Fusion-'verse. Various locations. Reformat ((Warnings: character death))

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Megatron frowned deeply as he listened to Rodimus Prime's report, his arms crossed over his chest where he and Oriana Pax's combined sparks ached at the words of the young Autobot leader.

"Soundwave and his recorders were found dead, with no marks on them. Skywarp and Thundercracker are missing." Rodimus' jaw clenched. "The bodies were left where they lay, and the security footage was wiped. It's the same MO as for the attack at the rebel base, except that no one disappeared there."

Megatron glanced at where Ultra-Magnus sat with bowed head next to him at the table, then looked over at Jazz, who was leaning against the door frame and staring blankly out into the Cybertronian dawn.

Rumbling, he bowed his own head, fists clenching. Soundwave... faithful retainer. And Starscream... I carried her through the bowels of Unicron to save her life, and then carried her through the bowels of Primus to try and get her life restored... and she's gone too now.... I will never be able to right the wrongs that I did to her.

-Primus has her.- Oriana's thought was a soft caress.

His optics flickered, and then he nodded. -That... doesn't ease the pain, Optimus.-

-I know.-

He shut his optics off, trying to lose himself in her spark snuggle, but then leaped to his feet and sent the table crashing onto its side as Jazz fell with a strangled cry.

"No!" Rodimus vaulted the fallen furniture and rushed the figure who stepped inside over the black and white mech's body.

As Megatron, Oriana, and Ultra-Magnus watched in startled horror the intruder punched a hand through the young Prime's chest, then shot him at point blank range as she wrenched the Matrix free and held it up with a triumphant cackle.

It was a Seeker, yet not a Seeker. Slender. Black as the death of hope. She swept the room with a crimson gaze that was pitiless, scornful, and mad.

"What... Starscream?" Megatron took a step toward her, but then stopped as she pointed that fatal weapon at his chest.

"Starscream was a weak fool," she said, her voice cold as the void of space. "She threw her life away for naught. Look on me and despair, for I am Deathscream!"

He frowned at the feeling of wrongness that came from her. "What do you want?"

She smirked and kicked Hot-Rod aside, then sauntered closer, not looking around at the two other Transformers who followed her inside. "It's not a matter of what I want. You want this trinket, and Unicron wants a word with you. You know what to do."

Her smirk widened as she pointed her gun at Ultra-Magnus' head without taking those fiery cold optics from Megatron's.

"My lady," said the femme who had followed her. "There's a squadron of Seekers coming."

"Oh really?" Deathscream stood poised for a moment, but then transformed and shot skyward, going through the ceiling and roof as though they had been paper. "Cyclonus! Scourge! To me as we hunt!"

"No!" shouted Megatron, launching himself after her, only to fall with a clatter and a grunt as Ultra-Magnus flying tackled him to the ground.

"Seeker squadron, abandon attack!" shouted the Autobot over his communicator. "I repeat, abandon attack and disperse! Get the slag out of here NOW!"

"Let go of me!" Megatron wrenched an arm free, only to sputter and see static as Ultra-Magnus punched him in the face.

"You go out there now, and you die! Just like Jazz and Rodimus did...."

Oriana's rage, which had been as hot as his own, faltered and tumbled toward grief. Megatron winced and stopped fighting. "Let me go."

"No stupid stuff?" Ultra-Magnus looked at him, wincing slightly as the sound of a fuselage hitting the ground came from outside.

"No... stupid stuff." Megatron's voice was resigned. "Let go."

The Autobot did so, eying him warily the whole way. "They're gone. Some kind of warp gate."

"That explains how they came and went at the other sites," said Oriana as her mate pushed himself up and turned toward Hot Rod's crumpled shell. "Though, if that was Starscream... she must have been changed days ago. And Soundwave...."

"I don't want to think about it." Megatron hunkered down and gently turned Hot Rod over, his optics switching off for a moment as he saw the peace on the young mech's dead face. "Primus...."

-He's with Arcee, and Springer,- murmured Oriana brokenly, her affection and grief for the two murdered mechs flooding her senses.

Megatron stared, trying to understand the feelings and how to deal with them, then just cradled Hot Rod's broken shell and wept.

Comments

Chapter 2

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"You know I have to go." Megatron stood some hours later in his quarters, his optics purple as Oriana silently shared control of them.

