XIX - Legacy III

The atmosphere in the base was so subdued one could easily call it lethargic. Everyone either immersed themselves in aimless tasks or just sat and stared into space with sullen optics. A sudden, welcome ping from the console shattered the silence. They all watched through tired, somber optics as Ratchet dragged himself away from absentmindedly sanitizing the berth to investigate. The others shook themselves out of stupors, trying to be ready for anything.

"An Iacon locator beacon," Optimus stated, not sounding the least bit surprised as his azure optics fell upon the selected location—a sparsely populated region in northeastern Mongolia.

Ratchet's tone was grim, "It seems the Decepticons have already excavated the next relic."

"Ratchet, triangulate coordinates and activate the ground bridge." The Prime ordered. The medic strode away and pulled down the lever that opened a green vortex.

"Sev isn't handling this too good," Bulkhead murmured thoughtfully, looking to the medic.

Ratchet squared his shoulders, "Just… try to be supportive."

Optimus looked down at him, "I could not have said it better, old friend."

"Well, that's a relief." Arcee said dryly.

Optimus suddenly looked around, counting the Autobots' helms. "Where are Seven and Knock Out?"

The femme shrugged, "Dunno. KO and 'Bee were the first to go back into the base."

Bumblebee buzzed out a statement, raising his servos.

"None of you saw him?" Optimus confirmed. Everyone shook their helms.

"And Sev? I think he went for a flight…" Smokescreen trailed off, looking to the Prime.

Optimus shook his helm sadly, "I'm afraid time is what he needs right now. Perhaps we can all converse later, if that might be beneficial." the Prime sighed in resignation, "We cannot wait. Autobots, transform and roll out!"

In a large clearing surrounded by a taiga forest, drones operated mining drills, chiseling away at the base of a mountain strewn with boulders. Insections whizzed over their helms, wings buzzing loudly as they strained to lift the massive rocks out of the way.

Megatron glanced up at the Nemesis floating high overhead, defying gravity. He opened a comm, "Dreadwing, report the troops' progress."

Aboard the warship, the blue Seeker examined the scene from above and compared it to the decoded set of coordinates. "Not much farther, my liege. The drones are nearly upon the relic as we speak." he answered with clipped syllables.

"Excellent." The warlord cut the link and resumed issuing instructions to a Vehicon and Insecticon. The drone trotted off and shoved a large boulder away as instructed.

He turned around at the glint of silver, "Lord Megatron," pointing to his findings. The warlord dismissed the Insecticon and strode over purposefully.

"I certainly hope that our new acquisition is of Decepticon origin." He rumbled, stepping up next to the drone. But then his scarlet optics widened in surprise and his mouth fell open in shock, "It cannot be…" the silver mech trailed off as two more Vehicons rolled away more boulders, giving him a better view of the relic. The hilt of a massive sword with a gold crossguard and sliver of a blade as silver as the warlord's paint was sheathed in yet another overlarge rock. There wasn't even a single hairline fracture.

The warlord's tone took on a deadly serious edge, albeit he still was astonished. "Power of this magnitude must never be allowed to fall into the servos of Optimus Prime. No matter what!"

Megatron stepped forward as all the Vehicons and Insecticons watched, gingerly wrapping his fingers around the sword's hilt. He held it tightly and tried to free it with all the brute force he could muster, grunting and growling at it all the while. It didn't yield an inch. But nor did the warlord. He then held it with both servos and planted a pede firmly against the wall of rock. Grunting turned into snarling, which escalated into a frustrated roar until he finally let go. Infuriated, he fired a multitude of shots at it with his fusion cannon. But when the smoke and dust cleared, the sword glinted innocently in the sunlight as if mocking him, unscathed.

"The rock is impermeable… the relic must be emitting a protective shield." The large mech hissed, eyebrows raising. But then he snarled, "It will only respond to the power of a Prime!" He turned and faced the fleet of Vehicons and Insecticons once again, determination blazing in his optics. "We will remove it if we have to take the entire mountain!"

