Chapter 12: Unrequited Revelations
All Transformer characters belong to Hasbro. The halfa, Clockwork, and Ghost Zone idea belong to Butch Hartman. Any real life songs, food brands, etc. do NOT belong to me. I only own this fanfic ideas and my OCs. Don't like, don't read. Everyone else, enjoy.
Warnings: violence, mentions of death (not main characters), hints of intimacy between Cybertronians, birth, mention of breastfeeding, and angst.
On the Nemesis; Third Person Perspective
"Now watch carefully Zetta," Knock Out instructed carefully as he began mending the unconscious Eradicon's wounds.
The mechling nodded as he paid close attention. The vain mech had taken pity on the neutral youth's boredom and glumness and had offered to start mentoring the Cybertronian teen in medical tactics. The Decepticon CMO had felt something in his spark soften and warm at the kid's eagerness. And what a fast learner!
After each lecture and example, Knock Out gave Zetta a quick oral quiz. The younger mech had yet to make a mistake. The racer had even shown the kid where everything was in the event that he wasn't there and it fell upon the youth to help whoever was sick or injured. It almost made the medic feel less unhappy with his lord for not allowing the poor child out for a drive for the last three days.
Almost.
The older mech couldn't help but let a smile cross his faceplates as his newfound pupil watched with great focus. Knock Out had never considered himself great with juvenile Cybertronians but watching the mechling carefully observe his teaching and take in his work felt…good. Really good.
"And done," the ruby medic stated as he finished mending the last wire. "Now we just need to weld some metal patches."
"I'll get them!" Zettabyte said politely yet slightly excitedly.
The vain mech chuckled softly as the kid went to one of the shelves to get the patches. His good-natured attitude. His kind temperament. His hunger for knowledge. His curiosity and respectfulness. It reminded Knock Out so much of himself when he was the mechling's age. Before he fell for the thrill of racing and the influence of the Decepticon philosophy. Himself and the sapphire femme who he had cared for so dearly. And still did. Heck the kid even had the looks to go with the traits. What if-
"Hey Doc! Hey kiddo!"
The Decepticon CMO's train of thoughts were pulled to a halt as his assistant and friend came into the medbay. The former Wrecker shot the juvenile Cybertronian a friendly smile and a nod before turning his attention back to his comrade.
"Sorry to cut your lessons short, but Megatron needs us at one of the mining sites," the blue mech told his partner. "It's in case the Autoscum show up. He wants us there to help out."
Both mechs turned to face the neutral youth. Their sparks pinged with guilt at the look of disappointment and abandonment that flashed across Zettabyte's mismatched optics for a moment.
Carefully, Breakdown began softly, "Kid, I'm sorry-"
"No, it's okay. Really. I'm alright with it," the Cybertronian teen said, hoping that his smile didn't give anything away.
"Are you sure?" Knock Out asked, looking the younger Cybertronian straight in the optics.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I don't want you to get in trouble with Megatron. I'll just finish up here. I know what to do," the halfa said kindly.
Forcing down the guilt building up in his spark, the racer responded, "Very well. Afterwards you can stay here, go to your quarters, walk around the ship…just whatever keeps you occupied."
"Of course," the mechling nodded in understanding. "I'll see you guys when you get back."
Reluctantly, the former Stunticon and vain mech began to make their way out of the medbay. As Knock Out began to exit, he stopped in the door way before turning around.
"You know, I hide Energon sweets in the lower cabinets behind the axle grease," the ruby medic said, smiling when the kid smiled sincerely back with a glimmer in his optics. "Help yourself."
"Thanks. I will," Zettabyte replied grinning a bit.
With that, the older mech left, feeling a bit better and almost forgetting his guilt.
Almost.
At the high school; Sasha's Perspective
Three days.
Three days had gone by and Sasha still couldn't get her mind of her partner. Zetta hadn't contacted her since he told her what happened on Monday. The reasonable part of her kept trying to reassure her that it was because he didn't want to get caught. The more scared part was insisting that something was wrong. What if Zetta's interactions with her or the Autobots had been found out and was being tortured for information right at that moment? What if Bulkhead had managed somehow to get on the ship and beat him into a coma? What if he was slowly paralyzed and dying due to being attacked by a runaway Spite Mite who had appeared been hiding on the Nemesis?
No matter how many times she tried to push these unruly thoughts away, they always came back full force. That included right now as she tried to focus on the pages of the book she had chosen for silent reading time. She nearly jumped out of her chair as the bell rang, signally everyone to go home. Shaking herself out of her dark train of thought, she put away her materials, gave Midnight a few quick strokes on the head when no one was looking, and headed out. As much as she loved her feline companion, talking to her wasn't the same as when she talked to her partner.
There was no reassurance, no advice, no witty joke. Well maybe there was but in spite of Sasha's love for animals, she couldn't really understand them. Having the halfa gone made her mornings uneventful and lonely. Two things she hated. She tried to spend as much time with her friends and fellow club members as possible but with their own bus schedules, it seemed to be less than she hoped for. And she didn't feel right hanging out with Raf, Jack, and Miko just because she was bored. Her thoughts were interrupted again when someone called her name.
"Hey Sasha! Don't forget that we're gonna be planting new trees and flowers around the school today!" Chenoa Winddancer, a female member of the Earth Club, said to the Goth as she passed.
