Chapter 25: The Daughter of Optimus Prime
A few hours had passed after the Autobots got to reunite with their old human friends from Jasper, Nevada, and Orion Eclipse got to meet his human friend, Anthony again. Team Prime's human allies have grown older and changed after five years.
Jackson "Jack" Darby and Sierra were dating when the Great War ended, but after Jack got into a fist fight with Vince at school because he was sexually harassing Miko and he was picking on Rafael, Sierra broke up with Jack and she decided to be Vince's girlfriend when Vince got kicked out of high school while Jack was put in detention.
Then Jack Darby and Miko Nakadai fell in love and they started dating before they eventually graduated from high school and went to college together by the time they finally reached adulthood. Rafael Esquivel got to peruse his career in being a scientist, a hacker, and a technologist. Jack's single mom, June Darby, still works as a nurse in Jasper's hospital while Agent William Fowler still works as a special agent for the Autobots while also having a wife and a son of his own.
Jack, June, Miko, Raf, and Agent Fowler got to spend some time with former special agent, Jonathan Dave Carter, and his wife, Katherine, and their son, Anthony while starting a campfire when it was nighttime. As for Megatron, he started to make amends with one of the humans for his war crimes and past villainy.
They were hesitant about giving the former Decepticon warlord a second chance to prove that he's reformed, but they trusted their Autobot friends to keep at optic on Megatron in case he does something suspicious. Bulkhead, Arcee, and Smokescreen went outside of camp to track down the Cybertronian distress signal, leaving Orion Eclipse, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Megatron in charge of guarding the camp with the humans.
June Darby cautiously approached Megatron, who had undergone a remarkable transformation and was now on good terms with the Autobots. She sought to understand how and why Megatron had chosen to embrace the side of good.
"So, you're back from the dead and officially reformed, aligning yourself with the Autobots as Ratchet informed me," June began, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Indeed. Haven't I seen you before?" Megatron responded, his optics narrowing as he tried to recall their previous encounters.
"Yes, a few years ago. You were entering Autobot Outpost Omega One when you decided to join forces with Optimus Prime to save Earth from the awakening of Unicron. I was there when Rafael confronted you after you nearly cost him his life," June recounted, her voice tinged with memories of that fateful day.
Megatron's expression softened as he recollected the incident, his optics filled with remorse for the harm he had caused as an agent of evil, fueled by Dark Energon. "Yes, I remember it well. I am deeply sorry for the evil deeds I committed. I have joined the Autobots to assist my son, Orion Eclipse, in his quest to aid Ultra Magnus and the Autobots in defeating Doomsayer. He poses a far greater threat than I ever did, though I highly doubt he will succeed in his vengeful scheme."
June listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "So, why did you turn over a new leaf and abandon the Decepticons, not knowing someone would take your place as their leader?"
Megatron sighed, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Let's just say that after Optimus Prime freed me from Unicron's control, I realized the errors of my ways. I chose a different path. I no longer wish to be an Autobot or a Decepticon. I am a Neutral, an ex-warlord and ex-Decepticon. I have been reformed for five years during my self-imposed exile. I promise not to betray your Autobot friends, as it would only break my son's heart if I were to return to being an evil warlord."
June nodded, her understanding growing. "It seems you have been through a great deal since your return to life. By the way, we haven't been properly introduced. My name is June Darby. I am a nurse and the mother of my son, Jack, who serves as Arcee's junior partner."
"Pleased to meet you, June. I am Megatron, the former leader of the Decepticons and the father of Orion Eclipse," Megatron replied, extending a hand in greeting.
"Fascinating," June remarked, intrigued by the complexities of robot reproduction. "Please, tell me everything about yourself."
Megatron paused for a moment, contemplating June's request. "Are you asking if we could get to know each other?" he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Yes, indeed. I would like to understand more about you and your journey of redemption," June responded warmly.
