"You sure you don't want to go back to Unit E?" Swiftshadow couldn't help but note the tone of concern in Wheeljack's voice.
"Not until I've done this," She replied. Her tail twitched in anticipation. Swiftshadow could hardly believe it. She was finally going home. Her brother would be there waiting.
"I'd love to join ya, but I've got a delivery to Cybertron," Wheeljack pointed a thumb towards the back of the ship where Lockdown lay secured in the brig. The prospect of Lockdown being locked away on Cybertron made her feel more secure. Having to look over her shoulder all the time was exhausting. Especially when one is preoccupied with battling an all powerful god of darkness as well.
"Seeing as you have your memories back, care to tell us you true name?" Wilson was perched on the ships dashboard. He inputted her home towns coordinates as they left the UK. It shouldn't take long to reach Woodstone with was nestled deep within the Canadian rockies. It would've taken over nine hours if she were flying in an airliner. Half a planet was nothing for a spaceship designed for interplanetary travel. And she didn't have to wrestle with airport security.
"Kelsey, Kelsey Riderman," That name was both strange and familiar in the same breath. A buzz of excitement washed down her overtime she recalled it. It was both satisfying and gratifying to be able to say it aloud and know with absolute certainty that was her name. Yet over the months of travelling she'd come to also know Swiftshadow as her name.
"Kelsey? I would've pegged you as more a Rachel or Amelia," Chuckled Wilson.
"Really those are the names you went for?" Swiftshadow said incredulously.
"So how do you plan to explain the scales to your brother?" Asked Wilson.
Swiftshadow's talons tensed. She really hadn't thought about that little detail. Her scales suddenly felt like no longer fit. It felt like someone had shove her inside an ill fitting coat that she couldn't take off. She was keenly aware of every scale that covered body. How could she explain this? Todd would no doubt freak out. "I'm not sure,"
The Ship lurched to a halt.
"We're here," Wheeljack inputted a few commands into the console. The ship shuddered slightly before stilling. The engines hummed steadily. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Swiftshadow followed Wheeljack out of the cockpit. The bay doors opened into early morning light. While the night was few hours in at the UK the day was just starting here. Swiftshadow suspected that she might get a case of jet lag. that was a problem for her future self to deal with.
The ship hovered nearly a mile above the ground. The town of Woodstone looked like a collection of dollhouses. Great mountains stretched up on all sides. Dense forests painted the valley green. A thin winding road trailed in and out of the small town.
"Before you go," Wheeljack reached into his subspace compartment and pulled out a small energon cube and a device, "I have a feeling your gonna need these,"
Swiftshadow plucked the items from his hands. The device looked like an antennaless hand radio with all but one of the buttons removed. Eyeing the device she asked, "What's this?"
"A Comm link," He stated, "So you can call Ratchet for a ground bridge. Just press the button and speak."
"Nice to know." Swiftshadow handed it to Wilson and stepped out to the open doors, "And Wheeljack, thank you, for everything,"
"No prob," He half shrugged, "Just take care of yourself. And Wilson make sure she does,"
"I've been doing so for this long haven't I?" Wilson crossed his arms.
At that Swiftshadow leapt from the hovering ship. She dropped away letting the wind rush by. She spread out her wings went into an easy glide. She looked up to see The Jackhammer II disappear into the sky. Only a thin streak of light remained as the only evidence that it was ever there. It was soon absorbed into the morning light.
She slowly descended into the valley, soaking up the sun rays and atmosphere. The glowing mountains reached out into the sky greeted her, welcoming her home. Below she saw her school empty and vacant for summer vacation. Several rows houses sprawled out around it. Stores and and businesses dotted between. Home. This was home.
She circled idly around the town looking for a place to land. A barren playground provided ample landing space. Clear and vivid memories of playing on the slides and monkey bars played out before her. The swings swayed in the slight breeze. She winged around and landed before them. Wilson dismounted onto one of the seat.
She allowed her body to twist and reform back into her human form, settling herself on the next swing. Digging her toes in the moist sand below she gently rocked back and forth.
