Fallen Angel (Transformers Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

They traveled for a couple more days, and surprisingly, it seemed everyone was enjoying it, well, maybe not Ratchet, but he hung on the edges, clearly lost in thought.

Cliffjumper felt guilty. He felt stupid for lying to Arcee, but what else could he do? He didn't want to tell her about his greatest secret, which only a select few knew about. Bulkhead, Wheeljack, wherever he was, Ratchet, Star, had she still been alive, Bumblebee, and Optimus. They never talked about it; it was an extremely sensitive topic.

It was that night that he would have to face it head on once more.

They made camp and Cliffjumper volunteered to go out and make sure it was clear in the forest beyond.

He chirped to the birds perched above him, scolding the occasional snoopy squirrel that eavesdropped.

"You've got talent." He whirled around, standing in a defensive position. He couldn't see anyone right off the bat.

"Who's there?" he growled, finding the spear handle at his belt. Then he saw the purple designs tracing across a slim body. "Oh no. Not you."

"Hm. I thought you'd be happier to meet me." The figure stepped out of hiding, illuminated by her bioluminescents. "I'm Airachnid, but I wouldn't be surprised if you already knew that."

Arcee's arch nemesis. Of course he knew who she was. She had the normal body of a pixie, however the six extra appendages on her back along with the horns and bioluminescents made her far from normal. Her deep purple eyes stared right through him.

"I've heard a lot about you," she said. "You know, complaining Decepticons and of course, there's Nemesis. I had the honor of hearing him spit curses about you."

"I guess I should be flattered," Cliffjumper said. "Don't tell me my face is plastered on commoner homes."

"That would be an understatement," Airachnid said, taking a couple steps towards him. Cliffjumper tensed, but before he could react, he was on the ground, material solidifying around him. Airachnid bent down and hooked a finger under his chin, lifting his head.

"You're like me, aren't you?" she said, nodding at his horns. "An outcast. We were born different."

"You're wrong," Cliffjumper hissed. Airachnid tilted her head.

"Am I?" she said. She moved her hand and patted his cheek. "Well, you go ahead and deny it, but-"

"I mean you're wrong about my origins." He closed his eyes and suddenly pulled free of the webs. Airachnid backed up but he grabbed her and threw her onto the ground.

"If you weren't born this way," she said, pushing herself up and dodging his next attack. "Where did those horns come from?"

"None of your business," he growled, spinning around and unsheathing his spear. She jumped back, knocking it off course with one of her extra legs. She lifted one of her hands and slapped it to his forehead. He staggered back but she stayed with him before jerking her hand back, a gold stream following.

"We'll see," she said. Cliffjumper closed his eyes. The last time someone had messed with his mind, he'd almost killed them.

The stream suddenly turned dark and Airachnid yelped, trying to withdraw, but instead of the stream retreating, it followed her. Cliffjumper then cut it off, shaking his head. The mutant dropped to her hands and knees, gasping.

"You're...you're modified?" she gasped. "How did you do that?"

"Megatron wanted to make sure Optimus couldn't get inside my head," he said. "Pagrons thoughts are pretty muddled and only someone like me can decipher them. It's one of the reasons I was so perfect for the modifications."