One Shall Rise

Ratchet opened a ground bridge. Bulkhead ran through.

"Bee, you work the ground bridge, Shadow you stay here." Ratchet ran out of the portal with Arcee.

Slag Ratchet! Agh! Why is he… He's doing this because of that thing in the energon mine. He thinks that just because I told Megatron to run, I don't want Megatron to die. By his logic, if I went to help Prime, he would suspect I would rejoin Megatron against Prime. That's awful. Well, I did do it. No! I am not a Decepticon loyalist. I should be angry, no, pissed that he would think so.

I walked over to Med Bay and filled an injectable container with energon.

If I can't help Optimus in the field, I might as well help him when he returns. I'm guessing he sustained some dark energon damage as Raf and Striker did.

Ratchet and Bulkhead each carried Optimus, our leader's arms draped around their shoulders as they walked through the portal. Although Optimus could walk, he seemed weak enough to rely on the two mechs for support. Arcee followed them. Bee closed the ground bridge after our team.

"Easy Optimus," Ratchet advised, "From the looks of things you've been exposed to a massive amount of dark energon."

Optimus looked around for our downed teammates, couldn't find Striker, who was resting in her room, but let his sight stop on the human, Raf, who lied on the gurney. Optimus said, "I am not the only one."

Ha! Even Optimus knew Raf was poisoned by dark energon instead of the regular kind. Minus one point for Ratchet.

Optimus sat down on a chair in the med bay. I administered him the energon I had prepared. Optimus looked over to Raf, who was sitting in his stretcher, parallel to Optimus.

"Hey," Raf said.

"He's lucky to be alive," Ms. Darby said in an accusing tone.

Optimus's slight smile turned into a sad frown. Miko and Jack walked down to our level.

Jack asked us, "Megatron found more of the dark stuff?"

"A volcano full," Arcee answered.

Bulkhead said, "The question is how."

"No," Ratchet replied, "The answer is what."

"No Ratchet," I said, "The answer is why. Also I'll throw out who and where, just for fun."

Striker wasn't here to laugh at my joke, and Optimus was far too exhausted to acknowledge it.

Ratchet continued, "As I was saying," he said as he rolled his optics at me, "As in, what in the world was the Blood of Unicron doing here on earth."

"So," I said as I counted my digits, "To recap, why as in the prophecy, where as on earth, and who as in Unicron."

"The cons killed a unicorn?" Miko asked.

We all looked to her in disbelief.

She continued to describe the mystical beast, "White horse with a horn on its head. Prances around all sparkly?"

"Unicron," Ratchet restated, "An ancient evil, whose focalized blood comprises the matter which we call Dark Energon… As legend would have it."

Ms. Darby cut in, "So you're saying this Unicron is some kind of Boogie Man?"

"Boogie Man?" Ratchet asked.

Miko explained, "Make believe creepy guy who hides in your closet…"

I added on, "Basically, the fictionalized representation of fear which holds power over you, even though it has no realized form."

Ratchet turned to Jack's mom, "No nurse Darby, Unicron is very real. Was. That is –while I do believe he once existed- I just don't subscribe to the theory that his primordial life force is the substance which…" Ratchet looked down to the small human on the gurney, "harmed Raf."

"I've heard enough." Ms. Darby said. "Jack please, help me get Raf into the car."

"What? Why does he have to go?" Bee beeped.

"Mom, I thought he was doing better?"

"Raf has to be examined by REAL doctors. And Raf's family needs to know what's happened. His REAL family."

"My Darby, to quote a great human," I said, '"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.' Ratchet is a real doctor; it was his quick thinking that cured Raf. And yes, we too can be a real family. The latter is because family derives not from blood, but from connection. If anything, you're separating a real family and denying Raf access to a real doctor. What ailed Raf, as in used to, was cured by this same doctor. So, if you believe that he is still injured, then you would be removing him from the care of the only sentient creatures with the knowledge that can save him."

Ratchet said to me, surprised, "Shadow, I didn't know you could speak so well."

Sometimes, I really hate that guy.

Optimus turned his attention to the adult female human wheeling Raf towards her car; "June," Optimus formally addressed her, "it deeply grieves me that I have failed," Optimus got up and slowly walked towards Jack's mom. "But I will do everything in my power to ensure that no harm comes to our human friends… Or any human, ever again."

June stopped wheeling Raf. She said, "Optimus, they're children. They do not belong in your world. They should be worrying about: grades, prom dates, pimples. Not their own survival!"

"Mom, dark energon is pouring out of the earth. It doesn't do that. This could be about everyone's survival, not just ours."

"You're coming with me, all three of you!" June turned to all of us and stated, "And they will not be coming back."

"I understand," Optimus said.

"That's it?" Miko asked. "After all we've been through together, See ya? What about our freedom to choose?"

"That may fly on their planet, but not here on Earth." June opened a door for the girl, "Get in."

Really? Freedom of choice doesn't exist here? I think she's wrong yet again.

"Do you really expect me to ride in a non-transforming vehicle?"

"Miko, I'm serious."

"You're not my mother."

Bulkhead said "Miko—"

"Neither are you!"

"Well I am yours! Let's go Jack."

Arcee walked up to her human friend, "She is your mom."

"I'm staying. I'm sorry."

Ms. Darby walked off to her car in a rage.

Optimus ordered, "Ratchet, activate the groundbridge."

"No thank you!" June yelled as she drove off.

Bee was sad. He sniffled with non-existent tears.

Agent Fowler appeared on screen, "Prime do you copy?"

"I hear you agent Fowler," Optimus walked to the monitor.

"Been watching the news? Mother nature's got a twitch in her britches."

"We know about the volcano," answered Prime.

"And the 'quakes? Seven of the major tumblers of the exact same magnitude at the exact same time as the volcanic eruption. All over the world, on different tectonic plates. In theory unrelated. If they hadn't happened—"

"At the exact same time," Ratchet ended Fowler's sentence.

Miko pointed to the TV screen, "Check it out, more good news."

