Da da da daaaaa! I have returned! And I bring with me a new chapter!
:3
I must give a shoutout to my lovely Kibble Beast,
Because she is awesome and amazing and I love her fics and I could go on and on but that list would be a million times longer than this story.
Please enjoy the chapter. (This A/N isn't long because I'm quite sleep-deprived and still have to write an essay that's due in a few hours.
Whoops.)
Every Decepticon immediately left the area once Ironhide and Artemis escaped, knowing the wrath that would ensue from Megatron. Unfortunately Starscream was the last one to make his escape, and was therefore caught in the middle of Megatron's rage.
"They escaped, Starscream! Just like the other accursed Autobots!" Megatron roared, angrily blasting things with his cannon. It was all the Seeker could do to stay out of the way.
"This is all your fault!" Megatron added, glaring at his Second in Command. "If you had kept that fleshling captive longer I would have managed to kill them!"
Starscream knew better than to oppose Megatron's rage, (mostly through his own experience,) so instead he sought forgiveness.
"I-I apologize, Lord Megatron," Starscream said quickly, bowing low. "If you'll allow me to make up for it--"
The Seeker was cut off mid-sentence by a hard blow to the back of his head. "And why would I give you a chance to utterly fail me once again?"
Thinking fast, Starscream replied, "This plan wasn't a c-complete failure, Lord Megatron…"
Megatron's optics narrowed dangerously, but he refrained from striking his subordinate again for the moment. "How so?"
"W-well, all of the Autobots came to rescue that girl. And the other humans too! She must be more important than we once thought. She could be useful to us! We could strike their base now while they're wounded! N-not to mention, Lord Megatron, I believe we did manage to damage that last Autobot severely enough…"
Megatron stroked his chin thoughtfully, musing about Starscream's words. It was indeed doable, and that fleshling did bring the entire Autobot army along with a few more straggling fleshlings…and oh, how he wanted to destroy the Autobots, especially those Autobots. He was in a very destructive mood.
"Very well, Starscream. You have redeemed yourself this time."
The Seeker visibly relaxed when no more pain came his way.
"But be warned…if this goes wrong, it will be your life on the line." Megatron sneered. "So no pressure."
Starscream gulped.
A shocked silence filled the Autobots' base as the dust settled around them. Prowl's optics were gold?
Ratchet finally snapped out of it and knelt next to Prowl. "How long have your optics been like this, Prowl? And tell me the truth," he asked, gentle but still firm.
Prowl averted his gaze to the ground, desperately wishing he could somehow disappear. He hated all this attention. But when Ratchet's concerned gaze refused to leave him, the cyber ninja relented. "…forever."
Ratchet's mouth tightened slightly at this, and immediately stood up, pulling Prowl with him. The black and gold mech stood without protest, knowing he would have to do this sooner or later. "Optimus, I think we need to have a talk."
"Agreed," he replied, walking off to his office, Ratchet pulling Prowl behind him. The rest were left wondering what the slag happened.
"…I don't get it. What's so special about golden eyes, er, optics?" Major Lennox asked, utterly confused.
"Golden optics are a sign of Primus…our "god" of sorts," Perceptor explained, taking a seat on the floor. Wheeljack, Jetfire and Red Alert joined him, while the humans listened attentively. Jazz also sat down, Artemis resting on his knee.
"A great prophesy was revealed to our race many millions of years ago, probably billions, about the triumph of good over evil," Perceptor continued. "'The mech of optics gold unites the worlds of young and old, when joining with the last Star from a world both near and far. This son of Primus will lead to the Evil's great defeat, if the Light is guarded close by the ones that care the most. These Guardians of Life can only win the fight if the Doubter gains control, and gets the confidence of old. New allies will be made before that fateful day, and will fight side by side with the Guardians of Life. One Innocent yet brave, whose death will spear the way, will bring forth the Healer great, who alone can reverse fate. One mech will return thrice from a world of blinding white, when the Star cries tears of pain that the Healer will regain. The son of Primus will save his leader from the grave, though the Light will risk its end from the selfless act it lends. But if the Light and Star should die, then the son of Primus will not try, and Evil will reign all in the Universal fall.'" Our race searched for this 'son of Primus' ever since we heard of the prophesy, but after so long of not finding him, most of us gave up or believed the prophesy to be a fake. It became nothing more than a tale to tell Sparklings. But now…Actually finding a mech with golden optics…" The scientist trailed off.
