Firefly paced her room, calculating every possible opportunity that she might be able to take. Even without her compliance Shockwave controlled Cybertron, what she needed now was a way to get out of there. She prowled the length of her room trying to find a weakness she could exploit. There was nothing. She cursed Shockwave roundly for putting her in this position.
The door beeped in warning before sliding open noiselessly. Firefly tensed and waited for whoever was there to enter. She wouldn't put it past Shockwave to destroy her even though she was now in his pocket.
"Stop hiding like a sparkling and get in here."
A large figure appeared in the doorway.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Firefly asked lazily as she eyed the mech. He was younger than her, or at least hadn't seen as many battles as she had. He still had a spirited look to his red optics.
"Lord Shockwave sent me to get you."
"Received a summons have I?" She laughed throatily. "That mech has no idea of what he's gotten into with me."
The unknown mech still stood by the door, shifting on his feet every few moments. He was nervous.
"What's wrong kid? You still haven't told me who you are."
"Trip-wire, sir."
Firefly watched the mech for a moment. His blue armor shone from a recent polishing, very different from Shockwave's other roughed up guards. Firefly suppressed her smile. Had he cleaned up to meet her? She might be able to turn that into an opportunity.
"Alright then Trip-wire, let's see what that waste of parts wants."
She strolled casually towards him. He tensed and waited for her to precede him out of the room. They were part-way down the corridor when she said.
"Don't walk behind me, kid, unless you're going to deactivate me. Come here." She waved her hand next to her. The mech moved forward, Firefly didn't move until he was walking beside her.
As they walked slowly through the dark corridors, Firefly's curiosity grew. "So, what is a young mech like yourself doing working for Shockwave, surely there are more interesting things you'd rather be doing?"
Trip-wire looked at her nervously, his hand clutched at the blaster he carried. "I want to be an officer. "
"And you think Shockwave will help you become one." Firefly stopped, Trip-wire stumbled and spun. Firefly studied his face closely. He had a strange innocence around him that she couldn't help but feel sorry for him and his naiveté. Back when she was in command they had sent mechs like this back to their homes or pointed them in the direction of the Autobots. Untainted mechs like this weren't meant to see the battlefield. She hated watching that innocent light fade from their optics, either from harsh experience or because their sparks had just been extinguished. She wasn't a complete monster.
"Look, kid, Shockwave isn't going to do anything but use you and throw you away. Once you've played your part in whatever plan he has, you will find yourself looking down the business end of Axer's gun."
"Lord Shockwave promised–"
Firefly cut off whatever idealistic crap the young mech had been about to spout. "He may have told you that but he's a veteran Decepticon. He is as adept at lying as he is at killing. He told me he'd help me find my team and then locked me up until I agreed to help him. Now you seem like a nice sort of mech so I'll tell you this once, and only once, never trust any promises made by anyone who doesn't fight beside their troops. They don't understand the meaning of loyalty or courage. Find yourself a couple of mechs who you would trust with your life and make sure they would trust you with theirs, only then will you be safe from the evils in this world."
Trip-wire looked at her stunned, his mouth hung open and his optics were wide. Firefly decided that while she had his attention it would be a good time to try and escape.
"If you get me out of here, I'll count you as one of my team. Have you ever heard of my team, or was that before your activation?"
Trip-wire threw back his shoulders, trying to look important. "The King tells stories of your exploits during the Great War, before Lord Megatron left in pursuit of the Autobots. Being a part of your team was a highly enviable position."
Firefly smiled and darted at look around them. Shockwave would notice if they didn't arrive soon. She grabbed Trip-wire's arm and started walking again.
"I would like to invite you to join my team, but only if you prove that you can be loyal to me and only me."
Trip-wire's mouth moved several time before any sound came out. "I would be honored Lord Firefly, how can I prove myself to you?"
"Help me escape from here and I'll ensure your safety."
Trip-wire beamed. "The King always said you were honorable."
Firefly looked askance at him. "Who is this 'King'?"
