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Vinciny07: Go for it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. I only own the OC George Edwards/Bladewolf.

Ratchet and Optimus spent the next breem explaining quite a few things to me.

In that breem, I found that I was now standing at forty-five feet tall, six feet shorter then Optimus' massive fifty-one. On either side of my helm was a large silver mark that identified me as a direct descendant of Solus Prime. My optics were blue like every other Autobot. as for appearances, I looked like a cross between Barricade's design from Transformers Universe and Bayverse Lockdown, just jet black and with blue optics.

Turns out, I am a Triple-Changer, like Blitzwing, Dropkick and Shatter and... well, how many other Triple-Changers are there in the Transformers franchise?

Because of my expanding knowledge I knew the basics of Cybertronian physiology. Ratchet, however, insisted I know about everything, including... Well the Cybertronian version of the Birds and the Bees.

Ratchet's sheer bluntness was sure to keep me disturbed for the next year or so.

Ratchet also showed me scans of my blood, showing that I was a Techno-Organic rather than just a Cybertronian. I was stunned when I saw that, wondering how I hadn't died but Ratchet explained by body adapted to suit the changes, and reasoned that the Nanites in my body also helped with that. It made me wonder if it was possible for me to change back to human form.

After Ratchet completed his thorough scans on me, we went back to the ops center just as Bumblebee and Bulkhead arrived with their charges, and Arcee and Cliffjumper came from their respective quarters.

"Cool! When did we get a new guy?" Miko asked excitedly as she, along with Raf, looked up at me.

"Technically I'm not new, Miko." I said with a smile, then laughed at looks on their faces when they recognized my voice.

"You... What... How and when did this happen!?" Cliffjumper finally asked, gesturing at me.

"We have been trying to answer that ourselves, Cliffjumper," Optimus said with a sigh.

"Easier version is; Starscream's torture accelerated my transformation... and did more than I expected." I said, crossing my arms over my chassis.

"We won't find answers standing around talking" Ratchet said, with his usual annoyed tone. Ratchet scanned me and started going over the data. "Let's see... Spark beat's normal... CPU activity, also normal..." And that was how we spent the next half breem, listening to Ratchet list things off he read on his scanner.

"Your armor is in a double layer, which is uncommon even among Triple-Changers." Ratchet's optic ridges rose as he said this. "Now... Weapon... Systems..." He trailed off and looked at his scanner with widened optics.

After he was silent for a while, Bulkhead leaned forward. "Hey! You there, Ratch'?" He asked, and waved a servo in front of Ratchet's faceplate.

"Has he finally flipped?" Cliffjumper joked.

Ratchet shook his helm and started over. "Weapon systems... Very extensive." His optics were still widened as he spoke. Ratchet walked away from the rest of us and said. "Follow me, we still have some more tests."

I sighed in frustration at how long this was taking and followed after Optimus and him.

Arcee, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee and Bulkhead with Raf and Miko on the last two's shoulder-joints walked along side me.

"I think you'll like where Ratchet is leading us," Arcee said with a bit of excitement in her optics.

Confused, I looked at my right to where she was standing. "Why is that?" I asked with a curious tone in my voice.

Bumblebee spoke to my left. "You'll see." He said simply as all of us walked into a bot sized elevator.

After a long ride downward, the elevator stopped at the largest room I had ever seen.

The ceiling was at the least four times my height, and was probably a good square kilometer in area. Off to the left of the elevator was a workstation where Ratchet was already standing. Beyond that was what looked like a boxing ring. On the right was a shooting range, and what I guessed was the beginning of an obstacle course directly in front of us.

"You're right, Arcee," She looked at me as I said "I do like this place." I was already planning to spend a lot of time here.

"George, I brought you here to start testing your weapon systems. Go to the range first," Ratchet said gruffly, clearly wanting to get started.

Nodding, I turned and walked over to the shooting range.

The shooting range was massive, well over a kilometer long and several hundred meters wide. The range itself was filled with targets made up of old human tanks, cars, trucks, and smaller targets hung up on the back wall for testing marksmanship. There was even a medium sized building in the middle. And instead of being made out of metal, the floor of the shooting range was covered with white sand, likely because sand was easier to maintain and replenish than a metal floor would be.

