Chapter Two - Dark Dream
Hey everyone! :) We're finally back with the next chapter.. I think I must say that a lot. My apologies for the wait.
Disclaimer: I own nothing besides my characters and this story.
Hope you enjoy!
"Steeldust, can you move over a bit? Yer kinda in the middle o' da floor, Sweetspark."
The five-vorn-old glanced up, then nodded. "Sorry, Carrier."
"It's okay, dear. Ah just don't want to step on ya."
As Steeldust picked up his toys and moved towards the table, his carrier carried on with what she was doing.
Steeldust sat back down on the floor, intent on finishing the battle his two action figures were having.
"You will be defeated in the name of justice!" he yelled, making the good mecha stand heroically on the rungs of the nearby chair. "No more will you do evil things!"
Moving the bad mecha closer, he tried to deepen his voice to sound like the character from the holovid show. "No. It is you who will be defeated this offcycle! I am too powerful for you."
Making the other figure leap down, Steeldust resumed his normal voice. "We'll see about that!"
"Steeldust! Can you be quieter! I can't focus on my homework!" came an irritated voice from the living room.
With a frown, the five-vorn-old turned his helm to look. "I am being quiet!"
A loud huff was his response. "No-you're-not. You're-being-really-loud."
"It's-not-me-it's-my-toys," protested Steeldust, pointing at his action figures. "They're-fighting-cause- "
"Your-toys-don't-even-talk-Steeldust. Carrier-can-you-make-Steeldust-be-quiet?" Blurr whined, coming into the kitchen.
Their carrier returned from wherever she had gone. She walked over to her two younglings, placing a hand on her hip.
"Ah don't think he was being that loud, Blurr. And he did already come out here so he wouldn't bother ya. Do ya need some help with yer homework?"
Blurr frowned, then after a few kliks, nodded his helm. "Yes, please. It doesn't make sense. And I can't concentrate enough to figure it out."
Harmony placed her hands on his shoulders, turning him and pushing him gently back into the living room. "Alright, Ah'll be right there in a couple kliks."
She then turned to the younger brother.
"Steeldust, do you think your toys could be a little more quiet?"
The youngling looked up. "I'll ask them to be."
The red and white femme smiled. "Thank you."
"Boom!" Steeldust whisper-shouted, bashing his toys into each other. "Wham! Bang! Kaboom!"
Suddenly, the lights flickered and then shut off.
Steeldust let out a surprised yelp and looked around.
It was dark.
He didn't like the dark very much.
"Carrier?"
There was no answer.
Steeldust carefully got to his pedes, making his way across the kitchen. "Carrier? Blurr?"
An eerie red glow filtered through the window above the table, illuminating the room. The youngling saw his carrier standing over by the kitchen counter.
He ran over and threw his servos around her pedes. "Carrier! I'm scared!"
His carrier slowly tilted her helm to look down at him. When Steeldust met her gaze, he let out a gasp.
Blank, colourless optics stared back at him.
A sharp pain stabbed him in the spark, feeling like it was being torn into.
"Run, Steeldust," the femme said urgently. Her empty optics moved to the window, her helm turning away from her youngling.
Steeldust slowly looked over his shoulder, following her gaze.
Instantly, he wished he hadn't.
A dark, shadowy figure was standing just outside the window. Glowing red optics stared back at him.
Behind Steeldust, his carrier suddenly collapsed, falling limply to the floor.
"Blurr! Run!" Steeldust shrieked, turning to flee himself.
Somehow, he knew it was pointless to call out a warning to their sire.
He was already offline too.
Before he could take one step, a clawed hand came crashing through the window. Glass shattered and flew everywhere. The rest of the figure's frame slowly followed the hand, it's optics never leaving Steeldust.
The youngling found himself rooted to the spot, frozen in place.
He couldn't move.
The shadowy figure was inside now.
Coming closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
The astrokliks dragged by as Steeldust tried to move, to get away from the invader.
