Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.
Pandimala: *glances at Authoress* You seem more relaxed than you have been in a while. Plus, you are updating rather quickly.
Authoress: *leans back* Small vacation from work for my sister's birthday. Being away from work stress is doing wonders for me and my motivation. Plus, I'm away from my Xbox, so I can't play games to distract me.
Pandimala: *curious* Just what sort of games do you play?
Authoress: *smiles* The fun ones, of course.
Chapter 20: Miracles
Megatron's 1st P.O.V.
This was the worst problem that we could be facing right now. Out of all the secrets we thought Pandimala could be hiding, this wasn't even an option. Our most bizarre theory was that she was a disgraced noble's creation who had fled from the planet and had been damaged to the point of incapacitation in stressful situations. Yet, this was the furthest option we could have considered.
Triple changers were rare as it was, and for there to be one that none of the information strains on Cybertron had heard about was impossible. And yet, here Pandimala was. While she couldn't know for sure, she must have suspected it. When exactly that was, I wasn't sure. Given her goals, she must have been worried about being hidden away. Even though she hadn't been on Cybertron for long, it was easy to pick up how certain classes of bots received better treatment from certain groups. And triple changers were at the top of that list for anybot.
And her wings had just popped.
While her being a triple changer hadn't been a part of our counterplan for her secret, her having a panic attack due to faulty programming was an option we considered. And we had a plan for that. Hopefully, that same plan would work to help bring her down from the trauma that was her wings popping during the fight.
"Soundwave, get to Pandimala now!" I yelled at the mech as I ran toward the creature. I needed to keep the creature away from them while Soundwave did what needed to be done. One of the best ways to snap her out of her panic was to introduce a logical source to her processor directly. And we had come up with two ways to accomplish this.
"Rumble, Ratbat; eject!" I heard Soundwave call out. He must be worried about her to yell out his wishes like that.
But I couldn't stay focused on them. The creature focused on them, and I had to ensure it didn't get near them.
With a roar, the creature tried to charge forward. I couldn't allow it to get near them. I charged the creature with a matching roar and slashed at its front legs. Life force splattered against my chassis as I avoided its retaliatory strike. With a yell, the creature stopped its advance and turned its head to me. Perfect. Toward me and away from Pandimala and Soundwave. Currently, Soundwave was trying the first of our two options, and he had to be uninterrupted to accomplish it.
As I dodged each of the creature's attempts to take me out, I kept stealing glances at the two of them. We had deduced that the best way to get her to overcome bad programming was to jolt her systems with a new connection. We had two ways of doing so, though both ways were extreme. Now, he was trying to have Rumble and Ratbat link to Pandimala as a secondary host. Forming a new host bond would help temporarily stabilize Pandimala and get us through this fight.
I barely avoided one of the creature's horns as I thought about the chaos this would bring. The Vosnian Court valued triple changers. Not only was the Vosnian ambassador here, but the bondmate to Lord Skyscream was also here. Both would likely demand Pandimala be remanded to their care once the fight ends. With a glance at their box, I saw that only Lady Firecracker was in the booth, and she was intently watching Pandimala and Soundwave. The ambassador's absence told me he was likely giving the organizers an audio-full about keeping a triple changer in the Pits, risking her spark each solar she was here.
Searing pain traveling through my shoulder brought me back to focus. I had let the creature move by me too closely, and its spikes had dug into my shoulder as it passed me. While the creature was too enraged for me to finish it as I had the other one, I could keep it away from Pandimala until I got word back.
Speaking of, I hadn't heard anything for a while. "Soundwave report.~Megatron"
It took a few more clicks for the mech to respond. Understandable, given the mental strain he had to be under trying to allow the symbiote bond to accept Pandimala as an equal partner to him. "Not good. Rumble and Ratbat attaching to Pandimala seemed to help for a few nanos, but now she seems to be getting lost in her programming. I may have to go through with our second option."
I knew that was not a choice Soundwave wanted to make, but he had agreed that if the problem were bad enough, he would do it. Using his tentacles, he would link his processor directly with Pandimala's and help her sift through the information overwhelming her.
