#DId I include an autobot and a decepticon in this chapter?

[therocketeer0501]

Emptiness Machine

Starscream X Reader (Mech Pilot AU)

Author note: guys I am so sorry it took so long but here is chapter 12 😭 I just couldn’t get the motivation to write and with the convention and cosplay taking up my free thoughts it was hard to put effort into it. But anyway here it is! Enjoy! 😉

Chapter 12

The din of jet engines only just drowned out the constant stream of thoughts in Starscream’s processor. Transforming to land hard on the flight deck, he made his way past the deck officer without acknowledging his salute. His jaw worked furiously as he went over the encounter he just had. How dare that insect have the nerve to ask him, second in command of the entire Decepticon army, if he needed assistance with his welds. He flexed his wings, still sore but no longer in excruciating pain.

This wasn’t right. That thing was the enemy, and it had helped him. She had helped him. That abomination of human engineering. But he had felt it. It wasn’t just his imagination. The soft brush of an EM field against his own. There was no malicious intent or hatred to be felt and it was infuriating. Lost in his own helm he almost ran headlong into knockout. The smaller red bot jumped out of his way just in time.

“Starscream! Watch the paint job I-“ knockout stopped when he noticed the welds on Starscream’s wings.

“Primus knows I didn’t do that bad of a job….and Hook would have done worse…are you doing your own welding?” He blinked. His optics cycling as he studied the seeker’s wings.

In response, Starscream shouldered past him. He made sure to scrape past the medic with his shoulder plating leaving Knockout sputtering about his finish.

“It’s none of your concern Doctor.” He spat the last word like a curse. When was the last time knockout or Hook cared about any of their patient’s wellbeing? Megatron had threatened to offline both medics if they helped his treacherous second in command. One too many attempts to usurp their leader had lead to mistrust among many of his underlings. This was part of the punishment. He couldn’t give up his position though. Not when he was so close to actually changing things.

Only then could he face his trine again. They’d finally become brothers once more instead of avoiding him. He could let them in again. His steps faltered at the thought. He had been the one to push them both away, knowing what it would cost. Only he knew that it was to protect them.

Suddenly he longed to feel the sturdy presence of Thundercracker’s EM field. The bot was emotional but at the same time always knew what to do. Starscream was feeling things he hadn’t in so many cycles. Feeling things that made him vulnerable. He clenched his fists, digging his digits into the mesh of his palm. He needed to see that femme again. Make her tell him why she helped him. He needed to know.

The sound of Soundwave’s synthesized voice shook him from his thoughts. The communications officer was uncharacteristically excited as he approached. “Starscream. The Allspark has been located.”

•••

“You did WHAT?” Ratchet’s affronted yell made you flinch as the field kit was snatched from your servos. The medic had greeted you first, wanting to be sure your own welds were holding. Then he had noticed the used kit on your belt and demanded an explanation. Not wanting to lie and have the thing blow up on you later, you explain that you had helped Starscream weld his wings.

“Do you understand what that miserable piece of scrap has done? What he’s authorized? Many an Autobot and, back at the start of the war, Cybertronian citizen died under his orders. Whatever he said to you was only to manipulate you. He’s a conniving liar.” The old bot’s reprimanding only served to attract the attention of several Autobots. Including Optimus Prime. The Autobot leader abandoned his research project and joined his old friend.

“Ratchet, what has warranted such a racket over here.” His deep voice rumbled and his expression was hidden by the battle mask he seemingly wore constantly. You stare up at him, wanting to disappear into the floor. Would he be disappointed in your actions? This was war after all. You and the other humans had been kept out of it until that last mission. Things had happened prior to your involvement that you had no idea about.

While Ratchet explained to Optimus what had happened, your mind wandered to the injured seeker. He hadn’t really been in the thick of the fighting to your knowledge. If he had, then why hadn’t he gone to his medical officer for repairs? Why go outside of the ship after all that time spent sending drones down to the surface? He hadn’t been lying to you about his injured state. In fact you are pretty sure if he had the option to keep the fact that he was essentially downed and flightless away from you, he would have. A massive servo on your shoulder shook you from you thoughts. You looked up into the blue optics of your leader and braced for the inevitable consequences of your actions. Instead, his eyes smiled and his deep voice rumbled as he spoke.

“Sera, that was a very brave thing you did, helping a bot who could have very easily taken you offline. Every spark has the potential for change. What you did may have sparked a change in him for the better. We win wars not by the number of battles fought. But by the number of minds changed through action. However, putting your life at risk to help someone like Starscream shouldn’t be your priority. His proximity to our base raises many alarms we shouldn’t ignore. Next time, radio us for backup just in case something happens.”

Your optics widened as he spoke. You hadn’t expected this high of praise. Stuttering, you stand straighter as Ratchet stands open mouthed behind you. His expression one of shock and disgust. But he quickly hid the look on his faceplate, turning to mumble something about wasting medical supplies.

“Thank you sir. I will be careful in the future not to put my life in danger. I wasn’t thinking about how close he had gotten to discovering us here.” You nod respectfully.

He nods back and turns towards the massive data screen he was previously working on. “Please come look at this. Bumblebee, Ironhide, Hound. You best come as well.” He raises the others on the comm and within seconds they appear.

“What’s up boss bot? Sera! Good to see you looking lively again. We can talk later. I want to know everything about what happened.” Bumblebee smiled in greeting. Obviously Ratchet had talked to him about how to address you. Carefully, and with some veiled concern but not too much. You shook your head and smiled back.

“Of course. Sorry I walked out earlier. Had to come to grips with my new life. Hopefully the Doc can come up with a way for things to go back to normal. But until then I guess I can enjoy being one of you guys.” You smile back at him. Noting the way the metal mesh of your face responds and forms the gesture. It was an odd feeling but there was too much going on to think about that now.

Optimus pulled up a map and on it were several points of light. These were marked locations you recognized as the energon mines set up by the government and Autobot forces. In the middle however was a massive spike in energy. Higher by far than the energon spikes surrounding it. You tilt your head and examine the map. You weren’t too far away from the epicenter of the energy. This fact made the energon in your lines tingle uncomfortably. “Optimus sir, what is that?” You inquire only to be elbowed in the side by bumblebee who was looking up at Optimus with wide optics.

“Did we finally find it? Is that what I think it is?” The other bots around him murmured as Optimus nodded.

“Yes Bumblebee. That has the potential to be what we’ve been looking for all these eons.” The bot paused as Ratchet made his way over and said in an almost reverent voice “the allspark….”

[tigereyes45]

Meeting Up - Chapter 11 - tigereyes45 - Transformers - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own]

Am I once again posting a new chapter at 3:44am? Yes, yes I am. Listen when inspiration strikes, it hits hard.

Summary:

Megatronus watches Ratchet treat a patient while out in the field. Bulkhead is not happy to see a doctor. Good thing Ratchet isn't a doctor.

Preview of the fic:

This stupid boy. He doesn’t even know how to move! How fresh from the all spark is he?

“Stay away from him!” Bulkhead demands. He really has no idea what his situation is.

Megatronus glowers at him. He takes a step forward ready to grab the go-bot by his head.

“We’re here to help!” Ratchet shouts. Megatronus can feel the shorter bot hoist himself up, so his face was above the gladiator’s arm.

“Yeah right!”

“Believe me or don’t, but I think your supervisor wants me over there.”

Bulkhead looks to Harness. The taller, older bot nods.

“But they’ll scrap him!”

“No one’s scrapping Sledge, Bulkhead.”

Bulkhead seemingly waivers. He brings both arms to his chassis. Then his optical ridges smack together. A sharp clang sound rings out. “This is his sixth accident. I know what happens to repeat offenders!”

“Repeat offenders?”

Of course Orion doesn’t know.

“Is that what this is about?” Ratchet whispers under his breath. “Look your friend, Sledge is hurt right?”

Bulkhead glares past Megatronus’ arm. Megatronus takes a step closer, keeping him a little further from Ratchet. Basically daring the younger bot to make a move. It’s a fight he won’t win. One hand on his helm, and Megatronus could crush it. A kick to either of his bulky legs and the whole bot would go falling to the floor. He’d only make it in the arena if he learned to move that frame of his. This bot is too green, too fresh, to even put up a fight.

“As I thought. Can you reattach his limbs?” Ratchet asks, waving a transformed servo over his head. A welder sticks out. Blue fire emanates from it, ready to fix the problem. “I can!”

Bulkhead steps back. He’s beginning to see reason. Megatronus takes a step closer. The younger bot raises his wrecking balls again.

“I’m not a doctor!” Ratchet shouts. Megatronus turns back to stare. He can see many of the other gathered bots doing the same. 

“I’m not a doctor.” Ratchet repeats in a calmer tone. “I don’t have to report how many injuries he’s had before, or incidents he’s been in. I just need to include a name, and the treatment I administered in my report.”

Ratchet pushes past Megatronus’ arm. He holds both servos out towards the younger bot. “Unless someone goes digging for information about your friend specifically, my report won’t even show up.”

“Really?”

“Really, and trust me, the hospital’s administration does not care about ever injury a medical assistant can fix up.” As he reaches Bulkhead, Ratchet places a servo on top of one of his wrecking balls. The same one that had nearly him them earlier. “Let me help your friend, please.”

Bulkhead’s optics narrow, but he steps aside. “Sledge is hurt real bad.”

[guardianofnightmares]

Sunrise

Faint beam of artificial light from a surface danced off yellow armor of an Autobot, giving it a color of a newborn star. Bumblebee graced the Decepticon with a broad smile, its warmth making the hostile gloom around his facial features to dissipate.

To Blitzwing a minibot reminded a stray ray of hope which arrived to safe lost souls from a long dead and forgotten world.

A true rising sun in the realm of darkness.

----------

Alright, fellas, next entry to the @blitzbee-week event is finally here)). The prompt of the second day was "Sunrise" and I decided to go more figuratively with it rather then depicting a literal "appearance of the sky" at a particular part of a day. As you can guess by a provided description, Bee basically becomes a "leading star" for a brooding Blitzwing, who, as it seems, is not that thrilled by discovery of his partner.

Just as a previous entry to a mentioned event, this picture is dedicated to my fanfic called "TFA: Icarus". Here's a [link] for the series "folder" which also includes an existing teaser (future prologue) for a story if anyone wants to give it a try. Again, can not thank you enough for all the support you've shown for it so far, I will try my best to come up with updates soon enough.

As it usually goes with such works of mine, I will provide the full snippet of one of chapters, which a depicted scene is taken from, under a cut line for anyone wishing to read more about the scene. Hope you'll enjoy it)

To the surprise of many comrades he’d worked with, the Triplechanger proved to be the most patient mech on a team when it came to long lasting missions. Usually he didn’t find it difficult to lay low and wait for orders to come, even if it meant to stay idle for several solar cycles. It was a useful trait of character which Decepticon rightfully prided himself of. 

Yet, even a seemingly boundless patience had its limits. 

“Can you see anything of use out there?” Blitzwing finally asked his unfortunate “partner in crime”.

A brightly colored mech slipped on the spot upon hearing Con’s voice but managed to regain his balance. 

“Not yet, Blitzwing, give me a klik!” A minibot shouted over his shoulder, holding on the steel bar for dear life. “Climbing is not as easy as I’m surely making it look in your optics.”

If Bumblebee planed to cheer up a Warframe with such a comment, he failed miserably, for it only seemed to sour up an already bad mood of a tall mech. 

To a Decepticon, it felt like forever since the minibot began his ascend up a steep scarp of a crumbled wall. One would think that, thanks to his light frame, he’d manage to reach the top level in no time. But even this uneven terrain, made of torn sheets of metal and broken cables, proved to be a challenge to an agile Autobot. 

The damned energy chain, which linked limbs of both mechs to each other, clearly was the greatest obstacle for Bumblebee, barely giving him a chance to move as far away from a somber mech as possible. Not to mention that a Decepticon was forced to stand on one pede in order to accommodate his companion’s slow conquest of new heights. 

Admittedly, a Triplechanger considered an option of tearing the bug’s pede he’s bound to off. But that type of cuffs always latched onto anything in their vicinity (while being activated). Meaning, the chances of getting tied to a nearby wall, as a result of said actions, reached more than 90%. 

Tearing his own pede off was not part of a Warframe’s plans. 

“If you haven’t noticed it yet, Bumblebee Prime, we don’t have plenty of time left to hide in these tunnels,” A “former” convict grumbled in response while surveying his surroundings for an up-tenth time. He didn’t notice how a Bot winced at the mention of his new title.

Minibot knew he deserved that snide remark. But it did not make him feel better about his recent promotion to an Elite Guard. Or about a decision to become one for that matter. The decision which led to a situation where an Autobot and a Decepticon got lost under an Iacon city. 

They had to hide in maintenance tunnels from the times prior to a Great War. Tunnels built by Decepticons for Autobots’ use, and left by them to slowly rot in an utter disrepair after the said War was officially ended. Sealed off since the banishment of Warframes from Cybertron, eventually the structure turned into an urban myth not many of currently living mechs remember or even know about.

An old complex Blitzwing and Bumblbee were currently navigating in was once part of the major supportive structure. Meant to protect veins and tubes once full of energon, that section was made of sturdy materials which stoically passed the test of time. 

The Decepticon would’ve lied if he’d said he’s not pleasantly surprised by that discovery. 

But it did not bright up his mood by much - they still needed to find a way to the surface level of a planet. 

“Foolish of me to expect a scout with no field experience to do a Warframe’s job,” the mech muttered under his breath, words bitter on his glossa. “Perhaps I should have been the one to search for an exit after all”.

Blitzwing had no intent for the last sentence to be heard by his peer, but an aforementioned scout, apparently, had nicely tuned audials. 

Figures. 

“And to risk exposing your Decepticon signature to raging authorities? No, thanks!” Bumblebee chirped after successfully reaching for a rod sticking out of a long abandoned structure. “It was already enough of me putting everything at risk by making stupid decisions - I don’t want to see you following my lead.”

Somehow the fact that a minibot admitted his mistakes helped to somewhat cool Blitzwing down. He said nothing in return but did glance at him once prior returning to surveying desolated surroundings. 

Bumbler’s changed since the promotion to the ranks of an Elite Guard. He seemed to act more mature, even if he’s still naive about most things happening around him. For strangers it’d be an unexpected change of character for such an optimistic and energetic Bot as Bumblebee. But Blitzwing was no random outsider, whether he liked to be on closer terms with a current companion of his or not. 

Death of a teammate has effected the minibot on a much deeper level then he’d ever admit to anybody, even to himself. Yet, despite how horrible it might’ve sounded, the Decepticon thought that that was an important lesson every soldier had to live through. And as a mech, who’s witnessed deaths of many of his comrades throughout the Great War, he had to agree that Bumbler was holding up pretty well for someone so inexperienced in mentioned matters. 

Even Blitzwing, who did not know Prowl as well as a yellow Bot did, felt the loss of a mech effecting him as well to a certain degree. No matter how secluded and cold the cyber-ninja seemed to be, he always had a special aura around him, the one that made people feel at ease in his presence. Though how he could so freely speak to a Con about importance of life and probability of peace among Cybertronians remained a mystery to him to that solar cycle.  

What was that thing black and golden Autobot’s talking about during the last conversation of theirs? 

“To have Faith not in Primus, not in The Allspark, but in each other”?

What exactly made him see it being possible back then and, especially, at a current stage of the reignited conflict between factions? Triplechanger had no answer to that question either. He didn’t view how the world should work the same way Prowl did. Could not fully comprehend the intricacies of a philosophy of an Autobot, but, at least, did not lack the courage to make it very clear during a mentioned discussion of theirs.

Blitzwing didn’t have Faith in anyone anymore, and he surely wouldn't in a foreseen future. 

For who could remain being supportive of their unhelpful, unwanted partn-… Autobot, while being lost in Allspark forsaken place with no means of escape?

