Chapter 46
No Right
Refit stood in front of the defunct cargo hold with trepidation thrumming in his spark. He needed to transform into Raf so that Shockwave wouldn't know he was a Pretender, but it wasn't as simple as that. He came back alone, so how would he convince the logical mech that he carried the part back without help from Skywarp or his friends? For that matter, how was he going to drag the part inside when in his human form? It was too large and heavy.
Refit was nervous, but he would rather suffer the strain than reveal himself. Shockwave would only want to use him, just as every other Cybertronian that knew about him only wanted to use him. He didn't want to just be the experimental freak again. He was Rafael Jorge Gonzales Esquivel, and he would rather die a human boy than live as an exploited machine.
Intaking air one last time as a Vehicon, he shifted his circuits and gears until he was back down to the size of a child, and adjusted his glasses as he smiled in relief. Just as he felt things were starting to make sense again, a dark ominous shadow suddenly fell over him.
Raf gulped, thinking it was Shockwave and that he had been discovered. When he turned around however, he saw the looming visage of the Predacon.
"Oh, um, hi boy," Raf stammered nervously, "You, uh, you won't tell anyone about this, right?"
He knew that was a silly thing to say. The Predacon was an animal, and probably saw Raf more as a meal than a crewmate he could blackmail. Still, Raf couldn't help but look up at this scrutinizing yellow optics and think there was a hint of intelligence hidden behind the savagery. It kind of reminded Raf of the lions he saw at the zoo a couple years ago…predatory, yet cunning.
The Predacon took the new part for Shockwave in his mouth and walked into the ship. Raf yelped and followed after him, worried that Shockwave's new arm was going to be crushed in the Predacon's jaw.
Raf ran as fast as he could, though he knew there wasn't much he could do to stop the Predacon from doing whatever it wanted. He soon realized however that the beast wasn't going to destroy the part, but rather hand it over to Shockwave. Raf breathed another sigh of relief, frankly getting sick of all these nerve-wracking situations at this point. Shockwave examined the part dispassionately and then nodded his approval.
"This will do," Shockwave commented, "So, human, where are the others?"
"They, um, couldn't make it," Raf tried to explain, "The base was under attack, and we were separated. I came back alone."
"You should have left me here to rust," Shockwave noted, "I am a threat to your friends and your world. It is only logical to avoid repairing me with no one around to compel you to obey."
"Yeah, I thought the same thing," Raf admitted, "But…you're helpless. It isn't right to leave you this way, alone and impaired. I know I wouldn't want to be left…to rust."
Raf cringed at his own use of words. He hoped using the word rust didn't give him away as a mechanical being.
"Empathy; a sign of advanced cognitive development. Fascinating," Shockwave pondered, "I will require assistance to install the new part. You will assist me."
"Fine," Raf shrugged, pretty much knowing that was coming.
Shockwave held out his good servo, and Raf climbed onto it. Shockwave then placed the boy on the table, and Raf got to work organizing the tools Shockwave would need. Shockwave wasn't the only one who felt Raf's behavior was fascinating however.
The Predacon watched them with curious optics. He knew this was no mere child, but a transforming creature like Shockwave. So, why the ruse? Why did this mech pretend to be something else if it only made life harder on himself? Also, why did it consent to help Shockwave if there was no direct benefit for doing so? The Predacon was grateful, since this project would give him others like himself, and he understood that Shockwave was not the only one to thank for this. Raf was a good mech that would help bring about the rise of the Predacons. For this, he would be spared when the beasts finally came to power.
Miko hadn't been ready for what she witnessed. Wheeljack worked at a feverish pace to save Optimus Prime. It didn't feel like the miracle she had hoped it would though. At first she thought Wheeljack would figure out a way to save both Optimus and Skywarp, but when he closed off their chassis and wiped his energon stained servos with a rag, she realized the gravity of what had just taken place.
What made the situation worse was how everything seemed to slow to a crawl. Optimus's labored intakes continued to get louder, eventually evening out to something akin to normal. Meanwhile Skywarp jerked and fidgeted as his body fought stasis lock. Wheeljack eventually had to restrain Skywarp's limbs, but the Vehicon's helm continued to thrash as if it could escape his body and thus its predicament. Miko alternated between burying her head in Jack's chest to avoid looking at them, and being unable to stop staring at the colossal patients in front of her.
