The Spark She Holds Ch. 8

Bumblebee paced in front of Charlie’s home, the girl and her pet watching the Autobot as he tried to keep himself from having a meltdown.


Way too many things had happened today for him to process. He just wanted to have the day to grief for Cliffjumper but no Bumblebee couldn’t have that. He had to find out the AllSpark and Megatron had been buried on this planet for who knows how long. Not only that the AllSpark’s power was now… Bumblebee had no idea where it could be but he could bet that the Decepticons who could fly were going to search the entire planet for that power-and kill any humans they find along the way. And then they’d probably revive Megatron and the most dangerous Decepticon of the galaxy would be alive and ready to do…Primus knew what.


And I won’t be able to stop them. I’m just one bot I can’t do this on my own!


“Hey, Bumblebee?”


He looked over to Charlie whose expression was one of pity. He laughed bitterly in his head. What a fine hero he was proving to be for this little human.


“I don’t know exactly what happened back there, but…” She let out a breath and lifted her chin, “But it’ll be okay. We’ll figure something out. I have absolutely no idea what but my teachers always told me I was really smart, I’ll think of something.”


She’s trying to cheer me up even though she doesn't like me.



Bumblebee tried to smile for her, her words offering a bit of comfort and reminded him to think logically. Optimus and the others would know his radio silence meant something bad, they wouldn’t just abandon him. As long as he could still move and think he could find out a way to get in contact with them. Who knows maybe there’s a place here on Earth that could help him comm the Autobots.


And it would give us a reason to get as far away from Megatron’s former grave as possible.



.



Charlie lay in bed, the world dark around here and the only thing she could hear was Conan’s snoring and the heavy thuds of Bumblebee’s steps outside.
He hadn’t stopped pacing since they returned, but she had a feeling her words of encouragement comforted him, if just a little.


Great, that means I haven’t lost my lying skills.


She felt so hopeless, hopeless and torn.


Lifting her hand up she tried to make out the outline of it in the darkness. She had tried to not think about the fact her veins now ran with the DNA of an alien robot, but the fact it had been Bumblebee’s friend-a friend he clearly missed-was something she couldn’t just throw into the back burner.


One part of her brain, the hopeful part that could see an end to all this, told her she should tell Bumblebee what had happened when she touched that cube (she wondered if she was the reason it no longer looked the same), and see if he knew what it all meant.


But that's just it-you don't know, the other part of her brain hissed. It was the louder part that told her that Bumblebee wasn’t safe to be around even if he acted friendly. She didn’t know him and she didn’t know what he would do to her if she told him what had happened. Besides, he was mute its not like he could tell her what that cube was even if she did tell him.


Doing her best to ignore the guilt and fear pulsing in her chest she turned on her side and closed her eyes. Eventually the sound of Conan’s snores and Bumblebee’s pacing lulled her to asleep, blissfully unaware of the leering red orbs glaring down at the three.



.



The land the Decepticons chose as their base was bare, hot and dry, with open skies. It was the closest thing to tolerable this planet would get in Starscream’s opinion.


He stood at the railing of the base the first few seekers had built in the few mega-cycles before the full on invasion had begun.


He had just agreed to it to pander to Soundwave and Shockwave, the two Cons who had been most vocal about their distaste in his leadership. When Shockwave had suggested that they abandon Cybertron he had agreed despite how it felt like it was tearing at his Spark. He wanted to have the Con’s gratitude, it would come in handy, plus Shockwave had  spoke of finding the AllSpark and Starscream had liked that idea. They could revive their home with the AllSpark.


But he didn’t expect to catch a signal from it on this filthy excuse of a planet, and he definitely hadn’t expected Soundwave to catch the signal of Megatron, an incredibly faint signal, but it was enough that Starscream had no choice but to call for an attack on the planet.

That had been the easy (and fun) part, but Starscream’s perfect start into leadership went downhill when they dug up his former leader’s body and a useless AllSpark.


Both things were now in the base, being looked over to figure out if there was any saving either of them.


Starscream recalled what Soundwave had said, that the AllSpark’s power had been stolen. But how? And who?