Two clawed hands reached out, now mere inches from the youngling's faceplate.
Steeldust screamed, wrenching himself backwards.
He was falling, falling, falling away from the hands.
Until he hit the ground with a painful thud.
Jolted awake, Steeldust laid there, venting hard.
Fearfully glancing around, he found he was still in the transport.
On the floor.
But not at his home in Polyhex where he'd lived with his family.
Not five vorns old, or even seven, when the event the dream was partially based on had really happened.
Not with his carrier offline beside him.
Not with some strange, evil-looking mecha reaching to grab him.
"Steeldust?"
Steeldust turned his helm towards the voice.
Swindle was still seated in his previous position, looking down at him with concern.
"Are you alright?"
Sitting up, Steeldust realized he was shaking. He took a few more deep vents, attempting to push the events of his nightmare far out of his processor.
"Yeah," he nodded rapidly. "I'm-fine."
Swindle gave him a look that said he wasn't convinced. "Are you certain? You fell back into recharge for awhile. Then, you screamed and fell off of your seat."
Steeldust picked himself up off the floor and climbed back up onto his seat. "I just had a nightmare. But I'm okay now."
"A nightmare?" Swindle inquired; optic ridges furrowed.
Seeing the confusion on his new boss' faceplate, Steeldust nodded again.
"Yeah, uh, you know, dreams. Only bad ones. That are usually scary or something."
"Dreams," repeated the noble thoughtfully. "Cybertronians do not typically have those. It's very rare."
Steeldust let out a nervous laugh. "I know. Lucky me, huh?"
"Indeed," Swindle hummed, frowning slightly. "Do they- Cause you any harm?"
With a shrug, Steeldust flicked a doorwing. "No. They just- Bother-me. But-I-don't-usually-have-them-very-often. Not-like-I-used-to."
"I see. Well, I suppose then if they are not harmful to your health then there is no need to get you checked out."
"I guess so." Steeldust shrugged again, one optic ridge raised. "The-medic-I-went-to-see-one time-said-I-was-fine. I-think. It-was-a-while-ago-now."
"Good. Steeldust, it would likely be best if you did not fall into recharge again before we arrive. We are almost there."
"That's-what-you-said-earlier," Steel thought. He stared at the seat in front of him, a bit reluctant to look out the window.
Just in case there was a possibility of seeing a pair of red optics. The dream was, after all, fresh in his processor, even if he knew there wasn't anything outside the transport window.
It was kinda dark down here beneath the surface though. So he didn't want to chance a look.
Just in case.
Swindle meanwhile, all of a sudden, had something to consider.
"A dreaming Cybertronian. Those are quite rare indeed. I wonder if it's a vision sort of thing. There have been recorded instances of that. Perhaps I can find some files from the medic who apparently looked into Steeldust's dreaming. The youngling may not be aware of everything that could have been found or the possibilities."
Another thought came to the conmech. This one less opportunistic and more concerning.
"I should definitely look more into this dream business. Is it dangerous? Does it drive the victim insane? If so, I will have to decide if Steeldust is worth keeping around, although, he still might just fit right in with some of the others."
He glanced over at the youngling out of the corner of his optic. Steeldust was just sitting there as if lost in thought.
"It's strange. Definitely not natural. I wonder what he is thinking about. Or what was in his dream. It seemed to scare him plenty. I doubt he would tell me if I asked, he isn't exactly the trusting, talkative sort."
Swindle smirked. "But then, I'm good at coaxing things out of those sorts of mecha too. With time, I'll figure out what's in that helm of his."
The transport, having heard the conversation and sensing how uncomfortable the youngling was, spoke then.
"I am sure you will be alright, young one," he rumbled deeply. "Just- Think about something else. You'll forget about it soon enough."
Steeldust smiled weakly towards the front where the voice had come from. "Thanks. I'll try."
"Yes, he's right, Steeldust," affirmed Swindle cheerily, noting the youngling's slight mood change. "Like I said, past is in the past, right?"