After all was said and done Optimus eventually awoke, dazed for only a few seconds before realizing where he was. He turned to Skywarp, who by this time had stopped moving.
"No…" Optimus breathed, hoping his dream had been merely that.
"Why isn't Wheeljack coming back?" Miko asked Optimus, "He still needs to fix Skywarp. Maybe Vehicons don't need as much spark gas as regular 'Bots do. Maybe he'll be okay."
Optimus didn't answer Miko. Instead he bent down to listen to Skywarp's chassis. He could hear the faint thrum of his spark, but he knew that time was short. If Skywarp so much as moved his spark would collapse and dissipate. Not to mention if Skywarp awoke in this state the pain would be unbearable.
"Optimus?" Jack said softly, "Is he…?"
"Soon," Optimus sighed ruefully, "All we can do now is keep him comfortable."
Miko teared up and hugged Jack for probably the tenth time in the past hour. He held her and let out a breath he had been holding. It didn't help, as his chest still felt heavy and his lungs still felt overburdened.
"How long?" Jack managed to ask.
"I don't know," Optimus replied, "What I do know is that this isn't right. Skywarp should not have sacrificed his own life to save mine."
"But you would do the same for him, right?" Jack pointed out, "I know you, Optimus. You would do this for any one of your friends, and maybe even your enemies. Is it so weird that Skywarp would want to do the same for you?"
Optimus couldn't help but steal another glance at the Vehicon's prone form. Truth be told, he did find it strange. He always believed Decepticons could be capable of good, but he also knew Skywarp was a very cavalier and violent mech. The fact that he had come so far made Optimus want to save his life even more, and yet he wasn't sure how-
Then, quick as a flash, the idea came to him. There was something left that could save Skywarp, if it survived the decimation of their base. The Forge of Solus Prime, an ancient tool of creation, could replicate matter and build anything that could be encoded by the user. It created a new Star Saber, and it could be used to restore Skywarp's spark chamber.
There were a couple hiccups to this idea, however. One, Optimus had destroyed the Omega Lock, and thus any hope of restoring Cybertron. The seeds of restoration could yet be planted into Cybertron's core, but the forge would be required. That brought up the second issue…power. The forge was not an unlimited resource, and most of its power had been used already. One good build was all it had left, and did Prime even have the right to choose the life of one mech over the entirety of Cybertron?
Optimus felt the weight of this decision in his newly revitalized spark. When he destroyed the Omega Lock before, it was to save an entire planet and every species within it. That decision was bigger than him, and even now he felt no regret. This, however, was different. Skywarp was only one life, and even though Optimus would gladly give his spark back for Skywarp's, he felt it was too much to give up the power of the forge. No one was worth that. Not himself, not Skywarp, not even Elita. He had no right.
Skywarp's helm jerked again, the first time in several minutes, and it startled the human kids. Optimus placed his servo on Skywarp's arm, hoping that someone being there would make him feel less afraid, and much to his surprise the red visor came online.
"AAAAHHHH!" Skywarp screamed, feeling his spark scrape against the casing, "FRAGGIT!"
Wheeljack ran in as soon as he heard the screaming and quickly turned off Skywarp's pain receptors. Skywarp could still feel the sensation, but it wasn't excruciating like before.
"…I can't move," Skywarp grunted.
"The restraints are necessary," Optimus told him, "If you try to move, your spark will collapse."
"It's…going to anyway," Skywarp groaned, "…Just let me up."
"We are hoping to find a way to save you," Optimus explained, "Just try to remain calm."
"You're lying to me," Skywarp accused, "You know…there's no way. That's why…I'm here right now…instead of you."
"Wheeljack will think of something!" Miko exclaimed, latching onto the crumb of hope, "He's a genius! You'll be up and moving again in no time."
"Miko…can you come closer?" Skywarp requested.
Optimus offered his hand to transport Miko to Skywarp's berth, and she sucked up whatever trepidation she had and went to him. She could see her own reflection in Skywarp's red visor, and warped reflections of the room in his silver faceplate. She couldn't help but place her hand on his face, needing the support every bit as much as he did. Skywarp could see it too.
"Miko…I've always wondered something," Skywarp said as nonchalantly as he could, "Why do you…wanna be a Wrecker?"
"What? You don't think I'm good enough?" Miko asked, offended.
"No, you're good enough," Skywarp assured her, "I just think you're too smart. Wreckers are brutes, but you kill with your mind. Starscream…kills with his mind too. I wish you could have met him before he…you know, became Megatron's glitch. He was cool once, and I think you would've liked him."
