~Chapter 15~

The walk back was silent as Firespark readied herself for, hopefully, the truth. Would the story that Optimus had to tell was the same as her sire's? Only one way to find out, she thought as her orange optics gazed straight ahead.

Before the rest of Team Prime was in view, the pink femme halted and stood still in the hallway. Ratchet stopped as well and turned toward her, "Is something wrong?"

She shook her helm side to side, "No... I mean, yes. It's just that I'm so torn. I thought this would make up my mind, but my processor's spinning."

Ratchet listened thoughtfully as the femme, before him, poured out her concerns. They had been expecting that the Decepticon raised sparkling was second-guessing herself and her beliefs. "Hopefully, I make this clear, whatever we tell you, we have no intention to having you change sides. If you would like to return to the Decepticon warship, we will arrange something. If you wish to stay here, we will welcome you with open servos." He gently guided her toward the Main room, "Come on, Optimus is waiting."

She followed the mech's lead as many optics gazed at the two of them. Optimus' blue optics looked toward his old friend expectantly, who nodded at him. "Firespark, are you sure?"

When she looked up at the Prime, he was shocked at the determination in her orange optics. "Yes"

"Very well. As you know, our home planet, Cybertron, was ravaged by centuries of the Civil War. In the beginning, I fought alongside one whom I considered a brother. But in war, ideals can become corrupted, and it was thus that Megatron lost his way. "

"Before Primus chose me to be a Prime, I was inspired by a fierce gladiator, who named himself after one of the 13 original Primes, Megatronus. Megatronus vowed to challenge the higher council for leadership and demanded equality among the masses. Due to his actions, he became revolutionary, gathering loyal followers rapidly, Soundwave was chief among them."

"I began to correspond with him, considering him as a mentor. When he left the arena for the political realm, he saw fit to shorten his name. Before long, Megatron appeared before the High Council to propose his position for a just society; and it was here, he began to show his true intentions. Megatron proclaimed the need to overthrow the old guard with force and demanded that he be the next Prime."

Firespark nodded her helm. Everything seemed to line up with her sire's side, but Lord Megatron demanding to be Prime? Sure, she remembered Soundwave's words, "Violence brings justice,"

Optimus explained that he did not believe in violence and proposed a different plan, the one that sire called foolish. "With his ambitions thwarted, Megatron spitefully severed all ties with the council. He came to wage war on all who opposed him through his growing army of followers, named Decepticons. He took a vow to find the matrix of leadership, wherever it might lie. In time, warfare consumed Cybertron, poisoning our home to its core."

"It was then that I journeyed there in hopes of reversing the vile effects. I soon found myself before the very spark of our life Giver; Primus himself. The ailing Primus bestowed the matrix of leadership. It was thus that I became what stands before you today."

It was silent as the young Cybertronian stood there, digesting the knowledge revealed to her. Two rivals waging war against each other for the same cause, but with two different methods. Weakly, she took a step back, "Thank you, sir, for your time. I think... I'll be in the medical bay." Firespark turned on her heels and fled out of the room, shutting the door. Out of anguish and uncertainty, her servos covered her face as she slowly slid to the floor.

Ratchet made a move toward the occupied room, but a heavy servo on his shoulder stopped him, "Let her recover. All we can give her is time," Prime's deep voice confided. The medic sighed and gazed at the door with sympathy.

Firespark didn't know how long she had been inside the darkroom, but it didn't matter to her. Frustrated, she yelled out, "Why! Why am I always so close yet so far!" Her voice echoed, almost mockingly, throughout the chamber. With a sigh, Firespark heaved herself off the floor and walked into the Main Room.

Arcee and Bumblebee were off to the side. Their conversation cut short when they saw the pink Decepticon walked toward the entrance. "Firespark, where are you going?"

She stopped and turned toward the warrior and scout, "I need some fresh air. I hope you don't mind."

Both Autobots looked conflicted with her request. Would she give away their hidden base and call the whole Decepticon army?

"If you're worried about me spilling your secrets, that won't happen. I want to be alone." With that, she left without another word.

What she said was true. Firespark just wanted, no, needed to be alone and feel the cool breeze against her overheated pink frame. The femme loved the change of scenery as she walked across the terrain. The red rocks and dust changed to natural colors. The forest was her newfound happy place. It was calm and quiet. The wildlife was unafraid of her presence as she roamed through the fir trees.

Her orange optics gazed at the sunset-colored sky. She closed her eyes and vented a puff of hot air. She snapped them wide open as the chaos ensued. Birds, deers, bunnies, and other creatures rushed past her in a hurry. The air held a new scent of burning firewood, and the sky was streak with black wisps.

Panicked, she raced toward the danger and was horrified. The meadow, where she and Soundwave loved to visit, was engulfed in flames. There was a bleeting noise near her right. Firespark snapped her helm toward the cry. The fawn, now a doe, was trapped underneath a burning branch. Without thinking, her body moved on its own as she rushed toward the deer with such purpose. Her black servos gripped the end of the limb that wasn't inflamed and lifted with all her might.

When there was enough room to wiggle, the doe bolted away on her long legs. The beautiful creature gazed at her surroundings and called out, but no one returned it. Spark-broken, Firespark watched as it paced around, looking for her family. Then the deer darted off toward the direction of the city. Toward her death, she thought sadly. If any of the humans found her, they would hunt her down until her dying breath.

Firespark silently bid her goodbye and walked in the opposite direction, going deeper into the forest.