The console's scanners pinged again in the Autobot base, which was now void of life save for Ratchet. But he liked it that way. The screens showed a location far from where the other Autobots were, in mideastern North America. His optics narrowed slightly and he opened a comm, "Optimus, I just picked up a second Iacon locator beacon." The only answer he got was static crackling in his audials. "Optimus, do you read?"

On the other side of the failed comm, Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee, and Smokescreen trekked through a misty fog. It clung low to the ground, swirling in smooth patterns and nuzzling their shins with each step they took.

The green mech sighed, looking over Arcee's shoulder plating and at the scanner she held. "No sign of 'Cons?" The femme glanced around at him, then exchanged a silent look with Optimus in agreement. The Prime returned it and kept walking, the others following obediently at his heels.

High above them flew Soundwave, carrying the false Iacon relic and beacon beneath him. He quieted his engines, sticking to the dense cloud layer. The communications officer pushed his thruster and shot off far ahead of the wayward band of his adversaries. They vanished behind him as a rolling wave of mist and fog overtook them, crashing into the ground and veiled them from his sight. But that meant that the silent mech was invisible too. He was pleased with himself and the device's capabilities, with the beacon installed in it, it was like tugging a dog around on a leash.

Soundwave swooped down and transformed, alighting on a small, rocky outcropping in a sea of mist. If he relied on a visual alone, he wouldn't have been able to tell if the ground had been two feet away or two hundred. The silent mech gently set the fake container down against the rock, ignoring its fetid fumes and transformed again. The fog fled when he blasted his thruster and shot up into the sky, well out of the reach of prying optics and audials. The Autobots, left far behind him, still suspected nothing.

The lure was cast, now the fish needed to take the bait. It may as well have been. Their plating flashed like scales in the slating light from mist condensing on their armor. The water droplets boasted a stunning array of hues, scattering light everywhere. They too were beacons, in their own dazzling way.

The five Autobots discovered their prize a few minutes later. [Look!] The yellow scout chirped and pointed to it in excitement. Smokescreen jogged over to him, a blaster at the ready. The other three followed close behind, with Prime taking up the rear.

"The relic," Bulkhead stated, uncannily proficient at stating the obvious.

"But no 'Cons," Smokescreen finished, sounding disappointed as he swept his helm around in search of threats that might lurk behind walls of fog.

"It would be foolish to let our guard down." Optimus added, optics narrowing at the relic's container. The Wrecker went to investigate and popped its lid off with ease, throwing it like a discus into the murk.

"Was that necessary?" The femme cocked her helm slightly at him.

The green mech looked ready to reply, but what he saw in the container silenced it. Instead he stumbled away from it, waving at the air in front of his faceplates to ward off the putrid stench. "Ugh, what is that?!" He exclaimed in disgust. "Smells worse than Megatron's shower!"

"You didn't get a look at what it was?" Arcee said in exasperation and strolled over to look herself. She abruptly looked up from the container, wearing a serious expression. "Optimus, have a look."

"Tox-En," the Prime rumbled in disgust.

Knock Out and I walked into the base side by side, an uncharacteristically somber air about us. "The headstone was a nice touch," Knock Out said, glancing up at me next to him.

I ruffled my wings, my voice still sounding weak, "Well, it's better than nothing, that I can assure you."

He shook his helm slightly, "Seriously, 'here lies Starscream'?" My optics widened at the realization, then narrowed. "Fitting, nonetheless." he quipped. I slapped him sharply. "OW!" the mech yelped, cradling his arm away from me, "What was that for?!"

"Everything," I hissed.

"Will you two keep it down!" snapped Ratchet from the main console. "Arcee? Bulkhead?!" He barked into a comm link, receiving only static as a reply. "Can anyone hear me?"

I frowned at the medic's back, "How fantastic, this day couldn't get any worse and yet it finds a way."