"Not likely," Miko dismissed.
"Heh…you'll see," Skywarp laughed mirthlessly, "Life changes people. I think you'll be a great killer someday. I wish…I could see…"
Before Skywarp could finish, his helm violently jerked again. Miko had to back up so she wouldn't get hurt by the abrupt action. To and fro Skywarp's helm went, banging against the berth and even denting in a few places. Finally, he suddenly stopped, and his visor went black. It happened so quickly that the kids weren't sure what happened to him, but then Optimus listened for his spark again.
Nothing.
"Wheeljack," Optimus turned toward the cockpit where Wheeljack was standing guard, "Skywarp has become one with The Matrix. Do you know if he had any requests regarding his remains?"
"Wait!" Miko shouted, "What do you mean remains? He's not dead!"
"Um, Miko?" Jack gently piped up, "I think…he is."
Miko glowered at Jack for even daring to suggest such a thing. She ran back to Skywarp's helm and tried to push it so he would wake up. Not only was the helm too heavy, but the metal was cold. It hadn't been cold when Miko touched it a few moments prior. That was when she knew…it was true. Skywarp was dead.
SS-ICN-12 and SS-ICN-05 had worked tirelessly all night on the jetpack prototype. It wasn't finished, not by a long shot, but they had made a surprising amount of progress in a short amount of time.
SS-ICN-05 was surprised that he actually felt some pride in this accomplishment. He had thought his counterpart crazy for wanting to invent things the way real mechs do, yet here they were converging on the moment when they could change the course of the war.
12, unlike 5, felt no such reservations about their invention. He felt that flight was his calling, and he would do whatever it took to achieve his ultimate goal. Nothing short of Megatron could stop him from completing his work.
/This is Megatron,/ Oh. Frag it, /All troops within the Nemesis are to report to the viewing hall immediately./
"Better hide the evidence," 5 said to 12, "Hopefully this won't take long."
"Yeah. What do you think Lord Megatron wants?" 12 asked.
"Probably more patrols," 5 speculated, "Hopefully one of us can stay behind to work on the jetpack."
The Vehicons traversed the halls, which were filling up with troops. 12 didn't think this was merely a patrol assignment, but didn't want to scare 5. The viewing hall was the area below the bridge where large groups could gather and hear reports from Megatron and his officers. When Starscream was in charge it was used often, but Megatron rarely called meetings. He preferred using his comm link, so whatever he was going to say was probably important.
When everyone arrived they could see Megatron looking down at them, with Starscream, Thundercracker, and Soundwave by his side. Knockout was also present, but off to the side looking at a data pad. He didn't look particularly interested, but Megatron didn't seem to care about the blatant disrespect. That was suspiciously out of character for the old warlord. What could he possibly have to say that was so important that he would ignore a mech ignoring him?
"My loyal troops, as you are well aware, Optimus Prime callously destroyed the Omega Lock, and any chance we have of returning home," Megatron rumbled softly, pacing back and forth to survey his drones, "Thus far the only Autobot that has been captured was Wheeljack, and he escaped with the traitor Dreadwing before he could be brought to justice. Decepticons, this is our darkest hour. The Autobots remain free, and our home remains desolate. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of Starscream and Soundwave, we might yet have reason to hope. Starscream, you have the floor. Tell us what you have found."
"Ahem, of course, Master," Starscream replied with a catlike grin, "I have left Thundercracker in acting command of the troops in order to focus my efforts on the scientific aspect of the Decepticon cause. Normally I would not take such liberties-"
Knockout snorted upon hearing that, and Starscream glared at him before continuing.
"-However, times have become desperate," Starscream hissed, daring Knockout to try that again, "With the aid of Soundwave's data storage capabilities, I have looked over several formulas that, when combined, could recreate the power of the ancients and build a new Omega Lock. While our research is still in its early stages, the results look promising. There is, however, one hiccup to the plan."
"You said you knew the exact formula," Megatron replied, a dangerous edge to his voice.
"Well, I…I do, but there is one problem," Starscream stammered, no longer as sure of himself, "I know the complex compounds, but not the base of how to make them. Specifically, artificial energon will be required, but the formula has been lost to time."
"Has it?" Megatron asked knowingly, "I seem to recall a certain Autobot medic has been in the process of decoding this exact formula. It sounds like you require some assistance, Starscream. Ratchet, the Autobot medic, is the key to completing your research."
