Chapter 17
All roads have led to the colony. The enemy is making ready. Also, I finally decided what my versions of Sparkeaters look like. It is to be devoutly wished that I never run across one!
Previously, on "Survival":
"They can take younglings away from their families?!"
"You can hide here."
"I'm going to fight this, but I need your cooperation."
"The trail leads to Colony 21186D!"
"We are en route with news that may turn the tides in our favor."
"You again?!"
Colony 21186D, hangar bay
Sunstorm feigned nonchalance and watched Endline with an air of practiced boredom. "Well well. It's a small universe after all...Endline, was it?"
"Take it easy, kid," the femme groaned, "I don't want any trouble."
The two stared at each other warily for a moment before Gigawatt exited the ship, loudly complaining about her aching joints. Behind her, Marge walked in a perfect imitation of the older bot's gait, silently mimicking her grousing. Tension was effectively broken when Endline and Sunstorm both began snickering.
Centurion stepped out gracefully with Abigail sitting on his shoulder. His optics brightened when he spotted Sunstorm. "Excuse me, lad, but could you tell me who's in charge of defense on this ship?"
The youngling thought for a moment. "I suppose that'd be the police and the Wreckers. They're probably going to be down at the Central Hub." A private message arrived over his personal com from Ramjet.
"Coincidentally," Sunstorm announced smoothly, "I myself will be heading to the Central Hub in a moment, if you'd like an escort."
"Thank you, young sir, that would be most helpful!" Abigail answered.
As the eldest Triplet and the crew of the Tranquility left the hangar bay, Sunstorm innocently asked them their business.
"I'm surprised they let you land at all," he remarked, "Seeing as no one's being allowed outside right now."
The crew of the Tranquility exchanged meaningful glances. It would seem the colony at least had an inkling that something dangerous was about. Inoue turned around to ask Geist a question and his jaw dropped.
At his stuttered gibberish, the others turned to see the Resolute landing in the far end of the bay.
Sunstorm had only seen the Resolute once, when he was very young. Usually Optimus Prime preferred to use the Space Bridge when he traveled. The docking ramp lowered and a slim blue femme hopped out. She sauntered up to the group with a gleam in her optics and stood with a hand on her hip.
"What do you know? The gang's all here!" she smirked.
Arcee had pored over the information gathered by Optimus for the duration of the voyage. It seemed too fantastical to be true, in all honesty, that something as simple as a scapegoat would have any chance of stopping the Sparkeaters. Still, one didn't argue with Primus. And speaking of arguing, their belligerent friends from 12C were in the bay waiting-in a considerably better mood than last time, apparently.
Jack, or rather, Helios, had been in the cockpit with Optimus when he'd suddenly exclaimed, "Hey! Isn't that the Sector Sweep team from Outpost Gallimimus? What are they doing here?"
June glanced at Arcee with a frown.
"I've been doing vid-counseling sessions with Endline. They're supposed to be surveying the rings of Eden!"
Arcee launched the docking ramp and jumped out. Endline appeared to have lost most of her belligerence, for which Arcee could only be grateful.
"Captain, you're a long way from home," she observed. The gold mech saluted her politely and attempted to explain himself.
"My crew and I decided to do a little research on our mystery attackers," he said carefully, glancing at an attentive Sunstorm. "We have discovered that they are connected to the doomed flight Cygnus 26...and we traced them here."
Arcee froze. "Scrap!" she hissed.
Behind her, Optimus strode forward to meet them. "That explains Megatronus's summons. He must also have traced the Sparkeaters' signal."
He turned to look at Sunstorm. "Where are your siblings, Sunstorm? Megatronus is on his way here as we speak."
The orange and red Seeker shifted uncomfortably. "They're at the Central Hub. They just have some minor issues to deal with."
The answer was evasive enough to make the adults take notice. Optimus said nothing, but quietly stared the Seeker down. Sunstorm squirmed for a moment and muttered something about his sister's friend and a custody battle.
"Actually," the youngling whispered to the Prime as June and Helios joined the small crowd, "having a Prime here might stop them from taking Windblade away from her family."
