Good think I do my final proofreading, before the new chapter goes up, the day before because I decided to change a chunk of it to flow better otherwise it would be late! (Still think it could use some work though :/)
Chapter 7
The Autobots gathered around Arcee, the femme explaining what had happened. Each one was stricken with grief at the news. No one could say that loosing the boisterous young mech had not affected them. It was hard to accept that they had lost one of their own.
"And then Smokescreen was just... gone. Like he had turned to dust..." finished the two wheeler, her gaze turning sadly to the ground.
"Poor kid," muttered Bulkhead.
Ratchet tried to console her, "Arcee, do not blame yourself. It could just have easily been you."
Meanwhile, sitting propped up by the wall was Violetwind. Even as she listened to what had happened she could hardly process it. Smokescreen was the reason she was safe inside the Autobot's base. The very one who had risked his life to rescue her. The first one since she had awoken whom she had called friend. He was dead. It was difficult for her to comprehend.
Understandably the others were not ready to take the murder of their team mate lying down. Bulkhead brought out his arm blasters and growled, "I say we claim a piece of Megatron's miserable metal hide!"
'He won't get away with this,' Bumblebee whirred in angry agreement, bringing out his own weapons, ready to join the fight.
The pair started towards the ground bridge, however, before they could get very far Optimus stretched out a hand to stop them. "No," he stated firmly. "We have already lost another one of our own today. I will not risk more lives. Given what Arcee witnessed, it stands to reason that Megatron now possess might to equal the Star Saber. Which means only I have a chance of recovering the Omega Key."
Ratchet nodded, adding, "The fate of Cybertron rests upon its retrieval."
"Whether Megatron knows it or not..." finished Bulkhead.
Violetwind looked up at them with great worry on her features. She did not quite understand what was going on but it did not sound good.
Cybertron...
What is it? she asked the voice.
Our home planet, it replied, actually being useful for once. Because of our warring it died...
A deeper despair settled over the femme, not only containing her own sadness but the grief of her head's voice. The feeling was like a physical weight to her chest, closing in on her. War and fighting were such terrible things, hurting so many more than those who were killed...
The Autobots, feeling their own thoughts weigh them down, had their attentions diverted from such as Optimus Prime started to head off and prepare for the inevitable battle with Megatron.
"Optiums," Arcee called the leader back, "There was something else."
He paused to look back at her questioningly.
"Megatron... he... he also said he wanted what was his. What was taken from him..." her gaze drifted back to Violetwind still sitting up against the wall.
The purple femme looked up and felt a cold chill run through her, realising just what the Decepticon warlord wanted; her.
Slag that 'Con, grumbled her voice.
A protest of beeps came from Bumblebee, 'He can't have Violetwind! He has no claim to her!'
"Yeah, we can't let him take another of ours!" growled Bulkhead, looking ready to pound something.
The Prime let out a deep vent as he pondered his options. Finally he addressed the femme in question, "Do you believe you are strong enough to accompany me?"
She looked up at him with wide blue optics. "Y-yes," she stuttered, "b-but y-you're not g-going to hand me over are you?!"
He replied with the deepest conviction, "No. And I give you my word that he will not harm you. I will protect you, Violetwind."
His voice instilled hope in her, like she just knew he would do as he promised. Even though she was still scared she would trust him and whatever he might have planned. "Ok, Optimus," she did her best to put a brave smile on her face, "What do you want me to do?"
...
The dark of night surrounded the glow of the ground bridge. The rolling waves of sand were such a contrast to the stone blocks of the ancient human structure, even in the soft night light.
Stepping through the vortex came Optimus and Violetwind, the latter glancing about with worry. The mech, however, displayed his usual calmness.
Immediately Megatron smiled seeing them both there, standing still some distance away. "Glad to see you again, and looking much better," he addressed the femme first.
A cold glare was all he received in return. Optimus had previously cautioned her against saying anything to the Decepticon, no matter what he said that might possibly provoke her. If he knew of her memory loss and accompanying different personality he would use it to his advantage. So they decided to not give him the chance to discover it.
"Now, Violetwind – my scientist – come with me quietly. You will save Optimus the trouble of fighting to his death if you do. It will merely be a simple trade; you for the relic. And there will be no getting away from me this time. Your pathetic saviour can no longer help you... He was so easy to dispose of."
Anger flashed through her at Megatron's words. Fear may have kept her rooted in place but fury caused her to clench her fists tightly, metal grinding against metal. The silver mech spoke as if she was something that could be bought, nothing more than an object. Then on top of this he was flippant about Smokescreen's death, so casual about having taken the mech's life.
Glaring back at the Decepticon, her attention was broken by a soft sound at her sides. Looking down she saw that her hands had been replaced by two short swords the length of her forearm. I didn't even know I could do that... she thought, staring at them in surprise.