"Hm, that could prove difficult," Starscream pondered, "The Autobots are scattered, and Ratchet tends to hide away while his comrades fight. Locating him will prove difficult."
"Use whatever resources you need," Megatron ordered, "We have drones below us at the ready, and Insecticons waiting in the wings. How many of them do you require?"
"See?" 5 whispered to 12, "It is just more patrols."
12 couldn't help but snicker.
"I will leave the troop assignment to Thundercracker. I trust his judgement," Starscream replied dismissively, "The more important aspect of my work will be construction of the Omega Lock shell as well as mixing together the remaining chemicals we need."
"The Eradicons will construct the new Omega Lock," Megatron ordered, "As for your research assistant, you have Knockout."
"What? Me?" Knockout asked, scandalized, "You're going to allow Starscream to take over my medbay?"
"Yes," Megatron replied point blank.
Knockout deflated, and Starscream smirked with triumphant smugness.
"Thundercracker," Megatron addressed the blue seeker, "Since your air commander has decided to be lazy, you will coordinate the Vehicon and Insecticon troops. Make certain your grids are thorough. We need that medic!"
"What of the Eradicons, sir?" Thundercracker asked, "Flight would benefit our patrol, as it takes less time than driving."
"No. The Eradicons are needed for construction," Megatron firmly replied, "You will use what you are given. Everyone is dismissed."
With nothing more to say most of the drones and officers left. 5 was ready to get back to his job as an Autobot hunter, but 12 had other ideas.
"Did you hear what Thundercracker said?" 12 said in a low voice so no one else would hear, "He said we need more fliers for the search. Now we have to finish that jetpack!"
"Our orders are to search for Ratchet," 5 reminded him, "We cannot build and search, so we search."
"But Thundercracker-!"
"Our orders are clear," 5 warned him, "We search."
12 felt conflicted by this situation. Should he do as his superior said, or as his superior actually wanted? Thundercracker wanted flying troops, but Megatron refused him. 12 wanted to make Thundercracker happy, as he was the mech that saved his life. The jetpack would make him happy, but 12 would have to disobey orders to make it happen. Would Thundercracker forgive him if he could have flying Vehicons? Surely he would.
Processor made up, 12 knew what he was going to do. He surreptitiously separated himself from the rest of the crowd going to the hanger for their assignments, and he went back to Vehicon crew quarters. He was going to finish the jetpack, and then present it to Thundercracker so that it could be copied. Even if this disobedience got him killed, it would be worth it. Thundercracker would have flying troops, they would find Ratchet in record time, and then the Decepticons would save Cybertron. One Vehicon in exchange for an entire planet felt like a bargain.
Skywarp had left no will, nor even a mention of what he wanted for his body when he was gone. That left Optimus and Wheeljack to decide what to do with him.
"Maybe we should just scrap the frame," Wheeljack suggested, "Use it for parts. It's not like this is his real body anyway. He never wanted this thing, never liked it. So, why bother?"
"While I understand your logic, I must disagree," Optimus replied solemnly, "To honor the frame is to honor the mech that once occupied it. This is especially important among seeker culture. Desecration is considered worse than murder to seekers."
"Yeah, well, it ain't like we have the resources to shoot him up into the sun," Wheeljack pointed out, "So what are we supposed to do, keep him in the cargo hold for eternity?"
The kids, meanwhile, were listening to this conversation. Well, Jack was listening. Miko was staring at her phone and trying with all her might to ignore the world around her. Jack warned her to not call anyone so that the Decepticons wouldn't find them, and she assured him that she was just playing a game she had already downloaded. As it turned out though, she wasn't playing a game. She was looking through the photos she had taken of the Vehicons, including Skywarp.
"So what do seekers normally do with their dead?" Wheeljack asked.
"I must admit, I do not know," Optimus replied morosely, "I have not had the honor of knowing too many seekers outside of battle. I was once good friends with a young mech named Silverbolt, but he did not speak often of his home in Vos. Apparently he saw the city as a dumping ground for energon seekers the council no longer had use for. I do not believe he took much pride in his frame type."
"That still doesn't tell us what to do with Skywarp's empty tin can," Wheeljack groused as he stole a glance to the frame on the operating table, "Maybe we should prop him up outside the ship. Make the 'Cons think they already conquered it."
"Why don't we bury him?" Jack proposed.
