AAAHHHH!!! I'm sooooo sorryyyyy! Dx
I never meant for the wait to be this long!!
Please accept my apology. *sniffs unhappily*
Anyway, please enjoy Chapter 15!!
P.S. - I apologize to Kibble Beast especially, as there is not nearly as much MEGASCREAM as I had originally hoped for this chapter.
Ironhide grumbled to himself as he stalked away from the Primes. He was really getting annoyed with them. Sighing, he found a wall (that never used to be there, he noticed) and sat down, leaning against it.
"Artemis, how am I supposed to find you?" Ironhide asked quietly. He didn't notice the figure appear to his right.
Artemis was enjoying a wonderful dream, but suddenly she was blinded by an overwhelming white light.
"…Damn it!!" she cursed to herself after she realized it was the Matrix. "What the hell am I doing here again?"
Artemis growled in frustration and looked around for something to walk towards, though she expected nothing but the infuriating white. She was surprised to see a lone black figure leaning against a wall. A very familiar lone black figure. Wave upon wave of emotion slammed into Artemis when she recognized the black mech an instant later.
"Ironhide!" Artemis yelled, running towards him.
The Weapons Specialist was so startled by hearing his name yelled he fell over slightly.
"What…Artemis? Is that you?" he asked incredulously.
Artemis didn't offer an answer to this question other than to launch herself at the mech and hug him as tightly as she could.
"Oh Ironhide, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean anything I said, I was just upset and I misunderstood what you meant, I'm so so sorry!"
Slightly taken aback, Ironhide comforted her. "Hey, Artemis, its okay. I'm not mad."
"You should be."
"But I'm not." Looking down at the upset girl clinging to his side, he continued, "I know you didn't mean it, it just shocked me a little. And I would've gone after you but you hit a main energon line."
"Yeah, I know," Artemis sniffed. "Prowl told me."
"Anyway, how could I be angry at you for taking such a wonderful shot? The chances of someone hitting that line are one in a million," Ironhide laughed.
Artemis smiled in spite of herself.
"I'm just glad you and the others are safe," Ironhide said quietly.
"Its all my fault! If I hadn't run…I wouldn't have needed rescuing. And no one would've been hurt and you wouldn't have died!"
"My time was coming soon enough anyway. And I'm happy I got to go out while protecting the mechs, and people, I care about. Plus, I'm sure Ratchet was getting tired of fixing those cables in my hip so often. Always annoyed the slag outta him."
Artemis was glad for the good humor Ironhide had. She'd surely still be crying if he didn't. Artemis glanced around the area, expecting more white, but again was surprised.
"Woah, who are they?" she asked, noticing the Primes for the first time.
One of them stepped forward. "We are--"
"--Nobody important," Ironhide finished, glaring pointedly at the six Primes.
Unfazed, the Prime continued. "We have brought you here for a reason, Artemis."
"So what's the reason? I hate this place."
"As do I," Ironhide grumbled, agreeing.
"Ironhide," another Prime said, prompting the Weapons Specialist to start.
With a roll of his optics and an exasperated sigh, Ironhide began to explain.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about a Cybertronian prophesy, would you?"
"The 'mech of optics gold' one? Yeah, Prowl told me about that too, after he showed me his optics."
"Ah, well that will make things easier. It turns out the prophesy…is real."
"Really? How do you know?" Artemis asked.
Ironhide waved a hand at the Primes. "Them. For a reason I can't figure out Primus chose them to be the original Primes, the first of our race. Thank goodness he's made better choices since then."
The Primes shifted slightly but otherwise did not react.
"…okay…" Artemis said. "So what's this prophesy have to do with me being here?"
"Its coming true. Now. Prowl really is the Son of Primus. Ratchet is the Great Healer…that will definitely inflate his ego…the Mech that Returns Thrice is Jazz. He almost died as a sparkling, you know, so that makes three. The Leader is obviously Prime. The New Allies are Major Lennox and his team. The Guardians of Life are the Autobots. 'Evil'…not that hard to figure out."
Artemis listened intently as Ironhide explained everything to her. "Okay," she said. "But if I remember correctly, there was a Star, a Light, a Doubter, and an Innocent but Brave. Who are they?"
"I don't know who the Doubter or the Innocent but Brave is. The Light and Star are the same, just given a different name. And…the Star…the Star is you, Artemis."
Artemis laughed nervously. "You're joking, right? I mean, I don't glow or shine or anything, I'm just a normal girl…"
"Your last name. When its translated into Cybertronian, it turns out to be our word for 'star'. And, you are the last of your family. The 'Last Star.'"
