Chapter 5: The Past Always Comes Back To Haunt You

Chapter 5: The Past Always Comes Back To Haunt You

The Bee team was all relaxing when the alarm went off.

"Decepticon signal in sector 7." Fixit said.

"What's his ID?" Bee asked.

"His name is Wheelspin, a Decepticon activist who started several riots not long after the great war ended, he was also responsible for the death of the original high council, including former Decepticon medic and member Highspeed." Fixit said.

None of the others noticed Sideswipe tense up.

Flashback:

Two young bots, one red, one gold were walking through the streets.

"Are you sure this bot can be relied on Sunstreaker." The red bot said nervously.

"Of course Sideswipe, he's a Decepticon like us, and don't get me wrong, I know Highspeed is trying to help us, but she doesn't seem to fully understand how bad this is." Sunstreaker said.

"I guess, I've told her time and time again the council don't care about us, what was his name again?" Sideswipe asked.

"Wheelspin." Sunstreaker said.

The present:

Sideswipe snapped back to attention when he heard Bumblebee saying his name.

"Sideswipe, are you alright?" Bee asked.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine." Sideswipe nodded.

"You sure?" Bee asked.

Sideswipe nodded giving Bee a fake smile.

"Alright, let's rev up and roll out." Bee said.

The Bee team transformed and headed out.

As they drove Sideswipe started thinking again.

Flashback:

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were standing in front of a large black and gold mech, his piercing purple optics looking down at the two young mexhs in front of him.

"So, it's my help you seek." The mech said.

"Yes sir, we've heard of the things you've done to help our kind, we want to be a part of it." Sunstreaker said.

Sideswipe just nodded, unsure what to say.

"Well then, follow me." The mech said turning and walking away.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker followed.

The present:

The team arrived at the coordinates and drew their weapons.

"Alright team, be vigilant, he's near." Bee said.

The team slowly moved forward weapons at the ready.

They saw a tall shadow nearby and Bee signaled for the team to surround him.

They did as ordered and Bee spoke up.

"Servos in the air, you're under arrest." Bee ordered.

Wheelspin surveyed each member of the Bee team, then his optics landed on Sideswipe, a cold sneer making its way onto his face.

"Hello Sideswipe." Wheelspin said.

"Sideswipe, you know him? " Strongarm asked surprised.

"It's so nice to see you again." Said in a cold drawl.

"Maybe more for you than it is for me." Sideswipe growled.

"Now is that any to treat your old friend, I'm all you have left, with Highspeed gone." Wheelspin sneered.

"You aren't fit to say her name." Sideswipe snarled, a venom in his voice none of the team had heard before.

"And you are, I'm surprised, especially since you caused her death." Wheelspin said.

Flashback:

(two weeks after Sunstreaker'death)

As quietly as he could Sideswipe snuck out of the apartment he now alone shared with his guardian Highspeed.

He transformed and started to drive down the street.

Unbeknown to him, Highspeed had seen him and she quickly followed him.

She arrived in a street and quickly hid as she saw Sideswipe approach Wheelspin.

"It's been a while Sideswipe." Wheelspin said.

"I need to talk to you." Sideswipe said.

"What about?" Wheelspin said.

"I can't do this anymore Wheelspin, these protests have led to nothing but chaos and now Sunstreaker is dead." Sideswipe said.

"He died to help our cause." Wheelspin said.

"HELP OUR CAUSE, Wheelspin these protests are not helping at all, the council are ignorant to how Decepticons are suffering, everything Sunstreaker and I have done to help you has done nothing, if you want to truly help our kind you'd stop these protests, anything is better than what you're doing!" Sideswipe exclaimed.

At this point Highspeed decided she had heard enough and stepped out from her hiding place.

"We seem to have company." Wheelspin said, distaste evident in his tone.

Sideswipe turned and his optics widened in horror.

"Highspeed." Sideswipe said.

"Sideswipe please listen, he won't help you or the others, but we can bring him in." Highspeed said.

"So you heard, you know." Sideswipe said fearfully.

"Sideswipe, whatever it is you've done, whatever crimes you've committed, you can make up for it now by helping me stop him." Highspeed said trying to get through to the young bot.

Sideswipe closed his optics tears welling in his optics as he struggled to think.

"I'm afraid." He said.

"I know you are." Highspeed said.

Sideswipe opened his optics, an almost cold look them.

