You're Not Alone: Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

Betrayal of a Brother

It had been only two months since Jetfire had departed for Earth to assist his fellow Autobots and Optimus Prime. Saberblade missed them both, but she still got the regular calls from Optimus and keeping her updated on what was going on. She was extremely surprised when Optimus told her that he and Jetfire had combined for the first time that resulted in creating Jet Optimus. It had not been the first time on Cybertron that it had happened, but to Saberblade, it was the first time that she’d even heard about it. I excited her to the core of her Spark, and she deeply wished that she could see it in due time.

Saberblade even received a previous call from Optimus that Smokescreen had been severely injured after when he tried to protect the Minicons that formed the Requiem Blaster. A very powerful weapon that was capable of destroying anything in its path. Hot Shot had been living in remorse for only several days, and it pained Saberblade greatly that her friend was suffering from the loss of one of his closest friends.

But duty called first, and she checked up on the progress of how the Autobots were faring against the Decepticons. Not much to her surprise, she discovered that both factions were losing resources fast, but the Autobots were a few cubes ahead. It could possibly mean that the Autobots may win the war, but what would it mean for the Decepticons? Anything was possible in a war, and Saberblade knew that they would need some kind of miracle to ensure their victory over them.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose and shaking her head tiredly, Saberblade looked up as Springer approached her from behind. Greeting him warmly and returning her attention to the monitor, Saberblade pointed to the screen.

“This is how much we’re winning by,” she explained as she showed the data that she’d taken from the Decepticons’ base. Ever since her return, Saberblade had been examining the data disk carefully, but had gotten lost on a few occasions, which resulted in her getting help from Jazz or Mirage.

Springer leaned forward and looked at the bars of the Energon that the Autobots had collected so far, and the Energon that the Decepticons had as well. The bars were just about equal in height, and it meant that it could possibly be that the war may result in a draw between the factions.

“It looks like we’ll need to make two more trips without wasting anymore Energon,” said Springer as he shook his head. Saberblade nodded in agreement as Springer looked down at her. “Have you told Prowl or Jazz about this?”

“No, I just found out about it today. It’s not that easy, working out all of these files and trying to understand what is going on at the Decepticons’ base. Although something tells me we’re going to have one Pit of a trip,” Saberblade explained.

“You think we’ll get the Energon this time? We haven’t been very successful during the last couple of stellar cycles.”

“I’m not a predictor, Springer, I’m just an analyser who seems to be very good at reading computer stuff,” Saberblade answered as she shook her head. “But, I prefer being out on the battlefield and helping out those in need whenever I possibly can.”

“A warrior you may be, Saberblade, but everyone’s good at something,” said Springer kindly and he placed a hand upon the femme seeker’s shoulder. She looked up at her friend and chuckled quietly before giving the data disk one more sweep and then rubbed her temples.

“Take a break, Saberblade,” said Overcast as he came by to check up on Saberblade’s process. “You won’t be of any use to us if you keep up with that data.” Saberblade nodded in agreement and left with Springer to head off and get a decent swing of Energon.

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“I wasn’t expecting to see you in here, Mirage. What brings you here?” Springer asked as he and Saberblade walked into the Rec. Room. They’d been hoping to not see anyone in the room, but they were extremely surprised to see the spy mech having a drink of Energon.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you either, youse two. I was just taking a break after having an incident with Cliffjumper,” Mirage answered as he fiddled with the Energon cube in his hand. He did look a little sullen, but Springer knew that Cliffjumper had been on to him, making the young minibot believe that Mirage was a Decepticon and that his mind had been salvaged by them.

“Was Cliffjumper giving you a hard time again?” Saberblade asked.

Mirage nodded. “But,” he said, “you know him, he does that all the time.”

Springer and Saberblade glanced at one another before they shook their heads and looked back at their friend. Springer then went to go and get two level one grade Energon cubes while Saberblade set herself down to rest her aching head. She tapped her fingers against the couch, hardly noticing that Mirage was looking at her in a curious manner until her golden optics locked onto the spy mech.

“Something wrong?” she asked as she smiled towards her friend.

Mirage waved a hand and laughed a little sheepishly. “Nothing, just wondering why you haven’t gone for a mate yet,” he said as he chewed his bottom lip, having no idea why he just said the sentence. He hopped he didn’t offend the femme.

Saberblade shrugged her shoulders and leaned forward in her seat as Springer handed her a cube of Energon. She took a sip and scratched the bridge of her nose. She seemed to be biding her time with answering Mirage on her reason for not choosing to have a mate. After several minutes of silence, she looked towards Mirage and her voice came out so quietly that Mirage had to strain his audio receptors to hear her.