Arcee started violently. Windblade?! She knew that name.
A year ago, she had been trading correspondence with Bulkhead and he had mentioned that Miko planned to Metamorphose as soon as she was of age. Windblade was the name the girl had chosen, even then, at the age of eighteen. It had been all Bulkhead and Wheeljack could talk about for weeks! The sudden appearance of a youngling named Windblade involved in a legal matter of some kind couldn't be coincidence.
Nurse Darby's eyes widened, and Optimus's jaw tightened. This was going to complicate things.
"If the governing body of this colony cannot reach a reasonable conclusion in this matter, the Primes will deal with it," Optimus said sternly. He swiveled his shoulders and walked away.
"Until then," he spoke over his shoulder, "there are more pressing matters to be addressed."
The solemn party made their way through the living quarters of J-deck, past the markets in G-deck to the Central Hub in the core of the Storm Front.
Arcee pulled Helios back to walk with her. Neither of them knew what to expect, but Arcee wanted her partner to be as prepared as possible.
"Jack," she whispered, "Listen very carefully: remember when you and Miko and Raf found out about Metamorphosis for the first time? Miko picked a name out within weeks."
Helios pressed his lips together. "I was thinking the same thing. She's still underage, 'Cee: if there's not a good explanation for this, there'll be the Pit to pay." Neither of them felt like bringing up the problems this could cause the mission.
If the governing forces on such a massive ship couldn't handle this unusual case, how could they be expected to protect their people from Sparkeaters?
The crew of the Tranquility, Optimus and his followers, and Sunstorm arrived at the Central Hub security base in time to witness a near-screaming match between four humans, the Wreckers, and the other two Trine members.
Bulkhead and Wheeljack were clearly on the verge of drawing their weapons, and the four young ones had formed a protective circle around Windblade.
Sheriff Simmons stood between the Wreckers and head surgeon Andon with her arms stretched out to the sides.
"You aren't concerned with this girl's health and safety!" she scolded, "You're just out for prestige!"
The thin balding man sneered at her condescendingly. "I don't expect you to understand the political concerns behind this breach, Mrs. Simmons-" He was interrupted by Bulkhead stomping his foot emphatically.
"Show some respect, sawbones. You call her 'Sheriff'!"
"Or what? You'll step on me?" Andon scoffed, "Well I've got four words for you: Asimov's Law of Robotics!"
That was too far, even for Andon.
"If I thought you stood a flea's chance," Bulkhead snarled, "I'd punch you in your scrap-lousy face!"
"Don't worry, kids," Wheeljack muttered to the younglings, "They're taking that girl over my dead body!" The sniping and unpleasantries swelled to a fever pitch until-
"Enough!"
Optimus folded his arms over his spark chamber and fixed them all with a level gaze.
The combatants jumped, and the Wreckers (including Windblade) all saluted. The Prime was not happy.
"Your enemies are at your doorstep and you behave like children!" He chided them severely, and not even the head surgeon dared to look him in the eye.
"We are united: our peoples are one. I expected better of all of you," Optimus said sternly.
Magnus stepped forward, helm lowered respectfully. "Sir, this entire debacle is the result of my own actions. I assume full responsibility for Miko's premature Metamorphosis."
Optimus nodded sharply. "Yes. We will discuss that after the immediate threat has passed."
The human judge who had been dragged into the custody battle adjusted his tie and cleared his throat.
"If I may?" He waited for Optimus's acknowledgment before continuing. "Frankly, I think if the matter isn't solved quickly, somebody's going to get hurt. Do you mind if I speak with them a moment?"
"Of course, old friend," Optimus agreed, "I only ask that it be kept brief. I fear that Sparkeaters hold to no such legal constrictions."
The words fell heavily among the listeners. Councilor Fowler motioned for Andon to come forward and plead his case as Sunstorm made his way to his siblings.
"Megatronus is going to be here soon," he whispered, "we haven't started any fights, right?" Slipstream shook her helm.
"Not unless you count this," she whispered back.