…

“… -es! I see the gap in a wall!.. Blitzwing, I actually see it!”

The joyful voice tore Triplechanger from a deep melancholy state he slipped into while looking down a dark tunnel to his left. He raised his ruby optics, their faint glow barely lighting sharp features of his blue faceplates.

“Right where you’ve predicted it to be,” The Autobot added after turning around in order to face his unfortunate companion, unintentionally giving him quite a peculiar view of his small form.

Faint beam of artificial light from a surface danced off yellow armor of an Autobot, giving it a color of a newborn star. Bumblebee graced the Decepticon with a broad smile, its warmth making the hostile gloom around his facial features to dissipate.

To Blitzwing a minibot reminded a stray ray of hope which arrived to safe lost souls from a long dead and forgotten world.

A true rising sun in the realm of darkness.

...

Blitzwing huffed in mild annoyance at himself and his artistic side of a processor - it was not the right moment for poetic comparisons. Hope and Faith had no place in a situation he was stuck in, only cold calculations. He and Bumbler had to get out of that place, no matter the cost. And the sooner they’d get rid of an energy chain, the better.

[playedcrowd5610]

Haunting the Nemesis - Danny Phantom x Transformers Prime Oneshot Master list

Danny has decided to call this Decepticon warship his new haunt, now he is having the time of his afterlife messing with these guys. Especially when they try so hard to get rid of him. Why leave now? He doesn’t even have to pay rent.

===

Ao3: Haunting the Nemesis

Part 1: Chasing Stars

Part 2: Burning Rubber

Part 3: Adventures of the Decepticons' Pet Ghost - (the one-shots below are from here)

Part 4: Falling Stars

Untold Adventures on the Nemesis (Non-Canon Scenes) ===

ART:

Danny Design - Starscream Comparison

Chasing Stars Cover

Burning Rubber Cover

Haunting the Nemesis Cover

Decepticons Phone Caller ID

Falling Stars Cover

Danny Dark Energon Injury Scene

Roddie x C-27 Ship Art

Box Ghost Stealing Energon

Knockout Eyelashes/Laserbeak Bubblewrap

DeathStar Valentine

Danny and Star Petting Animation

Signature Located SOUNDWAVE

Megatron Arm No More/Punching Practice

HTN Workplace AU: Cat!Danny Design

===

[ANIMATIC] - Protective Programming

[ANIMATIC] - Big Happy Family

===

Questions:

Is Danny the Ghost King In This Series?

Why does Danny Defend the Cons' Murder?

Pet VS Partner Humans

Language key for HTN + Adopticons

Human Height Comparison HTN

===

Fanart for Adopticons:

Ratbat Backpack

Ravage and Cujo

Cassette Danny

Dadwave Parent-Teacher Meeting

Laserbeak Jumpscare:

Shockwave: Where did you find this creature?

Danny Ratbat Hug

Danny Hurt in Alleyway

Dual Wielding Hyperfixations

===

ADVENTURES OF THE DECEPTICONS' PET GHOST - Chapter List

Soundwave: - Danny finally manages to get a chance to talk to Soundwave and finds out why Megatron hasn't discovered him yet. Maybe he also makes a friend along the way.

Little Hands Make Light Work: - Starscream goes to the medbay and Danny ends up learning some cybertronian biology.

Take Flight: - Danny takes Starscream for a flight to help blow off some steam. And maybe there is more to Danny than meets the eye.

Laserbeak: - Danny meets Laserbeak for the first time

Breaking Down: - Danny has a heart-to-heart with Breakdown… (Or I guess in this case it's a core-to-spark)

The Gift of Language: - Danny's been working on a surprise for his favorite seeker.

The Nemesis Chase: - Danny books it through the Nemesis with an angry Knockout on his heels

Steve, Roddie, and C-27: - Danny runs into some injured Vehicons and they don't know what to make of this strange human with zero life-preservation skills and a knack for medical assistance.

A Crushed Bug: - Bumblebee is trapped in a collapsed energon mine, that is until this strange human finds him and helps patch him up.

Protective Programming: - After some careful consideration, Laserbeak has concluded that Danny has a complete lack of self-preservation and it was up to him to keep the human safe. - Or three times Laserbeak “saves” Danny and the one time Danny returns the favor. - ANIMATIC INCLUDED WITH THIS STORY!!!

Additional Medical Assistance Required: - Danny gets severely injured after a fight with a soul eater and some hunters, and the Decepticons don't know what to do. Knockout's tools aren't small enough for this, so they only have one option: They need to get some help.

Bedrest: - After the events of "Additional Medical Assistance Required," Knockout decides to put Danny on Bedrest. But Danny has other plans.

Catching Up With The Autobots: - June returns from her kidnapping shaken, and the Autobots are deeply concerned.

Vivisection Buddies: - After being attacked and experimented on by M.E.C.H, Breakdown is rushed to the medical bay for his injuries.

Operation Payback: - Danny and Knockout team up to get some payback.

Keep Away: - The Decepticons have to hide their pet human from Megatron.

Jazz: - Danny and his sister have some catching up to do.

---

Thanks again everyone <3

Haunting the Nemesis

[qatheauthoress74]

Transformers One Spoiler Review

There are so many spoliers in this review. I am not kidding when I say go watch the film (five times at least) before reading this. Okay? Good.

I’m gonna be honest here. Growing up I wasn’t all that invested in the Transformers franchise as other kids were. I ocasionally watched a random episode of Transformers Animated or Prime whenever they were on TV back in the day but I wasn’t what you’d call a fan. All that changed after I watched Bumblebee (2018) on a whim and it changed my brain chemistry in the best way. Seriously, that film is still one of my comfort movies and I love it so much that I even began to write fanfiction again with several TF fics, including my Riding A Sunset story (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17648414/chapters/41617823).

But before Bumblebee, theatrical Live Action Transformer films had the infamous status of being bad to downright terrible for overusing bland human characters over the Autobots or Decepticons as well as being very inconsistent with their own established continuity. Not to mention making some characters act very out of character. Seeing a film like Bumblebee helped me believe that filmmakers are capable of telling a story that not only respects the lore but also genuinely cares about substance over spectacle outside of the well-made fight scenes. That was why I wanted to give Rise of the Beasts a chance when it came out but I was sadly a little underwhelmed. It is still better than any of the Transformer films Micheal Bay directed, but personally, that’s like saying the Eukrea 7 film “Pocket Full of Rainbows” is better than E7: Ao and the follow-up film trilogy, which isn’t saying much. Again, that’s just me and my biased opinion. Which is the whole point of this review.

But believe me when I say I did want to give Transformers One a chance. I was hopeful after learning it was going to be fully animated and would actually focus on the Transformers instead of some random humans. So, what kind of plot would the film be about it’s a prequel set on Cybertron?

Well…

Plot: The premise is the origin of the mighty leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, Optimus Prime and Megatron, and how the two factions would eventually fight over control of their home planet, Cybertron. Both started as lowly miners unable to transform into vehicles like the other half of their race can and so are forced to work day in and day out in their underground home of Iacon City to collect the fuel source known as Energon. The reason they need to do so is because 50 cycles before the events of the story the leaders of Cybertron, The Primes, died in a war against an alien race called the Quintessons. After they were killed an important relic known as the Matrix of Leadership disappeared and it led to the Energon dwindling until it could only be found deep under the planet’s surface. Without Energon, the Cybertronians would perish, which is why Orion Pax (Optimus Prime’s identity before he became a Prime) wants to find out what happened to the Matrix of Leadership. The current leader of the Cybertronians, Sentinel Prime, is trying to find it out on the surface but has been unable to do so. D-16 (Megatron’s original name) would rather keep his head down but constantly gets dragged into whatever zany scheme Orion has come up with at the moment. Thanks to unintentionally antagonizing a Cybertronian named Darkwing the two get dumped into the lowest place imaginable and meet an overly talkative but friendly bot called B-127 (aka Bumblebee). There they discover a warped message from one of the fallen Primes, Alpha Trion, calling for aid. Orion sees this as an opportunity to find a clue to where the Matrix might be and convinces D and Bee to help him reach the surface and inadvertently brings along Elita-1, Pax and D’s former boss, who recently lost her job thanks to them breaking protocol to save another miner’s life. The four bots end up discovering Alpha Trion’s unconscious body and manage to wake him up. He reveals to them that Sentinel is not what he seems and tells them a horrible truth:

Sentinel was never a Prime and was the one responsible for killing the original Primes with help from the Quintessons.

And all of the Energon the Cybertronians have been mining was being given to the Quintessons by Sentinel as a form of hush money to keep them from revealing his true colors to the Cybertronians. The heroes later learn that he was also the one responsible for taking their cogs as newborns so they could never have the freedom to be anything else but miners. The story then goes to show how Orion, Elita, and Bee want to bring Sentinel to justice while D (who gets slowly consumed by his deeply suppressed anger) wants to seek vengeance against Sentinel for what he has done and kill him for his crimes. The story gradually unfolds as lines are drawn, and tragically, the beautiful friendship between Orion and D ends with them becoming bitter enemies under their new personas, Optimus and Megatron. The movie ends bittersweetly with Optimus inspiring his former fellow miners into becoming Autobots and bringing Energon back to the planet as soon as he was given the Matrix after he sacrificed himself trying to save Sentinel from D/Megatron’s wrath. He also gave the miners their T-Cogs back, restoring their freedom and autonomy. Optimus then sends a message to the Quintessons, telling them he and the Autobots will be ready to face them when they return. Meanwhile, Megatron forms a new faction consisting of the previous members of the dead Primes' High Guard and calls them Decepticons to remind themselves to never be deceived by anyone again.

Damn.

Characters/Voices: The film leans heavily on established lore from pretty much all of the comics, the Aligned Continuity, some Live Action stuff, and Transformers Animated. I wasn’t bothered by the celebrity voice cast. Don’t get me wrong, I will always choose professional VAs over celebrities anytime, but I genuinely thought everyone did a great job, especially Chris Hemsworth as Orion/Optimus and Brian Tyree Henry as D-16/Megatron. Henry said in interviews he was using his experience as an activist in college as inspiration for how resentful and angry D-16/Megatron sounded in wanting to change things and I say he succeeded. Hemsworth had done his homework by consulting with THE Optimus Prime himself, Peter Cullen. I personally like to believe Cullen shared his “how I became Optimus Prime story” which is summed up by how Optimus should “Be Strong Enough To Be Gentle.” The reason I think that is because I felt it in Hemsworth’s performance, especially at the end of the film. I loved how they gradually sounded more like Optimus and Megatron as the story progressed. Which is both amazing and heartbreaking at the same time because you could see from the start how close Orion and D-16 were to each other before learning about the truth. It gave me the same feelings after seeing other great friendships/sibling bonds like Vi/Power/Jynx and Moses/Ramses fall apart in Arcane and The Prince of Egypt. Also, was anyone else reminded of that scene from The Fox and The Hound Todd and Copper's promise of staying friends after seeing Optimus' flashback of his first meeting with D-16? );

Other standouts include Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion. He gave the Prime a grand presence that almost reminds me of James Earl Jones as Mufasa from The Lion King. RIP.

Scarlett Johansen was great as Elita-1, but I already had zero doubts since she had experienced voice acting before this film.

Vanessa Liguori did a great job of giving Airachnid a sinister personality.

And I have no idea who this “Jon Bailey” is, but he certainly gave Soundwave an “Epic” voice that I liked. ;)

Steven Buscemi as Starscream was a delightful surprise, even if I learned way more about Starscream’s kinks in this film than I would like, but hey, if he likes getting hit and choked, I won’t kink shame him.

Jon Hamm made me hate Sentinel so much. Give him an Oscar, please.

Now, the one actor who I was a bit wary of was Keegan-Michael Key as B-127/Bee. Bee has quickly become one of my favorite Transformers thanks to Bumblebee (2018), and I was worried Key would make him unbearable to sit through. But as I said earlier, the script (and possibly the voice director) made Bee come off as annoying in a “doesn’t know better” kind of way that almost leans to obnoxious but more akin to a hyperactive young adult who’s happy to have friends. Heck, the film even knows his voice could get annoying and made several funny jokes surrounding it. Also, the film knew to only have Bee talk too much during scenes that were supposed to be funny. When it came to the more quiet moments Bee was able to take things seriously as well as the rest of the characters.

And yes, I noticed Steve Blum was the racer announcer and archive guard. He did amazing as per usual. No notes.

Animation: I can’t stress enough how beautiful the animation for this film is. Industrial Light & Magic did an excellent job with the animation and I hope to see them do another Transformers film like this again. I loved the way Iacon City was designed.

The director, Josh Cooley, said the filmmakers were inspired by the Art Deco movement and you can see it from how the buildings look. It gives off a Metropolis meets Blade Runner in the best way. I also liked the way the roads and rail tracks would “magically” appear when someone was driving on them. And the way the planet’s mountains moved was also nice to look at.

And this is something that my mom liked while she watched the film was how Alpha Trion used sand to show the past and what happened to the Primes. (Who knew Alpha Trion was an Earthbender? XD)

One touch that I really like was when after the quartet learns of Sentinel’s alliance when the Quintessons you can see D-16 is sitting further away from the others and has his back facing them. A subtle sign showing the growing distance between him and the heroes. And the way his optics gradually changed from gold, orange, and finally to red was done very well.

Also, when Orion reunited with the miners he made sure to kneel so he wasn’t towering over them. It’s a nice way that show how humble he truly is compared to Sentinel and later Megatron.

And another thing was when D-16 shot Orion his left arm got destroyed. D-16 originally ad the Megatronus Prime decal Orion gifted him at the beginning of the film on his right arm, too. It truly feels like D-16 is destroying his old self in that moment.

Did anyone else notice that Shockwave and Soundwave initially had yellow optics and visors, but they were changed to red in the post-credit scene? They must've did it to match their new leader, which I'm sure Starscream was very "happy" about since he was originally leader of the High Guard and had red optics before Megatron. XD

I didn’t expect this film to get violent, but the shot of Megatron killing Sentinel by pulling him apart was brutal. The film did not kid around with its PG rating.

Nitpicks:

If I could complain about a few things I would say that I wished the film had a slightly longer runtime. At least 10-15 more minutes in the third act. I would’ve loved to see more of the final battle with the miners fighting Sentinel’s soldiers and Optimus vs. Megatron. I did mean it when I said Hemsworth and Henry killed it as Optimus and Megatron. But hey, if their performances were that good it definitely convinced me to go see the next film with them in it.

I would’ve liked to have seen other animals on Cybertron’s surface besides those metal deer but that’s just me.

Also, this is just a me thing again, but I kinda wished the miner characters (or minors XD) had more distinct voices. It’s just that since the Generation 1 cartoon, all of the Autobots were known for having unique accents like Ironhide’s southern drawl, Wheeljack’s Brooklyn accent, or Jazz’s smooth way of speaking. I mean, if the High Guard/Decepticons were allowed to have voices based on their original counterparts the Autobots should’ve had the same thing, ya know?

And how dare they tease me with namedropping “Medic Ratchet” but not actually have him appear in the film. I want my grumpy doc-bot. And Drift. I don’t think I saw Deadlock with the High Guard. Did anyone? I think I mostly just saw Seekers and Coneheads in the crowd shots.

HC/Theories:

The reason mining Energon was so dangerous had to do with Primus himself deliberately trying to halt it as much as possible. Think about it, Primus sent the Matrix of Leadership away before Sentinel could use it. I bet Primus didn’t want Sentinel to give Energon to the Quintessons which Sentinel ended up doing by making Cybertronians mine for it. Primus also probably made the mountains move while the group was on the train because we later learn it was full of Energon and not waste like Elita initially thought. Primus has been trying to undermine Sentinel’s plans all this time but probably couldn’t do too much damage as he didn’t want to hurt innocent Cybertronians in the process. And another thing to add is the fact that it looks like the planet itself is moving after Orion was dropped by D-16/Megatron so that Primus himself would bring him to the planet’s core and bring him to life as Optimus Prime because he knew the young miner was worthy of the Matrix.