Artemis shook her head. "No. its not me. It can't be me. There's just no way."
"It is you, Artemis Rae, Star of Life," a Prime said.
Artemis looked pleadingly around the room. "But…but I don't feel special. I don't feel like I'm this super important person in this war…"
"Because you have to accept it first," Ironhide told her.
"What do you mean, 'accept it?'" she asked.
"I don't know. They don't give me many details."
"Once you truly accept it with your heart you will become the Star that must be to end Evil," another Prime stated.
"How do I do that?"
"You must find out for yourself," Ironhide said before a Prime could. "I know how frustrating that sounds, believe me. I've heard it a lot around here."
Artemis sighed, holding her head in her hands. "I don't know, Ironhide…This is just too much…"
Ironhide was just about to respond when a lot of movement in the window caught his optic.
"What's going on down there?"
Ironhide and Artemis moved closer to get a better look. Everyone back at the base was hovering around Artemis' limp body, and Ratchet was rushing around to gather supplies.
"Hurry, Ratchet! She doesn't have a pulse!"
"Shut it! I'm running as fast as I can, Jazz!"
"What happened?"
"I don't know! She was sleeping one moment, but the next she doesn't have a heart beat!"
Back in the Matrix, Artemis' eyes went wide. "What the…I'm dead?!?"
"It had to be done to get you here."
"…you KILLED me?!?" Artemis yelled, spinning on the Primes.
Ironhide was equally enraged. "How the frag is she supposed to do anything when she's dead?"
With everlasting patience, a Prime answered, "It is only temporary. She will go back to them."
"When?" Artemis asked, but in the blink of an eye she was staring up at Jazz, who was, in all honesty, freaking out.
"Artemis!" he yelled, pulling her into a tight hug. "We thought we lost you!"
"Jazz…Jazz. Hey. I can't breathe that well…"
"Oh, sorry," he said, releasing his grip slightly.
"Let go, Jazz. I must scan her."
"No, Ratchet, I'm okay," Artemis said somewhat groggily, pulling away from her 'captor.' Her mind was still on Ironhide…she had seen him again, talked to him again…as much as she hated that place, she wanted to go back. There was so much more she wanted to say…
"You went from a healthy recharge to basically dead in seconds. That is by no means okay," the medic replied, cutting across her thoughts. He leaned closer in preparation for his scans.
"You don't understand. I didn't almost die, I just went to the Matrix."
"That was probably a hallucination effect from the near death experience," Ratchet said, dismissing it. He started up his scans.
"No! I'm serious! I went to the Matrix and talked with Ironhide! It was about the prophesy! He told me its true, and its happening now!"
Optimus cut across whatever comment Ratchet was about to make. "Was anyone else there?"
"Um…I met the original Primes, I think. There were six of them, and they all kinda looked the same but had differences too. Ironhide doesn't seem to like them that much though…"
Optimus nodded slowly. "It may not have been just a hallucination, Ratchet. The Primes may have indeed brought her back to the Matrix. It also explains what just happened."
"But why? She's just a girl."
"Uh…while I was there…Ironhide was telling me who everyone was, relating to the prophesy," Artemis said.
"What did he say?" Optimus asked. The other mechs waited silently for her to continue.
"He said Prowl was the Son of Primus…"
Prowl scoffed at this but otherwise remained silent.
"And Ratchet was the Great Healer…"
Despite the situation, Ratchet smiled triumphantly when he heard it said.
"And Jazz was the Mech that Returned Thrice…and the Leader is you, Optimus, and our New Allies are Major Lennox and his team…all the Autobots are the Guardians of Life…and the Evil was Megatron."
Optimus thought for a moment. Everything she said was what he already suspected, this was just confirming it, especially if it indeed came from the knowledge of the Primes.
"Did he say anything about the others? Or the Star?" he asked.
"Yeah…he said who the Star was…" Artemis said quietly.
The whole room waited anxiously for the answer to their unasked question. The Star was what brought everything together. It was the one big piece they were missing.
Taking a big breath, Artemis continued. "Ironhide, and the Primes, said…I was the Star."
The room was too shocked to say anything right away. Prowl especially was surprised. If she was indeed the Star…
"They're wrong," Jazz managed to say a few seconds later.
