Chapter 8

Ok so just for sake of the plot, someone's joining the Lost Light a lot earlier than expected. You'll see who now. Also don't think about it too much, it's a fanfiction.

The dream started as a nice one. They always do.

I was smaller, probably a sparkling at the age of maybe 2 or 3 considering how low my face was to the ground. The breeze that hit my cheeks told me my visor and mask were off.

I giggled madly as I ran as fast as my small pedes could carry me, scurrying over the grass to a patch of darker green in front of me. I squeezed through the clumps of bushes until I was in the middle of them. Here, there was a small opening at the base of a small tree that stood in the middle.

I moved up right against it and peered out a small gap in the leaves, a big grin on my face. There was no way they were going to find me.

Someone called out a short distance away so I ducked down to a crouch, holding my servos in front of my intake to stop the giggles from coming out.

I soon heard the same voice again and again, each time followed by a new one until they were a small group, slowly moving around. I could tell I was the last to be found.

I took a chance and lifted my helm so I could see out. I immediately retracted it though, when a flash of black followed by a red one went right by where I was. It was getting harder to suppress my laughter as whispering started behind the barrier of green that separated us.

I looked up when rustling was heard next to me but turned back when someone called out quite close to me, 'I wonder where Radio is!' The rough, deep voice said, clearly playing with me.

I grinned and pressed back against the tree, a small bit of laughter seeping out from between my digits.

Everything went silent for a moment until 'FOUND YOU!' Two voices rang out above me. I squealed when a pair of bots dropped down on either side of me before they both hugged me.

I laughed in delight and tried to hug them back with my small arms. The bushes moved and a black animal stepped through, grinning at me. I clicked and chirped at him in my sparkling language.

'Good job.' He said, nuzzling me. I smiled and clutched his helm as he lifted me and carried me out, the two bots next to him.

I was dropped on the grass but turned and stood by the animal, clicking and making grabbing motions up at him. Instead, the two mechs ran and both scooped me up. I let out a chorus of giggles as the bots twice my size each planted a kiss on either side of my face.

A set of heavy footsteps broke them apart but they both beamed and turned. I looked up just as a pair of strong blue servos picked my small frame up. I purred and snuggled into the touch.

'We found her!' One of the boys said proudly. The mech holding me laughed, 'Well done _____.' He said, kneeling to their height and wiggling his digits by my face, 'It seems she's getting better at hide and seek.'

I chirped and grabbed at the one closest to me, holding onto it. The two brothers laughed and jumped onto the mech holding me along with the black animal and some animals flying around his helm.

He laughed as he fell back, holding us all close. I looked up as someone else approached and a light laugh was heard off to the side.

I chirped happily when my carrier came into view, grinning down at us in amusement, 'Having fun?' She asked. I felt my sire shift, 'Why don't you join us?' He asked, quickly pulling her onto the pile.

She yelped in surprise but then laughed as we were enveloped in one big hug. I giggled and snuggled closer to my two brothers and creators.

But then the entire dream shifted.

My family disappeared and I found myself falling before I slammed into something hard. I groaned and opened my optics to find I was no longer a sparkling, now instead my proper age with my face mask on.

I carefully got to my pedes, the serenity of the previous dream fading quickly as I stared around at this new one.

Everything was black as far as I could see but the floor looked like water, rippling with every step I took.

'Hello?' I called into the void. I didn't really expect an answer but, 'Radio?' Someone yelled, 'Radiowave? That you?'

My spark skipped when I heard it, my ears not believing what they just picked up. 'Where are you?' It continued calling. I threw all caution to the wind and sprinted forward toward where I heard it coming from.

Nothing was going to stop me from reaching him.

I looked up to see a small black and white bot slowly materialize out of what seemed like mist and appear in front of me, his back turned and looking the other way.

'Rewind!' I yelled, reaching out for him. I was so close, he was right there. I picked up the pace, preparing to embrace my deceased friend for the first time in what felt like weeks.

But instead slammed into what felt like a wall. I stumbled back, dazed as I looked in front of me. The air rippled like there was some invisible barrier there. I then pressed my servo against the smooth wall.

