They say never judge a book by it's cover. Well, you'd be more than dead if you tried to judge me by my appearance. I maybe small, but I pack a mean punch if you mess with me and my team... Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude... hey there! I'm Windswept! And boy, have I got a story to tell you. Well, what are you waiting for?! Get over here and get ready for my adventures on Team Prime!
It's been a wee while since this story was updated. I deeply apologise (that it's all I seem to do) for not updating when I say I do. My motivation completely disappeared over Christmas and I'm not going to lie but I've been a little depressed over how things were working out about a few months. Things turned around about over 2 months ago when I did a work experience course at a place which ended up offering me part time work, and since then I've been crazy busy training and everything.
I've done lots of editing throughout all the past chapters of this - some chapters got a lot of work put into them. I'd recommend maybe going through a reread of a couple of them just keep you updated. You'll be able to tell when a chapter was updated by the little bolded date marked at the bottom of each chapter. It was a while ago when those chapters were updated but I'm hoping to continously update them if I find a spelling or grammer error.
Thank you to MadnessInTheBanquet and IlianaPrime for following and favouriting, as well as draco1221 for favouriting, this story. And to everyone else who's still sticking by me despite the lack of progress. We will get there guys!
- Transformers Prime does not belong to me. All rights go to the people and brands who were able to create this show.
- Windswept and the other OC's belong to me.
(Chapter Title: Greek Autobots and Family Ties)
School was over. But for some, their day at Jasper High was yet to conclude. A range of students were still hanging around for a variety of reasons. Sports practice, school performances, and maybe a parent-teacher conference about a student's behaviour at school. But there was still one more reason as to why some students hadn't left school. One that everybody hated with a passion.
Detention meant two things: a) the action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody. b) the punishment of being kept in school after hours.
The second one suited much better in this case.
Sitting at the front of the class with their World History textbook was Miko Nakadai. attempting to fill her brain with everything about, or related to, Ancient Greece. It was so she could write an essay about it. Yet, she was unable to bring herself to do it, the main reason being simply because she didn't want to.
Who wants to read about Ancient Greece anyway? Boring!
Miko laid the book down on the desk and crossed her arms, "Detention." With a sigh of boredom to go with her grumble, the Japanese exchange student rested her head on her folded arms, just waiting for the time to go by so she could get out to her friends outside of Jasper.
The sound of screeching tires and loud heavy metal music seeped into her ears. Looking out the window nearby, her face lit up with glee at the green off-terrain vehicle pulling up just outside the school.
There was no denying the fact that ever since Bulkhead became Miko's guardian, they were slowly becoming closer and closer. They had clicked from day one due to their passion for heavy metal music, the thrill of action, and the love they had for their friends. But he wasn't the only one she had a special bond with - she was also growing a friendship with the aqua blue Autobot known as Aquastrike. Just like Bulkhead and Miko, she had a passion for heavy metal music, loved the thrill of action, and loved her friends, both new and old.
It was fair to say that Miko was definitely enjoying her exchange programme.
She spared a glance at the detention teacher reading The Jasper Daily newspaper, and decided to make her move.
Bulkhead had arrived at the school later than normal, knowing his charge well enough to know she was in detention. So while he hummed to the heavy metal music playing on his radio, he waited patiently for his charge...who jumped into the passenger seat a little earlier than expected.
"I LOVE THIS SONG!"
"Miko, I thought you had a history report to do. Did detention end early?" Bulkhead turned down the music to ask.
Miko clicked her seat belt, "It did for me." She rested into the seat lazily, waiting for her charge to drive away. However, a quick glance in the rearview mirror had her scrambling. "Oh oh, here comes teacher. And she doesn't look happy." A look out the window had her in a panic, sitting lower in her seat, "Step on it Bulkhead!"
"Aw, Miko!"
Still, Bulkhead changed gears and pulled away from the school with his tires squealing, nearly drifting around the corner as the two began to make their way to Autobot base.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"...So after I met up with Wheeljack and told him how I knew Bulkhead and Aquastrike, he allowed me to hitch a ride."
Since Arcee was on patrol, Bumblebee at the school waiting to pick Raf up from his extra studies, and with Ratchet sending Optimus and Starlight on a scouting mission somewhere on the other side of the country, the remaining group of us were listening to a story about how Sunburst came to know Wheeljack and how Aquastrike was able to escape Cybertron. I was sitting on a large crate with Jack and Carly beside me and Aquastrike with her lazily crossed legs on the ground. Sunburst was standing before us, using servo movements to help explain his story.
When Cybertron's core began to die, the Wreckers began splitting apart and joining other teams to escape with. Sunburst didn't know many Autobots apart from me and the others back at Iacon, and the small group of Wreckers that were left on that team. He attempted to get back to Iacon, but we had all apparently left when he got there.
I wouldn't know, I was knocked unconscious before I could leave in my escape pod.
So Sunburst was left behind on Cybertron and was scouting for any others who were also there when Wheeljack arrived after picking up his signal. To gain his trust, Sunburst had to talk about how he knew Bulkhead and Wheeljack's sister Aquastrike. With some difficulty, he managed to convince him that he wasn't a Decepticon in Autobot armour and they both fled Cybertron.
"It was about ten or so, in human terms, years later before another signal flashed on our server back on Cybertron," Sunburst continued.
"That's where I come in!" Aquastrike excitedly exclaimed, raising her servo like a youngling attempting to answer the teacher's question correctly in school. She jumped up, "T'ere was no way in Kaon dat I was joinin' Prime's team when t'ere were still lone 'Con's scoutin' 'round Cybertron. I decided on stickin' around. Now, I hadn't found much durin' the years I was spendin' t'ere, just the lil' creepy crawly hangin' round 'ere 'nd there. But then, outta nowhere, dis massive Insecticon jumped me. I was low on Energon so at dis' point I was 'n trouble 'nd I didn' have the strength to fight the lil' scrap."
"Thankfully, we picked up Aquastrike's signal when we did," Sunburst sighed in sarcastic relief, patting his friend on the shoulder, "She was almost offline when we reached her."
Aquastrike smiled at him, mirroring his action, but harder, nearly sending him falling forwards, "Awwww, but ol' Sunshine and Jackie weren't gon' let me fall victim to that lil' hunk-a-scrap. When they came on to the scene and knocked down the vermin long enough to drag ourselves to the Jackhammer, Jackie gave him a lil' goodbye pressie."
Sunburst crossed his arms with a chuckle, "An exploding goodbye present, I might add."
"So, you guys flew around in the same ship for ages and ages?" Carly questioned in disbelief, "How did you guys manage to not kill each other?!"
I told Carly multiple stories I heard the team mention about how a few Autobots were unable to stand each other on the same flight and had proceeded to fight each other as a result. It was a common thing to occur, but this was a more likely occurrence on the Decepticon side...
Not many of the Decepticons get along very well over there...
"We hardly spoke to each other after the first few days of being locked together in the same ship. We just went about business, taking shifts over who would fly the ship, shared out the Energon as little as we could so we didn't run out and sometimes we just sat there in total silence and peace," Sunburst explained fondly, a small smile appearing on his face, "I just always knew that one day, we would find someone."