"He's the leader of one of the elite street racing gangs in the lower levels; they aim to give Shockwave as much trouble as they can."
Firefly processed this new tidbit of information. If this King was singing her praises, she might be able to get him to help her regain power once she escaped. She would promise him a place in her elite guard, if he truly believed in her he would be very loyal.
Trip-wire's voice rang with mounting excitement. "Once I get you out I'll try and get you to King Cade, he should be able to help as well. I'll start on a plan as soon as possible."
Firefly froze. King Cade? Did that mean Barricade or some other mech?
She didn't get a chance to ask the young mech as they had just reached the command center's doors.
Shockwave was sitting in a small throne as they entered, behind him was Axer. Firefly rolled her optics at the pomposity of the situation. Around the room mechs and droid were making a low hum of noise that reminded Firefly of her old administration duties and how she hated them. Trip-wire fell back at the door but Firefly continued until she stood before Shockwave's throne.
"You summoned me?" She bowed mockingly.
"I have your first assignment."
One of the guards stepped forward, holding out a datapad. She took it roughly and read through it.
"You're kidding." She declared angrily. "I'm a leader and highly sought-after trainer, what makes you think I'd even consider doing this?"
Several energy-weapons hummed to life behind her.
"Axer's charming persuasion." Shockwave replied.
"Go scrap yourself. Contact me when you have something worth my time and skills." Firefly turned on her heel and headed back towards the door, ignoring the three mechs with glowing spears.
"One of these targets may have knowledge of Elita-1's location."
Firefly tossed a look over her shoulder, glaring at the cycloptic head. He wasn't going to take no for an answer and he knew exactly what to say to ensure her cooperation. In the back of her processor she cursed her desire to rip the spark from her pink chassis. Shockwave knew of her hatred and was fully prepared to use it. No doubt every time Firefly wanted to refuse the mark would have information concerning the Autobot femme commander.
She snarled. "Have the information sent to my quarters."
Not wanting to see the victory in his faceless mask Firefly quit the room, her guard and potential alley in tow.
The streets were almost impenetrably dark. The only light came from broken bulbs sparking fitfully above her. Each corner hid a secret or lie. It wasn't much different to the Dead End, just less murder and more energon. A squeak to her left caused Firefly to tense. The threat of whatever unknown lurker hiding in the darkness rode high in her processors. If she didn't find what she needed soon she might not make it back alive, not that she was intending to go back.
The assignment Shockwave had set her had proven to be the ideal platform to launch her escape. She checked her internal chronometer, half a cycle since she'd slipped past the guards at the gate.
Shockwave didn't expect her to return, all her potential effectiveness as a pawn was lost due to her defiance and ability to distract and deactivate any mechs he sent to watch over her. That was why he'd given her such a low-rank mission, this was meant to be her last walk as an active femme. He'd already sent out several squads to make sure she never came back.
The number of patrols looking for her had probably been increased just after her disappearance had been discovered. Bless that young foolish mech. Trip-wire had managed to smuggle her all the information she would need to complete her task as well as all the gossip he'd heard about her executioners. He would be joining her as soon as he could escape unnoticed.
Keeping all sensors alert for her prey or anyone following her Firefly kept searching. Down dark roads and murky alleyways, she hunted. Finally several cycles later she heard the distinctive sound of racers highly-charged engines.
Creeping up on the loud roars she peeked around the corner of a building. Sitting in the middle of a large square was a group of large and menacing mechs gathered around a throne-like chair. Their attention focused on each other and the few vehicles speeding around a make-shift track. Obviously a gang of street racers, and exactly what she was looking for.
Firefly pulled her head back behind the wall. Getting past them would take a different approach to her usual one. Brute force wouldn't impress them, they were built for that, but maybe appealing to their egos would. Training her face into a sultry smile she left the shadows and started towards the group.
As she got closer they started to notice her, heads turned and optics roved over her chassis hungrily. Keeping the flirty look on her face she increased the swing of her hips. When she was close enough to hear them panting she stopped.
