Ahh...
Forgive the sketchiness... I've been working late into the nights, and now I'm half braindead... Dinobots next chapter... Promise...
Soundwave, probably the one afterwards, and then things seriously get interesting... that's the part I've already written most of, but I just had to find a way to link it all up, and now so many things have changed, I'll probably have to rewrite...
Meh, let me kno what you think
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Megatron let out a low whistle. Thundercracker had contacted him to come outside and meet their 'new recruit.'
He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't this.
He looked down in shock at his daughter, who was standing next to him with Frenzy and Barricade, who refused to leave her side. She was still devastated about Blackout's passing.
"Tripticon," she welcomed, giving him a sad smile. "You are to meet your new master. This is Lord Megatron…"
Megatron watched in awe as the colossal reptilian lowered his head to him… He'd never even heard of a transformer so large.
"We are low on space, correct father?" she asked him blankly.
"Y-yes. I don't know where we would house him…" Megatron rasped, still trying to grasp reality.
"You misunderstand, Father. Tripticon will act as our new base… His alternative mode is a building."
Everyone was silent for a moment, until Barricade broke the heavy atmosphere.
"That sounds incredibly boring."
"It is what he was made for. He will enjoy it, as his purpose in life," the young woman replied, feeling more Allspark than Twenty Three.
Punctuating her point, Tripticon transformed, and lay silently as a brand new HQ.
"We can still use our base as command centre," she offered, misreading his blank gaze. "But when the rest of the decepticons come, they'll need rooms, right?"
She looked away. "I should probably start cleaning him out… I'm sure he's got human blood and bodies still inside him. It can't be pleasant."
"Tripticon not mind," the rough reply boomed. His vocal processor seemed as large as he was…
"You will when I don't visit you because you smell gross," she smiled at him tenderly.
"Then clean me."
Frenzy snickered at her use of reverse psychology. Hell, he'd take a bath if he was to otherwise be parted from his femme.
Megatron looked at her suspiciously. He had already made contact with Shockwave on cybertron, and ordered for several units to be dispatched immediately. Does she know? I haven't mentioned it to anybody…
The Allspark wondered briefly what Megatron was hiding from them, but her daughter's confidence silenced her.
"Why do you assume more decepticons are coming?" he pressed. Just how much does she know?
"Thundercracker and Skywarp picked up your signal. Shouldn't others?" she cocked her head, deeming Astrotrain not worth mentioning.
Megatron nodded, then turned to Bonecrusher and Devestator: Two of the lowest ranking decepticons there. "Clean up this mess. Report when every fleshling has been identified and disposed of."
Sighing, Twenty Three lay on her bed, Frenzy snuggled up beside her, and Barricade sitting nearby.
Megatron had ordered her to get some rest rather than help out the others. His reasons were they didn't know how much creating someone as huge as Tripticon would drain her. Barricade and Frenzy had been ordered to stay by her side incase she got too depressed over Blackout.
"I don't feel drained at all," she complained to Frenzy. "I want to help Bonecrusher and Devestator… But I can't disobey my dad…"
"You're sad…" Zee observed, stroking her hair.
"Yes," she agreed. "I feel badly about hurting Blackout and Cade…I wish I could have killed every human myself, without Tripticon's help…"
"They're dead anyway, isn't that what matters?" Barricade put in. "I don't blame you for what happened. It was the humans. Blackout would have been the same."
"It's just… I wish I could avenge him… But I can't if I killed him, unless I killed myself. And I can't do that. I owe my life to mother."
Barricade scowled. "I won't allow you to die. Ever. The humans are dead. If there were any others, we will hunt them down and you shall kill them. I'm sure Megatron will allow you that."
She was quiet for a moment, then sighed.
"Thank you Barricade… I think I can live with myself now… If you've forgiven me."
"You looked beautiful on the battlefield," he told her seriously, remembering her spinning, her vectors shooting out in deadly accuracy, the blood of her victims drenching her.
"She is MY mate," Frenzy shot at him, cuddling her protectively.
"The fact remains the same," he stated, ending the conversation.
"Cade?" she asked him after a while of sleep evading her. "Can you transform?"
"Of course, why?" he looked at her strangely.
"Please… just do it?" she begged him, picking up Frenzy, and walking towards her larger friend.
She watched as he folded himself down into a cop car, sitting silently in front of her.
She walked to the back door, and nudged it with her foot, and watched him open it curiously.
"Do you want to go somewhere?" he asked her.
"No… I just can't sleep," she explained as she climbed in, curling up in his back seat, hugging Frenzy to her. "I jut want to be close to you Cade… I almost lost you today… It would have destroyed me. Both you and Blackout… You're my best friend, Cade, aside from Zee."
Ratchet was sanding next to his new commander as they were contacted by the autobots.