"No. If you go you die, and Cybertron needs you and Optimus more than ever now," said Ultra-Magnus flatly from where he stood in front of the door with his arms folded.

"At least let me go to the temple of Primus." Megatron clenched his fists, thinking of all the ways that Oriana knew to disable a mech without killing them.

"Like I'm going to fall for that trick." Ultra-Magnus snorted. "Optimus got me with it twice when we were young. I'm not that stupid."

-What?- He nearly growled at his mate.

-Err... tell them you're going somewhere safe... and then go and try to save the world. Remember that time you blew my arm off and I showed up to stop your plan anyway? I told him I was going to see the medic.-

-#$%@#$#@!- Megatron banged their head against the wall, then put up an arm to lean his forehead against. "Must I remain a prisoner in my own quarters? I do need to talk to the servant. She'll be able to tell us what to do."

"You'll have to wait till I can find you an escort. I'm sorry." Ultra-Magnus turned and left, pausing for a moment to speak to the guards.

"Has he always been...."

"Too by the book? Sometimes." Oriana sighed with his intakes, then looked around. "Primus... I know you can hear us. We need help, please?"

Megatron started as his communicator crackled and then came online.

//T'boss says yer after needin' some advice, b'y?// said a young female voice uncertainly. //Somet'in's got 'im right $%#$@#%$@# off.//

//Where's Auspex?// asked Megatron eagerly. //We need to talk to her.//

//She's gone t' Nexus t' see what's got t' boss rubbed wrong. But I's after bein' able t' get ye answers, too, b'y.//

//I can't even understand half of what you're saying.// He rubbed his forehead, feeling a pain in his processor.

//Fine.// The rookie servant switched to pure, Iacon-tinted Cybertronian. //How's this? It's not me that has the answers anyway. It's Primus.//

//True.// He perked hopefully. //What happened?//

There was a moments' silence, and then her voice came back, sounding grimmer. //Unicron ganked Starscream's spark as she was coming to see us, and reformatted it. Then she attacked the rebel base, and yours.//

//She killed her own spark-mate?// said Oriana, her voice full of disbelief and horror.

//Not hers. That's not Starscream anymore, though Primus says that Starscream might still be buried deep inside. He can catch faint glimmers, but otherwise he can't sense her or the other two.// She beeped softly in what could only be surprised cursing. //And he can't find Soundwave or the other dead at all.//

//What?// Megatron looked up, his optics widening and fading toward red as his personality took ascendancy. //What about Hot Rod and Jazz?//

//Gone like the rest.//

//How can Primus lose sparks???//

//With some of the sneaky slag Unicron can pull? It's not as hard as he'd like it to be.// Hormah grumbled.

//Can he get them back?//

//Maybe.//

//But... I thought he was invincible.//

//He's not God.// She beeped a bit, then switched back to understandable words. //He could easily meet Unicron face to face. But they're equal opposites, and that much power could destroy the entire solar system... or worse. That's why he always works through us.//

//We can't just sit here and let Deathscream kill whoever she pleases!// he protested, feeling a surge of his old anger. //And they have the Matrix!//

//Easy,// soothed Hormah. //That's not what he's planning to do. He wants his children back. All of them. But like I say, he can't go by himself.//

Megatron blinked. //I can go.//

//Are you up to taking a passenger?//

//Can he do that?//

//Would I ask otherwise?//

//...You're insubordinate.//

//Yup. So?//

//Yes! Of course!// He scowled and clenched his fists. //Stop toying with me.//

//Sorry.// She sighed, sounding sad and contrite. //I get a little smart aft when I'm stressed. He says he's coming, so be ready.//

Chapter 3

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He paused to look at the edifice in the distance, his brow plate furrowing in a frown as he studied the enemy. -I thought we'd killed him.-

-He lives,- came Primus' reply, tinged with sadness and regret.

Megatron shifted his shoulders, acutely aware of the amount of power that was currently stored within his shell. -Are you sure he's not going to notice you? I feel as though I'm lit up like a human Christmas tree.-

-I'm sure.- The words were accompanied by feelings of assurance and comfort.

