Chapter 17: Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Transformers are copyright of Hasbro. I own the other stuff, but it's not copyrighted. All the same, if it gets used somewhere else, I should hope I was credited. This is about a month of work! (Sixteen chapters, can you believe it? I can't!)
Last time, on "Survival":
"I'm...Windblade."
"I know some pretty sweet alt-modes you might like!"
"I know what you did, Commander."
"Hunter, what are you doing?"
"I am going to seek counsel."
"War is coming."
Pred'akngard: Starscream's memorial
"You never trusted Shockwave, did you?"
Once again, Megatronus found himself staring contemplatively at the statue of his former SIC. The compassionate expression on the stone faceplates never wavered.
"Of course," Megatronus amended, "You were taught the moment you were sparked that mechs from Tarn were not to be trusted." He shook his heavy helm. This was his fault. If he had kept a closer watch on his Decepticons, perhaps he could have stopped Shockwave's horrific experiments. If the Sparkeaters were not caught, the slaughter could well reach genocidal proportions.
"What was it you said once?" he mused, "It was before the last battle with the Unmaker. Wasn't it, regret is the most corrosive poison in the universe?" He clenched his mighty fist. "I regret not killing Shockwave when I had the chance," he hissed, "And yet I could find it within my spark to pity him, so horrible was his death."
He turned and stalked away, aimlessly following stone corridors. He stopped at a window, and stared up at the stars.
Suddenly, his spark was seized with a pang of fear for the Triplets. In his mind's eye he could still see the mangled bodies in the lab, and his imagination projected the faces of the younglings onto the corpses. With a cry, he tore himself from the window and shuttered his optics. He trembled as he recalled the last known trajectory of Shockwave's monstrosities.
"Soundwave!" he barked into his communicator, "Assemble a squadron of elite soldiers and prepare a Bridge to 12D. And send word to my brother: I fear the war is upon us."
Rightly guessing that his Prime's mind was bent towards Colony 21186D, Soundwave sent him a report that had filtered through his systems minutes before. The human Wrecker, it seemed, had met with misfortune in 12D and illegally transformed.
Interesting.
Colony 21186D, H-deck
Roger S. Andon was an intelligent man.
He flattered himself that he could hold his own in a game of chess with Soundwave himself. He had known that something was wrong the instant Ultra Magnus had removed the Nakadai girl from his care. You didn't just take a badly injured human from the best surgeon in the ship and give her to a medic only used to treat Cybertronians. Not unless you were planning Metamorphosis. The stylus pressed into the holopad harder, perhaps, than was necessary as Andon wrote his report.
If word got around that Cybertronians were above the law, then "all the Pit would break loose", to use the vernacular. If they could choose who was Metamorphosed and when, regardless of age, then who was safe?
Andon shuddered to think of a world where humans were endangered or extinct, slowly but surely twisted to suit the dominant species. Not on his watch! He signed his name to the document and sent it to the municipal departments. There, he thought, let the Wreckers try to wriggle out of that!
It was a request to have "Windblade" removed from Magnus's custody - permanently. He would be reported for breaking the law, and Andon would be commended for blowing the whistle. It was foolproof! Or, it would be if the Colony didn't run on the same form of government as Pred'akngard and Eden. That was why Andon made certain to send the report to a human official, who would likely be more sympathetic to him.
Roger S. Andon was an intelligent man, and soon everyone would know it.
Wreckers headquarters, Colony 21186D, two days later.
"Commander, you've got to believe that I'm on your side here," the security officer sighed.
"I'm not sure I can, Sheriff Simmons," Magnus replied coldly, "Not when you come down here to tell me I'm under arrest."
The sheriff tried reasoning with the giant mech. "Look, nobody's getting arrested," she said soothingly, "I just need you to come down to the central hub and answer some questions, that's all."
Bulkhead scowled and moved to block the door.
"And what about this request to take Windblade, huh?" he asked belligerently.
Smokescreen crossed his arms over his chassis and glared down at the middle-aged woman. "Wheeljack is her only family left! You can't take her away because some random dude asked you to!"
The woman planted her fists on her hips and coolly stared the Wreckers down. "Not so fast, kijinga*, it doesn't work like that, got it? I have four teenagers, I know how this works. You don't get to intimidate me."
Ultra Magnus nodded, and the young Wrecker backed down. "Apologies, Sheriff."
The stern woman shook her head and sighed. "Listen to me: if there is no evidence of abuse or neglect, the man who sent the report can't request that a child be separated from its family. He is not a relative, it would just be wrong. I'm going to fight this, but I need your cooperation, sawasawa*?"
