Mikaela POV
The past week has almost flown by! Autumn seems to have a little more confidence in herself. I mean she still has a long way to go, but she no longer acts like she's going to get hit just because she wants something. Even though you can see that she still expects a negative answer, she'll at least ask. It's not a huge improvement, but she's a lot better than she was when I got here.
Autumn asked me during her driving lessons yesterday morning if we could do another Girl's Night sometime soon. It wasn't at all easy, but I managed to talk to Chromia without Autumn present and she commed the other femmes to let them know what was going on. We plan to surprise Autumn with it. The only differences between last time and this time? Mom will be there, and I'll make sure I have some extra supplies with me so Autumn can try some new things.
"Autumn, I need to talk to your sister while you practice your driving. We'll both be right here watching." Mom told her.
Autumn nodded her head and transformed into her alt mode. That sleek emerald green Ferrari Dino Concept is a sight to behold. When she revs that engine up, you just want to drool! The thing is, I'm not the only one on base who feels that way. A lot of the soldiers have told me how jealous they are that Autumn has let me drive. They'd flip their lids if they ever found out that Autumn and I are now sisters.
Sideswipe took the lead and Autumn followed him with Sunstreaker bringing up the rear and giving instructions.
"Mikaela, you know that this Girl's Night is going to significant even in Autumn's life, don't you?" Mom asked me when I stood next to her.
"What do you mean?" I asked after I couldn't see any reason for that to be the case.
"The night she came back to base after the last one, is the same night that I arrived. Autumn might expect a similar event to take place after this one." Mom told me seriously.
I had to think about that, because she has a point. Autumn was scared, homesick and feeling abandoned when we returned to base. Somehow, I'll have to make sure that doesn't happen this time. Even though I know that I'll have all the help I need, it isn't any less daunting. On top of that, Autumn's birthday is the day after tomorrow, she'll be seventeen. I've already got some plans in motion.
Autumn hasn't mentioned anything about her birthday coming up. My bet is that she hasn't had any kind of celebration since her biological mother was killed. That will change! Ratchet already has a gift for her, and brand new holoform projector. Hide plans to give her a couple of small cannons, and Chromia is going to give her lessons with them. I know that Sunstreaker and Sideswipe have a pair of blades for her and that Jazz is going to teach her to use them. I have no idea what everyone else is planning, but there will be a surprise party for her when we come back to the base… yeah we're leaving tonight and plan to stay gone long enough for everything to get set up. The fun part? Autumn has no earthly idea that we have something planned!
I was about to respond to what mom had just said when a trio of jets flew over head very slowly. I didn't know that a jet could fly that slow. Next thing I know, all three jets transform and land before they started walking towards us.
Optimus walked out of the hangar with Jazz and Prowl right behind him. All of the bots who weren't watching Autumn and the older Twins also followed but held back a ways.
"Optimus." The lead bot said with a dip of his head.
"Starscream." Optimus replied while also bowing his head in response.
The one addressed as Starscream looked around almost casually. It was because he knew that he wasn't going to be attacked unless he started something. That was something I knew and understood. Optimus always kept his word. When he said that he would do something, he did it even when he didn't like doing it.
"Before we begin, I would like to ask a question of the femme called Kinetica." Starscream stated.
That was when mom stepped closer to the new bots. "I am Kinetica. What is it that you want to ask?"
"Can you still create sparklings, and if so, will they be distributed in the same manner as before?" Starscream asked bluntly.
"I am still able to create sparklings, just not as rapidly as I was able to before leaving Cybertron. As far as I am concerned, bots will have to attempt to create on their own before receiving a sparkling from me. I will know if they have fulfilled that requirement or not. Sparklings will also be provided equally! There will no longer be any preferential determinations as to who receives a sparkling." Mom answered in a loud but clear tone.
"That decision is quite acceptable. It means that Tower bots will no longer have a monopoly on them." Starscream replied.
"No they won't!" Mom said firmly. "I will have final say in who is bestowed with one of my children!"
Autumn stood right behind mom's left leg and glared at Starscream with Ravage in her arms. "Mami is not a sparkling factory, and she won't be forced into being a sparkling factory either!" Autumn growled angrily.
"You're absolutely right Autumn! That will never happen to me, so don't be concerned about it." Mom replied with a smile.
"That's Ravage! She's holding Ravage in her arms!" One of the other mechs with Starscream blurted out with wide optics.
"How did that happen?" Starscream asked quietly.
"Unit Ravage assigned to protect and defend latest creation of Allspark. Unit Ravage enthusiastically complies!" Soundwave said plainly.
Starscream and the two mechs with him stared at Soundwave with surprise on their faces. I don't think they like the idea of him being here.
"Soundwave! Why are you here?" Starscream demanded sourly.
"Unit Soundwave under mistaken impression that Sparkling Autumn would be final creation of Allspark. Unit Soundwave determined to defend final sparkling. Contact for defense; required."
Starscream frowned in thought before he pointed straight at Autumn. "You're a sparkling?"