The grey mech scowled absently, folding his arms over his chest as he remembered the last time he'd met Unicron. Badly damaged from battling the forces around Autobot city, he'd been judged dead weight by the rest of his crew, who had forced Soundwave to eject himself and the even more badly damaged Starscream from the flagging Astrotrain. Convicted by the yet unacknowledged spark of Optimus Prima that was fused to his own, he'd gotten a grip on his helplessly drifting second in command and then proceeded to maintain that grip through being taken on board the largest mech he'd ever seen.

Unicron, devourer of worlds. His internals had closely resembled most beings' conception of hell.

He had tried every method of persuasion and threat to convince Megatron to submit to him, but the grey mech, shielded by the inactive Matrix stored in his chest, had rebuffed all attempts. Unicron had finally given up with disgust and gone on to other things. Like eating the ship that contained Hot Rod, Ultra-Magnus, the Dinobots, and Wheelie.

Hot Rod had stumbled across him as he sat, still holding onto Starscream's wrist as he faded toward stasis lock. The Matrix had lit up, and the young Autobot had taken it and defeated the Devourer. Megatron and Starscream had been taken in by the Autobots and repaired, and Oriana's presence had been discovered. The Transformer Alliance had been born. And everyone had thought that they were on their way to a happily ever after.

-Don't give up hope,- said Primus softly. -The battle has already been won, this is but a skirmish.-

-Right.- Megatron mentally reached for Oriana, feeling strengthened by her ready spurt of affection and encouragement, then started forward again. As he went he noticed that Primus' presence seemed to be shrinking, fading, becoming impossible to sense. -What?-

-I'm with you,- came the last reassuring thought, and then it felt as though he and Oriana were alone.

He set his jaw and kept going, only to draw up sharply as another presence touched him. -Unicron!-

-So. You have returned,- said the cold, deep voice. -Have you reconsidered my offer?-

-What offer?- Megatron scowled, hands clenching into fists. -Deathscream didn't say anything about any offer.-

-The offer I made when we first met. To serve me and to rule the universe in my name.-

-Hmph. I'd tell you where to stick that offer, but you don't have those systems anymore.-

-Foolish insect.- There was the faintest trace of easy amusement in Unicron's infliction. -You have no hope of resisting me.-

Megatron started as he felt coldness bloom in his spark, then stiffened as it spread like freezing fire through his body. Agony overwhelmed his senses, and he roared soundlessly into the void of space.

A glow surrounded him. Specs and stats seemed to scroll across his mind's eye. His processor drowned, and awareness of Oriana faded with knowledge of himself.

Megatron ceased to exist.

Chapter 4

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Galvatron came online slowly, his optics flickering and then focusing sharply on the black femme who knelt in front of him as he lay propped against the wall. "...Deathscream."

"Welcome back to the land of the living, my lord." Her cold smirk passed over him, showing just a hint of concern.

He growled at her and pushed to his feet, his gaze imperiously sweeping the small room they were in as he headed for the door and passed into what looked like a control room.

"All hail Galvatron!" The mech known as Cyclonus straightened and put his fist to his chest in salute, ignoring the pink-clawed Scourge as she hid behind him.

"Hail Galvatron!" echoed Deathscream from behind him.

He scowled, optics flickering disinterestedly toward where three beings very similar to Scourge stood and skittishly cried their own hail. Hmmph. Sweeps. Useless cannon fodder.

His gaze dropped to the cannon on his arm, and his expression lightened as an engaging notion touched his processor. Before the Sweeps had time to do more than cry out they'd been sent flying by a blast.

Galvatron laughed, the sound deep and contemptuous, then shoved past his third in command to scowl at the screens. "Report!"

"All is quiet, sir," said Cyclonus respectfully, then stepped out of the way so that Deathscream could take her rightful place at their commander's side.

Discontented grumbling greeted his words, and Galvatron quickly keyed in commands that would bring up the locations of nearby sentient holdings. "It's time we focused on the main mission."

"Yes," said Deathscream softly, looking pleased.

"Unicron will need new optics, and a new body." Galvatron studied the screens' reports, then pointed. "The Autobot base on Earth bears optic arrays of the right size. Scourge, take the Sweeps and bring them to me at once!"

"Yes, Galvatron!" The slender femme leaped forward and struck her chest in salute, then transformed and jetted from the room with her minions trailing.

He didn't watch her go, already turning his attention to other things. "Trypticon is on Chaar."

"Yes, my lord," said Deathscream, head tilted slightly as she awaited his next words, cold optics fixed attentively on his face. Behind her Cyclonus was also intent and expectant.

