying to keep up with Barricade. It appeared that the Decepticon had found his spot, or whatever that worked—he was moving so fast the Autobot found himself nearly tripping over his own feet as the other continued to drag him along. "No way you're gonna stop us now!"

The golden one wanted to eat his words when he noticed the cave in front of them beginning to shut, like a throat closing together. In shock, Barricade caught both of Bumblebee's arms and shoved him through the opening, the slick flooring allow him to soar through it with ease. Barricade followed right after, sliding in just in time as the tentacles and crazy bird creatures were crushed in the now-shut cavern.

"Let's go!" cried Barricade as he caught Bumblebee's hand, tugging him into running again.

"Where are we going?" asked the younger, noticing Barricade's bright, fiery optics were now glowing a powerful golden color.

"The core!"

The two slid to a halt when the hallway came to an end, the Autobot going weak when he saw where it opened up to. An enormous spherical room opened before them, where another sphere below in the center harbored thousands of honeycomb caves to choose for their path. The sheer size made Bumblebee nearly collapse—glancing towards Barricade, he asked, "How are we possibly going to know which one?"

The Decepticon turned back to him, responding, "I know where Unicron's spark signature resonates strongest. All we have to do is jump, are you ready?"

Swallowing hard, Bumblebee nodded, knowing that all he could do was trust the other. It'd been so many million years since the Autobot remotely felt like he could do such a thing—but he was willing to now, for the sake of Starscream, for the sake of Prime, for the sake of the entire universe. If they didn't stop Unicron now, there would be nothing left to save.

Taking a few steps back, the golden scout gripped his comrade's hand hard enough to break it, but the other remained strong. For a moment, it almost felt like the past; where things weren't as dark as they were now, when Bumblebee felt like his carefree life could last forever. That the relationship with Barricade would last forever.

"Let's do this," muttered the Decepticon.

"Okay," breathed the other as he shuttered his optics. They snapped open when he heard the sound of the tentacles behind him again, his fuel reserves plummeting at the sight when he noticed hundreds of them racing to reach the two.

Barricade tugged his companion, dashing towards the edge.

"Wait, Barricade!"

The Decepticon yanked the other off the edge and took the leap, plummeting towards the dark endlessness of Unicron.

"Quickly, we need to fill the holes over there!"

"I need another mirror!"

"Prime, look at Unicron! Something's happening!"

Glancing towards the dark sky, the Commander felt his reserves churn when a soft white hue glowed within the crevices of Unicron's body. Jazz was correct—something was about to happen, and they were seriously ill prepared. Megatron tossed a mirror to another open space, Mirage catching it before it shattered into a hundred pieces. The young brother then dashed up to the other while growling, "We have no more time left. Time to get things rolling. Where's Skywarp?"

Prime brought his gaze back to his comrades, searching for a specific golden twin admit the chaos that ensued around him. Finally spotting the Lamborghini, he called out Sunstreaker's name before the Aubtobot noticed him and dashed over in response. Unfortunately, the Commander did not see what he expected.

"Where's Skywarp?" asked the larger.

The warrior twitched once, glancing at both shoulders before returning a panicked gaze to Prime. "I thought he was with you."

"What?" barked Megatron, murder reflecting in his eyes. "You lost him?"

Prime reached out for the little one, using his spark to search for what was missing. There was no time to go into a alarm; instead, he discovered him in the center of all the mirrors, his tiny optics hunting for something.

Skywarp.

Opi! N' enough merrors.

There's not much else to be had. Most of Cybertron has been destroyed.

Metal!

The buildings?

Around them, the environment shuddered and every mech came to a dead halt before their gazes slowly lifted skyward. Within the silent night, Unicron's glowing, ominous message followed through as a beam of light ascended from its crevices, floating up through space like a spiraling dancer. Optimus shuddered from the sight, his spark panging with a sense of panic and agony—which all resonating from Starscream. He felt the electricity around his sparkling's tiny body ravage him, a deathly scream resonating from his tiny vocal box as his innocence was ripped to shreds.

Within a single moment, it all decended upon the Autobot like a freight train, making the elder realize exactly what that beam of light was.

"Everyone, RUN!"

Before anyone could even blink, the deathly dancer slammed directly upon Cybertron, metal and glass grated, the very skin of the planet tearing from its bindings as the ray ignited its metallic surroundings with white-hot energy. Prime raced for Skywarp, catching him in his arms as the startling light tore through everything—devastating the world around them. The feet-thick sheets of metal ripped as though it were mere paper as they lifted away from the Cybertron's surface, the heat skyrocketing temperatures into the thousands.

After what seemed like hours of torment, the energy at last dissipated into space, leaving in its wake death and destruction like no other force the Autobot Commander had seen in his life time. In one moment, with Starscream's mighty voice, was able to do more damage than any military force could do in a thousand years. Screaming voices, leaders barking commands, the soft sound of metal cooling was all that Prime could hear as he stood, observing the area with wide, horrified eyes.

"Opi…"

Optimus swallowed. "We're too late."

A/N: So wow…no update in over a year…I guess a sorry doesn't really cut it. I hope a faster update might, however! All lot's happened in the past nine months to me. Still, I hope you guys enjoyed it. Only a couple more chapters to go before finally wrapping up this one! And we're reaching the climax.

Read and review, please!