Hey guys! Nope I'm not dead just..haven't been on in awhile. Writing just hasn't been in me lately. Anyway I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter and makes you excited for what happens in the next one. Oh and here's a little side note for when your reading:

Cycle= one year

Decacycle= 12+ years

Enjoy!

Dark Turns

Silence. Pure, dead silence. Eire at its finest.

Black smoke toward from almost every direction, buildings that once stood tall were now nothing but piles of gravel and scrap metal.

Not before long the sounds of sirens filled the air, medics, fireboats, emergency transportation vehicles flooded the streets; immediately shoveling and pushing debris away. Searchlights brought light to the burned roads as gurneys moved swiftly up and down tending to the weak moans and cries of help.

Groups if not dozens of autobots were dug out or dragged from under the slabs of rubble. Soon it became too much for the medics. The number of injured grew larger by the klick and found themselves unable to make their rounds.

A pair of troopers jumped over a crumbling road block and ran past a field of debris piles. At the corner of one`s optic a single mound lightly shifted. "Hold up!" he called to his partner. "I think I found another trapped civilian!"

Before either could react or begin to dig, bits of metal and rock were thrown in every direction, a deep growling arose from the heap "GggrrrrAAAHHH!" The large slab of concrete was tossed to the side shattering as it hit the ground leaving the teal mech venting heavily, caressing his right arm; exposed wires sparking from his forearm.

"Sir! Are you alright?" The trooper calmly took hold of Kup's good arm. "We need to get you to the Medical Zone. A medic will examine you as soon as they can."

The other copied from the other side but cautious of the exposed wires. "You're hurt badly."

"I…nngghh...no!" Either arm was pulled out of their grasp leaving the bots gasping in surprise to the mech's retaliation. "Get off. I..ngh…I-I need to find…"

"Sir please," said the trooper taking hold of his arm one more time. "You're entire frame looks as if you walked through a fire pit and you have too many dents in your frame! You need medical attention immediately."

"I said I need to find them slag it!"

"Find who? Please come with us. I'm sure whoever you are looking for will already be with the others or another troop will most likely will find them!"

"Frag it son do you not know who I am!?" Kup leaned dangerously close to the white and blue mech's faceplate; he could almost hear the gulp in the trooper's throat. "I suggest you go looking for others that need more help them me. Ugh. I'll be fine, just go!"

"I...we…but..sigh. Yes sir!" Kup wasted no time watching the troopers take off, heading to his own destination.

It's a good thing I could read lip components well 'cause my audio was shocked to pit. Couldn't hear a fraggin' thing. But I pushed on. I had to have been…frag…thrown at least 3 blocks away from where I originally was….but I kept going. I had to."

If it wasn't sheer pain that reaped through his frame he didn't want to know what it was. Everything from his inner gears to his blackened pedes pulsed in agony. He had worse. Then again what was worse than being thrown miles away from an explosion you were looking directly into?

More than likely, being the explosion itself.

Eternia.

He needed to find her.

There was no sign of Wheeljack or Ultra Magnus traveling further and further, passing rescue teams and wounded being carried away into emergency vehicles. He cringed to the exposed sparking wires from his arm.

Almost there. Almost. The old veteran leaned against an ally wall, trying to keep both processor and vision in focus but with little luck. It was amazing that he made it this far with severely blurred vision. Unrecognizable blobs moved in every direction but there was just enough shape for Kup to recognize where he was going. Where he was stepping however, was another issue. The moment his servo left the wall the tip of his pede smacked into a chunk of rock; crashing Kup to his knees. "Nngh! Dangfragit!" He cringed clasping his cut arm and waited until the additional shock of pain waved over the original throbbing through his burnt frame, eventually pulling himself up. He had to be close by now. The streets were becoming more familiar. "Eternia?" He coughed. "Eternia?! Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus! Where are you?"

"Kup?!" It was distant but clear. Squinting through what was left of his vision a white mass...well….mostly white ran up and gently grabbed his good arm, pulling him along.

"Wheeljack? T-that you?"

"Yea. Needless to say I don't look much better than you. I dunno if it's a good thing to say but I have had worse. I'm surprised were all still in one piece actually after that! Come on. Medics need to check you out."