"Freak storms unlike any the region has seen. Tsunamis threaten the Canadian coast. While lightning storms pummel the Gobi Desert. Meanwhile, electromagnetic anomalies plague urban power grids. These abnormal global phenomena leaving most to wonder, why now, and what next?"

Fowler said, "Don't tell me your cons have built a weather machine?!"

"One that powerful?" Ratchet said, "Highly unlikely."

Prime said, "I do not believe the appearance of dark energon at this point in time to be coincidental."

I turned to Bee. "Strange weather patterns can make travel dangerous. You should make sure the humans get home safely." Bee left. "Home of course meaning here," I said to the rest of the group.

….

She was laughing. Her smile gave his world a golden tint. But, she was laughing. Actually laughing. His body buzzed from a warm hum.

"And then, and then," St3ve stammered, each word fighting back laughter of his own, "and then—"

"And then the bot took the bait!"

"Yeah!" He wiped away a tear, "Yeah, they took it!"

Ghost erupted into another fit of infectious laughter.

After a while, the two calmed down. Smile meeting smile, eye meeting eye, red to red, the air was shocked with electricity. Sound waves rung through the air, vibrating the pair more than they were.

Something could have been wrong. The terminal's siren would not cease. But, neither Con would move. Neither would move without the other. And so they stood.

…..

Bee drove through the entrance. Raf and Ms. Darby got out.

"Uh, we're back," Raf said.

Ratchet said back, "And we are glad."

Bee transformed back and smiled at me. I smiled back. Optimus saw our exchange and glared in no real direction.

Jack ran up to his mom, "Are you alright?"

"I will be. Jack—"

"Mom—"

"I know, me too." She put her hand on his shoulder, and then hugged him. She pushed away, "But you're grounded 'till you're thirty… twenty-five."

The news went on again, "World leaders are classifying these bizarre weather patterns as a global emergency."

"Global?" June asked.

"And scientists believe the phenomena to be somehow related to the current planetary alignment."

Agent Fowler walked through the elevator door and directed his attention towards the cybertronians near the monitor, "What have you learned Prime? And you better not blow smoke up my," he noticed Jack's mom standing near him on the cat walk and stumbled over his speech, "Ms. Darby, what a nice surprise."

"Special agent Fowler," June said back to him. They both acted in a cordial manner.

Ratchet said, "We have learned this, as with the so called magma from the volcano, these earthquakes originated far below the earth's crust. From the very center of the earth's core, in fact."

"Earthquakes don't start there," Agent Fowler turned to Ms. Darby and asked, "Do they?"

Ratchet continued "Tiny tremors rising and falling in a consistent pattern. Almost like… By the Allspark. If I convert these data points to audio files—"

"What?" agent Fowler asked, "What is it?"

"Listen."

The audio file shared the distinct pattern of a spark beating that all cybertronians knew.

"A cybertronian heartbeat?" Jack asked.

"How is that possible?" June asked her son. "A heart pumps blood. There's nothing inside the earth to pump except—"

"The blood of Unicron," Raf said.

"Okay hold on," Miko said, "Something's living down there? Inside our planet?"

Optimus explained, "I fear that the earth's very core is not comprised of magma, as your science has suggested, but of dark energon."

Ratchet said, "And if we're hearing a spark… then Unicron is the rising darkness that the prophecy foretold."

"So," asked Fowler, "How do we stop this thing from rising?"

"That I am afraid was not foretold," Optimus said.

June asked, "How can something be in our earth's core, and be alive?"

Optimus explained, "Such a thing is not unprecedented." He then went into the story of our species, of our planet, of our past. "Before the beginning," Optimus said, "there was Primus, and there was Unicron: One the incarnation of creation, the other of Destruction. For eons, Primus and Unicron battled: The balance of power shifting between them more times than could be counted. Only by creating the thirteen: The original Primes who preceded me, was Primus finally able to defeat Unicron and cast him out. Primus became one with the very core of our planet. Creating life through the Well of Allsparks. While Unicron was never to be heard from again. Until now."

Fowler said, "Maybe we can find the hole this Uber-Con left while he dug himself all the way down there and fill it full of explosives."

"Agent Fowler," Optimus addressed the human, "I do not believe that earth became Unicron's home. But rather that with time and gravitational force, debris collected around the slumbering titan."

"Forming your Earth itself," Ratchet finished Optimus's thought.

Arcee put the pieces together. She excitedly exclaimed, "And he's only awakening now due to the magnetic pull due to the planetary alignment!"

"Okay," Jack said, "Well, what happens now that Unicron wakes up from his Billion year old nap?"

"Yeah," Miko said, "does he stretch and Kapow!" Miko made arm movements similar to that of an explosion. "Earth poofs to dust?"

June had a look of concern on her face. "You don't know, do you?" June asked Optimus.

"My guess is that Unicron has transcended physical form as we know it. Nonetheless we must find a way to ensure that this force of nature never fully awakens. The fate of your planet depends upon it."

"We could try diplomatic relations," I said, "It's unlikely to work, but it's better than nothing."

"And pray tell Shadow," Ratchet said, "How exactly are we supposed to communicate with a creature who has no body with which to communicate with?"

"Ratchet, first," I said, "I am not enjoying all of your negativity. Second, isn't there some point on the map where all the earthquakes converge?"

"There is!" Miko yelled.

"Yes, hmm, it seems you are not wrong."

"Then old friend, I shall go there and speak with Unicron, alone."

"I'll open a groundbridge."

The groundbridge opened.

I can't leave Prime alone on this. I just need a distraction…

"So, on an unrelated note," I loudly interjected, "who would win in a fight, Synth En Ratchet, Synth En Bulkhead, or…"

"Bulkhead!" Miko exclaimed. "It will always be Bulkhead."

I crept slowly towards the portal.

"Are you serious Miko?" Arcee Asked the human, "Did you even see Ratchet in..."

I ran through the portal, transformed into my jet form, and exited in a valley type place. I flew to the top of the rock wall, transformed into my robotic form, and lay stealthily on my stomach. I could not see anything, but I could hear just fine.

