LC Life in Increments

One Hour Later: Most humans were blind, Cyclonus understood.  So while Nightbird tapped into the U.S. military’s systems, misdirecting their forces, he was able to slip past them and others to locate his target…

“…Welcome back, beloved,” Megatron smiled down as Lori opened her eyes.  Her ‘essence’ had been gone for approximately an hour while she and her twin had switched forms for the birth of the Autobot twins, and even Soundwave was relieved that the maneuver was successful. “I’ll assume our would-be past has been successfully deleted.”

“Dark no longer has a stranglehold on it,” she gazed over his shoulder as the door opened, her expression shadowed as the rest turned. “That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a cake walk—“Starscream and Skywarp drew their weapons, but she walked between and lowered them, confronting their ‘intruder’. “Where are the others?”

“Manning the perimeter—we were sent to retrieve you, by force,” he said, his hand smoothly fingering his weapon, “If necessary.”

“I can’t do that—I made a deal long ago with Megatron—an exchange—life for a life,” Lori was sure Blackthorn told the team—she didn’t understand why her fellow operative was there. “My order to Blackthorn when Josie was returned was to let this go.”

Below, Detcon, Nightbird and Scourge had clear shots of all the Decepticons save Megatron, because Shadoshard had put herself between the leader and Cyclonus—intentionally, knowing it was procedure to target from covert positions.

“Blackthorn gave us the coordinates, requesting we stand by for further orders from him—presumably concerning the requirement of the Tri-Gate,” the mech answered, as Starscream heard whispers, surprised to realize—his Unicron and the Unicron of the future, were conversing, with Cyclonus as a conduit!

“But that was dealt with—Cyclonus, you should have contacted—“

Cyclonus stepped before Lori, gingerly caressing her cheek with the back of his hand as his eyes began to glow. “Cyclonus no longer answers to Blackthorn,” the voice was soft, deep—so deep, the woman looked like she would have fallen into him, had Vierge not grabbed her hand, feeling that immutable pull herself, gasping at the touch of a cosmic presence, forced to anchor to Soundwave because once again, he spoke, “I became the moment the Tri-Gate accepted their fate as such, during that pivotal point where time and space were the same; when Cybertronians stepped through, when the children of the future arrived. I am the Unicron of THAT future to come,” the fact confirmed by Soundwave, “There are elements to that future I WILL see to fruition.  And for that end,” it was announced, as they all stood transfixed, “As long as humans co-exist with Decepticons, Cyclonus shall be tasked as I command, because Cyclonus and his cadre--now serve me…”
***
Hour Two: Natalie was kneeling on the floor, trying to swim out of the darkness born of two different realities; life and death.

When the dream of a past that COULD have been enveloped them all, Rumble had been at her door, begging her to forgive him for tricking her, bringing her into the lair of her enemies—the Decepticons…!

“…It was gettin’ dangerous, Nat!  Them babies were bein’ born, and Soundwave says they’re all gonna be targets for what all attacked us at the base there—I told ya I ain’t risking ya sweets—‘sides, Lori’s here—“

And then, the memories hit…

Long before the Tri-Gate opened, Natalie had found Rumble; he’d been apprehended by followers of Dark and practically gutted.  Feeling pity, she dragged him from the gutter as he sputtered, choking on his own mech fluid, but still on line enough to explain to her how to get him functioning—though it took time—in time it took for the Tri-Gate to get to Canada, they fell in love.

Rumble had scanned the woman and knew about the cancer, and as she repaired him, he altered his own nanites to repair HER when he was stronger.

Rumble became stronger.

And when he did, Natalie—didn’t, because he had not been able to see to her soon enough…

“…Nat—sweets—“Rumble on-lined from the dream two hours later, pulling himself to his feet.  She didn’t answer his calling, but he could hear her whimpering from behind the door.  And he knew—she had the same vision HE had. “Aw sweets—“he opened his wrist compartment, and then the access panel on the wall. “Know I promised ta not do this, but—“the door slid open with a whisper, and there Rumble spied his love, huddled in a corner, tears staining her cheeks.  The room had been completely dark, so when the light hit her, she let out a mournful wail, “Noooo—I’m not ready—don’t make me go--I want Rumble!”

