Bit of a filler chapter, took a bit of a break from advancing the storyline to focus on the characters. It's going to get a bit crazy soon :P
Also, I apologise for it being a day late (if anyone noticed^^) I spent the Saturday up in Sydney :)
Chapter 14
The next day Violetwind awoke late from recharge, finally getting up after midday. Ratchet had worked into the night to repair her, meaning she had not been able to get the rest she needed. Not only that but the stress from the previous day's events had also played a large part of her needing the extra down time.
Peaking open her optics for a moment, she promptly closed them once again and let out a groan. Living was too hard right then, sleeping was much better. As much as she wanted to though she could not stay there. It was possibly already late enough as it was and she did not wish to worry anyone and cause them to ask questions; questions which she did not truly have the answers to.
Letting out a deep sigh she rose from her berth and headed out to see what was going on that day. She entered the main hub where the Autobots had congregated, talking with their human companions. From what she gathered, they had finally told them about their quest to restore Cybertron and it sounded like it was being met with mixed results.
Sitting on Bulkhead's shoulder, Miko was already making plans, "You know I might not be the first human on Cybertron but I can still be the first human exchange student."
On the other hand, Jack was a little hurt, "Why didn't you tell us about the Omega Keys before?"
"You probably didn't notice but things have been a little hectic around here lately," replied Arcee a matter-of-factly.
"They probably didn't want to worry you," added Violetwind, taking a seat on one of the crates nearby. She absently rubbed at her side where one of the larger dents had been, still feeling a little stiff.
Raf looked over at his partner from where he stood on a crate at Bumblebee's eye level, "So you guys could really be going home soon, huh?"
His companion beeped, 'That's right.'
"Don't worry, Raf, you'll come visit. Once we get our place set up he can bunk with us, right Bulk?" the girl stated excitedly, glancing over at her partner.
"Uh, Miko..." the green mech muttered, not sure about her future plans.
"You are taking me with you, right?" she looked over at him pleadingly.
The medic huffed and broke in, "Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves here? Not only do we lack any actual method of reaching Cybertron but Starscream now controls the sole means of our planet's restoration."
"As far as we know..." Optimus muttered, not at all happy with the situation.
Smokescreen added in his thoughts, "You think Starscream rejoined the 'Cons?"
Violetwind's optics widened as she realised that she had neglected to tell them about Starscream. She opened her mouth to deliver the news but before she could get anything out Arcee spoke first.
"He might have used the Omega Key's to buy back Megatron's favour."
"He actu-" the femme was cut off again, no one having noticed that she had something to say.
"Hmph, without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder?" Ratchet grunted, unhappily.
The femme tried again, "But he-"
"Ack, it wouldn't surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and-" the medic himself was cut off by beeps coming from their computer indicating an incoming message.
"Ok, that's weird," the green mech looked over at the screens with a raised optic ridge.
On his shoulder Miko added, "Yeah just a little."
"Is it Starscream?" asked Arcee as they all moved a little close to see what the message was.
The medic frowned, "No. It is Dreadwing. And he wants to meet."
"What would that 'Con want," Bulkhead questioned, suspiciously.
"I can't imagine it would be anything good," the blue femme smirked.
"Um, hey guys?" Violetwind called out, trying to gain their attention.
'Are we going to go?' wondered the scout.
Smokescreen frowned, not approving of the idea of going, "And be tricked again?"
Their leader silenced them with a wave of his hand. "Dreadwing may desire to meet based on pure intentions."
"Optimus, after what happened the last time we met a 'Con, I don't think we can trust him," the blue femme stated firmly.
"About Starscream..." Violetwind tried again but no one was listening, too busy with their conversation to notice the quiet femme.
"What could Dreadwing offer us anyway?" the rookie rolled his optics.
"Guys!" she shouted, all heads turning in her direction. Seeing all eyes and optics on her, her faceplates flushed, "Um..."
"What is it, Violetwind?" Optimus asked calmly, his soft deep voice giving her confidence.
Taking a slow intake of air she told them what she knew, "I- when I went after Starscream, he- well, he mentioned wanting to use the keys so that Megatron would take him back..."
"That fraggin' piece of scrap," Arcee muttered with distaste.
"Someone needs to beat that little wimp into a scrap pile!" shouted Miko, an angry scowl on her face.
Jack looked over at the the red and blue mech. "What are you going to do, Optimus?"