"Hello there boys." She purred.
A large dark green mech stepped forward. His optics went up and down her body several times before he spoke.
"What brings a femme like you all the way down here?"
A pretty pout appeared on her lips. "I'm being chased by Enforcers and I was hoping I would be able to find someone big and strong willing to protect me."
A rumble of laughter ran through the group. The green mech's smile grew. "Sure, sweetspark, we can protect you. Where are these nasty Enforcers?"
It was clear by his tone and the way he was leering at her that he didn't believe she was being followed. Swallowing her smile, Firefly half turned and pointed behind her. If her calculations were correct Shockwave's troops would be arriving any time now.
"They were just behind me five breems ago."
"Well then why don't you come sit here and we'll make sure they don't get you." He placed a hand low on her back and ushered her through the mechs to the throne, the group closed in around them until she was surrounded by a veritable wall of living metal. With a small smile Firefly sat and ran a hand over the shining metal of her seat.
A shout from across the square caught their attention. The street racers turned to see Shockwave's Enforcers. The green mech looked back at her, startled, before turning back to the intruders.
"What do you want, Enforcer?" He shouted.
A single mech, Axer, separated himself and walked forward several steps. "The femme. Lord Shockwave wants her to return to Command immediately."
"Shockwave? He wouldn't know what to do with a femme." The green mech replied. The racers around him broke into laughter.
Axer glared. "Release the femme now and you will not be harmed."
The mechs laughed again. Firefly stood up on her throne and threw Axer a triumphant look. His optics narrowed as she made a rude gesture. He couldn't get her now, not with this many defenders between them, and he knew it.
"Resist and you will be punished." Firefly got the feeling he was talking directly to her this time.
When they didn't respond Axer scowled and raised his hand. The Enforcers behind him streamed forward to engage the racers.
Firefly stood above the fighting, keeping her optics on Axer and the green mech. They were fighting just to her right. Luckily for her, there were more racers than Enforcers and they were soon sent packing with more than a few dents and holes in their armor. The racers shouted and yelled in triumph as the last of Shockwave's troops disappeared into the dark.
The green mech returned to Firefly's side and grinned at her. Holding out her hand she allowed him to help her off the throne. She stepped closer to him and smiled slowly.
"That was very brave, you must be very strong. I am in your debt. How could I ever repay you?"
His grin widened as an arm snaked around her waist. "I think we can figure something out." He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The mechs around them cheered.
Firefly obliged for a moment before pulling away. "Maybe later. I'm looking for someone as a matter of fact. They're in a street racing gang, like you. Are you the leader of this one?"
The mechs surrounding them laughed, giving Firefly the impression that he wasn't.
Her rescuer silenced the crowd with a glare. "I'm Diesel, second to the King of the Streets."
"What's that?" Was it the same 'King' Trip-wire had spoken of?
Diesel laughed. "You must not be local if you don't know who the King is."
Firefly nodded. "I haven't been here for quite some time."
A yelp and the sound of a scuffle interrupted them. Swinging their heads around, they saw a trio of mechs emerging from the shadows. Diesel left Firefly to meet the two racers, between them they hauled one of Shockwave's Enforcers.
"What did you bring him back for?" Diesel demanded.
"We found him hiding behind that building, spying." One of the racers replied.
Diesel nodded. "Where's Cade?"
A spike of something resembling joy went through her spark; this was King Cade's gang.
"He's following. He told us to get everyone ready to move out quickly. He thinks Shockwave may have found our base…We got a nice haul tonight. That should make up for anything we've lost." The second said eagerly.
"That purple freak has been getting' a lot more nosy recently…All right, pass the word around, as soon as the King gets here we're gone."
Firefly watched the exchange and felt her spirits rise. Barricade was close. Around her, engines revved as they awaited the arrival of their leader.
Soon the throaty roar of a mighty engine filled the quiet night, drowning out the soft revs of the mechs around Firefly. Delight flowed through her as she recognized that sound. She shook in anticipation of seeing her old friend again. Diesel had been watching her and had mistaken her reaction for fear; he approached her and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"The King won't harm you. If he seems a bit hard, that's just him."
