Lockout: A Transformers Story

Chapter 3: Found

{AU: I admit, this story has gotten places since I wrote it back in 2017. Lockout has changed in the past years, lots and lots.}

All was quiet in the laboratory as morning brushed into light. Shockwave was still sound asleep. I sat down on a chair in the lab, my spark ached harshly, my head spun, I felt like I couldn't breathe again. Sure, I had slept decently last night with Shockwave, but... with what our conversation topic was about last night, I was bothered, my processor was bothered. I knew deep in my spark that I had never once felt the presence of my brother cease, which did indeed give me hope.

Hope... that was something the Decepticons had never seen.

My golden optics wandered from the Space Bridge, to the Predacon Shockwave had been tinkering with, and then back to the Space Bridge. If I could just locate the Decepticons... The construction of the Space Bridge had been successful enough... if I just-

I stood, my feet taking me over to the communications computer. I took in a heavy breath, pushing a button, and I spoke.

"Lockout to Megatron, come in, Megatron." Static. "Megatron, do you read?" My fingers trembled, my spark racing. "Lockout to the Decepticons, does anyone read?" More static. I slammed my fist down on the keyboard in frustration.

"Lockout-" A dark voice came from behind me. Tears slowly began to slip down my cheeks, hot... sticky.

"Shockwave."

"You're only going to hurt your spark by trying..."

Hours flew by, and Shockwave was tinkering again with the Space Bridge, I heard a loud bang, then a loud charge. Suddenly, it had activated. Shockwave stumbled back, watching as two mechs walked through it.

"Shockwave-" I breathed in a nervous tone.

"I see it."

Megatron and Starscream.

I snarled at Starscream, teeth bared, pulling out my sword. Shockwave stopped me, putting me into place. Megatron seemed in pure and utter disbelief of who his optics had met with.

"This is such a surprise." Megatron gazed down at Starscream, snarling. "I thought you said they had perished."

"I guess I was incorrect, Lord Megatron, one of the troops told me! They lied!" He whimpered, unsure of how to lie his way out of the situation. I snarled once more, causing Shockwave to pull me next to him.

"Lockout, stay quiet." Shockwave whispered to me. "Lord Megatron," He then spoke up. "We awaited your arrival."

My brother, Megatron, led us through the groundbridge and onto the Decepticon warship, The Nemesis.

Mechs gazed over my frame upon arriving, making me feel slightly nervous, but couldn't be physically seen.

Arachnid stared at me for longer than expected, as did Breakdown. "Lockout," The femme spoke through a harsh word. "Look at you."

My frame was a dark gray and purple, I was coated in dirt and smoke, face still showing signs of beauty. Shockwave stood so close to my frame, I honestly thought he might... get too close and...

Lockout! Snap out of it!

"You've changed." Was that good?

Standing out in the bitter, harsh rain on the top of the Decepticon warship, stood the femme you've been hearing about for a while now, me. Glaring out over the horizon, a voice interrupted my thoughts, "Lockout, I believe you are owed a substance of recognition for Starscream's mistake."

I didn't turn to look at who the voice came from. Though I understood clearly.

"No. Nothing needs to be given. Anyone could see the fault in this." My voice stern. There was only silence between us, lightning flashed, I still did not turn to look at who I knew as my older brother. Megatron stood next to me, his crimson, glowing optics fixated on the dark horizon. "What was it like?" This caught my leader off guard.

"What do you mean?" His optics instead were fixed on me as I continued to watch the rain fall.

"When you heard that I wasn't returning. Was it believable?"

"For how you were back then, yes. Reckless. Soundwave couldn't believe Starscream as well as I did." A small smirk formed on my face as I huffed. My brother and I remained focused on the darkness.

Another flash of lightning lit the night sky. "Do you remember during the war when you trained me?" My optics lightened with my voice. Recalling what he said to me before. "You told me that if you master others, it's strength. But if I master myself, it's power." I knew that I had yet to discover myself. But the power Megatron spoke of was of darkness. He only nodded. The advice I trusted was either from him, Soundwave, or Shockwave. I stand as an individual. I sneak around when I want, I am untrusted due to the strength I hold.

Back before the war for Cybertron had begun, I was a very infamous criminal. I would murder anyone who got in my way.

At first, I wasn't comfortable with it when the scenario was thrown my way. As time went by, I continued to train for the worst. And when the war began, I joined my brother, along with my father. I became a soldier. Soundwave and Megatron were my mentors.

Soundwave helped me gain stealth and wit. Megatron taught me strength, battle maneuvers, and how to dodge attacks properly.

My kill levels were higher than that of Megatron's.

In my past, I knew that speaking or giving an action irrelevant to someone of a higher rank than you would put you in deep trouble. I had gained more by following this. And anyone who came my way, I promise they would regret it.