And so, Megatron and June began to forge a connection, sharing their stories and finding common ground. Megatron's path to redemption was far from easy, but he managed to make amends with both his former Autobot and human adversaries, proving that he was no longer the embodiment of evil. As they sat near a campfire in the forest, surrounded by their Autobot and human companions, Megatron and June continued their conversation, gradually building a bond of understanding and friendship.
Orion Eclipse was sitting on a hill in the fields on earth and in on his night watch with Anthony since they've had some time to have time together while the Autobots were in resting and full of Energon, however, Bumblebee said that he and Orion each can switch to take one or two hours of the night watch to keep an eye out of trouble. While Orion was in watching the clear night sky in seeing the stars and the full moon, Anthony soon pats Orion's cheek to ask the young mech a question.
"Orion? Are you okay? You've been a bit quiet since you were told by Ratchet about this girl Autobot known as Altair Comet. Who is she, and do you remember her?"
Orion Eclipse soon looks at the young human and he lets Anthony sit on his hand to help the human stay safe. "Well, I started to recall my memories about her. You see...she was the daughter of a femme named Elita-One and Optimus Prime, in the past, they were known once as Ariel and Orion Pax. Every day they would meet at times when Optimus was studying or when helping Ariel with her tasks of any kind. The two fall in love like how humans fall in love, and thanks to Vector Sigma, they had Altair Comet to care and raise." He told Anthony.
Orion knew of that information about Optimus Prime and his family history for the Autobots like Ratchet, Bumblebee, and his father, Megatron, had told him everything. Orion soon smiles and he softly blushes in the thought.
"You see, when I first met her, I was shy when I was seeing her." Orion Eclipse told Anthony. "Truth be told, I've never met a girl my age before. But when I got to know her on the day we've met, she made me feel happy and when Altair was around me, she made me feel safe, confident, and joyful." He explained.
Orion's memories then began to remember of his past on Cybertron many, many years ago. This time, he was remembering his teenage years when he had been crowned prince on his coronation day back when he was 17 years old living with his father, Megatron during the Great War after losing his mother, Firestar.
-Flashback to when Orion Eclipse was a teenager-
At Kaon, the capital of all Decepticons, Megatron had arranged a ball for his son, Orion Eclipse to choose an eligible femme bot bachelorette to be his bride. Of course, Eclipse was very nervous about choosing a mate but his father encouraged him to make confidence his strength. Orion took a deep breath and he chose not to be afraid before he walked to the ballroom where he greeted every one of his female suitors. A few of them swooned at how handsome Orion Eclipse is while others invited him to waltz at the ballroom. Some of the femme bots even offered gifts to Megatron's son to court him. As his fear and anxiety began to rise, Orion asks if he can be excused for a moment before his father allows him to go outside the ballroom to calm down.
Meanwhile, Optimus Prime and Elita One's daughter, Altair Comet, explore outside of Iacon before she sneaks into Kaon to find her childhood sweetheart, Orion Eclipse. She puts on a disguise so that no Decepticon would recognize her and when she does find Orion outside the gala, he's surprised to see Altair at first but when she removes her disguise in a private area where no one would see her, Orion Eclipse recognized Altair Comet as his childhood crush. They asked each other where they've been after all this time and then they start talking about the responsibilities of becoming future leaders of their respective alliances.
Orion tells Altair that his dad is trying to find him a wife, but he doesn't want to get married yet and Altair tells her friend that Megatron doesn't have to decide what's best for him because Orion Eclipse is old enough to make his own decisions. Orion agrees with Altair Comet before they sit right next to each other at an oil fountain for some romantic banter before they plan to meet each other again without being caught by their parents, especially Megatron who's overprotective of his son since he's what's left of his lost conjunx-endura, Firestar. Altair Comet leans in close to Orion Eclipse for their first kiss when they're suddenly caught by Megatron and his Decepticons.
"ORION!" Megatron shouted at his son. "What are you doing?! What is SHE doing here!? Stay away from my son!" He growled furiously at the daughter of his arch-nemesis.