I’m pretty sure Jazz became one of the first Autobots because he wanted to show his appreciation to Optimus for saving his life earlier in the film.

I like to think the reason why B talked so much in One was probably to make up for the fact that he barely talked at all in previous TF films. Though, there is another theory going around that in the next movie, the filmmakers are planning to make him mute which is why he talks alot in One. I seriously hope that WON’T happen because I’m sick and tired of Bee losing his voice so often. I know some later shows have avoided this, namely Robots in Disguise (2015) and EarthSpark, but I would seriously love the films to follow the same example.

Overall:

I love this movie a lot. I’m pretty sure if this was my first time seeing it instead of Bumblebee (2018) I think this would’ve altered my brain chemistry as much as that film did. If you haven’t seen this movie go watch it and if you have, go see it again. I WANT this movie to do well in theaters and not be a failure. The fact that it took us this long to get a film that captures the Spark of Transformers and be something both fans and newcomers can enjoy is nothing short of a miracle. We need Hasbro and Paramount to know this and Bumblebee are the kind of content we want to keep seeing and not the same movie with “Bayhem” over and over again.

Thank you. I’m already writing another blog about this movie soon. It’s going to be about why TF: One is a better Wish movie than Wish (2023). Trust me, it’ll make sense once I post it. XD

Keep on Writin’ and Rockin’

[crocomum]

ouuu pine for g1 jazzprowl?

[ PINE ] sender resists receiver's attempts to comfort / care for them. /This is connected to Chapter 8 of my fic Star In The Sky/

Sand and clay-brown rocks flung underneath his speeding wheels and animals scurried past; all obscured by the only just lightening sky and the clouds of dust that followed Prowl’s race through the desert. As The Ark drew nearer, he transformed without breaking, forcing him to run with the carried momentum before finally slowing to a walk.

Prowl had made an offer of company to the Autobots’ newest ward, one he intended to follow through with. But that did not mean he was in any hurry to return to base, or once again be covered by the wave of mourning that had drenched the ship one week ago. Grief, regret, and even anger had continued to lap at The Ark’s copper walls in the days that followed, permeating the ships metal and soaking the residents inside.

Including one young, guarded, volatile seeker. Prowl opened his communications to inform Starscream of his return—only to pause

The outer lights of the ship had been dimmed with the coming dawn, but the shadowy figure standing by The Ark’s doors, positioned just to the side of the artificial glow, was unmistakable.

Marching forward, he said, “Jazz, yare not scheduled for quarter deck watch. Your orders were to monitor teran communications for any indicators they—”

Jazz held a servo up, explaining with a smile, “Blaster’s on it. Tried calling in a favor but he told me not to worry about it.” The mech then stepped closer, meeting the praxian halfway. They both stopped centimeters apart. Black servos reached for him, coming to rest gently over his hips. “I got other things to worry about tonight.”

Prowl did not resist the shorter mech’s hold, inappropriate as it was, but he also made no move to reciprocate. “My only concern is your recurrent need to rewrite my schedule without acquiring the appropriate—”

He was pulled forward, only stopping when his chassis bumped against Jazz’s own.

“Talk to me,” Jazz softly pressed him. “We haven’t talked all week.”

He frowned, “We have spoken at length about the possible repercussions of the Decepticons’ latest attack. Which is why I scheduled you to…” His words trailed off, finding the soft glow of Jazz’s visor uncomfortably distracting this night. As was the cautious push of an electro-field against his own, silently asking for connection. It simmered with worry and some deeper emotion Prowl had yet to acknowledge.

“You’re late, Prowler,” Jazz said as he began rubbing small circles into Prowl’s hips with his thumbs. “And with Jetfire back on tour it got me thinking…” Jazz’s grip tightened ever so slightly, field wavering with apprehension. “You’re never late.”

His spark twisted in its casing, his wings stiffening to the point of pain at his back at being reminded of the shuttle’s presence on Earth. Which was an unbefitting response from both of them, given their stations. They were the two highest ranking Autobot officers; they could not fear their enemy’s second. Prowl could not allow Jetfire to retain that much control over him. Never again.

Prowl swallowed, “Your concern is noted, and…my projections were correct. His father arrived after the ceremony had already ended.”

“You took him home?” Jazz intoned, no trace of accusations in his vocals. Prowl had assured he had no such intention when the possibility had been brought up during a meeting. Had stated he would employ the local authorities to deal with what would no doubt be an intoxicated, belligerent human.

“I took him to a hospital,” he monotoned.

Jazz hummed and resumed rubbing circles meant to soothe over black hips. “That was nice of ya.”

“I did not—”

“—I’m sure Chip woulda been happy to see his pops finally take a ride with ya.”

Prowl’s words choked in his intake and before he could properly process it, he was returning the embrace, doorwings lowering at his back. “He was inordinately concerned with the man, given their strained relationship.”

A comfortable silence stretched between them, the only sound to fill the space being the gentle thrum of car engines. The pause in conversation gave Prowl time to reorganize his thoughts and plan what he would say to Starscream once he met with the mech. And to reflect on his time spent with the one before him.

What had once been a centuries’ long indiscretion had become a millennia lasting affair.

Their relationship had not been made public for obvious command structure and fraternization regulation reasons. Both of which Jazz attempted discredit the integrity of at least once an orn, a frequency which was increasing the longer they spent on Earth. Prowl did not know the instigating factor that had caused Jazz’s shift in behavior, but the mech had become…bolder in expressing his affections for the praxian. What had once been nothing more than stolen moments in the dark, hidden behind closed doors, had become something Prowl could no longer shutter safely away. Jazz was less careful with his flirting and Prowl less stern in his reprimands, if he remembered to give one at all.

“…I should have sent an escort,” he quietly admitted.

“Coulda, woulda, shoulda,” Jazz quipped.

Prowl’s frown and narrowing optics were reflected back to him in Jazz’s visor. That response had hardly been appropriate and not what he had expected from a mech attempting to comfort him. After a short invent, he continued, “The chances of a Decepticon attack were minimal given the powerplant’s low output, but they were not zero. And with Jetfire’s unexpected return—”

A single digit pressed against his derma, silencing him. His frown deepened against it.

“I know you can think up a hundred different ways that day coulda gone. You’ll lock yourself up in that big processor of yours and get stuck in a cycle of what ifs,” Jazz vented as he removed his digit to place the servo back on Prowl’s hip. “I don’t want to lose you to the numbers, not tonight.”

“…I promised Starscream we would continue our commemoration once I returned,” Prowl informed him.

“And you will, soon as I finish recharging. Got a week’s worth of missin’ you to make up for.” Then Jazz did that thing with his visor that told Prowl exactly what it was he wanted. And Prowl’s spark was impossibly warm as he did just that, tilting his helm forward so his chevron was pressed against the front of Jazz’s helm.

His frown became a nearly imperceivable smile, though he had no worry it went unnoticed by his partner. And then, because it needed to be said, “This is weakness.”

Their fields pressed into each other, comfortingly familiar, full of unrepressed affection, and—

“Naw, mech, this is love.”

A huff that might have been a laugh left Prowl’s vocalizer, and he dimmed his optics. Love. It was an illogical emotion that caused mecha to behave recklessly. An indulgence the Autobot’s second-in-command could not afford to take. As lead tactician, love had no room in his battle computer. The considerations required to maintain such a strong passion were a literal waste of his processing power.

He had been adamant in the beginning of his encounters with Jazz that no matter how grateful he had been to the Autobot third, their relations would never be more than physical. The saboteur had accepted his imposed boundary without complaint, assuring him they would never be more than what Prowl was ready for.

Prowl hadn’t understood what the other meant at the time. Then, vorns later, Jazz had brought him a tiny piece of a broken crystal garden, stolen during one of the saboteur’s many excursions behind enemy lines.

“Perhaps,” he conceded. What came from Jazz after was unmistakably a laugh. His spark thrummed pleasantly to hear it; the sound one he had not heard for a full week.

There was nothing logical about their time spent on Earth. The immediate de-escalation of the war had been something not even he had predicted. The planet’s dominant species being one so welcoming to the Autobots had also been unexpected. As had Prowl’s life being saved by one and the bond he had formed with the human afterward. Maybe the only logical action for him to take under these unusual circumstance was to give in and embrace the organic world’s illogical nature by doing something illogical of his own.

Maybe it was time he finally admitted that Jazz was right and what he felt was indeed—

The sudden sounds of a transformation sequence startled him, and he jerked away from Jazz, certain they had been caught. His doorwings flicked high at who he saw, the mech having already transformed into his alt mode; the only one of his make within the Autobot base.

Prowl started toward the seeker, servo raised, and shouted over the roar of jet engines, “Starscream? Where are you—”

[blueikeproductions]

The first two episodes of Wild King are out on the Takara-Tomy site.

They aren’t subtitled, that might be reserved for fan subs potentially, but it’s simple enough to get the gist of it.

A big return to the toyetic roots of Transformers after EarthSpark and Cyberverse turned their nose up at it, this is a huge breath of fresh air.

The return to a proper Super Mode Optimus, in a fashion, is much welcome.

Even Megatron having a combined form evokes his Nemesis Breaker power up from Galaxy Force.

For people worried about CyberWorld also having a five minute format, Wild King uses it well to establish its lore and characters so it can smoothly get into the action.

A nice bit of character work in particular is Lightlong, who’s introduced galloping right next to Optimus suddenly as the Autobot is exploring Elementrous in Vehicle Mode.

Due to a series of comical misunderstandings caused by Lightlong, and Optimus about ready to clobber him with a tree (as he thought Lightlong was trying to attack him), Lightlong Transforms to Robot Mode and is able to explain himself. Optimus, now understanding the boy, does a cool trick with the tree before plopping it back into the ground.

This bit of characterization is already heads and shoulders above what Cyberverse and EarthSpark was doing. Lightlong, as a curious individual is already much more entertaining than the Terrans combined, the later who come across as the stereotypical, annoying way children behave, vs here where Lightlong is more smoothly integrated, and has a more sincere, energetic side, in a smaller run time.

Lightlong explains the general gist of how his world works, based on earlier press releases, and we see a shot of the tribes feuding.

It does very much evoke Beast Wars, with the green animals as the Maximals, and the red dinosaurs as Predacons, despite not being addressed as such.

We also see the missing toys we’ve yet to see in the toy line fully: a lion and rhino for the animal faction and a spinosaurus and stegosaurus for the Dinosaurs.

Because of the toys referencing Beast Wars anyway, this implies the choice of Lion evokes Lio Convoy, while the rhino evokes Rhinox like how Lightlong evokes Neo’s Longrack.

The Decepticons being Dinosaurs also evokes Beast Wars Neo, where the Predacons were primarily dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures akin to them. While a stretch, the stegosaurus may evoke Saberback from Neo, while the Spinosaur evokes Undermine from Galaxy Force, as Captain Volca evokes Megatron and Leafback Guiledart.

The animation is surprisingly more smooth than I expected with some good fight scenes. I was expecting the more limited CGI of Energon, but Energon has one thing over this: the characters mouths move when they speak.

For some reason, the robots lips don’t move, which makes the conversations somewhat creepy but Transformers Go! did this also, despite having better animation. To compensate, the robots’ optics flash bright and dim, kinda like Wheeljack’s ear fins when he speaks in G1. This optic concept is also used in the 90’s Brave series, but usually with mouthplated combiner modes.

The episode ends with Optimus able to combine with Longrack, and try to face off against the combined Megatron, though Megatron might still have the upper hand as he has Leafback along with Captain Volca. Presumably this may see Optimus and Lightlong need to recruit others to match Megatron.

The ongoing Transformers manga in Japan has a Wild King chapter.

Despite being the G1 Optimus and G1 Megatron, they too can Combine with Volca and Lightlong.

Lightlong proving why he’s my immediate favorite. That sincere, excitable anime protagonist energy.

The web show also includes a stop motion segment narrated by Lightlong where he shows the kids at home how to Transform the toys.

A particular distinction is Takara still using the Vehicle Mode and Beast Mode terminology while Hasbro uses the boring sounding Alt Mode term. (I know there’s a legal snare due to Beast Mode becoming copyrighted and it becoming a slang term for athletes and bodybuilders but still.) The distinction does make sense to highlight, since the toys’ theme is Vehicles and Beasts Combining.

Still the web anime is off to a good start, and while it’s not the heavy, sluggish, war is hell plot IDW, EarthSpark and Cyberverse (kinda) had mixed with stereotypical Tumblr bizarreness, it’s fun and weird for kids like both RiDs and Rescue Bots, and that’s more important to me than trying to appeal to an increasingly aging fan base who wouldn’t know fun in TFs if it shot them in the foot.

Hopefully CyberWorld can also deliver a fun experience for kids, to get more kids into this so Ninja Turtles and Jurassic World isn’t hogging all the attention.

[queenklu]

These are some of my favorite and most intriguing completed longfics and unqualified recs that I've read in the past few years:

I'm guessing you've probably read Pride Is Not The Word I'm Looking For by Tossawary - long long meaty SVSSS fic that asks 'what if Shang Qinghua DID interfere in the plot?' if not, you should definitely check it out! Really great at worldbuilding and at following through the logic of the world and the system and SQH's own nature, tight engaging plotting, Moshang pairing (though I would consider the romance a side plot here rather than the main thread, which follows the canon divergences SQH sets off and his -and other people's- struggles with them). archiveofourown dot org works/25997320/chapters/63206428

Less well-known svsss fic that is also excellent: Tarnished Gold by Prim-the-amazing. archiveofourown dot org /works/48752503/chapters/122981467 Another well-plotted, tightly-written character-driven what-if story: Shen Yuan transmigrates into Gongyi Xiao. What happens when Binghe crawls out of the abyss and begins his campaign to take over Huan Hua Palace? It's Binghe POV so the perspective gap between what he knows and what the reader knows as Binghe tries to puzzle out SY's behavior is really fun. It really hits that sweet spot of being unafraid to let characters be themselves, including their worst selves, but still sticks the landing in making the happy ending work. This one is Bingyuan. Also does some stuff with Huan Hua Palace internal dynamics that I really loved!

Stepping outside of SVSSS fandom: Baba by CrownofPins for Castlevania (netflix adaptation). Conveniently written after season one so you really only need the first season or basic familiarity with the concept to enjoy. I think I watched Castlevania for this fic. Very sexy ot3 UST-that-resolves, snowed-in-a-cabin-and-things-get-magical-and-mysterious story. Cosy, hot, intriguing, and with some fun whump if you're an aficionado of that kind of thing. If you liked casefic at all in the SPN fandom days, I think you will like this too. Like PINTWILF, there are a number of other smaller fics set in this universe so the fun isn't over immediately. archiveofourown dot org /works/11544798/chapters/25923672

If you want something with a historical and romantic flair, AMarguerite has written quite a few truly excellent Jane Austen longfics. It is a high bar to be able to satisfyingly write about or pastiche Austen's characters but AMarguerite clears it. If you're feeling more romantic comedy of manners, An Ever-Fixed Mark (archiveofourown dot org/series/629375) is a deconstruction of the soulmate-identifying mark trope with a bunch of fun related spinoff fics; turns out having a name appear on your wrist does not in fact make the marriage market, or finding love, any easier. If you're leaning more towards adventure and action and dragons with your romance, A Monstrous Regiment and it's sequel, A Nobler Ambition (archiveofourown dot org /series/1004649) mash up Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon universe with Elizabeth Bennet as a dragon captain in the Napoleonic wars. Full disclosure, I hadn't read any His Majesty's Dragon when I first read this and was iffy on my recollection of the Austen too. Still had a roaring good time. Some good classic battle couple action in the sequel.