The Wreckers glanced reluctantly at each other. Dafina Simmons was an honest person. If she said she'd help them, she would, but how could they explain the circumstances of Miko's transformation in a way that would gain them sympathy?
"Out of curiosity, where is this "Windblade" now?" Sheriff Simmons asked.
Wheeljack shrugged, affecting lightheartedness. "I let her and Hot Shot run down to Seven Forward to play in the holo room. She's supposed to call before she comes back."
Dafina nodded. "When she gets back, I need to talk to her too-with your supervision, of course."
Wheeljack opted not to tell the sheriff that the youngest Wreckers were actually hiding until the trouble blew over.
Colony 21186D: flight deck 13
Ramjet answered the rapid knocking at the door to discover his sister's new friend and a mech that looked like he was probably her brother.
"Hi!" he said cheerfully, "Slipstream's training now, but I'm not! Wanna help me catch bugs?"
Hot Shot blinked, confused by the chaotic Kaonian, but Windblade had met him once before, and remembered his quirky personality.
"Uh, sure, Ramjet!" she faked a smile as the two were ushered into the cramped but cozy quarters.
Ramjet propped his chin on his servos. "What's wrong, Windy - can I call you Windy? - you look sad!"
Hot Shot grinned. "Windy?" he whispered.
Windblade shot him a warning look before turning to answer Ramjet's question. "I'm ok, Ramjet. But someone wants to take me away from my family, and we don't know if the police will agree with them or not."
Hot Shot nodded in agreement. "Basically, we're looking for a place to hide her, just in case they decide she can't live with the Wreckers anymore."
Ramjet was horrified. "They can take younglings away from their families?!" he squealed. His distress was so potent that it actually drew Sunstorm and Slipstream from the training room next door. They listened to Windblade's explanation.
"Given that this sounds like a human/Transformer custody battle, I have to ask: Are you Cybertronian, or Cybaartarian?" Slipstream asked shrewdly.
"What difference does it make?!" Hot Shot demanded. The clever femme pounced on his words.
"You didn't deny one or the other, so I assume she's Cybaartarian." Slipstream looked slightly hurt that her new friend hadn't seen fit to tell her this.
Windblade did not meet her optics. "I didn't want to lie to you," she said quietly, "but I was afraid that something like this would happen." Slipstream's optics softened in understanding, as did her brothers'.
"Yeah," Sunstorm agreed, "If our Carrier showed up and demanded custody of us, I'd probably hide too." His faceplates brightened with an idea. "You two can hide here!" he suggested.
"Wait, really?" Windblade blinked. The Trine began conspiring together about ways to hide their friends, including a rather outlandish plot to smuggle them to Pred'akngard in barrels of energon. In the end it was decided that they would keep the two Wreckers in their quarters, which was technically Kaonian soil, and threaten any interlopers with the wrath of Megatronus.
"I like these guys," Hot Shot declared, ruffling Ramjet's helm, "They know how to manage mischief!"
Scanning craft "Tranquility", Sector 12B
She ran across the battlefield, lungs burning like her eyes. Someone was screaming: a gut-wrenching howl of anguish. She thought it sounded like Inoue. Marge whimpered and covered her ears as she took shelter behind a twisted mass of metal. Suddenly it moved, and she screamed. Gleaming dully from the wreckage was a single red optic. With a harsh groan, the body rolled toward Marge and out of the broken maw the words gurgled:
"For love."
The little red light flickered out and Marge cried out in horror.
"Maggie! Maggie, wake up, lass!"
Centurion's holomatter form shook the sobbing girl gently. Abigail bustled down the ladder into the room in her night robe.
"Maggie, love, what is it?" she cried. Incoherently, the teenager clung to her father and wept. "Nightmare," Centurion mouthed to his wife. Abigail made a sympathetic face and wrapped her arms around them both.
"Marge, do you want to talk about it?" she murmured. The short shake of the head was a very definite "no".
In the upright tunnel all the human bedchambers were in, some of the others began to poke their heads out of their cubbies.
"Is that Marge?"
"Who's crying?" and
"I'm trying to sleep!" echoed through the tube.
Abigail squeezed her daughter tightly. "Your gran sent us a care package from Earth, love," she said soothingly, "I was going to wait a while to open it, but I think now is as good a time as any. There's chocolate, you know."
Far above them at the top of the tunnel, Zettabyte stood at the helm as navigator with Apollo keeping an eye on the scanners. The echoes of Marge's tears made her wince. She longed to comfort her young friend, but she could not leave her post while their sector of space was capable of sudden storms. A sudden pressure on her servos made her look down suddenly.