"Oh, I won't," the raven-haired girl replied with a smile. She blinked as Jack, Raf, and Miko walked up to her.
"Any word from Zetta?" Raf asked timidly.
"No word from him. And no, I don't believe the Cons have harmed him," the nature-lover replied firmly. It was a half lie but she would not give them, especially Miko, the knowledge that in spite of her trust in her guardian, she was afraid of the Decepticons hurting her partner in any way.
"The bots are really worried," Jack stated softly.
"Excluding Bulkhead," Sasha muttered. She failed to notice the foreign exchange student's guilty wince.
"Yeah, excluding Bulkhead. But the others do care about Zetta," the onyx-haired boy insisted.
"Oh really?" the Goth couldn't stop the sarcasm from dripping from her lips. "Then why can't they push their prejudice aside and listen and try to think about the things Zetta tells them?"
Fortunately, the hallway was empty. The three teens and pre-teen were alone, no one around to eavesdrop on their heated conversation.
"The war has hit them real hard. They're not really gamed for listening to speeches that explain why the Decepticons are what they are," the junior explained.
"Well they certainly seem game to kill their own kind and lie to themselves about the pseudo Golden Age they claimed Megatron destroyed," the raven-haired girl snapped. "How can they all sleep at night? How do you three sleep at night, knowing that your guardians are murdering their own species and trying to justify it? You know, Zetta seems to be the only bot humble enough to admit that his species isn't perfect. And the only bot who would never kill another."
"He's also the only bot on Earth who has never been in battle for," the computer prodigy added sheepishly.
"Because he's not like your partners; he can't take a life and pretend it's no big deal like your guardians have done when they kill those drones or any other Decepticon. Before my grandfather died, he told me that a person's courage and honor isn't defined by their victories but by their compassion and mercy," Sasha stood her ground. "For bots who claim to be fighting for freedom and equality, they don't seem to have the merits to prove it."
"Well the Cons don't have the merits to prove that they're the victims," Miko blurted out, only to regret it when the Goth fixed her with a cold, steely look.
"How can they when your partners' faction refuses to admit that their Prime's predecessor was a tyrant and prejudice? Why can't they just admit that this war wouldn't have happen if some bot had gotten off their aft and stood up to Sentinel before Megatron lost it?" Sasha challenged. "You know, Zetta may think he doesn't have an excuse for not speaking out against his adoptive father's classist ideals but what about Bulkhead? Arcee? Ratchet? They were already capable adults while Zetta was just a little kid! Why didn't any current Autobot do anything back then? Why didn't they confront Sentinel or the High Council? Why did they wait until Megatron went full warmonger to say something? To do something? And don't say they didn't have the power or skills. Everyone's capable if they just put their heart, or spark, into it."
Her three classmates just stared at her speechless. Seeing as they weren't going to answer her anytime soon, the nature-lover began to walk away to her club.
At the Autobot base a few minutes later; Third Person Perspective
Being in a war, Team Prime was always one edge. Ready to act at any moment. To fight to the death. To run if things got too out of hand.
However, the intensity in the air was of a different variety. It was stiff, almost watered down.
Bulkhead was pacing in an antsy fashion. Arcee and Bumblebee had already left to pick up Jack and Raf. Ratchet was busy fixing yet another tool that Bulkhead had accidentally broken while the Wrecker had been moving some heavy materials. As a result, the medic had ordered the younger but stronger mech to leave him solely to his work. Optimus had gone with Fowler to discuss the appearance of the mystery Cybertronian some human named General Bryce.
Ratchet paid no attention to Bulkhead. He grumbled as he attempted to fix his welder to the best of his ability. It took all he had not to curse when it sparked in protest to the tinkering.
"Ugh! Ratchet, I'm going stir crazy!" Bulkhead complained.
"How do you think I feel with your pacing all over the base?" the veteran medic bit back in frustration.
"Why can't I go for a quick lap around the base?" the Wrecker half whined, half asked.
"Because Optimus is gone and I don't trust you to go outside alone. Besides, some but besides me needs to watch the console while I fix the tool that you so graciously broke," the older orangey red and white mech snapped. "You're lucky I don't weld you to the ceiling."
"I'd like to see you try," the moss-colored mech challenged with a snarl.
Ratchet rounded on him, ready to chew Bulkhead out and rip him a new one when Arcee and Bumblebee arrived with their charges.
Jack took his helmet off as Raf got out of Bee. Both young human males looked very…deep in thought. Both medic and soldier looked curious when the two-wheeler and scout transformed. They looked uneasy.
"So…how was school?" Ratchet asked, trying to get to the bottom of the strange behavior.
"Did you guys ever have any protests on your planet?" Jack blurted out, not answering the older mech's question.
The question came as a shock but Ratchet immediately regained composure and answered, "A few but they were mainly over subjects such as experimenting and observing organic life forms or stopping the bigotry against fliers."
"Were there any against the caste system?" Raf piped up.
"Only a few," the Autobot CMO answered quickly.
"How old were you guys when the protests began?" Jack inquired.
"Did you join them or do anything that was against the caste system?" the pre-teen probed.
"Have you guys ever shown a Con mercy?" the onyx-haired teen asked almost impatiently.
"Whoa! Whoa! What's with the questions?" Bulkhead asked suspiciously.
The boys were silent until the youngest of the two spoke up, "We had a conversation with Sasha today."
"And what did she say?" the Wrecker pushed for an answer, obviously aggravated.