Megatron is furious that his son would betray him by hanging out with the daughter of his arch-nemesis and then he scowls at Altair to back away from Orion. But before he could order his Decepticons to arrest the young femme bot, Optimus Prime finds his daughter just in time to save her before he confronts his former friend. Eclipse tries to explain to his father, but Megatron snaps at his son to remain quiet before he tells Optimus never to allow his daughter to date his son. They agree to keep their children separated from each other since Autobots and Decepticons are forbidden to have a romantic relationship.
After Optimus Prime takes his daughter back home to Iacon to teach her a lesson of sneaking off to Kaon and making her parents worried sick, Megatron tells his Decepticons that party's over before he takes his son to his quarters where he scolds him about falling in love with an Autobot. Orion Eclipse and his father then get into a huge argument with each other as Orion calls Megatron a hypocrite for not allowing his son to have the same happiness he has with Altair just as Megatron has had his happiness with Firestar when once upon a time, the Autobots wouldn't allow her to marry him. Megatron tells his son not to make such a comparison of his love life to his forbidden crush.
The Decepticon warlord ends his argument with his son as he orders his Vehicons to keep Orion Eclipse grounded for 24 hours until he's learned his lesson. Shockwave is concerned about Megatron and how he's overprotective to his son so he waits for him to calm down before he decides to counsel him. Megatron begins to regret being harsh towards his son and he asks Shockwave what he has to do to fix his relationship with Orion Eclipse and Shockwave suggests that he gives his son time and space to become less angry before Megatron can reconcile with his son in a condition that he doesn't defy him again.
-Flashback ends-
"Did Optimus forgave you? Even if you were just wanting to be in a relationship with his daughter?" Anthony asked Orion.
Orion Eclipse nodded, "Yes, but from what I remember, Optimus saw that I wasn't like my father...he thought I was a good bot who knew about learning the true meaning of oppression and to never have the taste to harm or kill anyone. So, he forgave me and allowed his daughter to apologize too, though my father let them off with a warning that if he saw me with Altair again, he will make them sorry."
Anthony Carter felt a bit upset about the last part of what Orion said, "Yeesh! Your dad must have been protective too much for you."
Orion Eclipse giggled, "I'm not sure if he would do it for real, he just wanted to scare them for the time to keep us safe. And it's okay, my father only gets like that when the Autobots were around us. But now that I see it..." Orion looks back to Bumblebee and the Autobots in a gentle smile. "I cannot see why my father dislikes the Autobots. I find them like a second family to me for the time I've got to know them and in hopes, we can do the right things."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Still what about Altair Comet? Did you see her again and did you remember what happened to her?" Anthony asked.
Orion Eclipse answered, "Well, I knew at night, she would leave some gifts for me even when some had things she made for me or keep our friendship a secret...however, Ratchet told me that she and Elita-One had to escape to a safe planet...I never saw them again." He made a sad expression. "I wonder of where they are at now for all these years, and if they are alive...I wish I could've gotten to know Optimus Prime and his family more. Maybe when I have a chance I can give my prays to Optimus Prime so I can speak to him for some advice or learn from his past." He said.
"Sounds like a good plan. And don't worry buddy, we will find her again, and any other friends you might have safely off Cybertron." Anthony smiles and gives Orion a thumbs up.
Orion Eclipse smiles as he also gives a thumbs up too before seeing Bumblebee coming over to them and they have a bit of talk before Bumblebee took the next two hours of the night watch, allowing Orion and Anthony to get some sleep. And as Orion still wondered about Altair Comet, little did he know, the two were soon about to meet all over again as the young mech will have his wish to see the femme he met in childhood found again...as many miles away from the Autobots campgrounds, a fembot was hiding in a secret hidden place by a waterfall, to keep herself safe from the Decepticons sent by Megatron to kill her. At 1:56 AM, Orion Eclipse was recharging when he suddenly got a comlink from the two-wheeler fembot Autobot, Arcee which startled and woke him up.
"Orion!" Arcee called Orion Eclipse via comlink. "Gah! Arcee, you scared me." Orion said as he answered Arcee's comlink call.