"You mean to tell me no one else in your history has ever had golden eyes?" Sergeant Epps asked, slightly skeptic.
"No, except for Primus himself," Red Alert confirmed.
Wheeljack noticed that Artemis didn't look at all surprised to hear this news, almost like she had heard it before. When he voiced this, Lennox replied, "Cut her some slack, will ya? It's been a hard day."
Artemis shifted guiltily before replying in a quiet voice, "No…Wheeljack is right. I knew about Prowl."
All eyes and optics turned to her at this statement. Artemis seemed to shrink beneath their gaze.
"How did you find out? And why didn't you tell anyone?" Red Alert asked, a little too strongly. Artemis flinched and Jazz picked her up and held her protectively in his hands, while glaring at Red Alert.
"He told me back when I-" Artemis stopped abruptly. "When I ran away and shot at Ironhide, and accused him of things he didn't do, that I never got to apologize for, that…" she thought, emotions quickly bubbling back to the surface. "He told me right before I was kidnapped," Artemis managed to choke out, holding back her tears.
"Did you tell the Decepticons about this?" Red Alert asked frantically. This earned him another glare from Jazz, and he replied for Artemis. "Of course she didn't! She wouldn't tell anything to those no good, Pit-spawned Decepticon lowlifes!" Jazz growled.
"Cool it, Jazz. You can't blame me for wanting to know for sure," Red Alert huffed, crossing his arms.
"Oh yeah? Watch me," Jazz snapped back.
"Alright, you two. Stop it," Perceptor said loudly. "Jazz, you take care of Artemis. Red Alert, you go make sure the security systems are still working at one hundred percent. Wheeljack's invention could have messed with them slightly."
The security officer grumbled to himself, but went off to make sure the security systems were indeed working perfectly. Jazz also got up, still holding Artemis, and went somewhere quieter without a word.
Perceptor sighed. Everyone's stress levels were at a maximum, so tempers were sure to be short, including his own. He just hoped things would get better soon…but that was doubtful.
"Why didn't you tell us, Prowl?" Optimus asked quietly once the three mechs were inside his office.
The tactician didn't answer; he just kept looking down at his hands.
"Prowl…you don't need to feel ashamed."
"That's not the problem," Prowl said, finally looking up. Optimus was still unused to seeing Prowl's optics in the first place, but the golden optics really struck him and the Prime couldn't help but stare. "That is the problem," Prowl finished, meaning all the attention he was getting.
"Sorry," Optimus said quickly, looking away. Ratchet was standing in a corner, crossing his arms lightly.
"I assume you're quite familiar with the prophesy then," the medic mentioned.
Prowl snorted. "Of course I am. Some 'Son of Primus' is going to meet this special being and together they'll take on evil with their 'Guardian' friends. Big deal."
"But it is a big deal, Prowl!" Optimus said, leaning forward slightly. "Do you know what this could mean?"
"Don't tell me you believe the prophesy, Optimus," Prowl said flatly.
"I'm not saying I do," the commander answered, "but you could stand to rely on more than just pure logic. And, the more I think about it, the more…plausible it seems."
The cyber ninja sighed and rolled his optics. "This is another big reason why I never told anyone…"
"I'm serious, Prowl," Optimus said.
"It's not all that far-fetched to me either," Ratchet added.
"Ratchet, not you too!" Prowl almost pleaded. He thought Ratchet would be more on his side.
"Listen. Golden optics, check. 'Evil,' big check. 'New Allies,' check. Mech that dies three times, check. 'Healer,'" Ratchet paused slightly, referring to himself, (with no small satisfaction,) "…check. Its all coming together."
"Who's died three times?" Optimus asked the medic. "I didn't think that happened yet."
"Jazz," Ratchet replied simply.
"I thought he only 'died' twice," Prowl wondered aloud, despite the fact he disliked where this conversation was going.
"Twice recently, yes. But those weren't the first times. I remember when he was just a Hatchling, he almost didn't make it. I still don't know how he managed to survive," Ratchet added thoughtfully.