"What does it matter?" Jack bit back.
"It matters plenty to me!" Bulkhead barked.
"Oh really? Is it because you think we're being lied to or you're afraid we may find something out that you guys don't want us to?" the junior gritted out, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes.
"Excuse me?" the former construction mech sputtered as though the juvenile human before him was a Decepticon who just spat on him.
"Now let's all calm down," Ratchet ordered softly as he got between the moss-colored mech and the humans. "Now Jack, tell us what the problem is here."
Bumblebee leaned down to be nearer to his human companion.
"You guys want to know what the problem is? Fine, I'll tell you. Everything that Sasha told us that Zetta told her totally contradicts what you guys have been telling us. Now I'm not accusing anyone of lying but the fact…" the onyx-haired boy ranted before trailing off.
"What Jack?" Arcee inquired gently.
"The fact that Sasha has more reason to trust her partner. Because he shares everything with her," the juvenile human finished. "Sasha's trust in Zetta and vice versa is proof that there's nothing they're keeping from each other. And they've only known each other for a few weeks. We've all known each other for a more than a couple of months and I realize Raf, Miko, and I only know a few things about you guys."
"What the Pit are you talking about? We've told you guys everything about us," Bulkhead huffed.
"Yes, war related subjects about yourselves. We barely know anything about you guys before the war. What your interests were, who your families were, what type of bots you hung out with, what were they like, what is your approximate birth date or the equivalent of it, what was your most embarrassing moment. Heck, we don't even know what your favorite colors are!" the onyx-haired boy exclaimed.
Raf looked up at Bee who whirred and beeped in guilt. They both knew that it was more than true.
"And sometimes I can't but wonder if the reason you guys don't tell us is because…you don't trust us enough," Jack finished gravely.
The silence that came after felt like an eternity.
Then just as Arcee was about to be the first to speak, the alarms went off.
Ratchet rushed to the console and reported the situation, "Decepticon activity near one of the larger caverns outside the woods of Colorado near a list of caverns."
"They must be harvesting Energon. I say we go there and grab it! And smash a few Cons in the process," the moss-colored mech sad with ferocious determination, slamming his fist into his servo in a show of strength.
"I'll contact Optimus. You three prepare to embark," the Autobot CMO said as he began typing the coordinates into the Groundbridge.
Arcee nodded before she looked at Jack again. His eyes were locked with hers. They were unreadable but he gave a nod, signaling he understood that she had to go.
"We'll talk when I get back," she reassured as the Groundbridge opened.
Her partner nodded again, but slower this time, as though he was holding her to her word.
At the caverns a few minutes later; Third Person Perspective
Knock Out watched as the Vehicons loaded Energon into the carts before pushing towards where they would be transported onto the ship. The amount they had found wasn't as bountiful as last times but it was good enough for them at the moment. Then again, his processor wasn't on the mining activity.
It had been more than an hour since he and Breakdown left Zettabyte to his own devices on the ship. He knew what it's like to be stuck on the Nemesis for extended periods of time. It was dreadfully dull. Being half Velocitronian, courtesy of his own absent father, the mech's need for open spaces added to that dislike of being on the ship for time that he believed was necessary. He could only imagine what impatience and boredom a young, free-spirited mech like Zetta was fairing.
"Thinking about the kid?" the voice of the Stunticon came.
The Decepticon CMO sighed and nodded.
"Kind of reminds you of someone, doesn't he?" Breakdown teased with a slight smile, try to lighten up his partner's mood.
It was slightly successful as Knock Out smiled and said, "Yes. Only without the trouble maker streak and the older brother who tried to keep him out of trouble."
The Decepticon brawler blinked in surprise. His friend rarely ever mentioned his past on Cybertron. For as long as Breakdown had known him, Knock Out had always dodged bringing up his past. The ex-Wrecker knew a great deal about his comrade's life but once the ruby mech told him something, the conversation was barely brought up again, if ever.
"It's funny. It feels like I was meant to teach him. To look out for him, you know?" the vain mech declared softly.
"And you seem to be doing a pretty fine job at it," Breakdown complimented gently.
"Thank you," the racer said with a grateful smile.
"Look!"
Both soldier and medic turned their helms. One of the Vehicons were pointing at a Groundbridge portal that wasn't their own.
No sooner had the Vehicon called attention to the Groundbridge did a shot fly out and strike him down. The familiar faces of Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee came charging out, blasters firing wildly and expertly dodging the shots of the drones. The Vehicons and Eradicons who were shot down were dragged away by their less injured comrades, regardless of if they were still functioning or not.
The Stunticon gritted his teeth as he saw his former team mate smack V1-K into S0L-0N3.
Turning to Knock Out, Breakdown said, "You're gonna need some more medical supplies. Get Soundwave to bridge you onto the ship. I'll handle these scumbuckets."
Nodding, the ruby mech began running in the opposite direction of where the Autobots were charging from so that he could find a safe place to call for a Groundbridge. The Decepticon brawler wasted no time in charging at the mech he once called his brother. His hammer met with the moss-colored mech's wrecking ball. His one yellow optic glaring furiously into the sky blue optics of the Autobot.
"This is the day you get your full comeuppance for everything!" the blue mech roared hatefully.
Bulkhead grunted as he attempted to push the ex-Wrecker away. He couldn't understand why Breakdown was so much more angry than usual. Maybe he could use that anger against him.
