Lockout: A Transformers Story

Chapter 20: Wings of Primus

{I have a love hate relationship with this chapter. It's really good, yet it tends to murder the heart. I dedicate this one to my best friend/sister because darkbolt is the character I made for her. I'm sorry sis, I know that you will hate this chapter, but it is very necessary!}

Audio receptors ringing, my spark aching while bullets rain through the battlefield. I forcefully pressed my back against the wall of a large building, hiding in the shadows. A small breath echoed throughout my vents. Peering over the ledge at the battle below, I lifted the safety on my blaster. Bam. A hit. Bam. Another. Three autobots down, all from one Decepticon. Energon spilling from deep wounds, allowing me to duck back into the hiding place.

For a moment, I watched Lord Megatron square off against the great Optimus Prime. At times, war felt unreal.

"Princess?" A small voice echoed in the silence. Sun-gold orbs widened in realization, I turned, my nephew, only two in earth terms. The same age I was when my father left me for scrap on the streets of Cybertron.

Our optics met, his of a hot pink, swallowed in deep fear as he visibly trembled. The battlefield was no place for a child. Not one like him... His color was a deep sky blue and silver with dark purple accents. The son of Darkbolt and Megatron...

"Echo," I breathed, pulling my nephew to my arms. "What are you doing out here? It's dangerous." The child was too young, he wouldn't know much better. He would die if not under protection. He was a target.

"I followed Mama," his voice was so small compared to what I remembered. "Jetfire isn't very good at games..."

I took a deep breath, "Jetfire's care is safer than out here." I thought for a moment, then nodded. "We can play a game. Hide and seek, that's a good one. I will come find you." Echo smiled gently at those words, yet, I couldn't help worrying.

"Count to... twenty-five!"

"Yes, but you need to hide very well, okay?"

"Lockout!" My comm rang loudly, I couldn't help but turn.

"Hide, Echo. I'm going to count." He listened. As he hid, I began to count, firing at Autobots during that time. "One..." I breathed, taking a head shot. "Two..." Bam. Another down. I listened to the clash of metal, flames burning against the ground.

"Three."

I turned at the new voice, blaster aimed at the mech. My golden optics filled with horror, yet, remained with a dark glare. Echo wriggled and whined in the mech's grasp. "Let him go..."

The mech pulled Echo close to him with a dark grin. "I think I'll hold onto him a little longer."

"No!" I lunged for the mech, colliding with him. The mech dropped Echo, allowing me to scramble to my feet. The mech yanked my leg, fist colliding with my jaw. I coughed harshly, hearing a chilling child's scream. That was not the scream I would ever wish upon any audio receptors. The blaster shot echoed loudly in my helm. I gazed up now at the mech, dark purple orbs glaring darkly into my own.

His fist curled around my neck as he lifted me, the grasp cutting at my metal. My back harshly met the wall, energon was splattered against the floors. "Y-you're a monster, Blackstreak..." I managed.

"Me?" A chilling chuckle caused my energon to run cold. "Who will your sister blame for this accident?" He moved closer to me, releasing my neck and slamming a fist against my shoulder, lips close to my audio receptors. "Who will be the real monster in this situation?"

I struggled in his grasp, attempting to become free. My hand found its way to the dagger on my thigh, pressing it to his throat. "You know nothing."

"I know more than you believe." I pressed the blade slowly into his throat, energon drawing from the newly found wound.

"I want to watch you bleed."

The mech smiled cruelly as energon poured from his lips. The anger only fueled me, no longer allowing me to wish for his deep suffering. I plunged the dagger into his throat and yanked it from his body. His blood spraying as he fell. My frame had become littered with gore, golden optics gazing now at the lifeless body of my nephew. I lifted the young mech into my arms, carrying him to my teammates as Autobots fled.

Colors glared upon my features, a stern, emotionless gaze filled my thoughts as sun optics met with pink. My sister...

Pink... red... two of which united once before now drove apart at the scene of sorrow. The femme raced toward me, her hand caressing Echo's cold, energon stained cheek, suddenly, our optics met in a deep form of hate.

"You..." her breath was clear as she spat the words, taking her lifeless son into her arms, "You did this!"

My body jolted, causing me to bolt from the bed. My frame slammed into the wall as I fell, panting harshly. "Lockout?" Shockwave. "What's wrong?" His breath was soft. "Are you alright?"

Coolant slipped from my forehead, my hand grasping the wall as I sat on the floor. I nodded slowly, my subconscious coming clear that it was a memory... just a memory. A dream.

The mech got from the bed, pulling my now noticeably bare frame into his arms.

"I drank... didn't I?"

I drank quite often and it had caused the memories to flood back...

"Maybe."

"Is it... bad?"

"Not quite." His hand caressed my cheek. "You're ok, I promise."

Not... as much as you believe...