"This is not your fight," Optimus calmly told her, a hand outstretched to stop her from possibly moving into battle.
With a nod she sheathed her blades, returning her hands to her sides.
Turning his attention back to Megatron, he raised his voice, "I will not allow you to take her. The femme has chosen where she stands, and it is not with you."
He let out a spine chilling chuckle in response, and addressed the mech, "So be it. You've just come for the relic then." Raising his hand, he clenched his fist. "I welcome the battle."
The Autobot leader's optics went wide with horror as he noticed Megatron's arm. The hand he currently possessed on his right was not his own. Instead he was using that of a previous Prime, have desecrated a tomb to retrieve the appendage. In shock Optimus uttered, "By the All Spark, Megatron. What have you done?"
"This?" the mech casually raised the hand, flexing the fingers, "I find it affords me certain... advantages. Such as the use of the Forge of Solus Prime." From his back he brought out the glowing sword. "My first creation," he boasted proudly showing it off, "Fashioned from the very blood of Unicron. I call it the Dark Star Saber, Slayer of Primes, if you will." Letting the dark energon sword relax to a more comfortable holding position he looked back at his enemies.
Optimus narrowed his optics at the mech. This was one fight he knew could not afford to lose.
"This shall be your grave, Optimus!" roared the Decepticon, charging at his opponent.
Giving a slight nod to Violetwind, the Autobot leader charged forward too. She knew what she was to do, but could not help watching in awe as the two large mechs began their battle.
The silver one raised his sword before quickly slashing it down, sending out a purple energy wave. When it approached him, Optimus cut the energy wave in two allowing it to safely dissipate around him and keep Violetwind from being hit.
Soon the pair were locked in a clash of swords and the femme took this moment to slip away with the intent on fetching the Omega Key, which Optimus had instructed her to do earlier when they were going over their options back at the base.
The Autobots had explained how the Omega Keys were a vital component in restoring life to Cybertron. Retrieving all four they would be able return to their home planet, reviving the world so it could support life once again and bring back all the scattered Cybertronians from the far reaches of space.
Skirting the battle, she kept an optic on its progression. With each swing of their weapons, the swords connected and a sharp sound rang out, making her want to flinch in response. Fighting on, neither one was able to get a clear hit on the other; neither fighter gaining the advantage.
"At last we take our rightful places, Optimus. As gods! Wielding the power of the cosmos!" Megatron yelled excitedly, power flowing through his very being. Hitting his opponent in the chest, the bot flew backwards from the force, smashing into a wall. Taking the opportunity, the Decepticon leader forced the red and blue mech against the stones, his hand over the other's throat.
It took a lot of willpower from Violetwind to keep going with her goal instead of trying to help him. She knew she would be infective against Megatron but the knowledge of her uselessness in battle did not make things any easier.
However, Optimus was able to hold his own. Glaring back he replied, "I am but a soldier, Megatron. And you are only a prisoner of your own twisted delusions!" Pushing the mech off himself, Prime hit back and their fighting continued.
The battle went on, oblivious to the femme as she neared where the Omega Key stood, right where Megatron had left it, speared into the sand. She was just leaning over to grab it when a particularly hard strike had Optimus on the ground, the metal on his shoulder torn.
His enemy stood over him. "My Dark Star Saber has tasted one spark tonight, yet still thirsts for that of a Prime!"
"Optimus! No!" cried out Violetwind involuntarily, her optics wide with fear for the mech.
About to deliver the killing blow, Megatron found his attack blocked. Optimus had raised his blade just in time to defend himself.
Letting out a sigh of relief, she turned back to grabbing the key but was distracted again, this time by a surprised voice from behind her. "Violet?"
Whirling around she met the optics of the speaker. A surprised smile lit up her face as she saw who it was; relief and joy filling her, along with disbelief. "Smokescreen! You're alive!"
Walking up to her he shook his head and grinned, "I was the last time I checked. Why ever wouldn't I be?"
"Because Arcee said she saw you hit the wall. There was nothing but dust. You were just gone! What else would we th-" She started to explain when Smokescreen's face fell as he looked over her shoulder.
Turning around she immediately saw why he looked the way he did. Optimus was on his knees in front of Megatron, a broken Star Saber in his hand. The pieces of the once magnificent weapon had simply evaporated into smoke. A horrible sinking feeling flooded over the Autobots watching as their leader was towered over by their greatest enemy.
Megatron held his Dark Star Saber to Optimus' back as he spoke, "And so it ends, just as I envisioned. With your head beside my new trophy."
Quickly reaching around the femme, Smokescreen snatched up the relic before the Decepticon could do anything. "Oh you mean this relic?" he called out, holding up the key. "Finder's keepers!"
