The Human Prime
Chapter 8: Bonds
Sunday came so slowly and Sam watched the elevator closely for signs of Artemis emerging from her solitude anytime soon. Though, she figured she'd be waiting for a long time. Miko managed to distract her for a few hours with a video game tournament, but now she was back in front of the elevator.
"Hey, Sam let's go on patrol with Bulkhead. We'll get Wheeljack on it too, okay?" Miko gave a dramatic pose. "We'll ride rock band style."
"What if Artemis needs me? I want to be here if she needs me." Sam said without turning her head. Her frown was beginning to leave a crease in her face.
"Why don't you go ahead? I'll look after Artemis." Ratchet suggested, half wanting to get rid of the loud obnoxious children.
"You will?" She looked at him for a second then thought about it.
"Jack, come with too! We'll go find Raf and Bumblebee and have a party." Miko gave a thumb's up.
"I wouldn't mind burning some rubber." Arcee added which meant Jack was in. Sam looked at everyone then nodded and looked up at the walkway above one last time.
"Okay." Sam walked down the stairs and joined Miko in the car. With that, the base was empty besides Ratchet, Artemis, and Optimus. Ratchet looked at Optimus with a worried look which was a bit unlike him then looked up at the walk way.
"Artemis, the others are gone, why don't you come down here? I'd like to examine you for any injuries." Ratchet called up, but he got nothing, complete silence. "Optimus," He said in a very hushed tone. "I am afraid the battle with Mira has done quite bit a damage to her mental state rather than physical wounds."
"I would have to agree with you Ratchet. Though, I'm not sure how to reverse such affects." Optimus looked up and could see a strand of brown hair peeking out from the side of the makeshift wall.
"As a physician, I would say some rest and time. As a friend," Ratchet paused at the word realizing he did consider Artemis to be his friend. "I would suggest interaction."
"Interaction?" Optimus looked down at his old friend who purposed such an odd suggestion.
"Right now, I believe she is feeling unstable. Perhaps, knowing someone is there to have her back and to explain to her what is right from someone in a similar situation, will give her the stability she needs." He was about to continue before the elevator whirred and Artemis stepped out.
"You wanted to look at me?" Artemis said weakly and almost lifelessly. Ratchet nodded, quickly looked at Optimus, than offered a hand. She hopped on it respectfully as brought her over to sick bay for an examination.
Decepticon Laboratory
Mira traced the disappearing scar on her face. Lord Megatron was rather displeased that she didn't successfully capture much less bring him the head of Artemis. Though, a night's recharge seemed to lighten his mood on her and allow him to realize that she is only human, as ironic the phrase was.
"Watch it, your smudging my paint job." Knockout said with a grunt. He wasn't pleased to have to baby sit the human just as much as she wasn't pleased to have him as a partner.
"Hey, K.O, I don't think Airachnid is going to be here very long." She said abruptly which made him pause.
"Why do you say that?" He raised her eye brow at her which made her smile. At least she could entertain him enough to make him quit whining about his looks.
"Lord Megatron and Soundwave were conversing about her 'usefulness.'" She sharpened the claws on her gauntlets then jerked when the doors opened and Breakdown walked in. Mira rather enjoyed Breakdown's company; he was so easily enraged that it became an amusing activity. "Hey Pirate Breakdown, steal any good booty?" Breakdown only grunted, un-amused.
"What's wrong? You seem, distracted." Knockout said concerned. As friendship goes for Decepticons, those two were closer than any bot could be.
"Ah, just something Dreadwing asked me to help him with later." He assured him by waving his large servo his direction. Knockout and Mira exchanged glances then she gave him a toothy grin.
"Is this about Airachnid?" Knockout asked reluctantly.
"How'd you know?"
"Hush you two; if it is about the spider wretch, then we can't risk discussing it until after the situation is taken care of, could cause trouble for you in the end. Let's just agree that you have a job to do Breakdown." Mira exclaimed before jumping off Knockout's shoulder and heading off. "I need to speak to our dear lord Megatron."
Autobot Sick Bay
Artemis waited patiently as Ratchet looked over vitals and attempted to be certain she was in one piece. Though, as she had some to find out, his human medical knowledge was limited. With what kindness she could scrounge up from his depressive mood, she tried to explain to him anything that would be considered normal and what would not. She could see he was taking mental notes along with digital ones on the computer.
"Well, if what you say is correct, you seem to be perfectly healthy. A few burns on your face, but nothing serious." He finally allowed her off the metal slab.
