Hello people! I'm having a pretty good writing day. I finished chapter ten, then wrote chapter eleven, and now I'm starting on twelve! If I keep this up, I might actually meet the deadline I set for myself! Yay! Anyways, fun stuff are in store for this chapter. So without further ado, let us beeeeegin!
Disclaimer. I don't own this.
Chapter Twelve:
Knock Out was gone for quite some time, much to my relief. It gave me time to reflect on my future. I knew I had a lot to make up for when I got out of here… if I got out of here. I just needed to figure out how to go about that. Like I said, I wasn't any good when it came to be vulnerable. Telling anyone about my past was about as vulnerable as I got.
Add to the fact that I needed to tell Ratchet how I felt about him and I'm sure you can imagine the mess I was on the inside. All of this was going to be new territory for me and I just couldn't imagine how it would all work out.
On the bright side I guess, I was now completely healed. It took a lot less time than I figured. Within an hour of Knock Out being gone, my leg had been completely healed. It was still tender to the touch, but I could put a little bit of weight on it now. Given it another twenty or so minutes and I'd probably be good to go. I guess I should be happy with how fast my healing capabilities were now, but I was afraid of Knock Outs reaction.
I knew they were testing me to figure out how the Allspark was affecting me.
Something told me they would eventually figure this out. Having an ancient power that was also connected to human emotion, especially someone as stubborn as me, was definitely going to be a pain in the ass for the Cons. However, it wouldn't be hard for them to figure out my weak spots. All they needed to do was use one of the Autobots, my human friends, or my parents against me and I would crumble.
Don't tell them that though.
The door opening distracted me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Knock Out had returned. He had a couple new scratches on him, a fact that he wasn't very happy about. He was a very vain Cybertronian. He walked passed my tube, only shooting me a passing glance before he continued into the other room. He'd been in there for less than a second when he backed back out and looked at me in awe. "You've completely healed! I've been gone two of your human hours and you don't have a single scratch on you." Knock Out looked intrigued.
"Yeah, well, I am the Allspark." I replied cheekily.
He hummed in agreement before laughing and rubbing his hands together. "This means we can have more fun together much sooner than I expected. We were going to give you a couple days to heal, but it looks like they aren't needed."
"Sounds like fun, asshole." I sighed. I really wasn't looking forward to seeing what they had in mind for me. Something told me it was really going to test me.
Knock Out pushed a button that made my tube shrink to about half its size. My head now reached the top of it while standing up. He detached it from the wall and lifted it up so that I was right in front of his face. "This will be fun, insect." He smirked. He then activated his comlink. "Starscream, our prisoner is ready a lot sooner than I thought she'd be for phase two. You wanna meet us in the prison hall?"
I really didn't like the way he looked at me when he said prison. After Knock Out hung up, he walked out of the room and down the many twisty hallways of the Decepticon warship. Now I definitely knew I'd have trouble escaping from this place on my own.
He carried me all the way across the ship. Starscream was waiting for us outside of the door I assumed led to the prison. "Hello, fleshbag. Did you miss me?" Starscream sneered.
"Welp, to quote a friend of mine, 'like rust in my undercarriage'. Considering I'm not a Cybertronian, I'll just say like a rash out my ass, bucketbrain." I replied, snickering. Starscream rolled his optics, but otherwise did not reply. He knew by doing so, he'd just be spurning me on. I kind of wish he'd said more though, I wanted to say more insults!
Starscream opened the door and Knock Out followed him inside. They walked down a super long hallway with cell doors in either side. Some of them were opened, obviously empty, others were closed and locked up tight. We went straight to the back and Starscream opened the second to last door on the right. Knock Out walked inside the room then sat my tube down on the floor. I looked around curiously but couldn't see much because it was pitch dark inside.
Knock Out flipped the light switch and the room brightened instantly. My eyes were immediately drawn towards a red Cybertronian, who was clearly an Autobot, that laid on a berth in stasis mode. "Who is he?" I asked though he looked really familiar.
"I'm sure even you could figure that out insect. I believe you know his twin, Sunstreaker." Starscream replied and my mouth dropped open in surprise. This was Sideswipe! No wonder he looked so familiar. Besides the paint job, he was a splitting image of Sunstreaker. Right now he looked pretty bad. He was covered in scratches and dried up energon. "What did you guys do to him?" I growled.
Starscream smirked. "Nothing you can't fix, insect. Go ahead, show us your power. Heal the Autobot and I will consider releasing him."
"Hah! Do you really think I'm that stupid? You'd sooner kill Sideswipe than return him to his brother. They two of them together could destroy your whole operation. They are pretty kick ass, according to my sources." I gleaned, unafraid of what he had in store. He was going to have to try a lot harder if he wanted me to do as he asked.