'Rewind!' I cried, banging on it. He turned and looked at me but something was weird with him. He seemed to be glowing faintly and a circle of white light hovered just above his helm. The corners of his visor angled slightly, showing he was smiling, 'Radio!' He called, waving happily as though oblivious to my predicament.

'Rewind.' I whispered sadly, seeing how happy he was. Both my servos were pressed against the barrier at this point, my spark beating painfully.

Movement behind the mini bot caught my attention and I looked to see the rest of the Lost Light crew appearing behind him. They were all there, Chromedome, Fort Max, Rung, Tailgate, Whirl, Brainstorm, Skids, Drift, and even Pipes, who glowed and had a halo-like Rewind. The whole crew was there, calling and waving cheerfully to me, none of them seeing I was unable to come.

Tears started streaming as I strained against the wall, banging and pushing against it. I closed my optics and pressed my servos against it but no anvil. I clenched my fists and backed up before running at it, preparing for the impact on my shoulder.

But it wasn't there anymore. I stumbled as the wall disappeared. I emailed and looked up and saw them still there. My pedes started going and I ran for them.

But then I cried out as a sharp pain shot up my pede. I turned and looked down to see a glowing purple chain around it, anchored to and coming up from the dark water. More burst out of it and secured themselves around any parts of my anatomy they could reach, pedes, wings, arms, servos, and neck, and dragged me in.

I looked up desperately but my friends were gone, all of them swallowed up by the inky mist. I flailed around against the restraints, trying to grab something to prevent being dragged below the surface but it was already up to my waist.

I thrashed as my body from my neck down was enveloped in the cold substance. I gasped just before my helm submerged and I was fully pulled under. My servos reached up but the chains were dragging me down too quickly. A few bubbles floated up as I tried but failed to breathe.

I focused on trying to get the chains off while they swirled around me but I yelped and covered my optics when the water around me lit up bright red. I turned and immediately started backing away as a huge mask appeared in front of me. It looked like the Decepticon logo but that didn't fool me, after all

It's what Tarn based his mask on.

My spark started hammering as the water swirled around me and the chains got tighter, pinning my arms to my side. A huge purple servo then came up and went under me so I rested in the palm.

My optics widened in fear and I tried to escape as the digits started closing. 'You're mine.' Tarn's voice echoed around me as they sealed around me, blocking off any light.

I gasped and shot up so violently in my chair that my helm hit the headrest. Skyraid, who was sleeping on the desk next to me squawked in alarm and fell off onto Remix who had jolted awake on the ground next to me. I groaned in pain and held my helm, a dull throbbing starting. 

Remix whined and rested his chin on my lap. 'You alright?' He asked as Skyraid landed on my armrest. 'I'm fine.' I said, rubbing his helm, 'Just a nightmare.' He gave me a look, 'They haven't been getting better.' The cyberfalcon said telepathically.

'Yeah, I know.' I said, looking down at my book. I'd been drawing before I drifted off, 'Just remained me not to draw before I sleep again.' Sky looked at the page I'd been working on, 'Was it about him?' He asked.

I nodded and ran my servo over the sketch. It was one I'd done of Rewind and Chromedome. I'd tried to make it so they both looked happy but that was difficult granted neither had a proper face.

I rubbed optics and got up, stretching as I did. 'Well,' I said as I gathered my book and walked to the door, 'I'm awake now. I'm going to head down to Swerve's.' 'You sure that's the best idea?' Remix asked as he followed.

'You got a better one?' I asked, Skyraid landing on my shoulder as I opened the door and tucked the sketchbook under my arm, 'It's not like a lot of bots will be up now and I doubt most of them are back yet. 'Point taken.' He said, giving some kind of shrug.

I don't know why but for the past few months, we'd stayed on Luna 2. Rodimus and most of the others had gone off to the city for some reason. They wouldn't say why so I assumed it was something important. Of course that left me along with my two and a few other mechs.

'There was one before.' I said suddenly, thinking back to my dream, 'I think it was more of a memory though.' 'About your old life?' Sky asked. I nodded. It only took a few hours to realize they'd both seen all my memories during the time we bonded.