He looked over at the rookie, surprise in his glowing red optics. Using the moment of distraction, Optimus shoved the sword away from himself and grabbed the wrist holding it in one smooth motion. Megatron tried to wrestle free of his grip but instead Prime struck him in the chest with the hilt of his broken sword, knocking the silver mech back. "Smokescreen, Violetwind, fall back!" he commanded.
The femme started to do so when she noticed her companion was headed into the fight. "What are you doing?" she called out, thinking he was absolutely crazy.
"I have to help him, trust me ok?" the mech called back, continuing into the fray.
Megatron had just delivered a rough punch to the Prime's head, knocking him backward. After rolling, the Autobot ended up back on his pedes just as his opponent slashed his saber sending an energon wave his way. Optimus stared at it but had nowhere to go and nothing to stop it, only able to watch it roll closer, carrying with it his final moment.
But it was not to be. Smokescreen jumped in front of his leader and grabbed his arm so the energy wave passed safely through the both of them.
Optimus glanced thankfully at the rookie before calling into his comm link. "Ratchet! Ground bridge!"
"Noooo!" Megatron yelled in frustration.
The swirling vortex appeared just behind them.
"Missed us!" teased the cocky mech.
Violetwind joined up with the mechs, and they all ran for the ground bridge. Seeing them trying to leave, the Decepticon let out a roar, charging after them. With a quick slash of his sword he sent a purple energy wave their way in a last effort to get them before they disappeared. Leaping into the swirling blue-green vortex the Autobots were saved as it closed after them, the energy wave missing.
Megatron, now left alone in the darkness, started to laugh menacingly to the air. "Run, Optimus, run. Those trinkets from Iacon will not save you or that femme. Not when I now possess the power to tear this world apart!"
...
Back at the Autobot base, Optimus Prime walked through the ground bridge first followed by Violetwind, Smokescreen and the relic bringing up the rear. It felt so good to be back at the base and safe, the purple femme letting out a sigh of relief.
Ratchet was quick to usher Optimus over to the side so he could check the obvious wound on his shoulder. Everyone else though was staring in disbelief at the white and blue mech, who was smiling brightly back at them.
Bulkhead was the first one to stay something, "Smokescreen?"
He grinned in return, waving the relic proudly, "And Omega Key number one."
"But... how? I mean, I saw you..." Arcee muttered, hardly able to believe what her optics were seeing.
"I, uh, decided to borrow the phase shifter," he admitted a little guiltily as he held up his wrist showing off the device.
The medic finished the scan of Optimus' shoulder and let him leave, the Prime returning the the monitors. When he heard Smokescreen he turned to splutter, looking over at the mech with disapproving optics, "Again?"
He gave a slight nod, "Good thing too." The rookie went on to explain what had happened, "The wave from the blast hit me like a wrecking ball. The impact must have activated the shifter. I don't know how long I was unconscious but when I made my way back outside, Optimus and Megatron were deep in an epic throw-down and Violetwind was going for the Omega Key. I waited for the right moment to make my move."
Arcee smirked, admitting, "You're learning."
Raising an optic ridge Violetwind inquired, "And you were standing behind me before you uttered my name in surprise how long then?"
"Ahh," he chuckled nervously, "Long enough..."
With a shake of her head, she let him get away with it this time. Arcee rolled her optics, mostly at how easily the mech was caught out while Bulkhead and Bumblebee chuckled.
Ignoring their responses, Smokescreen perked up, asking eagerly, "So can I keep the phase shifter? It is really working out for me."
"Fine, fine," grumbled Ratchet, waving a hand at him dismissively.
"Yes! Signature weapon!" cheered the mech. Turning around, his gaze fell on the broken Star Saber lying where Optimus had left it after returning. He became quiet.
Everyone looked over at it with disappointment. The Autobots had lost their strongest weapon and best advantage to helping end the war.
"You got yours. Optimus lost his," lamented Bulkhead.
Arcee added, "The balance of power has shifted again."
"While he may have only wielded the power of the ancients for a short time, Optimus does not require it to be the mightiest of warriors," declared Ratchet as they all looked over at their leader, who was working at the computer.
It was true. Not only physically strong, he possessed the greatest courage and will to fight for the freedom of all sentient beings. Violetwind felt privileged to be there with him as her leader. Glancing over at Smokescreen, she was glad he was still alive too. To lose a friend in only a few days since she remembered waking up would be too much for her to take.
Thinking on this, she could feel a strange mixture of sadness and guilt but it was not her own feelings. These came from the voice that liked to interrupt her thoughts. Walking away from the others she leant against the wall looking at her pedes.
She tried to question the voice, What's wrong?
Her thoughts were quiet before it eventually 'spoke' up, There are things best not yet known...
Hope you liked it!
Also, side note, if you haven't seen Transformers: Rescue Bots you need to. It's actually quite brilliantly written and is full of humorous one liners and so many references. Plus some great voice actors like Steve Blum (aka Starscream) voicing Heatwave. So check it out already!