Shadowfire

Chapter 7

"We just saved the world" Sam announced
"That's so cool" Mikaela said, fluttering her eyelashes at him. I groaned.
"So now that you two are together I'm the third wheel? That's no fair, I'm the one who got you together in the first place" I complained "you're too sickeningly cute" they giggled "so I'm taking off, I'll be back in a couple of months when your new relationship infatuation has worn off"
"Huh? You're going? Where?"
"I'm going on holidays for a few months, driving around the country"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah"
"How did you manage to convince your parents and the Autobots to let you?" Mikaela asked
"Told them I needed some time off to deal with discovering them and having to save the world"
"What about your last year of high school?" Sam protested
"Don't need to do it, I'm joining the Army in 3 months and I'll get the qualifications I need to work with NEST"
"Wow"
"Lucky"
"Anyway I just stopped by to tell you where I'd be before I took off" they hugged me and promised to keep in touch before I disengaged my holoform and drove off.

I made sure I was far away before engaging my commlink.
::Shadowfire to Starscream::
::Responding::
::I've managed to secure 3 months of separation from the Autobots and my human friends, think Oppi would like to see me?::
::Of course, I'm sending you our location:: I received the coordinates and set off.

_____________________

"Where are you Starscream you insolent fool!" Megatron thundered
"Don't worry about him, he's been in a bad mood since Mission City" Starscream told me as we approached the abandoned energon mine where the Decepticons were holed up.
"Right here boss" he called
"Where have you been?" Came the irritated reply.
"Collecting your surprise" I stepped out from behind him and into my father's field of view.
"Shadowfire!" Megatron exclaimed, demeanour instantly changing; from stern and violent Decepticon leader to loving sire in the space of a second.
"Hey Oppi, mind if I hang with the 'Cons for a while? The Autobots think I'm going on a 3 month road trip"
"Of course not sweetspark"

_____________________

Over the course of my stay with the Decepticons I was trained, actually getting to spar in my proper form for a change. Screamer and I quickly became good friends, and often left the hideout and tore through the desert racing each other. I learned more about the Decepticons too, noticing that there wasn't much of a difference between them and the Autobots. They were taught to hate each other since they were created but had no real reason to do so. The 'Cons were a little more ruthless and rough in their mannerisms but that was understandable. They were more poorly equipped than their counterparts, there were few bonds of friendship holding them together, and as far as I could tell the only thing preventing anarchy was their common fear of my sire. I enjoyed my time with them, and picked up things that I never would've learnt otherwise. But unfortunately my three months were up pretty soon, and I left them and enrolled into the military, easily fitting into a specialist unit.

It was hard, spending every day in my holoform, and almost impossible to keep my secret. But I managed and came out of my training qualified to work with NEST, totally exhausted and never wanting to spend more than an hour straight in my holoform again.