Firefly nodded, taking the unnecessary advice. Barricade had always been a hard mech, but she'd always brought out his softer side. Preparing herself for their reunion she sat back down on the throne and crossed one leg over the other. The racers around her were so tall she couldn't see anything but the ground beneath their feet and the tortured sky above.
A steady purr of engines filled the square, the King had returned. Many of the mechs blocking her view shifted on their feet. Restrained excitement covered each face.
Something big has happened tonight. Firefly mused.
Diesel stood infront of her as the mechs around them parted. "So you finally return King. Was everything successful?"
There was a brief pause. "Why do you question me as though I was a mere droid and you were the king? Get out of my way." The sound of Barricade's rough voice made Firefly smile.
There was some whispering and Barricade laughed. "Are you trying to impress the femme you've got hidden behind you or protect her from me? You know what I've always said about femme's, Diesel, they're more trouble than they're worth."
One of Firefly's brows rose at the remark. She stood and moved Diesel aside with a hand on his shoulder. "Is that right, Barricade? What made you so cynical?"
She watched as shock filled the black mech's face. His mouth opened and closed without a sound emerging.
"Well?"
"You're alive!" He gasped.
"Very well spotted, my friend." She smiled.
Barricade pushed Diesel to the side and moved closer to Firefly. With wide optics he seemed to absorb her into him. Firefly lifted a hand and traced it lightly down his cheek.
"It's good to see you again 'Cade."
"You know her, Boss?" Diesel asked.
Barricade turned to the gang, they stared back avidly. Several still eyed her chassis with anticipation, the King always shared. His scowl was dark.
"This femme is not to be touched. Anyone who violates that order will be thrown from the towers of Darkmount and into the Smelting Pools. Understood?"
All heads nodded and the mechs around Diesel took a large step back.
Barricade eyed him dangerously. "Is there something you want to tell me, Diesel?"
"Not really. I'm good."
Barricade growled. Firefly placed a hand on his arm. "Don't bite his head off, Barricade. He'll make a good soldier with some training."
"Soldier? I ain't no soldier. Who the hell do you think you are?" Diesel demanded, outraged.
Firefly drew upon all her years as one of Megatron's best officers and pulled the aura of command around her. "I am Firefly, Lord of Darkmount."
There was something in the way they reacted that made Firefly feel that much more powerful. It could have been the gasps or the widening optics as they recognized her name. But Firefly guessed that it was more likely the fact that many now look terrified.
"I thought you were dead."
Firefly faced Barricade. "I almost was. Shockwave wasn't very interested in keeping me alive after I refused his oh-so kind offer to stand as Cybertron's ruler in Megatron's absence."
"With him as your right hand mech." 'Cade concluded.
"Exactly. When I told him only one would ever stand at my side he decided that I was not worth the time and effort he put into bringing me back online." She looked around at the eagerly listening mechs. "Maybe we could talk more somewhere else."
Barricade followed her gaze and nodded. "All right, gentlemechs, time to move. Siler take a team to retrieve the goods and meet us back at base."
The mech in question nodded, selected his team and departed. Barricade reached for Firefly. "The quicker we get out of here the less likely Shockwave will find us."
"What about this one Boss?"
Firefly and Barricade looked down to see the two racers holding the Enforcer between them. Before Barricade could reply, Firefly stepped forward. Terror filled the Enforcer's face as she got closer. She didn't stop until she was mere inches from his face.
"You're going to give Shockwave a message for me, understand?"
The captive's head nodded quickly.
"Good." She placed her hands on his broad chest. "You're going to tell him that Firefly doesn't bow to anyone." The mech gasped as her sharp fingertips dug into the plating. She continued to speak only loud enough for him to hear. "You will tell him that as of immediately I will take back my throne at Darkmount and if he wishes to have any cooperation from me he will have to beg for it."