"That's suppose to be my line, Breakdown," the Autobot braler gritted out.
"Not when you're the one going around mistreating helpless Cybertronian youths. Tell me; when you and your team go back empty handed, do you take it out on your scout?" the Stunticon challenged accusingly.
That struck something hard in Bulkhead. His former friend had called him a lot of things during the war. But accusing him of being a minor assaulter hurt. And that hurt turned to broiling anger. Letting out a yell of rage, the Wrecker shoved the blue mech off of him into the cavern wall, dazing his opponent. Just as Bulkhead was ready to deliver a round of punches, he noticed a light coming from where Knock Out had run off to.
The light from a Groundbridge.
Anger and adrenaline driving his senses, he yelled to his team mates, "Try to hold them off. I think it's time for a visit to the doctor."
A few minutes later on the Nemesis; Zettabyte's Perspective
Zettabyte had been putting away the unused supplies Knock Out had brought out when working on the drone and the Energon sweets jar when he heard yelling in the corridors. Hesitating for a moment, the mechling went to see what was wrong. Opening the door and poking his helm out, the neutral youth looked down the left of the hall.
And stared in horror.
Knock Out was on the ground, groaning and struggling to get up. His polished armor was now ridden with scratches and dents. A trickle of Energon was flowing from his bottom lip and down his chin. Towering above the vain mech was Bulkhead.
Stepping out o the medbay and locking the door, Zetta yelled, "KNOCK OUT!"
Both mechs looked at the Cybertronian teen. Knock Out's optics were full of fear while his assailant's were full of something akin to distrust but more or less conflict.
"Zetta, run! Or get back in the medbay! Just get away from here!" the Decepticon CMO managed to shout despite his weakened state. The mechling remained where he was, either not comprehending the order or not wanting to leave. It seemed to be the latter as the kid made direct optic contact with the moss colored mech.
"Let him go! He's injured and unable to fight back!" Zettabyte shrieked in desperation and rage.
"One less Con," the Wrecker growled.
"That's not an excuse! That doesn't make it right!" the halfa shouted hysterically.
"Zetta…please…run," the racer practically begged hoarsely, still winded from the blows the Autobot brawler dealt out on his frame.
"Shut your mouth Con!" Bulkhead growled, kicking the medic in the side, eliciting a pained grunt from the smaller mech.
Something snapped in Zetta. Something hot and burning rose from his spark, into his throat, and into his processor, making him see red.
The larger mech never saw it coming.
Zettabyte ran full sprint at him before leaping onto him. He then proceeded to climb onto the Wrecker's back and shoulders and began biting, scratching, slapping, and punching every spot he could. The Autobot brawler howled in surprise and pain as the neutral youth, managed to catch the corner of his optic with one of his clawed servos. He stumbled back as he attempted to dislodge and pull off the mechling to no avail. He didn't dare use his blaster or wrecking ball in fear he would hit himself instead.
Zetta caught sight of a familiar form behind them.
"Soundwave, Groundbridge!" the Cybertronian teen called out pleadingly.
Soundwave stood still, as if hesitant.
"SOUNDWAVE!" the halfa screamed.
Without showing any type of acknowledgement, the silent mech opened a Groundbridge. Jumping off his opponent, the Cybertronian teen tensed up before tackling the Wrecker through the portal, throwing all his weight against him. Both Autobot brawler and neutral youth went through the Groundbridge.
"No," Knock Out managed to rasp in horror.
Back in the caverns: Third Person Perspective
Breakdown growled as he tore Arcee off of him and chucked her to where Bumblebee was hiding behind a sizable boulder. Vehicons and Eradicons hid behind heavy mining drills and Energon carts. The ones who were still functioning anyway. Just as the Stunticon was about to advance towards the two-wheeler who was shakily getting up, a Groundbridge on a higher part of the cavern. Everyone stopped and stared. Who was coming? The Prime? Or the warlord.
To everyone's shock, neither came out. Instead, the ones who came, or rather tumbled, out were Bulkhead and Zettabyte. Zetta groaned as he opened his optics and got off the larger mech. However, Bulkhead never gave him a chance to get his bearings. Growling, the moss-colored mech reeled back his wrecking ball and hurled it towards the unsuspecting mechling.
The younger Cybertronian was sent flying into the rocky wall behind him, too winded by the blow to let out a sound.
"Bulkhead! Leave him alone!" Arcee screamed shrilly in a combination of anger and mortification. However, her team mate ignored her.
"You slagging punk. I knew you were a Con-lover," the former construction mech heaved in growing rage as he slowly advanced towards ruby and sapphire mechling.
Gaining his senses back, the halfa was able to dodge the ncoming punch this time. He rolled onto his pedes and waited for when the Wrecker was just barely turning around. Grabbing a servo-full of rocky dirt, Zettabyte hurled it into Bulkhead's optics. It was effective as the older mech howled in protest and rubbed away the rubble and pebbles trying to invade his optics.
"Not true. I just don't like merciless killers," the neutral youth growled low enough so only Bulkhead could hear.
The sapphire and bubblegum pink femme began running towards the two. Before she could begin climbing up to stop the fight, she was roughly grabbed from behind by two powerful blue arms.
"Let go!" the two-wheeler snapped as she frantically tried to pull herself out of the Stunticon's hold but to no avail.
"Like Pit I'm letting you up there to hurt the kid!" the ex-Wrecker snarled, having not paid attention to her earlier cry.