However, that would cause problems.
As with what happened with Pondar, bots on Cybertron reacted harshly when tentacles like Soundwaves were used. It would usually mean almost certain offlining. And for Soundwave to attach to her so publicly and with her being a triple changer, the backlash would be immense. However, one hope we had was that members of the Vosnian Court were here, and while they were just as opposed to most uses of the tentacles, they at least understood when it should be used in emergencies. Saving a triple changer's processor would more than give Soundwave the leeway he would need.
But, it was still a risk. If the Council got their servos on Soundwave before the Vosnian Court could step in, he would be offlined before the end of the solar.
Seeing an opening, I launched at the razorhowler's exposed side and slit its side open. It was not enough to offline it; however, it would hinder its movement. It was less likely for the brute to try for Pandimala and Soundwave again. With the brief respite the strike gave me, I responded to Soundwave.
"Do what you must. ~Megatron."
Swindle's 1st P.O.V.
I wished the femme had told me of her suspicions before this mess blew up.
Finaqua and I were pulled into a private meeting room with Synthstorm, Deadlock, and Ambassador Rassic of Vos. Given that Pandimala was revealed to be a triple changer, and we were the managers over her, it made sense that they would have questions. While Pandimala had kept this from us, that would work in our favor. We would be able to answer their questions a lot more honestly now.
"Do you have any defense as to why Pandimala's nature was kept hidden from us?" Synthstorm growled.
Immediately, I glared at the mech. He was trying to shift all the blame on us when any bot with a processor knew that deep scans that would have revealed the wings cost more than bots in even the middle class could afford lightly. Not only that, but he was conveniently forgetting that her wings only popped due to whoever shot at her.
"Her wings were not close enough to popping to show on any of the scans we have access to," Finaqua spoke up, a no-nonsense tone in his vocals. "And the application for a deep scan takes solars, at best, to get approved. If they even do. Before this solar, Pandimala gave no indication that she was a triple changer. I'm not even sure if she knew what she was. Given the limited history we have of her, she was sheltered most of her existence and wouldn't have had access to any medical support that would have shown that."
Slag, I didn't think Finaqua had gone that deep into my personnel file on the femme. Of our three fighters currently in the arena, she was the least capable fighter, though not by much. I had even forgotten about her mentioning she had been sheltered for most of her existence.
"And what are you implying by that?" Deadlock asked with a low growl in his vocals.
At this point, it was best to bring the focus to one of the bigger problems. "That whoever shot at Pandimala from the crowd aimed for her without knowing her status. That meant that they were trying to sabotage the fight. And for that to happen in front of so many witnesses can't be ignored. All those in attendance will want answers and somebot to blame. Our," I motioned to Finaqua and myself before I continued. "whereabouts can be verified by those in the box next to us. I believe that is Councilfemme Botanica's spot." Thank Primus that she was next to us and not one of the shadier bots on the Council.
Plus, to challenge the word of a Council member was not one somebot of a lower caste did lightly.
"Not only that," I was surprised when the ambassador spoke up. I assumed he would allow us to settle this amongst ourselves and only step in regarding the fates of the three in the arena. "But the shot came not far to the right of our box. Should not the houses with seats there be brought here to be questioned? Given how successful the three fighters were against the creatures at that point, it is clearly a sign of sabotaging their efforts. And to affront such an insult against a triple changer is not something Vos will forgive. Given the recent treatment of our triple changers at the insistence of the Council and its subordinates, I worry that this is an attack against Vos as a whole."
"I assure you, Ambassador, that is most assuredly not the case."
The energon flowing in my lines froze as that voice came from the doorway. What was he doing here? He hadn't been present at the start of the fight. That I knew. If he had been, there would have been a massive fanfare of introducing him, and he would have spoken before the fight began. And it was almost unheard of for anybot to come this late in the fights, especially one of this magnitude.
"Sentinel Prime, it is an honor," Ambassador Rassic greeted the Prime with a bow.
In turn, Sentinel merely glanced at the mech. "Ambassador Rassic, I understand your concerns about this unforeseen event. Let me assure you that I personally looked at the scans of each gladiator before the match began. Pandimala's scan did not show any wings to be had. I will send those scans to your foreign affairs office if you wish."