The Enforcer cried out as with each word she uttered quietly, her fingers cut through his armor. Firefly retrieved her hands and stepped back and studied her handiwork.
"Let him go. Point him in the right direction and send him back to Shockwave."
The racers looked to Barricade for confirmation but jumped when she placed energon covered fingers under their chin and made them look back at her.
"Did you not hear me?" Her voice carried a definite threat. "I said let him go."
The mechs nodded and stepped back from their prisoner. The Enforcer stumbled and tripped backwards, he landed with a crash. All around him stared at the mess that was his chassis. Deep grooves that dripped energon had been carved into his armor. Underneath the familiar symbol were a series of marks. Confusion covered several faces as they tried and failed to decipher the writing.
Firefly returned to Barricade. An amused smiled lifted his lips as he looked passed her and read the inscription.
"Overdoing it a little aren't you?"
Firefly shrugged one shoulder and watched as the Enforcer clambered to his feet and fled. "I have to make my name known again."
"It was never forgotten."
"Neither has Thunderwing's, but most think he's just a legend."
Barricade shook his head. "Although you are no doubt the basis of many legends, you were not in danger of becoming one."
"Hmm, that's good. Barricade, we must leave before that walking scrap-heap reaches Shockwave."
He nodded and signaled his gang, the familiar sound of gears and hydraulics filled the air and Firefly relaxed. With little thought Firefly flexed her shoulders, her wings flared out.
"I'm surprised Shockwave let you keep them" Barricade asked.
"Me too. Although I do need to find a medic who can repair them properly, they're fairly unstable at the moment."
"Don't use them if you can't trust them to function properly."
"And let Shockwave win? I don't think so. I want him to see me flying victorious over his precious city."
Barricade just grinned and shook his head. With unusual chivalry Barricade waited for her to change before he transformed. Firefly blasted into the air, the soft currents she enjoyed so much flowed over her chassis, freeing her from all of the land-bound troubles. The convoy of powerful engines was surprisingly quiet below her as they made they way through the dark streets. Firefly was thankful that they didn't call attention to themselves, despite her behavior, she wasn't at full strength and didn't want to get into another fight tonight.
#Where is your lair Barricade?# She asked curiously over a tight comm-link.
#Along the city's outer edge, it's far from any other gang's territory. Not many street gangs make base where they can't race.#
Firefly smiled mentally and swooped low to pat the dark vehicles' roof with her wing.
#Do not treat me like one of your pets.#
She laughed and surged back into the sky. She dipped and glided playing with the heavy clouds, the electric storm threatened to take her down with its power but she managed to remain in the open long enough to be sure at least one of Shockwave's monitors had picked her up. Giving up her teasing, Firefly returned to Barricade's side.
She stayed below the building line as they approached Barricade's hideout. She landed lightly amongst the still revving mechs. Faces and voices, light with success, filled the small area. Barricade quickly led them into a dingy-looking building. Firefly stood outside and stared up at the dilapidated structure. It didn't look like it would sufficiently house glitch-mice, let alone the boisterous racing gang.
Firefly looked to her left as she felt a presence. "He actually keeps you here?"
Diesel nodded and grinned. "It's better on the inside."
"It had better be, or I'm going back to Shockwave."
Firefly followed Diesel through the door and down a long corridor. She tried to keep all parts of her away from the walls; they looked as though one touch would crumble them or infect her with some horrendous rust disease. She was about to voice her opinion on her increasingly horrific surroundings when Diesel led her into room at the end of the corridor.
The inside was astoundingly better than the outside. The walls, even without new paneling, gleamed as through freshly buffed. Bright lights cast a created warm glow over the long hall. It looked welcoming and totally at odds with its outside appearance.
Barricade stood on a raised dias at the end of the hall. The mechs around her raised the noise level to astounding proportions with their companionable banter. Firefly noticed that only a few carried the Decepticon symbol, the rest only bore Barricade's mark. Not all of these mechs had seen the war.
Beside her Diesel tensed for a moment, he touched her arm.