I heard Optimus's peds walk from the ground bridge into the valley. He took some measurements, called the data inconclusive and asked Ratchet for a ground bridge to the next site of convergence. I waited for him to walk through, and then flew in behind him. I followed him to each and every site. I had his back in case he would need my help. And from what I had heard from Striker, he always would.

….

Without warning the door to the brig slid open, and Lord Megatron strode in. St3ve saluted his Lord from behind the terminal. Ghost shook beside him.

Megatron scowled. "At ease," he commanded.

St3ve dropped his servo to his side. Megatron walked in front of the terminal and stared down Ghost with his purple optics. The femme grabbed for the vehicon's hand beside her. He found hers and took it in his.

"Ghost," Lord Megatron said.

The femme's spark beat rapidly.

"My Lord," St3ve said, "I can explain—"

"Quiet vehicon," Lord Megatron growled, "I haven't the time for prattle."

The room fell fifty below. St3ve gulped. Ghost shook.

Megatron's glare faded. His optics color returned. "Ghost," he said, "You're coming with me." Megatron turned towards the door.

Steve interjected, "Wait, my Lord."

Megatron stopped and growled in a low tone, "What is it drone?"

"Where are you taking her?"

"To go kill Unicron."

"And when she returns?" St3ve asked, waiting for his leader to mention some method of punishment, or threat, or form of reprimanding for his earlier act.

"What about it?" Megatron responded, "That's for you to decide after I'm rid of Unicron. Come Ghost."

The femme let go of St3ve's servo. His digits trailed hers, reaching for the hand that was moving farther towards the door. Ghost caught up to her Lord, and he continued walking.

"Ghost," Megatron said, "a few guidelines." The door slid open. "First," Megatron said, "You will remain visible and always in my presence," the two walked through the doorway.

St3ve could hear Ghost say, "Of course my Lord. I will make no attempts to desert you or the Decepticon cause."

"Good," Megatron said. St3ve focused on the voice receding down the hallway, "And everything stays between you and I. Confidentiality. No exceptions."

"I will not speak a word to Tarn."

"Good."

St3ve lifted his digit from the terminal's entry control. The door –after having been held open- slid shut, ceiling St3ve in the hold, and blocking out all other noises. Alone. St3ve was once again alone.

…

I was lying stealthily on my stomach, next to the Cliffside that overlooked the canyon of the new, and final site. I could not see anything, but as before, I could hear just fine.

"Ratchet," Optimus COM'd base, "this epicenter is consistent with the findings of the others. Its terrain is rich in ore." Optimus listened as the doctor said something back to him, "Rest assured Ratchet," Optimus said, "I will proceed with vigilance."

Something was happening. I could hear the sound of earth shifting in the valley below, then I heard a dark, deep, old voice speak, "Did you know me? Follower of Primus."

Optimus said, "Unicron, the chaos bringer."

"Good," a voice said back to him. More earth started to crack and move. I thought I heard parts of a rock wall collapse, and then loud footsteps come out of the rock wall.

"Now know me as Unicron, your destroyer!" Then, more loud footsteps.

Then I heard metal clash with stone and boulders breaking.

"I humbly request your ear, lord Unicron."

"And what would a Prime be so compelled to say to me?"

"I make this appeal not for myself, but for this planet which you constitute and the beings who inhabit it. Humankind relies on you, for life, sustenance. Your resurrection will only lead to the destruction of a species, which evolved, from your very greatness."

"So this human kind of who you speak, you consider them my progeny?"

"Indeed."

"Parasites! They too shall know my ruthful hand. Once I am finished with you!"

I then heard a blast of energy, and a large metal object, Prime, land in the distance. The loud footsteps moved in the direction of Optimus.

"The line of Primes has grown weak in my absence. And thus you shall fall!"

"That outcome is inevitable, but not on this day!"

I heard laser fire, and then the fall and breaking of a megalith.

Next, I heard multiple rocks crash to the earth.

"Yes disciple of Primus, on this very day! For Unicron may be one, but we all are Unicron. Unicron is power incarnate and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish!"

…

Megatron gripped his head and screamed.

"Lord Megatron!"

The giant clenched his eyes shut and but his tongue. He wasn't going to let another shriek corrupt the dignity of his voice. An image swept his mind. He allowed the pain to consume him, and focused in on his link, he strengthened it. The visions passed.

"My Lord?" Ghost asked, "What is it?"

Megatron stood, and removed his servos from his head. "This will have to wait," he said. "There are more pressing matters to attend."

Ghost was confused. What could be more pressing than extinguishing the spark of Unicron the Destroyer?

Megatron put a digit up to his audio processor and focused on creating a link, "Soundwave," Megatron said, "Send a ground bridge to my coordinates." Megatron turned to the scout, "Ghost, " Megatron asked, "Are you proficient at tracking?"

Ghost nodded, "Yes my Lord."

"Good," Megatron said as the green swirling vortex appeared, "Don't fall far behind." Megatron started to walk through the portal and said back to the femme, "And unless you're given other orders, don't stop hunting apparitions."

…

"Negative!" I heard Prime say, "Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Ratchet. This fight must be mine alone."

I propped my head off the edge and watched. It seemed that both energon blasts and sword attacks destroyed Unicron's earth manifestations.

Let's see… Physical attacks such as swords destroy the rock, therefore destroying one of Unicron's vessels. But, energon is not always the best option against rock. The energon must be attacking the dark energon that Unicron is controlling the earth with. Okay, how does any of this help? Energon can be displaced at certain amounts in order to displace the dark energon, whereas sheer force destroys the vessel. I have to remember that Unicron is controlling all the vessels, so if I could simply pull some attention, I could help Optimus. So would getting the others to help.

I COM'd base, "Ratchet, I'm joining Prime in battle. I advise the others do the same." I ended the link. I did not want any of them arguing with me.