"Yes… she is! Autumn is my sparkling. One that I will be keeping for myself. I will defend her if I need to, but Autumn is mine!" Mom said firmly.
"Unit Soundwave available to defend Allspark if necessary."
"It will make no difference because there are insufficient forces available to prevent the capture of the Allspark for use in experimentation." Said a large purple mech that was just landing.
That mech was surrounded by a huge army of bots. It looked like there was enough to outnumber every human and bot on this island by at least twenty to one.
"Well Shockwave, did you honestly think that an army of a mere ten thousand drones would be enough?" Mom asked with an amused tone and a slight smile.
Optimus, Starscream, and all of the others were taking steps back. I guess they really don't want any part of a fight like this. There's enough heavily armed bots in that army to kill everyone very easily!
"Primus himself created me from his own spark. Do you really believe that he would allow me to be defenseless?" Mom said as she turned, lifted Autumn, held my sister on her left hip, before she smirked and raised her right hand.
Optimus POV
My jaw dropped open as an electrical discharge emanated simultaneously from the chest of each drone that Shockwave brought with him. All of that energy flashed straight into the upraised hand of Kinetica who only smiled wider. Instead of being vaporized or even damaged by such an impressive discharge, she seemed to be absorbing all of that energy!
"I was created by a God, Shockwave! I was given the power to create life, restore life, effect repairs, and if necessary… to even remove life!" Kinetica said sternly.
"Your numerous experiments have caused a great many of my children to suffer before they died. I felt every single one of those deaths. I personally felt the torment of those femmes and younglings who were spark raped to death by your personal troops. Now… you will experience a small portion of that agony!" Kinetica snarled in anger.
An energy discharge flashed from Kinetica's upraised hand to hit Shockwave. It is the only time I have ever heard of that mech screaming in pain. I watched in stunned silence as his frame began to slowly disintegrate while he screamed in agony and begged for mercy.
"You dare to beg for mercy?" She demanded in soft spoken anger.
"How many times, Shockwave? How many times were you, or your troops begged for mercy that was never granted or even considered? How many times were you begged for the mercy of death?"
Shockwave's frame began to melt and the drops vanished as soon as they hit the ground. It was no longer possible to hear the mech's screams. My guess is that he'd burnt out his vocal processor from screaming too forcefully. The shifting positions of Shockwave's frame proved that there was still life within that vaporizing husk. The mech's death seemed to drag on for hours, even though it couldn't have been more than a few minutes.
When Shockwave's frame vanished completely, his spark was still visible for another moment before that too vanished.
Kinetica turned back to look at us and Starscream's group as well. There was an irate expression on her face.
"I think you got mad Mami." Autumn said softly in a very nervous tone.
I could certainly understand such fear at the moment. There isn't a bot in existence who would be able to survive or withstand an assault like the one Shockwave endured. Autumn is being held by the very bot responsible for Shockwave's grisly demise. If even a small fraction of that anger is directed at Autumn, she hasn't even got a prayer of surviving!
"Actually Autumn… I have been angry since this idiotic war began! There are very few bots in existence who have not committed an atrocity in my opinion! You are one of them!" Kinetica said sternly.
"You have done no wrong, nor have you caused any harm Autumn. That is why you have no reason to be afraid or nervous right now. Yes… I am very angry! But I will not take that anger out on you, or even direct it at you. You are perfectly safe with me." She added gently.
"Kinetica has just proven that she is an incarnation of the Allspark. Whatever terms you have Optimus, can be discussed with her. If she agrees that the terms are fair and equitable, then I will be satisfied and have no arguments. The completed peace treaty can be sent to me later when it is finished." Starscream told me as he and his trine turned to leave.
"Why are you willing to have her conduct the negotiations for you?" I asked curiously.
"That is actually very simple Optimus Prime. Her statements and actions have made it clear that she intends for things to be fair in the future. I see no reason not to trust the descendant of Primus to ensure fairness and make certain that everything is equitable." Starscream replied haughtily.
I fully understood his meaning. Kinetica has already expressed severe concerns over the way that things were before this war. There are many comprehensive changes that will need to be made. I nodded my head and watched as Starscream and his trine left.
Kinetica looked down at the young femme in her grasp. "Autumn, you still need to finish your driving lessons, so why don't you go do that?" She said as she placed Autumn on the ground.
"Okay Mami." Autumn said happily as she hurried over to the twins.
Autumn POV
Mami is really angry right now. She's not angry at me though. That's a real surprise to me. Usually if I'm around someone who is mad, it's me they're mad at. Not this time though, Mami is mad because a lot of bad things have happened and she couldn't stop it. She can now though, and I think she will. I just saw her kill a whole army, and that was without even trying!
When Mami told me to go driving again, I knew there wouldn't be any more problems for a while. Besides, Mami just proved that she can protect herself from a whole army! If Mami can do that, then she won't have any problems protecting me. I don't have to be scared of anything anymore because Mami is here!
I went over to the Twins and dropped down into my alt. mode. There were some jealous comments from a few of the soldiers along with some wistful remarks. Even though no one could see it, I had to smile because that was me they were talking about!