"First, we will see to Dreadwing. Then we shall proceed from there. But we must find a way to stop Megatron," the leader replied. "Autobots, prepare to roll out."
Getting up, Violetwind went over to the tall mech. "Optimus, would it be alright if I stayed behind? I don't think I'm ready for going with you today."
He nodded in understanding as well as acknowledgement. "You may. How about you escort our young human friends home?"
"Aww, Optimus. Can't we come with?" whined Miko, shoulders sagging.
Glancing over her way, he gave her an unimpressed look. "No. It holds the possibility of being dangerous," he told her firmly. "Violetwind will drive you home."
"Fine..." she huffed.
"I've got homework to do anyway," admitted Jack, heading down the walkway stairs.
Bumblebee took Raf in his palm, lowering the boy carefully to the floor. 'See you tomorrow, Raf.'
"Bye, Bee," the twelve year old waved to his yellow friend.
"So I guess we're going now then?" Miko muttered distastefully. No one paid her much heed though, Bulkhead simply helping her to the floor.
"You'll have to give me directions to your houses," the purple femme told the three humans that had gathered at her pedes. "I've only ever been to Jack's place."
"Don't worry we'll get you there," assured Jack, earning a smile from her.
Transforming, the femme opened her doors for them to hop in. Jack naturally slipped behind the drivers seat, Miko taking the passenger's side, leaving the back-seat for Raf.
They called out goodbyes and waved as they departed, Violetwind even honking her horn in farewell.
Getting out onto the highway back to town, the purple femme asked, "So who's going home first?"
"I can be dropped off last, if you guys want to hurry home," offered the teenaged boy.
"Yeah, I can be first then. Hey! Think we could rev it up a bit and get some speed on before we get to town? It's not like there's anyone around," Miko practically bounced in her seat.
"Miko..." Jack admonished her.
"I don't know. I don't think we should..." The femme replied, hesitant to do something that might attract any attention to them.
"Please, come on just for a little bit?"
The boy sighed. It was terrible trying to argue with her. "What do you say, Violet?"
She was really on the fence about it, a little afraid of getting into trouble but finally agreed. "Ok. But we'd better not get caught and don't tell the others."
"Our secret," the girl agreed, with a wink. "Now let's go!"
Revving her engine noisily, Violetwind tore off down the road at top speed.
"Woohoo!" Miko threw her arms up as she yelled.
Holding tight to the steering wheel, Jack grinned widely. Like Miko the speed fuelled his adrenaline and he couldn't help but enjoy the fast pace.
The only occupant not as thrilled with the speed was Raf. The younger boy just wished the teenaged girl did not crave excitement quite so much. It did usually end up with them in trouble after all.
It was not long before they reached the town and had to slow to the posted speed. They dropped Miko back at her host parent's place and said their goodbyes. Driving away Jack turned to the back-seat passenger, "So Raf, off to your place next?"
"Um, actually, your house is closer. I don't mind going last," the boy told him.
"Ok then, back home, Violet."
"Of course. Is there a particular route you'd like to take?" she replied good naturedly. The drive had put her in a good mood and quite happy to take a longer route if they wished to hang out more.
Jack smiled but shook his head, "No, just home thanks. I really do need to get some work done. I don't want to fail my subjects, Mom might ground me."
"Ok then. Hope you can get finished and do well." She was a little disappointed but understood.
A short while later they rolled up to the Darby house. Stepping out, Jack made sure she had the instructions to Raf's place.
"Don't worry, I've got it," she told him.
"Good," he smiled and waved at the vehicle's final passenger. "See ya Raf!"
"Bye," called out the occupant, smiling and waving back.
Stepping away, Jack tapped the hood of the car lightly before going inside.
Driving off again, Violetwind headed for her final destination. "So, Raf, um, what do you like to do?" The femme tried to make conversation with the boy.
"I'm interested in computers."
"That's cool."
Silence reigned over them, neither one saying anything more. This went on for a while, before Rafael brought up what was on his mind.
"Do you really think you'll be going back to Cybertron soon?"
"Yeah, I guess we will," she replied, not certain about it herself, "I mean, we have to get the keys back first but yeah it does seem like it." The femme was quiet a few moments before speaking again, sympathy in her voice, "You're going to miss him aren't you?"
The boy nodded, "Bee's always been around to listen to me. I don't really want him to leave..."
"I kinda know how you feel... You don't want things to change."
