New Chapt. Bunches of Changes. Enjoy! :D
Stalking through the galaxy with indefinable speed from the rift, he flew through space and time without hitting anything. He traveled to the outer reaches of the galaxy, disappearing into the vacuum of the cosmic web known as the universe where it was known the space bridge technology was safest to use, not that he cared what damage it did to other bodies around him, but the damage he could potentially do to himself. He started to slow with the intent to use a Space Bridge. Space Bridge technology helped where some distances were far too vast to travel normally. A course had been set to get him closer, even if it would need to be generated several times. He was careful to dodge the plethora of stars and other detritus in the plane as he crossed between bridges. Only one area in the galactic web was on his mind, and he would not be stopped. He'd pinpointed it when the Allspark had been destroyed and sought to find the planet that it had been on, for he knew those who sought power would look for it. He headed in the intended direction of his prize. Out here, very little slowed him, because there was hardly anything there.
"You must wake the Fallen from his slumber,"
"The remote viewer. He's seen you. Others will notice as well."
"Do not concern yourself. Find him. That is of importance. They will not win this time. They do not have the power."
Further away, from where he began his journey, even if there was no sound, radio waves and vibrations came from the rift as he tried to escape. Planets in other systems shattered with the force of exertion. He had been trying to push his way through the rip that held him searing his armor as he tried to force it to get bigger. One other relic still kept the rift from fully disintegrating, and with enough attacks, it should break and set him free. After each attack, he needed to wait until he replenished his energy, which being in this rift, was a slow process. It would be gathered quicker than the void he was forced to live because of the vast amount of energy in the cosmos. With all of the pressure and vibrations he was putting to the rip, he was making the rip bigger, even if the other relic was still holding strong.
He knew that there were mechs with the ability to travel through time and space – one in particular, and eventually they would find what he'd done and possibly repair it before he could emerge. They had defeated him before. It would not happen again. He had to be ready for when they finally found the state of the rip.
A few hours later back at the base, the two Ancients were sitting quietly as not to be heard in Starscream's quarters after the meeting in Optimus' office. They had stopped talking to Optimus at the mention of Unicron, especially when neither Starscream nor Vector Prime gave an answer about the monster. Starscream's manner was similar to how he was with all of the others around the base when he wasn't speaking of his cryptic past, so he had no reason to be different with him. Both had been rather quiet while they mostly looked at each other. A lot was going through their minds. Vector had a lot of questions, however this didn't seem to be the ancient he knew so long ago. Starscream seemed different in many ways. He was, for one, more uptight than he was used to seeing. The Ancient Prime he knew so long ago always had a cool head.
Starscream was musing on his growing abilities as he sat in the room. They were slow coming, he felt, but he assumed it to be this way so that his processor didn't overload with the power. He had the ability to remote view and had the ability to see a bit ahead in time, but not much, perhaps seconds before it happened. He also knew of his ability of slight telekinesis. He would explain how the doors opened on their own accord. He preferred to keep that to himself and the ones he knew, rather enjoying the quizzical looks that went around the rooms.
Vector Prime, on the other hand, was worried about the Cybertronian's futures. He knew what they all would be facing once that monstrosity found its way to freedom. He knew that there would probably be casualties with it as well. His spark felt both gifted and cursed with the abilities to see every different future to be able to determine the best course of action. However, for some reason, this one eluded him. He'd have to find a way. He was blind and he did not like it.
"I can't see anything," Vector finally said solemnly. "Normally I can see, but I can't. I don't like being in the dark."
"What do you mean you can't see?" Starscream asked, his thoughts lost to the one speaking. "What's wrong?" His voice held fear and concern.
"I don't know. There is no future, past or present. I cannot see past a certain point in the cosmos." Vector said with slight confusion, hoping this new Starscream would be able to help.
"But that… That's never happened." Starscream said, concerned. "When did it start?"
"A little while before I got here."
"That certainly puts a damper on things…" Starscream said, thinking of why, "do you think it means something?"
"I'm not sure," Vector replied, then went back to his quiet thought, wondering what was going on. "I've never been blinded before." He finished, confirmed what Starscream was fearing in his question.
After a few moments of silence, Starscream finally spoke, changing Vector's train of thought. "You know, I think you scared the slag out of everyone in that room,"
Vector Prime had been in his own thoughts and Starscream's words derailed him from his train of process. Dwelling on it wouldn't change things right now. It was still too early. Although it was something that would need attention if it didn't right itself. Vector looked up with a shake of the head, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked, glaring up at Starscream, annoyed at being disrupted.