"Ol' Sunshine, the realist," Aquastrike mumbled, rolling her optics affectionately.
After a teasing glare asking Aquastrike to be quiet, Sunburst turned towards me with a familiar soft smile, "I just didn't expect to be reunited with my sister figure, and a few old friends as well as joining a whole new team."
"What's that word again?"
Our audio receptors picked up on the familiar voice and engine driving into the entry tunnel. Bulkhead must be arriving back after picking Miko up from her after school detention.
"Odd," Carly muttered below me, checking her phone, "Detention wouldn't have finished 'till about five minutes ago."
Bulkhead pulled up near the controls Ratchet was working at as Miko answered his question, "Uhhh, college?"
Miko leaped out and looked at Bulkhead's vehicle form in frustration, "Ugh, you sound just like my parents!"
Bulkhead transformed, giving Miko a nervous look, "Aren't they Japanese?"
"They may speak a different language. But you say the same things!" Miko retorted, walking away to join the group of us.
"Sounds like Bulkhead and ya paren's just want what's best for ya, Miko," Aquastrike piped into the little argument. When Miko looked over her shoulder at the aqua blue femme with a glare that said 'not-helping', Aquastrike waved her hands up defensively, taking a step back.
"Aquastrike's right, Miko. That means making sure you go to school! Not jail!"
"Uh-oh. What'd you do?" Jack and Carly asked teasingly when Sunburst picked them up and on the platforms near Ratchet.
"Look Miko," Bulkhead began, bending down to block her view of Jack and Carly, "Before I became a warrior, I was a labourer – construction. I can build stuff. I can break stuff. And that's it!"
Miko looked to be considering the words he had said. Then she nearly jumped up in glee, "I like breaking stuff! I wanna be just like you, Bulk!"
Bulkhead groaned as a small beeping sound began making its' way into our audio receptors. Aquastrike narrowed her optics at the monitor, already making her way over to stand behind Ratchet.
"Oh… Why do you wanna be like me when you can be a medic like Ratchet?" Bulkhead asked, pointing to the orange and white Autobot at the controls.
"I'm detecting a fresh Energon pulse from the nation called Greece," Ratchet announced instead of allowing Miko to respond to Bulkhead "An ancient city. Quite historic, I believe."
Aquastrike looked around at Bulkhead and Miko with a shrug. She smirked as she rested her hand on her hip, "Ancient Greece, huh? You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
Bulkhead mirrored the smirk, sing-songing excitedly to his charge, "Field trip!"
Need I ask what those two are planning?
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Thunder clapped. Lightning flashed. Dark clouds rolled over the Decepticon Warship know as the Nemesis. They did nothing to threaten the ship flying peacefully past the storm, not bothered by angriness of the thunder and lightning above. Two of the occupants in the warship weren't so bothered either, watching the lightning strike once more.
"I do not enjoy being kept waiting, Slipstream," Starscream muttered with a growl, "Where are they?"
"Patience Starscream. They will show," Slipstream replied, "They are old friends of mine, dear twin. They have never let me down, not even once before. Why would they start now?" Hearing the doors slide open at the end of the room, the aqua blue and purple Decepticon femme, looked over her shoulder slightly, "It's about time, old friend."
The red Decepticon that entered sighed peacefully, letting the doors slide shut behind him before speaking, "It was a long drive, Slipstream. I'm still picking bugs out of my grill." He picked off a bug from his chassis and flicked it away to prove his point.
Starscream turned to the new addition with disgust, "Yes, right. You're one of those."
"Come again?" Knock Out asked in confusion, watching the silver and slightly red Decepticon wander up to him.
"Never understood why any self-respecting Decepticon would choose auto-mobile as his vehicle mode when he could have flight," Starscream hummed when he circled the new Decepticon.
"I like the way I look in steel-belted radium's," Knock Out confessed with a smirk.
Slipstream chuckled, walking up to her compatriots, "Dear friend, you have not changed."
Nothing more was said as the trio began their walk out of the main area of the Decepticon Warship and down the corridor to a room that the Decepticon twins had been visiting a lot more than normal the last few weeks.
"I take it Megatron needs a laboratory assist?" Knock Out asked innocently behind them.
"You…might say that," Starscream answered hesitantly, pressing a button to open the room before them
What greeted them surprised Knock Out. Resting before him on a medical berth was Megatron – THE Lord Megatron. His unconscious frame was scarred with marks and grey bruise patches from what was obviously from some kind of explosion. Multiple cables were connected to his chassis, the large gaping hole in his chest still present, and his torso, the only things keeping him alive.
The sight of his leader made Knock Out's optics widen. "Woah."
With the evening weather setting in at the Ancient city of Greece, a green and blue portal swirled to life suddenly. Two vehicles, an army green off-terrain vehicle and an aqua blue Ferrari 458 Italia drove out of the portal, the blues and greens fading away when the two vehicles had driven completely through and out of the portal.
"Here we are!" The off-terrain vehicle said.
Miko leaped out of her guardian's vehicle form, "Sweet!" As the two vehicles transformed into their Cybertronian forms known as Bulkhead and Aquastrike, the Japanese exchange student raced ahead to look at the ruins ahead of her, "So what are we doing in Wreck-O-Ville?"
Bulkhead brought out the scanner he was provided with and activated it, beeping almost instantly to let them know that what they were looking for wasn't too far away. He looked at Aquastrike with a small smirk, "We're scouting for Energon."
"You, lil' missy, are doin' research for a certain history report that you failed to complete," Aquastrike told the girl, "Which landed you into yer lil' after school activities."
Miko looked over her shoulder and pouted at the two Autobots, "You punk'd me, guys? NOT COOL!"
Ignoring his now frustrated charge, Bulkhead walked up to the edge of platform they were on, following the scanner, "Hmmm…signal's strong," He looked ahead at the orange construction vehicles resting near a dug up pit. "An excavation sight?"
"Woah…" Miko gasped, looking up at the two Autobots.
"I know construction," Bulkhead shrugged at her, looking around at the site before him, "According to my scanner, humans hit Energon veins."
Aquastrike smirked, "And they don' even know it."
The two former members of the Wreckers looked around, their optics almost immediately being caught by a mural of what was many humans of the past, surrounding one of the Greek Gods the humans of today were now well aware of. Spotting the Greek God in the middle of the mural, Aquastrike tried to guess who the Greek God was, having been taught some of Ancient History mostly by Carly and a little from Miko. But then something caught her optics.
Something was familiar in that mural. Something that she could understand.
"Woah..." Bulkhead gasped beside her, allowing her to take note that she wasn't the only one who spotted the familiar sight.
She zoomed her optics in at the sight of the mural, the deep blue orbs looking at the small and round object being held up by the Greek God.
"That's Cybertronian!"
"Sadly, our inevitably former lord Megatron has been like this for some time," Starscream hummed, looking at his leader and folding his arms behind his back, "But the crew took a vote, and it was decided that an expert might put him on the road to recovery."