"Sorry to disturb you. Were you recharging?" Arcee asked. "Yes, I was. Give me a second." Orion Eclipse gets up and he sneaks away from the humans and Megatron that were sleeping while Bumblebee was on guard duty. Orion resumes communicating with Arcee once he's a few feet away from those who are sleeping. "Okay, Arcee. What's the situation?" Orion asked.
"We just found an empty stasis pod where the Cybertronain stress signal was coming from before we've been attacked by the Decepticon, Overload," Arcee reported. "Overload? Who's that?" Orion asked. "Overload was the top spy for the Decepticons during the War for Cybertron and his work resulted in the destruction of several Autobot installations, and the injury of Bumblebee before Megatron took his voice box. Bulkhead tried to take him down, but he knocked him into stasis."
"And then what?" Orion Eclipse asked. "We tried to take him down, but Overload escaped. However, he said something about him and another Decepticon known as Barricade being hired by...your sire to track down and assassinate a young femme Autobot who might've got out of that stasis pod and went into hiding." Arcee told him. "And who could this young femme Autobot be? Why would my dad hire two of his Decepticons to go after whoever this female Autobot could be?" Orion Eclipse asked.
"We're not sure. But whoever it is, we must hurry and save her before the 'Cons get to her." Arcee replied.
"Okay, I'll be sure to report Bee and the others about this. I'll even ask my dad if he knows anything about this. Over." Orion Eclipse ends his comlink call with Arcee before he turns around and sees Megatron in front of him. Orion Eclipse was surprised to see his dad and yet he figured that he had been eavesdropping on him. "Dad?" He said.
"Son...I think I owe you an explanation." Megatron said. "Which is...?" Orion asked. Megatron made a remorseful expression as he said, "Orion? I...I hired Overload and Barricade to hunt down Optimus' wife and daughter and kill them for revenge after I had lost you during the Great War." He said regretfully. Orion Eclipse was shocked, to say the least, but then he realized that his father, Megatron, had hired two of his Decepticons to track down and kill Optimus Prime's conjunx-endura, Elita-One, and his daughter, Altair Comet, who was his childhood sweetheart. Orion's shock turned to anger, "Dad, how could you?! I get why you hated Optimus, but why hire two assassins to kill his wife and daughter to avenge me for my near-death experience and memory loss?!"
"Because I wanted Optimus Prime to feel the same loss that I had felt when I lost your mother and you! I wanted him to know what it's like to lose a family of his own!" Megatron said out loud. "But my revenge schemes no longer matter. But for now, Altair Comet's in great danger and I can help you and your friends find and stop Barricade and Overload before they get to her wherever she is." He promised.
"If that's how we're going to correct your past mistakes, then let's find Altair before the 'Cons do." Orion Eclipse said in agreement.
Meanwhile, Jack Darby was walking with his girlfriend, Miko, to get some more firewood when they suddenly saw a police car with red and blue sirens that surprised the two college students before someone in that car said to them in a strict voice, "Put your hands up where I can see them!"
Jack and Miko raised their hands before they nervously state their business in the forest. "Uhh, we weren't doing anything wrong or illegal here, officer." Jack said, "Yeah, nothing at all." Miko chuckled nervously. But then suddenly, the police car transformed into a Decepticon, except this one wasn't under the command of Doomsayer but rather Megatron. Jack and Miko backed away from the mech Decepticon who was none other than Barricade.
"I'm afraid that the only offense that you humans have done...was getting in my way!" Barricade said in a threatening tone of voice.
Barricade swipes his hand to try to hit Jack and Miko to get them out of his way in the forest, but they both avoid his attack before they start running back to camp to get help from Bumblebee. "Miko! Run!" Jack Darby yelled as he ran with his girlfriend. They tried to run away from Barricade, but the Decepticon was quick to grab them both with his hand servos. He looks at the young humans with a glare on his face.
"Now what am I going to do to you both?" Barricade asked.