Looking oddly nervous, Apollo had wrapped his large hand around her small one and squeezed it reassuringly. Zettabyte smiled up at the massive mech, who relaxed slightly.
"She has not had a nightmare like this in years," the femme sighed, leaning against Apollo's sturdy frame. Tentatively, Apollo began to wrap an arm around Zetta's shoulders, but was interrupted by a siren at his station. He huffed slightly and returned to the screen, frowning.
Scans had picked up a strange energy trail identical to the one belonging to the mystery attackers of Outpost Gallimimus. Apollo tracked it from 12C to 12D and turned a grim expression to Zettabyte.
She took in a deep vent. "Apollo, take the helm, chart a course for 12D. I need to tell the captain."
She activated her comm and whispered into it, "We've found the trail, sir. Captain, the trail is leading to Colony 21186D!"
Cybertron: Well of All Sparks
It was warmer than he'd expected.
The youngling balanced precariously on the ledge outside his Cocoon, residual liquid still dripping from his white and aquamarine armor. He ran slim servos over his bronze crested helm with interest. It looked, he thought, a little like a small samurai helmet, but with elements of a centurion's helm. He looked down to where his mother stood with her hands clasped in front of her.
"Hi Mom," he smiled, then stopped. "Ooh, new vocal cords. That's weird."
June giggled as her son began making many and varied silly noises to test his voice box. Clutching the wall for support, he lowered himself to one knee before June. "What do you think?" he asked eagerly.
June blinked rapidly and cleared her throat before answering. "Honey, you look so handsome! I dare say you'll be taller than Arcee." Jack didn't seem to mind this idea in the slightest.
Predaking nodded cordially to him from his customary post several ledges down, and Jack returned the greeting somewhat clumsily.
He chuckled nervously. "This body will take some getting used to," he declared, "I feel like I'm twelve again!"
"Not quite so young, Jackson. Fourteen, perhaps, would be more accurate."
The warm baritone of Optimus Prime rolled through the Well as the warrior flew up from the core. He seemed refreshed, and certainly more at peace than he had been since arriving.
Optimus landed on the ledge beside June and offered them a small smile. "Have you attempted to walk yet?" he asked, noting that Jack was not far from the tank. The Cybaartarian shook his helm.
"I'm not very steady on my feet-er-pedes yet, sir. I'm just trying to get used to my size right now." He struggled up from his kneeling position in front of his mother and managed to stand without wobbling too much. "Processors are a little disorienting at first!" he laughed, grabbing the wall again.
June giggled again, flashing back to his toddler days (and the wealth of stories she could tell but probably wouldn't).
Optimus held both his hands out in front of him, palms up. "Come," he said simply.
Concentrating fiercely, Jack slid one foot in front of the other. When this did not meet with disaster, he felt confident enough to move his other foot forward.
"Let go of the wall, Jack," his mother said encouragingly.
The youngling looked worried, but obeyed. Trying very hard not to flail his arms for balance, he took another step. Then another. Then he lost his balance completely and pitched forward, but by that time he was close enough that Optimus caught him and set him on his pedes again.
"Walk to the Cocoon and back," the Prime said, "Without using the wall."
Slightly daunted, Jack turned and began to inch his way back towards the Cocoon. Twice he faltered, once he fell. Each time either June or Optimus told him to get back up and keep going.
He knew why they were telling him to do it, of course. Just as many animals must be able to run minutes after birth, he would have to get used to his chassis quickly in the uncertain peace. He touched the tank, turned, and made his way back to Optimus on slightly sturdier legs. He still teetered and tottered on his way, but this time he did not fall. The proud smile on his mother's face as he latched on to Optimus's hands made him beam in return.
His godfather inclined his helm gravely. "Again."
As the Cybaartarian walked back to the tank slowly but steadily, Optimus murmured to June, "I have learned a potential weakness of the Sparkeaters."
"Thank heaven!" she breathed, "What is it?" Optimus glanced down towards the bottom of the Well, remembering his conversation with Primus.
'"Creator, my spark is heavy. Will you advise me?"
A tendril of blue light curled against the mech's faceplate tenderly.
I always have. Why should now be any different?
"Shockwave has done something unspeakable, Primus," Optimus said quietly, finally releasing the tears he had hidden from everyone else.
Speak, child of mine.
"He...he made monsters! He took children, innocents, and...oh my Maker, can you not erase the images from my mind?