I jumped down and landed next to Prime. I was not going to let him fight this battle alone. Unicron's vessels surrounded us. I put down my mask, drew my swords, and sliced the vessels' optics. If the vessels could not see, neither could Unicron see through them. The vessels -I blinded- fell. I sprinted to the next closest and did the same. Optimus became surrounded yet again. I ran back to help him. A ground bridge opened up and our teammates fired at the vessels. They ran to us. We went into an all out destroying frenzy for the next minute and a half, until the vessels had immediately been vanquished.

"Had Ratchet not relay my command? Return to base!"

"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus!"

"Optimus," Arcee said, "You're Unicron's target, maybe you should consider returning to base."

Optimus replied, "These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our base's shielding would only cloak my position for so long. I would not put others at risk."

Bulkhead offered, "Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once."

"Very well."

We formed a barricade around Optimus.

"Let's move!" Arcee called.

She took lead and ran ahead. Bee was next. Then Optimus in the middle, then Bulkhead to protect his six, then me to distract the soldiers behind. Everyone fired energon but me. I just the attacked vessels that got too close. We continued to run out of the canyon and onto a plateau. The vessels increased in size over time. By the time we got to the flat surface, they were four times our size. We transformed into our vehicle forms, and I into my jet form. More or less I gave Arcee directions where to go in order to avoid the behemoths. Not much later a large one rose from the ground. This one was at least twenty times our size. My teammates transformed, I flew around the giant vessel in hopes of momentarily distracting him. At the very least I could be a fly that annoyed him, becoming such a nuisance that even he would be too tempted to turn his attention away from Optimus, so that he could more accurately swat at me.

My teammates shot at him, but the small amount of energon we could use couldn't even compare to the amount of dark energon that flowed through the megalith. On this creature, physical attacks would do not damage. What we needed, was a dark energon blow's force to destroy the rocks Unicron controlled.

"Fall!" Unicron yelled at Optimus as he knocked three large rock formations at the Prime. Optimus dodged two, but was hit by the third.

I flew down to Optimus's position. He was trapped. I tried slashing at the rock covering him. I did not have enough time to free him before Unicron could get here. But, I would not give up.

"I am this world's past and its future. And of this moment, all Primes are simply past." Unicron started to lower his ped towards us, and crush us beneath his foot.

I heard high frequency laser fire and the crumbling of rocks. Unicron fell backwards, and a wave of dust swept over the area.

I continued moving the rocks, which trapped Optimus. I was a few seconds away from freeing him. Then, I heard Megatron's voice from the wreckage of the megalith.

Megatron moved over to us. He pointed his blaster at Optimus. I pointed my swords at him, as did Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee with their blasters. Megatron turned his wrist and offered Optimus his hand. I put away my swords. Optimus took the warlord's clawed servo and Megatron lifted him up from the sifted rubble. My teammates lowered their blasters.

"It is rather ironic," Megatron said. "Considering our last encounter," Megatron paused, "If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark."

Prime said back, "That option remains very much in play." Optimus walked up to Megatron, trying to show him up. Optimus's eyes only went up to Megatron's chin.

I smiled at how angry Optimus looked, considering Megatron wasn't showing even the slightest sign of hostility.

Megatron lowered his head a bit to better look into Optimus's optics. "I would expect nothing less…" I could not tell if he was trying to read the Prime, or intimidate him. "However," Megatron said as he turned away from Optimus, and walked towards me, "I have a proposal." Megatron walked a bit more then turned back to face the both of us. "Join me in defeating our shared enemy, Unicron, the chaos bringer."

Optimus had a private link with Ratchet. I deactivated my mask in order to try and focus in on listening better. I could only catch a snippet of what he said.

"Why would it be ours?" Ratchet asked.

Optimus replied, "Because Megatron's pride would never allow any other than himself to rule this planet."

"You know me all too well Optimus."

Bulkhead said, "You lead an army of cons, why come to us?"

"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command…"

The power of the Primes.

"The power of a prime." He finished.

"No Megatron," I corrected, "It's the power of the Primes."

"The difference being?"

"The thirteen of them defeated Unicron," Shadow counted her digits, "Prima, Vector, Alpha Trion, Solus—"

Optimus interjected, "Shadow, that's enough."

Megatron said back to the Prime, "Optimus, don't you know it's rude to interrupt?" He turned back towards the femme, "You were naming the thirteen Primes with your point being?"

"The thirteen defeated Unicron. And Optimus, being a Prime (singular), has the basic essences of their power through such forms as—"

"Shadow," Optimus interrupted again, "That is enough! Any more information would be incriminating."

Incriminating? I get that rambling is bad, but incriminating?

"That's odd word choice," Megatron said beneath his breath.

Bulkhead laughed, "Seems like with who we have, we don't need you."

We still don't really have a plan yet Bulkhead.

"On the contrary," Megatron said, "Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron. But, I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts and anticipate his movements. Optimus," Megatron turned back to the Autobot leader and said, "our past alliances: Autobot, Decepticon, No longer matter. Not while Unicron lives."

I heard Ratchet yell through the COM link, "The past always matters!"

I said in response, "We shouldn't let history get in the way of a peaceful future. Even if the peace is only temporary."

"A truce between Autobots and Decepticon." Optimus said, "How long do you believe that will last?"

Megatron responded, "Only as long as is mutually beneficial."

"And, when our proposed shared mission is complete?"

"I will conquer this earth." Megatron growled, "My way."

Arcee retorted, "Brutal honesty from a Decepticon?"

Ratchet yelled back at all of us, "Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil!"

"Evil is all subjective Ratchet," I said back to the doctor. "With a few words in mind, I could warp your view of evil into that of good. In fact, right now, I can think of a few thousand combinations, over a million different warped views total." Ratchet didn't respond to me. Megatron smirked.

Megatron spoke to the group, "Do you think you have witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment the bringer of chaos evolves: Mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude to the utter devastation his rising will reek upon your world."

Arcee shouted, "Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron!"

"Make no mistake," Megatron said back, "this time there will be a planet left for me to rule."

Bulkhead said, "Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down at the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there? Drive?"

"There is only one way," Optimus stated.

"Absolutely not!" Ratchet argued. "Ground bridging into space, or onto moving trains is difficult enough! But plotting a blind jump, inside of a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposure to that much dark energon will debilitate you! You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has!"