Finally, if you're willing to take a walk on the scifi side with transforming robot aliens, The Echo Garden by AltraViolet (archiveofourown dot org /works/22553779/chapters/53895550) got me into a whole new fandom. This one I went into with only a broad strokes knowledge of the canons and it worked out fine. Crossover 'crackship' between the silent, spooky Decepticon lieutenant Soundwave from one version of a Transformers show, and the brash Autobot captain Rodimus from a totally different universe of a comic run. I picked this to read not knowing the source material very well because I wanted a really good character-driven 'evil guy learns to change his ways and care about others kinda despite himself ' story and boy it delivered. The ship's crew, ensemble cast, and the bonds Soundwave eventually builds with many of them is a real standout highlight of this fic, along with the romance (which is a long time coming, and slow burn when it starts to appear, but very very satisfying. Also, some surprisingly hot robot sex?) It's fun seeing them get to a place where they actually really work together. The author took the premise of 'what would it take to make these characters 1) meet, 2) see value each other, 3) fall in love, and 4) get together?' very seriously and the result is just a really thoughtfully executed story - a very satisfying example of what fanfic can do by asking 'how could this scenario or pairing happen?' and then proceeding to build a fantastic flight of imagination. This is also a pretty plotty story with lots of episodes of action and space travel worldbuilding and other events - even though it's very long, it does not drag its feet at all. There's also some fun multiversal scifi - Soundwave is not the only version of a character from an alternate reality on board. This is the phenomenal fanart that made me check it out: tumblr dot com /altraviolet/761812421416468480/wow-thank-you-so-much-for-all-these-beautiful

All of these fics are in the 100k-400k words range and complete; I hope you get a chance to check some out, and have a good time on your trip!

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!! These all look FREAKING AMAZING, thank you for directing them my way!!!

[notgonnaedit]

Given to Fly

One Shall Rise, Part 3

Summary: Martha "Marty" Thorne was a basic teenager, a little antisocial maybe. But her life changed the day she met the Autobots and joined them in their fight.

Pairing: Optimius x Teen!OFC (Platonic)

Chapter summary: Ratchet reveals some major truths.

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, Marty's worried, Mama June, I've been watching a lot of Warrior Poet Society, Dadimus (If I miss a tag LMK)

Updates are sporadic. If you want to be tagged LMK

@dreamsight73 @virtuouslux @novkosma

Master list

Marty watched the TV with a furrowed brow.

"More than sixty volcanoes are erupting worldwide, and downtown Honolulu is under six inches of snow!" A reporter stated. "Scientists continue to devise that there are connections between unprecedented natural disasters with the planetary alignment, which–"

Colorful blocks decorated the screen, accompanied by a long dial tone.

June turned to the kids. "So, who wants to play a game?"

The four kids made no sound of agreement. They stood solemnly.

"That tears it!" Fowler shouted suddenly. He stormed off towards the lift.

"Where are you going?" June asked.

"I can't just sit on my hands when the world spins out of control," the agent huffed.

"And what exactly is that you intend to do?" Ratchet challenged.

"Anything!" Fowler exclaimed. "Hook up with my boys at the Pentagon, figure out a way to bury that monster for good!"

Ratchet glared at him. "In the event Optimus can't?"

Fowler returned the look. "Don't you mean ‘Optimus and Megatron’?"

The medic sighed. "No one here is thrilled about this arrangement, Agent Fowler, myself included. But with Optimus and Megatron together again–"

Marty perked her head up. "Whoa, wait, ‘again’?"

"Megatron was an Autobot?" Raf asked.

Miko suggested the opposite. "Optimus was a 'Con?"

"No, on either count," Ratchet answered. "But, there was a time, back on Cybertron, in the twilight hours of the Golden age, when Optimus and Megatron were not sworn enemies."

The medic's expression grew distant, like he was reliving a memory.

"Do you recall when I mentioned that Optimus wasn't always a Prime? Well, he wasn't always Optimus, either. He was once a clerk, in the Iacon Hall of Records, named Orion Pax. But as he learned more about Cybertron's past, he grew increasingly concerned about the present corruption in high places, an inequality among the masses. Orion became inspired by the words and ideas of a gladiator..."

Marty stifled a gasp.

"One who had named himself after one of the thirteen original Primes: Megatronus. Megatronus vowed to challenge Cyberton's leadership and demand that all Cybertronians be treated as equals. This gladiator turned revolutionary, Megatronus rapidly gained a loyal following, Soundwave chief among them. 

"Orion began corresponding with Megatronus, who came to be something of a mentor to him. As Megatronus left the gladiatorial arena for the political, he saw fit to shorten his name. Before long, Megatron appeared before the High Council to propose his vision for a just society. And it was here that he began to reveal his true colors: Proclaiming the need to overthrow the old Guard with force and arrogantly demanding to be named the next Prime.

"But Orion did not believe in violence as a means of achieving justice. The sparks and minds of the Council were moved by Orion's words. Here, for the first time since Cybertron's Golden age, stood someone worthy of being a Prime. But that honour could only truly be achieved by earning the legendary Matrix of leadership.

"His ambitions thwarted, Megatron spitefully severed all ties with Orion and the Council, and came to wage war on all who opposed him through his growing army of followers which he named ‘Decepticons’. He vowed to claim the Matrix for himself, wherever it might lie. In time, warfare consumed Cybertron, poisoning the planet to its core. 

"Orion journeyed there, hoping to reverse the ill effects, and found himself before the very Spark of our life-giver: Primus himself. The ailing Primus sensed the innate nobility within Orion and bestowed the Matrix upon him. It was thus, that the surprised and humbled Orion Pax, came to be Optimus: The Last of the Primes."

Marty's mind whirled at the new information. It was no wonder why Optimus seemed wary when she had asked about gladiators. Megatron had been one. 

But Optimus had said she had the heart of a poet, someone more similar to what he had been. Was she doomed to become like Megatron?

"So, Optimus got a Matrix from Cybertron's core, and now he's gonna give it to Earth?" Miko summarized.

"What's to stop Megatron from just claiming the Matrix for himself this time around?" Jack questioned.

"Only his greater desire to save this planet so that he may in turn conquer it," Ratchet huffed. "As he so compellingly argued. Provided the Lord of the Decepticons can  ever be fully trusted."

The computer beeped, and the medic turned to that.

"Communication links are down as expected. But we've lost their signal," he said.

Raf gripped the railing. "Doesn't that mean..."

"Usually," Ratchet admitted. "But a more likely explanation would be the severe interference caused by these electromagnetic anomalies."

The boy furrowed his brow. "So, if we can't track them and they can't contact us..."

"How do we know they are ready for pickup?" Miko finished.

Marty shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. Ratchet was being too calm about everything. She clenched her fists inside the fabric. They brushed against something cold.

Marty grabbed onto it and pulled it into the light. It was the key to the ground bridge power supply. She rubbed her thumb over its smooth silver edges. It was beautiful. It seemed elaborate for a power supply key.

"Where did you get that?" She heard Ratchet ask.

"Optimus," she answered truthfully. "Honestly, I don't know why he give me the key to the ground-bridge power supply."

Ratchet looked at her worriedly. "Martha...  There is key to the ground-bridge."

The girl held the object up to the light. "Well then, what is this?"

"That is the key to Vector Sigma."

Marty frowned. "The what??"

"You are holding one of Cybertron's most important relics," the medic told her.

Marty stammered, holding it out for him to take it. "I shouldn't have this."

Ratchet stepped back, rejecting her. "Optimus entrusted it to you, Martha."

She ran a hand through her hair. "But that doesn't make any sense. Why? Why would he lie and say it's for the ground bridge."

Ratchet's expression became sad, as if he pitied her. "Most likely he didn't want to worry you."

Marty looked up at him, urgency filling her voice. "Why wouldn't he want to worry me, Ratchet??"

Silence.

"Answer me!"

The medic looked away sadly. "Because he doesn't plan on coming back."

Marty said nothing. She couldn't. Her tongue was dry and heavy. The relic she held in her hand became way too heavy for it's size. She blinked once. Then twice. Why was her vision blurry?

"Marty?" She heard June ask.

The girl blinked again and the world came into focus. She felt wet streams down her cheeks.

"Martha, it's okay, sweetheart," June said softly, placing her hands on the smaller girl's shoulders.

Marty sniffed, removing her glasses and wiping her eyes with her jacket sleeve. 

Then the ground rumbed.

"Earthquake!" Ratchet warned. "Take cover!" He raised his arms over the kids, sheltering them from any falling debris. An earthquake inside an underground base was not ideal.

Then, the shaking stopped. Ratchet pulled away, allowing Marty to see the screens.

"There could be aftershocks," June warned.

Marty looked up at the static. "Do you think?"

Ratchet nodded. "I do."

The static cleared, revealing four Autobot life signals. As the others cheered, Marty choked out a relieved breath. Optimus was okay.

Ratchet opened the ground bridge, and in walked three Autobots. Wait, that wasn't right.

The humans ran down the stairs to greet them. Each child walked up to their guardian, saying something to them.

But no one came up to Marty. She waited, looking into the ground bridge, hoping her guardian would come. But it closed, and she was left alone.

Dread filled her. She couldn't speak. But Ratchet could.

"And Optimus? Is he…"

"Dead?" Arcee guessed. "No."

"But he looked right at us without recognizing us. Didn't even know his own name," Bulkhead told them.

Ratchet hummed solemnly. "When Optimus surrendered the Matrix of Leadership, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes..."

Marty clutched the key in her hand.

"...He lost his own memories."

Previous

[theforestghost]

The Consort and the Warlord Final Chapter

Summary: Megatron uses the All Spark to gain access to Cybertron and demands a peace treaty. An Autobot Consort is offered and Optimus is chosen. A Bonding Ceremony takes place and now Optimus has three vorn to figure out exactly what Megatron wants to do with Cybertron.

Pairing: Optimus Prime x Megatron

Continuity: Animated

Status: Complete

Cybertron was in a panic.

Ultra Magnus had declared war on the Decepticons after releasing news of his attack at Megatron’s servos. It had been broadcasted live across all of Cybertron, including Kaon where work had come to a standstill due to rhe declaration. Whispers and anxious fields filled the streets of the old city as warframes and civillians alike feared the start of another war. 

Things had been peaceful ever since Megatron had returned. Trade routes had been established to more impoverished areas, businesses were finally settling in and merchants were starting to go off world to colonies that desperately needed help. And this had all been done thanks to the Decepticons providing resources and mech power and information that Autobots did not possess. If they started to fight again, all of it would go away– their hard work would vanish in a solar cycle. 

The civilians didn't want that! They didn't want their recovering economy and new businesses to collapse. Even if the declaration was from the Magnus himself, they wouldn't sit quietly and let it happen. Sure it had been less than a stellar cycle since the Decepticons returned, but a lot of them had gotten used to the larger neighbors. So instead of being on board like the Council expected, the Autobots were confused or outright rejected the call for war.

Also, who and where would they be fighting? Surely not in Iacon where the Council resided. Would they force recruitment like they'd done at the beginning of the war? Draft any Autobot who could move and send them put to fight for them while they stayed back and watched? While the older generation might be able to accept that, since that was how it had been, the majority of the younger generation refused to. They didn't want to fight a war they never consented to!

And no one really knew anything about this attack on Ultra Magnus. 

He appeared fine when he made a public appearance. Most who saw him said he was enraged and looked like he needed some rest but that was it. No dents or welds he'd surely have if attacked by Megatron of all mechs. 

There were also rumors going around that Optimus Prime randomly appeared at the Elite Guard building, acting as Ultra Magnus' secretary bot and following him around. But they made no sense since Optimus was Bonded to Megatron and in Kaon. Why would such rumors be spreading throughout lower Iacon right before this declaration of war? 

But no matter how much the civilians asked, the Council refused to answer. The moment the public refused to go with their declaration was the moment they became backed into a corner. Because after millions of stellar cycles of having the Autobots hang on every glyph they said and follow every choice they made, they weren't ready for a rebellion by them. And the Council room was in a panic because of it. 

"At this rate, we may have a riot at our doors." 

"How could they go against us who have protected them since ancient times?"

"We underestimated Megatron’s influence on our younger generation. We should have never have let that silver glossa of his back onto Cybertron!"

"We should've smelted him down in the mines when we had the chance!"

"A fun thought but does anybot have any ideas on how to fix our current situation?"

"I think we should question which bot is at fault for our current situation."

All optics turned to Ultra Magnus who kept his optics low. He was focused on a video feed of outside Fortress Maximus, showing the crowds of civilians demanding to hear from the Council. Not a single warframe stood amongst them, not a single purple Decepticon mark. Each protestor was an Autobot and as the camera zoomed out to show the sheer size of the crows, Ultra Magnus' anger began to be replaced with dread. 

Because despite all of the noise of the Council and the demands of the civiliians, Kaon had been quiet. No message or messenger had come from the city, no sense of panic had arisen. It was almost as if the city hadn't heard their declaration and was going about the cycle like it was any other. He knew it was impossible, but Ultra Magnus could not imagine any other reason for why Megatron had refused to respond. 

"Can't we just, destroy all of Kaon in one attack like we did in the war?"

"That required extensive planning and preparation from our front. We don't even have the Sentinels!"

"We also don't have the time! Think for a moment!"

"What if we caused damage from the inside?"

"How would we manage that?"

"Kaon has coils from before the war, we could simply overpower their grid and cause them burn out. They would explode and cause fires throughout the city."

"I doubt that would be effective."

"Then you think of something!"

"Why hasn't Megatron contacted us? Wouldn't he of all mechs have something to say about this?"

"Why don't you give him a call if you want to know so badly?"

"Do it yourself! I refuse to sink so low as to call him first."

The chatter continued. Ego against ego as the Council bickered over what to do without truly solving anything. How could these bots have held Cybertron together for so long? Ultra Magnus was starting to realize just how hopeless the situation was before him. He was trapped in a room with bots who would rather make excuses or find an easy way out then admit they made a mistake.

He'd made a mistake.

Ultra Magnus had made many mistakes; ever since Megatron returned and Optimus had been offered to him. Now he faced the reality of his choices and all he could see was that he'd been a fool. A glitched and desperate fool who clung to a mech who was never his. And he'd tried to drag the entire Autobot population into his blind desire for revenge. 

But this wasn't something one could simply apologize for and walk away. No, he wouldn't be escaping punishment for the mess he'd caused and that reality caused him to lose all desire to fight. 

He was tired.

But he needed to settle the Council and clean up the confusion brought on by their declaration of war. He had to come up with a way to get them to agree to a public apology but that was like herding scraplets, impossible on the best of cycles. However, Ultra Magnus soon found that this task was taken from him when a messenger finally did come.

A messenger from the Temple of Primus. 

They were declaring a Desine et Desine. An ancient law that allowed a third party to take the entire council and the Magnus to trial. A law that the current Council and Magnus all agreed to uphold when they swore into their positions. A law that Megatron had invoked after learning of Fortress Maximus from Optimus.

It had taken some time to get all of the documents and data together. No bot had declared Desine et Desine since the creation of the law due to it requiring a majority of the civilians to be against the Council. This was the main reason Megatron had been rejected from invoking the law before the war, because back then the warframes were a minority. But now only a small portion of bots sided with the Council and Magnus. Even Megatron had felt relief when he'd received the acceptance message from the Temple.

Now he could sit back and watch the Council and Ultra Magnus fall to the law that they had written themselves. He could watch them crumble without lifting a digit. He'd proven that he could take them down without resorting to violence or intimidation and he knew that that would eat away at them more than anything else. 

Megatron turned towards the berth where Optimus was resting, optics off as his frame healed. It would still take several more solar cycles before Optimus could undergo the reversal for his Shadow Play. His fuel pump was healing nicely but his stress and anxiety had left him exhausted in more ways than one. Ratchet had given Optimus strict berth rest and even had a stasis probe on servo in case he tried to get up. Optimus never did, finding he had no energy to do so. 