"Hmm, it seems you're not as completely incompetent as we thought you were. No matter. If I can't persuade you perhaps I should force your hand." Starscream flashed a danger smile and my heart beat wildly in fear. He pressed a button on the wall that made Sideswipes body jerk before his optics flashed on. He was groaning in pain, I couldn't stand seeing a living being in so much pain. There was electricity surging throughout his entire body, almost like what happened to Optimus at the museum.
"Stop it! You're killing him!"I yelled, tears streaming down my face again. I'd been crying more in the past couple days than I had since I was released from the mental institution.
Starscream pressed the button again and Sideswipe was able to relax. He was venting pretty heavily, but despite the agony he must have been in, he was still glaring defiantly at Starscream. I had to admire his courage. "I see that I've gotten your attention, are you ready to cooperate now?" Starscream sneered.
"Even if I knew how to, I would never do anything for you, Starscream. You'd have to kill me." I replied, channeling some of Sideswipe bravery.
Sideswipe's optics flashed between me and Starscream. "Why am I here, Screamer. And why do you have an organic here?" He asked the Decepticon leader. Sideswipe was a strong mech, but I could see just how tired he was. I wondered how long he had been in the Cons possession and just how much pain they had inflicted on him. What kind of torture had he gone through? Based on what I've been through already, I didn't think I'd want to know.
"The organic is here to do a job and you are here to ensure she does it." Starscream replied.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't know Sideswipe very well, but from what I know about Sunstreaker, he'd never want me to give in to the demands of a Decepticon. So suck it, asshole." I declared haughty.
"You know my brother?" Sideswipes optics had widened and for the first time since he'd woken up, I could see a hint of hope. I smiled reassuringly at him. "Yes. Sunstreaker and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but I'd like to consider him a friend. He'd never admit it though. He's stubborn as hell. I also know Optimus Prime and a whole group of Autobots." I looked over at Starscream, lips curling in disgust. "And I guarantee they're doing everything in their power to get me back."
Starscream looked amused. "Perhaps, but they aren't here now, are they? It's just the three of us." Knock Out cleared his throat, reminding the other that he was still in the room. "And Knock Out, of course."
"Look, Starwars, I'm not going to participate. So either take me back to the other room and torture me some more, or release me. Because I will never do what you want." I promised.
Starscream laughed, the sound was one of morbid amusement. Sideswipe and I both watched him wearily. What exactly did he have planned? And why did it feel me with so much dread. "You will do what I say you will do." Starscream picked up a sword that had been behind the berth that Sideswipe was on. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to kill my prisoner so soon, but you've twisted my arm."
He raised the sword above Sideswipes spark. "NO!" I screamed before he plunged it down. Sideswipe jerked, his optics wide as he desperately tried to grab the sword in his chest. His arms were like magnetized to the berth though. Starscream yanked the sword out and I watched as energon swelled and spilled over. His optics flashed between light and dark before finally shutting down.
Sideswipe was dead.
"You monster!" I screamed while the two Cons laughed at my torment. I couldn't believe I had just witnessed them murdering an Autobot. And not just any Autobot, Sunstreakers twin. Memories from Ratchet's lesson about sparks flitted through my mind. Twins who shared a spark could not survive without the other, which meant that Sunstreaker was dying.
"I'd give your precious Autobot Sunstreaker maybe five minutes before he too joins the Well of Sparks. So you have a decision to make, insect." Starscream untwisted the top of my tube and reached in to grab me. He threw me on top of Sideswipe's body, covering my hands and knees in his energon. "Either use your powers to bring this Autobot back to life, or be responsible for the death of two Autobots. The clock is ticking."
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I wasn't lying when I said that I had no clue how to bring an Autobot back from the dead. When I brought Cliffjumper back, I had the voice of Primus speaking to me. This time, there was no voice. I was on my own. I had special powers that could save him and his brother and I couldn't use them.
"Sideswipe." I whispered, a sob ripping through my throat. "Please come back."
My hands began to glow, much the same as they had the last time. I looked at them, feeling absolutely flabbergasted. A smile twitched on my face and I concentrated hard on the light. It spread of my entire arm, lighting up the room brilliantly. Then I stood up and walked shakily over to his spark chamber. My legs were weak but I was determined. I collapsed to my knees right in front of the gaping hole. "Please work." I muttered before leaning forward and touching the empty chamber and concentrated out spreading the light.
It spread along his entire body. The light was so bright that I had to close my eyes. It lasted for a couple moments. And when the light of my powers dimmed once more, Sideswipe was completely healed. His armor looked brand new and the was a pulsing spark inside his chamber. I retracted my hand and straightened my back, watching his optics.