The Ambassador glanced at the Prime before giving a nod. "That would be most appreciated, Sentinel Prime. It will assure the royal family that this triple changer was not hidden from us." He then frowned and glanced at Synthstorm with a studying look. "Though that still leaves a problem. Despite her unknown nature, the femme was attacked during this fight. These fights are considered fair to the fighters, so we do not press more into the treatment of fliers in these situations. If this was not an attack on Pandimala due to her triple changer status, then an investigation should be had to determine who breached that right."
"My investigators informed me that they are already in the process of tracking down all involved in this matter," Sentinel Prime's optics grew a dark look that would have had me crawling to Unicron himself. "It is due to their early findings that I am here," When two guards came in behind the Prime, I realized there were only two bots they could be here for. Who that was to be would soon be found out.
"Hey, release me!" Synthstorm cried out as the guards bound his servos behind his back. Since they were not going after Deadlock, he was in the clear. That was more than I could say for Synthstorm. It would take a miracle of Primus to get him through the solar online. "I've done nothing wrong!"
"Nothing wrong?" The weight behind the Prime's vocals was enough to silence the room, though he had not raised his voice. "Currently, I have agents at the properties of the higher-caste house led by Nitro Circuit bringing all involved into custody. I have found that you have colluded with them in this breach. Transmissions have been found between yourself and Nitro Circuit to rig the fight. You were unprepared for the strength those three were able to show despite the revealed status of the femme. If you were willing to do this much, I am sure there are more crimes we will find that you have committed. Our best investigators will be questioning you most thoroughly." He then glanced at Deadlock. "For the foreseeable future, you will lead the organization of the Pits."
"Of course, my Prime," Deadlock knelt before Sentinel, accepting the promotion. He was probably feeling very lucky at this click. Deadlock had his crimes that I was sure the Prime knew about. But, he was being given an out. Of course, with Sentinel appointing him, he would have to watch his backplates.
Those 'investigators' would tear Synthstorm apart. I was sure he would be used to cover up other crimes outside of the ones he committed. "My Prime, no…please," Even Synthstorm's pleas for mercy were feeble. He knew he was doomed. He probably knew it the moment the Prime walked into the room. His pleas went silent as he was dragged out of the room.
"I see that you have the situation in servo, Sentinel Prime. I will inform my Lady of the news immediately with your leave." Ambassador Rassic spoke up.
Chills went through my chassis at the smile that spread on the Prime's faceplate. "Of course. And be sure to send my best wishes to Lady Firecracker."
"Many thanks, Sentinel Prime," the Ambassador said as he bowed again before leaving.
The air grew tense as the three of us were in the room. Slag, this was not a good situation. If Sentinel had heard about what they were doing, he must have heard about Megatron's plans. Plans that Pandimala and Soundwave were helping him with. Plans that Finaqua and I had to know about and had not reported. Were they about to be called out?
"While the fight is already near its end," I focused on the Prime as he spoke. "I am curious about how it will conclude. I will join you two in your box. I'm sure you can tell me about each of your gladiators."
Frag it all to the Pits. We couldn't say no, but this could go bad at any click. If I survived this solar, it was going to be a miracle. "Of course, my Prime," I could barely get out as I knelt before him.
"We would be honored to tell you of our gladiators, my Prime," Finaqua got out as he knelt. Hopefully, I sounded as composed as he was.
In response, the Prime gave a single nod before he turned and left. As we followed him, I quickly sent a private message to my brothers to let them know of the turn of events. Slag, this was one of the worst-case scenarios I could have imagined. No, I took that back. I couldn't have even imagined this. Sentinel Prime had never personally watched a match for as long as I could remember—even the tail end as he would be here.
They hadn't even won their fight yet and the higher caste had their optics on them. Worse yet, Sentinel Prime himself seemed to have his gaze on the three of them. I wouldn't be much help to them once they won this solar, but I would offer what I could. Their enemies were growing by the nano, and they would need every ally they could get their servos on if they were going to see their hopes become a reality.
