Author's Notes: Major chapter alert! This one has some new characters being introduced, as well as a turning point for a fan favorite. Warning, might get sad. Not clickbait…maybe :P

Chapter 45

Jet Fuel

Since the destruction of Cybertron the Decepticons had seemingly been busier than ever. Vehicons and Insecticons feverishly scuttled about the ship trying to ready everything for Megatron's conquest of earth, though their numbers were few compared to vorns' past. The very air of the Nemesis felt suffocating as Decepticons tried to go about their daily routine. Darkmount was a mighty fortress, but The Nemesis was their treasury. That was a problem, because with few officers to guard the facility and many Eradicons out searching for the Autobots, their treasury was ripe to be raided, and raided it was.

Everyone had heard about the return of Refit. Thundercracker had only told Starscream, but that didn't mean Soundwave wasn't listening. Soundwave's knowledge became his symbiotes' knowledge, which became Blaster's knowledge, which meant that soon the entire ship was gossiping about the Pretender returning from the dead to pilfer their secrets.

Unfortunately, secrets were not the only unprotected commodity on the ship. Supplies were going missing left and right, and everyone suspected that the Autobots were to blame. That meant everyone was on the lookout, and thanks to those Vehicons that defected to the other side, the ground-based troops were facing mistrust and oppression among their ranks.

This was the stifling environment SS-ICN-05 was dealing with as he worked in engineering. The engines needed constant care on two different sets of controls, but after his partner defected to the Autobots he found himself working the station alone. He had expected a replacement partner by now, but the officers had too much to deal with to worry about whether or not there were one or two Vehicons in the bowels of the ship.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the main intake tube was about to rupture. He tried reinforcing the affected area with glue, but that was just overheating the tube. He needed a new tube to make this blasted thing work, but the replacement tube had gone missing. Now SS-ICN-05 was in deep trouble. If he didn't fix this problem the whole ship could be forced to ground, and he would be terminated for allowing this failure to happen in the first place.

As the drone walked back to his assigned crew quarters he thought over what he could do. He could ask Knockout to make him a new tube, but then he risked earning the doctor's ire, which could lead to his execution. Of course, the entire ship was at stake. It might be worth the risk if Knockout actually made the part for him. SS-ICN-05 didn't trust that though, as Knockout was notoriously lazy.

He could try to jury rig the part. No, that wouldn't work. SS-ICN-05 was a Vehicon, and therefore too stupid to be trusted with forging tools. Then again, Megatron had granted special permissions in the past during times of emergency. Perhaps he could request a one time exemption from his master…

No, that was a worse idea than asking Knockout. Megatron was ruler of all Decepticons, and the father of Vehicon kind. One could not encroach on Megatron's time without exhausting all other options first. So, he would need another plan.

SS-ICN-05 entered the communal crew quarters and sat at his berth. Only one other Vehicon was there, hunched over on the ground, but SS-ICN-05 didn't have the mental energy to waste on that guy. He needed to figure out how to save the engine and keep the ship afloat.

Clang!

"What the-?" SS-ICN-05 groused as he turned to the source of the disruption.

There, on the ground, was a wrench. The other Vehicon quickly scooped it up and looked sheepishly at SS-ICN-05. He recognized this Vehicon as SS-ICN-12, and noticed that there was a hodgepodge of parts and tools in his lap and on the floor surrounding him.

"What the frag are you doing?" SS-ICN-05 asked.

"Uh…fixing Knockout's buffer?" SS-ICN-12 replied unconvincingly.

"You've been stealing parts!" SS-ICN-05 accused, "Are you an Autobot sympathizer?"

"What? No! I'm not! I swear I'm not!" SS-ICN-12 shouted defensively.

"Then why are you hoarding items Vehicons aren't allowed to own or use?"

"Well…" At this SS-ICN-12 hung his helm, unwilling to look at his fellow Vehicon, "I'm making a jetpack."

"You're what?" SS-ICN-05 asked flatly, "You don't know how to make stuff, fragger. I happen to know you're assigned to the night shift guarding the energon room."

"I've been reading up on how to make rudimentary jet packs," SS-ICN-12 explained, "Don't get me wrong, it's hard, and I don't think I'm anywhere near finished yet. If I can master the technology however, then Vehicons will be able to fly. Think about it, we'll be on par with both the Insecticons and the Eradicons!"

"This is because Megatron threw you overboard, isn't it?" SS-ICN-05 asked snidely.

"It ain't just because of that!" SS-ICN-12 argued, "It's also because Thundercracker himself, an officer, saved my life. Clearly I still have a function if I was worth risking the Omega Keys for. Thundercracker is a flier, and Megatron wanted me to be a flier. If I could have flown, I could have retrieved the keys from that fragging Autobot. If I could have retrieved the keys, then the Autobots would have had no reason to go to Cybertron. If the Autobots never went to Cybertron, then the Omega Lock would have worked!"

