"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

'Bonded Thought'

::Comm::br /

[...]- POV Break

Alarm sirens blared overhead, the sound instilling fear and panic in all who heard it. The hall rocked violently again, almost sending the two trembling femmes to the metallic floor. When the rumbling finally stopped the white and blue femme pushed herself away from the wall, where she'd half collapsed in an attempt to keep on her feet. Helping the smaller cybertronian to stand the larger of the two looked down at her, green optics filled with fear. Urging the pale robin's egg colored femme along the corridor her spark pulsed erratically. The sound of gunfire and explosions echoed down the long halls. More than once they had to make a quick detour as the fighting intensified.

"We have to hurry." Keeping a hand on the smaller, trembling, femme she gently pushed her sister toward the only area she knew was still safe. Over the comms she could hear the chatter between members of the crew as they fought to protect the ship or flee from the enemy. A sudden yell from behind made them freeze, terrified, as two mechs turned the corner, guns at the ready. Wrapping herself around her sister she waited for the scorching burn of pain, but none came. Either luck or providence saved them once again as the floor above them buckled from the damage it had sustained and caved in on the mechs, hopefully putting them down for good.

"Siren..." Terrified violet optics widened at the destruction behind them. Smiling as reassuringly as she could the white and blue femme tugged her forward, despite the fear that shook her own frame.

"It's going to be okay. Come on, we're nearly there." It was on by sheer force of will, the training of their father, and the need to protect her only remaining family that allowed Siren to get her sister to safety. Hustling her sister into the pod bay she looked down the halls before using her personal crew code and locked the door behind them. Going to the first pod she opened the hatch and helped her sister inside. The poor femme was shaking so badly she was rattling. Inputting a few last commands and checking that everything was still in working order Siren climbed inside and shut the hatch behind her. The seal locked as she made her way to the bench where her sister sat, curled in on herself.

They were lucky that the pod was so large, meant to fit more of their species than the two of them. She knew she should have waited for more evacuees but she was afraid. Afraid that the boarders would find them and drag them out into the ship before killing them. Sitting on the bench she received a coded message on the crew channel and quickly opened it. Reading it through she relaxed slightly. The bridge crew was all alive and well, currently trying to repel the invaders with their own personal security force. The signal to evacuate had been tripped and there were groups headed to the other escape pods already. Leaning back she reached for her younger sister and carefully pulled her closer. "We're going to be okay." Wrapping her arms around her protectively, shielding her with her larger body, Siren gave her a sad smile.

Nodding the smaller femme leaned back into her chest, taking comfort from her elder sister even as tears streamed down her face. Melody was a kind spark. Seeing so many cybertronians killed had affected her poorly. Siren mumbled reassurances, brushing one hand over her sister's helm to soothe her as much as she could. Melody looked up at her and gave her a shaky smile before letting her head fall to her chest.

There was a ping and Siren stared at the door, body stiff. The ping turned into a series of codes and she relaxed. One of the other crew members must have arrived and unlocked the door. Their pod registered the others and activated the start-up protocols. Siren felt relieved she hadn't had to use the over-ride program she'd been given to eject the single pod from the ship. Without a proper beacon they would be lost, if they weren't snatched up by the Decepticons first.

"Don't be scared Melody, I'm here. I'll protect you." Hearing the smaller femme begin humming to herself Siren rocked them back and forth, taking comfort in the sound of the music and the closeness, just as her sister did.

Once the crew shuttle began the launch sequence the two femmes could feel the stasis programming swamp their sensors. Optics slowly dimmed, energon slowed in their lines, and their bodies locked into place. All to preserve their sparks for the journey ahead.

It would be a long time before they would see anything but the vastness of space.

[…]

Getting a stream of real time feedback from the communications officers on the bridge the young mech knew they were in a heap of trouble. Not just the regular kind either, as the situation evolved from a skirmish to a full blown take over. Putting out fires and trying to repel the invaders wasn't going to help matters now. It was too late for that. The Decepticons battle ship was more than a match for the simple cargo transport filled with civilians fleeing Cybertron. Flicking through the comm channels as quickly as he could process he listened to the growing reports of engine failures and curses as parts of the ship were cut off or sealed due to loss of pressure.

'I could use some good news!' Heading back towards the command deck he dodged past a few cowering refugees, busted plating, and more fires that were either being extinguished by civilians or other crew members. A tug on his very spark stopped him short as he shifted his attention inward, away from all the distractions. 'Tough, because I have none. The order to evacuate has been given. The Captain ordered us to lead as many civilians as we can to the escape pods and take the command one for ourselves. He… he said it's his last order as Captain.' His spark stuttered in distress as he keened miserably in denial.

'Don't fight orders, Link. I'll start my retreat now. Meet you on the way.' Passing the raw feelings of loss, despair, and misery along their shared bond he felt the same emotions echo back and shuddered, knowing they both felt the same about their current situation. The emotions dimmed as his other half turned his attention elsewhere and Link tried to calm himself, letting out a sigh of anguish. Standing with his back straight the white, black, and gold mech took a moment to steel himself before turning back the way he'd come. Finding the refugees he'd passed he looked them over and frowned. Most of them were absolutely terrified, unable to process what was happening, and some were too injured to move on their own. It was going to be difficult to get them all moving again.