"I just wish that winning didn't mean loosing my friend..."
"I understand," Violetwind muttered, "Like, I can't even fathom leaving Earth. It's all I've ever known. I don't have any memory of Cybertron so it'll be like going somewhere foreign..."
"Maybe going back home with jog your memories," Raf suggested hopefully.
The femme was unconvinced. "Maybe... but I'm not so sure they can be. I don't- I don't think it's as simple as that..."
Her passenger's face screwed up in a look of confusion."How so?"
"Because of that voice in my head," she explained, "I don't know what it is exactly but there is something very strange about it. Other than the fact I'm hearing a voice, of course."
"And Ratchet doesn't know what to do about it?"
"If he does, he hasn't said anything. So I guess not."
"He's a good doctor. I'm sure he'll be able to work something out."
"You're right, I'm sure he will. I trust him."
Raf smiled. "If you don't want to go back to Cybertron, maybe you could stay on Earth? I'm sure Agent Fowler could let you stay on at the base. It would be kind of nice for one of you guys to stay around."
The femme would have smiled at the kind thought if she had been in robot mode but it remained hidden, instead her gratitude came through her voice, "I think I'll take that into consideration. I do like it here on Earth. I feel at home here."
They chatted a little while longer and Violetwind finally rolled up in front of the young human's house. Parking at the curb she said her goodbye. "See you around, Raf. Um, good luck with school and all that. And... Thanks, for well, just being willing to talk and listen."
The boy grinned as he slid out of the vehicle. "You're welcome. You're a good listener too. I hope we'll be able to hang out again sometime."
"I hope so too," she replied warmly.
"Bye, Violet!" Raf called out as he walked up to his house.
The purple femme waited until he had gone inside before driving off. She felt a warmth in her spark at having gotten to know the youngest human better. She did not wish to think about what it would be like leaving their human friends behind when the Autobots returned to their home world. It was just too saddening.
~oOo~
Arriving back at base she found Team Prime gathered around, Optimus carrying a huge hammer over his shoulder. Returning to robot mode she walked over, Smokescreen waving at her to join him.
"What is that? Did you get it off Dreadwing?" she questioned, looking over at the intimidating object. It was taller than she was!
The rookie was quick to get in, "It's no Star Saber but I bet it can shatter Megatron's blade and pound some dents into that ugly mug of his!"
"It's not that kind of hammer," Arcee stated bluntly before answering Violetwinds's question. "It's the forge of Solus Prime."
"That was why the 'Con wanted to meet. He just handed it over," Bulkhead added in bewilderment, gesturing to the forge.
Though it was a little confusing, it was not what her thoughts revolved around. The name rung a bell with her mind and she thought for a moment trying to place where she had heard it. Then it came to her, her optics lighting up as she asked, "Is that the thing Megatron used to make his Dark Star thing? The one that..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered that day, the one when they had thought Smokescreen had died and Optimus had fought with the Decepticon leader. It was also the day they recovered the first of the Omega Keys.
"It is," Prime answered.
"A more appropriate use of the forge would be to replicate the Omega Keys," Ratchet countered the rookie's idea to use it as a weapon.
Optimus replied solemnly, "Even with such power, their reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not posses."
The blue femme vented, "I guess we'd better hope that Megatron doesn't destroy the keys to prevent anyone from returning home."
"You thing he'd do that?" Violetwind looked over at her with wide optics.
"Megatron may be evil but I believe he will use the keys for their intended purpose," returned Optimus as he removed the forge from his shoulder, resting it on the ground and leaning on its handle.
"Then I say let him keep 'em and let him do the work for us." All the bots looked over at the green mech with surprise and horror for his suggestion. He held out his hands innocently and tried to placate them, "Well, I mean what difference does it make who restores Cybertron?"
Their leader explained why they could not do possibly allow it. "If Megatron revives Cybertron, he will no doubt use it to his political advantage."
"He? Wha- it- wh- ya lost me," stuttered Bulkhead, tilting his head in confusion.
"In all likelihood, the leader of the Decepticons will portray himself as our planet's saviour and brand all Autobots as war criminals."
Arcee rolled her optics, "The grand deception continues."
"And Megatron's so called 'achievement' could influence Cybertron for eons to come. Poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens. Hardly the ideal way to begin a new age," muttered the medic angrily.
Slag that tyrant.
"But there is hope, for while Megatron may have the keys, he has yet to discoverthe existence of the Omega Lock itself."