"Hold it, Jazz. It makes perfect sense. 'A world both young and old, near and far?' When you think about it, that means Earth. Compared to Cybertron this world is young, but to the humans it is old. And its nowhere near our home planet, but we're here now, making both near and far to us," Ratchet said, crossing his arms in thought.
"And don't forget her name. Rae translates to Star in Cybertronian, and she is the last of her family here, thus making her the 'Last Star,'" Optimus added.
"It's not her! It can't be her!" Jazz said, refusing to believe it. "Isn't the Star supposed to be special or something? She's just a girl!"
"They told me I have to accept it first," Artemis said, stepping away from Jazz. "I don't want to believe it myself, but the evidence is overwhelming."
"But…you can't! This isn't your war! Its too dangerous!" Jazz looked around the room, pleading with someone to agree with him. Everyone avoided his gaze…not even Prowl would help him. "Tell her she can't do this!"
"…I'm sorry, Jazz. If she is the Star, then she must."
Realizing he wasn't getting any outside help, Jazz turned to Artemis, and crouched down until he was face to face with her. "Whatever you do, you cannot accept it, do you hear me? You cannot accept being the Star!"
"But Jazz--"
"No buts! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!"
"If I am, I have to, Jazz! Everything depends on it!"
"I'm saying this for your safety--"
"There won't be anything left worth saving me for if I don't!"
"If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for me," the silver mech pleaded.
"No, Jazz. I'm sorry, but no."
Stung, the saboteur sat up again. "I see how it is now," he said coldly, standing up.
"Jazz! Where are you going?" Optimus asked. "The Decepticons are almost here!"
"I'm leaving."
"Jazz, no! Don't go--" Artemis started.
"You obviously don't want my help, so why should I stick around here?" Jazz asked over his shoulder.
"You over-dramatic fragger, get your aft back here!" Ratchet yelled after him, but to no effect. Jazz was gone.
"Should we go after him, Optimus?" Red Alert asked.
"No. Let him leave. There's no use trying to make him stay," the leader sighed. A few moments later he straightened up. "We must prepare for the attack. Ratchet, how are our injured?"
"They're awake, and functional enough. Of course they all want to fight as well," Ratchet replied. "I can try to give them as much energy as possible to help."
Optimus nodded once, and Ratchet left the room for the medbay with Jetfire.
Artemis was still, trying her best not to cry. The others moved around her, preparing for battle.
"Artemis," Optimus said softly. "I need you to listen to me very carefully." He held out a hand for her to climb on. She did so, and was brought up to face level with Optimus.
"I know this is hard on you," the leader continued, "But right now you need to make a decision. You can either choose to stay with us for the battle, or leave with Major Lennox."
"I…I don't know. I want to stay and help, but…I don't know what I'm supposed to do! And even if I did I wouldn't know how to do it. I just…" Artemis trailed off, obviously upset from the recent events.
Optimus knew it wouldn't be good for her to stay for the battle from her reaction. In all honesty he was disappointed, but he wouldn't let Artemis know that. She didn't need to feel any more guilty than she already was. "Its okay, Artemis. You can leave, we won't blame you."
Artemis only nodded as she was brought back to the floor, where Lennox led her to his team. As much as he wanted to stay, he had injured men to take care of and he felt like he'd be more of a nuisance than a help this time around.
"When you leave, go south. I've secured that route for you; no Decepticons should get in your way," Red Alert told them.
With a word of thanks, the humans evacuated the base. And not a moment too soon.
"What are we supposed to do without the Star?" Wheeljack asked.
"We fight, just like we always have," Prowl replied.
"Ahhh…there it is. The Autobot base…" Megatron growled. He glared longingly at the base below him. "Starscream, get up here!"
"Yes, Lord Megatron," the Seeker answered, limping up to his leader's side. He took as much time as he could get away with; he was in no hurry whatsoever to receive more pain.
"Could you be any slower, cretin?…Remember to be fully alert, Starscream," Megatron said dangerously. "I will have absolutely no tolerance for cowardice from you! Because today, I will make it my personal mission to make sure that cowards don't survive. Understood?"
"Completely, my liege," Starscream said, bowing.
"Good," Megatron replied, smacking the Seeker's head roughly. "Now make yourself useful! Decepticons, attack!"
The air was filled with roars and growls, followed by several explosions.
The battle had begun.
Artemis could hear the sounds of battle taking place, even miles away. Deep down inside she felt guilty for breaking down like that and not being able to help them, and abandoning them for safety. In all honesty she wanted to go back and find some way to help. She really didn't know what she would do, but hey, maybe she'd know once she got there.