'It was before my sire left.' I said, 'He was there as well as my carrier and I think two bots who are my brothers. I think he had symbiotes as well.' 'Really?' Remix asked. 'Yeah, one was some kind of black animal and I think there were three flying ones.' 'Well, that just makes me want to meet them more.' Sky said.

I nodded as we walked into the bar. As I expected, it was empty so I went to the closest table and sat down. Skyraid snuggled down on the seat next to me and Remix sat across from me and lay his helm and paws on the table. 

I opened my book to a new page and tapped the pencil against my mask, thinking of something to draw. I looked down at the blank page and then smiled, putting the tip down and starting to draw.

Hours went by and my drawing started gaining more details. I was biting my glossa with concentration as I sketched, wanting it to be perfect. Slowly, a few mechs shuffled in and out of the bar, grabbing a quick drink or staying and chatting with friends.

'Watcha working on?' Someone said, scaring and making me jump. I looked over to see Tailgate and Cyclonus standing over me. 'You're lucky my pencil wasn't on the page.' I said, setting it down and glaring at him.

'Whoopsy.' He laughed, the two of them getting unto the booth opposite me and making Remix growl as they woke him. I slid the book over to them which Cyclonus then took in his clawed servos. 'I think I'm starting to remember my family more.' I said.

'They don't have any faces.' He said, looking at it. 'Yeah,' I said exasperatedly, peeking over the top, 'I can't remember what they look like. We also had symbiotes but I don't know what kind of animals they were.' 

It was a drawing of my family. Well, as much as I could remember. I managed to draw myself in my carrier's arms properly but the rest was difficult. My two brothers were in front of her and my sire had his arms around her but none of them had faces and he was mostly incomplete. I wanted to draw in the symbiotes but for the life of me couldn't figure out what they were.

'I'm sure it'll come to me eventually.' I sighed, taking it back from him. 'Mhm.' The purple mech said, his optics still trained on the drawing. 'Wait,' Tailgate said, leaning forward on the counter, 'Those are our brothers? Why are they so small?'

'You ask as if I know.' I said, looking at it. 'Just curious.' He shrugged. 'Well, that's enough curiosity for you.' Cyc said picking him up and sitting him back down. I was glad I was wearing a mask for how much I was grinning at them right now.

We all turned when a whole group of mechs entered and sat down. 'You guys back already?' I asked Skids as I moved for him to sit next to me. Remix was whining he was getting squished at this point. I just rolled my optics, seeing he had the entire side all to himself.

'We finished earlier than expected.' He explained, passing down a few drinks. 'Finished what?' Tailgate asked. 'You mechs haven't been the most informative when it came to this matter.' Cyclonus said, taking a sip.

'Right.' He said, coughing awkwardly, 'Well to put it simply... We're getting a new captain.' I raised an eyebrow, 'Isn't Rodimus already our captain?' I asked. He held his servos up in defense, 'I don't know why,' He said, 'I was just a spectator in the stands.'

'So who is it?' Tailgate asked, leaning forward in excitement. 'You'll see now.' Whirl said as he came up behind me and rested his arms on the backrest, 'Captain wanted to check the bar out.'

I looked up to question him but didn't when the entire room suddenly went quiet and someone entered. 'Is that...' Cyclonus said, looking at the mech. 'Yup!' Whirl said, sounding cheerful for some reason.

Megatron gave a stony look around and everyone suddenly returned to their conversations although a few kept peeking at him. 'No way.' I mumbled, looking at Skids. 'Don't ask me how.' He said, 'It just happened.'

'But how!' Tailgate whisper yelled, 'Isn't he THE LEADER OF THE DECEPTICONS!' 'I said don't ask me!' Skids said, 'He had people fighting for him and he said something about wanting to find the Knights of Cybertron to be his legacy.' 

'And then he said after that he'd take whatever punishment they threw at him and made him read a speech to all Decepticons telling them to stop.' Whirl said, letting out a throaty laugh. 'Probably won't stop the DJD.' I thought, making my symbiotes look at me with pity.