"Ultra Magnus?"

"He's fine."

"And what about her? Where is she?"

"Kup, its better if you first-"

"I ain't going anywhere!" he ripped away from the scientist's grasp. "Where. Is. She?"

A heavy sigh escaped from beyond Wheeljack's faceguard. "Come on. Magnus will give you the details when you're done with the medics."

"Don't need to tell you that feeling I had in my circuitry came back.

Heh, Wheeljack wasn't kidding when he said he looked no better than me. We were both pretty burnt so many dents you could have made a constellation out of them. Though not as bad as the dents I got back in the day when we had petrorabbits the size of-"

"Kup." Rodimus coughed.

"Err anyway, after the medics fixed most of us up I automatically went back looking for you."

'Primus, how could such a being so small cause a mass amount of damage such as this?' The Magnus woundered.

All around the deep, burnt crater troopers were setting up poles in the ground. A strip of glowing yellow light beamed from its top and attached to another close beside it, all merging to close off the area.

Kup ducked below the electric tape, walking towards the Magnus; standing close to the edge of the enormous crater. His gaze was downward; that worried Kup. 'By the Allspark,' he thought, clutching his arm in its sling. 'Don't let her be down there still.' Not even keeping track of his footing Kup too gazed down into the gaping void.

"She is not down there Kup Minor." Ultra Magnus turned revealing his own wounds. His chest was more than likely where the impact hit the hardest since blue and white plating were now hidden behind many layers of bandage. Even a few scratch marks still remained. "Do not worry. She has been moved to…a more private facility."

Relief? Was that what he was supposed to be feeling? Cause it sure did not feel like it. "Thanks for the notice."

Calls and sounds from the distance grabbed hold of the old veteran's attention. His gaze drifted off to the side over, looking what was left of a tall standing city. It looked like Moon Base 2 all over again. Only this time it was harder to tell the number of casualties. "Sweet Primus…"

"The damage is quite extensive Kup." The blue mech did not turn. "As Wheeljack predicted….30 mile radius if not more. A good portion of Iacon has been wiped." Kup could sense the lowered tone. Whatever he was going to say next; was clearly a given that it wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Show me where she is. Then explain to me."

The Magnus nodded.

Into a glass elevator of the Elite Guard building; the mechs simply watched the shuffling and running of bots coming from almost every direction before the floor shot upward. "What is this?" Kup looked around "I don't remember this floor being here."

"That is because very few know of when this facility was installed." Ultra Magnus led down the hall of heavy metal doors till they had reached the door 'Lab 25' painted in white. Scientist of all kinds rushed in every direction just like the bots from the floor below.

Almost like an instinct Kup spotted the pod to his side; managing to avoid all the rushing and pressed his servos into the glass covering.

Her entire frame was blackened. Not a sign of her original purple plating. It made it easy to spot all the different wires connecting from her frame to the walls and floor of the pod. A good portion of them were inserted into a small pulsing orb in the centre of her chest; appearing like it had exploded from the femme's chest from the inside out. If it was not for the minuscule orb that was her spark Kup would have sworn lying before him was nothing more than a lifeless shell.

By the Allspark what had they done? What had he done?

Once a playful, spirited sparkling now burnt and limp like a corpse.

Digits wanted to break right through the glass barrier; take her out and hold Eternia in his arms for his own comfort. But there was no more strength willing to help from his frame. He could only stare through his tired-optic reflection.

"Kup," he looked up slowly to face Wheeljack standing on the other side with sorrowful optics. "She…she's bad Kup. Real bad. The damage to her circuitry is sever."

"I think the state the poor kid is in right now says enough."

"No Kup I mean…it's BAD. Worse then what you can see with your own optics; internally and externally."

He glared through squinted optics. "Start talking mech."

"Both physical or mental response of any kind is negative." Perceptor stepped before the two, skimming over some schematics upon a handheld datapad. "Eternia has been placed on lifecycle support. Her sparkbeat is critically low and all processor activity has ceased."

"Like I said," the white mech sighed. "It's bad."

"But you can try and fix her right?"

