Chapter 13

Two weeks later——————

'Aceblade!' Tarn called from his chair and waved the datapad in the air without looking up, 'Take this to Nickel. I want her to look over it before we land.' I squaked and launched myself off the desk Kaon was at, easily grabbing it in my claws and flying off down the halls.

It'd taken a bit but I finally memorized the layout of the ship and could quickly maneuver through it. I was quickly getting reaccustomed to my old life which made me happy. I found that I got annoyed when I was left in the dark and with the entire first part of my life, that was pretty irritating.

But I'd gotten used to life of the Peaceful Tyranny fairly fast which was another good thing. All of them, even Kaon who usually treated me well, still considered me a mindless animal sometimes, and therefore, they seemed to expect me to act like one. Well, Nickel was an exception. She was kinder to me but still, every mech on board here had two faces and that was something to watch out for. Expect Overlord.

He was one big sadistic face.

I shivered and angled my wings, swooping around a corner until I reached the medical room where the mini-bot usually stayed. I chirped as I flew in, making her look up as I landed on a nearby table.

'Oh, thanks.' She said, taking the data pad from me. I gave her my form of a smile and ruffled my wings proudly. I hadn't been taught how to properly fight yet so things like this made me happy for some reason.

I spread my wings and was about to fly away when... 'Ace,' I heard Nickel say quietly. I turned to look at her, my helm tilting in confusion as I noticed her expression blank, almost sad as she stared at the data pad.

I clicked after a few moments of silence. Nickel bit her lip as though she wanted to say something, 'I want you to do me a favor,' She asked, 'You know how we're meeting up with those bots today?'

I nodded, thinking back to how not only Tarn but the rest of the DJD had been speaking about it non-stop ever since they made contact with the ship. Now from how I'm describing it, you're probably thinking that these guys were old friends of theirs but it's actually the complete opposite. What should've been excitement to see them was actually more like gloating and something about seeing their faces.

I still didn't get why they were getting so worked up about meeting the crew of a ship called 'The Lost Light.' Maybe it had something to do with their captain being Megatron himself. As far as I know, Tarn absolutely hates him now that he's an Autobot but from the looks of the situation, the DJD don't seem adamant on killing any of them so again, lots of confusion there.

Nickel finally looked up at me and I drew back slightly, seeing her expression which was something between grim and hope. Yea, it's not an easy one to picture.

'This may be asking a lot of you right now, but I'm still going to,' She said, 'I know what you were like before you lost your memories. I saw what you did and how you acted.' I blinked, confused at what she was getting at. 'So,' She continued, 'I'm asking that when we go and see them today...

Leave us and join The Lost Light crew.'

Her request caught me off guard so much that I stumbled back, my talons grabbing at the desk as I tried not to slip. She chuckled, seeing my reaction, 'I know it's a bizarre proposal Ace but please, consider it.'

I hopped forward and softly chirped in questioning. She just gave a sad smile and rubbed my helm, 'Because I had a choice to be a part of the DJD and I took it. You...you didn't. You never accepted that you joined, you were just found by us and stuck by our side because you didn't know where else to go, even right now. I know that for a fact.'

I gazed down as her words played over through my processor. I sighed and chirped to what I hoped she would translate as "I'll think about it." I don't know if she did, but she nodded and turned back to her work, leaving me to fly back with a confused mind and a time limit.

I only had about an hour to decide.

1 hour later——————

I sat and surveyed the scene from my perch on Kaon's shoulder as we walked down the flight deck and outside. Another ship, much larger than The Peaceful Tyranny rested on the horizon of the orange desert and glinted in the setting sun's rays. In a clearing stood a whole group of mechs and femmes of various, colors, shapes, and sizes.

The entire crew of the Decepticon Justice Division had come to this meeting, even Overlord. I saw Tesarus carrying some kind of large box, made of white metal with a rectangular window on top, probably for seeing whatever was inside.

Frag my curiosity was basically killing me right now, just wanting to see what was inside but they didn't let me look.

Instead, we walked over to where the group was standing, waiting for us. They all wore stern and cold faces, even the ones that had masks and visors radiated a sense of absolute hatred toward the DJD.

We came to a stop about 25 feet away, just on the edge of the rocky circle. I figured it was safe enough so I took off from Kaon's shoulder and landed on a jagged boulder just to the left. 'Ace,' I heard him say in annoyance but I squawked and watched.

'New pet of yours?' A mech whose frame consisted of red, orange, and yellow said. I took from the way he stood slightly in front that he was in charge. Him and the gunmetal grey one next to him. It immediately struck me that this was Megatron.

'She's actually quite an old one.' Tarn spoke up, 'You've just never met Aceblade before.' 'I see,' Megatron said and stepped forward before ignoring me completely, 'Now, you know there's only one reason we agreed to meet you, so give us the kid back.'

I noticed how a few mechs on their side seemed to tense as he said the last part, specifically the orange and white one with fins as well as the big blue one next to him. Tarn was silent for a few moments before his posture lightened and he spread his arms.

'Of course,' He said, 'We'll hand her right over.' Something felt wrong to me. I knew he hated Megatron and wanted him dead but, I could hear the smile in his voice and Overlord was wearing a large smirk. And did we have a prisoner this whole time that I just never knew about?

I glanced back down at the group to see them all looking smug as Tesarus stepped forward and set the box on the floor. My optics widened when I saw Nickel was the only grim looking one.

Something's definitely off.

I watched as the giant grinder lowered and kicked the box, sending it sliding their way until it stopped perfectly in front of them. Megatron raised an eyebrow and kneeled down while the others leaned forward curiously. I'd be lying if I said I didn't as well.

I saw him stare at the window for a few seconds before his optics widened and his servos gripped the sides, looking down at it in horror and disbelief. 'No,' He whispered, 'You didn't.' 'What?' The red and yellow mech asked, 'What is it?'