Megatron still visited his consort each cycle, opting to do his work beside him instead of in his office. Even as he watched the live feed of Iacon and spoke with the High Priest he kept a servo on Optimus'. Even in his current state, Optimus held it back, silently thanking Megatron for remaining by his side. When he was finally awake enough to speak, Megatron gave Optimus a quick run down of what was happening.

"The Council and Ultra Magnus are on probation and are all currently staying in their respective habsuites. They will each go through trials individually and then as a whole to decide their fates." Megatron explained. "Ultra Magnus gave up willingly but I've heard that some of the Council members have already attempted to flee Cybertron."

"How were they stopped?" Optimus asked.

"The Temple has their own army. They call themselves Knights and they are quite formidable opponents. The Knights are the true reason the Council could never touch the Temple." Megatron explained. 

"What will happen with the trials?" Optimus asked. 

"We are collaborating with the Temple and members of the Elite Guard who were not blinded by the Council to find the illegal activities that they partook in." Megatron said. "Shockwave used to work in the intelligence division as my spy and will be working with them again in order to find everything. We will not be able to prosecute them for their crimes against warframes in the past, but we can prosecute them for their crimes against the lower castes."

"And Ultra Magnus?" Optimus was hesitant to ask but he felt he had to know.

"He has been stripped of his title and face trial like the others. Though his actions against you will be a part of it, you don't have to go to the trial yourself. A member of the Temple can take your statement and with witness testimony and Trepan's medical logs found, we can verify your Shadow Play and the contents of it." Megatron said. 

"You found the mnemosurgeon who did this to me?" Optimus sat up a bit straighter. 

"We did." Megatron said. "To be more accurate, your cyberninja found him trying to flee Cybertron and turned him into the Temple."

"Does that mean he can do my surgery instead of Rust?" Optimus couldn't help the eagerness that burst in his field.

"Yes. He has been ordered to reverse your Shadow Play once you have healed." Megatron said. 

Optimus squeezed his servo and smiled brightly. This was the best news! He knew Rust had gotten his servos back thanks to Ratchet and that he'd already agreed to having it done, but the success rate of it being done by the original surgeon was so much higher. He couldn't help but feel relief wash over him. 

Megatron could feel his consort’s field brighten and brought Optimus' servo to his derma to kiss it. "You will be yourself again." Megatron promised him. 

"What will happen to Cybertron once the Council is gone?" Optimus asked. "I mean will you become the new leader of Cyberton?"

"Hm, that is a bit more complicated." Megatron said. "A new government will be put into place but the decision of who and how will be discussed between myself, the Temple and the civilians. At this time, I do not know what will become of the government but I do know the caste system will be removed."

"I'm glad." Optimus settled back into the berth. 

Megatron smiled down at his consort, digits interlocked as the settled down.

It was four solar cycles later that Optimus was able to undergo the reversal for his Shadow Play. Tge process went smoothly and Optimus was awake not long after. He still remembered everything that was done to him, but the emotions he'd felt towards Ultra Magnus were removed and the rewritten past fixed. Like Megatron said, Optimus didn't have to go to the trials. He'd been able to give his testimony from the safety of Kaon and with Megatron by his side. 

The process for changing Cybertron was slow. Many of the gormer Council members were acting petty and attempting to push as much blame off of themselves as possible. The only one who seemed to have no objections was Ultra Magnus who was now just Ultra. There were many who thought he was simply acting tough but anybot who saw him could see that the ex-Magnus was a mere shell of his former self. 

In Kaon, Optimus sat comfortably in his berth, waiting for Megatron to finish his call while reading over a datapad. It contained details on the trials against the former Council members so far and revealed many things that Optimus had not been aware of. He had been so absorbed in them that he hadn't noticed Megatron enter the room and sit beside him until the datapad was being plucked from his servos and put to the side.

"I was still reading that." Optimus huffed but allowed Megatron to pull him onto his lap. 

"Tomorrow, my spark." Megatron said, kissing the top of Optimus' helm. "You should rest for the night."

"Are you going to recharge too?" Optimus asked, looking up at his bonded. 

"I could be convinced." Megatron said, playfully. 

He tilted Optimus' helm and kissed him sweetly. Optimus leaned into the kiss, savoring the warmth that filled him as he did. Megatron pulled him closer as he laid back until Optimus was nestled on top of him, never once breaking the kiss. When they did finally part, Optimus hummed in delight and nuzzled against Megatron who gently traced his digits down his back kibble.

"Thank you." Optimus said, closing his optics.

"For what?" Megatron mused. 

"Everything."

"My spark, I should be the one thanking you."

[hallucinateonpaperspines]

will ch 35 come out this month or the next ?

Any spoilers🥺

I'm actually really excited about the next six-ish chapters (and not just for the sassy dialouge). They're going to mirror each other as viewpoints are divided between the Decepticons and Autobots... that's partly why it's taking so long, I'm writing two chapters at once for the events that take place, that and a combination of mental exhaustion and work (ㆆ ᴗ ㆆ)

I have no idea when it will be coming out, it is on my prority list but could be anytime between tommorow and next month.

As for spoiler content... the Shadow will finally come say hello, James's panic room revealed, and canon will face more significant alterations. I'd recommend looking at what the next four episodes would be :)

REAL SPOILER CONTENT

And just as a bonus, here are my notes for one of the upcomng chapters.

Crisscross

June is kidnapped

Jack and Arcee are baited

Airachnid is like “Where’s the girl?”

Jack is like “She dead.”

Airachnid; Angwy

MECH: side-eyeing that shit… “Take notes”

They win… YAY

Jack is a SAVAGE

Pity-me swipe phone trick doesn’t work.

He comes with a backpack of tools

This includes the lighter

MECH is actually pretty interested in recruiting once they hear he caused those burns

Jack is slowly gaining a fan club… I did not foresee this.

Interesting parallel to Ash? And the whole OP and M comparessions?

Individual who helps widen the other’s horizons is demonized for those reactions while the other is respected for doing what is required?

Will one fall into the trap and abandon morality for presumed efficancy carrying on the cycle? Vengance overriding justice?

IS THIS JUST MY HEAD?

A; Crisscross

Breakout saga

Incudes sun burn vs vitamin D

Sparkling Speak reveal???

Hello Soundy my old friend, I've come to bother you yet again

... One of my more orgnized attempts ( ಡ艸ಡ)

[lunatium2]

Astra: Echoes of the Cosmos

T1: Chapter 2

The base in which the United States government had assigned them was spacious, each of the Autobots finally had their own room after a long time and thanks to the understanding of military force, some adjustments were made for the comfort of the aliens. Astra looked at her room, the decorations that were up were mostly a strange combination of human and Cybertronian culture, music posters, some datapads with both Earthling and Cybertronian books and songs and could not miss the colored lights that run across the ceiling like stars, courtesy of Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, who visited the ase a few solar cycles ago.

"Days," she said to herself, remembering the vocabulary in which humans used to operate. Their language was interesting, it was so diverse despite living on the same planet, very unlike Cybertron where the only thing that differentiated them was their accent and customs.

Sam and Mikaela were fun, they were a somewhat strange couple but they would not hesitate to sneak her out of the base to show her the wonders of the land. Her uncles were not happy with this behavior, except Moonrace who encouraged her to explore like the seeker she was and was happy that when she returned she told her everything she had seen throughout the day. On one occasion both she and Bee took the two humans to a Drive-In, where they watched different Earthly movies. At first Astra didn't make sense of them but she was fascinated by the colors on the screen.

"It was fun," she said to Moonracer as they walked down the hallway. “The animation, the colors, is nothing like what I saw on Cybertron.”

—I'm glad you liked Astra, I can't wait to see them too. But you have to be careful, they're starting to get suspicious—she knew what her aunt was referring to, like Autobots, they were forbidden to leave the base unless there was some Decepticon attack and Astra was breaking this rule just to leave, Bumblebee had permission since he was Sam's guardian and since the little femme was the synonym for preteen, she wasn't allowed to leave unless her Carrier or her Sire accompanied her, something she knew...would never happen.

Since they arrived on Earth their creators have kept busy. Well, everyone kept busy, human technology was not the most advanced but it was useful enough to create some basic tools of Cybertron. Meetings with human leaders became more frequent and paperwork no longer seemed to be a bad joke when her Sire was tasked with making reports on every move the team made, the exhaustion seeming to equal that of overexertion on the battlefield. On the other hand, her Carrier managed to go every day to patrol the borders, she spends little time at the base as if she wanted to avoid it and Astra didn't care knowing her Carrier's suspicious behavior.

"They don't even try," she muttered as she dropped into her bunk, the desk next to her contained different gadgets for her entertainment, including her Datapad where she keeps the books that Lennox and Epps recommended toher. "They said we'll spend more time together."

The idea didn't excite him too much. She spent much of her life alone while they went to war, her relationship with her creators was almost non-existent and her father's few attempts to spend time with her failed due to any stone that crossed their path. Like Astra, she was not interested in being related to them, but like Youngling she felt the need to have affection was insane but pride did not let her throw a tantrum that her parents would surely ignore and scold her for doing so. 

He looked at her Datapad, Ratchet's message lighting up the screen.

“An energon cave was found near Diego García's facilities, you are informed that you will participate in the expedition”

Letting out a sigh she got up and got ready, she ran through the corridors to the hangar where the rest of the team was waiting. Her uncles and aunts were there with excavation materials, some humans also seemed prepared for the expedition that Astra was sure would go wrong. Her Sire looked at her with expectation and some caution, he did not seem happy with the decision that was made about her but seemed resigned to listen to his old friend.

"May Primus accompany you...Astra" he seemed to hesitate when saying that designation as if it were something unknown in his mouth.

—To you too, sir—that last word was like a dagger in her Sire's spark and for a moment Astra thought her face was contorted in pain. The little femme shook her head, that was impossible, her Sire never left her expressionless face.

The energon mine wasn't as big as she was led to believe, but the blue crystals were so big that Sideswipe seemed to drool.

"I'm in paradise," he said while digging trying. Today I will eat until I am full.

"Docbot will be angry if you do that," Arcee said as she moved a box full of energon. We need the energon to relate it, we cannot afford to waste it—he left the box in a transport vehicle—. It will only be for extreme cases. 

—That's what you say, but we all know that most of them will go to Athe——he looked at the purple femme. “Astra. It still depends on large amounts of energon to continue growing.”

Astra pouted as she remembered, consuming energon meant that she would have Elita-1 and her Sire so close that they would make her uncomfortable, it had been a long time since she had fed on low-grade energon and had not experienced something so intimate with them since that duty was taken by Chromia when she was just a Sparkling whose creators cared about nothing more than war and achieving victory.

—I'll try not to drink too much.

Moonracer hit her on the helm. “Don't even think about it, we're not going to starve you just because energon is scarce. You have to grow up to be able to do things when you grow up, isn't that what you wanted?”

Astra nodded embarrassed. She hated being reminded that she was the youngest of the entire group, she had survived several Vorns alone, she was also more independent when it came to the other bots at her age. She was already an adult, although she didn't seem like it.

I wish others saw it that way.

To her surprise, everything happened with a tranquility that greatly upset her. It was very strange that when they collected energon nothing bad happened, but taking into account that they were on Earth, she had to accept that some things would change. When they arrived at the base they were received with affection, the energon they collected was enough to last six months and it was a joy to the higher ups who still distrusted them and even though the secretary of defense seemed calmer with their presence, they knew that at some point everything would change and that came faster than they expected.

"Galloway is the most annoying human I've ever met," Astra complained, plopping down next to Mikaela, who was repairing a motorcycle. He spends all day complaining about houses we already know and is too insistent that we give him the key to the weapons.

—He sounds like an idiot.

—It is! I swear it is! But Prime says we have to put up with it since he's our liaison with the government—he rolled his eyes watching the cars go by—. He looks like an idiot every time he sees us transform and talks about us as if we were machines and not living beings. He believes that if humans get our technology they can build themselves and we are more than that.

"That's what politicians are like," Banes murmured. “They think they can do whatever they want because of the points they have, but they forget that they are just another guy.”

Things at the base did not improve, with every mission they had, Galloway appeared to lecture them as if they spoke another language and that began to annoy most of the NEST members, including the Autobots.

"I swear that if you speak to me again I will stomp on you until you turn into a wafer," Astra said as she watched the cheeky human walk away towards his helicopter. "Maybe I'll do it now," she said, pointing her cannon at the military vehicle.

"Don't even think about it," Elita scolded, Optimus at her side looking at her with some disappointment, "we can't harm humans."

—No one is going to miss him! —The Youngling pointed out—, And I'm pretty sure you've thought the same thing, you can't fool me! —none of her parents contradicted her—, See!

—Anyway, we can't damage it. The arrangement that was made with the government clearly said that we cannot open fire on the inhabitants of this planet, they would turn against us—said Optimus.

"That didn't seem to be the same as what you did on the other planets," Astra muttered, causing both her Sire and Carrier to freeze and stare at her in an unreadable manner. Bringing that topic to light was like a taboo for them, the war had been cruel and they as leaders knew that everything their little spark lived and witnessed would be difficult to forget, that made Optimus make an embarrassed face realizing that his daughter seemed to understand everything they did despite her young age.

Don't forget to follow me so you don't miss the new episodes of the series. See you in the next one!

[elfmoon3]

A Shadowy Mist Chapter 26 (Transformers Animated story)

Pairings: Prowl x Oc, Bumblebee x Oc

Summary: With Reaper joining the group, things have been mystical lately.

Location: The Autobot Hideout in Detroit.

Everyone looked at Reaper, who calmly put his katana back on his back. Sari and the recent agents looked at him with amazement. Chris scoffed, "Show off." He said, "Dude, you totally helped us with those decepticon losers." Razor said. "Yeah, but the question is, how did you know Bumblebee and Prowl were in trouble?" Ash asked. Reaper sighed as he stood up, "Some weird looking spirit told me. He looked like a samurai." He said, "Strangely enough, he didn't look human." He added. That got Prowl's attention. Could this mysterious human be talking about his sensei Yoketron? "What other features did he have?" He asked Reaper, "Kinda white with black and gold. Seems wise, too." Reaper said, Shadow Mist looked surprised, "That almost sounds like.." She said, "..Yoketron." Prowl finished for her. "You know him?" Reaper asked, "He was my sensei back on Cybertron." Prowl answered, "I see. I'm sorry for your loss." Reaper said, bowing to the Autobot. "He must've been important to you." He added. "He was." Prowl said, "I've reunited with him at the Well of the All Spark." He added, "Then that tells me you were revived." Reaper said, "Yeah, by her." Prowl said, looking at Shadow Mist. "I used two types of energon to bring him back, regular and dark. But somehow, he's showing signs of Terrorcon likeness and is stronger, faster, and more agile." Shadow Mist explained. "That and the fangs." Bumblebee said, "But like I said in the forest, you're still the same Prowl we all know and care about." He added. Prowl smiled, and he's lucky to have a caring friend like Bumblebee. "Interesting." A familiar voice said. Everyone turned around to see LockDown at the door. "Never thought a human would be at the Well of the All Spark." The Bounty Hunter said. Reaper took out his weapon and was ready to fight. But Meagan placed her hand on her shoulder and shook her head as he looked at her. "He's not a decepticon." She told him. "Ya sure?" Reaper asked. "Positive." She said as she then explained that LockDown only works for anyone who pays him. Reaper sighed and put his weapon away. "You're an interesting human." LockDown said, "Well, to be honest, I'm not really human." Reaper said, the others looked at him with confusion. "Then your a vampire like Meagan?" Ash asked. Reaper shook his head, "I'm actually a spirit." He answered. "A spirit? Like an angel?" Sari asked. "You can say that." He said, "Then how can we see you?" Spike asked. "I consist of hard light, not only it helps me interact with the physical world, but I'm not subjective to the limitations of a living person. So basically, I'm able to cross from the physical world and the spirit world." He explained, "So that veil thingy that Meagan mentioned when she told us about the origin of Halloween doesn't bother you?" Bulkhead asked, "Not at all my giant green friend." Reaper answered. "Actually, Halloween is when I'm more busy." He added. Meagan looked at them. "You see, Reaper is known as a Demon Slayer, he and his comrades fight demons who enter into the physical world. But knowing the demonics, they stay away from technology." She explained. "That includes Cybertronians." She added. "Cool!" Spike and Razor said in unison. Skull stayed quiet, and left the room. Chris took noticed of this and excused himself to go talk with the young man. "Something wrong, kid?" He asked Skull. "It's nothing, sir." He said, "Just wanted to be alone." He said as he goes out the back door. LockDown also seems to noticed the young agent's sudden behavior as he saw him leaving into the night.