"What I mean is," Starscream nearly growled, "there is a reason I haven't told them everything. You should know by now that there is always a motive to my madness,"
"That could be deemed questionable – And why should you not tell them?" the guardian huffed, "Motive or not, do you not think it is a smart plan to tell them what they will be facing?" Vector studied Starscream a moment while he waited for an answer. He knew Starscream and the way he thought.
He, that other Prime, along with Boltax were always a little creepy for his own standards, but this new Starscream, he wasn't sure how to handle. He always seemed like he knew more than he let on and this façade allowed him to be victorious, especially when his glares were so unreadable.
"They aren't ready for it, Vector," Starscream said.
"They need to be ready. Because he's coming whether they are prepared or not."
Looking away, trying to think of a good analogy to come up with, Starscream said, "Think of it this way," He started with a sigh, unable to really think of anything, "if someone you didn't know walked up to you and told you that there was a nearly indestructible god that eats other planets was harassing the universe, would you believe them?" Vector Prime was about to answer and Starscream held up his hand, stopping him, pretty much knowing the answer, "Never mind, don't answer that,"
"They need to know,"
"What good will it do?" Starscream asked with exasperation. "We barely defeated him last time,"
"We must try,"
"To what end? We can try, sure, but if it eradicates the rest of the Cybertronians, what is the point?"
"The point is we must do this, no matter the cost. Unicron cannot get free, he cannot win."
"Won't be worth anything if everyone is killed in the process." Starscream mumbled, mostly to himself.
Vector gave Starscream a furrowed look, letting him know he understood his every word. "That's why you need to tell them now. So they will be ready."
"But, they think I'm crazy already."
"What will happen when the time comes? They will surely die, then. We all will."
"I guess they'll be in for a big surprise…" Ignoring Vector Prime's rant, he continued, "And I can't wait to see their faces when you tell them about Primus," Starscream sneered. "All they think is that Cybertron is Primus."
"That doesn't make sense, Starscream. They don't know about Unicron, but they know about Primus?"
"A slip of the glossa," Starscream admitted.
"That's a mighty big slip." Vector noted.
"I had just woken up. I can't be held accountable for my actions."
"I never want to hear those words from your mouth again." Vector chastised, looking Starscream optic to optic. "You should know better. We are never not held accountable."
Vector Prime's glare turned finicky on Starscream, and he held it until Starscream looked away. "Going back to the issue at hand, I want to know what they don't know."
"Everything."
"How?"
"We've been erased somehow."
"What do you mean 'erased'?" Vector asked, frowning.
"Exactly what I said. Our story was changed. It's like we never existed. Their story is that 13 construction workers found the Allspark in a cave. Optimus, who knows what most of everyone else knows, was surprised to hear that the Allspark was created."
"Found?" Vector asked, wanting more information on the Allspark.
"Yes, found. There's no history of it being created to contain Unicron," Starscream said. "They also don't know anything about the Matrix. They think it's a power module."
It baffled Vector as to how they could have been erased from history. The story of the 13 fighters for their kind, wiped away like a bad memory. He wanted to find out why someone would go to such lengths. "How was it all erased?"
"I don't know…" Starscream shook his head, still disbelieving it himself. "And they have no idea of us, Vector."
"So, you mean to tell me that they think that the Allspark was found? And we were construction workers?" Vector asked, astonished. Starscream nodded in assurance. Vector then asked, "So, they really don't know what happened?"
"Not at all," Starscream said, "They were given a completely different history. Hell, half the base thinks I am making it all up." Starscream said in derision, "and what's worse, they didn't even believe that Primus actually existed. They thought everything was myth!"
"A myth? Do I look like a myth?" Vector Prime asked, waving his hand in front of himself for emphasis.
Starscream shrugged, "Half of them don't believe that I am who I am. Although, I think you being here validates my story to them a little. It's going to blow their minds when we tell them everything. And the only ones who know about Primus outside of us are Optimus, Ratchet and Wheeljack. I had to tell them at Sunstreaker's memory extraction,"
"They all must be briefed completely if we can't find the others. We will need as much help as we can get," Vector Prime said gently.
"You are preaching to the choir, Vector,"
"Excuse me?"
Starscream shook his head, forgetting that Vector wouldn't know small nuances like that, "it means I am already aware of it."
"We must return to Primus as soon as we can,"
"Yeah, about that," Starscream looked away from the mech who stared him down.
"More bad news?"
"Actually, no. They are in the first stages of making a starship." Starscream replied. "I have told them about needing to get back to Primus… They know him as the planet Cybertron."
"A Starship? Can't they fly?" Vector Prime asked, a little confused. Way back when, they all had the ability to fly, so it was the only logical question.
"No. Flying is more limited now and varies between mechs and the gene pools. There are ground versions and flying versions, aside from Seekers; I assume changes through evolution," he suddenly turned sharply towards the door as it opened.
