Shadowfire

Chapter 22

::Soundwave addressing. I have seized control, all Decepticons will follow my commands or be killed::

I jerked, near falling off my recharge berth, the unfamiliar comm connection having been established automatically. I didn't know who this Soundwave was,  or why he was comming me, but- I was interrupted by Wheelie, who tore into my room like his brakes were faulty.

"Princess!" I felt my circuits grow cold.
"You got it too?" But I already knew the answer.
"It was broadcast to all Decepticons, a leader's command. What does it mean?"
"It means my sire's been succeeded, it means we're all in very real trouble"

___________________

Optimus held the Matrix out in front of him as he approached the prone form of Sentinel.
"Sentinel Prime" Optimus said, gathering the Matrix in hand "we bid you return" and then he plunged the glowing Matrix into Sentinel's exposed spark. The mech's scrap jolted, as if connected to a live wire, and he lunged upright, crashing into Optimus, who fell backwards as the older mech engaged his weapons systems.
"Sentinel! It's me, Optimus Prime" but Sentinel wasn't stopping, and he was forcing Optimus back, weapons pressed against his helm as they readied. I lunged, pulling Sentinel off my uncle.
"Get off me, half-Prime" the old Prime spat, as Optimus pushed himself to his feet, and Ironhide rushed to get between us.
"You are safe, there is nothing to fear" Ratchet said, and Sentinel turned to see all the Autobots crowding around, and recognition began to dawn in his optics.
"We are here" Optimus said gravely "you are with fellow Autobots"
"The war. The war!"
"The war was lost, Cybertron is now but a barren wasteland" Optimus explained "we have taken refuge here on planet Earth, it's human race is our ally"
"My ship, we came under fire, the Pillars! Where are the Pillars?"
"You saved five of them, including the Control Pillar"
"Only five! We once had hundreds!"
"Five is enough" Optimus said, and I got the feeling he was glad for the loss of the Pillars.
"Pah!" Sentinel spat in disgust, a glob of lubricant and energon being ejected from his faceplate "you always disliked technological advancements didn't you Optimus? If it were up to you we'd be fighting with swords like in the Age of Primus" I shot Jazz a confused look and he whispered just loud enough for my audio receptors to catch.
"It's a legend, apparently we mirrored human weapon development patterns thousands of millions of years ago but no one really believes it, they're tales of honour and heroism for sparklings" I nodded, making the connection to human Arthurian legend.

"The past was a simpler time, more honourable" Optimus agreed "before brother fought against brother, before the fall of Cybertron, we had loyalty then" Sentinel nodded, clasping his old friend on the back
"So. What's happened to my troops since Cybertr0n?" I frowned at his use of 'my', hadn't Optimus always ruled the Autobots? "there are some new additions I see" his optics roved over Skids and Mudflap, who were too young to have been part of the first wave of the war, yet had joined up after the fall of Cybertron and eventually made their way here to Earth. They were both older than me but the war had changed what was classified as 'too young'- I was as competent a any fighter as any older 'Bot. Sentinel ignored me as he inquired about all the other Autobots, searching for friends that had been offlined years ago, and greeting new comrades.

"And your sister Optimus?" Sentinel asked at last, catching my attention. No one spoke of my carrier, I knew next to nothing about the femme, this was my chance to learn more.
"Optima joined Primus many years ago" Sentinel's face fell.
"Oh" he placed his hand on Optmius' shoulder again "I am sorry old friend"

"How-" he cleared his vocal processor "how did she die?"
"She was killed by Megatron, fighting to save her sparkling" I didn't believe that, surely it would seem to Optimus that being with my sire would require a rescue, but my carrier can't have though that- she had a sparkling with the mech after all. I was struck with the wish that I had asked my sire about this while I could have, if only I had thought about my carrier, then I would've known.
"Is he-"
"He's dead"
"Good" Sentinel said viciously "and the child?" Optimus inclined his helm towards me, disgust flitted across Sentinel's face.
"The half-Prime? What was Optima thinking! Who was her sire?" Optimus shuffled, almost guiltily, under Sentinel's sharp gaze.
"I don't know" he admitted. Sentinel spat again.
"I would've thought your sister had more sense Optimus, I don't suppose she bonded with the mech?"
"No"
"At least she had that" he shook his head, before straightening "come" he ordered "I would like to stretch my systems, I have been in stasis too long" and without another word he strode off, Optimus following dutifully, the rest of the Autobots dispersing, gossiping quietly amongst themselves.