Galvatron frowned at them, wondering why it seemed as if something was wrong.

"My lord?" Deathscream drooped slightly as he continued to study their faces.

He growled and shook his head, then leaped into the air and headed for the exit. "We hunt!"

"Hail Galvatron!" They transformed and followed at his heels.


Later



The opposition had been pitiful. Galvatron himself had torn the spark from the lumbering Decepticon mobile base and then taken great joy out of razing the newly built city that Trypticon had gone down fighting to protect with the big Decepticon's own weapons. Knowing that Unicron, though impatient for his new body, would not mind their having further sport, he then set their new toy loose on the supposedly hidden Quintesson base in the next solar system before wiping out a few pirates and random freighters. Abrim as he was with his master's dark power, he needed very little in the way of recharge time, but finally- three days out on their hunting trip- he finally threw himself down on a bunk in an abandoned room and switched his optics off to rest.

His dreams were troubling. It seemed that two voices called to him, and that he knew those voices and cared about them. They pleaded with him to 'come back', and to his utter confusion and rage the sadness in their tones touched something in his spark.

He snapped awake and stared up at the bunk above him, then turned to look as he registered a weight on his arm and against his side.

Deathscream curled there, smirking even in recharge as she snuggled against him, and he felt his own mouth twitch upward as he took in her sleek beauty.

Then he frowned as that sense of something wrong which had touched him on the first day made itself known again. But what could be wrong? He was doing his master's will; resting with his mate at his side....

His mate....

Blue optics seemed to rise between himself and the femme beside him; optics that looked at him with sadness and an emotion that he couldn't recognize but which pulled at his spark. Unbidden, a name seemed to brush at his mind.

Oriana.

Galvatron blinked, then scowled and sat up, roughly shoving Deathscream over the side of the bunk as he banished the processor ghosts with a snort of irritation.

"My lord?" Deathscream sat up, blinking bewilderment.

"Get out of my sight!" he growled.

She froze at the anger in his voice, then scrambled to her feet and fled, confusion still clear in every line of her frame.

Galvatron shoved himself up abruptly and stalked to the control room, where Cyclonus snapped to attention with hail and salute.

"Turn us toward Unicron. I'm tired of this slag." He threw himself into his command chair.

"Yes, sir." The other mech speedily put word to action.

Galvatron didn't watch, nor did he notice Deathscream slip onto the bridge a moment later and hover uncertainly in her usual place at his shoulder as he sat and glowered holes into the screen.

Chapter 5

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Scourge and the Sweeps shot to their feet as he strode into the room, saluting and then cringing as he bashed two of them aside to get to the terminal.

Cyclonus gave his weaker sister a crimson glare as she looked at their leader sadly. "Did you get them?"

"Yes." She turned and quickly walked to the corner where the two globes lay resting on a pad of fabric that looked like it had been a human flag. "Do you want them now?"

"Get them installed," said Galvatron shortly without turning away from his course plotting.

"Yes, sir!" Scourge scooped them up and flew up toward where Unicron's empty sockets let in the cold light of the stars, two of her Sweeps trailed her.

Deathscream scowled at the last one, which was wrapped in his wings and looking slightly unfocused, then turned away from him with a sneer to watch Galvatron. Galvatron, for his part, ignored her with hunched shoulder.

"Are you damaged?" Cyclonus inquired of the Sweep.

"Yes, sir." The minion lifted his chin in an attempt at courage.

"How badly?"

"Scourge says that I'll be recovered by tomorrow." Ruby optics darted about fearfully behind their glass as the Sweep shivered slightly.

Cyclonus eyed him, then decided it would be a waste of resources to terminate him and turned on his heel to head toward a door behind the computer console.

"Where are you going?" came the sharp demand from in front of the terminal.

Cyclonus paused, watching the ailing Sweep scurry for cover. "To check the spare sparks."

"Waste of space," grumbled Galvatron, then frowned through his scowl as something seemed to perk within him. "We don't need anymore bumbling, brainless minions fumbling their missions and bringing shame to the name of Unicron."

Cyclonus lifted a brow as a blast from his commander's gun vaporised the damaged Sweep. "Should I terminate them?"

"No. Unicron wants them." Galvatron returned to his work.

"Yes, sir." Cyclonus left the room.