Optimus looked slightly disappointed upon hearing this.
"…You thought Ironhide would be that mech, didn't you?" the CMO asked him gently, noting his face.
"I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," the commander admitted.
"Especially because none of it is true!" Prowl practically screamed.
Optimus rubbed his optic ridges, frustrated with his Second in Command's sole trust in logic. It blinded him to so many possibilities. "What would have to happen for you to at least consider this prophesy to have some truth to it?"
Prowl thought for a moment. Logically, Ratchet did have something, he would admit that much to himself. But there was one thing he absolutely wouldn't believe without solid proof.
"This 'Star'. You tell me what it is and prove its existence to me, and show it to me, and I will believe," Prowl stated.
One reason he was so intent on disproving the prophesy was his own apprehension. In the back of his processor, a little voice kept nagging, "It could be true. You could be the Son of Primus everyone's been waiting for. You could be special." In all honesty, Prowl was just afraid that it would be true. He didn't want to be special. He didn't want to be the leader. Second in command was more his spot, where he was now, where he could take part in the action but hide in the shadows to avoid recognition. That's why he gave them the challenge of finding the 'Star'. He was confident they would have trouble with that part. And if they could prove it, then what the slag. He'd believe. He wouldn't have any other logical choice, really.
Sure enough, Optimus and Ratchet looked stumped. They had theories about every other being mentioned in the prophesy, albeit most of them were farfetched, but this 'Star' was eluding them completely.
Optimus finally gave up. "Ratchet, make sure Prowl is okay and get to work making him a new visor," he sighed, walking out of the room.
"I miss him," Artemis sniffed, hugging Jazz's neck.
"I know, I know," he replied soothingly. "I do too."
"I never got to apologize to him," Artemis continued, crying into his armor. "After all I did and said, he doesn't know I'm sorry!"
"I'm sure he knows you were just overreacting. He wasn't mad at you."
"He should have been, after everything I told him," Artemis cried.
"Poor girl," Jazz thought sadly. His own optics were starting to tear up again.
"Just let it out, Artemis. Don't hold it in," the saboteur said gently, letting his tears flow as well. "Everything will be okay," he added.
Artemis looked up at him. "You promise?"
Jazz looked at the desperate girl before him, the girl who lost everyone she loved, with her green eyes sparkling like sad stars from all her tears. He attempted a small reassuring smile.
"I promise."
"…This is cruel and unusual punishment," Ironhide growled, watching Artemis and Jazz through one of the mysterious windows. "Why do I have to watch them while they're in so much pain, and I can't do anything about it?"
"Patience, warrior," one of the Primes said calmly. "You will see in time."
"But what am I supposed to 'see,' exactly?" Ironhide asked, exasperated.
"You must watch and find out for yourself."
Ironhide spun his cannons angrily. "I wish I had something to blow up right now…" he thought. "These Primes will be the death of me!"
"Its not possible to die again once you're dead," another Prime said, looking slightly amused.
"Thank you for that wonderful insight…" the Weapons Specialist growled, then stopped. Something wasn't right.
"And if you wanted a shooting range, all you had to do was ask."
It clicked.
"What the…you can read my mind?!?" Ironhide asked indignantly.
"Obviously we can," one Prime stated, with a hint of a laugh.
Ironhide just huffed and returned his attention to the window, wishing he could comfort not only Jazz and Artemis, but everyone he left behind. "I hate these slagging mechs…"
"That was rude."
"Will you stop with the mind reading?" Ironhide shouted, throwing his arms in the air.
Still fuming, he glared with as much force at the Primes. They weren't affected in the slightest, unless you count amusement. The Weapons Specialist grumbled and forced himself to cool off. "Calm down, Ironhide…control the anger…"he thought.
"Deep breaths help with that."
Ironhide twitched. "Ignore them…ignore them…ignore them…"
He was starting to believe he was sent to the Pit after all.
No, Ironhide isn't really in the Pit, the Primes are just enjoying themselves a little. :P
At poor 'Hide's expense.
I needed some comic relief...I just felt the compulsion. So there!
Review please? So when I wake up I have a million kajillion emails to read???
:D