"Come on, the King summons you."
Firefly threw Barricade a defiant look. "No one summons me."
#Then he requests that you join him.# Barricade's rough voice buzzed through her comm.
"That's better." She grinned.
Sauntering through the hall-full of mechs she savored the feeling of once again being part of something so much bigger than herself yet knowing that at any instance she could have complete control over its immense force. She climbed to the podium.
"Welcome back Firefly."
"It's good to be back, my friend. You have quite the kingdom here don't you?"
"It's all yours."
Firefly slanted him a look. "No, it's yours. But you are mine so it's evened out."
Barricade laughed, drawing a few startled glances from his racers. He noticed their attention and drew Firefly towards a nearby door. He led her up to his office overlooking the hall.
She moved to the glass. "Nice view."
"It has its uses." Barricade passed her a fluorescent cube. "What do you intend to do now? Shockwave knows your plans, he will try to stop you."
"Let him try. I am more than a match for him and his pitiful Enforcers."
She felt more than saw Barricade's optics on her. "Not in your condition, you're not. You're too weak to do more than stand and walk."
Firefly shrugged one shoulder. "Shockwave had me on diluted energon for the past three orns, trying to keep me under his control, what would you expect?"
"You've been online for three orns?"
"Yep." She noticed his thoughtful expression. "What?"
The look deepened. "The patrols through the lower sectors had increased over the last few orns. I thought that maybe Shockwave had found out about our operation tonight, but now I think it was because of you."
"He must have known that I'd come looking for you and tried to get rid of you once and for all."
"How did you even know where to find me?" Barricade asked suddenly
Firefly smiled. "One of my guards used to live in this area. He told me about a 'Cade' so I took a chance that it was you. He told me that 'Cade' was the leader of a racing gang. It was with his help that I escaped."
"Who is he?"
"Trip-wire."
A frown drew his brow plates together. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Firefly shrugged and gazed out over the sea of mechs. Each one had the potential to be excellent soldiers; a percentage would even make admirable assassins and killers. And each one would be under her command, her control. The flow of excitement that usually followed such a thought was curiously missing. Dismissing that peculiarity, Firefly turned her attention to Barricade.
"How soon can they be ready to travel? I want to get to Darkmount before Shockwave tries to close it off."
"You think he would?" He passed her an energon cube.
She nodded. "Of course. Helex and Ployhex are our best military strongholds. If he can stop me from gaining control over Darkmount, he'll continue to control all of Cybertron without opposition."
A commotion at the entrance drew their attention. A small group of mechs waded through the mass towards the front. Barricade moved closer to the glass and watched as the team of three threw something onto the floor infront of the dias.
There was a sharp knock on the door before Diesel appeared. "My lord, we've captured a spy."
"Bring him here." Barricade replied.
"Whom do you think 'my lord' referred to, you or me?" Firefly asked amused.
He grinned. "Me, for the moment anyway."
Firefly inclined her head and sank into a chair. Barricade was right, she was terribly weak. It surprised her that she had made it as far as she had without off-lining.
Diesel walked back into the room with two other mechs following him. Between them, they dragged the spy. No really caring about Barricade's domestic problems, Firefly went back to savouring the taste of the energon in her hand. The sound of one of Barricade's fists slamming into metal echoed around the office.
"What's your name? Who do you work for?"
"Trip-wire." The mech groaned.
Firefly's head snapped around. She rose and walked around the desk. Sure enough, Trip-wire knelt in front of Barricade nursing dented faceplates. "Leave him be."
"Lord Firefly?" Diesel's arm posed to strike next.
"Let him go. He's my mech."
Trip-wire's relieved and hopeful optics turned to her. Firefly rolled her optics and motioned for the guards to lift him to his feet.
He hurried to her side. "I'm glad you found the King."
"As am I."
He looked back at the street racers. "What now, my lord?"
A dark grin spread across Firefly's face. "Now, we conquer Cybertron."
Please review. Hopefully I will get better.
TammyCat