"We can but at the same time…we can't. See, we can fix her plating; all the Cybertronian bits but her organic…alien...whatever half… Well, from what we DO know it does actually have the ability to heal itself but…we don't know just how long that will take, or just how much it CAN heal. This is extensive damage we're talking here Kup. It could be quite some time."

"How long do you recon?"

"From what we have collected in our brief scanning of Eternia," said Perceptor. "I theorize between a stellar cycle or more than a few decacycles before she is capable of complete physical function again."

He didn't know what to say. What could he say? What was there to even say with some sort of point or means to bring the sparkling back?

Nothing. There was nothing. His optics appeared to be peering down into the pod but his processor just wasn't there.

"And unfortunately, that's not the worst part." A white servo hesitated towards Kup's shoulder. "When we scanned her processor…..almost everything was fried. I would be lying if I didn't say we are all surprised that she is even still functioning. Her memory banks got the worst of it.

Even if she does somehow manage to function again…she won't remember anything."

The cy-gar crunched between his clenching denta.

"Not just everyone that she knew, but everyTHING. Basic functions, vocals etc. She will have to be taught it all over again. It would have been easy just to reprogram it into her systems but….ya…the whole organic thing kinda gets in the way."

"You know, it's funny enough," the scientist cocked their optic ridges at the veteran. "I really have no problem with the teaching. Pit, I've been rising her ever since! Then again…..it's time that ruins everything."

I only have a few cycles left in this run-down frame of mine. I just….hope to Primus that I will be around long enough by the time she does wake up. If not me then Headshot. When he comes back. If he's even still…." A small clang echoed as forehelm met glass. "I…I'm sorry kid."

"Kup." Wheeljack squeezed his shoulder pausing downward at the small, blackened femme. "We will do all that we can. I promise you. We will get up and run-"

"Prehapes 'up' Wheeljack, but I do not know if any 'running' is the wisest idea."

"And just what did you mean by that Magnus?" Kup did not bother himself to glare irritably toward the blue mech.

"Multiple sections of Iacon city have been demolished. If we were to let her in the streets who knows when another 'incident' like this should happen? No Kup, do not take this to offence; but Eternia shall remain under close surveillance until otherwise."

"Close-…What the frag do you think I have been doing all these cycles?!" he was ready to explode himself.

"For more security purposes and the safety of civilians. If something like this was to happen again-"

"Now you just hang on there." It was a rare thing to surprise Ultra Magnus but if anyone could do it; it would be Kup pointing an angry digit into his chest. "I taught you better than that when you were nothing but a recruit! You may be in high power now but I'm the one who taught you everything to get to this position. You were a bright solider Magnus." He glared deeply into the other's optics. "Don't prove me wrong now."

"I have no obligation to do so Kup." The blue mech's solemn expression returned. "Indeed, you taught me like many the rules and regulations to keep Cybertron safe; but that is just what I am trying to do. Clearly you can try and see my position."

The teal mech backed away without a word. He was right. It was hard to say if he too would have to make the same decision. This was all about the safety of the planet of course. "Wheeljack, what of that growth that caused all this? Did it manage to destroy itself or is it still there?"

"Err." Perceptor did not flinch while Wheeljack unconsciously snatched the datapad from out of the red mech's servos, scanning it over. "Bad news, yes. It's still there. Good news, it is much more minuscule now therefore less of a radius to destroy if it ever goes off again. Uh…if you wanna take that as 'good news'."

"So we still have a possible explosion problem."

"Pretty much."

"Hmm." Scrap. This wasn't only for Cybertron's but Eternia's safety as well. Would….would it really be better if she was to be kept here? It wasn't like the sparkling was going anywhere anytime soon but to know that she would be constantly monitored, even experimented on while he wasn't there just didn't sit right with him. But then again, what could he do?

There was just something at the back of his processor to stubborn to realize the thought that these bots wanted to help her. Revive her. What did they know about her anyway? What could they possibly do?

Kup knew. That irritating twitch did not want to accept it but he knew. They could do so much more to heal her then he could. Heal her, save her, help from ever having another accident like this again. What was he to do if she was to go 'off' again? Or when if she was alone when she grew up in some other part of the planet and he wasn't there to help her?

