Love in the Stars

Chapter 8

The industrial complex loomed over the landscape, its towering structures a reminder of the war that had consumed both Cybertron and Earth. The clash between Hot Shot and Wheeljack had reached its boiling point, with old wounds reopened and tensions running higher than ever. But at this moment, for Hot Shot, it wasn't just about the battle. It was about the betrayal—how someone who had once been his closest friend could turn against him so completely.

Wheeljack, his Autobot insignia scarred and defaced, stood with his blaster aimed directly at Hot Shot's chest. His optics burned with anger and resentment, a reflection of all the years he had spent blaming Hot Shot for what had happened on Cybertron.

"I trusted you," Wheeljack growled, his voice filled with venom. "But you left me to die."

Hot Shot's optics widened in disbelief. He had tried to save Wheeljack, but the fire, the debris, and the chaos of the battlefield had made it impossible. He had never intended to abandon his friend. But here they were, standing on opposite sides of a war that had torn their friendship apart.

"I didn't mean to leave you," Hot Shot said, his voice trembling. "I tried to come back."

But Wheeljack wasn't listening. His mind was made up. "Megatron saved me when you didn't."

With that, Wheeljack fired a shot into Hot Shot's chest at close range, the impact sending Hot Shot crashing to the ground. Pain radiated through Hot Shot's body, and as he lay there, struggling to breathe, the world around him began to blur. Wheeljack, his mission complete, disappeared into the shadows, leaving Hot Shot alone and injured.

Hot Shot's spark ached—not just from the physical pain, but from the realization that his friend was truly gone. Unable to cope with the trauma, he blacked out, the weight of betrayal pulling him into darkness.

Hot Shot woke up in the Autobot infirmary, his body weak and sore. As he slowly came to, he realized he had been brought back to the base by Side Swipe. The younger bot, still eager to prove himself, had been the one to find Hot Shot after the battle.

"Hey, you're awake!" Side Swipe's voice broke through the haze. "I was worried about you. I brought you back here as fast as I could."

Hot Shot winced as he shifted on the medical berth, his mind racing with memories of the battle, of Wheeljack. The pain in his chest was nothing compared to the pain in his spark. He had never imagined that Wheeljack could betray him like this, and now, all he could do was replay their last moments together in his mind.

"How could he..." Hot Shot muttered, more to himself than to Side Swipe. "How could he turn on me like that?"

Seeing Hot Shot's distress, Side Swipe stepped closer. "It wasn't your fault, Hot Shot. You did everything you could back then. Sometimes, people make choices that we can't control. You have to forgive yourself, even if Wheeljack doesn't."

Hot Shot closed his optics, trying to block out the memory of that fiery battlefield on Cybertron, the day he had left Wheeljack behind. He could still see the flames, the debris, and Wheeljack trapped beneath it all. He had run to get help, but when he had returned, his superior officer had refused to let him go back into the fire. Hot Shot had disobeyed, rushing back in to save his friend, but the heat had been too much. He had passed out before he could reach Wheeljack again.

When he had woken up, Wheeljack was gone.

Elsewhere in the base, Optimus Prime stood with Blurr, revealing that he had always known about Hot Shot's guilt over losing Wheeljack. It was one of the reasons why Hot Shot had been chosen to come to Earth. Optimus had hoped that, by being here, Hot Shot might find some form of redemption.