"My lord?" said Deathscream softly as she felt the floor beneath them begin to move.

"What?" growled Galvatron without looking at her.

She quailed, confused and hurt by his response, but continued. "Where are we going?"

"To Cybertron to get our master a body." He absently scratched at a spot of mech fluid he'd found on his chest, then resumed sending commands to the drone that had been Trypticon as it pushed Unicron's head toward their destination.

"Of course!" breathed Deathscream, her face lighting with understanding. "That will work perfectly! And then the Autobots won't have anywhere to hide."

Part of Galvatron wanted so badly to be pleased as the control room echoed with her delighted laughter, but the part that had twice noticed the wrongness only glowered irritably and turned his back to the black femme.

-You are not pleased with your mate, Galvatron?-

He started, spark fluttering in a slight fear that he didn't fully understand. -She hasn't done anything to displease me. I'm just eager to get you restored. Everything else grates on my patience.-

-She can be replaced.-

-No, Unicron. Deathscream does her job well, and she's loyal.-

-Very well.- The awareness of his master's presence faded, leaving him scowling at the screen in wrathful confusion.

Chapter 6

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He stood in Unicron's mouth, his arms folded across his chest as he stared down at the planet Cybertron through the slight haze of their stealth shield. He could sense his master's focus on the softly shining orb, and the lack of attention to his own self left him with a strange restless feeling in his spark. Not jealousy. Jealousy was the angry fire he felt at the thought of anyone else taking what belonged to him. This almost felt like something... awakening.

Scowling, he turned away and walked inside, making his way to the chamber where the spare sparks were kept. The damaged Sweep had already been replaced, and the new one was currently with her brothers and Scourge down on the surface of Cybertron.

Pausing a moment, he contemplated the empty flask where her spark had rested before turning his attention to the rest of the sparks. Six of them pulsated with lively light, but the other three seemed faded, though they moved more within the confines of their flasks.

Galvatron touched the nearest of these with his finger, trying to understand the difference, then jerked away as something spoke in his mind.

-What?? Unicron? Master?-

-No.- There was a soft wash of sadness and apology. -I am Primus.-

He frowned, hand unconciously closing over the flask. -Who's Primus?-

-Creator of sparks. Your creator, child, though you don't remember me.-

-No. Unicron created me.- Galvatron shook his head, though he could feel the truth in the words of this unknown being. And then he realized that the voice was familiar. -I'm recharging again... because you're the voice from the dream.-

-I called you.- Primus' voice was heavy with grief. -But you didn't answer.-

-I'm... not dreaming.- His hand tightened as his spark shivered with fear.

-No. I am real.-

-But... if you're real, then that femme... Oriana....-

-Optimus Prima. Your mate.-

"Deathscream is my mate!" he took a step back, face creasing with anger.

-Yes.- Wordless comfort touched him, strange and frightening, but at the same time familiar and welcome. -Oriana was one with Megatron.-

His optics widened slightly. -Megatron.... I know that name.-

-You were reformatted from him, as Deathscream was reformatted from Starscream and Cyclonus was from Skywarp,- acknowledged Primus.

-Then he's gone, and there's only me left.-

-Yes.- The being's sorrow made his spark flutter.

-Wait... are you inside me? And if Megatron became me, who did Oriana become? Where is she?-

The sadness opened up like a gulf within him. -I don't know.-

-Unicron will know.- Galvatron started to reach out to his master, but then stopped as he remembered the mighty mech's cold offer to terminate and replace Deathscream. -...Did he have something to do with her disappearance?-

-He did.-

The flask in Galvatron's hand shattered, and the faded spark floated free. Surprised, he dropped the shards and opened his hand, and the spark rested gently in his palm. Once more the feel of another's presence filled his senses, and once more he nearly recognized it. -Who are you?-

-I was Soundwave, communications officer to Megatron, then co-leader of the Decepticons,- came the slightly echoing reply in his mind.

-Who are you now?- He frowned.

-Dead.-

-What??- He nearly tossed the spark away from him, but then stopped at the feelings and images that he sensed from it.