“Only Jetfire, Hot Shot, and Optimus Prime know of my reason for not taking a mate. A friend of mine named Exillion was killed on the battlefield a thousand solar cycles ago when Firestorm’s team and us tried to infiltrate the Decepticons’ base. Two of our team members were killed, and Exillion was shot in back that pierced right through his Spark chamber. He died in my arms that day, but not before he said he loved me.”

Mirage felt his jaw drop a little, but he quickly closed it as Saberblade went on.

“After Exillion’s death, I swore to myself that I would never love anyone else but him, but… something tells me it’s better to not make a vow, especially when you know that you cannot accept the thing that you’ve lost. I’ve come to realise that it’s probably better to move on and accept that Exillion is gone for good and that there’s no way he’s coming back into my life. I’ve finally decided to love someone else.”

“And who would that be?” Springer asked.

“I’m not sure if its love or not I feel towards him. I have to be sure first before I can confirm it.”

Mirage nodded, getting the feeling that he knew who Saberblade was referring to, but decided to not say anything about it until she said that she had confirmed it. Springer took a sip of his Energon, and all three Autobots continued to sit in silence, greeting it with the light of each other’s company. As far as anyone could tell, nothing else mattered except each other.

After two hours of talking and drinking two more rounds of Energon, Saberblade received a call from Overcast over her com-link.

“Saberblade, Blackout and I need you. We’re getting ready to escort the Autobot team that mines the Energon. Prowl suggested that we go along because we’re the best team for the job.”

“On my way, Overcast,” Saberblade answered and turned her com-link off. She stood up and waved goodbye to Mirage and Springer before leaving to do her duties.

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Overcast, Blackout, and Saberblade escorted the Autobot mining team to Helex safely. While the team mined, Saberblade and the Jet Team stood on top of a building that overlooked the mine. The team were standing there to keep an eye out for any Decepticons that would have any intention to trying to get inside the mine and destroy the only chances that the Autobots would have in beating them. Saberblade found herself thinking about the many things that had happened while she’d been with the Autobots. She’d been so busy thinking that she never noticed that Overcast had turned his gaze upon her.

The seeker femme got the feeling that she was being looked at, so she turned her glassy stare from the dying buildings of Helex that seemed to reflect the light of the fading sun that was beginning to set in the distance. When her optics locked upon Overcast’s, the brother of Jetfire seemed to smile behind his silver mask.

“Is there something up?” she asked.

Overcast shook his head. “No, I was just thinking why Optimus Prime would take you in as his daughter. It just seems a bit odd that someone, who is the sister of Starscream, would be taken in by our commander, whom he has little time for.”

“He did what he had to, and he reckoned that I would have more of a chance to survive if I was under his love and care. He may have had little time for me, but he did what he could to ensure my survival. Sure I maybe the sister of Starscream, but I despise that relation.” A pause and then, “Besides, Optimus would do the same thing for you if you were in my position.”

“You’re right, and I apologise for saying something like that to you,” Overcast apologised as he turned his head down a notch.

“Quiet, I think I hear something,” said Blackout suddenly, catching Overcast’s and Saberblade’s attention.

The three leaned forward and strained their audio receptors to listen for the supposed thing that Blackout had picked up. When they heard nothing, Blackout frowned and looked towards his comrades. “Maybe I was hearing things?” he asked.

“Just keep an optic out in case we did mishear something. But, I’m more concerned about the Autobot mining team despite out advantage position. Something could sneak inside while we’re being distracted,” Overcast explained.

The Jet Team continued to wait, but nothing out of the ordinary appeared to interrupt the Autobot mining team. And, when the mining was complete, the Autobots then departed back to their base. But, Overcast had a feeling that the Decepticons had been waiting for this moment.

Without warning a Decepticon leapt out of nowhere and shot one of the Autobots at point close range. The Autobot cried out in pain and collapsed dead on the ground. Overcast immediately leapt into action as he, Blackout, and Saberblade landed on the ground and tried to dismantle the opposing threat.

Overcast took out his blaster and fired a single shot at the Decepticon, who screamed in agony as his Spark was put out of its misery. Whirling towards Saberblade and Blackout, he barked out his orders.

“Keep escorting the Autobot team back to base, I’ll hold these Decepticons off until you give the all clear. Blackout, you’ll take charge until them. Now go!” He destroyed another Decepticon that tried to leap for this throat.

“But, what about you? We can’t just leave you, Jetfire will have our heads if you don’t come back alive,” Saberblade protested, not liking where this was going.

“I said go! That’s an order!” Overcast bellowed.

Saberblade winced, as if she’d just been struck by in the middle of her face.

“Come on, Saberblade, we’ve got our orders, we just have to follow them,” said Blackout as he placed a hand upon Saberblade’s shoulder. The seeker femme looked towards the black and silver mech until she nodded reluctantly. She didn’t like leaving friends behind, but an order was an order.