Stepping forward he squared his shoulders, trying to make himself seem older than he really was. "Alright, on your feet! You're not dead yet, you still have a chance! I am Communications Officer Link and I will try my utmost to lead you to safety!" Yelling loudly down the corridor he was relieved when the refugees turned to him and slowly got to their feet. A look of hope crept into their expressions and he wanted to cringe away from it, feeling wholly inadequate to defend them if they were attacked. Calm and love filtered through the twin-bond and he felt himself relax minutely. He had to project a calm and confident demeanor, even if he was just as frightened as they were.

Walking over to a mech that didn't look able to stand on his own he reached down and helped him to his feet, slinging an arm over his shoulder and giving him a smile he hoped was reassuring. Before he could lead the mech down the hall two others came forward and gently took the wounded one from him. "Y-you'll need to be able to move unhindered if you're to lead us…" Nodding grimly at the mech who'd spoken he walked past the refugees, who parted before him. Stopping at the next junction he pressed himself against the wall and leaned out slightly to make sure the way was safe. Waving them along he switched through channels on his headset, listening for any trouble ahead.

It was a slow process as they moved through the ship, gathering more refugees and civilians as they went. The strongest mechs and femmes were sent to the back and the middle of the group, to guard against surprise attacks. At times Link would open a door, expecting a clear route, only to find a desperate and ongoing battle between security personnel and Decepticons. Sealing the doors he abandoned the security forces to their fate, their sacrifice weighing heavily on his spark. The feed from the crew gradually became less and less over time. It left him feeling blind.

Looking back at those following him his optics landed on the smallest forms, huddled together or held tightly in the arms of their caretakers. Gathering his resolve he hardened himself, feeling encouragement from his other half as he went.

Just as they reached the area of the ship where the escape pods were located he felt a ripple in his spark that made him feel whole. Turning to a locked door he input the codes to open it from his side and relaxed as he spotted his black, white, and gold counterpart. 'The Captain wants to speak with us as soon as we get the refugees settled.' Nodding toward his brother in acknowledgment he turned back to his group and got them organized. Sparklings and their caretakers were the first into the pods, with one or two of the stronger cybertronians offering to go along to defend them just in case.

Once everyone was situated and the start-up protocols were engaged they stepped inside the command shuttle and took their seats. Feeling a little safer they linked their comms and pinged the captain. ::Link, Cipher; my sons. I want you to take care of these people. They didn't ask for this Smelter cursed war and neither did you. I am staying with the ship to give you as much time as I can to escape.:: The twins keened in denial, the sound bleeding together.

::Creator-Caretaker! It's suicide to stay on the ship. Please, we still need your guidance!:: Cipher sent back, pleading with the older mech to not leave them behind. Hearing a ragged chuckle from the comm Link looked down at his feet, hands clenched. Neither of them wanted to accept their creator's decision. They'd already lost one parent, they didn't want to lose the other.

::Keep safe, and Primus watch over you. You have always made me proud.:: With those parting words the comm went dead, blocked from the other end by the mech that loved and raised them. The only one who understood that they were not two separate beings but one being in two frames. Feelings of hurt, loss, pain, guilt, anger, and sadness passed between them as they clung to each other. Compassion, comfort, reassurance, and understanding echoed back and forth, trying to stop the raw negative emotions in their shared spark.

Reaching a shaking hand toward the control panel of the shuttle Cipher input the code to release all the pods from their docks and launch into space. Each escape pod was keyed to the shuttle, which housed the only long range SOS transmitter, and would follow it closely.

Feeling the emotional drain on their systems the shuttle's programming initiated the stasis mode to keep the twins from using up too much energon. Completely oblivious to what was happening outside they floated through the cosmos, the only sound coming from the transmitter.

During their entire journey through the void only one major incident occurred. A wandering cluster of asteroids collided with the group of escapees. One particularly large chunk slammed into the command shuttle, knocking out the transmitter. Silent and unaware they wandered the darkness, forgotten.

[Autobots]

Watching the monitors and sensors carefully the mech on duty almost jumped as an alert suddenly went off next to him. Switching to the long range sensors he stared at the data in confusion. It looked as though a group of asteroids was hurtling towards earth, coming out of nowhere. Crunching the numbers he waved over the other mech on duty and they had a small argument over the uniform size of the 'asteroids' before concluding that they were probably space craft. Their hypothesis was proved correct as the closest of them seemed to change direction and head straight for the earth. The estimated time of arrival was a couple of cycles, about two and a half Earth hours.

While the second mech on duty was calculating the trajectories he hailed the commanders. There was a curt acknowledgment that had him wincing slightly but this was not something that could be ignored. ::I'm sorry to disturb your meeting, but I think you had better come take a look at this.::

[Decepticons]

Blinking dispassionately at the screens before him the mech followed the small space craft as they entered the planet's atmosphere. It was patently obvious that they were not made by the inhabitants of the planet as their signal and make were clearly cybertronian. Making a few quick calculations he commed their leader directly.

::Lord Megatron, there are multiple crafts of cybertronian make heading toward the surface of the planet. It will be approximately two cycles before they touch down. Query; what are your orders?:: While waiting for a response he followed the two small ships closely.

::I will arrange for teams to be sent out on retrieval missions. Continue monitoring the situation, inform me of any changes immediately.:: The reply he received was cold, calculating, but excited; nothing out of the ordinary from their tyrannical leader.

::Affirmative.::