"Yeah. I guess," replied the navy and black, staring down at the floor.
Soon enough, the transport made his way to the planet's surface once again.
Steeldust didn't know this sector of Polyhex.
He somehow figured he likely soon would.
Very well.
How he figured that, he didn't know.
He just had a feeling.
The youngling watched as they approached a large, three-story building. It was rundown, looking like it had been deserted a long time ago.
Except for the several sets of tire tracks leading up to it.
The transport stopped beside the building and opened his doors.
Swindle stood up. Sending a quick glance to Steeldust, he beckoned for him to come with a hand.
"Come along, Steeldust. I'm sure you're excited to see your new home. And meet the rest."
Sliding off of the bench seat, Steeldust followed. When they stepped out of the transport, he turned back, pausing.
"Are you coming too?"
The transport lowly chuckled. "No, small one. I will return when Swindle has need of my service again."
"Oh." Steeldust frowned, tilting his helm. "Will I see you again?"
"Perhaps. From what I've heard, you are to be joining the races. I'm certain you will see me at least at those times."
The youngling nodded, seemingly satisfied with that.
"Okay. Thank you for the ride."
"You're quite welcome, Steeldust," the transport said happily.
Not many mecha thanked him. At least not genuinely like this one had.
"Steeldust! Hurry along now!" Swindle called impatiently from the entrance of an alley that laid beside the building.
The youngling looked over his shoulder, then back at the transport vehicle. "I have to go," he said reluctantly.
"Yes," hummed the older mecha. "You must. And I must return back to my home. Goodbye, Steeldust."
The transport began rolling forward, turning to head back the way he had came.
Steeldust swiftly ran to catch up. "Wait!"
The larger mecha halted immediately. "Yes?" he asked, tone confused and concerned.
The youngling fidgeted in place, doorwings flicking. "I don't know your name. You know mine, but you didn't tell me yours."
With a chuckle, the transport replied. "That is because, young one, I do not have what you might call a proper name." "This one is still innocent to the world beyond what he used to know. I can only hope they don't corrupt his spark too much. Or force him to grow up too fast. He is just young yet for the purpose which he has been brought to become."
Optic ridges rose in shock on Steeldust's faceplate. "You don't have a name?"
"Only a numerical designation. I am T-64."
"Oh. Well, you should have a real name too."
"Steeldust! What are you doing?" Swindle called again, tapping his pede impatiently. "Say goodbye and let's go inside."
"You must go now, Steeldust," T-64 rumbled quietly. "Off with you."
"Goodbye, T-64," Steeldust said sadly.
With that, he scampered back to the noble.
"What was that all about, Steeldust?" inquired Swindle, optic ridge arched.
"I- Just wanted to ask him something," Steeldust replied, following the mech as he walked down the alley.
"I see. Well, here we are."
They stopped beside a door in the wall of the building. The door had a keypad beside it and several closed slots at various heights.
Steeldust also noted that it was a very large door.
Swindle knocked on the door and stepped back a step to wait.
Shortly, the lowest slot in the door was opened and a red optic appeared.
"Oh, Swindle. It's you," came a muffled voice through the door. "One astroklik."
The slot was closed again and Steeldust could faintly hear the sound of a keypad being tapped on.
He arched an optic ridge. The voice had sounded sort of familiar.
But who would he know here?
The door opened, revealing the mecha behind it.
Their optics met Steeldust's almost instantly.
Steeldust rose his doorwings aggressively. "You!" he hissed through clenched denta. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah could ask you da same thing," snapped the other mecha. Red optics darted to Swindle, then back to the youngling with him. "What'd ya bring him here for?"
Swindle glanced between the two several times. "He's joining us. And that is final."
With out another word, the noble brushed past the mecha guarding the door, leaving the pair to continue glaring at each other on their own.
"This just got better. Not," Steeldust thought.
Thanks for reading! What did you think?
Does anyone have any ideas of who Steeldust just met again?