"I'm afraid it's too late." Sideswipe said drawing his sword.

"No." Highspeed said horrified.

Sideswipe lunged forward and Highspeed quickly drew her sword and blocked the blow.

Their swords clashed for a few moments before Highspeed suddenly vanished from sight.

Sideswipe looked around for her, Wheelspin smirking in the background.

Sideswipe jolted slightly as he heard Highspeed's voice.

"I am on your side Sideswipe, I stepped from my position on the council, you were right about so many things, the council should have listened, Sunstreaker did not have to die." Highspeed said.

Sideswipe closed heart a optics again as the mention of his twins' name made his spark clench.

Sideswipe suddery spotted her and the two immediately began dueling again.

After several minutes Sideswipe had Highspeed pinned to the ground and rose his sword ready to strike.

"Sideswipe...please." Highspeed begged.

Sideswipe closed his optics as he swung his sword downwards.

It slammed into the ground in front of them.

Sideswipe collapsed onto his knees his whole frame shuddering as he sobbed Violently.

Highspeed hugged the young mech.

"I knew you weren't like him." She smiled.

Suddenly a shot ran through the air and Highspeed saw a smoking hole in chest, she collapsed onto the ground.

"HIGHSPEED!" Sideswipe exclaimed in horror, taking his guardian's hand.

"Don't worry Sideswipe, you'll be fine without me, you'll find your way." Highspeed said looking up at the frightened teen.

"But you're the one who saved me." Sideswipe said looking into her optics.

"I love you Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and I, we love you so much." Highspeed said her optics going dull as she offlined.

"Highspeed." Sideswipe said looking at the dead body of his guardian.

"Such a great loss." Wheelspin said, though he didn't sound particularly sad.

Sideswipe stood up and walked backwards slightly.

"And just what are you doing.?" Wheelspin demanded.

"Giving you a clear shot." Sideswipe said.

Wheelspin pointed his blaster at Sideswipe and was about to fire when suddenly Sideswipe ran forward grabbing his sword, lodging it in Wheelspin's chest with a mighty swing.

Sideswipe heard sirens in the distance and without looking back he transformed and fled away into the night.

Present:

With a roar of rage Sideswipe lunged forward and swung his Decepticon hunter at Wheelspin, the two beginning another duel.

The Bee team trying to help where they could, but Wheelspin kept his focus on Sideswipe.

Sideswipe swung at Wheelspin again but the Decepticon slashed into his Decepticon hunter which began emitting sparks violently.

"Frag." Sideswipe cursed and threw it at Wheelspin.

There was a colossal explosion and when the dust had cleared the weapon was destroyed and Wheelspin was unconscious on the ground.

He was quickly cuffed and hauled through the groundbridge, being put in a stasis pod as soon as he was through.

Sideswipe went to his quarters, he couldn't even bear to look at his team.

Especially now that they knew his darkened past.

Not Christmas yet:

Omega: *arguing with Crosshair* come on Crosshair, give it here, it's Christmas eve

Crosshair: *clinging to the last surviving Halloween decoration* but it's not Christmas YET

who were you with last night

*Wrecker and Katie were driving to the fire station after a night together*

*Wrecker's phone rang and he answered it*

Wrecker: hey you guys

Hunter: hey Wrecker, me and the boys have a question

Wrecker: sure, go on

The bad batch: *in a singsong voice* WHO WERE YOU WITH LAST NIGHT

*Wrecker rolled his eyes and hung up*

Wrecker: *sighs rolling his eyes* honestly, you can't keep a secret in this town

recollections

*Joey and Daniel both woke up after passing out at a new year's day party at town hall*

Joey: *groaning and lying under a table* where are we

Daniel: *lying on top of said table* I seem to be lying on a dining room table, I can see cutlery, I've either died and come back as a succulent pig, or we're still at town hall...what can you see

Joey: nothing, I think I've gone blind *he sat up and hit his head on the table* OW

Daniel: heck of a party *he rolled onto his side and fell onto the floor with a thud

*the two sat together*

Joey: heck of a party

Daniel: yeah

Joey: you remember anything that happened last night

Daniel: no idea, everything went dark around the commissioner's speech, the last thing I remember is my head in the cold, unforgiving lavatory bowl

