Fire of Youth
Chapter 3
Fire of Youth
Chapter 3
Location: Skies Beyond the Fortress of Darkmount
Exact Geographic Coordinates: 39.911365,-117.539185
General Region: Jasper, Nevada, United States of America
Time: 1600
Vengeful fire burned through every circuit and gear and wire of the fledgling Prime's frame as he drew nearer and nearer the great black spire of Darkmount in the distance. His inner fire was only further stoked by the presence of those held within the Matrix itself. Only the gentle warmth of Optimus kept his righteously furious spark fire from evolving into hate and blood lust, but even then it was only just barely contained. He knew words would not solve the issue between Autobots and Decepticons. He knew that the latter faction only ever responded to violence. It was a case of kick and then kick back in his opinion.
He felt a strong pulse of caution from the device within his spark chamber. Thoughts percolated into his mind that were not his own, but those of another. However, he did not know whether these thoughts were stemming from one of the Primes or Primus himself. It was slightly unnerving, but the line between the two parties seemed to be blurred in the sense of psyche and spark. There was no true distinction between them. The other awareness admitted that he did have a point, but it also argued that by responding with violence, would that not simply breed more violence? Wasn't that how the War had started – one act of violence paving the way for another, and another, until it appeared that the only way to end it was through fighting?
Infernus growled both aloud and mentally. He was not interested in having a philosophical debate right now with whoever this was, even if it was Optimus. He had a team of friends he needed to save, and debating the origin of the War was not going to speed that task along or further that goal in any way. It was the moment at hand that mattered to him. This could be discussed at a later time when his friends' lives weren't hanging in the balance.
'Smokescreen, do not let your grief and anger over my death cloud your judgement. You feel that the old human saying "an eye for an eye" fits very aptly here, and there are many, many fallen who agree with you. I know you feel that Megatron must pay for his act, but I am begging you – whatever you do, do not stoop to his level. Do so and you become no better than him. Revenge is not the way of a Prime.'
The fire inside quelled somewhat on realizing his own emotional error. His own fire had threatened to consume him, and Optimus had forcibly stopped it from doing so with some very pointed words. Granted it was still raging inside him, but he understood now that it would consume him, consume him utterly and completely, if he continued to feed and stoke it with his own desire for retribution. Contrite, he apologized.
'I understand you are still grieving. But rather than feed your fire with a thirst for revenge, fuel it instead with a sense of purpose. Bring justice to not only myself and fellow fallen Autobots, but the millions of innocents and even Decepticons who have lost their lives over the centuries. You embody fire, true, but you cannot – and frankly must not – allow fire's destructive tendencies to overwrite the restorative second nature it possesses.'
Yes. He remembered the echoing, thundering words of the Thirteen. Fire destroyed, it scalded and burned everything in it's path until there was nothing left but ash and bones and the dead. But it also healed. It brought light and hope and even new life. Focusing on that, along with the shreds of the spark-aching vision from earlier, he forced his roiling spark fire to simmer down to a low yet steady and strong burn. He felt a pulse of approval. No thoughts accompanied it. There was no need for them.
He would avenge the fallen Prime. He would avenge all those who had died before their time had come over the course of this War. But he would not, no matter what happened, stoop to Megatron's level of brutal savagery to accomplish it. He was better than that. He was not a seeker of revenge in spite of the still existent urge to end Megatron's life in payment for the lives he had ended. No. He, Infernus Prime, was a seeker of justice.
And justice would be served before this conflict was brought to an end. Yes. In one way or another, it would be served. He was certain of that.
Darkmount drew ever nearer, Infernus's spark fire blazing stronger the closer and closer he got. But he was aware now that he had to think tactically, not rashly. If he made a mistake here then his friends would pay for it with their lives. He'd lost one friend today. Never would he forgive himself if he lost another. And while he couldn't see any of them quite yet, the faint but steady flares of the Matrix told him they were in fact nearby. Huh. He'd no idea the thing acted as a kind of spark locator. That might come in handy later on.
Earth's host star was beginning to lower down towards the horizon, and it gave him an idea. It wouldn't conceal his life signal, but it might conceal him visually – at any rate for a time. He just needed a brief opening to land a surprise attack on Megatron, whom he knew was at the top of the spire lounging on his throne. A hunch told him that Starscream would be there as well if he hadn't chickened out already for one reason or another.