"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance."

Optimus asked the warlord, "You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?"

"If you transport us to this planet's core, I can lead you directly into Unicron's spark. The very heart of his darkness!"

"Optimus," Arcee asked, "even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?"

"With the Matrix of leadership."

Megatron told the Prime, "It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long ago. The very reason he now seeks to destroy, you!"

Optimus blankly stared ahead. He said, "It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's spark, would return him to stasis."

The group was silent.

A silver glint grew in the distance. A cloud of dust was trailing it. As the dot got closer the Autobots could identify it as a silver cybertronian all terrain vehicle with black air-brushed wisps coating its sides as detail. The cybertronian drove to Megatron's side and transformed. Shadow recognized the femme as Ghost. Ghost addressed her superior, "Lord Megatron, all manifestations of Unicron have been destroyed."

The ground rumbled and shook.

Megatron said to the femme, "Apparently not."

A vessel a hundred times our size rose from the earth.

"We've got another one!" Bulkhead yelled.

"Kill it," Megatron commanded the femme. Ghost ran past us and towards the towering figure in the distance.

"Ratchet," Optimus commanded, "send a ground bridge."

Arcee stopped us, "Wait, we're opening a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?!"

Bulkhead agreed, "And seriously, he's going to risk his own spark to save us?"

Megatron laughed, and in a very spirited tone exclaimed, "Hardly my nature."

We all looked up to the giant that began to loom over us. A fissure struck up its leg, cracked the rock, and exploded. Rock rained from the sky, and the giant rock creature fell to its remaining knee. Its arm came down, and started to swing at us.

"Consider my offer," Megatron said, "I shall keep it busy." Megatron transformed into his cybertronian jet form and flew at the beast, with a sonic boom to give him momentum. He shot at the arm to divert it from us. We ran through the ground bridge. It closed behind Optimus.

Ratchet lectured us; "I know that desperate times call for desperate measures, but bringing Megatron here?"

All the humans were watching from the catwalk. June yelled, "How can you even think of letting that monster near these children after what that monster did to Raf!"

I was annoyed. How could they not see the severity of the situation? I said to them, "I'm going to remind you all that the fate of your planet rests in the balance."

Ratchet yelled at me, "Optimus, don't listen to that Decepticon! Since Megatron arrived today, all she's been doing is advocating for him!"

"No, I'm not!" I argued back. "All I'm trying to ask; is if we are really willing to leave the fate of the earth up to chance. All because of harsh feelings caused by an old rivalry?"

"See Optimus? She's playing Megatron's advocate!"

"Ratchet, whether Autobot or Decepticon, we are all cybertronian. We should put away our differences if even for a day, in order to save this world."

"I agree with Shadow," Optimus said. "And returning to the topic of Megatron, he will be closely monitored, and only aloud to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more."

Fowler asked, "What's to stop the con from calling in an airstrike if he knows where you live?"

Optimus explained, "By ground bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates."

"Optimus, Jack asked, "what's going to happen to you when all of your Matrix energy's released?"

"The power within the matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner," he said back.

"But you have an Idea don't you?" Jack asked.

All Autobots looked away from Jack: Some at the ground, some at the ceiling, all in silence.

"We replace it." I said.

Optimus turned to us, "Autobots, if human kind is to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed." He paused, and then looked at each of us in the optics. He told us, "But you do."

I said, "Sentients are sentients. Humans, cybertronians: it doesn't matter. I am willing to fight in order to defend either kind, any day."

Bulkhead said, "Well, I don't know about human kind, but I am willing to do it for Miko."

Arcee said, "For Jack."

Bee beeped, "For Raf."

Ratchet stopped the scout, "Bee," the doctor said, "you should stay here and rest more with Striker."

"No! I'm fighting for earth, for Raf! You said it was fine for me to fight the rocks earlier!"

"But, the situation was different then. Those were manifestations. This is the real deal. This is Unicron."

"No! This is my fight too."

"Are you sure?" Ratchet sounded unsure. "We still don't know the full extent of your injuries, and exposing you to more dark energon could worsen them."

"Yes I'm sure!" Bee beeped, "Striker took the bulk of it. I only got the residual, and that went to Raf. I'm fine to fight. Let me fight."

We all stood for a moment and considered what exactly it was we were getting ourselves into.

Optimus broke the silence and asked me, "How do we communicate with Megatron?"

I went over to the Con location device and input some codes. "This'll create an open channel."

"Megatron, we are sending transport." Optimus said.

"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason Optimus," Megatron replied.

Please don't be implying that I am the voice of reason. I really need to distance myself from you if my place among the Autobots is to be secured.

Ratchet moved the humans to an area off of the main one. Then, we all went to stand by the groundbridge entrance. All of us but Striker. I felt bad for the femme. She would want to be here if she could. But, she was resting. Optimus moved to the front. Megatron walked through the portal into our base. Ghost followed behind him hesitantly like a youngling.

She couldn't have been much younger than Bee. Just looking at her, and the position she had taken, gave my spark a tug towards the ground. She and Bee were still young, mere younglings. They shouldn't have been fighting in this war. They weren't even alive when it started. I couldn't explain why I was feeling this now, but something about the subject just stuck out with Ghost. I don't know, maybe she just embodied more of the qualities than Bee. Whatever the case, something about her was different. Something about her felt defeated. Something about her reminded her of me. And in that moment I felt like it was my fault. My spark hurt. It hurt because some part of me knew it was my fault that cybertronians like she, and Bee, were suffering in this war that they shouldn't be. I should have done better by them, by her. She timidly approached us from behind Megatron. I couldn't stop thinking that I should have done more for her. I should have done better for her.

Bee, Arcee, and Bulkhead pointed their blasters at Megatron.

He looked around and said, "So, this is where the magic happens…" He said as a compliment, "Quaint."

"That's almost exactly what I said," I blurted. I couldn't tell you why. I just did. Ratchet nudged my arm and then glared at me. I rolled my optics at the doctor, "What? He's making the effort to be courteous, do you wish me to go out of my way and be rude?"