"Thanks Ratchet." He loose t-shirt snagged on the bed in which she had to stop and release it.
"Artemis," Optimus' voice surprised her for she didn't know he was watching, but she nodded in recognition. "I could use your company on patrol today."
"Alright, I'll go get my armor." She said rather sadly as if the idea of wearing that bloody armor did not appeal or excite her.
"Not necessary, you will ride with me." His voice was as kind and as understanding as it could possibly be. Artemis paused then nodded.
"Let me change from my pajamas." She said shyly; she was so depressed she forgot to change clothes upon coming down from her 'bedroom.'
Abandoned Back Roads
Sam watched Wheeljack begin to pass Arcee from the passenger seat. She cheered him on as loudly as she possibly could. It was between Arcee, Jack, Wheeljack and herself now, Bulkhead, Miko, Bumblebee and Raf were already eating there dust. The final turn would lead them into the libraries parking lot and that point they would have to stop racing, but they were squeezing all the speed they could out of the unused back roads.
As the approached the final turn, Wheeljack pulled a skid that jumped them solidly in the lead. They swerved into a stop and Sam jumped out pointing at Jack. Bulkhead speeded in with Miko holding her phone out the window to snap a picture of the winner. Bumblebee came next, moving slowly considering Rafael didn't like to zoom down the road under such overwhelming danger that they would get in trouble.
"Ha, in your face! We win!" Sam did her victory dance then hugged Wheeljack's hood. "You're an amazing machine of raw horse power Wheeljack!"
"Alright, alright, you win." Jack said with a small laugh as he took off his helmet and fixed his hair. "Hey who's that?"
"Minnie, the owner of the library, A.K.A Artemis' boss." Sam tried to hide her face, by sticking her head back in the car, but Minnie was already calling her name heading over to their position. "Minnie, listen sorry about the noise, but we are OUTSIDE the library."
"Oh, don't worry about that. Listen, Artemis hasn't been showing up for work. Is she sick?" Minnie was holding a bulky envelope in her hands as she positioned them on her hips.
"Well, a lot has happened these few days. She's kinda taking a breather. Actually, she told me to come and see you today, tell you that she won't be at work for a while." Sam smiled loosely then looked over at the others for assistance, but they didn't comply.
"Well tell her to take all the time she needs. Also, tell her this. That I know she doesn't like taking it without working it off first, but that this does belong to her. Tell her she should just take it." Minnie handed the envelope to her. "Tell her also that more came in yesterday and to come and pick it up."
"Sure, Minnie, I'll make sure she knows." Sam smiled as Minnie nodded and walked away. She let out an annoyed sigh and leaned against Wheeljack's hood. "That lady."
"What's in the envelope?" Rafael walked up to Sam followed by Miko. Jack joined Sam on the hood looking down at the envelope.
"I don't know, let's see." Sam began to open it, but Arcee interrupted.
"Doesn't that belong to Artemis though? It wouldn't be right to open it." Arcee insisted, but Sam shrugged.
"Artemis lets me open her mail all the time. Besides, we don't hide anything from each other, whatever it is I probably already knew about it before." Sam opened the envelope and looked inside. Her jaw dropped instantly. "Woof."
In Town
Artemis sat straight in the large truck, remaining eerily quiet for quite some time. Her eyes stared so intensely at the scenery that Optimus was positive that she was looking way beyond it. Before he could even think of what to say to her, he pulled into driver thru.
"Welcome to K.O Burger, May I take your order?" The voice startled Artemis out of her daze as she looked at the steering wheel.
"Humans need to eat, isn't that correct?" Optimus explained and on cue, Artemis' stomach growled. She smiled then leaned out the window to place her order. After picking up the food, they were on the road again. Even though her stomach was clearly growling and hungry, she ate only a few bites every time she came out of her thoughtful daze.
"Optimus, what are you doing?" She finally asked before taking another bite of her burger.
"I'm comforting a friend." He answered which made her stop mid bite to think he considered her a friend. Not a child, not a liability, a friend, an equal. "Sam was waiting for you by the elevator this morning."
"I know I don't want to burden her with my problem though. There to complicated, she wouldn't understand." Artemis took the final bite of her burger then leaned against the seat.
"Why do you say that?"