To make things even better, Whirl's laugh must have caught the attention of our new captain. I caught him looking at us out of the corner of my optic. His trained out table but then stopped when they reached me. I noticed him stiffen before getting up and coming to us. Everyone at my table then suddenly become very interested in their drink and I instantly started stroking Skyraid.

He came to a halt in front of the table and I felt his gaze on me. Remix got sat up and eyed him closely. But no one could have prepared me for what he said.

'Silverstream?' He asked. 

All five of us whipped our helms around in surprise. 'Oh, I'm sorry.' He apologized after seeing my face, 'I thought you were someone I knew.' It took me a few seconds to find my words, 'I-Its ok.' I stuttered out. 'Sorry again.' He said, raising a servo and walking out of the bar.

The five of us sat in silence, staring at the door he just walked out of. Then the realization hit me harder than one of Whirl's punches. 'Wait!' I yelled, scrambling around frantically. Skids snapped out of his daze and quickly got up as me and my two symbiotes basically fell out the booth and ran after him, leaving the table of dumbfounded bots behind me.

'Wait! Sir!' I called as I ran. I skidded around a corner but Megatron had already stopped there. I yelled and ran right into his back, the force of me hitting him barely shifting him. He turned around in confusion to see me on the floor, rubbing my helm as Remix made sure I was ok.

'Are you alright?' He asked, offering me a servo. I nodded eagerly and took it, hoisting myself up, Skydive landing on my shoulder. I then held my servo out for him to shake which he did, 'I'm Radiowave sir.' I said quickly.

He nodded, 'I remember now.' He said, 'Rodimus said there was a crew member younger than the others. I take it that's you?' 'Yeah,' I said and then waved, 'But that's not why I'm here.' I looked down before back up at him, 'You called me Silverstream earlier? How do you know her?'

'Oh, so you knew her as well?' Megatron asked, 'Well we were close friends during the war despite being different factions. She was the one who made me start to question if I was on the right path.' He smiled softly but then it dropped, 'And then I heard what happened to her.'

'Yeah,' I said, looking down, 'It was tragic.' 'So how do you know her?' He asked curiously. I sadly smiled under my mask and reached into my subspace, taking out the photo. I looked at it before handing it to him, 'She's my carrier.' I said.

Megatron studied the photo with disbelief etched across his face, constantly looking from me to the picture. He then took one last look before he smiled, 'You look exactly like her.' He said, 'Well, except for the visor and colors.'

'But you still knew my carrier.' I said, 'Does that mean you knew my sire as well?' He looked at me but his optics shifted a bit, landing on something behind me. I tilted my helm and turned but no one was there so I shrugged and looked back at him expectedly.

He coughed, 'Sadly I did not keep in touch with her after she left the war.' He said quickly, 'I did not even know she had a sparkling, to be honest.' 'Oh...' I said. He put his servo on my shoulder, 'I am sorry I cannot help you more.'

'That's ok.' I said, 'I have Remix and Skyraid for now.' He bent down and scratched my wolf's ear, making him lean into the touch, 'You're lucky you do.' He said.

'Well, it was nice to meet you, sir.' I said, shaking his servo again, 'I hope you enjoy your stay.' 'Thank you,' He said, 'I look forward to traveling with you.' I nodded and walked away. Remix yapped and ran to catch up, walking next to me.

'He wasn't telling us something.' He said as we walked. 'I agree.' Skyraid said, 'He was hesitant when you asked about your sire.' 'I know he was but what could I have done?' I asked, 'Interrogated him?'

They both huffed in annoyance as we made our way back to the bar, oblivious to the mech that walked out to where Megatron was still standing.

'Why?' He asked the red and white bot, 'Why can't I tell her.' 'Her sires too dangerous.' Ratchet said grimly, 'Magnus said it himself that he would no doubt use the child if he did not already know of her abilities.'

'That's not the mech I knew.' Megatron said, looking to where Radiowave had disappeared. 'We do not know for sure.' The medic said, 'And I am not taking that chance.' Megatron looked down, 'Who knows?' He asked, 'Who knows who he is?'

'Everyone.' Ratchet sighed, 'Basically everyone on the ship.'

Woohoo! Ideas for this book are coming at me at full speed :]. I finished the fillers and now can let loose on the plot