Seeing his team mate in trouble, the Autobot scout launched himself at Breakdown and hung onto his back, trying to get the Decepticon brawler to let go. The Vehicons roared in an outraged unison, running to the blue mech's aid. They began trying to pry the golden yellow and black mechling off, scratching at his doorwings and lower back in a frenzy. All the while, they were shouting encouragements at Zettabyte.
"Get him Zetta!"
"Frag him up!"
"Wreck his ugly mug!"
"You're dead Autoscum!"
"Kick his aft!"
The two Cybertronians paid no mind to the shouting and fighting beneath. They were focused on each other. Letting out a yell of anger, Bulkhead charged at the Cybertronian teen. Zetta managed to dodge in time and deliver a kick to the Wrecker's side. The former construction mech grunted in pain and turned to his younger opponent. Raising his other fist, he aimed for the younger bot's faceplates. Surprisingly, the mechling caught it and struggled to keep it from touching its intended spot.
They stayed lock like that. Zettabyte's pedes left trails as the larger mech began pushing him to the wall while his fist was still held captive. Growling, the halfa took the opportunity to knee the Autobot brawler in the abdominal area before running from where the moss-colored mech had been trying to corner him.
"You're pathetic, you know that? You think siding with the Cons will change your former status as that slagger Sentinel's adoptive brat? Well guess what? It won't. A half-breed noble faker. And that's all you'll ever be," Bulkhead hissed with acid dripping from his voice.
Zetta's faceplates were blank. Then, they morphed into a look that would have made Unicron shudder in fear.
And that's when he let out the most audio-piercing, processor-freezing, spark-wrenching scream any of the Cybertronians present had ever heard.
It was also at that moment that Arcee's crystal-like pupils shrunk in recognition. That pitch. That frequency. That volume. She recognized those. Now she knew why she found the mechling familiar and why she felt such a need to defend him.
Bulkhead, who had been shocked by the scream, didn't have time to react as he found himself on his back and was met with a barrage of punches that seemed too fierce and strong for someone of the neutral youth's age and height.
"How. Dare. You?" Zettabyte seethed in hate, each word punctuated as he continued to punch his opponent. "You know nothing about me! You know nothing about my ideals, my goals, or my life! Do you hear me?! NOTHING! You have no right to define me or my future! Or anyone's for that matter! There's only one bot who can define who I am! And that bot is ME!"
By this point, the moss-colored mech's face was covered in deep cuts, dents, and freshly spilt Energon blood. As the Cybertronian teen's rage died down, his punches slowed. When the last of his anger dripped away, he got up shakily and took a few steps back.
"I can't change my past but I can shape my own future. I can become more than I am. And nothing you say will ever change that," the halfa said coolly, and with that, turned to leave.
But the Wrecker wasn't done.
Picking himself up, the former construction mech heaved in infuriation ready to heave himself at the juvenile Cybertronian. But he never got the chance.
A strong silver servo with clawed digits grabbed him by the neck, hauled him up, and turned him so that sky blue optics met blood red ones.
Everyone gasped as Megatron glowered at the mech held captive in his servo, Bulkhead choking as the servo squeezed harder.
"Megatron, release him," came a familiar powerful voice.
All optics fell on the Prime and his medic. The last few hints of a Groundbridge disappeared behind him.
The former gladiator huffed in disgust and annoyance as he carelessly tossed the Wrecker away from him. He set his optics on the mechling. Zettabyte's body was covered in a few dents and scrapes but seemed to be fine otherwise.
Turning back towards his rival, the silver mech thundered, "Take your scum and leave. Your soldier's actions hold no room for you to voice your so-called moral reasoning for trying to steal the Energon that my soldiers have harvested with their own servos. And I think your attack dog needs some repairs. And a shock collar."
Breakdown and the Vehicons, who had now separated themselves from the two-wheeler and scout, snarled in agreement.
Looking between a scratched up Bumblebee, a catatonic Arcee, and an unconscious Bulkhead, the Autobot leader new his arch enemy was right. Gesturing for Ratchet and Bee to help him, they walked over and picked up their injured comrade, and began walking away where they could safely call for a Groundbridge from prying Decepticon optics.
"Arcee," Optimus rumbled in a soft but commanding tone. "Come."
She broke out of her trance and began following. But not without turning around and looking at neutral youth. He too was staring at her. As she turned away, she hoped no bot saw the tears streaming down her faceplates as she could feel the optics, she thought she would never get the chance to see, followed her form until she disappeared.
Five hours later; Megatron's Perspective
"All injured soldiers have been fixed my lord," 5T3-V3 said as he bowed respectfully to his leader.
"Excellent," Megatron rumbled calmly.
While everyone was indeed aware that a few soldiers had been permanently incapacitated, the majority had only been wounded and were no patched up and resting. Knock Out, thankfully, had still been awake and functional when they all got back to the Nemesis. The vain mech had nearly had a spark attack when he saw that Zettabyte had also been attacked. The mechling was the first to get worked on, all the while every Con could practically hear the medic plotting the Autobot brawler's torturous downfall. Emphasize torturous.
Now, like the rest of the ship, the Cybertronian teen was now recharging safely in his quarters.
"Will that be all, my lord?" the drone asked carefully.
"No," the ex-gladiator spoke. "When Zettabyte wakes up, tell him that his punishment has ended early. He may go off tomorrow to do as he pleases."