"Before I found Sam, Her father showered her in love, gave her whatever she desired and spent every waking moment with her. She was an only child so she had not competition for that love. She was happy. True, the happiness was snatched away when her father was killed at gun point, but I tried my best to take his place and take care of her. She hadn't had to do anything truly difficult in her life." With that an awkward silence fell between them, but after a while Artemis broke that too. "Is it odd to feel so regretful about hurting someone who was and still is trying to kill you?" Artemis played with the wrapped of the burger, folding and unfolding the corner.
"Not if that someone is one you consider family." Optimus said with truthfulness in his heart. "I don't recall you telling me much about your life before the incident."
"It wasn't a very happy story." She admitted, "When Mira and I were born, her immune system was compromised and she was always ill. They said that she wouldn't live past twelve years old so my parents tried to ignore her. They tried to make it so that it seemed they only had me. For the most part, they would give her what she needed then leave her with a family doctor. I felt bad because if it weren't for me, she'd be a part of the family so when my parents were scolding me and trying to drill into my head the family business, I was taking care of my sister. I didn't realize it then, but she truly hated me."
Artemis paused as she through about how sometimes Mira would give her dirty looks. Even when they were having fun together, Mira was always sort of distant from her. Perhaps for a long time, Mira was planning to kill her and only lacked the strength to do so.
"I don't think she realized how good she had it. Our parents didn't love either of us; I was simply the better choice to continue the family business. At least she had freedom from their expectations, but I guess she wanted to have some expectations. I guess she didn't want to be looked at as an expiration date." Artemis stopped, her family story was only more of high expectations for her and no expectations for her sister and she couldn't continue anymore.
"I believe you parents loved both of you." Optimus said with a few moments to think. "They were remorseful towards Mira's short lifetime and proud to have such a well-rounded daughter."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. If only I could have told Mira that before she burned our family to the ground."
"Artemis."
"Yeah?"
"I once considered Megatron a brother." Artemis was shocked when he began to explain his situation. She listened to him intently sensing some divine wisdom in his words. "If you asked me a while ago, I would have told you I would never consider extinguishing his spark as a solution to this war. However," He paused for only a moment. "Recently realization has made me consider it necessary to one day end his life. But, that doesn't mean you are bound by the same conclusion. One day, if you come to the realization that perhaps the termination of your sister will be the one and only way to allow the darkness of Unicron's spark to be cleansed from her soul then I'm sure you will be willing. However, for now, do not stop searching for an alternative if you feel it is what is right. Until you do find an answer, your sister and yourself will push yourselves to death many times, but you must remain confident and honest with yourself."
Artemis silently replayed Optimus' words in her head, each letter giving her some peace to her restless soul. She was sure now that if the day came where she would think that having to kill her sister was the solution that she would not be mournful or hesitant. She could look for other answers as Optimus suggested and narrow it down to that conclusion. Perhaps, the day would never come, but at least if it did she would be able to say she tried. She smiled at him and nodded.
"Thank you Optimus, I needed to hear that."
Halls of Decepticon War Ship
"Lord Megatron, do you think it wise to send Dreadwing to do your job? Don't get me wrong, he is a highly capable first lieutenant to have at your side, but to terminate another officer. It could be a little much, especially if you want the job done." Mira cooed into his audio receptors, trying to convince him to send more warriors on the mission.
"Dreadwing is no fool. He will take assistance with him." Megatron glared at her for sitting so casually on his shoulder, but considered her as a pet.
"Yes, but he will also try and impress you so he will not take very many." She tried to explain Dreadwing's need to impress his dear lord, but Megatron refused to hear any more of it. At that moment, Dreadwing appeared before them.
"I will be leaving now Lord Megatron." He bowed graciously to his lord before passing by.
"Good Luck, Dreadwing, you are going to need it." Megatron watched his loyal warrior proceed down the hall.
"Yes, Dreadwing, you will need it." Mira said scornfully.
Canyon's Edge
Artemis sighed lovingly as she looked up at the stars; Optimus standing next to her also staring very thoughtfully at the sky above them. She looked over at for a brief moment wondering whether she should say anything. When a cloud began to pass by the stars she was focusing on, she opened her mouth.
"I always look up at the stars at night. It feels like I'm staring up at Cybertron even though it's so far away." Artemis looked back at him and found he was a little sad in his face. "It must have been beautiful."
"Yes, it truly was." Optimus said softly before bring his finger up to his audio receptors. "Ratchet needs us back at base."
"Okay." Before, she got into the truck, she stared up at the stars one last time and pictured in her head Cybertron's rebirth.