He pushed Megatron aside so they could all look in upon which they then froze. Whatever was in that box was either repulsive or horrifying 'cause a small red and white mech ran off to the side and threw up.

The orange and white one started shaking as he stared down, his servos clenching the metal so tightly that it started crunching under his digits. The giant blue one behind him just went rigid with shock.

'You pieces of scrap!' The orange one shouted and stood up, his posture showing nothing but rage, 'HOW THE FRAG COULD YOU DO THAT? SHE WAS JUST A FRAGGING SPARKLING!' The wail grew clear in his voice as he yelled and attempted to run at the DJD. He would've continued if it weren't for the big one.

'Chromedome please!' He yelled, 'Get a hold of yourself!' 'I ALREADY LOST REWIND!' Chromedome screamed, 'AND NOW SHE'S GONE AS WELL! YOU SAID IT YOURSELF MAX! YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE SHE WAS GONE WHEN REMIX AND SKYRAID HAD THEIR FIT BUT SHE'S DEAD!'

He suddenly grew limp in his hold, sobs racking his frame, 'She's gone.' He said quietly and fell to his knees. Max went down and patted his back but the mech look like he was about to break down as well. In fact, the entire group's morale seemed to have shattered, what was once stony was now...fear, sorrow, regret, and most of all, disbelief.

I watched as the great Megatron put a shaky servo on the lid and did a double take when a tear ran down his cheek, 'I'm sorry,' He said, 'I couldn't get you to your sire, I couldn't help you meet him.'

I was horrified by what I was hearing right now. That box contained a corpse? Of a sparkling?! I looked from between the grief-stricken faces of The Lost Light crew, to the smug ones of the DJD.

Is this what Nickel meant earlier? Did-did I do things like this? But, it's a child. Who would do such a thing?!

'As you can see,' Tarn said, still smiling, 'We took her and then we gave her back. We just wanted to run a few tests, that's all.' 'THAT'S ALL?!' A blue mech with claws screamed, 'SHE'S MISSING HER FRAGGING OPTICS AND TORSO AND HER LIMBS HAVE BEEN TORN OFF!'

'Whirl has a point,' A stony-faced purple mech with horns said, 'This is beyond brutality, even for you.' I stared, horrified as Overlord just shrugged, 'She was an outlier,' He said grinning, 'She was bound to be experimented on some time or later.'

'You PIECE OF SLAG!' Max yelled but this time, it was his turn to be held back by a mech who was a lighter blue. 'But anyways,' Tarn said, 'You have her back now. Make sure to get her to her sire for me.'

They all turned to leave but then stopped, 'Oh, and this as well.' Vos threw what looked like a memory stick at them before the DJD continued back to their ship.

I, however, didn't move from my perch. My breathing was labored at this point. What was he saying? What did I just witness? They killed without mercy just because some kid was an outlier.

Was this what it meant to be part of the DJD?

That question got some gears turning in my processor. Nickel wanted me to leave but I said I'd think about it. Now, after seeing the brutality of these Decepticons, it made me question if I actually wanted to be part of them.

I looked at the LL crew and how they were crying over the child. If I died, would anyone weep for me or would I be swept aside, just a worthless animal that could be replaced?

'Ace! Come!' Kaon yelled sharply, snapping me out of my thoughts. His shout also got their attention. I stared at him in disbelief. Did he seriously just expect me to watch that and have no reaction to it!?

I looked down to see Nickel ever so slightly moving her servo, waving me away. I shifted before looking at the Autobots. They were watching us in confusion.

'Well,' I thought, 'What do I have to lose?' I turned and hopped down, gliding to the ground not by Tarn or Kaon, but by Megatron. I chirped and bounced forward, asking for his permission.

'ACE!' Tarn yelled, 'GET BACK HERE!' I ignored him and looked up at the silver mech. 'I do not understand.' He said, 'You're leaving them?' I nodded and looked at the box, now seeing it as nothing more than a coffin.

'I see.' Megatron said and leaned forward to me. I stretched out to meet him but froze when a small beep beep went off behind me and I suddenly dropped to the ground, screeching in pain as electricity spurted from the back of my neck.

So ya, Kaon wasn't as kind as I thought. Turns out I had a chip planted in my neck that zapped me whenever he so much as clicked a button. It was usually just the beeping, followed by a small shock but it seemed he could change that.

The pain stopped and I collapsed, panting heavily. 'Now I mean it, Ace,' Tarn spoke, 'Come back now, and it'll stop.' I looked back to see he was the one holding the device.

I groaned and tried to stand up. When I sort of did, I turned my helm up to face Megatron and chirped, stepping forward. As I did, more beep beeps went off and the pain returned, twice as intense as before.

I was writhing in pain now, unable to make any noise except for a few strangled gargles. 'Go!' Someone yelled and I was suddenly picked up. I bounced in the hold, telling me that whoever had me was running. I also faintly heard other footsteps around him as the entire Lost Light group ran.

Tarn and the others all yelled behind us but we were almost back at the ship, its thrusters heating up before we were even on board. I was vaguely aware we boarded it and were soon in the air, looking down on the DJD.

Someone was yelling instructions that I couldn't make out and I looked up to see a red and white face joining Megatrons. The mech turned me over and I felt a prick over all the pain already there.

It then stopped and I heard a crunch, looking over to see a small, smashed device in the medics' servos, dripping with purple energon. He said something and stroked my back, speaking what I presumed to be soothing words.

But I didn't hear any of them. Instead, my frame started slipping into recharge, exhausted from what I just experienced.

The last things I saw were two pairs of piercing blue optics, belonging to two animals, coming over and looking at me before I passed out in Megatron's servos.