He vented deeply. Right now the only thing he could contribute was to wait. Until the time Eternia came around so he could remind her of everything again from before. That was going to be a long wait. Perhaps, it would be better if she stayed. At least until the day she would awaken, then would he discuss future arrangements. "Do what you can. But I want updates and notices EVERY time you try something. Do you hear me?"

"Affermative." Wheeljack nodded. "Speaking of which, if it's alright with you Kup I would like to make a few upgrades to Eternia where ever we can. Weapons wise. I mean we don't know how long she will be out plus and I'm not saying it will happen! But we do still have Decepticons to worry about."

"Mmmm. With you saying that does make a crank in my gears but….if you really think it will help her in future then…..go ahead."

"I suspect," The Magnus asked. "That you will want frequent visits to the femme?"

Kup nodded.

"Then would you prefer to have your old placement? You were once my commanding officer for new recruits to the Elite Academy. You will have permission and access to this floor at all times if you so choose to take the job once more and if I may be so bold to say; may help to keep your processor occupied for the time being?"

"Ya," the aged autobot sighed. "Ya….I guess. Be good to give these new bots a taste of the old-fashioned. Seeing how I've noticed they gone all soft! Pfh, someones gotta put those protoforms in place.

It will be good doing something productive again; apart from raising Eternia….but I unfortunately I won't have to worry about that anytime soon."

Wheeljack patted his backstruts. "She'll be ok Kup. She'll be ok."

He took no notice putting his own servo against the glass cover, looking down at Eternia; lying lifeless just below his reach. "I'm sorry Headshot."

"So," Phoenix sighed "All this time, my whole lifecycle, I've just been in stasis."

"I…I tried." The veteran slumped against the hospital's window, gazing to the ground below. "I stayed at the Academy for many cycles; hoping that you would be back before I reached required retirement. But, ya never….. I guess I just didn't try as much as I thought I di-" he cut himself off, feeling the embrace of a pair of arms squeezing around his throat. Phoenix hid her face into his chest before she looked back to him with glassy optics slowly filling with tears.

"You did more than anyone else could have Kup." The corners of her lips twitch into a smile. "I-I'm proud to have somebot like you take care of me all that time when Headshot left. I….I just wish that it really was you who I could see when I first came back online so…well…..I guess now would be a good time as any to say…thank you. For everything." She pecked his cheekplate, hugging his neck tightly again. She couldn't help but smile just a little from Rodimus; no doubt snickering at Kup whose faceplate she could feel burning up.

"Gaahh..ohh..sigh…ya welcome kid. I swear I visited you almost every day even after I was shafted. I made a promise to Headshot and you. And I never go back on a promise." Slowly his arms tightened around her. "Hey now, no need for the leaking optics!" she choked on a chuckle while he wiped a falling drop of her face.

"But…what about what I've done? I…I hurt so many. Destroyed so much…"

"Past." He patted her helm. "All past that we need to move on from."

"Kup is right Phoenix. Ngh." Rodimus shifted upward in his berth. "You're here now. Isn't that all that matters?"

"Y-yeah." The femme wiped her optic. "Yeah, I guess it is. But…what about that 'thing'? The thing inside me that caused this whole chaos in the first place?" Both mechs paused, turning to each other. Neither had an answer and she could see it through their glances. "Is…is that why Botanica was so against me? And the red mech Cliffjumper too? Where they there? Were….were they caught in the explosion o-or lost someone from it?" Guilt punched straight up into her gut, releasing her grip from around Kup's neck. "Because of me."

"In all honesty I couldn't tell ya. They have worked with the Elite for some time so chances are…they were more than likely in the area but Eternia...Phoenix…whatever you call yourself now- mech what is it with you young bots constantly changing your names!?"

"Why you lookin' at me?!" Rodimus pouted.

"Oh, don't act like you don't know." He turned back to Phoenix. "As I was saying, some bots have a hard time letting things go. Especially when faced with someone who they….recognize."

"It doesn't help with that rumor about Headshot either does it?" she mumbled into his chest. Kup froze mid-vent. Jaw open, wanting to say something but nothing came out but mere indistinguishable sounds.