"Pick a target and use the weapons built into your servos," Ratchet said as I looked down range.

Earlier, my CPU imprinted the knowledge of how to deploy and use weapons, and how to transform into an alt mode. It was surprisingly simple. With a mental command I could deploy my left or right servos with a melee weapon, a blaster weapon or one of each. I also had weapon systems on my shoulder-joints and backplates that I would use later.

I couldn't use my melee weapons at this time so with a mental command I deployed my blaster weapons on both of my servos. The weapon on my right servo I was familiar with. It was a Scatter-Blaster similar to the one from Transformers: War for Cybertron. Knowing how that would shoot I looked at the weapon on my left servo. All I could tell was that it had two barrels and was likely fully-automatic.

After this I looked at the range and took aim at a pair of old cars about two hundred meters away. The weapon on my left servo was very accurately firing, with little spread on each shot. I calculated it was shooting at six-hundred rounds per minute. Instead of exploding on contact, the little bullet-shaped red balls of energy burned clean through the car and into the ground.

The Scatter-Blaster on my right servo was a shotgun so this was about its range limit. I could tell it would do massive damage at close range considering I only grazed the car and it took the roof off the car.

Cliffjumper whistled. "Sweet."

"Your weapons system are well functional, and extensive with a wide amount of Cybertronian weaponry to use." Ratchet aid as he typed something into his workstation. "That concludes weapons testing. I need to continue searching for the Decepticon Spacebridge."

We all separated to do our own thing after that. I searched around for a room to make my own, and found a perfect one via one of the empty rooms where all the Autobots had their rooms. The base was quite big, and there was a lot of rooms to check out but I found one that would suit me just fine.

As I checked out my room, I heard a knock on the door and had it open to see Arcee on the other side. "Hey." She greeted me with a small smile.

"Hey yourself." I said and allowed her to enter, shutting the door afterwards.

"How you feeling with... this?" She asked me, gesturing to my changed form.

"it's... going to be something to get used to and adapt to, but I think I'll be okay." I said before noticing the somber look on her face as she looked down. "'Cee?"

"...It's my fault you were tortured." She said quietly.

"Hey, hey..." I walked up to her and placed my servos on her shoulder joints. "Arcee, that was not your fault. How could you say that?"

"Because if I hadn't left, I wouldn't argued with Fowler to ensure you remained here rather than go with him and you wouldn't have been taken by the Decepticons..." her voice wavered. "You nearly died in my servos yesterday, George."

I pulled her close and hugged her, feeling her returning it after a couple of hesitant seconds. "I'm still online, Arcee. I don't blame you one single bit. Remember what I told you a couple of days ago? On top of the base?"

She vented a sigh. "Yes, but-"

"No buts." I cut in sternly. "It's not your fault, accept that. I was going to become a Cybertronian either way... wasn't expecting the Techno-Organic part though. I wonder if I can change back..."

Stepping away from her, I closed my eyes and focused, imagining my human form and felt a change. I felt smaller and different... the same way I always felt as a human.

"Woah..." I heard Arcee say after a few seconds and opened my eyes to see I was smaller than her, and a glance down showed I was in human form once again... my clothes were still ripped though.

"Gonna need new clothing at some point." I said with a grumble before switching back to Cybertronian form. "But I think I should remain like this to get used to it."

We both chuckled and left the room. As we walked, I noticed the look on Arcee's faceplate, a distant one like she was contemplating something. I knew what, given the episode.

"Go get him." I said, causing her to look at me in confusion. "You didn't want Jack to go, so go get him and convince him to come back. Besides, need a third party to keep Cliff under control."

"I heard that!" Cliffjumper called from up ahead of us. We looked at him as we entered the ops center. "Enjoy a stroll together?"

"Oh shut up." Arcee rolled her optics before she transformed and drove out of base. Looks like she's going to get Jack.