Child of mine, you must remember this. Shockwave wanted to create life apart from the way that I had set for you. He has paid for what he has done to my people and the people of Aartar.
The voice was unshaken.
"But I fear that the galaxy may still reap the consequences of Shockwave's actions, my Creator." the Prime pushed the matter further.
Do you think that you fight alone?
"No," Optimus whispered, slightly ashamed, "I know you fight alongside us."
His Maker's voice echoed gently in his processor as he stared up at His spark.
Yes. I am always with you, Optimus. Know that Shockwave removed himself from my care, and purged all his ethical subroutines save one.
"One? Which one did he leave?" Optimus asked in surprise. Humor radiated through the air around him.
One older than even I. Be at peace, my child: there are some laws even the most evil of beings cannot break.
Optimus carried a secret smile as Jack managed to walk back without stumbling once.
The smaller mech rubbed the back of his helm somewhat sheepishly. "So, do I have to go by the other name we picked out all the time now?" he asked, "Or is that only for when we're in Eden?"
His mother stepped into Optimus's proffered hand as they prepared to leave the Well. "Technically you won't use your other name until Optimus and I work out the guardianship papers in Eden," she explained, "but I want you to start getting used to it now."
June had chosen the name Helios years ago when Jack took the journey to Vector Sigma. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd remembered a myth involving another Orion being healed by a journey to Helios. Granted, that Orion had been of a far less noble character than the warrior she knew, but the name Helios would not leave her memory. Jack and Optimus had heartily agreed when she told them, and over coffee in the Archives one night June had unofficially christened her boy Helios Pax.
Arcee was waiting for them with Optimus's personal craft, the Resolute.
"Hey, partner!" Jack called cheerfully.
The small cube of energon the femme had been drinking from was abruptly dropped, and the liquid was spat out in surprise.
The young mech snorted. "Really, 'Cee? I look that bad?"
Arcee tried to come up with a good description of what she was feeling before settling for, "You're taller!" She sounded slightly chagrined.
She turned to Optimus. "A priority-one signal came from Pred'akngard about an hour ago, but I couldn't raise you on the comm," she said.
The Prime frowned. "Thank you, Arcee. I will attend to it." Once inside the "Resolute", he quickly scanned Soundwave's missive. "So it begins," he muttered, shaking his helm. He set Space Bridge coordinates for 12D and sat back in the pilot's seat.
"Helios, come here."
The command was gentle, but not to be contested: Jack dropped his conversation with Arcee instantly to join Optimus in the cockpit. "Contact Megatronus Prime and inform him that we are en route to Colony 21186D with news that may turn the tide in our favor," the warrior rumbled.
Choosing an encoded frequency, the younger mech opened a channel to the Nemesis.
"Nemesis, this is the Resolute. We are entering Kaonian space and are headed for Colony 21186D," he spoke clearly and firmly.
The face on the screen looked at him suspiciously. "Who are you, and what is your function aboard the Resolute?" Megatronus asked.
Optimus turned the screen so that his brother would see him as well. "Megatronus, this is my son, Helios."
The former Decepticon raised an eyebrow. He pretended to sigh in resignation. "Well at least he's taller than Arcee."
Helios discreetly turned down the volume on the comm so that Arcee's response wouldn't make it to the Nemesis, but the expression of comical outrage on the screen told him that he'd been just a little too late.
"Right, well, we should arrive soon, with information that will help us with the Sparkeaters," he said awkwardly, before shutting of the screen.
Colony 21186D: main hangar bay
With his siblings left to make sure no one came after Windblade or Hot Shot, it was left to Sunstorm to call Megatronus. He had taken the lift down to the central hangar bay, which would have been far quieter than his room. Sunstorm blinked in surprise at the unexpected company he found.
A somewhat rusty freighter with the name Tranquility emblazoned on the side took up his normal spot. Curiosity overcame the young mech and he wandered over to see who would exit. The last thing he expected was the red-eyed Vehicon femme from 12C.
They both reared back and simultaneously exclaimed, "You again?!"
Next time, on "Survival":
"Don't presume to tell me the law, I wrote most of it!"
"Then you must know how grievously Commander Magnus has erred."
"They're taking that girl over my dead body!"
"Sir, something smashed through an airlock on the underside of the ship."
"Inoue! No!"
Translations for * words: (which are Swahili, btw, that I found in a Swahili dictionary)
Kijinga: nuisance, troublemaker
Sawasawa: ok
Well, the board is set, the pieces are moving. All my main characters are now in the same place: let the games begin.