Respect

Hope

Wistfulness

-You were Starscream's mate....- He winced, feeling guilty. -And I've taken her from you.-

-She was never mine,- said Soundwave softly, his feelings full of forgiveness. -Take care of Deathscream.-

-I... will.- As Galvatron watched the softly glowing orb lifted off, fading as it went, till he could no longer see or sense it. -Where...?-

-I have him.- Sadness and gladness mingled equally in Primus' feelings. -He's come home.-

-You created him... can't you repair him?- Galvatron scowled unconciously, feeling an unaccustomed discomfort in his spark and a strange static in his vocalizer.

-I could. But he is tired and desires the peace of the song. Do not grieve, child. This is not your fault. Starscream's change is not your fault. In the end all will be one, and all things will be as they were meant to be.-

Galvatron's scowl deepened, and then he reached out and smashed the two other flasks that contained dead sparks, watching as the sparks floated and faded. His processor received the images of two mechs; one black and white, and the other bright with flame patterns. Both their faces were weary, and he could sense their desire to go to join that song that had called Soundwave away.

-Did I kill them?- For the first time, thought of a death touched him with something other than amusement.

-No. Unicron killed them.- Slight anger touched the sadness in Primus' voice.

-Why?- He startled himself with the force of his demand.

-He is the Chaos Bringer. He kills for the sake of destruction and confusion.-

-No more.- Galvatron clenched the fist that had held Soundwave's spark, raising it as his face twitched in a snarl. -I will serve him no more. He will not terminate Deathscream. This has to end.-

Then he paused and looked at the six remaining sparks. -They're different.-

-They live.-

-Can you give them bodies?-

-Not now. But I can protect them and send them somewhere safe.-

-Please do it. I don't want to kill anyone else right now.- Except for one....

A soft light grew around the flasks, and Galvatron felt the surge of power as they vanished.

"My lord?" Deathscream stepped through the door, hesitant question on her face.

He turned and pulled her close, hiding his face against her helm as his vision blurred.

She startled, but then hugged him fiercely. "My lord, what ails you? Is there anything I can do to fix it?"

He didn't reply except to put a hand to the back of her head and make his embrace more protective. -Primus, can you stop him?-

-Yes.- Affection and reassurance warmed the sadness and anger.

-Do you need to use me? Is that why you're in my spark?-

-It would make things easier, but I ask nothing that you are not willing to give.-

-Will Cyclonus and the others be safe?-

-They're on Cybertron. No harm will come to them.-

He nodded, still holding Deathscream tightly. -Do it.-

Chapter 7

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Galvatron came online slowly, then groaned and flicked his optics on and off a few times before he got them focused on the planet that hung above him at a greater distance than he remembered it last being. Random rubble floated around him, and he squinted at it before straightening abruptly and looking around. //Deathscream?//

//Here!// She shot into sight and pulled up short a few paces away from him, drawing something white close to her chest. //...My lord Galvatron?//

//I'm not your lord.// He reached for her. //I'm only Galvatron.//

She came to him unhesitatingly, a glad smile on her faceplate though her optics were quizzical and a little confused. //Yes, my l... Galvatron.//

//Good.// He sighed and called for the others, relaxing as he got their replies. -Primus?-

-I'm here.- The voice sounded a little subdued, but the soft thread of triumph was clear. -Are you well, child?-

-Hrmmm. A little dizzy. Tired....- He frowned down at the thing that Deathscream was holding as it started to glow softly. //What?//

//I don't know what it is.// She held it up and regarded it with a frown of her own. //But it doesn't seem threatening....//

-The Matrix of Leadership,- said Primus wearily. -It's yours now, Galvatron.-

-...Leadership of what?- He blinked confusion. -Do I need it to lead my team?-

-No. Not your team. All Transformers. Autobots and Decepticons. I need you to be their commander now.-

-...Primus, we killed a lot of them. They won't want me anywhere near them.-

-I'll go with you.- Comfort touched him as he hugged Deathscream and frowned deeply. -No harm will come to you or those you love. I can promise you that.-

His frown changed to a scowl, but his spirit, still broken and slightly tender from Megatron's trials, bowed to Primus' authority. -I'd better not take the others with me to start with. I don't want anyone to think we're attacking again.-

-No. But I'll go with you.-

He nodded, then took the Matrix from his mate and studied it. //What do I do with it? Hang it around my neck?//

//No.// Deathscream patted his chestplate. //It goes over your spark. At least that's where the mech that I took it from... wore it.//

//What's wrong?// Galvatron looked at her sharply.

//When I killed him it seemed right and good, but now....// She frowned, her optics dulling.