Cliffjumper shot me a smirk but I ignored him. Ratchet was searching for the Spacebridge, everyone else was doing their own thing... until Miko saw me. "Hey George, show us some more weapons you have."

"They're called weapons for a reason, Miko, not toys." Ratchet said from his workstation.

"You can see them in action when I'm training with them." I promised her, which satisfied her.

After a few seconds, Ratchet suddenly called. "Optimus, I've pinpointed the Decepticon Spacebridge, high in Earth's orbit."

"Out of our reach." Optimus sighed.

"Why can't you just Groundbridge there?" Miko asked, not knowing the ground bridge had its limitations.

"The Groundbridge has limited range." Ratchet put his servos close together for emphasis. "Stretched into orbit it's vortex could snap and scatter us to the stars!" He said with a shake his helm.

Miko looked horrified by the possibility.

Optimus spoke with a fire in his voice. "Since Megatron is likely already in transit I'm afraid we have no choice. Reaching the Spacebridge first is our only chance of stopping him."

A motorcycle horn caught everyone's attention as Arcee arrived with Jack on her saddle. "Hey, guess who's back?" Jack called a little nervously.

Optimus gave him a small nod before addressing his soldiers. "Autobots, prepare for departure." Optimus turned to me. "George, you must remain here. You lack proper training in fighting Decepticons." Both his tone and expression were neutral.

"I understand Optimus. I'll see you when you return." I knew he was right, but I still felt worthless as I walked over to Ratchet. At the same time, Jack, Raf and Miko said goodbye to their guardians.

"Um...be seeing you?" Jack said uncertainly, looking up at Arcee. She shrugged in response and walked over to Optimus.

"Be careful," Raf said, looking at Bumblebee, who had become a very good friend in a short time."

I will be, see you soon." Bumblebee said, standing up from his crouched position and joining Arcee and Optimus.

Miko was acting like... Well, Miko. "I'm so jealous! You get to go in space and I'm stuck here!" Her tone was more frustrated than concerned.

"Don't even think about following me," Bulkhead said, pointing a digit at her and walking to the others.

"See you soon, buddy." Cliffjumper said and we fist bumped before Cliffjumper joined his fellow Autobots.

"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teaming with humans, along with a mech that used be one himself, I will never forgive you." His tone held what I hoped was false anger and annoyance.

Optimus looked at him with faint amusement, "Until we meet again my old friend," he said, and then activated his battle mask. Turning back to the Groundbridge he bellowed "Autobots! Roll out!" He, along with the others, then disappeared into the Groundbridge.

Ratchet had already set up a communications channel so we could hear them as they approached the Spacebridge.

"Autobots, transform and gravitize!" Optimus ordered, and I assume they had made sure they'd be sticking to the Spacebridge rather than floating in zero gravity.

"Don't look down…or up…or left." Bulkhead said to himself, but he most likely did exactly that.

"Seriously, Bulk?" Cliffjumper snickered.

After a couple of seconds of silence, Arcee spoke. "So Megatron's packing enough Dark Energon to raise Cybertron's dead?"

"And since we don't possess ready means of disabling the Spacebridge... nothing gets in... or out!" Optimus declared, as the sound of the team deploying their weapons was heard.

The channel was silent for almost three klicks before Arcee asked in a confused tone. "Well...what are they waiting for?"

"Christmas?" Cliffjumper joked.

Optimus followed up Arcee's statement."It appears the Decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigations system." He said, sounding slightly surprised by this discovery.

"Huh, that's mine and Cliff's handiwork." Bulkhead said, tone far more surprised than Optimus'.

"Great job, you two. Without the dish, Megatron will be unable to ai the Spacebridge at Cybertron."

"Don't the Decepticons know where they're on planet is?" Raf asked in confusion.

"Naturally." Ratchet scoffed.

"Be nice, Ratchet." I told him before explaining to the trio. "Cybertron is many light-years away, getting there by rocket would take millions of years. To reach their target, the Decepticons' aim must be astronomically precise."

"If Megatron went to the trouble of rendezvousing with his Spacebridge, he must have an alternate targeting system." Optimus said. "A remote one."