Blackout nodded his appreciation and he transformed to his jet mode and took off with Saberblade following in suite, but not before he looked back at Overcast and said to him, “Just don’t get yourself killed, okay?”

Overcast winked towards the femme and disarmed another Decepticon that had tried to leap for his throat. He broke the mech’s neck and then took his gun before firing at a few more with just a single shot. He looked up as he watched the two fly away for a few more seconds and then returned his attention to the Decepticons.

“Come on,” he growled. “Come and get some!” He transformed to his shuttle form and shot off into the fading light as the Decepticons continued to follow him. He had to lead them away from the Autobot mining team and the Jet Team, otherwise they would all be a big pile of scrapheap.

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As Blackout and Saberblade landed at the dying gates of Iacon City, they turned their attention towards Helex as the Autobots quickly went inside to refill the Energon storages. Saberblade cast a worried glance towards Blackout as he called Overcast through the com-link.

“Overcast, we’ve made it back to Iacon,” the black mech said. “Have you finished them off?”

There was only static for a moment until Overcast’s voice answered, “Good work, Blackout. I’m on my way back. I managed to do whatever possible damage I could and escaped from them. I’ll see you in a quarter of a cycle. Overcast out.”

Saberblade breathed a sigh of relief as Blackout leaned on a wall to catch his breath. The young femme was about to congratulate him on a job well done when she heard someone approaching them from behind. Confused, she and Blackout turned and saw Blaster heading straight towards them at top speed.

“What’s wrong, Blaster?” Saberblade asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you, my man. You’ll have to come and hear for yourself,” Blaster answered as he motioned the two to follow him. Blackout insisted that he stay behind so that he can wait for Overcast’s return. Saberblade promised that she would let him know about what the emergency was about when Blaster showed her what it was.

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As soon as Blaster and Saberblade ran into the Control Room, Saberblade was extremely surprised to see Jazz and Prowl standing in front of the monitor, they looked worried and shocked. But, the most surprising thing of all was Optimus Prime, who was on the monitor. Saberblade and Blaster approached the two high-ranking officers and saluted them before the young femme looked towards Optimus Prime. Something told her that it was something extremely worrying, and she felt a tremor of fear washing over her.

“What’s wrong, Optimus?” she asked, trying to contain her fear. “It’s not normal of you to be calling after two days ago. It’s not in the routine.” She tilted her head to the side when she spotted Hot Shot, the rest of the Autobots, and the human children standing behind the Autobot Commander. Hot Shot looked ready to slap Optimus across the face, while Scavenger was shooting him a glare to keep his thoughts to himself. The female human, Alexis, looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“It’s Starscream,” Optimus answered in a solemn tone.

“What about Starscream?” Saberblade asked.

“He betrayed us, that is what Starscream’s all about!” Hot Shot snapped, surprising Saberblade with his angered tone. “He allowed Starscream into our team and look where it got us into! Starscream stole the Skyboom Shield, the only weapon we had for defence against the Requiem Blaster and the Star Saber!”

Saberblade frowned as Scavenger ordered Hot Shot to keep quiet, but the young mech would have none of it. He whirled upon Optimus, who continued to stand so calmly, and demanded to know why he would allow Starscream into their ranks. His shouts grew louder and Saberblade had had enough.

“Hot Shot, shut up!” the femme screamed.

Hot Shot went silent as Saberblade screamed like she’d never done before. The femme held her head painfully as memories of her mother, Aquablade, yelling at her, flashed before her optics. She shook her head as she tried to remove the memory from her mind, but she failed miserably and she gave Hot Shot the worst glare that she’d ever given him, but before she could say a word, Optimus Prime turned and walked out the room.

Hot Shot’s shoulders loosened up as Saberblade growled at him. “Now look at what you’ve done!” she snarled. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

“I don’t care! Optimus shouldn’t have allowed Starscream in, then we wouldn’t have lost the Skyboom Shield to those Decepticreeps! Why did Starscream betray us?” Hot Shot snapped at her. Saberblade winced. She watched as he got down on his hands and knees before slamming a fist down in the floor and leaving a crack in it.

Saberblade shook her head. “Because he believes that he’ll never fit in amongst us. He was raised as a Decepticon and I was raised as an Autobot. He and I have been pitted against each other for something that Megatron did to our family. Starscream will never be an Autobot, but perhaps Optimus’s judgement can change that.”

Hot Shot looked up at the monitor at the purple and silver femme with the golden optics. He shook his head and walked out the room, going after Optimus to apologise for his radical behaviour.

Now, Saberblade thought, all we can do is wait and see what happens.