She thought—Rumble knew, she thought she was DEAD, and that the light from the hall was the Well of Sparks!

“Aw sweets, you ain’t gone, me neither—the babies got born,” he said, kneeling down before the human, cautiously reaching out, praying he could bring her back, wanting nothing more than that. “That past—didn’t happen.  Ain’t never gonna happen—ever.”

… In the dream, she’d been skipping chemo because a machine had been invented that could read a mech’s energy signatures on humans, and she didn’t want them to find Rumble.  So, Natalie had collapsed, and as it grew dark, Rumble told her he loved her—and she gazed up at him, she could feel her lips moving, a whisper as he held her, struggling to hear the words as her sight narrowed and she cried, ‘Why can’t he hear me—I want to—to say—l—l—‘

He’d never know, the words frozen, like her, in time, frozen in the dark, until the light…

“…Tell me it was just a bad dream,” the woman’s eyes were wide, begging as he held her. “Tell me I’m home, right? With you?”

“You’re home, Nat,” he was as tender as the dark had been cold, that limbo of her imagination she prayed was her imagination. “I’M real,” the Decepticon told her, “WE’RE real. And I gotcha sweets—I got ya with me.”

When her vision cleared, the fact that she was now with the Decepticons no longer mattered.  Natalie finally said those words she thought lost forever; “Rumble—I love you.  I don’t care where I am—as long as I’m with you—I love you. I just love you.”

“Love you too, Sweets,” Rumble murmured, no longer knowing the difference between her tears, and his own. “An I promise-- I ain’t never lettin’ you go…”
***
Hour Three: Jazzmancometh couldn’t stop his pacing.  He was like a caged lion, anger building with no where to put it…

“…It’s not over,” he hissed, as Troy entered the room, volumes passing between he and Perceptor. “They killed my WIFE—the fuckers who killed her—they work for Dark—and he’s HERE—the killers are HERE—I’ve seen them at the mall..!”

‘…I still find such intentional sadism and brutality in any save Decepticons—unprecedented, even for your species,” the scientist conveyed to Troy, having seen the vision.  Lexi herself recalled little OF the incident—one blow and she was relegated to a dark limbo until the dream ended for everyone else. ‘And I will confess that I am as deeply troubled by what our mate has discovered at our very door.’

‘Dark does that—stimulates our ID, ‘Ceptor,’ Troy made his way to the distraught man. ‘Taps into our fears—its an easy thing when you have people who don’t have a lot of education, backed into a corner by economics, lack stability—some humans will do anything for stability—even kill…’

…And Jazzman, recalling the blood and the silence, could not say that he was far from that point, remember the conversation between the men at the mall about ‘homosexuals and those who supported them; they were time bombs waiting to go off, even in what was supposed to be a brighter reality…

“…I don’t want you out there,” he’d told his wife.

Lexi, who was momentarily taken aback by his decree, took into account, with some sadness, what he’d experienced in the reality that was deleted, and told him, “I’ll forgive you acting like you own me if you never say that again.”

Troy moved like a shadow behind the man, gently touching the back of Jazzman’s head. He didn’t ordinarily go into other people’s minds – he tended to practice his skills on his sister – but the fear and pain radiated from Jazzman like he was a small furnace…

“…Part of him took that reality BACK with him—the feeling—one of HIS greatest fears—to him, it really DID happen, even if he sees Lexi standing right in front of him—the energy of the attack imprinted it on his brain, HERE.  Its psychic trauma,” was the man’s diagnosis. “I can burn the pathways, make it just the dream it was, rather than an experience, program his brain to alter the chemicals it creates when he recalls them, but there’s going to be a minor—side affect,” Troy was suspiciously sheepish about it.

“What?” Asked Lexi suspiciously, to which the telepath questioned in return, “What means of birth control do you use? Cause I’m gonna run out here,” he went on, as she gaped, “And buy some stock on it before I start…”
***
Hour Four: Ratchet met with Blackthorn, Prowl and Optimus Prime in his office, once Melissa and the babies had completed their preliminary check ups.