"So?"

"Don't you see, 5? If I could fly then Decepticons would rule the galaxy. I deserved to die for my failures, but I didn't. An officer saw fit to rescue me. That was when I realized, flight is the answer. Flight is what most Decepticons have that the Autobots lack. Flight is the foundation of Decepticon superiority. Flight will destroy the Autobots, and flight is my destiny! I will invent a jetpack that is easy to construct, easy to use, and lightweight. That way, every Vehicon can fly, and the Autobots will be able to hide from us no longer!"

"You get that you're gonna be shot, right?" SS-ICN-05 asked pointblank, "You're not allowed to build stuff, and you stole Decepticon property to do it."

"I don't have to survive long," SS-ICN-12 muttered, "I only have to live long enough to make the first jetpack. Once it's finished, then it can be reverse-engineered. Even if Megatron sees fit to kill me, an officer can take over my work. The Decepticons will rule all, and I will contribute. So, do you want to help me build this thing, or do you love Autobots?"

"I need the engine's main intake tube," SS-ICN-05 negotiated, "Give it back and use something else to fuel the machine. Do that, and I'll help you."

"Deal," SS-ICN-12 nodded, "5, we're gonna make history."

The kids could do nothing but watch as Wheeljack feverishly tinkered on Optimus Prime's body in hopes of keeping him alive a little longer. He had been working on Prime's flickering spark for hours, and even at this point it was touch and go.

Skywarp had flown the Jackhammer into a ravine (he swore it was intentional), and they used the cover of nearby trees to keep out of sight of Decepticon scouts flying in the area. All was quiet and still, save for the beeping of monitors and the whir of machines and internal systems.

Wheeljack couldn't believe he was in this position. When he first came to earth he didn't even like or respect the Prime. He was a lone turbo fox, a mech that had lost too much to allow himself to fall for upper command's promises. Optimus Prime was different though. He showed consideration for his mechs and was willing to put himself in danger rather than simply sit behind a desk and watch. Wheeljack grew to view Prime as a worthy leader…and now he was in charge of saving his life.

The heat emanating from Prime's exposed chest cavity was worrying. Clearly his spark chamber had ruptured, and the essence of his very self was evaporating away. Wheeljack soldered and patched as much as he could, but he wasn't sure if he would be fast enough to save Prime. He had to dig, and he had to reattach connections. Every breem counted.

"Wheeljack," Jack whispered, "Is Optimus going to be…?"

"Shut up, kid. I need to concentrate," Wheeljack growled softly without taking his optics off his work.

Jack didn't take offense. He knew Wheeljack was right. He and Miko shouldn't be there. Wheeljack was performing major surgery. Still, neither one could force themselves to leave. They didn't know what their presence could do, but if Optimus was truly dying then he shouldn't have to be alone.

"Scrap," Wheeljack cursed under his vocalizer.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked.

"I've soldered the spark casing, but he's lost a lot of the protective gas that keeps the spark in place in its chamber," Wheeljack explained, "His spark will overheat and collapse on itself without that protective layer, but there's no way to replace it. There is no artificial substitute for spark vapor."

"So make one," Miko demanded, "You're a genius, Wheeljack. If anyone can do it you can!"

"Sorry kid, but I can't work miracles," Wheeljack sighed, "Prime's pretty much a goner."

Miko's breath hitched as tears began to flow down her face, and Jack turned away in grief. They couldn't believe it…couldn't process what Wheeljack was saying to them. Optimus couldn't just die. He was Optimus. He was the strong moral fiber that held the Autobots together. He seemed so strong…so invincible. He and Elita had just found each other again. He had too much to live for, but now…

"Hey, Wrecker," Skywarp suddenly called out from the cockpit's entrance, "I couldn't help but overhear. Optimus needs gas?"

"This ain't the time for jokes, Vehicon," Wheeljack warned.

"What joke? That's what it is, right?" Skywarp replied defensively, "I can do it."

"You can do what?" Wheeljack asked.

"I can give him gas," Skywarp replied, this time clearly playing on words.

Miko couldn't help but laugh through the tears, but Jack and Wheeljack were less than amused.

"It's spark vapor, Skywarp," Wheeljack reminded him, "It's a finite and delicate chemical compound. It's irreplaceable."

"I know," Skywarp replied nonchalantly, "Just give him mine."

"You're not listening, Vehicon!" Wheeljack snapped, "If I took yours, then you would die! The transfer is risky and nearly guarantees your termination. Why would I do that?"