"And not just any expert." The trio of Decepticons looked back to find Rebecca against the doorway on her hoverboard and smirking proudly, "But Slipstream's dear old expert friend." The seventeen-year-old human wandered into the room, joining Slipstream on the other side of the unconscious Megatron.
"I've done a lot of body work, Slipstream," Knock Out began, "But I'm better at breaking them then fixing them," He activated his drill briefly, spinning it around before folding it away. "It would help if I had my assistant."
"I summoned the pair of you. Where the heck in Kaon is he?" Slipstream asked, looking over her shoulder slightly with narrowed her optics.
"We were hot on a fresh Energon trail when you called, Slipstream," Knock Out answered, ignoring the annoyed look from his old friend, "Breakdown will show when he's through scouting it."
Slipstream lightly snorted, "He better."
"I remember being taught about this relic back on Cybertron briefly," Aquastrike hummed, her optics still locked on the small gold orb on the mural, "But it was so brief, I can' 'member what it was."
"It's an Energon Harvester," Bulkhead recognised, looking from his aqua blue friend to the mural with wonder, "But why would Ancient Greeks paint it?"
"You know what that round thing is?" Miko exclaimed, pulling her phone out of pocket, "You're smarter than you let on!" She instantly took a picture of the mural.
"But even dumber than he looks."
At the sound of mech's voice, the trio turned around. In the distance, they spotted a bulky blue and silvery-grey Cybertronian. Yellow eyes, orange face, blinker lights at the hips. It wasn't too difficult for the Autobots to recognise this Cybertronian, Bulkhead especially. After all, he had spent years and years during the War battling this Decepticon.
"Breakdown."
Breakdown chuckled, preparing himself to torment the Autobot, "Miss me?"
"Like rust in my undercarriage," Bulkhead retorted, holding his fist at the Decepticon.
"You know this lunkhead?" Miko asked, looking at the blue and silver-grey Cybertronian.
"We have a history," Bulkhead responded, not even sparing a glance at his charge.
"And you have a pet," Breakdown noticed with a shrug, reaching over to the pillar beside him, "Does it play catch?" Securing the pillar tightly in his servos, the mech held it over his shoulder before throwing it towards the human, "CATCH!"
Miko knew instantly that if she didn't do anything, then she would be crushed by the oncoming pillar. So she quickly began running to dodge it, however she wasn't running quick enough - either that or the pillar was flying through their at speeds she would never match. But before she was hit by the pillar, she was snatched off the ground as her savoir took the hit. Looking up, she realised her savoir was Aquastrike.
"Stay down!" Bulkhead yelled at the two.
Aquastrike nodded, transforming into her vehicle form and driving away from the scene with Miko onboard, using the dust that had floated into the air to cover her.
Bulkhead was unable to see Breakdown coming from the explosion of dust that had appeared when the pillar was destroyed. However, he was well aware of the fact that he was coming. But he was unable to prepare himself as the Decepticon charged at him, appearing through the dust suddenly and tackling Bulkhead.
Aquastrike was thankful that Miko was safe in her vehicle form. Otherwise, she would've been hit by a flying Bulkhead and Breakdown. Instead, the two watched as the Cybertronians flew over their heads towards the ground.
Gaining a grip on his enemy during flight, Breakdown bounced the Autobot on the ground before throwing him into the mural, the wall crumbling on impact. Breakdown landed a few feet away from the dust cloud that , waiting for his enemy to stand and face him. Groaning from the impact, Bulkhead slowly began to climb up when he spotted Breakdown waiting for him.
"Oops. Hope the pretty picture wasn't too important," Breakdown tormented, racing away and transforming into his army vehicle form, his attentions being needed elsewhere.
Aquastrike, now back into her Cybertronian form, and Miko quickly raced to their friend when Breakdown began driving away. While the teenage girl watched the retreating army vehicle, the aqua blue femme, held out her servo for Bulkhead to grab, wanting to help the mech who had been thrown into the mural, destroying it.
Bulkhead grabbed the servo, but only allowing the femme to pull him up until he was sitting. He took one look at the fading figure of his enemy and rubbed his head with a small groan, "Told you I'm good at breaking things."
"I'll always have your back, Bulk," Miko smiled at him, pulling out her phone. "Got us a picture of the picture." The Autobot looked at the open cellphone, seeing the mural on the wall before it was destroyed only seconds later.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
When Bulkhead and Aquastrike commed saying they had found something important enough for the whole team to see, Ratchet immediately contacted everyone to get them back to base. He even bridged Optimus and Starlight back from their scouting.
Now that the team was here, Miko had quickly given her phone to Carly for her to plug into her laptop and bring up an image onto the monitor for us to see. Starlight's optics had widened upon seeing the image almost straight away. I kept staring and staring at the painting, trying to figure it out what was on-
Wait a sec!... That orb in that Greek God's hand ... That's Cybertronian!
"It is indeed an Energon Harvester." Optimus looked down at the humans. "A tool created by the Ancients."
"It's used to remove raw Energon straight out of any nearby source," Starlight added with a hum. She earned a few odd looks at the small comment, "What? We didn't just go out on field missions and perform routine tasks while we were at Iacon! We learnt things too!"
That was true. Alpha Trion used to teach us all about the relics that were out there during the War for Cybertron. He taught us about both Autobot and Decepticon-made relics, who created them, how they were used and where they were. By that point during the war, however, many of our relics had already been sent to space in containment pods to hide throughout the galaxy... Except for this one. And possibly many more.
"Greek Gods knew Autobots?" Raf exclaimed in amazement, sharing looks with each other the teenagers.
"Not exactly, kid," Sunburst shook his head.
"The Ancients often used the art of a given era to conceal messages," Optimus corrected, looking back at the image, "This fresco was likely a signpost indicating a Harvester's location hidden somewhere on this planet."
"Uh Optimus?" Jack began, looking up at him, "If the harvester removes Energon from anything and you all have Energon pumping inside you…?"
"In Decepticon hands, the Harvester could be a devastating weapon," Optimus answered the trailed-off question.
Miko looked up at her guardian, "See? You were a genius to destroy that painting!"
"Miko's not wrong," Arcee agreed, "How can the 'Cons find the harvester without the fresco?"
"With high-speed Internet, of course," Carly answered simply, typing away on her laptop, "If you do an image search for "Greek God" and "golden orb," this pops up." She brought her laptop closer to our view, revealing one of those Greek God statues holding a hold orb.
"It's in a museum," Raf noticed, fidgeting with his red square-rimmed glasses.
Carly nodded eagerly, "In Jasper!"
We all looked at the small laptop screen in silence for a small moment. Was this really the Energon Harvester? If it was, we needed to do something about it before the Decepticons realised the same thing.
"That the real deal?" Arcee asked, looking up at Optimus.
I wasn't the only one thinking that if it was the real deal, now was the time to do something about it.
"Contact Agent Fowler."
Ratchet did as instructed, pulling out Fowler's contact details and immediately begin contacting our favourite Agent...