Miko Nakadai pulls out a self-defense weapon from her pocket and she aims it directly at Barricade's face. She sprays mace at the Decepticon's optics, causing him to cry out in pain as he drops both Jack Darby and his girlfriend. "AAAGH! My optics! Gaagh!" Jack grabs Miko by the arm as they get themselves away from the police Decepticon while he's rubbing his optics to remove the mace. "Come on! Let's make a run for it!" Miko told her boyfriend.
Barricade growls as his vision start to become blurry before he gets a comlink call from Overload which irritates him even more. "Barricade? Can you hear me? What happened?!" He said. "PRIMUS DAMN IT, OVERLOAD! Do you always have to call at the wrong time!?" The Decepticon yelled. "I apologize, but I've just been attacked by three Autobots." Overload reported. "Well, I just got attacked by two human insects!" Barricade exclaimed. Suddenly, Bumblebee comes out of nowhere and he punches the Decepticon hard in the face, sending him backward while hitting a few trees. Bumblebee points his blaster at the Decepticon as Barricade looks up at the bot who attacked him before his blurry vision became clear and he recognized the yellow Autobot in front of him.
"Bumblebee." Barricade said.
"Barricade. Never thought we'd finally meet each other again on Earth." Bumblebee said. The Decepticon cadet was surprised that the yellow and black Autobot was speaking, "You got your voice back!?" Barricade exclaimed. "Yes." Bumblebee replied.
Bumblebee and Barricade fight in a forest at night while Jack Darby and Miko Nakadai run back to camp safely. Arcee, Bulkhead, and Smokescreen eventually come to Bumblebee's aid as they apprehend the Decepticon cadet before they put stasis cuffs on him.
Meanwhile, Orion Eclipse and his father track down Overload's trail when they heard a female scream coming from outside the waterfall. They see a female purple, magenta, and white fembot, trying to get away from Overload who was chasing after her with a blaster. Orion Eclipse saw the helpless fembot and both he and his father, Megatron recognized her as Altair Comet, the long-lost daughter of Optimus Prime. The Decepticon, Overload was about to hurt Altair Comet as she tripped and fell onto the dirt when Megatron himself raised his voice with an order to stop the Decepticon brute.
"OVERLOAD! STAND DOWN!" Megatron yelled.
Overload's optics widened as his audio receptors detected that familiar voice. He turned and looked at Megatron and surprisingly, his son back from the dead. "Lord Megatron?!" he exclaimed. Megatron stepped forward peacefully as he urged his son to let him handle the situation. "Yes, Overload. It is I. Hold your fire." the gray mech ordered.
Overload stammered before he bowed respectfully and holds his fire on Altair Comet who is trembling on the ground. "As you wish, my Lord." Overload said. Altair Comet sees Megatron and she's doubly frightened by his mere presence. That is until she sees Orion Eclipse and she slowly recognizes him as her childhood sweetheart. "Orion?" Altair thought. Orion Eclipse looks at Altair Comet as if he were finally seeing her again for the first time in eons the young ex-Decepticon was stunned by her beauty and she was surprised to finally see him again after 4000 millennia. Megatron orders Overload to bring the young fembot before him calmly.
"Bring the daughter of Optimus Prime to me, alive and unharmed."
Overload was confused, "Alive? Why, my liege?" he asked. Megatron gave the Decepticon a death glare. "Do not make me ask twice!" he said in a strict tone. Overload groveled before he helped Altair Comet up from off the earthly floor and he carefully brought the young fembot to Megatron and Orion Eclipse. But then, Overload snapped as he becomes suspicious of Orion Eclipse being alive.
"Wait a minute! Why is Orion Eclipse still online?" Overload looks at the Autobot insignia on Orion Eclipse's chest and then he sees that Megatron doesn't have his Decepticon insignia. "What in the Pits of Kaon happened to your insignias?!"
"Uh, oh. Busted." Orion Eclipse thought.