"Because you want to," Skywarp answered matter-of-factly, "Your Autobot code makes you refuse, but I know you want to. I just threw away my chances of ever seeing my brothers again for you guys. Let me make it mean something. Give Prime my gas."

Wheeljack hesitated for a moment, knowing that Optimus would need time to recover and Skywarp was already on his pedes. After a moment however he realized that judging a situation based on usefulness was Decepticon rationale. Optimus needed their help, and Skywarp was offering himself willingly. After a moment…

"Get on the table," Wheeljack curtly ordered, "I'm gonna have to work fast."

"Yes, sir," Skywarp replied professionally.

The Vehicon took the preprogrammed position of looking up at the ceiling while the surgeon worked. In this case the surgeon was a field mechanic, but Skywarp chose to ignore that. He wanted to look over at Prime before slipping into unconsciousness, but his programming wouldn't let him. Instead he chose to think of the inspiration for this selfless act; his dear brother Thundercracker.

Skywarp knew if he had any honor in his spark that he learned it from TC. He also knew that without Shockwave's help he would never see Starscream and Thundercracker again. Just because he was doomed though didn't mean it all had to be for nothing. The kids believed in his capability for heroism, and the Autobots gave him a chance when he knew he didn't deserve one. Thousands of Vehicons were depending on Optimus Prime for their freedom, and Optimus was depending on Skywarp. He was glad for once he didn't let them down.

As Skywarp slipped away, he thought back to the orn he and his brothers officially became a trine…

…Skywarp's parents, aunts, and uncles had always told him of that magical moment when his spark would be drawn to the seekers that would naturally accept him. His trine. He was programmed to be a left wing, so he knew someday he would meet his air commander and his right brother. When a seeker was born their trine position was announced even before their gender. It was that important. Yet as the vorns ticked away with no others to claim him, Skywarp wondered if the Allspark had been wrong to make him a lefty.

Most seekers found their others before adulthood, but Skywarp did not. His first frame became his second, which became his third. He passed through most of his military training without finding another to fit him, and the other seekers took notice of this too. Some offered consolation, while others offered condemnation. Either way, he was afraid he would die alone, which was the worst fate a seeker could face.

One orn Skywarp went to the annual Triad Festival, a place for free seekers to find their trine. Skywarp had gone several times before, but he never found anyone. He felt hopeless going this time. Even if he found the others he was looking for, they might be sparklings or something. Skywarp didn't want to be the oldest. That position was for the air commander, not the left wing.

Unfortunately that would be the least of his concerns by the end of the orn. What started as an amazing festival filled with energon, lights, and sky dancers soon became a war zone. Skywarp knew the war was going strong, but he never expected anything to happen to Vos. After all, Vos sided with the Decepticons. That policy should have guaranteed their protection.

Bombs fell from the sky, and soon plasma fires melted the city's metallic buildings. There were explosions everywhere, and the heat was intense. Skywarp, like most of the others, tried to fly away. One by one however those flying near Skywarp were being shot down by anti-aircraft turrets. Skywarp wasn't going to die, no matter what, so he teleported to the closest place he could see without fire.

He found himself outside of the city, near a ruined park. He coughed out the smoke from his intakes, thinking he was safe, when suddenly a missile hit his pede! He screamed and tried to fly away, but the shot impacted his thruster. He was forced to ground again, and looked up at the looming group of Decepticon seekers that were there to kill off any neutrals or Autobots they found. Skywarp knew this was the end, and he knew his nightmare had come true. He was going to die alone.

Weirdly enough though, he didn't feel as scared as he thought he would. There was a strange warmth in his spark that he had never felt before, and he assumed this must be what death felt like. He accepted this, and decided dying wasn't as scary as he thought.

Before the seekers could fire however, there was a shriek ordering them to halt. The Decepticon air commander, Starscream, had intervened to save him. Everyone else was confused, and Skywarp was too. Would the Decepticons really show mercy to a neutral? That seemed unlikely with a mech as notoriously ruthless as Starscream in command.

"You! What is your name and position?" Starscream asked him demandingly.

"Me?" Skywarp pointed to himself dumbly, "I'm Skywarp, and I'm supposed to be a left wing, but I don't have a trine yet. I know, I know! I'm too old to still be alone! It's not my fault, okay? Vos is full of slaggers and deadbeats anyway! You know what? I'm glad I'm dying alone! No one to miss me. No one to-"

"Shut up!" Starscream ordered, and Skywarp clammed up, "Don't you feel that?"

"Um…the impending warmth of death?" Skywarp asked obliviously.

"No, you moron!" Starscream exclaimed, "Your spark! It's…drawing us together."

"Huh?" Skywarp looked down at his cockpit like he had never seen it before, "You mean that's normal?"

Starscream just looked at him in annoyance.