His optics glanced down, in the shadows of the base was what the Con’s liked to call the Organic Farm. A rundown and formerly abandoned town that now had two guards soaring over it in lazy circles.


Starscream really had pandered to Shockwave, the scientist had taken an interest in the humans of this planet, found it curious how such emotional and primitive creatures had lived this long without eating each other. So with the Cons help he had grabbed a couple of humans from around the world and dropped them in the ‘farm’ where Shockwave would study-and dissect-when he had the time. Starscream had found it pointless, after all what could these creatures offer Cybertronians? But he knew Soundwave wouldn’t leave until they had searched this entire planet for their fallen leader, so as long as it kept him entertained.


But now the search is over, and now Starscream had to decide what was more important: finding the AllSpark’s power and reviving both Megatron and Cybertron, or let them both perish and he find a new home for the Decepticons.


I have waited an eternity to become leader, he looked around the hot barren landscape, nothing like his home. But do I want to rule over a planet such as this?


He was spared from answering the internal question by the sudden appearance of Skywarp, the irksome Con flaunting his unique ability to teleport and landing on the railing.


“Was wondering where you flew off to, Screamer,” Skywarp grinned, sitting on the railing with his back to the landscape.


“It is Lord Starscream, Skywarp,” the jet corrected, “We’ve been over this.”


The growl of a jet and then Thundercracker was standing beside Starscream, “He has selective memory, you know that.”


“He teleports so much his processor must be scrambled,” Starscream told his commander, “Tragic, really.”


Skywarp scowled at the two, “Can you at least acknowledge my presence when you mock me?”


Thundercracker ignored him and turned his optics to Starscream, “So, I just talked to Soundwave.”


Starscream’s circuits tensed, “And?”


“There’s a bit of spark left in Megatron, not much, barely a flicker. But if they find the AllSpark…” Thundercracker’s grave voice trailed off. He and Skywarp were two of Starscream’s more loyal followers, they were perfectly fine with him as leader and wouldn’t tell another Con that he was less than pleased with Megatron’s return.


“So then,” Skywarp spoke up, “He’s scrap metal? I mean, the AllSpark lost its power.”


“Soundwave won’t leave this planet until we find a way revive him,” Starscream growled darkly. “Or if what’s left of Megatron’s spark snuffs out.”


“Are you still ignoring me?” Skywarp asked.


“When I left he and Shockwave were talking about sending Ravage out to start the hunt for the power source,” Thundercracker informed.


Starscream’s optics blazed, “They should be disccusing it with me! As long as Megatron is on his deactivation bed I’m the leader of the Decepticons!”


“You’re ignoring me,” Skywarp huffed, sounding like a rejected sparkling.


Thundercracker frowned, “I know that, and so do they. But they don’t believe you could lead like Megatron and if they can get him back they’ll do whatever it takes.”



Thundercracker looked out over the Organic Farm, his face twitching in discomfort at the town. Thundercracker was one of the few Cons who hadn’t taken much pleasure in taking down the humans, he saw them as too helpless to be any sort of entertainment or challenge. That soft spark would be the ruin of him someday, especially if the AllSpark power was with a hu-


Don’t even finish such a ridiculous thought, Starscream growled to himself. The AllSpark’s power was too great for one of these pathetic humans to wield.


He grabbed Thundercracker’s arm and pulled him closer, his voice barely above a whisper, “Then we make sure they can’t bring him back. Whatever it takes.”


Thundercracker gave a solemn nod, optics darkening.


“STOP IGNORING ME!”


Skywarp’s shout made them both jump before Starscream smacked the Con, sending him sprawled across the floor. “Do not yell at your leader, Skywarp.”


“If there’s any bots left on Cybertron, they just heard you,” Thundercracker moaned, rubbing one of his audio receptors.


Skywarp pushed his face off the metal of the floor, “Then let me in on your secrets now and then! With Dropkick gone no one else will talk to me.”


“Ah, yes, my errand Con,” Starscream looked up to the sky as if he expected to see the blue robot arriving. “I wonder how his little mission is going.”