"Thought we would find you here, Starscream," There stood the twins. Both of them saw Vector Prime there and they both smiled and stepped into the room. "Vector Prime," they both made a hand gesture, "how good it is to see you again, sir," Sunstreaker said.
"Haven't found any trouble yet? I'm surprised," Starscream deadpanned.
Vector Prime nodded, "Likewise, the both of you,"
"The day hasn't started yet, and there's way too much information going through my processors to even start looking for trouble," Sideswipe sighed. "But I shall find it, I promise!" He had been in recharge longer than he had ever remembered. His mind was reeling when he woke, still filing what was useful and what was not to clear itself up from the onslaught it had received from the extraction. He wondered how he had ever forgotten it all in the first place.
Sunstreaker droned as he rubbed his face vigorously, having the same problems as his brother, "I am still processing all of the information. It has given me more than a few startling headaches."
"So, fill us in," Sideswipe suddenly said, hopping up on Starscream's berth and swinging his legs, "what have we really missed that you have been refusing to tell everyone?"
Starscream sighed, "You should know now. The Allspark,"
"Shit," The twins said in unison, using a very accurate human term.
"Yeah. I hadn't even considered that yet." Sunstreaker said with a groan.
"Unicron, huh?" Sideswipe asked the obvious question, addressing Starscream. "We barely defeated him before. How do you plan to do it this time?"
"I didn't plan it the first time. It was Prima." Starscream replied. "He always had the good ideas."
Vector Prime said, taking up the conversation, "I felt and knew of the rip as soon as it happened. A galaxy that I could not go to, because I cannot get an actual fix-"
"What? You're the keeper of time and space, Vector," Sideswipe asked, confusion and frustration lacing his voice. "What do you mean?"
"You should be able to appear right there!"
"I know – I assumed Primus has prevented me from getting there – he may have placed a block that makes getting close and searching impossible."
"Why would he do that, though?" Sunstreaker asked. "Makes things more difficult."
"I would assume for our protection. I don't think he believed Unicron would ever get out again. This is, if that is what it is."
"Well, isn't that lovely. I'm thinking he should have thought ahead just in case…"
"Even Primus makes mistakes," Vector Prime said. "I think he did it to make sure Unicron couldn't follow me and end up wiping us all out. He's too powerful."
"How long will it be until he could possibly get out, though?" Sideswipe interrupted the glare, asking.
Vector turned to Sideswipe, answering, "I don't rightly know, the variables are indeterminable. It could be as soon as now or millennia away," Vector Prime lowered his head slightly. "I've tried searching, but I cannot come up with a definitive answer."
"As determined as he is, you know he will get out as soon as he can," Sideswipe concluded, "With his power, he could be out very soon,"
"He's much weaker where he is, though. He hasn't been able to sustain himself there."
"Even weakened, he is formidable."
"The other relic still holds as far as I know," Vector Prime commented, now having taken up pacing, "So, we have time. How long do we have until the starship is ready?"
"By the looks of it, a few weeks, I guess," Sideswipe said with a shrug. "They're working night and day on it. It's a big ship."
Vector thought about it for a moment, putting his fingers to his chin, thinking about how much time they might have. "He still has to get free and then get from Juntis to this galaxy. That should give us enough times to find the rest, given they are actually here and not hiding out on Primus,"
"Are you sure he's there?"
"I am," Starscream answered. "I saw him."
"Any ideas on which mechs they could be? Perhaps narrow the search a bit?" Sunstreaker asked, a bit clueless on searching.
"Well, considering that the twins were staring me right in the face this whole time, I will try to find simil-" Starscream halted suddenly, his face lighting up as he came to realization about something, "You know what?" he put up a finger, "I think I may know who the guardian of Rarified Energon was,"
Vector Prime wondered why he wasn't just coming out and saying the mech's name. He knew damned well who the guardian of Rarified Energon was.
"Who else can manipulate Energon?" Starscream paused, "that we know about,"
The twins in unison both gave Starscream a sudden stare of revelation, "Soundwave!" They both said.
Starscream nodded, "Yup,"
"If he is, he's changed a lot. He's creepy enough as it is. Knowing he is an Ancient makes it all the worse," Sideswipe said as he hopped down from the berth, "I'll go get him,"
"That's why I recognized the Prime on the screen!" Starscream shook his head. He considered Soundwave for a moment. It fit now that he gave it more thought. He was an assemblage of several mechs in the past. It explained his 'symbiots' immediately. "It has to be him. He's the only one who makes sense."