Their wings twitched nervously. The surgeon's condescending and mean-spirited attitude made it unlikely that anyone would agree with his proposal, but that was no guarantee that the Wreckers would escape punishment.
Arcee and Helios made their way over to the group. Despite the gravity of the situation, Arcee was greeted with enthusiastic embraces from Bulkhead and Wheeljack alike.
"What happened, Miko?" she wheezed, recovering from a Bulk-hug. The red femme shrugged as much as she could with Hot Shot and Smokescreen's arms wrapped protectively around her shoulders.
"I can't really remember, and from what the Commander told me, I'm not sure I want to."
Arcee stepped over to pull the youngling into a sisterly embrace, then stepped back and held her at arm's length. "You look great, Miko! Interesting wings. I take it you're a jet of some kind?"
Windblade nodded eagerly. "Stealth jet, in fact. And it's Windblade now, for the record."
Her optics caught Helios's and she frowned. "Who are you?"
The young mech frowned as well. "Aw, come on Miko! Surely you remember me?" The femme's jaw dropped.
"Alpha Trion's Beard!" she squealed, "Jack?!" Her fellow Wreckers released her, and she near tackled her old friend with a Bulk-hug. "You Metamorphosed too? This rocks! We're Cocoon Buddies!"
Arcee shook her helm with a knowing smile as she noticed Slipstream's optics shining with interest when she looked at Helios. Primus help Megatronus, she unexpectedly found herself thinking, She's old enough to notice mechs! Her smile faded as she glanced over to where an exasperated Fowler was dealing with the human surgeon.
"Don't presume to tell me the law, I wrote most of it!" Bill Fowler snarled at the man before him.
"Then you must know how grievously Commander Magnus has erred." the surgeon replied, "I assure you, my intentions are pure!"
"I don't care what your motives were, doctor! You do not bring up Asimov's Law of Robotics to a Cybertronian, Cybaartarian, Cyborg, or anywhere in between!" Fowler growled.
Andon held up his hands in submission. "I know, I know, but he was provoking me, and-"
"And nothing!" the judge interrupted harshly, "You don't use racial slurs in this colony!" Bill took a deep breath, regaining some measure of calm.
"Surgeon Andon, I think you need to stop reading old sci-fi books. This is reality, not the Matrix. I find your proposal to separate Windblade from her CNA parent to be indefensible and unfounded. Furthermore, by discussing a patient's private concerns, you violated HIPAA*. I find your attitude towards your fellow citizens concerning, and in my opinion it's a breach of your vow to "first do no harm"."
Councilor Fowler looked up at Optimus Prime. "Anything I missed, Prime?"
Optimus knelt to look Andon in the eye. "Head Surgeon Roger Stanford Andon," he said quietly, "I do not think you are an evil person." Those standing near enough to overhear were as startled as Andon himself.
Optimus continued, "From your own testimony, whether you realize it or not, you have revealed that your only concern at the beginning of the matter was whether Mikoto Nakadai was being illegally removed from medical care. It was not until after you learned of her transformation that you allowed your prejudices and ambitions to creep in."
The Prime stood once more, just as an intercom announced the arrival of Megatronus Prime and his squadron.
"Captain," Optimus said suddenly, turning to Centurion, "I am told that you live by a motto that may well apply to this situation. What is it?"
The O'Connors spoke in unison, having repeated it often enough. "For as much as is possible, be at peace with all mechs."
Optimus turned his grave face to look at every person there. "For as much as is possible, be at peace with each other," he rephrased, "For I fear that we shall have little enough peace from elsewhere until the Sparkeaters are dealt with."
A humbled Andon was dismissed and an emergency council was called to discuss the oncoming threat. Megatronus, Soundwave, and twenty of the Pred'akngard Elite marched into the Central Hub moments later, tension rolling off of them in waves. Optimus stood and held out an arm.
"Welcome, Brother," he said, and there was the faintest hint of relief in his voice. The Kaonian Prime clasped his arm in greeting, but looked irritated.
"Brother. I left before you, by Space Bridge! How is it that you arrived first?"
Optimus's optics twinkled with the remembrance of some long-forgotten joke between them, but rather than speak he guided Megatronus to the map table.