He re-positioned himself accordingly. The setting golden-orange sun behind the fledgling Prime ignited his frame with light while also helping to conceal his approach to those monsters held within the spire's protective and heavily armed walls. It worked, and then some. His fiery-accented white color scheme reflected a lot of light and made it even more difficult for any 'Con observers to get a good look at him as he closed in on the fortress's upper story. He knew Megatron was there. He could sense a profound darkness lurking up at the spire's peak. But he could also sense light – familiar light he had not sensed in ages.
His spark fire re-ignited with a vengeance.
Megatron had to admit that the Autobot forces he had thought were dead and gone were very tenacious and quite resourceful. Employing the human three children's cellular devices to lure a good fraction of his forces away from his citadel had been clever. Of course Starscream hadn't seen through the childishly ingenious ruse in time, but he had managed to stop the Seeker before all of his forces had wound up scattered across the face of this planet. But they were also foolish and desperate. Launching an assault on his citadel with so few resources and mechpower – even with the recent additions of Ultra Magnus, Prowl, and Bluestreak to their ranks, along with Magnus's ship – showed that this was a last ditch effort to try and tip the scales back in their favor. Brave, but in the end doomed to failure. As such, he was not worried about his chances of victory. They had re-reinforcements? Well, so did he. His came in the form of Shockwave and a cloned Predacon. And while the latter had been trickily groundbridged to the arctic by the Autobots, he still had Shockwave.
He could retrieve the frozen beast at a later time after this pathetic little world was theirs. He was not worried. Especially since Ultra Magnus himself, Commander of the feared Wreckers and faithful lieutenant to Optimus Prime, was presently pinned under one of his pedes, battered and beaten but stubbornly refusing to give in even with his promise of a quick, relatively painless termination. Prowl and Bluestreak were down below with the remaining members of Optimus's squadron and at the mercy of his ground troops and Shockwave. They were beaten.
Internally the warlord chuckled darkly. If Ultra Magnus had failed, what chance did they have? They had no leader. They had no home. They had no Prime to bring them some small semblance of hope. His victory was assured. Any who stood a chance against him were already defeated. Without a leader even the most tight-knit group would shatter.
He jerked his gaze upwards when he caught sight of something flash in the sky. Starscream apparently observed it as well and moved over closer to the edge to get a better look at it. The Seeker's red optics narrowed along with his own. Whatever it was was fairly large and coming in fast. At the moment that was all that could be determined – the setting sun was making looking directly at the encroaching object difficult and mildly hazardous. As it got closer though they could begin to pick out its sharp, angular, bestial appearance.
"The Predacon?" Megatron guessed uncertainly.
Starscream hemmed: "Hmm. Definitely beast-y enough..."
Megatron then observed the grey Seeker visibly flinch back as though in surprise and fear, red optics widening in disbelief. His wings lowered and twitched anxiously. He sensed the Seeker's field suddenly retreat into his frame as he let out a barely audible but startled hiss. He heard him say five words that set the confident warlord on edge:
"I know that color scheme..."
The sound that came immediately afterwards made the warlord tense in anticipation. It was a mighty, screaming roar reminiscent of the Predacon's very own that seethed with primal anger and hatred. In spite of his confidence he felt his spark twinge with the slightest hint of fear. He knew that this was most definitely not Shockwave's cloned beast he had brought with him and that had been recently lost. No, this was something different – something far more dangerous and infinitely more volatile. Instinctively Megatron unsheathed his massive arm-mounted blade.
Still neither was able to get a decent look at the incoming creature, hiding as it was in the setting sun's glare. Powerful and adaptive as their optics were, staring at a star for an extended time frame could easily cause permanent damage.
An infuriated, murderous voice howled over short band radio: *MEGATRON!*
The next few seconds were a blur. He felt something large and heavy slam into him with the force of an angry city-former. Jagged claws raked down and across his armor, tearing it apart as though it were nothing more than a thin sheet of aluminum. Sharp fangs dug into his shoulder armor, breaching a main line underneath with disturbing ease. He felt himself lifted off the ground and then flung at his throne which crumbled at the massive impact. He remained motionless in the rubble, dazed. What had just happened? And moreover – why had that voice sounded familiar?
With a snarl he re-emerged from the wreckage of his throne. Starscream was presently engaged with a large white, fire-accented draconian beast-former who was easily pounding him. Missiles were proving to be next to useless against the beast's thick armor plating, and all the Seeker was managing to do was aggravate it even further with them and his blaster rounds. One swing of its spear-tipped tail sent Starscream flying off towards the edge of the open-air chamber, dented, leaking, and disoriented. The Seeker doggedly pushed himself to his knees only to find the white beast glaring at him murderously. He tried to say something, but his voice came out only as an undignified whimper.