I am doing the exact opposite of what I should be doing. I am an awful Autobot. Well, Autobot in the sense of anti-Decepticon. I think I uphold the Autobot ideals pretty well.

I looked at Bee, Bulk, and Arcee, and said in an even softer tone than before, "Pointing weapons is no way to treat our guests." I could tell Ratchet was going to nudge me again, this time harder. So, I stepped backward.

His elbow –after flying in front of his intended target- crashed into Bulkhead who cried, "Ow!" Bulk then got rid of his blaster and rubbed his torso with his servo. Ratchet glared at me again, and I smiled back. Apparently, so did Megatron.

Raf ran into our area. The rest of the humans followed. "You!" he yelled scared.

"Ah," Megatron turned toward Raf. Arcee ran in front of the human and stopped Megatron from advancing. "You are looking much better than the last time we met, little one." He looked back at me, "Humans… Resilient."

He is definitely making an effort to be nicer. I mean, he's acting courteously, giving compliments, has a pleasant mood, jokes about, uses a hospitable vocabulary… Is this really he? Or is this just an act? Definitely not dark the energon he, he used to be.

Jack put his hands on Raf's shoulders and brought him back to the hallway, "Come on Raf, he isn't worth it."

Jack's mom took Raf back to the area, allowing Jack to glare at Megatron and turn back to the other humans.

"And you," Megatron called, "I never forget a face. Even that of a human."

Jack walked away. Miko pounced forward, "You double cross anyone! Mine is the face you'll never forget! NEVER!" She screamed. Agent Fowler grabbed her, and pulled her back to the area.

Ghost laughed. I smiled at her response. She said to no one in particular, "The human made a threat. Funny." It brought me joy that she could find a light side to our current situation.

Optimus commanded, "Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest."

Man, Optimus is definitely pissed off.

Megatron walked to Ratchet at our monitor system.

Ghost stood timidly where Megatron had left her. The monitor station was too crowded for her to reasonably follow Megatron. I walked up to the young femme. She looked intimidated by the large-ish small group of cybertronians. I thought to myself that in her situation, I would have been too. The femme looked tired. Her silver armor looked worn. It was dull compared to mine. Her black wisps still looked like the same black Tarn wore. It reminded me of him. I wondered if I should have stepped up back then. He was always serving our Lord, always on gory and shriek-filled missions. Sure, mine weren't much better, but they would have been more tolerable on the psyche of a kid. I wondered if she had ever accidently seen her creator at work. I hoped she hadn't. I guess… I guess I never really thought about it before, or I had pushed myself from thinking about it. Tarn was my friend, and Vector was his offspring. I should have been there more for her, for both of them.

I guess I never really thought about it before because of my rank. I was always on dangerous missions with Megatron; I would have never of thought that I could have provided a better life for Vector by introducing her to the slag that went down in high command. I should have done more for Tarn though. He was a friend: A real friend, on the Decepticons, no less. That's special. He's a true friend if there ever was one. I guess they never crossed my mind, him, or her, or any of the DJD. Not until moments like this. Not until moments when I'm tied this closely to them. The DJD kills traitors. It's their job. And now, I'm one of them –a traitor- standing in front of Vector, his 'daughter', his very own 'flesh and blood'. D*mn, I love human expressions.

"Ghost," I said, "Is there something I can get you? Something I can do?"

Her eyes were droopy. She kept her vision to the floor. "Energon," she said, "I'm tired. Energon refuels. It's what helps me prepare for the next battle."

I put my hand on her shoulder, "I'll go get you some energon then. Come with me, and rest a bit, okay?"

I walked to Ratchet's medical station, sat Ghost down, and injected her with a fair amount of energon. She lied back and rested some. I hoped that it would be enough. I walked back to the center of the room to give the femme some space.

While I was attending to Ghost, Megatron was giving Ratchet the coordinates. While I walked free and helped the femme, Bulkhead and Bee pointed their blasters at Megatron. Optimus left our group to join the humans in the hallway. Megatron finished giving Ratchet the coordinates. Part of me could not believe that Megatron had actually agreed to help this cause. The other part of me wanted desperately for this peace to be a lasting one.

Megatron turned to me and reached for my shoulder. I flinched. Bee and Bulk charged their blasters. Megatron opened his palm to show that he would not harm me.

"Bee, Bulkhead, it's fine."

Megatron placed his servo on my shoulder and led me a few lengths away from the rest. My comrades could still hear us. I made sure of that.

Megatron pleaded, "Shadow, please return to my side."

I did not respond. My optics showed sadness. I was happy with the Autobots, but I felt it -I felt Megatron's pain- he was suffering. I did not want to betray my teammates. But, admitting to myself that any positive and or peaceful relationship between us could never be… brought sadness to my spark. I looked down at the ground. I did not want to mislead him.

"Megatron," I said, "I won't betray my comrades."

"Listen," he said back to me, "You do not need to give me your answer but- scrap that- Do not give me an answer. Not yet. Just listen to my proposal."

All Autobot gazes were upon me: All except for Optimus's and Striker's. I looked into Megatron's optics. I wanted to be sure that he was being sincere.

"If you return," he said, "You can have any position you want. You can have all the freedom you want. This," he gestured to the Autobots, "would be immediately forgotten. You could have everything. Imagine the ability to regularly get your fill on energon, study all the texts you wanted from our database, and do whatever else your spark desired. Including developing laws for after the war. But, as is mandatory with this deal, if you decided to come home, you can never leave." Megatron dropped to his knees and begged, "Please think upon this offer. Do not answer now. Snowstorm had advised me not to give you more than a week to respond. She was convinced that any answer past then would be ingenuous."

I questioned, "You involved Snowstorm?"

Megatron smiled and rose. He explicated, "I involved more than just her. Shadow, this is important to me. I need you. Many problems have arisen. Starscream has gone rogue. Airachnid is causing tension with the troops. There are many other things but—"

"It would be unwise to inform the Autobots of your personal problems. It would be adding energon to the flame that burns in their minds."