They flashed back on and Sideswipe vented heavily as he looked around. His optics landed on me and I held his gaze, a relieved smile on my face. Thank God he was alright. That meant Sunstreaker should be alright too.
The sound of clapping caught Sideswipe and I's attention. We looked over to see Starscream and Knock Out were the ones doing it. Both of them had smug grins on their faces and I really did not like the looks in their optics. "That was magnificent! I knew you could do it, insect. Or should I say, Allspark?" Starscream spoke gleefully.
"You brought me back to life?" Sideswipe asked me, looking amazed.
I nodded. "I am the Allspark. It's my job to bring life." I replied and I was shocked at that realization. Being the Allspark was so much more than having powers. I was here to bring life back to the Cybertronians. I could feel the power I possessed now. It wasn't just energy, it was living. The Allspark was so much more that just a powerful artifact. Primus created it with the intent that one day I would possess. It was always my destiny.
I glared at Starscream. "I am not a toy for you, Starscream. You will not harness my powers, I will not allow it. Primus created me for the purpose of bringing light. You are nothing but darkness. I will not allow you to have control."
Starscream was unfazed by my words. "And yet, you are my prisoner, Allspark. You will do as I say or I will kill every single thing you care about. I've done my research on the human you inhabit. Since you chose a human, you must deal with the feelings they have as well. Which means I will kill her family and I will kill her friends."
"You do realize that me and the Allspark are one right. You can't really refer to the Allspark as a separate part of me. I am the Allspark." I pointed out, annoyed with how he tried to separate the two of us.
"Oh whatever, it does not matter. I will still destroy everyone you love if you don't know what I say." Starscream stomped his foot. I raised an eyebrow at the immature move. Did someone give a toddler control of him? Because he really acted like a child sometimes. It was as amazing as it was disturbing. "I will give you some time to think it over. Come, Knock Out, we have things to discuss about our patient."
"Patient?" Knockout asked as he picked me up and put me back in the tube. He twisted the top on then laid the tube against the wall opposite Sideswipe. Starscream shot him an annoyed look. "Oh, right, that patient."
They left the prison cell, shutting and locking it
I was surprised that they left me in here with Sideswipe, but I was also relieved. It would be nice to be around a friendly Autobot instead of a sour Decepticon. Plus I was curious about him. Cliffjumper had told me a bit about Sideswipe. He was supposedly a lot nicer than Sunstreaker and he enjoyed making new friends. Perhaps the two of us could become friends while we were trapped in this hell.
Sideswipe was watching me curiously. I smiled at him and he returned it. "So, you're the Allspark, huh? I thought it was a giant cube, not a… um, what are you exactly? I've never met an alien race that looks quite like you." He asked me curiously. He didn't have any of the disgust that I'd seen plenty of times of Sunstreakers face so that was a relief.
"I'm a human. We're currently flying above a world that my people call Earth. Welcome to my world." I giggled. I've might have spent several months with aliens, but Sideswipe has never been to Earth, so it was only polite that I welcome him. "I'm not sure what exactly happened to the cube. When I was about eight, a friend and I were running through the forest in his backyard. We came across this luminous blue lake. I think it might've been energon, to be honest. Anyways, I saw this shard of metal inside of it, so being the curious child that I was at that age, I reached in and grabbed it. I remember it burning my flesh as it sunk into my hand and disappeared. Years later I met the Autobots, we discovered I had the Allspark energy within me, and the rest is history."
Sideswipe whistled, looking impressed. "You had some childhood, huh?" I tried not to frown but nodded. "Yeah, that I did."
XxRebelWriterxX
Cliffjumper's POV
We were still no closer to finding Jessica than we were the day before. Everyone was growing a bit restless. Arcee and Jack had left for a recon mission simply so that they could get out of the base. That had been a few hours ago and we still haven't heard from them. I was slightly worried for my friend, but I knew 'Cee could take care of herself.
Ratchet hasn't left the computer since she'd been taken. I knew he was looking for any sign of her, or anything that could pinpoint us in the right direction.
"Ratchet, we need a bridge." Arcee's voice sounded through the computer. Good, that was one less thing to worry about. Ratchet pulled the lever, activating the portal. Jack and Arcee walked through, both looking worse for wear.
"What happened?" I asked them.
"Airachnid. She's here on Earth." Arcee replied, her voice hard. I winced, knowing the history the two of them shared. Jack joined the other two humans on the platform by the monitors while Arcee went to get some energon. Having another Decepticon on Earth wasn't good, but I still had more important things to worry about. Like how I was going to get my charge back from the Decepticons.