Ratchet scoffed again. "From what I know of Earth's technology, I doubt there exists a single radio-telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron."

"Don't underestimate human tech, Ratchet." I told him.

"What about a whole bunch of linked radio-telescope dishes?" Raf suggested a she typed on one of the human-sized computers, showing an image of a row of telescope dishes. "Like the giant sized array in Texas?"

Ratchet, however, didn't think much of the idea. "This is not child's play-"

Optimus cut him off. "Good thinking Raf. Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security threat."

"No need to make any calls, Prime." A familiar voice said from the elevator. We turned to see Agent Fowler exiting the elevator. "What's the situation?" Fowler asked seriously. Once Ratchet explained the situation to Fowler, the special agent pulled out his cellphone. "Let me make a call." He said and dialed a number.

After a few minutes of Fowler talking to someone on the other end, it quickly became clear that they were already too late. Fowler hung up his phone.

"Ratchet, there's nobody answering at the base. They don't know where those men are, but the 'Cons have already locked the place down." Fowler explained. "My people can't get them out of the system. They'll keep trying to override them, but it's not looking good."

Ratchet nodded his head grimly as he understood.

Raf typed quickly at his computer as he tried to hack in but couldn't. "I can't get past the array's firewalls. They're too thick!" He proclaimed as he slammed his hands onto the table.

"You actually think you can keep the Decepticons out?" Ratchet asked in amusement.

"Maybe, if I could get in." Raf said but didn't sound all that sure.

That was when Jack got an idea. "Wait, Raf, what if we could get you all the way in?" Jack asked as he placed his hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

"Like inside the building itself." I added, uncrossing my arms.

"I could log into their internal network on the other side of the firewall." Raf said.

"The risk is too great. The Decepticons will be there, perhaps even on site." Optimus argued.

Jack got a look of determination on his face. "Optimus, with all due respect, you said it yourself. This is bigger than the safety of three humans." He spoke with a fire I had never heard from him.

Miko added her two cents, "Yeah, if we let the Cons win the whole planet's fragged."

Optimus was silent for a klick."Raf?" He asked the youngest of the humans.

"I want to give it a try." Raf said immediately.

"And so you will. Ratchet, bridge them to the arrays location, and stand guard while they are inside," Optimus said, tone suggesting he was impressed with the bravery of the three humans.

Seeing that I might be of some use, I spoke up. "I know you ordered me to stay here because I lack training. I also don't know how to operate the Groundbridge. If Ratchet goes with them and you need a bridge, I won't be able to give you one. But I already know how to shoot," I gave Optimus my best argument.

"He's right, Optimus. Also, my servo is only at half strength. Even a very weak drone would get the better of me," Ratchet said, surprisingly backing me up on this.

"No way, he's not trained well enough to take on a Decepticon." Arcee cut in with a worried tone.

"Arcee..." I started.

"No! I don't... I don't want to see you captured and harmed by the 'Cons again." Arcee's voice waivered. She really cared that much about me, huh?

"Arcee. I know you're worried. But you need to let me take this chance." I said reassuringly as I saw her signal with her face on it.

"But…what if it happens again?" She said worryingly.

"I won't let it happen again. For my sake…and yours." I said with determination.

"…Be careful. If you don't I'll scrap you myself." She said lightening the mood with the last part.

"That promise…I can keep." I chuckled.

"You guys are so cute." Cliffjumper said teasingly.

"Yeah, why don't you two just get married already?" Miko huffed.

Ignoring her, I addressed the Autobot leader. "Optimus?"

Optimus was silent for a couple of klicks. Finally he said firmly. "Very well, George. You will make sure no Decepticons enter the facility, but do not engage unless absolutely necessary."

"If you kids think you're going to a military base where Decepticons could be on sight without me, then you're crazy." Agent Fowler said sternly, making it clear that he would be going with us.

Ratchet activated the Groundbridge. Fowler, Jack, Raf and Miko started walking into the Groundbridge and I followed, a moment later we were gone.