"Megatron! What have you done!" Optimus' enraged voice boomed. "You killed all those innocent humans? And what the SLAG happened to the Sector 7 base? Whole buildings don't just go missing."
"Those humans, Prime, were far from innocent. They tortured my daughter, and have now paid the price."
"Ratchet?" the autobot eyed his ex-comrade. "What do you make of this?"
Ratchet looked to Megatron for permission, and at his nod, took a deep breath.
"Although I disagree with killing on a standard basis… I believe these humans we are better off without. We have found evidence they tried to recreate Project Twenty Three… They are child killers, Optimus… They torture and experiment on their own sparklings? How could I stand by and let that go on?"
"You took part in this?" he looked rather sad.
"I was present, yes. And I did nothing to stop it… It was slaughter, but a necessary sacrifice. Those humans are dangerous, Optimus. Stay away from them… They're not all like Sam and Mikaela…"
"I… understand. What are your plans as to the rest of the human race?"
Ratchet looked to Megatron again, who shrugged.
"We have no issues with the humans. As long as they do not wrong us, and stay out of our way, I don't care what happens with them," the decepticon replied, uncaring. "You can attack us if you want. My men are itching for another fight. But if you stand against us, odds are more of your precious humans will be harmed. They're tiny fragile things," Megatron sneered.
"Hey!" a small voice came from the corner of the autobot screen, and Ratchet immediately recognized the human.
"Mikaela! Hello! How are you faring?" the medic asked with a smile.
"I'm okay," she waved back cheerfully. "When are you coming back? And how's Twenty Three?"
"Twenty Three is… fine," he looked sideways at Megatron. "I shall tell her you said hello. And… I won't be coming back…"
The human looked shocked.
"But…" she looked away and sighed. "Hey, does Twenty Three want to meet up at some point? We could go shopping or something."
"Twenty Three is busy," Megatron scowled. How dare this human believe she was worthy of keeping his daughter company.
"Oh… Maybe later. At least tell her I asked?" she looked at Ratchet. "We could all meet up somewhere… I found this really nice guy she might like."
"She has a mate, as you are aware," Ratchet frowned at her.
"Well, yeah, but she might like someone more… her species?"
Megatron slammed his fist down onto the control panel in anger. "Do not insult my daughter any further, unless you wish to die. My daughter is NOT human."
How DARE she? Megatron knew first hand how much she hated being called that…
"She looks pretty human to me," Mikaela sniffed.
"Please, stop," Ratchet pleaded with her. "Twenty Three is not a human as you know it. She has human components that were used in helping to sustain the life she was given, but that is all… She does not view herself as a human and would be highly insulted if you called her that."
"Fine," Mikaela shrugged it off, ignoring the fuming decepticon at Ratchet's side. "Just tell her I invited her to go shopping? I won't bring any guys."
Ratchet nodded. "I will pass on the message."
Megatron slammed the off button and cut the transmission.
"Of all the- insolent human! How DARE she – species – Damn that hell spawn to the Pit!" he swore in broken English and cybertronian.
"She what?" Twenty Three asked Ratchet, wide-eyed.
"She invited you to 'hang out,'" Ratchet clarified. "The autobots made a call last night."
She nosed Frenzy, who was sitting in her lap, before looking to Barricade.
"I couldn't imagine why, I've never been particularly close to her," she remarked, before sitting up casually. "I suppose the polite thing to do would be to go. What do you think, Ratchet?"
"Mikaela is a nice girl. Her heart is in the right place…" he began uneasily. "However, I believe I should warn you… She mentioned wanting to 'hook you up' with some human male."
Frenzy jumped up and started swearing violently, and Twenty Three let him, still in a bit of shock.
"She knows I am with Frenzy," she said, furrowing her brow. "Why would she even suggest that?" Reaching up, she pulled her lover back into her arms protectively, listening to him continue to swear quietly.
Perhaps she sees him as unworthy as I do? Her mother remarked snidely.
Mother. She warned, pronouncing the full stop.
"I told her you would not want to, so she promised not to bring him… But I would remain wary," he smiled down at the young woman. "She has proved to be very crafty in the past.
She shrugged. "I'll only go if I have Zee, Cade and you with me. Mother is also always with me. I should be safe. I suppose you wouldn't mind seeing your old friends again?" she smiled at the medic, and he widened his optics.
"You'd do that? For me?" he was shocked. He knew she had no reason for going, personally.
"Hey it's nothing. I wouldn't mind seeing Bumblebee again," she smiled at him, and gently kicked his foot. "I should go ask Father for permission, then I'll call them back."
She felt a wave of gratitude flow through her, and it didn't feel like her mother's.
That's Ratchet, the Allspark explained.
How am I feeling his emotions? She asked nervously. I've never been able to do this before.