The larger mech walked slowly around the holograms, noting the energy trails discovered by the crew of the Tranquility, more recent than the ones that had brought him to the colony.
He stopped behind the Trine, taking a moment to make certain that none of them were any worse off than they'd been the last time he'd checked in. Dear Primus, what an old softspark he was turning out to be! He caught Ramjet's concerned look and tweaked the youngling's shoulder guard affectionately before moving on to discuss shields with the head of security for 21186D.
"What do we know about these Sparkeaters?" Fowler asked, steepling his fingers.
Soundwave shuddered violently at the word, remembering the gruesome discovery they'd made in the Cygnus 26. Megatronus nodded sympathetically and continued circling the table.
"They were created by Shockwave. Well, the original six were in any case. The time and nature of the attacks post-Cygnus suggest that they have found a way to multiply."
The distaste was evident in his gruff baritone. Briefly, characteristics of a Sparkeater Attack were described.
No one missed the meaningful looks the Wreckers were throwing each other.
"Hot Shot, do you have something to add to the discussion?" Optimus asked. The young Wrecker gulped and pulled his visor down over his faceplate, embarrassed.
"Speak up, son," Fowler encouraged.
The blue speedster got over his initial shyness quickly. "I was saying to Smokescreen that it sounds just like what happened to us when Miko got hurt!" He turned earnest optics to the Primes. "We all got uneasy suddenly, and Miko made us all go inside because our scanners were showing, like, thirty lifeforms around us but we couldn't see a thing!"
Helios's optics widened. Thirty? That would certainly be enough to do serious damage to the ship. What was stopping them from attacking? Hot Shot described the attack on Miko and how it had pierced the Apex Armor and nearly severed her spine. Windblade made an uncomfortable noise, and her servos tightened on Magnus's.
"That's why we Metamorphosed her early," Hot Shot declared passionately, "She was gonna die!"
Megatronus halted his circuit to acknowledge Windblade. "Congratulations. You are the first person ever to survive a Soul-snatcher," he nodded, impressed with her fortitude.
Optimus regained the attention of all present with a simple declaration: "They have one weakness." He pressed his mouth closed for a moment in thought, then went on. "I went to Primus for counsel,"
"Always wise," Megatronus interrupted sagely, "but what is the weakness?"
Optimus acted as though his brother had not spoken. "In shaping these twisted and ruined forms, Shockwave imprinted his own code onto them. Therefore, it stands to reason that the one ethical subroutine he could never rid himself of still has power over the Sparkeaters as well."
Endline knit her brow in confusion. "But sir, we don't know what that subroutine is, do we?"
"We do," Optimus answered. He seemed saddened. The temporary glee that had spring up at the idea of a way to strike back at the monsters was dampened by the Prime's next words.
"It was based upon a law older than even Cybertron: if one who is counted innocent willingly lays down their life so that another may live, the one who sheds the innocent's blood is bound not to harm those the innocent purposed to save, or else forfeit their own life."
The solemn silence following his words was unceremoniously broken by a flurry of sirens and warning lights. "What in the name of Paul Revere's horse is going on out there?" Fowler bellowed into the com. Sheriff Simmons appeared as a hologram on the table.
"Report from the lower decks just came in! Sir, something smashed through an airlock on the underside of the ship."
Megatronus barely managed to stifle a particularly vicious curse before it left his mouth. He had a terrible feeling that their adversaries were behind this. If they got in among the humans in the living quarters…
"Set up a level 9 containment field quarantining the breach!" he snapped. It wouldn't hold them forever, but it would buy them time.
Unless they were already aboard.
"Wreckers, evacuate all civilians to the Central Hub!" Optimus ordered. He turned to Fowler. "There are emergency bunkers here, are there not?"
The judge-cum-councilman scrambled to prepare his staff. Optimus turned his gaze to the younger group present.
"Captain O'Connor, you and your crew and family are to remain here and run continual scans for the Sparkeaters' energy signatures." In a synchronized motion, he moved aside to draw his sword as Megatronus took his place.