"You've reached Special Agent William Fowler. I'm currently on an intensive training retreat and unavailable until Tuesday."
Damn.
"I hate talking to machines," Ratchet grumbled, looking over at us.
"Without Agent Fowler's direct aid, we are going to have to confiscate the harvester on our own," Optimus announced.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jack immediately began protesting, "'Confiscate?' As in steal museum property?" He rested his forehead on his hand in disbelief.
What was the big deal? Did they NOT want us to grab the Energon Harvester while we know where it's located? The heck Jack?
"That sounds…" Raf paused for a moment as if he was trying to find the right word for the idea of stealing, "Illegal."
"It is illegal, Raf," Carly confirmed, crossing her arms.
"I do not wish to break human law. But once the Decepticons learn of the harvester's location, they will not hesitate to obtain it by any means necessary," Optimus explained the humans, "We must act covertly."
"We have no choice, guys," I told them simply, "We have to do this now."
"Okay, n-no offence, Optimus or Windswept. But covertly and giant robots don't really go well together," Jack began his argument, "Museums are public. A-And they have guards and security cameras."
"No problem!" Miko yelled at him, jumping to his side, "We're small enough to sneak in!"
"And we're not a government secret!" Carly reminded the boy on his other side.
I didn't have a problem with the idea of the humans going into the museum to grab the Harvester for us really. They do make some good points; they are small enough to sneak in, grab the Harvester and get out, and they aren't a government secret like we are. But still, if the Decepticons were to turn up whe-
No Windswept. No time to think about that. We got to keeping moving.
"Carly, Miko, I'm not sure that's wise," Bulkhead warned the girls.
"Bulkhead, at this point, I don't think we have any other options," I pointed out.
Optimus looked up at the screen with the Energon Harvester on it, "The longer we debate, the more time we give the Decepticons."
Time to move.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The Autobots weren't the only ones who were well aware of the Energon Harvester being on Earth. Breakdown was quick to let his Decepticon leaders know about it the second he realised what he had destroyed. And Soundwave was quick to confirm the find, almost immediately locating the true relic.
Breakdown nodded at the image in confidence, "Mmm-hmm. That's definitely it."
The black and dark pink Decepticon known as Moonlight looked from the image on Soundwave's visor to the recent arrivals known as Breakdown and Knock Out and finally to her leaders known as Starscream and Slipstream. "So what's the play?" She narrowed her optics at Slipstream, "Do we deal with Megatron's wellbeing or go after this thing?"
"Megatron's well-being will have to wait yet another day," Slipstream decided, a small smirk appearing on her faceplates as she turned to Starscream.
"It's harvest time…"
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Night-time in Jasper used to be my favourite time of day. Before Cliffjumper's death - miss you buddy - and before we meet our human friends, I used to travel throughout Jasper in the middle of the night when I was on patrol. Sometimes I would pull up at one end of a street and, with no traffic in sight and the lights in every house off, I would rev up my engine and speed down the road, my engine screaming past every human house in a flash!
It was so fun to just let loose and let go of everything by speeding away from it all. Until one night I was speeding along the highway at full throttle... where a truck semi appeared in my vision. Because I was going too fast, I had to pull up quickly. But that was easier said then done and I ended up crashing through the barriers and down a banking.
It... wasn't so fun for the humans apparently. They were ringing up the local law enforcement every time I went past to let them know about the noise. Agent Fowler brought it to Optimus' attention that every time the police got a call up, it was at the same time that I was out on patrol. So Optimus had gone out one night to catch me in the act.
And thus, I was forced to switch to daytime patrol with Bumblebee. Suddenly, patrol wasn't so fun any more.
To actually be out here in the middle of the night, with the moon full, shining and everything, I was actually a bit more thankful than normal. Yeah, I do take my charge home sometimes late in the night, but Ratchet makes sure that I'm at the Esquivel house all night.
He doesn't keep things from our leader.
Speaking of, Optimus decided on Starlight and Aquastrike remaining at base for back-up. And for the obvious fact that it wouldn't be a good look having a bunch of vehicles and motorcycles all hanging around a simple museum.
We pulled into the drive-through entrance of the parking lot and quickly split up to maintain guard from all areas of the white building. I was guarding the entry and exit of the parking lot, guarding and making sure no one was coming in or out. From where I was, I could see Sunburst parked in the middle of the lot, and Optimus at the front of the museum.
"Autobots, confirm position," Optimus requested over the main comm-link.
"Westward ho."
"I got east side."
"South side covered."
"Parking lot secure."
"Drive through entry exit all clear."
"Maintain your guard," Optimus instructed, killing his engine and his headlights.
Let's get this over and done with.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
"Jack, Carly, Miko, Rafael, I will have a clear view of you. Once you secure the harvester, I will contact Ratchet to bridge you back to base."
The four humans were waiting in the motorised scissor lift for the Groundbridge to open. Jack was waiting near the controls, Carly against the railing beside him, Miko cross-legged on the floor and Raf gripping the railing near them.
Ratchet switched on the Groundbridge, portal swirling to life as looked down at the humans, "Now since you'll bypass all points of entry, you won't have to worry about setting off the alarm. But take care to avoid any security guards."
The green and blue swirling portal appeared in the hallway of the museum where the motorised scissor lift appeared through it. When it swirled shut behind them, Jack pulled the scissor lift up at the end of the hallway. In front of them was life-sized dinosaur skeleton model, a Hawaiian rock statue, and a statue was of Poseidon, the God of sea, earthquakes, soil, storms and horses. In one hand he held up his triton and in his other, a gold, round orb - the Energon Harvester
"Opa!" Miko whisper-cheered.
Outside, the truck-semi of Optimus Prime flashed his headlights at the humans, giving them the all clear. Jack nodded, before pressing a button on the control pad, the lift moving up to the security camera guarding the museum from above.
Miko flipped her phone open once their were in the security camera's reach. She turned her phone upside down, taking a picture of the God and the orb he held. After pressing a few buttons, the girl placed her phone on the security camera, making sure that top screen of the flip phone was showing the photo the right way on the camera. This was to make sure that the security guard looking over the video footage of the entire museum wouldn't suspect a thing.
If only he was paying attention properly instead of reading the newspaper.
With that task complete, and a thumbs up from Miko, Jack directed the scissor lift to the statue holding the Energon Harvester.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Everything was going smoothly. The humans were in the museum and well into their mission of getting the relic out of the building. So with no problems currently going on, I sat back in my vehicle form, guarding the entrance but allowing myself to rest as a result...
The sounds of car engine rang into my audio receptors. Activating my holoform, I slowly approached the entry/exit of the museum. Before I could get in the way, a red vehicle resembling an Aston Martin rumbled down to park up beside Optimus' truck form at the front of the museum.
Who was that?
Slick ride anyway.
The vehicle wolf-whistled at the truck form of Optimus and began speaking loud enough for even Sunburst and I to hear, "Sweet rims. 24 gauge. You're real heavy duty."
Oh my Primus.
I know that voice.