Joey: Danny, that wasn't the lavatory bowl...it was the punch bowl

*Daniel's eyes widened in horror and he facepalmed*

Daniel: hark Mr memory man

*Joey yawned and suddenly noticed something red on his hand*

Joey: oh my god...I'm bleeding

Daniel: no you aren't, that's just red lipstick

Joey: oh...Danny why am I wearing red lipstick

Daniel: cause maroon would have clashed with your eyeshadow

*Joey rubbed his eyes and noticed it, gasping in horror he wiped it off*

Daniel: *shaking his head with a grin* you should know better than to pass out unconscious while I'm still awake

*Joey nodded*

Daniel: you know, last night I think we made  one or two, teensy little mistakes, starting with a few drinks of juice, great, a few glasses of milkshake, lovely, but the soda and lemonade drinking race...that may have been a bridge too far...and our second mistake, was letting Boba convince us that you could mix a nice cold coke, with a bit of redbull

Daniel: and our third, final...crowning mistake *Daniel suddenly screamed in horror* something horrible is coming back to me

Joey: *turning pale* and me, Where's that punch bowl

*Daniel jumped up and frantically searched his suit pockets and trousers, he found a a bit of paper and stared at it in horror*

Daniel: it's true

Joey: Danny, while your up there get me the punch howl

Daniel: well thats it *he sank down next to Joey* I might as well leave town, my life's over, it was very nice knowing you Joey...you were hanging from the light fitting, Zander was having a lie down in the cold buffet...and I was dancing the lambada with the daughter of the commissioner of the metropolitan police...commissioner Boyle's daughter

Joey: how'd I get onto the ceiling

Daniel: me and the others formed a human pryamid, but that is not the point...I did the lambada with the commissioner's daughter...I took her out to the cloakroom...*looking ready to cry* JOEY, I SNOGGED HER

*he looked at the paper again*

Daniel: *gasps* I've got her telephone number

Joey: *confused* 999

Daniel: that's her emergency number, her regular number's on the back

Joey: you sure it was the commissioner's daughter

Daniel: yeah, I remember it clearly, our age, white dress, green eyes, blond hair, kept smiling at me half the party

Joey: and that was her

Daniel: *groans* Joey Joey Joey

Joey: *groans* Danny Danny Danny

Later:

Joey: okay, what are we doing now

Daniel: I just want to grab a few things, I wrote  it all down here *he hands Joey the paper*

Joey: *reading it* to the naughtiest young man I ever met, kiss kiss heart heart, all my love and hair ruffles, Lilac

Daniel: underneath that, what's underneath that

Joey: PS, call me Friday, misery guts is at a conference

Daniel: UNDERNEATH THAT

*Joey covered his mouth trying hard not to laugh*

Joey: oh Danny, you are in trouble

Daniel: you think I didn't know that

*later Joey and Daniel are approached by a very angry Cobalt*

Joey and Daniel: oh hi dad

Cobalt: dont you, oh hi dad me, do you two have any idea who I've just been talking to on the phone

*the boys shook their heads*

Joey: no dad

Cobalt: commissioner Boyle

*the boys gulp nervously*

Cobalt: apparently the commissioner's beloved daughter Lilac woke up this morning with a smile on her face...smiling and whispering the same name over and over, Joey she kept saying, Joey, Joey, Joey...Joey Stryker

Daniel: *in shock* Joey

Cobalt: yes Daniel, but from what I hear you're both as bad as each other, first you lambarded her down to the the cloakroom...and then Joey dropped down on her from a chandelier...she hasn't been the same since *looking at Joey* APPARENTLY SHE COMPARED YOU TO ERRROL FLYNN

*he sighed and rubbed his eyes*

Cobalt: look, I know what these parties are like, we all have one or two too many, even I've done that myself when I was younger, I did some fairly dumb things too, but I didn't start swinging from the lightbulbs and kissing women I barely even know, THE COMMISSIONER WAS ALMOST IN TEARS

Sounds wonderful:

Katie: I just love Christmas, the snow, everyone in Christmas sweaters, carol singers singing, the decorations and lights, the trees, a huge dinner and seeing the excited faces of the kids as they open their presents

Wrecker: wow

Hunter: that sounds

Crosshair: *dreamy eyed and staring into space* wonderful

*he suddenly saw everyone looking at him and blushes madly*

Crosshair: *coughing awkwardly* I mean...it sounds alright

*he quickly ran off*

follow your dreams (dad Wrecker):

Wrecker, Katie, Colin, James and Allison all stood at the zone of where Brendam's latest fire had been.