"Wrecker Windblade, Helios Pax, you will go to the bunkers with Healer Darby."
That he did not call her "The Woman" was a testament to his own anxiety. Miko and Jack's protests were cut off by Ultra Magnus.
"Windblade, do as he says. You don't have enough experience in that body to fight. Helios doesn't even have an alt-form yet!" Very reluctantly, the pair conceded.
Now came the tricky part: convincing the Trine to do the same. Megatronus took the Triplets off to the side.
"You three will have to protect the others, do you hear me? They can't fight yet, but you can." The three saluted, trembling. "Go, be safe," their Prime commanded.
He drew from his subspaced compartment the daggers he had made for Ramjet and placed them in the youngling's servos. Ramjet impulsively hugged Megatronus, then backed away to stand with the Cybaartarians.
Sunstorm let out a heavy exvent as Megatronus placed his heavy hand on his shoulder guard. "You are the eldest," he murmured, "You must shield your siblings from danger as much as you can." He smiled ruefully. "That is what brothers do."
He brought forth the armor designed especially for Sunstorm and fastened it to the young mech himself.
Blinking coolant from his optics, the orange Seeker copied his brother and embraced the warrior who had watched over him for as long as he could remember. Then he too moved to stand with Jack and Miko.
Megatronus could hardly bring himself to look Slipstream in the optics.
"Don't go!" the distraught femme begged, wrapping her slim servos around his ungainly talons. He presented her with the curved blade from his forge, and she took it numbly.
"Please..." she whispered tearfully, "Isn't one dead father enough?"
In a rush of movement, Megatronus swept Slipstream into his arms and held her tightly.
"I promise," he choked on the words, "I promise that I will return." He bent his helm to look at the weeping youngling.
"I can't handle this," Dean mumbled, and hopped down from Endline's shoulder to head for the door.
"Inoue! No!" Endline snatcher her partner back up. "We stay here, you don't get yourself killed. Orders are orders." Inoue scowled, an expression matched by Irene and Petrovych.
"We'd be helping more in the living quarters where the humans are!" he grumbled. "I'd feel useless just watching screens!"
Endline did not release him. "No, Inoue," she hissed, "we don't do solo missions, we're a crew!" Dean looked away pointedly, not yet ready to concede the point.
Miko hugged each of the Wreckers, making them promise to bash skulls for her.
"Hot Shot...it's going to be okay, kiddo," Windblade adjusted his visor in a motherly fashion. "Just stick close to Bulk or Jackie and you'll be fine."
Bulkhead lightly punched the young mech's flame decal'd shoulder by way of encouragement.
Each Wrecker, even Magnus, looped one arm over the shoulder of the bot next to them.
"Endurance and Victory." Magnus intoned firmly.
"Endurance and Victory*." the others echoed.
Helios turned away from the difficult sight, and found Optimus watching him. "It's harder the first time someone you love goes to war," Helios observed. Optimus nodded and laid a hand on the back of the young mech's helm.
"Look after the others," he said quietly, "Arcee will go with the Wreckers and I."
Helios looked stricken. The idea of his partner facing the Sparkeaters made his tank churn no less than the idea of his godfather facing them. He bit back the protests and bowed his helm. "I trust you."
"And I, you."
The simple words meant far more to June, Jack, and Optimus than they would to others. To them, the declaration was not a statement of fact.
It meant "I love you."
Next time, on "Survival":
"What is this stuff?!"
"No matter what comes through that door, you stand together!"
"What right do you have to hunt my people? By the Allspark, you will answer me!"
"We...are...Daystar...you...will...die!"
Yikes. That might be my longest one yet.
*1: HIPAA= Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Basically, no one can share anything about a patient-not even a name-without that patient's permission.
*2: "Endurance and Victory", the motto of the elves in Wayne Thomas Batson's Chronicles of Berinfell.
When I was writing the families going off to war, I couldn't get this scene from The Patriot out my head. It's the one where the main character is leaving for battle and his silent little girl starts crying, "I'll say anything Papa, don't go, I'll say anything!"
Waaaaah! So sad!