Artemis's impulsive side took over as she leapt from the moving vehicle. She got up and immediately started running back towards the base.
"Artemis! Damnit, girl," Lennox yelled. "You keep going, I'll get her," he commanded his team as he jumped out as well and ran after Artemis.
Artemis was running so fast she could have sworn she was flying. She barely heard the shouts and yells behind her as she approached the base again.
"Artemis, what the hell are you doing?" Major Lennox asked angrily, finally catching up with her.
"I need to help them," she said. A very determined light shone in her eyes.
"And how in the world do you plan on doing that?"
"I don't know yet," she answered, diving down the hill to the battle.
Cursing everything imaginable, Lennox followed her.
The fighting was vicious. The Decepticons had no mercy for their prey as they tore through the walls of the base. The Autobots were being taken down left and right; the battle was indeed very one-sided.
"Where is the girl?" Megatron demanded, shooting at Optimus.
"I'll never tell you!" the Autobot commander replied, dodging the blast and countering with his own guns.
"Then you will all pay the price!" Megatron declared, diving into Optimus.
Prowl was once again battling Barricade, holding his own quite well this time around, all things considered. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were executing their most infamous fighting technique; Jet Judo. So far they managed to take down Thundercracker, but Skywarp and Starscream were proving to be much harder. Starscream seemed to have a bit more courage today than they were used to, and Skywarp had that annoying warp ability. Coupled with their lack of energy and previous injuries, it was near on impossible to take the other Seekers down. But that didn't stop them from trying.
Bumblebee was already knocked out by Sideways, and Red Alert was currently struggling with the Decepticon. Wheeljack was digging through his lab supplies, searching for volatile chemicals that would explode when thrown at the enemy. Perceptor was also down; Ratchet was simultaneously trying to fend off two Decepticons and repair him. Jolt was barely online fighting Mixmaster, and Jetfire was grounded from a hard shot to his wings.
…Things were indeed going rough for the Autobots.
"What is so special about this one fleshling's life?" Megatron snarled. "Just hand her over and we'll be on our way!"
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Megatron!" Optimus replied. "And I don't believe that you would just leave us alone."
"I am hurt by your lack of faith in my word, Prime," Megatron said maliciously.
"I'm sure it won't hurt more than this!" Optimus retorted, firing both guns simultaneously at the giant silver mech. Both hit him directly in the chest.
Megatron was going to retaliate until a comparatively small silver mech dove out of nowhere into his head.
"Get off me, you insect!" the Decepticon leader demanded, clawing at the mech.
"What's the matter, Megatron? Can't handle the awesome?" Jazz replied, grinning evilly.
The distraction was all Optimus needed to take another shot at Megatron. Jazz artfully leapt out of the way just as the giant blast knocked the Decepticon backwards.
"Nice of you to join the battle, Jazz," Optimus said, firing at another Decepticon.
"Aw, I felt guilty leaving you to fight without my awesomeness, so I came back," Jazz said with a smile.
That smile was short lived; in those few seconds of distraction, a stray shot hit him in the shoulder and forced him backwards…straight into the claws of a fuming Megatron.
"I remember you," Megatron said slowly, gripping the smaller mech tightly. "Shall I tear you into even more pieces this time?"
"NO!"
The voice rang especially loud; all fighting was halted.
"Let him go!" Artemis demanded.
"Artemis! What are you doing? Get out of here!" Jazz yelled.
"Let him go, Megatron," Artemis said again.
"Why would I listen to the demands of a fleshling like yourself? What are you offering in place of his life?" Megatron asked, optics narrowing.
"Leave him, and all the Autobots alone, and promise to leave this base immediately…and I will go with you."
"No! Artemis, you can't!"
"Get out of here now!"
"Don't do it, Artemis!" Optimus yelled.
"You said freedom was the right of all sentient beings, right, Prime? She is freely choosing to go with us in return for your lives. And you want to stop her from making this free choice?"
"Artemis, please, don't do it," Optimus pleaded.
She ignored him. She was doing what she felt she had to in order to help them, even if they weren't happy with it. Artemis continued to face Megatron. "Do we have a deal?"
"If you come with me, I will order my Decepticons to fall back and leave this base immediately," Megatron answered, smiling maliciously.
"And you will not take any Autobots hostage?"
"No, they will all remain here," Megatron added.
"Then let's go."
Megatron tossed Jazz aside, and grabbed the girl, smiling triumphantly. The Autobots pleaded with Artemis not to go…but they couldn't do anything about it. Not only because she freely chose to do so, but because they were still highly outnumbered.
