ENTRY:9/5/2021
Ioa's sparkbeat started to quicken, signalling that she's about to wake up. Ratchet quickly went to her side as the kids went away, giving the medic some space to work. Ioa's optics onlined slowly as she tries to sit up, only to realise she was tied down. Ratchet was by her side, taking her vitals before speaking.
"Hello Ioa... sorry we had to tie you down, you were...aggressive." He said as he checks her. Lightblade remembered her dream about the blue orb and-
"SHADOWGLYDE!" she suddenly spoke, making everyone tensed up. Ratchet looked at her, hoping to get some answers. Lightblade sheepishly smiled as she looks down to her servos and peds cuffed.
"Maybe you could untie me, please?" she asked, making Ratchet hesitate for a moment before sighing. "Okay, but please don't go berserk again." He said, making Ioa feel bad, she didn't mean to lash out on them. "I'm sorry about that... I was afraid. I..." she trailed off. She took a deep intake and spoke quickly.
"I'msorryforgoingberserkIdidn'tmeanitthatwayIjustdidn'twantyouguystogethurtbecauseofme!" she said. Everyone looked at her as if she came out of the zoo, to which Ioa scratched her neck cables and responded with a clearer sentence this time.
"I'm sorry for going berserk, I didn't mean it that way! I just didn't want you guys to get hurt because of me!" she said and dipped her helm in shame. Ratchet's optics softened, he finally understood what she meant. Lightblade only wanted what's best for them, she didn't want them to get hurt because of her.
Ratchet laid a servo on her shoulderplate as he spoke. "We- We are sorry too, for doubting you. Your sparks are in the right place, and we will always welcome you, doesn't matter if you're Lightblade or Shadowglyde." He said softly, making Ioa teared up as she smiled. The kids went to her as they apologised.
"WE'RE SORRRYYYY!" The kids said as they rushed towards her and hugged her. She returned the hug as she consoled them, telling them it's alright. Agent Fowler faked a cough, making her look at him. "I-It's good to have you back Ioa. Sorry for the...accusations." He said to her. Ioa only smiled in return. Her smile dropped when she realised the others were not at base.
"Where's everyone?" She asked. The kids informed her the bots were out on a mission. They also briefed her about what happened while she was in stasis, making her shocked.
"You guys did all that while I was in stasis? That's impressive! Jack, what you did was very honourable, not many would have done the same thing you did." Lightblade complimented, making Jack blush. "I-I just did what I thought Optimus would." He said. The kids were telling Ioa about all the adventures and snippets of their daily life when Ratchet cut in their conversation.
"Sorry to cut in, but Ioa may I ask you something for a moment?" Ratchet asked. Lightblade nodded and he continued. "So you remembered about... us? You mentioned about Optimus's past designation, Orion. And it seems that you are now aware of your ... alter ego?" He hesitantly asked, hoping she would not be upset. Ioa only nodded and explained the situation.
"Firstly, I still haven't figured out about us, all I do know is that perhaps we have met somewhere, sorry about that. About my doppelgänger, yes and no actually. I now know of her existence due to the fact we met in my dream during stasis mode...but that's it. But we both met and she assured to me she was not um... bad? We both too aren't sure when we will shift or if we will remember what happened during the shift..." Ioa said leaving out the orb, for some reason the orb did not want to reveal himself and so she left it as it is. The base was silent as everyone tries to comprehend the situation. Raf was the first to connect the dots and spoke up.
"So it means that you have another personality in you, but it's not evil right?" he said, making Ioa smile and nod. "Yes, I assure you none of us will ever hurt you guys, be it intentionally or not." She said, making Raf smile as he hugs her.
"Can you like... talk to her mentally now or something?" Miko asks. Ioa pondered over her question and tried to test the theory out, closing her optics as she tries to concentrate.
'Shadowglyde? Can you hear me?' Ioa thought. A deep voice responded, answering her calls. "Hello Lightblade? Do you need my assistance?" Shadowglyde said, making Lightblade smile; Miko's theory was proven correct.
'Sorry to bother you, just wanted to see if I can try to er... communicate with you without having to go into stasis.' Lightblade said, making her counterpart hummed in reply. "No worries, I'll be here whenever you or team Prime needs me. Do send my regards to the human children, they were upset the last time I saw them, especially the tiny one." Shadowglyde said before going silent. Lightblade assured her she will and she relayed the message to the kids who were looking at her, all worried due to her being unresponsive.
"Thank you Miko for the theory, and I believe the answer is yes. Also, Shadowglyde sends her regards to you guys by the way. And Raf? please don't be sad anymore, okay? I'm fine now." Lightblade said as she patted the children's head softly, Raf nodded as he sniffled and rubbed his eyes.
Ratchet was fascinated with Ioa's condition because there was a few to none history recorded about cybertronians with alter egos. He wanted to ask more but decided against it, not until Ioa gets better first. Fowler was about to say something when Ioa suddenly picked the kids up gently as she got up and setting them aside. They realised Lightblade had shifted into Shadowglyde, her paint jobs giving away her identity. "I'm sorry for shifting suddenly, but I feel something is going horribly wrong with our team. I need to help them." She said as she was about to vanish when Ratchet forced her back down.