Sometime later in downtown Detroit.

Skull was at BurgerBot all by himself as the server gave him his meal, she noticed something parked near the window of where his seat is. "Cool car, is it yours?" She asked him, Skull turned to look out to see a green and black muscle car, he sighs as he noticed something about the vehicle, he said yes to the server so he doesn't scare her off. "I'll take this order outside if you don't mind?" He asked. As he got to an outside table near the green and black muscle car he sighed and sat down, "you know your not fooling me." He said, the car laughed, it turned out to be LockDown in vehicle mode. "Sorry kid, but I got curious when you left, but I'm not alone." He said as Chris came by with his own order. "Look, you can say what's on your mind, kiddo. Me and the Bounty Hunter are willing to listen." He said as he sat down. Skull sighed, "Alright, I give up. When Reaper talked about demons, memories of my sister's murder came crawling back." He said. "I was 15, she was 18, but one day she disappeared, and when they found her body, it was too late for her." He explained. "No one knows how she died, but suspicious cult activity was in our area and I feared she was a victim to that activity." He said sadly. LockDown looked into what he meant and sighed, "I may be working for the decepticons when needed, but I can't help but feel sorry for you, kid." He said, "Same here." Chris said, "But what happened to her wasn't your fault, mate." He added, "You don't have to beat yourself about it." Skull looked at Chris, for a strange person, he's really kind. "I know, I just wish I did something to save her that day." He said sadly. "You know what, kid. If I were a human bounty hunter, I'd find the sickos who put your sister offline." LockDown said, "But, I don't think revenge is your style. When you finish your fuel up, I'd like to take you somewhere. If you don't mind?" LockDown asked. Chris looked at the Cybertronian dead in the windshield. "As long as I go with him." He demanded. "Sure, Chris, if you have the fuel tank for it?" LockDown said. The Australian chuckled, "Try me, mate." He answered

To be continued...

[lifetimeshipper]