Unknown 1st P.O.V.
The panic they were feeling was thrumming through the air. The herald was in distress, and there wasn't a thing that I could do about it. As I looked at those visiting the Archives, even those who were not sensitive to the energy of Primus could tell something was amiss. However, those of us who could struggled not to react to it. The one chosen by Primus was in pain.
Honestly, I had not left to find the herald because Sentinel Prime was out of the upper districts.
Hearing the news had been a surprise. Sentinel rarely left the upper districts. Even the lower high caste here in Iacon rarely saw him outside. He felt that their activities were beneath his notice. While he was a false Prime, perhaps he sensed the change in the air around us. At this point, very few couldn't at least feel that change was coming.
Soon. Much sooner than I thought, I would meet the herald. There was much I had to tell them, and I was sure they had much to say to me. I hadn't felt the excitement of discovery in millions of stellars. Back when I first met the young mech currently under my tutelage. I knew he would change Cybertron for the better. Perhaps he was meant to assist the herald? I didn't know, and the Covenant changed so frequently these solars that it was almost worthless to prepare through it.
"Sir, something is changing." I glanced to my side as my apprentice walked up to me. "I've been restless for solars."
He had? I had noticed he looked less energized, but I assumed that was from the extra studying he had been putting in. But, if he had been sensing the change for as long as it appeared that he had, then my hopes in him were still well founded. So, it seemed best to answer him. "Yes, we are entering a new age. And I hope you will be able to see every nano of it. We just have to wait a little while longer yet."
"What are we waiting for, sir?" The mech asked as he came to a stop next to me.
"Salvation."
Soundwave's 1st P.O.V.
"Boss bot, I can't reach Rumble or Ratbat!" Frenzy spoke in a panic as we stood by Pandimala.
It was hard to focus on the femme as my spark pulsed. Being blocked from my symbiots was a feeling I wasn't used to. It felt as if a part of me was missing. But I had to help Pandimala. After everything we had worked for, I had to help her overcome this. Despite my distrust of her when she first came to Swindle's compound, I saw her as a friend. A friend who was closer to me than I ever saw letting a bot get after Soundblaster.
We were friends in the middle caste. We always spent time together, and I felt I could trust him with my spark. He had always been a listening audio, and I thought I could trust him with anything. We had even started planning how to raise our status together. To always be a team. His symbiots and mine had always gotten along, always exploring together. I hadn't realized that Soundblaster had changed at some point.
And that change almost cost me everything.
Flashback.
My spark was racing as the enforcers swept my apartment. What was going on? I was loyal to our Prime and the Council. They had no reason to raid my home like some low-caste scum. This had to be a mistake. But, for now, I wouldn't fight them. I would simply let them do their jobs, as was their function, and complete their search. Once they were done, I would tell Soundblaster about this, and then we could figure out who was targeting us.
"I want every nook and cranny of this place torn apart!" The lead enforcer spoke up.
Just what were they looking for? Maybe an escaped low-caste had gotten into the building. They would have to search everywhere for a bot like that. They could be pretty crafty when given the chance. While I wanted to offer my assistance, the lead enforcer's anger caused me to hold my glossa.
The sound of my door opening caused me to glance to my side, and I felt relieved when Soundblaster walked in. He could tell these bots that I was not hiding anything. He knew that I wanted to raise my rank in the middle caste with him, and to do that, we had to be loyal. And we were. I would never help a low-caste escape the enforcers.
So, I made my way over to him. "Soundblaster, thank Primus, you're,"
I froze, and my spark raced as Soundblaster pointed his blaster at me, primed to fire at any nano. What the frag was going on? "Not another step, traitor."
Traitor? What the frag was the mech going on about? He knew me. He knew that I was loyal. Why…why was he saying that? "What's going on? I've never,"
"Hey, shut it, low spark scrap," One of Soundblaster's bipedal symbiots, Flamor, growled as he ejected from his host.
That prompted Rumble to eject from me. "Don't tell Soundwave to shut it, Flamor. What the scrap is going on?"