But I have, the Allspark replied, unconcerned. It's all part of merging with me. You will soon be able to sense all of their thoughts, emotions and intentions. It can be a little overwhelming at times, but you'll get used to it.
Twenty Three nodded mentally, and walked off to see her Father.
"Why in Primus' name would you want to keep company with a fleshling?" Megatron boomed, his shock emerging as anger.
She shrugged. "It would be another way to see how the autobots are going," she replied. "I'll be interested in seeing if Optimus has figured out his thoughts yet."
"I doubt it," Megatron smirked, remembering the phone call.
"So I can go?" she raised her eyebrows – he still hadn't said anything either way.
"If you wish. Be discreet, but try to find out if any more autobots have arrived or are on their way. You can let slip about our new aerials if you like, but I'd prefer Tripticon to be kept a secret for now."
She saluted him. "No problem," she smiled. "I should go reply."
She had organized for them to meet up the next day, around noon at a secluded beach area.
She, Frenzy, Barricade and Ratchet were there early, and she had started to make a giant sand-chair for Barricade, packing it down hard with her vectors. She had just finished it off when Bumblebee arrived with Sam and Mikaela.
The human girl ran up to the cyborg, and attempted to hug her, forgetting the last time that had happened, and Twenty Three had to drop and roll out of the way.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she sounded annoyed. "I'm already mates with Zee."
Mikaela stopped still, then laughed.
"Silly, I don't want to go out with you or anything. I've got a boyfriend too," she gestured to Sam, who was sitting in Bee's hood, eyeing Barricade.
"Bumblebee," Ratchet walked over to his old time friend, but received no response. He lowered his head and sat down next to the Camaro. "I was looking forward to talking to you."
Sam jumped off his friend as he transformed.
"Maybe you should have thought of that before switching sides," he glared at his once friend.
Twenty Three watched them sadly, before looking over at the other female.
"Do the rest of the autobots feel this way?" she whispered.
"Bumblebee's taken it the worst," she replied. "Ironhide's a bit pissed too, but Optimus and Jazz seem okay with it… They know he's just trying to do whatever's right…"
"Ratchet has seemed very happy with us," she told the human. "But I know he misses his friends terribly."
Mikaela shook her head as they watched the two mechs glare at each other.
Twenty Three walked back to Barricade, who was now sitting on his 'chair,' and climbed up onto his lap with Frenzy.
"I'm beginning to wonder about bringing him…" Twenty Three looked sad. "Maybe I didn't do the right thing after all…"
"It's better they meet here again than the battlefield," Barricade pointed out, and she sighed.
Slag-head! How can he hold this against me? Ratchet's voice came pounding in her head, making her lose her balance. It was filled with pain and regret.
"He's hurting a lot more than he's letting on," Twenty Three whispered under her breath.
"What?" Frenzy looked at her curiously, then at the medic.
"I have to put a stop to this," she stood, and leapt forward, right over the top of Sam and Mikaela, landing in front of Bumblebee. Barricade made to follow her, but she motioned for him to stay where he was.
"Bumblebee," she eyed him warily.
What the hell does this kid want?
"You are insulting my friend. Cease, and I won't have to take action," she warned him, and Ratchet froze, remembering the death of Astrotrain.
"Twenty Three, it's ok… Don't hurt him, please."
She looked up at him.
"You still care for him," she stated, and turned her gaze back to the yellow and black striped mech. "Listen well, autobot. We hold no quarrel with you… We came here so you and Ratchet could talk, and sort out your differences. You are wasting an opportunity and a friendship. I will not kill you now or ever, because Ratchet is also my friend, but I will hurt you if you hurt him."
Bumblebee looked at her curiously. She caught a flash of a memory as it passed through his mind… Several more mechanoids had arrived on earth… One red, one yellow, one white. The Allspark put names to them for her. Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Wheeljack.
Bumblebee sighed, and looked towards the robo ambulance.
"Why'd you leave us?" he asked, his voice filled with betrayal.
"I… couldn't fight anymore… I just… didn't know what to believe. I think I've found my place with the decepticons… It's not anything like I imagined it would be. I'm not sure if it's better or worse, but at least I feel like I'm doing the right thing – on the side with my creator. I think… I'd follow Twenty Three wherever she went, my loyalties lie with her, rather than Megatron."
Said woman looked up at him in surprise. "I am no leader. I'm not good at things like that… I just want all my friends to be happy…" she bit her lip.
"See what I mean?" he asked Bumblebee. "She's so innocent, and perfect. This is what I want to fight for."
Bumblebee looked taken aback. "I thought you were joining the evil side, ready to wipe humans and autobots alike from the face of the earth," he accused. "That's what being a decepticon is, isn't it? You took part in that slaughter on Sector 7."
"I did that," Twenty Three huffed. "Ratchet didn't kill anyone. He's not the killing type," she smiled at him. "He's the fixing type."
"Too true," the medic agreed wryly.