*Leave. Now. While I'm still feeling generous. Consider yourself lucky. If I didn't have Optimus in my head telling me not to, I'd give it to the urge to kill you right here, right now. You deserve nothing less, you lying coward. Now scram.* it growled coldly at him over short band radio.
Starscream didn't argue. He nodded shakily, transformed, and shot off. Megatron could fend for himself. He was not about to die at the hands of an angry Predacon. Megatron would no doubt punish him for his act of abandonment, but such an outcome was far preferable to termination. He had survived such physical punishment before. A tactical retreat was in order in his mind. He would get the troops ready to leave should this fight go south for any reason.
Infernus turned his attention to the murdering warlord standing in the ruins of his throne. He saw the symbolism of the moment, and appreciated it wholly. Maybe it wouldn't happen today, but this mech would fall soon. But today – today he would ensure that his black tower fell. He would ensure his friends survived and he would ensure this planet survived.
He stood there glaring at him for a few brief moments in silence. Megatron stared back him, appraising him in that haughty manner of his, obviously trying to figure out why his voice and color scheme were familiar to him. Every circuit in his body was screaming at him to charge now and rend him apart, but he was better than that. He didn't give in to the urge, powerful as it was. This monster who stared back at him didn't deserve the easy way out. Not today. He'd put him out of his misery at a later date. Then his metal hide prickled as Megatron laughed in realization, a dark laugh that made his spark roil in rage. He knew. He knew his age old rival was no more. He was facing the Prime's young successor. This was laughable! His enemy had handed the Matrix to a mere child!
"So it would seem I finally succeeded!"
Infernus snarled. Oh, the desire to simply kill him in the most agonizing way possible was starting to look very, very tempting right now. And what was more, he knew such a feat wasn't impossible with his new upgrades. Megatron's shoulder and chest were now riddled with gashes and cuts that leaked still-warm Energon. He could even smell the sour taint of Dark Energon in the blue fluid.
*Come on! Too scared to fight me, 'Con?!*
Megatron's laughter stopped abruptly. It was Smokescreen's voice alright, but the sheer anger and hatred in his voice caught him off guard. The newly named Primeling was grieving over his recent loss still, but rather than sound morose or depressed about it he sounded downright murderous – enraged to a point that startled him. Smokescreen's personality had undergone a rather drastic shift. If anything, he was behaving more like a Predacon. This was suddenly more interesting.
"You wish to fight me, youngling? Very well. But know this – you will not have the advantage of surprise this time."
With that, the warlord charged forward with a snarl of fury, swinging his blade at the white dragon. Infernus pulled back to avoid the strike, swiping and snapping at the swinging blade, using his tail as a counter-balance to keep in one place. He feinted to one side, Megatron falling for the combat trick only to realize his mistake and make up for it. They continued trading blows in a savage dance of death until Infernus faltered at long last. Pressing his advantage, Megatron slashed at the beast's neck and then fired off round after round from his cannon, pinning him in place and allowing him to prepare for the killing blow effectively unmolested.
Megatron smirked. Foolish of him. Even with his upgrades he had never stood a chance. His emotions were impairing his combat abilities, and he was still adjusting to his new form. He didn't even know how to use his fire breath. He was a child dragged into fighting an adult's war.
He aimed the cannon at the beast's helm, purring darkly: "Perhaps I should reunite the two of you. Let me put you out of you misery."
Infernus snarled, blue optics burning with a fire all their own. But the onslaught from the cannon had left him weakened, not to mention his hide bore numerous leaking cuts from where Megatron's blade had found its mark. He was stronger now, but that didn't make him entirely invincible. He was just as mortal and vulnerable as he had been. Megatron's smirk only grew. Rebellious to the end, like all of his Autobot allies. He would not go down quietly. He would go down fighting. Admirable to say the least.
'Summon your fire, boy! Use it to force him back!' Onyx barked.
Megatron took note of an increased heat signature coming from the prone Primeling. His red optics narrowed in suspicion only to widen in shock as fire engulfed Smokescreen's body. The Primeling's wounds sealed up as if by magic as he watched. He reared back up onto his hind legs instantly afterwards, baby blue wings flaring out. In that moment he looked very much like a large reptilian phoenix, or perhaps a young Herald of Primus. A ball of roiling fire formed in his chest and rapidly rose up his neck. His fanged maw opened.