"Rumble, return," I immediately ordered him. Whatever was going on, the situation had changed, and I did not want to put my symbiot in danger.
While Rumble looked hesitant, he nodded and stuck his glossa out at Flamor before he docked. Once he was secure and I locked their attachments, I flinched as two of the enforcers suddenly came up and restrained me. I couldn't help but struggle against the unexpected motion. I glanced at Soundblaster to maybe get an answer. Perhaps this was an operation he was asked to do that would earn us favor. If it were, I would want an explanation,
"It was right where you said it would be," I glanced as one of the enforcers came out of my quarters, holding a strange datapad I had never seen before.
"What is that?" I asked as the enforcer placed the datapad in a sealed container used to transport evidence.
"A History of True Primes by Reilchor, slagheap of a datapad. Highly illegal to be in possession of." The lead investigator answered me with a glare.
What? I had never seen that before in my existence! I would never believe the words of that maniac! "I've never seen that before in my existence! Soundblaster tell them!" I pleaded with my friend! He knew I would never betray the Council and our Prime, let alone look at anything by an anarchist like Reilchor!
"I thought I knew you, Soundwave," My spark felt as if it was shattering when Soundblaster spoke those words. "I thought you were truly a friend of the Council. But when I found that piece of slag, I realized it was all a lie."
It was all a lie.
He must have planted it there. But there was no proof. There was nothing that I could say that would make any of these bots listen to me. I had trusted Soundblaster and considered him a brother to me. As the enforcers started to drag me away, I felt hollow. If I couldn't trust Soundblaster and his symbiots, who could I trust?
As I was forced into one of the larger alt modes destined for the stockades, I made a vow. Never again would I trust somebot so blindly. I would never be hurt like this again.
End of Flashback.
Pandimala changed that mistrust. She showed me that I could trust bots on that level once more. And she needed my help. She had already given so much to help us move forward, and now she needed me. And I would be there. Without another thought, I activated one of my tentacles and latched onto the back of her helm.
Immediately, the pain and panic that she was feeling rushed through my processor. I hadn't realized she had been so injured due to the fight. But I couldn't dwell on that long, or I would be as trapped as she was. So, I went further. Her memories soon became a recording before me, playing back impossible footage.
She…she used to be organic?
I couldn't believe it. Looking more and more, I saw her contact with our god Primus. He asked her to come and save us. Save us from the destruction that we caused. And she had given up everything she knew to do that. Though, I saw that she did not appear where our god had intended for her to be. She had been scared. So scared. She knew nothing.
Shaking my helm, I focused as I moved further into her processor. I had to find the logical side of her thoughts. If I could connect with her, we could leave this shock together and help Megatron take down the razorhowler. We needed her to do this. Megatron could only hold the line for so long.
After what seemed like ages, I found a spot of clarity. Barely noticeable among the chaos that the rest of her processor was. I saw Pandimala curled in on herself, looking like a terrified sparkling.
"Pandimala," There was no reaction from her consciousness. "Pandimala, please," I called again as I stopped before her.
Finally, she glanced up at me hesitatingly. "I can't do this. I can't." The fear in her voice seemed to rebound in this peaceful section of her processor.
Given what I saw to get to this point, I understood the fear that she had to be feeling. She had started alone, mistrusted, and when she finally made an ally, she was forced to leave them to fight in the Pits. Once she arrived here, she was alone again. And then Rillen came into her existence. He had helped her move forward. Rillen gave her the drive to push herself and catch Megatron's notice.
And she had grabbed mine as well.
As I stood before her, seeing her so vulnerable, I felt drawn to her. I never wanted to see her like this. This felt wrong. Pandimala was confident. Pandimala was not the type of femme to let this get her down. Yet, the sudden exposure of her wings threw her into this state of uncertainty. And I needed to help her.
"You can, Pandimala," She focused on me as I knelt before her. "And I vow that my symbiots and I will be with you for every step you take. I shall be your optics and audios."
Her optics widened at me, and she seemed shocked as she stared at me. "You will?" The question was hesitant, but I could hear the small hope behind it.
I gave her a nod and held out a servo to her. "I will never leave you."