Megatron rolls his eyes in annoyance while thinking, "Not again." He aims his fusion cannon at Overload before Orion Eclipse suddenly knocks the Decepticon out and puts him into stasis before his dad could kill him. Orion Eclipse checks on Altair Comet and the two young Cybertronians talk with each other while slowly recognizing each other as long-lost childhood sweethearts all while Megatron gives his son some space with his 'girlfriend' as he puts the stasis cuffs on the unconscious Overload before contacting the Autobots.
"Orion! Is it really you?!" Altair Comet asked. "Yes. It is me." Orion Eclipse answered. "Have we ever met?" He asked. Altair Comet nodded, "We have. Do you remember me?" She asked. Orion Eclipse nodded, "Yes, I...I think I do. You're Altair Comet, the daughter of Optimus Prime and Elita-One. You and I were best friends from when we were kids!" Orion Eclipse answered the fembot as he said in nostalgia. "That's right." Altair Comet whispered as she smiled at her long-lost childhood sweetheart. "I thought that I would never see you again. I missed you." Altair Comet said to Orion Eclipse. "I missed you too...Altair." Orion replied. He smiled at Altair with tears now forming in both of their blue optics before they embrace each other in reunion. "I'm calling the Autobots," Megatron tells his son and the young fembot. "What is going on? W-Why is HE here?!" Altair asked Orion. "It's...It's kind of a long and complicated story," Orion replied.
Later that night, Megatron, Orion Eclipse, and Altair Comet meet up with the Autobots and they have both Barricade and Overload arrested. Once the Autobots and Ex-Decepticons say goodbye to their human friends, they return to their base in Iacon City at Cybertron. There, Overload and Barricade get put into the Autobots' custody. Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee, and the rest of the Autobots welcome Altair Comet back to Cybertron. However, Orion Eclipse is still upset with his father, Megatron, for sending his own Decepticon troops after Altair Comet just so Optimus Prime would suffer the loss of his daughter. At the Autobots' second base in Retoris, Megatron tries to make amends for hiring Overload and Barricade to assassinate not just Altair Comet, but also her mother and Optimus Prime's conjunx-endura, Elita-One.
"Son, look. I understand that you're angry with me. But if I had known that you survived the explosion, then I would've canceled the assassination of..."
"Cut the bullshit, dad!" Orion cussed. "You hired two of your best Decepticons, and possibly maybe a few more 'Cons or maybe a few Vehicons, to hunt down and assassinate both Optimus' wife and daughter! Not to mention that Barricade and Overload have been tracking them down for over a millennium!"
"Orion, listen to me! Barricade and Overload may have found Altair Comet, but she's safe and far away from them now." Megatron told his son.
"And what about Elita-One?! We've interrogated your Decepticon assassins for answers, but they claimed to have lost her! So guess what now? Altair Comet is in her room crying because her father is dead and her mother is missing and presumably deceased! Face it, father: You just wanted your archenemy to feel your loss ever since you lost mom and then me! Well, guess what! I'm not dead now, aren't I?!" He ranted at his father.
Megatron gritted his teeth angrily before he took a deep breath and replied, "Orion...I did want Prime to suffer just as I have! But 4000 millennia have already passed! I know that you're furious with me for what I did in the past, but don't let that past define me because right now I want you to realize that I'm no longer the same warlord I once was. I've changed since the day the Great War came to an end as it should of." The old mech said before he admitted, "But I'm afraid that because of me and my blind thirst for power and vengeance, Altair Comet is now separated from her parents. Her carrier, Elita-One is missing somewhere and her status is unknown while her sire, for all we know, is no longer with us since he's joined the Original Primes in the Allspark." Megatron said in a regretful tone.
Orion Eclipse frowned for a bit before he remembered what he said to Ratchet and Knock Out when they were about to fight each other and he stopped them from killing each other. The young Autobot even remembered Optimus Prime's motto that every sentient being has the capacity for change and that the past is not today. His angry expression dissolves before he took a deep sigh and he looked at his father. "Dad?...I don't know what to say to you except...you fucked up. If anything were to happen to Altair Comet, then I would've lost my childhood friend. What you really could have done was just move on and let me and my mom Rest In Peace instead of just sending Decepticon assassins after the family members of your enemies." Megatron listens to his son before he makes an understanding nod. "You are right...I'm so sorry." He said.