*THIS IS FOR OPTIMUS!* Infernus screamed.
Megatron didn't have time to dodge out of the way. He howled in pain as a great whirlwind of flames surged towards him and swallowed him whole. He fell to his knees, his pain receptors overloaded from the fire. When the flames finally receded he found the Primeling looming over him, snarling and growling. He looked more than ready to rip him to pieces. It would seem he had underestimated him. He knew better than anyone that anger lent strength. His strategy of taunting him into a blind rage had painfully backfired.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Finish me off. Take your revenge." Megatron hissed. "I'm at your mercy. End it. Optimus would."
At that the Primeling reverted out of his draconian form. His expression was oddly blank, a small frown of what almost looked like disapproval forming on his lip-plates as he watched. Only his blue optics still burned with his barely contained and fiery rage.
"No. He wouldn't. He wouldn't kill you. And here's the funny thing: I would. I could end this war right now by snuffing you out. It's literally only him that's keeping me from doing just that. So I'll give you one opportunity. Leave. I'm bringing this place down. Get out. Get out of my sight while I'm still bothering to listen to the slagging hero you killed."
"You will regret this decision. Mark my words, boy. You will be joining him before this war ends."
"Get. Out. Now. You're lucky I'm letting you live after what you've done."
Megatron snarled, but got to his pedes nonetheless. He barked an order for the forces within Darkmount to pull back and regroup at the Nemesis. They were about to lose this battle. Any left inside the fortress would fall along with it. They had not lost the war. They had merely lost a single battle. There would be countless other opportunities to eradicate the Autobots in the future. This war would be won, and it would be won by the Decepticons.
Infernus stood back and observed the Decepticon forces surge towards the docked Nemesis warship. He activated his own comm. link and sent out a wordless transmission to the few other members of Team Prime he knew where there to get out of the fortress as fast as they could, using the cyberglyph that stood for "leader" to get them to listen. For now he would let them believe that it was Optimus speaking to them. If he spoke it would only cause confusion. He would explain the dead Prime's decision over him later when they were all safe. That is, if he could bring himself to recount the events. His spark still ached horribly.
He went over to the prone form of Ultra Magnus and set about helping him to his pedes. He looked pretty banged up, but he knew the mech was sturdy. Once certain he could stand on his own, he switched back to beast form and gestured with his helm for the mech to head over to the edge of the open-air chamber. Ultra Magnus took the hint and called for his ship, then radioing the human soldiers under Agent Fowler's command that Darkmount had been seized successfully, and that their Air Force could attack unhindered. They were free to begin the assault that would bring the spire down.
Ultra Magnus then turned to the white Predacon that had saved his life. A glance was shared between the two. He sensed this was a leader he was addressing, but a leader who was uncertain and required a bit of guidance.
"Below. I will ensure everyone is gotten safely away." Magnus said. Then he leaped into his waiting ship.
Infernus nodded his helm sharply, unfurling his wings and taking to the air not a moment later. He flew out into the open skies, banked around and then dove towards the story just below the one he had come from. Just as Magnus had said, the power cores for the fortress's massive fusion cannons. A few remaining Vehicons were still stubbornly guarding them, but they were dealt with in short order. He ensured their deaths were quick and painless. In his mind they were more or less innocent. They had not been cause of the Prime's death, not directly. They were just underlings who obeyed the will of their dark master blindly. Perhaps death would give them some sense of freedom before it was their time to return, remade. Hopefully when their sparks did return, war would be a thing of the past.
Defenses dealt with, he thus turned his attention to the power cores. Mercilessly he unleashed another firestorm at what looked like the main one. Intelligence from the Matrix told him that destroying one would result in a domino effect explosion that would remove the others, and when it began to spark and rumble and shake he bade a hasty retreat back into the skies. He knew that Magnus had gotten the Autobot forces out in one piece. How he knew this was something he couldn't answer.
He watched in silence as a squadron of advanced fighter jets roared in from the north and fired their cargo of missiles at the spire's main base supports. He watched as the tower shook and groaned in protest and began to crumble before his optics, collapsing like a house of cards until there was nothing left but twisted metal and wreckage and smoldering fires. He watched as the jets banked around and headed back to the Air Force base they had come from, mission complete, threat neutralized.