“I have Troy’s report from his time with Dark,” it was a pamphlet at least a half inch thick that hit the desk with an ominous slap. “This—monster—is far worse than we thought, with its hooks in so many governments in ways—we can’t win—not with guns and tech…”

Optimus Prime picked up the paper, flipped through it within a moment, handing it to Ratchet, who did the same. “I’m more than familiar with these sorts of tactics; finding the fear of your adversaries, use it to make them your tools—very effective. Control is such an issue in humans—their fear of losing it,” he was close to being Megatron-snide. “How little difference there is between our kind and yours, Blackthorn.”

“Yes—we all feel pain and death,” the human responded in disdain. “I assume you remember THAT from the dream, as well as the rest of us.”

“Look,” Ratchet threw the report of the desk, the effectively cutting off what could have turned ugly. “By now, we’ve got Decepticons AND Autobots remembering being tortured and dying because of our own stupidity, and we just brought through our best chance at keeping that from EVER happening.  Positive energy keeps this thing at bay,” the medic told them, “Now is as good a time as ever to contact the Decepticons, and get that ball rolling.”

Optimus refrained from considering them ‘his’ Decepticons, as he forced from his mind that it was THIS Autobot, rather than himself, that had been Adria’s lover. Instead, he focused on the task at hand. “I’ll see to contacting them—though there will be no mention of the sparks—I’m sure Soundwave will understand the requirement for secrecy—especially from the U.S. Government. Though I doubt,” he added, his expression strangely more Optimus than Megatron, “We’ll manage to form any sort of alliance, given the circumstances.  Not considering how many in the ranks is prone to treachery for their own sakes.”

“I’ll see to Camden,” Blackthorn picked up another folder. “He and that pack of vultures he serves have been after my company for years—and desperation has made them sloppy.  Not a good thing to be when the opposition packs telepaths, profits and saints.”

“As long as it’s done without stooping to their level—then we become ITS tools.”

“Then we’ll just resume what Autobots have always been so good at,” Optimus said smoothly, as Ratchet practically glared in disapproval. “Gratuitous heroics.  And Dark—will do the rest…”
***
Hour Five: Todd Donelly still couldn’t bring himself to believe, as he stared at the paperwork Oneris and Landry had given him…

“…We can’t continue, Mr. Donelly, unless we get your compliance on this.”

‘This’ was a formal accusation against two women, one a foreign national, the other a retired Senior Master Sergeant, blue ink on black and white 8X10s.

“I can’t tell—they’re hard to identify—“he wanted this to be real, at least because of the boy, but it was so very, very hard. “Blackthorn said my children were dead.  Addy signed a deposition— she’s a lousy actress--even SHE believes they’re dead.”

“There was interference with the photographs, Todd—we suspect the Decepticons, but the detective who took them were absolutely convinced they were your children,” Landry put a reassuring hand on the man’s shoulder. “And I know this woman—she’s an ally of the Decepticons—their leader, Megatron, retrieved her personally from a government holding facility, while THIS woman,” his hand slid almost tenderly over the picture of the one called Vierge, “Was last documented as working for Kaon industries until she was released – its reported – to return to her home country.”

Donelly slid the folder back to the lawyers in disgust.  “My wife would never hide our children from me.”

“We don’t believe she has anything to do with it—we suspect they were taken from Blackthorn, but he covered up the facts—the court order to exhume the body should get through the courts any day now.” Landry once again slid the paper to Donelly.

“But you need my signature—and here,” he pointed to another paper, “You want me to sign to have Addy declared—mentally incompetent? To take custody of her—like she was some—my wife—“

“YOUR WIFE really ISN’T, because she’s been under the thumb of Blackthorn—why wouldn’t she ask at LEAST about YOU?”

“I won’t make her come back to me.”

“Maybe if you let her know you want her back,” Oneris crept beside Todd, his whisper like smoke that slipped into his ear, down his spine, into the hand that reached for the pen. “Why don’t you find that out, Mr. Donelly—and sign…”
***
Hour Six: Megatron returned to questioning, and in some cases, panicking, troops…

“…I felt it—Primus—I didn’t know there existed THAT kind of pain,” Hook was surrounded by the other constructecons who had felt his pain in the ‘what could have been’, they didn’t say anything, were afraid to.  In that other reality, they had ALL, in the end, begged to be off-lined.