"You sit back down at this instance! You are in no stable condition to leave just yet! I'm not letting you go only for you to come back to the medical table young lady!" He nagged. "Ratchet, I understand your concern for my wellbeing and I am grateful for that, but I have to help them, they are in danger. Please, I promise to rest properly after this doctor." Shadowglyde persuaded Ratchet. He only sighed loudly as he prepares the groundbridge for her and gave her a stern warning. "Fine! After this you're to rest until I give you the clearance! In the meantime, you will use our groundbridge, I don't want you to overstress yourself. Understand?" He said. Shadowglyde nodded and assured him before she left.
"Loud and clear."
Location: Harbinger.
Shadowglyde arrived to the scene only to see Optimus frozen while Bumblebee was battling against Airachnid. He knocked the Immobiliser in the air and fired at it, causing it to shatter. The spider got angry and wanted to retaliate, only for her to step in.
"Stand down. I will not hesitate to hurt you." Shadowglyde coolly reply as she draws out her blades. Airachnid realised she was outnumbered and fled the scene. Shadowglyde stood still watching her left before turning around to see a yellow bot rushing to her and hugged her tightly, lifting her up as he buzzed. He puts her down after a few moments later. Ioa managed a soft smile as she pats him on the shoulderplate before giving him a firm nod. She looks towards Optimus, his body frozen in place. Shadowglyde ran to him while Bumblebee ran to Bulkhead, beeping worriedly as the big green bot was unresponsive. "Don't worry young one, they aren't dead. They were merely forced into stasis mode. We need to get them back to base. Where's the other one?" she said reffering towards Arcee. Bumblebee beeped and pointed towards Arcee's direction.
:-She's that side guarding Starscream! It's a long story but it seems he wants to change sides!-: Bumblebee summarised quickly. "Stay here, I'll go help her." Shadowglyde said before running towards Arcee's direction, stopping only to see them fighting, and Arcee was terribly injured. Starscream was about to kick her when he was knock down by Shadowglyde. Shrieking, he tries to get up only to have a cannon aimed at him.
"Stand down, final warning." Shadowglyde warned. Shadowglyde looked behind to see Bumblebee came to help Arcee, which gave Starscream a chance to wiggle away and ran. Shadowglyde chose not to chase after him as she turns around and help her teammates while Bumblebee requested for the groundbridge.
Back in base.
Ioa helped to carry Arcee as Bumblebee dragged Optimus and Bulkhead in. She sets the two-wheeler on the medical berth as Ratchet prepared the medical tools. Shadowglyde shifted back to Lightblade, but she did not pass out this time. When they exchanged place, Lightblade could see what happened, but she had no control of her actions, for Shadowglyde was in command. Lightblade snapped back to reality as she assists Ratchet in tending Arcee. They worked together in sync and not too long later, Arcee was stabilised.
"I'll keep an optic on Arcee, you try and fix the Immobiliser." Lightblade assured Ratchet as she looks over to Arcee's life signal, Ratchet nodding as he got into repairing the relic. "Arcee is in stasis mode and her health signal is okay, she's safe now." Lightblade said as she sighed in relief. She went over to help Ratchet on repairing the relic. The kids and Fowler were in awe that Ioa was collaborating so perfectly with Ratchet, something they don't get to see very often due to the fact the grumpy bot only works well with Optimus.
With the two bright minds at work, the relic was repaired and they use it to unfreeze Optimus and Bulkhead. The two massive mechs looked around confusedly before setting their optics on Ioa. They widen their optics to see she was up and around, Optimus especially concerned about her and was about to ask before a moan cuts him off. Lightblade rushed towards Arcee's side as she took a flashlight and ask Arcee to follow the light. After checking her up, Lightblade finally relaxed a bit and let her go.
Arcee was blaming herself on Starscream's escape when Lightblade spoke, not wanting Arcee to shoulder all the blame. "It's not your fault actually...I- er Shadowglyde let him escape! He was in a bad condition so he chose to flee." Ioa consoled her.
"Don't blame yourself Arcee. Although I am not sure what happened to your partner, but I believe you were only trying to win your own demons, which you now realise you can't win it over just by killing someone for revenge. Letting Starsceam get away was my fault, I apologise for that. It has not dawned upon me that he serves as more than just a prisoner. But perhaps wisdom isn't earned, it is rewarded sometimes with a cost. We are all just glad you're still online." Ioa said, pulling Arcee into a side hug before letting go and walk away. Everyone was silent, including Optimus. It was like Lightblade had just pulled an Optimus and spoke words of wisdom to them. The femme medic was at the computers typing something before receiving naggings from Ratchet to get rest.
"Did she just...pulled an Optimus? And hugged Arcee?" Bulkhead said, processors lagging and trying to comprehend. Bumblebee only buzzed in agreement. They have a lot of questions to ask but they all knew the better not too, Ioa will explain in due time.
They all will just have to give her time.
A/N: RECONCILE FOR THE WIN!! This chapter is reallly long BTW! Also, do you guys have a clue what's going on with Ioa, Ratchet and Optimus?Leave your opinion down in the comments below! As always, thank you for reading, voting and commenting! Stay safe and stay healthy! Enigma signing out!