"What's happening?" The red mech beside me pressed.

The other medic didn't even glance back, still fiddling with the console before him. "Our sensors detected a second Iacon locator beacon," he exclaimed, turning to face us, "but I can't reach Optimus."

"I'll go." We offered simultaneously.

His expression softened, "Are you certain you want to–"

"Yes." I replied cooly, challenging him with my optics as I flexed my wings.

He considered it for a brief moment, visibly biting his lip. The medic finally caved, sighing in defeat. "Fine." He then opened the ground bridge and returned to his task at the console, whatever that might have been. "Fine," he muttered again.

Knock Out and I exchanged a glance. "After you," he made a sweeping gesture towards the open vortex. A retort bit at my glossa but I held it still, walking through without complaint.

The red medic hung back for a moment with the other, "Don't you think Seven's been acting a bit… strange?"

Ratchet snorted derisively, not looking up. "I'd be more concerned if he wasn't. Knowing him, he'll try to play the part and act like nothing's wrong, but keep an optic on him. We've already lost one of ours today."

"I'll keep that in mind," Knock Out agreed, and walked through the portal after the Seeker.

I tapped my pede in impatience, staring up at the coniferous trees that loomed above me like eerie sentinels. Their branches scraped together in a dry, rustling way, bristling with needles, dry fingers scratching at the sky. The air had a chill to it that Nevada lacked, fortunately for us. No matter what season of the year, that arid desert remained static. But not here though. Here, winter crept closer with each passing day, and a bitter one at that. One that would be completely alien to our base full of, well, aliens. I felt a pang of sympathy for Starscream as a memory surfaced of him embarking with Optimus for Antarctica. It would undoubtedly be much more frigid there than it was here, even in the summer months.

Starscream. The thought of my double brought on an ache so powerful that it caused my helm to throb. I couldn't tell whether I was imagining it or not. My tank churned with nausea, I felt energon trying to creep up my throat. I gagged and pushed it down, struggling to regain control of my emotions. Knock Out was right: sometimes one doesn't realize what they have until its gone. But now was not the time to grieve. Who knew how many Decepticons were nearby, and if they were, I knew with absolute certainty that they would leap at the chance to catch easy prey.

I blinked suddenly as Knock Out stepped out of the bridge, detaching myself from one of the tall trees. I saw that I had gouged deep claw marks into its soft bark and beyond and prayed that the medic hadn't noticed.

He appeared not to have and motioned towards a pile of large boulders that marked the edge of a ridge, surrounded by a copse of trees. We both darted over, warily on my part, and took cover behind them. I lowered my wings to better hide myself from unwelcome optics. A group of Vehicons and Insecticons were loosely crowded around the face of a single, massive boulder. I saw that the Nemesis floated high overhead, but the Decepticons on the ground paid it no heed. Curious, I was about to step out from behind the rock to afford a better look, but Knock Out jerked me back.

"It's a sword," he hissed to me. I nodded silently in understanding, but then my optics widened.

"That's not just any sword," I hissed back, "it appears to be the Star Saber—what's known to be a legendary weapon forged by Solus Prime. As lore would have it, it is rumored to wield the power of the Matrix."

The red mech nodded, "Indeed, Mr. Anderson."

I scowled at him, feeling my wings begin to twitch with irritation. "Those drones won't even stand a chance," the ghost of a sinister smirk graced my faceplates. "If I were to be behind such a blade…" I grinned maliciously at the thought.

"But the Insecticons would, so keep dreaming." His optics suddenly widened in surprise, "Megatron! I thought he would–"

"Never mind what you thought," I snapped, glaring at him.

He looked at me sideways, "What has gotten into you? Where's all that famed cowardice?"

I ignored his question, "Ah, but why doesn't my former master just take it? Does he not want to mar its magnificence with his oily claws?" Knock Out silenced me with a glare.

"We should wait for backup," he advised, "Primus knows what he could do with the thing in his grasp!"