//I know.// He kissed her on the forehead, seeing in his mind's eye that brightly coloured mech whose spark he'd freed back in the chamber in Unicron. //He's alright now. Primus has him.//

//I'm confused,// she murmured. //Everything's different, and I don't understand it.//

//You will. We serve Primus now, and he'll make everything work out.// He gave her a reassuring grin that made her face brighten.

Chuckling, he let go of her so that he could open his chestplate and tuck the Matrix inside, then stiffened and gasped at the feeling of power that went through him. -Primus???-

-All is well. You will not be harmed, child.-

He relaxed, the trust that Unicron had programmed into him transfered easily to this new master. -Yes, sir.-

Sadness touched him, and he wondered at it, but then was distracted and frowned slightly at Deathscream as she carefully pushed his chest panel shut.

She tilted her head at him, and he put a hand on her shoulder as he looked around and called for the others.

They came, swooping in from all directions, starlight glinting faintly off their alt modes.

He smiled as they transformed, then let go of Deathscream to put his hands on Scourge's shoulders. //You don't need to be afraid, little sister. No one's going to hurt you or your Sweeps anymore.//

She flinched and cringed, but then paused and looked up at him with wide optics before nodding slowly. //Yes... yes, sir.//

//What would you have us do?// Cyclonus frowned, optics flicking from Galvatron to Deathscream.

//Wait here.// Galvatron let go of Scourge and included them all with his gaze. //I don't want any of you moving until I call you, or until Primus tells you to do something else.//

//But... Primus doesn't talk to us,// said Deathscream.

//He will, if he has to.// He looked around at the uneasy frowns that now surrounded him. //Don't worry. Everything will be alright.//

Cyclonus hesitated a split instant, but then straightened and put his fist to his chest. //Hail Galvatron!//

//Hail Galvatron!// Scourge and the Sweeps brightened at the familiar refrain, their faces showing hope instead of their usual fearful look.

Galvatron squared his jaw, wondering at his unwillingness to leave them, but then pulled Deathscream close to give her a last kiss on the forehead before turning and flying away without backward glance.

Chapter 8

[random_xtras]

Ultra-Magnus shifted in his seat, struggling to focus on the report that Mirage was giving on the state of Earth.

"You shouldn't be up yet." Kup scowled at him. "You took a lot of damage out there."

"Can't... just lay around... while... good mechs die." The red, white, and blue mech hid his hands to try and keep his old friend from seeing how badly they were shaking.

"With respect," said Mirage, resting his elbow on the table and leaning toward him. "What good is your killing yourself going to do anyone? I think the invaders have that covered quite well enough."

"Easy, kid." Kup patted the spy on the shoulder, then jumped to his feet as Bumblebee clipped the doorframe on the way in. "Which way are they coming from this time?"

"No!" cried the yellow Minibot, flailing excitedly. "Tetra squad is back!"

"What?" Kup sent his chair flying and nearly followed it as he headed for the door.

"It's a trap!" said Ultra-Magnus fearfully.

Mirage just faded out of sight and followed Kup, leaving Bumblebee to help their leader as he could.

It appeared that the little scout was right. As the assembled mechs watched six of the missing and presumed dead Seeker squad overflew and then circled widely to bleed off speed before landing.

"Who's that with them?" Kup frowned, his hand already reaching for his gun.

"It looks like an invader!" Ultra-Magnus tried to keep a firm grip on his own as he leaned against the wall.

It did, indeed, look like the same kind of mech that had been causing the widespread mayhem and slaughter throughout Alliance space. Tall, and with an elaborately crowned helm, he gleamed a fresh-minted purple in the light of the noonday sun as he flew at the center of the Seeker formation.

"Wait!" said Bumblebee. "He's not wearing the same mark!"

"...That's a red Decepticon sigil." Kup frowned deeply, trying to think what it could mean.

"He's a friend!" called the first of the Seekers to land, her hands lifted in the universal sign of peace. "He saved our lives!"

The mech in question landed easily, and then lifted his own hands as he strode forward, his expression showing just a hint of uncertainty despite the latent power and grace in his every movement.

"Remind me not to pick any fights with him," murmured Bumblebee, wide-eyed. Then he blinked as the newcomer paused and looked at each of them before dropping to his knees and bowing his head.

"Who are you?" demanded Kup.