"You're right. He was compiled of Skyfall, Landquake, Breakaway, Topspin and Heatwave." Sunstreaker paused, "He would be unrecognizable now." The yellow mech continued, making sure the others were following, "Rumble," He pointed to each finger as he named them off, "Frenzy, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ravage," It counted to five.
"Do you wish to see the viewing, given that he allows it?" Starscream asked Vector and Sunstreaker. "Might help you better understand the … process."
"I would be happy to," Vector Prime said with a smile in answer to the viewing. Sunstreaker only nodded. A few minutes later, Starscream looked towards the door, and right on cue, Sideswipe and Soundwave and the symbiots were standing there.
"Enter," Starscream said, waving them in. Soundwave stepped forward, curious why he had been singled out. The symbiots also followed. The door slid shut quickly behind them and locked.
Soundwave gave a questioning look toward the door then to Starscream. "Reasoning for call: required," the CCS spoke, curious why he had been interrupted from his duties to come here.
Sideswipe shook his head in disbelief, "If what we think is true, you're in for a big surprise."
Vector Prime gave Soundwave a strange look.
"Soundwave, you remember the conversation we had about leaving?" Starscream asked.
Soundwave nodded, then he looked toward Vector Prime, his visor flashing as it tried to identify Vector Prime, "Unknown Mech: Identify."
"My name is Vector Prime," the mech replied, "I am the guardian of Space and Time – an Ancient like Starscream and the twins,"
"Twins are not Ancients. Suggestion: revise statement." Soundwave droned out. Vector Prime kept his curious gaze on Soundwave. He could deduce that although he wasn't speaking like the rest, he still understood perfectly by how Starscream was speaking casually to him and his responses. He wondered why he was speaking in that monotonous voice.
"Oh, but they are," Starscream said with a hint of smugness, "We just discovered it a little while ago. So now, I need your permission." Starscream lowered his head slightly to glare at Soundwave, and without looking away, he spoke to Sideswipe, "Get Ratchet,"
"Reasoning for permission: required." Soundwave asked in that same dull voice.
"Permission for a memory extraction, the same thing that was performed on me and the twins,"
"Reasoning: required." The mech didn't need to be told what the procedure was. He'd documented what had happened in the medical bay while in a discussion with Ratchet. He just didn't have the finer information and wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for.
"Because I have the feeling you are an Ancient as well,"
This had caught Soundwave's attention.
"What is a memory extraction?" Rumble asked, as he poked his head from within the confines of a subspace compartment in Soundwave's abdomen.
"It's a procedure that goes into the memory banks of someone and gets information. Some information that may or may not have been filed behind a silent memory," Starscream glared at Soundwave, "Unless someone is willing to go through the hell you put them through with your telepathy. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to go through that Pit."
By the time the explanation was done, Sideswipe came in with Ratchet, "You'd better have a really good excuse for dragging me here," the medic all but snarled as he was pushed none too gently into the room. The door closed swiftly behind them.
"It's Soundwave," Starscream looked up at the medic, who had turned his head to watch the door.
"What?" Ratchet asked, his optics flying wide, "What's Soundwave?"
"He's like us,"
"Like you? An ancient?"
"Yes."
Soundwave listened to them talk as though he wasn't there but wasn't sure why they were pointing him out. Although Starscream had said he was like them, he wasn't sure he actually believed him yet.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Trust me," Starscream grinned, "We discussed it, and what we remember fits perfectly," he pointed to the symbiots, "And I will also require one on each of them as well,"
"WHAT?" Ratchet bellowed. "All five of them?" He gave an incredulous look at Starscream. "You know how long that will take?"
"Well, the guardian of rarified energon was compiled of five other bots," Sunstreaker said, "We have reason to believe, they are the five."
"But Soundwave isn't compiled of them, their symbiots," Ratchet argued.
"You're right, he isn't," Starscream said with a sharp tone, "but who else has symbiots?"
"Um. No one." Ratchet answered after a moment in thought.
"Well then, they came from somewhere…" Sunstreaker pointed out.
"Okay then. Think of it this way…" Starscream offered, "they could still be with him in this way as symbiots since he no longer needed them to create his being."
"Create… his… being?" Ratchet asked slowly.
"Listen, it's really complicated. Just trust me on this, would you?" Starscream replied, getting impatient.
"Of all the mechs," Ratchet gave a skeptical glare towards the Soundwave. His tone then changed to a questioning one, "ss your medic, do you give permission for the memory procedure?"
"Permission: granted," Soundwave said only because he was very curious.
"I can't believe I am saying this, but, let's go, Soundwave. I will get Optimus and Wheeljack," Ratchet relented as he turned for the door. This was going to need a see-to-believe if there was ever a need for one.
Haha! Soundwave!