I went to charge up to the red Decepticon, ready to give him a reminder about why I was coming for him when Sunburst parked up in front of me, blocking my view of Optimus and our new enemy.
"Don't go doing anything stupid," Sunburst warned me through the personal comm-link we had opened up a few days after his arrival, "Trust me, I'm still fragged off about what he did to us too. But now's not a good time."
Sunburst was unfortunately right. Now wasn't a good time.
"Just like my friend here."
A bright light began shining on us. I looked through my rear-view mirror to see a blue army-looking vehicle pull up in the middle of parking lot just in front of us. A weapon appeared on the roof of the vehicle, firing a missile towards us. But instead of hitting Sunburst and I like it looked like it would, it flicked up towards Optimus and that red Decepticon.
He was going to bomb the museum. With the children inside!
I pulled out from behind Sunburst just as Optimus transformed, knowing it was absolutely necessary to keep the children from harm. He turned around and grabbed the missile with his servos, trying to not allow it pass him. His feet digging into the ground wasn't enough as he was pushed closer and closer to the museum.
But his need to make sure that our friends were safe rose above his own strength. He slowed the missile down enough to only kiss the window of the museum, the glass cracking instantly.
Thank goodness.
The army truck behind Sunburst and I transformed and began charging towards us, causing us to split up to dodge the hammer he had activated come swinging towards us. It was time we broke cover. I transformed first, activating my blasters and getting ready to attack the Decepticon when something sharp stabbed into my neck.
Electricity started coursing through me as I screamed in pain. What was this thing?! Oh Primus! Make it stop!
Whatever was stabbing me in the back of my neck suddenly disappeared. I staggered forward, trying to regain my footing and figure out where I was when I felt the person behind me grab my winglets and throw me in the air.
Electricity was still coursing through my circuits... my winglets were now spiking with pain... Ughhh... I felt sick...
I landed on my back with a hard thud. I twisted onto my side with a groan, opening my optics a little, trying to remember where I was. My vision was blurry from the electricity that had stabbed me in my neck, but not blurry enough that I could miss someone's frame coming closer towards me.
Sunburst?
No... He wasn't blue or red or really, really tall like my leader Optimus. He bent down when he reached my frame, rubbing my arm and looking over me to check if I was okay.
I twisted my helm up at him, blinking to clear my vision more to no avail. "Sunburst..." I groaned, my voice faltering to a helpless whisper, "Where's Sunburst."
Optimus looked at me, "Sunburst is fighting Breakdown." His helm snapped up suddenly as if he was looking at something.
What was happening?
He fell back suddenly, stepping towards the window like he was being forced to the front of the building. He began groaning in pain, causing me to sit up suddenly to see. Owww! My head! Alright, maybe I shouldn't have moved so fast. But I need to see what was happening!
The red car had transformed and was stabbing Optimus with an Energon Prod, blue electricity cackling around him. He took a few steps forward when the prod moved away, throwing the missile on the ground and collapsing in front of me into unconsciousness. The red Decepticon leaped onto Optimus' back, jabbing the prod back into his neck.
"Stop...please!" I groaned out, my blurry optics looking up at the Decepticon who was electrocuting my leader, "Leave...him alone!"
"Don't worry Windswept," The Decepticon smirked down at me, "Just get prepared for another round of electrocution."
Knock Out's always liked his Energon Prod a little bit too much...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The humans were frozen on the spot at the sight before them. They couldn't believe what was happening just outside the museum where Optimus was being electrocuted by a Decepticon smaller than him.
"It's 'Cons!" Raf gasped nervously.
Jack looked at the sight in a panic, "They got Optimus!"
Carly looked closer at the sight before them. Someone was with them on the ground before Optimus and the Decepticon. She looked closer at the sight, leaning against the railing as far as she could go, widening her eyes at the sight.
Whatever the Decepticons had done, they had knocked down her guardian too.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Knock Out stood to full height when he decided that he had enough of electrocuting Optimus, resting the dangerous end of the pod in front of me to help him. He looked at what was happening behind me.
I hope Sunburst was getting the better of that army 'Con.
But when I saw Knock Out flash the headlights on his chassis towards the Decepticon behind us as a way of communication, I knew deep down that he hadn't.
The sound of transforming was all I heard before a vehicle began rapidly approaching us, edging closer and closer. Now with clearer vision from the electrocution, I spotted the humans inside the museum, looking with their eyes widened, mouths agape and faces in fear and panic at the Decepticon coming towards us.
"Windswept to Team Prime," I groaned out into the main comm-link, "Requesting... an emergency assist."
I started to climb to my knees when Bumblebee appeared from the left side of the building. I watched weakly as he charged towards the Decepticon, skidding to a stop to transform and attack. A missile exploded in front of him suddenly, the force causing him to lose his footing and flip multiple times.
There was another exploding sound on my other side. I was scared of looking away from Knock Out in fear of him attacking me, but Arcee's vehicle form soon bounced into view, skidding along the parking lot. I could only presume she got caught up with Bumblebee and the exploding missile.
Large footsteps above on the museum building caused me to look up just as Bulkhead was leaping down over Knock Out, Optimus and I. He must've been going to the Decepticon who was knocking everyone literally off their feet.
Suddenly, Bulkhead smashed into Knock Out as they were flying in mid air. They ended up smashing into a pillar outside of the museum, falling around us.
I looked towards the humans, hoping they weren't affected by the impact.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Raf knew he couldn't waste any more time - their Autobot friends had just been taken down by the Decepticons, and the alarms had begun ringing when Bulkhead was thrown into the museum. He pushed the Energon Harvester with all his might, being able to push it into the motorised scissor elevator.
The trio of teenagers now surrounding the golden orb looked at their steal. Their part of the plan was nearly complete. All they had to do was get out of the museum before anything else occurred...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
My audio receptors lit up at the sounds of small and quiet groaning. I looked to Optimus, who was beginning to get himself up, the sound of the alarms probably waking him up.
"Optimus!" I whispered, gripping the pavement to help me move to him. I grabbed his upper arm, "Optimus, are you okay?"
He didn't answer. Or he did. I don't know. When I saw the sight of Knock Out racing towards him to electrocute him once again, I slapped my leader's arm in warning, "BEHIND YOU!"
As Knock Out leaped up to attack him, activating his Energon Prod, Optimus lifted his arm up to smack the Decepticon away from us. It sent him flying to pavement away from us.
With my leader now awake and alert to the action around us, I looked to see where everyone was. Bumblebee was lying on the ground, Arcee a few feet away from him, and Sunburst was resting near where I had been parked up before this mission went to scrap...
Not moving.
SUNBURST!
NO ONE'S P.O.V
With the Energon Harvester safely in the motorised scissor lift, Carly pressed a button on the controls for the lift to slowly go back down to ground level.
"Come on!" Miko urged in a hushed voice, pointing to the hallway, "Time to make our exit, guys!" She leaped out of the motorised vehicle and lead the way.
The girl ran down the hallway faster than the lift could drive, pausing to check around the corners until she came across a garage door at the back of the building. She spotted the toggle switch and slammed down the button, not wasting anytime to watch the door roll up and into the roof, and even running through the door when it was high enough for her to get through.