Such a sight should have filled him with acute satisfaction. In the past it no doubt would have. Darkmount was no more. The Decepticons were once again on the run from the small but effective squadron of Autobot resistance fighters. Earth was just that much safer from them now. He should have felt happy about that. But he didn't. He felt no satisfaction over the victory. He felt no happiness, no accomplishment, no harmlessly brash pride. Nothing.
He just felt...empty.
Infernus followed the Commander's ship and its fighter jet companion – whom he suspected was piloted by Agent Fowler – deeper into the Nevada desert. Below them drove Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Arcee, and Bulkhead. Each seemed curious and wary of his form overhead. He couldn't blame them. He didn't exactly look like the friendliest being in existence.
Out in the distance he could just made out the smoldering ruins of Jasper. He devoutly hoped that none of the inhabitants had been killed in in the all-consuming wave from the fusion cannons. If any innocents had been harmed or killed that was just one more reason for him to put an end to Megatron's reign of terror – for good.
Ahead and drawing rapidly closer was what looked like an expansive military base. Hangars and low buildings were dotted about a massive complex. A small number of military vehicles were scattered about in the open, and the fighter jets who had bombarded Darkmount were at the moment being rolled into their hangars by their pilots and some fellow soldiers.
Magnus's ship veered towards one of these hangars, simply labeled "E", but this appeared to be devoid of occupants. At first glance, anyway. Infernus's scanners were picking up one Autobot life sign plus four human bio-signatures – Jack, Miko, and Raf probably, plus Jack's mother. It seemed this hangar was for them to use as they saw fit. It was no Omega One, but it would have to do. At least they had some means of outward defense here, unlike before. However, it wasn't exactly hidden either.
He let the ship land first and release its three occupants before diving down himself. He landed rather clumsily, wincing at the hard impact. He definitely could've done that better. Landings were something he'd have to work on, obviously. He was somewhat happy to see Prowl and Bluestreak, but laboring as he was under the recent grief he just couldn't bring himself to feel truly happy.
He waited hesitantly at the hangar entrance, unsure of whether to enter. When placed under the examinational scrutiny of the occupants he took a nervous step back. They were going to figure out who he was, he just knew it. Then they would ask what had happened to him, why he looked so different. And then they would ask about Optimus. What he supposed to tell them? That he wouldn't be coming home, ever? That he was one with Allspark? He couldn't bring himself to say that. He couldn't bring himself to say either of those things. He was afraid if he did they might be mad at him, consider him an imposter – or worse, accuse him of lying.
"Who are you?" demanded Prowl.
He flinched back. He could detect the icy suspicion in his voice – suspicion he knew they all harbored.
'Easy, kid. They're not gonna yell at ya. Just tell them. They need closure.'
Humph. Easy for him to say. His neck wasn't on the line here. He was safe and sound inside the Matrix.
Bumblebee was the one to finally recognize him. His optics whirred softly as they widened in shock: *Oh, Primus – SMOKESCREEN?! What happened to you?! Where's Optimus?!*
Rather than respond, he simply lowered his helm guiltily and sent out glyphs for death and mourning to the gathered assembly. This was followed by the ancient, near-sacred glyph that meant "Light Follower". Then he spun around and stalked out into the evening air. He couldn't bring himself to tell them aloud. They would read the glyphs right and connect the dots. It would hurt too much to tell them. It still hurt.
He didn't belong with them, not anymore and not now. He was no Optimus. He could never hope to be. He just wanted to be left alone with his pain.
He found a quiet place around the back of the hangar. He coiled into a semi-circle posture on the ground, his helm resting on the cement. A few coolant-laced tears trickled out of his optics. His body trembled ever so slightly under the storm of emotions he hadn't afforded himself to feel earlier – pain, loss, guilt, remorse, and most of all – unworthiness. There was no way he could ever hope to fill the Prime's massive pedeprints he'd left behind. He was...just inadequate.
There was a pulse of comforting warmth from the Matrix. It helped dispel the imperceptible trembling, but if anything it only made the tears flow faster. He knew it was Optimus trying to soothe him and calm him down. Eventually though the coolant ducts dried up and the soft crying came to a stop. He suddenly felt exhausted beyond words. His optics shuttered of their own accord.
'Get some rest.' Optimus urged gently. 'I will alert you if anyone approaches.'
He gusted out a faint sigh, not fighting the power down protocols firing through his processor like lightning. 'Thanks.'
Slowly the world around him fell dark and silent.