"Which is why we need to get it now!" I fought back. Sick of wasting time arguing with the medic, I hurled myself over the boulder and made a beeline for the Decepticons. Namely, Megatron. I heard Knock Out following behind me after hesitating for a second, his pedes scraping and scrabbling less gracefully over rocks.

"ENOUGH!" Megatron bellowed at his troops in frustration as an Insecticon flew over his helm carrying a sizeable boulder. He opened a comm to Dreadwing aboard the Nemesis. "Commence transport!" A small claw attached to a strong but thin steel cable fell out of the bottom of the warship and found a grip on the top of the boulder that the sword was stuck in. Though as I drew closer I got a better picture of its sheer size. It towered over all of us like a behemoth, almost as tall as the warlord's ship was long. He watched it in anticipation, a slight malicious smile on his faceplates, but it quickly fell into a scowl at the sound of blaster fire.

In the meantime, I hurled myself over another large rock, not transforming my own blasters out just yet. My legs churned faster, heel struts pounding deep divots into the soft earth. Soon enough I was within shouting distance of the warlord. I dodged a bolt of red plasma, not even bothering to seek shelter behind a boulder. Instead, I slowed to a trot and stood up straight, putting on a confident smirk. For some strange reason, it came with ease even though I knew that I should have been terrified. Starscream certainly would've been. I strolled past the drones, my optics not even sliding over them. "I am not here to fight," I said lightly.

To say the least, Megatron was skeptical. "Oh, really? And what is it that you wish? Because if I do not find your answer to be satisfactory, there will be plenty of energon spilled." But the Vehicons and Insecticons took the cue and stood down, lowering their weapons, however, not with complacence.

"What are you doing?" Knock Out hissed nervously.

I ignored him.

"Lord Megatron, it is a pleasure." I purred, and bowed deeply at his pedes.

He glared down at me, looking ready to power up his blaster or slice 'n' dice me with his sword. "To what is it owed?"

"Nothing, my liege." I replied, my helm still lowered respectfully. "I am, and always will be, at your command as a humble servant." I looked up, seeing Knock Out's jaw had dropped.

"So, you come crawling back with more problems than you're worth, my dear Starscream, and expect to be accepted back among the Decepticons with open arms? And you joined the Autobots, did you not? I believe the last time we met, you tried to tear out my spark with your bare servos." He stated calmly in a mildly discouraged tone, as if pondering that it might rain. I steeled myself at the mention of the dead Seeker. Again, in the similar circumstances, as I could tell from my double's memories, he had been quaking in his pedes. So why wasn't I terrified out of my wits?

But when I spoke again and stood, my voice was as steady as my legs, which, to clarify, felt rooted to the ground. "My Lord, it is with deep regret that I remember my deluded actions. The Autobots had me under the influence of multiple–"

"I am not here to listen to your prattle, Starscream." The warlord's tone was now icy.

I silently chastised myself, "Of course, my liege. My apologies. However, I was held captive against my will along with Knock Out here," The red mech gave a slight, stunned wave. He looked as though in a trance, optics clouded with disbelief. "But we both managed to escape the clutches of those wretched Autobots," one of my servos balled into a fist, "back to our rightful Lord and Master."

He watched the pair of us through narrowed optics, and this time I couldn't help but squirm the tiniest bit beneath his gaze. "You were mistreated?"

The medic and I exchanged a glance, "Not exactly, my liege…" the red mech trailed off, looking to me for support.

I jumped on the opportunity with the fervor of a starving mech over energon cubes. "What Knock Out means to say is: they held us captive for many long, arduous months," I scowled, "an energon cube was delivered daily to each of us, but we were penned up in the same cage for Primus knew how long–"

"Spare me the dramatics, Starscream." Megatron snarled, his patience waning fast.

I cleared my throat, not to be deterred easily. When push came to shove, I, for once, was going to shove back. "So, my liege, are you going to welcome us back into your ranks, or will we have to force your arms open?"