"Can you help me out of here?" She asked me, still sitting though not as curled in on herself as she had been before.
"Yes," I answered, keeping my servo outstretched.
Her green optics seemed to stare directly into my spark for a few nanos before she stared at my outstretched servo. Finally, she nodded and took it in hers. "Thank you, Soundwave."
With that, we both stood, and I moved us to her conscious state. It was jarring, leaving the white expanse we were in and registering the arena. I had rarely linked up with bots, and it had been well before Soundblaster came into my existence. But, for Pandimala, it was worth it.
"We need to stay attached so you don't fall back into the panic your wings sent you into," I told Pandimala as she became aware of her surroundings.
"I trust you, Soundwave," My spark seemed to miss some beats as she said that so confidently.
She then looked forward to where Megatron was fighting the razorhowler. It was damaged; Megatron had done an outstanding job keeping it from us as I helped her. Now, it was time that we finished it. As she took out one of her blades, I took out my own, and we moved forward.
As we moved, I could barely hear anything outside of my spark beat. The world played out before me as if I was watching my fight. We moved past Megatron as he made an opening, and as one, Pandimala and I plunged our blades into the creature's throat. While the creature roared at the pain, Pandimala and I moved toward the right, dragging our blades through its throat as we did.
Its life force rained down on us as it struggled, using its last breaths to put up a fight. While it was a death cry for the creature, the roars it made were the hymn of our victory. Finally, the razorhowler gave one final bellow before it fell forward, life leaving its body at last.
As cheers rang across the stadium, we stood side by side. This was it. We had won. Once Pandimala was taken care of, we could start our drive forward. We could finally achieve peace on Cybertron.
A flash of Pandimala's memories went through my processor at the thought. We would succeed. And as I vowed to Pandimala, I would be her optics and audios. Everything I saw and heard would be hers.
A familiar voice coming over the symbiot bond caused me to glance at Pandimala in surprise.
"Thank you, Soundwave."
Pandimala: Wait... does this mean that Rumble and Ratbat are mine now?
Authoress: *smirks* You'll have to find out next time Pandimala.
Pandimala: *pouts* But you haven't started the next one yet.
Authoress: *shrugs* I need to get another tale to the end of their first arc first. And that will take a little longer than I thought it would.
Pandimala: *huffs* That's not fair.
Authoress: Just be happy that you are done being in the middle of major trouble for now.
AN: And here is the conclusion to the first arc! I had a lot more fun writing this than I thought I would. I get nervous when writing an important scene, and most of this chapter is important. Working backward, Soundwave has seen Pandimala's memories and knows her secrets! He didn't go in-depth, but he knows who she used to be and why she is here. Soundwave has now been solidified as Pandimala's ally and has sworn himself to her. That will change some paths from the known future for sure. Their victory against the razorhowler and Vos' involvement will make the next arc very interesting. The arcs are my seasons for each story, and arc two will bring about some exciting meetings.
And it seems that more and more bots are feeling Pandimala's presence. Our regular unknown point of view almost exposed himself when he felt the herald was in trouble. However, Sentinel Prime's move threw him off, and he hesitated to interfere. But he has faith that he will meet the herald soon. Plus, he has gotten evidence that his pupil is sensitive to the changes around them.
While the chaos on the field was happening, Swindle and Finaqua ended up in a tight situation of their own. Sentinel Prime has entered the scene! I wasn't planning on bringing him into the story yet, but when I was writing that scene, I wanted a major player to come in and turn the tides of the inquisition that Synthstorm and Deadlock were attempting. I hope I made Sentinel Prime as intimidating as I think he is. No bot survies being in the crosshairs of Sentinel Prime...at least not yet.
The next chapter will be delayed until I can get Awakening Resolve caught up to this point. And at that point, we will get into the next act.
And speaking of this, while I can't give you the names of the next chapter, I will provide you with the name of the next arc.
Arc 2: The State of Cybertron
Well, that's all for now. I hope you all keep enjoying the chapters I put out. I will keep writing as long as I can. Until next we meet, TTYL! *listening to Tale of The Shadow by Sail North*