"What? In the ground? Why?" Wheeljack asked skeptically.
"Oh earth it's how we honor those who have died," Jack explained, "Well, it's only one way, but it's considered a big deal here. We put the deceased in a casket, that's a big wooden box, and then we say a few words about what the person meant to us before we put them in the ground. That way no one can disturb them as they rest in peace."
"Sounds weird," Wheeljack commented.
"Perhaps an earth tradition would work best in this situation," Optimus mused, "Skywarp showed more loyalty for those he cared about than for either faction, and you children meant a great deal to him. I am sure he would be pleased with adhering to your customs."
"We don't have a box though," Wheeljack noted, "Guess we'll just send him down to the pit as-is."
Jack crossed his arms, but Wheeljack wasn't about to apologize for it. He knew Skywarp had ended his life doing something altruistic for once, but he also remembered who Skywarp had been during the war. The elite trine gave the Wreckers a lot of grief during the battle of Technaar, and what few times Skywarp had ever spoken to an Autobot he came across as arrogant and unapologetic about his part in the destruction of their world. Wheeljack was willing to forgive, but he wasn't willing to forget.
SS-ICN-12 had done it! Sure, he had played hooky from his patrol to do this, but he had completed the first jetpack prototype! The only problem was he would have to go outside to test it, and that could prove dangerous. Even with the Nemesis being attached to Darkmount, the drop was at least four kliks down. If the jetpack failed, then whoever was wearing it would be killed by the impact.
This was something 12 hadn't considered before. He was willing to die a martyr for his cause, but to die a failure and have no one to continue the project, well…it was not a pleasant thought. Sure, 5 had helped him build it, but 12 wasn't so naive as to believe his fellow Vehicon would continue a project that failed, especially without the inventor.
As 12 skulked down the halls with his precious cargo, he wondered if he was making a mistake. As it turned out, making the jetpack wasn't his only misstep.
"How long does it take to fetch a part!?"
12 heard the yelling before he realized where he was, and he stopped dead in his tracks when he figured it out. He had walked by the medbay, which by itself was normally not a big deal, but this time was different. The senior staff had left the door open (which meant the door was likely broken), and 12 had walked right in front of the medbay holding his incriminating device.
"Fine, Lord Starscream, if you don't want my help I'm going for a drive!" Knockout shouted.
"You have not been dismissed!" Starscream shrieked, "I still need help with this concoction."
"Then get someone else to do it," Knockout snapped, "It's bad enough you stole my lab, but to make me a slave in my own domain is too much!"
"Megatron will be informed of your treachery if you dare leave this room," Starscream warned.
12, who at first was transfixed by the argument, snapped out of it and realized the opportunity he was squandering. He could make a run for it and get out of the line of fire. Then he could test his invention unimpeded.
"Megatron knows I am leaving," Knockout lied to Starscream, "I was asked to, um…"
"Go racing?" Starscream asked mockingly.
"No!" Knockout barked, "I was asked to…work on this thing!"
Knockout then, quick as a flash, grabbed 12's jetpack. 12 was scared and furious at the same time, but fear won out and he didn't contradict the medic.
"Oh really?" Starscream asked patronizingly, "And do you know what that thing is?"
"Of course I do!" Knockout further lied, "Not that my project, approved by Megatron no less, is any of your business. I shall return after I am finished with…this."
Knockout then walked out with a huff, still carrying the jetpack under his arm. 12 was quick to follow him, if for no other reason than to get his invention back.
Once they were out of earshot of anyone else, Knockout finally stopped and looked down at what he was holding.
"So…I'll look like a fool if this thing is Frenzy's internal armor or something like that," Knockout remarked, "Well drone, what exactly am I holding?"
"Classified," 12 was quick to say, "It's, um…one of Soundwave's projects."
"Soundwave is in the medbay helping Starscream," Knockout replied as he shifted on his hip, "You can't con a 'Con. You're up to something, aren't you?"
12 shrunk in on himself, ashamed and frightened. He didn't want to lie to an officer, and he definitely didn't want to get on Knockout's bad side. Medic in the Decepticon ranks was synonymous with torturer, after all. Still, if he told his secret he would die without having completed his project. Then he would never be able to repay Thundercracker for saving him.
"Drone? The device?" Knockout prodded, "What is it?"
"Forgive me, sir. I know I shouldn't have done it," 12 muttered contritely, "I only did it to help the Decepticons gain victory over our enemies."