The Camaro still looked unsure. "Why'd they all have to die? I know they weren't all good, but…"
"Didn't Optimus tell you?" Ratchet was shocked, almost as much as Bumblebee.
"Tell me what?"
"They tortured Twenty Three. Hell, what you went through was nothing compared to her stay with them. This I know you know… but… they…" he started to look sick. "They were trying to make another one. Project Twenty Four. They could never jumpstart her heart, but they were trying to turn another innocent child into a weapon. How can that not be evil?"
Bumblebee was silent, caught up in his memory. They had frozen him with nitrogen, but he was very much awake, and so very afraid…
Twenty Three looked the yellow bot curiously, watching his thought patterns as if they were her own. They weren't nearly as bad as some of her own, but she knew they were causing the mech extreme distress. She felt herself extend a brainwave out to him, suppressing the memories, and forcing him to calm down.
Bumblebee looked up at her and shivered.
"Did you do that?" he seemed a little afraid.
"If you like, I can make it so those memories never plague you again… I can erase them for you if you wish."
His optics brightened in surprise, and Ratchet stiffened beside her.
What the frag just happened? Can she see inside our heads? His voice pounded inside her skull.
She then noticed Barricade and Frenzy had edged closer as well, not wanting to be left out of the loop.
"Why would you do that?" Bumblebee asked in wonder, bringing her attention back to himself.
"I don't like to see any of my creations in pain, even if you have betrayed me," she spoke sadly, knowing she was once again mostly Allspark.
"But… what?" the Camaro stuttered, confused.
"Tee," Frenzy pounced on her. "Come back…"
Twenty Three blinked a couple of times, and felt her age old memories fade into the background.
"Zee?" she hugged him tightly, then snapped her head around to the autobot again. She'd made an offer, and she would follow through if needed, even if it more tightly bound her to her mother… "Bumblebee? What do you want me to do?"
"I'll… keep my memories thanks," he looked away.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and Bumblebee was shot in the chest by a laser beam.
Twenty Three spun around, and was shocked to see her father, along with the rest of the decepticon forces.
"Father? What is the meaning of this?" Twenty Three asked, outraged.
"Time for you to come home, child, and if I can take out an autobot at the same time, all the better," he laughed, readying his aim to finish off the bot.
Ratchet was torn… The entire reason he had swapped sides was because of the argument Megatron was logical, and had a decent reason for starting the war… But this wasn't logical at all.
What the frag is going on? His thoughts echoed the cyborg's own.
Megatron's laughter flowed through her head… His bloodlust taking over, and filling even her with fear…
It had been too long since his last kill… He was a military mechanoid, and there was only so long he could go without conflict. It was what he lived for.
Slowly, the Allspark began to take control once again, and she shoved Frenzy roughly away from her.
Megatron was the one who started this war… Over her. She felt her ire rise, as she thought about the new autobot arrivals. Wheeljack was among them… Now there was a mech who she was yet to be disappointed by. She'd made him, just for fun, his personality and abilities being both quirky and fun… She wanted to see him again, now they were on the same planet, to see if he had remained true to himself… And that would not happen with Megatron in the way… Even if it hurt her daughter, she'd put him out of commission for a while…
"Cease fire, Megatron," she boomed both aloud and inside his CPU. Before he could even react, she charged him, tearing away at his armor, leaving little left but a skeletal framework.
"What the-" he cried out. "Twenty Three! What are you doing? You're my daughter!"
"I am NOT Twenty Three! And she is MY daughter, and MY weapon, not yours!" she snarled, keeping said weapons mind under control. She could not see what was going on… When she got over emotional, she could take over… So the Allspark was forced to send her into a sort of stasis.
"You're hurting her!" Frenzy shrieked. "She'll hate herself when she comes to, knowing she was used to hurt Megatron! How can you do this to her?"
"Quiet, shrimp," she spat, punching the bot over the head. "Barricade," she addressed the cop car, who looked a little nervous, and extremely frightened.
"Wh-What?" he asked cautiously.
"Who are you loyal to?" she stalked towards him, the other decepticons deciding it safer to remain out of range. "Megatron, or me?"
He looked around, and backed away. "I… Uh… I am loyal to Twenty Three. She is loyal to Megatron, therefore, so am I." He hoped he'd at least escape with his life.
The Allspark narrowed her eyes.
"Then you'll remain behind with the rest of the scrap. Ratchet, Bumblebee. Take me to Wheeljack," she ordered the stunned mechs.
"How'd you-" Bumblebee asked, shocked, but Ratchet simply transformed, and opened his passenger door for the Allspark to enter. The camaro quickly followed suit, Sam and Mikaela running for the safety of the back seat.
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Oh no, Twenty Three is losing herself!! What will she do when she 'wakes up?' Craaaziness...
Review, Yo!