"I'm here, I'm finally here," She muttered. After so long, so may trials, she was home. It almost didn't seem real. It was like a dream were the simple act of acknowledging it would shatter it and she'd wake up. She gripped the metal chains tightly trying to ground herself in the here and now.
"It's a nice place," Said Wilson, "Quiet neighbourhoods, lush greenery, low crime."
"Yeah, It is pretty nice," She stared out across the park into the barren parking lot. A breath of cool clean crisp air entered her lungs.
A low rumbling caught her attention. An old pick up truck grumbled into the parking lot. Its brakes squealed as came to a halt. Swiftshadow Immediately recognized the truck. A foot appeared below the swinging door. A face with welling disbelieving eyes emerged from the cab. She knew that face well. It was the face she looked up to since the day she could remember.
"Kelsey?" Todd Riderman called out, voice shaking. His gait was slow and unsteady. He looked thinner than she remembered, "Kelsey is that you?"
"Hey, Todd. Long time no see," Swiftshadow spoke spoke as Todd pulled her deep into his chest.
"Where have you been? What happened? Are you okay? Oh god, I missed you." He brother fussed over her checking her over for any injuries. Swiftshadow was thankful that she was wearing a hoodie and gloves. She wasn't quite ready to let him know of her 'transformation'.
"I'm fine, Okay. I'm just… happy to be with you," She breathed.
"Hello you must be her brother," Wilson cut in.
"Who-?" Todd locked eyes with the robot dinosaur.
"Todd, this is Wilson." Swiftshadow started, "He's my best friend. He helped me find my way back,"
"Kelsey, where'd you go?" A pleading confusion set deep into her brother face.
Swiftshadow's breath hitched. There was so much she wanted to say yet nowhere to begin. "It's been a long day and I'm tired. I just wanna go home,"
"Long day? But it's only morning,"
"Not when you cross several time zones,"
Todd raised a brow and sighed, "Alright, you can tell me later after you get some rest,"
Swiftshadow followed him into his truck. Before she opened the door she examined the truck for any Cybertronian symbols, content to find none. As the truck pulled out of the parking lot Swiftshdow couldn't help but feel that there was something askew.
Dark and nebulous energies swirled around Julien. Malic Korvoth's hunger entwined with his determination. His magic reached out for its missing piece. He could feel it calling back. He was so close. Just a little farther. The thin thread of darkness connecting the pieces snapped sending him reeling back into reality.
The shadows coating the hotel room like paint retreated back into the corners. Despite the sun shining brilliantly through the curtains the hotel was dim and grey. The navy blue curtains were almost black and the beiges were washed out.
'You almost had it that time,'
Julien struggled to catch his breath. "Almost is not good enough," That was his sixth attempt. Or was it his seventh? He stopped keeping track after the fourth. This location spell was a little more complicated that he thought. He didn't let that stop him. He was running out of time after all.
He adjusted his closed legs and prepared for the next attempt. Darkness and malcontent seeped into his soul. He could not tell if it was his own or Malic's nor did he care. He had only this one objective in mind and he could not fail. He refused to.
'If you wish to succeed, I highly recommend wearing all the other gems,'
Julien eyed the other gems lain carefully on the nightstand. The lone serpent on his lapel was not enough. The bear, stag, raven, and ram all spalled tantalizingly under the flickering lamp. He reached out, grabbing them by the chains. They clinked as he held them up the light. He pondered for a brief moment if this was all going to be worth it. The image of his mother strong and healthy flitted throughout his mind shattered any doubt.
Dropping the loops around his neck he tried again. Immediately he could feel the difference. Power traversed through him like a cascading river in flood. Wild and almost out of control. He wrestled with it trying to direct it towards the missing piece. The darkness readily obliged, reaching out for the panther.
The thread quickly reformed and began thickening into a rope. Once the connection was strong and steady Julien focussed on stage two. Weaving the energies together a dark portal formed. The sight of the shadowy vortex brought a smile to his face.
'There will be enemies waiting,' Malic warned.
"Then we'll get rid of them," Julien said as he stepped into the portal. Shadows wrapped around him reducing him to a silhouette. With the amount of power coursing inside his veins, Julien mused to himself, he was invincible.