Orion Eclipse was a little unconvinced and uncomfortable, knowing that his dad has had some bad blood and history with Optimus Prime in the past, especially towards his daughter since Altair Comet wanted to have a first kiss with Orion Eclipse at the Kaon Ball and Megatron went ballistic on her, not only for trespassing in the Decepticon capital but for getting near his son. Orion made an uncertain look and replied to his father, "I wish I could forgive you right now, Dad. But I'm just...I'm just too frustrated and tired to do so right now. I'm going to check in with Altair Comet and dad? I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"No need to apologize my son. I'm the one who should be held accountable for what I've done in the past as well as the present." Megatron told his son. "I will continue to take responsibility for my war crimes until I can help us put an end to Doomsayer's threat. But for now, take care of Altair Comet and take care of yourself." The old mech said before he left the room.
Orion Eclipse went to visit Altair Comet in her room. He could see that she was mourning the loss of her father, Optimus Prime. Not only did the Last Prime sacrifice himself to restore the Well of All Sparks, but he had become one with the Allspark and he is now together with the rest of the Original Primes. Now that the Primes are no more, the Autobots couldn't help but feel hopeless without a Prime, especially Orion Eclipse who was once a stranded Decepticon amnesiac and now an Autobot warrior trying to find a way to help the Autobots succeed where their late leader had started. Orion couldn't help but wonder what his true destiny is, but for now, he couldn't stand to watch the love of his life suffer the loss of her father. Eclipse began to think about his mother, Firestar, and how she died, and now he thought about it. He was starting to feel the same grief as Altair Comet was having.
Altair Comet stops crying when she hears Orion crying near her. She sees that he just entered her room. "Orion?" Altair said. "Are you...okay?" She asked. Orion Eclipse whimpered and he replied, "I...I'm not. I lost my mother many stellar cycles ago when I was only a sparkling and my dad...is a terrible father." Altair Comet sympathies with him as she replies, "I-I'm sorry about your mother. I heard what had happened to her when my father told me...I got separated from my mother...and then I lost my father...I can't believe he's gone!" She said before she continued crying. Orion Eclipse gently holds Altair's hand servo and he offers to mourn with her to which she accepts. They sat right next to each other, mourning and comforting each other for the loss of one's parent.
Meanwhile, Arcee was spending some quality time with Knock Out and they were getting along well. Arcee told Knock Out how good it was to have a reunion with her human partner, Jack Darby, along with the other humans that she, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Smokescreen have known and befriended in the past when Optimus Prime was still alive. It was then that Knock Out was curious to know more about Arcee's relationship with her human friend, Jack Darby as he asked a rather startling question.
"Arcee? I have a question if you don't mind me asking." Knock Out began asking the two-wheeler.
"Go on. What's the question?" Asked Arcee.
Knock Out replied a little anxiously as he told the fembot, "Well, I wanted to ask you about your relationship with your human pet-ah, I mean friend, Jack Darby. Were you two like...a thing? Were you and Jack a couple?" He asked.
Arcee was speechless by that question before she answered, "No, not really. Jack Darby and I aren't really in a relationship. We're just friends."
"But I thought you two were partners." Knock Out said.
"We are partners but not in a romantic way," Arcee replied. "Jack may have been a smooth talker and a simp when he first saw me in my vehicle mode. But you see, I'm more of a family friend, a guardian, and a protector of Jack and his mother, June Darby, than I am his actual girlfriend. So, he and I are only friends." Arcee explained.
Knock Out raised an eyebrow, "Why?" He asked.
Arcee sighed, "Because he's too young to be my boyfriend and I'm not the same age as he is. I'm like old enough to be his mother figure. I'm only a close friend to him and his mother. Yes, given the fact that Jack and I are fond of each other, but no. We're not dating." The fembot told the ex-Decepticon medic as she finished her statement about her true relationship with Jack.