"Didn't…" Rodimus paused. "Wait. Wasn't there something about him later on after the 'Iacon explosion'? I remember reading about it."

"What?" Phoenix's audio fins perked in question.

"Yeah! It was defiantly him. Or…at least it looked a BIT like him. I can't really say cause all I ever saw of him was his file shot. And the mech in the picture looked...different. And the name wasn't Headshot it was-"

"Recharge time." Came in a nurse with a cart. "I'm afraid visiting hours are over."

"But," the red and gold mech paused at the feel of a sudden weight on his shoulder, turning up into Kup's face.

"It's alright. I'll continue with the real story later. You just rest up and get your strength back kid and I want you back on your pedes and ready for duty! Is that clear solider?"

"Heh. Sir yes sir." He saluted.

"It was great meeting you Rodimus." Phoenix smiled shaking his servo. "I hope that you get better soon."

"Same to you Phoenix. " He clasped her servo between his. "I hope we can see each other again and good luck on finding more answers. Hopefully you won't think of any more when this old grease pipe starts talking about petro-rabbits again." He jerked a thumb toward Kup with a smirk.

Kup stood by the doorway grumbling. "I heard that a lil' crank case."

"Hehe. Thanks."

The nurse seemed to have ignored most of the conversation, busying herself with Rodimus' machines until she looked toward Phoenix and double took before squinting. "Hey…didn't I see to you at the front desk?"

It took but a moment for the purple femme to realize it was the head nurse from the front desk; the one she had to SNEAK by. "Uhhhhhwellagainniceseeingyou! Seeyoulaterbye!" Before Kup even had a chance to question anything Phoenix shoved him through the door and down the hall quickly.

"What was that about?" he pushed through the entrance doors.

"Oh nothing just…didn't want to get in the way of her job."

"Huh…uh. Ok then. Say, this is a happy occasion right? Why don't we go down to Maccadams Old Oil House?" He placed an arm over her shoulder leading her down the street. "Guzzle down some high grade huh? Bet you have never tried anything like it!"

"High grade huh? Alright, sounds good. So where is this Maccadams?"

"Right this way. Just east of the High Councils building." Phoenix walked along under Kup's arm all the way down the metallic streets. Her optics stared everywhere in awe around them, it had just occurred to her that she never really did any real site seeing when trying to find the Medical Center but now with her undivided attention it all became so exciting. Buildings outlined in soft neon lights, giant floating opaque billboards broadcasting advertisements and tube shaped bridges leading from the top of one building to another. It was so odd being surrounded by objects that where up to scale to you, not like back on earth.

Kup couldn't help but to laugh at the femme's excitement, watching her gaze over their surroundings with bright optics. "No doubt you would have acted the same when you were a sparkling."

"What was that Kup?"

"Nothing." He smiled. "Come on were almost there." He led on till they came into site of a decent sized building with a neon blue sign overhead. "Stay close now. This place can get pretty rowdy." He was not kidding. Phoenix had never seen so many bots in one place before. Then again she hadn't seen many autobots to begin with. She stayed close to the older mech, making their way through the crowds of cheering and slurring to finding an empty booth, sitting on either side of the table. "Hey! Two high grades!" Not but a few minutes two bottles of glowing pink liquid where set in front of them. "Drink up!"

Before Phoenix could even put the mouth of the bottle to her lips Kup had already downed a third of his. There didn't seem to be any funny scent, and it looked harmless enough, so with a small swift gulp she wolfed down a good mouthful of the drink. "COUGH, COUGH, HACK. O-ok. Cough…that…that was…oi."

"Hahahaha! Strong the first time ain't?"

"Cough. You could say that." She wiped the edge of her mouth. "So um," she silently placed down the bottle. "What...was it that Rodimus was trying to say about Headshot? Reading about him after the exp-...my accident."

"Um. Right. That." He licked the last of the foam from his lips components, staring blankly into the pink liquid.

"Did…did he come looking for me?"

"Not...not quite. It wasn't Headshot. At least, that's what I want to believe."

"What do you mean?"