"See?" he asked, "You know me too well. You belong on the Nemesis."

"Then, why don't you want me to give my immediate answer? It's obvious you already know what it is."

"If anything, it shows both of us just how well I know you. All of this only adds onto the reasons of why you should return home."

I stated, "Home isn't a place—"

"Home is where the spark is," Megatron had finished my thought.

I had to do all I could not to smile at that. None of the Autobots could tell, but Megatron saw it in my eyes that I was elated. I really hated that about him: In this scenario specifically. I really have to emphasize the 'in this scenario' because all of my teammates stared at me questioningly, while I held back a smirk like a fool.

Megatron explained, "I know all of your philosophies, thoughts, and feelings towards an almost infinite array of subjects. If anything, your spark rests with me, as a Decepticon."

He only knew those because of the sheer amount of time we spent together. If I spent the same amount with the Autobots, they would know the same.

I looked away: focusing on the ground near my peds. I was at a loss for words. I had never seen Megatron like this. He was groveling, begging, pleading for me to return.

Optimus walked over and placed his servo on my shoulder. I looked up at him.

Optimus declared, "Shadow is an Autobot. Megatron, it is not her past, but present state that matters. She will not be joining you."

I looked down back at the ground. Optimus had voiced my thoughts, but I felt miserable.

Megatron pleaded, "Please, think on it. This offer can only last a week."

I walked away from Megatron to Ghost and Ratchet.

"Groundbridge is locked and ready," the doctor said.

I helped Ghost down from the medical table. I was sure to be careful, but she seemed strong. I guess she never needed my help. But, some part of it made me feel neglectful because of this.

We all walked up to the exit portal.

"You first," Arcee said to the lead Con.

Megatron looked over at me, then bowed to Arcee and said, "As you wish."

He turned and walked through the ground bridge. We followed.

We arrived in a dark bridged area. I could hear Unicron's spark beat.

Arcee asked, "So, how long before Unicron knows we're here?"

"Make no mistake, he already does." Megatron walked forward, and we followed. Arcee and Bee decided to take point, and ran up to the front of the group. Ghost glided to Megatron's side, whispered something near his audio receptor, heard something in response, something he said in a low murmur, and then fell back to cover the rear of the group. She looked on guard. I couldn't explain why, but I felt bad for the femme. We walked on for some time. All until Megatron stopped. He gripped his head in pain and groaned. He almost fell. He landed with an outstretched arm in order to have one of his servos support him along with one of his knees. I quickly moved to his side. His eyes opened wide and were briefly overtaken by a bright purple light. He opened his mouth in shock. "Unicron grows ever stronger," he said. His eyes faded back to a duller purple. I offered my hand to ease his rise from his nearly kneeling position. He looked at it for a moment, and then turned his head away and rose on his own. Prime stood tall on his other side. It almost looked as if Optimus was glaring at Megatron. Megatron negated Prime and continued moving forward. He walked past Arcee and led us once again.

After Megatron passed her, Arcee asked Prime, "How do we know Unicron isn't using Megatron to lead us all into a trap?"

Optimus continued to follow Megatron, "We do not." He replied. Optimus motioned for me to go to him. I complied. "You cannot trust him."

"I know."

"You jumped to assist him."

"He knows where Unicron is. Without him…" we both looked at Megatron. Optimus nodded.

We continued to walk for a long while. The dark cavern in Unicron exerted an unhinging feeling. I noticed winged spherical creatures hang from the ceiling. Ways later Megatron stopped by a more enclosed area.

"Unicron's spark is near," he said.

Arcee took a few steps forward, almost as if to say that she wanted to rush into the danger first, and then the femme came to her senses, turned around and told the Decepticon Lord, "after you."

Megatron continued to lead our group. Ghost stayed guarding our collective six. Bulkhead stopped, and then held his head with one of his servos. He groaned. Bee grabbed Bulkhead's arm and beeped to ask if the mech was okay. Bulkhead of course answered that he was fine. Even though it was obvious that the affects of dark energon were getting to him. He, Arcee, and Bee stayed back a minute or too. Ghost was unsure whether to stay back and guard them, or to join with Megatron, Optimus and I up front. She decided to mediate, and walk slowly between the two groups. I couldn't understand why she considered the final three worthy of focus. We were in Unicron. Our objective was more important than any specific member of the group. She stopped, looked back, and then continued more slowly. I ignored them. I walked by Optimus and Megatron. The longer we waited, the longer dark energon could affect us. I looked back, Arcee and Bee assisted Bulk in crossing the bridge. They did not want their teammate to fall off. It looked almost as if Ghost had disappeared for a second. Actually, I swear that she had. But, she reappeared as soon as Megatron turned his attention towards her position. We were all on guard now. Not just because of the situation, but because a weird hum-like sound began to buzz nearby.

Megatron stopped and turned to face us. "He's preparing to expel us," he said.

Winged spherical creatures started to gather in the air surrounding us, they couldn't have been any bigger than Breakdown's hammer. I drew my swords and lowered my mask. The creatures squealed with high-pitched tones. My teammates drew their blasters. Ghost just took a fighting stance, and activated her daggered claws. Odd. She chose not to use blaster, just like me.

"What are those things?" Bulkhead asked.

Optimus replied, "As we are within Unicron's body, it stands to reason they are some sort of antibody."

The creatures flew at us, my comrades fired at them. The beings fired back and flew towards us. I would slice any that got too close. It seemed that Ghost did the same. They exploded when she touched them though. The winged creatures started to converge on us from all places. Arcee was blasted to a lower bridge. Bulkhead fell, but grabbed onto our platform at the last second. Bee snatched Bulkhead's servo after the lug lost his grip. I covered Bee from the firing and flying creatures. Ghost saw my change from offensive to defensive action. She joined me in my effort to protect my teammates. Between the creatures I sliced, I was able to get a better look at the femme's fighting strategy. There was no denying that Ghost was in fact one of Tarn's sparklings. She was a clear outlier. When she swung at the winged creatures, her claws disappeared for a second before impact and reappeared after the explosion of Unicron's antibody had dissipated. I felt proud.