"Oh! O-of course sir," 5T3-V3 stuttered, obviously surprised by the usually cold mech's act of kindness towards the neutral youth.
"You may leave now," Megatron rumbled. The Vehicon didn't need to be told twice.
Once his soldier had gone, the silver mech began walking to his own quarters, replaying the day's events over in his processor. He couldn't forget the mechling's vicious attacks towards the Wrecker, intending to deliver more than just a few dents and scrapes. The brutality the juvenile Cybertronian had shown the moss-colored mech reminded Megatron of his own attacks against his rivals in the Pits of Kaon. In that moment, the warlord had seen a little of himself in younger bot.
Entering his quarters and making sure they were locked, the Decepticon leader walked towards a small chest-like case in the corner. Opening it revealed many pieces that he had held onto from his days before the war. From private sparkling-like trinkets to paraphernalia from when he was still a Gladiator to secret keepsakes from bots close to his spark who were long gone. There was even a few "trophies" he had obtained from fallen rivals.
Slowly, he reached in and pulled out an old silver medal on a steel chain. While the medal wasn't too big, it was a little heavy but not by much. Around the medal were small but still valuable gems and in the center was the Kaon symbol for champion. Megatron then strode over to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a blow torch, a buffer, a belt sander, and a Cybertronian-sized screwdriver. The silver mech had found out the hard way that it was a good idea to keep tools within his reach, just in case.
Carefully, the warlord used the belt sander to rub off the symbol. He then proceeded to heat the spot with the blowtorch until it had heated to a point where the metal of the heated area was soft. Picking up the screwdriver, he expertly carved a new symbol onto the spot. Once the metal was cooled, he buffed it a bit to help it shine better. When he was finished, the medal's center had a new symbol. Two actually.
They were the Cybertronian symbols for "heir" and "leader."
The ex-gladiator held the medal close as he spoke to himself, "Soon…he will be ready."
At the Autobot base in Bulkhead's room; Bulkhead's Perspective
Bulkhead didn't know what woke him up. He had been in recharge on his berth in his quarters, recovering from the day's ordeals, when something, or someone, had brought him out of his rest.
He looked around with blurry optics, not seeing anyone. Then the lights began to flicker. As the flickering worsened, the moss-colored mech noticed something strange going on in the corner near the doorway. A black twitching mass fidgeted in the corner before it weirdly moved to stand in front of his door, facing away. The mass grew until it was taller than Bumblebee but shorter than Optimus. The mass then began to take shape and change color.
The Wrecker's intake caught in his airway when the mass became a figure. Said figure had what seemed to be a light royal blue cloak with black flames on the bottom. The being was facing away from the former construction mech. In a flash, the being turned around. Bulkhead couldn't see the figure as the cloak veiled the mysterious visitor perfectly. The hood was up so the Autobot brawler couldn't even see their facial features.
His spark beat faster as with each flicker of the lights, the intruder drew closer until he was right at the foot of the moss-colored mech's berth. Bulkhead wanted to call out for help but was too frozen in shock and apprehension to move.
Gaining the courage, the former construction mech croaked, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"Who I am and how I got is not important. It's why I am here that you should be afraid to know the answer," a voice rasped from the cloak, the pitch and tone revealing it to be male.
"W-why are you here?" the moss-colored mech managed to say in a whisper.
"I'm here about your behavior towards Zettabyte. You may not know this but I am very well acquainted with that mechling. He's like family," the mysterious male said icily.
The Wrecker wanted to shout in fear when an ancient but powerful looking scythe appeared from in a mist of dark powder blue smoke. A clawed, metal servo reached out from the robe to grasp the scythe.
As he did, he spoke again, "And you mess with my family, you mess with me. You. Do. NOT. Want. To. Mess. With. Me."
As the cloaked mech punctuated each word, his began pointing the bladed end of his weapon at the Autobot brawler who was now paralyzed with fear.
"If you ever put your servos on him again, you'll regret the day you were sparked. Do you understand?" the figure snarled darkly in a low voice.
All Bulkhead could do was whimper and nod.
"Good," the mech smiled a fake friendly smile, revealing fangs. "You only get one warning. I don't want to come back here. For more than one reason."
With that, the mysterious bot vanished and the lights stopped flickering. The only thing that was heard in the berthroom was Bulkhead's hyperventilation as he tried to convince himself it was a hallucination.
But he knew better.
Outside the base; Arcee's Perspective
Arcee had not cried since she was a young femmenet.
Not when she said goodbye to her first love. Not when she lost Tailgate. Not when Cybertron fell dark. Not even when she lost Cliffjumper.
But now she was letting it all out. It felt like the dam she had built around her spark had finally gave away from the pressures of the war and everything was flowing out.
And all it took was Zetta's scream.
The scream that she thought she would never hear again. Not since Cybertron.
Flashback
A young sapphire blue and bubblegum pink femme mewled as she was kissed by an equally young ruby mech.
They snuggled on the soft metallic-grass of the Iaconian Crystal Gardens. Most of the metal and crystalline flora had closed their blooms, locking out the light of Cybertron's moon. A few small nocturnal blossoms dotted the area around them. The only sound that could be heard aside from their heavy intakes were Chrome-crickets chirping and small Cydrasets scampering through the bushes.
Turning to her side, ready to fall into recharge, she felt her lover's lip components press against her audio and whisper, "I love you Arcee."