"That story. The one Rodimus was talkin' about, it was,well, an attempt to infiltrate Lab 25."

"What?"

"Didn't manage to take anything as far as I'm aware. What they were looking for was an even bigger mystery. When I rushed in there, it was a small fleet of Decepticons and everyone up in arms firing everywhere. Once that I saw that some of the cons sneaking off towards your pod I charged right in. I tossed a few away but when I came face to face with the head of the bunch I….I….."

"You couldn't what Kup?" she placed a servo over his.

"I couldn't believe it. Once I saw his face it was like all my circuits just stopped. Straight on ahead was Headshot, looking at me dead in the optics. I called his name but he didn't answer, there wasn't even flicker of recognition. He…he was different and I'm not just talking about the colour of his armor.

He just laughed at me as I kept calling saying 'I obviously had him confused with someone else.' But it WAS him. I knew it. Next thing, I was kicked to the floor, gun knocked from my servo, with his blaster aimed straight in my face. 'I'm no autobot in case you didn't notice.' He said, then….he pointed to his insignia.

I tell ya my processor had a surged once I saw that Decepticon symbol. Told me his name and…..if it wasn't for the back up, I don't think I would be here right now." A loud 'CHUG' could be heard going down his throat, swinging back the last of the bottle.

All the noise in the background faded. She could still hear it but in small blurs of sounds. What was her father doing there? "Did...he not see me?"

Kup shook his helm. "No. they scrammed out of there before they could do any real damage and like I said as far as I know they didn't managed to take anything." He sighed. "Truth be told, even if he did see you, I don't think it would done any good kid. The look in his optics..." he shook his helm. "To this day I still don't want to believe what I saw."

"And that's why everyone was convinced he was a traitor."

Kup solemly nodded.

"But…I can find him. Maybe I can find some way to fix him!"

Kup cocked an optic ridge. "What do you mean sweetspark?"

"I can find him!" a smile overcame her face. "I have a chance to find him! I bet he was one of the decepticons who got away in the prison break! He's somewhere on earth, I just- "

"Whoa now-"

"A-and maybe we can find a way to bring him back! Restore his memory just like I did! We just need to-'

"Phoenix." The purple femme turned toward Kup with confusion. "Even if we could find his location, it's too late to do anything. Not that simply anyway."

"What? Kup we can't just give up on him!"

"I don't like it anymore then you do, but what I saw…wasn't Headshot. Headshot was...is long gone. He's been in jail for numerous cycles I doubt there is anything we can do NOW."

Phoenix remained silent staring blankly into the engeron, still half of it to go. "No."

"Hmm? He peered over the rim of his bottle.

"I'm not giving up. I already have an idea where he is I just need to find a way to help Headshot."

"Phoenix I told you. We c-"

"Maybe not you Kup, but I can. I still have a chance. I've decided." She placed down her drink with a harsh thud. "I'm going back to earth and that's not up to discussion. I came all this way to find out who I am. I already lost one parent, I'm not about to lose the other when I know he's still online."

Uncertain feelings mixed inside the purple femme's fuel tanks all the while watching Kup with a furrowed brow. His expression gone blank, for the longest time he remained starring at the grey, pink stained table top. "You know," he finally muttered. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a clone of Headshot himself." He looked up smiling smugly. "Stubbornness and all."

Phoenix's jaw slightly opened in surprise slowly changing into a flattered smile. "So," she leaned forward against her arms. "Wanna help me?"

Kup threw back his helm in laughter over the noise of the bar. "Missy you are something else. Sure. I'm in. If I can't think of anything why can't you huh?" He raised his glass. "Too a great now and soon-to-be reunion!"

Phoenix rose her own clashing the glasses together. "And that's a promise."

"Now you're gonna need a little more information and I can get that."

Phoenix nodded. "Whatever you can give me will be great."

"You got a ride back to earth?"

"I can think of something. Oh and Kup."

"Yes?"

"You said he told you his 'other' name. What was it?"

Optics turned cold, starring into her own with a serious glance. "He goes by Shortfuse."

To be continued….

Excited yet? Well even if I take awhile I still am working on this series so stay tuned for when this magical event happens!