Not everyone was though…”We were Decepticons—NO one made us!” Barricade laughed like it was the greatest revelation in the world. “We’re born conquerors! It’s our destiny—we’re meant to rule!”

“We ruled a dead world and fought against ourselves to what proved the end of us,” Shockwave glared at the most disruptive of the group. “We encountered an alien who fed from our failures, and would have destroyed us had not our own gods interfered.  It may STILL destroy us, from what I have learned during my time with Oneris.”

“I will NOT go through that again,” Reflector’s low tone was almost pitiful, as he recalled a human that ran his hand into his CPU, reformatting it into a painful clot of the human ID, choking him, killing him.  “Whatever I must do, I will not do THAT again.”

“Isn’t there Cybertron here, in this reality?” wondered Dirge.

And his answer, “Negative.  Cybertron of previous existence non-existent, no Cybertron in THIS reality.  Dark seeks destruction—in ALL realities.”

Soundwave, Starscream and the other Seekers stood with Megatron before the gathered Decepticons, grown anxious from their memories.  Command stood there confident and strong despite having experienced the same nightmares only strengthened the loyalty of most of the troops.  Nothing less would have been tolerated, and Megatron knew that.  This was why the humans and their new ‘entourage’ waited elsewhere, monitoring the gathering through other means.

Megatron addressed the throng. “Soundwave is correct; there is no Cybertron, no world in which to rule, no world, as yet, for us to even call our own.  We have nothing now, but the fight for our own survival,” the Decepticon leader declared, as it slowly dawned on them all. “We faced extinction in a time that could have been, that still could be.  But though we and the Autobots here with us are all that stands between us and extinction, this does not mean we cannot still triumph.”

“Triumph? Over what?” Dead End, who sounded like he was ready to throw himself into the sun to end it all, seemed to voice a common lament. “We have no world, we’re all that’s left of our race, and some—nightmare seeks our end.  Does the word even have meaning for us any longer?”

“It will,” Megatron fingered some unidentifiable device like it was his bond. “When we make a world—of our own…”
***
Hour Seven: In her cell, Josie was screaming, the restraints crackling in fury as Jazz watched her, trying his best to conceal the pain in his being.

“What’s wrong with her? Why is she breaking down like this?”

Isla didn’t want to really tell him—she didn’t want to hurt him—but how could she hide what she knew from the one she loved?  Even Prowl knew—could see it inside her, urged her, ‘Tell him.’

Jazz couldn’t even feel her sadness, didn’t look at her as she gently touched his shoulder. “We—oh Jazz—“the human showed him what she’d seen, what she and her sisters saw, as the Tri-Gate. She showed him a warm home, success, children and joy amidst political strife. And then, the contentment was shattered by a rage and the cruel, razor sharp light. “That was Josie—“Isla mourned for the woman. “That was HER world.”

“Say what?!”

“When we sought to prevent our own extinction, Jazz, we never considered that what was our hell, might have been HER HEAVEN.”

Because Josie Haller had been in the complex when Noey began to sing, SHE had seen what might have been.  “We never thought—it shouldn’t have been possible,” Prowl reasoned, though reason couldn’t BEGIN to fix what had become nothing more than a wailing banshee with hatred in her eyes that burned the spark and would have done as much to the body if she had her way. “From what we can gather based on the time line, she would have met the man she was to marry—the day she was crippled—by Megatron. Ratchet and I were considering Troy—perhaps—get into her mind, get past the madness in order to explain…” but he trailed off.  Neither Jazz or Isla could really hear him through their remorse.

“The best intentions,” Isla whispered, touching the glass, even though it looked as if it burned her fingers, “Aren’t always the best intentions—for everyone…”
***
Hour Eight: He had felt it of course, but he knew his human had not.  That past that could have been hadn’t quite touched her yet—there was no doubt that it would have, had it continued, but when the visions washed over them, Aku was largely unaffected.

Ratbat planned to keep it that way.

But still, after his own scathing memories, he needed—needed her…

“…Fly with me.”

There was an intensity there, like an undercurrent making Ratbat’s eyes shine as he slid his arm around Aku, when she pressed her hands against his chest because he’d already lifted her off the ground before she could make a sound.  He had made off with her consciousness, leaving her body lying on the ground so abruptly that she was disoriented by it all.