"So wait, you're alone too?" Skywarp asked incredulously.

"Of course not!" Starscream huffed, "I have a right wing! I just don't have a left one. It can be rather difficult to meet my exacting standards."

"Well, I hope your exacting standards include freaks," Skywarp said drolly, "Because I'm an outlier. I teleport. Sorry to disappoint you."

"Disappoint?" Starscream asked as if the very concept were absurd, "Skywarp, that anti-sigma propaganda is Autobot talk! My right wing has a sigma ability, and you do as well. Your superiority makes you both perfect to be my trine. Decepticons appreciate unconventional talent, and so do I. Now, get up! We're going to make history together."

"By burning down Vos?" Skywarp asked quizzically.

"The Autobots are the ones who have destroyed our home," Starscream growled in subdued rage, "Don't worry. We will avenge this day, and we will take Cybertron back from those that would belittle and oppress us. Come to me, for you are my brother."

Skywarp gasped at that last statement. It was the proclamation of trining, the statement that had changed countless lives. Only an air commander could say it, and now Skywarp was finally hearing it for the first time. This orn was a difficult one for Skywarp to figure out. It was the worst orn of his life for losing Vos, but it was the best orn of his life for gaining Starscream. Soon he would also meet Thundercracker, and soon his life would finally feel complete…

…As Skywarp's processor replayed that memory he realized that he had never truly loved the Decepticons. He merely associated their presence with the best thing that had ever happened to him. Still, he didn't regret his time with the Decepticons. He didn't regret anything. Life was too unpredictable to waste time wondering if one did the right thing or not.

Skywarp's spark felt warm, but he knew it wasn't a trine signal this time. This one truly was the warm embrace of death that he had expected so long ago. His nightmare was coming true. He was dying alone. However, he wasn't as afraid as he thought he would be. He had friends, his brothers were still alive, and he knew he was doing something noble.

Last time he died he was free-falling to the ground. This time his wingless back was to a berth. It didn't feel the same, but it didn't exactly feel bad. The first time he got to experience the exhilaration of the air, and this time he got to know that his death benefitted someone else. He wished he could live, of course. There was still more he hadn't done. He missed his brothers and wished he could see them one more time, but he knew they would understand. Well…TC would understand. Starscream would probably call him an idiot…

"Come, Optimus. It is time…"

Optimus Prime was in a white void, and he could see the face of his old teacher, Alpha Trion, off in the distance. He walked closer as if impelled by an unseen force to do so. Everything felt weightless…timeless…where was he?

"Is it really you, Alpha Trion?" Optimus found himself asking.

"It is time…become one with The Matrix…" Alpha Trion urged him.

Optimus reached out as if to touch the face of his former master. He was surprised to realize he wanted this. Finally, the war would be behind him. Finally, he would know peace. Part of him wanted to resist, to return to his family and his life, but the burden he carried for so long would finally be off his shoulders. It was just too tempting…

"Hey, Prime! Wakey-wakey!"

Optimus turned in the direction of the rude voice to find Skywarp. Not the Vehicon, but the actual Skywarp, the thin purple seeker he remembered battling against so long ago.

"Why are you here?" Optimus asked him, "Where are we?"

"I'm here to save your life," Skywarp informed him, "Oh, by the way, I might be dead when you wake up, so I'd like to take this moment to ask that you don't kill TC and Starscream. They're jerks, but they're my jerks. Okay?"

"Dead? I do not understand," Optimus replied with concern.

"Your spark ran out of vapor, so Wheeljack is taking the gas out of mine to give to you," Skywarp explained, "Now come on, Prime! Wake up! You've got a world to save."

"I do not wish to live at the cost of your life, Skywarp," Optimus replied somberly.

"Too bad. You don't get a choice," Skywarp replied cheekily, "Just say hi to the kids for me, okay?"

Optimus wanted to refuse, wanted to give Skywarp back the life force he had sacrificed. He tried to speak, but the light was growing dim and his vision was becoming fuzzy. He knew then…soon he would wake up.

Hard as he tried, Optimus couldn't grab Skywarp, couldn't take him with him. He didn't want to leave the seeker alone in the void. Finally, resisting the force that was taking him back to the world of the living, Optimus managed to say something to Skywarp in their final moments together.

"Skywarp…I know you are a Decepticon," Optimus choked out through the fog, "But I also know you are a mech with an honorable spark. May our paths cross in The Matrix. Till all are one."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, you soft spark," Skywarp snorted, "Just get out of here and save the world, you big lug."

Optimus felt sadness at leaving Skywarp behind, but then he remembered Elita One and Bumblebee. They were still out there waiting for him, as was the rest of his team. He would not know peace, but at least, thanks to Skywarp and Wheeljack, he still had time to know love.