All of a sudden, Sunstreaker collapsed to his knees. There was a pained look in his optics as he clutched the area above his spark. "Sunstreaker!" I exclaimed and ran over to help him up. Ratchet rushed over as well and the two of us supported him. We took him into the medbay and sat him on the chair. "Ratchet, what's happening?"
"Sideswipe." Sunstreaker moaned. "My brother is dead."
Ratchet swore. "If that is true, there is nothing I can do. It will not take long for Sunstreakers spark to give out. I'm sorry my friend." The medic laid a hand on the golden mechs shoulder, a defeated look in his optics.
"You're not even going to try?"
Ratchet and I looked over to see that the three humans had joined us. It was Jack who had asked the question. Ratchet's voice shook as he spoke. "Like I said, there isn't anything I can do. I can try to stabilize his spark, but the pain Sunstreaker will live in from now on will consume his life. Every twin who's lost their other half dies, whether it's from the loss of the others spark, or from taking their own life."
"Take the children out of here." I hissed at their guardians. Sunstreaker's mourning was not a spectacle. They did as I said and, as soon as they were gone, Optimus walked into the room. No one said a word, we just tried to comfort Sunstreaker the best we could.
Sunstreaker gasped, then his hands dropped from his chest. "Sideswipe!" He shouted… in joy? The gold mech jumped up and then I sw largest smile I had ever seen on his face. What in the world was happening? "My brother is alive! I can feel him through the bond. He's alive and he's on Earth. I might be able to communicate with him."
How was that possible? Sunstreaker had just collapsed because his brother was dead, and now he was saying he was alive and on Earth? That made no sense… unless… It couldn't be, could it? I exchanged looks with both Optimus and Ratchet and it seemed we had all three came to the same conclusion. The only reason Sideswipe would've died and then came back, is if the Allspark brought him back. Was Jessica with Sideswipe right now?
We all watched Sunstreaker, waiting for him to say more. He was concentrating on his bond. "Sideswipe is a prisoner of Starscream right now. He says there is a human there who possess the Allspark power. He is with Jessica." Sunstreaker informed us. I think we all felt a weird combination of relief and terror. Jessica was alive. She was still a prisoner, but she was alive and with Sideswipe.
"Ask him if she's alright?" I requested.
Sunstreaker nodded and went quiet again. When he replied, it was with a grim frown. "She is alive but he says she has been through a lot. She is covered in human- what's the word? Blue? Block? Gah, human terminology is ridiculous. She is covered in human energon. He thinks she was tortured. Her injuries are healed, but he can see the pain in her optics." The anger swelled in me and I never wanted to rip out a Decepticons spark as I did now. "She wants me to tell you guys that she is mostly okay and that the thought of you, Cliffjumper, and you Ratchet, is what gets her through everything. She believes wholeheartedly that we'll rescue her."
"Tell her we will. We won't stop until she is home again."
"I feel like a messenger bot." Sunstreaker grumbled but did as I asked. Optimus asked him if they knew what their location was. "No. Both of them were passed out when brought aboard and neither has seen or heard anything that would tell them their destination."
"I expected as much. No matter, we will continue searching as we have then. At least we know Jessica is still alive and as well as she can be. She has proven to be strong and resilient." Optimus remarked and I agree with him. Jessica was an incredible human being who had proved herself to be smart and tough over and over again. I was incredible proud of my charge. Now I just needed her to be home.
Ratchet left the room, undoubtedly to return to his search. We all followed after him into the main room. The others looked up at our return, each shocked when they saw that Sunstreaker was alive and looked happier than anyone had ever seen him. "What's going on?" Arcee asked Optimus. "I thought Sunstreaker was done for."
"My brother is still alive. He was saved by the Allspark." Sunstreaker replied instead, and everyone perked up at the mention of Jessica. "She is alive and with my brother. I will do anything in my power to bring them both back here."
The three children cheered, giving each other hugs. I saw that they had tears in their eyes, usually a sign of sadness in humans. But I knew it could be a sign of happiness too.
We still had to find the Decepticons warship but I knew we were on the right path. We would find Jessica and we would bring her and Sunstreaker home. The Decepticons don't realize just how bad they messed up when they took her. They were about to find out just how ruthless I could be when you took someone I loved away from me.
Yay done! So I guess this pretty much did cover Predatory. Next one will be Sick Minds lol. But yay, Sideswipe! Sunstreaker is so happy now that he knows his brother is near! Can't wait to write their reunion. After saving Sideswipe, Jessica is now more intune with the Allspark energy. She now feels more comfortable with her newfound power and responsibility. Basically she no longer doubts Primus's decision to make her the Allspark, because she now realizes it was her destiny all along! Anyways, more to come soon enough!
Until next time, my friends! Bye!