"Galvatron," came the low, gravelly reply, and all the assembled mechs started at the familiarity of the voice. "Please, don't be afraid. I come in peace, because Primus asked me to."

"Primus?" Ultra-Magnus looked up from his struggle against gravity.

"Galvatron...." Kup scowled. "You're the guy that led those raids. You're the leader of those glitches that wiped out Imperial City and Denver!"

The purple mech's head went lower. "I am."

They waited for several minutes, but then realized that he wasn't going to elaborate.

"And you expect us to believe that some mythological being from the tall tales sent you here?" Kup snorted and scowled.

"He wanted me to bring this back." Galvatron's hand slowly went to his chest and then opened it.

"The Matrix!" Ultra-Magnus lost the fight and wound up sitting in a crumpled heap as he stared.

"...And it's active." Kup gaped, then looked at the younger mech's face. "Where's Oriana?"

Galvatron's jaw worked. "Primus doesn't know."

"What about Megatron?" asked Bumblebee, stepping toward him. "You sound like him... and you kinda look like him, too."

"He was reformatted."

The little yellow scout frowned and peered into his face. "Megatron? Is that you?"

Galvatron shut off his optics. "No. I'm not Megatron. He's gone. I'm sorry."

"Well... I'd say 'no big loss', but he was kinda shaping up pretty good there at the end," muttered Kup, scowling.

Bumblebee reached out and carefully pushed Galvatron's chest shut, his own optics dim with sadness and sympathy. "Were those your friends who took Metroplex's eyes?"

"My sister and brothers." Galvatron looked at him uncertainly, wondering at the little being's standing so close to him. "We can't give them back, though... I think they were destroyed with Unicron."

"Whoa, whoa. What do you mean, 'destroyed with Unicron'?" Kup strode over to stand by Bumblebee and frown down at the kneeling mech. "Are you sure this time?"

"Primus is." Galvatron returned his gaze evenly, his crimson optics meeting the faded blue ones of the old Autobot. "I can't remember how it happened, but when I woke up there was junk floating all around me."

Kup studied his optics and expression for a long moment, considering how the purple mech had been answering their questions. "What do you and your brothers and sisters intend to do next?"

Galvatron frowned deeply with confusion. "I don't know. What Primus tells us."

"Is that why you destroyed those cities and ships? Because Primus told you?"

The younger mech's face twisted. "No, sir. Unicron told us to do that. He reformatted us."

"Well, slag," said Kup softly, then turned to look at Ultra Magnus. //He's just a kid. I don't think he had the foggiest clue that he was serving the wrong guy.//

//People still died,// returned the other sternly. //Something has to be done about that.//

//You going to go up against the Chosen of the Matrix?// asked Kup sceptically.

//That might not even be the real Matrix!// Ultra-Magnus froze, his optics widening slightly.

"What?" Kup turned back to Galvatron, expecting to see that he'd turned into something creepy, like maybe a Quintesson, but instead saw that the artifact inside the purple mech's chest was glowing so brightly that the light was leaking out through the joins of his armor.

Galvatron's optics were wide with surprise as he looked down at himself. "...Primus?"

"No. It's me." A faint outline of Rodimus Prime took form beside him, frowning irritably at Kup. "Look, guys, I know you're suspicious because he did bad things and all, but Primus forgives him, and I forgive him, and I really wanna get back to the song and the others. So can we all just forgive and forget and be a big happy family again?"

Galvatron and Ultra Magnus were both staring at the ghost blankly.

He looked around and grinned the grin that had died with Arcee and Springer, optics dancing. "Please?"

Silence greeted him, but then Bumblebee tilted his head. "Do you know where Optimus is?"

Rodimus' grin faded. "No. But I know where she was."

"...Fused with Megatron."

"Right."

Bumblebee's face fell. "So... she's gone?"

The ghost put an insubstantial hand on his shoulder. "Remember, in the end everything will work out alright."

"Right." The little scout perked, then turned to look at Kup.

"Get out of my sight, you pain in the aft punk," the old soldier growled at Rodimus. "Go do what you're supposed to be doing, for once."

Rodimus just chuckled and vanished.

Kup glanced at the Seekers, who were all giving he and Ultra-Magnus anxious frowns, then turned back to the non-plussed Galvatron. "Get up, kid, and come inside. I think we have to talk."