Coming out of the Groundbridge, I rolled and deployed duel Plasma Cannons, the same weapons Bumblebee uses in the live-action Transformers films. However, once I saw the area was clear, I relaxed and stood while the humans groaned from using the Groundbridge.

"That'll take some getting used to." Jack groaned.

"Really shouldn't have had those doughnuts for breakfast." Fowler said, looking just about ready to let out his stomach's contents.

"Alright, you four go inside and get Raf into the system. For obvious reasons I can't follow you, so I'll stay out here watch for any Decepticons." I said, searching around in case I missed something.

Jack and the others nodded and ran toward the building, quickly disappearing into the facility's door way.

The facility was quiet... Very quiet. Nothing made any sound as I walked around the building.

Five klicks after they had gone inside and I had circled the building, the dishes started moving simultaneously, then they moved back into their original position, moving one final time and staying locked in place. A moment later, I heard a jet engine from the opposite side of the building from where I was, and by the time I turned the corner... Soundwave was gone. Looking at the top of the building, I noticed the roof had a gaping hole in it.

'How the hell did I forget about Soundwave?' I thought, angry at myself for missing such an obvious thing.

A klick after the Decepticon flew away, Fowler, Jack, Raf and Miko exited the building.

"We failed." Fowler told me as I came over. "The dishes are locked onto Cybertron permanently."

"Tale heart that you did what you could, and that you're alive." I told them, trying to make them feel better. "Soundwave is no push-over and not to be taken lightly. You're lucky he was there to do a job and not intent on killing you." I contacted Ratchet. "Ratchet, we need a bridge."

"What went wrong?" Ratchet asked as he crossed his servos.

Jack then explained what happened inside the building, while I apologized for not stopping the con. Ratchet didn't have time to say anything before his console beeped loudly. Ratchet's optics widened as he looked at it.

"Optimus! I'm reading a rapidly expanding mass in their Spacebridge vortex! One with a peculiar energy signature." Ratchet said.

"Dark Energon." Optimus stated. "Ratchet, we must destroy the Spacebridge. There's enough live Energon cursing through it to achieve detonation. But we lack the firepower to ignite it."

Ratchet shook his helm. "If I knew how the Spacebridge was engineered, I might find a tactical way of accomplishing that feat."

"Um... would schematics help?" Raf asked, showing a flash drive to the CMO.

"Optimus, I must say... the Spacebridge is our sole hope of ever returning
to Cybertron." Ratchet said in a grave tone. "Are you certain it's destruction is the only option?

"I am afraid so." Optimus said in a similar tone to Ratchet's.

"Then by all means... let us light our darkest hour!" Ratchet declared.

A few klicks later, Fowler said nervously, "These things are getting closer...that's bad right?"

"Ratchet, we're in position." I heard Arcee say through the channel.

"Good, now pay close attention!" Ratchet said urgently. "Below you should be a power line, do you see it?" He asked, then went silent as he waited for a response.

"Yes." Arcee said, after a moment of silence.

Ratchet continued, "Now follow the line to an Energon pump, a large valve should be there."

The line was silent briefly. "I found it," Arcee said, then went quiet and waited for more instructions.

"Good, now all you need to do is reverse the current," Ratchet's voice sounded calm, but I could tell he was nervous.

"Current reversed," Arcee reported, sounding slightly relieved.

When she said this Fowler jumped in the air, "Yes!..." he yelled. Then, after a micro-klick, he looked at Raf. "Right?"

I rolled my optics, and Ratchet, not paying attention to Fowler, said to Arcee, "I'll ready the Groundbridge." And walked over to his work station.

"Don't keep us waiting." Arcee said dryly, then closed the channel.

Ratchet reopened the channel, this time it was with Optimus, "The Groundbridge is ready and waiting!" His voice held slight fear. Optimus didn't respond, instead he closed the channel again.

Everyone at base was looking at the ground bridge, anxiously awaiting the others return.

Raf asked worriedly, "Do you...think they're?..." He left his sentence hanging.

Ratchet looked at his servo which held a small computer. "Four life signals... They should be here by now," he said this last part too quietly for human ears to hear.

