Lockout: A Transformers Story

Chapter 16: Awakening in the Dark

{I love this one, made up for the shorter chapter, this is much much longer!}

Limbs flailed, metal frame clattering to the ground. A shocked cry shivered past my lips, a deep breath echoing through my vents as I struggled to my feet. A dark hand reached for mine, offering a gentle assistance. I hesitated, finally getting to my feet. The idea of taking his hand was only a dream.

"I told you I wouldn't go easy," his features cradled a gentle smile.

"I should be on my way, really." I feared that if I stayed much longer that I would grow fond of being around him. I took a step back, turning away from the situation. My golden orbs shimmered in the dark of the room, in thought. A wish... almost. The mech reached for my arm, grasping it and pulling me back to face him, inches from my features. She, of all Decepticons?! I replayed in my helm, Ratchet's words. She is the most dangerous.

His azure optics swallowed with an emotion so strong. It could never- "You should forget me, helping a dangerous Decepticon breaks the tides of raging war."

"Maybe it's not so terrible to break the rules of the war..." the mech inched closer to my face, optics on my lips.

I placed a hand on his chest, causing him to stop. Our optics met in a soft trance, my words at a sad whisper, "You, of all Autobots, should understand the dangers of that outcome..." I broke from his soft hold, pausing at the door to gaze at him. "The world- our world, shall always be at war. Nothing can break that curse, Optimus..."

With my final words, I walked through the dark hall and into the large open space in the Autobot base. I felt optics land on me, scowls looming on their features. My heels clicked against the floor and a small human girl began running up the stairs that led to the tables meant for Cybertronians.

"Hey, wait!" I stopped, her little legs carrying herself to the edge of the table. Golden orbs gazed down at her, intimidatingly. "Wait!"

"I heard you the first time."

She took a breath, her pink and black hair bothering my optics. "So, which of the Decepticons are you? Someone cool I hope!"

"Lockout, I'm Megatron's sister. I'm also an assassin." My tone seemed cold and deep as I answered. I wasn't much for... humans.

"Whoa! So you've seen him as a little kid?"

What an odd question to ask. "Yes? But... not for very long-"

"Why?" I didn't feel comfortable answering that question, it violated both of our past and privacy.

"I-"

"Get away from her, now!" A voice lowered. Wheeljack... an old nemesis of mine, I could tell. His sword threatened my back. "Step away before I bury my sword in your spark."

I turned and took the sword from him, taking his arm and shoving the mech back. "Do I frighten you? Do I frighten the girl?" My optics grew wild, burning a deep red, stepping intimidatingly toward him. The other Autobots in the room aimed their blasters at me, ready for my next move.

"Enough! All of you!" A mech behind me spoke in a low snarl. I turned to see Optimus looming over me and wheeljack. The other Autobots lowered their blasters. "We are not Decepticons!"

I felt my spark drop at those words. I knew some of us could be ruthless, but not that ruthless...

Turning my helm away, a deep hitch in my throat. "I see..."

"Lockout-"

"Get me a ground bridge, I don't care where." I gazed at Ratchet, deep annoyance on my features. Inside... my spark ached.

"Lockout-"

"Save it, Prime. It's for another time." I gazed back at him before the ground bridge opened, then, I walked through it.

Gazing at the wall in my quarters, I thought about what had occurred. When I had arrived on the nemesis after leaving the Autobot base, they wondered what had happened to me. I told them that I had been taken by Starscream somewhere far off. He had beat me up there. I healed my wounds on my own and then after, called the decepticons to bring me back.

They believed it.

Darkbolt noticed something... off about me, gazing at me while fixing her bow. "Something on your mind, sis?"

"Hmm?" I gazed over to her, breaking through my thoughts.

"You've been gazing at the wall for an hour now." She admitted. "What's up?"

I didn't respond and lay on my bed, unsure of the way I felt.

"Lockout!"

"Nothing, okay?!" I huffed, getting to my feet. "Just... don't follow me, okay?" Wandering out the room and into the halls, I held my arms close to my body, pain in my spark. Why does it effect me so much...? I have Shockwave. Maybe Shockwave was what I needed.

Finally arriving where my feet finished taking me, I gazed out at the stars. The sky was beautiful at this time of night. I collapsed to my knees, remembering what I had done to my love, remembering the words even the Autobot leader had said. Maybe... maybe Starscream should've killed me during that fight.

It should've happened.

I should be dead.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, deep sobs slipping through my lips. I cried out to the allspark, spark screaming in pain. A burst of energy came from my body as I did so, causing the entire nemesis to rattle.

I was alone. I was afraid.

"Lockout?" A voice came. I didn't listen through my deep sobs of pain, sobbing into my palm. I was terrified of losing it all. "Lockout!"A mech scooped me into their arms, brushing my hair from my face. I didn't want him to see me so... broken. He held my hand, wiping the streaking tears from my flickering gold orbs.

"N-no... please. I-I don't want you to see me like this," I whispered.

Shockwave pulled me close to his chest. He knew how terribly I was hurting. He quieted me, stroking my hair. "That is most illogical," his voice grew low. "You must tell me what bothers you?"

"I.. can't..." You're not ready to see the monster...