Late into the Night
Artemis waited patiently for the Autobots return. Sam sat on the couch twitching as if she were hiding something, but determining the right time to talk to them. After Ratchet told them about Starscream's information about the insecticon and Airachnid, Optimus and the others went to investigate the information's destination.
"Ratchet, it's taking them an awfully long time, do you think they ran into trouble?" Artemis looked over at Ratchet who was observing the screen.
"I agree something must have gone wrong." Ratchet debated whether to contact Optimus.
"Let me go investigate." She finally told him which he scoffed and shook her head.
"You were distracted all day and then expect me to send you into a dangerous scenario?" He growled, but she looked at him so sincerely that he stopped.
"I'm fine, Ratchet. The others could use my help." She waited for him to answer, but instead he went over to the ground bridge and began locking on the coordinates. Artemis began suiting up, not even faltering when her blood stained gauntlets slipped onto her arms.
"Artemis, wait I-" Sam began, but Artemis put on her visor and grabbed the hover board.
"You can talk to me when I come back, I promise." Artemis yelled back as she zoomed out the ground bridge.
Cave Entrance
Artemis began to enter the cave, but then heard the buzzing of what sounded like planes. She knew that it must be reinforcements. Artemis hid behind a rock close to the cave's entrance and watched as planes zoomed past her. After the engine sound was far into the cave, she attempted again to enter the cave.
However, before she could step one foot inside, she noticed Starscream climbing over into the woods above them. He was so set on something that he didn't even notice she was so close and watching him. Pausing for a moment, she decided it would be best to follow him.
Not using the hover board in fear it would cause to much noise, she followed him on foot, having to take several large leaps for his one. Before she could catch up to him fully, she could hear him chuckling then firing a missile at something. When she finally caught up, she could see Airachnid staring at him with a snarl and Arcee tired up in her web just a few feet from her.
"How right you were, Airachnid. Payback. Is. Sweet!" Starscream fired another missile at her which with that, she drilled underground to escape. Artemis let out a relived sigh when she realized he saved Arcee from Airachnid's deadly blow. "Now, if there is one thing I despise nearly as much as eight leggers, its two wheelers."
"Scrap." Artemis realized Arcee wasn't out of the fire yet and pointed her blaster at Starscream as he approached the tied up femme bot.
"Go ahead, get it over with."
"As I recollect, in a similar predicament, you once allowed me to live." His lashed out his long claw-like hands, cutting Arcee free to everyone's surprise. "Consider us even." He began to walk in Artemis' direction, so she took cover.
"Arcee, what is your status?" Optimus called over the com-link.
"In need of assist, but alive and so is Airachnid." Artemis waited for Starscream to pass before coming out of her hiding place. She could hear Bulkhead talking about Megatron and another bug problem that they had, but she took the time to make herself known.
"Don't worry Optimus, I got her." Artemis called in through the com-link in her visor which made Arcee jump and look down at her.
"Artemis! How long have you been standing there?" She asked embarrassed.
"Long enough." Artemis brought out her blade and began hacking away at the thick webbing. "Don't worry it's not my job or place to lecture you. I believe Optimus will have that part covered."
"Very funny." Arcee huffed, but smiled either way.
"Next time, how about I come along before you go trying to avenge you deceased partner all on your own?"
"How'd you?"
"I have seen many memories. Tailgate will be missed." Artemis whispered before cutting the last thread that allowed Arcee to cut herself free. "I'm open ears if you ever want to talk about it, Arcee."
"Thanks, for the help I mean." Though even Artemis knew that she meant more than the cutting a couple spider threads. "Let's get out of here."
"Agreed."
Autobot Base
When Arcee and Artemis came from the ground bridge, Arcee was ready for a long lecture on her actions, but before Optimus could even start, Sam came stomping up to Artemis with a harsh face. For a long time she just stared at her screaming things like, 'you said we wouldn't hide anything from each other.'
"I'm not waiting anymore; explain to me what the heck this came from?" Sam waved an envelope around, but Artemis looked very confused.
"Sam, what are you talking about? Explain where what came from?" She tried to calm Sam down so they could talk privately, but then Sam snapped at her.
"This!" Sam threw the envelope at her and heaps of hundred dollar bills spurted from the envelope onto the floor. The Autobots were silent, not sure what to make of the money on the ground and not sure what the big issue was, but Artemis knew. Sam was huffing and tearing she was so mad.
"Oh."