I heard my teammates struggling behind me.

"Bee let me go," Bulkhead said with worry ringing from his tone, "I'll only take you down with me!"

I put away one of my swords and helped Bee. I used my free hand to grab onto Bulkhead's wrist. We tried to pull him up, but could not. We pulled to no avail. All we could do was delay the inevitable.

"Just let go!" He yelled as our grip started to slip.

"Bulkhead!" Arcee yelled from one of the bridges below.

Bulkhead's hand slipped through Bee's. I could not hold up Bulkhead on my own. My servo skidded up to his hand, and then nothing. Optimus quickly latched on to Bulkhead's wrist, where Bee and I had failed to hold.

"I gotcha," Our leader said as he pulled Bulkhead back up. Sometimes I forgot just how strong Optimus really was. We all ran across the bridge to the walled area with a large closed off entrance. Optimus called out to down below, "Arcee!"

Our teammate ran, jumped, hitched a ride from one of the creatures, and joined us. We arrived at a large, circular locked sliding door. The winged creatures weren't letting up. Like an infinite hoard, they flew through the entryway in concentrated amounts. Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee shot at them. Optimus, Megatron, Ghost, and I slashed them to shreds. Then Megatron stopped. I looked over to him. His optics were now more purple than before. Megatron bent over, servos touching the ground and holding him up, as to ensure he didn't fall onto the dark-energon infused floor. He screamed, possibly in pain. I remembered that Optimus did not want me to go to him, so I did not. The Prime looked at me, then to Megatron, and then back to me as I was fighting the hoard. Optimus was pleased. Megatron slowly rose.

"Megatron!" Optimus called.

Megatron grabbed his head and groaned again in pain. He shut his optics and his servos shook. Then, he let go of his head, screamed, stood up, lunged out at Optimus, pushed Prime to the ground and shot at a winged creature that was about to attack him. His eyes became less purple.

"Unicron's spark," Megatron said as he pointed to the door, "Lies just beyond." He ran to the door, followed by Optimus.

Ghost's eyes followed the movements of her master. She looked at him, then back to me, then hesitated following. She fought by my side.

Optimus asked Megatron, "How do we get inside?"

Megatron replied, "By fooling Unicron's defenses into believing we're not a threat."

We all backed closer to the door, every Autobot that could, shot at the hoard. Megatron's chest touched the door and the door slid open. Megatron walked through the doorway.

Optimus yelled back at us, "Autobots, I will need you to keep our attackers at bay for as long as you can!"

Megatron and Optimus disappeared in the distance of the narrowed hallway type path. The door slid shut behind them. We continued to fight the hoard. Bee, Bulk, and Arcee shot at the beasts, their backs against the doorway. I stood in front of them and chopped anything that got too low to the ground and or too close to me. Ghost had disappeared completely, causing large sections of the anti-body hoard to explode in the distance. After five minutes of fighting, the creatures dropped to the ground and short-circuited. The threat was terminated. Before we could stop and celebrate, Ghost said something about checking on Megatron, and disappeared as she ran through the blocked doorway. We took a second to catch our breath before we destroyed the barrier Ghost didn't, and walked through the newly made doorway. We continued at a brisk pace down the corridor to greet the Earth's saviors. I retracted my mask and sheathed my swords. The rest of the Autobots looked tired, but rejoice-full all the same. At the end of the passageway, a door stood between our comrade and us. I guess Ghost decided not to open this one as well. Bulkhead got out his wrecking ball and knocked the door down, just as he did with the earlier one. We went through.

"Optimus," Bulkhead called across the room to the confused-looking mech, "Are you okay?"

Optimus appeared to be in a daze, "Why did he call me that?" he asked Megatron.

We all ran forward. We were maybe three or four lengths away from them.

"What did you do to him?" Arcee asked in a hostile tone.

"Who are they?" Optimus asked again.

"You don't remember anything?" I asked him in my normal soft tone.

A portal opened up behind Optimus, Ghost, and Megatron. Optimus looked at me for a second. He was about to say something before Megatron cut him off.

"Our mortal enemies," Megatron said as he pushed on Optimus's shoulder, shoving the mech towards the portal. Megatron yelled at him, "We're outnumbered, go!" Megatron aimed his plasma canon at us and fired. "I'll cover you," Megatron said. Ghost escorted Optimus through the portal.

I dodged Megatron's attack. He wasn't aiming for me, even though I was in the middle of the group. He aimed at Arcee, then at Bulkhead, who were on both the ends, then at Bee, the last two shots were aimed at the mechs I was standing next to. To say I dodged is a bit of an overstatement really. All I did was take a few steps back and look at Megatron as if he had intended to strike me. Bee, Arcee, and Bulk were strewn across the chasm. Bee tried to crawl to Optimus, who was being led through the ground bridge by Ghost. Optimus had heard the cannon fire and looked back at us. He was mainly drawn to Bee, because our young scout –to him- was the closest.

Bee beeped at Optimus, "Don't leave… please," to which Optimus turned away with Ghost, and left. My comrades started to get up and ran back towards Megatron. He fired back at them, while looking at me. I could feel his gaze. His optics were a pure red, like they once had been. Megatron turned, and ran into his portal. It closed behind him. I ran to join my teammates. They were utterly dazed and confused.

Ratchet sent us a ground bridge. I walked through first; the others followed me. Part of me wished they hadn't. As soon as we got back to base, I walked over to Ratchet. The humans ran up to their respective guardians.

"Arcee,"

"I was worried Bulk,"

"You alright Bee?"

Ratchet asked, "And Optimus… is he?"

"Dead?" said Arcee, "No."

Bulkhead explained, "But he looked right at us without recognizing us. Didn't even know his own name."

The humans looked at each other.

"Hmm," Ratchet said, "When Optimus surrendered the Matrix of Leadership: he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes. He lost his own memories."

I added, "By that logic, he must still remember everything before he initially gained the Matrix of Leadership, then… Right?"