A bright light suddenly flashed over her. Turning to see where the light came from, Miko gasped at the sight of the male guard waiting for her.
"Uhhhh, wassup?" The Japanese exchange student greeted nervously, knowing that she didn't have anything to say that could get her out of the situation she had gotten herself in.
The guard switched off his torch and put it in his back pocket, "Better come with me, miss." He grabbed the girl's wrist and dragged her to his office, opening the door and practically throwing her into the room before following in after her.
Having watched from around the corner with Jack and Raf, Carly sighed in defeat, "Not good."
The sounds of footsteps distracted them from their new predicament, looking over the corner to see a pair of Cybertronian legs Jack automatically recognised, "Arcee!"
Or so he thought.
The three humans ran to her, hoping that they could hand over the Energon Harvester to them before they could strike any more trouble.
"Arcee!" Jack called out again.
The Cybertronian bent down and opened the door further, revealing that it was in fact not Arcee, but rather the silent Decepticon known as...
"Soundwave!" Carly screamed, taking fearful steps back from the eyes and ears of the Decepticons along with her brother and her childhood friend.
The Decepticon reached into the building, grabbed the Energon Harvester off the scissor lift and pulled his arm out of the museum in no time, overlooking the golden orb. Transforming into his jet form with the cargo he was looking for, he immediately began flying away.
The Autobots had been ambushed, Miko had been caught by the guard, and the Decepticons now had the Energon Harvester
Could their night get any worse?
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Optimus and I rose to our feet when we felt the coursing of electricity fade away from our bodies. The blurriness and the dizziness had worn off now, but the sharp pains that kept flickering through my winglets continued. It caused me to grimace now and then, but that wasn't my main concern.
The yellow and white-striped still figure was.
I ran over to him, despite the fact I wasn't as strong on my feet as I normally would be. I needed to make sure my brother figure was okay. I just needed to know...
I was only a few feet away from him when that yellow mech rolled onto his back and starting to sit up. I instantly slowed my pace, my sparkbeat slowing slightly.
He was okay. He was alive. Sunburst was okay.
As he stood up, he nearly collapsed back onto the ground. I arrived to him just in time to help, his frame practically leaning onto me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and looked at me with a tired expression, "Whatcha doing there, 'Swept? I'm normally helping you to your feet. Not the other way around!"
I sighed relief and amusement. He was definitely okay.
At the sound of jets rising above us, Sunburst and I looked up to see Soundwave take off, leaving behind a vapour trail. We looked back to Knock Out standing before us with his Energon Prod, also watching Soundwave flee. He looked at us and put his Prod away.
"Hmmmmm…that would be game." He transformed into his vehicle form and driving out of the lot despite Arcee shooting at him.
Breakdown quickly followed suit, driving after his partner. Arcee quickly began transforming to go after the Decepticon's that had attacked us. Bumblebee and Bulkhead quickly went to follow.
"GUYS!"
Everyone stopped in their places at the voice. We looked over at Carly, Jack and Raf racing over towards us in a panic.
Where was Miko? ... Where was the Energon Harvester?
"The Decepticons have the Harvester!" Jack told us.
"And security has Miko!" Raf added.
"WHAT? I'm going in after her!" Bulkhead decided, curling his fists
"Bulkhead," Optimus began, putting his hand out in front of him, "Miko may be detained. But she is safe from harm."
NO ONE'S P.O.V
"Look, kid." Miko looked up from the guard's tapping fingers when he spoke, "If this is some kind of prank, you need to know that the authorities are on their way. It'd go a whole lot easier for you if you just told me what happened to the sphere."
"I was researching my history report. I just lost track of time and got trapped in here after closing," Miko lied, her voice faking the innocence within it.
"So what's your history report about?" the security guard asked her, "I'd love to know." He smirked at her smugly, knowing very well he had caught her in the act.
"Uh…" Miko trailed off at the question.
Now would be a good time to start spitting out all what she knew about Ancient History before she landed herself in deeper trouble.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"In all likely-hood, Starscream and Slipstream will use the harvester to gather as much Energon as they can from the planet's otherwise un-mineable Energon deposits. Approach with extreme caution. Starscream and Slipstream will not hesitate to turn the harvester on any one of us," Optimus advised as he switched on the Groundbridge.
When we returned back to base, Ratchet quickly went to work on dealing with Sunburst's injuries he sustained during his battle with the Decepticon Breakdown, eventually ordering him to berth-rest for the rest of the day. Optimus, meanwhile, quickly sent Arcee, Bumblebee and Starlight out to start patrolling and scouting for any sign of the Decepticons.
"Bulkhead, it is best that you remain here," Optimus decided.
"So I can bust Miko out of the museum?" Bulkhead asked eagerly.
"So you can help Ratchet," Optimus corrected, "You may be Miko's guardian. But she requires human assistance. Agent Fowler remains her best option.."
And Aquastrike and I were being forced to keep an eye out on Bulkhead as he was being made to stay with us and help Ratchet.
Bulkhead watched in disbelief as Optimus transformed into his truck semi form and disappeared through the Groundbridge. As the portal closed, he turned and looked at us with his jaw agape.
I guess he hadn't expected that.
"You've reached Special Agent William Fowler. I'm currently on an intensive training retreat and unavailable until Tuesday."
"Still no answer," Raf sighed in an apologetic tone.
"Fowler's lounging around some poolside cabana," Bulkhead growled, slamming his fist down on one of Ratchet's tools close by.
Upon finding the tool Bulkhead had destroyed, Ratchet gasped at the sight, "Bulkhead, I NEEDED THAT!"
"We can free Miko if we can just return that harvester to the museum," Bulkhead began.
"So the Decepticons can steal it all over again?" Ratchet retorted.
"…I am so dumb!" Bulkhead moaned.
"Don' you go sayin' that!" Aquastrike scolded at the mech, rubbing his shoulder in comfort before looking at us.
"So how are we going to get Miko out?" Carly asked.
"By returning this replica to the museum," Ratchet answered, holding up an almost completed golden orb that looked eerily similar to the Harvestor, "The construction of which would be going a whole lot faster if Bulkhead hadn't just mangled my FRAME WELDER!"
"Trespassers and thieves," Carly hummed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, "Let's add forgery to the list while we're at it!"
Bulkhead groaned in frustration, "I wish I had never taken Miko to the…" Then he paused, looking at Aquastrike suddenly, "The painting of the harvester isn't the only thing we found at those ruins!"
"I'm sorry?" Ratchet asked, not understanding Bulkhead's plan
"Starscream and Slipstream are not dumb! No matter what kind of tool they have, they're gonna take the easy route!" Bulkhead realised.
And by taking the easy route, he meant going back to the sight of the Energon pulse!
I smirked at Bulkhead and Aquastrike, my hand hovering over the Groundbridge controls beside me, "Looks like we're going on another history lesson, team!"