The Beauty and the Predacon

Chapter 10

~~~~~~~~~~

Arcee's spark sank more and more as Predaking described the Autobots he was fighting against. She was right that one of them was Wheeljack but she didn't expect the other one to be Ultra Magnus. It's weird to think of Wheeljack and Magnus actually working together to take down their opponent but she's also happy to hear that they're getting along. With everything that's going on there doesn't need to be any unbalance in the team.

"Optimus Prime..." Megatron spoke interrupting Arcee from her thoughts, "The Autobot that attacked you and stopped you from killing the other two is Optimus Prime, he's their leader."

Predaking snarls, "Then I shall take his spark as well as the others. There will be no more Autobots left on that planet."

Those words terrified Arcee, she didn't want her teammates to be killed. She would rather sacrifice herself than let anything happen to them. But does his threat include her as well? Is he forgetting that she's an Autobot? Is she gonna be killed by the claws of her new sparkmate?

Predaking's optics widen as he looks over at her, now that he's calming down he can feel the fear emanating from her. She's afraid of him. She's afraid of the threat that he just made. He had been so furious with what the Autobots had done that he didn't even realize that his mate was in the room and hearing everything he was saying.

Megatron was having his own turmoil, as much as he would love to see Optimus torn to scrap by the Predacon, he doesn't believe he would be able to live with the thought of Optimus' spark being extinguished by another. Optimus' spark belongs to him, it's his to extinguish not Predaking's. Predaking is trying to show his superiority over him by any means. He needs to put an end to it.

After a long moment of silence, Megatron finally speaks up, "You can see to that at a later time, right now I want you to get checked and rest. If you will follow Knock Out to Med Bay he will check you over and give you some Energon."

"With all due respect, my lord. I would rather have my mate check me over," Predaking immediately speaks up, he feels more comfortable and at ease with Arcee checking him over and tending to any wounds he might have. If that Decepticon medic so much as makes a wrong move or touches him the wrong way the Decepticons will no longer have a medic.

"Very well, Arcee will tend to you and give you Energon."

Arcee expected Knock Out to put up some sort of protest but when she looked over at him she saw relief set in his face as though he was dreading having to look over Predaking then filled with great relief that he didn't have to. "Thank you, my lord." Predaking's voice brought her attention back to him. He walks over to her and she walks with him out of the room.

Arcee glances back to the others as they walk out, she still can't shake the feeling that they're up to something, especially given the sly smirks and smugness Starscream and Knock Out gave off while Predaking was talking about what happened. Did they set that up?

When they make it to Med Bay, Arcee tells Predaking to sit on the berth and he willingly does so, she takes the scanner and scans him to see if there are any unseen injuries even though she knows there aren't. "No internal damage or anything serious. Just a few scrapes and dents," she says as she puts away the scanner. She refuses to look him in the optics and he notices. She walks back over to him and looks over his armor but her optics don't get very far as Predaking gently places a claw under her chin to lift her helm and look him in the optics. When he looks into her optics he sees fear and sadness.

"Arcee, you must understand that I will never hurt you..."

Arcee gives him the meanest glare he ever saw from her as she pushes his claw away from her chin, "You will never hurt me!? You're already hurting me! You're hurting me by wanting to kill my teammates!"

Predaking snarls at her, "They killed my Predacon brethren and deserve to be punished for it!"

"They're just protecting the Earth and its inhabitants! I'm sorry for your loss but if you kill my teammates, my friends, you will be hurting me far worse than you think! You may as well kill me too!"

"That does not excuse their actions! You would know nothing about loss or how I'm feeling --"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!? YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT LOSS!? YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME!" Arcee pauses as she tries to calm herself down, "Why don't you actually try connecting with me through our bond and see what my past was like before you go assuming things about me!"

Predaking looks at her in surprise and amazement at her little outburst, the mean glare she's giving him right now should be upsetting him but it's intriguing him instead. He finds her more attractive and it's kind of turning him on. But before he could dwell on it his processor was suddenly filled with a wave of flashbacks to a past that wasn't his, it was hers. In one vision he saw a mech being slaughtered right in front of her as she pleaded for his life. Tailgate, her first partner. Then he saw a vision of another mech cut in half with purple stuff oozing out of him. She was trying to save him but to no prevail, he was gone. Cliffjumper, her second partner.

Next, he sees the whole ordeal with Starscream, how he pretty much confessed to killing Cliffjumper before doing a sneak attack which resulted in wounding Arcee. That angered him. That glitch better not try to do anything to Arcee while he's around.

He calms himself as he looks at Arcee who is still standing there quietly, "I saw it all. You do know what it feels like, I should not have assumed you didn't."

"We all suffered losses during our war."

Predaking reaches out and carefully grabs her arm to pull her closer to him, she doesn't put up a fight and lets him. He won't say he's sorry out loud but she can feel it in their bond that he's sorry and that's enough. When she looks into his optics he can see the fear is gone, the sadness is still lingering but there is no more fear.

"Let's finish the check-up so we can get out of this room," she says as she looks down at his arm. She reaches for his arm and he lifts it willingly to let her take a look at it. She can see the small markings from the katanas that Wheeljack uses but it's barely anything. She can tell the swords were hardly able to break through his armor, a Predacon's armor is a lot tougher than a regular bot's armor.

Her optics move over the rest of his body to see if she can find anything else but like she said before just scrapes and bruises. She does have to admit, he has a really nice body for a Predacon. She would even say he's sexy... Scrap the bond, he's probably hearing her thoughts right now.

Predaking leans in to get close to her audio receptor as he whispers to her, "I'm glad you like what you see." He starts kissing her down her neck as he puts his arms around her to pull her up against him. He caresses her lower back with one servo while he holds her helm with his other as he kisses and licks the bite mark he gave her.

Arcee rested her servos on his thighs as she closed her optics, she knows they shouldn't be doing this in Med Bay but she can't bring herself to stop him. She gasps when he starts nibbling at her neck and his servo slides down from her back to her aft. She really shouldn't be enjoying this, this mech not too long ago threatened to extinguish the sparks of all those she cares about. She's supposed to be hating him and moving away from his touch, but it feels so good. Primus, why does it feel so good?

"Ahem..."

Arcee pushes herself away from Predaking as she looks over at the 'Con that had just walked in on them. Knock Out was standing there with a disgusted and irritated look on his face. Predaking snarled at him, this was the second time he was interrupted.

"Med Bay is not the place for that, go to your private area and do that."

Arcee rolled her optics, "I'm done with the check-up, we're leaving."

"Good, I have work to do," he says as he walks past them, "You better not have messed with anything or damaged anything."

"Don't worry, everything's still intact."

"Don't you get an attitude with me, Autobot!" Knock Out says as he turns around and sneers at her.

"What if I do?" She bites back with a glare, "Why should I show respect to those who are holding me prisoner?"

Knock Out returns her glare as he growls, he transforms his servo into his saw blade and starts it up as he points it at her threateningly, "If you don't start showing respect I'll --" Before he could finish his sentence he was punched in the chest and thrown back into the computers behind him. He looks down at his chest as he gets back up and sees scratches, "My paint job!"

He looks up angrily but the anger soon turns into fear when he sees an enraged Predaking standing between him and Arcee, growling ferociously at him. "Make a threatening move towards my mate again and I'll do far worse than that!"

Knock Out remains silent as he scoots back trying to get as far away from the growling Predacon as he can. He watched as Predaking turned to Arcee and grabbed her servo before heading out of Med Bay. Knock Out shivered, that was close. He was very dumb to make such a move in front of him, he should have known he would protect her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1

Next Chapter

[scariusaquarius]

blood, guts, and transformers.

Chapter Nine: Complications and Unwanted Developments

Winchester! Reader

note: there is a part where a demon casts a spell, and castiel exorcizes reader. While this is NOT canon to supernatural lore/abilities, i did take inspiration from Christianity/Demonology on how one could counteract a demonic spell.

-SAM WINCHESTER'S POV-

Papers were strewn all about the conference table, notes written on each page about the video surveillance tape and the like. Sam was deep in thought, frozen as he stared at the black-eyed demon that seemed to stare right through the video camera and at him. He was confused, worried, and most of all, undoubtedly pissed off. Why would demons take Dean? Granted, it was Dean, but why would they show up to take him during the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons? Obviously, people wouldn't be paying attention to them, but the timing was too convenient for Sam's liking.

Rewinding the tape, Sam watched it once more, his chest tightening with a protective anger as he watched Dean get shoved into the van. His face was a mixture of shock, anger, and something else Sam couldn't quite recognize. Was it fear? Pain? Shutting his laptop, Sam sighed, rubbing his face. Deep down, he knew he needed to get onto getting what he had found to Will, but how is he going to keep the demon thing a secret? Tell him that the guy the demon was possessing had some sort of fixation to colored contacts? Although, it would seem plausible to a man who had no idea of the things that lurked at night.

A knocking on the door caught his attention, and William walked in, his brown eyes hopeful.

"Did you find anything?"

Sam perked up and arranged his papers, replying.

"Yeah, I did. So get this: The van was registered to a Michael Moore. When I looked him up in the system, this came up."

Sam handed the paper to Will, and Will read it to himself out loud.

"Junior Programmer with a degree in computing...has a history of violent and severe mood swings, and he grew up in an upper-class neighborhood with his mother. Apparently, his father left when he was young...and he had a fixation on colored-contacts."

Will handed the paper back, asking.

"Ok, so we have a psychopath with a sad past. Why do you think he nabbed Dean?"

Sam bit his lip before shrugging.

"Well, most psychopaths don't usually have a way they choose their victims. They just victimize whoever catches their eye. I think that maybe Michael snapped, and Dean was there at the wrong location at the wrong time."

Will hummed before glancing to the other papers.

"Well, what about the accomplices? Did you find anything on who they might be?"

"No. There isn't a clear frame with their faces on it. Michael's was the only one that thought to look around."

Will cursed before declaring, walking out.

"I'll make sure to have the guys run the plate and search for the vehicle. Good work, Sam!"

Sam huffed before running a hand through his hair. At least he bought the contact thing...but how was he going to explain this all to (Y/n)? She didn't know everything just yet, and Sam frankly didn't want to include her in the life any more than she already was. Even just telling her was bad. Sighing, Sam's shoulders slumped before he jolted at the sound of Castiel's voice, his knee hitting the table.

"Sam, I have news."

"Jesus, Castiel..."

Sam took a calming breath before leaning towards Castiel, his eyes expectant.

"What did you find out?"

Castiel looked down as he said.

"I did some digging around, and it appears that this was no random kidnapping."

"What do you mean by that?"

Castiel looked up and answered.

"One of the demons I interrogated told me that there was a plan...a plan for a new future. I presume that the demons are planning to try and take over once more, but are going to use Dean in the process."

Sam sat back in his seat, eyes wide and mouth slightly unhinged. How would Dean be used within their revolution? Entertainment? Sam looked up at Castiel.

"Did you manage to find out where he is?"

Castiel shook his head.

"All the demon said was that he was in a place The Lord of Light cannot see. It's vague, but I'm searching for every possible place that might mean."

Lord of Light...didn't Optimus say that was their creator-god, Primus? Sam blinked before saying quietly.

"I...I think I might know where Dean is...come on, we need to see Optimus."

Castiel nodded before following Sam as he walked out of the conference room.

-READER POV-

Optimus was staring down at me with his glowing blue optics, interest written on his face.

"You say that you have been having strange dreams? What, may I ask, is in those dreams?"

I fidgeted with my hair, replying.

"Well, the first dream I had, I saw these huge transformers. At least, I think that's what they were. There was thirteen of them...and they keep telling me about a destiny and to not 'stray from your path'. I don't know why I'm having them, or why they are sending me these dreams...I've dreamed of them twice now."

Optimus hummed, but Sam's eyes widened at me. He asked me, staring me down.

"Do you remember where you were in your dream?"

"Yeah, I was in this like...desert, or something."

Optimus said suddenly, giving me a concerned look.

"It would appear that the Primes are guiding you, (Y/n)."

Baby frowned deeply as Ratchet mumbled.

"Great. Just what we needed."

I glared at Ratchet, but he was too busy messing with some trinkets to notice. Baby asked, a graveness and anger in his voice that I didn't like.

"Prime, why would the whole Dynasty of Primes be guiding (Y/n)? There's gotta be more to it than because she needs to find her father."

Optimus looked distraught as he shook his head.

"I do not know, but if we continue to analyze these...premonitions, maybe we can decipher the reason they have decided to guide her."

I frowned as another moment in one of my dreams seemed to poke my brain.

"One of them said that Primus chose me...but why would he choose me? I'm not anybody important. I'm just a kid trying to find her dad."

Optimus hummed, deep in thought, before asking me.

"I do not know why. What else have you seen?"

I looked down as I scraped my brain to remember, and shook my head.

"I remember a war being waged in the desert...you were fighting some jet, and I was hearing my parents voices...and right before the dream ended, I heard my dad say 'You know how to find us. Follow your heart, (Y/n). Trust them.'"

Optimus frowned deeply as he muttered.

"Megatron...(Y/n), if what you are saying is true...then it would seem the Primes have foreseen a fate that lies within your hands."

I shook my head, exclaiming.

"But Optimus, I'm just a kid! I don't want to go out and save the world, I want to save my dad!"

Optimus looked pained, but thankfully, Uncle Sam and Castiel walked up to us, greeting us.

"Hey, is everything ok?"

I growled, glaring at Uncle Sam.

"No, I'm apparently the catalyst to the end of the world. What do you want?"

Uncle Sam gave me a worried look before saying slowly.

"We had some questions for Optimus. I think I know where Dean is...but I need to make sure that my assumption is correct."

"Have at it."

I waved my hand before sitting down, pouting. Sam Witwicky gave me a sad look before sitting down beside me, staring up at my Uncle as he asked.

"One of the...people...Castiel interrogated said something about a location where 'The Lord of Light' can't see. From what I remember, you said the name Lord of Light was just an alias for your god, Primus, right?"

"That would be correct."

Uncle Sam nodded before asking.

"You guys came from a planet...Cybertron, right?"

Optimus frowned, shaking his head.

"Yes, but Primus is Cybertron. If Dean was in a place Primus couldn't see, it wouldn't be there."

Baby looked up before asking Optimus.

"What about Unicron? Primus and Unicron may share a link, but that doesn't mean Primus would be able to detect anything that is within Unicron."

Optimus became alarmed, replying.

"That...that does make sense."

I stood up, asking as I frowned.

"Wait, who the fuck is Unicron? What would he want with my Dad?"

Optimus turned back to me and explained.

"Unicron is the brother of Primus. He is a very corrupt being, and seeks to destroy Primus and his creations."

Ironhide piped in, his optics downcast.

"The only issue with that is finding Unicron. If the femmes father is within Unicron, then there is no hope of finding him."

"No, we will be able to find her father. We must trust that Primus knows what he is doing."

"That old bag is supposed to be in an eons-long sleep, Prime. I doubt he even has a clue what's going on."

Baby replied, becoming frustrated. Optimus frowned as he turned to Baby.

"That doesn't mean that he is not aware."

Baby growled before glaring at Prime.

"Prime, you are my friend...but if Dean Winchester loses his life, I will never forgive you."

Baby then transformed, driving off, and I was left in awe and shock. I murmured, placing a hand on the plating on Optimus's arm.

"Optimus, please don't mind him. Baby is...most likely under a lot of stress right now."

Optimus gave me an appreciative look before he sighed, placing a digit to his helm.

"Thank you, but he is right. If my theory is wrong, it could very well mean the end of your creators' life...and it will be my fault."

I bit my lip as Optimus turned away and to the screen, beginning to run more scans.

"I will begin more scans for this vehicle to track where it has gone."

Looking down, I bit my lip before brushing past the boys, annoyed and upset. Walking outside, I looked both ways before shoving my hands into my pockets and walking down the street. Why did my dad have to be caught in the middle of this? If what Ironhide said is true...was it really a fruitless fight that I was fighting?

The dreams continued to tell me to follow my instinct, but what if it was wrong? Running a hand through my hair, I looked around, taking in my surroundings. I had wandered into a park, the place vacant of people. Suddenly, a surge of rage filled me, and I couldn't help but scream as I punched the tree beside me.

"Son of a bitch!"

I kicked the ground, angered, but mostly confused. My chest heaving, I sat down onto a nearby swing. Allowing myself to calm down, I glanced at my busted hand, cuts on my knuckles bleeding. However, I didn't even care anymore. My eyes began to sting, and I bit my lip. First my mother...and now my father? What did I do to deserve this fate? I sobbed quietly, my head hanging down as I covered my face with my hands. What else was there that I could do? Feeling lost, I collapsed to the ground, holding my head between my hands as I let it fall between my knees.

Why couldn't life be normal? Why couldn't I be back home in Texas, laughing with my mother and eating pie with my dad, complaining about the Texan heat...finishing off a glass of lemonade. Why couldn't I have my family back?

A honking caught my attention, and I looked up, seeing Baby slowly rolling up. His voice met my ears, his tone quiet.

"You alright, bub?"

"Do I fucking look ok to you?"

I snapped, glaring at him. He was quiet, and I instantly felt bad. I whispered, turning away.

"I'm sorry, Baby. I'm just...I'm so lost on what to do. My dad could be anywhere right now, and I just...I just want to go home."

I began to cry again, holding my knees to my chest as I did so. What was even home anymore? Was it the auto shop? Was it at N.E.S.T? Was it in the arms of my father? Or the house back in Texas? Baby sighed and whispered.

"I'm sorry, bub. I wish there was more that I could do for you, but I don't know where to even start either. Optimus...he's gonna do the best he can."

Finding comfort within his words, I nodded slowly before getting up, Baby saying.

"Come on, kid. Let's get you back and cleaned up."

Climbing into the front seat, I curled up against the window, a numbness blooming within my chest. It was like my chest had caved in, hollowing out and leaving nothing but an empty cage of bone and dead muscle. Baby was silent as we rolled back to N.E.S.T, sinking down into my seat when people and Autobots alike looked at me. When Baby came to a stop, I jumped out, immediately walking towards a quiet and dark part of the facility.

In my heart, I wanted to be alone...I wanted to just forget about everything...and wait for it all to end. However, deep down, I knew that I wasn't going to be able to. Whatever was guiding me, whether the Primes or Primus himself, wasn't going to let me sit on the sidelines. I was in the middle of this damn war, and I was going to have to fight it whether I liked it or not.

And I definitely didn't like it.

As I slid down the wall, hugging my knees to my chest, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Even in the back of my mind, even behind closed eyes, I could still see my father. His green eyes staring on at me, expecting...waiting. It made me shake my head and open my eyes, trying to shake the images. A hand on my shoulder made me gasp, and Sam Witwicky jumped himself.

"God, sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you!"

I glanced up at him, furrowing my brow as I pursed my lips. Sam's eyes widened slightly before he cleared his throat, sitting down beside me. Curious, I waited for what he was going to say, refusing to look at him. As if sensing that I was listening, Sam said quietly.

"I know what if feels like, (Y/n). I don't know how it feels to lose a parent...but I know what the weight of responsibility feels like. I know...I know it's a road that you can't go down alone, or it'll kill you."

Sam's hand carefully rest itself on my hand, and I glanced at him as he smiled softly.

"You're a strong person, (Y/n)...but I know that you can't do this alone. You can talk to me, you know that, right?"

I stared at him before sighing, laying my head on my arm. I replied.

"I just...I don't know what to do. I'm lost. My dad is out there, but it's like the universe is trying to steer me from him."

Sam was quiet as he thought, and he offered.

"Maybe you'll find him along the way?"

It was plausible. There was, indeed, a possibility of me finding my father on my 'journey to my destiny', but Ironhide had made it seem like it would be downright impossible to get close to him. That is, if he was truly inside this Unicron guy.

"But Ironhide made it seem like it would be impossible. Hell, even Baby said something along the lines of that. How can I know for sure that this isn't for nothing?"

Sam shook his head, his brown eyes trained on me like a hawk.

"Even if you come up empty, I think the most important thing is that you at least tried."

I gazed at him before sighing, muttering.

"I don't want to save the world, Sam. I don't want to do what you did. I don't want to be the person who determines which side wins. I just...I just want my dad back..I just want to go home."

Tears stung my eyes, and Sam sighed sadly.

"I know. All of this is still freaking me out, honestly, but..but if I was in your shoes, I would do what I think is right. I mean, if I had to, I would fight. I would fight until the very end because that's what is being asked of me."

I blinked and bit my lip, looking away.

"There's nothing I can think of that ensures that this ends well."

Sam countered.

"But at least you would have tried, right?"

I glanced at Sam before my shoulders slumped in defeat. Sam's argument was very valid. The most important thing about this whole ordeal would have been the fact that I at least tried. For months, I sat on my ass in my auto shop, wallowing in my self-pity as I mourned for my parents. Obviously, it didn't do me good. After doing something...results started to show up. Plus, my father would appreciate me at least trying...right? I nodded finally.

"Yeah...Yeah, I guess you're right."

Sam smiled at me, and I hesitantly held his hand back, whispering.

"Thank you, you know...for putting up with my bullshit."

Sam chuckled and nudged my shoulder with his.

"Bullshit or not, you're still my friend."

Sam was quiet before he added quietly.

"You don't have to hide behind that tough girl act with me, okay? I know how hard it is right now for you, and I hate that I can't help you any more than I already am, but you always have a friend in me."

I laid my head on his shoulder, thanking him quietly.

"Thank you, Sam...but this tough girl is who I am. It's just that everybody has a breaking point."

Sam chuckled as he laid his head against mine, and I closed my eyes, feeling the stress, anxiety, and fear slowly disperse from within me. Even though I had Will, my uncles, Epps, and Baby...I was glad that I had a human friend that could empathize with me. The calming atmosphere was broken when Sam's phone began to ring, and he groaned before grabbing it, flipping it open.