‘…Ratbat—what’s wrong?”

‘I feel gratitude—so much gratitude,’ and it swelled in his being, curled around so many other emotions; relief, and hope in a sea of receding despair.  ‘I want—‘words failed him, and suddenly, he was at a loss.  There was a flash of fear. And Aku told him, ‘You don’t have to be afraid—you’re with me.’

It was the thought; condemnation, destruction—human…

‘Not me—never me,’ Aku mentally stroked him, gently and tenderly.  She so desperately wanted him not to reject her, not understanding why he WOULD suddenly. ‘I know what you are—you’re truly wonderful.  Don’t leave me behind because something has made you afraid…’

It was her remorse that riveted him; humans in BOTH realities felt regret about ‘his’ kind, not remorse over his possible rejection of them.

Perhaps—would she if he asked? ‘Would you—feel—with me?’

He was being so open, innocent—Aku couldn’t help but melt. She curled the edge of her consciousness where his began, where the two adhered, slipping a bit past, her attempt at being convincing.  The response was sweet, warm. She told him, ‘you’d never hurt me, so I would do anything you ask.’

‘Aku,’ his spark whispered her name.  His adhered to her own, and she let him spread her along with him.  It felt as if the wind was rushing through her, felt like the cool rain washed over her body after a hot summer day, though she really wasn’t in it at the moment.  Energy began advancing and receding at her own borders—Ratbat’s essence—so familiar, so wild—discarding gravity and soaring into the sun, that single shining moment that amounted to the reflection of their mutual acceptance and the truth.

They shot into it, the heat melting them, memory and identity fading as they dissolved into a brilliant singularity…

Aku’s eyes fluttered open, and she reached out, touching Ratbat’s darkling features, shining as if they reflected pure white moonlight.

The Decepticon scooped up her body and flew off then without a word—it wasn’t an unusual thing for him to take her with him when he went for food, foraging wild strawberries, blueberries, or anything else they both found palatable.  The pair could follow spring for all time as long as they had one another.  

And for Ratbat, the reality that could have been had been deleted, in the spring of Aku’s spark-- forever…
***
Hour Nine: Addy leaned against the wall to her quarters, having just finished her toilet.  It had been a long day, after dealing with Melissa, seeing to the twins and Sunstreaker. She felt ghosted, while the world around her was still real, harsh, draining. And yet, she was still in it, thinking about what kept her in it so long.  Poor Sunstreaker had been so desperately paranoid about holding his own babies, afraid to hurt them.  His hands, he’d murmured to Dragon--because he’d been such a hardened warrior, Addy assumed.  She’d seen it before.

She found her thoughts interrupted then, though the chime at her door wasn’t expected.

“Optimus,” her greeting was a sigh.  She was wrung ephemeral, he had to know—if his memories as Megatron had been returned, he KNEW that.

“I’ll assume that after this stand down, you’d be reporting to my chambers, Adria.”

“You may assume what you like, Optimus—I’m in your presence, aren’t I?”

“Your definition of it, not mine.”

“You’d have me standing in front of your desk at attention.”

“I’d have you beneath me, certainly.” He crossed the room then in one easy stride, grabbing her wrist and pulling her against himself. “How long must I suffer this—this—punishment?” Optimus hissed.  He trembled against her cheek, that so seldom desperation in his tone causing her to become a softened solidity against him. “There are days I would glut myself on the carnage of battle to forget the ache—I would do whatever you ask me—but would you bring me so low—“

“Megatron—“he was the only thing real now, and her now because of it. “I would not bring you low even when you were a Decepticon—but I can’t—can’t—“but the rose didn’t exist without the thorn, as much a part of itself as the air it needed to live.  One entwined the other, Megatron nuzzling Adria’s neck and it felt so good, so right, to the point where denying it was a thought left in the distance.  There was nothing but acquiescence when he laid her down beneath himself, their bodies shivering in anticipation and delight long over due…

“Addy, this is Ratchet—don’t suppose you could spar a few minutes and hands for a pair of new parents—none of us have any idea.”

They looked at one another, Adria and Megatron, and Megatron smiled.  It didn’t matter now if she left because Ratchet called.  