"Okay. But Jack's no longer in his teenage years. He's a fully grown-up adult now, is he?" Knock Out said, thinking that Jack Darby might be old enough now to maybe date Arcee.
Arcee shook her head and replied, "Yes, but Jack is perfectly happy right now with his relationship with Miko, and I...would rather stay single. I've already lost two of my partners when Starscream killed Cliffjumper and Airachnid killed Tailgate." She told Knock Out.
"You're not to only one who's suffered the loss of a partner because of an evil spider-like Airachnid. You see, a long time ago, I lost my partner Breakdown when Megatron hired him and Dreadwing to destroy Airachnid for her treachery, but Breakdown perished when she extinguished his spark." Knock Out made a forlorn expression as he continued, "When Dreadwing told me of his demise...it broke my spark. I never forgave Silas already for what he did to Breakdown's optic, but I also wanted to punish that spider-witch in the worst ways possible by ripping out her arms!"
Arcee began to sympathize with the ex-Decepticon since she knew exactly what it felt like. "I'm sorry for your loss, Knock Out. I wish we knew what happened to Airachnid." Arcee made a grudging frown as she added, "I'll never forgive her, especially after the times when she threatened to kill Jack to make me suffer the loss of another parter so that she could add his head to her collection." She mentioned.
This disturbed the red mech a bit. "Wait, she wanted to kill and add the head of your human best friend to her trophy room?!" Knock Out exclaimed.
Arcee nodded, "Yes, she did." She replied.
Knock Out was now angry at the thought of Airachnid killing Arcee's human partner to make her suffer, "Aww! Why that evil twisted, 6-legged glitch! And here I thought my problems with Doomsayer were bad!" Knock Out stopped himself from losing his cool to calm down a little bit and forget about his hatred for his ex-boyfriend before he finished by saying, "Well, thank Primus she's not here right now to cause any more loss, damage, and suffering than she already did with those poor Insecticons that she enslaved with her mind control over them."
Meanwhile, Megatron was by himself feeling angry at himself for having that bad and uncomfortable conversation with Orion Eclipse over the fact that he hired Barricade and Overload to assassinate Altair Comet and Elita-One. The former Decepticon warlord felt ashamed of himself as Megatron himself was responsible for having Optimus Prime's wife and daughter separated from each other after years of being hunted down during the Great War. Megatron was about to go to his room to recharge before he could think about what he could do to fix his relationship with his son and his childhood sweetheart...when he suddenly heard a voice in his head. A warm, deep, gentle, and familiar voice. A voice that he could recognize so well.
"Megatron."
Megatron turned around feeling surprised as if he could feel a familiar presence. "Optimus?" He said softly. The former Decepticon warlord looked around for the source of the voice that sounded like Optimus. "Can it...be?" He asked no one but himself.
"Megatron." Optimus' voice said. Megatron could hear the Prime speaking again. "Prime?...Is that you? Can you hear me?" Megatron asked.
There was no response. Megatron took a deep breath and his spark was filled with melancholy emotions before he goes to his room to lay down on his berth to recharge. He was sure that he heard Optimus Prime. But how could he hear him? Isn't he supposed to be dead? He's one with the Allspark! He can't be a ghost now, can he? As Megatron went to sleep, he was getting flashbacks to his past and his friendship with Orion Pax before he became Optimus Prime at the beginning of the Great War. Then Megatron was getting flashbacks to when he was fighting Optimus Prime while being possessed by Unicron the Chaos Bringer.
All of those memories, both sad and painful were enough to make Megatron tear up in his sleep, and then when Megatron remembered what his son and the Autobots had told him about Optimus and how he sacrificed himself to restore the Well of All Sparks, he couldn't help but feel saddened by the death of Optimus Prime who not only was his archenemy during the Great War but who was also his best friend, his pupil and his brother-in-arms. Soon Megatron was mourning the loss of Optimus Prime in his sleep just as Altair Comet was mourning his death along with Orion Eclipse.