James had wrecklessly ran into the house in an attempt to save the occupants unaware that the house was empty, and had gotten himself trapped as a result.

This lead to Wrecker having to save him.

Wrecker looked at Katie and Colin.

"Can you two head back to the station and explain everything to station officer Lloyd, I'm going to take James home." Wrecker said.

Katie and Colin nodded and climbed into Orion, driving back to the station.

Wrecker and James started heading home.

Wrecker picked up James and hoisted the boy onto his shoulder.

It was then Wrecker took in James' profile.

Ash from the fire coated the boy's clothes and a decent amount of it was on his face and hair as well, there was also the strong smell of smoke coming from both him and James.

He would definitely need a bath when they got in.

Just then Wrecker heard James yawn.

He looked at James and chuckled.

"Aww, is my little boy sleepy." Wrecker teased.

"I'm 8." James protested.

"You'll always be my baby angel, no matter what age you are." Wrecker told him.

James hummed and a moment later he yawned again.

"I am tired though." He mumbled.

Wrecker chuckled again.

"I'm not suprised, running around town all day long saving people does that to you doesn't it." Wrecker said.

James nodded rubbing his eyes.

The two soon made it home and Wrecker lowered James down from his shoulder.

He then unlocked the door allowing James to go in first, he then went inside and locked the door.

Wrecker looked at James.

"I'm gonna go run you a bath, I'll call you when it's ready." Wrecker said.

"Okay dad." James said nodding.

Wrecker went into the bathroom and began running James' bath.

After a few minutes Wrecker turned off the taps and checked the temperature of the bath.

Once he was satisfied he opened the bathroom door.

"James your bath is ready." Wrecker called.

"Coming." James called from downstairs.

James came up and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Wrecker turned away as James undressed and climbed into the bath.

"Okay dad, I'm ready." James called.

Wrecker nodded and grabbed a flannel cloth.

Kneeling down next to the bath he began scrubbing at James' face to get the ash off.

James laughed and squirmed slightly as Wrecker washed his face.

"Dad, that tickles." He laughed trying to pull away.

Wrecker chuckled and held him still.

"I know bud, but I need to get this stuff off." Wrecker said resuming his efforts to get the ash off of James.

After a few minutes he finally managed to get ash off of James.

"There, all off." Wrecker said.

He stood up.

"I'll leave you to relax for a while." Wrecker said.

James nodded.

Wrecker smiled and ruffled James's hair before leaving.

James leant back in the bath and closed his eyes.

He thought about everything that had happened today.

It felt good helping those people and he couldn't help but smile slightly when he remembered just how happy he'd made them.

He wished he hadn't been so careless earlier though, his mistake had put him in great danger and his dad had to save him.

He remembered just how worried Wrecker had sounded and felt bad he'd made his dad worry so much about him.

He was also glad Cynthia was away on a trip, he grimaced imagining the lecture she'd have no doubt given him.

Deciding to put aside the negative thoughts for now he decided to just relax.

He hadn't even realised he was beginning to drift off until Wrecker came back in.

"James, it's time to get out." Wrecker said.

James nodded and climbed out the bath, wrapping himself in the towel Wrecker gave him.

"I've got your pajamas all warmed up and laid on your bed for you." Wrecker said.

James nodded and left the bathroom to get changed.

Wrecker showered and changed into his own pajamas.

He went downstairs to find James sitting on the couch.

"Hey bud, wanna watch a movie?" Wrecker asked.

James nodded and eagerly scrambled over to sit on Wrecker's lap.

The two put on a movie and it began to play.

Partway through the movie James spoke up.

"Dad, do you reckon i could be a brave firefighter one day, like you and uncle Trix?" James asked looking up at Wrecker.

Wrecker smiled and ruffled James's hair.

"Of course you can, I was about your age when I decided I wanted to be one if I ever got the chance, 99 always told me to follow my dreams, I did so and look at me now, I'm the strongest firefighter in this town." Wrecker said flexing his muscles.

James giggled.

"Thanks dad." James said.

"Don't mention bud, and like I said, follow your dreams and they may just come true." Wrecker said.

By the end of the movie James was fast asleep.

Wrecker carried him up to bed and tucked him in.

Wrecker was just beginning to leave the room when suddenly turned around.

"But for me, my biggest dream was adopting you, and I'm glad it came true." Wrecker whispered before leaving the room.