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Slipstream looked around at the Greek ruins Soundwave had transported her and the rest of the Decepticons to. This was the place where Breakdown discovered the Energon Harvester? It looked like a dump, in her opinion. There were destroyed buildings everywhere. How was this place so important in history? Why did it even matter?
She snapped herself out of her thoughts, looking at the Decepticon drones guarding the area hiding Energon, "Why move mountains when we have a mother-load of Energon waiting for us to take it?"
"Courtesy of this gift from the Ancient Autobots," Starscream grinned, holding up the golden orb.
"Uh…actually, Commander Starscream," Knock Out began, making the twin Decepticon leaders look behind them at him, "It was a gift from Breakdown and myself."
Starscream let out a low growl, pointing the weapon towards the new recruits. The two took a step back in fright, knowing two things very well. The first thing was that the Energon Harvester could do a lot of damage when activated. And the second thing was that Starscream wouldn't be afraid to use it on anyone.
So when Starscream fired at them, they were able to get out of the beams way just in time. But one of the Decepticon drones guarding the area wasn't so lucky. When the beam hit the drone, the blue Energon was slowly drained from his frame, the beam instantly attracting the lifeblood towards the Harvester. The drone began falling to the ground, choking out pleas for mercy. But they weren't enough to stop Starscream from sucking out all of the Energon from him.
"All that Energon in that little orb!" Rebecca scoffed in disbelief.
Having seen the damage the weapon could cause, Knock Out quickly took his words back, "Those Ancient Autobots never missed a trick, Lord Starscream and Lady Slipstream!"
Starscream pointed the weapon at the two Decepticons once more, watching them cower in fear. Deciding that enough was enough, Slipstream bumped Starscream around to a small crystal filled with Energon, activating the Harvester again. And just like scene before, blue Energon was sucked from the crystal towards the weapon...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
After Groundbridging ourselves from base to the Ancient ruins known as Greece, Bulkhead, Aquastrike and myself were scaling down the mountain behind the Decepticons, stopping and pausing briefly to watch the Energon Harvester at work, sucking the Energon out from an un-mineable source.
Bulkhead was the first to slip down the small cliff we came to, Aquastrike and I following suit. Once we were on the ground, we slowly crept up to the Decepticons behind them, having the element of surprise right on our backsides...
... Until Bulkhead stepped on a broken piece of what I presumed was the mural he had destroyed.
Breakdown and Knock Out instantly spun around to us, exchanging a knowing look... while we slapped our foreheads in frustration.
"Oh scrap."
"Back for seconds?" Breakdown asked us tormentingly as he activated his hammer while Knock Out activated his Energon Prod. They split into different directions, charging towards us.
On our right, Knock Out was twirling his Energon Prod. On our left, Breakdown was swinging his hammer around. Exchanging glances with smirks, Bulkhead and Aquastrike ducked and I jumped, allowing Knock Out to crash into Breakdown and be hit by his partner's hammer. Bulkhead reached up to grab the Energon Prod before swinging it at his enemy's neck, leaving him on his backside being electrocuted.
I landed on my feet while Aquastrike leaped up onto hers. Suddenly, I felt myself being shoved away by my aqua blue friend. I was ready to ask her what the heck she was up to when something exploded by her feet, forcing her to fly away up towards the cliff.
"Aquastrike!" I screamed, ready to go racing after her.
Something sharp came around my neck, not allowing me to go much further the steps I had taken. Before I could react, an arm wrapped around my waist, pinning my arms to my side. I fought them, but when something sharp pricked at my neck below, I knew that fighting wasn't going to do anything to get me out of the position I was in.
"So we meet again Windswept," Knock Out somewhat purred in my audio receptor.
Refusing to let my growing fear show, I growled, "So we do. It's been a while since you left me and Sunburst for dead."
"Left you and Sunburst for dead? ... Or left Sunburst to watch you die?"
I went to spit out a reply when Bulkhead was suddenly hit with the Harvester, the weapon immediately sucking out his lifeblood and making him fall.
"You're a big one," Starscream commented as we listened to Bulkhead's groans, "This could take a while."
Slipstream smirked at our predicament before transforming and flying towards the cliff where Aquastrike had been blown to. Slipstream must have been the one to fire that missile towards us. That's why Aquastrike shoved me away.
I needed to get Bulkhead to do something. Anything to help him out of the predicament we were all in. I couldn't go anywhere, and Aquastrike was probably butting heads with Slipstream... I smirked at the small thought slipping through my mind.
"BULKHEAD!" I yelled at my what could be dying friend, "Do what you do best!"
I was desperate to get out of Knock Out's grip but I knew the result wouldn't be pleasant.
That was when Bulkhead began climbing to his feet and staggering towards Starscream. It would take ages for the Harvester to remove the Energon from Bulkhead because he was a large 'bot. And while the process continued, Bulkhead should have more than enough time to get to Starscream with what strength he had left and stop him. Which was what he was doing.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Starscream stepped away from Bulkhead when the latter came closer to him
"What I do best!" Bulkhead smirked weakly, grabbing the Harvester, "Breaking things!" With that, he punched Starscream back and snatched the weapon out of his grip, crushing it in his hand. Weakly, he threw it up and away from the area we were in.
The weapon exploded high above us, blue clouds lighting the sky. Bulkhead, now severely weakened by the lack of Energon, collapsed onto the ground before Knock Out and I. Breakdown joined us, Energon Prod in hand
"He's a glutton for punishment," Knock Out smirked as Breakdown chuckled. Then he moved his mouth to my audio receptor, "Looks like I'm about to leave you for dead again. And this time, you're gonna be dead."
The sounds of a Groundbridge portal behind us had me sighing in relief. Optimus, Arcee, Starlight and Sunburst transformed into their Cybertronian forms and began shooting at the Decepticons, coming to mine and Bulkhead's rescue.
"Fight?" Breakdown asked.
"Mmmm…you drive," Knock Out told him, "I have an old friend to meet up with." His grip on me tightened while Breakdown transformed and sped off into the distance.
While Optimus', Arcee's and Starlight's attentions were on Starscream, Rebecca and the returning Slipstream, Sunburst's attentions were on us, landing in front of Knock Out and I, battle axes out and ready to strike.
"Let go of my sister-in-law, Knock Out."
Wait, what? ... Sister-in-law?!
Knock Out laughed before me, his grip loosening, "Sunburst, long time. I'd love to stay and chat but I have somewhere to be." He removed his grip on me fully, deactivating his weapons. "See you two around!" With that said, he transformed and followed his partner.
"Sister-In-Law?!" With the son of a glitch now gone, I spun towards Sunburst with a questioningly look.
Sunburst only rubbed the back of his helm when he put his weapons away, "At base."
I only nodded at him, racing towards Bulkhead to see if he was okay. Aquastrike, with a few claw and scratch marks one her frame, was already beside him with the same motive. Once we heard the sounds of jets disappearing in the distance, Optimus, Arcee and Starlight raced up, Arcee joining me and Sunburst on our knees beside our friend.
He looked up at us weakly, "Hey."
I sighed in relief. He was going to be okay. He just needed to be refuelled and then he'll be in full shape.