"I love you too…Knock Out," she whispered back before her optics closed for the night.
Five Metacycles Later
"So…this is really goodbye for us?" Knock Out asked, hiding the pain on his faceplates and in his voice as best as he could.
"Seems like it," Arcee said in a hushed tone, not looking up at her now ex-lover, too afraid that either she would see the tears in his optics or he would see hers.
An uncomfortable stretch of silence lasted for a few kliks.
Clearing his intakes, the vain mech said, "So…I guess I'll see you around."
It was more of a statement. A hopeful yet helpless statement.
"Yeah. You will," her tone was a bit more controlled. She didn't know how it was possible.
When she looked up, she no longer cared.
Because he was gone.
Two Orns Later
"Well Arcee, the test came back positive. You're carrying," the medic reported in a congratulatory tone.
The Cycle-former didn't hear him. It felt like a black hole had appeared and sucked all the noise from the universe. A coldness shot through her spinal array.
It had to be his. She had been with no other mechs since they parted ways. She felt as though she eaten a capsule full of molten metal and it had burst open in her tanks.
"You may want to go easy. I'm sure your superior will allow you some time off. You'll need some low-grade Energon. Thank goodness Cybertron hasn't run out of that yet…Arcee," the medic, Stitchwire, questioned as he was yet to be barraged with questions that all medics would expect from their expecting patients.
But she had nothing to say.
Nine Metacycles Later
"C'mon Arcee! You're almost there! Push!" Stitchwire encouraged with a firm tone.
The sapphire femme let out a long scream of pain as she pushed against the painful contractions wracking her frame. As her scream died down, another emerged.
"It's a little mech!" the medic announced for the tired Autobot soldier and his nurses to hear.
The Cycle-former only saw a flash of ruby and sapphire before the wailing newborn was wrapped into a baby blue thermal blanket. The nurse, who was a seeker femme, crooned softly at the little one. She was tempted to ask to hold him but forced herself to look away.
She had made her decision. And for the sake of herself and the little being she birthed, she had to stick with it.
"Everything checks out," Stitchwire proclaimed.
"Yeah, except for the optics," the other nurse, a Praxian mech, blurted out. The nurse next to him, a flier femme, elbowed him hard in the abdomen as she glared at him.
That made Arcee turn around as she asked, "What's wrong with his optics?"
"Nothing. Pyre is just being an idiot. Moondust, can you take the little one to one of the wet nurses?" the flier, Vital, asked the seeker who nodded and left the room.
The sapphire femme fought away the bitterness she felt as the nurse mentioned that HER sparkling was going to be drinking another femme's breast Energon. Just because she was doing this to for the right reason didn't make it anymore bearable.
"You should get some rest," Vital said kindly as she and the others left.
And that's when the tears flowed out.
End of Flashback
That day plagued her every waking moment of her life. She had always hoped that she would see him again when the war was over. But it would seem that fate was far much more impatient than she.
And far more cruel.
Her child was now in the grasps of the enemy. While he was not officially a Decepticon, she knew that what had transpired today was sure to push him more towards their side.
The two-wheeler sobbed harder as she choked in a whisper, "I'm so sorry…my poor baby…my Zetta…"
The next day at the high school; Third Person Perspective
Today had been neither good nor bad. It had been a balance of both.
Sasha had gotten a call from the greenhouse and learned that she had been accepted as a volunteer. She then found out that she currently had the highest grade in her biology and chemistry classes, which had become her favorite ones. Amanda had told her that most of the shelter animals they had met the first day they went to the shelter had been adopted into good homes. She had finished most of the homework during lunch and would only have an assignment or two to finish tonight. The school would start serving healthy, vegetarian meals for lunch every other Monday as she and her fellow club members had been trying to encourage the school board to do. Finally, the English teacher had allowed the students to read, listen to their music, draw, or finish their homework during the last ten minutes of class. However, the joy she got out of these was neutralized.
As it turned out, Earth Club had to be cancelled because Ms. Kissaryn had to fly to Rome for her cousin's wedding. Ruth had sent an email saying that the elderly woman would be in Dallas with her family for one of her granddaughter's father-in-law's birthdays. Both Raoul and Chip had been grounded for an incident at school involving nachos and a fire extinguisher. Now neither were allowed to contact her through anything except hand-written letters. Adalia and Colette had to babysit their siblings while their parents went out and they couldn't have anyone over period. Sawyer couldn't give her a ride home because the daughter-in-law of one of his grandmother's friends had gone into labor and she needed him to pick up her friend's son whose car broke down and needed to be there for his wife.
And to top it all off, Zetta was still stuck on the Nemesis.
While she understood and tried to keep a positive attitude for their sake, she couldn't help but feel abandoned. And although she knew her guardian was just being respectful to the ones who saved them and trying to stay on their good side, she dreaded the idea of not spending time with her partner the weekend. Feeling like she needed to take a break before going home, she sat down on the empty school steps and gazed at the ground.
Jack gazed at his surroundings from where he and Raf were waiting for their Cybertronian friends to pick them up, a few feet from where the Goth sat. Actually, it either would be their partners or Nurse Darby. When June had been told about Bulkhead's violent attacks against the neutral youth the day before, she was furious. She had drove into the base, yelled at Optimus and Ratchet for letting Bulkhead get out of hand, ordered the two boys to get into her car, and drove off. While it was unspoken, the onyx-haired teen suspected that his mother didn't want her son or the pre-teen at the base for a few days. Since it was unspoken and Bee and Arcee were not there to be yelled at, the junior was unsure.