Everyone looked over at their leader in confusion. The Omga Lock was news to them. Not even they had know of the existence of the Omega Lock before then and did not understand its significance.
"Omega Lock?" repeated Bulkhead.
"Wait, now you lost me..." the blue femme looked up at Optimus for an explanation.
"It is that which the four relics were designed to activate." The mech became very serious as he continued, "We must locate the device before Megatron does and secure it, until we can recover the keys."
"But there are no more Iacon entries to decode. This lock could be anywhere on Earth!" Ratchet waved an arm about in irritation.
"Actually..." Prime stated calmly, "It is on Cybertron."
Shock and surprise shone from all the Autobot's faces. "What?!" they all cried out in unison.
The orange and white medic questioned, "How do you know?"
Optimus lifted the forge onto his shoulder, talking as he walked toward the ground bridge. "Alpha Trion revealed its location to me during the message conveyed to me by the Star Saber."
"And you didn't think, to tell us?" The medic's optics shone with a look of hurt and confusion as to why Optimus had not told them this before.
The mech stopped briefly to glance back, "Alpha Trion did not wish it so." He then continued to the edge of ground bridge where he placed the forge on the ground. "With the forge of Solus Prime we now posses the means of reaching Cybertron." Climbing down into the lower level of the ground bridge he continued, "I must work quickly as our tactical advantage over Megatron will not last long." He was going to create a space bridge.
The bots let him get on with his work, the sound of hammering echoing through the base. Ratchet stalked away to do whatever it was the medic did, while the others gathered over away from where their leader was using the forge.
Arcee glanced over at the red and blue mech, "Is it my imagination or has Optimus been acting differently since that message from Alpha Trion?"
The yellow scout beeped in agreement. 'Something does seem a little odd.'
"Err, he has been keeping things from us," Bulkhead looked gloomy and a little unsure of things.
"Even Ratchet's been out of the loop," the blue femme looked thoughtful, glancing over at the medic.
Violetwind looked over at the other bots. "I take it, they don't usually keep things from one another?"
Bumblebee shook his head whirring adamantly. 'He's usually very open, especially with Ratchet seeing as they've been friends so long.'
The large green mech was not too pleased either. "And give me one good reason wouldn't trust his own team mates? Why he couldn't have told us about the Omega Lock?"
"Because if he had, Megatron would have pulled it out of my head with his patch," Smokescreen told them plainly. "Then he'd know just as much as we do."
The purple femme pointed at him, "Yep, that's an excellent reason."
Bulkhead grunted not satisfied. "Like it matters. The 'Cons are holding all the keys anyway..."
"We'll get them back," Violetwind tried to bring up their hopes up a little, despite being doubtful herself.
Grunting again the green mech wandered off down the hall, the femme watching him go with a touch of sadness in her optics.
"Ah, don't worry. I'm sure Bulk will be feeling more like himself after a bit of down time," the rookie grinned. "How about we go do a bit of sparring? If we're going to get those keys back, I bet we'll be doing a bit of fighting."
"Maybe later, Smoke. I think I'm just going to go back to bed. It sounds like tomorrow might be a big day and I, for one, don't want to be without recharge," the purple femme turned him down.
He whined back, "But you, like, were in recharge for most of today."
'You feeling alright?' whirred Bumblebee with concern.
She smiled, "Yeah, I'm fine, Bee." Glancing at Smokescreen she teased, "And that's cause I was up with Ratchet fixing the dents I got falling through a ground bridge which you missed."
"Hey, you know that wasn't my fault. Aren't you at least glad I didn't hit the ground?"
"Don't say it like that. Of course I'm glad you didn't end up like those vehicons," she frowned at the mech. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna head off to my room now."
"Night then," Arcee waved, before turning to the rookie, challenging him, "Come on, Smoke, I'll take you on in a spar if you think you can take me."
"Always ready to beat you, Arcee," he accepted confidently. "See ya, Vi! How about you, Bee? You gonna come too?"
The scout nodded, 'I'll take on the winner!'
Smiling, the femme waved goodbye and wandered down the hall, their voices fading as she got further away. The smile slowly slipped off her face when she got some distance between them, her thoughts heavy with doubt and uncertainty.
Even if we restore Cybertron, I'll still have that voice in my head... What then? Can it be cured? Will I ever be normal again?
*melts* I love the kids but I don't think I'm all that great at portraying them...