I looked at Sunburst beside me with an emotionless expression. I wasn't sure if he was going to be okay after I was through with him.
The next morning's actions went pretty well. Ratchet was able to create a replica of the now destroyed Energon Harvester, which we delivered back to the museum. Agent Fowler managed to check his cellphone in time to get Miko out of trouble. And Bulkhead had recovered enough to go pick up the girl, who apparently attempted to her worm her way out of trouble by spitting out Ancient History facts she didn't even know she knew!
So while they were returning to Miko's home for her to get freshened up for school, as well as the humans heading home also prepare for school, the team were taking a small break as we prepared ourselves for the next mission.
Except for Sunburst and I.
I dragged my brother figure to the corridor to confront him about the information he had spilt when saving me from Knock Out. It was time for some answers.
"Sister-in-law, huh?" I began, facing him. I crossed my arms, silently letting him know that this discussion was serious, "Since when has that term been around?"
Sunburst sighed, pressing his back against the wall, "'Swept, it's a long sto-"
"We have time."
The mech looked at his black servos at my interruption, rubbing his face with them frustratingly. Then he used them to cover his nose-plates and mouth, taking a moment. As he continued to drag out the stalling, I loosened my folded arms slightly.
Maybe what he was about to tell me was more serious than I realised.
"Sunburst?" I whispered softly, taking a step forward to rub his arm comfortingly, "No one else is here. It's just me and you. You can tell me anything, or everything, if you can."
His hands slipped away from his face, hanging loosely at his sides. While he struggled to tell me exactly what he wanted to say, I allowed my mind to rush back through the story of how I joined the Autobots.
Whirlwind and I were born during the war, our parents were Neutrals, having chosen this faction to keep us safe. This was because our carrier was an Autobot while our creator was a former Decepticon. When we reached our, in human terms, pre-teenage years, our parents decided to flee Cybertron in somehow to keep us together. But we were suddenly taken upon our leaving, and our captives murdered both our parents.
Or so I thought.
You see, Whirlwind and I suffer from a serious case of memory loss. This is because we were horribly injured during an almost fatal explosion when Megatron supposedly 'saved' us. We couldn't remember what exactly had occurred during our childhood so we could only rely on information Megaton had told us.
Whirlwind and I were taken in by and grew up as Decepticons, with Megatron watching over and feeding us stories to continue our stay so we would grow up to become fighters on his side. But Slipstream kept slipping hints that all wasn't right. So I attacked her, asking for the truth. She didn't reveal it, but she hinted to me the captives who murdered my parents were Decepticons. And Megatron knew as he was there to oversee it happen. Shocked at the information that we had discovered, Whirlwind and I planned and successfully executed our escape to the Autobots. But the Decepticons had followed us to a dead end with two ways we could escape. We decided to split apart, hoping to reunite on the other side.
But obviously, we didn't.
I was pulled to Iacon for some strange reason. Something about the place seemed familiar. On arrival, I met a few Autobots, two of them being Alpha Trion and Sunburst, the latter who's behaviour was... odd.
As we got closer and closer during the war, Sunburst revealed his knowledge of Whirlwind and I ever since I had apparently walked out of home and into the line of fire. He had delivered me home with another friend, another friend who I eventually would become close with too, both of them tasked to guard us since we had targets on our backs. He became very close with Whirlwind and when we left, he was apparently crushed.
So according to that, and since Sunburst would never lie to me, I discovered that I had known Sunburst a lot longer than I had realised. I have never known how long for exactly, but I assume that it wasn't for a very long time. But who knows?
"Windswept?" I looked up at Sunburst, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yes?"
He closed his optics slowly before reopening them, his focus all on me to get out what he was going to tell me.
"When I left Iacon after Raindrop's death, I hadn't gone out to search for his killer. Alpha Trion provided me with information of Whirlwind."
Whirlwind and I had shut off each side of the bond we shared because of our split-sparks when we had split apart to protect one another. I never reopened my end for years until I was forced to leave Cybertron. When I opened my side, I couldn't feel her. I was unable to know whether the other side of the bond was shut off because Whirlwind hadn't reopened it or because she had died before she was able to reopen it.
"Whirlwind had found the Wreckers and had spent the rest of the war with them, fighting on their side. I decided to go find her to prove to myself that she wasn't dead since I didn't believe Alpha Trion. I told him not to let you know because he knew you would follow me. You were safer at Iacon than out where the real battle was."
I refused to answer that statement. Instead I allowed Sunburst to continue.
"Alpha Trion's information was correct, 'Swept. She was at the Wreckers. And you'd be so proud of her! She's so strong and tough and smart... and beautiful. I joined the Wreckers to be close to her, to keep her safe once more like I had done before you guys were taken by the Decepticons. We fought together, we talked, we laughed... we fell in love.
"We spark-bonded only hours before we were forced apart. Someone took her away from me when the announcement came over that we had to leave Cybertron. They were on a scouting mission at the time so it made sense. But when we spark-bonded, that was the last time I saw her."
I fell against the wall in shock trying to process the information I had just been told. Whirlwind had joined the Wreckers. She must've been able to out run the Decepticons, or accidentally lead them to the Wreckers. They must have taken her under their wing and helped her become a fighter just like I had become. And then Sunburst found her... and they fell in love... and they bonded.
I looked up at Sunburst... my brother-in-law.
"C-Can you feel her?" I stuttered, "Through the sparkbond?"
This was it. The moment of truth. Was Whirlwind still alive?
Sunburst gripped my shoulders tightly, "I haven't felt her side of the bond open since the day we left Cybertron."
I looked away. My spark was nearly shattered at the news.
"B-But that's not a bad thing," Sunburst instantly argued, bending down to my eye level, "'Swept, maybe she doesn't want to open the bond. Maybe it'll tear her apart. She missed you dearly at the Wreckers. She wanted to be with you again. I know that she loves you so much."
Tears slipped down my cheeks. Alright so I wasn't the tough Autobot I had portrayed myself to be around with the others. I was weak when it came to my loved ones.
But weren't we all?
I looked back at him, my vision blurry from the tears, "I wish we could tell her how much we love her and miss her... and how much I wish for her to be here."
"You and I both know that she will be wishing the same thing. 'Swept," Sunburst answered softly, scooping me into his arms and hugging me tightly,
I wrapped my arms around Sunburst's neck tightly. Whirlwind was out there in the galaxy, waiting for us to pick up her signal and bring her to us. I just know it.
She will come home one day. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. Scrap, it may take years, but she'll come home to us. I would be okay until then. Because I had the love of my friends and my family around me. And when I say family, I mean it in a literal way.
Probably not my best editing work to date. I've picked up a flu bug which has slowed me down. I'm hoping to get better soon so I can get back to work, both for this and literally for work.
There is progress still going on with this story off site, which is good for me just in case I fall behind with chapters. I'm currently in the middle of preparing to write drafts for 'TMI' so I'm getting there.
Progress might sped up a little bit if a follow/favourite/review spurs me on ;).
Thank you for reading.
(Last edited: 11/07/2019)