He seemed mildly surprised at the retort but hid it fast enough that I wasn't sure whether I had imagined it or not. It was replaced with a slight, triumphant smile, just a twitch at the corners of his mouth, really. "And when you were furiously trying to extinguish my spark, you were still being held 'captive'?"

"My actions were justified, given that you were trying just as hard to snuff mine." I replied cooly.

The warlord chuckled darkly, "Of course they were." His tone brimmed with a subtle sarcasm.

I turned to face the red mech for help, "Kno–Knock Out?" He had seemingly vanished.

"Optimus! Frag it, Prime, answer already!" The red medic spat into a comm, hiding on the other side of a mid-sized boulder.

Thankfully, the leader of the Autobots did. "Knock Out, what is wrong?"

The red mech shook his helm, "It's Seven, I don't know. I think he's lost his processor. Completely and utterly gotten fragged in the helm. Scream's death must have unhinged him somehow–"

"What makes you think that?" Arcee queried on the other side, her voice much softer, probably coming from farther away.

"The fact that I'm watching him trying to force Megatron to give him his place back is a fairly bad sign, I'll say." The medic drawled.

"What!?" Bulkhead exclaimed, sounding closer than Arcee.

"Do you know why, Knock Out?" Optimus asked, worry penetrating his tone.

The red mech sighed, "I'm a doctor: if I knew what was wrong, I would've gone over there and fixed it for frag's sake!" He spat and his tone sank to a mutter, "I knew I never should have allowed him to tag along… he must be blaming us…"

"Where are you?"

"At the relic! Where are you?"

The Prime took a moment to respond, "Are you certain of your location?"

"I'm staring right at it, Prime."

Smokescreen's voice came over the link this time, "Well, so are we."

At the medic's words, Optimus closed the comm went over to investigate the relic again and make sure that they hadn't missed something. "It is enriched Tox-En, several times more potent and fast-acting than the naturally-occurring crystal."

"What of it," Arcee replied scathingly, "if it's really the relic, it's useless to us anyway." She became increasingly more animated as she spoke.

Smokescreen cut in, "And if it's a 'Con trick, they should've planted, like, a grenade or something that would actually hurt us in it! I mean, come on! It's not like we're going to just sit in a circle and play hot potato with it!" Everyone looked at him. He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Sorry."

"We get it," Bulkhead agreed, now looking to Optimus, "but if it is, why didn't the 'Cons just blow us up? We certainly weren't expecting it."

[Look, there's something else in there.] Bumblebee pointed at the Tox-En, getting as close to the poisonous energon as he dared. Once again, they all crowded in around it, optics following the line of the scout's finger. Trapped inside the crystal like an insect in amber was a clear vial half-full with an equally transparent, colorless liquid staring back. They all had already guessed what it was, sparks plummeting to their pedes.

"Megatron had the antidote," Optimus breathed.

"So," the warlord began again, focusing his stare back on me, making sure I didn't try anything, "why should I spare you only to be rewarded with your traitorous deeds? I'm feeling generous," he sneered, "and will allow the virus to take its course through your systems, rather than terminate you here and now." The cable attached to the gargantuan rock thrummed as it snapped taut, and slowly, ever so slowly, the Nemesis began to rise it into the air.

I started. "Y-you know about that?!"

His expression darkened and his sneer deepened, "I had a reliable source."

"'Had?'"

"He ceased to be of use."

"Ah," I cleared my vocalizer.

Before either of us could continue, a ground bridge opened behind me and five sets of pedes clomped out. I whirled around, thinking some of Megatron's reinforcements had arrived.

But Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Smokescreen merely stared at me in shock, a container clutched in the Prime's servo. Mixtures of horror, blatant disbelief, deep feelings of betrayal, and even disgust were plastered to their faceplates. At the moment, I couldn't care in the least.

A/N: Oh Seven, vacationing in Hell would feel nice right now...