"Lord Megatron, I have found another fleshling hiding among the ruins!" Starscream said, holding Major Lennox in his hands.
"Good, Starscream," Megatron said, approving. "Bring him back to base as well!"
"No! You said you wouldn't--"
"I said I wouldn't take any Autobots, fleshling," Megatron replied harshly. "You said nothing about him."
"But--"
"Quiet!" Megatron snarled. "Decepticons, fall back! Return to our base, and take no prisoners!" he added.
Immediately every Decepticon flew off, leaving the Autobots behind.
"…Well this sucks." Jazz said, kicking angrily at a pile of rubble. He, like every other Autobot, felt like he failed epically.
"Something doesn't feel right," Ratchet said, narrowing his optics. "Megatron is up to something. He never just leaves like that."
"…I think I just found it," Sunstreaker said.
A bomb was beeping ominously amongst the rubble of their base.
"Soundwave, is the bomb planted?"
"Yes, Lord Megatron. Soundwave planted bomb while battle took place. No Autobot took notice," Soundwave replied.
"Excellent, Soundwave!" Megatron replied.
"What? Bomb?!?" Artemis asked, twisting around in Starscream's grasp to catch a glimpse of the base with Lennox. Megatron refused to hold the fleshling for extended periods of time. A second later Soundwave detonated the bomb, creating a gigantic explosion that completely obliterated the base.
"NOOOO!" Artemis screamed. "NO! Jazz! Optimus! Ratchet! Everyone…no!"
Major Lennox was too shocked to say anything; he just stared in complete horror.
Megatron laughed his most evil, cunning laugh. Today was a good day.
Optimus blinked. He could have sworn he was headed for the Well of All Sparks, or even just the Matrix…but what he saw in front of him was the inside of a very large cave. And for some reason, this didn't seem like the afterlife to him.
Groans and mumbles coming from all around him told Optimus that the others were there too.
"What the frag just happened?" Jazz asked, sitting up. "I thought we were slagged for sure!"
"So did I," Ratchet grumbled. "Anyone care to offer an explanation of what the frag just happened?!?" he added, pulling emergency medical equipment from subspace and taking care of the injured mechs before him.
"I can offer an explanation," Wheeljack spoke up. All optics were on him. "So, while I was in my lab, I noticed Soundwave sneaking around holding something. I discovered it was a bomb, and knew that it would be detonated as soon as the Decepticons left. I also happened to have this lovely little invention I'd been working on, one that was similar to the device that brought you all back from the Decepticon base. Except this one could transport us anywhere, not just back to base. I chose this destination, because not only is it safe from the elements, but the carbon deposits shield us from detection of all kinds."
Thwack.
"I swear, Wheeljack, I'm going to dismantle you myself!" Ratchet exclaimed, hitting the scientist with a spare wrench he kept with him for such occasions.
"Wh-what? Why?!?" he stuttered.
"Because you've just pulled off two miracles in a row. If a third one happens, the universe is liable to spontaneously combust!" The medic answered him. And he wasn't joking in the slightest.
"Enough, Ratchet. Take care of our injured. We must find Artemis as soon as possible. We cannot let her stay in Decepticon hands; there's no telling what they will do to her." Optimus said.
"Um…about that, sir…" Wheeljack said quietly, avoiding his leader's gaze.
"Yes, Wheeljack?"
"You see…there's a slight side effect I didn't manage to nullify."
"For Primus's sake, Wheeljack, what is it?" Ratchet growled impatiently.
"We didn't just move through space…we also moved through time."
"…How much time has passed, Wheeljack. How much time?!?"
"…About two years."
This time Ratchet would have dismantled the scientist if he hadn't been restrained.
Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait!!
I also hope it didn't seem too rushed...I really wanted to get it finished and out for you all.
I realize there are a lot of discontinuities within this story still. I promise to start the revamp soon, as I decided to revamp before I finish this fic. I feel it will make things work better.
Oh, and side note! If you check out my profile, there will be a link to a website that I have pictures entered in a contest. If you could please vote for my pictures, I would greatly appreciate it!
Also, if you help me promote my pictures by posting them or telling others to visit my profile to vote, I will gladly reward you with a Transformers oneshot of your choosing. It can be anything! You want Optimus doing the hula? You got it. You want Megatron being uber evil? No problem. You want slash? All yours! Just send me a PM with the following information after you've helped promote my pictures:
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