"What did you do?" Knockout asked severely.
"I…I…I…I built a jetpack," 12 shook with fear even as he confessed, "I know I had no right to these parts, and I know I had no right to build anything without authorization, but I just wanted to help so badly! With jetpacks the Vehicons will be able to fly, and then every soldier will be better than the Autobots. Every single soldier will be able to take down those traitors to Cybertron! Please, just let me test it. Just let me see if it works, and then you can kill me. At least if it works then my transgression will mean something. Please!"
"A jetpack, you say?" Knockout replied slyly, "Do you really think it can fly?"
"I've run stress tests on it, but I still need to test it under practical conditions," 12 replied, "It's only a prototype though. Some adjustments will need to be made so that the design is viable for mass distribution."
"So, what's my silence worth to you?" Knockout asked deviously.
12 was a little taken aback by Knockout's attitude, so much so that it took him a moment to respond. Knockout never spoke to the drones more than necessary, and he never bargained with them. Last time a drone was stupid enough to try, Knockout simply removed their vocal processor and sent them back to work.
"What…what do you want from me, sir?" 12 asked nervously.
"Excitement, for one thing," Knockout replied flippantly, "It's bad enough I haven't been allowed to race in weeks, but now Starscream has taken away my sanctuary. I have no fun, no privacy, nothing!"
"Please don't ask me to kill Commander Starscream," 12 whimpered, "I cannot harm an officer, any officer, without orders from Megatron."
"Don't be ridiculous," Knockout scoffed, "I don't want a hitman. I want to do something that doesn't involve dripping various toxic fluids into beakers while Starscream yells at me. If you want me to keep this little conspiracy a secret, then you have to let me in. I want to be the first one to test the jetpack."
"No!" 12 shouted before he could stop himself, "I mean…no! Sir, this thing is unstable and untested! If you die, it would be my fault. I cannot allow you to risk your life on my project."
"You also can't stop me, though," Knockout pointed out, "I gave you an order. I'm testing that jetpack first."
Knockout then walked toward the hanger, still holding the illicit jetpack. 12 ran behind him, fearing what he had done. Knockout might have been the bane of the Vehicons' existence, but he was their only medic. If he died, then 12 would probably wish it had been him instead.
Wheeljack and Optimus began digging the grave where Skywarp would go. It had taken a surprisingly long time to find a spot, given that they had landed in an area with a lot of trees. They had to find a clearing so as not to disturb the planet's natural life, but they also had to wait until dark so that the Eradicons wouldn't locate them during a patrol.
Jack and Miko had come along so that the four of them could hold Skywarp's funeral. Optimus had agreed to say a few words since he was the most composed when speaking on such a tragic subject.
Optimus's words were solemn and supposedly comforting, but Miko wasn't paying attention. She couldn't stop looking at Skywarp's frame. Their friendship had been a strained one, but she couldn't help but admit that Skywarp had been one of her best friends. Looking at him like that however, surprisingly made her think of Bulkhead. Was he dying somewhere too? What about his parents? She didn't think she could survive losing another 'Bot, as losing Skywarp was already eating away at her from the inside.
It was so quick…so sudden. Like turning off a light switch. Miko was used to seeing death in movies, where it took fifteen minutes and everything was super dramatic. It wasn't like Skywarp's death was instantaneous or anything like that, but it didn't feel like death until the last second. She was so sure he would recover. She was so sure Wheeljack could fix him, or that Skywarps' body could fix itself. He was so funny…so carefree. How could someone like that just die?
When the ceremony was over, Optimus and Wheeljack gently placed the body into the hole and began to bury him. Miko, unable to stop herself, got up and started throwing dirt into the hole too.
"Miko, we should hang back," Jack advised, "We could get hurt if the 'Bots don't see us in the dark."
Miko wasn't listening however. This was the last thing she could do for Skywarp, and she was going to do it. Clump by clump, pile by pile, Miko did her part to bury her friend. She couldn't grab much dirt compared to the larger Autobots, but she wasn't going to just sit back and feel sorry for herself. Skywarp might have been gone, but there were other 'Bots who needed her. She would find Bulkhead, and she would do whatever she could to protect him, no matter what it might take.
Author's Notes: I wanted to mention how Optimus buried Skyquake somewhere in this chapter, but it didn't fit anywhere. Just to let you guys know though, it was only Wheeljack who was unaware of human customs involving burying the dead.