While Jack did feel sorry for the Prime and medic having been on the receiving end of his mother's anger, he knew she had a right to be upset. Being a strong nurturer at heart, June Darby had a large soft spot for children of all ages as her late husband had. To see a child injured, either because of an accident or at the hands of another person, turned on a rage inside her. It was a trait that she was feared and respected for.
Raf fidgeted as he looked between the older boy and the Asian girl who was waiting for her host mother. When the onyx-haired had told her what had gone down between Bulkhead and Zettabyte, her reaction was not to be unexpected but that didn't make it more acceptable. Miko had been disappointed that she had missed a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons but her disappointment wasn't…sincere. She was obviously unnerved by the fact that her guardian acted so hatefully towards a bot who seemed to have none of the other bots hold ill-will towards boggled and upset her. Jack couldn't look at her, knowing that she was half hanging onto the platonic bond between her and the Wrecker and realizing the fact that the Cons had gained a possible new allie because of the moss-colored mech's actions.
Surprisingly, Arcee and Bumblebee had arrived before Mrs. Sanderson. Just as the two boys were about to leave with their guardians, they all saw something who made them stop and stare.
Sasha blinked as Midnight rose from her nap.
"Midnight? What's wrong?" the raven-haired girl asked.
The feline jumped from her place in her backpack and rushed forward.
"Midnight!" the nature-lover exclaimed as she grabbed her belongings and ran after the black cat.
Until she saw why her four-legged companion was running.
And who the little mammal was running to.
A boy about Jack's age and height opened his arms as the charcoal-colored bundle of fur jumped into them. He had ruffled but attractive looking pitch black hair with dark, forest green highlights to match his dark emerald eyes. His skin was a handsome dark-tan color and was clear of any blemishes. He wore a black shirt under an open dark denim jacket. Around his neck was a white fleece scarf with red flames at the edges. He also wore dark midnight blue jeans and silver and dark indigo tennis shoes. In one hand, he held a deep purple and black confection boz that was tied with a silvery white ribbon and had a golden cat sitting on a crescent moon stamped on it.
Behind him was a very familiar ruby and sapphire hybrid car.
In that moment, Sasha knew who it was.
Walking up to the other "teen," she stared at him in awe before hugging him, mindful of the smaller creature already in his arms.
"Who's that?" the punkish girl whispered in questioned to her friends.
"Oh my gosh," Jack breathed. "It's Zetta!"
Bumblebee let out a low slew whirrs and chirps.
"Bee says that what Sasha is hugging is Zetta's new holoform. It's like a tangible hologram that Cybertronians use when they're on planets and they don't want the inhabitants to notice them," the computer prodigy translated. "He looks great."
"So then the car is….," Miko trailed off in realization.
As the Goth finished hugging her partner's pseudo form, he handed her the box.
"They're chocolates from a dark-theme location called The Black Orchid Café," Zettabyte explained with a smile. "A little gift to make up for the time we lost this week."
The raven-haired girl smiled as she opened the box and gaped in delight at the dark chocolate bat shaped candies.
"I got four different fillings. Nightshade Blackberry, Blood Cherry, Candlelight Caramel, and Ghostly Marshmallow," the neutral youth clarified with a smile. "The ones with the white stripes are the cherry ones, the ones with the salt sprinkle on them are the caramel, the ones with the sliver of almond on them are the marshmallow, and the ones with nothing on them are the blackberry ones."
Selecting an ordinary looking chocolate bat, Sasha carefully took a bite of it and moaned. The combination of the bitter chocolate and the sweet, tangy berry filling was extraordinary.
"These are great! Thank you so much Zee," the nature-lover said with a smile as she finished the candy.
"You're welcome. C'mon, let's go," the halfa said as his passenger side door opened. With Midnight following close behind, Sasha entered the hybrid.
As soon as his two companions were safely and comfortable inside, Zetta, in his holoform, walked to the driver's side. He looked up to meet three pairs of eyes and two unseen pairs of optics. He smiled coolly at them and gave them a two finger salute before his holoform disappeared upon it entering the driver's side.
Arcee was tempted to chase after him but fought against the urge. After what happened yesterday, what good would it do to tell him the truth. And what if the Cons found out? No matter how much she wanted to grab her son and never let him go, she knew she had no choice. The two-wheeler would have to let him go.
For now at least.
As the Cybertronian teen drove off with his friend, the rebellious foreign exchange student muttered, "Aw! I should've gone over to talk to him! I don't even know what he looks like in bot mode!"
"Actually," the young brunette spoke up as he took out his phone, "I got a picture of him when he was at the base Saturday."
Once Raf flipped to the picture and handed the phone to Miko, her mouth dropped open as she stared at the picture. The same face she made when she first saw the bots.
Shaking his head, Jack spoke with a slight smile, "Things are gonna get a lot more interesting around here."
They all knew he couldn't have been more right.
So this is the final chapter of this fic, concluding the first story in my AU series. But don't worry, I'll update soon enough. Flamers will be flamed and haters will be ignored. I would also like to thank Speedstrek360 for letting me use her creators recognizing their offspring's cries idea and I made up the Black Orchid Café idea.
Til next time, Happy Reading Everyone else!