Optimus suddenly stepped through the ground bridge. He had a neutral look on his faceplate, but I could see faint sadness in his optics. Bulkhead came through the ground bridge after Optimus, looking very tired. Miko ran up to him and hugged his servo, which made him give a slight smile. Cliffjumper came through next, sending me a reassuring grin and nod that I returned. Arcee and Bumblebee came through the bridge shortly after Cliff. Both had blackened spots on their armor from Decepticon fire and looks of exhaustion on their faceplates.

As Miko, Raf and Jack welcomed their guardians back, Ratchet leaned toward Optimus. "And Megatron?" He asked quietly.

"Not even Megatron could have survived ground zero," Optimus said, keeping all emotion from his voice.

'But it's not the last we'll see of him.' I thought, knowing Megatron will be back. He always finds a way to return from the dead.

"PRIME!" We all looked over towards Fowler to see him near the elevator. "I didn't get to thank you bots for saving me. I owe you one, you too George." He smiled at me before the elevator doors closed.

"At least he said thanks for once which is surprising." Cliffjumper said to all of us.

"He'll be thanking us more than once. I guarantee it." I smiled.

"So, is this the part where you say goodbye and forget we ever saw you?" Miko asked Optimus sadly.

"No. I think George has the appropriate answer." Optimus stated as everyone had their eyes/optics on me.

I chuckled as I crossed my arms. "You guys know how to ask me to use my foreknowledge, don't you? But no, Miko. That won't be happen... don;t think we could keep you away or your guardians away from you... so Ratchet's stuck with us."

"Oh joy." Ratchet just groaned, causing mot of us to laugh in response.

"Oh! I just remembered!" Miko said, drawing attention to her but hers was on me. "You need a name."

"I have a name." I said with a frown while shifting back to human form, rolling my shoulders and arms. "That's gonna take some getting used to."

Miko rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because George sounds totally like a Autobot name."

"She's not wrong." Arcee piped up. "May be best to have a codename to use when you are eventually out on the field."

"I got it!" Miko said with a grin, which worried me. "Darkstar!"

"No." I shook my head.

"Shadowstalker?"

"No."

"Brightshot?"

"No."

"Pandimala?"

"That sounds like a female name and it's taking." Yeah, I read that fic with an OC Cybertronian who goes by the name Pandimala. Dragon Scouter sure makes some good stories.

"Blackwolf?"

"I think that's taken as well."

"...Cronus?"

I paused, something about that name is... nah.

"No."

"...I got it! Bladewolf!"

I paused at that one, and found I quite liked it. So I nodded. "Alright, that'll be my Cybertronian name then."

I smiled as Miko cheered and whooped, shaking my head in amusement. My life may have changed on account of my death. I may be unable to see my old family again, my friends, my Earth, but I will take comfort in what I have gained. A new family.

My name is George Edwards, but to my enemies I am Bladewolf. If anyone dares approach this planet with hostile intent, if anyone threatens my family, I will defend them, myself, I will defend... my home.

Yeah, had to give a Optimus Prime-like speech at the end there. i also put the Cybertronian terms for words below, so you know what they mean.

Mech=Man.

Femme=Woman.

Carrier=Mother.

Sire=Father.

Helm=head.

Optics=eyes.

Audio Receptors=ears.

Shoulder-Joints=self-explanatory.

Backplates=again self-explanatory.

Chestplates=don't make me say self-explanatory again... Wait.

Servos=hands/arms.

Digit=finger.

Pedes=legs.

Spark=basically a Cybertronian's soul.

Chassis=body.

Frame=also a term for body, but used differently.

CPU=brain.

Processor=can also be a term for brain.

Astro-Klick=one millisecond.

Nano-Klick=one-tenth of a second.

Micro-Klick=one second.

Klick=one minute.

Breem=one hour.

Solar-Cycle=one day.

Mega-Cycle=one week.

Jour=one month.

Orbital-Cycle=one year.

Vorn=eighty three years.

Centi-Vorn=eight thousand three hundred years.