The rose didn’t exist without the thorns, and what Megatron had wanted now was--the rose--- had finally remembered…
***
Hour Ten: Melissa had to admit that she’d cared for many children in her family before, but this was so entirely different; she was feeling tired and strangely strung out—Sunny was enamored of the babies but he was so—frightened…

“…What if I drop them?  I don’t know my own strength sometimes,” though Sides slipped his brother a look and his mate knew—he was thinking about his past again, the OTHER things he’d done with his hands so long ago.

“Sunny, I can’t feed both at the same time here and-“Melissa huffed as their CMO grimaced, laying Jason down.  “He’s leaking,” he whined, shaking his hands and finding the stain on his pants offensive.  “Nappy, Ratchet,” she indicated a soft white pile.

Sideswipe, to his credit, TRIED, but his reward was a sour smelling substance dripping off the front of his shirt.  

And then, momma breathed relief as the door slid open., “Melissa, if you take care of one, I’ll get the other with Sunny—you might know what to do,” Addy acknowledged, touching Ratchet, who nodded and went for supplies, “but he’s going to need help…”

…After Melissa had diapered, fed and burped James, done in record times (James seemed much easier going than Jason at that point), Addy took him to rock, so Melissa could help her very nervous mate…

“…Just a light touch Sunny, see?” She laid her hand onto his, making sure he gave special support to Jason’s head, pressing the warm bundle to his body. “Just make believe he’s Siders after a binge on hi-grade—you’re always so gentle with him THEN.”

“I never noticed.”

“I noticed,” Melissa helped him bring the baby to the bed.  They opted for nappies that could be washed, so it took some training—“HEY!” ‘daddy’ winced, his face dripping as his brother laughed.  “Boy’s got MY aim!”  Sunstreaker had his brother against the wall with a shove.  Melissa and Addy looked at each other.

It was going to be a very long night…
***
Hour Eleven: Noey felt drained.  After the babies had been born and she’d sung the sparks firmly into their world, she had collapsed, First Aid bringing her to her room.

Unicron, Primus, Isla, Lori and Earth were there with her…

‘…Know anything about sacred geometry, kiddo?’ Lori asked.

Noey didn’t pay so much attention to the words as she was to Unicron and Primus. There was a fading song, and-- ‘Shadows,” she mentioned, not knowing if this merited concern.  Unicron’s shadow hooded Lori, though she didn’t seem to realize it.

‘Those who will BE what we soon will NOT be, if our plans come to fruition, child,’ Primus answered her. “We considered ‘gods’ have been so too long.  There is so much more beyond this, and our time is long due—and our success in nurturing the Seed of Life will grant that—to all of us.”

“I know something about the Seed of Life,” Isla’s mind was drawing circles upon circles as they edged their way into Noey’s brain. “There’s a belief that the complete ancient flower of life is a—“she stopped, feeling as if the words put her at a precipice, Lori already there and waiting. “I—it’s--an inter-dimensional tool, a portal, a stargate, window into what some call –“she hesitated.

“The inter space plain,” Lori drew their gazes to Earth, but not with their eyes; they all saw the planet with their souls, and it was frightening to feel, not so much darkness, but a thickness, a heaviness—like cancer—too much of what was supposed to serve, but in a small capacity—going rampant. “Can’t get rid of it,” she meant the growing heaviness, “but we CAN control it—sentience created a ‘lower’ shadow, it can create a ‘higher’ light—a combination between human and cybertronian.  A New—Cybertron, if you will.”

“The Seed of Life has flowered,” Unicron told them, Unicron the progenitor of the events that led to now—it was joined by the Earth, then the human Tri-gate, and Unicron’s allies, Optimus Prime and Megatron; seven circles.  Primus, the Dreamer (Vierge), the Conduit (Cyndi), the Hybrid (Addy), the Initiator (Blackthorn), the Flower (Melissa and Sunstreaker) are the second layer...

“…And the third layer that causes the Tree to sprout,” Primus concluded, as they recalled Noey’s song, “What you know as the Twins—the living embodiment what was once known—as the Matrix.  And when the Tree has matured, all who make it up become the living embodiment themselves—what in creation is called--The AllSpark…”