"Yeah...what? No, no...I'll be right there."

Hanging up, Sam informed me as he stood up. Sam suddenly jolted as if remembering something. Pulling my phone from his back pocket, he held it out for me.

"I..was holding onto this for you. I found it on one the tables next to Bee's station and decided to hold it for you...you know, just so no one would steal it, or something.

Taking the phone from his hand, Sam smiled before declaring.

"I have to go back to campus, but my number is in your phone. If you need me, just text me, okay?"

I frowned, looking up at him as I asked.

"Wait, how is your number in my phone? I don't remember putting it in."

Sam's cheeks turned pink as he stuttered, falling back into that awkward boy he was.

"W-Well, I, um...I put in it when you were gone. For emergency purposes! Or like, just to talk, if you want to. Cause...cause talking is cool!"

I snickered and rubbed my face.

"Sam, get out."

Sam's head ducked as he turned, saying.

"Right, sorry. See you later, (Y/n)."

"Don't run into any Decepticon strangers."

Sam's head spun, his eyes glaring at me, and I shrugged, smiling at him. Sam rolled his eyes before disappearing around the corner, and I relaxed once more. Alone with my thoughts again, I couldn't help but think about Sam. He had been nothing but nice to me, and yet, I still found it hard to completely trust him.

Opening up to him just now...it had come so naturally to me, despite the hesitance I had felt beforehand. What was it about Sam that made me feel so...at ease? Was it because we had so much in common? Was it because he continuously reassured me that it would be ok...and that he would be there for me when I needed him? I shook my head, running a hand through my hair.

I found it hard to want to trust Sam completely. Even though he was sincere with his words, everyone I ever needed ended up leaving me at some point. My uncles, my parents...hell, even my grandpa Bobby. What made Sam any different? I chewed on my nail as I became anxious again. There were so many things about Sam that made me inclined to trust him. His jokes, his sincerity, and his compassion...Sam's willingness to help me find my father. It was so strange to find someone who was legitimately good.

Sure, William was good, and so was Epps, but they had become father-figures to me...not a friend that I could confide in like Sam, who was my age and in the same boat as me. Biting my lip, I laid my head against my arms again and allowed the silence to calm my racing heart down. Footsteps caught my attention, and I immediately became alert, staring down the corridor and the corner. A shadow was cast against the wall, and I frowned deeply as I silently moved farther into the boiler room, hiding behind a couple pipes to conceal and camouflage myself in the darkness.

Why was I getting so worked up? Was it because of the alarm bells ringing within my head, and a chilling electricity running down my spine? As the person rounded the corner, I held my breath, noting it was one of the soldiers of nest...someone I did not recognize. He was walking with purpose, as if he had a mission, and I noticed that he was trying to be quiet. What was this guy doing? When he got into the boiler room, he paused, sniffing the air and glancing around. His eyes washed over to my area, and I froze. He stared at the darkness I was cloaked within, as if thinking, before shaking his head, walking away. When I rendered the area clear, I took a deep breath. What the fuck was that?

Silently coming out of my hiding spot, I silently walked out, my heart racing, and I got the sudden feeling something was behind me. Turning, I widened my eyes when I spied the man, his fist coming down upon my face, black spots entering my vision as I fell. His feet approached my eyes, and I looked up at him, his eyes flicking black. He smirked and whispered, the man's fingers brushing hair out of my eyes.

"Sh, go to sleep, (Y/n). You'll see your father soon."

-SAM WINCHESTER POV-

His senses were telling him something was wrong, but Sam couldn't figure out what. Castiel was staring at Sam, as if sensing his worry, and asked.

"You're worried. What is on your mind?"

"Where is (Y/n)?"

Sam didn't mean to sound so demanding, but his muscles were tense, the back of his mind screaming at him to check up on (Y/n). Castiel frowned before replying.

"She went to the boiler room to calm down...why do you ask?"

"Something's wrong. We need to get there, now."

Castiel blinked before nodding, pulling Sam along before flying them to the boiler room. Sam was startled to see a soldier of N.E.S.T standing over (Y/n), her body lying upon the floor in a crumpled heap. The man paused his chanting, turning to look back at Sam and Castiel, and his eyes flicked black.

Demon.

Sam immediately grabbed his gun, but Castiel had already flung himself forward, his eyes and outstretched hand glowing brightly as they slammed against the demon's face, a glow emitting from the demon's eyes and mouth before he crumpled as well. Sam widened his eyes in shock, not having expected Castiel to act so quickly, but Sam shook his head before running over to (Y/n), who was knocked out. Sam glanced at Castiel as Castiel gently put his hand upon her forehead.

"She's alright. The demon wasn't able to finish his spell, so she'll be alright."

Sam sighed in relief. Though, he instantly became worried.

"What the hell was he chanting?"

Castiel shook his head, frowning deeply.

"I believe it was a brainwashing spell...though, I don't feel anything has changed with (Y/n)."

"He was still chanting...do you think he tried anything else?"

Castiel paused, closing his eyes for a moment, before muttering.

"I can sense traces of a faint manipulation spell...and a temporary sleeping spell as well...I can counteract the effects of both, and any beginning effects of the brainwashing spell, by cleansing her soul."

Sam nodded, and Castiel murmured.

"I'm going to need water...a bath, preferably."

Sam cursed. Where the hell were they going to find a bath? Maybe the place (Y/n) had been staying at might have one. Grabbing her phone, Sam slipped it into his pocket before picking the girl up. Sam declared.

"We're going to where she was staying. You know where that is, right?"

Castiel nodded, and teleported the two of them into Winchester Automotive. Sam gawked, not realizing that this was what (Y/n) had been calling home for the past couple of months, before shaking his head. Jogging to the huge basin that was in the back of the room, he placed (Y/n) upon the ground before running the water, plugging the drain. Castiel appeared, handing a cross to Sam, and Sam nodded before blessing the water, dropping the rosary in.

"Exorcizo te, creatura aquae. In nomine dei patris omnipotentis et in virtute spiritus sancti. Amen."

Castiel took his trench coat off, as well as his suit jacket, and rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up to his elbows. Gently picking up the girl, Castiel placed her inside the water, humming quietly. Sam recognized the language to be Enochian and bit his lip as he watched. Castiel's eyes began to glow blue as he dipped her beneath the water, as if he was baptizing her. When she came up, (Y/n) started to scream, her skin smoking...as if she was possessed. Sam's eyes widened, and Castiel struggled to hold her within the water.

"Sam! Hold her down!"

"What's happening?"

Castiel replied as Sam began helping him, holding her within the water.

"The spells...they're slowly being exorcised from her. Since they were cast by a demon, the spells were demonic in nature. The spells are being cleansed."

After a moment, the smoking stopped, and (Y/n) calmed down, panting in pain. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, muttering.

"What...what the fuck happened?"

Castiel answered.

"You were attacked by a demon, and he cast some spells on you. I had to cleanse them from you before they did any damage."

(Y/n) stared at Castiel before asking as he picked her up out of the water, Sam wrapping a towel around her shoulders.

"Why? Why did he come at me like that?"

Sam frowned as he said.

"I don't know...but we're going to get to the bottom of it. In the meanwhile, you're going to need to be careful...and start carrying around a spray bottle of holy water. At least, for now."

Nodding, (Y/n) shivered before asking quietly.

"How did you find me...did you use your angel stuff?"

Castiel chuckled as she ducked her head, running a hand through her soaking hair.

"Yes, I did. It was the fastest way that I would have been able to find you. Since you do not have the Enochian sigils imprinted onto you, finding you was easy."

"Enochian sigils? What are those?"

Castiel glanced at Sam, and Sam shifted from one foot to the other.

"We'll teach you about all of this sometime, alright? For now, let's get you dried off and back to N.E.S.T."

Castiel nodded, and snapped his fingers, the water from (Y/n)'s body gone. She was startled, grabbing her dry hair and then whipping her wide eyes to Castiel. Sam couldn't help but chuckle as (Y/n) declared.

"Be my angelic blow-dryer, Castiel."

Castiel frowned before shaking his head, smiling slightly.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy, (Y/n)."

She pouted before he snapped his fingers once more, the three of them arriving in Will's office. (Y/n), not used to Castiel's flying, stumbled as she held onto Sam for support, snapping.

"Geez, Cas! Warn someone before zapping them, would you?"

Castiel gave an apologetic wince.

"My apologies. I'm used to teleporting with Sam and Dean so much that I forgot you have never experienced it before."

Sam grinned as (Y/n) grumbled. Before anybody could move, a ringing within Sam's pocket sounded, and (Y/n) recognized it to be her phone.

-READER POV-

Taking my phone from Sam, I answered the call with a tired voice, asking.

"Hello?"

"(Y/n), I need your help."

Hearing the young Witwicky's distraught voice, I frowned and asked.

"What's wrong?"

Sam stumbled over his words before finally getting a sentence out.

"I...I'm seeing some really weird stuff ok? Like, cybertronian stuff. Look, I don't know who else to talk to about this. Can you come over? Please?"

Frowning deeply, I replied.

"I'll be there in a moment. You're still at the college, right?"

"Yes. God, I'm sorry, but please hurry."

I nodded, walking inside.

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Yes, please. I'm freaking out."

"Alright, alright. Calm down. I'm getting into Baby right now, alright? We're leaving right now.

Hanging up, I tapped the hood.

"We're going to Bee's location. Sam needs our help."

Baby grumbled as he moved his tires against the ground, as if stretching. Uncle Sam and Castiel asked, concern in their eyes.

"Is everything ok? Are you even sure you want to leave? You literally just got healed from being cursed."

I glared at my uncle.

"Don't ask stupid questions, Uncle Sam."

Getting in, Baby took off, his tires screeching within the night. As we drove, I couldn't help but shake my leg. Baby asked.

"What's the deal with Witwicky?"

"He's hallucinating. I don't know. I'm gonna find out."

Baby hummed in thought, revving the engine as he went faster, whipping through the night-time traffic. As we arrived at the college campus, Sam was pacing back and forth in front of Bee's alt mode, biting his fingers. When he heard the Impala's engine, he perked up before sighing in relief. As Baby parked, I got out, Sam running to my side of the vehicle. Grabbing my hand, he began to drag me into the campus.

"Thank god. I need to show you this."

"Whoah, hey, slow your roll for a minute, Witwicky. What the fuck is going on?"

"I...I can't explain it. I have to show you."

Arriving at his dorm room, Sam slammed the door open before pulling me in. I stumbled slightly, becoming annoyed with his pushiness, and Sam grabbed a piece of paper.

"I was at a party, ok? And..and I started to see these symbols...like..like visions, or something."

Sam began to write the symbols at a high speed, his body convulsing and eyes fluttering as he did so. I became alarmed, eyes widening as he started to speak nonsense, and I turned him towards me. Once he was turned to me, I slapped him as hard as I could.

"Snap out of it, Vision Kid!"

Sam gasped before holding his hands out in front of him. 

"Don't freak out."

"I'm gonna freak out after....whatever the fuck that just was."

Sam blinked before his eyes widened in realization.

"Oh no...see! That's what happened!"

I gave him a concerned look and asked.

"Ok, so...let's think back. Did you do anything that might have caused this?"

Sam shook his head, running a hand through his hair.

"No, I don't know what's going on."

The door suddenly opened, and a boy walked in, hissing.

"What the fuck was that-Oh, I didn't know you were trying to get laid, dude! She's a score!"

I growled before asking.

"Who the fuck you calling a 'score', you fucking prick?"

"Fiesty too! Man, you really landed the jackpot!"

Sam began to freak out, and I snarled.

"You're about to land a jackpot if you say one more word."

"Really? Dude, Sam...you gotta pull one for the team."

Glaring at Sam, I reared my fist back before punching the kid in the face. The boy spun and dropped, and Sam gasped.

"Oh my god, (Y/n)! You...you can't just punch people!"

"Why not? He was being a goddamn asshole!"

Sam rubbed his face before dragging the kid into the room and shutting the door.

"He's my roommate...and his name is Leo."

"Well, Leo, my dear, is a fucking jackass."

Sam winced and muttered.

"I tried to get a different room, I promise."

Shaking my head, I replied.

"I'll keep him quiet. Every time he wakes up...I'll knock him right back out. Problem solved."

"No! No, we are not resorting to violence no matter how much we want to! We need to...we need to focus on the issue at hand."

Grumbling about him being a party pooper, I sat down on Sam's bed, crossing my arms.

"Alright, so what do you want to do?"

Sam stumbled around the room as he hid the symbols, muttering to himself before taking a deep breath and turning to me.

"I don't know. I...I really don't know what to do. This has completely freaked me out."

Biting my lip, I shrugged.

"I mean, I can stay with you for the night? Watch you to make sure you don't go crazy on me during the night?"

Sam's eyes widened and he asked, tilting his head.

"Wait, like here? Like in here? Stay with me...like-"

"-I'm not sleeping with you, Sam. Jesus Christ, get a grip."

He blushed and shook his head, waving his hands.

"That's not what I was saying! I mean, it kind of was, but not like that! I mean, having you in my bed would be weird! Not that you're weird, I mean I'm weird."

Sam stopped, smacking his face with his palm, and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

"Sam, do me a favor: Shut up."

Sam nodded, humming.

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

Settling myself onto the floor, I ordered.

"It's like ten, and I'm pretty sure you have class in the morning. So, get your ass to bed. I'll watch over you, ok?"

Sam bit his lip and nodded, slipping onto the mattress.

"Thank you, (Y/n)."

"Shut up."

I paused before grinning at him.

"You're welcome, kid. Now seriously; go to sleep before I make you."

Sam huffed before turning over, muttering about me being bossy. Grabbing my phone, I sent a text to my Uncle.

'I'm over at Sam's dorm. I'm going to stay with him through the night, and make sure the hallucinations don't come back. Gonna get to the bottom of it soon.'

'Please, be careful, alright? If this is something supernatural, let me know the moment you know.'

'I will. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight, sweetheart.'

Sighing, I let my head fall back against the wall, and Leo groaned, looking up. His eyes washed over to me, and he asked.

"Whoa, you're still here, babe? Let me guess, Sam didn't pass your tests?"

Snarling, I glared at the boy, tensing as I got ready for another uppercut if he kept talking.

"You keep talking, and I'll make sure you never pass any 'tests' in your fucking lifetime. Shut the fuck up before I put your ass to sleep again."

Sam piped up.

"I'd do what she says, Leo. She's a woman of her word."

Leo's eyes widened before he ducked, jumping into this bed and muttering to himself. However, I wasn't able to hear him. I guess it was for the best that I didn't. When both boys began to snore, I began to doze, my head falling to rest against the wall. Strangely enough, I began to have my own vision.

The place that I was in was dark, but I could make out the bodies of the primes, all seeming to be crowding around something. The distinct smell of sandstone met my nose, and I wondered if I was in a desert area. As I ducked beneath one of their arms as they moved, I glanced at the one in the middle, his hand open and holding something.

They didn't seem to notice my presence, and I briefly wondered if this was a memory. As I walked towards the one with his outstretched hand, I moved up onto my tip-toes to get a closer look. However, the one holding the object spun his gaze to me, and I gasped before a flash of light crossed my eyes.

When the flash disappeared, I was in a different location. This time, I seemed to be in a building, the walls looking suspiciously like N.E.S.T's. In the middle of the room was a cylindrical tube, a...shard of something within the glass confinements. Strangely, I felt a pull to the shard.

As I stepped towards the glass tube, cracks appeared onto the tube before it shattered, frightening me. Standing still for a moment, I glanced down at the glass before looking at the shard. As if it called to me, I walked to it, and hesitantly held my hand up to it. Biting my lip, I grabbed it, holding it within my palm.

However, after doing so, the shard began to melt within my hand. Pain erupted through my whole arm as the melted metal began to seep into my skin, causing an iridescent blue to show up within my veins. Gasping, I screamed, trying to get the metal off before anymore seeped in.

My effort was futile, however, as the rest of the liquid seeped into my body, and I collapsed, the pain overwhelming. What was happening? Why was this happening to me? What was going on? As I convulsed on the floor, I glanced into the shiny steel of the tube that shard was being held in, and was greeted with glowing blue eyes. Screaming, I covered my eyes.

Gasping, I jolted awake, panting in fear. Looking around, I noticed I was still in Sam's room. Glancing at the clock on Leo's desk, I read it to be 3:10 am, and sucked in as much air as I could. Calming my racing heart, I leaned forward, running a hand through my hair. Whatever that dream was...it was really unpleasant, and I was deeply unsettled. Sam shifted, and I glanced at him, hoping my freak-out session hadn't awakened him. Turning over, Sam simply began to snore again, and I deeply sighed.

Whatever that dream was...it definitely did not seem good. If that was something the Primes had forseen...then I was definitely going to have to avoid going down any road that involved me touching...whatever the fuck that was. What was even happening to me in the dream? It was like I was being infected with something...like a disease. Shaking my head, I leaned back against the wall and rubbed my eyes. There was no way I was going to sleep again tonight. glancing down at my phone, I began to play some games until the sun rose again.

-NO ONES POV-

Far in the stars, in the dying planet of Cybertron, red eyes watched carefully as his apprentice took care of the hatchlings, trying to keep the creations alive. However, with a dying planet, how could they ever hope to survive? After Megatron's failure to retrieve the Cube, his hopes of building an army were thwarted, and he was reduced to using archaic ways of creating. However, knowing that there was one method the universe offered him, it was only a matter of gaining his own strength in order to retrieve it.

Perhaps he could rely on his newly resurrected disciple Megatron to retrieve the Matrix, the Boy, and as well as the Ancestor of All Spirits. With the power the Ancestor possessed, and the knowledge within the child's mind, he could use the combination of both knowledge and power to create a new army that could rival the power of Unicron and Primus combined.

Yes. He would wield both the Matrix and the Ancestor of All Spirits, as well as the knowledge of the Cube, to show his brothers that he was the true wielder of both the Matrix and the Ancestor. He would make Cybertron a mighty empire once again. Megatron greeted him, saying wistfully.

"My master, I have failed you on Earth. The Allspark is destroyed, and without it, our race will perish."

The Elder Decepticon simply hummed.

"You have much to learn, my disciple. The Cube was merely a vessel. Its power, its knowledge, can never be destroyed. It can only transform."

Megatron's optics frowned slightly.

"How is that possible?"

The Fallen answered.

"It has been absorbed by the human child. The key to saving our race now lies within his mind."

Megatron growled.

"Well, then let me strip the flesh from his very body!"

"And you will, my apprentice, in time. For millennia, I have dreamed my return to that wretched planet, where I too was betrayed by the Primes I called my brothers. Only a prime can defeat me, and now, only one remains."

Megatron stated, connecting the dots quickly.

"Optimus; He protects the boy."

"Then the boy will lead us to him, and revenge will be ours."

"Yes..."

The Fallen added, however.

"But it is not only the boy that will help us save our race."

Megatron blinked, asking.

"What else is there?"

The Fallen's eyes glowed brighter with desire as he answered menacingly.

"The Ancestor of All Spirits."

"Primus?"

The Fallen shook his head.

"No, my disciple. His power personified. With the power the Ancestor possesses, not only would we be able to restore our race, but we would be able to restore Cybertron as well. We would begin a new era of reign, and revenge would be ours."

Megatron was in awe. In his years of living, he had never heard of such a thing before. Although, he had never been one to read much.

"I still have much to learn about this Ancestor."

"And I will teach you, my apprentice."

Megatron nodded, and Starscream flew in, praising.

"The Fallen shall rise again, and the Ancestor of All Spirits will be no more!"

The Fallen chuckled, appreciative of Starscream's hails, and The Fallen began to speak of the history of the Ancestor.

Chapter Ten

[agentsquirrelsgotrobots]

In Transformers Prime, Ratchet and Optimus find a warship infected with plague.

What if the Decepticons found it first?

One last day of mourning

It didn't feel real.

It happened so fast.

One raids' worth of infected energon, and it was all over.

Raf, Miko, and Jack stood a ways away from the excavation site, the stone caskets being moved by a specially built crane.

Raf had learned cybertronian.

He didn't think he would have to scour their databases for what a grave should look like.

It was a simple arrangement.

Optimus in the center, Ratchet and Bumblebee to his left, Boulder and Arcee to his right, all on a diagonal so you can see all five caskets no matter where you where in the room.

They had gotten two calls after. Apparently, Optimus had stashed two sets of cybertronian civilians across the country, and unfortunately, they had also drunk the tainted energon.

The two children, sparklings, died hours after ingesting it in their sleep, while the four bots in Maine were still on their deathbed, Fowler shipping what supplies they had to ease their suffering.

Four weeks later, the four of them were attending yet another funeral, the whole tiny town trimmed in black. They had allies in their hurt. A home base.

They were going to finish the fight that the Autobots started.

Even if they had to fight dirty.

"Graham! I got it!" Raf shouted.

"What did you find in their databases?"

"Files on a rejected bio weapon,called the red rust plague. It includes formulas, treatments, and an aerosol based deployment method. It eats metal but can be neutralized easily. Perfect for tearing away Decepticon defenses. But first, synthesizing it. Then, we will have a second problem."

"What?" Graham said. "Expensive ingredients, toxic materials?"

"No. Their head of communications, Soundwave. We need to kill him before we even think of launching the bio weapon. I have fought him before, and he has a weak point, but you might not like it."

"What is it?"

"Lazerbeak, his symbiote. I can hack her and plant a virus that will cause him to have a seizure. While he is down, we kill him, kill Lazerbeak, and spray any bots that investigate with the rust. It takes a few days for symptoms to show up, but once it does, they won't be able to transform without activating the infection."

Graham steeled himself, remembering the feeling of a delirious, dying Boulder begging for him to stay close, to not let him die alone, forgetting that Graham was in his hands, that he was holding Graham like you would a newborn, that he wouldn't die alone. All of his teammates had died weeks before. He was the last rescue bot alive, and wasn't cognizant enough to know that he wasn't going to leave this life alone.

"So, how will we kill them?"

"I have a virus that will take out both of them. Once they are down, we will strike the killing blow with an axe."

Graham sighed. "Whatever it takes?"

Raf nodded. "Whatever it takes."

The plan went off without a hitch, and they exposed fifteen seekers to the plague.

Those fifteen spread it like wildfire through the wash racks, barracks, and finally, the medbay. Once Knockout got infected, it became an unavoidable epidemic.

The ship crashed harmlessly in the Texan desert, and with a volley of missile strikes and planted explosives, the ship was turned into a fine dust, collected and buried in thick plastic vats and sealed in concrete.

The day after the Nemesis was destroyed, all of the Autobots' human allies gathered back at the firehouse.

It was a somber but still joyful affair, swapping stories and looking at photos together.

One last day before they returned to normal life, and laid this chapter of their lives to rest.

One last day of mourning.